bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Source Sector Attribution of CO2 Emissions Using an Urban CO/CO2 Bayesian Inversion System
Authors: Nathan B. J. , Lauvaux T. , Turnbull J. C. , Richardson S. J. , Miles N. L. , Gurney K. R.
Published: November 2018

We assimilate multiple trace gas species within a single high‐resolution Bayesian inversion system to optimize CO2ff emissions for individual source sectors. Starting with carbon monoxide (CO), an atmospheric trace gas with fairly well‐known emissions, we use emission factors of CO and CO2ff (called RCO) defined for each source sector to enable us to jointly use CO and CO2 atmospheric mole fractions to constrain CO2ff sectoral emissions. We first show that our combined CO‐CO2 inversion is theoretically capable of estimating the relative magnitude of sectoral emissions for two, specially defined sectors over Indianapolis, while CO2‐only inversions failed at quantifying sectoral emissions. When assimilating hourly mole fractions collected over 4 months, inverse sectoral emissions converge toward high‐resolution CO2ff bottom‐up emissions from Hestia. The emission ratios between the two sectors agree within 15% with Hestia across various inversion configurations. The assimilation of CO mole fractions preferentially improves flux estimates from traffic emissions, because the CO levels originating from the combustion engine sector are large relative to those from other economic sectors. In a further investigation, we find that including an additional third tracer sensitive to the other sectors only slightly improves the accuracy of the inversion compared to our current two‐sector inversions with CO and CO2 mole fractions. We finally examined the impact of errors in trace gas emission factors and quantify their relative impact on sector‐based inverse emissions. We conclude that multispecies inversions can constrain sectoral emissions at policy‐level uncertainties if trace gas emission factors are sufficiently well known at the city level.
Stabilization Mechanisms and Decomposition Potential of Eroded Soil Organic Matter Pools in Temperate Forests of the Sierra Nevada, California
Authors: Stacy Erin M. , Berhe Asmeret Asefaw , Hunsaker Carolyn T. , Johnson Dale W. , Meding S. Mercer , Hart Stephen C.
Published: November 2018

The lateral destination and potential decomposition of soil organic matter mobilized by soil erosion depends on factors such as the amount and type of precipitation, topography, the nature of mobilized organic matter (OM), potential mixing with mineral particles, and the stabilization mechanisms of the soil OM. This study examined how the relative distribution of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in different OM fractions varied in soils from eroding slopes and in eroded sediments in a series of low‐order forested catchments in the western Sierra Nevada, California. We found that precipitation amount played a major role in mobilizing OM. More than 40% of the OM exported from these forested catchments was free particulate OM, or OM physically protected inside relatively less stable macroaggregates, compared to OM inside microaggregates or chemically associated with soil minerals. Years with high amounts of precipitation generally transported more mineral‐associated OM, with lower C and N concentrations, while sediment transported in drier years was more enriched in unprotected, coarse particulate OM derived from surficial soils. When incubated under the same conditions, sediment C (from material captured in settling basins) produced 72–97% more CO2 during decomposition than soil C did. Our results suggest that without stabilization through burial or reconfigured organomineral associations, this sediment OM is prone to decomposition, which may contribute to little to no terrestrial CO2 sink induced from erosion in these Mediterranean montane forest ecosystems.
Unravelling the effect of charge dynamics at the plasmonic metal/semiconductor interface for CO2 photoreduction
Authors: Collado Laura , Reynal Anna , Fresno Fernando , Barawi Mariam , Escudero Carlos , Perez-Dieste Virginia , Coronado Juan M. , Serrano David P. , Durrant James R. , de la Peña O’Shea Víctor A.
Published: November 2018

Sunlight plays a critical role in the development of emerging sustainable energy conversion and storage technologies. Light-induced CO2 reduction by artificial photosynthesis is one of the cornerstones to produce renewable fuels and environmentally friendly chemicals. Interface interactions between plasmonic metal nanoparticles and semiconductors exhibit improved photoactivities under a wide range of the solar spectrum. However, the photo-induced charge transfer processes and their influence on photocatalysis with these materials are still under debate, mainly due to the complexity of the involved routes occurring at different timescales. Here, we use a combination of advanced in situ and time-resolved spectroscopies covering different timescales, combined with theoretical calculations, to unravel the overall mechanism of photocatalytic CO2 reduction by Ag/TiO2 catalysts. Our findings provide evidence of the key factors determining the enhancement of photoactivity under ultraviolet and visible irradiation, which have important implications for the design of solar energy conversion materials.
Spectral interferometry with waveform-dependent relativistic high-order harmonics from plasma surfaces
Authors: Kormin Dmitrii , Borot Antonin , Ma Guangjin , Dallari William , Bergues Boris , Aladi Márk , Földes István B. , Veisz Laszlo
Published: November 2018

The interaction of ultra-intense laser pulses with matter opened the way to generate the shortest light pulses available nowadays in the attosecond regime. Ionized solid surfaces, also called plasma mirrors, are promising tools to enhance the potential of attosecond sources in terms of photon energy, photon number and duration especially at relativistic laser intensities. Although the production of isolated attosecond pulses and the understanding of the underlying interactions represent a fundamental step towards the realization of such sources, these are challenging and have not yet been demonstrated. Here, we present laser-waveform-dependent high-order harmonic radiation in the extreme ultraviolet spectral range supporting well-isolated attosecond pulses, and utilize spectral interferometry to understand its relativistic generation mechanism. This unique interpretation of the measured spectra provides access to unrevealed temporal and spatial properties such as spectral phase difference between attosecond pulses and field-driven plasma surface motion during the process.
Structural basis of RIP2 activation and signaling
Authors: Gong Qin , Long Ziqi , Zhong Franklin L. , Teo Daniel Eng Thiam , Jin Yibo , Yin Zhan , Boo Zhao Zhi , Zhang Yaming , Zhang Jiawen , Yang Renliang , Bhushan Shashi , Reversade Bruno , Li Zongli , Wu Bin
Published: November 2018

