bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rottlerin-mediated inhibition of Toxoplasma gondii growth in BeWo trophoblast-like cells
Authors: Ietta Francesca , Maioli Emanuela , Daveri Elena , Gonzaga Oliveira Juliana , da Silva Rafaela José , Romagnoli Roberta , Cresti Laura , Maria Avanzati Anna , Paulesu Luana , Barbosa Bellisa de Freitas , Gomes Angelica de Oliveira , Roberto Mineo José , Ferro Eloisa Amália Vieira
Published: April 2017

Autophagy is a crucial and physiological process for cell survival from yeast to mammals, including protozoan parasites. Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular parasite, typically exploits autophagic machinery of host cell; however host cell upregulates autophagy to combat the infection. Herein we tested the efficacy of Rottlerin, a natural polyphenol with autophagic promoting properties, against Toxoplasma infection on the chorioncarcinoma-derived cell line BeWo. We found that Rottlerin, at sub-toxic doses, induced morphological and biochemical alterations associated with autophagy and decreased Toxoplasma growth in infected cells. Although autophagy was synergically promoted by Toxoplasma infection in combination with Rottlerin treatment, the use of the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine revealed that Rottlerin anti-parasitic effect was largely autophagy-independent and likely mediated by the converging inhibitory effect of Rottlerin and Toxoplasma in host protein translation, mediated by mTOR inhibition and eIF2α phosphorylation. Both events, which on one hand could explain the additive effect on autophagy induction, on the other hand led to inhibition of protein synthesis, thereby depriving Toxoplasma of metabolically essential components for multiplication. We suggest that modulation of the competition between pathogen requirement and host cell defense might be an attractive, novel therapeutic approach against Toxoplasma infection and encourage the development of Rottlerin-based new therapeutic formulations.
Bio-Engineered Graphene-Based Cage for Efficient Local Enrichment and Biodegradation of Aqueous Organic Wastes
Authors: Fan Jixiang , Chen Dongyun , Li Najun , Xu Qingfeng , Li Hua , He Jinghui , Lu Jianmei
Published: April 2017

Microorganism immobilization has attracted great attention as a traditional method to overcome aqueous organic wastes containing N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF). In this approach, graphene oxide was modified with functional polymer firstly to obtain micro-composites material (PGO), and then the prepared composites were deposited on the surface of copper mesh (CM) to block the meshes and CM@PGO was achieved. Moreover, cage-shaped model was designed based on CM@PGO and P. denitrificans was packed inside the cage for batch experiments. This strategy could enrich the local concentration of DMF due to the formation of hydrogen bonds with the oxygen-containing groups from PGO and the character of bacteria in captivity could also contribute to the process of degradation. Results showed that the approach could remove DMF more efficiently about 15% compared with free microorganism and presented excellent cycling performance. Meantime, physical adsorption and chemical adsorption were both contributed to the process of PGO adsorption, and the adsorption isotherm fits Langmuir model well, furthermore, the theoretical maximum of adsorption ability calculated through Langmuir model is 95 mg/g. In other words, this cage-shaped CM@PGO provided a facile platform for treating various wastewaters by altering the species of packed microorganisms, which exhibited considerable prospects for wastewater treatment.
Label-free isolation of prostate circulating tumor cells using Vortex microfluidic technology
Authors: Renier Corinne , Pao Edward , Che James , Liu Haiyan E. , Lemaire Clementine A. , Matsumoto Melissa , Triboulet Melanie , Srivinas Sandy , Jeffrey Stefanie S. , Rettig Matthew , Kulkarni Rajan P. , Di Carlo Dino , Sollier-Christen Elodie
Published: April 2017

There has been increased interest in utilizing non-invasive “liquid biopsies” to identify biomarkers for cancer prognosis and monitoring, and to isolate genetic material that can predict response to targeted therapies. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have emerged as such a biomarker providing both genetic and phenotypic information about tumor evolution, potentially from both primary and metastatic sites. Currently, available CTC isolation approaches, including immunoaffinity and size-based filtration, have focused on high capture efficiency but with lower purity and often long and manual sample preparation, which limits the use of captured CTCs for downstream analyses. Here, we describe the use of the microfluidic Vortex Chip for size-based isolation of CTCs from 22 patients with advanced prostate cancer and, from an enumeration study on 18 of these patients, find that we can capture CTCs with high purity (from 1.74 to 37.59%) and efficiency (from 1.88 to 93.75 CTCs/7.5 mL) in less than 1 h. Interestingly, more atypical large circulating cells were identified in five age-matched healthy donors (46–77 years old; 1.25–2.50 CTCs/7.5 mL) than in five healthy donors <30 years old (21–27 years old; 0.00 CTC/7.5 mL). Using a threshold calculated from the five age-matched healthy donors (3.37 CTCs/mL), we identified CTCs in 80% of the prostate cancer patients. We also found that a fraction of the cells collected (11.5%) did not express epithelial prostate markers (cytokeratin and/or prostate-specific antigen) and that some instead expressed markers of epithelial–mesenchymal transition, i.e., vimentin and N-cadherin. We also show that the purity and DNA yield of isolated cells is amenable to targeted amplification and next-generation sequencing, without whole genome amplification, identifying unique mutations in 10 of 15 samples and 0 of 4 healthy samples.
Oxoaporphine Metal Complexes (CoII, NiII, ZnII) with High Antitumor Activity by Inducing Mitochondria-Mediated Apoptosis and S-phase Arrest in HepG2
Authors: Qin Jiao-Lan , Shen Wen-Ying , Chen Zhen-Feng , Zhao Li-Fang , Qin Qi-Pin , Yu Yan-Cheng , Liang Hong
Published: April 2017

