bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lumican delays melanoma growth in mice and drives tumor molecular assembly as well as response to matrix-targeted TAX2 therapeutic peptide
Authors: Jeanne Albin , Untereiner Valérie , Perreau Corinne , Proult Isabelle , Gobinet Cyril , Boulagnon-Rombi Camille , Terryn Christine , Martiny Laurent , Brézillon Stéphane , Dedieu Stéphane
Published: August 2017

Lumican is a small leucine-rich proteoglycan (SLRP) being known as a key regulator of collagen fibrillogenesis. However, little attention has been given so far in studying its influence on tumor-associated matrix architecture. Here, we investigate the role of host lumican on tumor matrix organization as well as on disease progression considering an immunocompetent model of melanoma implanted in Lum−/−vs. wild type syngeneic mice. Conjointly, lumican impact on tumor response to matrix-targeted therapy was evaluated considering a previously validated peptide, namely TAX2, that targets matricellular thrombospondin-1. Analysis of available genomics and proteomics databases for melanoma first established a correlation between lumican expression and patient outcome. In the B16 melanoma allograft model, endogenous lumican inhibits tumor growth and modulates response to TAX2 peptide. Indeed, IHC analyses revealed that lumican deficiency impacts intratumoral distribution of matricellular proteins, growth factor and stromal cells. Besides, innovative imaging approaches helped demonstrating that lumican host expression drives biochemical heterogeneity of s.c. tumors, while modulating intratumoral collagen deposition as well as organization. Altogether, the results obtained present lumican as a strong endogenous inhibitor of tumor growth, while identifying for the first time this proteoglycan as a major driver of tumor matrix coherent assembly.
TGFβ signaling is associated with changes in inflammatory gene expression and perineuronal net degradation around inhibitory neurons following various neurological insults
Authors: Kim Soo Young , Senatorov Vladimir V. , Morrissey Christapher S. , Lippmann Kristina , Vazquez Oscar , Milikovsky Dan Z. , Gu Feng , Parada Isabel , Prince David A. , Becker Albert J. , Heinemann Uwe , Friedman Alon , Kaufer Daniela
Published: August 2017

Brain damage due to stroke or traumatic brain injury (TBI), both leading causes of serious long-term disability, often leads to the development of epilepsy. Patients who develop post-injury epilepsy tend to have poor functional outcomes. Emerging evidence highlights a potential role for blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction in the development of post-injury epilepsy. However, common mechanisms underlying the pathological hyperexcitability are largely unknown. Here, we show that comparative transcriptome analyses predict remodeling of extracellular matrix (ECM) as a common response to different types of injuries. ECM-related transcriptional changes were induced by the serum protein albumin via TGFβ signaling in primary astrocytes. In accordance with transcriptional responses, we found persistent degradation of protective ECM structures called perineuronal nets (PNNs) around fast-spiking inhibitory interneurons, in a rat model of TBI as well as in brains of human epileptic patients. Exposure of a naïve brain to albumin was sufficient to induce the transcriptional and translational upregulation of molecules related to ECM remodeling and the persistent breakdown of PNNs around fast-spiking inhibitory interneurons, which was contingent on TGFβ signaling activation. Our findings provide insights on how albumin extravasation that occurs upon BBB dysfunction in various brain injuries can predispose neural circuitry to the development of chronic inhibition deficits.
Polymertropism of rod-shaped bacteria: movement along aligned polysaccharide fibers
Authors: Lemon David J. , Yang Xingbo , Srivastava Pragya , Luk Yan-Yeung , Garza Anthony G.
Published: August 2017

In nature, bacteria often live in surface-associated communities known as biofilms. Biofilm-forming bacteria typically deposit a layer of polysaccharide on the surfaces they inhabit; hence, polysaccharide is their immediate environment on many surfaces. In this study, we examined how the physical characteristics of polysaccharide substrates influence the behavior of the biofilm-forming bacterium Myxococcus xanthus. M. xanthus responds to the compression-induced deformation of polysaccharide substrates by preferentially spreading across the surface perpendicular to the axis of compression. Our results suggest that M. xanthus is not responding to the water that accumulates on the surface of the polysaccharide substrate after compression or to compression-induced changes in surface topography such as the formation of troughs. These directed surface movements do, however, consistently match the orientation of the long axes of aligned and tightly packed polysaccharide fibers in compressed substrates, as indicated by behavioral, birefringence and small angle X-ray scattering analyses. Therefore, we suggest that the directed movements are a response to the physical arrangement of the polymers in the substrate and refer to the directed movements as polymertropism. This behavior might be a common property of bacteria, as many biofilm-forming bacteria that are rod-shaped and motile on soft surfaces exhibit polymertropism.
Rapid decline in pH of coral calcification fluid due to incorporation of anthropogenic CO2
Authors: Kubota Kaoru , Yokoyama Yusuke , Ishikawa Tsuyoshi , Suzuki Atsushi , Ishii Masao
Published: August 2017

