bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Variable selection and regression analysis for the prediction of mortality rates associated with foodborne diseases
Authors: AMENE E. , HANSON L. A. , ZAHN E. A. , WILD S. R. , DÖPFER D.
Published: January 2016

The purpose of this study was to apply a novel statistical method for variable selection and a model-based approach for filling data gaps in mortality rates associated with foodborne diseases using the WHO Vital Registration mortality dataset.Correlation analysisandelastic net regularizationmethods were applied to drop redundant variables and to select the most meaningful subset of predictors. Whenever predictor data were missing, multiple imputation was used to fill in plausible values.Cluster analysiswas applied to identify similar groups of countries based on the values of the predictors. Finally, aBayesian hierarchical regression modelwas fit to the final dataset for predicting mortality rates. From 113 potential predictors, 32 were retained after correlation analysis. Out of these 32 predictors, eight with non-zero coefficients were selected using the elastic net regularization method. Based on the values of these variables, four clusters of countries were identified. The uncertainty of predictions was large for countries within clusters lacking mortality rates, and it was low for a cluster that had mortality rate information. Our results demonstrated that, using Bayesian hierarchical regression models, a data-driven clustering of countries and a meaningful subset of predictors can be used to fill data gaps in foodborne disease mortality.
The Ethical Grounds for the Best Interest of the Child
Authors: BOWYER LYNNE
Published: January 2016

Managing a healthcare situation in accordance with the best interests of a child can be challenging for both parents and healthcare professionals. These challenges take different forms as the child grows and develops physically, emotionally, and cognitively. In this article I argue that a child’s best interests cannot be construed in terms of a narrow conception of human beings as isolated, self-contained biological organisms, in which “health” and “illness” are understood in terms of physiological function and dysfunction. Such an approach overlooks the wider context in which the child grows into and comes to dwell in the world, continually enacting her life within her community. The health of a child is intimately connected to the ways in which she is involved in the world, through active and rewarding engagement with significant others. That embeddedness implies that acting in her best interests calls for others to nurture and integrate her into a sustainable human community so that she is supported appropriately throughout all the contingencies and vagaries of life that impact on her health.
Towards Universal Principles for Global Animal Advocacy
Authors: Kelch Thomas G.
Published: January 2016

Globalization now exerts an enormous impact on the human/animal relationship, which has momentous implications for both animal advocacy and the future of animal law. Animal abuse is being outsourced as animal experimentation heads east and agricultural animal production moves south. As a result of, among other things, outsourcing and other impacts of globalization on the industries of animal experimentation and animal agricultural production, parochialism and ‘one state’ strategies will not ultimately be effective in ending animal abuse. Animal advocates and lawyers must therefore construct theories, strategies, principles and campaigns that have resonance around the globe and traverse seemingly impenetrable cultural divides. To accomplish this crossing of cultural boundaries, it is paramount to fashion a common language – one which expresses cross-culturally accepted universal principles. This article proposes a methodology for generating these universal principles for animal advocacy and legal policy proposals, loosely based on Feminist Care Theory, positing that moral principles are based on feelings of compassion, sympathy and empathy. The specific basal notion proposed for grounding these universal principles for animal advocacy and legal policy proposals is the concept of ‘caring’, defined as ‘the suite of feelings and cognitions that an emotionally sound human experiences in response to focusing attention on the suffering of others’. Based on this foundational notion, several examples of uses of animals are analyzed and exemplar universal principles and legal policy proposals are derived.
Dem Täter auf der Spur – Nachweis von Körpersekreten mittels mRNA-Profiling
Authors: Haas Cordula , Kratzer Adelgunde
Published: January 2016

Zusammenfassung. Bis anhin erfolgt die Spurenartbestimmung von Körpersekreten mit enzymatischen und immunologischen Tests, die aber zum Teil nicht sehr spezifisch sind. mRNA-Profiling ist eine vielversprechende neue Methode zum Nachweis von Körperflüssigkeiten (vor allem Blut, Speichel, Sperma, Vaginalsekret und Menstrualblut), bei der die Expression sekretspezifischer Proteine untersucht wird. Mit einer RNA/DNA Co-Analyse aus derselben Probe kann sowohl das Körpersekret identifiziert werden, als auch mittels DNA-Analyse die Probe einer Person zugeordnet werden. Diese Methoden und Ergebnisse werden anhand eines Kriminalfalls erklärt. In der Schweizerischen DNA-Datenbank werden die DNA-Profile von Spuren und tatverdächtigen Personen erfasst und verglichen. Eine Übereinstimmung der DNA-Profile ist ein belastendes Beweisstück gegen den Tatverdächtigen, muss aber vom Gericht zusammen mit anderen Untersuchungsergebnissen abschliessend beurteilt werden.
Das offene Foramen ovale – der Blindgänger im Körper
Authors: Nietlispach Fabian
Published: January 2016

Zusammenfassung. Der PFO-Verschluss nach Schlaganfall zeigte sich in Subanalysen der grossen randomisierten Studien der medikamentösen Therapie überlegen. Dies wurde auch durch mehrere Meta-Analysen bestätigt. Aufgrund vorliegender Evidenz sollte deshalb das PFO zur Sekundärprophylaxe verschlossen werden. Ob das PFO ausserhalb dieser Indikation gesucht und verschlossen werden soll (z.B. bei Migräne-Patienten), ist umstritten und muss unter Erwähnung aller Vorteile (z.B. mögliche Symptomverbesserung der Migräne, Schutz vor paradoxen Embolien) und Nachteile (bleibendes Implantat) mit dem Patienten besprochen werden.
Understanding Ecosystem Services from a Geosciences Perspective
Authors: Field Jason , Breshears David , Law Darin , Villegas Juan , López-Hoffman Laura , Brooks Paul , Chorover Jon , Pelletier Jon
Published: January 2016

