bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ion gyroscale fluctuation measurement with microwave imaging reflectometer on KSTAR
Authors: Lee W. , Leem J. , Yun G. S. , Park H. K. , Ko S. H. , Wang W. X. , Budny R. V. , Luhmann N. C. , Kim K. W.
Published: September 2016

Ion gyroscale turbulent fluctuations with the poloidal wavenumber kθ ∼ 3 cm−1 have been measured in the core region of the neutral beam (NB) injected low confinement (L-mode) plasmas on Korea superconducting tokamak advanced research. The turbulence poloidal wavenumbers are deduced from the frequencies and poloidal rotation velocities in the laboratory frame, measured by the multichannel microwave imaging reflectometer. Linear and nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations also predict the unstable modes with the normalized wavenumber kθρs ∼ 0.4, consistent with the measurement. Comparison of the measured frequencies with the intrinsic mode frequencies from the linear simulations indicates that the measured ones are primarily due to the E × B flow velocity in the NB-injected fast rotating plasmas.
Automatic parametrization of non-polar implicit solvent models for the blind prediction of solvation free energies
Authors: Wang Bao , Zhao Zhixiong , Wei Guo-Wei
Published: September 2016

In this work, a systematic protocol is proposed to automatically parametrize the non-polar part of implicit solvent models with polar and non-polar components. The proposed protocol utilizes either the classical Poisson model or the Kohn-Sham density functional theory based polarizable Poisson model for modeling polar solvation free energies. Four sets of radius parameters are combined with four sets of charge force fields to arrive at a total of 16 different parametrizations for the polar component. For the non-polar component, either the standard model of surface area, molecular volume, and van der Waals interactions or a model with atomic surface areas and molecular volume is employed. To automatically parametrize a non-polar model, we develop scoring and ranking algorithms to classify solute molecules. The their non-polar parametrization is obtained based on the assumption that similar molecules have similar parametrizations. A large database with 668 experimental data is collected and employed to validate the proposed protocol. The lowest leave-one-out root mean square (RMS) error for the database is 1.33 kcal/mol. Additionally, five subsets of the database, i.e., SAMPL0-SAMPL4, are employed to further demonstrate that the proposed protocol. The optimal RMS errors are 0.93, 2.82, 1.90, 0.78, and 1.03 kcal/mol, respectively, for SAMPL0, SAMPL1, SAMPL2, SAMPL3, and SAMPL4 test sets. The corresponding RMS errors for the polarizable Poisson model with the Amber Bondi radii are 0.93, 2.89, 1.90, 1.16, and 1.07 kcal/mol, respectively.
Influence of metallic vapours on thermodynamic and transport properties of two-temperature air plasma
Authors: Zhong Linlin , Wang Xiaohua , Cressault Yann , Teulet Philippe , Rong Mingzhe
Published: September 2016

The metallic vapours (i.e., copper, iron, and silver in this paper) resulting from walls and/or electrode surfaces can significantly affect the characteristics of air plasma. Different from the previous works assuming local thermodynamic equilibrium, this paper investigates the influence of metallic vapours on two-temperature (2 T) air plasma. The 2 T compositions of air contaminated by Cu, Fe, and Ag are first determined based on Saha's and Guldberg–Waage's laws. The thermodynamic properties (including mass density, specific enthalpy, and specific heat) are then calculated according to their definitions. After determining the collision integrals for each pair of species in air-metal mixtures using the newly published methods and source data, the transport coefficients (including electrical conductivity, viscosity, and thermal conductivity) are calculated for air-Cu, air-Fe, and air-Ag plasmas with different non-equilibrium degree θ (Te/Th). The influences of metallic contamination as well as non-equilibrium degree are discussed. It is found that copper, iron, and silver exist mainly in the form of Cu2, FeO, and AgO at low temperatures. Generally, the metallic vapours increase mass density at most temperatures, reduce the specific enthalpy and specific heat in the whole temperature range, and affect the transport properties remarkably from 5000 K to 20 000 K. The effect arising from the type of metals is little except for silver at certain temperatures. Besides, the departure from thermal equilibrium results in the delay of dissociation and ionization reactions, leading to the shift of thermodynamic and transport properties towards a higher temperature.
Threshold characteristics of ultraviolet and near infrared nanosecond laser induced plasmas
Authors: Dumitrache Ciprian , Limbach Christopher M. , Yalin Azer P.
Published: September 2016

The present contribution compares the energy absorption, optical emission, temperature, and fluid dynamics of ultraviolet (UV) λ = 266 nm and near infrared (NIR) λ = 1064 nm nanosecond laser induced plasmas in ambient air. For UV pulses at the conditions studied, energy absorption by the plasmas increases relatively gradually with laser pulse energy starting at delivered energy of E ∼ 8 mJ. Corresponding measurements of plasma luminosity show that the absorption of UV radiation does not necessarily result in visible plasma emission. For the NIR induced plasmas, the energy absorption profile is far more abrupt and begins at ∼55 mJ. In contrast with UV, the absorption of NIR radiation is always accompanied by intense optical emission. The temperatures of both types of plasma have been measured with Rayleigh scattering thermometry (at times after the Thomson signal sufficiently diminishes). The UV plasmas can attain a wider range of temperatures, including lower temperatures, depending on the pulse energy (e.g., T ∼ 400–2000 K for E ∼ 7–35 mJ at Δt = 10 μs after the pulse) while the NIR plasmas show only hotter temperatures (e.g., T ∼ 12 000 K for E = 75 mJ at Δt = 10 μs after the pulse) as is consistent with the literature. Differences in the fluid dynamics for UV versus NIR pulses are shown with Schlieren imaging. The contrast in the UV and NIR plasma threshold behavior is attributed to differing roles of avalanche ionization and multiphoton ionization as is also illustrated by a simple numerical model.
Energy band alignment of high-k oxide heterostructures at MoS2/Al2O3 and MoS2/ZrO2 interfaces
Authors: Pradhan Sangram K. , Xiao Bo , Pradhan Aswini K.
Published: September 2016

