bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hypoxia is a Key Driver of Alternative Splicing in Human Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Han Jian , Li Jia , Ho Jolene Caifeng , Chia Grace Sushin , Kato Hiroyuki , Jha Sudhakar , Yang Henry , Poellinger Lorenz , Lee Kian Leong
Published: June 2017

Adaptation to hypoxia, a hallmark feature of many tumors, is an important driver of cancer cell survival, proliferation and the development of resistance to chemotherapy. Hypoxia-induced stabilization of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) leads to transcriptional activation of a network of hypoxia target genes involved in angiogenesis, cell growth, glycolysis, DNA damage repair and apoptosis. Although the transcriptional targets of hypoxia have been characterized, the alternative splicing of transcripts that occurs during hypoxia and the roles they play in oncogenesis are much less understood. To identify and quantify hypoxia-induced alternative splicing events in human cancer cells, we performed whole transcriptome RNA-Seq in breast cancer cells that are known to provide robust transcriptional response to hypoxia. We found 2005 and 1684 alternative splicing events including intron retention, exon skipping and alternative first exon usage that were regulated by acute and chronic hypoxia where intron retention was the most dominant type of hypoxia-induced alternative splicing. Many of these genes are involved in cellular metabolism, transcriptional regulation, actin cytoskeleton organisation, cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion, suggesting they may modulate or be involved in additional features of tumorigenic development that extend beyond the known functions of canonical full-length transcripts.
Diffusional-displacive transformation enables formation of long-period stacking order in magnesium
Authors: Kim Jin-Kyung , Jin Lei , Sandlöbes Stefanie , Raabe Dierk
Published: June 2017

Mg is the most important lightweight engineering alloy enabling future weight-reduced and fuel-saving engineering solutions. Yet, Mg is soft. Long-period stacking ordered (LPSO) structures in Mg alloys have unique crystal structures, characterized by both complex chemical and stacking order. They are essential for strengthening of Mg alloys. The formation mechanism of these LPSO structures is still under discussion. Here we report that Y/Zn enriched Guinier-Preston (GP) zones observed in a lean Mg-Y-Zn model alloy are precursors of early stage LPSO structures. We provide evidence of a new type of phase transformation mechanism which comprises the diffusional formation of Y/Zn enriched GP zones and their subsequent shear transformation into LPSO building blocks. The mechanism constitutes a new type of coupled diffusional-displacive phase formation sequence which may also be applicable to other alloy systems.
SGBS cells as a model of human adipocyte browning: A comprehensive comparative study with primary human white subcutaneous adipocytes
Authors: Yeo Chia Rou , Agrawal Madhur , Hoon Shawn , Shabbir Asim , Shrivastava Manu Kunaal , Huang Shiqi , Khoo Chin Meng , Chhay Vanna , Yassin M. Shabeer , Tai E. Shyong , Vidal-Puig Antonio , Toh Sue-Anne
Published: June 2017

The Simpson Golabi Behmel Syndrome (SGBS) pre-adipocyte cell strain is widely considered to be a representative in vitro model of human white pre-adipocytes. A recent study suggested that SGBS adipocytes exhibit an unexpected transient brown phenotype. Here, we comprehensively examined key differences between SGBS adipocytes and primary human white subcutaneous (PHWSC) adipocytes. RNA-Seq analysis revealed that extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interaction and metabolic pathways were the top two KEGG pathways significantly enriched in SGBS adipocytes, which included positively enriched mitochondrial respiration and oxidation pathways. Compared to PHWSC adipocytes, SGBS adipocytes showed not only greater induction of adipogenic gene expression during differentiation but also increased levels of UCP1 mRNA and protein expression. Functionally, SGBS adipocytes displayed higher ISO-induced basal leak respiration and overall oxygen consumption rate, along with increased triglyceride accumulation and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. In conclusion, we confirmed that SGBS adipocytes, which are considered of white adipose tissue origin can shift towards a brown/beige adipocyte phenotype. These differences indicate SGBS cells may help to identify mechanisms leading to browning, and inform our understanding for the use of SGBS vis-à-vis primary human subcutaneous adipocytes as a human white adipocyte model, guiding the selection of appropriate cell models in future metabolic research.
A cross-species approach to identify transcriptional regulators exemplified for Dnajc22 and Hnf4a
Authors: Aschenbrenner A. C. , Bassler K. , Brondolin M. , Bonaguro L. , Carrera P. , Klee K. , Ulas T. , Schultze J. L. , Hoch M.
Published: June 2017

There is an enormous need to make better use of the ever increasing wealth of publicly available genomic information and to utilize the tremendous progress in computational approaches in the life sciences. Transcriptional regulation of protein-coding genes is a major mechanism of controlling cellular functions. However, the myriad of transcription factors potentially controlling transcription of any given gene makes it often difficult to quickly identify the biological relevant transcription factors. Here, we report on the identification of Hnf4a as a major transcription factor of the so far unstudied DnaJ heat shock protein family (Hsp40) member C22 (Dnajc22). We propose an approach utilizing recent advances in computational biology and the wealth of publicly available genomic information guiding the identification of potential transcription factor candidates together with wet-lab experiments validating computational models. More specifically, the combined use of co-expression analyses based on self-organizing maps with sequence-based transcription factor binding prediction led to the identification of Hnf4a as the potential transcriptional regulator for Dnajc22 which was further corroborated using publicly available datasets on Hnf4a. Following this procedure, we determined its functional binding site in the murine Dnajc22 locus using ChIP-qPCR and luciferase assays and verified this regulatory loop in fruitfly, zebrafish, and humans.
Quasi-stabilized hydration layers on muscovite mica under a thin water film grown from humid air
Authors: Arai Toyoko , Sato Kohei , Iida Asuka , Tomitori Masahiko
Published: June 2017

