bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anticancer potentiality of lignan rich fraction of six Flaxseed cultivars
Authors: Ezzat Shahira M. , Shouman Samia A. , Elkhoely Abeer , Attia Yasmin M. , Elsesy Mohamed S. , El Senousy Amira S. , Choucry Mouchira A. , El Gayed Sabah H. , El Sayed Abeer A. , Sattar Essam Abdel , El Tanbouly Nebal
Published: January 2018

The objective of our study is to highlight the therapeutic effect and mechanism of action by which purified Flaxseed hydrolysate (PFH) which is a lignan rich fraction exerts its anticancer activity on a human breast cancer cell line (T47D) and in mice bearing tumor. HPLC analysis of PFH of six flaxseed cultivars had shown that PFH of the cultivar Giza 9 (PFH-G9) contains the highest concentration of SDG (81.64 mg/g). The in vitro cytotoxic potentiality of PFH’s of six flaxseed cultivars was screened against a panel of human cancer cell lines. PFH -G9 showed the most significant cytotoxic activity against ER-receptor positive breast cell lines MCF7 and T47D with IC50 13.8 and 15.8 µg/ml, respectively. Moreover, PFH-G9 reduced the expression of the metastasis marker, 1-α, metalloproteinases and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), one of the most potent stimulators of angiogenesis, while it increased the caspase-3 dependent apoptosis. Our study also showed that dietary intake of 10% of Giza 9 Flaxseeds (FS), fixed oil (FSO) or Flax meal (FSM) twice daily for 3 weeks in mice-bearing solid Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) resulted in reducing the tumor volume, the expression of estrogen, insulin growth factor, progesterone, VEGF and MMP-2, but enhanced expression of caspase-3.
Observation of carrier localization in cubic crystalline Ge2Sb2Te5 by field effect measurement
Authors: Qian Hang , Tong Hao , He Ming-Ze , Ji Hong-Kai , Zhou Ling-Jun , Xu Ming , Miao Xiang-Shui
Published: January 2018

The tunable disorder of vacancies upon annealing is an important character of crystalline phase-change material Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST). A variety of resistance states caused by different degrees of disorder can lead to the development of multilevel memory devices, which could bring a revolution to the memory industry by significantly increasing the storage density and inspiring the neuromorphic computing. This work focuses on the study of disorder-induced carrier localization which could result in multiple resistance levels of crystalline GST. To analyze the effect of carrier localization on multiple resistant levels, the intrinsic field effect (the change in surface conductance with an applied transverse electric field) of crystalline GST was measured, in which GST films were annealed at different temperatures. The field effect measurement is an important complement to conventional transport measurement techniques. The field effect mobility was acquired and showed temperature activation, a hallmark of carrier localization. Based on the relationship between field effect mobility and annealing temperature, we demonstrate that the annealing shifts the mobility edge towards the valence-band edge, delocalizing more carriers. The insight of carrier transport in multilevel crystalline states is of fundamental relevance for the development of multilevel phase change data storage.
Multimodal tumor-homing chitosan oligosaccharide-coated biocompatible palladium nanoparticles for photo-based imaging and therapy
Authors: Bharathiraja Subramaniyan , Bui Nhat Quang , Manivasagan Panchanathan , Moorthy Madhappan Santha , Mondal Sudip , Seo Hansu , Phuoc Nguyen Thanh , Vy Phan Thi Tuong , Kim Hyehyun , Lee Kang Dae , Oh Junghwan
Published: January 2018

Palladium, a near-infrared plasmonic material has been recognized for its use in photothermal therapy as an alternative to gold nanomaterials. However, its potential application has not been explored well in biomedical applications. In the present study, palladium nanoparticles were synthesized and the surface of the particles was successfully modified with chitosan oligosaccharide (COS), which improved the biocompatibility of the particles. More importantly, the particles were functionalized with RGD peptide, which improves particle accumulation in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells and results in enhanced photothermal therapeutic effects under an 808-nm laser. The RGD peptide-linked, COS-coated palladium nanoparticles (Pd@COS-RGD) have good biocompatibility, water dispersity, and colloidal and physiological stability. They destroy the tumor effectively under 808-nm laser illumination at 2 W cm−2 power density. Further, Pd@COS-RGD gives good amplitude of photoacoustic signals, which facilitates the imaging of tumor tissues using a non-invasive photoacoustic tomography system. Finally, the fabricated Pd@COS-RGD acts as an ideal nanotheranostic agent for enhanced imaging and therapy of tumors using a non-invasive near-infrared laser.
Scanning electron microscopy assessment of the Descemet membrane interface during DMEK graft preparation
Authors: Cabrerizo Javier , Forshaw Thomas , Rodriguez-Aierbe Clara , Garrido-Fierro Jesus
Published: January 2018

We set out to determine microscopic characteristics of the Descemet membrane interface during Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) graft preparation. Ten corneas were partially prepared, preserving half of the Descemet membrane attached to the stroma to enable visualisation of the Descemet-stroma interface. This tissue was prepared for viewing with a scanning electron microscope. The Descemet-stroma interface was categorised into three regions: centre, mid-periphery and periphery. We classified adhesions in these regions as either minor thread-like adhesions or major bridge-like adhesions with stromal detachments. We found a region-specific differentiation of the Descemet-stroma morphology. The presence of minor (P = 0,0001) and major (P = 0,0001) adhesions at the explored regions of the Descemet-stroma interface were found to be statistically significant. Fibrotic linear adhesions were predominant in the centre and mid-periphery, whereas the larger bridge-like adhesions were found mainly in the periphery. In addition, we observed a positive correlation between the size of the adhesions and the presence of ruptures in the underlying stromal bed. Viewing of the Descemet-stroma interface with electron microscopy reveals morphological differences between the centre of a graft and its periphery. These findings are of potential clinical relevance in terms of developing a better understanding of tissue behaviour during graft preparation.
Impacts of feeding preweaned calves milk containing drug residues on the functional profile of the fecal microbiota
Authors: Pereira Richard Van Vleck , Carroll Laura M. , Lima Svetlana , Foditsch Carla , Siler Julie D. , Bicalho Rodrigo Carvalho , Warnick Lorin D.
Published: January 2018

