bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Flt3 ligand treatment reduces enterovirus A71 lethality in mice with enhanced B cell responses
Authors: Lin Yu-Wen , Wang Li-Chiu , Lee Chien-Kuo , Chen Shun-Hua
Published: August 2018

Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) infection can induce encephalitis, which causes death or long-term neurological sequelae, especially in young children. Using a murine infection model, we searched for anti-EV-A71 agents, because effective therapies are not available to control fatal infection. In EV-A71-infected mice, treatment with the hematopoietic growth factor, Fms-like tyrosine-kinase 3 ligand (Flt3 ligand) before infection reduced the lethality and tissue viral loads. Flt3 ligand failed to enhance the production of type I interferons. Instead, Flt3 ligand boosted the numbers of dendritic cells and, particularly lymphocytes in infected organs with an expansion of spleen B cells, and resulted in an increased titer of virus-specific antibody with neutralizing activity in the serum. The protective effect of Flt3 ligand was abolished in B cell-deficient mice. Our findings revealed that Flt3 ligand administration promotes resistance to EV-A71 infection with enhanced B cell response in a mechanism rarely reported before.
Exploring scenarios of chikungunya mitigation with a data-driven agent-based model of the 2014–2016 outbreak in Colombia
Authors: España Guido , Grefenstette John , Perkins Alex , Torres Claudia , Campo Carey Alfonso , Diaz Hernando , de la Hoz Fernando , Burke Donald S. , van Panhuis Willem G.
Published: August 2018

New epidemics of infectious diseases can emerge any time, as illustrated by the emergence of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and Zika virus (ZIKV) in Latin America. During new epidemics, public health officials face difficult decisions regarding spatial targeting of interventions to optimally allocate limited resources. We used a large-scale, data-driven, agent-based simulation model (ABM) to explore CHIKV mitigation strategies, including strategies based on previous DENV outbreaks. Our model represents CHIKV transmission in a realistic population of Colombia with 45 million individuals in 10.6 million households, schools, and workplaces. Our model uses high-resolution probability maps for the occurrence of the Ae. aegypti mosquito vector to estimate mosquito density in Colombia. We found that vector control in all 521 municipalities with mosquito populations led to 402,940 fewer clinical cases of CHIKV compared to a baseline scenario without intervention. We also explored using data about previous dengue virus (DENV) epidemics to inform CHIKV mitigation strategies. Compared to the baseline scenario, 314,437 fewer cases occurred when we simulated vector control only in 301 municipalities that had previously reported DENV, illustrating the value of available data from previous outbreaks. When varying the implementation parameters for vector control, we found that faster implementation and scale-up of vector control led to the greatest proportionate reduction in cases. Using available data for epidemic simulations can strengthen decision making against new epidemic threats.
Apoptosis regulation by subcellular relocation of caspases
Authors: Prokhorova Evgeniia A. , Kopeina Gelina S. , Lavrik Inna N. , Zhivotovsky Boris
Published: August 2018

The cleavage of nuclear proteins by caspases promotes nuclear breakdown and, therefore, plays a key role in apoptosis execution. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms of these events remain unclear. To get more insights into the mechanisms of nuclear events during apoptosis we set up a rapid fractionation protocol for the separation of the cytoplasmic and nuclear fractions of cells undergoing cisplatin-induced apoptosis. Importantly, nuclear accumulation of effector caspase-3 as well as initiator caspase-2, -8 and -9 was observed using the developed protocol and immunofluorescence microscopy. The detection of caspases and their cleavage products in the nucleus occurred within the same time interval after cisplatin treatment and took place shortly before nuclear fragmentation. The entry of initiator caspases to the nucleus was independent of caspase-3. Given that all three initiator caspases had catalytic activity in the nuclei, our findings indicate that initiator caspases might participate in the proteolysis of nuclear components during apoptosis, promoting its disintegration and apoptotic cell death.
Cracking pattern of tissue slices induced by external extension provides useful diagnostic information
Authors: Danno Keisuke , Nakamura Takuto , Okoso Natsumi , Nakamura Naohiko , Iguchi Kohta , Iwadate Yoshiaki , Kenmotsu Takahiro , Ikegawa Masaya , Uemoto Shinji , Yoshikawa Kenichi
Published: August 2018

Although biopsy is one of the most important methods for diagnosis in diseases, there is ambiguity based on the information obtained from the visual inspection of tissue slices. Here, we studied the effect of external extension on tissue slices from mouse liver with different stages of disease: Healthy normal state, Simple steatosis, Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and Hepatocellular carcinoma. We found that the cracking pattern of a tissue slice caused by extension can provide useful information for distinguishing among the disease states. Interestingly, slices with Hepatocellular carcinoma showed a fine roughening on the cracking pattern with a characteristic length of the size of cells, which is much different than the cracking pattern for slices with non-cancerous steatosis, for which the cracks were relatively straight. The significant difference in the cracking pattern depending on the disease state is attributable to a difference in the strength of cell-cell adhesion, which would be very weak under carcinosis. As it is well known that the manner of cell-cell adhesion neatly concerns with the symptoms in many diseases, it may be promising to apply the proposed methodology to the diagnosis of other diseases.
Detecting the Causal Effect of Soil Moisture on Precipitation Using Convergent Cross Mapping
Authors: Wang Yunqian , Yang Jing , Chen Yaning , De Maeyer Philippe , Li Zhi , Duan Weili
Published: August 2018

