bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Congestion control and energy‐balanced scheme based on the hierarchy for WSNs
Authors: Chen Wenguang , Niu Yugang , Zou Yuanyuan
Published: August 2016

The problem of congestion control with balanced‐energy is important for application of WSNs, since the limited resources and many‐to‐one communication model often result in congestion and unbalanced energy consumption. In this study, a hierarchy‐based congestion control and energy‐balanced scheme is proposed. The network model is firstly initialised into a hierarchical topology, by which these neighbour nodes of a node will be explicitly divided into three kinds, i.e., the same hierarchical nodes, the upstream nodes, and the downstream nodes. Then, in the proposed congestion avoidance method, the node will use other lower hierarchy neighbour nodes to forward data when its downstream node will be congested. After that, the congestion control mechanism will detect the congestion via the queue length, forwarding and receiving rate, and inform its upstream nodes to find other next hop to release the congestion. The balanced energy consumption strategy will balance the energy consumption of lower hierarchy nodes by using the node with the most remaining energy. Meanwhile, by using the same hierarchy nodes, the remaining energy of all the nodes in the same hierarchy is balanced. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can effectively deal with the network congestion and unbalanced energy consumption.
Fine‐pitch through‐silicon via integration with self‐aligned back‐side benzocyclobutene passivation layer
Authors: Guan Yong , Ma Shenglin , Zeng Qinghua , Chen Jing , Jin Yufeng
Published: August 2016

A fine‐pitch through‐silicon via integration approach with self‐aligned back‐side benzocyclobutene passivation layer is proposed. Different from the conventional lithographic process, the passivation layer is realised by leveraging plasma etching and chemical‐mechanical polishing process. With its well‐controlled repeatability, this approach can help reduce the process defect and copper contamination. A plenty of measurement techniques including X‐ray radiographic testing, optical and scanning electron microscope observation, four‐probe electrical measurement, as well as vector network analyser, are employed in order to verify the fabrication quality and the electrical performances. All the test results support that this fine‐pitch through‐silicon via integration approach has a promising application prospect.
Dicing‐free SOI process based on wet release technology
Authors: Hao Yongcun , Xie Jianbing , Yuan Weizheng , Chang Honglong
Published: August 2016

A simple, low‐cost and reliable dicing‐free silicon‐on‐insulator (SOI) process is presented for solving three major challenges in manufacturing the microelectromechanical systems devices, i.e. stiction, notching and dicing damage. In this process, the cavity is used and patterned on the handle layer to solve the stiction problem, and the exposed oxide is removed in hydrofluoric acid (HF) solution before deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) on the structure layer to eliminate the notching effect's impact. The dies are attached temporally to a designed frame by the silicon dioxide. After removing the oxide using HF solution, the dies are separated from the wafer cleanly without dicing damage. The layout design rules on the front side and backside patterns are established. Furthermore, a grooved carrier wafer with specific design rules was introduced to enhance the yield rate of the process. Finally, a tuning fork gyroscope was fabricated to demonstrate the proposed fabrication process and a yield rate of over 81% was achieved. The process solves the stiction, notching and dicing damage problems only involving the apparatus associated with lithography and DRIE, offering an economic and complete SOI process solution.
High dielectric constant, low loss, and low percolation threshold dielectric composites based on polyvinylidene fluoride and ferroferric oxide nanorods
Authors: Li Lili , Fu Qiong , Li Ya , Li Weiping
Published: August 2016

Dielectric super-capacitors call the excellent dielectric materials with high dielectric constant and low dielectric loss, both of which are not easy to obtain at the same time. The work synthesized the high aspect ratio and good crystalline ferroferric oxide (Fe3O4) nanorods by the hydrothermal process and used them as the filler to effectively reduce the percolation threshold value. It was found that the composites here based on the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymer and these Fe3O4 nanorods exhibited ultra-high dielectric constant (>3000) and very low loss (<0.04) at very low filler fraction (0.35%). It was also proved that the high aspect ratio filler could help to improve the dielectric constant and suppress the dielectric loss in the percolative composites.
The ion polytropic coefficient in a collisionless sheath containing hot ions
Authors: Lin Binbin , Xiang Nong , Ou Jing
Published: August 2016

The fluid approach has been widely used to study plasma sheath dynamics. For a sheath containing hot ions whose temperature is greater than the electron's, how to truncate the fluid hierarchy chain equations while retaining to the fullest extent of the kinetic effects is always a difficult problem. In this paper, a one-dimensional, collisionless sheath containing hot ions is studied via particle-in-cell simulations. By analyzing the ion energy equation and taking the kinetic effects into account, we have shown that the ion polytropic coefficient in the vicinity of the sheath edge is approximately constant so that the state equation with the modified polytropic coefficient can be used to close the hierarchy chain of the ion fluid equations. The value of the polytropic coefficient strongly depends on the hot ion temperature and its concentration in the plasma. The semi-analytical model is given to interpret the simulation results. As an application, the kinetic effects on the ion saturation current density in the probe theory are discussed.
Modeling the effect of doping on the catalyst-assisted growth and field emission properties of plasma-grown graphene sheet
Authors: Gupta Neha , Sharma Suresh C. , Sharma Rinku
Published: August 2016

