bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sustainable scalable synthesis of sulfide nanocrystals at low cost with an ionic liquid sulfur precursor
Authors: Yuan Bin , Egner Timothy Karl , Venditti Vincenzo , Cademartiri Ludovico 
Published: September 2018

AbstractIncreasing the sustainability of nanocrystals is crucial to their application and the protection of the environment. Sulfur precursors for their synthesis are commonly obtained through multiple steps from H2S, only to be converted back to H2S during the synthesis of the nanocrystals. This convoluted process requires energy, reduces yields, increases waste and auxiliaries, and complicates recycling. Using H2S directly could drastically improve sustainability, but is prevented by toxicity and handling. We here show that H2S is stabilized by reaction with oleylamine (the most common and versatile ligand in nanoparticle synthesis) to form an ionic liquid precursor that addresses all major principles of green chemistry: it is made in one exothermic step, it leaves the reaction yielding a safer product and allowing the separate recycling of the precursors, and it produces high quality nanocrystals with high yields (sulfur yield > 70%) and concentrations (90 g L−1) in ambient conditions.
Observation of Coulomb gap in the quantum spin Hall candidate single-layer 1T’-WTe2
Authors: Song Ye-Heng , Jia Zhen-Yu , Zhang Dongqin , Zhu Xin-Yang , Shi Zhi-Qiang , Wang Huaiqiang , Zhu Li , Yuan Qian-Qian , Zhang Haijun , Xing Ding-Yu , Li Shao-Chun 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThe two-dimensional topological insulators host a full gap in the bulk band, induced by spin–orbit coupling (SOC) effect, together with the topologically protected gapless edge states. However, it is usually challenging to suppress the bulk conductance and thus to realize the quantum spin Hall (QSH) effect. In this study, we find a mechanism to effectively suppress the bulk conductance. By using the quasiparticle interference technique with scanning tunneling spectroscopy, we demonstrate that the QSH candidate single-layer 1T’-WTe2 has a semimetal bulk band structure with no full SOC-induced gap. Surprisingly, in this two-dimensional system, we find the electron–electron interactions open a Coulomb gap which is always pinned at the Fermi energy (EF). The opening of the Coulomb gap can efficiently diminish the bulk state at the EF and supports the observation of the quantized conduction of topological edge states.
Two-photon polymerisation 3D printed freeform micro-optics for optical coherence tomography fibre probes
Authors: Li Jiawen , Fejes Peter , Lorenser Dirk , Quirk Bryden C. , Noble Peter B. , Kirk Rodney W. , Orth Antony , Wood Fiona M. , Gibson Brant C. , Sampson David D. , McLaughlin Robert A. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractMiniaturised optical coherence tomography (OCT) fibre-optic probes have enabled high-resolution cross-sectional imaging deep within the body. However, existing OCT fibre-optic probe fabrication methods cannot generate miniaturised freeform optics, which limits our ability to fabricate probes with both complex optical function and dimensions comparable to the optical fibre diameter. Recently, major advances in two-photon direct laser writing have enabled 3D printing of arbitrary three-dimensional micro/nanostructures with a surface roughness acceptable for optical applications. Here, we demonstrate the feasibility of 3D printing of OCT probes. We evaluate the capability of this method based on a series of characterisation experiments. We report fabrication of a micro-optic containing an off-axis paraboloidal total internal reflecting surface, its integration as part of a common-path OCT probe, and demonstrate proof-of-principle imaging of biological samples.