Three new oxoaporphine Co(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) complexes 1–3 have been synthesized and fully characterized. 1–3 have similar mononuclear structures with the metal and ligand ratio of 1:2. 1–3 exhibited higher cytotoxicity than the OD ligand and cisplatin against HepG2, T-24, BEL-7404, MGC80–3 and SK-OV-3/DDP cells, with IC50 value of 0.23−4.31 μM. Interestingly, 0.5 μM 1–3 significantly caused HepG2 arrest at S-phase, which was associated with the up-regulation of p53, p21, p27, Chk1 and Chk2 proteins, and decrease in cyclin A, CDK2, Cdc25A, PCNA proteins. In addition, 1–3 induced HepG2 apoptosis via a caspase-dependent mitochondrion pathway as evidenced by p53 activation, ROS production, Bax up-regulation and Bcl-2 down-regulation, mitochondrial dysfunction, cytochrome c release, caspase activation and PARP cleavage. Furthermore, 3 inhibited tumor growth in HepG2 xenograft model, and displayed more safety profile in vivo than cisplatin.
Correction: Corrigendum: KANK1 inhibits cell growth by inducing apoptosis through regulating CXXC5 in human malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors
Authors: Cui Zhibin , Shen Yingjia , Chen Kenny H. , Mittal Suresh K. , Yang Jer-Yen , Zhang GuangJun
Published: April 2017

Scientific Reports 7: Article number: 40325; published online 09 January 2017; updated on 24 April 2017 The original version of this Article contained an error in the title where: “KANK1 inhibits cell growth by inducing apoptosis though regulating CXXC5 in human malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors”.
Prediction of intraventricular haemorrhage in preterm infants using time series analysis of blood pressure and respiratory signals
Authors: Huvanandana Jacqueline , Nguyen Chinh , Thamrin Cindy , Tracy Mark , Hinder Murray , McEwan Alistair L.
Published: April 2017

Despite the decline in mortality rates of extremely preterm infants, intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) remains common in survivors. The need for resuscitation and cardiorespiratory management, particularly within the first 24 hours of life, are important factors in the incidence and timing of IVH. Variability analyses of heart rate and blood pressure data has demonstrated potential approaches to predictive monitoring. In this study, we investigated the early identification of infants at a high risk of developing IVH, using time series analysis of blood pressure and respiratory data. We also explore approaches to improving model performance, such as the inclusion of multiple variables and signal pre-processing to enhance the results from detrended fluctuation analysis. Of the models we evaluated, the highest area under receiver-operator characteristic curve (5th, 95th percentile) achieved was 0.921 (0.82, 1.00) by mean diastolic blood pressure and the long-term scaling exponent of pulse interval (PI α2), exhibiting a sensitivity of >90% at a specificity of 75%. Following evaluation in a larger population, our approach may be useful in predictive monitoring to identify infants at high risk of developing IVH, offering caregivers more time to adjust intensive care treatment.
Nontuberculous mycobacteria in gastrostomy fed patients with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Al-momani H. , Perry A. , Jones R. , Bourke S. , Doe S. , Perry J. , Anderson A. , Forrest T. , Forrest I. , Griffin M. , Brodlie M. , Pearson J. , Ward C.
Published: April 2017

Multi-drug resistant Mycobacterium abscessus complex (MABSC) is a form of Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) of special, international concern in Cystic Fibrosis (CF). We hypothesised that gastric juice and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) feeding devices might yield MABSC isolates. Gastric juice and sputa from sixteen adult PEG fed CF patients and five replaced PEG tubes were studied. Bacterial and fungal isolates were cultured. Mycobacterium were identified by rpoB, sodA and hsp65 gene sequencing and strain typed using variable number tandem repeat. Bacteria and/or fungi grew from all gastric juice, sputa and PEG samples. MABSC were detected in 7 patients. Five had MABSC in their sputum. Two had an identical MABSC strain in their sputum and gastric juice and one had the same strain isolated from their PEG tube and sputum. Two patients who were sputum sample negative had MABSC isolated in their gastric juice or PEG tube. MABSC were therefore identified for the first time from a gastric sample in a minority of patients. We conclude that gastric juice and PEG-tubes may be a potential source of MABSC isolates in CF patients, and these findings warrant further study.
Relation between molecular electronic structure and nuclear spin-induced circular dichroism
Authors: Štěpánek Petr , Coriani Sonia , Sundholm Dage , Ovchinnikov Vasily A. , Vaara Juha
Published: April 2017

The recently theoretically described nuclear spin-induced circular dichroism (NSCD) is a promising method for the optical detection of nuclear magnetization. NSCD involves both optical excitations of the molecule and hyperfine interactions and, thus, it offers a means to realize a spectroscopy with spatially localized, high-resolution information. To survey the factors relating the molecular and electronic structure to the NSCD signal, we theoretically investigate NSCD of twenty structures of the four most common nucleic acid bases (adenine, guanine, thymine, cytosine). The NSCD signal correlates with the spatial distribution of the excited states and couplings between them, reflecting changes in molecular structure and conformation. This constitutes a marked difference to the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) chemical shift, which only reflects the local molecular structure in the ground electronic state. The calculated NSCD spectra are rationalized by means of changes in the electronic density and by a sum-over-states approach, which allows to identify the contributions of the individual excited states. Two separate contributions to NSCD are identified and their physical origins and relative magnitudes are discussed. The results underline NSCD spectroscopy as a plausible tool with a power for the identification of not only different molecules, but their specific structures as well.
Curcumol allosterically modulates GABA(A) receptors in a manner distinct from benzodiazepines
Authors: Liu Yan-Mei , Fan Hui-Ran , Ding Jing , Huang Chen , Deng Shining , Zhu Tailin , Xu Tian-Le , Ge Wei-Hong , Li Wei-Guang , Li Fei
Published: April 2017

