bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Formation of adjectives referring to human physical traits in the speech of the Svrljig area
Authors: Savić-Grujić Ana
Published: December 2016

Our analysis focuses on all the adjectives which refer to human physical traits in the speech of the villages in the Svrljig area. This derivational analysis included more than 300 derivative adjectives which, from a synchronic point of view, belong to the category of derived words. The analysis included derivatives which have been formed through prefixation and suffixation, as well as derivatives which occurred as the result of compound-suffix derivation. Special attention was paid to suffixation as the basic and most frequently available means of adjective formation. Suffixes are represented in combination with the base they are bound to, with an indication of their productivity and meaning in derivational terms. A study of the material indicates that adjective derivation by means of suffixation is made possible with the use of 20 suffixes and suffix derivatives, 10 of which have one confirmation each. The greatest productivity has been found for the noun base and suffix -av (52) which a total number of recorded derivative adjectives is 200. The prefix-suffix derivation process is the least frequent, and thus only 12 adjectives were derived in this way. Contrary to the mainstream opinion that complex words are not characteristic of our diasystem, the derivation process involving adjectives referring to humans based on physical traits shows great productivity in the compound-suffix derivation process. More than 90 complex words were derived from the binding the suffix -av (4), -as / -es (54) and the zero suffix (37) to complex bases. Another difference compared to the literary language is reflected in the occurrence of various forms of one suffix, which came about as the consequence of vowel changes (-as / -es : -ast). It is also not infrequent that during derivation, various forms of bases are used, or that a nonproductive basis in one system is productive in another. So for example it has been confirmed that in the speech of the Svrljig area the suffix -av is bound to adjective bases or that the suffix -as / -es is bound to verbal bases, which is almost never found in literary language.
Traditional musical instruments in Serbian folk tradition: Etnophraseological perspective
Authors: Đorđević Vesna , Aksić Nina
Published: December 2016

The aim of this work is to give an insight in the significance and role of native musical instruments in Serbian folk tradition based on the representation of these instruments in the Serbian ethnographic material. The focus will also be on the semantic description of phraseological units that have those instruments as central components, in order to show how different cultural contents, typical for a particular native culture, are precisely reflected in the phraseology and language fund of that culture. We will first try to present those instruments and provide brief ethnological analysis of their role in the folk life, followed by the whole repertoire and semantic description of phrasemes, whose central lexical element has the name of a folk musical instrument or some related actions. Ethnographic and phraseological data related to folk instruments was taken from the Serbian ethnographic material and dictionaries of Serbian language. The analysis showed that in Serbian traditional culture musical instruments were used as a signaling tools as well as for communication between people and higher powers.
Perceptually relevant remapping of human somatotopy in 24 hours
Authors: Kolasinski James , Makin Tamar R , Logan John P , Jbabdi Saad , Clare Stuart , Stagg Charlotte J , Johansen-Berg Heidi
Published: December 2016

Experience-dependent reorganisation of functional maps in the cerebral cortex is well described in the primary sensory cortices. However, there is relatively little evidence for such cortical reorganisation over the short-term. Using human somatosensory cortex as a model, we investigated the effects of a 24 hr gluing manipulation in which the right index and right middle fingers (digits 2 and 3) were adjoined with surgical glue. Somatotopic representations, assessed with two 7 tesla fMRI protocols, revealed rapid off-target reorganisation in the non-manipulated fingers following gluing, with the representation of the ring finger (digit 4) shifted towards the little finger (digit 5) and away from the middle finger (digit 3). These shifts were also evident in two behavioural tasks conducted in an independent cohort, showing reduced sensitivity for discriminating the temporal order of stimuli to the ring and little fingers, and increased substitution errors across this pair on a speeded reaction time task.
Reflexiones personales sobre el XVI Coloquio de Teología: “Vertientes para un Diálogo Intercultural e Interreligioso desde la Araucanía”
Authors: Andraos Michel
Published: December 2016

Reflexiones personales sobre el XVI Coloquio de Teología: ‘Vertientes para un Diálogo Intercultural e Interreligioso desde la Araucanía’ son las conclusiones personales que el Profesor  Michel Andraos recogió en en el ámbito más personal en los días que compratió los temas de Inculturación y reconocimiento con quienes participaron del Coloquio.
El Concilio Vaticano II y la Diócesis de Temuco
Authors: Zolezzi Tibaldo
Published: December 2016

La ponencia El Concilio Vaticano II y la Diócesis de Temuco, presentada en el Acto Académico conmemorativo de los 90 años de la Diócesis San José de Temuco por el Profesor Tibaldo Zolezzi, recoge testimonios y reflexiones de quienes participaron activamente en el proceso de cambios propios del Concilio y que todavía pueden contar cómo vivieron dicho proceso, además recoge algunos testimonios escritos que evidencian los procesos y encuentros propios del desafío que significó para la Diócesis su implementación.
Intermittent tremor migrations beneath Guerrero, Mexico, and implications for fault healing within the slow slip zone
Authors: Peng Yajun , Rubin Allan M.
Published: December 2016

