bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genome-wide Identification of PP2C Genes and Their Expression Profiling in Response to Drought and Cold Stresses in Medicago truncatula
Authors: Yang Qi , Liu Kun , Niu Xiaocui , Wang Qi , Wan Yongqing , Yang Feiyun , Li Guojing , Wang Yufen , Wang Ruigang
Published: August 2018

Type 2 C protein phosphatases (PP2Cs) represent the major group of protein phosphatases in plants and play important roles in various plant processes. In this study, 94 MtPP2C genes were identified from Medicago truncatula and further phylogenetically classified into 13 subfamilies, as supported by exon-intron organization and conserved motif composition. Collinearity analysis indicated that segmental duplication events played a crucial role in the expansion of MtPP2C gene families in M. truncatula. Furthermore, the expression profiles of MtPP2Cs under different abiotic treatments were analyzed using qRT-PCR. Results showed that these MtPP2Cs genes displayed different expression patterns in response to drought, cold and ABA stress conditions and some of the key stress responsive MtPP2Cs genes have been identified. Our study presents a comprehensive overview of the PP2C gene family in M. truncatula, which will be useful for further functional characterization of MtPP2Cs in plant drought and cold stress responses.
Photoresponsivity of an all-semimetal heterostructure based on graphene and WTe2
Authors: Liu Yujie , Liu Chuan , Wang Xiaomu , He Liang , Wan Xiangang , Xu Yongbing , Shi Yi , Zhang Rong , Wang Fengqiu
Published: August 2018

Heterostructures based on two-dimensional (2D) materials have sparked wide interests in both fundamental physics and applied devices. Recently, Dirac/Weyl semimetals are emerging as capable functional materials for optoelectronic devices. However, thus far the interfacial coupling of an all-semimetal 2D heterostructure has not been investigated, and its effects on optoelectronic properties remain less well understood. Here, a heterostructure comprising of all semi-metallic constituents, namely graphene and WTe2, is fabricated. Standard photocurrent measurements on a graphene/WTe2 phototransistor reveal a pronounced photocurrent enhancement (a photoresponsivity ~8.7 A/W under 650 nm laser illumination). Transport and photocurrent mapping suggest that both photovoltaic and photothermoelectric effects contribute to the enhanced photoresponse of the hybrid system. Our results help to enrich the understanding of new and emerging device concepts based on 2D layered materials.
Rapid Regeneration and Reuse of Silica Columns from PCR Purification and Gel Extraction Kits
Authors: Zhou Ying , Zhang Yang , He Wei , Wang Juan , Peng Feixia , Huang Liyun , Zhao Shasha , Deng Wensheng
Published: August 2018

Silica columns from PCR purification and gel extraction kits are widely used in laboratories worldwide to assist in gene cloning. However, the use of these columns can generate plastic waste that has an environmental impact due to their one-off design and massive consumption. Thus, it is important to develop a novel method that can reduce the utilization of silica columns but not affect research efficiency. In this study, various chemical and nonchemical reagents were used to eliminate residual DNA within used columns from PCR purification and gel extraction kits. We show that phosphoric acid is the most effective reagent among those tested to remove DNA contamination from used columns. Columns regenerated using 1 M phosphoric acid have a DNA purification capability that is comparable to that of fresh columns. We demonstrate that silica columns can be regenerated and reused a minimum of five times. The lab-made buffers are compatible with the regenerated columns for DNA purification, and DNA that is prepared with the regenerated columns can be used for gene cloning without affecting the gene cloning efficiency. Thus, the use of this novel method greatly reduces the production of laboratory waste and benefits numerous laboratories worldwide.
Detection and Categorization of Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli with Auto-microfluidic Thin-film Chip Method
Authors: Yun Zhenyu , Zeng Lian , Huang Weijian , Wu Qi , Fan Yiling , Zheng Shigang , Peng Liping , Han Jiayu , Huang Ying , Zhou Hang , Chen Haodong
Published: August 2018

Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) causes human diarrhea symptom in both healthy and immunocompromised individuals. An auto-microfluidic thin-film chip (AMTC) instrument integrating one-step multiplex PCR (mPCR) with reverse dot blot hybridization (RDBH) was developed for high-throughput detection of DEC. The novel mPCR method was developed by designing 14 specific primers and corresponding probes. 14 indexes including an endogenous gene (uidA) and 13 pathogenic genes (stx1, stx2, escV, ipaH, invE, estB, lt, pic, aggR, astA, bfpB, sth and stp) of DEC were detected. This one-step mPCR + RDBH approach is useful for simultaneous detection of numerous target genes in a single sample, whose specificity and availability have been confirmed on the positive control of 11 DEC strains. In addition, with 300 diarrheal stool samples being detected by this method, 21 were found to contain five major DEC strains. Compared with monoplex PCR and previous one-step mPCR approach, this method could detect ipaH and estB, and compared with current commercial kit, the relevance ratio of DEC detected by the AMTC method was increased by 1% in stool samples. Furthermore, the novel integration AMTC device could be a valuable detection tool for categorization of E. coli.
Acoustic cloak based on Bézier scatterers
Authors: Lu Zhimiao , Sanchis Lorenzo , Wen Jihong , Cai Li , Bi Yafeng , Sánchez-Dehesa José
Published: August 2018