As a vital land surface parameter, soil moisture influences climate through its impact on water and energy cycles. However, the effect of soil moisture on precipitation has been strongly debated. In this study, a new causal detection method, convergent cross mapping (CCM), was applied to explore the causality between soil moisture and precipitation over low- and mid- latitude regions in the Northern Hemisphere. CCM method generally identified a strong effect of soil moisture on precipitation. Specifically, the optimal effect of soil moisture on precipitation occurred with a lag of one month and clearly decreased after four months, suggesting that soil moisture has potentials to improve the accuracy of precipitation forecast at a sub-seasonal scale. In addition, as climate (i.e., aridity index) changed from dry to wet, the effect of soil moisture on precipitation first increased and then decreased with peaks in semi-arid and semi-humid areas. These findings statistically support the hypothesis that soil moisture impacts precipitation and also provide a reference for the design of climate prediction systems.
Young species of cupuladriid bryozoans occupied new Caribbean habitats faster than old species
Authors: O’Dea Aaron , De Gracia Brigida , Figuerola Blanca , Jagadeeshan Santosh
Published: August 2018

The breadth of habitat occupied by a species, and the rate at which a species can expand into new habitats has important ecological and evolutionary consequences. Here we explore when extant species of free-living cupuladriid bryozoans expanded into new benthic Caribbean habitats that emerged during the final stages of formation of the Isthmus of Panama. Habitat breadth was estimated using the abundances of over 90,000 colonies in ten cupuladriid species, along with the ecological and sedimentary characteristics of the samples in which they occurred. Data reveal that all species expanded their habitat breadths during the last 6 Myr, but did so at a different tempo. ‘Young’ species - those that originated after 5 Ma - expanded relatively quickly, whereas ‘old’ species - those that originated before 9 Ma - took a further 2 Myr to achieve a comparable level of expansion. We propose that, like invasive species, young species are less restrained when expanding their habitat breadths compared to older well-established species. Understanding the mechanism causing this restraint requires further research.
On the coordination of highly dynamic human movements: an extension of the Uncontrolled Manifold approach applied to precision jump in parkour
Authors: Maldonado Galo , Bailly François , Souères Philippe , Watier Bruno
Published: August 2018

The human body generally has more degrees of freedom than necessary for generating a given movement. According to the motor abundance principle, this redundancy is beneficial as it provides the central nervous system with flexibility and robustness for the generation of movements. Under the hypothesis of the Uncontrolled Manifold, the additional degrees of freedom are used to produce motor solutions by reducing the variability that affects the motion performance across repetitions. In this paper, we present a general mathematical framework derived from robotics to formulate kinematic and dynamic tasks in human movement. On this basis, an extension of the Uncontrolled Manifold approach is introduced to deal with dynamic movements. This extension allows us to present a complex experimental application of the proposed framework to highly dynamic task variables in parkour movements. This experiment involves dynamic tasks expressed in terms of linear and angular momenta. The results show that the central nervous system is able to coordinate such skilled tasks which appear to be preferentially controlled and hierarchically organized. The proposed extension is promising for the study of motion generation in anthropomorphic systems and provides a formal description to investigate kinematics and dynamics tasks in human motions.
Resistive switching in nano-structures
Authors: Karpov V. G. , Niraula D.
Published: August 2018

Solid state memory and switching devices aimed at replacing the flash memory technology operate by switching from the high to low resistance when conductive filaments are created in response to the electric pulse. The filaments are identified with either structurally different protrusions or purely electronic conductive pathways. The former can appear via the field induced nucleation (FIN), while the latter do not require phase transformations and are attributed to certain types of temperature and bias dependent conductivity. The existing understanding of those processes ignores features related to extremely small linear sizes of nano-structures. Such are, for example, the device sizes smaller than critical nucleation radii, and/or the electron energy relaxation lengths exceeding the structure dimensions. This paper develops a theory of switching under nano-size conditions. We show how the structure thinness can make FIN a truly threshold phenomenon possible only for voltage (not the field) exceeding a certain critical value. We predict the possibility of threshold switching without memory for certain thickness dependent voltages. The thermal runaway mechanism of electronic switching is described analytically leading to results consistent with the published numerical modeling. Our predictions offer possible experimental verifications deciding between FIN and thermal runaway switching.
Plasma Homoarginine Concentrations According to Use of Hormonal Contraception
Authors: Helm Thea , Varsi Kristin , Fløtre Christina Herland , Lund Agnethe , Svingen Gard Frodahl Tveitevåg , Ueland Per Magne , Bjørke-Monsen Anne-Lise
Published: August 2018

Estrogen is a potent vasodilator through activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). Arginine and its homologue homoarginine are substrates for NOS, while asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is a NOS inhibitor. Healthy, never-pregnant women aged 18 to 40 years (n = 158) were categorized according to use of hormonal contraception into non-users (n = 76), users of estrogen contraceptives (EC-users, n = 58) and users of progestins-only contraceptives (PC-users, n = 24). Plasma homoarginine, arginine, ADMA and SDMA concentrations were assayed using a LC-MS/MS method. Compared to non-users, EC users had higher plasma homoarginine (median (interquartile range) 1.63 (1.24, 2.04) vs. 2.39 (2.05, 2.85) µmol/L, p < 0.001), lower arginine (80.8 (72.4, 94.3) vs. 72.1 (62.9, 85.1) µmol/L, p = 0.008) and ADMA (0.52 (0.46, 0.59) vs. 0.48 (0.42, 0.54) µmol/L, p = 0.003) concentrations. The lowest median plasma homoarginine concentration (1.34 (0.92, 1.75) µmol) was seen in PC-users. No differences were seen in SDMA concentrations according to use of hormonal contraception. In healthy, never-pregnant women aged 18 to 40 years, use of estrogen containing contraception was associated with significantly higher plasma concentrations of homoarginine and lower plasma concentrations of arginine and ADMA as compared to non-users, while the lowest plasma homoarginine concentrations were seen in progestin-only users. Whether the observed changes in relation to use of hormonal contraception have an impact on cardiovascular status, should be evaluated in an intervention study.
Multiplex mutagenesis of four clustered CrRLK1L with CRISPR/Cas9 exposes their growth regulatory roles in response to metal ions
Authors: Richter Julia , Watson James Matthew , Stasnik Peter , Borowska Monika , Neuhold Jana , Berger Matthias , Stolt-Bergner Peggy , Schoft Vera , Hauser Marie-Theres
Published: August 2018

