bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cyclophilins and nucleoporins are required for infection mediated by capsids from circulating HIV-2 primary isolates
Authors: Mamede João I. , Damond Florence , Bernardo Ariel de , Matheron Sophie , Descamps Diane , Battini Jean-Luc , Sitbon Marc , Courgnaud Valérie
Published: March 2017

HIV-2 groups have emerged from sooty mangabey SIV and entered the human population in Africa on several separate occasions. Compared to world pandemic HIV-1 that arose from the chimpanzee SIVcpz virus, the SIVsm-derived HIV-2, largely confined to West Africa, is less replicative, less transmissible and less pathogenic. Here, we evaluated the interactions between host cellular factors, which control HIV-1 infection and target the capsid, and HIV-2 capsids obtained from primary isolates from patients with different disease progression status. We showed that, like HIV-1, all HIV-2 CA we tested exhibited a dependence on cyclophilin A. However, we observed no correlation between HIV-2 viremia and susceptibility to hu-TRIM5alpha or dependence to CypA. Finally, we found that all CA from HIV-2 primary isolates exploit Nup358 and Nup153 for nucleus transposition. Altogether, these findings indicate that the ability to use the two latter nucleoporins is essential to infection of human cells for both HIV-1 and HIV-2. This dependence provides another molecular target that could be used for antiviral strategies against both HIV-1 and 2, based on both nucleoporins.
Genomic characterization of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria
Authors: Fedrizzi Tarcisio , Meehan Conor J. , Grottola Antonella , Giacobazzi Elisabetta , Fregni Serpini Giulia , Tagliazucchi Sara , Fabio Anna , Bettua Clotilde , Bertorelli Roberto , De Sanctis Veronica , Rumpianesi Fabio , Pecorari Monica , Jousson Olivier , Tortoli Enrico , Segata Nicola
Published: March 2017

Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprae have remained, for many years, the primary species of the genus Mycobacterium of clinical and microbiological interest. The other members of the genus, referred to as nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), have long been underinvestigated. In the last decades, however, the number of reports linking various NTM species with human diseases has steadily increased and treatment difficulties have emerged. Despite the availability of whole genome sequencing technologies, limited effort has been devoted to the genetic characterization of NTM species. As a consequence, the taxonomic and phylogenetic structure of the genus remains unsettled and genomic information is lacking to support the identification of these organisms in a clinical setting. In this work, we widen the knowledge of NTMs by reconstructing and analyzing the genomes of 41 previously uncharacterized NTM species. We provide the first comprehensive characterization of the genomic diversity of NTMs and open new venues for the clinical identification of opportunistic pathogens from this genus.
Skeletal Muscle Pump Drives Control of Cardiovascular and Postural Systems
Authors: Verma Ajay K. , Garg Amanmeet , Xu Da , Bruner Michelle , Fazel-Rezai Reza , Blaber Andrew P. , Tavakolian Kouhyar
Published: March 2017

The causal interaction between cardio-postural-musculoskeletal systems is critical in maintaining postural stability under orthostatic challenge. The absence or reduction of such interactions could lead to fainting and falls often experienced by elderly individuals. The causal relationship between systolic blood pressure (SBP), calf electromyography (EMG), and resultant center of pressure (COPr) can quantify the behavior of cardio-postural control loop. Convergent cross mapping (CCM) is a non-linear approach to establish causality, thus, expected to decipher nonlinear causal cardio-postural-musculoskeletal interactions. Data were acquired simultaneously from young participants (25 ± 2 years, n = 18) during a 10-minute sit-to-stand test. In the young population, skeletal muscle pump was found to drive blood pressure control (EMG → SBP) as well as control the postural sway (EMG → COPr) through the significantly higher causal drive in the direction towards SBP and COPr. Furthermore, the effect of aging on muscle pump activation associated with blood pressure regulation was explored. Simultaneous EMG and SBP were acquired from elderly group (69 ± 4 years, n = 14). A significant (p = 0.002) decline in EMG → SBP causality was observed in the elderly group, compared to the young group. The results highlight the potential of causality to detect alteration in blood pressure regulation with age, thus, a potential clinical utility towards detection of fall proneness.
Shoulder Stretching Intervention Reduces the Incidence of Shoulder and Elbow Injuries in High School Baseball Players: a Time-to-Event Analysis
Authors: Shitara Hitoshi , Yamamoto Atsushi , Shimoyama Daisuke , Ichinose Tsuyoshi , Sasaki Tsuyoshi , Hamano Noritaka , Ueno Akira , Endo Fumitaka , Oshima Atsufumi , Sakane Hideo , Tachibana Masahiro , Tomomatsu Yusuke , Tajika Tsuyoshi , Kobayashi Tsutomu , Osawa Toshihisa , Iizuka Haku , Takagishi Kenji
Published: March 2017

We prospectively evaluated the effects of a prevention program on the incidence of shoulder and elbow injuries in high school baseball pitchers. Ninety-two pitchers participated in this study and were taught to perform stretching and strength exercises aimed at improving shoulder external rotation strength in the preseason. The pitchers freely chose to participate in one of four groups [SM-group: performed both exercises, S-group: performed stretching exercise only, M-group: performed strength training only, and N-group: performed neither intervention]. Injury was defined as inability to play for ≥8 days because of shoulder/elbow symptoms. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were generated and hazard ratios (HRs) for injury occurrence were calculated using multivariate Cox regression. Log-rank test was used for between-group comparisons of survival distributions. The injuries occurred in 25, 35, and 57% of participants and median times to injury were 89, 92, and 29.5 days in the S- (n = 32), SM- (n = 46), and N- (n = 14) group, respectively. Nobody chose M-group. HRs were 0.36 and 0.47 for the S- and SM-group, respectively, based on the N-group. The incidence of injury was significantly lower in the S-group than in the N-group (p = 0.04). Daily posterior shoulder stretching may reduce the incidence of the injuries in high school baseball pitchers.
Oscillating Electric Field Measures the Rotation Rate in a Native Rotary Enzyme
Authors: Ferencz Csilla-Maria , Petrovszki Pál , Dér András , Sebők-Nagy Krisztina , Kóta Zoltán , Páli Tibor
Published: March 2017

