bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pressure and cosolvent modulation of the catalytic activity of amyloid fibrils
Authors: Jaworek Michel W. , Schuabb Vitor , Winter Roland
Published: April 2018

We report on the effects of pressure and cosolvents on the catalytic activity of a designed amyloid fibril by applying a high-pressure stopped-flow methodology with rapid spectroscopic detection.
A [FeIII(Tp)(CN)3]− scorpionate-based complex as a building block for designing ion storage hosts (Tp: hydrotrispyrazolylborate)
Authors: Jiménez Juan-Ramón , Sugahara Akira , Okubo Masashi , Yamada Atsuo , Chamoreau Lise-Marie , Lisnard Laurent , Lescouëzec Rodrigue
Published: April 2018

Using a scorpionate-based complex as a building block, a new cyanide-based molecular material was investigated as a lithium-ion storage host.
Metabolite amyloid-like fibrils interact with model membranes
Authors: Shaham-Niv Shira , Rehak Pavel , Zaguri Dor , Kolusheva Sofiya , Král Petr , Gazit Ehud
Published: April 2018

Metabolite assemblies interaction with membranes further extend the “amyloid hypothesis” to include small metabolites which serve as amyloidogenic building blocks.
A target-responsive liposome activated by catalytic hairpin assembly enables highly sensitive detection of tuberculosis-related cytokine
Authors: Cui Haiyan , Bo Bing , Ma Jun , Tang Yingying , Zhao Jing , Xiao Heping
Published: April 2018

A method for the highly sensitive detection of tuberculosis-related cytokine is developed by using a target-responsive liposome activated by catalytic hairpin assembly.
Long-wavelength TCF-based fluorescence probes for the detection and intracellular imaging of biological thiols
Authors: Sedgwick Adam C. , Gardiner Jordan E. , Kim Gyoungmi , Yevglevskis Maksims , Lloyd Matthew D. , Jenkins A. Toby A. , Bull Steven D. , Yoon Juyoung , James Tony D.
Published: April 2018

Two ‘turn on’ TCF-based fluorescence probes were developed for the detection of biological thiols (TCF-GSH and TCFCl-GSH).
O–O bond cleavage via electrochemical reduction of a side-on peroxo dicopper model of hemocyanin
Authors: López I. , Porras-Gutiérrez A. G. , Douziech B. , Wojcik L. , Le Mest Y. , Kodera M. , Le Poul N.
Published: April 2018

The redox properties of the μ-η2:η2 peroxo complex [Cu2(H6M4h)(O2)]2+ were elucidated.
PEG-nanotube liquid crystals as templates for construction of surfactant-free gold nanorods
Authors: Kameta Naohiro , Shiroishi Hidenobu
Published: April 2018

Nanogrooves shaped by side-by-side alignment of PEG nanotubes in water precisely assisted growth of gold seeds to nanorods without surfactants.
Cocrystals of zonisamide: physicochemical characterization and sustained release solid forms
Authors: Aitipamula Srinivasulu , Cadden Joseph , Chow Pui Shan
Published: April 2018

A multi-API cocrystal containing two anti-obesity drugs, zonisamide and caffeine, was found to be promising for the development of a sustained release fixed-dose combination drug for the treatment of obesity.
The structure–electrochemical property relationship of quinone electrodes for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Miao Licheng , Liu Luojia , Shang Zhenfeng , Li Yixin , Lu Yong , Cheng Fangyi , Chen Jun
Published: April 2018

The structural influence on electrochemical properties of quinones in LIBs is unraveled by density functional theory calculations.
Ab initio investigation of the ground and excited states of MoO+,2+,− and their catalytic strength on water activation
Authors: Ariyarathna Isuru R. , Miliordos Evangelos
Published: April 2018

Ground and excited states of the titled molybdenum oxides and their reaction with water were studied with high level quantum chemical methodologies.
Thermochemical wastewater valorizationviaenhanced microbial toxicity tolerance
Authors: Jayakody Lahiru N. , Johnson Christopher W. , Whitham Jason M. , Giannone Richard J. , Black Brenna A. , Cleveland Nicholas S. , Klingeman Dawn M. , Michener William E. , Olstad Jessica L. , Vardon Derek R. , Brown Robert C. , Brown Steven D. , Hettich Robert L. , Guss Adam M. , Beckham Gregg T.
Published: April 2018

EngineeringPseudomonas putidafor enhanced protein quality control machinery improves its toxicity tolerance.
Ginnalin A from Kujin tea (Acer tataricum subsp. ginnala) exhibits a colorectal cancer chemoprevention effect via activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway
Authors: Bi Wu , He Chun-nian , Li Xiao-xiao , Zhou Liu-ying , Liu Rui-jie , Zhang Sai , Li Guo-qing , Chen Zhu-chu , Zhang Peng-fei
Published: April 2018

Ginnalin A may activate the Nrf2 signaling pathway through the upregulation of p62 and the inhibition of Keap1 to exert a cancer chemoprevention effect.
Supramolecular double networks of cellulose nanofibrils and algal polysaccharides with excellent wet mechanical properties
Authors: Benselfelt Tobias , Engström Joakim , Wågberg Lars
Published: April 2018

Supramolecular double network films, consisting of cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) entangled with the algal polysaccharides alginate or carrageenan, were prepared to achieve water-resistant CNF nanopapers with excellent mechanical properties in both the wet and dry states following the locking of the structures using Ca2+.
Chitosan nanoparticles’ functionality as redox active drugs through cytotoxicity, radical scavenging and cellular behaviour
Authors: Sarangapani Sreelatha , Patil Ajeetkumar , Ngeow Yoke Keng , Elsa Mohan Rosmin , Asundi Anand , Lang Matthew J.
Published: April 2018

