bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
RETRACTED ARTICLE: The diagnostic nomogram of platelet-based score models for
hepatic alveolar echinococcosis and atypical liver cancer
Authors: Du Qiancheng , Wang Yanyan , Guan Shihao , Hu Chenliang , Li Mengxuan , Zhou Ling , Zhang Mengzhao , Chen Yichong , Mei Xuepeng , Sun Jian , Zhou Ying
Published: December 2019

Hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE) and liver cancer had similarities
in imaging results, clinical characteristics, and so on. And it is difficult for
clinicians to distinguish them before operation. The aim of our study was to build a
differential diagnosis nomogram based on platelet (PLT) score model and use internal
validation to check the model. The predicting model was constructed by the
retrospective database that included in 153 patients with HAE (66 cases) or liver
cancer (87 cases), and all cases was confirmed by clinicopathology and collected
from November 2011 to December 2018. Lasso regression analysis model was used to
construct data dimensionality reduction, elements selection, and building prediction
model based on the 9 PLT-based scores. A multi-factor regression analysis was
performed to construct a simplified prediction model, and we added the selected
PLT-based scores and relevant clinicopathologic features into the nomogram.
Identification capability, calibration, and clinical serviceability of the
simplified model were evaluated by the Harrell’s concordance index (C-index),
calibration plot, receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), and decision curve.
An internal validation was also evaluated by the bootstrap resampling. The
simplified model, including in 4 selected factors, was significantly associated with
differential diagnosis of HAE and liver cancer. Predictors of the simplified
diagnosis nomogram consisted of the API index, the FIB-4 index, fibro-quotent
(FibroQ), and fibrosis index constructed by King’s College Hospital (King’s score).
The model presented a perfect identification capability, with a high C-index of
0.929 (0.919 through internal validation), and good calibration. The area under the
curve (AUC) values of this simplified prediction nomogram was 0.929, and the result
of ROC indicated that this nomogram had a good predictive value. Decision curve
analysis showed that our differential diagnosis nomogram had clinically
identification capability. In conclusion, the differential diagnosis nomogram could
be feasibly performed to verify the preoperative individualized diagnosis of HAE and
liver cancer.
A novel, sensitive dual-indicator cell line for detection and quantification of inducible, replication-competent latent HIV-1 from reservoir cells
Authors: Salasc Fanny , Gludish David W. , Jarvis Isobel , Boliar Saikat , Wills Mark R. , Russell David G. , Lever Andrew M. L. , Mok Hoi-Ping
Published: December 2019

Understanding the mechanisms involved in HIV infection and latency, and development of a cure, rely on the availability of sensitive research tools such as indicator cells, which allow rigorous quantification of viral activity. Here we describe the construction and validation of a novel dual-indicator cell line, Sup-GGR, which offers two different readouts to quantify viral replication. A construct expressing both Gaussia luciferase and hrGFP in a Tat- and Rev-dependent manner was engineered into SupT1-CCR5 to create Sup-GGR cells. This cell line supports the replication of both X4 and R5-tropic HIV as efficiently as its parental cell line, SupT1-CCR5, and allows repeated sampling without the need to terminate the culture. Sup-GGR demonstrates comparable sensitivity and similar kinetics in virus outgrowth assays (VOA) to SupT1-CCR5 using clinical samples. However the Gaussia luciferase reporter is significantly less labor-intensive and allows earlier detection of reactivated latent viruses compared to the conventional HIV p24 ELISA assay. The Sup-GGR cell line constitutes a versatile new tool for HIV research and clinical trials.
Tuning of ionic mobility to improve the resistive switching behavior of Zn-doped CeO2
Authors: Rehman Shania , Kim Honggyun , Farooq Khan Muhammad , Hur Ji-Hyun , Lee Anthony D. , Kim Deok-kee
Published: December 2019

Correlation between the resistive switching characteristics of Au/Zn-doped CeO2/Au devices and ionic mobility of CeO2 altered by the dopant concentration were explored. It was found that the ionic mobility of CeO2 has a profound effect on the operating voltages of the devices. The magnitude of operating voltage was observed to decrease when the doping concentration of Zn was increased up to 14%. After further increasing the doping level to 24%, the device hardly exhibits any resistive switching. At a low doping concentration, only isolated Vo existed in the CeO2 lattice. At an intermediate doping concentration, the association between dopant and Vo formed (Zn, Vo)× defect clusters. Low number density of these defect clusters initially favored the formation of Vo filament and led to a reduction in operating voltage. As the size and number density of (Zn, Vo)× defect clusters increased at a higher doping concentration, the ionic conductivity was limited with the trapping of isolated Vo by these defect clusters, which resulted in the diminishing of resistive switching. This research work provides a strategy for tuning the mobility of Vo to modulate resistive switching characteristics for non-volatile memory applications.
Sensitivity and specificity of metatranscriptomics as an arbovirus surveillance tool
Authors: Batovska Jana , Mee Peter T. , Lynch Stacey E. , Sawbridge Tim I. , Rodoni Brendan C.
Published: December 2019

