bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clean, cleaved surfaces of the photovoltaic perovskite
Authors: Kollár Márton , Ćirić Luka , Dil J. Hugo , Weber Andrew , Muff Stefan , Ronnow Henrik M. , Náfrádi Bálint , Monnier Benjamin Pierre , Luterbacher Jeremy Scott , Forró László , Horváth Endre 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe surface of a material is not only a window into its bulk physical properties, but also hosts unique phenomena important for understanding the properties of a solid as a whole. Surface sensitive techniques, like ARPES (Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy), STM (Scanning tunneling microscopy), AFM (Atomic force microscopy), pump-probe optical measurements etc. require flat, clean surfaces. These can be obtained by cleaving, which is usually possible for layered materials. Such measurements have proven their worth by providing valuable information about cuprate superconductors, graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides, topological insulators and many other novel materials. Unfortunately, this was so far not the case for the cubic, organo-metallic photovoltaic perovskite which morsels during the cleavage. Here we show a method which results in flat, clean surfaces of CH3NH3PbBr3 which allows surface sensitive measurements, badly needed for the understanding and further engineering of this material family.
Leucovorin Enhances the Anti-cancer Effect of Bortezomib in Colorectal Cancer Cells
Authors: Wang Shu , Wang Lei , Zhou Zhiyang , Deng Qipan , Li Ling , Zhang Mingzhi , Liu Linlin , Li Yong 
Published: March 2017

AbstractColorectal cancer is a major cancer type worldwide. 5-fluorouracil, often given with leucovorin, is the most commonly used drug in colorectal cancer chemotherapy, yet development of drug resistance to 5-fluorouracil in colorectal cancer cells is the primary cause of chemotherapy failure. Most patients receiving intravenous 5-fluorouracil develop side effects. Leucovorin, due to its vitamin-like profile, has few side-effects. Drug repurposing is the application of approved drugs to treat new indications. In this study, we performed a novel drug-repurposing screening to identify Food and Drug Administration-approved chemotherapeutic compounds possessing synergistic activity with leucovorin against colorectal cancer cells. We found that the combination of bortezomib and leucovorin enhanced caspase activation and increased apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells better than either agent alone. Further, the synergistic induction of apoptosis and inhibition of tumor growth were also observed in mouse colorectal cancer xenografts. These data support leucovorin enhances the anti-cancer effect of bortezomib and present this novel combinatorial treatment against colorectal cancer.
Pavlovian conditioning demonstrated with neuromorphic memristive devices
Authors: Tan Zheng-Hua , Yin Xue-Bing , Yang Rui , Mi Shao-Bo , Jia Chun-Lin , Guo Xin 
Published: March 2017

AbstractPavlovian conditioning, a classical case of associative learning in a biological brain, is demonstrated using the Ni/Nb-SrTiO3/Ti memristive device with intrinsic forgetting properties in the framework of the asymmetric spike-timing-dependent plasticity of synapses. Three basic features of the Pavlovian conditioning, namely, acquisition, extinction and recovery, are implemented in detail. The effects of the temporal relation between conditioned and unconditioned stimuli as well as the time interval between individual training trials on the Pavlovian conditioning are investigated. The resulting change of the response strength, the number of training trials necessary for acquisition and the number of extinction trials are illustrated. This work clearly demonstrates the hardware implementation of the brain function of the associative learning.
Soft and wrinkled carbon membranes derived from petals for flexible supercapacitors
Authors: Yu Xiuxiu , Wang Ying , Li Li , Li Hongbian , Shang Yuanyuan 
Published: March 2017