Substrate-induced electron energy band alignments of ultrathin molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) films are investigated using photoemission spectroscopy. Thin layer MoS2/Al2O3 and MoS2/ZrO2 interfaces show valence band offset (VBO) values of 3.21 eV and 2.77 eV, respectively. The corresponding conduction-band offset (CBO) values are 3.63 eV and 1.27 eV. Similarly, the calculated VBO and CBO values for an ultrathin layer of MoS2/SiO2 are estimated to be 4.25 and 2.91 eV, respectively. However, a very thick layer of MoS2 on Al2O3 and ZrO2 layers increases the CBO and VBO values by 0.31 eV and 0.2 eV, respectively, due to the shifting of the Mo 4dz2 band toward the Fermi level. The atomic force microscopy images show that the films are atomically smooth and favor the formation of a high-quality interface between the substrate and the film. The investigated luminescence spectra reveal that the MoS2 films show very strong interactions with different high-k surfaces, whereas the Raman spectrum is only weakly influenced by the different dielectric substrates. This interesting finding encourages the application of high-k oxide insulators as gate materials in MoS2-based complementary metal-oxide semiconductors and other electronic devices.
Impact of oxygen plasma postoxidation process on Al2O3/n-In0.53Ga0.47As metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitors
Authors: Lechaux Y. , Fadjie-Djomkam A. B. , Bollaert S. , Wichmann N.
Published: September 2016

Capacitance-voltage (C-V) measurements and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis were performed in order to investigate the effect of a oxygen (O2) plasma after oxide deposition on the Al2O3/n-In0.53Ga0.47As metal-oxide-semiconductor structure passivated with ammonia NH4OH solution. From C-V measurements, an improvement of charge control is observed using the O2 plasma postoxidation process on In0.53Ga0.47As, while the minimum of interface trap density remains at a good value lower than 1 × 1012 cm−2 eV−1. From XPS measurements, we found that NH4OH passivation removes drastically the Ga and As native oxides on the In0.53Ga0.47As surface and the O2 plasma postoxidation process enables the reduction of interface re-oxidation after post deposition annealing (PDA) of the oxide. The advanced hypothesis is the formation of interfacial barrier between Al2O3 and In0.53Ga0.47As which prevents the diffusion of oxygen species into the semiconductor surface during PDA.
Surface effects of electrode-dependent switching behavior of resistive random-access memory
Authors: Ke Jr-Jian , Wei Tzu-Chiao , Tsai Dung-Sheng , Lin Chun-Ho , He Jr-Hau
Published: September 2016

The surface effects of ZnO-based resistive random-access memory (ReRAM) were investigated using various electrodes. Pt electrodes were found to have better performance in terms of the device's switching functionality. A thermodynamic model of the oxygen chemisorption process was proposed to explain this electrode-dependent switching behavior. The temperature-dependent switching voltage demonstrates that the ReRAM devices fabricated with Pt electrodes have a lower activation energy for the chemisorption process, resulting in a better resistive switching performance. These findings provide an in-depth understanding of electrode-dependent switching behaviors and can serve as design guidelines for future ReRAM devices.
A low noise optical frequency synthesizer at 700–990 nm
Authors: Yao Yuan , Jiang Yanyi , Wu Lifei , Yu Hongfu , Bi Zhiyi , Ma Longsheng
Published: September 2016

Optical frequency synthesizers can generate single-frequency laser light with high precision and accuracy at any desired wavelength over a wide optical region. Here, we demonstrate such an optical frequency synthesizer, which yields coherent light at any wavelength within 700–990 nm with more than 500 mW of power. The relative fractional frequency instability and uncertainty between the output light and the reference light of the optical frequency synthesizer are 6 × 10−19 at 1 s averaging time and 2 × 10−21, respectively. This synthesis noise is two orders of magnitude better than the frequency stability and accuracy provided by optical clocks, supporting optical frequency synthesis from the most accurate optical clocks. When the optical frequency synthesizer is referenced to a cavity-stabilized laser at 1064 nm, the output of the optical frequency synthesizer is tested to have an average linewidth of 1 Hz and frequency instability of 1.5 × 10−15 at 1 s, limited by the reference laser.
Unexpected superconductivity at nanoscale junctions made on the topological crystalline insulator Pb0.6Sn0.4Te
Authors: Das Shekhar , Aggarwal Leena , Roychowdhury Subhajit , Aslam Mohammad , Gayen Sirshendu , Biswas Kanishka , Sheet Goutam
Published: September 2016

