bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The d-Radar: a bistatic system based on conformal arrays
Authors: Galati Gaspare , Carta Paola , Leonardi Mauro , Madia Francesco , Stallone Rossella , Franco Stefania
Published: March 2016

Multifunction radars based on active phased arrays are well known and widely studied systems. The concepts of bistatic architecture, conformal array and digital beam forming (DBF) are combined in this paper to define a novel multifunction radar for point defense. The conical shape of the antenna overcomes the significant limitations in the azimuth coverage of 360° of fixed-faces phased arrays due to the beam scanning up to 45°. The usage of separate transmit/receive arrays and the DBF technique adds the operational flexibility and the possibility of multiple simultaneous functions, with an optimal time-energy resources exploitation. After a short description of its technological demonstrator, some significant design trade-off, and operating aspects of the proposed architecture, called d-Radar, are described, showing the main differences with respect to the classical, four faces, and phased-array multifunction radar architecture. It is described how the operating modes can be made more and more similar to a “staring” or “ubiquitous” radar permitting an instantaneous detection and location of short-range, low-elevation targets for sea and ground operations. Finally, some remarks about the resources management and scheduling are shown with the results from a case of study.
Characterizing Interglacial Periods over the Past 800,000 Years
Authors: Sullivan Cody
Published: March 2016

Researchers identified 11 different interglacial periods over the past 800,000 years, but the interglacial period we are experiencing now may last an exceptionally long time.
Decisions About Discussing Traumatic Loss With Hospitalized Pediatric Patients: A Needs Assessment of a Multidisciplinary Medical Team
Authors: Schneider Nicole M. , Steinberg Dara M. , Grosch Maria C. , Niedzwecki Christian , Cline Virginia Depp
Published: March 2016

Speaking to children about the death of a family member is unarguably a difficult task. The current study examined an interdisciplinary medical team’s decision-making process in the context of discussing the death of a relative with a pediatric patient who had sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI). This situation has occurred numerous times on the Acute Pediatric Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit (IRU) at our institution. A vignette-based questionnaire was created for the providers to complete, with questions focusing on factors that might influence a provider’s decision to inform or not inform a child about a family member’s death. Mixed-methods analysis indicated providers had a high level of confidence about how to discuss death with patients, although respondents emphasized the importance of having a systematic protocol for the IRU team to utilize when patients present to the hospital and have lost a family member in a traumatic accident. Results also revealed a tendency to not talk to patients about their family members’ deaths, even if they ask about it. Patients’ posttraumatic amnesia status, the period after TBI during which they demonstrate the inability to store and recall new information, was found to be a major factor in deciding whether to inform them about a family member’s death. This study highlights the need for multidisciplinary providers to receive training on how to appropriately talk to patients who have experienced the loss of a family member and for the creation of a protocol to be utilized in these circumstances to improve message consistency.
Knockout of Atg5 delays the maturation and reduces the survival of adult-generated neurons in the hippocampus
Authors: Xi Y , Dhaliwal J S , Ceizar M , Vaculik M , Kumar K L , Lagace D C
Published: March 2016

Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved lysosomal degradation pathway that plays important roles in cell maintenance, expansion and differentiation. Removal of genes essential for autophagy from embryonic neural stem and precursor cells reduces the survival and inhibits neuronal differentiation of adult-generated neurons. No study has modified autophagy within the adult precursor cells, leaving the cell-autonomous role of autophagy in adult neurogenesis unknown. Here we demonstrate that autophagic flux exists in the adult dividing progenitor cells and their progeny in the dentate gyrus. To investigate the role of autophagy in adult hippocampal neurogenesis, we genetically deleted Autophagy-related gene 5 (Atg5) that reduced autophagic flux and the survival of the progeny of dividing progenitor cells. This significant reduction in survival of adult-generated neurons is accompanied by a delay in neuronal maturation, including a transient reduction in spine density in the absence of a change in differentiation. The delay in cell maturation and loss of progeny of the Atg5-null cells was not present in mice that lacked the essential pro-apoptotic protein Bax (Bcl-2-associated X protein), suggesting that Atg5-deficient cells die through a Bax-dependent mechanism. In addition, there was a loss of Atg5-null cells following exposure to running, suggesting that Atg5 is required for running-induced increases in neurogenesis. These findings highlight the cell-autonomous requirement of Atg5 in the survival of adult-generated neurons.
Tumor-suppressive function of long noncoding RNA MALAT1 in glioma cells by downregulation of MMP2 and inactivation of ERK/MAPK signaling
Authors: Han Y , Wu Z , Wu T , Huang Y , Cheng Z , Li X , Sun T , Xie X , Zhou Y , Du Z
Published: March 2016

Metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) is a type of long noncoding RNA. It is associated with metastasis and is a favorable prognostic factor for lung cancer. Recent studies have shown that MALAT1 plays an important role in other malignancies. But, little is known about the role of MALAT1 in glioma. In this study, quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to demonstrate that the expression of MALAT1 was lower than that in normal brain tissues. Stable RNA interference-mediated knockdown of MALAT1 in human glioma cell lines (U87 and U251) significantly promoted the invasion and proliferation of the glioma cells by in vitro assays. Conversely, overexpression of MALAT1 caused significant reduction in cell proliferation and invasion in vitro, and tumorigenicity in both subcutaneous and intracranial human glioma xenograft models. Furthermore, MALAT1-mediated tumor suppression in glioma cells may be via reduction of extracellular signal-regulated kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK/MAPK) signaling activity and expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2). In conclusion, overall data demonstrated the tumor-suppressive role of MALAT1 in glioma by attenuating ERK/MAPK-mediated growth and MMP2-mediated invasiveness.
Correction: Corrigendum: Gs-coupled GPCR signalling in AgRP neurons triggers sustained increase in food intake
Authors: Nakajima Ken-ichiro , Cui Zhenzhong , Li Chia , Meister Jaroslawna , Cui Yinghong , Fu Ou , Smith Adam S. , Jain Shalini , Lowell Bradford B. , Krashes Michael J. , Wess Jürgen
Published: March 2016

