bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Defining the neuroanatomic basis of motor coordination in children and its relationship with symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Authors: Shaw P. , Weingart D. , Bonner T. , Watson B. , Park M. T. M. , Sharp W. , Lerch J. P. , Chakravarty M. M.
Published: June 2016

Background

When children have marked problems with motor coordination, they often have problems with attention and impulse control. Here, we map the neuroanatomic substrate of motor coordination in childhood and ask whether this substrate differs in the presence of concurrent symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Method

Participants were 226 children. All completed Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5)-based assessment of ADHD symptoms and standardized tests of motor coordination skills assessing aiming/catching, manual dexterity and balance. Symptoms of developmental coordination disorder (DCD) were determined using parental questionnaires. Using 3 Tesla magnetic resonance data, four latent neuroanatomic variables (for the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, basal ganglia and thalamus) were extracted and mapped onto each motor coordination skill using partial least squares pathway modeling.

Results

The motor coordination skill of aiming/catching was significantly linked to latent variables for both the cerebral cortex (t = 4.31, p < 0.0001) and the cerebellum (t = 2.31, p = 0.02). This effect was driven by the premotor/motor cortical regions and the superior cerebellar lobules. These links were not moderated by the severity of symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. In categorical analyses, the DCD group showed atypical reduction in the volumes of these regions. However, the group with DCD alone did not differ significantly from those with DCD and co-morbid ADHD.

Conclusions

The superior cerebellar lobules and the premotor/motor cortex emerged as pivotal neural substrates of motor coordination in children. The dimensions of these motor coordination regions did not differ significantly between those who had DCD, with or without co-morbid ADHD.
Thermal protein unfolding by differential scanning calorimetry and circular dichroism spectroscopy Two-state modelversussequential unfolding
Authors: Seelig Joachim , Schönfeld Hans-Joachim
Published: June 2016

Thermally-induced protein unfolding is commonly described with the two-state model. This model assumes only two types of protein molecules in solution, the native (N) and the denatured, unfolded (U) protein. In reality, protein unfolding is a multistep process, even if intermediate states are only sparsely populated. As an alternative approach we explore the Zimm–Bragg theory, originally developed for theα-helix-to-random coil transition of synthetic polypeptides. The theory includes intermediate structures with concentrations determined by the cooperativity of the unfolding reaction. We illustrate the differences between the two-state model and the Zimm–Bragg theory with measurements of apolipoprotein A-1 and lysozyme by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and CD spectroscopy. Nine further protein examples are taken from the literature. The Zimm–Bragg theory provides a perfect fit of the calorimetric unfolding transitions for all proteins investigated. In contrast, the transition curves and enthalpies predicted by the two-state model differ considerably from the experimental results. Apolipoprotein A-1 is ~50%α-helical at ambient temperature and its unfolding follows the classicalα-helix-to-random coil equilibrium. The unfolding of proteins with littleα-helix content, such as lysozyme, can also be analyzed with the Zimm–Bragg theory by introducing the concept of ‘folded’ and ‘unfolded’ peptide units assuming an average unfolding enthalpy per peptide unit. DSC is the method of choice to measure the unfolding enthalpy,$\Delta H_{\rm exp} ^0 $, but CD spectroscopy in combination with the two-state model is often used to deduce the unfolding enthalpy. This can lead to erroneous result. Not only are different enthalpies required to describe the CD and DSC transition curves but these values deviate distinctly from the experimental result. In contrast, the Zimm–Bragg theory predicts the DSC and CD unfolding transitions with the same set of parameters.
Live from London: What's Changed and Why
Authors: Chadburn Leo
Published: June 2016

Gentrification, spiralling rent, economic inequality, traffic chaos – the people of London have come to dread what ‘change’ entails. However, I'm convinced that some things have changed for the better: today's ‘new music scene’ (which I identify as that populated by composers and performers of notated contemporary music, creative improvisers, their concerts, networks and ideas) is radiating a vibrancy that would have been unimaginable 15 years ago. I want to celebrate it.
REPETITION TROPES AND LEVELS OF OBLITERATION IN JOHN ADAMS'S SAXOPHONE CONCERTO AND AMERICAN BERSERK
Authors: Robinson Paul
Published: June 2016

The music of John Adams has grown far away from its roots in Minimalism, but even in complex works likeAmerican Berserk(2001) and the Saxophone Concerto (2013) one can detect the working of a compositional mind conditioned by procedures relating back to earlier periods of the composer's output. A feature of Adams recent work is a continuing concern with various repetition strategies but in a far more veiled and multilayered manner. Another feature of both works is the deployment of ‘pushing up’ and ‘pushing down’ material manipulated rhythmically and raised to a structural level. Two strategies are adopted and adapted to investigate these features. The first, is from Rebecca Leydon's ‘Towards a Typology of Minimalist Tropes’, which considers thequalitiesof repetition in Minimal music, and the second is an idea borrowed from David Osmond Smith's monograph on Berio'sSinfonia, Playing on Words, where he considers ‘levels of obliteration’ of an underlying text (Mahler 2 Scherzo ‘In Ruhig Fliessender Bewegung’) in the third movement of theSinfonia.
Developing a method for the evaluation of dislocation parameters from the Rietveld refinement procedure
Authors: Khalili Saba , Soleimanian Vishtasb , Mokhtari Ali
Published: June 2016