Discovery of exotic phases of matter from the topologically non-trivial systems not only makes the research on topological materials more interesting but also enriches our understanding of the fascinating physics of such materials. Pb0.6Sn0.4Te was recently shown to be a topological crystalline insulator. Here, we show that by forming a mesoscopic point-contact using a normal non-superconducting elemental metal on the surface of Pb0.6Sn0.4Te, a superconducting phase is created locally in a confined region under the point-contact. This happens when the bulk of the sample remains to be non-superconducting, and the superconducting phase emerges as a nano-droplet under the point-contact. The superconducting phase shows a high transition temperature Tc that varies for different point-contacts and falls in a range between 3.7 K and 6.5 K. Therefore, this Letter presents the discovery of a superconducting phase on the surface of a topological crystalline insulator, and the discovery is expected to shed light on the mechanism of induced superconductivity in topologically non-trivial systems in general.
Analytic energy-level densities of separable harmonic oscillators including approximate hindered rotor corrections
Authors: Döntgen M.
Published: September 2016

Energy-level densities are key for obtaining various chemical properties. In chemical kinetics, energy-level densities are used to predict thermochemistry and microscopic reaction rates. Here, an analytic energy-level density formulation is derived using inverse Laplace transformation of harmonic oscillator partition functions. Anharmonic contributions to the energy-level density are considered approximately using a literature model for the transition from harmonic to free motions. The present analytic energy-level density formulation for rigid rotor-harmonic oscillator systems is validated against the well-studied CO+O˙H system. The approximate hindered rotor energy-level density corrections are validated against the well-studied H2O2 system. The presented analytic energy-level density formulation gives a basis for developing novel numerical simulation schemes for chemical processes.
Effect of Hydrogen Peroxide on the Extraction of Components of Cedar Powder with Tetrabutylphosphonium Hydroxide Aqueous Solution at 60°C
Authors: Yamanaka Sachiko , Yoshioka Koichi , Miyafuji Hisashi , Ohno Hiroyuki
Published: September 2016

We successfully dissolved cedar powder with tetrabutylphosphonium hydroxide ([P4 4 4 4]OH) aqueous solution at 60°C. The dissolution was accelerated by the addition of H2O2. At the initial stage, cellulose was more soluble than hemicellulose and lignin. Both hemicellulose and lignin were gradually dissolved in this solution containing H2O2. Cellulose chains were revealed to be cut into shorter chains in this solution. The lignin network was also found to be partly broken at 60°C. These steps induced components with higher-molecular-weight fractions that cannot be extracted with polar ionic liquids to dissolve. Also, low-molecular-weight fractions such as vanillin and 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural were found in the resulting solution. Breakage of ether bonds of polysaccharides and lignin and further oxidation were attributed to the active oxygens generated from H2O2. The aqueous mixture reported here is a protocol that can be used to dissolve woody biomass under mild conditions.
Multiplicity of morphologies in poly (
l
-lactide) bioresorbable vascular scaffolds
Authors: Ailianou Artemis , Ramachandran Karthik , Kossuth Mary Beth , Oberhauser James Paul , Kornfield Julia A.
Published: September 2016

Significance

Bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVSs) are poised to replace permanent metal stents for the treatment of coronary heart disease (CHD), which claims over 7 million lives each year. BVSs support the artery for 6 mo but completely dissolve in 2 y, eliminating serious long-term complications. The first clinically approved BVS is made from a brittle material, poly (
l
-lactide) (PLLA), yet it does not fracture during crimping or deployment. We used X-ray microdiffraction to discover multiple, micron-scale morphologies in the crimped BVS, which confer ductility to PLLA and resist fracture upon deployment. Contrary to intuition, the crimping process enhances scaffold strength, a result that researchers should keep in mind when designing thinner scaffolds to make BVSs broadly applicable to CHD.
Exoplanet orbital eccentricities derived from LAMOST–Kepler analysis
Authors: Xie Ji-Wei , Dong Subo , Zhu Zhaohuan , Huber Daniel , Zheng Zheng , De Cat Peter , Fu Jianning , Liu Hui-Gen , Luo Ali , Wu Yue , Zhang Haotong , Zhang Hui , Zhou Ji-Lin , Cao Zihuang , Hou Yonghui , Wang Yuefei , Zhang Yong
Published: September 2016

Significance

The Kepler satellite has made revolutionary discoveries of thousands of planets down to Earth size. However, the orbital shapes (parameterized by eccentricities) of most Kepler planets remain unknown. We derive the eccentricity distributions of an unprecedented large and homogeneous sample of 698 Kepler planets. We discover a dichotomy in eccentricities: the systems with single transiting planets, which make up half of the sample, have a large mean eccentricity (

∼

0.3), whereas the multiples are on nearly circular orbits. The average eccentricity and inclination of the Kepler multiples and the solar system objects fit into an intriguing common pattern. Our results suggest that the circular and coplanar planetary orbits like those in our solar system are likely typical in the galaxy.
RIM-binding protein 2 regulates release probability by fine-tuning calcium channel localization at murine hippocampal synapses
Authors: Grauel M. Katharina , Maglione Marta , Reddy-Alla Suneel , Willmes Claudia G. , Brockmann Marisa M. , Trimbuch Thorsten , Rosenmund Tanja , Pangalos Maria , Vardar Gülçin , Stumpf Alexander , Walter Alexander M. , Rost Benjamin R. , Eickholt Britta J. , Haucke Volker , Schmitz Dietmar , Sigrist Stephan J. , Rosenmund Christian
Published: September 2016

