bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Visualizing non-equilibrium lithiation of spinel oxide via in situ transmission electron microscopy
Authors: He Kai , Zhang Sen , Li Jing , Yu Xiqian , Meng Qingping , Zhu Yizhou , Hu Enyuan , Sun Ke , Yun Hongseok , Yang Xiao-Qing , Zhu Yimei , Gan Hong , Mo Yifei , Stach Eric A. , Murray Christopher B. , Su Dong 
Published: May 2016

AbstractSpinel transition metal oxides are important electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries, whose lithiation undergoes a two-step reaction, whereby intercalation and conversion occur in a sequential manner. These two reactions are known to have distinct reaction dynamics, but it is unclear how their kinetics affects the overall electrochemical response. Here we explore the lithiation of nanosized magnetite by employing a strain-sensitive, bright-field scanning transmission electron microscopy approach. This method allows direct, real-time, high-resolution visualization of how lithiation proceeds along specific reaction pathways. We find that the initial intercalation process follows a two-phase reaction sequence, whereas further lithiation leads to the coexistence of three distinct phases within single nanoparticles, which has not been previously reported to the best of our knowledge. We use phase-field theory to model and describe these non-equilibrium reaction pathways, and to directly correlate the observed phase evolution with the battery’s discharge performance.
Controlling the volatility of the written optical state in electrochromic DNA liquid crystals
Authors: Liu Kai , Varghese Justin , Gerasimov Jennifer Y. , Polyakov Alexey O. , Shuai Min , Su Juanjuan , Chen Dong , Zajaczkowski Wojciech , Marcozzi Alessio , Pisula Wojciech , Noheda Beatriz , Palstra Thomas T. M. , Clark Noel A. , Herrmann Andreas 
Published: May 2016

AbstractLiquid crystals are widely used in displays for portable electronic information display. To broaden their scope for other applications like smart windows and tags, new material properties such as polarizer-free operation and tunable memory of a written state become important. Here, we describe an anhydrous nanoDNA–surfactant thermotropic liquid crystal system, which exhibits distinctive electrically controlled optical absorption, and temperature-dependent memory. In the liquid crystal isotropic phase, electric field-induced colouration and bleaching have a switching time of seconds. Upon transition to the smectic liquid crystal phase, optical memory of the written state is observed for many hours without applied voltage. The reorientation of the DNA–surfactant lamellar layers plays an important role in preventing colour decay. Thereby, the volatility of optoelectronic state can be controlled simply by changing the phase of the material. This research may pave the way for developing a new generation of DNA-based, phase-modulated, photoelectronic devices.
Targeting survivin as a potential new treatment for chondrosarcoma of bone
Authors: de Jong Y , van Oosterwijk J G , Kruisselbrink A B , Briaire-de Bruijn I H , Agrogiannis G , Baranski Z , Cleven A H G , Cleton-Jansen A-M , van de Water B , Danen E H J , Bovée J V M G 
Published: May 2016

AbstractChondrosarcomas are malignant cartilage-forming bone tumors, which are intrinsically resistant to chemo- and radiotherapy, leaving surgical removal as the only curative treatment option. Therefore, our aim was to identify genes involved in chondrosarcoma cell survival that could serve as a target for therapy. siRNA screening for 51 apoptosis-related genes in JJ012 chondrosarcoma cells identified BIRC5, encoding survivin, as essential for chondrosarcoma survival. Using immunohistochemistry, nuclear as well as cytoplasmic survivin expression was analyzed in 207 chondrosarcomas of different subtypes. Nuclear survivin has been implicated in cell-cycle regulation while cytoplasmic localization is important for its anti-apoptotic function. RT–PCR was performed to determine expression of the most common survivin isoforms. Sensitivity to YM155, a survivin inhibitor currently in phase I/II clinical trial for other tumors, was examined in 10 chondrosarcoma cell lines using viability assay, apoptosis assay and cell-cycle analysis. Survivin expression was found in all chondrosarcoma patient samples. Higher expression of nuclear and cytoplasmic survivin was observed with increasing histological grade in central chondrosarcomas. Inhibition of survivin using YM155 showed that especially TP53 mutant cell lines were sensitive, but no caspase 3/7 or PARP cleavage was observed. Rather, YM155 treatment resulted in a block in S phase in two out of three chondrosarcoma cell lines, indicating that survivin is more involved in cell-cycle regulation than in apoptosis. Thus, survivin is important for chondrosarcoma survival and chondrosarcoma patients might benefit from survivin inhibition using YM155, for which TP53 mutational status can serve as a predictive biomarker.
Enhanced Salt Removal by Unipolar Ion Conduction in Ion Concentration Polarization Desalination
Authors: Kwak Rhokyun , Pham Van Sang , Kim Bumjoo , Chen Lan , Han Jongyoon 
Published: May 2016

