bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ca2+-activated Cl− channel TMEM16A/ANO1 identified in zebrafish skeletal muscle is crucial for action potential acceleration
Authors: Dayal Anamika , Ng Shu Fun J. , Grabner Manfred
Published: January 2019

The Ca2+-activated Cl−channel (CaCC) TMEM16A/Anoctamin 1 (ANO1) is expressed in gastrointestinal epithelia and smooth muscle cells where it mediates secretion and intestinal motility. However, ANO1 Cl−conductance has never been reported to play a role in skeletal muscle. Here we show that ANO1 is robustly expressed in the highly evolved skeletal musculature of the euteleost species zebrafish. We characterised ANO1 asbonafideCaCC which is activated close to maximum by Ca2+ions released from the SR during excitation-contraction (EC) coupling. Consequently, our study addressed the question about the physiological advantage of implementation of ANO1 into the euteleost skeletal-muscle EC coupling machinery. Our results reveal that Cl−influx through ANO1 plays an essential role in restricting the width of skeletal-muscle action potentials (APs) by accelerating the repolarisation phase. Resulting slimmer APs enable higher AP-frequencies and apparently tighter controlled, faster and stronger muscle contractions, crucial for high speed movements.
A tRNA half modulates translation as stress response in Trypanosoma brucei
Authors: Fricker Roger , Brogli Rebecca , Luidalepp Hannes , Wyss Leander , Fasnacht Michel , Joss Oliver , Zywicki Marek , Helm Mark , Schneider André , Cristodero Marina , Polacek Norbert
Published: January 2019

In the absence of extensive transcription control mechanisms the pathogenic parasite Trypanosoma brucei crucially depends on translation regulation to orchestrate gene expression. However, molecular insight into regulating protein biosynthesis is sparse. Here we analyze the small non-coding RNA (ncRNA) interactome of ribosomes in T. brucei during different growth conditions and life stages. Ribosome-associated ncRNAs have recently been recognized as unprecedented regulators of ribosome functions. Our data show that the tRNAThr 3´half is produced during nutrient deprivation and becomes one of the most abundant tRNA-derived RNA fragments (tdRs). tRNAThr halves associate with ribosomes and polysomes and stimulate translation by facilitating mRNA loading during stress recovery once starvation conditions ceased. Blocking or depleting the endogenous tRNAThr halves mitigates this stimulatory effect both in vivo and in vitro. T. brucei and its close relatives lack the well-described mammalian enzymes for tRNA half processing, thus hinting at a unique tdR biogenesis in these parasites.
Spin-optoelectronic devices based on hybrid organic-inorganic trihalide perovskites
Authors: Wang Jingying , Zhang Chuang , Liu Haoliang , McLaughlin Ryan , Zhai Yaxin , Vardeny Shai R. , Liu Xiaojie , McGill Stephen , Semenov Dmitry , Guo Hangwen , Tsuchikawa Ryuichi , Deshpande Vikram V. , Sun Dali , Vardeny Z. Valy
Published: January 2019

Recently the hybrid organic-inorganic trihalide perovskites have shown remarkable performance as active layers in photovoltaic and other optoelectronic devices. However, their spin characteristic properties have not been fully studied, although due to the relatively large spin-orbit coupling these materials may show great promise for spintronic applications. Here we demonstrate spin-polarized carrier injection into methylammonium lead bromide films from metallic ferromagnetic electrodes in two spintronic-based devices: a ‘spin light emitting diode’ that results in circularly polarized electroluminescence emission; and a ‘vertical spin valve’ that shows giant magnetoresistance. In addition, we also apply a magnetic field perpendicular to the injected spins orientation for measuring the ‘Hanle effect’, from which we obtain a relatively long spin lifetime for the electrically injected carriers. Our measurements initiate the field of hybrid perovskites spin-related optoelectronic applications.
Precision ultrasound sensing on a chip
Authors: Basiri-Esfahani Sahar , Armin Ardalan , Forstner Stefan , Bowen Warwick P.
Published: January 2019

Ultrasound sensors have wide applications across science and technology. However, improved sensitivity is required for both miniaturisation and increased spatial resolution. Here, we introduce cavity optomechanical ultrasound sensing, where dual optical and mechanical resonances enhance the ultrasound signal. We achieve noise equivalent pressures of 8–300 μPa Hz−1/2 at kilohertz to megahertz frequencies in a microscale silicon-chip-based sensor with >120 dB dynamic range. The sensitivity far exceeds similar sensors that use an optical resonance alone and, normalised to the sensing area, surpasses previous air-coupled ultrasound sensors by several orders of magnitude. The noise floor is dominated by collisions from molecules in the gas within which the acoustic wave propagates. This approach to acoustic sensing could find applications ranging from biomedical diagnostics, to autonomous navigation, trace gas sensing, and scientific exploration of the metabolism-induced-vibrations of single cells.
Artificial Neuron using Vertical MoS2/Graphene Threshold Switching Memristors
Authors: Kalita Hirokjyoti , Krishnaprasad Adithi , Choudhary Nitin , Das Sonali , Dev Durjoy , Ding Yi , Tetard Laurene , Chung Hee-Suk , Jung Yeonwoong , Roy Tania
Published: January 2019

