bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Child-directed and nutrition-focused marketing cues on food packaging: links to nutritional content
Authors: Lapierre Matthew A , Brown Autumn M , Houtzer Hunter V , Thomas Tyler J
Published: September 2016

Objective

We tested whether the presence of both child-targeted and nutrition-focused (i.e. parent-targeted) marketing cues on food packaging was associated with the nutritional content of these products.

Design

We conducted a quantitative content analysis of 403 food packages chosen randomly from the supermarket’s online portal along with all products (n 312) from the cereal aisle in a supermarket from the Southeastern USA. We examined main and interaction effects for cues on nutritional content (e.g. energy density, sugar, sodium, fibre).

Setting

A regional supermarket chain in the Southeastern USA.

Results

Tests of main effects indicated that increased presence of nutritional cues was linked to more nutritious content (e.g. less sugar, less saturated fat, more fibre) while the increased presence of child-targeted cues was uniformly associated with less nutritious content (e.g. more sugar, less protein, less fibre). Among the interaction effects, results revealed that products with increased nutrition-focused and child-targeted cues were likely to contain significantly more sugar and less protein than other products.

Conclusions

Products that seek to engage children with their packaging in the supermarket are significantly less nutritious than foods that do not, while product packages that suggest nutritional benefits have more nutritious content. More importantly, the study provides evidence that those products which try to engage both child and parent consumers are significantly less healthy in crucial ways (e.g. more sugar, less fibre) than products that do not.
Correlation between clinically measured breast size and CT-measured breast volume: implications for prone breast radiotherapy
Authors: Alwers Elizabeth , González Andrea , Torres Felipe , Arbeláez Juan C. , Gaitán Armando , Cendales Ricardo
Published: September 2016

Purpose

To determine if a patient’s breast size accurately correlates with the breast volume measured in the computed tomography (CT) scan, and to determine which sizes correspond to a volume >750 cc; in order to predict which patients will benefit from breast irradiation in the prone position.

Methods

Breast size was calculated as the difference between the thoracic (band) and breast (bust) circumferences. Breast volume was contoured by a radiation oncologist and measured on the simulation CT scan. Pearson’s coefficient was used to evaluate the correlation between both variables. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to determine the optimal cut-off point to predict which differences between band and bust would be associated with a volume ≥750 cc.

Results

Fifty-nine patients were included in this study. Mean breast volume was 851·8 cc and mean size difference was 4·7 inches. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was 0·61 (p<0·001). The ROC analysis determined that a difference of 5 inches between the band and bust circumferences was the optimal cut-off point to determine a breast volume of 750 cc.

Conclusions

A significant correlation between breast size as measured in the clinical practice and breast volume measured in the CT scan was found. Among other characteristics, a 5-inch difference between breast band and bust will be the cut-off point to decide if a patient will be treated prone at our institution.
Assessing the effects of ultraviolet radiation on the photosynthetic potential in Archean marine environments
Authors: Avila-Alonso Dailé , Baetens Jan M. , Cardenas Rolando , De Baets Bernard
Published: September 2016

In this work, the photosynthesis model presented by Avilaet al. in 2013 is extended and more scenarios inhabited by ancient cyanobacteria are investigated to quantify the effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on their photosynthetic potential in marine environments of the Archean eon. We consider ferrous ions as blockers of UV during the Early Archean, while the absorption spectrum of chlorophyllais used to quantify the fraction of photosynthetically active radiation absorbed by photosynthetic organisms. UV could have induced photoinhibition at the water surface, thereby strongly affecting the species with low light use efficiency. A higher photosynthetic potential in early marine environments was shown than in the Late Archean as a consequence of the attenuation of UVC and UVB by iron ions, which probably played an important role in the protection of ancient free-floating bacteria from high-intensity UV radiation. Photosynthetic organisms in Archean coastal and ocean environments were probably abundant in the first 5 and 25 m of the water column, respectively. However, species with a relatively high efficiency in the use of light could have inhabited ocean waters up to a depth of 200 m and show a Deep Chlorophyll Maximum near 60 m depth. We show that the electromagnetic radiation from the Sun, both UV and visible light, could have determined the vertical distribution of Archean marine photosynthetic organisms.
Shielding biomolecules from effects of radiation by Mars analogue minerals and soils
Authors: Ertem G. , Ertem M. C. , McKay C. P. , Hazen R. M.
Published: September 2016

Organic compounds have been delivered over time to Mars via meteorites, comets and interplanetary dust particles. The fate of organic material on the surface of Mars must be affected by the Martian environment, in particular by ultraviolet (UV) and other ionizing radiation. Penetration depth of UV radiation into soils is in the sub-millimetre to millimetre range and depends on the properties of the soil. The aim of this research is to study the possible protective role of Martian analogue minerals and soils for survivability of biomolecules against UV radiation and to compare their decomposition rates within a 1 mm-thick portion of the surface. Results demonstrated that minerals offer significant protection to biomolecules purine, pyrimidine and uracil against UV photolysis. In the absence of these minerals, organic compounds are completely degraded when subjected directly to UV photolysis equivalent to only 5 Martian day's exposure. However, similar UV exposure of organics dried from solution onto powdered calcium carbonate (calcite; CaCO3), calcium sulphate (anhydrite; CaSO4), clay-bearing Atacama dessert soil and 7 Å clay mineral kaolinite [Al2Si2O5(OH)4] results in only 1–2% loss of organics. Mixtures of purine and uracil with calcium carbonate exposed to gamma radiation of 3 Gy (3 Gray), which corresponds to approximately 15 000 days on Mars, results in up to 10% loss of organics. By contrast, these organic compounds completely decomposed upon mixing with iron oxide (Fe2O3) before UV irradiation. As the search for extinct or extant life on Mars has been identified as a goal of top priority in NASA's Mars Exploration Program and continues with several missions planned to the red planet by both NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) in the next few decades, our findings may play a useful role in identifying optimal target sites on the Martian surface for future missions.
Efficacy of Telephone Information and Advice on Welfare: the Need for Realist Evaluation
Authors: Harding Andrew J.E. , Parker Jonathan , Hean Sarah , Hemingway Ann
Published: September 2016