Inhibitory A type γ-aminobutyric acid receptors (GABAARs) play a pivotal role in orchestrating various brain functions and represent an important molecular target in neurological and psychiatric diseases, necessitating the need for the discovery and development of novel modulators. Here, we show that a natural compound curcumol, acts as an allosteric enhancer of GABAARs in a manner distinct from benzodiazepines. Curcumol markedly facilitated GABA-activated currents and shifted the GABA concentration-response curve to the left in cultured hippocampal neurons. When co-applied with the classical benzodiazepine diazepam, curcumol further potentiated GABA-induced currents. In contrast, in the presence of a saturating concentration of menthol, a positive modulator for GABAAR, curcumol failed to further enhance GABA-induced currents, suggesting shared mechanisms underlying these two agents on GABAARs. Moreover, the benzodiazepine antagonist flumazenil did not alter the enhancement of GABA response by curcumol and menthol, but abolished that by DZP. Finally, mutations at the β2 or γ2 subunit predominantly eliminated modulation of recombinant GABAARs by curcumol and menthol, or diazepam, respectively. Curcumol may therefore exert its actions on GABAARs at sites distinct from benzodiazepine sites. These findings shed light on the future development of new therapeutics drugs targeting GABAARs.
Identification of risk factors in epidemiologic study based on ROC curve and network
Authors: Jin Jiao , Zhou Shixin , Xu Qiujin , An Jinbing
Published: April 2017

This article proposes a new non-parametric approach for identification of risk factors and their correlations in epidemiologic study, in which investigation data may have high variations because of individual differences or correlated risk factors. First, based on classification information of high or low disease incidence, we estimate Receptor Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve of each risk factor. Then, through the difference between ROC curve of each factor and diagonal, we evaluate and screen for the important risk factors. In addition, based on the difference of ROC curves corresponding to any pair of factors, we define a new type of correlation matrix to measure their correlations with disease, and then use this matrix as adjacency matrix to construct a network as a visualization tool for exploring the structure among factors, which can be used to direct further studies. Finally, these methods are applied to analysis on water pollutants and gastrointestinal tumor, and analysis on gene expression data in tumor and normal colon tissue samples.
Metabolism dysregulation induces a specific lipid signature of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in patients
Authors: Chiappini Franck , Coilly Audrey , Kadar Hanane , Gual Philippe , Tran Albert , Desterke Christophe , Samuel Didier , Duclos-Vallée Jean-Charles , Touboul David , Bertrand-Michel Justine , Brunelle Alain , Guettier Catherine , Le Naour François
Published: April 2017

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a condition which can progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Markers for NASH diagnosis are still lacking. We performed a comprehensive lipidomic analysis on human liver biopsies including normal liver, nonalcoholic fatty liver and NASH. Random forests-based machine learning approach allowed characterizing a signature of 32 lipids discriminating NASH with 100% sensitivity and specificity. Furthermore, we validated this signature in an independent group of NASH patients. Then, metabolism dysregulations were investigated in both patients and murine models. Alterations of elongase and desaturase activities were observed along the fatty acid synthesis pathway. The decreased activity of the desaturase FADS1 appeared as a bottleneck, leading upstream to an accumulation of fatty acids and downstream to a deficiency of long-chain fatty acids resulting to impaired phospholipid synthesis. In NASH, mass spectrometry imaging on tissue section revealed the spreading into the hepatic parenchyma of selectively accumulated fatty acids. Such lipids constituted a highly toxic mixture to human hepatocytes. In conclusion, this study characterized a specific and sensitive lipid signature of NASH and positioned FADS1 as a significant player in accumulating toxic lipids during NASH progression.
How voluntary orienting of attention and alerting modulate costs of conflict processing
Authors: Zani Alberto , Proverbio Alice Mado
Published: April 2017

There is evidence that pre-cued valid orienting of attention to competing information diminishes costs of brain processing of conflict. Still unclear, because scantily addressed by neuroimaging studies and mostly analyzed by means of behavioral indexing, it is whether conflict undergoes an equivalent modulation by tonic and pre-cued phasic alerting. Here, we investigated the functional relationships between attention orienting, alerting and executive systems using the Attention Network Test (ANT). Both reaction times (RTs) and ERPs were recorded. In line with previous literature, results showed that both RTs and a so-called ERPs conflict negativity (CN), prominent at anterior scalp and indexing conflict processing, were positively modulated by a prior valid orienting of attention onto the location of conflicting stimuli. Indeed, in this condition both kinds of markers showed faster latencies, while CN also reached higher amplitude values than in both alerting conditions, and, in turn, in pre-cued phasic alerting than in uncued tonic alerting. Moreover, while CN was larger over the right hemisphere independent of functional conditions, it was strongly modulated by the latter over the left hemisphere. Our ERP findings support the views of conflict modulation by both orienting and phasic alerting and of a functional integration between attentional brain networks.
Phosphatidylethanolamine dynamics are required for osteoclast fusion
Authors: Irie Atsushi , Yamamoto Kei , Miki Yoshimi , Murakami Makoto
Published: April 2017

Osteoclasts, responsible for bone resorption, are multinucleated cells formed by cell-cell fusion of mononuclear pre-osteoclasts. Although osteoclast fusion is a pivotal step for osteoclastogenesis, little is known about the mechanism involved. To clarify the underlying process, we investigated dynamics of membrane phospholipids during osteoclastogenesisin vitro.We found that the cellular content of phospholipids, phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) in particular, was increased during osteoclast differentiation. Furthermore, PE was greatly increased in the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane bilayer during osteoclastogenesis, being concentrated in filopodia involved in cell-cell fusion. Immobilisation of the cell surface PE blocked osteoclast fusion, revealing the importance of PE abundance and distribution. To identify the molecules responsible for these PE dynamics, we screened a wide array of lipid-related genes by quantitative PCR and shRNA-mediated knockdown. Among them, a PE-biosynthetic enzyme, acyl-CoA:lysophosphatidylethanolamine acyltransferase 2 (LPEAT2), and two ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, ABCB4 and ABCG1, were markedly increased during osteoclastogenesis, and their knockdown in pre-osteoclasts led to reduction in PE exposure on the cell surface and subsequent osteoclast fusion. These findings demonstrate that the PE dynamics play an essential role in osteoclast fusion, in which LPEAT2, ABCB4 and ABCG1 are key players for PE biosynthesis and redistribution.
Fasciola hepatica glycoconjugates immuneregulate dendritic cells through the Dendritic Cell-Specific Intercellular adhesion molecule-3-Grabbing Non-integrin inducing T cell anergy
Authors: Rodríguez Ernesto , Kalay Hakan , Noya Verónica , Brossard Natalie , Giacomini Cecilia , van Kooyk Yvette , García-Vallejo Juan J. , Freire Teresa
Published: April 2017

