bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the diagnostic potential of antibodies to beta2-glycoprotein 1 domain 1 in Chinese patients with antiphospholipid syndrome
Authors: Zhang Shulan , Wu Ziyan , Chen Si , Li Jing , Wen Xiaoting , Li Liubing , Zhang Wen , Zhao Jiuliang , Zhang Fengchun , Li Yongzhe
Published: April 2016

In this study, we evaluated the clinical performance of anti-β2-glycoprotein 1 domain 1 antibodies (aβ2GP1-D1) in the diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Sera from 229 subjects were tested, including 35 patients with primary APS, 51 patients with APS associated to other diseases, 30 patients with non-APS thrombosis, 32 patients with non-APS pregnancy-related morbidity, 42 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and 39 healthy controls (HC). Serum IgG aβ2GP1-D1, IgG/IgM anti-cardiolipin (aCL) and IgG/IgM aβ2GP1 were measured by a chemiluminescence assay. The levels of IgG aβ2GP1-D1 were significantly increased in patients with APS, compared with disease controls and HCs (p < 0.001). Significant correlation was identified between IgG aβ2GP1-D1 and IgG aβ2GP1 (p < 0.0001), indicating IgG aβ2GP1-D1 were the predominant domain-specific antibodies in IgG aβ2GP1 family. Importantly, aβ2GP1-D1, but not aβ2GP1 non-D1, was significantly correlated with thrombotic events. Interestingly, no significant correlation between IgG aβ2GP1-D1 and obstetric complications was observed. Additionally, significantly higher levels of IgG aβ2GP1-D1 were found in patients with triple aPL positivity, compared with patients with double and single aPL positivity. Our findings suggest a potential role of IgG aβ2GP1-D1 in identifying APS patients with high risk of thrombosis, shedding insight on the introduction of IgG aβ2GP1-D1 in China.
82-kDa choline acetyltransferase and SATB1 localize to β-amyloid induced matrix attachment regions
Authors: Winick-Ng Warren , Caetano Fabiana A. , Winick-Ng Jennifer , Morey Trevor M. , Heit Bryan , Rylett R. Jane
Published: April 2016

The M-transcript of human choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) produces an 82-kDa protein (82-kDa ChAT) that concentrates in nuclei of cholinergic neurons. We assessed the effects of acute exposure to oligomeric amyloid-β1–42 (Aβ1–42) on 82-kDa ChAT disposition in SH-SY5Y neural cells, finding that acute exposure to Aβ1–42 results in increased association of 82-kDa ChAT with chromatin and formation of 82-kDa ChAT aggregates in nuclei. When measured by chromatin immunoprecipitation with next-generation sequencing (ChIP-seq), we identified that Aβ1–42 -exposure increases 82-kDa ChAT association with gene promoters and introns. The Aβ1–42 -induced 82-kDa ChAT aggregates co-localize with special AT-rich binding protein 1 (SATB1), which anchors DNA to scaffolding/matrix attachment regions (S/MARs). SATB1 had a similar genomic association as 82-kDa ChAT, with both proteins associating with synapse and cell stress genes. After Aβ1–42 -exposure, both SATB1 and 82-kDa ChAT are enriched at the same S/MAR on the APP gene, with 82-kDa ChAT expression attenuating an increase in an isoform-specific APP mRNA transcript. Finally, 82-kDa ChAT and SATB1 have patterned genomic association at regions enriched with S/MAR binding motifs. These results demonstrate that 82-kDa ChAT and SATB1 play critical roles in the response of neural cells to acute Aβ -exposure.
Metformin Protects Against Cisplatin-Induced Tubular Cell Apoptosis and Acute Kidney Injury via AMPKα-regulated Autophagy Induction
Authors: Li Jianzhong , Gui Yuan , Ren Jiafa , Liu Xin , Feng Ye , Zeng Zhifeng , He Weichun , Yang Junwei , Dai Chunsun
Published: April 2016

Metformin, one of the most common prescriptions for patients with type 2 diabetes, is reported to protect the kidney from gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity. However, the role and mechanisms for metformin in preventing cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity remains largely unknown. In this study, a single intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin was employed to induce acute kidney injury (AKI) in CD1 mice. The mice exhibited severe kidney dysfunction and histological damage at day 2 after cisplatin injection. Pretreatment of metformin could markedly attenuate cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury, tubular cell apoptosis and inflammatory cell accumulation in the kidneys. Additionally, pretreatment of metformin could enhance both AMPKα phosphorylation and autophagy induction in the kidneys after cisplatin injection. In cultured NRK-52E cells, a rat kidney tubular cell line, metformin could stimulate AMPKα phosphorylation, induce autophagy and inhibit cisplatin-induced cell apoptosis. Blockade of either AMPKα activation or autophagy induction could largely abolish the protective effect of metformin in cisplatin-induced cell death. Together, this study demonstrated that metformin may protect against cisplatin-induced tubular cell apoptosis and AKI through stimulating AMPKα activation and autophagy induction in the tubular cells.
Cysteinyl Leukotriene Receptor Antagonists Decrease Cancer Risk in Asthma Patients
Authors: Tsai Ming-Ju , Wu Ping-Hsun , Sheu Chau-Chyun , Hsu Ya-Ling , Chang Wei-An , Hung Jen-Yu , Yang Chih-Jen , Yang Yi-Hsin , Kuo Po-Lin , Huang Ming-Shyan
Published: April 2016