Among the different approaches proposed to design acoustic cloaks, the one consisting on the use of an optimum distribution of discrete scatters surrounding the concealing object has been successfully tested. The feasibility of acoustic cloaks mainly depends on the number and shape of the scatterers surrounding the object to be cloaked. This work presents a method allowing the reduction of the number of discrete scatterers by optimizing their external shape, which is here defined by a combination of cubic Bézier curves. Based on scattering cancellation, a two-dimensional directional cloak consisting of just 20 Bézier scatters has been designed, fabricated and experimentally characterized. The method of fundamental solutions has been implemented to calculate the interaction of an incident plane wave with scatterers of arbitrary shape. The acoustic cloak here proposed shows a performance, in terms of averaged visibility, similar to that consisting of 120 scatterers with equal circular cross sections. The operational frequency of the proposed cloak is 5940 Hz with a bandwidth of about 110 Hz.
A miR172 target-deficient AP2-like gene correlates with the double flower phenotype in roses
Authors: François Léa , Verdenaud Marion , Fu Xiaopeng , Ruleman Darcy , Dubois Annick , Vandenbussche Michiel , Bendahmane Abdelhafid , Raymond Olivier , Just Jérémy , Bendahmane Mohammed
Published: August 2018

One of the well-known floral abnormalities in flowering plants is the double-flower phenotype, which corresponds to flowers that develop extra petals, sometimes even containing entire flowers within flowers. Because of their highly priced ornamental value, spontaneous double-flower variants have been found and selected for in a wide range of ornamental species. Previously, double flower formation in roses was associated with a restriction of AGAMOUS expression domain toward the centre of the meristem, leading to extra petals. Here, we characterized the genomic region containing the mutation associated with the switch from simple to double flowers in the rose. An APETALA2-like gene (RcAP2L), a member of the Target Of EAT-type (TOE-type) subfamily, lies within this interval. In the double flower rose, two alleles of RcAP2L are present, one of which harbours a transposable element inserted into intron 8. This insertion leads to the creation of a miR172 resistant RcAP2L variant. Analyses of the presence of this variant in a set of simple and double flower roses demonstrate a correlation between the presence of this allele and the double flower phenotype. These data suggest a role of this miR172 resistant RcAP2L variant in regulating RcAGAMOUS expression and double flower formation in Rosa sp.
Lower body mass index and mortality in older adults starting dialysis
Authors: Polinder-Bos Harmke A. , Diepen Merel van , Dekker Friedo W. , Hoogeveen Ellen K. , Franssen Casper F. M. , Gansevoort Ron T. , Gaillard Carlo A. J. M.
Published: August 2018

Lower body mass index (BMI) has consistently been associated with mortality in elderly in the general and chronic disease populations. Remarkably, in older incident dialysis patients no association of BMI with mortality was found. We performed an in-depth analysis and explored possible time-stratified effects of BMI. 908 incident dialysis patients aged ≥65 years of the NECOSAD study were included, and divided into tertiles by baseline BMI (<23.1 (lower), 23.1–26.0 (reference), ≥26.0 (higher) kg/m2). Because the hazards changed significantly during follow-up, the effect of BMI was modeled for the short-term (<1 year) and longer-term (≥1 year after dialysis initiation). During follow-up (median 3.8 years) 567 deaths occurred. Lower BMI was associated with higher short-term mortality risk (adjusted-HR 1.63 [1.14–2.32] P = 0.007), and lower longer-term mortality risk (adjusted-HR 0.81 [0.63–1.04] P = 0.1). Patients with lower BMI who died during the first year had significantly more comorbidity, and worse self-reported physical functioning compared with those who survived the first year. Thus, lower BMI is associated with increased 1-year mortality, but conditional on surviving the first year, lower BMI yielded a similar or lower mortality risk compared with the reference. Those patients with lower BMI, who had limited comorbidity and better physical functioning, had better survival.
In vivo Diffusion Tensor Imaging, Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging, and Tractography of a Sciatic Nerve Injury Model in Rat at 9.4T
Authors: Andersson Gustav , Orädd Greger , Sultan Fahad , Novikov Lev N.
Published: August 2018

Peripheral nerve injuries result in severe loss of sensory and motor functions in the afflicted limb. There is a lack of standardised models to non-invasively study degeneration, regeneration, and normalisation of neuronal microstructure in peripheral nerves. This study aimed to develop a non-invasive evaluation of peripheral nerve injuries, using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI), and tractography on a rat model of sciatic nerve injury. 10 female Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to sciatic nerve neurotmesis and studied using a 9.4 T magnet, by performing DTI and DKI of the sciatic nerve before and 4 weeks after injury. The distal nerve stump showed a decrease in fractional anisotropy (FA), mean kurtosis (MK), axonal water fraction (AWF), and radial and axonal kurtosis (RK, AK) after injury. The proximal stump showed a significant decrease in axial diffusivity (AD) and increase of MK and AK as compared with the uninjured nerve. Both mean diffusivity (MD) and radial diffusivity (RD) increased in the distal stump after injury. Tractography visualised the sciatic nerve and the site of injury, as well as local variations of the diffusion parameters following injury. In summary, the described method detects changes both proximal and distal to the nerve injury.
Publisher Correction: Vacuum induced transparency and photon number resolved Autler-Townes splitting in a three-level system
Authors: Ding Jiang-hao , Huai Sai-nan , Ian Hou , Liu Yu-xi
Published: August 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper.
Distinct systemic microbiome and microbial translocation are associated with plasma level of anti-CD4 autoantibody in HIV infection
Authors: Xu Wanli , Luo Zhenwu , Alekseyenko Alexander V. , Martin Lisa , Wan Zhuang , Ling Binhua , Qin Zhiqiang , Heath Sonya L. , Maas Kendra , Cong Xiaomei , Jiang Wei
Published: August 2018

