bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Photoelectric detection of electron spin resonance of nitrogen-vacancy centres in diamond
Authors: Bourgeois E. , Jarmola A. , Siyushev P. , Gulka M. , Hruby J. , Jelezko F. , Budker D. , Nesladek M.
Published: October 2015

The readout of negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy centre electron spins is essential for applications in quantum computation, metrology and sensing. Conventional readout protocols are based on the detection of photons emitted from nitrogen-vacancy centres, a process limited by the efficiency of photon collection. We report on an alternative principle for detecting the magnetic resonance of nitrogen-vacancy centres, allowing the direct photoelectric readout of nitrogen-vacancy centres spin state in an all-diamond device. The photocurrent detection of magnetic resonance scheme is based on the detection of charge carriers promoted to the conduction band of diamond by two-photon ionization of nitrogen-vacancy centres. The optical and photoelectric detection of magnetic resonance are compared, by performing both types of measurements simultaneously. The minima detected in the measured photocurrent at resonant microwave frequencies are attributed to the spin-dependent ionization dynamics of nitrogen-vacancy, originating from spin-selective non-radiative transitions to the metastable singlet state.
Reversed reactivity of anilines with alkynes in the rhodium-catalysed C–H activation/carbonylation tandem
Authors: Midya Siba P. , Sahoo Manoj K. , Landge Vinod G. , Rajamohanan P. R. , Balaraman Ekambaram
Published: October 2015

Development of multicatalytic approach consisting of two or more mechanistically distinct catalytic steps using a single-site catalyst for rapid and straightforward access of structurally complex molecules under eco-benign conditions has significance in contemporary science. We have developed herein a rhodium-catalysed C–H activation strategy which uses an unprotected anilines and an electron-deficient alkynes to C–C bonded products as a potential intermediate in contrast to the archetypical C–N bonded products with high levels of regioselectivity. This is followed by carbonylation of C–H bond activated intermediate and subsequent annulation into quinolines has been described. This rhodium-catalysed auto-tandem reaction operates under mild, environmentally benign conditions using water as the solvent and CO surrogates as the carbonyl source with the concomitant generation of hydrogen gas. The strategy may facilitate the development of new synthetic protocols for the efficient and sustainable production of chemicals in an atom-economic way from simple, abundant starting materials.
Turning bubbles on and off during boiling using charged surfactants
Authors: Cho H. Jeremy , Mizerak Jordan P. , Wang Evelyn N.
Published: October 2015

Boiling—a process that has powered industries since the steam age—is governed by bubble formation. State-of-the-art boiling surfaces often increase bubble nucleation via roughness and/or wettability modification to increase performance. However, without active in situ control of bubbles, temperature or steam generation cannot be adjusted for a given heat input. Here we report the ability to turn bubbles ‘on and off’ independent of heat input during boiling both temporally and spatially via molecular manipulation of the boiling surface. As a result, we can rapidly and reversibly alter heat transfer performance up to an order of magnitude. Our experiments show that this active control is achieved by electrostatically adsorbing and desorbing charged surfactants to alter the wettability of the surface, thereby affecting nucleation. This approach can improve performance and flexibility in existing boiling technologies as well as enable emerging or unprecedented energy applications.
Molecular co-catalyst accelerating hole transfer for enhanced photocatalytic H2 evolution
Authors: Bi Wentuan , Li Xiaogang , Zhang Lei , Jin Tao , Zhang Lidong , Zhang Qun , Luo Yi , Wu Changzheng , Xie Yi
Published: October 2015

In artificial photocatalysis, sluggish kinetics of hole transfer and the resulting high-charge recombination rate have been the Achilles’ heel of photocatalytic conversion efficiency. Here we demonstrate water-soluble molecules as co-catalysts to accelerate hole transfer for improved photocatalytic H2evolution activity. Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), by virtue of its reversible redox couple TFA·/TFA−, serves as a homogeneous co-catalyst that not only maximizes the contact areas between co-catalysts and reactants but also greatly promotes hole transfer. Thus K4Nb6O17nanosheet catalysts achieve drastically increased photocatalytic H2production rate in the presence of TFA, up to 32 times with respect to the blank experiment. The molecular co-catalyst represents a new, simple and highly effective approach to suppress recombination of photogenerated charges, and has provided fertile new ground for creating high-efficiency photosynthesis systems, avoiding use of noble-metal co-catalysts.
Evaluation of selected interleukins in patients with different gastric neoplasms: a preliminary report
Authors: Madej-Michniewicz Anna , Budkowska Marta , Sałata Daria , Dołęgowska Barbara , Starzyńska Teresa , Błogowski Wojciech
Published: October 2015

Abnormal interactions between cytokines may be an overlooked mechanism linking the development of different types of gastric neoplasms. In this study a comprehensive analysis of the systemic levels of interleukins (IL-1,IL-6, IL-8,IL-10 and IL-12) was performed in 75 patients with different gastric neoplasms (cancer, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, neuroendocrine neoplasms, lymphomas) and 40 healthy volunteers. Patients with gastric cancer (GC) have significantly higher IL-6 levels and lower IL-8 and IL-10 concentrations, in comparison to controls and patients with other gastric neoplasms. Analogous results were observed in terms of IL-6/IL-8 and IL-6/IL-10 ratios, whose values were also higher in GC patients. In GC patients no associations were detected between the systemic levels/values of interleukins (ratios) and TNM staging. IL-6, IL-10, IL-6/IL-8 and IL-6/IL-10 ratios appeared to hold diagnostic potential in confirming/excluding the presence of GC. Their sensitivity/specificity in GC detection/exclusion was approximately 54–72%. In conclusion, disturbed systemic biochemical balance in multiple interleukins exists at the earliest stages of and appears to be specific to GC. The interleukin ratios proposed here seem to be more promising indicators of GC in humans than direct systemic levels of interleukins and probably possess the potential to be applied as a supporting factor for techniques routinely used.
Integrative metabonomics as potential method for diagnosis of thyroid malignancy
Authors: Tian Yuan , Nie Xiu , Xu Shan , Li Yan , Huang Tao , Tang Huiru , Wang Yulan
Published: October 2015