The goal of the present study is to explore the mechanism of the ROS mediated effect of chitosan nanoparticles on acute T cell leukemia as redox active drug.
Effect of N-1 arylation of monastrol on kinesin Eg5 inhibition in glioma cell lines
Authors: Gonçalves Itamar Luís , Rockenbach Liliana , das Neves Gustavo Machado , Göethel Gabriela , Nascimento Fabiana , Porto Kagami Luciano , Figueiró Fabrício , Oliveira de Azambuja Gabriel , de Fraga Dias Amanda , Amaro Andressa , de Souza Lauro Mera , da Rocha Pitta Ivan , Avila Daiana Silva , Kawano Daniel Fábio , Garcia Solange Cristina , Battastini Ana Maria Oliveira , Eifler-Lima Vera Lucia
Published: April 2018

An original and focused library of dihydropyrimidin-2-thiones N-1 aryl substituted derived from monastrol was designed and synthesized in order to discover a more effective Eg5 ligand.
Remarkable promoting effects of BiOCl on the room-temperature selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol over supported Pt catalysts
Authors: Liu Juanjuan , Han Feng , Chen Lingze , Lu Linfang , Zou Shihui , Zhao Hongting
Published: April 2018

BiOCl, in addition to traditional Bi metal, could remarkably promote the catalytic performance of Pt/MOx in the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol.
A pyrrole-containing cleft-type halogen bonding receptor for oxoanion recognition and sensing in aqueous solvent media
Authors: Lim Jason Y. C. , Beer Paul D.
Published: April 2018

A halogen bonding pyrrole-bis(iodotriazolium) motif facilitates rarely observed augmented binding affinities and selective sensing of oxoanions (H2PO4− and SO42−).
Constructing efficient organic photovoltaic devices with a spirobifluorene based water/alcohol-soluble cathode interlayer
Authors: Miao Yang , Xu Yincai , Zhang Yuewei , Yan Xianju , Ye Kaiqi , Wang Yue
Published: April 2018

Water/alcohol-soluble 3D-structured spirobifluorene based cathode interlayers (CILs) were synthesized and employed to fabricate high performance polymer solar cells (PSCs).
Size-dependent endocytosis and a dynamic-release model of nanoparticles
Authors: Pan Ruihao , Liu Guoqiang , Li Yongsan , Wei Yen , Li Shurun , Tao Lei
Published: April 2018

A series of size-controlled nanocapsules have been simply prepared through electrostatic precipitation. The properties of these nanocapsules as potential drug carriers have been studied in detail.
Ni nanotube array-based electrodes by electrochemical alloying and de-alloying for efficient water splitting
Authors: Teng Xue , Wang Jianying , Ji Lvlv , Lv Yaokang , Chen Zuofeng
Published: April 2018

Ni NTA-based electrodesviafacile electrodeposition and selective electrochemical dealloying achieve superior performance in water splitting.
Rh(iii)-Catalyzed regioselective mono- and di-iodination of azobenzenes using alkyl iodide
Authors: Li Jixing , Cong Wenxia , Gao Zeng , Zhang Jinlong , Yang Huameng , Jiang Gaoxi
Published: April 2018

We developed a highly chemoselective oxidative access toortho-iodinated azobenzenes by Rh(iii)-catalysis with alkyl iodide as the iodinating reagent.
Synthesis, thin-film self-assembly, and pyrolysis of ruthenium-containing polyferrocenylsilane block copolymers
Authors: Al-Kharusi Huda Nasser , Wu Lipeng , Whittell George , Harniman Robert , Manners Ian
Published: April 2018

The self-assembly of a ruthenium-containing polyferrocenylsilane in bulk and thin films yielded spherical or cylindrical domains in a PS matrix; pyrolysis provided a route to bimetallic Fe/Ru NPs for potential catalytic applications.
Molecular modeling studies of 1,2,4-triazine derivatives as novel h-DAAO inhibitors by 3D-QSAR, docking and dynamics simulations
Authors: Qian Ping Ping , Wang Shuai , Feng Kai Rui , Ren Yu Jie
Published: April 2018

Computational modeling methods were successfully applied to discover new 1,2,4-triazine compounds as potential h-DAAO inhibitors.
Free-standing three-dimensional hollow bacterial cellulose structures with controlled geometryviapatterned superhydrophobic–hydrophilic surfaces
Authors: Laromaine Anna , Tronser Tina , Pini Ivana , Parets Sebastià , Levkin Pavel A. , Roig Anna
Published: April 2018

Biosynthesis of multiple shapes of 3D self-standing BC structures in a static one-step process to fabricate advanced materials.
Modelling phosphorus uptake in microalgae
Authors: Singh Dipali , Nedbal Ladislav , Ebenhöh Oliver
Published: April 2018

Phosphorus (P) is an essential non-renewable nutrient that frequently limits plant growth. It is the foundation of modern agriculture and, to a large extent, demand for P is met from phosphate rock deposits which are limited and becoming increasingly scarce. Adding an extra stroke to this already desolate picture is the fact that a high percentage of P, through agricultural runoff and waste, makes its way into rivers and oceans leading to eutrophication and collapse of ecosystems. Therefore, there is a critical need to practise P recovery from waste and establish a circular economy applicable to P resources. The potential of microalgae to uptake large quantities of P and use of this P enriched algal biomass as biofertiliser has been regarded as a promising way to redirect P from wastewater to the field. This also makes the study of molecular mechanisms underlying P uptake and storage in microalgae of great interest. In the present paper, we review phosphate models, which express the growth rate as a function of intra- and extracellular phosphorus content for better understanding of phosphate uptake and dynamics of phosphate pools.
Extracellular vesicles: important collaborators in cancer progression
Authors: Sato Shinya , Weaver Alissa M.
Published: April 2018

