bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Early transcriptional response of human ovarian and fallopian tube surface epithelial cells to norepinephrine
Authors: Gjyshi Anxhela , Dash Sweta , Cen Ling , Cheng Chia-Ho , Zhang Chaomei , Yoder Sean J. , Teer Jamie K. , Armaiz-Pena Guillermo N. , Monteiro Alvaro N. A.
Published: May 2018

Evidence from human and animal studies suggests that chronic behavioral stress and resulting activation of the sympathetic nervous system may influence initiation and progression of tumors. However, the underlying mechanisms for these observations are poorly understood. The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of adrenergic signaling on cell line models derived from normal cells presumed to originate epithelial ovarian cancers. Here we explored the effects of the stress-related hormone, norepinephrine, on the transcriptional program of normal immortalized ovarian (iOSE) and fallopian tube (iFTSEC) surface epithelial cells. Analysis of RNA-Seq data of treated and untreated cells revealed a significant overlap between the responses in iOSE and iFTSEC cells. Most genes modulated by norepinephrine in ovarian and fallopian tube epithelial cells are already expressed in normal ovarian and fallopian tissue and cells. For several genes, expression changes were reflected at the protein level. Genes in immune-related and developmental pathways were enriched in the set of genes modulated by norepinephrine. We identified HOXA5, SPIB, REL, SRF, SP1, NFKB1, MEF2A, E2F1, and EGR1 transcription factor binding sites to be highly enriched in our dataset. These data represent the early transcriptional response to norepinephrine in cells postulated to originate epithelial ovarian cancer.
Repurposing auranofin as an intestinal decolonizing agent for vancomycin-resistant enterococci
Authors: AbdelKhalek Ahmed , Abutaleb Nader S. , Elmagarmid Khalifa A. , Seleem Mohamed N.
Published: May 2018

Multidrug-resistant enterococcal pathogens, especially vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), are among the pathogens that require new antibiotic innovation. The colonization of the gut represents a major pathway by which VRE can cause infection and spread to other patients. In the current study, auranofin (FDA-approved rheumatoid arthritis drug) is evaluated for its potential use as a decolonizing agent for VRE. Auranofin was found to exert potent antimicrobial activity against a wide range of enterococcal clinical isolates with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 1 μg/mL. No resistant mutants could be developed against auranofin over the course of 14 passages. Auranofin was also found to exert potent anti-biofilm activity against VRE. Auranofin was superior to linezolid, the drug of choice for VRE infection treatment, in the in vivo mouse model. Auranofin significantly reduced the VRE burden in feces, cecum, and ileum contents after 8 days of treatment. Accordingly, this study provides valuable evidence that auranofin has significant promise as a novel gastrointestinal decolonizing agent for VRE.
HIV Reverse Transcriptase and Protease Genes Variability Can Be a Biomarker Associated with HIV and Hepatitis B or C Coinfection
Authors: Cantão Natália Mirele , Fogaça de Almeida Lauana , Rodrigo Wolf Ivan , Oliveira Almeida Rodrigo , Alves de Almeida Cruz Andressa , Nunes Caroline , Barbosa Alexandre Naime , Valente Guilherme Targino , de Moura Campos Pardini Maria Inês , Grotto Rejane Maria Tommasini
Published: May 2018

Variability of the HIV reverse transcriptase (RT) and protease (PR) genes has been used as indicators of drug resistance and as a mean to evaluate phylogenetic relationships among circulating virus. However, these studies have been carried in HIV mono-infected populations. The goal of this study was to evaluate, for the first time, the HIV PR and RT sequences from HIV/HBV and HIV/HCV co-infected patients. HIV PR and RT genes were amplificated and sequenced to resistance analysis. The bioinformatics analysis was performed to infer about sequences clustering and molecular evolution. The results showed that the most frequent amino acid substitutions in RT were L214F (67.6%), I135T (55.9%), and in PR was V15I (41.2%). The molecular clock analysis showed that the HIV circulating in co-infected patients were separated in two clusters in the years 1999–2000. Some patients included as HIV mono-infected according patients’ medical records and inside the co-infected cluster were, in fact, co-infected by PCR analysis. Analysis of the decision trees showed susceptibility to lamivudine and emtricitabine were important attribute to characterize co-infected patients. In conclusion, the results obtained in this study suggest, for the first time, that HIV RT and PR genes variability could be a genetic biomarker to coinfection.
Hydrogen cyanide produced by the soil bacterium Chromobacterium sp. Panama contributes to mortality in Anopheles gambiae mosquito larvae
Authors: Short Sarah M. , van Tol Sarah , MacLeod Hannah J. , Dimopoulos George
Published: May 2018

Mosquito larvae continuously encounter microbes in their aquatic environment, which serve as food and play a critical role in successful development. In previous work, we isolated a Chromobacterium sp. (C.sp_P) with larvicidal activity from the midgut of dengue vector Aedes mosquitoes in Panama. In this study, we found a positive correlation between initial concentrations of C.sp_P and larval mortality rates, and that C.sp_P is more efficient at inducing larval mortality in a high nutrient environment. Multiple Chromobacterium species induce larval mortality with similar efficacy to C.sp_P except for C. subtsugae. We also found that a non-lethal dose of C.sp_P lengthens development time and increases mortality over multiple developmental stages, suggesting persistent effects of exposure. Additionally, we showed that larvicidal activity persists in the larval breeding water after removal of live bacteria, and that the larvicidal factor in C.sp_P-treated water is smaller than 3 kDa, heat resistant to 90 °C, and lost after vacuum centrifugation. We showed that C.sp_P produces hydrogen cyanide in culture and in larval water at concentrations sufficient to kill An. gambiae larvae, and treatment of the larval water with a cyanide antidote eliminated larvicidal activity. We conclude that a potential mechanism by which C.sp_P can induce larval mortality is via production of hydrogen cyanide.
Niche-induced extramedullary hematopoiesis in the spleen is regulated by the transcription factor Tlx1
Authors: Oda Akihisa , Tezuka Toshiki , Ueno Yuta , Hosoda Shoko , Amemiya Yusuke , Notsu Chihiro , Kasahara Toru , Nishiyama Chiharu , Goitsuka Ryo
Published: May 2018

Extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) in postnatal life is a pathological process in which the differentiation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) occurs outside the bone marrow (BM) to respond to hematopoietic emergencies. The spleen is a major site for EMH; however, the cellular and molecular nature of the stromal cell components supporting HSPC maintenance, the niche for EMH in the spleen remain poorly understood compared to the growing understanding of the BM niche at the steady-state as well as in emergency hematopoiesis. In the present study, we demonstrate that mesenchymal progenitor-like cells expressing Tlx1, an essential transcription factor for spleen organogenesis, and selectively localized in the perifollicular region of the red pulp of the spleen, are a major source of HSPC niche factors. Consistently, overexpression of Tlx1 in situ induces EMH, which is associated with mobilization of HSPC into the circulation and their recruitment into the spleen where they proliferate and differentiate. The alterations in the splenic microenvironment induced by Tlx1 overexpression in situ phenocopy lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced EMH, and the conditional loss of Tlx1 abolished LPS-induced splenic EMH. These findings indicate that activation of Tlx1 expression in the postnatal splenic mesenchymal cells is critical for the development of splenic EMH.
Synchrotron radiation reveals the identity of the large felid from Monte Argentario (Early Pleistocene, Italy)
Authors: Cherin Marco , Iurino Dawid A. , Zanatta Marco , Fernandez Vincent , Paciaroni Alessandro , Petrillo Caterina , Rettori Roberto , Sardella Raffaele
Published: May 2018

We describe here a partial skull with associated mandible of a large felid from Monte Argentario, Italy (Early Pleistocene; ~1.5 million years). Propagation x-ray phase-contrast synchrotron microtomography of the specimen, still partially embedded in the rock matrix, allows ascribing it reliably to Acinonyx pardinensis, one of the most intriguing extinct carnivorans of the Old World Plio-Pleistocene. The analysis of images and 3D models obtained through synchrotron microtomography – here applied for the first time on a Plio-Pleistocene carnivoran – reveals a mosaic of cheetah-like and Panthera-like features, with the latter justifying previous attributions of the fossil to the extinct Eurasian jaguar Panthera gombaszoegensis. Similarly, we reassign to A. pardinensis some other Italian materials previously referred to P. gombaszoegensis (sites of Pietrafitta and Ellera di Corciano). The recognition of Panthera-like characters in A. pardinensis leads to reconsidering the ecological role of this species, whose hunting strategy was likely to be different from those of the living cheetah. Furthermore, we hypothesise that the high intraspecific variation in body size in A. pardinensis can be the result of sexual dimorphism, as observed today in all large-sized felids.
Ultrasound-Mediated EGF-Coated-Microbubble Cavitation in Dressings for Wound-Healing Applications
Authors: Liao Ai-Ho , Hung Chi-Ray , Chen Hang-Kang , Chiang Chien-Ping
Published: May 2018

The feasibility of ultrasound (US) controlled cavitation for transdermal drug delivery (TDD) using gas-filled microbubbles (MBs) has been explored. However, liquid or gel-type MBs is not easy used for TDD. The present study investigated a new treatment model for evaluating the US-mediated liquid-type epidermal growth factor (EGF)-coated lysozyme microbubble (LYMB) cavitation in a wound dressing for enhancing wound healing. The maximum loading efficacy of EGF onto LYMBs was 19.40 ± 0.04%. In terms of the in vitro treatment efficacy, the growth of Staphylococcus aureus was inhibited by 97.50 ± 1.50% in the group with LYMBs exposed to 3 W/cm2 US. During 21 days in vivo wound healing experiments, the recovery rate during the first 6 days was significant higher in the group with EGF-LYMB dressings and US exposure (day 6: 54.28 ± 3.26%) than in the control group (day 6: 26.36 ± 3.34%) (p < 0.05). Our results show that the new model can significantly reduce the treatment duration during wound healing.
Computing Mathematical Functions using DNA via Fractional Coding
Authors: Salehi Sayed Ahmad , Liu Xingyi , Riedel Marc D. , Parhi Keshab K.
Published: May 2018

This paper discusses the implementation of mathematical functions such as exponentials, trigonometric functions, the sigmoid function and the perceptron function with molecular reactions in general, and DNA strand displacement reactions in particular. The molecular constructs for these functions are predicated on a novel representation for input and output values: a fractional encoding, in which values are represented by the relative concentrations of two molecular types, denoted as type-1 and type-0. This representation is inspired by a technique from digital electronic design, termed stochastic logic, in which values are represented by the probability of 1’s in a stream of randomly generated 0’s and 1’s. Research in the electronic realm has shown that a variety of complex functions can be computed with remarkably simple circuitry with this stochastic approach. This paper demonstrates how stochastic electronic designs can be translated to molecular circuits. It presents molecular implementations of mathematical functions that are considerably more complex than any shown to date. All designs are validated using mass-action simulations of the chemical kinetics of DNA strand displacement reactions.
In situ measurement of autophagy under nutrient starvation based on interfacial pH sensing
Authors: Sakata Toshiya , Saito Akiko , Sugimoto Haruyo
Published: May 2018