In this investigation, the ability of Rietveld refinement method was used to simultaneously refine the structure and microstructure and evaluate the linear defects of cubic crystals. To do this, the basis of Stephans theory, about the anisotropic strain broadening, was developed and the values of dislocation density as well as the fraction of dislocation types were estimated. The reliability of this procedure was checked by selecting four different nanocrystaslline samples and evaluating the microstructure of these materials. Finally, the results were compared with those extracted from the whole powder pattern modeling method. Good agreement was achieved between the results of two methods.
When Dissident Citizens Are Militant Mamas: Intersectional Gender and Agonistic Struggle in Welfare Rights Activism
Authors: Sparks Holloway
Published: June 2016

In this article, I argue that contemporary theories of agonistic democracy offer provocative insights into democratic activism and protest but require a more robust account of intersectional gender to adequately theorize the challenges of disruptive dissent. To this end, I propose an agonistic and feminist account of “dissident citizenship,” the democratic practices of disruption used to problematize and disturb the status quo when formal channels of democratic change are inadequate. My account foregrounds how intersectional gender formations pervade dissident practices, including activists’ ongoing struggles with their critics over their democratic standing and performances of disruption. I illustrate these theoretical claims through a case study of dissident citizenship drawn from U.S. politics, the welfare rights movement of 1966–75. Intersectional gender formations assisted welfare activists in claiming democratic standing as loving, hardworking mothers and in becoming bold dissidents. It was nonetheless exceedingly difficult for the poor, usually minority “militant mamas” to remain intelligible as full citizens when critics rejected their claims as the greediness of “breeders” and “cheaters” and dismissed their democratic disruptions as offensive, violence-causing disorders. Attending to intersectional gender dynamics highlights critical dimensions of democratic contestation that agonistic theories must address more carefully.
A Historical Sketch of the Landscape of the Red River Delta
Authors: Li Tana
Published: June 2016

This article is an attempt to stand back and re-imagine the landscape of the Red River over the last two millennia. The only static components of the Red River valley and delta are its mountains and geological deposits, everything else has changed over time. By marrying historical records with recent scientific findings on the Red River, this article outlines aspects of these changes; including changes to the climate and landscape, the possibility of shifting river courses, the movement of historical trade routes, and the rise of Thang Long–Hanoi.
Rorschach Nomological Network and Resting-State Large Scale Brain	Networks
Authors: Cristofanelli Stefania , Pignolo Claudia , Ferro Laura , Ando’ Agata , Zennaro Alessandro
Published: June 2016

Abstract. Despite advances in neuroscience, the field of personality assessment has not yet taken full advantage of the progress in neuroimaging techniques. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) is one of the most widely used neuroimaging techniques and allows the detection of brain processes and their anatomically detailed correspondences. In the last fifteen years, few studies have developed research designs using the Rorschach test in fMRI settings, analyzing the relationship between Rorschach variables and brain neural circuits. Although their findings were promising, some methodological issues related to fMRI research design have been outlined. Recently, personality neuroscience is emerging as a new field of research that attempts to deepen and refine neurobiological and psychological theories of personality using fMRI in resting state conditions. Recent studies report that resting state networks show a direct relationship with psychological traits. The aim of the present article is to propose a new research design that employs resting-state functional connectivity analyses to explore the brain’s functional architecture in relation to psychological constructs of Rorschach variables related to perceptual styles and personality traits.
Internal guide RNA interactions interfere with Cas9-mediated cleavage
Authors: Thyme Summer B. , Akhmetova Laila , Montague Tessa G. , Valen Eivind , Schier Alexander F.
Published: June 2016

The CRISPR/Cas system uses guide RNAs (gRNAs) to direct sequence-specific DNA cleavage. Not every gRNA elicits cleavage and the mechanisms that govern gRNA activity have not been resolved. Low activity could result from either failure to form a functional Cas9–gRNA complex or inability to recognize targets in vivo. Here we show that both phenomena influence Cas9 activity by comparing mutagenesis rates in zebrafish embryos with in vitro cleavage assays. In vivo, our results suggest that genomic factors such as CTCF inhibit mutagenesis. Comparing near-identical gRNA sequences with different in vitro activities reveals that internal gRNA interactions reduce cleavage. Even though gRNAs containing these structures do not yield cleavage-competent complexes, they can compete with active gRNAs for binding to Cas9. These results reveal that both genomic context and internal gRNA interactions can interfere with Cas9-mediated cleavage and illuminate previously uncharacterized features of Cas9–gRNA complex formation.
Crystal structure of NOD2 and its implications in human disease
Authors: Maekawa Sakiko , Ohto Umeharu , Shibata Takuma , Miyake Kensuke , Shimizu Toshiyuki
Published: June 2016

Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 2 (NOD2), a member of the NOD-like receptors family, are crucial for innate immune responses. Mutations of NOD2 have been associated with chronic inflammatory disorders such as Crohn’s disease (CD), Blau syndrome (BS) and early-onset sarcoidosis (EOS), but little is known about its signalling mechanism and the role it plays in these diseases. Here, we report the crystal structure of rabbit NOD2 in an ADP-bound state. The structure reveals an inactive closed conformation in which the subdomains in the NOD domain are closely packed by ADP-mediated and inter-domain interactions. Mapping of the BS- or EOS-associated gain-of-function mutations reveals that most of these mutations are located in the NOD subdomain interfaces, and are likely to disrupt the inner domain interactions, facilitating a conformational change to the active form. Conversely, mutations associated with CD are distributed throughout the protein, some of which may affect oligomer formation and ligand binding.
Integration of metal-organic frameworks into an electrochemical dielectric thin film for electronic applications
Authors: Li Wei-Jin , Liu Juan , Sun Zhi-Hua , Liu Tian-Fu , Lü Jian , Gao Shui-Ying , He Chao , Cao Rong , Luo Jun-Hua
Published: June 2016