In the context of increased marketisation in welfare provision, formal information and advice (I&A) is widely assumed to enable users, as consumers, to make informed choices about services, support and care. There is emerging evidence that telephone I&A services represent important ways of providing such services. This article proposes a framework that identifies key areas of focus delineating the efficacy of I&A, which is then used in a comprehensive literature review to critique existing research on outcomes and/or impact of telephone I&A. Existing, predominately quantitative, research has critical weaknesses. There is a lack of adequate contextual focus, understanding agency, and how I&A is used in different contexts to influence causal processes. The article contends that the efficacy of I&A is not adequately reported and provides much needed theoretical clarity in key areas, including the desirability of further realist evaluation approaches.
A contribution to the ectoparasite fauna of bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) in Mindoro Island, Philippines: I. Blood sucking Diptera (Nycteribiidae, Streblidae) and Siphonaptera (Ischnopsyllidae)
Authors: Alvarez James D. V. , Lit Ireneo L. , Alviola Phillip A. , Cosico Edison A. , Eres Eduardo G.
Published: September 2016

New data on bat ectoparasites from Mindoro Island, Philippines are reported. Eighty-three individuals of ectoparasitic insects representing seven species of Nycteribiidae and five species of Streblidae (both Diptera), and one species of Ischnopsyllidae (Siphonaptera) were recorded from 11 bat species captured in Naujan Lake National Park, Mindoro Oriental Province, Philippines. Raymondia pagodarum is a new record for the country. Eight species are also newly recorded for Mindoro Island, including Cyclopodia garrula, Leptocyclopodia ferrarii mabuhai, Megastrebla parvior, Brachytarsina amboinensis, B. werneri, R. pagodarum, R. pseudopagodarum and Thaumapsylla longiforceps. Five species are newly documented on various hosts: C. horsfieldi on Pteropus pumilus, M. parvior on Macroglossus minimus, B. amboinensis on Hipposideros diadema, B. werneri on Rhinolophus arcuatus and R. pagodarum on Hipposideros bicolor.
Ultraviolet spectrophotometry of flares on “quiescent” M and K dwarf exoplanet hosts
Authors: Loyd R. O. Parke , France Kevin , Youngblood Allison
Published: September 2016

We present an analysis of a sample of flares on “quiescent” (i.e. non-flare) M and K stars using temporally resolved UV spectroscopy from the growing body of MUSCLES Treasury Survey data. Specifically, our analysis quantified the response of the far-UV C II, Si III, Si IV, and N V emission lines and the far-UV continuum during the flares. Using these tracers, we examined one representative event on GJ 832. In concordance with flares recorded on the Sun and AD Leo, the MUSCLES flares are well fit by a power law relationship of similar slope in frequency versus energy. Flares can strip atmospheric mass from orbiting planets, adversely affecting their long-term habitability. To gauge the amplitude of this effect, we computed an energy-balance upper-limit on the amount of atmosphere a large flare might remove from an orbiting Earth due purely to elevated EUV flux and found this limit to be modest relative to Earth's atmospheric mass.
Lightcurve studies and magnetic activities of several eclipsing binaries
Authors: Han Xianming L. , Zhang Liyun , Pi Qingfeng , Wang Daimei
Published: September 2016

Late-type stars with thick convective zones and rapid rotations exhibit magnetic activity phenomena, such as starspots, plages, and flares. However, in many such kinds of eclipsing binaries, the details of the active phenomena are not well understood. In order to improve our understanding of stellar magnetic activities, we are carrying out an extensive study of the magnetic activities of eclipsing binaries by multi-color CCD photometry using several telescopes (SARA 90cm at KPNO, and NAOC 85cm and 60 cm telescopes at Xinglong). In this paper, we will present our preliminary results with revised orbital parameters, starspot parameters, and stellar flare events on DV Psc and BX Tri.
Magnetic energy fluxes in close-in star-planet systems
Authors: Strugarek A. , Brun A. S. , Matt S. P. , Réville V.
Published: September 2016

Magnetic interactions between a close-in planet and its host star have been postulated to be a source of enhanced chromospheric emissions. We develop three dimensional global models of star-planet systems under the ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) approximation to explore the impact of magnetic topology on the energy fluxes induced by the magnetic interaction. We conduct twin numerical experiments in which only the magnetic topology of the interaction is altered. We find that the Poynting flux varies by more than an order of magnitude when varying the magnetic topology from an aligned case to an anti-aligned case. This provides a simple and robust physical explanation for on/off enhanced chromospheric emissions induced by a close-in planet on time-scales of the order of days to years.
The role of complex magnetic topologies on stellar spin-down
Authors: Réville Victor , Brun Allan Sacha , Strugarek Antoine , Matt Sean P. , Bouvier Jérôme , Folsom Colin P. , Petit Pascal
Published: September 2016

