bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Machine learning for fast identification of bacteraemia in SIRS patients treated on standard care wards: a cohort study
Authors: Ratzinger Franz , Haslacher Helmuth , Perkmann Thomas , Pinzan Matilde , Anner Philip , Makristathis Athanasios , Burgmann Heinz , Heinze Georg , Dorffner Georg
Published: August 2018

Bacteraemia is a life-threating condition requiring immediate diagnostic and therapeutic actions. Blood culture (BC) analyses often result in a low true positive result rate, indicating its improper usage. A predictive model might assist clinicians in deciding for whom to conduct or to avoid BC analysis in patients having a relevant bacteraemia risk. Predictive models were established by using linear and non-linear machine learning methods. To obtain proper data, a unique data set was collected prior to model estimation in a prospective cohort study, screening 3,370 standard care patients with suspected bacteraemia. Data from 466 patients fulfilling two or more systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria (bacteraemia rate: 28.8%) were finally used. A 29 parameter panel of clinical data, cytokine expression levels and standard laboratory markers was used for model training. Model tuning was performed in a ten-fold cross validation and tuned models were validated in a test set (80:20 random split). The random forest strategy presented the best result in the test set validation (ROC-AUC: 0.729, 95%CI: 0.679–0.779). However, procalcitonin (PCT), as the best individual variable, yielded a similar ROC-AUC (0.729, 95%CI: 0.679–0.779). Thus, machine learning methods failed to improve the moderate diagnostic accuracy of PCT.
Phase-coherent solitonic Josephson heat oscillator
Authors: Guarcello Claudio , Solinas Paolo , Braggio Alessandro , Giazotto Francesco
Published: August 2018

Since its recent foundation, phase-coherent caloritronics has sparkled continuous interest giving rise to numerous concrete applications. This research field deals with the coherent manipulation of heat currents in mesoscopic superconducting devices by mastering the Josephson phase difference. Here, we introduce a new generation of devices for fast caloritronics able to control local heat power and temperature through manipulation of Josephson vortices, i.e., solitons. Although most salient features concerning Josephson vortices in long Josephson junctions were comprehensively hitherto explored, little is known about soliton-sustained coherent thermal transport. We demonstrate that the soliton configuration determines the temperature profile in the junction, so that, in correspondence of each magnetically induced soliton, both the flowing thermal power and the temperature significantly enhance. Finally, we thoroughly discuss a fast solitonic Josephson heat oscillator, whose frequency is in tune with the oscillation frequency of the magnetic drive. Notably, the proposed heat oscillator can effectively find application as a tunable thermal source for nanoscale heat engines and coherent thermal machines.
Coplanar-gate ZnO nanowire field emitter arrays with enhanced gate-control performance using a ring-shaped cathode
Authors: Zhao Long , Chen Yicong , Zhang Zhipeng , Cao Xiuqing , Zhang Guofu , She Juncong , Deng Shaozhi , Xu Ningsheng , Chen Jun
Published: August 2018

Nanowire field emitters have great potential for use as large-area gated field emitter arrays (FEAs). However, the micrometer-scale cathode patterns in gated FEA devices will reduce regulation of the gate voltage and limit the field emission currents of these devices as a result of field-screening effect among the neighboring nanowires. In this article, a ring-shaped ZnO nanowire pad is proposed to overcome this problem. Diode measurements show that the prepared ring-shaped ZnO nanowire pad arrays shows uniform emission with a turn-on field of 5.9 V/µm and a field emission current density of 4.6 mA/cm2 under an applied field of 9 V/µm. The ZnO nanowire pad arrays were integrated into coplanar-gate FEAs and enhanced gate-controlled device characteristics were obtained. The gate-controlled capability was studied via microscopic in-situ measurements of the field emission from the ZnO nanowires in the coplanar-gate FEAs. Based on the results of both simulations and experiments, we attributed the enhanced gate-controlled device capabilities to more efficient emission of electrons from the ZnO nanowires as a result of the increase edge area by designing ring-shaped ZnO nanowire pad. The results are important to the realization of large-area gate-controlled FEAs based on nanowire emitters for use in vacuum electronic devices.
Quantification of the ozone and singlet delta oxygen produced in gas and liquid phases by a non-thermal atmospheric plasma with relevance for medical treatment
Authors: Jablonowski Helena , Santos Sousa Joao , Weltmann Klaus-Dieter , Wende Kristian , Reuter Stephan
Published: August 2018

In the field of plasma medicine, the identification of relevant reactive species in the liquid phase is highly important. To design the plasma generated species composition for a targeted therapeutic application, the point of origin of those species needs to be known. The dominant reactive oxygen species generated by the plasma used in this study are atomic oxygen, ozone, and singlet delta oxygen. The species density changes with the distance to the active plasma zone, and, hence, the oxidizing potential of this species cocktail can be tuned by altering the treatment distance. In both phases (gas and liquid), independent techniques have been used to determine the species concentration as a function of the distance. The surrounding gas composition and ambient conditions were controlled between pure nitrogen and air-like by using a curtain gas device. In the gas phase, in contrast to the ozone density, the singlet delta oxygen density showed to be more sensitive to the distance. Additionally, by changing the surrounding gas, admixing or not molecular oxygen, the dynamics of ozone and singlet delta oxygen behave differently. Through an analysis of the reactive species development for the varied experimental parameters, the importance of several reaction pathways for the proceeding reactions was evaluated and some were eventually excluded.
Rhamnogalacturonan, a chemically-defined polysaccharide, improves intestinal barrier function in DSS-induced colitis in mice and human Caco-2 cells
Authors: Maria-Ferreira Daniele , Nascimento Adamara Machado , Cipriani Thales Ricardo , Santana-Filho Arquimedes Paixão , Watanabe Paulo da Silva , Sant´Ana Debora de Mello Gonçales , Luciano Fernando Bittencourt , Bocate Karla Carolina Paiva , van den Wijngaard René M. , Werner Maria Fernanda de Paula , Baggio Cristiane Hatsuko
Published: August 2018

