bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the impact of different approaches to classify age-related macular degeneration: Results from the German AugUR study
Authors: Brandl Caroline , Zimmermann Martina E. , Günther Felix , Barth Teresa , Olden Matthias , Schelter Sabine C. , Kronenberg Florian , Loss Julika , Küchenhoff Helmut , Helbig Horst , Weber Bernhard H. F. , Stark Klaus J. , Heid Iris M.
Published: May 2018

While age-related macular degeneration (AMD) poses an important personal and public health burden, comparing epidemiological studies on AMD is hampered by differing approaches to classify AMD. In our AugUR study survey, recruiting residents from in/around Regensburg, Germany, aged 70+, we analyzed the AMD status derived from color fundus images applying two different classification systems. Based on 1,040 participants with gradable fundus images for at least one eye, we show that including individuals with only one gradable eye (n = 155) underestimates AMD prevalence and we provide a correction procedure. Bias-corrected and standardized to the Bavarian population, late AMD prevalence is 7.3% (95% confidence interval = [5.4; 9.4]). We find substantially different prevalence estimates for “early/intermediate AMD” depending on the classification system: 45.3% (95%-CI = [41.8; 48.7]) applying the Clinical Classification (early/intermediate AMD) or 17.1% (95%-CI = [14.6; 19.7]) applying the Three Continent AMD Consortium Severity Scale (mild/moderate/severe early AMD). We thus provide a first effort to grade AMD in a complete study with different classification systems, a first approach for bias-correction from individuals with only one gradable eye, and the first AMD prevalence estimates from a German elderly population. Our results underscore substantial differences for early/intermediate AMD prevalence estimates between classification systems and an urgent need for harmonization.
Polyploid lineages in the genus Porphyra
Authors: Varela-Álvarez Elena , Loureiro João , Paulino Cristina , Serrão Ester A.
Published: May 2018

Whole genome duplication is now accepted as an important evolutionary force, but the genetic factors and the life history implications affecting the existence and abundance of polyploid lineages within species are still poorly known. Polyploidy has been mainly studied in plant model species in which the sporophyte is the dominant phase in their life history. In this study, we address such questions in a novel system (Porphyra, red algae) where the gametophyte is the dominant phase in the life history. ThreePorphyraspecies (P.dioica,P.umbilicalis, andP.linearis) were used in comparisons of ploidy levels, genome sizes and genetic differentiation using flow cytometry and 11 microsatellite markers among putative polyploid lineages. Multiple ploidy levels and genome sizes were found inPorphyraspecies, representing different cell lines and comprising several cytotype combinations among the same and different individuals. InP.linearis, genetic differentiation was found among three polyploid lineages: triploid, tetraploid and mixoploids, representing different evolutionary units. We conclude that the gametophytic phase (n) inPorphyraspecies is not haploid, contradicting previous theories. New hypotheses for the life histories ofPorphyraspecies are discussed.
Temporal and Spatial Effects of Blast Overpressure on Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability in Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Kuriakose Matthew , Rama Rao Kakulavarapu V. , Younger Daniel , Chandra Namas
Published: May 2018

Blast-induced traumatic brain injury (bTBI) is a “signature wound” in soldiers during training and in combat and has also become a major cause of morbidity in civilians due to increased insurgency. This work examines the role of blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption as a result of both primary biomechanical and secondary biochemical injury mechanisms in bTBI. Extravasation of sodium fluorescein (NaF) and Evans blue (EB) tracers were used to demonstrate that compromise of the BBB occurs immediately following shock loading, increases in intensity up to 4 hours and returns back to normal in 24 hours. This BBB compromise occurs in multiple regions of the brain in the anterior-posterior direction of the shock wave, with maximum extravasation seen in the frontal cortex. Compromise of the BBB is confirmed by (a) extravasation of tracers into the brain, (b) quantification of tight-junction proteins (TJPs) in the brain and the blood, and (c) tracking specific blood-borne molecules into the brain and brain-specific proteins into the blood. Taken together, this work demonstrates that the BBB compromise occurs as a part of initial biomechanical loading and is a function of increasing blast overpressures.
Lycium barbarum polysaccharide encapsulated Poly lactic-co-glycolic acid Nanofibers: cost effective herbal medicine for potential application in peripheral nerve tissue engineering
Authors: Wang Jing , Tian Lingling , He Liumin , Chen Nuan , Ramakrishna Seeram , So Kwok-Fai , Mo Xiumei
Published: May 2018

Nerve regeneration is a serious clinical challenge following peripheral nerve injury. Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) is the major component of wolfberry extract, which has been shown to be neuroprotective and promising in nerve recovery in many studies. Electrospun nanofibers, especially core-shell structured nanofibers being capable of serving as both drug delivery system and tissue engineering scaffolds, are well known to be suitable scaffolds for regeneration of peripheral nerve applications. In this study, LBP was incorporated into core-shell structured nanofibrous scaffolds via coaxial electrospinning. Alamar blue assays were performed to investigate the proliferation of both PC12 and Schwann cells cultured on the scaffolds. The neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells was evaluated by NF200 expression with immunostaining and morphology changes observed by SEM. The results indicated that the released LBP dramatically enhanced both proliferation and neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells induced by NGF. Additionally, the promotion of Schwann cells myelination and neurite outgrowth of DRG neurons were also observed on LBP loaded scaffolds by LSCM with immunostaining. In summary, LBP, as a drug with neuroprotection, encapsulated into electrospun nanofibers could be a potential candidate as tissue engineered scaffold for peripheral nerve regeneration.
Habitual hot water bathing protects cardiovascular function in middle-aged to elderly Japanese subjects
Authors: Kohara Katsuhiko , Tabara Yasuharu , Ochi Masayuki , Okada Yoko , Ohara Maya , Nagai Tokihisa , Ohyagi Yasumasa , Igase Michiya
Published: May 2018