AbstractBiomass materials are promising precursors for the production of carbonaceous materials due to their abundance, low cost and renewability. Here, a freestanding wrinkled carbon membrane (WCM) electrode material for flexible supercapacitors (SCs) was obtained from flower petal. The carbon membrane was fabricated by a simple thermal pyrolysis process and further activated by heating the sample in air. As a binder and current collector-free electrode, the activated wrinkled carbon membrane (AWCM) exhibited a high specific capacitance of 332.7 F/g and excellent cycling performance with 92.3% capacitance retention over 10000 cycles. Moreover, a flexible all-solid supercapacitor with AWCM electrode was fabricated and showed a maximum specific capacitance of 154 F/g and great bending stability. The development of this flower petal based carbon membrane provides a promising cost-effective and environmental benign electrode material for flexible energy storage.
Parental Exposure to Dim Light at Night Prior to Mating Alters Offspring Adaptive Immunity
Authors: Cissé Yasmine M. , Russart Kathryn L.G. , Nelson Randy J. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractExposure to dim light at night (dLAN) disrupts natural light/dark cycles and impairs endogenous circadian rhythms necessary to maintain optimal biological function, including the endocrine and immune systems. We have previously demonstrated that white dLAN compromises innate and cell mediated immune responses in adult Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus). We hypothesized that dLAN has transgenerational influences on immune function. Adult male and female Siberian hamsters were exposed to either dark nights (DARK) or dLAN (~5 lux) for 9 weeks, then paired in full factorial design, mated, and thereafter housed under dark nights. Offspring were gestated and reared in dark nights, then tested as adults for cell-mediated and humoral immunity. Maternal exposure to dLAN dampened delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses in male offspring. Maternal and paternal exposure to dLAN reduced DTH responses in female offspring. IgG antibodies to a novel antigen were elevated in offspring of dams exposed to dLAN. Paternal exposure to dLAN decreased splenic endocrine receptor expression and global methylation in a parental sex-specific manner. Together, these data suggest that exposure to dLAN has transgenerational effects on endocrine-immune function that may be mediated by global alterations in the epigenetic landscape of immune tissues.
IgE binds asymmetrically to its B cell receptor CD23
Authors: Dhaliwal Balvinder , Pang Marie O. Y. , Keeble Anthony H. , James Louisa K. , Gould Hannah J. , McDonnell James M. , Sutton Brian J. , Beavil Andrew J. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe antibody IgE plays a central role in allergic disease mechanisms. Its effector functions are controlled through interactions between the Fc region and two principal cell surface receptors FcεRI and CD23. The interaction with FcεRI is primarily responsible for allergic sensitization and the inflammatory response, while IgE binding to CD23 is involved in the regulation of IgE synthesis and allergen transcytosis. Here we present the crystal structure of a CD23/IgE-Fc complex and conduct isothermal titration calorimetric binding studies. Two lectin-like “head” domains of CD23 bind to IgE-Fc with affinities that differ by more than an order of magnitude, but the crystal structure reveals only one head bound to one of the two identical heavy-chains in the asymmetrically bent IgE-Fc. These results highlight the subtle interplay between receptor binding sites in IgE-Fc and their affinities, the understanding of which may be exploited for therapeutic intervention in allergic disease.
Rational mutagenesis by engineering disulphide bonds improves Kluyveromyces lactis beta-galactosidase for high-temperature industrial applications
Authors: Rico-Díaz Agustín , Álvarez-Cao María-Efigenia , Escuder-Rodríguez Juan-José , González-Siso María-Isabel , Cerdán M. Esperanza , Becerra Manuel 
Published: March 2017

AbstractKluyveromyces lactis β-galactosidase (Kl-β-Gal) is one of the most important enzymes in the dairy industry. The poor stability of this enzyme limits its use in the synthesis of galactooligosaccharides (GOS) and other applications requiring high operational temperature. To obtain thermoresistant variants, a rational mutagenesis strategy by introducing disulphide bonds in the interface between the enzyme subunits was used. Two improved mutants, R116C/T270C and R116C/T270C/G818C, had increased half-lives at 45 °C compared to Kl-β-Gal (2.2 and 6.8 fold increases, respectively). Likewise, Tm values of R116C/T270C and R116C/T270C/G818C were 2.4 and 8.5 °C, respectively, higher than Kl-β-Gal Tm. Enrichment in enzymatically active oligomeric forms in these mutant variants also increased their catalytic efficiency, due to the reinforcement of the interface contacts. In this way, using an artificial substrate (p-nitrophenyl-β-D-galactopyranoside), the Vmax values of the mutants were ~1.4 (R116C/T270C) and 2 (R116C/T270C/G818C) fold higher than that of native Kl-β-Gal. Using the natural substrate (lactose) the Vmax for R116C/T270C/G818C almost doubled the Vmax for Kl-β-Gal. Validation of these mutant variants of the enzyme for their use in applications that depend on prolonged incubations at high temperatures was achieved at the laboratory scale by monitoring their catalytic activity in GOS synthesis.
Zinc treatment is efficient against Escherichia coli α-haemolysin-induced intestinal leakage in mice
Authors: Wiegand Stephanie , Zakrzewski Silke S. , Eichner Miriam , Schulz Emanuel , Günzel Dorothee , Pieper Robert , Rosenthal Rita , Barmeyer Christian , Bleich André , Dobrindt Ulrich , Schulzke Jörg-Dieter , Bücker Roland 
Published: March 2017

