bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Insights into the metabolism of the high temperature microbial community of Tramway Ridge, Mount Erebus, Antarctica
Authors: Vickers Chelsea J. , Herbold Craig W. , Cary S. Craig , Mcdonald Ian R.
Published: February 2016

Mount Erebus is the most active volcano on the Antarctic continent, and it has the most geographically and physically isolated geothermal soil on Earth. Preliminary genetic analysis of the microbial community present in the 65°C subsurface soil of Tramway Ridge, on Mount Erebus, revealed a unique high temperature ecosystem, with the dominant members possessing little genetic similarity to known bacteria. This study investigated the metabolism and physiology of this intriguing ecosystem using physical-chemical soil surveying, community-based phenotypic arrays, nutritional enrichment experiments and pyrosequencing. Results have provided new insights into the metabolic requirements and putative roles of specific organisms, as well as the significance of specific carbon and nitrogen sources. In enrichment experiments bicarbonate slowed down an otherwise dramatic shift in community structure. This suggests that bicarbonate maintains the native communityin vitroby supplying an essential inorganic compound that is utilized for slow, autotrophic growth. This approach shows potential as a model for future investigations of cultivation resistant thermophilic communities.
Interstitielle Pneumopathien bei rheumatologischen Erkrankungen
Authors: Guler Sabina , Geiser Thomas
Published: February 2016

Zusammenfassung. Eine interstitielle Lungenbeteiligung (ILD) ist eine häufige Manifestation von rheumatologischen Erkrankungen und trägt wesentlich zu der Morbidität und Mortalität dieser Patienten bei. Neben der Lungenparenchymerkrankung können je nach rheumatologischer Erkrankung auch andere Formen der Lungenbeteiligung auftreten – die Atemwege mit Luftwegsobstruktion, pleurale Manifestationen mit Pleuraerguss (systemischer Lupus erythematodes, rheumatoide Arthritis), pulmonal-arterielle Hypertonie (Systemsklerose) oder auch Rundherde (Rheumaknoten bei RA). In der Folge werden wir uns auf die Veränderungen des Lungenparenchyms im Sinne einer interstitiellen Pneumopathie, deren Diagnose und Therapie fokussieren und auf einzelne spezifische Krankheitsbilder vertieft eingehen.
Seismic Clues Reveal the Mechanisms Behind Iceberg Calving
Authors: Strelich Lily
Published: February 2016

Scientists combine models and video footage of iceberg calving to analyze the potential of seismology to unravel physical processes behind the breakup of ice sheets.
Deciphering the origin of giant magnetic anisotropy and fast quantum tunnelling in Rhenium(IV) single-molecule magnets
Authors: Singh Saurabh Kumar , Rajaraman Gopalan
Published: February 2016

Single-molecule magnets represent a promising route to achieve potential applications such as high-density information storage and spintronics devices. Among others, 4d/5d elements such as Re(IV) ion are found to exhibit very large magnetic anisotropy, and inclusion of this ion-aggregated clusters yields several attractive molecular magnets. Here, using ab intio calculations, we unravel the source of giant magnetic anisotropy associated with the Re(IV) ions by studying a series of mononuclear Re(IV) six coordinate complexes. The low-lying doublet states are found to be responsible for large magnetic anisotropy and the sign of the axial zero-field splitting parameter (D) can be categorically predicted based on the position of the ligand coordination. Large transverse anisotropy along with large hyperfine interactions opens up multiple relaxation channels leading to a fast quantum tunnelling of the magnetization (QTM) process. Enhancing the Re-ligand covalency is found to significantly quench the QTM process.
A single generation of domestication heritably alters the expression of hundreds of genes
Authors: Christie Mark R. , Marine Melanie L. , Fox Samuel E. , French Rod A. , Blouin Michael S.
Published: February 2016

The genetic underpinnings associated with the earliest stages of plant and animal domestication have remained elusive. Because a genome-wide response to selection can take many generations, the earliest detectable changes associated with domestication may first manifest as heritable changes to global patterns of gene expression. Here, to test this hypothesis, we measured differential gene expression in the offspring of wild and first-generation hatchery steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) reared in a common environment. Remarkably, we find that there were 723 genes differentially expressed between the two groups of offspring. Reciprocal crosses reveal that the differentially expressed genes could not be explained by maternal effects or by chance differences in the background levels of gene expression among unrelated families. Gene-enrichment analyses reveal that adaptation to the novel hatchery environment involved responses in wound healing, immunity and metabolism. These findings suggest that the earliest stages of domestication may involve adaptation to highly crowded conditions.
Erratum: Inhibition of stationary phase respiration impairs persister formation in E. coli
Authors: Orman Mehmet A. , Brynildsen Mark P.
Published: February 2016

Nature Communications 6: Article number:7983 (2015); Published: 6 August 2015; Updated: 17 February 2016. In Fig. 3d in this Article, the graph depicting flow cytometry of the anaerobic culture was inadvertently duplicated from that depicting the KCN-treated culture during the production process. The correct version of Fig.
Endocytic recycling protein EHD1 regulates primary cilia morphogenesis and SHH signaling during neural tube development
Authors: Bhattacharyya Sohinee , Rainey Mark A , Arya Priyanka , Mohapatra Bhopal C. , Mushtaq Insha , Dutta Samikshan , George Manju , Storck Matthew D. , McComb Rodney D. , Muirhead David , Todd Gordon L. , Gould Karen , Datta Kaustubh , Waes Janee Gelineau-van , Band Vimla , Band Hamid
Published: February 2016