Assessment of ecosystem services—the benefits society receives from ecosystems—can be improved by including broader spatial and temporal scales of geosciences perspectives.
Control of B‐cell lymphoma by therapeutic vaccination and acquisition of immune resistance is independent of direct tumour IFN‐gamma signalling
Authors: Rearden Rory , Sah Amelia , Doff Brianna , Kobayashi Takumi , McKee Sara J , Leggatt Graham R , Mattarollo Stephen R
Published: January 2016

Immunomodulatory therapies can effectively control haematological malignancies by promoting antitumour immunity. Previously, we reported transient growth of poorly immunogenic murine non‐Hodgkin B‐cell lymphomas (B‐NHL) by targeting natural killer T (NKT) cells with a therapeutic vaccine approach. Therapeutic efficacy was highly dependent on the ability of the vaccine to provoke rapid interferon‐gamma (IFNγ) production from NKT and NK cells. By manipulating the capacity of either host or lymphoma cells to signal through the IFNγ receptor (IFNγR), we investigated whether the therapeutic effect conferred by vaccine‐induced IFNγ is a result of immune cell activation, lymphoma IFNγ sensitivity or a combination of both. We demonstrated that antitumour immunity elicited by vaccination requires IFNγ signalling within host cells but not tumour cells. IFNγR‐deficient mice failed to mount an effective antitumour immune response following vaccination despite elevated IFNγ levels. With successive exposure to vaccination, lymphomas acquired an increasingly therapy‐resistant phenotype and displayed a reduction in major histocompatibility complex I and CD1d surface expression, which is independent of tumour intrinsic IFNγ signalling. Our results suggest that immunotherapy‐induced IFNγ production mainly exerts its therapeutic effect via signalling through host cells, rather than directly to tumour cells in B‐NHL. This signifies that intact IFNγ signalling within patients’ immune compartment rather than tumour cell sensitivity to IFNγ is more critical for successful treatment. Finally, tumour IFNγ signalling alone does not drive acquired tumour resistance to vaccination, implying that additional immunoediting pathways are responsible for tumour immune escape.
Bacteria increase arid-land soil surface temperature through the production of sunscreens
Authors: Couradeau Estelle , Karaoz Ulas , Lim Hsiao Chien , Nunes da Rocha Ulisses , Northen Trent , Brodie Eoin , Garcia-Pichel Ferran
Published: January 2016

Soil surface temperature, an important driver of terrestrial biogeochemical processes, depends strongly on soil albedo, which can be significantly modified by factors such as plant cover. In sparsely vegetated lands, the soil surface can be colonized by photosynthetic microbes that build biocrust communities. Here we use concurrent physical, biochemical and microbiological analyses to show that mature biocrusts can increase surface soil temperature by as much as 10 °C through the accumulation of large quantities of a secondary metabolite, the microbial sunscreen scytonemin, produced by a group of late-successional cyanobacteria. Scytonemin accumulation decreases soil albedo significantly. Such localized warming has apparent and immediate consequences for the soil microbiome, inducing the replacement of thermosensitive bacterial species with more thermotolerant forms. These results reveal that not only vegetation but also microorganisms are a factor in modifying terrestrial albedo, potentially impacting biosphere feedbacks on past and future climate, and call for a direct assessment of such effects at larger scales.
ssODN-mediated knock-in with CRISPR-Cas for large genomic regions in zygotes
Authors: Yoshimi Kazuto , Kunihiro Yayoi , Kaneko Takehito , Nagahora Hitoshi , Voigt Birger , Mashimo Tomoji
Published: January 2016

The CRISPR-Cas system is a powerful tool for generating genetically modified animals; however, targeted knock-in (KI) via homologous recombination remains difficult in zygotes. Here we show efficient gene KI in rats by combining CRISPR-Cas with single-stranded oligodeoxynucleotides (ssODNs). First, a 1-kb ssODN co-injected with guide RNA (gRNA) and Cas9 messenger RNA produce GFP-KI at the rat Thy1 locus. Then, two gRNAs with two 80-bp ssODNs direct efficient integration of a 5.5-kb CAG-GFP vector into the Rosa26 locus via ssODN-mediated end joining. This protocol also achieves KI of a 200-kb BAC containing the human SIRPA locus, concomitantly knocking out the rat Sirpa gene. Finally, three gRNAs and two ssODNs replace 58-kb of the rat Cyp2d cluster with a 6.2-kb human CYP2D6 gene. These ssODN-mediated KI protocols can be applied to any target site with any donor vector without the need to construct homology arms, thus simplifying genome engineering in living organisms.
Nanometre-thick single-crystalline nanosheets grown at the water–air interface
Authors: Wang Fei , Seo Jung-Hun , Luo Guangfu , Starr Matthew B. , Li Zhaodong , Geng Dalong , Yin Xin , Wang Shaoyang , Fraser Douglas G. , Morgan Dane , Ma Zhenqiang , Wang Xudong
Published: January 2016