Thyroid nodules can be classified into benign and malignant tumors. However, distinguishing between these two types of tumors can be challenging in clinics. Since malignant nodules require surgical intervention whereas asymptomatic benign tumors do not, there is an urgent need for new techniques that enable accurate diagnosis of malignant thyroid nodules. Here, we used 1H NMR spectroscopy coupled with pattern recognition techniques to analyze the metabonomes of thyroid tissues and their extracts from thyroid lesion patients (n = 53) and their adjacent healthy thyroid tissues (n = 46). We also measured fatty acid compositions using GC−FID/MS techniques as complementary information. We demonstrate that thyroid lesion tissues can be clearly distinguishable from healthy tissues and malignant tumors can also be distinguished from the benign tumors based on the metabolic profiles, both with high sensitivity and specificity. In addition, we show that thyroid lesions are accompanied with disturbances of multiple metabolic pathways, including alterations in energy metabolism (glycolysis, lipid and TCA cycle), promotions in protein turnover, nucleotide biosynthesis as well as phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis. These findings provide essential information on the metabolic features of thyroid lesions and demonstrate that metabonomics technology can be potentially useful in the rapid and accurate preoperative diagnosis of malignant thyroid nodules.
Eco-exergy and emergy based self-organization of three forest plantations in lower subtropical China
Authors: Lu Hongfang , Fu Fangyan , Li Hao , Campbell Daniel E. , Ren Hai
Published: October 2015

The bio-thermodynamic structures of a mixed native species plantation, a conifer plantation and an Acacia mangium plantation in Southern China were quantified over a period of 15 years based on eco-exergy methods. The efficiencies of structural development and maintenance were quantified through an integrated application of eco-exergy and emergy methods. The results showed that the storage of eco-exergy increased over 3 times in all three plantations, as predicted by the maximum eco-exergy principle. This trend was primarily seen due to the accumulation of biomass, instead of an increase in the specific eco-exergy (eco-exergy per unit biomass), although species richness did increase. The eco-exergy to emergy and eco-exergy to empower ratios of the three plantations generally increased during the study period, but the rate of increase slowed down after 20 years. The dominant trees are the largest contributors to the eco-exergy stored in the plantations and thus, the introduction of suitable indigenous tree species should be considered after the existing trees pass through their period of most rapid growth or around 20 years after planting. The combined application of C-values and suggested weighting factors in the eco-exergy calculation can imply opposite results, but may also supply useful information for forest management.
Constitutively Active Acetylcholine-Dependent Potassium Current Increases Atrial Defibrillation Threshold by Favoring Post-Shock Re-Initiation
Authors: Bingen Brian O. , Askar Saïd F. A. , Neshati Zeinab , Feola Iolanda , Panfilov Alexander V. , de Vries Antoine A. F. , Pijnappels Daniël A.
Published: October 2015

Electrical cardioversion (ECV), a mainstay in atrial fibrillation (AF) treatment, is unsuccessful in up to 10–20% of patients. An important aspect of the remodeling process caused by AF is the constitutive activition of the atrium-specific acetylcholine-dependent potassium current (IK,ACh → IK,ACh-c), which is associated with ECV failure. This study investigated the role of IK,ACh-c in ECV failure and setting the atrial defibrillation threshold (aDFT) in optically mapped neonatal rat cardiomyocyte monolayers. AF was induced by burst pacing followed by application of biphasic shocks of 25–100 V to determine aDFT. Blocking IK,ACh-c by tertiapin significantly decreased DFT, which correlated with a significant increase in wavelength during reentry. Genetic knockdown experiments, using lentiviral vectors encoding a Kcnj5-specific shRNA to modulate IK,ACh-c, yielded similar results. Mechanistically, failed ECV was attributed to incomplete phase singularity (PS) removal or reemergence of PSs (i.e. re-initiation) through unidirectional propagation of shock-induced action potentials. Re-initiation occurred at significantly higher voltages than incomplete PS-removal and was inhibited by IK,ACh-c blockade. Whole-heart mapping confirmed our findings showing a 60% increase in ECV success rate after IK,ACh-c blockade. This study provides new mechanistic insight into failing ECV of AF and identifies IK,ACh-c as possible atrium-specific target to increase ECV effectiveness, while decreasing its harmfulness.
One-to-one encapsulation based on alternating droplet generation
Authors: Hirama Hirotada , Torii Toru
Published: October 2015

