bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rational CCL5 mutagenesis integration in a lactobacilli platform generates extremely potent HIV-1 blockers
Authors: Secchi Massimiliano , Grampa Valentina , Vangelista Luca
Published: January 2018

Efforts to improve existing anti-HIV-1 therapies or develop preventatives have identified CCR5 as an important target and CCL5 as an ideal scaffold to sculpt potent HIV-1 entry inhibitors. We created novel human CCL5 variants that exhibit exceptional anti-HIV-1 features using recombinant lactobacilli (exploited for live microbicide development) as a screening platform. Protein design, expression and anti-HIV-1 activity flowed in iterative cycles, with a stepwise integration of successful mutations and refinement of an initial CCL5 mutant battery towards the generation of two ultimate CCL5 derivatives, a CCR5 agonist and a CCR5 antagonist with similar anti-HIV-1 potency. The CCR5 antagonist was tested in human macrophages and against primary R5 HIV-1 strains, exhibiting cross-clade low picomolar IC50 activity. Moreover, its successful combination with several HIV-1 inhibitors provided the ground for conceiving therapeutic and preventative anti-HIV-1 cocktails. Beyond HIV-1 infection, these CCL5 derivatives may now be tested against several inflammation-related pathologies where the CCL5:CCR5 axis plays a relevant role.
A viroid-derived system to produce large amounts of recombinant RNA in Escherichia coli
Authors: Daròs José-Antonio , Aragonés Verónica , Cordero Teresa
Published: January 2018

Viruses have been engineered into useful biotechnological tools for gene therapy or to induce the synthesis of products of interest, such as therapeutic proteins and vaccines, in animal and fungal cells, bacteria or plants. Viroids are a particular class of infectious agents of higher plants that exclusively consist of a small non-protein-coding circular RNA molecule. In the same way as viruses have been transformed into useful biotechnological devices, can viroids be converted into beneficial tools? We show herein that, by expressing Eggplant latent viroid (ELVd) derived RNAs in Escherichia coli together with the eggplant tRNA ligase, this being the enzyme involved in viroid circularization in the infected plant, RNAs of interest like aptamers, extended hairpins, or other structured RNAs are produced in amounts of tens of milligrams per liter of culture. Although ELVd fails to replicate in E. coli, ELVd precursors self-cleave through the embedded hammerhead ribozymes and the resulting monomers are, in part, circularized by the co-expressed enzyme. The mature viroid forms and the protein likely form a ribonucleoprotein complex that transitorily accumulates in E. coli cells at extraordinarily amounts.
Simultaneous Realization of Anomalous Reflection and Transmission at Two Frequencies using Bi-functional Metasurfaces
Authors: Wang Xi , Ding Jun , Zheng Bowen , An Sensong , Zhai Guohua , Zhang Hualiang
Published: January 2018

The capability to manipulating electromagnetic (EM) waves at the sub-wavelength scale has been enabled by metamaterials and their two-dimensional counterparts, metasurfaces. Especially, integrating two or more diverse functionalities into a single metasurface-based device is of great significance to meet the stringent requirements imposed by today’s high frequency components and systems. Here, we present a dual-band bi-functional metasurface structure that could simultaneously achieve anomalous reflection and transmission at two terahertz (THz) frequencies, respectively, under linearly-polarized incident waves. To demonstrate the property of the proposed metasurface, a number of dual-band bi-functional metasurface-based components that could tailor the reflected and transmitted waves simultaneously are designed and verified numerically. Moreover, it is shown that both the amplitude and phase responses of the reflected and transmitted waves at two operating frequency bands (wavelengths) can be manipulated using the proposed metasurface, providing a new and convenient way to construct multi-functional metasurfaces and corresponding electromagnetic devices.
Molecular Role of Ca2+ and Hard Divalent Metal Cations on Accelerated Fibrillation and Interfibrillar Aggregation of α-Synuclein
Authors: Han Jong Yoon , Choi Tae Su , Kim Hugh I.
Published: January 2018

α-Synuclein (αSyn) is an intrinsically disordered protein, the aggregation of which is highly related to the pathology of diverse α-synucleinopathies. Various hard divalent metal cations have been shown to affect αSyn aggregation. Especially, Ca2+ is suggested to be a crucial ion due to its physiological relevance to α-synucleinopathies. However, the molecular origin of αSyn aggregation mediated by the metal ions is not fully elucidated. In this study, we revealed that hard divalent metal ions had almost identical influences on αSyn aggregation. Based on these similarities, the molecular role of Ca2+ was investigated as a representative metal ion. Herein, we demonstrated that binding of multiple Ca2+ ions induces structural transition of αSyn monomers to extended conformations, which promotes rapid αSyn fibrillation. Additionally, we observed that Ca2+ induced further interfibrillar aggregation via electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. Our results from multiple biophysical methods, including ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS), synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), provide detailed information on the structural change of αSyn and the aggregation process mediated by Ca2+. Overall, our study would be valuable for understanding the influence of Ca2+ on the aggregation of αSyn during the pathogenesis of α-synucleinopathies.
Inhibition of the checkpoint protein PD-1 by the therapeutic antibody pembrolizumab outlined by quantum chemistry
Authors: Tavares Ana Beatriz M. L. A. , Lima Neto José X. , Fulco Umberto L. , Albuquerque Eudenilson L.
Published: January 2018