To date, the preparation of free-standing 2D nanomaterials has been largely limited to the exfoliation of van der Waals solids. The lack of a robust mechanism for the bottom-up synthesis of 2D nanomaterials from non-layered materials has become an obstacle to further explore the physical properties and advanced applications of 2D nanomaterials. Here we demonstrate that surfactant monolayers can serve as soft templates guiding the nucleation and growth of 2D nanomaterials in large area beyond the limitation of van der Waals solids. One- to 2-nm-thick, single-crystalline free-standing ZnO nanosheets with sizes up to tens of micrometres are synthesized at the water–air interface. In this process, the packing density of surfactant monolayers adapts to the sub-phase metal ions and guides the epitaxial growth of nanosheets. It is thus named adaptive ionic layer epitaxy (AILE). The electronic properties of ZnO nanosheets and AILE of other materials are also investigated.
SPECC1L deficiency results in increased adherens junction stability and reduced cranial neural crest cell delamination
Authors: Wilson Nathan R. , Olm-Shipman Adam J. , Acevedo Diana S. , Palaniyandi Kanagaraj , Hall Everett G. , Kosa Edina , Stumpff Kelly M. , Smith Guerin J. , Pitstick Lenore , Liao Eric C. , Bjork Bryan C. , Czirok Andras , Saadi Irfan
Published: January 2016

Cranial neural crest cells (CNCCs) delaminate from embryonic neural folds and migrate to pharyngeal arches, which give rise to most mid-facial structures. CNCC dysfunction plays a prominent role in the etiology of orofacial clefts, a frequent birth malformation. Heterozygous mutations in SPECC1L have been identified in patients with atypical and syndromic clefts. Here, we report that in SPECC1L-knockdown cultured cells, staining of canonical adherens junction (AJ) components, β-catenin and E-cadherin, was increased and electron micrographs revealed an apico-basal diffusion of AJs. To understand the role of SPECC1L in craniofacial morphogenesis, we generated a mouse model of Specc1l deficiency. Homozygous mutants were embryonic lethal and showed impaired neural tube closure and CNCC delamination. Staining of AJ proteins was increased in the mutant neural folds. This AJ defect is consistent with impaired CNCC delamination, which requires AJ dissolution. Further, PI3K-AKT signaling was reduced and apoptosis was increased in Specc1l mutants. In vitro, moderate inhibition of PI3K-AKT signaling in wildtype cells was sufficient to cause AJ alterations. Importantly, AJ changes induced by SPECC1L-knockdown were rescued by activating the PI3K-AKT pathway. Together, these data indicate SPECC1L as a novel modulator of PI3K-AKT signaling and AJ biology, required for neural tube closure and CNCC delamination.
Characterizing the Conformational Landscape of Flavivirus Fusion Peptides via Simulation and Experiment
Authors: Marzinek Jan K. , Lakshminarayanan Rajamani , Goh Eunice , Huber Roland G. , Panzade Sadhana , Verma Chandra , Bond Peter J.
Published: January 2016

Conformational changes in the envelope proteins of flaviviruses help to expose the highly conserved fusion peptide (FP), a region which is critical to membrane fusion and host cell infection and which represents a significant target for antiviral drugs and antibodies. In principle, extended timescale atomic-resolution simulations may be used to characterize the dynamics of such peptides. However, the resultant accuracy is critically dependent upon both the underlying force field and sufficient conformational sampling. In the present study, we report a comprehensive comparison of three simulation methods and four force fields comprising a total of more than 40 μs of sampling. Additionally, we describe the conformational landscape of the FP fold across all flavivirus family members. All investigated methods sampled conformations close to available X-ray structures, but exhibited differently populated ensembles. The best force field / sampling combination was sufficiently accurate to predict that the solvated peptide fold is less ordered than in the crystallographic state, which was subsequently confirmed via circular dichroism and spectrofluorometric measurements. Finally, the conformational landscape of a mutant incapable of membrane fusion was significantly shallower than wild-type variants, suggesting that dynamics should be considered when therapeutically targeting FP epitopes.
Crystal structure and SUMO binding of Slx1-Slx4 complex
Authors: Lian Fu-Ming , Xie Si , Qian Chengmin
Published: January 2016

The SLX1-SLX4 complex is a structure-specific endonuclease that cleaves branched DNA structures and plays significant roles in DNA recombination and repair in eukaryotic cells. The heterodimeric interaction between SLX1 and SLX4 is essential for the endonuclease activity of SLX1. Here, we present the crystal structure of Slx1 C-terminal zinc finger domain in complex with the C-terminal helix-turn-helix domain of Slx4 from Schizosaccharomyces pombe at 2.0 Å resolution. The structure reveals a conserved binding mechanism underling the Slx1-Slx4 interaction. Structural and sequence analyses indicate Slx1 C-terminal domain is actually an atypical C4HC3-type RING finger which normally possesses E3 ubiquitin ligase activity, but here is absolutely required for Slx1 interaction with Slx4. Furthermore, we found the C-terminal tail of S. pombe Slx1 contains a SUMO-interacting motif and can recognize Pmt3 (S. pombe SUMO), suggesting that Slx1-Slx4 complex could be recruited by SUMOylated protein targets to take part in replication associated DNA repair processes.
Identification of novel noncoding transcripts in telomerase-negative yeast using RNA-seq
Authors: Niederer Rachel O. , Papadopoulos Nickolas , Zappulla David C.
Published: January 2016

Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein that maintains the ends of linear chromosomes in most eukaryotes. Loss of telomerase activity results in shortening of telomeric DNA and eventually a specific G2/M cell-cycle arrest known as senescence. In humans, telomere shortening occurs during aging, while inappropriate activation of telomerase is associated with approximately 90% of cancers. Previous studies have identified several classes of noncoding RNAs (ncRNA) also associated with aging-related senescence and cancer, but whether ncRNAs are also involved in short-telomere-induced senescence in yeast is unknown. Here, we report 112 putative novel lncRNAs in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, 41 of which are only expressed in telomerase-negative yeast. Expression of approximately half of the lncRNAs is strongly correlated with that of adjacent genes, suggesting this subset may influence transcription of neighboring genes. Our results reveal a new potential mechanism governing adaptive changes in senescing and post-senescent survivor yeast cells.
Notch1 deficiency decreases hepatic lipid accumulation by induction of fatty acid oxidation
Authors: Song No-Joon , Yun Ui Jeong , Yang Sunghee , Wu Chunyan , Seo Cho-Rong , Gwon A-Ryeong , Baik Sang-Ha , Choi Yuri , Choi Bo Youn , Bahn Gahee , Kim Suji , Kwon So-Mi , Park Jin Su , Baek Seung Hyun , Park Tae Joo , Yoon Keejung , Kim Byung-Joon , Mattson Mark P. , Lee Sung-Joon , Jo Dong-Gyu , Park Kye Won
Published: January 2016

Notch signaling pathways modulate various cellular processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, adhesion and communication. Recent studies have demonstrated that Notch1 signaling also regulates hepatic glucose production and lipid synthesis. However, the effect of Notch1 signaling on hepatic lipid oxidation has not yet been directly investigated. To define the function of Notch1 signaling in hepatic lipid metabolism, wild type mice and Notch1 deficient antisense transgenic (NAS) mice were fed a high-fat diet. High-fat diet -fed NAS mice exhibited a marked reduction in hepatic triacylglycerol accumulation compared with wild type obese mice. The improved fatty liver was associated with an increased expression of hepatic genes involved in fatty acid oxidation. However, lipogenic genes were not differentially expressed in the NAS liver, suggesting lipolytic-specific regulatory effects by Notch1 signaling. Expression of fatty acid oxidative genes and the rate of fatty acid oxidation were also increased by inhibition of Notch1 signaling in HepG2 cells. In addition, similar regulatory effects on lipid accumulation were observed in adipocytes. Taken together, these data show that inhibition of Notch1 signaling can regulate the expression of fatty acid oxidation genes and may provide therapeutic strategies in obesity-induced hepatic steatosis.
Imaging and radiation effects of gold nanoparticles in tumour cells
Authors: McQuaid Harold N. , Muir Mark F. , Taggart Laura E. , McMahon Stephen J. , Coulter Jonathan A. , Hyland Wendy B. , Jain Suneil , Butterworth Karl T. , Schettino Giuseppe , Prise Kevin M. , Hirst David G. , Botchway Stanley W. , Currell Fred J.
Published: January 2016

Gold nanoparticle radiosensitization represents a novel technique in enhancement of ionising radiation dose and its effect on biological systems. Variation between theoretical predictions and experimental measurement is significant enough that the mechanism leading to an increase in cell killing and DNA damage is still not clear. We present the first experimental results that take into account both the measured biodistribution of gold nanoparticles at the cellular level and the range of the product electrons responsible for energy deposition. Combining synchrotron-generated monoenergetic X-rays, intracellular gold particle imaging and DNA damage assays, has enabled a DNA damage model to be generated that includes the production of intermediate electrons. We can therefore show for the first time good agreement between the prediction of biological outcomes from both the Local Effect Model and a DNA damage model with experimentally observed cell killing and DNA damage induction via the combination of X-rays and GNPs. However, the requirement of two distinct models as indicated by this mechanistic study, one for short-term DNA damage and another for cell survival, indicates that, at least for nanoparticle enhancement, it is not safe to equate the lethal lesions invoked in the local effect model with DNA damage events.
Enantio-alteration of gene transcription associated with bioconcentration in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) exposed to chiral PCB149
Authors: Chai Tingting , Cui Feng , Mu Pengqian , Yang Yang , Xu Nana , Yin Zhiqiang , Jia Qi , Yang Shuming , Qiu Jing , Wang Chengju
Published: January 2016

Enantioselective enrichment of chiral PCB149 (2,2’,3,4’,5’,6-hexachlorobiphenyl) was analysed in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) exposed to the racemate, (−)-PCB149 and (+)-PCB149. Greater enrichment of (−)-PCB149 compared to (+) PCB149 was observed following 0.5 ng/L exposure; however, as the exposure time and concentration increased, racemic enrichment was observed in adult fish exposed to the racemate. No biotransformation between the two isomers was observed in fish exposed to single enantiomers. When zebrafish were exposed to different forms of chiral PCB149, enantioselective expression of genes associated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was observed in brain and liver tissues and enantioselective correlations between bioconcentration and target gene expression levels were observed in brain and liver tissues. The strong positive correlations between expression levels of target genes (alox5a and alox12) and PCB149 bioconcentration suggest that prolonged exposure to the racemate of chiral PCB149 may result in inflammation-associated diseases. Prolonged exposure to (−)-PCB149 may also affect metabolic pathways such as dehydrogenation and methylation in the brain tissues of adult zebrafish. Hepatic expression levels of genes related to the antioxidant system were significantly negatively correlated with bioconcentration following exposure to (+)-PCB149.
Temperature effect on the chemomechanical regulation of substeps within the power stroke of a single Myosin II
Authors: Dong Chenling , Chen Bin
Published: January 2016