With the ever-increasing demand for low power electronics, neuromorphic computing has garnered huge interest in recent times. Implementing neuromorphic computing in hardware will be a severe boost for applications involving complex processes such as image processing and pattern recognition. Artificial neurons form a critical part in neuromorphic circuits, and have been realized with complex complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) circuitry in the past. Recently, metal-insulator-transition materials have been used to realize artificial neurons. Although memristors have been implemented to realize synaptic behavior, not much work has been reported regarding the neuronal response achieved with these devices. In this work, we use the volatile threshold switching behavior of a vertical-MoS2/graphene van der Waals heterojunction system to produce the integrate-and-fire response of a neuron. We use large area chemical vapor deposited (CVD) graphene and MoS2, enabling large scale realization of these devices. These devices can emulate the most vital properties of a neuron, including the all or nothing spiking, the threshold driven spiking of the action potential, the post-firing refractory period of a neuron and strength modulated frequency response. These results show that the developed artificial neuron can play a crucial role in neuromorphic computing.
µLAS: Sizing of expanded trinucleotide repeats with femtomolar sensitivity in less than 5 minutes
Authors: Malbec Rémi , Chami Bayan , Aeschbach Lorène , Ruiz Buendía Gustavo A. , Socol Marius , Joseph Pierre , Leïchlé Thierry , Trofimenko Evgeniya , Bancaud Aurélien , Dion Vincent
Published: January 2019

We present µLAS, a lab-on-chip system that concentrates, separates, and detects DNA fragments in a single module. µLAS speeds up DNA size analysis in minutes using femtomolar amounts of amplified DNA. Here we tested the relevance of µLAS for sizing expanded trinucleotide repeats, which cause over 20 different neurological and neuromuscular disorders. Because the length of trinucleotide repeats correlates with the severity of the diseases, it is crucial to be able to size repeat tract length accurately and efficiently. Expanded trinucleotide repeats are however genetically unstable and difficult to amplify. Thus, the amount of amplified material to work with is often limited, making its analysis labor-intensive. We report the detection of heterogeneous allele lengths in 8 samples from myotonic dystrophy type 1 and Huntington disease patients with up to 750 CAG/CTG repeats in five minutes or less. The high sensitivity of the method allowed us to minimize the number of amplification cycles and thus reduce amplification artefacts without compromising the detection of the expanded allele. These results suggest that µLAS can speed up routine molecular biology applications of repetitive sequences and may improve the molecular diagnostic of expanded repeat disorders.
Quantifying uncertainties of sandy shoreline change projections as sea level rises
Authors: Le Cozannet Gonéri , Bulteau Thomas , Castelle Bruno , Ranasinghe Roshanka , Wöppelmann Guy , Rohmer Jeremy , Bernon Nicolas , Idier Déborah , Louisor Jessie , Salas-y-Mélia David
Published: January 2019

Sandy shorelines are constantly evolving, threatening frequently human assets such as buildings or transport infrastructure. In these environments, sea-level rise will exacerbate coastal erosion to an amount which remains uncertain. Sandy shoreline change projections inherit the uncertainties of future mean sea-level changes, of vertical ground motions, and of other natural and anthropogenic processes affecting shoreline change variability and trends. Furthermore, the erosive impact of sea-level rise itself can be quantified using two fundamentally different models. Here, we show that this latter source of uncertainty, which has been little quantified so far, can account for 20 to 40% of the variance of shoreline projections by 2100 and beyond. This is demonstrated for four contrasting sandy beaches that are relatively unaffected by human interventions in southwestern France, where a variance-based global sensitivity analysis of shoreline projection uncertainties can be performed owing to previous observations of beach profile and shoreline changes. This means that sustained coastal observations and efforts to develop sea-level rise impact models are needed to understand and eventually reduce uncertainties of shoreline change projections, in order to ultimately support coastal land-use planning and adaptation.
VacA promotes CagA accumulation in gastric epithelial cells during Helicobacter pylori infection
Authors: Abdullah Majd , Greenfield Laura K. , Bronte-Tinkew Dana , Capurro Mariana I. , Rizzuti David , Jones Nicola L.
Published: January 2019

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the causative agent of gastric cancer, making it the only bacterium to be recognized as a Class I carcinogen by the World Health Organization. The virulence factor cytotoxin associated gene A (CagA) is a known oncoprotein that contributes to the development of gastric cancer. The other major virulence factor vacuolating cytotoxin A (VacA), disrupts endolysosomal vesicular trafficking and impairs the autophagy pathway. Studies indicate that there is a functional interplay between these virulence factors by unknown mechanisms. We show that in the absence of VacA, both host-cell autophagy and the proteasome degrade CagA during infection with H. pylori. In the presence of VacA, CagA accumulates in gastric epithelial cells. However, VacA does not affect proteasome function during infection with H. pylori suggesting that VacA−disrupted autophagy is the predominant means by which CagA accumulates. Our studies support a model where in the presence of VacA, CagA accumulates in dysfunctional autophagosomes providing a possible explanation for the functional interplay of VacA and CagA.
Antagonistic pleiotropy in mice carrying a CAG repeat expansion in the range causing Huntington’s disease
Authors: Morton A. J. , Skillings E. A. , Wood N. I. , Zheng Z.
Published: January 2019

Antagonist pleiotropy, where a gene exerts a beneficial effect at early stages and a deleterious effect later on in an animal’s life, may explain the evolutionary persistence of devastating genetic diseases such as Huntington’s disease (HD). To date, however, there is little direct experimental evidence to support this theory. Here, we studied a transgenic mouse carrying the HD mutation with a repeat of 50 CAGs (R6/2_50) that is within the pathological range of repeats causing adult-onset disease in humans. R6/2_50 mice develop characteristic HD brain aggregate pathology, with aggregates appearing predominantly in the striatum and cortex. However, they show few signs of disease in their lifetime. On the contrary, R6/2_50 mice appear to benefit from carrying the mutation. They have extended lifespans compared to wildtype (WT) mice, and male mice show enhanced fecundity. Furthermore, R6/2_50 mice outperform WT mice on the rotarod and show equal or better performance in the two choice discrimination task than WT mice. This novel mouse line provides direct experimental evidence that, although the HD mutation causes a fatal neurodegenerative disorder, there may be premorbid benefits of carrying the mutation.
Characterizing both bacteria and fungi improves understanding of the Arabidopsis root microbiome
Authors: Bergelson Joy , Mittelstrass Jana , Horton Matthew W.
Published: January 2019

