bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crystal structure of D‐glycero‐Β‐D‐manno‐heptose‐1‐phosphate adenylyltransferase fromBurkholderia pseudomallei
Authors: Park Jimin , Kim Hyojin , Kim Suwon , Lee Daeun , Kim Mi‐Sun , Shin Dong Hae
Published: October 2017

The crystal structure of HldC fromB. pseudomallei(BpHldC), the fourth enzyme of the heptose biosynthesis pathway, has been determined.BpHldC converts ATP andd‐glycero‐β‐d‐manno‐heptose‐1‐phosphate into ADP‐d‐glycero‐β‐d‐manno‐heptose and pyrophosphate. The crystal structure ofBpHldC belongs to the nucleotidyltransferase α/β phosphodiesterase superfamily sharing a common Rossmann‐like α/β fold with a conserved T/HXGH sequence motif. The invariant catalytic key residues ofBpHldC indicate that the core catalytic mechanism ofBpHldC may be similar to that of other closest homologues. Intriguingly, a reorientation of the C‐terminal helix seems to guide open and close states of the active site for the catalytic reaction.
Sublethal effects of four insecticides on folding and spinning behavior in the rice leaffolder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)
Authors: Yang Yajun , Wang Caiyun , Xu Hongxing , Lu Zhongxian
Published: October 2017

BACKGROUND

The rice leaffolder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis, is an important rice pest. The sublethal effects of chlorpyrifos, chlorantraniliprole, emamectin benzoate and spinosad were investigated on the folding and spinning behaviors of third‐ to fifth‐instar C. medinalis larvae (L3 − L5) after insecticidal exposure of the second instar.

RESULTS

A 25% lethal concentration (LC25) of chlorpyrifos prolonged the leaf selection time of L5, and reduced the number of binds per primary fold for L4 and L5. An LC10 of chlorantraniliprole reduced the number of binds per primary fold for L4 and increased the number of head swings per bind for L5. An LC10 of emamectin benzoate shortened the primary fold length for L5 and decreased the number of head swings per primary fold for L3 and L4 and the number of head swings per bind for L3, while an LC25 of emamectin benzoate shortened the fold length per 24 h for L5 and folding time for L3. An LC10 of spinosad lowered the fold length per 24 h and the number of head swings for L5. An LC25 of spinosad prolonged leaf selection time, and decreased primary fold length, binds per primary fold, binds per fold and fold length per 24 h in L5.

CONCLUSION

Emamectin benzoate and spinosad exerted stronger sublethal effects on the folding and spinning behavior of C. medinalis than chlorpyrifos and chlorantraniliprole. These results provide better understanding of the sublethal effects of interactions of insecticides on C. medinalis. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
The interaction between moist diabatic processes and the atmospheric circulation in African Easterly Wave propagation
Authors: Tomassini Lorenzo , Parker Douglas J. , Stirling Alison , Bain Caroline , Senior Catherine , Milton Sean
Published: October 2017

An objective tracking algorithm is used to characterize the three‐dimensional structure of African Easterly Waves (AEWs) in ERA‐Interim reanalysis and a Met Office Unified Model (UM) simulation. A special focus is dedicated to the coupling of dynamical aspects of the wave and moist convection. The relation between baroclinic features of the wave and latent heating is explored. Latent heating at and slightly ahead of the wave trough is found to reinforce and sustain the anomalous wave circulation through potential vorticity (PV) generation and vortex stretching. The coupling of moist processes and the circulation takes place mainly through moisture convergence at lower mid‐tropospheric levels, between 850 and 500 hPa. These findings are confirmed and examined in more detail in a case‐study of a strong AEW based on high‐resolution UM simulations. PV tracers are used to investigate how different moist diabatic processes invigorate the wave. Again moisture anomalies are found to be the main contributors to generating small‐scale convergence centres and updraughts ahead of the trough at mid‐tropospheric levels. Although buoyancy effects are ultimately responsible for the convective uplift, the results suggest that mesoscale circulations associated with the AEW dynamics are crucial in creating the small‐scale moist static instabilities and vortices which are essential for the AEW maintenance. Boundarylayer mixing and advection from the northern Sahel may create pockets of high‐PV air around the trough in some instances, but this mechanism of wave sustainment needs further investigation.
Precise carbon isotopic ratio analyses of micro amounts of carbonate and non‐carbonate in basalt using continuous‐flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry
Authors: Zha Xiang‐Ping , Gong Bing , Zheng Yong‐Fei , Chen Yi‐Xiang
Published: October 2017

Rationale

Continuous‐flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry (CF‐IRMS) is a specialized technique used to quickly analyze very small amounts of sample. We have used CF‐IRMS to assess the influences of sample weight and relative carbon content on the accuracy and precision of the δ13C values of micro amounts of carbonate and non‐carbonate in silicate rocks.

Methods

The analytical work was performed on a Gasbench II (GB) sample preparation device and on an Elemental Analyzer (EA), which were both interfaced to CF‐IRMS instruments. Potential silicate matrix effects on the carbon isotopic analyses were investigated by measuring mixtures of calibrated carbon reference materials and quartz powder. The calibration lines, established by the measured raw values and the known values of three reference materials mixed with quartz powder, were used to calibrate the δ13C values of basalt samples from eastern China.