AbstractZinc homoeostasis exerts protective effects in inflammatory intestinal diseases and zinc supplementation has been successfully used for treating infectious diarrhoea. This study aimed at a characterisation of zinc effects on focal leak induction by α-haemolysin (HlyA)-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) as protective mechanism for colitis. We conducted in vivo experiments by oral challenge of gnotobiotic mice colonised with HlyA-expressing E. coli-536. Mice were either fed a defined normal or high zinc diet to analyse effects of zinc as a therapeutic regimen. HlyA-deficient E. coli-536 mutants were used as controls. Mice infected with HlyA-producing E. coli showed impaired barrier integrity when receiving normal zinc. High zinc supplementation in HlyA-producing E. coli-infected mice reduced epithelial dysfunction as indicated by ameliorated macromolecule permeability. Reduced size of focal leaks with diminished bacterial translocation was observed as inherent mechanisms of this zinc action. In human colon cell monolayers application of zinc rescued the HlyA-dependent decline in transepithelial electrical resistance via reduction of the calcium entry into HlyA-exposed cells. Calcium-dependent cell exfoliation was identified as mechanism for focal leak induction. In conclusion, zinc supplementation protects from HlyA-induced barrier dysfunction in vivo and in vitro, providing an explanation for the protective efficacy of zinc in intestinal disorders.
Land cover changes induced by the great east Japan earthquake in 2011
Authors: Ishihara Mitsunori , Tadono Takeo 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe east Japan earthquake that occurred on March 11, 2011 was a big natural disaster, comprising the large earthquake shock, tsunami, and Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident. These disasters caused changes in the land use and land cover (LULC) in Japan’s Tohoku district. While the LULC map created before the disaster is available, as yet there is no precise LULC map of the district after the disaster. In this study, we created a precise LULC map for the years 2013–2015 post-disaster with 30-m spatial resolution using the Landsat-8 with the Operational Land Imager (OLI) to evaluate the changes in LULC induced by the disaster. Our results indicate many changes in areas categorized as rice paddies primarily into grass categories along the coast damaged by the tsunami and in the evacuation zone around the FDNPP. Since there is a possibility of future LULC changes according to the change of the evacuation zone and implementation of reconstruction and revitalization efforts, we recommend continual monitoring of the changes in LULC by the use of satellite data in order to evaluate the long-term effects of the disaster.
Gain‐boosted dynamic amplifier for pipelined‐SAR ADCs
Authors: Zhang Minglei , Liu Qiyuan , Fan Xiaohua 
Published: March 2017

A high‐gain and high‐speed gain‐boosted dynamic amplifier for pipelined‐successive approximation register ADCs is presented. A cross‐coupling cascode topology is proposed to boost the gain of a single‐stage dynamic amplifier. The proposed dynamic amplifier achieves a voltage gain of 32 under a 1.2 V power supply in 130 nm CMOS technology. Sampling at 150 MS/s, the proposed dynamic amplifier consumes a total power of 0.22 mW.
Eine Fortschreibung des Rehabilitationsbedarfs in Deutschland bis 2040 anhand demografischer Faktoren
Authors: Christiansen Marcus , Schmidt Jan-Philipp , Shkel David , Kaluscha Rainer , Tepohl Lena , Krischak Gert 
Published: March 2017

