bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
FEV manoeuvre induced changes in breath VOC compositions: an unconventional view on lung function tests
Authors: Sukul Pritam , Schubert Jochen K. , Oertel Peter , Kamysek Svend , Taunk Khushman , Trefz Phillip , Miekisch Wolfram
Published: June 2016

Breath volatile organic compound (VOC) analysis can open a non-invasive window onto pathological and metabolic processes in the body. Decades of clinical breath-gas analysis have revealed that changes in exhaled VOC concentrations are important rather than disease specific biomarkers. As physiological parameters, such as respiratory rate or cardiac output, have profound effects on exhaled VOCs, here we investigated VOC exhalation under respiratory manoeuvres. Breath VOCs were monitored by means of real-time mass-spectrometry during conventional FEV manoeuvres in 50 healthy humans. Simultaneously, we measured respiratory and hemodynamic parameters noninvasively. Tidal volume and minute ventilation increased by 292 and 171% during the manoeuvre. FEV manoeuvre induced substance specific changes in VOC concentrations. pET-CO2and alveolar isoprene increased by 6 and 21% during maximum exhalation. Then they decreased by 18 and 37% at forced expiration mirroring cardiac output. Acetone concentrations rose by 4.5% despite increasing minute ventilation. Blood-borne furan and dimethyl-sulphide mimicked isoprene profile. Exogenous acetonitrile, sulphides, and most aliphatic and aromatic VOCs changed minimally. Reliable breath tests must avoid forced breathing. As isoprene exhalations mirrored FEV performances, endogenous VOCs might assure quality of lung function tests. Analysis of exhaled VOC concentrations can provide additional information on physiology of respiration and gas exchange.
IL-22 dampens the T cell response in experimental malaria
Authors: Sellau Julie , Alvarado Catherine Fuentes , Hoenow Stefan , Mackroth Maria Sophie , Kleinschmidt Dörte , Huber Samuel , Jacobs Thomas
Published: June 2016

A tight regulation between the pro– and anti–inflammatory immune responses during plasmodial infection is of crucial importance, since a disruption leads to severe malaria pathology. IL-22 is a member of the IL-10 cytokine family, which is known to be highly important in immune regulation. We could detect high plasma levels of IL-22 in Plasmodium falciparum malaria as well as in Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA)-infected C57BL/6J mice. The deficiency of IL-22 in mice during PbA infection led to an earlier occurrence of cerebral malaria but is associated with a lower parasitemia compared to wt mice. Furthermore, at an early time point of infection T cells from PbA-infected Il22−/− mice showed an enhanced IFNγ but a diminished IL-17 production. Moreover, dendritic cells from Il22−/− mice expressed a higher amount of the costimulatory ligand CD86 upon infection. This finding can be corroborated in vitro since bone marrow-derived dendritic cells from Il22−/− mice are better inducers of an antigen-specific IFNγ response by CD8+ T cells. Even though there is no IL-22 receptor complex known on hematopoietic cells, our data suggest a link between IL-22 and the adaptive immune system which is currently not identified.
Comparison of six commercial kits to extract bacterial chromosome and plasmid DNA for MiSeq sequencing
Authors: Becker Laura , Steglich Matthias , Fuchs Stephan , Werner Guido , Nübel Ulrich
Published: June 2016

We compared commercial kits for extraction of genomic DNA from the Gram-negative bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae for subsequent Miseq sequencing. Purification of DNA was based on matrix binding (silica or anion exchange resin) or differential precipitation (salting out), respectively. The choice of extraction kit had little effect on sequencing quality and coverage across drastically different replicons, except for an apparent depletion of small plasmids (<5 kb) during precipitation-based extractions. Sequencing coverage provided copy-number estimates for small plasmids that were consistently higher than those from quantitative real-time PCR.
Prevention and Control of Zika as a Mosquito-Borne and Sexually Transmitted Disease: A Mathematical Modeling Analysis
Authors: Gao Daozhou , Lou Yijun , He Daihai , Porco Travis C. , Kuang Yang , Chowell Gerardo , Ruan Shigui
Published: June 2016

The ongoing Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic in the Americas poses a major global public health emergency. While ZIKV is transmitted from human to human by bites ofAedesmosquitoes, recent evidence indicates that ZIKV can also be transmitted via sexual contact with cases of sexually transmitted ZIKV reported in Argentina, Canada, Chile, France, Italy, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, and the USA. Yet, the role of sexual transmission on the spread and control of ZIKV infection is not well-understood. We introduce a mathematical model to investigate the impact of mosquito-borne and sexual transmission on the spread and control of ZIKV and calibrate the model to ZIKV epidemic data from Brazil, Colombia, and El Salvador. Parameter estimates yielded a basic reproduction number "Equation missing"0 = 2.055 (95% CI: 0.523–6.300), in which the percentage contribution of sexual transmission is 3.044% (95% CI: 0.123–45.73). Our sensitivity analyses indicate that "Equation missing"0is most sensitive to the biting rate and mortality rate of mosquitoes while sexual transmission increases the risk of infection and epidemic size and prolongs the outbreak. Prevention and control efforts against ZIKV should target both the mosquito-borne and sexual transmission routes.
Organic bioelectronics probing conformational changes in surface confined proteins
Authors: Macchia Eleonora , Alberga Domenico , Manoli Kyriaki , Mangiatordi Giuseppe F. , Magliulo Maria , Palazzo Gerardo , Giordano Francesco , Lattanzi Gianluca , Torsi Luisa
Published: June 2016

