bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Heterologous viral protein interactions within licensed seasonal influenza virus vaccines
Authors: Koroleva Marina , Batarse Frances , Moritzky Savannah , Henry Carole , Chaves Francisco , Wilson Patrick , Krammer Florian , Richards Katherine , Sant Andrea J.
Published: January 2020

Currently, licensed influenza virus vaccines are designed and tested only for their ability to elicit hemagglutinin (HA)-reactive, neutralizing antibodies. Despite this, the purification process in vaccine manufacturing often does not completely remove other virion components. In the studies reported here, we have examined the viral protein composition of a panel of licensed vaccines from different manufacturers and licensed in different years. Using western blotting, we found that, beyond HA proteins, there are detectable quantities of neuraminidase (NA), nucleoprotein (NP), and matrix proteins (M1) from both influenza A and influenza B viruses in the vaccines but that the composition differed by source and method of vaccine preparation. We also found that disparities in viral protein composition were associated with distinct patterns of elicited antibody specificities. Strikingly, our studies also revealed that many viral proteins contained in the vaccine form heterologous complexes. When H1 proteins were isolated by immunoprecipitation, NA (N1), M1 (M1-A), H3, and HA-B proteins were co-isolated with the H1. Further biochemical studies suggest that these interactions persist for at least 4 h at 37 °C and that the membrane/intracytoplasmic domains in the intact HA proteins are important for the intermolecular interactions detected. These studies indicate that, if such interactions persist after vaccines reach the draining lymph node, both dendritic cells and HA-specific B cells may take up multiple viral proteins simultaneously. Whether these interactions are beneficial or harmful to the developing immune response will depend on the functional potential of the elicited virus-specific CD4 T cells.
Author Correction: Dial-in Topological Metamaterials Based on Bistable Stewart Platform
Authors: Wu Ying , Chaunsali Rajesh , Yasuda Hiromi , Yu Kaiping , Yang Jinkyu
Published: January 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Label-free impedance flow cytometry for nanotoxicity screening
Authors: Ostermann Melanie , Sauter Alexander , Xue Ying , Birkeland Eivind , Schoelermann Julia , Holst Bodil , Cimpan Mihaela Roxana
Published: January 2020

The development of reliable and cost-efficient methods to assess the toxicity of nanomaterials (NMs) is critical for the proper identification of their impact on human health and for ensuring a safe progress of nanotechnology. In this study, we investigated the reliability and applicability of label-free impedance flow cytometry (IFC) for in vitro nanotoxicity screening, which avoids time-consuming labelling steps and minimizes possible NM-induced interferences. U937 human lymphoma cells were exposed for 24 h to eight different nanomaterials at five concentrations (2, 10, 20, 50, and 100 μg/mL). The NMs’ effect on viability was measured using IFC and the results were compared to those obtained by trypan blue (TB) dye exclusion and conventional flow cytometry (FC). To discriminate viable from necrotic cells, the IFC measurement settings regarding signal trigger level and frequency, as well as the buffer composition, were optimised. A clear discrimination between viable and necrotic cells was obtained at 6 MHz in a sucrose-based measurement buffer. Nanomaterial-induced interferences were not detected for IFC. The IFC and TB assay results were in accordance for all NMs. The IFC was found to be robust, reliable and less prone to interferences due to the advantage of being label-free.
Transmissibility of acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis in small-scale outbreaks in Hunan Province, China
Authors: Zhang Siyu , Hu Qingqing , Deng Zhihong , Hu Shixiong , Liu Fuqiang , Yu Shanshan , Liu Ruoyun , He Chunlei , Li Hongye , Gao Lidong , Chen Tianmu
Published: January 2020

Acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) outbreaks are reported frequently in China. However, the transmissibility of AHC remains unclear. This study aimed to calculate the transmissibility of the disease with and without interventions. An AHC outbreak dataset from January 2007 to December 2016 in different schools was built in Hunan Province. A Susceptible-Infectious-Recovered (SIR) model was adopted to calculate the effective reproduction number (Reff) of AHC. Reff was divided into two parts (Runc and Rcon) where Runc and Rcon represent the uncontrolled and controlled Reff , respectively. Based on Runc and Rcon, an index of effectiveness of countermeasures (Ieff) was developed to assess the effectiveness of countermeasures in each outbreak. During the study period, 34 AHC outbreaks were reported in 20 counties of 9 cities in Hunan Province, with a mean total attack rate of 7.04% (95% CI: 4.97–9.11%). The mean Runc of AHC outbreaks was 8.28 (95% CI: 6.46–10.11). No significance of Runc was observed between rural and urban areas (t = −1.296, P = 0.205), among college, secondary, and primary schools (F = 0.890, P = 0.459), different levels of school population (F = 0.738, P = 0.538), and different number of index cases (F = 1.749, P = 0.180). The most commonly implemented countermeasures were case isolation, treatment, and health education, followed by environment disinfection, symptom surveillance, and school closure. Social distance, prophylaxis, and stopping eye exercises temporary were implemented occasionally. The mean value of Rcon was 0.16 (range: 0.00–1.50). The mean value of Ieff was 97.16% (range: 71.44–100.00%). The transmissibility of AHC is high in small-scale outbreaks in China. Case isolation, treatment, and health education are the common countermeasures for controlling the disease.
25-vitamin D reduces inflammation in uremic environment
Authors: Brito Rodrigo Barbosa de Oliveira , Rebello Jacqueline Ferritto , Grabulosa Caren Cristina , Pinto Walter , Morales Armando , Elias Rosilene Motta , Moyses Rosa Maria Affonso , Dalboni Maria Aparecida
Published: January 2020

