bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cellular tagging as a neural network mechanism for behavioural tagging
Authors: Nomoto Masanori , Ohkawa Noriaki , Nishizono Hirofumi , Yokose Jun , Suzuki Akinobu , Matsuo Mina , Tsujimura Shuhei , Takahashi Yukari , Nagase Masashi , Watabe Ayako M. , Kato Fusao , Inokuchi Kaoru
Published: August 2016

Behavioural tagging is the transformation of a short-term memory, induced by a weak experience, into a long-term memory (LTM) due to the temporal association with a novel experience. The mechanism by which neuronal ensembles, each carrying a memory engram of one of the experiences, interact to achieve behavioural tagging is unknown. Here we show that retrieval of a LTM formed by behavioural tagging of a weak experience depends on the degree of overlap with the neuronal ensemble corresponding to a novel experience. The numbers of neurons activated by weak training in a novel object recognition (NOR) task and by a novel context exploration (NCE) task, denoted as overlapping neurons, increases in the hippocampal CA1 when behavioural tagging is successfully achieved. Optical silencing of an NCE-related ensemble suppresses NOR–LTM retrieval. Thus, a population of cells recruited by NOR is tagged and then preferentially incorporated into the memory trace for NCE to achieve behavioural tagging.
Predictive decision making driven by multiple time-linked reward representations in the anterior cingulate cortex
Authors: Wittmann Marco K. , Kolling Nils , Akaishi Rei , Chau Bolton K. H. , Brown Joshua W. , Nelissen Natalie , Rushworth Matthew F. S.
Published: August 2016

In many natural environments the value of a choice gradually gets better or worse as circumstances change. Discerning such trends makes predicting future choice values possible. We show that humans track such trends by comparing estimates of recent and past reward rates, which they are able to hold simultaneously in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC). Comparison of recent and past reward rates with positive and negative decision weights is reflected by opposing dACC signals indexing these quantities. The relative strengths of time-linked reward representations in dACC predict whether subjects persist in their current behaviour or switch to an alternative. Computationally, trend-guided choice can be modelled by using a reinforcement-learning mechanism that computes a longer-term estimate (or expectation) of prediction errors. Using such a model, we find a relative predominance of expected prediction errors in dACC, instantaneous prediction errors in the ventral striatum and choice signals in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex.
Climate change velocity underestimates climate change exposure in mountainous regions
Authors: Dobrowski Solomon Z. , Parks Sean A.
Published: August 2016

Climate change velocity is a vector depiction of the rate of climate displacement used for assessing climate change impacts. Interpreting velocity requires an assumption that climate trajectory length is proportional to climate change exposure; longer paths suggest greater exposure. However, distance is an imperfect measure of exposure because it does not quantify the extent to which trajectories traverse areas of dissimilar climate. Here we calculate velocity and minimum cumulative exposure (MCE) in degrees Celsius along climate trajectories for North America. We find that velocity is weakly related to MCE; each metric identifies contrasting areas of vulnerability to climate change. Notably, velocity underestimates exposure in mountainous regions where climate trajectories traverse dissimilar climates, resulting in high MCE. In contrast, in flat regions velocity is high where MCE is low, as these areas have negligible climatic resistance to movement. Our results suggest that mountainous regions are more climatically isolated than previously reported.
Nested quantum annealing correction
Authors: Vinci Walter , Albash Tameem , Lidar Daniel A
Published: August 2016

We present a general error-correcting scheme for quantum annealing that allows for the encoding of a logical qubit into an arbitrarily large number of physical qubits. Given any Ising model optimization problem, the encoding replaces each logical qubit by a complete graph of degree C, representing the distance of the error-correcting code. A subsequent minor-embedding step then implements the encoding on the underlying hardware graph of the quantum annealer. We demonstrate experimentally that the performance of a D-Wave Two quantum annealing device improves as C grows. We show that the performance improvement can be interpreted as arising from an effective increase in the energy scale of the problem Hamiltonian or, equivalently, an effective reduction in the temperature at which the device operates. The number C thus allows us to control the amount of protection against thermal and control errors, and, in particular, to trade qubits for a lower effective temperature that scales as C−η, with η⩽2. This effective temperature reduction is an important step towards scalable quantum annealing.
Heterodyne mixing of millimetre electromagnetic waves and sub-THz sound in a semiconductor device
Authors: Heywood Sarah L. , Glavin Boris A. , Beardsley Ryan P. , Akimov Andrey V. , Carr Michael W. , Norman James , Norton Philip C. , Prime Brian , Priestley Nigel , Kent Anthony J.
Published: August 2016

We demonstrate heterodyne mixing of a 94 GHz millimetre wave photonic signal, supplied by a Gunn diode oscillator, with coherent acoustic waves of frequency ~100 GHz, generated by pulsed laser excitation of a semiconductor surface. The mixing takes place in a millimetre wave Schottky diode and the intermediate frequency electrical signal is in the 1–12 GHz range. The mixing process preserves all the spectral content in the acoustic signal that falls within the intermediate frequency bandwidth. Therefore this technique may find application in high-frequency acoustic spectroscopy measurements, exploiting the nanometre wavelength of sub-THz sound. The result also points the way to exploiting acoustoelectric effects in photonic devices working at sub-THz and THz frequencies, which could provide functionalities at these frequencies, e.g. acoustic wave filtering, that are currently in widespread use at lower (GHz) frequencies.
Rotation is visualisation, 3D is 2D: using a novel measure to investigate the genetics of spatial ability
Authors: Shakeshaft Nicholas G. , Rimfeld Kaili , Schofield Kerry L. , Selzam Saskia , Malanchini Margherita , Rodic Maja , Kovas Yulia , Plomin Robert
Published: August 2016