Natural polysaccharides have emerged as an important class of bioactive compounds due their beneficial biological effects. Here we investigated the protective and healing effects of rhamnogalacturonan (RGal) isolated from Acmella oleracea (L.) R.K. Jansen leaves in an experimental model of intestinal inflammation in mice and in heterogeneous human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (Caco-2). The findings demonstrated that RGal treatment for 7 days reduced the severity of DSS-induced colitis by protecting mice from weight loss, macroscopic damage and reduction of colon length. When compared to the DSS group, RGal also protected the colon epithelium and promoted the maintenance of mucosal enterocytes and mucus secreting goblet cells, in addition to conserving collagen homeostasis and increasing cell proliferation. In an in vitro barrier function assay, RGal reduced the cellular permeability after exposure to IL-1β, while decreasing IL-8 secretion and claudin-1 expression and preserving the distribution of occludin. Furthermore, we also observed that RGal accelerated the wound healing in Caco-2 epithelial cell line. In conclusion, RGal ameliorates intestinal barrier function in vivo and in vitro and may represent an attractive and promising molecule for the therapeutic management of ulcerative colitis.
Role of hydration energy and co-ions association on monovalent and divalent cations adsorption at mica-aqueous interface
Authors: Adapa Sai , Malani Ateeque
Published: August 2018

Adsorption of ions at the solid - aqueous interface is the primary mechanism in fast biological processes to very slow geological transformations. Despite, little is known about role of ion charge, hydration energy and hydration structure on competitive adsorption of ions, their structure and coverage at the interface. In this report, we investigate the structure and adsorption behavior of monovalent (Rb+ and Na+) and divalent (Sr2+ and Mg2+) cations ranging from 0–4.5 M of bulk concentrations on the muscovite mica surface. Divalent ions have stronger adsorption strength compared to monovalent ions due higher charge. However, we observed counter-intuitive behavior of lesser adsorption of divalent cations compared to monovalent cations. Our detailed analysis reveals that hydration structure of divalent cations hinders their adsorption. Both, Na+ and Rb+ ions exhibits similar adsorption behavior, however, the adsorption mechanism of Na+ ions is different from Rb+ ions in terms of redistribution of the water molecules in their hydration shell. In addition, we observed surface mediated RbCl salting out behavior, which is absent in Na+ and divalent ions. We observed direct correlation in hydration energy of cations and their adsorption behavior. The obtained understanding will have tremendous impact in super-capacitors, nanotribology, colloidal chemistry and water purifications.
Author Correction: Soy protein supplementation is not androgenic or estrogenic in college-aged men when combined with resistance exercise training
Authors: Haun Cody T. , Mobley C. Brooks , Vann Christopher G. , Romero Matthew A. , Roberson Paul A. , Mumford Petey W. , Kephart Wesley C. , Healy James C. , Patel Romil K. , Osburn Shelby C. , Beck Darren T. , Arnold Robert D. , Nie Ben , Lockwood Christopher M. , Roberts Michael D.
Published: August 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.
Elevated expression of pancreatic adenocarcinoma upregulated factor (PAUF) is associated with poor prognosis and chemoresistance in epithelial ovarian cancer
Authors: Choi Chel Hun , Kang Tae Heung , Song Joon Seon , Kim Young Seob , Chung Eun Joo , Ylaya Kris , Kim Seokho , Koh Sang Seok , Chung Joon-Yong , Kim Jae-Hoon , Hewitt Stephen M.
Published: August 2018

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma upregulated factor (PAUF) is a ligand of toll-like receptors (TLRs) and has been reported to be involved in pancreatic tumor development. However, the significance of PAUF expression in epithelial ovarian cancer remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the possible clinical significance of PAUF in epithelial ovarian cancer. We examined the link between PAUF and TLR4 in ovarian cancer cell lines. Recombinant PAUF induced cell activation and proliferation in ovarian cancer cell lines, whereas PAUF knockdown inhibited these properties. Subsequently, we assessed PAUF and TLR4 expression by immunohistochemistry on tissue microarray of 408 ovarian samples ranging from normal to metastatic. PAUF expression positively correlated with TLR4 expression. Overexpression of PAUF was associated with high-grade tumor (p = 0.014) and chemoresistant tumor (p = 0.017). Similarly, high expression of TLR4 correlated with advanced tumor stage (p = 0.002) and chemoresistant tumor (p = 0.001). Multivariate analysis indicated that PAUFhigh, TLR4high, and PAUFhigh/TLR4high expression are independent prognostic factor for progression-free survival, while TLR4high and PAUFhigh/TLR4high expression were independent prognostic factors for overall survival. Our results suggest that PAUF has a role in ovarian cancer progression and is a potential prognostic marker and novel chemotherapeutic target for ovarian cancer.
Cholestasis induced liver pathology results in dysfunctional immune responses after arenavirus infection
Authors: Lang Elisabeth , Pozdeev Vitaly I. , Shinde Prashant V. , Xu Haifeng C. , Sundaram Balamurugan , Zhuang Yuan , Poschmann Gereon , Huang Jun , Stühler Kai , Pandyra Aleksandra A. , Keitel Verena , Häussinger Dieter , Lang Karl S. , Lang Philipp A.
Published: August 2018