The ability to identify all the viruses within a sample makes metatranscriptomic sequencing an attractive tool to screen mosquitoes for arboviruses. Practical application of this technique, however, requires a clear understanding of its analytical sensitivity and specificity. To assess this, five dilutions (1:1, 1:20, 1:400, 1:8,000 and 1:160,000) of Ross River virus (RRV) and Umatilla virus (UMAV) isolates were spiked into subsamples of a pool of 100 Culex australicus mosquitoes. The 1:1 dilution represented the viral load of one RRV-infected mosquito in a pool of 100 mosquitoes. The subsamples underwent nucleic acid extraction, mosquito-specific ribosomal RNA depletion, and Illumina HiSeq sequencing. The viral load of the subsamples was also measured using reverse transcription droplet digital PCR (RT-ddPCR) and quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Metatranscriptomic sequencing detected both RRV and UMAV in the 1:1, 1:20 and 1:400 subsamples. A high specificity was achieved, with 100% of RRV and 99.6% of UMAV assembled contigs correctly identified. Metatranscriptomic sequencing was not as sensitive as RT-qPCR or RT-ddPCR; however, it recovered whole genome information and detected 19 other viruses, including four first detections for Australia. These findings will assist arbovirus surveillance programs in utilising metatranscriptomics in routine surveillance activities to enhance arbovirus detection.
Systematic Modification of Zingerone Reveals Structural Requirements for Attraction of Jarvis’s Fruit Fly
Authors: Hanssen Benjamin L. , Park Soo Jean , Royer Jane E. , Jamie Joanne F. , Taylor Phillip W. , Jamie Ian M.
Published: December 2019

Tephritid fruit flies are amongst the most significant horticultural pests globally and male chemical lures are important for monitoring and control. Zingerone has emerged as a unique male fruit fly lure that can attract dacine fruit flies that are weakly or non-responsive to methyl eugenol and cuelure. However, the key features of zingerone that mediate this attraction are unknown. As Jarvis’s fruit fly, Bactrocera jarvisi (Tryon), is strongly attracted to zingerone, we evaluated the response of B. jarvisi to 37 zingerone analogues in a series of field trials to elucidate the functional groups involved in attraction. The most attractive analogues were alkoxy derivatives, with isopropoxy being the most attractive, followed by ethoxy and trifluoromethoxy analogues. All of the phenolic esters tested were also attractive with the response typically decreasing with increasing size of the ester. Results indicate that the carbonyl group, methoxy group, and phenol of zingerone are key sites for the attraction of B. jarvisi and identify some constraints on the range of structural modifications that can be made to zingerone without compromising attraction. These findings are important for future work in developing and optimising novel male chemical lures for fruit flies.
Revision surgery after triple semicircular canal plugging and morphologic changes of vestibular organ
Authors: Zhang Daogong , Lv Yafeng , Han Yuechen , Sun Gaoying , Li Yawei , Li Xiaofei , Sun Lixin , Gong Ruozhen , Fan Zhaomin , Wang Haibo
Published: December 2019

This study aims to investigate the causes of vertigo relapse in patients with Meniere’s disease (MD) who had undergone triple semicircular canal plugging (TSCP) and explore the morphologic changes of vestibular organ through revision surgery. Eleven intractable MD patients who underwent TSCP initially and experienced episodic vertigo recurrence later, were enrolled. All patients accepted revision surgery, including seven cases who underwent labyrinthectomy and four cases who underwent repeat TSCP. Pure tone test, caloric test and video-head impulse test (v-HIT) were used to evaluate audiological and vestibular functions. Specimens of canal plugging materials and vestibular end organs were collected from patients who underwent labyrinthectomy during revision surgery. Mineralization and other histological characteristics of canal plugging materials were evaluated by von Kossa staining. Incomplete occlusion or ossification was observed in the semicircular canals (SCs) of all eleven patients, with all three SCs affected in three, the superior SC in five patients, the horizontal SC in two and the posterior SC in one. The results of v-HIT were in accordance with findings discovered intraoperatively. Few mineralized nodules and multiple cavities were found in the von Kossa-stained canal plugging materials. Incomplete occlusion or ossification of SCs was the principal cause of vertigo recurrence in MD patients who underwent TSCP. v-HIT was helpful in determining the responsible SCs.
Outcome contingency selectively affects the neural coding of outcomes but not of tasks
Authors: Wisniewski David , Forstmann Birte , Brass Marcel
Published: December 2019

Value-based decision-making is ubiquitous in every-day life, and critically depends on the contingency between choices and their outcomes. Only if outcomes are contingent on our choices can we make meaningful value-based decisions. Here, we investigate the effect of outcome contingency on the neural coding of rewards and tasks. Participants performed a reversal-learning paradigm in which reward outcomes were contingent on trial-by-trial choices, and performed a ‘free choice’ paradigm in which rewards were random and not contingent on choices. We hypothesized that contingent outcomes enhance the neural coding of rewards and tasks, which was tested using multivariate pattern analysis of fMRI data. Reward outcomes were encoded in a large network including the striatum, dmPFC and parietal cortex, and these representations were indeed amplified for contingent rewards. Tasks were encoded in the dmPFC at the time of decision-making, and in parietal cortex in a subsequent maintenance phase. We found no evidence for contingency-dependent modulations of task signals, demonstrating highly similar coding across contingency conditions. Our findings suggest selective effects of contingency on reward coding only, and further highlight the role of dmPFC and parietal cortex in value-based decision-making, as these were the only regions strongly involved in both reward and task coding.
Species richness and vulnerability to disturbance propagation in real food webs
Authors: Calizza Edoardo , Rossi Loreto , Careddu Giulio , Sporta Caputi Simona , Costantini Maria Letizia
Published: December 2019

A central issue in ecology is understanding how complex and biodiverse food webs persist in the face of disturbance, and which structural properties affect disturbance propagation among species. However, our comprehension of assemblage mechanisms and disturbance propagation in food webs is limited by the multitude of stressors affecting ecosystems, impairing ecosystem management. By analysing directional food web components connecting species along food chains, we show that increasing species richness and constant feeding linkage density promote the establishment of predictable food web structures, in which the proportion of species co-present in one or more food chains is lower than what would be expected by chance. This reduces the intrinsic vulnerability of real food webs to disturbance propagation in comparison to random webs, and suggests that biodiversity conservation efforts should also increase the potential of ecological communities to buffer top-down and bottom-up disturbance in ecosystems. The food web patterns observed here have not been noticed before, and could also be explored in non-natural networks.
Automated quantification of synaptic boutons reveals their 3D distribution in the honey bee mushroom body
Authors: Cabirol Amélie , Haase Albrecht
Published: December 2019