Roots provide plants mineral nutrients and stability in soil; while doing so, they come into contact with diverse soil microbes that affect plant health and productivity. Despite their ecological and agricultural relevance, the factors that shape the root microbiome remain poorly understood. We grew a worldwide panel of replicated Arabidopsis thaliana accessions outdoors and over winter to characterize their root-microbial communities. Although studies of the root microbiome tend to focus on bacteria, we found evidence that fungi have a strong influence on the structure of the root microbiome. Moreover, host effects appear to have a stronger influence on plant-fungal communities than plant-bacterial communities. Mapping the host genes that affect microbiome traits identified a priori candidate genes with roles in plant immunity; the root microbiome also appears to be strongly affected by genes that impact root and root hair development. Our results suggest that future analyses of the root microbiome should focus on multiple kingdoms, and that the root microbiome is shaped not only by genes involved in defense, but also by genes involved in plant form and physiology.
Transthyretin Aggregation Pathway toward the Formation of Distinct Cytotoxic Oligomers
Authors: Dasari Anvesh K. R. , Hughes Robert M. , Wi Sungsool , Hung Ivan , Gan Zhehong , Kelly Jeffrey W. , Lim Kwang Hun
Published: January 2019

Characterization of small oligomers formed at an early stage of amyloid formation is critical to understanding molecular mechanism of pathogenic aggregation process. Here we identified and characterized cytotoxic oligomeric intermediates populated during transthyretin (TTR) aggregation process. Under the amyloid-forming conditions, TTR initially forms a dimer through interactions between outer strands. The dimers are then associated to form a hexamer with a spherical shape, which serves as a building block to self-assemble into cytotoxic oligomers. Notably, wild-type (WT) TTR tends to form linear oligomers, while a TTR variant (G53A) prefers forming annular oligomers with pore-like structures. Structural analyses of the amyloidogenic intermediates using circular dichroism (CD) and solid-state NMR reveal that the dimer and oligomers have a significant degree of native-like β-sheet structures (35–38%), but with more disordered regions (~60%) than those of native TTR. The TTR variant oligomers are also less structured than WT oligomers. The partially folded nature of the oligomeric intermediates might be a common structural property of cytotoxic oligomers. The higher flexibility of the dimer and oligomers may also compensate for the entropic loss due to the oligomerization of the monomers.
A molecularly imprinted modified CdSeS/ZnS core–shell quantum dot embedded glass slide for highly selective and sensitive solid phase optosensing of trace amounts of lidocaine in biological samples
Authors: Ahmadpour Hamidreza , Milani Hosseini Seyed Mohamadreza
Published: January 2019

An optosensing material based on surface functionalization of a glass slide with quantum dots (QDs) and molecularly imprinted polymer (glass slide@QDs@MIP) with unique optical properties of QDs and selective recognition of MIPs was fabricated for the determination of lidocaine in biological samples.
Biogeochemical specificity of adjacent natural carbonated spring waters from Swiss Alps promptly revealed by SERS and Raman technology
Authors: Cinta Pinzaru Simona , Ardeleanu Mircea , Brezestean Ioana , Nekvapil Fran , Venter Monica M.
Published: January 2019

Inorganic anion content, sediment and microbiomecould be simultaneously assessed in natural carbonated waters combining Raman spectroscopy techniques. The mineral waters provided SERS signature characteristic to cyanobacteria and induced aggregation of the AgNps, that was time dependent and spring specific.
Fabrication of a new calix[4]arene-functionalized Mn3O4 nanoparticle-based modified glassy carbon electrode as a fast responding sensor towards Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions
Authors: Adarakatti Prashanth Shivappa , Siddaramanna Ashoka , Malingappa Pandurangappa
Published: January 2019

Macromolecule-functionalized metal oxide nanoparticles based composite provide combined advantages of functional groups and high surface to volume ratio, which make them good materials in sensing applications.
A vinylogous Michael addition-triggered quadruple cascade reaction for the enantioselective generation of multiple quaternary stereocenters
Authors: Yang Shu-Mei , Karanam Praneeth , Wang Min , Jang Yeong-Jiunn , Yeh Yu-Sheng , Tseng Ping-Yao , Ganapuram Madhusudhan Reddy , Liou Yan-Cheng , Lin Wenwei
Published: January 2019

An efficient organocatalytic vinylogous Michael addition-triggered quadruple cascade reaction resulting in fused spiroxindoles bearing multiple quaternary stereocenters is demonstrated from β-trifluoroacetylarylidene indanediones and 3-alkylideneoxindoles.
Substrate-free and label-free electrocatalysis-assisted biosensor for sensitive detection of microRNA in lung cancer cells
Authors: Cui Lin , Wang Meng , Sun Bing , Ai Shiyun , Wang Shaocong , Zhang Chun-yang
Published: January 2019

