bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High quality single crystal Ge nano-membranes for opto-electronic integrated circuitry
Authors: Shah V. A. , Rhead S. D. , Halpin J. E. , Trushkevych O. , Chávez-Ángel E. , Shchepetov A. , Kachkanov V. , Wilson N. R. , Myronov M. , Reparaz J. S. , Edwards R. S. , Wagner M. R. , Alzina F. , Dolbnya I. P. , Patchett D. H. , Allred P. S. , Prest M. J. , Gammon P. M. , Prunnila M. , Whall T. E. , Parker E. H. C. , Sotomayor Torres C. M. , Leadley D. R.
Published: April 2014

A thin, flat, and single crystal germanium membrane would be an ideal platform on which to mount sensors or integrate photonic and electronic devices, using standard silicon processing technology. We present a fabrication technique compatible with integrated-circuit wafer scale processing to produce membranes of thickness between 60 nm and 800 nm, with large areas of up to 3.5 mm2. We show how the optical properties change with thickness, including appearance of Fabry-Pérot type interference in thin membranes. The membranes have low Q-factors, which allow the platforms to counteract distortion during agitation and movement. Finally, we report on the physical characteristics showing sub-nm roughness and a homogenous strain profile throughout the freestanding layer, making the single crystal Ge membrane an excellent platform for further epitaxial growth or deposition of materials.
The effect of solution nonideality on modeling transmembrane water transport and diffusion-limited intracellular ice formation during cryopreservation
Authors: Zhao Gang , Takamatsu Hiroshi , He Xiaoming
Published: April 2014

A new model was developed to predict transmembrane water transport and diffusion-limited ice formation in cells during freezing without the ideal-solution assumption that has been used in previous models. The model was applied to predict cell dehydration and intracellular ice formation (IIF) during cryopreservation of mouse oocytes and bovine carotid artery endothelial cells in aqueous sodium chloride (NaCl) solution with glycerol as the cryoprotectant or cryoprotective agent. A comparison of the predictions between the present model and the previously reported models indicated that the ideal-solution assumption results in under-prediction of the amount of intracellular ice at slow cooling rates (<50 K/min). In addition, the lower critical cooling rates for IIF that is lethal to cells predicted by the present model were much lower than those estimated with the ideal-solution assumption. This study represents the first investigation on how accounting for solution nonideality in modeling water transport across the cell membrane could affect the prediction of diffusion-limited ice formation in biological cells during freezing. Future studies are warranted to look at other assumptions alongside nonideality to further develop the model as a useful tool for optimizing the protocol of cell cryopreservation for practical applications.
A field theory of piezoelectric media containing dislocations
Authors: Taupin V. , Fressengeas C. , Ventura P. , Lebyodkin M. , Gornakov V.
Published: April 2014

A field theory is proposed to extend the standard piezoelectric framework for linear elastic solids by accounting for the presence and motion of dislocation fields and assessing their impact on the piezoelectric properties. The proposed theory describes the incompatible lattice distortion and residual piezoelectric polarization fields induced by dislocation ensembles, as well as the dynamic evolution of these fields through dislocation motion driven by coupled electro-mechanical loading. It is suggested that (i) dislocation mobility may be enhanced or inhibited by the electric field, depending on the polarity of the latter, (ii) plasticity mediated by dislocation motion allows capturing long-term time-dependent properties of piezoelectric polarization. Due to the continuity of the proposed electro-mechanical framework, the stress/strain and polarization fields are smooth even in the dislocation core regions. The theory is applied to gallium nitride layers for validation. The piezoelectric polarization fields associated with bulk screw/edge dislocations are retrieved and surface potential modulations are predicted. The results are extended to dislocation loops.
A computational fluid-structure interaction model for plaque vulnerability assessment in atherosclerotic human coronary arteries
Authors: Karimi Alireza , Navidbakhsh Mahdi , Razaghi Reza , Haghpanahi Mohammad
Published: April 2014

Coronary artery disease is responsible for a third of global deaths worldwide. Computational simulations of blood flow can be used to understand the interactions of artery/plaque and blood in coronary artery disease and to better predict the rupture of atherosclerotic plaques. So far, the mechanical properties of animals' coronary artery have been mostly used for hemodynamic simulation of atherosclerotic arteries. The mechanical properties of animals' coronary arteries are often not accurate enough and can be only used for an approximate estimation and comparative assessment of the cognate parameters in human. In this study, a three-dimensional (3D) computational fluid-structure interactions model with three different plaque types is presented to perform a more accurate plaque vulnerability assessment for human atherosclerotic plaques. The coronary arteries of twenty-two male individuals were removed during autopsy and subjected to uniaxial tensile loading. The hyperelastic material coefficients of coronary arteries were calculated and implemented to the computational model. The fully coupled fluid and structure models were solved using the explicit dynamics finite element code LS-DYNA. The normal and shear stresses induced within the plaques were significantly affected by different plaque types. The highest von Mises (153 KPa) and shear (57 KPa) stresses were observed for hypocellular plaques, while the lowest von Mises (70 KPa) and shear (39 KPa) stresses were observed on the stiffer calcified plaques. The results suggest that the risk of plaque rupture due to blood flow is lower for cellular and hypocellular plaques, while higher for calcified plaques with low fracture stresses.
Unusual nanostructures of “lattice matched” InP on AlInAs
Authors: Gocalinska A. , Manganaro M. , Juska G. , Dimastrodonato V. , Thomas K. , Joyce B. A. , Zhang J. , Vvedensky D. D. , Pelucchi E.
Published: April 2014

