bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Suspected hydroxychloroquine‐induced thrombotic thrombocytopaenic purpura
Authors: Fromm Lisa M.
Published: December 2017

Background

Thrombotic thrombocytopaenic purpura (TTP) is a rare illness characterised by haemolytic anaemia, thrombocytopaenia and microvascular thrombosis with a 90% mortality rate if left untreated. It is a known adverse reaction to quinine; hydroxychloroquine, as a synthetic derivative of this parent compound, may also put patients at risk of this complication. However, reports of hydroxychloroquine‐induced TTP are extremely rare in the literature.

Aim

This report describes a potential association between consumption of hydroxychloroquine and the development of TTP.

Clinical details

A 64‐year‐old woman presented with confusion, ataxia, fevers and chills, poor urine output and muscle weakness after receiving three doses of hydroxychloroquine for rheumatoid arthritis. Initial investigations were consistent with haemolytic anaemia, thrombocytopaenia and renal and neurological deterioration.

Management and outcome

The patient's usual medications were withheld, intravenous corticosteroids were started and total plasma exchange began on day three of her admission. She remained febrile without a source of sepsis, her platelet count and haemoglobin level recovered only slightly and her brain computed tomography showed microvascular ischaemia. Poor prognosis and likely significant long‐term neurological disability led to active treatment being withdrawn on day 15 of her admission and she died the following day.

Conclusion

This reaction appears similar to the presentation of quinine‐associated TTP and could evolve via a similar mechanism given the structural similarities of these molecules. This case report, sparse reports of hydroxychloroquine‐induced thrombocytopaenia and only one published case report of TTP secondary to this drug highlight a possible association between TTP and hydroxychloroquine.
When consumers penalize not so green products
Authors: Lee Jeonggyu , Bhatt Siddharth , Suri Rajneesh
Published: December 2017

To cash in on consumers’ willingness to pay higher prices for green products, several companies are promoting conventional products as green by highlighting a few green attributes. Through a theoretical lens, the authors investigate how consumers perceive such attempts. This research illustrates that not so green products make consumers sensitive to the monetary sacrifice associated with the purchase of such products. The current research shows that consumers have a negative attitude toward such products and they become concerned about the ethicality of the company when they encounter such products. Both implicit and explicit measures suggest that consumers notice the company's motive behind such practices which, in turn, impacts their price perceptions.
The role of actual, ideal, and ought self‐congruence in the consumption of hedonic versus utilitarian brands
Authors: Huber Frank , Eisele Anita , Meyer Frederik
Published: December 2017

To emotionally attach consumers to a brand and inspire brand loyalty, marketers often target the brand personality towards the consumer's actual or ideal self. The self is not limited to its actual and ideal dimension, however, and motivation to approach a desired self may vary depending on the consumer's personality. Thus, the current research is the first to link self‐congruence to self‐discrepancy theory by incorporating the ought self into the self‐congruence framework and taking into account self‐discrepancies as potential moderators of the self‐congruence effect. Additionally, hedonic brand nature is discussed as important condition for self‐congruence and self‐discrepancies exhibiting their fullest effect. The conducted study focuses on how actual, ideal, and ought self‐congruence influence emotional brand attachment and consequently brand loyalty. For brands of primary hedonic nature, findings confirm actual and ideal self‐congruence as drivers of emotional brand attachment, which in turn increases brand loyalty, while ought self‐congruence influences brand loyalty directly. Moreover, self‐discrepancies moderate the described relations, albeit their effect is contrary to theory‐based expectations. From these findings, the authors derive important implications for business practice and future research.
Greater Reward‐Related Neuronal Response to Hedonic Foods in Women Compared with Men
Authors: Legget Kristina T. , Cornier Marc‐Andre , Bessesen Daniel H. , Mohl Brianne , Thomas Elizabeth A. , Tregellas Jason R.
Published: December 2017

Objective

The current study aimed to identify how sex influences neurobiological responses to food cues, particularly those related to hedonic eating, and how this relates to obesity propensity, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

Methods

Adult men and women who were either obesity resistant (OR) or obesity prone (OP) underwent fMRI while viewing visual food cues (hedonic foods, neutral foods, and nonfood objects) in both fasted and fed states.

Results

When fasted, a significant sex effect on the response to hedonic vs. neutral foods was observed, with greater responses in women than men in the nucleus accumbens (P = 0.0002) and insula (P = 0.010). Sex‐based differences were not observed in the fed state. No significant group effects (OP vs. OR) or group‐by‐sex interactions were observed in fasted or fed states.

Conclusions

Greater fasted responses to hedonic food cues in reward‐related brain regions were observed in women compared with men, suggesting that women may be more sensitive to the reward value of hedonic foods than men when fasted. This may indicate sex‐dependent neurophysiology underlying eating behaviors.
Adsorption Effect of Five‐Membered and Six‐Membered Alicyclic Amine‐Derived Mannich Bases on Mild Steel Surface in 1.0 M HCl
Authors: Nesaian Ugin Inbaraj , Prabhu Ganesan Venkatesa
Published: December 2017