Nature Communications 7: Article number: 10268 (2016); Published: 8 January 2016; Updated: 3 March 2016 The financial support for this article was not fully acknowledged. The Acknowledgements should have included the following: This work was supported by the intramural research program of the NIMH (ZIA-MH-002498-24).
Wireless Cortical Brain-Machine Interface for Whole-Body Navigation in Primates
Authors: Rajangam Sankaranarayani , Tseng Po-He , Yin Allen , Lehew Gary , Schwarz David , Lebedev Mikhail A. , Nicolelis Miguel A. L.
Published: March 2016

Several groups have developed brain-machine-interfaces (BMIs) that allow primates to use cortical activity to control artificial limbs. Yet, it remains unknown whether cortical ensembles could represent the kinematics of whole-body navigation and be used to operate a BMI that moves a wheelchair continuously in space. Here we show that rhesus monkeys can learn to navigate a robotic wheelchair, using their cortical activity as the main control signal. Two monkeys were chronically implanted with multichannel microelectrode arrays that allowed wireless recordings from ensembles of premotor and sensorimotor cortical neurons. Initially, while monkeys remained seated in the robotic wheelchair, passive navigation was employed to train a linear decoder to extract 2D wheelchair kinematics from cortical activity. Next, monkeys employed the wireless BMI to translate their cortical activity into the robotic wheelchair’s translational and rotational velocities. Over time, monkeys improved their ability to navigate the wheelchair toward the location of a grape reward. The navigation was enacted by populations of cortical neurons tuned to whole-body displacement. During practice with the apparatus, we also noticed the presence of a cortical representation of the distance to reward location. These results demonstrate that intracranial BMIs could restore whole-body mobility to severely paralyzed patients in the future.
Modulation of MICAL Monooxygenase Activity by its Calponin Homology Domain: Structural and Mechanistic Insights
Authors: Alqassim Saif S. , Urquiza Mauricio , Borgnia Eitan , Nagib Marc , Amzel L. Mario , Bianchet Mario A.
Published: March 2016

MICALs (Molecule Interacting with CasL) are conserved multidomain enzymes essential for cytoskeletal reorganization in nerve development, endocytosis, and apoptosis. In these enzymes, a type-2 calponin homology (CH) domain always follows an N-terminal monooxygenase (MO) domain. Although the CH domain is required for MICAL-1 cellular localization and actin-associated function, its contribution to the modulation of MICAL activity towards actin remains unclear. Here, we present the structure of a fragment of MICAL-1 containing the MO and the CH domains—determined by X-ray crystallography and small angle scattering—as well as kinetics experiments designed to probe the contribution of the CH domain to the actin-modification activity. Our results suggest that the CH domain, which is loosely connected to the MO domain by a flexible linker and is far away from the catalytic site, couples F-actin to the enhancement of redox activity of MICALMO-CHby a cooperative mechanism involving atransinteraction between adjacently bound molecules. Binding cooperativity is also observed in other proteins regulating actin assembly/disassembly dynamics, such as ADF/Cofilins.
dFoxO promotes Wingless signaling in Drosophila
Authors: Zhang Shiping , Guo Xiaowei , Chen Changyan , Chen Yujun , Li Jikai , Sun Ying , Wu Chenxi , Yang Yang , Jiang Cizhong , Li Wenzhe , Xue Lei
Published: March 2016

The Wnt/β-catenin signaling is an evolutionarily conserved pathway that regulates a wide range of physiological functions, including embryogenesis, organ maintenance, cell proliferation and cell fate decision. Dysregulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling has been implicated in various cancers, but its role in cell death has not yet been fully elucidated. Here we show that activation of Wg signaling induces cell death in Drosophila eyes and wings, which depends on dFoxO, a transcription factor known to be involved in cell death. In addition, dFoxO is required for ectopic and endogenous Wg signaling to regulate wing patterning. Moreover, dFoxO is necessary for activated Wg signaling-induced target genes expression. Furthermore, Arm is reciprocally required for dFoxO-induced cell death. Finally, dFoxO physically interacts with Arm both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, we have characterized a previously unknown role of dFoxO in promoting Wg signaling, and that a dFoxO-Arm complex is likely involved in their mutual functions, e.g. cell death.
Metabolic profiling during ex vivo machine perfusion of the human liver
Authors: Bruinsma Bote G. , Sridharan Gautham V. , Weeder Pepijn D. , Avruch James H. , Saeidi Nima , Özer Sinan , Geerts Sharon , Porte Robert J. , Heger Michal , van Gulik Thomas M. , Martins Paulo N. , Markmann James F. , Yeh Heidi , Uygun Korkut
Published: March 2016

