bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Analyzing tunable terahertz grating based on hybrid graphene‐metal structure by using the HIE‐FDTD method
Authors: Chen Juan , Hao Guocheng , Liu Qing Huo 
Published: January 2018

AbstractA hybrid graphene‐metal grating is simulated and analyzed at terahertz frequency band by using the hybrid implicit‐explicit finite‐difference time domain (HIE‐FDTD) method. To simulate the graphene layer accurately, both the interband and intraband conductivity of the graphene are incorporated into the HIE‐FDTD method by using the auxiliary differential equations and Pade fitting technique. Numerical results show that the HIE‐FDTD method has excellent computational accuracy and its computational efficiency is considerably improved from that of the conventional FDTD method. Besides, numerical results validate that the graphene can achieve tunable terahertz grating through controlling its chemical potential, and the interband conductivity of the graphene has important effects on the performance of the grating.
A 31‐year climatology of tropical cyclone size from the NCEP Climate Forecast System Reanalysis
Authors: Mok Derek K. H. , Chan Johnny C. L. , Chan Kelvin T. F. 
Published: January 2018

ABSTRACTA 31‐year tropical cyclone (TC) size climatology (1980–2010) is established using the NCEP Climate Forecast System Reanalysis for the western North Pacific (WNP) and the North Atlantic (NA). The size of a TC, defined as the azimuthally averaged radius of 17 m s−1 wind near the sea surface, is estimated using the strong relationship between TC size and azimuthally averaged winds in the outer‐core region of the TC. The estimation method is verified by comparing the TC size climatology established using the QuikSCAT satellite data. The monthly and annual variations in both climatologies agree with each other.Based on this 31‐year data set, the mean TC sizes over the WNP and NA are 2.01° and 1.61° latitude, respectively. TC size in both basins exhibits temporal intra‐seasonal and annual as well as spatial variations. Inter‐annual TC size variations in the WNP are highly correlated (r = 0.816) with El Niño‐Southern Oscillation events. In WNP, the highest percentage of large TCs occurs near 25°N, which agrees with previous modelling and observational studies.
Non‐enzymatic cross‐linking of collagen type II fibrils is tuned via osmolality switch
Authors: Pouran Behdad , Moshtagh Parisa R. , Arbabi Vahid , Snabel Jessica , Stoop Reinout , Ruberti Jeffrey , Malda Jos , Zadpoor Amir A. , Weinans Harrie 
Published: January 2018

ABSTRACTAn important aspect in cartilage ageing is accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) after exposure to sugars. Advanced glycation results in cross‐links formation between the collagen fibrils in articular cartilage, hampering their flexibility and making cartilage more brittle. In the current study, we investigate whether collagen cross‐linking after exposure to sugars depends on the stretching condition of the collagen fibrils. Healthy equine cartilage specimens were exposed to l‐threose sugar and placed in hypo‐, iso‐, or hyper‐osmolal conditions that expanded or shrank the tissue and changed the 3D conformation of collagen fibrils. We applied micro‐indentation tests, contrast enhanced micro‐computed tomography, biochemical measurement of pentosidine cross‐links, and cartilage surface color analysis to assess the effects of advanced glycation cross‐linking under these different conditions. Swelling of extracellular matrix due to hypo‐osmolality made cartilage less susceptible to advanced glycation, namely, the increase in effective Young's modulus was approximately 80% lower in hypo‐osmolality compared to hyper‐osmolality and pentosidine content per collagen was 47% lower. These results indicate that healthy levels of glycosaminoglycans not only keep cartilage stiffness at appropriate levels by swelling and pre‐stressed collagen fibrils, but also protect collagen fibrils from adverse effects of advanced glycation. These findings highlight the fact that collagen fibrils and therefore cartilage can be protected from further advanced glycation (“ageing”) by maintaining the joint environment at sufficiently low osmolality. Understanding of mechanochemistry of collagen fibrils provided here might evoke potential ageing prohibiting strategies against cartilage deterioration. © 2018 The Authors. Journal of Orthopaedic Research Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Orthopaedic Research Society. J Orthop Res 36:1929–1936, 2018.
Selective enrichment of N‐linked glycopeptides and glycans by using a dextran‐modified hydrophilic material
Authors: Chen Linlin , Ding Di , Sheng Qianying , Yu Long , Liu Xiuping , Liang Xinmiao 
Published: January 2018