In this study, we report a novel method for the in situ measurement of autophagy under nutrient starvation using a principle of semiconductor technology. A semiconductor-based field-effect transistor (FET) biosensor enables the direct detection of ionic or molecular charges under biological conditions. In particular, cellular respiration accompanied by the generation of carbon dioxide can be continuously and directly monitored as a change in pH at a cell/sensor interface. When autophagy was induced in HeLa cells on a FET biosensor under nutrient starvation, the surface potential increased more significantly for about 15 h than that for nonstarved cells. This positive shift indicates an increase in the number of hydrogen ions produced from the respiration of starved cells because the sensing surface was previously designed to be sensitive to pH variation. Therefore, we have found that cellular respiration is more activated by autophagy under nutrient starvation because the amino acids that decomposed from proteins in autophagic cells would have been rapidly spent in cellular respiration.
A physical model of cell metabolism
Authors: Fernandez-de-Cossio-Diaz Jorge , Vazquez Alexei
Published: May 2018

Cell metabolism is characterized by three fundamental energy demands: to sustain cell maintenance, to trigger aerobic fermentation and to achieve maximum metabolic rate. The transition to aerobic fermentation and the maximum metabolic rate are currently understood based on enzymatic cost constraints. Yet, we are lacking a theory explaining the maintenance energy demand. Here we report a physical model of cell metabolism that explains the origin of these three energy scales. Our key hypothesis is that the maintenance energy demand is rooted on the energy expended by molecular motors to fluidize the cytoplasm and counteract molecular crowding. Using this model and independent parameter estimates we make predictions for the three energy scales that are in quantitative agreement with experimental values. The model also recapitulates the dependencies of cell growth with extracellular osmolarity and temperature. This theory brings together biophysics and cell biology in a tractable model that can be applied to understand key principles of cell metabolism.
Terahertz wave modulation enhanced by laser processed PVA film on Si substrate
Authors: Liu Weimin , Fan Fei , Xu Shitong , Chen Meng , Wang Xianghui , Chang Shengjiang
Published: May 2018

An optically pumped ultrasensitive broadband terahertz (THz) wave modulator based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film on Si wafer was demonstrated in this work. The THz time domain spectroscopy experiments confirm that the PVA/Si can drastically enhance the photo-induced THz wave modulation on the Si surface, especially when the PVA film is heated by a high-power laser. A modulation depth of 72% can be achieved only under 0.55 W/cm2 modulated laser power, which is superior significantly to the bare Si. The numerical simulations indicate that the laser processed PVA (LP-PVA) film increases the photo-generated carrier concentration on the Si surface in two orders of magnitude higher than that of bare Si. Moreover, the modulation mechanism and the dynamic process of laser heating on the PVA/Si have been discussed. This highly efficient THz modulation mechanism and its simple fabrication method have great application potentials in THz modulators.
Mammalian Solute Carrier (SLC)-like transporters of Legionella pneumophila
Authors: Best Ashley , Jones Snake , Abu Kwaik Yousef
Published: May 2018

Acquisition of nutrients during intra-vacuolar growth of L. pneumophila within macrophages or amoebae is poorly understood. Since many genes of L. pneumophila are acquired by inter-kingdom horizontal gene transfer from eukaryotic hosts, we examined the presence of human solute carrier (SLC)-like transporters in the L. pneumophila genome using I-TASSER to assess structural alignments. We identified 11 SLC-like putative transporters in L. pneumophila that are structurally similar to SLCs, eight of which are amino acid transporters, and one is a tricarboxylate transporter. The two other transporters, LstA and LstB, are structurally similar to the human glucose transporter, SLC2a1/Glut1. Single mutants of lstA or lstB have decreased ability to import, while the lstA/lstB double mutant is severely defective for uptake of glucose. While lstA or lstB single mutants are not defective in intracellular proliferation within Acanthamoeba polyphaga and human monocyte-derived macrophages, the lstA/lstB double mutant is severely defective in both host cells. The two phenotypic defects of the lstA/lstB double mutant in uptake of glucose and intracellular replication are both restored upon complementation of either lstA or lstB. Our data show that the two glucose transporters, LstA and LstB, are redundant and are required for intracellular replication within human macrophages and amoebae.
High-field modulated ion-selective field-effect-transistor (FET) sensors with sensitivity higher than the ideal Nernst sensitivity
Authors: Chen Yi-Ting , Sarangadharan Indu , Sukesan Revathi , Hseih Ching-Yen , Lee Geng-Yen , Chyi Jen-Inn , Wang Yu-Lin
Published: May 2018

Lead ion selective membrane (Pb-ISM) coated AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMT) was used to demonstrate a whole new methodology for ion-selective FET sensors, which can create ultra-high sensitivity (−36 mV/log [Pb2+]) surpassing the limit of ideal sensitivity (−29.58 mV/log [Pb2+]) in a typical Nernst equation for lead ion. The largely improved sensitivity has tremendously reduced the detection limit (10−10 M) for several orders of magnitude of lead ion concentration compared to typical ion-selective electrode (ISE) (10−7 M). The high sensitivity was obtained by creating a strong filed between the gate electrode and the HEMT channel. Systematical investigation was done by measuring different design of the sensor and gate bias, indicating ultra-high sensitivity and ultra-low detection limit obtained only in sufficiently strong field. Theoretical study in the sensitivity consistently agrees with the experimental finding and predicts the maximum and minimum sensitivity. The detection limit of our sensor is comparable to that of Inductively-Coupled-Plasma Mass Spectrum (ICP-MS), which also has detection limit near 10−10 M.
Transient antibody-antigen interactions mediate the strain-specific recognition of a conserved malaria epitope
Authors: Krishnarjuna Bankala , Sugiki Toshihiko , Morales Rodrigo A. V. , Seow Jeffrey , Fujiwara Toshimichi , Wilde Karyn L. , Norton Raymond S. , MacRaild Christopher A.
Published: May 2018

