bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Glucose recovery from aqueous solutions by adsorption in metal–organic framework MIL-101: a molecular simulation study
Authors: Gupta Krishna M. , Zhang Kang , Jiang Jianwen 
Published: August 2015

AbstractA molecular simulation study is reported on glucose recovery from aqueous solutions by adsorption in metal-organic framework MIL-101. The F atom of MIL-101 is identified to be the most favorable adsorption site. Among three MIL-101-X (X = H, NH2 or CH3), the parent MIL-101 exhibits the highest adsorption capacity and recovery efficacy. Upon functionalization by -NH2 or -CH3 group, the steric hindrance in MIL-101 increases; consequently, the interactions between glucose and framework become less attractive, thus reducing the capacity and mobility of glucose. The presence of ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methyl-imidazolium acetate, as an impurity reduces the strength of hydrogen-bonding between glucose and MIL-101 and leads to lower capacity and mobility. Upon adding anti-solvent (ethanol or acetone), a similar adverse effect is observed. The simulation study provides useful structural and dynamic properties of glucose in MIL-101 and it suggests that MIL-101 might be a potential candidate for glucose recovery.
A room-temperature sodium rechargeable battery using an SO2-based nonflammable inorganic liquid catholyte
Authors: Jeong Goojin , Kim Hansu , Sug Lee Hyo , Han Young-Kyu , Hwan Park Jong , Hwan Jeon Jae , Song Juhye , Lee Keonjoon , Yim Taeeun , Jae Kim Ki , Lee Hyukjae , Kim Young-Jun , Sohn Hun-Joon 
Published: August 2015

AbstractSodium rechargeable batteries can be excellent alternatives to replace lithium rechargeable ones because of the high abundance and low cost of sodium; however, there is a need to further improve the battery performance, cost-effectiveness and safety for practical use. Here we demonstrate a new type of room-temperature and high-energy density sodium rechargeable battery using an SO2-based inorganic molten complex catholyte, which showed a discharge capacity of 153 mAh g−1 based on the mass of catholyte and carbon electrode with an operating voltage of 3 V, good rate capability and excellent cycle performance over 300 cycles. In particular, non-flammability and intrinsic self-regeneration mechanism of the inorganic liquid electrolyte presented here can accelerate the realization of commercialized Na rechargeable battery system with outstanding reliability. Given that high performance and unique properties of Na–SO2 rechargeable battery, it can be another promising candidate for next generation energy storage system.
Novel mechanism of gene transfection by low-energy shock wave
Authors: Hoon Ha Chang , Cheol Lee Seok , Kim Sunghyen , Chung Jihwa , Bae Hasuk , Kwon Kihwan 
Published: August 2015