AbstractGlycosylation analysis of proteins from biological sources utilizing mass spectrometry based approaches is challenging due to the relatively low abundance of glycopeptides, the structural diversity of glycans, and the coexisting matrices. In this study, a customized dextran‐bonded silica‐based stationary phase was introduced for selective enrichment of glycopeptides and glycans from complex biological samples. This material has exhibited superior selectivity and broader glycosylation site coverage over commercial Sepharose in glycoproteomic evaluation. Additionally, the glycomic analysis of fetuin, α1‐acid glycoprotein, and human serum N‐glycome also indicated the relatively higher sensitivity, selectivity, and glycoform coverage of dextran‐bonded silica than that of Sepharose and porous graphitized carbon. Therefore, the dextran‐bonded silica is expected to make contributions in the fields of glycoproteomics and glycomics.
Rapid profiling of polymeric phenolic acids in Salvia miltiorrhiza by hybrid data‐dependent/targeted multistage mass spectrometry acquisition based on expected compounds prediction and fragment ion searching
Authors: Shen Yao , Feng Zijin , Yang Min , Zhou Zhe , Han Sumei , Hou Jinjun , Li Zhenwei , Wu Wanying , Guo De‐an 
Published: January 2018

AbstractPhenolic acids are the major water‐soluble components in Salvia miltiorrhiza (>5%). According to previous studies, many of them contribute to the cardiovascular effects and antioxidant effects of S. miltiorrhiza. Polymeric phenolic acids can be considered as the tanshinol derived metabolites, e.g., dimmers, trimers, and tetramers. A strategy combined with tanshinol‐based expected compounds prediction, total ion chromatogram filtering, fragment ion searching, and parent list‐based multistage mass spectrometry acquisition by linear trap quadropole‐orbitrap Velos mass spectrometry was proposed to rapid profile polymeric phenolic acids in S. miltiorrhiza. More than 480 potential polymeric phenolic acids could be screened out by this strategy. Based on the fragment information obtained by parent list‐activated data dependent multistage mass spectrometry acquisition, 190 polymeric phenolic acids were characterized by comparing their mass information with literature data, and 18 of them were firstly detected from S. miltiorrhiza. Seven potential compounds were tentatively characterized as new polymeric phenolic acids from S. miltiorrhiza. This strategy facilitates identification of polymeric phenolic acids in complex matrix with both selectivity and sensitivity, which could be expanded for rapid discovery and identification of compounds from complex matrix.
Second‐Harmonic Generation from Hyperbolic Plasmonic Nanorod Metamaterial Slab
Authors: Marino Giuseppe , Segovia Paulina , Krasavin Alexey V. , Ginzburg Pavel , Olivier Nicolas , Wurtz Gregory A. , Zayats Anatoly V. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractHyperbolic plasmonic metamaterials provide numerous opportunities for designing unusual linear and nonlinear optical properties. In this work, second‐harmonic generation in a hyperbolic metamaterial due to a free‐electron nonlinear response of a plasmonic component of the metamaterial is studied. It is shown that owing to a rich modal structure of an anisotropic plasmonic metamaterial slab, the overlap of fundamental and second‐harmonic modes results in the broadband enhancement of radiated second‐harmonic intensity by up to 2 orders of magnitude for TM‐ and TE‐polarized fundamental light, compared to a smooth Au film under TM‐polarised illumination. Compared to the radiated second‐harmonic intensity from a bulk LiNbO3 nonlinear crystal of the same thickness, the SHG intensity from a metamaterial slab may be up to 2 orders of magnitude higher at the certain metamaterial resonances. The results open up possibilities to design tuneable frequency‐doubling integratable metamaterial with the goal to overcome limitations associated with classical phase matching conditions in thick nonlinear crystals.
Vertical‐Cavity Silicon‐Integrated Laser with In‐Plane Waveguide Emission at 850 nm
Authors: Kumari Sulakshna , Haglund Emanuel P. , Gustavsson Johan S. , Larsson Anders , Roelkens Gunther , Baets Roel G. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractA continuous‐wave electrically‐pumped short‐wavelength hybrid vertical‐cavity silicon‐integrated laser (VCSIL) with in‐plane emission into a silicon nitride (SiN) waveguide is experimentally demonstrated. The coupling from the vertical cavity into the in‐plane SiN waveguide is achieved by a weak grating on the SiN waveguide placed inside the cavity. The grating provides coupling, sets the polarization of the lasing output, and provides transverse mode control. A 5 µm oxide‐aperture diameter device with a threshold current of 1.1 mA produces 73 µW single‐sided waveguide‐coupled optical output power at 2.6 mA bias current at a wavelength of 856 nm and a side‐mode suppression ratio (SMSR) of 29 dB.
The synergistic effect of PDT and oxacillin on clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Iluz Natanel , Maor Yasmin , Keller Natan , Malik Zvi 
Published: January 2018

