bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantitative label-free single cell tracking in 3D biomimetic matrices
Authors: Sapudom Jiranuwat , Waschke Johannes , Franke Katja , Hlawitschka Mario , Pompe Tilo
Published: October 2017

Live cell imaging enables an observation of cell behavior over a period of time and is a growing field in modern cell biology. Quantitative analysis of the spatio-temporal dynamics of heterogeneous cell populations in three-dimensional (3D) microenvironments contributes a better understanding of cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions for many biomedical questions of physiological and pathological processes. However, current live cell imaging and analysis techniques are frequently limited by non-physiological 2D settings. Furthermore, they often rely on cell labelling by fluorescent dyes or expression of fluorescent proteins to enhance contrast of cells, which frequently affects cell viability and behavior of cells. In this work, we present a quantitative, label-free 3D single cell tracking technique using standard bright-field microscopy and affordable computational resources for data analysis. We demonstrate the efficacy of the automated method by studying migratory behavior of a large number of primary human macrophages over long time periods of several days in a biomimetic 3D microenvironment. The new technology provides a highly affordable platform for long-term studies of single cell behavior in 3D settings with minimal cell manipulation and can be implemented for various studies regarding cell-matrix interactions, cell-cell interactions as well as drug screening platform for primary and heterogeneous cell populations.
Removal of cationic and anionic heavy metals from water by 1D and 2D-carbon structures decorated with magnetic nanoparticles
Authors: Santhosh Chella , Nivetha Ravi , Kollu Pratap , Srivastava Varsha , Sillanpää Mika , Grace Andrews Nirmala , Bhatnagar Amit
Published: October 2017

In this study, cobalt ferrites (C) decorated onto 2D material (porous graphene (PG)) and 1D material (carbon nanofibers (CNF)), denoted as PG-C and CNF-C nanocomposites, respectively, were synthesized using solvothermal process. The prepared nanocomposites were studied as magnetic adsorbents for the removal of lead (cationic) and chromium(VI) (anionic) metal ions. The structural and chemical analysis of synthesized nanocomposites was conducted using different characterization techniques including Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), high resolution-transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Batch mode adsorption studies were conducted with the prepared nanocomposites to examine their maximum adsorption potential for lead and chromate ions. Performance parameters (time, pH, adsorbent dosage and initial ion concentrations) effecting the adsorption capacity of the nanocomposites were optimized. Different kinetic and isotherm models were examined to elucidate the adsorption process. Synthesized nanocomposites exhibited significant potential for the studied metal ions that can be further examined at pilot scale for the removal of metal ions from contaminated water.
Terahertz beam switching by electrical control of graphene-enabled tunable metasurface
Authors: Zhang Yin , Feng Yijun , Zhao Junming , Jiang Tian , Zhu Bo
Published: October 2017

Controlling the terahertz wave, especially the dynamical and full control of terahertz wavefront, is highly demanded due to the increasing development of practical devices and application systems. Recently considerable efforts have been made to fill the ‘terahertz gap’ with the help of artificial metamaterial or metasurface incorporated with graphene material. Here, we propose a scheme to design tunable metasurface consisting of metallic patch array on a grounded polymer substrate embedded with graphene layers to electrically control the electromagnetic beam reflection at terahertz frequency. By adjusting geometric dimension of the patch elements, 360 degree reflection phase range may be achieved, thus abrupt phase shifts can be introduced along the metasurface for tailoring the reflected wavefront. Moreover, the reflective phase gradient over the metasurface can be switched between 90 and 360 degree by controlling the Fermi energy of the embedded graphene through voltage biasing, hence dynamically switching the reflective beam directions. Numerical simulations demonstrate that either single beam or dual beam dynamically switching between normal and oblique reflection angles can be well attained at working frequency. The proposed approach will bring much freedom in the design of beam manipulation devices and may be applied to terahertz radiation control.
Deregulated expression and activity of Farnesyl Diphosphate Synthase (FDPS) in Glioblastoma
Authors: Abate Mario , Laezza Chiara , Pisanti Simona , Torelli Giovanni , Seneca Vincenzo , Catapano Giuseppe , Montella Francesco , Ranieri Roberta , Notarnicola Maria , Gazzerro Patrizia , Bifulco Maurizio , Ciaglia Elena
Published: October 2017

Glioblastoma (GBM), the most aggressive brain cancer, is highly dependent on the mevalonate (MVA) pathway for the synthesis of lipid moieties critical for cell proliferation but the function and regulation of key intermediate enzymes like farnesyl-diphosphate synthase (FDPS), up to now, remained unknown. A deregulated expression and activity of FDPS was the central research idea of the present study. FDPS mRNA, protein and enzyme activity were analyzed in a cohort of stage III-IV glioma patients (N = 49) and primary derived cells. FDPS silencing helped to clarify its function in the maintenance of malignant phenotype. Interestingly, compared to tumor-free peripheral (TFB) brain and normal human astrocytes (NHA), FDPS protein expression and enzyme activity were detected at high degree in tumor mass where a correlation with canonical oncogenic signaling pathways such as STAT3, ERK and AKT was also documented. Further, FDPS knockdown in U87 and GBM primary cells but not in NHA, enhanced apoptosis. With the effort to develop a more refined map of the connectivity between signal transduction pathways and metabolic networks in cancer FDPS as a new candidate metabolic oncogene in glioblastoma, might suggest to further target MVA pathway as valid therapeutic tool.
Effects of crop load on distribution and utilization of 13C and 15N and fruit quality for dwarf apple trees
Authors: Ding Ning , Chen Qian , Zhu Zhanling , Peng Ling , Ge Shunfeng , Jiang Yuanmao
Published: October 2017