Spatial abilities–defined broadly as the capacity to manipulate mental representations of objects and the relations between them–have been studied widely, but with little agreement reached concerning their nature or structure. Two major putative spatial abilities are “mental rotation” (rotating mental models) and “visualisation” (complex manipulations, such as identifying objects from incomplete information), but inconsistent findings have been presented regarding their relationship to one another. Similarly inconsistent findings have been reported for the relationship between two- and three-dimensional stimuli. Behavioural genetic methods offer a largely untapped means to investigate such relationships. 1,265 twin pairs from the Twins Early Development Study completed the novel “Bricks” test battery, designed to tap these abilities in isolation. The results suggest substantial genetic influence unique to spatial ability as a whole, but indicate that dissociations between the more specific constructs (rotation and visualisation, in 2D and 3D) disappear when tested under identical conditions: they are highly correlated phenotypically, perfectly correlated genetically (indicating that the same genetic influences underpin performance) and are related similarly to other abilities. This has important implications for the structure of spatial ability, suggesting that the proliferation of apparent sub-domains may sometimes reflect idiosyncratic tasks rather than meaningful dissociations.
Defect visualization of Cu(InGa)(SeS)2 thin films using DLTS measurement
Authors: Heo Sung , Chung JaeGwan , Lee Hyung-Ik , Lee Junho , Park Jong-Bong , Cho Eunae , Kim KiHong , Kim Seong Heon , Park Gyeong Su , Lee Dongho , Lee Jaehan , Nam Junggyu , Yang JungYup , Lee Dongwha , Cho Hoon Young , Kang Hee Jae , Choi Pyung-Ho , Choi Byoung-Deog
Published: August 2016

Defect depth profiles of Cu (In1−x,Gax)(Se1−ySy)2 (CIGSS) were measured as functions of pulse width and voltage via deep-level transient spectroscopy (DLTS). Four defects were observed, i.e., electron traps of ~0.2 eV at 140 K (E1 trap) and 0.47 eV at 300 K (E2 trap) and hole traps of ~0.1 eV at 100 K (H1 trap) and ~0.4 eV at 250 K (H2 trap). The open circuit voltage (VOC) deteriorated when the trap densities of E2 were increased. The energy band diagrams of CIGSS were also obtained using Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and DLTS data. These results showed that the valence band was lowered at higher S content. In addition, it was found that the E2 defect influenced the VOC and could be interpreted as an extended defect. Defect depth profile images provided clear insight into the identification of defect state and density as a function of depth around the space charge region.
Glutamate neurons are intermixed with midbrain dopamine neurons in nonhuman primates and humans
Authors: Root David H. , Wang Hui-Ling , Liu Bing , Barker David J. , Mód László , Szocsics Péter , Silva Afonso C. , Maglóczky Zsófia , Morales Marisela
Published: August 2016

The rodent ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra pars compacta (SNC) contain dopamine neurons intermixed with glutamate neurons (expressing vesicular glutamate transporter 2; VGluT2), which play roles in reward and aversion. However, identifying the neuronal compositions of the VTA and SNC in higher mammals has remained challenging. Here, we revealed VGluT2 neurons within the VTA and SNC of nonhuman primates and humans by simultaneous detection of VGluT2 mRNA and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH; for identification of dopamine neurons). We found that several VTA subdivisions share similar cellular compositions in nonhuman primates and humans; their rostral linear nuclei have a high prevalence of VGluT2 neurons lacking TH; their paranigral and parabrachial pigmented nuclei have mostly TH neurons, and their parabrachial pigmented nuclei have dual VGluT2-TH neurons. Within nonhuman primates and humans SNC, the vast majority of neurons are TH neurons but VGluT2 neurons were detected in the pars lateralis subdivision. The demonstration that midbrain dopamine neurons are intermixed with glutamate or glutamate-dopamine neurons from rodents to humans offers new opportunities for translational studies towards analyzing the roles that each of these neurons play in human behavior and in midbrain-associated illnesses such as addiction, depression, schizophrenia, and Parkinson’s disease.
Dose-dependent and cell type-specific cell death and proliferation following in vitro exposure to radial extracorporeal shock waves
Authors: Hochstrasser Tanja , Frank Hans-Georg , Schmitz Christoph
Published: August 2016

Radial extracorporeal shock wave (rESW) therapy is widely used in musculoskeletal disorders and wound repair. However, the mechanisms of action are still largely unknown. The current study compared the effects of rESWs on two cell types. Human fetal foreskin fibroblasts (HFFF2) and human placental choriocarcinoma cell line JEG-3 were exposed to 0, 100, 200, 500 or 5000 rESWs generated with a Swiss DolorClast device (2.5 bar, 1 Hz). FACS analysis immediately after rESW exposure showed that initially, rESWs rather induced mechanical cell destruction than regulated or programmed cell death. Cell damage was nearly negated by reducing cavitation. Furthermore, cell viability decreased progressively with higher numbers of rESWs. Exposure to rESWs had no impact on growth potential of JEG-3 cells, but dose-dependently increased growth potential of HFFF2 cells. Cultivation of cells that were initially exposed to sham-rESWs in conditioned media increased the growth potential of HFFF2 cells, nevertheless, an even stronger effect was achieved by direct exposure to rESWs. Additionally, cell cycle distribution analysis demonstrated a shift in proportion from G0/G1 to G2/M phase in HFFF2 cells, but not in JEG-3 cells. These data demonstrate that rESWs leads to initial and subsequent dose-dependent and cell type-specific effects in vitro.
HCV derived from sera of HCV-infected patients induces pro-fibrotic effects in human primary fibroblasts by activating GLI2
Authors: Granato M. , Zompetta C. , Vescarelli E. , Rizzello C. , Cardi A. , Valia S. , Antonelli G. , Marchese C. , Torrisi M. R. , Faggioni A. , Cirone M.
Published: August 2016