Dendritic cell-specific ICAM-3 grabbing non-integrin (DC-SIGN) expressed on a variety of DCs, is a C-type lectin receptor that recognizes glycans on a diverse range of pathogens, including parasites. The interaction of DC-SIGN with pathogens triggers specific signaling events that modulate DC-maturation and activity and regulate T-cell activation by DCs. In this work we evaluate whetherF. hepaticaglycans can immune modulate DCs via DC-SIGN. We demonstrate that DC-SIGN interacts withF. hepaticaglycoconjugates through mannose and fucose residues. We also show that mannose is present in high-mannose structures, hybrid and trimannosyl N-glycans with terminal GlcNAc. Furthermore, we demonstrate thatF. hepaticaglycans induce DC-SIGN triggering leading to a strong production of TLR-induced IL-10 and IL-27p28. In addition, parasite glycans induced regulatory DCs via DC-SIGN that decrease allogeneic T cell proliferation, via the induction of anergic/regulatory T cells, highlighting the role of DC-SIGN in the regulation of innate and adaptive immune responses byF. hepatica. Our data confirm the immunomodulatory properties of DC-SIGN triggered by pathogen-derived glycans and contribute to the identification of immunomodulatory glyans of helminths that might eventually be useful for the design of vaccines against fasciolosis.
The Clinical Efficacy of Fibrinogen Concentrate in Massive Obstetric Haemorrhage with Hypofibrinogenaemia
Authors: Matsunaga Shigetaka , Takai Yasushi , Nakamura Eishin , Era Sumiko , Ono Yoshihisa , Yamamoto Koji , Maeda Hiroo , Seki Hiroyuki
Published: April 2017

Massive obstetric haemorrhage remains a major cause of maternal death attributable to hypofibrinogenaemia. Transfusion of large volumes of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) is required to normalise fibrinogen levels. We compared the efficacy of FFP (F group) with that of FFP plus fibrinogen concentrate (F + F group) in massive obstetric haemorrhage. In this retrospective study, we compared the medical charts (2004–2016) of 137 patients with <150 mg/dl fibrinogen treated with F + F (n = 47; after August 2009) or F (n = 56; before August 2009). Although fibrinogen concentrate was only administered in severe cases, the FFP/red blood cell concentrate (RCC) ratio was significantly lower in the F + F group than in the F group. A sub-group analysis of cases requiring ≥18 RCC units showed that the F + F group received significantly less FFP than the F group (40.2 ± 19.6 versus 53.4 ± 18.5 units; P = 0.047) and showed significantly less pulmonary oedema (24.0% vs 57.1%; P < 0.05) in the absence of any significant differences in pre-transfusion coagulation, estimated blood loss, or RCC transfusion volume. Administration of fibrinogen concentrate increased the rate of fibrinogen supplementation five-fold and reduced FFP dosage, the FFP/RCC ratio, and the incidence of pulmonary oedema.
A Novel Method to Evaluate Ribosomal Performance in Cell-Free Protein Synthesis Systems
Authors: Kempf Noémie , Remes Cristina , Ledesch Ralph , Züchner Tina , Höfig Henning , Ritter Ilona , Katranidis Alexandros , Fitter Jörg
Published: April 2017

Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) systems were designed to produce proteins with a minimal set of purified components, thus offering the possibility to follow translation as well as protein folding. In order to characterize the performance of the ribosomes in such a system, it is crucial to separately quantify the two main components of productivity, namely the fraction of active ribosomes and the number of synthesizing cycles. Here, we provide a direct and highly reliable measure of ribosomal activity in any given CFPS system, introducing an enhanced-arrest peptide variant. We observe an almost complete stalling of ribosomes that produce GFPem (~95%), as determined by common centrifugation techniques and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). Moreover, we thoroughly study the effect of different ribosomal modifications independently on activity and number of synthesizing cycles. Finally, employing two-colour coincidence detection and two-colour colocalisation microscopy, we demonstrate real-time access to key productivity parameters with minimal sample consumption on a single ribosome level.
Human fetal heart specific coexpression network involves congenital heart disease/defect candidate genes
Authors: Wang Bo , You Guoling , Fu Qihua
Published: April 2017

Heart development is a complex process requiring dynamic transcriptional regulation. Disturbance of this process will lead to severe developmental defects such as congenital heart disease/defect (CHD). CHD is a group of complex disorder with high genetic heterogeneity, common pathways associated with CHD remains largely unknown. In the manuscript, we focused on the tissue specific genes in human fetal heart samples to explore such pathways. We used the RNA microarray dataset of human fetal tissues from ENCODE project to identify genes with heart tissue specific expression. A transcriptional network was constructed for these genes based on the Pearson correlation coefficients of their expression levels. Function, selective constraints and disease associations of these genes were then examined. Our analysis identified a network consisted of 316 genes with human fetal heart specific expression. The network was highly co-regulated and showed evolutionary conserved tissue expression pattern in tetrapod. Genes in this network are enriched in CHD specific genes and disease mutations. Using the transcriptomic data, we discovered a highly concerted gene network that might reflect a common pathway associated with the etiology of CHD. Such analysis should be helpful for disease associated gene identification in clinical studies.
Hydrolysis of cephalexin and meropenem by New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase: the substrate protonation mechanism is drug dependent
Authors: Das Chandan Kumar , Nair Nisanth N.
Published: April 2017