A theoretical model describing the effect of doping on the plasma-assisted catalytic growth of graphene sheet has been developed. The model accounts the charging rate of the graphene sheet, kinetics of all the plasma species, including the doping species, and the growth rate of graphene nuclei and graphene sheet due to surface diffusion, and accretion of ions on the catalyst nanoparticle. Using the model, it is observed that nitrogen and boron doping can strongly influence the growth and field emission properties of the graphene sheet. The results of the present investigation indicate that nitrogen doping results in reduced thickness and shortened height of the graphene sheet; however, boron doping increases the thickness and height of the graphene sheet. The time evolutions of the charge on the graphene sheet and hydrocarbon number density for nitrogen and boron doped graphene sheet have also been examined. The field emission properties of the graphene sheet have been proposed on the basis of the results obtained. It is concluded that nitrogen doped graphene sheet exhibits better field emission characteristics as compared to undoped and boron doped graphene sheet. The results of the present investigation are consistent with the existing experimental observations.
Nucleation and structural growth of cluster crystals
Authors: Leitold Christian , Dellago Christoph
Published: August 2016

We study the nucleation of crystalline cluster phases in the generalized exponential model with exponent n = 4. Due to the finite value of this pair potential for zero separation, at high densities the system forms cluster crystals with multiply occupied lattice sites. Here, we investigate the microscopic mechanisms that lead to the formation of cluster crystals from a supercooled liquid in the low-temperature region of the phase diagram. Using molecular dynamics and umbrella sampling, we calculate the free energy as a function of the size of the largest crystalline nucleus in the system, and compare our results with predictions from classical nucleation theory. Employing bond-order parameters based on a Voronoi tessellation to distinguish different crystal structures, we analyze the average composition of crystalline nuclei. We find that even for conditions where a multiply occupied fcc crystal is the thermodynamically stable phase, the nucleation into bcc cluster crystals is strongly preferred. Furthermore, we study the particle mobility in the supercooled liquid and in the cluster crystal. In the cluster crystal, the motion of individual particles is captured by a simple reaction-diffusion model introduced previously to model the kinetics of hydrogen bonds.
Structure of fenchone by broadband rotational spectroscopy
Authors: Loru Donatella , Bermúdez Miguel A. , Sanz M. Eugenia
Published: August 2016

The bicyclic terpenoid fenchone (C10H16O, 1,3,3-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one) has been investigated by chirped pulse Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy in the 2-8 GHz frequency region. The parent species and all heavy atom isotopologues have been observed in their natural abundance. The experimental rotational constants of all isotopic species observed have been determined and used to obtain the substitution (rs) and effective (r0) structures of fenchone. Calculations at the B3LYP, M06-2X, and MP2 levels of theory with different basis sets were carried out to check their performance against experimental results. The structure of fenchone has been compared with those of norbornane (bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane) and the norbornane derivatives camphor (1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one) and camphene (3,3-dimethyl-2-methylenebicyclo[2.2.1]heptane), both with substituents at C2. The structure of fenchone is remarkably similar to those of camphor and camphene. Comparison with camphor allows identification of changes in ∠CCC angles due to the different position of the methyl groups. All norbornane derivatives display similar structural changes with respect to norbornane. These changes mainly affect the bond lengths and angles of the six-membered rings, indicating that the substituent at C2 drives structural adjustments to minimise ring strain after its introduction.
Generalized average local ionization energy and its representations in terms of Dyson and energy orbitals
Authors: Kohut Sviataslau V. , Cuevas-Saavedra Rogelio , Staroverov Viktor N.
Published: August 2016

Ryabinkin and Staroverov [J. Chem. Phys. 141, 084107 (2014)] extended the concept of average local ionization energy (ALIE) to correlated wavefunctions by defining the generalized ALIE as Ī(r)=−∑jλj|fj(r)|2/ρ(r), where λj are the eigenvalues of the generalized Fock operator and fj(r) are the corresponding eigenfunctions (energy orbitals). Here we show that one can equivalently express the generalized ALIE as Ī(r)=∑kIk|dk(r)|2/ρ(r), where Ik are single-electron removal energies and dk(r) are the corresponding Dyson orbitals. The two expressions for Ī(r) emphasize different physical interpretations of this quantity; their equivalence enables one to calculate the ALIE at any level of ab initio theory without generating the computationally expensive Dyson orbitals.
Structure of solvation water around the active and inactive regions of a type III antifreeze protein and its mutants of lowered activity
Authors: Grabowska Joanna , Kuffel Anna , Zielkiewicz Jan
Published: August 2016

