bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Strategic design of a Mussel-inspired in situ reduced Ag/Au-Nanoparticle Coated Magnesium Alloy for enhanced viability, antibacterial property and decelerated corrosion rates for degradable implant Applications
Authors: Rezk Abdelrahman I. , Ramachandra Kurup Sasikala Arathyram , Nejad Amin Ghavami , Mousa Hamouda M. , Oh Young Min , Park Chan Hee , Kim Cheol Sang
Published: January 2019

Magnesium (Mg) and its alloys have attracted much attention as a promising candidate for degradable implant applications however the rapid corrosion of magnesium inside the human body greatly limits its use as an implant material. Therefore, coating the alloy surface with a multifunctional film is a promising way to overcome the drawbacks. Here we propose for the first time a multifunction layer coating to enhance the cell viability, antibacterial property and decelerated corrosion rates to act as a novel material to be used for degradable implant Applications. For that, the magnesium alloy (AZ31) was first treated with hydrofluoric acid (HF) and then dopamine tris Hydrochloric acid (tris-HCL) solution. The reducing catechol groups in the polydopamine (PD) layer subsequently immobilize silver/gold ions in situ to form uniformly dispersed Ag/Au nanoparticles on the coating layer. The successful formation of Ag/Au nanoparticles on the HF-PD AZ31 alloy was confirmed using XPS and XRD, and the morphology of all the coated samples were investigated using SEM images. The alloy with HF-PDA exhibit enhanced cell attachment and proliferation. Moreover, the nanoparticle immobilized HF-PD alloy exhibited dramatic corrosion resistance enhancement with superior antibacterial properties and accountable biocompatibility. Thus the result suggest that HF-PD Ag/Au alloy has great potential in the application of degradable implant and the surface modification method is of great significance to determine its properties.
Prototype foamy virus intasome aggregation is mediated by outer protein domains and prevented by protocatechuic acid
Authors: Jones Nathan D. , Mackler Randi M. , Lopez Miguel A. , Baltierra-Jasso Laura E. , Altman Matthew P. , Senavirathne Gayan , Yoder Kristine E.
Published: January 2019

The integrase (IN) enzyme of retrovirus prototype foamy virus (PFV) consists of four domains: amino terminal extension (NED), amino terminus (NTD), catalytic core (CCD), and carboxyl terminus domains (CTD). A tetramer of PFV IN with two viral DNA ends forms the functional intasome. Two inner monomers are catalytically active while the CCDs of the two outer monomers appear to play only structural roles. The NED, NTD, and CTD of the outer monomers are disordered in intasome structures. Truncation mutants reveal that integration to a supercoiled plasmid increases without the outer monomer CTDs present. Deletion of the outer CTDs enhances the lifetime of the intasome compared to full length (FL) IN or deletion of the outer monomer NTDs. High ionic strength buffer or several additives, particularly protocatechuic acid (PCA), enhance the integration of FL intasomes by preventing aggregation. These data confirm previous studies suggesting the disordered outer domains of PFV intasomes are not required for intasome assembly or integration. Instead, the outer CTDs contribute to aggregation of PFV intasomes which may be inhibited by high ionic strength buffer or the small molecule PCA.
Characterization of a male specific region containing a candidate sex determining gene in Atlantic cod
Authors: Kirubakaran Tina Graceline , Andersen Øivind , De Rosa Maria Cristina , Andersstuen Terese , Hallan Kristina , Kent Matthew Peter , Lien Sigbjørn
Published: January 2019

The genetic mechanisms determining sex in teleost fishes are highly variable and the master sex determining gene has only been identified in few species. Here we characterize a male-specific region of 9 kb on linkage group 11 in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) harboring a single gene namedzkYfor zinc knuckle on the Y chromosome. Diagnostic PCR test of phenotypically sexed males and females confirm the sex-specific nature of the Y-sequence. We identified twelve highly similar autosomal gene copies ofzkY, of which eight code for proteins containing the zinc knuckle motif. 3D modeling suggests that the amino acid changes observed in six copies might influence the putative RNA-binding specificity. Cod zkY and the autosomal proteins zk1 and zk2 possess an identical zinc knuckle structure, but only the Y-specific genezkYwas expressed at high levels in the developing larvae before the onset of sex differentiation. Collectively these data suggestzkYas a candidate master masculinization gene in Atlantic cod. PCR amplification of Y-sequences in Arctic cod (Arctogadus glacialis) and Greenland cod (Gadus macrocephalus ogac) suggests that the male-specific region emerged in codfishes more than 7.5 million years ago.
Phase partitioning during fragmentation revealed by QEMSCAN Particle Mineralogical Analysis of volcanic ash
Authors: Hornby A. J. , Lavallée Y. , Kendrick J. E. , Rollinson G. , Butcher A. R. , Clesham S. , Kueppers U. , Cimarelli C. , Chigna G.
Published: January 2019

Volcanic ash particle properties depend upon their genetic fragmentation processes. Here, we introduce QEMSCAN Particle Mineralogical Analysis (PMA) to quantify the phase distribution in ash samples collected during activity at Santiaguito, Guatemala and assess the fragmentation mechanisms. Volcanic ash from a vulcanian explosion and from a pyroclastic density current resulting from a dome collapse were selected. The ash particles resulting from both fragmentation modes are dense and blocky, typical of open-vent dome volcanoes and have a componentry consistent with their andesitic composition. We use image analysis to compare the fraction of each phase at particle boundaries compared to the total particle fraction. Our results show that the explosion-derived ash has an even distribution of plagioclase and glass, but boundaries enriched in pyroxene and amphibole. In contrast, the ash generated during dome collapse has an increased fraction of glass and decreased fraction of plagioclase at particle boundaries, suggesting that fractures preferentially propagate through glass during abrasion and milling in pyroclastic flows. This study presents QEMSCAN PMA as a new resource to identify generation mechanisms of volcanic ash, which is pertinent to volcanology, aviation, respiratory health and environmental hazards, and highlights the need for further experimental constraints on the fragmentation mechanism fingerprint.
Modernization of Golgi staining techniques for high-resolution, 3-dimensional imaging of individual neurons
Authors: Vints Katlijn , Vandael Dorien , Baatsen Pieter , Pavie Benjamin , Vernaillen Frank , Corthout Nikky , Rybakin Vasily , Munck Sebastian , Gounko Natalia V.
Published: January 2019

