bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel method for rapid in-situ hybridization of HER2 using non-contact alternating-current electric-field mixing
Authors: Saito Yoshitaro , Imai Kazuhiro , Nakamura Ryuta , Nanjo Hiroshi , Terata Kaori , Konno Hayato , Akagami Yoichi , Minamiya Yoshihiro
Published: July 2016

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-targeted agents are an effective approach to treating HER2-positive breast cancer patients. However, the lack of survival benefit in HER2-negative patients as well as the toxic effects and high cost of the drugs highlight the need for accurate and prompt assessment of HER2 status. Our aim was to evaluate the clinical utility of a novel rapid dual in-situ hybridization (RISH) method developed to facilitate hybridization. The method takes advantage of the non-contact mixing effect of an alternating current (AC) electric field. One hundred sixty-three specimens were used from patients diagnosed with primary breast cancers identified immunohistochemically as HER2 0/1(+), (2+) or (3+). The specimens were all tested using conventional dual in-situ hybridization (DISH), DISH with an automated slide stainer, and RISH. With RISH the HER2 test was completed within 6 h, as compared to 20–22 h needed for the standard protocol. Although RISH produced results more promptly using smaller amounts of labeled antibody, the staining and accuracy of HER2 status evaluation with RISH was equal to or greater than with DISH. These results suggest RISH could be used as a clinical tool to promptly determine HER2 status.
Magnetic Tunnel Junction Mimics Stochastic Cortical Spiking Neurons
Authors: Sengupta Abhronil , Panda Priyadarshini , Wijesinghe Parami , Kim Yusung , Roy Kaushik
Published: July 2016

Brain-inspired computing architectures attempt to mimic the computations performed in the neurons and the synapses in the human brain in order to achieve its efficiency in learning and cognitive tasks. In this work, we demonstrate the mapping of the probabilistic spiking nature of pyramidal neurons in the cortex to the stochastic switching behavior of a Magnetic Tunnel Junction in presence of thermal noise. We present results to illustrate the efficiency of neuromorphic systems based on such probabilistic neurons for pattern recognition tasks in presence of lateral inhibition and homeostasis. Such stochastic MTJ neurons can also potentially provide a direct mapping to the probabilistic computing elements in Belief Networks for performing regenerative tasks.
Security of six-state quantum key distribution protocol with threshold detectors
Authors: Kato Go , Tamaki Kiyoshi
Published: July 2016

The security of quantum key distribution (QKD) is established by a security proof and the security proof puts some assumptions on the devices consisting of a QKD system. Among such assumptions, security proofs of the six-state protocol assume the use of photon number resolving (PNR) detector and as a result the bit error rate threshold for secure key generation for the six-state protocol is higher than that for the BB84 protocol. Unfortunately, however, this type of detector is demanding in terms of technological level compared to the standard threshold detector and removing the necessity of such a detector enhances the feasibility of the implementation of the six-state protocol. Here, we develop the security proof for the six-state protocol and show that we can use the threshold detector for the six-state protocol. Importantly, the bit error rate threshold for the key generation for the six-state protocol (12.611%) remains almost the same as the one (12.619%) that is derived from the existing security proofs assuming the use of PNR detectors. This clearly demonstrates feasibility of the six-state protocol with practical devices.
Fetuin-B (FETUB): a Plasma Biomarker Candidate Related to the Severity of Lung Function in COPD
Authors: Diao Wen-qi , Shen Ning , Du Yi-peng , Liu Bei-bei , Sun Xiao-yan , Xu Ming , He Bei
Published: July 2016

Biomarkers for the progression of lung function in COPD are currently scarce. Plasma fetuin-B (FETUB) was identified by iTRAQ-based proteomics and was verified by ELISA in another group. Information regarding acute exacerbation (AE) was collected in a one-year follow-up programme. FETUB concentrations (1652 ± 427 ng/ml) were greater in COPD patients than in controls (1237 ± 77 ng/ml). The concentrations of FETUB in GOLD II (1762 ± 427 ng/ml), III (1650 ± 375 ng/ml) and IV (1800 ± 451 ng/ml) groups were greater than those in the controls (1257 ± 414 ng/ml) and the GOLD I (1345 ± 391 ng/ml) group. ROCs indicated that FETUB distinguished COPD patients from controls (AUC 0.747, 95% CI: 0.642–0.834) and also GOLD II, III and IV from GOLD I COPD patients (AUC: 0.770, 95% CI: 0.634–0.874). The combination of FETUB and fibrinogen performed better (AUC: 0.804, 95% CI: 0.705–0.881). FETUB also predicted the occurrence of AE (AUC: 0.707, 95% CI: 0.566–0.824) or frequent AE (AUC: 0.727, 95% CI: 0.587–0.840). FETUB concentrations were negatively correlated with FEV1%pred (r = −0.446, p = 0.000) and positively correlated with RV%pred (r = 0.317, p = 0.004), RV/TLC% (r = 0.360, p = 0.004), CT emphysema% (r = 0.322, p = 0.008) and grades of lung function (r = 0.437, p = 0.000). In conclusion, FETUB is likely to assist the diagnosis and management of COPD as a complement for other markers.
Gene silencing of endothelial von Willebrand Factor attenuates angiotensin II-induced endothelin-1 expression in porcine aortic endothelial cells
Authors: Dushpanova Anar , Agostini Silvia , Ciofini Enrica , Cabiati Manuela , Casieri Valentina , Matteucci Marco , Del Ry Silvia , Clerico Aldo , Berti Sergio , Lionetti Vincenzo
Published: July 2016

