bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Plasmonic field confinement for separate absorption-multiplication in InGaAs nanopillar avalanche photodiodes
Authors: Farrell Alan C. , Senanayake Pradeep , Hung Chung-Hong , El-Howayek Georges , Rajagopal Abhejit , Currie Marc , Hayat Majeed M. , Huffaker Diana L. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractAvalanche photodiodes (APDs) are essential components in quantum key distribution systems and active imaging systems requiring both ultrafast response time to measure photon time of flight and high gain to detect low photon flux. The internal gain of an APD can improve system signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Excess noise is typically kept low through the selection of material with intrinsically low excess noise, using separate-absorption-multiplication (SAM) heterostructures, or taking advantage of the dead-space effect using thin multiplication regions. In this work we demonstrate the first measurement of excess noise and gain-bandwidth product in III–V nanopillars exhibiting substantially lower excess noise factors compared to bulk and gain-bandwidth products greater than 200 GHz. The nanopillar optical antenna avalanche detector (NOAAD) architecture is utilized for spatially separating the absorption region from the avalanche region via the NOA resulting in single carrier injection without the use of a traditional SAM heterostructure.
What Role do Hurricanes Play in Sediment Delivery to Subsiding River Deltas?
Authors: Smith James E. , Bentley Samuel J. , Snedden Gregg A. , White Crawford 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThe Mississippi River Delta (MRD) has undergone tremendous land loss over the past century due to natural and anthropogenic influences, a fate shared by many river deltas globally. A globally unprecedented effort to restore and sustain the remaining subaerial portions of the delta is now underway, an endeavor that is expected to cost $50–100B over the next 50 yr. Success of this effort requires a thorough understanding of natural and anthropogenic controls on sediment supply and delta geomorphology. In the MRD, hurricanes have been paradoxically identified as both substantial agents of widespread land loss and vertical marsh sediment accretion. We present the first multi-decadal chronostratigraphic assessment of sediment supply for a major coastal basin of the MRD that assesses both fluvial and hurricane-induced contributions to sediment accumulation in deltaic wetlands. Our findings indicate that over multidecadal timescales, hurricane-induced sediment delivery may be an important contributor for deltaic wetland vertical accretion, but the contribution from hurricanes to long-term sediment accumulation is substantially less than sediment delivery supplied by existing and planned river-sediment diversions at present-day river-sediment loads.
An ABA down-regulated bHLH transcription repressor gene, bHLH129 regulates root elongation and ABA response when overexpressed in Arabidopsis
Authors: Tian Hainan , Guo Hongyan , Dai Xuemei , Cheng Yuxin , Zheng Kaijie , Wang Xiaoping , Wang Shucai 
Published: December 2015

AbstractPlant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) plays a crucial role in modulating plant responses to environmental stresses. Basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors are one of the largest transcription factor families that regulate multiple aspects of plant growth and development, as well as of plant metabolism in Arabidopsis. Several bHLH transcription factors have been shown to be involved in the regulation of ABA signaling. We report here the characterization of bHLH129, a bHLH transcription factor in Arabidopsis. We found that the expression level of bHLH129 was reduced in response to exogenously applied ABA and elevated in the ABA biosynthesis mutant aba1-5. Florescence observation of transgenic plants expressing bHLH129-GFP showed that bHLH129 was localized in the nucleus and transient expression of bHLH129 in protoplasts inhibited reporter gene expression. When expressed in Arabidopsis under the control of the 35S promoter, bHLH129 promoted root elongation and the transgenic plants were less sensitivity to ABA in root elongation assays. Quantitative RT-PCR results showed that ABA response of several genes involved in ABA signaling, including ABI1, SnRK2.2, SnRK2.3 and SnRK2.6 were altered in the transgenic plants overexpressing bHLH129. Taken together, our study suggests that bHLH129 is a transcription repressor that negatively regulates ABA response in Arabidopsis.
Massive gene loss in mistletoe (Viscum, Viscaceae) mitochondria
Authors: Petersen G. , Cuenca A. , Møller I. M. , Seberg O. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractParasitism is a successful survival strategy across all kingdoms and has evolved repeatedly in angiosperms. Parasitic plants obtain nutrients from other plants and some are agricultural pests. Obligate parasites, which cannot complete their lifecycle without a host, may lack functional photosystems (holoparasites), or have retained photosynthesis (hemiparasites). Plastid genomes are often reduced in parasites, but complete mitochondrial genomes have not been sequenced and their mitochondrial respiratory capacities are largely unknown. The hemiparasitic European mistletoe (Viscum album), known from folklore and postulated therapeutic properties, is a pest in plantations and forestry. We compare the mitochondrial genomes of three Viscum species based on the complete mitochondrial genome of V. album, the first from a parasitic plant. We show that mitochondrial genes encoding proteins of all respiratory complexes are lacking or pseudogenized raising several questions relevant to all parasitic plants: Are any mitochondrial gene functions essential? Do any genes need to be located in the mitochondrial genome or can they all be transferred to the nucleus? Can parasitic plants survive without oxidative phosphorylation by using alternative respiratory pathways? More generally, our study is a step towards understanding how host- and self-perception, host integration and nucleic acid transfer has modified ancestral mitochondrial genomes.
Hydrogen Impurity Defects in Rutile TiO2
Authors: Mo Li-Bin , Wang Yu , Bai Yang , Xiang Qing-Yun , Li Qun , Yao Wen-Qing , Wang Jia-Ou , Ibrahim Kurash , Wang Huan-Hua , Wan Cai-Hua , Cao Jiang-Li 
Published: December 2015

