bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patient-specific hepatocyte-like cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells model pazopanib-mediated hepatotoxicity
Authors: Choudhury Yukti , Toh Yi Chin , Xing Jiangwa , Qu Yinghua , Poh Jonathan , Li Huan , Tan Hui Shan , Kanesvaran Ravindran , Yu Hanry , Tan Min-Han
Published: January 2017

Idiosyncratic drug-induced hepatotoxicity is a major cause of liver damage and drug pipeline failure, and is difficult to study as patient-specific features are not readily incorporated in traditional hepatotoxicity testing approaches using population pooled cell sources. Here we demonstrate the use of patient-specific hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) derived from induced pluripotent stem cells for modeling idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity to pazopanib (PZ), a tyrosine kinase inhibitor drug associated with significant hepatotoxicity of unknown mechanistic basis. In vitro cytotoxicity assays confirmed that HLCs from patients with clinically identified hepatotoxicity were more sensitive to PZ-induced toxicity than other individuals, while a prototype hepatotoxin acetaminophen was similarly toxic to all HLCs studied. Transcriptional analyses showed that PZ induces oxidative stress (OS) in HLCs in general, but in HLCs from susceptible individuals, PZ causes relative disruption of iron metabolism and higher burden of OS. Our study establishes the first patient-specific HLC-based platform for idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity testing, incorporating multiple potential causative factors and permitting the correlation of transcriptomic and cellular responses to clinical phenotypes. Establishment of patient-specific HLCs with clinical phenotypes representing population variations will be valuable for pharmaceutical drug testing.
Systems biology analysis of drivers underlying hallmarks of cancer cell metabolism
Authors: Zielinski Daniel C. , Jamshidi Neema , Corbett Austin J. , Bordbar Aarash , Thomas Alex , Palsson Bernhard O.
Published: January 2017

Malignant transformation is often accompanied by significant metabolic changes. To identify drivers underlying these changes, we calculated metabolic flux states for the NCI60 cell line collection and correlated the variance between metabolic states of these lines with their other properties. The analysis revealed a remarkably consistent structure underlying high flux metabolism. The three primary uptake pathways, glucose, glutamine and serine, are each characterized by three features: (1) metabolite uptake sufficient for the stoichiometric requirement to sustain observed growth, (2) overflow metabolism, which scales with excess nutrient uptake over the basal growth requirement, and (3) redox production, which also scales with nutrient uptake but greatly exceeds the requirement for growth. We discovered that resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs in these lines broadly correlates with the amount of glucose uptake. These results support an interpretation of the Warburg effect and glutamine addiction as features of a growth state that provides resistance to metabolic stress through excess redox and energy production. Furthermore, overflow metabolism observed may indicate that mitochondrial catabolic capacity is a key constraint setting an upper limit on the rate of cofactor production possible. These results provide a greater context within which the metabolic alterations in cancer can be understood.
Extent of Night Warming and Spatially Heterogeneous Cloudiness Differentiate Temporal Trend of Greenness in Mountainous Tropics in the New Century
Authors: Yu Mei , Gao Qiong , Gao Chunxiao , Wang Chao
Published: January 2017

Tropical forests have essential functions in global C dynamics but vulnerable to changes in land cover land use (LCLUC) and climate. The tropics of Caribbean are experiencing warming and drying climate and diverse LCLUC. However, large-scale studies to detect long-term trends of C and mechanisms behind are still rare. Using MODIS Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), we investigated greenness trend in the Greater Antilles Caribbean during 2000–2015, and analyzed trend of vegetation patches without LCLUC to give prominence to climate impacts. We hypothesized that night warming and heavy cloudiness would reduce EVI in this mountainous tropical region. Over the 15 years, EVI decreased significantly in Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico, but increased in Cuba partly due to its strong reforestation. Haiti had the largest decreasing trend because of continuous deforestation for charcoals. After LCLUC was excluded, EVI trend still varied greatly, decreasing in the windward but increasing in the leeward of Puerto Rico. Nighttime warming reinforced by spatially heterogeneous cloudiness was found to significantly and negatively correlate with EVI trend, and explained the spatial pattern of the latter. Although cooled daytime and increased rainfall might enhance EVI, nighttime warming dominated the climate impacts and differentiated the EVI trend.
Genomic structural variations for cardiovascular and metabolic comorbidity
Authors: Nazarenko Maria S. , Sleptcov Aleksei A. , Lebedev Igor N. , Skryabin Nikolay A. , Markov Anton V. , Golubenko Maria V. , Koroleva Iuliia A. , Kazancev Anton N. , Barbarash Olga L. , Puzyrev Valery P.
Published: January 2017

The objective of this study was to identify genes targeted by both copy number and copy-neutral changes in the right coronary arteries in the area of advanced atherosclerotic plaques and intact internal mammary arteries derived from the same individuals with comorbid coronary artery disease and metabolic syndrome. The artery samples from 10 patients were screened for genomic imbalances using array comparative genomic hybridization. Ninety high-confidence, identical copy number variations (CNVs) were detected. We also identified eight copy-neutral changes (cn-LOHs) > 1.5 Mb in paired arterial samples in 4 of 10 individuals. The frequencies of the two gains located in the 10q24.31 (ERLIN1) and 12q24.11 (UNG, ACACB) genomic regions were evaluated in 33 paired arteries and blood samples. Two patients contained the gain in 10q24.31 (ERLIN1) and one patient contained the gain in 12q24.11 (UNG, ACACB) that affected only the blood DNA. An additional two patients harboured these CNVs in both the arteries and blood. In conclusion, we discovered and confirmed a gain of the 10q24.31 (ERLIN1) and 12q24.11 (UNG, ACACB) genomic regions in patients with coronary artery disease and metabolic comorbidity. Analysis of DNA extracted from blood indicated a possible somatic origin for these CNVs.
Dynamical proxies of North Atlantic predictability and extremes
Authors: Faranda Davide , Messori Gabriele , Yiou Pascal
Published: January 2017