Expression of endothelin (ET)-1 is increased in endothelial cells exposed to angiotensin II (Ang II), leading to endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular disorders. Since von Willebrand Factor (vWF) blockade improves endothelial function in coronary patients, we hypothesized that targeting endothelial vWF with short interference RNA (siRNA) prevents Ang II-induced ET-1 upregulation. Nearly 65 ± 2% silencing of vWF in porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAOECs) was achieved with vWF-specific siRNA without affecting cell viability and growth. While showing ET-1 similar to wild type cells at rest, vWF-silenced cells did not present ET-1 upregulation during exposure to Ang II (100 nM/24 h), preserving levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity similar to wild type. vWF silencing prevented AngII-induced increase in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase (NOX) activity and superoxide anion (O2−) levels, known triggers of ET-1 expression. Moreover, no increase in O2− or ET-1 levels was found in silenced cells treated with AngII or NOX-agonist phorbol ester (PMA 5 nM/48 h). Finally, vWF was required for overexpression of NOX4 and NOX2 in response to AngII and PMA. In conclusion, endothelial vWF knockdown prevented Ang II-induced ET-1 upregulation through attenuation of NOX-mediated O2− production. Our findings reveal a new role of vWF in preventing of Ang II-induced endothelial dysfunction.
Dynamics of membrane nanotubes coated with I-BAR
Authors: Barooji Younes F. , Rørvig-Lund Andreas , Semsey Szabolcs , Reihani S. Nader S. , Bendix Poul M.
Published: July 2016

Membrane deformation is a necessary step in a number of cellular processes such as filopodia and invadopodia formation and has been shown to involve membrane shaping proteins containing membrane binding domains from the IRSp53-MIM protein family. In reconstituted membranes the membrane shaping domains can efficiently deform negatively charged membranes into tubules without any other proteins present. Here, we show that the IM domain (also called I-BAR domain) from the protein ABBA, forms semi-flexible nanotubes protruding into Giant Unilamellar lipid Vesicles (GUVs). By simultaneous quantification of tube intensity and tubular shape we find both the diameter and stiffness of the nanotubes. I-BAR decorated tubes were quantified to have a diameter of ~50 nm and exhibit no stiffening relative to protein free tubes of the same diameter. At high protein density the tubes are immobile whereas at lower density the tubes diffuse freely on the surface of the GUV. Bleaching experiments of the fluorescently tagged I-BAR confirmed that the mobility of the tubes correlates with the mobility of the I-BAR on the GUV membrane. Finally, at low density of I-BAR the protein upconcentrates within tubes protruding into the GUVs. This implies that I-BAR exhibits strong preference for negatively curved membranes.
Random Bits Forest: a Strong Classifier/Regressor for Big Data
Authors: Wang Yi , Li Yi , Pu Weilin , Wen Kathryn , Shugart Yin Yao , Xiong Momiao , Jin Li
Published: July 2016

Efficiency, memory consumption and robustness are common problems with many popular methods for data analysis. As a solution, we present Random Bits Forest (RBF), a classification and regression algorithm that integrates neural networks (for depth), boosting (for width) and random forests (for prediction accuracy). Through a gradient boosting scheme, it first generates and selects ~10,000 small, 3-layer random neural networks. These networks are then fed into a modified random forest algorithm to obtain predictions. Testing with datasets from the UCI (University of California, Irvine) Machine Learning Repository shows that RBF outperforms other popular methods in both accuracy and robustness, especially with large datasets (N > 1000). The algorithm also performed highly in testing with an independent data set, a real psoriasis genome-wide association study (GWAS).
Magnetic coupling at rare earth ferromagnet/transition metal ferromagnet interfaces: A comprehensive study of Gd/Ni
Authors: Higgs T. D. C. , Bonetti S. , Ohldag H. , Banerjee N. , Wang X. L. , Rosenberg A. J. , Cai Z. , Zhao J. H. , Moler K. A. , Robinson J. W. A.
Published: July 2016

Thin film magnetic heterostructures with competing interfacial coupling and Zeeman energy provide a fertile ground to study phase transition between different equilibrium states as a function of external magnetic field and temperature. A rare-earth (RE)/transition metal (TM) ferromagnetic multilayer is a classic example where the magnetic state is determined by a competition between the Zeeman energy and antiferromagnetic interfacial exchange coupling energy. Technologically, such structures offer the possibility to engineer the macroscopic magnetic response by tuning the microscopic interactions between the layers. We have performed an exhaustive study of nickel/gadolinium as a model system for understanding RE/TM multilayers using the element-specific measurement technique x-ray magnetic circular dichroism, and determined the full magnetic state diagrams as a function of temperature and magnetic layer thickness. We compare our results to a modified Stoner-Wohlfarth-based model and provide evidence of a thickness-dependent transition to a magnetic fan state which is critical in understanding magnetoresistance effects in RE/TM systems. The results provide important insight for spintronics and superconducting spintronics where engineering tunable magnetic inhomogeneity is key for certain applications.
Pancreatic Cancer Cell Exosome-Mediated Macrophage Reprogramming and the Role of MicroRNAs 155 and 125b2 Transfection using Nanoparticle Delivery Systems
Authors: Su Mei-Ju , Aldawsari Hibah , Amiji Mansoor
Published: July 2016