Much of the recent excitement in the cancer immunotherapy approach has been generated by the recognition that immune checkpoint proteins, like the receptor PD-1, can be blocked by antibody-based drugs with profound effects. Promising clinical data have already been released pointing to the efficiency of the drug pembrolizumab to block the PD-1 pathway, triggering the T-lymphocytes to destroy the cancer cells. Thus, a deep understanding of this drug/receptor complex is essential for the improvement of new drugs targeting the protein PD-1. In this context, by employing quantum chemistry methods based on the Density Functional Theory (DFT), we investigate in silico the binding energy features of the receptor PD-1 in complex with its drug inhibitor. Our computational results give a better understanding of the binding mechanisms, being also an efficient alternative towards the development of antibody-based drugs, pointing to new treatments for cancer therapy.
Individual neural transfer function affects the prediction of subjective depth of focus
Authors: Leube Alexander , Schilling Tim , Ohlendorf Arne , Kern David , Ochakovski Alex G. , Fischer M. Dominik , Wahl Siegfried
Published: January 2018

Attempts to accurately predict the depth of focus (DoF) based on objective metrics have failed so far. We investigated the effect of the individual neural transfer function (iNTF) on the quality of the prediction of the subjective DoF from objective wavefront measures. Subjective DoF was assessed in 22 participants using subjective through focus curves of visual acuity (VA). Objective defocus curves were calculated for visual Strehl metrics of the optical (VSOTFa) and the modulation transfer function as well as the point spread function. DoF was computed for residual lower order aberrations (rLoA) and incorporation of iNTF. Correlations between subjective and objective DoF did not reach significance, when a) standard metrics were used and b) rLoA were considered (r
max
 = 0.33, p
all
 > 0.05). By incorporating the iNTF of the individuals in the calculation of the objective DoF from the VSOTFa metric, a moderate statistically significant correlation was found (r = 0.43, p < 0.01, Pearson). The iNTF of the individual’s eye is fundamental for the prediction of subjective DoF using the VSOTFa metric. Individualized predictions could aid future application in the correction of refractive errors like presbyopia using intraocular lenses.
Characterization of soil bacterial, archaeal and fungal communities inhabiting archaeological human-impacted layers at Monte Iato settlement (Sicily, Italy)
Authors: Siles José A. , Öhlinger Birgit , Cajthaml Tomas , Kistler Erich , Margesin Rosa
Published: January 2018

Microbial communities in human-impacted soils of ancient settlements have been proposed to be used as ecofacts (bioindicators) of different ancient anthropogenic activities. In this study, bacterial, archaeal and fungal communities inhabiting soil of three archaic layers, excavated at the archaeological site on Monte Iato (Sicily, Italy) and believed to have been created in a chronological order in archaic times in the context of periodic cultic feasts, were investigated in terms of (i) abundance (phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis and quantitative PCR)), (ii) carbon(C)-source consumption patterns (Biolog-Ecoplates) and (iii) diversity and community composition (Illumina amplicon sequencing). PLFA analyses demonstrated the existence of living bacteria and fungi in the soil samples of all three layers. The upper layer showed increased levels of organic C, which were not concomitant with an increment in the microbial abundance. In taxonomic terms, the results indicated that bacterial, archaeal and fungal communities were highly diverse, although differences in richness or diversity among the three layers were not detected for any of the communities. However, significantly different microbial C-source utilization patterns and structures of bacterial, archaeal and fungal communities in the three layers confirmed that changing features of soil microbial communities reflect different past human activities.
JhI-21 plays a role in Drosophila insulin-like peptide release from larval IPCs via leucine transport
Authors: Ziegler Anna B. , Manière Gérard , Grosjean Yael
Published: January 2018

Insulin is present all across the animal kingdom. Its proper release after feeding is of extraordinary importance for nutrient uptake, regulation of metabolism, and growth. We used Drosophila melanogaster to shed light on the processes linking dietary leucine intake to insulin secretion. The Drosophila genome encodes 8 insulin-like peptides (“Dilps”). Of these, Dilp2 is secreted after the ingestion of a leucine-containing diet. We previously demonstrated that Minidiscs, related to mammalian system-L transporters, acts as a leucine sensor within the Dilp2-secreting insulin-producing cells (“IPCs”) of the brain. Here, we show that a second leucine transporter, JhI-21, of the same family is additionally necessary for proper leucine sensing in the IPCs. Using calcium imaging and ex-vivo cultured brains we show that knockdown of JhI-21 in IPCs causes malfunction of these cells: they are no longer able to sense dietary leucine or to release Dilp2 in a leucine dependent manner. JhI-21 knockdown in IPCs further causes systemic metabolic defects including defective sugar uptake and altered growth. Finally, we showed that JhI-21 and Minidiscs have no cumulative effect on Dilp2 release. Since system-L transporters are expressed by mammalian β-cells our results could help to better understand the role of these proteins in insulin signaling.
Selective and sensitive detection of lysozyme based on plasmon resonance light-scattering of hydrolyzed peptidoglycan stabilized-gold nanoparticles
Authors: Fu Fei , Li Linyao , Luo Qingman , Li Qingjin , Guo Tingrui , Yu Mengqun , Song Yang , Song Erqun
Published: January 2018

Simple, rapid, selective and sensitive detection of lysozyme based on plasmon resonance light scattering signal of hydrolyzed peptidoglycan stabilized-gold nanoparticles.
The synthesis of amphiphilic polyethyleneimine/calcium phosphate composites for bispecific T-cell engager based immunogene therapy
Authors: Chen Pingzhang , Liu Yunhong , Zhao Jing , Pang Xiaojuan , Zhang Peifa , Hou Xiaohu , Chen Ping , He Cheng-yi , Wang Zhiyong , Chen Zhi-ying
Published: January 2018

Bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTEs) are single chain variable fragments, which could connect the surface antigen on cancer cells and CD3 ligands on T cells, and then engage the T cells for cancer immunotherapy.
Palladium-unleashed proteins: gentle aldehyde decaging for site-selective protein modification
Authors: Brabham Robin L. , Spears Richard J. , Walton Julia , Tyagi Swati , Lemke Edward A. , Fascione Martin A.
Published: January 2018

A bioorthogonal decaging strategy has been developed to expose protein aldehydes using one equivalent of palladium, allowing site-selective protein labelling.
Metal-mediated linear self-assembly of porphyrins
Authors: Wytko J. A. , Ruppert R. , Jeandon C. , Weiss J.
Published: January 2018

The use of coordination bonds as a tool to assemble linear scaffolds of two or more porphyrins in solution and/or on surfaces is described in this Feature Article.
Precursor non-stoichiometry to enable improved CH3NH3PbBr3 nanocrystal LED performance
Authors: Chandran Bevita K. , Veldhuis Sjoerd A. , Chin Xin Yu , Bruno Annalisa , Yantara Natalia , Chen Xiaodong , Mhaisalkar Subodh
Published: January 2018

Precursor non-stoichiometry during colloidal CH3NH3PbBr3 nanocrystal (NC) synthesis enabled substantial improvements in the LED performance.
On the regioselectivity of the Diels–Alder cycloaddition to C60 in high spin states
Authors: El Bakouri Ouissam , Garcia-Borràs Marc , Girón Rosa M. , Filippone Salvatore , Martín Nazario , Solà Miquel
Published: January 2018

A change in regioselectivity is predicted in the Diels–Alder reaction when going from the singlet to triplet state.
Light-initiated reversible conversion of macrocyclic endoperoxides derived from half-sandwich rhodium-based metallarectangles
Authors: Shan Wei-Long , Gao Wen-Xi , Lin Yue-Jian , Jin Guo-Xin
Published: January 2018

A series of metallarectangles were synthesized by an anthracene-based ligand and three different half-sandwich rhodium precursors. The photochemical reactions show that these metallarectangles can be reversibly converted to the macrocyclic endoperoxides.
Effect of ligand substitution on the SMM properties of three isostructural families of double-cubane Mn4Ln2 coordination clusters
Authors: Akhtar Muhammad Nadeem , Lan Yanhua , AlDamen Murad A. , Zheng Yan-Zhen , Anson Christopher E. , Powell Annie K.
Published: January 2018

Three isostructural Mn–Ln families consists of 22 complexes have been presented. Only 7, 15, and 22 for Tb, 8 and 16 for Dy, and 20 for Sm displayed slow magnetization relaxation.
Synthesis and magneto-structural studies on a new family of carbonato bridged 3d–4f complexes featuring a [CoII3LnIII3(CO3)] (Ln = La, Gd, Tb, Dy and Ho) core: slow magnetic relaxation displayed by the cobalt(ii)–dysprosium(iii) analogue
Authors: Majee Mithun Chandra , Towsif Abtab Sk Md , Mondal Dhrubajyoti , Maity Manoranjan , Weselski Marek , Witwicki Maciej , Bieńko Alina , Antkowiak Michał , Kamieniarz Grzegorz , Chaudhury Muktimoy
Published: January 2018

A new series of carbonato-bridged complexes containing a CoII3LnIII3 core have been synthesized.
Controllable synthesis of lanthanide Yb3+ and Er3+ co-doped AWO4 (A = Ca, Sr, Ba) micro-structured materials: phase, morphology and up-conversion luminescence enhancement
Authors: Huang Jingbin , Li Qingfeng , Wang Jia , Jin Lin , Tian Boshi , Li Chunyang , Shi Yurong , Wang Zhenling , Hao Jianhua
Published: January 2018

The combination of CDs can mainly maintain the morphologies of AWO4:Yb3+,Er3+ but prominently increase their up-conversion luminescence performance.
Fluorescent antitumor titanium(iv) salen complexes for cell imaging
Authors: Tzubery Avia , Melamed-Book Naomi , Tshuva Edit Y.
Published: January 2018

First live cell imaging using florescent salen Ti(iv) complexes, which are cytotoxic and inactive, both entering the cell but with different subcellular accumulations.
Response of mercury in an Adirondack (NY, USA) forest stream to watershed lime application
Authors: Millard Geoffrey D. , Driscoll Charles T. , Burns Douglas A. , Montesdeoca Mario R. , Riva-Murray Karen
Published: January 2018

Total mercury and dissolved organic carbon concentrations increased following a lime application, while increases in methylmercury concentrations did not persist.
Effects of calorie restriction plus fish oil supplementation on abnormal metabolic characteristics and the iron status of middle-aged obese women
Authors: Utami Fasty Arum , Lee Hsiu-Chuan , Su Chien-Tien , Guo Yu-Ru , Tung Yu-Tang , Huang Shih-Yi
Published: January 2018

The increasing prevalence of obesity and sedentary lifestyles has led to a higher incidence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) worldwide as well as in Taiwan.
Impacts of the counter ions on 4,5-dicyano-1-methylimidazole silver coordination
Authors: Jääskeläinen Sirpa , Appiah Nana Sakyibea , Koshevoy Igor , Hirva Pipsa
Published: January 2018

The counter ion regulates the coordination in silver dicyanoimidazole derivatives.
Structure and adsorptive desulfurization performance of the composite material MOF-5@AC
Authors: Zhu Lijun , Jia Xueying , Bian He , Huo Tian , Duan Zunbin , Xiang Yuzhi , Xia Daohong
Published: January 2018