Significance

Highly regulated and precise positioning of Ca
2+
channels at the active zone (AZ) controls Ca
2+
nanodomains at release sites. Their exact localization affects vesicular release probability (P
VR
) and is important for proper synaptic transmission during repetitive stimulation. We provide a detailed analysis of synaptic transmission combined with superresolution imaging of the AZ organization in mouse hippocampal synapses lacking Rab-interacting molecule-binding protein 2 (RIM-BP2). By dual- and triple-channel time-gated stimulated emission depletion (gSTED) microscopy, we directly show that RIM-BP2 fine-tunes voltage-gated Ca
2+
channel 2.1 (Ca
V
2.1) localization at the AZ. We reveal that RIM-BP2 likely regulates the Ca
2+
nanodomain by positioning Ca
V
2.1 channels close to synaptic vesicle release sites. Loss of RIM-BP2 reduces P
VR
and alters short-term plasticity.
Layerless fabrication with continuous liquid interface production
Authors: Janusziewicz Rima , Tumbleston John R. , Quintanilla Adam L. , Mecham Sue J. , DeSimone Joseph M.
Published: September 2016

Despite the increasing popularity of 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing (AM), the technique has not developed beyond the realm of rapid prototyping. This confinement of the field can be attributed to the inherent flaws of layer-by-layer printing and, in particular, anisotropic mechanical properties that depend on print direction, visible by the staircasing surface finish effect. Continuous liquid interface production (CLIP) is an alternative approach to AM that capitalizes on the fundamental principle of oxygen-inhibited photopolymerization to generate a continual liquid interface of uncured resin between the growing part and the exposure window. This interface eliminates the necessity of an iterative layer-by-layer process, allowing for continuous production. Herein we report the advantages of continuous production, specifically the fabrication of layerless parts. These advantages enable the fabrication of large overhangs without the use of supports, reduction of the staircasing effect without compromising fabrication time, and isotropic mechanical properties. Combined, these advantages result in multiple indicators of layerless and monolithic fabrication using CLIP technology.
New twist on artificial muscles
Authors: Haines Carter S. , Li Na , Spinks Geoffrey M. , Aliev Ali E. , Di Jiangtao , Baughman Ray H.
Published: September 2016

Lightweight artificial muscle fibers that can match the large tensile stroke of natural muscles have been elusive. In particular, low stroke, limited cycle life, and inefficient energy conversion have combined with high cost and hysteretic performance to restrict practical use. In recent years, a new class of artificial muscles, based on highly twisted fibers, has emerged that can deliver more than 2,000 J/kg of specific work during muscle contraction, compared with just 40 J/kg for natural muscle. Thermally actuated muscles made from ordinary polymer fibers can deliver long-life, hysteresis-free tensile strokes of more than 30% and torsional actuation capable of spinning a paddle at speeds of more than 100,000 rpm. In this perspective, we explore the mechanisms and potential applications of present twisted fiber muscles and the future opportunities and challenges for developing twisted muscles having improved cycle rates, efficiencies, and functionality. We also demonstrate artificial muscle sewing threads and textiles and coiled structures that exhibit nearly unlimited actuation strokes. In addition to robotics and prosthetics, future applications include smart textiles that change breathability in response to temperature and moisture and window shutters that automatically open and close to conserve energy.
Keratinocytes contribute intrinsically to psoriasis upon loss of
Tnip1
function
Authors: Ippagunta Sirish K. , Gangwar Ruchika , Finkelstein David , Vogel Peter , Pelletier Stephane , Gingras Sebastien , Redecke Vanessa , Häcker Hans
Published: September 2016

Significance

Psoriasis is a complex inflammatory disease with clear genetic contribution that affects roughly 2% of the population in Europe and North America. Inflammation of the skin, and in many cases the joints, leads to severe clinical symptoms, including disfiguration and disability. Immune cells and their inflammatory effector functions have been identified as critical factors for disease development; however, how genetic susceptibility contributes to disease remains largely unclear. Here we developed mouse models based on the gene
TNIP1
, whose loss-of-function in humans is linked to psoriasis. Based on these models, we provide evidence that nonimmune cells, specifically skin-resident keratinocytes, contribute causally to disease. This work shifts attention to keratinocytes as causal contributors and therapeutic targets in psoriasis.
Dopamine D2 receptors in striatal output neurons enable the psychomotor effects of cocaine
Authors: Kharkwal Geetika , Radl Daniela , Lewis Robert , Borrelli Emiliana
Published: September 2016

Significance

Cocaine elicits a strong motor response when administered in rodents. These effects have been assigned to activation of D1 receptor-mediated signaling in striatal medium spiny neurons (dMSNs). However, we previously have shown that activation of motor activity and signaling in dMSNs was dampened in D2 receptor (D2R) knockout mice. Nevertheless, because of the wide distribution of D2Rs in different neuronal types, it was not possible to assess which D2R-expressing neurons allow cocaine-mediated effects. Using mice with neuron-specific deletion of D2R, we identify D2R
+
-MSNs (iMSNs) as those enabling the activation of dMSNs in response to cocaine. These studies identify the striatal iMSNs and D2R-mediated signaling as key regulators of intrastriatal functions required for the full expression of the motor and cellular activating effects of cocaine.
Trisaccharide containing α2,3-linked sialic acid is a receptor for mumps virus
Authors: Kubota Marie , Takeuchi Kaoru , Watanabe Shumpei , Ohno Shinji , Matsuoka Rei , Kohda Daisuke , Nakakita Shin-ichi , Hiramatsu Hiroaki , Suzuki Yasuo , Nakayama Tetsuo , Terada Tohru , Shimizu Kentaro , Shimizu Nobutaka , Shiroishi Mitsunori , Yanagi Yusuke , Hashiguchi Takao
Published: September 2016