In order to define the effects of fruit crop load on the distribution and utilization of carbon and nitrogen in dwarf apple trees, we conducted three crop load levels (High-crop load, 6 fruits per trunk cross-sectional area (cm2, TCA)), Medium-crop load (4 fruits cm−2 TCA), Low-crop load (2 fruits cm−2 TCA)) in 2014 and 2015. The results indicated that the 15N derived from fertilizer (Ndff) values of fruits decreased with the reduction of crop load, but the Ndff values of annual branches, leaves and roots increased. The plant 15N-urea utilization rates on Medium and Low-crop load were 1.12–1.35 times higher than the High-crop load. With the reduction of crop load, the distribution rate of 13C and 15N in fruits was gradually reduced, but in contrast, the distribution of 13C and 15N gradually increased in annual branches, leaves and roots. Compared with High-crop load, the Medium and Low-crop load significantly improved fruit quality p < 0.05. Hence, controlling fruit load effectively regulated the distribution of carbon and nitrogen in plants, improved the nitrogen utilization rate and fruit quality. The appropriate crop load level for mature M.26 interstocks apple orchards was deemed to be 4.0 fruits cm−2 TCA.
Caffeine affects autonomic control of heart rate and blood pressure recovery after aerobic exercise in young adults: a crossover study
Authors: Gonzaga Luana Almeida , Vanderlei Luiz Carlos Marques , Gomes Rayana Loch , Valenti Vitor Engrácia
Published: October 2017

The post-exercise recovery period is associated with changes in autonomic modulation, which can promote an intercurrent-favorable environment. Caffeine has the ability to release catecholamines, but its effects after exercises is little explored. The present study aims to evaluate the acute effects of caffeine on the autonomic control and cardiorespiratory parameters after moderate intensity aerobic exercise. 32 young males (23,59 ± 3,45 years) were submitted to two protocols: Placebo and Caffeine, consisting of 15 minutes of rest, 30 minutes of exercise on a treadmill to 60% on VO2peak, followed by 60 minutes of recovery. Heart rate variability indices and cardiorespiratory parameters were determined at different times during the protocols. The RMSSD and SD1 indices recovered faster in placebo (p < 0.05). The systolic blood pressure differences were found from the 1st to the 5th minute of recovery with the caffeine protocol and from the 1st and 3rd minute with the placebo, whereas, for diastolic blood pressure, significant differences (p < 0.0001) were observed only for the caffeine protocol at the 1st and 3rd minutes of recovery. Caffeine was shown to be capable of delaying parasympathetic recovery but did not influence the behavior of the respiratory rate, oxygen saturation or frequency-domain HRV indices.
The RBM14/CoAA-interacting, long intergenic non-coding RNA Paral1 regulates adipogenesis and coactivates the nuclear receptor PPARγ
Authors: Firmin François F. , Oger Frederik , Gheeraert Céline , Dubois-Chevalier Julie , Vercoutter-Edouart Anne-Sophie , Alzaid Fawaz , Mazuy Claire , Dehondt Hélène , Alexandre Jeremy , Derudas Bruno , Dhalluin Quentin , Ploton Maheul , Berthier Alexandre , Woitrain Eloise , Lefebvre Tony , Venteclef Nicolas , Pattou François , Staels Bart , Eeckhoute Jérôme , Lefebvre Philippe
Published: October 2017

Adipocyte differentiation and function relies on a network of transcription factors, which is disrupted in obesity-associated low grade, chronic inflammation leading to adipose tissue dysfunction. In this context, there is a need for a thorough understanding of the transcriptional regulatory network involved in adipose tissue pathophysiology. Recent advances in the functional annotation of the genome has highlighted the role of non-coding RNAs in cellular differentiation processes in coordination with transcription factors. Using an unbiased genome-wide approach, we identified and characterized a novel long intergenic non-coding RNA (lincRNA) strongly induced during adipocyte differentiation. This lincRNA favors adipocyte differentiation and coactivates the master adipogenic regulator peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) through interaction with the paraspeckle component and hnRNP-like RNA binding protein 14 (RBM14/NCoAA), and was therefore called PPARγ-activator RBM14-associated lncRNA (Paral1). Paral1 expression is restricted to adipocytes and decreased in humans with increasing body mass index. A decreased expression was also observed in diet-induced or genetic mouse models of obesity and this down-regulation was mimicked in vitro by TNF treatment. In conclusion, we have identified a novel component of the adipogenic transcriptional regulatory network defining the lincRNA Paral1 as an obesity-sensitive regulator of adipocyte differentiation and function.
Bi-component T1ρ and T2 Relaxation Mapping of Skeletal Muscle In-Vivo
Authors: Sharafi Azadeh , Chang Gregory , Regatte Ravinder R.
Published: October 2017

The goal of this paper was to evaluate the possibility of bi-component T1ρ and T2 relaxation mapping of human skeletal muscle at 3 T in clinically feasible scan times. T1ρ- and T2-weighted images of calf muscle were acquired using a modified 3D-SPGR sequence on a standard 3 T clinical MRI scanner. The mono- and biexponential models were fitted pixel-wise to the series of T1ρ and T2 weighted images. The biexponential decay of T1ρ and T2 relaxations was detected in ~30% and ~40% of the pixels across all volunteers, respectively. Monoexponential and bi-exponential short and long T1ρ relaxation times were estimated to be 26.9 ms, 4.6 ms (fraction 22%) and 33.2 ms (fraction: 78%), respectively. Similarly, the mono- and bi-exponential short and long T2 relaxation times were 24.7 ms, 4.2 ms (fraction 15%) and 30.4 ms (fraction 85%) respectively. The experiments had good repeatability with RMSCV < 15% and ICC > 60%. This approach could potentially be used in exercise intervention studies or in studies of inflammatory myopathies or muscle fibrosis, permitting greater sensitivity and specificity via measurement of different water compartments and their fractions.
Evaporative deposition of polystyrene microparticles on PDMS surface
Authors: Yu Ying-Song , Wang Ming-Chao , Huang Xianfu
Published: October 2017