Rotary enzymes are complex, highly challenging biomolecular machines whose biochemical working mechanism involves intersubunit rotation. The true intrinsic rate of rotation of any rotary enzyme is not known in a native, unmodified state. Here we use the effect of an oscillating electric (AC) field on the biochemical activity of a rotary enzyme, the vacuolar proton-ATPase (V-ATPase), to directly measure its mean rate of rotation in its native membrane environment, without any genetic, chemical or mechanical modification of the enzyme, for the first time. The results suggest that a transmembrane AC field is able to synchronise the steps of ion-pumping in individual enzymes via a hold-and-release mechanism, which opens up the possibility of biotechnological exploitation. Our approach is likely to work for other transmembrane ion-transporting assemblies, not only rotary enzymes, to determine intrinsic in situ rates of ion pumping.
Multicolor bioimaging with biosynthetic zinc nanoparticles and their application in tumor detection
Authors: Kang Yanjun , Wu Yi-Zhou , Hu Xianyun , Xu Xueqin , Sun Jie , Geng Rong , Huang Tongxing , Liu Xiaohang , Ma Yichen , Chen Ying , Wan Quan , Qi Xiaobang , Zhang Gen , Zhao Xiaohui , Zeng Xin
Published: March 2017

Because they generate excellent images, nanoparticles (NPs), especially biosynthesized NPs, provide a new solution for tumor imaging. In this research, we unveil a novel type of biosynthesized NPs featuring multicolor fluorescence. These NPs exhibit little cytotoxicity to cells. The explored NPs, designated Zn-ZFP-GST NPs (Zinc NPs in abbreviation), are generated from leukemia cells treated with a Zn2+ solution, while zinc-finger protein and glutathione S-transferase (GST) were also identified in the Zinc NPs. Under near-UV illumination, the Zinc NPs simultaneously emit green, yellow, and red fluorescence. In addition, the intensity of the fluorescence increases with the existence of sulfides. Besides, the NPs are encapsulated by microvesicles (MVs) shed from the plasma membrane. As observed in whole-body research of nude mice, the NP-MVs migrate via blood circulation and are distinguished by their fluorescent signals. Furthermore, the folic acid (FA) & AVR2 (human VEGF antibody)-coated NP-MVs are exploited to target the tumor location, and the feasibility of this approach has been confirmed empirically. The Zinc NPs shed light on an alternative solution to tumor detection.
A MYB transcription factor, DcMYB6, is involved in regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis in purple carrot taproots
Authors: Xu Zhi-Sheng , Feng Kai , Que Feng , Wang Feng , Xiong Ai-Sheng
Published: March 2017

Carrots are widely grown and enjoyed around the world. Purple carrots accumulate rich anthocyanins in the taproots, while orange, yellow, and red carrots accumulate rich carotenoids in the taproots. Our previous studies indicated that variation in the activity of regulatory genes may be responsible for variations in anthocyanin production among various carrot cultivars. In this study, an R2R3-type MYB gene, designated as DcMYB6, was isolated from a purple carrot cultivar. In a phylogenetic analysis, DcMYB6 was grouped into an anthocyanin biosynthesis-related MYB clade. Sequence analyses revealed that DcMYB6 contained the conserved bHLH-interaction motif and two atypical motifs of anthocyanin regulators. The expression pattern of DcMYB6 was correlated with anthocyanin production. DcMYB6 transcripts were detected at high levels in three purple carrot cultivars but at much lower levels in six non-purple carrot cultivars. Overexpression of DcMYB6 in Arabidopsis led to enhanced anthocyanin accumulation in both vegetative and reproductive tissues and upregulated transcript levels of all seven tested anthocyanin-related structural genes. Together, these results show that DcMYB6 is involved in regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis in purple carrots. Our results provide new insights into the regulation of anthocyanin synthesis in purple carrot cultivars.
Identification and comparative analysis of the epidermal differentiation complex in snakes
Authors: Holthaus Karin Brigit , Mlitz Veronika , Strasser Bettina , Tschachler Erwin , Alibardi Lorenzo , Eckhart Leopold
Published: March 2017

The epidermis of snakes efficiently protects against dehydration and mechanical stress. However, only few proteins of the epidermal barrier to the environment have so far been identified in snakes. Here, we determined the organization of the Epidermal Differentiation Complex (EDC), a cluster of genes encoding protein constituents of cornified epidermal structures, in snakes and compared it to the EDCs of other squamates and non-squamate reptiles. The EDC of snakes displays shared synteny with that of the green anole lizard, including the presence of a cluster of corneous beta-protein (CBP)/beta-keratin genes. We found that a unique CBP comprising 4 putative beta-sheets and multiple cysteine-rich EDC proteins are conserved in all snakes and other squamates investigated. Comparative genomics of squamates suggests that the evolution of snakes was associated with a gene duplication generating two isoforms of the S100 fused-type protein, scaffoldin, the origin of distinct snake-specific EDC genes, and the loss of other genes that were present in the EDC of the last common ancestor of snakes and lizards. Taken together, our results provide new insights into the evolution of the skin in squamates and a basis for the characterization of the molecular composition of the epidermis in snakes.
PTPIP51 regulates mouse cardiac ischemia/reperfusion through mediating the mitochondria-SR junction
Authors: Qiao Xue , Jia Shi , Ye Jingjing , Fang Xuan , Zhang Chenglin , Cao Yangpo , Xu Chunling , Zhao Lifang , Zhu Yi , Wang Lu , Zheng Ming
Published: March 2017