We show that the morphology of the initial monolayers of InP on Al0.48In0.52As grown by metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy does not follow the expected layer-by-layer growth mode of lattice-matched systems, but instead develops a number of low-dimensional structures, e.g., quantum dots and wires. We discuss how the macroscopically strain-free heteroepitaxy might be strongly affected by local phase separation/alloying-induced strain and that the preferred aggregation of adatom species on the substrate surface and reduced wettability of InP on AlInAs surfaces might be the cause of the unusual (step) organization and morphology.
CdTe thin-film solar cells with cobalt-phthalocyanine back contacts
Authors: Paudel Naba R. , Yan Yanfa
Published: April 2014

We have fabricated CdTe thin-film solar cells using cobalt-phthalocyanine (CoPC) and Au as Cu-free back contacts on F-doped SnO2-coated soda lime glass substrates. The CdTe solar cells using CoPC/Au back contacts showed 80–120 mV improvements on open circuit voltage (VOC) as compared to the cells using Au-only back contacts. The best small area cell using CoPC/Au back contacts has demonstrated an efficiency of 14.3% with an open circuit voltage of 815 mV, a short circuit current of 24.3 mA/cm2, and a fill factor of 72.3% under AM1.5 illumination. Accelerated life testing performed at 200 °C and open circuit biasing revealed degradations, partially caused by the presence of oxygen and/or moisture.
High-performance thin-film transistors produced from highly separated solution-processed carbon nanotubes
Authors: Lee Dongil , Seol Myeong-Lok , Moon Dong-Il , Bennett Patrick , Yoder Nathan , Humes Jefford , Bokor Jeffrey , Choi Yang-Kyu , Choi Sung-Jin
Published: April 2014

Transistors utilizing carbon nanotube (CNT) thin films have exhibited high on-currents and mobilites greater than those of alternative channel materials. One critical problem that has limited the utilization of CNT thin-film transistors (TFTs) is the occurrence of unavoidable parasitic current paths stemming from metallic nanotubes. In this work, we experimentally demonstrate high-yield, high-performance TFTs composed of a highly purified single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) network. A solution process for a highly separated 99.9% semiconducting SWNT solution is used to acquire a significant enhancement in transistor performance, such as a high on/off ratio, high mobility, and high yields close to 100%.
Visible and near-infrared electroluminescence from TiO2/p+-Si heterostructured device
Authors: Yang Yang , Wang Canxing , Xiang Luelue , Ma Xiangyang , Yang Deren
Published: April 2014

We report on visible and near-infrared (NIR) electroluminescence (EL) from the device based on the TiO2/p+-Si heterostructure, in which the TiO2 film is composed of anatase and rutile phases. As the device is applied with sufficiently high forward bias with the positive voltage connecting to p+-Si, the visible EL peaking at ∼600 nm along with the NIR EL centered at ∼810 nm occur simultaneously. It is proposed that the oxygen vacancies in the anatase TiO2 and Ti3+ defect states in the rutile TiO2 are the responsible centers for the visible and NIR EL, respectively.
Optical and electrical stability of viral-templated copper sulfide (Cu1.8S) films
Authors: Shahriar Zaman Mohammed , Bernard Grajeda Gabriel , Haberer Elaine D.
Published: April 2014

The optical and electrical stabilities of viral-templated non-stoichiometric copper sulfide, digenite (Cu1.8S) films were investigated. The films were composed of large agglomerates of randomly aligned Cu1.8S-coated M13 filamentous phage. Free carrier optical absorption associated with localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) was observed in the near infrared spectral region, and the films were electrically active, displaying a linear current-voltage relationship. Under ambient conditions, the magnitude of the LSPR absorption increased, following a power law relationship with time, and the electrical resistance of viral-templated films decreased significantly. In contrast, the resistance of films stored under low oxygen, low humidity conditions experienced a smaller reduction in electrical resistance. Changes in optical and electrical film properties under ambient conditions were associated with an increase in free carrier concentration within the copper chalcogenide material due to oxygen exposure. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to relate this increase in free carrier concentration to compositional changes on the viral-templated material surface.
Energy gaps in α-graphdiyne nanoribbons
Authors: Niu X. N. , Yang D. Z. , Si M. S. , Xue D. S.
Published: April 2014

α-graphdiyne is a novel predicted Dirac cone material, which is similar to graphene. But the absence of a band gap significantly limits its practical applications. In order to extend this limitation, an opening of energy gap is needed. To this end, we resort to the nanoribbon structure of α-graphdiyne. This is a conventional proposal to open up the energy gaps in nanomaterials. The results show that both the armchair and the zigzag α-graphdiyne nanoribbons do generate energy gaps, which are width-dependent. In addition, the underlying mechanism of this opening is explored. The former is ascribed to the combination of quantum confinement and edges' effect, while the latter arises from the edge magnetic ordering. These novel nanoribbons with opening energy gaps would be potentially used in electronic devices.
Quantitative impedance analysis of solid ionic conductors: Effects of electrode polarization
Authors: Patil D. S. , Shimakawa K. , Zima V. , Wagner T.
Published: April 2014

