bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Heparin and heparan sulfate proteoglycans promote HIV-1 p17 matrix protein oligomerization: computational, biochemical and biological implications
Authors: Bugatti Antonella , Paiardi Giulia , Urbinati Chiara , Chiodelli Paola , Orro Alessandro , Uggeri Matteo , Milanesi Luciano , Caruso Arnaldo , Caccuri Francesca , D’Ursi Pasqualina , Rusnati Marco
Published: October 2019

p17 matrix protein released by HIV+ cells interacts with leukocytes heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs), CXCR1 and CXCR2 exerting different cytokine-like activities that contribute to AIDS pathogenesis. Since the bioactive form of several cytokines is represented by dimers/oligomers and oligomerization is promoted by binding to heparin or HSPGs, here we evaluated if heparin/HSPGs also promote p17 oligomerization. Heparin favours p17 dimer, trimer and tetramer assembly, in a time- and biphasic dose-dependent way. Heparin-induced p17 oligomerization is of electrostatic nature, being it prevented by NaCl, by removing negative sulfated groups of heparin and by neutralizing positive lysine residues in the p17 N-terminus. A new computational protocol has been implemented to study heparin chains up to 24-mer accommodating a p17 dimer. Molecular dynamics show that, in the presence of heparin, two p17 molecules undergo conformational modifications creating a continuous “electropositive channel” in which heparin sulfated groups interact with p17 basic amino acids, promoting its dimerization. At the cell surface, HSPGs induce p17 oligomerization, as demonstrated by using B-lymphoblastoid Namalwa cells overexpressing the HSPG Syndecan-1. Also, HSPGs on the surface of BJAB and Raji human B-lymphoblastoid cells are required to p17 to induce ERK1/2 activation, suggesting that HS-induced oligomerization plays a role in p17-induced lymphoid dysregulation during AIDS.
Spectral slowing is associated with working memory performance in children born very preterm
Authors: Sato Julie , Mossad Sarah I. , Wong Simeon M. , Hunt Benjamin A. E. , Dunkley Benjamin T. , Urbain Charline , Taylor Margot J.
Published: October 2019

Children born very preterm (VPT) often demonstrate selective difficulties in working memory (WM), which may underlie academic difficulties observed in this population. Despite this, few studies have investigated the functional networks underlying WM in young children born VPT, a period when cognitive deficits become apparent. Using magnetoencephalography, we examined the networks underlying the maintenance of visual information in 6-year-old VPT (n = 15) and full-term (FT; n = 20) children. Although task performance was similar, VPT children engaged different oscillatory mechanisms during WM maintenance. Within the FT group, we observed higher mean whole-brain connectivity in the alpha-band during the retention (i.e. maintenance) interval associated with correct compared to incorrect responses. VPT children showed reduced whole-brain alpha synchrony, and a different network organization with fewer connections. In the theta-band, VPT children demonstrated a slight increase in whole-brain connectivity during WM maintenance, and engaged similar network hubs as FT children in the alpha-band, including the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and superior temporal gyrus. These findings suggest that VPT children rely on the theta-band to support similar task performance. Altered oscillatory mechanisms may reflect a less mature pattern of functional recruitment underlying WM in VPT children, which may affect the processing in complex ecological situations.
Microplastics induce transcriptional changes, immune response and behavioral alterations in adult zebrafish
Authors: Limonta Giacomo , Mancia Annalaura , Benkhalqui Assja , Bertolucci Cristiano , Abelli Luigi , Fossi Maria Cristina , Panti Cristina
Published: October 2019

Microplastics have become pervasive environmental pollutants in both freshwater and marine ecosystems. The presence of microplastics have been recorded in the tissues of many wild fish species, and laboratory studies have demonstrated that microplastics can exert adverse health effects. To further investigate the biological mechanisms underlying microplastics toxicity we applied an integrated approach, analyzing the effects of microplastics at transcriptomic, histological and behavioral level. Adult zebrafish have been exposed to two concentrations of high-density polyethylene and polystyrene microplastics for twenty days. Transcriptomic results indicate alterations in the expression of immune system genes and the down-regulation of genes correlated with epithelium integrity and lipid metabolism. The transcriptomic findings are supported by tissue alterations and higher occurrence of neutrophils observed in gills and intestinal epithelium. Even the daily rhythm of activity of zebrafish appears to be affected, although the regular pattern of activity is recovered over time. Considering the transcriptomic and histological findings reported, we hypothesize that the effects on mucosal epithelium integrity and immune response could potentially reduce the organism defense against pathogens, and lead to a different utilization of energy stores.
Alleviation of murine osteoarthritis by deletion of the focal adhesion mechanosensitive adapter, Hic-5
Authors: Miyauchi Aya , Kim-Kaneyama Joo-ri , Lei Xiao-Feng , Chang Song Ho , Saito Taku , Haraguchi Shogo , Miyazaki Takuro , Miyazaki Akira
Published: October 2019