AbstractExtracorporeal shock wave (SW) therapy has been studied in the transfection of naked nucleic acids into various cell lines through the process of sonoporation, a process that affects the permeation of cell membranes, which can be an effect of cavitation. In this study, siRNAs were efficiently transfected into primary cultured cells and mouse tumor tissue via SW treatment. Furthermore SW-induced siRNA transfection was not mediated by SW-induced sonoporation, but by microparticles (MPs) secreted from the cells. Interestingly, the transfection effect of the siRNAs was transferable through the secreted MPs from human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) culture medium after treatment with SW, into HUVECs in another culture plate without SW treatment. In this study, we suggest for the first time a mechanism of gene transfection induced by low-energy SW through secreted MPs and show that it is an efficient physical gene transfection method in vitro and represents a safe therapeutic strategy for site-specific gene delivery in vivo.
An optimised direct lysis method for gene expression studies on low cell numbers
Authors: Viet-Phuong Le Anh , Huang Dexing , Blick Tony , Thompson Erik W. , Dobrovic Alexander 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThere is increasing interest in gene expression analysis of either single cells or limited numbers of cells. One such application is the analysis of harvested circulating tumour cells (CTCs), which are often present in very low numbers. A highly efficient protocol for RNA extraction, which involves a minimal number of steps to avoid RNA loss, is essential for low input cell numbers. We compared several lysis solutions that enable reverse transcription (RT) to be performed directly on the cell lysate, offering a simple rapid approach to minimise RNA loss for RT. The lysis solutions were assessed by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in low cell numbers isolated from four breast cancer cell lines. We found that a lysis solution containing both the non-ionic detergent (IGEPAL CA-630, chemically equivalent to Nonidet P-40 or NP-40) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) gave the best RT-qPCR yield. This direct lysis to reverse transcription protocol outperformed a column-based extraction method using a commercial kit. This study demonstrates a simple, reliable, time- and cost-effective method that can be widely used in any situation where RNA needs to be prepared from low to very low cell numbers.
Glyphosate-based herbicides reduce the activity and reproduction of earthworms and lead to increased soil nutrient concentrations
Authors: Gaupp-Berghausen Mailin , Hofer Martin , Rewald Boris , Zaller Johann G. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractHerbicide use is increasing worldwide both in agriculture and private gardens. However, our knowledge of potential side-effects on non-target soil organisms, even on such eminent ones as earthworms, is still very scarce. In a greenhouse experiment, we assessed the impact of the most widely used glyphosate-based herbicide Roundup on two earthworm species with different feeding strategies. We demonstrate, that the surface casting activity of vertically burrowing earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris) almost ceased three weeks after herbicide application, while the activity of soil dwelling earthworms (Aporrectodea caliginosa) was not affected. Reproduction of the soil dwellers was reduced by 56% within three months after herbicide application. Herbicide application led to increased soil concentrations of nitrate by 1592% and phosphate by 127%, pointing to potential risks for nutrient leaching into streams, lakes, or groundwater aquifers. These sizeable herbicide-induced impacts on agroecosystems are particularly worrisome because these herbicides have been globally used for decades.
Bifunctional Mesoporous Carbon Nitride: Highly Efficient Enzyme-like Catalyst for One-pot Deacetalization-Knoevenagel Reaction
Authors: Zhong Lin , Anand Chokkalingam , Lakhi Kripal Singh , Lawrence Geoffrey , Vinu Ajayan 
Published: August 2015

AbstractRecently, mesoporous carbon nitride (MCN) has aroused extensive interest for its potential applications in organocatalysis, photo- and electrochemistry and CO2 capture. However, further surface functionalization of MCN for advanced nanomaterials and catalysis still remains very challenging. Here we show that acidic carboxyl groups can be smoothly introduced onto the surface of well-ordered MCN without annihilation between the introduced acid groups and MCN’s inherent basic groups through a facile UV light oxidation method. The functionalization generates a novel bifunctional nanocatalyst which offers an enzyme-like catalytic performance in the one-pot deacetalization-Knoevenagel reaction of benzaldehyde dimethylacetal and malononitrile with 100% conversion and more than 99% selectivity due to the cooperative catalysis between the acid and base groups separated on the surface of the catalyst. The results provide a general method to create multifunctional nanomaterials and open new opportunities for the development of high efficient catalyst for green organic synthesis.
Conserved features in TamA enable interaction with TamB to drive the activity of the translocation and assembly module
Authors: Selkrig Joel , Belousoff Matthew J. , Headey Stephen J. , Heinz Eva , Shiota Takuya , Shen Hsin-Hui , Beckham Simone A. , Bamert Rebecca S. , Phan Minh-Duy , Schembri Mark A. , Wilce Matthew C.J. , Scanlon Martin J. , Strugnell Richard A. , Lithgow Trevor 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThe biogenesis of membranes from constituent proteins and lipids is a fundamental aspect of cell biology. In the case of proteins assembled into bacterial outer membranes, an overarching question concerns how the energy required for protein insertion and folding is accessed at this remote location of the cell. The translocation and assembly module (TAM) is a nanomachine that functions in outer membrane biogenesis and virulence in diverse bacterial pathogens. Here we demonstrate the interactions through which TamA and TamB subunits dock to bridge the periplasm and unite the outer membrane aspects to the inner membrane of the bacterial cell. We show that specific functional features in TamA have been conserved through evolution, including residues surrounding the lateral gate and an extensive surface of the POTRA domains. Analysis by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and small angle X-ray scattering document the characteristic structural features of these POTRA domains and demonstrate rigidity in solution. Quartz crystal microbalance measurements pinpoint which POTRA domain specifically docks the TamB subunit of the nanomachine. We speculate that the POTRA domain of TamA functions as a lever arm in order to drive the activity of the TAM, assembling proteins into bacterial outer membranes.
Formation of highly toxic hydrogen cyanide upon ruby laser irradiation of the tattoo pigment phthalocyanine blue
Authors: Schreiver Ines , Hutzler Christoph , Laux Peter , Berlien Hans-Peter , Luch Andreas 
Published: August 2015

