bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Manipulating Ce Valence in RE2Fe14B Tetragonal Compounds by La-Ce Co-doping: Resultant Crystallographic and Magnetic Anomaly
Authors: Jin Jiaying , Zhang Yujing , Bai Guohua , Qian Zeyu , Wu Chen , Ma Tianyu , Shen Baogen , Yan Mi 
Published: July 2016

AbstractAbundant and low-cost Ce has attracted considerable interest as a prospective alternative for those critically relied Nd/Pr/Dy/Tb in the 2:14:1-type permanent magnets. The (Nd, Ce)2Fe14B compound with inferior intrinsic magnetic properties to Nd2Fe14B, however, cannot provide an equivalent magnetic performance. Since Ce valence is sensitive to local steric environment, manipulating it towards the favorable trivalent state provides a way to enhance the magnetic properties. Here we report that such a desirable Ce valence can be induced by La-Ce co-doping into [(Pr, Nd)1−x(La, Ce)x]2.14Fe14B (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) compounds via strip casting. As verified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results, Ce valence shifts towards the magnetically favorable Ce3+ state in the composition range of x > 0.3, owing to the co-doping of large radius La3+ into 2:14:1 phase lattice. As a result, both crystallographic and magnetic anomalies are observed in the same vicinity of x = 0.3, above which lattice parameters a and c and saturation magnetization Ms increase simultaneously. Over the whole doping range, 2:14:1 tetragonal structure forms and keeps stable even at 1250 K. This finding may shed light on obtaining a favorable Ce valence via La-Ce co-doping, thus maintaining the intrinsic magnetic properties of 2:14:1-type permanent magnets.
Broccoli sprout extract prevents diabetic cardiomyopathy via Nrf2 activation in db/db T2DM mice
Authors: Xu Zheng , Wang Shudong , Ji Honglei , Zhang Zhiguo , Chen Jing , Tan Yi , Wintergerst Kupper , Zheng Yang , Sun Jian , Cai Lu 
Published: July 2016

AbstractTo develop a clinic-relevant protocol for systemic up-regulation of NFE2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) to prevent diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM), male db/db and age-matched wild-type (WT) mice were given sulforaphane (SFN, an Nrf2 activator) and its natural source, broccoli sprout extract (BSE) by gavage every other day for 3 months, with four groups: vehicle (0.1 ml/10 g), BSE-low dose (estimated SFN availability at 0.5 mg/kg), BSE-high dose (estimated SFN availability at 1.0 mg/kg) and SFN (0.5 mg/kg). Cardiac function and pathological changes (hypertrophy, fibrosis, inflammation and oxidative damage) were assessed by echocardiography and histopathological examination along with Western blot and real-time PCR, respectively. Both BSE and SFN significantly prevented diabetes-induced cardiac dysfunction, hypertrophy and fibrosis. Mechanistically, BSE, like SFN, significantly up-regulated Nrf2 transcriptional activity, evidenced by the increased Nrf2 nuclear accumulation and its downstream gene expression. This resulted in a significant prevention of cardiac oxidative damage and inflammation. For all these preventive effects, BSE at high dose provided a similar effect as did SFN. These results indicated that BSE at high dose prevents DCM in a manner congruent with SFN treatment. Therefore, it suggests that BSE could potentially be used as a natural and safe treatment against DCM via Nrf2 activation.
Recruitment of Arabidopsis RNA Helicase AtRH9 to the Viral Replication Complex by Viral Replicase to Promote Turnip Mosaic Virus Replication
Authors: Li Yinzi , Xiong Ruyi , Bernards Mark , Wang Aiming 
Published: July 2016

