bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Epitaxy of highly ordered organic semiconductor crystallite networks supported by hexagonal boron nitride
Authors: Matković Aleksandar , Genser Jakob , Lüftner Daniel , Kratzer Markus , Gajić Radoš , Puschnig Peter , Teichert Christian
Published: December 2016

This study focuses on hexagonal boron nitride as an ultra-thin van der Waals dielectric substrate for the epitaxial growth of highly ordered crystalline networks of the organic semiconductor parahexaphenyl. Atomic force microscopy based morphology analysis combined with density functional theory simulations reveal their epitaxial relation. As a consequence, needle-like crystallites of parahexaphenyl grow with their long axes oriented five degrees off the hexagonal boron nitride zigzag directions. In addition, by tuning the deposition temperature and the thickness of hexagonal boron nitride, ordered networks of needle-like crystallites as long as several tens of micrometers can be obtained. A deeper understanding of the organic crystallites growth and ordering at ultra-thin van der Waals dielectric substrates will lead to grain boundary-free organic field effect devices, limited only by the intrinsic properties of the organic semiconductors.
Salt tolerance during germination and seedling growth of wild wheat Aegilops tauschii and its impact on the species range expansion
Authors: Saisho Daisuke , Takumi Shigeo , Matsuoka Yoshihiro
Published: December 2016

Adaptation to edaphic stress may have a key role in plant species range expansion. Aegilops tauschii Coss., the common wheat’s D-genome progenitor native to the Transcaucasus-Middle East region, is a good model to study the relationships between soil salinity and plant distributions: one of its intraspecific sublineages, TauL1b, drove the long-distance eastward expansion of this species range reaching semi-arid-central Asia. Salt tolerance during germination and seedling growth was evaluated in 206 Ae. tauschii accessions by treating seeds with NaCl solutions differing in concentrations. Differences in natural variation patterns were analyzed between sublineages and associated with natural edaphic condition variables, and then compared with reproductive trait variation patterns. The natural variations observed in NaCl-induced-stress tolerance had clear geographic and genetic structure. Seedling growth significantly increased in the TauL1b accessions that were collected from salt-affected soil habitats, whereas germinability did not. Principal component analysis suggested that the NaCl-induced-stress tolerances and reproductive traits might have had a similar degree of influence on Ae. tauschii’s eastward range expansion. Adaptation to salt-affected soils through increased seedling growth was an important factor for the species’ successful colonization of the semi-arid central Asian habitats. TauL1b accessions might provide useful genetic resources for salt-tolerant wheat breeds.
Fractal Based Analysis of the Influence of Odorants on Heart Activity
Authors: Namazi Hamidreza , Kulish Vladimir V.
Published: December 2016

An important challenge in heart research is to make the relation between the features of external stimuli and heart activity. Olfactory stimulation is an important type of stimulation that affects the heart activity, which is mapped on Electrocardiogram (ECG) signal. Yet, no one has discovered any relation between the structures of olfactory stimuli and the ECG signal. This study investigates the relation between the structures of heart rate and the olfactory stimulus (odorant). We show that the complexity of the heart rate is coupled with the molecular complexity of the odorant, where more structurally complex odorant causes less fractal heart rate. Also, odorant having higher entropy causes the heart rate having lower approximate entropy. The method discussed here can be applied and investigated in case of patients with heart diseases as the rehabilitation purpose.
Natural brain-information interfaces: Recommending information by relevance inferred from human brain signals
Authors: Eugster Manuel J. A. , Ruotsalo Tuukka , Spapé Michiel M. , Barral Oswald , Ravaja Niklas , Jacucci Giulio , Kaski Samuel
Published: December 2016

Finding relevant information from large document collections such as the World Wide Web is a common task in our daily lives. Estimation of a user’s interest or search intention is necessary to recommend and retrieve relevant information from these collections. We introduce a brain-information interface used for recommending information by relevance inferred directly from brain signals. In experiments, participants were asked to read Wikipedia documents about a selection of topics while their EEG was recorded. Based on the prediction of word relevance, the individual’s search intent was modeled and successfully used for retrieving new relevant documents from the whole English Wikipedia corpus. The results show that the users’ interests toward digital content can be modeled from the brain signals evoked by reading. The introduced brain-relevance paradigm enables the recommendation of information without any explicit user interaction and may be applied across diverse information-intensive applications.
A retrospective study of pyogenic liver abscess focusing on Klebsiella pneumoniae as a primary pathogen in China from 1994 to 2015
Authors: Qian Yun , Wong Chi Chun , Lai Sanchuan , Chen Huarong , He Xingkang , Sun Leimin , Wu Jiaguo , Zhou Jiancang , Yu Jun , Liu Weili , Zhou Daoyang , Si Jianmin
Published: December 2016

Pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) is a common intra-abdominal infection in adults. In this study, we aim to explore demographic and clinical characteristics of PLA focusing on Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) induced PLA (KP-PLA) in mainland China. A retrospective review of medical records from all patients with KP-PLA admitted to a tertiary teaching hospital over a 21-year period (1994–2015) was performed. Among 296 PLA cases with confirmed culture-positive data, K. pneumoniae was revealed as the predominant pathogen (n = 189, 63.9%), followed by Escherichia coli (n = 39, 13.2%). Strikingly, KP-PLA patients had a higher incidence of metabolic disorders, such as diabetes mellitus (49.7% vs. 36.4%, P = 0.027; odds ratio (OR): 1.725; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.061–2.805), hypertension (38.1% vs. 19.6%, P = 0.001; OR: 2.520; 95% CI: 1.439–4.413), and fatty liver (32.3% vs. 14.0%, P = 0.001; OR: 2.923; 95% CI: 1.564–5.462) than those with non-K. pneumoniae induced PLA (non-KP-PLA). Moreover, patients with KP-PLA had higher susceptibility to septic metastatic infection at distant sites compared to those with non-KP-PLA (10.6% vs. 3.7%, p = 0.038). Our results indicate that K. pneumoniae is the predominant pathogen of PLA in mainland China. KP-PLA is frequently diagnosed in patients with metabolic diseases and has a higher risk for septic metastatic infection.
Identification of a CD133−CD55− population functions as a fetal common skeletal progenitor
Authors: Weng Lihong , Hu Xingbin , Kumar Bijender , Garcia Mayra , Todorov Ivan , Jung Xiaoman , Marcucci Guido , Forman Stephen J. , Chen Ching-Cheng
Published: December 2016