We develop a substrate-free and label-free electrocatalysis-assisted biosensor for sensitive detection of microRNA with FeCN as the catalytic element.
Enantioselective iridium-catalyzed carbonyl isoprenylation via alcohol-mediated hydrogen transfer
Authors: Xiang Ming , Luo Guoshun , Wang Yuankai , Krische Michael J.
Published: January 2019

Enantioselective carbonyl isoprenylation is achieved via alcohol-mediated hydrogen transfer, enabling asymmetric total syntheses of the terpenoid natural products (+)-ipsenol and (+)-ipsdienol.
Plasmon-coupled charge transfer in WO3−x semiconductor nanoarrays: toward highly uniform silver-comparable SERS platforms
Authors: Hou Xiangyu , Luo Xiaoguang , Fan Xingce , Peng Zhaohui , Qiu Teng
Published: January 2019

A double-switch experiment demonstrates that plasmon-coupled charge transfer can implement a low limit of detection below 10−9 M.
A highly active and stable Zn@C/HZSM-5 catalyst using Zn@C derived from ZIF-8 as a template for conversion of glycerol to aromatics
Authors: Pan Donghui , Xu Siquan , Miao Yanan , Xu Ningning , Wang Huazheng , Song Xianghai , Gao Lijing , Xiao Guomin
Published: January 2019

Zn@C/HZSM-5 showed excellent catalytic activity (54.7% aromatics yield) and high catalytic stability (8.5 h lifetime) due to the synergy between ZnOH+, intra-crystalline mesopores and HZSM-5 zeolite.
Bi2S3/C nanorods as efficient anode materials for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Chai Wenwen , Yang Fan , Yin Weihao , You Shunzhang , Wang Ke , Ye Wenkai , Rui Yichuan , Tang Bohejin
Published: January 2019

Bi2S3 is a promising negative electrode material for lithium storage owing to its high theoretical capacity. During the Bi2S3/C synthesis process, the carbonization of H3BTC prevents aggregation of Bi2S3 particles, with an average diameter of 60 nm.
Two-dimensional MAX-derived titanate nanostructures for efficient removal of Pb(ii)
Authors: Gu Pengcheng , Zhang Sai , Zhang Chenlu , Wang Xiangxue , Khan Ayub , Wen Tao , Hu Baowei , Alsaedi Ahmed , Hayat Tasawar , Wang Xiangke
Published: January 2019

Two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials have been identified as one of the promising materials due to their great promise for waste treatment.
A γ-Fe2O3-modified nanoflower-MnO2/attapulgite catalyst for low temperature SCR of NOx with NH3
Authors: Xie Aijuan , Tao Yiyang , Jin Xiang , Gu Pengfei , Huang Xiaoyan , Zhou Xingmeng , Luo Shiping , Yao Chao , Li Xiazhang
Published: January 2019

A novel mesoporous γ-Fe2O3-modified nanoflower-MnO2/attapulgite catalyst has been fabricated through a facile hydrothermal method and used for low temperature SCR of NOx with NH3.
Facile fabrication of electroconductive natural silk composites by microscale manipulation
Authors: Yan Shuqin , Yang Qingqing , Han Guocong , Wang Qiusheng , Li Xiufang , Wang Lu , Luo Zuwei , You Renchuan , Zhang Qiang
Published: January 2019

Silk/PPy composites with high biocompatibility and electroconductivity were fabricatedviathe enhanced loading capacity of silk fibers.
Macrophage-engulfed MoS2for active targeted photothermal therapy
Authors: Song Chuanqi , Li Zizuo , Chen Yaodong , Zheng Ce , Hu Narisu , Guo Chongshen
Published: January 2019

In this study, macrophage-engulfed MoS2was used for cancer targeted photothermal therapy and we investigated the evolution process of tumors after treatment.
SERS-based dynamic monitoring of minimal residual disease markers with high sensitivity for clinical applications
Authors: Wang Yujie , Zong Shenfei , Li Na , Wang Zhuyuan , Chen Baoan , Cui Yiping
Published: January 2019

We report an SERS-based method for dynamic monitoring of minimal residual disease markers with high sensitivity for clinical applications.
Monodisperse ordered indium–palladium nanoparticles: synthesis and role of indium for boosting superior electrocatalytic activity for ethanol oxidation reaction
Authors: Chen Yu-Ju , Chen Yi-Rui , Chiang Cheng-Hsuan , Tung Kuo-Lun , Yeh Tsung-Kuang , Tuan Hsing-Yu
Published: January 2019

Monodisperse ordered In3Pd2and In3Pd5nanoparticles were synthesized for the first time and used as superior electrocatalysts for ethanol oxidation reaction.
A nanofluidic device for real-time visualization of DNA–protein interactions on the single DNA molecule level
Authors: Öz Robin , KK Sriram , Westerlund Fredrik
Published: January 2019

We present a device that allows active exchange of the local environment of nanoconfined DNA, enabling dynamic studies of DNA-analyte interactions.
Kinetic and spectroscopic studies on the chiral self-aggregation of amphiphilic zinc and copper (l)-prolinate-tetraarylporphyrin derivatives in different aqueous media
Authors: Caroleo Fabrizio , Stefanelli Manuela , Magna Gabriele , Venanzi Mariano , Paolesse Roberto , Sennato Simona , Carbone Marilena , Monti Donato
Published: January 2019

The chiral self-aggregation of (l)-proline porphyrin derivatives depends on both the nature of the media and the coordinated metal ion.
Nickel-catalyzed syn-stereocontrolled ring-opening of oxa- and azabicyclic alkenes with dialkylzinc reagents
Authors: Deng Yingying , Yang Wen , Yao Yongqi , Yang Xin , Zuo Xiongjun , Yang Dingqiao
Published: January 2019