Signals arising from bacterial infections are detected by pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs) and are transduced by specialized adapter proteins in mammalian cells. The Receptor-interacting-serine/threonine-protein kinase 2 (RIPK2 or RIP2) is such an adapter protein that is critical for signal propagation of the Nucleotide-binding-oligomerization-domain-containing proteins 1/2 (NOD1 and NOD2). Dysregulation of this signaling pathway leads to defects in bacterial detection and in some cases autoimmune diseases. Here, we show that the Caspase-activation-and-recruitment-domain (CARD) of RIP2 (RIP2-CARD) forms oligomeric structures upon stimulation by either NOD1-CARD or NOD2-2CARD. We reconstitute this complex, termed the RIPosome in vitro and solve the cryo-EM filament structure of the active RIP2-CARD complex at 4.1 Å resolution. The structure suggests potential mechanisms by which CARD domains from NOD1 and NOD2 initiate the oligomerization process of RIP2-CARD. Together with structure guided mutagenesis experiments at the CARD-CARD interfaces, we demonstrate molecular mechanisms how RIP2 is activated and self-propagating such signal.
Competition between proton transfer and intermolecular Coulombic decay in water
Authors: Richter Clemens , Hollas Daniel , Saak Clara-Magdalena , Förstel Marko , Miteva Tsveta , Mucke Melanie , Björneholm Olle , Sisourat Nicolas , Slavíček Petr , Hergenhahn Uwe
Published: November 2018

Intermolecular Coulombic decay (ICD) is a ubiquitous relaxation channel of electronically excited states in weakly bound systems, ranging from dimers to liquids. As it is driven by electron correlation, it was assumed that it will dominate over more established energy loss mechanisms, for example fluorescence. Here, we use electron–electron coincidence spectroscopy to determine the efficiency of the ICD process after 2a1 ionization in water clusters. We show that this efficiency is surprisingly low for small water clusters and that it gradually increases to 40–50% for clusters with hundreds of water units. Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations reveal that proton transfer between neighboring water molecules proceeds on the same timescale as ICD and leads to a configuration in which the ICD channel is closed. This conclusion is further supported by experimental results from deuterated water. Combining experiment and theory, we infer an intrinsic ICD lifetime of 12–52 fs for small water clusters.
A quaternary tetramer assembly inhibits the deubiquitinating activity of USP25
Authors: Liu Bing , Sureda-Gómez Marta , Zhen Yang , Amador Virginia , Reverter David
Published: November 2018

USP25 deubiquitinating enzyme is a key member of the ubiquitin system, which acts as a positive regulator of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling by promoting the deubiquitination and stabilization of tankyrases. USP25 is characterized by the presence of a long insertion in the middle of the conserved catalytic domain. The crystal structure of USP25 displays an unexpected homotetrameric quaternary assembly that is directly involved in the inhibition of its enzymatic activity. The tetramer is assembled by the association of two dimers and includes contacts between the coiled-coil insertion domain and the ubiquitin-binding pocket at the catalytic domain, revealing a distinctive autoinhibitory mechanism. Biochemical and kinetic assays with dimer, tetramer and truncation constructs of USP25 support this mechanism, displaying higher catalytic activity in the dimer assembly. Moreover, the high stabilization of tankyrases in cultured cells by ectopic expression of a constitutive dimer of USP25 supports a biological relevance of this tetramerization/inhibition mechanism.
Molecular pain markers correlate with pH-sensitive MRI signal in a pig model of disc degeneration
Authors: Bez Maxim , Zhou Zhengwei , Sheyn Dmitriy , Tawackoli Wafa , Giaconi Joseph C. , Shapiro Galina , Ben David Shiran , Gazit Zulma , Pelled Gadi , Li Debiao , Gazit Dan
Published: November 2018

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is a leading cause of chronic low back pain that affects millions of people every year. Yet identification of the specific IVD causing this pain is based on qualitative visual interpretation rather than objective findings. One possible approach to diagnosing pain-associated IVD could be to identify acidic IVDs, as decreased pH within an IVD has been postulated to mediate discogenic pain. We hypothesized that quantitative chemical exchange saturation transfer (qCEST) MRI could detect pH changes in IVDs, and thence be used to diagnose pathologically painful IVDs objectively and noninvasively. To test this hypothesis, a surgical model of IVD degeneration in Yucatan minipigs was used. Direct measurement of pH inside the degenerated IVDs revealed a significant drop in pH after degeneration, which correlated with a significant increase in the qCEST signal. Gene analysis of harvested degenerated IVDs revealed significant upregulation of pain-, nerve- and inflammatory-related markers after IVD degeneration. A strong positive correlation was observed between the expression of pain markers and the increase in the qCEST signal. Collectively, these findings suggest that this approach might be used to identify which IVD is causing low back pain, thereby providing valuable guidance for pain and surgical management.
Iron homeostasis in Mycobacterium tuberculosis is essential for persistence
Authors: Pandey Manitosh , Talwar Sakshi , Bose Sutapa , Pandey Amit Kumar
Published: November 2018