Previous in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated the potential of using cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) for chemoprevention, but this has not been investigated in any clinical setting. We therefore investigated the chemopreventive effect of LTRAs in a nationwide population-based study. From the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, we enrolled adults with newly-diagnosed asthma between 2001 and 2011. Among these patients, each LTRA user was matched with five randomly-selected LTRA non-users by sex, age, asthma diagnostic year and modified Charlson Comorbidity Index score. We considered the development of cancer as the outcome. Totally, 4185 LTRA users and 20925 LTRA non-users were identified. LTRA users had a significantly lower cancer incidence rate than LTRA non-users did. Multivariable Cox regression analyses adjusting for baseline characteristics and comorbidities showed LTRA use was an independent protecting factor (hazard ratio = 0.31 [95% CI: 0.24–0.39]), and cancer risk decreased progressively with higher cumulative dose of LTRAs. In conclusion, this study revealed that the LTRA use decreased cancer risk in a dose-dependent manner in asthma patients. The chemopreventive effect of LTRAs deserves further study.
Concentration Dependent Ion-Protein Interaction Patterns Underlying Protein Oligomerization Behaviours
Authors: Batoulis Helena , Schmidt Thomas H. , Weber Pascal , Schloetel Jan-Gero , Kandt Christian , Lang Thorsten
Published: April 2016

Salts and proteins comprise two of the basic molecular components of biological materials. Kosmotropic/chaotropic co-solvation and matching ion water affinities explain basic ionic effects on protein aggregation observed in simple solutions. However, it is unclear how these theories apply to proteins in complex biological environments and what the underlying ionic binding patterns are. Using the positive ion Ca2+ and the negatively charged membrane protein SNAP25, we studied ion effects on protein oligomerization in solution, in native membranes and in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. We find that concentration-dependent ion-induced protein oligomerization is a fundamental chemico-physical principle applying not only to soluble but also to membrane-anchored proteins in their native environment. Oligomerization is driven by the interaction of Ca2+ ions with the carboxylate groups of aspartate and glutamate. From low up to middle concentrations, salt bridges between Ca2+ ions and two or more protein residues lead to increasingly larger oligomers, while at high concentrations oligomers disperse due to overcharging effects. The insights provide a conceptual framework at the interface of physics, chemistry and biology to explain binding of ions to charged protein surfaces on an atomistic scale, as occurring during protein solubilisation, aggregation and oligomerization both in simple solutions and membrane systems.
Modulation of electronic properties from stacking orders and spin-orbit coupling for 3R-type MoS2
Authors: Fan Xiaofeng , Zheng W. T. , Kuo Jer-Lai , Singh David J. , Sun C.Q. , Zhu W.
Published: April 2016

Two-dimensional crystals stacked by van der Waals coupling, such as twisted graphene and coupled graphene-BN layers with unusual phenomena have been a focus of research recently. As a typical representative, with the modulation of structural symmetry, stacking orders and spin-orbit coupling, transitional metal dichalcogenides have shown a lot of fascinating properties. Here we reveal the effect of stacking orders with spin-orbit coupling on the electronic properties of few-layer 3R-type MoS2 by first principles methods. We analyze the splitting of states at the top of valence band and the bottom of conduction band, following the change of stacking order. We find that regardless of stacking orders and layers’ number, the spin-up and spin-down channels are evidently separated and can be as a basis for the valley dependent spin polarization. With a model Hamiltonian about the layer’s coupling, the band splitting can be effectively analyzed by the coupling parameters. It is found that the stacking sequences, such as abc and abca, have the stronger nearest-neighbor coupling which imply the popular of periodic abc stacking sequence in natural growth of MoS2.
Redirection of pyruvate flux toward desired metabolic pathways through substrate channeling between pyruvate kinase and pyruvate-converting enzymes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Kim Sujin , Bae Sang-Jeong , Hahn Ji-Sook
Published: April 2016

Spatial organization of metabolic enzymes allows substrate channeling, which accelerates processing of intermediates. Here, we investigated the effect of substrate channeling on the flux partitioning at a metabolic branch point, focusing on pyruvate metabolism in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. As a platform strain for the channeling of pyruvate flux, PYK1-Coh-Myc strain was constructed in which PYK1 gene encoding pyruvate kinase is tagged with cohesin domain. By using high-affinity cohesin-dockerin interaction, the pyruvate-forming enzyme Pyk1 was tethered to heterologous pyruvate-converting enzymes, lactate dehydrogenase and α-acetolactate synthase, to produce lactic acid and 2,3-butanediol, respectively. Pyruvate flux was successfully redirected toward desired pathways, with a concomitant decrease in ethanol production even without genetic attenuation of the ethanol-producing pathway. This pyruvate channeling strategy led to an improvement of 2,3-butanediol production by 38%, while showing a limitation in improving lactic acid production due to a reduced activity of lactate dehydrogenase by dockerin tagging.
A Novel SRP Recognition Sequence in the Homeostatic Control Region of Heat Shock Transcription Factor σ32
Authors: Miyazaki Ryoji , Yura Takashi , Suzuki Takehiro , Dohmae Naoshi , Mori Hiroyuki , Akiyama Yoshinori
Published: April 2016

Heat shock response (HSR) generally plays a major role in sustaining protein homeostasis. In Escherichia coli, the activity and amount of the dedicated transcription factor σ32 transiently increase upon heat shock. The initial induction is followed by chaperone-mediated negative feedback to inactivate and degrade σ32. Previous work reported that signal recognition particle (SRP)-dependent targeting of σ32 to the membrane is essential for feedback control, though how SRP recognizes σ32 remained unknown. Extensive photo- and disulfide cross-linking studies in vivo now reveal that the highly conserved regulatory region of σ32 that lacks a consecutive hydrophobic stretch interacts with the signal peptide-binding site of Ffh (the protein subunit of SRP). Importantly, the σ32–Ffh interaction observed was significantly affected by mutations in this region that compromise the feedback regulation, but not by deleting the DnaK/DnaJ chaperones. Homeostatic regulation of HSR thus requires a novel type of SRP recognition mechanism.
Deletion and low expression of NFKBIA are associated with poor prognosis in lower-grade glioma patients
Authors: Kinker Gabriela Sarti , Thomas Andrew Maltez , Carvalho Vinicius Jardim , Lima Felipe Prata , Fujita André
Published: April 2016