Significance

Despite the availability of an effective vaccine, mumps virus (MuV) still causes outbreaks even in highly vaccinated populations worldwide. MuV affects the salivary glands, testicles, ovaries, pancreas, meninges, and brain. This characteristic tropism to glandular tissues and the central nervous system remains to be explained. Here, using X-ray crystallography, computational energy calculations, isothermal titration calorimetry, glycan-binding assays, and MuV glycoprotein-mediated cell fusion assays, we show that the trisaccharide containing an α2,3-linked sialic acid on the cell surface acts as a receptor for MuV. In conjunction with elucidation of the distribution of structurally different sialylated glycans in tissues and organs, this finding will lead to a better understanding of MuV tropism and pathogenesis.
Nanokit for single-cell electrochemical analyses
Authors: Pan Rongrong , Xu Mingchen , Jiang Dechen , Burgess Jame D. , Chen Hong-Yuan
Published: September 2016

Significance

A nanokit was generated by filling a nanometer-sized capillary with a ring electrode at the tip with components from traditional kits, and it was applied to characterize the reactivity and concentrations of cellular compounds in single cells. The nanokit has adapted features of the well-established kits and integrated the kit components and detector in one nanometer-sized capillary, which avoids a complicated structural design or surface functionalization for the recognition of the analytes and could be applied to the analysis of cellular compounds that are challenging to measure using the current methods. The simple and low-cost device provides a specific strategy that should facilitate single-cell analyses.
Mitochondrial DNA from the eradicated European
Plasmodium vivax
and
P. falciparum
from 70-year-old slides from the Ebro Delta in Spain
Authors: Gelabert Pere , Sandoval-Velasco Marcela , Olalde Iñigo , Fregel Rosa , Rieux Adrien , Escosa Raül , Aranda Carles , Paaijmans Krijn , Mueller Ivo , Gilbert M. Thomas P. , Lalueza-Fox Carles
Published: September 2016

Significance

Previous studies have attempted to unravel the complex phylogeographic patterns of the malaria parasites
Plasmodium vivax
and
Plasmidium falciparum
diversity and also to understand its evolutionary affinities. However, all these studies are constrained by the lack of evidence from the eradicated European strains that could be central to some dispersals. This study successfully retrieves massive genetic data from old slides treated with traditional staining techniques to be observed under the microscope, thus providing a new material source for the study of past pathogens that could place value in historical medical collections. We generated sequence data from the eradicated European malaria parasites and shed light on the genetic diversity patterns of
P. vivax
and
P. falciparum
.
Numerical simulation of the macrostructure evolution of a heavy steel ingot
Authors: Kang J. , Zhang C. , Wang T. , Wang S. , Shen H. , Liu B.
Published: September 2016

The macroscopic grain structure of a 234 t steel ingot was simulated by using cellular automaton and finite element method provided by ProCAST. The growing speed coefficient of Kurz–Giovanola–Trivedi model was modified to reflect the growing process of grains. Chilled fine grains, columnar grains and coarse equiaxed grains were obtained from surface to core of the ingot, which were roughly in agreement with the measured ones. The influences of the nucleation and growth parameters were investigated. It was found that the relationship between nucleation and growth determines the macrostructure profile. An index, the ratio of growing speed over the nucleated sites at certain undercooling was proposed to estimate the macrostructure tendency.
YBa2Cu3O7-z superconducting coated conductors by chemical solution deposition approach
Authors: Zhu X. L. , Wang W. T. , Pu M. H. , Cheng C. H. , Zhao Y.
Published: September 2016

YBa2Cu3O7-δ (YBCO) superconducting coated conductors were prepared on SmBiO3 (SBO) buffered substrates by chemical solution deposition approach. In this work, SBO buffer layers with a rapid decomposition process were heat treated less than 2 h. The SBO buffer layers deposited on LaAlO3, yttria-stabilised zirconium and NiO-buffered NiW substrates possess pure SBO (l00) X-ray diffraction peaks and dense as well as smooth surface microstructures. And YBCO superconducting layers with c-axis texture and dense morphology were successfully fabricated on different SBO-buffered substrates, with superconducting transition temperature Tc of 90 K and critical current density (77 K, self-field) above 1 MA cm−2. This could offer a promising alternative to low cost and high-performance preparation of YBCO superconducting coated conductors.
Influences of different reinforcement particles on performances of electroless composites
Authors: Hu J. , Fang L. , Liao X.-L. , Shi L.-T.
Published: September 2016

In this work, nickel–cobalt–phosphorus composites co-deposited with three different particles (aluminium oxide, silicon nitride and silicon carbide) were, respectively, prepared on ASCM20 + 5Fe aluminium alloy by electroless plating. The effects of the different reinforcement particles on the morphology, composition, microstructure, microhardness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance of composites were investigated. The results show that the largest incorporation amount of particles in number density, the finest grains, the highest microhardness, the best wear resistance and the lowest average friction coefficient are found to occur on the silicon carbide reinforced coating. The best corrosion resistance is observed on the coating co-deposited with aluminium oxide.
What can topology tell us about the neural code?
Authors: Curto Carina
Published: September 2016

Neuroscience is undergoing a period of rapid experimental progress and expansion. New mathematical tools, previously unknown in the neuroscience community, are now being used to tackle fundamental questions and analyze emerging data sets. Consistent with this trend, the last decade has seen an uptick in the use of topological ideas and methods in neuroscience. In this paper I will survey recent applications of topology in neuroscience, and explain why topology is an especially natural tool for understanding neural codes.
DEF: an automated dead-end filling approach based on quasi-endosymbiosis
Authors: Liu Lili , Zhang Zijun , Sheng Taotao , Chen Ming
Published: September 2016

Motivation

Gap filling for the reconstruction of metabolic networks is to restore the connectivity of metabolites via finding high-confidence reactions that could be missed in target organism. Current methods for gap filling either fall into the network topology or have limited capability in finding missing reactions that are indirectly related to dead-end metabolites but of biological importance to the target model.