The study of proteins confined on a surface has attracted a great deal of attention due to its relevance in the development of bio-systems for laboratory and clinical settings. In this respect, organic bio-electronic platforms can be used as tools to achieve a deeper understanding of the processes involving protein interfaces. In this work, biotin-binding proteins have been integrated in two different organic thin-film transistor (TFT) configurations to separately address the changes occurring in the protein-ligand complex morphology and dipole moment. This has been achieved by decoupling the output current change upon binding, taken as the transducing signal, into its component figures of merit. In particular, the threshold voltage is related to the protein dipole moment, while the field-effect mobility is associated with conformational changes occurring in the proteins of the layer when ligand binding occurs. Molecular Dynamics simulations on the whole avidin tetramer in presence and absence of ligands were carried out, to evaluate how the tight interactions with the ligand affect the protein dipole moment and the conformation of the loops surrounding the binding pocket. These simulations allow assembling a rather complete picture of the studied interaction processes and support the interpretation of the experimental results.
Procalcitonin as diagnostic marker of infection in solid tumors patients with fever
Authors: Vincenzi B. , Fioroni I. , Pantano F. , Angeletti S. , Dicuonzo G. , Zoccoli A. , Santini D. , Tonini G.
Published: June 2016

In oncologic patients fever is a non-specific clinical marker of different clinical settings. Procalcitonin (PCT) seems to be the most promising infection marker. We aimed to define the potential role of PCT as an earlier diagnostic marker in patients with fever and solid tumor. This retrospective study enrolled 431 patients. All of them performed hemoculture (HE) and basal PCT assessment (reference laboratory cut-off: ≤0.5 or >0.5 ng/dL) before starting antibiotic therapy. Gram positive (G+), negative (G−) or Fungi infection were detected. A statistically significant difference in PCT levels between patients with positive and negative HE was observed (P < 0.0001). Moreover comparing PCT values in patients with positive and negative HE, we obtain in the positive HE subpopulation an AUC of 0.7 and a cut-off of 1.52 ng/dL reached high sensitivity (61.6%) and specificity (70.1%). Using this last cut-off, instead of the normal reference value, we achieve a risk reduction to overestimate an infection status of 23.4%. We support the clinic usefulness of serum PCT dosage in febrile advanced solid tumor patients. A PCT cut-off of 1.52 ng/dL could be helpful in the management of the antibiotic therapy preventing delays of oncologic treatments.
The method of purifying bioengineered spider silk determines the silk sphere properties
Authors: Jastrzebska Katarzyna , Felcyn Edyta , Kozak Maciej , Szybowicz Miroslaw , Buchwald Tomasz , Pietralik Zuzanna , Jesionowski Teofil , Mackiewicz Andrzej , Dams-Kozlowska Hanna
Published: June 2016

Bioengineered spider silks are a biomaterial with great potential for applications in biomedicine. They are biocompatible,biodegradable and can self-assemble into films, hydrogels, scaffolds, fibers, capsules and spheres. A novel, tag-free, bioengineered spider silk named MS2(9x) was constructed. It is a 9-mer of the consensus motif derived from MaSp2–the spidroin of Nephila clavipes dragline silk. Thermal and acidic extraction methods were used to purify MS2(9x). Both purification protocols gave a similar quantity and quality of soluble silk; however, they differed in the secondary structure and zeta potential value. Spheres made of these purified variants differed with regard to critical features such as particle size, morphology, zeta potential and drug loading. Independent of the purification method, neither variant of the MS2(9x) spheres was cytotoxic, which confirmed that both methods can be used for biomedical applications. However, this study highlights the impact that the applied purification method has on the further biomaterial properties.
Material insights of HfO2-based integrated 1-transistor-1-resistor resistive random access memory devices processed by batch atomic layer deposition
Authors: Niu Gang , Kim Hee-Dong , Roelofs Robin , Perez Eduardo , Schubert Markus Andreas , Zaumseil Peter , Costina Ioan , Wenger Christian
Published: June 2016

With the continuous scaling of resistive random access memory (RRAM) devices, in-depth understanding of the physical mechanism and the material issues, particularly by directly studying integrated cells, become more and more important to further improve the device performances. In this work, HfO2-based integrated 1-transistor-1-resistor (1T1R) RRAM devices were processed in a standard 0.25 μm complementary-metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process line, using a batch atomic layer deposition (ALD) tool, which is particularly designed for mass production. We demonstrate a systematic study on TiN/Ti/HfO2/TiN/Si RRAM devices to correlate key material factors (nano-crystallites and carbon impurities) with the filament type resistive switching (RS) behaviours. The augmentation of the nano-crystallites density in the film increases the forming voltage of devices and its variation. Carbon residues in HfO2 films turn out to be an even more significant factor strongly impacting the RS behaviour. A relatively higher deposition temperature of 300 °C dramatically reduces the residual carbon concentration, thus leading to enhanced RS performances of devices, including lower power consumption, better endurance and higher reliability. Such thorough understanding on physical mechanism of RS and the correlation between material and device performances will facilitate the realization of high density and reliable embedded RRAM devices with low power consumption.
Single ingestion of soy β-conglycinin induces increased postprandial circulating FGF21 levels exerting beneficial health effects
Authors: Hashidume Tsutomu , Kato Asuka , Tanaka Tomohiro , Miyoshi Shoko , Itoh Nobuyuki , Nakata Rieko , Inoue Hiroyasu , Oikawa Akira , Nakai Yuji , Shimizu Makoto , Inoue Jun , Sato Ryuichiro
Published: June 2016