Results

The δ13C values measured by GB‐CF‐IRMS of one national carbonate reference material, GBW04416, deviate slightly from the known value for approximately 20–70 μg of carbonate contained in 4.5‐mL vials; the smaller the sample size, the lower the measured δ13C values. External precision better than 0.1‰ (1σ, n = 26) is achieved at a signal intensity for mass 44 of between 868 and 1614 mV, corresponding to a sample weight of 30.8–50.2 μg, whereas it is reduced to 0.27‰ (1σ, n = 34) at a signal intensity between 519 and 1614 mV, corresponding to a sample weight of 21.1–50.2 μg. In the EA‐CF‐IRMS experiments for non‐carbonate carbon, at high carbon concentration (greater than 800 ppm) and at optimum sample weights, the accuracy and precision are both better than 0.2‰. For carbon concentrations less than 500 ppm, the measured δ13C values deviate from the average by up to −1.2‰ and the precision is 0.74‰.

Conclusions

The measured δ13C values decrease substantially at lower carbon concentration and higher sample weights, and poorer precision is obtained. Suggestions are made to measure repeatedly the same carbon concentration of sample and reference materials in order to obtain not only reproducible, but also accurate carbon isotope ratios.
The Impact of Charge‐Distribution on Photochromic Properties in 1D Coordination Polymers
Authors: Liu Jian‐Jun , Xia Shu‐Biao , Teng Liu , He Chi‐Xian , Cheng Fei‐Xiang , Huang Chang‐Cang
Published: October 2017

The reaction of CdCl2·2.5H2O with 1,1′‐bis(3‐carboxybenzyl)‐4,4′‐bipyridinium dichloride (H2L1·Cl2) or 4,4′‐bis[(3‐carboxypyridino)methyl]‐biphenyl dichloride (H2L2·Cl2) in a dimethylformamide/methanol mixed‐solvent system at room temperature, affording the complexes [(CdCl2)3(L1)3]n (1) and {[CdCl2(L2)(H2O)2]·2H2O}n (2). They were characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectroscopy, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Both 1 and 2 exhibit 1D coordination networks, which further stack into a 3D supramolecular structure by hydrogen bonding and π–π interactions. Furthermore, these two complexes exhibit different photochromic behavior in the solid state, which may originate from different charge‐distributions of H2L1·Cl2 and H2L2·Cl2 ligands.
Efficient Removal of Cobalt(II) and Strontium(II) Metals from Water using Ethylene Diamine Tetra‐acetic Acid Functionalized Graphene Oxide
Authors: Amer Hany , Moustafa Wafaa M. , Farghali Ahmed A. , El Rouby Waleed M. A. , Khalil Waleed F.
Published: October 2017

Graphene oxide (GO) with high specific surface area was prepared and functionalized with ethylene diamine tetra‐acetic acid (EDTA). The as‐prepared GO and the functionalized one (GO‐EDTA) were characterized using high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman spectroscopy. The as‐prepared and EDTA funcationalized GO were applied as adsorbent to remove strontium(II) and cobalt(II) from water. The results indicated that the prepared materials are efficient adsorbents for strontium(II) and cobalt(II) removal. The adsorption of CoII and SrII under effects of contact time, temperature, and pH was investigated It is concluded that the maximum adsorption capacities of GO for CoII and SrII were about 168 and 140 mg·g–1, whereas of GO‐EDTA the values were about 197 and 158 mg·g–1, respectively. It is indicated that pH 6 and temperature 40 °C are the best condition for CoII and SrII removal from water. The application of Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms indicated that Langmuir isotherm is best fit for CoII and SrII equilibrium adsorption. Adsorption kinetics were studied by applying pseudo first‐order, pseudo second‐order, and intraparticle diffusion models on the experimental data. The results proved that pseudo second‐order model is the best represented adsorption kinetics. Appling the intraparticle diffusion regressions on the experimental data indicated that intraparticle diffusion involved in adsorption process, which was not the only rate‐controlling step.
Push-pull tests for estimating effective porosity: expanded analytical solution and in situ application
Authors: Paradis Charles J. , McKay Larry D. , Perfect Edmund , Istok Jonathan D. , Hazen Terry C.
Published: October 2017

The analytical solution describing the one-dimensional displacement of the center of mass of a tracer during an injection, drift, and extraction test (push-pull test) was expanded to account for displacement during the injection phase. The solution was expanded to improve the in situ estimation of effective porosity. The truncated equation assumed displacement during the injection phase was negligible, which may theoretically lead to an underestimation of the true value of effective porosity. To experimentally compare the expanded and truncated equations, single-well push-pull tests were conducted across six test wells located in a shallow, unconfined aquifer comprised of unconsolidated and heterogeneous silty and clayey fill materials. The push-pull tests were conducted by injection of bromide tracer, followed by a non-pumping period, and subsequent extraction of groundwater. The values of effective porosity from the expanded equation (0.6–5.0%) were substantially greater than from the truncated equation (0.1–1.3%). The expanded and truncated equations were compared to data from previous push-pull studies in the literature and demonstrated that displacement during the injection phase may or may not be negligible, depending on the aquifer properties and the push-pull test parameters. The results presented here also demonstrated the spatial variability of effective porosity within a relatively small study site can be substantial, and the error-propagated uncertainty of effective porosity can be mitigated to a reasonable level (< ± 0.5%). The tests presented here are also the first that the authors are aware of that estimate, in situ, the effective porosity of fine-grained fill material.
Improving patient engagement in self-measured blood pressure monitoring using a mobile health technology
Authors: Kaplan Alan L. , Cohen Erica R. , Zimlichman Eyal
Published: October 2017

Objective

To understand usage patterns and clinical efficacy of Hello Heart, an mHealth technology application designed to facilitate patient engagement in managing hypertension.

