bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Operando X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of solid electrolyte interphase formation and evolution in Li2S-P2S5 solid-state electrolytes
Authors: Wood Kevin N. , Steirer K. Xerxes , Hafner Simon E. , Ban Chunmei , Santhanagopalan Shriram , Lee Se-Hee , Teeter Glenn
Published: June 2018

Solid-state electrolytes such as Li2S-P2S5 compounds are promising materials that could enable Li metal anodes. However, many solid-state electrolytes are unstable against metallic lithium, and little is known about the chemical evolution of these interfaces during cycling, hindering the rational design of these materials. In this work, operando X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and real-time in situ Auger electron spectroscopy mapping are developed to probe the formation and evolution of the Li/Li2S-P2S5 solid-electrolyte interphase during electrochemical cycling, and to measure individual overpotentials associated with specific interphase constituents. Results for the Li/Li2S-P2S5 system reveal that electrochemically driving Li+ to the surface leads to phase decomposition into Li2S and Li3P. Additionally, oxygen contamination within the Li2S-P2S5 leads initially to Li3PO4 phase segregation, and subsequently to Li2O formation. The spatially non-uniform distribution of these phases, coupled with differences in their ionic conductivities, have important implications for the overall properties and performance of the solid-electrolyte interphase.
Dissociable neural mechanisms track evidence accumulation for selection of attention versus action
Authors: Shenhav Amitai , Straccia Mark A. , Musslick Sebastian , Cohen Jonathan D. , Botvinick Matthew M.
Published: June 2018

Decision-making is typically studied as a sequential process from the selection of what to attend (e.g., between possible tasks, stimuli, or stimulus attributes) to which actions to take based on the attended information. However, people often process information across these various levels in parallel. Here we scan participants while they simultaneously weigh how much to attend to two dynamic stimulus attributes and what response to give. Regions of the prefrontal cortex track information about the stimulus attributes in dissociable ways, related to either the predicted reward (ventromedial prefrontal cortex) or the degree to which that attribute is being attended (dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, dACC). Within the dACC, adjacent regions track correlates of uncertainty at different levels of the decision, regarding what to attend versus how to respond. These findings bridge research on perceptual and value-based decision-making, demonstrating that people dynamically integrate information in parallel across different levels of decision-making.
Controllable water surface to underwater transition through electrowetting in a hybrid terrestrial-aquatic microrobot
Authors: Chen Yufeng , Doshi Neel , Goldberg Benjamin , Wang Hongqiang , Wood Robert J.
Published: June 2018

Several animal species demonstrate remarkable locomotive capabilities on land, on water, and under water. A hybrid terrestrial-aquatic robot with similar capabilities requires multimodal locomotive strategies that reconcile the constraints imposed by the different environments. Here we report the development of a 1.6 g quadrupedal microrobot that can walk on land, swim on water, and transition between the two. This robot utilizes a combination of surface tension and buoyancy to support its weight and generates differential drag using passive flaps to swim forward and turn. Electrowetting is used to break the water surface and transition into water by reducing the contact angle, and subsequently inducing spontaneous wetting. Finally, several design modifications help the robot overcome surface tension and climb a modest incline to transition back onto land. Our results show that microrobots can demonstrate unique locomotive capabilities by leveraging their small size, mesoscale fabrication methods, and surface effects.
Southern Hemisphere westerlies as a driver of the early deglacial atmospheric CO2 rise
Authors: Menviel L. , Spence P. , Yu J. , Chamberlain M. A. , Matear R. J. , Meissner K. J. , England M. H.
Published: June 2018

The early part of the last deglaciation is characterised by a ~40 ppm atmospheric CO2 rise occurring in two abrupt phases. The underlying mechanisms driving these increases remain a subject of intense debate. Here, we successfully reproduce changes in CO2, δ13C and Δ14C as recorded by paleo-records during Heinrich stadial 1 (HS1). We show that HS1 CO2 increase can be explained by enhanced Southern Ocean upwelling of carbon-rich Pacific deep and intermediate waters, resulting from intensified Southern Ocean convection and Southern Hemisphere (SH) westerlies. While enhanced Antarctic Bottom Water formation leads to a millennial CO2 outgassing, intensified SH westerlies induce a multi-decadal atmospheric CO2 rise. A strengthening of SH westerlies in a global eddy-permitting ocean model further supports a multi-decadal CO2 outgassing from the Southern Ocean. Our results highlight the crucial role of SH westerlies in the global climate and carbon cycle system with important implications for future climate projections.
The mitochondrial DNA polymerase gamma degrades linear DNA fragments precluding the formation of deletions
Authors: Nissanka Nadee , Bacman Sandra R. , Plastini Melanie J. , Moraes Carlos T.
Published: June 2018

Double-strand breaks in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) result in the formation of linear fragments that are rapidly degraded. However, the identity of the nuclease(s) performing this function is not known. We found that the exonuclease function of the mtDNA polymerase gamma (POLG) is required for this rapid degradation of mtDNA fragments. POLG is recruited to linearized DNA fragments in an origin of replication-independent manner. Moreover, in the absence of POLG exonuclease activity, the prolonged existence of mtDNA linear fragments leads to increased levels of mtDNA deletions, which have been previously identified in the mutator mouse, patients with POLG mutations and normal aging.
Direct visualization of current-induced spin accumulation in topological insulators
Authors: Liu Yang , Besbas Jean , Wang Yi , He Pan , Chen Mengji , Zhu Dapeng , Wu Yang , Lee Jong Min , Wang Lan , Moon Jisoo , Koirala Nikesh , Oh Seongshik , Yang Hyunsoo
Published: June 2018