Resolving functions of closely linked genes is challenging or nearly impossible with classical genetic tools. Four members of the Catharanthus roseus receptor-like kinase 1-like (CrRLK1L) family are clustered on Arabidopsis chromosome five. To resolve the potentially redundant functions of this subclass of CrRLK1Ls named MEDOS1 to 4 (MDS1 to 4), we generated a single CRISPR/Cas9 transformation vector using a Golden Gate based cloning system to target all four genes simultaneously. We introduce single mutations within and deletions between MDS genes as well as knock-outs of the whole 11 kb gene cluster. The large MDS cluster deletion was inherited in up to 25% of plants lacking the CRISPR/Cas9 construct in the T2 generation. In contrast to described phenotypes of already characterized CrRLK1L mutants, quadruple mds knock-outs were fully fertile, developed normal root hairs and trichomes and responded to pharmacological inhibition of cellulose biosynthesis similar to wildtype. Recently, we demonstrated the role of four CrRLK1L in growth adaptation to metal ion stress. Here we show the involvement of MDS genes in response to Ni2+ during hypocotyl elongation and to Cd2+ and Zn2+ during root growth. Our finding supports the model of an organ specific network of positively and negatively acting CrRLK1Ls.
Unraveling the Plasmodium vivax sporozoite transcriptional journey from mosquito vector to human host
Authors: Roth Alison , Adapa Swamy R. , Zhang Min , Liao Xiangyun , Saxena Vishal , Goffe Raaven , Li Suzanne , Ubalee Ratawan , Saggu Gagandeep S. , Pala Zarna R. , Garg Shilpi , Davidson Silas , Jiang Rays H. Y. , Adams John H.
Published: August 2018

Malaria parasites transmitted by mosquito bite are remarkably efficient in establishing human infections. The infection process requires roughly 30 minutes and is highly complex as quiescent sporozoites injected with mosquito saliva must be rapidly activated in the skin, migrate through the body, and infect the liver. This process is poorly understood for Plasmodium vivax due to low infectivity in the in vitro models. To study this skin-to-liver-stage of malaria, we used quantitative bioassays coupled with transcriptomics to evaluate parasite changes linked with mammalian microenvironmental factors. Our in vitro phenotyping and RNA-seq analyses revealed key microenvironmental relationships with distinct biological functions. Most notable, preservation of sporozoite quiescence by exposure to insect-like factors coupled with strategic activation limits untimely activation of invasion-associated genes to dramatically increase hepatocyte invasion rates. We also report the first transcriptomic analysis of the P. vivax sporozoite interaction in salivary glands identifying 118 infection-related differentially-regulated Anopheles dirus genes. These results provide important new insights in malaria parasite biology and identify priority targets for antimalarial therapeutic interventions to block P. vivax infection.
Thermal spin fluctuations in CoCrFeMnNi high entropy alloy
Authors: Dong Zhihua , Schönecker Stephan , Li Wei , Chen Dengfu , Vitos Levente
Published: August 2018

High entropy alloys based on 3d transition metals display rich and promising magnetic characteristics for various high-technology applications. Understanding their behavior at finite temperature is, however, limited by the incomplete experimental data for single-phase alloys. Here we use first-principles alloy theory to investigate the magnetic structure of polymorphic CoCrFeMnNi in the paramagnetic state by accounting for the longitudinal spin fluctuations (LSFs) as a function of temperature. In both face-centered cubic (fcc) and hexagonal close-packed (hcp) structures, the LSFs induce sizable magnetic moments for Co, Cr and Ni. The impact of LSFs is demonstrated on the phase stability, stacking fault energy and the fcc-hcp interfacial energy. The hcp phase is energetically preferable to the fcc one at cryogenic temperatures, which results in negative stacking fault energy at these conditions. With increasing temperature, the stacking fault energy increases, suppressing the formation of stacking faults and nano-twins. Our predictions are consistent with recent experimental findings.
Derivation of induced pluripotent stem cells in Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata)
Authors: Nakai Risako , Ohnuki Mari , Kuroki Kota , Ito Haruka , Hirai Hirohisa , Kitajima Ryunosuke , Fujimoto Toko , Nakagawa Masato , Enard Wolfgang , Imamura Masanori
Published: August 2018

Non-human primates are our closest relatives and are of special interest for ecological, evolutionary and biomedical research. The Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata) has contributed to the progress of primatology and neurosciences over 60 years. Despite this importance, the molecular and cellular basis of the Japanese macaque remains unexplored since useful cellular tools are lacking. Here we generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from skin fibroblasts of the Japanese macaque with Sendai virus or plasmid vectors. The Japanese macaque iPSCs (jm-iPSCs) were established under feeder-free culture conditions, but feeder cells turned out to be essential for their maintenance. The jm-iPSCs formed human iPSC-like flat colonies which were positive for pluripotent antigens including alkaline phosphatase, SSEA4, and TRA-1-81. They also expressed endogenous OCT3/4, SOX2, L-MYC, and KLF4 and other pluripotent marker genes. The potential to differentiate into all three germ layers and neural stem cells was confirmed by embryoid body and neurosphere formation, respectively. The jm-iPSCs will provide a robust in vitro tool for investigating the underlying mechanisms of development and physiology studies with the Japanese macaque.
Changes in the gut microbiota composition during pregnancy in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)
Authors: Ferrocino Ilario , Ponzo Valentina , Gambino Roberto , Zarovska Adriana , Leone Filomena , Monzeglio Clara , Goitre Ilaria , Rosato Rosalba , Romano Angelo , Grassi Giorgio , Broglio Fabio , Cassader Maurizio , Cocolin Luca , Bo Simona
Published: August 2018