Analysis of neuronal arborization and connections is a powerful tool in fundamental and clinical neuroscience. Changes in neuronal morphology are central to brain development and plasticity and are associated with numerous diseases. Golgi staining is a classical technique based on a deposition of metal precipitate in a random set of neurons. Despite their versatility, Golgi methods have limitations that largely precluded their use in advanced microscopy. We combined Golgi staining with fluorescent labeling and tissue clearing techniques in an Alzheimer’s disease model. We further applied 3D electron microscopy to visualize entire Golgi-stained neurons, while preserving ultrastructural details of stained cells, optimized Golgi staining for use with block-face scanning electron microscopy, and developed an algorithm for semi-automated neuronal tracing of cells displaying complex staining patterns. Our method will find use in fundamental neuroscience and the study of neuronal morphology in disease.
A simple procedure to produce FDM-based 3D-printed microfluidic devices with an integrated PMMA optical window
Authors: Bressan Lucas P. , Adamo Cristina B. , Quero Reverson F. , de Jesus Dosil P. , da Silva José A. F.
Published: January 2019

The protocol developed enables the creation of transparent windows for the easy visualization inside the 3D-printed microfluidic channels.
Detection of ppb-level NO2 gas using a portable gas-sensing system with a Fe2O3/MWCNTs/WO3 sensor using a pulsed-UV-LED
Authors: Su Pi-Guey , Yu Jia-Hao , Chen I-Cherng , Syu Hong-Ci , Chiu Shih-Wen , Chou Ting-I
Published: January 2019

A portable gas-sensing system which is periodically irradiated with light from a pulsed ultraviolet light emitting diode (UV-LED) was fabricated for sensing ppb-level NO2 gas.
Electrochemical biosensors for autoantibodies in autoimmune and cancer diseases
Authors: Campuzano Susana , Pedrero María , González-Cortés Araceli , Yáñez-Sedeño Paloma , Pingarrón José M.
Published: January 2019

Autoantibodies (AAbs) are antibodies produced against our own cells or tissues either providing a first defense against infections or indicating the presence of pathological processes.
Clickable PEG hydrogel microspheres as building blocks for 3D bioprinting
Authors: Xin Shangjing , Chimene David , Garza Jay E. , Gaharwar Akhilesh K. , Alge Daniel L.
Published: January 2019

Clickable poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogel microspheres can be 3D printed and photochemically annealed to produce complex cell-laden structures.
Bias-dependent degradation of various solar cells: lessons for stability of perovskite photovoltaics
Authors: Khenkin Mark V. , K. M. Anoop , Katz Eugene A. , Visoly-Fisher Iris
Published: January 2019

Understanding degradation mechanisms in halide perovskite solar cells is the key aspect to achieve a breakthrough in photovoltaics.
Advances in ozonation and biodegradation processes to enhance chlorophenol abatement in multisubstrate wastewaters: a review
Authors: Van Aken P. , Lambert N. , Van den Broeck R. , Degrève J. , Dewil R.
Published: January 2019

The objective of this study is to emphasize relevant knowledge gaps and research needs regarding chlorophenol degradation by applying biological and/or ozone-based oxidation techniques.
Cyanidin inhibits EMT induced by oxaliplatinviatargeting the PDK1–PI3K/Akt signaling pathway
Authors: Li Xiang , Zhang Ze-sheng , Zhang Xiao-han , Yang Sheng-nan , Liu Dong , Diao Cui-ru , Wang Hao , Zheng Fu-ping
Published: January 2019

Anthocyanins have been shown to exhibit antitumor activity in several cancersin vitroandin vivo.
The protective role of hawthorn fruit extract against high salt-induced hypertension in Dahl salt-sensitive rats: impact on oxidative stress and metabolic patterns
Authors: Zheng Xuewei , Li Xiaoxue , Chen Meng , Yang Pengfei , Zhao Xinrui , Zeng Li , OuYang Yanan , Yang Zhe , Tian Zhongmin
Published: January 2019

Hawthorn fruit extract can significantly attenuate high salt-induced hypertension in Dahl salt-sensitive rats.
Antiplatelet aggregation and antithrombotic benefits of terpenes and flavones from hawthorn leaf extract isolated using the activity-guided method
Authors: Gao Pinyi , Li Shuangshuang , Liu Kechun , Sun Chen , Song Shaojiang , Li Lingzhi
Published: January 2019

Hawthorn is a well-known functional food; at present, increasing attention has been given to hawthorn leaf due to its numerous functional and nutritional properties.
Dietary wood pulp-derived sterols modulation of cholesterol metabolism and gut microbiota in high-fat-diet-fed hamsters
Authors: Li Xiang , Wang Huali , Wang Tianxin , Zheng Fuping , Wang Hao , Wang Chengtao
Published: January 2019