As donor organ shortages persist, functional machine perfusion is under investigation to improve preservation of the donor liver. The transplantation of donation after circulatory death (DCD) livers is limited by poor outcomes, but its application may be expanded by ex vivo repair and assessment of the organ before transplantation. Here we employed subnormothermic (21 °C) machine perfusion of discarded human livers combined with metabolomics to gain insight into metabolic recovery during machine perfusion. Improvements in energetic cofactors and redox shifts were observed, as well as reversal of ischemia-induced alterations in selected pathways, including lactate metabolism and increased TCA cycle intermediates. We next evaluated whether DCD livers with steatotic and severe ischemic injury could be discriminated from ‘transplantable’ DCD livers. Metabolomic profiling was able to cluster livers with similar metabolic patterns based on the degree of injury. Moreover, perfusion parameters combined with differences in metabolic factors suggest variable mechanisms that result in poor energy recovery in injured livers. We conclude that machine perfusion combined with metabolomics has significant potential as a clinical instrument for the assessment of preserved livers.
Interaction between hexon and L4-100K determines virus rescue and growth of hexon-chimeric recombinant Ad5 vectors
Authors: Yan Jingyi , Dong Jianing , Wu Jiaxin , Zhu Rui , Wang Zhen , Wang Baoming , Wang Lizheng , Wang Zixuan , Zhang Haihong , Wu Hui , Yu Bin , Kong Wei , Yu Xianghui
Published: March 2016

The immunogenicity of recombinant adenovirus serotype 5 (rAd5) vectors has been shown to be suppressed by neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) directed primarily against hexon hypervariable regions (HVRs). Preexisting immunity can be circumvented by replacing HVRs of rAd5 hexon with those derived from alternate adenovirus serotypes. However, chimeric modification of rAd5 hexon HVRs tends to cause low packaging efficiency or low proliferation of rAd5 vectors, but the related mechanism remains unclear. In this study, several Ad5-based vectors with precise replacement of HVRs with those derived from Ad37 and Ad43 were generated. We first observed that a HVR-exchanged rAd5 vector displayed a higher efficacy of the recombinant virus rescue and growth improvement compared with the rAd5 vector, although most hexon-chimeric rAd5 vectors constructed by us and other groups have proven to be nonviable or growth defective. We therefore evaluated the structural stability of the chimeric hexons and their interactions with the L4-100K chaperone. We showed that the viability of hexon-chimeric Ad5 vectors was not attributed to the structural stability of the chimeric hexon, but rather to the hexon maturation which was assisted by L4-100K. Our results suggested that the intricate interaction between hexon and L4-100K would determine the virus rescue and proliferation efficiency of hexon-chimeric rAd5 vectors.
Deciphering DNA replication dynamics in eukaryotic cell populations in relation with their averaged chromatin conformations
Authors: Goldar A. , Arneodo A. , Audit B. , Argoul F. , Rappailles A. , Guilbaud G. , Petryk N. , Kahli M. , Hyrien O.
Published: March 2016

We propose a non-local model of DNA replication that takes into account the observed uncertainty on the position and time of replication initiation in eukaryote cell populations. By picturing replication initiation as a two-state system and considering all possible transition configurations and by taking into account the chromatin’s fractal dimension, we derive an analytical expression for the rate of replication initiation. This model predicts with no free parameter the temporal profiles of initiation rate, replication fork density and fraction of replicated DNA, in quantitative agreement with corresponding experimental data from both S. cerevisiae and human cells and provides a quantitative estimate of initiation site redundancy. This study shows that, to a large extent, the program that regulates the dynamics of eukaryotic DNA replication is a collective phenomenon that emerges from the stochastic nature of replication origins initiation.
Six Susceptible-Infected-Susceptible Models on Scale-free Networks
Authors: Morita Satoru
Published: March 2016

Spreading phenomena are ubiquitous in nature and society. For example, disease and information spread over underlying social and information networks. It is well known that there is no threshold for spreading models on scale-free networks; this suggests that spread can occur on such networks, regardless of how low the contact rate may be. In this paper, I consider six models with different contact and propagation mechanisms, which include models studied so far, but are apt to be confused. To compare these six models, I analyze them by degree-based mean-field theory. I find that the result depends on the details of contact and propagation mechanism.
Neurophysiological responses to unpleasant stimuli (acute electrical stimulations and emotional pictures) are increased in patients with schizophrenia
Authors: Duval Céline Z. , Goumon Yannick , Kemmel Véronique , Kornmeier Jürgen , Dufour André , Andlauer Olivier , Vidailhet Pierre , Poisbeau Pierrick , Salvat Eric , Muller André , Mensah-Nyagan Ayikoé G. , Schmidt-Mutter Catherine , Giersch Anne
Published: March 2016

Patients with schizophrenia have often been described as insensitive to nociceptive signals, but objective evidence is sparse. We address this question by combining subjective behavioral and objective neurochemical and neurophysiological measures. The present study involved 21 stabilized and mildly symptomatic patients with schizophrenia and 21 control subjects. We applied electrical stimulations below the pain threshold and assessed sensations of pain and unpleasantness with rating scales, and Somatosensory Evoked Potentials (SEPs/EEG). We also measured attention, two neurochemical stress indices (ACTH/cortisol), and subjective VEPs/EEG responses to visual emotional stimuli. Our results revealed that, subjectively, patients’ evaluations do not differ from controls. However, the amplitude of EEG evoked potentials was greater in patients than controls as early as 50 ms after electrical stimulations and beyond one second after visual processing of emotional pictures. Such responses could not be linked to the stress induced by the stimulations, since stress hormone levels were stable. Nor was there a difference between patients and controls in respect of attention performance and tactile sensitivity. Taken together, all indices measured in patients in our study were either heightened or equivalent relative to healthy volunteers.
The Prevalence and Distribution of Neurodegenerative Compound-Producing Soil Streptomyces spp.
Authors: Watkins Anna L. , Ray Arpita , R. Roberts Lindsay , Caldwell Kim A. , Olson Julie B.
Published: March 2016