The interfaces between solids and water films in air play fundamental roles in physicochemical phenomena, biological functions, and nano-fabrication. Though the properties of the interfaces have been considered to be irrelevant to the water film thickness, we found distinctive mechanical features of the interface between a cleaved muscovite mica surface and a thin water film grown in humid air, dissimilar to those in bulk water, using frequency-modulation atomic force microscopy. The thin water film grew with quasi-stabilized hydration networks of water molecules, tightly bound each other at the interface, to a thickness of ~2 nm at near-saturating humidity. Consequently, defective structures of the hydration networks persisted vertically through the hydration layers at the interface, and K+ ions on the cleaved surface remained without dissolution into the water film. The results provide atomistic insights into thin water films in regard to epitaxial-like growth from vapour and the motion of water molecules and ions therein.
Relationship between Kellgren-Lawrence score and 3D kinematic gait analysis of patients with medial knee osteoarthritis using a new gait system
Authors: Zeng Xiaolong , Ma Limin , Lin Zefeng , Huang Wenhan , Huang Zhiqiang , Zhang Yu , Mao Chuanbin
Published: June 2017

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is reported to have characteristic kinematics during walking. However, the relationship between Kellgren-Lawrence (K/L) score and the 3D kinematic gait of patients with medial KOA remains unclear. Here, ninety-seven patients with medial KOA and thirty-eight asymptomatic participants were involved. Patients with medial KOA were divided into early, moderate, and severe KOA based on the K/L score. Through kinematic gait analysis, we found a relationship between K/L score and 3D kinematic gait for patients. All KOA knees had a significantly reduced range of motion. As the K/L score was increasing, the knee flexion at the heel strike and 50% of the stance phase increased while the peak knee flexion in the swing phase decreased. In addition, the adduction and femoral rotation increased internally at the heel strike, 50% of the stance phase, and maximum angle of the swing phase. Femoral translation increased anteriorly and distally at the heel strike and 50% of the stance phase. The severe group had more medial translation than the asymptomatic groups. Significant alterations of three-dimensional joint kinematics were identified in subjects suffering various severities in Chinese patients. This study provides an important reference for the treatment options, therapy assessment, and rehabilitation of KOA.
A single amino acid polymorphism in the glycosyltransferase CpsK defines four Streptococcus suis serotypes
Authors: Roy David , Athey Taryn B. T. , Auger Jean-Philippe , Goyette-Desjardins Guillaume , Van Calsteren Marie-Rose , Takamatsu Daisuke , Okura Masatoshi , Teatero Sarah , Alcorlo Martín , Hermoso Juan A. , Segura Mariela , Gottschalk Marcelo , Fittipaldi Nahuel
Published: June 2017

The capsular polysaccharide (CPS) is the major virulence factor of the emerging zoonotic pathogen Streptococcus suis. CPS differences are also the basis for serological differentiation of the species into 29 serotypes. Serotypes 2 and 1/2, which possess identical gene content in their cps loci, express CPSs that differ only by substitution of galactose (Gal) by N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) in the CPS side chain. The same sugar substitution differentiates the CPS of serotypes 14 and 1, whose cps loci are also identical in gene content. Here, using mutagenesis, CPS structural analysis, and protein structure modeling, we report that a single amino acid polymorphism in the glycosyltransferase CpsK defines the enzyme substrate predilection for Gal or GalNAc and therefore determines CPS composition, structure, and strain serotype. We also show that the different CPS structures have similar antiphagocytic properties and that serotype switching has limited impact on the virulence of S. suis.
How Postmortem Redistribution of MDMA in Acute Alcohol-MDMA Combined-Use Rats Change under Effects of Alcohol
Authors: Liang Man , Zhang Jing , Zheng Na , Liu Liang
Published: June 2017

MDMA is often taken recreationally with alcohol as combined-use. The objective was to determine MDMA postmortem redistribution (PMR) and corresponding effects in combined-style under different storage conditions. Steps were 20%-mixture of alcohol-water for initial 4 weeks to Group-A&B and intragastric infusions of MDMA (150 mg/kg) to Group-A later; in the same time, drinking pure water to Group-C&D first and then MDMA-fed to Group-C. The sacrificed rats were kept under different conditions for 10-d, during which the body fluids and tissues were collected on 15 continuous time-points and then detected. The MDMA concentrations were quite different along with postmortem interval (PMI) went by; the area under concentration-PMI curve significantly increased with combined-alcohol in comparison to MDMA alone, while that significantly decreased by lowering preservation temperature, allied with corresponding humidity. Combined-alcohol could exacerbate PMR of MDMA, as concentrations of combined-use rats’ samples were quite higher than mono-MDMA ones under any conditions, while different for body fluids and tissues; meanwhile lowering storage temperature could alleviate effects of alcohol. The study implies that in case of combined-use, the changes of concentrations are probably effected by some combined component, especially when come to identification of toxic level or even death.
The Bethe-Slater curve revisited; new insights from electronic structure theory
Authors: Cardias R. , Szilva A. , Bergman A. , Marco I. Di , Katsnelson M. I. , Lichtenstein A. I. , Nordström L. , Klautau A. B. , Eriksson O. , Kvashnin Y. O.
Published: June 2017