AbstractHydrogen-related defects play crucial roles in determining physical properties of their host oxides. In this work, we report our systematic experimental and theoretical (based on density functional theory) studies of the defect states formed in hydrogenated-rutile TiO2 in gaseous H2 and atomic H. In gas-hydrogenated TiO2, the incorporated hydrogen tends to occupy the oxygen vacancy site and negatively charged. The incorporated hydrogen takes the interstitial position in atom-hydrogenated TiO2, forming a weak O-H bond with the closest oxygen ion and becomes positive. Both states of hydrogen affect the electronic structure of TiO2 mainly through changes of Ti 3d and O 2p states instead of the direct contributions of hydrogen. The resulted electronic structures of the hydrogenated TiO2 are manifested in modifications of the electrical and optical properties that will be useful for the design of new materials capable for green energy economy.
The effectiveness of Corticosteroids on mortality in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome or acute lung injury: a secondary analysis
Authors: Zhang Zhongheng , Chen Lin , Ni Hongying 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThe development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with dys-regulated inflammation. Since corticosteroids are potent anti-inflammatory drugs, they are thought to be beneficial for ARDS patients. The study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of corticosteroids on mortality outcome in ARDS patients. The study was a secondary analysis of a prospective randomized controlled trial (NCT00979121). ARDS patients with invasive mechanical ventilation were enrolled. Corticosteroids use was defined as IV or PO administration of corticosteroids totaling more than 20 mg methylprednisolone equivalents during one calendar day. Missing data were handled using multiple imputation technique. Multivariable model was built to adjust for confounding covariates. A total of 745 patients were enrolled, including 540 survivors and 205 non-survivors. Patients in the non-survivor group were more likely to use corticosteroids (38% vs. 29.8%; p = 0.032). After adjustment for other potential confounders, corticosteroids showed no statistically significant effect on mortality outcome (OR: 1.18; 95% CI: 0.81–1.71). Furthermore, we investigated the interaction between corticosteroid use and variables of vasopressor and PaO2. The result showed that there was no significant interaction. In conclusion, the study failed to identify any beneficial effects of corticosteroids on mortality outcome in patients with ARDS.
Rapid accumulation and low degradation: key parameters of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus persistence in its insect vector Bemisia tabaci
Authors: Becker Nathalie , Rimbaud Loup , Chiroleu Frédéric , Reynaud Bernard , Thébaud Gaël , Lett Jean-Michel 
Published: December 2015

