bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Laser Scribed Graphene Cathode for Next Generation of High Performance Hybrid Supercapacitors
Authors: Lee Seung-Hwan , Kim Jin Hyeon , Yoon Jung-Rag 
Published: May 2018

AbstractHybrid supercapacitors have been regarded as next-generation energy storage devices due to their outstanding performances. However, hybrid supercapacitors remain a great challenge to enhance the energy density of hybrid supercapacitors. Herein, a novel approach for high-energy density hybrid supercapacitors based on a laser scribed graphene cathode and AlPO4-carbon hybrid coated H2Ti12O25 (LSG/H-HTO) was designed. Benefiting from high-energy laser scribed graphene and high-power H-HTO, it was demonstrated that LSG/H-HTO delivers superior energy and power densities with excellent cyclability. Compared to previous reports on other hybrid supercapacitors, LSG/H-HTO electrode composition shows extraordinary energy densities of ~70.8 Wh/kg and power densities of ~5191.9 W/kg. Therefore, LSG/H-HTO can be regarded as a promising milestone in hybrid supercapacitors.
Identification of spoilage microorganisms in blueberry juice and their inactivation by a microchip pulsed electric field system
Authors: Zhu Ning , Yu Ning , Zhu Yue , Wei Yulong , Hou Yanan , Zhang Haiping , Sun Ai-dong 
Published: May 2018

AbstractBlueberry juice is a healthy and nutritious food that has become increasingly popular worldwide. However, little is known about the microbial groups of this juice that can cause its spoilage. This study aimed to identify the main spoilage microorganisms in blueberry juice and explore whether a microchip pulsed electric field (MPEF) can effectively inactivate them. We performed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, as well as 16S rDNA, 18S rDNA, internal transcribed spacer (ITS), and 26S rDNA gene sequence analyses. Nine species belonging to eight genera, including Pantoea, Burkholderia, Pichia, Meyerozyma, Cryptococcus, Aureobasidium, Cladosporium, and Penicillium were identified as spoilage microorganisms. Cryptococcus sp., Meyerozyma sp., and Pichia sp. were specific spoilage organisms (SSO) owing to their rising numbers throughout spoilage progression. The effect of MPEF on the potential inactivation of these microorganisms was to induce significant inactivation of viable Cryptococcus sp., Meyerozyma sp., and Pichia sp. This research provides a theoretical basis for the application of MPEF in improving the quality of blueberry juice.
Microfluidic device for real-time formulation of reagents and their subsequent encapsulation into double emulsions
Authors: Chang Jui-Chia , Swank Zoe , Keiser Oliver , Maerkl Sebastian J. , Amstad Esther 
Published: May 2018

AbstractEmulsion drops are often employed as picoliter-sized containers to perform screening assays. These assays usually entail the formation of drops encompassing discrete objects such as cells or microparticles and reagents to study interactions between the different encapsulants. Drops are also used to screen influences of reagent concentrations on the final product. However, these latter assays are less frequently performed because it is difficult to change the reagent concentration over a wide range and with high precision within a single experiment. In this paper, we present a microfluidic double emulsion drop maker containing pneumatic valves that enable real-time formulation of different reagents using pulse width modulation and consequent encapsulation of the mixed solutions. This device can produce drops from reagent volumes as low as 10 µL with minimal sample loss, thereby enabling experiments that would be prohibitively expensive using drop generators that do not contain valves. We employ this device to monitor the kinetics of the cell-free synthesis of green fluorescent proteins inside double emulsions. To demonstrate the potential of this device for real-time formulation, we perform DNA titration experiments to test the influence of DNA concentration on the amount of green fluorescence protein produced in double emulsions by a coupled cell-free transcription / translation system.
Engineered Healing of Avascular Meniscus Tears by Stem Cell Recruitment
Authors: Tarafder Solaiman , Gulko Joseph , Sim Kun Hee , Yang Jian , Cook James L. , Lee Chang H. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractMeniscus injuries are extremely common with approximately one million patients undergoing surgical treatment annually in the U.S. alone. Upon injury, the outer zone of the meniscus can be repaired and expected to functionally heal but tears in the inner avascular region are unlikely to heal. To date, no regenerative therapy has been proven successful for consistently promoting healing in inner-zone meniscus tears. Here, we show that controlled applications of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and transforming growth factor beta 3 (TGFβ3) can induce seamless healing of avascular meniscus tears by inducing recruitment and step-wise differentiation of synovial mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells (syMSCs). A short-term release of CTGF, a selected chemotactic and profibrogenic cue, successfully recruited syMSCs into the incision site and formed an integrated fibrous matrix. Sustain-released TGFβ3 then led to a remodeling of the intermediate fibrous matrix into fibrocartilaginous matrix, fully integrating incised meniscal tissues with improved functional properties. Our data may represent a novel clinically relevant strategy to improve healing of avascular meniscus tears by recruiting endogenous stem/progenitor cells.
Effects of thermal treatment on the adhesion strength and osteoinductive activity of single-layer graphene sheets on titanium substrates
Authors: Gu Ming , Lv Longwei , Du Feng , Niu Tianxiao , Chen Tong , Xia Dandan , Wang Siyi , Zhao Xiao , Liu Jianzhang , Liu Yunsong , Xiong Chunyang , Zhou Yongsheng 
Published: May 2018