Soy protein β-conglycinin has serum lipid-lowering and anti-obesity effects. We showed that single ingestion of β-conglycinin after fasting alters gene expression in mouse liver. A sharp increase in fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) gene expression, which is depressed by normal feeding, resulted in increased postprandial circulating FGF21 levels along with a significant decrease in adipose tissue weights. Most increases in gene expressions, including FGF21, were targets for the activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), but not for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α. Overexpression of a dominant-negative form of ATF4 significantly reduced β-conglycinin-induced increases in hepatic FGF21 gene expression. In FGF21-deficient mice, β-conglycinin effects were partially abolished. Methionine supplementation to the diet or primary hepatocyte culture medium demonstrated its importance for activating liver or hepatocyte ATF4-FGF21 signaling. Thus, dietary β-conglycinin intake can impact hepatic and systemic metabolism by increasing the postprandial circulating FGF21 levels.
TLR signaling adaptor protein MyD88 in primary sensory neurons contributes to persistent inflammatory and neuropathic pain and neuroinflammation
Authors: Liu Xing-Jun , Liu Tong , Chen Gang , Wang Bing , Yu Xiao-Lu , Yin Cui , Ji Ru-Rong
Published: June 2016

Increasing evidence suggests that neuro-immune and neuro-glial interactions are critically involved in chronic pain sensitization. It is well studied how immune/glial mediators sensitize pain, but how sensory neurons control neuroinflammation remains unclear. We employed Myd88 conditional knockout (CKO) mice, in which Myd88 was deleted in sodium channel subunit Nav1.8-expressing primary sensory neurons, to examine the unique role of neuronal MyD88 in regulating acute and chronic pain and possible underlying mechanisms. We found that baseline pain and the formalin induced acute inflammatory pain were intact in CKO mice. However, the late phase inflammatory pain following complete Freund’s adjuvant injection and the late phase neuropathic pain following chronic constriction injury (CCI), were reduced in CKO mice. CCI induced up-regulation of MyD88 and chemokine C-C motif ligand 2 expression in DRG neurons and macrophage infiltration into DRGs and microglia activation in spinal dorsal horns in wild-type mice, but all these changes were compromised in CKO mice. Finally, the pain hypersensitivity induced by intraplantar IL-1β was reduced in CKO mice. Our findings suggest that MyD88 in primary sensory neurons plays an active role in regulating IL-1β signaling and neuroinflammation in the peripheral and the central nervous systems and contributes to the maintenance of persistent pain.
Light-sheet microscopy imaging of a whole cleared rat brain with Thy1-GFP transgene
Authors: Stefaniuk Marzena , Gualda Emilio J. , Pawlowska Monika , Legutko Diana , Matryba Paweł , Koza Paulina , Konopka Witold , Owczarek Dorota , Wawrzyniak Marcin , Loza-Alvarez Pablo , Kaczmarek Leszek
Published: June 2016

Whole-brain imaging with light-sheet fluorescence microscopy and optically cleared tissue is a new, rapidly developing research field. Whereas successful attempts to clear and image mouse brain have been reported, a similar result for rats has proven difficult to achieve. Herein, we report on creating novel transgenic rat harboring fluorescent reporter GFP under control of neuronal gene promoter. We then present data on clearing the rat brain, showing that FluoClearBABB was found superior over passive CLARITY and CUBIC methods. Finally, we demonstrate efficient imaging of the rat brain using light-sheet fluorescence microscopy.
Two Figla homologues have disparate functions during sex differentiation in half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis)
Authors: Li Hailong , Xu Wenteng , Zhang Ning , Shao Changwei , Zhu Ying , Dong Zhongdian , Wang Na , Jia Xiaodong , Xu Hao , Chen Songlin
Published: June 2016

Figla is a germ-cell-specific transcription factor associated with ovary development and differentiation. In vertebrates, one transcriptional form of Figla is commonly found. However, besides the common form of this gene (named Figla_tv1), a new transcriptional form (named Figla_tv2) was identified in half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis). The full-length cDNA of Figla_tv1 was 1057 bp long with a 591-bp open reading frame encoding a predicted 196 amino acid protein, while Figla_tv2 encoded a 125 amino acid protein. Figla_tv1 and Figla_tv2 expression in various tissues was detected by qRT-PCR. Figla_tv1 was expressed mainly in ovary, skin and liver, while Figla_tv2 was expressed in all examined tissues. In the gonads, Figla_tv1 was expressed in ovary, while Figla_tv2 was predominately expressed in testis of pseudomales. Further, in situ hybridization located Figla_tv1 only in oocytes and Figla_tv2 mainly in germ cells of pseudomale testis. After knocking down Figla_tv2 in a pseudomale testis cell line, the expression of two steroid hormone-encoding genes, StAR and P450scc, was significantly up-regulated (P < 0.05). Our findings suggest that Figla_tv1 has a conserved function in folliculogenesis, as in other vertebrates, and that Figla_tv2 may have a role in the spermatogenesis of pseudomales by regulating the synthesis and metabolism of steroid hormones.
Evolution of an intron-poor cluster of the CIPK gene family and expression in response to drought stress in soybean
Authors: Zhu Kaikai , Chen Fei , Liu Jinyi , Chen Xinlu , Hewezi Tarek , Cheng Zong-Ming
Published: June 2016