Multi-Band Sensing for Dielectric Property of Chemicals Using Metamaterial Integrated Microfluidic Sensor
Authors: Zhou Hong , Hu Donglin , Yang Cheng , Chen Cong , Ji Junwang , Chen Ming , Chen Yu , Yang Ya , Mu Xiaojing 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThe growth of the chemical industry has brought tremendous challenges to chemical sensing technology. Chemical sensors based on metamaterials have great potential because of their label-free and non-destructive characteristics. However, metamaterials applied in chemical sensing have mainly been investigated from the measurement of sample concentration or the determination of the dielectric properties at a fixed frequency. Here we present a metamaterial integrated microfluidic (MIM) sensor for the multi-band sensing for dielectric property of chemicals, which is promising for the identification of chemicals. The MIM sensor mainly consists of multiple pair of high sensitive symmetrical double split-ring resonators (DSRRs) and meandering microfluidic channels with a capacity of only 4 μL. A dielectric model has been innovatively established and experimentally verified to accurately estimate the complex permittivity and thus realize the multi-band sensing of dielectric property of chemicals. With the increase in the number of resonators in the sensor, a dielectric spectrum like curve could be obtained for more detailed dielectric information. This work delivers a miniaturized, reusable, label-free and non-destructive metamaterial-microfluidic solution and paves a way of the multi-band sensing for dielectric property of chemicals.
Categorical emotion recognition from voice improves during childhood and adolescence
Authors: Grosbras Marie-Hélène , Ross Paddy D. , Belin Pascal 
Published: September 2018

AbstractConverging evidence demonstrates that emotion processing from facial expressions continues to improve throughout childhood and part of adolescence. Here we investigated whether this is also the case for emotions conveyed by non-linguistic vocal expressions, another key aspect of social interactions. We tested 225 children and adolescents (age 5–17) and 30 adults in a forced-choice labeling task using vocal bursts expressing four basic emotions (anger, fear, happiness and sadness). Mixed-model logistic regressions revealed a small but highly significant change with age, mainly driven by changes in the ability to identify anger and fear. Adult-level of performance was reached between 14 and 15 years of age. Also, across ages, female participants obtained better scores than male participants, with no significant interaction between age and sex effects. These results expand the findings showing that affective prosody understanding improves during childhood; they document, for the first time, continued improvement in vocal affect recognition from early childhood to mid- adolescence, a pivotal period for social maturation.
Computational Analysis of topological indices of two Boron Nanotubes
Authors: Kwun Young Chel , Munir Mobeen , Nazeer Waqas , Rafique Shazia , Kang Shin Min 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThere has been a recent debate that boron nanotubes can outperform carbon nanotubes on many grounds. The most stable boron nanotubes are made of a hexagonal lattice with an extra atom added to some of the hexagons called ∝-boron nanotubes. Closed forms of M-polynomial of nanotubes produce closed forms of many degree-based topological indices which are numerical parameters of the structure and determine physico-chemical properties of the concerned nanotubes. In this article, we compute and analyze many topological indices of ∝-boron nanotubes correlating with the size of structure of these tubes through the use of M-polynomial. More importantly we make a graph-theoretic comparison of indices of two types of boron nanotubes namely triangular boron and ∝-boron nanotubes.
A handheld platform for target protein detection and quantification using disposable nanopore strips
Authors: Morin Trevor J. , McKenna William L. , Shropshire Tyler D. , Wride Dustin A. , Deschamps Joshua D. , Liu Xu , Stamm Reto , Wang Hongyun , Dunbar William B. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractAccessible point-of-care technologies that can provide immunoassay and molecular modalities could dramatically enhance diagnostics, particularly for infectious disease control in low-resource settings. Solid-state nanopores are simple and durable sensors with low-energy instrumentation requirements. While nanopore sensors have demonstrated efficacy for nucleic acid targets, selective detection and quantification of target proteins from sample background has not been demonstrated. We present a simple approach for electronic detection and quantification of target proteins that combines novel biomolecular engineering methods, a portable reader device and disposable nanopore test strips. The target of interest can be varied by swapping the binding domain on our engineered detection reagent, which eficiently binds in the bulk-phase to the target and subsequently generates a unique signature when passing through the pore. We show modularity of the detection reagent for two HIV antibodies, TNFα and tetanus toxin as targets. A saliva swab-to-result is demonstrated for clinically relevant HIV antibody levels (0.4–20 mg/liter) in under 60 seconds. While other strip-like assays are qualitative, the presented method is quantitative and sets the stage for simultaneous immunoassay and molecular diagnostic functionality within a single portable platform.
