bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bacteriophage T5 gene D10 encodes a branch-migration protein
Authors: Wong Io Nam , Sayers Jon R. , Sanders Cyril M.
Published: December 2016

Helicases catalyze the unwinding of double-stranded nucleic acids where structure and phosphate backbone contacts, rather than nucleobase sequence, usually determines substrate specificity. We have expressed and purified a putative helicase encoded by the D10 gene of bacteriophage T5. Here we report that this hitherto uncharacterized protein possesses branch migration and DNA unwinding activity. The initiation of substrate unwinding showed some sequence dependency, while DNA binding and DNA-dependent ATPaseactivity did not. DNA footprinting and purine-base interference assays demonstrated that D10 engages these substrates with a defined polarity that may be established by protein-nucleobase contacts. Bioinformatic analysis of the nucleotide databases revealed genes predicted to encode proteins related to D10 in archaebacteria, bacteriophages and in viruses known to infect a range of eukaryotic organisms.
Correction: Corrigendum: The developmental effects of pentachlorophenol on zebrafish embryos during segmentation: A systematic view
Authors: Xu Ting , Zhao Jing , Xu Zhifa , Pan Ruijie , Yin Daqiang
Published: December 2016

Scientific Reports 6: Article number: 25929; published online: 16 May 2016; updated: 23 December 2016
Using nearly full-genome HIV sequence data improves phylogeny reconstruction in a simulated epidemic
Authors: Yebra Gonzalo , Hodcroft Emma B. , Ragonnet-Cronin Manon L. , Pillay Deenan , Brown Andrew J. Leigh ,   PANGEA_HIV Consortium, Fraser Christophe , Kellam Paul , de Oliveira Tulio , Dennis Ann , Hoppe Anne , Kityo Cissy , Frampton Dan , Ssemwanga Deogratius , Tanser Frank , Keshani Jagoda , Lingappa Jairam , Herbeck Joshua , Wawer Maria , Essex Max , Cohen Myron S. , Paton Nicholas , Ratmann Oliver , Kaleebu Pontiano , Hayes Richard , Fidler Sarah , Quinn Thomas , Novitsky Vladimir ,   ICONIC Project, Haywards Andrew , Nastouli Eleni , Morris Steven , Clark Duncan , Kozlakidis Zisis
Published: December 2016

HIV molecular epidemiology studies analyse viral pol gene sequences due to their availability, but whole genome sequencing allows to use other genes. We aimed to determine what gene(s) provide(s) the best approximation to the real phylogeny by analysing a simulated epidemic (created as part of the PANGEA_HIV project) with a known transmission tree. We sub-sampled a simulated dataset of 4662 sequences into different combinations of genes (gag-pol-env, gag-pol, gag, pol, env and partial pol) and sampling depths (100%, 60%, 20% and 5%), generating 100 replicates for each case. We built maximum-likelihood trees for each combination using RAxML (GTR + Γ), and compared their topologies to the corresponding true tree’s using CompareTree. The accuracy of the trees was significantly proportional to the length of the sequences used, with the gag-pol-env datasets showing the best performance and gag and partial pol sequences showing the worst. The lowest sampling depths (20% and 5%) greatly reduced the accuracy of tree reconstruction and showed high variability among replicates, especially when using the shortest gene datasets. In conclusion, using longer sequences derived from nearly whole genomes will improve the reliability of phylogenetic reconstruction. With low sample coverage, results can be highly variable, particularly when based on short sequences.
Evidence for a magma reservoir beneath the Taipei metropolis of Taiwan from both S-wave shadows and P-wave delays
Authors: Lin Cheng-Horng
Published: December 2016

There are more than 7 million people living near the Tatun volcano group in northern Taiwan. For the safety of the Taipei metropolis, in particular, it has been debated for decades whether or not these volcanoes are active. Here I show evidence of a deep magma reservoir beneath the Taipei metropolis from both S-wave shadows and P-wave delays. The reservoir is probably composed of either a thin magma layer overlay or many molten sills within thick partially molten rocks. Assuming that 40% of the reservoir is partially molten, its total volume could be approximately 350 km3. The exact location and geometry of the magma reservoir will be obtained after dense seismic arrays are deployed in 2017–2020.
Interaction of cytokeratin 19 head domain and HER2 in the cytoplasm leads to activation of HER2-Erk pathway
Authors: Ohtsuka Tomoaki , Sakaguchi Masakiyo , Yamamoto Hiromasa , Tomida Shuta , Takata Katsuyoshi , Shien Kazuhiko , Hashida Shinsuke , Miyata-Takata Tomoko , Watanabe Mototsugu , Suzawa Ken , Soh Junichi , Youyi Chen , Sato Hiroki , Namba Kei , Torigoe Hidejiro , Tsukuda Kazunori , Yoshino Tadashi , Miyoshi Shinichiro , Toyooka Shinichi
Published: December 2016