Evaporation of water and ethanol/water droplets containing large polystyrene (PS) microparticles on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) surface was experimentally investigated. It is found that no matter with or without small addition of ethanol, a compact monolayer deposition is formed for lower microparticle concentration while mountain-like deposition for higher concentration. Since the more volatile compound (ethanol) evaporates more quickly than the less volatile compound (water), evaporation of ethanol/water mixture droplet exhibits different characteristics from pure water. When the concentration of microparticle is low, the contact radius of ethanol/water mixture droplet decreases throughout the whole process, while the contact angle increases at first to a maximum, then keeps almost constant, and finally decreases sharply. However, the evaporation of ethanol/water mixture droplet with higher concentration of microparticle behaviors more complex. The settling time of microparticles was estimated and its theoretical value agrees well with the experimental one. Moreover, a mechanism of self-pinning of microparticles was used to elucidate the deposition behavior of microparticles, indicating that as the contact line is depinning, the liquid film covering the outmost microparticle becomes thicker and thicker, and the microparticles have to move spontaneously with the depinning contact line under the action of capillary force.
Evaluating different approaches to non-destructive nitrogen status diagnosis of rice using portable RapidSCAN active canopy sensor
Authors: Lu Junjun , Miao Yuxin , Shi Wei , Li Jingxin , Yuan Fei
Published: October 2017

RapidSCAN is a new portable active crop canopy sensor with three wavebands in red, red-edge, and near infrared spectral regions. The objective of this study was to determine the potential and practical approaches of using this sensor for non-destructive diagnosis of rice nitrogen (N) status. Sixteen plot experiments and ten on-farm experiments were conducted from 2014 to 2016 in Jiansanjiang Experiment Station of the China Agricultural University and Qixing Farm in Northeast China. Two mechanistic and three semi-empirical approaches using the sensor’s default vegetation indices, normalized difference vegetation index and normalized difference red edge, were evaluated in comparison with the top performing vegetation indices selected from 51 tested indices. The results indicated that the most practical and stable method of using the RapidSCAN sensor for rice N status diagnosis is to calculate N sufficiency index with the default vegetation indices and then to estimate N nutrition index non-destructively (R2 = 0.50–0.59). This semi-empirical approach achieved a diagnosis accuracy rate of 59–76%. The findings of this study will facilitate the application of the RapidSCAN active sensor for rice N status diagnosis across growth stages, cultivars and site-years, and thus contributing to precision N management for sustainable intensification of agriculture.
Effects of seedling age and cultivation density on agronomic characteristics and grain yield of mechanically transplanted rice
Authors: Liu Qihua , Zhou Xuebiao , Li Jingling , Xin Caiyun
Published: October 2017

Delayed transplantation frequently occurs in mechanically transplanted rice in China, leading to a significant reduction in grain yield. Thus, determining how to compensate grain yield loss is crucial for improving rice cultivation technology. A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of cultivation density and seedling age on agronomic traits and grain yield of mechanically transplanted rice. With increasing seedling age, rice tiller number, pre-anthesis dry matter accumulation, remobilization efficiency and contribution to grain yield, as well as post-anthesis photosynthesis amount decreased, causing reductions in the number of effective panicles, the total number of grains per panicle, the sink capacity per tiller, and grain yield. In rice transplanted at 30- and 35-day seedling ages, increasing cultivation density significantly enhanced the number of effective panicles and grain yield. Additionally, there existed strong, positive correlations between sink capacity per tiller and pre-anthesis dry matter remobilization efficiency and pre-anthesis dry matter contribution to grain yield. We conclude that in addition to cultivation density, enhancing the amount of pre-anthesis dry matter and the remobilization efficiency could be feasible for mitigating grain yield loss caused by delayed transplantation.
Larval honey bees infected with Nosema ceranae have increased vitellogenin titers as young adults
Authors: BenVau Lee R. , Nieh James C.
Published: October 2017

Nosema ceranae is a pervasive and widespread honey bee pathogen that is associated with colony declines and has recently been shown to infect larval honey bees. In adult bees, Nosema infection is known to alter levels of a key protein, vitellogenin (Vg), which is necessary for egg-laying in queens, brood food production in workers, and proper immune function in all female bees. We therefore tested the effects of larval worker infection on hemolymph Vg titers. In 1-day old adult workers that were infected as larvae with 10,000 (10 K) or 40,000 (40 K) live N. ceranae spores/bee, Vg titers were significantly elevated by + 83% and + 73%, respectively, as compared to controls. At 7 days of adult age, Vg remained significantly elevated (+ 68%) in 10 K treated workers as compared to control workers. Nosema infection decreased total hemolymph protein titers in 1 and 7-day old adult bees (−50% in the 10 K and 40 K treated bees). Bees infected as larvae also had a more queen-like sting morphology. They developed slightly but significantly fewer barbs on their stings (−7% in the 40K-treated bees). Higher Vg levels are associated with younger bees. Thus, elevated Vg levels could delay normal age polyethism and disrupt colony balance.
Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy of amyloid β at neuronal spines
Authors: Tabatabaei Mohammadali , Caetano Fabiana A. , Pashee Farshid , Ferguson Stephen S. G. , Lagugné-Labarthet François
Published: October 2017

