bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Air-Sea Interactions Influence Major Southern Wind Belt
Authors: Stanley Sarah
Published: September 2016

Ocean and atmospheric data provide evidence for how sea surface temperatures affect the Southern Annular Mode.
Amyloidogenic amyloid-β-peptide variants induce microbial agglutination and exert antimicrobial activity
Authors: Spitzer Philipp , Condic Mateja , Herrmann Martin , Oberstein Timo Jan , Scharin-Mehlmann Marina , Gilbert Daniel F. , Friedrich Oliver , Grömer Teja , Kornhuber Johannes , Lang Roland , Maler Juan Manuel
Published: September 2016

Amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides are the main components of the plaques found in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. However, Aβ peptides are also detectable in secretory compartments and peripheral blood contains a complex mixture of more than 40 different modified and/or N- and C-terminally truncated Aβ peptides. Recently, anti-infective properties of Aβ peptides have been reported. Here, we investigated the interaction of Aβ peptides of different lengths with various bacterial strains and the yeast Candida albicans. The amyloidogenic peptides Aβ1-42, Aβ2-42 and Aβ3p-42 but not the non-amyloidogenic peptides Aβ1-40 and Aβ2-40 bound to microbial surfaces. As observed by immunocytochemistry, scanning electron microscopy and Gram staining, treatment of several bacterial strains and Candida albicans with Aβ peptide variants ending at position 42 (Aβx-42) caused the formation of large agglutinates. These aggregates were not detected after incubation with Aβx-40. Furthermore, Aβx-42 exerted an antimicrobial activity on all tested pathogens, killing up to 80% of microorganisms within 6 h. Aβ1-40 only had a moderate antimicrobial activity against C. albicans. Agglutination of Aβ1-42 was accelerated in the presence of microorganisms. These data demonstrate that the amyloidogenic Aβx-42 variants have antimicrobial activity and may therefore act as antimicrobial peptides in the immune system.
An APOC3 3′UTR variant associated with plasma triglycerides levels and coronary heart disease by creating a functional miR-4271 binding site
Authors: Hu Sen-Lin , Cui Guang-Lin , Huang Jin , Jiang Jian-Gang , Wang Dao-Wen
Published: September 2016

Apolipoprotein C-III (APOC3) is a key regulator of plasma triglycerides levels. Increasing evidence has shown that loss-of-function mutations in APOC3 is associated with reduction in plasma triglycerides levels and will confer a benefit in patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease. However, these favorable mutations were extremely distribution discrepant among different ethnics. In this study, the APOC3 gene was resequenced and we identified a common variant which located in the microRNA-binding site in APOC3 and would affect its expression and the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). The molecular mechanism was explored. We found that the T allele of rs4225 suppressed APOC3 translation by facilitating miR-4271 binding, but not the G allele. Subjects carrying the GG genotype had higher plasma APOC3 levels (p for trend = 0.03) than those with the TT genotype. Furthermore, the T allele was significantly associated with decreased triglyceride levels [Beta (SE): −0.024 (0.020), P = 0.03]. Finally, the case-control study suggested that the TT genotype resulted in a significant reduction in overall CHD risk [OR, 0.89 (95% confidence interval, 0.77–0.98), P = 0.009]. In conclusion, our results provide evidence that the rs4225 in the 3′-UTR of APOC3 might contribute to the risk of CHD by interfering with miR-4271 binding.
Chemokine CXCL1 mediated neutrophil recruitment: Role of glycosaminoglycan interactions
Authors: Sawant Kirti V. , Poluri Krishna Mohan , Dutta Amit K. , Sepuru Krishna Mohan , Troshkina Anna , Garofalo Roberto P. , Rajarathnam Krishna
Published: September 2016

The chemokine CXCL1/MGSA plays a pivotal role in the host immune response by recruiting and activating neutrophils for microbial killing at the tissue site. CXCL1 exists reversibly as monomers and dimers, and mediates its function by binding glycosaminoglycans (GAG) and CXCR2 receptor. We recently showed that both monomers and dimers are potent CXCR2 agonists, the dimer is the high-affinity GAG ligand, lysine and arginine residues located in two non-overlapping domains mediate GAG interactions, and there is extensive overlap between GAG and receptor-binding domains. To understand how these structural properties influence in vivo function, we characterized peritoneal neutrophil recruitment of a trapped monomer and trapped dimer and a panel of WT lysine/arginine to alanine mutants. Monomers and dimers were active, but WT was more active indicating synergistic interactions promote recruitment. Mutants from both domains showed reduced GAG heparin binding affinities and reduced neutrophil recruitment, providing compelling evidence that both GAG-binding domains mediate in vivo trafficking. Further, mutant of a residue that is involved in both GAG binding and receptor signaling showed the highest reduction in recruitment. We conclude that GAG interactions and receptor activity of CXCL1 monomers and dimers are fine-tuned to regulate neutrophil trafficking for successful resolution of tissue injury.
Efficient Production of Fluorescent Transgenic Rats using the piggyBac Transposon
Authors: Li Tianda , Shuai Ling , Mao Junjie , Wang Xuepeng , Wang Mei , Zhang Xinxin , Wang Leyun , Li Yanni , Li Wei , Zhou Qi
Published: September 2016