Two new Mannich bases N‐(3‐(benzo[d][1, 3]dioxol‐5‐yl(pyrrolidin‐1‐yl)methyl)‐4‐hydroxyphenyl)acetamide (I1) and N‐(3‐(benzo[d][1, 3]dioxol‐5‐yl(morpholino)methyl)‐4‐hydroxyphenyl) acetamide (I2) are synthesised and evaluated their corrosion inhibition behaviour through weight loss measurements, electrochemical, quantum chemical and surface analytical studies. Tafel studies revealed that the inhibitors are found to be mixed type. EIS studies confirmed that corrosion process is controlled through charge transfer process. The adsorption of inhibitors I1 and I2 follows Langmuir adsorption isotherm and ΔGads values suggest that both physorption and chemisorption are possible. Surface studies show that in the presence of inhibitors, smoother surface is obtained compared to blank. I1 has higher inhibition efficiency (50 μM −98%) than I2 (50 μM −94%) which is correlated with the theoretical studies.
Composite Polymer Colloids for SERS‐Based Applications
Authors: Strozyk Malte S. , Jimenez de Aberasturi Dorleta , Liz‐Marzán Luis M.
Published: December 2017

Polymers and nanoparticles can be combined into different materials with applications in various fields like catalysis, biotechnology, or drug delivery, to cite just a few. Colloidal composites may vary significantly, ranging from a single nanoparticle stabilized by a polymer shell through a polymeric carrier decorated with hundreds of particles. We review here composite colloids comprising gold nanoparticles, with an emphasis in systems with potential application in surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The focus is on selected strategies for synthesis and functionalization, such as: encapsulation of gold nanoparticles by amphiphilic polymers, polymeric matrices as nanoparticle carriers and smart polymer based composites. We stress the benefits derived from the combination of polymers and metal particles toward SERS, such as chemical and colloidal stabilization in complex environments, and collective optical effects through hot spot generation for optimized SERS enhancement or improved imaging tags.
Patient empowerment: a prescription for success
Authors: Fuller Mark
Published: December 2017

With primary care under pressure, Mark Fuller describes a project in Leeds where GPs give patients a ‘social prescription’ to local services that can support more than just their medical needs.
Academic Praise in Conferences: A Key for Motivating Struggling Writers
Authors: Hale Elizabeth
Published: December 2017

Conferences provide teachers a valuable context for giving both positive and constructive feedback that is tailored to individual students. Students who struggle with writing, however, are less apt to receive positive feedback on the craft of their writing, which is an important part of literacy development in the elementary and middle grades. Although effort praise is important for all students, this article describes why academic praise in writing conferences is not only possible but essential for all students, especially struggling writers, to receive. By redefining academic ability to focus on capability rather than grade‐level standards, teachers can notice small strengths embedded in students' basic writing. The author uses student writing to demonstrate how naming and then describing the value of smaller craft skills can translate into powerful, authentic academic praise for all students.
A new method for the deflection analysis of composite beams with periodically varying interfaces
Authors: Li Botong , Liu Chein‐Shan
Published: December 2017

For the deflection analysis of the composite beams with periodically varying interfaces and under different boundary conditions we develop new iterative methods by using integral equations through a weak‐form formulation, and using the sinusoidal functions as both the test functions and the bases of numerical solutions. Due to the orthogonality of sinusoidal functions and the use of the Drazin inversion formula, the closed‐form solutions of coefficients can be found out. As a consequence, the present iterative schemes demonstrate their quick convergence, which are useful tools to analyze the deflections for three popularly used composite beams.
Equilibrium state of the internal crack in the infinite elastic wedge with thin coating
Authors: Sobol Boris Vladimirovich , Soloviev Arcady Nicolaevich , Rashidova Elena Victorovna , Vasiliev Pavel Vladimirovich
Published: December 2017

We studied the stress concentration in the neighborhood of the vertices of the internal crack located on the bisector of an infinite elastic wedge. Normal forces are applied to the edges of the crack. The edges of the wedge are supported by a thin flexible covering, free from stresses from the outside. The effect of the coating on the stress‐strain state of the wedge is modeled by a special boundary condition. The correctness of which is confirmed by numerical simulations. The integral Mellin transform made it possible to reduce the problem to the solution of a singular integral equation of the first kind with a Cauchy kernel with respect to the derivative of the crack opening function. Solutions of the integral equation are constructed by the collocation method for various combinations of geometric and physical parameters of the problem.
Correction to: Strategic crossing of biomass and harvest index—source and sink—achieves genetic gains in wheat
Authors: Reynolds Matthew P. , Pask Alistair J. D. , Hoppitt William J. E. , Sonder Kai , Sukumaran Sivakumar , Molero Gemma , Pierre Carolina Saint , Payne Thomas , Singh Ravi P. , Braun Hans J. , Gonzalez Fernanda G. , Terrile Ignacio I. , Barma Naresh C. D. , Hakim Abdul , He Zhonghu , Fan Zheru , Novoselovic Dario , Maghraby Maher , Gad Khaled I. M. , Galal ElHusseiny G. , Hagras Adel , Mohamed Mohamed M. , Morad Abdul Fatah A. , Kumar Uttam , Singh Gyanendra P. , Naik Rudra , Kalappanavar Ishwar K. , Biradar Suma , Sai Prasad Sakuru V. , Chatrath Ravish , Sharma Indu , Panchabhai Kishor , Sohu Virinder S. , Mavi Gurvinder S. , Mishra Vinod K. , Balasubramaniam Arun , Jalal-Kamali Mohammad R. , Khodarahmi Manoochehr , Dastfal Manoochehr , Tabib-Ghaffari Seyed M. , Jafarby Jabbar , Nikzad Ahmad R. , Moghaddam Hossein Akbari , Ghojogh Hassan , Mehraban Asghar , Solís-Moya Ernesto , Camacho-Casas Miguel A. , Figueroa-López Pedro , Ireta-Moreno Javier , Alvarado-Padilla Jorge I. , Borbón-Gracia Alberto , Torres Araceli , Quiche Yei Nayeli , Upadhyay Shesh R. , Pandey Deepak , Imtiaz Muhammad , Rehman Monsif U. , Hussain Manzoor , Hussain Makhdoom , Ud-Din Riaz , Qamar Maqsood , Sohail Muhammad , Mujahid Muhammad Y. , Ahmad Gulzar , Khan Abdul J. , Sial Mahboob A. , Mustatea Pompiliu , von Well Eben , Ncala Moses , de Groot Stephan , Hussein Abdelraheem H. A. , Tahir Izzat S. A. , Idris Amani A. M. , Elamein Hala M. M. , Manes Yann , Joshi Arun K.
Published: December 2017