Lower-grade gliomas (LGGs), which are uniformly fatal in young adults, are classified as grades II-III tumors according to their histological features. The NFκB transcription factor, a crucial player in cancer initiation and progression, is inactivated in the cytoplasm by inhibitory proteins (IκBs) that have been shown to exert tumor-suppressor activity. Therefore, using The Cancer Genome Atlas copy number alteration and RNA-Seq data from 398 patients, we evaluated the association between the expression and dosage of NFKBIA, which encodes IκBα, and the overall malignancy of LGGs. Deletion and low expression of NFKBIA were associated with enhanced tumor aggressiveness and poor prognosis in LGGs. Accordingly, the dosage and expression of NFKBIA were independent prognostic factors for 5-year survival (dosage: P = 0.016; expression: P = 0.002) and 5-year recurrence-free survival (dosage: P = 0.009; expression: P = 0.005). Moreover, gene set enrichment analyses and co-expression network analyses indicated a role for NFKBIA in the negative regulation of cell proliferation, possibly through the modulation of downstream NFκB activation. Overall, the present findings reveal the prognostic value of NFKBIA in LGGs, reinforcing the relevance of NFκB signaling in the development and progression of gliomas.
The caspase-1 inhibitor AC-YVAD-CMK attenuates acute gastric injury in mice: involvement of silencing NLRP3 inflammasome activities
Authors: Zhang Fang , Wang Liang , Wang Jun-jie , Luo Peng-fei , Wang Xing-tong , Xia Zhao-fan
Published: April 2016

This study evaluated the protective effects of inhibiting caspase-1 activity or gastric acid secretion on acute gastric injury in mice. AC-YVAD-CMK, omeprazole, or vehicle were administered to mice before cold-restraint stress- or ethanol-induced gastric injury. Survival rates and histological evidence of gastric injury of mice pretreated with AC-YVAD-CMK or omeprazole and exposed to cold-restraint stress, improved significantly relative to the vehicle group. The increased levels of tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and IL-18 following cold-stress injury were decreased by AC-YVAD-CMK, but not omeprazole, pretreatment. The increased expression of CD68 in gastric tissues was inhibited significantly by AC-YVAD-CMK pretreatment. Inhibiting caspase-1 activity in the NLRP3 inflammasome decreased gastric cell apoptosis and the expression of Bax and cleaved caspase-3. AC-YVAD-CMK pretreatment significantly inhibited cold-restraint stress-induced increases in the expression of phosphorylated IκB-alpha and P38. General anatomy and histological results showed the protective effect of AC-YVAD-CMK on ethanol-induced acute gastric injury. Overall, our results showed that the caspase-1 inhibitor AC-YVAD-CMK protected against acute gastric injury in mice by affecting the NLRP3 inflammasome and attenuating inflammatory processes and apoptosis. This was similar to the mechanism associated with NF-κB and P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signalling pathways.
Dynamics of 2013 Sudden Stratospheric Warming event and its impact on cold weather over Eurasia: Role of planetary wave reflection
Authors: Nath Debashis , Chen Wen , Zelin Cai , Pogoreltsev Alexander Ivanovich , Wei Ke
Published: April 2016

In the present study, we investigate the impact of stratospheric planetary wave reflection on tropospheric weather over Central Eurasia during the 2013 Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW) event. We analyze EP fluxes and Plumb wave activity fluxes to study the two and three dimensional aspects of wave propagation, respectively. The 2013 SSW event is excited by the combined influence of wavenumber 1 (WN1) and wavenumber 2 (WN2) planetary waves, which makes the event an unusual one and seems to have significant impact on tropospheric weather regime. We observe an extraordinary development of a ridge over the Siberian Tundra and the North Pacific during first development stage (last week of December 2012) and later from the North Atlantic in the second development stage (first week of January 2013), and these waves appear to be responsible for the excitation of the WN2 pattern during the SSW. The wave packets propagated upward and were then reflected back down to central Eurasia due to strong negative wind shear in the upper stratospheric polar jet, caused by the SSW event. Waves that propagated downward led to the formation of a deep trough over Eurasia and brought extreme cold weather over Kazakhstan, the Southern part of Russia and the Northwestern part of China during mid-January 2013.
Targeting HCCR expression resensitizes gastric cancer cells to chemotherapy via down-regulating the activation of STAT3
Authors: Zhang Jun-Ling , Liu Xiang-Zheng , Wang Peng-Yuan , Chen Guo-Wei , Jiang Yong , Qiao Shu-Kai , Zhu Jing , Wang Xin , Pan Yi-Sheng , Liu Yu-Cun
Published: April 2016

The human cervical cancer oncogene (HCCR) has been found to be overexpressed in a variety of human cancers. However, the level of expression of HCCR and its biological function in gastric cancer are largely unknown. In this study, we evaluated HCCR expression in several gastric cancer cell lines and in one normal gastric mucosal cell line. We established a 5-FU-resistant gastric cancer cell subline, and we evaluated its HCCR expression. HCCR expression levels were high in gastric cancer lines, and expression was significantly increased in the 5-FU-resistant cancer cell subline. HCCR expression affected cell growth by regulating apoptosis in the cancer cells, and it had a positive correlation with p-STAT3 expression. Western blot and luciferase reporter assays showed that the activation of STAT3 upregulated HCCR expression in a positive feedback loop model. In vivo and in vitro studies showed that HCCR plays an important role in the apoptosis induced by 5-FU. Our data demonstrate that HCCR is probably involved in apoptosis and cancer growth and that it functions as a p-STAT3 stimulator in a positive feedback loop model. In gastric cancer cells, HCCR confers a more aggressive phenotype and resistance to 5-FU-based chemotherapy.
Novel mechanism of enhancing IRE1α-XBP1 signalling via the PERK-ATF4 pathway
Authors: Tsuru Akio , Imai Yasutaka , Saito Michiko , Kohno Kenji
Published: April 2016