AbstractPositive-sense RNA viruses have a small genome with very limited coding capacity and are highly dependent on host components to fulfill their life cycle. Recent studies have suggested that DEAD-box RNA helicases play vital roles in many aspects of RNA metabolism. To explore the possible role of the RNA helicases in viral infection, we used the Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV)-Arabidopsis pathosystem. The Arabidopsis genome encodes more than 100 putative RNA helicases (AtRH). Over 41 Arabidopsis T-DNA insertion mutants carrying genetic lesions in the corresponding 26 AtRH genes were screened for their requirement in TuMV infection. TuMV infection assays revealed that virus accumulation significantly decreased in the Arabidopsis mutants of three genes, AtRH9, AtRH26 and PRH75. In the present work, AtRH9 was further characterized. Yeast two-hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assays showed that AtRH9 interacted with the TuMV NIb protein, the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. Moreover, the subcellular distribution of AtRH9 was altered in the virus-infected cells and AtRH9 was recruited to the viral replication complex. These results suggest that Arabidopsis AtRH9 is an important component of the TuMV replication complex, possibly recruited via its interaction with NIb.
Direct observation of the Dirac nodes lifting in semimetallic perovskite SrIrO3 thin films
Authors: Liu Z. T. , Li M. Y. , Li Q. F. , Liu J. S. , Li W. , Yang H. F. , Yao Q. , Fan C. C. , Wan X. G. , Wang Z. , Shen D. W. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractPerovskite SrIrO3 has long been proposed as an exotic semimetal induced by the interplay between the spin-orbit coupling and electron correlations. However, its low-lying electronic structure is still lacking. We synthesize high-quality perovskite SrIrO3 (100) films by means of oxide molecular beam epitaxy, and then systemically investigate their low energy electronic structure using in-situ angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. We find that the hole-like bands around R and the electron-like bands around U(T) intersect the Fermi level simultaneously, providing the direct evidence of the semimetallic ground state in this compound. Comparing with the density functional theory, we discover that the bandwidth of states near Fermi level is extremely small, and there exists a pronounced mixing between the Jeff = 1/2 and Jeff = 3/2 states. Moreover, our data reveal that the predicted Dirac degeneracy protected by the mirror-symmetry, which was theoretically suggested to be the key to realize the non-trivial topological properties, is actually lifted in perovskite SrIrO3 thin films. Our findings pose strong constraints on the current theoretical models for the 5d iridates.
Mouse aldehyde-oxidase-4 controls diurnal rhythms, fat deposition and locomotor activity
Authors: Terao Mineko , Barzago Maria Monica , Kurosaki Mami , Fratelli Maddalena , Bolis Marco , Borsotti Andrea , Bigini Paolo , Micotti Edoardo , Carli Mirjana , Invernizzi Roberto William , Bagnati Renzo , Passoni Alice , Pastorelli Roberta , Brunelli Laura , Toschi Ivan , Cesari Valentina , Sanoh Seigo , Garattini Enrico 
Published: July 2016

AbstractAldehyde-oxidase-4 (AOX4) is one of the mouse aldehyde oxidase isoenzymes and its physiological function is unknown. The major source of AOX4 is the Harderian-gland, where the enzyme is characterized by daily rhythmic fluctuations. Deletion of the Aox4 gene causes perturbations in the expression of the circadian-rhythms gene pathway, as indicated by transcriptomic analysis. AOX4 inactivation alters the diurnal oscillations in the expression of master clock-genes. Similar effects are observed in other organs devoid of AOX4, such as white adipose tissue, liver and hypothalamus indicating a systemic action. While perturbations of clock-genes is sex-independent in the Harderian-gland and hypothalamus, sex influences this trait in liver and white-adipose-tissue which are characterized by the presence of AOX isoforms other than AOX4. In knock-out animals, perturbations in clock-gene expression are accompanied by reduced locomotor activity, resistance to diet induced obesity and to hepatic steatosis. All these effects are observed in female and male animals. Resistance to obesity is due to diminished fat accumulation resulting from increased energy dissipation, as white-adipocytes undergo trans-differentiation towards brown-adipocytes. Metabolomics and enzymatic data indicate that 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid and tryptophan are novel endogenous AOX4 substrates, potentially involved in AOX4 systemic actions.
Generation and protective efficacy of a cold-adapted attenuated avian H9N2 influenza vaccine
Authors: Wei Yandi , Qi Lu , Gao Huijie , Sun Honglei , Pu Juan , Sun Yipeng , Liu Jinhua 
Published: July 2016