Tuberculosis, caused by the obligate intracellular pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), is responsible for 2–3 million deaths annually worldwide. Intracellular adaptability, which is critical for long-term persistence, requires the pathogen to neutralize host-mediated insults. The iron–sulphur (Fe–S) cofactor is essential for many enzymes critical for such ‘adaptation’. The Mtb genome harbors only one putative iron–sulphur cluster (ISC) operon (rv1460-66) predicted to be involved in the generation of the Fe–S cofactor. Except for rv1460, all other genes in this operon are anticipated to be essential. The current study investigated the role of rv1460, an sufR homologue of Mtb (sufRTB), in maintaining intracellular Fe homeostasis and its implications on mycobacterial pathogenesis. We found that Mtb ISC locus (rv1461–66) was transcribed as a single multigene transcript. We successfully generated the sufRTB null mutant strain (ΔsufRTB) of Mtb, suggesting nonessentiality of the gene under normal growth conditions. The mutant strain demonstrated enhanced biofilm generation and failed to grow under a low-Fe condition. Growth characterization studies indicated that SufRTB-mediated intracellular Fe homeostasis is essential for Mtb to persist in the host. Targeting mycobacterial persistence by inhibiting SufRTB protein activity may be a novel intervention strategy in tuberculosis treatment.
Natural variation in acyl editing is a determinant of seed storage oil composition
Authors: Menard Guillaume N. , Bryant Fiona M. , Kelly Amélie A. , Craddock Christian P. , Lavagi Irene , Hassani-Pak Keywan , Kurup Smita , Eastmond Peter J.
Published: November 2018

Seeds exhibit wide variation in the fatty acid composition of their storage oil. However, the genetic basis of this variation is only partially understood. Here we have used a multi-parent advanced generation inter-cross (MAGIC) population to study the genetic control of fatty acid chain length in Arabidopsis thaliana seed oil. We mapped four quantitative trait loci (QTL) for the quantity of the major very long chain fatty acid species 11-eicosenoic acid (20:1), using multiple QTL modelling. Surprisingly, the main-effect QTL does not coincide with FATTY ACID ELONGASE1 and a parallel genome wide association study suggested that LYSOPHOSPHATIDYLCHOLINE ACYLTRANSFERASE 2 (LPCAT2) is a candidate for this QTL. Regression analysis also suggested that LPCAT2 expression and 20:1 content in seeds of the 19 MAGIC founder accessions are related. LPCAT is a key component of the Lands cycle; an acyl editing pathway that enables acyl-exchange between the acyl-Coenzyme A and phosphatidylcholine precursor pools used for microsomal fatty acid elongation and desaturation, respectively. We Mendelianised the main-effect QTL using biparental chromosome segment substitution lines and carried out complementation tests to show that a single cis-acting polymorphism in the LPCAT2 promoter causes the variation in seed 20:1 content, by altering the LPCAT2 expression level and total LPCAT activity in developing siliques. Our work establishes that oilseed species exhibit natural variation in the enzymic capacity for acyl editing and this contributes to the genetic control of storage oil composition.
Publisher Correction: Effects of porosity on dynamic indentation resistance of silica nanofoam
Authors: Zhao Cang , Zhong Ying , Qiao Yu
Published: November 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.
FOXO1 overexpression and loss of pSerine256-FOXO1 expression predicts clinical outcome in esophageal adenocarcinomas
Authors: Grupp Katharina , Uzunoglu Faik Güntac , Melling Nathaniel , Hofmann Bianca , El Gammal Alexander Tarek , Grotelüschen Rainer , Heumann Asmus , Bellon Eugen , Reeh Matthias , Wolters-Eisfeld Gerrit , Ghabdan Tarik , Nentwich Michael , Bachmann Kai , Bockhorn Maximillian , Bogoevski Dean , Izbicki Jakob Robert , Kutup Asad
Published: November 2018

The function of Forkhead box O 1 (FOXO1) and pSerine256-FOXO1 immunostaining in esophageal cancer is unclear. To clarify the prognostic role of nuclear FOXO1 and cytoplasmic pSerine256-FOXO1 immunostaining, a tissue microarray containing more than 600 esophageal cancers was analyzed. In non-neoplastic esophageal mucosae, FOXO1 expression was detectable in low and pSerine256-FOXO1 expression in high intensities. Increased FOXO1 and decreased pSerine256-FOXO1 expression were linked to advanced tumor stage and high UICC stage in esophageal adenocarcinomas (EACs) (tumor stage: p = 0.0209 and p < 0.0001; UICC stage: p = 0.0201 and p < 0.0001) and squamous cell carcinomas (ESCCs) (tumor stage: p = 0.0003 and p = 0.0016; UICC stage: p = 0.0026 and p = 0.0326). Additionally, overexpression of FOXO1 and loss of pSerine256-FOXO1 expression predicted shortened survival of patients with EACs (p = 0.0003 and p = 0.0133) but were unrelated to outcome in patients with ESCCs (p = 0.7785 and p = 0.8426). In summary, our study shows that overexpression of nuclear FOXO1 and loss of cytoplasmic pSerine256-FOXO1 expression are associated with poor prognosis in patients with EACs. Thus, evaluation of FOXO1 and pSerine256-FOXO1 protein expression - either alone or in combination with other markers - might be useful for prediction of clinical outcome in patients with EAC.
IL-34 promotes foam cell formation by enhancing CD36 expression through p38 MAPK pathway
Authors: Liu Qingyan , Fan Jiao , Bai Jing , Peng Liang , Zhang Tao , Deng Lei , Wang Gaokun , Zhao Yu , Nong Jingguo , Zhang Minghua , Wang Yu
Published: November 2018