HER2 is a receptor tyrosine kinase and its upregulation via activating mutations or amplification has been identified in some malignant tumors, including lung cancers. Because HER2 can be a therapeutic target in HER2-driven malignancies, it is important to understand the molecular mechanisms of HER2 activation. In the current study, we identified that cytokeratin 19 (KRT19) binds to HER2 at the inside face of plasma membrane. HER2 and KRT19, which were concurrently introduced to a human embryonic kidney 293 T cells, revealed an association with each other and resulted in phosphorylation of HER2 with the subsequent activation of a downstream Erk-associated pathway. A binding assay revealed that both the NH2-terminal head domain of KRT19 and the COOH-terminal domain of HER2 were essential for their binding. To investigate the impact of the interaction between HER2 and KRT19 in lung cancer, we examined their expressions and localizations in lung cancers. We found that KRT19 was highly expressed in HER2-positive lung cancer cells, and KRT19 and HER2 were co-localized at the cell membrane. In conclusion, we found that KRT19 intracellularly binds to HER2, playing a critical role in HER2 activation.
Transurethral enucleation of prostate with button electrode plasmakinetic vaporization for the treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Authors: Peng Bo , Huang Jianhua , Wang Guangchun , Zhang Haimin , Liu Min
Published: December 2016

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common disease in aged men. In this study, we investigated the efficacy and safety of transurethral enucleation of prostate with button electrode plasmakinetic vaporization for the treatment of BPH. 60 patients diagnosed with BPH who were treated in our hospital from August to December, 2014 by enucleation with button electrode were retrospectively reviewed, and operation time, urinary catheter indwelling time, continuous bladder irrigation time, operation related complications, maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), post-void residual urine volume (PVR), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life assessment (QOL), perioperative hemoglobin and electrolytes were recorded. All the operations were completed successfully. The operation time and urinary catheter indwelling time were 45.3 ± 16.2 min and 1.72 ± 0.32 d, respectively. During the follow-up, urethral stricture (n = 1), and urinary incontinence (n = 2) were found with recovery after 1-month training. Postoperative PVR at 1, 3 and 6 months significantly decreased compared with preoperative ones (P < 0.05). IPSS, Qmax, QOL at 1, 3 and 6 months improved significantly (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in serum hemoglobin, sodium and potassium before and after the operation. Thus, the study proved that enucleation of prostate with button electrode was efficient and safe, which was worth being recommended.
A binder-free sulfur/reduced graphene oxide aerogel as high performance electrode materials for lithium sulfur batteries
Authors: Nitze Florian , Agostini Marco , Lundin Filippa , Palmqvist Anders E. C. , Matic Aleksandar
Published: December 2016

Societies’ increasing need for energy storage makes it necessary to explore new concepts beyond the traditional lithium ion battery. A promising candidate is the lithium-sulfur technology with the potential to increase the energy density of the battery by a factor of 3–5. However, so far the many problems with the lithium-sulfur system have not been solved satisfactory. Here we report on a new approach utilizing a self-standing reduced graphene oxide based aerogel directly as electrodes, i.e. without further processing and without the addition of binder or conducting agents. We can thereby disrupt the common paradigm of “no battery without binder” and can pave the way to a lithium-sulfur battery with a high practical energy density. The aerogels are synthesized via a one-pot method and consist of more than 2/3 sulfur, contained inside a porous few-layered reduced graphene oxide matrix. By combining the graphene-based aerogel cathode with an electrolyte and a lithium metal anode, we demonstrate a lithium-sulfur cell with high areal capacity (more than 3 mAh/cm2 after 75 cycles), excellent capacity retention over 200 cycles and good sulfur utilization. Based on this performance we estimate that the energy density of this concept-cell can significantly exceed the Department of Energy (DEO) 2020-target set for transport applications.
Human expansion precipitates niche expansion for an opportunistic apex predator (Puma concolor)
Authors: Moss Wynne E. , Alldredge Mathew W. , Logan Kenneth A. , Pauli Jonathan N.
Published: December 2016

There is growing recognition that developed landscapes are important systems in which to promote ecological complexity and conservation. Yet, little is known about processes regulating these novel ecosystems, or behaviours employed by species adapting to them. We evaluated the isotopic niche of an apex carnivore, the cougar (Puma concolor), over broad spatiotemporal scales and in a region characterized by rapid landscape change. We detected a shift in resource use, from near complete specialization on native herbivores in wildlands to greater use of exotic and invasive species by cougars in contemporary urban interfaces. We show that 25 years ago, cougars inhabiting these same urban interfaces possessed diets that were intermediate. Thus, niche expansion followed human expansion over both time and space, indicating that an important top predator is interacting with prey in novel ways. Thus, though human-dominated landscapes can provide sufficient resources for apex carnivores, they do not necessarily preserve their ecological relationships.
Eyeblink Synchrony in Multimodal Human-Android Interaction
Authors: Tatsukawa Kyohei , Nakano Tamami , Ishiguro Hiroshi , Yoshikawa Yuichiro
Published: December 2016

As the result of recent progress in technology of communication robot, robots are becoming an important social partner for humans. Behavioral synchrony is understood as an important factor in establishing good human-robot relationships. In this study, we hypothesized that biasing a human’s attitude toward a robot changes the degree of synchrony between human and robot. We first examined whether eyeblinks were synchronized between a human and an android in face-to-face interaction and found that human listeners’ eyeblinks were entrained to android speakers’ eyeblinks. This eyeblink synchrony disappeared when the android speaker spoke while looking away from the human listeners but was enhanced when the human participants listened to the speaking android while touching the android’s hand. These results suggest that eyeblink synchrony reflects a qualitative state in human-robot interactions.
Zika virus infection induces mitosis abnormalities and apoptotic cell death of human neural progenitor cells
Authors: Souza Bruno S. F. , Sampaio Gabriela L. A. , Pereira Ciro S. , Campos Gubio S. , Sardi Silvia I. , Freitas Luiz A. R. , Figueira Claudio P. , Paredes Bruno D. , Nonaka Carolina K. V. , Azevedo Carine M. , Rocha Vinicius P. C. , Bandeira Antonio C. , Mendez-Otero Rosalia , dos Santos Ricardo Ribeiro , Soares Milena B. P.
Published: December 2016