Excessive mechanical stress is a major cause of knee osteoarthritis. However, the mechanism by which the mechanical stress begets osteoarthritis development remains elusive. Hydrogen peroxide-inducible clone-5 (Hic-5; TGFβ1i1), a TGF-β inducible focal adhesion adaptor, has previously been reported as a mediator of mechanotransduction. In this study, we analyzed the in vivo function of Hic-5 in development of osteoarthritis, and found that mice lacking Hic-5 showed a significant reduction in development of osteoarthritis in the knee. Furthermore, we found reduced expression of catabolic genes, such as metalloproteinase-13 and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 motif 5 in osteoarthritic lesions in mice lacking Hic-5. During osteoarthritis development, Hic-5 is detected in chondrocytes of articular cartilage. To investigate the role of Hic-5 in chondrocytes, we isolated chondrocytes from articular cartilage of wild type and Hic-5-deficient mice. In these primary cultured chondrocytes, Hic-5 deficiency resulted in suppression of catabolic gene expression induced by osteoarthritis-related cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 1β. Furthermore, Hic-5 deficiency in chondrocytes suppressed catabolic gene expression induced by mechanical stress. Revealing the regulation of chondrocyte catabolism by Hic-5 contributes to understanding the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis induced by mechanical stress.
Reflux finding score is associated with gastroesophageal flap valve status in patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux disease: a retrospective study
Authors: Wu Wei , Li Lianyong , Qu Changmin , Wang Min , Liang Shuwen , Gao Xiaopei , Bao Xinwei , Wang Lei , Liu Hongdan , Han Haolun , Xu Bingxin , Zhou Ying , Li Baowei , Zhang Yiyan , Wang Gang , Zhong Changqing
Published: October 2019

Endoscopic grading of gastroesophageal flap valve (GEFV) is simple and reproducible and offers useful information for reflux activity. To investigate the potential correlation between GEFV grading and reflux finding score (RFS) in patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD), 225 consecutive Patients with suspected LPRD who underwent both routine upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and laryngoscope were enrolled in our study. Patients with a RFS of more than 7 were diagnosed with LPRD. The GEFV was graded as I through IV according to Hill’s classification and was classified into two groups: normal GEFV group (grades I and II) and the abnormal GEFV group (grades III and IV). The percent of GEFV grades I to IV was 39.1%, 39.1%, 12.4%, and 9.3%, respectively. Age was significantly related to an abnormal GEFV (p = 0.002). Gender, BMI, smoke and alcohol were not related to GEFV grade. Fifty-one patients (22.67%) had positive RFS. Reflux finding scores were higher in GEFV grades III and IV than I and II (p < 0.05). Endoscopic grading of GEFV is well correlated with reflux finding score in patients with LPRD. This is a simple and useful technique that provides valuable diagnostic information of LPRD.
Decreasing hill density combined with increasing nitrogen rate led to yield decline in hybrid rice under low-light conditions
Authors: Ao Hejun , Xie Xiaobing , Huang Min , Zou Yingbin
Published: October 2019

Low light is a common environmental factor that adversely affects rice yields. This study was conducted to evaluate the combined effect of hill density and nitrogen (N) fertilizer rate on yield attributes in hybrid rice under low-light conditions. Field experiments were conducted in 2014 and 2015. Two hybrid rice cultivars (Y-liangyou 1 and Luoyou 9348) were grown under combinations of three hill density levels (high, 40 × 104 hills ha−1; moderate, 27 × 104 hills ha−1; low, 14 × 104 hills ha−1) and two N rate levels (high, 240 kg ha−1; moderate, 143–148 kg ha−1), and shaded from heading to maturity. Grain yield was highest in the combination of high hill density and moderate N rate and significantly declined with decreasing hill density combined with increasing N rate for both cultivars in both years. Averaged across two cultivars and two years, grain yield declined by about 4% for each 10% decrease in hill density combined with each 10% increase in N rate. A significant reduction in spikelet filling percentage was observed with decreasing hill density combined with increasing N rate in Y-liangyou 1 in 2015 and Luoyou 9348 in 2014. The same trend was observed for grain weight in Y-liangyou 1 in 2014 and Luoyou 9348 in 2015. These results indicate that adopting the practice of decreasing hill density combined with increasing N rate can result in poor grain filling and consequently yield decline in hybrid rice under low-light conditions.
Comprehensive analysis of POLE and POLD1 Gene Variations identifies cancer patients potentially benefit from immunotherapy in Chinese population
Authors: Yao Jianfei , Gong Yuan , Zhao Wei , Han Zhifeng , Guo Shaohua , Liu Hongyi , Peng Xiumei , Xiao Wenhua , Li Yuemin , Dang Shiying , Liu Guifeng , Li Lifeng , Huang Tanxiao , Chen Shifu , Song Lele
Published: October 2019

POLE/POLD1 gene variants have been suggested as potential markers for immunotherapy due to their significant association with the tumor mutational burden (TMB), an effective indicator for response prediction in immunotherapy. However, the correlation of POLE/POLD1 variants with MSI, MMR, TMB, MMR-related and key driver gene mutations needs to be defined to support patient recruitment and therapeutic effect assessment in immunotherapy. 1,392 Chinese cancer patients were recruited, and the correlation of POLE/POLD1 variants with existing immunotherapeutic markers and cancer pathways was investigated. A next-generation sequencing panel including 605 cancer-related genes was used for variant sequencing. It was found that the frequency of POLE variants was not statistically different from that in COSMIC database, while the frequency of POLD1 variants was significantly higher in lung cancer. c.857 C > G and c.2091dupC were potential high frequency variants in Chinese cancer patients. Patients carrying POLE damaging variants were significantly younger than POLE/POLD1 WT patients. Patients carrying POLE/POLD1 damaging variants exhibited significantly higher TMB and frequency of MMR gene variants than POLE/POLD1 WT patients. Patients with POLE damaging variants also exhibited significantly higher frequency of driver gene variants than POLE/POLD1 WT patients. Further analysis showed that POLE damaging variants may affect the cancer development through MMR, TGFβ and RTK/RAS/RAF signaling pathways, and POLD1 through MMR pathways. In conclusion, this study identified key characteristics and regions of POLE/POLD1 genes that correlates with TMB, MMR gene mutations and key driver gene mutations, and provided theoretical and practical basis for patient selection based on POLE/POLD1 gene status in immunotherapy.
Size and distribution of the iron oxide nanoparticles in SBA-15 nanoporous silica via SANS study
Authors: Zeleňáková Adriana , Hrubovčák Pavol , Kapusta Ondrej , Kučerka Norbert , Kuklin Aleksander , Ivankov Oleksandr , Zeleňák Vladimír
Published: November 2019