Microbial signals have been linked to autoantibody induction. Recently, we found that purified anti-CD4 autoantibodies from the plasma of chronic HIV-1-infected patients under viral-suppressed antiretroviral therapy (ART) play a pathologic role in poor CD4+ T cell recovery. The purpose of the study was to investigate the association of systemic microbiome and anti-CD4 autoantibody production in HIV. Plasma microbiome from 12 healthy controls and 22 HIV-infected subjects under viral-suppressed ART were analyzed by MiSeq sequencing. Plasma level of autoantibodies and microbial translocation (LPS, total bacterial 16S rDNA, soluble CD14, and LPS binding protein) were analyzed by ELISA, limulus amebocyte assay, and qPCR. We found that plasma level of anti-CD4 IgGs but not anti-CD8 IgGs was increased in HIV+ subjects compared to healthy controls. HIV+ subjects with plasma anti-CD4 IgG > 50 ng/mL (high) had reduced microbial diversity compared to HIV+ subjects with anti-CD4 IgG ≤ 50 ng/mL (low). Moreover, plasma anti-CD4 IgG level was associated with elevated microbial translocation and reduced microbial diversity in HIV+ subjects. The Alphaproteobacteria class was significantly enriched in HIV+ subjects with low anti-CD4 IgG compared to patients with high anti-CD4 IgG even after controlling for false discovery rate (FDR). The microbial components were different from the phylum to genus level in HIV+ subjects with high anti-CD4 IgGs compared to the other two groups, but these differences were not significant after controlling for FDR. These results suggest that systemic microbial translocation and microbiome may associate with anti-CD4 autoantibody production in ART-treated HIV disease.
Fluoxetine does not enhance the effect of perceptual learning on visual function in adults with amblyopia
Authors: Huttunen Henri J. , Palva J. Matias , Lindberg Laura , Palva Satu , Saarela Ville , Karvonen Elina , Latvala Marja-Leena , Liinamaa Johanna , Booms Sigrid , Castrén Eero , Uusitalo Hannu
Published: August 2018

Amblyopia is a common visual disorder that is treatable in childhood. However, therapies have limited efficacy in adult patients with amblyopia. Fluoxetine can reinstate early-life critical period-like neuronal plasticity and has been used to recover functional vision in adult rats with amblyopia. We conducted a Phase 2, randomized (fluoxetine vs. placebo), double-blind, multicenter clinical trial examined whether or not fluoxetine can improve visual acuity in amblyopic adults. This interventional trial included 42 participants diagnosed with moderate to severe amblyopia. Subjects were randomized to receive either 20 mg fluoxetine (n = 22) or placebo (n = 20). During the 10-week treatment period, all subjects performed daily computerized perceptual training and eye patching. At the primary endpoint, the mean treatment group difference in visual acuity improvement was only 0.027 logMAR units (95% CI: −0.057 to 0.110; p = 0.524). However, visual acuity had significantly improved from baseline to 10 weeks in both fluoxetine (−0.167 logMAR; 95% CI: −0.226 to −0.108; p < 0.001) and placebo (−0.194 logMAR; 95% CI: −0.254 to −0.133; p < 0.001) groups. While this study failed to provide evidence that fluoxetine enhances neuroplasticity, our data support other recent clinical studies suggesting that improvement of vision can be accomplished in adults with amblyopia.
An interaction network driven approach for identifying biomarkers for progressing cervical intraepithelial neoplasia
Authors: Suman Shikha , Mishra Ashutosh
Published: August 2018

Overlapping genes across high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (CIN2 and 3) and cancer may serve as potential biomarkers for this progressive disease. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of dysplastic (CIN2 and CIN3) and cancer cells were identified by microarray data analysis. Gene interaction network was constructed using the 98 common DEGs among the dysplastic and cancer cells and analysed for the identification of common modules, hubs and significant motifs. Two significant modules and 10 hubs of the common gene interaction network, with 125 nodes and 201 edges were found. DEGs namely NDC80, ZWINT, CDC7, MCM4, MCM2 and MCM6 were found to be common in both the significant modules as well as the hubs. Of these, ZWINT, CDC7, MCM4, MCM2 and MCM6 were further identified to be part of most significant motifs. This overlapping relationship provides a list of common disease related genes among pre-cancerous and cancer stages which could help in targeting the proliferating cancerous cells during onset. Capitalizing upon and targeting Minichromosome maintenance protein complex - specifically the MCM2, MCM4 and MCM6 subunits, ZWINT and CDC7 for experimental validation, may provide valuable insights in understanding and detection of progressing cervical neoplasia to cervical cancer at an early stage.
Theta-burst stimulation causally affects side perception in the Deutsch’s octave illusion
Authors: Capotosto Paolo , della Penna Stefania , Pizzella Vittorio , Zappasodi Filippo , Romani Gian Luca , Ilmoniemi Risto J. , Brancucci Alfredo
Published: August 2018

Deutsch’s octave illusion is produced by a sequence of two specular dichotic stimuli presented in alternation to the left and right ear causing an illusory segregation of pitch (frequency) and side (ear of origin). Previous studies have indicated that illusory perception of pitch takes place in temporo-frontal areas, whereas illusory perception of side is primarily associated to neural activity in parietal cortex and in particular in the inferior parietal lobule (IPL). Here we investigated the causal role of left IPL in the perception of side (ear of origin) during the octave illusion by following its inhibition through continuous theta-burst stimulation (cTBS), as compared to the left posterior intraparietal sulcus (pIPS), whose activity is thought to be unrelated to side perception during the illusion. We observed a prolonged modification in the side of the illusory perceived tone during the first 10 minutes following the stimulation. Specifically, while after cTBS over the left IPS subjects reported to perceive the last tone more often at the right compared to the left ear, cTBS over left IPL significantly reverted this distribution, as the number of last perceived tones at the right ear was smaller than at the left ear. Such alteration was not maintained in the successive 10 minutes. These results provide the first evidence of the causal involvement of the left IPL in the perception of side during the octave illusion.
The Effects of Intra-membrane Viscosity on Lipid Membrane Morphology: Complete Analytical Solution
Authors: Zeidi Mahdi , Kim Chun Il
Published: August 2018