Probing hippocampal neurons treated with amyloid β using tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy enables visualizing the Aβ bounding distribution over a single spine.
Recent advances in phosphoproteomics and application to neurological diseases
Authors: Arrington Justine V. , Hsu Chuan-Chih , Elder Sarah G. , Andy Tao W.
Published: October 2017

Recent advances in phosphoproteomic strategies have made it possible to characterize protein phosphorylation with new depth and coverage, lending key insights into many human diseases.
Dynamic sandwich-type electrochemical assay for protein quantification and protein–protein interaction
Authors: Li Chao , Tao Yaqin , Yang Yi , Feng Chang , Xiang Yang , Li Genxi
Published: October 2017

A versatile and sensitive electrochemical method for protein–protein interaction study based on DNAzyme has been proposed.
A novel, rapid, and sensitive homogeneous sandwich detection method of Glypican-3 as a serum marker for hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Han Naihan , Wang Wenshuang , Lu Danrong , Wang Han , Ma Xinying , Fan Xiaopeng , Li Fuchuan
Published: October 2017

Based on multiple interactions and fluorescence quenching, we report a novel homogeneous detection method for Glypican-3 which shows a series of significant advantages, and has great potential in the clinical diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma and proteoglycan detection.
Calcium carbonate crystallisation at charged graphite surfaces
Authors: Ravenhill E. R. , Adobes-Vidal M. , Unwin P. R.
Published: October 2017

For identical solution conditions, the crystallisation of calcium carbonate (polymorph and crystal orientation) at Highly Oriented Pyrolytic Graphite substrates is highly dependent on substrate surface charge.
Guest control of a hydrogen bond-catalysed molecular rotor
Authors: Rushton Gregory T. , Vik Erik C. , Burns William G. , Rasberry Roger D. , Shimizu Ken D.
Published: October 2017

A molecular rotor is slowed by a hydrogen bonding guest that disrupts an intramolecular hydrogen bond, thus accelerating the rate of rotation.
Non-covalent graphene nanobuds from mono- and tripodal binding motifs
Authors: Garrido Marina , Calbo Joaquín , Rodríguez-Pérez Laura , Aragó Juan , Ortí Enrique , Herranz Ma Ángeles , Martín Nazario
Published: October 2017

Dispersion forces govern the interaction of graphene with mono- and tripodal pyrene–[60]fullerene derivatives and direct the formation of graphene nanobuds.
Atomic structure-dominated enhancement of acetone sensing for a ZnO nanoplate with highly exposed (0001) facet
Authors: Wang Mingjing , Shen Zhurui , Chen Yalu , Zhang Ying , Ji Huiming
Published: October 2017

Multilayer-assembled ZnO nanoplates predominantly exposed (0001) polar facet, but displayed best gas sensing performance with very few oxygen vacancies, due to its special atomic structure.
Water dynamics in hydrated amorphous materials: a molecular dynamics study of the effects of dehydration in amorphous calcium carbonate
Authors: Saharay Moumita , Kirkpatrick R. James
Published: October 2017

Amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) is a critical transient phase in the formation of crystalline CaCO3via dehydration of hydrated ACC. Although majority of water molecules in ACC are dynamically restricted, a very small fraction of them (∼2%) shows high diffusivity.
Bipolar charge transfer induced by water: experimental and first-principles studies
Authors: Lin Shi-quan , Shao Tian-min
Published: October 2017

Water plays an important role in the bipolar charge transfer generated by triboelectrification.
Forced intrusion of water and aqueous solutions in microporous materials: from fundamental thermodynamics to energy storage devices
Authors: Fraux Guillaume , Coudert François-Xavier , Boutin Anne , Fuchs Alain H.
Published: October 2017

We review the high pressure forced intrusion studies of water in hydrophobic microporous materials such as zeolites and MOFs, a field of research that has emerged some 15 years ago and is now very active.
Synthesis and reduction of large sized graphene oxide sheets
Authors: Dong Lei , Yang Jieun , Chhowalla Manish , Loh Kian Ping
Published: October 2017

Graphene oxide (GO) can be considered as one of the most visible outcomes of graphene research in terms of large scale production and commercialization prospects.
Organotin(iv) compounds with high catalytic activities and selectivities in the glycerolysis of triacylglycerides
Authors: da Silva Mônica Araújo , dos Santos Anderson Selton Silva , dos Santos Thatiane Veríssimo , Meneghetti Mario Roberto , Meneghetti Simoni Margareti Plentz
Published: October 2017

Sn(iv) complexes, i.e., di-n-butyltin dichloride, n-butyltin trichloride, di-n-butyltin dilaurate, n-butyl stannoic acid, and di-n-butyl-oxo-stannane, were tested as catalysts for the glycerolysis of triacylglycerides (TAGs) to produce monoacylglycerols (MAGs) and diacylglycerols (DAGs).
Mechanistic exploration of the copper(i) phosphide synthesis in phosphonium-based and phosphorus-free ionic liquids
Authors: Lê Anh Mai , Wolff Alexander , Kaiser Martin , Yogendra Sivathmeehan , Weigand Jan J. , Pallmann Julia , Brunner Eike , Ruck Michael , Doert Thomas
Published: October 2017

The transformation of red phosphorus into P4 and the surface activation of copper enable the quantitative formation of copper(i) phosphide.
Cluster transformation of [Cu3(μ3-H)(μ3-BH4)((PPh2)2NH)3](BF4) to [Cu3(μ3-H)(μ2,μ1-S2CH)((PPh2)2NH)3](BF4) via reaction with CS2. X-ray structural characterisation and reactivity of cationic clusters explored by multistage mass spectrometry and computational studies
Authors: Ma Howard Z. , Li Jiaye , Canty Allan J. , O'Hair Richard A. J.
Published: October 2017