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a leading cause of liver fibrosis, especially in developing countries. The process is characterized by the excess accumulation of ECM that may lead, over time, to hepatic cirrhosis, liver failure and also to hepatocarcinoma. The direct role of HCV in promoting fibroblasts trans-differentiation into myofibroblasts, the major fibrogenic cells, has not been fully clarified. In this study, we found that HCV derived from HCV-infected patients infected and directly induced the trans-differentiation of human primary fibroblasts into myofibroblasts, promoting fibrogenesis. This effect correlated with the activation of GLI2, one of the targets of Hedgehog signaling pathway previously reported to be involved in myofibroblast generation. Moreover, GLI2 activation by HCV correlated with a reduction of autophagy in fibroblasts, that may further promoted fibrosis. GLI2 inhibition by Gant 61 counteracted the pro-fibrotic effects and autophagy inhibition mediated by HCV, suggesting that targeting HH/GLI2 pathway might represent a promising strategy to reduce the HCV-induced fibrosis.
Binding Characteristics of Sphingosine-1-Phosphate to ApoM hints to Assisted Release Mechanism via the ApoM Calyx-Opening
Authors: Zhang Hansi , Pluhackova Kristyna , Jiang Zhenyan , Böckmann Rainer A.
Published: August 2016

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a lysophospholipid mediator carried by the HDL-associated apoM protein in blood, regulating many physiological processes by activating the G protein-coupled S1P receptor in mammals. Despite the solved crystal structure of the apoM-S1P complex, the mechanism of S1P release from apoM as a part of the S1P pathway is unknown. Here, the dynamics of the wild type apoM-S1P complex as well as of mutants were investigated by means of atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. The potential of mean force for S1P unbinding from apoM reflected a large binding strength of more than 60 kJ/mol. This high unbinding free energy for S1P underlines the observed specificity of the physiological effects of S1P as it suggests that the spontaneous release of S1P from apoM is unlikely. Instead, S1P release and thus the control of this bioactive lipid probably requires the tight interaction with other molecules, e.g. with the S1P receptor. Mutations of specific S1P anchoring residues of apoM decreased the energetic barrier by up to 20 kJ/mol. Moreover, the ligand-free apoM protein is shown to adopt a more open upper hydrophilic binding pocket and to result in complete closure of the lower hydrophobic cavity, suggesting a mechanism for adjusting the gate for ligand access.
Stress Wave Isolation by Purely Mechanical Topological Phononic Crystals
Authors: Chaunsali Rajesh , Li Feng , Yang Jinkyu
Published: August 2016

We present an active, purely mechanical stress wave isolator that consists of short cylindrical particles arranged in a helical architecture. This phononic structure allows us to change inter-particle stiffness dynamically by controlling the contact angles of the cylinders. We use torsional travelling waves to control the contact angles, thereby imposing a desired spatio-temporal stiffness variation to the phononic crystal along the longitudinal direction. Such torsional excitation is a form of parametric pumping in the system, which results in the breakage of the time-reversal symmetry. We report that, in quasi-static sense, the system shows topologically non-trivial band-gaps. However, in a dynamic regime where the pumping effect is significant, these band-gaps become asymmetric with respect to the frequency and wavenumber domains in the dispersion relationship. By using numerical simulations, we show that such asymmetry has a direct correspondence to the topological invariant, i.e., Chern number, of the system. We propose that this asymmetry, accompanied by selective inter-band transition, can be utilized for directional isolation of the stress wave propagating along the phononic crystal.
A quantitative assessment of Arctic shipping in 2010–2014
Authors: Eguíluz Victor M. , Fernández-Gracia Juan , Irigoien Xabier , Duarte Carlos M.
Published: August 2016

Rapid loss of sea ice is opening up the Arctic Ocean to shipping, a practice that is forecasted to increase rapidly by 2050 when many models predict that the Arctic Ocean will largely be free of ice toward the end of summer. These forecasts carry considerable uncertainty because Arctic shipping was previously considered too sparse to allow for adequate validation. Here, we provide quantitative evidence that the extent of Arctic shipping in the period 2011–2014 is already significant and that it is concentrated (i) in the Norwegian and Barents Seas, and (ii) predominantly accessed via the Northeast and Northwest Passages. Thick ice along the forecasted direct trans-Arctic route was still present in 2014, preventing transit. Although Arctic shipping remains constrained by the extent of ice coverage, during every September, this coverage is at a minimum, allowing the highest levels of shipping activity. Access to Arctic resources, particularly fisheries, is the most important driver of Arctic shipping thus far.
Endoscopic detection of cancer with lensless radioluminescence imaging and machine vision
Authors: Türkcan Silvan , Naczynski Dominik J. , Nolley Rosalie , Sasportas Laura S. , Peehl Donna M. , Pratx Guillem
Published: August 2016