Atherosclerosis is characterized as a chronic inflammatory disease and macrophage-derived foam cells play a central role during the pathologic processes. A newly discovered cytokine interleukin-34 (IL-34) is closely associated with various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Expression of IL-34 in obesity, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), lupus nephritis and coronary artery diseases (CAD) are significantly elevated. However, the role of IL-34 in atherosclerosis remains unknown. In our present study, we found that IL-34 treatment markedly increased the uptake of oxLDL, intracellular total and esterified cholesterol content but not cholesterol efflux, subsequently promoted foam cell formation through up-regulating CD36 expression via p38 MAPK signal pathway in bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDMs). Furthermore, treatment with IL-34 significantly elevated the oxLDL-induced up-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Our results conclude that IL-34 facilitates foam cell formation by increasing CD36-mediated lipid uptake and suggest a potential new risk biomarker for atherosclerosis.
Influence of visual cues on oviposition site searching and learning behavior in the parasitic beetle Dastarcus helophoroides (Fairmaire) (Coleoptera: Bothrideridae)
Authors: Lyu Fei , Hai Xiao-xia , Wang Zhi-gang , Bi Yongguo
Published: November 2018

Color cues play a key role in the location of hosts and host habitats; learning behavior can allow parasitoids to explore different hosts and reduce environmental uncertainty. However, it remains unclear whether the parasitic beetle Dastarcus helophoroides (Fairmaire) uses and learns visual cues to locate oviposition sites. In this study, we investigated the ability of females to respond to colors and associate the presence of a simulated oviposition site—wood with a trough—with colored substrates after training. Two sets of experiments were conducted: (i) investigating the innate preference for substrate coloration and (ii) investigating the ability to learn to associate substrate color with the presence of simulated oviposition sites, with the beetles being trained to respond to different substrate colors with simulated oviposition sites in sessions on 10 consecutive days. The parasitic beetles displayed an innate preference for the black substrate, but this preference changed after the beetles were trained on substrates of different colors. In the associative learning tests, these beetles laid more eggs on the reward-conditioned substrates than on the black substrate after being trained. Our results suggest that visual cues are learned and used by D. helophoroides during their search for and selection of oviposition sites.
DNA methylation dynamics during embryonic development and postnatal maturation of the mouse auditory sensory epithelium
Authors: Yizhar-Barnea Ofer , Valensisi Cristina , Jayavelu Naresh Doni , Kishore Kamal , Andrus Colin , Koffler-Brill Tal , Ushakov Kathy , Perl Kobi , Noy Yael , Bhonker Yoni , Pelizzola Mattia , Hawkins R. David , Avraham Karen B.
Published: November 2018

The inner ear is a complex structure responsible for hearing and balance, and organ pathology is associated with deafness and balance disorders. To evaluate the role of epigenomic dynamics, we performed whole genome bisulfite sequencing at key time points during the development and maturation of the mouse inner ear sensory epithelium (SE). Our single-nucleotide resolution maps revealed variations in both general characteristics and dynamics of DNA methylation over time. This allowed us to predict the location of non-coding regulatory regions and to identify several novel candidate regulatory factors, such as Bach2, that connect stage-specific regulatory elements to molecular features that drive the development and maturation of the SE. Constructing in silico regulatory networks around sites of differential methylation enabled us to link key inner ear regulators, such as Atoh1 and Stat3, to pathways responsible for cell lineage determination and maturation, such as the Notch pathway. We also discovered that a putative enhancer, defined as a low methylated region (LMR), can upregulate the GJB6 gene and a neighboring non-coding RNA. The study of inner ear SE methylomes revealed novel regulatory regions in the hearing organ, which may improve diagnostic capabilities, and has the potential to guide the development of therapeutics for hearing loss by providing multiple intervention points for manipulation of the auditory system.
Topological properties of a bipartite lattice of domain wall states
Authors: Munoz F. , Pinilla Fernanda , Mella J. , Molina Mario I.
Published: November 2018

We propose a generalization of the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) model of the bipartite lattice, consisting of a periodic array of domain walls. The low-energy description is governed by the superposition of localized states at each domain wall, forming an effective mono-atomic chain at a larger scale. When the domain walls are dimerized, topologically protected edge states can appear, just like in the original SSH model. These new edge states are formed exclusively by soliton-like states and therefore, the new topological states are qualitatively different from the regular SSH edge states. They posses a much longer localization length and are more resistant to on-site disorder, in marked contrast to the standard SSH case.
Benzothiadiazole, a plant defense inducer, negatively regulates sheath blight resistance in Brachypodium distachyon
Authors: Kouzai Yusuke , Noutoshi Yoshiteru , Inoue Komaki , Shimizu Minami , Onda Yoshihiko , Mochida Keiichi
Published: November 2018

Plant defense inducers that mimic functions of the plant immune hormone salicylic acid (SA) often affect plant growth. Although benzothiadiazole (BTH), a synthetic analog of SA, has been widely used to protect crops from diseases by inducing plant defense responses, we recently demonstrated that SA, but not BTH, confers resistance against Rhizoctonia solani, the causal agent of sheath blight disease, in Brachypodium distachyon. Here, we demonstrated that BTH compromised the resistance of Bd3-1 and Gaz4, the two sheath blight-resistant accessions of B. distachyon, which activate SA-dependent signaling following challenge by R. solani. Moreover, upon analyzing our published RNA-seq data from B. distachyon treated with SA or BTH, we found that BTH specifically induces expression of genes related to chloroplast function and jasmonic acid (JA) signaling, suggesting that BTH attenuates R. solani resistance by perturbing growth-defense trade-offs and/or by inducing a JA response that may increase susceptibility to R. solani. Our findings demonstrated that BTH does not work as a simple mimic of SA in B. distachyon, and consequently may presumably cause unfavorable side effects through the transcriptional alteration, particularly with respect to R. solani resistance.
Publisher Correction: Trapping Phenomenon Attenuates the Consequences of Tipping Points for Limit Cycles
Authors: Medeiros Everton S. , Caldas Iberê L. , Baptista Murilo S. , Feudel Ulrike
Published: November 2018