Exosomes are nano-sized endosome-derived small intraluminal vesicles, which are important facilitators of intercellular communication by transporting contents, such as protein, mRNA and microRNAs, between neighboring cells, such as in the tumor microenvironment. The purpose of this study was to understand the mechanisms of exosomes-mediated cellular communication between human pancreatic cancer (Panc-1) cells and macrophages (J771.A1) using a Transwell co-culture system. Following characterization of exosome-mediated cellular communication and pro-tumoral baseline M2 macrophage polarization, the Panc-1 cells were transfected with microRNA-155 (miR-155) and microRNA-125b-2 (miR-125b2) expressing plasmid DNA using hyaluronic acid-poly(ethylene imine)/hyaluronic acid-poly(ethylene glycol) (HA-PEI/HA-PEG) self-assembling nanoparticle-based non-viral vectors. Our results show that upon successful transfection of Panc-1 cells, the exosome content was altered leading to differential communication and reprogramming of the J774.A1 cells to an M1 phenotype. Based on these results, genetic therapies targeted towards selective manipulation of tumor cell-derived exosome content may be very promising for cancer therapy.
Novel chytrid lineages dominate fungal sequences in diverse marine and freshwater habitats
Authors: Comeau André M. , Vincent Warwick F. , Bernier Louis , Lovejoy Connie
Published: July 2016

In aquatic environments, fungal communities remain little studied despite their taxonomic and functional diversity. To extend the ecological coverage of this group, we conducted an in-depth analysis of fungal sequences within our collection of 3.6 million V4 18S rRNA pyrosequences originating from 319 individual marine (including sea-ice) and freshwater samples from libraries generated within diverse projects studying Arctic and temperate biomes in the past decade. Among the ~1.7 million post-filtered reads of highest taxonomic and phylogenetic quality, 23,263 fungal sequences were identified. The overall mean proportion was 1.35%, but with large variability; for example, from 0.01 to 59% of total sequences for Arctic seawater samples. Almost all sample types were dominated by Chytridiomycota-like sequences, followed by moderate-to-minor contributions of Ascomycota, Cryptomycota and Basidiomycota. Species and/or strain richness was high, with many novel sequences and high niche separation. The affinity of the most common reads to phytoplankton parasites suggests that aquatic fungi deserve renewed attention for their role in algal succession and carbon cycling.
miR-877-3p targets Smad7 and is associated with myofibroblast differentiation and bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis
Authors: Wang Cong , Gu Shen , Cao Honghui , Li Zutong , Xiang Zou , Hu Kebin , Han Xiaodong
Published: July 2016

Myofibroblast differentiation of lung resident mesenchymal stem cells (LR-MSC) plays an important role in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. By comparing the expression profiles of miRNAs before and after myofibroblast differentiation of LR-MSC, we identified miR-877-3p as a fibrosis-related miRNA. We found that miR-877-3p sequestration inhibited the myofibroblast differentiation of LR-MSC and attenuates bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis by targeting Smad7. Smad7, as an inhibitory smad in the TGF-β1 signaling pathway, was decreased in the myofibroblast differentiation of LR-MSC and up-regulation of Smad7 could inhibit the differentiation process. Our data implicates a potential application of miR-877-3p as a fibrosis suppressor for pulmonary fibrosis therapy and also as a fibrosis marker for predicting prognosis.
Dynamic defect correlations dominate activated electronic transport in SrTiO3
Authors: Snijders Paul C. , Şen Cengiz , McConnell Michael P. , Ma Ying-Zhong , May Andrew F. , Herklotz Andreas , Wong Anthony T. , Ward T. Zac
Published: July 2016

Strontium titanate (SrTiO3, STO) is a critically important material for the study of emergent electronic phases in complex oxides, as well as for the development of applications based on their heterostructures. Despite the large body of knowledge on STO, there are still many uncertainties regarding the role of defects in the properties of STO, including their influence on ferroelectricity in bulk STO and ferromagnetism in STO-based heterostructures. We present a detailed analysis of the decay of persistent photoconductivity in STO single crystals with defect concentrations that are relatively low but significantly affect their electronic properties. The results show that photo-activated electron transport cannot be described by a superposition of the properties due to independent point defects as current models suggest but is, instead, governed by defect complexes that interact through dynamic correlations. These results emphasize the importance of defect correlations for activated electronic transport properties of semiconducting and insulating perovskite oxides.
Reverse engineering of a Hamiltonian by designing the evolution operators
Authors: Kang Yi-Hao , Chen Ye-Hong , Wu Qi-Cheng , Huang Bi-Hua , Xia Yan , Song Jie
Published: July 2016

We propose an effective and flexible scheme for reverse engineering of a Hamiltonian by designing the evolution operators to eliminate the terms of Hamiltonian which are hard to be realized in practice. Different from transitionless quantum driving (TQD), the present scheme is focus on only one or parts of moving states in a D-dimension (D ≥ 3) system. The numerical simulation shows that the present scheme not only contains the results of TQD, but also has more free parameters, which make this scheme more flexible. An example is given by using this scheme to realize the population transfer for a Rydberg atom. The influences of various decoherence processes are discussed by numerical simulation and the result shows that the scheme is fast and robust against the decoherence and operational imperfection. Therefore, this scheme may be used to construct a Hamiltonian which can be realized in experiments.
The mitochondrial genome map of Nelumbo nucifera reveals ancient evolutionary features
Authors: Gui Songtao , Wu Zhihua , Zhang Hongyuan , Zheng Yinzhen , Zhu Zhixuan , Liang Dequan , Ding Yi
Published: July 2016

