bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Population‐based evaluation of the effectiveness of two regimens for emergency contraception
Authors: Leung Vivian W.Y. , Soon Judith A. , Lynd Larry D. , Marra Carlo A. , Levine Marc
Published: February 2016

Objective

To estimate and compare the effectiveness of the levonorgestrel and Yuzpe regimens for hormonal emergency contraception in routine clinical practice.

Methods

A retrospective population‐based study included women who accessed emergency contraceptives for immediate use prescribed by community pharmacists in British Columbia, Canada, between December 2000 and December 2002. Linked administrative healthcare data were used to discern the timings of menses, unprotected intercourse, and any pregnancy‐related health services. A panel of experts evaluated the compatibility of observed pregnancies with the timing of events. The two regimens were compared with statistical adjustments for potential confounding.

Results

Among 7493 women in the cohort, 4470 (59.7%) received levonorgestrel and 3023 (40.3%) the Yuzpe regimen. There were 99 (2.2%) compatible pregnancies in the levonorgestrel group and 94 (3.1%) in the Yuzpe group (P = 0.017). The estimated odds ratio for levonorgestrel compared with the Yuzpe regimen after adjusting for potential confounders was 0.64 (95% confidence interval 0.47–0.87). Against an expected pregnancy rate of approximately 5%, the relative and absolute risk reductions were 56.0% and 2.8%, respectively, for levonorgestrel and 36.7% and 1.8% for the Yuzpe regimen.

Conclusion

The levonorgestrel regimen is more effective than the Yuzpe regimen in routine use. The data suggest that both regimens are less effective than has been observed in randomized trials.
Invisible Women: Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Family Firms in Nineteenth-Century France
Authors: Khan B. Zorina
Published: February 2016

The French economy has been criticized for a lack of integration of women in business and for the prevalence of inefficient family firms. A sample drawn from patent and exhibition records is used to examine the role of women in enterprise and invention in France. Middle-class women were extensively engaged in entrepreneurship and innovation, and the empirical analysis indicates that their commercial efforts were significantly enhanced by association with family firms. Such formerly invisible achievements suggest a more productive role for family-based enterprises, as a means of incorporating relatively disadvantaged groups into the market economy as managers and entrepreneurs.

“This business model … melds entrepreneurial passion with a long family tradition.”

—Wendel Company (1704–2014)1
Types of social supports predicting health-related quality of life among adult patients with CHD in the Institut Jantung Negara (National Heart Institute), Malaysia
Authors: Tye Sue K. , Kandavello Geetha , Gan Kah L.
Published: February 2016

Objectives

The objectives of this study were to examine which types of social supports – emotional/informational support, tangible support, affectionate support, and positive interactions – are the predictors of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adult patients with CHD and to assess the influence of demographic variables and clinical factors on these variables.

Methods

In total, 205 adult patients with CHD from the National Heart Institute, Malaysia, were recruited. Patients were first screened by cardiology consultants to ensure they fit the inclusion criteria before filling in questionnaires, which were medical outcome studies – social support survey and AQoL-8D.

Results/conclusions

All social supports and their subscales were found to have mild-to-moderate significant relationships with physical dimension, psychological dimension, and overall HRQoL; however, only positive interaction, marital status, and types of diagnosis were reported as predictors of HRQoL. Surprisingly, with regard to the physical dimension of quality of life, social supports were not significant predictors, but educational level, marital status, and types of diagnosis were significant predictors. Positive interaction, affectionate support, marital status, and types of diagnosis were again found to be predictors in the aspects of the psychological dimension of quality of life. In conclusion, positive interaction and affectionate support, which include elements of fun, relaxation, love, and care, should be included in the care of adult patients with CHD.
A Simple Transmission Electron Microscopy Method for Fast Thickness Characterization of Suspended Graphene and Graphite Flakes
Authors: Rubino Stefano , Akhtar Sultan , Leifer Klaus
Published: February 2016

We present a simple, fast method for thickness characterization of suspended graphene/graphite flakes that is based on transmission electron microscopy (TEM). We derive an analytical expression for the intensity of the transmitted electron beam I0(t), as a function of the specimen thickness t (t<<λ; where λ is the absorption constant for graphite). We show that in thin graphite crystals the transmitted intensity is a linear function of t. Furthermore, high-resolution (HR) TEM simulations are performed to obtain λ for a 001 zone axis orientation, in a two-beam case and in a low symmetry orientation. Subsequently, HR (used to determine t) and bright-field (to measure I0(0) and I0(t)) images were acquired to experimentally determine λ. The experimental value measured in low symmetry orientation matches the calculated value (i.e., λ=225±9 nm). The simulations also show that the linear approximation is valid up to a sample thickness of 3–4 nm regardless of the orientation and up to several ten nanometers for a low symmetry orientation. When compared with standard techniques for thickness determination of graphene/graphite, the method we propose has the advantage of being simple and fast, requiring only the acquisition of bright-field images.
CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta protects muscle satellite cells from apoptosis after injury and in cancer cachexia
Authors: Marchildon F , Fu D , Lala-Tabbert N , Wiper-Bergeron N
Published: February 2016

CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta (C/EBPβ), a transcription factor expressed in muscle satellite cells (SCs), inhibits the myogenic program and is downregulated early in differentiation. In a conditional null model in which C/EBPβ expression is knocked down in paired box protein 7+ (Pax7+) SCs, cardiotoxin (CTX) injury is poorly repaired, although muscle regeneration is efficient in control littermates. While myoblasts lacking C/EBPβ can differentiate efficiently in culture, after CTX injury poor regeneration was attributed to a smaller than normal Pax7+ population, which was not due to a failure of SCs to proliferate. Rather, the percentage of apoptotic SCs was increased in muscle lacking C/EBPβ. Given that an injury induced by BaCl2 is repaired with greater efficiency than controls in the absence of C/EBPβ, we investigated the inflammatory response following BaCl2 and CTX injury and found that the levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), a proinflammatory cytokine, were robustly elevated following CTX injury and could induce C/EBPβ expression in myoblasts. High levels of C/EBPβ expression in myoblasts correlated with resistance to apoptotic stimuli, while its loss increased sensitivity to thapsigargin-induced cell death. Using cancer cachexia as a model for chronic inflammation, we found that C/EBPβ expression was increased in SCs and myoblasts of tumor-bearing cachectic animals. Further, in cachectic conditional knockout animals lacking C/EBPβ in Pax7+ cells, the SC compartment was reduced because of increased apoptosis, and regeneration was impaired. Our findings indicate that the stimulation of C/EBPβ expression by IL-1β following muscle injury and in cancer cachexia acts to promote SC survival, and is therefore a protective mechanism for SCs and myoblasts in the face of inflammation.
Drug design from the cryptic inhibitor envelope
Authors: Lee Chul-Jin , Liang Xiaofei , Wu Qinglin , Najeeb Javaria , Zhao Jinshi , Gopalaswamy Ramesh , Titecat Marie , Sebbane Florent , Lemaitre Nadine , Toone Eric J. , Zhou Pei
Published: February 2016

Conformational dynamics plays an important role in enzyme catalysis, allosteric regulation of protein functions and assembly of macromolecular complexes. Despite these well-established roles, such information has yet to be exploited for drug design. Here we show by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy that inhibitors of LpxC—an essential enzyme of the lipid A biosynthetic pathway in Gram-negative bacteria and a validated novel antibiotic target—access alternative, minor population states in solution in addition to the ligand conformation observed in crystal structures. These conformations collectively delineate an inhibitor envelope that is invisible to crystallography, but is dynamically accessible by small molecules in solution. Drug design exploiting such a hidden inhibitor envelope has led to the development of potent antibiotics with inhibition constants in the single-digit picomolar range. The principle of the cryptic inhibitor envelope approach may be broadly applicable to other lead optimization campaigns to yield improved therapeutics.
Top–down assessment of the Asian carbon budget since the mid 1990s
Authors: Thompson R. L. , Patra P. K. , Chevallier F. , Maksyutov S. , Law R. M. , Ziehn T. , van der Laan-Luijkx I. T. , Peters W. , Ganshin A. , Zhuravlev R. , Maki T. , Nakamura T. , Shirai T. , Ishizawa M. , Saeki T. , Machida T. , Poulter B. , Canadell J. G. , Ciais P.
Published: February 2016

Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) is the principal driver of anthropogenic climate change. Asia is an important region for the global carbon budget, with 4 of the world’s 10 largest national emitters of CO2. Using an ensemble of seven atmospheric inverse systems, we estimated land biosphere fluxes (natural, land-use change and fires) based on atmospheric observations of CO2 concentration. The Asian land biosphere was a net sink of −0.46 (−0.70–0.24) PgC per year (median and range) for 1996–2012 and was mostly located in East Asia, while in South and Southeast Asia the land biosphere was close to carbon neutral. In East Asia, the annual CO2 sink increased between 1996–2001 and 2008–2012 by 0.56 (0.30–0.81) PgC, accounting for ∼35% of the increase in the global land biosphere sink. Uncertainty in the fossil fuel emissions contributes significantly (32%) to the uncertainty in land biosphere sink change.
Signatures of the Adler–Bell–Jackiw chiral anomaly in a Weyl fermion semimetal
Authors: Zhang Cheng-Long , Xu Su-Yang , Belopolski Ilya , Yuan Zhujun , Lin Ziquan , Tong Bingbing , Bian Guang , Alidoust Nasser , Lee Chi-Cheng , Huang Shin-Ming , Chang Tay-Rong , Chang Guoqing , Hsu Chuang-Han , Jeng Horng-Tay , Neupane Madhab , Sanchez Daniel S. , Zheng Hao , Wang Junfeng , Lin Hsin , Zhang Chi , Lu Hai-Zhou , Shen Shun-Qing , Neupert Titus , Zahid Hasan M. , Jia Shuang
Published: February 2016

Weyl semimetals provide the realization of Weyl fermions in solid-state physics. Among all the physical phenomena that are enabled by Weyl semimetals, the chiral anomaly is the most unusual one. Here, we report signatures of the chiral anomaly in the magneto-transport measurements on the first Weyl semimetal TaAs. We show negative magnetoresistance under parallel electric and magnetic fields, that is, unlike most metals whose resistivity increases under an external magnetic field, we observe that our high mobility TaAs samples become more conductive as a magnetic field is applied along the direction of the current for certain ranges of the field strength. We present systematically detailed data and careful analyses, which allow us to exclude other possible origins of the observed negative magnetoresistance. Our transport data, corroborated by photoemission measurements, first-principles calculations and theoretical analyses, collectively demonstrate signatures of the Weyl fermion chiral anomaly in the magneto-transport of TaAs.
Visualization and quantification of deformation behavior of clopidogrel bisulfate polymorphs during tableting
Authors: Yin Xian-Zhen , Wu Li , Li Ying , Guo Tao , Li Hai-Yan , Xiao Ti-Qiao , York Peter , Nangia Ashwini , Gui Shuang-Ying , Zhang Ji-Wen
Published: February 2016