Structural characteristics of nanocomposite series consisting of iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) embedded in the regular pores of amorphous silica matrix (SBA-15) were investigated by means of small angle neutron scattering (SANS). By virtue of unique neutron properties, insight into the inner structure and matter organization of this kind of systems was facilitated for the first time. Based on rigorous experimental support, fundamental model describing the neutron scattering intensity distribution was proposed by assuming general composite structural features. Model application to SANS data confirmed the presence of iron oxide NPs in the body of examined matrices, providing additional information on their shape, concentration and size distribution. Scattering superposition principle employed in the model conception allows for tailoring its fundamental characteristics, and renders it a potent and versatile tool for a wide range of applications.
In silico re-engineering of a neurotransmitter to activate KCNQ potassium channels in an isoform-specific manner
Authors: Manville Rían W. , Abbott Geoffrey W.
Published: November 2019

Voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channel dysfunction causes a variety of inherited disorders, but developing small molecules that activate Kv channels has proven challenging. We recently discovered that the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) directly activates Kv channels KCNQ3 and KCNQ5. Here, finding that inhibitory neurotransmitter glycine does not activate KCNQs, we re-engineered it in silico to introduce predicted KCNQ-opening properties, screened by in silico docking, then validated the hits in vitro. Attaching a fluorophenyl ring to glycine optimized its electrostatic potential, converting it to a low-nM affinity KCNQ channel activator. Repositioning the phenyl ring fluorine and/or adding a methylsulfonyl group increased the efficacy of the re-engineered glycines and switched their target KCNQs. Combining KCNQ2- and KCNQ3-specific glycine derivatives synergistically potentiated KCNQ2/3 activation by exploiting heteromeric channel composition. Thus, in silico optimization and docking, combined with functional screening of only three compounds, facilitated re-engineering of glycine to develop several potent KCNQ activators.
Attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectral discrimination in human bodily fluids of oesophageal transformation to adenocarcinoma
Authors: Maitra Ishaan , Morais Camilo L. M. , Lima Kássio M. G. , Ashton Katherine M. , Date Ravindra S. , Martin Francis L.
Published: October 2019

Attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) of biofluids was used to detect oesophageal stages through to oesophageal adenocarcinoma.
A rhodol-hemicyanine based ratiometric fluorescent probe for real-time monitoring of glutathione dynamics in living cells
Authors: Ren Minghao , Wang Linfang , Lv Xin , Sun Yuanqiang , Chen Hu , Zhang Keyuan , Wu Qi , Bai Yurong , Guo Wei
Published: November 2019

A new rhodol-hemicyanine based ratiometric and reversible fluorescent probe has been developed for real-time monitoring of glutathione dynamics in living cells.
Single point single-cell nanoparticle mediated pulsed laser optoporation
Authors: Patskovsky Sergiy , Qi Mengjiao , Meunier Michel
Published: October 2019

This article presents an optical platform for studying the dynamics of nanoparticle assisted pulsed laser optoporation of individual living cells.
Comparison of electrochemical methods using CUPRAC, DPPH, and carbon paste electrodes for the quantification of antioxidants in food oils
Authors: Juarez-Luna Perla J. , Mendoza Sandra , Cardenas Arely
Published: October 2019

This work evaluated the feasibility of using electrochemical methods to quantify antioxidants in food oil samples (mainly olive oil).
Green-emitting dendritic alkynylgold(iii) complexes with excellent film morphologies for applications in solution-processable organic light-emitting devices
Authors: Tang Man-Chung , Lo Lianne Hei-Yin , Cheung Wai-Lung , Lai Shiu-Lun , Chan Mei-Yee , Yam Vivian Wing-Wah
Published: October 2019

Bipolar dendritic alkynylgold(iii) complexes that exhibit excellent film morphologies in solid-state thin films have been designed and synthesized. Solution-processable OLEDs with EQEs >14.5% have been achieved.
Chemical evidence of the stability of praseodymium(v) in gas-phase oxide nitrate complexes
Authors: Monteiro Bernardo , Bandeira Nuno A. G. , Lourenço Célia , Lucena Ana F. , Carretas José M. , Gibson John K. , Marçalo Joaquim
Published: November 2019

The diverse gas-phase reactivity of [LnO2(NO3)2]− complexes with water (Ln = Ce, Pr, Nd), examined in a quadrupole ion trap and complemented by ab initio computations, illuminates the chemical stability of Pr in the unusual +5 oxidation state.
Retraction: Visible-light-induced oxidative difunctionalization of styrenes: synthesis of α-trifluoromethylthio-substituted ketones
Authors: Yadav Arvind Kumar , Singh Krishna Nand
Published: October 2019

Retraction of ‘Visible-light-induced oxidative difunctionalization of styrenes: synthesis of α-trifluoromethylthio-substituted ketones’ by Arvind Kumar Yadav et al., Chem. Commun., 2018, 54, 1976–1979.
Shear piezoelectric properties d24 and k24 of a [001] poled KNNTL-Mn single crystal
Authors: Li Jiao , Zhou Guo-xiang , Li Jia
Published: October 2019

The distributions of d24 and k24 in the 3D space of a [001] poled (K, Na, Li)(Na, Ta)O3:Mn (KNNTL-Mn) single crystal were investigated by the coordinate system rotation method.
Molecular dynamics discovery of an extraordinary ionic migration mechanism in dislocation-containing TlBr crystals
Authors: Zhou X. W. , Foster M. E. , Yang P. , Rodriguez M. A. , Kim H. , Cirignano L. J. , Doty F. P.
Published: November 2019