Protein tyrosine phosphatase interacting protein 51 (PTPIP51) participates in multiple cellular processes, and dysfunction of PTPIP51 is implicated in diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. However, there is no functional evidence showing the physiological or pathological roles of PTPIP51 in the heart. We have therefore investigated the role and mechanisms of PTPIP51 in regulating cardiac function. We found that PTPIP51 was markedly upregulated in ischemia/reperfusion heart. Upregulation of PTPIP51 by adenovirus-mediated overexpression markedly increased the contact of mitochondria-sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), elevated mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake from SR release through mitochondrial Ca2+uniporter. Inhibition or knockdown of mitochondrial Ca2+uniporter reversed PTPIP51-mediated increase of mitochondrial Ca2+ and protected cardiomyocytes against PTPIP51-mediated apoptosis. More importantly, cardiac specific knockdown of PTPIP51 largely reduced myocardium infarction size and heart injury after ischemia/reperfusion. Our study defines a novel and essential function of PTPIP51 in the cardiac ischemia/reperfusion process by mediating mitochondria-SR contact. Downregulation of PTPIP51 improves heart function after ischemia/reperfusion injury, suggesting PTPIP51 as a therapeutic target for ischemic heart diseases.
Hierarchical viscosity of aqueous solution of tilapia scale collagen investigated via dielectric spectroscopy between 500 MHz and 2.5 THz
Authors: Kawamata H. , Kuwaki S. , Mishina T. , Ikoma T. , Tanaka J. , Nozaki R.
Published: March 2017

Aqueous solutions of biomolecules such as proteins are very important model systems for understanding the functions of biomolecules in actual life processes because interactions between biomolecules and the surrounding water molecules are considered to be important determinants of biomolecules’ functions. Globule proteins have been extensively studied via dielectric spectroscopy; the results indicate three relaxation processes originating from fluctuations in the protein molecule, the bound water and the bulk water. However, the characteristics of aqueous solutions of collagens have rarely been investigated. In this work, based on broadband dielectric measurements between 500 MHz and 2.5 THz, we demonstrate that the high viscosity of a collagen aqueous solution is due to the network structure being constructed of rod-like collagen molecules surrounding free water molecules and that the water molecules are not responsible for the viscosity. We determine that the macroscopic viscosity is related to the mean lifetime of the collagen-collagen interactions supporting the networks and that the local viscosity of the water surrounded by the networks is governed by the viscosity of free water as in the bulk. This hierarchical structure in the dynamics of the aqueous solution of biomolecules has been revealed for the first time.
The toxicity of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors to larvae of the disease vectors Aedes aegypti and Anopheles gambiae
Authors: Abu Hasan Zatul-’Iffah , Williams Helen , Ismail Nur M. , Othman Hidayatulfathi , Cozier Gyles E. , Acharya K. Ravi , Isaac R. Elwyn
Published: March 2017

The control of mosquitoes is threatened by the appearance of insecticide resistance and therefore new control chemicals are urgently required. Here we show that inhibitors of mosquito peptidyl dipeptidase, a peptidase related to mammalian angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), are insecticidal to larvae of the mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti and Anopheles gambiae. ACE inhibitors (captopril, fosinopril and fosinoprilat) and two peptides (trypsin-modulating oostatic factor/TMOF and a bradykinin-potentiating peptide, BPP-12b) were all inhibitors of the larval ACE activity of both mosquitoes. Two inhibitors, captopril and fosinopril (a pro-drug ester of fosinoprilat), were tested for larvicidal activity. Within 24 h captopril had killed >90% of the early instars of both species with 3rd instars showing greater resistance. Mortality was also high within 24 h of exposure of 1st, 2nd and 3rd instars of An. gambiae to fosinopril. Fosinopril was also toxic to Ae. aegypti larvae, although the 1st instars appeared to be less susceptible to this pro-drug even after 72 h exposure. Homology models of the larval An. gambiae ACE proteins (AnoACE2 and AnoACE3) reveal structural differences compared to human ACE, suggesting that structure-based drug design offers a fruitful approach to the development of selective inhibitors of mosquito ACE enzymes as novel larvicides.
Recent advances in high-performance fluorescent and bioluminescent RNA imaging probes
Authors: Xia Yuqiong , Zhang Ruili , Wang Zhongliang , Tian Jie , Chen Xiaoyuan
Published: March 2017

A broad overview of high-performance fluorescent and bioluminescent RNA imaging probes and theirin vitro/in vivoapplications.
New advances in probing cell–extracellular matrix interactions
Authors: Liu Allen P. , Chaudhuri Ovijit , Parekh Sapun H.
Published: March 2017

This review highlights the application of recent innovations in microtechnologies, biomaterials, and imaging tools for probing cell–ECM interactions.
Quantitative proteomic characterization of redox-dependent post-translational modifications on protein cysteines
Authors: Duan Jicheng , Gaffrey Matthew J. , Qian Wei-Jun
Published: March 2017