Slow slip events exhibit significant complexity in slip evolution and variations in recurrence intervals. Behavior that varies systematically with recurrence interval is likely to reflect different extents of fault healing between these events. Here we use high‐resolution tremor catalogs beneath Guerrero, Mexico, to investigate the mechanics of slow slip. We observe complex tremor propagation styles, including rapid tremor migrations propagating either along the main tremor front or backward, reminiscent of those in northern Cascadia. We also find many migrations that originate well behind the front and repeatedly occupy the same source region during a tremor episode, similar to those previously reported from Shikoku, Japan. These migrations could be driven by slow slip in the surrounding regions, with recurrence intervals possibly modulated by tides. The propagation speed of these migrations decreases systematically with time since the previous migration over the same source area. Tremor amplitudes seem consistent with changes in the propagation speeds being controlled primarily by changes in the slip speeds. One interpretation is that the high propagation speeds and inferred high slip speeds during the migrations with short recurrence intervals are caused by incomplete healing within the host rock adjacent to the shear zone, which could lead to high permeability and reduced dilatant strengthening of the fault gouge. Similar processes may operate in other slow slip source regions such as Cascadia.
Two sources of dayside intense, quasi‐coherent plasmaspheric hiss: A new mechanism for the slot region?
Authors: Falkowski Barbara J. , Tsurutani Bruce T. , Lakhina Gurbax S. , Pickett Jolene S.
Published: December 2016

A study of dayside plasmaspheric hiss at frequencies from ~22 Hz to ~1.0 kHz was carried out by using 1 year of Polar data. It is shown that intense, dayside plasmaspheric hiss is correlated with solar wind pressure with P > 2.5 nPa. The dayside effect is most prominent in the ~300 to ~650 Hz range. Intense dayside waves are also present during SYM‐H < −5 nT. The latter is centered at local noon, with the greatest intensities in the L = 2 to 3 region. Assuming drift of ~25 keV electrons from midnight to the wave magnetic local time, plasmaspheric hiss is shown to be highly correlated with precursor AE* and SYM‐H* indices, indicating that the hiss is associated with substorms and small injection events. Our hypothesis is that both sets of waves originate as outer zone (L = 6 to 10) chorus and then propagate into the plasmasphere. Fourteen high‐intensity dayside plasmaspheric hiss events were analyzed to identify the wave k, polarization, and the degree of coherency. The waves are found to be obliquely propagating, elliptically polarized and quasi‐coherent (~0.5 to 0.8 correlation coefficient). It is hypothesized that the dayside plasmaspheric hiss is quasi‐coherent because the chorus has been recently generated in the outer magnetosphere and have propagated directly into the plasmasphere. It is possible that the quasi‐coherency of the dayside hiss at L = 2 to 3 may be an alternate explanation for the generation of the energetic particle slot region.
Polarized reflectance factors of vegetation covers from laboratory and field: A comparison with modeled results
Authors: Sun Zhongqiu , Wu Di , Lv Yunfeng , Zhao Yunsheng
Published: December 2016

Light scattered from surfaces is partly polarized, which has implications for remote sensing of vegetation. To study the contribution of polarized light to multiangular reflectance over vegetation covers, we produced a hyperspectral bidirectional polarized reflectance data set for four types of vegetation cover acquired over a wide‐viewing range in the laboratory and field. The data sets were analyzed with respect to basic physical polarized reflectance mechanisms. Moreover, we compared the modeled polarization from five existing polarimetric models (1‐D) with our measured polarization of vegetation covers at selected wavelengths. The analyses indicated that our measured polarized reflectance factors of a special vegetation cover, in which the leaves of vegetation were horizontally oriented, were much greater than previous results. All of the models produced good fits to the measurements, except for the special vegetation cover, which leaded to markedly different distribution patterns for the five models. We also found that the maximum relative difference between modeled and measured polarization was in the backward scattering direction near the principal plane. These results suggested that we can model the polarization accurately by using the existing polarimetric models in visible and near‐infrared bands; more measurements should be performed in the laboratory and the field to illustrate the inherent polarization property of vegetation covers and to avoid underestimating the contribution of vegetation covers on the polarization of atmosphere in the polarized remote sensing study. Our study not only deepens our understanding of the scattering properties of vegetation covers but also provides the polarization properties of vegetated surfaces for the study of atmosphere polarization.
Entrainment of stratospheric air and Asian pollution by the convective boundary layer in the southwestern U.S.
Authors: Langford A. O. , Alvarez R. J. , Brioude J. , Fine R. , Gustin M. S , Lin M. Y. , Marchbanks R. D. , Pierce R. B. , Sandberg S. P. , Senff C. J. , Weickmann A. M. , Williams E. J.
Published: December 2016