This paper reports the preparation of encapsulated particles as models of cells using an alternating droplet generation encapsulation method in which the number of particles in a droplet is controlled by a microchannel to achieve one-to-one encapsulation. Using a microchannel in which wettability is treated locally, the fluorescent particles used as models of cells were successfully encapsulated in uniform water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) emulsion droplets. Furthermore, 20% of the particle-containing droplets contained one particle. Additionally, when a surfactant with the appropriate properties was used, the fluorescent particles within each inner aqueous droplet were enclosed in the merged droplet by spontaneous droplet coalescence. This one-to-one encapsulation method based on alternating droplet generation could be used for a variety of applications, such as high-throughput single-cell assays, gene transfection into cells or one-to-one cell fusion.
Sex-specific association of rs4746172 of VCL gene with hypertension in two Han populations from Southern China
Authors: Yu Qin , Sun Hong-Peng , Chen Wan-Qun , Chen Xiao-Qiong , Xu Yong , He Yong-Han , Kong Qing-Peng
Published: October 2015

Hypertension is the most common and lethal risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Numerous variants have been associated with hypertension, however, most of which failed to get replication due to ethnic differences. In this study, we analyzed associations of 10 newly reported single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Europeans with hypertension in Chinese. A total of 1766 samples consisting of 880 subjects with hypertension and 886 controls were collected and the SNPs were genotyped using multiple assays based on the SNaPshot mini-sequencing approach. Our results revealed a significant genotypic association of rs4746172 of VCL with hypertension with a lower frequency of minor allele in male subjects (OR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.54–0.92, p = 0.011) but not in females. To validate the result, we genotyped the SNPs in another Chinese population with 546 individuals and got a consistent association for the rs4746172 (OR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.38-0.82, p = 2.4 × 10−3) in males. The VCL-encoding protein was involved in cardiomyopathy that associated with hypertension, therefore our results suggest the rs4746172 of VCL may be a novel target for clinical interventions to reduce CVD risk by regulating blood pressure in male Chinese.
Observation of Exchange Anisotropy in Single-Phase Layer-Structured Oxides with Long Periods
Authors: Huang Yan , Wang Guopeng , Sun Shujie , Wang Jianlin , Peng Ranran , Lin Yue , Zhai Xiaofang , Fu Zhengping , Lu Yalin
Published: October 2015

A remarkable exchange bias effect arising from the temperature-dependent interaction among the ferromagnetic-like cluster glasses and antiferromagnetic regions was observed in a newly developed single-phase multiferroic compound of Bi10Fe6Ti3O30 which has a nine-layer Aurivillius structure. Inhomogeneous distribution of magnetic Fe ions inside this long-period layered structure was experimentally identified via the atomic level imaging. The results confirmed the presence of the short-range magnetic ordering (the cluster glassy state) and the canted antiferromagnetism and then the direct interaction among them was further confirmed. Finding of this new single-phase material accompanying this remarkable exchange bias effect would be beneficial to both basic physics understanding and the potential device development.
The role of influenza in the epidemiology of pneumonia
Authors: Shrestha Sourya , Foxman Betsy , Berus Joshua , van Panhuis Willem G. , Steiner Claudia , Viboud Cécile , Rohani Pejman
Published: October 2015

Interactions arising from sequential viral and bacterial infections play important roles in the epidemiological outcome of many respiratory pathogens. Influenza virus has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several respiratory bacterial pathogens commonly associated with pneumonia. Though clinical evidence supporting this interaction is unambiguous, its population-level effects—magnitude, epidemiological impact and variation during pandemic and seasonal outbreaks—remain unclear. To address these unknowns, we used longitudinal influenza and pneumonia incidence data, at different spatial resolutions and across different epidemiological periods, to infer the nature, timing and the intensity of influenza-pneumonia interaction. We used a mechanistic transmission model within a likelihood-based inference framework to carry out formal hypothesis testing. Irrespective of the source of data examined, we found that influenza infection increases the risk of pneumonia by ~100-fold. We found no support for enhanced transmission or severity impact of the interaction. For model-validation, we challenged our fitted model to make out-of-sample pneumonia predictions during pandemic and non-pandemic periods. The consistency in our inference tests carried out on several distinct datasets and the predictive skill of our model increase confidence in our overall conclusion that influenza infection substantially enhances the risk of pneumonia, though only for a short period.
Computer-assisted quantification of motile and invasive capabilities of cancer cells
Authors: Kumar Karthiga Santhana , Pillong Max , Kunze Jens , Burghardt Isabel , Weller Michael , Grotzer Michael A. , Schneider Gisbert , Baumgartner Martin
Published: October 2015

High-throughput analysis of cancer cell dissemination and its control by extrinsic and intrinsic cellular factors is hampered by the lack of adequate and efficient analytical tools for quantifying cell motility. Oncology research would greatly benefit from such a methodology that allows to rapidly determine the motile behaviour of cancer cells under different environmental conditions, including inside three-dimensional matrices. We combined automated microscopy imaging of two- and three-dimensional cell cultures with computational image analysis into a single assay platform for studying cell dissemination in high-throughput. We have validated this new approach for medulloblastoma, a metastatic paediatric brain tumour, in combination with the activation of growth factor signalling pathways with established pro-migratory functions. The platform enabled the detection of primary tumour and patient-derived xenograft cell sensitivity to growth factor-dependent motility and dissemination and identified tumour subgroup-specific responses to selected growth factors of excellent diagnostic value.
Selective Area Band Engineering of Graphene using Cobalt-Mediated Oxidation
Authors: Bazylewski Paul F. , Nguyen Van Luan , Bauer Robert P.C. , Hunt Adrian H. , McDermott Eamon J. G. , Leedahl Brett D. , Kukharenko Andrey I. , Cholakh Seif O. , Kurmaev Ernst Z. , Blaha Peter , Moewes Alexander , Lee Young Hee , Chang Gap Soo
Published: October 2015