Post-translational modifications on protein cysteines play a crucial role in redox signaling, in the regulation of enzymatic activity and protein function, and in maintaining redox homeostasis in living systems.
Near infrared organic light emitting devices based on a new erbium(iii) β-diketonate complex: synthesis and optoelectronic investigations
Authors: Ahmed Zubair , Aderne Rian E. , Kai Jiang , Resende Jackson A. L. C. , Padilla-Chavarría Helmut I. , Cremona Marco
Published: March 2017

This paper deals with the synthesis of a new near infra-red emitting Er(iii) β-diketonate complex of low coordinate structure, its characterisation and fabrication of organic light emitting diode using the complex as emitting layer.
Molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, biological evaluation and 2D QSAR analysis of flavonoids from Syzygium alternifolium as potent anti-Helicobacter pylori agents
Authors: Chandra Babu Tirumalasetty Muni , Rajesh Sivarathri Siva , Bhaskar Baki Vijaya , Devi Savita , Rammohan Aluru , Sivaraman Thirunavakkarasu , Rajendra Wudayagiri
Published: March 2017

The present study was carried out with the specific aim to evaluate anti-Helicobacter pylori(Hp) and urease inhibitory activities of three flavonoids from Syzygium alternifolium through thein vitroand bio-computational approaches.
Robust electrocatalysts from metal doped W18O49 nanofibers for hydrogen evolution
Authors: Zhao Yuanyuan , Tang Qunwei , Yang Peizhi , He Benlin
Published: March 2017

Electrocatalysts from metal doped W18O49 nanofibers are robust, high-efficiency and stable for hydrogen evolution.
Partitioning of 2-phenylethanol and limonene cosurfactants in C12E4
Authors: McKenzie Iain , Scheuermann Robert , Tucker Ian
Published: March 2017

Avoided level-crossing muon spin resonance (ALC-μSR) has been used to study the dynamics and local environment of spin probes formed by muonium (Mu) addition to 2-phenylethanol (PEA) and limonene (1-methyl-4-(1-methylethenyl)-cyclohexene) in an aqueous dispersion of the nonionic surfactant C12E4 (tetra(ethylene glycol) n-dodecyl ether).
Spectroscopy of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) dissolved in three hexane structural isomers, and its consequences on the photophysical model of polyenes
Authors: Catalán Javier
Published: March 2017

Spectroscopic evidence of the structural change generated on DPH dissolved inn-hexane by changing the solution temperature from 173 K to 153 K.
Direct conversion of cellulose to high-yield methyl lactate over Ga-doped Zn/H-nanozeolite Y catalysts in supercritical methanol
Authors: Verma Deepak , Insyani Rizki , Suh Young-Woong , Kim Seung Min , Kim Seok Ki , Kim Jaehoon
Published: March 2017

For realizing sustainable bio-based refineries, it is crucial to obtain high yields of value-added chemicalsviadirect conversion of cellulose and lignocellulosic biomass.
A water-soluble pillar[5]arene as a new carrier for an old drug
Authors: Barbera Lucia , Franco Domenico , De Plano Laura M. , Gattuso Giuseppe , Guglielmino Salvatore P. P. , Lentini Germana , Manganaro Nadia , Marino Nino , Pappalardo Sebastiano , Parisi Melchiorre F. , Puntoriero Fausto , Pisagatti Ilenia , Notti Anna
Published: March 2017

The ability of deca-carboxylatopillar[5]areneWP5to bind the antibiotic amikacin and modulate its antimicrobial response towards Gram-positive bacteria is reported.
Loess surface grafted functional copolymer for removing basic fuchsin
Authors: Lu Tingjun , Wang Li , He Yufeng , Chen Jing , Wang Rong-Min
Published: March 2017

Loess clay (LC), a very abundant clay with granules and high hydrophilicity, was modified by surface grafting copolymerization of acrylate and styrene monomers with functional side groups, which afforded a LC surface grafting copolymer.
Adsorption of mercury(ii) with an Fe3O4 magnetic polypyrrole–graphene oxide nanocomposite
Authors: Zhou Chao , Zhu He , Wang Qin , Wang Junxiu , Cheng Juan , Guo Yongfu , Zhou Xiaoji , Bai Renbi
Published: March 2017

The Fe3O4 magnetic polypyrrole–graphene (PPy–GO) has a Langmuir adsorption capacities of 400.0 mg g−1 for Hg(ii). And it has a favorable saturation magnetization of 19.0 emu g−1, easily separated from solutions via additional exterior magnets.
Improving the stability of the perovskite solar cells by V2O5modified transport layer film
Authors: Liu Zhiyong , He Tingwei , Wang Huihui , Song Xiaohui , Liu Hairui , Yang Jien , Liu Kaikai , Ma Heng
Published: March 2017

A PSC with high lifetime was prepared by inserting V2O5film between the ITO electrode and PEDOT:PSS HTL.
Polymer-assisted formation of 3D Pd nanoassemblies: highly active catalysts for formic acid electrooxidation
Authors: Huang Tan , Moon Seung Ki , Lee Jong-Min
Published: March 2017

Three-dimensional (3D) Pd nanoassemblies were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal procedure, in which polyallylamine hydrochloride (PAH) was simultaneously used as a cross-linking and scaffold molecule in order to construct the 3D interconnected nanoassemblies.
Solution processed single-phase Cu2SnS3films: structure and photovoltaic performance
Authors: Tiwari Devendra , Koehler Tristan , Klenk Reiner , Fermin David J.
Published: March 2017