[Cu3(μ3-H)(μ3-BH4)((PPh2)2NH)3](BF4) reacts with CS2 to produce [Cu3(μ3-H)(μ2,μ1-S2CH)((PPh2)2NH)3](BF4), whose cation loses CH2S upon ligand loss.
Physiological linkage of gender, bioavailable hydroxytyrosol derivatives, and their metabolites with systemic catecholamine metabolism
Authors: Domínguez-Perles R. , Auñón D. , Ferreres F. , Gil-Izquierdo A.
Published: October 2017

Unraveling the physiological linkage between gender, bioavailable hydroxytyrosol derivatives, and their microbial metabolites and the systemic metabolism of catecholamines.
Aqueous synthesis of dual-targeting Gd-doped CuInS2/ZnS quantum dots for cancer-specific bi-modal imaging
Authors: Gedda Gangaraju , Chen Guan-Rong , Yao Yueh-Yun , Girma Wubshet Mekonnen , Li Jyun-Dong , Yen Chia-Liang , Ling Yong-Chien , Chang Jia-Yaw
Published: October 2017

CIGS/ZnS@FA|APBA q-dots were synthesized in an aqueous phase; these quantum dots exhibited great potential as dual-modal nanoprobes for optical/MR imaging.
Sandwiches of N-doped diamondoids and benzenevialone pair–cation and cation–pi interaction: a DFT study
Authors: Sharma Himakshi , Saha Bapan , Bhattacharyya Pradip K.
Published: October 2017

Cation–lone pair and cation–pi interactions in the complexes of N-doped dimondoids.
A phosphine-free, heterogeneous palladium-catalyzed atom-efficient carbonylative cross-coupling of triorganoindiums with aryl halides leading to unsymmetrical ketones
Authors: You Shengyong , Xiao Ruian , Liu Haiyi , Cai Mingzhong
Published: October 2017

A phosphine-free heterogeneous palladium-catalyzed carbonylative cross-coupling of triorganoindiums with aryl halides for the synthesis of unsymmetrical ketones has been described.
Hierarchical structural double network hydrogel with high strength, toughness, and good recoverability
Authors: Xiang Shuangfei , Qian Wangqiu , Li Ting , Wang Yang , Chen Mingqing , Ma Piming , Dong Weifu
Published: October 2017

Hierarchical structural double network hydrogel (H-DN gel) was prepared with high strength (tensile fracture stress ∼6.1 MPa), toughness (13.6 MJ m−3) and good recoverability.
Macroscopic supramolecular assembly to fabricate multiplexed DNA patterns for potential application in DNA chips
Authors: Cheng Mengjiao , Zhang Yingwei , Wang Song , Shi Feng
Published: October 2017

We have established a macroscopic supramolecular assembly methodology for the fabrication of DNA microarrays to detect multiple targets without contamination.
Switchable intramolecular oxidative amidation of 4-arylquinoline-3-carboxamides: divergent access to dibenzo[c,f][2,7]naphthyridinones and spirocyclohexadienones
Authors: Wang Qiang , Luo Laichun , Wang Jun , Peng Xiaozhi , Hu Chunling , Wang Hong
Published: October 2017

A Na2S2O8-mediated switchable oxidative cyclization of 4-arylquinoline-3-carboxamides is described.
Synthesis and optical properties of cyanine dyes with an aromatic azonia skeleton
Authors: Sha Xin-Long , Niu Jin-Yun , Sun Ru , Xu Yu-Jie , Ge Jian-Feng
Published: October 2017

A type of cyanine dye with a whole new skeleton (aromatic azonia skeleton) was synthesized, and the typical dye 1c has lysosome targeting ability.
Modified polyurethane nanofibers as antibacterial filters for air and water purification
Authors: Ungur G. , Hrůza J.
Published: October 2017

In the present research, we aimed to produce polymer nanofibrous filters for antibacterial purification of air and water and prove their efficiency and stability under simulated filtration conditions.
The effect of edge-roughness of magnetic nanowires on the degree of asymmetry in transverse domain walls
Authors: Hoang Duc-Quang , Tran Minh-Tung , Cao Xuan-Huu , Ngo Duc-The
Published: October 2017

The effect of edge roughness of permalloy nanowires can be quantified through the measurement of asymmetry in transverse domain walls.
Investigation of the hydrothermal aging of an Mn-based mullite SmMn2O5 catalyst of NO oxidation
Authors: Xue Lina , Xiong Ka , Chen Haijun , Cho Kyeongjae , Wang Weichao
Published: October 2017

The decrease in the catalytic performance for NO oxidation of the Mn-based mullite SmMn2O5 after being subjected to hydrothermal aging was mainly caused by an ∼3-fold decrease in its specific surface area (BET).
Mitochondria-targeted spin-labelled luminescent iridium anticancer complexes
Authors: Venkatesh V. , Berrocal-Martin Raul , Wedge Christopher J. , Romero-Canelón Isolda , Sanchez-Cano Carlos , Song Ji-Inn , Coverdale James P. C. , Zhang Pingyu , Clarkson Guy J. , Habtemariam Abraha , Magennis Steven W. , Deeth Robert J. , Sadler Peter J.
Published: October 2017

Mitochondria generate energy but malfunction in many cancer cells, hence targeting mitochondrial metabolism is a promising approach for cancer therapy.
Synthesis of poly(1,2-glycerol carbonate)–paclitaxel conjugates and their utility as a single high-dose replacement for multi-dose treatment regimens in peritoneal cancer
Authors: Ekladious Iriny , Liu Rong , Zhang Heng , Foil Daniel H. , Todd Daniel A. , Graf Tyler N. , Padera Robert F. , Oberlies Nicholas H. , Colson Yolonda L. , Grinstaff Mark W.
Published: October 2017