Feeding drug residue-containing milk to calves is common worldwide and no information is currently available on the impact on the functional profile of the fecal microbiota. Our objective was to characterize the functional profile of the fecal microbiota of preweaned dairy calves fed raw milk with residual concentrations of antimicrobials commonly found in waste milk from birth to weaning. Calves were assigned to a controlled feeding trial being fed milk with no drug residues or milk with antibiotic residues. Fecal samples collected from each calf once a week starting at birth, prior to the first feeding in the trial, until 6 weeks of age. Antibiotic residues resulted in a significant difference in relative abundance of microbial cell functions, especially with genes linked with stress response, regulation and cell signaling, and nitrogen metabolism. These changes could directly impacts selection and dissemination of virulence and antimicrobial. Our data also identified a strong association between age in weeks and abundance of Resistance to Antibiotics and Toxic Compounds. Findings from this study support the hypothesis that drug residues, even at very low concentrations, impact the gut microbiota of calves and result in changes in the functional profile of microbial populations.
Comparison of Bladder Carcinogens in the Urine of E-cigarette Users Versus Non E-cigarette Using Controls
Authors: Fuller Thomas W. , Acharya Abhinav P. , Meyyappan Thiagarajan , Yu Michelle , Bhaskar Godugu , Little Steven R. , Tarin Tatum V.
Published: January 2018

Electronic cigarette (EC) use is gaining popularity as a substitute for conventional smoking due to the perception and evidence it represents a safer alternative. In contrast to the common perception amongst users that ECs represent no risk initial studies have revealed a complex composition of e-cigarette liquids. Conventional cigarette smoking is a known risk factor for developing bladder cancer and prior reports raise concern some of those causative compounds may exist in EC liquids or vapor. Urine samples were collected from 13 e-cigarette using subjects and 10 non e-cigarette using controls. Five known bladder carcinogens that are either present in conventional cigarettes, products of combustion, or solvents believed to be used in some e-cigarette formulations were quantified by liquid chromatography – mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Analysis of e-cigarette user urine revealed the presence of two carcinogenic compounds, o-toluidine and 2-naphthylamine, at a mean 2.3 and 1.3 fold higher concentration (p-value of 0.0013 and 0.014 respectively). Many of these subjects (9/13) were long term nonsmokers (>12 months). Further study is needed to clarify the safety profile of e-cigarettes and their contribution to the development of bladder cancer given the greater concentration of carcinogenic aromatic amines in the urine of e-cigarette users.
A triangle study of human, instrument and bioelectronic nose for non-destructive sensing of seafood freshness
Authors: Lee Kyung Mi , Son Manki , Kang Ju Hee , Kim Daesan , Hong Seunghun , Park Tai Hyun , Chun Hyang Sook , Choi Shin Sik
Published: January 2018

Because the freshness of seafood determines its consumer preference and food safety, the rapid monitoring of seafood deterioration is considered essential. However, the conventional analysis of seafood deterioration using chromatography instruments and bacterial colony counting depends on time-consuming and food-destructive treatments. In this study, we demonstrate a non-destructive and rapid food freshness monitoring system by a triangular study of sensory evaluation, gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS), and a bioelectronic nose. The sensory evaluation indicated that the acceptability and flavor deteriorated gradually during post-harvest storage (4 °C) for 6 days. The GC-MS analysis recognized the reduction of freshness by detecting a generation of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) from the headspace of oyster in a refrigerator (4 °C) at 4 days post-harvest. However, the bioelectronic nose incorporating human olfactory receptor peptides with the carbon nanotube field-effect transistor sensed trimethylamine (TMA) from the oyster at 2 days post-harvest with suggesting early recognition of oysters’ quality and freshness deterioration. Given that the bacterial species producing DMS or TMA along with toxins were found in the oyster, the bacterial contamination-driven food deterioration is rapidly monitored using the bioelectronic nose with a targeted non-destructive freshness marker.
Disposition of a Glucose Load into Hepatic Glycogen by Direct and Indirect Pathways in Juvenile Seabass and Seabream
Authors: Rito João , Viegas Ivan , Pardal Miguel A. , Metón Isidoro , Baanante Isabel V. , Jones John G.
Published: January 2018

In carnivorous fish, conversion of a glucose load to hepatic glycogen is widely used to assess their metabolic flexibility towards carbohydrate utilization, but the activities of direct and indirect pathways in this setting are unclear. We assessed the conversion of an intraperitoneal glucose load (2 g.kg−1) enriched with [U-13C6]glucose to hepatic glycogen in juvenile seabass and seabream. 13C-NMR analysis of glycogen was used to determine the contribution of the load to glycogen synthesis via direct and indirect pathways at 48-hr post-injection. For seabass, [U-13C6]glucose was accompanied by deuterated water and 2H-NMR analysis of glycogen 2H-enrichment, allowing endogenous substrate contributions to be assessed as well. For fasted seabass and seabream, 47 ± 5% and 64 ± 10% of glycogen was synthesized from the load, respectively. Direct and indirect pathways contributed equally (25 ± 3% direct, 21 ± 1% indirect for seabass; 35 ± 7% direct, 29 ± 4% indirect for seabream). In fasted seabass, integration of 2H- and 13C-NMR analysis indicated that endogenous glycerol and anaplerotic substrates contributed an additional 7 ± 2% and 7 ± 1%, respectively. In fed seabass, glucose load contributions were residual and endogenous contributions were negligible. Concluding, direct and indirect pathways contributed equally and substantially to fasting hepatic glycogen repletion from a glucose load in juvenile seabream and seabass.
X-ray diffraction tomography with limited projection information
Authors: Zhu Zheyuan , Katsevich Alexander , Kapadia Anuj J. , Greenberg Joel A. , Pang Shuo
Published: January 2018

