bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Overall and disease-free survival outcomes of patients receiving intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) with PET-CT-based planning for cancers of the head and neck
Authors: Franc Benjamin L. , DeLemos Christi , Jones Christopher
Published: July 2015

Introduction

Combined modality treatment regimens have provided modest gains in locoregional control rates of cancers of the head and neck (HNC), and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) has gained widespread use. The methodology for determining contours of the gross tumour volume (GTV) in the radiation treatment plan is often based on combined anatomic and metabolic data from positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET-CT). This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the overall survival and disease-free survival outcomes of patients with HNC who received definitive IMRT with or without chemotherapy, planned with PET-CT.

Materials and Methods

A total of 1,200 patients underwent treatment for HNC during the study period, from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2010. Of those, 261 cases had evaluable data that met the inclusion criteria for the study. The incidence and timing of locoregional recurrence, distant metastatic disease, new primary malignancies and death were evaluated retrospectively. Overall and disease-free survival (survival to time of first recurrence) were determined by the life table method. Incidence of distance metastatic disease and additional cancers were also studied.

Results

Median follow-up from treatment initiation was 26·4 months (range 1·2–84·7 months). Overall survival and disease-free survival rates were 0·883 and 0·791, respectively, at 1 year; 0·793 and 0·688, respectively, at 2 years; and 0·732 and 0·619, respectively, at 3 years. The cumulative risk of recurrence was 22·6% at 3 years following definitive IMRT and the median time to recurrence was 345 days. There was an overall low incidence of distant metastatic disease (3·07%) and additional cancers (8·05%).

Conclusion

Overall and disease-free survival outcomes of a large cohort of HNC patients treated with definitive IMRT radiotherapy following treatment planning with PET-CT shows a similar high level of disease control and mortality rate as previously published outcome studies of shorter terms and/or smaller numbers of patients.
Preliminary absorbed dose evaluation of two novel 153Sm bone-seeking agents for radiotherapy of bone metastases: comparison with 153Sm-EDTMP
Authors: Yousefnia Hassan , Zolghadri Samaneh , Jalilian A. Reza , Naseri Zohreh
Published: July 2015

Aim

The amount of energy deposited on any organ by ionising radiation termedabsorbed dose, plays an important role in evaluating the risks associated with the administration of radiopharmaceuticals. In this research work, the absorbed dose received by human organs for153Sm-TTHMP and153Sm-PDTMP was evaluated based on biodistribution studies on the Syrian rats.

Materials and methods

153Sm-TTHMP and153Sm-PDTMP were successfully prepared with radiochemical purity of higher than 99%. The biodistribution of the complexes was investigated within the Syrian rats up to 48 hours post injection. The human absorbed dose of the complexes was estimated by the radiation dose assessment resource method.

Results

The highest absorbed dose for153Sm-TTHMP and153Sm-PDTMP was observed in the trabecular bone with 1·085 and 1·826 mGy/MBq, respectively. The bone to other critical organ dose ratio for153Sm-PDTMP is significantly greater than153Sm-TTHMP. Also, the bone/red marrow dose ratio for these complexes is comparable with this ratio for153Sm-EDTMP, as the most clinically used Sm-153 bone pain palliative radiopharmaceutical.

Findings

According to the considerable bone absorbed dose against the insignificant absorbed dose of non-target organs, these complexes can be used as potential bone pain palliative agents in clinical applications.
“WE WILL MAKE EUROPE THERE” ITALIAN INTELLECTUALS IN SEARCH OF EUROPE AND AMERICA IN HITLER'S GERMANY
Authors: GERMANESE DONATELLA
Published: July 2015

In the above-mentioned article [1] on page 1, in the acknowledgements note (*), line 2: “dell.” should read “dello,” line 3: “Foundazione” should read “Fondazione,” line 3: “XXVIII” should read “XXIII.”
A CHURCH DIVIDED: ROMAN CATHOLICISM, AMERICANIZATION, AND THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR
Authors: Wetzel Benjamin
Published: July 2015

Standard accounts of American Catholic history generally note in passing that American Catholics supported the Spanish-American War but do not examine what reasons provoked them to do so. At the same time, recent literature on the war itself has described various factors that motivated American support, but few of these studies have noted the central role that religion played in Americans' interpretations of the conflict. This article brings these two historiographies together by showing the importance of the war for the Catholic Church in America as well as the significance of religious belief for how many Americans understood the conflict. In particular, providentialist interpretations of the war held by a large number of Catholics reveal a crucial moment in the church's process of Americanization. Yet more importantly, this article focuses on the significant number of Catholics who steadfastly opposed the war, demonstrating the contested nature of the Americanization process. Ultimately, this article maintains that skepticism concerning the righteousness of the American nation motivated antiwar Catholics' resistance to prevalent American attitudes. By integrating American Catholics into our understanding of the Spanish-American War, this article sheds new light on the development of fin de siècle American Catholicism and on the war itself.
TRANSFORMATION IN THE TABERNACLE: BILLY SUNDAY'S CONVERTS AND EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE PROGRESSIVE ERA
Authors: Young Jeremy C.
Published: July 2015