Transient interactions in which binding partners retain substantial conformational disorder play an essential role in regulating biological networks, challenging the expectation that specificity demands structurally defined and unambiguous molecular interactions. The monoclonal antibody 6D8 recognises a completely conserved continuous nine-residue epitope within the intrinsically disordered malaria antigen, MSP2, yet it has different affinities for the two allelic forms of this antigen. NMR chemical shift perturbations, relaxation rates and paramagnetic relaxation enhancements reveal the presence of transient interactions involving polymorphic residues immediately C-terminal to the structurally defined epitope. A combination of these experimental data with molecular dynamics simulations shows clearly that the polymorphic C-terminal extension engages in multiple transient interactions distributed across much of the accessible antibody surface. These interactions are determined more by topographical features of the antibody surface than by sequence-specific interactions. Thus, specificity arises as a consequence of subtle differences in what are highly dynamic and essentially non-specific interactions.
Advancements in microfluidic technologies for isolation and early detection of circulating cancer-related biomarkers
Authors: Rana Ankit , Zhang Yuqian , Esfandiari Leyla
Published: May 2018

Isolation of circulating biomarkers using microfluidic devices for cancer diagnosis.
Tuning the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction in Pt/Co/MgO heterostructures through the MgO thickness
Authors: Cao Anni , Zhang Xueying , Koopmans Bert , Peng Shouzhong , Zhang Yu , Wang Zilu , Yan Shaohua , Yang Hongxin , Zhao Weisheng
Published: May 2018

The DMI in Pt/Co/MgO heterostructures could be tuned as high as 2.32 mJ m−2 through the MgO thickness.
Enhancement of CO2 binding and mechanical properties upon diamine functionalization of M2(dobpdc) metal–organic frameworks
Authors: Lee Jung-Hoon , Siegelman Rebecca L. , Maserati Lorenzo , Rangel Tonatiuh , Helms Brett A. , Long Jeffrey R. , Neaton Jeffrey B.
Published: May 2018

We predict that the orientationally-averaged Young's modulus of mmen–Zn2(dobpdc) increases by 112% compared to Zn2(dobpdc), a remarkable increase.
A blood-serum sulfide selective electrochemical sensor based on a 9,10-phenanthrenequinone-tethered graphene oxide modified electrode
Authors: Shalini Devi K. S. , Senthil Kumar Annamalai
Published: May 2018

The sulfide ion in human blood serum was selectively detected by a new electrochemical redox technique.
Multi-waveform fast-scan cyclic voltammetry mapping of adsorption/desorption kinetics of biogenic amines and their metabolites
Authors: Kim Do Hyoung , Oh Yoonbae , Shin Hojin , Park Cheonho , Blaha Charles D. , Bennet Kevin E. , Kim In Young , Lee Kendall H. , Jang Dong Pyo
Published: May 2018

A novel multi-waveform FSCV (M-FSCV) developed for characterizing adsorption/desorption kinetics of neurotransmitters.
A label-free ultrasensitive and selective strategy for Pb(ii) assay by a multifunctional DNA probe-mediated rolling-circle amplified synthesis of the G-quadruplexes
Authors: Wang Xiao-Feng , Wang Yong-Sheng , Xiao Xi-Lin , Lan Wen-Bo , Zhou Bin , Chen Si-Han , Xue Jin-Hua
Published: May 2018

The cleavage of the S-DNA in a MDP by Pb(ii) can release an E-DNA, which initiates a RCA reaction with a padlock DNA template. The formed G-quadruplex could specifically bind to NMM to result in an amplified fluorescence signal.
Understanding the effect of alkyl chains of gemini cations on the physicochemical and cellular properties of polyurethane micelles
Authors: Pan Zhicheng , Fang Danxuan , Song Yuanqing , Song Nijia , Ding Mingming , Li Jiehua , Luo Feng , Li Jianshu , Tan Hong , Fu Qiang
Published: May 2018

The alteration of the gemini alkyl chain length could affect the surface charge exposure, stability, and the protein absorption properties of nanocarriers.
Towards an atomistic understanding of disordered carbon electrode materials
Authors: Deringer Volker L. , Merlet Céline , Hu Yuchen , Lee Tae Hoon , Kattirtzi John A. , Pecher Oliver , Csányi Gábor , Elliott Stephen R. , Grey Clare P.
Published: May 2018

Machine-learning and DFT modelling, linked to experimental knowledge, yield new insight into the structures and reactivity of carbonaceous energy materials.
Oligoalanine helical callipers for cell penetration
Authors: Pazo Marta , Juanes Marisa , Lostalé-Seijo Irene , Montenegro Javier
Published: May 2018

Even for short peptides that are enriched in basic amino acids, the large chemical space that can be spanned by combinations of natural amino acids hinders the rational design of cell penetrating peptides.
Improving metabolome coverage and data quality: advancing metabolomics and lipidomics for biomarker discovery
Authors: Vuckovic Dajana
Published: May 2018

Separation and analytical sciences can help to advance metabolomics by improving metabolite coverage, accuracy of quantitation and data quality.
Describing inorganic nanoparticles in the context of surface reactivity and catalysis
Authors: Carenco S.
Published: May 2018

Surface and core of inorganic nanoparticles may undergo profound transformations in their environment of use. Accurate description is key to understand and control surface reactivity.
Transition-metal-free insertion reactions of alkynes into the C–N σ-bonds of imides: synthesis of substituted enamides or chromones
Authors: Zheng Zhong , Wang Ye , Xu Murong , Kong Lingkai , Wang Mengdan , Li Yanzhong
Published: May 2018

Transition-metal-free insertion of ynones into the C–N σ-bonds of imides for the chemo-selective synthesis of chromones or enamides.
Cp*Ir(iii)-catalyzed C–H/N–H functionalization of sulfoximines for the synthesis of 1,2-benzothiazines at room temperature
Authors: Aher Yogesh N. , Lade Dhanaji M. , Pawar Amit B.
Published: May 2018