Wood pulp-derived sterols (WS) supplementation ameliorated HFD-associated metabolic disorder; WS supplementation increased the amounts of fecal sterols excretion and SCFAs content; WS supplementation modulated gut microbiota composition.
A high linoleic acid diet exacerbates metabolic responses and gut microbiota dysbiosis in obese rats with diabetes mellitus
Authors: Lee Hsiu-Chuan , Yu Shao-Chuan , Lo Yun-Chun , Lin I-Hsuan , Tung Te-Hsuan , Huang Shih-Yi
Published: January 2019

Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels may affect inflammatory responses and lipid metabolism.
The use of Ca + Pd + Zr as modifiers in the determination of sulfur by HR-CS GF MAS with solid sampling
Authors: Vieira Augusto Alves , Pereira Éderson Rodrigues , Carasek Eduardo , Welz Bernhard
Published: January 2019

This paper proposes a universal combination of chemical modifiers for sulfur determination through carbon monosulfide (CS) monitoring by high-resolution-continuum source graphite furnace molecular absorption spectrometry and solid sampling analysis.
Multilayer microfluidic array for highly efficient sample loading and digital melt analysis of DNA methylation
Authors: O'Keefe Christine M. , Giammanco Daniel , Li Sixuan , Pisanic Thomas R. , Wang Tza-Huei Jeff
Published: January 2019

This microfluidic platform captures and analyzes rare molecules, such as cell-free DNA in liquid biopsies, to establish new epigenetic insights.
Microwave-assisted synthesis, characterization, cell imaging of fluorescent carbon dots using l-asparagine as precursor
Authors: Wang Xi , Gao Tian , Yang Mian , Zhao Jie , Jiang Feng-Lei , Liu Yi
Published: January 2019

Structure-analyzed carbon dots fabricated from a green raw material by a time-saving method.
Mesoporous ZnMoS4 as a supercapacitor electrode material with battery-like behavior
Authors: Elkholy Ayman E. , Dhmees Abdelghaffar S. , Heakal Fakiha El-Taib , Deyab M. A.
Published: January 2019

This paper reports the successful synthesis of bimetallic sulfide ZnMoS4 (ZMS) using a solvothermal method, and measuring its supercapacitive performance.
Modification of the glycosylation of extracellular vesicles alters their biodistribution in mice
Authors: Royo Felix , Cossío Unai , Ruiz de Angulo Ane , Llop Jordi , Falcon-Perez Juan M.
Published: January 2019

Positron emission tomography allows in vivo tracking of EVs and reveals changes in their biodistribution after glycosylation modification.
Titania-coated 2D gold nanoplates as nanoagents for synergistic photothermal/sonodynamic therapy in the second near-infrared window
Authors: Gao Fengli , He Guangli , Yin Hang , Chen Jian , Liu Yibiao , Lan Chong , Zhang Shouren , Yang Baocheng
Published: January 2019

Au NPL@TiO2nanostructures play the dual role of heat- and ROS-generating agents, which lead to synergetic photothermal/sonodynamic therapy in the second biological window.
Photon-separation to enhance the spatial resolution of pulsed STED microscopy
Authors: Tortarolo Giorgio , Sun Yuansheng , Teng Kai Wen , Ishitsuka Yuji , Lanzanó Luca , Selvin Paul R. , Barbieri Beniamino , Diaspro Alberto , Vicidomini Giuseppe
Published: January 2019

We introduce the pSTED-SPLIT microscopy technique, which explores the fluorescence dynamics in the phasor space to achieve sub-diffraction resolution images, with no need of high illumination intensity.
High-efficiency modulation of coupling between different polaritons in an in-plane graphene/hexagonal boron nitride heterostructure
Authors: Guo Xiangdong , Hu Hai , Hu Debo , Liao Baoxin , Chen Ke , Liu Lei , Zhu Xing , Yang Xiaoxia , Dai Qing
Published: January 2019

Two-dimensional van der Waals (vdW) materials have a full set of highly confined polariton modes, such as low-loss phonon polaritons and dynamically tunable graphene plasmons, which provide a solution for integrated nanophotonic devices by combining the unique advantages of different polaritons.
Differentiation of selectively labeled peptides using solid-state nanopores
Authors: Yu Jae-Seok , Hong Seong Cheol , Wu Sangwook , Kim Hyun-Mi , Lee Cheolju , Lee Jun-Seok , Lee Ji Eun , Kim Ki-Bum
Published: January 2019

Determination of the amino acid sequence of a protein is critical for understanding various biological processes.
Room-temperature high-performance CsPbBr3 perovskite tetrahedral microlasers
Authors: Wang Xiaoxia , Chen Huazhou , Zhou Hong , Wang Xiao , Yuan Shuangping , Yang Zhenqian , Zhu Xiaoli , Ma Renmin , Pan Aanlian
Published: January 2019

Room-temperature high performance tetrahedral microlasers based on CsPbBr3 perovskite single crystals with triangular symmetry are demonstrated.
π-Expanded diketopyrrolopyrroles as acceptor building blocks for the formation of novel donor–acceptor copolymers
Authors: Trilling Florian , Sachnik Oskar , Scherf Ullrich
Published: January 2019

The incorporation of rigid and planar, π-expanded diketopyrrolopyrrole (EDPP) units into alternating donor–acceptor copolymers is reported.
Combretastatin A4-camptothecin micelles as combination therapy for effective anticancer activity
Authors: Assali Mohyeddin , Kittana Naim , Qasem Sahar Alhaj , Adas Raghad , Saleh Doaa , Arar Asala , Zohud Osayd
Published: January 2019