BackgroundStaphylococcus aureus is a major pathogen in clinical microbiology. It is known to cause infections at various body sites and can be life‐threatening. The development of resistance to many well‐established antibiotic treatments and the prevalence of methicillin‐resistant S. aureus (MRAS) among hospital patients and the general community pose challenges in treating the pathogen. The antimicrobial effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been a subject of study for a long time and can offer new strategies for dealing with resistant strains.ObjectiveIn our study, we searched for a positive synergistic relationship between PDT and the standard antibiotics used to treat S. aureus and MRSA infections.Materials and MethodsThe phototoxic profile of deuteroporphyrin (DP) in both resistant and susceptible clinical strains of S. aureus was determined by plating of treated and untreated broth cultures. Electron microscopy imaging was done to explore possible sites of damage and free‐radical accumulation in the cells during DP‐PDT. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of oxacillin, gentamicin, vancomycin, rifampin, and fusidic acid was determined using the broth dilution method, and the checkerboard method was used to detect and evaluate the synergistic potential of DP‐PDT and antibiotic combinations. A synergistic combination was further characterized using broth cultures and plating.ResultsDP‐PDT using a light dose of 15 J/cm2 showed a bactericidal effect even with a small concentration of 17 μM DP. Transmission electron microscopy indicated profound damage in the cell wall and cell membrane, and the appearance of mesosome‐like structures. Free radicals tend to localize in the cell membrane and inside the mesosome. No synergistic effect was detected by combining PDT with gentamicin, vancomycin, rifampin, and fusidic acid treatments. A positive synergistic effect was observed only in DP‐PDT‐oxacillin combined treatment using the checkerboard method. The effect was observed in clinical antibiotic‐resistant isolates after DP‐PDT using a light dose of 46 J/cm2 and small concentrations of DP. Oxacillin MIC decreased below 2 μg/ml in resistant strains under such conditions. Cultures which did not undergo new cycles of DP‐PDT recovered their original oxacillin resistance after a few generations.ConclusionsPDT with porphyrins shows possible new therapeutic options in treating drug‐resistant S. aureus at body sites suitable for irradiation. The synergistic effect of DP‐PDT with oxacillin on clinical strains illustrates the potential of PDT to augment traditional antibiotic treatment based on cell wall inhibitors. Lasers Surg. Med. 50:535–551, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Antibacterial and Antifungal Activity of Poly(Lactic Acid)–Bovine Lactoferrin Nanofiber Membranes
Authors: Machado Raul , da Costa André , Silva Dina M. , Gomes Andreia C. , Casal Margarida , Sencadas Vitor 
Published: January 2018

AbstractAntimicrobial materials have become relevant for local therapies preventing microbial resistance induced by systemic antibiotic treatments. This work reports the development of electrospun poly(lactic acid) (PLLA) nanofiber membranes loaded with bovine lactoferrin (bLF) up to 20 wt%. The membranes present smooth and nondefective fibers with mean diameters between 717 ± 197 and 495 ± 127 nm, and an overall porosity of ≈80%. The hydrophobicity of the PLLA membranes is reduced by the presence of bLF. The release profile of bLF correlates with an anomalous transport model, with 17.7 ± 3.6% being released over 7 weeks. The nanofiber mats show no cytotoxicity on human skin fibroblasts and even promote cell proliferation after short exposure periods. Furthermore, the developed membranes display antifungal activity against Aspergillus nidulans by inhibiting spore germination and mycelial growth. These results evidence the strong potential of bLF–PLLA nanofiber membranes to be used as antifungal dressings.
Facile Fabrication of Mussel‐Inspired Multifunctional Polymeric Membranes with Remarkable Anticoagulant, Antifouling, and Antibacterial Properties
Authors: Shao Mingze , Wang Rui , Zhao Weifeng , Li Jianshu , Zhao Changsheng 
Published: January 2018