Mammalian inositol-requiring enzyme 1α (IRE1α) is the most conserved of all endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress sensors, which includes activating transcription factor (ATF) 6 and double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR)-like ER kinase (PERK). IRE1α has been known to splice X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) mRNA, which is induced by ATF6 under ER stress. This spliced XBP1 mRNA is translated into the active transcription factor that promotes the expression of specific genes to alleviate ER stress. Herein, we report that in addition to the induction of XBP1 expression by ATF6, IRE1α expression is induced by ATF4, which is downstream of PERK, under ER stress. Increased IRE1α expression results in a higher splicing ratio of XBP1 mRNA. This effect was not transient and affected not only the intensity but also the duration of the activated state of this pathway. These multiple regulatory mechanisms may modulate the response to various levels or types of ER stress.
Central transthyretin acts to decrease food intake and body weight
Authors: Zheng Fenping , Kim Yonwook J. , Moran Timothy H. , Li Hong , Bi Sheng
Published: April 2016

Transthyretin (TTR) is a blood and cerebrospinal fluid transporter of thyroxine and retinol. Gene expression profiling revealed an elevation of Ttr expression in the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH) of rats with exercise-induced anorexia, implying that central TTR may also play a functional role in modulating food intake and energy balance. To test this hypothesis, we have examined the effects of brain TTR on food intake and body weight and have further determined hypothalamic signaling that may underlie its feeding effect in rats. We found that intracerebroventricular (icv) administration of TTR in normal growing rats decreased food intake and body weight. This effect was not due to sickness as icv TTR did not cause a conditioned taste aversion. ICV TTR decreased neuropeptide Y (NPY) levels in the DMH and the paraventricular nucleus (P < 0.05). Chronic icv infusion of TTR in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty rats reversed hyperphagia and obesity and reduced DMH NPY levels. Overall, these results demonstrate a previously unknown anorectic action of central TTR in the control of energy balance, providing a potential novel target for treating obesity and its comorbidities.
Designing synthetic RNAs to determine the relevance of structural motifs in picornavirus IRES elements
Authors: Fernandez-Chamorro Javier , Lozano Gloria , Garcia-Martin Juan Antonio , Ramajo Jorge , Dotu Ivan , Clote Peter , Martinez-Salas Encarnacion
Published: April 2016

The function of Internal Ribosome Entry Site (IRES) elements is intimately linked to their RNA structure. Viral IRES elements are organized in modular domains consisting of one or more stem-loops that harbor conserved RNA motifs critical for internal initiation of translation. A conserved motif is the pyrimidine-tract located upstream of the functional initiation codon in type I and II picornavirus IRES. By computationally designing synthetic RNAs to fold into a structure that sequesters the polypyrimidine tract in a hairpin, we establish a correlation between predicted inaccessibility of the pyrimidine tract and IRES activity, as determined in both in vitro and in vivo systems. Our data supports the hypothesis that structural sequestration of the pyrimidine-tract within a stable hairpin inactivates IRES activity, since the stronger the stability of the hairpin the higher the inhibition of protein synthesis. Destabilization of the stem-loop immediately upstream of the pyrimidine-tract also decreases IRES activity. Our work introduces a hybrid computational/experimental method to determine the importance of structural motifs for biological function. Specifically, we show the feasibility of using the software RNAiFold to design synthetic RNAs with particular sequence and structural motifs that permit subsequent experimental determination of the importance of such motifs for biological function.
Altitudinal patterns and controls of plant and soil nutrient concentrations and stoichiometry in subtropical China
Authors: He Xianjin , Hou Enqing , Liu Yang , Wen Dazhi
Published: April 2016

Altitude is a determining factor of ecosystem properties and processes in mountains. This study investigated the changes in the concentrations of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) and their ratios in four key ecosystem components (forest floor litter, fine roots, soil and soil microorganisms) along an altitudinal gradient (from 50 m to 950 m a.s.l.) in subtropical China. The results showed that soil organic C and microbial biomass C concentrations increased linearly with increasing altitude. Similar trends were observed for concentrations of total soil N and microbial biomass N. In contrast, the N concentration of litter and fine roots decreased linearly with altitude. With increasing altitude, litter, fine roots and soil C:N ratios increased linearly, while the C:N ratio of soil microbial biomass did not change significantly. Phosphorus concentration and C:P and N:P ratios of all ecosystem components generally had nonlinear relationships with altitude. Our results indicate that the altitudinal pattern of plant and soil nutrient status differs among ecosystem components and that the relative importance of P vs. N limitation for ecosystem functions and processes shifts along altitudinal gradients.
Chemo- and regioselective reductive deoxygenation of 1-en-4-yn-ols into 1,4-enynes through FeF3 and TfOH co-catalysis
Authors: Yang Zonglian , Kumar Rapolu Kiran , Liao Peiqiu , Liu Zhaohong , Li Xingqi , Bi Xihe
Published: April 2016

We report chemo- and regioselective direct reductive deoxygenation of 1-en-4-yn-3-ols into 1,4-enynes through FeF3 and TfOH cooperative catalysis under NBSH-mediated conditions.
Alteration of steric hindrance modulates glutathione resistance and cytotoxicity of three structurally related RuII-p-cymene complexes
Authors: Purkait Kallol , Chatterjee Saptarshi , Karmakar Subhendu , Mukherjee Arindam
Published: April 2016

Three structurally related RuII-p-cymene complexes of imidazole based Schiff bases show steric hindrance influences, hypoxia reactivity, cell cycle arrest and resistance to glutathione. The complexes show anti-metastatic and anti-angiogenic effects.
Fractal aggregation and disaggregation of newly formed iron(iii) (hydr)oxide nanoparticles in the presence of natural organic matter and arsenic
Authors: Neil Chelsea W. , Ray Jessica R. , Lee Byeongdu , Jun Young-Shin
Published: April 2016

