bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CD271-selected mesenchymal stem cells from adipose tissue enhance cartilage repair and are less angiogenic than plastic adherent mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Kohli Nupur , Al-Delfi Ibtesam R. T. , Snow Martyn , Sakamoto Takumi , Miyazaki Tsuyoshi , Nakajima Hideaki , Uchida Kenzo , Johnson William E. B.
Published: February 2019

CD271 is a marker of bone marrow MSCs with enhanced differentiation capacity for bone or cartilage repair. However, the nature of CD271+ MSCs from adipose tissue (AT) is less well understood. Here, we investigated the differentiation, wound healing and angiogenic capacity of plastic adherent MSCs (PA MSCs) versus CD271+ MSCs from AT. There was no difference in the extent to which PA MSCs and CD271+ MSCs formed osteoblasts, adipocytes or chondrocytesin vitro. In contrast, CD271+ MSCs transplanted into athymic rats significantly enhanced osteochondral wound healing with reduced vascularisation in the repair tissue compared to PA MSCs and control animals; there was little histological evidence of mature articular cartilage formation in all animals. Conditioned medium from CD271+ MSC cultures was less angiogenic than PA MSC conditioned medium, and had little effect on endothelial cell migration or endothelial tubule formationin vitro. The low angiogenic activity of CD271+ MSCs and improved early stage tissue repair of osteochondral lesions when transplanted, along with a comparable differentiation capacity along mesenchymal lineages when induced, suggests that these selected cells are a better candidate than PA MSCs for the repair of cartilaginous tissue.
Protecting maize from rootworm damage with the combined application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, Pseudomonas bacteria and entomopathogenic nematodes
Authors: Jaffuel Geoffrey , Imperiali Nicola , Shelby Kent , Campos-Herrera Raquel , Geisert Ryan , Maurhofer Monika , Loper Joyce , Keel Christoph , Turlings Ted C. J. , Hibbard Bruce E.
Published: February 2019

Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, the western corn rootworm (WCR), is the most destructive pest of maize in North America, and has recently spread across central Europe. Its subterranean larval stages are hard to reach with pesticides and it has evolved resistance to conventional management practices. The application of beneficial soil organisms is being considered as a sustainable and environmental friendly alternative. In a previous study, the combined application in wheat fields of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, entomopathogenic Pseudomonas bacteria, and entomopathogenic nematodes was found to promote growth and protection against a natural pest infestation, without negative cross effects. Because of the insect-killing capacity of the bacteria and nematodes, we hypothesized that the application of these organisms would have similar or even greater beneficial effects in WCR-infested maize fields. During three consecutive years (2015–2017), we conducted trials in Missouri (USA) in which we applied the three organisms, alone or in combinations, in plots that were artificially infested with WCR and in non-infested control plots. For two of the three trials, we found that in plots treated with entomopathogenic nematodes and/or entomopathogenic Pseudomonas bacteria, roots were less damaged than the roots of plants in control plots. During one year, WCR survival was significantly lower in plots treated with Pseudomonas than in control plots, and the surviving larvae that were recovered from these plots were lighter. The bacterial and nematodes treatments also enhanced yield, assessed as total grain weight, in one of the trials. The effects of the treatments varied considerable among the three years, but they were always positive for the plants.
The CDR1 and Other Regions of Immunoglobulin Light Chains are Hot Spots for Amyloid Aggregation
Authors: Ruiz-Zamora Robin Axel , Guillaumé Simon , Al-Hilaly Youssra K. , Al-Garawi Zahraa , Rodríguez-Alvarez Francisco Javier , Zavala-Padilla Guadalupe , Pérez-Carreón Julio I. , Rodríguez-Ambriz Sandra L. , Herrera Guillermo A. , Becerril-Luján Baltazar , Ochoa-Leyva Adrián , Melendez-Zajgla Jorge , Serpell Louise , del Pozo-Yauner Luis
Published: February 2019

Immunoglobulin light chain-derived (AL) amyloidosis is a debilitating disease without known cure. Almost nothing is known about the structural factors driving the amyloidogenesis of the light chains. This study aimed to identify the fibrillogenic hotspots of the model protein 6aJL2 and in pursuing this goal, two complementary approaches were applied. One of them was based on several web-based computational tools optimized to predict fibrillogenic/aggregation-prone sequences based on different structural and biophysical properties of the polypeptide chain. Then, the predictions were confirmed with an ad-hoc synthetic peptide library. In the second approach, 6aJL2 protein was proteolyzed with trypsin, and the products incubated in aggregation-promoting conditions. Then, the aggregation-prone fragments were identified by combining standard proteomic methods, and the results validated with a set of synthetic peptides with the sequence of the tryptic fragments. Both strategies coincided to identify a fibrillogenic hotspot located at the CDR1 and β-strand C of the protein, which was confirmed by scanning proline mutagenesis analysis. However, only the proteolysis-based strategy revealed additional fibrillogenic hotspots in two other regions of the protein. It was shown that a fibrillogenic hotspot associated to the CDR1 is also encoded by several κ and λ germline variable domain gene segments. Some parts of this study have been included in the chapter “The Structural Determinants of the Immunoglobulin Light Chain Amyloid Aggregation”, published in Physical Biology of Proteins and Peptides, Springer 2015 (ISBN 978-3-319-21687-4).
Utilisation of Ambient Laser Desorption Ionisation Mass Spectrometry (ALDI-MS) Improves Lipid-Based Microbial Species Level Identification
Authors: Cameron Simon J. S. , Bodai Zsolt , Temelkuran Burak , Perdones-Montero Alvaro , Bolt Frances , Burke Adam , Alexander-Hardiman Kate , Salzet Michel , Fournier Isabelle , Rebec Monica , Takáts Zoltán
Published: February 2019