The deformation behavior of particles under pressure dominates the mechanical properties of solid dosage forms. In this study, the in situ 3D deformation of two polymorphs (I and II) of clopidogrel bisulfate (CLP) was determined to illustrate pressure distribution profiles within the tablet by the deformation of the crystalline particles for the first time. Synchrotron radiation X-ray computed microtomography (SR-μCT) was utilized to visualize and quantify the morphology of thousands crystalline particles of CLP I and CLP II before and after compression. As a result, the deformation was examined across scale dimensions from microns to the size of the final dosage form. Three dimensional parameters such as volume, sphericity, oblate and prolate of individual particle and distributions were computed and analyzed for quantitative comparison to CLP I and CLP II. The different degrees of deformation under the same compression conditions of CLP I and CLP II were observed and characterized quantitatively. The map of deformation degrees within the tablet illustrated the heterogeneous pressure distribution in various regions of the compacted tablet. In conclusion, the polymorph deformation behaviors demonstrated by SR-μCT quantitative structure analysis deepen understanding of tableting across dimensions from microns to millimeters for the macrostrcuture of tablet.
Near Infrared Fluorescence (NIRF) Molecular Imaging of Oxidized LDL with an Autoantibody in Experimental Atherosclerosis
Authors: Khamis Ramzi Y , Woollard Kevin J. , Hyde Gareth D. , Boyle Joseph J , Bicknell Colin , Chang Shang-Hung , Malik Talat H , Hara Tetsuya , Mauskapf Adam , Granger David W , Johnson Jason L. , Ntziachristos Vasilis , Matthews Paul M , Jaffer Farouc A , Haskard Dorian O
Published: February 2016

We aimed to develop a quantitative antibody-based near infrared fluorescence (NIRF) approach for the imaging of oxidized LDL in atherosclerosis. LO1, a well- characterized monoclonal autoantibody that reacts with malondialdehyde-conjugated LDL, was labeled with a NIRF dye to yield LO1-750. LO1-750 specifically identified necrotic core in ex vivo human coronary lesions. Injection of LO1-750 into high fat (HF) fed atherosclerotic Ldlr−/− mice led to specific focal localization within the aortic arch and its branches, as detected by fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT) combined with micro-computed tomography (CT). Ex vivo confocal microscopy confirmed LO1-750 subendothelial localization of LO1-750 at sites of atherosclerosis, in the vicinity of macrophages. When compared with a NIRF reporter of MMP activity (MMPSense-645-FAST), both probes produced statistically significant increases in NIRF signal in the Ldlr−/− model in relation to duration of HF diet. Upon withdrawing the HF diet, the reduction in oxLDL accumulation, as demonstrated with LO1-750, was less marked than the effect seen on MMP activity. In the rabbit, in vivo injected LO1-750 localization was successfully imaged ex vivo in aortic lesions with a customised intra-arterial NIRF detection catheter. A partially humanized chimeric LO1-Fab-Cys localized similarly to the parent antibody in murine atheroma showing promise for future translation.
State of Charge Dependent Mechanical Integrity Behavior of 18650 Lithium-ion Batteries
Authors: Xu Jun , Liu Binghe , Hu Dayong
Published: February 2016

Understanding the mechanism of mechanical deformation/stress-induced electrical failure of lithium–ion batteries (LIBs) is important in crash-safety design of power LIBs. The state of charge (SOC) of LIBs is a critical factor in their electrochemical performance; however, the influence of SOC with mechanical integrity of LIBs remains unclear. This study investigates the electrochemical failure behaviors of LIBs with various SOCs under both compression and bending loadings, underpinned by the short circuit phenomenon. Mechanical behaviors of the whole LIB body, which is regarded as an intact structure, were analyzed in terms of structure stiffness. Results showed that the mechanical behaviors of LIBs depend highly on SOC. Experimental verification on the cathode and anode sheet compression tests show that higher SOC with more lithium inserted in the anode leads to higher structure stiffness. In the bending tests, failure strain upon occurrence of short circuit has an inverse linear relationship with the SOC value. These results may shed light on the fundamental physical mechanism of mechanical integrity LIBs in relation to inherent electrochemical status.
dPABBs: A Novel in silico Approach for Predicting and Designing Anti-biofilm Peptides
Authors: Sharma Arun , Gupta Pooja , Kumar Rakesh , Bhardwaj Anshu
Published: February 2016

Increasingly, biofilms are being recognised for their causative role in persistent infections (like cystic fibrosis, otitis media, diabetic foot ulcers) and nosocomial diseases (biofilm-infected vascular catheters, implants and prosthetics). Given the clinical relevance of biofilms and their recalcitrance to conventional antibiotics, it is imperative that alternative therapeutics are proactively sought. We have developed dPABBs, a web server that facilitates the prediction and design of anti-biofilm peptides. The six SVM and Weka models implemented on dPABBs were observed to identify anti-biofilm peptides on the basis of their whole amino acid composition, selected residue features and the positional preference of the residues (maximum accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and MCC of 95.24%, 92.50%, 97.73% and 0.91, respectively, on the training datasets). On the N-terminus, it was seen that either of the cationic polar residues, R and K, is present at all five positions in case of the anti-biofilm peptides, whereas in the QS peptides, the uncharged polar residue S is preponderant at the first (also anionic polar residues D, E), third and fifth positions. Positive predictions were also obtained for 29 FDA-approved peptide drugs and ten antimicrobial peptides in clinical development, indicating at their possible repurposing for anti-biofilm therapy. dPABBs is freely accessible on: http://ab-openlab.csir.res.in/abp/antibiofilm/.
Truncation of C-terminal 20 amino acids in PA-X contributes to adaptation of swine influenza virus in pigs
Authors: Xu Guanlong , Zhang Xuxiao , Sun Yipeng , Liu Qinfang , Sun Honglei , Xiong Xin , Jiang Ming , He Qiming , Wang Yu , Pu Juan , Guo Xin , Yang Hanchun , Liu Jinhua
Published: February 2016