Atmospheric flows are characterized by chaotic dynamics and recurring large-scale patterns. These two characteristics point to the existence of an atmospheric attractor defined by Lorenz as: “the collection of all states that the system can assume or approach again and again, as opposed to those that it will ultimately avoid”. The average dimension D of the attractor corresponds to the number of degrees of freedom sufficient to describe the atmospheric circulation. However, obtaining reliable estimates of D has proved challenging. Moreover, D does not provide information on transient atmospheric motions, such as those leading to weather extremes. Using recent developments in dynamical systems theory, we show that such motions can be classified through instantaneous rather than average properties of the attractor. The instantaneous properties are uniquely determined by instantaneous dimension and stability. Their extreme values correspond to specific atmospheric patterns, and match extreme weather occurrences. We further show the existence of a significant correlation between the time series of instantaneous stability and dimension and the mean spread of sea-level pressure fields in an operational ensemble weather forecast at lead times of over two weeks. Instantaneous properties of the attractor therefore provide an efficient way of evaluating and informing operational weather forecasts.
Regioselectivity and Mechanism of Synthesizing N-Substituted 2-Pyridones and 2-Substituted Pyridines via Metal-Free C-O and C-N Bond-Cleaving of Oxazoline[3,2-a]pyridiniums
Authors: Li Bo , Xue Susu , Yang Yang , Feng Jia , Liu Peng , Zhang Yong , Zhu Jianming , Xu Zhijian , Hall Adrian , Zhao Bo , Shi Jiye , Zhu Weiliang
Published: January 2017

Novel intermediate oxazoline[3,2-a]pyridiniums were facilely prepared from 2-(2,2-dimethoxyethoxy)-pyridines via acid promoted intramolecular cyclization. Sequentially, the quaternary ammonium salts were treated with different nucleophiles for performing regioselective metal-free C-O and C-N bond-cleaving to afford prevalent heterocyclic structures of N-substituted pyridones and 2-substituted pyridines. The reaction mechanism and regioselectivity were then systematically explored by quantum chemistry calculations at B3LYP/6-31 g(d) level. The calculated free energy barrier of the reactions revealed that aniline and aliphatic amines (e.g., methylamine) prefer to attack C8 of intermediate 4a, affording N-substituted pyridones, while phenylmethanamine, 2-phenylethan-1-amine and 3-phenylpropan-1-amine favor to attack C2 of the intermediate to form 2-substituted pyridines. With the optimized geometries of the transition states, we found that the aromatic ring of the phenyl aliphatic amines may form cation-π interaction with the pyridinium of the intermediates, which could stabilize the transition states and facilitate the formation of 2-substituted pyridines.
ER residency of the ceramide phosphoethanolamine synthase SMSr relies on homotypic oligomerization mediated by its SAM domain
Authors: Cabukusta Birol , Kol Matthijs , Kneller Laura , Hilderink Angelika , Bickert Andreas , Mina John G. M. , Korneev Sergei , Holthuis Joost C. M.
Published: January 2017

SMSr/SAMD8 is an ER-resident ceramide phosphoethanolamine synthase with a critical role in controlling ER ceramides and suppressing ceramide-induced apoptosis in cultured cells. SMSr-mediated ceramide homeostasis relies on the enzyme’s catalytic activity as well as on its N-terminal sterile α-motif or SAM domain. Here we report that SMSr-SAM is structurally and functionally related to the SAM domain of diacylglycerol kinase DGKδ, a central regulator of lipid signaling at the plasma membrane. Native gel electrophoresis indicates that both SAM domains form homotypic oligomers. Chemical crosslinking studies show that SMSr self-associates into ER-resident trimers and hexamers that resemble the helical oligomers formed by DGKδ-SAM. Residues critical for DGKδ-SAM oligomerization are conserved in SMSr-SAM and their substitution causes a dissociation of SMSr oligomers as well as a partial redistribution of the enzyme to the Golgi. Conversely, treatment of cells with curcumin, a drug disrupting ceramide and Ca2+ homeostasis in the ER, stabilizes SMSr oligomers and promotes retention of the enzyme in the ER. Our data provide first demonstration of a multi-pass membrane protein that undergoes homotypic oligomerization via its SAM domain and indicate that SAM-mediated self-assembly of SMSr is required for efficient retention of the enzyme in the ER.
Identification of cardiac progenitors that survive in the ischemic human heart after ventricular myocyte death
Authors: Omatsu-Kanbe Mariko , Nozuchi Nozomi , Nishino Yuka , Mukaisho Ken-ichi , Sugihara Hiroyuki , Matsuura Hiroshi
Published: January 2017