Millions of Americans watched the evangelist Billy Sunday preach during the years 1905–1935, and many were profoundly affected by the experience. Using letters, published and unpublished reminiscences, and other primary source documents, this article reconstructs the emotional experience of Sunday's converts and offers insights into the meaning of conversion and followership in Sunday's and other similar social movements. Through their emotional responses to the evangelist, followers recast socioeconomic problems and community pressures as personal, internal crises that could be resolved through adherence to Sunday's principles. The process of conversion was considered and volitional; it was also a long-lasting act of self-fashioning. Americans who converted in Sunday's tabernacles thoroughly reinvented themselves as followers of Sunday and then set out to remake society according to the evangelist's goals. Generalizing from these insights, the article argues that followership of inspirational leaders was a site of significant agency for Progressive Era Americans. It also identifies emotional experience as a way for historical figures to translate cultural trends into concrete social action. The article concludes by calling for additional research into how emotions shape and condition historical change.
Pluto's Moons Nix and Hydra Show Their Faces
Authors: Wendel JoAnna
Published: July 2015

When the New Horizons spacecraft photographed Pluto last week, it snapped the most revealing images yet of two little-known moons of the dwarf planet.
Measurement of Bmax and Kd with the Glycine Transporter 1 Radiotracer 18F-MK6577 using a Novel Multi-Infusion Paradigm
Authors: Xia Yan , Zheng Ming-Qiang , Holden Daniel , Lin Shu-fei , Kapinos Michael , Ropchan Jim , Gallezot Jean-Dominique , Huang Yiyun , Carson Richard E
Published: July 2015

Glycine is a co-agonist of glutamate at the NMDA receptor. Glycine transporter 1 (GlyT1) inhibitors are reported to be potential therapeutic agents for schizophrenia. 18F-MK6577 is a new positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer useful for imaging brain GlyT1 and its occupancy in humans. We devised a novel multi-infusion paradigm of radiolabeled and unlabeled compound and an iterative linear/nonlinear alternating fitting method to allow for the determination of in vivo affinity ( Kd) and target concentration ( Bmax) images, constraining Kd to be uniform across the brain. This paradigm was tested with 18F-MK6577 in baboons. Voxel-based analysis produced high quality Bmax images and reliable Kd estimates, and also suggested that the nondisplaceable distribution volume ( VND) is not uniform throughout the brain. In vivo GlyT1 Kd was estimated to be 1.87 nmol/L for 18F-MK6577, and the rank order of GlyT1 distribution measured in the baboon brain was: high in the brainstem (133 nmol/L), medium in the cerebellum (83 nmol/L), and low in the cortex (30 nmol/L). These in vivo Kd and Bmax values agreed well with those determined in vitro, thus validating our novel multi-infusion approach.
Structures of FolT in substrate-bound and substrate-released conformations reveal a gating mechanism for ECF transporters
Authors: Zhao Qin , Wang Chengcheng , Wang Chengyuan , Guo Hui , Bao Zhihao , Zhang Minhua , Zhang Peng
Published: July 2015

Energy-coupling factor (ECF) transporters are a new family of ABC transporters that consist of four subunits, two cytoplasmic ATPases EcfA and EcfA' and two transmembrane proteins namely EcfS for substrate-specific binding and EcfT for energy coupling. Here, we report the 3.2-Å resolution crystal structure of the EcfS protein of a folate ECF transporter from Enterococcus faecalis-EfFolT, a close homologue of FolT from Lactobacillus brevis-LbFolT. Structural and biochemical analyses reveal the residues constituting the folate-binding pocket and determining the substrate-binding specificity. Structural comparison of the folate-bound EfFolT with the folate-free LbFolT contained in the holotransporter complex discloses significant conformational change at the L1 loop, and reveals a gating mechanism of ECF transporters in which the L1 loop of EcfS acts as a gate in the substrate binding and release.
Modulating protein activity using tethered ligands with mutually exclusive binding sites
Authors: Schena Alberto , Griss Rudolf , Johnsson Kai
Published: July 2015