Understanding recombination losses in solution processed Cu2SnS3solar cells with low temperatureJ–V, impedance measurements and DFT calculations.
Novel thin-film composite membranes via manipulating the synergistic interaction of dopamine and m-phenylenediamine for highly efficient forward osmosis desalination
Authors: Xu Lina , Xu Jia , Shan Baotian , Wang Xiulin , Gao Congjie
Published: March 2017

Novel thin-film composite (TFC) membranes were elaborately designed and fabricated via the incorporation of mussel-inspired dopamine (DA) into an m-phenylendiamine (MPD) aqueous solution on a macroporous substrate.
Self-assembled porous carbon microparticles derived from halloysite clay as a lithium battery anode
Authors: Subramaniyam Chandrasekar M. , Srinivasan N. R. , Tai Zhixin , Liu Hua Kun , Goodenough John B. , Dou Shi Xue
Published: March 2017

A naturally available clay mineral, halloysite, is used as a templating agent for the preparation of porous carbon microparticles (PCMs); these PCMs have been investigated as a candidate for lithium-ion battery (LIB) anodes.
Correction: New promising lithium malonatoborate salts for high voltage lithium ion batteries
Authors: Sun Xiao-Guang , Wan Shun , Guan Hong Yu , Fang Youxing , Reeves Kimberly Shawn , Chi Miaofang , Dai Sheng
Published: March 2017

Correction for ‘New promising lithium malonatoborate salts for high voltage lithium ion batteries’ by Xiao-Guang Sun et al., J. Mater. Chem. A, 2017, 5, 1233–1241.
Iron(III)/TEMPO-Catalyzed Synthesis of 2,5-Disubstituted 1,3,4-Oxadiazoles by Oxidative Cyclization under Mild Conditions
Authors: Ding Chengrong , Zhang Guofu , Yu Yidong , Zhao Yiyong , Xie Xiaoqiang
Published: March 2017

A simple and efficient cationic Fe(III)/TEMPO-catalyzed oxidative cyclization of aroyl hydrazones has been developed for the synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives. The reaction offers a broad scope, good functional-group tolerance, and high yields under mild conditions in the presence of O2.
Pathogenetic Analysis of Sinonasal Teratocarcinosarcomas Reveal Actionable β-catenin Overexpression and a β-catenin Mutation
Authors: Yanik Megan , Scott Megan , Bradford Carol , McHugh Jonathan , McLean Scott , Sullivan Stephen , Nor Jacques , McKean Erin , Birkeland Andrew , Burgin Sarah , Brenner J.
Published: March 2017

Objective Sinonasal teratocarcinosarcomas are rare, aggressive tumors of the skull base. Treatment options are limited and outcomes are poor. Little is known in regard to the genetic factors regulating these tumors. Characterization of actionable molecular alterations in these tumors could provide potentially successful therapeutic options.

Methods We performed targeted exome sequencing on an index sinonasal teratocarcinosarcoma specimen to identify potential driver mutations. We performed immunohistochemical stains for β-catenin on paraffin-embedded tissue on the index tumor and a subsequent teratocarcinosarcoma. Online databases of cancer mutations (Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer and The Cancer Genome Atlas) were accessed.

Results We identified an activating p.S45F mutation in β-catenin in our index sinonasal teratocarcinosarcoma. This mutation results in constitutive signaling in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. We confirmed β-catenin overexpression and nuclear localization via immunohistochemistry in the index tumor and a second patient. The p.S45F activating mutation was found in a variety of solid tumors, and accounts for 3.3 to 10.4% of all known β-catenin mutations.

Conclusion We identified a potential driver mutation in β-catenin in a sinonasal teratocarcinosarcoma, resulting in β-catenin overexpression. These findings suggest a role for the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in sinonasal teratocarcinosarcoma tumorigenesis and a role for anti-β-catenin targeted therapy.
Evaluation of Probably Benign Adnexal Masses in Postmenopausal Women
Authors: Karakaya Burcu Kisa , Ozgu Emre , Kansu Hatice Celik , Evliyaoglu Ozlem , Sarikaya Esma , Coskun Bugra , Erkaya Salim
Published: March 2017

Background Preoperatively identification of malignancy potential of a postmenopausal adnexal masses is important.

Aim To evaluate the effectiveness of the Risk of Malignancy Index-2 in presumably benign adnexal masses in postmenopausal women.

Study Design Retrospective, observational study.

Methods 119 women with postmenopausal adnexal masses with a preliminary diagnosis of benign tumors according to the Risk of Malignancy Index-2 were included. Age, duration of menopause, ultrasonographic findings, and serum CA-125 levels were recorded preoperatively. The definitive diagnosis was based on postoperative histopathological examination.

Results Of 119 adnexal mass, 10 were malignant and 109 were benign. There was no statistically significant difference with regard to age and tumor size between the groups. The two significant ultrasonographic parameter between groups were the presence of solid area in the mass and bilaterality. Moreover, if the cut off point for serum CA-125 was adjusted to 14.75 IU/mL according to ROC curve, a sensitivity value of 80% and a specificity value of 72% could be achieved to discriminate benign and malign cysts.

