bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wnt1 silences chemokine genes in dendritic cells and induces adaptive immune resistance in lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Kerdidani Dimitra , Chouvardas Panagiotis , Arjo Ares Rocanin , Giopanou Ioanna , Ntaliarda Giannoula , Guo Yu Amanda , Tsikitis Mary , Kazamias Georgios , Potaris Konstantinos , Stathopoulos Georgios T. , Zakynthinos Spyros , Kalomenidis Ioannis , Soumelis Vassili , Kollias George , Tsoumakidou Maria
Published: March 2019

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD)-derived Wnts increase cancer cell proliferative/stemness potential, but whether they impact the immune microenvironment is unknown. Here we show that LUAD cells use paracrine Wnt1 signaling to induce immune resistance. In TCGA, Wnt1 correlates strongly with tolerogenic genes. In another LUAD cohort, Wnt1 inversely associates with T cell abundance. Altering Wnt1 expression profoundly affects growth of murine lung adenocarcinomas and this is dependent on conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) and T cells. Mechanistically, Wnt1 leads to transcriptional silencing of CC/CXC chemokines in cDCs, T cell exclusion and cross-tolerance. Wnt-target genes are up-regulated in human intratumoral cDCs and decrease upon silencing Wnt1, accompanied by enhanced T cell cytotoxicity. siWnt1-nanoparticles given as single therapy or part of combinatorial immunotherapies act at both arms of the cancer-immune ecosystem to halt tumor growth. Collectively, our studies show that Wnt1 induces immunologically cold tumors through cDCs and highlight its immunotherapeutic targeting.
Partially coherent radar unties range resolution from bandwidth limitations
Authors: Komissarov Rony , Kozlov Vitali , Filonov Dmitry , Ginzburg Pavel
Published: March 2019

It is widely believed that range resolution, the ability to distinguish between two closely situated targets, depends inversely on the bandwidth of the transmitted radar signal. Here we demonstrate a different type of ranging system, which possesses superior range resolution that is almost completely free of bandwidth limitations. By sweeping over the coherence length of the transmitted signal, the partially coherent radar experimentally demonstrates an improvement of over an order of magnitude in resolving targets, compared to standard coherent radars with the same bandwidth. A theoretical framework is developed to show that the resolution could be further improved without a bound, revealing a tradeoff between bandwidth and sweep time. This concept offers solutions to problems which require high range resolution and accuracy but available bandwidth is limited, as is the case for the autonomous car industry, optical imaging, and astronomy to name just few.
Abnormal mGluR-mediated synaptic plasticity and autism-like behaviours in Gprasp2 mutant mice
Authors: Edfawy Mohamed , Guedes Joana R. , Pereira Marta I. , Laranjo Mariana , Carvalho Mário J. , Gao Xian , Ferreira Pedro A. , Caldeira Gladys , Franco Lara O. , Wang Dongqing , Cardoso Ana Luisa , Feng Guoping , Carvalho Ana Luisa , Peça João
Published: March 2019

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by dysfunction in social interactions, stereotypical behaviours and high co-morbidity with intellectual disability. A variety of syndromic and non-syndromic neurodevelopmental disorders have been connected to alterations in metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) signalling. These receptors contribute to synaptic plasticity, spine maturation and circuit development. Here, we investigate the physiological role of Gprasp2, a gene linked to neurodevelopmental disabilities and involved in the postendocytic sorting of G-protein-coupled receptors. We show that Gprasp2 deletion leads to ASD-like behaviour in mice and alterations in synaptic communication. Manipulating the levels of Gprasp2 bidirectionally modulates the surface availability of mGluR5 and produces alterations in dendritic complexity, spine density and synaptic maturation. Loss of Gprasp2 leads to enhanced hippocampal long-term depression, consistent with facilitated mGluR-dependent activation. These findings demonstrate a role for Gprasp2 in glutamatergic synapses and suggest a possible mechanism by which this gene is linked to neurodevelopmental diseases.
Shp-2 is critical for ERK and metabolic engagement downstream of IL-15 receptor in NK cells
Authors: Niogret Charlène , Miah S. M. Shahjahan , Rota Giorgia , Fonta Nicolas P. , Wang Haiping , Held Werner , Birchmeier Walter , Sexl Veronica , Yang Wentian , Vivier Eric , Ho Ping-Chih , Brossay Laurent , Guarda Greta
Published: March 2019

The phosphatase Shp-2 was implicated in NK cell development and functions due to its interaction with NK inhibitory receptors, but its exact role in NK cells is still unclear. Here we show, using mice conditionally deficient for Shp-2 in the NK lineage, that NK cell development and responsiveness are largely unaffected. Instead, we find that Shp-2 serves mainly to enforce NK cell responses to activation by IL-15 and IL-2. Shp-2-deficient NK cells have reduced proliferation and survival when treated with high dose IL-15 or IL-2. Mechanistically, Shp-2 deficiency hampers acute IL-15 stimulation-induced raise in glycolytic and respiration rates, and causes a dramatic defect in ERK activation. Moreover, inhibition of the ERK and mTOR cascades largely phenocopies the defect observed in the absence of Shp-2. Together, our data reveal a critical function of Shp-2 as a molecular nexus bridging acute IL-15 signaling with downstream metabolic burst and NK cell expansion.
Charge density wave memory in a cuprate superconductor
Authors: Chen X. M. , Mazzoli C. , Cao Y. , Thampy V. , Barbour A. M. , Hu W. , Lu M. , Assefa T. A. , Miao H. , Fabbris G. , Gu G. D. , Tranquada J. M. , Dean M. P. M. , Wilkins S. B. , Robinson I. K.
Published: March 2019