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a common pregnancy complication, is associated with an increased risk of maternal/perinatal outcomes. We performed a prospective observational explorative study in 41 GDM patients to evaluate their microbiota changes during pregnancy and the associations between the gut microbiota and variations in nutrient intakes, anthropometric and laboratory variables. GDM patients routinely received nutritional recommendations according to guidelines. The fecal microbiota (by 16S amplicon-based sequencing), was assessed at enrolment (24–28 weeks) and at 38 weeks of gestational age. At the study end, the microbiota α-diversity significantly increased (P < 0.001), with increase of Firmicutes and reduction of Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria. Patients who were adherent to the dietary recommendations showed a better metabolic and inflammatory pattern at the study-end and a significant decrease in Bacteroides. In multiple regression models, Faecalibacterium was significantly associated with fasting glucose; Collinsella (directly) and Blautia (inversely) with insulin, and with Homeostasis-Model Assessment Insulin-Resistance, while Sutterella with C-reactive protein levels. Consistent with this latter association, the predicted metagenomes showed a correlation between those taxa and inferred KEGG genes associated with lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis. A higher bacterial richness and strong correlations between pro-inflammatory taxa and metabolic/inflammatory variables were detected in GDM patients across pregnancy. Collectively these findings suggest that the development of strategies to modulate the gut microbiota might be a potentially useful tool to impact on maternal metabolic health.
Stimulation of carbon nanomaterials on syntrophic oxidation of butyrate in sediment enrichments and a defined coculture
Authors: Zhang Wei , Zhang Jianchao , Lu Yahai
Published: August 2018

It remains elusive if direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) occurs in canonical syntrophy involving short-chain fatty acids oxidation. In the present study, we determined the effects of carbon nanomaterials on syntrophic oxidation of butyrate in two lake sediment enrichments and a defined coculture comprisingSyntrophomonas wolfeiandMethanococcus Maripaludis. After four continuous transfers of enrichment cultivation,Syntrophomonasdominated the bacterial populations in enrichments, and the dominated methanogens comprisedMethanosarcinaandMethanospirillumin one enrichment (from Weiming Lake) andMethanoregulaandMethanospirillumin another (from Erhai Lake). Butyrate oxidation and CH4production was significantly accelerated by carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in both enrichments. Replacement of CNTs by magnetite caused similar stimulating effect. For the defined coculture, two carbon nanomaterials, CNTs and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), were tested, both showed consistently stimulating effects on butyrate oxidation. Addition of kaolinite, an electric nonconductive clay mineral, however, revealed no effect. The test onM.maripaludisin pure culture showed no effect by rGO and a negative effect by CNTs (especially at a high concentration). Fluorescencein situhybridization (FISH) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that microbial cells were interwoven by CNTs forming cell-CNT mixture aggregates, and in case of rGO, cells were attached to surface or wrapped-up by rGO thin sheets. Collectively, our data suggest that the presence of conductive nanomaterials likely induces DIET in syntrophic butyrate oxidation.
Large-Scale Encapsulation of Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles via Syngas Photo-Initiated Chemical Vapor Deposition
Authors: Farhanian Donya , De Crescenzo Gregory , Tavares Jason R.
Published: August 2018

Photo-initiated chemical vapor deposition (PICVD) has been adapted for use in a jet-assisted fluidized bed configuration, allowing for the encapsulation of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles on a larger scale than ever reported (5 g). This new methodology leads to a functional coating with a thickness of 1.4–10 nm, confirmed by HRTEM and TGA. XPS and TOF-SIMS characterization confirm that the coating is composed of both aliphatic and polymerized carbon chains, with incorporated organometallic bonds and oxygen-containing moieties. UV-Vis absorbance spectra show that the coating improved dispersion in non-polar solvents, such as n-dodecane. This process represents a first step towards the large-scale, solvent-free post-synthesis processing of nanoparticles to impart a functional coating.
The divergence and dispersal of early perissodactyls as evidenced by early Eocene equids from Asia
Authors: Bai Bin , Wang Yuan-Qing , Meng Jin
Published: August 2018

The earliest perissodactyls are represented by some basal equoid fossils from Euramerica near the Paleocene/Eocene boundary. Unequivocal early equoids have yet to be reported from the early Eocene of Asia, although other groups of early perissodactyls were indeed present in Asia. Here we report the earliest Eocene Asian equid,Erihippus tingaegen. et sp. nov., based on partial specimens initially assigned to the ceratomorphOrientolophus hengdongensis, from the Hengyang Basin of Hunan Province, China. The specimens previously assigned to ‘Propachynolophus’hengyangensisfrom the same Lingcha fauna are split and now reassigned as an ancylopodProtomoropus?hengyangensisand a brontothereDanjiangia lambdodonsp. nov. The nearly simultaneous appearance of equids, ceratomorphs, ancylopods, and brontotheres in the Hengyang Basin suggests that the four main groups of perissodactyls diverged as early as, or no later than, the beginning of the Eocene (about 56 Ma), and displayed different dispersal scenarios during the early Eocene.
Coupled Cu and Mn charge and orbital orders in YBa2Cu3O7/Nd0.65(Ca1-ySry)0.35MnO3 multilayers
Authors: Perret E. , Monney C. , Johnston S. , Khmaladze J. , Lyzwa F. , Gaina R. , Dantz M. , Pelliciari J. , Piamonteze C. , Mallett B. P. P. , Minola M. , Keimer B. , Schmitt T. , Bernhard C.
Published: August 2018