The dependence of impedance spectra on temperature and sample thickness are analyzed for AgAsS2 as a case example. Using the scaling properties of complex conductivity with thickness and temperature, we discuss the bulk and interfacial properties of the materials. Important physical parameters such as the number of mobile ions, diffusion coefficient in the bulk, and interface are deduced. The influence of the thickness of the sample on conductivity behavior is also discussed. A significant electrode polarization effect is observed even for a low number of localized (accumulated) ions (≈2 × 1017 cm−3) near the interface, which is significantly lower than the number of mobile ions (≈8 × 1021 cm−3) in this test material. The presented analytical method can be widely applied to potentially important ionic conducting systems.
Wavelength-tunable colloidal quantum dot laser on ultra-thin flexible glass
Authors: Foucher C. , Guilhabert B. , Laurand N. , Dawson M. D.
Published: April 2014

A mechanically flexible and wavelength-tunable laser with an ultra-thin glass membrane as substrate is demonstrated. The optically pumped hybrid device has a distributed feedback cavity that combines a colloidal quantum dot gain film with a grating-patterned polymeric underlayer, all on a 30-μm thick glass sheet. The total thickness of the structure is only 75 μm. The hybrid laser has an average threshold fluence of 450 ± 80 μJ/cm2 (for 5-ns excitation pulses) at an emitting wavelength of 607 nm. Mechanically bending the thin-glass substrate enables continuous tuning of the laser emission wavelength over an 18-nm range, from 600 nm to 618 nm. The correlation between the wavelength tunability and the mechanical properties of the thin laser structure is verified theoretically and experimentally.
Time-resolved two-photon excitation of dark states in quantum dots
Authors: Gautham C. , Snoke D. W. , Rastelli A. , Schmidt O. G.
Published: April 2014

We have performed time-resolved measurements of the time scale for conversion of excitons in dark states to bright (light-emitting) states in GaAs quantum dots. The dark states are pumped using two-photon absorption, while the bright state emission is observed in single-photon emission. This conversion time is connected to the spin flip time for carriers in the quantum dots. The time scale is found to be of the order of several hundred picoseconds.
Low-phosphorus conditions affect the nitrogen nutrition and associated carbon costs of two legume tree species from a Mediterranean-type ecosystem
Authors: Magadlela Anathi , Kleinert Aleysia , Dreyer Léanne L. , Valentine Alex J.
Published: April 2014

The role of phosphorus nutrition in two-legume tree species from the Mediterranean-type ecosystem of the Cape Floristic Region (CFR) in South Africa was investigated. There is very little information about the functional adaptations of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) nutrition in these legume trees growing in nutrient-poor soils. Nodulated Virgilia divaricata and V. oroboides tree saplings were grown in sterilised sand and supplied with Long Ashton nutrient solution, which was modified to contain either sufficient-phosphate (500 µM) or low-phosphate (5 µM) nutrient solution for 90 days. During low-P conditions, the growth of V. divaricata was not affected, whereas V. oroboides showed a decrease in growth. The decrease in V. oroboides under low-P conditions was related to the lower P uptake, which resulted in an alteration in belowground biomass allocation, which consequently affected on the N nutrition and carbon (C) cost of growth. In this regard, V. oroboides plants allocated less biomass to roots and nodules, as a proportion of whole plant growth. The impact of this was a decline in N nutrition, growth respiration and photosynthetic costs in V. oroboides. In contrast, V. divaricata maintained its P concentrations, photosynthetic costs and increased its nodule allocation under low-P conditions, to the benefit of N nutrition. The two CFR tree legumes appear to have different adaptations to low-P conditions, which may influence their N and P acquisition in their naturally low-P environment.
Multivariate analysis of the temporal variability of sugarcane ripening in south-eastern Brazil
Authors: Cardozo Nilceu P. , Sentelhas Paulo C. , Panosso Alan R. , Ferraudo Antonio S.
Published: April 2014

Sugarcane ripening is a process controlled by cultivar characteristics and the interaction of genotypes with local climate. The objective of this study was to characterise the temporal variation of sugarcane ripening by assessing the multivariate structure contained in sugarcane quality data, and by correlating the results with local climatic conditions. Eight sugarcane cultivars were evaluated from March to October in Piracicaba, São Paulo State, Brazil. Characteristics related to the quality of raw sugarcane juice were submitted to statistical analysis by ANOVA, hierarchical and non-hierarchical (k-means) clustering methods, and principal components, in order to classify the cultivars into groups for each month of sampling. The ANOVA showed a clear difference (P < 0.001) among harvesting months for all sugarcane quality variables, which was reinforced by the cluster analysis for the whole dataset that selected groups according to the month of harvest. By analysing the quality variables by months, patterns of similarity among sugarcane cultivars were identified, which allowed three ripening groups to be established: early, middle and late. As the harvesting season progressed, the variations within each group, as well as among groups, were explained mainly by local soil-water availability conditions. The early ripening cultivars showed polarisable sugar (Pol) values >13% in early May, whereas these values were reached by the middle cultivars in July, and the late ones in August–September. However, the differences among groups tended to decrease through the harvest season, as expressed by the Euclidean distance, which decreased from 5.62 in March to 1.82 in September, when the water deficit reached the maximum accumulated value, totalling >130 mm. The non-hierarchical analyses (k-means) and principal components methods agreed, resulting in the identification of the same three main cultivar groups. The approach proposed for cultivar classification in this study is more complete than the usual analysis of Pol variation over time, since it allowed all of the variability contained in the sugarcane quality dataset to be analysed in an integrated way, providing a better understanding of the differences observed in the ripening of different cultivars.
Comparison of bioavailability between β-cryptoxanthin and β-carotene and tissue distribution in its intact form in rats
Authors: Sugiura Minoru , Ogawa Kazunori , Yano Masamichi
Published: April 2014