We present a linear theory of lipid membranes which accommodates the effects of intra-membrane viscosity into the model of deformations. Within the Monge parameterization, a linearized version of the shape equation describing membrane morphology is derived. Admissible boundary conditions are taken from the existing non-linear model but reformulated and adopted to the present framework. We obtain a complete analytical expression illustrating the deformations of lipid membrane subjected to the influences of intra-membrane viscosity. The result predicts wrinkle phenomena in the event of membrane-substrate interactions. Finally, we mention that the obtained solutions reduce to those from the classical shape equation when the viscosity effects are removed.
Effect of Polarization Coulomb Field Scattering on Electrical Properties of the 70-nm Gate-Length AlGaN/GaN HEMTs
Authors: Cui Peng , Lv Yuanjie , Fu Chen , Liu Huan , Cheng Aijie , Luan Chongbiao , Zhou Yang , Lin Zhaojun
Published: August 2018

This research presents the first experimental observation of the enhancement of the polarization Coulomb field (PCF) scattering by aggressive lateral scaling of GaN HEMTs. By decreasing the source-drain distance to 300 nm through n+-GaN ohmic regrowth, 70-nm gate AlGaN/GaN HEMTs achieved an extremely low electron mobility. Different from the electron mobility of the traditional device, which was determined by polar optical phonon scattering, the electron mobility of the 70-nm gate AlGaN/GaN HEMTs was dominated by PCF scattering due to the enhanced nonuniform strain distribution of the AlGaN barrier layer. Furthermore, compared with the parasitic access resistance at gate-source voltage VGS = 0 V, the parasitic access resistance at VGS = −2.5 V showed an increase of approximately 700%, which was also responsible for the enhanced PCF scattering.
Electronic transport in a two-dimensional superlattice engineered via self-assembled nanostructures
Authors: Zhang Yingjie , Kim Youngseok , Gilbert Matthew J. , Mason Nadya
Published: August 2018

Nanoscience offers a unique opportunity to design modern materials from the bottom up via low-cost, solution processed assembly of nanoscale building blocks. These systems promise electronic band structure engineering using not only the nanoscale structural modulation, but also the mesoscale spatial patterning, although experimental realization of the latter has been challenging. Here, we design and fabricate a new type of artificial solid by stacking graphene on a self-assembled, nearly periodic array of nanospheres, and experimentally observe superlattice miniband effects. We find conductance dips at commensurate fillings of charge carriers per superlattice unit cell, which are key features of minibands that are induced by the quasi-periodic deformation of the graphene lattice. These dips become stronger when the lattice strain is larger. Using a tight-binding model, we simulate the effect of lattice deformation as a parameter affecting the inter-atomic hopping integral, and confirm the superlattice transport behavior. This 2D material-nanoparticle heterostructure enables facile band structure engineering via self-assembly, promising for large-area electronics and optoelectronics applications.
A global dataset of plant available and unavailable phosphorus in natural soils derived by Hedley method
Authors: Hou Enqing , Tan Xiang , Heenan Marijke , Wen Dazhi
Published: August 2018

Soil phosphorus (P) fractions are critical for understanding soil P dynamics and availability. This paper provides a global dataset of soil P fractions separated by the Hedley method. The dataset also includes key environmental factors associated with soil P dynamics and availability, including climate factors, vegetation, soil and parent material types, soil age, and soil physiochemical properties such as particle size, bulk density, pH in water, organic carbon, total nitrogen, and extractable iron and aluminium concentrations. This dataset includes measures of Hedley P fractions of 802 soil samples and was gathered through a literature survey of 99 published studies. Plant availability of each soil P fraction was noted. We anticipate that the global dataset will provide valuable information for studying soil P dynamics and availability, and it will be fused into earth system models to better predict how terrestrial ecosystems will respond to global environmental changes.
Fast-forming BMSC-encapsulating hydrogels through bioorthogonal reaction for osteogenic differentiation
Authors: Zhang Yajie , Chen Hong , Zhang Tingting , Zan Yue , Ni Tianyu , Liu Min , Pei Renjun
Published: August 2018

An injectable in situ fast-forming hydrogel was fabricated to encapsulate BMSCs for osteogenic differentiation through the inverse electron demand Diels–Alder click reaction between trans-cyclooctene-modified PEG and tetrazine-modified hyaluronic acid.
Simulating the effect of a triple bond to achieve the shortest main group metal–metal distance in diberyllium complexes: a computational study
Authors: Zhao Xue-Feng , Yuan Caixia , Li Si-Dian , Wu Yan-Bo , Wang Xiaotai
Published: August 2018

[Ne → Be2H3← Ne]+represents the first global energy minimum having a main group metal–metal distance under 1.700 Å.
Driving towards cost-competitive biofuels through catalytic fast pyrolysis by rethinking catalyst selection and reactor configuration
Authors: Griffin Michael B. , Iisa Kristiina , Wang Huamin , Dutta Abhijit , Orton Kellene A. , French Richard J. , Santosa Daniel M. , Wilson Nolan , Christensen Earl , Nash Connor , Van Allsburg Kurt M. , Baddour Frederick G. , Ruddy Daniel A. , Tan Eric C. D. , Cai Hao , Mukarakate Calvin , Schaidle Joshua A.
Published: August 2018