In this study, we identified a CD105+CD90.1−CD133−CD55− (CD133−CD55−) population in the fetal skeletal element that can generate bone and bone marrow. Besides osteoblasts and chondrocytes, the CD133−CD55− common progenitors can give rise to marrow reticular stromal cells and perivascular mesenchymal progenitors suggesting they function as the fetal common skeletal progenitor. Suppression of CXCL12 and Kitl expression in CD133−CD55− common progenitors severely disrupted the BM niche formation but not bone generation. Thus, CD133−CD55− common progenitors are the main source of CXCL12 and Kitl producing cells in the developing marrow.
Random walk with chaotically driven bias
Authors: Kim Song-Ju , Naruse Makoto , Aono Masashi , Hori Hirokazu , Akimoto Takuma
Published: December 2016

We investigate two types of random walks with a fluctuating probability (bias) in which the random walker jumps to the right. One is a ‘time-quenched framework’ using bias time series such as periodic, quasi-periodic, and chaotic time series (chaotically driven bias). The other is a ‘time-annealed framework’ using the fluctuating bias generated by a stochastic process, which is not quenched in time. We show that the diffusive properties in the time-quenched framework can be characterised by the ensemble average of the time-averaged variance (ETVAR), whereas the ensemble average of the time-averaged mean square displacement (ETMSD) fails to capture the diffusion, even when the total bias is zero. We demonstrate that the ETVAR increases linearly with time, and the diffusion coefficient can be estimated by the time average of the local diffusion coefficient. In the time-annealed framework, we analytically and numerically show normal diffusion and superdiffusion, similar to the Lévy walk. Our findings will lead to new developments in information and communication technologies, such as efficient energy transfer for information propagation and quick solution searching.
Glymphatic solute transport does not require bulk flow
Authors: Asgari Mahdi , de Zélicourt Diane , Kurtcuoglu Vartan
Published: December 2016

Observations of fast transport of fluorescent tracers in mouse brains have led to the hypothesis of bulk water flow directed from arterial to venous paravascular spaces (PVS) through the cortical interstitium. At the same time, there is evidence for interstitial solute transport by diffusion rather than by directed bulk fluid motion. It has been shown that the two views may be consolidated by intracellular water flow through astrocyte networks combined with mainly diffusive extracellular transport of solutes. This requires the presence of a driving force that has not been determined to date, but for which arterial pulsation has been suggested as the origin. Here we show that arterial pulsation caused by pulse wave propagation is an unlikely origin of this hypothetical driving force. However, we further show that such pulsation may still lead to fast para-arterial solute transport through dispersion, that is, through the combined effect of local mixing and diffusion in the para-arterial space.
Three-Dimensional Simultaneous Arbitrary-Way Orbital Angular Momentum Generator Based on Transformation Optics
Authors: Zhang Chen , Deng Li , Hong Wei Jun , Jiang Wei Xiang , Zhu Jian Feng , Zhou Mi , Wang Ling , Li Shu Fang , Peng Biao
Published: December 2016

In wireless communications, people utilize the technology of diversity against multipath fading, so as to improve the reliability of communication equipment. One of the long-standing problems in diversity antennas is the limited number of diversity in a certain space. In this paper, we provide a solution to this issue by a three-dimensional (3D) simultaneous arbitrary-way orbital angular momentum (OAM) generator (3D SAWOG) based on transformation optics. The proposed 3D SAWOG consists of a metamaterial block and a group of transformation cylinders, by which arbitrary-way planar wavefronts can be converted to helical wavefronts with various topological charges simultaneously. The 2D four-way OAM generator and the 3D SAWOG are analyzed, designed, and simulated. The simulation results validate the performance of a 3D SAWOG successfully, indicating that the proposed model possess a high mode purity and expansibility. The SAWOG can be used as a novel diversity antenna array due to the orthogonal property among different modes, which could provide more degrees of freedom than traditional dual-polarization antennas, further improving the reliability of the communication systems.
In Silico identification of SNP diversity in cultivated and wild tomato species: insight from molecular simulations
Authors: Bhardwaj Archana , Dhar Yogeshwar Vikram , Asif Mehar Hasan , Bag Sumit K
Published: December 2016

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), an important source of genetic variations, are often used in crop improvement programme. The present study represented comprehensive In silico analysis of nucleotide polymorphisms in wild (Solanum habrochaites) and cultivated (Solanum lycopersicum) species of tomato to explore the consequence of substitutions both at sequence and structure level. A total of 8978 SNPs having Ts/Tv (Transition/Transversion) ratio 1.75 were identified from the Expressed Sequence Tag (EST) and Next Generation Sequence (NGS) data of both the species available in public databases. Out of these, 1838 SNPs were non-synonymous and distributed in 988 protein coding genes. Among these, 23 genes containing 96 SNPs were involved in traits markedly different between the two species. Furthermore, there were 28 deleterious SNPs distributed in 27 genes and a few of these genes were involved in plant pathogen interaction and plant hormone pathways. Molecular docking and simulations of several selected proteins showed the effect of SNPs in terms of compactness, conformation and interaction ability. Observed SNPs exhibited various types of motif binding effects due to nucleotide changes. SNPs that provide the evidence of differential motif binding and interaction behaviour could be effectively used for the crop improvement program.
In situ size sorting in CVD synthesis of Si microspheres
Authors: Garín M. , Fenollosa R. , Kowalski L.
Published: December 2016