Water molecules from the solvation shell of the ice-binding surface are considered important for the antifreeze proteins to perform their function properly. Herein, we discuss the problem whether the extent of changes of the mean properties of solvation water can be connected with the antifreeze activity of the protein. To this aim, the structure of solvation water of a type III antifreeze protein from Macrozoarces americanus (eel pout) is investigated. A wild type of the protein is used, along with its three mutants, with antifreeze activities equal to 54% or 10% of the activity of the native form. The solvation water of the ice-binding surface and the rest of the protein are analyzed separately. To characterize the structure of solvation shell, parameters describing radial and angular characteristics of the mutual arrangement of the molecules were employed. They take into account short-distance (first hydration shell) or long-distance (two solvation shells) effects. The obtained results and the comparison with the results obtained previously for a hyperactive antifreeze protein from Choristoneura fumiferana lead to the conclusion that the structure and amino acid composition of the active region of the protein evolved to achieve two goals. The first one is the modification of the properties of the solvation water. The second one is the geometrical adjustment of the protein surface to the specific crystallographic plane of ice. Both of these goals have to be achieved simultaneously in order for the protein to perform its function properly. However, they seem to be independent from one another in a sense that very small antifreeze activity does not imply that properties of water become different from the ones observed for the wild type. The proteins with significantly lower activity still modify the mean properties of solvation water in a right direction, in spite of the fact that the accuracy of the geometrical match with the ice lattice is lost because of the mutations. Therefore, we do not observe any correlation between the antifreeze activity and the extent of modification of the properties of solvation water.
Photochemistry and infrared spectrum of single-bridged diborane(5) anion isolated in solid argon
Authors: Liu Meng-Chen , Chen Hui-Fen , Huang Wei-Jie , Chin Chih-Hao , Chen Sian-Cong , Huang Tzu-Ping , Wu Yu-Jong
Published: August 2016

Three-center two-electron bonds are important for understanding electron-deficient molecules. To examine such a molecule, we produced a diborane(5) anion with a single-bridged structure upon electron bombardment during matrix deposition of Ar containing a small proportion of diborane(6). The diborane(5) anion was destroyed upon photolysis at 180, 220, 385, and 450 nm, but not at 532 nm. Moreover, the possible formation of neutral diborane(5) was observed upon photolysis at 385 and 450 nm, whereas neutral diborane(3) was observed upon photolysis at 180 and 220 nm. The observed line wavenumbers, relative intensities, and isotopic ratios of the diborane(5) anion agreed satisfactorily with those predicted by density functional theory calculations at the B3LYP/aug-cc-pVTZ level of theory. Thus, this method produced the boron hydride anion of interest with few other fragments, which enabled us to clearly identify the IR spectrum of the diborane(5) anion.
Largely enhanced dielectric properties of carbon nanotubes/polyvinylidene fluoride binary nanocomposites by loading a few boron nitride nanosheets
Authors: Yang Minhao , Zhao Hang , He Delong , Bai Jinbo
Published: August 2016

The ternary nanocomposites of boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs)/carbon nanotubes (CNTs)/polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) are fabricated via a combination of solution casting and extrusion-injection processes. The effects of BNNSs on the electrical conductivity, dielectric behavior, and microstructure changes of CNTs/PVDF binary nanocomposites are systematically investigated. A low percolation value (fc) for the CNTs/PVDF binary system is obtained due to the integration of solution and melting blending procedures. Two kinds of CNTs/PVDF binary systems with various CNTs contents (fCNTs) as the matrix are discussed. The results reveal that compared with CNTs/PVDF binary systems at the same fCNTs, the ternary BNNSs/CNTs/PVDF nanocomposites exhibit largely enhanced dielectric properties due to the improvement of the CNTs dispersion state and the conductive network. The dielectric constant of CNTs/PVDF binary nanocomposite with 6 vol. % CNTs (fCNTs < fc) shows a 79.59% enhancement from 49 to 88 after the incorporation of 3 vol. % BNNSs. For the other CNTs/PVDF system with 8 vol. % CNTs (fCNTs > fc), it displays a 43.32% improvement from 1325 to 1899 after the addition of 3 vol. % BNNSs. The presence of BNNSs facilitates the formation of the denser conductive network. Meanwhile, the ternary BNNSs/CNTs/PVDF systems exhibit a low dielectric loss. The adjustable dielectric properties could be obtained by employing the ternary systems due to the microstructure changes of nanocomposites.
Linearly combined optical structures based on SiON
Authors: Alagappan G. , Png C. E.
Published: August 2016

We investigate an optical structure that results from a linear combination of two periodic, multilayer dielectric functions of slightly different periodicities. By solving the corresponding Maxwell's equation, we show that such linearly combined optical structure supports a dense number of localized (slow) modes. For a practical implementation of the linear combination of the dielectric functions, we make use a silicon oxynitride (SiON) material platform where the refractive index of SiON can be tuned over a continuous range, by changing the percentage of oxygen. The proposed optical structure works, despite a system of low refractive index contrast, and can be effectively used to create efficient polychromatic slow light systems and devices.
Unique dielectric tunability of Pb0.99[(Zr0.6Sn0.4)0.94Ti0.06]0.98Nb0.02O3 antiferroelectric ceramics
Authors: Li Lei , Spreitzer Matjaž , Suvorov Danilo , Chen Xiang Ming
Published: August 2016

The tunable dielectric properties of Pb0.99[(Zr0.6Sn0.4)0.94Ti0.06]0.98Nb0.02O3 antiferroelectric ceramics were investigated, and high relative tunability of 49% was obtained at 25 °C under a low bias electric field of 50 kV/cm. Abrupt changes and a significant hysteresis in dielectric constant and dielectric loss against bias electric field were observed, which are very different from the previously reported antiferroelectric materials. The unique dielectric tunability is attributed to the square-shaped double hysteresis loop and indicates the possible applications in some special tunable devices, such as an electrically-controlled switch. Pb0.99[(Zr0.6Sn0.4)0.94Ti0.06]0.98Nb0.02O3 ceramics also exhibit unique dielectric tunability at −5 °C. Abrupt changes in dielectric constant and dielectric loss were observed when the bias electric field increased to 31 kV/cm for the fresh sample, which is similar to the antiferroelectric-like dielectric tunability at 25 °C. However, the dielectric tunability was ferroelectric-like in the following measurement. This response is consistent with the hysteresis loop and can be explained by the electric field-assisted irreversible antiferroelectric-ferroelectric phase transition.
Point source atom interferometry with a cloud of finite size
Authors: Hoth Gregory W. , Pelle Bruno , Riedl Stefan , Kitching John , Donley Elizabeth A.
Published: August 2016