Although CDW correlations are a ubiquitous feature of the superconducting cuprates, their disparate properties suggest a crucial role for pinning the CDW to the lattice. Here, we report coherent resonant X-ray speckle correlation analysis, which directly determines the reproducibility of CDW domain patterns in La1.875Ba0.125CuO4 (LBCO 1/8) with thermal cycling. While CDW order is only observed below 54 K, where a structural phase transition creates inequivalent Cu-O bonds, we discover remarkably reproducible CDW domain memory upon repeated cycling to far higher temperatures. That memory is only lost on cycling to 240(3) K, which recovers the four-fold symmetry of the CuO2 planes. We infer that the structural features that develop below 240 K determine the CDW pinning landscape below 54 K. This opens a view into the complex coupling between charge and lattice degrees of freedom in superconducting cuprates.
Mouse models of Loa loa
Authors: Pionnier Nicolas P. , Sjoberg Hanna , Chunda Valerine C. , Fombad Fanny F. , Chounna Patrick W. , Njouendou Abdel J. , Metuge Haelly M. , Ndzeshang Bertrand L. , Gandjui Narcisse V. , Akumtoh Desmond N. , Tayong Dizzle B. , Taylor Mark J. , Wanji Samuel , Turner Joseph D.
Published: March 2019

Elimination of the helminth disease, river blindness, remains challenging due to ivermectin treatment-associated adverse reactions in loiasis co-infected patients. Here, we address a deficit in preclinical research tools for filarial translational research by developing Loa loa mouse infection models. We demonstrate that adult Loa loa worms in subcutaneous tissues, circulating microfilariae (mf) and presence of filarial biomarkers in sera occur following experimental infections of lymphopenic mice deficient in interleukin (IL)-2/7 gamma-chain signaling. A microfilaraemic infection model is also achievable, utilizing immune-competent or -deficient mice infused with purified Loa mf. Ivermectin but not benzimidazole treatments induce rapid decline (>90%) in parasitaemias in microfilaraemic mice. We identify up-regulation of inflammatory markers associated with allergic type-2 immune responses and eosinophilia post-ivermectin treatment. Thus, we provide validation of murine research models to identify loiasis biomarkers, to counter-screen candidate river blindness cures and to interrogate the inflammatory etiology of loiasis ivermectin-associated adverse reactions.
A gut microbiome signature for cirrhosis due to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Caussy Cyrielle , Tripathi Anupriya , Humphrey Greg , Bassirian Shirin , Singh Seema , Faulkner Claire , Bettencourt Ricki , Rizo Emily , Richards Lisa , Xu Zhenjiang Z. , Downes Michael R. , Evans Ronald M. , Brenner David A. , Sirlin Claude B. , Knight Rob , Loomba Rohit
Published: March 2019

The presence of cirrhosis in nonalcoholic-fatty-liver-disease (NAFLD) is the most important predictor of liver-related mortality. Limited data exist concerning the diagnostic accuracy of gut-microbiome-derived signatures for detecting NAFLD-cirrhosis. Here we report 16S gut-microbiome compositions of 203 uniquely well-characterized participants from a prospective twin and family cohort, including 98 probands encompassing the entire spectrum of NAFLD and 105 of their first-degree relatives, assessed by advanced magnetic-resonance-imaging. We show strong familial correlation of gut-microbiome profiles, driven by shared housing. We report a panel of 30 features, including 27 bacterial features with discriminatory ability to detect NAFLD-cirrhosis using a Random Forest classifier model. In a derivation cohort of probands, the model has a robust diagnostic accuracy (AUROC of 0.92) for detecting NAFLD-cirrhosis, confirmed in a validation cohort of relatives of proband with NAFLD-cirrhosis (AUROC of 0.87). This study provides evidence for a fecal-microbiome-derived signature to detect NAFLD-cirrhosis.
Integrated charge excitation triboelectric nanogenerator
Authors: Liu Wenlin , Wang Zhao , Wang Gao , Liu Guanlin , Chen Jie , Pu Xianjie , Xi Yi , Wang Xue , Guo Hengyu , Hu Chenguo , Wang Zhong Lin
Published: March 2019

Performance of triboelectric nanogenerators is limited by low and unstable charge density on tribo-layers. An external-charge pumping method was recently developed and presents a promising and efficient strategy towards high-output triboelectric nanogenerators. However, integratibility and charge accumulation efficiency of the system is rather low. Inspired by the historical development of electromagnetic generators, here, we propose and realize a self-charge excitation triboelectric nanogenerator system towards high and stable output in analogy to the principle of traditional magnetic excitation generators. By rational design of the voltage-multiplying circuits, the completed external and self-charge excitation modes with stable and tailorable output over 1.25 mC m−2 in contact-separation mode have been realized in ambient condition. The realization of the charge excitation system in this work may provide a promising strategy for achieving high-output triboelectric nanogenerators towards practical applications.
Excessive mechanical loading promotes osteoarthritis through the gremlin-1–NF-κB pathway
Authors: Chang Song Ho , Mori Daisuke , Kobayashi Hiroshi , Mori Yoshifumi , Nakamoto Hideki , Okada Keita , Taniguchi Yuki , Sugita Shurei , Yano Fumiko , Chung Ung-il , Kim-Kaneyama Joo-ri , Yanagita Motoko , Economides Aris , Canalis Ernesto , Chen Di , Tanaka Sakae , Saito Taku
Published: March 2019