The performance of adsorption desulfurization and stability of MOF-5@AC were improved, when MOF-5 was covered on the surface of AC.
Synthesis of curcumin complexes with iron(iii) and manganese(ii), and effects of curcumin–iron(iii) on Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Bicer Nurcan , Yildiz Emel , Yegani Arash Alizadeh , Aksu Fazilet
Published: January 2018

Plants provide a wealth of bioactive compounds which aid in exerting a substantial strategy for the treatment of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
Amino functionalized [B12H12]2− salts as hypergolic fuels
Authors: Li Hao , Zhang Yanqiang , Liu Long , Jiao Nianming , Meng Xianghai , Zhang Suojiang
Published: January 2018

Compared with [B12H12]2− salts (269.8–272.6 s), the resulting [B12H11NH3]− salts possess higher specific impulses (274.9–276.8 s) as the fuels of hypergolic bipropellants.
Synthesis and investigation on optoelectronic properties of mesogenic triphenylene–perylene dyads linked by ethynylphenyl bridges
Authors: Kong Xiangfei , Gong Hongkang , Liu Peng , Yao Wei , Liu Zheng , Wang Guixia , Zhang Shufen , He Zhiqun
Published: January 2018

Columnar mesogenic dyads consisting of triphenylene and perylene units are a novel kind of single-component photovoltaic materials.
Enhanced catalytic activity for CO oxidation by the metal–oxide perimeter of TiO2/nanostructured Au inverse catalysts
Authors: Lee Si Woo , Song Jun Tae , Kim Jaehoon , Oh Jihun , Park Jeong Young
Published: January 2018

We fabricated and used TiO2/nanoporous Au catalysts to determine the effect of the metal–oxide perimeter on catalytic activity.
Stable, small, specific, low-valency quantum dots for single-molecule imaging
Authors: Lee Jungmin , Feng Xinyi , Chen Ou , Bawendi Moungi G. , Huang Jun
Published: January 2018

Small, specific, low-valency quantum dots for single-cell and single-molecule imaging.
A signal-on, colorimetric determination of deoxyribonuclease I activity utilizing the photoinduced synthesis of gold nanoparticles
Authors: Jung Ye Lim , Lee Chang Yeol , Park Jung Hun , Park Ki Soo , Park Hyun Gyu
Published: January 2018

A signal-on, colorimetric deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) activity assay is developed based on the novel finding that DNase I can promote the photoinduced synthesis of gold nanoparticles.
Enantioselectivity in CPA-catalyzed Friedel–Crafts reaction of indole and N-tosylimines: a challenge for guiding models
Authors: Simón Luis
Published: January 2018

Reaction models derived from theoretical investigations for predicting the enantioselectivity of organocatalytic reactions are very useful, but difficult to formulate for the Friedel–Crafts reaction of indole and N-tosylimines.
An intramolecular oxa-Michael reaction on α,β-unsaturated α-amino-δ-hydroxycarboxylic acid esters. Synthesis of functionalized 1,3-dioxanes
Authors: Becerra-Figueroa L. , Movilla S. , Prunet J. , Miscione G. P. , Gamba-Sánchez D.
Published: January 2018

A simple and selective method to access 1,3-dioxanes functionalized in positions 2,4 and 6 has been developed. The experimental results are complemented with a DFT study on the reaction mechanism, which illustrates the reaction course and explains the reactivity and selectivity.
Syntheses, characterizations and functions of cationic polyethers with imidazolium-based ionic liquid moieties
Authors: Hayano Shigetaka , Ota Keisuke , Ban Hoang The
Published: January 2018

Cationic polyethers with ionic liquid groups are characterized with deliquescence, ionic conductivity and miscibility in ionic liquid.
Optimization of peak and average figures of merits for In & Se co-doped SnTe alloys
Authors: Wang Hongchao , Wang Teng , Hwang Junphil , Su Wenbin , Kim Hoon , Zhai Jinze , Wang Xue , Wang Chunlei , Kim Woochul
Published: January 2018

Optimized peakzT∼ 0.9 and averagezT∼ 0.5 were achieved for In & Se co-doped SnTe alloy under traditional synthesis process.
A silver-catalyzed three-component reaction via stabilized cation: synthesis of polysubstituted tetrahydronaphthols and tetrahydronaphthylamines
Authors: Luo Hejiang , Liang Renxiao , Chen Lianfen , Jiang Huanfeng , Zhu Shifa
Published: January 2018

An efficient method for the synthesis of polysubstituted tetrahydronaphthols and tetrahydronaphthylamines via a stabilized cation intermediate has been developed.
Chemical assembling of amine functionalized boron nitride nanotubes onto polymeric nanofiber film for improving their thermal conductivity
Authors: Kim Dukeun , Ha Sumin , Choi Hoi Kil , Yu Jaesang , Kim Yoong Ahm
Published: January 2018

The interfacial effect between an organic matrix and inorganic nanofillers on the thermal conductivity of a polymer composite was systematically explored by assembling amine-functionalized boron nitride nanotubes onto an electrospun nanofiber.
Switching properties of epitaxial La0.5Sr0.5CoO3/Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3/La0.5Sr0.5CoO3 ferroelectric capacitor
Authors: Song J. M. , Luo L. H. , Dai X. H. , Song A. Y. , Zhou Y. , Li Z. N. , Liang J. T. , Liu B. T.
Published: January 2018

La0.5Sr0.5CoO3/Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3/La0.5Sr0.5CoO3 (LSCO/NBT/LSCO) ferroelectric capacitors have been successfully fabricated on (001) SrTiO3 substrate, in which the LSCO film is prepared by magnetron sputtering and the NBT film by pulsed laser deposition.
In situ template synthesis of hierarchical porous carbon used for high performance lithium–sulfur batteries
Authors: Long Lizhen , Jiang Xunyuan , Liu Jun , Han Dongmei , Xiao Min , Wang Shuanjin , Meng Yuezhong
Published: January 2018