Conclusion In the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant adnexal masses in postmenopausal women, the presence of a solid component, bilaterallity based on ultrasonography and high CA-125 values may be used as discriminative criteria. There is no direct relation between the size of the adnexal mass and malignancy potential. Therefore, in the malignancy indexes of postmenopausal women, we recommend lower cut-off values of CA-125 to increase the sensitivity of preoperative evaluation tests without having a great impact on negative predictive values.
Gravitational steady states of solar coronal loops
Authors: Sugiyama Linda E. , Asgari-Targhi M.
Published: March 2017

Coronal loops on the surface of the sun appear to consist of curved, plasma-confining magnetic flux tubes or “ropes,” anchored at both ends in the photosphere. Toroidal loops carrying current are inherently unstable to expansion in the major radius due to toroidal-curvature-induced imbalances in the magnetic and plasma pressures. An ideal MHD analysis of a simple isolated loop with density and pressure higher than the surrounding corona, based on the theory of magnetically confined toroidal plasmas, shows that the radial force balance depends on the loop internal structure and varies over parameter space. It provides a unified picture of simple loop steady states in terms of the plasma beta βo, the inverse aspect ratio ϵ=a/Ro, and the MHD gravitational parameter Ĝ≡ga/vA2, all at the top of the loop, where g is the acceleration due to gravity, a the average minor radius, and vA the shear Alfvén velocity. In the high and low beta tokamak orderings, βo=2noT/(Bo2/2μo)∼ϵ1 and ϵ2, that fit many loops, the solar gravity can sustain nonaxisymmetric steady states at Ĝ∼ϵβo that represent the maximum stable height. At smaller Ĝ≤ϵ2βo, the loop is axisymmetric to leading order and stabilized primarily by the two fixed loop ends. Very low beta, nearly force-free, steady states with βo∼ϵ3 may also exist, with or without gravity, depending on higher order effects. The thin coronal loops commonly observed in solar active regions have ϵ≃0.02 and fit the high beta steady states. Ĝ increases with loop height. Fatter loops in active regions that form along magnetic neutral lines and may lead to solar flares and Coronal Mass Ejections have ϵ≃0.1–0.2 and may fit the low beta ordering. Larger loops tend to have Ĝ>ϵβo and be unstable to radial expansion because the exponential hydrostatic reduction in the density at the loop-top reduces the gravitational force −ρĜR̂ below the level that balances expansion, in agreement with the observation that most sufficiently large loops grow.
The effects of pre-ionization on the impurity and x-ray level in a dense plasma focus device
Authors: Piriaei D. , Yousefi H. R. , Mahabadi T. D. , Salar Elahi A. , Ghoranneviss M.
Published: March 2017

In this study, the effects of pre-ionization on the reduction of the impurities and non-uniformities, the increased stability of the pinch plasma, the enhancement of the total hard x-ray yield, the plasmoid x-ray yield, and the current sheath dynamics of the argon gas at different pressures in a Mather type plasma focus device were investigated. For this purpose, different shunt resistors together with two x-ray detectors were used, and the data gathered from the x-ray signals showed that the optimum shunt resistor could cause the maximum total hard and plasmoid hard x-ray emissions. Moreover, in order to calculate the average speed of the current sheath, two axial magnetic probes were used. It was revealed that the pre-ionization could increase the whole range of the emitted x-rays and produce a more uniform current sheath layer, which moved faster, and this technique could lead to the reduction of the impurities, creating a more stabilized pinched plasma, which was capable of emitting more x-rays than the usual case without using pre-ionization.
Theoretical study of time-resolved luminescence in semiconductors. IV. Lateral inhomogeneities
Authors: Maiberg Matthias , Bertram Frank , Müller Mathias , Scheer Roland
Published: March 2017

In the fourth part of this series, we study the impact of lateral inhomogeneities on the time-resolved luminescence decay (TRL) after a pulsed excitation by means of simulation with Synopsys® TCAD and analytical approximation. This work consists of two parts: In the first part, the effect of excitations being inhomogeneous on a lateral scale is investigated. It turns out that for localized excitations there may be a strong lateral diffusion of charge carriers, thereby limiting the resolution of a micro-TRL experiment. In this case, a replacement of the inhomogeneous excitation in the simulation by a homogeneous excitation and an average photon density is not possible, especially due to defect saturation depending non-linearly on the excitation. In the second part, we consider a homogeneous excitation and study inhomogeneous material parameters, namely, inhomogeneous charge carrier lifetimes, band gaps, and doping densities. We find that their effects strongly depend on their characteristic lengths of variation. For length scales smaller than the diffusion length, inhomogeneous material parameters can lead to curved luminescence decays.
Wavepackets in inhomogeneous periodic media: Effective particle-field dynamics and Berry curvature
Authors: Watson Alexander B. , Lu Jianfeng , Weinstein Michael I.
Published: March 2017

We consider a model of an electron in a crystal moving under the influence of an external electric field: Schrödinger’s equation with a potential which is the sum of a periodic function and a general smooth function. We identify two dimensionless parameters: (re-scaled) Planck’s constant and the ratio of the lattice spacing to the scale of variation of the external potential. We consider the special case where both parameters are equal and denote this parameter ϵ. In the limit ϵ↓0, we prove the existence of solutions known as semiclassical wavepackets which are asymptotic up to “Ehrenfest time” t∼ln1/ϵ. To leading order, the center of mass and average quasi-momentum of these solutions evolve along trajectories generated by the classical Hamiltonian given by the sum of the Bloch band energy and the external potential. We then derive all corrections to the evolution of these observables proportional to ϵ. The corrections depend on the gauge-invariant Berry curvature of the Bloch band and a coupling to the evolution of the wave-packet envelope, which satisfies Schrödinger’s equation with a time-dependent harmonic oscillator Hamiltonian. This infinite dimensional coupled “particle-field” system may be derived from an “extended” ϵ-dependent Hamiltonian. It is known that such coupling of observables (discrete particle-like degrees of freedom) to the wave-envelope (continuum field-like degrees of freedom) can have a significant impact on the overall dynamics.
Piezoelectric control of magnetoelectric coupling driven non-volatile memory switching and self cooling effects in FE/FSMA multiferroic heterostructures
Authors: Singh Kirandeep , Kaur Davinder
Published: March 2017