Systematic expression alteration analysis of master reprogramming factor OCT4 and its three pseudogenes in human cancer and their prognostic outcomes
Authors: Saha Subbroto Kumar , Jeong Yeojin , Cho Sungha , Cho Ssang-Goo 
Published: September 2018

AbstractOCT4 is a master transcription factor that regulates the pluripotency of pluripotent stem cells and cancer stem cells along with other factors, including SOX2, KLF4, and C-MYC. Three different transcripts, OCT4A, OCT4B, and OCT4B1, are known to be generated by alternative splicing and eight OCT4 pseudogenes have been found in the human genome. Among them, we examined OCT4 and three pseudogenes (POU5F1P1, POU5F1P3, and POU5F1P4) because of their high expression possibility in cancer. In addition, previous studies indicated that OCT4 expression is augmented in cervical cancer and associated with poor prognosis, whereas OCT4 is down-regulated and correlated with good clinical outcomes in breast cancer. Because of these conflicting reports, we systematically evaluated whether expression of OCT4 and its pseudogenes can serve as oncogenic markers in various human cancers using the Oncomine database. Moreover, copy number alterations and mutations in OCT4 gene and its pseudogenes were analyzed using cBioPortal and the relationship between expression of OCT4 and pseudogenes and survival probability of cancer patients were explored using Kaplan-Meier plotter, OncoLnc, PROGgeneV2, and PrognoScan databases. Multivariate survival analysis was further conducted to determine the risk of the expression of the occurrence of OCT4 and its pseudogenes on certain cancer types using data from the Kaplan-Meier plotter. Overall, an association between expression of OCT4 and pseudogenes and cancer prognosis were established, which may serve as a therapeutic target for various human cancers.
High-throughput ab initio calculations on dielectric constant and band gap of non-oxide dielectrics
Authors: Lee Miso , Youn Yong , Yim Kanghoon , Han Seungwu 
Published: September 2018

AbstractHigh-k dielectrics, materials having a large band gap (Eg) and high dielectric constant (k) simultaneously, constitute critical components in microelectronic devices. Because of the inverse relationship between Eg and k, materials with large values in both properties are rare. Therefore, massive databases on Eg and k will be useful in identifying optimal high-k materials. While experimental and theoretical data on Eg and k of oxides are accumulating, corresponding information is scarce for non-oxide dielectrics with anions such as C, N, F, P, S, and Cl. To identify promising high-k dielectrics among these material groups, we screen 869 compounds of binary carbides, nitrides, sulfides, phosphides, chlorides, and fluorides, through automated ab initio calculations. Among these compounds, fluorides exhibit an Eg-k relation that is comparable to that of oxides. By further screening over ternary fluorides, we identify fluorides such as BiF3, LaF3, and BaBeF4 that could serve as useful high-k dielectrics.
A-to-I RNA editing enzyme ADAR2 regulates light-induced circadian phase-shift
Authors: Terajima Hideki , Yoshitane Hikari , Yoshikawa Tomoko , Shigeyoshi Yasufumi , Fukada Yoshitaka 
Published: September 2018

AbstractIn mammals, the central circadian clock is located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus and it orchestrates peripheral clocks in the whole body to organize physiological and behavioral rhythms. Light-induced phase-shift of the SCN clock enables synchronization of the circadian clock system with 24-h environmental light/dark cycle. We previously found that adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 2 (Adar2), an A-to-I RNA editing enzyme catalyzing rhythmic A-to-I RNA editing, governs a wide range of mRNA rhythms in the mouse liver and regulates the circadian behavior. In brain, ADAR2-mediated A-to-I RNA editing was reported to occur in various transcripts encoding ion channels and neurotransmitter receptors, which could influence neuronal function of the SCN. Here we show that ADAR2 plays a crucial role for light-induced phase-shift of the circadian clock. Intriguingly, exposure of Adar2-knockout mice to a light pulse at late night caused an aberrant phase-advance of the locomotor rhythms. By monitoring the bioluminescence rhythms of the mutant SCN slices, we found that a phase-advance induced by treatment with pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) was markedly attenuated. The present study suggests that A-to-I RNA editing in the SCN regulates a proper phase response to light in the mouse circadian system.