The PA-X protein is a fusion protein incorporating the N-terminal 191 amino acids of the PA protein with a short C-terminal sequence encoded by an overlapping ORF (X-ORF) in segment 3 that is accessed by + 1 ribosomal frameshifting and this X-ORF exists in either full length or a truncated form (either 61-or 41-condons). Genetic evolution analysis indicates that all swine influenza viruses (SIVs) possessed full-length PA-X prior to 1985, but since then SIVs with truncated PA-X have gradually increased and become dominant, implying that truncation of this protein may contribute to the adaptation of influenza virus in pigs. To verify this hypothesis, we constructed PA-X extended viruses in the background of a “triple-reassortment” H1N2 SIV with truncated PA-X and evaluated their biological characteristics in vitro and in vivo. Compared with full-length PA-X, SIV with truncated PA-X had increased viral replication in porcine cells and swine respiratory tissues, along with enhanced pathogenicity, replication and transmissibility in pigs. Furthermore, we found that truncation of PA-X improved the inhibition of IFN-I mRNA expression. Hereby, our results imply that truncation of PA-X may contribute to the adaptation of SIV in pigs.
Probing metabolic states of differentiating stem cells using two-photon FLIM
Authors: Meleshina Aleksandra V. , Dudenkova Varvara V. , Shirmanova Marina V. , Shcheslavskiy Vladislav I. , Becker Wolfgang , Bystrova Alena S. , Cherkasova Elena I. , Zagaynova Elena V.
Published: February 2016

The ability of stem cells to differentiate into specialized cell types presents a number of opportunities for regenerative medicine, stem cell therapy and developmental biology. Because traditional assessments of stem cells are destructive, time consuming and logistically intensive, the use of a non-invasive, label-free approach to study of cell differentiation provides a powerful tool for rapid, high-content characterization of cell and tissue cultures. Here, we elucidate the metabolic changes in MSCs during adipogenic differentiation, based on the fluorescence of the metabolic co-factors NADH, NADPH and FAD using the methods of two-photon fluorescence microscopy combined with FLIM. To estimate the contribution of energy metabolism and lipogenesis in the observed changes of the metabolic profile, a separate analysis of NADH and NADPH is required. In our study we demonstrated, for the first time, an increased contribution of protein-bound NADPH in adipocytes that is associated with lipogenesis. The optical redox ratio FAD/NAD(P)H decreased during adipogenic differentiation and that this was likely to be explained by the intensive biosynthesis of lipids and the enhanced NADPH production associated with this. Based on the data on the fluorescence lifetime contribution of protein-bound NAD(P)H, we registered a metabolic switch from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation in adipocytes.
A method to study electronic transport properties of molecular junction: one-dimension transmission combined with three-dimension correction approximation (OTCTCA)
Authors: Liu Ran , Wang Chuan-Kui , Li Zong-Liang
Published: February 2016

Based on the ab initio calculation, a method of one-dimension transmission combined with three-dimension correction approximation (OTCTCA) is developed to investigate electron-transport properties of molecular junctions. The method considers that the functional molecule provides a spatial distribution of effective potential field for the electronic transport. The electrons are injected from one electrode by bias voltage, then transmit through the potential field around the functional molecule, at last are poured into the other electrode with a specific transmission probability which is calculated from one-dimension Schrödinger equation combined with three-dimension correction. The electron-transport properties of alkane diamines and 4, 4′-bipyridine molecular junctions are studied by applying OTCTCA method. The numerical results show that the conductance obviously exponentially decays with the increase of molecular length. When stretching molecular junctions, steps with a certain width are presented in conductance traces. Especially, in stretching process of 4, 4′-bipyridine molecular junction, if the terminal N atom is broken from flat part of electrode tip and exactly there is a surface Au atom on the tip nearby the N atom, the molecule generally turns to absorb on the surface Au atom, which further results in another lower conductance step in the traces as the experimental probing.
Bone marrow stromal/stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles regulate osteoblast activity and differentiation in vitro and promote bone regeneration in vivo
Authors: Qin Yunhao , Wang Lian , Gao Zhengliang , Chen Genyin , Zhang Changqing
Published: February 2016

Emerging evidence suggests that extracellular vesicles (EVs) are secreted by diverse tissues and play important roles in cell-cell communication, organ interactions and tissue homeostasis. Studies have reported the use of EVs to stimulate tissue regeneration, such as hepatic cell regeneration, and to treat diseases, such as pulmonary hypertension. However, little is known about the osteogenic effect of EVs. In this study, we explore the role of bone marrow stromal cell-derived EVs in the regulation of osteoblast activity and bone regeneration. We isolated bone marrow stromal/stem cell (BMSC)-derived EVs through gradient ultracentrifugation and ultrafiltration, and tested the influence of the EVs on osteogenesis both in vivo and in vitro. The results indicated that EVs positively regulated osteogenic genes and osteoblastic differentiation but did not inhibit proliferation in vitro. Furthermore, we constructed an EVs delivery system to stimulate bone formation in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats with calvarial defects. We found that BMSC-derived EVs led to more bone formation in the critical-size calvarial bone defects. Moreover, we found that miR-196a plays an essential role in the regulation of osteoblastic differentiation and the expression of osteogenic genes. We anticipate that our assay using bone marrow stromal cell-derived EVs will become a valuable tool for promoting bone regeneration.
Loading-rate-independent delay of catastrophic avalanches in a bulk metallic glass
Authors: Chen S. H. , Chan K. C. , Wang G. , Wu F. F. , Xia L. , Ren J. L. , Li J. , Dahmen K. A. , Liaw P. K.
Published: February 2016