The integration of porous metal-organic frameworks onto the surface of materials, for use as functional devices, is currently emerging as a promising approach for gas sensing and flexible displays. However, research focused on potential applications in electronic devices is in its infancy. Here we present a facile strategy by which interpenetrated, crystalline metal-organic framework films are deposited onto conductive metal-plate anodes via in situ temperature-controlled electrochemical assembly. The nanostructure of the surface as well as the thickness and uniformity of the film are well controlled. More importantly, the resulting films exhibit enhanced dielectric properties compared to traditional inorganic or organic gate dielectrics. This study demonstrates the successful implementation of the rational design of metal-organic framework thin films on conductive supports with high-performance dielectric properties.
Joint-specific DNA methylation and transcriptome signatures in rheumatoid arthritis identify distinct pathogenic processes
Authors: Ai Rizi , Hammaker Deepa , Boyle David L. , Morgan Rachel , Walsh Alice M. , Fan Shicai , Firestein Gary S. , Wang Wei
Published: June 2016

Stratifying patients on the basis of molecular signatures could facilitate development of therapeutics that target pathways specific to a particular disease or tissue location. Previous studies suggest that pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is similar in all affected joints. Here we show that distinct DNA methylation and transcriptome signatures not only discriminate RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) from osteoarthritis FLS, but also distinguish RA FLS isolated from knees and hips. Using genome-wide methods, we show differences between RA knee and hip FLS in the methylation of genes encoding biological pathways, such as IL-6 signalling via JAK-STAT pathway. Furthermore, differentially expressed genes are identified between knee and hip FLS using RNA-sequencing. Double-evidenced genes that are both differentially methylated and expressed include multiple HOX genes. Joint-specific DNA signatures suggest that RA disease mechanisms might vary from joint to joint, thus potentially explaining some of the diversity of drug responses in RA patients.
First-principles quantum dynamical theory for the dissociative chemisorption of H2O on rigid Cu(111)
Authors: Zhang Zhaojun , Liu Tianhui , Fu Bina , Yang Xueming , Zhang Dong H.
Published: June 2016

Despite significant progress made in the past decades, it remains extremely challenging to investigate the dissociative chemisorption dynamics of molecular species on surfaces at a full-dimensional quantum mechanical level, in particular for polyatomic-surface reactions. Here we report, to the best of our knowledge, the first full-dimensional quantum dynamics study for the dissociative chemisorption of H2O on rigid Cu(111) with all the nine molecular degrees of freedom fully coupled, based on an accurate full-dimensional potential energy surface. The full-dimensional quantum mechanical reactivity provides the dynamics features with the highest accuracy, revealing that the excitations in vibrational modes of H2O are more efficacious than increasing the translational energy in promoting the reaction. The enhancement of the excitation in asymmetric stretch is the largest, but that of symmetric stretch becomes comparable at very low energies. The full-dimensional characterization also allows the investigation of the validity of previous reduced-dimensional and approximate dynamical models.
Mechanochemical spinodal decomposition: a phenomenological theory of phase transformations in multi-component, crystalline solids
Authors: Rudraraju Shiva , Van der Ven Anton , Garikipati Krishna
Published: June 2016

We present a phenomenological treatment of diffusion-driven martensitic phase transformations in multi-component crystalline solids that arise from non-convex free energies in mechanical and chemical variables. The treatment describes diffusional phase transformations that are accompanied by symmetry-breaking structural changes of the crystal unit cell and reveals the importance of a mechanochemical spinodal, defined as the region in strain–composition space, where the free-energy density function is non-convex. The approach is relevant to phase transformations wherein the structural order parameters can be expressed as linear combinations of strains relative to a high-symmetry reference crystal. The governing equations describing mechanochemical spinodal decomposition are variationally derived from a free-energy density function that accounts for interfacial energy via gradients of the rapidly varying strain and composition fields. A robust computational framework for treating the coupled, higher-order diffusion and nonlinear strain gradient elasticity problems is presented. Because the local strains in an inhomogeneous, transforming microstructure can be finite, the elasticity problem must account for geometric nonlinearity. An evaluation of available experimental phase diagrams and first-principles free energies suggests that mechanochemical spinodal decomposition should occur in metal hydrides such as ZrH2−2c. The rich physics that ensues is explored in several numerical examples in two and three dimensions, and the relevance of the mechanism is discussed in the context of important electrode materials for Li-ion batteries and high-temperature ceramics.
Speedup of quantum evolution of multiqubit entanglement states
Authors: Zhang Ying-Jie , Han Wei , Xia Yun-Jie , Tian Jian-Xiang , Fan Heng
Published: June 2016