The bioavailability of two intact carotenoids in several tissues of β-cryptoxanthin- and β-carotene-fed rats (20 mg/kg of diet) was investigated. Although metabolites of provitamin A are not included in our study, β-cryptoxanthin was found at higher concentrations in majority of the tissues. The results show that the bioavailability of intact β-cryptoxanthin seemed to be higher than that of β-carotene.
TomatoFRUITFULLhomologs regulate fruit ripening via ethylene biosynthesis
Authors: Shima Yoko , Fujisawa Masaki , Kitagawa Mamiko , Nakano Toshitsugu , Kimbara Junji , Nakamura Nobutaka , Shiina Takeo , Sugiyama Junichi , Nakamura Toshihide , Kasumi Takafumi , Ito Yasuhiro
Published: April 2014

Certain MADS-box transcription factors play central roles in regulating fruit ripening. RIPENING INHIBITOR (RIN), a tomato MADS-domain protein, acts as a global regulator of ripening, affecting the climacteric rise of ethylene, pigmentation changes, and fruit softening. Previously, we showed that two MADS-domain proteins, the FRUITFULL homologs FUL1 and FUL2, form complexes with RIN. Here, we characterized the FUL1/FUL2 loss-of-function phenotype in co-suppressed plants. The transgenic plants produced ripening-defective fruits accumulating little or no lycopene. Unlike a previous study on FUL1/FUL2 suppressed tomatoes, our transgenic fruits showed very low levels of ethylene production, and this was associated with suppression of the genes for 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase, a rate-limiting enzyme in ethylene synthesis. FUL1/FUL2 suppression also caused the fruit to soften in a manner independent of ripening, possibly due to reduced cuticle thickness in the peel of the suppressed tomatoes.
Isolation of oleaginous yeast (Rhodosporidium toruloides) mutants tolerant of sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate
Authors: Kitahara Yuki , Yin Tie , Zhao Xuebing , Wachi Masaaki , Du Wei , Liu Dehua
Published: April 2014

Rhodosporidium toruloides is a lipid-producing yeast, the growth of which is severely suppressed when hydrolysates of lignocellulosic biomass are used as carbon source. This is probably due to the toxic substances, such as organic acids, furans, and phenolic compounds produced during the preparation of the hydrolysates. In order to solve this problem, R. toruloides cultures were subjected to atmospheric room-temperature plasma mutagenesis, resulting in the isolation of mutants showing tolerance to sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate (SBH). Three mutant strains, M11, M13, and M18, were found to grow with producing lipids with SBH as carbon source. M11 in particular appeared to accumulate higher levels (up to 60% of dry cell weight) of intracellular lipids. Further, all three mutant strains showed tolerance of vanillin, furfural, and acetic acid, with different spectra, suggesting that different genetic determinants are involved in SBH tolerance.
Characterization of a thermophilic 4-O-β-d-mannosyl-d-glucose phosphorylase fromRhodothermus marinus
Authors: Jaito Nongluck , Saburi Wataru , Odaka Rei , Kido Yusuke , Hamura Ken , Nishimoto Mamoru , Kitaoka Motomitsu , Matsui Hirokazu , Mori Haruhide
Published: April 2014

4-O-β-d-Mannosyl-d-glucose phosphorylase (MGP), found in anaerobes, converts 4-O-β-d-mannosyl-d-glucose (Man-Glc) to α-d-mannosyl phosphate and d-glucose. It participates in mannan metabolism with cellobiose 2-epimerase (CE), which converts β-1,4-mannobiose to Man-Glc. A putative MGP gene is present in the genome of the thermophilic aerobe Rhodothermus marinus (Rm) upstream of the gene encoding CE. Konjac glucomannan enhanced production by R. marinus of MGP, CE, and extracellular mannan endo-1,4-β-mannosidase. Recombinant RmMGP catalyzed the phosphorolysis of Man-Glc through a sequential bi–bi mechanism involving ternary complex formation. Its molecular masses were 45 and 222 kDa under denaturing and nondenaturing conditions, respectively. Its pH and temperature optima were 6.5 and 75 °C, and it was stable between pH 5.5–8.3 and below 80 °C. In the reverse reaction, RmMGP had higher acceptor preferences for 6-deoxy-d-glucose and d-xylose than R. albus NE1 MGP. In contrast to R. albus NE1 MGP, RmMGP utilized methyl β-d-glucoside and 1,5-anhydro-d-glucitol as acceptor substrates.
Induction of apoptosis by 2,3-dehydrosilybinviaa caspase-dependent pathway in human HeLa cells
Authors: Cho Byoung Ok , So Yangkang , Jin Chang Hyun , Byun Myung Woo , Seo Kwon Il , Ko Kisung , Chun Myoung Sook , Jeong Il Yun
Published: April 2014

The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms involved in the apoptosis of HeLa cells due to 2,3-dehydrosilybin (DHS) treatment. DHS treatment over 24 h significantly inhibited cell viability and induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. It also triggered the cleavage of caspase-8, caspase-9, caspase-3, and PARP, and significantly increased caspase-3 activity in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, it triggered the depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm), the release of cytochrome c into the cytosol, the cleavage of Bid, and the downregulation of Bcl-2 in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, z-VAD-fmk (a pan-caspase inhibitor) and z-IETD-fmk (a specific caspase-8 inhibitor) abolished the DHS-induced activation of the caspase-8, -9, and -3, cleavage of PARP, the depolarization of Δψm, the release of cytochrome c, the cleavage of Bid, and the downregulation of Bcl-2. Taken together, these results suggest that DHS-induced apoptosis is mediated by a caspase-dependent pathway in human HeLa cells.
Factors Predictive of Improved Outcomes With Multimodality Local Therapy After Palliative Chemotherapy for Stage IV Esophageal Cancer
Authors: Wang Jingya , Suri Jaipreet S. , Allen Pamela K. , Liao Zhongxing , Komaki Ritsuko , Ho Linus , Hofstetter Wayne L. , Lin Steven H.
Published: April 2014

Objectives:

We reviewed survival outcomes and factors associated with improved outcomes for patients with stage IVB esophageal cancer who received multimodality therapy with initial chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiation (CRT)±surgery.