Members of the four-member C-terminal EPS15-Homology Domain-containing (EHD) protein family play crucial roles in endocytic recycling of cell surface receptors from endosomes to the plasma membrane. In this study, we show that Ehd1 gene knockout in mice on a predominantly B6 background is embryonic lethal. Ehd1-null embryos die at mid-gestation with a failure to complete key developmental processes including neural tube closure, axial turning and patterning of the neural tube. We found that Ehd1-null embryos display short and stubby cilia on the developing neuroepithelium at embryonic day 9.5 (E9.5). Loss of EHD1 also deregulates the ciliary SHH signaling with Ehd1-null embryos displaying features indicative of increased SHH signaling, including a significant downregulation in the formation of the GLI3 repressor and increase in the ventral neuronal markers specified by SHH. Using Ehd1-null MEFS we found that EHD1 protein co-localizes with the SHH receptor Smoothened in the primary cilia upon ligand stimulation. Under the same conditions, EHD1 was shown to co-traffic with Smoothened into the developing primary cilia and we identify EHD1 as a direct binding partner of Smoothened. Overall, our studies identify the endocytic recycling regulator EHD1 as a novel regulator of the primary cilium-associated trafficking of Smoothened and Hedgehog signaling.
The TRPM1 channel in ON-bipolar cells is gated by both the α and the βγ subunits of the G-protein Go
Authors: Xu Ying , Orlandi Cesare , Cao Yan , Yang Shengyan , Choi Chan-Il , Pagadala Vijayakanth , Birnbaumer Lutz , Martemyanov Kirill A. , Vardi Noga
Published: February 2016

Transmission from photoreceptors to ON bipolar cells in mammalian retina is mediated by a sign-inverting cascade. Upon binding glutamate, the metabotropic glutamate receptor mGluR6 activates the heterotrimeric G-protein Gαoβ3γ13 and this leads to closure of the TRPM1 channel (melastatin). TRPM1 is thought to be constitutively open, but the mechanism that leads to its closure is unclear. We investigated this question in mouse rod bipolar cells by dialyzing reagents that modify the activity of either Gαo or Gβγ and then observing their effects on the basal holding current. After opening the TRPM1 channels with light, a constitutively active mutant of Gαo closed the channel, but wild-type Gαo did not. After closing the channels by dark adaptation, phosducin or inactive Gαo (both sequester Gβγ) opened the channel while the active mutant of Gαo did not. Co-immunoprecipitation showed that TRPM1 interacts with Gβ3 and with the active and inactive forms of Gαo. Furthermore, bioluminescent energy transfer assays indicated that while Gαo interacts with both the N- and the C- termini of TRPM1, Gβγ interacts only with the N-terminus. Our physiological and biochemical results suggest that both Gαo and Gβγ bind TRPM1 channels and cooperate to close them.
Extraembryonic but not embryonic SUMO-specific protease 2 is required for heart development
Authors: Maruyama Eri O. , Lin Heng , Chiu Shang-Yi , Yu H.-M. Ivy , Porter George A. , Hsu Wei
Published: February 2016

SUMO-specific protease 2 (SENP2) activities to remove SUMO from its substrates is essential for development of trophoblast stem cells, niches and lineages. Global deletion of SENP2 leads to midgestation lethality, and causes severe defects in the placenta which is accompanied by embryonic brain and heart abnormalities. Because of the placental deficiencies, the role of SENP2 in development of the embryonic tissues has not been properly determined. The brain and heart abnormalities may be secondary to placental insufficiency. Here we have created a new mouse strain permitting conditional inactivation of SENP2. Mice homozygous for germline deletion of the conditional allele exhibit trophoblast defects and embryonic abnormalities resembling the global SENP2 knockout. However, tissue-specific disruptions of SENP2 demonstrate its dispensable role in embryogenesis. Placental expression of SENP2 is necessary and sufficient for embryonic heart and brain development. Using a protease deficient model, we further demonstrate the requirement of SENP2-dependent SUMO modification in development of all major trophoblast lineages. SENP2 regulates sumoylation of Mdm2 which controls p53 activities critical for G-S transition of mitotic division and endoreduplication in trophoblast proliferation and differentiation, respectively. The differentiation of trophoblasts is also dependent on SENP2-mediated activation of p57Kip2, a CDK-specific inhibitor required for endoreduplication.
Laser capture microdissection of intestinal tissue from sea bass larvae using an optimized RNA integrity assay and validated reference genes
Authors: Schaeck M. , De Spiegelaere W. , De Craene J. , Van den Broeck W. , De Spiegeleer B. , Burvenich C. , Haesebrouck F. , Decostere A.
Published: February 2016

The increasing demand for a sustainable larviculture has promoted research regarding environmental parameters, diseases and nutrition, intersecting at the mucosal surface of the gastrointestinal tract of fish larvae. The combination of laser capture microdissection (LCM) and gene expression experiments allows cell specific expression profiling. This study aimed at optimizing an LCM protocol for intestinal tissue of sea bass larvae. Furthermore, a 3′/5′ integrity assay was developed for LCM samples of fish tissue, comprising low RNA concentrations. Furthermore, reliable reference genes for performing qPCR in larval sea bass gene expression studies were identified, as data normalization is critical in gene expression experiments using RT-qPCR. We demonstrate that a careful optimization of the LCM procedure allows recovery of high quality mRNA from defined cell populations in complex intestinal tissues. According to the geNorm and Normfinder algorithms, ef1a, rpl13a, rps18 and faua were the most stable genes to be implemented as reference genes for an appropriate normalization of intestinal tissue from sea bass across a range of experimental settings. The methodology developed here, offers a rapid and valuable approach to characterize cells/tissues in the intestinal tissue of fish larvae and their changes following pathogen exposure, nutritional/environmental changes, probiotic supplementation or a combination thereof.
Gateable Skyrmion Transport via Field-induced Potential Barrier Modulation
Authors: Fook Hiu Tung , Gan Wei Liang , Lew Wen Siang
Published: February 2016