The accurate and timely identification of the causative organism of infection is important in ensuring the optimum treatment regimen is prescribed for a patient. Rapid evaporative ionisation mass spectrometry (REIMS), using electrical diathermy for the thermal disruption of a sample, has been shown to provide fast and accurate identification of microorganisms directly from culture. However, this method requires contact to be made between the REIMS probe and microbial biomass; resulting in the necessity to clean or replace the probes between analyses. Here, optimisation and utilisation of ambient laser desorption ionisation (ALDI) for improved speciation accuracy and analytical throughput is shown. Optimisation was completed on 15 isolates of Escherichia coli, showing 5 W in pulsatile mode produced the highest signal-to-noise ratio. These parameters were used in the analysis of 150 clinical isolates from ten microbial species, resulting in a speciation accuracy of 99.4% - higher than all previously reported REIMS modalities. Comparison of spectral data showed high levels of similarity between previously published electrical diathermy REIMS data. ALDI does not require contact to be made with the sample during analysis, meaning analytical throughput can be substantially improved, and further, increases the range of sample types which can be analysed in potential direct-from-sample pathogen detection.
Familiarity revealed by involuntary eye movements on the fringe of awareness
Authors: Rosenzweig Gal , Bonneh Yoram S.
Published: February 2019

Involuntary eye movements during fixation of gaze are typically transiently inhibited following stimulus onset. This oculomotor inhibition (OMI), which includes microsaccades and spontaneous eye blinks, is modulated by stimulus saliency and anticipation, but it is currently unknown whether it is sensitive to familiarity. To investigate this, we measured the OMI while observers passively viewed a slideshow of one familiar and 7 unfamiliar facial images presented briefly at 1 Hz in random order. Since the initial experiments indicated that OMI was occasionally insensitive to familiarity when the facial images were highly visible, and to prevent top-down strategies and potential biases, we limited visibility by backward masking making the faces barely visible or at the fringe of awareness. Under these conditions, we found prolonged inhibition of both microsaccades and eye-blinks, as well as earlier onset of microsaccade inhibition with familiarity. These findings demonstrate, for the first time, the sensitivity of OMI to familiarity. Because this is based on involuntary eye movements and can be measured on the fringe of awareness and in passive viewing, our results provide direct evidence that OMI can be used as a novel physiological measure for studying hidden memories with potential implications for health, legal, and security purposes.
Promoter RNA sequencing (PRSeq) for the massive and quantitative promoter analysis in vitro
Authors: Ohuchi Shoji , Mascher Thorsten , Suess Beatrix
Published: February 2019

Analysis of promoter strength and specificity is important for understanding and engineering gene regulation. Here, we report an in vitro promoter analysis method that can achieve both massiveness and quantitativeness. In this approach, a pool of single-stranded DNA with a partially randomized promoter sequence to be analyzed is chemically synthesized. Through enzymatic reactions, the randomized sequence will be copied to the downstream region, resulting in a template DNA pool that carries its own promoter information on its transcribed region. After in vitro transcription of the DNA pool with an RNA polymerase of interest, the sequences of the resulting transcripts will be analyzed. Since the promoter strength linearly correlates to the copy number of transcript, the strength of each promoter sequence can be evaluated. A model experiment of T7 promoter variants demonstrated the quantitativeness of the method, and the method was applied for the analysis of the promoter of cyanophage Syn5 RNA polymerase. This method provides a powerful approach for analyzing the complexity of promoter specificity and discrimination for highly abundant and often redundant alternative sigma factors such as the extracellular function (ECF) sigma factors.
Distinct online and offline effects of alpha and beta transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) on continuous bimanual performance and task-set switching
Authors: Heise Kirstin-Friederike , Monteiro Thiago Santos , Leunissen Inge , Mantini Dante , Swinnen Stephan P.
Published: February 2019

In the present study we examined the effect of bihemispheric in-phase synchronization of motor cortical rhythms on complex bimanual coordination. Twenty young healthy volunteers received 10 Hz or 20 Hz tACS in a double-blind crossover design while performing a bimanual task-set switching paradigm. We used a bilateral high-density montage centred over the hand knob representation within the primary motor cortices to apply tACS time-locked to the switching events. Online tACS in either frequency led to faster but more erroneous switching transitions compared to trials without active stimulation. When comparing stimulation frequencies, 10 Hz stimulation resulted in higher error rates and slower switching transitions than 20 Hz stimulation. Furthermore, the stimulation frequencies showed distinct carry-over effects in trials following stimulation trains. Non-stimulated switching transitions were generally faster but continuous performance became more erroneous over time in the 20 Hz condition. We suggest that the behavioural effects of bifocal in-phase tACS are explained by online synchronization of long-range interhemispheric sensorimotor oscillations, which impacts on interhemispheric information flow and the top-down control required for flexible control of complex bimanual actions. Different stimulation frequencies may lead to distinct offline effects, which potentially accumulate over time and therefore need to be taken into account when evaluating subsequent performance.
The effect of sex, season and gametogenic cycle on gonad yield, biochemical composition and quality traits of Paracentrotus lividus along the North Atlantic coast of Portugal
Authors: Rocha Filipa , Baião Luís F. , Moutinho Sara , Reis Bruno , Oliveira Ana , Arenas Francisco , Maia Margarida R. G. , Fonseca António J. M. , Pintado Manuela , Valente Luisa M. P.
Published: February 2019