The plastic flow of bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) is characterized by intermittent bursts of avalanches and this trend results in disastrous failures of BMGs. In the present work, a double-side-notched BMG specimen is designed, which exhibits chaotic plastic flows consisting of several catastrophic avalanches under the applied loading. The disastrous shear avalanches have, then, been delayed by forming a stable plastic-flow stage in the specimens with tailored distances between the bottoms of the notches, where the distribution of a complex stress field is acquired. Differing from the conventional compressive testing results, such a delaying process is independent of loading rate. The statistical analysis shows that in the specimens with delayed catastrophic failures, the plastic flow can evolve to a critical dynamics, making the catastrophic failure more predictable than the ones with chaotic plastic flows. The findings are of significance in understanding the plastic-flow mechanisms in BMGs and controlling the avalanches in relating solids.
5-Aminolevulinic Acid-Mediated Sonodynamic Therapy Inhibits RIPK1/RIPK3-Dependent Necroptosis in THP-1-Derived Foam Cells
Authors: Tian Fang , Yao Jianting , Yan Meng , Sun Xin , Wang Wei , Gao Weiwei , Tian Zhen , Guo Shuyuan , Dong Zengxiang , Li Bicheng , Gao Tielei , Shan Peng , Liu Bing , Wang Haiyang , Cheng Jiali , Gao Qianping , Zhang Zhiguo , Cao Wenwu , Tian Ye
Published: February 2016

Necroptosis, or programmed necrosis, contributes to the formation of necrotic cores in atherosclerotic plaque in animal models. However, whether inhibition of necroptosis ameliorates atherosclerosis is largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that necroptosis occurred in clinical atherosclerotic samples, suggesting that it may also play an important role in human atherosclerosis. We established an in vitro necroptotic model in which necroptosis was induced in THP-1-derived foam cells by serum deprivation. With this model, we demonstrated that 5-aminolevulinic acid-mediated sonodynamic therapy (ALA-SDT) inhibited necroptosis while promoting apoptosis. ALA-SDT activated the caspase-3 and caspase-8 pathways in foam cells, which is responsible for the switch from necroptosis to apoptosis. The inhibition of either caspase-8 or caspase-3 abolished the anti-necroptotic effect of ALA-SDT. In addition, we found that caspase-3 activation peaked 4 hours after ALA-SDT treatment, 2 hours earlier than maximal caspase-8activation. Taken together, our data indicate that ALA-SDT mediates the switch from necroptosis to apoptosis by activating the caspase-3 and caspase-8 pathways and may improve the prognosis of atherosclerosis.
A novel peptide with potent and broad-spectrum antiviral activities against multiple respiratory viruses
Authors: Zhao Hanjun , Zhou Jie , Zhang Ke , Chu Hin , Liu Dabin , Poon Vincent Kwok-Man , Chan Chris Chung-Sing , Leung Ho-Chuen , Fai Ng , Lin Yong-Ping , Zhang Anna Jin-Xia , Jin Dong-Yan , Yuen Kwok-Yung , Zheng Bo-Jian
Published: February 2016

A safe, potent and broad-spectrum antiviral is urgently needed to combat emerging respiratory viruses. In light of the broad antiviral activity of β-defensins, we tested the antiviral activity of 11 peptides derived from mouse β-defensin-4 and found that a short peptide, P9, exhibited potent and broad-spectrum antiviral effects against multiple respiratory viruses in vitro and in vivo, including influenza A virus H1N1, H3N2, H5N1, H7N7, H7N9, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. The antiviral activity of P9 was attributed to its high-affinity binding to viral glycoproteins, as well as the abundance of basic amino acids in its composition. After binding viral particles through viral surface glycoproteins, P9 entered into cells together with the viruses via endocytosis and prevented endosomal acidification, which blocked membrane fusion and subsequent viral RNA release. This study has paved the avenue for developing new prophylactic and therapeutic agents with broad-spectrum antiviral activities.
Robustly Engineering Thermal Conductivity of Bilayer Graphene by Interlayer Bonding
Authors: Zhang Xiaoliang , Gao Yufei , Chen Yuli , Hu Ming
Published: February 2016

Graphene and its bilayer structure are the two-dimensional crystalline form of carbon, whose extraordinary electron mobility and other unique features hold great promise for nanoscale electronics and photonics. Their realistic applications in emerging nanoelectronics usually call for thermal transport manipulation in a controllable and precise manner. In this paper we systematically studied the effect of interlayer covalent bonding, in particular different interlay bonding arrangement, on the thermal conductivity of bilayer graphene using equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations. It is revealed that, the thermal conductivity of randomly bonded bilayer graphene decreases monotonically with the increase of interlayer bonding density, however, for the regularly bonded bilayer graphene structure the thermal conductivity possesses unexpectedly non-monotonic dependence on the interlayer bonding density. The results suggest that the thermal conductivity of bilayer graphene depends not only on the interlayer bonding density, but also on the detailed topological configuration of the interlayer bonding. The underlying mechanism for this abnormal phenomenon is identified by means of phonon spectral energy density, participation ratio and mode weight factor analysis. The large tunability of thermal conductivity of bilayer graphene through rational interlayer bonding arrangement paves the way to achieve other desired properties for potential nanoelectronics applications involving graphene layers.
Nucleus factory on cavitation bubble for amyloid β fibril
Authors: Nakajima Kichitaro , Ogi Hirotsugu , Adachi Kanta , Noi Kentaro , Hirao Masahiko , Yagi Hisashi , Goto Yuji
Published: February 2016