We report on the influence of pinning potentials on current-driven skyrmion dynamics and demonstrate that skyrmions can be gated via either magnetic or electric fields. When encountering pinning potentials, skyrmions are well known to simply skirt around them. However, we show that skyrmions can be depinned much more easily when their driving force is oriented against the pinning site rather that the intuitive option of being oriented away. This observation can be exploited together with the normally undesirable Magnus force for the creation of a skyrmion diode. The phenomenon is explained by the increased skyrmion compression resulting from the spin transfer torque opposing the repulsive potential. The smaller skyrmion size then experiences a reduced pinning potential. For practical low-power device applications, we show that the same skyrmion compression can be recreated by applying either a magnetic or electric field. Our analysis provides an insight on the skyrmion dynamics and manipulation that is critical for the realization of skyrmion-based transistors and low-power memory.
External characteristic determination of eggs and cracked eggs identification using spectral signature
Authors: Xie Chuanqi , He Yong
Published: February 2016

This study was carried out to use hyperspectral imaging technique for determining color (L*, a* and b*) and eggshell strength and identifying cracked chicken eggs. Partial least squares (PLS) models based on full and selected wavelengths suggested by regression coefficient (RC) method were established to predict the four parameters, respectively. Partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and RC-partial least squares-discriminant analysis (RC-PLS-DA) models were applied to identify cracked eggs. PLS models performed well with the correlation coefficient (rp) of 0.788 for L*, 0.810 for a*, 0.766 for b* and 0.835 for eggshell strength. RC-PLS models also obtained the rp of 0.771 for L*, 0.806 for a*, 0.767 for b* and 0.841 for eggshell strength. The classification results were 97.06% in PLS-DA model and 88.24% in RC-PLS-DA model. It demonstrated that hyperspectral imaging technique has the potential to be used to detect color and eggshell strength values and identify cracked chicken eggs.
Oxidative stress contributes to the tamoxifen-induced killing of breast cancer cells: implications for tamoxifen therapy and resistance
Authors: Bekele Raie T. , Venkatraman Ganesh , Liu Rong-Zong , Tang Xiaoyun , Mi Si , Benesch Matthew G. K. , Mackey John R. , Godbout Roseline , Curtis Jonathan M. , McMullen Todd P. W. , Brindley David N.
Published: February 2016

Tamoxifen is the accepted therapy for patients with estrogen receptor-α (ERα)-positive breast cancer. However, clinical resistance to tamoxifen, as demonstrated by recurrence or progression on therapy, is frequent and precedes death from metastases. To improve breast cancer treatment it is vital to understand the mechanisms that result in tamoxifen resistance. This study shows that concentrations of tamoxifen and its metabolites, which accumulate in tumors of patients, killed both ERα-positive and ERα-negative breast cancer cells. This depended on oxidative damage and anti-oxidants rescued the cancer cells from tamoxifen-induced apoptosis. Breast cancer cells responded to tamoxifen-induced oxidation by increasing Nrf2 expression and subsequent activation of the anti-oxidant response element (ARE). This increased the transcription of anti-oxidant genes and multidrug resistance transporters. As a result, breast cancer cells are able to destroy or export toxic oxidation products leading to increased survival from tamoxifen-induced oxidative damage. These responses in cancer cells also occur in breast tumors of tamoxifen-treated mice. Additionally, high levels of expression of Nrf2, ABCC1, ABCC3 plus NAD(P)H dehydrogenase quinone-1 in breast tumors of patients at the time of diagnosis were prognostic of poor survival after tamoxifen therapy. Therefore, overcoming tamoxifen-induced activation of the ARE could increase the efficacy of tamoxifen in treating breast cancer.
The Footprint of the Inter-decadal Pacific Oscillation in Indian Ocean Sea Surface Temperatures
Authors: Dong Lu , Zhou Tianjun , Dai Aiguo , Song Fengfei , Wu Bo , Chen Xiaolong
Published: February 2016

Superimposed on a pronounced warming trend, the Indian Ocean (IO) sea surface temperatures (SSTs) also show considerable decadal variations that can cause regional climate oscillations around the IO. However, the mechanisms of the IO decadal variability remain unclear. Here we perform numerical experiments using a state-of-the-art, fully coupled climate model in which the external forcings with or without the observed SSTs in the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean (TEP) are applied for 1871–2012. Both the observed timing and magnitude of the IO decadal variations are well reproduced in those experiments with the TEP SSTs prescribed to observations. Although the external forcings account for most of the warming trend, the decadal variability in IO SSTs is dominated by internal variability that is induced by the TEP SSTs, especially the Inter-decadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO). The IPO weakens (enhances) the warming of the external forcings by about 50% over the IO during IPO’s cold (warm) phase, which contributes about 10% to the recent global warming hiatus since 1999. The decadal variability in IO SSTs is modulated by the IPO-induced atmospheric adjustment through changing surface heat fluxes, sea surface height and thermocline depth.
Three-dimensional spherical spatial boundary conditions differentially regulate osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stromal cells
Authors: Lo Yin-Ping , Liu Yi-Shiuan , Rimando Marilyn G. , Ho Jennifer Hui-Chun , Lin Keng-hui , Lee Oscar K.
Published: February 2016