We demonstrate a two axis gyroscope by the use of light pulse atom interferometry with an expanding cloud of atoms in the regime where the cloud has expanded by 1.1–5 times its initial size during the interrogation. Rotations are measured by analyzing spatial fringe patterns in the atom population obtained by imaging the final cloud. The fringes arise from a correlation between an atom's initial velocity and its final position. This correlation is naturally created by the expansion of the cloud, but it also depends on the initial atomic distribution. We show that the frequency and contrast of these spatial fringes depend on the details of the initial distribution and develop an analytical model to explain this dependence. We also discuss several challenges that must be overcome to realize a high-performance gyroscope with this technique.
High field-effect mobility at the (Sr,Ba)SnO3/BaSnO3 interface
Authors: Fujiwara Kohei , Nishihara Kazuki , Shiogai Junichi , Tsukazaki Atsushi
Published: August 2016

A perovskite oxide, BaSnO3, has been classified as one of transparent conducting materials with high electron mobility, and its application for field-effect transistors has been the focus of recent research. Here we report transistor operation in BaSnO3-based heterostructures with atomically smooth surfaces, fabricated on SrTiO3 substrates by the (Sr,Ba)SnO3 buffer technique. Indeed, modulation of band profiles at the channel interfaces with the insertion of wide bandgap (Sr,Ba)SnO3 as a barrier layer results in a significant improvement of field-effect mobility, implying effective carrier doping at the regulated heterointerface. These results provide an important step towards realization of high-performance BaSnO3-based field-effect transistors.
Structural, magnetic and optical properties of Y bFe2O4 films deposited by spin coating
Authors: Fujii Tatsuo , Okamura Naoya , Hashimoto Hideki , Nakanishi Makoto , Kano Jun , Ikeda Naoshi
Published: August 2016

Rare-earth iron oxides (RFe2O4) have attracting attention as new electronic device materials because of their numerous functionalities, such as electronic ferroelectricity, ferrimagnetism, and high infrared absorption. In this paper, nearly monophasic Y bFe2O4 films were prepared on α-Al2O3(001) substrates by the spin coating method using an aqueous-based Y bFe2O4 solution. The solution was composed of a stoichiometric ratio of Y b(CH3COO)3 and Fe(NO3)3 with excess chelating agents. After heat treatment above 800 °C, well-crystallized and highly (001)-oriented Y bFe2O4 started to epitaxially form on the substrate under controlled oxygen partial pressure with H2/CO2 gas mixtures. X-ray pole figure analysis confirmed the following epitaxial relationship: Y bFe2O4[100](001)//α-Al2O3[100](001). Moreover formation of an Fe3O4 interracial layer between Y bFe2O4 and α-Al2O3 was detected by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Presence of the Fe3O4 interracial layer seemed to release the lattice misfit with the substrate. The Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio in the obtained Y bFe2O4 films was nearly stoichiometric and the indirect bandgap assigned to Fe2+ → Fe3+ charge transfer excitation was found to be ∼0.4 eV by optical spectroscopy. A clear magnetic transition from the paramagnetic state to the ferrimagnetic state occurred at ∼230 K.
Ergovaline, an endophytic alkaloid. 1. Animal physiology and metabolism
Authors: Klotz J. L. , Nicol A. M.
Published: August 2016

Ergovaline is an ergot alkaloid found in some endophyte-infected ryegrasses and it has been implicated in the expression of ergotism-like symptoms of grazing livestock, as well as in the protection of the plant against invertebrate predation and abiotic stresses. These selection pressures have resulted in a conflict between the needs of the pasture for persistence and the needs of the animal for production. Ergovaline has not been well studied in terms of animal physiology until recently. There are several putative mechanisms that limit the bioavailability of ergovaline, ranging from microbial biotransformation to post-absorptive hepatic detoxification. Although there are mechanisms that protect the animal from ergovaline exposure, tissues are very sensitive to ergovaline, indicating that ergovaline is very potent and that small quantities have the potential to cause noticeable physiological effects. The range of physiological effects, including decreased circulating prolactin, vasoconstriction and increased susceptibility to heat stress are all linked to the interaction of ergovaline with biogenic amine receptors found throughout the body. This review will focus on understanding the variation of ergovaline concentration in terms of bioavailability, the myriad of hurdles a molecule of ergovaline must overcome to cause an effect, what the ergovaline-induced effects are in New Zealand livestock and how this relates to the potency of ergovaline.
Ergovaline, an endophytic alkaloid. 2. Intake and impact on animal production, with reference to New Zealand
Authors: Nicol A. M. , Klotz J. L.
Published: August 2016