Nelumbo nucifera is an evolutionary relic from the Late Cretaceous period. Sequencing the N. nucifera mitochondrial genome is important for elucidating the evolutionary characteristics of basal eudicots. Here, the N. nucifera mitochondrial genome was sequenced using single molecule real-time sequencing technology (SMRT) and the mitochondrial genome map was constructed after de novo assembly and annotation. The results showed that the 524,797-bp N. nucifera mitochondrial genome has a total of 63 genes, including 40 protein-coding genes, three rRNA genes and 20 tRNA genes. Fifteen collinear gene clusters were conserved across different plant species. Approximately 700 RNA editing sites in the protein-coding genes were identified. Positively selected genes were identified with selection pressure analysis. Nineteen chloroplast-derived fragments were identified and seven tRNAs were derived from the chloroplast. These results suggest that the N. nucifera mitochondrial genome retains evolutionarily conserved characteristics, including ancient gene content and gene clusters, high levels of RNA editing and low levels of chloroplast-derived fragment insertions. As the first publicly available basal eudicot mitochondrial genome, the N. nucifera mitochondrial genome facilitates further analysis of the characteristics of basal eudicots and provides clues of the evolutionary trajectory from basal angiosperms to advanced eudicots.
Noninvasive, label-free, three-dimensional imaging of melanoma with confocal photothermal microscopy: Differentiate malignant melanoma from benign tumor tissue
Authors: He Jinping , Wang Nan , Tsurui Hiromichi , Kato Masashi , Iida Machiko , Kobayashi Takayoshi
Published: July 2016

Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers. Melanoma accounts for less than 2% of skin cancer cases but causes a large majority of skin cancer deaths. Early detection of malignant melanoma remains the key factor in saving lives. However, the melanoma diagnosis is still clinically challenging. Here, we developed a confocal photothermal microscope for noninvasive, label-free, three-dimensional imaging of melanoma. The axial resolution of confocal photothermal microscope is ~3 times higher than that of commonly used photothermal microscope. Three-dimensional microscopic distribution of melanin in pigmented lesions of mouse skin is obtained directly with this setup. Classic morphometric and fractal analysis of sixteen 3D images (eight for benign melanoma and eight for malignant) showed a capability of pathology of melanoma: melanin density and size become larger during the melanoma growth and the melanin distribution also becomes more chaotic and unregulated. The results suggested new options for monitoring the melanoma growth and also for the melanoma diagnosis.
Correction: Corrigendum: Functional map of arrestin binding to phosphorylated opsin, with and without agonist
Authors: Peterhans Christian , Lally Ciara C. M. , Ostermaier Martin K. , Sommer Martha E. , Standfuss Jörg
Published: July 2016

Scientific Reports 6: Article number: 28686; published online: 28 June 2016; updated: 22 July 2016 In this Article, Martin K. Ostermaier is incorrectly listed as being affiliated with ‘Institut für Medizinische Physik und Biophysik (CC2), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, D-10117, Berlin, Germany’.
Mechanism and Effect of Temperature on Variations in Antibiotic Resistance Genes during Anaerobic Digestion of Dairy Manure
Authors: Sun Wei , Qian Xun , Gu Jie , Wang Xiao-Juan , Duan Man-Li
Published: July 2016

Animal manure comprises an important reservoir for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), but the variation in ARGs during anaerobic digestion at various temperatures and its underlying mechanism remain unclear. Thus, we performed anaerobic digestion using dairy manure at three temperature levels (moderate: 20 °C, mesophilic: 35 °C and thermophilic: 55 °C), to analyze the dynamics of ARGs and bacterial communities by quantitative PCR and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We found that 8/10 detected ARGs declined and 5/10 decreased more than 1.0 log during thermophilic digestion, whereas only four and five ARGs decreased during moderate and mesophilic digestion, respectively. The changes in ARGs and bacterial communities were similar under the moderate and mesophilic treatments, but distinct from those in the thermophilic system. Potential pathogens such as Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria and Corynebacterium were removed by thermophilic digestion but not by moderate and mesophilic digestion. The bacterial community succession was the dominant mechanism that influenced the variation in ARGs and integrons during anaerobic digestion. Thermophilic digestion decreased the amount of mesophilic bacteria (Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria) carrying ARGs. Anaerobic digestion generally decreased the abundance of integrons by eliminating the aerobic hosts of integrons (Actinomycetales and Bacilli). Thermophilic anaerobic digestion is recommended for the treatment and reuse of animal manure.
A tunable acoustic metamaterial with double-negativity driven by electromagnets
Authors: Chen Zhe , Xue Cheng , Fan Li , Zhang Shu-yi , Li Xiao-juan , Zhang Hui , Ding Jin
Published: July 2016

With the advance of the research on acoustic metamaterials, the limits of passive metamaterials have been observed, which prompts the studies concerning actively tunable metamaterials with adjustable characteristic frequency bands. In this work, we present a tunable acoustic metamaterial with double-negativity composed of periodical membranes and side holes, in which the double-negativity pass band can be controlled by an external direct-current voltage. The tension and stiffness of the periodically arranged membranes are actively controlled by electromagnets producing additional stresses, and thus, the transmission and phase velocity of the metamaterial can be adjusted by the driving voltage of the electromagnets. It is demonstrated that a tiny direct-current voltage of 6V can arise a shift of double-negativity pass band by 40% bandwidth, which exhibits that it is an easily controlled and highly tunable acoustic metamaterial, and furthermore, the metamaterial marginally causes electromagnetic interference to the surroundings.
Nonlinear dynamics and instability of aqueous dissolution of silicate glasses and minerals
Authors: Wang Yifeng , Jove-Colon Carlos F. , Kuhlman Kristopher L.
Published: July 2016