Atypically-shaped cardiomyocytes (ACMs) are beating heart cells identified in the cultures of cardiomyocyte-removed fractions obtained from adult mouse hearts. Since ACMs spontaneously develop into beating cells in the absence of hormones or chemicals, these cells are likely to be a type of cardiac progenitors rather than stem cells. “Native ACMs” are found as small interstitial cells among ventricular myocytes that co-express cellular prion protein (PrP) and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) in mouse and human heart tissues. However, the endogenous behavior of human ACMs is unclear. In the present study, we demonstrate that PrP+ cTnT+ cells are present in the human heart tissue with myocardial infarction (MI). These cells were mainly found in the border of necrotic cardiomyocytes caused by infarcts and also in the hibernating myocardium subjected to the chronic ischemia. The ratio of PrP+ cTnT+ cells to the total cells observed in the normal heart tissue section of mouse and human was estimated to range from 0.3–0.8%. Notably, living human PrP+ cTnT+ cells were identified in the cultures obtained at pathological autopsy despite exposure to lethal ischemic conditions for hours after death. These findings suggest that ACMs could survive in the ischemic human heart and develop into a sub-population of cardiac myocytes.
Six-band terahertz metamaterial absorber based on the combination of multiple-order responses of metallic patches in a dual-layer stacked resonance structure
Authors: Wang Ben-Xin , Wang Gui-Zhen , Sang Tian , Wang Ling-Ling
Published: January 2017

This paper reports on a numerical study of the six-band metamaterial absorber composed of two alternating stack of metallic-dielectric layers on top of a continuous metallic plane. Six obvious resonance peaks with high absorption performance (average larger than 99.37%) are realized. The first, third, fifth, and the second, fourth, sixth resonance absorption bands are attributed to the multiple-order responses (i.e., the 1-, 3- and 5-order responses) of the bottom- and top-layer of the structure, respectively, and thus the absorption mechanism of six-band absorber is due to the combination of two sets of the multiple-order resonances of these two layers. Besides, the size changes of the metallic layers have the ability to tune the frequencies of the six-band absorber. Employing the results, we also present a six-band polarization tunable absorber through varying the sizes of the structure in two orthogonal polarization directions. Moreover, nine-band terahertz absorber can be achieved by using a three-layer stacked structure. Simulation results indicate that the absorber possesses nine distinct resonance bands, and average absorptivities of them are larger than 94.03%. The six-band or nine-band absorbers obtained here have potential applications in many optoelectronic and engineering technology areas.
Spatial distribution of electrons near the Fermi level in the metallic LaB6 through accurate X-ray charge density study
Authors: Kasai Hidetaka , Nishibori Eiji
Published: January 2017

Charge densities of iso-structural metal hexaborides, a transparent metal LaB6 and a semiconductor BaB6, have been determined using the d > 0.22 Å ultra-high resolution synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction data by a multipole refinement and a maximum entropy method (MEM). The quality of the experimental charge densities was evaluated by comparison with theoretical charge densities. The strong inter-octahedral and relatively weak intra-octahedral boron-boron bonds were observed in the charge densities. A difference of valence charge densities between LaB6 and BaB6 was calculated to reveal a small difference between isostructural metal and semiconductor. The weak electron lobes distributed around the inter B6 octahedral bond were observed in the difference density. We found the electron lobes are the conductive π-electrons in LaB6 from the comparison with the theoretical valence charge density. We successfully observed a spatial distribution of electrons near the Fermi level from the X-ray charge density study of the series of iso-structural solids.
Behavioural Effects of Using Sulfasalazine to Inhibit Glutamate Released by Cancer Cells: A Novel target for Cancer-Induced Depression
Authors: Nashed Mina G. , Ungard Robert G. , Young Kimberly , Zacal Natalie J. , Seidlitz Eric P. , Fazzari Jennifer , Frey Benicio N. , Singh Gurmit
Published: January 2017

Despite the lack of robust evidence of effectiveness, current treatment options for cancer-induced depression (CID) are limited to those developed for non-cancer related depression. Here, anhedonia-like and coping behaviours were assessed in female BALB/c mice inoculated with 4T1 mammary carcinoma cells. The behavioural effects of orally administered sulfasalazine (SSZ), a system xc− inhibitor, were compared with fluoxetine (FLX). FLX and SSZ prevented the development of anhedonia-like behaviour on the sucrose preference test (SPT) and passive coping behaviour on the forced swim test (FST). The SSZ metabolites 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) and sulfapyridine (SP) exerted an effect on the SPT but not on the FST. Although 5-ASA is a known anti-inflammatory agent, neither treatment with SSZ nor 5-ASA/SP prevented tumour-induced increases in serum levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-6, which are indicated in depressive disorders. Thus, the observed antidepressant-like effect of SSZ may primarily be attributable to the intact form of the drug, which inhibits system xc−. This study represents the first attempt at targeting cancer cells as a therapeutic strategy for CID, rather than targeting downstream effects of tumour burden on the central nervous system. In doing so, we have also begun to characterize the molecular pathways of CID.
Genotype-phenotype relationship in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy caused by desmosomal gene mutations: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Xu Zhenyan , Zhu Wengen , Wang Cen , Huang Lin , Zhou Qiongqiong , Hu Jinzhu , Cheng Xiaoshu , Hong Kui
Published: January 2017