AbstractIn recent years, dental implants have become the preferred approach for the restoration of missing teeth. At present, most dental implants are made of pure titanium, and are affected by peri-implantitis and bone resorption, which usually start from the implant neck, due to the complex environment in this region. To address these issues, in this study we modified the surface of titanium (Ti) implants to exploit the antibacterial and osteoinductive effects of single-layer graphene sheets. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD)-grown single-layer graphene sheets were transferred to titanium discs, and a method for improving the adhesion strength of graphene on Ti was developed due to compromised adhesion strength between graphene and titanium surface. A thermal treatment of 2 h at 160 °C was found to enhance the adhesion strength of graphene on Ti to facilitate clinical transformation. Graphene coatings of Ti enhanced cell adhesion and osteogenic differentiation, and imparted antibacterial activity to Ti substrate; these favorable effects were not affected by the thermal treatment. In summary, the present study elucidated the effects of a thermal treatment on the adhesion strength and osteoinductive activity of single-layer graphene sheets on titanium substrates.
Identification of copy number variations among fetuses with ultrasound soft markers using next-generation sequencing
Authors: Wang Jing , Chen Lin , Zhou Cong , Wang Li , Xie Hanbing , Xiao Yuanyuan , Yin Daishu , Zeng Yang , Tang Feng , Yang Yunyuan , Zhu Hongmei , Chen Xinlian , Zhu Qian , Liu Zhiying , Liu Hongqian 
Published: May 2018

AbstractA prospective analysis investigating the associations between pathogenic copy number variations (pCNVs) and ultrasound soft markers (USMs) in fetuses and evaluating the clinical value of copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq) in such pregnancy studies was carried out. 3,398 unrelated Chinese women with singleton pregnancies and undergone amniocentesis at 18–36 weeks of gestation for fetal CNV-seq were included. According to the prenatal fetal ultrasound screening results, the samples were divided into 3 groups: normal ultrasound (n = 2616), solitary USM (n = 663), and two or more USMs (n = 119). CNV-seq was performed successfully using all samples. The prevalence of pCNVs in fetuses with normal ultrasound and USMs was 3.03% (79/2616) and 2.94% (23/782), respectively. The risk of segmental aneuploidies was significantly higher in the two or more USMs group (5/119, 4.20%) than in the normal ultrasound (27/2616, 1.04%) or solitary USM (9/663, 1.36%) groups (p = 0.002 and p = 0.031, respectively). Assuming that the resolution of karyotyping is ~5 Mb, a cytogenetic analysis would miss 33 of 102 (32.35%) pCNVs in these samples. Our results suggest an association between pCNVs and fetal USMs; multiple USMs indicate an increased risk of fetal segmental aneuploidies. In prenatal diagnostic testing, CNV-Seq identified additional, clinically significant cytogenetic information.
Mid-IR Hollow-core microstructured fiber drawn from a 3D printed PETG preform
Authors: Talataisong Wanvisa , Ismaeel Rand , Marques Thiago H. R. , Abokhamis Mousavi Seyedmohammad , Beresna Martynas , Gouveia M. A. , Sandoghchi Seyed Reza , Lee Timothy , Cordeiro Cristiano M. B. , Brambilla Gilberto 
Published: May 2018