Complete removal of residual tumor tissue during surgical resection improves patient outcomes. However, it is often difficult for surgeons to delineate the tumor beyond its visible boundary. This has led to the development of intraoperative detectors that can image radiotracers accumulated within tumors, thus facilitating the removal of residual tumor tissue during surgical procedures. We introduce a beta imaging system that converts the beta radiation from the radiotracer into photons close to the decay origin through a CdWO4 scintillator and does not use any optical elements. The signal is relayed onto an EMCCD chip through a wound imaging fiber. The sensitivity of the device allows imaging of activity down to 100 nCi and the system has a resolution of at least 500 μm with a field of view of 4.80 × 6.51 mm. Advances in handheld beta cameras have focused on hardware improvements, but we apply machine vision to the recorded images to extract more information. We automatically classify sample regions in human renal cancer tissue ex-vivo into tumor or benign tissue based on image features. Machine vision boosts the ability of our system to distinguish tumor from healthy tissue by a factor of 9 ± 3 and can be applied to other beta imaging probes.
Macromolecular crowding meets oxygen tension in human mesenchymal stem cell culture - A step closer to physiologically relevant in vitro organogenesis
Authors: Cigognini Daniela , Gaspar Diana , Kumar Pramod , Satyam Abhigyan , Alagesan Senthilkumar , Sanz-Nogués Clara , Griffin Matthew , O’Brien Timothy , Pandit Abhay , Zeugolis Dimitrios I.
Published: August 2016

Modular tissue engineering is based on the cells’ innate ability to create bottom-up supramolecular assemblies with efficiency and efficacy still unmatched by man-made devices. Although the regenerative potential of such tissue substitutes has been documented in preclinical and clinical setting, the prolonged culture time required to develop an implantable device is associated with phenotypic drift and/or cell senescence. Herein, we demonstrate that macromolecular crowding significantly enhances extracellular matrix deposition in human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell culture at both 20% and 2% oxygen tension. Although hypoxia inducible factor - 1α was activated at 2% oxygen tension, increased extracellular matrix synthesis was not observed. The expression of surface markers and transcription factors was not affected as a function of oxygen tension and macromolecular crowding. The multilineage potential was also maintained, albeit adipogenic differentiation was significantly reduced in low oxygen tension cultures, chondrogenic differentiation was significantly increased in macromolecularly crowded cultures and osteogenic differentiation was not affected as a function of oxygen tension and macromolecular crowding. Collectively, these data pave the way for the development of bottom-up tissue equivalents based on physiologically relevant developmental processes.
Enhanced spin Hall effect of tunneling light in hyperbolic metamaterial waveguide
Authors: Tang Tingting , Li Chaoyang , Luo Li
Published: August 2016

Giant enhancement of spin Hall effect of tunneling light (SHETL) is theoretically proposed in a frustrated total internal reflection (FTIR) structure with hyperbolic metamaterial (HMM). We calculate the transverse shift of right-circularly polarized light in a SiO2-air-HMM-air-SiO2 waveguide and analyze the physical mechanism of the enhanced SHETL. The HMM anisotropy can greatly increase the transverse shift of polarized light even though HMM loss might reduce it. Compared with transverse shift of transmitted light through a single HMM slab with ZnAlO/ZnO multilayer, the maximum transverse shift of tunneling light through a FTIR structure with identical HMM can be significantly enlarged by more than three times which reaches −38 μm without any amplification method.
Resistin reinforces interferon λ-3 to eliminate hepatitis C virus with fine-tuning from RETN single-nucleotide polymorphisms
Authors: Chang Ming-Ling , Liang Kung-Hao , Ku Cheng-Lung , Lo Chia-Chi , Cheng Ya-Ting , Hsu Chen-Ming , Yeh Chau-Ting , Chiu Cheng-Tang
Published: August 2016

The effect of resistin (RETN) on the response to anti-HCV therapy remains unclear. A prospective cohort study was performed using 655 consecutive HCV patients, of whom 513 had completed a course of interferon-based therapy. Multivariate and GEE analyses revealed four RETN single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs34861192, rs3219175, rs3745367 and rs1423096, to be synergistically associated with resistin levels. After adjusting for co-factors such as interferon λ-3 (IFNL3)-rs12979860, the resistin level and the hyper-resistinemic genotype at the 4 RETN SNPs were positively and negatively associated with a sustained virological response (SVR), respectively. RETN-rs3745367 was in linkage disequilibrium with IFNL3-rs12979860. Compared to non-SVR patients, SVR patients had higher levels of pre-therapy resistin, primarily originating from intrahepatic lymphocytes, stellate cells, Kupffer cells, hepatic progenitor cells and hepatocytes. This difference diminished over the course of therapy, as only SVR patients exhibited a 24-week post-therapy decrease in resistin. Both resistin and IFNL3 mRNAs were upregulated, but only resistin mRNA was upregulated by recombinant resistin in peripheral blood mononuclear cells with and without hyper-resistinemic genotypes of the 4 RETN SNPs, respectively. Fine-tuned by RETN SNPs, intrahepatic, multi-cellular resistin reinforced IFNL3 in eliminating HCV via immunomodulation to counteract pro-inflammation. These results encourage the development of novel resistin-targeted anti-viral agents.
The role of vision for navigation in the crown-of-thorns seastar, Acanthaster planci
Authors: Sigl Robert , Steibl Sebastian , Laforsch Christian
Published: August 2016

Coral reefs all over the Indo-Pacific suffer from substantial damage caused by the crown-of-thorns seastar Acanthaster planci, a voracious predator that moves on and between reefs to seek out its coral prey. Chemoreception is thought to guide A. planci. As vision was recently introduced as another sense involved in seastar navigation, we investigated the potential role of vision for navigation in A. planci. We estimated the spatial resolution and visual field of the compound eye using histological sections and morphometric measurements. Field experiments in a semi-controlled environment revealed that vision in A. planci aids in finding reef structures at a distance of at least 5 m, whereas chemoreception seems to be effective only at very short distances. Hence, vision outweighs chemoreception at intermediate distances. A. planci might use vision to navigate between reef structures and to locate coral prey, therefore improving foraging efficiency, especially when multidirectional currents and omnipresent chemical cues on the reef hamper chemoreception.
Differential evolution algorithm based photonic structure design: numerical and experimental verification of subwavelength λ/5 focusing of light
Authors: Bor E. , Turduev M. , Kurt H.
Published: August 2016