The original article was corrected. Author Muhammad Kundi should instead read: Muhammad Sohail.
Dispute Settlement Reports 2005
Authors: World Trade Organization
Published: December 2017

The Dispute Settlement Reports of the World Trade Organization (WTO) include Panel and Appellate Body reports, as well as arbitration awards, in disputes concerning the rights and obligations of WTO members under the provisions of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization. These are the WTO authorized and paginated reports in English. An essential addition to the library of all practising and academic trade lawyers, and needed by students worldwide taking courses in international economic or trade law. DSR 2005:VI reports on United States - Subsidies on Upland Cotton.
Dispute Settlement Reports 2005
Authors: World Trade Organization
Published: December 2017

The Dispute Settlement Reports of the World Trade Organization (WTO) include Panel and Appellate Body reports, as well as arbitration awards, in disputes concerning the rights and obligations of WTO members under the provisions of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization. These are the WTO authorized and paginated reports in English. An essential addition to the library of all practising and academic trade lawyers, and needed by students worldwide taking courses in international economic or trade law. DSR 2005:XIX reports on European Communities – Customs Classification of Frozen Boneless Chicken Cuts and European Communities – Customs Classification of Frozen Boneless Chicken Cuts - Complaint by Brazil.
APPLICATIONS OF DENDROCHRONOLOGY IN NORTHWESTERN MEXICO
Authors: Turkon Paula , Manning Sturt W. , Griggs Carol , Santos Ramírez Marco Antonio , Nelson Ben A. , Torreblanca Padilla Carlos , Wild Eva Maria
Published: December 2017

Although dendrochronological methods have the potential to provide precise calendar dates, they are virtually absent in Mesoamerican archaeological research. This absence is due to several long-standing, but erroneous, assumptions: that tree rings in this region do not reflect annual growth and environmental variability, that an adequate number of samples do not exist, and that tree-ring measurements cannot be useful without modern trees to link prehispanic chronologies. In this article we present data from the sites of La Quemada and Los Pilarillos, located in the Malpaso Valley, Zacatecas, to demonstrate that suitable archaeologically derived samples of dendrochronologically useful species do exist, that the samples from these sites are measurable and cross-datable, and that the tree rings can yield precise calendar dates using a method that “wiggle-matches” radiocarbon dates on tree-ring sequences. The work demonstrates the potential of these methods to address chronological, and, in the future, climatic questions, which have so far eluded archaeological work in the region.
FOUR PRECERAMIC POINTS NEWLY DISCOVERED IN BELIZE: A COMMENT ON STEMP ET AL. (2016:279–299)
Authors: Stemp W. James , Awe Jaime J. , Brown M. Kathryn , Harrison-Buck Eleanor , Helmke Christophe G. B. , Wrobel Gabriel D. , Yaeger Jason
Published: December 2017

Stemp et al. (2016) published data on 81 preceramic (Archaic) points from Belize, Central America. In this comment, we report four more chipped chert bifaces recently recovered in Belize (Figure 1). Based on metrics (Table 1), technology, and style, three are classified as Lowe and one as a Sawmill point (Kelly 1993; Lohse et al. 2006; Stemp et al. 2016).
ON PARITY AND THE INTUITION OF NEUTRALITY
Authors: Qizilbash Mozaffar
Published: December 2017

On parity views of mere addition if someone (or a group of people) is added to the world at a range of well-being levels – or ‘neutral range’ – leaving existing people unaffected, addition is on a par with the initial situation. Two distinct parity views – ‘rough equality’ and fitting-attitudes views – defend the ‘intuition of neutrality’. The first can be interpreted or adjusted so that it can rebut John Broome's objection that the neutral range is wide. The two views respond in distinct ways to two of Broome's other objections. Both views can, nonetheless, be plausibly defended against these objections.
Caribbean Collections in European Museums and the Question of Returns
Authors: Françozo Mariana , Strecker Amy
Published: December 2017