Rats with fluorescent markers are of great value for studies that trace lineage-specific development, particularly those assessing the differentiation potential of embryonic stem cells (ESCs). The piggyBac (PB) transposon is widely used for the efficient introduction of genetic modifications into genomes, and has already been successfully used to produce transgenic mice and rats. Here, we generated transgenic rats carrying either the desRed fluorescent protein (RFP) gene or the enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) gene by injecting pronuclei with PB plasmids. We showed that the transgenic rats expressed the RFP or eGFP gene in many organs and had the capability to transmit the marker gene to the next generation through germline integration. In addition, rat embryonic stem cells (ESCs) carrying an RFP reporter gene can be derived from the blastocysts of the transgenic rats. Moreover, the RFP gene can be detected in chimeras derived from RFP ESCs via blastocyst injection. This work suggests that PB-mediated transgenesis is a powerful tool to generate transgenic rats expressing fluorescent proteins with high efficiency, and this technique can be used to derive rat ESCs expressing a reporter protein.
A Simple Adaptive Transfer Function for Deriving the Central Blood Pressure Waveform from a Radial Blood Pressure Waveform
Authors: Gao Mingwu , Rose William C. , Fetics Barry , Kass David A. , Chen Chen-Huan , Mukkamala Ramakrishna
Published: September 2016

Generalized transfer functions (GTFs) are available to compute the more relevant central blood pressure (BP) waveform from a more easily measured radial BP waveform. However, GTFs are population averages and therefore may not adapt to variations in pulse pressure (PP) amplification (ratio of radial to central PP). A simple adaptive transfer function (ATF) was developed. First, the transfer function is defined in terms of the wave travel time and reflection coefficient parameters of an arterial model. Then, the parameters are estimated from the radial BP waveform by exploiting the observation that central BP waveforms exhibit exponential diastolic decays. The ATF was assessed using the original data that helped popularize the GTF. These data included radial BP waveforms and invasive reference central BP waveforms from cardiac catheterization patients. The data were divided into low, middle, and high PP amplification groups. The ATF estimated central BP with greater accuracy than GTFs in the low PP amplification group (e.g., central systolic BP and PP root-mean-square-errors of 3.3 and 4.2 mm Hg versus 6.2 and 7.1 mm Hg; p ≤ 0.05) while showing similar accuracy in the higher PP amplification groups. The ATF may permit more accurate, non-invasive central BP monitoring in elderly and hypertensive patients.
Simple and rapid detection of Tilletia horrida causing rice kernel smut in rice seeds
Authors: Chen Yu , Yang Xue , Yao Jian , Kyaw Ei Phyu , Zhang Ai-Fang , Li Yun-Fei , Gu Chun-Yan , Zang Hao-Yu , Gao Tong-Chun
Published: September 2016

A simple and rapid method for the detection of Tilletia horrida, the causal agent of rice kernel smut, in rice seeds is developed based on specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). To design the specific primers for the detection of T. horrida, partial sequences of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) DNA region of T. horrida, T. controversa, T. walkeri, T. ehrhartae, T. indica and T. caries were analyzed and compared. A 503-bp fragment was amplified with the designed primers from the T. horrida genomic DNA. However, no PCR product was obtained from the DNA of other five Tilletia species and 22 fungal plant pathogens tested in the present work indicating the specificity of the primers for the detection of T. horrida. The PCR was performed by directly using the spores, isolated from the 21 different rice seed samples, as template DNA. The T. horrida was detected in 6 of the samples, indicating that 28.6% of the rice samples were contaminated with the kernel smut pathogen. This simple PCR based diagnostic assay can be applied for the direct and rapid detection and identification of T. horrida to screen large numbers of rice seed samples.
Emergence of event cascades in inhomogeneous networks
Authors: Onaga Tomokatsu , Shinomoto Shigeru
Published: September 2016

There is a commonality among contagious diseases, tweets, and neuronal firings that past events facilitate the future occurrence of events. The spread of events has been extensively studied such that the systems exhibit catastrophic chain reactions if the interaction represented by the ratio of reproduction exceeds unity; however, their subthreshold states are not fully understood. Here, we report that these systems are possessed by nonstationary cascades of event-occurrences already in the subthreshold regime. Event cascades can be harmful in some contexts, when the peak-demand causes vaccine shortages, heavy traffic on communication lines, but may be beneficial in other contexts, such that spontaneous activity in neural networks may be used to generate motion or store memory. Thus it is important to comprehend the mechanism by which such cascades appear, and consider controlling a system to tame or facilitate fluctuations in the event-occurrences. The critical interaction for the emergence of cascades depends greatly on the network structure in which individuals are connected. We demonstrate that we can predict whether cascades may emerge, given information about the interactions between individuals. Furthermore, we develop a method of reallocating connections among individuals so that event cascades may be either impeded or impelled in a network.
Decreasing prevalence and time trend of gastroschisis in 14 cities of Liaoning Province: 2006–2015
Authors: Li Na , Chen Yan-Ling , Li Jing , Li Li-Li , Jiang Cheng-Zhi , Zhou Chen , Liu Cai-Xia , Li Da , Gong Ting-Ting , Wu Qi-Jun , Huang Yan-Hong
Published: September 2016

To identify trends in the prevalence of gastroschisis on the basis of a large population-based observation study with cases identified by the Liaoning Birth Defects Registry including 14 cities over the course of a 10-year period. Data were obtained from the aforementioned registry which was maintained by the Liaoning Women and Children’s Health Hospital, a comprehensive care institution as well as being responsible for the women’s and children’s health care guidance in this province. Gastroschisis prevalence, percent change, annual percent change (APC), and contribution rates of each city were calculated. We observed 747 cases of gastroschisis among 3,248,954 live births, for a prevalence of 2.30 per 10,000 births. The gastroschisis prevalence significantly decreased by 12.63% per year in Liaoning Province. Although the decreasing trends were observed in all these 14 cities, significant results were only observed in Shenyang (APC = −16.31%), Tieling (APC = −20.23%), and Chaoyang (APC = −13.50%). Notably, Tieling, Shenyang, and Yingkou were the three major cities which contributed almost 37.17% of the decreasing trend of gastroschisis in Liaoning Province. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that the prevalence of gastroschisis has been decreasing during the recent decade among 14 cities in Liaoning Province.
Persistent inflammatory state after photoreceptor loss in an animal model of retinal degeneration
Authors: Noailles Agustina , Maneu Victoria , Campello Laura , Gómez-Vicente Violeta , Lax Pedro , Cuenca Nicolás
Published: September 2016