Methods:

We retrospectively identified 96 patients with stage IVB esophageal carcinoma (with positive nonregional lymph nodes and/or distant organ metastasis) treated at a single institution with chemotherapy followed by concurrent CRT, with or without surgery. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to test associations between overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), locoregional relapse, distant metastasis–free survival, and potential predictive factors.

Results:

Median patient age at diagnosis was 59 years. The median OS time among all patients was 21.0 months, and 1-, 2-, and 5-year OS rates were 84.4%, 46.8%, and 17.9%, respectively; corresponding DFS time and rates were 8.1 months and 37%, 24.6%, and 24.6%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, factors that predicted improved OS with aggressive multimodal therapy included young age; lack of anorexia, fatigue at diagnosis; distant nodal metastasis without organ metastasis at diagnosis; and radiographic response to initial chemotherapy. A subset of 14 patients who had surgery after chemotherapy and concurrent CRT also had better median OS (not reached vs. 20 mo for 82 patients who did not receive surgery, P=0.001), DFS (14.6 vs. 5.9 mo, P=0.021), and distant metastasis–free survival (26.7 vs. 9.2 mo, P=0.042).

Conclusions:

Aggressive local therapy with radiation and potentially surgery after initial palliative chemotherapy can improve prognosis for a select group of patients with stage IVB esophageal cancer.
A Phase II Study of Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy With Paclitaxel and Cisplatin for Inoperable Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Tang Hua-Rong , Ma Hai-Feng , An Shi-Min , Badakhshi Harun , Deng Jia-Ying , Zhang Jun-Hua , Chen Yun , Zhang Zhen , Guo Xiao-Mao , Jiang Guo-Liang , Zhao Kuai-Le
Published: April 2014

Objectives:

A phase II study was performed to investigate the efficacy and the safety of a 3-week schedule of paclitaxel (PTX) plus cisplatin (DDP) combined with concurrent radiotherapy for esophageal squamous cell cancer.

Patients and Methods:

Patients with newly diagnosed esophageal squamous cell cancer who had histologic proof of local-regional carcinoma of the esophagus, a Karnofsky performance status of 80 or greater, and normal liver, renal, and bone marrow functions were enrolled in the phase II trial. Chemotherapy consisted of DDP (25 mg/m2/d) for 3 days plus PTX (175 mg/m2) given for 3 hours, every 3 weeks for 4 cycles. The total dose of concurrent radiation with 68.4 Gy/44 Fx (late course–accelerated radiotherapy) or 61.2 Gy/34 Fx (conventional radiotherapy) was given at the first day of chemotherapy.

Results:

Between July 2008 and November 2011, 76 patients were enrolled in this trial. The median age was 58 years (range, 37 to 74 y). The stages were stage II (21 patients), stage III (27 patients), and stage IV (28 patients). A total of 89.5% (68/76) and 63.2% (48/76) patients completed ≥2 cycles and all 4 cycles of chemotherapy, respectively. With the median follow-up of 36 months, the overall median survival time was 28.5 months and the progression-free survival time was 14.7 months. One- and 3-year survival rates were 75% and 41%, respectively. Neutropenia grade 3 and 4 occurred in 30.3% and 31.6% of the patients, respectively.

Conclusions:

Radiotherapy concurrent with a 3-week schedule of PTX and DDP resulted in an encouraging overall survival rate, but a relatively higher hematological toxicity.
The Influence of Age and Comorbidity on the Benefit of Adding Androgen Deprivation to Dose-escalated Radiation in Men With Intermediate-risk Prostate Cancer
Authors: Bian Shelly X. , Kuban Deborah A. , Levy Lawrence B. , Oh Jeong , Choi Seungtaek , McGuire Sean E. , Frank Steven J. , Mahmood Usama , Nguyen Paul L. , Pugh Thomas J. , Lee Andrew K. , Hoffman Karen E.
Published: April 2014

Objective:

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) can improve outcomes for men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer (IR-PrCa) receiving external-beam radiotherapy (EBRT). Older men and men with significant comorbidity may be more susceptible to the harms of ADT, therefore we aimed to determine whether these men benefit from ADT.

Methods:

The adult comorbidity evaluation-27 index categorized severity of comorbidity in 636 men treated for IR-PrCa with dose-escalated EBRT (>75 Gy). The cohort was dichotomized at median age of 70. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis evaluated the association of ADT with failure-free survival (FFS) for each age and comorbidity subgroup.