The Bethe-Slater (BS) curve describes the relation between the exchange coupling and interatomic distance. Based on a simple argument of orbital overlaps, it successfully predicts the transition from antiferromagnetism to ferromagnetism, when traversing the 3d series. In a previous article [Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 217202 (2016)] we reported that the dominant nearestneighbour (NN) interaction for 3d metals in the bcc structure indeed follows the BS curve, but the trends through the series showed a richer underlying physics than was initially assumed. The orbital decomposition of the inter-site exchange couplings revealed that various orbitals contribute to the exchange interactions in a highly non-trivial and sometimes competitive way. In this communication we perform a deeper analysis by comparing 3d metals in the bcc and fcc structures. We find that there is no coupling between the E
g
orbitals of one atom and T2g
orbitals of its NNs, for both cubic phases. We demonstrate that these couplings are forbidden by symmetry and formulate a general rule allowing to predict when a similar situation is going to happen. In γ-Fe, as in α-Fe, we find a strong competition in the symmetry-resolved orbital contributions and analyse the differences between the high-spin and low-spin solutions.
Association of Obstructive Sleep Apnea with Asthma: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kong De-Lei , Qin Zheng , Shen Hui , Jin Hong-Yu , Wang Wei , Wang Zan-Feng
Published: June 2017

This study evaluates the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and asthma. Literature search was carried out in several electronic databases and random effects meta-analyses were performed to obtain pooled estimates of the prevalence of OSA, OSA risk and sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in asthma patients and pooled odds ratios of the prevalence between asthma and non-asthma patients. In adult asthma patients, the prevalence [95% confidence interval] of OSA, OSA risk, and SDB was 49.50 [36.39, 62.60] %, 27.50 [19.31, 35.69] %, and 19.65 [14.84, 24.46] % respectively. The odds of having OSA, OS risk and SDB by the asthma patients were 2.64 [1.76, 3.52], 3.73 [2.90, 4.57] and 1.73 [1.11, 2.36] times higher (p < 0.00001 for all) in asthma than in non-asthma patients, respectively. Adult asthma patients with OSA had significantly higher BMI in comparison with asthma patients without OSA. This study reveals that the prevalence of OSA in asthma patients is considerably higher; even higher than OSA risk and SDB. Sleep studies should be performed in asthma patients with symptoms suggestive of OSA/OSA risk/SDB.
Metal–organic frameworks meet metal nanoparticles: synergistic effect for enhanced catalysis
Authors: Yang Qihao , Xu Qiang , Jiang Hai-Long
Published: June 2017

This review highlights recent advances in the hybridization of metal–organic frameworks and metal nanoparticles for their synergistically enhanced catalysis.
Thermochemical functionalisation of graphenes with minimal framework damage
Authors: Hu Sheng , Laker Zachary P. L. , Leese Hannah S. , Rubio Noelia , De Marco Martina , Au Heather , Skilbeck Mark S. , Wilson Neil R. , Shaffer Milo S. P.
Published: June 2017

Graphene and graphene nanoplatelets can be functionalised via a gas-phase thermochemical method; the approach is versatile, readily scalable, and avoids the introduction of additional defects by exploiting existing sites.
Monodispersed gold nanoparticles supported on a zirconium-based porous metal–organic framework and their high catalytic ability for the reverse water–gas shift reaction
Authors: Xu Haitao , Li Yansong , Luo Xikuo , Xu Zhenliang , Ge Jianping
Published: June 2017

A highly active and selective Au@UIO-67 catalyst has been assembled.
Nanoscale spectroscopic and mechanical characterization of individual aerosol particles using peak force infrared microscopy
Authors: Wang Le , Huang Dandan , Chan Chak K. , Li Yong Jie , Xu Xiaoji G.
Published: June 2017

Individual fine particulate matter (PM2.5) particles are revealed with mechanical mapping and infrared imaging at 10 nm spatial resolution.
CO2 reduction or HCO2− oxidation? Solvent-dependent thermochemistry of a nickel hydride complex
Authors: Ceballos Bianca M. , Tsay Charlene , Yang Jenny Y.
Published: June 2017

The hydricity (ΔGH−) of a newly synthesized nickel hydride was experimentally determined in acetonitrile (50.6 kcal mol−1), dimethyl sulfoxide (47.1 kcal mol−1), and water (22.8 kcal mol−1).
From graphite to interconnected reduced graphene oxide: one-pot synthesis and supercapacitor application
Authors: Sidhureddy Boopathi , Thiruppathi Antony Raj , Chen Aicheng
Published: June 2017

An innovative one-pot approach for the scalable production of novel interconnected reduced graphene oxide (IC-RGO) is demonstrated, and we name it the streamlined Hummers method (SHM).
Exfoliation of two-dimensional zeolites in liquid polybutadienes
Authors: Sabnis Sanket , Tanna Vijesh A. , Li Chao , Zhu Jiaxin , Vattipalli Vivek , Nonnenmann Stephen S. , Sheng Guan , Lai Zhiping , Winter H. Henning , Fan Wei
Published: June 2017

2D zeolite nanosheets can be obtained by shearing or sonication within commercially available telechelic liquid polybutadienes at room temperature.
Surface-assisted Ullmann coupling
Authors: Lackinger M.
Published: June 2017

Surface-assisted Ullmann coupling is both drosophila and workhorse of on-surface synthesis. The fabrication of novel covalent low-dimensional organic nanostructures is accompanied by fundamental studies of surface chemistry.
A visible-light-activated rhodium complex in enantioselective conjugate addition of α-amino radicals with Michael acceptors
Authors: Lin Shao-Xia , Sun Gui-Jun , Kang Qiang
Published: June 2017