In situ template synthesis of HPCs used for lithium–sulfur batteries, which exhibits excellent cycling stability and superior rate cycling.
The utilization of a three-dimensional reduced graphene oxide and montmorillonite composite aerogel as a multifunctional agent for wastewater treatment
Authors: Zhang Yunyun , Yan Xueru , Yan Yayuan , Chen Dengjie , Huang Langhuan , Zhang Jingxian , Ke Yu , Tan Shaozao
Published: January 2018

A reduced graphene oxide/montmorillonite aerogel has high adsorption and antibacterial activity, and excellent recyclable properties thanks to its outstanding mechanical strength.
Nano metal oxides as efficient catalysts for selective synthesis of 1-methoxy-2-propanol from methanol and propylene oxide
Authors: Zhang Jiawei , Cai Qinghai , Zhao Jingxiang , Zang Shuying
Published: January 2018

Nano metal oxides such as Fe2O3, Fe3O4, CuO, NiO, ZnO and SnO2 were prepared and characterized using XRD, SEM and TEM analysis.
Asperphenamate biosynthesis reveals a novel two-module NRPS system to synthesize amino acid esters in fungi
Authors: Li Wei , Fan Aili , Wang Long , Zhang Peng , Liu Zhiguo , An Zhiqiang , Yin Wen-Bing
Published: January 2018

Characterisation of asperphenamate biosynthetic pathway in Penicillium brevicompactum reveals a novel two modular NRPS system for the formation of amino acid esters in nature.
Optimization of a “bump-and-hole” approach to allele-selective BET bromodomain inhibition
Authors: Runcie A. C. , Zengerle M. , Chan K.-H. , Testa A. , van Beurden L. , Baud M. G. J. , Epemolu O. , Ellis L. C. J. , Read K. D. , Coulthard V. , Brien A. , Ciulli A.
Published: January 2018

Allele-specific chemical genetics enables selective inhibition within families of highly-conserved proteins.
Nickel-catalyzed enantioselective allylic alkylation of lactones and lactams with unactivated allylic alcohols
Authors: Ngamnithiporn Aurapat , Jette Carina I. , Bachman Shoshana , Virgil Scott C. , Stoltz Brian M.
Published: January 2018

Reported is the first nickel-catalyzed enantioselective allylic alkylation of lactones and lactams to provide products bearing an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter.
Co,N-codoped nanotube/graphene 1D/2D heterostructure for efficient oxygen reduction and hydrogen evolution reactions
Authors: Yang Liu , Lv Yanlong , Cao Dapeng
Published: January 2018

This work provides a new approach for the in situ synthesis of bifunctional and multifunctional catalysts by integrating 1D/2D/3D materials with different catalytically active sites into one heterostructure.
Recent advances in cell-mediated nanomaterial delivery systems for photothermal therapy
Authors: Li Zhibin , Yu Xue-Feng , Chu Paul K.
Published: January 2018

Cell-mediated “Trojan Horse” delivery vehicles overcome the drug delivery barriers to transport nano-agents enhancing the efficiency of photothermal therapy.
Mechanistic insight into thein vitrotoxicity of graphene oxide against biofilm forming bacteria using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy
Authors: Farid Muhammad Usman , Jeong Sanghyun , Seo Dong Han , Ahmed Rafay , Lau Condon , Gali Nirmal Kumar , Ning Zhi , An Alicia Kyoungjin
Published: January 2018

Herein, we reveal that the cytotoxicity mechanism of graphene oxide is the synergy between membrane and oxidative stress towards biofilm forming bacteria.
The synthesis of a contraction-type glucose-sensitive microgel working at physiological temperature guided by a new glucose-sensing mechanism
Authors: Tang Zhuo , Guan Ying , Zhang Yongjun
Published: January 2018

A new glucose-sensing mechanism was proposed, guided by which a contraction-type glucose-sensitive microgel working at physiological temperature was synthesized successfully.
A concise synthesis of indene-based polycyclic compounds via FeCl3-catalyzed cascade cyclization
Authors: Su Xiang , Wu Panpan , Liu Wenfeng , Chen Chao
Published: January 2018

An efficient and straightforward protocol to complex indene-based polycyclic compounds via the cascade cyclization of propargylic alcohols and alkenes was developed. The catalyst FeCl3, as an Earth-abundant and environment friendly transition metal salt, is attractive. This reaction proceeded through unusual C–C bond cleavage.
Iridium/f-ampha-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of aromatic α-keto esters
Authors: Gu Guoxian , Yang Tilong , Lu Jiaxiang , Wen Jialin , Dang Li , Zhang Xumu
Published: January 2018

We herein report an iridium/f-ampha catalytic system for the asymmetric hydrogenation of aromatic α-keto esters.
Gel-based supramolecular ON–OFF switch from aryl-triazolyl peptides with excellent chiro-optical, thixotropic, and self-healing characteristics
Authors: Srivastava Bhartendu K. , Muraleedharan Kannoth M.
Published: January 2018

Systematic structure–property optimization of an achiral gelator (aryl-triazolyl homo dipeptide) through a fragment replacement approach led to the identification of a new chiral system having leucine as the C-terminal residue, which exhibits consistent and perfectly reversible chiro-optical responses on sol–gel transition.
Sparse Bayesian learning for spinning antenna DOA super‐resolution
Authors: Alibrahim Fuad , Inggs Michael
Published: January 2018