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane vesicles that are released from cells and mediate cell–cell communication. EVs carry protein, lipid, and nucleic acid cargoes that interact with recipient cells to alter their phenotypes. Evidence is accumulating that tumor-derived EVs can play important roles in all steps of cancer progression. Here, we review recent studies reporting critical roles for EVs in four major areas of cancer progression: promotion of cancer invasiveness and motility, enhancement of angiogenesis and vessel permeability, conditioning premetastatic niches, and immune suppression.
Low complexity reconfigurable complex filters for PAPR reduction of OFDM signals: analysis, design and FPGA implementation
Authors: Tran Van‐Nghia
Published: April 2018

In this study, the authors analyse the reconfigurable filtering techniques based on the tone reservation (TR) set and data bearing subcarriers in the time domain and frequency domain to reduce the peak‐to‐average power ratio (PAPR) of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signals. The hardware architecture of these filters is proposed and mapped onto Xilinx Artix‐7 field programmable gate array (FPGA) with 16‐bit fixed‐point representation to achieve a trade‐off between numerical accuracy and hardware resource utilisation. The simulation results of the proposed methods and experimental results on FPGA for 16‐quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) and 64‐QAM modulation are presented. These results show that the PAPR of OFDM signals is significantly reduced (about 7 dB) after 2–4 iterations. Performance comparison of the proposed methods with some typical methods of PAPR reduction, such as clipping‐and‐filtering and TR techniques, is presented.
Observer‐based output feedback compensator design for linear parabolic PDEs with local piecewise control and pointwise observation in space
Authors: Liu Ya‐Qiang , Wang Jun‐Wei , Sun Chang‐Yin
Published: April 2018

This study presents an observer‐based output feedback compensator design for a linear parabolic partial differential equation (PDE), where a finite number of actuators and sensors are active over partial areas and at specified points in the spatial domain, respectively. In the proposed design method, a Luenberger‐type PDE observer is first constructed by using the non‐collocated pointwise observation to exponentially track the PDE state. Based on the estimated state, a collocated local piecewise state feedback controller is then proposed. By employing a Lyapunov direct method, integration by parts, Wirtinger's inequality and first mean value theorem for definite integrals, sufficient conditions on the exponential stability of the resulting closed‐loop coupled PDEs are presented in terms of standard linear matrix inequalities. Furthermore, both open‐loop and closed‐loop well‐posedness analysis results are also established by the ‐semigroup method. Numerical simulation results are presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed design method.
Robust sideslip angle observer with regional stability constraint for an uncertain singular intelligent vehicle system
Authors: Chen Te , Chen Long , Cai Yingfeng , Xu Xing
Published: April 2018

The sideslip angle is an important state parameter for vehicle stability control; in this study, a robust sideslip angle observer with regional stability constraint is presented. In order to achieve more accurate sideslip angle estimation, the vehicle heading angle and yaw angle are distinguished and the relational expression between vehicle heading angle, yaw angle and sideslip angle was applied to the singular vehicle modelling process. Considering the time‐varying tire cornering stiffness, the uncertain singular vehicle model is established by integrating the singular vehicle dynamic equation and model uncertainty. Then, a robust sideslip angle observer whose pole assignment has the regional stability constraint is designed. Simulation studies and experimental results illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed sideslip angle estimation method.
Electrification of a landing gear – actuators with toothed coupling
Authors: Enrici Philippe , Jac Julien , Ziegler Nicolas , Dumas Florian , Matt Daniel
Published: April 2018

This study presents the design of an electric motorisation for a landing gear. The concept of More Electric Aircraft is currently with one of the major concerns of all aircraft manufacturers and equipment suppliers throughout the world. The objective consists of eliminating, to the greatest extent possible, the use of any actuator containing fluid pressure and increasing the use of electric actuators. This applies to all airplane orders and accessories. The choice of this motorisation was to design synchronous machines with toothed coupling. When actuators of very high mass performance are required, the use of this type of actuator is an interesting solution, compared with conventional actuators with polar coupling. The principles used in our design method are based on two‐dimensional finite‐element simulations. The study and the calculation can be performed in two dimensions from a simple element called an elementary pattern, representing the interaction of magnets with stator teeth. Following a summary presentation of this type of actuator and its dimensioning, two prototypes are presented. To replace the hydraulic cylinders in the landing gear of an A320 aircraft, a vernier machine, and a multi‐air gap linear motor has been dimensioned, manufactured and tested.
Massive MIMO antenna system for 5G base stations with directive ports and switched beamsteering capabilities
Authors: Al‐Tarifi Monjed A. , Sharawi Mohammad S. , Shamim Atif
Published: April 2018