Marine calcifying organisms, such as stony corals, are under threat by rapid ocean acidification (OA) arising from the oceanic uptake of anthropogenic CO2. To better understand how organisms and ecosystems will adapt to or be damaged by the resulting environmental changes, field observations are crucial. Here, we show clear evidence, based on boron isotopic ratio (δ11B) measurements, that OA is affecting the pH of the calcification fluid (pHCF) in Porites corals within the western North Pacific Subtropical Gyre at two separate locations, Chichijima Island (Ogasawara Archipelago) and Kikaijima Island. Corals from each location have displayed a rapid decline in δ11B since 1960. A comparison with the pH of the ambient seawater (pHSW) near these islands, estimated from a large number of shipboard measurements of seawater CO2 chemistry and atmospheric CO2, indicates that pHCF is sensitive to changes in pHSW. This suggests that the calcification fluid of corals will become less supersaturated with respect to aragonite by the middle of this century (pHCF = ~8.3 when pHSW = ~8.0 in 2050), earlier than previously expected, despite the pHCF-upregulating mechanism of corals.
A pooled mutational analysis identifies ionizing radiation-associated mutational signatures conserved between mouse and human malignancies
Authors: Davidson Philip R. , Sherborne Amy L. , Taylor Barry , Nakamura Alice O. , Nakamura Jean L.
Published: August 2017

Single nucleotide variants (SNVs) identified in cancer genomes can be de-convolved using non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) into discrete trinucleotide-based mutational signatures indicative of specific cancer-causing processes. The stability of NMF-generated mutational signatures depends upon the numbers of variants available for analysis. In this work, we sought to assess whether data from well-controlled mouse models can compensate for scarce human data for some cancer types. High quality sequencing data from radiotherapy-induced cancers is particularly scarce and the mutational processes defining ionizing radiation (IR)-induced mutagenesis in vivo are poorly defined. Here, we combine sequencing data from mouse models of IR-induced malignancies and human IR-induced malignancies. To determine whether the signatures identified from IR-exposed subjects can be differentiated from other mutagenic signatures, we included data from an ultraviolet radiation (UV)-induced human skin cancer and from a mouse model of urethane-induced cancers. NMF distinguished all three mutagens and in the pooled analysis IR was associated with mutational signatures common to both species. These findings illustrate the utility of pooled analysis of mouse and human sequencing data.
Impaired lymphocyte trafficking in mice deficient in the kinase activity of PKN1
Authors: Mashud Rana , Nomachi Akira , Hayakawa Akihide , Kubouchi Koji , Danno Sally , Hirata Takako , Matsuo Kazuhiko , Nakayama Takashi , Satoh Ryosuke , Sugiura Reiko , Abe Manabu , Sakimura Kenji , Wakana Shigeharu , Ohsaki Hiroyuki , Kamoshida Shingo , Mukai Hideyuki
Published: August 2017

Knock-in mice lacking PKN1 kinase activity were generated by introducing a T778A point mutation in the catalytic domain. PKN1[T778A] mutant mice developed to adulthood without apparent external abnormalities, but exhibited lower T and B lymphocyte counts in the peripheral blood than those of wild-type (WT) mice. T and B cell development proceeded in an apparently normal fashion in bone marrow and thymus of PKN1[T778A] mice, however, the number of T and B cell counts were significantly higher in the lymph nodes and spleen of mutant mice in those of WT mice. After transfusion into WT recipients, EGFP-labelled PKN1[T778A] donor lymphocytes were significantly less abundant in the peripheral circulation and more abundant in the spleen and lymph nodes of recipient mice compared with EGFP-labelled WT donor lymphocytes, likely reflecting lymphocyte sequestration in the spleen and lymph nodes in a cell-autonomous fashion. PKN1[T778A] lymphocytes showed significantly lower chemotaxis towards chemokines and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) than WT cellsin vitro. The biggest migration defect was observed in response to S1P, which is essential for lymphocyte egress from secondary lymphoid organs. These results reveal a novel role of PKN1 in lymphocyte migration and localization.
External amplitude and frequency modulation of a terahertz quantum cascade laser using metamaterial/graphene devices
Authors: Kindness S. J. , Jessop D. S. , Wei B. , Wallis R. , Kamboj V. S. , Xiao L. , Ren Y. , Braeuninger-Weimer P. , Aria A. I. , Hofmann S. , Beere H. E. , Ritchie D. A. , Degl’Innocenti R.
Published: August 2017

Active control of the amplitude and frequency of terahertz sources is an essential prerequisite for exploiting a myriad of terahertz applications in imaging, spectroscopy, and communications. Here we present a optoelectronic, external modulation technique applied to a terahertz quantum cascade laser which holds the promise of addressing a number of important challenges in this research area. A hybrid metamaterial/graphene device is implemented into an external cavity set-up allowing for optoelectronic tuning of feedback into a quantum cascade laser. We demonstrate powerful, all-electronic, control over the amplitude and frequency of the laser output. Full laser switching is performed by electrostatic gating of the metamaterial/graphene device, demonstrating a modulation depth of 100%. External control of the emission spectrum is also achieved, highlighting the flexibility of this feedback method. By taking advantage of the frequency dispersive reflectivity of the metamaterial array, different modes of the QCL output are selectively suppressed using lithographic tuning and single mode operation of the multi-mode laser is enforced. Side mode suppression is electrically modulated from ~6 dB to ~21 dB, demonstrating active, optoelectronic modulation of the laser frequency content between multi-mode and single mode operation.
Up-regulation of BRCA1-associated RING Domain 1 Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression by Targeting Akt Signaling
Authors: Liao Yan , Yuan Shengguang , Chen Xinhuang , Zhu Pengpeng , Li Jun , Qin Liling , Liao Weijia
Published: August 2017

