bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effective Combination of Innate and Adaptive Immunotherapeutic Approaches in a Mouse Melanoma Model
Authors: Rakhmilevich Alexander L. , Felder Mildred , Lever Lauren , Slowinski Jacob , Rasmussen Kayla , Hoefges Anna , Van De Voort Tyler J. , Loibner Hans , Korman Alan J. , Gillies Stephen D. , Sondel Paul M.
Published: January 2017

Most cancer immunotherapies include activation of either innate or adaptive immune responses. We hypothesized that the combined activation of both innate and adaptive immunity will result in better antitumor efficacy. We have previously shown the synergy of an agonistic anti-CD40 mAb (anti-CD40) and CpG-oligodeoxynucleotides in activating macrophages to induce tumor cell killing in mice. Separately, we have shown that a direct intratumoral injection of immunocytokine (IC), an anti-GD2 Ab linked to IL-2, can activate T and NK cells resulting in antitumor effects. We hypothesized that activation of macrophages with anti-CD40/CpG, and NK cells with IC, would cause innate tumor destruction, leading to increased presentation of tumor Ags and adaptive T cell activation; the latter could be further augmented by anti–CTLA-4 Ab to achieve tumor eradication and immunological memory. Using the mouse GD2+ B78 melanoma model, we show that anti-CD40/CpG treatment led to upregulation of T cell activation markers in draining lymph nodes. Anti-CD40/CpG + IC/anti–CTLA-4 synergistically induced regression of advanced s.c. tumors, resulting in cure of some mice and development of immunological memory against B78 and wild type B16 tumors. Although the antitumor effect of anti-CD40/CpG did not require T cells, the antitumor effect of IC/anti–CTLA-4 was dependent on T cells. The combined treatment with anti-CD40/CpG + IC/anti-CTLA-4 reduced T regulatory cells in the tumors and was effective against distant solid tumors and lung metastases. We suggest that a combination of anti-CD40/CpG and IC/anti-CTLA-4 should be developed for clinical testing as a potentially effective novel immunotherapy strategy.
PU.1 Regulates Ig Light Chain Transcription and Rearrangement in Pre-B Cells during B Cell Development
Authors: Batista Carolina R. , Li Stephen K. H. , Xu Li S. , Solomon Lauren A. , DeKoter Rodney P.
Published: January 2017

B cell development and Ig rearrangement are governed by cell type– and developmental stage–specific transcription factors. PU.1 and Spi-B are E26-transformation–specific transcription factors that are critical for B cell differentiation. To determine whether PU.1 and Spi-B are required for B cell development in the bone marrow, Spi1 (encoding PU.1) was conditionally deleted in B cells by Cre recombinase under control of the Mb1 gene in Spib (encoding Spi-B)–deficient mice. Combined deletion of Spi1 and Spib resulted in a lack of mature B cells in the spleen and a block in B cell development in the bone marrow at the small pre-B cell stage. To determine target genes of PU.1 that could explain this block, we applied a gain-of-function approach using a PU.1/Spi-B–deficient pro-B cell line in which PU.1 can be induced by doxycycline. PU.1-induced genes were identified by integration of chromatin immunoprecipitation–sequencing and RNA-sequencing data. We found that PU.1 interacted with multiple sites in the Igκ locus, including Vκ promoters and regions located downstream of Vκ second exons. Induction of PU.1 induced Igκ transcription and rearrangement. Upregulation of Igκ transcription was impaired in small pre-B cells from PU.1/Spi-B–deficient bone marrow. These studies reveal an important role for PU.1 in the regulation of Igκ transcription and rearrangement and a requirement for PU.1 and Spi-B in B cell development.
Widespread Virus Replication in Alveoli Drives Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Aerosolized H5N1 Influenza Infection of Macaques
Authors: Wonderlich Elizabeth R. , Swan Zachary D. , Bissel Stephanie J. , Hartman Amy L. , Carney Jonathan P. , O’Malley Katherine J. , Obadan Adebimpe O. , Santos Jefferson , Walker Reagan , Sturgeon Timothy J. , Frye Lonnie J. , Maiello Pauline , Scanga Charles A. , Bowling Jennifer D. , Bouwer Anthea L. , Duangkhae Parichat A. , Wiley Clayton A. , Flynn JoAnne L. , Wang Jieru , Cole Kelly S. , Perez Daniel R. , Reed Douglas S. , Barratt-Boyes Simon M.
Published: January 2017