Sea urchin population harvest in the North Atlantic coast of Portugal was characterized in terms of gonad yield, nutritional composition and important market-related traits, over one reproductive cycle (March 2016 to March 2017). Most of the quality attributes showed a seasonal variation strongly dependent on sea urchin sex. Maximum gonad yield (18%) was observed in March 2017. A single spawning event occurred between May and July. Gonads are rich sources of protein (12–18% WW) with low fat content (≤6% WW), that increase during the gametogenic stages of recovery and growing (November-December). Polyunsaturated fatty acids were the dominant class in both sexes (4.2–14.7 mg.g−1 WW), being preferentially accumulated in females. Total gonads carotenoid varied seasonally, with the highest level being observed in males during spawning season. Echinenone was the main pigment present in gonads, showing highest concentrations in males during spawning and gonad recovering. During the growing and early maturation period gonads were more reddish, yellowish and brighter, as well as more firm, irrespectively of the sex. Based on all seasonal changes affecting gonad yield and quality, the period between November and February seems the most suitable to harvest high quality gonads in the Atlantic coast of Portugal.
Mycobacterium ulcerans mycolactones-fungi crosstalking
Authors: Hammoudi Nassim , Cassagne Carole , Armstrong Nicholas , Ranque Stéphane , Henrissat Bernard , Drancourt Michel , Bouam Amar
Published: February 2019

The opportunistic pathogen Mycobacterium ulcerans, which is responsible for Buruli ulcer, synthesizes a series of plasmid-encoded macrolide exotoxins termed mycolactones. These toxins destabilize cell membranes and induce apoptosis-associated pleiotropic effects including tissue destruction, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Despite its medical interest, M. ulcerans is primarily an environmental mycobacterium and the primary functions of mycolactones in the natural ecosystems are unknown. High throughput biochemical profiling findings suggested that M. ulcerans may interact with fungi. Here, we report that semi-purified and purified mycolactones significantly enhance spore germination of Scedosporium apiospermum, Fusarium equiseti and Mucor circinelloides; and that M. ulcerans mycolactones significantly attract colonies of M. circinelloides whereas no significant effect was observed on S. apiospermum and F. equiseti. These experimental results suggest that mycolactones exhibit a chemoattractant activity independent of their cytotoxicity. In natural ecosystems, M. ulcerans mycolactones may act as spore germination inducers and chemoattractants for some fungi, suggesting a novel role for this unique class of mycobacterial toxins in natural ecosystems.
Development and validation of an SNP genotyping array and construction of a high-density linkage map in castor
Authors: Senthilvel S. , Ghosh Arpita , Shaik Mobeen , Shaw Ranjan K. , Bagali Prashanth G.
Published: February 2019

Castor is a commercially important oilseed crop that provides raw materials for several industries. Currently, the availability of genomic resources for castor is very limited. In this study, genome-wide SNPs were discovered in castor via whole-genome sequencing of 14 diverse lines to an average of 34X coverage. A total of 2,179,759 putative SNPs were detected, and a genotyping array was designed with 6,000 high-quality SNPs representing 2,492 scaffolds of the draft castor genome (87.5% genome coverage). The array was validated by genotyping a panel of 314 inbred castor lines, which resulted in 5,025 scorable SNPs with a high call rate (98%) and reproducibility (100%). Using this array, a consensus linkage map consisting of 1,978 SNP loci was constructed with an average inter-marker distance of 0.55 cM. The genome-wide SNP data, the genotyping array and the dense linkage map are valuable genomic tools for promoting high-throughput genomic research and molecular breeding in castor.
Elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations alter grapevine (Vitis vinifera) systemic transcriptional response to European grapevine moth (Lobesia botrana) herbivory
Authors: Reineke Annette , Selim Moustafa
Published: February 2019

Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations are among the chief factors shaping the mode and magnitude of interactions between plants and herbivorous insects. Here, we describe the first global analysis of systemic transcriptomic responses of grapevineVitis viniferaplants to feeding of European grapevine mothLobesia botranalarvae at future elevated CO2concentrations. The study was conducted on mature, fruit-bearing grapevine plants under ambient and elevated CO2concentrations in a grapevine free-air carbon dioxide enrichment (FACE) facility. Grapevine transcriptional response to herbivory was clearly dependent on phenological stage, with a higher number of differentially expressed genes identified at fruit development compared to berry ripening. At fruit development, more transcripts were differentially expressed as a response to herbivory under elevated compared to ambient CO2concentrations. Classification of the respective transcripts revealed that in particular genes involved in metabolic pathways, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites and plant-pathogen interactions were significantly enriched. Most of these genes had similar expression patterns under both CO2concentrations, with a higher fold-change under elevated CO2concentrations. Differences in expression levels of a subset of herbivory responsive genes were further validated by RT-qPCR. Our study indicates that future elevated CO2concentrations will affect interactions between grapevine plants and one of its key insect pests, with consequences for future relevance ofL. botranain worldwide viticulture.
High-resolution record reveals climate-driven environmental and sedimentary changes in an active rift
Authors: McNeill Lisa C. , Shillington Donna J. , Carter Gareth D. O. , Everest Jeremy D. , Gawthorpe Robert L. , Miller Clint , Phillips Marcie P. , Collier Richard E. Ll. , Cvetkoska Aleksandra , De Gelder Gino , Diz Paula , Doan Mai-Linh , Ford Mary , Geraga Maria , Gillespie Jack , Hemelsdaël Romain , Herrero-Bervera Emilio , Ismaiel Mohammad , Janikian Liliane , Kouli Katerina , Le Ber Erwan , Li Shunli , Maffione Marco , Mahoney Carol , Machlus Malka L. , Michas Georgios , Nixon Casey W. , Oflaz Sabire Asli , Omale Abah P. , Panagiotopoulos Kostas , Pechlivanidou Sofia , Sauer Simone , Seguin Joana , Sergiou Spyros , Zakharova Natalia V. , Green Sophie
Published: February 2019