Microglia act as the resident immune cells of the central nervous system, including the retina. In response to damaging stimuli microglia adopt an activated state, which can progress into a phagocytic phenotype and play a potentially harmful role by eliciting the expression and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The aim of the present study was to assess longitudinal changes in microglia during retinal degeneration in the homozygous P23H rat, a model of dominant retinitis pigmentosa. Microglial phenotypes, morphology and density were analyzed by immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, and cytokine antibody array. In addition, we performed electroretinograms to evaluate the retinal response. In the P23H retina, sclera, choroid and ciliary body, inflammatory cells increased in number compared with the control at all ages analyzed. As the rats became older, a higher number of amoeboid MHC-II+ cells were observed in the P23H retina, which correlated with an increase in the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. These findings suggest that, in the P23H model, retinal neuroinflammation persists throughout the rat’s life span even after photoreceptor depletion. Therefore, the inclusion of anti-inflammatory drugs at advanced stages of the neurodegenerative process may provide better retinal fitness so the remaining cells could still be used as targets of cellular or gene therapies.
Integrin α6/Akt/Erk signaling is essential for human breast cancer resistance to radiotherapy
Authors: Hu Ting , Zhou Rui , Zhao Yanxia , Wu Gang
Published: September 2016

Integrin α6 (ITGA6), a transmembrane glycoprotein adhesion receptor protein, is widely upregulated in many types of tumors and promotes migration and invasion in cancer cells. However, the role that the ITGA6-associated signaling network plays in radiosensitivity in breast cancer has not been described. The expression of ITGA6 was examined in human breast cancer and normal breast cell lines using western blot analysis. We also explored the role of ITGA6 in the regulation of radiation sensitivity in breast cancer using the colony formation assays, cell cycle analyses, apoptosis assays and immunofluorescence analyses. The results showed that the protein and mRNA expression levels of ITGA6 was higher in breast cancer cells than in normal cells. ITGA6 protectived responses to radiotherapy in breast cancer cells by altering cell apoptosis, DNA damage repair and cell-cycle regulation. Furthermore, ITGA6 enhanced radiation resistance via PI3K/Akt and MEK/Erk signaling. In addition, overexpressing ITGA6 promoted radiation resistance in cells, and this effect was neutralized by the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 and MEK inhibitor U0126. Taken together, these findings indicate that ITGA6 might be involved in a mechanism that underlies radiation resistance and that ITGA6 could be a potential target for therapies aimed at overcoming radiation resistance in breast cancer.
Topological band-order transition and quantum spin Hall edge engineering in functionalized X-Bi(111) (X = Ga, In, and Tl) bilayer
Authors: Kim Youngjae , Yun Won Seok , Lee J. D.
Published: September 2016

Functionalized X-Bi bilayers (X = Ga, In, and Tl) with halogens bonded on their both sides have been recently claimed to be the giant topological insulators due to the strong band inversion strengths. Employing the first-principles electronic structure calculation, we find the topological band order transition from the order p – p – s of the X-Bi bilayers with halogens on their both sides to the new order p – s – p of the bilayers (especially for X = Ga and In) with halogen on one side and hydrogen on the other side, where the asymmetric hydrogen bonding simulates the substrate. We further find that the p – s bulk band gap of the bilayer bearing the new order p – s – p sensitively depends on the electric field, which enables a meaningful engineering of the quantum spin Hall edge state by controlling the external electric field.
PTFE supported gold nanoparticles as photocatalysts for oxidative esterification of aldehydes
Authors: Penhoat Maël , Vanbésien Théodore , Cocud Adrien , Addad Ahmed , Vezin Hervé , Rolando Christian
Published: September 2016

Fast and mild visible light photocatalytic conditions for oxidative esterification of aldehydes using H2O2and the AuNP/PTFE catalyst.
Acylation of Csp2–H bond with acyl sources derived from alkynes: Rh–Cu bimetallic catalyzed CC bond cleavage
Authors: Xie Ying
Published: September 2016

Acylation of Csp2–H bond with acyl sources derived from alkynes: Rh–Cu bimetallic catalyzed CC bond cleavage.
Intercalation-mediated nucleic acid nanoparticles for siRNA delivery
Authors: Zhou Kejin , Kos Petra , Yan Yunfeng , Xiong Hu , Min Yi-Li , Kinghorn Karina A. , Minnig Jonathan T. , Miller Jason B. , Siegwart Daniel J.
Published: September 2016

IMNA nanoparticles utilize intercalation to enhance small RNA delivery, thereby expanding the tool box of carrier-RNA interaction parameters.
Label-free ratiometric electrochemical detection of the mutated apolipoprotein E gene associated with Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Wu Li , Ji Haiwei , Sun Hanjun , Ding Chao , Ren Jinsong , Qu Xiaogang
Published: September 2016