The spatial boundary condition (SBC) arising from the surrounding microenvironment imposes specific geometry and spatial constraints that affect organogenesis and tissue homeostasis. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) sensitively respond to alterations of mechanical cues generated from the SBC. However, mechanical cues provided by a three-dimensional (3D) environment are deprived in a reductionist 2D culture system. This study investigates how SBC affects osteogenic differentiation of MSCs using 3D scaffolds with monodispersed pores and homogenous spherical geometries. MSCs cultured under SBCs with diameters of 100 and 150 μm possessed the greatest capability of osteogenic differentiation. This phenomenon was strongly correlated with MSC morphology, organization of actin cytoskeleton and distribution of focal adhesion involving α2 and α5 integrins. Further silencing either α2 or α5 integrin significantly reduced the above mentioned mechanosensitivity, indicating that the α2 and α5 integrins as mechano-sensitive molecules mediate MSCs’ ability to provide enhanced osteogenic differentiation in response to different spherical SBCs. Taken together, the findings provide new insights regarding how MSCs respond to mechanical cues from the surrounding microenvironment in a spherical SBC and such biophysical stimuli should be taken into consideration in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine in conjunction with biochemical cues.
Imbalance of Th17/Tregs in rats with smoke inhalation-induced acute lung injury
Authors: Zhang Fan , Li Mian-yang , Lan Ya-ting , Wang Cheng-bin
Published: February 2016

T helper (Th) 17 cells and CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T (Treg) cells are supposed to be critically involved in regulating autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the Th17/Treg pattern in rats with gunpowder smog-induced acute lung injury. Wistar rats were equally randomized to three groups: normal control group, ALI 6 h group (smoke inhalation for 6 h) and ALI 24 h group (smoke inhalation for 24 h). We observed changes in cell counting in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), alveolar-capillary membrane permeability and lung tissue pathology. Moreover, rats in ALI 6 h and ALI 24 h group showed increased expression of Th17 cell and related cytokines (IL-17 A, IL-6, TGF-β and IL-23). Meanwhile, Treg prevalence and related cytokines (IL-10, IL-2 and IL-35) were decreased. Consequently, the ratio of Th17/Treg was higher after smoke inhalation. Additionally, Th1 cell decreased while Th2 cell increased at 6 h and 24 h after smoke inhalation. In conclusion, Th17/Treg imbalance exists in rats with smoke inhalation-induced acute lung injury, suggesting its potential role in the pathogenesis of this disease.
Mind-Wandering Tends to Occur under Low Perceptual Demands during Driving
Authors: Lin Chin-Teng , Chuang Chun-Hsiang , Kerick Scott , Mullen Tim , Jung Tzyy-Ping , Ko Li-Wei , Chen Shi-An , King Jung-Tai , McDowell Kaleb
Published: February 2016

Fluctuations in attention behind the wheel poses a significant risk for driver safety. During transient periods of inattention, drivers may shift their attention towards internally-directed thoughts or feelings at the expense of staying focused on the road. This study examined whether increasing task difficulty by manipulating involved sensory modalities as the driver detected the lane-departure in a simulated driving task would promote a shift of brain activity between different modes of processing, reflected by brain network dynamics on electroencephalographic sources. Results showed that depriving the driver of salient sensory information imposes a relatively more perceptually-demanding task, leading to a stronger activation in the task-positive network. When the vehicle motion feedback is available, the drivers may rely on vehicle motion to perceive the perturbations, which frees attentional capacity and tends to activate the default mode network. Such brain network dynamics could have major implications for understanding fluctuations in driver attention and designing advance driver assistance systems.
Long-term safety and stability of angiogenesis induced by balanced single-vector co-expression of PDGF-BB and VEGF164 in skeletal muscle
Authors: Gianni-Barrera Roberto , Burger Maximilian , Wolff Thomas , Heberer Michael , Schaefer Dirk J. , Gürke Lorenz , Mujagic Edin , Banfi Andrea
Published: February 2016

Therapeutic angiogenesis by growth factor delivery is an attractive treatment strategy for ischemic diseases, yet clinical efficacy has been elusive. The angiogenic master regulator VEGF-A can induce aberrant angiogenesis if expressed above a threshold level. Since VEGF remains localized in the matrix around expressing cells, homogeneous dose distribution in target tissues is required, which is challenging. We found that co-expression of the pericyte-recruiting factor PDGF-BB at a fixed ratio with VEGF from a single bicistronic vector ensured normal angiogenesis despite heterogeneous high VEGF levels. Taking advantage of a highly controlled gene delivery platform, based on monoclonal populations of transduced myoblasts, in which every cell stably produces the same amount of each factor, here we rigorously investigated a) the dose-dependent effects and b) the long-term safety and stability of VEGF and PDGF-BB co-expression in skeletal muscle. PDGF-BB co-expression did not affect the normal angiogenesis by low and medium VEGF doses, but specifically prevented vascular tumors by high VEGF, yielding instead normal and mature capillary networks, accompanied by robust arteriole formation. Induced angiogenesis persisted unchanged up to 4 months, while no tumors appeared. Therefore, PDGF-BB co-expression is an attractive strategy to improve safety and efficacy of therapeutic angiogenesis by VEGF gene delivery.
Early Cretaceous paleomagnetic and geochronologic results from the Tethyan Himalaya: Insights into the Neotethyan paleogeography and the India–Asia collision
Authors: Ma Yiming , Yang Tianshui , Bian Weiwei , Jin Jingjie , Zhang Shihong , Wu Huaichun , Li Haiyan
Published: February 2016