The rotational braking of magnetic stars through the extraction of angular momentum by stellar winds has been studied for decades, leading to several formulations. We recently demonstrated that the dependency of the braking law on the coronal magnetic field topology can be taken into account through a simple scalar parameter: the open magnetic flux. The Zeeman-Doppler Imaging technique has brought the community a reliable and precise description of the surface magnetic field of distant stars. The coronal structure can then be reconstructed using a potential field extrapolation, a technique that relies on a source surface radius beyond which all field lines are open, thus avoiding a computationally expensive MHD simulations. We developed a methodology to choose the best source surface radius in order to estimate open flux and magnetic torques. We apply this methodology to five K-type stars from 25 to 584 Myr and the Sun, and compare the resulting torque to values expected from spin evolution models.
Stellar wind - magnetosphere interactions in hot Jupiters
Authors: Buzasi Derek L.
Published: September 2016

One potential star-planet interaction mechanism for hot Jupiters involves planetary heating via currents set up by interactions between the stellar wind and planetary magnetosphere. Early modeling results indicate that such currents, which are analogous to the terrestrial global electric circuit (GEC), have the potential to provide sufficient heating to account for the additional radius inflation seen in some hot Jupiters. Here we present a more detailed model of this phenomenon, exploring the scale of the effect, the circumstances under which it is likely to be significant, implications for the planetary magnetospheric structure, and observational signatures.
Magnetic reconnection between an emerging active region and the quiet Sun
Authors: Zhang Bin , Zhang Jun , Yang Shuhong , Li Ting , Zhang Yuzong , Li Leping
Published: September 2016

Using the Solar Dynamics Observatory observations, we study the evolution of an emerging active region (EAR) and its reconnection with the quiet Sun. The EAR continuously interacts with the surrounding quiet region, and dark ribbons at the boundary of the EAR and the quiet Sun are observed. The extreme-ultraviolet observations show that the regions swept by the dark ribbons are brightened and the temperature increases. These results reveal that there exists an uninterrupted magnetic reconnection between the EAR and the quiet region and the released energy heats the corona of the quiet Sun. The dark ribbons are suggested to correspond to the interface of the reconnected fields and the undisturbed ones. The dark ribbon propagates outward, and this phenomenon is considered as a dark wave.
Multi-wavelength observations of filament oscillations induced by shock waves
Authors: Shen Yuandeng
Published: September 2016

Two cases of filament oscillations induced by large-scale coronal shock waves are presented. For the first case, a chain of transverse oscillating filaments are observed in a proper order after the passing of a shock wave, and it is found that the they were triggered by the surface component of the dome-shaped shock wave. For the second case, simultaneous transverse oscillation of a limb prominence and longitudinal oscillation in an on-disk filament are launched by a single shock wave. It is found that the interaction angle between the shock wave and the prominence axis is the key to launch transverse or longitudinal filament oscillations. In addition, filament magnetic fields are estimated, using the measured parameters.
Solar X-rays from 0.3 a.u.: the ChemiX Bragg Spectrometer on Interhelioprobe
Authors: Sylwester Janusz , Siarkowski Marek , Bąkała Jarosław , Szaforz Żaneta , Kowaliński Mirosław , Stęślicki Marek , Sylwester Barbara , Kordylewski Zbigniew , Dudnik Oleksiy , Kuznetsov Vladimir D. , Polansky Valery , Kuzin Sergey , Phillips Kenneth J. H.
Published: September 2016

ChemiX is a Bragg crystal spectrometer that will fly on the two Interhelioprobe spacecraft due for launch in 2025 and 2026. The spacecraft perihelion will be only 0.3 a.u. and the orbit inclination up to 30°, and so instruments on board will have a close view of solar active regions and flares and regions near each solar pole. The ChemiX X-ray spectrometer, built by a consortium of groups led by the Space Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, will fly on each of the spacecraft, and observe X-ray spectra in the 1.5 - 9 Å range. Spectral lines in this range include resonance lines of helium-like and hydrogen-like ions of elements such as Fe, Ca, Ar, S, and Si, with less abundant elements such as K and Cl represented by weaker lines which the high sensitivity of ChemiX should be able to detect. The free–free and free–bound continua should also be detected since instrumental background will be eliminated. Three of the seven channels of ChemiX will be in a “dopplerometer” arrangement by which spatial and spectral shifts present in flare impulsive stages can be disentangled.
Synergy between solar and stellar flares: challenges and perspectives
Authors: Hawley Suzanne L.
Published: September 2016

I will review the current status of stellar flare observations and models, highlight similarities and differences with solar flares, and plead for additional data and insight from the “Sun as a Star”.
{High dispersion spectroscopy of solar-type superflare stars with Subaru/HDS
Authors: Notsu Yuta , Honda Satoshi , Maehara Hiroyuki , Notsu Shota , Shibayama Takuya , Nogami Daisaku , Shibata Kazunari
Published: September 2016

We carried out spectroscopic observations with Subaru/HDS of 50 solar-type superflare stars found from Kepler data. More than half (34 stars) of the target stars show no evidence of the binary system, and we confirmed atmospheric parameters of these stars are roughly in the range of solar-type stars.