AbstractChloride ion, the majority salt in nature, is ∼52% faster than sodium ion (DNa+ = 1.33, DCl− = 2.03[10−9m2s−1]). Yet, current electrochemical desalination technologies (e.g. electrodialysis) rely on bipolar ion conduction, removing one pair of the cation and the anion simultaneously. Here, we demonstrate that novel ion concentration polarization desalination can enhance salt removal under a given current by implementing unipolar ion conduction: conducting only cations (or anions) with the unipolar ion exchange membrane stack. Combining theoretical analysis, experiment, and numerical modeling, we elucidate that this enhanced salt removal can shift current utilization (ratio between desalted ions and ions conducted through electrodes) and corresponding energy efficiency by the factor ∼(D− − D+)/(D− + D+). Specifically for desalting NaCl, this enhancement of unipolar cation conduction saves power consumption by ∼50% in overlimiting regime, compared with conventional electrodialysis. Recognizing and utilizing differences between unipolar and bipolar ion conductions have significant implications not only on electromembrane desalination, but also energy harvesting applications (e.g. reverse electrodialysis).
Chloroplast phylogenomic analyses reveal the deepest-branching lineage of the Chlorophyta, Palmophyllophyceae class. nov.
Authors: Leliaert Frederik , Tronholm Ana , Lemieux Claude , Turmel Monique , DePriest Michael S. , Bhattacharya Debashish , Karol Kenneth G. , Fredericq Suzanne , Zechman Frederick W. , Lopez-Bautista Juan M. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThe green plants (Viridiplantae) are an ancient group of eukaryotes comprising two main clades: the Chlorophyta, which includes a wide diversity of green algae and the Streptophyta, which consists of freshwater green algae and the land plants. The early-diverging lineages of the Viridiplantae comprise unicellular algae and multicellularity has evolved independently in the two clades. Recent molecular data have revealed an unrecognized early-diverging lineage of green plants, the Palmophyllales, with a unique form of multicellularity and typically found in deep water. The phylogenetic position of this enigmatic group, however, remained uncertain. Here we elucidate the evolutionary affinity of the Palmophyllales using chloroplast genomic and nuclear rDNA data. Phylogenetic analyses firmly place the palmophyllalean Verdigellas peltata along with species of Prasinococcales (prasinophyte clade VI) in the deepest-branching clade of the Chlorophyta. The small, compact and intronless chloroplast genome (cpDNA) of V. peltata shows striking similarities in gene content and organization with the cpDNAs of Prasinococcales and the streptophyte Mesostigma viride, indicating that cpDNA architecture has been extremely well conserved in these deep-branching lineages of green plants. The phylogenetic distinctness of the Palmophyllales-Prasinococcales clade, characterized by unique ultrastructural features, warrants recognition of a new class of green plants, Palmophyllophyceae class. nov.
The redox protein p66shc mediates cochlear vascular dysfunction and transient noise-induced hearing loss
Authors: Fetoni A. R. , Eramo S. L. M. , Paciello F. , Rolesi R. , Samengo D. , Paludetti G. , Troiani D. , Pani G. 
Published: May 2016