To better understand the Neotethyan paleogeography, a paleomagnetic and geochronological study has been performed on the Early Cretaceous Sangxiu Formation lava flows, which were dated from ~135.1 Ma to ~124.4 Ma, in the Tethyan Himalaya. The tilt-corrected site-mean characteristic remanent magnetization (ChRM) direction for 26 sites is Ds = 296.1°, Is = −65.7°, ks = 51.7, α95 = 4.0°, corresponding to a paleopole at 5.9°S, 308.0°E with A95 = 6.1°. Positive fold and reversal tests prove that the ChRM directions are prefolding primary magnetizations. These results, together with reliable Cretaceous-Paleocene paleomagnetic data observed from the Tethyan Himalaya and the Lhasa terrane, as well as the paleolatitude evolution indicated by the apparent polar wander paths (APWPs) of India, reveal that the Tethyan Himalaya was a part of Greater India during the Early Cretaceous (135.1–124.4 Ma) when the Neotethyan Ocean was up to ~6900 km, it rifted from India sometime after ~130 Ma, and that the India-Asia collision should be a dual-collision process including the first Tethyan Himalaya-Lhasa terrane collision at ~54.9 Ma and the final India-Tethyan Himalaya collision at ~36.7 Ma.
Insufficiency of phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase is risk for lean non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
Authors: Nakatsuka Atsuko , Matsuyama Makoto , Yamaguchi Satoshi , Katayama Akihiro , Eguchi Jun , Murakami Kazutoshi , Teshigawara Sanae , Ogawa Daisuke , Wada Nozomu , Yasunaka Tetsuya , Ikeda Fusao , Takaki Akinobu , Watanabe Eijiro , Wada Jun
Published: February 2016

Although obesity is undoubtedly major risk for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the presence of lean NASH patients with normal body mass index has been recognized. Here, we report that the insufficiency of phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PEMT) is a risk for the lean NASH. The Pemt−/− mice fed high fat-high sucrose (HFHS) diet were protected from diet-induced obesity and diabetes, while they demonstrated prominent steatohepatitis and developed multiple liver tumors. Pemt exerted inhibitory effects on p53-driven transcription by forming the complex with clathrin heavy chain and p53 and Pemt−/− mice fed HFHS diet demonstrated prominent apoptosis of hepatocytes. Furthermore, hypermethylation and suppressed mRNA expression of F-box protein 31 and hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α resulted in the prominent activation of cyclin D1. PEMT mRNA expression in liver tissues of NASH patients was significantly lower than those with simple steatosis and we postulated the distinct clinical entity of lean NASH with insufficiency of PEMT activities.
Fabrication of cm scale buckypapers of horizontally aligned multiwalled carbon nanotubes highly filled with Fe3C: the key roles of Cl and Ar-flow rates
Authors: Boi Filippo S. , Guo Jian , Wang Shanling , He Yi , Xiang Gang , Zhang Xi , Baxendale Mark
Published: February 2016

A key challenge in the fabrication of ferromagnetically filled carbon-nanotube buckypapers in the presence of Cl-radicals is the achievement of a preferential horizontal nanotube-alignment.
Syntheses, crystal structures and properties of metal–organic rotaxane frameworks with cucurbit[6]uril
Authors: Liang Jun , Wu Xue-Song , Wang Xin-Long , Qin Chao , Shao Kui-Zhan , Su Zhong-Min , Cao Rong
Published: February 2016

Five new cucurbit[6]uril-based MORFs are hydrothermally synthesized by the mixed ligand strategy and their fluorescence properties have been investigated.
Crystal structure, microstructure and electrochemical properties of hydrothermally synthesised LiMn2O4
Authors: Christiansen Troels Lindahl , Bøjesen Espen D. , Søndergaard Martin , Birgisson Steinar , Becker Jacob , Iversen Bo B.
Published: February 2016

Hydrothermal synthesis offers an environmentally benign method for synthesis of LiMn2O4anode material, but characterization is challenging due to structurally related impurity phases such as LixMnyO2and Mn3O4, whose presence may explain the inconsistent properties in published literature.
Flow-driven morphology control in the cobalt–oxalate system
Authors: Tóth–Szeles Eszter , Schuszter Gábor , Tóth Ágota , Kónya Zoltán , Horváth Dezső
Published: February 2016

The presence of fluid flow by maintaining the density gradient and controlling the flow rate provides a simple method to modify the microstructure of cobalt oxalate.
Reliable vibrational wavenumbers for CO and N–H stretchings of isolated and hydrogen-bonded nucleic acid bases
Authors: Fornaro Teresa , Biczysko Malgorzata , Bloino Julien , Barone Vincenzo
Published: February 2016

The GVPT2 approach in conjunction with B3LYP-D3/N07D computations yields reliable anharmonic frequencies for CO and N–H moieties involved in H-bridges, provided that the harmonic part is scaled by linear equations based on new B2PLYP-D3/maug-cc-pVTZ data.
Antiferromagnetic FeMn alloys electrodeposited from chloride-based electrolytes
Authors: Ruiz-Gómez Sandra , Ranchal Rocío , Abuín Manuel , Aragón Ana María , Velasco Víctor , Marín Pilar , Mascaraque Arantzazu , Pérez Lucas
Published: February 2016

The capability of synthesizing Fe-based antiferromagnetic metal alloys would fuel the use of electrodeposition in the design of new magnetic devices such as high-aspect-ratio spin valves or new nanostructured hard magnetic composites.
Sulfur isotope analysis by MC-ICP-MS and application to small medical samples
Authors: Albalat Emmanuelle , Telouk Philippe , Balter Vincent , Fujii Toshiyuki , Bondanese Victor Packy , Plissonnier Marie-Laure , Vlaeminck-Guillem Virginie , Baccheta Justine , Thiam Ndiémé , Miossec Pierre , Zoulim Fabien , Puisieux Alain , Albarède Francis
Published: February 2016