Favorable effects of sauna bathing on cardiovascular disease have been demonstrated. Hot water bathing is an alternative, and could also have similar effects. Information pertaining to hot water bathing frequency and water temperature was obtained from 873 subjects. Carotid mean and max intima-media thickness (IMT) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) were measured as indices of atherosclerosis. Central haemodynamics were evaluated using radial pulse waveform analyses. Plasma levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) were measured as an index for cardiac loading. The mean duration of a single hot bath was 12.4 ± 9.9 min. Subject bathing in hot water ≥5 times per week had significantly lower baPWV, central pulse pressure (PP), and BNP after correcting for possible confounding parameters. Stepwise regression analyses revealed that hot water temperature was negatively associated with baPWV, while bathing frequency was negatively related to central PP and BNP. A longitudinal follow-up in 164 subjects showed that hot water bathing ≥5 times per week was associated with significantly lower increase in BNP over time, while the temperature of the water tended to be related to lower increases in carotid max IMT and baPWV. Hot water bathing showed a favorable effect on atherosclerotic and central haemodynamic parameters.
Reduced partitioning of plastic strain for strong and yet ductile precipitate-strengthened alloys
Authors: Jones R. D. , Di Gioacchino F. , Lim H. , Edwards T. E. J. , Schwalbe C. , Battaile C. C. , Clegg W. J.
Published: May 2018

When a material that contains precipitates is deformed, the precipitates and the matrix may strain plastically by different amounts causing stresses to build up at the precipitate-matrix interfaces. If premature failure is to be avoided, it is therefore essential to reduce the difference in the plastic strain between the two phases. Here, we conduct nanoscale digital image correlation to measure a new variable that quantifies this plastic strain difference and show how its value can be used to estimate the associated interfacial stresses, which are found to be approximately three times greater in an Fe-Ni2AlTi steel than in the more ductile Ni-based superalloy CMSX-4®. It is then demonstrated that decreasing these stresses significantly improves the ability of the Fe-Ni2AlTi microstructure to deform under tensile loads without loss in strength.
Targeted linked-read sequencing for direct haplotype phasing of maternal DMD alleles: a practical and reliable method for noninvasive prenatal diagnosis
Authors: Jang Se Song , Lim Byung Chan , Yoo Seong-Keun , Shin Jong-Yeon , Kim Ki-Joong , Seo Jeong-Sun , Kim Jong-Il , Chae Jong Hee
Published: May 2018

For the noninvasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD) of X-linked recessive diseases such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), maternal haplotype phasing is a critical step for dosage analysis of the inherited allele. Until recently, the proband-based indirect haplotyping method has been preferred despite its limitations for use in clinical practice. Here, we describe a method for directly determining the maternal haplotype without requiring the proband’s DNA in DMD families. We used targeted linked-read deep sequencing (mean coverage of 692×) of gDNA from 5 mothers to resolve their haplotypes and predict the mutation status of the fetus. The haplotype of DMD alleles in the carrier mother was successfully phased through a targeted linked-read sequencing platform. Compared with the proband-based phasing method, linked-read sequencing was more accurate in differentiating whether the recombination events occurred in the proband or in the fetus. The predicted inheritance of the DMD mutation was diagnosed correctly in all 5 families in which the mutation had been confirmed using amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling. Direct haplotyping by this targeted linked-read sequencing method could be used as a phasing method for the NIPD of DMD, especially when the genomic DNA of the proband is unavailable.
Demonstration of a terahertz pure vector beam by tailoring geometric phase
Authors: Wakayama Toshitaka , Higashiguchi Takeshi , Sakaue Kazuyuki , Washio Masakazu , Otani Yukitoshi
Published: May 2018

We demonstrate the creation of a vector beam by tailoring geometric phase of left- and right- circularly polarized beams. Such a vector beam with a uniform phase has not been demonstrated before because a vortex phase remains in the beam. We focus on vortex phase cancellation to generate vector beams in terahertz regions, and measure the geometric phase of the beam and its spatial distribution of polarization. We conduct proof-of-principle experiments for producing a vector beam with radial polarization and uniform phase at 0.36 THz. We determine the vortex phase of the vector beam to be below 4%, thus highlighting the extendibility and availability of the proposed concept to the super broadband spectral region from ultraviolet to terahertz. The extended range of our proposed techniques could lead to breakthroughs in the fields of microscopy, chiral nano-materials, and quantum information science.
Lobohedleolide suppresses hepatitis C virus replication via JNK/c-Jun-C/EBP-mediated down-regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 expression
Authors: Lin Chun-Kuang , Tseng Chin-Kai , Liaw Chih-Chuang , Huang Chiung-Yao , Wei Chih-Ku , Sheu Jyh-Horng , Lee Jin-Ching
Published: May 2018