A series of deep stratospheric intrusions in late May 2013 increased the daily maximum 8 h surface ozone (O3) concentrations to more than 70 parts per billion by volume (ppbv) at rural and urban surface monitors in California and Nevada. This influx of ozone‐rich lower stratospheric air and entrained Asian pollution persisted for more than 5 days and contributed to exceedances of the 2008 8 h national ambient air quality standard of 75 ppbv on 21 and 25 May in Clark County, NV. Exceedances would also have occurred on 22 and 23 May had the new standard of 70 ppbv been in effect. In this paper, we examine this episode using lidar measurements from a high‐elevation site on Angel Peak, NV, and surface measurements from NOAA, the Clark County, Nevada Department of Air Quality, the Environmental Protection Agency Air Quality System, and the Nevada Rural Ozone Initiative. These measurements, together with analyses from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction/North American Regional Reanalysis; NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory AM3 model; NOAA National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service Real‐time Air Quality Modeling System; and FLEXPART models, show that the exceedances followed entrainment of ~20 to 40 ppbv of lower stratospheric ozone mingled with another 0 to 10 ppbv of ozone transported from Asia by the unusually deep convective boundary layers above the Mojave desert. Our analysis suggests that this vigorous mixing can affect both high and low elevations and help explain the springtime ozone maximum in the southwestern U.S.
A tale of two poles: Toward understanding the presence, distribution, and origin of volatiles at the polar regions of the Moon and Mercury
Authors: Lawrence David J.
Published: December 2016

The Moon and Mercury both have permanently shaded regions (PSRs) at their poles, which are locations that do not see the Sun for geologically long periods of time. The PSRs of the Moon and Mercury have very cold temperatures (<120 K) and as a consequence act as traps for volatile materials. Volatile enhancements have been detected and characterized at both planetary bodies, but the volatile concentrations at Mercury's poles are significantly larger than at the Moon's poles. This paper documents the study of PSR volatiles at the Moon and Mercury that has taken place over the past 60 years. Starting with speculative ideas in the 1950s and 1960s, the field of PSR volatiles has emerged into a thriving subfield of planetary science that has significant implications for scientific studies of the solar system, as well as future human exploration of the solar system. While much has been learned about PSRs and PSR volatiles, many foundational aspects of PSRs are still not understood. One of the most important unanswered questions is why the PSR volatile concentrations at the Moon and Mercury are so different. After describing the initial predictions and measurements of PSR volatiles, this paper documents a variety of PSR measurements, summarizes the current understanding of PSR volatiles, and then suggests what new measurements and studies are needed to answer many of the remaining open questions about PSR volatiles.
Adapting a climatology model to improve estimation of ionosphere parameters and subsequent validation with radio occultation and ionosonde data
Authors: Habarulema John Bosco , Ssessanga Nicholas
Published: December 2016

This paper reports on the adaptation and modification of a climatological model, the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI 2012 model) with the use of total electron content (TEC) data derived from the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), and most importantly its subsequent validation with both radio occultation from Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere and Climate (COSMIC) and ionosonde data. By adjusting the solar activity indices used within the standard IRI 2012 model with the aim of minimizing error differences between IRI TEC and GNSS TEC, the adjusted indices are used as drivers of the IRI 2012 model on a regional scale and results for electron density (Ne) profiles, maximum height of the F2 layer (hmF2), TEC, and critical frequency of the F2 layer (foF2) generated. Validation was done by direct comparison with ionosonde and COSMIC‐derived data parameters. By averaging results over low, equatorial, and midlatitude regions, the modified IRI 2012 gave an improvement of about 18% in estimating TEC during the storm period of 9 March 2012. An important result observed during our candidate period of study is that COSMIC data provides maximum electron density of the F2 layer (NmF2) and hmF2 closer to ionosonde data even during the disturbed period and is hence a suitable data set that can be incorporated into the climatological IRI model to improve its performance. The Ne profiles from the modified IRI 2012 model accurately approximates ionosonde Ne profiles especially below 300 km altitude but underestimates the ionosonde NmF2 and hence foF2 in midlatitude regions. In most cases both standard and modified IRI 2012 models match COSMIC data for topside electron density representation, making the COSMIC data set a valuable resource for the improvement of ionospheric climatological models.
An Enhanced UV–Vis–NIR an d Flexible Photodetector Based on Electrospun ZnO Nanowire Array/PbS Quantum Dots Film Heterostructure
Authors: Zheng Zhi , Gan Lin , Zhang Jianbing , Zhuge Fuwei , Zhai Tianyou
Published: December 2016

ZnO nanostructure‐based photodetectors have a wide applications in many aspects, however, the response range of which are mainly restricted in the UV region dictated by its bandgap. Herein, UV–vis–NIR sensitive ZnO photodetectors consisting of ZnO nanowires (NW) array/PbS quantum dots (QDs) heterostructures are fabricated through modified electrospining method and an exchanging process. Besides wider response region compared to pure ZnO NWs based photodetectors, the heterostructures based photodetectors have faster response and recovery speed in UV range. Moreover, such photodetectors demonstrate good flexibility as well, which maintain almost constant performances under extreme (up to 180°) and repeat (up to 200 cycles) bending conditions in UV–vis–NIR range. Finally, this strategy is further verified on other kinds of 1D nanowires and 0D QDs, and similar enhancement on the performance of corresponding photodetecetors can be acquired, evidencing the universality of this strategy.
One‐Dimensional Nanomaterials for Soft Electronics
Authors: Gong Shu , Cheng Wenlong
Published: December 2016