The mechanism of protonation in NDM-1 catalyzed hydrolysis of β-lactam drugs is dependent on the size of R2 groups.
A tryptophan assay based on the glassy carbon electrode modified with a nano-sized tryptophan-imprinted polymer and multi-walled carbon nanotubes
Authors: Alizadeh Taher , Amjadi Somayeh
Published: April 2017

A new nanostructured molecularly imprinted polymer (nano-MIP), possessing tryptophan compatible cavities, was synthesized using 1-(allyloxy)-4-nitrobenzene as an innovative functional monomer.
Nitrogen-doped porous carbon derived from Fe-MIL nanocrystals as an electrocatalyst for efficient oxygen reduction
Authors: Yang Limeng , Bai Yangzhi , Zhang Hongjie , Geng Jiangtao , Shao Zhigang , Yi Baolian
Published: April 2017

Exploring cheap and stable electrocatalysts to replace Pt for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is now the key issue for the large-scale application of fuel cells.
Reconfigurable photonic crystals with optical bistability enabled by “cold” programming and thermo-recoverable shape memory polymers
Authors: Niu Wenbin , Qu Lingcheng , Lyv Rongwen , Zhang Shufen
Published: April 2017

A type of reconfigurable photonic crystals with optically bistable states enabled by capillary pressure-induced programming and heat-caused recoverable shape memory polymers was reported.
Synthesis and evaluation of novel F-18-labeled pyrimidine derivatives: potential FAK inhibitors and PET imaging agents for cancer detection
Authors: Wang Dawei , Fang Yu , Wang Hang , Xu Xingyu , Liu Jianping , Zhang Huabei
Published: April 2017

Compound [18F]-8a exhibited good in vivo biodistribution data in mice bearing S180 tumor. And the microPET imaging study of [18F]-8a in S180 tumor-bearing mice was also preformed, which illustrated that the uptake in S180 tumor at 60 min post-injection of [18F]-8a was obvious.
A universal fluorogenic switch for Fe(ii) ion based on N-oxide chemistry permits the visualization of intracellular redox equilibrium shift towards labile iron in hypoxic tumor cells
Authors: Hirayama Tasuku , Tsuboi Hitomi , Niwa Masato , Miki Ayaji , Kadota Satoki , Ikeshita Yukie , Okuda Kensuke , Nagasawa Hideko
Published: April 2017

Oxygen-dependent fluctuation of labile Fe(ii) was visualized by a new N-oxide-based fluorescent probe for Fe(ii) ion.
Engineering of hemocompatible and antifouling polyethersulfone membranes by blending with heparin-mimicking microgels
Authors: Ji Hai-feng , Xiong Lian , Shi Zhen-qiang , He Min , Zhao Wei-feng , Zhao Chang-sheng
Published: April 2017

Enhancing the hemocompatible and antifouling property of polyethersulfone membranes by blending with heparin-mimicking microgels.
Skin-safe photothermal therapy enabled by responsive release of acid-activated membrane-disruptive polymer from polydopamine nanoparticle upon very low laser irradiation
Authors: Zhu Rui , Gao Feng , Piao Ji-Gang , Yang Lihua
Published: April 2017

How to ablate tumor without damaging skin is a challenge for photothermal therapy.
Solid-phase synthesis of peptide selenoesters via a side-chain anchoring strategy
Authors: Hanna Cameron C. , Kulkarni Sameer S. , Watson Emma E. , Premdjee Bhavesh , Payne Richard J.
Published: April 2017

A robust, high yielding and epimerisation-free solid-phase method for accessing peptide selenoesters is reported.
Solution-processed multilayer green electrophosphorescent devices with self-host iridium dendrimers as the nondoped emitting layer: achieving high efficiency while avoiding redissolution-induced batch-to-batch variation
Authors: Wang Shumeng , Zhang Baohua , Wang Yang , Ding Junqiao , Xie Zhiyuan , Wang Lixiang
Published: April 2017

A nondoped system has been demonstrated for solution-processed multilayer PhOLEDs, avoiding redissolution-induced batch-to-batch variation.
An autocatalytic cycle in autoxidation of triethylborane
Authors: Uematsu Ryohei , Saka Chihiro , Sumiya Yosuke , Ichino Tomoya , Taketsugu Tetsuya , Maeda Satoshi
Published: April 2017

An autocatalytic cycle was found in the mechanism of autoxidation of triethylborane using density functional theory calculations, and studied in detail with kinetic simulations.
Faraday Discussions meeting Catalysis for Fuels
Authors: Fischer Nico , Kondrat Simon A. , Shozi Mzamo
Published: April 2017

Welcome to Africa was the motto when after more than 100 years the flagship conference series of the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Faraday Discussions, was hosted for the first time on the African Continent.
DFT-D3 study of H2 and N2 chemisorption over cobalt promoted Ta3N5-(100), (010) and (001) surfaces
Authors: Zeinalipour-Yazdi Constantinos D. , Hargreaves Justin S. J. , Laassiri Said , Catlow C. Richard A.
Published: April 2017

Schematic showing the reactions products of N2 and H2 with Ta3N5 surfaces and the formation if the azides.
High-resolution FTIR spectroscopy of trisulfane HSSSH: a candidate for detecting parity violation in chiral molecules
Authors: Albert S. , Bolotova I. , Chen Z. , Fábri C. , Quack M. , Seyfang G. , Zindel D.
Published: April 2017

We present the first analysis of high resolution infrared spectra for trisulfane, a candidate to measure molecular parity violation.
Formation of modulated phases and domain rigidification in fatty acid-containing lipid membranes
Authors: Shimokawa Naofumi , Mukai Rieko , Nagata Mariko , Takagi Masahiro
Published: April 2017

A liquid-ordered domain is transformed into a solid-ordered domain by the addition of palmitic acid or elaidic acid. Oleic acid and phytanic acid reduce the line tension at the liquid domain boundary and consequently modulated phases appear.
Can Kohn–Sham density functional theory predict accurate charge distributions for both single-reference and multi-reference molecules?
Authors: Verma Pragya , Truhlar Donald G.
Published: April 2017