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by loss of renal function and a consequent increase of serum uremic toxins, which contribute to inflammation status. Deficiency of 25-vitamin D, often found in patients with CKD, has been included as an inflammatory factor since it might modulate the immune system. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of 25-vitamin D on inflammatory pathways in healthy and uremic environment. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), oxidative stress (ROS), vitamin D receptor (VDR), 1-α hydroxylase (CYP27), 24 hydroxylase, cathelicidin, and MCP-1 were evaluated in monocytes exposed to a uremic serum pool compared with healthy pool. The human monocytes lineage (U937) was incubated with or without 25-vitamin D (50 ng/ml for 24 hours). TRL4, VDR, CYP27, CYP24, and ROS were evaluated by flow cytometry. We used ELISA to measure IL-6, TNF-α, IL-10, cathelicidin, and MCP-1 in the cell culture supernatant. We observed a higher expression of TRL-4, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-10, cathelicidin and MCP-1 in monocytes incubated with uremic serum when compared with serum from healthy individuals. Supplementation of 25-vitamin D was able to reduce the expression of TRL4, cathelicidin, and MCP-1 in the uremic environment. There was no difference in the expression of VDR, CYP27 and CYP24 intracellular enzymes. This in vitro study showed that the uremic pool activates inflammatory response in monocytes, which was reversed by 25-vitamin D supplementation; this finding suggests that 25-vitamin D has an anti-inflammatory role in the uremic environment.
Machine-learning facilitates selection of a novel diagnostic panel of metabolites for the detection of heart failure
Authors: Marcinkiewicz-Siemion M. , Kaminski M. , Ciborowski M. , Ptaszynska-Kopczynska K. , Szpakowicz A. , Lisowska A. , Jasiewicz M. , Tarasiuk E. , Kretowski A. , Sobkowicz B. , Kaminski K. A.
Published: January 2020

The metabolic derangement is common in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The aim of the study was to check feasibility of the combined approach of untargeted metabolomics and machine learning to create a simple and potentially clinically useful diagnostic panel for HFrEF. The study included 67 chronic HFrEF patients (left ventricular ejection fraction-LVEF 24.3 ± 5.9%) and 39 controls without the disease. Fasting serum samples were fingerprinted by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Feature selection based on random-forest models fitted to resampled data and followed by linear modelling, resulted in selection of eight metabolites (uric acid, two isomers of LPC 18:2, LPC 20:1, deoxycholic acid, docosahexaenoic acid and one unknown metabolite), demonstrating their predictive value in HFrEF. The accuracy of a model based on metabolites panel was comparable to BNP (0.85 vs 0.82), as verified on the test set. Selected metabolites correlated with clinical, echocardiographic and functional parameters. The combination of two innovative tools (metabolomics and machine-learning methods), both unrestrained by the gaps in the current knowledge, enables identification of a novel diagnostic panel. Its diagnostic value seems to be comparable to BNP. Large scale, multi-center studies using validated targeted methods are crucial to confirm clinical utility of proposed markers.
Physicochemical properties, microstructures, nutritional components, and free amino acids of Pleurotus eryngii as affected by different drying methods
Authors: Yang Rui-Lin , Li Qin , Hu Qing-Ping
Published: January 2020

In this study, we determined the influences of different drying techniques such as natural air (ND), hot-air (HD), vacuum (VD), infrared (ID), microwave (MD), and freeze drying (FD) methods on the color, shrinkage ratio (SR), rehydration ratio (RR), firmness, crispness, microstructures, nutritional components, and free amino acids of Pleurotus eryngii. The results showed that these parameters were markedly influenced by different drying techniques. Among them, FD was the most effective drying method which retained the main characteristics of the fresh P. eryngii in above mentioned indexes, followed by ND and HD at 40 °C. Finally, despite the least drying time, MD treatment was not suitable to the drying process of P. eryngii slices since it damaged physicochemical properties and caused massive losses of the main nutrients and free amino acids. The results will provide a theoretical basis for industrial processing of P. eryngii.
Faces Divulge the Origins of Caribbean Prehistoric Inhabitants
Authors: Ross Ann H. , Keegan William F. , Pateman Michael P. , Young Colleen B.
Published: January 2020

The origins of the first peoples to colonize the Caribbean Islands have been the subject of intense debate for over 30 years. Competing hypotheses have identified five separate migrations from the mainland with a separate debate concerning the colonization of The Bahamas. Significant differences in the facial morphology of the pre-Columbian inhabitants of Hispaniola and Cuba led to the present study of Lucayan skulls from The Bahamas. The goal was to determine which group the native Lucayans more closely resembled to resolve this long-standing dispute. The results indicate that they are related to groups from Hispaniola and Jamaica and not to Cuban inhabitants. This study clarified the larger picture of Caribbean migrations and supports evidence for a Carib invasion of the Greater Antilles around AD 800.
MIF gene rs755622 polymorphism positively associated with acute coronary syndrome in Chinese Han population: case–control study
Authors: Du Guo-Li , Luo Jun-Yi , Wang Duolao , Li Yan-Hong , Fang Bin-Bin , Li Xiao-Mei , Gao Xiao-Ming , Yang Yi-Ning
Published: January 2020