The possibility to design proteins whose activities can be switched on and off by unrelated effector molecules would enable applications in various research areas, ranging from biosensing to synthetic biology. We describe here a general method to modulate the activity of a protein in response to the concentration of a specific effector. The approach is based on synthetic ligands that possess two mutually exclusive binding sites, one for the protein of interest and one for the effector. Tethering such a ligand to the protein of interest results in an intramolecular ligand–protein interaction that can be disrupted through the presence of the effector. Specifically, we introduce a luciferase controlled by another protein, a human carbonic anhydrase whose activity can be controlled by proteins or small molecules in vitro and on living cells, and novel fluorescent and bioluminescent biosensors.
Association of matrix metalloproteinase family gene polymorphisms with lung cancer risk: logistic regression and generalized odds of published data
Authors: Li Hongxia , Liang Xiaoyan , Qin Xuebing , Cai Shaohua , Yu Senyang
Published: July 2015

Many studies have reported the association between the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) polymorphisms and lung cancer susceptibility, but the results were inconclusive. We conducted a meta-analysis, using a comprehensive strategy based on the logistic regression and a model-free approach, to derive a more precise estimation of the relationship between MMP1, MMP2, MMP9 and MMP13 polymorphisms with lung cancer risk. A total of 22 case-control studies including 8202 cases and 7578 controls were included in this meta-analysis. For MMP1-1607 1G/2G, increased lung cancer risk was found among Asians in additive model(OR = 1.34, 95%CI:1.18-1.53) and with model-free approach(ORG = 1.41, 95%CI:1.21-1.65). For MMP2-1306 C/T and -735 C/T, based on the model-free approach, a significantly reduced risk was found in Asians(MMP2-1306 C/T:ORG = 0.49,95%CI:0.42-0.57; MMP2-735 C/T: ORG = 0.71, 95%CI:0.61-0.84). For MMP9-1562 C/T, a significantly increased risk was found among Asians(OR = 2.73, 95%CI:1.74-4.27) with model-free approach. For MMP13-77A/G, there was no association between this polymorphism and lung cancer risk in the recessive model(OR = 1.02, 95%CI:0.83-1.26) and with the model-free approach(ORG = 0.95, 95%CI:0.76-1.17). Therefore, this meta-analysis suggests that the MMP1-1607 1G/2G, MMP2-1306 C/T, MMP2-735 C/T, MMP9 -1562 C/T polymorphisms were risk factors for lung cancer among Asians, while MMP13 -77A/G polymorphism was not associated with lung cancer risk.
Potential for DNA-based identification of Great Lakes fauna: match and mismatch between taxa inventories and DNA barcode libraries
Authors: Trebitz Anett S. , Hoffman Joel C. , Grant George W. , Billehus Tyler M. , Pilgrim Erik M.
Published: July 2015

DNA-based identification of mixed-organism samples offers the potential to greatly reduce the need for resource-intensive morphological identification, which would be of value both to bioassessment and non-native species monitoring. The ability to assign species identities to DNA sequences found depends on the availability of comprehensive DNA reference libraries. Here, we compile inventories for aquatic metazoans extant in or threatening to invade the Laurentian Great Lakes and examine the availability of reference mitochondrial COI DNA sequences (barcodes) in the Barcode of Life Data System for them. We found barcode libraries largely complete for extant and threatening-to-invade vertebrates (100% of reptile, 99% of fish and 92% of amphibian species had barcodes). In contrast, barcode libraries remain poorly developed for precisely those organisms where morphological identification is most challenging; 46% of extant invertebrates lacked reference barcodes with rates especially high among rotifers, oligochaetes and mites. Lack of species-level identification for many aquatic invertebrates also is a barrier to matching DNA sequences with physical specimens. Attaining the potential for DNA-based identification of mixed-organism samples covering the breadth of aquatic fauna requires a concerted effort to build supporting barcode libraries and voucher collections.
Computational Prediction of One-Step Synthesis of Seven-membered Fused Rings by (5+2) Cycloaddition Utilising Cycloalkenes
Authors: Zhou Chen-Chen , Ke Xiao-Na , Xu Xiu-Fang
Published: July 2015

The (5+2) cycloaddition reaction utilising cycloalkenes is rare, although it is one of the most efficient methods of constructing seven-membered fused rings because of its high atom- and step-economy. In this study, we used quantum mechanical calculations to predict the plausibility of using the Rh-catalysed intermolecular (5+2) cycloaddition of 3-acyloxy-1,4-enynes and cycloalkenes to produce fused seven-membered carbocycles. The calculation results suggest a convenient, highly efficient and energetically practical approach. Strained cycloalkenes, such as cyclopropene, have been predicted to be active and the desired bicyclic product should be favoured, accompanied by the formation of byproducts from rearrangement reactions. The energy barriers of the alkene insertion step were analysed by the distortion/interaction model to disclose the origins of the different reactivities of cycloalkenes with different ring sizes.
Regional Contrasts of the Warming Rate over Land Significantly Depend on the Calculation Methods of Mean Air Temperature
Authors: Wang Kaicun , Zhou Chunlüe
Published: July 2015