MD simulation of dislocation migration under an electrical field.
Electronic couplings and rates of excited state charge transfer processes at poly(thiophene-co-quinoxaline)–PC71BM interfaces: two- versus multi-state treatments
Authors: Kastinen Tuuva , da Silva Filho Demetrio Antonio , Paunonen Lassi , Linares Mathieu , Ribeiro Junior Luiz Antonio , Cramariuc Oana , Hukka Terttu I.
Published: November 2019

Multi-state effects should be considered when calculating electronic couplings at local polymer–fullerene interfaces with the non-tuned and optimally tuned long-range corrected functionals.
Proximity effects in graphene and ferromagnetic CrBr3 van der Waals heterostructures
Authors: Behera Sushant Kumar , Bora Mayuri , Paul Chowdhury Sapta Sindhu , Deb Pritam
Published: October 2019

Schematic of the magnetic proximity effect in a van der Waals heterostructure formed by a graphene monolayer, induced by its interaction with a two-dimensional ferromagnet (CrBr3) for designing a single-gate field effect transistor.
Assessing the properties of supercritical water in terms of structural dynamics and electronic polarization effects
Authors: Schienbein Philipp , Marx Dominik
Published: November 2019

Evolution of water's structural dynamics from ambient liquid to supercritical dense liquid-like and dilute gas-like conditions.
Seventeen-electron chromium(i)tricarbonyltris(phosphine) complexes supported by tris(phosphinomethyl)phenylborates
Authors: Fischer Paul J. , Senthil Shuruthi , Stephan Jeremy T. , Swift McKinley L. , Young Victor G.
Published: October 2019

Tris(diphenylphosphinomethyl)phenylborates permit isolation of remarkably thermally stable chromium(i)tricarbonyltris(phosphine) complexes, the first crystallographically characterized [Cr(CO)3P3]+ radicals.
Critical assessment of wet-chemical oxidation synthesis of silicon quantum dots
Authors: Wilbrink Jonathan L. , Huang Chia-Ching , Dohnalova Katerina , Paulusse Jos M. J.
Published: November 2019

The wet-chemical Si QD synthesis by oxidation of magnesium silicide (Mg2Si) with bromine (Br2) was revisited.
The memory improving effects of round scad (Decapterus maruadsi) hydrolysates on sleep deprivation-induced memory deficits in ratsviaantioxidant and neurotrophic pathways
Authors: Zhang Qi , Su Guowan , Zhao Tiantian , Wang Shuguang , Sun Baoguo , Zheng Lin , Zhao Mouming
Published: October 2019

Sleep deprivation negatively influences memory formation and consolidation, which leads to memory impairment associated with oxidative stress and neurotrophic pathways.
Intestinal anti-inflammatory effects of artichoke pectin and modified pectin fractions in the dextran sulfate sodium model of mice colitis. Artificial neural network modelling of inflammatory markers
Authors: Sabater Carlos , Molina-Tijeras Jose Alberto , Vezza Teresa , Corzo Nieves , Montilla Antonia , Utrilla Pilar
Published: October 2019

Anti-inflammatory properties of artichoke pectin and modified fractions (arabinose- and galactose-free) used at two doses (40 and 80 mg kg−1) in mice with colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium have been investigated.
Retooling phage display with electrohydrodynamic nanomixing and nanopore sequencing
Authors: Raftery Lyndon J. , Howard Christopher B. , Grewal Yadveer S. , Vaidyanathan Ramanathan , Jones Martina L. , Anderson Will , Korbie Darren , Duarte Tania , Cao Minh Duc , Nguyen Son Hoang , Coin Lachlan J. M. , Mahler Stephen M. , Trau Matt
Published: October 2019

High throughput screening of phage display libraries for target binding molecules using electrohydrodynamic nanomixing and nanopore sequencing.
Removal of Cr(vi) from aqueous solution using magnetic modified biochar derived from raw corncob
Authors: Hoang Le Phuong , Van Huu Tap , Nguyen Lan Huong , Mac Duy-Hung , Vu Thuy Trang , Ha L. T. , Nguyen X. C.
Published: November 2019

Magnetic modified-corncob biochar with an impregnation ratio of iron at 20% (w/w) was used for removal of Cr(vi) from aqueous solution.
Micro- and macroscopic observations of the nucleation process and crystal growth of nanosized Cs-pollucite in an organotemplate-free hydrosol
Authors: Ng Eng-Poh , Mohammad S Aleid Ghadah , Rigolet Severinne , Daou T. Jean , Mintova Svetlana , Ling Tau Chuan
Published: October 2019

Nucleation and crystal growth of a nanosized cesium pollucite zeolite from an organotemplate-free hydrosol under mild conditions (low pressure and temperature) are followed and reported.
Synthesis of new triazole linked carbohybrids with ROS-mediated toxicity in breast cancer
Authors: Kumari Priti , Dubey Shraddha , Venkatachalapathy Sneha , Narayana Chintam , Gupta Ashish , Sagar Ram
Published: November 2019

Carbohybrids are an important class of molecules which exhibit diverse biological activities. New coumarins and quinolones linked carbohybrids are synthesised which are showing selective anticancer activity.
Fluorescence solvatochromism and modulated anticholinergic activity of novel coumarin compounds sequestered in human serum albumin nanocavities
Authors: Rohman Mostofa Ataur , Baruah Prayasee , Bhattacharjee Deboshika , Myrboh B. , Mitra Sivaprasad
Published: November 2019