Exposure of articular cartilage to excessive mechanical loading is deeply involved in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. Here, we identify gremlin-1 as a mechanical loading-inducible factor in chondrocytes, detected at high levels in middle and deep layers of cartilage after cyclic strain or hydrostatic pressure loading. Gremlin-1 activates nuclear factor-κB signalling, leading to subsequent induction of catabolic enzymes. In mice intra-articular administration of gremlin-1 antibody or chondrocyte-specific deletion ofGremlin-1decelerates osteoarthritis development, while intra-articular administration of recombinant gremlin-1 exacerbates this process. Furthermore, ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 activation induced by mechanical loading enhances reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Amongst ROS-activating transcription factors, RelA/p65 inducesGremlin-1transcription, which antagonizes induction of anabolic genes such asSox9,Col2a1, andAcanby bone morphogenetic proteins. Thus, gremlin-1 plays essential roles in cartilage degeneration by excessive mechanical loading.
Fabrication of arbitrary three-dimensional suspended hollow microstructures in transparent fused silica glass
Authors: Kotz Frederik , Risch Patrick , Arnold Karl , Sevim Semih , Puigmartí-Luis Josep , Quick Alexander , Thiel Michael , Hrynevich Andrei , Dalton Paul D. , Helmer Dorothea , Rapp Bastian E.
Published: March 2019

Fused silica glass is the preferred material for applications which require long-term chemical and mechanical stability as well as excellent optical properties. The manufacturing of complex hollow microstructures within transparent fused silica glass is of particular interest for, among others, the miniaturization of chemical synthesis towards more versatile, configurable and environmentally friendly flow-through chemistry as well as high-quality optical waveguides or capillaries. However, microstructuring of such complex three-dimensional structures in glass has proven evasive due to its high thermal and chemical stability as well as mechanical hardness. Here we present an approach for the generation of hollow microstructures in fused silica glass with high precision and freedom of three-dimensional designs. The process combines the concept of sacrificial template replication with a room-temperature molding process for fused silica glass. The fabricated glass chips are versatile tools for, among other, the advance of miniaturization in chemical synthesis on chip.
Electrotaxis of Glioblastoma and Medulloblastoma Spheroidal Aggregates
Authors: Lyon Johnathan G. , Carroll Sheridan L. , Mokarram Nassir , Bellamkonda Ravi V.
Published: March 2019

Treatment of neuroepithelial cancers remains a daunting clinical challenge, particularly due to an inability to address rampant invasion deep into eloquent regions of the brain. Given the lack of access, and the dispersed nature of brain tumor cells, we explore the possibility of electric fields inducing directed tumor cell migration. In this study we investigate the properties of populations of brain cancer undergoing electrotaxis, a phenomenon whereby cells are directed to migrate under control of an electrical field. We investigate two cell lines for glioblastoma and medulloblastoma (U87mg & DAOY, respectively), plated as spheroidal aggregates in Matrigel-filled electrotaxis channels, and report opposing electrotactic responses. To further understand electrotactic migration of tumor cells, we performed RNA-sequencing for pathway discovery to identify signaling that is differentially affected by the exposure of direct-current electrical fields. Further, using selective pharmacological inhibition assays, focused on the PI3K/mTOR/AKT signaling axis, we validate whether there is a causal relationship to electrotaxis and these mechanisms of action. We find that U87 mg electrotaxis is abolished under pharmacological inhibition of PI3Kγ, mTOR, AKT and ErbB2 signaling, whereas DAOY cell electrotaxis was not attenuated by these or other pathways evaluated.
Effects of cold storage on quality of Chrysopa pallens and recovery of fecundity by insulin
Authors: Zhang Tingting , Zhang Guocai , Zhang Lisheng , Chen Hongyin , Wang Mengqing , Liu Chenxi , Mao Jianjun
Published: March 2019

The green lacewing, Chrysopa pallens Wesmael, is one of the most beneficial and prolific insects found in many horticultural and agricultural cropping system. Here, the effects of low temperature storage on quality of C. pallens were investigated by storing cocoons at 10 °C for different days. Results revealed, after removal from cold storage, emergence rate declined gradually as storage duration increased. After storage of 20 days, the emergence rate in cold-stored group is about 62.8% of that in unstored group. After eclosion, lifetime fecundity, preemergence period, oviposition period and longevity of adults in cold-stored group showed curves similar to emergence rate. However, preoviposition period and egg hatchability were not significantly affected by cold. After being stored for 20 days, the total fecundity of females emerging from cold-stored cocoons was about 64.5% of that of females emerging from unstored cocoons. Six days post emergence, females in cold-stored group showed apparent arrest of ovarian development and significant reductions of protease, lipase and trehalase activities when compared to unstored controls. When bovine insulin was exogenously used, the females emerging from cold-stored cocoons dramatically restored ovarian development and reproductive capacity. These results suggested that C. pallens pupae are suitable for cold storage and insulin hormone can be used as reproduction stimuli in this predatory species after cold storage.
Real-time dosimetry with radiochromic films
Authors: Casolaro Pierluigi , Campajola Luigi , Breglio Giovanni , Buontempo Salvatore , Consales Marco , Cusano Andrea , Cutolo Antonello , Di Capua Francesco , Fienga Francesco , Vaiano Patrizio
Published: March 2019