Global analyses of surface mean air temperature (Tm) are key datasets for climate change studies and provide fundamental evidences for global warming. However, the causes of regional contrasts in the warming rate revealed by such datasets, i.e., enhanced warming rates over the northern high latitudes and the “warming hole” over the central U.S., are still under debate. Here we show these regional contrasts depend on the calculation methods of Tm. Existing global analyses calculate Tm from daily minimum and maximum temperatures (T2). We found that T2 has a significant standard deviation error of 0.23 °C/decade in depicting the regional warming rate from 2000 to 2013 but can be reduced by two-thirds using Tm calculated from observations at four specific times (T4), which samples diurnal cycle of land surface air temperature more often. From 1973 to 1997, compared with T4, T2 significantly underestimated the warming rate over the central U.S. and overestimated the warming rate over the northern high latitudes. The ratio of the warming rate over China to that over the U.S. reduces from 2.3 by T2 to 1.4 by T4. This study shows that the studies of regional warming can be substantially improved by T4 instead of T2.
High-performance ultraviolet photodetectors based on solution-grown ZnS nanobelts sandwiched between graphene layers
Authors: Kim Yeonho , Kim Sang Jin , Cho Sung-Pyo , Hong Byung Hee , Jang Du-Jeon
Published: July 2015

Ultraviolet (UV) light photodetectors constructed from solely inorganic semiconductors still remain unsatisfactory because of their low electrical performances. To overcome this limitation, the hybridization is one of the key approaches that have been recently adopted to enhance the photocurrent. High-performance UV photodetectors showing stable on-off switching and excellent spectral selectivity have been fabricated based on the hybrid structure of solution-grown ZnS nanobelts and CVD-grown graphene. Sandwiched structures and multilayer stacking strategies have been applied to expand effective junction between graphene and photoactive ZnS nanobelts. A multiply sandwich-structured photodetector of graphene/ZnS has shown a photocurrent of 0.115 mA under illumination of 1.2 mWcm−2 in air at a bias of 1.0 V, which is higher 107 times than literature values. The multiple-sandwich structure of UV-light sensors with graphene having high conductivity, flexibility and impermeability is suggested to be beneficial for the facile fabrication of UV photodetectors with extremely efficient performances.
Effect of variation in ovine WFIKKN2 on growth traits appears to be gender-dependent
Authors: Wang Jiqing , Zhou Huitong , Fang Qian , Liu Xiu , Luo Yuzhu , Hickford Jon G. H.
Published: July 2015

WFIKKN2 may play a role in the regulation of muscle growth and development, but to date there have been no reports on the effect of variation in WFIKKN2 on growth and carcass traits in livestock. In this study, the effect of variation in ovine WFIKKN2 was investigated in 800 New Zealand Romney lambs (395 male and 405 female), with five previously described variants (A to E) being identified. Variation in ovine WFIKKN2 was not found to affect various growth traits in the female lambs, but the presence of variant B was associated (P < 0.05) with decreased birth weight, tailing weight, weaning weight and pre-weaning growth rate; and increased post-weaning growth rate in male lambs. In male lambs, the presence of variant B was associated (P < 0.05) with an increased shoulder yield and proportion shoulder yield. No associations with growth or carcass traits were detected for the presence (or absence) of the other variants. These results suggest that variation in ovine WFIKKN2 may have a differential effect on growth in male and female lambs and hence that the gene may be expressed in, or act in, a gender-specific fashion.
Body size distributions of the pale grass blue butterfly in Japan: Size rules and the status of the Fukushima population
Authors: Taira Wataru , Iwasaki Mayo , Otaki Joji M.
Published: July 2015

The body size of the pale grass blue butterfly, Zizeeria maha, has been used as an environmental indicator of radioactive pollution caused by the Fukushima nuclear accident. However, geographical and temporal size distributions in Japan and temperature effects on size have not been established in this species. Here, we examined the geographical, temporal and temperature-dependent changes of the forewing size of Z. maha argia in Japan. Butterflies collected in 2012 and 2013 from multiple prefectures throughout Japan demonstrated an inverse relationship of latitude and forewing size, which is the reverse of Bergmann’s cline. The Fukushima population was significantly larger than the Aomori and Miyagi populations and exhibited no difference from most of the other prefectural populations. When monitored at a single geographic locality every other month, forewing sizes were the largest in April and the smallest in August. Rearing larvae at a constant temperature demonstrated that forewing size followed the temperature-size rule. Therefore, the converse Bergmann’s rule and the temperature-size rule coexist in this multivoltine species. Our study establishes this species as a useful environmental indicator and supports the idea that the size reduction observed only in Fukushima Prefecture in 2011 was caused by the environmental stress of radioactive pollution.
Blood pressure and mortality: using offspring blood pressure as an instrument for own blood pressure in the HUNT study
Authors: Wade Kaitlin H , Carslake David , Ivar Nilsen Tom , Timpson Nicholas J , Davey Smith George , Romundstad Pål
Published: July 2015