Zusammenfassung
Der demografische Wandel in Deutschland verändert nachhaltig die Zusammensetzung der Bevölkerung und beeinflusst damit auch den zukünftigen Bedarf an Rehabilitationsleistungen.
Diese Arbeit quantifiziert auf Basis einer Bevölkerungsfortschreibung bis 2040 die durch den demografischen Wandel zu erwartenden Veränderungen der medizinischen Rehabilitationsleistungen der gesetzlichen Rentenversicherung. Dazu wurde der Einfluss von demografischen Merkmalen auf die Rehabilitation geschätzt, um dann unter Verwendung einer stochastischen Bevölkerungsfortschreibung die zukünftige Ausgabenentwicklung zu prognostizieren.
Die Ergebnisse zeigen kurzfristig eine voraussichtliche Zunahme der Fälle in der medizinischen Rehabilitation. In den ersten Jahren des Prognosezeitraums (2010–2017) wäre theoretisch eine jährliche Lohnerhöhung von etwa 2,2% erforderlich, um die Kostensteigerung auszugleichen. Mittelfristig wird ein Rückgang der Rehabilitationsfälle aufgrund von Preissteigerungen bei gleichbleibenden Kosten prognostiziert.
Das Reha-Budget wird, angesichts der hier betrachteten Faktoren, mit großer Wahrscheinlichkeit die zukünftigen Mittel für medizinische Rehabilitationsleistungen nicht decken können. Langfristige Vorhersagen sind jedoch mit großer Unsicherheit behaftet.
Climate change effects on biological control of invasive plants by insects.
Authors: Reeves J. L. 
Published: March 2017

Abstract

Because many invasive plants are anticipated to benefit from climate change, the need for effective management strategies will become more pressing in the future. Biological control of invasive plants by insects has been an effective management strategy in many instances, but climate change may substantially alter such systems. Maximizing biological control efficacy with climate change will require predicting responses of the invasive plant in question, its biological control agents, and especially their corresponding interactions. However, because of the wide variety of species-specific plant and insect responses to increased atmospheric CO
2
concentrations, temperatures, extreme weather events, and other climate factors, climate change will likely result in highly variable, system- and geographically-specific effects. Even still, predicted future climates are generally anticipated across systems to alter geographic ranges of invasive plants (and correspondingly their biological agents), reduce host-plant quality, and hasten the phenology of both plants and insects. Some of these anticipated effects on biological control systems can be expected to hamper control efficacy. However, because some of these effects might also increase control efficacy, biological control can still be an effective and important management tool in the face of climate change. Although the variety of insect and plant responses to climate change reported in the literature do not currently allow for strong generalizations to be made as to the best biological control agents or strategies in novel climates, pertinent considerations for selecting effective biological control agents in the future are discussed.
Noroviruses in livestock, pets and public health impact.
Authors: Alfieri A. A. , Leme R. A. , Alfieri A. F. 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
Noroviruses (NoVs) are a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis (diarrhoea and vomiting) worldwide. The virus was reported from humans and later was identified in different symptomatic and/or asymptomatic animal species, such as bovine, ovine, swine, canine and feline. In animals NoV infection is supposedly associated with enteritis; however, the pathogenic role of NoV infection and its impact in animal health are currently uncertain. NoVs have a positive sense, single-stranded RNA genome of diverse molecular feature. Currently, NoVs are classified into six genogroups (GI-GVI), with the proposed seventh (GVII) and at least 31 genotypes. The GI, GV and GVI are species-specific genogroups, while the GII, GIII and GIV share different host species, including humans. The close genetic relationship among different NoV strains detected from both humans and animals raised the possibility of this virus has zoonotic potential. This review aimed to address the NoV classification, morphological and molecular features, epidemiology, pathogenesis and pathology, diagnosis, treatment and management. A broad approach is given on the importance of NoVs as a cause of disease in livestock and pets and on studies into the potential for zoonotic transmission and public health.
The PMA Catalogue: 420 million positions and absolute proper motions
Authors: Akhmetov V. S. , Fedorov P. N. , Velichko A. B. , Shulga V. M. 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
We present a catalogue that contains about 420 million absolute proper motions of stars. It was derived from the combination of positions from Gaia DR1 and 2MASS, with a mean difference of epochs of about 15 yr. Most of the systematic zonal errors inherent in the 2MASS Catalogue were eliminated before deriving the absolute proper motions. The absolute calibration procedure (zero-pointing of the proper motions) was carried out using about 1.6 million positions of extragalactic sources. The mean formal error of the absolute calibration is less than 0.35 mas yr−1. The derived proper motions cover the whole celestial sphere without gaps for a range of stellar magnitudes from 8 to 21 mag. In the sky areas where the extragalactic sources are invisible (the avoidance zone), a dedicated procedure was used that transforms the relative proper motions into absolute ones. The rms error of proper motions depends on stellar magnitude and ranges from 2–5 mas yr−1 for stars with 10 mag &lt; G &lt; 17 mag to 5–10 mas yr−1 for faint ones. The present catalogue contains the Gaia DR1 positions of stars for the J2015 epoch. The system of the PMA proper motions does not depend on the systematic errors of the 2MASS positions, and in the range from 14 to 21 mag represents an independent realization of a quasi-inertial reference frame in the optical and near-infrared wavelength range. The Catalogue also contains stellar magnitudes taken from the Gaia DR1 and 2MASS catalogues. A comparison of the PMA proper motions of stars with similar data from certain recent catalogues has been undertaken.
Cryoglobulinemia vasculitis: how to handle
Authors: Desbois Anne C. , Comarmond Cloe , Saadoun David , Cacoub Patrice 
Published: March 2017