We then conducted the detailed analyses for these 34 stars. First, the value of the “v sin i” (projected rotational velocity) measured from spectroscopic results is consistent with the rotational velocity estimated from the brightness variation. Second, there is a correlation between the amplitude of the brightness variation and the intensity of Ca II IR triplet line. All the targets expected to have large starspots because of their large amplitude of the brightness variation show high chromospheric activities compared with the Sun. These results support that the brightness variation of superflare stars is explained by the rotation of a star with large starspots.
On the fine structure of solar flare X-ray loop top sources
Authors: Mrozek Tomasz , Kołomański Sylwester
Published: September 2016

Solar flare X-ray loop top sources (LTSs) are known since early observations from Skylab.They are always present accompanying long duration events (LDE), but their nature remains unclear. One of the main unknowns is spatial structure of LTSs. Observations indicate that LTSs are large and diffuse, but several authors suggested that there is present a fine, internal structure within them which should be resolved even using present space instrumentation.We present an example for the solar flare well observed by SDO/AIA and RHESSI. The LTS was dynamic with an episode of splitting into two sources. We performed detailed analysis of X-ray sources morphology using restored RHESSI images. Moreover, we conducted a number of simulations taking into account various possible spatial distributions of X-ray emission. We have found that in case of the flare investigated RHESSI should be capable to detect the fine structure if present. However it is not visible on the restored images. Some of our simulations suggest that we can also miss large, diffuse sources in the X-ray observations which may eventually lead to misinterpretation of the observed X-ray features.
The Lyman-α Solar Telescope (LST) for the ASO-S mission
Authors: Li Hui
Published: September 2016

The Lyman-α (Lyα) Solar Telescope (LST) is one of the payloads for the proposed Space-Borne Advanced Solar Observatory (ASO-S). LST consists of a Solar Disk Imager (SDI) with a field-of-view (FOV) of 1.2 R⊙ (R⊙ = solar radius), a Solar Corona Imager (SCI) with an FOV of 1.1 - 2.5 R⊙, and a full-disk White-light Solar Telescope (WST) with the same FOV as the SDI, which also serves as the guiding telescope. The SCI is designed to work in the Lyα (121.6 nm) waveband and white-light (for polarization brightness observation), while the SDI will work in the Lyα waveband only. The WST works in both visible (for guide) and ultraviolet (for science) broadband. The LST will observe the Sun from disk-center up to 2.5 R⊙ for both solar flares and coronal mass ejections with high tempo-spatial resolution
Searching for failed eruptions interacting with overlying magnetic field
Authors: Gronkiewicz Dominik , Mrozek Tomasz , Kołomański Sylwester , Chruślińska Martyna
Published: September 2016

It is well known that not all solar flares are connected with eruptions followed by coronal mass ejection (CME). Even strongest X-class flares may not be accompanied by eruptions or are accompanied by failed eruptions. One of important factor that prevent eruption from developing into CME is strength of the magnetic field overlying flare site. Few observations show that active regions with specific magnetic configuration may produce many CME-less solar flares. Therefore, forecasts of geoeffective events based on active region properties have to take into account probability of confining solar eruptions. Present observations of SDO/AIA give a chance for deep statistical analysis of properties of an active region which may lead to confining an eruption. We developed automated method which can recognize eruptions in AIA images. With this tool we will be able to analyze statistical properties of failed eruptions observed by AIA telescope.
Multitemperature analysis of solar flare observed on 2003 March 29
Authors: Kepa Anna , Sylwester Barbara , Sylwester Janusz , Siarkowski Marek , Mrozek Tomasz , Gryciuk Magdalena
Published: September 2016

We present results of multitemperature analysis of GOES C7.2 class flare SOL2003-03-29T10:15. This event occurred close to the centre of the solar disk and had two maxima in soft X-rays. We have performed analysis of physical parameters characterizing evolution of conditions in the flaring plasma. The temperature diagnostics have been carried out using the differential emission measure (DEM) approach based on the soft X-ray spectra collected by RESIK Bragg spectrometer. Analysis of data obtained by RHESSI provided opportunity to estimate the volume and thus calculating the density and thermal energy content of hot flaring plasma.
EUV irradiance observations from SDO/EVE as a diagnostic of solar flares
Authors: Milligan Ryan O.
Published: September 2016

For the past six years, the EUV Variability Experiment (EVE) onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory has been monitoring changes in the Sun's extreme ultraviolet output over a range of timescales. Its primary function is to provide measurements of the solar spectral irradiance that is responsible for driving fluctuations in Earth's ionosphere and thermosphere. However, despite its modest spectral resolution and lack of spatial information, the EVE spectral range contains many lines and continua that have become invaluable for diagnosing the response of the lower solar atmosphere itself to an injection of energy, particularly during a flare's impulsive phase. In addition, high temperature emission lines can also be used to track changes in temperature and density of flaring plasma in the corona. The high precision of EVE observations are therefore crucial in helping us understand particle acceleration and energy transport mechanisms during solar flares, as well as the origins of the Sun's most geoeffective emission.
Quiescent and flaring lyman-α radiation of host stars and effects on exoplanets
Authors: Linsky Jeffrey L. , France Kevin , Miguel Yamila , Kaltenegger Lisa
Published: September 2016