Myosin IIs in the skeletal muscle are highly efficient nanoscale machines evolved in nature. Understanding how they function can not only bring insights into various biological processes but also provide guidelines to engineer synthetic nanoscale motors working in the vicinity of thermal noise. Though it was clearly demonstrated that the behavior of a skeletal muscle fiber, or that of a single myosin was strongly affected by the temperature, how exactly the temperature affects the kinetics of a single myosin is not fully understood. By adapting the newly developed transitional state model, which successfully explained the intriguing motor force regulation during skeletal muscle contraction, here we systematically explain how exactly the power stroke of a single myosin proceeds, with the consideration of the chemomechanical regulation of sub-steps within the stroke. The adapted theory is then utilized to investigate the temperature effect on various aspects of the power stroke. Our analysis suggests that, though swing rates, the isometric force and the maximal stroke size all strongly vary with the temperature, the temperature can have a very small effect on the releasable elastic energy within the power stroke.
Millimeter-wave sensor based on a λ/2-line resonator for identification and dielectric characterization of non-ionic surfactants
Authors: Rodilla H. , Kim A. A. , Jeffries G. D. M. , Vukusic J. , Jesorka A. , Stake J.
Published: January 2016

Studies of biological and artificial membrane systems, such as niosomes, currently rely on the use of fluorescent tags, which can influence the system under investigation. For this reason, the development of label-free, non-invasive detection techniques is of great interest. We demonstrate an open-volume label-free millimeter-wave sensing platform based on a coplanar waveguide, developed for identification and characterization of niosome constituents. A design based on a λ/2-line resonator was used and on-wafer measurements of transmission and reflection parameters were performed up to 110 GHz. Our sensor was able to clearly distinguish between common niosome constituents, non-ionic surfactants Tween 20 and Span 80, measuring a resonance shift of 3 GHz between them. The complex permittivities of the molecular compounds have been extracted. Our results indicate insignificant frequency dependence in the investigated frequency range (3 GHz – 110 GHz). Values of permittivity around 3.0 + 0.7i and 2.2 + 0.4i were obtained for Tween 20 and Span 80, respectively.
Thermomechanical Behavior of Molded Metallic Glass Nanowires
Authors: Magagnosc Daniel J. , Chen Wen , Kumar Golden , Schroers Jan , Gianola Daniel S.
Published: January 2016

Metallic glasses are disordered materials that offer the unique ability to perform thermoplastic forming operations at low thermal budget while preserving excellent mechanical properties such as high strength, large elastic strain limits and wear resistance owing to the metallic nature of bonding and lack of internal defects. Interest in molding micro- and nanoscale metallic glass objects is driven by the promise of robust and high performance micro- and nanoelectromechanical systems and miniature energy conversion devices. Yet accurate and efficient processing of these materials hinges on a robust understanding of their thermomechanical behavior. Here, we combine large-scale thermoplastic tensile deformation of collections of Pt-based amorphous nanowires with quantitative thermomechanical studies of individual nanowires in creep-like conditions to demonstrate that superplastic-like flow persists to small length scales. Systematic studies as a function of temperature, strain-rate and applied stress reveal the transition from Newtonian to non-Newtonian flow to be ubiquitous across the investigated length scales. However, we provide evidence that nanoscale specimens sustain greater free volume generation at elevated temperatures resulting in a flow transition at higher strain-rates than their bulk counterparts. Our results provide guidance for the design of thermoplastic processing methods and methods for verifying the flow response at the nanoscale.
Non-synchronization of lattice and carrier temperatures in light-emitting diodes
Authors: Zhang Jihong , Shih Tienmo , Lu Yijun , Merlitz Holger , Ru-Gin Chang Richard , Chen Zhong
Published: January 2016

Pulse implementation or switching-off (PISO) of electrical currents has become a common operation in junction-temperature (Tj) measurements for semiconductor devices since 2004. Here we have experimentally discovered a substantial discrepancy between Tj values with and without, PISO (e.g., 36.8 °C versus 76.5 °C above the ambient temperature at 25.0 °C). Our research indicates that methods associated with PISO are flawed due to non-synchronization of lattice temperatures and carrier temperatures in transient states. To scrutinize this discrepancy, we propose a lattice-inertia thermal anchoring mechanism that (1) explains the cause of this discrepancy, (2) helps to develop a remedy to eliminate this discrepancy by identifying three transient phases, (3) has been applied to establishing an original, accurate and noninvasive technique for light-emitting diodes to measure Tj in the absence of PISO. Our finding may pave the foundation for LED communities to further establish reliable junction-temperature measurements based on the identified mechanism.
Emission efficiency limit of Si nanocrystals
Authors: Limpens Rens , Luxembourg Stefan L. , Weeber Arthur W. , Gregorkiewicz Tom
Published: January 2016

One of the important obstacles on the way to application of Si nanocrystals for development of practical devices is their typically low emissivity. In this study we explore the limits of external quantum yield of photoluminescence of solid-state dispersions of Si nanocrystals in SiO2. By making use of a low-temperature hydrogen passivation treatment we demonstrate a maximum emission quantum efficiency of approximately 35%. This is the highest value ever reported for this type of material. By cross-correlating PL lifetime with EQE values, we obtain a comprehensive understanding of the efficiency limiting processes induced by Pb-defects. We establish that the observed record efficiency corresponds to an interface density of Pb-centers of 1.3 × 1012 cm12, which is 2 orders of magnitude higher than for the best Si/SiO2 interface. This result implies that Si nanocrystals with up to 100% emission efficiency are feasible.
Poly (acrylic acid sodium) grafted carboxymethyl cellulose as a high performance polymer binder for silicon anode in lithium ion batteries
Authors: Wei Liangming , Chen Changxin , Hou Zhongyu , Wei Hao
Published: January 2016