X-ray diffraction tomography (XDT) records the spatially-resolved X-ray diffraction profile of an extended object. Compared to conventional transmission-based tomography, XDT displays high intrinsic contrast among materials of similar electron density and improves the accuracy in material identification thanks to the molecular structural information carried by diffracted photons. However, due to the weak diffraction signal, a tomographic scan covering the entire object typically requires a synchrotron facility to make the acquisition time more manageable. Imaging applications in medical and industrial settings usually do not require the examination of the entire object. Therefore, a diffraction tomography modality covering only the region of interest (ROI) and subsequent image reconstruction techniques with truncated projections are highly desirable. Here we propose a table-top diffraction tomography system that can resolve the spatially-variant diffraction form factor from internal regions within extended samples. We demonstrate that the interior reconstruction maintains the material contrast while reducing the imaging time by 6 folds. The presented method could accelerate the acquisition of XDT and be applied in portable imaging applications with a reduced radiation dose.
Graphene analogue in (111)-oriented BaBiO3 bilayer heterostructures for topological electronics
Authors: Kim Rokyeon , Yu Jaejun , Jin Hosub
Published: January 2018

Topological electronics is a new field that uses topological charges as current-carrying degrees of freedom. For topological electronics applications, systems should host topologically distinct phases to control the topological domain boundary through which the topological charges can flow. Due to their multiple Dirac cones and the π-Berry phase of each Dirac cone, graphene-like electronic structures constitute an ideal platform for topological electronics; graphene can provide various topological phases when incorporated with large spin-orbit coupling and mass-gap tunability via symmetry-breaking. Here, we propose that a (111)-oriented BaBiO3 bilayer (BBL) sandwiched between large-gap perovskite oxides is a promising candidate for topological electronics by realizing a gap-tunable, and consequently a topology-tunable, graphene analogue. Depending on how neighboring perovskite spacers are chosen, the inversion symmetry of the BBL heterostructure can be either conserved or broken, leading to the quantum spin Hall (QSH) and quantum valley Hall (QVH) phases, respectively. BBL sandwiched by ferroelectric compounds enables switching of the QSH and QVH phases and generates the topological domain boundary. Given the abundant order parameters of the sandwiching oxides, the BBL can serve as versatile topological building blocks in oxide heterostructures.
Delivering digital cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia at scale: does using a wearable device to estimate sleep influence therapy?
Authors: Luik Annemarie I. , Farias Machado Pedro , Espie Colin A.
Published: January 2018

Contemporary developments, such as digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and wearable devices estimating sleep, could support the implementation of CBT for insomnia at a large scale. We assessed what characterizes those users who connected a wearable device to the program to estimate sleep diary variables, and whether connecting a wearable device affected insomnia symptom improvement, related well-being, and program interaction. In total, 3551 users (63% female, mean age 44.50 ± 14.78 years) of a dCBT program who completed a post-therapy survey, including 378 users (10.6%) who used a device, were selected. Within-subject, pre-therapy to post-therapy, the Sleep Condition Indicator (SCI, 7 Items) was used to assess insomnia. Two-item measures (depression, anxiety) and single item measures (perceived stress, life satisfaction, work productivity) of well-being were analyzed, in addition to program interaction. For all participants, insomnia symptoms significantly improved following dCBT (t(3504) = 83.33, p < 0.001; Cohen’s d = 1.45), as did depression and anxiety symptoms, perceived stress, life satisfaction and work productivity. Those who did not connect a device reported better sleep and less affected work productivity (all p < .001) than those who did connect a device at baseline and post-treatment; nevertheless treatment effects were largely similar for the two groups. Those who connected a device interacted more with additional program components. In conclusion, improvements in insomnia after completing dCBT are similar in persons choosing to wear a wearable device to estimate sleep and persons completing a subjective sleep diary. Potentially, use of wearable devices can facilitate treatment for those who struggle to complete daily diaries.
A piezo-ring-on-chip microfluidic device for simple and low-cost mass spectrometry interfacing
Authors: Tsao Chia-Wen , Lei I-Chao , Chen Pi-Yu , Yang Yu-Liang
Published: January 2018

Mass spectrometry (MS) interfacing technology provides the means for incorporating microfluidic processing with post MS analysis.
On-a-chip tryptic digestion of transthyretin: a step toward an integrated microfluidic system for the follow-up of familial transthyretin amyloidosis
Authors: Bataille Jeanne , Viodé Arthur , Pereiro Iago , Lafleur Josiane P. , Varenne Fanny , Descroix Stéphanie , Becher François , Kutter Jörg P. , Roesch Camille , Poüs Christian , Taverna Myriam , Pallandre Antoine , Smadja Claire , Le Potier Isabelle
Published: January 2018

TTR digestion on TE-chip: production of a fragment of interest allowing the therapeutic follow-up of the familial transthyretin amyloidosis.
A nitrogen doped carbon quantum dot-enhanced chemiluminescence method for the determination of Mn2+
Authors: Zhang Junmei , Chen Xiaoxia , Li Yue , Han Suqin , Du Yao , Liu Haizhen
Published: January 2018