Results:

A total of 48% of men were 70 years and above. After adjustment for tumor characteristics, the addition of ADT to EBRT was associated with improved FFS for both men below 70 years of age (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR] 0.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.19-0.99; P=0.046) and men 70 years and above (AHR 0.23; 95% CI, 0.06-0.91; P=0.035). ADT improved FFS for men below 70 years who had no or mild comorbidity (AHR 0.25; 95% CI, 0.09-0.73; P=0.011) but not for men below 70 years who had moderate or severe comorbidity (AHR 1.62; 95% CI, 0.35-7.49; P=0.537). Similarly, in men 70 years and above, there was a trend for improved FFS with ADT in healthy men (AHR 0.10; 95% CI, 0.01-1.08; P=0.058) but not in men with moderate to severe comorbidity (AHR 0.38; 95% CI, 0.06-2.56; P=0.318).

Conclusions:

The addition of ADT to dose-escalated EBRT can improve outcomes for both younger and older men with IR-PrCa. This benefit was more pronounced in healthy men.
Efficacy of Low-dose and High-dose Radioactive Iodine Ablation With rhTSH in Korean Patients With Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Joung Ji Young , Choi Ji Hun , Cho Yoon Young , Kim Na Kyung , Sohn Seo Young , Kim Sun Wook , Chung Jae Hoon
Published: April 2014

Objective:

The aim of this study was to confirm the equivalent efficacy of recombinant human TSH (rhTSH) and thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW) as used in the preparation for low-dose and high-dose radioactive iodine (RAI) ablation in Korean patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Subjects and Methods:

This retrospective study was designed to compare the efficacy of rhTSH and THW when used before ablation with low-dose (30 mCi) and high-dose (100 mCi) RAI, respectively. The study group included 570 patients with DTC with tumors staged T1 to T3, N0 to N1, and M0. Before RAI ablation, 190 patients used rhTSH and 380 patients matched by age, sex, T-stage, and N-stage used THW. The success of ablation was evaluated in each group based on 4 criteria: (1) stimulated thyroglobulin (sTg) <2 ng/mL, (2) sTg<2 ng/mL and negative diagnostic whole-body scan (DxWBS), (3) sTg<1 ng/mL, and (4) sTg<1 ng/mL and negative DxWBS.

Results:

When both sTg<2 ng/mL and negative DxWBS were selected as criteria for success in patients treated with low-dose RAI, the success rates were 80.5% and 77.0% with rhTSH and THW, respectively (95% confidence interval, 5.9-12.8). Using both sTg<1 ng/mL and negative DxWBS as criteria, success rates were 78.2% and 71.8% with rhTSH and THW, respectively (95% confidence interval, 3.6-16.2). Using any criteria for success, low-dose RAI ablation with rhTSH was as effective as THW. Similar results were found for high-dose RAI ablation in patients using either rhTSH or THW.

Conclusions:

Low-dose and high-dose RAI ablation were equally effective using either rhTSH or THW before ablation in Korean patients with DTC, respectively.
Adherence Patterns to National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines for Referral of Women With Breast Cancer to Genetics Professionals
Authors: Stuckey Ashley , Febbraro Terri , Laprise Jessica , Wilbur Jennifer S. , Lopes Vrishali , Robison Katina
Published: April 2014

Objective:

Genetic predisposition is responsible for 5% to 10% of breast cancer. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) established guidelines delineating appropriate candidates for genetic counseling. This study aims to determine referral patterns for genetic counseling in women who met such guidelines.

Materials and Methods:

Utilizing an institutional tumor registry, patients from an academic oncology program who met a subset of NCCN guidelines for genetic referrals between 2004 and 2010 were identified (breast cancer diagnosis ≤50 y without a known BRCA mutation). A retrospective chart review was conducted. Statistics were analyzed using SAS version 9.2.

Results:

A total of 314 patients were identified and 107 (34.1%) were referred for genetic counseling. Median age at diagnosis was younger for those referred versus not referred (43 and 46 y; P<0.0001). Women were more likely referred with a family history suspicious for an inherited cancer syndrome (67.3% vs. 36.2%; P<0.0001). There was no difference in stage at diagnosis, insurance, or race among women referred. Those patients who choose prophylactic contralateral mastectomy were likely to have been referred for genetic counseling (63.6% vs. 36.4%, P<0.0001). Among patients referred, 77.6% consulted with a genetics counselor, 95.2% underwent genetic testing, and 16.5% had a BRCA mutation.

Conclusions:

Genetic counseling and testing is being underutilized in women who meet NCCN referral guidelines. Age and family history were noted to be predictive of referral for genetic evaluation. Further research is needed to determine additional factors that may impact not only referral rates but subsequent care for women with possible genetic predispositions to cancer.
Structure of catabolite activator protein with cobalt(II) and sulfate
Authors: Rao Ramya R. , Lawson Catherine L.
Published: April 2014

The crystal structure of cyclic AMP–catabolite activator protein (CAP) fromEscherichia colicontaining cobalt(II) chloride and ammonium sulfate is reported at 1.97 Å resolution. Each of the two CAP subunits in the asymmetric unit binds one cobalt(II) ion, in each case coordinated by N-terminal domain residues His19, His21 and Glu96 plus an additional acidic residue contributedviaa crystal contact. The three identified N-terminal domain cobalt-binding residues are part of a region of CAP that is important for transcription activation at class II CAP-dependent promoters. Sulfate anions mediate additional crystal lattice contacts and occupy sites corresponding to DNA backbone phosphate positions in CAP–DNA complex structures.
SPINE-compatible `carboloops': a new microshaped vitreous carbon sample mount for X-ray and neutron crystallography
Authors: Romoli Filippo , Mossou Estelle , Cuypers Maxime , van der Linden Peter , Carpentier Philippe , Mason Sax A. , Forsyth V. Trevor , McSweeney Sean
Published: April 2014