Abstractp66shc, a member of the ShcA protein family, is essential for cellular response to oxidative stress, and elicits the formation of mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), thus promoting vasomotor dysfunction and inflammation. Accordingly, mice lacking the p66 isoform display increased resistance to oxidative tissue damage and to cardiovascular disorders. Oxidative stress also contributes to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL); we found that p66shc expression and serine phosphorylation were induced following noise exposure in the rat cochlea, together with markers of oxidative stress, inflammation and ischemia as indicated by the levels of the hypoxic inducible factor (HIF) and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the highly vascularised cochlear lateral region and spiral ganglion. Importantly, p66shc knock-out (p66 KO) 126 SvEv adult mice were less vulnerable to acoustic trauma with respect to wild type controls, as shown by preserved auditory function and by remarkably lower levels of oxidative stress and ischemia markers. Of note, decline of auditory function observed in 12 month old WT controls was markedly attenuated in p66KO mice consistent with delayed inner ear senescence. Collectively, we have identified a pivotal role for p66shc -induced vascular dysfunction in a common pathogenic cascade shared by noise-induced and age-related hearing loss.
Deregulated hedgehog pathway signaling is inhibited by the smoothened antagonist LDE225 (Sonidegib) in chronic phase chronic myeloid leukaemia
Authors: Irvine David A. , Zhang Bin , Kinstrie Ross , Tarafdar Anuradha , Morrison Heather , Campbell Victoria L. , Moka Hothri A. , Ho Yinwei , Nixon Colin , Manley Paul W. , Wheadon Helen , Goodlad John R. , Holyoake Tessa L. , Bhatia Ravi , Copland Mhairi 
Published: May 2016

AbstractTargeting the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway represents a potential leukaemia stem cell (LSC)-directed therapy which may compliment tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) to eradicate LSC in chronic phase (CP) chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). We set out to elucidate the role of Hh signaling in CP-CML and determine if inhibition of Hh signaling, through inhibition of smoothened (SMO), was an effective strategy to target CP-CML LSC. Assessment of Hh pathway gene and protein expression demonstrated that the Hh pathway is activated in CD34+ CP-CML stem/progenitor cells. LDE225 (Sonidegib), a small molecule, clinically investigated SMO inhibitor, used alone and in combination with nilotinib, inhibited the Hh pathway in CD34+ CP-CML cells, reducing the number and self-renewal capacity of CML LSC in vitro. The combination had no effect on normal haemopoietic stem cells. When combined, LDE225 + nilotinib reduced CD34+ CP-CML cell engraftment in NSG mice and, upon administration to EGFP+ /SCLtTA/TRE-BCR-ABL mice, the combination enhanced survival with reduced leukaemia development in secondary transplant recipients. In conclusion, the Hh pathway is deregulated in CML stem and progenitor cells. We identify Hh pathway inhibition, in combination with nilotinib, as a potentially effective therapeutic strategy to improve responses in CP-CML by targeting both stem and progenitor cells.
Electromagnetic Thermography Nondestructive Evaluation: Physics-based Modeling and Pattern Mining
Authors: Gao Bin , Woo Wai Lok , Tian Gui Yun 
Published: May 2016

AbstractElectromagnetic mechanism of Joule heating and thermal conduction on conductive material characterization broadens their scope for implementation in real thermography based Nondestructive testing and evaluation (NDT&E) systems by imparting sensitivity, conformability and allowing fast and imaging detection, which is necessary for efficiency. The issue of automatic material evaluation has not been fully addressed by researchers and it marks a crucial first step to analyzing the structural health of the material, which in turn sheds light on understanding the production of the defects mechanisms. In this study, we bridge the gap between the physics world and mathematical modeling world. We generate physics-mathematical modeling and mining route in the spatial-, time-, frequency- and sparse-pattern domains. This is a significant step towards realizing the deeper insight in electromagnetic thermography (EMT) and automatic defect identification. This renders the EMT a promising candidate for the highly efficient and yet flexible NDT&E.
Force Generation by Membrane-Associated Myosin-I
Authors: Pyrpassopoulos Serapion , Arpağ Göker , Feeser Elizabeth A. , Shuman Henry , Tüzel Erkan , Ostap E. Michael 
Published: May 2016