On the basis of published reports, the daily intake of the alkaloid ergovaline from the consumption of endophyte-containing ryegrass in New Zealand ranges from 0.008 to 0.287 mg ergovaline/kg LW0.75.day. Most of the reports are based on the use of standard endophyte-containing ryegrass and, thus, it is difficult to disassociate the impact of ergovaline consumption from that of lolitrem B. However, physiological effects of ergovaline consumption, such as reduced circulating prolactin concentration, vasoconstriction and elevated core temperature, have been detected at fairly low ergovaline intake, whereas decreased feed intake, liveweight gain and milk production have not generally been observed in animals at an intake below 0.07 mg ergovaline/kg LW0.75.day. Intakes above this value represent only 17% of published values. There are insufficient data to suggest a threshold ergovaline intake associated with heat stress with animal-welfare implications. The relationship between published ergovaline intake and the corresponding ergovaline concentration in pasture is poor (R2 = 0.48), but on average an intake of 0.07 ergovaline/kg LW0.75.day is associated with an ergovaline concentration in ryegrass of 0.70 mg/kg DM. About 16–18% of published ergovaline concentrations in ryegrass pasture exceed this value. The ergovaline concentration in ryegrass is greater in the basal parts of the plant than in the leaf and during the late summer–autumn than in spring. Animals grazing in the lower sward horizons (horizontal grazing plane) are more at risk of high ergovaline intake, although the reduction in grazing intake induced by grazing at low pasture height aids in limiting ergovaline intake. As pasture growth rates decline in late summer, supplementary feed may be used to maintain stocking rate and, if such feeds have zero ergovaline concentration, they serve to dilute the mean dietary ergovaline intake. Ergovaline-containing ryegrass pastures are widely used in New Zealand. It appears that farmers consider the risks of depressed animal production on these pastures to be less than the benefits ergovaline bestows through its deterrent effect of specific insect attack and thus greater survival and pasture persistence.
Natural variation in primary root growth and K+ retention in roots of habanero pepper (Capsicum chinense) under salt stress
Authors: Bojórquez-Quintal Emanuel , Ruiz-Lau Nancy , Velarde-Buendía Ana , Echevarría-Machado Ileana , Pottosin Igor , Martínez-Estévez Manuel
Published: August 2016

In this work, we analysed the natural variation in mechanisms for protection against salt stress in pepper varieties (Capsicum chinense Jacq. cv. Rex, Chichen-Itza and Naranja and Capsicum annuum L. cv. Padron), considering primary root growth and viability of the post-stressed seedlings. NaCl-induced K+ and H+ efflux in roots was also studied by ion-selective microelectrodes under application of pharmacological agents. In these pepper varieties, the magnitude of the K+ leakage in the roots positively correlated with growth inhibition of the primary root in the presence of NaCl, with Rex variety showing a higher level of tolerance than Chichen-Itza. The K+ leakage and the activity of the H+ pump in the roots were dependent on the NaCl concentration. Pharmacological analysis indicated that the NaCl-induced K+ leakage was mediated by TEA+-sensitive KOR channels but not by NSCC channels. In addition, we present evidence for the possible participation of proline, and a Na+-insensitive HAK K+ transporter expressed in habanero pepper roots for maintaining K+ homeostasis under salt stress conditions.
Comparison of full-length and conserved segments of wheat dehydrin DHN-5 overexpressed in Arabidopsis thaliana showed different responses to abiotic and biotic stress
Authors: Drira Marwa , Hanin Moez , Masmoudi Khaled , Brini Faiçal
Published: August 2016

Dehydrins (DHNs) are among the most common proteins accumulated in plants under water-related stress. They typically contain at least three conserved sequences designated as the Y-, S- and K-segments. The present work aims to highlight the role of the K-segments in plant tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. For this purpose, transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heyhn. lines expressing distinct wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) DHN-5 truncated constructs with or without the K-segments were generated. Our results showed that unlike the derivative lacking a K-segment, constructs containing only one or two K-segments enhanced the tolerance of A. thaliana to diverse stresses and were similar to the full-length wheat DHN-5. Moreover, compared with the wild-type and the YS form, the transgenic plants overexpressing wheat DHN-5 with K-segments maintained higher superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxide dismutase enzymatic activity, and accumulated lower levels of H2O2 and malondialdehyde. In addition, we demonstrated that lines like A. thaliana overexpressing wheat DHN-5 showed increased resistance to fungal infections caused by Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria solani. Finally, the overexpression of the different forms of wheat DHN-5 led to the regulation of the expression of several genes involved in the jasmonic acid signalling pathway.
Binding of EBP50 to Nox organizing subunit p47

phox

is pivotal to cellular reactive species generation and altered vascular phenotype
Authors: Al Ghouleh Imad , Meijles Daniel N. , Mutchler Stephanie , Zhang Qiangmin , Sahoo Sanghamitra , Gorelova Anastasia , Henrich Amaral Jefferson , Rodríguez Andrés I. , Mamonova Tatyana , Song Gyun Jee , Bisello Alessandro , Friedman Peter A. , Cifuentes-Pagano M. Eugenia , Pagano Patrick J.
Published: August 2016