Synaptic boutons are highly plastic structures undergoing experience-dependent changes in their number, volume, and shape. Their plasticity has been intensively studied in the insect mushroom bodies by manually counting the number of boutons in small regions of interest and extrapolating this number to the volume of the mushroom body neuropil. Here we extend this analysis to the synaptic bouton distribution within a larger subregion of the mushroom body olfactory neuropil of honey bees (Apis mellifera). This required the development of an automated method combining two-photon imaging with advanced image post-processing and multiple threshold segmentation. The method was first validated in subregions of the mushroom body olfactory and visual neuropils. Further analyses in the olfactory neuropil suggested that previous studies overestimated the number of synaptic boutons. As a reason for that, we identified boundaries effects in the small volume samples. The application of the automated analysis to larger volumes of the mushroom body olfactory neuropil revealed a corrected average density of synaptic boutons and, for the first time, their 3D spatial distribution. This distribution exhibited a considerable heterogeneity. This additional information on the synaptic bouton distribution provides the basis for future studies on brain development, symmetry, and plasticity.
N-Octanoyl-Dopamine inhibits cytokine production in activated T-cells and diminishes MHC-class-II expression as well as adhesion molecules in IFNγ-stimulated endothelial cells
Authors: Hofmann Björn B. , Krapp Nicolas , Li Yingchun , De La Torre Carolina , Sol Marloes , Braun Jana D. , Kolibabka Matthias , Pallavi Prama , Krämer Bernhard K. , Yard Benito A. , Kälsch Anna-Isabelle
Published: December 2019

IFNγ enhances allograft immunogenicity and facilitates T-cell mediated rejection. This may cause interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IFTA), contributing to chronic allograft loss. We assessed if inhibition of T-cell activation by N-octanoyl dopamine (NOD) impairs adherence of activated T-cells to endothelial cells and the ability of activated T-cells to produce IFNγ. We also assessed if NOD affects IFNγ mediated gene expression in endothelial cells. The presence of NOD during T-cell activation significantly blunted their adhesion to unstimulated and cytokine stimulated HUVEC. Supernatants of these T-cells displayed significantly lower concentrations of TNFα and IFNγ and were less capable to facilitate T-cell adhesion. In the presence of NOD VLA-4 (CD49d/CD29) and LFA-1 (CD11a/CD18) expression on T-cells was reduced. NOD treatment of IFNγ stimulated HUVEC reduced the expression of MHC class II transactivator (CIITA), of MHC class II and its associated invariant chain CD74. Since IFTA is associated with T-cell mediated rejection and IFNγ to a large extent regulates immunogenicity of allografts, our current data suggest a potential clinical use of NOD in the treatment of transplant recipients. Furtherin vivostudies are warranted to confirm thesein vitrofindings and to assess the benefit of NOD on IFTA in clinically relevant models.
A causal relationship between cigarette smoking and type 2 diabetes mellitus: A Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Yuan Shuai , Larsson Susanna C.
Published: December 2019

The causality between smoking and type 2 diabetes is unclear. We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization study to explore the causal relationship between smoking initiation and type 2 diabetes. Summary-level data for type 2 diabetes were obtained from a meta-analysis of 32 genome-wide association studies (DIAbetes Genetics Replication And Meta-analysis consortium), which included 898 130 individuals of European ancestry. Totally, 377 single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with smoking initiation at genome wide significance threshold (p < 5 × 10−8) were identified from the hitherto largest genome-wide association study on smoking. The inverse-variance weighted, weighted median, MR-Egger regression, and MR-PRESSO approaches were used to analyze the data. Genetically predicted smoking initiation was associated with type 2 diabetes with an odds ratio of 1.28 (95% confidence interval, 1.20, 1.37; p = 2.35 × 10−12). Results were consistent across sensitivity analyses and there was no evidence of horizontal pleiotropy. This study provides genetic evidence supporting a causal association between the smoking initiation and type 2 diabetes. Reducing cigarette smoking initiation can now be even more strongly recommended for type 2 diabetes prevention.
Physiological traits determining high adaptation potential of sweet briar (Rosa rubiginosa L.) at early stage of growth to dry lands
Authors: Gadzinowska Joanna , Ostrowska Agnieszka , Hura Katarzyna , Dziurka Michał , Pawłowska Bożena , Hura Tomasz
Published: December 2019

Little is known about mechanisms of sweet briar adaptation to dry habitats. The species is highly invasive and displaces native plants from dry lands of the southern hemisphere. This study evaluates physiological basis of Rosa rubiginosa L. adaptation to soil drought. We performed a pot soil drought experiment and assessed water relations, water use efficiency, gas exchange and photosynthetic apparatus activity. The study also measured the content of chlorophyll, soluble carbohydrates and proline and analyzed plant biomass growth. We hypothesized that the drought stress induced an effective mechanism enabling adaptation of young sweet briar roses to soil water deficit. The study identified several adaptation mechanisms of R. rubiginosa allowing the plant to survive soil drought. These included limiting transpiration and stomatal conductance, increasing the level of soluble sugars, reducing chlorophyll content, accumulating CO2 in intercellular spaces, and increasing the quantum yield of electron transport from QA− to the PSI end electron acceptors. As a result, young sweet briar roses limited water loss and photoinhibition damage to the photosynthetic apparatus, which translated into consumption of soluble sugars for growth purposes. This study showed that photosynthesis optimization and increased activity of the photosynthetic apparatus made it possible to avoid photoinhibition and to effectively use water and sugars to maintain growth during water stress. This mechanism is probably responsible for the invasive nature of R. rubiginosa and its huge potential to displace native plant species from dry habitats of the southern hemisphere.
Inhibition of epileptiform activity by neuropeptide Y in brain tissue from drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy patients
Authors: Wickham Jenny , Ledri Marco , Bengzon Johan , Jespersen Bo , Pinborg Lars H. , Englund Elisabet , Woldbye David P. D. , Andersson My , Kokaia Merab
Published: December 2019