The observation of a charge density wave in the underdoped cuprate high Tc superconductors (Cu-CDW) raised a debate about its relationship with superconductivity. In bulk YBa2Cu3O7−δ the Cu-CDW is incipient and mainly pinned by defects. Nevertheless, a large magnetic field can induce a true long-range Cu-CDW order as it suppresses superconductivity. An enhanced Cu-CDW order was also observed in YBa2Cu3O7/La2/3Ca1/3MnO3 multilayers. Here, we show that the magnitude of the Cu-CDW in YBa2Cu3O7−δ / Nd0.65(Ca1-ySry)0.35MnO3 multilayers can be varied by adjusting the strength of the manganite charge and orbital order via the Sr content (tolerance factor). Furthermore, we resolve the reconstruction of the crystal field levels of the interfacial Cu ions that are also affected by the manganite charge and orbital order. This tuneable interfacial coupling and Cu-CDW in YBa2Cu3O7−δ can be used for studying the relationship between the Cu-CDW and superconductivity and, possibly, for inducing new intertwined quantum states.
Development of a new and environmentally-friendly method to evaluate phenolic compounds from Flos Lonicerae Japonicae with ultra-high performance supercritical fluid chromatography (UHPSFC) combined with chemometrics
Authors: Jiang Hai , Yang Liu , Xing Xudong , Yan Meiling , Yang Bingyou , Yang Lin , Cui Mingyu , Wang Qiuhong , Kuang Haixue
Published: August 2018

The chemical variation of 10 batches of Flos Lonicerae Japonicae from different geographical origins was investigated by quantitation of phenolic acids..
Magnetic delivery of Fe3O4@polydopamine nanoparticle-loaded natural killer cells suggest a promising anticancer treatment
Authors: Wu Liya , Zhang Fuqiang , Wei Zhenhong , Li Xiuying , Zhao Hong , Lv Huiying , Ge Rui , Ma He , Zhang Hao , Yang Bai , Li Jing , Jiang Jinlan
Published: August 2018

Natural killer (NK)-cell-based immunotherapy has been reported to have promising prospects in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer, one of the most common malignancies in the world.
Cationic cell penetrating peptide modified SNARE protein VAMP8 as free chains for gene delivery
Authors: Chen Baizhu , Wu Chi
Published: August 2018

To mimic the effect of cationic polymers, we selected to use vesicle associated membrane protein-8 (VAMP8) and modified its N-terminus with different cationic cell penetrating peptides (CPPs). The modified fusion proteins are expressed in an Escherichia coli system and purified after extraction. These modified VAMP8 proteins are used as free chains for gene transfection, while using bPEI-25k to condense the pDNA.
Facile hydrogenation of N-heteroarenes by magnetic nanoparticle-supported sub-nanometric Rh catalysts in aqueous medium
Authors: Nasiruzzaman Shaikh M. , Aziz Md. Abdul , Kalanthoden Abdul Nasar , Helal Aasif , Hakeem Abbas S. , Bououdina Mohamed
Published: August 2018

This work describes the preparation and systematic characterization of a reusable magnetic heterogeneous nanocatalyst (Rh@Fe3O4) for the hydrogenation of N-heterocycles and simple aromatics.
Effect of surface acidity of cyano-bridged polynuclear metal complexes on the catalytic activity for the hydrolysis of organophosphates
Authors: Tabe Hiroyasu , Terashima Chihiro , Yamada Yusuke
Published: August 2018

Heterogeneous catalysis of cyano-bridged polynuclear metal complexes was examined for the hydrolysis of toxic organophosphates. The surface acidity of cyano-bridged polynuclear metal complexes strongly effects on the catalytic activity.
Removal of ions from saline water using N, P co-doped 3D hierarchical carbon architectures via capacitive deionization
Authors: Han Jinlong , Shi Liyi , Yan Tingting , Zhang Jianping , Zhang Dengsong
Published: August 2018

Removal of ions from saline water has been demonstrated by using N, P co-doped 3D hierarchical carbon via capacitive deionization.
The effects of gut microbiota on metabolic outcomes in pregnant women and their offspring
Authors: Lv You , Yan Zi , Zhao Xue , Gang Xiaokun , He Guangyu , Sun Lin , Li Zhuo , Wang Guixia
Published: August 2018

Metabolic diseases such as gestational diabetes mellitus and obesity during pregnancy have become severe health issues due to adverse pregnant outcomes in recent years.
Comparative analysis of fecal phenolic content between normal and obese rats after oral administration of tea polyphenols
Authors: Chen Bo , Zhou Jie , Meng Qilu , Zhang Yang , Zhang Shihua , Zhang Liang
Published: August 2018

Tea polyphenols (TP) have many health benefits, but most are metabolized into low molecular-weight phenolic acids after oral administration.
MoO3 nanosheet arrays as superior anode materials for Li- and Na-ion batteries
Authors: Wu Kuan , Zhan Jing , Xu Gang , Zhang Chen , Pan Dengyu , Wu Minghong
Published: August 2018

MoO3-based 3D array-type hierarchical architectures show an excellent electrochemical performance for LIBs and SIBs.
Strain-engineering tunable electron mobility of monolayer IV–V group compounds
Authors: Zhang Wei , Yin Jiuren , Ding Yanhuai , Jiang Yong , Zhang Ping
Published: August 2018