As is well known, quantum speed limit time (QSLT) can be used to characterize the maximal speed of evolution of quantum systems. We mainly investigate the QSLT of generalized N-qubit GHZ-type states and W-type states in the amplitude-damping channels. It is shown that, in the case N qubits coupled with independent noise channels, the QSLT of the entangled GHZ-type state is closely related to the number of qubits in the small-scale system. And the larger entanglement of GHZ-type states can lead to the shorter QSLT of the evolution process. However, the QSLT of the W-type states are independent of the number of qubits and the initial entanglement. Furthermore, by considering only M qubits among the N-qubit system respectively interacting with their own noise channels, QSLTs for these two types states are shorter than in the case N qubits coupled with independent noise channels. We therefore reach the interesting result that the potential speedup of quantum evolution of a given N-qubit GHZ-type state or W-type state can be realized in the case the number of the applied noise channels satisfying M < N.
Lysophosphatidylcholine plays critical role in allergic airway disease manifestation
Authors: Bansal Preeti , Gaur Shailendera Nath , Arora Naveen
Published: June 2016

Phospholipase A2 (sPLA2), pivotal for allergic and inflammatory response, hydrolyses phosphatidylcholine (PC) to lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC). In present study, the role of LPC in allergic airway disease manifestation was studied using mouse model. Balb/c mice were immunized using cockroach extract (CE) and LPC release was blocked by sPLA2 inhibitor. Airway hyperresponse (AHR), lung-histology, total and differential leukocyte count (TLC&DLC), Th2 type cytokines, sPLA2 activity and LPC levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured. Exogenous LPC was given to the mice with or without CE sensitization, to demonstrate its role in allergic airway disease manifestation. Anti-CD1d antibody was given to study the involvement of natural killer T (NKT) cells in LPC induced response. AHR, lung-inflammation, TLC, DLC, Th2 type cytokines, sPLA2 activity and LPC levels were increased on CE challenge. sPLA2 activity and LPC release was blocked by sPLA2-inhibitor, which decreased AHR, and inflammatory parameters. Exogenous LPC with or without CE sensitization increased above parameters. CE challenge or LPC exposure increased LY49C+TCRβ+ NKT cells in BALF and spleen, which was reduced by anti-CD1d antibody, accompanied with reduction in AHR and allergic airway inflammation parameters. Conclusively, LPC induces allergic airway disease manifestation and it does so probably via CD1d-restricted LY49C+TCRβ+ NKT cells.
Interoccurrence time statistics in fully-developed turbulence
Authors: Manshour Pouya , Anvari Mehrnaz , Reinke Nico , Sahimi Muhammad , Tabar M. Reza Rahimi
Published: June 2016

Emergent extreme events are a key characteristic of complex dynamical systems. The main tool for detailed and deep understanding of their stochastic dynamics is the statistics of time intervals of extreme events. Analyzing extensive experimental data, we demonstrate that for the velocity time series of fully-developed turbulent flows, generated by (i) a regular grid; (ii) a cylinder; (iii) a free jet of helium, and (iv) a free jet of air with the Taylor Reynolds numbers Reλ from 166 to 893, the interoccurrence time distributions P(τ) above a positive threshold Q in the inertial range is described by a universal q- exponential function, P(τ) = β(2 − q)[1 − β(1 − q)τ]1/(1−q), which may be due to the superstatistical nature of the occurrence of extreme events. Our analysis provides a universal description of extreme events in turbulent flows.
Nifurtimox Is Effective Against Neural Tumor Cells and Is Synergistic with Buthionine Sulfoximine
Authors: Du Michael , Zhang Linna , Scorsone Kathleen A. , Woodfield Sarah E. , Zage Peter E.
Published: June 2016

Children with aggressive neural tumors have poor survival rates and novel therapies are needed. Previous studies have identified nifurtimox and buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) as effective agents in children with neuroblastoma and medulloblastoma. We hypothesized that nifurtimox would be effective against other neural tumor cells and would be synergistic with BSO. We determined neural tumor cell viability before and after treatment with nifurtimox using MTT assays. Assays for DNA ladder formation and poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) cleavage were performed to measure the induction of apoptosis after nifurtimox treatment. Inhibition of intracellular signaling was measured by Western blot analysis of treated and untreated cells. Tumor cells were then treated with combinations of nifurtimox and BSO and evaluated for viability using MTT assays. All neural tumor cell lines were sensitive to nifurtimox and IC50 values ranged from approximately 20 to 210 μM. Nifurtimox treatment inhibited ERK phosphorylation and induced apoptosis in tumor cells. Furthermore, the combination of nifurtimox and BSO demonstrated significant synergistic efficacy in all tested cell lines. Additional preclinical and clinical studies of the combination of nifurtimox and BSO in patients with neural tumors are warranted.
Unsaturated C3,5,7,9-Monocarboxylic Acids by Aqueous, One-Pot Carbon Fixation: Possible Relevance for the Origin of Life
Authors: Scheidler Christopher , Sobotta Jessica , Eisenreich Wolfgang , Wächtershäuser Günter , Huber Claudia
Published: June 2016

All scientific approaches to the origin of life share a common problem: a chemical path to lipids as main constituents of extant cellular enclosures. Here we show by isotope-controlled experiments that unsaturated C3,5,7,9-monocarboxylic acids form by one-pot reaction of acetylene (C2H2) and carbon monoxide (CO) in contact with nickel sulfide (NiS) in hot aqueous medium. The primary products are toto-olefinic monocarboxylic acids with CO-derived COOH groups undergoing subsequent stepwise hydrogenation with CO as reductant. In the resulting unsaturated monocarboxylic acids the double bonds are mainly centrally located with mainly trans-configuration. The reaction conditions are compatible with an origin of life in volcanic-hydrothermal sub-seafloor flow ducts.
Localization of PPAR isotypes in the adult mouse and human brain
Authors: Warden Anna , Truitt Jay , Merriman Morgan , Ponomareva Olga , Jameson Kelly , Ferguson Laura B. , Mayfield R. Dayne , Harris R. Adron
Published: June 2016