Methods

In this single-arm observational study, all subjects with ≥2 blood pressure (BP) recordings were included. The cohort was divided into subgroups by weeks passed since download that patients were still recording measurements. Changes in BP were compared between subgroups.

Results

Of 5115 eligible subjects, 3803 (74%) recorded BP for ≥2 weeks. In the 4-week subgroup, 23% achieved BP reduction of ≥10 mmHg versus 24% in the 22-week subgroup (p < 0.001). Among 783 subjects reporting baseline hypertension 57% of the 4-week and 69% of the 22-week subgroups achieved BP normalization (all p < 0.001).

Conclusions

We show significant decrease in BP with improved metrics over time. Higher engagement was associated with greater BP reduction and engagement was higher among those with greater clinical need of BP control.

Practice implications

Hello Heart represents an operational mHealth technology to improve patient engagement and clinical outcomes.
Paternalism, coercion and the unimportance of (some) liberties
Authors: CONLY SARAH
Published: October 2017

Some object to paternalism when it forecloses options – when it makes it impossible, or at least very difficult, to pursue a particular course of action. This is because some argue that liberty is intrinsically valuable, and that to have liberty is to have options; thus, to lose options is to lose something intrinsically valuable. On that account, even if the loss of an option can be justified by gains of other intrinsically valuable things, it should be regarded as a loss. I argue that, in fact, some options have no value, so that their loss is not in itself even pro tanto bad. And, when losing options makes it more likely that we will achieve greater welfare, the loss of options is an unqualifiedly good thing. Thus, coercion, which removes some options, is not necessarily a bad thing in itself, and its loss can often be easy to justify.
Policy solutions to conflicts of interest: the value of professional norms
Authors: SAH SUNITA
Published: October 2017

Advisors, such as physicians, financial advisors, lawyers and accountants, often face a conflict of interest – that is, a clash between their professional and personal interests. Such conflicts can lead to biased and corrupt advice. In this paper, I focus on how conflicts of interest can cause good people to unintentionally cross ethical boundaries and how we can avoid succumbing to this bias. I first discuss two mechanisms through which advisors may convince themselves to accept conflicts of interest while vehemently believing that they remain unbiased: (1) a sense of entitlement; and (2) a sense of invulnerability created by their belief in their own professionalism. I then discuss several proposed policy solutions to manage conflicts of interest, such as education and training, sanctions, second opinions and disclosure policies. These proposed solutions for dealing with conflicts of interest are largely based on inaccurate intuitions regarding the psychological processes that underlie them; consequently, these policies tend to fail or have unintended consequences. In the absence of eliminating conflicts of interest, solutions that are more likely to be successful consist of identifying and changing the professional norms that exert powerful influences on employee behaviour.
ANIMALS OF THE SEALANDS: CEREMONIAL ACTIVITIES IN THE SOUTHERN MESOPOTAMIAN “DARK AGE”
Authors: Twiss Katheryn C.
Published: October 2017

The Sealand Dynasty ruled in southern Mesopotamia ca. 1740–1460(?)b.c.e.,but Sealand archaeological deposits are extraordinarily rare, and the dynasty itself is known almost entirely from a limited number of texts. Sealand Dynasty social and ecological practices remain mysterious, and ceremonial activities are at best poorly understood. Faunal remains from the small site of Tell Sakhariya in southern Iraq provide our first glimpse into the Sealand animal socio-economy. Sakhariya's occupants herded and hunted in multiple environmental zones. In pre-Sealand times Tell Sakhariya was an important ceremonial site, and the large-scale food sharing and possible ritual dog burial in its faunal assemblage might indicate that Sakhariya retained ideological significance into the Sealand era.
Introduction to the 33rd international conference on logic programming special issue
Authors: ROCHA RICARDO , SON TRAN CAO
Published: October 2017

This special issue of Theory and Practice of Logic Programming (TPLP) contains the regular papers accepted for presentation at the 33rd International Conference on Logic Programming (ICLP 2017), held in Melbourne, Australia from the 28th of August to the 1st of September, 2017. ICLP 2017 was colocated with the 23rd International Conference on Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming (CP 2017) and the 20th International Conference on Theory and Applications of Satisfiability Testing (SAT 2017). Since the first conference held in Marseille in 1982, ICLP has been the premier international event for presenting research in logic programming.
North American Wild Rice Faces Sulfide Toxicity
Authors: Lunn Jenny
Published: October 2017

Researchers have developed a model to inform the regulation of sulfate levels in freshwater environments that are threatening the iconic plant.
Ten New Frontiers in the Solar System and Beyond
Authors: Wendel JoAnna , Cartier Kimberly
Published: October 2017

Humanity’s reach has extended from the surface of Earth to the very edge of our solar system, even to exoplanets far into space. What’s next in our journey into the unknown?
Past FEMA Head Urges Smarter Rebuilding After Natural Disasters
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: October 2017

Craig Fugate says the United States has an opportunity to rebuild more resiliently if Congress doesn’t simply provide relief money but also requires rebuilding to higher standards.
On the unipolarity of charge transport in methanofullerene diodes
Authors: Armin Ardalan , Shoaee Safa , Lin Qianqian , Burn Paul L , Meredith Paul
Published: October 2017