An efficient enantioselective conjugate addition of photogenerated α-amino radicals to Michael acceptors catalyzed by a single and newly prepared chiral-at-metal rhodium complex was established.
Facile electrospinning formation of carbon-confined metal oxide cube-in-tube nanostructures for stable lithium storage
Authors: Liu Ziang , Guo Ruiting , Meng Jiashen , Liu Xiong , Wang Xuanpeng , Li Qi , Mai Liqiang
Published: June 2017

A smart design of cube-in-tube nanostructures was realized by a facile precursor-modified electrospinning method with subsequent pyrolysis, which exhibit excellent electrochemical performance in lithium batteries.
Rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of tetrasubstituted β-acetoxy-α-enamido esters and efficient synthesis of droxidopa
Authors: Guan Yu-Qing , Gao Min , Deng Xu , Lv Hui , Zhang Xumu
Published: June 2017

Rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of challenging tetrasubstituted β-acetoxy-α-enamido esters was developed, giving chiral β-acetoxy-α-amido esters in high yields with excellent enantioselectivities. This protocol provides an efficient route for the synthesis of droxidopa.
Layered perovskite LiEuTiO4 as a 0.8 V lithium intercalation electrode
Authors: Huang Jun , Yang Kaihua , Zhang Zhengxi , Yang Li , Hirano Shin-ichi
Published: June 2017

Lithium intercalation into LiEuTiO4 with a 0.8 V potential plateau considering both the energy density and tolerance of lithium plating.
Engineering multi-functional bacterial outer membrane vesicles as modular nanodevices for biosensing and bioimaging
Authors: Chen Qi , Rozovsky Sharon , Chen Wilfred
Published: June 2017

We report here a one-pot synthesis approach to engineer multi-functionalized OMV-based sensors for both antigen binding and signal generation. A virtually unlimited combination of capturing and reporting moieties can be created for a wide range of biosensing and bioimaging applications.
Monovalent and bivalent cations exchange isotherms for faujasites X and Y
Authors: Khabzina Y. , Laroche C. , Pagis C. , Farrusseng D.
Published: June 2017

This study addresses the modeling of exchange isotherms for faujasite-type zeolites X and Y with K+, Cs+, Ca2+ and Ba2+ cations based on a large experimental dataset obtained under operating conditions of 0.5 N total normality and an exchange temperature of 80 °C.
Zipf's law for pore ranking and pore anisotropy
Authors: Pomonis Philippos , Margellou Antigoni
Published: June 2017

Zipf's law for the ranking of pores in solids upholds for ∼10 orders of magnitude, from nm in lab-made materials to cm pore sizes in volcanic magmas.
Cyclic voltammetry modeling of proton transport effects on redox charge storage in conductive materials: application to a TiO2 mesoporous film
Authors: Kim Y. S. , Balland V. , Limoges B. , Costentin C.
Published: June 2017

Cyclic voltammetry is a particularly useful tool for characterizing proton transport in conductive materials.
Detection of single metal nanoparticle collision events in non-aqueous media
Authors: Meekins Benjamin H.
Published: June 2017

We demonstrate detection of single metal nanoparticle collisions in non-aqueous media and discuss challenges revealed by results.
Efficient scavenging of Criegee intermediates on water by surface-active cis-pinonic acid
Authors: Enami Shinichi , Colussi A. J.
Published: June 2017

Criegee intermediates efficiently react with surface-active cis-pinonic acid rather than linear alkyl organic acids of similar size, or interfacial water molecules at air-aqueous interfaces.
Nonlinear optical properties, upconversion and lasing in metal–organic frameworks
Authors: Medishetty Raghavender , Zaręba Jan K. , Mayer David , Samoć Marek , Fischer Roland A.
Published: June 2017

The building block modular approach that lies behind coordination polymers (CPs) and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) results not only in a plethora of materials that can be obtained but also in a vast array of nonlinear optical properties that could be aimed at.
Insight into the structure and molybdenum species in mesoporous molybdena–alumina catalysts for isobutane dehydrogenation
Authors: Zhao Huahua , Song Huanling , Chou Lingjun , Zhao Jun , Yang Jian , Yan Liang
Published: June 2017

The relationship of the structure and Mo species of mesoporous molybdena–alumina catalysts with isobutane dehydrogenation has been investigated.
Proton conduction in a new 3-D open-framework vanadoborate with an abundant hydrogen bond system
Authors: Liu Xinxin , Zhang Dan , Li Lingyun , Sun Xuejiao , Zhang Le , Yuan Hongming
Published: June 2017

A 3-D hydrogen bond-enriched vanadoborate was successfully synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and it exhibited good proton conductivity.
Design and application of near-field applicators for efficient microwave-assisted laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy
Authors: Chen Shengjian Jammy , Iqbal Adeel , Wall Matthew , Fumeaux Christophe , Alwahabi Zeyad T.
Published: June 2017

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) can benefit from sustaining laser generated plasma with microwaves to enhance elemental detection sensitivity.
Arsenic speciation in seafood by LC-ICP-MS/MS: method development and influence of culinary treatment
Authors: Schmidt Lucas , Landero Julio A. , Santos Rafael F. , Mesko Marcia F. , Mello Paola A. , Flores Erico M. M. , Caruso Joseph A.
Published: June 2017

Arsenic speciation in seafood after several culinary treatments was performed and AsB, As(iii), DMA, MMA and As(v) species were determined by LC-ICP-MS/MS.
Thermoplastic elastomer with advanced hydrophilization and bonding performances for rapid (30 s) and easy molding of microfluidic devices
Authors: Lachaux Julie , Alcaine Clara , Gómez-Escoda Blanca , Perrault Cécile M. , Duplan David Olea , Wu Pei-Yun Jenny , Ochoa Iñaki , Fernandez Luis , Mercier Olaf , Coudreuse Damien , Roy Emmanuel
Published: June 2017