A new technique allows the precise measurement of sulfur isotopes by MC-ICP-MS in a large number of small biological samples.
Determination of riboflavin based on fluorescence quenching by graphene dispersions in polyethylene glycol
Authors: Díez-Pascual Ana M. , García-García Diego , San Andrés María Paz , Vera Soledad
Published: February 2016

A quenching phenomenon of riboflavin fluorescence was found in graphene dispersions in PEG ascribed to π–π stacking and H-bonding interactions.
Reduced graphene oxide/nano-Bioglass composites: processing and super-anion oxide evaluation
Authors: Ashok raja C. , Balakumar S. , Durgalakshmi D. , George R. P. , Anandkumar B. , Kamachi Mudali U.
Published: February 2016

45S5 Bioglass with a mean particle size in the nano regime was synthesized and fabricated with rGO sheets using three different strategies.
Fluorescence enhancement of rhodamine B as a tool for the determination of trace and ultra-trace concentrations of bismuth using dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction
Authors: Al-Saidi H. M. , El-Bindary A. A. , El-Sonbati A. Z. , Abdel-Fadeel M. A.
Published: February 2016

The present work describes a simple, sensitive, selective, and eco-friendly spectrofluorimetric method for bismuth determination in wastewaters and dyed scalp hair.
Bio-physicochemical analysis of ethylene oxide-linked diester-functionalized green cationic gemini surfactants
Authors: Akram Mohd. , Anwar Sana , Ansari Farah , Bhat Imtiyaz Ahmad , Kabir-ud-Din Kabir-ud-Din
Published: February 2016

A novel series of oxy-diester-functionalized gemini surfactants (Cm-E2O-Cm) were synthesized and a comprehensive analysis of their biophysicochemical properties was carried out.
Tough polypseudorotaxane supramolecular hydrogels with dual-responsive shape memory properties
Authors: Feng Wei , Zhou Wanfu , Dai Zhaohe , Yasin Akram , Yang Haiyang
Published: February 2016

We report a highly compressible polypseudorotaxane supramolecular hydrogel with antifatigue properties that can bear 80% compressive strain without rupture.
The synthesis and efficient one-pot catalytic “self-breeding” of asymmetrical NC(sp3)E-hybridised pincer complexes
Authors: Yang Xiang-Yuan , Tay Wee Shan , Li Yongxin , Pullarkat Sumod A. , Leung Pak-Hing
Published: February 2016

Asymmetric NC(sp3)E (E = S, O) pincer complexes were examined as catalysts in asymmetric hydrophosphination.
Selective adsorption and efficient regeneration via smart adsorbents possessing thermo-controlled molecular switches
Authors: Jiang Yao , Tan Peng , Cheng Lei , Shan Shu-Feng , Liu Xiao-Qin , Sun Lin-Bing
Published: February 2016

A new generation of adsorbents possessing thermo-controlled molecular switches was fabricated and consequently realized selective adsorption and efficient desorption simultaneously.
Photochemical etiology of promising ancestors of the RNA nucleobases
Authors: Brister M. M. , Pollum M. , Crespo-Hernández C. E.
Published: February 2016

Barbituric acid and 2,4,6-triaminopyrimidine dissipate ultraviolet radiation efficiently as heat to the environment, thus supporting their feasibility as prebiotic ancestors to the RNA nucleobases.
Correction: Strain effects on oxygen migration in perovskites
Authors: Mayeshiba Tam , Morgan Dane
Published: February 2016

Correction for ‘Strain effects on oxygen migration in perovskites’ by Tam Mayeshiba et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2015, 17, 2715–2721.
Phosphorylation of thymidylate synthase affects slow-binding inhibition by 5-fluoro-dUMP and N4-hydroxy-dCMP
Authors: Ludwiczak Jan , Maj Piotr , Wilk Piotr , Frączyk Tomasz , Ruman Tomasz , Kierdaszuk Borys , Jarmuła Adam , Rode Wojciech
Published: February 2016

Thymidylate synthase protein phosphorylation affects inhibition of the enzyme, potentially influencing pathogen drug sensitivity.
Ethylene brassylate-co-δ-hexalactone biobased polymers for application in the medical field: synthesis, characterization and cell culture studies
Authors: Fernández Jorge , Larrañaga Aitor , Etxeberria Agustin , Sarasua Jose-Ramon
Published: February 2016

Biodegradable polyesters based on ethylene brassylate and δ-hexalactone were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization and thoroughly characterized.
Oxadendralenes in asymmetric organocatalysis for the construction of tetrahydroisochromenes
Authors: Hammer Niels , Leth Lars A. , Stiller Julian , Jensen Magnus E. , Jørgensen Karl Anker
Published: February 2016

Oxadendralenes are integrated in a novel manner into a one-pot cascade utilizing synergistic catalysis for the construction of valuable and complex bicyclic heterocyclic scaffolds.
Germanium monosulfide monolayer: a novel two-dimensional semiconductor with a high carrier mobility
Authors: Li Feng , Liu Xiuhong , Wang Yu , Li Yafei
Published: February 2016

GeS monolayer is semiconducting with a moderate band gap and it also has rather high carrier mobilities.
Tripartite motif 32 prevents pathological cardiac hypertrophy
Authors: Chen Lijuan , Huang Jia , Ji Yanxiao , Zhang Xiaojing , Wang Pixiao , Deng Keqiong , Jiang Xi , Ma Genshan , Li Hongliang
Published: February 2016