AbstractMid-infrared (mid-IR) optical fibers have long attracted great interest due to their wide range of applications in security, biology and chemical sensing. Traditionally, research was directed towards materials with low absorption in the mid-IR region, such as chalcogenides, which are difficult to manipulate and often contain highly toxic elements. In this paper, we demonstrate a Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG) hollow-core fiber (HCF) with guiding properties in the mid-IR. Guiding is provided by the fiber geometry, as PETG exhibits a material attenuation 2 orders of magnitude larger than the HCF propagation loss. The structured plastic fiber preforms were fabricated using commercial 3D printing technology and then drawn using a conventional fiber drawing tower. The final PETG fiber outer diameter was 466 µm with a hollow-core diameter of 225 µm. Thermal imaging at the fiber facet performed within the wavelength range 3.5–5 µm clearly indicates air guidance in the fiber hollow-core.
Insight into the fission mechanism by quantitative characterization of Drp1 protein distribution in the living cell
Authors: Michalska Bernadeta Maria , Kwapiszewska Karina , Szczepanowska Joanna , Kalwarczyk Tomasz , Patalas-Krawczyk Paulina , Szczepański Krzysztof , Hołyst Robert , Duszyński Jerzy , Szymański Jędrzej 
Published: May 2018

AbstractOne of the main players in the process of mitochondrial fragmentation is dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), which assembles into a helical ring-like structure on the mitochondria and facilitates fission. The fission mechanism is still poorly understood and detailed information concerning oligomeric form of Drp1, its cellular distribution and the size of the fission complex is missing. To estimate oligomeric forms of Drp1 in the cytoplasm and on the mitochondria, we performed a quantitative analysis of Drp1 diffusion and distribution in gene-edited HeLa cell lines. This paper provides an insight into the fission mechanism based on the quantitative description of Drp1 cellular distribution. We found that approximately half of the endogenous GFP-Drp1 pool remained in the cytoplasm, predominantly in a tetrameric form, at a concentration of 28 ± 9 nM. The Drp1 mitochondrial pool included many different oligomeric states with equilibrium distributions that could be described by isodesmic supramolecular polymerization with a Kd of 31 ± 10 nM. We estimated the average number of Drp1 molecules forming the functional fission complex to be approximately 100, representing not more than 14% of all Drp1 oligomers. We showed that the upregulated fission induced by niclosamide is accompanied by an increase in the number of large Drp1 oligomers.
Highly Responsive Blue Light Sensor with Amorphous Indium-Zinc-Oxide Thin-Film Transistor based Architecture
Authors: Liu Po Tsun , Ruan Dun Bao , Yeh Xiu Yun , Chiu Yu Chuan , Zheng Guang Ting , Sze Simon M. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractA single layer of amorphous InZnO is chosen as the channel material for a thin film transistor (TFT)-based driver and sensing layer for a blue-light sensor, respectively, with a completely compatible process integrated into in-cell embedded photo sensor architecture. The photo sensor exhibits a high optical responsivity (1280 A/W) and excellent signal to noise ratio (~105) under the blue light illumination. Afterwards, the detail studies and important issues about the sensing and material characteristics of a-IZO thin film in the TFT sensor are well discussed. The results suggest that the numbers of the deep, neutral oxygen vacancy are the key factors for carrier generation under illumination. In addition, a positive gate pulse is applied on the devices to eliminate persistent photoconductivity in order to ensure the recover ability for the photo sensor application. The practical concepts of a sensor circuit, which can be integrated on RGB pixel with interactive display, are also proposed on the basis of photo sensor TFT.
Flexible Organic Thin Film Transistors Incorporating a Biodegradable CO2-Based Polymer as the Substrate and Dielectric Material
Authors: Rullyani Cut , Sung Chao-Feng , Lin Hong-Cheu , Chu Chih-Wei 
Published: May 2018

