bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Compositional Characteristics of Fluvial Particulate Organic Matter Exported From the World's Largest Alpine Wetland
Authors: Dai Guohua , Zhu Erxiong , Liu Zongguang , Wang Yiyun , Zhu Shanshan , Wang Simin , Ma Tian , Jia Juan , Wang Xin , Hou Shengjie , Fu Pingqing , Peterse Francien , Feng Xiaojuan
Published: August 2019

Wetlands are hot spots for particulate organic matter (POM) supply into rivers, which link the land‐ocean transfer in the global carbon cycle. However, the source, composition, and seasonal variability of POM carried by wetland‐draining rivers are poorly constrained. Here we combine bulk and source‐specific biomarker analyses to investigate the fluvial POM biogeochemistry of the Black and White Rivers draining from the Zoige wetland. We find that POM was dominated by terrestrial organic matter including high‐molecular‐weight (HMW) lipids, branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers, and lignin phenols. However, fluvial POM was rich in HMW lipids and poor in lignin phenols compared to the catchment soils, possibly due to hydrodynamic sorting and dissolution processes. While lignin phenol concentrations were higher in the wet season, HMW lipid concentrations were lower. Additionally, lignin phenols increased with total suspended solids, while HMW lipids decrease. These contrasts imply an enhanced input of lignin‐rich particles from soil surface layers in the wet season, diluting HMW lipids. Compared with that in other rivers around the world with a higher forest coverage in the catchment, POM in the Black and White Rivers draining grass‐dominated wetlands had a much higher ratio of HMW fatty acids to lignin phenols. Our results represent a benchmark study highlighting compositional characteristics of fluvial POM exported from the Zoige wetland and the divergent behavior of molecular components during fluvial transfer. Such information is vital for assessing future changes in the Zoige wetland, given its high vulnerability to climatic and land use changes.
Does an Early Spring Indicate an Early Summer? Relationships Between Intraseasonal Growing Degree Day Thresholds
Authors: Crimmins M. A. , Crimmins T. M.
Published: August 2019

Spring heat accumulation plays a major role in the timing of events such as leaf‐out, leaf expansion, flowering, and insect hatch in temperate systems. Accordingly, heat accumulation can serve as a proxy for the timing of plant and insect phenological activity and can be used in a predictive way when the timing of heat accumulation thresholds being reached can be anticipated. This has strong value for a host of planning and management applications. If relationships exist between earlier‐ and later‐season thresholds at a location, then the timing of later‐season phenological events that are forced by the accumulation of warmth could be anticipated based on when earlier‐season thresholds are met. Using high‐resolution daily temperature data, we calculated the coherence in pairs of spring‐season heat accumulation (growing degree day) threshold anomalies over 1948–2016. Overall, relationships between thresholds spanning the entire spring season were relatively low, while later season thresholds exhibited much higher correlations. This pattern is generally the result of decreasing variability in heat accumulation with season progression. However, correlation strengths did not follow latitudinal or gradients, revealing that within‐season heat accumulation and interannual variability in threshold timing are unique to the specified base temperature and thresholds being compared. We show that the relationships between earlier‐ and later‐season heat accumulation thresholds were sufficient to accurately predict the timing of phenological events in plants in two case examples.
Application of Individual Foraminifera Mg/Ca and δ18O Analyses for Paleoceanographic Reconstructions in Active Depositional Environments
Authors: Fritz‐Endres Theresa , Dekens Petra S. , Fehrenbacher Jennifer , Spero Howard J. , Stine Alexander
Published: August 2019

Marine and terrestrial material deposited together in Integrated Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 354 cores in the Bay of Bengal offer the opportunity to link the evolution of monsoonal climate and tectonic erosional history. We test the utility of foraminiferal climate reconstructions in this active depositional environment in which turbidity currents transport material to Expedition 354 sites and may mix foraminiferal shells from higher up on the Bengal Fan with local shells. Mg/Ca and δ18O in ~80 modern (<1 kyr) individual Trilobatus sacculifer specimens reconstruct seasonal sea surface temperature (SST) and sea surface salinity (SSS) at three locations: lower fan Expedition 354 Site U1454 near the modern active channel and more likely to be influenced by turbidity currents, lower fan Expedition 354 Site U1449 far from channel activity, and Site 342KL on the continental slope. Because the lower Bengal Fan locations have less seasonally variable SST and SSS than conditions closer to the continental slope, we can determine if foraminiferal populations are local or have been transported from a distal source. Mg/Ca and δ18O from Site U1449 are not likely to be affected by turbidity currents and reflect local conditions. In contrast, Mg/Ca and δ18O from Site U1454 show strong evidence that foraminifera from the active channel record a mixture of local conditions and distal conditions recorded at higher latitudes. Our results suggest that foraminifera can be used to reconstruct SST and δ18O in this complex depositional environment, but caution must be taken when the downcore lithology indicates turbidites and possible sediment transport.
Baltic Sea methanogens compete with acetogens for electrons from metallic iron
Authors: Palacios Paola Andrea , Snoeyenbos-West Oona , Löscher Carolin Regina , Thamdrup Bo , Rotaru Amelia-Elena
Published: August 2019