TRIM32 (tripartite motif 32) is widely accepted to be an E3 ligase that interacts with and eventually ubiquitylates multiple substrates. TRIM32 mutants have been associated with LGMD-2H (limb girdle muscular dystrophy 2H). However, whether TRIM32 is involved in cardiac hypertrophy induced by biomechanical stresses and neurohumoral mediators remains unclear. We generated mice and isolated NRCMs (neonatal rat cardiomyocytes) that overexpressed or were deficient in TRIM32 to investigate the effect of TRIM32 on AB (aortic banding) or AngII (angiotensin II)-mediated cardiac hypertrophy. Echocardiography and both pathological and molecular analyses were used to determine the extent of cardiac hypertrophy and subsequent fibrosis. Our results showed that overexpression of TRIM32 in the heart significantly alleviated the hypertrophic response induced by pressure overload, whereas TRIM32 deficiency dramatically aggravated pathological cardiac remodelling. Similar results were also found in cultured NRCMs incubated with AngII. Mechanistically, the present study suggests that TRIM32 exerts cardioprotective action by interruption of Akt- but not MAPK (mitogen-dependent protein kinase)-dependent signalling pathways. Additionally, inactivation of Akt by LY294002 offset the exacerbated hypertrophic response induced by AB in TRIM32-deficient mice. In conclusion, the present study indicates that TRIM32 plays a protective role in AB-induced pathological cardiac remodelling by blocking Akt-dependent signalling. Therefore TRIM32 could be a novel therapeutic target for the prevention of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure.
Fractal spiral capacitor for wireless applications
Authors: Akhendra Kumar P. , Bheema Rao N.
Published: February 2016

Single‐layer spiral capacitor utilising fractal geometry is investigated. This capacitor makes use of both lateral and vertical fluxes to improve the capacitance density. Both PCB and on‐chip capacitors are designed and simulated using high‐frequency structural simulator. The structures are fabricated on PCB using PCB fabrication techniques. The measurement of PCB prototype is carried out by vector network analyser. The result shows the inclusion of fractal concept to spiral capacitor increases capacitance by 10.3%, quality factor by 52.4% and 20% improvement in self‐resonant frequency over conventional spiral capacitor.
Modes, emission beams and losses of THz heterostructure disk lasers: single‐mode laser with vertical beam option
Authors: Andronov A.A. , Dodin E.P. , Nozdrin Yu.N. , Pozdnyakova V.I. , Sadofiev Yu.G. , Fefelov A.G.
Published: February 2016

Properties of disk cavities for terahertz (THz) heterostructure lasers are discussed basing on observation of emission and beam from THz quantum cascade disk laser and analytical evaluation of modes, beams and losses of the laser disk cavities. The measured laser beam has beam peak at about 30° from vertical. To find condition for vertically emitted beam and for evaluation of the laser modes, emission beams and losses simple approach adopted in theory of slit (patch) antennas is used. With this approach results on observed laser beam are discussed and a possibility to create single‐frequency disk laser with narrow vertical beam. This can be achieved if only single TEM1m cavity mode is exited. Several examples of such possibility for 100 µm wavelength with disk cavities from 18 to 200 µm in diameter and with cascade thickness 10 µm are presented. Depending on the diameter the cavity emission losses are higher than or of about that of THz quantum cascade laser waveguide losses or amplification. For wavelength longer than 100 µm and (or) with lower cascade thickness, the losses go down and cavity could be optimised for creation a single‐mode powerful vertically emitted disk laser.
Preliminary study on monitoring the progression of osteoporosis using UWB radar technique in distal femur model
Authors: Lee D. , Velander J. , Blokhuis T.J. , Kim K. , Augustine R.
Published: February 2016

In this Letter, the preliminary study on the progression of osteoporosis using ultra wide band radar technique suggesting two different cases, (1) For various bone thickness and (2) For different effective permittivity is presented. To monitor the progression of osteoporosis, resistively loaded dipole antenna was designed and used as a sensor. For use in targets representing intermediate stages of progression, methanol, ethanol, water, and wood were used for emulating effective dielectric constant of bone in real situation. Measurement results show consistent decrease in the enveloped difference voltage in the two cases which correlate to the loss of bone mineral density. In the future, these results will be useful for people with osteoporosis to predict fractures in advance.
Chroma 422 subsampling for Bayer pattern in H.264 video coding
Authors: Lin T.‐L. , Liaw P.‐S. , Chen S.‐L. , Hsia C.‐H. , Lin S.‐Y.
Published: February 2016

The optimal strategy of chroma 422 subsampling for Bayer pattern in H.264 video coding is proposed. The state‐of‐the‐art work uses a predetermined conversion method from colour filter array to YCbCr 422. Derived from this structure, first, 64 subsampling methods are designed to exploit more possibilities. Secondly, among which, the four optimal methods are found by the pre‐screening process, which show their better performances than the state‐of‐the‐art method by up to 2.57 dB in CPSNR averaged for different videos, demonstrating the practicability of the proposed methods. Finally, for the experiment consisting of the whole conversion and H.264 video encoding/decoding procedures, the proposed optimal methods perform better than the state‐of‐the‐art method under all different operating bitrates and different tested videos, by up to 2.25 dB in BDPSNR.
Adaptive short time fractional Fourier transform for time–frequency segmentation
Authors: Lu Guangkuo , Xiao Manlin , Wei Ping
Published: February 2016