The present study was designed to investigate the potential clinical, pathological, prognostic value, role and mechanism of BRCA1-associated RING Domain 1 (BARD1) in Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry were performed to evaluate the expression of BARD1 mRNA and protein. The expression of BARD1 in the HCC tissue samples was markedly higher than that in the adjacent noncancerous liver tissues. Elevated BARD1 expression was positively correlated with tumor-node-metastasis stage, Barcelona-Clinic Liver Cancer stage, hepatitis B surface antigen, large tumor size, serum alpha-fetoprotein levels, and serum aspartate aminotransferase levels. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed the BARD1 was an independent predictor for decreased progression-free survival and overall survival in HCC. In vitro experiments demonstrated that knocking down BARD1 significantly inhibited the proliferation, invasion and migration of HCC cells. Moreover, silencing BARD1 inhibit the signaling pathway via decreased the levels of Akt, mTOR, and MMP-9 and inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt (Ser473) and mTOR (Ser2248). Collectively, our findings suggest that BARD1 may be a novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of HCC, and up-regulation of BARD1 can contribute to HCC progression by targeting Akt signaling.
Influence of Latent Heating over the Asian and Western Pacific Monsoon Region on Sahel Summer Rainfall
Authors: He Shan , Yang Song , Li Zhenning
Published: August 2017

There has been an interdecadal shift towards a less humid state in Sahel summer rainfall since the 1960s. The decreased Sahel summer rainfall was associated with enhanced summer latent heating over the South Asian and western Pacific summer monsoon region and anomalous zonal-vertical cell of the Asian summer monsoon circulation, indicating that the latent heating plays a significant role in the change in Sahel rainfall. The effects of the latent heating over different monsoon domains on the Sahel rainfall are investigated through several model experiments. Results show that the remote monsoon heating mainly affects Sahel rainfall by generating changes in the zonal-vertical atmospheric circulation.
The miR-183 family cluster alters zinc homeostasis in benign prostate cells, organoids and prostate cancer xenografts
Authors: Dambal Shweta , Baumann Bethany , McCray Tara , Williams LaTanya , Richards Zachary , Deaton Ryan , Prins Gail S. , Nonn Larisa
Published: August 2017

The miR-183 cluster, which is comprised of paralogous miRs-183, -96 and -182, is overexpressed in many cancers, including prostate adenocarcinoma (PCa). Prior studies showed that overexpression of individual pre-miRs-182, -96 and -183 in prostate cells decreased zinc import, which is a characteristic feature of PCa tumours. Zinc is concentrated in healthy prostate 10-fold higher than any other tissue, and an >80% decrease in zinc is observed in PCa specimens. Here, we studied the effect of overexpression of the entire 4.8 kb miR-183 family cluster, including the intergenic region which contains highly conserved genomic regions, in prostate cells. This resulted in overexpression of mature miR-183 family miRs at levels that mimic cancer-related changes. Overexpression of the miR-183 cluster reduced zinc transporter and intracellular zinc levels in benign prostate cells, PCa xenografts and fresh prostate epithelial organoids. Microarray analysis of miR-183 family cluster overexpression in prostate cells showed an enrichment for cancer-related pathways including adhesion, migration and wound healing. An active secondary transcription start site was identified within the intergenic region of the miR-183 cluster, which may regulate expression of miR-182. Taken together, this study shows that physiologically relevant expression of the miR-183 family regulates zinc levels and carcinogenic pathways in prostate cells.
Proximity-effect-induced Superconducting Gap in Topological Surface States – A Point Contact Spectroscopy Study of NbSe2/Bi2Se3 Superconductor-Topological Insulator Heterostructures
Authors: Dai Wenqing , Richardella Anthony , Du Renzhong , Zhao Weiwei , Liu Xin , Liu C. X. , Huang Song-Hsun , Sankar Raman , Chou Fangcheng , Samarth Nitin , Li Qi
Published: August 2017

Proximity-effect-induced superconductivity was studied in epitaxial topological insulator Bi2Se3 thin films grown on superconducting NbSe2 single crystals. A point contact spectroscopy (PCS) method was used at low temperatures down to 40 mK. An induced superconducting gap in Bi2Se3 was observed in the spectra, which decreased with increasing Bi2Se3 layer thickness, consistent with the proximity effect in the bulk states of Bi2Se3 induced by NbSe2. At very low temperatures, an extra point contact feature which may correspond to a second energy gap appeared in the spectrum. For a 16 quintuple layer Bi2Se3 on NbSe2 sample, the bulk state gap value near the top surface is ~159 μeV, while the second gap value is ~120 μeV at 40 mK. The second gap value decreased with increasing Bi2Se3 layer thickness, but the ratio between the second gap and the bulk state gap remained about the same for different Bi2Se3 thicknesses. It is plausible that this is due to superconductivity in Bi2Se3 topological surface states induced through the bulk states. The two induced gaps in the PCS measurement are consistent with the three-dimensional bulk state and the two-dimensional surface state superconducting gaps observed in the angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) measurement.
Transmission is a Noticeable Cause of Resistance Among Treated Tuberculosis Patients in Shanghai, China
Authors: Nsofor Chijioke A. , Jiang Qi , Wu Jie , Gan Mingyu , Liu Qingyun , Zuo Tianyu , Zhu Guofeng , Gao Qian
Published: August 2017