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has been recognized as a major player in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. This study determined the association between polymorphisms of MIF gene and acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The polymorphism of MIF gene (rs755622, rs1007888 and rs2096525) was analyzed in 1153 healthy controls and 699 ACS cases in Chinese Han population. Plasma MIF level was also measured in part of ACS patients (139/19.9%) and healthy controls (129/11.2%) randomly. Most participants including healthy controls and ACS patients carried rs755622 GG (63.1% vs. 56.7%) and CG genotypes (33.1% vs. 38.9%) and G allele of rs755622 (79.6% vs. 76.1%, respectively), while CC genotype (3.8% vs. 4.4%) and C allele (20.4% vs. 23.9%) carriers were the lowest. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that carriers with rs755622 C allele had a higher risk of ACS compared to other genotypes (AOR = 1.278, 95% CI: 1.042–1.567). In addition, CC genotype carriers had the highest plasma levels of MIF than other genotype carriers. The MIF level in ACS patients with CC genotype was significantly higher than ACS patients carrying GG genotype and healthy controls carrying 3 different genotypes of MIF gene rs755622. Our findings indicate that MIF gene rs755622 variant C allele is associated with increased risk of ACS. Identification of this MIF gene polymorphism may help for predicting the risk of ACS.
Experimental glaucoma model with controllable intraocular pressure history
Authors: Ficarrotta Kayla R. , Mohamed Youssef H. , Passaglia Christopher L.
Published: January 2020

Glaucoma-like neuropathies can be experimentally induced by disturbing aqueous outflow from the eye, resulting in intraocular pressure (IOP) changes that are variable in magnitude and time course and permanent in duration. This study introduces a novel method of glaucoma induction that offers researchers round-the-clock measurement and reversible control of IOP for the first time. One eye of Brown-Norway rats was implanted with a cannula tethered to a pressure sensor and aqueous reservoir. IOP was raised 10 mmHg for weeks-to-months in treated animals and unaltered in control animals. Counts of Brn3a-expressing retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in implanted eyes were indistinguishable from non-implanted eyes in control animals and 15 ± 2%, 23 ± 4%, and 38 ± 4% lower in animals exposed to 2, 4, and 9 weeks of IOP elevation. RGC loss was greater in peripheral retina at 2 weeks and widespread at longer durations. Optic nerves also showed progressive degeneration with exposure duration, yet conventional outflow facility of implanted eyes was normal (24.1 ± 2.9 nl/min/mmHg) even after 9-weeks elevation. Hence, this infusion-based glaucoma model exhibits graded neural damage with unimpaired outflow pathways. The model further revealed a potentially-significant finding that outflow properties of rat eyes do not remodel in response to chronic ocular hypertension.
Structures of β-glycosidase LXYL-P1-2 reveals the product binding state of GH3 family and a specific pocket for Taxol recognition
Authors: Yang Lin , Chen Tian-Jiao , Wang Fen , Li Li , Yu Wen-Bo , Si Yi-Kang , Chen Jing-Jing , Liu Wan-Cang , Zhu Ping , Gong Weimin
Published: January 2020

LXYL-P1-2 is one of the few xylosidases that efficiently catalyze the reaction from 7-β-xylosyl-10-deacetyltaxol (XDT) to 10-deacetyltaxol (DT), and is a potential enzyme used in Taxol industrial production. Here we report the crystal structure of LXYL-P1-2 and its XDT binding complex. These structures reveal an enzyme/product complex with the sugar conformation different from the enzyme/substrate complex reported previously in GH3 enzymes, even in the whole glycohydrolases family. In addition, the DT binding pocket is identified as the structural basis for the substrate specificity. Further structure analysis reveals common features in LXYL-P1-2 and Taxol binding protein tubulin, which might provide useful information for designing new Taxol carrier proteins for drug delivery.
The PHD finger of Arabidopsis SIZ1 recognizes trimethylated histone H3K4 mediating SIZ1 function and abiotic stress response
Authors: Miura Kenji , Renhu Na , Suzaki Takuya
Published: January 2020

Arabidopsis SIZ1 encodes a SUMO E3 ligase to regulate abiotic and biotic stress responses. Among SIZ1 or mammalian PIAS orthologs, plant SIZ1 proteins contain the plant homeodomain (PHD) finger, a C4HC3 zinc finger. Here, we investigated the importance of PHD of Arabidopsis SIZ1. The ProSIZ1::SIZ1(ΔPHD):GFP was unable to complement growth retardation, ABA hypersensitivity, and the cold-sensitive phenotype of the siz1 mutant, but ProSIZ1::SIZ1:GFP could. Substitution of C162S in the PHD finger was unable to complement the siz1 mutation. Tri-methylated histone H3K4 (H3K4me3) was recognized by PHD, not by PHD(C162S). WRKY70 was up-regulated in the siz1-2 mutant and H3K4me3 accumulated at high levels in the WRKY70 promoter. PHD interacts with ATX, which mediates methylation of histone, probably leading to suppression of ATX’s function. These results suggest that the PHD finger of SIZ1 is important for recognition of the histone code and is required for SIZ1 function and transcriptional suppression.
Ligand structure and charge state-dependent separation of monolayer protected Au25 clusters using non-aqueous reversed-phase HPLC
Authors: Sugi Korath Shivan , Bhat Shridevi , Nag Abhijit , Ganesan Paramasivam , Mahendranath Ananthu , Pradeep Thalappil
Published: January 2020

We demonstrate a systematic flow rate dependent study of three different aliphatic ligand protected Au25 clusters, with three commercially available reversed-phase HPLC columns.
Biomimetic polymeric nanoparticle-based photodynamic immunotherapy and protection against tumor rechallenge
Authors: Kim Dongyoon , Byun Junho , Park Jinwon , Lee Yeon , Shim Gayong , Oh Yu-Kyoung
Published: January 2020