Electronics will evolve from current rigid electronics to flexible electronics to ultimate soft stretchable electronics. The currently available, rapidly evolving wearable electronics may be a transitional stage to the future stretchable electronics. One‐dimensional (1D) nanomaterials are being extensively used for the design of novel wearable conductors, sensors, and energy devices because 1D nanostructures have an intrinsically high‐aspect‐ratio that enables the construction of conductive percolation network with small amount of material usage while maintaining high optoelectronic performance. Simultaneously, 1D nanostructures have better mechanical elasticity than corresponding bulk materials or sphere‐like nanoparticles and this is a key requirement for designing electronic skin materials by circumventing material delamination and/or cracking. Here, recent progress in 1D nanomaterials based on carbon, metal, metal oxides, polymer, and their hybrid structures is reviewed, focusing on the application of soft wearable electronics. In particular, 1D nanomaterial‐based stretchable conductors, wearable pressure and strain sensors, wearable energy storage devices, and stretchable light‐emitting diode devices are discussed in detail. Representative fabrication methodologies are described and their advantages/disadvantages are compared. Finally, the innovative application of 1D nanomaterial‐based sensors/devices in health and wellness, safety, artificial intelligence, entertainment, and early detection of mental disorders is discussed.
Hydrogenation of methyl acetate to ethanol by Cu/ZnO catalyst encapsulated in SBA‐15
Authors: Wang Yue , Liao Junyu , Zhang Jian , Wang Shengping , Zhao Yujun , Ma Xinbin
Published: December 2016

The hydrogenation of methyl acetate (MA) is one of the important key processes for synthesis of ethanol from syngas. This work reports a highly efficient Cu‐ZnO/SBA‐15 catalyst prepared by facile solid‐state grinding method. Both copper and zinc species were encapsulated in SBA‐15 in high dispersion with the presence of organic template. The mixed homogeneity and interaction between copper and zinc species was enhanced as well with the help of organic template, resulting in the formation of Cu+ species in the reduced catalysts. Moreover, TOFCu(0) linearly increased with the Cu+/Cu0 ratio, indicating that a high proportion of Cu+/Cu0 induced by ZnO should be a key prerequisite to achieve favorable hydrogenation performance. It seems that the Cu+ species originated from Cu‐ZnOx species are more active than that from Cu‐O‐Si species in the activation of MA. These results may provide an inspiration in rational design of Cu‐ZnO‐based catalysts for esters hydrogenation. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 63: 2839–2849, 2017
Superoxide Radical Anion‐Mediated Aerobic Oxidative Synthesis of 2‐Substituted Quinazolines under Visible Light
Authors: Yang Xiu‐Long , Meng Qing‐Yuan , Gao Xue‐Wang , Lei Tao , Wu Cheng‐Juan , Chen Bin , Tung Chen‐Ho , Wu Li‐Zhu
Published: December 2016

A facile and efficient one‐pot reaction for the aerobic oxidative synthesis of 2‐substituted quinazolines using visible‐light catalysis has been developed. A variety of substituted aldehydes and 2‐aminobenzylamines are amenable to producing the corresponding quinazolines in good to excellent yields under metal‐free conditions. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements provide clear evidence on the formation of a superoxide radical anion (O2⋅−), which is responsible for this transformation.
Channeling Exciton Migration into Electron Transfer in Formamidinium Lead Bromide Perovskite Nanocrystal/Fullerene Composites
Authors: Nair Vijayakumar C. , Muthu Chinnadurai , Rogach Andrey L. , Kohara Reiko , Biju Vasudevanpillai
Published: December 2016

Hydrophobically capped nanocrystals of formamidinium lead bromide (FAPbBr3) perovskite (PNC) show bright and stable fluorescence in solution and thin‐film states. When compared with isolated PNCs in a solution, close‐packed PNCs in a thin film show extended fluorescence lifetime (ca. 4.2 μs), which is due to hopping or migration of photogenerated excitons among PNCs. Both fluorescence quantum efficiency and lifetime decrease in a PNC thin film doped with fullerene (C60), which is attributed to channeling of exciton migration into electron transfer to C60. On the other hand, quenching of fluorescence intensity of a PNC solution is not accompanied by any change in fluorescence lifetime, indicating static electron transfer to C60 adsorbed onto the hydrophobic surface of individual PNCs. Exciton migration among close‐packed PNCs and electron transfer to C60 places C60‐doped PNC thin films among cost‐effective antenna systems for solar cells.
Separating Dipolar and Chemical Exchange Magnetization Transfer Processes in 1H‐CEST
Authors: Yuwen Tairan , Sekhar Ashok , Kay Lewis E.
Published: December 2016

An amide 1H‐Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST) experiment is presented for studies of conformational exchange in proteins. The approach, exploiting spin‐state‐selective magnetization transfer, completely suppresses undesired NOE‐based dips in CEST profiles so that chemical exchange processes can be studied. The methodology is demonstrated with applications involving proteins that interconvert on the millisecond timescale between major and invisible minor states, and accurate amide 1H chemical shifts of the minor conformer are obtained in each case. The spin‐state‐selective magnetization transfer approach offers unique possibilities for quantitative studies of protein exchange through 1H‐CEST.
Quantitative electron tomography of PLA/clay nanocomposites to understand the effect of the clays in the thermal stability
Authors: Iturrondobeitia Maider , Guraya Teresa , Okariz Ana , Srot Vesna , van Aken Peter A. , Ibarretxe Julen
Published: December 2016