Nitrogen doped carbon quantum dots (NCQDs) were synthesized via an ultrasonic method with ascorbic acid as the carbon source and ammonia as the nitrogen source.
Self-assembly of small-molecule fumaramides allows transmembrane chloride channel formation
Authors: Roy Arundhati , Gautam Amitosh , Malla Javid Ahmad , Sarkar Sohini , Mukherjee Arnab , Talukdar Pinaki
Published: January 2018

Intermolecular hydrogen bonding of N1,N4-dicyclohexylfumaramide favors the formation of self-assembled ion channels, which facilitates selective Cl− transport across a lipid bilayer membrane.
Defect-related anisotropic surface micro-structures of nonpolar a-plane GaN epitaxial films
Authors: Li Xiaochan , Wang Wenliang , Zheng Yulin , Li Yuan , Huang Liegen , Lin Zhiting , Yu Yuefeng , Li Guoqiang
Published: January 2018

The anisotropic surface etching behavior of nonpolar a-plane GaN (112̄0) epitaxial films, grown by pulsed laser deposition, was investigated experimentally by wet chemical etching.
Shock-tube study of the decomposition of tetramethylsilane using gas chromatography and high-repetition-rate time-of-flight mass spectrometry
Authors: Sela P. , Peukert S. , Herzler J. , Fikri M. , Schulz C.
Published: January 2018

The decomposition of tetramethylsilane was studied in shock-tube experiments in a temperature range of 1270–1580 K and pressures ranging from 1.5 to 2.3 bar behind reflected shock waves combining GC/MS and HRR-TOF-MS.
Remarkable hydrogen storage properties of MgH2doped with VNbO5
Authors: Valentoni Antonio , Mulas Gabriele , Enzo Stefano , Garroni Sebastiano
Published: January 2018

The present work concerns the catalytic effect of VNbO5, a ternary oxide preparedviaa solid-state route, on the sorption performance of MgH2.
Orientation selection in high-field RIDME and PELDOR experiments involving low-spin CoII ions
Authors: Giannoulis Angeliki , Motion Claire L. , Oranges Maria , Bühl Michael , Smith Graham M. , Bode Bela E.
Published: January 2018

Orientation selective pulse dipolar electron paramagnetic resonance unravels relative geometries of spin centres from RIDME and PELDOR data.
Alamethicin self-assembling in lipid membranes: concentration dependence from pulsed EPR of spin labels
Authors: Syryamina Victoria N. , De Zotti Marta , Toniolo Claudio , Formaggio Fernando , Dzuba Sergei A.
Published: January 2018

The antimicrobial action of the peptide antibiotic alamethicin (Alm) is commonly related to peptide self-assembling resulting in the formation of voltage-dependent channels in bacterial membranes, which induces ion permeation.
N-Doped graphene-supported PdCu nanoalloy as efficient catalyst for reducing Cr(vi) by formic acid
Authors: Li Shuangzhi , Liu Lijun , Zhao Qing , He Chiyang , Liu Weikai
Published: January 2018

PdCu nanoalloy/N-doped graphene shows an electron-transfer-induced catalytic enhancement for the reduction of Cr(vi) by formic acid.
Large valley polarization in monolayer MoTe2 on a magnetic substrate
Authors: Li Ningbo , Zhang Jiayong , Xue Yang , Zhou Tong , Yang Zhongqin
Published: January 2018

Very large valley polarization and anomalous valley Hall effects were found in MoTe2 monolayers deposited on RbMnCl3 magnetic substrates.
Combining experimental and modelling approaches to study the sources of reactive species induced in water by the COST RF plasma jet
Authors: Gorbanev Y. , Verlackt C. C. W. , Tinck S. , Tuenter E. , Foubert K. , Cos P. , Bogaerts A.
Published: January 2018

The source of reactive species induced in water by cold plasma is studied by combining experimental (UV, EPR, NMR) and modelling (0D kinetics, 3D fluid dynamics) approaches.
A nearly perfect spin filter and a spin logic gate based on a porphyrin/graphene hybrid material
Authors: Zeng Jing , Chen Ke-Qiu
Published: January 2018

We propose experimentally feasible spintronic devices using the porphyrin/graphene hybrid material, and find a nearly perfect spin polarization effect.
Engineered superparamagnetic nanomaterials for arsenic(v) and chromium(vi) sorption and separation: quantifying the role of organic surface coatings
Authors: Kim Changwoo , Lee Seung Soo , Lafferty Brandon J. , Giammar Daniel E. , Fortner John D.
Published: January 2018

This study delineates the critical role of organic surface coatings, on engineered iron oxide nanocrystals, for enhanced sorption, and thus separation, of arsenic and chromium in water.
Looking for the active hydrogen species in a 5 wt% Pt/C catalyst: a challenge for inelastic neutron scattering
Authors: Carosso M. , Lazzarini A. , Piovano A. , Pellegrini R. , Morandi S. , Manzoli M. , Vitillo J. G. , Ruiz M. Jimenez , Lamberti C. , Groppo E.
Published: January 2018

We looked at the active hydrogen species in a highly dispersed and very homogeneous 5 wt% Pt/C industrial catalyst (Pt particle mean diameter of 2.0 ± 0.5 nm) for hydrogenation reactions, by coupling H2adsorption measurements with Inelastic Neutron Scattering (INS).
Bio-derived production of cinnamyl alcohol via a three step biocatalytic cascade and metabolic engineering
Authors: Klumbys Evaldas , Zebec Ziga , Weise Nicholas J. , Turner Nicholas J. , Scrutton Nigel S.
Published: January 2018

Cascade biocatalysis and metabolic engineering provide routes to cinnamyl alcohol.
Ni-Catalyzed chemoselective alcoholysis of N-acyloxazolidinones
Authors: Huang Pei-Qiang , Geng Hui
Published: January 2018