The manipulation of magnetic states and materials' spin degree-of-freedom via a control of an electric (E-) field has been recently pursued to develop magnetoelectric (ME) coupling-driven electronic data storage devices with high read/write endurance, fast dynamic response, and low energy dissipation. One major hurdle for this approach is to develop reliable materials which should be compatible with prevailing silicon (Si)-based complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) technology, simultaneously allowing small voltage for the tuning of magnetization switching. In this regard, multiferroic heterostructures where ferromagnetic (FM) and ferroelectric (FE) layers are alternatively grown on conventional Si substrates are promising as the piezoelectric control of magnetization switching is anticipated to be possible by an E-field. In this work, we study the ferromagnetic shape memory alloys based PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3/Ni50Mn35In15 (PZT/Ni-Mn-In) multiferroic heterostructures, and investigate their potential for CMOS compatible non-volatile magnetic data storage applications. We demonstrate the voltage-impulse controlled nonvolatile, reversible, and bistable magnetization switching at room temperature in Si-integrated PZT/Ni-Mn-In thin film multiferroic heterostructures. We also thoroughly unveil the various intriguing features in these materials, such as E-field tuned ME coupling and magnetocaloric effect, shape memory induced ferroelectric modulation, improved fatigue endurance as well as Refrigeration Capacity (RC). This comprehensive study suggests that these novel materials have a great potential for the development of unconventional nanoscale memory and refrigeration devices with self-cooling effect and enhanced refrigeration efficiency, thus providing a new venue for their applications.
The aggregate path coupling method for the Potts model on bipartite graph
Authors: Hernández José C. , Kovchegov Yevgeniy , Otto Peter T.
Published: March 2017

In this paper, we derive the large deviation principle for the Potts model on the complete bipartite graph Kn,n as n increases to infinity. Next, for the Potts model on Kn,n, we provide an extension of the method of aggregate path coupling that was originally developed in the work of Kovchegov, Otto, and Titus [J. Stat. Phys. 144(5), 1009–1027 (2011)] for the mean-field Blume-Capel model and in Kovchegov and Otto [J. Stat. Phys. 161(3), 553–576 (2015)] for a general mean-field setting that included the generalized Curie-Weiss-Potts model analyzed in the work of Jahnel et al. [Markov Process. Relat. Fields 20, 601–632 (2014)]. We use the aggregate path coupling method to identify and determine the threshold value βs separating the rapid and slow mixing regimes for the Glauber dynamics of the Potts model on Kn,n.
Asymmetric linear efficiency and bunching mechanisms of TM modes for electron cyclotron maser
Authors: Chang T. H. , Huang W. C. , Yao H. Y. , Hung C. L. , Chen W. C. , Su B. Y.
Published: March 2017

This study examines the transverse magnetic (TM) waveguide modes, which have long been considered as the unsuitable ones for the operation of the electron cyclotron maser. The beam-wave coupling strength of the TM modes, as expected, is found to be relatively weak as compared with that of the transverse electric (TE) waveguide modes. Unlike TE modes, surprisingly, the linear behavior of the TM modes depends on the sign of the wave number kz. The negative kz has a much stronger linear efficiency than that of the positive kz. The bunching mechanism analysis further exhibits that the azimuthal bunching and axial bunching do not compete but cooperate with each other for the backward-wave operation (negative kz). The current findings are encouraging and imply that TM modes might be advantageous to the gyrotron backward-wave oscillators.
Cathodic shift of onset potential for water oxidation of WO3 photoanode by Zr+ ions implantation
Authors: Wu Hengyi , Ren Feng , Xing Zhuo , Zheng Xudong , Wu Liang , Jiang Changzhong
Published: March 2017

Tungsten trioxide is one of the most widely studied semiconductors for photoelectrochemical water splitting. However, its onset potential is too positive. In a photoelectrochemical system, a low onset potential and a high photocurrent for a photoanode are important for enhancing the efficiency of water splitting. It is an effective way to adjust the onset potential by changing the conduction and valence band level. Doping is a powerful way to alter the positions of the energy levels of semiconductors to improve their photoelectrochemical performance. In this paper, we present a method of ion implantation to alter the energy levels by implanting Zr+ ions into WO3. Cathodic shifts of the photocurrent onset potential for water oxidation are achieved. The systematic studies show that ion implantation followed by thermal annealing treatment can form substitutional Zr4+ in WO3. The upward shifts of the conduction band and valence band lead to the cathodic shifts of the onset potential. Two combined factors lead to the upward shift of the conduction band. One is strain induced after doping in the lattices. Another is due to the higher energy level of the Zr 4d orbital than the W 5d orbital. Meanwhile, the oxygen vacancy introduced during the ion implantation can cause an upward shift the valence band maximum. The results indicate that the upward shifts of the conduction band minimum and valence band maximum are good for the photoelectrochemical water splitting. It also shows that an ion implantation technique combined with thermal annealing could be an effective way to enhance the performance of the photoanode for water splitting.
Low order physical models of vertical axis wind turbines
Authors: Craig Anna E. , Dabiri John O. , Koseff Jeffrey R.
Published: March 2017