This work investigates the performances of a variety of density functionals for their ability to accurately predict charge distributions of a range of single- and multi-reference molecules.
Direct experimental observation of mesoscopic fluorous domains in fluorinated room temperature ionic liquids
Authors: Lo Celso F. , Yoshida Y. , Castiglione F. , Ferro M. , Mele A. , Jafta C. J. , Triolo A. , Russina O.
Published: April 2017

Neutron scattering patterns reveal fluorinated nano-scale domain segregation in fluorinated room temperature ionic liquids.
Enhanced catalytic performance in CH3Br conversion to benzene, toluene, and xylene over steamed HZSM-5 zeolites
Authors: Wang Peng , Chen Lang , Xie Jun , Li Hang , Au Chak-Tong , Yin Shuang-Feng
Published: April 2017

Catalytic conversion of CH3Br to benzene, toluene and xylene (BTX) was investigated over HZSM-5 and steam-treated HZSM-5 zeolites.
Two isomorphous Co(ii) coordination polymers based on new α,α-disubstituted derivatives of zoledronic acid: synthesis, structures and properties
Authors: Rojek Tomasz , Goldeman Waldemar , Ślepokura Katarzyna , Duczmal Marek , Wojciechowska Agnieszka , Matczak-Jon Ewa
Published: April 2017

1D Co(ii) coordination polymers based on new derivatives of zoledronic acid. Spectroscopic and magnetic characterization.
Variable coordination geometries via an amine-tethered-enamidophosphinimine ligand on cobalt
Authors: Suzuki Tatsuya , Masuda Hideki , Fryzuk Michael D.
Published: April 2017

The enamidophosphinimine ligand scaffold decorated with a pendant 2-diethylamino-ethyl group can change its coordination mode upon reaction with hydride reagents or under reducing conditions when coordinated to cobalt.
Magnetic structure and properties of centrosymmetric twisted-melilite K2CoP2O7
Authors: Sale Matthew , Avdeev Maxim , Mohamed Zakiah , Ling Chris D. , Barpanda Prabeer
Published: April 2017

The magnetic structure and properties of K2CoP2O7 were studied by magnetometry and neutron powder diffraction. Below 11 K the material adopts a G-type antiferromagnetic structure in contrast to the melilite-type Sr2CoGe2O7 which orders in a C-type. Ab initio DFT calculations were performed to understand this difference.
Liquid/vapor-induced reversible dynamic structural transformation of a three-dimensional Cu-based MOF to a one-dimensional MOF showing gate adsorption
Authors: Kondo Atsushi , Suzuki Takayuki , Kotani Ryosuke , Maeda Kazuyuki
Published: April 2017

A new 3D metal–organic framework (MOF) is reversibly transformed to a 1D chain MOF showing selective adsorption properties.
Characterization of non-dialyzable constituents from cranberry juice that inhibit adhesion, co-aggregation and biofilm formation by oral bacteria
Authors: Neto C. C. , Penndorf K. A. , Feldman M. , Meron-Sudai S. , Zakay-Rones Z. , Steinberg D. , Fridman M. , Kashman Y. , Ginsburg I. , Ofek I. , Weiss E. I.
Published: April 2017

A mixture of compounds identified in non-dialyzable fraction from cranberry juice inhibits adhesion, coaggregation and biofilm formation by oral bacteria.
Re-assembled casein micelles improve in vitro bioavailability of vitamin D in a Caco-2 cell model
Authors: Cohen Yifat , Levi Moran , Lesmes Uri , Margier Marielle , Reboul Emmanuelle , Livney Yoav D.
Published: April 2017

Re-assembles casein-micelles protected vitamin-D3during simulated gastric & intestinal digestion, thereby improved its oral bioavailability compared to the un-encapsulated vitamin.
Microwave-assisted solid phase diazotation: a method for the environmentally benign synthesis of benzotriazoles
Authors: Kokel Anne , Török Béla
Published: April 2017

A novel environmentally benign approach based on microwave-assisted solid phase diazotation to converto-phenylendiamines to substituted benzotriazoles is described.
Opportunities for dual RDRP agents in synthesizing novel polymeric materials
Authors: Pearson Samuel , St Thomas Claude , Guerrero-Santos Ramiro , D'Agosto Franck
Published: April 2017

Dual RDRP agents provide access to new polymeric materials by combining ATRP, NMP, and RAFT polymerization without end group transformations.
Fluorinated polymer–photosensitizer conjugates enable improved generation of ROS for anticancer photodynamic therapy
Authors: Wallat Jaqueline D. , Wek Kristen S. , Chariou Paul L. , Carpenter Bradley L. , Ghiladi Reza A. , Steinmetz Nicole F. , Pokorski Jonathan K.
Published: April 2017

Fluorous nanoparticles enhances oxygen uptake as a PDT carrier for skin cancers.
A sulfur–eugenol allyl ether copolymer: a material synthesized via inverse vulcanization from renewable resources and its application in Li–S batteries
Authors: Hoefling Alexander , Nguyen Dan Thien , Lee Young Joo , Song Seung-Wan , Theato Patrick
Published: April 2017

Polymeric materials based on abundant elemental sulfur and renewable eugenol show enhanced cyclability as cathode materials in Li–S batteries.
Weak hydrogen bonding competition between O–H⋯π and O–H⋯Cl
Authors: Zhao Hailiang , Tang Shanshan , Zhang Qun , Du Lin
Published: April 2017

The weak hydrogen bonding competition between O–H⋯π and O–H⋯Cl has been studied using FTIR spectroscopy and theoretical calculations.
Decrease in the double layer capacitance by faradaic current
Authors: Aoki Koichi Jeremiah , Chen Jingyuan , Zeng Xiangdong , Wang Zhaohao
Published: April 2017