In epilepsy patients, drug-resistant seizures often originate in one of the temporal lobes. In selected cases, when certain requirements are met, this area is surgically resected for therapeutic reasons. We kept the resected tissue slices alive in vitro for 48 h to create a platform for testing a novel treatment strategy based on neuropeptide Y (NPY) against drug-resistant epilepsy. We demonstrate that NPY exerts a significant inhibitory effect on epileptiform activity, recorded with whole-cell patch-clamp, in human hippocampal dentate gyrus. Application of NPY reduced overall number of paroxysmal depolarising shifts and action potentials. This effect was mediated by Y2 receptors, since application of selective Y2-receptor antagonist blocked the effect of NPY. This proof-of-concept finding is an important translational milestone for validating NPY-based gene therapy for targeting focal drug-resistant epilepsies, and increasing the prospects for positive outcome in potential clinical trials.
Comparison of spectroscopic methods in the detection of silicone-based condom lubricant evidence
Authors: Burnier Céline , van Bronswijk Wilhelm , Massonnet Geneviève
Published: December 2019

Different spectroscopic techniques are compared and discussed for the analysis of silicone-based condom lubricants for forensic purposes.
A facile analytical method for reliable selectivity examination in cofactor NADH regeneration
Authors: Saba Tony , Burnett Joseph W. H. , Li Jianwei , Kechagiopoulos Panagiotis N. , Wang Xiaodong
Published: December 2019

This study demonstrates a novel method to quantify selective (1,4-NADH) and unselective products (1,2- and 1,6-NADH) in NADH regeneration using combined UV-Vis spectroscopy and biological assays.
Donor–acceptor conjugated polymer-based nanoparticles for highly effective photoacoustic imaging and photothermal therapy in the NIR-II window
Authors: Wei Zuwu , Xin Fuli , Zhang Jian , Wu Ming , Qiu Ting , Lan Yintao , Qiao Shuangying , Liu Xiaolong , Liu Jingfeng
Published: December 2019

BDA nanoparticles exhibit excellent theranostic properties including an extremely high cancer cell killing ability, admirable tumor elimination efficiency (100%) and a remarkable photoacoustic imaging contrast enhancing ability.
Engineering Frenkel defects of anti-perovskite solid-state electrolytes and their applications in all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Yin Lihong , Yuan Huimin , Kong Long , Lu Zhouguang , Zhao Yusheng
Published: December 2019

Fluorinated lithium-rich anti-perovskite (F-LiRAP) is proposed to enhance lithium ion conductivity by creating Frenkel defects and an all-solid-state cell configuration based on F-LiRAP is successfully demonstrated.
Fine-tuning thio-pyridazinediones as SMDC scaffolds (with intracellular thiol release via a novel self-immolative linker)
Authors: Fernández Marcos , Shamsabadi André , Chudasama Vijay
Published: December 2019

Bis-thioaryl pyridazinediones are shown to be stable to blood thiols and cleave under intracellular conditions for self-immolative release of cargo.
Efficient electrochemical synthesis of robust, densely functionalized water soluble quinones
Authors: Gerken James B. , Stamoulis Alexios , Suh Sung-Eun , Fischer Nicholas D. , Kim Yeon Jung , Guzei Ilia A. , Stahl Shannon S.
Published: December 2019

Robust, highly water-soluble quinone derivatives are efficiently prepared by a scalable electrosynthetic protocol employing low-cost commercially available precursors.
Discovery, biosynthesis and antifungal mechanism of the polyene-polyol meijiemycin
Authors: Low Zhen Jie , Xiong Juan , Xie Ying , Ma Guang-Lei , Saw Howard , Thi Tran Hoa , Wong Soo Lin , Pang Li Mei , Fong July , Lu Peng , Hu Jin-Feng , Liang Yang , Miao Yansong , Liang Zhao-Xun
Published: December 2019

Genome-guided discovery of a novel linear polyene-polyol that induces ergosterol aggregation and inhibits hyphal growth.
In-plane enhanced epitaxy for step-flow AlN yielding a high-performance vacuum-ultraviolet photovoltaic detector
Authors: Li Titao , Wang Fei , Lin Richeng , Xie Wentao , Li Yuqiang , Zheng Wei , Huang Feng
Published: December 2019

In-plane enhanced epitaxy provides reference for the preparation of high-quality AlN and development of VUV photodetectors..
Amorphous tungsten phosphosulphide-modified CdS nanorods as a highly efficient electron-cocatalyst for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production
Authors: Jian Qiyan , Hao Xuqiang , Jin Zhiliang , Ma Qingxiang
Published: December 2019

Improving the utilization rate of photogenerated electrons generated by visible light excitation is an important factor to improve the activity of photocatalytic decomposition of water for hydrogen evolution.
Diverse electronic properties of 2D layered Se-containing materials composed of quasi-1D atomic chains
Authors: Li Yawen , Sun Yuanhui , Na Guangren , Saidi Wissam A. , Zhang Lijun
Published: December 2019