A high drug-density, biodegradable polymeric nanocarrier replaces multi-dose paclitaxel treatment regimens.
Topological structure and mechanics of glassy polymer networks
Authors: Elder Robert M. , Sirk Timothy W.
Published: October 2017

The influence of chain-level network architecture (i.e., topology) on mechanics was explored for unentangled polymer networks using a blend of coarse-grained molecular simulations and graph-theoretic concepts.
Biological plywood film formation from para-nematic liquid crystalline organization
Authors: Aguilar Gutierrez Oscar F. , Rey Alejandro D.
Published: October 2017

The coupling of mass transfer and chiral phase ordering present in non-equilibriumin vitrodrying of biomacromolecules leading to different microstructures depending on the relative speed of both processes.
Controlled production of patchy particles from the combined effects of nanoprecipitation and vitrification
Authors: Li Nannan , Nikoubashman Arash , Panagiotopoulos Athanassios Z.
Published: October 2017

Using molecular dynamics simulations, we examined patchy particle formation from the precipitation of a blend of homopolymers.
l-Carnitine derived zwitterionic betaine materials
Authors: Wang Wei , Yang Jianhai , Zhang Ershuai , Lu Yang , Cao Zhiqiang
Published: October 2017

l-CarnitineMA is the first zwitterionic betaine monomer from natural feedstocks, exhibiting superior anti-fouling performance.
Recent advances in investigations of the electronic and optoelectronic properties of group III, IV, and V selenide based binary layered compounds
Authors: Wasala Milinda , Sirikumara Hansika I. , Raj Sapkota Yub , Hofer Stephen , Mazumdar Dipanjan , Jayasekera Thushari , Talapatra Saikat
Published: October 2017

This review article presents a comprehensive update on the recent research trends, advancement and future outlook of selected layered selenide based binary compounds featuring elements from group III, IV, and V of the periodic table.
Anomalous frequency-dependent ionic conductivity of lesion-laden human-brain tissue
Authors: Emin David , Akhtari Massoud , Fallah Aria , Vinters Harry V. , Mathern Gary W.
Published: October 2017

We study the effect of lesions on our four-electrode measurements of the ionic conductivity of (∼1 cm3) samples of human brain excised from patients undergoing pediatric epilepsy surgery. For most (∼94%) samples, the low-frequency ionic conductivity rises upon increasing the applied frequency. We attributed this behavior to the long-range (∼0.4 mm) diffusion of solvated sodium cations before encountering intrinsic impenetrable blockages such as cell membranes, blood vessels, and cell walls. By contrast, the low-frequency ionic conductivity of some (∼6%) brain-tissue samples falls with increasing applied frequency. We attribute this unusual frequency-dependence to the electric-field induced liberation of sodium cations from traps introduced by the unusually severe pathology observed in samples from these patients. Thus, the anomalous frequency-dependence of the ionic conductivity indicates trap-producing brain lesions.
Generation of controllable plasma wakefield noise in particle-in-cell simulations
Authors: Moschuering N. , Ruhl H. , Spitsyn R. I. , Lotov K. V.
Published: October 2017

Numerical simulations of beam-plasma instabilities may produce quantitatively incorrect results because of unrealistically high initial noise from which the instabilities develop. Of particular importance is the wakefield noise, the potential perturbations that have a phase velocity which is equal to the beam velocity. Controlling the noise level in simulations may offer the possibility of extrapolating simulation results to the more realistic low-noise case. We propose a novel method for generating wakefield noise with a controllable amplitude by randomly located charged rods propagating ahead of the beam. We also illustrate the method with particle-in-cell simulations. The generation of this noise is not accompanied by parasitic Cherenkov radiation waves.
On exceeding the solubility limit of Cr+3 dopants in SnO2 nanoparticles based dilute magnetic semiconductors
Authors: URS Kusuma , Bhat S. V. , Kamble Vinayak
Published: October 2017

The paper investigates the magnetic behavior of chromium doped SnO2 Dilute Magnetic Semiconductor (DMS) nanoparticles, through structural, spectroscopic, and magnetic studies. A non-equilibrium solution combustion method is adopted to synthesize 0–5 at. % Cr doped SnO2 nanoparticles. The detailed spectroscopic studies on the system using micro-Raman spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy along with the structural analysis confirm the presence of Cr in 3+ oxidation state, which substitutes at Sn4+ site in SnO6 octahedra of the rutile structure. This doping is found to enhance the defects in the system, i.e., oxygen vacancies. All the synthesized SnO2 nanoparticles (with or without dopants) are found to exhibit Room Temperature Ferromagnetism (RTFM). This occurrence of RTFM is attributed to the magnetic exchange interaction through F-centers of oxygen vacancies as well as dopant magnetic impurities and explained through the Bound Magnetic Polaron (BMP) model of DMS systems. Nonetheless, as the doping of Cr is further increased beyond 2%, the solubility limit is achieved. This antiferromagnetic exchange interaction from interstitial Cr dopants dominates over the BMP mechanism and, hence, leads to the decrease in the net magnetic moment drastically.
Terahertz imaging using photomixers based on quantum well photodetectors
Authors: Zhou T. , Li H. , Wan W. J. , Fu Z. L. , Cao J. C.
Published: October 2017