It is generally believed that drug resistance among treated tuberculosis (TB) patients is as a result of acquired drug resistance due to inappropriate treatment. Previous studies have shown that primary drug resistance caused by transmission also plays a role among treated cases. Differentiating the two types of drug resistance will help in developing appropriate strategies for control of drug resistant tuberculosis. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that drug resistance among treated TB patients is mainly caused by primary resistance rather than acquired resistance. Defining resistance profiles by molecular drug susceptibility test, we used Unit Variable Number Tandem Repeats (VNTR) to genotype and Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) to confirm the accordance of the first and last Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from treated pulmonary TB patients in Shanghai from 2009–2015. Among 81 patients with increasing drug resistance, out of 390 patients enrolled, paired isolates from 59.3% (48/81) had different VNTR patterns indicating primary drug resistance. Our results have demonstrated that primary resistance due to exogenous reinfection is the major cause of drug resistance among treated TB patients in Shanghai; thus, strategies aimed at preventing and interrupting transmission are urgently needed to effectively reduce the epidemic of drug resistant tuberculosis.
Active macromolecules of honey form colloidal particles essential for honey antibacterial activity and hydrogen peroxide production
Authors: Brudzynski Katrina , Miotto Danielle , Kim Linda , Sjaarda Calvin , Maldonado-Alvarez Liset , Fukś Henryk
Published: August 2017

Little is known about the global structure of honey and the arrangement of its main macromolecules. We hypothesized that the conditions in ripened honeys resemble macromolecular crowding in the cell and affect the concentration, reactivity, and conformation of honey macromolecules. Combined results from UV spectroscopy, DLS and SEM showed that the concentration of macromolecules was a determining factor in honey structure. The UV spectral scans in 200–400 nm visualized and allowed quantification of UV-absorbing compounds in the following order: dark > medium > light honeys (p < 0.0001). The high concentration of macromolecules promoted their self-assembly to micron-size superstructures, visible in SEM as two-phase system consisting of dense globules distributed in sugar solution. These particles showed increased conformational stability upon dilution. At the threshold concentration, the system underwent phase transition with concomitant fragmentation of large micron-size particles to nanoparticles in hierarchical order. Honey two-phase conformation was an essential requirement for antibacterial activity and hydrogen peroxide production. These activities disappeared beyond the phase transition point. The realization that active macromolecules of honey are arranged into compact, stable multicomponent assemblies with colloidal properties reframes our view on global structure of honey and emerges as a key property to be considered in investigating its biological activity.
Porosity evolution at the brittle-ductile transition in the continental crust: Implications for deep hydro-geothermal circulation
Authors: Violay M. , Heap M. J. , Acosta M. , Madonna C.
Published: August 2017

Recently, projects have been proposed to engineer deep geothermal reservoirs in the ductile crust. To examine their feasibility, we performed high-temperature (up to 1000 °C), high-pressure (130 MPa) triaxial experiments on granite (initially-intact and shock-cooled samples) in which we measured the evolution of porosity during deformation. Mechanical data and post-mortem microstuctural characterisation (X-ray computed tomography and scanning electron microscopy) indicate that (1) the failure mode was brittle up to 900 °C (shear fracture formation) but ductile at 1000 °C (no strain localisation); (2) only deformation up to 800 °C was dilatant; (3) deformation at 900 °C was brittle but associated with net compaction due to an increase in the efficiency of crystal plastic processes; (4) ductile deformation at 1000 °C was compactant; (5) thermally-shocking the granite did not influence strength or failure mode. Our data show that, while brittle behaviour increases porosity, porosity loss is associated with both ductile behaviour and transitional behaviour as the failure mode evolves from brittle to ductile. Extrapolating our data to geological strain rates suggests that the brittle-ductile transition occurs at a temperature of 400 ± 100 °C, and is associated with the limit of fluid circulation in the deep continental crust.
Structural and Thermal Stability of Polycarbonate Decorated Fumed Silica Nanocomposite via Thermomechanical Analysis and In-situ Temperature Assisted SAXS
Authors: Yadav Ramdayal , Naebe Minoo , Wang Xungai , Kandasubramanian Balasubramanian
Published: August 2017

The inorganic and organic nanocomposites have enticed wide interest in the field of polymer-based composite systems to augment their physiochemical properties like mechanical strength and electrical conductivity. Achieving interfacial interaction between inorganic filler and polymer matrix is a recurring challenge, which has significant implications for mechanical properties of nanocomposites. In this context, the effect of “interfacial zone” on structural and thermal attributes of the melt blended pristine polycarbonate and polycarbonate (PC) decorated fumed silica nanocomposite have been examined from ambient temperature to the glass transition temperature. Thermomechanical characterization andin-situtemperature assisted small angle X-ray scattering technique (SAXS) were used for contemplating quantitative and qualitative molecular dynamics of developed nanocomposites. Though, the FT-IR spectra have demonstrated some extent of interaction between inorganic and organic groups of composite, the reduced glass transition temperature and storage modulus was ascertained in DMA as well as in DSC, which has been further confirmed byin-situtemperature assisted SAXS. It is envisioned that the utilization ofin-situSAXS in addition to the thermomechanical analysis will render the qualitative and quantitative details about the interfacial zone and its effect on thermal and mechanical properties of nanocomposite at varying temperature conditions.
IGF-1 receptor regulates dynamic changes in neuronal polarity during cerebral cortical migration
Authors: Nieto Guil Alvaro F. , Oksdath Mariana , Weiss Linnea A. , Grassi Diego J. , Sosa Lucas J. , Nieto Marta , Quiroga Santiago
Published: August 2017