Microbially induced corrosion of metallic iron (Fe0)-containing structures is an environmental and economic hazard. Methanogens are abundant in low-sulfide environments and yet their specific role in Fe0 corrosion is poorly understood. In this study, Sporomusa and Methanosarcina dominated enrichments from Baltic Sea methanogenic sediments that were established with Fe0 as the sole electron donor and CO2 as the electron acceptor. The Baltic-Sporomusa was phylogenetically affiliated to the electroactive acetogen S. silvacetica. Baltic-Sporomusa adjusted rapidly to growth on H2. On Fe0, spent filtrate enhanced growth of this acetogen suggesting that it was using endogenous enzymes to retrieve electrons and produce acetate. Previous studies have proposed that acetate produced by acetogens can feed commensal acetoclastic methanogens such as Methanosarcina. However, Baltic-methanogens could not generate methane from acetate, plus the decrease or absence of acetogens stimulated their growth. The decrease in numbers of Sporomusa was concurrent with an upsurge in Methanosarcina and increased methane production, suggesting that methanogens compete with acetogens for electrons from Fe0. Furthermore, Baltic-methanogens were unable to use H2 (1.5 atm) for methanogenesis and were inhibited by spent filtrate additions, indicating that enzymatically produced H2 is not a favorable electron donor. We hypothesize that Baltic-methanogens retrieve electrons from Fe0 via a yet enigmatic direct electron uptake mechanism.
Orthogonal monoterpenoid biosynthesis in yeast constructed on an isomeric substrate
Authors: Ignea Codruta , Raadam Morten H. , Motawia Mohammed S. , Makris Antonios M. , Vickers Claudia E. , Kampranis Sotirios C.
Published: August 2019

Synthetic biology efforts for the production of valuable chemicals are frequently hindered by the structure and regulation of the native metabolic pathways of the chassis. This is particularly evident in the case of monoterpenoid production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, where the canonical terpene precursor geranyl diphosphate is tightly coupled to the biosynthesis of isoprenoid compounds essential for yeast viability. Here, we establish a synthetic orthogonal monoterpenoid pathway based on an alternative precursor, neryl diphosphate. We identify structural determinants of isomeric substrate selectivity in monoterpene synthases and engineer five different enzymes to accept the alternative substrate with improved efficiency and specificity. We combine the engineered enzymes with dynamic regulation of metabolic flux to harness the potential of the orthogonal substrate and improve the production of industrially-relevant monoterpenes by several-fold compared to the canonical pathway. This approach highlights the introduction of synthetic metabolism as an effective strategy for high-value compound production.
Detonation synthesis of carbon nano-onions via liquid carbon condensation
Authors: Bagge-Hansen M. , Bastea S. , Hammons J. A. , Nielsen M. H. , Lauderbach L. M. , Hodgin R. L. , Pagoria P. , May C. , Aloni S. , Jones A. , Shaw W. L. , Bukovsky E. V. , Sinclair N. , Gustavsen R. L. , Watkins E. B. , Jensen B. J. , Dattelbaum D. M. , Firestone M. A. , Huber R. C. , Ringstrand B. S. , Lee J. R. I. , van Buuren T. , Fried L. E. , Willey T. M.
Published: August 2019

Transit through the carbon liquid phase has significant consequences for the subsequent formation of solid nanocarbon detonation products. We report dynamic measurements of liquid carbon condensation and solidification into nano-onions over ∽200 ns by analysis of time-resolved, small-angle X-ray scattering data acquired during detonation of a hydrogen-free explosive, DNTF (3,4-bis(3-nitrofurazan-4-yl)furoxan). Further, thermochemical modeling predicts a direct liquid to solid graphite phase transition for DNTF products ~200 ns post-detonation. Solid detonation products were collected and characterized by high-resolution electron microscopy to confirm the abundance of carbon nano-onions with an average diameter of ∽10 nm, matching the dynamic measurements. We analyze other carbon-rich explosives by similar methods to systematically explore different regions of the carbon phase diagram traversed during detonation. Our results suggest a potential pathway to the efficient production of carbon nano-onions, while offering insight into the phase transformation kinetics of liquid carbon under extreme pressures and temperatures.
Multi-level patterning nucleic acid photolithography
Authors: Hölz Kathrin , Schaudy Erika , Lietard Jory , Somoza Mark M.
Published: August 2019

The versatile and tunable self-assembly properties of nucleic acids and engineered nucleic acid constructs make them invaluable in constructing microscale and nanoscale devices, structures and circuits. Increasing the complexity, functionality and ease of assembly of such constructs, as well as interfacing them to the macroscopic world requires a multifaceted and programmable fabrication approach that combines efficient and spatially resolved nucleic acid synthesis with multiple post-synthetic chemical and enzymatic modifications. Here we demonstrate a multi-level photolithographic patterning approach that starts with large-scale in situ surface synthesis of natural, modified or chimeric nucleic acid molecular structures and is followed by chemical and enzymatic nucleic acid modifications and processing. The resulting high-complexity, micrometer-resolution nucleic acid surface patterns include linear and branched structures, multi-color fluorophore labeling and programmable targeted oligonucleotide immobilization and cleavage.
Cell morphology and nucleoid dynamics in dividing Deinococcus radiodurans
Authors: Floc’h Kevin , Lacroix Françoise , Servant Pascale , Wong Yung-Sing , Kleman Jean-Philippe , Bourgeois Dominique , Timmins Joanna
Published: August 2019