Fullerenes are electron transporting organic semiconductors with a wide range of applications. In particular, methanofullerenes have been the preferred choice for solution-processed solar cells and photodiodes. The wide applicability of fullerenes as both ‘n-type’ transport materials and electron acceptors is clear. However, what is still a matter of debate is whether the fullerenes can also support efficient transport of holes, particularly in diode geometries. In this letter, we utilize a number of recently developed experimental methods for selective electron and hole mobility measurements. We show for the two most widely used solution processable fullerenes, PC70- and-PC60BM, that whilst both exhibit electron mobilities as high as 10−3 cm2/Vs, their hole mobilities are < 10−9 cm2/Vs. Thus charge transport in these fullerenes can be considered predominantly unipolar in diode configurations.
Visual sensory stimulation interferes with people’s ability to echolocate object size
Authors: Thaler L. , Foresteire D.
Published: October 2017

Echolocation is the ability to use sound-echoes to infer spatial information about the environment. People can echolocate for example by making mouth clicks. Previous research suggests that echolocation in blind people activates brain areas that process light in sighted people. Research has also shown that echolocation in blind people may replace vision for calibration of external space. In the current study we investigated if echolocation may also draw on ‘visual’ resources in the sighted brain. To this end, we paired a sensory interference paradigm with an echolocation task. We found that exposure to an uninformative visual stimulus (i.e. white light) while simultaneously echolocating significantly reduced participants’ ability to accurately judge object size. In contrast, a tactile stimulus (i.e. vibration on the skin) did not lead to a significant change in performance (neither in sighted, nor blind echo expert participants). Furthermore, we found that the same visual stimulus did not affect performance in auditory control tasks that required detection of changes in sound intensity, sound frequency or sound location. The results suggest that processing of visual and echo-acoustic information draw on common neural resources.
Photosensitised regioselective [2+2]-cycloaddition of cinnamates and related alkenes
Authors: Pagire Santosh K. , Hossain Asik , Traub Lukas , Kerres Sabine , Reiser Oliver
Published: October 2017

A visible-light mediated, photocatalyzed strategy for the efficient synthesis of substituted cyclobutanes from cinnamates, styrenes, and chalcones is presented.
Mono- and binuclear chiral N,N,O-scorpionate zinc alkyls as efficient initiators for the ROP of rac-lactide
Authors: Otero Antonio , Fernández-Baeza Juan , Sánchez-Barba Luis F. , Sobrino Sonia , Garcés Andrés , Lara-Sánchez Agustín , Rodríguez Ana M.
Published: October 2017

Activity enhancement in the ROP ofrac-LA through the cooperative effect of two remote zinc metals in N,N,O-scorpionate binuclear trisalkyls.
Exploring oligomeric state of the serotonin1A receptor utilizing photobleaching image correlation spectroscopy: implications for receptor function
Authors: Chakraborty Hirak , Jafurulla Md. , Clayton Andrew H. A. , Chattopadhyay Amitabha
Published: October 2017

Photobleaching image correlation spectroscopy (pbICS) reveals that membrane cholesterol modulates the oligomeric state of the serotonin1A receptor.
Phosphoramidate hydrolysis catalyzed by human histidine triad nucleotide binding protein 1 (hHint1): a cluster-model DFT computational study
Authors: Liang Guangchao , Webster Charles Edwin
Published: October 2017

The histidine triad of hHint1 serves as a proton shuttle in the DFT proposed mechanism of the hydrolysis of phosphoramidate.
Correction: A facile approach to fabrication of well-dispersed NiO–ZnO composite hollow microspheres
Authors: Xie Qingshui , Guo Huizhang , Zhang Xiangxin , Lu Aolin , Zeng Deqian , Chen Yuanzhi , Peng Dong-Liang
Published: October 2017

Correction for ‘A facile approach to fabrication of well-dispersed NiO–ZnO composite hollow microspheres’ by Qingshui Xie et al., RSC Adv., 2013, 3, 24430–24439.
Metal–organic frameworks grown on a porous planar template with an exceptionally high surface area: promising nanofiller platforms for CO2 separation
Authors: Lee Hyunhee , Park Seul Chan , Roh Ji Soo , Moon Gi Hyeon , Shin Jae Eun , Kang Yong Soo , Park Ho Bum
Published: October 2017

A new concept of nanocomposites, MOFs on porous two-dimensional nanosheets (MP2), was demonstrated and showed great potential in real gas separation.
Tri-lithium borate (Li3BO3); a new highly regenerable high capacity CO2 adsorbent at intermediate temperature
Authors: Harada Takuya , Hatton T. Alan
Published: October 2017

A lithium-borate oxide, Li3BO3, is proposed as a next generation high capacity CO2 adsorbent operative over the intermediate temperature range of 500 to 650 °C.
Boosting the photovoltaic thermal stability of fullerene bulk heterojunction solar cells through charge transfer interactions
Authors: Yi Ho Carr Hoi , Cao Huanyang , Lu Yong , Lau Tsz-Ki , Cheung Sin Hang , Li Ho-Wa , Yin Hang , Chiu Ka Lok , Ma Lik-Kuen , Cheng Yuanhang , Tsang Sai-Wing , Lu Xinhui , So Shu Kong , Ong Beng S.
Published: October 2017

Charge transfer interaction of a donor polymer with an appropriate 9-fluorenylidene malononitrile derivative in the active layer leads to profoundly enhanced thermal stability of fullerene-based bulk heterojunction organic solar cells.
Fabrication of novel lamellar alternating nitrogen-doped microporous carbon nanofilm/MoS2 composites with high electrochemical properties
Authors: Chen Zhen , Xie Huiqi , Hu Linfeng , Chen Min , Wu Limin
Published: October 2017