AbstractHerein, a facile one‐step surface modification technique of coating functional biopolymer conjugated mussel‐inspired catechol (CA) onto substrate is applied to confer polyethersulfone (PES) membranes with remarkable blood compatibility, antifouling property, and antibacterial property, respectively. CA conjugated poly(2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropanesulfonic acid) (PAMPS), poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (PSBMA), and poly(methacryloxyethyltrimethyl ammonium chloride) are synthesized via free radical polymerization in the presence of CA, and simultaneously coated onto PES membrane surface. The surface chemical compositions, surface zeta‐potential convince the successful preparation of the modified PES membranes. PAMPS‐coated membrane exhibits excellent blood compatibility, especially anticoagulation property; PSBMA‐coated membrane displays excellent antifouling property and blood compatibility; meanwhile, PDMC‐coated membrane shows robust bactericidal property. In general, this work demonstrates that the mussel‐inspired surface modification protocol provides a facile and versitile method to confer the substrate with excellent blood compatibility, antifouling property, and antibacterial property, respectively, which has great potential for multibiomedical applications, such as blood purification, hemodialysis, and organ implantation.
A Novel Approach to Design Nanoporous Polyethylene/Polyester Composite Fabric via TIPS for Human Body Cooling
Authors: Liu Rong , Wang Xinwei , Yu Junrong , Wang Yan , Zhu Jing , Hu Zuming 
Published: January 2018

AbstractIn this study, in order to obtain a wearable infrared‐transparent material based on nanoporous polyethylene, a newly ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)/polyester composite fabric with nanoporous structure is developed via thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) method. A polyester mesh with loose warp/weft weaves is chosen as the intermediate to enhance the fabric mechanical strength and air permeability. Meanwhile, methoxy‐poly(ethylene glycol)‐aminoethyl/polydopamine particles (mPPDAPs) are used to improve the hydrophilicity of UHMWPE. The fabric is composited with mPPDAPs/UHMWPE/liquid paraffin mixture at high temperature. Then the nanoporous structure is formed via TIPS in UHMWPE phase in the composite fabric. This newly UHMWPE/polyester composite fabric possesses a unique connective nanoporous structure with the pore sizes distributed from 50 to 100 nm and it also has many disconnected honeycomb pores that are ≈1000 nm in diameter. These characteristics endow the composite fabric with excellent properties of wearability and optical properties, including sufficient moisture wicking rate, air permeability, and mechanical strength, high infrared‐transparent and ultraviolet/visible‐opaque properties. It is an effective, economical, and practical novel composite textile for human body cooling.
Water‐Processable Multiwalled Nanotube: Phenol‐Induced Reversible Oxidation Process and Ambipolar Charge Transport Property
Authors: Huang Ju , Jiang Yan‐Yun 
Published: January 2018

AbstractDue to the fascinating electronic, thermal, and mechanical properties of single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), extensive efforts have been devoted to the development of SWCNT‐based materials. These materials' semiconducting properties and related applications, such as field‐effect transistors (FETs), have been investigated by researchers for many years. However, despite the significant progress achieved, it remains challenging to separate semiconducting and metallic nanotubes from the mixtures of as‐grown SWCNTs. In a few studies, composites of water‐processable phenol formaldehyde resin/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been found to exhibit a quasireversible oxidation process and to behave as semiconductors or field‐effect transistors. This finding has rarely been reported for MWCNTs, and it differs greatly from findings regarding intrinsic semiconductive SWCNTs. Significantly, field‐effect transistors fabricated with MWCNT composites as their semiconductor active layers have shown ambipolar charge transport characteristics. The results provide a high value‐added application pathway for the application of polymer/MWCNTs as the FET materials for electronic devices that offer higher performance at a lower cost.
Chemical Composition Fractionation of Olefin Plastomers/Elastomers by Solvent and Thermal Gradient Interaction Chromatography
Authors: Ndiripo Anthony , Albrecht Andreas , Monrabal Benjamin , Wang Jingbo , Pasch Harald 
Published: January 2018