Novel CA4-TEG-triazole-TEG-Cpt (codrug 9) was synthesized and self-assembled into a micelle structure that showed a great synergistic anticancer activity on HeLa cancer cells without affecting the viability of 3T3 normal cells.
Effect of small molecular weight soybean protein-derived peptide supplementation on attenuating burn injury-induced inflammation and accelerating wound healing in a rat model
Authors: Zhao Fen , Liu Wei , Yu Yonghui , Liu Xinqi , Yin Huinan , Liu Lingying , Yi Guofu
Published: January 2019

The populations most afflicted by burn injuries have limited abilities to support the significant specialized requirements and costs for acute and long-term burn injury care.
Photo-patterned oxygen sensing films based on Pt porphyrin for controlling cell growth and studying metabolism
Authors: Zeng Fei , Fan Zengju , Wu Shanshan , Cheng Xing , Tian Yanqing
Published: January 2019

Developing biocompatible and photo-polymerizable hydrogels with oxygen sensors for microengineering to affect cell growth and monitor cell respiration simultaneously.
Carrier-free nano-integrated strategy for synergetic cancer anti-angiogenic therapy and phototherapy
Authors: Wei Zheng , Liang Pingping , Xie Junqi , Song Chuanhui , Tang Chuanchao , Wang Yufeng , Yin Xiteng , Cai Yu , Han Wei , Dong Xiaochen
Published: January 2019

Herein, a nano-integrated strategy was used to combine an anti-angiogenic agent sorafenib and a photosensitizer chlorin e6 to form carrier-free multifunctional nanoparticles (SC NPs) for synergetic anti-angiogenic therapy and phototherapy.
Charge transport modulation in pseudorotaxane 1D stacks of acene and azaacene derivatives
Authors: Gozalvez Cristian , Zafra Jose L. , Saeki Akinori , Melle-Franco Manuel , Casado Juan , Mateo-Alonso Aurelio
Published: January 2019

Acenes have received a lot of attention because of their inherent and tunable absorbing, emissive, and charge transport properties for electronic, photovoltaic, and singlet fission applications, among others.
Activatable near-infrared emission-guided on-demand administration of photodynamic anticancer therapy with a theranostic nanoprobe
Authors: Wang Rongchen , Dong Kaikai , Xu Ge , Shi Ben , Zhu Tianli , Shi Ping , Guo Zhiqian , Zhu Wei-Hong , Zhao Chunchang
Published: January 2019

A theranostic platform enables the selective visualization of H2S-rich cancers and imaging-directed on-demand photodynamic therapy of the detected cancers while leaving normal tissues untouched.
Enhanced CO2 electrolysis with a SrTiO3 cathode through a dual doping strategy
Authors: Ye Lingting , Hu Xiuli , Wang Xin , Chen Fanglin , Tang Dian , Dong Dehua , Xie Kui
Published: January 2019

Remarkable cathode performances for CO2 electrolysis have been achieved by introducing more oxygen vacancies in Mn/Cr-doped and A-site deficient titanates.
Ghrelin octanoylation by ghrelin O-acyltransferase: Unique protein biochemistry underlying metabolic signaling
Authors: Hougland James L.
Published: January 2019

Ghrelin is a small peptide hormone that requires a unique post-translational modification, serine octanoylation, to bind and activate the GHS-R1a receptor. Ghrelin signaling is implicated in a variety of neurological and physiological processes, but is most well known for its roles in controlling hunger and metabolic regulation. Ghrelin octanoylation is catalyzed by ghrelin O-acyltransferase (GOAT), a member of the membrane-bound O-acyltransferase (MBOAT) enzyme family. From the status of ghrelin as the only substrate for GOAT in the human genome to the source and requirement for the octanoyl acyl donor, the ghrelin–GOAT system is defined by multiple unique aspects within both protein biochemistry and endocrinology. In this review, we examine recent advances in our understanding of the interactions and mechanisms leading to ghrelin modification by GOAT, discuss the potential sources for the octanoyl acyl donor required for ghrelin's activation, and summarize the current landscape of molecules targeting ghrelin octanoylation through GOAT inhibition.
Robust decentralised state estimation for formation flying spacecraft
Authors: Wang Yu , Wang Xiaogang , Cui Naigang
Published: January 2019

In this study, a robust decentralised state estimation algorithm named decentralised Huber‐based cubature filtering (DHCF) for formation flying spacecraft is proposed. In this algorithm, a decentralised architecture is designed, in which each deputy estimates its relative state with respect to the chief based on its own exteroceptive sensor measurement. The relative motion equation considering the non‐spherical influence of the earth is derived. The relative measurements’ information contain not only the line‐of‐sight between the deputy and the chief, but also the ranges among the deputies, which improves the redundancy of the relative navigation task. A set of cubature points are selected using spherical‐radial rule to map the probability distribution, which is more accurate than the linearisation of the extended Kalman filter (EKF). The non‐Gaussian noise in formation is approximated by Gaussian mixture models. To deal with the non‐Gaussian noise, the Huber technique is used in measurement update of each deputy and the extra measurement uncertainty caused by linearisation is compensated. Simulation results indicate that the proposed DHCF provides better performance in state estimation accuracy and robustness when compared to decentralised EKF and decentralised cubature Kalman filtering in the presence of non‐Gaussian measurement noise.
Vers une optimisation de la modulation du récepteur des œstrogènes dans le traitement hormonal de la ménopause
Authors: Valéra Marie-Cécile , Fontaine Coralie , Noirrit-Esclassan Emmanuelle , Boudou Frédéric , Buscato Melissa , Adlanmerini Marine , Trémollières Florence , Gourdy Pierre , Lenfant Françoise , Arnal Jean-François
Published: January 2019