Experimental evidence of selective inattention in reputation-based cooperation
Authors: Okada Isamu , Yamamoto Hitoshi , Sato Yoshiki , Uchida Satoshi , Sasaki Tatsuya 
Published: September 2018

AbstractReputation-based cooperation is often observed in modern society. People gain several types of information by assessing others. Among these, the most important information is the actions of people and those of their recipients. However, almost all studies assume that people consider all of the information they receive. This assumption is extreme, and people engaging in reputation-based cooperation may not pay attention to some information, i.e., they may display selective inattention. We demonstrate that subjects’ decision-making in relation to cooperative action depends on the content of the information they receive about their recipients. Our results show that subjects either consider or ignore information depending on the content of that information. When their recipients had cooperated previously, subjects cooperated without considering the information they received. When the recipients had played before with those who had bad reputations, subjects did not use that information, regardless of whether it was disclosed proactively. In other cases, subjects considered information on both the previous actions of recipients and those of the recipients’ own recipients. We found that subjects did not always use the information to make decisions, although they willingly received information about their recipients. This supports the proposition that selective inattention occurs in reputation-based cooperation.
Serum GFAP as a biomarker for disease severity in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Abdelhak A. , Huss A. , Kassubek J. , Tumani H. , Otto M. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractWhile neurofilament light chain (NfL) measurement in serum is a well-established marker of neuroaxonal damage in multiple sclerosis (MS), data on astroglial markers in serum are missing. In our study, glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) and NfL were measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum of MS patients and patients with other non-inflammatory neurological diseases (OND) using the Simoa technology. Clinical data like age, gender, expanded disability status scale (EDSS) and MRI findings were correlated to neurochemical markers. We included 80 MS patients: 42 relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), 38 progressive MS (PMS), as well as 20 OND. Serum GFAP levels were higher in PMS compared to RRMS and OND (p < 0.001, p = 0.02 respectively). Serum GFAP levels correlated with disease severity in the whole MS group and PMS (Spearman-rho = 0.5, p < 0.001 in both groups). Serum GFAP correlated with serum NfL in PMS patients (Spearman-rho = 0.4, p = 0.01). Levels of serum GFAP were higher with increasing MRI-lesion count (p = 0.01). in summary, we report elevated levels of GFAP in the serum of MS patients. Since serum levels of GFAP correlate with the clinical severity scores and MRI lesion count, especially in PMS patients, it might be a suitable disease progression marker.
Improving carrier mobility of polycrystalline Ge by Sn doping
Authors: Moto Kenta , Yoshimine Ryota , Suemasu Takashi , Toko Kaoru 
Published: September 2018

AbstractTo improve the performance of electronic devices, extensive research efforts have recently focused on the effect of incorporating Sn into Ge. In the present work, we investigate how Sn composition x (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.12) and deposition temperature Td (50 ≤ Td ≤ 200 °C) of the Ge1−xSnx precursor affect subsequent solid-phase crystallization. Upon incorporating 3.2% Sn, which is slightly above the solubility limit of Sn in Ge, the crystal grain size increases and the grain-boundary barrier decreases, which increases the hole mobility from 80 to 250 cm2/V s. Furthermore, at Td = 125 °C, the hole mobility reaches 380 cm2/V s, which is tentatively attributed to the formation of a dense amorphous GeSn precursor. This is the highest hole mobility for semiconductor thin films on insulators formed below 500 °C. These results thus demonstrate the usefulness of Sn doping of polycrystalline Ge and the importance of temperature while incorporating Sn. These findings make it possible to fabricate advanced Ge-based devices including high-speed thin-film transistors.