The antagonistic effect of the HSA matrix towards the acetylcholinesterase inhibition potencies of novel coumarin compounds is probed by multi-spectroscopic techniques.
A Cu-Doped ZIF-8 metal organic framework as a heterogeneous solid catalyst for aerobic oxidation of benzylic hydrocarbons
Authors: Nagarjun Nagarathinam , Dhakshinamoorthy Amarajothi
Published: November 2019

Cu(ii) ions doped into ZIF-8 MOFs are shown to activate C–H bonds in benzylic hydrocarbons to their corresponding alcohol/ketone products.
Rapid and selective colorimetric sensing of Au3+ions based on galvanic displacement of silver nanoparticles
Authors: Megarajan Sengan , Kamlekar Ravi Kanth , Kumar P. Suresh , Anbazhagan Veerappan
Published: November 2019

Au3+decolorizes AgNPs through a galvanic displacement reaction.
Synergic effect of plasmonic gold nanoparticles and graphene oxide on the performance of glucose sensing
Authors: Tabassum Sadia , Naz Saira , Nisar Amjad , Sun Hongyu , Karim Shafqat , Khan Maaz , Shahzada Shiasta , Rahman Ata ur , Ahmad Mashkoor
Published: October 2019

A highly sensitive Au–GO hybrid nanostructure based non-enzymatic glucose biosensor is fabricated and exhibits superior sensitivity of 84.53 μA mM−1 cm−2. The biosensor also has applications for the detection of glucose in human blood serum, food samples and drinks.
Static magnetization of immobilized, weakly interacting, superparamagnetic nanoparticles
Authors: Elfimova Ekaterina A. , Ivanov Alexey O. , Camp Philip J.
Published: October 2019

A theory for the magnetic properties of interacting immobilized superparamagnetic nanoparticles with various distributions is tested against simulations.
Multifunctional 2H-TaS2 nanoflakes for efficient supercapacitors and electrocatalytic evolution of hydrogen and oxygen
Authors: Zhang Man , He Yuan , Yan Dong , Xu Hong , Wang Anqi , Chen Zuo , Wang Shu , Luo Huixia , Yan Kai
Published: October 2019

Layered transition-metal dichalcogenides based on VIB elements have attracted substantial attention for their applications in energy storage and conversion.
Engineering thermally activated NiMoO4 nanoflowers and biowaste derived activated carbon-based electrodes for high-performance supercapatteries
Authors: Raj C. Justin , Manikandan Ramu , Yu Kook Hyun , Nagaraju Goli , Park Myung-Soo , Kim Dong-Won , Park Sang Yeup , Kim Byung Chul
Published: October 2019

NiMoO4 nanoflowers having pure crystalline phases with slight amorphous surface exhibited excellent battery-like electrochemical performance and potential for supercapattery positive electrodes.
Synthesis, structure, magnetism and photocatalysis of α-Fe2O3nanosnowflakes
Authors: Wang Fang , Song Le Xin , Teng Yue , Xia Juan , Xu Zhe Yuan , Wang Wei Ping
Published: October 2019

α-Fe2O3nanosnowflakes exhibit enhanced coercivity and improved photocatalytic performance for organic dyes.
Marine unsaturated fatty acids: structures, bioactivities, biosynthesis and benefits
Authors: Lu Yingfang , Chen Yinning , Wu Yulin , Hao Huili , Liang Wenjing , Liu Jun , Huang Riming
Published: October 2019

Unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) are an important category of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids with nutritional properties.
Synthesis of hierarchical lamellar Co3O4–CoMoO4 heterostructures for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: He Chunfeng , Han Bin , Han Shuang , Xu Qingchi , Liang Zhihao , Xu Jia Yin , Ye Meidan , Liu Xiangyang , Xu Jun
Published: October 2019

A facile solvothermal approach with subsequent annealing treatment was developed to synthesize hierarchical lamellar Co3O4–CoMoO4 heterostructures with enhanced electrochemical activity towards anode materials for lithium-ion batteries.
Error shaping technique of capacitor mismatch and inter‐stage gain in noise shaping pipelined SAR ADCs
Authors: Shen Changsheng
Published: October 2019

An error shaping (ES) technique in noise shaping pipelined successive approximation register (SAR) ADC is proposed to deal with capacitor mismatch and inter‐stage gain errors, which is immune from the variation of the process, voltage, and temperature. By adopting data‐weight average logic and delaying the reset of the second stage capacitors, all of the capacitor mismatch and inter‐stage gain errors are shaped. According to the simulation, the signal‐to‐noise and distortion ratio and spurious free dynamic range increase by about 15 and 20 dB after ES.
EL emission enhancement in powder electroluminescent device via insertion of receptive layer
Authors: Takeda N. , Tsuneyasu S. , Satoh T.
Published: October 2019

A method to enhance the electroluminescence (EL) of powder electroluminescent devices via the insertion of a receptive layer between the letter substrate and the transparent electrode is proposed. This approach affords uniformity of distance between the substrate and electrode, which ensures a more uniform electric field on application of a voltage to the device. Both the current and luminance are observed to increase, and the device capacitance and capacitive reactance improve on introduction of the receptive layer, which enhances the EL properties. The emission‐enhancement mechanism is examined via measurements of the frequency dependence of the current, luminance, and loss tangent tan δ. Regardless of the receptive layer, the current decreases in the frequency regime over which tan δ increases, which indicates that the EL properties are affected by electrical energy losses due to dielectric loss. The frequency‐dependence behaviours of tan δ and temperature are found to be different because of heat production due to both dielectric loss and radiationless deactivation, which means that dielectric loss must be reduced to improve device efficiency. Their approach can form an integral aspect of the evaluation of powder electroluminescent devices.
Gain enhanced conformal patch antenna with defected ground for aircraft applications
Authors: Monica Jeyakumar , Jothilakshmi Paramasivam
Published: October 2019