Human infections with highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) virus are frequently fatal but the mechanisms of disease remain ill-defined. H5N1 infection is associated with intense production of proinflammatory cytokines, but whether this cytokine storm is the main cause of fatality or is a consequence of extensive virus replication that itself drives disease remains controversial. Conventional intratracheal inoculation of a liquid suspension of H5N1 influenza virus in nonhuman primates likely results in efficient clearance of virus within the upper respiratory tract and rarely produces severe disease. We reasoned that small particle aerosols of virus would penetrate the lower respiratory tract and blanket alveoli where target cells reside. We show that inhalation of aerosolized H5N1 influenza virus in cynomolgus macaques results in fulminant pneumonia that rapidly progresses to acute respiratory distress syndrome with a fatal outcome reminiscent of human disease. Molecular imaging revealed intense lung inflammation coincident with massive increases in proinflammatory proteins and IFN-α in distal airways. Aerosolized H5N1 exposure decimated alveolar macrophages, which were widely infected and caused marked influx of interstitial macrophages and neutrophils. Extensive infection of alveolar epithelial cells caused apoptosis and leakage of albumin into airways, reflecting loss of epithelial barrier function. These data establish inhalation of aerosolized virus as a critical source of exposure for fatal human infection and reveal that direct viral effects in alveoli mediate H5N1 disease. This new nonhuman primate model will advance vaccine and therapeutic approaches to prevent and treat human disease caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses.
Intravital Imaging of Neutrophil Recruitment Reveals the Efficacy of FPR1 Blockade in Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
Authors: Honda Masaki , Takeichi Takayuki , Hashimoto Shintaro , Yoshii Daiki , Isono Kaori , Hayashida Shintaro , Ohya Yuki , Yamamoto Hidekazu , Sugawara Yasuhiko , Inomata Yukihiro
Published: January 2017

Neutrophils are considered responsible for the pathophysiological changes resulting from hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, which is a complication of trauma, shock, liver resection, and transplantation. Recently, evidence is accumulating that formyl-peptide receptor (FPR) signaling constitutes an important danger signal that guides neutrophils to sites of inflammation. This study aimed to investigate dynamic neutrophil recruitment using two-photon laser-scanning microscopy (TPLSM) in response to FPR1 blockade during hepatic I/R. LysM-eGFP mice were subjected to partial warm hepatic I/R. They were pretreated with an FPR1 antagonist, cyclosporine H (CsH), or formyl peptide, fMLF. Liver was imaged after hepatic laser irradiation or I/R using the TPLSM technique. CsH treatment alleviated hepatic I/R injury, as evidenced by decreased serum transaminase levels, reduced hepatocyte necrosis/apoptosis, and diminished inflammatory cytokine, chemokine, and oxidative stress. In contrast, systemic administration of fMLF showed few effects. Time-lapse TPLSM showed that FPR1 blockade inhibited the accumulation of neutrophils in the necrotic area induced by laser irradiation in vivo. In the CsH-treated I/R group, the number and crawling velocity of neutrophils in the nonperfused area were lower than those in the control group. Meanwhile, FPR1 blockade did not affect monocyte/macrophage recruitment. Hepatic I/R promoted the retention of neutrophils and their active behavior in the spleen, whereas CsH treatment prevented their changes. Intravital TPLSM revealed that formyl-peptide–FPR1 signaling is responsible for regulating neutrophil chemotaxis to allow migration into the necrotic area in hepatic I/R. Our findings suggest effective approaches for elucidating the mechanisms of immune cell responses in hepatic I/R.
Improved Customer Churn and Retention Decision Management Using Operations Research Approach
Authors: Adebiyi Sulaimon Olanrewaju , Oyatoye Emmanuel Olateju , Amole Bilqis Bolanle
Published: January 2017

The relevance of operations research cannot be overemphasized, as it provides the best possible results in any given circumstance, through analysis of operations and the use of scientific method thus, this paper explore the combination of two operations research models (analytic hierarchy process and Markov chain) for solving subscribers’ churn and retention problem peculiar to most service firms. A conceptual model for unraveling the problem customer churn and retention decision management was proposed and tested with data on third level analysis of AHP for determining appropriate strategies for customer churn and retention in the Nigeria telecommunication industries. A survey was conducted with 408 subscribers; the sample for the study was selected through multi-stage sampling. Two analytical tools were proposed for the analysis of data. These include: Expert Choice/Excel Solver (using Microsoft Excel) and Windows based Quantitative System for Business (WinQSB). This paper plays important role in understanding various strategies for effective churn and retention management and the ranking of churn and retention drivers in order of importance to stakeholders` decision-making. The study provided a framework for understanding the application of AHP and Markov chain for modeling, analysing and proffering solution to problem of churn and retention. The study recommends organizational strategies (corporate, business and functional) that reverse the churn alternatives with high priority and equally strengthen service delivery on high priority retention alternatives in order to ensure firms sustainable competitive advantage. An erratum to this article has been published as https://doi.org/10.5195/emaj.2017.131.
Entrepreneurial University Perspective: Tracking Labor Force Capacity to Support Industrialization Processes in the Emerging Markets, Evidence from Kazakhstan Data
Authors: Orynbassarova Dilara
Published: January 2017

Industrialisation is considered as main engine of growth in economic development of the most emerging markets. This is especially true for Central Asian transitional countries as Kazakhstan, which obtained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. For enhancing country’s competitiveness potential, Kazakhstan National Program for 2010-2014 aimed to accelerate industrial-innovative development of the country. While many papers published about the importance of industrialization activities in Kazakhstan, few have focused on examining the current capacity of labor market to meet the industry demand. Main aim of this paper was to investigate if current manpower is adequate to maintain the planned rate of growth in the country. Higher level of economic production led to higher demand of engineering labor force. High demand with low frequency supply created an imbalance in the labor market that resulted what we see as shortage of technically skilled labor. Low frequency of supply is influenced by such factors as high engineers’ outflow rate, low students enrolment and graduation rates, and lack of practical skills of the graduates hired. An erratum to this article has been published as https://doi.org/10.5195/emaj.2017.132.
Book Review of “The Real Warren Buffett - Managing Capital, Leading People”
Authors: Kızıl Cevdet
Published: January 2017