Radiochromic film dosimetry has been widely employed in most of the applications of radiation physics for over twenty years. This is due to a number of appealing features of radiochromic films, such as reliability, accuracy, ease of use and cost. However, current radiochromic film reading techniques, based on the use of commercial densitometers and scanners, provide values of dose only after the exposure of the films to radiation. In this work, an innovative methodology for the real-time reading of radiochromic films is proposed for some specific applications. The new methodology is based on opto-electronic instrumentation that makes use of an optical fiber probe for the determination of optical changes of the films induced by radiation and allows measurements of dose with high degree of precision and accuracy. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that the dynamic range of some kinds of films, such as the EBT3 Gafchromic films (intensively used in medical physics), can be extended by more than one order of magnitude. Owing to the numerous advantages with respect to the commonly used reading techniques, a National Patent was filed in January 2018.
Bulk and surface recombination properties in thin film semiconductors with different surface treatments from time-resolved photoluminescence measurements
Authors: Weiss Thomas P. , Bissig Benjamin , Feurer Thomas , Carron Romain , Buecheler Stephan , Tiwari Ayodhya N.
Published: March 2019

The knowledge of minority carrier lifetime of a semiconductor is important for the assessment of its quality and design of electronic devices. Time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) measurements offer the possibility to extract effective lifetimes in the nanosecond range. However, it is difficult to discriminate between surface and bulk recombination and consequently the bulk properties of the semiconductor cannot be estimated reliably. Here we present an approach to constrain systematically the bulk and surface recombination parameters in semiconducting layers and reduces to finding the roots of a mathematical function. This method disentangles the bulk and surface recombination based on TRPL decay times of samples with different surface preparations. The technique is exemplarily applied to a CuInSe2 and a back-graded Cu(In,Ga)Se2 compound semiconductor, and upper and lower bounds for the recombination parameters and the mobility are obtained. Sets of calculated parameters are extracted and used as input for simulations of photoluminescence transients, yielding a good match to experimental data and validating the effectiveness of the methodology. A script for the simulation of TRPL transients is provided.
Near-field imaging of surface-plasmon vortex-modes around a single elliptical nanohole in a gold film
Authors: Triolo Claudia , Savasta Salvatore , Settineri Alessio , Trusso Sebastiano , Saija Rosalba , Agarwal Nisha Rani , Patanè Salvatore
Published: March 2019

We present scanning near-field images of surface plasmon modes around a single elliptical nanohole in 88 nm thick Au film. We find that rotating surface plasmon vortex modes carrying extrinsic orbital angular momentum can be induced under linearly polarized illumination. The vortex modes are obtained only when the incident polarization direction differs from one of the ellipse axes. Such a direct observation of the vortex modes is possible thanks to the ability of the SNOM technique to obtain information on both the amplitude and the phase of the near-field. The presence of the vortex mode is determined by the rotational symmetry breaking of the system. Finite element method calculations show that such a vorticity originates from the presence of nodal points where the phase of the field is undefined, leading to a circulation of the energy flow. The configuration producing vortex modes corresponds to a nonzero total topological charge (+1).
K336I mutant actin alters the structure of neighbouring protomers in filaments and reduces affinity for actin-binding proteins
Authors: Umeki Nobuhisa , Shibata Keitaro , Noguchi Taro Q. P. , Hirose Keiko , Sako Yasushi , Uyeda Taro Q. P.
Published: March 2019

Mutation of the Lys-336 residue of actin to Ile (K336I) or Asp (K336E) causes congenital myopathy. To understand the effect of this mutation on the function of actin filaments and gain insight into the mechanism of disease onset, we prepared and biochemically characterised K336I mutant actin from Dictyostelium discoideum. Subtilisin cleavage assays revealed that the structure of the DNase-I binding loop (D-loop) of monomeric K336I actin, which would face the adjacent actin-protomer in filaments, differed from that of wild type (WT) actin. Although K336I actin underwent normal salt-dependent reversible polymerisation and formed apparently normal filaments, interactions of K336I filaments with alpha-actinin, myosin II, and cofilin were disrupted. Furthermore, co-filaments of K336I and WT actins also exhibited abnormal interactions with cofilin, implying that K336I actin altered the structure of the neighbouring WT actin protomers such that interaction between cofilin and the WT actin protomers was prevented. We speculate that disruption of the interactions between co-filaments and actin-binding proteins is the primary reason why the K336I mutation induces muscle disease in a dominant fashion.
Multifunctional Gold Nanoparticles Overcome MicroRNA Regulatory Network Mediated-Multidrug Resistant Leukemia
Authors: Deng Rong , Ji Bai , Yu Hongliang , Bao Wei , Yang Zhuoqi , Yu Ying , Cui Yahan , Du Yangyang , Song Meiyu , Liu Shujun , Meguellati Kamel , Yan Fei
Published: March 2019

Resistance to chemotherapy and molecularly targeted therapies is a major problem in current leukemia treatments. Here, we investigated cross-talk between the miR-221 network and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in doxorubicin-induced drug resistance of leukemia cells. Multifunctional gold nanoparticles were designed and synthesized to co-deliver three anticancer agents, AS1411, doxorubicin and anti-221, for improving leukemia treatment efficacy. These nanoparticles significantly inhibited the proliferation and clonogenic potential, and induced apoptosis of drug-resistant leukemia cells. The decreased growth of drug-resistant cells induced by these nanoparticles was associated with marked downregulation of miR-221 and DNMT1, leading to restored p27kip1 and p15ink4b tumor suppressor expression, as well as miR-221-mediated reduction of P-gp expression. Finally, primary blasts derived from leukemia patients experiencing chemoresistant relapse that were exposed to these nanoparticles were sensitized to doxorubicin, as evidenced by suppression of leukemic cell growth and a significant reduction of the doxorubicin IC50 value. Our findings provide proof of concept that this novel drug delivery system can precisely reverse the multidrug resistant leukemia phenotype based on preclinical models of leukemia, providing the framework for future clinical trials aimed at overcoming drug resistance and improving patient outcome.
CO oxidation over the polyoxometalate-supported single-atom catalysts M1/POM (Fe, Co, Mn, Ru, Rh, Os, Ir, and Pt; POM = [PW12O40]3–): a computational study on the activation of surface oxygen species
Authors: Liu Chun-Guang , Zhang Li-Long , Chen Xue-Mei
Published: March 2019