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) chronically infects 2–3% people of the global population, which leads to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Drug resistance remains a serious problem that limits the effectiveness of US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drugs against HCV proteins. The objective of our study was to discover new antivirals from natural products to supplement current therapeutics. We demonstrated that lobohedleolide, isolated from the Formosan soft coral Lobophytum crassum, significantly reduced HCV replication in replicon cells and JFH-1 infection system, with EC50 values of 10 ± 0.56 and 22 ± 0.75 μM, respectively, at non-toxic concentrations. We further observed that the inhibitory effect of lobohedleolide on HCV replication is due to suppression of HCV-induced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression. Based on deletion-mutant analysis of the COX-2 promoter, we identified CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) as a key transcription factor for the down-regulation of COX-2 by lobohedleolide, through which lobohedleolide decreased the phosphorylation of c-Jun NH2-terminal protein kinase and c-Jun to suppress HCV-induced C/EBP expression. The combination treatment of lobohedleolide with clinically used HCV drugs synergistically reduced HCV RNA replication, indicating that lobohedleolide exhibited a high biomedical potential to be used as a supplementary therapeutic agent to control HCV infection.
High resolution XUV Fourier transform holography on a table top
Authors: Tadesse G. K. , Eschen W. , Klas R. , Hilbert V. , Schelle D. , Nathanael A. , Zilk M. , Steinert M. , Schrempel F. , Pertsch T. , Tünnermann A. , Limpert J. , Rothhardt J.
Published: May 2018

Today, coherent imaging techniques provide the highest resolution in the extreme ultraviolet (XUV) and X-ray regions. Fourier transform holography (FTH) is particularly unique, providing robust and straightforward image reconstruction at the same time. Here, we combine two important advances: First, our experiment is based on a table-top light source which is compact, scalable and highly accessible. Second, we demonstrate the highest resolution ever achieved with FTH at any light source (34 nm) by utilizing a high photon flux source and cutting-edge nanofabrication technology. The performance, versatility and reliability of our approach allows imaging of complex wavelength-scale structures, including wave guiding effects within these structures, and resolving embedded nanoscale features, which are invisible for electron microscopes. Our work represents an important step towards real-world applications and a broad use of XUV imaging in many areas of science and technology. Even nanoscale studies of ultra-fast dynamics are within reach.
Correction: Corrigendum: Windscapes and olfactory foraging in a large carnivore
Authors: Togunov Ron R. , Derocher Andrew E. , Lunn Nicholas J.
Published: May 2018

Scientific Reports 7: Article number: 46332; published online: 12 April 2017; updated: 31 May 2018 This Article contains errors where the ice drift vectors data were incorrectly labelled. Ice drift vectors data is stored as two orthogonal vectors, the horizontal and vertical components, ‘u’ and ‘v’.In the EASE-grid projection used for the ice drift, the cardinal directions of ‘u’ and ‘v’ depend on the longitude.
Erratum: Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Neutrophil Dysfunction Following Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Stent Shunt (TIPSS) Insertion is Associated with Organ Failure and Mortality
Authors: Macnaughtan Jane , Mookerjee Rajeshwar P. , van der Merwe Schalk , Jalan Rajiv
Published: May 2018

Scientific Reports 7: Article number: 40157; published online: 04 January 2017; updated: 31 May 2018 In the Corrigendum published 28 April 2017, the author Schalk van der Merwe was incorrectly indexed. This error has now been corrected.
A fast-responsive fluorescent probe for sensitive detection of graphene oxide based on MoS2 quantum dots
Authors: Cao Haiyan , Huang Yu , Xie Yuanyang , Shi Wenbing , Fu Cuicui , He Wei
Published: May 2018

N-MoS2 QDs showed excellent stability, and were used to build a simple fluorescence probe for the determination of GO.
A redox route for the fluorescence detection of lead ions in sorghum, river water and tap water and a desk study of a paper-based probe
Authors: Li Pan , Li Jiawei , Bian Minghong , Huo Danqun , Hou Changjun , Yang Ping , Zhang Suyi , Shen Caihong , Yang Mei
Published: May 2018

In this paper, we developed a label-free fluorescence assay employing BSA-Au NCs, S2O32−, and 2-ME for the highly selective and sensitive detection of Pb2+ in sorghum, river water and tap water.
Bioinspired multilayer membranes as potential adhesive patches for skin wound healing
Authors: Sousa Maria P. , Neto Ana I. , Correia Tiago R. , Miguel Sónia P. , Matsusaki Michiya , Correia Ilídio J. , Mano João F.
Published: May 2018

Multilayered membranes composed of chitosan, alginate and dopamine modified-hyaluronic acid are found to be potential adhesive patches for skin wound healing.
Bicyclic and tricyclic C–C mismatch-binding ligands bind to CCG trinucleotide repeat DNAs
Authors: Shibata Tomonori , Nakatani Kazuhiko
Published: May 2018

A structural change-inducible ligand that binds to CCG trinucleotide repeats was developed via bivalent interaction and enlarging the aromatic ring system.
Trimorphs of 4-bromophenyl 4-bromobenzoate. Elastic, brittle, plastic
Authors: Saha Subhankar , Desiraju Gautam R.
Published: May 2018

Trimorphs of 4-bromophenyl 4-bromobenzoate exhibit distinctly different mechanical properties, brittle, plastic, and elastic. Intermodular interactions and crystal packing are discussed in this context.
Visible light mediated desilylative C(sp2)–C(sp2) cross-coupling reactions of arylsilanes with aryldiazonium salts under Au(i)/Au(iii) catalysis
Authors: Chakrabarty Indradweep , Akram Manjur O. , Biswas Suprakash , Patil Nitin T.
Published: May 2018

Desilylative C(sp2)–C(sp2) cross-coupling reactions of arylsilanes with aryldiazonium salts under Au(i)/photoredox catalysis have been reported.
Tetranuclear Ni4 cubane complexes with high χT maxima: magneto-structural analysis
Authors: Torić Filip , Pavlović Gordana , Pajić Damir , Cindrić Marina , Zadro Krešo
Published: May 2018