Aqueous dissolution of silicate glasses and minerals plays a critical role in global biogeochemical cycles and climate evolution. The reactivity of these materials is also important to numerous engineering applications including nuclear waste disposal. The dissolution process has long been considered to be controlled by a leached surface layer in which cations in the silicate framework are gradually leached out and replaced by protons from the solution. This view has recently been challenged by observations of extremely sharp corrosion fronts and oscillatory zonings in altered rims of the materials, suggesting that corrosion of these materials may proceed directly through congruent dissolution followed by secondary mineral precipitation. Here we show that complex silicate material dissolution behaviors can emerge from a simple positive feedback between dissolution-induced cation release and cation-enhanced dissolution kinetics. This self-accelerating mechanism enables a systematic prediction of the occurrence of sharp dissolution fronts (vs. leached surface layers), oscillatory dissolution behaviors and multiple stages of glass dissolution (in particular the alteration resumption at a late stage of a corrosion process). Our work provides a new perspective for predicting long-term silicate weathering rates in actual geochemical systems and developing durable silicate materials for various engineering applications.
Reduction of the spatially mutual coupling between dual-polarized patch antennas using coupled metamaterial slabs
Authors: Pan Bai Cao , Tang Wen Xuan , Qi Mei Qing , Ma Hui Feng , Tao Zui , Cui Tie Jun
Published: July 2016

Mutual coupling inside antenna array is usually caused by two routes: signal leakage via conducting currents on the metallic background or surface wave along substrates; radio leakage received from space between antenna elements. The former one can be depressed by changing the distribution of surface currents, as reported in literatures. But when it comes to the latter one, the radiation-leakage-caused coupling, traditional approaches using circuit manipulation may be inefficient. In this article, we propose and design a new type of decoupling module, which is composed of coupled metamaterial (MTM) slabs. Two classes of MTM particles, the interdigital structure (IS) and the split-ring resonators (SRRs), are adopted to provide the first and second modulations of signal. We validate its function to reduce the radiation leakage between two dual-polarized patch antennas. A prototype is fabricated in a volume with subwavelength scale (0.6λ × 0.3λ × 0.053λ) to provide 7dB improvement for both co-polarization and cross-polarization isolations from 1.95 to 2.2 GHz. The design has good potential for wireless communication and radar systems.
Dysfunctional epileptic neuronal circuits and dysmorphic dendritic spines are mitigated by platelet-activating factor receptor antagonism
Authors: Musto Alberto E. , Rosencrans Robert F. , Walker Chelsey P. , Bhattacharjee Surjyadipta , Raulji Chittalsinh M. , Belayev Ludmila , Fang Zhide , Gordon William C. , Bazan Nicolas G.
Published: July 2016

Temporal lobe epilepsy or limbic epilepsy lacks effective therapies due to a void in understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that set in motion aberrant neuronal network formations during the course of limbic epileptogenesis (LE). Here we show in in vivo rodent models of LE that the phospholipid mediator platelet-activating factor (PAF) increases in LE and that PAF receptor (PAF-r) ablation mitigates its progression. Synthetic PAF-r antagonists, when administered intraperitoneally in LE, re-establish hippocampal dendritic spine density and prevent formation of dysmorphic dendritic spines. Concomitantly, hippocampal interictal spikes, aberrant oscillations, and neuronal hyper-excitability, evaluated 15–16 weeks after LE using multi-array silicon probe electrodes implanted in the dorsal hippocampus, are reduced in PAF-r antagonist-treated mice. We suggest that over-activation of PAF-r signaling induces aberrant neuronal plasticity in LE and leads to chronic dysfunctional neuronal circuitry that mediates epilepsy.
Determination of oxygen extraction fraction using magnetic resonance imaging in canine models with internal carotid artery occlusion
Authors: Chang Fei-Yan , Xiao Jiang-Xi , Xie Sheng , Yu Lei , Zhang Zhen-Xia , Wang Wu , Luo Jie , Zhang Zhong-Ping , Guo Hua
Published: July 2016

Perfusion of the penumbra tissue below the flow threshold for functional disturbance but above that for the maintenance of morphological integrity is the target for therapy in acute ischaemic stroke. The measurement of the oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) may provide a direct assessment of tissue viability, so that irreversible tissue damage and penumbra can be reliably identified. By using an asymmetric spin echo single-shot echo planar imaging (ASE-SSEPI) sequence, the quantitative OEF was obtained in the ischaemic brain tissues of canine models with internal carotid artery occlusion. TTC staining, which delineated the regions of infarct and penumbra, was used for defining the corresponding regions on OEF maps. The threshold of the OEF to discriminate the infarct cores and penumbral tissues was then determined according to the OEF values at different times. With repeated-measures ANOVA, the OEF of the infarcted regions was found to be time dependent. An OEF greater than 0.48 best predicted cortical infarction at 1.5 hr, with an area under the receiving operating characteristic curve of 0.968, a sensitivity of 97.5% and a specificity of 92.5%. Our results may be helpful in the evaluation of tissue viability during stroke events.
Ca(OH)2-Catalyzed Condensation of Aldehydes with Methyl ketones in Dilute Aqueous Ethanol: A Comprehensive Access to α,β-Unsaturated Ketones
Authors: Yu Lei , Han Mengting , Luan Jie , Xu Lin , Ding Yuanhua , Xu Qing
Published: July 2016

Cheap, abundant but seldom-employed Ca(OH)2 was found to be an excellent low-loading (5–10 mol%) catalyst for Claisen-Schmidt condensation of aldehydes with methyl ketones under mild conditions. It was interesting that dilute aqueous ethanol (20 v/v%) was unexpectedly discovered to be the optimal solvent. The reaction was scalable at least to 100 mmol and calcium could be precipitated by CO2 and removed by filtration. Evaporation of solvent directly afforded the product in the excellent 96% yield with high purity, as confirmed by its 1H NMR spectrum.
Application of three-dimensional liquid chromatography for quantification of 2-acetyl-4-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybutyl)imidazole (THI) in caramel colours
Authors: Moretton Cédric , Nigay Henri
Published: July 2016

This study described a new method to quantify THI in caramels colours without sample preparation thanks to the separation power of multidimensional liquid chromatography.
Determination of sixteen pyrethroids in water using dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction based on dissolved carbon dioxide flotation after emulsification microextraction using gas chromatography with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry
Authors: Ye Jingqing , Yao Zhoulin , Wang Zhiwei , Nie Jing , Li Zuguang
Published: July 2016