The first Cp*Ir(iii)-catalyzed C–H/N–H bond functionalization of sulfoximines with α-diazocarbonyl compounds has been developed for the synthesis of 1,2-benzothiazines under redox-neutral conditions at room temperature.
Tunable photo-luminescence behaviors of macrocycle-containing polymer networks in the solid-state
Authors: Zhao Qian , Liu Yu
Published: May 2018

Two porous polymers were synthesized from tetraphenylethylene (TPE) crosslinked β-cyclodextrins (β-CD) and sulfonatocalix[4]arene (SC4A).
Effects of carbon-based impurities on graphene growth
Authors: Ge Xiaoming , Zhang Yanhui , Chen Zhiying , Liang Yijian , Hu Shike , Sui Yanping , Yu Guanghui , Peng Songang , Jin Zhi , Liu Xinyu
Published: May 2018

The effects of carbon-based impurities on the nucleation and growth of graphene are clarified.
CsPbBr3 and CH3NH3PbBr3 promote visible-light photo-reactivity
Authors: Harisingh Shankar , Ramakrishnan Sujith , Kulbak Michael , Levine Igal , Cahen David , Cohen Bat-El , Etgar Lioz , Asscher Micha
Published: May 2018

Inorganic and organic lead halide perovskite materials attract great interest in the scientific community because of their potential for low-cost, high efficiency solar cells.
Multiphoton-gated cycloreversion reaction of a fluorescent diarylethene derivative as revealed by transient absorption spectroscopy
Authors: Nagasaka Tatsuhiro , Kunishi Tomohiro , Sotome Hikaru , Koga Masafumi , Morimoto Masakazu , Irie Masahiro , Miyasaka Hiroshi
Published: May 2018

We report that the cycloreversion quantum reaction yield of a fluorescent diarylethene derivative is enhanced by a factor of >1800.
Graphene-wrapped CoNi-layered double hydroxide microspheres as a new anode material for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Shi Liluo , Chen Yaxin , He Renyue , Chen Xiaohong , Song Huaihe
Published: May 2018

A high-performance and easily prepared graphene-wrapped CoNi-layered double hydroxide microsphere electrode material for the lithium ion battery.
Single entity electrocatalysis: oxygen reduction mediated via methyl viologen doped Nafion nanoparticles
Authors: Chen Lifu , Lin Chuhong , Compton Richard G.
Published: May 2018

Nafion nanoparticles doped with methyl viologen are shown to be electrocatalytic towards oxygen reduction in aqueous solution
Enhanced sulfurization reaction of molybdenum using a thermal cracker for forming two-dimensional MoS2 layers
Authors: Cho Dae-Hyung , Lee Woo-Jung , Wi Jae-Hyung , Han Won Seok , Yun Sun Jin , Shin Byungha , Chung Yong-Duck
Published: May 2018

We propose a method to fabricate two-dimensional (2D) molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) layers to overcome issues in typical fabrication processes by promoting the sulfurization reaction of molybdenum (Mo).
Plasmonic gold nanoparticle-decorated BiVO4/ZnO nanowire heterostructure photoanodes for efficient water oxidation
Authors: Kim Seungkyu , Yu Yejong , Jeong Sang Yun , Lee Mi Gyoung , Jeong Hye Won , Kwon Yeong Min , Baik Jeong Min , Park Hyunwoong , Jang Ho Won , Lee Sanghan
Published: May 2018

To enhance the charge separation and kinetics of water oxidation using a BiVO4 photoanode, a BiVO4/ZnO nanowire heterostructure decorated with gold (Au) nanoparticles is fabricated as a photoanode for photoelectrochemical water splitting.
Complete on/off responsive ParaCEST MRI contrast agents for copper and zinc
Authors: Srivastava K. , Ferrauto G. , Harris S. M. , Longo D. L. , Botta M. , Aime S. , Pierre V. C.
Published: May 2018

Two thulium-based paraCEST contrast agents enable detection and imaging of copper and zinc by MRI with a complete on/off response.
Multi-omics approaches confirm metal ions mediate the main toxicological pathways of metal-bearing nanoparticles in lung epithelial A549 cells
Authors: Dekkers Susan , Williams Tim D. , Zhang Jinkang , Zhou Jiarui (Albert) , Vandebriel Rob J. , De La Fonteyne Liset J. J. , Gremmer Eric R. , He Shan , Guggenheim Emily J. , Lynch Iseult , Cassee Flemming R. , De Jong Wim H. , Viant Mark R.
Published: May 2018

Our analyses confirm that the dissolution of metal ions mediates the main toxicological pathways of silver and zinc oxide nanoparticles.
Large amplitude motions within molecules trapped in solid parahydrogen
Authors: Gutiérrez-Quintanilla Alejandro , Chevalier Michèle , Ceponkus Justinas , Lozada-García Rolando R. , Mestdagh Jean-Michel , Crépin Claudine
Published: May 2018

Large amplitude motions involving hydrogen tunnelling can be preserved in molecules trapped in parahydrogen matrices, and observed through band splitting or under certain conditions by a temporal evolution of the spectra.
Effects of symmetry breaking on the translation–rotation eigenstates of H2, HF, and H2O inside the fullerene C60
Authors: Bačić Zlatko , Vlček Vojtěch , Neuhauser Daniel , Felker Peter M.
Published: May 2018

Effects of symmetry breaking on the translation–rotation eigenstates of M@C60 (M = H2, HF, H2O) are visible in the infrared spectra of endofullerenes.
Melissa officinalisL. ethanolic extract inhibits the growth of a lung cancer cell line by interfering with the cell cycle and inducing apoptosis
Authors: Magalhães D. B. , Castro I. , Lopes-Rodrigues V. , Pereira J. M. , Barros L. , Ferreira I. C. F. R. , Xavier C. P. R. , Vasconcelos M. H.
Published: May 2018