We report the first Ni(cod)2/bipyr.-catalyzed alcoholysis of N-acyloxazolidinones to deliver esters.
Acoustofluidic devices controlled by cell phones
Authors: Bachman Hunter , Huang Po-Hsun , Zhao Shuaiguo , Yang Shujie , Zhang Peiran , Fu Hai , Huang Tony Jun
Published: January 2018

A portable control system consisting of a cell phone and a portable Bluetooth® speaker is presented to wirelessly control sharp-edge-based acoustofluidic devices.
Synthesis, clustering-triggered emission, explosive detection and cell imaging of nonaromatic polyurethanes
Authors: Chen Xiaohong , Liu Xundao , Lei Jianlong , Xu Li , Zhao Zihao , Kausar Fahmeeda , Xie Xinyue , Zhu Xinyuan , Zhang Yongming , Yuan Wang Zhang
Published: January 2018

The clustering-triggered emission mechanism guides the rational design of nonaromatic polyurethanes with intrinsic emissions including room-temperature phosphorescence.
Exploring attachment chemistry with FRET in hybrid quantum dot dye-labeled DNA dendrimer composites
Authors: Samanta Anirban , Buckhout-White Susan , Oh Eunkeu , Susumu Kimihiro , Medintz Igor L.
Published: January 2018

Light harvesting quantum dot-dye-labeled DNA dendrimer structures are assembled yielding end-to-end energy transfer efficiencies approaching 25% over 4 FRET steps.
Morphological changes in human serum albumin in the presence of cationic amphiphilic drugs
Authors: Yaseen Z. , Aswal V. K. , Zhou X. , Kabir-ud-Din Kabir-ud-Din , Haider S.
Published: January 2018

Binding of cationic amphiphilic drugs results in unfolding of human serum albumin.
Copper-catalyzed α-C–H acyloxylation of carbonyl compounds with terminal alkynes
Authors: Li Jiao , Yang Zan , Yang Tao , Yi Jianmin , Zhou Congshan
Published: January 2018

Herein, a copper/TBHP catalyst system for the α-C–H acyloxylation of carbonyl compounds is developed using terminal alkynes as the acyloxy source.
Green synthesis and corrosion inhibition study of 2-amino-N′-((thiophen-2-yl)methylene)benzohydrazide
Authors: Singh A. K. , Thakur S. , Pani B. , Singh G.
Published: January 2018

2-Amino-N′-((thiophen-2-yl)methylene)benzohydrazide (ATMBH) was synthesized by a conventional method, as well as by microwave (MW) irradiation.
Carbon-encapsulated highly dispersed FeMn nanoparticles for Fischer–Tropsch synthesis to light olefins
Authors: Zhu Can , Zhang Mingwei , Huang Chao , Zhong Liangshu , Fang Kegong
Published: January 2018

The peculiar structure of FeMn@C not only facilitates the formation of χ-Fe5C2, but it also promotes the product selectivity of light olefins.
Broadband dielectric spectroscopy of micelles and microemulsions formed in a hydrophilic ionic liquid: the relaxation mechanism and interior parameters
Authors: Lian Yiwei , Zhao Kongshuang
Published: January 2018

Permittivity, conductivity and volume fraction of continuous and dispersed phases of micelles and non-aqueous microemulsions formed in ionic liquid.
Hydrothermal synthesis and pseudocapacitive properties of morphology-tuned nickel sulfide (NiS) nanostructures
Authors: Naresh Bandari , Punnoose Dinah , Rao S. Srinivasa , Subramanian Archana , Raja Ramesh B. , Kim Hee-Je
Published: January 2018

Metal sulfides have attracted considerable scrutiny compared to metal oxides owing to their distinguished electrochemical properties and various applications, such as solar cells and supercapacitors.
Metallic impurities in black phosphorus nanoflakes prepared by different synthetic routes
Authors: Mayorga-Martinez Carmen C. , Sofer Zdeněk , Sedmidubský David , Luxa Jan , Kherzi Bahareh , Pumera Martin
Published: January 2018

Metallic impurities in black phosphorus prepared by different synthetic routes have an observable effect on its electrochemical performance.
Co(iii)-Catalyzed N-chloroamide-directed C–H activation for 3,4-dihydroisoquinolone synthesis
Authors: Yu Xiaolong , Chen Kehao , Wang Qi , Zhang Wenjing , Zhu Jin
Published: January 2018

The first time synthesis of 3,4-dihydroisoquinolones via Co(iii)-catalyzed C–H activation at room temperature is described herein.
A LiAlO2/nitrogen-doped hollow carbon spheres (NdHCSs) modified separator for advanced lithium–sulfur batteries
Authors: Li Fanqun , Qin Furong , Wang Guanchao , Zhang Kai , Wang Peng , Zhang Zhian , Lai Yanqing
Published: January 2018

LiAlO2/nitrogen-doped hollow carbon spheres (NdHCSs)-modified separators restrict the shuttle of the polysulfides.
Manipulation of film quality and magnetic properties of CrO2 (100) films on TiO2 substrates with carrier gas and growth temperature
Authors: Cheng Ming , Lu Zhihong , Zhang Zhenhua , Yu Ziyang , Liu Shuo , Chen Changwei , Li Yuting , Liu Yong , Shi Jin , Xiong Rui
Published: January 2018

The quality and properties of CrO2 films can be manipulated by changing the carrier gas and varying the deposition temperature.
A statherin-derived peptide promotes hydroxyapatite crystallization and in situ remineralization of artificial enamel caries
Authors: Wang Kun , Wang Xiuqing , Li Haoran , Zheng Sainan , Ren Qian , Wang Yufei , Niu Yumei , Li Wei , Zhou Xuedong , Zhang Linglin
Published: January 2018