Laboratory diagnostics of murine blood for detection of mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV)-induced hepatitis
Authors: Stahl Felix R. , Jung Roman , Jazbutyte Virginija , Ostermann Eléonore , Tödter Silvia , Brixel Renke , Kemmer Annette , Halle Stephan , Rose-John Stefan , Messerle Martin , Arck Petra C. , Brune Wolfram , Renné Thomas 
Published: September 2018

AbstractMouse models are important and versatile tools to study mechanisms and novel therapies of human diseasein vivo. Both, the number and the complexity of murine models are constantly increasing and modification of genes of interest as well as any exogenous challenge may lead to unanticipated biological effects. Laboratory diagnostics of blood samples provide a comprehensive and rapid screening for multiple organ function and are fundamental to detect human disease. Here, we adapt an array of laboratory medicine-based tests commonly used in humans to establish a platform for standardized, multi-parametric, and quality-controlled diagnostics of murine blood samples. We determined sex-dependent reference intervals of 51 commonly used laboratory medicine tests for samples obtained from the C57BL/6J mouse strain. As a proof of principle, we applied these diagnostic tests in a mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection model to screen for organ damage. Consistent with histopathological findings, plasma concentrations of liver-specific enzymes were elevated, supporting the diagnosis of a virus-induced hepatitis. Plasma activities of aminotransferases correlated with viral loads in livers at various days after MCMV infection and discriminated infected from non-infected animals. This study provides murine blood reference intervals of common laboratory medicine parameters and illustrates the use of these tests for diagnosis of infectious disease in experimental animals.
Leptin Increases Particle-Induced Osteolysis in Female ob/ob Mice
Authors: Philbrick Kenneth A. , Branscum Adam J. , Wong Carmen P. , Turner Russell T. , Iwaniec Urszula T. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractParticles generated from wear of prosthesis joint bearing surfaces induce inflammation-mediated periprosthetic bone resorption (osteolysis). Morbidly obese leptin-deficientob/obmice are resistant to polyethylene particle-induced bone loss, suggesting that leptin, a hormone produced by adipocytes that circulates in concentrations proportional to total body adiposity, increases osteolysis. To confirm that particles induce less osteolysis in leptin-deficient mice after controlling for cold stress (room temperature)-induced bone loss,ob/obmice on a C57BL/6 (B6) background and colony B6 wildtype (WT) mice housed at thermoneutral temperature were randomized to control or particle treatment groups (N = 5/group). Polyethylene particles were implanted over calvaria and mice sacrificed 2 weeks later. Compared to particle-treated WT mice, particle-treatedob/obmice had lower osteolysis score, less infiltration of immune cells, and less woven bone formation. To determine the role of leptin in particle-induced osteolysis,ob/obmice were randomized into one of 4 groups (n = 6–8/group): (1) control, (2) particles, (3) particles + continuous leptin (osmotic pump, 6 μg/d), or (4) particles + intermittent leptin (daily injection, 40 μg/d). Leptin treatment increased particle-induced osteolysis inob/obmice, providing evidence that the adpiokine may play a role in inflammation-driven bone loss. Additional research is required to determine whether altering leptin levels within the physiological range results in corresponding changes in polyethylene-particle-induced osteolysis.
Stimulated Brillouin Scattering in an AlGaN Photonics Platform Operating in the Visible Spectral Range
Authors: De Leonardis Francesco , Soref Richard A. , Soltani Mohammad , Passaro Vittorio M. N. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractWe present Stimulated Brillouin Scattering (SBS) process in AlGaN integrated photonic waveguides. The wide bandgap of this III-Nitride material platform allows operating at visible wavelengths enabling large Stokes shifts. For this study, we employ a multiphysics approach that includes electric-photoelastic, magnetic-photoelastic, material interface displacement effects, and for optimal waveguide dimensions to find the Brillouin-active acoustic modes involved in the SBS process. The SBS power gain and the Stokes frequency shift are investigated for both backward and forward scattering processes, and it is shown that stokes shift larger than 50 GHz with high gain are achievable. Moreover, a parametric analysis is presented in order to demonstrate the possibility of realizing Brillouin lasers operating at blue wavelengths.