Young rifts are shaped by combined tectonic and surface processes and climate, yet few records exist to evaluate the interplay of these processes over an extended period of early rift-basin development. Here, we present the longest and highest resolution record of sediment flux and paleoenvironmental changes when a young rift connects to the global oceans. New results from International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 381 in the Corinth Rift show 10s–100s of kyr cyclic variations in basin paleoenvironment as eustatic sea level fluctuated with respect to sills bounding this semi-isolated basin, and reveal substantial corresponding changes in the volume and character of sediment delivered into the rift. During interglacials, when the basin was marine, sedimentation rates were lower (excepting the Holocene), and bioturbation and organic carbon concentration higher. During glacials, the basin was isolated from the ocean, and sedimentation rates were higher (~2–7 times those in interglacials). We infer that reduced vegetation cover during glacials drove higher sediment flux from the rift flanks. These orbital-timescale changes in rate and type of basin infill will likely influence early rift sedimentary and faulting processes, potentially including syn-rift stratigraphy, sediment burial rates, and organic carbon flux and preservation on deep continental margins worldwide.
Enhancement of biocatalyst activity and protection against stressors using a microbial exoskeleton
Authors: Sakkos Jonathan K. , Wackett Lawrence P. , Aksan Alptekin
Published: February 2019

Whole cell biocatalysts can perform numerous industrially-relevant chemical reactions. While they are less expensive than purified enzymes, whole cells suffer from inherent reaction rate limitations due to transport resistance imposed by the cell membrane. Furthermore, it is desirable to immobilize the biocatalysts to enable ease of separation from the reaction mixture. In this study, we used a layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly process to create a microbial exoskeleton which, simultaneously immobilized, protected, and enhanced the reactivity of a whole cell biocatalyst. As a proof of concept, we usedEscherichia coliexpressing homoprotocatechuate 2,3-dioxygenase (HPCD) as a model biocatalyst and coated it with up to ten alternating layers of poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) and silica. The microbial exoskeleton also protected the biocatalyst against a variety of external stressors including: desiccation, freeze/thaw, exposure to high temperatures, osmotic shock, as well as against enzymatic attack by lysozyme, and predation by protozoa. While we observed increased permeability of the outer membrane after exoskeleton deposition, this had a moderate effect on the reaction rate (up to two-fold enhancement). When the exoskeleton construction was followed by detergent treatment to permeabilize the cytoplasmic membrane, up to 15-fold enhancement in the reaction rate was reached. With the exoskeleton, we increased in the reaction rate constants as much as 21-fold by running the biocatalyst at elevated temperatures ranging from 40 °C to 60 °C, a supraphysiologic temperature range not accessible by unprotected bacteria.
Fast and accurate medication identification
Authors: Larios Delgado Natalia , Usuyama Naoto , Hall Amanda K. , Hazen Rebecca J. , Ma Max , Sahu Siva , Lundin Jessica
Published: February 2019

Much of the AI work in healthcare is focused around disease prediction in clinical settings, which is an important application that has yet to deliver in earnest. However, there are other fundamental aspects like helping patients and care teams interact and communicate in efficient and meaningful ways, which could deliver quadruple-aim improvements. After heart disease and cancer, preventable medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States. The largest subset of medical errors is medication error. Providing the right treatment plan for patients includes knowledge about their current medications and drug allergies, an often challenging task. The widespread growth of prescribing and consuming medications has increased the need for applications that support medication reconciliation. We show a deep-learning application that can help reduce avoidable errors with their attendant risk, i.e., correctly identifying prescription medication, which is currently a tedious and error-prone task. We demonstrate prescription-pill identification from mobile images in the NIH NLM Pill Image Recognition Challenge dataset. Our application recognizes the correct pill within the top-5 results at 94% accuracy, which compares favorably to the original competition winner at 83.3% for top-5 under comparable, though not identical configurations. The Institute of Medicine claims that better use of information technology can be an important step in reducing medication errors. Therefore, we believe that a more immediate impact of AI in healthcare will occur with a seamless integration of AI into clinical workflows, readily addressing the quadruple aim of healthcare.
Quantifying Leishmania Metacyclic Promastigotes from Individual Sandfly Bites Reveals the Efficiency of Vector Transmission
Authors: Giraud Emilie , Martin Oihane , Yakob Laith , Rogers Matthew
Published: February 2019