Lyman-α radiation dominates the ultraviolet spectra of G, K, and M stars and is a major photodissociation source for H2O, CO2, and CH4 in the upper atmospheres of exoplanets. We obtain intrinsic Lyman-α line fluxes for late-type stars by correcting for interstellar absorption or by scaling from other spectroscopic observables. When stars flare, all emission lines brighten by large factors as shown by HST spectra. We describe photochemical models of the atmosphere of the mini-Neptune GJ 436b (Miguel et al. 2015) that show the effects of flaring Lyman-α fluxes on atmospheric chemical abundances.
The early Earth under a superflare and super-CME attack: prospects for life
Authors: Airapetian Vladimir , Glocer Alex , Gronoff Guillaume
Published: September 2016

Kepler observations suggest that G-type stars produce powerful flares suggesting that the early Earth may also have been exposed to frequent and energetic solar explosive events generated by the young Sun. We show that powerful coronal mass ejection (CME) events associated with superflares impacting the Earth magnetosphere with a frequency of 1 event/day. What was the impact of superflares, CMEs and associated solar energetic particle (SEPs) events on the atmospheric erosion of the young Earth and habitability? In this paper we discuss our three-dimensional (3D) magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations that show that frequent and energetic CMEs from the early Sun continuously destroyed the sub-solar parts of Earth's magnetosphere at heights < 1.25 RE. This suggests that CME shock accelerated energetic protons are capable of penetrating into the polar cap region and breaking atmospheric molecular nitrogen, the major ingredient of the early Earth atmosphere, into atomic nitrogen. Photo-collisional dissociation of molecular nitrogen and carbon dioxide creates reactive chemistry that efficiently produces nitrous oxide and hydrogen cyanide, the essential molecule in prebiotic life chemistry. This raises an possibility that frequent super-CMEs could serve as a potential catalyst for the origin of life on early Earth.
Radio spectroscopy of stellar flares: magnetic reconnection & CME shocks in stellar coronae
Authors: Villadsen Jackie , Hallinan Gregg , Bourke Stephen
Published: September 2016

High-cadence spectroscopy of solar and stellar coherent radio bursts is a powerful diagnostic tool to study coronal conditions during magnetic reconnection in flares and to detect coronal mass ejections (CMEs). We present results from wide-bandwidth VLA observations of nearby active M dwarfs, including some observations with simultaneous VLBA imaging. We also discuss the Starburst program, which will make wide-bandwidth radio spectroscopic observations of nearby active flare stars for 20+ hours a day for multiple years, coming online in spring 2016 at the Owens Valley Radio Observatory. This program should vastly increase the diversity of observed stellar radio bursts and our understanding of their origins, and offers the potential to detect a population of CME-associated radio bursts.
Associations between coping, thought control and psychological distress
Authors: Ragan Kathryn , Pugh Lauren , Degnan Amy , Berry Katherine
Published: September 2016

Ways of coping with stressful situations can be categorized as problem-focused, emotion-focused, and dysfunctional. Methods of controlling intrusive thoughts, which are frequently associated with psychological distress, have also been classified into different subgroups. This study assesses associations between methods of coping and thought control, and how these relate to distress. Sixty-eight participants were recruited from outpatient psychology services and completed measures of distress, coping, and thought control. Problem-focused coping strategies and both distraction and social thought-control strategies were associated with each other and with lower distress. Conversely, dysfunctional coping strategies and both worry and punishment thought-control strategies were associated with each other and with higher distress. Future research and the clinical implications are discussed.
Mass production of two-dimensional oxides by rapid heating of hydrous chlorides
Authors: Zhao Chunsong , Zhang Haitian , Si Wenjie , Wu Hui
Published: September 2016

Two-dimensional (2D) nanoscale oxides have attracted research interest owing to their electronic, magnetic optical and catalytic properties. If they could be manufactured on a large scale, 2D oxides would be attractive for applications ranging from electronics to energy conversion and storage. Herein, we report facile fabrication of oxide nanosheets by rapid thermal annealing of corresponding hydrous-chloride compounds. By heating CrCl3·6H2O, ZrOCl2·8H2O, AlCl3·6H2O and YCl3·6H2O crystals as precursors, we immediately collect large quantities of ultrathin Cr2O3, ZrO2, Al2O3and Y2O3nanosheets, respectively. The formation of layered nanosheets relies on exfoliation driven by rapid evaporation of water and/or other gas molecules generated under annealing. Our route allows simple, efficient and inexpensive production of 2D oxides. As a demonstration, we evaluate Cr2O3nanosheets prepared by our method as anodes in lithium-ion batteries and find superior performance in comparison with their microcrystalline counterparts.
Indole-3- carbinol enhances sorafenib cytotoxicity in hepatocellular carcinoma cells: A mechanistic study
Authors: Abdelmageed Mai M. , El-Naga Reem N. , El-Demerdash Ebtehal , Elmazar Mohamed M.
Published: September 2016

Sorafenib is the only chemotherapeutic agent currently approved for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, poor response rates have been widely reported. Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) is a potential chemopreventive phytochemical. The present study aimed to explore the potential chemomodulatory effects of I3C on sorafenib in HCC cells as well as the possible underlying mechanisms. I3C exhibited a greater cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells compared to Huh-7 cells (p < 0.0001). Moreover, the co-treatment of HepG2 cells with I3C and sorafenib was more effective (p = 0.002). Accordingly, subsequent mechanistic studies were carried on HepG2 cells. The results show that the ability of I3C to enhance sorafenib cytotoxicity in HCC cells could be partially attributed to increasing the apoptotic activity and decreasing the angiogenic potentials. The combination had a negative effect on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Increased NOX-1 expression was also observed which may indicate the involvement of NOX-1 in I3C chemomodulatory effects. Additionally, the combination induced cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase. In conclusion, these findings provide evidence that I3C enhances sorafenib anti-cancer activity in HCC cells.
Exchange factors directly activated by cAMP mediate melanocortin 4 receptor-induced gene expression
Authors: Glas Evi , Mückter Harald , Gudermann Thomas , Breit Andreas
Published: September 2016