Significance

Our findings identify a previously unidentified role for scaffolding protein ezrin-radixin-moesin-binding phosphoprotein 50 (EBP50; aka NHERF1) in the activation of NADPH oxidases (Nox), a family of professional reactive oxygen species (ROS) producing enzymes implicated in numerous pathologies. We demonstrate that EBP50 is critical for agonist-induced production of ROS superoxide anion (O
2
•–
), and that it directly associates with the Nox organizing subunit p47

phox

. EBP50 deletion abolishes angiotensin II-induced cellular hypertrophy and resistance artery vasoconstriction. Given the wide array of EBP50 cellular interactions and the ubiquity of Nox, the current findings support a broader, more complex orchestration of Nox regulation than is currently hypothesized. The findings could augment future strategies targeting this interaction in disease involving aberrant ROS, tissue remodeling, and/or smooth muscle constriction.
Clathrin light chains’ role in selective endocytosis influences antibody isotype switching
Authors: Wu Shuang , Majeed Sophia R. , Evans Timothy M. , Camus Marine D. , Wong Nicole M. L. , Schollmeier Yvette , Park Minjong , Muppidi Jagan R. , Reboldi Andrea , Parham Peter , Cyster Jason G. , Brodsky Frances M.
Published: August 2016

Significance

Clathrin forms coats on vesicles that control receptor endocytosis, thereby influencing cell signaling. The contribution of the clathrin light chain subunits to this process in mice was addressed by deleting the gene encoding the predominant light chain form (CLCa) present in B lymphocytes. CLCa-null mice have B cells with altered antibody production and aberrant development due to defects in endocytosis of signaling receptors that influence these processes. Only a subset of signaling receptors were found to depend on clathrin light chains for their endocytosis, demonstrating that light chain subunits contribute to selection of particular clathrin-coated vesicle cargo. This study clarifies a role for the light chains in vivo, showing that they contribute properties to the clathrin coat that regulate cargo uptake.
Development of Duplex Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (dLAMP) Combined with Lateral Flow Dipstick (LFD) for the Rapid and Specific Detection of Vibrio vulnificus and V. parahaemolyticus
Authors: Pasookhush Phongthana , Longyant Siwaporn , Sithigorngul Paisarn , Chaivisuthangkura Parin
Published: August 2016

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a rapid, specific, and effective DNA amplification assay. In this study, a duplex LAMP (dLAMP) assay combined with chromatographic lateral flow dipstick (LFD) was developed for the simultaneous identification of Vibrio vulnificus and V. parahaemolyticus. Each primer set that comprised F3, B3, FIP, and BIP recognized the V. vulnificus rpoS gene and the V. parahaemolyticus tlh gene. Digoxigenilated and biotinylated LAMP amplicons of V. vulnificus and V. parahaemolyticus, respectively, were hybridized with corresponded fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled probes for LFD detection. The optimum conditions were 90 min at 63°C. The dLAMP–LFD had high specificity to V. vulnificus and V. parahaemolyticus and showed no cross-amplification with 59 isolates of other bacteria. The detection limit of dLAMP–LFD with a pure culture of V. vulnificus was 2.2 × 104 CFU/mL, corresponding to 41 CFU per reaction, which was equal to that of duplex PCR (dPCR). In the case of V. parahaemolyticus, the detection limit of dLAMP–LFD with a pure culture was 2.2 × 103 CFU/mL, corresponding to 4.1 CFU per reaction, 100 times more sensitive than that of dPCR. In the spiked shrimp samples, the detection limit of dLAMP–LFD for V. vulnificus was 2.2 × 105 CFU/g, corresponding to 410 CFU per reaction, 10 times more sensitive than that of dPCR. In the case of V. parahaemolyticus, the detection limit of dLAMP–LFD in spiked shrimp samples was 2.2 × 104 CFU/g, corresponding to 41 CFU per reaction, 100 times more sensitive than that of dPCR. These results demonstrate that the simple dLAMP–LFD assay had high specificity and high sensitivity for the concurrent detection of V. vulnificus and V. parahaemolyticus.
Building resilient secular citizens: Tajikistan’s response to the Islamic State
Authors: Lemon Edward J.
Published: August 2016

Between 500 and 1000 citizens of Tajikistan have travelled to take part in hostilities in Syria and Iraq. The majority of these transnational activists are recruited in Russia, where over one million Tajik citizens live and work. In this article, I examine the politics of the Tajik government’s response. I answer three questions: how has the Tajik government reacted to its citizens joining the Islamic State? How has the foreign fighter phenomenon proved useful to securing the authoritarian regime? How have these, often illiberal, security practices shaped the lives of those they affect? Tajikistan’s government has responded to the Islamic State with a series of policies aimed at securing the regime. By conflating Islamization with radicalization, the Tajik government has extended its security practices to many more individuals than those directly involved with the Islamic State. Tajik counter-terrorism is based on all three forms of power identified by Michel Foucault. It is sovereign as it aims to protect the government and Tajikistan’s territory. It is disciplinary as it punishes those who are accused of “extremism”, offering a warning to others. And it is biopolitical because it involves the management of populations and individual subjects through practices of self-regulation.
Unique Aspects of the Developing Lung Circulation: Structural Development and Regulation of Vasomotor Tone
Authors: Gao Yuangsheng , Cornfield David N. , Stenmark Kurt R. , Thébaud Bernard , Abman Steven H. , Raj J. Usha
Published: August 2016