A simple and novel method was successfully developed for determination of sixteen pyrethroids in water samples by using DCF-DLLME coupled with GC-MS/MS.
A safe, efficient and simple technique for the removal of cadmium from brown rice flour with citric acid and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
Authors: Wu Yanan , He Rong , Wang Zhigao , Yuan Jian , Xing Changrui , Wang Lifeng , Ju Xingrong
Published: July 2016

We developed a technique that can remove Cd from brown rice flour with citric acid and retain chemical components effectively.
Heparin-based hydrogels with tunable sulfation & degradation for anti-inflammatory small molecule delivery
Authors: Peng Yifeng , Tellier Liane E. , Temenoff Johnna S.
Published: July 2016

Heparin-based hydrogels enable tunable and linear release kinetics of the anti-inflammatory small molecule, crystal violet.
The solid state structures of the high and low temperature phases of dimethylcadmium
Authors: Hanke Felix , Hindley Sarah , Jones Anthony C. , Steiner Alexander
Published: July 2016

X-ray structures and DFT calculations show that the HT phase is of Me2Cd is two-dimensionally disordered, while the LT phase is ordered. Both phases contain linearly coordinated cadmium atoms; methyl groups are staggered in the HT form and eclipsed in the LT-form.
Cyclotetrahalo-p-phenylenes: simulations of halogen substituted cycloparaphenylenes and their interaction with C60
Authors: Rio J. , Erbahar D. , Rayson M. , Briddon P. , Ewels C. P.
Published: July 2016

Halogen substitution of cycloparaphenylenes (‘nanohoops’) shifts the HOMO and LUMO, for example eliminating redox coupling in the complex C60@[10]CPP-F.
Competing processes of micellization and fibrillization in native and reduced casein proteins
Authors: Portnaya Irina , Avni Sharon , Kesselman Ellina , Boyarski Yoav , Sukenik Shahar , Harries Daniel , Dan Nily , Cogan Uri , Danino Dganit
Published: July 2016

Competition between micellization and fibrillization in milk caseins, intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs).
Comparison of experimental and theoretical quantum-state-selected integral cross-sections for the H2O+ + H2 (D2) reactions in the collision energy range of 0.04–10.00 eV
Authors: Song Hongwei , Li Anyang , Guo Hua , Xu Yuntao , Xiong Bo , Chang Yih-Chung , Ng C. Y.
Published: July 2016

A combined experimental–theoretical study of the rovibrationally state-selected ion–molecule reactions H2O+(X2B1; v1+v2+v3+; NKa+Kc++) + H2 (D2) → H3O+ (H2DO+) + H (D), where (v1+v2+v3+) = (000), (020), and (100) and NKa+Kc++ = 000, 111, and 211.
Hydrogen peroxide activation by fluorophilic polyoxotungstates for fast and selective oxygen transfer catalysis
Authors: Carraro Mauro , Gardan Martino , Sartorel Andrea , Maccato Chiara , Bonchio Marcella
Published: July 2016

Polyoxometalate (POM)-based polyanionic fluorosurfactants self-assemble in hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) and activate hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), yielding efficient epoxidation of terminal alkenes.
Reactions of a persistent phosphinyl radical/diphosphine with heteroallenes
Authors: Giffin Nick A. , Hendsbee Arthur D. , Masuda Jason D.
Published: July 2016

The persistent phosphinyl radical, (H2C)2(NDipp)2P˙, formed from the diphosphane [(H2C)2(NDipp)2P]2, was reacted with three heteroallenes.
Novel tetrazoloquinoline–thiazolidinone conjugates as possible antitubercular agents: synthesis and molecular docking
Authors: Subhedar Dnyaneshwar D. , Shaikh Mubarak H. , Shingate Bapurao B. , Nawale Laxman , Sarkar Dhiman , Khedkar Vijay M.
Published: July 2016

Synthesis of new tetrazoloquinoline–thiazolidinone conjugates were achievedviaone-pot three-component cyclocondensation in the presence of [DBUH][OAc] and studied antitubercular activity.
Sodium citrate (Na3Cit)-assisted hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of twinned hemisphere shaped La2(MoO4)3:Eu3+ phosphors
Authors: Zhang Yu , Yu Min
Published: July 2016

Sodium citrate (Na3Cit) mediated hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of twinned hemisphere shaped La2(MoO4)3:Eu3+ phosphors.
Efficient and selective oxidation of sulfides in batch and continuous flow using styrene-based polymer immobilised ionic liquid phase supported peroxotungstates
Authors: Doherty S. , Knight J. G. , Carroll M. A. , Clemmet A. R. , Ellison J. R. , Backhouse T. , Holmes N. , Thompson L. A. , Bourne R. A.
Published: July 2016

Good conversion and high selectivity for sulfoxidation have been achieved under segmented and continuous flow using a polystyrene-based polymer immobilised ionic liquid phase (PIILP) peroxotungstate.
A mechanistic study on tumour spheroid formation in thermosensitive hydrogels: experiments and mathematical modelling
Authors: Cui X. , Dini S. , Dai S. , Bi J. , Binder B. J. , Green J. E. F. , Zhang H.
Published: July 2016

Thermo-reversible microgels to culture and harvest uniform-sized tumour spheroids with a narrow size-distribution.
Detailed study of interactions between eosin yellow and gemini pyridinium surfactants
Authors: Sharma Renu , Kamal Ajar , Mahajan Rakesh Kumar
Published: July 2016