Silicon microspheres produced in gas-phase by hot-wall CVD offer unique quality in terms of sphericity, surface smoothness, and size. However, the spheres produced are polydisperse in size, which typically range from 0.5 μm to 5 μm. In this work we show through experiments and calculations that thermophoretic forces arising from strong temperature gradients inside the reactor volume effectively sort the particles in size along the reactor. These temperature gradients are shown to be produced by a convective gas flow. The results prove that it is possible to select the particle size by collecting them in a particular reactor region, opening new possibilities towards the production by CVD of size-controlled high-quality silicon microspheres.
Functional characterization of aconitase X as a cis-3-hydroxy-L-proline dehydratase
Authors: Watanabe Seiya , Tajima Kunihiko , Fujii Satoshi , Fukumori Fumiyasu , Hara Ryotaro , Fukuda Rio , Miyazaki Mao , Kino Kuniki , Watanabe Yasuo
Published: December 2016

In the aconitase superfamily, which includes the archetypical aconitase, homoaconitase, and isopropylmalate isomerase, only aconitase X is not functionally annotated. The corresponding gene (LhpI) was often located within the bacterial gene cluster involved in L-hydroxyproline metabolism. Screening of a library of (hydroxy)proline analogues revealed that this protein catalyzes the dehydration of cis-3-hydroxy-L-proline to Δ1-pyrroline-2-carboxylate. Furthermore, electron paramagnetic resonance and site-directed mutagenic analyses suggests the presence of a mononuclear Fe(III) center, which may be coordinated with one glutamate and two cysteine residues. These properties were significantly different from those of other aconitase members, which catalyze the isomerization of α- to β-hydroxy acids, and have a [4Fe-4S] cluster-binding site composed of three cysteine residues. Bacteria with the LhpI gene could degrade cis-3-hydroxy-L-proline as the sole carbon source, and LhpI transcription was up-regulated not only by cis-3-hydroxy-L-proline, but also by several isomeric 3- and 4-hydroxyprolines.
Coastal barrier stratigraphy for Holocene high-resolution sea-level reconstruction
Authors: Costas Susana , Ferreira Óscar , Plomaritis Theocharis A. , Leorri Eduardo
Published: December 2016

The uncertainties surrounding present and future sea-level rise have revived the debate around sea-level changes through the deglaciation and mid- to late Holocene, from which arises a need for high-quality reconstructions of regional sea level. Here, we explore the stratigraphy of a sandy barrier to identify the best sea-level indicators and provide a new sea-level reconstruction for the central Portuguese coast over the past 6.5 ka. The selected indicators represent morphological features extracted from coastal barrier stratigraphy, beach berm and dune-beach contact. These features were mapped from high-resolution ground penetrating radar images of the subsurface and transformed into sea-level indicators through comparison with modern analogs and a chronology based on optically stimulated luminescence ages. Our reconstructions document a continuous but slow sea-level rise after 6.5 ka with an accumulated change in elevation of about 2 m. In the context of SW Europe, our results show good agreement with previous studies, including the Tagus isostatic model, with minor discrepancies that demand further improvement of regional models. This work reinforces the potential of barrier indicators to accurately reconstruct high-resolution mid- to late Holocene sea-level changes through simple approaches.
The known genetic loci for telomere length may be involved in the modification of telomeres length after birth
Authors: Weng Qiao , Du Jiangbo , Yu Fei , Huang Tongtong , Chen Mengxi , Lv Hong , Ma Hongxia , Hu Zhibin , Jin Guangfu , Hu Yali , Shen Hongbing
Published: December 2016

Telomere length varies considerably among individuals. It is highly heritable and decreases with ageing or ageing related diseases. Recently, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified several genetic loci associated with telomere length in adults. However, it is unclear whether these loci represent the genetic basis of telomere length or determine the individual susceptibility to shortening during growth process. Using DNA extracted from peripheral and cord blood of 444 mother-newborn pairs from a Chinese population, we measured relative telomere length (RTL) and genotyped eight known telomere length related variants that were initially identified in populations of European descent. We observed the T allele of rs10936599 and the T allele of rs2736100 were norminally associated with shorter RTL (P = 0.041 and 0.046, respectively) in maternal samples. Furthermore, the Weighted genetic score (WGS) of eight variants was significantly associated with RTL in maternal samples (R2 = 0.012, P = 0.025). However, we didn’t detect any significant associations for any individual variant or the combined WGS with RTL in newborns. These findings didn’t support the hypothesis that telomere length related loci may affect telomere length at birth, and we suggested that these loci may play a role in telomere length modification during life course.
Inhibition of PKR protects against H2O2-induced injury on neonatal cardiac myocytes by attenuating apoptosis and inflammation
Authors: Wang Yongyi , Men Min , Xie Bo , Shan Jianggui , Wang Chengxi , Liu Jidong , Zheng Hui , Yang Wengang , Xue Song , Guo Changfa
Published: December 2016