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection has been associated with severe complications both in the developing and adult nervous system. To investigate the deleterious effects of ZIKV infection, we used human neural progenitor cells (NPC), derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC). We found that NPC are highly susceptible to ZIKV and the infection results in cell death. ZIKV infection led to a marked reduction in cell proliferation, ultrastructural alterations and induction of autophagy. Induction of apoptosis of Sox2+ cells was demonstrated by activation of caspases 3/7, 8 and 9, and by ultrastructural and flow cytometry analyses. ZIKV-induced death of Sox2+ cells was prevented by incubation with the pan-caspase inhibitor, Z-VAD-FMK. By confocal microscopy analysis we found an increased number of cells with supernumerary centrosomes. Live imaging showed a significant increase in mitosis abnormalities, including multipolar spindle, chromosome laggards, micronuclei and death of progeny after cell division. FISH analysis for chromosomes 12 and 17 showed increased frequency of aneuploidy, such as monosomy, trisomy and polyploidy. Our study reinforces the link between ZIKV and abnormalities in the developing human brain, including microcephaly.
Comparative study on twinning characteristics during two post-weld compression paths and their effects on joint enhancement
Authors: Liu Zhe , Xin Renlong , Li Dongrong , Sun Liyun , Liu Qing
Published: December 2016

Friction stir welding (FSW) has promising application potential in Mg alloys. However, the texture distribution in stir zone (SZ) is usually complicated for Mg alloys, which deterioriates the joint performance. In this study, the texture distribution in SZ was tailored by applying two kinds of post-weld compression deformation along normal direction (ND) or welding direction (WD) of the FSWed AZ31 Mg alloy plates. The twinning behavior and texture change in the various regions of SZ were then evaluated by electron back scatter diffraction (EBSD) characterization. The effect of texture change on the joint performance was discussed in terms of Schmid factors (SFs) for basal slip and extension twinning. The results showed that profuse extension twins were formed through the whole SZ for the sample subjected to compression along ND, whereas they were observed mainly in SZ-side for the sample compressed along WD. Most of the twins were present in the forms of twin bands or chains. The directions of the twin bands or chains were related to the habit plane traces of selected twin variants. The ND post-weld compression had better strengthening effects on the joints compared to the WD compression, and the underline mechanism was discussed.
Physical Interaction Is Required in Social Buffering Induced by a Familiar Conspecific
Authors: Liu Hou , Yuan Ti-Fei
Published: December 2016

In social animals, signals released from fearless conspecifics attenuate fear responses, namely social buffering. The presence of conspecific odor can suppress the expression of freezing response of conditioned mice. The present study investigated if physical social experience is required for this social buffering effect. The mice were exposed to donors, donor bedding (collected from cages of donors), or fresh bedding as control, respectively, for 10 days (1 hour daily) in prior to fear conditioning test. The fear expression test was examined in presence of donor bedding. The results showed that only the donor group mice showed reduced freezing time than the other two groups in the fear memory test. This phenomenon indicated that physical interaction might be required for the social buffering effect.
Asymmetric rhenium tricarbonyl complexes show superior luminescence properties in live cell imaging
Authors: Raszeja Lukasz J. , Siegmund Daniel , Cordes Anna L. , Güldenhaupt Jörn , Gerwert Klaus , Hahn Stephan , Metzler-Nolte Nils
Published: December 2016

Novel luminescent phenanthridinyl containing ReCO3 complexes with unusual asymmetric ligand design accumulate in the endoplasmic reticulum of living cancer cells.
Copper-catalyzed/mediated borylation reactions of epoxides with diboron reagents: access to β-hydroxyl boronic esters
Authors: Ahmed Ebrahim-Alkhalil M. A. , Lu Xi , Gong Tian-Jun , Zhang Zhen-Qi , Xiao Bin , Fu Yao
Published: December 2016

We report the first copper-catalyzed/mediated borylative ring opening reaction of epoxides.
Direct digestion of living cells via a gel-based strategy for mass spectrometric analysis
Authors: Xiong Yun , Zhang Ying , Yao Jun , Yan Guoquan , Lu Haojie
Published: December 2016

A novel method was established for proteomic analysis, during which cells were absorbed into gel and directly digested into peptides.
A soluble conjugated porous organic polymer: efficient white light emission in solution, nanoparticles, gel and transparent thin film
Authors: Pallavi Pragyan , Bandyopadhyay Sujoy , Louis Jesna , Deshmukh Arundhati , Patra Abhijit
Published: December 2016

A multifunctional, solution processable, ultramicroporous polymer employed for white light emission in solution, nanoparticles, a gel and a transparent thin film.
Copper-promoted [2+2+2] annulation of 1,n-enynes through decomposition of azobis(alkyl nitrile)s
Authors: Liu Bang , Wang Cheng-Yong , Hu Ming , Song Ren-Jie , Chen Fan , Li Jin-Heng
Published: December 2016