Results

We present an automated dead-end filling (DEF) approach, which is derived from the wisdom of endosymbiosis theory, to fill gaps by finding the most efficient dead-end utilization paths in a constructed quasi-endosymbiosis model. The recalls of reactions and dead ends of DEF reach around 73% and 86%, respectively. This method is capable of finding indirectly dead-end-related reactions with biological importance for the target organism and is applicable to any given metabolic model. In the E. coli iJR904 model, for instance, about 42% of the dead-end metabolites were fixed by our proposed method.

Availability and Implementation

DEF is publicly available at http://bis.zju.edu.cn/DEF/.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Spine Metastasis Practice Patterns among Korean, Chinese, and Japanese Radiation Oncologists: A Multinational Online Survey Study
Authors: Yu Jeong Il , Park Hee Chul , Ahn Yong Chan , Gao Xian-Shu , Wang Jun-Jie , Zeng Zhao-Chong , Ito Yoshinori , Ohno Tatsuya , Nishimura Yasumasa
Published: September 2016

This online survey of practising radiation oncologists from Korea, China and Japan was conducted to investigate the current practices in radiotherapy (RT) for spine metastasis and to compare these practices across the three countries. The questionnaire included nine general information questions and two clinical scenarios (representing ‘typical’ and ‘good’ prognosis spine metastasis), with seven questions for each scenario. An anonymous web-based survey using Google Docs® was undertaken from 2 September 2014 to 9 April 2015. A total of 54 Korean, 107 Chinese and 104 Japanese radiation oncologists participated in the study. The first scenario involved a typical case of spine metastasis (~25% expected 1-year survival rate), and the preferred fractionation scheme was 10 fractions of 3 Gy, though the pattern was slightly different in each country. The second scenario involved a good prognosis case (>50% expected 1-year survival rate), and 10 fractions of 3 Gy was the preferred practice in all three countries (however, use of a larger fraction dose with a smaller fraction number was more common in Korea). A more conformal RT technique was more prominent in China and Korea, especially for patients with a good prognosis. Avoidance of reirradiation was notable in China. In summary, a preference for multiple fractionation in RT for spine metastasis was observed in the majority of Korean, Chinese and Japanese radiation oncologists, although there were slight differences in practice preferences, especially for patients with a favorable prognosis.
Glycyrrhetinic acid alleviates radiation-induced lung injury in mice
Authors: Chen Jinmei , Zhang Weijian , Zhang Lurong , Zhang Jiemin , Chen Xiuying , Yang Meichun , Chen Ting , Hong Jinsheng
Published: September 2016

Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) is a common complication of thoracic radiotherapy, but efficacious therapy for RILI is lacking. This study ascertained whether glycyrrhetinic acid (GA; a functional hydrolyzed product of glycyrrhizic acid, which is extracted from herb licorice) can protect against RILI and investigated its relationship to the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1/Smads signaling pathway. C57BL/6 mice were divided into four groups: a control group, a GA group and two irradiation (IR) groups. IR groups were exposed to a single fraction of X-rays (12 Gy) to the thorax and administered normal saline (IR + NS group) or GA (IR + GA group). Two days and 17 days after irradiation, histologic analyses were performed to assess the degree of lung injury, and the expression of TGF-β1, Smad2, Smad3 and Smad7 was recorded. GA administration mitigated the histologic changes of lung injury 2 days and 17 days after irradiation. Protein and mRNA expression of TGF-β1, Smad2 and Smad3, and the mRNA level of Smad7, in lung tissue were significantly elevated after irradiation. GA decreased expression of TGF-β1, Smad2 and Smad3 in lung tissue, but did not increase Smad7 expression. GA can protect against early-stage RILI. This protective effect may be associated with inhibition of the TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway.
Palliative and end-of-life care in glioblastoma: defining and measuring opportunities to improve care
Authors: Hemminger Lauryn E , Pittman Christine A , Korones David N , Serventi Jennifer N , Ladwig Susan , Holloway Robert G , Mohile Nimish A
Published: September 2016

Background

American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) quality measures for terminal cancers recommend early advance care planning and hospice at the end of life. We sought to evaluate adherence to 5 palliative care quality measures and explore associations with patient outcomes in glioblastoma.

Methods

This is a retrospective analysis of 117 deceased glioblastoma patients over 5 years. Records were reviewed to describe adherence to palliative care quality measures and patient outcomes. Data regarding emotional assessments, advance directives, palliative care consultation, chemotherapy administration, hospice, location of death, and overall survival were collected.