Reactive oxygenation species (ROS) generated from reperfusion results in cardiac injury through apoptosis and inflammation, while PKR has the ability to promote apoptosis and inflammation. The aim of the study was to investigate whether PKR is involved in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) induced neonatal cardiac myocytes (NCM) injury. In our study, NCM, when exposed to H2O2, resulted in persistent activation of PKR due to NCM endogenous RNA. Inhibition of PKR by 2-aminopurine (2-AP) or siRNA protected against H2O2 induced apoptosis and injury. To elucidate the mechanism, we revealed that inhibition of PKR alleviated H2O2 induced apoptosis companied by decreased caspase3/7 activity, BAX and caspase-3 expression. We also revealed that inhibition of PKR suppressed H2O2 induced NFκB pathway and NLRP3 activation. Finally, we found ADAR1 mRNA and protein expression were both induced after H2O2 treatment through STAT-2 dependent pathway. By gain and loss of ADAR1 expression, we confirmed ADAR1 modulated PKR activity. Therefore, we concluded inhibition of PKR protected against H2O2-induced injury by attenuating apoptosis and inflammation. A self-preservation mechanism existed in NCM that ADAR1 expression is induced by H2O2 to limit PKR activation simultaneously. These findings identify a novel role for PKR/ADAR1 in myocardial reperfusion injury.
Microneedles with Controlled Bubble Sizes and Drug Distributions for Efficient Transdermal Drug Delivery
Authors: Wang Qi Lei , Zhu Dan Dan , Liu Xu Bo , Chen Bo Zhi , Guo Xin Dong
Published: December 2016

Drug loaded dissolving microneedles (DMNs) fabricated with water soluble polymers have received increasing attentions as a safe and efficient transdermal drug delivery system. Usually, to reach a high drug delivery efficiency, an ideal drug distribution is gathering more drugs in the tip or the top part of DMNs. In this work, we introduce an easy and new method to introduce a bubble with controlled size into the body of DMNs. The introduction of bubbles can prevent the drug diffusion into the whole body of the MNs. The heights of the bubbles are well controlled from 75 μm to 400 μm just by changing the mass concentrations of polymer casting solution from 30 wt% to 10 wt%. The drug-loaded bubble MNs show reliable mechanical properties and successful insertion into the skins. For the MNs prepared from 15 wt% PVA solution, bubble MNs achieve over 80% of drug delivery efficiency in 20 seconds, which is only 10% for the traditional solid MNs. Additionally, the bubble microstructures in the MNs are also demonstrated to be consistent and identical regardless the extension of MN arrays. These scalable bubble MNs may be a promising carrier for the transdermal delivery of various pharmaceuticals.
A proteolytic modification of AIM promotes its renal excretion
Authors: Yamazaki Tomoko , Sugisawa Ryoichi , Hiramoto Emiri , Takai Ryosuke , Matsumoto Ayaka , Senda Yoshie , Nakashima Katsuhiko , Nelson Peter S. , Lucas Jared M. , Morgan Andrew , Li Zhenghua , Yamamura Ken-ichi , Arai Satoko , Miyazaki Toru
Published: December 2016

Apoptosis inhibitor of macrophage (AIM, encoded by cd5l) is a multi-functional circulating protein that has a beneficial role in the regulation of a broad range of diseases, some of which are ameliorated by AIM administration in mice. In blood, AIM is stabilized by association with IgM pentamers and maintains its high circulating levels. The mechanism regulating the excessive accumulation of blood AIM remains unknown, although it is important, since a constitutive increase in AIM levels promotes chronic inflammation. Here we found a physiological AIM-cleavage process that induces destabilization of AIM and its excretion in urine. In blood, IgM-free AIM appeared to be cleaved and reduced in size approximately 10 kDa. Cleaved AIM was unable to bind to IgM and was selectively filtered by the glomerulus, thereby excreted in urine. Amino acid substitution at the cleavage site resulted in no renal excretion of AIM. Interestingly, cleaved AIM retained a comparable potency with full-length AIM in facilitating the clearance of dead cell debris in injured kidney, which is a key response in the recovery of acute kidney injury. Identification of AIM-cleavage and resulting functional modification could be the basis for designing safe and efficient AIM therapy for various diseases.
Glacial refugia and the prediction of future habitat coverage of the South American lichen species Ochrolechia austroamericana
Authors: Kukwa Martin , Kolanowska Marta
Published: December 2016

The biogeographic history of lichenized fungi remains unrevealed because those organisms rarely fossilize due to their delicate, often tiny and quickly rotting thalli. Also the ecology and factors limiting occurrence of numerous taxa, especially those restricted in their distribution to tropical areas are poorly recognized. The aim of this study was to determine localization of glacial refugia of South American Ochrolechia austroamericana and to estimate the future changes in the coverage of its habitats using ecological niche modeling tools. The general glacial potential range of the studied species was wider than it is nowadays and its niches coverage decreased by almost 25% since last glacial maximum. The refugial areas were covered by cool and dry grasslands and scrubs and suitable niches in South America were located near the glacier limit. According to our analyses the further climate changes will not significantly influence the distribution of the suitable niches of O. austroamericana.
Effect of Unplanned Therapy on the Prognosis of Patients with Extremity Osteosarcoma
Authors: Wang Bing , Xu Ming , Zheng Kai , Yu Xiuchun
Published: December 2016