A novel biomimetic peptide inspired by salivary statherin was developed and exhibited beneficial potentials in promoting remineralization of hydroxyapatite on tooth enamel surface, providing a desirable alternative restorative strategy against dental caries.
Ca-Doped mesoporous SiO2/dental resin composites with enhanced mechanical properties, bioactivity and antibacterial properties
Authors: Zhang Yu , Huang Cui , Chang Jiang
Published: January 2018

MCS containing resin composites possess enhanced mechanical properties and antibacterial activity, and can smartly induce the deposition of apatite minerals.
Biomimetic synthesis of hierarchical 3D Ag butterfly wing scale arrays/graphene composites as ultrasensitive SERS substrates for efficient trace chemical detection
Authors: Zhang Maofeng , Meng Jintao , Wang Dapeng , Tang Qi , Chen Tun , Rong Shenzhou , Liu Jiaqin , Wu Yucheng
Published: January 2018

3D Ag butterfly wing scale arrays/graphene composites as biomimetic SERS substrates exhibit good reproducibility and high SERS sensitivity to analytes.
Effective modulation of the photoluminescence properties of 2,1,3-benzothiadiazoles and 2,1,3-benzoselenadiazoles by Pd-catalyzed C–H bond arylations
Authors: Idris Imane , Tannoux Thibault , Derridj Fazia , Dorcet Vincent , Boixel Julien , Guerchais Veronique , Soulé Jean-François , Doucet Henri
Published: January 2018

A one step procedure towards the synthesis of 4-aryl-2,1,3-benzothiadiazoles and 4-aryl-2,1,3-benzoselenadiazoles using Pd-catalyzed C–H bond arylations was developed.
Simple and rapid cleaning of graphenes with a ‘bubble-free’ electrochemical treatment
Authors: Park Byoungchoo , Huh Jun Nyeong , Lee Won Seok , Bae In-Gon
Published: January 2018

A simple and rapid ‘bubble-free’ electrochemical cleaning process is developed to clean and de-dope unintentionally contaminated and doped graphenes.
Controlling ofN-alkylpolyamine analogue metabolism by selective deuteration
Authors: Ucal Sebahat , Häkkinen Merja R. , Alanne Aino-Liisa , Alhonen Leena , Vepsäläinen Jouko , Keinänen Tuomo A. , Hyvönen Mervi T.
Published: January 2018

Replacing protium with deuterium is an efficient method to modulate drug metabolism. N-alkylated polyamine analogues are polyamine antimetabolites with proven anticancer efficacy. We have characterized earlier the preferred metabolic routes of N1,N12-diethylspermine (DESpm), N1-benzyl-N12-ethylspermine (BnEtSpm) and N1,N12-dibenzylspermine (DBSpm) by human recombinant spermine oxidase (SMOX) and acetylpolyamine oxidase (APAO). Here, we studied the above analogues, their variably deuterated counterparts and their metabolites as substrates and inhibitors of APAO, SMOX, semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO), diamine oxidase (DAO) and monoamine oxidases. We found that targeted deuteration efficiently redirected the preferable cleavage site and suppressed reaction rate by APAO and SMOX in vitro. We found a three- to six-fold decline in Vmax with moderate variable effect on Km when deuterium was located at the preferred hydrogen abstraction site of the analogue. We also found some of the metabolites to be potent inhibitors of DAO and SSAO. Surprisingly, analogue deuteration did not markedly alter the anti-proliferative efficacy of the drugs in DU145 prostate cancer cells, while in mouse embryonic fibroblasts, which had higher basal APAO and SMOX activities, moderate effect was observed. Interestingly, the anti-proliferative efficacy of the analogues did not correlate with their ability to suppress polyamine biosynthetic enzymes, induce spermidine/spermine-N1-acetyltransferase or deplete intracellular polyamine levels, but correlated with their ability to induce SMOX. Our data show that selective deuteration of N-alkyl polyamine analogues enables metabolic switching, offering the means for selective generation of bioactive metabolites inhibiting, e.g. SSAO and DAO, thus setting a novel basis for in vivo studies of this class of analogues.
Astragaloside IV inhibits ventricular remodeling and improves fatty acid utilization in rats with chronic heart failure
Authors: Tang Bin , Zhang Jin-Guo , Tan Hong-Yong , Wei Xi-Qing
Published: January 2018

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is the end-stage of many cardiovascular diseases and severely affects the patients’ lifespan. Inhibiting ventricular remodeling is thus a primary treatment target for CHF patients. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) can improve cardiac function and protect myocardial cells. The study aims to investigate the effects of AS-IV on ventricular remodeling and explore its role in regulating energy metabolism using a rat CHF model. Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into five groups (n=20 per group): CHF + benazepril hydrochloride (Benazepril HCL), CHF + low-dose (30 mg.kg−1.day−1) AS-IV, CHF + high-dose (60 mg.kg−1.day−1) AS-IV, and a sham control group. After 8 weeks of treatment, the cardiac structure and functional parameters were measured. Morphological changes in the myocardial tissue in five groups were evaluated. Protein and mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD), and muscle carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1 (MCPT1) were also analyzed. Our results showed that the left ventricular mass index (LVMI), collagen volume fraction (CVF), and free fatty acid (FFA) concentration of CHF group rats increased when compared with sham control group, while the protein and mRNA expressions of PPARα, MCAD, and MCPT1 decreased in CHF. Importantly, treatment with AS-IV (CHF + AS-IV group) showed improved heart function and structure, increased expression of PPARα, MCAD, and MCPT1 and improved FFA utilization in comparison with CHF group. In conclusion, our study shows that AS-IV inhibits ventricular remodeling, improves cardiac function, and decreases FFA concentration of CHF model rats. Our findings suggest a therapeutic potential of using AS-IV in CHF.
Circularly polarised loop‐type ground radiation antenna for mobile devices using a resonance inductor and capacitor
Authors: Zahid Z. , Qu L. , Kim H.H. , Kim H.
Published: January 2018