The relationship between clinical phenotypes and desmosomal gene mutations in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is poorly characterized. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to explore the genotype-phenotype relationship in patients with ARVC. Any studies reporting this genotype-phenotype relationship were included. In total, 11 studies involving 1,113 patients were included. The presence of desmosomal gene mutations was associated with a younger onset age of ARVC (32.7 ± 15.2 versus 43.2 ± 13.3 years; P = 0.001), a higher incidence of T wave inversion in V1–3 leads (78.5% versus 51.6%; P = 0.0002) or a family history of ARVC (39.5% versus 27.1%; P = 0.03). There was no difference in the proportion of males between desmosomal-positive and desmosomal-negative patients (68.3% versus 68.9%; P = 0.60). The presence of desmosomal gene mutations was not associated with global or regional structural and functional alterations (63.5% versus 60.5%; P = 0.37), epsilon wave (29.4% versus 26.2%; P = 0.51) or ventricular tachycardia of left bundle-branch morphology (62.6% versus 57.2%; P = 0.30). Overall, patients with desmosomal gene mutations are characterized by an earlier onset age, a higher incidence of T wave inversion in V1–3 leads and a strong family history of ARVC.
Evaluation of TaqMan qPCR System Integrating Two Identically Labelled Hydrolysis Probes in Single Assay
Authors: Nagy Alexander , Vitásková Eliška , Černíková Lenka , Křivda Vlastimil , Jiřincová Helena , Sedlák Kamil , Horníčková Jitka , Havlíčková Martina
Published: January 2017

Ongoing evolution of viral pathogens is a significant issue in diagnostic virology employing TaqMan qPCR/RT-qPCR. Specific concerns are related to false negativity due to probe binding failure. One option for compensating for such deficiency is to integrate a second identically labelled probe in the assay. However, how this alteration influences the reaction parameters has not been comprehensively demonstrated. In the present study, we evaluate a TaqMan protocol using two identically labelled hydrolysis probes (simple, LNA (locked-nucleic-acid)) and MGB (minor-groove-binder) modified probes and combinations thereof in a single assay. Our results based on a synthetic amplicon suggest that the second probe does not compromise the TaqMan qPCR/RT-qPCR parameters, which repeatedly and reproducibly remained comparable to those of the corresponding single-probe assays, irrespective of the relative probe orientation, whether opposite or tandem, and probe modifications or combinations thereof. On the other hand, the second probe additively contributed to the overall fluorescence signal. The utility of the dual-probe approach was demonstrated on practical examples by using field specimens. We hope that the present study might serve as a theoretical basis for the development or improvement of TaqMan qPCR/RT-qPCR assays for the detection of highly variable nucleic acid templates.
Broadband Energy Harvester Using Non-linear Polymer Spring and Electromagnetic/Triboelectric Hybrid Mechanism
Authors: Gupta Rahul Kumar , Shi Qiongfeng , Dhakar Lokesh , Wang Tao , Heng Chun Huat , Lee Chengkuo
Published: January 2017

Over the years, several approaches have been devised to widen the operating bandwidth, but most of them can only be triggered at high accelerations. In this work, we investigate a broadband energy harvester based on combination of non-linear stiffening effect and multimodal energy harvesting to obtain high bandwidth over wide range of accelerations (0.1 g–2.0 g). In order to achieve broadband behavior, a polymer based spring exhibiting multimodal energy harvesting is used. Besides, non-linear stiffening effect is introduced by using mechanical stoppers. At low accelerations (<0.5 g), the nearby mode frequencies of polymer spring contribute to broadening characteristics, while proof mass engages with mechanical stoppers to introduce broadening by non-linear stiffening at higher accelerations. The electromagnetic mechanism is employed in this design to enhance its output at low accelerations when triboelectric output is negligible. Our device displays bandwidth of 40 Hz even at low acceleration of 0.1 g and it is increased up to 68 Hz at 2 g. When non-linear stiffening is used along with multimodal energy-harvesting, the obtained bandwidth increases from 23 Hz to 68 Hz with percentage increment of 295% at 1.8 g. Further, we have demonstrated the triboelectric output measured as acceleration sensing signals in terms of voltage and current sensitivity of 4.7 Vg−1 and 19.7 nAg−1, respectively.
Evaluation of the impact of polyclonal infection and heteroresistance on treatment of tuberculosis patients
Authors: Kargarpour Kamakoli Mansour , Sadegh Hamid Reza , Farmanfarmaei Ghazaleh , Masoumi Morteza , Fateh Abolfazl , Javadi Gholamreza , Rahimi Jamnani Fatemeh , Vaziri Farzam , Siadat Seyed Davar
Published: January 2017

Mixed strain infections of Mycobacterium tuberculosis make diagnosis, treatment, and control of tuberculosis (TB) more difficult. This study was aimed to evaluate the relationship between mixed infections, antibiotic resistance patterns and treatment of TB patients. In this study, among 2850 suspected TB clinical samples, a total of ninety-six clinical samples from 66 TB confirmed patients were subjected to the 24-locus variable-number tandem repeat method to evaluate the prevalence of mixed infections. For all studied strains, 288 colonies (three individual clones for each sample) were isolated from different colonies and separately analyzed by the Drug Susceptibility Test (DST). For all patients, follow up was done after 6 months of treatment. Based on direct 24 loci MIRU-VNTR, in the 66 TB patients, 53% (35/66) showed mixed infection. In the mixed samples, 45.71% (16/35) showed different antibiotic resistant patterns. Among the mixed infection patients, eight (22.9%; 8/35) showed treatment failure after six- month therapy. Six of these non-treated patients (75%; 6/8) had different antibiotic resistant patterns. We conclude that mixed infections, have a negative impact on treatment of TB patients especially when co-infecting M. tuberculosis strains display heteroresistance.
Syringeless Electrospinning toward Versatile Fabrication of Nanofiber Web
Authors: Moon Seongjun , Gil Manjae , Lee Kyung Jin
Published: January 2017