In this study, we sought to design a bionanomaterial that could exert anticancer effects against primary tumors and protect against rechallenged tumorsviaphotodynamic immunotherapy.
Protein degradation through covalent inhibitor-based PROTACs
Authors: Xue Gang , Chen Jiahui , Liu Lihong , Zhou Danli , Zuo Yingying , Fu Tiancheng , Pan Zhengying
Published: January 2020

Covalent inhibitor-based PROTACs were successfully developed for the degradation of target proteins in live cells to further extend the application scope of PROTACs.
High-efficiency cathodic electrochemiluminescence of the tris(2,2′-bipyridine)ruthenium(ii)/N-hydroxy compound system and its use for sensitive “turn-on” detection of mercury(ii) and methyl blue
Authors: Saqib Muhammad , Bashir Shahida , Kitte Shimeles Addisu , Li Haijuan , Jin Yongdong
Published: January 2020

N-Hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) and N-hydroxysulfosuccinimide (NHSS) were exploited as efficient coreactants for cathodic Ru(bpy)32+ electrochemiluminescence (ECL) in neutral medium.
The corrosion inhibition of stainless steel by ferrocene–polyoxometalate hybrid molecular materials – experimental and first principles studies
Authors: Sruthi G. , Shakeela K. , Shanmugam R. , Ranga Rao G.
Published: January 2020

The corrosion inhibition mechanism for SS316 coated with FcPMo hybrid material is shown.
Terphenyl backbone-based donor–π–acceptor dyads: geometric isomer effects on intramolecular charge transfer
Authors: Kim Min-Ji , Ahn Mina , Shim Jun Ho , Wee Kyung-Ryang
Published: January 2020

The molecular geometry effects of ortho, meta, and para-terphenyl based donor–π–acceptor (D–π–A) dyads on intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) were studied to investigate structure-ICT relationships.
Ab initiomodelling of local interfaces in doped organic semiconductors
Authors: Valencia Ana M. , Guerrini Michele , Cocchi Caterina
Published: January 2020

Local interface structures affect theab initiomodelling of the electronic and optical properties of doped organic semiconductors.
Effects of phosphorus addition on selectivity and stability of Pd model catalysts during cyclohexene dehydrogenation
Authors: Sampath Abinaya , Flaherty David W.
Published: January 2020

P addition to Pd increases dehydrogenation selectivity and increases catalyst stability.
Design, synthesis and biological activities of pyrrole-3-carboxamide derivatives as EZH2 (enhancer of zeste homologue 2) inhibitors and anticancer agents
Authors: Zhou Qifan , Jia Lina , Du Fangyu , Dong Xiaoyu , Sun Wanyu , Wang Lihui , Chen Guoliang
Published: January 2020

A novel series of pyrrole-3-carboxamides targeting EZH2 have been designed and synthesized. The structure–activity relationships were summarized by combining within vitrobiological activity assay and docking results.
Bimetallic BaMoO4 nanoparticles for the C–S cross-coupling of thiols with haloarenes
Authors: Panda Subhalaxmi , Sahu Santosh Kumar , Behera Pradyota Kumar , Panigrahi Reba , Garnaik Bamakanta , Rout Laxmidhar
Published: January 2020

The C–S cross-coupling of alkyl/aryl thiols with haloarenes using BaMoO4 nanoparticles was accomplished with high yields, and good functional group tolerance and selectivity. Unactivated bromo and 4-acetyl fluoroarenes can afford thioethers in high yields.
2,3-Dimethylindole as a donor for novel thermally activated delayed fluorescence emitters
Authors: Liu Ming , Shi Ming , Meng Hong
Published: January 2020

Two light-emitting molecules with one or two 2,3-dimethylindole donor groups are synthesized, and their fluorescence are studied.
Synthesis and antiviral activity of novel myricetin derivatives containing ferulic acid amide scaffolds
Authors: Tang Xu , Zhang Cheng , Chen Mei , Xue Yining , Liu Tingting , Xue Wei
Published: January 2020

A variety of myricetin derivatives bearing ferulic acid amide scaffolds were designed and synthesized.
A composite of ultra-fine few-layer MoS2 structures embedded on N,P-co-doped bio-carbon for high-performance sodium-ion batteries
Authors: Luo Fenqiang , Xia Xinshu , Zeng Lingxing , Chen Xiaochuan , Feng Xiaoshan , Wang Jianbiao , Xu Lihong , Qian Qingrong , Wei Mingdeng , Chen Qinghua
Published: January 2020

Highly dispersed ultra-fine few-layer MoS2 embedded on N/P co-doped bio-carbon composite (MoS2-N/P-C) was synthesized and it delivers excellent high-rate long term cycling performance (175 mA h g−1 after 2000 cycles at 5 A g−1).
Two isomeric In(iii)-MOFs: unexpected stability difference and selective fluorescence detection of fluoroquinolone antibiotics in water
Authors: Zhong Wen-Bin , Li Ru-Xia , Lv Jie , He Tao , Xu Ming-Ming , Wang Bin , Xie Lin-Hua , Li Jian-Rong
Published: January 2020

The fluorescence of the two new In(iii)-MOFs is selectively quenched by the fluoroquinolones, including ciprofloxacin, one of the most widely used antibiotics worldwide.
Electrochemical determination of tetrabromobisphenol A in water samples based on a carbon nanotubes@zeolitic imidazole framework-67 modified electrode
Authors: Zhou Tingting , Zhao Xiaoya , Xu Yinghua , Tao Yun , Luo Dan , Hu Liqin , Jing Tao , Zhou Yikai , Wang Peng , Mei Surong
Published: January 2020