Photonic structure designs based on optimization algorithms provide superior properties compared to those using intuition-based approaches. In the present study, we numerically and experimentally demonstrate subwavelength focusing of light using wavelength scale absorption-free dielectric scattering objects embedded in an air background. An optimization algorithm based on differential evolution integrated into the finite-difference time-domain method was applied to determine the locations of each circular dielectric object with a constant radius and refractive index. The multiobjective cost function defined inside the algorithm ensures strong focusing of light with low intensity side lobes. The temporal and spectral responses of the designed compact photonic structure provided a beam spot size in air with a full width at half maximum value of 0.19λ, where λ is the wavelength of light. The experiments were carried out in the microwave region to verify numerical findings and very good agreement between the two approaches was found. The subwavelength light focusing is associated with a strong interference effect due to nonuniformly arranged scatterers and an irregular index gradient. Improving the focusing capability of optical elements by surpassing the diffraction limit of light is of paramount importance in optical imaging, lithography, data storage and strong light-matter interaction.
Nitrogen fixation in a non-heterocystous cyanobacterial mat from a mountain river
Authors: Berrendero Esther , Valiente Eduardo Fernández , Perona Elvira , Gómez Claudia L. , Loza Virginia , Muñoz-Martín M. Ángeles , Mateo Pilar
Published: August 2016

In situ nitrogen fixation was investigated in a cyanobacterial mat growing on the bed of rocks of the Muga River, Spain. The filamentous non-heterocystous cyanobacterium Schizothrix dominated the mat, showing nitrogenase activity in the light at similar rates to those found in nearby heterocystous Rivularia colonies. N2 fixation in the light was significantly increased by an inhibitor of PSII and oxygen evolution, DCMU (3-[3,4-dichlorophenyl]-1,1-dimethylurea), and anaerobic conditions. However, no nitrogenase activity was found in the dark. Addition of fructose as a respiratory substrate induced nitrogenase activity in samples incubated under aerobic conditions in the dark but not in anaerobic conditions. Microelectrode oxygen profiles showed internal microaerobic microzones where nitrogen fixation might concentrate. Analyses of the 16S rRNA gene revealed only the presence of sequences belonging to filamentous non-heterocystous cyanobacteria. nifH gene diversity showed that the major phylotypes also belonged to this group. One of the three strains isolated from the Schizothrix mat was capable of fixing N2 and growing in the absence of combined N. This was consistent with the nifH gene analysis. These results suggest a relevant contribution of non-heterocystous cyanobacteria to nitrogen fixation in these mats.
Fluorescence recognition of double-stranded DNA based on the quenching of gold nanoparticles to a fluorophore labeled DNA probe
Authors: Miao Xiangmin , Li Zongbing , Ling Liansheng
Published: August 2016

This work described an ultrasensitive fluorescent sensor for sequence-specific recognition of dsDNA based on the quenching of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to a fluorophore labeled DNA probe.
A red emitting two-photon fluorescent probe for dynamic imaging of redox balance meditated by a superoxide anion and GSH in living cells and tissues
Authors: Liu Hong-Wen , Zhu Xiaoyan , Zhang Jing , Zhang Xiao-Bing , Tan Weihong
Published: August 2016

We reported a red emitting two-photon fluorescent probe,NpRbH, which can be applied for dynamic monitoring of superoxide anion oxidative stress and the GSH reducing repair process in living cells and tissues.
Plasmonic Au/TiO2nanostructures for glycerol oxidation
Authors: Dodekatos G. , Tüysüz H.
Published: August 2016

Visible light irradiation of the reaction volume results in boosted conversion for glycerol oxidation due to plasmonic properties of Au/TiO2.
Visualization of As(iii) and As(v) distributions in degraded paint micro-samples from Baroque- and Rococo-era paintings
Authors: Vermeulen Marc , Nuyts Gert , Sanyova Jana , Vila Anna , Buti David , Suuronen Jussi-Petteri , Janssens Koen
Published: August 2016

Orpiment and realgar are two artists' pigments that appear not to be stable upon light exposure, quickly degrading to arsenic trioxide and arsenate. Their identification appears challenging but can be overcome by the use of synchrotron based techniques such as μ-XANES.
A metal-free hydrogenation of 3-substituted 2H-1,4-benzoxazines
Authors: Wei Simin , Feng Xiangqing , Du Haifeng
Published: August 2016

A metal-free hydrogenation of 3-substituted 2H-1,4-benzoxazines was realized to furnish the desired products in high yields with up to 42% ee.
Advances in the synthesis of bio-based aromatic polyesters: novel copolymers derived from vanillic acid and ε-caprolactone
Authors: Gioia C. , Banella M. B. , Marchese P. , Vannini M. , Colonna M. , Celli A.
Published: August 2016

A new and sustainable pathway for the synthesis of polyesters and copolyesters derived from vanillic acid is reported. The one-pot procedure does not require either solvents or purification steps. New bio-based crystalline copolymers with tunable thermal properties are obtained.
The construction, structures, and functions of pillared layer metal–organic frameworks
Authors: Luo Xiao-Li , Yin Zheng , Zeng Ming-Hua , Kurmoo Mohamedally
Published: August 2016