Les femmes vivent désormais plus d’un tiers de leur vie après la survenue de la ménopause. Le déclin de la production d’œstrogènes endogènes au cours de cette période s’accompagne fréquemment de troubles fonctionnels qui affectent la qualité de vie. Ces symptômes peuvent être soulagés par un traitement hormonal (THM) initialement fondé sur l’administration d’œstrogènes conjugués équins (principalement aux États-Unis, par voie orale) ou d’un œstrogène naturel, le 17β-estradiol (en Europe, notamment par voie transdermique). Le récepteur des œstrogènes α (REα) relaye la majorité des effets physiologiques des œstrogènes. REα appartient à la superfamille des récepteurs nucléaires. Il régule la transcription de gènesviases fonctions activatrices (AF1 et AF2). Outre ces actions génomiques classiques, les œstrogènes peuvent aussi activer une sous-population de récepteurs REα présents à la membrane des cellules et ainsi induire des signaux rapides. Dans cette revue, nous résumerons l’évolution des THM depuis les débuts de la substitution hormonale jusqu’aux nouvelles molécules émergentes fondées sur une modulation sélective du REα. Nous décrirons également les progrès récents sur la compréhension des mécanismes d’action des œstrogènes, en détaillant les rôles respectifs des REα nucléaire et membranaire et les développements thérapeutiques possibles qui pourraient en découler.
Trapping laser pulse between two foils and periodic generation of energetic electron beam
Authors: Gong J. X. , Cao L. H. , Yu W. , Yu M. Y. , Zheng C. Y. , Liu Z. J. , He X. T.
Published: January 2019

When an intense right-hand circularly polarized laser pulse propagates through a highly magnetized (in the direction of laser propagation) foil into the vacuum region between this foil and an unmagnetized foil, it can be multiply reflected and thus quasitrapped between the two foils until its energy is depleted. During the multiple reflections at the magnetized foil, foil electrons are accelerated by the laser light. Electrons that have gained sufficient energy can escape and appear as periodic energetic electron bunches at a time interval determined precisely by the trapping time or the distance between the two foils.
Two-dimensional modal and non-modal instabilities in straight-diverging-straight channel flow
Authors: Jotkar Mamta , Govindarajan Rama
Published: January 2019

A systematic study of a two-dimensional viscous flow through the straight-diverging-straight (SDS) channel defined by two straight-walled sections of different widths and a divergent section in-between is presented here. It has the plane Poiseuille flow (PPF) and the symmetric sudden expansion flow as the limiting cases. The topology of steady laminar flows and its bifurcations are characterized in the multi-parametric space formed by the divergence angle, the expansion ratio, and the Reynolds number. Three different steady flow regimes with two symmetric zones of recirculation, two asymmetric zones of recirculation, and the one with an additional third recirculation zone are observed with increasing Reynolds number. Modal stability analysis shows that the asymmetric flows remain stable at least up to Re = 300, regardless of the divergence angle and expansion ratio. Non-modal stability analyses are applied to SDS flows in the three topology regimes. A remarkable potential for transient amplification due to the Orr mechanism is found even for relatively low Reynolds numbers, which is related to the flow topology. The optimal energy amplification grows exponentially with the Reynolds number, as opposed to the substantially weaker Re2 scaling known for the lift-up mechanism dominant for PPF. This scaling holds for all divergence angles and is further increased by the expansion ratio, resulting in energy amplifications Gmax ∼ 104 for Reynolds numbers as low as Re ∼ 300. Present results suggest that the sub-critical transition due to transient growth is the most likely scenario for SDS flows at low Reynolds numbers.
InP-based polarization rotator-splitter for mid-infrared photonic integration circuits
Authors: Chung Chi-Jui , Midkiff Jason , Yoo Kyoung Min , Rostamian Ali , Guo Joel , Chen Ray T. , Chakravarty Swapnajit
Published: January 2019

We design and experimentally demonstrate the propagation loss of waveguides and the operation of a single-step etched polarization rotator-splitter (PRS) in low index contrast InGaAs-InP material system at 6.15 μm. Propagation losses 4.19 dB/cm for TM mode and 3.25 dB/cm for TE mode are measured. The designed PRS can achieve near 100% conversion efficiency. This study enables the possibility of monolithic integration of quantum cascade devices with TM-polarized characteristics and TE-guiding two-dimensional slotted photonic crystal waveguide gas sensors for on-chip monolithic absorption spectroscopy.
The role of the disordered HfO2 network in the high-κ n-MOSFET shallow electron trapping
Authors: Gu Chenjie , Zhou Canliang , Ang Diing Shenp , Ju Xin , Gu Renyuan , Duan Tianli
Published: January 2019

Current understanding of the bias temperature instability degradation usually comprises two parts: (1) shallow-level component that can recover within a short time and (2) deep level traps that the emission time of the trapped carrier is extremely long. Prevenient studies of the positive bias temperature instability degradation in the high-κ n-MOSFET indicate that oxygen vacancy (VO) is the dominant defect type that responds for the shallow electron trapping. However, recent experimental results reveal that the VO defect density required to accommodate the experimental measured recoverable threshold voltage degradation (ΔVth) is much higher than that of the reasonable atomic structure in the amorphous HfO2. On the other hand, investigations on the disordered Hf-O-Hf network in the amorphous HfO2 reveal their capabilities as charge trapping centers; therefore, in this work, atomic simulation work is performed, and our results show that the disordered Hf-O-Hf networks can act as effective electron capture centers with shallow levels near the Si conduction band. Moreover, the high density of the stretched Hf-O-Hf networks in the amorphous HfO2 also significantly enriches the shallow electron traps in the oxide.
The plasma-wall transition with collisions and an oblique magnetic field: Reversal of potential drops at grazing incidences
Authors: Moritz J. , Lesur M. , Faudot E. , Devaux S. , Heuraux S. , Ledig J.
Published: January 2019