Since 2014, when the Caribbean Community officially launched its claim against former European colonial powers for reparations for slavery and native genocide, there has been a renewed interest in the question of cultural reparations and, more specifically, Caribbean cultural objects located in European museums. Yet information about such material remains scarce; there have been no formal claims for returns, and the legal status of Caribbean collections in European museums is anything but clear. This article aims to address these issues. First, we sketch the profile of Caribbean archaeological collections located in European museums to shed light on their nature and provenance. On this basis, we then move on to analyzing the legal status of such collections in light of international law, before discussing the broader political and ethical framework of returns and the role of cultural cooperation in reparatory justice for the Caribbean more generally.
Hydrodynamic modelling of Port Foster, Deception Island, Antarctica
Authors: Figueiredo Daniel , Dos Santos Aires , Mateus Marcos , Pinto Ligia
Published: December 2017

Over the last decade, the Antarctic continent has been the object of intensive scientific programmes. However, the emphasis of these studies rarely focuses on the Antarctic as a source of potential elements such as mercury. The release of mercury to the environment is known to occur at Deception Island, associated with volcanic activity. In this study, a 3D hydrodynamic model was used to assess the role of water circulation on the dispersion of released mercury. Sea level variation and tidal circulation data were obtained. Residence time was calculated using two different approaches. Internal tide generation in summer and winter were recognized and the barotropic tidal components obtained. Lagrangian tracers were used to depict particle circulation (simulating particulate mercury) in a three month summer simulation for barotropic and baroclinic conditions. The results show that particles accumulate in the northern and western parts of the bay. It is acknowledged that the results of the 3D model are associated with a non-negligible uncertainty, which can only be reduced with an ongoing commitment to monitoring. The findings of this study indicate that mercury accumulation is occurring in Port Foster (Deception Island), which is a potential threat to the local ecosystem.
Variation of seed dormancy and longevity in Raphanus raphanistrum L.
Authors: Tricault Yann , Matejicek Annick , Darmency Henri
Published: December 2017

Raphanus raphanistrum (wild radish) is a highly competitive weed in winter crops. Integrated weed management practices and decision-making tools benefit from the ability to predict seed longevity and dormancy status in the soil seed bank, as well as time and density of emergence in the field. We wondered if unique values taken from databases could serve for modelling purposes, whatever the origins of the weed populations. We investigated dormancy and longevity of fruits buried in the soil over a four-year seed burial experiment of two highly contrasted populations that differ by their biogeographical origin (oceanic versus continental climate), their habitat (arable field versus undisturbed) and their fruit size (thick versus thin fruit wall). High viability persisted over two years, followed by a rapid reduction, especially for the ‘continental-undisturbed-thin’ population. Dormancy cycling, with dormancy at its lowest in October, was observed for the ‘oceanic-arable-thick’ population, whilst a slow decrease without clear seasonal pattern was found for the other population. These results indicate different ways of regulating seed persistence in the soil, which might be taken into account when building demographic models. These differences could be due to interactions between fruit wall thickness and the other factors; it is possible that a thicker fruit wall increases longevity by promoting dormancy by physical restriction, but depending on temperature. Thinner fruit walls would make plants display other adaptive strategies to maximize survival time in the soil seed bank. Studies involving more populations and isogenic material are needed to address this specific question.
The Creation of the Monnet Plan, 1945–1946: A Critical Re-Evaluation
Authors: BRUNET LUC-ANDRÉ
Published: December 2017

Drawing on an extensive range of French archival sources as well as Jean Monnet's papers, this article challenges several commonly held views regarding the establishment of the Monnet Plan by re-examining the domestic political context in post-war France. It reveals that the distinctive ‘supra-ministerial’ structure of the Monnet Plan was developed only after, and in direct response to, the October 1945 legislative elections in which the French Communist Party won the most seats and subsequently gained control of France's main economic ministries. Furthermore, Monnet managed to convince communist ministers to surrender important powers from their ministries to Monnet's nascent planning office on false premises, a finding that challenges the usual depiction of Monnet as an open and honest broker.
Making News Soviet: Rethinking Journalistic Professionalism after Stalin, 1953–1970
Authors: HUXTABLE SIMON
Published: December 2017

This article challenges the assumption, frequently made in scholarship on Soviet media, that news was absent in the Soviet Union. Working across press, radio, and television, the article shows how after 1953 reform of Soviet news became a priority for journalists, editors and media professionals. The article focuses on discussions among journalists and officials about the future of journalism, arguing that journalists’ notions of professional excellence played a crucial role in shaping news coverage. In a climate of Cold War competition with western radio, new technological possibilities and changing political priorities, journalists gradually overcame their condescension towards news, emphasising its civic potential as an agent of social ‘democratisation’, and the artistic nature of reportage. This new configuration was precarious, however, and collapsed after the Czechoslovakian crisis of 1968. As the Party placed new restrictions on the flow of information, news lost its professional prestige.
Protesting Youth
Authors: van Stekelenburg Jacquelien , Klandermans Bert
Published: December 2017

Abstract. “Twitter protests” and “Facebook revolutions” imbue the coverage of contentious politics in news media and academic outlets alike. As long as such protests are not compared to conventional mobilized events it is hard to ascertain the supposed differences between connective and collective action. We report a study that does just that: we examine if it makes a difference whether people are recruited through self-organized rather than organization-centered routes. We surveyed participants and nonparticipants in both actions (N = 319), asking who participated in the respective action, how they were mobilized, and why they participated. Results reveal that in some ways the recruitment route does make a difference, while in others it doesn’t. Recruits of connective action were lower educated, felt politically efficacious, and mainly mobilized via informal (virtual) mobilizing channels, while recruits of collective action were highly educated, politically interested, and mainly mobilized via formal mobilizing channels. Social embeddedness played a crucial role in both campaigns, but more so in self-organized actions: approving networks increase the chances of being asked, influenced, and motivated by significant others, while disapproving milieus decrease the chance of being asked, influenced, and motivated by others. Approving networks thus expand informal mobilization, the more so for self-organized connective action.
A Better Way to Predict Space Storms
Authors: Underwood Emily
Published: December 2017