Bifunctional fixed-bed catalysts improve CFP performance.
Ginsenoside Rg5 induces apoptosis and autophagy via the inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway against breast cancer in a mouse model
Authors: Liu Yannan , Fan Daidi
Published: August 2018

Ginsenoside Rg5 significantly suppressed tumor growth and induced apoptosis and autophagy through the inhibition of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
Liensinine perchlorate inhibits colorectal cancer tumorigenesis by inducing mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis
Authors: Wang Yang , Li Yang-Jia , Huang Xiao-Hui , Zheng Can-Can , Yin Xing-Feng , Li Bin , He Qing-Yu
Published: August 2018

Functional screen and quantitative proteomics reveal that food-source liensinine induces colorectal cancer cell apoptosisviathe JNK-mitochondrial dysfunction signaling pathway.
The effect of nitrogen and oxygen coordination: toward a stable anode for reversible lithium storage
Authors: Lou Xiaobing , Chen Mengdi , Hu Bingwen
Published: August 2018

A multi-coordinated strategy is successfully employed to construct a Co-based MOF for high-performance anodes in lithium batteries.
Co-N-C catalysts synthesized by pyrolysis of Co-based deep eutectic solvents for aerobic oxidation of alcohols
Authors: Zhao Xin , Zhou Yan , Jin Ai-Ling , Huang Kuan , Liu Fujian , Tao Duan-Jian
Published: August 2018

DES derived Co-N-C composites were used for highly efficient aerobic oxidation of alcohols into the corresponding aldehydes and ketones.
A dimorphism shift of hepatitis B virus capsids in response to ionic conditions
Authors: Sun Xinyu , Li Dong , Wang Zhaoshuai , Liu Qiao , Wei Yinan , Liu Tianbo
Published: August 2018

HBV capsid dimorphism regulation through manipulating the rate of capsid nucleation using highly concentrated and/or multivalent counter-cations.
Tobacco mosaic virus delivery of mitoxantrone for cancer therapy
Authors: Lin Richard D. , Steinmetz Nicole F.
Published: August 2018

Tobacco mosaic virus-nanoparticle encapsulation of the topoisomerase II inhibitor mitoxantrone enables therapy in a mouse model of triple negative breast cancer.
Missing links towards understanding the equilibrium shapes of hexagonal boron nitride: algorithm, hydrogen passivation, and temperature effects
Authors: Zhang Jingzhao , Zhao Wenjing , Zhu Junyi
Published: August 2018

Accurate algorithm and hydrogen passivation with finite temperature and pressure lead to exact predictions of h-BN equilibrium shapes.
Molecular networking prospection and characterization of terpenoids and C15-acetogenins in Brazilian seaweed extracts
Authors: Philippus Ana Cláudia , Zatelli Gabriele A. , Wanke Tauana , Gabriela de A. Barros Maria , Kami Satomy A. , Lhullier Cintia , Armstrong Lorene , Sandjo Louis P. , Falkenberg Miriam
Published: August 2018

Molecular networking of Brazilian marine algae.
Low temperature synthesis of BiFeO3nanoparticles with enhanced magnetization and promising photocatalytic performance in dye degradation and hydrogen evolution
Authors: Basith M. A. , Yesmin Nilufar , Hossain Rana
Published: August 2018

Multiferroic BiFeO3nanoparticles were synthesized using low temperature hydrothermal technique to assess their visible-light driven photocatalytic activity along with their applicability for the production of hydrogen via water splitting.
The effect of linker DNA on the structure and interaction of nucleosome core particles
Authors: Huang Yen-Chih , Su Chun-Jen , Korolev Nikolay , Berezhnoy Nikolay V. , Wang Sai , Soman Aghil , Chen Chun-Yu , Chen Hsin-Lung , Jeng U-Ser , Nordenskiöld Lars
Published: August 2018

Small angle X-ray scattering reveals linker DNA-induced partial unwrapping of nucleosomal DNA on the nucleosome core particle (NCP) and the impact on NCP interaction demonstrating the crucial role of linker DNA.
What causes the anomalous aggregation in pluronic aqueous solutions?
Authors: Shih Kuo-Chih , Shen Zhiqiang , Li Ying , Kröger Martin , Chang Shing-Yun , Liu Yun , Nieh Mu-Ping , Lai Hsi-Mei
Published: August 2018

Anomalous aggregation of pluronic induced by weak PPO hydrophobicity can be suppressed in presence of acids or bases.
Simultaneous MgO coating and Mg doping of Na[Ni0.5Mn0.5]O2 cathode: facile and customizable approach to high-voltage sodium-ion batteries
Authors: Hwang Jang-Yeon , Yu Tae-Yeon , Sun Yang-Kook
Published: August 2018

Simultaneous surface MgO coating to bulk Mg doping of Na[Ni0.5Mn0.5]O2 cathode produces great synergy in sodium-ion battery performances.
Exponential stability of positive switched non‐linear systems under minimum dwell time
Authors: Ma Ruicheng , An Shuang , Zhao Shengzhi
Published: August 2018

The positive and exponential stability for a class of switched non‐linear systems under minimum dwell time switching is studied, whose non‐linear functions for each subsystem are constrained in a sector field by two odd symmetric piecewise linear functions and whose system matrices for each subsystem are Metzler. A class of multiple time‐varying Lyapunov functions is applied to obtain the computable sufficient stability conditions in terms of linear programming rather than non‐linear programming. An example is provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed result.
Simple relay non‐linear PD control for faster and high‐precision motion systems with friction
Authors: Zheng Chunhong , Su Yuxin , Mercorelli Paolo
Published: August 2018