AbstractVertebrate myosin-IC (Myo1c) is a type-1 myosin that links cell membranes to the cytoskeleton via its actin-binding motor domain and its phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P2)-binding tail domain. While it is known that Myo1c bound to PtdIns(4,5)P2 in fluid-lipid bilayers can propel actin filaments in an unloaded motility assay, its ability to develop forces against external load on actin while bound to fluid bilayers has not been explored. Using optical tweezers, we measured the diffusion coefficient of single membrane-bound Myo1c molecules by force-relaxation experiments, and the ability of ensembles of membrane-bound Myo1c molecules to develop and sustain forces. To interpret our results, we developed a computational model that recapitulates the basic features of our experimental ensemble data and suggests that Myo1c ensembles can generate forces parallel to lipid bilayers, with larger forces achieved when the myosin works away from the plane of the membrane or when anchored to slowly diffusing regions.
Endocrine and Metabolic Pathways Linked to Keratoconus: Implications for the Role of Hormones in the Stromal Microenvironment
Authors: McKay Tina B , Hjortdal Jesper , Sejersen Henrik , Asara John M , Wu Jennifer , Karamichos Dimitrios 
Published: May 2016

AbstractHormones play a critical role in regulating tissue function by promoting cell survival, proliferation and differentiation. Our study explores the influence of endocrine function in regulating metabolism and inflammatory pathways in Keratoconus (KC), which is a corneal thinning disease associated with reduced stromal deposition. KC is known to be a multifactorial disease with an elusive pathogenesis. We utilized a cross-sectional study analyzing clinical features and saliva samples from sixty-four KC patients and fourteen healthy controls. In order to determine if endocrine function varied between healthy controls and KC, we measured hormone levels in saliva and found significantly increased dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) and reduced estrone levels in KC patients compared to healthy controls. We measured significant variations in metabolites associated with pro-inflammatory processes, including myoinositol and 1-methyl-histidine, by targeted mass spectrometry. We also measured significantly increased IL-16 and stem cell factor in KC saliva samples compared to healthy controls, with higher expression of these pro-inflammatory proteins correlating with increased KC clinical grade, corneal curvature and stromal thinning. Our results identify a novel mechanism linking KC and pro-inflammatory markers and suggest that altered hormone levels modulate metabolism, cytokine and growth factor expression leading to increased severity of the KC condition.
Evidence for Photoinduced Insulator-to-Metal transition in B-phase vanadium dioxide
Authors: Lourembam James , Srivastava Amar , La-o-vorakiat Chan , Cheng Liang , Venkatesan T. , Chia Elbert E. M. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractUltrafast optical studies have been performed on epitaxial films of the novel B-phase of vanadium dioxide using temperature-dependent optical pump-probe technique. Signature of temperature-driven metal-to-insulator transition was distinctly observed in the ultrafast dynamics — the insulating phase showed two characteristic electronic relaxation times while the metallic phase showed only one. Beyond a threshold value of the pump fluence, the insulating state collapses into a ‘metallic-like’ phase which can be further subdivided into two regimes according to the lengths of the fast characteristic time. The first regime can be explained by lattice heating due to the optical pump; the other cannot be accounted by simple lattice heating effects alone, and thus offers evidence for a true photoinduced phase transition.
The impact of working memory and the “process of process modelling” on model quality: Investigating experienced versus inexperienced modellers
Authors: Martini Markus , Pinggera Jakob , Neurauter Manuel , Sachse Pierre , Furtner Marco R. , Weber Barbara 
Published: May 2016

AbstractA process model (PM) represents the graphical depiction of a business process, for instance, the entire process from online ordering a book until the parcel is delivered to the customer. Knowledge about relevant factors for creating PMs of high quality is lacking. The present study investigated the role of cognitive processes as well as modelling processes in creating a PM in experienced and inexperienced modellers. Specifically, two working memory (WM) functions (holding and processing of information and relational integration) and three process of process modelling phases (comprehension, modelling, and reconciliation) were related to PM quality. Our results show that the WM function of relational integration was positively related to PM quality in both modelling groups. The ratio of comprehension phases was negatively related to PM quality in inexperienced modellers and the ratio of reconciliation phases was positively related to PM quality in experienced modellers. Our research reveals central cognitive mechanisms in process modelling and has potential practical implications for the development of modelling software and teaching the craft of process modelling.
Dynamical detection of network communities
Authors: Quiles Marcos G. , Macau Elbert E. N. , Rubido Nicolás 
Published: May 2016