A novel vitreous carbon mount for macromolecular crystallography, suitable for neutron and X-ray crystallographic studies, has been developed. The technology described here is compatible both with X-ray and neutron cryo-crystallography. The mounts have low density and low background scattering for both neutrons and X-rays. They are prepared by laser cutting, allowing high standards of production quality, the ability to custom-design the mount to specific crystal sizes and large-scale production.
Expression, purification and crystallization of the SKICH domain of human TAX1BP1
Authors: Yang Yang , Wang Guan , Huang Xiaolan , Du Zhihua
Published: April 2014

TAX1BP1 is a highly conserved, pleiotropic protein that plays many essential functions in human cells, including negative regulation of inflammatory and antimicrobial responses mediated by NF-κB and IRF3 signaling, inhibition of apoptosis, transcriptional coactivation and autophagyetc.TAX1BP1 contains a SKICH domain at the N-terminus, three coiled-coil domains in the middle and two ubiquitin-binding zinc-finger motifs at the C-terminus. The SKICH domain and the linker sequence between the SKICH domain and the coiled-coil region mediate interaction with ubiquitin-like proteins of the LC3/GABARAP family, which are autophagosome markers. For structure determination of the SKICH domain of TAX1BP1, a protein construct (amino acids 15–148) corresponding to the SKICH domain plus the linker region was expressed, purified and crystallized. A native diffraction data set has been collected to 1.9 Å resolution. A molecular-replacement solution has been found by using the structure of the SKICH domain of NDP52, a paralog of TAX1BP1.
Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of a novel α-L-arabinofuranosidase (CtGH43) fromClostridium thermocellumATCC 27405
Authors: Goyal Arun , Ahmed Shadab , Fontes Carlos M. G. A. , Najmudin Shabir
Published: April 2014

The truncated carbohydrate-active enzyme belonging to family 43 glycoside hydrolase fromClostridium thermocellum(CtGH43) is an α-L-arabinofuranosidase that in combination with endoxylanase leads to complete breakdown of L-arabinosyl-substituted xylans. The recombinant enzymeCtGH43 fromC. thermocellumwas overexpressed inEscherichia coliand purified by immobilized metal-ion affinity chromatography. The recombinantCtGH43 has a molecular mass of 35.86 kDa. Preliminary structural characterization was carried out onCtGH43 crystallized from different conditions, which gave either cube-shaped or brick-shaped crystals. These diffracted to a resolution of 1.65 Å for the cubic form and 1.1 Å for the monoclinic form. Molecular replacement was used to solve theCtGH43 structure.
Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of the XoGroEL chaperonin fromXanthomonas oryzaepv.oryzae
Authors: Tran Huyen-Thi , Pham Tan-Viet , Ngo Ho-Phuong-Thuy , Hong Myoung-Ki , Kim Jeong-Gu , Lee Sang Hee , Ahn Yeh-Jin , Kang Lin-Woo
Published: April 2014

Along with the co-chaperonin GroES, the chaperonin GroEL plays an essential role in enhancing protein folding or refolding and in protecting proteins against misfolding and aggregation in the cellular environment. TheXoGroELgene (XOO_4288) fromXanthomonas oryzaepv.oryzaewas cloned and the protein was expressed, purified and crystallized. The purified XoGroEL protein was crystallized using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method and a crystal diffracted to a resolution of 3.4 Å. The crystal belonged to the orthorhombic space groupP212121with 14 monomers in the asymmetric unit, with a correspondingVMof 2.7 Å3 Da−1and a solvent content of 54.5%.
A novel species of ellipsoidal multicellular magnetotactic prokaryotes from Lake Yuehu in China
Authors: Chen Yi‐Ran , Zhang Rui , Du Hai‐Jian , Pan Hong‐Miao , Zhang Wen‐Yan , Zhou Ke , Li Jin‐Hua , Xiao Tian , Wu Long‐Fei
Published: April 2014

Two morphotypes of multicellular magnetotactic prokaryotes (MMPs) have been identified: spherical (several species) and ellipsoidal (previously one species). Here, we report novel ellipsoidal MMPs that are ∼ 10 × 8 μm in size, and composed of about 86 cells arranged in six to eight interlaced circles. Each MMP was composed of cells that synthesized either bullet‐shaped magnetite magnetosomes alone, or both bullet‐shaped magnetite and rectangular greigite magnetosomes. They showed north‐seeking magnetotaxis, ping‐pong motility and negative phototaxis at a velocity up to 300 μm s−1. During reproduction, they divided along either their long‐ or short‐body axes. For genetic analysis, we sorted the ellipsoidal MMPs with micromanipulation and amplified their genomes using multiple displacement amplification. We sequenced the 16S rRNA gene and found 6.9% sequence divergence from that of ellipsoidal MMPs, Candidatus Magnetananas tsingtaoensis and > 8.3% divergence from those of spherical MMPs. Therefore, the novel MMPs belong to different species and genus compared with the currently known ellipsoidal and spherical MMPs respectively. The novel MMPs display a morphological cell differentiation, implying a potential division of labour. These findings provide new insights into the diversity of MMPs in general, and contribute to our understanding of the evolution of multicellularity among prokaryotes.
Water addition regulates the metabolic activity of ammonia oxidizers responding to environmental perturbations in dry subhumid ecosystems
Authors: Hu Hang‐Wei , Macdonald Catriona A. , Trivedi Pankaj , Holmes Bronwyn , Bodrossy Levente , He Ji‐Zheng , Singh Brajesh K.
Published: April 2014