The first copper-promoted 1,n-enyne [2+2+2] carbocyclization using azobis(alkyl nitrile)s as two-carbon units has been developed.
Achieving red/near-infrared mechanoresponsive luminescence turn-on: mechanically disturbed metastable nanostructures in organic solids
Authors: Guo Kunpeng , Zhang Fang , Guo Song , Li Ke , Lu Xiaoqing , Li Jie , Wang Hua , Cheng Jun , Zhao Qiang
Published: December 2016

A class of slightly twisted A–π–D–π–A molecules and their metastable nanostructures were prepared for red/near-infrared mechanoresponsive luminescence turn-on.
Catalytically active designer crown-jewel Pd-based nanostructures encapsulated in metal–organic frameworks
Authors: Chen Liyu , Huang Weihao , Wang Xiujun , Chen Zhijie , Yang Xianfeng , Luque Rafael , Li Yingwei
Published: December 2016

A series of Pd based bimetallic NPs with unique “crown-jewel” structure and tunable composition have been successfully fabricated inside the MOF pores, exhibiting superior catalytic activity and stability.
Ruthenium-catalyzed meta/ortho-selective C–H alkylation of azoarenes using alkyl bromides
Authors: Li Gang , Ma Xingxing , Jia Chunqi , Han Qingqing , Wang Ya , Wang Junjie , Yu Liuyang , Yang Suling
Published: December 2016

meta/ortho-Selective CAr–H (di)alkylation reactions of azoarenes have been achievedvia[Ru(p-cymene)Cl2]2catalyzedortho-metalation using various types of alkyl bromides.
An easily accessible aggregation-induced emission probe for lipid droplet-specific imaging and movement tracking
Authors: Gao Meng , Su Huifang , Li Shiwu , Lin Yuhan , Ling Xia , Qin Anjun , Tang Ben Zhong
Published: December 2016

An easily accessible aggregation-induced emission (AIE) probe is developed for LD-specific imaging and dynamic movement tracking with advantages of NIR two-photon excited red emission and fast cell permeability.
Dinuclear indium and thallium diyls: biscarbenoids or metal cluster?
Authors: Desat Marcella E. , Gärtner Stefanie , Kretschmer Robert
Published: December 2016

New types of polynuclear indium and thallium compounds were isolated,i.e., a four membered rhombic indacycle and a Tl2-pseudo-dimer.
Slow magnetic relaxation in a mononuclear 8-coordinate Fe(ii) complex
Authors: Xiang Jing , Liu Jia-Jia , Chen Xiao-Xiang , Jia Li-Hui , Yu Fei , Wang Bing-Wu , Gao Song , Lau Tai-Chu
Published: December 2016

The synthesis and structure of an 8-coordinate Fe(ii) compound [FeII(L1)2](ClO4)2 (1) with a [FeN4O4] core are reported. It is the first example of an 8-coordinate Fe(ii) complex exhibiting field-induced single-molecule magnet (SMM) behaviour.
Band gap opening in stanene induced by patterned B–N doping
Authors: Garg Priyanka , Choudhuri Indrani , Mahata Arup , Pathak Biswarup
Published: December 2016

Stanene is a quantum spin Hall insulator and a promising material for electronic and optoelectronic devices.
Spatial distribution of organic functional groups supported on mesoporous silica nanoparticles: a study by conventional and DNP-enhanced 29Si solid-state NMR
Authors: Kobayashi Takeshi , Singappuli-Arachchige Dilini , Wang Zhuoran , Slowing Igor I. , Pruski Marek
Published: December 2016

DNP-enhanced solid-state NMR determined spatial distributions of organic functionalities attached to surfaces of mesoporous silica nanoparticles via co-condensation and grafting.
The discrete nature of inhomogeneity: the initial stages and local configurations of TiOPc during bilayer growth on Ag(111)
Authors: Fernandez Laura , Thussing Sebastian , Mänz Alexander , Sundermeyer Jörg , Witte Gregor , Jakob Peter
Published: December 2016

Microscopic model for the growth of TiOPc bilayers on Ag(111) and identification of local configurations thereof.
Status and prospects in higher alcohols synthesis from syngas
Authors: Luk Ho Ting , Mondelli Cecilia , Ferré Daniel Curulla , Stewart Joseph A. , Pérez-Ramírez Javier
Published: December 2016

We review synthetic, mechanistic and process aspects of the direct syngas conversion into higher alcohols to foster the identification of industrially-viable catalysts.
Different conjugated system Zn(ii) Schiff base complexes: supramolecular structure, luminescent properties, and applications in the PMMA-doped hybrid materials
Authors: Dong Yu-Wei , Fan Rui-Qing , Chen Wei , Zhang Hui-Jie , Song Yang , Du Xi , Wang Ping , Wei Li-Guo , Yang Yu-Lin
Published: December 2016

Five Zn(ii) complexes with different conjugated systems were synthesized. Zn3 was incorporated into PMMA, creating a high performance material.
Structural study of complexes formed by acidic and neutral organophosphorus reagents
Authors: Braatz Alexander D. , Antonio Mark R. , Nilsson Mikael
Published: December 2016