In order to examine the ability of low-order physical models of vertical axis wind turbines to accurately reproduce key flow characteristics, experimental data are presented for the mean flow patterns and turbulence spectra associated with pairs of rotating turbines, rotating solid cylinders, and stationary porous flat plates (of both uniform and non-uniform porosities). The experiments were conducted at a nominal model-diameter Reynolds number of 600 and rotation tip speed ratios between 0 and 6. By comparing the induced flow fields of the different models both qualitatively and quantitatively, it was concluded that the two dimensional horizontal mean flow fields induced by the porous flat plates were quantitatively similar to those induced by slowly rotating turbine models. However, over the range of the experimental parameters examined, the porous flat plates were unable to produce vertical flows similar to those associated with the slowly rotating turbine models. Conversely, the moderately rotating cylinders induced three dimensional mean flow fields quantitatively similar to those induced by rapidly rotating turbine models. These findings have implications for both laboratory experiments and numerical simulations, which have previously used analogous low order models in order to reduce experimental/computational costs. Specifically, over the range of parameters examined, the comparison between induced flow fields of the different model fidelities allows identification of the lowest cost model for which the specific goals of a study can be obtained, to within the desired accuracy. And if a lower fidelity model is used, it is possible to incorporate into the analysis of the collected data an understanding of how the results would be expected to vary from a higher fidelity case.
Vertical profiles and two-dimensional distributions of carbon line emissions from C2+−C5+ ions in attached and RMP-assisted detached plasmas of large helical device
Authors: Zhang Hongming , Morita Shigeru , Dai Shuyu , Oishi Tetsutarou , Goto Motoshi , Huang Xianli , Kawamura Gakushi , Kobayashi Masahiro , Liu Yang , Murakami Izumi , Narushima Yoshiro ,   LHD Experimental Group
Published: March 2017

In Large Helical Device (LHD), the detached plasma is obtained without external impurity gas feed by supplying an m/n = 1/1 resonant magnetic perturbation (RMP) field to a plasma with an outwardly shifted plasma axis position of Rax = 3.90 m where the magnetic resonance exists in the stochastic magnetic field layer outside the last closed flux surface. The plasma detachment is triggered by the appearance of an m/n = 1/1 island when the density, increased using hydrogen gas feed, exceeds a threshold density. The behavior of intrinsically existing impurities, in particular, carbon originating in the graphite divertor plates, is one of the important key issues to clarify the characteristic features of the RMP-assisted plasma detachment although the particle flux still remains on some divertor plates even in the detachment phase of the discharge. For this purpose, vertical profiles and two-dimensional (2-D) distributions of edge carbon emissions of CIII to CVI have been measured at extreme ultraviolet wavelength range, and the results are compared between attached and RMP-assisted detached plasmas. It is found that the CIII and CIV emissions located in the stochastic magnetic field layer are drastically increased near the m/n = 1/1 island O-point and in the vicinity of both inboard and outboard edge separatrix X-points during the RMP-assisted detachment, while those emissions are only enhanced in the vicinity of the outboard edge X-point in attached plasmas without RMP. The result clearly indicates a change in the magnetic field lines connecting to the divertor plates, which is caused by the growth of the m/n = 1/1 edge magnetic island. In contrast, the intensity of CVI emitted radially inside the magnetic island significantly decreases during the detachment, suggesting an enhancement of the edge impurity screening. The measured carbon distribution is analyzed with a three-dimensional edge plasma transport simulation code, EMC3-EIRENE, for the attached plasmas without RMP. It is found that the narrow strip-shaped impurity trace emitted along the edge X-point and its width are sensitive to the cross-field impurity diffusion coefficient, DZ⊥. As a result, the value of DZ⊥ of C3+ ions is evaluated to be 20 times larger than that of the bulk ions in the Rax = 3.90 m configuration, while the reason is unclear at present. The measured 2-D carbon distribution is also discussed and compared to the structure of the m/n = 1/1 magnetic island, which quickly expanded during the appearance of the plasma detachment.
Influence of the order parameter on the dynamics of ultrashort pulses in an environment with carbon nanotubes
Authors: Zhukov Alexander V. , Bouffanais Roland , Konobeeva Natalia N. , Belonenko Mikhail B.
Published: March 2017

In this study, we address the influence of the order parameter on the three-dimensional dynamics of extremely short optical pulses in a nonlinear media made of carbon nanotubes creating a heterogeneous distribution of electrons. We obtained the effective nonlinear wave equation, which allowed us to analyze the dependence of the shape of three-dimensional ultrashort optical pulses on the relaxation rate of the order parameter, as well as on its equilibrium value.
A statistical model of the wave field in a bounded domain
Authors: Hellsten T.
Published: March 2017

Numerical simulations of plasma heating with radiofrequency waves often require repetitive calculations of wave fields as the plasma evolves. To enable effective simulations, bench marked formulas of the power deposition have been developed. Here, a statistical model applicable to waves with short wavelengths is presented, which gives the expected amplitude of the wave field as a superposition of four wave fields with weight coefficients depending on the single pass damping, as. The weight coefficient for the wave field coherent with that calculated in the absence of reflection agrees with the coefficient for strong single pass damping of an earlier developed heuristic model, for which the weight coefficients were obtained empirically using a full wave code to calculate the wave field and power deposition. Antennas launching electromagnetic waves into bounded domains are often designed to produce localised wave fields and power depositions in the limit of strong single pass damping. The reflection of the waves changes the coupling that partly destroys the localisation of the wave field, which explains the apparent paradox arising from the earlier developed heuristic formula that only a fraction as2(2−as) and not as of the power is absorbed with a profile corresponding to the power deposition for the first pass of the rays. A method to account for the change in the coupling spectrum caused by reflection for modelling the wave field with ray tracing in bounded media is proposed, which should be applicable to wave propagation in non-uniform media in more general geometries.