Recent work from our labs demonstrated that a metabolite(s) from the soil bacterium Streptomyces venezuelae caused dopaminergic neurodegeneration in Caenorhabditis elegans and human neuroblastoma cells. To evaluate the capacity for metabolite production by naturally occurring streptomycetes in Alabama soils, Streptomyces were isolated from soils under different land uses (agriculture, undeveloped, and urban). More isolates were obtained from agricultural than undeveloped soils; there was no significant difference in the number of isolates from urban soils. The genomic diversity of the isolates was extremely high, with only 112 of the 1509 isolates considered clones. A subset was examined for dopaminergic neurodegeneration in the previously established C. elegans model; 28.3% of the tested Streptomyces spp. caused dopaminergic neurons to degenerate. Notably, the Streptomyces spp. isolates from agricultural soils showed more individual neuron damage than isolates from undeveloped or urban soils. These results suggest a common environmental toxicant(s) within the Streptomyces genus that causes dopaminergic neurodegeneration. It could also provide a possible explanation for diseases such as Parkinson’s disease (PD), which is widely accepted to have both genetic and environmental factors.
Differential root transcriptomics in a polyploid non-model crop: the importance of respiration during osmotic stress
Authors: Zorrilla-Fontanesi Yasmín , Rouard Mathieu , Cenci Alberto , Kissel Ewaut , Do Hien , Dubois Emeric , Nidelet Sabine , Roux Nicolas , Swennen Rony , Carpentier Sebastien Christian
Published: March 2016

To explore the transcriptomic global response to osmotic stress in roots, 18 mRNA-seq libraries were generated from three triploid banana genotypes grown under mild osmotic stress (5% PEG) and control conditions. Illumina sequencing produced 568 million high quality reads, of which 70–84% were mapped to the banana diploid reference genome. Using different uni- and multivariate statistics, 92 genes were commonly identified as differentially expressed in the three genotypes. Using our in house workflow to analyze GO enriched and underlying biochemical pathways, we present the general processes affected by mild osmotic stress in the root and focus subsequently on the most significantly overrepresented classes associated with: respiration, glycolysis and fermentation. We hypothesize that in fast growing and oxygen demanding tissues, mild osmotic stress leads to a lower energy level, which induces a metabolic shift towards (i) a higher oxidative respiration, (ii) alternative respiration and (iii) fermentation. To confirm the mRNA-seq results, a subset of twenty up-regulated transcripts were further analysed by RT-qPCR in an independent experiment at three different time points. The identification and annotation of this set of genes provides a valuable resource to understand the importance of energy sensing during mild osmotic stress.
In vitro model of bone to facilitate measurement of adhesion forces and super-resolution imaging of osteoclasts
Authors: Deguchi Takahiro , Alanne Maria H. , Fazeli Elnaz , Fagerlund Katja M. , Pennanen Paula , Lehenkari Petri , Hänninen Pekka E. , Peltonen Juha , Näreoja Tuomas
Published: March 2016

To elucidate processes in the osteoclastic bone resorption, visualise resorption and related actin reorganisation, a combination of imaging technologies and an applicablein vitromodel is needed. Nanosized bone powder from matching species is deposited on any biocompatible surface in order to form a thin, translucent, smooth and elastic representation of injured bone. Osteoclasts cultured on the layer expressed matching morphology to ones cultured on sawed cortical bone slices. Resorption pits were easily identified by reflectance microscopy. The coating allowed actin structures on the bone interface to be visualised with super-resolution microscopy along with a detailed interlinked actin networks and actin branching in conjunction with V-ATPase, dynamin and Arp2/3 at actin patches. Furthermore, we measured the timescale of an adaptive osteoclast adhesion to bone by force spectroscopy experiments on live osteoclasts with bone-coated AFM cantilevers. Utilising thein vitromodel and the advanced imaging technologies we localised immunofluorescence signals in respect to bone with high precision and detected resorption at its early stages. Put together, our data supports a cyclic model for resorption in human osteoclasts.
Macrophage activation and polarization modify P2X7 receptor secretome influencing the inflammatory process
Authors: de Torre-Minguela Carlos , Barberà-Cremades Maria , Gómez Ana I. , Martín-Sánchez Fátima , Pelegrín Pablo
Published: March 2016