Our knowledge of bacterial nucleoids originates mostly from studies of rod- or crescent-shaped bacteria. Here we reveal that Deinococcus radiodurans, a relatively large spherical bacterium with a multipartite genome, constitutes a valuable system for the study of the nucleoid in cocci. Using advanced microscopy, we show that D. radiodurans undergoes coordinated morphological changes at both the cellular and nucleoid level as it progresses through its cell cycle. The nucleoid is highly condensed, but also surprisingly dynamic, adopting multiple configurations and presenting an unusual arrangement in which oriC loci are radially distributed around clustered ter sites maintained at the cell centre. Single-particle tracking and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching studies of the histone-like HU protein suggest that its loose binding to DNA may contribute to this remarkable plasticity. These findings demonstrate that nucleoid organization is complex and tightly coupled to cell cycle progression in this organism.
Single-cell profiling guided combinatorial immunotherapy for fast-evolving CDK4/6 inhibitor-resistant HER2-positive breast cancer
Authors: Wang Qingfei , Guldner Ian H. , Golomb Samantha M. , Sun Longhua , Harris Jack A. , Lu Xin , Zhang Siyuan
Published: August 2019

Acquired resistance to targeted cancer therapy is a significant clinical challenge. In parallel with clinical trials combining CDK4/6 inhibitors to treat HER2+ breast cancer, we sought to prospectively model tumor evolution in response to this regimen in vivo and identify a clinically actionable strategy to combat drug resistance. Despite a promising initial response, acquired resistance emerges rapidly to the combination of anti-HER2/neu antibody and CDK4/6 inhibitor Palbociclib. Using high-throughput single-cell profiling over the course of treatments, we reveal a distinct immunosuppressive immature myeloid cell (IMC) population to infiltrate the resistant tumors. Guided by single-cell transcriptome analysis, we demonstrate that combination of IMC-targeting tyrosine kinase inhibitor cabozantinib and immune checkpoint blockade enhances anti-tumor immunity, and overcomes the resistance. Furthermore, sequential combinatorial immunotherapy enables a sustained control of the fast-evolving CDK4/6 inhibitor-resistant tumors. Our study demonstrates a translational framework for treating rapidly evolving tumors through preclinical modeling and single-cell analyses.
The regulatory landscape of a core maize domestication module controlling bud dormancy and growth repression
Authors: Dong Zhaobin , Xiao Yuguo , Govindarajulu Rajanikanth , Feil Regina , Siddoway Muriel L. , Nielsen Torrey , Lunn John E. , Hawkins Jennifer , Whipple Clinton , Chuck George
Published: August 2019

Many domesticated crop plants have been bred for increased apical dominance, displaying greatly reduced axillary branching compared to their wild ancestors. In maize, this was achieved through selection for a gain-of-function allele of the TCP transcription factor teosinte branched1 (tb1). The mechanism for how a dominant Tb1 allele increased apical dominance, is unknown. Through ChIP seq, RNA seq, hormone and sugar measurements on 1 mm axillary bud tissue, we identify the genetic pathways putatively regulated by TB1. These include pathways regulating phytohormones such as gibberellins, abscisic acid and jasmonic acid, but surprisingly, not auxin. In addition, metabolites involved in sugar sensing such as trehalose 6-phosphate were increased. This suggests that TB1 induces bud suppression through the production of inhibitory phytohormones and by reducing sugar levels and energy balance. Interestingly, TB1 also putatively targets several other domestication loci, including teosinte glume architecture1, prol1.1/grassy tillers1, as well as itself. This places tb1 on top of the domestication hierarchy, demonstrating its critical importance during the domestication of maize from teosinte.
Pioneer and nonpioneer factor cooperation drives lineage specific chromatin opening
Authors: Mayran Alexandre , Sochodolsky Kevin , Khetchoumian Konstantin , Harris Juliette , Gauthier Yves , Bemmo Amandine , Balsalobre Aurelio , Drouin Jacques
Published: August 2019

Pioneer transcription factors are characterized by having the unique property of enabling the opening of closed chromatin sites, for implementation of cell fates. We previously found that the pioneer Pax7 specifies melanotrope cells through deployment of an enhancer repertoire, which allows binding of Tpit, a nonpioneer factor that determines the related lineages of melanotropes and corticotropes. Here, we investigate the relation between these two factors in the pioneer mechanism. Cell-specific gene expression and chromatin landscapes are defined by scRNAseq and chromatin accessibility profiling. We find that in vivo deployment of the melanotrope enhancer repertoire and chromatin opening requires both Pax7 and Tpit. In cells, binding of heterochromatin targets by Pax7 is independent of Tpit but Pax7-dependent chromatin opening requires Tpit. The present work shows that pioneer core properties are limited to the ability to recognize heterochromatin targets and facilitate nonpioneer binding. Chromatin opening per se may be provided through cooperation with nonpioneer factors.
Development of a SFTSV DNA vaccine that confers complete protection against lethal infection in ferrets
Authors: Kwak Jeong-Eun , Kim Young-Il , Park Su-Jin , Yu Min-Ah , Kwon Hyeok-Il , Eo Sukyeong , Kim Tae-Shin , Seok Joon , Choi Won-Suk , Jeong Ju Hwan , Lee Hyojin , Cho Youngran , Kwon Jin Ah , Jeong Moonsup , Maslow Joel N. , Kim Yong-Eun , Jeon Haili , Kim Kee K. , Shin Eui-Cheol , Song Min-Suk , Jung Jae U. , Choi Young Ki , Park Su-Hyung
Published: August 2019