Although electrospinning is considered a powerful and generic tool for the preparation of nanofiber webs, several issues still need to be overcome for real-world applications. Most of these issues stem from the use of a syringe-based system, where the key factor influencing successful electrospinning is the maintenance of several subtle balances such as those of between the mass and the electrical state. It is extremely difficult to maintain these balances throughout the spinning process until all the polymeric solution in the syringe has been consumed. To overcome these limitations, we have developed a syringeless electrospinning technique as an alternative and efficient means of preparing a nanofiber web. This new technique uses a helically probed rotating cylinder. This technique can not only cover conventional methods, but also provides several advantages over syringe-based and needless electrospinning in terms of productivity (6 times higher) and processibility. For example, we can produce nanofibers with highly crystalline polymers and nanofiber-webs comprising networks of several different polymers, which is sometimes difficult in conventional electrospinning. In addition, this method provides several benefits for colloidal electrospinning as well. This method should help expand the range of applications for electrospun nanofiber webs in the near future.
Microencapsulation with alginate/CaCO3: A strategy for improved phage therapy
Authors: Colom Joan , Cano-Sarabia Mary , Otero Jennifer , Aríñez-Soriano Javier , Cortés Pilar , Maspoch Daniel , Llagostera Montserrat
Published: January 2017

Bacteriophages are promising therapeutic agents that can be applied to different stages of the commercial food chain. In this sense, bacteriophages can be orally administered to farm animals to protect them against intestinal pathogens. However, the low pH of the stomach, the activities of bile and intestinal tract enzymes limit the efficacy of the phages. This study demonstrates the utility of an alginate/CaCO3 encapsulation method suitable for bacteriophages with different morphologies and to yield encapsulation efficacies of ~100%. For the first time, a cocktail of three alginate/CaCO3-encapsulated bacteriophages was administered as oral therapy to commercial broilers infected with Salmonella under farm-like conditions. Encapsulation protects the bacteriophages against their destruction by the gastric juice. Phage release from capsules incubated in simulated intestinal fluid was also demonstrated, whereas encapsulation ensured sufficient intestinal retention of the phages. Moreover, the small size of the capsules (125–150 μm) enables their use in oral therapy and other applications in phage therapy. This study evidenced that a cocktail of the three alginate/CaCO3-encapsulated bacteriophages had a greater and more durable efficacy than a cocktail of the corresponding non-encapsulated phages in as therapy in broilers against Salmonella, one of the most common foodborne pathogen.
MicroRNA-199a-5p promotes tumour growth by dual-targeting PIAS3 and p27 in human osteosarcoma
Authors: Wang Chen , Ba Ximing , Guo Yu , Sun Defang , Jiang Haoyang , Li Wentao , Huang Zhen , Zhou Guangxin , Wu Sujia , Zhang Junfeng , Chen Jiangning
Published: January 2017

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary bone malignancy and remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in adolescents. Emerging evidence indicates that microRNAs (miRNAs) are correlated with clinical and biological characteristics of OS. However, the involvement of miR-199a-5p in OS development remains unclear. In this study, we examined the function of miR-199a-5p in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that miR-199a-5p was significantly up-regulated in OS patient tissues and cells. The inhibition of miR-199a-5p led to a significant decrease in cell proliferation and tumour growth. We further demonstrated that miR-199a-5p could directly bind to the 3′UTRs of the mRNA of both PIAS3 and p27 and mediate a decrease in the protein levels of PIAS3 and p27, thereby stimulating STAT3 activation and cell cycle progression in OS cells. Rescue experiments of PIAS3 and p27 further revealed that PIAS3 and p27 were functional targets of miR-199a-5p. Moreover, enhancing the expressions of both PIAS3 and p27 using miR-199a-5p-targeted inhibitors in an OS xenograft model was shown to be a promising approach for OS clinical therapy. Our findings indicate that the pathway of miR-199a-5p targeting both PIAS3 and p27 is a possible mechanism that contributes to tumour growth in OS.
Monitoring the biochemical alterations in hypertension affected salivary gland tissues using Fourier transform infrared hyperspectral imaging
Authors: Nazeer Shaiju S. , Samrid Rarinthorn , Perez-Guaita David , Prachaney Parichat , Chaisiwamongkol Kowit , Pakdeechote Poungrat , Chaiyarit Ponlatham , Wood Bayden R.
Published: January 2017

FTIR imaging shows biochemical differences between salivary glands from control and hypertensive rats.
A risk framework for tackling marine debris
Authors: Hardesty B. D. , Wilcox C.
Published: January 2017

Understanding plastic pollution from a systems perspective requires a way of conceptualizing sources, distribution and dynamics in the environment; identifying or quantifying impacts on wildlife, humans and other assets; and identifying and evaluating potential management responses.
The photoluminescence spectral profiles of water-soluble aggregates of PbS quantum dots assembled through reversible metal coordination
Authors: Wang Chen , Kodaimati Mohamad Saeed , Schatz George C. , Weiss Emily A.
Published: January 2017

PbS quantum dots coupled by glutathione–Zn2+ complexes act as their own aggregation sensors by mediating multi-step near-infrared energy transfer.
E–Z isomerization of the –CN– bond in anthracene-based acylhydrazone derivatives under visible light
Authors: Bai Binglian , Zhang Mingang , Ji Nan , Wei Jue , Wang Haitao , Li Min
Published: January 2017

The E–Z isomerizations of the –CN– group upon visible light irradiation induced the photoresponsive behaviour of AHP-mB8.
Host–guest interactions and controllable capture and release of proteins based on cationic perylene bisimides
Authors: Xu Qi , Wang Jia-Li , Luo Ya-Li , Li Juan-Juan , Wang Ke-Rang , Li Xiao-Liu
Published: January 2017