A new efficient nickel-catalyzed syn-stereocontrolled ring-opening of oxa(aza)bicyclic alkenes with dialkylzinc reagents was developed.
Synthesis of a non-natural glucose-2-phosphate ester able to dupe the acc system of Agrobacterium fabrum
Authors: Li Si-Zhe , Vigouroux Armelle , Ahmar Mohammed , El Sahili Abbas , Soulère Laurent , Sago Laïla , Cornu David , Moréra Solange , Queneau Yves
Published: January 2019

Novel non-natural G2P ester G2LP can enter A. fabrum and serve as nutrient. Binding to AccA and activity vs. AccF is fully demonstrated.
Palladium-catalyzed regioselective C–H alkynylation of indoles with bromoalkynes in water
Authors: Wu Wanqing , Fang Songjia , Jiang Guangbin , Li Meng , Jiang Huanfeng
Published: January 2019

A palladium-catalyzed regioselective C(sp2)–H alkynylation between indoles and bromoalkynes in water has been developed, affording diverse functionalized 2-alkynylindoles in good yields.
Novel fabrication of porous titanium by a resin-impregnated titanium substitution technique for bone reconstruction
Authors: Kobatake Reiko , Doi Kazuya , Kubo Takayasu , Makihara Yusuke , Oki Yoshifumi , Yokoi Miyuki , Umehara Hanako , Tsuga Kazuhiro
Published: January 2019

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristic structures and osteoconduction ability of porous titanium structures using a resin-impregnated titanium substitution fabrication technique.
Correction: Computational investigations of click-derived 1,2,3-triazoles as keystone ligands for complexation with transition metals: a review
Authors: Hosseinnejad Tayebeh , Ebrahimpour-Malmir Fatemeh , Fattahi Bahareh
Published: January 2019

Correction for ‘Computational investigations of click-derived 1,2,3-triazoles as keystone ligands for complexation with transition metals: a review’ by Tayebeh Hosseinnejad et al., RSC Adv., 2018, 8, 12232–12259.
Highlighting spin selectivity properties of chiral electrode surfaces from redox potential modulation of an achiral probe under an applied magnetic field
Authors: Benincori Tiziana , Arnaboldi Serena , Magni Mirko , Grecchi Sara , Cirilli Roberto , Fontanesi Claudio , Mussini Patrizia Romana
Published: January 2019

Redox potential modulation of achiral probes on chirally modified electrode surfaces with spin filter features under an applied magnetic field.
Predicting protein–ligand binding affinity and correcting crystal structures with quantum mechanical calculations: lactate dehydrogenase A
Authors: Lukac Iva , Abdelhakim Hend , Ward Richard A. , St-Gallay Stephen A. , Madden Judith C. , Leach Andrew G.
Published: January 2019

Quantum calculations plus lipophilicity (log P) lead to usefully accurate predictions of binding affinity that allow correction of crystal structures.
Synergistic self-seeding in one-dimension: a route to patchy and block comicelles with uniform and controllable length
Authors: Xu Jiangping , Zhou Hang , Yu Qing , Guerin Gerald , Manners Ian , Winnik Mitchell A.
Published: January 2019

By manipulating both the dissolution sequence of polymer crystallites and the growth rate of polymer unimers, patchy comicelles and block comicelles with uniform and controllable length can be obtained.
Experimental observation of nonadiabatic bifurcation dynamics at resonances in the continuum
Authors: Lim Jean Sun , You Hyun Sik , Kim So-Yeon , Kim Sang Kyu
Published: January 2019

In the strong vibronic state mixing regime, both Herzberg type-I and type-II predissociations coexist and proceed in a competitive way.
Hydrogen bonding-based strongly adhesive coacervate hydrogels synthesized using poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) and tannic acid
Authors: Nam Hyeon Gyun , Nam Myeong Gyun , Yoo Pil J. , Kim Ji-Heung
Published: January 2019

A supramolecular coacervate hydrogel was synthesized by simply mixing poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) and tannic acid (TA). Resulting super adhesive properties showed adhesion strength of 3.71 MPa on a glass substrate.
Design and synthesis of room temperature stable Li-argyrodite superionic conductors via cation doping
Authors: Zhang Zhuoran , Sun Yulong , Duan Xianbao , Peng Linfeng , Jia Huanhuan , Zhang Yunyang , Shan Bin , Xie Jia
Published: January 2019

Cation doping in Li7PS6 to stabilize the HT argyrodite phase with high ionic conductivity and good compatibility with Li metal.
ITO-free carrier-selective contact for crystalline silicon solar cells
Authors: Choi Deokjae , Yoon Hyun , Kim Ka-Hyun , Um Han-Don , Seo Kwanyong
Published: January 2019

Indium Tin Oxide (ITO)-free carrier-selective contact for crystalline silicon solar cells is developed by the integration of a micro-grid electrode.
Enhanced thermoelectric performance of higher manganese silicides by shock-induced high-density dislocations
Authors: Gao Zhipeng , Xiong Zhengwei , Li Jun , Lu Chengjia , Zhang Ganghua , Zeng Tao , Ma Yongjun , Ma Guohua , Zhang Ruizhi , Chen Kan , Zhang Tao , Liu Yi , Yang Jia , Cao Linhong , Jin Ke
Published: January 2019