Charge-to-spin conversion in various materials is the key for the fundamental understanding of spin-orbitronics and efficient magnetization manipulation. Here we report the direct spatial imaging of current-induced spin accumulation at the channel edges of Bi2Se3 and BiSbTeSe2 topological insulators as well as Pt by a scanning photovoltage microscope at room temperature. The spin polarization is along the out-of-plane direction with opposite signs for the two channel edges. The accumulated spin direction reverses sign upon changing the current direction and the detected spin signal shows a linear dependence on the magnitude of currents, indicating that our observed phenomena are current-induced effects. The spin Hall angle of Bi2Se3, BiSbTeSe2, and Pt is determined to be 0.0085, 0.0616, and 0.0085, respectively. Our results open up the possibility of optically detecting the current-induced spin accumulations, and thus point towards a better understanding of the interaction between spins and circularly polarized light.
Discovery of ZrCoBi based half Heuslers with high thermoelectric conversion efficiency
Authors: Zhu Hangtian , He Ran , Mao Jun , Zhu Qing , Li Chunhua , Sun Jifeng , Ren Wuyang , Wang Yumei , Liu Zihang , Tang Zhongjia , Sotnikov Andrei , Wang Zhiming , Broido David , Singh David J. , Chen Gang , Nielsch Kornelius , Ren Zhifeng
Published: June 2018

Thermoelectric materials are capable of converting waste heat into electricity. The dimensionless figure-of-merit (ZT), as the critical measure for the material’s thermoelectric performance, plays a decisive role in the energy conversion efficiency. Half-Heusler materials, as one of the most promising candidates for thermoelectric power generation, have relatively low ZTs compared to other material systems. Here we report the discovery of p-type ZrCoBi-based half-Heuslers with a record-high ZT of ∼1.42 at 973 K and a high thermoelectric conversion efficiency of ∼9% at the temperature difference of ∼500 K. Such an outstanding thermoelectric performance originates from its unique band structure offering a high band degeneracy (Nv) of 10 in conjunction with a low thermal conductivity benefiting from the low mean sound velocity (vm ∼2800 m s−1). Our work demonstrates that ZrCoBi-based half-Heuslers are promising candidates for high-temperature thermoelectric power generation.
From the betweenness centrality in street networks to structural invariants in random planar graphs
Authors: Kirkley Alec , Barbosa Hugo , Barthelemy Marc , Ghoshal Gourab
Published: June 2018

The betweenness centrality, a path-based global measure of flow, is a static predictor of congestion and load on networks. Here we demonstrate that its statistical distribution is invariant for planar networks, that are used to model many infrastructural and biological systems. Empirical analysis of street networks from 97 cities worldwide, along with simulations of random planar graph models, indicates the observed invariance to be a consequence of a bimodal regime consisting of an underlying tree structure for high betweenness nodes, and a low betweenness regime corresponding to loops providing local path alternatives. Furthermore, the high betweenness nodes display a non-trivial spatial clustering with increasing spatial correlation as a function of the edge-density. Our results suggest that the spatial distribution of betweenness is a more accurate discriminator than its statistics for comparing  static congestion patterns and  its evolution across cities as demonstrated by analyzing 200 years of street data for Paris.
Induction of neutralizing antibody response against koala retrovirus (KoRV) and reduction in viral load in koalas following vaccination with recombinant KoRV envelope protein
Authors: Olagoke O , Miller D , Hemmatzadeh F , Stephenson T , Fabijan J , Hutt P , Finch S , Speight N , Timms P
Published: June 2018

Koala retrovirus (KoRV) infects the majority of Australia’s koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) and has been linked to several life-threatening diseases such as lymphoma and leukemia, as well as Chlamydia and thus poses a threat to the continued survival of this species. While quarantine and antiretroviral drug treatment are possible control measures, they are impractical, leaving vaccination as the only realistic option. In this study, we examined the effect of a recombinant envelope protein-based anti-KoRV vaccine in two groups of South Australian koalas: KoRV infected or KoRV free. We report a successful vaccination response in the koalas with no vaccine-associated side effects. The vaccine induced a significant humoral immune response as well as the production of neutralizing antibodies in both groups of koalas. We also identified B-cell epitopes that were differentially recognized in KoRV-infected versus KoRV-free koalas following vaccination. Importantly, we also showed that vaccination had a therapeutic effect on koalas infected exogenously with KoRV by reducing their circulating viral load. Together, this study highlights the possibility of successfully developing a vaccine against KoRV infection in koalas.
High Modularity Creates Scaling Laws
Authors: Grindrod Peter , Higham Desmond J.
Published: June 2018

Scaling laws have been observed in many natural and engineered systems. Their existence can give useful information about the growth or decay of one quantitative feature in terms of another. For example, in the field of city analytics, it is has been fruitful to compare some urban attribute, such as energy usage or wealth creation, with population size. In this work, we use network science and dynamical systems perspectives to explain that the observed scaling laws, and power laws in particular, arise naturally when some feature of a complex system is measured in terms of the system size. Our analysis is based on two key assumptions that may be posed in graph theoretical terms. We assume (a) that the large interconnection network has a well-defined set of communities and (b) that the attribute under study satisfies a natural continuity-type property. We conclude that precise mechanistic laws are not required in order to explain power law effects in complex systems—very generic network-based rules can reproduce the behaviors observed in practice. We illustrate our results using Twitter interaction between accounts geolocated to the city of Bristol, UK.
A novel high-throughput method for kinetic characterisation of anaerobic bioproduction strains, applied to Clostridium kluyveri
Authors: Candry Pieter , Van Daele Timothy , Denis Kyrina , Amerlinck Youri , Andersen Stephen J. , Ganigué Ramon , Arends Jan B. A. , Nopens Ingmar , Rabaey Korneel
Published: June 2018