Given that observational associations may be inaccurate, we used offspring blood pressure (BP) to provide alternative estimates of the associations between own BP and mortality. Observational associations between BP and mortality, estimated as hazard ratios (HRs) from Cox regression, were compared to HRs obtained using offspring BP as an instrumental variable (IV) for own BP (N = 32,227 mother-offspring and 27,535 father-offspring pairs). Observationally, there were positive associations between own BP and mortality from all-causes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke and diabetes. Point estimates of the associations between BP and mortality from all-causes, CVD and CHD were amplified in magnitude when using offspring BP as an IV. For example, the HR for all-cause mortality per standard deviation (SD) increase in own systolic BP (SBP) obtained in conventional observational analyses increased from 1.10 (95% CI: 1.09–1.12; P < 0.0001) to 1.31 (95% CI: 1.19–1.43; P < 0.0001). Additionally, SBP was positively associated with diabetes and cancer mortality (HRs: 2.00; 95% CI: 1.12–3.35; P = 0.02 and 1.20; 95% CI: 1.02–1.42; P = 0.03, respectively) and diastolic BP (DBP) with stroke mortality (HR: 1.30; 95% CI: 1.02–1.66; P = 0.03). Results support positive associations between BP and mortality from all-causes, CVD and CHD, SBP on cancer mortality and DBP on stroke mortality.
Specialised emission pattern of leaf trace in a late Permian (253 million-years old) conifer
Authors: Wei Hai-Bo , Feng Zhuo , Yang Ji-Yuan , Chen Yu-Xuan , Shen Jia-Jia , He Xiao-Yuan
Published: July 2015

Leaf traces are important structures in higher plants that connect leaves and the stem vascular system. The anatomy and emission pattern of leaf traces are well studied in extant vascular plants, but remain poorly understood in fossil lineages. We quantitatively analysed the leaf traces in the late Permian conifer Ningxiaites specialis from Northwest China based on serial sections through pith, primary and secondary xylems. A complete leaf traces emission pattern of a conifer is presented for the first time from the late Palaeozoic. Three to five monarch leaf traces are grouped in clusters, arranged in a helical phyllotaxis. The leaf traces in each cluster can be divided into upper, middle and lower portions and initiate at the pith periphery and cross the wood horizontally. The upper leaf trace increases its diameter during the first growth increment and then diminishes completely, which indicates leaf abscission at the end of the first year. The middle trace immediately bifurcates once or twice to form two or three vascular bundles. The lower trace persists as a single bundle during its entire length. The intricate leaf trace dynamics indicates this fossil plant had a novel evolutionary habit by promoting photosynthetic capability for the matured plant.
Fish-seastar facilitation leads to algal forest restoration on protected rocky reefs
Authors: Galasso Nicola M. , Bonaviri Chiara , Trapani Francesco Di , Picciotto Mariagrazia , Gianguzza Paola , Agnetta Davide , Badalamenti Fabio
Published: July 2015

Although protected areas can lead to recovery of overharvested species, it is much less clear whether the return of certain predator species or a diversity of predator species can lead to re-establishment of important top-down forces that regulate whole ecosystems. Here we report that the algal recovery in a Mediterranean Marine Protected Area did not derive from the increase in the traditional strong predators, but rather from the establishment of a previously unknown interaction between the thermophilic fish Thalassoma pavo and the seastar Marthasterias glacialis. The interaction resulted in elevated predation rates on sea urchins responsible for algal overgrazing. Manipulative experiments and field observations revealed that the proximity of the seastars triggered an escape response in sea urchins, extending their tube feet. Fishes exploited this behavior by feeding on the exposed tube feet, thus impairing urchin movement and making them vulnerable to predation by the seastars. These findings suggest that predator diversity generated by MPA establishment can activate positive interactions among predators, with subsequent restoration of the ecosystem structure and function through cascading consumer impacts.
Direct experimental observation of weakly-bound character of the attached electron in europium anion
Authors: Cheng Shi-Bo , Castleman A. W.
Published: July 2015

Direct experimental determination of precise electron affinities (EAs) of lanthanides is a longstanding challenge to experimentalists. Considerable debate exists in previous experiment and theory, hindering the complete understanding about the properties of the atomic anions. Herein, we report the first precise photoelectron imaging spectroscopy of europium (Eu), with the aim of eliminating prior contradictions. The measured EA (0.116 ± 0.013 eV) of Eu is in excellent agreement with recently reported theoretical predictions, providing direct spectroscopic evidence that the additional electron is weakly attached. Additionally, a new experimental strategy is proposed that can significantly increase the yield of the lanthanide anions, opening up the best opportunity to complete the periodic table of the atomic anions. The present findings not only serve to resolve previous discrepancy but also will help in improving the depth and accuracy of our understanding about the fundamental properties of the atomic anions.
Exploiting Non-Markovianity for Quantum Control
Authors: Reich Daniel M. , Katz Nadav , Koch Christiane P.
Published: July 2015