A 72‐port (288 antennas) triangular‐shaped massive multiple‐input–multiple‐output (mMIMO) antenna system is presented for fifth generation (5G) base stations. Each side of the antenna system consists of three layers with a total size of 44.4 × 29.6 × 0.1524 cm3, and contains 24 ports. Each port (subarray) consists of 2 × 2 patches on the top layer, their feeding network with pre‐calculated phases is on the bottom layer and the ground plane is in the middle one. Each port is fed in a way to tilt its beam direction with respect to others to achieve uncorrelated individual patterns. The antenna system is the first to support two operating modes: simultaneous individual port operation (i.e. 72‐port MIMO) and mMIMO array operation (i.e. with beam switching). The measured bandwidth is 100 MHz that covers the band from 3.45 to 3.55 GHz. The measured gain of a single port equals to 9.41 dBi. The envelop correlation coefficient does not exceed 0.1198. A beamsteering method to steer the beam of each 24‐port side to different locations in the space is presented and applied based on the non‐uniform port patterns (unlike most conventional methods). Thirteen switched beams are obtained with centre angle coverage up to 34° in elevation with maximum gain of 19.5 dBi.
Overcurrent protection for gyrotrons on the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak
Authors: Xu Weiye , Xu Handong , Feng Jianqiang , Yang Yong , Hu Huaichuan , Liu Fukun , Tang Yunying
Published: April 2018

An overcurrent protection system is developed to ensure the safety of the gyrotrons in the electron cyclotron resonance heating system on the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak. Both the fast response overcurrent protection subsystem and the slow response overcurrent protection subsystem were developed. The current transformers were used as the current sensors in the fast response protection subsystem. The models of the current transformers and the superconducting magnet were built to analyse the effect of the environmental magnetic field on the current transformers using finite integration method. This analysis method is novel and the analysis results show that the current transformers should be placed at a distance >2.2 m from the magnet centre to ensure its normal work. The shunts were used to monitor the currents in the slow response protection subsystem. An anti‐fuse FPGA and a timer is used to realise the signal processing in the fast protection circuit and the slow protection circuit, respectively. The response time of the fast protection circuit is <100 ns, and the response time of the slow protection circuit is <31 μs.
UKF‐based soft sensor design for joint estimation of chemical processes with multi‐sensor information fusion and infrequent measurements
Authors: Mosalanejad Mohammad , Arefi Mohammad Mehdi
Published: April 2018

Having a proper and real‐time process monitoring and control requires accurate and frequent measurement of process variables. However, using a particular sensor for an important variable has high cost and low precision limitations. In such cases, laboratory analyses are an excellent choice for their high precision, but as their measurements are obtained manually and infrequently, they are not practical for every application in industries. This study presents an advanced soft sensor for a highly non‐linear continuous stirred‐tank reactor (CSTR) system which is observed with multiple sensors with different sampling rates under the assumption that there are different kinds of non‐idealities in data acquisition for sensors. Some rules are assigned in order to vanquish these non‐idealities in joint estimation algorithm. Therefore, the problem of simultaneous state and parameter estimation based on data fusion technique and unscented Kalman filter (UKF) is presented, and the effectiveness of the proposed method is investigated. Moreover, the proposed method is such that the effects of the inaccurate sensor on the parameter estimation are reduced. Simulation results on the estimation of four states and two parameters in a typical CSTR process show the proficiency of the proposed approach.
K-Stacker: Keplerian image recombination for the direct detection of exoplanets
Authors: Nowak M. , Le Coroller H. , Arnold L. , Dohlen K. , Estevez D. , Fusco T. , Sauvage J.-F. , Vigan A.
Published: April 2018

Context. Angular differential imaging (ADI) takes advantage of the field rotation naturally induced by altitude-azimuth mounts to reduce static speckle noise. Used with facilities like SPHERE at the VLT, this technique allows one to achieve contrast ratios of 10−6. The ADI method, however, intrinsically limits the useful exposure time on a given target (to about 1–2 h per night). Detecting fainter exoplanets requires the combination of multiple observations acquired on different nights, potentially spread over several weeks or months, but the unknown orbital motion of the planet makes it particularly dififcult to properly combine all observations. In the near future, with the upcoming generation of Extremely Large Telescopes (ELTs) with increased resolution, the orbital motion may even become a problem on a single night.

Aims. We present a proof of concept for a new algorithm which can be used to detect exoplanets in high-contrast images. The algorithm properly combines multiple observations acquired during different nights, taking into account the orbital motion of the planet.

Methods. We simulate SPHERE/IRDIS time series of observations in which we blindly inject planets on random orbits, at random levels of signal-to-noise ratio (S/N), below the detection limit (down to S∕N ≃ 1.5). We then use an optimization algorithm to “guess” the orbital parameters, and take into account the orbital motion to properly recombine the different images and eventually detect the planets.

Results. We show that an optimization algorithm can indeed be used to find undetected planets in temporal sequences of images, even if they are spread over orbital time scales. As expected, the typical gain in S/N is √n, n being the number of observations combined. We find that the K-Stacker algorithm is able de-orbit and combine the images to reach a level of performance similar to what could be expected if the planet was not moving. We find recovery rates of ≃ 50% at S∕N = 5. We also find that the algorithm is able to determine the position of the planet in individual frames at one pixel precision, even despite the fact that the planet itself is below the detection limit in each frame.