Interactions of dianionic dye, eosin yellow with gemini pyridinium surfactants have been investigated using conductivity, UV-visible, fluorescence, cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, potentiometry and dynamic light scattering.
Recent developments in the chemistry of bicyclic 6-6 systems: chemistry of pyrido[4,3-d]pyrimidines
Authors: Elattar Khaled M. , Doğru Mert Başak
Published: July 2016

The present review reports the chemistry and biological importance of pyrido[4,3-d]pyrimidine analogues.
Modification of intrinsic defects in IZO/IGZO thin films for reliable bilayer thin film transistors
Authors: Tiwari Nidhi , Chauhan Ram Narayan , Liu Po-Tsun , Shieh Han-Ping D.
Published: July 2016

Dual active channel IZO/IGZO thin film transistors as such and with ZnO interlayer are fabricated and characterized to investigate the impact of ultra-thin ZnO insertion on their performance and bias stability.
Ionothermal synthesis, magnetic transformation and hydration–dehydration properties of Co(ii)-based coordination polymers
Authors: Chen Wen-Xian , Gao Yi-Fen , Gao Pei-Yuan , Liu Qiu-Ping , Zhuang Gui-Lin
Published: July 2016

A series of low-coordinated coordination polymers obtained under an ionic liquid medium exhibit interesting hydration–dehydration behaviour and magnetic transformations.
Influence of molecular weight on kinetics release of metronidazole from proline-based polymers prepared by RAFT polymerization
Authors: El-Newehy Mohamed H. , Elsherbiny Abeer S. , Mori Hideharu
Published: July 2016

In the current study, the influence of polymer molecular weight on the release of metronidazole (MTZ) as a drug model from synthesized proline-based polymers was studied.
Exploring saccharinate-tetrazoles as selective Cu(ii) ligands: structure, magnetic properties and cytotoxicity of copper(ii) complexes based on 5-(3-aminosaccharyl)-tetrazoles
Authors: Ismael A. , Henriques M. S. C. , Marques C. , Rodrigues M. , Barreira L. , Paixão J. A. , Fausto R. , Cristiano M. L. S.
Published: July 2016

Saccharinate-tetrazolesTSand2MTSbind selectively to copper(ii). The resulting copper complexes have shown a huge increase in thein vitrocytotoxicity against hepatic carcinoma cells (HepG2) compared to the corresponding nontoxic free ligands.
Utilising alternative modifications of α-olefin end groups to synthesise amphiphilic block copolymers
Authors: Malins Edward L. , Waterson Carl , Becer C. Remzi
Published: July 2016

Amphiphilic block copolymers comprised of polyisobutylene (PIB) and poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (DMAEMA) have been synthesised.
An approach to the synthesis of 4-aryl and 5-aryl substituted thiazole-2(3H)-thiones employing flow processing
Authors: Balti Monaem , Miller Shelli A. , Efrit Mohamed Lotfi , Leadbeater Nicholas E.
Published: July 2016

A route to substituted thiazole-2(3H)-thiones is reported, flow processing and supported reagents being used to facilitate synthesis and product isolation.
Tailoring the magnetic and magnetoelectric properties of rare earth orthoferrites for room temperature applications
Authors: Ramu N. , Muralidharan R. , Meera K. , Jeong Y. H.
Published: July 2016

The M(T) curve shows negative magnetization value for samples containing Er ions. The dielectric constant value does not show any anomaly around the magnetic transition temperature. The temperature at which maximum MDE effect observed corresponds to dielectric loss maxima.
Altenusin derivatives from mangrove endophytic fungus Alternaria sp. SK6YW3L
Authors: Liu Yayue , Wu Yingnan , Zhai Rui , Liu Zhaoming , Huang Xishan , She Zhigang
Published: July 2016

Five new altenusin derivatives, compounds 1–5, along with six known analogues 6–11, were isolated from a culture of the endophytic fungus Alternaria sp. SK6YW3L, which was isolated from a fresh fruit of the mangrove plant Sonneratia caseolaris, collected from the South China Sea.
Ctr-1 Mets7 motif inspiring new peptide ligands for Cu(i)-catalyzed asymmetric Henry reactions under green conditions
Authors: Pellegrino Sara , Facchetti Giorgio , Contini Alessandro , Gelmi Maria Luisa , Erba Emanuela , Gandolfi Raffaella , Rimoldi Isabella
Published: July 2016

Hybrid catalysts were developed from the Cu(i) binding domain of Ctr1 protein and their activity was evaluated in an asymmetric Henry reaction.
Tuning Ni nanoparticles and the acid sites of silica-alumina for liquefaction and hydrodeoxygenation of lignin to cyclic alkanes
Authors: Kong Jiechen , Li Bolong , Zhao Chen
Published: July 2016

A facile and effective method for the one-pot hydrodeoxygenation of enzymatic lignin to C6–C9 cycloalkanes is reported in liquid dodecane with 100 C% selectivity (approaching 50 wt% yield).
Correction: Synthesis, crystal structures, and in vitro anticancer properties of new N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) silver(i)- and gold(i)/(iii)-complexes: a rare example of silver(i)–NHC complex involved in redox transmetallation
Authors: Haque Rosenani A. , Ghdhayeb Mohammed Z. , Budagumpi Srinivasa , Khadeer Ahamed Mohamed B. , Abdul Majid Amin M. S.
Published: July 2016

Correction for ‘Synthesis, crystal structures, and in vitro anticancer properties of new N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) silver(i)- and gold(i)/(iii)-complexes: a rare example of silver(i)–NHC complex involved in redox transmetallation’ by Rosenani A. Haque et al., RSC Adv., 2016, 6, 60407–60421.
Nitrogen-doped mesoporous carbon nanosheet/carbon nanotube hybrids as metal-free bi-functional electrocatalysts for water oxidation and oxygen reduction
Authors: Li Xinzhe , Fang Yiyun , Zhao Shiling , Wu Juntian , Li Feng , Tian Min , Long Xuefeng , Jin Jun , Ma Jiantai
Published: July 2016