Results

Median overall survival was 12.9 months. By the second oncology visit, 22.2% (26/117) had an emotional assessment completed. Advance directives were documented for 52.1% (61/117) by the third neuro-oncology visit (30/61 health care proxy), yet 26.5% (31/117) did not have any advance directive before the last month of life. With regard to other ASCO quality measures, 36.8% (43/117) had a palliative care consult; 94.0% (110/117) did not receive chemotherapy in the last 14 days of life; 59.8% (70/117) enrolled in hospice >7 days before death; and 56.4% (66/117) died in a home setting. Patients who enrolled in hospice >7 days before death were 3.56 times more likely to die in a home setting than patients enrolled <7 days before death or with no hospice enrollment (P = .002, [OR 3.56; 95% CI, 1.57–8.04]).

Conclusions

Late advance directive documentation, minimal early palliative care involvement, and the association of early hospice enrollment with death in a home setting underscore the need to improve care and better define palliative care quality measures in glioblastoma.
Ethylene Biosynthesis and Signaling Is Required for Rice Immune Response and Basal Resistance Against Magnaporthe oryzae Infection
Authors: Helliwell Emily E. , Wang Qin , Yang Yinong
Published: September 2016

Recent studies have suggested that ethylene enhances host resistance to fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae, the causal agent of rice blast disease. Among the six 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase genes in rice, OsACS1 and OsACS2 are induced within 24 h of inoculation by M. oryzae. This induction occurs simultaneously with an increase in ethylene production that is noticeable 12 h postinoculation. The purpose of this study was to examine the dynamics of ethylene production and signaling in wild type and RNA interference–mediated suppression lines deficient in ethylene production (acs2) or signaling (eil1) after challenge with M. oryzae as well as fungal cell-wall elicitors. Ethylene-insensitive mutant lines show an attenuated basal defense response including lower basal expression of the genes encoding a chitin-binding receptor, pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins, and the enzymes involved in the synthesis of diterprenoid phytoalexins, a reduction on early hypersensitive response (HR)-like cell death, and reduced incidence of callose deposition. Ethylene-deficient mutants showed an intermediate phenotype, with a significant reduction in expression of defense-related genes and callose deposition, but only a slight reduction in HR-like cell death. As a result, all ethylene-insensitive mutants show increased susceptibility to M. oryzae, whereas the ethylene-deficient lines show a slight but less significant increase in disease severity. These results show that ethylene signaling and, to some extent, ethylene production are required for rice basal resistance against the blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae.
PvPGIP2 Accumulation in Specific Floral Tissues But Not in the Endosperm Limits Fusarium graminearum Infection in Wheat
Authors: Tundo Silvio , Janni Michela , Moscetti Ilaria , Mandalà Giulia , Savatin Daniel , Blechl Ann , Favaron Francesco , D’Ovidio Renato
Published: September 2016

Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by Fusarium graminearum is one of the most destructive fungal diseases of wheat worldwide. The pathogen infects the spike at flowering time and causes severe yield losses, deterioration of grain quality, and accumulation of mycotoxins. The understanding of the precise means of pathogen entry and colonization of floral tissue is crucial to providing effective protection against FHB. Polygalacturonase (PG) inhibiting proteins (PGIPs) are cell-wall proteins that inhibit the activity of PGs, a class of pectin-depolymerizing enzymes secreted by microbial pathogens, including Fusarium spp. The constitutive expression of a bean PGIP (PvPGIP2) limits FHB symptoms and reduces mycotoxin accumulation in wheat grain. To better understand which spike tissues play major roles in limiting F. graminearum infection, we explored the use of PvPGIP2 to defend specific spike tissues. We show here that the simultaneous expression of PvPGIP2 in lemma, palea, rachis, and anthers reduced FHB symptoms caused by F. graminearum compared with symptoms in infected nontransgenic plants. However, the expression of PvPGIP2 only in the endosperm did not affect FHB symptom development, indicating that once the pathogen has reached the endosperm, inhibition of the pathogen’s PG activity is not effective in preventing its further spread.
Fine Mapping of a New Race-Specific Blast Resistance Gene, Pi-hk2, in Japonica Heikezijing from Taihu Region of China
Authors: He Wanwan , Fang Nengyan , Wang Ruisen , Wu Yunyu , Zeng Guoying , Guan Changhong , Chen Hao , Huang Ji , Wang Jianfei , Bao Yongmei , Zhang Hongsheng
Published: September 2016

Heikezijing, a japonica rice landrace from the Taihu region of China, exhibited broad-spectrum resistance to more than 300 isolates of the blast pathogen (Magnaporthe oryzae). In our previous research, we fine mapped a broad-spectrum resistance gene, Pi-hk1, in chromosome 11. In this research, 2010-9(G1), one of the predominant races of blast in the Taihu Lake region of China, was inoculated into 162 recombinant inbred lines (RIL) and two parents, Heikezijing and Suyunuo, for mapping the resistance-blast quantitative trait loci (QTL). Three QTL (Lsqtl4-1, Lsqtl9-1, and Lsqtl11-1) associated with lesion scores were detected on chromosomes 4, 9, and 11 and two QTL (Lnqtl1-1 and Lnqtl9-1) associated with average lesion numbers were detected on chromosomes 1 and 9. The QTL Lsqtl9-1 conferring race-specific resistance to 2010-9(G1) at seedling stages showed logarithm of the odds scores of 9.10 and phenotypic variance of 46.19% and might be a major QTL, named Pi-hk2. The line RIL84 with Pi-hk2 derived from a cross between Heikezijing and Suyunuo was selected as Pi-hk2 gene donor for developing fine mapping populations. According to the resistance evaluation of recombinants of three generations (BC1F2, BC1F3, and BC1F4), Pi-hk2 was finally mapped to a 143-kb region between ILP-19 and RM24048, and 18 candidate genes were predicted, including genes that encode pleiotropic drug resistance protein 4 (n = 2), WRKY74 (n = 1), cytochrome b5-like heme/steroid-binding domain containing protein (n = 1), protein kinase (n = 1), and ankyrin repeat family protein (n = 1). These results provide essential information for cloning of Pi-hk2 and its potential utility in breeding resistant rice cultivars by marker-assisted selection.
Outcomes of Node-positive Breast Cancer Patients Treated With Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation Via Multicatheter Interstitial Brachytherapy
Authors: Kamrava Mitchell , Kuske Robert R. , Anderson Bethany , Chen Peter , Hayes John , Quiet Coral , Wang Pin-Chieh , Veruttipong Darlene , Snyder Margaret , Demanes David J.
Published: September 2016