AbstractOf worldwide economic importance, Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV, Begomovirus) is responsible for one of the most devastating plant diseases in warm and temperate regions. The DNA begomoviruses (Geminiviridae) are transmitted by the whitefly species complex Bemisia tabaci. Although geminiviruses have long been described as circulative non-propagative viruses, observations such as long persistence of TYLCV in B. tabaci raised the question of their possible replication in the vector. We monitored two major TYLCV strains, Mild (Mld) and Israel (IL), in the invasive B. tabaci Middle East-Asia Minor 1 cryptic species, during and after the viral acquisition, within two timeframes (0–144 hours or 0–20 days). TYLCV DNA was quantified using real-time PCR and the complementary DNA strand of TYLCV involved in viral replication was specifically quantified using anchored real-time PCR. The DNA of both TYLCV strains accumulated exponentially during acquisition but remained stable after viral acquisition had stopped. Neither replication nor vertical transmission were observed. In conclusion, our quantification of the viral loads and complementary strands of both Mld and IL strains of TYLCV in B. tabaci point to an efficient accumulation and preservation mechanism, rather than to a dynamic equilibrium between replication and degradation.
Object size can influence perceived weight independent of visual estimates of the volume of material
Authors: Plaisier Myrthe A. , Smeets Jeroen B.J. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThe size-weight illusion is the phenomenon that the smaller of two equally heavy objects is perceived to be heavier than the larger object when lifted. One explanation for this illusion is that heaviness perception is influenced by our expectations and larger objects are expected to be heavier than smaller ones because they contain more material. If this would be the entire explanation, the illusion should disappear if we make objects larger while keeping the volume of visible material the same (i.e. objects with visible holes). Here we tested this prediction. Our results show that perceived heaviness decreased with object size regardless of whether objects visibly contained the same volume of material or not. This indicates that object size can influence perceived heaviness, even when it can be seen that differently sized objects contain the same volume of material.
Tumor-selective peptide-carrier delivery of Paclitaxel increases in vivo activity of the drug
Authors: Brunetti Jlenia , Pillozzi Serena , Falciani Chiara , Depau Lorenzo , Tenori Eleonora , Scali Silvia , Lozzi Luisa , Pini Alessandro , Arcangeli Annarosa , Menichetti Stefano , Bracci Luisa 
Published: December 2015

AbstractTaxanes are highly effective chemotherapeutic drugs against proliferating cancer and an established option in the standard treatment of ovarian and breast cancer. However, treatment with paclitaxel is associated with severe side effects, including sensory axonal neuropathy and its poor solubility in water complicates its formulation. In this paper we report the in vitro and in vivo activity of a new form of paclitaxel, modified for conjugation with a tumor-selective tetrabranched peptide carrier (NT4). NT4 selectively targets tumor cells by binding to membrane sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAG) and to endocytic receptors, like LRP1 and LRP6, which are established tumor markers. Biological activity of NT4-paclitaxel was tested in vitro on MDA-MB 231 and SKOV-3 cell lines, representing breast and ovarian cancer, respectively and in vivo in an orthotopic mouse model of human breast cancer. Using in vivo bioluminescence imaging, we found that conjugation of paclitaxel with the NT4 peptide led to increased therapeutic activity of the drug in vivo. NT4-paclitaxel induced tumor regression, whereas treatment with unconjugated paclitaxel only produced a reduction in tumor growth. Moreover, unlike paclitaxel, NT4-paclitaxel is very hydrophilic, which may improve its pharmacokinetic profile and allow the use of less toxic dilution buffers, further decreasing its general chemotherapic toxicity.
Mitochondria-related miR-151a-5p reduces cellular ATP production by targeting CYTB in asthenozoospermia
Authors: Zhou Ran , Wang Rong , Qin Yufeng , Ji Juan , Xu Miaofei , Wu Wei , Chen Minjian , Wu Di , Song Ling , Shen Hongbing , Sha Jiahao , Miao Dengshun , Hu Zhibin , Xia Yankai , Lu Chuncheng , Wang Xinru 
Published: December 2015