Unplanned therapy for extremity osteosarcoma can result in erroneous surgical procedures and lack of neoadjuvant chemotherapy before the first operation. Our aim was to compare the prognosis between patients with extremity osteosarcoma who received unplanned therapy and those who received standard treatment. This was a retrospective review of patients with extremity osteosarcoma who received appropriate surgical treatment and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (n = 79) and those who received unplanned therapy (n = 24) between June 2000 and October 2014. Survival rate, local recurrence rate and metastasis rate were compared between the two groups. We found that patients who had unplanned therapy had a higher local recurrence rate (41.7% vs. 21.5%; P = 0.049) and a shorter mean time for recurrence (8.90 vs. 14.59 months; P = 0.018). There was no significant difference between groups in the 5-year survival rate (56.3% vs.67.8%; P = 0.356), metastasis rate (45.8% vs. 30.4%; P = 0.125) and mean time to metastasis (23.18 vs.18.24 months; P = 0.396). Our findings suggest that unplanned therapy for extremity osteosarcoma can result in failure of local control. The use of supplementary interventions after unplanned therapy, such as neoadjuvant chemotherapy and limb salvage surgery, may explain the similar survival and metastasis rates between patients receiving unplanned therapy and those receiving standard treatment.
Intermolecular Interactions in the TMEM16A Dimer Controlling Channel Activity
Authors: Scudieri Paolo , Musante Ilaria , Gianotti Ambra , Moran Oscar , Galietta Luis J. V.
Published: December 2016

TMEM16A and TMEM16B are plasma membrane proteins with Ca2+-dependent Cl− channel function. By replacing the carboxy-terminus of TMEM16A with the equivalent region of TMEM16B, we obtained channels with potentiation of channel activity. Progressive shortening of the chimeric region restricted the “activating domain” to a short sequence close to the last transmembrane domain and led to TMEM16A channels with high activity at very low intracellular Ca2+ concentrations. To elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying this effect, we carried out experiments based on double chimeras, Forster resonance energy transfer, and intermolecular cross-linking. We also modeled TMEM16A structure using the Nectria haematococca TMEM16 protein as template. Our results indicate that the enhanced activity in chimeric channels is due to altered interaction between the carboxy-terminus and the first intracellular loop in the TMEM16A homo-dimer. Mimicking this perturbation with a small molecule could be the basis for a pharmacological stimulation of TMEM16A-dependent Cl− transport.
Contact infection of infectious disease onboard a cruise ship
Authors: Zhang Nan , Miao Ruosong , Huang Hong , Chan Emily Y. Y.
Published: December 2016

Cruise tourism has become more popular. Long-term personal contact, complex population flows, a lack of medical care facilities, and defective infrastructure aboard most cruise ships is likely to result in the ship becoming an incubator for infectious diseases. In this paper, we use a cruise ship as a research scenario. Taking into consideration personal behavior, the nature and transfer route of the virus across different surfaces, virus reproduction, and disinfection, we studied contact infection of infectious disease on a cruise ship. Using gastroenteritis caused by the norovirus as an example, we analyzed the characteristics of infectious disease propagation based on simulation results under different conditions. We found hand washing are the most important factors affecting virus propagation and passenger infection. It also decides either the total number of virus microorganisms or the virus distribution in different functional areas. The transfer rate between different surfaces is a key factor influencing the concentricity of the virus. A high transfer rate leads to high concentricity. In addition, the risk of getting infected is effectively reduced when the disinfection frequency is above a certain threshold. The efficiency of disinfection of functional areas is determined by total virus number and total contact times of surfaces.
Characterization of a PEGylated protein therapeutic by ion exchange chromatography with on-line detection by native ESI MS and MS/MS
Authors: Muneeruddin K. , Bobst C. E. , Frenkel R. , Houde D. , Turyan I. , Sosic Z. , Kaltashov I. A.
Published: December 2016

Detailed profiling of both enzymatic (e.g., glycosylation) and non-enzymatic (e.g., oxidation and deamidation) post-translational modifications (PTMs) is frequently required for the quality assessment of protein-based drugs.
Rapid capillary mixing experiments for the analysis of hydrophobic membrane complexes directly from aqueous lipid bilayer solutions
Authors: Patrick John W. , Zerfas Breanna , Gao Jianmin , Russell David H.
Published: December 2016

Mixing tee-electrospray ionization coupled to ion mobility-mass spectrometry reveals gramicidin A dimer conformer preferences.
Occurrence of photoinduced charge separation by the modulation of the electronic coupling between pyrene dimers and chemically converted graphenes
Authors: Umeyama Tomokazu , Baek Jinseok , Mihara Junya , Tkachenko Nikolai V. , Imahori Hiroshi
Published: December 2016

The photoexcitation of the pyrene dimer on graphene resulted in the final formation of a charge-separated (CS) state following an exciplex formation, while that of the pyrene monomer on graphene generated the corresponding exciplex solely.
Interactions between π-conjugated chromophores in a giant molecular spoked wheel
Authors: Würsch D. , May R. , Wiederer G. , Jester S.-S. , Höger S. , Vogelsang J. , Lupton J. M.
Published: December 2016

Single photon emission from a giant molecular spoked wheel due to excitonic coupling between the twelve distinct chromophores.
NO2-controlled cargo delivery from gated silica mesoporous nanoparticles
Authors: Alberto Juárez L. , Costero Ana M. , Parra Margarita , Gaviña Pablo , Gil Salvador , Martínez-Máñez Ramón , Sancenón Félix
Published: December 2016

Opening of mesoporous silica nanoparticles capped with a BODIPY derivative using NO2gas.
Supramolecular bidentate phosphine ligand scaffolds from deconstructed Hamilton receptors
Authors: Seidenkranz Daniel T. , McGrath Jacqueline M. , Zakharov Lev N. , Pluth Michael D.
Published: December 2016

The metal-assisted self-assembly of a phosphine-modified, deconstructed Hamilton receptor is reported as a new supramolecular ligand scaffold.
Why do proton conducting polybenzimidazole phosphoric acid membranes perform well in high-temperature PEM fuel cells?
Authors: Melchior Jan-Patrick , Majer Günter , Kreuer Klaus-Dieter
Published: December 2016