The two-dimensional (2D) atomically thin layered materials have attracted significant attention for constructing next-generation integrated electronic and optoelectronic devices.
Optimizing photon upconversion by decoupling excimer formation and triplet triplet annihilation
Authors: Ye Chen , Gray Victor , Kushwaha Khushbu , Kumar Singh Sandeep , Erhart Paul , Börjesson Karl
Published: December 2019

Perylene is a common annihilator in triplet–triplet annihilation photon upconversion schemes. It has however a tendency for excimer formation, which can be reduced by mono-alkylation without severely compromising the TTA-UC efficiency.
Chemically grown bismuth-oxy-iodide (BiOI/Bi9I2) nanostructure for high performance battery-type supercapacitor electrodes
Authors: Park Seohyun , Shinde Nanasaheb M. , Shinde Pritamkumar V. , Lee Damin , Yun Je Moon , Kim Kwang Ho
Published: December 2019

A dual phase bismuth oxyiodide (BiOI/Bi9I2) nanostructure battery type supercapacitor electrode is synthesized using chemical bath deposition (CBD) and the capacitance and energy/power density (ED/PD) reported.
Formation of a four-bladed waterwheel-type chloro-bridged dicopper(ii) complex with dithiamacrocycle via double exo-coordination
Authors: Kim Seulgi , Park In-Hyeok , Choi Han-Byeol , Ju Huiyeong , Lee Eunji , Herng Tun Seng , Ding Jun , Jung Jong Hwa , Lee Shim Sung
Published: December 2019

A four-bladed waterwheel-like chloro-bridged dicopper(ii) complex! The self-assembly of O3S2-macrocycle (L) with copper(ii) nitrate afforded a chloro-bridged tetra(macrocycle) dicopper(ii) complex.
On the change in UO2 redox reactivity as a function of H2O2 exposure
Authors: Maier Annika Carolin , Kegler Philip , Klinkenberg Martina , Baena Angela , Finkeldei Sarah , Brandt Felix , Jonsson Mats
Published: December 2019

High H2O2 exposure leads to an irreversible change in redox reactivity of UO2 surfaces.
Irradiation intensity dependent heterogeneous formation of sulfate and dissolution of ZnO nanoparticles
Authors: Wang Tao , Liu Yangyang , Deng Yue , Cheng Hanyun , Yang Yang , Li Kejian , Fang Xiaozhong , Zhang Liwu
Published: December 2019

Atmospheric photochemistry is largely influenced by the irradiation intensity.
Dietary fiber isolated from sweet potato residues promotes a healthy gut microbiome profile
Authors: Liu Man , Li Xuezhi , Zhou Shengmin , Wang Thomas T. Y. , Zhou Sihan , Yang Kunlong , Li Yongxin , Tian Jun , Wang Jing
Published: December 2019

This study investigated the impact of dietary fiber from sweet potato residue (SPDF) on the diversity of the gut microbiota.
Is soy protein effective in reducing cholesterol and improving bone health?
Authors: George Kelli S. , Muñoz Joseph , Akhavan Neda S. , Foley Elizabeth M. , Siebert Shalom C. , Tenenbaum Gershon , Khalil Dania A. , Chai Sheau C. , Arjmandi Bahram H.
Published: December 2019

Hyperlipidemia associated with cardiovascular health, and bone loss with regard to osteoporosis contribute to increased morbidity and mortality and are influenced by diet.
Baicalein reduces hepatic fat accumulation by activating AMPK in oleic acid-induced HepG2 cells and high-fat diet-induced non-insulin-resistant mice
Authors: Sun Wenlong , Liu Panpan , Wang Tianqi , Wang Xudong , Zheng Weilong , Li Jingda
Published: December 2019

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the most common liver disease worldwide; thus, a dietary supplement that can restrict hepatic fat accumulation is needed.
Total triterpenoids from the fruits of Chaenomeles speciosa exerted gastroprotective activities on indomethacin-induced gastric damage via modulating microRNA-423-5p-mediated TFF/NAG-1 and apoptotic pathways
Authors: He Haibo , Feng Minlu , Xu Haiyan , Li Xiaomei , He Yumin , Qin Huilin , Zhang Yongfeng , Tang Hongbo , Zou Kun
Published: December 2019

Our previous studies have demonstrated that the total triterpenes from the fruits of Chaenomeles speciosa (CSTT) exhibit effective therapeutic effects on gastric ulcer patients and animals.
Simultaneous measurement of neodymium stable and radiogenic isotopes from a single aliquot using a double spike
Authors: McCoy-West Alex J. , Millet Marc-Alban , Nowell Geoff M. , Nebel Oliver , Burton Kevin W.
Published: December 2019

We present a method for the determination of δ146Nd, 143Nd/144Nd and Sm–Nd ratios from a single spiked aliquot.
Melatonin triggers the anticancer potential of phenylarsine oxide via induction of apoptosis through ROS generation and JNK activation
Authors: Zakki Shahbaz Ahmad , Muhammad Jibran Sualeh , Li Jin-Long , Sun Lu , Li Meng-Ling , Feng Qian-Wen , Li Yu-Lin , Cui Zheng-Guo , Inadera Hidekuni
Published: December 2019