Due to the fast intersubband transitions, the terahertz (THz) quantum well photodetector (QWP) is supposed to work fast. Recently it has been demonstrated that the THz QWP can detect the THz light modulated at 6.2 GHz and therefore it can be used as a photomixer [H. Li et al., Sci. Rep. 7, 3452 (2017)]. In this work, the authors report a novel active THz imaging using THz QWP photomixers. The THz radiation source used for this imaging application is a multi-mode THz quantum cascade laser (QCL) operating in continuous wave mode. When the fast THz QWP is illuminated by the multi-mode THz radiation, the intermediate frequency signal that is resulted from the frequency beating between the neighbouring THz modes of the QCL can be extracted from the QWP mesa for imaging applications. Employing the technique, the frequency can be down-converted from the THz range to the microwave regime. And therefore, the signal can then be amplified, filtered, and detected using the mature microwave technology.
Improving soft magnetic properties of Mn-Zn ferrite by rare earth ions doping
Authors: Zhong X. C. , Guo X. J. , Zou S. Y. , Yu H. Y. , Liu Z. W. , Zhang Y. F. , Wang K. X.
Published: October 2017

Mn-Zn ferrites doped with different Sm2O3, Gd2O3, Ce2O3 or Y2O3 were prepared by traditional ceramic technology using industrial pre-sintered powders. A small amount of Sm2O3, Gd2O3, Ce2O3 or Y2O3 can significantly improve the microstructure and magnetic properties. The single spinel phase structure can be maintained with the doping amount up to 0.07 wt.%. A refined grain structure and uniform grain size distribution can be obtained by doping. For all rare earth oxides, a small amount of doping can significantly increase the permeability and reduce the coercivity and magnetic core loss. The optimized doping amount for Sm2O3 or Gd2O3 is 0.01 wt.%, while for Ce2O3 or Y2O3 is 0.03 wt.%. A further increase of the doping content will lead to reduced soft magnetic properties. The ferrite sample with 0.01 wt.% Sm2O3 exhibits the good magnetic properties with permeability, loss, and coercivity of 2586, 316 W/kg, and 24A/m, respectively, at 200 mT and 100 kHz. The present results indicate that rare earth doping can be suggested to be one of the effective ways to improve the performance of soft ferrites.
Suppression of electron scattering resonances in graphene by quantum dots
Authors: Krivenkov M. , Marchenko D. , Sánchez-Barriga J. , Rader O. , Varykhalov A.
Published: October 2017

Transmission of low-energetic electrons through two-dimensional materials leads to unique scattering resonances. These resonances contribute to photoemission from occupied bands where they appear as strongly dispersive features of suppressed photoelectron intensity. Using angle-resolved photoemission, we have systematically studied scattering resonances in epitaxial graphene grown on the chemically differing substrates Ir(111), Bi/Ir, and Ni(111) as well as in graphene/Ir(111) nanopatterned with a superlattice of uniform Ir quantum dots. While the strength of the chemical interaction with the substrate has almost no effect on the dispersion of the scattering resonances, their energy can be controlled by the magnitude of charge transfer from/to graphene. At the same time, a superlattice of small quantum dots deposited on graphene eliminates the resonances completely. We ascribe this effect to a nanodot-induced buckling of graphene and its local rehybridization from sp2 to sp3 towards a three-dimensional structure. Our results suggest nanopatterning as a prospective tool for tuning optoelectronic properties of two-dimensional materials with a graphene-like structure.
Hydro-instability growth of perturbation seeds from alternate capsule-support strategies in indirect-drive implosions on National Ignition Facility
Authors: Martinez D. A. , Smalyuk V. A. , MacPhee A. G. , Milovich J. , Casey D. T. , Weber C. R. , Robey H. F. , Chen K.-C. , Clark D. S. , Crippen J. , Farrell M. , Felker S. , Field J. E. , Haan S. W. , Hammel B. A. , Hamza A. V. , Stadermann M. , Hsing W. W. , Kroll J. J. , Landen O. L. , Nikroo A. , Pickworth L. , Rice N.
Published: October 2017

Hydrodynamic instability growth of the capsule support membranes (or “tents”) and fill tubes has been studied in spherical, glow discharge polymer plastic capsule implosions at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) [Campbell et al., AIP Conf. Proc. 429, 3 (1998)]. In NIF implosions, the capsules are supported by tents because the nominal 10-μm thick fill tubes are not strong enough to support capsules by themselves. After it was recognized that the tents had a significant impact of implosion stability, new support methods were investigated, including thicker, 30-μm diameter fill tubes and cantilevered fill tubes, as described in this article. A new “sub-scale” version of the existing x-ray radiography platform was developed for measuring growing capsule perturbations in the acceleration phase of implosions. It was calibrated using hydrodynamic growth measurements of pre-imposed capsule modulations with Legendre modes of 60, 90, 110, and 140 at convergence ratios up to ∼2.4. Subsequent experiments with 3-D perturbations have studied instability growth of 10-μm and 30-μm thick fill tubes to compare them with 30-nm thick tent perturbations at convergence ratios up to ∼3. In other experiments, the perturbations from cantilevered fill tubes were measured and compared to the tent perturbations. The cantilevered fill tubes were supported by 12-μm thick SiC rods, offset by 100 μm, 200 μm, and 300 μm from the capsule surfaces. Based on these experiments, 30-μm thick fill tubes and 300-μm offset cantilevered fill tubes were recommended for further tests using layered deuterium-tritium implosions. The effects of x-ray shadowing during the drive and oxygen-induced perturbations during target assembly produced additional seeds for instabilities and were also measured in these experiments.
PbSrS/PbS mid-infrared short-cavity edge-emitting laser on Si substrate
Authors: Ishida Akihiro , Nakashima Seisuke
Published: October 2017