Hexanoic acid (HA), also called caproic acid, can be used as an antimicrobial agent and as a precursor to various chemicals, such as fuels, solvents and fragrances. HA can be produced from ethanol and acetate by the mesophilic anaerobic bacterium Clostridium kluyveri, via two successive elongation steps over butyrate. A high-throughput anaerobic growth curve technique was coupled to a data analysis framework to assess growth kinetics for a range of substrate and product concentrations. Using this method, growth rates and several kinetic parameters were determined for C. kluyveri. A maximum growth rate (µmax) of 0.24 ± 0.01 h−1 was found, with a half-saturation index for acetic acid (KS,AA) of 3.8 ± 0.9 mM. Inhibition by butyric acid occurred at of 124.7 ± 5.7 mM (KI,BA), while the final product, HA, linearly inhibited growth with complete inhibition above 91.3 ± 10.8 mM (KHA of 10.9*10−3 ± 1.3*10−3 mM−1) at pH = 7, indicating that the hexanoate anion also exerts toxicity. These parameters were used to create a dynamic mass-balance model for bioproduction of HA. By coupling data collection and analysis to this modelling framework, we have produced a powerful tool to assess the kinetics of anaerobic micro-organisms, demonstrated here with C. kluyveri, in order further explore the potential of micro-organisms for chemicals production.
Author Correction: Obese Subjects With Specific Gustatory Papillae Microbiota and Salivary Cues Display an Impairment to Sense Lipids
Authors: Besnard Philippe , Christensen Jeffrey E. , Brignot Hélène , Bernard Arnaud , Passilly-Degrace Patricia , Nicklaus Sophie , Pais de Barros Jean-Paul , Collet Xavier , Lelouvier Benjamin , Servant Florence , Blasco-Baque Vincent , Verges Bruno , Lagrost Laurent , Feron Gilles , Burcelin Rémy
Published: June 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.
Confined photo-release of nitric oxide with simultaneous two-photon fluorescence tracking in a cellular system
Authors: Thomsen Hanna , Marino Nino , Conoci Sabrina , Sortino Salvatore , Ericson Marica B.
Published: June 2018

Nitric oxide (NO) is a key signaling molecule in biological systems. New tools are required to therapeutically modulate NO levels with confined precision. This study explores the photoactivatable properties of an NO releasing compound (CPA), based on cupferron O-alkylated with an anthracene derivative. Upon light stimulation, CPA uncages two species: cupferron, which liberates NO, and an anthrylmethyl carbocation, which evolves into a fluorescent reporter. Proof-of-principle is demonstrated using one- and two-photon excitation (1PE and 2PE) in a cellular system (A431 cells). It was found that 1PE induces cell toxicity, while 2PE does not. Since 1PE using UV light is more likely to generate cellular photodamage, the cell toxicity observed using 1PE is most likely a combinatory effect of NO release and other UV-induced damage, which should be subject to further investigation. On the other hand, absence of phototoxicity using 2PE suggests that NO alone is not cytotoxic. This leads to the conclusion that the concept of 2PE photorelease of NO from CPA enable opportunities for biological studies of NO signaling with confined precision of NO release with minimal cytotoxicity.
Noise-induced stabilization and fixation in fluctuating environment
Authors: Meyer Immanuel , Shnerb Nadav M.
Published: June 2018

The dynamics of a two-species community of N competing individuals are considered, with an emphasis on the role of environmental variations that affect coherently the fitness of entire populations. The chance of fixation of a mutant (or invading) population is calculated as a function of its mean relative fitness, the amplitude of fitness variations and their typical duration. We emphasize the distinction between the case of pairwise competition and the case of global competition; in the latter a noise-induced stabilization mechanism yields a higher chance of fixation for a single mutant. This distinction becomes dramatic in the weak selection regime, where the chance of fixation for a single deleterious mutant is an N-independent constant for global competition and decays like (ln N)−1 in the pairwise competition case. A Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin (WKB) technique yields a general formula for the chance of fixation of a deleterious mutant in the strong selection regime. The possibility of long-term persistence of large [$${\mathscr{O}}$$
O
(N)] suboptimal (and extinction-prone) populations is discussed, as well as its relevance to stochastic tunneling between fitness peaks.
Amorphous Carbon Dots and their Remarkable Ability to Detect 2,4,6-Trinitrophenol
Authors: Siddique Abu Bakar , Pramanick Ashit Kumar , Chatterjee Subrata , Ray Mallar
Published: June 2018

Apparently mundane, amorphous nanostructures of carbon have optical properties which are as exotic as their crystalline counterparts. In this work we demonstrate a simple and inexpensive mechano-chemical method to prepare bulk quantities of self-passivated, amorphous carbon dots. Like the graphene quantum dots, the water soluble, amorphous carbon dots too, exhibit excitation-dependent photoluminescence with very high quantum yield (~40%). The origin and nature of luminescence in these high entropy nanostructures are well understood in terms of the abundant surface traps. The photoluminescence property of these carbon dots is exploited to detect trace amounts of the nitro-aromatic explosive — 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP). The benign nanostructures can selectively detect TNP over a wide range of concentrations (0.5 to 200 µM) simply by visual inspection, with a detection limit of 0.2 µM, and consequently outperform nearly all reported TNP sensor materials.
Publisher Correction: Large anisotropy of ferroelectric and pyroelectric properties in heteroepitaxial oxide layers
Authors: Moalla R. , Cueff S. , Penuelas J. , Vilquin B. , Saint-Girons G. , Baboux N. , Bachelet R.
Published: June 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.
Vegetation succession influences soil carbon sequestration in coastal alkali-saline soils in southeast China
Authors: Li Niu , Shao Tianyun , Zhu Tingshuo , Long Xiaohua , Gao Xiumei , Liu Zhaopu , Shao Hongbo , Rengel Zed
Published: June 2018