This study addresses the problem of robust faster and high‐precision positioning of uncertain one‐degree‐of‐freedom mechanical systems with friction. A very simple relay non‐linear proportional–derivative (PD) controller is proposed. Global asymptotic positioning stability is proven by Lyapunov's direct method invoking Barbalat's lemma. The appealing features of the proposed control are that it is fairly easy to construct with simple intuitive structure and without reference to modelling parameter and the ability to ensure global asymptotic positioning stability featuring faster transient and higher steady‐state precision. Simulations and experiments demonstrate the effectiveness and improved performance of the proposed approach.
Modified affine arithmetic based continuation power flow analysis for voltage stability assessment under uncertainty
Authors: Adusumilli Bala Surendra , Kalyan Kumar Boddeti
Published: August 2018

Continuation power flow (CPF) analysis has been used in the literature to determine the voltage collapse point from active power versus voltage curves (PV curves) for steady‐state voltage stability assessment. Affine arithmetic‐based (AA) CPF analysis to determine PV curve bounds under uncertainty in power generation was introduced in the literature to overcome the problem of large computational time with Monte Carlo (MC) simulations, by getting a faster solution with a reasonably good accuracy. However, AA operations lead to more noise terms and hence overestimation of bounds. In the present work, a modified AA (modAA)‐based CPF analysis is proposed to determine PV curve bounds by considering uncertainties associated with active and reactive power injections at all buses in the system. The proposed method reduces the overestimation caused by the AA operations and gives more accurate solution bounds. The proposed modAA‐based CPF analysis is tested on 5‐bus test case, IEEE 57, European 1354 and Polish 2383‐bus systems. The simulation results with the proposed method are compared with MC simulations and AA‐based CPF analysis to show the efficacy of the proposed method.
Impact of gate material engineering on ED‐TFET for improving DC/analogue‐RF/linearity performances
Authors: Chandan Bandi Venkata , Dasari Sushmitha , Nigam Kaushal , Yadav Shivendra , Pandey Sunil , Sharma Dheeraj
Published: August 2018

To avoid the fabrication complexity and cost of nanoscale devices, a dual metal gate (DMG) in polarity controlled electrically doped tunnel field‐effect transistor (ED‐TFET) has been introduced first time for DC, analogue/radio frequency (RF) and linearity performance improvement. The formation of n+ drain and p+ source regions are done by applying polarity biases of PG‐1 as 1.2 V and PG‐2 as −1.2 V, respectively, over the silicon body in DMG‐ED‐TFET. Different analogue/RF and linearity performance metrics of DMG‐ED‐TFET are evaluated using ATLAS device simulator and compared with that of ED‐TFET. The figure of merits (FOMs) studied in this work for DMG‐ED‐TFET are in terms of transconductance, gate‐to‐drain capacitance, gain bandwidth product, cut‐off frequency and linearity parameters such as third‐order transconductance coefficient (), VIP3, IIP3 and IMD3. From the simulations, it is found that DMG‐ED‐TFET achieves significant improvement in these FOMs as compared to ED‐TFET due to introduction of dual metal at gate electrode (gate workfunction engineering). The work has also optimised the proposed device to attain optimum analogue/RF and linearity performance.
The millimeter-wave spectrum of methyl ketene and the astronomical search for it
Authors: Bermúdez C. , Tercero B. , Motiyenko R. A. , Margulès L. , Cernicharo J. , Ellinger Y. , Guillemin J.-C.
Published: August 2018

Context. The analysis of isomeric species of a compound observed in the interstellar medium (ISM) is a useful tool to understand the chemistry of complex organic molecules. It could, likewise, assist in the detection of new species.

Aims. Our goal consists in analyzing one of the two most stable species of the C3H4O family, methyl ketene, whose actual rotational parameters are not precise enough to allow its detection in the ISM. The obtained parameters will be used to search for it in the high-mass star-forming regions Orion KL and Sagittarius B2, as well as in the cold dark clouds TMC-1 in the Taurus Molecular Cloud and Barnard 1 (B1–b).

Methods. A millimeter-wave room-temperature rotational spectrum of methyl ketene was recorded from 50 to 330 GHz. The internal rotation analysis of its ground state and first torsional excited state was performed with the rho-axis method employing the RAM36 program.

Results. More than 3000 transitions of the rotational spectrum of the ground state (Kamax = 18) and first torsional excited state (Kamax = 13) of methyl ketene were fitted using a Hamiltonian that contains 41 parameters with a root mean square of 44 kHz. Column density limits were calculated but no lines were detected in the ISM belonging to methyl ketene.
The morphometric characters variability analysis of Tulipa uniflora (Liliaceae) in the Angara Region (Irkutsk Oblast, Russia)
Authors: Chernysheva Olga , Bukin Yuriy , Krivenko Denis
Published: August 2018

The intra-and interpopulation variability of six populations of Tulipa uniflora (L.) Besser ex Baker at the northern limit of distribution in the Angara steppes over 12 morphometric parameters was studied by the principal components method and single-factor analysis of variance. It is established that the vectors characterizing the gradients of the change in the morphometric parameters are divided into two groups: vegetative and generative, which are among themselves in direct dependence. Based on the single-factor analysis of variance results for all morphometric parameters, a significant difference is observed between populations of T. uniflora in the Angara Region. On the one hand, this is a consequence of anthropogenic impact on the population, and on the other – the relic nature of the species.
Effect of methyl jasmonate on production of 20-hydroxyecdysone and turkesterone in hairy roots of Silene linicola C.C.Gmelin
Authors: Erst Anna A. , Zibareva Larisa N. , Filonenko Elena S.
Published: August 2018