This paper reviews and discusses the book titled “The Real Warren Buffett – Managing Capital, Leading People” by James O’Loughlin. The mentioned book details the managerial skills, financial expertise and leadership approach of Warren Buffett. Practical lessons of Warren Buffett are also included in “The Real Warren Buffett – Managing Capital, Leading People” and how he became the second richest man in United States are mentioned.
Evaluation of Children’s Lunch Box Contents by Photograph and Their Relationship with Mothers’ Concern
Authors: Osera Tomoko , Tsutie Setsuko , Kobayashi Misako , Kurihara Nobutaka
Published: January 2017

Japanese kindergarten children usually bring lunch prepared by mothers. The contents may be influenced by mothers’ food concerns. We investigated the relationship between mothers’ concerns and children’s lunch box contents and preferences. Lunch boxes of 209 children were digitally photographed for 4 days at a private kindergarten in Japan. The amounts of rice, main dishes, vegetables and fruits in the lunch boxes were estimated by measuring the area occupied by each in the photograph; a questionnaire, including questions on mothers’ concerns and children’s preferences, was completed by mothers. Vegetable amounts in the lunch boxes were significantly related to mother’s concerns for their children’s lunch. Compared with estimated vegetable amounts below 11%, the amounts above 11% indicated that the number of foods disliked by children was lower, and mothers reported a higher rate of mindfulness towards vegetables and lower rate towards frozen food and believed that they prepared a balanced lunch. Thus, vegetable amounts in children’s lunch boxes, estimated using photographs, may predict mothers’ food concerns and children’s balanced/unbalanced diets.
Designing Online Dictionaries of Economics: Two Opposing Views
Authors: Fuertes-Olivera Pedro A.
Published: January 2017

This paper supports the argument that a dictionary of Economics in the broad sense of the word is any information tool that contains structured data - e.g. dictionary articles, outer texts, hyperlinks, etc. – which can be used for retrieving information on economic concepts, economic language, economic instructions, and/or economic operations. Some of these are on the Internet and are accessed by individuals for concrete consultation in one or more situations. This definition is based on the tenets of the Function Theory of Lexicography, the theoretical construction initiated at the Aarhus School of Business in the 1990s which has since worked on the theory and practice of dictionaries (Bergenholtz/Tarp 2002, 2003, 2004; Tarp 2008; Fuertes-Olivera/Tarp 2014). This has resulted in a specific approach to dictionary making, which is identifi ed in this chapter as a lexicography-based approach. On the other hand, some scholars espouse a different view, which is basically rooted in the theories and methods of (Applied) Linguistics (Rundell 2012a) and identified here as a linguistics-based approach. Both views are discussed and illustrated in relation to three specific issues: (a) the concept of a dictionary of Economics; (b) the sources of lexicographic data used in different dictionaries of Economics; (c) access to data and data presentation in several online dictionaries of Economics.
Short-Term Memory in the Production Phase of Sight Translation
Authors: Pedersen Emile Sand , Dam Helle V.
Published: January 2017

This article reports on an empirical study on short-term memory in sight translation. The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that sight translation requires the use of short-term memory during target-text production, as suggested by previous research. The hypothesis was tested on the basis of an experiment involving sight translation from Spanish into Danish and subsequent interviews with the translators. The data – the Spanish source text, seven sight translations into Danish, and the post-interviews – were analysed using both quantitative and qualitative methods, and the results of the study confirmed the hypothesis. In fact, the (quantitative) analyses of the sight-translated texts indicated that the subjects needed their short-term memory extensively during target-text production. However, the (qualitative) analyses of the interviews showed that the subjects had little awareness of this need.
Meaning Identifi cation and Meaning Selection for General Language
Authors: Bergenholtz Henning , Pedersen Heidi Agerbo
Published: January 2017

The traditional way for lexicographers to deal with polysemy in dictionaries is by applying the terms lumping and splitting. We will not follow this tradition. Instead, we argue that the identification and selection of meaning items (= polysems) should be treated in the same way as the identification and selection of lemmas. Identifying meaning items is comparable to identifying different words, the only difference being that meaning items share the same orthographic form. When identifying meaning items, we do not at the outset assume that a somewhat abstract meaning can be split up. Instead, we always assume that there may be many meaning items connected to a lemma, and we try to identify them – though for some lemmas, it is only possible to identify one meaning item. The process of identification involves a method that combines analyzing corpora and establishing a meaning relationship to references in the world (in this contribution called things), followed by a meaning formulation of the identified meaning items which can be used for reception situations. Not always – as in the case of lemma selection – will all the identified meaning items be included in the dictionary. The selection of identifi ed meaning items will depend on the genuine purpose of the dictionary.
Ionospheric electron density inversion for Global Navigation Satellite Systems radio occultation using aided Abel inversions
Authors: Chou Min Yang , Lin Charles C. H. , Tsai Ho Fang , Lin Chi Yen
Published: January 2017