Gs protein-coupled receptors regulate many vital body functions by activation of cAMP response elements (CRE) via cAMP-dependent kinase A (PKA)-mediated phosphorylation of the CRE binding protein (CREB). Melanocortin 4 receptors (MC4R) are prototypical Gs-coupled receptors that orchestrate the hypothalamic control of food-intake and metabolism. Remarkably, the significance of PKA for MC4R-induced CRE-dependent transcription in hypothalamic cells has not been rigorously interrogated yet. In two hypothalamic cell lines, we observed that blocking PKA activity had only weak or no effects on reporter gene expression. In contrast, inhibitors of exchange factors directly activated by cAMP-1/2 (EPAC-1/2) mitigated MC4R-induced CRE reporter activation and mRNA induction of the CREB-dependent genes c-fos and thyrotropin-releasing hormone. Furthermore, we provide first evidence that extracellular-regulated kinases-1/2 (ERK-1/2) activated by EPACs and not PKA are the elusive CREB kinases responsible for MC4R-induced CREB/CRE activation in hypothalamic cells. Overall, these data emphasize the pivotal role of EPACs rather than PKA in hypothalamic gene expression elicited by a prototypical Gs-coupled receptor.
Electrospun carbon nanofibers reinforced 3D porous carbon polyhedra network derived from metal-organic frameworks for capacitive deionization
Authors: Liu Yong , Ma Jiaqi , Lu Ting , Pan Likun
Published: September 2016

Carbon nanofibers reinforced 3D porous carbon polyhedra network (e-CNF-PCP) was prepared through electrospinning and subsequent thermal treatment. The morphology, structure and electrochemical performance of the e-CNF-PCP were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectra, nitrogen adsorption-desorption, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and their electrosorption performance in NaCl solution was studied. The results show that the e-CNF-PCP exhibits a high electrosorption capacity of 16.98 mg g−1 at 1.2 V in 500 mg l−1 NaCl solution, which shows great improvement compared with those of electrospun carbon nanofibers and porous carbon polyhedra. The e-CNF-PCP should be a very promising candidate as electrode material for CDI applications.
The Role of Nanoscale Seed Layers on the Enhanced Performance of Niobium doped TiO2 Thin Films on Glass
Authors: Nikodemski Stefan , Dameron Arrelaine A. , Perkins John D. , O’Hayre Ryan P. , Ginley David S. , Berry Joseph J.
Published: September 2016

Transparent conducting oxide (TCO) coatings with decreased cost and greater process or performance versatility are needed for a variety of optoelectronic applications. Among potential new TCO candidates, doped titanium dioxide is receiving particular interest. In this study, niobium-doped titania bilayer structures consisting of a nanoscale seed layer (deposited by atomic layer deposition or RF magnetron sputtering) followed by a thick bulk-like layer were grown directly on glass in order to examine the effects of the seed layer processing on the subsequent crystallization and electrical properties of these heterostructures. Observations from Raman spectroscopy suggest that higher oxygen content in the seed layer suppresses the formation of detrimental titania polymorph phases, found in films produced by annealing directly after synthesis without any exposure to oxygen. Furthermore, our results indicate that the generation of excellent Nb:TiO2 conductors on glass (without breaking vacuum) only occurs within a narrow processing range and that the sequential deposition of oxygen-poor layers on oxygen-rich layers is a critical step towards achieving films with low resistivity.
Application of optically-induced-dielectrophoresis in microfluidic system for purification of circulating tumour cells for gene expression analysis- Cancer cell line model
Authors: Chiu Tzu-Keng , Chou Wen-Pin , Huang Song-Bin , Wang Hung-Ming , Lin Yung-Chang , Hsieh Chia-Hsun , Wu Min-Hsien
Published: September 2016

Circulating tumour cells (CTCs) in a blood circulation system are associated with cancer metastasis. The analysis of the drug-resistance gene expression of cancer patients’ CTCs holds promise for selecting a more effective therapeutic regimen for an individual patient. However, the current CTC isolation schemes might not be able to harvest CTCs with sufficiently high purity for such applications. To address this issue, this study proposed to integrate the techniques of optically induced dielectrophoretic (ODEP) force-based cell manipulation and fluorescent microscopic imaging in a microfluidic system to further purify CTCs after the conventional CTC isolation methods. In this study, the microfluidic system was developed, and its optimal operating conditions and performance for CTC isolation were evaluated. The results revealed that the presented system was able to isolate CTCs with cell purity as high as 100%, beyond what is possible using the previously existing techniques. In the analysis of CTC gene expression, therefore, this method could exclude the interference of leukocytes in a cell sample and accordingly contribute to higher analytical sensitivity, as demonstrated in this study. Overall, this study has presented an ODEP-based microfluidic system capable of simply and effectively isolating a specific cell species from a cell mixture.
Proliferation of Perivascular Macrophages Contributes to the Development of Encephalitic Lesions in HIV-Infected Humans and in SIV-Infected Macaques
Authors: Filipowicz Adam R. , McGary Christopher M. , Holder Gerard E. , Lindgren Allison A. , Johnson Edward M. , Sugimoto Chie , Kuroda Marcelo J. , Kim Woong-Ki
Published: September 2016