Immune responses are critical for defense against pathogens. However, prolonged viral infection can result in defective T cell immunity, leading to chronic viral infection. We studied immune activation in response to arenavirus infection during cholestasis using bile duct ligation (BDL). We monitored T cell responses, virus load and liver pathology markers after infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). BDL mice failed to induce protective anti-viral immunity against LCMV and consequently exhibited chronic viral infection. BDL mice exhibited reduced anti-viral T cell immunity as well as reduced type 1 interferon production early after LCMV infection. Consistently, the presence of serum from BDL mice reduced the responsiveness of dendritic cell (DC) and T cell cultures when compared to Sham controls. Following fractionation and mass spectrometry analyses of sera, we identified several serum factors to be upregulated following BDL including bilirubin, bile acids, 78 kDa Glucose regulated protein (GRP78) and liver enzymes. Bilirubin and GRP78 were capable of inhibiting DC and T cell activation. In this work, we demonstrate that liver damage mediated by cholestasis results in defective immune induction following arenavirus infection.
Lower genital tract cytokine profiles in South African women living with HIV: influence of mucosal sampling
Authors: Jaumdally Shameem Z. , Masson Lindi , Jones Heidi E. , Dabee Smritee , Hoover Donald R. , Gamieldien Hoyam , Langwenya Nontokozo , Myer Landon , Todd Catherine S. , Passmore Jo-Ann S.
Published: August 2018

Measurement of cytokines in the lower female genital tract offer insight into risk for HIV infection and reproductive complications. However, few studies have systematically compared mucosal collection methods or whether collection order matters. We compared longitudinal cytokine profiles in matched genital samples collected from women living with HIV using menstrual cup (MC), endocervical swabs (ECS) and swab-enriched cervicovaginal lavage (eCVL). Samples were collected at enrollment [MC:ECS:eCVL], 3-months (ECS:eCVL:MC) and 6-months (eCVL:MC:ECS) and concentrations of 28 cytokines determined by Luminex. Cytokine clustering was assessed using Principle Component Analysis (PCA), Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLSDA) and factor analysis. Generally, higher cytokine concentrations were detected in MC samples, followed by ECS and eCVL, irrespective of study visit or sampling order. Factor analysis and PCA identified ECS to be inferior for measuring regulatory cytokines and IP-10 than eCVL or MC. Although concentrations differed, the majority of cytokines correlated between methods. Sampling order influenced cytokine concentrations marginally, and cytokines clustered more strongly by method than study visit. Variance in profiles was lowest in MC, suggesting greater consistency of sampling compared to other methods. We conclude that MC sampling offered advantages over other methods for detecting cytokines in women, with order marginally influencing profiles.
A direct interaction between two Restless Legs Syndrome predisposing genes: MEIS1 and SKOR1
Authors: Catoire Helene , Sarayloo Faezeh , Mourabit Amari Karim , Apuzzo Sergio , Grant Alanna , Rochefort Daniel , Xiong Lan , Montplaisir Jacques , Earley Christopher J. , Turecki Gustavo , Dion Patrick A. , Rouleau Guy A.
Published: August 2018

Restless Legs syndrome (RLS) is a common sleep disorder for which the genetic contribution remains poorly explained. In 2007, the first large scale genome wide association study (GWAS) identified three genomic regions associated with RLS. MEIS1, BTBD9 and MAP2K5/SKOR1 are the only known genes located within these loci and their association with RLS was subsequently confirmed in a number of follow up GWAS. Following this finding, our group reported the MEIS1 risk haplotype to be associated with its decreased expression at the mRNA and protein levels. Here we report the effect of the risk variants of the three other genes strongly associated with RLS. While these variants had no effect on the mRNA levels of the genes harboring them, we find that the homeobox transcription factor MEIS1 positively regulates the expression of the transcription co-repressor SKOR1. This regulation appears mediated through the binding of MEIS1 at two specific sites located in the SKOR1 promoter region and is modified by an RLS associated SNP in the promoter region of the gene. Our findings directly link MEIS1 and SKOR1, two significantly associated genes with RLS and also prioritize SKOR1 over MAP2K5 in the RLS associated intergenic region of MAP2K5/SKOR1 found by GWAS.
Corneal confocal microscopy detects corneal nerve damage and increased dendritic cells in Fabry disease
Authors: Bitirgen Gulfidan , Turkmen Kultigin , Malik Rayaz A. , Ozkagnici Ahmet , Zengin Nazmi
Published: August 2018

Fabry disease is characterised by neuropathic pain and accelerated vascular disease. This study evaluates the utility of corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) to non-invasively quantify corneal nerve and endothelial cell morphology and dendritic cell (DC) density in relation to disease severity in subjects with Fabry disease. Seventeen consecutive participants with Fabry disease and 17 healthy control subjects were included in this cross-sectional study. Fabry disease severity was measured using the Mainz Severity Score Index (MSSI). Central corneal sensitivity was assessed with a contact corneal esthesiometer. There was a significant reduction in the corneal sensitivity (5.75 [5.25–6.00] vs. 6.00 [6.00-6.00] cm, P = 0.014), nerve fiber density (NFD) (26.4 ± 10.1 vs. 33.7 ± 7.9 fibers/mm2, P = 0.025) and nerve fiber length (NFL) (15.9 ± 3.4 vs. 19.5 ± 4.4 mm/mm2, P = 0.012) and an increase in DC density (38.3 [17.5–97.3] vs. 13.5 [0–29.4] cells/mm2, P = 0.004) in subjects with Fabry disease compared to the healthy control subjects. The total MSSI score correlated with NFD (ρ = −0.686; P = 0.006), NFL (ρ = −0.692; P = 0.006), endothelial cell density (ρ = −0.511; P = 0.036), endothelial cell area (ρ = 0.514; P = 0.036) and α-galactosidase A enzyme activity (ρ = −0.723; P = 0.008). This study demonstrates reduced corneal sensitivity, corneal nerve fiber damage and increased DCs in subjects with Fabry disease.
Isolation and characterization of nanometre aggregates from a Bai-Hu-Tang decoction and their antipyretic effect
Authors: Lü Shaowa , Su Hong , Sun Shuang , Guo Yuyan , Liu Ting , Ping Yang , Li Yongji
Published: August 2018