During cortical development, neurons undergo polarization, oriented migration and layer-type differentiation. The biological and biochemical mechanisms underlying these processes are not completely understood. In neurons in culture we showed that IGF-1 receptor activation is important for growth cone assembly and axonal formation. However, the possible roles of the insulin like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) on neuronal differentiation and polarization in vivo in mammals have not yet been studied. Using in utero electroporation, we show here that the IGF-1R is essential for neocortical development. Neurons electroporated with a shRNA targeting IGF-1 receptor failed to migrate to the upper cortical layers and accumulated at the ventricular/subventricular zones. Co-electroporation with a constitutively active form of PI3K rescued migration. The change of the morphology from multipolar to bipolar cells was also attenuated. Cells lacking the IGF-1 receptor remain arrested as multipolar forming a highly disorganized tissue. The typical orientation of the migrating neurons with the Golgi complex oriented toward the cortical upper layers was also affected by electroporation with shRNA targeting IGF-1 receptor. Finally, cells electroporated with the shRNA targeting IGF-1 receptor were unable to form an axon and, therefore, neuron polarity was absent.
Promotion of the excited electron transfer over Ni- and Co -sulfide co-doped g-C3N4 photocatalyst (g-C3N4/NixCo1−xS2) for hydrogen Production under visible light irradiation
Authors: Fan Kai , Jin Zhiliang , Yang Hao , Liu Duanduan , Hu Hongyan , Bi Yingpu
Published: August 2017

A Ni- and Co- sulfide co-doped g-C3N4 photocatalyst (g-C3N4/NixCo1−xS2) was prepared by hydrothermal method and this photocatalyst, namely, g-C3N4/NixCo1−xS2 shown excellent photocatalytic properties due to the special structure of Ni-Co-S with boundary different exposure to active site of transition metal-metal (Ni-Co) active planes. With the introduction of Co atoms, the H2 production amount reached the maximum about 400.81 μmol under continuous visible light irradiation for 4 hours based on the efficiently charge separation and greatly improved electron transfer resulted from the presence of sufficient active exposure at the boundary. The serial studies shown that the existence of Ni-Co-S structure over g-C3N4 active surface is the key factor of activity affections by means of several characterizations such as SEM, XRD, XPS diffuse reflectance etc. and the results of which were in good agreement with each other. A possible reaction mechanism over eosin Y-sensitized g-C3N4/NixCo1−xS2 photocatalyst under visible light irradiation was proposed.
Synergistic effects of seed disperser and predator loss on recruitment success and long-term consequences for carbon stocks in tropical rainforests
Authors: Culot Laurence , Bello Carolina , Batista João Luis Ferreira , do Couto Hilton Thadeu Zarate , Galetti Mauro
Published: August 2017

The extinction of large frugivores has consequences for the recruitment of large-seeded plants with potential lasting effects on carbon storage in tropical rainforests. However, previous studies relating frugivore defaunation to changes in carbon storage ignore potential compensation by redundant frugivores and the effects of seed predators on plant recruitment. Based on empirical data of the recruitment success of a large-seeded hardwood tree species (Cryptocarya mandioccana, Lauraceae) across a defaunation gradient of seed dispersers and predators, we show that defaunation increases both seed dispersal limitation and seed predation. Depending on the level of seed predator loss, plant recruitment is reduced by 70.7–94.9% as a result of the loss of seed dispersers. The loss of large seed predators increases the net seed mortality by 7–30% due to the increased abundance of small granivorous rodents. The loss of large seed dispersers can be buffered by the compensatory effects of smaller frugivores in seed removal, but it is not sufficient to prevent a decrease in plant recruitment. We show that the conservation of both seed predators and dispersers is necessary for the recruitment of large-seeded plants. Since these plants contribute substantially to carbon stocks, defaunation can jeopardize the maintenance of tropical forest carbon storage.
Functional nanonetwork-structured polymers and carbons with silver nanoparticle yolks for antibacterial application
Authors: Lin Yanhuan , Xiong Kairong , Lu Zhitao , Liu Shaohong , Zhang Zhaojie , Lu Yuheng , Fu Ruowen , Wu Dingcai
Published: August 2017

Functional nanonetwork-structured polymers and carbons with silver nanoparticle yolks were fabricated and demonstrated superior long-term antibacterial performances.
ZIF-derived porous carbon supported Pd nanoparticles within mesoporous silica shells: sintering- and leaching-resistant core–shell nanocatalysts
Authors: Zhang Shaolong , Han Aijuan , Zhai Yanliang , Zhang Jian , Cheong Weng-Chon , Wang Dingsheng , Li Yadong
Published: August 2017

We prepared sintering- and leaching-resistant core–shell nanocatalysts which exhibited excellent catalytic activity and recyclability for oxidation of benzyl alcohol.
A photochromic prototype based on difurylperhydrocyclopentene with remarkable photoswitching behavior and in vivo application
Authors: Wang Shangshang , Zhou Yunyun , Zhu Liangliang , Zhang Junji , Zou Qi , Zeng Tao , Chen Wenbo
Published: August 2017

A furan-based photochromic prototype with remarkable photoswitching behavior was facilely synthesized and applied in vivo.
Evidence for coherent mixing of excited and charge-transfer states in the major plant light-harvesting antenna, LHCII
Authors: Ramanan Charusheela , Ferretti Marco , van Roon Henny , Novoderezhkin Vladimir I. , van Grondelle Rienk
Published: August 2017

2D electronic spectroscopy and Fourier transform maps suggest coherently coupled states at the low-energy edge of the LHCII excitonic manifold.
Site-dependent effects of methylation on the electronic spectra of jet-cooled methylated xanthine compounds
Authors: Kim Doory , Yang Key Young , Kim Hyung Min , Kim Tae-Rae , Kim Nam Joon , Shin Seokmin , Kim Seong Keun
Published: August 2017