Predicting how Leishmania will respond to control efforts requires an understanding of their transmission strategy. Using real-time quantitative PCR to quantify infectious metacyclic and non-metacyclic forms in mouse skin from single sandfly bites we show that most transmissions were highly enriched for infectious parasites. However, a quarter of sandflies were capable of transmitting high doses containing more non-infectious promastigotes from the vector’s midgut. Mouse infections replicating “high” to “low” quality, low-dose transmissions confirmed clear differences in the pathology of the infection and their onward transmissibility back to sandflies. Borrowing methods originally developed to account for exposure heterogeneity among hosts, we show how these high-dose, low-quality transmitters act as super-spreading vectors, capable of inflating Leishmania transmission potential by as much as six-fold. These results highlight the hidden potential of transmission of mixed Leishmania promastigote stages on disease prevalence and the role of dose heterogeneity as an underlying strategy for efficient transmission.
On-chip plasmonic immunoassay based on targeted assembly of gold nanoplasmonic particles
Authors: Kim Hyo Sil , Lee Sang Hun , Choi Inhee
Published: February 2019

An on-chip, non-enzymatic immunoassay was developed via the targeted assemblies of gold nanoparticles with target proteins in degassing-driven microfluidic devices and simply quantified at the single particle level.
Inhibition of astrocytic differentiation of transplanted neural stem cells by chondroitin sulfate methacrylate hydrogels for the repair of injured spinal cord
Authors: Liu Can , Fan Lei , Xing Jianghao , Wang Qiyou , Lin Chengkai , Liu Chang , Deng Xiaoqian , Ning Chengyun , Zhou Lei , Rong Limin , Liu Bin
Published: February 2019

Recovery from spinal cord injuries after transplanted neural stem cells encapsulated in chondroitin sulfate methacrylate hydrogels.
Chimeric crRNAs with 19 DNA residues in the guide region show the retained DNA cleavage activity of Cas9 with potential to improve the specificity
Authors: Kim Hyo Young , Kang Seong Jae , Jeon Yongmoon , An Jinsu , Park Jihyun , Lee Hee Jae , Jang Jeong-Eun , Ahn JongSeong , Bang Duhee , Chung Hak Suk , Jeong Cherlhyun , Ahn Dae-Ro
Published: February 2019

We demonstrated that 19 out of 20 RNA residues in the guide region of crRNA can be replaced with DNA residues with high GC-contents.
Cationic indium complexes for the copolymerization of functionalized epoxides with cyclic ethers and lactide
Authors: Diaz Carlos , Ebrahimi Tannaz , Mehrkhodavandi Parisa
Published: February 2019

Cationic indium salen complexes are active catalysts for the ring opening polymerization of epoxides and other less strained cyclic ethers. Moreover, they are competent catalysts in the copolymerization of rac-lactide and epoxides to high molecular weight copolymers. Preliminary kinetic investigations with different cationic complexes revealed subtle effects of their solvent donors in the initiation rates of polymerization of epoxides.
Alkene hydrosilylation with supported and unsupported Ni nanoparticles: strong influence of the Ni environment on activity and selectivity
Authors: Galeandro-Diamant Thomas , Suleimanov Iurii , Veyre Laurent , Bousquié Magali , Meille Valérie , Thieuleux Chloé
Published: February 2019

Isolated nickel nanoparticles in suspension or supported on silica are efficient catalysts for inactivated alkene hydrosilylation.
Metal chalcogenide quantum dot-sensitized 1D-based semiconducting heterostructures for optical-related applications
Authors: Yue Shiyu , Li Luyao , McGuire Scott C. , Hurley Nathaniel , Wong Stanislaus S.
Published: February 2019

In terms of understanding and tuning the optoelectronic behavior within functional devices, quantum dot (QD)-based heterostructures represent an excellent model system and opportunity for analyzing exciton dissociation and charge separation across a well-defined nanoscale interface.
In vitroandin vivoevaluation of an exopolysaccharide produced byLactobacillus helveticusKLDS1.8701 for the alleviative effect on oxidative stress
Authors: Li Bailiang , Du Peng , Smith Etareri Evivie , Wang Song , Jiao Yuehua , Guo Lidong , Huo Guicheng , Liu Fei
Published: February 2019

We systematically investigated thein vitroandin vivoantioxidant potential of EPS produced byLactobacillus helveticusKLDS1.8701.
Two-dimensional MXene-reinforced robust surface superhydrophobicity with self-cleaning and photothermal-actuating binary effects
Authors: Cao Wen-Tao , Feng Wei , Jiang Ying-Ying , Ma Chang , Zhou Zi-Fei , Ma Ming-Guo , Chen Yu , Chen Feng
Published: February 2019

A robust superhydrophobic surface with high performances of photothermal-conversion and light-driven motion has been fabricated by integrating with hydrophobic two-dimensional MXenes.
Recent development of carbon quantum dots regarding their optical properties, photoluminescence mechanism, and core structure
Authors: Mintz Keenan J. , Zhou Yiqun , Leblanc Roger M.
Published: February 2019

Carbon quantum dots (CDs) are a relatively new class of carbon nanomaterials which have been studied very much in the last fifteen years to improve their already favorable properties.
Hollow ZnO microspheres functionalized with electrochemical graphene oxide for the photodegradation of salicylic acid
Authors: Hernández Marcos Rodríguez , de León Santillán Arxel , de Casas Ortiz Edgar , Tavizón Salvador Fernández , Moggio Ivana , Arias Eduardo , Gallardo-Vega Carlos Alberto , Mercado Silva Jesús Alfonso , Barriga-Castro Enrique Díaz
Published: February 2019