This study describes a design of conformal patch antenna for airborne applications especially in measuring the velocity of ocean and river current. By considering the decorrelation time, precipitation, resolution, and size of the antenna, the current system operates within the C‐band frequency range of 5.05–5.45 GHz. This design has achieved a bandwidth of 7.7% that helps in increasing the cross‐range resolution. A maximum gain of 10 dB is achieved at the bore side angle. The normalised side lobe level (SLL) of −26 dB reduces aliasing by achieving higher pulse repetition rate. Defected ground structure (DGS) is used for suppressing higher harmonics and its effect has been explained with simulation results. As most aircrafts are made of carbon fibre composites (CFC), this antenna has been checked by mounting on CFC sheets for real‐time analysis and shows good performance in terms of both measured and simulated results. The transmission line model of the proposed patch antenna and impedance matching network is also described with the corresponding circuits. The characteristic mode analysis is carried out to study the intuitive behaviour and to optimise the performance of patch antenna by analysing the performance metrics of different current modes.
Performance of cooperative multiple‐input multiple‐output NOMA in Nakagami‐m fading channels with channel estimation errors
Authors: Aldababsa Mahmoud , Kucur Oğuz
Published: October 2019

The performance of a downlink non‐orthogonal multiple access based cooperative network with maximum ratio transmission/receive antenna selection (MRT/RAS) over Nakagami‐m fading channels in the presence of channel estimation errors (CEEs) is studied. In the system, a base station communicates with multiple mobile users through a half‐duplex channel state information‐based amplify‐and‐forward relay. All nodes are equipped with multiple antennas and the hybrid diversity technique MRT/RAS is employed in both hops. The outage behaviour of the system is investigated by driving closed‐form expression for outage probability (OP). In addition, the corresponding lower and upper bounds of the derived OP are obtained. Moreover, the behaviour of the system is studied in high signal‐to‐noise ratio region by obtaining an error floor value in the presence of CEE as well as achieving diversity and array gains in the absence of CEE. Finally, the analytical results in the presence and absence of the CEEs are verified by the Monte Carlo simulations. Results show that the MRT/RAS scheme enhances the OP significantly and is much more robust to the CEEs in comparison with the single antenna case.
Performance evaluation of cooperative and non‐cooperative MIMO cognitive radio networks
Authors: Ashraf Yara , Newagy Fatma , Hafez Ismail
Published: October 2019

In a multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) cognitive radio network, the cognitive users (CUs) coexist with the primary users (PUs) in the same spectrum for boosting the spectrum efficiency. Based on the informed limit of the interference power from the PUs, the CUs' compete to minimise the total interference power generated. In this study, noncooperative and cooperative game theoretic approaches are derived for network interference management (NIM). In the first scenario, the NIM problem computes the sum of minimum individual CU's interference power produced on the PU to converge to equilibrium by using the best response iteration method. The second one, NIM estimates Nash product to converge to Nash bargaining solution by using the dual decomposition method. Numerical results prove the effectiveness of the cooperative scenario that minimises the network interference power. Two new metrics are proposed to evaluate the performance in these scenarios. The interference cooperative loss metric estimates the overall network interference power loss from CUs cooperation rather than non‐cooperation in the game theoretic solution. Capacity cooperative gain metric estimates the overall network capacity gain from CUs cooperation rather than non‐cooperation in the game theoretic solution for a fixed acceptable interference level.
Scheme for tour planning of mobile sink in wireless sensor networks
Authors: Anwit Raj , Tomar Abhinav , Jana Prasanta K.
Published: October 2019

Exploiting mobile sink (MS) for data gathering in the wireless sensor networks has been extensively studied in the recent researches to address energy‐hole issues, thereby facilitating balanced energy consumption among nodes and so prolonging network lifetime. However, such approaches suffer from an extended data collection delay causing buffer overflow problem. In this regard, finding the optimal number of locations (i.e. rendezvous points (RPs) where the MS sojourns for data collection), is not only of utmost importance, but also a challenging task. A novel scheme for trajectory design of MS for data collection is presented in this study. The authors' primary goal is to optimise the number of RPs and their locations to minimise the travelling length of the MS. First, they reduced the problem size by using a combination of breadth‐first search and Tarjan's algorithm and then applied spectral clustering to find the optimal set of RPs to plan the tour for the MS. They have performed extensive simulations, and the results are compared with relevant existing schemes. The comparative results confirm the effectiveness of their approach in terms of the number of RPs, path length, the variance of RPs, and energy consumption per round.
Osteopathie zur Vorbereitung auf die Geburt
Authors: Kauert Marco
Published: October 2019

In der Zeit von Schwangerschaft, Geburt und Wochenbett wirken physische und psychische Belastungen und Veränderungen auf Mutter und Kind ein. Eine osteopathische Behandlung kann Beschwerden lindern, auf die Geburt vorbereiten und in der Zeit des Wochenbetts unterstützen. Sie sollte dafür neben der Betreuung durch die Hebamme und den Arzt erfolgen, um Komplikationen zu vermeiden. Der Autor erklärt, was Osteopathie leisten kann und warum die Berufsgruppen voneinander lernen können.
Haltungsasymmetrie bei Säuglingen: Beobachtung, Handling und Lagerung
Authors: Stoevesandt Kai
Published: October 2019