The area of saline soils accounts for 8% of the earth’s surface, making these soils an important terrestrial carbon sink. Soil organic carbon (SOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), soil enzyme activity, and soil bacterial abundance and biodiversity were measured in four successive coastal tidal flat ecosystems representing: bare saline soil (BS), Suaeda glauca land (SL), Imperata cylindrica grassland (IG), and Jerusalem artichoke field (JF). A decrease in soil salt content resulted in increased SOC content. With vegetation succession, MBC and DOC concentrations showed a positive trend, and activities of soil urease, catalase, invertase and alkaline phosphatase increased. A next-generation, Illumina-based sequencing approach showed that Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi, Bacteroidetes, Gemmatimonadetes, Actinobacteria, Nitrospirae and Planctomycetes were the dominant bacterial communities (a total of 597 taxa were detected, and 27 genera showed significant differences among the vegetation communities). Bacterial diversity at two soil depths was enhanced with the succession of vegetation ecosystems, with the increases in operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and the Shannon and Chao1 indices ranked in the order: JF > IG > SL > BS. The SOC and C/N were the most determinant factors influencing diversity of bacterial communities in the succession ecosystems.
Chair Heterogeneity Index: Describing the dose heterogeneity inside the tumor volume where there is a boost volume
Authors: Mu Jinming , Xi Dan , Ding Yun , Gu Wendong , Li Qilin
Published: June 2018

In this report, Chair Heterogeneity Index (CHI) was introduced to assess the dose heterogeneity inside the target with a boost volume. CHI was defined by dividing (V
Rx
 − V
Dl
) by (V
Dm
 − V
Dh
): V
Rx
, V
Dl
, V
Dm
and V
Dh
were four points selected from the target cumulative dose volume histogram curve. The effectiveness of CHI was validated by assessing the treatment plans for nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC, 12 cases), breast cancer after breast-conserving-surgery (BC, 10 cases), and stereotactic radiosurgery after whole brain irradiation (SRS, 9 cases). Our results indicate that both CHI and HI of the target can distinguish Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) from Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT, p < 0.05) while the mean differences in CHI (NPC 1.16, BC 1.19 and SRS 3.3) were larger than those in HI (NPC 0.03, BC 0.02 and SRS 0.02). In addition, CHI of the combination volume (the target minus the boost) were statistically higher in VMAT than IMRT in all three kinds of cancer. In conclusion, CHI was effective in assessing the dose heterogeneity inside a target containing a boost volume.
Water immobilization by glass microspheres affects biological activity
Authors: Marangoni A. G. , Al-Abdul-Wahid M. S. , Nicholson R. , Roma A. , Gravelle A. J. , De Souza J. , Barbut S. , Spagnuolo P. A.
Published: June 2018

We recently reported that the water holding capacity of myofibrillar protein hydrogels could be increased upon addition of small amounts of microparticles, particularly glass microspheres. Glass microspheres were found to decrease the spin-spin relaxation time (T2) of water protons in the gels, which was interpreted as enhanced water binding by the glass. We were thus interested in determining whether the observed effects on water proton relaxation were a direct consequence of water-glass interactions. Here we show how glass microspheres reduce the mobility of pure water, reflected in large decreases in the T2 of water protons, decreases in the self-diffusion coefficient of water molecules, a lower water activity, and strengthening of O-H bonds. Even though glass is considered an inert material, glass microspheres were shown to inhibit the growth of human embryonic kidney cells, and stimulate or inhibit the growth of leukemia and monocytic lymphoma cells in vitro, depending on dose and time. The germination of alfalfa seeds and the growth of E.coli cells were also inhibited upon exposure to glass microspheres. This work indicates that the properties and behavior of materials, even ones considered inert, can be affected by their size. These observations suggest possible toxicological consequences of exposure to microparticles, but also open us possibilities to affect cellular/organism function via modulation of macromolecular hydration.
A taxonomic signature of obesity in a large study of American adults
Authors: Peters Brandilyn A. , Shapiro Jean A. , Church Timothy R. , Miller George , Trinh-Shevrin Chau , Yuen Elizabeth , Friedlander Charles , Hayes Richard B. , Ahn Jiyoung
Published: June 2018

Animal models suggest that gut microbiota contribute to obesity; however, a consistent taxonomic signature of obesity has yet to be identified in humans. We examined whether a taxonomic signature of obesity is present across two independent study populations. We assessed gut microbiome from stool for 599 adults, by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We compared gut microbiome diversity, overall composition, and individual taxon abundance for obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2), overweight (25 ≤ BMI < 30), and healthy-weight participants (18.5 ≤ BMI < 25). We found that gut species richness was reduced (p = 0.04), and overall composition altered (p = 0.04), in obese (but not overweight) compared to healthy-weight participants. Obesity was characterized by increased abundance of class Bacilli and its families Streptococcaceae and Lactobacillaceae, and decreased abundance of several groups within class Clostridia, including Christensenellaceae, Clostridiaceae, and Dehalobacteriaceae (q < 0.05). These findings were consistent across two independent study populations. When random forest models were trained on one population and tested on the other as well as a previously published dataset, accuracy of obesity prediction was good (~70%). Our large study identified a strong and consistent taxonomic signature of obesity. Though our study is cross-sectional and causality cannot be determined, identification of microbes associated with obesity can potentially provide targets for obesity prevention and treatment.
Optically-Monitored Nanopore Fabrication Using a Focused Laser Beam
Authors: Gilboa Tal , Zrehen Adam , Girsault Arik , Meller Amit
Published: June 2018