AbstractMitochondria, acting as the energy metabolism factory, participate in many key biological processes, including the maintenance of sperm viability. Mitochondria-related microRNA (miRNA), encoded by nuclear genome or mitochondrial genome, may play an important regulatory role in the control of mitochondrial function. To investigate the potential role of mitochondria-related miRNAs in asthenozoospermia, we adopted a strategy consisting of initial screening by TaqMan Low Density Array (TLDA) and further validation with quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Validation of the profiling results was conducted in two independent phases. Eventually, two seminal plasma miRNAs (sp-miRs) (miR-101-3p, let-7b-5p) were found to be significantly decreased, while sp-miR-151a-5p was significantly increased in severe asthenozoospermia cases compared with healthy controls. To further study their potential roles in asthenozoospermia, we then evaluated mitochondrial function of GC-2 cells transfected with these potentially functional miRNAs. Our results demonstrated that transfection with miR-151a-5p mimics decreased the mitochondrial respiratory activity. Besides, Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) level was decreased when transfected with miR-151a-5p mimics. In addition, Cytochrome b (Cytb) mRNA and protein levels were also decreased when miR-151a-5p was overexpressed. These results indicate that miR-151a-5p may participate in the regulation of cellular respiration and ATP production through targeting Cytb.
Pressure-driven formation and stabilization of superconductive chromium hydrides
Authors: Yu Shuyin , Jia Xiaojing , Frapper Gilles , Li Duan , Oganov Artem R. , Zeng Qingfeng , Zhang Litong 
Published: December 2015

AbstractChromium hydride is a prototype stoichiometric transition metal hydride. The phase diagram of Cr-H system at high pressures remains largely unexplored due to the challenges in dealing with the high activation barriers and complications in handing hydrogen under pressure. We have performed an extensive structural study on Cr-H system at pressure range 0 ∼ 300 GPa using an unbiased structure prediction method based on evolutionary algorithm. Upon compression, a number of hydrides are predicted to become stable in the excess hydrogen environment and these have compositions of Cr2Hn(n = 2–4, 6, 8, 16). Cr2H3, CrH2and Cr2H5structures are versions of the perfect anti-NiAs-type CrH with ordered tetrahedral interstitial sites filled by H atoms. CrH3and CrH4exhibit host-guest structural characteristics. In CrH8, H2units are also identified. Our study unravels that CrH is a superconductor at atmospheric pressure with an estimated transition temperature (Tc) of 10.6 K and superconductivity in CrH3is enhanced by the metallic hydrogen sublattice withTcof 37.1 K at 81 GPa, very similar to the extensively studied MgB2.
The impact of cationic substituents in phenalen-1-one photosensitizers on antimicrobial photodynamic efficacy
Authors: Tabenski Isabelle , Cieplik Fabian , Tabenski Laura , Regensburger Johannes , Hiller Karl-Anton , Buchalla Wolfgang , Maisch Tim , Späth Andreas 
Published: December 2015

Abstract
Light-mediated killing of pathogens by cationic photosensitizers (PS) is a promising antimicrobial approach avoiding resistance as being present upon the use of antibiotics. In this study we focused on the impact of the substituents in phenalen-1-one PS. Photodynamic efficacy depending on positively charged moieties including a primary aliphatic, quaternary aliphatic, aromatic ammonium and a guanidinium cation was investigated against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. Considering the altered steric demand and lipophilicity of these functional groups we deduced a structure–activity relationship. SAGUA was the most potent PS in this series reaching a maximum efficacy of ≥6log10 steps of bacteria killing at a concentration of 10 μM upon irradiation with blue light (20 mW cm−2) for 60 s (1.2 J cm−2) without exhibiting inherent dark toxicity. Its guanidinium moiety may be able to form strong bidentate and directional hydrogen bonds to carboxylate groups of bacterial surfaces in addition to ionic charge attraction. This may supplement fast and effective antimicrobial activity.
Sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate suppresses pulmonary fibroblast proliferation and activation induced by silica: role of the Nrf2/Trx pathway
Authors: Zhu Zhonghui , Wang Yan , Liang Di , Yang Gengxia , Chen Li , Niu Piye , Tian Lin 
Published: December 2015