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are nuclear hormone receptors that act as ligand-activated transcription factors. PPAR agonists have well-documented anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective roles in the central nervous system. Recent evidence suggests that PPAR agonists are attractive therapeutic agents for treating neurodegenerative diseases as well as addiction. However, the distribution of PPAR mRNA and protein in brain regions associated with these conditions (i.e. prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, amygdala, ventral tegmental area) is not well defined. Moreover, the cell type specificity of PPARs in mouse and human brain tissue has yet to be investigated. We utilized quantitative PCR and double immunofluorescence microscopy to determine that both PPAR mRNA and protein are expressed ubiquitously throughout the adult mouse brain. We found that PPARs have unique cell type specificities that are consistent between species. PPARα was the only isotype to colocalize with all cell types in both adult mouse and adult human brain tissue. Overall, we observed a strong neuronal signature, which raises the possibility that PPAR agonists may be targeting neurons rather than glia to produce neuroprotection. Our results fill critical gaps in PPAR distribution and define novel cell type specificity profiles in the adult mouse and human brain.
Modelling Adaptive Learning Behaviours for Consensus Formation in Human Societies
Authors: Yu Chao , Tan Guozhen , Lv Hongtao , Wang Zhen , Meng Jun , Hao Jianye , Ren Fenghui
Published: June 2016

Learning is an important capability of humans and plays a vital role in human society for forming beliefs and opinions. In this paper, we investigate how learning affects the dynamics of opinion formation in social networks. A novel learning model is proposed, in which agents can dynamically adapt their learning behaviours in order to facilitate the formation of consensus among them, and thus establish a consistent social norm in the whole population more efficiently. In the model, agents adapt their opinions through trail-and-error interactions with others. By exploiting historical interaction experience, a guiding opinion, which is considered to be the most successful opinion in the neighbourhood, can be generated based on the principle of evolutionary game theory. Then, depending on the consistency between its own opinion and the guiding opinion, a focal agent can realize whether its opinion complies with the social norm (i.e., the majority opinion that has been adopted) in the population, and adapt its behaviours accordingly. The highlight of the model lies in that it captures the essential features of people’s adaptive learning behaviours during the evolution and formation of opinions. Experimental results show that the proposed model can facilitate the formation of consensus among agents, and some critical factors such as size of opinion space and network topology can have significant influences on opinion dynamics.
Ultra-doped n-type germanium thin films for sensing in the mid-infrared
Authors: Prucnal Slawomir , Liu Fang , Voelskow Matthias , Vines Lasse , Rebohle Lars , Lang Denny , Berencén Yonder , Andric Stefan , Boettger Roman , Helm Manfred , Zhou Shengqiang , Skorupa Wolfgang
Published: June 2016

A key milestone for the next generation of high-performance multifunctional microelectronic devices is the monolithic integration of high-mobility materials with Si technology. The use of Ge instead of Si as a basic material in nanoelectronics would need homogeneous p- and n-type doping with high carrier densities. Here we use ion implantation followed by rear side flash-lamp annealing (r-FLA) for the fabrication of heavily doped n-type Ge with high mobility. This approach, in contrast to conventional annealing procedures, leads to the full recrystallization of Ge films and high P activation. In this way single crystalline Ge thin films free of defects with maximum attained carrier concentrations of 2.20 ± 0.11 × 1020 cm−3 and carrier mobilities above 260 cm2/(V·s) were obtained. The obtained ultra-doped Ge films display a room-temperature plasma frequency above 1,850 cm−1, which enables to exploit the plasmonic properties of Ge for sensing in the mid-infrared spectral range.
PDNAsite: Identification of DNA-binding Site from Protein Sequence by Incorporating Spatial and Sequence Context
Authors: Zhou Jiyun , Xu Ruifeng , He Yulan , Lu Qin , Wang Hongpeng , Kong Bing
Published: June 2016

Protein-DNA interactions are involved in many fundamental biological processes essential for cellular function. Most of the existing computational approaches employed only the sequence context of the target residue for its prediction. In the present study, for each target residue, we applied both the spatial context and the sequence context to construct the feature space. Subsequently, Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA) was applied to remove the redundancies in the feature space. Finally, a predictor (PDNAsite) was developed through the integration of the support vector machines (SVM) classifier and ensemble learning. Results on the PDNA-62 and the PDNA-224 datasets demonstrate that features extracted from spatial context provide more information than those from sequence context and the combination of them gives more performance gain. An analysis of the number of binding sites in the spatial context of the target site indicates that the interactions between binding sites next to each other are important for protein-DNA recognition and their binding ability. The comparison between our proposed PDNAsite method and the existing methods indicate that PDNAsite outperforms most of the existing methods and is a useful tool for DNA-binding site identification. A web-server of our predictor (http://hlt.hitsz.edu.cn:8080/PDNAsite/) is made available for free public accessible to the biological research community.
Significant pharmacokinetic differences of berberine are attributable to variations in gut microbiota between Africans and Chinese
Authors: Alolga Raphael N. , Fan Yong , Chen Zhuo , Liu Li-Wei , Zhao Yi-Jing , Li Jin , Chen Yan , Lai Mao-De , Li Ping , Qi Lian-Wen
Published: June 2016