Nitrogen-doped microporous carbon nanofilm/MoS2 composites (NMC-nanofilm@MoS2) were synthesized by immersing MOP nanofilms in (NH4)2MoS4 methanol solution and a subsequent annealing process.
Substituent effects in magnesium tetraethynylporphyrin with two diketopyrrolopyrrole units for bulk heterojunction organic solar cells
Authors: Ogumi Keisuke , Nakagawa Takafumi , Okada Hiroshi , Sakai Ryohei , Wang Huan , Matsuo Yutaka
Published: October 2017

Acceptor–donor–acceptor conjugated magnesium porphyrins showed a power conversion efficiency of 5.73%, high open-circuit voltage of 0.79 V, or an extended incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency spectrum to 1100 nm, depending on the substituents.
A random donor polymer based on an asymmetric building block to tune the morphology of non-fullerene organic solar cells
Authors: Liu Jing , Ma Lik-Kuen , Li Zhengke , Hu Huawei , Ma Tingxuan , Zhu Chenhui , Ade Harald , Yan He
Published: October 2017

The introduction of an asymmetric unit enables a fine-tuned morphology and thus up to 10.4% efficiency for non-fullerene organic solar cells.
Synergistic photodynamic therapeutic effect of indole-3-acetic acid using a pH sensitive nano-carrier based on poly(aspartic acid-graft-imidazole)-poly(ethylene glycol)
Authors: Sim Taehoon , Lim Chaemin , Hoang Ngoc Ha , Kim Jae Eun , Lee Eun Seong , Youn Yu Seok , Oh Kyung Taek
Published: October 2017

Poly(aspartic acid-graft-imidazole)-poly(ethylene glycol) was applied as a pH-sensitive nanocarrier of the photosensitizer indole-3-acetic acid for treatment of skin cancer.
Unimolecular micelles of pH-responsive star-like copolymers for co-delivery of anticancer drugs and small-molecular photothermal agents: a new drug-carrier for combinational chemo/photothermal cancer therapy
Authors: Jia Tao , Huang Shuo , Yang Cangjie , Wang Mingfeng
Published: October 2017

Robust unimolecular micelles of amphiphilic pH-responsive starlike copolymers that carry anticancer drugs and photothermal agents show enhanced therapeutic effect against cancer cells.
A two-photon ratiometric fluorescent probe for the synergistic detection of the mitochondrial SO2/HClO crosstalk in cells and in vivo
Authors: Dou Kun , Chen Guang , Yu Fabiao , Sun Zhiwei , Li Guoliang , Zhao Xianen , Chen Lingxin , You Jinmao
Published: October 2017

We report herein a mitochondria-targeted two-photon ratiometric fluorescent probe to respectively or successively detect HSO3−/HClO in cells and zebrafish.
Development of a dual drug-loaded hydrogel delivery system for enhanced cancer therapy: in situ formation, degradation and synergistic antitumor efficiency
Authors: Cheng Cui , Zhang Xiuli , Meng Yabin , Chen Li , Zhang Qiqing
Published: October 2017

A stimuli-responsive, biodegradable, and dual drug-loaded hydrogel delivery system was formed in situ for combination drug therapy of cancer in vivo.
In situ synthesis of fluorescent polydopamine nanoparticles coupled with enzyme-controlled dissolution of MnO2 nanoflakes for a sensitive immunoassay of cancer biomarkers
Authors: Lin Zhenzhen , Li Meijin , Lv Shuzhen , Zhang Kangyao , Lu Minghua , Tang Dianping
Published: October 2017

A new fluorescence/visual immunosensing strategy was designed for the AFP detection coupling enzyme-controlled formation of polydopamine and dissolution of MnO2 nanoflakes.
Macromolecular assemblies of complex polysaccharides with galectin-3 and their synergistic effects on function
Authors: Zhang Tao , Miller Michelle C. , Zheng Yi , Zhang Zhongyu , Xue Huiting , Zhao Dongyang , Su Jiyong , Mayo Kevin H. , Zhou Yifa , Tai Guihua
Published: October 2017

Although pectin-derived polysaccharides can antagonize galectin function in various pathological disorders, the nature of their binding interactions needs to be better defined for developing them as drugs. Moreover, given their relatively large size and complexity, pectin-derived polysaccharides are also useful as model systems to assess inter-polysaccharide and protein–polysaccharide interactions. Here, we investigated interactions between galectin-3 (Gal-3) and pectin-derived polysaccharides: a rhamnogalacturonan (RG) and two homogalacturonans (HGs). BioLayer Interferometry and fluorescence-linked immunosorbent assays indicate that these polysaccharides bind Gal-3 with macroscopic or apparent KD values of 49 nM, 46 µM, and 138 µM, respectively. 15N-1H heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC) NMR studies reveal that these polysaccharides interact primarily with the F-face of the Gal-3 carbohydrate recognition domain. Even though their binding to Gal-3 does not inhibit Gal-3-mediated T-cell apoptosis and only weakly attenuates hemagglutination, their combination in specific proportions increases activity synergistically along with avidity for Gal-3. This suggests that RG and HG polysaccharides act in concert, a proposal supported by polysaccharide particle size measurements and 13C-1H HSQC data. Our model has HG interacting with RG to promote increased avidity of RG for Gal-3, likely by exposing additional lectin-binding sites on the RG. Overall, the present study contributes to our understanding of how complex HG and RG polysaccharides interact with Gal-3.
A conserved mammalian mitochondrial isoform of acetyl-CoA carboxylase ACC1 provides the malonyl-CoA essential for mitochondrial biogenesis in tandem with ACSF3
Authors: Monteuuis Geoffray , Suomi Fumi , Kerätär Juha M. , Masud Ali J. , Kastaniotis Alexander J.
Published: October 2017