The activation of P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) on M1 polarized macrophages induces the assembly of the NLRP3 inflammasome leading to the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the establishment of the inflammatory response. However, P2X7R signaling to the NLRP3 inflammasome is uncoupled on M2 macrophages without changes on receptor activation. In this study, we analyzed P2X7R secretome in wild-type and P2X7R-deficient macrophages polarized either to M1 or M2 and proved that proteins released after P2X7R stimulation goes beyond caspase-1 secretome. The characterization of P2X7R-secretome reveals a new function of this receptor through a fine-tuning of protein release. We found that P2X7R stimulation in macrophages is able to release potent anti-inflammatory proteins, such as Annexin A1, independently of their polarization state suggesting for first time a potential role for P2X7R during resolution of the inflammation and not linked to the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. These results are of prime importance for the development of therapeutics targeting P2X7R.
Indole-3-Acetic Acid Produced by Burkholderia heleia Acts as a Phenylacetic Acid Antagonist to Disrupt Tropolone Biosynthesis in Burkholderia plantarii
Authors: Wang Mengcen , Tachibana Seiji , Murai Yuta , Li Li , Lau Sharon Yu Ling , Cao Mengchao , Zhu Guonian , Hashimoto Makoto , Hashidoko Yasuyuki
Published: March 2016

Burkholderia heleia PAK1-2 is a potent biocontrol agent isolated from rice rhizosphere, as it prevents bacterial rice seedling blight disease caused by Burkholderia plantarii. Here, we isolated a non-antibacterial metabolite from the culture fluid of B. heleia PAK1-2 that was able to suppress B. plantarii virulence and subsequently identified as indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). IAA suppressed the production of tropolone in B. plantarii in a dose-dependent manner without any antibacterial and quorum quenching activity, suggesting that IAA inhibited steps of tropolone biosynthesis. Consistent with this, supplementing cultures of B. plantarii with either L-[ring-2H5]phenylalanine or [ring-2H2~5]phenylacetic acid revealed that phenylacetic acid (PAA), which is the dominant metabolite during the early growth stage, is a direct precursor of tropolone. Exposure of B. plantarii to IAA suppressed production of both PAA and tropolone. These data particularly showed that IAA produced by B. heleia PAK1-2 disrupts tropolone production during bioconversion of PAA to tropolone via the ring-rearrangement on the phenyl group of the precursor to attenuate the virulence of B. plantarii. B. heleia PAK1-2 is thus likely a microbial community coordinating bacterium in rhizosphere ecosystems, which never eliminates phytopathogens but only represses production of phytotoxins or bacteriocidal substances.
Deciphering the Potential Pharmaceutical Mechanism of Chinese Traditional Medicine (Gui-Zhi-Shao-Yao-Zhi-Mu) on Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Huang Lin , Lv Qi , Xie Duoli , Shi Tieliu , Wen Chengping
Published: March 2016

Gui-Zhi-Shao-Yao-Zhi-Mu (GSZ) decoction is a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formula commonly used for the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). The therapeutic effect of GSZ for RA treatment is supported by our clinical retrospective study. To uncover the potential mechanism underlying GSZ formula, we identified 1,327 targets of 673 compounds from 9 herbs that involve in Fc epsilon RI signaling pathway and regulation of immunoglobulin production. Comparison between formula targets with 79 RA drug targets and 675 RA disease genes showed that formula targets covered 31.6% RA drug targets and 19.9% RA disease genes. Formula specific targets presented expression patterns highly similar to the disease genes and drug targets based on the expression profiles of RA samples. Investigation of 10 inferred gene clusters from expression profiles with a target association network revealed that formula specific targets directly or indirectly interacted with disease genes that were essential for immune related biological processes (e.g. inflammatory responses, treatment response of rheumatoid arthritis, etc.). Our result indicated that GSZ disrupted the RA disease dysfunction modules and restored homeostasis in the human body. The systemic approach to infer therapeutic mechanisms of GSZ for RA treatment provides a new insight in the understanding of this TCM formula.
Dispersal of Bacillus subtilis and its effect on strawberry phyllosphere microbiota under open field and protection conditions
Authors: Wei Feng , Hu Xiaoping , Xu Xiangming
Published: March 2016

Using biological control agents (BCAs) is an essential component of integrated pest and diseases management. Despite much research on biocontrol of plant diseases, success in field crops has been limited with most successes being achieved in greenhouse cultivation. This lack of success is often attributed to the complex ecological processes involved in biocontrol. We used next generation sequencing (NGS) technology to study environmental fate of Bacillus subtilis, a widely used BCA, focusing on its dispersal aspect in open field and under protection. The dispersal of B. subtilis was very limited, particularly under protection. The reduction in the BCA population size was relatively small within 8 days; indeed, no overall reduction in the relative abundance was observed under the protected condition. These results suggested that limited dispersal is probably the main reason for its variable (and often low) control efficacy under field conditions. Thus to increase biocontrol efficacy, it is necessary to frequently apply this BCA with the application interval depending on the growth rate of target host tissues. Phyllosphere microbiota differed significantly between plants grown in open field and under protection but were not greatly affected by the introduced BCA.
Boosting water oxidation layer-by-layer
Authors: Hidalgo-Acosta Jonnathan C. , Scanlon Micheál D. , Méndez Manuel A. , Amstutz Véronique , Vrubel Heron , Opallo Marcin , Girault Hubert H.
Published: March 2016

Electrocatalysis of water oxidation was achieved using fluorinated tin oxide (FTO) electrodes modified with layer-by-layer deposited films consisting of bilayers of negatively charged citrate-stabilized IrO2 NPs and positively charged poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) polymer.
Effects of tensile strain on the peculiarities of PEO penetration into the nanoporous structure of PET deformed via the crazing mechanism
Authors: Rukhlya E. G. , Yarysheva L. M. , Volynskii A. L. , Bakeev N. F.
Published: March 2016