The Abel inversion of ionospheric electron density profiles with the assumption of spherical symmetry applied for radio occultation soundings could introduce a greater systematic error or sometimes artifacts if the occultation rays trespass regions with larger horizontal gradients in electron density. The aided Abel inversions have been proposed by considering the asymmetry ratio derived from ionospheric total electron content (TEC) or peak density (NmF2) of reconstructed observation maps since knowledge of the horizontal asymmetry in ambient ionospheric density could mitigate the inversion error. Here we propose a new aided Abel inversion using three‐dimensional time‐dependent electron density (Ne) based on the climatological maps constructed from previous observations, as it has an advantage of providing altitudinal information on the horizontal asymmetry. Improvement of proposed Ne‐aided Abel inversion and comparisons with electron density profiles inverted from the NmF2‐ and TEC‐aided inversions are studied using observation system simulation experiments. Comparison results show that all three aided Abel inversions improve the ionospheric profiling by mitigating the artificial plasma caves and negative electron density in the daytime E region. The equatorial ionization anomaly crests in the F region become more distinct. The statistical results show that the Ne‐aided Abel inversion has less mean and RMS error of error percentage above 250 km altitudes, and the performances for all aided Abel inversions are similar below 250 km altitudes.
On the dynamics of large‐scale traveling ionospheric disturbances over Europe on 20 November 2003
Authors: Borries Claudia , Jakowski Norbert , Kauristie Kirsti , Amm Olaf , Mielich Jens , Kouba Daniel
Published: January 2017

Ionospheric disturbances, often associated with geomagnetic storms, may cause threats to radio systems used for communication and navigation. One example is the super storm on 20 November 2003, when plenty of strong and unusual perturbations were reported. This paper reveals additional information on the dynamics in the high‐latitude ionosphere over Europe during this storm. Here analyses of wavelike traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) over Europe are presented, based on estimates of the total electron content (TEC) derived from ground‐based Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) measurements. These TIDs are ionospheric signatures of thermospheric surges initiated by space weather events. The source region of these TIDs is characterized by enhanced spatial gradients, TEC depression, strong uplift of the F2 layer, the vicinity of the eastward auroral electrojet, and strong aurora E layers. Joule heating is identified as the most probable driver for the TIDs observed over Europe during 20 November 2003. The sudden heating of the thermosphere leads to strong changes in the pressure and thermospheric wind circulation system, which in turn generates thermospheric wind surges observed as TID signatures in the TEC. Either the dissipation of the eastward auroral electrojet or particle precipitation are considered as the source mechanism for the Joule heating. In the course of the storm, the TEC observations show a southward shift of the source region of the TIDs. These meridional dislocation effects are obviously related to a strong compression of the plasmasphere. The presented results demonstrate the complex interaction processes in the thermosphere‐ionosphere‐magnetosphere system during this extreme storm.
MAVEN measured oxygen and hydrogen pickup ions: Probing the Martian exosphere and neutral escape
Authors: Rahmati A. , Larson D. E. , Cravens T. E. , Lillis R. J. , Halekas J. S. , McFadden J. P. , Dunn P. A. , Mitchell D. L. , Thiemann E. M. B. , Eparvier F. G. , DiBraccio G. A. , Espley J. R. , Mazelle C. , Jakosky B. M.
Published: January 2017

Soon after the MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) spacecraft started orbiting Mars, the SEP (Solar Energetic Particle), SWIA (Solar Wind Ion Analyzer), and STATIC (Supra‐Thermal and Thermal Ion Composition) instruments on board the spacecraft detected planetary pickup ions. SEP can measure energetic (>60 keV) oxygen pickup ions, the source of which is the extended hot oxygen exosphere of Mars. Model results show that these pickup ions originate from tens of Martian radii upstream of Mars and are energized by the solar wind motional electric field as they gyrate back toward Mars. SWIA and STATIC can detect both pickup oxygen and pickup hydrogen with energies below ~30 keV and created closer to Mars. In this study, data from the SEP, SWIA, and STATIC instruments containing pickup ion signatures are provided and model‐data comparisons are shown. During the times when MAVEN is outside the Martian bow shock and in the upstream undisturbed solar wind, the solar wind velocity measured by SWIA and the solar wind (or interplanetary) magnetic field measured by the MAG (magnetometer) instrument can be used to model pickup oxygen and hydrogen fluxes. By comparing measured pickup ion fluxes with model results, the Martian thermal hydrogen and hot oxygen neutral densities can be probed outside the bow shock, providing a helpful tool in constraining estimates of neutral oxygen and hydrogen escape rates. Our analysis reveals an order of magnitude density change with Mars season in the hydrogen exosphere, whereas the hot oxygen exosphere was found to remain steadier.
Idealized numerical experiments on the microphysical evolution of warm‐type heavy rainfall
Authors: Song Hwan‐Jin , Sohn Byung‐Ju , Hong Song‐You , Hashino Tempei
Published: January 2017

Recent satellite observations suggested that medium‐depth heavy rain systems (i.e., warm‐type heavy rainfall) were predominantly found in the Korean peninsula under moist‐adiabatically near neutral conditions in contrast to the traditional view that deep convection induced by convective instability produced heavy rainfall (i.e., cold‐type heavy rainfall). In order to examine whether a numerical model could explain the microphysical evolution of the warm‐type as well as cold‐type heavy rainfall, numerical experiments were implemented with idealized thermodynamic conditions. Under the prescribed humid and weakly unstable conditions, the warm‐type experiments resulted in a lower storm height, earlier onset of precipitation, and heavier precipitation than was found for the cold‐type experiments. The growth of ice particles and their melting process were important for developing cold‐type heavy rainfall. In contrast, the collision and coalescence processes between liquid particles were shown to be the mechanism for increasing the radar reflectivity toward the surface in the storm core region for the warm‐type heavy rainfall.
A sensitivity analysis of key natural factors in the modeled global acetone budget
Authors: Brewer J. F. , Bishop M. , Kelp M. , Keller C. A. , Ravishankara A. R. , Fischer E. V.
Published: January 2017