Hollow ZnO microspheres were successfully synthesized by a hydrothermal method and then functionalized with graphene oxide (GO) flakes, previously obtained through electrochemical oxidation.
Preparation and electrochemical studies of electrospun phosphorus doped porous carbon nanofibers
Authors: Liu Chao , Shi Gaofeng , Wang Guoying , Mishra Puranjan , Jia Shiming , Jiang Xia , Zhang Peng , Dong Yucan , Wang Zhao
Published: February 2019

Preparation of phosphorus-doped porous carbon nanofibers, with excellent capacitance properties, by electrospinning, using polyethylene glycol as a pore-making agent and polyphosphoric acid as a phosphorus source.
Wave-shaped polycyclic hydrocarbons with controlled aromaticity
Authors: Ma Ji , Zhang Ke , Schellhammer Karl Sebastian , Fu Yubin , Komber Hartmut , Xu Chi , Popov Alexey A. , Hennersdorf Felix , Weigand Jan J. , Zhou Shengqiang , Pisula Wojciech , Ortmann Frank , Berger Reinhard , Liu Junzhi , Feng Xinliang
Published: February 2019

Herein, we describe an efficient synthetic strategy to control the aromaticity and optoelectronic properties of curved π-conjugated molecules.
Targeted synthesis of ionic liquid-polyoxometalate derived Mo-based electrodes for advanced electrochemical performance
Authors: Chen Guojian , Zhang Lei , Zhang Yadong , Liu Ke , Long Zhouyang , Wang Ying
Published: February 2019

Targeted synthesis of ionic liquid-based polyoxometalate derived N/P-codoped MoO2@carbon porous electrodes with superior lithium and sodium storage performance.
Synthesis and characterisation of a quaternary nitride series with spin-glass behaviour: SnxGe1−xFe3N
Authors: Scholz Tanja , Dronskowski Richard
Published: February 2019

The new quaternary nitrides SnxGe1−xFe3N are canonical spin glasses that open up the possibility to tune the glassy transition temperature.
Cytotoxic effect of protic ionic liquids in HepG2 and HaCat human cells:in vitroandin silicostudies
Authors: Zanoni Bruna Varela , Brasil Romão Gabriela , Andrade Rebecca S. , Barretto Cicarelli Regina Maria , Trovatti Eliane , Chiari-Andrèo Bruna Galdorfini , Iglesias Miguel
Published: February 2019

The lower toxicological profile of the studied protic ionic liquids should guide their use as solvents for safe human use.
Expedient synthesis of a symmetric cycloheptyne-Co2(CO)6 complex for orthogonal Huisgen cycloadditions
Authors: Cormier Morgan , Fouquet Eric , Hermange Philippe
Published: February 2019

A cycloheptyne dicobalt-carbonyl complex with a terminal alkyne was synthesized by a short procedure, and was able to react selectively in Strain Promoted Alkyne Azide Cycloaddition (SPAAC) or Copper Catalysed Alkyne Azide Cycloaddition (CuAAC) depending on the conditions.
Efficacy and safety of alpha lipoic acid-capped silver nanoparticles for oral applications
Authors: Cotton G. C. , Gee C. , Jude A. , Duncan W. J. , Abdelmoneim D. , Coates D. E.
Published: February 2019

Presentation of the limited cumulative cytotoxic effects of an alpha lipoic-acid capped silver nanoparticle on human gingival fibroblasts, with broad range antimicrobial activity, for potential use in biomaterials.
ZnO nanoarray-modified nickel foam as a lithiophilic skeleton to regulate lithium deposition for lithium-metal batteries
Authors: Sun Changzhi , Li Yanpei , Jin Jun , Yang Jianhua , Wen Zhaoyin
Published: February 2019

Tightly arranged ZnO nanorods are artfully designed to enhance the lithiophilicity of pristine Ni foam and regulate lithium deposition.
Differentiation regulation of mesenchymal stem cellsviaautophagy induced by structurally-different silica based nanobiomaterials
Authors: Chen Maowen , Hu Yan , Hou Yanhua , Li Menghuan , Chen Maohua , Mu Caiyun , Tao Bailong , Zhu Wei , Luo Zhong , Cai Kaiyong
Published: February 2019

Autophagy is associated with the proliferation and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).
Aza-BODIPY nanomicelles as versatile agents for the in vitro and in vivo singlet oxygen-triggered apoptosis of human breast cancer cells
Authors: Adarsh Nagappanpillai , Babu P. S. Saneesh , Avirah Rekha R. , Viji Mambattakkara , Nair S. Asha , Ramaiah Danaboyina
Published: February 2019

Singlet oxygen mediated apoptosis in MDA MB 231 cells and inhibition of growth of tumor xenografts in NOD/SCID mice achieved through aza-BODIPY nanomicelles plus NIR light thereby demonstrating their promising use for solid tumors.
Understanding how charge and hydrophobicity influence globular protein adsorption to alkanethiol and material surfaces
Authors: Attwood Simon J. , Kershaw Rebecca , Uddin Shahid , Bishop Steven M. , Welland Mark E.
Published: February 2019