Pillared layer metal–organic frameworks (PL-MOFs), belonging to one representative of porous materials, have witnessed major advances in the past few years.
Theoretical studies on the form and effect of N-doping in an ZnGa2O4 photocatalyst
Authors: Li Pan , Zhao Xian , Sun Honggang , Wang Li , Song Bo , Gao Baoyu , Fan Weiliu
Published: August 2016

Hybrid functional calculations were implemented to elucidate the origin of the improved visible light photocatalytic activity of N-ZnGa2O4.
Enchaining EDTA-chelated lanthanide molecular magnets into ordered 1D networks
Authors: Holmberg Rebecca J. , Korobkov Ilia , Murugesu Muralee
Published: August 2016

Extending molecular systems into chain networks is a unique method with which to orient magnetic molecules into well-ordered arrays along one dimension, and study their resulting properties.
Sensor based on chemical vapour deposition-grown molybdenum disulphide for gas sensing application
Authors: Hassan Hammad ul , Mun Jihun , Kang Byung Soo , Song Jae Yong , Kim Taewan , Kang Sang-Woo
Published: August 2016

The gas sensing property of CVD-grown MoS2 for O2 and CO2 which acted as charge donors was examined.
Hydrolysis-condensation reactions of diethylphosphato-ethyltriethoxysilane involved in organic–inorganic talc-like hybrid synthesis: liquid and solid-state NMR investigations
Authors: Garnier A. , Da Cruz-Boisson F. , Rigolet S. , Brendlé J. , Bounor-Legaré V.
Published: August 2016

Organic–inorganic hybrids having a talc-like structure: (RSi)4Mg3O8(OH)2.
Sc3N@Cs(39715)–C82: a missing isomer linked to Sc3N@C2v(39718)–C82 by a single step Stone–Wales transformation
Authors: Guan Wen-Juan , Zhao Pei , Li Qiao-Zhi , Nagase Shigeru , Ehara Masahiro , Zhao Xiang
Published: August 2016

Density functional theory combined with statistical mechanics calculations indicate that Sc3N@C2v(39718)–C82 and Sc3N@Cs(39715)–C82 linked by a single Stone–Wales transformation can be obtained at the fullerene formation temperature region.
Studies on structural defects in bare, PVP capped and TPPO capped copper oxide nanoparticles by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy and their impact on photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B
Authors: Sharma Aarti , Dutta Raj Kumar , Roychowdhury Anirban , Das Dipankar
Published: August 2016

Enhanced photocatalytic dye degradation by reducing sizes of surface defects.
Sc(OTf)3-catalyzed cyclization of α-allylated 1,3-dicarbonyls: an efficient access to 2,2-disubstituted 2,3-dihydrofuran derivatives
Authors: Cao Ziping , Zhang Rumeng , Meng Xin , Li Hui , Li Jie , Zhu Hongbo , Chen Guang , Sun Xuejun , You Jinmao
Published: August 2016

A Sc(OTf)3-catalyzed cyclization of α-allylated 1,3-dicarbonyls is reported. By the reaction, a variety of 2,2-disubstituted 2,3-dihydrofurans were obtained in good yields.
Graphene layers on bimetallic Ni/Cu(111) surface and near surface alloys in controlled growth of graphene
Authors: Bian Xin , Wang Qiang , Wang Xinyan , Wang Lu , Li Wei-qi , Chen Guang-hui , Zhu Hongjun
Published: August 2016

Bimetallic alloy is more effective than pure metal for controlled growth of high-quality graphene.
Efficient cell capture in an agarose–PDMS hybrid chip for shaped 2D culture under temozolomide stimulation
Authors: Lin Luyao , Jie Mingsha , Chen Fengming , Zhang Jie , He Ziyi , Lin Jin-Ming
Published: August 2016

Arbitrary cell patterning on an agarose microwell array is realized and applied to study glioma cell cultures under temozolomide stimulation.
Quantum chemical design of carbazole- and pyridoindole-based ambipolar host materials for blue phosphorescent OLEDs
Authors: Varathan E. , Vijay Dolly , Subramanian V.
Published: August 2016

Structure–property relationship of carbazole- and pyridoindole-type host materials for blue PhOLEDs using quantum chemical calculations.
Zero-dimensional to three-dimensional nanojoining: current status and potential applications
Authors: Ma Ying , Li Hong , Bridges Denzel , Peng Peng , Lawrie Benjamin , Feng Zhili , Hu Anming
Published: August 2016

As devices have become smaller, nanomaterials have become the preferred manufacturing building blocks due to lower material and joining energy costs. This review surveys progress in nanojoining methods, as compared to conventional joining processes.
Role of flexible bulky groups and weak interactions involving halogens in the vapoluminescence of a metal-free dye
Authors: Akune Y. , Hirosawa R. , Takahashi H. , Shiro M. , Matsumoto S.
Published: August 2016

The vapoluminescence of a 2,5-diamino-3,6-dicyanopyrazine dye was correlated with molecular flexibility of bulky substituents and weak interactions involving halogens.
A functional binder–sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) for sulfur cathode of Li–S batteries
Authors: Cheng Meng , Li Longyan , Chen Yanxiao , Guo Xiaodong , Zhong Benhe
Published: August 2016

Sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) with strong electronegativity and adhesion ability of S/C compounds was prepared by a homogeneous reaction as the binder for the sulfur cathode of Li–S batteries compared to the conventional polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) binder.
Facile fabrication of an underwater superoleophobic mesh for effective separation of oil/simulated seawater mixtures
Authors: Li Dianming , Wu Runni , Li Jian , Li Weijun , Zhang Yan , She Houde
Published: August 2016