This study describes the reverse of the well-known double layer effects on charge transfer kinetics in the relationship between a cause and an effect.
From wheat bran derived carbonaceous materials to a highly stretchable and durable strain sensor
Authors: Ren Jing , Du Xuan , Zhang Wenjun , Xu Ming
Published: April 2017

A highly stretchable and durable strain sensor is fabricated using carbon fragments derived from wheat bran as conductive materials.
Lymphoma cell isolation using multifunctional magnetic nanoparticles: antibody conjugation and characterization
Authors: Sahoo Soubhagya Laxmi , Liu Chi-Hsien , Wu Wei-Chi
Published: April 2017

The early detection of B-cell lymphoma cells using multifunctional magnetic nanoparticles has a wide impact on the diagnosis of lymphoma patients.
Control of ATP concentration in Escherichia coli using an ATP-sensing riboswitch for enhanced S-adenosylmethionine production
Authors: Chen Yawei , Zhou Huiyun , Wang Meng , Tan Tianwei
Published: April 2017

We proposed an ATP-sensing riboswitch-based strategy which could be applied to regulate the intracellular ATP concentration dynamically inE. coli. This strategy will be most beneficial for enhancing the production of the ATP-driven metabolites.
GaN nanowire field emitters with the adsorption of Pt nanoparticles
Authors: Cui Zhen , Ke Xizheng , Li Enling , Zhao Taifei , Qi Qingping , Yan Jie , Ding Yingchun , Liu Tong
Published: April 2017

We report Pt NP coated GaN NWs through CVD method and the fabrication of their field emitters.
γ-Al2O3nanorods with tuneable dimensions – a mechanistic understanding of their hydrothermal synthesis
Authors: Bell T. E. , González-Carballo J. M. , Tooze R. P. , Torrente-Murciano L.
Published: April 2017

This paper reports mechanistic understanding of the hydrothermal synthesis of alumina (γ-Al2O3) nanorods, presenting an economic and reproducible route for their manufacture with tuneable sizes for a wide range of applications.
Application of quinazoline and pyrido[3,2-d]pyrimidine templates to design multi-targeting agents in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Mohamed Tarek , Mann Mandeep K. , Rao Praveen P. N.
Published: April 2017

A quinazoline and pyrido[3,2-d]pyrimidine based compound library was designed, synthesized and evaluated as multi-targeting agents aimed at Alzheimer's disease (AD).
Crystallization and morphological transition of poly(l-lactide)–poly(ε-caprolactone) diblock copolymers with different block length ratios
Authors: Han Weiqiang , Liao Xia , Yang Qi , Li Guangxian , He Bin , Zhu Wenli , Hao Zengheng
Published: April 2017

The crystallization temperature has an effect on the relationship between the lamellar twisting and the morphological transition of PLLA.
Function analysis and application of IAP1/2 of Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus
Authors: Fu Yuejun , Cao Leixi , Wu Shuju , Liang Aihua
Published: April 2017

We confirmed the function of Ac-IAPs and developed a useful AcMNPV-iap2-egfp, which provided theoretical foundation for using and modifying AcMNPV.
Expanding the biomass derived chemical space
Authors: Brun Nicolas , Hesemann Peter , Esposito Davide
Published: April 2017

The derivatization and covalent modification of biomass derived platform chemicals expand the biomass derived chemical spaces allowing for the preparation of new bioactive molecules and materials.
Enantioselective γ-borylation of unsaturated amides and stereoretentive Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling
Authors: Hoang Gia L. , Takacs James M.
Published: April 2017

Amide-directed CAHB provides a direct route to chiral acyclic secondary γ-borylated carbonyl compounds which undergo a variety of stereospecific transformations including stereoretentive palladium-catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling.
The photophysics of naphthalene dimers controlled by sulfur bridge oxidation
Authors: Climent Clàudia , Barbatti Mario , Wolf Michael O. , Bardeen Christopher J. , Casanova David
Published: April 2017

Oxidation state of bridge controls the deactivation mechanism of naphthalene dimers.
Structural origins of broadband emission from layered Pb–Br hybrid perovskites
Authors: Smith Matthew D. , Jaffe Adam , Dohner Emma R. , Lindenberg Aaron M. , Karunadasa Hemamala I.
Published: April 2017

We present synthetic design rules for achieving and optimizing broadband emission from layered halide perovskites.
Performance evaluation of a yeast biorefinery as a sustainable model for co-production of biomass, bioemulsifier, lipid, biodiesel and animal-feed components using inexpensive raw materials
Authors: Kumar RaviRanjan , Dhanarajan Gunaseelan , Bhaumik Moumita , Chopra Jayita , Sen Ramkrishna
Published: April 2017

Development and demonstration of a sustainable yeast biorefinery for concomitant production of biodiesel, biomulsifier and animal feed with simultaneous waste mitigation.
Organic salt photovoltaics
Authors: Bates M. , Lunt Richard R.
Published: April 2017

A review of organic salt based photovoltaics highlighting unique and ionic properties for organic and transparent photovoltaics, including deep NIR absorption and independently tunable molecular orbitals.
Guiding microscale swimmers using teardrop-shaped posts
Authors: Davies Wykes Megan S. , Zhong Xiao , Tong Jiajun , Adachi Takuji , Liu Yanpeng , Ristroph Leif , Ward Michael D. , Shelley Michael J. , Zhang Jun
Published: April 2017

The macroscopic motion of artificial bimetallic swimmers can be biased by hydrodynamic interactions with designed geometry.
Base stable poly(diallylpiperidinium hydroxide) multiblock copolymers for anion exchange membranes
Authors: Strasser Derek J. , Graziano Brendan J. , Knauss Daniel M.
Published: April 2017

The development of base-stable cationic groups for anion exchange membranes is important for application in alkaline fuel cells.
Sn–Bi–Sb alloys as anode materials for sodium ion batteries
Authors: Xie Hezhen , Kalisvaart W. Peter , Olsen Brian C. , Luber Erik J. , Mitlin David , Buriak Jillian M.
Published: April 2017