A novel ratiometric electrochemical nanosensing platform was developed based on graphene and mesoporous hybrid nanomaterials for detection of the mutated apolipoprotein E gene associated with Alzheimer's disease.
TTF–PTM dyads: from switched molecular self assembly in solution to radical conductors in solid state
Authors: Souto Manuel , Rovira Concepció , Ratera Imma , Veciana Jaume
Published: September 2016

Dyads formed by tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) linked to perchlorotriphenylmethyl (PTM) radicals exhibit interesting physical properties such as bistability in solution or conductivity in solid state.
Design and simple synthesis of composite Bi12TiO20/Bi4Ti3O12 with a good photocatalytic quantum efficiency and high production of photo-generated hydroxyl radicals
Authors: Du Chun , Li Donghai , He Qinyu , Liu Junming , Li Wei , He Guannan , Wang Yinzhen
Published: September 2016

Hybrid Bi12TiO20/Bi4Ti3O12 composites with a good photocatalytic quantum efficiency explained using a Z-scheme mechanism.
Reaction mechanisms of carbon dioxide, ethylene oxide and amines catalyzed by ionic liquids BmimBr and BmimOAc: a DFT study
Authors: Luo Zhoujie , Wang Binsen , Liu Yuan , Gao Guohua , Xia Fei
Published: September 2016

The binary ionic liquids BmimBr and BmimOAc have the important electrostatic and hydrogen bond effects on the catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide, ethylene oxide and aniline to 3-phenyl-2-oxazolidionone.
Understanding the role of silica nanospheres with their light scattering and energy barrier properties in enhancing the photovoltaic performance of ZnO based solar cells
Authors: Banik Avishek , Ansari Mohammad Shaad , Sahu Tushar Kanta , Qureshi Mohammad
Published: September 2016

The present study discusses the design and development of a dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) using a hybrid composite of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NP) and silica nanospheres (SiO2 NS).
Confinement effects on the properties of Janus dimers
Authors: Bordin José Rafael , Krott Leandro B.
Published: September 2016

We show how the confinement between two parallel walls affects the self-assembly, and dynamic and thermodynamic properties of Janus dumbbells.
Effect of magnesium substitution into Fe-based La-hexaaluminates on the activity for CH4 catalytic combustion
Authors: Huang Fei , Wang Xiaodong , Li Lin , Liu Xin , Xu Jinming , Huang Chuande , Zhang Tao
Published: September 2016

The introduction of Mg2+ into Fe-based La-hexaaluminates significantly enhanced the activity for CH4 catalytic combustion and the resistance to deactivation after calcination at 1300 °C.
Protein-coding genes combined with long non-coding RNAs predict prognosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients as a novel clinical multi-dimensional signature
Authors: Guo Jin-Cheng , Li Chun-Quan , Wang Qiu-Yu , Zhao Jian-Mei , Ding Ji-Yu , Li En-Min , Xu Li-Yan
Published: September 2016

Esophageal carcinoma is one of the most malignant gastrointestinal cancers worldwide, and has a high mortality rate.
An anionic metal–organic framework based on angular tetracarboxylic acid and a mononuclear copper ion for selective gas adsorption
Authors: Jiao Jingjing , Liu Huimin , Chen Fengli , Bai Dongjie , Xiong Shunshun , He Yabing
Published: September 2016

A rare example of a MOF, ZJNU-55, based on mononuclear Cu(COO)4 and an angular diisophthalate linker with a novel topological structure exhibiting selective adsorption of C2H2 and CO2 from CH4 at room temperature was presented.
Lead-free tin chalcogenide thermoelectric materials
Authors: Zhou Min , Snyder G. Jeffrey , Li Laifeng , Zhao Li-Dong
Published: September 2016

The thermoelectric performance of tin chalcogenides has greatly increased in recent years due to the in-depth study of band structure engineering and nanostructuring/lattice anharmonicity strategies.
On the scope of oxidation of tertiary amines: Meisenheimer rearrangements versus Cope elimination in 2-(cyanoethyl)-2-azanorbornanes
Authors: Sousa Carlos A. D. , Sampaio-Dias Ivo E. , García-Mera Xerardo , Lima Carlos F. R. A. C. , Rodríguez-Borges José E.
Published: September 2016

When oxidized,exo-2-(cyanoethyl)-2-azanorbornene is prone to [1,2]-Meisenheimer rearrangement, itsendoisomer undergoes [2,3]-Meisenheimer andexo/endo-2-(cyanoethyl)-2-azanorbornanes affordN-hydroxylamines through Cope elimination.
Gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization of trifluoromethylated allenols: sustainability and mechanistic studies
Authors: Lempke Linda , Sak Hülya , Kubicki Michael , Krause Norbert
Published: September 2016

Trifluoromethyl-substituted α-allenols are cyclized to the corresponding 2,5-dihydrofurans in the presence of neutral or cationic gold catalysts.
Preparation and characterization of superhydrophobic composite coatings on a magnesium–lithium alloy
Authors: Li Zhijun , Yuan Yi
Published: September 2016

We report a superhydrophobic organophosphonate composite coating on a magnesium–lithium alloy surface, which exhibits excellent water-repellent and corrosion resistance properties.
Syntheses, structures and catalytic properties of organic–inorganic hybrid materials constructed from Evans–Showell-type polyoxometalates and zinc–organic coordination units
Authors: Fei Fei , An Haiyan , Xu Tieqi , Meng Changgong
Published: September 2016

Four new organic–inorganic hybrids originated from Evans–Showell-type POM [Co2Mo10H4O38]6− and transition metal complexes are reported, which exhibit excellent catalytic activities toward cyanosilylation reaction under solvent-free conditions.
Synergistic effect of Li–Ti and K–Ti co-doping on the dehydrogenation properties of NaAlH4: an ab initio study
Authors: Yu Suye , Li Shina , Wan Chubin , Ju Xin
Published: September 2016