A PbSrS/PbS short-cavity edge-emitting laser consisting of a SrS/PbS short period superlattice was prepared on the Si (111) substrate. The laser with a cavity length of 25 μm and a cavity width of 3 μm operated up to 313 K around 3 μm in wavelength under pulsed laser excitation. Maximum peak output power was 40 mW at 260 K which indicated a high quantum efficiency.
Diffraction-free, self-reconstructing Bessel beam generation using thermal nonlinear optical effect
Authors: Zhang Q. , Cheng X. M. , Chen H. W. , He B. , Ren Z. Y. , Zhang Y. , Bai J. T.
Published: October 2017

We propose a method to generate a Bessel beam using cross-phase modulation based on the thermal nonlinear optical effect. The thermal nonlinear medium is shown to have the ability to vary a Gaussian beam (probe beam) into a hollow beam when the medium is illuminated with a counter-propagating Gaussian beam (pump beam). It is demonstrated that this method has no restriction to the probe beam wavelength. Moreover, the generated Bessel beam exhibits superior non-diffraction properties during propagation and self-healing after encountering an obstruction on the beam path. The parameters of the beam can be easily adjusted by both the pump beam power and the sample concentration. The merits of variable parameters, no requirement for input beam wavelengths, simple setup, and low-cost would make this method significant in a variety of applications, especially in those areas where the parameters of the Bessel beam need to be easily adjusted without changing the setup.
The intermolecular dimer potential for guanine
Authors: Manukyan Artür , Tekin Adem
Published: October 2017

The ab initio intermolecular potential of guanine has been developed with the help of a combination of symmetry-adapted perturbation theory and density functional theory (DFT). The resulting potential has been globally optimized to locate the guanine cluster structures up to tetramers. It has been found that the new potential is able to reproduce the known guanine cluster structures, especially the guanine quartet stabilized by Hoogsteen hydrogen bonds, in addition to new low-energy conformers. The performance of the potential was also compared with the AMBER force field as well as DFT-D and MP2 levels of theory. The model potential is in agreement with the ab initio methods and it shows a better performance compared to AMBER. Therefore, it can be further exploited in molecular dynamics or global optimizations to determine the structure and energy of much larger guanine clusters.
Confined wetting of water on CNT web patterned surfaces
Authors: Zhao Yugang , Lin Rongzhou , Tran Tuan , Yang Chun
Published: October 2017

We report the formation of a thin liquid film of pre-determined shape that is achieved through wetting of water on a silicon surface patterned with aligned carbon nanotube arrays or CNT webs. We measured the profiles of liquid films on two types of silicon substrate surfaces (namely, with and without a patterned CNT web) using monochrome interferometry. We found that the CNT web patterned surface produces a much thinner liquid film with a well-controlled shape due to the roughness-induced wetting enhancement on the CNT web and the anchoring effect of contact lines at morphological edges. We further used a thermodynamic surface energy based model to interpret our experimental observations and to elucidate the underlying mechanism of wetting enhancement induced by the CNT web. Our study provides a promising approach for forming thin liquid films of controllable pre-determined shape that has numerous potential applications.
Superconducting spin valves controlled by spiral re-orientation in B20-family magnets
Authors: Pugach N. G. , Safonchik M. , Champel T. , Zhitomirsky M. E. , Lähderanta E. , Eschrig M. , Lacroix C.
Published: October 2017

We propose a superconducting spin-triplet valve, which consists of a superconductor and an itinerant magnetic material, with the magnet showing an intrinsic non-collinear order characterized by a wave vector that may be aligned in a few equivalent preferred directions under the control of a weak external magnetic field. Re-orienting the spiral direction allows one to controllably modify long-range spin-triplet superconducting correlations, leading to spin-valve switching behavior. Our results indicate that the spin-valve effect may be noticeable. This bilayer may be used as a magnetic memory element for cryogenic nanoelectronics. It has the following advantages in comparison to superconducting spin valves proposed previously: (i) it contains only one magnetic layer, which may be more easily fabricated and controlled; (ii) its ground states are separated by a potential barrier, which solves the “half-select” problem of the addressed switch of memory elements.
Electromagnetic dip and hump solitary structures in oxygen-hydrogen dissipative plasmas
Authors: Hussain S. , Haseeb Mahnaz Q. , Hasnain H.
Published: October 2017

The excitation of low frequency magnetosonic waves in O+−H+−e− and O+−H−−e− collisional plasmas is studied. The light ions (hydrogen) may be positive as well as negative and are warm, and the heavy ions (oxygen) are considered as the cold species. The inertia of isothermal electrons is also considered. The collisions of ions and electrons with neutrals are taken into account. The hydrodynamic equations represent the dynamics of positive ions, negative ions, and isothermal electrons along with Maxwell's equations. The damped Korteweg de Vries equation is derived by employing the reductive perturbation technique and its time dependent solution is presented. Dip magnetosonic solitary structures are observed when both ions are positive and hump structures are seen in the presence of negative ions. The effects of variations of different plasma parameters on magnetosonic solitary structures in the presence of collisions are discussed.
Quasi-diagonal inhomogeneous closure for classical and quantum statistical dynamics
Authors: Frederiksen Jorgen S.
Published: October 2017

The Quasi-diagonal Direct Interaction Approximation (QDIA) closure equations are formulated for inhomogeneous classical and quantum fields interacting through dynamical equations with quadratic nonlinearity and with first or second-order time derivatives. Associated more complex inhomogeneous DIA and Self-energy closure equations are expounded as part of the derivation. The QDIA employs a bare vertex approximation and is only a few times more computationally intensive than the homogeneous DIA. Examples of applications to turbulent classical geophysical and Navier Stokes fluids, including non-Gaussian noise, to classical and quantum Klein-Gordon equations with gϕ3 Lagrangian interaction, and to coupled field-auxiliary field equations associated with λϕ4 Lagrangian interaction are presented.