Although the incidence of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) infection has increased from its discovery with a mortality rate of 10–20%, no effective vaccines are currently available. Here we describe the development of a SFTSV DNA vaccine, its immunogenicity, and its protective efficacy. Vaccine candidates induce both a neutralizing antibody response and multifunctional SFTSV-specific T cell response in mice and ferrets. When the vaccine efficacy is investigated in aged-ferrets that recapitulate fatal clinical symptoms, vaccinated ferrets are completely protected from lethal SFTSV challenge without developing any clinical signs. A serum transfer study reveals that anti-envelope antibodies play an important role in protective immunity. Our results suggest that Gn/Gc may be the most effective antigens for inducing protective immunity and non-envelope-specific T cell responses also can contribute to protection against SFTSV infection. This study provides important insights into the development of an effective vaccine, as well as corresponding immune parameters, to control SFTSV infection.
The grain yield modulator miR156 regulates seed dormancy through the gibberellin pathway in rice
Authors: Miao Chunbo , Wang Zhen , Zhang Lin , Yao Juanjuan , Hua Kai , Liu Xue , Shi Huazhong , Zhu Jian-Kang
Published: August 2019

The widespread agricultural problem of pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) could potentially be overcome by improving seed dormancy. Here, we report that miR156, an important grain yield regulator, also controls seed dormancy in rice. We found that mutations in one MIR156 subfamily enhance seed dormancy and suppress PHS with negligible effects on shoot architecture and grain size, whereas mutations in another MIR156 subfamily modify shoot architecture and increase grain size but have minimal effects on seed dormancy. Mechanistically, mir156 mutations enhance seed dormancy by suppressing the gibberellin (GA) pathway through de-represssion of the miR156 target gene Ideal Plant Architecture 1 (IPA1), which directly regulates multiple genes in the GA pathway. These results provide an effective method to suppress PHS without compromising productivity, and will facilitate breeding elite crop varieties with ideal plant architectures.
Intramolecular substitutions of secondary and tertiary alcohols with chirality transfer by an iron(III) catalyst
Authors: Watile Rahul A. , Bunrit Anon , Margalef Jèssica , Akkarasamiyo Sunisa , Ayub Rabia , Lagerspets Emi , Biswas Srijit , Repo Timo , Samec Joseph S. M.
Published: August 2019

Optically pure alcohols are abundant in nature and attractive as feedstock for organic synthesis but challenging for further transformation using atom efficient and sustainable methodologies, particularly when there is a desire to conserve the chirality. Usually, substitution of the OH group of stereogenic alcohols with conservation of chirality requires derivatization as part of a complex, stoichiometric procedure. We herein demonstrate that a simple, inexpensive, and environmentally benign iron(III) catalyst promotes the direct intramolecular substitution of enantiomerically enriched secondary and tertiary alcohols with O-, N-, and S-centered nucleophiles to generate valuable 5-membered, 6-membered and aryl-fused 6-membered heterocyclic compounds with chirality transfer and water as the only byproduct. The power of the methodology is demonstrated in the total synthesis of (+)-lentiginosine from D-glucose where iron-catalysis is used in a key step. Adoption of this methodology will contribute towards the transition to sustainable and bio-based processes in the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries.
Candida albicans biofilm development is governed by cooperative attachment and adhesion maintenance proteins
Authors: McCall Andrew D. , Pathirana Ruvini U. , Prabhakar Aditi , Cullen Paul J. , Edgerton Mira
Published: August 2019

The opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans is capable of adhering to the oral mucosa despite forces created by salivary flow. Although many fungal adhesion proteins have been identified, less is known about the temporal development of cell adhesion and biofilm growth in a flow environment. In this study, we use a flow system with real-time imaging of C. albicans cells as they adhere and grow. Rates of cell attachment and dispersion of C. albicans knockout strains of putative adhesins, transcription factors, and deletions with a hyperfilamentous phenotype were quantified during 18 h of biofilm development. Cell adhesion under flow is a multi-phase process initiated with cell rolling, then an initial firm attachment to the substrate occurs. After attachment, cells enter a growth phase where cells either commit to adherence or disperse. C. albicans Δeap1, Δhwp2, Δhyr1, and Δihd1 cells had significantly reduced initial attachment and subsequent adhesion, while Δals1/Δals3 had no change in initial attachment but reduced adhesion maintenance. WT cells had increased adhesion during the late growth phase when hyphae were more highly expressed. Hyperfilamentous strains had 10-fold higher total biofilm growth, a result of significantly reduced detachment rates, showing that hyphal morphogenesis is important for adhesion maintenance in the developing biofilm. The rate of C. albicans biomass dispersion was most important for determining the density of the mature biomass. Adhesion maintenance was mediated in part by Ywp1, a protein previously thought to regulate dispersion, thus it functions as an adhesion maintenance protein in C. albicans.
Improved methods for fluorescent labeling and detection of single extracellular vesicles using nanoparticle tracking analysis
Authors: Thane Kristen E. , Davis Airiel M. , Hoffman Andrew M.
Published: August 2019