Solid-state nanopores (ssNPs) are extremely versatile single-molecule sensors and their potential have been established in numerous biomedical applications. However, the fabrication of ssNPs remains the main bottleneck to their widespread use. Herein, we introduce a rapid and localizable ssNPs fabrication method based on feedback-controlled optical etching. We show that a focused blue laser beam irreversibly etches silicon nitride (SiNx) membranes in solution. Furthermore, photoluminescence (PL) emitted from the SiNx is used to monitor the etching process in real-time, hence permitting rate adjustment. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images of the etched area reveal an inverted Gaussian thickness profile, corresponding to the intensity point spread function of the laser beam. Continued laser exposure leads to the opening of a nanopore, which can be controlled to reproducibly fabricate nanopores of different sizes. The optically-formed ssNPs exhibit electrical noise on par with TEM-drilled pores, and translocate DNA and proteins readily. Notably, due to the localized thinning, the laser-drilled ssNPs exhibit highly suppressed background PL and improved spatial resolution. Given the total control over the nanopore position, this easily implemented method is ideally suited for electro-optical sensing and opens up the possibility of fabricating large nanopore arrays in situ.
Novel haptens and monoclonal antibodies with subnanomolar affinity for a classical analytical target, ochratoxin A
Authors: López-Puertollano Daniel , Mercader Josep V. , Agulló Consuelo , Abad-Somovilla Antonio , Abad-Fuentes Antonio
Published: June 2018

Ochratoxin A is a potent toxic fungal metabolite whose undesirable presence in food commodities constitutes a problem of public health, so it is strictly regulated and controlled. For the first time, two derivatives of ochratoxin A (OTAb and OTAd) functionalized through positions other than the native carboxyl group of the mycotoxin, have been synthesized in order to better mimic, during the immunization process, the steric and conformational properties of the target analyte. Additionally, two conventional haptens making use of that native carboxyl group for protein coupling (OTAe and OTAf) were also prepared as controls for the purpose of comparison. The immunological performance in rabbits of protein conjugates based on OTAb and OTAd overcome that of conjugates employing OTAe and OTAf as haptens. After immunization of mice with OTAb and OTAd conjugates, a collection of high-affinity monoclonal antibodies to ochratoxin A was generated. In particular, one of those antibodies, the so-called OTAb#311, is very likely the best antibody produced so far in terms of selectivity and affinity to ochratoxin A.
Quiescence status of glioblastoma stem-like cells involves remodelling of Ca2+ signalling and mitochondrial shape
Authors: Aulestia Francisco J. , Néant Isabelle , Dong Jihu , Haiech Jacques , Kilhoffer Marie-Claude , Moreau Marc , Leclerc Catherine
Published: June 2018

Quiescence is a reversible cell-cycle arrest which allows cancer stem-like cells to evade killing following therapies. Here, we show that proliferating glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSLCs) can be induced and maintained in a quiescent state by lowering the extracellular pH. Through RNAseq analysis we identified Ca2+ signalling genes differentially expressed between proliferating and quiescent GSLCs. Using the bioluminescent Ca2+ reporter EGFP-aequorin we observed that the changes in Ca2+ homeostasis occurring during the switch from proliferation to quiescence are controlled through store-operated channels (SOC) since inhibition of SOC drives proliferating GSLCs to quiescence. We showed that this switch is characterized by an increased capacity of GSLCs’ mitochondria to capture Ca2+ and by a dramatic and reversible change of mitochondrial morphology from a tubular to a donut shape. Our data suggest that the remodelling of the Ca2+ homeostasis and the reshaping of mitochondria might favours quiescent GSLCs’ survival and their aggressiveness in glioblastoma.
RAiSD detects positive selection based on multiple signatures of a selective sweep and SNP vectors
Authors: Alachiotis Nikolaos , Pavlidis Pavlos
Published: June 2018

Selective sweeps leave distinct signatures locally in genomes, enabling the detection of loci that have undergone recent positive selection. Multiple signatures of a selective sweep are known, yet each neutrality test only identifies a single signature. We present RAiSD (Raised Accuracy in Sweep Detection), an open-source software that implements a novel, to our knowledge, and parameter-free detection mechanism that relies on multiple signatures of a selective sweep via the enumeration of SNP vectors. RAiSD achieves higher sensitivity and accuracy than the current state of the art, while the computational complexity is greatly reduced, allowing up to 1000 times faster processing than widely used tools, and negligible memory requirements.
Synthesis of disulfide-rich heterodimeric peptides through an auxiliary N, N-crosslink
Authors: Thalluri Kishore , Mayer John P. , Chabenne Joseph R. , Gelfanov Vasily , DiMarchi Richard D.
Published: June 2018

Insulins, relaxins, and other insulin-like peptides present a longstanding synthetic challenge due to their unique cysteine-rich heterodimeric structure. While their three disulfide signature is conserved within the insulin superfamily, sequences of the constituent chains exhibit considerable diversity. As a result, methods which rely on sequence-specific strategies fail to provide universal access to these important molecules. Biomimetic methods utilizing native and chemical linkers to tether the A-chain N-terminus to the B-chain C-terminus, entail complicated installation, and require a unique proteolytic site, or a two-step chemical release. Here we present a strategy employing a linkage of the A- and B-chains N-termini offering unrestricted access to these targets. The approach utilizes a symmetrical linker which is released in a single chemical step. The simplicity, efficiency, and scope of the method are demonstrated in the synthesis of insulin, relaxin, a 4-disulfide insulin analog, two penicillamine-substituted insulins, and a prandial insulin lispro.
Tilted vortex cores and superconducting gap anisotropy in 2H-NbSe2
Authors: Galvis J. A. , Herrera E. , Berthod C. , Vieira S. , Guillamón I. , Suderow H.
Published: June 2018