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is one of the most promising bio‐based and biodegradable polymers. However, its processability and range of applications are limited by its low thermal stability. The novelty of this work is studying the thermal stability of two PLA/clay nanocomposites (PLA/Cloisite 20A and PLA/Cloisite 30B) as a function of the composition and the microstructure, which is exhaustively studied by performing quantitative electron tomography (ET). Quantitative ET involves image acquisition, reconstruction of the volume and a subsequent segmentation of the objects under study. In this work, an objective segmentation is applied to compare the two PLA/clay microstructures. Then, relevant descriptors of the 3D microstructure (dimensions of the reconstructed objects, their specific surface area and orientation) are measured and used to quantitatively explain the effect of the clay particles on the thermal stability of the nanocomposites. The tortuous path has been calculated—based on the descriptors of the microsturecture—and proved to be larger for PLA/Cloisite 30B nanocomposite compared to that of PLA/Cloisite 20A. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44691.
Evaluation of the Electronic Structure of Single‐Molecule Junctions Based on Current–Voltage and Thermopower Measurements: Application to C60 Single‐Molecule Junction
Authors: Komoto Yuki , Isshiki Yuji , Fujii Shintaro , Nishino Tomoaki , Kiguchi Manabu
Published: December 2016

The electronic structure of molecular junctions has a significant impact on their transport properties. Despite the decisive role of the electronic structure, a complete characterization of the electronic structure remains a challenge. This is because there is no straightforward way of measuring electron spectroscopy for an individual molecule trapped in a nanoscale gap between two metal electrodes. Herein, a comprehensive approach to obtain a detailed description of the electronic structure in single‐molecule junctions based on the analysis of current–voltage (I–V) and thermoelectric characteristics is described. It is shown that the electronic structure of the prototypical C60 single‐molecule junction can be resolved by analyzing complementary results of the I–V and thermoelectric measurement. This combined approach confirmed that the C60 single‐molecule junction was highly conductive with molecular electronic conductances of 0.033 and 0.003 G0 and a molecular Seebeck coefficient of −12 μV K−1. In addition, we revealed that charge transport was mediated by a LUMO whose energy level was located 0.5≈0.6 eV above the Fermi level of the Au electrode.
Acceleration of protein backbone NMR assignment by combinatorial labeling: Application to a small molecule binding study
Authors: Hein Christopher , Löhr Frank , Schwarz Daniel , Dötsch Volker
Published: December 2016

Selective labeling with stable isotopes has long been recognized as a valuable tool in protein NMR to alleviate signal overlap and sensitivity limitations. In this study, combinatorial 15N‐, 13Cα‐, and 13C'‐selective labeling has been used during the backbone assignment of human cyclophilin D to explore binding of an inhibitor molecule. Using a cell‐free expression system, a scheme that involves 15N, 1‐13C, 2‐13C, fully 15N/13C, and unlabeled amino acids was optimized to gain a maximum of assignment information from three samples. This scheme was combined with time‐shared triple‐resonance NMR experiments, which allows a fast and efficient backbone assignment by giving the unambiguous assignment of unique amino acid pairs in the protein, the identity of ambiguous pairs and information about all 19 non‐proline amino acid types. It is therefore well suited for binding studies where de novo assignments of amide 1H and 15N resonances need to be obtained, even in cases where sensitivity is the limiting factor.
A novel serum microRNA signature to screen esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Huang Zebo , Zhang Lan , Zhu Danxia , Shan Xia , Zhou Xin , Qi Lian‐wen , Wu Lirong , Zhu Jun , Cheng Wenfang , Zhang Huo , Chen Yan , Zhu Wei , Wang Tongshan , Liu Ping
Published: December 2016

Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have been used as promising diagnostic biomarkers for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). We performed miRNA expression profiling using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) based Exiqon panels from three ESCC pools and one normal control (NC) pool samples. Using qRT‐PCR, identified serum miRNAs were further confirmed in training (32 ESCC vs. 32 NCs) and testing stages (108 ESCC vs. 96 NCs). Consequently, five serum miRNAs (miR‐20b‐5p, miR‐28‐3p, miR‐192‐5p, miR‐223‐3p, and miR‐296‐5p) were significantly overexpressed in ESCC compared with NCs. The diagnostic value of the 5‐miRNA signature was validated by an external cohort (60 ESCC vs. 60 NCs). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) of the 5‐miRNA signature were 0.753, 0.763, and 0.966 for the training, testing, and the external validation stages, respectively. The expression levels of the miRNAs were also determined in tissues, arterial serum, and exosomes. MiR‐20b‐5p, miR‐28‐3p, and miR‐192‐5p were significantly upregulated in ESCC tissues, while miR‐296‐5p was overexpressed in ESCC serum exosomes. In conclusion, we identified a 5‐miRNA signature in serum for the detection of ESCC.
TXNIP mediates the differential responses of A549 cells to sodium butyrate and sodium 4‐phenylbutyrate treatment
Authors: Jin Xuefang , Wu Nana , Dai Juji , Li Qiuxia , Xiao XiaoQiang
Published: December 2016