This study reports a scalable and economical method to open a band gap in single layer graphene by deposition of cobalt metal on its surface using physical vapor deposition in high vacuum. At low cobalt thickness, clusters form at impurity sites on the graphene without etching or damaging the graphene. When exposed to oxygen at room temperature, oxygen functional groups form in proportion to the cobalt thickness that modify the graphene band structure. Cobalt/Graphene resulting from this treatment can support a band gap of 0.30 eV, while remaining largely undamaged to preserve its structural and electrical properties. A mechanism of cobalt-mediated band opening is proposed as a two-step process starting with charge transfer from metal to graphene, followed by formation of oxides where cobalt has been deposited. Contributions from the formation of both CoO and oxygen functional groups on graphene affect the electronic structure to open a band gap. This study demonstrates that cobalt-mediated oxidation is a viable method to introduce a band gap into graphene at room temperature that could be applicable in electronics applications.
Experimental demonstration of high fidelity entanglement distribution over decoherence channels via qubit transduction
Authors: Lim Hyang-Tag , Hong Kang-Hee , Kim Yoon-Ho
Published: October 2015

Quantum coherence and entanglement, which are essential resources for quantum information, are often degraded and lost due to decoherence. Here, we report a proof-of-principle experimental demonstration of high fidelity entanglement distribution over decoherence channels via qubit transduction. By unitarily switching the initial qubit encoding to another, which is insensitive to particular forms of decoherence, we have demonstrated that it is possible to avoid the effect of decoherence completely. In particular, we demonstrate high-fidelity distribution of photonic polarization entanglement over quantum channels with two types of decoherence, amplitude damping and polarization-mode dispersion, via qubit transduction between polarization qubits and dual-rail qubits. These results represent a significant breakthrough in quantum communication over decoherence channels as the protocol is input-state independent, requires no ancillary photons and symmetries and has near-unity success probability.
Fast and intense green emission of Tb3+ in borosilicate glass modified by Cu+
Authors: Xia Fanshu , Liu Siyuan , Wang Yang , Mao Jiayi , Li Xinxi , Wang Yiqun , Chen Guorong
Published: October 2015

We present photoluminescence properties of Tb3+doped borosilicate glasses modified by Cu+. Around 5-time enhanced emission at 541 nm due to the superposed emission of Tb3+and Cu+is observed under the deep UV excitation. Excitation spectra demonstrate a greatly increased absorption of Tb3+ions in the deep UV region towards the Cu+excitation band, while the shortened Cu+emission lifetime of glasses in association with presence of Tb3+ions implies an energy transfer process from Cu+to Tb3+ions. Meanwhile, the Tb3+emission lifetime is significantly shortened from the conventional millisecond level (~4 ms) to the microsecond regime up to around 90 μs. This most likely starts with the role of Cu+as a co-activator by initiating the d-f orbital hybridization process via an interaction with Tb3+, thus relaxing the spin forbidden transition of Tb3+ions to the partially allowed one. Moreover, combination of emissions from Cu+and Tb3+ions generates a composite green emission with adjustable CIE (Commission Internationale de L’Eclairage) chromaticity coordinates achievable by co-doping Cu+/Tb3+in the different ratio and/or altering the excitation wavelength from deep UV to near UV region.
Synergistic Effect of Sorafenib and Radiation on Human Oral Carcinoma in vivo
Authors: Hsu Fei-Ting , Chang Betty , Chen John Chun-Hao , Chiang I-Tsang , Liu Yu-Chang , Kwang Wei-Kang , Hwang Jeng-Jong
Published: October 2015

Oral squamous cell carcinoma often causes bone invasion resulting in poor prognosis and affects the quality of life for patients. Herein, we combined radiation with sorafenib, to evaluate the combination effect on tumor progression and bone erosion in an in situ human OSCC-bearing mouse model. Treatment procedure were arranged as following groups: (a) normal (no tumor); (b) control (with tumor); (c) sorafenib (10 mg/kg/day); (d) radiation (single dose of 6 Gy); (e) pretreatment (sorafenib treatment for 3 days prior to radiation) and (f) concurrent treatment (sorafenib and radiation on the same day). The inhibition of tumor growth and expression level of p65 of NF-κB in tumor tissues were the most significant in the pretreatment group. EMSA and Western blot showed that DNA/NF-κB activity and the expressions of NF-κB-associated proteins were down-regulated. Notably, little to no damage in mandibles and zygomas of mice treated with combination of sorafenib and radiation was found by micro-CT imaging. In conclusion, sorafenib combined with radiation suppresses radiation-induced NF-κB activity and its downstream proteins, which contribute to radioresistance and tumorigenesis. Additionally, bone destruction is also diminished, suggesting that combination treatment could be a potential strategy against human OSCC.
An auto-adaptive optimization approach for targeting nonpoint source pollution control practices
Authors: Chen Lei , Wei Guoyuan , Shen Zhenyao
Published: October 2015