The superconductor 2H-NbSe2 features vortices with a sixfold star shape when the magnetic field is applied perpendicular to the plane of the hexagonal crystal structure. This is due to the anisotropy in the quasi-two-dimensional Fermi surface tubes oriented along the c axis. But the properties of another, three-dimensional, pocket are unknown, in spite that it has a dominant contribution in many experiments. Here we measure vortices in tilted magnetic fields using a scanning tunneling microscope. We find patterns of stripes due to in-plane vortices and show how these change with the in-plane direction of the magnetic field. The shape of outgoing vortices is successfully compared with detailed calculations of vortex cores. Our data show that vortices exit at an angle with the surface and that the sixfold gap anisotropy is present over the whole Fermi surface.
Correction: Therapy for cartilage defects: functional ectopic cartilage constructed by cartilage-simulating collagen, chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid (CCH) hybrid hydrogel with allogeneic chondrocytes
Authors: Jiang Xianfang , Liu Junting , Liu Qin , Lu Zhenhui , Zheng Li , Zhao Jinmin , Zhang Xingdong
Published: June 2018

Correction for ‘Therapy for cartilage defects: functional ectopic cartilage constructed by cartilage-simulating collagen, chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid (CCH) hybrid hydrogel with allogeneic chondrocytes’ by Xianfang Jiang et al., Biomater. Sci., 2018, 6, 1616–1626.
Rhodium-catalyzed [(3+2)+1] carbocyclizations of alkynylidenecyclopropanes with carbon monoxide: construction of polysubstituted bicyclohexa-2,5-dienones
Authors: Burnie Andrew J. , Evans P. Andrew
Published: June 2018

A rhodium-catalyzed carbocyclization reaction of alkynylidenecyclopropanes with carbon monoxide to prepare bicyclohexa-2,5-dienones is described.
Conductive two-dimensional metal–organic frameworks as multifunctional materials
Authors: Ko Michael , Mendecki Lukasz , Mirica Katherine A.
Published: June 2018

Two-dimensional (2D) conductive metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as a unique class of multifunctional materials with broad applicability in electronics, chemical sensing, gas capture, catalysis, and energy conversion and storage.
Cleave and couple: toward fully sustainable catalytic conversion of lignocellulose to value added building blocks and fuels
Authors: Sun Zhuohua , Barta Katalin
Published: June 2018

Cleave and couple: sustainable catalytic pathways to value added chemicals and fuels from lignocellulose.
An amphiphilic composite material of titanosilicate@mesosilica/carbon as a Pickering catalyst
Authors: Ding Yu , Xu Hao , Wu Haihong , He Mingyuan , Wu Peng
Published: June 2018

The amphiphilic TS-1@silica/carbon (TS-1@Si/C) composite nanoparticle material, synthesized by self-assembling method, constructs stable oil-in-water Pickering emulsion, exhibiting attractive interfacial activity and stability for selective epoxidation of 1-hexene.
2D amphiphilic organoplatinum(ii) metallacycles: their syntheses, self-assembly in water and potential application in photodynamic therapy
Authors: Yao Yong , Zhao Ruibo , Shi Yujun , Cai Yan , Chen Jiao , Sun Siyu , Zhang Wei , Tang Ruikang
Published: June 2018

Two 2D amphiphilic metallacycles with a porphyrin unit as the core and hydrophilic glycol units as the tail were designed and fabricated successfully. They can self-assemble into micelles in water and have potential applications in photodynamic therapy.
Atomic-scale description of interfaces in rutile/sodium silicate glass–crystal composites
Authors: Fossati Paul C. M. , Rushton Michael J. D. , Lee William E.
Published: June 2018

Investigations of glass/crystal interfaces using atomic-scale models underlined structural changes in the glass phase as it accommodates the underlying crystal structure.
Proline hydroxylation at different sites in hypoxia-inducible factor 1α modulates its interactions with the von Hippel–Lindau tumor suppressor protein
Authors: Qian Hongsheng , Zou Yu , Tang Yiming , Gong Yehong , Qian Zhenyu , Wei Guanghong , Zhang Qingwen
Published: June 2018

Proline hydroxylation of HIF-1α affects the interaction affinity between pVHL and HIF-1α and allosterically induces the conformational change of pVHL.
Intriguing electronic and optical properties of two-dimensional Janus transition metal dichalcogenides
Authors: Wang Jun , Shu Haibo , Zhao Tianfeng , Liang Pei , Wang Ning , Cao Dan , Chen Xiaoshuang
Published: June 2018

Two-dimensional Janus transition metal dichalcogenides with an asymmetric structure present intriguing electronic, transport, and optical properties, which make them ideally suitable for electronic and optoelectronic applications.
The nature of non-FRET photoluminescence quenching in nanoassemblies from semiconductor quantum dots and dye molecules
Authors: Stupak Aleksander P. , Blaudeck Thomas , Zenkevich Eduard I. , Krause Stefan , von Borczyskowski Christian
Published: June 2018