Conclusions. Our simulations show that K-Stacker can be used to detect planets at very low S/N level, down to ≃2 in individual frames, for series of ten images. This could be used to increase the contrast limit of current exoplanet imaging instruments and to discover fainter bodies. We also suggest that the ability of K-Stacker to determine the position of the planet in every image of the time series could be used as part of a new observing strategy in which long exposures would be broken into shorter ones spread over months. This could make it possible to determine the orbital parameters of a planet without multiple high-S/N (>5) detections.
Optical validation and characterization of Planck PSZ1 sources at the Canary Islands observatories
Authors: Barrena R. , Streblyanska A. , Ferragamo A. , Rubiño-Martín J. A. , Aguado-Barahona A. , Tramonte D. , Génova-Santos R. T. , Hempel A. , Lietzen H. , Aghanim N. , Arnaud M. , Böhringer H. , Chon G. , Democles J. , Dahle H. , Douspis M. , Lasenby A. N. , Mazzotta P. , Melin J. B. , Pointecouteau E. , Pratt G. W. , Rossetti M. , van der Burg R. F. J.
Published: April 2018

We have identified new clusters and characterized previously unknown Planck Sunyaev–Zeldovich (SZ) sources from the first Planck catalogue of SZ sources (PSZ1). The results presented here correspond to an optical follow-up observational programme developed during approximately one year (2014) at Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, using the 2.5 m Isaac Newton telescope, the 3.5 m Telescopio Nazionale Galileo, the 4.2 m William Herschel telescope and the 10.4 m Gran Telescopio Canarias. We have characterized 115 new PSZ1 sources using deep optical imaging and spectroscopy. We adopted robust criteria in order to consolidate the SZ counterparts by analysing the optical richness, the 2D galaxy distribution, and velocity dispersions of clusters. Confirmed counterparts are considered to be validated if they are rich structures, well aligned with the Planck PSZ1 coordinate and show relatively high velocity dispersion. Following this classification, we confirm 53 clusters, which means that 46% of this PSZ1 subsample has been validated and characterized with this technique. Sixty-two SZ sources (54% of this PSZ1 subset) remain unconfirmed. In addition, we find that the fraction of unconfirmed clusters close to the galactic plane (at |b| < 25°) is greater than that at higher galactic latitudes (|b| > 25°), which indicates contamination produced by radio emission of galactic dust and gas clouds on these SZ detections. In fact, in the majority of the cases, we detect important galactic cirrus in the optical images, mainly in the SZ target located at low galactic latitudes, which supports this hypothesis.
C+ distribution around S 1 in ρ Ophiuchi
Authors: Mookerjea B. , Sandell G. , Vacca W. , Chambers E. , Güsten R.
Published: April 2018

We analyze a [C II] 158 μm map obtained with the L2 GREAT receiver on SOFIA of the reflection nebula illuminated by the early B star S 1 in the ρ Oph A cloud core. This data set has been complemented with maps of CO(3–2), 13CO(3–2), and C18O(3–2), observed as a part of the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) Gould Belt Survey, with archival HCO+(4–3) JCMT data, as well as with [O I] 63 and 145 μm imaging with Herschel/PACS. The [C II] emission is completely dominated by the strong emission from the photon dominated region (PDR) in the nebula surrounding S 1 expanding into the dense Oph A molecular cloud west and south of S 1. The [C II] emission is significantly blueshifted relative to the CO spectra and also relative to the systemic velocity, particularly in the northwestern part of the nebula. The [C II] lines are broader toward the center of the S 1 nebula and narrower toward the PDR shell. The [C II] lines are strongly self-absorbed over an extended region in the S 1 PDR. Based on the strength of the [13C II] F = 2–1 hyperfine component, [C II] is significantly optically thick over most of the nebula. CO and 13CO(3–2) spectra are strongly self-absorbed, while C18O(3–2) is single peaked and centered in the middle of the self-absorption. We have used a simple two-layer LTE model to characterize the background and foreground cloud contributing to the [C II] emission. From this analysis we estimated the extinction due to the foreground cloud to be ~9.9 mag, which is slightly less than the reddening estimated toward S 1. Since some of the hot gas in the PDR is not traced by low-J CO emission, this result appears quite plausible. Using a plane parallel PDR model with the observed [O I](145)/[C II] brightness ratio and an estimated FUV intensity of 3100–5000 G0 suggests that the density of the [C II] emitting gas is ~3–4  × 103 cm−3.
Quantitative Evaluation of Various Preparations and Extracts of the Male Contraceptive Justicia gendarussa and Identification of a New Aminobenzyl Derivative
Authors: Mnatsakanyan Mariam , Queiroz Emerson , Marcourt Laurence , Prajogo Bambang , Wolfender Jean-Luc
Published: April 2018

Justicia gendarussa is a medicinal plant found in different regions of Indonesia and used in decoctions by Papuan tribes to reduce male fertility. An enriched ethanolic extract of this plant has been used in the frame of clinical trials in Indonesia to evaluate its male contraceptive activity. Previous studies have indicated that the flavonoid gendarusin A may have a role in the male contraception properties of this plant. In addition, the level of aminobenzyl derivatives was lowered as a safety precaution. In order to obtain a comprehensive chemical profile of the methanolic plant extract, it was analysed by HPLC-PDA-ESI-MS and UHPLC-TOF-HRMS. The same method was also applied to profile extracts of the same plant material from different Indonesian regions, a water decoction used traditionally, and the enriched extract used in clinical trials. This allowed for the dereplication of all previously known flavonoids and newly reported amides, and permitted highlighting the presence of the potentially new aminobenzyl derivative. Targeted isolation of this new amide was performed using medium-pressure liquid chromatography. NMR and HRMS allowed for the establishment of the identity of the novel compound. The same procedure was used to obtain pure standards for quantitative studies. Quantitation of the major compounds was performed for different extracts using HPLC-UV. Significant differences were observed between the samples. Although gendarusin A was the main compound in all samples, it occurred in different amounts in the batches of dried material obtained from different Indonesian regions. The enriched extract contained mainly gendarusin A, as did the traditional decoction, but the level of the aminobenzyl derivatives was significantly lower.
Besteht bei Rehabilitanden mit Typ-2-Diabetes ein Zusammenhang zwischen DMP-Einschreibung und Bezug einer Erwerbsminderungsrente?
Authors: Schmidt Christian , Hagen Bernd , Baumert Jens , Ziese Thomas
Published: April 2018