AbstractSince laser treatment of tattoos is the favored method for the removing of no longer wanted permanent skin paintings, analytical, biokinetics and toxicological data on the fragmentation pattern of commonly used pigments are urgently required for health safety reasons. Applying dynamic headspace—gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (DHS—GC/MS) and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GCxGC—ToF-MS), we identified 1,2-benzene dicarbonitrile, benzonitrile, benzene and the poisonous gas hydrogen cyanide (HCN) as main fragmentation products emerging dose-dependently upon ruby laser irradiation of the popular blue pigment copper phthalocyanine in suspension. Skin cell viability was found to be significantly compromised at cyanide levels of ≥1 mM liberated during ruby laser irradiation of >1.5 mg/ml phthalocyanine blue. Further, for the first time we introduce pyrolysis-GC/MS as method suitable to simulate pigment fragmentation that may occur spontaneously or during laser removal of organic pigments in the living skin of tattooed people. According to the literature such regular tattoos hold up to 9 mg pigment/cm2skin.
Effects of Ranolazine on Exercise Capacity, Right Ventricular Indices, and Hemodynamic Characteristics in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: A Pilot Study
Authors: Khan Sadiya S. , Cuttica Michael J. , Beussink‐Nelson Lauren , Kozyleva Anastasia , Sanchez Cynthia , Mkrdichian Hamorabi , Selvaraj Senthil , Dematte Jane E. , Lee Daniel C. , Shah Sanjiv J. 
Published: August 2015