Density functional theory calculations have been carried out to explore the catalytic performance of a series of the M1/POM (M = Fe, Co, Mn, Ru, Rh, Os, Ir, and Pt; POM = [PW12O40]3−) single-atom catalysts for CO oxidation.
Reaction study of α-phase NaYF4:Yb,Er generation via a tubular microreactor: discovery of an efficient synthesis strategy
Authors: Liu Di , Jing Yu , Wang Kai , Wang Yundong , Luo Guangsheng
Published: March 2019

Rapid generation of α-NaREF4 nanoparticles was carried out by applying a new precursor solution and a tubular microreactor.
The shape-controlled synthesis of gallium–palladium (GaPd2) nanomaterials as high-performance electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Lim Suh-Ciuan , Chan Cheng-Ying , Chen Kuan-Ting , Tuan Hsing-Yu
Published: March 2019

Shape-controlled and well-dispersed GaPd2 nanomaterials were synthesized via a facile hot injection approach, and they present outstanding and stable hydrogen evolution reaction activity.
Revealing hydrogen atoms in a highly-absorbing material: an X-ray diffraction study and Torque method calculations for lead-uranyl-oxide mineral curite
Authors: Ghazisaeed Seyedayat , Kiefer Boris , Plášil Jakub
Published: March 2019

The complete crystal structure, including the hydrogen bond network, of lead uranyl-oxide mineral curite, ideally Pb3(H2O)2[(UO2)4O4(OH)3]2, was resolved by combining single-crystal X-ray diffraction and theory.
Formation of an MoTe2 based Schottky junction employing ultra-low and high resistive metal contacts
Authors: Aftab Sikandar , Iqbal Muhammad Waqas , Afzal Amir Muhammad , Khan M. Farooq , Hussain Ghulam , Waheed Hafiza Sumaira , Kamran Muhammad Arshad
Published: March 2019

Schottky-barrier diodes have great importance in power management and mobile communication because of their informal device technology, fast response and small capacitance.
Thermal management for a tube–shell Li-ion battery pack using water evaporation coupled with forced air cooling
Authors: Fang Guoyun , Huang Yao , Yuan Wei , Yang Yang , Tang Yong , Ju Weida , Chu Fujian , Zhao Zepeng
Published: March 2019

A novel battery thermal management system (BTMS) based on water evaporation (WE) and air-cooling (AC) for a tube–shell Li-ion battery (LIB) pack is designed.
A multiclass method for the determination of pharmaceuticals in drinking water by solid phase extraction and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: de Oliveira Júlia A. , Izeppi Lenise J. P. , Loose Roberta F. , Muenchen Daniela K. , Prestes Osmar D. , Zanella Renato
Published: March 2019

A fast method for multiclass determination of 20 pharmaceuticals in drinking water using SPE with a polymeric sorbent and UHPLC-MS/MS was developed and validated.
Template free synthesis of lithium doped three-dimensional macroporous graphitic carbon nitride for photocatalytic N2fixation: the effect of Li–N active sites
Authors: Gu Guizhou , Wang Keyun , Xiong Nanni , Li Zheng , Fan Zhiping , Hu Shaozheng , Zou Xiong
Published: March 2019

In this work, three-dimensional macroporous lithium doped graphitic carbon nitride was synthesized.
Room temperature phosphorescent triarylborane functionalized iridium complexes
Authors: Kumar George Rajendra , Behera Santosh Kumar , Thilagar Pakkirisamy
Published: March 2019

We report a series of room temperature phosphorescent compounds 1–6 composed of triarylborane (TAB) and cyclometallated iridium complexes.
An investigation into the factors governing the oxidation of two-dimensional Ti3C2MXene
Authors: Chae Yoonjeong , Kim Seon Joon , Cho Soo-Yeon , Choi Junghoon , Maleski Kathleen , Lee Byeong-Joo , Jung Hee-Tae , Gogotsi Yury , Lee Yonghee , Ahn Chi Won
Published: March 2019

We discuss the dominant factors influencing the rate of oxidation of Ti3C2TxMXene flakes, and present guidelines for their storage with the aim of maintaining the intrinsic properties of the as-prepared material.
Visual detection of odorant geraniol enabled by integration of a human olfactory receptor into polydiacetylene/lipid nano-assembly
Authors: Kim Taegon , Moon Dongseok , Park Jin Hyuk , Yang Heehong , Cho Seongyeon , Park Tai Hyun , Ahn Dong June
Published: March 2019

We fabricated a polydiacetylene lipid/human olfactory receptor nano-assembly for the “visualization of odorant detection” upon specific interaction with the target odorant, triggering a colorimetric transition and a distinctive fluorescence increase.
Tuning the coupling interface of ultrathin Ni3S2@NiV-LDH heterogeneous nanosheet electrocatalysts for improved overall water splitting
Authors: Liu Qianqian , Huang Jianfeng , Zhao Yajuan , Cao Liyun , Li Kang , Zhang Ning , Yang Dan , Feng Li , Feng Liangliang
Published: March 2019