We investigated the influence of gut microbiotal metabolism on the pharmacokinetics of berberine in healthy male Africans and Chinese. The Cmax and AUC in the Africans were 2.67-fold and 2.0-fold higher than the Chinese, respectively. Microbiotal compositions by 16S rRNA pyrosequencing showed higher abundance of the genera Prevotella, Bacteroides and Megamonas (34.22, 13.88 and 10.68%, respectively) in the Chinese than the Africans (30.08, 9.43 and 0.48%, respectively). Scatter plot showed a strong negative correlation between the microbiotal abundance and the berberine AUC, especially for the genus Prevotella (r = −0.813) and its species. A more extensive metabolism was observed in Chinese with 1.83-fold higher metabolites, possibly contributing to the lower AUC than the Africans. In conclusion, significant PK differences of berberine were observed between Africans and Chinese, which is partly attributable to variations in gut microbiota and its corresponding metabolic capacity.
A predatory bivalved euarthropod from the Cambrian (Stage 3) Xiaoshiba Lagerstätte, South China
Authors: Yang Jie , Ortega-Hernández Javier , Lan Tian , Hou Jin-bo , Zhang Xi-guang
Published: June 2016

Bivalved euarthropods represent a conspicuous component of exceptionally-preserved fossil biotas throughout the Lower Palaeozoic. However, most of these taxa are known from isolated valves and thus there is a limited understanding of their morphological organization and palaeoecology in the context of early animal-dominated communities. The bivalved euarthropod Clypecaris serrata sp. nov., recovered from the Cambrian (Stage 3) Hongjingshao Formation in Kunming, southern China, is characterized by having a robust first pair of raptorial appendages that bear well-developed ventral-facing spines, paired dorsal spines on the trunk and posteriorly oriented serrations on the anteroventral margins of both valves. The raptorial limbs of C. serrata were adapted for grasping prey employing a descending stroke for transporting it close the mouth, whereas the backwards-facing marginal serrations of the bivalved carapace may have helped to secure the food items during feeding. The new taxon offers novel insights on the morphology of the enigmatic genus Clypecaris and indicates that the possession of paired dorsal spines is a diagnostic trait of the Family Clypecarididae within upper stem-group Euarthropoda. C. serrata evinces functional adaptations for an active predatory lifestyle within the context of Cambrian bivalved euarthropods and contributes towards the better understanding of feeding diversity in early ecosystems.
Dynein disruption perturbs post-synaptic components and contributes to impaired MuSK clustering at the NMJ: implication in ALS
Authors: Vilmont Valérie , Cadot Bruno , Vezin Elsa , Le Grand Fabien , Gomes Edgar R.
Published: June 2016

The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) allows the transformation of a neuronal message into a mechanical force by muscle contraction and is the target of several neuromuscular disorders. While the neuronal side is under extensive research, the muscle appeared recently to have a growing role in the formation and integrity of the neuromuscular junction. We used an in vitro model of mature myofibers to study the role of dynein on major postsynaptic proteins. We found that dynein affects the expression and the clustering of acetylcholine receptors (AChRs), muscle specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK) and Rapsyn. We also show that myofibers with dynein impairment or from an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) model (SOD1G93A) show similar defects in myofiber formation and agrin-induced AChR clustering suggesting a role for dynein impairment in ALS progression. Finally, we found that dynein can affect MuSK traffic through the endosomal pathway. Collectively, our studies show that defects in dynein can lead to impairment of muscle NMJ components’ expression and clustering. We propose that NMJ defects could happen via defective MuSK traffic and that this could be one of the pathological features involved in neurodegeneration such as ALS.
High current gain transistor laser
Authors: Liang Song , Qiao Lijun , Zhu Hongliang , Wang Wei
Published: June 2016

A transistor laser (TL), having the structure of a transistor with multi-quantum wells near its base region, bridges the functionality gap between lasers and transistors. However, light emission is produced at the expense of current gain for all the TLs reported up to now, leading to a very low current gain. We propose a novel design of TLs, which have an n-doped InP layer inserted in the emitter ridge. Numerical studies show that a current flow aperture for only holes can be formed in the center of the emitter ridge. As a result, the common emitter current gain can be as large as 143.3, which is over 15 times larger than that of a TL without the aperture. Besides, the effects of nonradiative recombination defects can be reduced greatly because the flow of holes is confined in the center region of the emitter ridge.
Rapid, high-throughput, and quantitative determination of orange juice adulteration by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Ellis David I. , Ellis Joanne , Muhamadali Howbeer , Xu Yun , Horn Andrew B. , Goodacre Royston
Published: June 2016

Orange juice is a hugely popular, widely consumed, and high price commodity typically traded in a concentrate form making it highly susceptible to adulteration.
Optical properties of the hydrated charged silver tetramer and silver hexamer encapsulated inside the sodalite cavity of an LTA-type zeolite
Authors: Cuong Ngo Tuan , Nguyen Hue Minh Thi , Pham-Ho My Phuong , Nguyen Minh Tho
Published: June 2016