This study provides for the first timein situobservations of organic matter and arsenic effects on iron(iii) (hydr)oxide precipitation.
Protein DJ-1 and its anti-oxidative stress function play an important role in renal cell mediated response to profibrotic agents
Authors: Eltoweissy Marwa , Dihazi Gry H. , Müller Gerhard A. , Asif Abdul R. , Dihazi Hassan
Published: April 2016

In the pathogenesis of renal fibrosis, oxidative stress (OS) enhances the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) leading to sustained cell growth, inflammation, excessive tissue remodelling and accumulation, which results in the development and acceleration of renal damage.
Copper-responsive gene expression in the methanotroph Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b
Authors: Kenney Grace E. , Sadek Monica , Rosenzweig Amy C.
Published: April 2016

Gene expression and bioinformatics studies provide new insight into copper homeostasis in the methanotrophMethylosinus trichosporiumOB3b.
An ab initio study of the nickel-catalyzed transformation of amorphous carbon into graphene in rapid thermal processing
Authors: Chen Shuang , Xiong Wei , Zhou Yun Shen , Lu Yong Feng , Zeng Xiao Cheng
Published: April 2016

The fast formation of defective graphitic C structures and the easy evaporation of surplus Ni atoms with excess C atoms are likely attributed to the formation of a viscous-liquid-like Ni–C solution and the faster diffusion of C atoms in Ni at 1200 K.
Fabrication of manganese dioxide/carbon/attapulgite composites derived from spent bleaching earth for adsorption of Pb(ii) and Brilliant green
Authors: Tang Jie , Mu Bin , Wang Wenbo , Zheng Maosong , Wang Aiqin
Published: April 2016

Manganese dioxide/carbon/attapulgite ternary composites were fabricatedviahydrothermal method of the SBE served as adsorbents for the efficient removal of Pb(ii) and BG.
Applications of MALDI-TOF MS in environmental microbiology
Authors: Santos Inês C. , Hildenbrand Zacariah L. , Schug Kevin A.
Published: April 2016

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) is an emerging technique for microbial identification, characterization, and typing.
Janus particles for biological imaging and sensing
Authors: Yi Yi , Sanchez Lucero , Gao Yuan , Yu Yan
Published: April 2016

Janus particles with anisotropic surface makeup or compartments enable novel imaging and sensing in biological systems.
Whole-cell microtiter plate screening assay for terminal hydroxylation of fatty acids by P450s
Authors: Weissenborn Martin J. , Notonier Sandra , Lang Sarah-Luise , Otte Konrad B. , Herter Susanne , Turner Nicholas J. , Flitsch Sabine L. , Hauer Bernhard
Published: April 2016

A whole cell screening assay for terminal hydroxylases was developed based on a readily available galactose oxidase enzyme.
Supramolecular organic frameworks: engineering periodicity in water through host–guest chemistry
Authors: Tian Jia , Chen Lan , Zhang Dan-Wei , Liu Yi , Li Zhan-Ting
Published: April 2016

Recent advances in emerging homogeneous supramolecular organic frameworks (SOFs) assembled through three-component host–guest chemistry in water are described.
Enhanced kinetic stability of [Pd2L4]4+ cages through ligand substitution
Authors: Preston Dan , McNeill Samantha M. , Lewis James E. M. , Giles Gregory. I. , Crowley James D.
Published: April 2016

[Pd2(tripy)4]4+ cage architectures (where tripy = 2,6-bis(pyridin-3-ylethynyl)pyridine) were made more kinetically robust in the presence of range of nucleophiles by the addition of amino groups in either the 2-(2A-tripy) or 3-(3A-tripy) positions of the tripy ligands' terminal pyridines, with the [Pd2(2A-tripy)4]4+ cage proving the most stable.
C–C coupling between trinitrothiophenes and triaminobenzenes: zwitterionic intermediates and new all-conjugated structures
Authors: Boga C. , Micheletti G. , Cino S. , Fazzini S. , Forlani L. , Zanna N. , Spinelli D.
Published: April 2016

An aromatic substitution reaction between trinitrothiophenes andsym-triaminobenzenes: new Wheland–Meisenheimer intermediates, bromo- and nitro-substitution, and unexpected formation of 1-nitroso-2,4,6-triaminobenzenes.
First double hydrophilic graft copolymer bearing a poly(2-hydroxylethyl acrylate) backbone synthesized by sequential RAFT polymerization and SET-LRP
Authors: Cui Yinan , Jiang Xiuyu , Feng Chun , Gu Guangxin , Xu Jie , Huang Xiaoyu
Published: April 2016

This article reports the first synthesis of well-defined double hydrophilic graft copolymers with a PHEA backbone, by the combination of RAFT polymerization, SET-LRP, and a grafting-from strategy.
Comparison of metal free polymer–dye conjugation strategies in protic solvents
Authors: Gaitzsch Jens , Delahaye Maarten , Poma Alessandro , Du Prez Filip , Battaglia Giuseppe
Published: April 2016

Introducing the TAD chemistry to the field of polymer–dye conjugations to broaden the toolbox of metal- and additive-free linking methods.
Electrodeposition of Prussian blue films on Ni3Si2O5(OH)4hollow nanospheres and their enhanced electrochromic properties
Authors: Li Tailiang , Zhao Congcong , Ma Dongyun , Du Fanglin , Wang Jinmin
Published: April 2016

Porous PB films were electrodeposited on Ni3Si2O5(OH)4hollow nanospheres, resulting in enhanced electrochromic properties due to the coarse substrate.
Influence of a hydrodynamic environment on chain rigidity, liquid crystallinity, absorptivity, and photoluminescence of hydrogen-bonding-assisted helical poly(phenylacetylene)
Authors: Jin Young-Jae , Kim Hyojin , Miyata Mari , Yin Guanwu , Kaneko Takashi , Teraguchi Masahiro , Aoki Toshiki , Kwak Giseop
Published: April 2016