In China, a decoction is one of the most common clinical dosage forms. Nanometre aggregates (NAs), which often consist of circular or irregular nanoparticles, have been observed in previous research on decoctions. A Bai-Hu-Tang (BHT) decoction is an ancient clinical dosage form in China. The purpose of this work was to isolate and characterize NAs from BHT and to investigate their antipyretic effect. A BHT decoction was prepared by the traditional method. The mechanism and active components of the aggregates in BHT were investigated by high-speed centrifugation, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography). In addition to the aggregation, therapeutic activities were evaluated through temperature measurements, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, cellular uptake measurements and fluorescence imaging. The majority of the NAs in BHT had diameters of 100 nm, and the spherical structures contained C, O, Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Zn et al. Antipyretic bioactive compounds, such as neomangiferin, mangiferin, glycyrrhizic acid and ammonium glycyrrhizinate, existed in the aggregates. In addition, the NAs in BHT had a better antipyretic effect than the other dispersion phases of BHT. In particular, the nanometre aggregates of Bai-Hu-Tang (N-BHT) were easily taken up by cells, and the fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) signals of NAs were more enriched in the lungs and brain than in other organs over time. These results revealed that the antipyretic effect was associated with the NAs in BHT. The discovery of NAs might present a new perspective for understanding BHT decoctions and even lead to the development of a new nanomedicine approach in traditional Chinese medicine (TCMs). Therefore, this topic deserves further study.
Lysines and Arginines play non-redundant roles in mediating chemokine-glycosaminoglycan interactions
Authors: Joseph Prem Raj B. , Sawant Kirti V. , Iwahara Junji , Garofalo Roberto P. , Desai Umesh R. , Rajarathnam Krishna
Published: August 2018

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) bind a large array of proteins and mediate fundamental and diverse roles in human physiology. Ion pair interactions between protein lysines/arginines and GAG sulfates/carboxylates mediate binding. Neutrophil-activating chemokines (NAC) are GAG-binding proteins, and their sequences reveal high selectivity for lysines over arginines indicating they are functionally not equivalent. NAC binding to GAGs impacts gradient formation, receptor functions, and endothelial activation, which together regulate different components of neutrophil migration. We characterized the consequence of mutating lysine to arginine in NAC CXCL8, a well-characterized GAG-binding protein. We chose three lysines — two highly conserved lysines (K20 and K64) and a CXCL8-specific lysine (K67). Interestingly, the double K64R/K20R and K64R/K67R mutants are highly impaired in recruiting neutrophils in a mouse model. Further, both the mutants bind GAG heparin with higher affinity but show similar receptor activity. NMR and MD studies indicate that the structures are essentially identical to the WT, but the mutations alter the network of intramolecular ion pair interactions. These observations collectively indicate that the reduced in vivo recruitment is due to altered GAG interactions, higher GAG binding affinity can be detrimental, and specificity of lysines fine-tunes in vivo GAG interactions and function.
Electrophysiological correlates of the interplay between low-level visual features and emotional content during word reading
Authors: Schindler Sebastian , Schettino Antonio , Pourtois Gilles
Published: August 2018

Processing affectively charged visual stimuli typically results in increased amplitude of specific event-related potential (ERP) components. Low-level features similarly modulate electrophysiological responses, with amplitude changes proportional to variations in stimulus size and contrast. However, it remains unclear whether emotion-related amplifications during visual word processing are necessarily intertwined with changes in specific low-level features or, instead, may act independently. In this pre-registered electrophysiological study, we varied font size and contrast of neutral and negative words while participants were monitoring their semantic content. We examined ERP responses associated with early sensory and attentional processes as well as later stages of stimulus processing. Results showed amplitude modulations by low-level visual features early on following stimulus onset – i.e., P1 and N1 components –, while the LPP was independently modulated by these visual features. Independent effects of size and emotion were observed only at the level of the EPN. Here, larger EPN amplitudes for negative were observed only for small high contrast and large low contrast words. These results suggest that early increase in sensory processing at the EPN level for negative words is not automatic, but bound to specific combinations of low-level features, occurring presumably via attentional control processes.
Novel phages of healthy skin metaviromes from South Africa
Authors: van Zyl Leonardo Joaquim , Abrahams Yoonus , Stander Emily Amor , Kirby-McCollough Bronwyn , Jourdain Roland , Clavaud Cécile , Breton Lionel , Trindade Marla
Published: August 2018

Recent skin metagenomic studies have investigated the harbored viral diversity and its possible influence on healthy skin microbial populations, and tried to establish global patterns of skin-phage evolution. However, the detail associated with the phages that potentially play a role in skin health has not been investigated. While skin metagenome and -metavirome studies have indicated that the skin virome is highly site specific and shows marked interpersonal variation, they have not assessed the presence/absence of individual phages. Here, we took a semi-culture independent approach (metaviromic) to better understand the composition of phage communities on skin from South African study participants. Our data set adds over 130 new phage species of the skin to existing databases. We demonstrated that identical phages were present on different individuals and in different body sites, and we conducted a detailed analysis of the structural organization of these phages. We further found that a bacteriophage related to the Staphylococcus capitis phage Stb20 may be a common skin commensal virus potentially regulating its host and its activities on the skin.
Modelling vaporised hydrogen peroxide efficacy against mono-species biofilms
Authors: Watson F. , Keevil C. W. , Wilks S. A. , Chewins J.
Published: August 2018