The spinning, wide bandwidth antenna remains the most cost‐effective technique for finding the direction of arrival of emitters’ signals. The beam is broadest at the low edge of the monitored band, resulting in poor angular resolution at low frequencies. A parameter‐free angular super‐resolution algorithm is proposed to find the direction of arrival of signals impinging on a spinning antenna based system that does not require tuning by the user. The proposed algorithm was constructed by using the sparse Bayesian learning technique. Using Monte Carlo simulation, the performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated and shows that it outperforms the iterative adaptive approach algorithm.
Covariance of Wigner distribution‐based instantaneous frequency estimates
Authors: Djurović I.
Published: January 2018

A covariance between the Wigner distribution‐based instantaneous frequency (IF) estimates is calculated. Derived expression impacts design of IF estimation algorithms both for moderate and emphatic noise influence. Obtained results are confirmed by Monte Carlo simulations.
Modified hybrid modulation strategy with power balance control for H‐bridge hybrid cascaded seven‐level inverter
Authors: Ye Manyuan , Kang Lixuan , Xiao Yunhuang , Song Pinggang , Li Song
Published: January 2018

Compared with the traditional cascaded H‐bridge multi‐level inverters, the hybrid cascaded multi‐level inverters have been receiving attention because they can generate more levels with the same number of power cells. However, with the general hybrid pulse width modulation (PWM), the output power distribution between the high‐voltage and low‐voltage H‐bridge cells is extremely uneven in low amplitude modulation, and it may appear that the high‐voltage cell feeds power into the low‐voltage cell in some modulation ratio intervals causing the low‐voltage cell capacitor voltage boost. To avoid this problem, a method of a modified hybrid PWM strategy with power balance control is proposed. It has achieved the output power balance of H‐bridge cells in full amplitude modulation, the occurrence of the phenomena of extremely uneven output power distribution between the high‐ and low‐voltage cells in low amplitude modulation is avoided, and the performance of the inverter is improved. Simulation and experimental results verify the correctness and feasibility of the proposed strategy.
Analysing the effects due to discontinuous output‐voltage ripple in a digitally current‐mode controlled boost converter
Authors: Singha Amit Kumar , Kapat Santanu
Published: January 2018

Digital implementation of current‐mode control (CMC) considers the outer voltage‐loop in the digital domain, whereas the inner current‐loop is kept either in the analogue domain in mixed‐signal CMC (MCMC) or in the digital domain in fully digital CMC (DCMC). Under finite voltage‐loop sampling, this study reports that the selection of sampling point can completely change the stability status of a boost converter with non‐minimum phase behaviour, particularly in the presence of the effective‐series‐resistance of the output capacitor. A discrete‐time framework is proposed for fast‐scale stability analysis in a boost converter, operating under continuous conduction mode. Further, discrete‐time small‐signal models are derived and design guidelines are proposed for both MCMC and DCMC architectures with enhanced stability for fast transient performance. Keeping in mind software‐controlled DCMC, a considerably large sampling delay is considered, and its effect on the performance and stability is discussed. A boost converter prototype is tested and various DCMC schemes along the proposed design techniques are implemented using a field‐programmable‐gate‐array device.
Covariance of the galaxy angular power spectrum with the halo model
Authors: Lacasa Fabien
Published: January 2018

As the determination of density fluctuations becomes more precise with larger surveys, it becomes more important to account for the increased covariance due to the non-linearity of the field. Here I have focussed on the galaxy density, with analytical prediction of the non-Gaussianity using the halo model coupled with standard perturbation theory in real space. I carried out an exact and exhaustive derivation of all tree-level terms of the non-Gaussian covariance of the galaxyCℓ, with the computation developed up to the third order in perturbation theory and local halo bias, including the non-local tidal tensor effect. A diagrammatic method was used to derive the involved galaxy 3D trispectra, including shot-noise contributions. The projection to the angular covariance was derived in all trispectra cases with and without Limber’s approximation, with the formulae being of potential interest for other observables than galaxies. The effect of subtracting shot-noise from the measured spectrum is also discussed, and does simplify the covariance, though some non-Gaussian shot-noise terms still remain. I make the link between this complete derivation and partial terms which have been used previously in the literature, including super-sample covariance (SSC). I uncover a wealth of additional terms which were not previously considered, including a whole new class which I dub braiding terms as it contains multipole-mixing kernels. The importance of all these new terms is discussed with analytical arguments. I find that they become comparable to, if not bigger than, SSC if the survey is large or deep enough to probe scales comparable with the matter-radiation equalitykeq. A short self-contained summary of the equations is provided in Sect. 9 for the busy reader, ready to be implemented numerically for analysis of current and future galaxy surveys.
Histologic Funisitis and Likelihood of Intrauterine Inflammation or Infection: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Salafia Carolyn , Shen-Schwarz Susan , Guzman Edwin , Saade George , Chauhan Suneet , Doty Morgen
Published: January 2018

Objective The objective of this study was to ascertain the likelihood of isolated maternal fever and suspected intrauterine inflammation or infection or both (Triple I) among cases of histologic chorioamnionitis with funisitis (HCF) at term.

Study Design In this case-control study, placental pathology records were reviewed to identify term singleton laboring patients with HCF. Controls (1:1) were matched for gestational age.

Results During the 6-month period, there were 2,399 term deliveries of laboring women. Of 1,552 (65%) term placentas examined, 4% (n = 60) had HCF.

Features of Triple I were significantly more common among cases than controls: (1) isolated maternal fever of ≥100.4°F, twice, at least 30 minutes apart (p = 0.014); (2) fever with fetal tachycardia (p = 0.029); 3) fever with either fetal tachycardia or white blood cell count greater than 15,000 per mm3 (p = 0.034). The feature of Triple I with the highest sensitivity at 10% (95% confidence intervals [CI] 4–21%) was isolated maternal fever using ≥100.4°F on two occasions. The specificity for all features was consistently 100% (95% CI 91–100%).

Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first report on HCF and Triple I features. Though the sensitivity of Triple I to identify HCF is low, specificity is excellent.
Open Approaches to the Anterior Skull Base in Children: Review of the Literature
Authors: DeRowe Ari , Ringel Barak , Fishman Gadi , Fliss Dan , Wasserzug Oshri
Published: January 2018

Introduction Skull base lesions in children and adolescents are rare, and comprise only 5.6% of all skull base surgery. Anterior skull base lesions dominate, averaging slightly more than 50% of the cases. Until recently, surgery of the anterior skull base was dominated by open procedures and endoscopic skull base surgery was reserved for benign pathologies. Endoscopic skull base surgery is gradually gaining popularity. In spite of that, open skull base surgery is still considered the “gold standard” for the treatment of anterior skull base lesions, and it is the preferred approach in selected cases.

Objective This article reviews current concepts and open approaches to the anterior skull base in children in the era of endoscopic surgery.

Materials and Methods Comprehensive literature review.

Results Extensive intracranial–intradural invasion, extensive orbital invasion, encasement of the optic nerve or the internal carotid artery, lateral supraorbital dural involvement and involvement of the anterior table of the frontal sinus or lateral portion of the frontal sinus precludes endoscopic surgery, and mandates open skull base surgery. The open approaches which are used most frequently for surgical resection of anterior skull base tumors are the transfacial/transmaxillary, subcranial, and subfrontal approaches. Reconstruction of anterior skull base defects is discussed in a separate article in this supplement.

Discussion Although endoscopic skull base surgery in children is gaining popularity in developed countries, in many cases open surgery is still required. In addition, in developing countries, which accounts for more than 80% of the world's population, limited access to expensive equipment precludes the use of endoscopic surgery. Several open surgical approaches are still employed to resect anterior skull base lesions in the pediatric population. With this large armamentarium of surgical approaches, tailoring the most suitable approach to a specific lesion in regard to its nature, location, and extent is of utmost importance.
Pediatric Pituitary Adenoma: Case Series, Review of the Literature, and a Skull Base Treatment Paradigm
Authors: Perry Avital , Graffeo Christopher , Marcellino Christopher , Pollock Bruce , Wetjen Nicholas , Meyer Fredric
Published: January 2018

Background Pediatric pituitary adenoma is a rare skull base neoplasm, accounting for 3% of all intracranial neoplasms in children and 5% of pituitary adenomas. Compared with pituitary tumors in adults, secreting tumors predominate and longer disease trajectories are expected due to the patient age resulting in a natural history and treatment paradigm that is complex and controversial.

Objectives The aims of this study were to describe a large, single-institution series of pediatric pituitary adenomas with extensive long-term follow-up and to conduct a systematic review examining outcomes after pituitary adenoma surgery in the pediatric population.

Methods The study cohort was compiled by searching institutional pathology and operative reports using diagnosis and site codes for pituitary and sellar pathology, from 1956 to 2016. Systematic review of the English language literature since 1970 was conducted using PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and Google Scholar.

Results Thirty-nine surgically managed pediatric pituitary adenomas were identified, including 15 prolactinomas, 14 corticotrophs, 7 somatotrophs, and 4 non-secreting adenomas. All patients underwent transsphenoidal resection (TSR) as the initial surgical treatment. Surgical cure was achieved in 18 (46%); 21 experienced recurrent/persistent disease, with secondary treatments including repeat surgery in 10, radiation in 14, adjuvant pharmacotherapy in 11, and bilateral adrenalectomy in 3. At the last follow-up (median 87 months, range 3–581), nine remained with recurrent/persistent disease (23%).

Thirty-seven publications reporting surgical series of pediatric pituitary adenomas were included, containing 1,284 patients. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-secreting tumors were most prevalent (43%), followed by prolactin (PRL)-secreting (37%), growth hormone (GH)-secreting (12%), and nonsecreting (7%). Surgical cure was reported in 65%. Complications included pituitary insufficiency (23%), permanent visual dysfunction (6%), chronic diabetes insipidus (DI) (3%), and postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak (4%). Mean follow-up was 63 months (range 0–240), with recurrent/persistent disease reported in 18% at the time of last follow-up.

Conclusion Pediatric pituitary adenomas are diverse and challenging tumors with complexities far beyond those encountered in the management of routine adult pituitary disease, including nuanced decision-making, a technically demanding operative environment, high propensity for recurrence, and the potentially serious consequences of hypopituitarism with respect to fertility and growth potential in a pediatric population. Optimal treatment requires a high degree of individualization, and patients are most likely to benefit from consolidated, multidisciplinary care in highly experienced centers.
Dilemma für Pflegende
Authors: Melzer Ruth
Published: January 2018

Freiheitsentziehende Maßnahmen Wenn ein Patient sich fremd- oder selbstgefährdend verhält, stehen Pflegende oft vor einem Dilemma: Sie
wollen dem durch sein Krankheit beeinträchtigten Patienten helfen – und müssen ihn gegebenenfalls gegen seinen freien Willen behandeln. Wir
stellen Ihnen verschiedene Unterbringungsarten vor und erläutern, welche Optionen Pflegende bei der Durchführung von Zwangsmaßnahmen haben
und was es dabei zu beachten gilt.
Influence of polymer additive on flow past a hydrofoil: A numerical study
Authors: Xiong Yongliang , Peng Sai , Yang Dan , Duan Juan , Wang Limin
Published: January 2018