Melatonin, a safe endogenous hormone and a natural supplement, has recently been recognized to have antiproliferative effects and the ability to sensitize cells to other anticancer therapies. Phenylarsine oxide (PAO) has anticancer potential but it is considered as a toxic agent. In this study we combined melatonin to reduce the toxicity while securing the anti-cancer effects of PAO. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay, whereas cytotoxic assays were performed using an LDH cytotoxicity assay kit. Cell cycle analysis, Annexin V/PI staining, the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), mitochondrial calcium and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation were analyzed using flow cytometry. Sytox stained cells were visualized by fluorescence microscopy and the expression of proteins was detected by western blotting. Melatonin increased the anticancer potential of PAO by decreasing the cell viability and increasing LDH release in various cancer cells. The mode of cell death was determined to be typical apoptosis, as evidenced by Annexin V/PI-stained cells, PARP cleavage, and caspase-3 activation, and with significant modulations in the expression of proapoptotic, antiapoptotic and cell cycle-related proteins. ROS generation played a critical role in induction of cell death by this combined treatment, which is validated by reversal of cytotoxicity upon cotreatment with NAC. Furthermore, the activation of MAPKs, especially JNK, contributed to the induction of cell death, accompanied by endoplasmic reticulum stress and autophagy, affirmed by the abrogation of cytotoxicity after JNK-IN-8 and TUDCA application. Melatonin showed promising potential as a chemotherapeutic agent in combination with PAO to achieve a better anticancer response.
In situanalysis of liposome hard and soft protein corona structure and composition in a single label-free workflow
Authors: Kari Otto K. , Ndika Joseph , Parkkila Petteri , Louna Antti , Lajunen Tatu , Puustinen Anne , Viitala Tapani , Alenius Harri , Urtti Arto
Published: December 2019

Towards holistic understanding of biological identity: combining corona subsection structural properties with proteomics compositions obtained non-invasively in physiologically relevant conditions.
Lipid-based phagocytosis nanoenhancer for macrophage immunotherapy
Authors: Ramesh Anujan , Kumar Sahana , Nguyen Anh , Brouillard Anthony , Kulkarni Ashish
Published: December 2019

Lipid-based phagocytosis nanoenhancer concurrently inhibit CD47-SIRPα signaling pathway, increase cellular interactions between macrophages and cancer cells, and enhance macrophage immunotherapy.
Nanotoxicology at the particle/micelle frontier: influence of core-polymerization on the intracellular distribution, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of polydiacetylene micelles
Authors: Costamagna Federica , Hillaireau Hervé , Vergnaud Juliette , Clarisse Damien , Jamgotchian Lucie , Loreau Olivier , Denis Stéphanie , Gravel Edmond , Doris Eric , Fattal Elias
Published: December 2019

Non-polymerized micelles accumulate in the cell membrane inducing permeabilization and high toxicity; polymerized, particle-like micelles are internalized but exert low toxicity.
An ovarian spheroid based tumor model that represents vascularized tumors and enables the investigation of nanomedicine therapeutics
Authors: Singh Manu Smriti , Goldsmith Meir , Thakur Kavita , Chatterjee Sushmita , Landesman-Milo Dalit , Levy Tally , Kunz-Schughart Leoni A. , Barenholz Yechezkel , Peer Dan
Published: December 2019

3D tumors created by simple subcutaneous spheroid injection represents a robust and more vascular murine tumor model and can be a relevant platform to test anti-cancer therapy.
Room temperature iron(ii)-catalyzed radical cyclization of unsaturated oximes with hypervalent iodine reagents
Authors: Yang Shichao , Li Hongji , Li Pinhua , Yang Jingya , Wang Lei
Published: December 2019

An iron(ii)-catalyzed radical cyclization of oximes with hypervalent iodine reagents was developed, which enabled the construction of the isoxazoline backbone.
AIE-active polysulfatesviaa sulfur(vi) fluoride exchange (SuFEx) click reaction and investigation of their two-photon fluorescence and cyanide detection in water and in living cells
Authors: Wan Haibo , Zhou Shiyuan , Gu Peiyang , Zhou Feng , Lyu Da , Xu Qinghua , Wang Anna , Shi Haibin , Xu Qingfeng , Lu Jianmei
Published: December 2019

Three polysulfates P1, P2 and P3 containing two representative AIE-active groups, tetraphenyl ethylene and naphthylamide, were successfully synthesized based on a sulfur(vi) fluoride exchange (SuFEx) click reaction.
Synthesis of unsymmetrical diarylmethanols via C–Si bond bifunctionalization enabled by sequential [1,4]-Csp2 to O-silyl migration
Authors: Hu Tianbao , Huang Liying , Gao Lu , Song Zhenlei
Published: December 2019

Unsymmetrical C–Si bond bifunctionalization of 2,2′-bis(trimethylsilyl) diphenylmethanol via “on–off–on” sequential [1,4]-Csp2 to O-silyl migration installs Csp3/Csp3, Csp3/Csp2 or Csp2/Csp3 in one pot, giving sterically congested unsymmetrical diarylmethanols in good yields.
Functionalization of halloysite nanotubes by enlargement and layer-by-layer assembly for controlled release of the fungicide iodopropynyl butylcarbamate
Authors: Jin Xiaobei , Zhang Rong , Su Minglei , Li Huairui , Yue Xianfeng , Qin Daochun , Jiang Zehui
Published: December 2019

Controlled release of iodopropynyl butylcarbamate from functionalized halloysite nanotubes was realized by coating with LbL polyelectrolyte multilayers, with potential for protection of bamboo materials with a prolonged lifetime.
Phase segregated Cu2−xSe/Ni3Se4 bimetallic selenide nanocrystals formed through the cation exchange reaction for active water oxidation precatalysts
Authors: Kim Sungwon , Mizuno Hiroki , Saruyama Masaki , Sakamoto Masanori , Haruta Mitsutaka , Kurata Hiroki , Yamada Taro , Domen Kazunari , Teranishi Toshiharu
Published: December 2019