AbstractTo prevent H9N2 avian influenza virus infection in chickens, a long-term vaccination program using inactivated vaccines has been implemented in China. However, the protective efficacy of inactivated vaccines against antigenic drift variants is limited, and H9N2 influenza virus continues to circulate in vaccinated chicken flocks in China. Therefore, developing a cross-reactive vaccine to control the impact of H9N2 influenza in the poultry industry remains a high priority. In the present study, we developed a live cold-adapted H9N2 influenza vaccine candidate (SD/01/10-ca) by serial passages in embryonated eggs at successively lower temperatures. A total of 13 amino acid mutations occurred during the cold-adaptation of this H9N2 virus. The candidate was safe in chickens and induced robust hemagglutination-inhibition antibody responses and influenza virus–specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell immune responses in chickens immunized intranasally. Importantly, the candidate could confer protection of chickens from homologous and heterogenous H9N2 viruses. These results demonstrated that the cold-adapted attenuated H9N2 virus would be selected as a vaccine to control the infection of prevalent H9N2 influenza viruses in chickens.
High-yield cell-free synthesis of human EGFR by IRES-mediated protein translation in a continuous exchange cell-free reaction format
Authors: Quast Robert B. , Sonnabend Andrei , Stech Marlitt , Wüstenhagen Doreen A. , Kubick Stefan 
Published: July 2016

AbstractCell-free protein synthesis systems derived from eukaryotic sources often provide comparatively low amounts of several μg per ml of de novo synthesized membrane protein. In order to overcome this, we herein demonstrate the high-yield cell-free synthesis of the human EGFR in a microsome-containing system derived from cultured Sf21 cells. Yields were increased more than 100-fold to more than 285 μg/ml by combination of IRES-mediated protein translation with a continuous exchange cell-free reaction format that allowed for prolonged reaction lifetimes exceeding 24 hours. In addition, an orthogonal cell-free translation system is presented that enabled the site-directed incorporation of p-Azido-L-phenylalanine by amber suppression. Functionality of cell-free synthesized receptor molecules is demonstrated by investigation of autophosphorylation activity in the absence of ligand and interaction with the cell-free synthesized adapter molecule Grb2.
Wide-Band Spatially Tunable Photonic Bandgap in Visible Spectral Range and Laser based on a Polymer Stabilized Blue Phase
Authors: Lin Jia-De , Wang Tsai-Yen , Mo Ting-Shan , Huang Shuan-Yu , Lee Chia-Rong 
Published: July 2016

AbstractThis work successfully develops a largely-gradient-pitched polymer-stabilized blue phase (PSBP) photonic bandgap (PBG) device with a wide-band spatial tunability in nearly entire visible region within a wide blue phase (BP) temperature range including room temperature. The device is fabricated based on the reverse diffusion of two injected BP-monomer mixtures with a low and a high chiral concentrations and afterwards through UV-curing. This gradient-pitched PSBP can show a rainbow-like reflection appearance in which the peak wavelength of the PBG can be spatially tuned from the blue to the red regions at room temperature. The total tuning spectral range for the cell is as broad as 165 nm and covers almost the entire visible region. Based on the gradient-pitched PSBP, a spatially tunable laser is also demonstrated in this work. The temperature sensitivity of the lasing wavelength for the laser is negatively linear and approximately −0.26 nm/°C. The two devices have a great potential for use in applications of photonic devices and displays because of their multiple advantages, such as wide-band tunability, wide operated temperature range, high stability and reliability, no issue of hysteresis, no need of external controlling sources and not slow tuning speed (mechanically).
A novel peptide ADAM8 inhibitor attenuates bronchial hyperresponsiveness and Th2 cytokine mediated inflammation of murine asthmatic models
Authors: Chen Jun , Deng Linhong , Dreymüller Daniela , Jiang Xuemei , Long Jiaoyue , Duan Yiyuan , Wang Yue , Luo Mingzhi , Lin Feng , Mao Lizhen , Müller Bernd , Koller Garrit , Bartsch Jörg W. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractA disintegrin and metalloproteinase 8 (ADAM8) has been identified as a signature gene associated with moderate and severe asthma. Studies in mice have demonstrated that the severity of asthma can be reduced by either transgenic knock-out or by antibodies blocking ADAM8 function, highlighting ADAM8 as potential drug target for asthma therapy. Here, we examined the therapeutic effect of an ADAM8 inhibitor peptide (BK-1361) that specifically blocks cellular ADAM8 activity in ovalbumin-sensitized and challenged Balb/c mice. We found that BK-1361 (25 μg/g body weight) attenuated airway responsiveness to methacholine stimulation by up to 42%, concomitantly reduced tissue remodeling by 50% and decreased inflammatory cells (e.g. eosinophils down by 54%)/inflammatory factors (e.g. sCD23 down by 50%)/TH2 cytokines (e.g. IL-5 down by 70%)/ADAM8-positive eosinophils (down by 60%) in the lung. We further verified that BK-1361 specifically targets ADAM8 in vivo as the peptide caused significantly reduced levels of soluble CD23 in wild-type but not in ADAM8-deficient mice. These findings suggest that BK-1361 blocks ADAM8-dependent asthma effects in vivo by inhibiting infiltration of eosinophils and TH2 lymphocytes, thus leading to reduction of TH2-mediated inflammation, tissue remodeling and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Taken together, pharmacological ADAM8 inhibition appears as promising novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of asthma.
A novel approach to estimate the eruptive potential and probability in open conduit volcanoes
Authors: De Gregorio Sofia , Camarda Marco 
Published: July 2016