The synergistic effect of Li–Ti and K–Ti dopants on the energy, structure and electronic properties of NaAlH4 has been investigated using DFT and AIMD.
Synthesis of chemically diverse esters of 5-aminolevulinic acid for photodynamic therapy via the multicomponent Passerini reaction
Authors: Gola Gabriel F. , Di Venosa Gabriela M. , Sáenz Daniel A. , Calvo Gustavo H. , Cabrera Gabriela M. , Casas Adriana G. , Ramírez Javier A.
Published: September 2016

A chemically diverse set of 5-aminolevulinic acid prodrugs were obtained via a Passerini reaction and studied as photodinamic agents in vitro.
Luminescence properties, energy transfer and multisite luminescence of Bi3+/Sm3+/Eu3+-coactivated Ca20Al26Mg3Si3O68 as a potential phosphor for white-light LEDs
Authors: Xu Chengyi , Sheng Ye , Yuan Bo , Guan Hongxia , Ma Pingchuan , Song Yanhua , Zou Haifeng , Zheng Keyan
Published: September 2016

The emission hue can be tuned from cool white to white, and finally to warm white light due to the energy transfer from Bi3+ ions to Sm3+ ions. Simultaneously, two kinds of sites for cations (Ca2+) in the host were considered.
On peculiarities of Eu3+and Eu2+luminescence in Sr2GeO4host
Authors: Fiaczyk K. , Zych E.
Published: September 2016

Powders of Sr2GeO4:Eu were prepared in air or forming gas and were investigated for their luminescent properties in the 20–300 K range of temperatures, and as much as eight emitting sites of Eu3+and just one of Eu2+were found.
A novel functionalized stereoregular macrocyclic oligomeric silsesquioxane: synthesis and its fast self-crosslinking via thiol-ene radical addition polymerization
Authors: Yi Yulin , Liu Ning , Li Lei , Zheng Sixun
Published: September 2016

We report a novel stereoregular macrocyclic oligomeric silsesquioxane (MOSS) macromer bearing vinyl and thiol groups. This MOSS macromer readily undergoes self-crosslinking via thiol-ene radical addition polymerization to afford a polysilsesquioxane elastomer.
Cu-catalyzed β-functionalization of saturated ketones with indoles: a one-step synthesis of C3-substituted indoles
Authors: Yang Zhao , Liu Chengkou , Zeng Yu , Zhang Jingming , Wang Zhixiang , Fang Zheng , Guo Kai
Published: September 2016

One-pot synthesis of β-indolylketones from saturated ketones and indoles was reported, which was useful in the synthesis of numerous heterocycles.
Hydrogen production based on a photoactivated nanowire-forest
Authors: Lee Seyeong , Hanif Zahid , Seo Keumyoung , Lim Taekyung , Shin Hye-Min , Park Sungjun , Kim Su Hwan , Kwak Sang Kyu , Hong Sukwon , Yoon Myung-Han , Ju Sanghyun
Published: September 2016

Hierarchically arranged iron oxide nanoarchitectures, in combination with photochemical catalyst regeneration, were introduced to maximize the reaction surface area and avoid coarsening during H2 generation.
Next-generation textiles: from embedded supercapacitors to lithium ion batteries
Authors: Gulzar Umair , Goriparti Subrahmanyam , Miele Ermanno , Li Tao , Maidecchi Giulia , Toma Andrea , De Angelis Francesco , Capiglia Claudio , Zaccaria Remo Proietti
Published: September 2016

In this work we have reviewed the state of the art of energy storage devices for textile applications.
Hollow porous titanium nitride tubes as a cathode electrode for extremely stable Li–S batteries
Authors: Deng Ding-Rong , An Tai-Hua , Li Yi-Juan , Wu Qi-Hui , Zheng Ming-Sen , Dong Quan-Feng
Published: September 2016

Porous titanium nitride (TiN) tubes which have a high conductivity are used as the sulfur host material. The TiN tubes have a strong affinity for sulfur atoms/ions in LiPSs, and can catalyze the oxidation of LiPSs. The TiN/S cathode presented a high specific capacity, excellent cycling performance and high coulombic efficiency.
Terminal moiety-driven electrical performance of asymmetric small-molecule-based organic solar cells
Authors: Huang Jianhua , Zhang Shanlin , Jiang Bo , Chen Yuxia , Zhang Xinliang , Fan Zhuxin , Yu Donghong , Lin Zhiyong , Yao Jiannian , Zhan Chuanlang
Published: September 2016

With respect to the successes from symmetric small molecules, asymmetric ones have recently emerged as an alternative choice.
Nebivolol suppresses cardiac ryanodine receptor-mediated spontaneous Ca2+ release and catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia
Authors: Tan Zhen , Xiao Zhichao , Wei Jinhong , Zhang Jingqun , Zhou Qiang , Smith Chris D. , Nani Alma , Wu Guogen , Song Long-Sheng , Back Thomas G. , Fill Michael , Chen S. R. Wayne
Published: September 2016