This pilot study investigates a novel approach towards efficacy testing of antimicrobial cleaning agents; focusing primarily on hydrogen peroxide vapour (HPV). Contaminated surfaces are recognised modes of pathogen transmission within healthcare environments and increase the risk of pathogen acquisition in newly admitted patients. Studies have shown these pathogens can survive on surfaces for extended periods of time in spite of cleaning. This resilience is characteristic of biofilm formation and recent publications have identified their presence in hospitals. In this study, biofilm models comprised of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) were generated using a drip flow reactor and exposed to HPV decontamination. The MDROs included Acinetobacter baumannii, Enterococcus faecalis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Upon exposure, samples were periodically removed and enumerated to generate kill curves for each species. Consequently revealing any inherent resistances; such as catalase-producing organisms which expressed reduced susceptibility. Epifluorescence microscopy revealed an abundance of viable and non-viable microcolonies before and after decontamination, respectively. Greater than 6-Log10 reduction was achieved within a 100 minutes exposure time. This pilot study puts forward a potential methodology for testing antimicrobial agents against biofilms and supports the efficacy of HPV.
Novel Hybrid Energy Conversion and Storage Cell with Photovoltaic and Supercapacitor Effects in Ionic Liquid Electrolyte
Authors: Kalasina Saran , Phattharasupakun Nutthaphon , Maihom Thana , Promarak Vinich , Sudyoadsuk Taweesak , Limtrakul Jumras , Sawangphruk Montree
Published: August 2018

A single hybrid energy conversion and storage (HECS) cell of alpha-cobalt hydroxide (α-Co(OH)2) in ionic liquid was fabricated and operated under light illumination. The α-Co(OH)2, which is unstable in an aqueous electrolyte (i.e. KOH), is surprisingly stable in 1-butyl-1-methyl-pyrrolidinium dicyanamide ionic liquid. The as-fabricated HECS cell provides 100% coulombic efficiency and 99.99% capacity retention over 2000 cycles. Under a photo-charging condition, the dicyanamide anion of ionic liquid can react with a generated α-Co(OH)2+ hole at the positive electrode since the HOMO energy level of the anion is close to the valence band of α-Co(OH)2. The excited photoelectron will transfer to the current collector and move to the negative electrode. At the negative electrode, the 1-butyl-1-methyl-pyrrolidinium cations of ionic liquid do electrostatically adsorb on the surface and intercalate into the interlayer of active material stabilizing the whole cell. The HECS cell having both energy conversion (photovoltaic effect) and energy storage (supercapacitor) properties may be an ideal device for future renewable energy.
Multiple mechanisms contributing to ciprofloxacin resistance among Gram negative bacteria causing infections to cancer patients
Authors: Hamed Samira M. , Elkhatib Walid F. , El-Mahallawy Hadir A. , Helmy Mai M. , Ashour Mohamed S. , Aboshanab Khaled M. A.
Published: August 2018

Fluoroquinolones have been used for prophylaxis against infections in cancer patients but their impact on the resistance mechanisms still require further investigation. To elucidate mechanisms underlying ciprofloxacin (CIP) resistance in Gram-negative pathogens causing infections to cancer patients, 169 isolates were investigated. Broth microdilution assays showed high-level CIP resistance in 89.3% of the isolates. Target site mutations were analyzed using PCR and DNA sequencing in 15 selected isolates. Of them, all had gyrA mutations (codons 83 and 87) with parC mutations (codons 80 and 84) in 93.3%. All isolates were screened for plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes and 56.8% of them were positive in this respect. Among PMQR genes, aac(6′)-Ib-cr predominated (42.6%) while qnr genes were harbored by 32.5%. This comprised qnrS in 26.6% and qnrB in 6.5%. Clonality of the qnr-positive isolates using ERIC-PCR revealed that most of them were not clonal. CIP MIC reduction by CCCP, an efflux pump inhibitor, was studied and the results revealed that contribution of efflux activity was observed in 18.3% of the isolates. Furthermore, most fluoroquinolone resistance mechanisms were detected among Gram-negative isolates recovered from cancer patients. Target site mutations had the highest impact on CIP resistance as compared to PMQRs and efflux activity.
Flexible memristive devices based on polyimide:mica nanosheet nanocomposites with an embedded PEDOT:PSS layer
Authors: Choi Myoung Kyun , Kim Woo Kyum , Sung Sihyun , Wu Chaoxing , Kim Hyoun Woo , Kim Tae Whan
Published: August 2018

Flexible memristive devices with a structure of Al/polyimide:mica/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate/indium-tin-oxide/polyethylene glycol naphthalate showed electrical bistability characteristics. The maximum current margin of the devices with mica nanosheets was much larger than that of the devices without mica nanosheets. For these devices, the current vs. time curves showed nonvolatile characteristics with a retention time of more than 1 × 104 s, and the current vs. number-of-cycles curves demonstrated an endurance for high resistance state/low resistance state switchings of 1 × 102 cycles. As to the operation performance, the “reset” voltage was distributed between 2.5 and 3 V, and the “set” voltage was distributed between −0.7 and −0.5 V, indicative of high uniformity. The electrical characteristics of the devices after full bendings with various radii of curvature were similar to those before bending, which was indicative of devices having ultra-flexibility. The carrier transport and the operation mechanisms of the devices were explained based on the current vs. voltage curves and the energy band diagrams.
Urea influences amino acid turnover in bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes, cumulus cells and denuded oocytes, and affects in vitro fertilization outcome
Authors: Kowsar Rasoul , Iranshahi Vahid Norozian , Sadeghi Nima , Riasi Ahmad , Miyamoto Akio
Published: August 2018