Self-assembling porphyrin molecules on CdSe-type quantum dot surfaces causes non-FRET processes which are related to population of intra-band states.
One-pot combustion fabrication of grain-like mesoporous intra-heterostructure BixOyClz nanophotocatalyst with substantial solar-light-driven degradation of antibiotic ofloxacin: influence of various fuels
Authors: Shabani Maryam , Haghighi Mohammad , Kahforoushan Davood
Published: June 2018

Photocatalytic degradation of ofloxacin over the intra-heterostructure of grain-like BixOyClz nanophotocatalyst fabricated via one-pot solution combustion synthesis at low temperatures.
Electron donor-free photoredox catalysis via an electron transfer cascade by cooperative organic photocatalysts
Authors: Wang Lei , Rörich Irina , Ramanan Charusheela , Blom Paul W. M. , Huang Wei , Li Run , Zhang Kai A. I.
Published: June 2018

Electron transfer cascade in cooperative organic photocatalysts can prevent the use of sacrificial reagent for photoredox catalysis.
An exploration of the use of Au submonolayer decorated Pd7Ir nanoparticles as a highly active electrocatalyst for the ethanol oxidation reaction in alkaline media
Authors: Shen Shuiyun , Guo Yangge , Wei Guanghua , Luo Liuxuan , Li Fan , Li Lin , Xia Guofeng , Zhang Junliang
Published: June 2018

An activity promotion over 130% from the use of Au submonolayer on carbon supported Pd7Ir nanoparticles as highly active electrocatalyst for EOR.
Bioaccumulation of silver nanoparticles in model wastewater biofilms
Authors: Walden C. , Zhang W.
Published: June 2018

Engineered nanoparticles are increasingly incorporated into consumer products and inevitably released into wastewater.
Emerging investigators series: ultraviolet and free chlorine aqueous-phase advanced oxidation process: kinetic simulations and experimental validation
Authors: Kamath Divya , Minakata Daisuke
Published: June 2018

An elementary reaction based kinetic model was developed for the fate of acetone degradation in UV/free chlorine advanced oxidation process.
Organic ligand-free carbonylation reactions with unsupported bulk Pd as catalyst
Authors: Liu Shujuan , Wang Hongli , Dai Xingchao , Shi Feng
Published: June 2018

Unsupported bulk Pd-catalyzed carbonylation reactions have been developed for the first time under organic ligand-free conditions.
Visible-light-enabled oxyazidation of alkenes leading to α-azidoketones in air
Authors: Wei Wei , Cui Huanhuan , Yue Huilan , Yang Daoshan
Published: June 2018

Visible-light-induced oxyazidation of alkenes for the construction of α-azidoketones has been developed at room temperature in air.
Overexpression of the mitochondrial Mg channel MRS2 increases total cellular Mg concentration and influences sensitivity to apoptosis
Authors: Merolle Lucia , Sponder Gerhard , Sargenti Azzurra , Mastrototaro Lucia , Cappadone Concettina , Farruggia Giovanna , Procopio Alessandra , Malucelli Emil , Parisse Pietro , Gianoncelli Alessandra , Aschenbach Jörg R. , Kolisek Martin , Iotti Stefano
Published: June 2018

Mitochondrial Mg channel MRS2 overexpression influences Mg concentration and sensitivity to apoptosis.
New ionic liquids based on systemic acquired resistance inducers combined with the phytotoxicity reducing cholinium cation
Authors: Kukawka R. , Czerwoniec P. , Lewandowski P. , Pospieszny H. , Smiglak M.
Published: June 2018

Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) is one of the most promising ways to support plants in the fight against viruses.
A facile 2H-chromene dimerization through an ortho-quinone methide intermediate catalyzed by a sulfonyl derived MIL-101 MOF
Authors: Du Xin , Li Xiujuan , Tang Houliang , Wang Wenyu , Ramella Daniele , Luan Yi
Published: June 2018

An efficient homo-dimerization of 2H-chromenes was achieved in high yield and diastereoselectivity using a MIL-101–SO3H MOF catalyst.
In situ spectroscopic studies of the one-pot synthesis of composition-controlled Cu–Ni nanowires with enhanced catalytic activity
Authors: Ishijima Masanao , Cuya Huaman Jhon L. , Yokoyama Shun , Shinoda Kozo , Uchikoshi Masahito , Miyamura Hiroshi , Jeyadevan Balachandran
Published: June 2018

Development of a novel alcohol reduction technique for the one-pot synthesis of Cu–Ni NWs by elucidating the formation mechanism by using in situ spectroscopic measurements.
Sensitive detection of dengue virus NS1 by highly stable affibody-functionalized gold nanoparticles
Authors: Bang Jinho , Park Heesun , Choi Won Il , Sung Daekyung , Lee Jin Hyung , Lee Kuen Yong , Kim Sunghyun
Published: June 2018

The anti-NS1 affibody-functionalized gold nanoparticles based ELISA resulted in a 14.2-fold signal amplification performance for dengue NS1 detection.
Hydrogen bonded networks based on hexarhenium(iii) chalcocyanide cluster complexes: structural and photophysical characterization
Authors: Ledneva Alexandra , Ferlay Sylvie , Naumov Nikolay G. , Mauro Matteo , Cordier Stéphane , Kyritsakas Nathalie , Hosseini Mir Wais
Published: June 2018

Two series of hydrogen bonded networks based on [Re6Qi8(CN)a6]4− (Q = S or Se) anionic clusters and amidinium cations are reported, structurally and spectroscopically analyzed.
The Baylis–Hillman reaction: a new continent in organic chemistry – our philosophy, vision and over three decades of research
Authors: Basavaiah Deevi , Naganaboina Ram Tilak
Published: June 2018