Carbon nanotubes@zeolitic imidazole framework-67 (CNTs@ZIF-67), a conductive composite was prepared from carboxylic carbon nanotubes and a cobalt–imidazole framework.
Preparation of porous Co3O4 and its response to ethanol with low energy consumption
Authors: Zhang Xiao , Xu Yaohua , Liu Hao , Zhao Wenrui , Ming Anjie , Wei Feng
Published: January 2020

The fabricated porous Co3O4 showed remarkable ethanol sensing performance, which benefited from adsorbed oxygen, catalytic and structural effects.
Corrosion protection mechanism of Ce4+/organic inhibitor for AA2024 in 3.5% NaCl
Authors: Gobara Mohamed , Baraka Ahmad , Akid Robert , Zorainy Mahmoud
Published: January 2020

Proposed corrosion protection mechanism of Ce4+/ organic inhibitor for AA2024.
Effect of surface modification and laser repetition rate on growth, structural, electronic and optical properties of GaN nanorods on flexible Ti metal foil
Authors: Ramesh Ch. , Tyagi P. , Kaswan J. , Yadav B. S. , Shukla A. K. , Senthil Kumar M. , Kushvaha S. S.
Published: January 2020

The effect of flexible Ti metal foil surface modification and laser repetition rate in laser molecular beam epitaxy growth process on the evolution of GaN nanorods and their structural, electronic and optical properties has been investigated.
Synthesis and amide imidic prototropic tautomerization in thiophene-2-carbohydrazide: XRD, DFT/HSA-computation, DNA-docking, TG and isoconversional kineticsviaFWO and KAS models
Authors: Al-Zaqri Nabil , Khatib Tamer , Alsalme Ali , Alharthi Fahad A. , Zarrouk Abdelkader , Warad Ismail
Published: January 2020

Thiophene-2-carbohydrazide as a novel small-molecule amide tautomer has been synthesized with an acceptable yield under microwave radiation (MW) conditions.
Redox-neutral photochemical Heck-type arylation of vinylphenols activated by visible light
Authors: Liang Kangjiang , Li Tao , Li Na , Zhang Yang , Shen Lei , Ma Zhixian , Xia Chengfeng
Published: January 2020

A regioselective and stereoselective Heck-type arylation of vinylphenols with non-activated (hetero)aryl halides was realized under visible light irradiation. The vinylphenolate anions acted as strong reducing photoactivators to activate (hetero)aryl halides.
Outstanding thermoelectric properties of solvothermal-synthesized Sn1−3xInxAg2xTe micro-crystals through defect engineering and band tuning
Authors: Moshwan Raza , Liu Wei-Di , Shi Xiao-Lei , Sun Qiang , Gao Han , Wang Yun-Peng , Zou Jin , Chen Zhi-Gang
Published: January 2020

In eco-friendly SnTe thermoelectrics, In and Ag co-doping induces the synergistic effect of resonance energy levels and valence band convergence to enhance its electrical transport properties, while defects ameliorates its thermal transport.
Biodegradable and bioabsorbable sensors based on two-dimensional materials
Authors: Chen Xiang , Ahn Jong-Hyun
Published: January 2020

This review presents a broad overview of recent reports on the biocompatibility and biodegradability of two-dimensional materials and highlights recent progress in their biodegradable and bioabsorbable sensors for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
Improved phase stability of γ-CsPbI3 perovskite nanocrystals using the interface effect using iodine modified graphene oxide
Authors: Zhang Qi , Zhou Yangying , Wei Yaxuan , Tai Meiqian , Nan Hui , Gu Youchen , Han Jianhua , Yin Xuewen , Li Jianbao , Lin Hong
Published: January 2020

The variation of the active element on rGO leads to the stress state change of γ-CsPbI3 NCs, improving their phase stability.
Correction: Strong metal–support interactions between palladium nanoclusters and hematite toward enhanced acetylene dicarbonylation at low temperature
Authors: Wei Xuemei , Ma Zhanwei , Lu Jinzhi , Mu Xinyuan , Hu Bin
Published: January 2020

Correction for ‘Strong metal–support interactions between palladium nanoclusters and hematite toward enhanced acetylene dicarbonylation at low temperature’ by Xuemei Wei et al., New J. Chem., 2020, DOI: 10.1039/c9nj05493f.
Up-regulation of P21-activated kinase 1 in osteoarthritis chondrocytes is responsible for osteoarthritic cartilage destruction
Authors: Ma Wanli , Wang Xiaohe , Wang Chunhui , Gong Mingzhi , Ren Peng
Published: January 2020

Osteoarthritis is mainly caused by a degenerative joint disorder, which is characterized by the gradual degradation of articular cartilage and synovial inflammation. The chondrocyte, the unique resident cell type of articular cartilage, is crucial for the development of osteoarthritis. Previous studies revealed that P21-activated kinase-1 (PAK1) was responsible for the initiation of inflammation. The purpose of the present study was to determine the potential role of PAK1 in osteoarthritis. The level of PAK1 expression was measured by Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR in articular cartilage from osteoarthritis model rats and patients with osteoarthritis. In addition, the functional role of aberrant PAK1 expression was detected in the chondrocytes. We found that the expression of PAK1 was significantly increased in chondrocytes treated with osteoarthritis-related factors. Increased expression of PAK1 was also observed in knee articular cartilage samples from patients with osteoarthritis and osteoarthritis model rats. PAK1 was found to inhibit chondrocytes proliferation and to promote the production of inflammatory cytokines in cartilages chondrocytes. Furthermore, we found that PAK1 modulated the production of extracellular matrix and cartilage degrading enzymes in chondrocytes. Results of the present studies demonstrated that PAK1 might play an important role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis.
Long non-coding RNA FGD5-AS1 promotes non-small cell lung cancer cell proliferation through sponging hsa-miR-107 to up-regulate FGFRL1
Authors: Fan Yafeng , Li Hongxia , Yu Zhongping , Dong Wen , Cui Xiaoyan , Ma Jinlian , Li Shengwen
Published: January 2020