The plasma-wall transition is studied by using 1d3V particle-in-cell simulations in the case of a one dimensional plasma bounded by two absorbing walls separated by 200 Debye lengths (λd). A constant and oblique magnetic field is applied to the system, with an amplitude such that r < λd < R, where r and R are the electron and ion Larmor radii, respectively. Collisions with neutrals are taken into account and modelled by an energy conservative operator, which randomly reorients ion and electron velocities. The plasma-wall transition (PWT) is shown to depend on both the angle of incidence of the magnetic field with respect to the wall, θ, and on the ion mean-free-path to Larmor radius ratio, λci/R. In the very low collisionality regime (λci≫R) and for a large angle of incidence, the PWT consists of the classical tri-layer structure (Debye sheath/Chodura sheath/pre-sheath) from the wall towards the center of the plasma. The drops of potential within different regions are well consistent with already published models. However, when sin θ≤R/λci or with the ordering λci<R, collisions cannot be neglected, leading to the disappearance of the Chodura sheath. In this case, a collisional model yields analytic expressions for the potential drop in the quasi-neutral region and explains, in qualitative and quantitative agreement with the simulation results, its reversal below a critical angle derived in this paper, a regime possibly met in the scrape-off layers of tokamaks. It is further shown that the potential drop in the Debye sheath slightly varies with the collisionality for λci≫R. However, it tends to decrease with λci in the high collisionality regime, until the Debye sheath finally vanishes.
SQUID ratchet: Statistics of transitions in dynamical localization
Authors: Spiechowicz Jakub , Łuczka Jerzy
Published: January 2019

We study occupation of certain regions of phase space of an asymmetric superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) driven by thermal noise, subjected to an external ac current and threaded by a constant magnetic flux. Thermally activated transitions between the states which reflect three deterministic attractors are analyzed in the regime of the noise induced dynamical localization of the Josephson phase velocity, i.e., there is a temperature interval in which the conditional probability of the voltage to remain in one of the states is very close to one. Implications of this phenomenon on the dc voltage drop across the SQUID are discussed. We detect the emergence of the power law tails in a residence time probability distribution of the Josephson phase velocity and discuss the role of symmetry breaking in dynamical localization induced by thermal noise. This phenomenon illustrates how deterministic-like behavior may be extracted from randomness by stochasticity itself. It reveals another face of noise.
Softening of the Al-Mg-Si-Fe alloy under magnetostriction of FeAl microinclusions
Authors: Skvortsov A. , Pshonkin D. , Kunitsyna E. , Morgunov R. , Beaugnon E.
Published: January 2019

The physical origin of the magnetoplastic effect was experimentally identified in Al polycrystalline alloy. Exposure of the nominally pure industrial Al-Mg-Si-Fe alloy to magnetic field 0.7 T induces residual changes that provide a creep rate increase up to 25% and microhardness decrease down to 30%. FeAl inclusions of ∼1 μm size were revealed in the alloy. Magnetostriction of the ferromagnetic inclusions providing local mechanical stresses and generation of fresh dislocations in the vicinity of the inclusions is the main reason for magnetoplasticity. Ferro-, antiferro-, and paramagnetic contributions of the inclusions and/or Fe atoms distributed in the Al matrix have been distinguished. The chemical composition of FeAl inclusions determined by transition electron microscopy and local field probed by the Mossbauer technique are in good agreement with saturation magnetization of the FeAl alloys.
Temperature driven magnetic transitions in FePd3 filled monolayer carbon foam and Fe3C/α-Fe filled carbon nanotubes
Authors: Odunmbaku Omololu , Xia JiaChen , Borowiec Joanna , Wang Shanling , Taallah Ayoub , He Yi , Boi Filippo S.
Published: January 2019

An unusual observation of magnetic transition and Pd/C rehybridization effects is reported in novel monolayer carbon foam materials filled with doubled FePd3 crystal lattices. We reveal the presence of not previously observed sharp Pd/C interfaces, as confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, which give rise to localized paramagnetic features in the ESR spectra for a g value of 2.05 at 130 K. Also, as revealed by vibrating sample magnetometry and electron spin resonance measurements, an increase in the magnetization values with the decrease of the temperature is found. This result is compatible with a structural rearrangement from a face centered cubic metastable paramagnetic FePd3 phase into a primitive ferromagnetic cubic Fe3Pd phase. Comparative studies performed in Fe3C/α-Fe filled thin walled carbon nanotubes also give further confirmations of these unusual types of transitions by revealing a bcc to fcc phase shift with the decrease of the temperature as confirmed by zero field cooled measurements of the magnetization and ESR. In addition, a temperature dependent variation in the intensity and position of the π-electron’s differential absorption feature is observed and implies the possible existence of antiferromagnetic correlations in the carbon-nanotubes structure.
Femtosecond laser induced nano-meter size surface structures on ZnSe film
Authors: Xiao Yao , Deng Guoliang , Feng Guoying , Ning Shougui , Wang Shutong , Chen Xiaoxu , Yang Huomu , Zhou Shouhuan
Published: January 2019