The design of novel binder systems is required for the high capacity silicon (Si) anodes which usually undergo huge volume change during the charge/discharge cycling. Here, we introduce a poly (acrylic acid sodium)-grafted-carboxymethyl cellulose (NaPAA-g-CMC) copolymer as an excellent binder for Si anode in lithium ion batteries (LIBs). The NaPAA-g-CMC copolymer was prepared via a free radical graft polymerization method by using CMC and acrylic acid as precursors. Unlike the linear, one-dimensional binders, the NaPAA-g-CMC copolymer binder is expected to present multi-point interaction with Si surface, resulting in enhanced binding ability with Si particles as well as with the copper (Cu) current collectors and building a stable solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer on the Si surface. The NaPAA-g-CMC based Si anode shows much better cycle stability and higher coulombic efficiency than those made with the well-known linear polymeric binders such as CMC and NaPPA.
Impact of correlated noise in an energy depot model
Authors: Zeng Chunhua , Zeng Jiakui , Liu Feng , Wang Hua
Published: January 2016

Based on the depot model of the motion of active Brownian particles (ABPs), the impact of cross-correlated multiplicative and additive noises has been investigated. Using a nonlinear Langevin approach, we discuss a new mechanism for the transport of ABPs in which the energy originates from correlated noise. It is shown that the correlation between two types of noise breaks the symmetry of the potential to generate motion of the ABPs with a net velocity. The absolute maximum value of the mean velocity depends on correlated noise or multiplicative noise, whereas a monotonic decrease in the mean velocity occurs with additive noise. In the case of no correlation, the ABPs undergo pure diffusion with zero mean velocity, whereas in the case of perfect correlation, the ABPs undergo pure drift with zero diffusion. This shows that the energy stemming from correlated noise is primarily converted to kinetic energy of the intrawell motion and is eventually dissipated in drift motion. A physical explanation of the mechanisms for noise-driven transport of ABPs is derived from the effective potential of the Fokker-Planck equation.
Typical food portion sizes consumed by Australian adults: results from the 2011–12 Australian National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey
Authors: Zheng Miaobing , Wu Jason H Y , Louie Jimmy Chun Yu , Flood Victoria M , Gill Tim , Thomas Beth , Cleanthous Xenia , Neal Bruce , Rangan Anna
Published: January 2016

Considerable evidence has associated increasing portion sizes with elevated obesity prevalence. This study examines typical portion sizes of commonly consumed core and discretionary foods in Australian adults and compares these data with the Australian Dietary Guidelines standard serves. Typical portion sizes are defined as the median amount of foods consumed per eating occasion. Sex- and age-specific median portion sizes of adults aged 19 years and over (n = 9341) were analysed using one day 24 hour recall data from the 2011–12 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey. A total of 152 food categories were examined. There were significant sex and age differences in typical portion sizes among a large proportion of food categories studied. Typical portion sizes of breads and cereals, meat and chicken cuts and starchy vegetables were 30–160% larger than the standard serves, whereas, the portion sizes of dairy products, some fruits and non-starchy vegetables were 30–90% smaller. Typical portion sizes for discretionary foods such as cakes, ice-cream, sausages, hamburgers, pizza and alcoholic drinks exceeded the standard serves by 40–400%. The findings of the present study are particularly relevant for establishing Australian-specific reference portions for dietary assessment tools, refinement of nutrition labelling and public health policies.
Ultrashort broadband polarization beam splitter based on a combined hybrid plasmonic waveguide
Authors: Chang Ken-Wei , Huang Chia-Chien
Published: January 2016

We propose an ultracompact broadband polarization beam splitter (PBS) based on a combined hybrid plasmonic waveguide (HPW). The proposed PBS separates transverse-electric (TE) and transverse-magnetic (TM) modes using a bent lower HPW with vertical nanoscale gaps and a straight upper HPW with a horizontal nanoscale gap, respectively, without relying on an additional coupling region. This design considerably reduces the length of the PBS to the submicron scale (920 nm, the shortest PBS reported to date) while offering polarization extinction ratios (PERs) of ~19 dB (~18 dB) and insertion losses (ILs) of ~0.6 dB (~0.3 dB) for the TE (TM) mode over an extremely broad band of 400 nm (from λ = 1300 nm to 1700 nm, covering entirely second and third telecom windows). The length of the designed PBS can be reduced further to 620 nm while still offering PERs of 15 dB, realizing a densely photonic integrated circuit. Considering the fabrication tolerance, the designed PBS allows for large geometrical deviations of ±20 nm while restricting PER variations to within 1 dB, except for those in the nanoscale gaps smaller than 10nm. Additionally, we also address the input and ouput coupling efficiencies of the proposed PBS.
Enhanced energy transport owing to nonlinear interface interaction
Authors: Su Ruixia , Yuan Zongqiang , Wang Jun , Zheng Zhigang
Published: January 2016