Methyl jasmonate (MeJ) affects the regulation of secondary metabolism, and it is considered to be a promising elicitor in the culture of cells, tissues and plant organs. High-performance liquid chromatography method was used to identify the composition of ecdysteroids in hairy roots of Silene linicola. MeJ was found to have a stimulating effect on ecdysteroid biosynthesis in this culture. Addition of MeJ at a concentration of 100 μM increased the biosynthesis of 20-hydroxyecdysone by 74% (day 3), and that of turkesterone by 35% (day 6). The share of turkesterone in total ecdysteroid content in the investigated samples was up to 60%, and the content of 20-hydroxyecdysone was up to 30%. The study shows that MeJ is a promising stimulator of ecdysteroid biosynthesis in hairy roots of S. linicola.
Study of chromosome composition of the southern Ural genotypes of Prunus pumila L. by various methods
Authors: Lyozin Mikhail S. , Asbaganov Sergey V. , Mochalova Olga V. , Gusev Dmitry A. , Simagin Vladimir S.
Published: August 2018

Prunus pumila L. is a winter-hardy Siberian species widely used in kitchen-gardens, as well as in nurseries as a seed stock for plums and apricots and development of hybrids for stocks of these cultures. Rare cases of emergence of polyploids among introduced seedlings are known. Chromosome numbers of 11 morphologically different plants of this species from Chelyabinsk Oblast were studied in comparison with some plants from Barnaul with already known ploidy by cytological and cytometric methods. With the help of both methods it was established that all plants from Chelyabinsk Oblast turned out to be diploids. Ploidy of the control specimens from Barnaul was supported by the cytometric method. A rare emergence of polyploids when introducing P. pumila in the climatic conditions differing from the natural ones was confirmed.
Soil cover under Betula pendula Roth. Stands growing on the coal mining spoils in the Kuznetsk region, Russia
Authors: Ufimtsev Vladimir , Belanov Ivan , Trefilova Olga
Published: August 2018

The article presents results of the study on the influence of the while birch Betula pendula Roth. stands with varying crown cower (<30, 31-50 and >50%) on the properties of soils developing under these stands on the coal mining spoils in the Kuznetsk hollow (so called Kuzbas region). The studied birch stands were located in two ecotopes, i.e. the northern and southern forest-steppe subzone at Kedrovsk (55°32`33``N 86°04`11``E) and Bungur (54°16`09``N 86°09`00``E) coal mines, respectively. The methodology of the study was based on the concept of plant phytogenic fields. The highest rate of soil organic matter and nutrients accumulation was found under sparse stands in both ecotopes. However, the southern ecotope, as compared to the northern one, was found to have higher organic mater and nutrients content irrespective of the birch stand density.
Thematic interpretation of the Northern Dvina River floodplain meadow ecosystem using remote sensing
Authors: Volkov Alexey , Parinova Tatyana
Published: August 2018

In this work we represent the possibility of using satellite images of medium spatial resolution for thematic interpretation of meadow ecosystems located in the flood plain of the Northern Dvina river. We have used multidimensional scaling to study the differences in spectral characteristics. Classes such as arable land, water, mineral soils, forests and swamps are most well-classified. However, the meadow ecosystems overlap with reed beds according to spectral characteristics. Therefore, for more accurate identification of meadows, it is recommended to use different vegetative indices, for example NDVI and Cl Green. As a result of the research, a map of the distribution of meadow ecosystems was created using GIS.
Identification of kinetic triplets by results of derivatographic analysis
Authors: Bondarchuk Ivan S. , Bondarchuk Sergei S. , Borisov Boris V.
Published: August 2018

The method for identification of the triplet of kinetic parameters of a heterogeneous reaction using the data of the derivatographic analysis is proposed. This method is characterized by high accuracy and relative simplicity and it can be effectively realized using MS Excel software.
Influence of Cu(СH3COO)2 promoting additive on bituminous coal oxidation process
Authors: Bolgova Darya , Larionov Kirill , Zenkov Andrey , Yankovsky Stanislav
Published: August 2018

The process of coal oxidation with applied Cu(СH3COO)2 additive was studied by the capillary incipient wetness impregnation method with 5% mass concentration. The experiment was conducted by thermogravimetric analysis at a heating rate of 2.5°C/min to a maximum temperature of 600°C in atmospheric air. It was established that application of the initiation additive leads to a significant reduction in the initial temperature of sublimation and active oxidation of volatile compounds (ΔTi = 78°C) and the oxidation end temperature (ΔTf = 64°C). It was established that in the presence of copper acetate the nature of coal oxidation reaction significantly changes (DTG data). The parameters of the coals oxidation process in the presence of copper acetate were determined, and an assumption was made about the presence of a composite catalytic effect.
Heat-mass transfer efficiency within the cooling towers with jet-film contact devices
Authors: Madyshev Ilnur N. , Dmitrieva Oksana S. , Dmitriev Andrey V.
Published: August 2018

Jet-film contact devices with special design elements for intensification of heat-mass transfer processes are proposed. An experimental apparatus has been created in order to study the interaction of water and air flows within these devices. It has been revealed that an increase in the ratio of mass flow rate of liquid and gas phases leads to a decrease in heat efficiency coefficient. Within the area of high values of specific loads, an increase in the local minimum of mass transfer efficiency is observed.
Technique of measuring the emissivity coefficient of solid materials surface
Authors: Zharova Irina , Kuznetsov Valery , Perfilieva Ksenia , Zasadny Irina
Published: August 2018

The option of non-stationary method of measuring the emissivity coefficient of solid materials surface is presented. Results of a model calculating experiment are given.
Direct Thrombin Inhibition with Rec-Hirudin CGP 39393 as Prophylaxis of Thromboembolie Complications after Total Hip Replacement
Authors: Eriksson Bengt I , Kälebo Peter , Ekman Steffan , Lindbratt Siv , Kerry Roger , Close Philippe
Published: August 2018

Hirudin is an anticoagulant originally extracted from the leech Hirudo medicinalis. Using recombinant DNA technology a new compound, recombinant desulphato hirudin CGP 39393 has now been produced. The aim of this study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose in patients undergoing elective hip replacement. This open safety trial represents, to our knowledge, the first experience of recombinant hirudin in orthopedic patients.