Seven tetranuclear Ni(ii) cubane complexes with unexpectedly high χT maxima coming from the ZFS contribution and with an interesting magneto-structural correlation.
PRODAN differentially influences its local environment
Authors: Suhaj Adam , Le Marois Alix , Williamson David J. , Suhling Klaus , Lorenz Christian D. , Owen Dylan M.
Published: May 2018

PRODAN influences its local environment at the nanoscale differently between ordered and disordered phases as shown by MD simulations.
Reduction of graphene oxide quantum dots to enhance the yield of reactive oxygen species for photodynamic therapy
Authors: Zhang Ying , Yang Chen , Yang Dongliang , Shao Zhouwei , Hu Yanling , Chen Jia , Yuwen Lihui , Weng Lixin , Luo Zhimin , Wang Lianhui
Published: May 2018

Reduction of graphene oxide quantum dots to enhance the yield of reactive oxygen species for photodynamic therapy.
Highly sensitive gating in pH-responsive nanochannels as a result of ionic bridging and nanoconfinement
Authors: Lopez Luis G. , Nap Rikkert J.
Published: May 2018

Multivalent counterions can be used to control both the conductivity and opening of a nanogate functionalized with weak polyelectrolytes.
The ozonolysis of isoprene in a cryogenic buffer gas cell by high resolution microwave spectroscopy
Authors: Porterfield Jessica P. , Eibenberger Sandra , Patterson David , McCarthy Michael C.
Published: May 2018

A novel approach has been developed for branching ratios analysis, with rapid sampling rate, short reaction times (10 s), and high sensitivity (ppb).
Sintering resistant Ni nanoparticles exclusively confined within SiO2 nanotubes for CH4 dry reforming
Authors: Li Ziwei , Wang Zhigang , Jiang Bo , Kawi Sibudjing
Published: May 2018

Ni nanoparticles are exclusively confined within the channels of SiO2 nanotubes (NTs) using the Ni phyllosilicate@SiO2 nanocomposite as a precursor where Ni phyllosilicate will in situ decompose into Ni nanoparticles within SiO2 shell NTs, exhibiting good sintering and carbon resistance for CO2 reforming of CH4 reaction.
Release, detection and toxicity of fragments generated during artificial accelerated weathering of CdSe/ZnS and CdSe quantum dot polymer composites
Authors: Gallagher Miranda J. , Buchman Joseph T. , Qiu Tian A. , Zhi Bo , Lyons Taeyjuana Y. , Landy Kaitlin M. , Rosenzweig Zeev , Haynes Christy L. , Fairbrother D. Howard
Published: May 2018

Released QD–PMMA microplastic toxic to S. oneidensis.
Metabolome and gut microbiota variation with long-term intake of Panax ginseng extracts on rats
Authors: Sun Yifan , Chen Shaoqiu , Wei Runmin , Xie Xie , Wang Chongchong , Fan Shihao , Zhang Xia , Su Juan , Liu Jiajian , Jia Wei , Wang Xiaoyan
Published: May 2018

In this study, untargeted GC-TOFMS metabolomic analysis of serum, cecum and ileum intestinal contents was conducted to understand the effect of the long-term intake of Ginseng extracts.
Quality assessment of Penthorum chinense Pursh through multicomponent qualification and fingerprint, chemometric, and antihepatocarcinoma analyses
Authors: Sun Zong-Liang , Zhang Yu-Zhen , Zhang Feng , Zhang Jia-Wei , Zheng Guo-Can , Tan Ling , Wang Chong-Zhi , Zhou Lian-Di , Zhang Qi-Hui , Yuan Chun-Su
Published: May 2018

An efficient method combined with fingerprint and chemometric analyses was developed to evaluate the quality of Penthorum chinense Pursh.
Microfluidic chip with movable layers for the manipulation of biochemicals
Authors: Seder Islam , Kim Dong-Min , Hwang Sang-Hyun , Sung Heungsup , Kim Dong-Eun , Kim Sung-Jin
Published: May 2018

We present a chip with movable top and bottom layers that exploits surface tension in solutions for fluidic control and biomolecule collection.
An efficient and recyclable acid–base bifunctional core–shell nano-catalyst for the one-pot deacetalization–Knoevenagel tandem reaction
Authors: Wang Zitao , Yuan Xiaofeng , Cheng Qi’an , Zhang Tichun , Luo Jun
Published: May 2018

An acid–base bifunctional nano-catalyst was synthesized and applied as an efficient and recoverable catalyst in the one-pot deacetalization–Knoevenagel tandem reaction.
Correction: Triphenylstibine-substituted Fischer carbene complexes of tungsten(0): synthesis, structure, DFT and electrochemistry
Authors: Landman Marilé , van Rensburg Armand Jansen , van Rooyen Petrus H. , Conradie Marrigje M. , Conradie Jeanet
Published: May 2018

Correction for ‘Triphenylstibine-substituted Fischer carbene complexes of tungsten(0): synthesis, structure, DFT and electrochemistry’ by Marilé Landman et al., New J. Chem., 2018, 42, 7301–7313.
Facile synthesis of gold trisoctahedral nanocrystals with controllable sizes and dihedral angles
Authors: Huo Da , Ding Hongming , Zhou Shan , Li Jun , Tao Jing , Ma Yuqiang , Xia Younan
Published: May 2018

We demonstrate seed-mediated growth for the facile synthesis of Au trisoctahedral nanocrystals with tunable sizes and dihedral angles.
Engineering interactions in QDs–PCBM blends: a surface chemistry approach
Authors: Righetto Marcello , Privitera Alberto , Carraro Francesco , Bolzonello Luca , Ferrante Camilla , Franco Lorenzo , Bozio Renato
Published: May 2018