The underwater superoleophobic meshes can efficiently separate oil/simulated seawater mixture and exhibit excellent environmental stability.
Effects of resin I on the catalytic oxidation of n-C7asphaltenes in the presence of silica-based nanoparticles
Authors: Lozano Mónica M. , Franco Camilo A. , Acevedo Sócrates A. , Nassar Nashaat N. , Cortés Farid B.
Published: August 2016

Effective activation energies by the non-linear integral method of Vyazovkin as a function of the conversion for different A : R ratios of 10 : 3, 2 : 1 and 1 : 1 in the absence and presence of SNi1Pd1 nanoparticles.
Highly planar diarylamine-fused porphyrins and their remarkably stable radical cations
Authors: Fukui Norihito , Cha Wonhee , Shimizu Daiki , Oh Juwon , Furukawa Ko , Yorimitsu Hideki , Kim Dongho , Osuka Atsuhiro
Published: August 2016

Oxidative fusion of a meso-phenoxazino Ni(ii) porphyrin at high temperature gave a doubly phenoxazine-fused porphyrin as a highly planar diarylamine-fused porphyrin. One-electron oxidation of the corresponding β,β-dichlorinated compound gave a remarkably stable radical cation.
Phase separation of the electron–ion conducting layer on the surface of a TiP2O7 anode material for aqueous lithium rechargeable batteries
Authors: Zhang Hanping , Zhou Yisen , Li Chenggang , Yang Chao , Zhu Tian
Published: August 2016

Phase separation of the electron–ion conducting layer on the surface of a TiP2O7 anode material greatly elevates the electrochemical performances.
Flame made nanoparticles permit processing of dense, flexible, Li+ conducting ceramic electrolyte thin films of cubic-Li7La3Zr2O12 (c-LLZO)
Authors: Yi Eongyu , Wang Weimin , Kieffer John , Laine Richard M.
Published: August 2016

Conventional casting–sintering of flame made nanoparticles result in high density and ionic conductivity c-LLZO flexible thin film membranes.
High performance bifunctional electrocatalytic activity of a reduced graphene oxide–molybdenum oxide hybrid catalyst
Authors: Chandrasekaran Sundaram , Kim Eui Jung , Chung Jin Suk , Bowen Chris R. , Rajagopalan Balasubramaniyan , Adamaki Vaia , Misra R. D. K. , Hur Seung Hyun
Published: August 2016

The rGO–MoO3nanosphere hybrid synthesized exceeds the performance of high quality commercial Pt/C in terms of electrocatalytic activity, stability, durability and CO tolerance.
Coordinated multicell beamforming for massive multiple‐input multiple‐output systems based on uplink–downlink duality
Authors: He Shiwen , Huang Yongming , Shi Yanru , Qi Chenhao , Jin Shi , Yang Luxi
Published: August 2016

This paper studies joint beamforming and power allocation for multicell multiuser multi‐antenna systems with the objective of maximising the minimum signal‐to‐interference‐plus‐noise ratio (max–min SINR). The authors first consider developing an iterative algorithm to achieve the optimal performance by extending the uplink–downlink duality for finite‐scale wireless communication systems. The solution is then generalised to achieve the asymptotically optimal multicell beamforming with the aim to reduce the overhead of signalling exchange between coordinated base stations based on large dimension random matrix theory. Based on that, an efficient multicell beamforming algorithm is proposed to asymptotically achieve the max–min SINR. To further solve the complexity issue of large dimensional matrix inversion involved in the calculation of beamforming vectors, they propose a low‐complexity beamforming calculator based on truncated polynomial expansion approach. Numerical results validate the effectiveness of the authors’ proposed algorithms and show that they can achieve the optimal or asymptotically optimal performance in a massive multi‐input multi‐output system with low complexity and small backhaul overhead.
Binary‐weighted photonic digital‐to‐analogue converter
Authors: Abdollahi Seyedreza , Al‐Raweshidy Hamed Saffa , Owens Thomas J.
Published: August 2016

In fifth‐generation (5G) mobile networks the available bandwidth and the range of carrier frequencies will be significantly larger than in current mobile networks. To cope with the consequent increase in traffic 5G networks will be digital radio over fibre (DRoF) networks for deploying cloud radio access networks. As conventional electronic data converters in DRoF networks suffer from jitter at very high giga sampling rates while photonic data converters have better performance, photonic data converters are considered a fundamental building block of a DRoF system for 5G. All photonic DRoF (AP‐DRoF) is a suitable candidate for carrying future 5G data traffic from a central station for delivery to remote pico‐cells. In this study an 8‐bit binary‐weighted photonic digital to analogue converter (PDAC) for AP‐DRoF is proposed for the conversion of an optical bit stream generated by a photonic analogue‐to‐digital converter into optical analogue signal for delivery to the photo diode of a remote station's photonic antenna. The potential performance of the proposed PDAC is investigated at a sampling rate of 60 Gsample/s through simulation in terms of its effective number of bits and spurious free dynamic range.
Pediatric burn and key regulatory cytokines: Impact of burn surface area and sepsis on the clinical outcomes
Authors: Hamed Enas , Awean Galia , Abdel-Hafez Nagla , Hassan Youssef , Zahran Samer
Published: August 2016