The torsional barrier of methylated xanthine compounds is affected by a methyl-adjacent carbonyl or methyl group in the ground state, whereas it is governed in the excited state by the hyperconjugation interaction in the LUMO.
Copper(ii)-benzimidazole complexes as efficient fluorescent probes forl-cysteine in water
Authors: Maheshwaran Duraiyarasu , Priyanga Selvarasu , Mayilmurugan Ramasamy
Published: August 2017

Copper(ii)-benzimidazole complexes could detectl-cysteine over other natural amino acids at pH 7.34 by a ‘turn-on’ fluorescence mechanismviathe reduction of Cu(ii) to Cu(i) followed by displacement with excellent selectivity.
Mixed-ligand iridium(iii) complexes as photodynamic anticancer agents
Authors: Zheng Yue , He Liang , Zhang Dong-Yang , Tan Cai-Ping , Ji Liang-Nian , Mao Zong-Wan
Published: August 2017

Phosphorescent iridium(iii) complexes are rationally designed as photodynamic anticancer agents.
On the use of solid-state 45Sc NMR for structural investigations of molecular and silica-supported scandium amide catalysts
Authors: Vancompernolle T. , Trivelli X. , Delevoye L. , Pourpoint F. , Gauvin R. M.
Published: August 2017

45Sc NMR of molecular and silica-grafted scandium amido derivatives provides information about the metal coordination sphere with links to catalytic activity.
Classification and discrimination of coal ash by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) coupled with advanced chemometric methods
Authors: Zhang Tianlong , Yan Chunhua , Qi Juan , Tang Hongsheng , Li Hua
Published: August 2017

The classification and identification of coal ash contributes to recycling and reuse of metallurgical waste.
Plant array chip for the germination and growth screening of Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Park Youn-Hee , Lee Nayoung , Choi Giltsu , Park Je-Kyun
Published: August 2017

A plant array chip for Arabidopsis thaliana contributes to more efficient screening of the essential phenotype such as germination and growth.
Design of surface patterns with optimized thermodynamic driving forces for the directed self-assembly of block copolymers in lithographic applications
Authors: Garner Grant P. , Rincon Delgadillo Paulina , Gronheid Roel , Nealey Paul F. , de Pablo Juan J.
Published: August 2017

A theoretical method for developing design rules for the directed self-assembly of block copolymers for lithographic applications.
Phenylarsine oxide (PAO) induces apoptosis in HepG2 cellsviaROS-mediated mitochondria and ER-stress dependent signaling pathways
Authors: Huang Ping , Zhang Yu Hua , Zheng Xiao Wei , Liu Yu Jia , Zhang Hong , Fang Luo , Zhang Yi Wen , Yang Chang , Islam Khairul , Wang Chao , Naranmandura Hua
Published: August 2017

PAO showed potent cytotoxic effects on arsenic resistant human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells by producing ROS.
Thermodynamic modeling and experimental verification of a NaNO3–KNO3–LiNO3–Ca(NO3)2 system for solar thermal energy storage
Authors: Xu Fang , Wang Juntao , Zhu Xiaoming , Liu Xiaoling
Published: August 2017

A quaternary molten mixture was prepared to be a heat storage medium with a low melting point and high thermal stability.
Controlling the melting transition of semi-crystalline self-assembled block copolymer aggregates: controlling release rates of ibuprofen
Authors: Monaghan O. R. , Bomans P. H. H. , Sommerdijk N. A. J. M. , Holder S. J.
Published: August 2017

Thermoresponsive bicontinuous and multi-lamellar micelles were self-assembled from poly[ethylene oxide]-block-(poly[octadecyl methacrylate]-random-poly[docosyl methacrylate]).
An efficient iodide ion chemosensor and a rewritable dual-channel security display material based on an ion responsive supramolecular gel
Authors: Lin Qi , Liu Lu , Liu Juan , Zheng Feng , Zhang You-Ming , Yao Hong , Wei Tai-Bao
Published: August 2017

The ion stimuli-responsive metallogel PbG could act as a highly selective and sensitive I− sensor and a rewritable dual-channel security display material.
Fabrication of flower-like MoS2/TiO2 hybrid as an anode material for lithium ion batteries
Authors: Zhu Xiaoquan , Liang Xiaoyu , Fan Xiaobin , Su Xintai
Published: August 2017

The 3D Hierarchical MoS2/TiO2 nanohybrid exhibits excellent electrochemical cycling stability and rate capability as anode material for lithium ion batteries.
Mesoscopic probes in asphaltenes nanoaggregate structure: from perpendicular to paralleled orientation at the water-in-oil emulsions interface
Authors: Chen Jinhui , Chen Jinliang , Zhong Chuheng , Chen Shouyu , Chen Bowen , Fang Shenwen , Xiang Wenjun
Published: August 2017

The asphaltenes nanoaggregate structures at water-in-oil emulsions interface were majorly mediated by the molecular weights of the asphaltenes as changed from perpendicular to parallel orientation at the interface with increasing molecular weight.
DBU-mediated [4 + 2] annulations of donor–acceptor cyclopropanes with 3-aryl-2-cyanoacrylates for the synthesis of fully substituted anilines
Authors: Liu Jiaming , Qian Siran , Su Zhenjie , Wang Cunde
Published: August 2017