SOFT THERMOPLASTIC material (USP Class VI).
Soft, skin-mounted microfluidic systems for measuring secretory fluidic pressures generated at the surface of the skin by eccrine sweat glands
Authors: Choi Jungil , Xue Yeguang , Xia Wei , Ray Tyler R. , Reeder Jonathan T. , Bandodkar Amay J. , Kang Daeshik , Xu Shuai , Huang Yonggang , Rogers John A.
Published: June 2017

We introduce a skin-mounted microfluidic device for measuring the secretory pressure of sweat glands at the surface of the skin.
Evidence for widespread, severe brain copper deficiency in Alzheimer's dementia
Authors: Xu Jingshu , Church Stephanie J. , Patassini Stefano , Begley Paul , Waldvogel Henry J. , Curtis Maurice A. , Faull Richard L. M. , Unwin Richard D. , Cooper Garth J. S.
Published: June 2017

Widespread brain-copper deficiency in patients with Alzheimer's dementia (red) compared to controls (blue).
Using rare earth ions to improve the luminescence properties of the defect-related luminescent material Zn3Al2Ge2O10
Authors: Bai Qiongyu , Wang Zhijun , Li Panlai , Xu Shuchao , Li Ting , Yang Zhiping
Published: June 2017

Herein, Zn3Al2Ge2O10 was synthesized by a high-temperature solid-state method, and a weak white emission ranging from 350 to 600 nm was observed.
Hierarchical porous carbon materials prepared by direct carbonization of Al-PCP as a Pt-catalyst support for the oxygen reduction reaction
Authors: Chen Chen , Luo Chao , Zhang Xiaohua , Li Yapeng , Huang Junlin , Chen Bingqing , Chen Jinhua
Published: June 2017

Pt/HPC was prepared and exhibited improved electrocatalytic activity for ORR and better stability as compared to the commercial E-TEK Pt/C.
Preparation and temperature-dependent photoluminescence properties of ScF3:Eu3+submicroparticles
Authors: Xu Hualan , Liu Ran , Xu Bo , Li Xinwei , Ouyang Chuying , Zhong Shengliang
Published: June 2017

Negative thermal expansion Eu3+-doped ScF3submicroparticles were preparedviaa facile solvothermal method and their temperature-dependent luminescence properties were investigated.
Reinforcement of natural rubber latex using lignocellulosic nanofibers isolated from spinifex grass
Authors: Hosseinmardi Alireza , Annamalai Pratheep K. , Wang Lianzhou , Martin Darren , Amiralian Nasim
Published: June 2017

Remnant lignin and hemicellulose in the cellulose nanofibre (CNF) and a deep-eutectic-solvent pretreatment on CNF can enhace the tensile strength and toughness or natural rubber nanocomposites.
Synthesis of disulfides tethered pyrroles from β-ketothioamides via a bicyclization/ring-opening/oxidative coupling reaction
Authors: Li Cong-Xiang , Liu Rui-Juan , Yin Kun , Wen Li-Rong , Li Ming
Published: June 2017

A DABCO-promoted three-component reaction of β-ketothioamides, arylglyoxals and 2-cyanoacetate to construct disulfides tethered pyrroles has been developed.
Enzymatic competition and cooperation branch the caerulomycin biosynthetic pathway toward different 2,2′-bipyridine members
Authors: Chen Ming , Zhang Yipeng , Du Yanan , Zhao Qunfei , Zhang Qinglin , Wu Jiequn , Liu Wen
Published: June 2017

The competition and cooperation of CaeB6-catalyzed C3-hydroxylation with CaeG1-catalyzed O-methylation branch the biosynthetic pathway of caerulomycins toward different 2,2′-bipyridine products.
Selective C–H bond hydroxylation of cyclohexanes in water by supramolecular control
Authors: Yang Bin , Cui Jian-Fang , Wong Man Kin
Published: June 2017

A new approach for selective hydroxylation of non-activated cyclohexanes using dioxirane generated in situ in water through supramolecular control has been developed.
Promoting lentil germination and stem growth by plasma activated tap water, demineralized water and liquid fertilizer
Authors: Zhang S. , Rousseau A. , Dufour T.
Published: June 2017

Tap water, demineralized water and liquid fertilizer have been activated using an atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) to investigate their benefits for the germination rate and stem elongation rate of lentils from Puy-en-Velay (France).
Simultaneously high thermal stability and ultra-fast phase change speed based on samarium-doped antimony thin films
Authors: Zou Hua , Hu Yifeng , Zhu Xiaoqin , Song Zhitang
Published: June 2017

In general, there is trade-off between the crystallization speed and the thermal stability. Here, the Sm–Sb materials simultaneously realize high thermal stability and the ultrafast phase change speed by Sm doping.
An optimized Al2O3 layer for enhancing the anode performance of NiCo2O4 nanosheets for sodium-ion batteries
Authors: Kou Huari , Li Xifei , Shan Hui , Fan Linlin , Yan Bo , Li Dejun
Published: June 2017

Herein, an ultrathin Al2O3 layer was coated onto NiCo2O4 nanosheets via an atomic layer deposition (ALD) method, and the NiCo2O4 coated with an ALD-derived Al2O3 material was successfully used as an anode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs).
All in one porous material: exceptional sorption and selective sensing of hexavalent chromium by using a Zr4+ MOF
Authors: Rapti Sofia , Sarma Debajit , Diamantis Stavros A. , Skliri Euaggelia , Armatas Gerasimos S. , Tsipis Athanassios C. , Hassan Youssef S. , Alkordi Mohamed , Malliakas Christos D. , Kanatzidis Mercouri G. , Lazarides Theodore , Plakatouras John C. , Manos Manolis J.
Published: June 2017