To solve computationally intensive and technically complex control of nonpoint source pollution, the traditional genetic algorithm was modified into an auto-adaptive pattern and a new framework was proposed by integrating this new algorithm with a watershed model and an economic module. Although conceptually simple and comprehensive, the proposed algorithm would search automatically for those Pareto-optimality solutions without a complex calibration of optimization parameters. The model was applied in a case study in a typical watershed of the Three Gorges Reservoir area, China. The results indicated that the evolutionary process of optimization was improved due to the incorporation of auto-adaptive parameters. In addition, the proposed algorithm outperformed the state-of-the-art existing algorithms in terms of convergence ability and computational efficiency. At the same cost level, solutions with greater pollutant reductions could be identified. From a scientific viewpoint, the proposed algorithm could be extended to other watersheds to provide cost-effective configurations of BMPs.
Orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 affects cardiomyocyte calcium homeostasis and adverse cardiac remodelling
Authors: Medzikovic Lejla , Schumacher Cees A. , Verkerk Arie O. , van Deel Elza D. , Wolswinkel Rianne , van der Made Ingeborg , Bleeker Natascha , Cakici Daniella , van den Hoogenhof Maarten M. G. , Meggouh Farid , Creemers Esther E. , Remme Carol Ann , Baartscheer Antonius , de Winter Robbert J. , de Vries Carlie J. M. , Arkenbout E. Karin , de Waard Vivian
Published: October 2015

Distinct stressors may induce heart failure. As compensation, β-adrenergic stimulation enhances myocardial contractility by elevating cardiomyocyte intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i). However, chronic β-adrenergic stimulation promotes adverse cardiac remodelling. Cardiac expression of nuclear receptor Nur77 is enhanced by β-adrenergic stimulation, but its role in cardiac remodelling is still unclear. We show high and rapid Nur77 upregulation in cardiomyocytes stimulated with β-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol. Nur77 knockdown in culture resulted in hypertrophic cardiomyocytes. Ventricular cardiomyocytes from Nur77-deficient (Nur77-KO) mice exhibited elevated diastolic and systolic [Ca2+]i and prolonged action potentials compared to wild type (WT). In vivo, these differences resulted in larger cardiomyocytes, increased expression of hypertrophic genes and more cardiac fibrosis in Nur77-KO mice upon chronic isoproterenol stimulation. In line with the observed elevated [Ca2+]i, Ca2+-activated phosphatase calcineurin was more active in Nur77-KO mice compared to WT. In contrast, after cardiac pressure overload by aortic constriction, Nur77-KO mice exhibited attenuated remodelling compared to WT. Concluding, Nur77-deficiency results in significantly altered cardiac Ca2+ homeostasis and distinct remodelling outcome depending on the type of insult. Detailed knowledge on the role of Nur77 in maintaining cardiomyocyte Ca2+ homeostasis and the dual role Nur77 plays in cardiac remodelling will aid in developing personalized therapies against heart failure.
In vivo sub-femtoliter resolution photoacoustic microscopy with higher frame rates
Authors: Lee Szu-Yu , Lai Yu-Hung , Huang Kai-Chih , Cheng Yu-Hsiang , Tseng Tzu-Fang , Sun Chi-Kuang
Published: October 2015

Microscopy based on non-fluorescent absorption dye staining is widely used in various fields of biomedicine for 400 years. Unlike its fluorescent counterpart, non-fluorescent absorption microscopy lacks proper methodologies to realize its in vivo applications with a sub-femtoliter 3D resolution. Regardless of the most advanced high-resolution photoacoustic microscopy, sub-femtoliter spatial resolution is still unattainable and the imaging speed is relatively slow. In this paper, based on the two-photon photoacoustic mechanism, we demonstrated a in vivo label free laser-scanning photoacoustic imaging modality featuring high frame rates and sub-femtoliter 3D resolution simultaneously, which stands as a perfect solution to 3D high resolution non-fluorescent absorption microscopy. Furthermore, we first demonstrated in vivo label-free two-photon acoustic microscopy on the observation of non-fluorescent melanin distribution within mouse skin.
MiR-129-3p promotes docetaxel resistance of breast cancer cells via CP110 inhibition
Authors: Zhang Yuan , Wang Yu , Wei Yifang , Li Mengyang , Yu Shentong , Ye Mingxiang , Zhang Hongmei , Chen Suning , Liu Wenchao , Zhang Jian
Published: October 2015

Docetaxel is commonly used as an effective chemotherapeutic agent in breast cancer treatment, but the underlying mechanisms of drug resistance are not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible role of miR-129-3p in breast cancer cell resistance to docetaxel. MiR-129 and miR-129-3p inhibitor were transfected into breast cancer cells to investigate their effects on chemoresistance to docetaxel. The function of miR-129-3p was evaluated by apoptosis, cell proliferation and cell cycle assays. We found that miR-129-3p was up-regulated in MDA-MB-231/Doc cells, concurrent with CP110 down-regulation, compared to the parental MDA-MB-231 cells. In vitro drug sensitivity assays demonstrated that miR-129-3p inhibition sensitized MDA-MB-231/Doc and MCF-7 cells to docetaxel, whereas miR-129 overexpression enhanced MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cell resistance to docetaxel. Ectopic miR-129 expression reduced CP110 expression and the luciferase activity of a CP110 3′ untranslated region-based reporter construct in MDA-MB-231 cells, suggesting that CP110 is a direct miR-129-3p target. We demonstrated that restoration of CP110 expression in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells by miR-129 overexpression rendered the cells sensitive to docetaxel. In a nude xenograft model, miR-129 up-regulation significantly decreased MDA-MB-231 cells’ response to docetaxel. Our findings suggest that miR-129-3p down-regulation potentially sensitizes breast cancer cells to docetaxel treatment.
Simultaneous shaping of amplitude and phase of light in the entire output plane with a phase-only hologram
Authors: Wu Liang , Cheng Shubo , Tao Shaohua
Published: October 2015