Calcium ion is an intracellular messenger that plays a central role in signal transduction pathways. Calcineurin B-like proteins (CBLs) and CBL-interacting protein kinases (CIPKs) signal network have shown different functions in the Ca2+ signaling process. In this work, we identified the entire soybean (Glycine max) CIPK gene family, which comprised 52 genes and divided into four subgroups (I to IV) based on phylogeny. The gene structural analysis separated these 52 genes into an intron-rich clade and an intron-poor clade. Chromosomal location analysis resulted in the identification of 22 duplicated blocks and six tandem duplication events. Phylogenetic classification of 193 CIPK proteins from representative plant species suggested that the intron-poor clade of CIPKs originated in seed plants. Analysis of global gene expression patterns of soybean CIPK family revealed that most intron-poor soybean CIPK genes are drought-inducible; a finding that was further confirmed using qRT-PCR. Our study provides a foundation for further functional analysis to reveal the roles that CIPKs and more specifically the intron-poor clade play in drought tolerance in soybean.
Tuning the electrocaloric enhancement near the morphotropic phase boundary in lead-free ceramics
Authors: Le Goupil Florian , McKinnon Ruth , Koval Vladimir , Viola Giuseppe , Dunn Steve , Berenov Andrey , Yan Haixue , Alford Neil McN.
Published: June 2016

The need for more energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly alternatives in the refrigeration industry to meet global emission targets has driven efforts towards materials with a potential for solid state cooling. Adiabatic depolarisation cooling, based on the electrocaloric effect (ECE), is a significant contender for efficient new solid state refrigeration techniques. Some of the highest ECE performances reported are found in compounds close to the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB). This relationship between performance and the MPB makes the ability to tune the position of the MPB an important challenge in electrocaloric research. Here, we report direct ECE measurements performed on MPB tuned NBT-06BT bulk ceramics with a combination of A-site substitutions. We successfully shift the MPB of these lead-free ceramics closer to room temperature, as required for solid state refrigeration, without loss of the criticality of the system and the associated ECE enhancement.
Robust Denaturation of Villin Headpiece by MoS2 Nanosheet: Potential Molecular Origin of the Nanotoxicity
Authors: Gu Zonglin , Yang Zaixing , Kang Seung-gu , Yang Jerry R. , Luo Judong , Zhou Ruhong
Published: June 2016

MoS2 nanosheet, a new two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides nanomaterial, has attracted significant attentions lately due to many potential promising biomedical applications. Meanwhile, there is also a growing concern on its biocompatibility, with little known on its interactions with various biomolecules such as proteins. In this study, we use all-atom molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the interaction of a MoS2 nanosheet with Villin Headpiece (HP35), a model protein widely used in protein folding studies. We find that MoS2 exhibits robust denaturing capability to HP35, with its secondary structures severely destroyed within hundreds of nanosecond simulations. Both aromatic and basic residues are critical for the protein anchoring onto MoS2 surface, which then triggers the successive protein unfolding process. The main driving force behind the adsorption process is the dispersion interaction between protein and MoS2 monolayer. Moreover, water molecules at the interface between some key hydrophobic residues (e.g. Trp-64) and MoS2 surface also help to accelerate the process driven by nanoscale drying, which provides a strong hydrophobic force. These findings might have shed new light on the potential nanotoxicity of MoS2 to proteins with atomic details, which should be helpful in guiding future biomedical applications of MoS2 with its nanotoxicity mitigated.
Au Nanocage Functionalized with Ultra-small Fe3O4 Nanoparticles for Targeting T1–T2Dual MRI and CT Imaging of Tumor
Authors: Wang Guannan , Gao Wei , Zhang Xuanjun , Mei Xifan
Published: June 2016

Diagnostic approaches based on multimodal imaging of clinical noninvasive imaging (eg. MRI/CT scanner) are highly developed in recent years for accurate selection of the therapeutic regimens in critical diseases. Therefore, it is highly demanded in the development of appropriate all-in-one multimodal contrast agents (MCAs) for the MRI/CT multimodal imaging. Here a novel ideal MCAs (F-AuNC@Fe3O4) were engineered by assemble Au nanocages (Au NC) and ultra-small iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4) for simultaneous T1–T2dual MRI and CT contrast imaging. In this system, the Au nanocages offer facile thiol modification and strong X-ray attenuation property for CT imaging. The ultra-small Fe3O4 nanoparticles, as excellent contrast agent, is able to provide great enhanced signal of T1- and T2-weighted MRI (r1 = 6.263 mM−1 s−1, r2 = 28.117 mM−1 s−1) due to their ultra-refined size. After functionalization, the present MCAs nanoparticles exhibited small average size, low aggregation and excellent biocompatible. In vitro and In vivo studies revealed that the MCAs show long-term circulation time, renal clearance properties and outstanding capability of selective accumulation in tumor tissues for simultaneous CT imaging and T1- and T2-weighted MRI. Taken together, these results show that as-prepared MCAs are excellent candidates as MRI/CT multimodal imaging contrast agents.
Molecular classification based on apomorphic amino acids (Arthropoda, Hexapoda): Integrative taxonomy in the era of phylogenomics
Authors: Wu Hao-Yang , Wang Yan-Hui , Xie Qiang , Ke Yun-Ling , Bu Wen-Jun
Published: June 2016

With the great development of sequencing technologies and systematic methods, our understanding of evolutionary relationships at deeper levels within the tree of life has greatly improved over the last decade. However, the current taxonomic methodology is insufficient to describe the growing levels of diversity in both a standardised and general way due to the limitations of using only morphological traits to describe clades. Herein, we propose the idea of a molecular classification based on hierarchical and discrete amino acid characters. Clades are classified based on the results of phylogenetic analyses and described using amino acids with group specificity in phylograms. Practices based on the recently published phylogenomic datasets of insects together with 15de novosequenced transcriptomes in this study demonstrate that such a methodology can accommodate various higher ranks of taxonomy. Such an approach has the advantage of describing organisms in a standard and discrete way within a phylogenetic framework, thereby facilitating the recognition of clades from the view of the whole lineage, as indicated by PhyloCode. By combining identification keys and phylogenies, the molecular classification based on hierarchical and discrete characters may greatly boost the progress of integrative taxonomy.
pol-miR-731, a teleost miRNA upregulated by megalocytivirus, negatively regulates virus-induced type I interferon response, apoptosis and cell cycle arrest
Authors: Zhang Bao-cun , Zhou Ze-jun , Sun Li
Published: June 2016