Solvent crazing involves the development of a highly dispersed fibrillar-porous structure with dimensions of pores and craze fibrils of about 2–20 nm, and crazing by itself can be treated as a universal method for the development of nanoscale porosity.
Selective oxidation of bulky organic sulphides over layered titanosilicate catalysts
Authors: Přech Jan , Morris Russell E. , Čejka Jiří
Published: March 2016

Selective oxidation of sulphides is a straightforward method of preparation of organic sulphoxides and sulphones. Bulky sulphides can be selectively oxidized using layered crystalline titanosilicate catalysts with H2O2as the oxidant.
Electronic communication in phosphine substituted bridged dirhenium complexes – clarifying ambiguities raised by the redox non-innocence of the C4H2- and C4-bridges
Authors: Li Yan , Blacque Olivier , Fox Thomas , Luber Sandra , Polit Walther , Winter Rainer F. , Venkatesan Koushik , Berke Heinz
Published: March 2016

Dinuclear rhenium complexes with C4H2- or C4- bridges can show open or closed shell structures.
Novel aluminum–BODIPY dyads: intriguing dual-emission via photoinduced energy transfer
Authors: Sohn Changho , Jeong Jisu , Lee Ji Hye , Choi Byung Hoon , Hwang Hyonseok , Bae Gyun-Tack , Lee Kang Mun , Park Myung Hwan
Published: March 2016

Three novel BODIPY-based heterodinuclear complexes were prepared and especially, salen-based aluminum–BODIPY dyads exhibited intramolecularly significant photoinduced energy transfer from aluminum–salen to the BODIPY group.
Lanthanide-based coordination compounds based on 4-(4-carboxyphenyl)-1,2,4-triazole: synthesis, structures, Hirshfeld surface and luminescence properties
Authors: Liu Qing-Ling , Yang Li-Jing , Luo Yang-Hui , Sun Bai-Wang
Published: March 2016

Four compounds with dinuclear, 1-D and 2-D frameworks have been synthesized. Their Hirshfeld surface and luminescence properties were studied.
Fabrication of g-C3N4/Au/CdZnS Z-scheme photocatalyst to enhance photocatalysis performance
Authors: Ma Xiumin , Jiang Quantong , Guo Weimin , Zheng Meng , Xu Weichen , Ma Fubin , Hou Baorong
Published: March 2016

Sandwich-structured C3N4/Au/CdZnS photocatalyst.
Atomically precise and monolayer protected iridium clusters in solution
Authors: Bhat Shridevi , Chakraborty Indranath , Maark Tuhina Adit , Mitra Anuradha , De Goutam , Pradeep Thalappil
Published: March 2016

The first atomically precise and monolayer protected iridium cluster in solution, Ir9(PET)6(PET – 2-phenyethanethiol) was synthesizedviaa solid state method.
Magnetic impurities in single-walled carbon nanotubes and graphene: a review
Authors: Vejpravova J. , Pacakova B. , Kalbac M.
Published: March 2016

A review on magnetic impurities in single-walled carbon nanotubes and graphene: purification and detection of impurities and impurity-induced magnetism.
Correction: New fluorescent probe for Zn2+ imaging in living cells and plants
Authors: Shen Rong , Liu Di , Hou Chenchen , Cheng Ju , Bai Decheng
Published: March 2016

Correction for ‘New fluorescent probe for Zn2+ imaging in living cells and plants’ by Rong Shen et al., Anal. Methods, 2016, 8, 83–88.
2-Positional pyrene end-capped oligothiophenes for high performance organic field effect transistors
Authors: Oniwa Kazuaki , Kikuchi Hiromasa , Shimotani Hidekazu , Ikeda Susumu , Asao Naoki , Yamamoto Yoshinori , Tanigaki Katsumi , Jin Tienan
Published: March 2016

A new co-oligomer BPy2T with two 2-positional pyrenes as terminal groups and bithiophene as a central unit showed a high hole mobility of 3.3 cm2 V−1 s−1 in a single crystal field effect transistor.
Friction and adhesion mediated by supramolecular host–guest complexes
Authors: Guerra Roberto , Benassi Andrea , Vanossi Andrea , Ma Ming , Urbakh Michael
Published: March 2016

The adhesive and frictional response of an AFM tip connected to a substrate through supramolecular host–guest complexes is investigated by dynamic Monte Carlo simulations.
C(sp3)–H bond functionalization by sequential hydride transfer/cyclization: electronic effect and steric effect controlled regioselectivity
Authors: Wang Liang , Xiao Jian
Published: March 2016

The electronic effect and steric effect have a dramatic impact on the fascinating cascade [1,n]-hydride transfer/cyclization. The regioselectivity of two potential hydrogen donors could be perfectly tuned to construct different skeletons.
Preparation of highly porous carbon from sustainable α-cellulose for superior removal performance of tetracycline and sulfamethazine from water
Authors: He Jinsong , Dai Jiangdong , Zhang Tao , Sun Jun , Xie Atian , Tian Sujun , Yan Yongsheng , Huo Pengwei
Published: March 2016

Hierarchical carbon materials with ultrahigh specific surface area were synthesized by KOH activation from sustainable α-cellulose and employed as adsorbents for the effective removal of tetracycline (TC) and sulfamethazine (SMZ) from water.
Rab14 limits the sorting of Glut4 from endosomes into insulin-sensitive regulated secretory compartments in adipocytes
Authors: Brewer Paul Duffield , Habtemichael Estifanos N. , Romenskaia Irina , Coster Adelle C.F. , Mastick Cynthia Corley
Published: March 2016