The diversity-oriented synthesis of fully substituted aniline derivatives via the DBU-mediated [4 + 2] annulation of donor-acceptor 1,1-dicyanocyclopropanes with 3-aryl-2-cyanoacrylate has been developed.
Ladder-type nonacyclic indacenodithieno[3,2-b]indole for highly efficient organic field-effect transistors and organic photovoltaics
Authors: Zhao Baomin , Yan Cenqi , Wang Zheng , Huang Hongyan , Hu Yueming , Cheng Pei , Yi Mingdong , Huang Chengting , Zhan Xiaowei , Huang Wei
Published: August 2017

An extended nonacyclic IDTI monomer promising for organic electronics is reported.
Two-dimensional GaGeTe film: a promising graphene-like material with tunable band structure and high carrier mobility
Authors: Zhang Jin , Li Sheng-shi , Ji Wei-xiao , Zhang Chang-wen , Li Ping , Zhang Shu-feng , Wang Pei-ji , Yan Shi-shen
Published: August 2017

Two-dimensional GaGeTe film is promising for the photovoltaic emitting devices due to its tunable band structure, accompanied with anisotropic carrier mobility.
Design and evaluation of an augmented reality simulator using leap motion
Authors: Wright Trinette , de Ribaupierre Sandrine , Eagleson Roy
Published: August 2017

Advances in virtual and augmented reality (AR) are having an impact on the medical field in areas such as surgical simulation. Improvements to surgical simulation will provide students and residents with additional training and evaluation methods. This is particularly important for procedures such as the endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV), which residents perform regularly. Simulators such as NeuroTouch, have been designed to aid in training associated with this procedure. The authors have designed an affordable and easily accessible ETV simulator, and compare it with the existing NeuroTouch for its usability and training effectiveness. This simulator was developed using Unity, Vuforia and the leap motion (LM) for an AR environment. The participants, 16 novices and two expert neurosurgeons, were asked to complete 40 targeting tasks. Participants used the NeuroTouch tool or a virtual hand controlled by the LM to select the position and orientation for these tasks. The length of time to complete each task was recorded and the trajectory log files were used to calculate performance. The resulting data from the novices' and experts' speed and accuracy are compared, and they discuss the objective performance of training in terms of the speed and accuracy of targeting accuracy for each system.
Hand–eye calibration using a target registration error model
Authors: Chen Elvis C.S. , Morgan Isabella , Jayarathne Uditha , Ma Burton , Peters Terry M.
Published: August 2017

Surgical cameras are prevalent in modern operating theatres and are often used as a surrogate for direct vision. Visualisation techniques (e.g. image fusion) made possible by tracking the camera require accurate hand–eye calibration between the camera and the tracking system. The authors introduce the concept of ‘guided hand–eye calibration’, where calibration measurements are facilitated by a target registration error (TRE) model. They formulate hand–eye calibration as a registration problem between homologous point–line pairs. For each measurement, the position of a monochromatic ball‐tip stylus (a point) and its projection onto the image (a line) is recorded, and the TRE of the resulting calibration is predicted using a TRE model. The TRE model is then used to guide the placement of the calibration tool, so that the subsequent measurement minimises the predicted TRE. Assessing TRE after each measurement produces accurate calibration using a minimal number of measurements. As a proof of principle, they evaluated guided calibration using a webcam and an endoscopic camera. Their endoscopic camera results suggest that millimetre TRE is achievable when at least 15 measurements are acquired with the tracker sensor ∼80 cm away on the laparoscope handle for a target ∼20 cm away from the camera.
Adaptive image segmentation algorithm under the constraint of edge posterior probability
Authors: Gong Meiling , Lan Jinhui , Yang Changlin , Wu Hongtao , Zhi Tao
Published: August 2017

Image segmentation is an important step in image processing, but contemporary segmentation algorithms have problems such as poor anti‐noise performance, over‐segmentation, and imprecise results. To solve these problems, the authors proposed an adaptive image segmentation algorithm under the constraint of edge posterior probability. This algorithm first resolves the problem of over‐segmentation by improving the watershed algorithm. Then, the algorithm automatically decides whether to adopt the edge threshold segmentation resulting from the watershed algorithm based on the proposed edge posterior probability model. Experiments showed that the proposed algorithm has excellent anti‐noise performance, highly precise segmentation result, and are useful in effectively segmenting low‐contrast images.
Non‐concept density estimation via kernel regression for concept ranking in weakly labelled data
Authors: Wang Liantao , Li Qingwu , Lu Jianfeng , Wang Qiong
Published: August 2017

Automatic object annotation for weakly labelled images/videos has attracted great research interests. In the literature, the idea of negative mining has been proposed for the task. Following existing works, the authors start with image/video over‐segmentation. With the assumption that the noisy segments in the concept images and the strongly labelled non‐concept segments are drawn from the same distribution, the authors plan to estimate the non‐concept distribution and apply it to the ambiguous segments to generate a concept ranking. Although this idea was proposed in existing work and was shown ineffective when combined with a naive kernel density estimation strategy, in this study, the authors explore improved density estimation techniques for the ranking and propose a kernel regression model whose parameters are estimated by a maximum likelihood estimation. Experimental results validate the effectiveness of their method.
Economic demand response model in liberalised electricity markets with respect to flexibility of consumers
Authors: Sharifi Reza , Anvari‐Moghaddam Amjad , Fathi Seyed Hamid , Guerrero Josep M. , Vahidinasab Vahid
Published: August 2017