Growing interest in extracellular vesicles (EV) has necessitated development of protocols to improve EV characterization as a precursor for myriad downstream investigations. Identifying expression of EV surface epitopes can aid in determining EV enrichment and allow for comparisons of sample phenotypes. This study was designed to test a rigorous method of indirect fluorescent immunolabeling of single EV with subsequent evaluation using nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) to simultaneously determine EV concentration, particle size distribution, and surface immunophenotype. In this study, EV were isolated from canine and human cell cultures for immunolabeling and characterized using NTA, transmission electron microscopy, and Western blotting. Indirect fluorescent immunolabeling utilizing quantum dots (Qd) resulted in reproducible detection of individual fluorescently labeled EV using NTA. Methods were proposed to evaluate the success of immunolabeling based on paired particle detection in NTA light scatter and fluorescent modes. Bead-assisted depletion and size-exclusion chromatography improved specificity of Qd labeling. The described method for indirect immunolabeling of EV and single vesicle detection using NTA offers an improved method for estimating the fraction of EV that express a specific epitope, while approximating population size distribution and concentration.
Comparative linkage mapping of diploid, tetraploid, and hexaploid Avena species suggests extensive chromosome rearrangement in ancestral diploids
Authors: Latta Robert G. , Bekele Wubishet A. , Wight Charlene P. , Tinker Nicholas A.
Published: August 2019

The genusAvena(oats) contains diploid, tetraploid and hexaploid species that evolved through hybridization and polyploidization. Four genome types (named A through D) are generally recognized. We used GBS markers to construct linkage maps of A genome diploid (Avena strigosaxA.wiestii, 2n = 14), and AB genome tetraploid (A.barbata2n = 28) oats. These maps greatly improve coverage from older marker systems. Seven linkage groups in the tetraploid showed much stronger homology and synteny with the A genome diploids than did the other seven, implying an allopolyploid hybrid origin ofA.barbatafrom distinct A and B genome diploid ancestors. Inferred homeologies withinA.barbatarevealed that the A and B genomes are differentiated by several translocations between chromosomes within each subgenome. However, no translocation exchanges were observed between A and B genomes. Comparison to a consensus map of ACD hexaploidA.sativa(2n = 42) revealed that the A and D genomes ofA.sativashow parallel rearrangements when compared to the A genomes of the diploids and tetraploids. While intergenomic translocations are well known in polyploidAvena, our results are most parsimoniously explained if translocations also occurred in the A, B and D genome diploid ancestors of polyploidAvena.
Geographical differences in osteoporosis, obesity, and sarcopenia related traits in white American cohorts
Authors: Zhou Yu , Wu Kehao , Shen Hui , Zhang Jigang , Deng Hong-Wen , Zhao Lan-Juan
Published: August 2019

It has been reported that geographical variation influences bone mineral density (BMD), obesity, and sarcopenia related traits in other countries. However, there is lack of similar studies in the US population. In this study, we compared data from three US study cohorts to evaluate geographical variations of BMD and body composition. BMD, fat mass and lean mass were collected from Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry machine. ANCOVA and Chi-square tests were used to compare the differences between BMDs, obesity and sarcopenia related traits from different regional sites (Omaha, Kansas City and Baton Rouge/New Orleans). Eta-squared was used to measure the effect sizes of these differences. A total of 11,315 Caucasians from our previous three study cohorts were compared. There was no significant geographical difference in BMD for males or females under the criteria of p-values < 0.05 and effect size η2 > 0.01. There were significant geographical differences with medium effect size (p-value < 0.001, 0.01 < η2 < 0.14) for whole body fat mass percentage and index of low muscle mass. For Caucasians in the United States, there is no significant geographical effect found on BMD. The obesity and sarcopenia related traits are significantly different between the three study cohorts.
Facile preparation of a cationic COF functionalized magnetic nanoparticle and its use for the determination of nine hydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in smokers’ urine
Authors: Zhang Wenfen , Zhang Yanhao , Zhang Guangrui , Liu Jiying , Zhao Wuduo , Zhang Wenjing , Hu Kai , Xie Fuwei , Zhang Shusheng
Published: August 2019

A novel cationic-COF coated double-shell magnetic sorbent, possessing excellent dispersive capability, high stability, and desirable absorption affinity, was prepared.
Self-assembly of engineered protein nanocages into reversible ordered 3D superlattices mediated by zinc ions
Authors: Chen H. , Zhou K. , Wang Y. , Zang J. , Zhao G.
Published: August 2019

Zinc ion triggered self-assembly of re-engineered Dps nanocages into highly ordered architectures with a bcc structure.
Novel mitochondrial-targeted thiadiazolo[3,4-g]quinoxaline dyes as efficient photosensitizers for ultra-low dose operable photodynamic therapy
Authors: Li Xianqiang , Zhang Li-Peng , Kang Lin , Zhao Yuxia
Published: August 2019

Two novel thiadiazolo[3,4-g]quinoxaline based PSs (TQs-3 and TQs-4) were designed and synthesized. TQs-4 based nanoparticles exhibited outstanding PDT efficacies towards three tumor cell lines, showing a promising potential for PDT application.
Direction-specific fluorescence of an engineered organic crystal and the appearance of a new face caused by mechanically induced shaping
Authors: Hayashi Shotaro , Koizumi Toshio
Published: August 2019

The directional fluorescence of a centimetre-scale organic crystal was successfully observed. Mechanical shaping caused a new face to appear in the cross section.
Synthesis and structural characterisation of the copper MOF: STAM-NMe2
Authors: McHugh Lauren N. , Olivera Perez Leonardo J. , Wheatley Paul S. , Cordes David B. , Slawin Alexandra M. Z. , Morris Russell E.
Published: August 2019