Acetone is one of the most abundant carbonyl compounds in the atmosphere, and it serves as an important source of HOx (OH + HO2) radicals in the upper troposphere and a precursor for peroxyacetyl nitrate. We present a global sensitivity analysis targeted at several major natural source and sink terms in the global acetone budget to find the input factor or factors to which the simulated acetone mixing ratio was most sensitive. The ranges of input factors were taken from literature. We calculated the influence of these factors in terms of their elementary effects on model output. Of the six factors tested here, the four factors with the highest contribution to total global annual model sensitivity are direct emissions of acetone from the terrestrial biosphere, acetone loss to photolysis, the concentration of acetone in the ocean mixed layer, and the dry deposition of acetone to ice‐free land. The direct emissions of acetone from the terrestrial biosphere are globally important in determining acetone mixing ratios, but their importance varies seasonally outside the tropics. Photolysis is most influential in the upper troposphere. Additionally, the influence of the oceanic mixed layer concentrations are relatively invariant between seasons, compared to the other factors tested. Monoterpene oxidation in the troposphere, despite the significant uncertainties in acetone yield in this process, is responsible for only a small amount of model uncertainty in the budget analysis.
Self‐Assembly of Semiconducting Polymer Amphiphiles for In Vivo Photoacoustic Imaging
Authors: Xie Chen , Zhen Xu , Lei Qunli , Ni Ran , Pu Kanyi
Published: January 2017

Despite the advantages of semiconducting polymer nanoparticles (SPNs) over other inorganic nanoparticles for photoacoustic (PA) imaging, their synthetic method is generally limited to nanoprecipitation, which is likely to cause the issue of nanoparticle dissociation. The synthesis of near‐infrared (NIR) absorbing semiconducting polymer amphiphiles (SPAs) that can spontaneously self‐assemble into homogeneous nanoparticles for in vivo PA imaging is reported. As compared with their counterpart nanoparticles (SPN1) prepared through nanoprecipitation, SPAs generally have higher fluorescence quantum yields but similar size and PA brightness, making them superior over SPN1. Optical and simulation studies reveal that the poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) grafting density plays a critical role in determining the packing of SP segments inside the core of nanoparticles, consequently affecting the optical properties. The small size and structurally stable nanostructure, in conjunction with a dense PEG shell, allow SPAs to passively target tumors of living mice after systemic administration, permitting both PA and fluorescence imaging of the tumors at signals that are ≈1.5‐fold higher than that of liver. This study thus not only provides the first generation of amphiphilic optically active polymers for PA imaging, but also highlights the molecular guidelines for the development of organic NIR imaging nanomaterials.
Single Nanoparticle Detection Using Optical Microcavities
Authors: Zhi Yanyan , Yu Xiao‐Chong , Gong Qihuang , Yang Lan , Xiao Yun‐Feng
Published: January 2017

Detection of nanoscale objects is highly desirable in various fields such as early‐stage disease diagnosis, environmental monitoring and homeland security. Optical microcavity sensors are renowned for ultrahigh sensitivities due to strongly enhanced light‐matter interaction. This review focuses on single nanoparticle detection using optical whispering gallery microcavities and photonic crystal microcavities, both of which have been developing rapidly over the past few years. The reactive and dissipative sensing methods, characterized by light‐analyte interactions, are explained explicitly. The sensitivity and the detection limit are essentially determined by the cavity properties, and are limited by the various noise sources in the measurements. On the one hand, recent advances include significant sensitivity enhancement using techniques to construct novel microcavity structures with reduced mode volumes, to localize the mode field, or to introduce optical gain. On the other hand, researchers attempt to lower the detection limit by improving the spectral resolution, which can be implemented by suppressing the experimental noises. We also review the methods of achieving a better temporal resolution by employing mode locking techniques or cavity ring up spectroscopy. In conclusion, outlooks on the possible ways to implement microcavity‐based sensing devices and potential applications are provided.
High Temperature Coupling of IR Inactive CC Mode in Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor Metamaterial Structure
Authors: Hasan Dihan , Pitchappa Prakash , Pei Ho Chong , Lee Chengkuo
Published: January 2017

High temperature (up to 400 °C) coupling of infrared (IR) inactive >CC< mode is reported in complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS)‐compatible refractory metamaterial filter and absorber structure by leveraging the carbon defects in tetraethyl orthosilicate obtained plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition SiO2 thin film. Here, the role of strain gradient induced dipole moment in high stress configuration on the activation of otherwise inactive >CC< vibration at IR is confirmed. The unusual suppression of the transition is also observed in the absorber structure when the cavity mode strongly overlaps with it. Finally, 14 times better modulation of resonance spectrum is reported by such coupling in absorber configuration that supports thin film interference. The numerical and analytical study of the effect is found to be qualitatively in agreement with the experimental results. The study can set new paths toward more efficient design of spectrally selective thermophotovoltaic energy emitter at mid‐IR and novel mechanism for high temperature sensing on the ubiquitous CMOS platform.
Selective Electroreduction of CO2 toward Ethylene on Nano Dendritic Copper Catalysts at High Current Density
Authors: Reller Christian , Krause Ralf , Volkova Elena , Schmid Bernhard , Neubauer Sebastian , Rucki Andreas , Schuster Manfred , Schmid Günter
Published: January 2017