AbstractEmploying CO2-based polymer in electronic applications should boost the consumption of CO2 feedstocks and provide the potential for non-permanent CO2 storage. In this study, polypropylene carbonate (PPC) is utilized as a dielectric and substrate material for organic thin film transistors (OTFTs) and organic inverter. The PPC dielectric film exhibits a surface energy of 47 mN m−1, a dielectric constant of 3, a leakage current density of less than 10−6 A cm−2, and excellent compatibility with pentacene and PTCDI-C8 organic semiconductors. Bottom-gate top-contact OTFTs are fabricated using PPC as a dielectric; they exhibits good electrical performance at an operating voltage of 60 V, with electron and hole mobilities of 0.14 and 0.026 cm2 V−1 s−1, and on-to-off ratios of 105 and 103, respectively. The fabricated p- and n-type transistors were connected to form a complementary inverter that operated at supply voltages of 20 V with high and low noise margins of 85 and 69%, respectively. The suitability of PPC as a substrate is demonstrated through the preparation of PPC sheets by casting method. The fabricated PPC sheets has a transparency of 92% and acceptable mechanical properties, yet they biodegraded rapidly through enzymatic degradation when using the lipase from Rhizhopus oryzae.
Anti-inflammatory effects of heat-killed Lactobacillus plantarum L-137 on cardiac and adipose tissue in rats with metabolic syndrome
Authors: Uchinaka Ayako , Azuma Naoki , Mizumoto Hisashi , Nakano Shiho , Minamiya Moeko , Yoneda Mamoru , Aoyama Kiyoshi , Komatsu Yuki , Yamada Yuichiro , Murohara Toyoaki , Nagata Kohzo 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe effects of heat-killedLactobacillus plantarumL-137 (HK L-137) on chronic inflammation associated with metabolic disorders have remained unknown. We examined the effects of HK L-137 on cardiac and adipose tissue pathophysiology in DahlS.Z-Leprfa/Leprfa(DS/obese) rats as a model of metabolic syndrome. DS/obese rats were treated orally with HK L-137 (2 or 75 mg kg−1day−1) from 9 to 13 weeks of age. HK L-137 attenuated left ventricular (LV) inflammation and fibrosis as well as adipocyte hypertrophy, inflammation, and up-regulation of sterol regulatory element–binding protein–1c (SREBP-1c) gene expression in visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue, without affecting body weight gain or hypertension. The low dose of HK L-137 also ameliorated LV diastolic dysfunction, the increase in subcutaneous fat mass, and insulin resistance as well as attenuated the down-regulation of Akt phosphorylation in visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue, and the elevation of the circulating interleukin-6 concentration. Furthermore, the proportion of regulatory T (Treg) cells among CD4+T cells in the spleen was increased by HK L-137. These results suggest that the anti-inflammatory effects of HK L-137 on the heart and adipose tissue are related, at least partly, to suppression of systemic inflammation associated with an increase in splenic Treg cell.
Precision imaging of 4.4 MeV gamma rays using a 3-D position sensitive Compton camera
Authors: Koide Ayako , Kataoka Jun , Masuda Takamitsu , Mochizuki Saku , Taya Takanori , Sueoka Koki , Tagawa Leo , Fujieda Kazuya , Maruhashi Takuya , Kurihara Takuya , Inaniwa Taku 
Published: May 2018

AbstractImaging of nuclear gamma-ray lines in the 1–10 MeV range is far from being established in both medical and physical applications. In proton therapy, 4.4 MeV gamma rays are emitted from the excited nucleus of either 12C* or 11B* and are considered good indicators of dose delivery and/or range verification. Further, in gamma-ray astronomy, 4.4 MeV gamma rays are produced by cosmic ray interactions in the interstellar medium, and can thus be used to probe nucleothynthesis in the universe. In this paper, we present a high-precision image of 4.4 MeV gamma rays taken by newly developed 3-D position sensitive Compton camera (3D-PSCC). To mimic the situation in proton therapy, we first irradiated water, PMMA and Ca(OH)2 with a 70 MeV proton beam, then we identified various nuclear lines with the HPGe detector. The 4.4 MeV gamma rays constitute a broad peak, including single and double escape peaks. Thus, by setting an energy window of 3D-PSCC from 3 to 5 MeV, we show that a gamma ray image sharply concentrates near the Bragg peak, as expected from the minimum energy threshold and sharp peak profile in the cross section of 12C(p,p)12C*.
Effect of straw mulch and seeding rate on the harvest index, yield and water use efficiency of winter wheat
Authors: Hu Changlu , Zheng Cheng , Sadras Victor O. , Ding Mao , Yang Xueyun , Zhang Shulan 
Published: May 2018

AbstractStraw mulching has been used to improve water use efficiency (WUE, yield per unit evapotranspiration) in the Loess Plateau of China, but the seeding rate may need to be adjusted from conventional practice. We tested the three-way interaction between seeding rate, soil management (conventional tillage and straw mulching) and seasons. Wheat yield ranged from 2851 to 6981 kg ha−1 and WUE from 5.3 to 16.2 kg ha−1 mm−1. Generally, soil water storage was higher and soil temperature was lower under straw mulching than under conventional practice. Evapotranspiration was higher under straw mulching. Yield was significantly affected by the interaction between straw mulching and season. Conventional practice showed significantly higher mean harvest index (HI), yield, and WUE than straw mulching in favorable seasons. However, yield was significantly higher under mulching than under conventional tillage in very dry season. Seeding rate had no effect on yield, but low seeding rate increased HI compared to high seeding rate. It is concluded that low seeding rate would be suitable for straw mulching.
A New Genetic Fibrinogen Variant (Fibrinogen Erfurt I) Structurally Characterized by an Abnormal Bβ-Chain and Present both in Plasma and Platelets
Authors: Meyer M , Schellenberg I , Vogel G , Bischoff I 
Published: May 2018