A new member of the STAM series of copper MOFs: STAM-NMe2 has been prepared using the linker 5-dimethylamino isophthalic acid.
Insights into the solvation and dynamic behaviors of a lithium salt in organic- and ionic liquid-based electrolytes
Authors: Tong Jiahuan , Xiao Xingqing , Liang Xiaodong , von Solms Nicolas , Huo Feng , He Hongyan , Zhang Suojiang
Published: August 2019

Fundamental molecular insights were provided to understand the advantages of IL solvent electrolytes with high conductivity over organic solvent electrolytes.
Enhancing C–C bond formation by surface strain: a computational investigation for C2 and C3 intermediate formation on strained Cu surfaces
Authors: Chan Yu-Te , Huang I-Shou , Tsai Ming-Kang
Published: August 2019

In this study, 121 copper(100) models with surface strain are used for simulating C–C bond formation by CO2 electrochemical reduction.
CO2 absorption and desorption characteristics of MgO-based absorbent promoted by triple eutectic alkali carbonate
Authors: Kwak Jin-Su , Oh Kyung-Ryul , Kim Kang-Yeong , Lee Jeong-Min , Kwon Young-Uk
Published: August 2019

We present the details of the mechanism of CO2 absorption and desorption of MgO absorbent promoted by triple eutectic alkali carbonate.
An Au22(L8)6 nanocluster with in situ uncoordinated Au as a highly active catalyst for O2 activation and CO oxidation
Authors: Li Fuhua , Tang Qing
Published: August 2019

The in situ uncoordinated Au at the interface of the Au22(L8)6 nanocluster is catalytically effective for O2 activation and CO oxidation.
Resolving structures of transition metal complex reaction intermediates with femtosecond EXAFS
Authors: Britz Alexander , Abraham Baxter , Biasin Elisa , van Driel Tim Brandt , Gallo Alessandro , Garcia-Esparza Angel T. , Glownia James , Loukianov Anton , Nelson Silke , Reinhard Marco , Sokaras Dimosthenis , Alonso-Mori Roberto
Published: August 2019

Femtosecond EXAFS is implemented at an XFEL and can be used to observe short-lived intermediate states of photoexcited transition metal complexes in solution.
Rechargeable Mg–M (M = Li, Na and K) dual-metal–ion batteries based on a Berlin green cathode and a metallic Mg anode
Authors: Zhang Yujie , Shen Jingwei , Li Xue , Chen Zhongxue , Cao Shun-an , Li Ting , Xu Fei
Published: August 2019

Mg–M (M = Li, Na and K) dual-metal-ion batteries are constructed with a FeFe(CN)6 cathode, a metallic Mg anode and Mg2+/M+ (M = Li, Na and K) electrolytes.
Tuning receptors for the encapsulation of beryllium2+
Authors: Nixon David J. , Perera Lakshika C. , Dais Tyson N. , Brothers Penelope J. , Henderson William , Plieger Paul G.
Published: August 2019

A method for evaluating second sphere H-bonding interactions as a means to tune specific characteristics in coordinating ligands has been used to evaluate the binding strength of a series of beryllium complexes.
Double aromaticity of the B40 fullerene: induced magnetic field analysis of π and σ delocalization in the boron cavernous structure
Authors: Charistos Nickolas D. , Muñoz-Castro Alvaro
Published: August 2019

B40 enables the formation of a strong long range shielding response under different orientations, characterizing the spherical aromatic nature of the cavernous D2d structure, which was dissected to contributions from π, σ and core electrons.
3D Printing of highly textured bulk thermoelectric materials: mechanically robust BiSbTe alloys with superior performance
Authors: Qiu Junhao , Yan Yonggao , Luo Tingting , Tang Kechen , Yao Lei , Zhang Jian , Zhang Min , Su Xianli , Tan Gangjian , Xie Hongyao , Kanatzidis Mercouri G. , Uher Ctirad , Tang Xinfeng
Published: August 2019

P-BiSbTe bulk materials with high texture, superior thermoelectric properties and robust mechanical performance were fabricated by laser 3D printing.
Sequestration of trivalent americium and lanthanide nitrates with bis-lactam-1,10-phenanthroline ligand in a hydrocarbon solvent
Authors: Karslyan Yana , Sloop Frederick V. , Delmau Laetitia H. , Moyer Bruce A. , Popovs Ilja , Paulenova Alena , Jansone-Popova Santa
Published: August 2019

Efficient separation of trivalent americium and light lanthanides from aqueous acidic medium into hydrocarbon solvent using BLPhen extractant.
Two-isophorone fluorophore-based design of a ratiometric fluorescent probe and its application in the sensing of biothiols
Authors: Wang Chengcheng , Wang Yang , Wang Guanyang , Chen Shangjun , Huang Chusen
Published: August 2019

A newly designed ratiometric fluorescent probe is applied in the sensing of biothiols.
Circularly polarised antenna with low RCS using chessboard grid hollow substrate
Authors: Guo Meng , Xue Bing , Wang Jing , Yang Guang
Published: August 2019