Bei der Versorgung von Personen mit Diabetes mellitus im erwerbsfähigen Alter können rehabilitative Maßnahmen die Behandlung stärken. In der Richtlinie des Disease-Management-Programms (DMP) für Typ-2-Diabetes (T2D) wird diese Behandlungsoption ausdrücklich benannt. Mit Forschungsdaten der Rentenversicherung wird gezeigt, dass bei Rehabilitanden mit T2D und DMP-Einschreibung die Chance auf eine spätere Erwerbsminderungsrente unabhängig von relevanten Kovariablen um 23% niedriger liegt als ohne DMP-Einschreibung.
Clinical Effectiveness and Potential Survival Benefit of US-Guided High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Therapy in Patients with Advanced-Stage Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Marinova Milka , Huxold Hannah C. , Henseler Jana , Mücke Martin , Conrad Rupert , Rolke Roman , Ahmadzadehfar Hojjat , Rauch Maximilian , Fimmers Rolf , Luechters Guido , Cuhls Henning , Radbruch Lukas , Schild Hans H. , Strunk Holger
Published: April 2018

Purpose Pancreatic cancer (PaC) is a life-limiting tumor with a wide range of incapacitating symptoms such as cancer pain in more than 80 % of patients. This prospective interventional study addresses the clinical effectiveness of ultrasound-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment for patients with advanced-stage PaC, including pain perception, tumor size and survival benefit.

Materials and Methods 50 patients with late-stage PaC underwent HIFU. Clinical assessment included evaluation of tumor volume by imaging and pain burden (pain severity, pain sensation, interference with daily activities) using the Brief Pain Inventory at baseline and follow-up. Median overall survival, progression-free survival and time to local progression were estimated using Kaplan-Meier analysis.

Results In 84 % of patients, significant early relief of cancer-induced abdominal pain was achieved by HIFU independent of metastatic status; it persisted during follow-up. Tumor volume reduction was 37.8 ± 18.1 % after 6 weeks and 57.9 ± 25.9 % after 6 months. 21 % of HIFU-treated patients had local tumor progression with a median time of 14.4 months from intervention. The median overall survival and progression-free survival were 16.2 and 16.9 months from diagnosis and 8.3 and 6.8 months from intervention.

Conclusion In patients with advanced pancreatic cancer and otherwise limited treatment options, HIFU resulted in significant early and long-lasting pain relief and tumor size reduction over time independent of metastatic status. Clinical data suggest an additional potential survival benefit.
Historischer Fall einer extraskelettalen synovialen Chondromatose im Halsbereich
Authors: Reichelt Angela , Jansen Dorothea
Published: April 2018

Die primäre synoviale Chondromatose (SC) ist eine benigne, nodulär konfigurierte, kartilaginöse, von metaplastischen synovialen Zellen ausgehende Weichgewebsvermehrung. Der vorliegende historische Fall zeigt eine extraskelettale SC in der Nackenmuskulatur einer damals 58-jährigen Patientin. Das Röntgenbild zeigt eine umschriebene, makronoduläre Raumforderung im Weichgewebe des Nackens der Frau. Als Ursprung wird die synoviale Auskleidung der Bursa subligamentosa nuchalis vermutet. Die Läsion wurde chirurgisch entfernt und trat innerhalb der folgenden 35 Jahre nicht wieder auf.
Kortison bei Tumoren und Infektionen des Rückenmarks – Rationale, Indikation und klinische Ergebnisse
Authors: Zausinger Stefan
Published: April 2018

Glukokortikoide sind regelmäßiger Bestandteil der Behandlung von Patienten mit Tumoren oder Infektionen des Rückenmarks; die Rationale dafür ist ihr postulierter inhibierender Effekt auf inflammatorische Prozesse und Ödembildung. Es besteht jedoch ein weitreichender Mangel an experimentellen und klinischen Studien, die auf eine vorwiegende oder alleinige Betroffenheit des spinalen intraduralen Raums und des Rückenmarks fokussieren; die meisten Studien existieren in Bereich der Effekte von Glukokortikoiden bei metastatisch bedingter Kompression des Myelons, wo ein Benefit der behandelten Patienten gezeigt werden konnte.

Die folgenden Schlussfolgerungen können gemacht werden: 1) Nationale Behandlungsleitlinien und Metareviews in der Literatur unterstützen den Einsatz von Glukokortikoiden bei tumorösen und infektiösen Erkrankungen des Zentralen Nervensystems. 2) Die Evidenz für den Einsatz von Glukokortikoiden bei Patienten mit Tumoren oder Infektionen des Rückenmarks ist schwach mit Ausnahme der Indikation bei maligner Kompression des Rückenmarks. 3) Glukokortikoide werden überwiegend auf Basis der individuellen Toleranz der Patienten und der klinischen und bildgebenden Therapieffekte gegeben, wobei zumeist keine etablierten Empfehlungen hinsichtlich der Wahl des Wirkstoffs, dessen Therapieregime oder der Dauer der Behandlung existieren. Der am breitesten untersuchte und verwendete Wirkstoff ist Dexamethason. 4) Insbesondere die Langzeitbehandlung mit Glukokortikoiden birgt signifikante Risiken hinsichtlich schwerwiegender unerwünschter Wirkungen; eine regelmäßige Reevaluation von Indikation und Behandlungseffekten wird empfohlen, ebenso eine möglichst rasche Reduktion und Beendigung der Therapie mit Glukokortikoiden.
Fremdmaterialfreie vordere Kreuzbandersatzplastik mit Hamstring-Transplantat nach Felmet
Authors: Chmielnicki Marc , Siebert Wolfram , Prokop Axel
Published: April 2018