Interface engineering is an effective approach to achieve abundant surface catalytic active sites and strong electronic interactions among active materials of heterostructured catalysts.
WS2 monolayer-based light-emitting devices in a vertical p–n architecture
Authors: Andrzejewski Dominik , Hopmann Eric , John Michèle , Kümmell Tilmar , Bacher Gerd
Published: March 2019

We present LEDs based on WS2 monolayers in a p–n architecture, generating red electroluminescence with luminance up to 50 cd m−2.
Decarboxylative, trienamine mediated cycloaddition for the synthesis of 3,4-dihydrocoumarin derivatives
Authors: Albrecht Anna , Bojanowski Jan , Kot Adrianna , Sieroń Lesław
Published: March 2019

This Communication describes the first decarboxylative trienamine-mediated cycloaddition between 2,4-dienals and coumarin-3-carboxylic acids.
Chiral helical disubstituted polyacetylenes form optically active particles through precipitation polymerization
Authors: Zhang Yingjie , Wu Yi , Xu Riwei , Deng Jianping
Published: March 2019

Preparation of optically active polymer particles constructed by chiral helical disubstituted polyacetylenes via precipitation polymerization.
Recent developments in the fabrication, characterization and implementation of MgH2-based solid-hydrogen materials in the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research
Authors: El-Eskandarany Mohamed Sherif
Published: March 2019

Photos taken in November 2018 at NAM-EBRC, KISR, presenting the successful application of the use of a solid-state hydrogen storage nanocomposite for charging 8 batteries of an electric golf cart, using a 1000 W PEM-fuel cell.
Antibody-free colorimetric detection of chlorothalonil in cucumberviathe inhibition of an enzyme-triggered reaction
Authors: Liu Qingju , Han Ping , Wang Hui , Gong Wenwen , Feng Xiaoyuan
Published: March 2019

Colorimetric detection of chlorothalonil in cucumberviathe inhibition of an enzyme-triggered reaction.
Formation mechanism of nanoporous silver during dealloying with ultrasonic irradiation
Authors: Zhang Runwei , Wang Xu , Huang Jacob C. , Li Fei , Zhang Zhichao , Wu Ming
Published: March 2019

Nanoporous silver (NPS) with an extreme coarsened 3-dimensional bi-continuous ligament and nanopore structure could be prepared by chemical dealloying with high-intensity ultrasonic irradiation (UI).
A single promoter system co-expressing RNA sensor with fluorescent proteins for quantitative mRNA imaging in living tumor cells
Authors: Ying Zhan-Ming , Yuan Yue-Yan , Tu Bin , Tang Li-Juan , Yu Ru-Qin , Jiang Jian-Hui
Published: March 2019

Genetically encoded light-up RNA aptamers afford a valuable platform for developing RNA sensors toward live cell imaging.
Core–shell MOF-derived N-doped yolk–shell carbon nanocages homogenously filled with ZnSe and CoSe2 nanodots as excellent anode materials for lithium- and sodium-ion batteries
Authors: Hu Xuejiao , Liu Xiaojie , Chen Kai , Wang Gang , Wang Hui
Published: March 2019

N-doped yolk–shell carbon nanocages homogenously filled with ZnSe and CoSe2 nanodots were prepared, which exhibited excellent electrochemical performance.
Simultaneously increasing open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current to minimize the energy loss in organic solar cells via designing asymmetrical non-fullerene acceptor
Authors: Gao Wei , Liu Tao , Li Jiewei , Xiao Yiqun , Zhang Guangye , Chen Yuzhong , Zhong Cheng , Lu Xinhui , Yan He , Yang Chuluo
Published: March 2019

Asymmetrical a-BTTIC simultaneously increases the open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current, and boosts the efficiency of OSCs with energy loss lower than 0.6 eV.
Suppression of lncRNA RMRP ameliorates oxygen-glucose deprivation/re-oxygenation-induced neural cells injury by inhibiting autophagy and PI3K/Akt/mTOR-mediated apoptosis
Authors: Zhou Zheyi , Xu Hong , Liu Baozhu , Dun Linglu , Lu Changjun , Cai Yefeng , Wang Honghao
Published: March 2019

The aberrant expression of lncRNAs has been inferred to be closely related with the progression of neural ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. RMRP is an lncRNA associated with I/R injury. In order to determine the role of RMRP in I/R injury, the effects of RMRP knockdown on oxygen-glucose deprivation/re-oxygenation (OGD/R)-induced injury in SH-SY5Y cells were evaluated. The effect of OGD/R administration on the expression of RMRP and apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells, and the effect of RMRP suppression by siRNA on the impairments of cells proliferation and mobility potential due to OGD/R administration were assessed in the current study. At the molecular level, the current study detected the expressions of indicators involved in autophagy and PI3K/Akt/mTOR-mediated apoptosis pathways. The OGD/R administration induced the expression of RMRP and apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells. After RMRP knockdown, the proliferation potential of SH-SY5Y cells was restored, and apoptosis and cell cycle arrest were inhibited. Moreover, RMRP inhibition also increased the invasion and migration of SH-SY5Y cells which were treated with OGD/R. The effects of RMRP suppression on the phenotypes of SH-SY5Y were associated with the inhibition of LC3II, p-PI3K, p-Akt, and p-mTOR as well as the induction of P62 and Bcl-2. Inhibition of RMRP contributed to the improvement of OGD/R-induced neuronal injury, which might be mediated through the inhibition of autophagy and apoptosis pathways.
MiR-92a modulates proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion of osteosarcoma cell lines by targeting Dickkopf-related protein 3
Authors: Yu Haiyang , Song Hang , Liu Li , Hu Shuo , Liao Yuxin , Li Gang , Xiao Xiao , Chen Xin , He Shisheng
Published: March 2019