Megalocytivirus is a DNA virus that is highly infectious in a wide variety of marine and freshwater fish, including Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus), a flatfish that is farmed worldwide. However, the infection mechanism of megalocytivirus remains largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the function of a flounder microRNA, pol-miR-731, in virus-host interaction. We found that pol-miR-731 was induced in expression by megalocytivirus and promoted viral replication at the early infection stage. In vivo and in vitro studies revealed that pol-miR-731 (i) specifically suppresses the expression of interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF7) and cellular tumor antigen p53 in a manner that depended on the integrity of the pol-miR-731 complementary sequences in the 3′ untranslated regions of IRF7 and p53, (ii) disrupts megalocytivirus-induced Type I interferon response through IRF7, (iii) inhibits megalocytivirus-induced splenocyte apoptosis and cell cycle arrest through p53. Furthermore, overexpression of IRF7 and p53 abolished both the inhibitory effects of pol-miR-731 on these biological processes and its stimulatory effect on viral replication. These results disclosed a novel evasion mechanism of megalocytivirus mediated by a host miRNA. This study also provides the first evidence that a virus-induced host miRNA can facilitate viral infection by simultaneously suppressing several antiviral pathways.
Embryonic Stem Cell Proliferation Stimulated By Altered Anabolic Metabolism From Glucose Transporter 2-Transported Glucosamine
Authors: Jung Jin Hyuk , Iwabuchi Kumiko , Yang Zhihong , Loeken Mary R.
Published: June 2016

The hexose transporter, GLUT2 (SLC2A2), which is expressed by mouse embryos, is important for survival before embryonic day 10.5, but its function in embryos is unknown. GLUT2 can transport the amino sugar glucosamine (GlcN), which could increase substrate for the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBSP) that produces UDP-N-acetylglucosamine for O-linked N-acetylglucosamine modification (O-GlcNAcylation) of proteins. To understand this, we employed a novel murine embryonic stem cell (ESC) line that, like mouse embryos, expresses functional GLUT2 transporters. GlcN stimulated ESC proliferation in a GLUT2-dependent fashion but did not regulate pluripotency. Stimulation of proliferation was not due to increased O-GlcNAcylation. Instead, GlcN decreased dependence of the HBSP on fructose-6-PO4 and glutamine. Consequently, glycolytic- and glutamine-derived intermediates that are needed for anabolic metabolism were increased. Thus, maternally obtained GlcN may increase substrates for biomass accumulation by embryos, as exogenous GlcN does for GLUT2-expressing ESC and may explain the need for GLUT2 expression by embryos.
The enrichment of Pt(iv) ions on Dowex-1X8 and Purolite S-920 ion exchangers from aqueous solutions and their determination using slurry sampling and direct solid sampling graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry techniques
Authors: Dobrowolski Ryszard , Mróz Agnieszka , Cejner Marzena
Published: June 2016

A sensitive and simple method for the determination of platinum in geological samples using slurry and direct solid sampling AAS was proposed.
Recent advancements in analytical methods for the determination of steroidal estrogen residues in environmental and food matrices
Authors: Gunatilake Sameera R. , Munasinghe Vihanga K. , Ranaweera Ruchiranga , Mlsna Todd E. , Xia Kang
Published: June 2016

Residual steroidal estrogens in environmental and food samples have become a cause for concern as they can affect organisms at low ppt concentrations.
Bio-inspired cisplatin nanocarriers for osteosarcoma treatment
Authors: Zhou Haidong , Wang Gangxiang , Lu Yiyun , Pan Zhijun
Published: June 2016

Cisplatin nanocarriers with zwitterionic phosphorylcholine corona were developed for osteosarcoma treatment.
Self-monitoring of tear glucose: the development of a tear based glucose sensor as an alternative to self-monitoring of blood glucose
Authors: La Belle Jeffrey T. , Adams Anngela , Lin Chi-En , Engelschall Erica , Pratt Breanna , Cook Curtiss B.
Published: June 2016

Tear glucose sensing for diabetes management has long been sought as an alternative to more invasive self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG).
A modular approach towards functional supramolecular aggregates – subtle structural differences inducing liquid crystallinity
Authors: Pfletscher Michael , Wölper Christoph , Gutmann Jochen S. , Mezger Markus , Giese Michael
Published: June 2016

A modular approach towards photo-responsive supramolecular liquid crystals is described, allowing efficient screening of complementary binding blocks for the design of functional materials.
Endohedrally functionalised porous organic cages
Authors: Burgun Alexandre , Valente Peter , Evans Jack D. , Huang David M. , Sumby Christopher J. , Doonan Christian J.
Published: June 2016

The synthesis and characterisation of two novel, endohedrally functionalised porous organic cages are presented.
Crystal engineering in 3D: converting nanoscale lamellar manganese oxide to cubic spinel while affixed to a carbon architecture
Authors: Donakowski Martin D. , Wallace Jean M. , Sassin Megan B. , Chapman Karena W. , Parker Joseph F. , Long Jeffrey W. , Rolison Debra R.
Published: June 2016