The chain rigidity, liquid crystallinity, absorptivity, and photoluminescence of a helical poly(phenylacetylene) derivative varied significantly depending on the solvent, owing to the conformational changes based on intramolecular hydrogen bonds.
Vanadium substituted Keggin-type POM-based electrochromic films showing high performance in a Li+-based neutral non-aqueous electrolyte
Authors: Wang Shi-Ming , Liu Lin , Huang Zhi-Yong , Han Zheng-Bo
Published: April 2016

Vanadium substituted Keggin type POM-based electrochromic films show high performance in LiClO4-based non-aqueous electrolyte. The use of the neutral non-aqueous electrolyte makes it easy to fabricate a device.
Flexible high performance lithium ion battery electrode based on a free-standing TiO2 nanocrystals/carbon cloth composite
Authors: Tjandra Ricky , Li Ge , Wang Xiaolei , Yan Ji , Li Matthew , Yu Aiping
Published: April 2016

We have fabricated novel free-standing binder-free electrode for use in flexible batteries.
Ultrasensitive detection of sulfide ions through interactions between sulfide ions and Au(iii) quenching the fluorescence of chitosan microspheres functionalized with rhodamine B and modified with Au(iii)
Authors: Liu Jinshui , Liu Wenxiu , Ji Qianqian , Wang Bin , Xu Meijiao
Published: April 2016

A rapid and facile fluorescence probe for detecting sulfide ions was developed. The probe can be completely regenerated and was easily separated. The approach described here is a new and convenient way of developing reusable fluorescence probes.
Structure analysis of a glycosides hydrolase family 42 cold-adapted β-galactosidase from Rahnella sp. R3
Authors: Fan Yuting , Yi Jiang , Hua Xiao , Feng Yinghui , Yang Ruijin , Zhang Yuzhu
Published: April 2016

The β-galactosidase isolated from a psychrotrophic bacterium, Rahnella sp. R3 (R-β-Gal), exhibits high activity at low temperature and has potential in the dairy industry.
Channel-wall functionalization in covalent organic frameworks for the enhancement of CO2 uptake and CO2/N2 selectivity
Authors: Zhao Shang , Dong Bin , Ge Rile , Wang Chang , Song Xuedan , Ma Wei , Wang Yu , Hao Ce , Guo Xinwen , Gao Yanan
Published: April 2016

Two structurally similar groups with one being CO2-philic but the other not were anchored into the channel walls of 2D COFs. The decreased surface area of COFs undoubtedly decreased CO2 adsorption if too many functional groups were introduced.
A sub-200 nanometer wide 3D stacking thin-film temperature sensor
Authors: Huo Xiaoye , Wang Zhenhai , Fu Mengqi , Xia Jiye , Xu Shengyong
Published: April 2016

We presented a 3D stacking thin-film temperature sensor with a total width down to 140 nm, a temperature resolution of 40–100 mK, and repeatable sensitivities of 9.6 ± 0.7 μV K−1 and 3.6 ± 0.1 μV K−1 for Cr/Pd and Au/Pd sensors with varied junction size.
A multichannel rotating electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (MRESI): instrumentation and plume interactions
Authors: Qiu Ran , Zhang Chengsen , Qin Zhen , Luo Hai
Published: April 2016

A multichannel rotating electrospray ionization (MRESI) mass spectrometry method is described. Plume interactions are also systematically studied.
Lifetime limit of tris(trimethylsilyl) phosphite as electrolyte additive for high voltage lithium ion batteries
Authors: Qi Xin , Tao Liang , Hahn Hendrik , Schultz Carola , Gallus Dennis Roman , Cao Xia , Nowak Sascha , Röser Stephan , Li Jie , Cekic-Laskovic Isidora , Rad Babak Rezaei , Winter Martin
Published: April 2016

In this work, a failure mechanism of tris(trimethylsilyl)phosphite (TMSPi), as a popular additive in a LiPF6 containing electrolyte for lithium ion batteries, is proposed and elucidated for the first time.
A comparative binding mechanism between human serum albumin and α-1-acid glycoprotein with corilagin: biophysical and computational approach
Authors: Yeggoni Daniel Pushparaju , Rachamallu Aparna , Subramanyam Rajagopal
Published: April 2016

The interaction between corilagin and serum proteins was studied by biophysical and molecular dynamics techniques which in turn provides valuable information about the interaction of phytochemical corilagin with serum proteins.
Robust nano-architectured composite thin films for a low-temperature solid oxide fuel cell cathode
Authors: Seo Han Gil , Choi Yoonseok , Koo Bonjae , Jang Ahreum , Jung WooChul
Published: April 2016

Nano-precipitates of Sm-doped CeO2 were uniformly coated onto porous Pt thin films via cathodic electrochemical deposition. Deposition of only 5 min created an oxide coating that increased the values of the electrode conductance by more than two orders of magnitude and provided outstanding thermal stability even at 600 °C for more than 100 h compared to the bare Pt electrodes.
Microplasma-assisted bottom-up synthesis of graphene nanosheets with superior sodium-ion storage performance
Authors: Luo Xu-Feng , Wang Shan-Yu , Tseng Chuan-Ming , Lee Sheng-Wei , Chiang Wei-Hung , Chang Jeng-Kuei
Published: April 2016

Microplasma-assisted bottom-up synthesis is able to produce graphene nanosheets with high crystallinity and superior sodium-ion storage performance.
Coaxial TiO2–carbon nanotube sponges as compressible anodes for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Zou Mingchu , Ma Zhimin , Wang Qingfei , Yang Yanbing , Wu Shiting , Yang Liusi , Hu Song , Xu Wenjing , Han Pingchou , Zou Ruqiang , Cao Anyuan
Published: April 2016