A correction has been published and is appended to both the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper.
Aggregated-fluorescent detection of PFAS with a simple chip
Authors: Fang Cheng , Wu Jinjian , Sobhani Zahra , Amin Md. Al , Tang Youhong
Published: November 2018

In this study, aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgen) are used for the detection of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (6:2FTS).
A 2,2′-bipyridine-containing covalent organic framework bearing rhenium(i) tricarbonyl moieties for CO2 reduction
Authors: Popov Damir A. , Luna John M. , Orchanian Nicholas M. , Haiges Ralf , Downes Courtney A. , Marinescu Smaranda C.
Published: November 2018

The reduction of CO2 into higher energy products such as carbon-based fuels and feedstocks is an attractive strategy for mitigating the continuous rise in CO2 emissions associated with the growing global energy demand.
One-step green synthesis of composition-tunable Pt–Cu alloy nanowire networks with high catalytic activity for 4-nitrophenol reduction
Authors: Zhang Yingfang , Xia Yan , Yan Saisai , Han Jia , Chen Yifan , Zhai Wenzhong , Gao Zhinong
Published: November 2018

Self-interconnecting Pt–Cu alloy NWNs with high catalytic activity for 4-nitrophenol reduction were synthesized via a facile, one-step and eco-friendly approach.
Fabrication of a full-spectrum-response Cu2(OH)2CO3/g-C3N4 heterojunction catalyst with outstanding photocatalytic H2O2 production performance via a self-sacrificial method
Authors: Li Zheng , Xiong Nanni , Gu Guizhou
Published: November 2018

Over the past few decades, near infrared light (NIR), as an important part of sunlight, has seldom been utilized in photocatalytic reactions.
Two luminescent coordination polymers as highly selective and sensitive chemosensors for CrVI-anions in aqueous medium
Authors: Wang Chen-Xue , Xia Yu-Pei , Yao Zhao-Quan , Xu Jialiang , Chang Ze , Bu Xian-He
Published: November 2018

Two luminescent coordination polymers with considerable stability in aqueous media were synthesized. Sensing experiments indicate that they can serve as highly selective and sensitive fluorescent probes toward CrVI-anions.
Cardioprotective effects of dihydroquercetin against ischemia reperfusion injury by inhibiting oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis via the PI3K/Akt pathway
Authors: Shu Zunpeng , Yang Yanni , Yang Liu , Jiang Hai , Yu Xiaojin , Wang Yi
Published: November 2018

Dihydroquercetin (DHQ), a dihydroxyflavone, possesses potent antioxidant properties and is proposed to be useful in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.
Discovery of 3-hydroxy-3-pyrrolin-2-one-based mPGES-1 inhibitors using a multi-step virtual screening protocol
Authors: Lauro Gianluigi , Cantone Vincenza , Potenza Marianna , Fischer Katrin , Koeberle Andreas , Werz Oliver , Riccio Raffaele , Bifulco Giuseppe
Published: November 2018

Virtual screening is a useful tool for disclosing new chemical species able to inhibit mPGES-1.
Hydride-induced ligand dynamic and structural transformation of gold nanoclusters during a catalytic reaction
Authors: Nasaruddin Ricca Rahman , Yao Qiaofeng , Chen Tiankai , Hülsey Max J. , Yan Ning , Xie Jianping
Published: November 2018

This study provides molecular insights into the ligand dynamics and structural transformation of Au NC catalyst during 4-nitrophenol hydrogenation.
Passivation of the grain boundaries of CH3NH3PbI3 using carbon quantum dots for highly efficient perovskite solar cells with excellent environmental stability
Authors: Guo Qiang , Yuan Fanglong , Zhang Bing , Zhou Shijie , Zhang Jin , Bai Yiming , Fan Louzhen , Hayat Tasawar , Alsaedi Ahmed , Tan Zhan'ao
Published: November 2018

Passivation of the grain boundaries of CH3NH3PbI3 by bonding with a carbon quantum dot additive for efficient perovskite solar cells with excellent environmental stability.
Fluorescent peptide displacement as a general assay for screening small molecule libraries against RNA
Authors: Patwardhan Neeraj N. , Cai Zhengguo , Newson Colby N. , Hargrove Amanda E.
Published: November 2018

A fluorescent peptide displacement assay combined with statistical analysis is used for screening small molecules against different RNA targets and profiling their affinity/selectivity patterns.
A novel supramolecular polymer π-gel based on bis-naphthalimide functionalized-pillar[5]arene for fluorescence detection and separation of aromatic acid isomers
Authors: Lin Qi , Guan Xiao-Wen , Song Shan-Shan , Fan Haiyan , Yao Hong , Zhang You-Ming , Wei Tai-Bao
Published: November 2018

A pillar[5]arene-based supramolecular polymer π-gel, BPN-G, can selectively identify and separate benzoic acid isomers through rationally introduced multi-intermolecular interactions.
Enhanced efficacy of photothermal therapy by combining a semiconducting polymer with an inhibitor of a heat shock protein
Authors: Sun Tingting , Chen Xingxing , Wang Xin , Liu Shi , Liu Jun , Xie Zhigang
Published: November 2018

The photothermal therapy efficacy of a semiconducting polymer could be enhanced by integrating an inhibitor of a heat shock protein.
Amino-modified molecular sieves for adsorptive removal of H2S from natural gas
Authors: Zhang Jiaojing , Song Hua , Chen Yanguang , Hao Tianzhen , Li Feng , Yuan Dandan , Wang Xueqin , Zhao Liang , Gao Jinsen
Published: November 2018