Here we present a comprehensive study on the photophysics of QDs–fullerene blends, aiming to elucidate the impact of ligands on the extraction of carriers from QDs.
Development and application of chiral spirocyclic phosphoric acids in asymmetric catalysis
Authors: Rahman Abdul , Lin Xufeng
Published: May 2018

This review describes the synthetic methods for the preparation of chiral spirocyclic phosphoric acids (SPAs), and their dynamically developing application for catalytic enantioselective transformations.
Lithium sulfonate-grafted poly(vinylidenefluoride-hexafluoro propylene) ionomer as binder for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Wang Zhiqun , Tian Shaokang , Li Shangda , Li Lei , Yin Yimei , Ma Zifeng
Published: May 2018

Lithium sulfonate-grafted PVDF-HFP was successfully synthesized and used as binder for lithium ion batteries, improving electrochemical performance.
Efficient donor–acceptor host materials for green organic light-emitting devices: non-doped blue-emissive materials with dual charge transport properties
Authors: Jayabharathi Jayaraman , Sujatha Palanisamy , Thanikachalam Venugopal , Nethaji Pavadai
Published: May 2018

SMPI-Cz:Ir(ppy)3-based devices exhibit a luminance of 20 725 cd m−2, ηc of 61.4 cd A−1 and ηp of 63.8 lm W−1.
Dual fluorescence of tetraphenylethylene-substituted pyrenes with aggregation-induced emission characteristics for white-light emission
Authors: Feng Xing , Qi Chunxuan , Feng Hai-Tao , Zhao Zheng , Sung Herman H. Y. , Williams Ian D. , Kwok Ryan T. K. , Lam Jacky W. Y. , Qin Anjun , Tang Ben Zhong
Published: May 2018

This article presents a new strategy to achieve white-light emission from single tetraphenylethylene-substituted pyrenes (TPE-Pys) with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics.
Dynamic tungsten diselenide nanomaterials: supramolecular assembly-induced structural transition over exfoliated two-dimensional nanosheets
Authors: Muhabie Adem Ali , Ho Ching-Hwa , Gebeyehu Belete Tewabe , Huang Shan-You , Chiu Chih-Wei , Lai Juin-Yih , Lee Duu-Jong , Cheng Chih-Chia
Published: May 2018

Supramolecular polymers can easily control the lamellar microstructures on exfoliated tungsten diselenide nanosheets.
Stepwise synthesis of CoS2–C@CoS2 yolk–shell nanocages with much enhanced electrocatalytic performances both in solar cells and hydrogen evolution reactions
Authors: Niu Yudi , Qian Xing , Zhang Jie , Wu Weimin , Liu Hongyu , Xu Chong , Hou Linxi
Published: May 2018

CoS2–C@CoS2 yolk–shell nanocages have been applied as highly efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts for both DSSCs and HERs.
Controllable two-dimensional luminescence tuning in Eu2+,Mn2+ doped (Ca,Sr)9Sc(PO4)7 based on crystal field regulation and energy transfer
Authors: Liang Sisi , Dang Peipei , Li Guogang , Molokeev Maxim S. , Wei Yi , Wei Yi , Lian Hongzhou , Shang Mengmeng , Al Kheraif Abdulaziz A. , Lin Jun
Published: May 2018

Controllable 2D luminescence tuning and single-phase white emission were realized in Eu2+,Mn2+-doped (Ca,Sr)9Sc(PO4)7 by a method combining crystal field regulation and energy transfer.
The interferon-inducible protein p202 promotes osteogenesis in mouse bone marrow stromal cells
Authors: Zhang Linlin , Wang Chunhui , Zhang Xianning , Li Haifang
Published: May 2018

In the present study, we explored the role of the interferon-inducible protein p202 in osteoblast differentiation of mouse bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). Both the mRNA and protein levels of p202 increased initially and decreased afterward in the course of BMSC osteogenesis. The intracellular distribution of this protein also changed in the differentiation process. p202 knockdown inhibited, while p202 overexpression enhanced, the osteoblast differentiation of BMSCs. This was identified by evaluation of expression of osteogenic markers, Alizarin Red S staining, and determination of alkaline phosphatase activity. Further study revealed that p202 disturbs the formation of Runx2/Ids complex and frees Runx2 to induce the differentiation process. The findings demonstrated that p202 plays a positive role in BMSC osteogenesis.
Decreased MiR-128-3p alleviates the progression of rheumatoid arthritis by up-regulating the expression of TNFAIP3
Authors: Xia Zhongbin , Meng Fanru , Liu Ying , Fang Yuxuan , Wu Xia , Zhang Chunwang , Liu Dan , Li Guoqing
Published: May 2018

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a inflammatory disease that characterized with the destruction of synovial joint, which could induce disability. Inflammatory response mediated the RA. It has been reported that MiR-128-3p is significantly increased in RA, while the potential role was still unclear.

Methods: T cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) were isolated from the peripheral blood from people of RA and normal person were used. Real-time PCR was performed to detect the expression of MiR-128-3p, while the protein expression of tumor necrosis factor-α-induced protein 3 (TNFAIP3) was determined using Western blot. The levels of IL-6 and IL-17 were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of CD69 and CD25 was detected using flow cytometry. The RA mouse model was constructed for verification of the role of MiR-128-3p.