A system of controllable capture and release of protein was constructed by multiple, interconnected supramolecular binding modules based on lactose modified mono-cationic perylene bisimide derivatives, cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]), 1-adamantanamine (ADA) and peanut agglutinin (PNA) lectins.
Heterogeneous mesoporous manganese oxide catalyst for aerobic and additive-free oxidative aromatization of N-heterocycles
Authors: Mullick Kankana , Biswas Sourav , Angeles-Boza Alfredo M. , Suib Steven L.
Published: January 2017

Herein, we report a heterogeneous, aerobic, additive-free and environmentally benign catalytic protocol for oxidative aromatization of saturated nitrogen-heterocycles using a mesoporous manganese oxide material.
A facile approach for TiO2-based superhydrophobic–superhydrophilic patterns by UV or solar irradiation without a photomask
Authors: Yanqing Zhu , jifu Shi , Qizhang Huang , Leilei Wang , Gang Xu
Published: January 2017

A novel and facile approach to produce TiO2-based superhydrophobic–superhydrophilic patterns by UV or solar irradiation without a photomask is presented.
Single-molecule force spectroscopy of fast reversible bonds
Authors: Blass Johanna , Albrecht Marcel , Wenz Gerhard , Zang Yan Nan , Bennewitz Roland
Published: January 2017

Cantilever stiffness dominates AFM force spectroscopy of fast reversible bonds. Fast rebinding and fluctuations of compliant linkers are averaged by the slow dynamics of the cantilever.
Slip on a particle surface as the possible origin of shear thinning in non-Brownian suspensions
Authors: Kroupa Martin , Soos Miroslav , Kosek Juraj
Published: January 2017

We present a new approach to the determination of suspension viscosity and a possible explanation for the problem of shear-thinning in hard-sphere non-Brownian suspensions.
Exploring the interaction of phenothiazinium dyes methylene blue, new methylene blue, azure A and azure B with tRNAPhe: spectroscopic, thermodynamic, voltammetric and molecular modeling approach
Authors: Paul Puja , Mati Soumya Sundar , Bhattacharya Subhash Chandra , Kumar Gopinatha Suresh
Published: January 2017

RNA targeting by small molecules.
The effect of the trans axial ligand of cobalt corroles on water oxidation activity in neutral aqueous solutions
Authors: Xu Liang , Lei Haitao , Zhang Zongyao , Yao Zhen , Li Jianfeng , Yu Zhiyong , Cao Rui
Published: January 2017

Co corroles containing electron-donating trans axial ligands are more active than those containing electron-withdrawing trans axial ligands in catalyzing water oxidation.
Steric effect on excimer formation in planar Pt(ii) complexes
Authors: Cho Yang-Jin , Kim So-Yoen , Son Ho-Jin , Cho Dae Won , Kang Sang Ook
Published: January 2017

The LUMO–LUMO interaction between the pyridine moieties of the main ligand is the main factor responsible for excimer formation.
Observation of covalent and electrostatic bonds in nitrogen-containing polycyclic ions formed by gas phase reactions of the benzene radical cation with pyrimidine
Authors: Attah Isaac Kwame , Soliman Abdel-Rahman , Platt Sean P. , Meot-Ner (Mautner) Michael , Aziz Saaudallah G. , Samy El-Shall M.
Published: January 2017

This work reports a new formation mechanism for the nitrogen-containing polycyclic ions in the gas phase.
Stripping off hydrogens in imidazole triggered by the attachment of a single electron
Authors: Ribar A. , Fink K. , Li Z. , Ptasińska S. , Carmichael I. , Feketeová L. , Denifl S.
Published: January 2017

Novel unimolecular decays induced by the attachment of a single electron: multiple dehydrogenation and ring opening.
Finite size and length effects on bandgap of CdSe nanorods
Authors: Li Ming
Published: January 2017

E
g(D, L) function of CdSe nanorods versus L and D.
Asymmetric electroosmotic pumping across porous media sandwiched with perforated ion-exchange membranes
Authors: Yaroshchuk A. , Licón E. E. , Zholkovskiy E. K. , Bondarenko M. P. , Heldal T.
Published: January 2017

To have non-zero net flow in AC electroosmotic pumps, the electroosmosis (EO) has to be non-linear and asymmetric. This can be achieved due to ionic concentration polarization. This is known to occur close to micro-/nano-interfaces provided that the sizes of the nanopores are not too large compared to the Debye screening length. However, operation of the corresponding EO pumps can be quite sensitive to the solution concentration and, thus, unstable in practical applications. Concentration polarization of ion-exchange membranes is much more robust. However, the hydraulic permeability of the membrane is very low, which makes EO flows through them extremely small. This communication shows theoretically how this problem can be resolved via making scarce microscopic perforations in an ion-exchange membrane and putting it in series with an EO-active nano-porous medium. The problem of coupled flow, concentration and electrostatic-potential distributions is solved numerically by using finite-element methods. This analysis reveals that even quite scarce perforations of micron-scale diameters are sufficient to observe practically-interesting EO flows in the system. If the average distance between the perforations is smaller than the thickness of the EO-active layer, there is an effective homogenization of the electrolyte concentration and hydrostatic pressure in the lateral direction at some distance from the interface. The simulations show this distance to be somewhat lower than the half-distance between the perforations. On the other hand, when the surface fraction of perforations is sufficiently small (below a fraction of a percent) this “homogeneous” concentration is considerably reduced (or increased, depending on the current direction), which makes the EO strongly non-linear and asymmetric. This analysis provides initial guidance for the design of high-productivity and inexpensive AC electroosmotic pumps.
Kodo millet whole grain and bran supplementation prevents high-fat diet induced derangements in a lipid profile, inflammatory status and gut bacteria in mice
Authors: Sarma Siddhartha M. , Khare Pragyanshu , Jagtap Sneha , Singh Dhirendra P. , Baboota Ritesh K. , Podili Koteswaraiah , Boparai Ravneet K. , Kaur Jaspreet , Bhutani Kamlesh K. , Bishnoi Mahendra , Kondepudi Kanthi Kiran
Published: January 2017