A new model of solar winds could reduce false alarms.
Southern Europe’s Groundwater Use Will Become Unsustainable
Authors: Skibba Ramin
Published: December 2017

Even places without groundwater problems now will face water shortages by the 2040s if climate change continues on its current trajectory.
Arctic Is Experiencing a Warmer “New Normal,” NOAA Reports
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: December 2017

The acting head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Timothy Gallaudet, says the Trump administration is addressing the findings of the agency’s latest annual update on the Arctic.
Health Communication Experiences of Emerging Adults With Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Simms MaryJane , Baumann Katherine , Monaghan Maureen
Published: December 2017

In an effort to refine a model of clinical care identifying effective communication with health care providers (HCPs) as a key skill for successful transition to adult medical care, we explored the perspectives of emerging adults with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) about factors that impact the quality and content of communication with their HCPs. Twenty emerging adults with T1D were interviewed about health communication experiences with their pediatric HCPs and their readiness for transition to adult diabetes care. Interviews were recorded and transcribed; three raters coded transcripts using conventional content analysis for broad themes. Five themes emerged from the data capturing factors that influence emerging adult–HCP communication: HCP interaction style, HCP consistency, HCP support for autonomy, parental involvement in medical care, and emerging adult comfort with disclosure. Most emerging adults had not discussed transition to adult diabetes care with their HCPs. Some expressed confidence in their ability to transition; others expressed anxiety about the transition process. Findings support the conceptual model of communication and inform clinical implications for working with emerging adults with T1D. Continuity of care should be prioritized with transition-age patients. In addition, HCPs should initiate conversations about engagement in risky behaviors and transition to adult medical care and ensure that emerging adults have time without parents to discuss these sensitive topics. Psychologists can enhance the transition process by facilitating effective patient–HCP communication and coaching both patients and HCPs to ask questions about risky behaviors and transition to adult medical care.
MicroRNA-365 regulates IL-1β-induced catabolic factor expression by targeting HIF-2α in primary chondrocytes
Authors: Hwang Hyun Sook , Park Su Jin , Lee Mi Hyun , Kim Hyun Ah
Published: December 2017

Endothelial Per-Arnt-Sim domain protein-1/hypoxia-inducible factor-2α (EPAS-1/ HIF-2α) is a catabolic transcription factor that regulates osteoarthritis (OA)-related cartilage destruction. Here, we examined whether microRNA-365 (miR-365) affects interleukin (IL)-1β-induced expression of catabolic factors in chondrocytes via regulation of HIF-2α. MiR-365 levels were significantly decreased in human OA cartilage relative to normal cartilage. Overexpression of miR-365 significantly suppressed IL-1β-induced expression of HIF-2α in human articular chondrocytes. Pharmacological inhibition of various IL-1β-associated signaling pathways revealed mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor-κB as the primary pathways driving IL-1β-mediated decreases in miR-365 and subsequent increase in HIF-2α expression. Using a luciferase reporter assay encoding the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of human HIF-2α mRNA, we showed that overexpression of miR-365 significantly suppressed IL-1β-induced up-regulation of HIF-2α. AGO2 RNA-immunoprecipitation (IP) assay demonstrated that miR-365 and HIF-2α mRNA were enriched in the AGO2-IP fraction in miR-365-transfected primary chondrocytes compared to miR-con-transfected cells, indicating that HIF-2α is a target of miR-365. Furthermore, miR-365 overexpression significantly suppressed IL-1β-induced expression of catabolic factors, including cyclooxygenase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-1, -3 and -13, in chondrocytes. In pellet culture of primary chondrocytes miR-365 prevented IL-1β-stimulated extracellular matrix loss and matrix metalloproteinase-13 expression. MiR-365 regulates IL-1β-stimulated catabolic effects in human chondrocytes by modulating HIF-2α expression.
Functional and cooperative stabilization of a two-metal (Ca, Zn) center in α-amylase derived from Flavobacteriaceae species
Authors: Yin Huijia , Yang Zhou , Nie Xinyu , Li Shannan , Sun Xuyang , Gao Chao , Wang Zenghang , Zhou Guangming , Xu Ping , Yang Chunyu
Published: December 2017