This review summarizes our current knowledge on lung vasculogenesis and angiogenesis during normal lung development and the regulation of fetal and postnatal pulmonary vascular tone. In comparison to that of the adult, the pulmonary circulation of the fetus and newborn displays many unique characteristics. Moreover, altered development of pulmonary vasculature plays a more prominent role in compromised pulmonary vasoreactivity than in the adult. Clinically, a better understanding of the developmental changes in pulmonary vasculature and vasomotor tone and the mechanisms that are disrupted in disease states can lead to the development of new therapies for lung diseases characterized by impaired alveolar structure and pulmonary hypertension.
Investigation of fast ion behavior using orbit following Monte–Carlo code in magnetic perturbed field in KSTAR
Authors: Shinohara Kouji , Suzuki Yasuhiro , Kim Junghee , Kim Jun Young , Jeon Young Mu , Bierwage Andreas , Rhee Tongnyeol
Published: August 2016

The fast ion dynamics and the associated heat load on the plasma facing components in the KSTAR tokamak were investigated with the orbit following Monte-Carlo (OFMC) code in several magnetic field configurations and realistic wall geometry. In particular, attention was paid to the effect of resonant magnetic perturbation (RMP) fields. Both the vacuum field approximation as well as the self-consistent field that includes the response of a stationary plasma were considered. In both cases, the magnetic perturbation (MP) is dominated by the toroidal mode number n  =  1, but otherwise its structure is strongly affected by the plasma response. The loss of fast ions increased significantly when the MP field was applied. Most loss particles hit the poloidal limiter structure around the outer mid-plane on the low field side, but the distribution of heat loads across the three limiters varied with the form of the MP. Short-timescale loss of supposedly well-confined co-passing fast ions was also observed. These losses started within a few poloidal transits after the fast ion was born deep inside the plasma on the high-field side of the magnetic axis. In the configuration studied, these losses are facilitated by the combination of two factors: (i) the large magnetic drift of fast ions across a wide range of magnetic surfaces due to a low plasma current, and (ii) resonant interactions between the fast ions and magnetic islands that were induced inside the plasma by the external RMP field. These effects are expected to play an important role in present-day tokamaks.
Predicting synergistic effects between compounds through their structural similarity and effects on transcriptomes
Authors: Liu Yiyi , Zhao Hongyu
Published: August 2016

Motivation: Combinatorial therapies have been under intensive research for cancer treatment. However, due to the large number of possible combinations among candidate compounds, exhaustive screening is prohibitive. Hence, it is important to develop computational tools that can predict compound combination effects, prioritize combinations and limit the search space to facilitate and accelerate the development of combinatorial therapies.

Results: In this manuscript we consider the NCI-DREAM Drug Synergy Prediction Challenge dataset to identify features informative about combination effects. Through systematic exploration of differential expression profiles after single compound treatments and comparison of molecular structures of compounds, we found that synergistic levels of combinations are statistically significantly associated with compounds’ dissimilarity in structure and similarity in induced gene expression changes. These two types of features offer complementary information in predicting experimentally measured combination effects of compound pairs. Our findings offer insights on the mechanisms underlying different combination effects and may help prioritize promising combinations in the very large search space.

Availability and Implementation: The R code for the analysis is available on https://github.com/YiyiLiu1/DrugCombination.

Contact:  hongyu.zhao@yale.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Higher classification sensitivity of short metagenomic reads with CLARK-S
Authors: Ounit Rachid , Lonardi Stefano
Published: August 2016

Summary: The growing number of metagenomic studies in medicine and environmental sciences is creating increasing demands on the computational infrastructure designed to analyze these very large datasets. Often, the construction of ultra-fast and precise taxonomic classifiers can compromise on their sensitivity (i.e. the number of reads correctly classified). Here we introduce CLARK-S, a new software tool that can classify short reads with high precision, high sensitivity and high speed.

Availability and Implementation: CLARK-S is freely available at http://clark.cs.ucr.edu/

Contact:  stelo@cs.ucr.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Chronic Headache and Backache are Long-term Sequelae of Unintentional Dural Puncture in the Obstetric Population
Authors: Ranganathan P. , Golfeiz C. , Phelps A.L. , Singh S. , Shnol H. , Paul N. , Attaallah A.F. , Vallejo M.C.
Published: August 2016

(J Clin Anesth. 2015;27(3):201–206)

Although unintentional dural puncture (UDP) with an epidural needle and the resulting postdural puncture headache (PDPH) occur in 1% to 5% of patients who undergo neuraxial anesthesia, there are very few studies that have addressed long-term UDP and PDPH sequelae, as parturients with PDPH are not routinely followed for the development of long-term complications. The current study examined the long-term (>6 wk) effects of PDPH by interviewing parturients who had UDP (recognized or unrecognized) associated with labor epidural analgesia.
Association Between Preeclampsia and Congenital Heart Defects
Authors: Auger N. , Fraser W.D. , Healy-Profitós J. , Arbour L.
Published: August 2016

(JAMA. 2015;314(15):1588–1598)