Quantum technology, exploiting entanglement and the wave nature of matter, relies on the ability to accurately control quantum systems. Quantum control is often compromised by the interaction of the system with its environment since this causes loss of amplitude and phase. However, when the dynamics of the open quantum system is non-Markovian, amplitude and phase flow not only from the system into the environment but also back. Interaction with the environment is then not necessarily detrimental. We show that the back-flow of amplitude and phase can be exploited to carry out quantum control tasks that could not be realized if the system was isolated. The control is facilitated by a few strongly coupled, sufficiently isolated environmental modes. Our paradigmatic example considers a weakly anharmonic ladder with resonant amplitude control only, restricting realizable operations to SO(N). The coupling to the environment, when harnessed with optimization techniques, allows for full SU(N) controllability.
Kallistatin protects against sepsis-related acute lung injury via inhibiting inflammation and apoptosis
Authors: Lin Wei-Chieh , Chen Chang-Wen , Huang Yu-Wen , Chao Lee , Chao Julie , Lin Yee-Shin , Lin Chiou-Feng
Published: July 2015

Kallistatin, an endogenous plasma protein, exhibits pleiotropic properties in inhibiting inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis, as evidenced in various animal models and cultured cells. Here, we demonstrate that kallistatin levels were positively correlated with the concentration of total protein in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) from patients with sepsis-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), indicating a compensatory mechanism. Lower ratio of kallistatin to total protein in BALF showed a significant trend toward elevated neutrophil counts (P = 0.002) in BALF and increased mortality (P = 0.046). In lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated mice, expression of human kallistatin in lung by gene transfer with human kallistatin-encoding plasmid ameliorated acute lung injury (ALI) and reduced cytokine/chemokine levels in BALF. These mice exhibited attenuated lung epithelial apoptosis and decreased Fas/FasL expression compared to the control mice. Mouse survival was improved by kallistatin gene transfer or recombinant human kallistatin treatment after LPS challenge. In LPS-stimulated A549 human lung epithelial cells, kallistatin attenuated apoptosis, down-regulated Fas/FasL signaling, suppressed intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inhibited ROS-mediated NF-κB activation and inflammation. Furthermore, LPS-induced apoptosis was blocked by antioxidant N-acetylcysteine or NF-κB inhibitor via down-regulating Fas expression. These findings suggest the therapeutic potential of kallistatin for sepsis-related ALI/ARDS.
Anisotropic bias dependent transport property of defective phosphorene layer
Authors: Umar Farooq M. , Hashmi Arqum , Hong Jisang
Published: July 2015

Phosphorene is receiving great research interests because of its peculiar physical properties. Nonetheless, no systematic studies on the transport properties modified due to defects have been performed. Here, we present the electronic band structure, defect formation energy and bias dependent transport property of various defective systems. We found that the defect formation energy is much less than that in graphene. The defect configuration strongly affects the electronic structure. The band gap vanishes in single vacancy layers, but the band gap reappears in divacancy layers. Interestingly, a single vacancy defect behaves like a p-type impurity for transport property. Unlike the common belief, we observe that the vacancy defect can contribute to greatly increasing the current. Along the zigzag direction, the current in the most stable single vacancy structure was significantly increased as compared with that found in the pristine layer. In addition, the current along the armchair direction was always greater than along the zigzag direction and we observed a strong anisotropic current ratio of armchair to zigzag direction.
Magnetically tunable broadband transmission through a single small aperture
Authors: Bi Ke , Liu Wenjun , Guo Yunsheng , Dong Guoyan , Lei Ming
Published: July 2015

Extraordinary transmission through a small aperture is of great interest. However, it faces a limitation that most of approaches can not realize the tunable transmission property, which is not benefit for the miniaturization of the microwave system. Here, we demonstrate a magnetically tunable broadband transmission through a small aperture. By placing two ferrite rods symmetrically on both sides of a single small aperture, the strongly localized electromagnetic fields are effectively coupled to the two ferrite rods. Both the simulated and experimental results indicate that such structure not only realizes a nearly total transmission through a small aperture, but also obtains a magnetically tunable property. This work offers new opportunities for the miniaturization of the microwave system.
Ion-neutral collisional cross sections of carbohydrate isomers as divalent cation adducts and their electron transfer products
Authors: Huang Yuting , Dodds Eric D.
Published: July 2015