The aim of the present study was to investigate if macrophage proliferation occurs in the brain during simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection of adult macaques. We examined the expression of the Ki-67 proliferation marker in the brains of uninfected and SIV-infected macaques with or without encephalitis. Double-label immunohistochemistry using antibodies against the pan-macrophage marker CD68 and Ki-67 showed that there was a significant increase in CD68+Ki-67+ cells in macaques with SIV encephalitis (SIVE) compared to uninfected and SIV-infected animals without encephalitis, a trend that was also confirmed in brain samples from patients with HIV encephalitis. Multi-label immunofluorescence for CD163 and Ki-67 confirmed that the vast majority of Ki-67+ nuclei were localized to CD163+ macrophages in perivascular cuffs and lesions. The proliferative capacity of Ki-67+ perivascular macrophages (PVM) was confirmed by their nuclear incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine. Examining SIVE lesions, using double-label immunofluorescence with antibodies against SIV-Gag-p28 and Ki-67, showed that the population of Ki-67+ cells were productively infected and expanded proportionally with lesions. Altogether, this study shows that there are subpopulations of resident PVM that express Ki-67 and are SIV-infected, suggesting a mechanism of macrophage accumulation in the brain via PVM proliferation.
The demonstration of significant ferroelectricity in epitaxial Y-doped HfO2 film
Authors: Shimizu Takao , Katayama Kiliha , Kiguchi Takanori , Akama Akihiro , Konno Toyohiko J. , Sakata Osami , Funakubo Hiroshi
Published: September 2016

Ferroelectricity and Curie temperature are demonstrated for epitaxial Y-doped HfO2 film grown on (110) yttrium oxide-stabilized zirconium oxide (YSZ) single crystal using Sn-doped In2O3 (ITO) as bottom electrodes. The XRD measurements for epitaxial film enabled us to investigate its detailed crystal structure including orientations of the film. The ferroelectricity was confirmed by electric displacement filed – electric filed hysteresis measurement, which revealed saturated polarization of 16 μC/cm2. Estimated spontaneous polarization based on the obtained saturation polarization and the crystal structure analysis was 45 μC/cm2. This value is the first experimental estimations of the spontaneous polarization and is in good agreement with the theoretical value from first principle calculation. Curie temperature was also estimated to be about 450 °C. This study strongly suggests that the HfO2-based materials are promising for various ferroelectric applications because of their comparable ferroelectric properties including polarization and Curie temperature to conventional ferroelectric materials together with the reported excellent scalability in thickness and compatibility with practical manufacturing processes.
HMGB4 is expressed by neuronal cells and affects the expression of genes involved in neural differentiation
Authors: Rouhiainen Ari , Zhao Xiang , Vanttola Päivi , Qian Kui , Kulesskiy Evgeny , Kuja-Panula Juha , Gransalke Kathleen , Grönholm Mikaela , Unni Emmanual , Meistrich Marvin , Tian Li , Auvinen Petri , Rauvala Heikki
Published: September 2016

HMGB4 is a new member in the family of HMGB proteins that has been characterized in sperm cells, but little is known about its functions in somatic cells. Here we show that HMGB4 and the highly similar rat Transition Protein 4 (HMGB4L1) are expressed in neuronal cells. Both proteins had slow mobility in nucleus of living NIH-3T3 cells. They interacted with histones and their differential expression in transformed cells of the nervous system altered the post-translational modification statuses of histones in vitro. Overexpression of HMGB4 in HEK 293T cells made cells more susceptible to cell death induced by topoisomerase inhibitors in an oncology drug screening array and altered variant composition of histone H3. HMGB4 regulated over 800 genes in HEK 293T cells with a p-value ≤0.013 (n = 3) in a microarray analysis and displayed strongest association with adhesion and histone H2A –processes. In neuronal and transformed cells HMGB4 regulated the expression of an oligodendrocyte marker gene PPP1R14a and other neuronal differentiation marker genes. In conclusion, our data suggests that HMGB4 is a factor that regulates chromatin and expression of neuronal differentiation markers.
An extended patch-dynamic framework for food chains in fragmented landscapes
Authors: Liao Jinbao , Chen Jiehong , Ying Zhixia , Hiebeler David E. , Nijs Ivan
Published: September 2016

Habitat destruction, a key determinant of species loss, can be characterized by two components, patch loss and patch fragmentation, where the former refers to the reduction in patch availability, and the latter to the division of the remaining patches. Classical metacommunity models have recently explored how food web dynamics respond to patch loss, but the effects of patch fragmentation have largely been overlooked. Here we develop an extended patch-dynamic model that tracks the patch occupancy of the various trophic links subject to colonization-extinction-predation dynamics by incorporating species dispersal with patch connectivity. We found that, in a simple food chain, species at higher trophic level become extinct sooner with increasing patch loss and fragmentation due to the constraint in resource availability, confirming the trophic rank hypothesis. Yet, effects of fragmentation on species occupancy are largely determined by patch loss, with maximal fragmentation effects occurring at intermediate patch loss. Compared to the spatially explicit simulations that we also performed, the current model with pair approximation generates similar community patterns especially in spatially clustered landscapes. Overall, our extended framework can be applied to model more complex food webs in fragmented landscapes, broadening the scope of existing metacommunity theory.
Enhancing the Surface Sensitivity of Metallic Nanostructures Using Oblique-Angle-Induced Fano Resonances
Authors: Lee Kuang-Li , Chang Chia-Chun , You Meng-Lin , Pan Ming-Yang , Wei Pei-Kuen
Published: September 2016