In this Letter, the chessboard grid hollow substrate (CGHS) is firstly presented to enhance the scattering performance of circularly polarised metasurface antenna. Grounded structures and AMCs are designed into chessboard arrangement as radiator. The CGHS installed at the upper of original antenna diversifies the thickness of adjacent subarrays. In contrast to previous chessboard arrangements, the 180 reflection phase difference could be more easily realised for radar cross‐section (RCS) reduction (less than dB). By straightforwardly adjusting the reflection phase, this design realises a peak RCS reduction of dB at 14 GHz, dramatically reduces RCS from 7 to 20 GHz. Moreover, simulated results demonstrate CGHSs optimise the monostatic RCS reduction average at the operating bandwidth, approximately . Meanwhile, this design also yields a VSWR2 impedance matching bandwidth at 9.14–11.76 GHz and a less than 3 dB axial ratio bandwidth at 9.76–10.66 GHz.
Ultra‐low power micro Wi‐Fi scattering communication device
Authors: Xiaoqing Tang , Guihui Xie , Yajun She , Xin Liu
Published: August 2019

A Wi‐Fi scatter communication method based on microcontroller unit (MCU) is proposed, and an ultra‐low power micro Wi‐Fi scatter communication device μWi‐Fi is designed and implemented. First, according to the characteristics of the microcontroller, the software virtual modulation method and the serial communication port direct memory access (DMA) transmission method is proposed to realise Wi‐Fi scattering communication. Then the MCU + exclusive OR (XOR) baseband architecture is proposed to further reduce the main frequency of the microcontroller and the system power consumption. The communication test and power consumption measurement results show that μWi‐Fi can generate signals conforming to the IEEE802.11b standard, which can be received and forwarded by universal Wi‐Fi routers. Its effective communication distance reaches 15 m, its communication peak current reaches 720 μA, and its standby current reaches 390 nA. Compared with traditional internet of things (IOTs) Wi‐Fi devices, μWi‐Fi can not only reduce the power consumption of Wi‐Fi communication by 2–3 orders but also has a simple composition and low cost, which is very helpful for the rapid development of Wi‐Fi IoT products.
Performance analysis of diffusive molecular timing channels
Authors: Pandey Nilay , Mallik Ranjan K. , Lall Brejesh
Published: August 2019

In this study, the authors consider a diffusive molecular communication channel where the information to be transmitted is the time of release of the information molecules. Using the truncated Lévy distribution to model the first passage time of a molecule, the authors develop some general statistics for a random variable described by a truncated Lévy distribution. The authors then consider a multi‐particle molecular communication system, where the average arrival time of the information particles can be represented by a truncated Lévy flight, and the number of molecules required for the cross‐over from the Lévy regime to the Gaussian regime to occur is calculated. Furthermore, they use these results to analyse single as well as multi‐particle molecular communication channels in terms of capacity bounds and symbol error probability.
Full‐duplex massive MIMO relaying systems with low‐resolution ADCs over Rician fading channels
Authors: Yu Xingcheng , Dai Jianxin , Yin Xiaohui , Jiang Zhifang
Published: August 2019

In this study, the authors study the achievable rate of the full‐duplex massive multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) relaying system with low‐resolution analogue‐to‐digital converters (ADCs) over Rician fading channels, where maximum ratio combining/maximum ratio transmission are adopted. They first investigate the approximate rate with perfect channel state information by considering the effect of the quantisation error, the loop interference (LI) and the Rician K‐factor. Then, they analyse the relationship between the achievable rate and several important variables in the Rician fading channel. It is shown that a large number of antenna arrays at the relay can compensate for the rate loss caused by quantisation at the relay end, and the quantisation bits at the destination have a greater influence on the rate than the quantisation bits at the relay end. In particular, as the number of antennas increases, the rate determined by the quantisation bits at the destination tends to a finite value. They also conclude that the Rician K‐factor is proportional to the rate and the attenuation of the rate is very obvious when the LI is large. Finally, the simulation results are presented to verify their analysis.
STCMH with minimal semantic loss
Authors: Du Jianing , Chen Zhikui , Zhong Fangming , Qiu Xiru
Published: August 2019

Cross‐modal hashing (CMH) has received widespread attention due to high retrieval efficiency, which plays an extremely important role in cross‐modal retrieval. Recently, many CMH methods have been proposed to establish the semantic connection of different modalities. However, most of these methods only use a simple quantisation strategy, resulting in large quantisation error, and inferior hash codes. To address this issue, in this study, the authors propose a novel self‐taught CMH (STCMH) to minimise the semantic encoding loss. In particular, the common semantic representations across different modalities are first learnt based on collective matrix factorisation. Then, the quantisation procedure based on orthogonal transformation is integrated to encode the semantic representations into discriminative binary codes. Moreover, similarity preservation is imposed to further boost the discriminative power. Finally, hashing functions learning is formulated as a binary classification problem by self‐taught scheme. Experimental results on three public datasets demonstrate that STCMH significantly outperforms most state‐of‐the‐art CMH methods.
Adjustable automation and manoeuvre control in automated driving
Authors: Siebert Felix Wilhelm , Radtke Fabian , Kiyonaga Erin , Höger Rainer
Published: August 2019