In this study 48 patients undergoing primary total hip replacement were included and the safety of subcutaneous injections of 10, 15, 20 and 40 mg CGP 39393 twice daily, was evaluated. Prophylaxis was started immediately pre-operatively and continued for 8-10 days. A mandatory bilateral phlebography was performed at the end of the prophylactic treatment period and a clinical follow-up was done 6 weeks after surgery.

A major bleeding event occurred in the first 3 patients receiving 40 mg CGP 39393 b.i.d. and the prophylaxis regimen at this dosage level was therefore discontinued. Median values of total blood loss and requirements of blood transfusion in the patients receiving 10-20 mg CGP 39393 were similar to those reported in previous studies on total hip replacement performed at the same centre, using other prophylactic drugs. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) was confirmed by phlebography in 5 out of 12 patients in the 10 mg group (41.7%, 95% confidence limits [CL]: 15.2-72.3%), 1 out of 11 patients in the 15 mg group (9.1%, CL: 0.23-41.3%) and 2 out of 20 patients in the 20 mg group (10.0%, CL: 1.2-31.7%) during the prophylaxis period.

CGP 39393 was safe and well tolerated, when administered as subcutaneous injections of 10-20 mg twice daily. The dose level of 40 mg CGP 39393 twice daily resulted in serious disturbance of the hemostasis in patients after hip prosthesis surgery.
Revisión del estado actual de la cirugía de reasignación genital en pacientes con disforia de género enfocada en el contexto colombiano
Authors: Silva José Miguel , Torres Castellanos Lynda , Bravo-Balado Alejandra , Puerto Niño Angie , Urazán Juan David , Cardozo Alarcón Andrés Camilo
Published: August 2018

La disforia de género o transexualismo es una condición que comprende a las personas que padecen profundo malestar o rechazo hacia el sexo biológico por cuanto se identifican con el sexo opuesto. Por lo tanto, se asocia a disfunción biopsicosocial y compromiso severo de la calidad de vida. En Colombia se han producido notables avances de índole constitucional y legislativa en las dos últimas décadas, los cuales son discutidos en la presente revisión. En el tratamiento multidisciplinario de los pacientes transexuales, el último paso corresponde a la cirugía de reasignación genital. El propósito de esta revisión es investigar el estado actual de la cirugía de reasignación genital enfocada en el contexto nacional.
Effects of Plasmin on Rabbit Platelets
Authors: Guccione M A , Kinlough-Rathbone R L , Packham M A , Harfenist E J , Rand M L , Greenberg J P , Perry D W , Mustard J F
Published: August 2018

The effects of plasmin have been examined because platelets may be exposed to plasmin in vivo and treatment of platelets with plasmin shortens platelet survival. Rabbit plasmin was prepared by urokinase activation of plasminogen immobilized on lysine- Sepharose. Plasmin caused rabbit platelets to aggregate and release the contents of their amine storage granules, but aggregation was slower than in response to ADP or thrombin. EDTA, prostaglandin E1, or creatine phosphate/creatine phosphokinase were inhibitory, but indomethacin was not. Deaggregation did not occur when platelets had been aggregated by a concentration of plasmin that caused extensive release of granule contents. EDTA or prostaglandin E1 caused deaggregation. Low concentrations of ADP and plasmin acted synergistically in causing platelet aggregation. Plasmin decreased the amounts of platelet membrane glycoproteins that stained with periodic acid-Schiff reagent; glycoprotein I was more susceptible than glycoproteins II and III. Concentrations of plasmin that induced the release of amine storage granule contents also released PAS- staining granule gylcoproteins.

Platelets incubated with plasmin, washed and resuspended, were not aggregated by ADP, but were aggregated strongly by the combination of fibrinogen and ADP, and bound 125I-fibrinogen to a greater extent than untreated platelets. Platelets preincubated with a high concentration of plasmin were unresponsive to thrombin, but were sometimes aggregated by fibrinogen.

Plasmin decreased the buoyant density and increased the median size of platelets. Thus plasmin, as well as ADP and thrombin, may contribute to the density shift observed in platelets from rabbits in which thrombosis and continuous vessel injury have been induced.
Surgery for Deformities of the Thoracic Wall: No More than Strengthening the Patient's Self-Esteem?
Authors: Petersen Claus , Fortmann Caroline
Published: August 2018

In most cases, correction of a pectus deformity is performed for cosmetic reasons. The main indication for corrective therapy is impaired body image and self-esteem due to the deformity. In these instances, patients suffer from a lower quality of life that is not correlated with the severity of the chest wall deformity. After correction of a pectus excavatum (PE) or pectus carinatum (PC) patients experience a significant improvement in body image and self-esteem. For many, corrective surgery is life changing as it leaves patients feeling satisfied with the appearance of their chest, and this in turn increases their engagement in social activities. As this correction is mainly performed in adolescence, the treatment has a high impact on the future of patients that is often rooted in decisions made and actions taken during puberty.