First-principles simulations demonstrate the anisotropic and high mobility in the new group monolayer IV–V semiconductors.
Easy and green preparation of a graphene–TiO2 nanohybrid using a supramolecular biomaterial consisting of artificially bifunctionalized proteins and its application for a perovskite solar cell
Authors: Hashima Yuki , Ishikawa Yasuaki , Raifuku Itaru , Inoue Ippei , Okamoto Naofumi , Yamashita Ichiro , Minami Tsuyoshi , Uraoka Yukiharu
Published: August 2018

An easy and green preparation method for a graphene–TiO2 nanohybrid by using a biomaterial is proposed, and the nanohybrid can be applied to perovskite solar cells.
Reducing lithium deposition overpotential with silver nanocrystals anchored on graphene aerogel
Authors: Wang Xianshu , Pan Zhenghui , Wu Yang , Xu Guoguang , Zheng Xiongwen , Qiu Yongcai , Liu Meinan , Zhang Yuegang , Li Weishan
Published: August 2018

Reducing Li nucleation and deposition overpotentials with AgNCs@GA to suppress dendrite growth for stabilizing Li plating/stripping.
Rational design of metal organic framework-derived FeS2 hollow nanocages@reduced graphene oxide for K-ion storage
Authors: Xie Junpeng , Zhu Yongqian , Zhuang Ning , Lei Hang , Zhu Weiling , Fu Yong , Javed Muhammad Sufyan , Li Jinliang , Mai Wenjie
Published: August 2018

We are the first to utilize reduced graphene oxide (RGO) wrapped metal organic framework-derived FeS2 hollow nanocages (FeS2@RGO) as an anode for K-ion batteries.
Cu nanocrystal enhancement of C3N4/Cu hetero-structures and new applications in photo-electronic catalysis: hydrazine oxidation and redox reactions of organic molecules
Authors: Ji Muwei , Huang Jintao , Zhang Kai , He Dongsheng , Chang Shengding , Luo Donghai , Zhang Erhuang , Xu Meng , Liu Jia , Zhang Jiatao , Xu Jian , Wang Jin , Zhu Caizhen
Published: August 2018

A C3N4/Cu hetero-structure was prepared for new applications in photo-electronic redox reactions.
Improved efficiency in fullerene and non-fullerene polymer solar cells having an interdigitated interface with the electron transport layer
Authors: Yan Yu , Li Wei , Cai Jinlong , Chen Mengxue , Mao Yuchao , Chen Xiaolong , Gurney Robert S. , Liu Dan , Huang Fei , Wang Tao
Published: August 2018

An interdigitated interface between the electron transport layer and the photoactive layer has been created and found to increase the efficiency of both fullerene and non-fullerene based solar cells.
On-line in situ determination of deuterium content in water via FTIR spectroscopy
Authors: Litvak Ira , Anker Yaakov , Cohen Haim
Published: August 2018

FTIR spectrometer has the advantage of performing in situ measurements of HDO absorbance peak at 2504 cm−1 with high sensitivity of 0.01‰.
Thermally activated delayed fluorescence processes for Cu(i) complexes in solid-state: a computational study using quantitative prediction
Authors: Lv Lingling , Liu Kui , Yuan Kun , Zhu Yuancheng , Wang Yongcheng
Published: August 2018

Calculated fluorescence (kF), phosphorescence (kP), and ISC rate constants (kvib.ISC/RISC) with the vibronic spin–orbit coupling at 300 K for Cu(dppb)(pz2Bph2).
Effect of stereocomplex crystal and flexible segments on the crystallization and tensile behavior of poly(l-lactide)
Authors: Li Xiaolu , Zhang Xiuqin , Liu Guoming , Yang Zhongkai , Yang Bo , Qi Yue , Wang Rui , Wang De-Yi
Published: August 2018

Effect of stereocomplex crystal and PEG segments in blends on the crystallization and tensile behavior of PLLA.
Electrospinning preparation of a large surface area, hierarchically porous, and interconnected carbon nanofibrous network using polysulfone as a sacrificial polymer for high performance supercapacitors
Authors: Wang Wenyu , Wang Hongjie , Wang He , Jin Xin , Li Jialu , Zhu Zhengtao
Published: August 2018

Carbon nanofibrous mats (CNFMs) are prepared by electrospinning of blended precursor of polyacrylonitrile and polysulfone (PSF) followed by pre-oxidation stabilization and carbonization.
Annulative π-extension of indoles and pyrroles with diiodobiaryls by Pd catalysis: rapid synthesis of nitrogen-containing polycyclic aromatic compounds
Authors: Kitano Hiroyuki , Matsuoka Wataru , Ito Hideto , Itami Kenichiro
Published: August 2018

A palladium-catalyzed one-step annulative π-extension (APEX) reaction of indoles and pyrroles that allows rapid access to nitrogen-containing polycyclic aromatic compounds is described.
Phosphorescent cationic iridium(iii) complexes dynamically bound to cyclodextrin vesicles: applications in live cell imaging
Authors: Schibilla Frauke , Holthenrich Anna , Song Boyi , Linard Matos Anna Lívia , Grill David , Rota Martir Diego , Gerke Volker , Zysman-Colman Eli , Ravoo Bart Jan
Published: August 2018

Cyclodextrin vesicles decorated with luminescent Ir(iii)-complexes are used as contrast agents for cell imaging.
Coordinated silicon elastomer coating@fabrics with oil/water separation capabilities, outstanding durability and ultra-fast room-temperature self-healing ability
Authors: Huang Yawen , Shan Yuxing , Liang Shuai , Zhao Xiuli , Jiang Gang , Hu Chengyao , Yang Junxiao , Liu Lili
Published: August 2018