The cycling stability of Sb-based anodes for sodium-ion batteries can be greatly improved by adding Sn and Bi atoms in a substitutional solid solution with the host Sb lattice.
Superior performance of ZnCo2O4/ZnO@multiwall carbon nanotubes with laminated shape assembled as highly practical all-solid-state asymmetric supercapacitors
Authors: Sun Jinkun , Zan Ping , Ye Lin , Yang Xijia , Zhao Lijun
Published: April 2017

ZnCo2O4/ZnO@multiwall carbon nanotubes with laminated shape were assembled as highly practical all-solid-state asymmetric supercapacitors.
Direct synthesis of all-inorganic heterostructured CdSe/CdS QDs in aqueous solution for improved photocatalytic hydrogen generation
Authors: Li Zhi-Jun , Fan Xiang-Bing , Li Xu-Bing , Li Jia-Xin , Zhan Fei , Tao Ye , Zhang Xiaoyi , Kong Qing-Yu , Zhao Ning-Jiu , Zhang Jian-Ping , Ye Chen , Gao Yu-Ji , Wang Xu-Zhe , Meng Qing-Yuan , Feng Ke , Chen Bin , Tung Chen-Ho , Wu Li-Zhu
Published: April 2017

A facile aqueous approach is developed to synthesize heterostructured CdSe/CdS QDs for advanced hydrogen photosynthesis.
Hierarchical Cu(OH)2@Ni2(OH)2CO3 core/shell nanowire arrays in situ grown on three-dimensional copper foam for high-performance solid-state supercapacitors
Authors: Zhu Sheng , Wang Zidan , Huang Fangzhi , Zhang Hui , Li Shikuo
Published: April 2017

Well-aligned hierarchical Cu(OH)2@Ni2(OH)2CO3 core/shell nanowire arrays in situ grown on conductive copper foams as binder- and conductive-free electrodes display superior electrochemical performances.
Organosulfur adsorbents by self-assembly of titania based ternary metal oxide nanofibers
Authors: Sui Ruohong , Carefoot Sarah K. , Lavery Christopher B. , Deering Connor E. , Lesage Kevin L. , Chou Nancy , Rose Chelsea J. , Marriott Robert A.
Published: April 2017

One-pot sol–gel synthesis of ternary metal oxides for selective adsorption of thiols from H2S/CO2-containing gas.
Na3V2(PO4)3/C synthesized by a facile solid-phase method assisted with agarose as a high-performance cathode for sodium-ion batteries
Authors: Feng Pingyuan , Wang Wei , Wang Kangli , Cheng Shijie , Jiang Kai
Published: April 2017

Na3V2(PO4)3/C, as a high-performance cathode material for sodium ion batteries, was synthesized via a facile agarose-assisted solid-phase method.
A unique approach to designing resilient bi-functional nano-electrocatalysts based on ultrafine bimetallic nanoparticles dispersed in carbon nanospheres
Authors: Nandan Ravi , Nanda K. K.
Published: April 2017

Embedded ultrafine bimetallic (PdPt) nanoparticles in hetero-atom doped carbonaceous nanospheres as an excellent nano-electrocatalyst for electro-oxidation/-reduction of alcohols/oxygen in alkaline media.
Charge separation in a nanostep structured perovskite-type photocatalyst induced by successive surface heterojunctions
Authors: Cai Xiaoyan , Mao Liang , Zhang Junying , Zhu Mingshan , Fujitsuka Mamoru , Majima Tetsuro
Published: April 2017

Successive surface heterojunctions constituted by two periodically arranged facets with large space charge separation improve photocatalytic H2 generation activity of La2Ti2O7.
Geometric design of micron-sized crystalline silicon anodes through in situ observation of deformation and fracture behaviors
Authors: Zhang Xing-yu , Song Wei-Li , Liu Zhanli , Chen Hao-Sen , Li Teng , Wei Yujie , Fang Dai-ning
Published: April 2017

The whole failure process of micron-sized crystalline silicon anodes was in situ observed, and novel anisometric–hollow microstructures enhance the electrochemical performances.
Carbon nitride nanosheets as visible light photocatalytic initiators and crosslinkers for hydrogels with thermoresponsive turbidity
Authors: Liu Jian , An Tong , Chen Zhihan , Wang Zizhao , Zhou Han , Fan Tongxiang , Zhang Di , Antonietti Markus
Published: April 2017

Carbon nitride nanosheets act as visible light photocatalytic initiators and crosslinkers for hydrogel formation with thermoresponsive turbidity.
Curcumin/sunitinib co-loaded BSA-stabilized SPIOs for synergistic combination therapy for breast cancer
Authors: Chen Sunhui , Liang Qiuling , Liu Ergang , Yu Zhili , Sun Lu , Ye Junxiao , Shin Meong-Cheol , Wang Jianxin , He Huining
Published: April 2017

Curcumin/sunitinib co-loaded BSA-SPIOs exhibited unparalleled properties in bothin vivoMR imaging and tumor therapy as a promising theranostic material.
A spiropyran–coumarin platform: an environment sensitive photoresponsive drug delivery system for efficient cancer therapy
Authors: Barman Shrabani , Das Joyjyoti , Biswas Sandipan , Maiti T. K. , Pradeep Singh N. D.
Published: April 2017

In spite of inventing several anticancer agents the clinical payoff still remains unsatisfactory because of their severe host toxicity due to their nonspecific biodistribution in the body.
The improved sensitive detection of C-reactive protein based on the chemiluminescence immunoassay by employing monodispersed PAA-Au/Fe3O4 nanoparticles and zwitterionic glycerophosphoryl choline
Authors: Xing Yan , Gao Qin , Zhang Yanmin , Ma Le , Loh Kang Yong , Peng Mingli , Chen Chao , Cui Yali
Published: April 2017

Monodispersed PAA-Au/Fe3O4 NPs were engineered for highly sensitive CRP assay with zwitterionic glycerophosphoryl choline as the co-blocking agent.