High-protein diets often lead to an increase in urea concentration in follicular fluid of dairy cows, which may reduce oocyte competence. In the present study, maturation media were supplemented with urea (0, 20, 40 mg/dl), and amino acids (AAs) turnover was evaluated in the 24-h spent media of specimens (cell types), bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs), cumulus cells (CCs), or denuded oocytes (DOs). The main effects of urea and cell type, and their interaction were significant on the individual turnover (expect threonine, glycine, and tyrosine) and total turnover, depletion, and appearance of AAs. The results showed a high level of urea and DOs increased the depletion of all AAs and that of essential and non-AAs, respectively. Sensitivity analysis revealed the highest sensitivity of isoleucine, lysine, and tryptophan to urea, especially in DOs. Principal component analysis (PCA) evaluated the strong correlations between the turnover of: (1) glutamine, aspartic acid or glycine, and developmental competence and fertilization of COCs; (2) serine, isoleucine, valine or glutamic acid, and cleavage rate of DOs; and (3) serine, glutamine, aspartic acid or alanine, and CCs viability. In conclusion, urea significantly changed the turnover of AAs by COCs, CCs and DOs, and reduced the subsequent developmental competence of bovine oocytes.
Analysis of eIF2B bodies and their relationships with stress granules and P-bodies
Authors: Moon Stephanie L. , Parker Roy
Published: August 2018

Eukaryotic cells respond to stress and changes in the environment in part by repressing translation and forming cytoplasmic assemblies called stress granules and P-bodies, which harbor non-translating mRNAs and proteins. A third, but poorly understood, assembly called the eIF2B body can form and contains the eIF2B complex, an essential guanine exchange factor for the translation initiation factor eIF2. Hypomorphic EIF2B alleles can lead to Vanishing White Matter Disease (VWMD), a leukodystrophy that causes progressive white matter loss. An unexplored question is how eIF2B body formation is controlled and whether VWMD alleles in EIF2B alter the formation of eIF2B bodies, stress granules, or P-bodies. To examine these issues, we assessed eIF2B body, stress granule, and P-body induction in wild-type yeast cells and cells carrying VWMD alleles in the EIF2B2 (GCD7) and EIF2B5 (GCD6) subunits of eIF2B. We demonstrate eIF2B bodies are rapidly and reversibly formed independently of stress granules during acute glucose deprivation. VWMD mutations had diverse effects on stress-induced assemblies with some alleles altering eIF2B bodies, and others leading to increased P-body formation. Moreover, some VWMD-causing mutations in GCD7 caused hyper-sensitivity to chronic GCN2 activation, consistent with VWMD mutations causing hyper-sensitivity to eIF2α phosphorylation and thereby impacting VWMD pathogenesis.
Improving Stem Cell Delivery to the Trabecular Meshwork Using Magnetic Nanoparticles
Authors: Snider E. J. , Kubelick K. P. , Tweed K. , Kim R. K. , Li Y. , Gao K. , Read A. T. , Emelianov S. , Ethier C. R.
Published: August 2018

Glaucoma is a major cause of blindness and is frequently associated with elevated intraocular pressure. The trabecular meshwork (TM), the tissue that primarily regulates intraocular pressure, is known to have reduced cellularity in glaucoma. Thus, stem cells, if properly delivered to the TM, may offer a novel therapeutic option for intraocular pressure control in glaucoma patients. For this purpose, targeted delivery of stem cells to the TM is desired. Here, we used magnetic nanoparticles (Prussian blue nanocubes [PBNCs]) to label mesenchymal stem cells and to magnetically steer them to the TM following injection into the eye’s anterior chamber. PBNC-labeled stem cells showed increased delivery to the TM vs. unlabeled cells after only 15-minute exposure to a magnetic field. Further, PBNC-labeled mesenchymal stem cells could be delivered to the entire circumference of the TM, which was not possible without magnetic steering. PBNCs did not affect mesenchymal stem cell viability or multipotency. We conclude that this labeling approach allows for targeted, relatively high-efficiency delivery of stem cells to the TM in clinically translatable time-scales, which are necessary steps towards regenerative medicine therapies for control of ocular hypertension in glaucoma patients.
In vivo imaging of bacterial colonization of the lower respiratory tract in a baboon model of Bordetella pertussis infection and transmission
Authors: Naninck Thibaut , Coutte Loïc , Mayet Céline , Contreras Vanessa , Locht Camille , Le Grand Roger , Chapon Catherine
Published: August 2018

Recent whooping cough (pertussis) outbreaks in many countries highlight the crucial need for a better understanding of the pathogenesis of Bordetella pertussis infection of the respiratory tract. The baboon is a recently described preclinical model for the study of B. pertussis infection and may be ideal for the evaluation of new pertussis vaccines. However, many pathophysiological aspects, including bacterial localization and interactions, have yet to be described in this model. Here, we used a baboon model of infection with a fluorescent GFP-expressing B. pertussis strain, derived from European clinical isolate B1917. Juvenile baboons were used to evaluate susceptibility to infection and transmission. Non-invasive in vivo imaging procedures, using probe-based confocal endomicroscopy coupled with bronchoscopy, were developed to track fluorescent bacterial localization and cellular interactions with host cells in the lower respiratory tract of infected animals. All B1917-GFP-challenged animals developed classical pertussis symptoms, including paroxysmal cough, nasopharyngeal colonization, and leukocytosis. In vivo co-localization with antigen presenting cells and progressive bacterial colonization of the lower airways were also assessed by imaging during the first weeks of infection. Our results demonstrate that in vivo imaging can be used to assess bacterial colonization and to point out interactions in a baboon model of pertussis.
Cationic Photoinitiators
Authors: Ortyl J.
Published: August 2018