Before restructuring in the electricity industry, the primary decision‐makers of the electricity market were deemed to be power generation and transmission companies, market regulation boards, and power industry regulators. In this traditional structure, consumers were interested in receiving electricity at flat rates while paying no attention to the problems of this industry. This attitude was the source of many problems, sometimes leading to collapse of power systems and widespread blackouts. Restructuring of the electricity industry however provided a multitude of solutions to these problems. The most important solution can be demand response (DR) programs. This study proposes an economic DR model for residential consumers in liberalised electricity markets to change their consumption pattern from times of high‐energy prices to other times to maximise their utility functions. This economic model is developed based on constant elasticity of substitution utility function known as one of the most popular utility functions in microeconomics. Simulation results indicate that the proposed model is adaptable to any group of residential consumers with any disposition towards participation in DR programs and can be adjusted for any time period according to the preference given by the residential consumer.
Circular directional modulation transmitter array
Authors: Ding Yuan , Fusco Vincent , Chepala Anil
Published: August 2017

This study proposes for the first time a directional modulation (DM) transmitter constructed using a circular array. The mode patterns, generated with the help of a Fourier transform network, are exploited in order to synthesis information patterns and orthogonal interference patterns, which enable the required DM functionality. The design procedures are presented, and example simulation results are provided. When compared with its linear DM counterpart, the proposed circular DM system exhibits enhanced secrecy performance.
Energy efficient policy selection in wireless sensor network using cross layer approach
Authors: Trapasiya Samir D. , Soni Himanshu B.
Published: August 2017

The authors have addressed the issue of energy saving in packet retransmission by reducing the packet loss in the first attempt. They have formulated the problem as Markov decision process and mapped the system into various states based on system dynamics like channel gain, buffer space, battery energy and harvested energy. In wireless sensor network, adaptive policy management is the best approach to work out with the variation of system states in a dynamically changing environment. The policies are defined regarding various controllable parameters like transmission power, modulation scheme, and transmission rate. The solution is sought regarding best policy selection as per the individual state of the system. They have evaluated the performance of the proposed optimum transreceiver scheme by extensive simulations with existing schemes like optimum energy allocation, adaptive modulation and adaptive power management for the various performance metrics like net bit rate and energy consumption in retransmission of packets for different system states.
Rapid and sensitive detection of formaldehyde based on AC electrokinetic effects
Authors: Zhang Jian , Liu Xin , Wang Jian , Wu Jayne , Wang Chunchang , Qi Haochen , Liang Huaguo
Published: August 2017

Formaldehyde is a toxic water‐soluble organic matter. Its detection methods and detection limit have been attracting more attentions. An AC electrokinetic (ACEK)‐enhanced capacitive sensing method for rapid detection of trace formaldehyde in liquid is presented using commercial microelectrode chips. By this method, a detection limit is achieved as low as 0.01 ppm (μg/ml) within a 60 s response time. It is proved that the trace amount of formaldehyde in common solvents can also be effectively detected. As a complement, the capacitance change rate dependence on testing voltage and frequency is investigated. Compared to other existing detection methods, this ACEK‐based capacitive method is a low cost, high sensitive and fast detection means, which shows a great application prospect in industry and research such as food safety and specimen cleaning.
Orientational Ag nanoparticle alignment from a facile ‘TEG‐sol’ method
Authors: Zhang Jiameng , Li Linpeng , Yang Lan , Wang Qingmin , Li Haihong , Hao Yanan , Bi Ke
Published: August 2017

Super‐aligned conductive material is a hotspot in the research of flexible and transparent conductive films. This work introduces a facile and rapid ‘TEG‐sol’ method to synthesise Ag nanoparticles and their orientational alignment. Pure, well‐crystallised Ag nanoparticles with polyhedron morphology are fabricated by reducing silver nitrate in TEG (triethylene glycol) solvent. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy result reveals an organic coating layer on the surface of the Ag nanoparticles, which promotes the excellent dispersibility of these nanoparticles in TEG solvent. Orientational Ag nanoparticle alignment is obtained by spin coating the dispersion on copper foil. This proposed process provides a brand new idea for the design and fabrication of conductive microstructures.
Die „natürliche Kaisergeburt“ – eine wertvolle Alternative zur
Spontangeburt?
Authors: Kainer Franz
Published: August 2017

Der 2012 aufgetauchte Begriff „Kaisergeburt“ ist werbewirksam und
vielversprechend. Doch was verbirgt sich dahinter? Steht jetzt tatsächlich eine
sinnvolle Alternative zur Spontangeburt zur Verfügung?
Diastereoselective [Cu(MeCN)4BF4/BF3·Et2O]-Catalyzed Cyclopropenation of Alkynes: Asymmetric Synthesis of β-Amino-α-cyclopropenyl Phosphonates
Authors: Ge Haihong , Liu Shuang , Cai Yan , Gao Zenghui , Du Siyi , Miao Zhiwei , Xie Guixian
Published: August 2017

The diastereospecific formation of β-amino-α-cyclopropenyl phosphonates has been achieved in moderate yields from the cyclopropenation of 1-alkynes with dialkyl α-diazophosphonates. The reaction was performed by using a combined catalyst consisting of Cu(MeCN)4BF4 and BF3·Et2O as additive in dichloromethane at 40 °C. A possible mechanism for the reaction has been proposed to explain the origin of the activation and the asymmetric induction. This method provides a versatile approach to β-amino-α-cyclopropenylphosphonates containing a quaternary stereogenic center with good efficiency and diastereoselectivity.