Mitochondrial fatty acid synthesis (mtFAS) is a highly conserved pathway essential for mitochondrial biogenesis. The mtFAS process is required for mitochondrial respiratory chain assembly and function, synthesis of the lipoic acid cofactor indispensable for the function of several mitochondrial enzyme complexes and essential for embryonic development in mice. Mutations in human mtFAS have been reported to lead to neurodegenerative disease. The source of malonyl-CoA for mtFAS in mammals has remained unclear. We report the identification of a conserved vertebrate mitochondrial isoform of ACC1 expressed from an ACACA transcript splicing variant. A specific knockdown (KD) of the corresponding transcript in mouse cells, or CRISPR/Cas9-mediated inactivation of the putative mitochondrial targeting sequence in human cells, leads to decreased lipoylation and mitochondrial fragmentation. Simultaneous KD of ACSF3, encoding a mitochondrial malonyl-CoA synthetase previously implicated in the mtFAS process, resulted in almost complete ablation of protein lipoylation, indicating that these enzymes have a redundant function in mtFAS. The discovery of a mitochondrial isoform of ACC1 required for lipoic acid synthesis has intriguing consequences for our understanding of mitochondrial disorders, metabolic regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis and cancer.
Mass spectrometry for fragment screening
Authors: Chan Daniel Shiu-Hin , Whitehouse Andrew J. , Coyne Anthony G. , Abell Chris
Published: October 2017

Fragment-based approaches in chemical biology and drug discovery have been widely adopted worldwide in both academia and industry. Fragment hits tend to interact weakly with their targets, necessitating the use of sensitive biophysical techniques to detect their binding. Common fragment screening techniques include differential scanning fluorimetry (DSF) and ligand-observed NMR. Validation and characterization of hits is usually performed using a combination of protein-observed NMR, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and X-ray crystallography. In this context, MS is a relatively underutilized technique in fragment screening for drug discovery. MS-based techniques have the advantage of high sensitivity, low sample consumption and being label-free. This review highlights recent examples of the emerging use of MS-based techniques in fragment screening.
Ultra‐low power comparator with dynamic offset cancellation for SAR ADC
Authors: Xin Xin , Cai Jueping , Xie Ruilian , Wang Peng
Published: October 2017

An ultra‐low power dynamic comparator is proposed with low dynamic offset variation for successive approximation register (SAR) analogue‐to‐digital converter (ADC). Dynamic offset can be cancelled with the cascode current source. Moreover, the power consumption can be reduced because it has no power consumption during the reset phase. With body‐driven technology and cross‐coupled inverter, the positive feedback during the regeneration is enhanced, which reduces remarkably delay time. Simulation results in a 0.18 μm CMOS technology confirm the performance of the proposed comparator. It is shown that the fluctuation of the total offset voltage (mean + 3std) is 0.15 and 0.39 mV with common‐mode voltage from 0.5VDD to VDD at supply 1.2 and 0.6 V through Monte Carlo simulation, respectively. Furthermore, the delay of the proposed structure can be decreased to 1.837 and 118.2 ns at supply voltages of 1.2 and 0.6 V, while the power consumption is only 18.6 μW and 144 nW, respectively.
Robust precoder design for massive MIMO with peak total power constrained single‐RF‐chain transmitters
Authors: Soleimani Maliheh , Mazrouei‐Sebdani Mahmood , Elliott Robert C. , Krzymień Witold A. , Melzer Jordan
Published: October 2017

Massive multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) transmission/reception is a very promising enablingtechnique for future cellular systems. The performance of massive MIMO systemsrelies on the availability of channel state information (CSI) at thetransmitter. However, due to estimation errors and delay this CSI is imperfect. Additionally, the use of many radio frequency (RF) chains to drive a largenumber of antennas at the transmitter quickly becomes impractical when thatnumber increases. Thus, reducing the number of RF chains in massive MIMO systemsis essential in order to reduce the system complexity and cost. Considering amassive MIMO system with a single‐RF‐chain transmitter, in this study, theauthors design a precoding technique that is robust to the channel uncertainty. To reflect realistic restrictions in the authors' design, they consider the peaktotal transmitted power rather than the average power constraint. Also, theyconsider imperfect CSI and model the uncertainty region as a bounded one, whichis a reasonable assumption. In this transmitter structure, there is only onepower amplifier and load modulation rather than voltage modulation is used togenerate the desired signals on the antenna elements. They demonstrate that whena very simple fixed equaliser is used at all user terminals, the problem ofminimising the mean‐square error of the received signals at user terminals underthe worst‐case channel uncertainty can be transformed into a convex optimisationproblem. They provide simulation results and demonstrate that the proposedrobust precoding technique outperforms non‐robust techniques in terms of powerefficiency and signal‐to‐interference‐plus‐noise ratios.
Downlink resource allocation in OFDMA wireless networks under power amplifier non‐linearity
Authors: Baghani Mina , Mohammadi Abbas , Majidi Mahdi
Published: October 2017