Flows of dilute polymer solutions past a hydrofoil (NACA0012) are examined by direct numerical simulation to investigate the modification of the wake pattern due to the addition of polymer. The influence of polymer additive is modeled by the FENE-P model in order to simulate a non-linear modulus of elasticity and a finite extendibility of the polymer macromolecules. Simulations were carried out at a Reynolds number of 1000 with the angle of attack varying from 0° to 20°. The results show that the influence of polymer on the flow behavior of the flow past a hydrofoil exhibits different flow regimes. In general, the addition of polymer modifies the wake patterns for all angles of attack in this study. Consequently, both drag and lift forces are changed as the Weissenberg number increases while the drag of the hydrofoil is enhanced at small angles of attack and reduced at large angles of attack. As the Weissenberg number increases, two attached recirculation bubbles or two columns of shedding vortices downstream tend to be symmetric, and the polymer tends to make the flow less sensitive to the variation of the angle of attack.
Graphene–ZnO:N barristor on a polyethylene naphthalate substrate
Authors: Hwang Hyeon Jun , Heo Sunwoo , Yoo Won Beom , Lee Byoung Hun
Published: January 2018

Graphene–ZnO:N Schottky junction barristors are fabricated on a flexible polyethylene naphthalate substrate utilizing a low thermal budget integration process with a maximum process temperature below 200 °C. An on/off ratio of over 104 is obtained with a 0.1 A/cm2 drive current density at Vd = 0.5 V. The transmittance, degraded by the device stack, was 2.5–3% in the visible wavelength range, and a high on/off ratio was maintained after 600 bending cycles at a 0.6% strain (bending radius = 10 mm).
Raman spectroscopy fingerprint of stainless steel-MWCNTs nanocomposite processed by ball-milling
Authors: dos Reis Marcos Allan Leite , Barbosa Neto Newton Martins , de Sousa Mário Edson Santos , Araujo Paulo T. , Simões Sónia , Vieira Manuel F. , Viana Filomena , Loayza Cristhian R. L. , Borges Diego J. A. , Cardoso Danyella C. S. , Assunção Paulo D. C. , Braga Eduardo M.
Published: January 2018

Stainless steel 304L alloy powder and multiwalled carbon nanotubes were mixed by ball-milling under ambient atmosphere and in a broad range of milling times, which spans from 0 to 120 min. Here, we provided spectroscopic signatures for several distinct composites produced, to show that the Raman spectra present interesting splittings of the D-band feature into two main sub-bands, D-left and D-right, together with several other secondary features. The G-band feature also presents multiple splittings that are related to the outer and inner diameter distributions intrinsic to the multiwalled carbon nanotube samples. A discussion about the second order 2D-band (also known as G′-band) is also provided. The results reveal that the multiple spectral features observed in the D-band are related to an increased chemical functionalization. A lower content of amorphous carbon at 60 and 90 min of milling time is verified and the G-band frequencies associated to the tubes in the outer diameters distribution is upshifted, which suggests that doping induced by strain is taking place in the milled samples. The results indicate that Raman spectroscopy can be a powerful tool for a fast and non-destructive characterization of carbon nanocomposites used in powder metallurgy manufacturing processes.
Ionization Suppression of Heteronuclear Diatomic and Triatomic Molecules in Strong Infrared Laser Fields
Authors: Zhao Lei , Wang Rui , Zhang Shi-wen , Yang Tian-xiang , Lian Yi , Lv Hang , Xu Hai-feng
Published: January 2018

Ionization is the fundamental process in interaction of atoms/molecules with femtosecond strong laser fields. Comparing to atoms, molecules exhibit peculiar behaviors in strong-field ionization because of their diverse geometric structures, molecular electronic orbitals as well as extra nuclear degrees of freedom. In this study, we investigate strong field single and double ionization of carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) in linearly polarized 50-fs, 800-nm laser fields with peak intensity in the range of 2×1013 W/cm2 to 2×1014 W/cm2 using time-of-flight mass spectrometer. By comparing the ionization yields with that of the companion atom krypton (Kr), which has similar ionization potential to the molecules, we investigate the effect of molecular electronic orbitals on the strong-field ionization. The results show that comparing to Kr, no significant suppression is observed in single ionization of both molecules and in non-sequential double ionization (NSDI) of CO, while the NSDI probability of CO2 is strongly suppressed. Based on our results and previous studies on homonuclear diatomic molecules (N2 and O2), the mechanism of different suppression effect is discussed. It is indicated that the different structure of the highest occupied molecular orbitals of CO and CO2 leads to distinct behaviors in two-center interference by the electronic wave-packet and angular distributions of the ionized electrons, resulting in different suppression effect in strong-field ionization.
An Exact Propagator for Solving the Triatomic Reactive Schrödinger Equation
Authors: Li Xue-ming , Sun Zhi-gang
Published: January 2018

The exact short time propagator, in a form similar to the Crank-Nicholson method but in the spirit of spectrally transformed Hamiltonian, was proposed to solve the triatomic reactive time-dependent schrödinger equation. This new propagator is exact and unconditionally convergent for calculating reactive scattering processes with large time step sizes. In order to improve the computational efficiency, the spectral difference method was applied. This resulted the Hamiltonian with elements confined in a narrow diagonal band. In contrast to our previous theoretical work, the discrete variable representation was applied and resulted in full Hamiltonian matrix. As examples, the collision energy-dependent probability of the triatomic H+H2 and O+O2 reaction are calculated. The numerical results demonstrate that this new propagator is numerically accurate and capable of propagating the wave packet with large time steps. However, the efficiency and accuracy of this new propagator strongly depend on the mathematical method for solving the involved linear equations and the choice of preconditioner.