Sodium butyrate (NaBu) and sodium 4‐phenylbutyrate (4PBA) have promising futures in cancer treatment; however, their underlying molecular mechanisms are not clearly understood. Here, we show A549 cell death induced by NaBu and 4PBA are not the same. NaBu treatment induces a significantly higher level of A549 cell death than 4PBA. A gene expression microarray identified more than 5000 transcripts that were altered (>1.5‐fold) in NaBu‐treated A549 cells, but fewer than 2000 transcripts that were altered in 4PBA. Moreover, more than 100 cell cycle‐associated genes were greatly repressed by NaBu, but slightly repressed by 4PBA; few genes were significantly upregulated only in 4PBA‐treated cells. Gene expression was further validated by other experiments. Additionally, A549 cells that were treated with these showed changes in glucose consumption, caspase 3/7 activation and histone modifications, as well as enhanced mitochondrial superoxide production. TXNIP was strongly induced by NaBu (30‐ to 40‐fold mRNA) but was only slightly induced by 4PBA (two to fivefold) in A549 cells. TXNIP knockdown by shRNA in A549 cells significantly attenuated caspase 3/7 activation and restored cell viability, while TXNIP overexpression significantly increased caspase 3/7 activation and cell death only in NaBu‐treated cells. Moreover, TXNIP also regulated NaBu‐ but not 4PBA‐induced H4K5 acetylation and H3K4 trimethylation, possibly by increasing WDR5 expression. Finally, we demonstrated that 4PBA induced a mitochondrial superoxide‐associated cell death, while NaBu did so mainly through a TXNIP‐mediated pathway. The above data might benefit the future clinic application.
The role of TGF‐β1 during skeletal muscle regeneration
Authors: Delaney Kamila , Kasprzycka Paulina , Ciemerych Maria Anna , Zimowska Malgorzata
Published: December 2016

The injury of adult skeletal muscle initiates series of well‐coordinated events that lead to the efficient repair of the damaged tissue. Any disturbances during muscle myolysis or reconstruction may result in the unsuccessful regeneration, characterised by strong inflammatory response and formation of connective tissue, that is, fibrosis. The switch between proper regeneration of skeletal muscle and development of fibrosis is controlled by various factors. Amongst them are those belonging to the transforming growth factor β family. One of the TGF‐β family members is TGF‐β1, a multifunctional cytokine involved in the regulation of muscle repair via satellite cells activation, connective tissue formation, as well as regulation of the immune response intensity. Here, we present the role of TGF‐β1 in myogenic differentiation and muscle repair. The understanding of the mechanisms controlling these processes can contribute to the better understanding of skeletal muscle atrophy and diseases which consequence is fibrosis disrupting muscle function.
A Sustainable Heterogeneous Iron Catalyst Fe/SBA‐15 towards Direct Arylation of Unactivated C(sp3)−H and C(sp2)−H Bonds with Arenes
Authors: Rajendran C. , Satishkumar G.
Published: December 2016

Iron grafted over mesoporous silica (8 wt %Fe/SBA‐15) is a sustainable, efficient heterogeneous iron catalyst for direct arylation of biphenyl methane C(sp3)−H and benzene C(sp2)−H bonds. The selective extraction deposition (SED) technique was adopted to graft iron easily over the mesoporous support SBA‐15 by using LaFeO3 as an iron precursor. The synthesized catalyst has been characterized by EPR spectroscopy, diffuse reflectance UV/Vis spectroscopy, and temperature programmed reduction (TPR) analysis to understand the coordination environment and state of oxidic iron species grafted over the mesoporous SBA‐15. TPR results confirm the presence of isolated, clustered, oligomeric oxidic iron species in the catalyst. The adopted SED technique is highly successful for grafting 8 wt % iron into the mesopores of SBA‐15 without forming iron oxide particles. Unlike homogeneous iron, the 8 wt %Fe/SBA‐15 catalyst does not need support from an electron‐withdrawing group and additives to carry out arylation of benzene and could be successfully recycled five times.
Profiles and Risk Assessment of Organochlorine Pesticides in Three Gorges Reservoir, China
Authors: Yang Yuyi , Liu Minxia , Yun Xiaoyan , Ge Jing , Wang Jun
Published: December 2016

The environmental pollution of the Three Gorges Reservoir in China may not be desirable and has adverse effects on biodiversity and human health in this region. Concentrations of 16 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were investigated in 19 surface water samples collected from near dam region of the Three Gorges Reservoir. The concentrations of total OCPs ranged from 14 to 88 ng L−1 with a geometric mean of 23 ng L−1. The spatial distribution of OCPs concentrations indicated the giant reservoir was sink of OCPs for upstream as well as source for downstream. The mean concentrations of total hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) were 10 and 9.7 ng L−1, respectively. Historical use of lindane and DDT was found to be the primary source of HCHs and DDTs. The ratio between heptachlor and its metabolic products indicated new input of heptachlor occurred in this region. Among the 16 detected OCPs, the cancer risks for human of heptachlor and heptachlor‐epoxide were all above 10−4, indicating a potential threat of the two OCPs to human health.
Somatic and neuritic spines on tyrosine hydroxylase–immunopositive cells of rat retina
Authors: Fasoli Anna , Dang James , Johnson Jeffrey S. , Gouw Aaron H. , Fogli Iseppe Alex , Ishida Andrew T.
Published: December 2016