Mesophilic α-amylase from Flavobacteriaceae (FSA) is evolutionary closely related to thermophilic archaeal Pyrococcus furiosus α-amylase (PWA), but lacks the high thermostability, despite the conservation of most residues involved in the two-metal (Ca, Zn) binding center of PWA. In this study, a disulfide bond was introduced near the two-metal binding center of FSA (designated mutant EH-CC) and this modification resulted in a slight improvement in thermostability. As expected, E204G mutations in FSA and EH-CC led to the recovery of Ca2+-binding site. Interestingly, both Ca2+- and Zn2+-dependent thermostability were significantly enhanced; 153.1% or 50.8% activities was retained after a 30-min incubation period at 50 °C, in the presence of Ca2+ or Zn2+. The C214S mutation, which affects Zn2+-binding, also remarkably enhanced Zn2+- and Ca2+- dependent thermostability, indicating that Ca2+- and Zn2+-binding sites function cooperatively to maintain protein stability. Furthermore, an isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) analysis revealed a novel Zn2+-binding site in mutant EH-CC-E204G. This metal ion cooperation provides a possible method for the generation of α-amylases with desired thermal properties by in silico rational design and systems engineering, to generate a Zn2+-binding site adjacent to the conserved Ca2+-binding site.
Interleukin-33 modulates inflammation in endometriosis
Authors: Miller Jessica E. , Monsanto Stephany P. , Ahn Soo Hyun , Khalaj Kasra , Fazleabas Asgerally T. , Young Steven L. , Lessey Bruce A. , Koti Madhuri , Tayade Chandrakant
Published: December 2017

Endometriosis is a debilitating condition that is categorized by the abnormal growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterus. Although the pathogenesis of this disease remains unknown, it is well established that endometriosis patients exhibit immune dysfunction. Interleukin (IL)-33 is a danger signal that is a critical regulator of chronic inflammation. Although plasma and peritoneal fluid levels of IL-33 have been associated with deep infiltrating endometriosis, its contribution to the disease pathophysiology is unknown. We investigated the role of IL-33 in the pathology of endometriosis using patient samples, cell lines and a syngeneic mouse model. We found that endometriotic lesions produce significantly higher levels of IL-33 compared to the endometrium of healthy, fertile controls. In vitro stimulation of endometrial epithelial, endothelial and endometriotic epithelial cells with IL-33 led to the production of pro-inflammatory and angiogenic cytokines. In a syngeneic mouse model of endometriosis, IL-33 injections caused systemic inflammation, which manifested as an increase in plasma pro-inflammatory cytokines compared to control mice. Furthermore, endometriotic lesions from IL-33 treated mice were highly vascularized and exhibited increased proliferation. Collectively, we provide convincing evidence that IL-33 perpetuates inflammation, angiogenesis and lesion proliferation, which are critical events in the lesion survival and progression of endometriosis.
Involvement of Innate Immune System in Late Stages of Inherited Photoreceptor Degeneration
Authors: Sudharsan Raghavi , Beiting Daniel P. , Aguirre Gustavo D. , Beltran William A.
Published: December 2017

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of inherited retinal degenerations that lead to progressive vision loss. Many mutations in 60 different genes have been shown to cause RP. Given the diversity of genes and mutations that cause RP, corrective gene therapy approaches currently in development may prove both time-consuming and cost-prohibitive for treatment of all forms of RP. An alternative approach is to find common biological pathways that cause retinal degeneration in various forms of RP, and identify new molecular targets. With this goal, we analyzed the retinal transcriptome of two non-allelic forms of RP in dogs, rcd1 and xlpra2, at clinically relevant advanced stages of the two diseases. Both diseases showed very similar trends in changes in gene expression compared to control normal dogs. Pathway analysis revealed upregulation of various components of the innate immune system in both diseases, including inflammasome and complement pathways. Our results show that the retinal transcriptome at advanced stages of RP is very similar to that of other retinal degenerative diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Thus, drugs and therapeutics already in development for targeting these retinopathies may also prove useful for the treatment of many forms of RP.
Functional characterization of a type 2 metallothionein gene, SsMT2, from alkaline-tolerant Suaeda salsa
Authors: Jin Shumei , Xu Chang , Li Guoliang , Sun Dan , Li Ying , Wang Xinwang , Liu Shenkui
Published: December 2017

A type 2 metallothionein gene, SsMT2, was cloned from Suaeda salsa, a salt- and alkali-tolerant plant, which is dominant species on the saline/alkali soil of northeast China. The SsMT2 gene was expressed in all organs except the flower and its expression was induced by various stresses such as CdCl2, NaCl, NaHCO3, and H2O2 treatments. SsMT2-transgenic yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and plants (Arabidopsis thaliana) showed significantly increased resistance to metal, salt and oxidant stresses. These transgenics accumulated more Cd2+, but less Na+ than their wild type counterparts. SsMT2 transgenic Arabidopsis maintained lower level of H2O2 than wild type plants did in response to the stress treatments. These results demonstrated that the SsMT2 gene plays an important role in reactive oxygen species scavenging and confers enhanced metal and oxidant tolerance to plants.
Propane and propane–water interactions: a study at cryogenic temperatures
Authors: Ghosh Jyotirmoy , Hariharan Annapoorani Kobuvayur , Bhuin Radha Gobinda , Methikkalam Rabin Rajan J. , Pradeep Thalappil
Published: December 2017

The phase transition of solid propane and a propane–water mixture under ultrahigh vacuum has been investigated using reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS) and temperature-programmed desorption mass spectrometry (TPD-MS).
Photophysical properties of acetylene-linked syn bimane oligomers: a molecular photonic wire
Authors: Chwee T. S. , Wong Z. C. , Sullivan M. B. , Fan W. Y.
Published: December 2017

Computational studies using correlated wave function methods and density functional theory were carried out on a series of acetylene-linked bimane oligomers with particular emphasis on their excitonic properties and implications for intra-chain excitation energy transfer (EET).
Influence of the manganese and cobalt content on the electrochemical performance of P2-Na0.67MnxCo1−xO2 cathodes for sodium-ion batteries
Authors: Hemalatha K. , Jayakumar M. , Prakash A. S.
Published: December 2017