A co-coordinated PDMS@PET fabric exhibited high oil/water separation performance and rapid self-healing at room temperature.
Recent advances in electron acceptors with ladder-type backbone for organic solar cells
Authors: Jiang Zuo-Quan , Wang Tong-Tong , Wu Fu-Peng , Lin Jiu-Dong , Liao Liang-Sheng
Published: August 2018

Ladder-type non-fullerene acceptors have developed very rapidly since 2015 as they have tunable structure, broad absorption region and good morphology control. The design guidelines and material progress as well as the device understanding are summarized in this review.
Combining nanostructuration with boron doping to alter sub band gap acceptor states in diamond materials
Authors: Choudhury Sneha , Kiendl Benjamin , Ren Jian , Gao Fang , Knittel Peter , Nebel Christoph , Venerosy Amélie , Girard Hugues , Arnault Jean-Charles , Krueger Anke , Larsson Karin , Petit Tristan
Published: August 2018

Synergistic effect of nanostructuration and boron doping allows sub-bandgap electron acceptor states in diamond materials to be controlled.
Fe3O4 nanoparticles embedded in cellulose nanofibre/graphite carbon hybrid aerogels as advanced negative electrodes for flexible asymmetric supercapacitors
Authors: Xia Liaoyuan , Li Xiangling , Wu Xian , Huang Le , Liao Yu , Qing Yan , Wu Yiqiang , Lu Xihong
Published: August 2018

A simple and scalable bottom-up strategy is developed for the rational design and preparation of a high-performance 3-D CNF/MWCNT/RGO/Fe3O4 negative electrode material for assembly of flexible asymmetric supercapacitors.
Novel Zn0.8Cd0.2S@g-C3N4 core–shell heterojunctions with a twin structure for enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic hydrogen generation
Authors: Tian Feng-Yu , Hou Dongfang , Tang Fan , Deng Min , Qiao Xiu-qing , Zhang Qichun , Wu Tao , Li Dong-Sheng
Published: August 2018

The excellent photocatalytic activity of Zn0.8Cd0.2S@g-C3N4 heterojunctions is ascribed to the synergetic effects of twinned homojunctions and core–shell structures.
Marcasite iron sulfide as a high-capacity electrode material for sodium storage
Authors: Voronina Natalia , Yashiro Hitoshi , Myung Seung-Taek
Published: August 2018

Iron sulfides have attracted significant attention as promising electrode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) owing to their low electronegativity, high theoretical capacity, and cost-effectiveness.
Multifunctional coatings that mimic the endothelium: surface bound active heparin nanoparticles with in situ generation of nitric oxide from nitrosothiols
Authors: Luo Rifang , Zhang Jiang , Zhuang Weihua , Deng Lu , Li Linhua , Yu Hongchi , Wang Jin , Huang Nan , Wang Yunbing
Published: August 2018

Multifunctional coatings that mimic the endothelial function in terms of nitric oxide generation and membrane-bound active heparin species are prepared via the immobilization of cystamine-modified heparin/polyethyleneimine (Hep-Cys/PEI) nanoparticles.
Biological effects of apatite nanoparticle-constructed ceramic surfaces in regulating behaviours of mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Zhou Changchun , Jiang Yi , Sun Zhihui , Li Yanyan , Guo Bo , Hong Youliang
Published: August 2018

HCA nanoparticle-constructed nanotopography in vivo mediates bone marrow MSCs to condensate and spontaneously differentiate towards the osteogenic lineage.
Polymer ligand-assisted fabrication of multifunctional and redox-responsive self-assembled magnetic nanoclusters for bimodal imaging and cancer treatment
Authors: Yang Hong Yu , Fu Yan , Li Yi , Jang Moon-Sun , Lee Jung Hee , Lee Doo Sung
Published: August 2018

We designed multifunctional magnetic nanoclusters, which can serve as bimodal imaging probes for the detection of solid tumors and act as emerging PDT agents to suppress tumor growth.
BiVO4based highkmicrowave dielectric materials: a review
Authors: Zhou Di , Pang Li-Xia , Wang Da-Wei , Reaney Ian M.
Published: August 2018

We precis recent studies on doped BiVO4ceramics in terms of A site, B site and A/B site complex substitutions. Low sintering temperature (<800 °C), highεrand near zero temperature coefficient values could be obtained in solid solution and composite ceramics.
Colloidal tin sulfide nanosheets: formation mechanism, ligand-mediated shape tuning and photo-detection
Authors: Li Fu , Ramin Moayed Mohammad Mehdi , Gerdes Frauke , Kull Sascha , Klein Eugen , Lesyuk Rostyslav , Klinke Christian
Published: August 2018

Colloidal materials of tin(ii) sulfide (SnS), as a layered semiconductor with a narrow band gap, are emerging as a potential alternative to the more toxic metal chalcogenides (PbS, PbSe, CdS, and CdSe) for various applications such as electronic and optoelectronic devices.
Bifuran-imide: a stable furan building unit for organic electronics
Authors: Mulay Sandip V. , Bogoslavky Benny , Galanti Idan , Galun Ehud , Gidron Ori
Published: August 2018

A new family of furan-containing materials exhibit high ambient stability while retaining strong fluorescence and quinoid character.
Phosphorene nano-heterostructure based memristors with broadband response synaptic plasticity
Authors: Ren Yi , Hu Liang , Mao Jing-Yu , Yuan Jun , Zeng Yu-Jia , Ruan Shuangchen , Yang Jia-Qin , Zhou Li , Zhou Ye , Han Su-Ting
Published: August 2018