Osteosarcoma (OS) is recognized as a common malignant tumor with a high trend of metastasis and diffusion. Despite the progresses that have been made in surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy in the recent decades, the prognosis of patients with OS still remains poor. MiRNAs are being increasingly considered as new therapeutic targets for OS treatment. Our research aims to investigate the regulatory impact of miR-92a in the development of OS. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) results revealed that the expression of miR-92a was aberrantly overexpressed in human OS cell lines. By using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assays, colony formation assays, flow cytometric analyses and Transwell assays, our data suggested that up-regulation of miR-92a promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of MNNG and U2OS cells, while inhibiting their apoptosis. In contrast, the knockdown of miR-92a effectively reversed these cellular biological behaviors. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis indicated that Dickkopf-related protein 3 (DKK3) was a possible target of miR-92a. Subsequently, negative regulation of miR-92a on DKK3 was observed, which further supported the direct binding between them. In addition, silencing DKK3 rescued the inhibitory effect of miR-92a inhibitor on the development of OS. To sum up, our study revealed that miR-92a played a carcinogenic role in the growth of OS by promoting the tumorigenesis of OS cells via targeting of DKK3, thus revealing a new therapeutic target for OS.
HILS: hybrid indoor localisation system using Wi‐Fi received signal strength and inertial sensor's measurements of smart‐phone
Authors: Tiwari Sushil , Jain Vinod kumar
Published: March 2019

This study presents a smart‐phone‐based hybrid indoor localisation system (HILS), which integrates two different localisation approaches, i.e., pedestrian dead reckoning (PDR) and Wi‐Fi‐based localisation to compensate the limits of each other. In PDR, the localisation accuracy degrades continuously when the moving distance increases from the starting reference point. However, Wi‐Fi‐based trilateration method requires the Wi‐Fi signals from at least three access points (APs). In this study, the authors propose a more efficient novel Heron‐bilateration‐based position determination (HBPD) technique, which requires the Wi‐Fi signals from only two APs to locate the mobile device. The proposed HILS utilises the HBPD technique to reset the bias drift errors involved with inertial sensors, and compensate the unavailability of strong Wi‐Fi signals from APs using the PDR method. In this work, an experimental testbed is developed to collect the Wi‐Fi signals and evaluate the proposed method. The proposed HILS is also compared with five other benchmark methods for two different trajectories and the experimental results show that the mean localisation error is decreased up to 1.68 and 1.96 m, which indicate the improvement by 16.83 and 20.97% for both the trajectories, respectively, in comparison with the best performing method among the benchmark methods.
Comparative analysis of wave winding topologies and performance characteristics in ultra‐thin printed circuit board axial‐flux permanent magnet machine
Authors: Paul Sarbajit , Farshadnia Mohammad , Pouramin Alireza , Fletcher John , Chang Junghwan
Published: March 2019

Axial‐flux permanent magnet synchronous machines (AF‐PMSM) using printed circuit board (PCB) windings are attracting interest because of an increased demand for machines with thinner geometries. A critical element in designing these machines is the choice of its PCB winding which should ensure high‐performance characteristics with an efficient use of the PCB surface. However, there is a gap in the knowledge regarding the performance of different PCB topologies. The research reported here is motivated by the need to compare common wave‐type PCB windings stator topologies. Accordingly, overlapping parallel wave, non‐overlapping radial wave and overlapping radial wave PCB winding topologies are assessed, using finite‐element analysis, and compared based on their key performance characteristics such as the generated back‐electromotive forces, inductances and electromagnetic torque. The PCB winding that provides the best torque production is then chosen and manufactured. Experimental tests on the prototyped PCB AF‐PMSM provide validation.
Characterization of Hysteretic Multiphase Flow from the MM to M Scale in Heterogeneous Rocks
Authors: Jackson Samuel J. , Krevor Samuel
Published: March 2019

Incorporating mm-m scale capillary pressure heterogeneity into upscaled numerical models is key to the successful prediction of low flow potential plume migration and trapping at the field scale. Under such conditions, the upscaled, equivalent relative permeability incorporating capillary pressure heterogeneity is far from that derived conventionally at the viscous limit, dependent on the heterogeneity structure and flow rate, i.e. dependent on the capillary number. Recent work at the SCA 2017 symposium (SCA2017-022) demonstrated how equivalent functions can be obtained on heterogeneous rock cores from the subsurface under drainage conditions; going beyond traditional SCAL. Experimental observations using medical CT scanning can be combined with numerical modelling so that heterogeneous subsurface rock cores can be directly characterized and used to populate field scale reservoir models. In this work, we extend this characterization approach by incorporating imbibition cycles into the methodology. We use a Bunter sandstone core with several experimental CO2 – Brine core flood datasets at different flow rates (2x drainage, 1x imbibition and 2x trapping) to demonstrate the characterization of hysteretic multiphase flow functions in water-wet rocks. We show that mm-m scale experimental saturations and equivalent, low flow potential relative permeabilities can be predicted during drainage and imbibition, along with trapping characteristics. Equivalent imbibition relative permeabilities appear as a function of capillary number, as in the drainage cases. We also find that the form of capillary pressure function during imbibition has a large impact on the trapping characteristics, with local heterogeneity trapping reduced (or removed), if the capillary pressure drops to zero, or below at the residual saturation.
Manipulating matter with light
Authors: Pesce Giuseppe , Rusciano Giulia , Sasso Antonio
Published: March 2019