The shock-compression is a novel method to generate high-density dislocations in the thermoelectric materials and to enhance their thermoelectric properties.
Salt-templated growth of monodisperse hollow nanostructures
Authors: Li Chaoran , Yao Jie , Huang Yang , Xu Chaoying , Lou Deyue , Wu Zhiyi , Sun Wei , Zhang Shumin , Li Yanguang , He Le , Zhang Xiaohong
Published: January 2019

We develop a salt-templated route to monodisperse hollow nanostructures in a green, robust, efficient, cost-effective and scalable manner.
Revealing the alternative promoter usage of SAF/MAZ gene by bichromatic fluorescent reporter construct
Authors: Ren Jianbo , Guo Dawei , Wang Xiaoyi , Zhang Chao , Wang Bo , Gao Zhe
Published: January 2019

The large-scale identification of putative alternative promoters study shows more than 52% of human genes are regulated by alternative promoters. The human myc-associated zinc finger protein (SAF/MAZ) gene have SAF-1 and SAF-3 variants transcripted from two transcription start sites (TSSs). By using SAF/MAZ promoter as a model, we set up an approach to probe how the alternative promoters are regulated in real time. We have constructed the bichromatic fluorescent reporter driven by SAF/MAZ 5′-proximal promoter plasmids from which transactivation status of SAF-1 and SAF-3 alternative promoter could be monitored by EGFP and DsRed expression respectively. The results showed that the SAF-3 expression is regulated by alternative promoters. When the bichromatic fluorescent reporter was driven by −1692/+277 or −1401/+277 SAF/MAZ promoter the dominant expression of SAF-3 would be observed in comparison with SAF-1 expression. We also identified that Elk-1 is an inhibitory transcription factor for SAF-3 expression. The temporal diversity of SAF-1 and SAF-3 expressions can be observed via bichromatic fluorescent reporters. These imply that the bichromatic fluorescent reporter driven by alternative promoter construct might be a useful tool for decoding the temporal regulatory repertoire of alternative promoter in human genes.
Repetition‐assisted decoding of polar codes
Authors: Rowshan M. , Viterbo E. , Micheloni R. , Marelli A.
Published: January 2019

Error correction performance of finite‐length polar codes has been a major concern in the past decade. This Letter presents a method for improving the error correction performance of cyclic redundancy check (CRC)‐aided successive cancellation list decoding for polar codes of medium block‐lengths with high code rates. In the proposed decoding scheme, a one‐time repetition of least reliable bit‐channels along with partial protection of the message is employed to correct the error(s) when decoding fails. The results show an improvement of nearly 0.2 dB in error correction performance.
Optical fibre liquid sensor for cryogenic propellant mass measurement
Authors: Chi Xingqiang , Ke Xuan , Xu Wei
Published: January 2019

The authors report a one‐piece flexible liquid level optical fibre sensing probe in this Letter, which is meant to measure the liquid level inside the cryogenic propellant tanks of spacecraft and rockets. The ultra‐lightweight sensing probe can be used in both aerospace vehicles and in any type of cryogenic fluid storage system. In contrast to current liquid gauging technologies such as Delta‐P pressure sensor, capacitance probe, ultrasonic sensor, and silicon diode liquid level sensing probe, the fibre optic continuous liquid level sensor has unique advantages in terms of gauging accuracy, reliability, simplicity, and maintenance. The sensor uses one single optical fibre probe to measure the liquid level and the liquid distribution of cryogenic propellant. Every point of the sensing fibre is a ‘point sensor’ that is able to distinguish liquid and vapour. The physical location of each ‘point sensor’ can be determined with 1 mm spatial resolution or better. The optical fibre probe can be installed in a propellant tank with the same manner as currently used silicon diode liquid level sensing probe via only one single feed‐through to connect to an optical signal interrogation unit located outside the tank. Experiments on measuring liquid nitrogen level are demonstrated.
Low complexity and high performance symbol detection scheme for uplink wide‐banded cyclic prefixed filter bank multiple access system without analysis filtering
Authors: Dang Jian , Qi Yuhao , Zhang Zaichen , Wu Liang
Published: January 2019

This Letter proposes a new symbol detection scheme for an uplink wide‐banded cyclic prefixed filter bank multiple access system. The feature of the proposed scheme is that it eliminates the analysis filter bank processing that is commonly employed in the existing schemes. By leveraging a particular interleaving structure, the large matrix inversion operation is decomposed into parallel matrices inversions with small sizes. The benefits of the proposed scheme include lower complexity and higher spectral efficiency. In addition, the detection performance is also improved, which is verified by simulations.
Use of learning classifier systems in microscopic toll plaza simulation models
Authors: Bartin Bekir
Published: January 2019

This study presents the application of XCS learning algorithm in simulating drivers' lane selection behaviour in microscopic simulation models of toll plazas. XCS is a special case of learning classifier systems, a machine learning technique that ties reinforcement learning (RL) and genetic algorithm. The proposed formulation translates an agent's lane selection decision into a learning problem, assuming that its ultimate objective is to reduce delay and crash risk. The agent is simulated without any notion of the outcome of its decisions. Through multiple learning episodes and the outcome of its actions, it learns the best policy to implement in a given network setting. A hypothetical toll plaza simulation network developed in Paramics simulation software is used to conduct experimental analyses. The results demonstrate that the agent's toll lane selection decision yields superior results in terms of delay and crash risk compared with those of minimum queue lane selection, minimum risk lane selection, random lane selection and multinomial probit model‐based lane selection behaviours. Although both the delay and crash risk objectives are not used simultaneously during learning, this study is intended as a proof of concept to demonstrate the feasibility of implementing RL algorithms in microscopic traffic simulation models.
Effect of lane allocation on operational efficiency at weaving areas based on a cellular automaton model
Authors: An Xu , Zhao Jing , Li Peng , Ma Xiaodan
Published: January 2019