In situ deposited copper nanodendrites are herein proven to be a highly selective electrocatalyst which is capable of reducing CO2 to ethylene by reaching a Faradaic efficiency of 57% at a current density of 170 mA cm−2. It is found that the desired structures are formed in situ under acidic pH conditions at high electrode potentials more negative than −2 V versus Ag/AgCl. Detailed investigations on the preparation, characterization, and advancement of electrode materials and of the electrolyte have been performed. Catalyst degradation effects are intensively followed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR‐TEM) characterization methods and found to be a major root course for selectivity losses.
Photogenerated Carrier Mobility Significantly Exceeds Injected Carrier Mobility in Organic Solar Cells
Authors: Melianas Armantas , Pranculis Vytenis , Xia Yuxin , Felekidis Nikolaos , Inganäs Olle , Gulbinas Vidmantas , Kemerink Martijn
Published: January 2017

Charge transport in organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices is often characterized by space‐charge limited currents (SCLC). However, this technique only probes the transport of charges residing at quasi‐equilibrium energies in the disorder‐broadened density of states (DOS). In contrast, in an operating OPV device the photogenerated carriers are typically created at higher energies in the DOS, followed by slow thermalization. Here, by ultrafast time‐resolved experiments and simulations it is shown that in disordered polymer/fullerene and polymer/polymer OPVs, the mobility of photogenerated carriers significantly exceeds that of injected carriers probed by SCLC. Time‐resolved charge transport in a polymer/polymer OPV device is measured with exceptionally high (picosecond) time resolution. The essential physics that SCLC fails to capture is that of photo­generated carrier thermalization, which boosts carrier mobility. It is predicted that only for materials with a sufficiently low energetic disorder, thermalization effects on carrier transport can be neglected. For a typical device thickness of 100 nm, the limiting energetic disorder is σ ≈71 (56) meV for maximum‐power point (short‐circuit) conditions, depending on the error one is willing to accept. As in typical OPV materials the disorder is usually larger, the results question the validity of the SCLC method to describe operating OPVs.
Nanoporous Hybrid Electrolytes for High‐Energy Batteries Based on Reactive Metal Anodes
Authors: Tu Zhengyuan , Zachman Michael J. , Choudhury Snehashis , Wei Shuya , Ma Lin , Yang Yuan , Kourkoutis Lena F. , Archer Lynden A.
Published: January 2017

Successful strategies for stabilizing electrodeposition of reactive metals, including lithium, sodium, and aluminum are a requirement for safe, high‐energy electrochemical storage technologies that utilize these metals as anodes. Unstable deposition produces high‐surface area dendritic structures at the anode/electrolyte interface, which causes premature cell failure by complex physical and chemical processes that have presented formidable barriers to progress. Here, it is reported that hybrid electrolytes created by infusing conventional liquid electrolytes into nanoporous membranes provide exceptional ability to stabilize Li. Electrochemical cells based on γ‐Al2O3 ceramics with pore diameters below a cut‐off value above 200 nm exhibit long‐term stability even at a current density of 3 mA cm−2. The effect is not limited to ceramics; similar large enhancements in stability are observed for polypropylene membranes with less monodisperse pores below 450 nm. These findings are critically assessed using theories for ion rectification and electrodeposition reactions in porous solids and show that the source of stable electrodeposition in nanoporous electrolytes is fundamental.
Aqueous Electrochemical Energy Storage with a Mediator‐Ion Solid Electrolyte
Authors: Yu Xingwen , Gross Martha M. , Wang Shaofei , Manthiram Arumugam
Published: January 2017

This study presents a battery concept with a “mediator‐ion” solid electrolyte for the development of next‐generation electrochemical energy storage technologies. The active anode and cathode materials in a single cell can be in the solid, liquid, or gaseous form, which are separated by a sodium‐ion solid‐electrolyte separator. The uniqueness of this mediator‐ion strategy is that the redox reactions at the anode and the cathode are sustained by a shuttling of a mediator sodium ion between the anolyte and the catholyte through the solid‐state electrolyte. Use of the solid‐electrolyte separator circumvents the chemical‐crossover problem between the anode and the cathode, overcomes the dendrite‐problem when employing metal‐anodes, and offers the possibility of using different liquid electrolytes at the anode and the cathode in a single cell. The battery concept is demonstrated with two low‐cost metal anodes (zinc and iron), two liquid cathodes (bromine and potassium ferricyanide), and one gaseous cathode (air/O2) with a sodium‐ion solid electrolyte. This novel battery strategy with a mediator‐ion solid electrolyte is applicable to a wide range of electrochemical energy storage systems with a variety of cathodes, anodes, and mediator‐ion solid electrolytes.
Crystal structure and luminescence properties of the blue‐green‐emitting Ba9(Lu, Y)2Si6O24:Ce3+ phosphor
Authors: Xu Huawei , Zhou Zhi , Liu Yongfu , Liu Qunxing , He Zhiyuan , Wang Shen , Huang Linyi , Zhu Hongbo
Published: January 2017