We realize femtosecond laser-induced high spatial frequency nano-meter size periodic surface structures with a periodicity about 140nm-170 nm on ZnSe film in one step. Compared with bulk ZnSe, the periodicity and fluence threshold of the surface structure on ZnSe film are smaller and lower. We propose the shortened melting duration, which caused by the higher thermal conductivity of the sapphire substrate, is the origin of the difference between the bulk ZnSe and ZnSe film. Surface capillary wave is easier frozen with shorter melting duration leaves smaller periodicity. Meanwhile, we also found stripes on the surface of sapphire with much lower threshold than previously reported values. The results can benefit advanced optoelectronic device fabrication and fundamental research.
Adsorption of water, methanol, and their mixtures in slit graphite pores
Authors: Pršlja Paulina , Lomba Enrique , Gómez-Álvarez Paula , Urbič Tomaz , Noya Eva G.
Published: January 2019

The behavior of water, methanol, and water-methanol mixtures confined in narrow slit graphite pores as a function of pore size was investigated by Monte Carlo, hybrid Monte Carlo, and Molecular Dynamics simulations. Interactions were described using TIP4P/2005 for water, OPLS/2016 for methanol, and cross interactions fitted to excess water/methanol properties over the whole range of concentrations, which provide a rather accurate description of water-methanol mixtures. As expected for hydrophobic pores, whereas pure methanol is adsorbed already from the gas phase, pure water only enters the pore at pressures well beyond bulk saturation for all pore sizes considered. When adsorbed from a mixture, however, water adsorbs at much lower pressures due to the formation of hydrogen bonds with previously adsorbed methanol molecules. For all studied compositions and pore sizes, methanol adsorbs preferentially over water at liquid-vapor equilibrium conditions. In pure components, both water and methanol are microscopically structured in layers, the number of layers increasing with pore size. This is also the case in adsorbed mixtures, in which methanol has a higher affinity for the walls. This becomes more evident as the pore widens. Diffusion of pure water is higher than that of pure methanol for all pore sizes due to the larger size of the methyl group. In mixtures, both components present similar diffusivities at all pore sizes, which is explained in terms of the coupling of molecular movements due to strong hydrogen bonding between methanol and water molecules. This is particularly evident in very narrow pores, in which pure methanol diffusion is completely impeded on the time scale of our simulations, but the presence of a small amount of water molecules facilitates alcohol diffusion following a single-file mechanism. Additionally, our results indicate that pure water diffusivities display a non-monotonous dependence of pore size, due to effects of confinement (proximity to a fluid-solid-fluid transition induced by confinement as reported in previous work) and the dynamic anomalies of water.
Control of metal-insulator transition temperature in VO2 thin films grown on RuO2/TiO2 templates by strain modification
Authors: Kim H. , Charipar N. A. , Figueroa J. , Bingham N. S. , Piqué A.
Published: January 2019

Ruthenium dioxide (RuO2) is an ideal buffer layer for vanadium dioxide (VO2) heterostructures due to its high electrical conductivity and matching crystal structure with metallic VO2. VO2 thin films were deposited on single crystal TiO2 (001) substrates with RuO2 buffer layers via pulsed laser deposition. The metal-insulator transition temperature (TMIT) in VO2 films can be controlled by the epitaxial strain between the VO2 film and RuO2 buffer layer by adjusting the buffer layer thickness (10 - 50 nm). We observed a decrease in the TMIT of VO2 films from 59 °C to 24 °C as the RuO2 thickness decreased from 50 nm to 10 nm. Additionally, we show that the RuO2 buffer layer can sustain an intermediate strain state in VO2 films up to 100 nm in thickness with a subsequently lower TMIT (30 °C). The 10 nm thick RuO2 buffer layer can reduce the TMIT in VO2 films by providing a pathway to relieve the strain through grain boundaries.
Radial energy channels may account for unexpected plasma losses
Authors: Cesare Chris
Published: January 2019

Alfvén modes in toroidal plasmas are capable of carrying away energy from a plasma’s hot core.
Toward development of ecosystem asset accounts at the national level
Authors: Vačkářů Dava , Grammatikopoulou Ioanna
Published: January 2019

Ecosystem accounting has become one of the key components in the revision of international statistical standards. Expansion of the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting for ecosystem services follows the rapid progress of science in this area as well as expanding applications to sustainability challenges. In this contribution, we discuss approaches to accounting of ecosystem assets as a natural capital basis that is critical for ecosystem service delivery. Based on examples from the Czech Republic, a Central European country, we illustrate the construction of ecosystem extent accounts based on the methodology of Land and Ecosystem Accounting. This analysis is complemented by monetary ecosystem asset accounting through quantification of the present value of future ecosystem service flows. Ecosystem condition is represented by the Mean Species Abundance indicator, which gauges the direction of ecosystem naturalness. Based on the demonstration of approaches to ecosystem asset accounting, we discuss selected aspects of ecosystem condition measurements, valuation, and policy implications of ecosystem asset accounting at the national level.
The Drosophila Ninein homologue Bsg25D cooperates with Ensconsin in myonuclear positioning
Authors: Rosen Jonathan N. , Azevedo Mafalda , Soffar David B. , Boyko Vitaly P. , Brendel Matthew B. , Schulman Victoria K. , Baylies Mary K.
Published: January 2019

Skeletal muscle consists of multinucleated cells in which the myonuclei are evenly spaced throughout the cell. In Drosophila, this pattern is established in embryonic myotubes, where myonuclei move via microtubules (MTs) and the MT-associated protein Ensconsin (Ens)/MAP7, to achieve their distribution. Ens regulates multiple aspects of MT biology, but little is known about how Ens itself is regulated. We find that Ens physically interacts and colocalizes with Bsg25D, the Drosophila homologue of the centrosomal protein Ninein. Bsg25D loss enhances myonuclear positioning defects in embryos sensitized by partial Ens loss. Bsg25D overexpression causes severe positioning defects in immature myotubes and fully differentiated myofibers, where it forms ectopic MT organizing centers, disrupts perinuclear MT arrays, reduces muscle stiffness, and decreases larval crawling velocity. These studies define a novel relationship between Ens and Bsg25D. At endogenous levels, Bsg25D positively regulates Ens activity during myonuclear positioning, but excess Bsg25D disrupts Ens localization and MT organization, with disastrous consequences for myonuclear positioning and muscle function.
Neuronal drebrin A directly interacts with mDia2 formin to inhibit actin assembly
Authors: Ginosyan Anush A. , Grintsevich Elena E. , Reisler Emil
Published: January 2019