Globular protein adsorption to surfaces is predictable when charge and hydrophobicity is carefully controlled.
MiRNA-21 functions in ionizing radiation-induced epithelium-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by downregulating PTEN
Authors: Liu Zheng , Liang Xin , Li Xueping , Liu Xiaodan , Zhu Maoxiang , Gu Yongqing , Zhou Pingkun
Published: February 2019

MiR-21 functions as a key regulator of IR-induced fibrotic EMT in lung epithelial cellsviathe miR-21/PTEN/Akt axis.
Abscisic acid-determined seed vigour differences do not influence redox regulation during ageing
Authors: Schausberger Christina , Roach Thomas , Stöggl Wolfgang , Arc Erwann , Finch-Savage William E. , Kranner Ilse
Published: February 2019

High seed quality is a key trait to achieve successful crop establishment required for optimum yield and sustainable production. Seed storage conditions greatly impact two key seed quality traits; seed viability (ability to germinate and produce normal seedlings) and vigour (germination performance). Accumulated oxidative damage accompanies the loss of seed vigour and viability during ageing, indicating that redox control is key to longevity. Here, we studied the effects of controlled deterioration at 40°C and 75% relative humidity (RH) (‘ageing’) under two different O2 concentrations (21 and 78% O2) in Brassica oleracea. Two B. oleracea genotypes with allelic differences at two QTLs that result in differences in abscisic acid (ABA) signalling and seed vigour were compared. Ageing led to a similar loss in germination speed in both genotypes that was lost faster under elevated O2. In both genotypes, an equal oxidative shift in the glutathione redox state and a minor loss of α-tocopherol progressively occurred before seed viability was lost. In contrast, ABA levels were not affected by ageing. In conclusion, both ABA signalling and seed ageing impact seed vigour but not necessarily through the same biochemical mechanisms.
Effects of Error Experience on Learning to Lower Speech Nasalance Level
Authors: Lo Eric Siu-Chung , Wong Andus Wing-Kuen , Tse Andy Choi-Yeung , Ma Estella Pui-Man , Whitehill Tara L. , Masters Rich
Published: February 2019

Purpose

This research aims to examine the effects of error experience when learning to speak with lowered nasalance level.

Method

A total of 45 typical speakers were instructed to learn to lower speech nasalance level in either an errorless (restricted possibility for committing errors) or an errorful (unrestricted possibility for committing errors) learning condition. The nasality level of the participants' speech was measured by a nasometer and quantified by nasalance scores (in percent). Errorless learners practiced producing speech with lowered nasalance level with a threshold nasalance score of 50% (the easiest target) at the beginning, which gradually decreased to a threshold of 10% (the most difficult target) at the end. The same set of threshold targets was presented to errorful learners, but in reverse order. Errors were defined by the proportion of speech, with a nasalance score exceeding the threshold. Retention and transfer tests were administered.

Results

Errorless learners displayed fewer errors and lower mean nasalance scores than errorful learners during the acquisition phase. Furthermore, errorless learners achieved lower mean nasalance scores than errorful learners in the retention and transfer tests.

Conclusion

These results suggest that errorless learning is more effective than errorful learning and that error experience has a detrimental effect on the acquisition of a novel speech motor task that requires minimization of the nasality level. Errorless learning may be a useful paradigm for the intervention and management of hypernasality in clinical settings where behavioral treatments are needed.
Pediatric Hearing Loss and Speech Recognition in Quiet and in Different Types of Background Noise
Authors: Goldsworthy Raymond L. , Markle Kali L.
Published: February 2019

Purpose

Speech recognition deteriorates with hearing loss, particularly in fluctuating background noise. This study examined how hearing loss affects speech recognition in different types of noise to clarify how characteristics of the noise interact with the benefits listeners receive when listening in fluctuating compared to steady-state noise.

Method

Speech reception thresholds were measured for a closed set of spondee words in children (ages 5–17 years) in quiet, speech-spectrum noise, 2-talker babble, and instrumental music. Twenty children with normal hearing and 43 children with hearing loss participated; children with hearing loss were subdivided into groups with cochlear implant (18 children) and hearing aid (25 children) groups. A cohort of adults with normal hearing was included for comparison.

Results

Hearing loss had a large effect on speech recognition for each condition, but the effect of hearing loss was largest in 2-talker babble and smallest in speech-spectrum noise. Children with normal hearing had better speech recognition in 2-talker babble than in speech-spectrum noise, whereas children with hearing loss had worse recognition in 2-talker babble than in speech-spectrum noise. Almost all subjects had better speech recognition in instrumental music compared to speech-spectrum noise, but with less of a difference observed for children with hearing loss.

Conclusions

Speech recognition is more sensitive to the effects of hearing loss when measured in fluctuating compared to steady-state noise. Speech recognition measured in fluctuating noise depends on an interaction of hearing loss with characteristics of the background noise; specifically, children with hearing loss were able to derive a substantial benefit for listening in fluctuating noise when measured in instrumental music compared to 2-talker babble.
Phonological and Semantic Contributions to Verbal Short-Term Memory in Young Children With Developmental Stuttering
Authors: Anderson Julie D. , Wagovich Stacy A. , Brown Bryan T.
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the verbal short-term memory skills of children who stutter (CWS) and children who do not stutter (CWNS) in 2 experiments, focusing on the influence of phonological and semantic similarity.