By applying differential pair distribution function analyses to MnOx-painted carbon nanofoam papers, we quantify the manganese oxide speciation as the nanoscale oxide transitions from disordered NaMnOxto spinel LiMn2O4.
Lone-pair–π interactions: analysis of the physical origin and biological implications
Authors: Novotný Jan , Bazzi Sophia , Marek Radek , Kozelka Jiří
Published: June 2016

Lone-pair–π (lp–π) interactions can differ in strength and origin. Water–indole, water–uracil, and chloride–TCB lp–π interactions have very different electrostatic (ES), polarization (POL), charge transfer (CT), and dispersion (DISP) components.
Understanding structural stability of monoclinic LiMnO2 and NaMnO2 upon de-intercalation
Authors: Tian Meng , Gao Yurui , Wang Zhaoxiang , Chen Liquan
Published: June 2016

First-principles calculations demonstrate that the distinction between LiMnO2 and NaMnO2 in structural stability upon de-intercalation is due to their difference in charge distribution and the strength of the Mn–O bonding.
In situ investigation of mesoporous silicon oxidation kinetics using infrared emittance spectroscopy
Authors: Bardet Benjamin , De Sousa Meneses Domingos , Defforge Thomas , Billoué Jérôme , Gautier Gaël
Published: June 2016

The kinetics of mesoporous silicon oxidation is investigated by means of infrared emittance measurements. The chemical mechanisms are put in perspective with temperature.
An accurate cost effective DFT approach to study the sensing behaviour of polypyrrole towards nitrate ions in gas and aqueous phases
Authors: Wasim Fatima , Mahmood Tariq , Ayub Khurshid
Published: June 2016

A variety of low cost computational methods are evaluated to accurately calculate the interaction energy between polypyrrole and nitrate ions.
Rovibrational transitions of the methane–water dimer from intermolecular quantum dynamical computations
Authors: Sarka János , Császár Attila G. , Althorpe Stuart C. , Wales David J. , Mátyus Edit
Published: June 2016

Quantum dynamical computations of the methane–water dimer explain the far-infrared spectrum of this important prototype of a water–hydrocarbon interaction.
Experimental and theoretical studies on compositions, structures, and IR and NMR spectra of functionalized protic ionic liquids
Authors: Cui Yingna , Yin Jingmei , Li Changping , Li Shenmin , Wang Ailing , Yang Guang , Jia Yingping
Published: June 2016

DMCEAP and DMEOAP are composed of neutral and ionized species in the liquid phase as investigated through experimental spectroscopy and DFT calculations.
Dynamic disorder, phonon lifetimes, and the assignment of modes to the vibrational spectra of methylammonium lead halide perovskites
Authors: Leguy Aurélien M. A. , Goñi Alejandro R. , Frost Jarvist M. , Skelton Jonathan , Brivio Federico , Rodríguez-Martínez Xabier , Weber Oliver J. , Pallipurath Anuradha , Alonso M. Isabel , Campoy-Quiles Mariano , Weller Mark T. , Nelson Jenny , Walsh Aron , Barnes Piers R. F.
Published: June 2016

Raman and THz spectra of CH3NH3PbX3 interpreted with a catalogue of computed vibrations and their influence on heat and electrical transport.
Preparation of polyphosphazenes: a tutorial review
Authors: Rothemund Sandra , Teasdale Ian
Published: June 2016

The essentials of the synthetic chemistry of poly(organo)phosphazenes are detailed in this tutorial review, with a particular focus on the recent advances in this field.
Pentiptycene-based concave NHC–metal complexes
Authors: Savka Roman , Foro Sabine , Plenio Herbert
Published: June 2016

N-Heterocyclic carbenes with two pentiptycene units and metal complexes with Cu, Ag, Au and Ir were synthesized with the metal center residing at the bottom of the concave ligand.
Trapping five-coordinate platinum(iv) intermediates
Authors: Shaw Paul A. , Phillips Jessica M. , Clarkson Guy J. , Rourke Jonathan P.
Published: June 2016

The oxidation of three different complexes of the doubly cycloplatinated 2,6-di(4-fluorophenyl)pyridine ligand (namely DMSO, PPh3 and PPr3 derivatives, 1a, 1b and 1c, respectively) with the electrophilic oxidant iodobenzenedichloride was studied.
High-performance porous uncharged membranes for vanadium flow battery applications created by tuning cohesive and swelling forces
Authors: Lu Wenjing , Yuan Zhizhang , Zhao Yuyue , Li Xianfeng , Zhang Huamin , Vankelecom Ivo F. J.
Published: June 2016

A simple and effective solvent treatment method was developed to prepare high-performance porous membranes with a tunable morphology for VFBs.
Soft-cover deposition of scaling-up uniform perovskite thin films for high cost-performance solar cells
Authors: Ye Fei , Chen Han , Xie Fengxian , Tang Wentao , Yin Maoshu , He Jinjin , Bi Enbing , Wang Yanbo , Yang Xudong , Han Liyuan
Published: June 2016

A large area perovskite film with less structural defects and a high material utilization ratio was formed by a continuous solution processing method, soft-cover deposition.
Correction: The dilemma in prioritizing chemicals for environmental analysis: known versus unknown hazards
Authors: Sobek Anna , Bejgarn Sofia , Rudén Christina , Breitholtz Magnus
Published: June 2016

Correction for ‘The dilemma in prioritizing chemicals for environmental analysis: known versus unknown hazards’ by Anna Sobek et al., Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2016, DOI: 10.1039/c6em00163g.
Polymer-free nanofibers from vanillin/cyclodextrin inclusion complexes: high thermal stability, enhanced solubility and antioxidant property
Authors: Celebioglu Asli , Kayaci-Senirmak Fatma , İpek Semran , Durgun Engin , Uyar Tamer
Published: June 2016