Structural evolution from monomer to fibril of amyloid β peptide is related to pathogenic mechanism of Alzheimer disease and its acceleration is a long-running problem in drug development. This study reveals that ultrasonic cavitation bubbles behave as catalysts for nucleation of the peptide: The nucleation reaction is highly dependent on frequency and pressure of acoustic wave and we discover an optimum acoustical condition, at which the reaction-rate constant for nucleation is increased by three-orders-of magnitudes. A theoretical model is proposed for explaining highly frequency and pressure dependent nucleation reaction, where monomers are captured on the bubble surface during its growth and highly condensed by subsequent bubble collapse, so that they are transiently exposed to high temperatures. Thus, the dual effects of local condensation and local heating contribute to dramatically enhance the nucleation reaction. Our model consistently reproduces the frequency and pressure dependences, supporting its essential applicability.
Reintroduction of confiscated and displaced mammals risks outbreeding and introgression in natural populations, as evidenced by orang-utans of divergent subspecies
Authors: Banes Graham L. , Galdikas Biruté M. F. , Vigilant Linda
Published: February 2016

Confiscated and displaced mammals are often taken to sanctuaries, where the explicit goal may be reintroduction to the wild. By inadvertently collecting animals from different source populations, however, such efforts risk reintroducing individuals that have not been in genetic contact for significant periods of time. Using genetic analyses and 44 years of data from Camp Leakey, an orang-utan rehabilitation site on Borneo, we determined the minimum extent to which orang-utans representing non-native, geographically and reproductively isolated taxa were reintroduced into the surrounding wild population. We found two reintroduced females were from a non-native subspecies and have since produced at least 22 hybridized and introgressed descendants to date, of which at least 15 are living. Given that Bornean orang-utan subspecies are thought to have diverged from a common ancestor around 176,000 years ago, with marked differentiation over the last 80,000 years, we highlight the need for further evaluation of the effects of hybridizing orang-utans of different taxa — particularly in light of the ~1500 displaced orang-utans awaiting urgent reintroduction. As endangered mammals are increasing in number in sanctuaries worldwide, we stress the need for re-examination of historical reintroductions, to assess the extent and effects of de facto translocations in the past.
Parasite infection accelerates age polyethism in young honey bees
Authors: Lecocq Antoine , Jensen Annette Bruun , Kryger Per , Nieh James C.
Published: February 2016

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are important pollinators and their health is threatened worldwide by persistent exposure to a wide range of factors including pesticides, poor nutrition, and pathogens. Nosema ceranae is a ubiquitous microsporidian associated with high colony mortality. We used lab micro-colonies of honey bees and video analyses to track the effects of N. ceranae infection and exposure on a range of individual and social behaviours in young adult bees. We provide detailed data showing that N. ceranae infection significantly accelerated the age polyethism of young bees, causing them to exhibit behaviours typical of older bees. Bees with high N. ceranae spore counts had significantly increased walking rates and decreased attraction to queen mandibular pheromone. Infected bees also exhibited higher rates of trophallaxis (food exchange), potentially reflecting parasite manipulation to increase colony infection. However, reduction in queen contacts could help bees limit the spread of infection. Such accelerated age polyethism may provide a form of behavioural immunity, particularly if it is elicited by a wide variety of pathogens.
PfIRR Interacts with HrIGF-I and Activates the MAP-kinase and PI3-kinase Signaling Pathways to Regulate Glycogen Metabolism in Pinctada fucata
Authors: Shi Yu , He Mao-xian
Published: February 2016

The insulin-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathways are major intracellular signaling modules and conserved among eukaryotes that are known to regulate diverse cellular processes. However, they have not been investigated in the mollusk species Pinctada fucata. Here, we demonstrate that insulin-related peptide receptor of P. fucata (pfIRR) interacts with human recombinant insulin-like growth factor I (hrIGF-I) and stimulates the MAPK and PI3K signaling pathways in P. fucata oocytes. We also show that inhibition of pfIRR by the inhibitor PQ401 significantly attenuates the basal and hrIGF-I-induced phosphorylation of MAPK and PI3K/Akt at amino acid residues threonine 308 and serine 473. Furthermore, our experiments show that there is cross-talk between the MAPK and PI3K/Akt pathways, in which MAPK kinase positively regulates the PI3K pathway and PI3K positively regulates the MAPK cascade. Intramuscular injection of hrIGF-I stimulates the PI3K and MAPK pathways to increase the expression of pfirr, protein phosphatase 1, glucokinase and the phosphorylation of glycogen synthase, decreases the mRNA expression of glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta, decreases glucose levels in hemocytes and increases glycogen levels in digestive glands. These results suggest that the MAPK and PI3K pathways in P. fucata transmit the hrIGF-I signal to regulate glycogen metabolism.
Hemoglobin induced NO/cGMP suppression Deteriorate Microcirculation via Pericyte Phenotype Transformation after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Rats
Authors: Li Qiang , Chen Yujie , Li Bo , Luo Chunxia , Zuo Shilun , Liu Xin , Zhang John H. , Ruan Huaizhen , Feng Hua
Published: February 2016