Purpose of review
More than 50% of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients produce a mixed cryoglobulin and two-third of them will develop a symptomatic cryoglobulinemia vasculitis (CryoVas). In the present review, we aim at summarizing the most recent advances in diagnosis and treatment of HCV-CryoVas.

Recent findings
The treatment of HCV-CryoVas has much changed during the last months. The recent emergence of new direct-acting (DAA) interferon (IFN)-free antivirals, enabling high cure rates with a very good safety profile now permit to cure most patients with HCV-CryoVas. Multidisciplinary consensus recommends to consider IFN-free DAAs as first-line treatment for HCV-CryoVas patients. Immunosuppressive treatments (i.e. rituximab, glucocorticosteroids, cyclophosphamide and plasmapheresis) remain an interesting therapeutic approach, in severe form of HCV-CryoVas, failure or contradiction to antiviral treatments.

Summary
The great efficacy of DAA on HCV-CryoVas represents a major advance in clinical practice, as these new antivirals provide for the first time a well tolerated and definite treatment of such complication for most patients.
Simulation of a Novel Schedule for Intensivist Staffing to Improve Continuity of Patient Care and Reduce Physician Burnout
Authors: Geva Alon , Landrigan Christopher P. , van der Velden Meredith G. , Randolph Adrienne G. 
Published: March 2017

Objective:
Despite widespread adoption of in-house call for ICU attendings, there is a paucity of research on optimal scheduling of intensivists to provide continuous on-site coverage. Overnight call duties have traditionally been added onto 7 days of continuous daytime clinical service. We designed an alternative ICU staffing model to increase continuity of attending physician care for patients while also decreasing interruptions to attendings’ nonclinical weeks.

Design:
Computer-based simulation of a 1-year schedule.

Setting:
A simulated ICU divided into two daytime teams each covered by a different attending and both covered by one overnight on-call attending.

Subjects:
Simulated patients were randomly admitted on different service days to assess continuity of care.

Interventions:
A “shared service schedule” was compared to a standard “7 days on schedule.” For the 7 days on schedule, an attending covered a team for 7 consecutive days and off-service attendings cross-covered each night. For the shared schedule, four attendings shared the majority of daytime and nighttime service for two teams over 2 weeks, with recovery periods built into the scheduled service time.

Measurements and Main Results:
Continuity of care as measured by the Continuity of Attending Physician Index increased by 9% with the shared schedule. Annually, the shared service schedule was predicted to increase free weekends by 3.4 full weekends and 1.3 weekends with either Saturday or Sunday off. Full weeks without clinical obligations increased by 4 weeks. Mean time between clinical obligations increased by 5.8 days.

Conclusions:
A shared service schedule is predicted to improve continuity of care while increasing free weekends and continuity of uninterrupted nonclinical weeks for attendings. Computer-based simulation allows assessment of benefits and tradeoffs of the alternative schedule without disturbing existing clinical systems.