An iterative beam shaping algorithm is proposed to simultaneously shape the amplitude and phase of an optical beam. The proposed algorithm consists of one input plane and two completely overlapped output planes which refer to the output plane in real space. The two output planes are imposed with both amplitude and phase constraints and the constrained areas in the two output planes are complementary. As a result, both the amplitude and phase in the entire output plane are controllable and arbitrary target complex amplitudes can be achieved with the proposed algorithm. The computing result of the proposed algorithm is a phase-only distribution which can be conveniently realized with a spatial light modulator or a fabricated diffractive optical element. Both simulations and experiments have verified the high performance of the proposed algorithm.
Adhesion of voids to bimetal interfaces with non-uniform energies
Authors: Zheng Shijian , Shao Shuai , Zhang Jian , Wang Yongqiang , Demkowicz Michael J. , Beyerlein Irene J. , Mara Nathan A.
Published: October 2015

Interface engineering has become an important strategy for designing radiation-resistant materials. Critical to its success is fundamental understanding of the interactions between interfaces and radiation-induced defects, such as voids. Using transmission electron microscopy, here we report an interesting phenomenon in their interaction, wherein voids adhere to only one side of the bimetal interfaces rather than overlapping them. We show that this asymmetrical void-interface interaction is a consequence of differing surface energies of the two metals and non-uniformity in their interface formation energy. Specifically, voids grow within the phase of lower surface energy and wet only the high-interface energy regions. Furthermore, because this outcome cannot be accounted for by wetting of interfaces with uniform internal energy, our report provides experimental evidence that bimetal interfaces contain non-uniform internal energy distributions. This work also indicates that to design irradiation-resistant materials, we can avoid void-interface overlap via tuning the configurations of interfaces.
Zwint-1 is required for spindle assembly checkpoint function and kinetochore-microtubule attachment during oocyte meiosis
Authors: Woo Seo Dong , Yeop You Seung , Chung Woo-Jae , Cho Dong-Hyung , Kim Jae-Sung , Su Oh Jeong
Published: October 2015

The key step for faithful chromosome segregation during meiosis is kinetochore assembly. Defects in this process result in aneuploidy, leading to miscarriages, infertility and various birth defects. However, the roles of kinetochores in homologous chromosome segregation during meiosis are ill-defined. Here we found that Zwint-1 is required for homologous chromosome segregation during meiosis. Knockdown of Zwint-1 accelerated the first meiosis by abrogating the kinetochore recruitment of Mad2, leading to chromosome misalignment and a high incidence of aneuploidy. Although Zwint-1 knockdown did not affect Aurora C kinase activity, the meiotic defects following Zwint-1 knockdown were similar to those observed with ZM447439 treatment. Importantly, the chromosome misalignment following Aurora C kinase inhibition was not restored after removing the inhibitor in Zwint-1-knockdown oocytes, whereas the defect was rescued after the inhibitor washout in the control oocytes. These results suggest that Aurora C kinase-mediated correction of erroneous kinetochore-microtubule attachment is primarily regulated by Zwint-1. Our results provide the first evidence that Zwint-1 is required to correct erroneous kinetochore-microtubule attachment and regulate spindle checkpoint function during meiosis.
Comparison of transmission of Papaya leaf curl China virus among four cryptic species of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci complex
Authors: Guo Tao , Guo Qi , Cui Xi-Yun , Liu Yin-Quan , Hu Jian , Liu Shu-Sheng
Published: October 2015

Begomoviruses are transmitted by cryptic species of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci complex, often in a species-specific manner. Papaya leaf curl China virus (PaLCuCNV) has been recorded to infect several crops including papaya, tomato and tobacco in China. To help assess the risks of spread of this virus, we compared the acquisition, retention and transmission of PaLCuCNV among four species of whiteflies, Middle East-Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1), Mediterranean (MED), Asia 1 and Asia II 7. All four species of whiteflies are able to acquire, retain and transmit the virus, but with different levels of efficiency. Transmission tests using tomato as the host plant showed that MEAM1 transmitted PaLCuCNV with substantially higher efficiency than did MED, Asia 1 and Asia II 7. Furthermore, accumulation of PaLCuCNV in the whiteflies was positively associated with its efficiency of transmitting the virus. Altogether, these findings indicate that MEAM1 is the most efficient vector for PaLCuCNV in the four species of whiteflies and suggest that risks of PaLCuCNV pandemics are high in regions where MEAM1 occurs.
Topotecan for Relapsed Small-cell Lung Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 1347 Patients
Authors: Horita Nobuyuki , Yamamoto Masaki , Sato Takashi , Tsukahara Toshinori , Nagakura Hideyuki , Tashiro Ken , Shibata Yuji , Watanabe Hiroki , Nagai Kenjiro , Inoue Miyo , Nakashima Kentaro , Ushio Ryota , Shinkai Masaharu , Kudo Makoto , Kaneko Takeshi
Published: October 2015