It is generally expected that the interface coupling leads to the suppression of thermal transport through coupled nanostructures due to the additional interface phonon-phonon scattering. However, recent experiments demonstrated that the interface van der Waals interactions can significantly enhance the thermal transfer of bonding boron nanoribbons compared to a single freestanding nanoribbon. To obtain a more in-depth understanding on the important role of the nonlinear interface coupling in the heat transports, in the present paper, we explore the effect of nonlinearity in the interface interaction on the phonon transport by studying the coupled one-dimensional (1D) Frenkel-Kontorova lattices. It is found that the thermal conductivity increases with increasing interface nonlinear intensity for weak inter-chain nonlinearity. By developing the effective phonon theory of coupled systems, we calculate the dependence of heat conductivity on interfacial nonlinearity in weak inter-chain couplings regime which is qualitatively in good agreement with the result obtained from molecular dynamics simulations. Moreover, we demonstrate that, with increasing interface nonlinear intensity, the system dimensionless nonlinearity strength is reduced, which in turn gives rise to the enhancement of thermal conductivity. Our results pave the way for manipulating the energy transport through coupled nanostructures for future emerging applications.
HERG1A potassium channel is the predominant isoform in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas: evidence for regulation by epigenetic mechanisms
Authors: Menéndez Sofía T. , Villaronga M. Ángeles , Rodrigo Juan P. , Álvarez-Teijeiro Saúl , Urdinguio Rocío G. , Fraga Mario F. , Suárez Carlos , García-Pedrero Juana M.
Published: January 2016

Evidences indicate that HERG1 voltage-gated potassium channel is frequently aberrantly expressed in various cancers including head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), representing a clinically and biologically relevant feature during disease progression and a potential therapeutic target. The present study further and significantly extends these data investigating for the first time the expression and individual contribution of HERG1 isoforms, their clinical significance during disease progression and also the underlying regulatory mechanisms. Analysis of HERG1A and HERG1B expression using real-time RT-PCR consistently showed that HERG1A is the predominant isoform in ten HNSCC-derived cell lines tested. HERG2 and HERG3 were also detected. Immunohistochemical analysis of HERG1A expression on 133 HNSCC specimens demonstrated that HERG1A expression increased during tumour progression and correlated significantly with reduced disease-specific survival. Furthermore, our study provides original evidence supporting the involvement of histone acetylation (i.e. H3Ac and H4K16Ac activating marks) in the regulation of HERG1 expression in HNSCC. Interestingly, this mechanism was also found to regulate the expression of another oncogenic channel (Kv3.4) as well as HERG2 and HERG3. These data demonstrate that HERG1A is the predominant and disease-relevant isoform in HNSCC progression, while histone acetylation emerges as an important regulatory mechanism underlying Kv gene expression.
Mesenteric IL-10-producing CD5+ regulatory B cells suppress cow’s milk casein-induced allergic responses in mice
Authors: Kim A-Ram , Kim Hyuk Soon , Kim Do Kyun , Nam Seung Taek , Kim Hyun Woo , Park Young Hwan , Lee Dajeong , Lee Min Bum , Lee Jun Ho , Kim Bokyung , Beaven Michael A. , Kim Hyung Sik , Kim Young Mi , Choi Wahn Soo
Published: January 2016

Food allergy is a hypersensitive immune reaction to food proteins. We have previously demonstrated the presence of IL-10-producing CD5+ B cells and suggested their potential role in regulating cow’s milk casein allergy in humans and IgE-mediated anaphylaxis in mice. In this study, we determined whether IL-10-producing CD5+ regulatory B cells control casein-induced food allergic responses in mice and, if so, the underlying mechanisms. The induction of oral tolerance (OT) by casein suppressed casein-induced allergic responses including the decrease of body temperature, symptom score, diarrhea, recruitment of mast cells and eosinophils into jejunum and other biological parameters in mice. Notably, the population of IL-10-producing CD5+ B cells was increased in mesenteric lymph node (MLN), but not in spleen or peritoneal cavity (PeC) in OT mice. The adoptive transfer of CD5+ B cells from MLN, but not those from spleen and PeC, suppressed the casein-induced allergic responses in an allergen-specific and IL-10-dependent manner. The inhibitory effect of IL-10-producing CD5+ B cells on casein-induced allergic response was dependent on Foxp3+ regulatory T cells. Taken together, mesenteric IL-10-producing regulatory B cells control food allergy via Foxp3+ regulatory T cells and could potentially act as a therapeutic regulator for food allergy.
A new sample preparation method for WD-XRF analysis of sulfide ores by fusion techniques: a BN crucible for protection against contamination and quantitative retention of sulfur
Authors: Liu Yanhong , Xue Dingshuai , Wang Hongyue
Published: January 2016

In this article, a methodology is described for the wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis of sulfide ores by fusion techniques.
Application of automated particle screening for effective analysis of individual uranium particles by thermal ionization mass spectrometry
Authors: Esaka Fumitaka , Suzuki Daisuke , Yomogida Takumi , Magara Masaaki
Published: January 2016

Automated particle screening was combined with isotope ratio analysis of individual uranium particles using thermal ionization mass spectrometry.
Durable PROX catalyst based on gold nanoparticles and hydrophobic silica
Authors: Laveille Paco , Guillois Kevin , Tuel Alain , Petit Corinne , Basset Jean-Marie , Caps Valérie
Published: January 2016

3 nm gold nanoparticles obtained by direct chemical reduction of AuPPh3Cl in the presence of hydrophobic silica exhibit superior durability and selectivity in the oxidation of CO performed at low temperature in the presence of hydrogen.
Can alumina particles be formed from Al hydroxide in the circumstellar media? A first-principles chemical study
Authors: Álvarez-Barcia Sonia , Flores Jesús R.
Published: January 2016

Reaction paths for the formation of alumina-type frames in circumstellar media have been proposed.
Photoelectrochemical water splitting using WO3 photoanodes: the substrate and temperature roles
Authors: Dias Paula , Lopes Tânia , Meda Laura , Andrade Luísa , Mendes Adélio
Published: January 2016