AbstractOlefin plastomers/elastomers are typically copolymers with high comonomer contents and low crystallinities. Therefore, the fractionation of these materials with crystallization‐based methods is not feasible. On the other hand, solvent and temperature gradient interaction chromatography (SGIC and TGIC, respectively) are suitable techniques for the separation of olefin copolymers with regard to their chemical composition. In this study, the application ranges of both techniques are investigated and compared for ethylene–propylene (EP) copolymers. A linear dependency of ethylene content versus elution volume is obtained with SGIC in practically the whole ethylene range. In the case of TGIC, a linear dependency is obtained within certain ethylene content limits. The accessible ethylene content separation range for TGIC is 50–100 mol% ethylene, and a broader 26–100 mol% ethylene range is accessible for SGIC, the latter being the technique of choice in the analysis of EP rubbers.
Polypeptide Polymer Brushes by Light‐Induced Surface Polymerization of Amino Acid N‐Carboxyanhydrides
Authors: Stukenkemper Timo , Paquez Xavier , Verhoeven M. W. G. M. , Hensen Emiel J. M. , Dias Aylvin A. , Brougham Dermot F. , Heise Andreas 
Published: January 2018

AbstractSilicon wafers are decorated with photoamine generator 4,5‐dimethoxy‐2‐nitrobenzyl 3‐(triethoxysilyl)propyl carbamate. UV‐irradiation in the presence of benzyl‐l‐glutamate N‐carboxyanhydride is carried out, resulting in the release of the surface‐bound primary amines, making them viable N‐carboxyanhydride (NCA) polymerization initiators. Successful polypeptide grafting is confirmed by water contact angle measurements as well as by ellipsometry, revealing a poly(benzyl‐l‐glutamate) (PBLG) layer of ≈3 nm. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirms the presence of amide groups in the grafted PBLG while time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy provides additional evidence for the presence of PBLG on the surface. Evaluation of negative control samples confirms successful UV surface grafting. The approach is thus established as a viable general method for light exposure directable polypeptide functionalization of silicon surfaces.
Exoproteome Profiling Reveals the Involvement of the Foldase PrsA in the Cell Surface Properties and Pathogenesis of Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Lin Mei‐Hui , Li Chi‐Chun , Shu Jwu‐Ching , Chu Hao‐Wei , Liu Chao‐Chin , Wu Chih‐Ching 
Published: January 2018

AbstractStaphylococcus aureus is a bacterial pathogen that produces and exports many virulence factors that cause diseases in humans. PrsA, a membrane‐bound foldase, is expressed ubiquitously in Gram‐positive bacteria and required for the folding of exported proteins into a stable and active structure. To understand the involvement of PrsA in posttranslocational protein folding in S. aureus, a PrsA‐deficient mutant of S. aureus HG001 was constructed. Using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ)‐based mass spectrometry analyses, the exoproteomes of PrsA mutant and wild type S. aureus were comparatively profiled, and 163 cell wall‐associated proteins and 67 exoproteins with altered levels have been identified in the PrsA‐deficient mutant. Bioinformatics analyses further reveal that prsA deletion altered the amounts of proteins that are potentially involved in the regulation of cell surface properties and bacterial pathogenesis. To determine the relevancy of our findings, we investigated the functional consequence of prsA deletion in S. aureus. PrsA deficiency can enhance bacterial autoaggregation and increase the adhesion ability of S. aureus to human lung epithelial cells. Moreover, mice infected with PrsA‐deficient S. aureus had a better survival rate compared with those infected with the wild‐type S. aureus. Collectively, our findings reveal that PrsA is required for the posttranslocational folding of numerous exported proteins and critically affects the cell surface properties and pathogenesis of S. aureus.
The Plantain Proteome, a Focus on Allele Specific Proteins Obtained from Plantain Fruits
Authors: Campos Nádia A. , Swennen Rony , Carpentier Sebastien C. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractProteomics has been applied with great potential to elucidate molecular mechanisms in plants. This is especially valid in the case of non‐model crops of which their genome has not been sequenced yet, or is not well annotated. Plantains are a kind of cooking bananas that are economically very important in Africa, India, and Latin America. The aim of this work was to characterize the fruit proteome of common dessert bananas and plantains and to identify proteins that are only encoded by the plantain genome. We present the first plantain fruit proteome. All data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD005589. Using our in‐house workflow, we found 37 alleles to be unique for plantain covered by 59 peptides. Although we do not have access (yet) to whole‐genome sequencing data from triploid banana cultivars, we show that proteomics is an easily accessible complementary alternative to detect different allele specific SNPs/SAAPs. These unique alleles might contribute toward the differences in the metabolism between dessert bananas and plantains. This dataset will stimulate further analysis by the scientific community, boost plantain research, and facilitate plantain breeding.