Melissa officinalisis a plant from the family Lamiaceae, native in Europe particularly in the Mediterranean region.
Mouse-to-mouse variation in maturation heterogeneity of smooth muscle cells
Authors: Rosàs-Canyelles Elisabet , Dai Tiffany , Li Song , Herr Amy E.
Published: May 2018

Immunoblotting cytometry identifies variation in maturation stage of healthy smooth muscle cells, suggesting an important role of cell-to-cell heterogeneity in vascular remodeling.
The effect of σ/π, σ and π donors on the basicity of silylene superbases: a density functional theory study
Authors: Biswas Abul Kalam , Si Mrinal Kanti , Ganguly Bishwajit
Published: May 2018

In this study, we examined computationally that the combination of π-and σ-donor substituents results in higher basicity of silylene compounds compared to the usage of π-donor substituents alone.
Development of a stability-indicating UPLC method for terconazole and characterization of the acidic and oxidative degradation products by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS/MS and NMR
Authors: Chavan Balasaheb B. , Prasanna G. Lakshmi , Radhakrishnanand P. , Kosuri Eswara Raju , Kalariya Pradipbhai D. , Talluri M. V. N. Kumar
Published: May 2018

Terconazole, a triazole antifungal drug, is used to treat infections in the form of a cream or suppositories.
Heterogeneous microwave-assisted Ullmann type methodology for synthesis of rigid-core ionic liquid crystals
Authors: Fouchet Julien , Heinrich Benoît , L’Her Matthieu , Voirin Emilie , Karmazin Lydia , Bailly Corinne , Welter Richard , Mirjafari Arsalan , Douce Laurent
Published: May 2018

We present an efficient Ullmann-type synthesis methodology enabling the preparation of imidazolium compounds with an extended aromatic core in three steps.
DNA-templated silver nanoclusters locate microRNAs in the nuclei of gastric cancer cells
Authors: Zhang Jingpu , Liu Yanlei , Zhi Xiao , Zhang Chunlei , Liu Tie Fu , Cui Daxiang
Published: May 2018

We present a facile method to visualize miRNAs at the subcellular level, benefiting the precise localization of miRNAs in single cells.
Backbone conformation affects duplex initiation and duplex propagation in hybridisation of synthetic H-bonding oligomers
Authors: Iadevaia Giulia , Núñez-Villanueva Diego , Stross Alexander E. , Hunter Christopher A.
Published: May 2018

Forming the first intramolecular H-bond is straightforward, but forming subsequent intramolecular interactions is difficult, because the backbone imposes more severe constraints.
Synthesis of block copolymers using end-functionalized polyacetylenes as macroinitiators
Authors: Shiotsuki Masashi , Takahashi Kei , Rodriguez Castanon Jesus , Sanda Fumio
Published: May 2018

A block copolymer consisting of helically twisted polyacetylene and α-helical peptide was successfully synthesized for the first time.
Closer to the polydopamine structure: new insights from a combined 13C/1H/2H solid-state NMR study on deuterated samples
Authors: Cîrcu Monica , Filip Claudiu
Published: May 2018

13C/1H/2H ss-NMR on deuterated samples provide strong experimental evidence for the most probable monomer connectivity, π–π stacking, and the water dynamics in polydopamine.
Adsorption behavior and structure transformation of mesoporous metal–organic frameworks towards arsenates and organic pollutants in aqueous solution
Authors: Cai Jianhua , Mao Xuhui , Song Wei-Guo
Published: May 2018

Highly porous, water stable metal–organic frameworks, MIL-100(Fe,Al), were investigated for the adsorptive removal of arsenates.
Amplification of surface-enhanced Raman scattering by the oxidation of capping agents on gold nanoparticles
Authors: Gorbachevskii M. V. , Kopitsyn D. S. , Kotelev M. S. , Ivanov E. V. , Vinokurov V. A. , Novikov A. A.
Published: May 2018

The intensity of a surface-enhanced Raman scattering signal can be amplified by the peroxide-induced oxidation of citrate capping agents on gold nanoparticles.
The three-dimensional ordered macroporous structure of the Pt/TiO2–ZrO2 composite enhanced its photocatalytic performance for the photodegradation and photolysis of water
Authors: An Mingze , Li Li , Tian Yu , Yu Hualiang , Zhou Qianlong
Published: May 2018

Using polystyrene spheres as templates, 3DOM Pt/TiO2–ZrO2 composites were prepared by the vacuum impregnation combined with photoreduction method, which exhibited an enhanced photodegradation and water splitting performance.
Geniposide attenuates Aβ25–35-induced neurotoxicity via the TLR4/NF-κB pathway in HT22 cells
Authors: Huang Xiu-Fang , Li Jian-Jun , Tao Yan-Gu , Wang Xie-Qi , Zhang Ru-Lan , Zhang Jia-Lin , Su Zu-Qing , Huang Qi-Hui , Deng Yuan-Hui
Published: May 2018

Alzheimer's disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disorder, is marked by the accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) and neuroinflammation which promote the development of AD.
Binding studies between cytosinpeptidemycin and the superfamily 1 helicase protein of tobacco mosaic virus
Authors: Li Xiangyang , Chen Kai , Gao Di , Wang Dongmei , Huang Maoxi , Zhu Hengmin , Kang Jinxin
Published: May 2018

Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) helicases play important roles in viral multiplication and interactions with host organisms.
Modulating the magnetic properties of MoS2 monolayers by group VIII doping and vacancy engineering
Authors: Jia Cuifang , Zhou Bo , Song Qi , Zhang Xiaodong , Jiang Zhenyi
Published: May 2018

In this work, the density functional theory study shows that the magnetic properties of MoS2 monolayer can be tuned by the distribution of group VIII atom and S vacancy, in which the dopant is incorporated via Mo subsitution.
Electrochemistry and microbiology of microbial fuel cells treating marine sediments polluted with heavy metals
Authors: Abbas Syed Zaghum , Rafatullah Mohd , Ismail Norli , Shakoori Farah R.
Published: May 2018