A memristor and artificial synapse based on a ZnO–phosphorene nano-heterojunction are demonstrated. The continuous internal resistance states and multi-wavelength response of the memristor are applied to emulate the functions of the artificial synapse including PPF, SRDP, STDP and STP to LTP transition.
Ruthenium complexes as sensitizers with phenyl-based bipyridine anchoring ligands for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells
Authors: Huang Yin , Chen Wang-Chao , Zhang Xian-Xi , Ghadari Rahim , Fang Xia-Qin , Yu Ting , Kong Fan-Tai
Published: August 2018

Phenyl-based bipyridine anchoring ligands were introduced to ruthenium complex sensitizers for high-efficiency dye-sensitized solar cells.
High pump efficiency of a second-order distributed feedback laser based on holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystals with preferred liquid crystal molecular orientation
Authors: Liu Lijuan , Kong Xiaobo , Wang Qidong , Liu Yonggang , Xuan Li
Published: August 2018

We report on the fabrication and characterization of a surface-emitting distributed feedback (DFB) organic semiconductor laser based on a holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal (HPDLC) transmission grating.
Small morphology variations effects on plasmonic nanoparticle dimer hotspots
Authors: Huang Yu , Chen Yun , Wang Ling-Ling , Ringe Emilie
Published: August 2018

Beyond the ideal nanosphere dimer hotspot model, small morphology variations can have great influences on the plasmonic properties.
Exploring the drivers of early biomineralization
Authors: Wood Rachel
Published: August 2018

The first biomineralized hard parts are known from ∼810 Million years ago (Ma), consisting of phosphatic plates of probable protists formed under active biological control. Large skeletons in diverse taxa, probably including total-group poriferans and total-group cnidarians, first appear in the terminal Ediacaran, ∼550 Ma. This is followed by a substantial increase in abundance, diversity and mineralogy during the early Cambrian. The biological relationship of Ediacaran to early Cambrian skeletal biota is unclear, but tubular skeletal fossils such as Cloudina and Anabarites straddle the transition. Many Ediacaran skeletal biota are found exclusively in carbonate settings, and present skeletons whose form infers an organic scaffold which provided the framework for interactions between extracellular matrix and mineral ions. Several taxa have close soft-bodied counterparts hosted in contemporary clastic rocks. This supports the assertion that the calcification was an independent and derived feature that appeared in diverse groups, which was initially acquired with minimal biological control in the highly saturated, high-alkalinity carbonate settings of the Ediacaran, where the carbonate polymorph was further controlled by seawater chemistry. The trigger for Ediacaran-Cambrian biomineralization is far from clear, but may have been either changing seawater Mg/Ca ratios that facilitated widespread aragonite and high-Mg calcite precipitation, and/or increasing or stabilizing oxygen levels. By the Early Cambrian, the diversity of biomineralization styles may have been an escalating defensive response to increasing predation pressure, with skeletal hard parts first appearing in abundance in clastic settings by the Fortunian. This marks full independence from ambient seawater chemistry and significant biological control of biomineralization.
Bionic boron/silicon‐modified phenolic resin system with multifunctional groups: synthesis, thermal properties and ablation mechanism
Authors: Wang Fengyi , Huang Zhixiong , Guo Zhiguang
Published: August 2018

A kind of silicon‐and‐boron‐modified phenolic–formaldehyde resin (SBPF) with excellent thermal stability was fabricated via a simple two‐step method and used for the matrix of ablation materials. The structure and thermal stability of the modified phenolic–formaldehyde resins (PFs) were characterised. The results showed that boron and silicon elements have been incorporated into SBPF in the form of a chemical bond. Meanwhile, the cured products showed an increase in graphite structure and a decrease in disordered structure due to the incorporation of boron and silicon. Compared with the ordinary phenolic resin, the initial thermal degradation temperature and charring yield at 800°C of SBPF increased by 73°C and 15 wt%, respectively. Further, the modified PFs, nano‐Al2O3 powders, glass powders and vitreous silica fibres were used to obtain a novel ceramizable phenolic moulding composite. The morphology, chemical composition and ablative characteristics of the composites were explored. The results showed that a compact and homogeneous SiO2–Al2O3 layer formed on the ablated surface and protected the carbonised matrix and fibres from further oxidation. Compared with the ordinary PF composites, the SBPF composites showed a highly decreased linear/mass ablation rates, indicating the synergistic effect of boron and silicon modification on the enhanced ablation property.
On the effective capacity of Fisher–Snedecor fading channels
Authors: Almehmadi F.S. , Badarneh O.S.
Published: August 2018

The performance of the effective capacity metric under Fisher–Snedecor fading channels is investigated. To this end, a novel exact closed‐form expression for the effective capacity is derived. Furthermore, in order to gain more insight, a simple asymptotic expression at the high signal‐to‐noise ratio regime is also provided. Additionally, expressions for the effective capacity of the Nakagami‐m and Rayleigh distributions are deduced from the proposed results as special cases. The analytical results are compared to Monte‐Carlo simulations to prove the correctness of the analysis. The results show that fading has a more positive influence on effective capacity performance than shadowing.
Simple two operational transconductance amplifiers‐based electronically controllable bilinear two port for fractional‐order synthesis
Authors: Sotner R. , Polak L. , Jerabek J. , Petrzela J.
Published: August 2018

This Letter introduces a new circuit topology of the simple electronically controllable voltage‐mode bilinear two port (BTP) employing two operational transconductance amplifiers. The proposed two‐port circuit is completely resistorless and contains only a grounded capacitor. It has a high‐impedance input (a simple cascading of sections is possible) and allows an independent electronic adjusting of zero and pole frequency of the transfer function. The operation of the BTP circuit is demonstrated for two different locations of the pole and zero frequency coordinates. Moreover, a direct application of four BTPs in fractional‐order integrators (order −0.11 and −0.33) with phase shifts −10° and −30° is shown. Design specification is verified by experimental measurements.