Bei Säuglingen, die viel auf dem Rücken gelagert werden, zeigen sich häufig Kopfverformungen und Haltungsasymmetrien. Diese können gravierende Folgen haben. Als Physiotherapeut und Osteopath möchte ich Sie mit diesem Artikel und mit meinem Vortrag auf dem FORUM HEBAMMENARBEIT in Wiesbaden dabei unterstützen, die Symptome zu erkennen, die Hintergründe zu verstehen und adäquate Maßnahmen zu ergreifen. Denn gerade Hebammen können in den ersten Lebensmonaten einen wesentlichen Beitrag zur Prävention leisten.
Unwillkürliches reflektorisches Training der Beckenbodenmuskulatur bei Belastungsinkontinenz
Authors: Luginbühl Helena , Radlinger Lorenz
Published: October 2019

Willkürliches Training der Beckenbodenmuskeln (BBM) ist bei deren Insuffizienz und bei Belastungsinkontinenz (BI) effizient. Allerdings werden in Situationen, die BI provozieren, schnelle, unwillkürliche, reflektorische BBM-Kontraktionen verlangt, um die Kontinenz zu gewährleisten. In der Physiotherapie stellt sich deshalb die Frage, ob und wie reflektorische BBM-Kontraktionen trainiert werden können.
Intra-Procedural CT/MR-Ultrasound Fusion Imaging Helps to Improve Outcomes of Thermal Ablation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Results in 502 Nodules
Authors: Xu Erjiao , Li Kai , Long Yinglin , Luo Liping , Zeng Qingjing , Tan Lei , He Xuqi , Huang Qiannan , Wu Yuxuan , Zheng Rongqin
Published: October 2019

Purpose The aim was to assess the value of intra-procedural CT/MR-ultrasound (CT/MR-US) fusion imaging in the management of thermal ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Materials and Methods This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board. From May 2010 to October 2016, 543 HCC nodules in 440 patients (387 men and 53 women; age range: 25–84 years) that met the Milan Criteria were treated by percutaneous thermal ablation using intra-procedural CT/MR-US fusion imaging. The HCC nodules were divided into subgroups and compared (≤ 3 cm and > 3 cm, or high-risk and low-risk location, or inconspicuous and conspicuous, respectively). Technique efficacy and major complication were calculated. Cumulative local tumor progression (LTP), tumor-free and overall survival rates were estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method.

Results CT/MR-US fusion imaging was successfully registered in 419 patients with 502 nodules. The technique efficacy rate of thermal ablation was 99.4 %. The major complication rate was 1.9 %. The cumulative LTP rates were 3.2 %, 5.6 % and 7.2 % at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. There were no significant differences for the comparisons of cumulative LTP rates between different subgroups (P = 0.541, 0.314, 0.329). The cumulative tumor-free survival rates were 74.8 %, 54.0 % and 37.5 % at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. The cumulative overall survival rates were 97.8 %, 87.1 % and 81.7 % at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively.

Conclusion Intra-procedural CT/MR-ultrasound fusion imaging is a useful technique for percutaneous liver thermal ablation. It could help to achieve satisfying survival outcomes for HCC patients who meet the Milan Criteria.
Postablation Immune Microenvironment: Synergy between Interventional Oncology and Immuno-oncology
Authors: Kim DaeHee , Erinjeri Joseph P.
Published: October 2019

Current tumor thermal ablation techniques rely on extreme temperatures to induce irreversible cellular injury and coagulative tissue necrosis. Ablation-induced cellular injury or death releases cancer neoantigens and activates the cancer-immunity cycle, potentially generating tumor-specific immune effectors. However, multiple negative regulatory modulators exist at each step of the cycle, mitigating meaningful and therapeutic anticancer effect provided by the immune system. Recent studies have focused on the introduction and testing of adjuvant immunotherapy combined with ablation to synergistically shift the equilibrium out of inhibitory immune modulation. This article reviews the immune microenvironment in relation to image-guided ablation techniques and discusses current and upcoming novel strategies to take advantage of antitumor immunity.
Lipoma arborescente en bursa bicipito-radial del codo: A propósito de un caso
Authors: Pérez Alba Jose Manuel , Gázquez Gázquez Gemma
Published: October 2019

El lipoma arborescente es un tumor infrecuente, a pesar de ello se trata de un tumor que es más frecuente en la rodilla. Entre los diagnósticos diferenciales se encuentra la sinovitis villonodular, y otra serie de enfermedades articulares. El lipoma arborescente se suele presentar con clínica de derrame articular. En el caso que presentamos, la paciente acudía principalmente por tumoración en el antebrazo y síntomas de parestesias y disestesias en 2° y 3er dedos de la mano. Tras una adecuada exploración física y pruebas complementarias, fue diagnosticada de un Lipoma arborescente en la bursa bicipitoradial que generaba una compresión del N mediano a ese nivel. Tras la resección de la tumoración la paciente mejoró de su clínica.
Evaluation of Head Computed Tomography Assessment of Brain Swelling after Acute Traumatic Brain Injury: A Pilot study
Authors: Amorim Robson Luis , Morais Barbara Albuquerque , Pereira Francisco Otávio Camargo , Oliveira Matheus Fernandes , Andrade Almir Ferreira , Bor-Seng-Shu Edson , Oliveira Marcelo Lima , Teixeira Manoel Jacobsen , Paiva Wellingson Silva
Published: October 2019

Objective To evaluate the interobserver reliability of a new scale created for quantitatively assessing brain swelling in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients using the computed tomography (CT) findings in three levels.

Methods Computed tomography scans of severe head injury patients were randomly selected from a tertiary hospital image database and evaluated by independent groups of neurosurgeons, neurosurgery residents, radiologists, and intensivists from the same hospital. Each specialist assessed the tomographic findings, applying zero to six points in a new scale. The Kappa coefficient was calculated to assess interobserver agreement.

Results The highest reliability coefficient was obtained by the neurosurgeons group (0.791; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.975–0.607; p < 0.001), followed by the neurosurgery residents group (0.402; 95%CI: 0.569–0.236; p < 0.001) and by the radiologists group (0.301; 95%CI: 0.488–0.113; p < 0.002). The lowest coefficient was found among the intensivists (0.248; 95%CI: 0.415–0.081; p = 0.004).