The traffic weaving area is one of the key bottlenecks affecting the operation efficiency of an urban expressway system. The main motivation of this study is to explore the effects of lane allocation on the operational efficiency at weaving areas. A cellular automaton model was established, in which three different lane‐changing rules were considered to match the driving behaviour when the lanes are allocated. Using the average vehicular travel time and the average velocity as the indicators, the operational performance of various lane allocation schemes was compared under different traffic and geometric conditions. A case study is used to validate and evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed method. The results show that the benefits of the lane‐allocation strategy are affected by the traffic flow, weaving volume ratio, weaving length, and installation location of the isolation facilities. The lane‐allocation strategy has promising application under the conditions of a traffic flow that is >400 veh/ln, at weaving volume ratio between 0.2 and 0.7, and weaving length shorter than 300 m. Moreover, the isolation facilities should cover the weaving area when the lane‐allocation strategy is used.
Single inductor dual buck‐boost inverter based on half‐cycle PWM scheme with active clamping devices
Authors: Lee Moonhyun , Kim Jong‐Woo , Lai Jih‐Sheng
Published: January 2019

This paper presents a single‐phase differential‐type photovoltaic inverter named single inductor dual buck‐boost inverter (SIDBBI) based on improved half‐cycle PWM (HPWM). Conventional DBBI (CDBBI) is a good option for photovoltaic application due to step‐up/down ability for varying inputs. However, inherent high inductor current and corresponding increments of inductor size and device ratings have made it less attractive than other topologies. This paper proposes an HPWM scheme with active clamping switches to reduce inductor voltage swing, highly induced current and component stresses by eliminating output voltages offsets. Under the proposed modulation, component voltage stresses in CDBBI can be reduced by zero offset, and there arises a chance to integrate half‐utilized inductors, main switches and complementary diodes of two modules into one set, which is the proposed SIDBBI topology. 500 W prototypes of the conventional/proposed inverters have been built for verifications and comparison. Detailed analysis and experimental results under the proposed HPWM show that the size of SIDBBI can be reduced by 40.4% than CDBBI, maintaining comparable efficiency over 96% and wide input coverage by step‐up/down ability. Comparative results address that SIDBBI is competitive in terms of component counts, stresses and losses, compared with various kinds of buck‐boost inverter topologies.
Techno‐economic sustainability analysis of biomass fired industrial boiler: biomass evolution as heat and power generation source
Authors: Awan Muhammad Bilal , Iqbal Tanveer , Yaseen Saima , Nawaz Saad , Ali Chaudhry Haider
Published: January 2019

To control the drastically changing environment, fossil fuels to sustainable resources transition are indispensable. Biomass has huge potential as sustainable power generation fuel, but the detailed investigation is needed to ensure the profitable usage of biomass. The principal aim of this study is to investigate the energy conservation opportunities in a biomass‐fuelled boiler. An extensive thermodynamics analysis (using energy and exergy mathematical models) of a rice husk‐based fixed bed boiler has been conducted. Research has provided measures to optimise the operational parameters of the boiler. Energy and exergy pathways of the boiler have been critically analysed to trace the pivotal cause of losses and irreversibilities in the boiler. A robust parametric study has evaluated the impacts of excess air percentage, stack gas temperature, and stack gas oxygen content on the boiler performance. Cycle tempo software is used to trace the energy losses through the stack gas. Based upon recommended improvements, analysed boiler efficiency can be increased by 3–4% with minimum savings of 150,000 US$/year. It is concluded that rice husk is an environmental‐friendly fuel and it has huge potential as sustainable co‐generation fuel. This comprehensive analysis has provided a framework for future studies to analyse the performance of any boiler.
Ephemeris refinement of 21 hot Jupiter exoplanets with high timing uncertainties
Authors: Mallonn M. , von Essen C. , Herrero E. , Alexoudi X. , Granzer T. , Sosa M. , Strassmeier K. G. , Bakos G. , Bayliss D. , Brahm R. , Bretton M. , Campos F. , Carone L. , Colón K. D. , Dale H. A. , Dragomir D. , Espinoza N. , Evans P. , Garcia F. , Gu S.-H. , Guerra P. , Jongen Y. , Jordán A. , Kang W. , Keles E. , Kim T. , Lendl M. , Molina D. , Salisbury M. , Scaggiante F. , Shporer A. , Siverd R. , Sokov E. , Sokova I. , Wünsche A.
Published: January 2019

Transit events of extrasolar planets offer a wealth of information for planetary characterization. However, for many known targets, the uncertainty of their predicted transit windows prohibits an accurate scheduling of follow-up observations. In this work, we refine the ephemerides of 21 hot Jupiter exoplanets with the largest timing uncertainties. We collected 120 professional and amateur transit light curves of the targets of interest, observed with a range of telescopes of 0.3 m–2.2 m, and analyzed them along with the timing information of the planets discovery papers. In the case of WASP-117b, we measured a timing deviation compared to the known ephemeris of about 3.5 h, and for HAT-P-29b and HAT-P-31b the deviation amounted to about 2 h and more. For all targets, the new ephemeris predicts transit timings with uncertainties of less than 6 min in the year 2018 and less than 13 min until 2025. Thus, our results allow for an accurate scheduling of follow-up observations in the next decade.
Axial acoustic field barrier for fluidic particle manipulation
Authors: Li Nan , Kale Akshay , Stevenson Adrian C.
Published: January 2019