Dopamine‐ and tyrosine hydroxylase–immunopositive cells (TH cells) modulate visually driven signals as they flow through retinal photoreceptor, bipolar, and ganglion cells. Previous studies suggested that TH cells release dopamine from varicose axons arborizing in the inner and outer plexiform layers after glutamatergic synapses depolarize TH cell dendrites in the inner plexiform layer and these depolarizations propagate to the varicosities. Although it has been proposed that these excitatory synapses are formed onto appendages resembling dendritic spines, spines have not been found on TH cells of most species examined to date or on TH cell somata that release dopamine when exposed to glutamate receptor agonists. By use of protocols that preserve proximal retinal neuron morphology, we have examined the shape, distribution, and synapse‐related immunoreactivity of adult rat TH cells. We report here that TH cell somata, tapering and varicose inner plexiform layer neurites, and varicose outer plexiform layer neurites all bear spines, that some of these spines are immunopositive for glutamate receptor and postsynaptic density proteins (viz., GluR1, GluR4, NR1, PSD‐95, and PSD‐93), that TH cell somata and tapering neurites are also immunopositive for a γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor subunit (GABAARα1), and that a synaptic ribbon‐specific protein (RIBEYE) is found adjacent to some colocalizations of GluR1 and TH in the inner plexiform layer. These results identify previously undescribed sites at which glutamatergic and GABAergic inputs may stimulate and inhibit dopamine release, especially at somata and along varicose neurites that emerge from these somata and arborize in various levels of the retina. J. Comp. Neurol. 525:1707–1730, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Quantification of highly selective sigma‐1 receptor antagonist CM304 using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and its application to a pre‐clinical pharmacokinetic study
Authors: Avery Bonnie A. , Vuppala Pradeep K. , Jamalapuram Seshulatha , Sharma Abhisheak , Mesangeau Christophe , Chin Frederick T. , McCurdy Christopher R.
Published: December 2016

An ultra‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC‐MS/MS) method was developed and validated for quantification of CM304, a novel and highly selective sigma‐1 receptor antagonist that has recently entered into human clinical trials. A structural analogue of CM304, SN56, was used as the internal standard (IS). Chromatographic separation was achieved on an Acquity UPLC™ BEH C18 (1.7 μm, 2.1 mm × 50 mm) column using a mobile phase [water:methanol (0.1%v/v formic acid; 50:50, %v/v)] at a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min. Mass spectrometric detection was performed in the positive ionization mode with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) using m/z transitions of 337 > 238 for CM304 and 319 > 220 for the IS. The method was found to be linear and reproducible with a regression coefficient consistently >0.99 for the calibration range of 3 to 3000 ng/mL. The extraction recovery ranged from 91.5 to 98.4% from spiked (7.5, 300 and 2526 ng/mL) plasma quality control samples. The precision (%RSD; 1.1 to 2.9%) and accuracy (%RE; −1.9 to 1.8%) were within acceptable limit. The validated method was successfully applied to a single dose oral and intravenous (I.V.) pharmacokinetic study of CM304 in rats. Following I.V. administration, the compound exhibited adequate exposure along with high extravascular distribution and insignificant amount of extra hepatic metabolism. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Study design and parameter estimability for spatial and temporal ecological models
Authors: Peacock Stephanie Jane , Krkošek Martin , Lewis Mark Alun , Lele Subhash
Published: December 2016

The statistical tools available to ecologists are becoming increasingly sophisticated, allowing more complex, mechanistic models to be fit to ecological data. Such models have the potential to provide new insights into the processes underlying ecological patterns, but the inferences made are limited by the information in the data. Statistical nonestimability of model parameters due to insufficient information in the data is a problem too‐often ignored by ecologists employing complex models. Here, we show how a new statistical computing method called data cloning can be used to inform study design by assessing the estimability of parameters under different spatial and temporal scales of sampling. A case study of parasite transmission from farmed to wild salmon highlights that assessing the estimability of ecologically relevant parameters should be a key step when designing studies in which fitting complex mechanistic models is the end goal.
Zinc Oxide Catalyzed Solvent‐Free Mechanochemical Route for C–S Bond Construction: A Sustainable Process
Authors: Mohinuddin P. Md. Khaja , Gangi Reddy N. C.
Published: December 2016

A zinc oxide catalyzed solvent‐free mechanochemical process has been developed for the rapid construction of C–S bonds by using a nucleophilic substitution reaction (SN2 mechanism) that involves a variety of thiols and phenacyl/benzyl/alkyl bromides. Notable advantages of this method include its broad substrate scope, clean reaction profile, safety, scalability, high product yields at ambient conditions, and the recyclability of the catalyst. Furthermore, the prepared compounds are valuable building blocks for the synthesis of various biologically active molecules.
HMGB1 down‐regulation mediates terameprocol vascular anti‐proliferative effect in experimental pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Nogueira‐Ferreira Rita , Ferreira‐Pinto Manuel J. , Silva Ana Filipa , Vitorino Rui , Justino Joana , Costa Raquel , Moreira‐Gonçalves Daniel , Quignard Jean‐François , Ducret Thomas , Savineau Jean‐Pierre , Leite‐Moreira Adelino F. , Ferreira Rita , Henriques‐Coelho Tiago
Published: December 2016