A novel algorithm is proposed to detect closely placed nonlinear frequency modulation signal components using adaptive short‐time fractional Fourier transform (ASTFRFT) combined with time–frequency segmentation. A high‐resolution time–frequency distribution is defined by ASTFRFT computed using windows of varying lengths and chirp rates based on spectral kurtosis. The individual signal components are separated by applying a successive iteration of time–frequency coefficients detection. The effectiveness and robustness of this method are evaluated via simulations at low signal noise ratios.
Integrated robust tracking controller design for a developed precision planar motor with equivalent disturbances
Authors: Huang Tao , Yang Kaimin , Hu Chuxiong , Zhu Yu , Li Min
Published: February 2016

This study studies the precision motion control of a developed planar motor motion system under the existence of external disturbance, non‐linearity, uncertainty, and crosstalk coupling problems those inevitably deteriorate the achievable control object and even make the system unstable. To address these issues, an integrated robust tracking controller consists of feedforward (FF), proportional–integral‐derivative (PID), and robust compensator (RC), is developed for the planar motor stage to practically achieve high control performance. Specifically, the FF term is designed based on the stage dynamics model to reduce the tracking error, and the PID term is synthesised by pole assignment to stabilise the nominal model. More importantly, RC is particularly designed to suppress the effects of equivalent lumped disturbances including the external disturbances, uncertainties, non‐linearities, and crosstalk couplings. The proposed integrated controller possesses robust stability under the uncertain disturbances, and facilitates parameter tuning which is meaningful for practical implementation. Finally, comparative experiments are conducted on a developed planar motor of wafer stage, and the results validate the practical effectiveness and high‐performance nature of the proposed control strategy.
Online reinforcement learning control by Bayesian inference
Authors: Xia Zhongpu , Zhao Dongbin
Published: February 2016

Reinforcement learning offers a promising way for self‐learning control of an unknown system, but it involves the issues of policy evaluation and exploration, especially in the domain of continuous state. In this study, these issues are addressed from the perspective of probability. It models the action value function as the latent variable of Gaussian process, while the reward as the observed variable. Then an online approach is proposed to update the action value function by Bayesian inference. Taking an advantage of the proposed framework, a prior knowledge can be incorporated into the action value function, and thus an efficient exploration strategy is presented. At last, the Bayesian‐state‐action‐reward‐state‐action algorithm is tested on some benchmark problems and empirical results show its effectiveness.
Using reinforcement learning techniques to solve continuous‐time non‐linear optimal tracking problem without system dynamics
Authors: Zhu Yuanheng , Zhao Dongbin , Li Xiangjun
Published: February 2016

The optimal tracking of non‐linear systems without knowing system dynamics is an important and intractable problem. Based on the framework of reinforcement learning (RL) and adaptive dynamic programming, a model‐free adaptive optimal tracking algorithm is proposed in this study. After constructing an augmented system with the tracking errors and the reference states, the tracking problem is converted to a regulation problem with respect to the new system. Several RL techniques are synthesised to form a novel algorithm which learns the optimal solution online in real time without any information of the system dynamics. Continuous adaptation laws are defined by the current observations and the past experience. The convergence is guaranteed by Lyapunov analysis. Two simulations on a linear and a non‐linear systems demonstrate the performance of the proposed approach.
Classification of malignant melanoma and benign skin lesions: implementation of automatic ABCD rule
Authors: Kasmi Reda , Mokrani Karim
Published: February 2016

The ABCD (asymmetry, border irregularity, colour and dermoscopic structure) rule of dermoscopy is a scoring method used by dermatologists to quantify dermoscopy findings and effectively separate melanoma from benign lesions. Automatic detection of the ABCD features and separation of benign lesions from melanoma could enable earlier detection of melanoma. In this study, automatic ABCD scoring of dermoscopy lesions is implemented. Pre‐processing enables automatic detection of hair using Gabor filters and lesion boundaries using geodesic active contours. Algorithms are implemented to extract the characteristics of ABCD attributes. Methods used here combine existing methods with novel methods to detect colour asymmetry and dermoscopic structures. To classify lesions as melanoma or benign nevus, the total dermoscopy score is calculated. The experimental results, using 200 dermoscopic images, where 80 are malignant melanomas and 120 benign lesions, show that the algorithm achieves 91.25% sensitivity of 91.25 and 95.83% specificity. This is comparable to the 92.8% sensitivity and 90.3% specificity reported for human implementation of the ABCD rule. The experimental results show that the extracted features can be used to build a promising classifier for melanoma detection.
Adaptive low‐complexity motion estimation algorithm for high efficiency video coding encoder
Authors: Medhat Ahmed , Shalaby Ahmed , Sayed Mohammed Sharaf , Elsabrouty Maha , Mehdipour Farhad
Published: February 2016

High quality videos became an essential requirement in recent applications. High efficiency video coding (HEVC) standard provides an efficient solution for high quality videos at lower bit rates. On the other hand, HEVC comes with much higher computational cost. In particular, motion estimation (ME) in HEVC, consumes the largest amount of computations. Therefore, fast ME algorithms and hardware accelerators are proposed in order to speed‐up integer ME in HEVC. This study presents a fast centre search algorithm (FCSA) and an adaptive search window algorithm (ASWA) for integer pixel ME in HEVC. In addition, centre adaptive search algorithm, a combination of the two proposed algorithms FCSA and ASWA, is proposed in order to achieve the best performance. Experimental results show notable speed‐up in terms of encoding time and bit rate saving with tolerable peak signal‐to‐noise ratio (PSNR) quality degradation. The proposed fast search algorithms reduce the computational complexity of the HEVC encoder by 57%. This improvement is accompanied with a modest average PSNR loss of 0.014 dB and an increase by 0.6385% in terms of bit rate when compared with related works.