AbstractIn open conduit volcanoes, volatile-rich magma continuously enters into the feeding system nevertheless the eruptive activity occurs intermittently. From a practical perspective, the continuous steady input of magma in the feeding system is not able to produce eruptive events alone, but rather surplus of magma inputs are required to trigger the eruptive activity. The greater the amount of surplus of magma within the feeding system, the higher is the eruptive probability.Despite this observation, eruptive potential evaluations are commonly based on the regular magma supply and in eruptive probability evaluations, generally any magma input has the same weight. Conversely, herein we present a novel approach based on the quantification of surplus of magma progressively intruded in the feeding system. To quantify the surplus of magma, we suggest to process temporal series of measurable parameters linked to the magma supply. We successfully performed a practical application on Mt Etna using the soil CO2 flux recorded over ten years.
Entanglement as a resource to distinguish orthogonal product states
Authors: Zhang Zhi-Chao , Gao Fei , Cao Tian-Qing , Qin Su-Juan , Wen Qiao-Yan 
Published: July 2016

AbstractIt is known that there are many sets of orthogonal product states which cannot be distinguished perfectly by local operations and classical communication (LOCC). However, these discussions have left the following open question: What entanglement resources are necessary and/or sufficient for this task to be possible with LOCC? In m ⊗ n, certain classes of unextendible product bases (UPB) which can be distinguished perfectly using entanglement as a resource, had been presented in 2008. In this paper, we present protocols which use entanglement more efficiently than teleportation to distinguish some classes of orthogonal product states in m ⊗ n, which are not UPB. For the open question, our results offer rather general insight into why entanglement is useful for such tasks and present a better understanding of the relationship between entanglement and nonlocality.
Relation between admission plasma fibrinogen levels and mortality in Chinese patients with coronary artery disease
Authors: Peng Yong , Wang Hua , Li Yi-ming , Huang Bao-tao , Huang Fang-yang , Xia Tian-li , Chai Hua , Wang Peng-ju , Liu Wei , Zhang Chen , Chen Mao , Huang De-jia 
Published: July 2016

AbstractFibrinogen (Fib) was considered to be a potential risk factor for the prognosis of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), but there was lack of the evidence from Chinese contemporary population. 3020 consecutive patients with CAD confirmed by coronary angiography were enrolled and were grouped into 2 categories by the optimal Fib cut-off value (3.17 g/L) for all-cause mortality prediction. The end points were all-cause mortality and cardiac mortality. Cumulative survival curves showed that the risk of all-cause mortality was significantly higher in patients with Fib ≥3.17 g/L compared to those with Fib <3.17 g/L (mortality rate, 11.5% vs. 5.7%, p < 0.001); and cardiovascular mortality obtained results similar to those mentioned above (cardiac mortality rate, 5.9% vs. 3.6%, p = 0.002). Subgroup analysis showed that elevated Fib levels were predictive for the risk of all-cause mortality in the subgroups according to age, medical history and diagnosis. COX multivariate regression analysis showed that plasma Fib levels remained independently associated with all-cause mortality after adjustment for multiple cardiovascular risk factors (all-cause mortality, HR 2.01, CI 1.51–2.68, p < 0.001). This study has found that Fib levels were independently associated with the mortality risk in Chinese CAD patients.
Phononic Structure Engineering: the Realization of Einstein Rattling in Calcium Cobaltate for the Suppression of Thermal Conductivity
Authors: Tian Ruoming , Kearley Gordon J. , Yu Dehong , Ling Chris D. , Pham Anh , Embs Jan P. , Shoko Elvis , Li Sean 
Published: July 2016