Several amine-modified MCM-41 adsorbents (APTMS/MCM-41, PEI/MCM-41, AAPTS/MCM-41) by the grafting method were prepared, in which APTMS/MCM-41 showed much better adsorptive desulfurization performance and regenerability than the others.
A one-step synthesis of rare-earth phosphate–borosilicate glass composites
Authors: Donato Giovanni , Holzscherer Derek , Beam Jeremiah C. , Grosvenor Andrew P.
Published: November 2018

REPO4–BG composites synthesized by a new 1-step method were investigated and were found to be similar to the composite made by the traditional 2-step method.
Vinylene and benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole: effect of the π-spacer unit on the properties of bis(2-oxoindolin-3-ylidene)-benzodifuran-dione containing polymers for n-channel organic field-effect transistors
Authors: Do Thu Trang , Patil Basanagouda B. , Singh Samarendra P. , Yambem Soniya D. , Feron Krishna , Ostrikov Kostya (Ken) , Bell John M. , Sonar Prashant
Published: November 2018

Bottom-gate-top-contact OFET device structure using PBIBDF-TVT and PBIBDF-TBT based polymer semiconductors.
Conversion of saline waste-water and gaseous carbon dioxide to (bi)carbonate salts, hydrochloric acid and desalinated water for on-site industrial utilization
Authors: Dara Saad , Bonakdarpour Arman , Ho Meghan , Govindarajan Rubenthran , Wilkinson David P.
Published: November 2018

Conversion of gaseous carbon dioxide and saline water into hydrochloric acid and carbonate salts using a modified electrodialysis approach.
The anti-apoptotic proteins NAF-1 and iASPP interact to drive apoptosis in cancer cells
Authors: Iosub-Amir Anat , Bai Fang , Sohn Yang-Sung , Song Luhua , Tamir Sagi , Marjault Henri-Baptiste , Mayer Guy , Karmi Ola , Jennings Patricia A. , Mittler Ron , Onuchic José N. , Friedler Assaf , Nechushtai Rachel
Published: November 2018

We reveal a novel interaction between the two anti-apoptotic proteins iASPP and NAF-1, which are overexpressed in many types of cancer cells, and propose that this interaction is required for apoptosis activation in cancer cells. A peptide derived from the interaction interface inhibits apoptosis in cells.
Double helical structure of the twist-bend nematic phase investigated by resonant X-ray scattering at the carbon and sulfur K-edges
Authors: Salamończyk Mirosław , Mandle Richard J. , Makal Anna , Liebman-Peláez Alexander , Feng Jun , Goodby John W. , Zhu Chenhui
Published: November 2018

Resonant X-ray scattering revealing structural similarities of twist-bend nematic and crystalline phases.
Self assembly of cyclic polygon shaped fluid colloidal membranes through pinning
Authors: Saikia Lachit , Sharma Prerna
Published: November 2018

Binary phase separation of geometrically different colloidal rods in the presence of pinning leads to cyclic polygon shaped anisotropic fluid colloidal membranes.
A railway-like network electrode design for room temperature Na–S battery
Authors: Yang Tingting , Gao Wei , Guo Bingshu , Zhan Renming , Xu Qiuju , He Hong , Bao Shu-Juan , Li Xiaoyan , Chen Yuming , Xu Maowen
Published: November 2018

A 3D railway-like electrode design to tackle the poor conductivity and severe volume expansion in a room temperature Na–S battery.
A highly robust and stable graphene-encapsulated Cu-grid hybrid transparent electrode demonstrating superior performance in organic solar cells
Authors: Jeong Gyujeong , Jung Seungon , Choi Yunseong , Lee Junghyun , Seo Jihyung , Kim Dong Suk , Park Hyesung
Published: November 2018

Organic solar cells fabricated with Cu grid/graphene hybrid transparent electrodes exhibit both excellent device performance and long-term stability.
A high-absorption and self-driven salt-resistant black gold nanoparticle-deposited sponge for highly efficient, salt-free, and long-term durable solar desalination
Authors: Liu Yizhen , Liu Zhipeng , Huang Qichen , Liang Xuechen , Zhou Xuechang , Fu Huide , Wu Qixing , Zhang Junmin , Xie Wei
Published: November 2018

The self-driven salt resistance mechanism and high solar absorption of BDS realized efficient and long-term durable solar desalination.
An easy-to-make strong white AIE supramolecular polymer as a colour tunable photoluminescence material
Authors: Fan Yan-Qing , Liu Juan , Chen Yan-Yan , Guan Xiao-Wen , Wang Jiao , Yao Hong , Zhang You-Ming , Wei Tai-Bao , Lin Qi
Published: November 2018

An easy-to-make small molecule-based strong white AIE supramolecular polymer acts as a multicolour tunable photoluminescence material.
Significantly conquering moisture-induced luminescence quenching of red line-emitting phosphor Rb2SnF6:Mn4+ through H2C2O4 triggered particle surface reduction for blue converted warm white light-emitting diodes
Authors: Jiang Chunyan , Brik Mikhail G. , Srivastava Alok M. , Li Lihua , Peng Mingying
Published: November 2018

A highly stable red phosphor Rb2SnF6:Mn4+ is achieved by appropriate reduction treatment using a low concentration of H2C2O4.
The effect of Euphorbia szovitsii Fisch. & C.A.Mey extract on the viability and the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cell line
Authors: Asadi-Samani Majid , Rafieian-Kopaei Mahmoud , Lorigooini Zahra , Shirzad Hedayatollah
Published: November 2018