Bimetallic selenide nanocrystals formed by cation exchange reaction work as a precursor of efficient water oxidation electrocatalyst.
Ultrafast spectral hole burning reveals the distinct chromophores in eumelanin and their common photoresponse
Authors: Kohl Forrest R. , Grieco Christopher , Kohler Bern
Published: December 2019

Seeing the colors in black: ultrafast transient hole burning spectroscopy reveals the absorption properties of discrete chromophores and their interactions in the skin pigment eumelanin.
Rational synthesis of interpenetrated 3D covalent organic frameworks for asymmetric photocatalysis
Authors: Kang Xing , Wu Xiaowei , Han Xing , Yuan Chen , Liu Yan , Cui Yong
Published: December 2019

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) show great promise as heterogeneous photocatalysts, but they have not yet been explored for asymmetric photocatalysis, which is important for the sustainable production of pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals.
Isomerism and dynamic behavior of bridging phosphaalkynes bound to a dicopper complex
Authors: Nicolay Amélie , Ziegler Micah S. , Small David W. , Grünbauer Rebecca , Scheer Manfred , Tilley T. Don
Published: December 2019

A dicopper complex featuring a symmetrically bridging nitrile ligand and supported by a binucleating naphthyridine-based ligand was treated with phosphaalkynes to yield dicopper complexes that exhibit phosphaalkynes in rare μ-η2:η2 binding modes.
Al(ORF)3 (RF = C(CF3)3) activated silica: a well-defined weakly coordinating surface anion
Authors: Culver Damien B. , Venkatesh Amrit , Huynh Winn , Rossini Aaron J. , Conley Matthew P.
Published: December 2019

A strong Lewis acid coordinates to silanols on silica to form a strong acid, which acts as a weakly coordinating anion when deprotonated.
Bioinspired iron-loaded polydopamine nanospheres as green flame retardants for epoxy resin via free radical scavenging and catalytic charring
Authors: Zhang Lu , Wang Qi , Jian Rong-Kun , Wang De-Yi
Published: December 2019

Iron-loaded polydopamine nanospheres act as nontoxic and highly efficient flame retardants in epoxy resins via free radical scavenging and catalytic charring actions.
The Classification Accuracy of a Dynamic Assessment of Inferential Word Learning for Bilingual English/Spanish-Speaking School-Age Children
Authors: Petersen Douglas B. , Tonn Penny , Spencer Trina D. , Foster Matthew E.
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Educators often use results from static norm-referenced vocabulary assessments to aid in the diagnosis of school-age children with a language disorder. However, research has indicated that many of these vocabulary assessments yield inaccurate, biased results, especially with culturally and linguistically diverse children. This study examined whether the use of a dynamic assessment of inferential word learning was more accurate at identifying bilingual (English/Spanish-speaking) children with a language disorder when compared to static measures of vocabulary.

Method

Thirty-one bilingual Spanish/English school-age children—21 children with typical language and 10 children with a language disorder—ages 5;9–9;7 (years;months) were administered traditional static vocabulary assessments and a dynamic assessment of inferential word learning that used a test–teach–test design.

Results

Discriminant analysis and logistic regression indicated that the combined posttest scores and modifiability ratings from the dynamic assessment generated 90%–100% sensitivity and 90.5%–95.2% specificity, which were superior to the static vocabulary tests.

Conclusion

These preliminary findings suggest that dynamic assessment of inferential word learning may be an effective method for accurately identifying diverse children with a language disorder.
Deblocking performance analysis of weak filter on versatile video coding
Authors: Lee J. , Jeong J.
Published: December 2019

The deblocking filter of the versatile video‐coding (VVC) standard is included in the form of an in‐loop filter, as a high efficiency video coding (HEVC) standard. The specifics of the deblocking filter of the VVC remain unchanged from that of the HEVC standard. The presence and type of deblocking filter depend on the quantisation parameters and the conditions of the block boundary. There is a far greater complexity owing to the calculations for boundary condition checks. To verify the enforcement conditions of the weak filter and the filter effectiveness, to propose an efficient judgement condition and to improve the filter are attempted. The scope for improvement of the parameters of the conventional in‐loop filter is evaluated and that the compression efficiency of the weak filter part should be improved is proposed.
Bit‐level implementation for polynomial cancellation coded DFT‐s‐OFDM transmitters
Authors: Cho L. , Hsu C.‐Y.
Published: December 2019

Polynomial cancellation coded discrete Fourier transform‐spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (PCC‐DFT‐s‐OFDM) is famous for the flexibility of DFT‐s‐OFDM on the trade‐off between peak‐to‐average power ratio performance and spectral efficiency. Deploying it on numerous user equipments (UEs) as enhanced uplink signalling becomes a practical issue. In this Letter, a bit‐level implementation of PCC mapping is proposed, so that the compatibility of implementation of corresponding circuits on UE transmitters would make the deployment more easily. By taking Long Term Evolution and New Radio standards as examples, the equivalency of bit/symbol‐level implementations is validated in terms of bit error rate performance.
Spectrum efficiency analysis of signal alignment‐based beamspace millimetre wave MIMO‐NOMA systems
Authors: Salem Ahmed Abdelaziz , Benaya A.M. , El‐Rabaie Sayed , Shokair Mona
Published: December 2019