Congenital heart defects are the most common anomaly in infants and are a major cause of infant morbidity and mortality. The origins of congenital heart defects, therefore, need to be better studied in order to improve prevention and earlier detection. Recent studies have tried to identify biomarkers for congenital heart defects as well as preeclampsia. Biomarker findings associated with heart defects include imbalances in proangiogenic signaling proteins, such as vascular endothelial growth factor and placental growth factor, and antiangiogenic proteins, such as soluble endoglin and fms-like tyrosine kinase 1. Imbalances in these same biomarkers have been found with preeclampsia, where there is an excess of soluble endoglin and fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 relative to placental growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor. Angiogenic mechanisms may be part of a shared pathologic pathway for preeclampsia and congenital heart defects. Studies have shown that the pathologic changes associated with preeclampsia begin early in pregnancy, around the time that fetal heart development is occurring. This current study tried to determine the relationship between preeclampsia and the prevalence of congenital heart defects in infants whose mothers had the disorder.
Guideline-based Development of Quality Indicators for Prevention and Management of Postpartum Hemorrhage
Authors: Woiski M.D. , Scheepers H.C. , Liefers J. , Lance M. , Middeldorp J.M. , Lotgering F.K. , Grol R.P. , Hermens R.P.
Published: August 2016

(Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2015;94:1118–1127)

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is a major cause of maternal mortality worldwide, and it has been reported that many mothers suffering from hemorrhage received substandard care. Two recent studies have shown that 30% to 90% of women with PPH received care that is less than optimal, while a third study has shown that hospitals with a fetal maternal specialist experienced a lower rate of PPH. Research has also shown that a lack of training and education among health care providers could play a significant role in the development of severe hemorrhage. The authors of this paper developed a series of quality indicators to evaluate whether providers are adhering to the optimal guidelines when caring for patients with PPH.
Maternal Cardiac and Obstetric Performance in Consecutive Pregnancies in Women With Heart Disease
Authors: Gelson E. , Curry R. , Gatzoulis M.A. , Swan L. , Lupton M. , Steer P.J. , Johnson M.R.
Published: August 2016

(BJOG. 2015;122(11):1552–1559)

Pregnant women with preexisting cardiac disease often experience cardiac decompensation due to the physiological stresses of pregnancy. Some studies have suggested that these adverse effects on cardiac function might not be reversible once the pregnancy is completed. Therefore, women with cardiac disease might be expected to experience increased complications and poorer outcomes with subsequent pregnancies. This current study was undertaken to determine the effect of a second pregnancy on cardiac, obstetric, and perinatal complications in women with heart disease, compared with the first pregnancy in the same women. It secondarily estimated the effect of a second pregnancy on birth weight in women with heart disease.
Midwifery Facilitation: Exploring the Functionality of Labor Discomfort
Authors: Sanders R.
Published: August 2016

(Birth. 2015;42(3):202–205)

Currently, only 36% of labors in the United Kingdom are performed without anesthesia. This commentary explores the increasing trend of women choosing to medicate during labor. The practice of midwifery focuses on supporting women through the birthing process. Putting the emphasis on facilitating labor—making it as easy, not as painless, as possible—could reduce the reliance on pharmacological methods of anesthesia. As the perception of how painful labor is can be altered by the woman’s labor experience, changing the language used in describing labor pain could help alter the cultural perception of it.
A Phase 1, Dose-escalation, Double-blind, Block-randomized, Controlled Trial of Safety and Efficacy of Neosaxitoxin Alone and in Combination With 0.2% Bupivacaine, With and Without Epinephrine, for Cutaneous Anesthesia
Authors: Lobo K. , Donado C. , Cornelissen L. , Kim J. , Ortiz R. , Peake R.W. , Kellogg M. , Alexander M.E. , Zurakowski D. , Kurgansky K.E. , Peyton J. , Bilge A. , Boretsky K. , McCann M.E. , Berde C.B. , Cravero J.
Published: August 2016

(Anesthesiology. 2015;123(4):873–885)

Prolonged local anesthesia has been successfully achieved in both animals and humans using a site-1 sodium channel blocker called Neosaxitoxin (NeoSTX). The purpose of this study was to assess the safety of NeoSTX when administered through injection by itself, combined with bupivacaine, and combined with bupivacaine and epinephrine. The authors hypothesized that the drug would prove safe from a cardiovascular, neuromuscular, and respiratory standpoint. A secondary aim for this study was to evaluate the association between plasma concentrations of NeoSTX and any possible negative symptoms or bodily changes.
Current Diagnosis and Management of Pelvic Fistulae in Women
Authors: Rogers Rebecca G. , Jeppson Peter C.
Published: August 2016

Pelvic fistulae are an abnormal communication among the genitourinary tract, the gastrointestinal tract, and the vagina or perineum. Genital tract fistulae have been described in the medical literature for the past several thousand years. Advancements in both the diagnosis and treatment of vaginal fistulae have been obtained over the past century as surgical interventions have become safer and surgical techniques have improved. The most common cause of fistulae worldwide is obstructed labor. In developed countries, fistulae most commonly occur after benign gynecologic surgery, but obstructed labor, malignancy, radiation exposure, and inflammatory bowel disease can also cause fistulae. Fistulae significantly affect quality of life. Diagnostic studies and radiologic imaging can help aid the diagnosis, but a thorough physical examination is the most important component in the evaluation and diagnosis of a fistula. Temporizing treatments are available to help ease patient suffering until surgical management can be performed. Surgical repairs can be performed using an abdominal, vaginal, or transanal approach. Although technically challenging, surgical repair is usually successful, but closure of the fistula tract does not guarantee continence of urine or feces, because there is often underlying damage to the bowel and bladder.