Arthur Ashkin, with his discovery of the optical tweezers, has made possible the dream of science fiction to manipulate matter with light. The optical tweezers have opened up an extremely interesting field of science, not yet exhausted, where questions of fundamental physics intertwine with intriguing investigations of biological systems at level of single macromolecule or cell.
Extreme light infrastructure nuclear physics (ELI-NP)
Authors: Zamfir V. , Tanaka K. , Ur C.
Published: March 2019

ELI - Extreme Light Infrastructure, a project to build an international research infrastructure “dedicated to the investigation and applications of laser matter interaction at the highest intensity level” is one of the 35 projects in the first Roadmap, in 2006, of the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) [1]. “ELI will comprise three branches: ultra high field science that will explore laser matter interaction up to the nonlinear QED limit including the investigation of pair creation and vacuum structure; attosecond laser science designed to conduct temporal investigation at the attosecond scale of electron dynamics in atoms, molecules, plasmas, and solids; lastly, the highenergy beam facility devoted to the development of dedicated beam lines of ultra short pulses of high energy radiation and particles up to 100GeV for users.”
Physics, lasers and the nobel prize
Authors: Marino Antigone
Published: March 2019

Like every year, we have been waiting for the announcement of the most important award for natural sciences, the Nobel Prize in Physics. Perhaps it is since 2013, the year in which the award was given for the discovery of the Higgs boson, that the Nobel Prize has great media visibility. The public, scientific or otherwise, is waiting to know who will be awarded.
Science and long-term thinking
Authors: von Weizsäcker Ernst Ulrich
Published: March 2019

The Club of Rome, founded a few months before the European Physical Society, first addressed “the predicament of mankind”. The founders, among them the Italian industrialist Aurelio Peccei and Alexander King, then the head of science at the OECD, were looking for methods of mathematically based forecasts for the future of humankind and of the life supporting systems on this planet.
An optimized Schwarz method with relaxation for the Helmholtz equation: the negative impact of overlap
Authors: Liu Yongxiang , Xu Xuejun
Published: March 2019

In this paper we study how the overlapping size influences the convergence rate of an optimized Schwarz domain decomposition (DD) method with relaxation in the two subdomain case for the Helmholtz equation. Through choosing suitable parameters, we find that the convergence rate is independent of the wave number k and mesh size h, but sensitively depends on the overlapping size. Furthermore, by careful analysis, we obtain that the convergence behavior deteriorates with the increase of the overlapping size. Numerical results which confirm our theory are given.
Anisotropic polygonal and polyhedral discretizations in finite element analysis
Authors: Weißer Steffen
Published: March 2019

Interpolation and quasi-interpolation operators of Clément- and Scott-Zhang-type are analyzed on anisotropic polygonal and polyhedral meshes. Since no reference element is available, an appropriate linear mapping to a reference configuration plays a crucial role. A priori error estimates are derived respecting the anisotropy of the discretization. Finally, the found estimates are employed to propose an adaptive mesh refinement based on bisection which leads to highly anisotropic and adapted discretizations with general element shapes in two- and three-dimensions.
Phase-field modelling and computing for a large number of phases
Authors: Bretin Élie , Denis Roland , Lachaud Jacques-Olivier , Oudet Édouard
Published: March 2019

We propose a framework to represent a partition that evolves under mean curvature flows and volume constraints. Its principle follows a phase-field representation for each region of the partition, as well as classical Allen–Cahn equations for its evolution. We focus on the evolution and on the optimization of problems involving high resolution data with many regions in the partition. In this context, standard phase-field approaches require a lot of memory (one image per region) and computation timings increase at least as fast as the number of regions. We propose a more efficient storage strategy with a dedicated multi-image representation that retains only significant phase field values at each discretization point. We show that this strategy alone is unfortunately inefficient with classical phase field models. This is due to non local terms and low convergence rate. We therefore introduce and analyze an improved phase field model that localizes each phase field around its associated region, and which fully benefits of our storage strategy. To demonstrate the efficiency of the new multiphase field framework, we apply it to the famous 3D honeycomb problem and the conjecture of Weaire–Phelan’s tiling.
Towards a new friction model for shallow water equations through an interactive viscous layer
Authors: James François , Lagrée Pierre-Yves , Le Minh H. , Legrand Mathilde
Published: March 2019

The derivation of shallow water models from Navier–Stokes equations is revisited yielding a class of two-layer shallow water models. An improved velocity profile is proposed, based on the superposition of an inviscid fluid and a viscous layer inspired by the Interactive Boundary Layer interaction used in aeronautics. This leads to a new friction law which depends not only on velocity and depth but also on the variations of velocity and thickness of the viscous layer. The resulting system is an extended shallow water model consisting of three depth-integrated equations: the first two are mass and momentum conservation in which a slight correction on hydrostatic pressure has been made; the third one, known as von Kármán equation, describes the evolution of the viscous layer. This coupled model is shown to be conditionally hyperbolic, and a Godunov-type finite volume scheme is also proposed. Several numerical examples are provided and compared to the Multi-Layer Saint-Venant model. They emphasize the ability of the model to deal with unsteady viscous effects. They illustrate also the phase-lag between friction and topography, and even recover possible reverse flows.