The coordination of the trivalent 4f ions, Ln = La3+, Dy3+, and Lu3+, with neutral and acidic organophosphorus reagents, both individually and combined, was studied by use of X-ray absorption spectroscopy.
One-step asymmetric synthesis of (R)- and (S)-rasagiline by reductive amination applying imine reductases
Authors: Matzel P. , Gand M. , Höhne M.
Published: December 2016

Imine reductases (IREDs) show great potential as catalysts for reductive amination of ketones to produce chiral secondary amines.
Iron isotopic analysis of finger-prick and venous blood by multi-collector inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry after volumetric absorptive microsampling
Authors: Anoshkina Yulia , Costas-Rodríguez Marta , Vanhaecke Frank
Published: December 2016

The use of VAMS – volumetric absorptive microsampling – of finger-prick blood was evaluated in the context of high-precision isotopic analysis of whole blood Fe by multi-collector inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry.
3D microvascular model recapitulates the diffuse large B-cell lymphoma tumor microenvironment in vitro
Authors: Mannino Robert G. , Santiago-Miranda Adriana N. , Pradhan Pallab , Qiu Yongzhi , Mejias Joscelyn C. , Neelapu Sattva S. , Roy Krishnendu , Lam Wilbur A.
Published: December 2016

This 3D multiplexin vitromicrovascular model of the DLBCL microenvironment incorporates an endothelialized microvessel traversing a hydrogel-based tumor model.
Miniaturized devices for point of care molecular detection of HIV
Authors: Mauk Michael , Song Jinzhao , Bau Haim H. , Gross Robert , Bushman Frederic D. , Collman Ronald G. , Liu Changchun
Published: December 2016

We review recent technical advances in molecular testing of HIV using microfluidic technology, including sample preparation, isothermal amplification and detection.
Tracing compound pathways using chemical space networks
Authors: Kunimoto Ryo , Vogt Martin , Bajorath Jürgen
Published: December 2016

Chemical space network (CSN). Shown is a CSN with asymmetric similarity relationships in which an optimization-relevant compound pathway is traced (red).
A hydrogel sealant for the treatment of severe hepatic and aortic trauma with a dissolution feature for post-emergent care
Authors: Konieczynska Marlena D. , Villa-Camacho Juan C. , Ghobril Cynthia , Perez-Viloria Miguel , Blessing William A. , Nazarian Ara , Rodriguez Edward K. , Grinstaff Mark W.
Published: December 2016

On-demand dissolvable hydrogel sealant reduces blood loss significantly in in vivo animal models of non-compressible hemorrhage.
A novel ternary CuO decorated Ag3AsO4/GO hybrid as a Z-scheme photocatalyst for enhanced degradation of phenol under visible light
Authors: Rakibuddin Md. , Mandal Subrata , Ananthakrishnan Rajakumar
Published: December 2016

A novel Z-scheme ternary CuO/Ag3AsO4/GO hybrid having significant visible light catalytic activity and stability is successfully synthesized via a self-assembly method.
Chiral Zn–salen complexes: a new class of fluorescent receptors for enantiodiscrimination of chiral amines
Authors: Puglisi Roberta , Ballistreri Francesco P. , Gangemi Chiara M. A. , Toscano Rosa Maria , Tomaselli Gaetano A. , Pappalardo Andrea , Sfrazzetto Giuseppe Trusso
Published: December 2016

Highly efficient enantiomeric discrimination of chiral amines by fluorescent Zn–salen receptors is reported for the first time.
C–H imidation: a distinct perspective of C–N bond formation
Authors: Rit Raja K. , Shankar Majji , Sahoo Akhila K.
Published: December 2016

The direct imidation strategy proficiently constructs C–N bonds and creates the useful amine functional group in the molecular template.
Copper-catalyzed C–O bond cleavage and cyclization: synthesis of indazolo[3,2-b]quinazolinones
Authors: Qiao Rui , Ye Leping , Hu Kun , Yu Shuling , Yang Weiguang , Liu Miaochang , Chen Jiuxi , Ding Jinchang , Wu Huayue
Published: December 2016

Cu-catalyzed sequential inert C–O bond cleavage followed by intramolecular C–N bond formation for the synthesis of indazolo[3,2-b]quinazolinones.
Methacrylic block copolymers by sulfur free RAFT (SF RAFT) free radical emulsion polymerisation
Authors: Nurumbetov Gabit , Engelis Nikolaos , Godfrey Jamie , Hand Rachel , Anastasaki Athina , Simula Alexandre , Nikolaou Vasiliki , Haddleton David M.
Published: December 2016

We demonstrate the use of sulfur free reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerisation (RAFT) as a versatile tool for the controlled synthesis of methacrylic block and comb-like copolymers.
Cigarette smoke extract induces the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition via the PLTP/TGF-β1/Smad2 pathway in RLE-6TN cells
Authors: Chen Hong , Wu Feng-ping , Yang Yong-zhen , Yu Xiu-ying , Zhang Lu , Zhang Hui , Chen Ya-juan
Published: December 2016

Aim: The role of phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) in the pathogenesis of the cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has not been well described.
Optimal pipeline stage balancing in the presence of large isolated interconnect delay
Authors: Olivieri M. , Menichelli F. , Mastrandrea A.
Published: December 2016