Protective effect of kodo millet whole grain and bran in diet induced obesity.
Progress in the development and integration of fluid flow control tools in paper microfluidics
Authors: Fu Elain , Downs Corey
Published: January 2017

This critical review describes progress in the development and integration of fluid flow control tools in paper microfluidics.
Efficient water splitting catalyzed by flexible NiP2 nanosheet array electrodes under both neutral and alkaline solutions
Authors: Pu Zonghua , Xue Ya , Li Wenqiang , Amiinu Ibrahim Saana , Mu Shichun
Published: January 2017

NiP2/CC exhibits high activity and stability under both neutral and alkaline solutions towards both oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions.
Sensitive and label-free fluorescence detection of apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 activity based on isothermal amplified-generation of G-quadruplex
Authors: Huang Yufeng , Ma Yefei , Li Yina , Xiong Mei , Li Xuejun , Zhang Liangliang , Zhao Shulin
Published: January 2017

A label-free and sensitive assay for apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 was achieved based on isothermal amplification and G-quadruplex/ligand recognition.
Usual and unusual reactions of cyclohexane-1,2-dione with aryl azides and amines: a structural corrigendum
Authors: Singh Neeraj , Banert Klaus
Published: January 2017

The products generated from cyclohexane-1,2-dione, amines and aryl azides do not contain bicyclic 1,2,3-triazine structures because cyclohexane-fused 4,5-dihydro-1,2,3-triazoles and monocyclic β-ketoamides are formed instead.
Sub-1.1 nm ultrathin porous CoP nanosheets with dominant reactive {200} facets: a high mass activity and efficient electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Zhang Chao , Huang Yi , Yu Yifu , Zhang Jingfang , Zhuo Sifei , Zhang Bin
Published: January 2017

We present a convenient chemical conversion strategy for the synthesis of CoP porous ultrathin nanosheets as highly efficient catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction.
Correction: Carbon nanotube–vitrimer composite for facile and efficient photo-welding of epoxy
Authors: Yang Yang , Pei Zhiqiang , Zhang Xiqi , Tao Lei , Wei Yen , Ji Yan
Published: January 2017

Correction for ‘Carbon nanotube–vitrimer composite for facile and efficient photo-welding of epoxy’ by Yang Yang et al., Chem. Sci., 2014, 5, 3486–3492.
Insight into the enhanced photoelectrocatalytic activity in reduced LaFeO3 films
Authors: Sun Yu , Wu Xiaofeng , Yuan Long , Wang Meng , Han Mei , Luo Liqun , Zheng Beining , Huang Keke , Feng Shouhua
Published: January 2017

Reduction of LaFeO3 films changes their crystal and electronic structures and enhances their photoelectrocatalytic activity.
Combining imaging and anticancer properties with new heterobimetallic Pt(ii)/M(i) (M = Re, 99mTc) complexes
Authors: Quental Letícia , Raposinho Paula , Mendes Filipa , Santos Isabel , Navarro-Ranninger Carmen , Alvarez-Valdes Amparo , Huang Huaiyi , Chao Hui , Rubbiani Riccardo , Gasser Gilles , Quiroga Adoración G. , Paulo António
Published: January 2017

New metal-based anticancer agents with imaging, chemotherapeutic and photosensitizing properties.
Na2CdGe2Q6(Q = S, Se): two metal-mixed chalcogenides with phase-matching abilities and large second-harmonic generation responses
Authors: Li Guang-mao , Liu Qiong , Wu Kui , Yang Zhi-hua , Pan Shi-lie
Published: January 2017

Two metal-mixed chalcogenides with phase-matching abilities and large SHG responseshave been systematically reported.
The social cost of methane: theory and applications
Authors: Shindell D. T. , Fuglestvedt J. S. , Collins W. J.
Published: January 2017