Topotecan is the most reliable chemotherapy regimen for relapsed small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). The efficacy and adverse effects of topotecan as reported by previous studies varied greatly. The inclusion criterion was a prospective study that was able to provide data for 6-month over-all survival (OS) rate, 1-year OS rate, objective responses, and/or adverse effects of single agent topotecan as a second line chemotherapy for SCLC, written in English language as a full article. Any topotecan regimen were allowed. Binary data were meta-analyzed with the random-model generic inverse variance method. We included 14 articles consisted of 1347 patients. Pooled values were estimated as follows.  Six-month OS rate: 37% (95% CI: 28–46%). One-year OS rate: 9% (95% CI: 5–13%). Response rate: 5% (95% CI: 1–8%).  Six-month OS rate: 57% (95% CI: 50–64%). One-year OS rate: 27% (95% CI: 22–32%). Response rate: 17% (95% CI: 11–23%).  Grade III/IV neutropenia 69% (95% CI: 58–80%). Grade III/IV thrombopenia 41% (95% CI: 34–48%). Grade III/IV anemia 24% (95% CI: 17–30%). Non-hematorogical events were rare. Chemotherapy-related death 2% (95% CI: 1–3%). In conclusion, Topotecan provided a possibly promising outcome for sensitive-relapse SCLC and poor outcome for refractory relapse SCLC. Adverse events were mainly hematological.
Sustained suppression of viral replication in improving vitamin D serum concentrations in patients with chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Chen En-Qiang , Bai Lang , Zhou Tao-You , Fe Min , Zhang Dong-Mei , Tang Hong
Published: October 2015

Recently, the role of vitamin D in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) has attracted a lot attention. In this study, 128 naïve CHB patients (91 with positive HBeAg, 37 with negative-HBeAg) were enrolled and 128 volunteers without liver diseases were enrolled as controls. Compared to that of healthy controls, the mean level of 25(OH)D3 in CHB patients was significantly lower; and the percent of patients with sufficient 25(OH)D3 (≥20 ng/mL) was also significantly lower than that of healthy controls. Among those CHB patients, the level of 25(OH)D3 was negatively correlated with the serum HBV-DNA level. Additionally, the level of 25(OH)D3 was significantly lower in HBeAg-positive patients than that in HBeAg-negative patients. After the patients went through the long-term antiviral treatments, both the mean level of 25(OH)D3 and the percent of patients with sufficient 25(OH)D3 increased significantly. Additionally, patients who were HBeAg free after the treatment also had much higher 25(OH)D3 level than those with persistent positive HBeAg. All those data suggested that the low vitamin D serum level was dangerous for CHB patients and the level of 25(OH)D3 was highly negatively correlated with HBV-DNA levels. Effective antiviral therapy might increase the level of vitamin D in CHB patients.
Ag Nanorods Coated with Ultrathin TiO2 Shells as Stable and Recyclable SERS Substrates
Authors: Ma Lingwei , Huang Yu , Hou Mengjing , Xie Zheng , Zhang Zhengjun
Published: October 2015

TiO2-coated Ag nanorods (Ag@TiO2 NRs) have been fabricated as multifunctional surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates. Uniform TiO2 shells could sufficiently protect the internal Ag NRs against oxidation and sulfuration, thus the temporal stability of SERS substrates was markedly improved. Meanwhile, due to the synergetic effect between crystalline TiO2 and Ag, the nanocomposites could clean themselves via photocatalytic degradation of the adsorbed molecules under ultraviolet irradiation and water dilution, making the SERS substrates renewable. Such Ag@TiO2 NRs were shown to serve as outstanding SERS sensors featuring high sensitivity, superior stability and recyclability.
Genomic expression catalogue of a global collection of BCG vaccine strains show evidence for highly diverged metabolic and cell-wall adaptations
Authors: Abdallah Abdallah M. , Hill-Cawthorne Grant A. , Otto Thomas D. , Coll Francesc , Guerra-Assunção José Afonso , Gao Ge , Naeem Raeece , Ansari Hifzur , Malas Tareq B. , Adroub Sabir A. , Verboom Theo , Ummels Roy , Zhang Huoming , Panigrahi Aswini Kumar , McNerney Ruth , Brosch Roland , Clark Taane G. , Behr Marcel A. , Bitter Wilbert , Pain Arnab
Published: October 2015

Although Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccines against tuberculosis have been available for more than 90 years, their effectiveness has been hindered by variable protective efficacy and a lack of lasting memory responses. One factor contributing to this variability may be the diversity of the BCG strains that are used around the world, in part from genomic changes accumulated during vaccine production and their resulting differences in gene expression. We have compared the genomes and transcriptomes of a global collection of fourteen of the most widely used BCG strains at single base-pair resolution. We have also used quantitative proteomics to identify key differences in expression of proteins across five representative BCG strains of the four tandem duplication (DU) groups. We provide a comprehensive map of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), copy number variation and insertions and deletions (indels) across fourteen BCG strains. Genome-wide SNP characterization allowed the construction of a new and robust phylogenic genealogy of BCG strains. Transcriptional and proteomic profiling revealed a metabolic remodeling in BCG strains that may be reflected by altered immunogenicity and possibly vaccine efficacy. Together, these integrated-omic data represent the most comprehensive catalogue of genetic variation across a global collection of BCG strains.
Proteomic analysis of neurons microdissected from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded Alzheimer’s disease brain tissue
Authors: Drummond Eleanor S , Nayak Shruti , Ueberheide Beatrix , Wisniewski Thomas
Published: October 2015