Nitrogen-doped mesoporous carbon nanosheet/carbon nanotube hybrids are prepared. This metal-free catalyst exhibits remarkable catalytic performance for both OER and ORR in 0.1 M KOH solution.
CoOOH ultrathin nanoflake arrays aligned on nickel foam: fabrication and use in high-performance supercapacitor devices
Authors: Zhang Dongbin , Kong Xianggui , Zhao Yufei , Jiang Meihong , Lei Xiaodong
Published: July 2016

A CoOOH/NF ultrathin nanoflake array is fabricated by a facile two-step method. Furthermore, an asymmetric supercapacitor was assembled with CoOOH/NF and reduced graphene oxide, displaying excellent properties as energy storage devices.
Osteogenic and angiogenic activities of silicon-incorporated TiO2 nanotube arrays
Authors: Bai Long , Wu Ruifeng , Wang Yueyue , Wang Xin , Zhang Xiangyu , Huang Xiaobo , Qin Lin , Hang Ruiqiang , Zhao Lingzhou , Tang Bin
Published: July 2016

Silicon-doped TiO2 nanotube arrays may promote implant osseointegration through upregulating osteoblast and endothelial cell functions.
Investigations of the genotoxic properties of two synthetic cathinones (3-MMC, 4-MEC) which are used as psychoactive drugs
Authors: Al-Serori Halh , Ferk Franziska , Angerer Verena , Mišík Miroslav , Nersesyan Armen , Setayesh Tahereh , Auwärter Volker , Haslinger Elisabeth , Huber Wolfgang , Knasmüller Siegfried
Published: July 2016

Synthetic cathinones (SCAs) are consumed worldwide as psychostimulants and are increasingly marketed as surrogates of classical illicit drugs via the internet.
cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) complexes probed by complementary differential scanning fluorimetry and ion mobility–mass spectrometry
Authors: Byrne Dominic P. , Vonderach Matthias , Ferries Samantha , Brownridge Philip J. , Eyers Claire E. , Eyers Patrick A.
Published: July 2016

cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) is an archetypal biological signaling module and a model for understanding the regulation of protein kinases. In the present study, we combine biochemistry with differential scanning fluorimetry (DSF) and ion mobility–mass spectrometry (IM–MS) to evaluate effects of phosphorylation and structure on the ligand binding, dynamics and stability of components of heteromeric PKA protein complexes in vitro. We uncover dynamic, conformationally distinct populations of the PKA catalytic subunit with distinct structural stability and susceptibility to the physiological protein inhibitor PKI. Native MS of reconstituted PKA R2C2 holoenzymes reveals variable subunit stoichiometry and holoenzyme ablation by PKI binding. Finally, we find that although a ‘kinase-dead’ PKA catalytic domain cannot bind to ATP in solution, it interacts with several prominent chemical kinase inhibitors. These data demonstrate the combined power of IM–MS and DSF to probe PKA dynamics and regulation, techniques that can be employed to evaluate other protein-ligand complexes, with broad implications for cellular signaling.
Multiband FM‐based PBR system in presence of model mismatch
Authors: Zaimbashi A.
Published: July 2016

The effect of the complex amplitude mismatch (CAM) on the performance of multiband uniformly most powerful invariant (M‐UMPI) detector is studied. This optimum invariant detector assumed a fully correlated amplitude over different frequency channels (DFCs) to improve target range resolution (TRR). In this case, we obtain a closed‐form expression for the detection probability of the M‐UMPI under the CAM. Some simulation results are provided to evaluate the detection performance loss as well as degradation in TRR of the M‐UMPI detector when there are different types of CAM over DFCs.
Uplink training for multicell massive multiple‐input–multiple‐output systems: a combination of time‐shifted and time‐aligned pilot approaches
Authors: Nguyen Hieu V. , Nguyen Van‐Dinh , Shin Oh‐Soon
Published: July 2016

Pilot contamination reduction can improve the achievable uplink and downlink rates in a multicell massive multiple‐input–multiple‐output system. To this end, this study first proposes two schemes to mitigate the effect of pilot contamination by implementing uplink training with time‐aligned and time‐shifted pilot transmissions. Accordingly, these techniques enable the system not only to exploit the advantages of time‐shifted training but also to benefit from the use of conventional systems that improve the achievable rates. The authors introduce channel estimation in matrix form by estimating from a near minimum mean square error method. Furthermore, linear detector and precoding methods are used for a base station with a finite number of antennas in order to derive the closed‐form lower bounds of the achievable rates with two uplink training schemes for both uplink and downlink transmissions. Finally, numerical results are presented to verify the analysis.
Very high efficiency differential chaos shift keying system
Authors: Taleb Fadia , Bendimerad Fethi Tarik , Roviras Daniel
Published: July 2016

In this study, a new non‐coherent communication system, i.e. very high efficiency differential chaos shift keying system, is proposed. This system is a generalised form of the high efficiency differential chaos shift keying (HE‐DCSK) system, with an arbitrary number (N) of transmitted bits per frame. The major advantage of this new proposition is its ability to significantly improve the spectral efficiency compared with DCSK and HE‐DCSK. The theoretical bit error rate of this system is found using the Gaussian approximation method under different communication channels: additive white Gaussian noise and two‐ray Rayleigh fading channels. Simulations in both environments show a perfect match with the analytical expressions for large spreading factors. Simulation results for the two‐ray Rayleigh fading channel show clearly the diversity gain compared with the single‐ray Rayleigh channel.