The substrate influence on the performance of WO3 photoanodes was studied up to 65 °C. The photocurrent increased with temperature and the onset potential shifted to lower potentials. The best operating conditions were: 45 °C for WO3/FTO and 55 °C for WO3/metal; the recombination rate increased for higher temperatures.
Step dynamics and oxide formation during CO oxidation over a vicinal Pd surface
Authors: Shipilin Mikhail , Gustafson Johan , Zhang Chu , Merte Lindsay Richard , Lundgren Edvin
Published: January 2016

Under CO oxidation reaction conditions the surface of Pd(553) adopts different structures depending on O2 partial pressure.
Enhanced room temperature NO2 response of NiO–SnO2 nanocomposites induced by interface bonds at the p–n heterojunction
Authors: Zhang Jian , Zeng Dawen , Zhu Qiang , Wu Jinjin , Huang Qingwu , Zhang Wan , Xie Changsheng
Published: January 2016

The sensing mechanism based on the heterojunction was proposed for the largely enhanced room temperature NO2 response of NiO–SnO2 nanocomposites.
Phenylacetylene hydrogenation on Au@Ni bimetallic core–shell nanoparticles synthesized under mild conditions
Authors: Vysakh A. B. , Lazar Anish , Yadukiran V. , Singh A. P. , Vinod C. P.
Published: January 2016

The synthesis of Au@Ni bimetallic core–shell nanoparticles through an energy efficient (lower temperature) route in oleylamine following a sequential reduction strategy and their hydrogenation activity is reported.
Unprecedented metal-free 3D porous carbonaceous electrodes for full water splitting
Authors: Lai Jianping , Li Suping , Wu Fengxia , Saqib Muhammad , Luque Rafael , Xu Guobao
Published: January 2016

Nitrogen, phosphorus and oxygen tri-doped porous graphite carbon@oxidized carbon cloth electrodes exhibit excellent activity and durability for full water splitting at all pH values.
The cluster beam route to model catalysts and beyond
Authors: Ellis Peter R. , Brown Christopher M. , Bishop Peter T. , Yin Jinlong , Cooke Kevin , Terry William D. , Liu Jian , Yin Feng , Palmer Richard E.
Published: January 2016

The generation of beams of atomic clusters in the gas phase and their subsequent deposition (in vacuum) onto suitable catalyst supports, possibly after an intermediate mass filtering step, represents a new and attractive approach for the preparation of model catalyst particles. Compared with the colloidal route to the production of pre-formed catalytic nanoparticles, the nanocluster beam approach offers several advantages: the clusters produced in the beam have no ligands, their size can be selected to arbitrarily high precision by the mass filter, and metal particles containing challenging combinations of metals can be readily produced. However, until now the cluster approach has been held back by the extremely low rates of metal particle production, of the order of 1 microgram per hour. This is more than sufficient for surface science studies but several orders of magnitude below what is desirable even for research-level reaction studies under realistic conditions. In this paper we describe solutions to this scaling problem, specifically, the development of two new generations of cluster beam sources, which suggest that cluster beam yields of grams per hour may ultimately be feasible. Moreover, we illustrate the effectiveness of model catalysts prepared by cluster beam deposition onto agitated powders in the selective hydrogenation of 1-pentyne (a gas phase reaction) and 3-hexyn-1-ol (a liquid phase reaction). Our results for elemental Pd and binary PdSn and PdTi cluster catalysts demonstrate favourable combinations of yield and selectivity compared with reference materials synthesised by conventional methods.
Formation of reactive aldehydes (MDA, HHE, HNE) during the digestion of cod liver oil: comparison of human and porcinein vitrodigestion models
Authors: Tullberg Cecilia , Larsson Karin , Carlsson Nils-Gunnar , Comi Irene , Scheers Nathalie , Vegarud Gerd , Undeland Ingrid
Published: January 2016

Higher levels of reactive lipid oxidation products are formed during the digestion of cod liver oil when using human compared to porcinein vitrodigestion models.
Intake of bean sprouts influences melatonin and antioxidant capacity biomarker levels in rats
Authors: Aguilera Yolanda , Rebollo-Hernanz Miguel , Herrera Teresa , Cayuelas L. Tábata , Rodríguez-Rodríguez Pilar , de Pablo Ángel L. López , Arribas Silvia M. , Martin-Cabrejas María A.
Published: January 2016

Bean sprout intake leads to an increase in plasmatic melatonin levels whereas the antioxidant capacity does not result in variation.
Effects of diet containing flaxseed flour (Linum usitatissimum) on body adiposity and bone health in young male rats
Authors: da Costa Carlos Alberto Soares , da Silva Paula Cristina Alves , Ribeiro Danielle Cavalcante , Pereira Aline D'Avila , dos Santos Aline de Sousa , de Abreu Maíra Duque Coutinho , Pessoa Letícia Rozeno , Boueri Bianca Ferolla da Camara , Pessanha Carolina Ribeiro , do Nascimento-Saba Celly Cristina Alves , da Silva Eduardo Moreira , Boaventura Gilson Teles
Published: January 2016

This study evaluated the effects of flaxseed flour on body adiposity and bone health in rats fed a flaxseed flour diet during lactation until 90 days.
Effect of spruce-derived phenolics extracted using microwave enhanced pyrolysis on the oxidative stability of biodiesel
Authors: Alwehaibi Abdulrahman S. , Macquarrie Duncan J. , Stark Moray S.
Published: January 2016

Spruce crude bio-oil provides a comparable antioxidant power to butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and a better antioxidancy than its phenolic extract.