Novel laboratory-designed aerated and non-aerated sediment microbial fuel cell (SMFC) models were constructed for power generation and heavy metal bioremediation.
Compound F779-0434 causes synthetic lethality in BRCA2-deficient cancer cells by disrupting RAD52–ssDNA association
Authors: Li Jian , Yang Qianye , Zhang Yang , Huang Kejia , Sun Rong , Zhao Qi
Published: May 2018

A novel compound named F779-0434 caused synthetic lethality in BRCA2-deficient cancer cells by disrupting RAD52–ssDNA associations.
Fabrication of two dual-functionalized covalent organic polymers through heterostructural mixed linkers and their use as cationic dye adsorbents
Authors: Dong Jun , Xu Feifan , Dong Zhaojun , Zhao Yongsheng , Yan Yan , Jin Hua , Li Yangxue
Published: May 2018

Two dual-functionalized covalent organic polymers are synthesized from heterostructural mixed linkers by Schiff base condensation. Due partly to their porosity and π-conjugated phenyl rings these remove organic pollutants from waste water effectively.
Decontamination of radioactive cesium ions using ordered mesoporous monetite
Authors: Tag El-Din Ali F. , Elshehy Emad A. , Abd El-Magied Mahmoud O. , Atia Asem A. , El-Khouly Mohamed E.
Published: May 2018

This study involves the identification of environmentally friendly, low-cost and efficient nanostructured mesoporous monetite plate like mineral as an adsorbent for removal of cesium from aqueous solutions.
Diaryl ethers synthesis: nano-catalysts in carbon-oxygen cross-coupling reactions
Authors: Nejati Kamellia , Ahmadi Sheida , Nikpassand Mohammad , Kheirollahi Nezhad Parvaneh Delir , Vessally Esmail
Published: May 2018

Diaryl ethers are found in natural products and synthetic drugs as well as in many pesticides and polymers.
Self-organization of porous anodic alumina films studied in situ by grazing-incidence transmission small-angle X-ray scattering
Authors: Evertsson Jonas , Vinogradov Nikolay A. , Harlow Gary S. , Carlà Francesco , McKibbin Sarah R. , Rullik Lisa , Linpé Weronica , Felici Roberto , Lundgren Edvin
Published: May 2018

Growth of porous anodic alumina films studied in situ under electrochemical anodization conditions by grazing-incidence transmission small-angle X-ray scattering.
Efficient ORR electrocatalytic activity of peanut shell-based graphitic carbon microstructures
Authors: Wu Yanling , Chen Yanli , Wang Huiqiu , Wang Chiming , Wang Ansheng , Zhao Shuai , Li Xiyou , Sun Daofeng , Jiang Jianzhuang
Published: May 2018

Dual-doped graphitic carbon CoOP@bio-C with hierarchical microporous structures was prepared from a sustainable waste biomass, peanut shell, with CO2 gas as the activating agent through a thermal-reduction method. The resulting material displays an overall superior electrocatalytic activity for the ORR to commercial Pt/C.
Two-dimensional phosphorus carbide as a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Zhang Wei , Yin Jiuren , Zhang Ping , Tang Xianqiong , Ding Yanhuai
Published: May 2018

Monolayer two-dimensional phosphorus carbide (γ-PC) has been intensively studied as a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries with first-principles calculations.
Length vs. stiffness: which plays a dominant role in the cellular uptake of fructose-based rod-like micelles by breast cancer cells in 2D and 3D cell culture models?
Authors: Zhao Jiacheng , Lu Hongxu , Yao Yin , Ganda Sylvia , Stenzel Martina H.
Published: May 2018

Internalization of rod-like micelles by breast cancer cells is significantly affected by the stiffness of nano-rods.
Highly photoluminescent, dense solid films from organic-capped CH3NH3PbBr3 perovskite colloids
Authors: González-Carrero Soranyel , Martínez-Sarti Laura , Sessolo Michele , Galian Raquel E. , Pérez-Prieto Julia
Published: May 2018

The preparation of densely-packed films from hybrid lead halide perovskite nanocrystals is not trivial. We demonstrate that nanoparticle solid films with thicknesses of hundreds of nanometres can retain high photoluminescence and still sustain charge transport.
Cellular responses of hyaluronic acid-coated chitosan nanoparticles
Authors: Almalik Abdulaziz , Alradwan Ibrahim , Majrashi Majed A. , Alsaffar Bashayer A. , Algarni Abdulmalek T. , Alsuabeyl Mohammed S. , Alrabiah Haitham , Tirelli Nicola , Alhasan Ali H.
Published: May 2018

In recent years, nanotechnology has been proven to offer promising biomedical applications for in vivo diagnostics and drug delivery, stressing the importance of thoroughly investigating the biocompatibility of potentially translatable nanoparticles (NPs).
Swallowing Kinematic Differences Across Frozen, Mixed, and Ultrathin Liquid Boluses in Healthy Adults: Age, Sex, and Normal Variability
Authors: Humbert Ianessa A. , Sunday Kirstyn L. , Karagiorgos Eleni , Vose Alicia K. , Gould Francois , Greene Lindsey , Azola Alba , Tolar Ara , Rivet Alycia
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of frozen and mixed-consistency boluses on the swallowing physiology of younger and older adults. We also aimed to quantify factors that lead to increased variability in swallowing outcomes (i.e., age, sex, bolus type).

Method

Forty-one healthy adults (18–85 years old) swallowed 5 blocks of 5 different boluses: 10-ml ultrathin liquid, a teaspoon of iced barium, a teaspoon of room-temperature pudding, a teaspoon of frozen pudding, and ultrathin barium with chocolate chips. All data were recorded with videofluoroscopy and underwent detailed timing kinematic measurements.