Results: The expression of MiR-128-3p was significantly increased, while TNFAIP3 was decreased, the levels of IL-6 and IL-17 were also increased in the T cells of RA patients. Down-regulated MiR-128-3p significantly suppressed the expression of p-IkBα and CD69, and CD25in T cells. MiR-128-3p targets TNFAIP3 to regulate its expression. MiR-128-3p knockdown significantly suppressed the activity of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and T cells by up-regulating TNFAIP3, while cells co-transfected with si-TNFAIP3 abolished the effects of MiR-128-3p knockdown. The in vivo experiments verified the potential role of MiR-128-3p on RA.

Conclusion: Down-regulated MiR-128-3p significantly suppressed the inflammation response of RA through suppressing the activity of NF-κB pathway, which was mediated by TNFAIP3.
Comment on ‘Improved analysis of orthogonal matching pursuit in general perturbations’
Authors: Tian Wenbiao
Published: May 2018

In a very interesting recent paper, the authors illustrated an improved analysis of orthogonal matching pursuit in the general perturbation model , where is the measurement perturbation. This comment will point out that there are some errors in that paper.
Interpolation‐free method for near‐field cross MIMO array imaging
Authors: Zhu Rongqiang , Zhou Jianxiong , Cheng Binbin , Fu Qiang , Jiang Ge
Published: May 2018

In this Letter, an interpolation‐free imaging algorithm for a near‐field cross MIMO array is presented. This method transforms the measurement data into the wavenumber domain along the receiving direction or the transmitting direction for compensation. Then the imaging result is obtained by 1D inverse Fourier transform and 2D accumulation. This method has the same computational complexity as the backprojection algorithm (BPA) with better imaging quality since interpolation is avoided. The imaging performance of the proposed method, the BPA and the approximate range migration algorithm are compared by experiment.
Locating power transformer fault based on sweep frequency response measurement by a novel multistage approach
Authors: Jahan Mohammad Sadegh , Keypour Reza , Izadfar Hamid Reza , Keshavarzi Mohammad Taghi
Published: May 2018

The windings of the power transformers are prone to deformation or displacement as a result of huge electromagnetic forces. Regular monitoring of transformers for detecting minor winding movements is crucial for preventing them from developing into major faults and eventually, causing an outage. In this study, a novel procedure is proposed to determine the location and severity of the disk space variation, a frequently occurring mechanical damage in transformers, by developing a two‐level method. At the first level, an accurate model of the winding is determined from sweep frequency response analysis measured data corresponding to the healthy status. Analysis and interpretation of the obtained results by the proposed fault detector algorithm lead to locating the position and severity of the fault, in the next level. The process of determining the winding model from the frequency response analysis data is achieved by a multistage method utilising an enhanced version of magnetic optimisation algorithm, which comprises of utilising Fourier series coefficients and phase functions, and fast calculation of coupled network matrices. Experimental results of two 64 kV transformer windings verify the effectiveness of the proposed method in detecting the winding faults.
Finding flares in Kepler data using machine-learning tools
Authors: Vida Krisztián , Roettenbacher Rachael M.
Published: May 2018

Context. Archives of long photometric surveys, such as the Kepler database, are a great basis for studying flares. However, identifying the flares is a complex task; it is easily done in the case of single-target observations by visual inspection, but is nearly impossible for several year-long time series for several thousand targets. Although automated methods for this task exist, several problems are difficult (or impossible) to overcome with traditional fitting and analysis approaches.

Aims. We introduce a code for identifying and analyzing flares based on machine-learning methods, which are intrinsically adept at handling such data sets.

Methods. We used the RANSAC (RANdom SAmple Consensus) algorithm to model light curves, as it yields robust fits even in the case of several outliers, such as flares. The light curves were divided into search windows, approximately on the order of the stellar rotation period. This search window was shifted over the data set, and a voting system was used to keep false positives to a minimum: only those flare candidate points were kept that were identified as a flare in several windows.

Results. The code was tested on short-cadence K2 observations of TRAPPIST-1 and on long-cadence Kepler data of KIC 1722506. The detected flare events and flare energies are consistent with earlier results from manual inspections.
Multidisciplinary Diagnosis and Management of Pancreatic Trauma
Authors: Sandstrom Claire , O'Keefe Grant , Balmadrid Bryan , Johnson Guy , Stewart Barclay
Published: May 2018

Pancreatic injury occurs in less than 5% of patients who sustain blunt trauma. However, the significant morbidity and mortality associated with pancreatic injury demands a high index of suspicion, a thorough understanding of diagnostic modalities and management options, and access to a multidisciplinary team versed with care of patients with pancreatic injuries. In addition to conventional diagnostic tools and surgery, use of multidetector computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, and percutaneous techniques have revolutionized the diagnosis and management of these complex injuries. Surgical management is now reserved for injuries found at the time of laparotomy, high-grade injuries, and complications of pancreatic injury not amenable or refractory to percutaneous and endoscopic treatments.
Clinical Outcomes among Diagnostic Subgroups of Infants with Severe Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia through 2 Years of Age
Authors: Akangire Gangaram , Manimtim Winston , Nyp Michael , Noel-MacDonnell Janelle , Kays Allyssa , Truog William , Taylor Jane
Published: May 2018

Objective This article aimed to identify readmission risk factors through 2 years of life for infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) who do not require tracheostomy and ventilatory support after neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) discharge. It also aimed to identify if clinical differences exist between the subcategories of severe BPD.