Insulin increases glucose uptake by increasing the rate of exocytosis of the facilitative glucose transporter isoform 4 (Glut4) relative to its endocytosis. Insulin also releases Glut4 from highly insulin-regulated secretory compartments (GSVs or Glut4 storage vesicles) into constitutively cycling endosomes. Previously it was shown that both overexpression and knockdown of the small GTP-binding protein Rab14 decreased Glut4 translocation to the plasma membrane (PM). To determine the mechanism of this perturbation, we measured the effects of Rab14 knockdown on the trafficking kinetics of Glut4 relative to two proteins that partially co-localize with Glut4, the transferrin (Tf) receptor and low-density-lipoprotein-receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1). Our data support the hypothesis that Rab14 limits sorting of proteins from sorting (or ‘early’) endosomes into the specialized GSV pathway, possibly through regulation of endosomal maturation. This hypothesis is consistent with known Rab14 effectors. Interestingly, the insulin-sensitive Rab GTPase-activating protein Akt substrate of 160 kDa (AS160) affects both sorting into and exocytosis from GSVs. It has previously been shown that exocytosis of GSVs is rate-limited by Rab10, and both Rab10 and Rab14 are in vitro substrates of AS160. Regulation of both entry into and exit from GSVs by AS160 through sequential Rab substrates would provide a mechanism for the finely tuned ‘quantal’ increases in cycling Glut4 observed in response to increasing concentrations of insulin.
ATP increases the migration of microglia across the brain endothelial cell monolayer
Authors: Maeda Tomoji , Inagaki Manato , Fujita Yu , Kimoto Takehiro , Tanabe-Fujimura Chiaki , Zou Kun , Liu Junjun , Liu Shuyu , Komano Hiroto
Published: March 2016

The cerebral microcapillary endothelium, known as the blood–brain barrier (BBB), acts as a barrier between the blood and the interstitial fluid of the brain. The BBB therefore controls the passage of nutrients into the central nervous system (CNS). Microglia show a specific affinity for migration into the CNS, and this migration appears to occur independently of BBB integrity. To study the migration of microglia across the BBB, we developed an in vitro co-culture system of mouse brain endothelial cells (MBECs) and Ra2 microglia using Transwell inserts. We first investigated the influence of microglia or ATP, a microglial chemotactic factor, on MBEC barrier integrity. The addition of microglia or ATP led to the disruption of the MBEC monolayer and significantly decreased barrier function as measured by trans-endothelial electrical resistance (TEER) and electric cell–substrate impedance sensing (ECIS). Furthermore, ATP promoted the migration of microglia but not macrophages across the MBEC monolayer. An inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) decreased the transmigration of microglia in our system, indicating that MMPs play a role in microglial chemotaxis. We specifically identify a role for microglia-derived MMP-2. In conclusion, we offer evidence that microglia migration across the brain endothelial cell monolayer is increased in the presence of ATP in a manner that involves MMP secretion.
Long‐term stable 60 GHz optical two‐tone signal by destructive optical interference obtained from RF phase adjustment
Authors: Chiba A. , Akamatsu Y. , Takada K.
Published: March 2016

An optical two‐tone signal with 60 GHz frequency spacing is experimentally demonstrated, by sinusoidally modulating two lightwaves with different modulation indices and RF phases. By superposing two modulation lightwaves with orthogonal polarisation, polarisation orthogonality is achieved between undesired low‐order optical sidebands and the desired high‐order optical sidebands together with the incident light‐wave. This enables us to suppress the undesired sidebands using polarisers instead of optical filter. Such operation has been implemented using optical modulator possessing RF ports for external termination, which is nested in one mode of polarisation‐maintaining Sagnac interferometer (PMSI). This implementation is equivalent to optical single‐sideband modulator, but required nested Mach–Zehnder structure is just one. Owing to this reduction together with use of one mode in PMSI, long‐term stable operation more than 6 h has been successfully obtained, with 29 dB suppression ratio of undesired first‐order sidebands against desired third‐order optical sidebands.
Latency probability estimation of non‐linear systems with one‐step randomly delayed measurements
Authors: Huang Yulong , Zhang Yonggang , Li Ning
Published: March 2016

In this study, the authors focus on estimating the unknown constant latency probability of non‐linear systems with one‐step randomly delayed measurements using maximum likelihood (ML) criterion. A new latency probability estimation algorithm is proposed based on an expectation maximisation approach to obtain an approximate ML estimation of latency probability. The proposed algorithm consists of expectation step (E‐step) and the maximisation step (M‐step). In the E‐step, the expectation of the complete data log‐likelihood function is approximately computed based on the currently estimated latency probability, and in the M‐step, the approximate expectation is maximised using the Newton approach. The efficacy of the proposed algorithm is illustrated in a numerical example concerning univariate non‐stationary growth model.
Flocking of multi‐agent systems with multiple second‐order uncoupled linear dynamics and virtual leader
Authors: Yazdani Sahar , Haeri Mohammad
Published: March 2016