A new microporous Zr4+ MOF combines both extraordinary sorption capability and exceptional luminescence sensing properties for Cr(vi) in aqueous media.
Role of p38–MAPK pathway in the effects of high-magnitude compression on nucleus pulposus cell senescence in a disc perfusion culture
Authors: Pang Lianglong , Li Pei , Zhang Ruijie , Xu Yuan , Song Lei , Zhou Qiang
Published: June 2017

Nucleus pulposus (NP) cell senescence is a typical pathological feature within the degenerative intervertebral disc. As a potential inducing and aggregating factor of disc degeneration, mechanical overloading affects disc biology in multiple ways. The present study was to investigate the NP cell senescence-associated phenotype under intermittent high compression in an ex vivo disc bioreactor culture, and the role of the p38–MAPK pathway in this regulatory process. Porcine discs were cultured in culture chambers of a self-developed mechanically active bioreactor and subjected to different magnitudes of dynamic compression (low-magnitude and high-magnitude: 0.1 and 1.3 MPa at a frequency of 1.0 Hz for 2 h per day respectively) for 7 days. Non-compressed discs were used as controls. The inhibitor SB203580 was used to study the role of the p38–MAPK pathway in this process. Results showed that intermittent high-magnitude compression clearly induced senescence-associated changes in NP cells, such as increasing β-galactosidase-positive NP cells, decreasing PCNA-positive NP cells, promoting the formation of senescence-associated heterochromatic foci (SAHF), up-regulating the expression of senescence markers (p16 and p53), and attenuating matrix production. However, inhibition of the p38–MAPK pathway partly attenuated the effects of intermittent high-magnitude (1.3 MPa) compression on those described NP cell senescence-associated parameters. In conclusion, intermittent high-magnitude compression can induce NP cell senescence-associated changes in an ex vivo disc bioreactor culture, and the p38–MAPK pathway is involved in this process.
Quantum modeling of two-level photovoltaic systems
Authors: Aram Tahereh Nemati , Asgari Asghar , Ernzerhof Matthias , Quémerais Pascal , Mayou Didier
Published: June 2017

We present a quantum formalism that provides a quantitative picture of the fundamental processes of charge separation that follow an absorption event. We apply the formalism to two-level photovoltaic cells and our purpose is to pedagogically explain the main aspects of the model. The formalism is developed in the energy domain and provides detailed knowledge about existence or absence of localized states and their effects on electronic structure and photovoltaic yield.
On the homogenization of the Helmholtz problem with thin perforated walls of finite length
Authors: Semin Adrien , Delourme Bérangère , Schmidt Kersten
Published: June 2017

In this work, we present a new solution representation for the Helmholtz transmission problem in a bounded domain in ℝ2with a thin and periodic layer of finite length. The layer may consists of a periodic pertubation of the material coefficients or it is a wall modelled by boundary conditions with an periodic array of small perforations. We consider the periodicity in the layer as the small variableδand the thickness of the layer to be at the same order. Moreover we assume the thin layer to terminate at re-entrant corners leading to a singular behaviour in the asymptotic expansion of the solution representation. This singular behaviour becomes visible in the asymptotic expansion in powers ofδwhere the powers depend on the opening angle. We construct the asymptotic expansion order by order. It consists of a macroscopic representation away from the layer, a boundary layer corrector in the vicinity of the layer, and a near field corrector in the vicinity of the end-points. The boundary layer correctors and the near field correctors are obtained by the solution of canonical problems based, respectively, on the method of periodic surface homogenization and on the method of matched asymptotic expansions. This will lead to transmission conditions for the macroscopic part of the solution on an infinitely thin interface and corner conditions to fix the unbounded singular behaviour at its end-points. Finally, theoretical justifications of the second order expansion are given and illustrated by numerical experiments. The solution representation introduced in this article can be used to compute a highly accurate approximation of the solution with a computational effort independent of the small periodicityδ.
Trochlear Nerve Schwannoma: Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Cunha Marcelo , Miranda Mario , Cecconello Giulia
Published: June 2017

Schwannomas arise from the Schwann cells of the peripheral and cranial nerves. They represent 8% of the primary cerebral neoplasms. Although schwannomas usually develop in sensory nerves, most often on the vestibular and trigeminal nerves, in very rare cases they can develop in motor nerves. We reported an unusual case of a 29-year-old woman with headache, nausea, vomiting, and blurred vision ongoing for 3 years. Magnetic resonance of the brain showed a solid-cystic expanded injury, heterogeneous, with limits partially defined and epicenter on the pineal gland. The lesion presented hyposignal in T1 and isosignal in T2. An intense enhancement of the solid part was observed after contrast injection. Foci of calcification and absence of diffusion restriction were also observed. The patient underwent microneurosurgery with supracerebellar infratentorial approach in a seated position. Subtotal resection was performed with maintenance of calcified tumor tissue adhered to the right Rosenthal basal vein. In the postoperative phase, the patient remained with diplopia when looking down; however, she reported improvement of headache and nausea.
Dynamic Slow Motion Video Endoscopy as an Adjunct to Impedance Audiometry in the Assessment of Eustachian Tube Function
Authors: Sanu Sanoop , Divakaran Shilpa , Vijayakumar Sabarinath , Saxena Sunil , Alexander Arun , Gopalakrishnan Suryanarayanan
Published: June 2017

Introduction Eustachian tube (ET) dysfunction plays an important role not only in the pathophysiology of various middle ear disorders, but also in predicting the outcome of the treatment. As there is no single test that assesses both the anatomic and physiological functions of the ET, a combination of tympanometry and dynamic slow motion video endoscopy may improve the sensitivity of ET function assessment.