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) FYVE, RhoGEF and PH domain containing 5 antisense RNA 1 (FGD5-AS1) has been reported as an oncogene in colorectal cancer, promoting its tumorgenesis. The present paper focused on searching the potential function of FGD5-AS1 in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). There are connections between the expression of lncRNA FGD5-AS1 and human NSCLC tumor growth and progression. Also, the relationships between FGD5-AS1, hsa-miR-107 and mRNA fibroblast growth factor receptor like 1 (FGFRL1) are going to test their interaction in NSCLC cell lines, which may cause a series of biological behaviors of NSCLC cells. qRT-PCR analysis was conducted to test the expression of RNAs in different situation. CCK-8 experiment and clone formation assay were performed to assess proliferation of NSCLC cells. Also, connection between FGD5-AS1 and hsa-miR-107 were investigated by luciferase reporter assay and RNA pull-down assay. Rescue experiments were performed to verify the modulating relationship between FGD5-AS1, hsa-miR-107 and FGFRL1. High-level expression of FGD5-AS1 was found in NSCLC. FGD5-AS1 may promote the proliferation of NSCLC cells. Also, the combination between hsa-miR-107, FGD5-AS1 and NSCLC have been proved, which means they can play an interaction function in NSCLC cells. Thence, we concluded that lncRNA FGD5-AS1 promotes non-small cell lung cancer cell proliferation through sponging hsa-miR-107 to up-regulate FGFRL1.
Type 2 inflammation suppression by T-regulatory cells attenuates the eosinophil recruitment in mucosa of chronic sinusitis
Authors: Chang Lihong , Wang Zhiyuan , Li Shuaixiang , Chen Xiaohong , Li Xia , Zhao Jun , Lai Xiaoping , Huang Jiancong , Wu Xifu , Huang Zizhen , Bellanti Joseph A. , Zheng Song Guo , Zhang Gehua
Published: January 2020

Type 2 inflammation and eosinophilic infiltration are prominent pathologic features of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). The purpose of the present study was to determine the roles of Tregs in controlling type 2 inflammation and inhibiting eosinophilic infiltration in CRSwNP. A total of 134 nasal polyps, 67 ostiomeatal complex from chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and 62 normal nasal tissues from controls were collected to study the enumeration and function of Tregs cells and the expressions of cytokine profiles via immunofluorescence staining, flow cytometry, qRT-PCR, ELISA, and/or H&E staining. The effects of Tregs on type2 and type3 inflammations were determined in an eosinophilic chronic sinusitis (ECRS) mice model. It was confirmed that the CRSwNP displayed the features of Th2 and Th17 cells-mediated inflammation, accompanying by an increased level of eosinophilic infiltration and the eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), with a decreased frequency of Treg cells. Furthermore, the percentages of CD4+CD25+CD127lowTreg and CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg were only decreased in the polyps of CRSwNP but not in the paired peripheral blood. The CRSwNP possessed the decreased Nrp1+Tregs, Helios+Treg, and low TGF-β and interleukin (IL)-10 expressions in Tregs. The ECRS mice showed similar inflammatory characteristics to CRSwNP patients. The adoptive transfer of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg cells significantly decreased the inflammatory cytokines, eosinophilic chemotactic factors in the mucosa of the ECRS mice without alteration of the immune balance in the peripheral blood and spleen. In conclusion, CRSwNP showed high type 2 and type3 inflammation and defective Tregs. The induced regulatory T cell (iTreg) may correct the imbalance between immune tolerance and effect via limiting the eosinophil recruitment of mucosa in CRSwNP.
The TERT copy number gain is sensitive to telomerase inhibitors in human melanoma
Authors: Yu Jinyu , Yu Jiayi , Wu Xiaowen , Guo Qian , Yin Ting , Cheng Zhiyuan , Dai Jie , Kong Yan , Guo Jun
Published: January 2020

Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) copy number gain is frequently observed in Asian melanoma patients. Here, we explored the correlation between TERT copy number and the effect of telomerase inhibitors in melanoma. A total of 78 melanoma cases were enrolled in the study. The TERT copy number was examined by QuantiGene Plex DNA assay. The sensitivity to telomerase inhibitors was evaluated in cell lines and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models with or without TERT copy number gain. Among the 78 patients, 33.3% showed TERT copy number gain, and the incidence of this gain in acral melanoma (61.5%) was higher than that in other melanoma subtypes (P=0.02). The telomerase inhibitors 6-thio-2′-deoxyguanosine (6-Thio-dG) and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) inhibited cell viability and repressed tumor growth in PDX models with TERT copy number gain. TERT copy number gain is frequently observed in Chinese patients with melanoma. Targeting telomerase may benefit melanoma patients with TERT copy number gain.
Acute myeloid leukemia immune escape by epigenetic CD48 silencing
Authors: Wang Zhiding , Xiao Yang , Guan Wei , Wang Mengzhen , Chen Jinghong , Zhang Linlin , Li Yan , Xiong Qian , Wang Hong , Wang Maoquan , Li Yuyan , Lv Na , Li Yonghui , Wang Lixin , Yu Li
Published: January 2020