The popular food compound vanillin was rendered into more applicable CD-IC nanofibers with enhanced thermal stability, improved solubility and an antioxidant property.
A dual-site two-photon fluorescent probe for visualizing mitochondrial aminothiols in living cells and mouse liver tissues
Authors: Meng Fangfang , Liu Yong , Yu Xiaoqiang , Lin Weiying
Published: June 2016

In this work, we developed a dual-site two-photon (TP) fluorescent RSH probe (CA-TPP) for imaging mitochondrial RSH in living systems. In particular, probe CA-TPP was capable of using TP fluorescence to track mitochondrial RSH over a long period for the first time.
A novel thiourea type organocatalyst possessing a single NH functionality
Authors: Jovanovic Predrag , Petkovic Milos , Simic Milena , Ivkovic Branka , Savic Vladimir
Published: June 2016

A novel thiourea organocatalyst was rationally designed by altering a typical H-bonding pattern of thiourea derivatives and utilising the potential of the 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl motif to participate in the H-bond formation.
Catechol/boronic acid chemistry for the creation of block copolymers with a multi-stimuli responsive junction
Authors: Coumes Fanny , Malfait Aurélie , Bria Marc , Lyskawa Joël , Woisel Patrice , Fournier David
Published: June 2016

A series of well-defined nitrocatechol and boronic acid end-functionalized homopolymers were synthesized via the RAFT process, followed by their coupling reactions leading to block copolymers integrating a multi-stimuli responsive link in between the blocks.
Separation of highly unsaturated fatty acid methyl esters from model bio-oils with ionic liquid-cosolvent as extractants
Authors: Li Xuenan , Zhang Xiao , Yang Qiwei , Bao Zongbi , Ren Qilong , Zhang Zhiguo , Xing Huabin , Yang Yiwen
Published: June 2016

For the production of biodiesel, an IL-cosolvent extraction method was performed to separate value-added uFAMEs from model bio-oils.
Constructing novel Ag nanoparticles anchored on MnO2 nanowires as an efficient visible light driven photocatalyst
Authors: Saravanakumar K. , Muthuraj V. , Vadivel S.
Published: June 2016

We report the first construction of novel Ag nanoparticles anchored on MnO2 nanowires as an efficient visible light driven photocatalyst.
Nickel sulfide counter electrode modified with polypyrrole nanoparticles to enhance catalytic ability for flexible dye-sensitized solar cells
Authors: Yue Gentian , Li Peng , Li Fumin , Chen Chong
Published: June 2016

An efficient platinum-free counter electrode of nickel sulfide/polypyrrole/titanium foil with excellent electrochemical catalytic ability was prepared and used for flexible dye-sensitized solar cells.
ZIF-8 derived bimodal carbon modified ZnO photocatalysts with enhanced photocatalytic CO2 reduction performance
Authors: Liu Shengwei , Wang Jiahui , Yu Jiaguo
Published: June 2016

ZIF-8 derived porous carbon modified ZnO exhibited enhanced photocatalytic CO2 reduction activity.
Temperature-triggered order–disorder phase transition in molecular-ionic material N-butyldiethanolammonium picrate monohydrate
Authors: Khan Tariq , Asghar Muhammad Adnan , Sun Zhihua , Ji Chengmin , Li Lina , Zhao Sangen , Luo Junhua
Published: June 2016

We report an organic–ionic material that undergoes a first-order structural phase transition, induced by order–disorder of oxygen atoms in picrate anion. This strategy offers a potential pathway to explore new switchable dielectric materials.
Composite PS-b-P4VP/Ag and PS-b-P4VP/Au thin films fabricated via a multilevel self-assembly process
Authors: Zhao Xingjuan , Zhang Xiaokai , Liu Hong-Guo
Published: June 2016

Thin composite films with microstructures doped with Ag or Au species were fabricated at the air/liquid interface, which exhibited effective catalytic activities for heterogeneous catalytic reactions.
Metal-free amidation of carboxylic acids with tertiary amines
Authors: Phakhodee Wong , Wangngae Sirilak , Pattarawarapan Mookda
Published: June 2016

Combination of Ph3P and I2 with an appropriate reagent addition sequence could enable effective amidation of carboxylic acids with tertiary amines under mild conditions.
A ferroelectric photocatalyst Ag10Si4O13 with visible-light photooxidation properties
Authors: Al-keisy Amar , Ren Long , Cui Dandan , Xu Zhongfei , Xu Xun , Su Xiangdong , Hao Weichang , Dou Shi Xue , Du Yi
Published: June 2016

A new ferroelectric p-block photocatalyst, Ag10Si4O13, has been successfully prepared here and exhibited excellent visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity towards the degradation of organic compounds.
Stimuli-responsive polymersomes and nanoreactors
Authors: Che Hailong , van Hest Jan C. M.
Published: June 2016

Macromolecular self-assembly is attracting increasing scientific interest in polymer science.
Robust glucose oxidase with a Fe3O4@C-silica nanohybrid structure
Authors: Yang Yuling , Zhu Genxing , Wang Guangchuan , Li Yali , Tang Ruikang
Published: June 2016

An enzyme-material hybrid, biomineralization-based method has been developed for glucose oxidase immobilization with high thermal stability, operational stability and recyclability.
Ferroelectricity in undoped-HfO2 thin films induced by deposition temperature control during atomic layer deposition
Authors: Kim K. D. , Park M. H. , Kim H. J. , Kim Y. J. , Moon T. , Lee Y. H. , Hyun S. D. , Gwon T. , Hwang C. S.
Published: June 2016