General interest in the use of cationic photopolymerization instead of free-radical photopolymerization for preparation of polymer coatings is still growing. This generates the need for better understanding of the subtle nuances of this method and the need for development of new, more efficient one-component cationic photoinitiators, because the photopolymerization speed depends on their performance. This chapter presents the structural and kinetic aspects of using the new one-component photoinitiators for cationic photopolymerization processes of monomers. Especially, long-wavelength cationic photoinitiators are discussed because they have attracted growing interest owing to the wide applications of LED sources.
Photoinitiators in Dentistry: Challenges and Advances
Authors: Ye Qiang , Abedin Farhana , Parthasarathy Ranganathan , Spencer Paulette
Published: August 2018

Photopolymerization is used in a wide range of clinical applications in dentistry and the demand for dental materials that can restore form, function and esthetics is increasing rapidly. Simultaneous with this demand is the growing need for photoinitiators that provide effective and efficient in situ polymerization of dental materials using visible light irradiation. This chapter reviews the fundamentals of Type I and II photoinitiators. The advantages and disadvantages of these photoinitiators will be considered with a particular focus on parameters that affect the polymerization process in the oral cavity. The chapter examines recent developments in photoinitiators and opportunities for future research in the design and development of photoinitiators for dental applications. Future research directions that employ computational models in conjunction with iterative synthesis and experimental methods will also be explored in this chapter.
Photopolymerization of Amphiphilic Molecule Self-assemblies
Authors: Nicol Erwan , Piogé Sandie
Published: August 2018

The use of self-assembly of amphiphilic molecules or block copolymers is an interesting alternative to classical synthesis methods for elaborating original and complex architectures. Because of its rapidity, photoinitiated radical polymerization is widely used to fix transient self-assembled structures. This chapter presents the kinetics and structural aspects of the radical photopolymerization of surfactant micelles, surfactant vesicles and block copolymer self-assemblies. The possibility, or not, to achieve ideal topochemical polymerization is discussed in terms of the competition between the rate of the photopolymerization process and the exchange rate of chains between self-assemblies.
An injectable and physical levan-based hydrogel as a dermal filler for soft tissue augmentation
Authors: Choi Won Il , Hwang Youngmin , Sahu Abhishek , Min Kiyoon , Sung Daekyung , Tae Giyoong , Chang Jeong Ho
Published: August 2018

A novel levan-based injectable hydrogel was developed as a dermal filler having better in vivo stability and efficacy compared to HA-based hydrogel.
Homologation of halostannanes with carbenoids: a convenient and straightforward one-step access to α-functionalized organotin reagents
Authors: Touqeer Saad , Castoldi Laura , Langer Thierry , Holzer Wolfgang , Pace Vittorio
Published: August 2018

A direct, single synthetic homologative transformation of halostannanes into mono- or di-substituted methyl analogues is documented.
Chiral Lewis acid-catalyzed enantioselective cyclopropanation and C–H insertion reactions of vinyl ketones with α-diazoesters
Authors: Zhao Peng , Wu Simeng , Ke Chaoqi , Liu Xiaohua , Feng Xiaoming
Published: August 2018

N,N′-Dioxide-scandium(iii) complex catalyzed cyclopropanation and C–H insertion reaction between α-substituted vinyl ketones and α-diazoesters in high yield and enantioselectivity.
Multifunctional supramolecular vesicles for combined photothermal/photodynamic/hypoxia-activated chemotherapy
Authors: Wang Qi , Tian Lu , Xu Jingzeng , Xia Bing , Li Jie , Lu Feng , Lu Xiaomei , Wang Wenjun , Huang Wei , Fan Quli
Published: August 2018

Multifunctional supramolecular vesicles were constructed by self-assembly of water-soluble pillar[5]arene and NIR-absorbing guest G. They exhibited remarkable antitumor efficacy through simultaneous combination of photothermal, photodynamic and photodynamic-triggered hypoxia-activated chemotherapy.
Electrochemical methoxymethylation of alcohols – a new, green and safe approach for the preparation of MOM ethers and other acetals
Authors: Luo Xiya , Ma Xiaofeng , Lebreux Frédéric , Markó István E. , Lam Kevin
Published: August 2018

A novel electrochemical methodology was developed for preparing MOM ethers under safe, inexpensive and scalable conditions.
Reversible structural transformation induced switchable single-molecule magnet behavior in lanthanide metal–organic frameworks
Authors: Wang Mengmeng , Meng Xixi , Song Fen , He Yanfei , Shi Wei , Gao Hongling , Tang Jinkui , Peng Cheng
Published: August 2018

The structural transformation between Ln-MOFs 1 and 2 and the corresponding switchable “on/off” single-molecule magnet behavior have been studied.
Understanding three-body contributions to coarse-grained force fields
Authors: Scherer Christoph , Andrienko Denis
Published: August 2018