SummaryAn abnormal fibrinogen was discovered in the plasma of a clinically asymptomatic woman. This fibrinogen variant was analyzed by high resolution two–dimensional gel electrophoresis and its molecular abnormality established consisting in a slight decrease in molecular mass of the Bβ–chains. Analysis of fibrin revealed that cleavage of fibrinopeptide B by thrombin is normal, the molecular defect being confined to the β–portion of the Bβ–chain. The same fibrinogen variant was detected in the blood platelets of the proposita. This finding supports the assumption of a common origin of plasma and platelet fibrinogen pools. Family studies revealed the presence of the abnormal fibrinogen in a brother of the proposita, thus confirming the genetic nature of the observed variant. The underlying mutant gene occurs in both carriers in heterozygous state.
The In Vivo Effects of Oral Anticoagulants in Man: Comparison Between Liver and Non-Hepatic Tissues
Authors: Berg Marian de Boer-van den , Thijssen Henk H W , Vermeer Cees 
Published: May 2018

SummaryThe in vivo effects of oral anticoagulant therapy with 4–hydroxycoumarins on various vitamin K–dependent enzyme systems in man were compared. In hepatic microsomes obtained from donors who has been treated with 4–hydroxycoumarins for more than 6 months, the vitamin K 2,3 epoxide reductase activity and the DTT–dependent vitamin K quinone reductase activity were diminished to 35% and 20% of the corresponding normal values. In the non–hepatic tissues, only a small decrease in vitamin K 2,3 epoxide reductase activity could be demonstrated, while no differences were found in the vitamin K quinone reductase activities. In none of the tissues a significant increase of non–carboxylated precursor proteins was observed, whereas also vitamin K hydroquinone–dependent carboxylase activities seemed to be unaffected by the anticoagulant treatment.
The Interaction of von Willebrand Factor (vWf) with Collagen: Investigation of vWf-Binding Sites in the Collagen Molecule
Authors: Fitzsimmons C M , Cockburn C G , Hornsey V , Prowse C V , Barnes M J 
Published: May 2018

SummaryFollowing fragmentation of the collagen molecule, we have examined the ability of the isolated fragments to bind vWf. In view of the importance of collagen tertiary and quaternary structure for binding, fragments were first renatured to restore triple-helical conformation and then polymerized. Results indicate the presence of specific vWf-binding sites in both the αl(I)-and α2(I)-chains of type I collagen. Cleavage of the αl(I)-chain with cyanogen bromide suggests the presence of at least four (conceivably several more) binding sites implying a wide distribution of sites along the length of the collagen type I molecule. Collagen type III appears to possess a similar wide distribution of sites. Chemical modification of specific amino acid residues indicates that interaction involves arginyl residues in collagen and carboxyl groups in vWf. Although interaction between fibronec-tin and collagen fibres also involves collagen arginyl residues and carboxyl groups in fibronectin (authors’ unpublished results), fibronectin does not compete with vWf in the binding to collagen fibres.
Anticoagulant Activity in Cell Homogenate of Adult T Cell Leukemia
Authors: Wada H , Tomeoku M , Deguchi A , Suzuki H , Mori Y , Ito M , Deguchi K , Shirakawa S 
Published: May 2018

SummaryThe hemostatic abnormality in 18 patients with adult T cell leukemia (ATL) was studied. Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) was slightly prolonged and prekallikrein activity was markedly low in these patients. The leukemic cell homogenate from these patients prolonged the recalcification time (RCT) of normal plasma; homogenates containing more than 3 ×103 cells/μi prolonged it, although a lower cell concentration shortened it. The crude anticoagulant fraction from the gel filtration, with a molecular weight of about 34,000, prolonged RCT. The crude anticoagulant did not affect prothrombin time (PT), thrombin activity or activated X activity at any concentration, but prolonged the contact activation test, inhibited the activation of prekallikrein and prolonged RCT of Fletcher trait, Fitzgerald trait and F XII deficient plasma. These effects of ATL cell homo-genate were stronger on platelet poor plasma than on platelet rich plasma. Although ATL cells had low procoagulant activity, increase of leukemic cells made anticoagulant activity predominant, might be the cause of hemostatic abnormality or amplify the bleeding tendency in patients with ATL.