β-Blockers are a standard treatment for heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias. There are ∼30 commonly used β-blockers, representing a diverse class of drugs with different receptor affinities and pleiotropic properties. We reported that among 14 β-blockers tested previously, only carvedilol effectively suppressed cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2)-mediated spontaneous Ca2+ waves during store Ca2+ overload, also known as store overload-induced Ca2+ release (SOICR). Given the critical role of SOICR in arrhythmogenesis, it is of importance to determine whether there are other β-blockers that suppress SOICR. Here, we assessed the effect of other commonly used β-blockers on RyR2-mediated SOICR in HEK293 cells, using single-cell Ca2+ imaging. Of the 13 β-blockers tested, only nebivolol, a β-1-selective β-blocker with nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-stimulating action, effectively suppressed SOICR. The NOS inhibitor (N-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester) had no effect on nebivolol's SOICR inhibition, and the NOS activator (histamine or prostaglandin E2) alone did not inhibit SOICR. Hence, nebivolol's SOICR inhibition was independent of NOS stimulation. Like carvedilol, nebivolol reduced the opening of single RyR2 channels and suppressed spontaneous Ca2+ waves in intact hearts and catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) in the mice harboring a RyR2 mutation (R4496C). Interestingly, a non-β-blocking nebivolol enantiomer, (l)-nebivolol, also suppressed SOICR and CPVT without lowering heart rate. These data indicate that nebivolol, like carvedilol, possesses a RyR2-targeted action that suppresses SOICR and SOICR-evoked VTs. Thus, nebivolol represents a promising agent for Ca2+-triggered arrhythmias.
Coupled π‐shifted fibre Bragg grating ring resonant strain sensors
Authors: Campanella C.E.
Published: September 2016

Resonant optical strain sensors, obtained by closing in loop coupled π‐shifted Bragg gratings (π‐FBGs), are reported. Despite of a conventional π‐FBG, showing a transmission Lorentzian resonance in the reflection band, the coupled π‐shifted Bragg grating structure is characterised by a spectral response formed by a split doublet of the primary transmission Lorentzian mode of π‐FBG. By closing in loop this structure, the coupled π‐shifted Bragg grating ring resonators show better performance than π‐shifted Bragg grating ring resonators in terms of strain sensitivity (i.e. 2.86 pm/με) is demonstrated. Thus, the coupled π‐FBGRR is suitable for enhanced sensitivity strain sensing applications.
High‐frequency InGaAs tri‐gate MOSFETs with fmax of 400 GHz
Authors: Zota C.B. , Lindelöw F. , Wernersson L.‐E. , Lind E.
Published: September 2016

Extremely scaled down tri‐gate RF metal‐oxide‐semiconductor field‐effect transistors (MOSFETs) utilising lateral nanowires as the channel, with gate length and nanowire width both of 20 nm are reported. These devices exhibit simultaneous extrapolated ft and fmax of 275 and 400 GHz at VDS = 0.5 V, which is the largest combined ft and fmax, as well as the largest fmax reported for all III–V MOSFETs.
Integrated power line and visible light communication system compatible with multi‐service transmission
Authors: Ma Xu , Gao Junnan , Yang Fang , Ding Wenbo , Yang Hui , Song Jian
Published: September 2016

As the shortage of spectrum is becoming a serious problem to the wireless communication, visible light communication (VLC) is attracting widespread attention. However, the access to the backbone network is likely to completely modify the communication network, thus leading to a great cost. Fortunately, the technology of power line communication (PLC) is a perfect match to VLC, which provides power supply and connection for VLC to the backbone network. In this study, the authors take an integration of PLC and VLC into consideration and mainly focus on a communication framework with multi‐service. In the case of not making a big modification to the origin network, a direct re‐transmission concept is considered and three implementation schemes which differ in frequency domain, time domain, and bit division multiplexing (BDM) are proposed. The demonstration platform and the simulation results suggest that the proposed schemes have the ability to support multi‐service transmission with no big modification of current power line network. Moreover, the BDM scheme can accommodate different requirements of quality of service with better performance than conventional multi‐service schemes.
Analysis of opportunistic two‐path successive relaying in consideration of inter‐relay interference
Authors: Liau Qian Yu , Leow Chee Yen
Published: September 2016

Two‐path successive relaying (TPSR) improves spectral efficiency of relay under half‐duplex constraint. However, when the relay pair is operating in non‐orthogonal channels, the capacity of TPSR can be severely degraded by inter‐relay interference (IRI). Relay selection has been proposed in the existing literature to mitigate the IRI. However, existing opportunistic TPSR (OSR) schemes limit the pool of potential relay pair choices. Eventually, the performance of existing OSR schemes is underestimated. This study proposes four OSR schemes to improve the achievable performance of OSR schemes in terms of ergodic capacity and outage probability. The proposed schemes select a pair of relays jointly from the N potential relays. This increases the pool of potential relay pairs quadratically. Acknowledging the fact that OSR is only good for certain operating conditions, adaptive schemes that dynamically switches between OSR and opportunistic half‐duplex relaying (OHR) are proposed. The simulation results show that the proposed schemes outperform the existing OSR, OHR and full‐duplex relaying schemes significantly. The asymptotic ergodic capacity analysis of the proposed schemes increases logarithmically with the quadratic of N. The diversity and multiplexing tradeoff analysis reveals that the proposed schemes achieve the full diversity and multiplexing gain given a large number of potential relays.
Class‐wise two‐dimensional PCA method for face recognition
Authors: Guzel Turhan Ceren , Bilge Hasan Sakir
Published: September 2016