Die vordere Kreuzbandruptur ist eine häufige Sportverletzung. Scherbelastungen können den Gelenkknorpel nachhaltig schädigen und zu einer frühzeitigen Arthrose führen. Die ligamentäre Stabilisierung des Kniegelenkes ist daher notwendig. Die arthroskopische vordere Kreuzbandersatzplastik ist heute ein Standardverfahren in der Kniechirurgie. Häufig erfolgt die Fixierung des Transplantates mit Implantaten wie z. B. Interferenzschrauben. Das fremdmaterialfreie Verfahren in der Technik nach Felmet erlaubt eine biologische, mechanisch stabile Fixierung der Hamstring-Transplantate.
Metallic-packaging fiber Bragg grating sensor based on ultrasonic welding for strain-insensitive temperature measurement
Authors: Zhu Lianqing , Yang Runtao , Zhang Yumin , Dong Mingli , Lou Xiaoping
Published: April 2018

In this paper, a metallic-packaging fiber Bragg grating temperature sensor characterized by a strain insensitive design is demonstrated. The sensor is fabricated by the one-step ultrasonic welding technique using type-II fiber Bragg grating combined with an aluminum alloy substrate. Finite element analysis is used to perform theoretical evaluation. The result of the experiment illustrates that the metallic-packaging temperature sensor is insensitive to longitudinal strain. The sensor’s temperature sensitivity is 36 pm/°C over the range of 50-110 °C, with the correlation coefficient (R2) being 0.999. The sensor’s temporal response is 40 s at a sudden temperature change from 21 °C to 100 °C. The proposed sensor can be applied on reliable and precise temperature measurement.
Uniqueness of the joint measurement and the structure of the set of compatible quantum measurements
Authors: Guerini Leonardo , Terra Cunha Marcelo
Published: April 2018

We address the problem of characterising the compatible tuples of measurements that admit a unique joint measurement. We derive a uniqueness criterion based on the method of perturbations and apply it to show that extremal points of the set of compatible tuples admit a unique joint measurement, while all tuples that admit a unique joint measurement lie in the boundary of such a set. We also provide counter-examples showing that none of these properties are both necessary and sufficient, thus completely describing the relation between the joint measurement uniqueness and the structure of the compatible set. As a by-product of our investigations, we completely characterise the extremal and boundary points of the set of general tuples of measurements and of the subset of compatible tuples.
Growth of boron-doped few-layer graphene by molecular beam epitaxy
Authors: Soares G. V. , Nakhaie S. , Heilmann M. , Riechert H. , Lopes J. M. J.
Published: April 2018

We investigated the growth of boron-doped few-layer graphene on α-Al2O3 (0001) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy using two different growth approaches: one where boron was provided during the entire graphene synthesis and the second where boron was provided only during the second half of the graphene growth run. Electrical measurements show a higher p-type carrier concentration for samples fabricated utilizing the second approach, with a remarkable modulation in the carrier concentration of almost two orders of magnitude in comparison to the pristine graphene film. The results concerning the influence of the boron flux at different growth stages of graphene on the electrical and physicochemical properties of the films are presented.
Study of the B-site ion behaviour in the multiferroic perovskite bismuth iron chromium oxide
Authors: McBride Bethany R. , Lieschke Jonathon , Berlie Adam , Cortie David L. , Playford Helen Y. , Lu Teng , Narayanan Narendirakumar , Withers Ray L. , Yu Dehong , Liu Yun
Published: April 2018

A simple, near-ambient pressure solid-state method was developed to nominally synthesize BiFe0.5Cr0.5O3. The procedure allowed the gram-scale production of multiferroic samples with appreciable purity and large amounts of Cr incorporation that were suitable for systematic structural investigation by neutron, X-ray, and electron diffraction in tandem with physical characterization of magnetic and ferroelectric properties. The rhombohedrally distorted perovskite phase was assigned to the space group R3c by way of X-ray and neutron powder diffraction analysis. Through a combination of magnetometry and muon spin relaxation, it is evident that there is magnetic ordering in the BFCO phase consistent with G-type antiferromagnetism and a TN ∼ 400 K. There is no clear evidence for chemical ordering of Fe and Cr in the B-site of the perovskite structure and this result is rationalized by density functional theory and bond valence simulations that show a lowered energy associated with a B-site disordered structure. We believe that our contribution of a new, low-complexity method for the synthesis of BFO type samples, and dialogue about realising certain types of ordering in oxide perovskite systems, will assist in the further development of multiferroics for next-generation devices.
Contribution of photocurrent mechanism and influence of plasma length in THz generation by two-color laser induced plasma
Authors: Alirezaee Hajar , Sharifian Mehdi
Published: April 2018

The contribution of the photocurrent mechanism has been investigated in terahertz (THz) generation in laser-induced gas plasma. This study was done through comparing the THz amplitude for two phase differences φ=0, π/2 between the fundamental pulse and its second harmonic. Our particle-in-cell simulation result showed that this mechanism played the most important role in the two-color regime with a low-frequency range. We also investigated the effect of the plasma channel length on generated THz amplitude, and it was found that THz amplitude would depend significantly on the plasma channel length.
Single crystalline SmB6 nanowires for self-powered, broadband photodetectors covering mid-infrared
Authors: Zhou Yong , Lai Jiawei , Kong Lingjian , Ma Junchao , Lin Zhu , Lin Fang , Zhu Rui , Xu Jun , Huang Shiu-Ming , Tang Dongsheng , Liu Song , Zhang Zhensheng , Liao Zhi-Min , Sun Dong , Yu Dapeng
Published: April 2018