Three-body extensions of coarse-grained force fields can result in a strong two-body attraction at short distances. This can be alleviated by first parametrizing the two-body potential and then fitting the three-body contribution to the residual forces.
Development of a ReaxFF reactive force field for lithium ion conducting solid electrolyte Li1+xAlxTi2−x(PO4)3 (LATP)
Authors: Shin Yun Kyung , Sengul Mert Y. , Jonayat A. S. M. , Lee Wonho , Gomez Enrique D. , Randall Clive A. , Duin Adri C. T. van
Published: August 2018

Using a ReaxFF reactive force field, we investigated the composition-dependent ionic conductivity and the Li migration behaviors in Li1+xAlxTi2−x(PO4)3 solid electrolyte.
Simultaneous polymer chain growth with the coexistence of bulk and surface initiators: insight from computer simulations
Authors: Xu Jing , Xue Yao-Hong , Cui Feng-Chao , Liu Hong , Lu Zhong-Yuan
Published: August 2018

By Brownian dynamics simulations we study the simultaneous polymer chain growth process with the coexistence of bulk and surface initiators.
Spin polarization and spin channel reversal in graphitic carbon nitrides on top of an α-Fe2O3(0001) surface
Authors: Jiang Jiawei , Wang Xiaocha , Mi Wenbo
Published: August 2018

Spin polarization and spin channel reversal are realized in graphitic carbon nitride/α-Fe2O3(0001), where an antiferromagnetic substrate plays a key role.
A route to support Pt sub-nanoparticles on TiO2 and catalytic hydrogenation of quinoline to 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline at room temperature
Authors: Li Shaopeng , Yang Youdi , Wang Yanyan , Liu Huizhen , Tai Jing , Zhang Jing , Han Buxing
Published: August 2018

We report a method to support Pt sub-nanoparticles on TiO2.
Exploring the limits of anaerobic biodegradability of urban wastewater by AnMBR technology
Authors: Seco A. , Mateo O. , Zamorano-López N. , Sanchis-Perucho P. , Serralta J. , Martí N. , Borrás L. , Ferrer J.
Published: August 2018

Anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) can achieve maximum energy recovery from urban wastewater (UWW) by converting influent COD into methane.
ZnO nanoparticle-embedded silk fibroin–polyvinyl alcohol composite film: a potential dressing material for infected wounds
Authors: Patil Priyanka P. , Meshram Jagruti V. , Bohara Raghvendra A. , Nanaware Shivdas G. , Pawar Shivaji H.
Published: August 2018

A highly effective composite film based on ZnO NPs, silk fibroin and PVA for an infected wound.
Solar light efficient photocatalytic activity degradation of emergent contaminants by coated TiO2 nanoparticles
Authors: Villanueva María Emilia , Copello Guillermo Javier , Campo Dall’Orto Viviana
Published: August 2018

The photocatalytic degradation of different emergent contaminants in aqueous solutions has been studied by using oligomer-coated TiO2 nanoparticles under solar light irradiation.
Spermine-directed supramolecular self-assembly of water-soluble AIE-active tetraphenylethylene: nanobelt, nanosheet, globular and nanotubular structures
Authors: La Duong Duc , Malegaonkar Jotiram N. , Kobaisi Mohammad Al , Bhosale Rajesh S. , Bhosale Sidhanath V. , Bhosale Sheshanath V.
Published: August 2018

Tetrasulfonate-tetraphenylethylene (Su-TPE) is non-emissive in water and upon addition of a good solvent such as THF (fTHF = 95%) it displays strong fluorescence emission with a quantum yield of 6.33%.
Modulating the DNA cleavage ability of copper(ii) Schiff bases through ternary complex formation
Authors: Viqueira Joaquín , Durán María L. , García-Vázquez José A. , Castro Jesús , Platas-Iglesias Carlos , Esteban-Gómez David , Alzuet-Piña Gloria , Moldes Angeles , Nascimento Otaciro R.
Published: August 2018

Copper(ii) Schiff-bases were electrochemically synthesized and characterized. The presence of co-ligands such as 2,2′-bpy or phen in the metal coordination environment increases the DNA cleavage efficiency.
Chemistry of the fumiquinazolines and structurally related alkaloids
Authors: Resende Diana I. S. P. , Boonpothong Papichaya , Sousa Emília , Kijjoa Anake , Pinto Madalena M. M.
Published: August 2018

This review covers the isolation, structure elucidation, biological activities, biosynthetic pathways, and synthetic studies of the 77 fumiquinazolines and structurally related alkaloids described up to 2018.
Hetero-biicosahedral [Au24Pd(PPh3)10(SC2H4Ph)5Cl2]+ nanocluster: selective synthesis and optical and electrochemical properties
Authors: Nair Lakshmi V. , Hossain Sakiat , Takagi Shunjiro , Imai Yukari , Hu Guoxiang , Wakayama Shota , Kumar Bharat , Kurashige Wataru , Jiang De-en , Negishi Yuichi
Published: August 2018

A hetero-biicosahedral 25-atom cluster in which one central atom was replaced by Pd was synthesized and the properties were elucidated.
Prediction of an extremely long exciton lifetime in a Janus-MoSTe monolayer
Authors: Jin Hao , Wang Tao , Gong Zhi-Rui , Long Chen , Dai Ying
Published: August 2018

The electron–hole separation efficiency is a key factor that determines the performance of two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) and devices.
Interaction of bacteria and archaea in a microbial fuel cell with ITO anode
Authors: Jiang Qingqing , Xing Defeng , Zhang Lu , Sun Rui , Zhang Jian , Zhong Yingjuan , Feng Yujie , Ren Nanqi
Published: August 2018

A microbial fuel cell with an indium tin oxide coated glass anode was used to study the mechanism of electricity generation and electron transfer of electrochemically active microbes.