The evolution of ferroelectricity in undoped-HfO2 thin films is systematically studied by controlling the deposition temperature during atomic layer deposition.
Image fusion‐based video deraining using sparse representation
Authors: Mi Zetian , Shang Jinxia , Zhou Huan , Wang Minghui
Published: June 2016

By disregarding the ‘rain component’ but keeping the ‘non‐rain component’ only, results reconstructed by the conventional morphological component analysis decomposition‐based rain removal algorithms lose a lot of detail information. On the basis of the limitation, an image fusion strategy is introduced to remove rain from a video. The final rain‐free frame is recovered by employing the fused coefficients and the fused dictionary. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can efficiently remove rain streaks, while at the same time preserve more detail information.
Spectrum resource management in Wi‐Fi networks through adaptable channelisation
Authors: Hussain A. , Saqib N.A. , Zia M. , Mahmood H.
Published: June 2016

Current static‐width channelisation in WLANs is spectrally inefficient resulting into wastage of scarce bandwidth resource. The aim of this research work is to efficiently manage wireless spectrum for achieving high throughput gains by implementing adaptable width channelisation in WLANs. A novel algorithm is proposed which assigns channel widths dynamically based on the bandwidth requirements and investigate its impact on key network performance parameters such as throughput, interference and percentage spectrum utility. The experimental results demonstrate significant throughput gains as compared with the existing methods.
Atmospheric‐pressure pulsed discharges and plasmas: mechanism, characteristics and applications
Authors: Shao Tao , Wang Ruixue , Zhang Cheng , Yan Ping
Published: June 2016

Pulsed discharge plasma and its application is one of the promising directions in civilian areasof pulsed power technology. In order to promote the research and development ofthe theory and application technology for pulsed discharge plasma, in thispaper, recent progress on the mechanism of nanosecond‐pulse gas discharge andthe characteristics and applications of typical pulsed plasma at the Instituteof Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences is reviewed. Firstly,progress on mechanism of nanosecond‐pulse discharge based on runaway electronsand measurement technology of runaway electrons is introduced. Then, thecharacteristics of three typical discharges, including direct‐driven pulseddischarge, pulsed dielectric barrier discharge and pulsed plasma jet, arereviewed. Furthermore, typical plasma applications of pulsed plasma on surfacemodification and methane conversion are presented.
Similarity of gas discharge in low‐pressure argon gaps between two plane‐parallel electrodes
Authors: Fu Yangyang , Yang Shuo , Zou Xiaobing , Luo Haiyun , Wang Xinxin
Published: June 2016

The similarity of gas discharge in low‐pressure argon gaps between two plane‐parallel electrodes was investigated by experiments, numerical simulations and theoretical analysis. It was found by the experiments that the breakdown voltages depend not only on the product of gas pressure and gap length, but also on the aspect ratio of the gap, i.e. Ub = f (pd, d/r). It was theoretically proved that Ub = f (pd, d/r) is also a special case, the non‐uniform electric field between plane‐parallel electrodes, of similarity theorem of gas discharge. It was found by the experiments that there exist similar glow discharges only in two gaps with a limited scaled‐down factor k. By theoretical analysis, it was explained that the forbidden processes such as the stepwise ionisation and the inelastic collision of the second kind violate the similarity of discharge as k increases, which was verified by the numerical simulations of the discharges with or without these two forbidden processes taken into account.
Comparison between electropositive and electronegative cold atmospheric‐pressure plasmas: a modelling study
Authors: Liu Ding Xin , Li Jia Feng , Yang Ai Jun , Wang Xiao Hua , Rong Ming Zhe , Kong Michael G.
Published: June 2016

Cold atmospheric‐pressure He + N2 and He + O2 plasmas are chosen as the representatives for electropositive and electronegative plasmas, of which the discharge characteristics are studied and then compared to each other by fluid models. As the increase of the impurity (N2 or O2) fraction from 0 to 10%, for He + N2 plasmas the electron density and ion density increase, the spatiotemporal distributions of electron density, ion density, electron temperature and electron generation rate change a little. On contrast, for He + O2 plasmas the electron density decreases, the ion density first increases and then decreases, the electron temperature increases in the bulk region, but decreases in the sheath region, and the plasmas transform from γ mode to α mode as the significant change of electron generation rate distributions. Larger electric field is needed in the bulk region to sustain the electronegative plasma, so the electrical characteristics of He + O2 plasmas transform form capacitive to resistive with increasing O2 fraction. Meanwhile, the ion‐coupling power increases dramatically, which can be estimated by a formula based on the electronegativity. A new criterion for determining the sheath boundary, |∇E| = 5 kV/cm2, is put forward, which is found suitable for both the electropositive and electronegative plasmas.
Dynamics of ionisation wave propagation in an applied external electric field
Authors: Xia Yang , Liu Dongping , Ghomi Hamidreza , Wang Wenchun , Bi Zhenhua , Ji Longfei , Wang Xueyang , Qi Zhihua , Li Bin
Published: June 2016

This study presents spatio‐temporal development of the ionisation waves (IWs) along one dielectric tube with an extra alternating electric field. A pulsed direct current power supply is used for generating the IWs, and another alternating current power supply is used for altering the distribution of electric fields along the dielectric tube. The measurements show that the propagation velocity and density of IWs are strongly affected by the external electric field. The direct relation between external electric field and the velocity of the IWs is demonstrated. Further analysis indicates that the external electric field can be utilised to control the propagation of the IWs, resulting in a change of their density and velocity.