In this study, flocking of multi‐agent systems with virtual leader and linear dynamics is investigated. It is assumed that the dynamics of agents in each dimension is represented by a general second‐order linear model. The proposed control protocol is composed of two terms, one for feed backing each agent's states and one for cooperative control. At first, the flocking problem of multi‐agent systems with identical agents is discussed and then the proposed protocol is generalised to flock heterogeneous multi‐agent systems. Under the proposed algorithm, the velocity convergence of whole group to a velocity of virtual leader is guaranteed while the connectivity of network is preserved and collision among agents is avoided. Some simulation results are presented to verify the validity of the theoretical results.
Online learning of mixture experts for real‐time tracking
Authors: Gu S. , Ma Z. , Xie M. , Chen Z.
Published: March 2016

Template tracking has been extensively investigated in computer vision to track objects for various applications. Tracking based on gradient descent algorithm using image gradient is one of the most popular object tracking method. However, it is difficult to define the relationship between the observed data set and the warping function due to the unobserved heterogeneity of the data set which inevitably results in poor tracking performance. This study proposes a novel method based on hierarchical mixture of expert to perform robust, real‐time tracking from stationary cameras. By extending the idea of hyperplane approximation, the proposed approach establishes a hierarchical mixture of generalised linear regression model instead of a single model which reduces the non‐linear error. The experiments’ results show significant improvement over the traditional hyperplane approximation (HA) approach.
Two‐dimension principal component analysis‐based motion detection framework with subspace update of background
Authors: Zhou Zongwei , Jin Zhong
Published: March 2016

Object detection plays a critical role for automatic video analysis in many vision applications. Background subtraction has been the mainstream in the field of moving objects detection. However, most of state‐of‐the‐art techniques of background subtraction operate on each pixel independently ignoring the global features of images. A motion detection method based on subspace update of background is proposed in this study. This method uses a subspace spanned by the principal components of background sequence to characterise the background and integrates the regional continuity of objects to segment the foreground. To deal with changes in the background geometry, a learning factor is introduced into the authors’ model to update the subspace timely. Additionally, to reduce computational complexity, they use two‐dimension principal component analysis (PCA) rather than traditional PCA to obtain the principal components of background. Experiments demonstrate that the update policy is effective and in most cases this proposed method can achieve better results than others compared in this study.
Fractional order equivalent series resistance modelling of electrolytic capacitor and fractional order failure prediction with application to predictive maintenance
Authors: Malek Hadi , Dadras Sara , Chen Yangquan
Published: March 2016

Being one of the most used passive components in power electronics, electrolytic capacitors have the shortest life span due to their wear‐out failure which is mainly caused by vaporisation and deterioration of capacitor electrolyte. Knowing these two phenomena increase equivalent series resistance (ESR) of the capacitor, tracking ESR value over the system operating time can be a good indicator for state of health of an electrolytic capacitor. To set the maintenance schedule, various ESR monitoring algorithms have been investigated in literature. These classical real‐time algorithms lead the maintenance program to be either risky if the prediction is longer than the actual life‐time or more expensive if it is shorter than the actual life span. This study presents a generalised equivalent model using fractional order (FO) element for electrolytic capacitor to estimate the ESR and impedance of faultless running capacitor. Furthermore, a novel failure predictive model using Mittag‐Leffler function is proposed to track the ESR increment and estimate the failure time. Hence, the predictive maintenance of the system with capacitors nearing their failure time can be set more precisely. These two FO models are compared against classical ESR and life‐time prediction models to illustrate the enhanced performances of the proposed models.
Peak demand shaving and load‐levelling using a combination of bin packing and subset sum algorithms for electrical energy storage system scheduling
Authors: Agamah Simon U. , Ekonomou Lambros
Published: March 2016

An algorithm that uses demand profile information and a minimal set of energy storage system (ESS) parameters is formulated in this study for obtaining ESS operation schedules to achieve peak demand shaving and load‐levelling. The algorithm is developed by formulating an electricity demand profile and ESS as a combination of the one‐dimensional bin packing problem and the subset sum problem using sets of mathematical equations. The electrical system undergoes specific transformations in the charging and discharging phases of the ESS and heuristic algorithms for solving these problems are applied to obtain a viable operation schedule to meet these objectives. A comparative analysis with another algorithm is presented for verification. Results for a case study are also presented alongside a discussion to show a practical application of the algorithm.
Laser propagation and soliton generation in strongly magnetized plasmas
Authors: Feng W. , Li J. Q. , Kishimoto Y.
Published: March 2016

The propagation characteristics of various laser modes with different polarization, as well as the soliton generation in strongly magnetized plasmas are studied numerically through one-dimensional (1D) particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations and analytically by solving the laser wave equation. PIC simulations show that the laser heating efficiency substantially depends on the magnetic field strength, the propagation modes of the laser pulse and their intensities. Generally, large amplitude laser can efficiently heat the plasma with strong magnetic field. Theoretical analyses on the linear propagation of the laser pulse in both under-dense and over-dense magnetized plasmas are well confirmed by the numerical observations. Most interestingly, it is found that a standing or moving soliton with frequency lower than the laser frequency is generated in certain magnetic field strength and laser intensity range, which can greatly enhance the laser heating efficiency. The range of magnetic field strength for the right-hand circularly polarized (RCP) soliton formation with high and low frequencies is identified by solving the soliton equations including the contribution of ion's motion and the finite temperature effects under the quasi-neutral approximation. In the limit of immobile ions, the RCP soliton tends to be peaked and stronger as the magnetic field increases, while the enhanced soliton becomes broader as the temperature increases. These findings in 1D model are well validated by 2D simulations.