Freestanding bulk TiO2–CNT sponges with coaxial units are fabricated as a compressible electrode for lithium-ion batteries.
Self-templating synthesis of nitrogen-decorated hierarchical porous carbon from shrimp shell for supercapacitors
Authors: Gao Feng , Qu Jiangying , Geng Chuang , Shao Guanghua , Wu Mingbo
Published: April 2016

Nitrogen-doped hierarchical porous carbon for a supercapacitor electrode was prepared from shrimp shell using its intrinsic mineral scaffold (CaCO3) as the self-template combined with KOH activation.
Synthesis, characterization and DFT studies of zinc-doped copper oxide nanocrystals for gas sensing applications
Authors: Cretu V. , Postica V. , Mishra A. K. , Hoppe M. , Tiginyanu I. , Mishra Y. K. , Chow L. , de Leeuw Nora H. , Adelung R. , Lupan O.
Published: April 2016

A cost-effective synthesis was used to grow ZnxCu1−xOy nanostructures. DFT calculations show that charge transfer along with changes in Fermi level facilitate H2 gas sensing, which is further enhanced by Zn doping.
Large band-gap copolymers based on a 1,2,5,6-naphthalenediimide unit for polymer solar cells with high open circuit voltages and power conversion efficiencies
Authors: Li Zuojia , Feng Kui , Liu Jiang , Mei Jun , Li Ying , Peng Qiang
Published: April 2016

Large band-gap copolymers based on 1,2,5,6-naphthalenediimide were developed for photovoltaic applications. A PCE of 6.35% was obtained by gradually optimizing the morphology of active layers.
Enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting via SILAR-deposited Ti-doped hematite thin films with an FeOOH overlayer
Authors: Abel Anthony J. , Patel Anjli M. , Smolin Sergey Y. , Opasanont Borirak , Baxter Jason B.
Published: April 2016

SILAR-deposited, Ti-doped hematite films with FeOOH overlayer collect nearly all charges generated within a diffusion length of the depletion region.
Iron-based fluorides of tetragonal tungsten bronze structure as potential cathodes for Na-ion batteries
Authors: Han Yanlin , Hu Jiulin , Yin Congling , Zhang Ye , Xie Junjie , Yin Dongguang , Li Chilin
Published: April 2016

A iron-based fluoride of tetragonal tungsten bronze structure prepared by topotactically densifying a HTB framework is used as a cathode for Na-ion batteries. K-ion stuffing enables the pristine fluoride to achieve an initial charge capacity of 125 mA h g−1 and reversible capacity of 100–150 mA h g−1.
Oligoethylenimine grafted PEGylated poly(aspartic acid) as a macromolecular contrast agent: properties and in vivo studies
Authors: Jiang Bin , Liu Min , Zhang Kunchi , Zu Guangyue , Dong Jingjin , Cao Yi , Zhang Lan , Pei Renjun
Published: April 2016

A macromolecular contrast agent based on PEGylated poly(aspartic acid) was prepared and well characterized, which may provide helpful insights for the further development of sensitive and biocompatible MRI probes.
SrMGe2O6 (M = Mn, Co): a family of pyroxene compounds displaying multiferroicity
Authors: Ding Lei , Colin Claire V. , Darie Céline , Bordet Pierre
Published: April 2016

The Sr-based pyroxene compounds SrMGe2O6 (M = Mn, Co) have been synthesized and their structural and magnetoelectric properties have been investigated. SrMnGe2O6 is a multiferroic with cycloidal spin configuration.
Non-conjugated water/alcohol soluble polymers with different oxidation states of sulfide as cathode interlayers for high-performance polymer solar cells
Authors: Liu Xi , Xu Rongguo , Duan Chunhui , Huang Fei , Cao Yong
Published: April 2016

A series of non-conjugated water/alcohol soluble copolymers containing diphenyl sulfide, diphenyl sulfoxide or diphenyl sulfone have been synthesized and applied in polymer solar cells.
What makes Lymphadenopathy in Patients with Autoimmune Thyroiditis Suspicious for Malignancy?
Authors: Bouter C. , Meller B. , Meller J. , Sahlmann C.
Published: April 2016

Lymphadenopathy in Robbins level II-IV and VI is common in autoimmune thyroiditis but the diagnostic strategy of a distinct lymphadenopathy exceeding the known features in autoimmune thyroiditis patients is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine how the extent of cervical lymphadenopathy in autoimmune thyroiditis affects the diagnostic management.

The study comprises one index-patient with autoimmune thyroiditis and distinct suspicious lymphadenopathy in all cervical levels as well as retroclavicular. In addition 10 patients with autoimmune thyroiditis and distinct suspicious lymphadenopathy limited to level VI were evaluated.

Findings of high resolution ultrasound, fine-needle aspiration cytology, serological testing and clonal analysis are reported here. Further diagnostics of the index-patient included histology, immunohistochemistry, bcl-2-expression analysis and PET/CT.

The index-patient showed distinct lymphadenopathy in level I-VI and retroclavicular. Lymph nodes did not display any sonographic malignancy criteria. Molecular analysis and immunohistochemistry revealed monoclonal CD10- and CD20-positive, Bcl-2 expressing follicular B-cells confirming the diagnosis of a follicular B-cell Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

10 additional patients with limited lymphadenopathy showed typical features of autoimmune thyroiditis and lymph nodes did not display sonographic malignancy criteria in all cases. Further tests excluded lymph node malignancies.