Self-powered photodetectors with a broadband response have attracted great attention due to their potential applications in sensing, imaging, communication, and spectroscopy. Specifically, those with the detection wavelength range covering mid-infrared at room temperature are very challenging and highly desired. Here, the photoresponse of self-powered SmB6 photodetectors is demonstrated through the spatially resolved photocurrent mapping. The photocurrent originates from the interface between the SmB6 and Au electrodes due to the charge separation by built-in electric fields at the interface. It exhibits a stable photoresponse over broadband wavelengths ranging from 488 nm to 10.6 μm at room-temperature. Our results suggest that the chemical vapor deposition grown SmB6 nanowires could be promising candidates for future broadband self-powered detectors and pave the way toward SmB6-based optoelectronic applications.
Atomically thin transition metal layers: Atomic layer stabilization and metal-semiconductor transition
Authors: Hwang Jeongwoon , Oh Young Jun , Kim Jiyoung , Sung Myung Mo , Cho Kyeongjae
Published: April 2018

We have performed first-principle calculations to explore the possibility of synthesizing atomically thin transition metal (TM) layers. Buckled structures as well as planar structures of elemental 2D TM layers result in significantly higher formation energies compared with sp-bonded elemental 2D materials with similar structures, such as silicene and phosphorene. It is shown that the TM layers can be stabilized by surface passivation with HS, C6H5S2, or O, and O passivation is most effective. The surface oxygen passivation can improve stability leading to thermodynamically stable TM monolayers except Au, which is the most non-reactive metal element. Such stabilized TM monolayers also show an electronic structure transition from metallic state of free-standing TM layer to semiconducting O-passivated Mo and W monolayers with band gaps of 0.20–1.38 eV.
Formation of 1.4 MeV runaway electron flows in air using a solid-state generator with 10 MV/ns voltage rise rate
Authors: Mesyats G. A. , Pedos M. S. , Rukin S. N. , Rostov V. V. , Romanchenko I. V. , Sadykova A. G. , Sharypov K. A. , Shpak V. G. , Shunailov S. A. , Ul'masculov M. R. , Yalandin M. I.
Published: April 2018

Fulfillment of the condition that the voltage rise time across an air gap is comparable with the time of electron acceleration from a cathode to an anode allows a flow of runaway electrons (REs) to be formed with relativistic energies approaching that determined by the amplitude of the voltage pulse. In the experiment described here, an RE energy of 1.4 MeV was observed by applying a negative travelling voltage pulse of 860-kV with a maximum rise rate of 10 MV/ns and a rise time of 100-ps. The voltage pulse amplitude was doubled at the cathode of the 2-cm-long air gap due to the delay of conventional pulsed breakdown. The above-mentioned record-breaking voltage pulse of ∼120 ps duration with a peak power of 15 GW was produced by an all-solid-state pulsed power source utilising pulse compression/sharpening in a multistage gyromagnetic nonlinear transmission line.
Vacancy-type defects in Al2O3/GaN structure probed by monoenergetic positron beams
Authors: Uedono Akira , Nabatame Toshihide , Egger Werner , Koschine Tönjes , Hugenschmidt Christoph , Dickmann Marcel , Sumiya Masatomo , Ishibashi Shoji
Published: April 2018

Defects in the Al2O3(25 nm)/GaN structure were probed by using monoenergetic positron beams. Al2O3 films were deposited on GaN by atomic layer deposition at 300 °C. Temperature treatment above 800 °C leads to the introduction of vacancy-type defects in GaN due to outdiffusion of atoms from GaN into Al2O3. The width of the damaged region was determined to be 40–50 nm from the Al2O3/GaN interface, and some of the vacancies were identified to act as electron trapping centers. In the Al2O3 film before and after annealing treatment at 300–900 °C, open spaces with three different sizes were found to coexist. The density of medium-sized open spaces started to decrease above 800 °C, which was associated with the interaction between GaN and Al2O3. Effects of the electron trapping/detrapping processes of interface states on the flat band voltage and the defects in GaN were also discussed.
Structural investigation of (111) oriented (BiFeO3)(1-x)Λ/(LaFeO3)xΛ superlattices by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Belhadi J. , Yousfi S. , Bouyanfif H. , El Marssi M.
Published: April 2018

(BiFeO3)(1-x)Λ/(LaFeO3)xΛ superlattices (SLs) with varying x have been grown by pulsed laser deposition on (111) oriented SrTiO3 substrates. In order to obtain good epitaxy and flat samples, a conducting SrRuO3 buffer has been deposited prior to the superlattices to screen the polar mismatch for such (111) SrTiO3 orientation. X-ray diffraction reciprocal space mapping on a different family of planes was collected and evidenced a room temperature structural change at x = 0.5 from a rhombohedral/monoclinic structure for rich BiFeO3 to an orthorhombic symmetry for rich LaFeO3. This symmetry change has been confirmed by Raman spectroscopy and demonstrates the different phase stability compared to similar SLs grown on (100) SrTiO3. The strongly anisotropic strain and oxygen octahedral rotation/tilt system compatibility at the interfaces probably explain the orientation dependence of the phase stability in such superlattices.