In this Letter, a circularly polarised loop‐type ground radiation antenna has been proposed for internet of things (IoT) applications that use a combination of an inductor and a capacitor in the resonance loop. The antenna has been designed within a 7 mm × 7 mm clearance near the left corner of a 60 mm × 30 mm ground plane. The resonance capacitor is placed at the corner of the radiating loop of the antenna to excite two orthogonal modes on the ground plane. The authors propose that the polarisation of the antenna can be controlled by varying the inductances of the sections of the radiating loop of the antenna. Employing this approach, an inductor is used at the left section of the radiating loop to control the phase difference of the orthogonal modes. Implementing the proposed design, the measured axial ratio bandwidth with reference to 3 dB was 300 MHz, and the matching bandwidth with reference to −6 dB was 110 MHz.
Robust super‐regenerative receiver with low susceptibility on clock jitter employing synchronous peak‐held envelope detector
Authors: Kim S.J.
Published: January 2018

A robust 400 MHz super‐regenerative receiver with low susceptibility to clock jitter is proposed. The conventional un‐clocked envelope detector (ED) is replaced with a synchronous peak‐held ED, where its peak detection value is kept during oscillator quenching OFF time by switching off the charging path of ED, synchronously with quenching clock. In this way, the flattened peak level not only allows the use of low quality jitter in the clock but also removes a tedious timing calibration process in the conventional receiver. The proposed receiver with the novel synchronous peak‐held ED and an on‐chip oscillator achieves a sensitivity performance of −81 dBm@1 Mbps without the conventional ADC sampling timing calibration. The receiver in 180 nm CMOS occupies an active area of 0.51 mm2 and dissipates 570 µW.
Reactive power reserve management tool for voltage stability enhancement
Authors: El‐Araby El‐Said E. , Yorino Naoto
Published: January 2018

This study introduces an efficient management approach of the effective reactive power reserves considering the trade‐off of the security level for N − 1 contingencies and economical concerns. The proposed method is deemed as an operational planning tool that simultaneously minimises the operating cost for a given forecasted load and control cost of the likely disturbances while ensuring that the level of available effective VAR reserves is adequate to withstand the credible severe contingencies without violating system security. The load shedding as a last resort control option is included in the problem formulation to guarantee that the voltage stability margins are maintained at a minimum control cost. The sensitivity of the load margin with respect to the generator VAR output is employed in order to determine the generator relative worth for keeping voltage security. Since the presented problem is a large‐scale optimisation problem consisting of a base case and several sub‐problems representing contingency states, a hybrid method based on particle swarm optimisation and conventional method is used as a solution methodology. The effectiveness of the proposed approach has been validated by its implementation on a six‐bus system and IEEE 57‐bus system.
Action recognition using fast HOG3D of integral videos and Smith–Waterman partial matching
Authors: El‐Henawy Ibrahim , Ahmed Kareem , Mahmoud Hamdi
Published: January 2018

Recognising human activity from video stream has become one of the most interesting applications in computer vision. In this study, a novel hybrid technique for human action recognition is proposed based on fast HOG3D of integral videos and Smith–Waterman partial shape matching of the fused frame. The proposed technique is divided into two main stages, the first stage extracts a set of foreground snippets from the input video, and extracts the histogram of 3D gradient orientations from the spatio‐temporal volumetric data; and the second stage fuses a set of key frames from current snippet and extracts the contours from the fused frame. Non‐linear support vector machine (SVM) decision trees are used to classify HOG3D features into one of fixed action categories. On the other hand, Smith–Waterman partial shape matching is used to compare between the contour of the fused frame and the stored template contour of specified action. The results from SVM and Smith–Waterman partial shape matching are then combined. The experimental results show that combining non‐linear SVM decision trees of HOG3D features and Smith–Waterman partial shape matching of fused contours improved the accuracy of the classification model while maintaining efficiency in time elapsed for training.
Correction of micro‐CT image geometric artefacts based on marker
Authors: Tao Huanjie , Lu Xiaobo
Published: January 2018

Small geometric misalignments of micro computed tomography (CT) system will cause geometric artefacts in the reconstructed image. A new correction method of geometrical artefacts based on marker and non‐linear optimisation model is proposed. In this method, the simple balls marker and the measured objects are scanned simultaneously, and the geometric parameters of the micro‐CT system are precisely estimated by solving the non‐linear optimisation model which is based on the scanning data. The geometric artefacts caused by geometric parameters are corrected and the authors can reconstruct the image correctly. In addition to estimating geometric parameters for the traditional scanning mode, the proposed method can also be used for the limited angle CT scanning and the half detector CT scanning. Simulated experiments and real experiments verify that the correction method effectively decrease the geometric artefacts of micro‐CT images.
Fast algorithm for sparse signal reconstruction based on off‐grid model
Authors: Liu Qi‐Yong , Zhang Qun , Luo Ying , Li Kai‐Ming , Sun Li
Published: January 2018