This1H-NMR,31P-NMR, thermo-gravimetrical analysis, and conductivity study elucidates how hygroscopicity, acidity, and proton transport of phosphoric acid are affected by acid–base interactions with (benz)imidazole present in proton conducting high-temperature PEM fuel cell membranes.
Local environment inside a novel aromatic micelle investigated by steady-state and femtosecond fluorescence spectroscopy of an encapsulated solvatochromic probe
Authors: Sartin Matthew M. , Kondo Kei , Yoshizawa Michito , Takeuchi Satoshi , Tahara Tahei
Published: December 2016

Steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopy of a recently-developed aromatic micelle reveals its high-polarity environment, ultrafast response, dynamic encapsulation of the guest.
A density functional theory study of the carbon-coating effects on lithium iron borate battery electrodes
Authors: Loftager Simon , García-Lastra Juan María , Vegge Tejs
Published: December 2016

Density functional theory modelling shows that carbon coatings on a LiFeBO3 cathode material does not impede the Li transport in a Li-ion battery.
A hybrid method using the widely-used WIEN2k and VASP codes to calculate the complete set of XAS/EELS edges in a hundred-atoms system
Authors: Donval Gaël , Moreau Philippe , Danet Julien , Larbi Séverine Jouanneau-Si , Bayle-Guillemaud Pascale , Boucher Florent
Published: December 2016

An example of Si/LixSi/Li interface for which XAS and EELS edges can be efficiently calculated using our hybrid method.
Transient photocyclization in ruthenium(ii) polypyridine complexes of indolamines
Authors: Carrone G. , Zayat L. , Slep L. D. , Etchenique R.
Published: December 2016

Irradiation of [Ru(55dmb)2(5MT)(H2O)]2+ in the visible region yields η2 coordinated [Ru(55dmb)2(5MT)]2+, which reverts spontaneously in the dark.
Modeling the active sites of Co-promoted MoS2 particles by DFT
Authors: Šarić Manuel , Rossmeisl Jan , Moses Poul Georg
Published: December 2016

The atomic-scale structure of CoMoS and the nature of its active sites for hydrodesulfurization and hydrogen evolution are determined based on DFT simulations.
Reaching the ideal glass transition by aging polymer films
Authors: Boucher Virginie M. , Cangialosi Daniele , Alegría Angel , Colmenero Juan
Published: December 2016

By aging, we draw glassy polymer films to a thermodynamic state, the ideal glass, with the entropy of the crystal.
Surface enhanced spectroscopic investigations of adsorption of cations on electrochemical interfaces
Authors: Dunwell M. , Wang Junhua , Yan Y. , Xu B.
Published: December 2016

The adsorption of alkali and tetraalkylammonium cations on Pt is investigated using surface enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy and carbon monoxide as a probe molecule.
New insight into the structural evolution of PbTiO3: an unbiased structure search
Authors: Lu Cheng , Wang Jingjing , Wang Ping , Xia Xinxin , Jin Yuanyuan , Li Peifang , Bao Gang
Published: December 2016

The structural evolution of PbTiO3has been investigated using the CALYPSO method in combination with density functional theory calculations.
Full- and reduced-dimensionality instanton calculations of the tunnelling splitting in the formic acid dimer
Authors: Richardson Jeremy O.
Published: December 2016

Nearly all degrees of freedom need to be included for accurate theoretical predictions of quantum dynamics.
Exploring nanoparticle porosity using nano-impacts: platinum nanoparticle aggregates
Authors: Jiao Xue , Sokolov Stanislav V. , Tanner Eden E. L. , Young Neil P. , Compton Richard G.
Published: December 2016

Nano-impacts of porous nanoparticles reveal the extent to which the internal surfaces can contribute to electrocatalysis.
Investigating how vesicle size influences vesicle adsorption on titanium oxide: a competition between steric packing and shape deformation
Authors: Ferhan Abdul Rahim , Jackman Joshua A. , Cho Nam-Joon
Published: December 2016

Understanding the adsorption behavior of lipid vesicles at solid–liquid interfaces is important for obtaining fundamental insights into soft matter adsorbates as well as for practical applications such as supported lipid bilayer (SLB) fabrication.
Formation of a solid solution between [N(C2H5)4][BF4] and [N(C2H5)4][PF6] in crystal and plastic crystal phases
Authors: Matsumoto Kazuhiko , Nonaka Ryojun , Wang Yushen , Veryasov Gleb , Hagiwara Rika
Published: December 2016

The [N(C2H5)4][BF4]–[N(C2H5)4][PF6] binary system form solid solution in both crystal and plastic crystal phases (rock-salt type for plastic crystals).
Tailoring metal halide perovskites through metal substitution: influence on photovoltaic and material properties
Authors: Klug Matthew T. , Osherov Anna , Haghighirad Amir A. , Stranks Samuel D. , Brown Patrick R. , Bai Sai , Wang Jacob T.-W. , Dang Xiangnan , Bulović Vladimir , Snaith Henry J. , Belcher Angela M.
Published: December 2016

Mixed-metal compositional screening identifies Co2+ as capable of partial B-site substitution in CH3NH3PbI3, which supplies new dimensions of material tunability.
A critical analysis of the environmental dossiers from the OECD sponsorship programme for the testing of manufactured nanomaterials
Authors: Hansen Steffen Foss , Hjorth Rune , Skjolding Lars Michael , Bowman Diana M. , Maynard Andrew , Baun Anders
Published: December 2016

In 2015, the OECD finally published the findings of its seven year testing programme for manufactured nanomaterials.
Preparation of SBA-15 supported Pt/Pd bimetallic catalysts using supercritical fluid reactive deposition: how do solvent effects during material synthesis affect catalytic properties?
Authors: Qiao Y. , Said N. , Rauser M. , Yan K. , Qin F. , Theyssen N. , Leitner W.
Published: December 2016