Pipelining a combinational logic data‐path without introducing pipeline stage delay imbalance is a key requirement for efficient digital processing. Balanced pipelining is easily achieved by simple logical effort optimisation when the interconnect and fan‐out delay overhead is small and homogeneously distributed. When the target micro‐architecture design includes isolated long interconnects, such as buses, optimal pipeline stage balancing becomes a tricky problem. This work formalises the solution based on the logical effort paradigm and evidences its advantage with respect to a heuristic approach.
Enhanced inter‐subject brain computer interface with associative sensorimotor oscillations
Authors: Saha Simanto , Ahmed Khawza I. , Mostafa Raqibul , Khandoker Ahsan H. , Hadjileontiadis Leontios
Published: December 2016

Electroencephalography (EEG) captures electrophysiological signatures of cortical events from the scalp with high‐dimensional electrode montages. Usually, excessive sources produce outliers and potentially affect the actual event related sources. Besides, EEG manifests inherent inter‐subject variability of the brain dynamics, at the resting state and/or under the performance of task(s), caused probably due to the instantaneous fluctuation of psychophysiological states. A wavelet coherence (WC) analysis for optimally selecting associative inter‐subject channels is proposed here and is being used to boost performances of motor imagery (MI)‐based inter‐subject brain computer interface (BCI). The underlying hypothesis is that optimally associative inter‐subject channels can reduce the effects of outliers and, thus, eliminate dissimilar cortical patterns. The proposed approach has been tested on the dataset IVa from BCI competition III, including EEG data acquired from five healthy subjects who were given visual cues to perform 280 trials of MI for the right hand and right foot. Experimental results have shown increased classification accuracy (81.79%) using the WC‐based selected 16 channels compared to the one (56.79%) achieved using all the available 118 channels. The associative channels lie mostly around the sensorimotor regions of the brain, reinforced by the previous literature, describing spatial brain dynamics during sensorimotor oscillations. Apparently, the proposed approach paves the way for optimised EEG channel selection that could boost further the efficiency and real‐time performance of BCI systems.
Online multi‐parameter estimation of interior permanent magnet motor drives with finite control set model predictive control
Authors: Nalakath Shamsuddeen , Preindl Matthias , Emadi Ali
Published: December 2016

This study presents an online multiparameter estimation scheme for interior permanent magnet motor drives that exploits the switching ripple of finite control set (FCS) model predictive control (MPC). The combinations consist of two, three, and four parameters are analysed for observability at different operating states. Most of the combinations are rank deficient without persistent excitation (PE) of the system, e.g. by signal injection. This study shows that high frequency current ripples by MPC with FCS are sufficient to create PE in the system. This study also analyses parameter coupling in estimation that results in wrong convergence and propose a decoupling technique. The observability conditions for all the combinations are experimentally validated. Finally, a full parameter estimation along with the decoupling technique is tested at different operating conditions.
Lifetime estimation and diagnosis of XLPE used in HV insulation cables under thermal ageing: arithmetic sequences optimised by genetic algorithms approach
Authors: Bessissa Lakhdar , Boukezzi Larbi , Mahi Djillali , Boubakeur Ahmed
Published: December 2016

The arithmetic sequences optimised by genetic algorithms have been applied in the lifetime estimation and diagnosis of cross‐linked polyethylene (XLPE) high‐voltage insulation under thermal ageing. To know an idea of the cable capacity to work without failure, it is necessary to predict the future state of the electrical insulation. If the estimation is very good, the authors can start to schedule maintenance tasks of electrical system and find preventive solutions in early time. A large amount of money can be saved if they take appropriate actions. The developed model gives results in good agreement with the experimental results, with an acceptable error margin. The authors also applied the same models in the diagnosis of the high‐voltage insulation to plan the preventive maintenance actions. The decision is taken from the carried out previous experimental measurements of XLPE properties. The developed approaches are able to make the diagnosis and the classification of the insulation state. The results of modelling, prediction and diagnosis presented in this work demonstrate the effectiveness of the used method.
Loss allocation in restructured radial distribution networks considering the contractual power
Authors: Ghaemi Sina , Zare Kazem
Published: December 2016

The importance of loss allocation (LA) methods in the restructured radial distribution network with the presence of distributed generations which are applicable in the electricity market is indisputable. This study presents a new method of LA which is composed of two parts. First, a participation matrix is defined in order to determine which buses have an impact on the loss of each branch. In the second part, the loss share of participants in each branch is calculated based on the injected current to each one. The allocation of cross terms between participants’ currents is computed according to their contractual power which increases the economic adeptness of the method. The proposed LA method was empirically validated using a 33‐node distribution network and results were compared against other methods. The results demonstrate the compatibility of the proposed method with the technical and economic perspective of the network.
Symbiotic organisms search algorithm for automatic generation control of interconnected power systems including wind farms
Authors: Hasanien Hany M. , El‐Fergany Attia A.
Published: December 2016