Interests in biometric identification systems have led to many face recognition task‐oriented studies. These studies often address the detection of face images taken from a camera and the recognition of faces via extracted meaningful features. To meet the requirement of defining data with fewer features, principal component analysis (PCA)‐based techniques are widely used due to their efficiency and simplicity. There is a remarkable interest in the used efficiency of PCA by extending this traditional technique with various aspects. From this viewpoint, this study is specifically focused on the PCA‐based face recognition techniques. By enhancing the methods in the reviewed studies, a novel class‐wise two‐dimensional PCA‐based face recognition algorithm is presented in this study. Unlike the traditional method, this method generates more than one subspace considering within‐class scattering. A system based on the presented approach can successively detect and recognise faces in not only images but also in video files. In addition, analyses were conducted to evaluate the efficiency of the proposed algorithm and its extension comparing with other addressed PCA‐based methods. On the basis of the experimental results, it is clear to say that the presented approach and its extension are superior to the compared PCA‐based algorithms.
Optimal placement and sizing of distributed generation‐based wind energy considering optimal self VAR control
Authors: Masaud Tarek Medalel , Nannapaneni Geethika , Challoo Rajab
Published: September 2016

The impact of distributed generation (DG) units on the voltage stability has become a challenging issue especially when squirrel cage induction generator (SCIG)‐based wind DGs are utilised. Optimisation methods are tools which can be used to place and size the DG units in the distribution system, so as to utilise these units optimally within certain constraints. This study aims to optimally size and allocate advanced wind energy based DG technology with innovative reactive power capability, reduced capital cost, and improved energy capture capability to improve voltage stability. Therefore, a new combination of SCIG and doubly‐fed induction generator (DFIG) based DG configuration is proposed. In this configuration, the reactive power absorbed by SCIG is supplied by DFIG, and therefore, the combined system operates at unity power factor, which makes it feasible to comply with the IEEE 1547 standard. A methodology is proposed to optimally size and allocate the DG system with an objective function to improve the voltage profile considering numerous technical and economic constraints. The performance of the proposed DG configuration is compared with DGs that utilise SCIG with a parallel reactive power compensation. IEEE 30‐bus test system is used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology.
Smoothing of wind power using flywheel energy storage system
Authors: Gayathri Nair S. , Senroy Nilanjan , Kar Indra N.
Published: September 2016

Flywheel systems are quick acting energy storage that enable smoothing of a wind turbine output to ensure a controllable power dispatch. The effectiveness of a flywheel depends on how well it can be controlled to respond to fluctuating power output from intermittent sources. A quadratic Lyapunov function based non‐linear controller is proposed which is designed based on an implicit understanding of the system including its inherent nonlinearities. Two different configurations of flywheel designs have been studied. The controller ensures asymptotic stability of the system as well as obtaining a better and more reliable performance than linear proportional–integral controllers in tracking rapid changes in power references. A further benefit is that the tuning of the proposed controller remains unaffected by changes in the system parameter and operating conditions. The efficacy of the algorithm is verified using non‐linear time‐domain simulation in MATLAB.
Maximising power conversion for heaving point absorbers using a reference‐based control technique
Authors: Wahyudie Addy , Saeed Omsalama , Jama Mohammed , Noura Hassan , Harib Khalifa
Published: September 2016

This study considers maximising conversion between the mechanical and electrical powers for heaving point absorbers (HPAs). The objective is implemented by generating the buoy's velocity reference by designing the intrinsic resistance. The authors designed the intrinsic resistance using a rapid procedure involving the mechanical and electrical models of HPAs. The electrical power conversion can be improved by tuning a weighting constant with the constraints on the maximum value of the control force and the power take‐off utilisation index. The value of the intrinsic resistance is varied based on irregular sea states, which are characterised by their significant heights and peak angular frequencies. A simple robust proportional‐integral‐derivative (PID) controller is utilised in the servo feedback control system to follow the velocity reference. The PID controller is designed using the complex polynomial stabilisation to convert the robust performance into a set of linear programming problems. A set of admissible PID controller is obtained to satisfy the robust performance specifications. The authors tested the proposed method in various nominal and perturbation scenarios, and its performance was compared with existing reference and non‐reference based HPA control strategies.
Modelling and solutions of coordinated economic dispatch with wind–hydro–thermal complex power source structure
Authors: Shi Li‐Bao , Wang Ren , Yao Liang‐Zhong
Published: September 2016

This study presents an efficient optimisation strategy for solving coordinated economic dispatch problem with wind–hydro–thermal complex power source structure. The wind–hydro–thermal coordinated dispatch aims to minimise the total fuel costs of coal‐fired thermal power units while satisfying all kinds of operating constraints. To better handle the random variables in the constraints introduced by wind power and load demand during analysis, a probabilistic analytical model is employed to describe the uncertainty of wind farm power output first; moreover, then an improved convolution method is applied to calculate the total stochastic power consisting of load demand and power output of wind farm. The two‐stage stochastic linear programming method and stochastic chance constraints are employed to further form a new deterministic objective function with penalty items taken into account. An enhanced particle swarm optimisation method is applied in the solution of the proposed model. Finally, the simulations are performed on a 6‐bus test system and a real‐sized China power grid test system to investigate the effectiveness and validity of the proposed optimisation strategy.
Die Grenzen der selektiven Lasertrabekuloplastik zur Behandlung des Glaukoms
Authors: Filev F. , Gesser C. , Kromer R. , Klemm M.
Published: September 2016

Einleitung: Ziel dieser Studie ist es, den Stellenwert der selektiven Lasertrabekuloplastik (SLT) in einer Klinik der Tertiärversorgung darzustellen.

Material und Methoden: Wir führten eine retrospektive Datenanalyse von Patienten, die an der Universitätsaugenklinik Hamburg Eppendorf behandelt wurden, durch. 113 Augen von 113 Patienten mit primär chronischem Offenwinkelglaukom, die zwischen 03/2011 und 01/2014 eine SLT-Therapie bekamen und ein Follow-up von mindestens 4 Monate aufwiesen, wurden eingeschlossen.