The resurgence of sodium-ion batteries in recent years is due to their potential ability to form intercalation compounds possessing a high specific capacity and energy density comparable to existing lithium systems.
The merit of perovskite's dimensionality; can this replace the 3D halide perovskite?
Authors: Etgar Lioz
Published: December 2017

This perspective paper focuses on the dimensionality of organic–inorganic halide perovskites and their relevant advantages over 3D halide perovskites.
Governing the DNA-binding mode of styryl dyes by the length of their alkyl substituents – from intercalation to major groove binding
Authors: Berdnikova Daria V. , Sosnin Nikolai I. , Fedorova Olga A. , Ihmels Heiko
Published: December 2017

The length of alkyl substituents governs the DNA binding mode of mono- and bis-chromophoric styryl dyes.
Dual αvβ3 and αvβ5 blockade attenuates fibrotic and vascular alterations in a murine model of systemic sclerosis
Authors: Bagnato Gian Luca , Irrera Natasha , Pizzino Gabriele , Santoro Domenico , Roberts William Neal , Bagnato Gianfilippo , Pallio Giovanni , Vaccaro Mario , Squadrito Francesco , Saitta Antonino , Altavilla Domenica , Bitto Alessandra
Published: December 2017

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disorder characterized by fibroblast activation and fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. Alterations in cell–integrin interaction are sufficient to initiate profibrotic processes. SSc fibroblasts express both αvβ3 and αvβ5 integrins and their activation induces myofibroblasts differentiation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the anb3 and anb5 inhibitor, cilengitide, on the development of vascular and fibrotic changes in the chronic oxidant stress murine model of systemic sclerosis. SSc was induced in BALB/c mice by daily s.c. injections of HOCl for 6 weeks. Mice were randomized in three arms: HOCl alone (n=8), HOCl + Cilengitide (n=8), or Vehicle alone (n=8). Treatment with cilengitide 20 (mg/kg/i.p./day) was started 4 weeks after the first administration of HOCl and maintained throughout the remaining experimental period (2 weeks). Lung, skin, and heart fibrosis were evaluated by histology while kidney morphology by PAS staining. Collagen type I, focal adhesion kinase (FAK), and a-SMA were evaluated by immunostaining and p-FAK and TGF-β1 by Western blot and gene expression. Both cutaneous and pulmonary fibrosis induced by HOCl were attenuated by cilengitide treatment. Cilengitide administration reduced a-SMA, TGF-β1, and p-FAK expression and the increased deposition of fibrillar collagen in the heart and prevented glomeruli collapse in the kidneys. The inhibition of aνβ3 and aνβ5 integrin signaling prevented systemic fibrosis and renal vascular abnormalities in the reactive oxygen species model of SSc. Integrins aνβ3 and aνβ5 could prove useful as a therapeutic target in SSc.
Delivering Bad News: Attitudes, Feelings, and Practice Characteristics Among Speech-Language Pathologists
Authors: Gold Rinat , Gold Azgad
Published: December 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes, feelings, and practice characteristics of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in Israel regarding the subject of delivering bad news.

Method

One hundred and seventy-three Israeli SLPs answered an online survey. Respondents represented SLPs in Israel in all stages of vocational experience, with varying academic degrees, from a variety of employment settings. The survey addressed emotions involved in the process of delivering bad news, training on this subject, and background information of the respondents.

Frequency distributions of the responses of the participants were determined, and Pearson correlations were computed to determine the relation between years of occupational experience and the following variables: frequency of delivering bad news, opinions regarding training, and emotions experienced during the process of bad news delivery.

Results

Our survey showed that bad news delivery is a task that most participants are confronted with from the very beginning of their careers. Participants regarded training in the subject of delivering bad news as important but, at the same time, reported receiving relatively little training on this subject. In addition, our survey showed that negative emotions are involved in the process of delivering bad news.

Conclusions

Training SLPs on specific techniques is required for successfully delivering bad news. The emotional burden associated with breaking bad news in the field of speech-language pathology should be noticed and addressed.
Comprehensive web‐based broker for bio‐technology design and manufacturing
Authors: Claesen Stefan , Stone Anna , van Rossum Mark , Kitney Richard I.
Published: December 2017

Synthetic biology, particularly in relation to characterisation experiments relating to the description of bio‐parts frequently involves the use of a wide range of equipment, including, for example, plate reader's, flow cytometers, and mass spectrometers. This equipment is often from multiple manufacturers. The study describes broker technology that has been developed which has the ability to connect multiple types of equipment into a common information environment; the connectivity from the databases and equipment is achieved using Visbion's ‘cube’ technology that involves military specification encryption for data security. The broker technology uses a new, developing standard, Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine (DICOM)‐SB, that is based on the highly successful international standard for biomedicine, DICOM. The broker uses a version of the DICOM data model that has been specifically designed for synthetic biology and, in particular, characterisation data.
Consensus for the fractional‐order double‐integrator multi‐agent systems based on the sliding mode estimator
Authors: Bai Jing , Wen Guoguang , Rahmani Ahmed , Yu Yongguang
Published: December 2017