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disease with a poor prognosis. Pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) play a crucial role in PAH pathophysiology, displaying a hyperproliferative, and apoptotic‐resistant phenotype. In the present study, we evaluated the potential therapeutic role of terameprocol (TMP), an inhibitor of cellular proliferation and promoter of apoptosis, in a well‐established pre‐clinical model of PAH induced by monocrotaline (MCT) and studied the biological pathways modulated by TMP in PASMCs. Wistar rats injected with MCT or saline (SHAM group) were treated with TMP or vehicle. On day 21 after injection, we assessed bi‐ventricular hemodynamics and cardiac and pulmonary morphometry. The effects of TMP on PASMCs were studied in a primary culture isolated from SHAM and MCT‐treated rats, using an iTRAQ‐based proteomic approach to investigate the molecular pathways modulated by this drug. In vivo, TMP significantly reduced pulmonary and cardiac remodeling and improved cardiac function in PAH. In vitro, TMP inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis of PASMCs. A total of 65 proteins were differentially expressed in PASMCs from MCT rats treated with TMP, some of which involved in the modulation of transforming growth factor beta pathway and DNA transcription. Anti‐proliferative effect of TMP seems to be explained, at least in part, by the down‐regulation of the transcription factor HMGB1. Our findings support the beneficial role of TMP in PAH and suggest that it may be an effective therapeutic option to be considered in the clinical management of PAH.
Genome Compositional Organization in Gars Shows More Similarities to Mammals than to Other Ray‐Finned Fish
Authors: Symonová Radka , Majtánová Zuzana , Arias‐Rodriguez Lenin , Mořkovský Libor , Kořínková Tereza , Cavin Lionel , Pokorná Martina Johnson , Doležálková Marie , Flajšhans Martin , Normandeau Eric , Ráb Petr , Meyer Axel , Bernatchez Louis
Published: December 2016

Genomic GC content can vary locally, and GC‐rich regions are usually associated with increased DNA thermostability in thermophilic prokaryotes and warm‐blooded eukaryotes. Among vertebrates, fish and amphibians appeared to possess a distinctly less heterogeneous AT/GC organization in their genomes, whereas cytogenetically detectable GC heterogeneity has so far only been documented in mammals and birds. The subject of our study is the gar, an ancient “living fossil” of a basal ray‐finned fish lineage, known from the Cretaceous period. We carried out cytogenomic analysis in two gar genera (Atractosteus and Lepisosteus) uncovering a GC chromosomal pattern uncharacteristic for fish. Bioinformatic analysis of the spotted gar (Lepisosteus oculatus) confirmed a GC compartmentalization on GC profiles of linkage groups. This indicates a rather mammalian mode of compositional organization on gar chromosomes. Gars are thus the only analyzed extant ray‐finned fishes with a GC compartmentalized genome. Since gars are cold‐blooded anamniotes, our results contradict the generally accepted hypothesis that the phylogenomic onset of GC compartmentalization occurred near the origin of amniotes. Ecophysiological findings of other authors indicate a metabolic similarity of gars with mammals. We hypothesize that gars might have undergone convergent evolution with the tetrapod lineages leading to mammals on both metabolic and genomic levels. Their metabolic adaptations might have left footprints in their compositional genome evolution, as proposed by the metabolic rate hypothesis. The genome organization described here in gars sheds new light on the compositional genome evolution in vertebrates generally and contributes to better understanding of the complexities of the mechanisms involved in this process.
Association of the HNF1A polymorphisms and serum lipid traits, the risk of coronary artery disease and ischemic stroke
Authors: Zhou Yi‐Jiang , Yin Rui‐Xing , Hong Shao‐Cai , Yang Qian , Cao Xiao‐Li , Chen Wu‐Xian
Published: December 2016

Background

Hepatocyte nuclear factor‐1α gene (HNF1A) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been associated with serum lipid traits in several previous genome‐wide association studies. However, little is known about such associations in the Chinese populations. The present study aimed to determine the association of the HNF1A rs1169288, rs2259820, rs2464196 and rs2650000 SNPs and serum lipid traits, the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and ischemic stroke (IS).

Methods

The genotypes of the four SNPs in 562 CAD and 521 IS patients, as well as 594 healthy controls, were detected using the Snapshot technology.

Results

The genotype and allele distribution of the four SNPs was not different between controls and CAD or IS patients (p > 0.05 for all). rs1169288, rs2259820 and rs2464196 SNPs were significantly associated with serum lipid levels in both controls and CAD patients (p < 0.004–0.009). rs2259820 and rs2464196 SNPs were significantly associated with a lower risk of CAD [odds ratio (OR) = 0.64, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.44–0.91, p = 0.015 and OR =0.62, 95% CI = 0.43–0.89, p = 0.010, respectively]. Significant linkage disequilibrium was noted among the four SNPs (r2 > 0.5, D′ > 0.8). The haplotype of rs1169288A‐rs2259820C‐rs2464196G‐rs2650000A was associated with an increased risk of CAD (OR =1.95, 95% CI: 1.13–3.37, p = 0.015). Interactions of SNP–SNP (rs1169288–rs2464196–rs2650000) and haplotype–environment on the risk of CAD (A‐C‐G‐A–smoking) or IS (A‐C‐G‐A–sex and A‐T‐A‐C–alcohol consumption) were also observed among these SNPs.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that the HNF1A polymorphisms may be the genetic risk factors for CAD and IS.