Automatic generation control (AGC) plays an important role in power systems, where it maintains the system frequency and tie‐line power flow at their desired values. This study presents a novel symbiotic organisms search (SOS) algorithm in order to optimally design the proportional–integral–derivative (PID) controllers in the AGC of interconnected multiple‐area power systems including wind farms uncertainty and system non‐linearity. The PID controllers’ parameters define the design variables of the optimisation problem. The SOS algorithm is applied to different objective functions such as integral square error and integral absolute of error. The efficacy of the proposed controller is compared with other competing evolutionary algorithms‐based proportional–integral or PID controller. The system performance is evaluated under different operating conditions such as different loading, variation of system parameters, and an addition of wind energy uncertainty. For obtaining realistic responses, real wind speed data that extracted from Zafarana location in Egypt is used in this study. The validity of the proposed controller is extensively confirmed using the simulation results. With the SOS‐based PID controllers, the dynamic responses for the AGC of interconnected power systems, including wind farms uncertainty can be further enhanced.
Specific order harmonics compensation algorithm and digital implementation for multi‐level active power filter
Authors: Shu Zeliang , Lin Hongjian , Ziwei Zhang , Yin Xiaodong , Zhou Qijun
Published: December 2016

A specific harmonic compensation control based on the nth specific order d–q transformation in the nth synchronous coordinates is proposed in this study. The distorted load currents are transformed into the nth–dq components in the separate nth harmonic frequency channels. These components corresponding to the specific nth harmonics are individually controlled in closed‐loop by the decoupling regulators, which can track the amplitude and phase angle of the specific order harmonic with zero steady‐state error. Meanwhile the current references would be transformed to voltage references. Therefore, the voltage references generated by these separate harmonic control channels could be accumulated together to form the final real‐time modulation voltage references to drive the voltage‐source inverter including two‐level and multi‐level structures. The control algorithm is analysed and its parameters are designed. The three‐level active power filter simulation and a small‐scale prototype are established. The simulation and experimental results indicate that the harmonics can be specific eliminated and controlled. The total harmonic distortion of source currents could be reduced from 20 to 0.5% with the specific filtering of 5th, 7th, …, 31st harmonics.
Determination of full matrix material constants of [111]c poled Mn doped 0.24Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3-0.46Pb (Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-0.30PbTiO3 single-domain single crystal using one sample
Authors: Li Shiyang , Zheng Limei , Chen Jing , Sun Enwei , Yang Ming , Cao Wenwu
Published: December 2016

To date, there is no report in the literature regarding the full set of material constants of single crystals with 3m symmetries using less than 5 samples. Multiple samples make the data self-consistency difficult due to sample to sample variations, which is severe in ferroelectric materials because the poling depends strongly on the sample geometry. To eliminate errors caused by property variation from sample to sample, a combined ultrasonic and inverse impedance spectroscopy characterization method has been developed, which only needs one small sample to get all constants. The method has been used to determine full matrix material constants of [111]c poled Mn doped 0.24Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3-0.46Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-0.30PbTiO3 single crystals. The validity of this method has been verified by comparing the results with those determined by the traditional resonance method using 5 different geometry samples, and the method was proved stable with input data variation within ±10%.
Healthcare Reform
Authors: Capretta James C.
Published: December 2016

Catholic social teaching provides the essential framework for thinking clearly about societal problems, but it cannot be applied like a recipe in a cookbook. It is the responsibility of informed citizens to take what Catholic social teaching offers and use their own knowledge and reason to advance concrete approaches for addressing complex issues of public policy.

Lay Summary: In health care, full governmental control would lead to a decline in the quality of services provided to all patients. It is possible to build a market-driven system of universal insurance enrollment that provides full protection to the lowest income households while also providing space for private initiative and innovation.
Catholic Social Teaching: Precepts for Healthcare Reform
Authors: Condit Donald P.
Published: December 2016

The Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act of 2010 accelerated bureaucratic appropriation of health care in the United States. Persuaded by laudable intentions of expanded access to care for millions of uninsured Americans, healthcare cost control, and improved medical quality, supporters are now confronted by the unintended consequences of greater government control of health care. The four primary principles of Catholic social teaching guide a best response to our neighbor's healthcare needs. The presence of these principles in the founding documents of the United States facilitates advocacy the public square.

Lay summary: Catholic social teaching presents a Magisterial gift to each generation to help build a just society. The four principles, Human Dignity, Common Good, Solidarity, and Subsidiarity, can guide reform of a healthcare system in crisis. These precepts, clearly present in the United States founding documents, and persuasive in the public square, serve as a foundation upon which to improve the medical care of the sick and injured.
Health Care's Ills: A Catholic Diagnosis
Authors: Sibley Angus
Published: December 2016

Catholic teaching is emphatic on the need to “guarantee adequate [health] care to all,” as Pope Benedict XVI has stated. America has been slower than other advanced countries in progressing towards this goal. Reasons for this delay can be found in certain attitudes that have long been present in American culture, and have been reinforced by the wave of libertarianism (free-market ideology) that swept the world in the late twentieth century. Catholic theology and social/economic teaching can help us understand the flaws in these attitudes, which involve fundamental philosophical and theological principles, but which are far from academic, since they have serious and very practical consequences. In the light of Catholic teaching, we can look towards a sounder understanding of healthcare needs and effective ways of meeting them.