The vast majority of human tissue specimens are formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded (FFPE) archival samples, making this type of tissue a potential gold mine for medical research. It is now accepted that proteomics can be done using FFPE tissue and can generate similar results as snap-frozen tissue. However, the current methodology requires a large amount of starting protein, limiting the questions that can be answered in these types of proteomics studies and making cell-type specific proteomics studies difficult. Cell-type specific proteomics has the potential to greatly enhance understanding of cell functioning in both normal and disease states. Therefore, here we describe a new method that allows localized proteomics on individual cell populations isolated from FFPE tissue sections using laser capture microdissection. To demonstrate this technique we microdissected neurons from archived tissue blocks of the temporal cortex from patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Using this method we identified over 400 proteins in microdissected neurons; on average 78% that were neuronal and 50% that were associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, this technique is able to provide accurate and meaningful data and has great potential for any future study that wishes to perform localized proteomics using very small amounts of archived FFPE tissue.
Aspirin might reduce the incidence of pancreatic cancer: A meta-analysis of observational studies
Authors: Zhang Yan-Peng , Wan You-Dong , Sun Yu-Ling , Li Jian , Zhu Rong-Tao
Published: October 2015

Although there is evidence that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) might be able to prevent pancreatic cancer, the findings from epidemiological studies have been inconsistent. In this paper, we conducted a meta-analysis of observational studies to examine this possibility. We searched PubMed and Embase for observational (cohort or case-control) studies examining the consumption of aspirin and other NSAIDs and the incidence of or mortality rates associated with pancreatic cancer. Twelve studies including approximately 258,000 participants in total were analysed. The administration of aspirin significantly reduced the incidence of pancreatic cancer (8 studies; odds ratio (OR) = 0.77; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.62 to 0.96;I2 = 74.2%) but not the mortality associated with it (2 studies; OR = 0.94; 95% CI = 0.73 to 1.22). Specifically, frequent aspirin use was associated with reduced pancreatic cancer incidence (OR = 0.57; 95% CI = 0.39 to 0.83 for high frequency; OR = 0.57; 95% CI = 0.38 to 0.84 for medium frequency). The summary ORs regarding the incidence of pancreatic cancer and either non-aspirin NSAIDs use (OR = 1.08; 95% CI = 0.90 to 1.31) or overall NSAIDs use (OR = 0.97; 95% CI = 0.86 to 1.10) were not significant. In conclusion, aspirin use might reduce the incidence of pancreatic cancer; however, this finding should be interpreted with caution because of study heterogeneity.
Network structure of multivariate time series
Authors: Lacasa Lucas , Nicosia Vincenzo , Latora Vito
Published: October 2015

Our understanding of a variety of phenomena in physics, biology and economics crucially depends on the analysis of multivariate time series. While a wide range tools and techniques for time series analysis already exist, the increasing availability of massive data structures calls for new approaches for multidimensional signal processing. We present here a non-parametric method to analyse multivariate time series, based on the mapping of a multidimensional time series into a multilayer network, which allows to extract information on a high dimensional dynamical system through the analysis of the structure of the associated multiplex network. The method is simple to implement, general, scalable, does not requiread hocphase space partitioning and is thus suitable for the analysis of large, heterogeneous and non-stationary time series. We show that simple structural descriptors of the associated multiplex networks allow to extract and quantify nontrivial properties of coupled chaotic maps, including the transition between different dynamical phases and the onset of various types of synchronization. As a concrete example we then study financial time series, showing that a multiplex network analysis can efficiently discriminate crises from periods of financial stability, where standard methods based on time-series symbolization often fail.
Ca2+/calmodulin regulates Kvβ1.1-mediated inactivation of voltage-gated K+ channels
Authors: Swain Sandip M. , Sahoo Nirakar , Dennhardt Sophie , Schönherr Roland , Heinemann Stefan H.
Published: October 2015

A-type K+ channels open on membrane depolarization and undergo subsequent rapid inactivation such that they are ideally suited for fine-tuning the electrical signaling in neurons and muscle cells. Channel inactivation mostly follows the so-called ball-and-chain mechanism, in which the N-terminal structures of either the K+ channel’s α or β subunits occlude the channel pore entry facing the cytosol. Inactivation of Kv1.1 and Kv1.4 channels induced by Kvβ1.1 subunits is profoundly decelerated in response to a rise in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration, thus making the affected channel complexes negative feedback regulators to limit neuronal overexcitation. With electrophysiological and biochemical experiments we show that the Ca2+ dependence is gained by binding of calmodulin to the “chain” segment of Kvβ1.1 thereby compromising the mobility of the inactivation particle. Furthermore, inactivation regulation via Ca2+/calmodulin does not interfere with the β subunit’s enzymatic activity as an NADPH-dependent oxidoreductase, thus rendering the Kvβ1.1 subunit a multifunctional receptor that integrates cytosolic signals to be transduced to altered electrical cellular activity.
Recovery of strain-hardening rate in Ni-Si alloys
Authors: Yang C. L. , Zhang Z. J. , Cai T. , Zhang P. , Zhang Z. F.
Published: October 2015

In this study, the recovery of strain-hardening rate (RSHR) was discovered for the first time in polycrystalline materials (Ni-Si alloys) that have only dislocation activities during tensile test. Detailed microstructure characterizations show that the activation of dislocations in the secondary slip systems during tensile deformation is the major reason for this RSHR. By taking into account other metals that also exhibit RSHR during tension, a more general mechanism for the RSHR was proposed, i.e. the occurrence of a sharp decrease of dislocation mean free path (Λ) during plastic deformation, caused by either planar defects or linear defects.