Study Design A retrospective chart review was performed on 182 infants with severe BPD born between 2010 and 2015. A total of 130 infants met the inclusion criteria and were stratified into three groups based on their respiratory status at 36 weeks of gestational age: group A—oxygen (O2), group B—assisted ventilation (AV), group C—both O2 and AV. NICU clinical risk factors for readmission were assessed at set time points (6/12/18/24 months). Reasons for readmission were assessed for the entire cohort and severe BPD subgroups.

Conclusion An NICU diagnosis of neurologic abnormality, necrotizing enterocolitis, invasive NICU infection, dysphagia, and O2 at NICU discharge differed between the three subgroups of severe BPD. The most common cause of readmission was viral respiratory tract infection. Inhaled steroid use remained stable over time, while oxygen use and diuretic use declined over time. Risk factors for readmission in the entire cohort included g-tube, O2 use, and diuretic use at 12 months. There was no significant difference in readmission rates between the three BPD subgroups.
Trends in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in the Last Decade: A Web-Based Analysis
Authors: Yucens Mehmet , Aydemir Ahmet Nadir
Published: May 2018

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is known to be one of the most common knee joint injuries. ACL reconstruction can be similar to the native ACL in respect of graft morphology, tension, position, and orientation. ACL reconstruction can be applied with different surgery techniques, graft and fixation devices, and rehabilitation as ACL reconstruction is just as important as surgery. Although commonly known as a sports injury, ACL injuries are increasingly seen in the general population. The aim of this study was to investigate the trends in ACL injury treatment in the last decade especially the graft choice. The abstracts of a total of 2,622 papers which stated ACL in the title were investigated through a search on the Web of Knowledge. Main topics were created as the ACL reconstruction theme. ACL reconstruction was examined in the abstracts with graft choice as the main theme followed by single bundle, double bundle, sports, rehabilitation, revision, complication, skeletally immature, biomechanics and kinematics, fixation devices, meniscus, anesthesia and pain, tunnel, cell, and intra-articular injection. Of the total 2,622 documents, 2,129 were original articles and 181 were reviews. Most of the documents, 436 in number (16.6%), were published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine, followed by the Journal of Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy at 264. Of the total documents published, 36.3% were from the United States followed by 8.5% from Japan. The author with the most publications was F.H. Fu with 94 publications followed by B.R. Bach with 41 publications. The hamstring graft was most used at 187 single use and comprising 52% of the total graft combinations. Most papers were published in 2016. In 2012, single and double bundle grafts were determined to a total of 23. The most common title investigated in papers was biomechanics and kinematics with a total of 241 publications followed by rehabilitation at 208. Throughout the years of the study period, the most common graft choice was hamstring autograft. Biomechanics and kinematics was the most common title investigated as biomechanics and rehabilitation are known to be just as important as surgery for a successful outcome and patient satisfaction.
Nonoperative Management of Splenic Trauma: An Update
Authors: Walker John , Haq Aftab , Suri Rajeev
Published: May 2018

Splenic injuries continue to be a common solid organ injury among trauma victims. Practice outcomes continue to improve with centers now routinely incorporating endovascular therapy into nonoperative management protocols. Since such incorporation, endovascular practice patterns continue to evolve as more data regarding outcomes concerning approach, embolic techniques, and time to intervention become available. These data are driving trauma centers to adopt multidisciplinary protocols with standardization of triage to nonoperative management, imaging, and endovascular interventions. This review aims to provide the interventionalist with an overview of existing and upcoming practice patterns.
Cation-induced electrohydrodynamic flow in aqueous solutions
Authors: Doi Kentaro , Nito Fumika , Kawano Satoyuki
Published: May 2018

Recently, single-molecule manipulation techniques in micro- and nanofluidic channels have attracted significant attention. To precisely control the transport velocity, the dynamics of the surrounding liquid must be understood in addition to the behavior of the target particles. Some unknowns about interactions between electrolyte ions and solvents remain to be clarified from a microscopic viewpoint. Herein, we propose a technique to generate a liquid flow driven by ion transport phenomena, the so-called electrohydrodynamic (EHD) flow, where electrolyte ions are dialyzed using a cation-exchange membrane. With this method, it is possible to apply an electric body force in liquids, which is different from electroosmotic flows that are limited to ion transport in electric double layers, and is expected to be a good candidate for detailed control of liquid flows in micro- and nanofluidic channels. To collect basic design data based on the knowledge of microscopic fluid dynamics of the present technique, a mathematical model of an EHD flow dragged by electrical carriers in an ionic current is developed and results are compared with experimental data. In our experiments, EHD flows are efficiently driven by applied electric fields in a cation dominant current. To induce such an EHD flow, the externally applied electric potential can be drastically reduced to 2.0 V in comparison with previous methods because we do not need an excessively high voltage to inject electrical charges into liquids. This method enables us to induce EHD flows in aqueous solutions and is expected to open the door to low-voltage driven liquid flow control.
Full-f version of GENE for turbulence in open-field-line systems
Authors: Pan Q. , Told D. , Shi E. L. , Hammett G. W. , Jenko F.
Published: May 2018

Unique properties of plasmas in the tokamak edge, such as large amplitude fluctuations and plasma–wall interactions in the open-field-line regions, require major modifications of existing gyrokinetic codes originally designed for simulating core turbulence. To this end, the global version of the 3D2V gyrokinetic code GENE, so far employing a δf-splitting technique, is extended to simulate electrostatic turbulence in straight open-field-line systems. The major extensions are the inclusion of the velocity-space nonlinearity, the development of a conducting-sheath boundary, and the implementation of the Lenard–Bernstein collision operator. With these developments, the code can be run as a full-f code and can handle particle loss to and reflection from the wall. The extended code is applied to modeling turbulence in the Large Plasma Device (LAPD), with a reduced mass ratio and a much lower collisionality. Similar to turbulence in a tokamak scrape-off layer, LAPD turbulence involves collisions, parallel streaming, cross-field turbulent transport with steep profiles, and particle loss at the parallel boundary.
Proposition of a model elucidating the AlN-on-Si (111) microstructure
Authors: Mante N. , Rennesson S. , Frayssinet E. , Largeau L. , Semond F. , Rouvière J. L. , Feuillet G. , Vennéguès P.
Published: May 2018