Samples of the Ba9(Lu2‐xYx)Si6O24:Ce3+ (x = 0–2) blue‐green phosphors were synthesized by solid‐state reactions. All the samples exhibited a rhombohedral crystal structure. As the Y3+ concentration increased, the diffraction peaks shifted to the small angle region and the lattice parameters increased due to the larger ionic radius of Y3+ (r = 0.900 Å) compared with that of Lu3+ (r = 0.861 Å). Under 400 nm excitation, samples exhibited strong blue‐green emissions around 490 nm. The emission bands had a slight blue shift that resulted from weak crystal‐field splitting with increasing Y3+ concentration. Luminescence intensity and quantum efficiency (QE) decreased with increasing Y3+ concentration. The internal QE decreased from 74 to 50% and the external QE decreased from 50 to 34% as x increased from 0 to 2. The thermal stability of the Lu series was better than that of the Y‐series. The excitation band peak around 400 nm matched well with the emission light from the efficient near‐ultraviolet (NUV) chip. These results indicate promising applications for these NUV‐based white light‐emitting diodes.
A combination of NADHP and hispidin is not essential for bioluminescence in luminous fungal living gills of Mycena chlorophos
Authors: Teranishi Katsunori
Published: January 2017

The chemical mechanisms underlying visible bioluminescence in the fungus Mycena chlorophos are not clear. A combination of dihydronicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) and hispidin, which has been reported to increase the intensity of in vitro luminescence in crude cold‐water extracts prepared from the bioluminescent fruiting bodies of M. chlorophos, exhibited potential bioluminescence activation in the early bioluminescence stages, in which the bioluminescence was ultra‐weak, for living gills and luminescence activation for non‐bioluminescent gills, which was collapsed by freezing and subsequent thawing, at all bioluminescence stages. These abilities were not evident in considerably bioluminescent gills. These abilities were blocked by trans‐4‐hydroxycinnamic acid and trans‐3,4‐dihydroxycinnamic acid, which were identified as in vivo bioluminescence‐activating components. Original bioluminescence and bioluminescence produced from the addition of trans‐4‐hydroxycinnamic acid and trans‐3,4‐dihydroxycinnamic acid in living gills were almost completely inhibited by 10 mM NaN3, whereas the luminescence produced form the combination of NADPH and hispidin in thawed non‐bioluminescent and living gills at the early weak bioluminescence stages was not inhibited by 10 mM NaN3. Thus, the combination of NADPH and hispidin plays different roles in luminescence systems compared with essential bioluminescence systems, and the combination of NADPH and hispidin was not essential for visible bioluminescence in living gills.
Computational de novo design of antibodies binding to a peptide with high affinity
Authors: Poosarla Venkata Giridhar , Li Tong , Goh Boon Chong , Schulten Klaus , Wood Thomas K. , Maranas Costas D.
Published: January 2017

Antibody drugs play a critical role in infectious diseases, cancer, autoimmune diseases, and inflammation. However, experimental methods for the generation of therapeutic antibodies such as using immunized mice or directed evolution remain time consuming and cannot target a specific antigen epitope. Here, we describe the application of a computational framework called OptMAVEn combined with molecular dynamics to de novo design antibodies. Our reference system is antibody 2D10, a single‐chain antibody (scFv) that recognizes the dodecapeptide DVFYPYPYASGS, a peptide mimic of mannose‐containing carbohydrates. Five de novo designed scFvs sharing less than 75% sequence similarity to all existing natural antibody sequences were generated using OptMAVEn and their binding to the dodecapeptide was experimentally characterized by biolayer interferometry and isothermal titration calorimetry. Among them, three scFvs show binding affinity to the dodecapeptide at the nM level. Critically, these de novo designed scFvs exhibit considerably diverse modeled binding modes with the dodecapeptide. The results demonstrate the potential of OptMAVEn for the de novo design of thermally and conformationally stable antibodies with high binding affinity to antigens and encourage the targeting of other antigen targets in the future. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2017;114: 1331–1342. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
D‐Optimal mixture design optimization of an HPLC method for simultaneous determination of commonly used antihistaminic parent molecules and their active metabolites in human serum and urine
Authors: Kanthiah Selvakumar , Kannappan Valliappan
Published: January 2017