AbstractA prominent feature of complex networks is the appearance of communities, also known as modular structures. Specifically, communities are groups of nodes that are densely connected among each other but connect sparsely with others. However, detecting communities in networks is so far a major challenge, in particular, when networks evolve in time. Here, we propose a change in the community detection approach. It underlies in defining an intrinsic dynamic for the nodes of the network as interacting particles (based on diffusive equations of motion and on the topological properties of the network) that results in a fast convergence of the particle system into clustered patterns. The resulting patterns correspond to the communities of the network. Since our detection of communities is constructed from a dynamical process, it is able to analyse time-varying networks straightforwardly. Moreover, for static networks, our numerical experiments show that our approach achieves similar results as the methodologies currently recognized as the most efficient ones. Also, since our approach defines an N-body problem, it allows for efficient numerical implementations using parallel computations that increase its speed performance.
Electron Paramagnetic Resonance of Single Magnetic Moment on a Surface
Authors: Berggren P. , Fransson J. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractWe address electron spin resonance of single magnetic moments in a tunnel junction using time-dependent electric fields and spin-polarized current. We show that the tunneling current directly depends on the local magnetic moment and that the frequency of the external electric field mixes with the characteristic Larmor frequency of the local spin. The importance of the spin-polarized current induced anisotropy fields acting on the local spin moment is, moreover, demonstrated. Our proposed model thus explains the absence of an electron spin resonance for a half integer spin, in contrast with the strong signal observed for an integer spin.
Octahedral Ni-nanocluster (Ni85) for Efficient and Selective Reduction of Nitric Oxide (NO) to Nitrogen (N2)
Authors: Mahata Arup , Rawat Kuber Singh , Choudhuri Indrani , Pathak Biswarup 
Published: May 2016

AbstractNitric oxide (NO) reduction pathways are systematically studied on a (111) facet of the octahedral nickel (Ni85) nanocluster in the presence/absence of hydrogen. Thermodynamic (reaction free energies) and kinetic (free energy barriers and temperature dependent reaction rates) parameters are investigated to find out the most favoured reduction pathway for NO reduction. The catalytic activity of the Ni-nanocluster is investigated in greater detail toward the product selectivity (N2 vs. N2O vs. NH3). The previous theoretical (catalyzed by Pt, Pd, Rh and Ir) and experimental reports (catalyzed by Pt, Ag, Pd) show that direct N-O bond dissociation is very much unlikely due to the high-energy barrier but our study shows that the reaction is thermodynamically and kinetically favourable when catalysed by the octahedral Ni-nanocluster. The catalytic activity of the Ni-nanocluster toward NO reduction reaction is very much efficient and selective toward N2 formation even in the presence of hydrogen. However, N2O (one of the major by-products) formation is very much unlikely due to the high activation barrier. Our microkinetic analysis shows that even at high hydrogen partial pressures, the catalyst is very much selective toward N2 formation over NH3.
Palaeoneurological clues to the evolution of defining mammalian soft tissue traits
Authors: Benoit J. , Manger P. R. , Rubidge B. S. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractA rich fossil record chronicles the distant origins of mammals, but the evolution of defining soft tissue characters of extant mammals, such as mammary glands and hairs is difficult to interpret because soft tissue does not readily fossilize. As many soft tissue features are derived from dermic structures, their evolution is linked to that of the nervous syutem and palaeoneurology offers opportunities to find bony correlates of these soft tissue features. Here, a CT scan study of 29 fossil skulls shows that non-mammaliaform Prozostrodontia display a retracted, fully ossified and non-ramified infraorbital canal for the infraorbital nerve, unlike more basal therapsids. The presence of a true infraorbital canal in Prozostrodontia suggests that a motile rhinarium and maxillary vibrissae were present. Also the complete ossification of the parietal fontanelle (resulting in the loss of the parietal foramen) and the development of the cerebellum in Probainognathia may be pleiotropically linked to the appearance of mammary glands and having body hair coverage since these traits are all controlled by the same homeogene, Msx2, in mice. These suggest that defining soft tissue characters of mammals were already present in their forerunners some 240 to 246 mya.