In this study, the physical layer resource allocation in orthogonal frequency‐division multiple access (OFDMA) systems is studied by considering the non‐linear effects of power amplifier (PA). The non‐linearity produces cross‐correlation among the subcarriers and results in deteriorating the OFDMA subcarriers orthogonality. Hence, the signal‐to‐interference ratio (SIR) of the output signal of PA for OFDMA signal with different power scaling factors for subcarriers is derived. Then, the theoretical SIR is verified by simulation result. Next, the optimisation problem is designed to maximise the total achievable downlink rate of all users by assigning subcarriers and power scaling factors. This non‐convex problem is solved by comprehensive learning particle swarm optimisation. The simulation results show that when PA is non‐linear, better total rate is achieved by considering non‐linearity in resource allocation compared with the conventional resource allocation techniques.
Window‐based adaptive technique for real‐time streaming of scalable video over cognitive radio networks
Authors: Omer Ala Eldin , Hassan Mohamed S. , El‐Tarhuni Mohamed
Published: October 2017

In this study, an integrated scheme is proposed to stream real‐time scalable videos from a base station to multiple secondary users over cognitive radio networks. The objective of the proposed scheme is to maintain continuous video playback with acceptable perceptual quality at the secondary users end. The proposed scheme is a channel allocation algorithm integrated with a rate control and scheduling algorithms. The channel allocation algorithm is introduced to optimally assign the available channels among the secondary users while taking into considerations their buffer occupancies as well as the channel qualities as seen by the secondary users to meet the requirements of the real‐time streamed videos. While the rate control algorithm adapts the source rate to meet the streaming requirements, the scheduling algorithm splits the transmitted video information based on its importance to guarantee the continuity of video playback. The simulation results do not only demonstrate the efficient utilisation of available resources of the cognitive network by the proposed scheme but highlights a desirable need‐based fairness when allocating the available channels between the secondary users. The simulation results also indicate that scheduling the transmitted video information on a window basis outperforms frame‐based streaming.
Multiplicative repetition‐based spinal codes with low computational complexity
Authors: Chen Peiyao , Bai Baoming , Li Qiong , Zhang Rui
Published: October 2017

Spinal codes, a new class of rateless codes, have received considerable attention for their capacity‐approaching performance over noisy channels. Hash function is the core of a spinal encoder to generate infinite coded symbols, which has higher hardware complexity. In this study, the authors propose a multiplicative repetition‐based method instead of the hash function to generate innumerable symbols with low encoding complexity. Furthermore, both frozen‐aided and cyclic redundancy check‐aided decoding methods are proposed to improve the spectral efficiency. Simulation results show that the proposed spinal codes have lower computational complexity and can achieve higher spectral efficiency in the high signal‐to‐noise ratio region compared with the conventional ones over both additive white Gaussian noise and Rayleigh fading channels.
Energy‐balancing node scheduling inspired by gene regulatory networks for wireless sensor networks
Authors: Byun Heejung , Yang Sumi
Published: October 2017

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) generally comprise a large number of tiny sensor nodes that perform network processing of the acquired data and then forwarding such data to the sink via multi‐hop paths. The sensor nodes are resource constrained in terms of battery life, memory, and processing capability. Hence, a critical aspect in WSNs is power scarcity, which directly affects the network operation lifetime and the performance of applications. Furthermore, large‐scale WSNs demand a high level of self‐organisation so each node of the system autonomously makes decisions. In this respect, self‐organising methods enhancing the network lifetime while achieving balanced energy are highly significant in WSNs. In this study, the authors apply gene regulatory network (GRN) principles to WSN system and design a new GRN‐inspired model for autonomous node scheduling in WSNs. GRNs have received considerable attention from computational engineering for their robustness, scalability, and adaptability with simple local interactions and limited information. They apply cellular mechanisms of GRNs to WSNs and establish a metaphor between a multi‐cellular system and a WSN system. Then, they propose a new model inspired by GRN so each sensor node autonomously schedules its state with local interaction based on sensor variable signalling while achieving the global object predefined by an application or user. Using control theory, they analyse system stability and derive steady states of the proposed system. They further derive the conditions of system parameters to ensure system convergence to a desired state. Simulation and numerical results are evaluated to provide insights into the effect of various system parameters on energy balancing and system stability.
Joint detection and decoding for physical‐layer network coding in power line channel
Authors: Hu Xiaoyu , Chen Zhe , Yin Fuliang
Published: October 2017

In this study, a joint detection and generalised sum‐product decoding algorithm for a two‐way relay physical‐layer network coding (PLNC) system in power line communication is proposed. Distinct from the existing works which mainly focused on separate or iterative PLNC detection and decoding, the proposed algorithm is a belief propagation‐based joint PLNC detection and decoding algorithm, which integrates the PLNC, symbol detector and channel decoder together. The proposed algorithm is described by a joint factor graph, in which the detection nodes are connected to the factor graph of a generalised sum‐product decoder. The PLNC demodulation is redesigned to make sure that the degree of each detection node in the joint factor graph is more than one. A low computational complexity solution of the proposed joint decoding algorithm based on the majority‐logic algorithm is also proposed. The simulation results reveal the validity of the proposed algorithms.
On the error probability of Alamouti scheme with transmit antenna selection for CPM‐MIMO systems
Authors: Guowei Lei , Yuanan Liu , Xuefang Xiao
Published: October 2017