Supercritical carbon dioxide is the preferred reaction medium for catalyst synthesis as exemplified for the hydrogenation of levulinic acid (LA) to γ-valerolactone (GVL).
Construction of a polyproline structure with hydrophobic exterior using octahydroindole-2-carboxylic acid
Authors: Kubyshkin Vladimir , Budisa Nediljko
Published: December 2016

Oligomeric octahydroindole-2-carboxilic acid (Oic) forms a stable polyproline-II type helix.
Tetroxime: reactivation potency – in vitro and in silico study
Authors: Kuca K. , Korabecny J. , Dolezal R. , Nepovimova E. , Soukup O. , Gorecki L. , Musilek K.
Published: December 2016

Tetroxime – a unique bisquaternary compound with four oxime groups.
Reduction-sensitive amphiphilic dextran derivatives as theranostic nanocarriers for chemotherapy and MR imaging
Authors: Yang Hui-Kang , Qi Meng , Mo Lei , Yang Rui-Meng , Xu Xiang-Dong , Bao Jun-Fang , Tang Wen-Jie , Lin Jian-Tao , Zhang Li-Ming , Jiang Xin-Qing
Published: December 2016

Reduction-sensitive, amphiphilic dextran derivatives were developed from disulfide-linked dextran-g-poly-(N-ε-carbobenzyloxy-l-lysine) graft polymer (Dex-g-SS-PZLL), and used as theranostic nanocarriers for chemotherapy and MR imaging.
Complementary oligonucleotides regulate induced fit ligand binding in duplexed aptamers
Authors: Munzar Jeffrey D. , Ng Andy , Corrado Mario , Juncker David
Published: December 2016

Hybridizing a complementary oligonucleotide to an ATP aptamer is shown to functionally regulate a newly revealed induced fit ligand-binding pathway.
Single-chamber fabrication of high-performance low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells with grain-controlled functional layers
Authors: Hong Soonwook , Lim Yonghyun , Yang Hwichul , Bae Jiwoong , Kim Young-Beom
Published: December 2016

A one-step process has been developed for the fabrication of thin film membrane-electrode assemblies with multi-layer electrolytes for use in high-performance, low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (LT-SOFCs).
Rich sulfur doped porous carbon materials derived from ginkgo leaves for multiple electrochemical energy storage devices
Authors: Hao Enchao , Liu Wei , Liu Shuang , Zhang Yuan , Wang Huanlei , Chen Shougang , Cheng Fengli , Zhao Shuping , Yang Hongzhan
Published: December 2016

Based on the unique multilayered structure of ginkgo leaves, interconnected carbon nanosheets with rich micro/meso pores have been fabricated, showing excellent electrochemical performance in multiple energy storage devices.
Metal ion-containing C3N3S3coordination polymers chemisorbed to a copper surface as acid stable hydrogen evolution electrocatalysts
Authors: R. S. Vishwanath , Kandaiah Sakthivel
Published: December 2016

We present here the preparation of a novel chemically immobilized mixed-metal ion-containing triazine thiolate (C3N3S3) polymer electrocatalyst (M–TCA) on a copper (Cu) surface.
Multifunctional ternary additive in bulk heterojunction OPV: increased device performance and stability
Authors: Grant Trevor M. , Gorisse Therese , Dautel Olivier , Wantz Guillaume , Lessard Benoît H.
Published: December 2016

Great improvements in the development of organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices have been reported over the years; however, the overall efficiency and operational lifetimes of the devices must be improved.
Non-planar perylenediimide acceptors with different geometrical linker units for efficient non-fullerene organic solar cells
Authors: Liu Xi , Liu Tao , Duan Chunhui , Wang Junyi , Pang Shuting , Xiong Wentao , Sun Yanming , Huang Fei , Cao Yong
Published: December 2016

Three perylenediimide (PDI) acceptors (P2O2, P2N2 and P4N4) functionalizing the bay positions of PDI with different geometrical linker units were synthesized and applied in efficient non-fullerene organic solar cells.
Hierarchical porous carbon fibers/carbon nanofibers monolith from electrospinning/CVD processes as a high effective surface area support platform
Authors: Liu Yuefeng , Luo Jingjie , Helleu Camille , Behr Mathieu , Ba Housseinou , Romero Thierry , Hébraud Anne , Schlatter Guy , Ersen Ovidiu , Su Dang Sheng , Pham-Huu Cuong
Published: December 2016

Hierarchical carbon fibers/carbon nanofibers composites, with high effective surface areas and controlled macroscopic shapes, were successfully synthesized through a combination of electrospinning and chemical vapour deposition.
A start of the renaissance for nickel metal hydride batteries: a hydrogen storage alloy series with an ultra-long cycle life
Authors: Yang Chun Cheng , Wang Chang Chun , Li Miao Miao , Jiang Qing
Published: December 2016

Two hydrogen storage alloys with ultra-long cycling lives of 1325 and 1407 cycles were developed for use in nickel metal hydride batteries.
Graphene highly scattered in porous carbon nanofibers: a binder-free and high-performance anode for sodium-ion batteries
Authors: Liu Yongchang , Fan Li-Zhen , Jiao Lifang
Published: December 2016