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a malignant disorder of hemopoietic stem cells. AML can escape immunosurveillance of natural killer (NK) by gene mutation, fusions and epigenetic modification. The mechanism of AML immune evasion is not clearly understood. Here we show that CD48 high expression is a favorable prognosis factor that is down-regulated in AML patients, which can help AML evade from NK cell recognition and killing. Furthermore, we demonstrate that CD48 expression is regulated by methylation and that a hypomethylating agent can increase the CD48 expression, which increases the NK cells killing in vitro. Finally, we show that CD48 high expression can reverse the AML immune evasion and activate NK cells function in vivo. The present study suggests that a combination the hypomethylating agent and NK cell infusion could be a new strategy to cure AML.
Security‐reliability tradeoff for multi‐terminal multi‐mode coexisting systems in the presence of multiple eavesdroppers
Authors: Ding Xiaojin , Ding Fei , Chen Xiaoshu , Wang Xiaojun
Published: January 2020

In this study, the authors explore a wireless network consisting of multiple smart terminals relying on multi‐mode in the presence of an eavesdropper, where the eavesdropper may be deployed to wiretap the wireless communications deliberately. In general, a smart terminal can be switched between the licensed modes (e.g. LTE) and the unlicensed modes (e.g. WiFi) according to user's demands (e.g. costs). The designed tradeoff is that the demands can be met by switching, but the security of wireless transmissions may be deteriorated, as the wireless communications can be overheard by the eavesdropper. The authors propose a transmission mode aware smart terminal scheduling (TM‐STS) scheme to improve the security of wireless transmissions of a smart terminal. Moreover, they analyse the security‐reliability tradeoff (SRT) of the TM‐STS scheme. They also present the SRT of the conventional round‐robin aided smart terminal scheduling (Rr‐STS) scheme. Numerical results show that the TM‐STS scheme outperforms the Rr‐STS scheme in terms of its SRT, and reveal that increasing the number of smart terminals not only can upgrade the SRT of the TM‐STS scheme, but also can be a major influence on the probability of mode switching between a licensed mode and an unlicensed mode of the TM‐STS scheme.
Secure and concealed watchdog selection scheme using masked distributed selection approach in wireless sensor networks
Authors: Soundararajan Rajasoundaran , Palanisamy Narayanasamy , Patan Rizwan , Nagasubramanian Gayathri , Khan Mohammed S.
Published: January 2020

Selecting secure and dynamic watchdogs for detecting attacks using a type of intrusion detection system (IDS). The selection procedure of watchdogs in the random ad‐hoc wireless sensor network is a load creation job in the absence of a centralised controller. In this type of network, the data processing transmission for the routing process and secure watchdog selection process create overhead in each node. It drains the energy of an individual node easily. Founded on these issues, this work concentrates on the secure selection of concealed watchdogs and maintenance of optimal watchdog availability ratio. In the random ad‐hoc wireless sensor network, the secure and authorised watchdogs are selected from the neighbour list of each node on‐demand basis to provide security for the network. In addition to this work concentrates on dynamic uncertain conditions to build a secure and authenticated multi‐watchdog system in the distributed scenario. The proposed system uses the combination of both customised layer masking techniques and secure routing and monitoring techniques for the protection of random ad‐hoc wireless sensor networks.
Analysis study and SDR implementation of GoF‐based spectrum sensing for cognitive radio
Authors: Teguig Djamal , Azzaz Mohamed Salah , Sadoudi Said
Published: January 2020

Cognitive radio (CR) technology is getting extensive attention to eliminate the problem of spectrum scarcity. This technology is based on Software Defined Radio (SDR) and some integrated intelligent functions such as spectrum sensing. This function is one of the crucial elements and its hardware implementation is important for the practical realization of the CR. This paper presents experimental results of the hardware implementation of the Goodness of Fit (GoF) based sensing for CR. Universal Software Radio Peripheral platform (USRP) is used for the experiments conducted. The choice of GoF based sensing for detecting spectrum holes is motivated by the advantage of requiring fewer samples to achieve the same sensing performance compared to Energy Detector (ED). Besides, the analytical expressions for the theoretical detection performance are derived. Computer simulations are carried out to evaluate the impact of fading channels on GoF based sensing. Numerical results confirm that the proposed GoF based sensing method outperform ED under fading channels. Furthermore, theoretical results of GoF based spectrum sensing are validated experimentally taking into account some parameters such as sample rate and sensing time. Finally, several scenarios of wideband GoF based sensing are considered to demonstrate the strengths of the considered method.
Dynamic and energy‐efficient ICI mitigation techniques for mobility‐based 5G HetCN
Authors: Borah Janmoni , Hussain Md. Anwar , Bora Joyatri
Published: January 2020

In this study, two dynamic mechanisms are proposed to mitigate inter‐cell interference (ICI) in the heterogeneous cellular network (HetCN) namely: Dynamic Fixed Region Cooperation (DFRC) and Dynamic Power Allocation Mechanism (DPAM). The DFRC allows serving mSCs and other interfering base stations (BSs) to cooperate during transmission of a signal to a user. The DPAM dynamically allocates power to serving BS based on the farthest user in a cell. The study illustrates downlink interferences typically linked with a HetCN. For analysis, a macrocell (MC) network distributed with heterogeneous users is overlaid with both fixed and mobile small cells (SCs). The authors also introduced the cell‐user mobility model for deployed mobile SCs in the network. The effects on network performance metrics: Sumrate, Average user throughput, and Energy efficiency are investigated with an allocation of sub 6 GHz and mmWave bands at MC and deployed SCs, respectively.
Iterative multi‐channel FH‐MFSK reception in mobile shallow underwater acoustic channels
Authors: Sun Dajun , Hong Xiaoping , Cui Hongyu , Liu Lu
Published: January 2020