This paper reports on the use of divalent metal ion adduction, gas-phase electron transfer reactions, and ion mobility spectrometry to discriminate among isomeric oligosaccharides.
Ion pair based dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for the preconcentration of ultra-trace levels of bismuth(iii) and its determination by electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy
Authors: Vakilzadeh Samira , Eftekhari Mohammad , Chamsaz Mahmoud , Javedani-Asleh Farzaneh
Published: July 2015

An efficient ion pair based dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction method was used for the preconcentration of ultra-trace levels of Bi(iii) prior to its determination by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry.
High capacity and exceptional cycling stability of ternary metal sulfide nanorods as Li ion battery anodes
Authors: Bhattacharjya Dhrubajyoti , Sinhamahapatra Apurba , Ko Jae-Jung , Yu Jong-Sung
Published: July 2015

Ternary spinel NiCo2S4nanorods demonstrate high specific capacity and outstanding cycling stability as Li ion battery anodes due to restriction of a polymeric gel passivation layer by the CMC–PAA composite binder.
Humic acid as promising organic anodes for lithium/sodium ion batteries
Authors: Zhu Hui , Yin Jiao , Zhao Xue , Wang Chuanyi , Yang Xiurong
Published: July 2015

As a representative natural polymer, humic acid was creatively explored as an anode material for lithium/sodium ion batteries.
Metal-coordination-driven mixed ligand binding in supramolecular bisporphyrin tweezers
Authors: Ikbal Sk Asif , Dhamija Avinash , Rath Sankar Prasad
Published: July 2015

The mixed ligand polymers of Mg(ii)bisporphyrin with heterogeneous guest pairs have been synthesized just by mixing the host and guests in one pot and structurally characterized. The guest ligands are bound selectively between the inside and the outside of the bisporphyrin cavity.
Derivation of coarse-grained simulation models of chlorophyll molecules in lipid bilayers for applications in light harvesting systems
Authors: Debnath Ananya , Wiegand Sabine , Paulsen Harald , Kremer Kurt , Peter Christine
Published: July 2015

A coarse-grained model is derived for chlorophyll molecules in lipid bilayers using a multi-scale simulation ansatz aiming to understand the association behavior of the light harvesting complex (LHCII) of green plants.
Computational design of faster rotating second-generation light-driven molecular motors by control of steric effects
Authors: Oruganti Baswanth , Fang Changfeng , Durbeej Bo
Published: July 2015

By tuning the steric bulkiness of the stereogenic substituent, the rate-determining thermal free-energy barrier of an already MHz-capable rotary molecular motor can be reduced by a further 15–17 kJ mol−1.
Effects of constituent ions of a phosphonium-based ionic liquid on molecular organization of H2O as probed by 1-propanol: tetrabutylphosphonium and trifluoroacetate ions
Authors: Morita Takeshi , Miki Kumiko , Nitta Ayako , Ohgi Hiroyo , Westh Peter
Published: July 2015

The phosphonium-based cation, [P4444]+, is significant amphiphile with strong hydrophobic and equally strong hydrophilic contributions.
Cold water cleaning of brain proteins, biofilm and bone – harnessing an ultrasonically activated stream
Authors: Birkin P. R. , Offin D. G. , Vian C. J. B. , Howlin R. P. , Dawson J. I. , Secker T. J. , Hervé R. C. , Stoodley P. , Oreffo R. O. C. , Keevil C. W. , Leighton T. G.
Published: July 2015

The ability of acoustically active bubbles to remove a range of biological contaminants is demonstrated in an ultrasonically activated stream.
Molecular dynamics simulations and NMR spectroscopy studies of trehalose–lipid bilayer systems
Authors: Kapla Jon , Engström Olof , Stevensson Baltzar , Wohlert Jakob , Widmalm Göran , Maliniak Arnold
Published: July 2015

The disaccharide trehalose (TRH) strongly affects the physical properties of lipid bilayers.
Photochemistry of nitrate chemisorbed on various metal oxide surfaces
Authors: Lesko Daniel M. B. , Coddens Ellen M. , Swomley Hannah D. , Welch Rachel M. , Borgatta Jaya , Navea Juan G.
Published: July 2015

Atmospheric aerosols are known to provide an important surface for gas–solid interfaces that can lead to heterogeneous reactions impacting tropospheric chemistry.
Extremely bulky secondary phosphinoamines as substituents for sterically hindered aminosilanes
Authors: Böttcher Tobias , Jones Cameron
Published: July 2015