Non‐orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) has been integrated with beamspace multi‐input multi‐output (MIMO) to enhance system spectrum efficiency (SE) by serving more than one user per dedicated radio frequency (RF) chain. However, balancing the system performance with significant RF reduction is still challenging. In this study, the authors propose beamspace MIMO‐NOMA system based on signal alignment (SA) concept, where they will be able to tackle the issue of hardware complexity with a significant performance. Spectrum and energy efficiencies are analysed through two main stages. First, the excess degrees‐of‐freedom of beamspace MIMO‐NOMA are exploited by SA to suppress the inter‐beam/pair interference through designing user detection vectors and precoding matrix. Accordingly, a significant RF‐chains reduction is provided. Second, power allocation coefficients are evaluated upon the optimal SE in order to mitigate intra‐beam/pair interference. Moreover, the authors derive a tight closed formula for optimal SE based on Karush‐Kuhn‐Tucker analysis, which is validated by a heuristic‐based optimal solution. Simulation results show a superior performance gain over orthogonal multiple access technique. Furthermore, the Monte‐Carlo numerical solution depicts the marginal performance gap between the analytical and heuristic‐based optimisation approach. This confirms the accuracy and rigidity of the proposed system.
Improved likelihood ratio statistic‐based cooperative spectrum sensing for cognitive radio
Authors: Patel Dhaval K. , Soni Brijesh , López‐Benítez Miguel
Published: December 2019

Cooperative spectrum sensing (CSS) is a technique where multiple cognitive radio users cooperate among themselves to make binary decisions about the presence of a primary user. The single cognitive user often faces the hidden terminal problem. However, CSS tackles this problem by sending local sensing‐based decisions to the fusion centre. A major drawback of conventional energy detection is the poor performance at low SNR regime. In this work, likelihood ratio statistics is considered as a test‐statistic due to its highest statistical power. An improved likelihood ratio statistic‐based CSS scheme is proposed by considering several past sensing events. The proposed scheme mitigates the poor detection at low SNR regime and misdetections arising due to sudden drops in signal energy. Furthermore, the generalised Byzantine attack is taken into account considering a security aspect. The proposed scheme is also shown to outperform Anderson Darling‐based malicious user detection in CSS at a low SNR regime. The proposed scheme is verified and validated over empirical spectrum data. The performance improvement is at the cost of computational time, which in practice is very low and is justified by the significant performance improvements of the proposed scheme at low SNR regime.
Assessment of motor core loss, copper loss and magnetic flux density with PAM inverter under dissimilar excitation angles
Authors: Thao Nguyen Gia Minh , Zhong Shuangshuang , Fujisaki Keisuke , Iwamoto Fujiyuki , Kimura Tomonori , Yamada Takahiro
Published: December 2019

This study is the first research to present a detailed assessment of core loss, copper loss and magnetic flux density of the interior permanent magnet synchronous motor (IPMSM) with pulse‐amplitude modulation (PAM) inverter under different excitation angles in both no‐load and load conditions. The PAM method automatically controls the amplitude of changeable DC‐link voltage, and the excitation angle for switches in the inverter is varied from 120° to 180° according to a 12‐step switching pattern designed particularly for the PAM‐based inverter of IPMSM. For reference purpose, the pulse‐width modulation excitation with a very high voltage modulation index is performed. Various conditions with changes in speed and torque are examined. Experimental results show that harmonic components produced by the PAM inverter in the IPMSM current, voltage and magnetic flux density have large effects on the motor core and copper losses; physics‐based explanations and insights are also presented. The PAM under 135° excitation angle has an excellent performance in reducing IPMSM core and copper losses since it can significantly decrease the harmonic components in motor current, voltage and magnetic flux density. Furthermore, simulations using the finite element method are conducted to validate the experimental results of IPMSM core loss with the PAM excitations.
Design principle of a 16‐pole 18‐slot two‐sectional modular permanent magnet linear synchronous motor with optimisation of its end tooth
Authors: Li Jing , Huang Xuzhen , Zhou Bo , Yu Hanchuan , Huang Qian
Published: December 2019

In order to improve the performance of the linear motor system, it is necessary to adopt a simple motor structure and effective optimisation method to reduce the detent force without decreasing the average thrust. A 16‐pole 18‐slot two‐sectional modular permanent magnet linear synchronous motor (PMLSM) is investigated in this study, in which the primary core is divided into two modules and coupled with the secondary, forming two sections. It is found that the modular distance between the two sections affects the detent force and back‐electromotive force of the whole motor. Thus, the characteristics of the detent force and the categories of the winding arrangements are analysed. The modular distance of 4τ/9 is chosen after analysis and comparison. To further suppress the detent force and improve the average thrust, a new end tooth structure including different wide and narrow tooth is proposed, which is set at the ends of each section's primary core. The design method of the end tooth parameters is obtained by theoretical derivation and the optimisation efficiency of end tooth parameters is further improved by layered optimisation design. Finally, the experiments on the 16‐pole 18‐slot PMLSM validate the correctness and feasibility of the proposed modular motor structure.
Reconfigurable WPT system for load‐independent CC and CV output with transmitting‐side control
Authors: Vaka Ravikiran , Keshri Ritesh Kumar
Published: December 2019

This study proposes a reconfigurable wireless charging topology, which achieves load‐independent constant current (CC) and constant voltage (CV) output without any communication link between transmitting and receiving coils. The proposed topology is suitable for CC–CV modes of battery charging. Inductor (L), capacitor (C) and inductor (L) connected as T type (LCL) compensation with an auxiliary capacitor on the transmitting side and series (S) compensation on the receiving side (LCL‐S) is used to achieve load‐independent CC and CV output. Reconfiguration has been achieved using single AC switch on transmitting side. Control has been implemented with the information on transmitting side. Load‐independent CC and CV output operations have been analysed analytically. The merits of the proposed topology are fixed‐frequency operation, simplified control scheme for load‐independent CC–CV operation without any communication link. Feasibility of the proposed topology is verified by the experimental prototype with a CC output of 12 A and CV output of 56 V.