AbstractPhonons in condensed matter materials transmit energy through atomic lattices as coherent vibrational waves. Like electronic and photonic properties, an improved understanding of phononic properties is essential for the development of functional materials, including thermoelectric materials. Recently, an Einstein rattling mode was found in thermoelectric material Na0.8CoO2, due to the large displacement of Na between the [CoO2] layers. In this work, we have realized a different type of rattler in another thermoelectric material Ca3Co4O9 by chemical doping, which possesses the same [CoO2] layer as Na0.8CoO2. It remarkably suppressed the thermal conductivity while enhancing its electrical conductivity. This new type of rattler was investigated by inelastic neutron scattering experiments in conjunction with ab-initio molecular dynamics simulations. We found that the large mass of dopant rather than the large displacement is responsible for such rattling in present study, which is fundamentally different from skutterudites, clathrates as well as Na analogue. We have also tentatively studied the phonon band structure of this material by DFT lattice dynamics simulation, showing the relative contribution to phonons in the distinct layers of Ca3Co4O9.
Early intramedullary nailing of femoral shaft fracture on outcomes in patients with severe chest injury: A meta-analysis
Authors: Jiang Meng , Li Changli , Yi Chengla , Tang Shaotao 
Published: July 2016

AbstractEarly intramedullary nailing (IMN) within the first 24 hours for multiply injured patients with femoral fracture and concomitant severe chest injury is still controversial. This review aimed to investigate the association between early IMN and pulmonary complications in such patients. We searched the literature up to Jan 2016 in the main electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane library databases) to identify eligible studies. Data were extracted and analyzed using a Mantel–Haenszel method with random-effects model to estimate pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Seven retrospective cohort studies were identified eventually. The pooled estimates demonstrated that the application of early IMN did not significantly increase the risk of adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (OR, 0.65; 95% CI: 0.38–1.13), mortality (OR, 0.79; 95% CI: 0.43–1.47), pneumonia (OR, 0.92; 95% CI: 0.55–1.54), multiple organ failure (MOF) (OR, 0.87; 95% CI: 0.45–1.71) and pulmonary embolism (OR, 1.81; 95% CI: 0.28–11.83). In subgroup analysis according to the type of IMN (reamed or undreamed), we did not find any significant difference either. Our results indicated that early IMN of femoral shaft fracture was not associated with increased rates of pulmonary complications in severe chest-injured patients.
Fabrication of a turbid optofluidic phantom device with tunable μa and μ′s to simulate cutaneous vascular perfusion
Authors: Chen Chen , Ahmed Midhat , Häfner Tom , Klämpfl Florian , Stelzle Florian , Schmidt Michael 
Published: July 2016

AbstractMicrofluidic devices are oftenly used to calibrate the imaging reconstruction, because they simulate the morphology of microvasculature. However, for lack of optical properties in microfluidics, the functional recovery of oximetry information cannot be verified. In this work, we describe the fabrication of a novel turbid optofluidic tissue phantom. It is designed to mimic the vascular perfusion and the turbid nature of cutaneous tissue. This phantom contains an interior hollow microfluidic structure with a diameter of ϕave = 50 μm. The microfluidic structure includes the geometry of an inlet, a river-like assay and an outlet. This structure can be perfused by hemoglobin solution to mimic the cutaneous micro-circulation. The multiple-layered phantom matrices exhibit the representative optical parameters of human skin cutis, namely the absorption coefficient μa and the reduced scattering coefficient "Equation missing". The geometry of the generated microfluidic structure is investigated by using Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography. This optofluidic phantom bridges the gap between tissue equivalent phantoms and Lab-On-Chip devices. Perspectively, this device can be used to calibrate a variety of optical angiographic imaging approaches.
Dielectric Huygens’ Metasurface for High-Efficiency Hologram Operating in Transmission Mode
Authors: Zhao Wenyu , Jiang Huan , Liu Bingyi , Song Jie , Jiang Yongyuan , Tang Chengchun , Li Junjie 
Published: July 2016

AbstractConventional metasurface holograms relying on metal antennas for phase manipulation suffer from strong Ohmic loss and incomplete polarization conversion. The efficiency is limited to rather small values when operating in transmission mode. Here, we implement a high-efficiency transmissive metasurface hologram by leveraging the recently developed Huygens’ metasurface to construct an electric and magnetic sheet with a transmission efficiency up to 86% and optical efficiency of 23.6%. The high-efficiency originates from the simultaneous excitations of the Mie-type electric and magnetic dipole resonances in the meta-atoms composed of silicon nanodisks. Our hologram shows high fidelity over a wide spectral range and promises to be an outstanding alternative for display applications.