An acoustic field barrier integrated within a flow tubing system to achieve high-throughput separation of particles in fluid is reported in this work. We investigate the axial acoustic field of a piezo-tube with an inside diameter of 34 mm, a length of 25 mm, and an operating frequency of 1.15 MHz. Energy concentrates within the tube, and leakage at the ends provides a sharp monotonic acoustic pressure field within a fluidic circuit. This process is not the conventional standing wave mechanism; instead, the geometry produces a spatially stable filtering action without fouling. This powerful filtering action is confirmed theoretically via a COMSOL simulation and demonstrated experimentally by concentrating suspensions of 5 μm proteoglycan tracer particles at a flow rate of 20 ml/min: The corresponding acoustic contrast factor is 0.243, and the trapping force is 11pN. This tube geometry tackles the limitations of microfluidic standing wave based acoustic concentrators, namely, complex extraction, low-throughput, and distributed focus, by harnessing a stable monotonic field profile.
Probing tumor microtissue formation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition on a well-mesh microchip
Authors: Li Kaiyan , Yang Xingyuan , Gao Xinghua
Published: January 2019

Three-dimensional cultures of tumor microtissues and biomimetic simulation of tumor microenvironments are of great significance in the study of tumorigenesis and development processes. In this study, a well-mesh microchip was developed to realize the formation and culture of tumor microtissues in vitro. Human lung adenocarcinoma HCC827 cells and large-cell lung cancer NCI-H460 cells were used. The size and morphology of the microtissues have been observed. In addition, we constructed an in situ three-dimensional co-culture model with tumor cell microtissues (HCC827 or NCI-H460 cells), extracellular matrix (Matrigel), and human umbilical vein endothelial cells. HCC827 microtissue epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the established well-mesh microchip also was investigated, and the results showed that recombinant transforming growth factor could activate the Snail and Akt gene and promote migration and EMT with the decrease of E-cadherin expression for HCC827. This well-mesh microchip features simple operation and easy observation, and could provide a new method for the study of tumor cells and tumor microenvironments in vitro. Therefore, this model has potential application value in organ-on-chip technology, tissue engineering, and drug evaluation.
Titanium isotopes as a tracer for the plume or island arc affinity of felsic rocks
Authors: Deng Zhengbin , Chaussidon Marc , Savage Paul , Robert François , Pik Raphaël , Moynier Frédéric
Published: January 2019

Significance

The debate on the onset of plate tectonics in the Earth’s history has partially originated from the controversial criteria of using felsic crust to trace plate tectonics in the past. Here, we demonstrate how Ti isotope ratios can be used as a proxy for the affinity of felsic rocks to plume or island arc settings. Our study shows that, contrary to what was previously assumed, Ti isotopes cannot serve as a direct evidence for plate tectonics from 3.5 billion years ago, and must be combined with other information on SiO
2
contents of crustal rocks to be reliable.
Towards a wearable monitoring tool for in‐field ice hockey skating performance analysis
Authors: Stetter Bernd J. , Buckeridge Erica , Nigg Sandro R. , Sell Stefan , Stein Thorsten
Published: January 2019

The capturing of movements by means of wearable sensors has become increasingly popular in order to obtain sport performance measures during training or competition. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the feasibility of using body worn accelerometers to identify previous highlighted performance related biomechanical changes in terms of substantial differences across skill levels and skating phases. Twenty‐two ice hockey players of different caliber were equipped with two 3D accelerometers, located on the skate and the waist, as they performed 30 m forward skating sprints on an ice rink. Two measures of the temporal stride characteristics (contact time and stride time) and one measure of the propulsive power (stride propulsion) of a skating stride were calculated and checked for discriminating effects across (i) skill levels and (ii) sprint phases as well as for their (iii) strength of association with the sprint performance (total sprint time). High caliber players showed an increased stride propulsion (+22%, P < 0.05) and shorter contact time (−5%, P < 0.05). All three analysed variables highlighted substantial biomechanical differences between the accelerative and constant velocity phases (P < 0.05). Stride propulsion of acceleration strides primarily correlated to total sprint time (r = −0.57, P < 0.05). The results demonstrate the potential of accelerometers to assess skating technique elements such as contact time or elements characterizing the propulsive power such as center of mass acceleration, to gauge skating performance. Thus, the findings of this study might contribute to establishing wearable sensors for in‐field ice hockey skating performance analysis.
The politics of industrial policy in a context of competitive clientelism: The case of Kenya’s garment export sector
Authors: Tyce Matthew
Published: January 2019

The success of Kenya’s garment export sector relative to other African countries challenges a growing pessimism regarding the prospects of devising and implementing industrial policy in contemporary Africa, particularly in contexts characterized by Competitive Clientelism. Kenya became sub-Saharan Africa’s fourth largest exporter of garments by value during the last two decades, catching up with major players like Lesotho and South Africa while converging on the two largest exporters, Mauritius and Madagascar. Nuancing existing explanations for the sector’s growth, which emphasize external factors like trade regimes and donor interventions, this article assigns a central role to the state and the balance of power that underpins it. The interests of key actors within Kenya’s political settlement aligned in a way that allowed the country’s Export Processing Zones (EPZ) programme to be relatively insulated from political pressures, giving the Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA) sufficient autonomy and coordination capacities to administer a highly-conducive business environment for predominantly foreign garment firms. However, while the sector’s employment and foreign exchange contributions have ensured ongoing political support, the resulting increase in garment firms’ holding power has made them more assertive in demanding policies that are not only decoupled from learning processes, but detrimental to other industry players.