Objective To find out if there is any correlation between dynamic slow motion nasal video endoscopy and impedance audiometry in assessing ET function in patients with middle ear diseases.

Methods Ours was a descriptive study performed with 106 patients attending the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Outpatient Department of a tertiary care center in South India with features suggestive of middle ear disease. All patients underwent impedance audiometry and dynamic slow motion nasal video endoscopy, and were graded based on the severity of the ET pathology.

Results A total of 47 out of 97 patients with abnormal endoscopy findings also had abnormal impedance audiometry. The correlation was greater among the patients with higher grades of ET dysfunction. The endoscopy findings of 106 cases, when correlated with middle ear manometry, revealed that 56 cases showed complete agreement, and 50 cases showed disagreement. The nasal endoscopy results, when correlated with middle ear manometry studies by using McNemar's chi-squared (χ2) test, showed a significant association between the 2 tests (p = 0.017).

Conclusion There is a significant alteration in middle ear pressure as the severity of the ET tube dysfunction increases. Impedance audiometry and nasal endoscopy provide a better measure of ET function.
MHD biconvective flow of Powell Eyring nanofluid over stretched surface
Authors: Naseem Faiza , Shafiq Anum , Zhao Lifeng , Naseem Anum
Published: June 2017

The present work is focused on behavioral characteristics of gyrotactic microorganisms to describe their role in heat and mass transfer in the presence of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) forces in Powell-Eyring nanofluids. Implications concerning stretching sheet with respect to velocity, temperature, nanoparticle concentration and motile microorganism density were explored to highlight influential parameters. Aim of utilizing microorganisms was primarily to stabilize the nanoparticle suspension due to bioconvection generated by the combined effects of buoyancy forces and magnetic field. Influence of Newtonian heating was also analyzed by taking into account thermophoretic mechanism and Brownian motion effects to insinuate series solutions mediated by homotopy analysis method (HAM). Mathematical model captured the boundary layer regime that explicitly involved contemporary non linear partial differential equations converted into the ordinary differential equations. To depict nanofluid flow characteristics, pertinent parameters namely bioconvection Lewis number Lb, traditional Lewis number Le, bioconvection Péclet number Pe, buoyancy ratio parameter Nr, bioconvection Rayleigh number Rb, thermophoresis parameter Nt, Hartmann number M, Grashof number Gr, and Eckert number Ec were computed and analyzed. Results revealed evidence of hydromagnetic bioconvection for microorganism which was represented by graphs and tables. Our findings further show a significant effect of Newtonian heating over a stretching plate by examining the coefficient values of skin friction, local Nusselt number and the local density number. Comparison was made between Newtonian fluid and Powell-Eyring fluid on velocity field and temperature field. Results are compared of with contemporary studies and our findings are found in excellent agreement with these studies.
Microstructure evolution of polycrystalline silicon by molecular dynamics simulation
Authors: Chen Xiao , Ding Jianning , Jiang Cunhua , Liu Zunfeng , Yuan Ningyi
Published: June 2017

Polycrystalline silicon is the dominant material in solar cells and plays an important role in photovoltaic industry. It is important for not only the conventional production of silicon ingots but also the direct growth of silicon wafers to control crystallization for obtaining the desired polycrystalline silicon. To the best of our knowledge, few studies have systematically reported about the effects of crystalline planes on the solidification behavior of liquid silicon and the analysis of the microstructural features of the polysilicon structure. In this study, molecular dynamics simulations were employed to investigate the solidification and microstructure evolution of polysilicon, with focus on the effects of the seed distribution and cooling rate on the growth of polycrystalline silicon. The (110), (111), and (112) planes were extruded by the (100) plane and formed the inclusion shape. The crystallization of silicon consisted of diamond-type structures is relatively high at a low cooling rate. The simulations provide substantial information regarding microstructures and serve as guidance for the growth of polycrystalline silicon.
Fluids in porous media. IV. Quench effect on chemical potential
Authors: Qiao C. Z. , Zhao S. L. , Liu H. L. , Dong W.
Published: June 2017

It appears to be a common sense to measure the crowdedness of a fluid system by the densities of the species constituting it. In the present work, we show that this ceases to be valid for confined fluids under some conditions. A quite thorough investigation is made for a hard sphere (HS) fluid adsorbed in a hard sphere matrix (a quench-annealed system) and its corresponding equilibrium binary mixture. When fluid particles are larger than matrix particles, the quench-annealed system can appear much more crowded than its corresponding equilibrium binary mixture, i.e., having a much higher fluid chemical potential, even when the density of each species is strictly the same in both systems, respectively. We believe that the insight gained from this study should be useful for the design of functionalized porous materials.
Control of birhythmicity: A self-feedback approach
Authors: Biswas Debabrata , Banerjee Tanmoy , Kurths Jürgen
Published: June 2017