Ranolazine, a late inward sodium current and fatty acid oxidation inhibitor, may improve right ventricular (RV) function in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH); however, the safety and efficacy of ranolazine in humans with PAH is unknown. Therefore, we sought to (1) determine whether ranolazine is safe and well tolerated in PAH and (2) explore ranolazine's effect on symptoms, exercise capacity, RV structure and function, and hemodynamic characteristics. We therefore conducted a 3‐month, prospective, open‐label pilot study involving patients with symptomatic PAH (n = 11) and echocardiographic evidence of RV dysfunction. We evaluated the safety and tolerability of ranolazine and compared symptoms, exercise capacity, exercise bicycle echocardiographic parameters, and invasive hemodynamic parameters between baseline and 3 months of ranolazine therapy using paired t tests. Of the 11 patients enrolled, one discontinued ranolazine therapy due to a drug‐drug interaction after 3 days of therapy. All 10 of the remaining patients continued therapy for 3 months, and 8 (80%) of 10 completed all study tests. After 3 months, ranolazine administration was safe and associated with improvement in functional class (P = 0.0013), reduction in RV size (P = 0.015), improved RV function (improvement in RV strain during exercise at 3 months; P = 0.037), and a trend toward improved exercise time and exercise watts on bicycle echocardiography (P = 0.06 and 0.01, respectively). Ranolazine was not associated with improvement in invasive hemodynamic parameters. In conclusion, in a pilot study involving PAH, ranolazine therapy was safe and well tolerated, and it resulted in improvement in symptoms and echocardiographic parameters of RV structure and function but did not alter invasive hemodynamic parameters.
Quick Tips on Recognizing Cutaneous Manifestations of Systemic Disease
Authors: Cittadino Jennifer 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACT
Although many skin manifestations are isolated to a dermatological disorder, some skin manifestations can be related to a deeper, more systemic issue. The skin is related to other body systems and functions. The importance of being able to recognize these dermatological manifestations and associate them with potential systemic disease can be a critical diagnostic tool for the practitioner. Sometimes, these skin manifestations can be the first sign of an internal disease. Although challenging, recognition, prompt diagnosis, and treatment can alter the course of a life-threatening illness.
Werner syndrome helicase modulates G4 DNA-dependent transcription and opposes mechanistically distinct senescence-associated gene expression programs
Authors: Tang Weiliang , Robles Ana I. , Beyer Richard P. , Gray Lucas T. , Nguyen Giang Hong , Oshima Junko , Maizels Nancy , Harris Curtis C. , Monnat Raymond J. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractWerner syndrome (WS) is a prototypic heritable adult human progeroid syndrome in which signs of premature aging are associated with genetic instability and an elevated risk of specific types of cancer. We have quantified mRNA and microRNA (miRNA) expression in WS patient fibroblasts, and in WRN-depleted fibroblasts. Genes down-regulated in WS patient fibroblasts were highly enriched in G-quadruplex (G4) DNA motifs. The strength, location and strand specificity of this association provide strong experimental evidence that G4 motifs or motif-dependent G-quadruplexes are bound by WRN in human cells to modulate gene expression. The expression of many miRNAs was perturbed by loss of WRN function. WRN depletion altered the expression of >500 miRNAs. miRNAs linked to cell signaling, genome stability assurance and tumorigenesis were among the small number of these miRNAs that were persistently altered in WS patient fibroblasts. An unexpected and highly distinct finding in WS cells was the coordinate over-expression of nearly all cytoplasmic tRNA synthetases and their associated AIMP proteins. Our results provide new insight into WS pathogenesis, and identify therapeutically accessible mechanisms that may drive disease pathogenesis in WS and in the general population.
Infinitely Long Branches and an Informal Test of Common Ancestry
Authors: de Oliveira Martins Leonardo , Posada David 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThe evidence for universal common ancestry (UCA) is vast and persuasive, and a phylogenetic test was proposed for quantifying its odds against independently originated sequences based on the comparison between one and several trees [1]. This test was successfully applied to a well-supported homologous sequence alignment, being however criticized once simulations showed that even alignments without any phylogenetic structure could mislead its conclusions [2]. Despite claims to the contrary [3], we believe that the counterexample successfully showed a drawback of the test, of relying on good alignments.Here we present a simplified version of this counterexample, which can be interpreted as a tree with arbitrarily long branches, and where the test again fails. We also present another simulation showing circumstances whereby any sufficiently similar alignment will favor UCA irrespective of the true independent origins for the sequences. We therefore conclude that the test should not be trusted unless convergence has already been ruled out a priori. Finally, we present a class of frequentist tests that perform better than the purportedly formal UCA test.
Towards achieving a fully intelligent robotic arc welding: a review
Authors: Ogbemhe John , Mpofu Khumbulani 
Published: August 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to review the progress made in arc welding automation using trajectory planning, seam tracking and control methodologies.

Design/methodology/approach
– This paper discusses key issues in trajectory planning towards achieving full automation of arc welding robots. The identified issues in trajectory planning are real-time control, optimization methods, seam tracking and control methodologies. Recent research is considered and brief conclusions are drawn.

Findings
– The major difficulty towards realizing a fully intelligent robotic arc welding system remains an optimal blend and good understanding of trajectory planning, seam tracking and advanced control methodologies. An intelligent trajectory tracking ability is strongly required in robotic arc welding, due to the positional errors caused by several disturbances that prevent the development of quality welds. An exciting prospect will be the creation of an effective hybrid optimization technique which is expected to lead to new scientific knowledge by combining robotic systems with artificial intelligence.