Graphene mono- or bi-layers highly scattered in porous carbon nanofibers are preparedviaan electrospinning technique. The nanocomposite with a flexible membrane tightly adherent on Cu foil is directly used as a binder-free anode for Na-ion batteries, demonstrating high reversible capacity, unprecedented rate capability, and ultra-long cycling life.
Dramatically enhanced thermoelectric performance of MoS2 by introducing MoO2 nanoinclusions
Authors: Kong Shuang , Wu Tianmin , Yuan Min , Huang Zhiwei , Meng Qing-Long , Jiang Qike , Zhuang Wei , Jiang Peng , Bao Xinhe
Published: December 2016

Adopting an oxygen doping strategy, the thermoelectric efficiency of MoS2 can be enhanced up to 50 times with the best performance appearing along the cross-plane direction.
A drug delivery system based on switchable photo-controlled p-coumaric acid derivatives anchored on mesoporous silica
Authors: Beňová Eva , Zeleňák Vladimír , Halamová Dáša , Almáši Miroslav , Petrul'ová Veronika , Psotka Miroslav , Zeleňáková Adriána , Bačkor Martin , Hornebecq Virginie
Published: December 2016

Mesoporous silica modified by p-coumaric acid derivatives as photo-switchable ligands was studied for the delivery of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
In situ forming gelatin hydrogels by dual-enzymatic cross-linking for enhanced tissue adhesiveness
Authors: Le Thi Phuong , Lee Yunki , Nguyen Dai Hai , Park Ki Dong
Published: December 2016

In situ forming hydrogels show promise as therapeutic implants and carriers in a wide range of biomedical applications.
The application of a G-quadruplex based assay with an iridium(iii) complex to arsenic ion detection and its utilization in a microfluidic chip
Authors: Lin Sheng , Wang Wanhe , Hu Chong , Yang Guanjun , Ko Chung-Nga , Ren Kangning , Leung Chung-Hang , Ma Dik-Lung
Published: December 2016

In this work, the iridium(iii) complex 1 was synthesized and employed in constructing an assay which is based on a G-quadruplex for detecting arsenic ions in aqueous solution.
Regulation of the adsorption selectivity of acidic or basic proteins using a polyoxometalate composite
Authors: Zhang Dan-Dan , Guo Peng-Fei , Hu Lin-Lin , Chen Xu-Wei , Wang Jian-Hua
Published: December 2016

A polyoxometalate composite is prepared for the selective adsorption of either acidic or basic proteins by simply adjusting the adsorption conditions in aqueous medium.
Correction: Reversible PEGylation and Schiff-base linked imidazole modification of polylysine for high-performance gene delivery
Authors: Cai Xiaojun , Li Yongyong , Yue Dong , Yi Qiangying , Li Shuo , Shi Donglu , Gu Zhongwei
Published: December 2016

Correction for ‘Reversible PEGylation and Schiff-base linked imidazole modification of polylysine for high-performance gene delivery’ by Xiaojun Cai et al., J. Mater. Chem. B, 2015, 3, 1507–1517.
A smart, stretchable resistive heater textile
Authors: Li Yiming , Zhang Zhitao , Li Xueyi , Zhang Jing , Lou Huiqing , Shi Xiang , Cheng Xunliang , Peng Huisheng
Published: December 2016

A flexible, stretchable and breathable strip-shaped resistive heater textile is designed to demonstrate rapid thermal response and high stability.
Plasmon-mediated wavelength-selective enhanced photoresponse in polymer photodetectors
Authors: Wang Huan , Lim Ju Won , Mota Filipe Marques , Jang Yu Jin , Yoon Minji , Kim Heejun , Hu Wei , Noh Yong-Young , Kim Dong Ha
Published: December 2016

Introducing AgNPs, AuNPs and AuNRs into a polymer photodiode enhances the responsivity by 46, 49 and 65% for blue, green and red light detection, respectively.
Neurodevelopment and Health-Related Quality of Life in Infants Born with Gastroschisis: A 6-Year Retrospective French Study
Authors: Zahed Meriem , Guimond Floriane , Baumstarck Karine , Faure Alice , Michel Fabrice , Claris Olivier , Massardier Jerome , Gire Catherine , Merrot Thierry , Tosello Barthelemy
Published: December 2016

Introduction Quantify quality of life (QoL) outcomes in gastroschisis children is little assessed. The primary objective was to describe the long-term outcome of newborns with gastroschisis treated in three tertiary care hospitals of France in terms of neurodevelopment and QoL.

Materials and Methods The study reported was a cross-sectional, descriptive multicentric retrospective study assessing the outcome of newborns with gastroschisis, born between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2014, treated at two large and French level III neonatal intensive care units. Long-term outcome data were assessed by questionnaires sent to the infants' parents. Questionnaires explored global health, neurological development, and quality of life (overall assessment including socio-economic and medical), Age & Stages Questionnaire, infants' quality of life (KIDSCREEN), and quality of parents' life (General Questionnaire Short Form-36).

Results In this study, 50% of the survivor's families answered the assessment form (n = 33). The average follow-up age was 40 months, ranging from 8 months to 6 years. Cases of simple gastroschisis more often had a normal score for “communication” (p = 0.033), while patients who received morphine for a longer duration had significantly lower scores for the items “communication” and “problem resolving” (p = 0.024 and p = 0.011, respectively). Children's QoL was significantly lower for patients with gestational age younger than 36 weeks (p = 0.023) and for patients born following “fetal cause delivery” (p = 0.022). Parents had a significantly higher physical composite score if their child underwent primary closure (p = 0.012).

Conclusion Our analyses confirm the idea that cases of complex gastroschisis and preterm delivery may lead to poorer outcome. Such hindsight (40 months in mean) allowed for an interesting assessment of development long after the patient's initial hospitalization and to confirm these results, a standardized neuropsychological evaluation of patients should be done when at least 6 years old. An accurate assessment of the social environment and its impact on the development and QoL of children will be fundamental to avoid selection bias.