Some medicinal herbs and compounds are known to target cancer cells, but the success of them as anticancer compounds depends to a large extent on their ability to activate pathways that kill cancer cells by arresting cell cycle and inducing apoptosis. The aim of the present study was to determine the anticancer effects of Euphorbia szovitsii Fisch. & C.A.Mey. on the breast cancer cells to reveal the underlying mechanism of its anti-breast cancer properties. In this experimental study, triple negative breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231) was cultivated in RPMI-1640 medium. Hydroalcoholic extract (70:30) of aerial parts of the plant was prepared. The cultured cells were treated with different concentrations (0–1000 μg/ml) of E. szovitsii extract for 24 and 48 h. Toxicity of the extract on MDA-MB-231 cells was examined using MTT (3-[4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl]-2, 5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) test. The Annexin V–FITC Apoptosis Detection Kit was used to evaluate apoptosis and necrosis. Flow cytometry technique was employed to differentiate different phases of the cell cycle in the cells. Data were analyzed by GraphPad Prism and SPSS software. After 24 and 48 h, the IC50 values were respectively 76.78 (95% CI = 60.75–97.05; R = 0.8588) and 59.71 (95% CI = 46.25–77.09; R = 0.8543) μg/ml for E. szovitsii. The extract exhibited antiproliferative effects against MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Annexin V-FITC/PI assay confirmed that the extract was able to induce apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells. Moreover, treatment with the extract resulted in cell cycle arrest at G1 phase. Therefore, E. szovitsii could induce apoptosis and cycle arrest in the MDA-MB-231 cell line. It might be a good resource of natural products for producing anti-breast cancer drugs.
An Integrative Analysis of Spontaneous Storytelling Discourse in Aphasia: Relationship With Listeners' Rating and Prediction of Severity and Fluency Status of Aphasia
Authors: Kong Anthony Pak-Hin , Wong Cherie Wan-Yin
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This study investigated which of the three analytic approaches of oral discourse, including linguistically based measures, proposition-based measures, and story grammar, best correlated with aphasia severity and with naïve listeners' ratings on aphasic productions. The predictive power of these analytic approaches to aphasia severity and fluency status of people with aphasia (PWA) was examined. Finally, which approach best discriminated fluent versus nonfluent PWA was determined.

Method

Audio files and orthographic transcriptions of the storytelling task “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” from 68 PWA and 68 controls were extracted from the Cantonese AphasiaBank. Each transcript was analyzed using these 3 systems.

Results

The linguistic approach of discourse analysis best correlated with aphasia severity and naïve listeners' subjective ratings. Although both linguistically based and proposition-based measures significantly predicted aphasia severity, a subset of linguistic measures focusing on the quantity and efficiency of production were particularly useful for clinical estimation of the fluency status of aphasia.

Conclusions

The linguistically based measures appeared to be the most clinically effective and powerful in reflecting PWA's performance of spoken discourse.
Towards a cyber physical system for personalised and automatic OSA treatment
Authors: Sannino Giovanna , De Falco Ivanoe , De Pietro Giuseppe
Published: November 2018

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a breathing disorder that takes place in the course of the sleep and is produced by a complete or a partial obstruction of the upper airway that manifests itself as frequent breathing stops and starts during the sleep. The real‐time evaluation of whether or not a patient is undergoing OSA episode is a very important task in medicine in many scenarios, as for example for making instantaneous pressure adjustments that should take place when Automatic Positive Airway Pressure devices are used during the treatment of OSA. Here, the design of a possible Cyber Physical System (CPS) suited to real‐time monitoring of OSA is described, and its software architecture and possible hardware sensing components are detailed. It should be emphasised here that this study does not deal with a full CPS, rather with a software part of it under a set of assumptions on the environment. The study also reports some preliminary experiments about the cognitive and learning capabilities of the designed CPS involving its use on a publicly available sleep apnoea database.
Evaluation of InGaAs/InP photodiode for high-speed operation at 4 K
Authors: Bardalen Eivind , Karlsen Bjørnar , Malmbekk Helge , Akram Muhammed Nadeem , Ohlckers Per
Published: November 2018

An optically controlled high-speed current source located at 4 K is likely to improve the performance of pulse-driven Josephson junction arrays. A custom photodiode module with an Albis PDCS24L InGaAs/InP PIN photodiode is investigated in order to determine the suitability at 4 K. The DC and frequency response were tested at room temperature and at temperatures down to 4 K. For continuous wave optical input, photocurrents above 15 mA were produced at both room temperature and 4 K. I–V measurements show that the threshold voltage increased from 0.5 V at room temperature to 0.8 V at 4 K. The transmission coefficient S21 of the optoelectronic system, including cables and modulated laser source, was measured using a vector network analyzer. Up to 14 GHz, the results showed that the frequency response at 4 K was not degraded compared to room temperature. At room temperature, reverse bias voltages of up to 3 V was required for the highest bandwidth, while at 4 K, the photodiode was operated at nearly full speed even at 0 V reverse bias.
Numerical stability of a plasma sheath
Authors: Badsi Mehdi , Mehrenberger Michel , Navoret Laurent
Published: November 2018

We are interested in developing a numerical method for capturing stationary sheaths, that a plasma forms in contact with a metallic wall. This work is based on a bi-species (ion/electron) Vlasov-Ampère model proposed in [3]. The main question addressed in this work is to know how accurately classical time-dependent Vlasov-Ampère numerical schemes preserve in long time these non-homogeneous stationary solutions with emission/absorption boundary conditions. In the context of high-order semi-Lagrangian methods, due to their large stencil, interpolation near the boundary of the domain requires also a specific treatment.
Diffusion approximation in a radiative transfer model for astrophysical flows
Authors: Di Menza Laurent , Michaut Claire , Saincir Océane
Published: November 2018