Conclusion The proposed scale showed good reliability among neurosurgeons, and moderate overall reliability. This tomographic classification might be useful to better assist severe TBI victims, allowing to identify the worsening or amelioration of brain swelling, which should be further investigated. The scale seems to be feasible, even in low income countries, where the cost of intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring is higher than that of CTs.
Spontaneous Convexity Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Caused by Internal Carotid Occlusion: Radiological Features
Authors: Pereira Benedito Jamilson Araújo , de Holanda Radmila Agra Cariry Targino , Targino Neto José , de Holanda Luciano Ferreira
Published: October 2019

A 79-year-old patient was admitted to the emergency room with transitory monoparesis in the left hand and dysphasia. The brain computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a spontaneous right convexity subarachnoid hemorrhage (cSAH). Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) confirmed an asymptomatic occlusion of the right internal carotid artery (ICA) . Cases related to stenosis have already been described, but there is no similar report of a case related to occlusion, even though the pathophysiology of both entities is similar. Atraumatic SAH has been associated with intracranial and extracranial artery stenosis.
Instrument for fine control of drop-on-demand electrohydrodynamic jet printing by current measurement
Authors: Li Kai , Wang Dazhi , Yi Shanshan , Jia Haoran , Qian Jianghong , Du Zhiyuan , Ren Tongqun , Liang Junsheng , Martinez-Chapa Sergio O. , Madou Marc
Published: November 2019

In this work, an instrument of drop-on-demand electrohydrodynamic jet (DoD E-Jet) printing device equipped with a current measurement and control system was designed and developed for finely controlling the printing process. The relationships between the current and printing parameters of voltage, frequency, and flow rate were deeply investigated, and the examination data and conclusion were obtained under the condition of the needle size remaining unchanged. Especially, the equation relationship between the flow rate and current was established, which can be used for the modification of the DoD E-Jet printing process. The map describing the stable printing range, droplet size, and current was also recognized, which can help us to select parameters for stable printing. Based on the current measurement and control system and the established relationship, the optimized current and printing parameters were chosen to print uniform graphene microstructures. This instrument provides an effective method for monitoring, adjusting, and controlling the DoD E-Jet printing process and further improving the quality of the printed structures for micro/nanoelectromechanical system (M/NEMS) devices.
Multiplicity and Hölder regularity of solutions for a nonlocal elliptic PDE involving singularity
Authors: Saoudi Kamel , Ghosh Sekhar , Choudhuri Debajyoti
Published: October 2019

In this paper, we prove the existence of multiple weak solutions for a nonlinear nonlocal elliptic partial differential equation involving a singularity and a power nonlinearity, which is given as (−Δp)su=λuγ+uq;u>0 in Ω with zero Dirichlet boundary condition. Here, Ω is an open bounded domain in RN with smooth boundary, N > ps, s ∈ (0, 1), λ > 0, 0 < γ < 1, 1 < p < ∞, and p−1<q≤ps*=NpN−ps. We employ variational techniques to show the existence of multiple positive weak solutions of the above problem. We also prove that for some α ∈ (0, s], the weak solution to the problem is in C1,α(Ω¯).
Aging transition in mixed active and inactive fractional-order oscillators
Authors: Sun Zhongkui , Liu Yuanyuan , Liu Ke , Yang Xiaoli , Xu Wei
Published: October 2019

Recently, a large number of studies have concentrated on aging transition, but they have so far been restricted to coupled integer-order oscillators. Here, we report the first study of aging transition in mixed active and inactive fractional-order oscillators. It has been demonstrated that while the heterogeneity is caused by the distance parameter, both the coupling strength and the fractional-order derivative can modulate the critical ratio at which aging transition occurs. In addition, a small fractional-order derivative may ruin the ability of oscillation and, thus, reduce the critical ratio in globally coupled fractional-order Stuart-Landau oscillators. Remarkably, the larger the natural frequency is the more easily the aging transition occurs in coupled fractional-order oscillators. Further studies have shown that, being diverse from an integer-order Stuart-Landau oscillator, the natural frequency may induce a Hopf bifurcation in a fractional-order Stuart-Landau oscillator, accordingly, introducing a new heterogeneity in the coupled fractional-order Stuart-Landau oscillators. Therein, a counterintuitive phenomenon has been found that the critical ratio depends unmonotonously on the coupling strength, which implies that the coupled fractional-order Stuart-Landau oscillators possess the weakest robustness of oscillation at a certain level of coupling strength.
Grain growth stagnation and texture development in an irradiated thermally stabilized nanocrystalline alloy
Authors: Singh Prince S. , Chen Di , Shao Lin , Picard Yoosuf N. , de Boer Maarten P.
Published: November 2019

Nanocrystalline metals are of strong interest in nuclear material applications because their grain boundaries may act as effective recombination sites for point defects. Consequently, they may be able to sustain high doses with minimal damage. Here, we investigate nanocrystalline NiW, a thermally stabilized nanocrystalline material with an initial grain diameter of 6 nm. We find that grain growth when subject to moderate doses of Ni+ self-ion irradiation is not distinguishable from that of nanocrystalline Ni. However, once the grains grow to an average diameter of 32 nm at 10 displacements per atom (dpa), this irradiation-induced grain growth (IIGG) stagnates up to 100 dpa. Such stagnation is not predicted by previous models. IIGG stagnation is found to correlate with microstructural evolution, where an initial weak fiber texture transforms into a biaxial texture with a concurrent increase in low energy grain boundaries acting to stabilize the microstructure at higher irradiation doses.