Abstract
Alveolar macrophages are believed to induce oxidative stress via reactive oxygen species (ROS) when silica particles are inhaled. This process can contribute to the pathogenesis of silicosis, but the mechanism is unclear. A traditional Chinese herbal derivative, sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate (STS), displays significant antioxidant effects. Here, we determine whether STS can attenuate the oxidative stress induced by silica. Traditionally, studies on the toxic effects of silica have focused on monocultures of macrophages or fibroblasts. A coculture model of macrophages (Raw 264.7) and pulmonary fibroblasts (MRC-5) was used in this study to mimic a more in vivo-like environment. We investigated the protective effects of STS on the abnormal proliferation of MRC-5 fibroblasts in an in vitro model. The results showed that fibroblast viability increased with the accumulation of intracellular ROS induced by cocultured Raw 264.7 cells after silica exposure. Treatment with STS markedly ameliorated the silica-induced cell proliferation and oxidative stress. Western blotting and immunofluorescence analysis of the Nrf2 and thioredoxin (Trx) system were conducted, and the results confirmed that treatment with STS enhanced nuclear Nrf2 accumulation and mediated antioxidant Trx system expression. These findings suggest that silica exposure might induce some level of oxidative stress in fibroblasts and that STS might augment antioxidant activities via up-regulation of the Nrf2 and Trx system pathways in MRC-5 cells in vitro.
C‐band 60 W GaN power amplifier MMIC designed with harmonic tuned approach
Authors: Yu Xuming , Sun Huan , Xu Yuehang , Hong Wei 
Published: December 2015

A C‐band GaN high power amplifier (HPA) microwave monolithic integrated circuit (MMIC) with second harmonic tuned circuits is presented. The MMIC is designed with three stages to ensure high gain, and the final stage is matched with optimised second harmonic impedance to improve the power added efficiency (PAE). Experimental results show that the class AB GaN HPA MMIC, with drain voltage of 28 V, can be realised with more than 40% PAE and 60 W output power, with associated gain of 25 dB, in 5–6 GHz at 100 μs pulse width and 10% duty cycle. The chip area is 3.2 × 5.3 mm (16.96 mm).
High‐performance digital replica of analogue peak current mode control for DC–DC converter
Authors: Taeed Fazel , Nymand Morten 
Published: December 2015

A simple and robust digital peak current mode controller is proposed in this study. The controller replicates an analogue peak current mode control in the discrete domain. The inner current loop has negligible delay, which results in a high controller bandwidth. The controller structure allows the compensation slope to be updated in each switching cycle; therefore, the controller can maintain a high bandwidth over a wide range of operating points. The modelling principles of an analogue peak current mode controller are used to model the proposed controller. For experimental verification, the controller is implemented in a field programmable gate array to control a 100 W buck converter. The measured loop gain of the system correlates very well with the modelling results. The achieved controller crossover frequency is ∼1/10 of the switching frequency which is close to the crossover frequency of analogue peak current mode controllers.
Physics of active jamming during collective cellular motion in a monolayer
Authors: Garcia Simon , Hannezo Edouard , Elgeti Jens , Joanny Jean-François , Silberzan Pascal , Gov Nir S. 
Published: December 2015

Significance
Collective cell motion is very important in many biological processes such as wound healing, embryogenesis, or cancer progression. Nevertheless, it is not clear which parameters control the transition from freely moving single cells to collective jammed motion. In this article, we uncover complex dynamics as a cell monolayer ages, where cell motion is shown to gradually slow down with time, while the distance over which cell displacements are correlated first increases drastically and then decreases. This change of behavior is not controlled by cell density but rather by a maturation of the cell−cell and cell−substrate contacts. By comparing experiments, analytic model, and detailed particle-based simulations, we shed light on this biological amorphous solidification process.
Kohn–Sham approach to quantum electrodynamical density-functional theory: Exact time-dependent effective potentials in real space
Authors: Flick Johannes , Ruggenthaler Michael , Appel Heiko , Rubio Angel 
Published: December 2015

Significance
Density-functional theory (DFT) is a well-established method to study many-electron systems. Over the past decades advanced algorithms have been designed that allow even large systems to be solved computationally very efficiently. Only recently, DFT has been generalized to correctly incorporate the quantum nature of light, which becomes important, e.g., in cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED). In general, the accuracy in density-functional theory depends crucially on the capability to construct good approximations that reflect the features of the exact effective potential for the Kohn–Sham system. In this work, we introduce a fixed-point scheme to construct these exact effective potentials for a cavity QED system and demonstrate their features for the ground-state and time-dependent situations.