Current implementations of automated driving rely on the driver to monitor the vehicle and be ready to assume control in situations that the automation cannot successfully manage. However, research has shown that drivers are not able to monitor an automated vehicle for longer periods of time, as the monotonous monitoring task leads to attention reallocation or fatigue. Driver involvement in the automated driving task promises to counter this effect. The authors researched how the implementation of a haptic human–vehicle interface, which allows the driver to adjust driving parameters and initiate manoeuvres, influences the subjective experience of drivers in automated vehicles. In a simulator study, they varied the level of control that drivers have over the vehicle, between manual driving, automated driving without the possibility to adjust the automation, as well as automated driving with the possibility to initiate manoeuvres and adjust driving parameters of the vehicle. Results show that drivers have a higher level of perceived control and perceived level of responsibility when they have the ability to interact with the automated vehicle through the haptic interface. The authors conclude that the possibility to interact with automated vehicles can be beneficial for driver experience and safety.
Influence of driver characteristics on emissions and fuel consumption
Authors: Zheng Fangfang , Li Jie , van Zuylen Henk J. , Lu Chao
Published: August 2019

All drivers have individual ways of driving. Still, there are groups of drivers with more or less similar characteristics. In this research, 28 drivers from Chengdu city (P.R. China) participated in an experiment where car following behaviour was measured with GPS devices. In every measured trip there was a leading and following vehicle both equipped with a GPS device. Drivers are classified based on a Driver Behaviour Questionnaire and observed acceleration and deceleration behaviour. The result shows four distinct classes of drivers: macho drivers, careful/inexperienced drivers, smooth going/professional drivers, and experienced/fast drivers. Drivers in the different classes give different emission of air pollution and fuel consumption. Saturation flows are determined from the trajectories and vary between different driver types. The measured trajectories have been analysed in detail to determine some parameters for the Wiedemann 74 model. Most default parameters in the VISSIM program appear to be unsuited for the simulation of driving behaviour measured in the experiment. The emissions and fuel consumption calculated by a simulation model with default parameters are not consistent with the empirical data. The calibration done for different driver types shows that several model parameters are significantly different for the different driver classes.
Transmit beampattern design for airborne phased‐MIMO radar
Authors: Dong Ye , Cheng Fengfeng , Cao Lanying
Published: August 2019

Airborne phased‐MIMO radar based on sub‐arrays is investigated that can combine the advantages of both MIMO radar and phased array radar. The transmit beampattern design method for airborne phased‐MIMO radar is proposed that can control the transmit beam width to raise the airspace coverage by transmitted signals design. In order to avoid grating lobes and achieve low sidelobes, the irregular sub‐array partition is also proposed. Simulation results show that the transmit beampattern of airborne phased‐MIMO radar based on irregular sub‐arrays has wider beamwidth and lower sidelobes that can improve stability of detecting and tracking hypervelocity moving targets in the air. Simulation results also validate the effectiveness of the transmit beampatern design for phased‐MIMO radar with irregular sub‐arrays.
Weak target detection technology of passive radar on the navigation satellite signal
Authors: Fan Xiaoyan , Shang She , Song Dawei , Sun Wenfeng , Wen Yuanyuan
Published: August 2019

The passive radar detection system receives secondary reflection signal by the navigation satellite signal. The secondary reflection signal is too weak to detect the target. The method to improve the signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) of weak targets is proposed based on the accumulation algorithm. First, short‐time correlation of the echo signal sequence is accumulated in the short‐time coherence. Then long‐time coherent accumulation is used in the frequency multiplication sequence. Finally, incoherent accumulation is used to detect weak target. By simulation, the SNR of target signal increases 8 dB than tradition method.
Multi‐time frequency analysis and classification of a micro‐drone carrying payloads using multistatic radar
Authors: Patel Jarez S. , Al‐Ameri Caesar , Fioranelli Francesco , Anderson David
Published: August 2019

This article presents an analysis of three multi‐domain transformations applied to radar data of a micro‐drone operating in an open field, with a payload (between 200 and 600 g) and without a payload. Inferring the presence of a drone attempting to transport a payload beyond its normal operating conditions is a key enabler in prospective low altitude airspace security systems. Two scenarios of operation were explored, the first with the drone hovering and the second with the drone flying. Both were accomplished through real experimental trials, undertaken with the multistatic radar, NetRAD. The images generated as a result of the domain transformations were fed into a pretrained convolutional neural network (CNN), known as AlexNet and were treated as a six‐class classification problem. Very promising accuracies were obtained, with on average 95.1% for the case of the drone hovering and 96.6% for the case of the drone flying. The activations that these variety of images triggered within the CNN were then visualised to better understand the specific features that the network was learning and distinguishing between, in order to successfully achieve classification.
Insulintherapie in der Praxis
Authors: Anderten Helmut
Published: August 2019

Die Einstellung auf Insulin ist oftmals mit vielen Vorbehalten behaftet, die sowohl den Therapeuten als auch den Patienten betreffen. Die „psychologische Insulinresistenz“ und die gleichermaßen von Arzt und Patient geübte Verharmlosung des „Alterszuckers“ tun ein Übriges dazu. Dennoch wird irgendwann im Verlauf eines Typ-2-Diabetes die Insulingabe unumgänglich sein, Menschen mit einem Typ-1-Diabetes müssen sofort Insulin erhalten. Die vielfältigen Vorbehalte speziell bei älteren Typ-2-Diabetespatienten sind nur teilweise begründet. Egal aber, ob begründet oder nicht, es ist unverzichtbar, sich mit all diesen Argumenten auseinanderzusetzen, um einen möglicherweise bestehenden inneren Widerstand gegen die Insuininjektion in die Chance einer konstruktiven Nutzung zu überführen. Dies ermöglicht die spätere eigene Anpassung- und Steuerungsleistung durch den Patienten.