Frequency‐hopped M‐ary frequency‐shift‐keyed (FH‐MFSK) has the ability to handle with long multipath, large Doppler spreads, high ambient noise and rapid phase fluctuation, and is proved to be a robust modulation scheme in mobile shallow underwater acoustic channels. Aiming at this topic, a convolutionally encoded FH‐MFSK modulation scheme with a novel iterative multi‐channel reception is proposed. To obtain the novel reception suitable for non‐coherent M‐ary frequency‐shift‐keyed, the ideas of iterative multi‐channel demodulation and decoding are combined and extended. A modified multi‐channel soft‐input–soft‐output demodulator based on maximum‐a‐posterior criterion is derived, and substantial gains of several decibels in power efficiency are achieved. Extra gain can be obtained by utilising time diversity with long multipath delay. Simulation shows that a non‐coherent receiver equipped with five arrays obtains around 5.5 dB gain over the single non‐iterative receiver. A shallow water field testing at Songhua Lake with 300 m distance confirms that the proposed receiver verifies its robustness and usability.
Identification and control of the motor‐drive servo turntable with the switched friction model
Authors: Zhang Qian , Wang Qunjing , Ninghao Cui
Published: January 2020

In this study, the identification and control scheme of the motor‐drive servo turntable are researched to achieve accurate tracking. Firstly, the input–output identification experiments are designed and realised for the global model of motor‐drive servo turntable. The order of the global controlled auto‐regressive model is determined by the Akaike information criterion, and the parameters are estimated by a particle swarm optimisation‐cuckoo search algorithm. Secondly, the switched friction model is built combining the LuGre structure and the Stribeck curve. The switching conditions and the parameters of the switched friction model are determined though the input–output and the friction experiments. A constrained multi‐objective optimisation problem is constructed for the parameter identification of the switched friction model. It is solved via a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation. Finally, the composite control strategy, in which the proportional–integral–derivative controller and model‐based friction observer are combined, is proposed in the azimuth angle system of the motor‐drive servo turntable. The trajectory tracking results in simulation and experiment illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed switched model, identification method, and composite control strategy.
Crowding prediction on mass rapid transit systems using a weighted bidirectional recurrent neural network
Authors: Hu Rong , Chiu Yi‐Chang , Hsieh Chih‐Wei
Published: January 2020

Crowding on Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Systems has been the subject of intense scrutiny from a multitude of academic fields. Crowding prediction can assist system managers in finding effective ways to ease traffic pressure. Forecasting crowding levels is a challenging task due to a series of complex factors. Deep learning models are a common approach often applied to traffic prediction, but due to the imbalance within available data, these models that are based on historical data cannot forecast crowding in Rapid Transit Systems effectively. To solve this problem, this study proposes a model named the weighted resample bidirectional recurrent neural network (WRBRNN). First, the training data were split into different sub‐datasets according to certain predetermined labels. During this training time, every mini‐batch size sequence was weighed and resampled from different sub‐datasets. In this study, the authors carefully arranged the traffic data attributes into several time series, allowing the bidirectional time series information and the model to make reliable predictions. This work performed a case study of the Bay Area Rapid Transit, US system with a year's worth of historical data from 2017. Their results reveal that the model WRBRNN performed well when predicting crowding in an MRT system.
Out‐of‐band emission modelling of high‐power pulse linear frequency modulation radar
Authors: Zhao Kui , He Fangmin , Meng Jin , Zhang Lei , Wang Qing , Guo Rui
Published: January 2020

An out‐of‐band (OoB) emission modelling of high‐power pulse linear frequency modulation (PLFM) radar is proposed in this study. Aiming at the frequency‐domain characteristic of the OoB emission, the analytical expression of the frequency‐domain model by simplifying the Fresnel integral is presented. And in consideration of the time‐domain characteristic of the OoB emission, the bandpass time‐domain analytical model is presented. Furthermore, the frequency‐domain model is improved by introducing the characteristic of transition time appeared at the rising and falling edges, and the time‐domain model is improved by introducing the characteristic of frequency transition band appeared at the junction of the pass‐band and stop‐band of the bandpass filter. The simulation and experimental results confirm that the proposed model can accurately describe the time‐ and frequency‐domain characteristics of the OoB emission of PLFM radar. It can be used for the time‐ and frequency‐domain interference mechanism analysis, and guide the analysis on interference suppression demand and research on interference suppression method of the time and frequency domains.
Shock acceleration efficiency in radio relics
Authors: Botteon A. , Brunetti G. , Ryu D. , Roh S.
Published: January 2020

Context. Radio relics in galaxy clusters are giant diffuse synchrotron sources powered in cluster outskirts by merger shocks. Although the relic–shock connection has been consolidated in recent years by a number of observations, the details of the mechanisms leading to the formation of relativistic particles in this environment are still not well understood.

Aims. The diffusive shock acceleration (DSA) theory is a commonly adopted scenario to explain the origin of cosmic rays at astrophysical shocks, including those in radio relics in galaxy clusters. However, in a few specific cases it has been shown that the energy dissipated by cluster shocks is not enough to reproduce the luminosity of the relics via DSA of thermal particles. Studies based on samples of radio relics are required to further address this limitation of the mechanism.

Methods. In this paper, we focus on ten well-studied radio relics with underlying shocks observed in the X-rays and calculate the electron acceleration efficiency of these shocks that is necessary to reproduce the observed radio luminosity of the relics.

Results. We find that in general the standard DSA cannot explain the origin of the relics if electrons are accelerated from the thermal pool with an efficiency significantly smaller than 10%. Our results show that other mechanisms, such as shock re-acceleration of supra-thermal seed electrons or a modification of standard DSA, are required to explain the formation of radio relics.