Ergebnisse: Es zeigte sich eine mittlere Drucksenkung von 1,08 mmHg oder 7 % im Zeitraum von 4 bis 6 Monaten nach der Behandlung. Bei 43,7 % der Augen war innerhalb von 12 Monaten eine weitere drucksenkende Maßnahme (Intensivierung der topischen drucksenkenden Therapie oder drucksenkender Eingriff) erforderlich.

Diskussion: Wir stellten fest, dass bei einem konservativ oder operativ vorbehandelten Patientenkollektiv mit niedrigem Ausgangsdruck und niedrigem Zieldruck durch eine alleinige SLT keine hinreichende und dauerhafte Drucksenkung zu erzielen war.
A method to achieve rapid localised deep heating in a laser irradiated solid density target
Authors: Schmitz H. , Robinson A. P. L.
Published: September 2016

Rapid heating of small buried regions by laser generated fast electrons may be useful for applications such as extreme ultraviolet (XUV) radiation sources or as drivers for shock experiments. In non-structured targets, the heating profile possesses a global maximum near the front surface. This paper presents a new target design that uses resistive guiding to concentrate the fast electron current density at a finite depth inside the target. The choice of geometry uses principles of non-imaging optics. A global temperature maximum at depths up to 50 μm into the target is achieved. Although theoretical calculations suggest that small source sizes should perform better than large ones, simulations show that a large angular spread at high intensities results in significant losses of the fast electrons to the sides. A systematic parameter scan suggests an optimal laser intensity. A ratio of 1.6 is demonstrated between the maximum ion temperature and the ion temperature at the front surface.
The Thomson scattering system at Wendelstein 7-X
Authors: Pasch E. , Beurskens M. N. A. , Bozhenkov S. A. , Fuchert G. , Knauer J. , Wolf R. C. ,   W7-X Team
Published: September 2016

This paper describes the design of the Thomson scattering system at the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator. For the first operation campaign we installed a 10 spatial channel system to cover a radial half profile of the plasma cross section. The start-up system is based on one Nd:YAG laser with 10 Hz repetition frequency, one observation optics, five fiber bundles with one delay line each, and five interference filter polychromators with five spectral channels and silicon avalanche diodes as detectors. High dynamic range analog to digital converters with 14 bit, 1 GS/s are used to digitize the signals. The spectral calibration of the system was done using a pulsed super continuum laser together with a monochromator. For density calibration we used Raman scattering in nitrogen gas. Peaked temperature profiles and flat density profiles are observed in helium and hydrogen discharges.
A high-speed two-frame, 1-2 ns gated X-ray CMOS imager used as a hohlraum diagnostic on the National Ignition Facility (invited)
Authors: Chen Hui , Palmer N. , Dayton M. , Carpenter A. , Schneider M. B. , Bell P. M. , Bradley D. K. , Claus L. D. , Fang L. , Hilsabeck T. , Hohenberger M. , Jones O. S. , Kilkenny J. D. , Kimmel M. W. , Robertson G. , Rochau G. , Sanchez M. O. , Stahoviak J. W. , Trotter D. C. , Porter J. L.
Published: September 2016

A novel x-ray imager, which takes time-resolved gated images along a single line-of-sight, has been successfully implemented at the National Ignition Facility (NIF). This Gated Laser Entrance Hole diagnostic, G-LEH, incorporates a high-speed multi-frame CMOS x-ray imager developed by Sandia National Laboratories to upgrade the existing Static X-ray Imager diagnostic at NIF. The new diagnostic is capable of capturing two laser-entrance-hole images per shot on its 1024 × 448 pixels photo-detector array, with integration times as short as 1.6 ns per frame. Since its implementation on NIF, the G-LEH diagnostic has successfully acquired images from various experimental campaigns, providing critical new information for understanding the hohlraum performance in inertial confinement fusion (ICF) experiments, such as the size of the laser entrance hole vs. time, the growth of the laser-heated gold plasma bubble, the change in brightness of inner beam spots due to time-varying cross beam energy transfer, and plasma instability growth near the hohlraum wall.
On the state selection of linear triatomic molecules by electrostatic hexapole fields
Authors: Tsai Po-Yu
Published: September 2016

Electrostatic hexapole state-selector is a versatile tool in experimental stereodynamics. The requirement of appropriate models to correctly predict the behavior of molecules in the hexapole motivated us to realize a treatment that predicts the Stark effect of linear triatomic molecules with rotational doublet states. Various perturbative approximations are conventionally adopted to obtain analytic Stark energy derivatives of a truncated Hamiltonian matrix, without utilizing numerical diagonalization of the full Hamiltonian matrix. By including both the low and high field effects, which were alternatively ignored in the analytical formulae of such approximate approaches, herein we demonstrate that the performance of hexapole state selector to linear triatomic molecules can be appropriately predicted via Van Vleck transformation. This method can provide analytic Stark energy derivatives that are acceptably in consistent with the ones obtained via numerical diagonalization of the full Hamiltonian matrix. Particularly, this work is suitable for v2 = 1 level of linear triatomic molecules, due to the following reasons: (1) the Stark energy derivative and the molecular orientation as a function of the electric field are expressed in analytical formulae, hence it is suitable for implementation without involving numerical diagonalization of the full Hamiltonian matrix; (2) a better prediction of the focusing curves with respect to conventional analytical treatments is provided, allowing a reliable determination of the selected state compositions and molecular orientation.