Method

Participants were 42 CWS and 42 CWNS between the ages of 3;0 and 5;11 (years;months). In Experiment 1, children completed the phonological similarity task, in which they listened to lists of phonologically similar and dissimilar words and then repeated them when signaled to do so. In Experiment 2, children completed another forward span task, the semantic category task, which is similar to the phonological similarity task, except that it consisted of lists of semantically homogeneous and heterogeneous words. Main dependent variables were cumulative memory span, proportion of errors by type, and speech reaction time (SRT) for correct responses.

Results

The CWS exhibited significantly shorter memory spans for phonologically dissimilar words and were less affected by the phonological qualities of the words than the CWNS in Experiment 1, based on the findings of both between-groups and within-group analyses. In Experiment 2, although the groups did not differ in their performance in either condition, within-group analyses revealed that the CWNS benefitted from semantic similarity, whereas the CWS did not. The between-groups difference in absolute difference scores, however, did not reach significance. The CWS produced more omissions and false alarms than the CWNS in both experiments, but the 2 groups of children were otherwise comparable in SRT, although the CWS exhibited overall faster SRT than the CWNS in Experiment 2.

Conclusions

Verbal short-term memory is one domain-general cognitive process in which CWS display weakness relative to typically fluent peers. These weaknesses are likely due, in part, to differences in phonological and, perhaps, semantic processing of words to aid memory.
Robust deadlock avoidance control for AMSs with assembly operations embedded in flexible routes using Petri nets
Authors: Du Nan , Hu He Suan
Published: February 2019

Deadlock‐free supervisory control for automated manufacturing systems (AMSs) has been a popular research subject. However, for numerous researchers, their studies are merely practicable on the assumption that resources cannot fail. In practice, resource failures can occur unexpectedly. In this study, the authors take into consideration deadlock and blocking problems in systems with assembly operations embedded in flexible routes. Their objective is to develop a robust supervisor that controls resource allocation and selects flexible routes such that stagnant parts requiring failed resources do not block the movement of parts not necessarily requiring failed resources. That is to say, it must ensure that parts not necessarily requiring any failed resource can continue their operations. The proposed policy tries to take full advantage of the shared resource capacity to improve systems' performance. By modelling AMSs with Petri nets, their robust supervisor predicts in advance whether the currently‐available resources are sufficient to support a token to advance into the desired destination in a single process. The method is achieved in an online and distributed way and avoids enumerating states. At last, several simulation examples show the correctness of their proposed method.
Two different non‐shoot‐through operating modes for generating changeable general boost factor in switched Z‐source inverters with modified modulation technique
Authors: Shokati Asl Elias , Babaei Ebrahim , Sabahi Mehran
Published: February 2019

In this study, a new switching pattern for switched Z‐source inverters (ZSIs) is proposed. By this technique, the switched ZSIs can generate general boost factor with different functions. The proposed modulation technique is a general technique and can be applied for all types of switched boost inverters, switched ZSIs and active ZSIs. The mentioned inverters do not use additional passive elements in comparison with the conventional ZSI. Moreover, variable boost factor with ability of changing both switching factor and shoot‐through duty cycle makes these inverters more valuable than transformer‐based ZSI. Applying the proposed technique leads to make different non‐shoot‐through (nST) operating modes which are named adjacent‐nST and non‐adjacent‐nST operating modes. The extraction of equations and steady‐state analyses for a type of switched ZSIs in different operating modes are presented. In addition, the design considerations and calculation of critical inductance in the new switching pattern are given. The logical diagram of the switching pattern is introduced and comparison between different types of switched ZSIs with the proposed switching pattern from different aspects is done. Finally, the simulation and experimental results are given to show the good agreement between the theoretical and measured results.
Behaviour of measuring current transformers with cores composed from different magnetic materials at non‐rated loads and overcurrents
Authors: Lesniewska Elzbieta , Rajchert Regina
Published: February 2019

This research is a continuation of researches into transformation errors of current transformers, when the cores consist of two different magnetic materials at non‐rated loads and overcurrents. Analyses of the electromagnetic field distribution for different secondary winding loads were performed (magnetic field distributions of current transformers, current error and phase displacement diagrams). Computations were conducted based on the finite element numerical method and the results were compared with tests of real‐life models.
Auxiliary Prony‐based algorithm for performance improvement of DFT phasor estimator against transient of CCVT
Authors: Tajdinian Mohsen , Allahbakhshi Mehdi , Seifi Ali Reza , Jahromi Mehdi Zareian , Behi Donya
Published: February 2019

The measured fault voltage signal through coupling capacitor voltage transformer (CCVT) contains transient components which highly affect the estimated fundamental frequency phasor. This paper presents a new hybrid method which aims to calculate and remove the unwanted effect of CCVT transient on the fundamental phasor estimation. The main novelty of the proposed method is that proposed method is independent from the CCVT parameters involved in the transient response. In other words, unlike previously published papers, this method calculates the CCVT characteristics involved in the transient response. To such aim, by utilizing frequency modulation, fault voltage signal is shifted. Utilizing simple but comprehensive formulations based on integration and Prony‐complex theory, the CCVT characteristics are calculated in the first cycle after fault inception. After that, by utilizing modified discrete Fourier transform (MDFT), the fundamental phasor component is calculated in one cycle. Several simulated test signals are applied to the proposed method. The simulation results illustrate that the proposed method removes the unwanted effects of CCVT. Also, it is fast and has a good precision in estimating the fundamental phasor component of fault voltage signal under different simulation scenarios.