Consensus for the fractional‐order double‐integrator multi‐agent systems is mainly studied in this study. First, a control law based on the sliding mode estimator is proposed to achieve consensus for the multi‐agent systems, where the linear systems and the non‐linear systems are discussed, respectively. Second, a distributed control law based on the sliding mode estimator is given to accomplish distributed consensus for the multi‐agent systems, the linear systems and the non‐linear systems are also considered, respectively. The validity of the designed control laws is proved by choosing the adaptive Lyapunov candidate functions. Finally, several examples are presented to demonstrate the obtained results and show the advantage of the proposed control laws in the convergence speed.
Overlapping functional modules detection in PPI network with pair‐wise constrained non‐negative matrix tri‐factorisation
Authors: Liu Guangming , Chai Bianfang , Yang Kuo , Yu Jian , Zhou Xuezhong
Published: December 2017

A large amount of available protein–protein interaction (PPI) data has been generated by high‐throughput experimental techniques. Uncovering functional modules from PPI networks will help us better understand the underlying mechanisms of cellular functions. Numerous computational algorithms have been designed to identify functional modules automatically in the past decades. However, most community detection methods (non‐overlapping or overlapping types) are unsupervised models, which cannot incorporate the well‐known protein complexes as a priori. The authors propose a novel semi‐supervised model named pairwise constrains nonnegative matrix tri‐factorisation (PCNMTF), which takes full advantage of the well‐known protein complexes to find overlapping functional modules based on protein module indicator matrix and module correlation matrix simultaneously from PPI networks. PCNMTF determinately models and learns the mixed module memberships of each protein by considering the correlation among modules simultaneously based on the non‐negative matrix tri‐factorisation. The experiment results on both synthetic and real‐world biological networks demonstrate that PCNMTF gains more precise functional modules than that of state‐of‐the‐art methods.
Young planets under extreme UV irradiation
Authors: Kubyshkina D. , Lendl M. , Fossati L. , Cubillos P. E. , Lammer H. , Erkaev N. V. , Johnstone C. P.
Published: December 2017

The K2-33 planetary system hosts one transiting ~5 R⊕ planet orbiting the young M-type host star. The planet’s mass is still unknown, with an estimated upper limit of 5.4 MJ. The extreme youth of the system (<20 Myr) gives the unprecedented opportunity to study the earliest phases of planetary evolution, at a stage when the planet is exposed to an extremely high level of high-energy radiation emitted by the host star. We perform a series of 1D hydrodynamic simulations of the planet’s upper atmosphere considering a range of possible planetary masses, from 2 to 40 M⊕, and equilibrium temperatures, from 850 to 1300 K, to account for internal heating as a result of contraction. We obtain temperature profiles mostly controlled by the planet’s mass, while the equilibrium temperature has a secondary effect. For planetary masses below 7–10 M⊕, the atmosphere is subject to extremely high escape rates, driven by the planet’s weak gravity and high thermal energy, which increase with decreasing mass and/or increasing temperature. For higher masses, the escape is instead driven by the absorption of the high-energy stellar radiation. A rough comparison of the timescales for complete atmospheric escape and age of the system indicates that the planet is more massive than 10 M⊕.
Cyclopropyl- and Cyclobutylboronates and -silanes: A Stereo­selective Approach
Authors: Tortosa Mariola , Martín-Heras Víctor , Parra Alejandro
Published: December 2017

Chiral cyclopropyl- and cyclobutylboronic esters and -silanes have become attractive intermediates for the preparation of functionalized small rings. This review highlights the stereoselective methods developed for their preparation, including both diastereo- and enantio­selective approaches.

1 Introduction

2 Stereoselective Synthesis of Cyclopropyl- and Cyclobutylboronates and -silanes

2.1 Diastereoselective Synthesis of Cyclopropyl- and Cyclobutylboronates and -silanes

2.2 Asymmetric Synthesis of Cyclopropyl- and Cyclobutylboronates and -silanes

3 Conclusions
tert-Butyl Nitrite (TBN) as a Versatile Reagent in Organic Synthesis
Authors: Jia Xiaodong , Li Pengfei
Published: December 2017

tert-Butyl nitrite (TBN) is an important metal-free reagent that is widely applied in various organic transformations. Besides its traditional applications in nitrosation and diazotization, its ability to activate molecular oxygen to enable the initiation of radical reactions, including nitration, oximation, oxidation, and so on, has attracted extensively attention in the past decade. This review highlights recent advances in this field to promote further exploration of this versatile compound.

1 Introduction

2 Reactions Involving TBN

2.1 Nitrosation

2.2 Oximation

2.3 Diazotization

2.4 Nitration

2.5 Oxidation

2.6 Other Reactions

3 Conclusion and Perspective
Recent Advances in Nickel Catalysis Enabled by Stoichiometric Metallic Reducing Agents
Authors: Richmond Edward , Moran Joseph
Published: December 2017

This short review describes recent advances in the field of nickel catalysis, specifically transformations employing stable Ni(II) precatalysts that are activated in situ with the use of stoichiometric metallic reducing agents. The article seeks to summarise the field, highlighting key studies and discussing mechanistic facets. The review closes with an eye on future directions in redox-enabled nickel catalysis.

1 Introduction

2 Nickel Catalysis Enabled by Metallic Reducing Agents

3 Reductive Cross-Coupling

4 Reductive Carboxylation and Acylation-type reactions

5 Miscellaneous Reactivity

6 Perspectives and Future Directions