This mini review describes in brief the way in which our research has contributed towards the development of the Baylis–Hillman reaction as a powerful tool in synthetic chemistry, offering unending opportunities and intellectual challenges to understand and address the present day requirements in the area of organic chemistry.
Binary “island” shaped arrays with high-density hot spots for surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrates
Authors: Zhao Weidong , Xiao Shuyuan , Zhang Yuxian , Pan Dong , Wen Jiahui , Qian Ximei , Wang Dong , Cao Hui , He Wanli , Quan Maohua , Yang Zhou
Published: June 2018

The BISA with high-density hot spots as reproducible SERS substrates by combining an opal structure with self-assembled monolayer AuNPs is demonstrated.
(2-Fluoroallyl)boronates: new reagents for diastereoselective 2-fluoroallylboration of aldehydes
Authors: Novikov Maxim A. , Nefedov Oleg M.
Published: June 2018

New reagents for anti-selective 2-fluoroallylboration of aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes—(2-fluoroallyl)pinacolboranes, were prepared by Pd-catalyzed borylation of 2-fluoroallyl chlorides.
Carbon coating and Al-doping to improve the electrochemistry of Li2CoSiO4 polymorphs as cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Du Hongwei , Zhang Xianhui , Chen Zhenlian , Wu Dongyang , Zhang Zhifeng , Li Jun
Published: June 2018

Conductive carbon framework, stable polymorphs, and the control of impurity are crucial to achieve advanced performance for insulating Li2CoSiO4.
Low-cost CoFe2O4/biomass carbon hybrid from metal-enriched sulfate reducing bacteria as an electrocatalyst for water oxidation
Authors: Bi Songhu , Li Jingde , Zhong Qin , Chen Chuntan , Zhang Qiyi , Yao Yongyi
Published: June 2018

A low-cost CoFe2O4/biomass carbon (CFO@BC/Zn) hybrid from Co-enriched Sulfate Reducing Bacteria (Co-SRB) as an electrocatalyst for OER. The electrocatalyst exhibits a low potential of 1.53 V at a current density 10 mA cm−2 and Tafel slope of 86 mV dec−1.
The effect of surface immobilized NBD peptide on osteoclastogenesis of rough titanium plates in vitro and osseointegration of rough titanium implants in ovariectomized rats in vivo
Authors: Wang Yu , Zhang Chen , Xu Weijian , Wang Baixiang , Lan Yanhua , Yu Mengfei , Wang Pinger , Xie Zhijian
Published: June 2018

Successful osseointegration in dental implants depends on balanced activation of osteoclasts and osteoblasts.
Large-scale self-organized gold nanostructures with bidirectional plasmon resonances for SERS
Authors: Schreiber Benjamin , Gkogkou Dimitra , Dedelaite Lina , Kerbusch Jochen , Hübner René , Sheremet Evgeniya , Zahn Dietrich R. T. , Ramanavicius Arunas , Facsko Stefan , Rodriguez Raul D.
Published: June 2018

Here we present a two-step fabrication of large-scale self-organized gold nanostructures for multicolor surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). We studied the morphology and plasmonic responses of our substrates and performed optical simulations.
Mechanistic insight into the photodynamic effect mediated by porphyrin-fullerene C60 dyads in solution and in Staphylococcus aureus cells
Authors: Ballatore M. Belén , Spesia Mariana B. , Milanesio M. Elisa , Durantini Edgardo N.
Published: June 2018

The photodynamic action mechanism sensitized by a non-charged porphyrin-fullerene C60 dyad and its tetracationic analogue was investigated in solution and in Staphylococcus aureus cells.
Direct observation of the kinetics of gas–solid reactions using in situ kinetic and spectroscopic techniques
Authors: Hoffman Adam S. , Azzam Sara , Zhang Kai , Xu Yahong , Liu Yijin , Bare Simon R. , Simonetti Dante A.
Published: June 2018

In situ spectroscopic techniques provide kinetic and chemical structure data for elucidation of reaction mechanisms and pathways during reactive separations.
Fullerenes: the stars of photovoltaics
Authors: Collavini Silvia , Delgado Juan Luis
Published: June 2018

This article highlights the most interesting discoveries concerning fullerenes in photovoltaics, which have contributed to advances in this field.
A new twist on sea silk: the peculiar protein ultrastructure of fan shell and pearl oyster byssus
Authors: Pasche Delphine , Horbelt Nils , Marin Frédéric , Motreuil Sébastien , Macías-Sánchez Elena , Falini Giuseppe , Hwang Dong Soo , Fratzl Peter , Harrington Matthew James
Published: June 2018

Fan shell and pearl oyster byssus possess an unusual and previously unreported hierarchical structure consisting of globular proteins arranged in a helical superstructure.
Interleukin-3 is required for thoracic aneurysm and dissection in a mouse model
Authors: Robbins Clinton S. , Byrne John S.
Published: June 2018

The pathogenesis of thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection (TAAD) is complex and incompletely understood. The hallmarks of the disease process are aortic inflammatory cell infiltration and protease mediated elastic fiber disruption. In a study recently published in Clinical Science (2018) 132 (6), 655–668), Liu et al. explore the mechanism through which aortic vascular smooth cells and macrophages participate in TAAD using a mouse model. The authors propose that interleukin-3 (IL-3) released from aortic vascular smooth cells is central to the disease process. IL-3 stimulated matrix metalloproteinase 12 (MMP12) release from macrophages via mitogen activated protein kinase pathways. MMP12 is a protease known to be involved in both aortic aneurysm and dissection. IL-3 knockout mice had significantly reduced aortic wall MMP12, and reduced protease activity. This was associated with protection against TAAD.