Burn is an injury which is not only devastating for the patients but also puts a great burden on the society by consuming enormous health care resources. Despite improvements in burn wound care and treatment, understanding the role of key pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokines in pathogenesis of burn injury, sepsis and survival requires clarification. This work aimed at measuring plasma levels of the following cytokines: leptin, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, transforming growth factor (TGF)-α, and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in children with thermal burn (n = 42; 22 males and 20 females with an age range of two months up to 7 years) vs. sex and age matched healthy controls (n = 26; 12 males and 14 females with an age range of six months up to 8 years). The venous samples were drawn from patients at 2nd and 8th day postinjury. The relationship between measured plasma cytokines with length of hospital stay, total burn surface area (TBSA), sepsis, survival and complete blood count were investigated. The fatality rate was 28.6% (n = 12). At the 2nd day of postinjury, burn cases showed significantly higher values of WBC, CRP, PCT, TNF-α, IL-6, leptin, bFGF, and TGF-α than healthy controls. At the 8th day of postinjury, sepsis caused further significant elevations of WBC, CRP, PCT, TNF-α and IL-6 levels but significantly lower TGF-α levels than cases without sepsis. At the 8th day of postinjury, patients with larger TBSA (> 30%) demonstrated significantly higher values of WBC, CRP, PCT, TNF-α, and IL-6, but significantly lower levels of bFGF and TGF-α than cases with smaller TBSA (≤ 30%). At the 8th day of postinjury, non-survivors showed significantly higher levels of WBC, CRP, PCT, TNF-α and IL-6, but significantly lower levels of leptin, bFGF, and TGF-α than survivors. Correlation studies showed significant positive correlation between TBSA and each of IL-6, TNF-α and leptin levels. Except for bFGF and TGF-α levels that were reduced, the increases in other parameters (PCT, TNF-α and IL-6) were directly proportionate to the burn severity, sepsis and fatality. Both bFGF and TGF-α correlated with poor prognostic burn healing in severe septic cases. PCT and/or IL-6 are valuable biomarkers for early detection of burn infections. TGF-α, bFGF and leptin being immuno- and angiogenic modulators might reduce inflammation and post-burn immune dysfunction and enhance burn healing.
Self-powered and broadband photodetectors based on graphene/ZnO/silicon triple junctions
Authors: Cheng Ching-Cheng , Zhan Jun-Yu , Liao Yu-Ming , Lin Tai-Yuan , Hsieh Ya-Ping , Chen Yang-Fang
Published: August 2016

A self-powered photodetector with ultrahigh sensitivity, fast photoresponse, and wide spectral detectivity covering from 1000 nm to 400 nm based on graphene/ZnO/Si triple junctions has been designed, fabricated, and demonstrated. In this device, graphene serves as a transparent electrode as well as an efficient collection layer for photogenerated carriers due to its excellent tunability of Fermi energy. The ZnO layer acts as an antireflection layer to trap the incident light and enhance the light absorption. Furthermore, the insertion of the ZnO layer in between graphene and Si layers can create build-in electric field at both graphene/ZnO and ZnO/Si interfaces, which can greatly enhance the charge separation of photogenerated electron and hole pairs. As a result, the sensitivity and response time can be significantly improved. It is believed that our methodology for achieving a high-performance self-powered photodetector based on an appropriate design of band alignment and optical parameters can be implemented to many other material systems, which can be used to generate unique optoelectronic devices for practical applications.
First-principles study of water adsorption on α-SiO2 [110] surface
Authors: Mankad Venu , Jha Prafulla K.
Published: August 2016

We have investigated the structural and electronic properties of water molecule adsorbed silicon dioxide (α-SiO2) [110] surface and analyzed the influence of water molecule on its energetics, structure and elctronic propertes using density functional theory based first principles calculations. The inhomogeneous topology of the α-SiO2 clean surface promotes a total charge density displacement on the adsorbed water molecule and giving rise to electron-rich as well as hole-rich region. The electronic charge transfer from a α-SiO2 to the water molecule occurs upon the formation of a partially occupied level laying above conduction band level.
Mapping the transition from catalyst-pool to bamboo-like growth-mechanism in vertically-aligned free-standing films of carbon nanotubes filled with Fe3C: The key role of water
Authors: Boi Filippo S. , Wang Shanling , He Yi
Published: August 2016

The control of carbon nanotube growth has challenged researchers for more than a decade due to the complex parameters-control necessary in the commonly used CVD approaches. Here we show that a direct transition from the catalyst-pool growth mechanism characterized by graphene-caps in the direction of growth to a bamboo-shaped mechanism characterized by the repetition of periodic elongated graphitic compartments is present when controlled quantities of water are added to ferrocene/dichlorobenzene. Our results suggest that water-addition allows enhancing the level of stress accumulated under the graphitic nanotubes-cap.
Vegetation damage caused by high densities of burrowing bettongs (Bettongia lesueur) at Arid Recovery
Authors: Linley Grant D. , Moseby Katherine E. , Paton David C.
Published: August 2016

Burrowing bettongs (Bettongia lesueur) reached high densities within the fenced Arid Recovery reserve. Grazing pressure was assessed by comparing the vegetation inside and outside the reserve during April in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Mean numbers of bettong tracks crossing small 10 m × 1 m plots overnight in the main exclosure were 20 in 2012, decreasing to 4 in 2013 and 3 in 2014. Similar declines were present in the second expansion, where tracks decreased from 7 in 2012 to 3 in 2013 and 2 in 2014. Perennial plant species richness decreased significantly over the study period. Acacia aneura, Acacia ligulata, Atriplex vesicaria, Crotalaria eremaea, Dodonaea viscosa, Enchylaena tomentosa, Maireana astrotricha and Sida ammophila were the most heavily grazed species within the reserve. Overall, more than 25% of plants showed some form of conspicuous grazing. C. eremaea and E. tomentosa showed little damage outside the reserve. Inside the reserve many C. eremaea were dead and heavily browsed and few E. tomentosa remained. Recent recruitment of A. ligulata and D. viscosa was also much higher outside the reserve. High densities of burrowing bettongs were associated with declines in vegetation condition potentially impacting other species and the ecosystem as a whole.