Dendritic spines (DS) are actin-rich postsynaptic terminals of neurons that are critical for higher-order brain functions. Maturation of DS is accompanied by a change in actin architecture from linear to branched filamentous structures. Presumably, the underlying cause of this is a switch in a mode of actin assembly from formin-driven to Arp2/3-mediated via an undefined mechanism. Here we present data suggesting that neuron-specific actin-binding drebrin A may be a part of such a switch. It is well documented that DS are highly enriched in drebrin A, which is critical for their plasticity and function. At the same time, mDia2 is known to mediate the formation of filopodia-type (immature) spines. We found that neuronal drebrin A directly interacts with mDia2 formin. Drebrin inhibits formin-mediated nucleation of actin and abolishes mDia2-induced actin bundling. Using truncated protein constructs we identified the domain requirements for drebrin–mDia2 interaction. We hypothesize that accumulation of drebrin A in DS (that coincides with spine maturation) leads to inhibition of mDia2-driven actin polymerization and, therefore, may contribute to a change in actin architecture from linear to branched filaments.
PSiTE: a Phylogeny guided Simulator for Tumor Evolution
Authors: Yang Hechuan , Lu Bingxin , Lai Lan Huong , Lim Abner Herbert , Alvarez Jacob Josiah Santiago , Zhai Weiwei
Published: January 2019

Simulating realistic clonal dynamics of tumors is an important topic in cancer genomics. Here, we present Phylogeny guided Simulator for Tumor Evolution, a tool that can simulate different types of tumor samples including single sector, multi-sector bulk tumor as well as single-cell tumor data under a wide range of evolutionary trajectories. Phylogeny guided Simulator for Tumor Evolution provides an efficient tool for understanding clonal evolution of cancer.

Availability and implementation

PSiTE is implemented in Python and is available at https://github.com/hchyang/PSiTE.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Variation in Host Plant Usage and Diet Breadth Predict Sibling Preference and Performance in the Neotropical Tortoise Beetle Chelymorpha alternans (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae)
Authors: Morrison Colin R , Aubert Clément , Windsor Donald M
Published: January 2019

Specialized interactions between insects and the plants that they consume are one of the most ubiquitous and consequential ecological associations on the plant. Decades of investigation suggest that a narrow diet favors an individual phytophagous insect’s performance relative to a dietary generalist. However, this body of research has tended to approach questions of diet breadth and host usage from the perspective of temperate plant–insect associations. Relationships between diet breadth, host usage, and variation in tropical insect preference and performance remain largely uninvestigated. Here we characterize how variation in diet breadth and host usage affect oviposition preference, development, survival, and gain in mass of a Neotropical tortoise beetle Chelymorpha alternans Boheman 1854 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), using a split-brood, sibling experimental design. Host performance was measured after splitting broods among four no-choice host diets. Groups consuming single hosts varied among themselves in developmental time and survival from larva to adult. Performance did not vary among groups consuming multiple and single hosts. Oviposition preference was measured in choice and no-choice tests. Females displayed preference for the original host in both experiments. Developmental time and survival of offspring sourced from the no-choice experiment was measured for two complete generations to explore correlations with female oviposition preference. Preference for the original host correlated with high survivorship and an intermediate developmental time. Survivorship and time to develop were also high on an alternative host that was less preferred. Departures from predictions of prevailing preference–performance hypotheses suggest that host usage presents C. alternans with fitness trade-offs.
Stage-dependent differential effects of interleukin-1 isoforms on experimental atherosclerosis
Authors: Vromman Amélie , Ruvkun Victoria , Shvartz Eugenia , Wojtkiewicz Gregory , Santos Masson Gustavo , Tesmenitsky Yevgenia , Folco Eduardo , Gram Hermann , Nahrendorf Matthias , Swirski Filip K , Sukhova Galina K , Libby Peter
Published: January 2019

Aims

Targeting interleukin-1 (IL-1) represents a novel therapeutic approach to atherosclerosis. CANTOS demonstrated the benefits of IL-1β neutralization in patients post-myocardial infarction with residual inflammatory risk. Yet, some mouse data have shown a prominent role of IL-1α rather than IL-1β in atherosclerosis, or even a deleterious effect of IL-1 on outward arterial remodelling in atherosclerosis-susceptible mice. To shed light on these disparate results, this study investigated the effect of neutralizing IL-1α or/and IL-1β isoforms starting either early in atherogenesis or later in ApoE–/– mice with established atheroma.

Methods and results

The neutralization of IL-1α or of both IL-1 isoforms impaired outward remodelling during early atherogenesis as assessed by micro-computed tomographic and histologic assessment. In contrast, the neutralization of IL-1β did not impair outward remodelling either during early atherogenesis or in mice with established lesions. Interleukin-1β inhibition promoted a slant of blood monocytes towards a less inflammatory state during atherogenesis, reduced the size of established atheromata, and increased plasma levels of IL-10 without limiting outward remodelling of brachiocephalic arteries.

Conclusion

This study established a pivotal role for IL-1α in the remodelling of arteries during early experimental atherogenesis, whereas IL-1β drives inflammation during atherogenesis and the evolution of advanced atheroma in mice.