The UV-VIS spectra of the hydrated charged silver tetramer and hexamer embedded inside the sodalite cage of LTA zeolite have been calculated using TD-DFT and CASSCF/CASPT2 methods.
1,2,4-Diazaphospholide complexes of lanthanum(iii), cerium(iii), neodymium(iii), praseodymium(iii), and samarium(iii): synthesis, X-ray structural characterization, and magnetic susceptibility studies
Authors: Zhao Minggang , Wang Lixia , Li Pangpang , Ma Jianping , Zheng Wenjun
Published: June 2016

The structures of 1,2,4-diazaphospholide complexes of La(iii), Ce(iii), Nd(iii), Pr(iii), and Sm(iii) feature varied coordination modes.
Can a highly flexible copper(i) cluster-containing 1D and 2D coordination polymers exhibit MOF-like properties?
Authors: Bonnot Antoine , Juvenal Frank , Lapprand Anthony , Fortin Daniel , Knorr Michael , Harvey Pierre D.
Published: June 2016

The p-TolS(CH2)8STol-p and p-tBuC6H4S(CH2)8SC6H4-tBu-p ligands react with CuI respectively in MeCN and EtCN and in EtCN form the 2D and 1D polymers [Cu8I8(p-TolS(CH2)8STol-p)3(solvent)2]n (solvent = MeCN, EtCN) and [Cu4I4(p-tBuC6H4S(CH2)8SC6H4-tBu-p)2(EtCN)]n susceptible to exchange solvent molecules.
Aggregation-induced scaffolding: photoscissable helical polysilane generates circularly polarized luminescent polyfluorene
Authors: Abdul Rahim Nor Azura , Fujiki Michiya
Published: June 2016

An enantiopair of rigid rod-like helical polysilanes as a photoscissible scaffold allowed the production of CPL- and CD-active dioctylpolyfluorene aggregates associated with complete removal by a polysilane-selective photoscissoring reaction at 313 nm.
Cu(ii)-catalyzed C6-selective C–H thiolation of 2-pyridones using air as the oxidant
Authors: Peng Panfeng , Wang Jiang , Li Chunpu , Zhu Wei , Jiang Hualiang , Liu Hong
Published: June 2016

Cu(II)-catalyzed C6-selective C–H thiolation of 2-pyridones with aryl and alkyl disulfides to provide functional thioethers has been achieved.
Improved solubility of sparingly soluble pesticides in mixed ionic liquids
Authors: Chen Chong , Liu Fengmao , Fan Tengfei , Peng Qingrong
Published: June 2016

Different mixed proportions of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C4mim][Br], A) and 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C10mim][Br], B) can be used as solubilizers for water-insoluble pesticides.
Revisiting actinide–DTPA complexes in aqueous solution by CE-ICPMS and ab initio molecular dynamics
Authors: Bonin L. , Aupiais J. , Kerbaa M. , Moisy P. , Topin S. , Siberchicot B.
Published: June 2016

Although thermodynamics of AnIVDTPA− (DTPA = diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid) complexation have been reported for 50 years, reliable data at low ionic strength is still missing.
Impact of EGR on the surface functional groups of diesel engine particles based on NEXAFS
Authors: Zhao Y. , Wang Z. , Xu G. J. , Li M. D.
Published: June 2016

The thermal, dilution and chemical effects of EGR result in relatively significant changes in the formation environment, in the physical and chemical reactions of particles and in the functional groups of the matter that constitutes the particles.
Well-defined polyurethane-graft-poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) copolymer with a controlled graft density and grafted chain length: synthesis and its application as a Pickering emulsion
Authors: Yuan Jun , Li Heng , Gao Yong , Yang Duanguang , Liu Yijiang , Li Huaming , Lu Shaorong
Published: June 2016

Well-defined PU-g-PDMA graft copolymers with controlled graft densities and grafted chain lengths could be facilely synthesized by combining the polyaddition reaction with the RAFT polymerization.
Nitroxide-mediated polymerization of pentafluorostyrene initiated by PS–DEPN through the surface of APTMS modified fumed silica: towards functional nanohybrids
Authors: Yin Quanyi , Charlot Aurélia , Portinha Daniel , Beyou Emmanuel
Published: June 2016

Polypentafluorostyrene chains were anchored on the surface of silica nanoparticles by nitroxide-mediated polymerization with PS–DEPN as macroinitiator using a “grafting through” strategy. Relevant hydrophobic surface properties were evidenced.
Molecular engineering of the hole-transporting material spiro-OMeTAD via manipulation of alkyl groups
Authors: Tomkute-Luksiene D. , Daskeviciene M. , Malinauskas T. , Jankauskas V. , Degutyte R. , Send R. , Pschirer N. G. , Wonneberger H. , Bruder I. , Getautis V.
Published: June 2016

Aliphatic substituent effects on the HOMO energy levels and the ability to transport charge and form stable molecular glasses of systematically modified spiro-OMeTAD analogues were investigated.
Synthesis, mechanism and ethylene polymerization catalysis of Ge(iv), Sn(ii) and Zr(iv) complexes derived from substituted β-diketiminates
Authors: Xiao Xia , Hao Xiaomin , Bai Jianliang , Chao Jianbin , Cao Wei , Chen Xia
Published: June 2016