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) usually results from ruptured aneurysm, but how leaked hemoglobin regulates the microcirculation in the pathophysiology of early brain injury after SAH is still unclear. In the present study, we sought to investigate the role and possible mechanism of hemoglobin induced pericyte phenotype transformation in the regulation of microcirculation after SAH. Endovascular perforation SAH rat model, brain slices and cultured pericytes were used and intervened with endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) antagonist L-NNA and its agonist scutellarin, hemoglobin, DETA/NO (nitric oxide(NO) donor), PITO (NO scavenger), 8-Br-cGMP (cGMP analog). We found modulating eNOS regulated pericyte α-SMA phenotype transformation, microcirculation and neurological function in SAH rats. Modulating eNOS also affected eNOS expression, eNOS activity and NO availability after SAH. In addition, we showed hemoglobins penetrated into brain parenchyma after SAH. And hemoglobins significantly reduced the microvessel diameters at pericyte sites, due to the effects of hemoglobin inducing α-SMA expressions in cultured pericytes and brain slices via inhibiting NO/cGMP pathway. In conclusion, pericyte α-SMA phenotype mediates acute microvessel constriction after SAH possibly by hemoglobin suppressing NO/cGMP signaling pathway. Therefore, by targeting the eNOS and pericyte α-SMA phenotype, our present data may shed new light on the management of SAH patients.
Photophysics of GFP-related chromophores imposed by a scaffold design
Authors: Dolgopolova E. A. , Moore T. M. , Fellows W. B. , Smith M. D. , Shustova N. B.
Published: February 2016

In this paper, a rigid scaffold imposes the photophysics of chromophores with a benzylidene imidazolidinone core by mimicking the β-barrel structure of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) and its analogs.
Ultrafast, sensitive and large-volume on-chip real-time PCR for the molecular diagnosis of bacterial and viral infections
Authors: Houssin Timothée , Cramer Jérémy , Grojsman Rébecca , Bellahsene Lyes , Colas Guillaume , Moulet Hélène , Minnella Walter , Pannetier Christophe , Leberre Maël , Plecis Adrien , Chen Yong
Published: February 2016

We present an ultra-fast microfluidic real-time PCR system enabling analysis in ≈7 minutes while conserving large volume and high efficiency/sensitivity.
Efficient visible-light-induced hydrogen evolution from water splitting using a nanocrystalline nickel phosphide catalyst
Authors: Wu Weiming , Yue Xianyang , Wu Xiao-Yuan , Lu Can-Zhong
Published: February 2016

Nanocrystalline Ni12P5 was synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method. It showed high catalytic activity (10 760 μmol h−1 g−1, TOF = 9.3 h−1) and good stability (15 h) for the hydrogen evolution from water under visible light irradiation.
Establishment and simulation of an electrode averaged model for a lithium-ion battery based on kinetic reactions
Authors: Ma Yan , Yin Mingyue , Ying Zhenhua , Chen Hong
Published: February 2016

This study discusses the simplification process of an electrode averaged model for a lithium-ion battery and accuracy of the model is verified.
Comment on “A quantitative definition of hypervalency” by M. C. Durrant, Chem. Sci., 2015, 6, 6614
Authors: Harcourt Richard D. , Klapötke Thomas M.
Published: February 2016

Consideration is given to (electronically) hypervalent increased-valence structures, which possess 2c–1e bonds, fractional 2c–2e bonds, and usually normal 2c–2e bonds.
Photochemical fabrication of 3D hierarchical Mn3O4/H-TiO2 composite films with excellent electrochemical capacitance performance
Authors: Zhu Shasha , Zhang Peipei , Chang Ling , Zhong Yuan , Wang Kai , Shao Haibo , Wang Jianming , Zhang Jianqing , Cao Chu-nan
Published: February 2016

We report a novel photodeposition strategy for the fabrication of 3D hierarchical Mn3O4/H-TiO2 composite films with prominent pseudocapacitive performance.
In vivo imaging of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) of albumin: first observations of significantly reduced clearance and liver deposition properties in mice
Authors: Tsutsui Ayumi , Ogura Akihiro , Tahara Tsuyoshi , Nozaki Satoshi , Urano Sayaka , Hara Mitsuko , Kojima Soichi , Kurbangalieva Almira , Onoe Hirotaka , Watanabe Yasuyoshi , Taniguchi Naoyuki , Tanaka Katsunori
Published: February 2016

Molecular imaging visualized significantly reduced clearance of AGE-albumin.
Transparent flexible electrodes based on a AgNW network reconstructed by salt
Authors: Xue Rong , Wang Xingwei , Chen Xingliang , Zhang Mengyu , Qi Shuhua
Published: February 2016

Pre-coated NaCl could result in a reshaped AgNW network and reduce junction resistance significantly.
Graphene oxide as a catalyst for ring opening reactions in amine crosslinking of epoxy resins
Authors: Acocella M. R. , Corcione C. Esposito , Giuri A. , Maggio M. , Maffezzoli A. , Guerra G.
Published: February 2016

The influence of different graphite-based nanofillers on epoxide ring opening reactions, as induced by amines for diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA), is studied.
Morphology-dependent photoelectrochemical properties of multi-scale layered Bi(C2O4)OH
Authors: Xu Juan , Teng Fei , Yao Wenqing , Zhu Yongfa
Published: February 2016

In this work, different morphologies have been synthesized, which can be controlled by simply tuning oxalate source, EG/W volumetric ratio, H2C2O4/Bi(NO3)3 molar ratio, hydrothermal temperature and duration.
High singlet oxygen production and negative solvatochromism of octabrominated 3-pyrrolyl boron dipyrromethenes
Authors: Sharma Ritambhara , Gobeze Habtom B. , Chatterjee Tamal , Karr Paul. A. , D'Souza Francis , Ravikanth Mangalampalli
Published: February 2016

The newly synthesized and structurally characterized octabrominated 3-pyrrolyl boron dipyrromethenes is shown reveal negative solvatochromism, and quantitative generation of singlet oxygen; properties relevant to develop new PDT agents.
Potassium carbonate-mediated tandem C–S and C–N coupling reaction for the synthesis of phenothiazines under transition-metal-free and ligand-free conditions
Authors: Wu San , Hu Wei-Ye , Zhang Song-Lin
Published: February 2016