Surface sensitivity is an important factor that determines the minimum amount of biomolecules detected by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors. We propose the use of oblique-angle-induced Fano resonances caused by two-mode coupling or three-mode coupling between the localized SPR mode and long-range surface plasmon polariton modes to increase the surface sensitivities of silver capped nanoslits. The results indicate that the coupled resonance between the split SPR (−kSPR) and cavity modes (two-mode coupling) has a high wavelength sensitivity for small-angle incidence (2°) due to its short decay length. Additionally, three-mode coupling between the split SPR (−kSPR), substrate (+kSub) and cavity modes has a high intensity sensitivity for large-angle incidence due to its short decay length, large resonance slope and enhanced transmission intensity. Compared to the wavelength measurement, the intensity measurement has a lower detectable (surface) concentration below 1 ng/ml (0.14 pg/mm2) and is reduced by at least 3 orders of magnitude. In addition, based on the calibration curve and current system noise, a theoretical detection limit of 2.73 pg/ml (0.38 fg/mm2) can be achieved. Such a surface concentration is close to that of prism-based SPR with phase measurement (0.1–0.2 fg/mm2 under a phase shift of 5 mdeg).
Hydroclimatic contrasts over Asian monsoon areas and linkages to tropical Pacific SSTs
Authors: Xu Hai , Lan Jianghu , Sheng Enguo , Liu Bin , Yu Keke , Ye Yuanda , Shi Zhengguo , Cheng Peng , Wang Xulong , Zhou Xinying , Yeager Kevin M.
Published: September 2016

Knowledge of spatial and temporal hydroclimatic differences is critical in understanding climatic mechanisms. Here we show striking hydroclimatic contrasts between northern and southern parts of the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau (ETP), and those between East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) and Indian summer monsoon (ISM) areas during the past ~2,000 years. During the Medieval Period, and the last 100 to 200 years, the southern ETP (S-ETP) area was generally dry (on average), while the northern ETP (N-ETP) area was wet. During the Little Ice Age (LIA), hydroclimate over S-ETP areas was wet, while that over N-ETP area was dry (on average). Such hydroclimatic contrasts can be broadly extended to ISM and EASM areas. We contend that changes in sea surface temperatures (SSTs) of the tropical Pacific Ocean could have played important roles in producing these hydroclimatic contrasts, by forcing the north-south movement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and intensification/slowdown of Walker circulation. The results of sensitivity experiments also support such a proposition.
Development of a paper-based analytical device for colorimetric detection of uric acid using gold nanoparticles–graphene oxide (AuNPs–GO) conjugates
Authors: Kumar Sanjay , Bhushan Pulak , Bhattacharya Shantanu
Published: September 2016

A novel paper-based device for colorimetric detection of uric acid was developed based on the peroxidase-like activity of gold nanoparticles–graphene conjugates (AuNPs–GO).
Bimetallic gold–silver nanocluster fluorescent probes for Cr(iii) and Cr(vi)
Authors: Yang Yuanlian , Sun Yongfang , Liao Shuzhen , Wu Zhaoyang , Yu Ruqin
Published: September 2016

Bimetallic gold–silver nanocluster fluorescent probes for the detection of Cr(iii) and Cr(vi) and the achievement of chemical speciation.
Multiple-decker and ring sandwich formation of manganese–benzene organometallic cluster anions: MnnBzn− (n = 1–5 and 18)
Authors: Masubuchi Tsugunosuke , Iwasa Takeshi , Nakajima Atsushi
Published: September 2016

Organometallic multiple-decker sandwich clusters are topics of great interest due to their unique electronic and magnetic properties originating from anisotropic structures. A joint anion photoelectron spectroscopic and computational study reveals MnnBzn− (Bz = benzene) multiple-decker and ring sandwich formation.
Bulk and composite catalysts combining BEA topology and mesoporosity for the valorisation of furfural
Authors: Antunes Margarida M. , Neves Patrícia , Fernandes Auguste , Lima Sérgio , Silva Andreia F. , Ribeiro Maria F. , Silva Carlos M. , Pillinger Martyn , Valente Anabela A.
Published: September 2016

Synthesis strategies to materials integrating BEA topology, Zr,Al-sites and mesoporosity, for furfural valorisation via integrated reduction/acid reactions in an alcohol medium.
Field effect nanofluidics
Authors: Prakash Shaurya , Conlisk A. T.
Published: September 2016

Nanoscale fluid transport through conduits in the 1–100 nm range is termed as nanofluidics.
The nephelauxetic effect of Eu(iii)–N-donor compounds probed using fluorescence spectroscopy—further evidence for covalence?
Authors: Wagner Christoph , Ruff Christian , Müllich Udo , Geist Andreas , Panak Petra J.
Published: September 2016

A new correlation for the identification of Eu(iii) N-donor complexes in aqueous and organic media is introduced, exhibiting new information on the nature of Eu(iii) bonding.