Results

Neither barium ice nor frozen pudding sped up swallow responses. Many healthy adults initiated swallowing with the bolus as deep as the pyriform sinuses. Swallowing temporal kinematics for ultrathin liquid consistencies are most different from all others tested, requiring the best possible physiological swallowing performance in younger and older healthy individuals (i.e., faster reaction times, longer durations) compared with other bolus types tested. In each measure, older adults had significantly longer durations compared with the younger adults. More variability in swallowing kinematics were seen with age and laryngeal vestibule kinematics.

Conclusion

This study provides important contributions to the literature by clarifying normal variability within a wide range of swallowing behaviors and by providing normative data from which to compare disordered populations.
Transitional behaviour between biphasic lubrication and soft elastohydrodynamic lubrication of poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel using microelectromechanical system pressure sensor
Authors: Sakai Nobuo , Yarimitsu Seido , Sawae Yoshinori , Komori Mochimitsu , Murakami Teruo
Published: May 2018

The soft hydrogel material is expected for a candidate material as biomimetic artificial cartilage with synergistic functionalities of adaptive multimode lubrication. In boundary lubrication mode of hydrogel material, the biphasic lubrication mechanism cooperatively exerts its functionality. In hydrodynamic lubrication mode, it is preferable that the lubricating surfaces be impermeable to trap the fluid pressure in contact surfaces, whereas the actual biphasic material like a hydrogel is a permeable material with surface porosity. It is indicated that the interstitial fluid pressurisation in the permeable biphasic material can contribute to significant fluid load support under lower sliding speed condition. So, the authors examined how the contrary fluid pressure effect appears in the transition from the boundary lubrication mode to soft elastohydrodynamic lubrication mode. In the experiment, a small pressure sensor was utilised to measure the in‐situ fluid pressure in sliding condition. Although the experimental condition of this study was selective, the result showed a possibility of the negative effect of the biphasic surface, in which the permeable surface diminished the hydrodynamic fluid pressure. This means that one should manage and enhance the biphasic lubrication abilities in wide operation range when the hydrogel material was used as a load bearing material.
Viscoelasticity and shear‐thinning effects on bio‐polymer solution and suspended particle behaviours under oscillatory curve Couette flow conditions
Authors: Safari Alaleh , Emami Nazanin , Cervantes Michel Jose
Published: May 2018

Formation of wear particles within total hip replacement is one of the main causes of its failure. In addition to improving the lubrication and wear resistance of materials used as bearing surfaces, understanding of wear particle distribution patterns within lubricants inside an implant gap could be used to improve design parameters and implants’ lifespan. In this study, the behaviours of biolubricants (with compositions similar to human joint synovial fluid) and suspended particles were investigated by micro‐particle image velocimetry in curved mini channels under oscillatory Couette flow conditions. The studied biolubricants had shear‐thinning viscoelastic characteristics. The authors found that increasing shear‐thinning, elasticity or motion frequency levels did not affect the trend behaviours of biolubricant flows due to the low strain values of the experimental conditions applied. However, suspended particles formed strings along flow directions and exhibited cross‐stream migration to channel walls. Motion frequency, fluid shear thinning and elasticity characteristics and channel dimensions strongly affected particle behaviours.
Paralleled GaN DHEMTs integrated cascode GaN switch for high‐current applications
Authors: Zhu Tianhua , Zhuo Fang
Published: May 2018

A high‐current cascode gallium nitride (GaN) switch integrating a silicon‐MOSFET (Si‐MOSFET) and paralleled GaN depletion‐mode high‐electron‐mobility transistors (DHEMT) is presented. The proposed switch can withstand twice or more the current than existing cascode GaN transistors by using only one Si‐MOSFET and requiring a single gate driver, which evidently augments the power density, improves the system efficiency and reduces the cost. The causes and treatments of potential unbalanced current sharing among the paralleled GaN DHEMTs are further discussed and an optimised symmetric configuration and wire bonding of integral package are proposed. An effective solution is also introduced for avoiding an Si‐MOSFET avalanche. The validity of proposed cascode GaN switch in the optimised package and the effectiveness of avalanche‐suppressed method are both verified by simulations.
Beam squint compensation for hybrid precoding in millimetre‐wave communication systems
Authors: Li Guobing , Zhao Huailong , Hui Hui
Published: May 2018

In this letter, the authors report a beam squint compensation method for hybrid precoding in millimetre‐wave communication systems. With the objective to maximise the spectral efficiency, they formulate the hybrid precoding problem considering the beam‐squinting analogue precoder and reveal its performance loss compared with the ideal identical analogue precoder. They also design a simple but effective compensation matrix for hybrid precoding to reduce the impact of beam squint. Simulation results confirm the performance loss caused by beam squint and reveal the performance gain of the proposed method.
Optimal location of PEVCSs using MAS and ER approach
Authors: Jiang Changxu , Jing Zhaoxia , Ji Tianyao , Wu Qinghua
Published: May 2018

The location of public electric vehicle charging stations (PEVCSs) has a great influence on the operational efficiency of charging stations, charging behaviours of EVs and the power quality of grids. To optimise the PEVCS locations for plug‐in electric taxis (PETs), this study proposes to utilise the multi‐agent system (MAS) and evidential reasoning (ER) approach. First, an MAS simulation framework for PET operation is proposed to dynamically simulate the PETs’ daily operation and estimate the charging demands of PETs, where a variety of agents are built to simulate not only the operation related players but also the operational environments. To accelerate the convergence rate and provide better operational strategies for PETs, a multi‐step learning is developed to make decisions for PET agents whether to find passengers or to charge under various situations. Moreover, a multi‐objective model for optimising the location of PEVCSs is developed considering the benefits of PETs and the power grid. Finally, an ER approach is applied to determine the final optimal siting considering the uncertainties of the assessor's cognition. Simulation results have demonstrated that the proposed MAS simulation framework and ER approach can effectively optimise the PEVCS locations.