Up to now, some related results on the upper bounds of error probability have been concluded for some linear modulations with orthogonal space–time block codes in multiple‐input and multiple‐output (MIMO) systems. For instance, the performance of MIMO systems with antenna selection (AS) has been investigated widely, whereas in non‐linear modulations, i.e. continuous phase modulation (CPM), there are few relevant literatures found to this date. With this motivation, this study derives upper bound of the error probability of Alamouti scheme with transmit AS (TAS) in CPM‐MIMO systems. First, a new form of signal matrix for CPM‐MIMO system is given. Then, the pair wise probability conditioned on fading channel statistics is written availably by computing the difference of signal matrix. Moreover, the probability distribution function is obtained by employing order statistics theory. Furthermore, the tight upper bounds of the frame error rate are derived. Finally, simulated results verify the accuracy of the theoretical analysis.
Energy efficiency optimisation in MIMO‐OFDMA systems with block diagonalisation
Authors: Mao Jing , Chen Chen , Cheng Xiang , Xiang Haige
Published: October 2017

In this study, the authors investigate the energy‐efficient resource allocation in a multiuser downlink multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) orthogonal frequency‐division multiple access system with block diagonalisation. Unlike the existing works in which one subcarrier is exclusively used, they consider the multiple user MIMO case on each subcarrier. An optimisation problem involving user selection, receive‐signal subspace selection and power allocation is formulated to maximise the system energy efficiency (EE). As optimising the orientation of the receive‐signal subspace is difficult, they considered two simpler resource allocation schemes, subspace selection scheme and user selection scheme. The two optimisation problems for the subspace and user selection schemes can be rewritten as a unified problem involving set selection and power allocation. By relaxing the combinatorial variables, they obtain an optimal joint set selection and power allocation solution, which can be directly applied to the original problem in most cases. To further reduce the complexity of the algorithm, they also develop a preselection technique for the user and received‐signal subspace on each subcarrier. Through simulations, they discuss the impact of different parameters on the EE for the two schemes and show that the proposed suboptimal algorithm can achieve a close performance to the optimal algorithm.
Selective physical layer network coding in bidirectional relay channel
Authors: Mahdavi Ala , Jamshidi Ali , Keshavarz‐Haddad Alireza
Published: October 2017

In this paper, the authors show that using physical layer network coding (PNC) in wireless relay systems does not always increase throughput performance, and to achieve maximum throughput, PNC should be exploited intelligently regarding to the channel conditions. In this study, they propose a selective PNC (SPNC) scheme in bidirectional relay systems for binary phase shift keying. In the proposed scheme, the relay chooses either to detect network‐coded data from superimposed signal by PNC scheme or single source data by a so‐called single node detection (SND) scheme, based on which offers more end‐to‐end throughput for current channel realisation. They analytically determine the region of channel state plane in which SPNC selects SND scheme. Also, they obtain expressions for instantaneous bit error rates (BERs) of PNC and SND protocols. Moreover, they derive upper bounds in closed‐form for average BERs of PNC and SND schemes during multiple access phase at the relay. Then, they investigate SPNC with high‐order modulations. Simulations and analytical results confirm that SPNC achieves considerable throughput gain over PNC in Rayleigh fading channels.
Training sequences design for channel estimation in FTN system using discrete Fourier transform techniques
Authors: Cai Biao , Liu Aijun , Tong Xinhai , Cheng Fengyi
Published: October 2017

This study addresses the training sequence design problem for multipath channel estimation in faster‐than‐Nyquist (FTN) system. The authors process the estimation in the frequency domain and give the search criterion which is only the function of the power spectrum of the training sequence. The optimal sequence according to this criterion is found by using search strategy described in detail in this study and the performance of it is tested by Monte Carlo simulation.
Power control and performance analysis for full‐duplex relay‐assisted D2D communication underlaying fifth generation cellular networks
Authors: Shi Jian Feng , Chen Ming , Yang Zhao Hui , Xu Hao , Wang Yinlu
Published: October 2017

Full‐duplex relay‐assisted device‐to‐device (D2D) communication underlaying fifth generation cellular networks allow devices to exchange information directly and extend coverage via relay strategy. In this study, the authors consider such a scenario, where the D2D communications assisted by fixed‐location full‐duplex relays in interference existing circumstance. Different from previous works, they assume that there are two types of users, cellular users and D2D users. They investigate power control problem and coverage probability performance in the previously assumed situation. Therefore, an effective power control scheme is of great importance to suppress interference between D2D and cellular communications, which can improve the total system throughput and spectral efficiency. To describe it, they formulate a power control optimisation problem for cellular communication and propose a simple on–off power control algorithm for D2D communication. They also obtain an analytic expression for the coverage probability of the cellular link using stochastic geometry according to the proposed algorithm. Simulation results follow to show the rates of both cellular and D2D links in the various numbers of D2D transceivers.
DQPSK modulation and demodulation using SAW device
Authors: Roy Arijit , Nemade Harshal B. , Bhattacharjee Ratnajit , Kushwah Vinod
Published: October 2017

A Differential quadrature phase shift keying (DQPSK) modulator and demodulator system incorporating surface acoustic wave (SAW) device is presented. The SAW device in the modulator consists of four delay lines corresponding to different phase delays and generates phase shift keyed radio‐frequency signals. In the demodulator section, another SAW device performs addition operation between two consecutive received signals to obtain the phase difference. The DQPSK demodulation is extended for the demodulation of quadrature phase shift keying signal without the requirement of locally generated reference carrier. The operation of the proposed DQPSK system using SAW along with the bit error rate (BER) performance is presented. The effect of additional phase delay in the received signal on BER is also presented. Addition operation of the received signals using SAW is also verified using simulation.