In traditional compressed sensing theory, the authors have to adopt a discretisation procedure to reduce the continuous parameter space to a finite set of grid points. The discretisation procedure will cause the off‐grid effect, which result in the reconstruction result unstable. To solve this problem, an alternating iteration algorithm is proposed which is built on the greedy‐like algorithms. Firstly, a multilayer first‐order approximation model is proposed to approximate the true observation model in the off‐grid model. Then, an alternating iteration algorithm is proposed to estimate the sparse signal and mismatch factor. Moreover, the computational complexities of the proposed algorithm with different greedy algorithms are discussed. Finally, simulations demonstrate the good performance of the proposed algorithm. Meanwhile, the performance of the proposed method will not be influenced by the correlation of dictionary matrix and mismatch matrix.
Low‐complexity methods for joint delay and Doppler estimation of unknown wideband signals
Authors: Xiao Xuebing , Guo Fucheng , Feng Daowang
Published: January 2018

A joint time delay and Doppler shift estimation of unknown wideband signals is studied in the sense that the variation of time delay over time and the migration of Doppler shift over signal frequency cannot be neglected. By partitioning the received signals into short time segments, a novel wideband signal model is proposed. Based on this model, the maximum likelihood estimate (MLE) of the time delay at the starting point of observation and the Doppler shift at the signal carrier frequency is derived. With well compensation of the migrations of these parameters, the MLE derived could achieve higher estimation accuracy. To lower the computational complexity, a fast estimation algorithm based on the Keystone transform is also presented. After correcting the migrations through the Keystone transform, successive one‐dimensional Fourier transform, instead of two‐dimensional grids search, is used to achieve coherent processing of the received signals. The Cramer–Rao lower bound analysis for wideband cases is presented and the computational complexity of the proposed algorithms is analysed. Simulation results demonstrate the superiority of the proposed methods for wideband cases.
Theoretical investigation on the mass loss impact on asteroseismic grid-based estimates of mass, radius, and age for RGB stars
Authors: Valle G. , Dell’Omodarme M. , Prada Moroni P. G. , Degl’Innocenti S.
Published: January 2018

Aims.We aim to perform a theoretical evaluation of the impact of the mass loss indetermination on asteroseismic grid based estimates of masses, radii, and ages of stars in the red giant branch (RGB) phase.

Methods.We adopted the SCEPtER pipeline on a grid spanning the mass range [0.8; 1.8]M⊙. As observational constraints, we adopted the star effective temperatures, the metallicity [Fe/H], the average large frequency spacing Δν,and the frequency of maximum oscillation powerνmax. The mass loss was modelled following a Reimers parametrization with the two different efficienciesη= 0.4 andη= 0.8.

Results.In the RGB phase, the average random relative error (owing only to observational uncertainty) on mass and age estimates is about 8% and 30% respectively. The bias in mass and age estimates caused by the adoption of a wrong mass loss parameter in the recovery is minor for the vast majority of the RGB evolution. The biases get larger only after the RGB bump. In the last 2.5% of the RGB lifetime the error on the mass determination reaches 6.5% becoming larger than the random error component in this evolutionary phase. The error on the age estimate amounts to 9%, that is, equal to the random error uncertainty. These results are independent of the stellar metallicity [Fe/H] in the explored range.

Conclusions.Asteroseismic-based estimates of stellar mass, radius, and age in the RGB phase can be considered mass loss independent within the range (η∈ [0.0,0.8]) as long as the target is in an evolutionary phase preceding the RGB bump.
Studying the highly bent spectra of FR II-type radio galaxies with the KDA EXT model
Authors: Kuligowska Elżbieta
Published: January 2018

Context. The Kaiser, Dennett-Thorpe & Alexander (KDA, 1997, MNRAS, 292, 723) EXT model, that is, the extension of the KDA model of Fanaroff & Riley (FR) II-type source evolution, is applied and confronted with the observational data for selected FR II-type radio sources with significantly aged radio spectra.

Aim. A sample of FR II-type radio galaxies with radio spectra strongly bent at their highest frequencies is used for testing the usefulness of the KDA EXT model.

Methods. The dynamical evolution of FR II-type sources predicted with the KDA EXT model is briefly presented and discussed. The results are then compared to the ones obtained with the classical KDA approach, assuming the source’s continuous injection and self-similarity.

Results. The results and corresponding diagrams obtained for the eight sample sources indicate that the KDA EXT model predicts the observed radio spectra significantly better than the best spectral fit provided by the original KDA model.
Probing star formation and ISM properties using galaxy disk inclination
Authors: Leslie S. K. , Sargent M. T. , Schinnerer E. , Groves B. , van der Wel A. , Zamorani G. , Fudamoto Y. , Lang P. , Smolčić V.
Published: January 2018

Disk galaxies at intermediate redshift (z ~ 0.7) have been found in previous work to display more optically thick behaviour than their local counterparts in the rest-frame B-band surface brightness, suggesting an evolution in dust properties over the past ~6 Gyr. We compare the measured luminosities of face-on and edge-on star-forming galaxies at different wavelengths (Ultraviolet (UV), mid-infrared (MIR), far-infrared (FIR), and radio) for two well-matched samples of disk-dominated galaxies: a local Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS)-selected sample at z ~ 0.07 and a sample of disks at z ~ 0.7 drawn from Cosmic Evolution Survey (COSMOS). We have derived correction factors to account for the inclination dependence of the parameters used for sample selection. We find that typical galaxies are transparent at MIR wavelengths at both redshifts, and that the FIR and radio emission is also transparent as expected. However, reduced sensitivity at these wavelengths limits our analysis; we cannot rule out opacity in the FIR or radio. Ultra-violet attenuation has increased between z ~ 0 and z ~ 0.7, with the z ~ 0.7 sample being a factor of ~3.4 more attenuated. The larger UV attenuation at z ~ 0.7 can be explained by more clumpy dust around nascent star-forming regions. There is good agreement between the fitted evolution of the normalisation of the SFRUV versus 1 − cos(i) trend (interpreted as the clumpiness fraction) and the molecular gas fraction/dust fraction evolution of galaxies found out to z < 1.