Methane emissions contribute to global warming, damage public health and reduce the yield of agricultural and forest ecosystems. Quantifying these damages to the planetary commons by calculating the social cost of methane (SCM) facilitates more comprehensive cost-benefit analyses of methane emissions control measures and is the first step to potentially incorporating them into the marketplace. Use of a broad measure of social welfare is also an attractive alternative or supplement to emission metrics focused on a temperature target in a given year as it incentivizes action to provide benefits over a broader range of impacts and timescales. Calculating the SCM using consistent temporal treatment of physical and economic processes and incorporating climate- and air quality-related impacts, we find large SCM values,e.g.∼$2400 per ton and ∼$3600 per ton with 5% and 3% discount rates respectively. These values are ∼100 and 50 times greater than corresponding social costs for carbon dioxide. Our results suggest that ∼110 of 140 Mt of identified methane abatementviascaling up existing technology and policy options provide societal benefits that outweigh implementation costs. Within the energy sector, renewables compare far better against use of natural gas in electricity generation when incorporating these social costs for methane. In the agricultural sector, changes in livestock management practices, promoting healthy diets including reduced beef and dairy consumption, and reductions in food waste have been promoted as ways to mitigate emissions, and these are shown here to indeed have the potential to provide large societal benefits (∼$50–150 billion per year). Examining recent trends in methane and carbon dioxide, we find that increases in methane emissions may have offset much of the societal benefits from a slowdown in the growth rate of carbon dioxide emissions. The results indicate that efforts to reduce methane emissionsviapolicies spanning a wide range of technical, regulatory and behavioural options provide benefits at little or negative net cost. Recognition of the full SCM, which has typically been undervalued, may help catalyze actions to reduce emissions and thereby provide a broad set of societal benefits.
Asymmetric Michael addition in an aqueous environment with the assistance of optically active hyperbranched polymers
Authors: Zhang Hongli , Zhang Qijin , Hong Chunyan , Zou Gang
Published: January 2017

A novel optically active hyperbranched polymer can serve as the chiral scaffolds to promote asymmetric Michael addition reaction in an aqueous environment with a high product yield and enantioselectivity.
Block sparsity‐based joint compressed sensing recovery of multi‐channel ECG signals
Authors: Singh Anurag , Dandapat Samarendra
Published: January 2017

In recent years, compressed sensing (CS) has emerged as an effective alternative to conventional wavelet based data compression techniques. This is due to its simple and energy‐efficient data reduction procedure, which makes it suitable for resource‐constrained wireless body area network (WBAN)‐enabled electrocardiogram (ECG) telemonitoring applications. Both spatial and temporal correlations exist simultaneously in multi‐channel ECG (MECG) signals. Exploitation of both types of correlations is very important in CS‐based ECG telemonitoring systems for better performance. However, most of the existing CS‐based works exploit either of the correlations, which results in a suboptimal performance. In this work, within a CS framework, the authors propose to exploit both types of correlations simultaneously using a sparse Bayesian learning‐based approach. A spatiotemporal sparse model is employed for joint compression/reconstruction of MECG signals. Discrete wavelets transform domain block sparsity of MECG signals is exploited for simultaneous reconstruction of all the channels. Performance evaluations using Physikalisch‐Technische Bundesanstalt MECG diagnostic database show a significant gain in the diagnostic reconstruction quality of the MECG signals compared with the state‐of‐the art techniques at reduced number of measurements. Low measurement requirement may lead to significant savings in the energy‐cost of the existing CS‐based WBAN systems.
Effect of skin dielectric properties on the read range of epidermal ultra‐high frequency radio‐frequency identification tags
Authors: Oyeka Dumtoochukwu O. , Batchelor John C. , Ziai Ali Mohamad
Published: January 2017

This Letter presents an investigation of the effect of human tissue conductivity and permittivity on the performance of epidermal transfer tattoo ultra‐high frequency radio‐frequency identification (RFID) tags. The measurements were carried out on 20 individuals and the variations in the measured dielectric properties correlate well with variations in the measured tag read range on the individuals and to a lesser extent with their body mass index values. Simulation results also showed the effects of permittivity and conductivity on the designed resonance frequency of the RFID tag.
Technique to estimate human reaction time based on visual perception
Authors: Abbasi‐Kesbi Reza , Memarzadeh‐Tehran Hamidreza , Deen M. Jamal
Published: January 2017

The design and implementation of a wearable system to estimate the human reaction time (HRT) to visual stimulus based on two identical wireless motion sensors are described. Each sensor incorporates a motion sensor (gyroscope), a processor and a transceiver operating at the industrial, scientific and medical frequency of 2.45 GHz. Relevant tests to estimate the HRT are performed in two different scenarios including simple and recognition tests for 90 pairs of measurements. The obtained results are compared with a computer‐based system to determine the accuracy of the proposed system. The root mean square error, standard deviation error and mean error of the results are 2.88, 6.17 and 0.3 ms for simple test while for recognition test as low as 3.34, 7.83 and 0.35 ms, respectively. The outcomes of the HRT estimation tests confirm HRT can increase by 40–87% due to increased fatigue levels.
Cooperative MIMO relay beamforming in overloaded DS/CDMA multicast networks
Authors: Mehrizi Sajad , Mahboobi Behrad
Published: January 2017

A new beamforming scheme is proposed for multi‐input multi‐output (MIMO) non‐regenerative relays in an overloaded synchronous direct sequence code division multiple access (DS‐CDMA) network in which the number of users is larger than the processing gain. In this scheme, several transmitters multicast their data to their groups of receivers through MIMO relays and DS‐CDMA technique is utilised to decrease the level of multiple access interference (MAI) at the relays and the receivers. At the relays, the data of transmitters are despread, beamformed and re‐spread. The aim of the beamformer is to minimise the total relays transmission power subject to the signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR) constraints at the receivers. This optimisation problem is an indefinite quadratic (non‐convex) programming. Semi‐definite programming (SDP) and second‐order cone programming (SOCP) are two existing methods to solve the problem. However, they, respectively, suffer from high computational complexity and performance degradation when the number of antennas or users increase. To effectively mitigate these deficiencies, we propose a novel DC (difference of two convex functions) programming method. Our simulation results demonstrate the computational advantage of the proposed DC programming over SDP, while a better performance over SOCP is achieved. Moreover, the superiority of the proposed MIMO‐CDMA scheme over other multiplexing schemes is shown by several scenarios.