Terrestrial arid and semi‐arid ecosystems (drylands) constitute about 41% of the Earth's land surface and are predicted to experience increasing fluctuations in water and nitrogen availability. Mounting evidence has confirmed the significant importance of ammonia‐oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB) in nitrification, plant nitrogen availability and atmospheric N2O emissions, but their responses to environmental perturbations in drylands remain largely unknown. Here we evaluate how the factorial combinations of irrigation and fertilization in forests and land‐use change from grassland to forest affects the dynamics of AOA and AOB following a 6‐year dryland field study. Potential nitrification rates and AOA and AOB abundances were significantly higher in the irrigated plots, accompanied by considerable changes in community compositions, but their responses to fertilization alone were not significant. DNA‐stable isotope probing results showed increased 13CO2 incorporation into the amoA gene of AOA, but not of AOB, in plots receiving water addition, coupled with significantly higher net mineralization and nitrification rates. High‐throughput microarray analysis revealed that active AOA assemblages belonging to Nitrosopumilus and Nitrosotalea were increasingly labelled by 13CO2 following irrigation. However, no obvious effects of land‐use changes on nitrification rates or metabolic activity of AOA and AOB could be observed under dry conditions. We provide evidence that water addition had more important roles than nitrogen fertilization in influencing the autotrophic nitrification in dryland ecosystems, and AOA are increasingly involved in ammonia oxidation when dry soils become wetted.
Magnetite compensates for the lack of a pilin‐associated c‐type cytochrome in extracellular electron exchange
Authors: Liu Fanghua , Rotaru Amelia‐Elena , Shrestha Pravin M. , Malvankar Nikhil S. , Nevin Kelly P. , Lovley Derek R.
Published: April 2014

Nanoscale magnetite can facilitate microbial extracellular electron transfer that plays an important role in biogeochemical cycles, bioremediation and several bioenergy strategies, but the mechanisms for the stimulation of extracellular electron transfer are poorly understood. Further investigation revealed that magnetite attached to the electrically conductive pili of Geobacter species in a manner reminiscent of the association of the multi‐heme c‐type cytochrome OmcS with the pili of Geobacter sulfurreducens. Magnetite conferred extracellular electron capabilities on an OmcS‐deficient strain unable to participate in interspecies electron transfer or Fe(III) oxide reduction. In the presence of magnetite wild‐type cells repressed expression of the OmcS gene, suggesting that cells might need to produce less OmcS when magnetite was available. The finding that magnetite can compensate for the lack of the electron transfer functions of a multi‐heme c‐type cytochrome has implications not only for the function of modern microbes, but also for the early evolution of microbial electron transport mechanisms.
Reason, Conscience and Equity: Bishops as the King's Judges in Later Medieval England
Authors: Dodd Gwilym
Published: April 2014

It has long been recognized that many late medieval bishops were heavily involved in secular government. Scholars have tended to characterize these activities in fairly general terms, labelling those who chose to serve the crown as ‘administrators’, ‘bureaucrats’ or ‘civil servants’. In fact, they are better described as king's judges, for a large part of what bishops did in government was dispensing justice in the king's name. The first part of this article explores the contexts of this judicial activity, showing that bishops were especially active in institutions such as parliament, chancery and the council which offered justice to the king's subjects on a discretionary basis. Discretionary justice was closely informed by the precepts of natural law, which in turn derived authority from the abstract notion of the divine will. The second half of the article suggests that the strong theological underpinning of discretionary justice meant that bishops' involvement in secular government did not stand in opposition to their spiritual vocation or their role as leaders of the church. I argue that the sweeping and rather disparaging contemporary and modern characterizations of ‘civil‐servant’ bishops as self‐serving careerists ought to be replaced by a more nuanced understanding of the rationale and motivation of those senior clergymen who involved themselves in secular governance.
Prenatal exposure to antidepressants and language competence at age three: results from a large population‐based pregnancy cohort in Norway
Authors: Skurtveit S , Selmer R , Roth C , Hernandez‐Diaz S , Handal M
Published: April 2014

Objective

To examine the association between maternal use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) in pregnancy and language competence in their children at age three taking into account maternal symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Design

Population‐based prospective pregnancy cohort study.

Setting

The Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study; recruited pregnant women from 1999 through 2008.

Population

45 266 women with 51 748 singleton pregnancies.

Methods

The association between short‐ or long‐term use of SSRI during pregnancy and language competence in the child was investigated using multinomial logistic regression with three outcome categories: long, complicated sentences, fairly complete sentences and language delay.

Main outcome measures

Children's language competence at age three measured by maternal report on a validated language grammar scale.

Results

Women reported use of SSRI in 386 (0.7%) pregnancies. Of these, 161 (42%) reported long‐term use. Compared with children whose mothers took no SSRI, using the best language category as the reference, adjusted relative risk ratios (RRR) of having fairly complete sentences were 1.21 (95% CI 0.85–1.72) and 2.28 (1.54–3.38) for short‐ and long‐term SSRI use, respectively. The adjusted RRRs of language delay were 0.86 (0.42–1.76) and 2.30 (1.21–4.37). Symptoms of anxiety and depression in pregnancy were independently related to language delay, adjusted RRR 1.25 (1.03–1.50) and 1.83 (1.40–2.40) for short‐ and long‐term symptoms, respectively.

Conclusions

Prolonged use of SSRI during pregnancy was associated with lower language competence in children by age three independently of depression. Having symptoms of depression throughout pregnancy had an independent effect.