Lay Summary: This article argues that access to healthcare, at least up to the level of basic necessity, falls under the heading of distributive justice. It is a human right owed by the community to each of its citizens. And since rights entail obligations, this right entails an obligation upon each citizen to contribute, as circumstances permit, to the costs, which need to be shared equitably; they cannot be met simply by each individual providing solely for oneself. Also discussed are the problems of excessive costs in healthcare administration and in pharmacological research, as well as harmful tendencies in private-sector firms to over-reward top management and to target maximum (rather than adequate) profits.
Article Commentary: Restoring Christ-Centered Medicine through Public Policy Changes Centered around Subsidiarity and the Doctor–Patient Relationship
Authors: Donovan Charles A. , Turner Grace-Marie
Published: December 2016

Many Catholic leaders supported passage of legislation designed to achieve the humanitarian goal of universal or near-universal health coverage. These leaders could not imagine that the resulting law would lead to a severe assault on the practice of Christ-centered medicine. The legislative focus now is on conscience protection and making the Hyde Amendment permanent. But the real change that is needed is a culture that values life and puts doctors and patients, not secular bureaucracies, at the center of healthcare decisions. Many new proposals are being offered with the shared goals of expanding access to affordable health coverage, allowing people to make their own choices without oppressive government mandates, helping the most vulnerable, and protecting the right of citizens and medical professionals to live and work according to their religious values and principles.
Conservation meets restoration – rescuing threatened plant species by restoring their environments and restoring environments using threatened plant species
Authors: Volis Sergei
Published: December 2016

Plant conservation biology needs a new approach to cope with the rapid disappearance of species and ecosystems. This paper is an attempt to introduce such an approach via conceptual integration of conservation biology and restoration ecology in what can be called conservation-oriented restoration. Use of this term is limited to cases when restoration is applied to a still-functioning ecosystem, excluding cases when the destroyed ecosystem must be recreated or altered to a desirable state. The paper demonstrates the importance of habitat restoration for the majority of threatened species, and, although it may seem paradoxical, advocates usefulness of threatened plant species for restoration of natural habitats. It is proposed that threatened plant species should become an important part of many restoration projects and be introduced not only into locations where they currently grow or grew in the recent past, but also into suitable locations within their potential distribution range. Because the number of potentially suitable locations can be close to zero if we consider only untouched natural habitats as suitable, the introduction sites should include those that require restoration efforts. The available literature is reviewed to show why and how ecological restoration should become an integral part of the conservation biologist's armory.
The structure of binding curves and practical identifiability of equilibrium ligand-binding parameters
Authors: Middendorf Thomas R. , Aldrich Richard W.
Published: December 2016

A critical but often overlooked question in the study of ligands binding to proteins is whether the parameters obtained from analyzing binding data are practically identifiable (PI), i.e., whether the estimates obtained from fitting models to noisy data are accurate and unique. Here we report a general approach to assess and understand binding parameter identifiability, which provides a toolkit to assist experimentalists in the design of binding studies and in the analysis of binding data. The partial fraction (PF) expansion technique is used to decompose binding curves for proteins with n ligand-binding sites exactly and uniquely into n components, each of which has the form of a one-site binding curve. The association constants of the PF component curves, being the roots of an n-th order polynomial, may be real or complex. We demonstrate a fundamental connection between binding parameter identifiability and the nature of these one-site association constants: all binding parameters are identifiable if the constants are all real and distinct; otherwise, at least some of the parameters are not identifiable. The theory is used to construct identifiability maps from which the practical identifiability of binding parameters for any two-, three-, or four-site binding curve can be assessed. Instructions for extending the method to generate identifiability maps for proteins with more than four binding sites are also given. Further analysis of the identifiability maps leads to the simple rule that the maximum number of structurally identifiable binding parameters (shown in the previous paper to be equal to n) will also be PI only if the binding curve line shape contains n resolved components.
Climate of Western and Central Equatorial Africa
Authors: Dezfuli Amin
Published: December 2016

Western and Central Equatorial Africa (WCEA), home to the Congo rainforests, is the green heart of the otherwise dry continent of Africa. Despite its crucial role in the Earth system, WCEA’s climate variability has received little attention compared to the rest of Africa. Climate variability in the region is a result of complex interactions among various features acting on local and global scales. The mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) that have a preferentially westward propagation and present a distinct diurnal cycle are the main source of rainfall in the region. As a result of strong MCS activity, WCEA stands out as a convective anomaly within the tropics and experiences the world’s most intense thunderstorms as well as the highest lightning flash rates. The moisture of the region is supplied primarily from the Atlantic Ocean, with additional contributions from local recycling and East Africa. WCEA, in turn, serves as a moisture source for other parts of the continent.

One striking characteristic of WCEA is its intrinsic heterogeneity with respect to interannual variability of rainfall, resulting in delineation of the region primarily in the zonal direction. This is in contrast to the meridionally oriented spatial variability of the annual cycle and underlines the fact that driving factors of the two can be quite different. The annual cycle is mainly determined by the seasonal excursion of the sun. However, the interannual and intraseasonal variability of the region are modulated by remote forcings from all three oceans, reflected via zonal atmospheric cells and equatorial wave dynamics. The local atmospheric jets and regional Walker-like circulations also contribute to WCEA’s climate variability by modulating the moisture transport and vertical motion.

The region has experienced an increasing rate of deforestation in recent decades and has made a significant contribution to the global biomass burning emissions that can alter regional and global circulation, along with energy and water cycles. The mean annual temperature of the region has increased by about 1°C in the past 70 years. The annual rainfall over the same period presents a negative trend, though that is quite negligible in the eastern sector of the region.