Originality/value
– This paper illustrates the vital role played by optimization methods for trajectory design in arc robotic welding automation, especially the non-gradient approaches (those based on certain characteristics and behaviour of biological, molecular, swarm of insects and neurobiological systems). Effective trajectory planning techniques leading to real-time control and sensing systems leading to seam tracking have also been studied.
The integration of contactless static pose recognition and dynamic hand motion tracking control system for industrial human and robot collaboration
Authors: Tang Gilbert , Asif Seemal , Webb Phil 
Published: August 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to describe the integration of a gesture control system for industrial collaborative robot. Human and robot collaborative systems can be a viable manufacturing solution, but efficient control and communication are required for operations to be carried out effectively and safely.

Design/methodology/approach
– The integrated system consists of facial recognition, static pose recognition and dynamic hand motion tracking. Each sub-system has been tested in isolation before integration and demonstration of a sample task.

Findings
– It is demonstrated that the combination of multiple gesture control methods can increase its potential applications for industrial robots.

Originality/value
– The novelty of the system is the combination of a dual gesture controls method which allows operators to command an industrial robot by posing hand gestures as well as control the robot motion by moving one of their hands in front of the sensor. A facial verification system is integrated to improve the robustness, reliability and security of the control system which also allows assignment of permission levels to different users.
Experimental verification of workspace and mouth-opening movement of a redundantly actuated humanoid chewing robot
Authors: Wen Haiying , Cong Ming , Wang Guifei 
Published: August 2015

Purpose
– This paper aims to verify the workspace and movement performance of a redundantly actuated humanoid chewing robot.

Design/methodology/approach
– A redundantly actuated humanoid chewing robot with 6-PUS linkages and two higher kinematic pairs (HKPs) is introduced. The design of HKPs is specified by mimicking the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) structure obtained through a computed tomography scan of the mastication system. The border movement, mouth-opening trajectory and velocity of subjects’ lower incisor point are measured by using the mandibular kinesiograph. Based on the kinematics, the envelope of the workspace is analyzed. The workspace and mouth-opening movement experiments are carried out. The border movement of the lower incisor point is measured. The mouth-opening trajectory is planned and tested on the chewing robot.

Findings
– Comparing with measurement results of border movement and mouth-opening movement of human, it is shown that the humanoid chewing robot can meet the workspace requirements and is able to perform mouth-opening movement like human-beings.

Practical implications
– The chewing robot is designed to reproduce human jaw movements and application in test of dental components and materials or evaluation of food textural properties.

Originality/value
– The chewing robot is inspired by the mastication system which itself is mechanically redundant because of the TMJ and more muscles than required. The novel spatial redundantly actuated chewing robot is the first of this kind with two HKPs to mimic the human TMJ and is a higher fidelity mechanism.
Does organizational citizenship behavior add value to human interaction with e-services?
Authors: Liao Chien Hsiang 
Published: August 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to examine the causal associations among service innovation/improvement, organisational citizenship behaviour (OCB), and the user-perceived value of e-services. The context of service delivery is particularly based on human interaction in e-service encounters.Design/methodology/approach– In total, 403 respondents from 53 different service departments were selected in this study. To fit the structure between respondents and departments, this study uses hierarchical linear modelling to examine the research model.Findings– The results indicate that service innovation/improvement and the OCB of department staff both positively affect the user-perceived value of e-services. However, the OCB of department staff does not have a moderating effect on the association between service innovation/improvement and the user-perceived value of e-services.Originality/value– Prior studies suggest that the OCB of service employees strongly reinforces customer perceptions of service quality and satisfaction. However, this causal association was proven in the context of face-to-face human interactions. This study is a pioneer study in examining the associations between OCB and human interaction with e-services.