This study describes a specific, precise, sensitive and accurate method for simultaneous determination of hydroxyzine, loratadine, terfenadine, rupatadine and their main active metabolites cetirizine, desloratadine and fexofenadine, in serum and urine using meclizine as an internal standard. Solid‐phase extraction method for sample clean‐up and preconcentration of analytes was carried out using Phenomenex Strata‐X‐C and Strata X polymeric cartridges. Chromatographic analysis was performed on a Phenomenex cyano (150 × 4.6 mm i.d., 5 μm) analytical column. A D‐optimal mixture design methodology was used to evaluate the effect of changes in mobile phase compositions on dependent variables and optimization of the response of interest. The mixture design experiments were performed and results were analyzed. The region of ideal mobile phase composition consisting of acetonitrile–methanol–ammonium acetate buffer (40 mm; pH 3.8 adjusted with acetic acid): 18:36:46% v/v/v was identified by a graphical optimization technique using an overlay plot. While using this optimized condition all analytes were baseline resolved in <10 min. Solvent mixtures were delivered at 1.5 mL/min flow rate and analytes peaks were detected at 222 nm. The proposed bioanalytical method was validated according to US Food and Drug Administration guidelines. The proposed method was sensitive with detection limits of 0.06–0.15 μg/mL in serum and urine samples. Relative standard deviation for inter‐ and intra‐day precision data was found to be <7%. The proposed method may find application in the determination of selected antihistaminic drugs in biological fluids.
Determining the Composition of Active Cholesterol in the Plasma Membrane of Single Cells by using Electrochemiluminescence
Authors: Zuo Huanzhen , Wang Rui , Jiang Dechen , Fang Danjun
Published: January 2017

Active and inactive cholesterol in the plasma membrane of one cell were co‐measured by using luminol electrochemiluminescence, so that the composition of active membrane cholesterol was determined at single cells. The cellular plasma membrane remained intact after the removal of active membrane cholesterol and, thus, inactive cholesterol was activated for reaction with cholesterol oxidase. By utilizing the reactions of active and inactive cholesterol with oxidase in series, both of them generated hydrogen peroxide, inducing the corresponding electrochemiluminescence for the respective quantitation of these two states of membrane cholesterol. The successful determination of active and inactive membrane cholesterol at one cell provides information about the composition of active membrane cholesterol, which is significant for the study of cellular cholesterol trafficking.
Supercritical water oxidation of lactose
Authors: Ferreira‐Pinto Leandro , Tavares Celia Regina Grahen , de Souza Thiago Leandro , Feihrmann Andresa Carla , Coimbra Jane , Vedoy Diógenes R. L. , Cardozo‐Filho Lúcio
Published: January 2017

New data on total organic carbon (TOC) reduction and H2 production were obtained by using supercritical water oxidation of lactose with and without oxidant agents (H2O2 and t‐BHP) in a continuous Inconel 625 flow reactor. The oxidation reactions were carried out at 550 and 700 °C, 22.5 MPa, 0.025 g/g (2.5 wt%) lactose concentration, feed flow rate of 5 g · min−1, and a total reaction time of 90 min. The average production of H2 yielded 4.5 mol/mol lactose with TOC reduction of ∼99 %. The results obtained in this study with supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) may be used to generate energy via production of H2 from dairy industry effluents.
Plant chemical defense indirectly mediates aphid performance via interactions with tending ants
Authors: Züst Tobias , Agrawal Anurag A.
Published: January 2017

The benefits of mutualistic interactions are often highly context dependent. We studied the interaction between the milkweed aphid Aphis asclepiadis and a tending ant, Formica podzolica. Although this interaction is generally considered beneficial, variation in plant genotype may alter it from mutualistic to antagonistic. Here we link the shift in strength and relative benefit of the ant‐aphid interaction to plant genotypic variation in the production of cardenolides, a class of toxic defensive chemicals. In a field experiment with highly variable genotypes of the common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), we show that plant cardenolides, especially polar forms, are ingested by aphids and excreted in honeydew proportionally to plant concentrations without directly affecting aphid performance. Ants consume honeydew, and aphids that excreted high amounts of cardenolides received fewer ant visits, which in turn reduced aphid survival. On at least some plant genotypes, aphid numbers per plant were reduced in the presence of ants to levels lower than in corresponding ant‐exclusion treatments, suggesting antagonistic ant behavior. Although cardenolides appear ineffective as direct plant defenses against aphids, the multi‐trophic context reveals an ant‐mediated negative indirect effect on aphid performance and population dynamics.
Evaluation of the phototoxicity of unsubstituted and alkylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to mysid shrimp (Americamysis bahia): Validation of predictive models
Authors: Finch Bryson E. , Marzooghi Solmaz , Di Toro Dominic M. , Stubblefield William A.
Published: January 2017

Crude oils are composed of an assortment of hydrocarbons, some of which are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are of particular interest due to their narcotic and potential phototoxic effects. Several studies have examined the phototoxicity of individual PAHs and fresh and weathered crude oils, and several models have been developed to predict PAH toxicity. Fingerprint analyses of oils have shown that PAHs in crude oils are predominantly alkylated. However, current models for estimating PAH phototoxicity assume toxic equivalence between unsubstituted (i.e., parent) and alkyl-substituted compounds. This approach may be incorrect if substantial differences in toxic potency exist between unsubstituted and substituted PAHs. The objective of the present study was to examine the narcotic and photo-enhanced toxicity of commercially available unsubstituted and alkylated PAHs to mysid shrimp (Americamysis bahia). Data were used to validate predictive models of phototoxicity based on the highest occupied molecular orbital–lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO-LUMO) gap approach and to develop relative effect potencies. Results demonstrated that photo-enhanced toxicity increased with increasing methylation and that phototoxic PAH potencies vary significantly among unsubstituted compounds. Overall, predictive models based on the HOMO-LUMO gap were relatively accurate in predicting phototoxicity for unsubstituted PAHs but are limited to qualitative assessments. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:2043–2049. © 2017 SETAC