Extensive diagnostics in autoimmune thyroiditis and distinct cervical lymphadenopathy is crucial. Whereas limited lymphadenopathy in AIT was proven benign, extensive lymphadenopathy exceeding the known amount and/or spreading to retroclavicular/mediastinal compartments is suspicious for malignancy. Even in the absence of sonographic malignancy criteria further tests have to be performed.
A study of the electric response of He II at the excitation of second sound waves
Authors: Chagovets Tymofiy V.
Published: April 2016

We report an experimental investigation of the electric response of superfluid helium. Our results confirm the presence of electric potential that appears at the relative oscillatory motion of normal fluid and superfluid components in helium generated by the heater. The resonance of the electric potential was observed in the first four harmonics. A suggested method for the detection of the electric response allows the required resonance peak to be distinguished from spurious signals. Our results are in qualitative agreement with the data published by previous researchers. The reasons for the discrepancy in the measured values of the potential difference are discussed.
Phosphorescence of meta-bromobenzophenone crystals over a wide temperature range
Authors: Zloba D. I. , Pyshkin O. S. , Buravtseva L. M. , Strzhemechny M. A.
Published: April 2016

Integrated phosphorescence spectra of meta-bromobenzophenone crystals were measured in the temperature range from 1.6 to 297 K. The spectra were found to contain two series of monomeric bands associated with the stretching mode of the C=O carbonyl at all temperatures. Above 70 K in the red spectral region, a broad structureless band of unknown nature was observed, the center of gravity of which was shifted to red with increasing temperature. The above phenomena and others anomalies can be due to the structural properties of both the molecule and the crystal.
Tunnel injection of spin-polarized current in Co2CrxFe1−xAl (x = 1, 0.6) insulator-superconductor heterostructures
Authors: Rudenko E. M. , Korotash I. V. , Krakovny A. A. , Kudryavtsev Y. V. , Shlapak Y. V.
Published: April 2016

F-I-S tunnel junctions of Co2CrAl-I-Pb and Co2Cr0.6Fe0.4Al-I-Pb based on films of semimetal ferromagnetic Heusler alloys Co2CrAl (Curie temperature TC ≈ 334 K) have been fabricated and the features of spin-polarized current in them studied. A theoretical model of spin blocking of the tunnel current shows that the degree of spin polarization of the conduction electrons in quasi-single crystal films of Co2Cr0.6Fe0.4Al and Co2CrAl with B2- and L21-type order is 0.91–0.97.
Lattice-Boltzmann hydrodynamics of anisotropic active matter
Authors: de Graaf Joost , Menke Henri , Mathijssen Arnold J. T. M. , Fabritius Marc , Holm Christian , Shendruk Tyler N.
Published: April 2016

A plethora of active matter models exist that describe the behavior of self-propelled particles (or swimmers), both with and without hydrodynamics. However, there are few studies that consider shape-anisotropic swimmers and include hydrodynamic interactions. Here, we introduce a simple method to simulate self-propelled colloids interacting hydrodynamically in a viscous medium using the lattice-Boltzmann technique. Our model is based on raspberry-type viscous coupling and a force/counter-force formalism, which ensures that the system is force free. We consider several anisotropic shapes and characterize their hydrodynamic multipolar flow field. We demonstrate that shape-anisotropy can lead to the presence of a strong quadrupole and octupole moments, in addition to the principle dipole moment. The ability to simulate and characterize these higher-order moments will prove crucial for understanding the behavior of model swimmers in confining geometries.
How two-dimensional brick layer J-aggregates differ from linear ones: Excitonic properties and line broadening mechanisms
Authors: Dijkstra Arend G. , Duan Hong-Guang , Knoester Jasper , Nelson Keith A. , Cao Jianshu
Published: April 2016

We study the excitonic coupling and homogeneous spectral line width of brick layer J-aggregate films. We begin by analysing the structural information revealed by the two-exciton states probed in two-dimensional spectra. Our first main result is that the relation between the excitonic couplings and the spectral shift in a two-dimensional structure is different (larger shift for the same nearest neighbour coupling) from that in a one-dimensional structure, which leads to an estimation of dipolar coupling in two-dimensional lattices. We next investigate the mechanisms of homogeneous broadening—population relaxation and pure dephasing—and evaluate their relative importance in linear and two-dimensional aggregates. Our second main result is that pure dephasing dominates the line width in two-dimensional systems up to a crossover temperature, which explains the linear temperature dependence of the homogeneous line width. This is directly related to the decreased density of states at the band edge when compared with linear aggregates, thus reducing the contribution of population relaxation to dephasing. Pump-probe experiments are suggested to directly measure the lifetime of the bright state and can therefore support the proposed model.
Response properties of self-improving systems
Authors: Krakovsky Andrey
Published: April 2016

We observe that a sustained positivity (or negativity) of a system’s second-order response will result in a directional change of the system’s characteristics under the corresponding random exposure. We identify these changes with improvement (or decline) in the state of a system and introduce the concept of self-improving systems as systems which characteristics can sustainably improve under a random exposure. The resulting framework is of a general phenomenological nature and can be applied to complex systems across different areas of knowledge.
Hybrid grating reflectors: Origin of ultrabroad stopband
Authors: Park Gyeong Cheol , Taghizadeh Alireza , Chung Il-Sug
Published: April 2016

Hybrid grating (HG) reflectors with a high-refractive-index cap layer added onto a high contrast grating (HCG) provide a high reflectance close to 100% over a broader wavelength range than HCGs. The combination of a cap layer and a grating layer brings a strong Fabry-Perot (FP) resonance as well as a weak guided mode (GM) resonance. Most of the reflected power results from the FP resonance, while the GM resonance plays a key role in achieving a reflectance close to 100% as well as broadening the stopband. An HG sample with 7 InGaAlAs quantum wells included in the cap layer has been fabricated by directly wafer-bonding a III-V cap layer onto a Si grating layer. Its reflection property has been characterized. This heterogeneously integrated HG reflector may allow for a hybrid III-V on Si laser to be thermally efficient, which has promising prospects for silicon photonics light sources and high-speed operation.