AlN-on-Si can be considered as a model system for heteroepitaxial growth of highly mismatched materials. Indeed, AlN and Si drastically differ in terms of chemistry, crystalline structure, and lattice parameters. In this paper, we present a transmission electron microscopy and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction study of the microstructure of AlN layers epitaxially grown on Si (111) by molecular beam epitaxy. The large interfacial energy due to the dissimilarities between AlN and Si results in a 3D Volmer-Weber growth mode with the nucleation of independent and relaxed AlN islands. Despite a well-defined epitaxial relationship, these islands exhibit in-plane misorientations up to 6°–7°. We propose a model which quantitatively explains these misorientations by taking into account the relaxation of the islands through the introduction of 60° a-type misfit dislocations. Threading dislocations (TDs) are formed to compensate these misorientations when islands coalesce. TD density depends on two parameters: the islands' misorientation and density. We show that the former is related to the mismatch between AlN and Si, while the latter depends on the growth parameters. A large decrease in TD density occurs during the 3D growth stage by overlap and overgrowth of highly misoriented islands. On the other hand, the TD density does not change significantly when the growth becomes 2D. The proposed model, explaining the misorientations of 3D-grown islands, may be extended to other (0001)-oriented III-nitrides and more generally to any heteroepitaxial system exhibiting a 3D Volmer-Weber growth mode with islands relaxed thanks to the introduction of mixed-type misfit dislocations.
Molecular dynamics simulation of microwave heating of liquid monoethanolamine (MEA): An evaluation of existing force fields
Authors: Afify N. D. , Sweatman M. B.
Published: May 2018

We present a complete classical molecular dynamics (MD) study of the dielectric heating of liquid monoethanolamine (MEA) at microwave (MW) frequencies ranging from 1.0 to 10.0 GHz. The detailed dielectric properties predicted by a series of existing empirical force fields of MEA were carefully compared to experimental results. We find that all the evaluated force fields were unable to accurately predict experimental static dielectric constant, frequency-dependent dielectric spectra, and MW heating profiles of liquid MEA, although GROMOS-aa (all-atom GROningen molecular simulation) is the most accurate of those tested. With an isotropic scaling of partial atomic charges, the modified GROMOS-aa and OPLS-aa (all-atom optimized potentials for liquid simulations) force fields could accurately reproduce the experimental static dielectric constant and frequency-dependent dielectric spectra, but they failed to predict MW heating rates directly from MD heating simulations. Thus, the recently presented approach [F. J. Salas et al., J. Chem. Theory Comput. 11, 683 (2015); A. P. de la Luz et al., ibid. 11, 2792 (2015)] to tune existing force fields is not an ideal approach to produce force fields suitable for accurate dielectric heating studies.
Energy deposition of fast electrons in dense magnetized plasmas
Authors: Yang X. H. , Xu H. , Ma Y. Y. , Ge Z. Y. , Zhuo H. B. , Shao F. Q.
Published: May 2018

Mechanisms of fast electron energy deposition in dense magnetized plasma are studied by hybrid particle-in-cell/fluid simulations. It is found that the energy deposition ratio of Ohmic heating and collisional heating can be enhanced significantly as an Al target is presented in a strongly axial magnetic field, attributed to the fast electrons rotating around the axial field. The weight of Ohmic heating is increased with laser intensity during ultraintense laser-driven fast electrons propagating both in magnetized and unmagnetized solid targets, which is the dominant heating mechanism as the laser intensity is greater than 1018 W/cm2 compared to the collisional heating. The degree of the axial magnetic field effect on the fast electron energy deposition mechanisms is dependent on target materials, which is much weaker for low-Z targets, such as CH2. The results here should be helpful for the target designing of fast electron applications.
Structural covariance in the hard sphere fluid
Authors: Carter Benjamin M. G. D. , Turci Francesco , Ronceray Pierre , Royall C. Patrick
Published: May 2018

We study the joint variability of structural information in a hard sphere fluid biased to avoid crystallisation and form five-fold symmetric geometric motifs. We show that the structural covariance matrix approach, originally proposed for on-lattice liquids [P. Ronceray and P. Harrowell, J. Stat. Mech.: Theory Exp. 2016(8), 084002], can be meaningfully employed to understand structural relationships between different motifs and can predict, within the linear-response regime, structural changes related to motifs distinct from that used to bias the system.
Intrinsic frequency tuning of terahertz quantum-cascade lasers
Authors: Schrottke L. , Lü X. , Röben B. , Biermann K. , Wienold M. , Richter H. , Hübers H.-W. , Grahn H. T.
Published: May 2018

We have studied the intrinsic frequency tuning of several terahertz (THz) quantum-cascade lasers (QCLs) based on a hybrid design. With increasing driving current, most QCLs exhibit either a redshift or a blueshift, while some QCLs show both. An oscillator model describes the observed behavior. The accuracy of the model is affected by the complexity of the current-dependent gain spectra of the THz QCLs. Numerical simulations demonstrate a cavity pulling effect insofar as the tuning behavior depends on the resonator losses and on the width of the gain spectra.