In this work, we present the diffusion approximation model for radiative transfer when we deal with optically thick astrophysical flows. Since the initial model is high CPU time demanding when dealing with its numerical approximation, solving this simpler system can provide a low cost strategy for the simulation of radiative media. We then use a finite-volume algorithm coupled with an implicit scheme for radiative contributions to solve this simplified system. Numerical experiments in the one-dimensional and two dimensional cases are presented to validate our numerical strategy and to prove the relevance of this asymptotic model.
Résultats préliminaires de l’étude de la prévalence de la cachexie en hématologie au sein de la cohorte HEMODIAG : perspectives de prévention par l’activité physique adaptée
Authors: Mallard Joris , Gagez Anne-Laure , Soulier Olivier , Herbinet Aline , Bernard Pierre Louis , Cartron Guillaume
Published: November 2018

Les lymphomes et le myélome sont des hémopathies malignes traitées par chimiothérapies. Ces traitements favorisent la survenue d’une cachexie, caractérisée par une perte de poids involontaire, entraînant une augmentation du risque de mortalité et une diminution de la qualité de vie. L’objectif principal de cette étude était d’investiguer la prévalence de la cachexie chez les patients atteints d’un lymphome ou d’un myélome au sein de la cohorte HEMODIAG, selon les critères diagnostiques de Fearon et al. et Martin et al. Respectivement, parmi les 146 patients inclus dans notre étude, 16 % des patients sont cachectiques via le critère de Fearon contre 38 % via celui de Martin. Basé sur une matrice de corrélation corrélée à la survie, le score de Martin semble plus pertinent pour évaluer la cachexie. L’activité physique adaptée constituerait un moyen de prévenir la cachexie en agissant sur l’ensemble des mécanismes physiopathologiques, mais aucune étude ne le prouve chez l’humain atteint de cancer. Nos prochains travaux s’attacheront donc à évaluer l’effet préventif d’un programme d’APA supervisé au domicile du patient atteint de lymphome ou de myélome sur la cachexie.
Gesundheitsversorgung von Asylsuchenden in Deutschland nach Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz: Wahrnehmung und Präferenzen der Bevölkerung
Authors: Samarappuli Katharina , Schorling Elisabeth , Gumbert Laura , Lauerer Michael , Nagel Eckhard
Published: November 2018

Ziel Die Studie analysiert die Wahrnehmung und Präferenzen der Bevölkerung zu Umfang, Zugang und Finanzierung der Gesundheitsversorgung von Asylsuchenden (AS).

Methodik Standardisierte schriftliche Befragung der Bevölkerung >18 Jahre, kombiniertes Quota-Verfahren, deskriptive und inferenzstatistische Auswertung.

Ergebnisse Die Stichprobe (n=419) war eher schlecht über die Thematik informiert. Es zeigten sich heterogene Präferenzen. 47,0% favorisierten eine Beibehaltung der Regelungen zum Versorgungsumfang, 22,7% eine Ausweitung. Für eine Gesundheitskarte sprachen sich 56,1% aus. Die EU, Steuerzahler, Herkunftsländer und AS selbst wurden als Finanziers der Versorgung präferiert.

Schlussfolgerung Eine Berücksichtigung von Präferenzen kann die Akzeptanz und Legitimation von Entscheidungen stärken. Die vorliegenden Ergebnisse legen nahe, dass dies zu moderaten Anpassungen der Gesundheitsversorgung für AS führen würde. Aufgrund der mangelnden subjektiven Informiertheit der Befragten ist qualitative Forschung angezeigt.
Bubble Formation in Children and Adolescents after Two Standardised Shallow Dives
Authors: Geyer Lisa , Brockmeier Konrad , Graf Christine , Kretzschmar Benno , Schmitz Karl-Heinz , Webering Ferdinand , Hoffmann Uwe
Published: November 2018

Circulating venous bubbles after dives are associated with symptoms of decompression sickness in adults. Up to now it is not known to what extent children and adolescents are subjected to a bubble formation during their shallow dives and if there are possible indications for that. The aim of this pilot study is to investigate whether bubbles and/or symptoms occur after standardised repeated dives performed by young divers. 28 children and adolescents (13.5±1.1 years) carried out two 25 min dives to a depth of 10 m with a 90 min surface interval. Before and after, echocardiographic data were recorded and evaluated with regard to circulating bubbles with an extended Eftedal-Brubakk-Scale by 2 different examiners. Bubbles were observed for a total of 6 subjects, Grade I (n=5) and Grade III (n=1). None of them showed any symptoms of decompression sickness. No differences were established regarding potential influencing factors on bubble formation between the groups with and without bubbles. The results indicate that even relatively shallow and short dives can generate venous bubbles in children and adolescents. To what extent this relates to the decompression sickness or clinical symptoms cannot be validated at this point.
Role of Damage-Associated Molecular Patterns and Uncontrolled Inflammation in Pediatric Sepsis-Induced Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome
Authors: Pang Diana , Bashir Dalia , Carcillo Joseph , Nguyen Trung , Aneja Rajesh , Alcamo Alicia
Published: November 2018

The incidence of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in sepsis varies from 17 to 73% and furthermore, increases the risk of death by 60% when controlled for the number of dysfunctional organs. Several MODS phenotypes exist, each unique in presentation and pathophysiology. Common to the phenotypes is the stimulation of the immune response by pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), or danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) causing an unremitting inflammation. Two of the MODS phenotypes are discussed in detail, thrombocytopenia-associated multiple organ failure (TAMOF) and the hyperinflammatory phenotype–macrophage activating syndrome (MAS) and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). In the end, we will briefly review the role of mitochondrial dysfunction as a significant contributor to the pathogenesis of MODS.