A potassium carbonate-mediated tandem coupling reaction for the synthesis of phenothiazines is described. This protocol affords an efficient approach for the construction of phenothiazine derivatives without the need for addition of transition-metal catalyst or ligand.
A diiodo-BODIPY postmodified metal–organic framework for efficient heterogeneous organo-photocatalysis
Authors: Quan Ying , Li Qiu-Yan , Zhang Quan , Zhang Wen-Qiang , Lu Han , Yu Jun-Hao , Chen Jian , Zhao Xinsheng , Wang Xiao-Jun
Published: February 2016

A diiodo-BODIPY postmodified MOF acts as a highly active and recyclable heterogeneous photocatalyst for aerobic CDC and oxidation/[3 + 2]cycloaddition reactions under visible light irradiation.
Robust and air-stable sandwiched organo-lead halide perovskites for photodetector applications
Authors: Murali Banavoth , Saidaminov Makhsud I. , Abdelhady Ahmed L. , Peng Wei , Liu Jiakai , Pan Jun , Bakr Osman M. , Mohammed Omar F.
Published: February 2016

We demonstrate that photocurrent and sensitivity of sandwiched perovskite photodetector are enhanced by an order of magnitude in the MAPbI3–MAPbBr3 heterojunction compared to homojunction of their analogues.
Helical edge states and topological phase transitions in phononic systems using bi-layered lattices
Authors: Pal Raj Kumar , Schaeffer Marshall , Ruzzene Massimo
Published: February 2016

We propose a framework to realize helical edge states in phononic systems using two identical lattices with interlayer couplings between them. A methodology is presented to systematically transform a quantum mechanical lattice which exhibits edge states to a phononic lattice, thereby developing a family of lattices with edge states. Parameter spaces with topological phase boundaries in the vicinity of the transformed system are illustrated to demonstrate the robustness to mechanical imperfections. A potential realization in terms of fundamental mechanical building blocks is presented for the hexagonal and Lieb lattices. The lattices are composed of passive components and the building blocks are a set of disks and linear springs. Furthermore, by varying the spring stiffness, topological phase transitions are observed, illustrating the potential for tunability of our lattices.
A simple method to tune graphene growth between monolayer and bilayer
Authors: Xu Xiaozhi , Lin Chenfang , Fu Rui , Wang Shuo , Pan Rui , Chen Guangshi , Shen Qixin , Liu Can , Guo Xia , Wang Yiquan , Zhao Ruguang , Liu Kaihui , Luo Zhengtang , Hu Zonghai , Li Hongyun
Published: February 2016

Selective growth of either monolayer or bilayer graphene is of great importance. We developed a method to readily tune large area graphene growth from complete monolayer to complete bilayer. In an ambient pressure chemical vapor deposition process, we used the sample temperature at which to start the H2 flow as the control parameter and realized the change from monolayer to bilayer growth of graphene on Cu foil. When the H2 starting temperature was above 700°C, continuous monolayer graphene films were obtained. When the H2 starting temperature was below 350°C, continuous bilayer films were obtained. Detailed characterization of the samples treated under various conditions revealed that heating without the H2 flow caused Cu oxidation. The more the Cu substrate oxidized, the less graphene bilayer could form.
(Sm,Zr)(Fe,Co)11.0-11.5Ti1.0-0.5 compounds as new permanent magnet materials
Authors: Kuno Tomoko , Suzuki Shunji , Urushibata Kimiko , Kobayashi Kurima , Sakuma Noritsugu , Yano Masao , Kato Akira , Manabe Akira
Published: February 2016

We investigated (Sm,Zr)(Fe,Co)11.0-11.5Ti1.0-0.5 compounds as permanent magnet materials. Good magnetic properties were observed in (Sm0.8Zr0.2)(Fe0.75Co0.25)11.5Ti0.5 powder containing a limited amount of the α-(Fe, Co) phase, including saturation polarization (Js) of 1.63 T, an anisotropic field (Ha) of 5.90 MA/m at room temperature, and a Curie temperature (Tc) of about 880 K. Notably, Js and Ha remained above 1.5 T and 3.70 MA/m, respectively, even at 473 K. The high-temperature magnetic properties of (Sm0.8Zr0.2)(Fe0.75Co0.25)11.5Ti0.5 were superior to those of Nd2Fe14B.
Oxygen vacancy and dilute ferromagnetism of ZnGa2O4 doped with Co at the octahedral site
Authors: Nakai Ikuo , Hisamatsu Ryouhei , Li Yingjie , Kurisu Makio
Published: February 2016

We report magnetism and structure of a diluted magnetic semiconductor Zn[Ga0.97Co0.03]2O4 preferentially doped with Co ions in the octahedral site of zinc gallate ZnGa2O4. Zn[Ga0.97Co0.03]2O4 has a small ferromagnetic component superimposed on a large paramagnetic contribution to the magnetization at room temperature, whereas ZnGa2O4 is diamagnetic. The X-ray powder diffraction confirms that both ZnGa2O4 and Zn[Ga0.97Co0.03]2O4 have a normal spinel structure (space group Fd-3m) without any impurity phases. From X-ray absorption fine structure measurements we find the following features in Zn[Ga0.97Co0.03]2O4; all of the Co dopants occupy the octahedral site, about half of which are divalent; around the Co cations there exist the oxygen vacancies and the local distortion of shrink in pair distance, while the local structure around Zn and Ga ions coincides with that expected from the X-ray diffraction. These features suggest that the local disorder including oxygen vacancies and distortions only around Co ions plays an important role in stabilizing the ferromagnetic order between some Co ions in Zn[Ga0.97Co0.03]2O4.