Unusual X-ray characterized crystalline Sn(ii), Ge(iv) and Zr(iv) complexes have been prepared via a salt metathesis and elimination reaction.
Synthesis, two-photon absorption and aggregation-induced emission properties of multi-branched triphenylamine derivatives based on diketopyrrolopyrrole for bioimaging
Authors: Yang Ji , Tan Haoqi , Li Dongyu , Jiang Tao , Gao Yuting , Li Bo , Qu Xue , Hua Jianli
Published: June 2016

Three new DPP-based multi-branched derivatives (YJ-1–3) with AIE and 2PA properties were synthesized. YJ-1 was applied for cell imaging and two-photon excited fluorescence in vivo imaging of mouse ear.
Promotion effects of plasma treatment on silica supports and catalyst precursors for cobalt Fischer–Tropsch catalysts
Authors: Liu Chen , Lan Jiaping , Sun Fenglou , Zhang Yuhua , Li Jinlin , Hong Jingping
Published: June 2016

Glow discharge plasma would modify the surface hydrophilicity of support; the plasma treated catalysts showed much higher FTS activity.
Recovery of nutrients from wastewater by a MgCl2 modified zeolite and their reuse as an amendment for Cu and Pb immobilization in soil
Authors: Wang Hao , Wang Xuejiang , Chen Jie , Xia Peng , Zhao Jianfu
Published: June 2016

In this study, nutrients in wastewater were simultaneously removed by magnesium modified zeolite, and the precipitates of the nutrient recovery process were applied as a kind of amendment to achieve copper and lead immobilization in contaminated soil.
The effect of local delivery of adiponectin from biodegradable microsphere–scaffold composites on new bone formation in adiponectin knockout mice
Authors: Li Dan , Guo Yuan , Lu Hui , Wang Ren , Hu Hong-cheng , Lu Song-he , Li Xue-fen , Li Zi-chen , Wu Yu-wei , Tang Zhi-hui
Published: June 2016

Adiponectin (APN) is the most abundant adipocyte-secreted adipokine; it increase bone formation partially by promoting osteoblast proliferationviathe APPL1/PI3K pathway.
A signal-accumulating DNAzyme-crosslinked hydrogel for colorimetric sensing of hydrogen peroxide
Authors: Zhao Haixu , Jiang Gangfeng , Weng Jinpeng , Ma Qi , Zhang Hui , Ito Yoshihiro , Liu Mingzhe
Published: June 2016

A signal-accumulating DNAzyme-crosslinked hydrogel is designed and prepared for colorimetric sensing of hydrogen peroxide.
High temperature spin-polarized semiconductivity with zero magnetization in two-dimensional Janus MXenes
Authors: He Junjie , Lyu Pengbo , Sun L. Z. , Morales García Ángel , Nachtigall Petr
Published: June 2016

Searching for two-dimensional (2D) materials with room-temperature magnetic order and high spin-polarization is essential for the development of next-generation nanospintronic devices.
Integration of antennas with sun‐tracking solar panels
Authors: Narbudowicz A. , O'Conchubhair O. , Ammann M.J. , Heberling D.
Published: June 2016

A low‐cost solution for antennas integrated into solar cells, allowing their implementation in solar tracking installations is proposed. The proposed passive device autonomously adjusts the phase shift of a two‐element array proportional to the panel rotation. Consequently, the main beam is steered to compensate for panel rotation and maintain a radio link. The proposed device operates for a rotation of ±45° with an amplitude variation of ≤0.4 dB at 2.51 GHz.
Variational message passing‐based localisation algorithm with Taylor expansion for wireless sensor networks
Authors: Cui Jianhua , Wang Zhongyong , Zhang Chuanzong , Zhu Zhengyu , Sun Peng
Published: June 2016

For localisation algorithms of wireless sensor networks (WSNs), the communication overhead and the computational complexity are two main bottlenecks that should be considered beside the positioning accuracy. In this study, the authors focus on cooperative localisation in WSNs and propose a low‐complexity distributed cooperative localisation algorithm by employing variational message passing (VMP) on factor graphs. In order to decrease the communication overhead, Gaussian parametric message representation is adopted. With regard to the non‐Gaussian messages caused by the non‐linear ranging model, they approximate them to Gaussian messages by exploiting second‐order Taylor expansion to reduce the computational complexity. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm performs quite similar to sum‐product algorithm over a wireless network and Gaussian VMP algorithm based on minimising Kullback–Leibler divergence with lower computational complexity.
Distributed model predictive control for load frequency control with dynamic fuzzy valve position modelling for hydro–thermal power system
Authors: Liu Xiangjie , Kong Xiaobing , Lee Kwang Y.
Published: June 2016

Reliable load frequency control (LFC) is very important for a modern power system with multi‐source power generation and has been the primary focus of studies on advanced control theory and applications. In the LFC of a power system, the generation rate constraints (GRC) and position limit of the governor valve present major challenges to the control scheme because they significantly affect the dynamic responses of the system, resulting in larger overshoot and longer settling time. Model predictive control (MPC) is an attractive control strategy that systematically considers the constraints on the process inputs, states, and outputs. It is employed in LFC to cope with the GRC problem. This study proposes a distributed MPC (DMPC) for a four‐area hydro–thermal interconnected power system. In the proposed scheme, the limit position of the governor valve is modelled by a fuzzy model and the local predictive controllers are incorporated into the non‐linear control system. The effectiveness of the proposed non‐linear constraint DMPC was demonstrated by simulations.