Birhythmicity occurs in many natural and artificial systems. In this paper, we propose a self-feedback scheme to control birhythmicity. To establish the efficacy and generality of the proposed control scheme, we apply it on three birhythmic oscillators from diverse fields of natural science, namely, an energy harvesting system, the p53-Mdm2 network for protein genesis (the OAK model), and a glycolysis model (modified Decroly-Goldbeter model). Using the harmonic decomposition technique and energy balance method, we derive the analytical conditions for the control of birhythmicity. A detailed numerical bifurcation analysis in the parameter space establishes that the control scheme is capable of eliminating birhythmicity and it can also induce transitions between different forms of bistability. As the proposed control scheme is quite general, it can be applied for control of several real systems, particularly in biochemical and engineering systems.
A quantum-mechanical perspective on linear response theory within polarizable embedding
Authors: List Nanna Holmgaard , Norman Patrick , Kongsted Jacob , Jensen Hans Jørgen Aagaard
Published: June 2017

We present a derivation of linear response theory within polarizable embedding starting from a rigorous quantum-mechanical treatment of a composite system. To this aim, two different subsystem decompositions (symmetric and nonsymmetric) of the linear response function are introduced and the pole structures as well as residues of the individual terms are discussed. In addition to providing a thorough justification for the descriptions used in polarizable embedding models, this theoretical analysis clarifies which form of the response function to use and highlights complications in separating out subsystem contributions to molecular properties. The basic features of the presented expressions and various approximate forms are illustrated by their application to a composite model system.
Shell morphology and Raman spectra of epitaxial Ge−SixGe1−x and Si−SixGe1−x core-shell nanowires
Authors: Wen Feng , Dillen David C. , Kim Kyounghwan , Tutuc Emanuel
Published: June 2017

We investigate the shell morphology and Raman spectra of epitaxial Ge−SixGe1−x and Si−SixGe1−x core−shell nanowire heterostructures grown using a combination of a vapor−liquid−solid (VLS) growth mechanism for the core, followed by in-situ epitaxial shell growth using ultra-high vacuum chemical vapor deposition. Cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy reveals that the VLS growth yields cylindrical Ge, and Si nanowire cores grown along the ⟨111⟩, and ⟨110⟩ or ⟨112⟩ directions, respectively. A hexagonal cross-sectional morphology is observed for Ge-SixGe1-x core-shell nanowires terminated by six {112} facets. Two distinct morphologies are observed for Si-SixGe1-x core-shell nanowires that are either terminated by four {111} and two {100} planes associated with the ⟨110⟩ growth direction or four {113} and two {111} planes associated with the ⟨112⟩ growth direction. We show that the Raman spectra of Si- SixGe1-x are correlated with the shell morphology thanks to epitaxial growth-induced strain, with the core Si-Si mode showing a larger red shift in ⟨112⟩ core-shell nanowires compared to their ⟨110⟩ counterparts. We compare the Si-Si Raman mode value with calculations based on a continuum elasticity model coupled with the lattice dynamic theory.
Thermodynamic formulation of the barrier for heterogeneous pinned nucleation: Implication to the crossover scenarios associated with barrierless and homogeneous nucleation
Authors: Singha Sanat K. , Das Prasanta K. , Maiti Biswajit
Published: June 2017

The effect of contact line pinning on nucleation is reported using continuum thermodynamics. Based on the principle of the free-energy maximization, closed-form expressions in the dimensionless form for the free-energy of the three-phase metastable system and the thermodynamic barrier are formulated with respect to the system geometry and the substrate wettability. The condition of maximality limits the dynamic contact angle within the cluster-phase-phobic regime. The dimensionless nucleation barrier or the potency factor can be divided into two components related to the system geometry and the pinning effect. Depending on the relative value of the equilibrium and the critical dynamic contact angle, the contact line pinning can either have favorable or adverse effects. Associated pinning-depinning transition can also lead to the crossovers related to barrierless and homogeneous nucleation. Contact line tension is found to have a considerable effect during these transitional scenarios. Complete wetting transition associated with barrierless nucleation can take place due to the presence of tensile (negative) line tension. On the other hand, complete drying transition related to homogeneous nucleation can occur when line tension is compressive (positive) in nature. The pinning has a favorable effect only when the substrate wettability is within the cluster-phase-philic regime. There can be favorable, adverse, or no pinning effects when the substrate wettability is within the cluster-phase-phobic regime. Although the contact line is pinned, the minimum value of the potency factor is obtained when equilibrium and dynamic contact angles are equal.
SPINS-IND: Pellet injector for fuelling of magnetically confined fusion systems
Authors: Gangradey R. , Mishra J. , Mukherjee S. , Panchal P. , Nayak P. , Agarwal J. , Saxena Y. C.
Published: June 2017

Using a Gifford-McMahon cycle cryocooler based refrigeration system, a single barrel hydrogen pellet injection (SPINS-IND) system is indigenously developed at Institute for Plasma Research, India. The injector is based on a pipe gun concept, where a pellet formed in situ in the gun barrel is accelerated to high speed using high pressure light propellant gas. The pellet size is decided by considering the Greenwald density limit and its speed is decided by considering a neutral gas shielding model based scaling law. The pellet shape is cylindrical of dimension (1.6 mm ℓ × 1.8 mm φ). For pellet ejection and acceleration, a fast opening valve of short opening duration is installed at the breech of the barrel. A three-stage differential pumping system is used to restrict the flow of the propellant gas into the plasma vacuum vessel. Diagnostic systems such as light gate and fast imaging camera (240 000 frames/s) are employed to measure the pellet speed and size, respectively. A trigger circuit and a programmable logic controller based integrated control system developed on LabVIEW enables to control the pellet injector remotely. Using helium as a propellant gas, the pellet speed is varied in the range 650 m/s–800 m/s. The reliability of pellet formation and ejection is found to be more than 95%. This paper describes the details of SPINS-IND and its test results.