Objectives:

To report outcomes for breast-conserving therapy using adjuvant accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) with interstitial multicatheter brachytherapy in node-positive compared with node-negative patients.

Materials and Methods:

From 1992 to 2013, 1351 patients (1369 breast cancers) were treated with breast-conserving surgery and adjuvant APBI using interstitial multicatheter brachytherapy. A total of 907 patients (835 node negative, 59 N1a, and 13 N1mic) had >1 year of data available and nodal status information and are the subject of this analysis. Median age (range) was 59 years old (22 to 90 y). T stage was 90% T1 and ER/PR/Her2 was positive in 87%, 71%, and 7%. Mean number of axillary nodes removed was 12 (SD, 6). Cox multivariate analysis for local/regional control was performed using age, nodal stage, ER/PR/Her2 receptor status, tumor size, grade, margin, and adjuvant chemotherapy/antiestrogen therapy.

Results:

The mean (SD) follow-up was 7.5 years (4.6). The 5-year actuarial local control (95% confidence interval) in node-negative versus node-positive patients was 96.3% (94.5-97.5) versus 95.8% (87.6-98.6) (P=0.62). The 5-year actuarial regional control in node-negative versus node-positive patients was 98.5% (97.3-99.2) versus 96.7% (87.4-99.2) (P=0.33). The 5-year actuarial freedom from distant metastasis and cause-specific survival were significantly lower in node-positive versus node-negative patients at 92.3% (82.4-96.7) versus 97.8% (96.3-98.7) (P=0.006) and 91.3% (80.2-96.3) versus 98.7% (97.3-99.3) (P=0.0001). Overall survival was not significantly different. On multivariate analysis age 50 years and below, Her2 positive, positive margin status, and not receiving chemotherapy or antiestrogen therapy were associated with a higher risk of local/regional recurrence.

Conclusions:

Patients who have had an axillary lymph node dissection and limited node-positive disease may be candidates for treatment with APBI. Further research is ultimately needed to better define specific criteria for APBI in node-positive patients.
Merkel Cell Carcinoma Arising in an Epidermal Cyst
Authors: Aljufairi Eman , Alhilli Fayek
Published: September 2016

Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare aggressive primary cutaneous neuroendocrine tumor. It is associated mostly with malignant skin lesions. Rare cases in the literature described its association with benign skin adnexal lesions. We present here an additional case of Merkel cell carcinoma arising from an epidermal cyst located in the left arm of a 57-year-old male. The tumor was composed of lobules of monotonous round cells with dusty chromatin. It was positive for cytokeratin 20 and neuroendocrine markers. Patient was treated with surgical resection and radiation to the axilla. He is well and free of disease after 5 years of follow-up.
Association of life events and depressive symptoms among early postmenopausal Chinese women in Hong Kong
Authors: Ho Suzanne C. , Liang Zhenzhen , Yu Ruby H.Y. , Sham Aprille
Published: September 2016

Objective:

This study examined the occurrence of stressful life events (SLEs) and its association with the risk of developing depressive symptoms in midlife women.

Methods:

A total of 518 Hong Kong Chinese postmenopausal women aged 50 to 64 years were recruited through random telephone dialing. Information on sociodemographic, health, and lifestyle variables was obtained through face-to-face interviews at baseline, and at 3-year (T1) and 5-year (T2) follow-up. A Centre of Epidemiological Study Depression scale (CES-D) score ≥16 was used to indicate high depressive symptoms. At T2, SLEs were assessed by a 21-item life-event scale, adapted from the Holmes and Rahe Social Readjustment Rating Scale for Adults. Potential confounders were controlled for in the multivariable logistic regression analysis on the relation between SLEs and high depressive symptoms among 379 women without CES-D score ≥16 at T1.

Results:

87.6% had experienced SLEs since T1 and 11.9% had CES-D score ≥16 at T2. Compared with those without SLEs, women with one to three SLEs had 2.7-fold (95% CI, 0.6-12.1) increased risk of having CES-D score ≥16, whereas those with four to nine SLEs had 5.2-fold (95% CI, 1.1-25.4) increased risk. A dose-response relationship was observed (P for trend = 0.005). Each additional SLEs experienced was associated with a 28% (95% CI, 1.07-1.54) increased risk of high depressive symptoms.

Conclusions:

Hong Kong Chinese women encounter many SLEs at midlife. Multiple episodes of SLE had a cumulative effect on the onset of depressive symptoms. Our findings have important implications for the identification and management of midlife women with high depressive symptoms.