The synthesis of a series of extremely bulky secondary amines with a phosphine function, Ar†(PR2)NH (Ar†= C6H2{C(H)Ph2}2Pri-2,6,4; R = Ph, NEt2, NPri2) is described. Deprotonation with eithern-BuLi or KH yields the respective alkali metal amides. Reactions with a series of chlorosilanes allows access to monomeric molecular compounds bearing the extremely bulky amino substituentsviasalt elimination.
Well-defined palladium(ii) complexes for ligand-enabled C(sp3)-alkynylation
Authors: Landge Vinod G. , Sahoo Manoj K. , Midya Siba P. , Jaiswal Garima , Balaraman Ekambaram
Published: July 2015

The first example of ligand-enabled C(sp3)-alkynylation of 8-methylquinoline is reported. The reaction is catalysed by well-defined Pd(ii) complexes. The present C(sp3)-alkynylation has a broad substrate scope as well as functional group tolerance and proceeds under mild conditions.
Comparative adsorption of Eu(iii) and Am(iii) on TPD
Authors: Fan Q. H. , Zhao X. L. , Ma X. X. , Yang Y. B. , Wu W. S. , Zheng G. D. , Wang D. L.
Published: July 2015

Comparative adsorption behaviors of Eu(iii) and Am(iii) on thorium phosphate diphosphate (TPD),i.e., Th4(PO4)4P2O7, have been studied using a batch approach and surface complexation model (SCM) in this study.
Correction: Carbon dioxide uptake from natural gas by binary ionic liquid–water mixtures
Authors: Anderson Kris , Atkins Martin P. , Estager Julien , Kuah Yongcheun , Ng Shieling , Oliferenko Alexander A. , Plechkova Natalia V. , Puga Alberto V. , Seddon Kenneth R. , Wassell David F.
Published: July 2015

Correction for ‘Carbon dioxide uptake from natural gas by binary ionic liquid–water mixtures’ by Kris Anderson et al., Green Chem., 2015, DOI: 10.1039/c5gc00720h.
Nanocatalytic one-pot, four-component synthesis of some new triheterocyclic compounds consisting of pyrazole, pyran, and pyrimidinone rings
Authors: Dastkhoon Sadegh , Tavakoli Zaiba , Khodabakhshi Saeed , Baghernejad Mojtaba , Abbasabadi Masoud Khaleghi
Published: July 2015

A new series of triheterocyclic compounds containing pyrazole, pyran, and pyrimidinone rings was synthesizedviaa one-pot condensation of ethylacetoacetate, hydrazine hydrate, barbituric acid, and aromatic aldehydes in the presence of catalytic amounts of titanium dioxide nanowires.
Synthesis and biological evaluation of conformationally restricted adenine bicycloribonucleosides
Authors: Hřebabecký Hubert , Procházková Eliška , Šála Michal , Plačková Pavla , Tloušťová Eva , Barauskas Ona , Lee Yu-Jen , Tian Yang , Mackman Richard , Nencka Radim
Published: July 2015

We prepared a novel series of conformationally restricted bicyclonucleosides and nucleotides.
Strand displacement and duplex invasion into double-stranded DNA by pyrrolidinyl peptide nucleic acids
Authors: Bohländer Peggy R. , Vilaivan Tirayut , Wagenknecht Hans-Achim
Published: July 2015

Strand displacement and duplex invasion of DNA duplexes by pyrrolidinyl peptide nucleic acid are demonstrated using the concept of wavelength-shifting nucleic acid probes.
d-Glucosamine as a novel chiral auxiliary for the stereoselective synthesis of P-stereogenic phosphine oxides
Authors: D'Onofrio A. , Copey L. , Jean-Gérard L. , Goux-Henry C. , Pilet G. , Andrioletti B. , Framery E.
Published: July 2015

A novel use of d-glucosamine as chiral auxiliary for the stereoselective synthesis of phosphine oxides was developed. The three key steps of the process occurred in a stereoselective fashion.
Regio- and stereoselective synthesis of 2′-β-substituted-fluoroneplanocin A analogues as potential anticancer agents
Authors: Nayak Akshata , Sahu Pramod K. , Song Jayoung , Lee Sang Kook , Jeong Lak Shin
Published: July 2015

Regio- and stereoselective synthesis of a series of 2′-β-substituted-6′-fluoro-cyclopentenyl-pyrimidines and -purines8and9as potential anticancer agents is described.
Theoretical study of the fluorination effect on charge transport properties in fused thiophene derivatives
Authors: Yin Jun , Chaitanya Kadali , Ju Xue-Hai
Published: July 2015

A strategy for improving electron mobility of fused thiophenes by fluorination.
Rationalizing the role of the anion in CO2 capture and conversion using imidazolium-based ionic liquid modified mesoporous silica
Authors: Aquino A. S. , Bernard F. L. , Borges J. V. , Mafra L. , Vecchia F. Dalla , Vieira M. O. , Ligabue R. , Seferin M. , Chaban Vitaly V. , Cabrita E. J. , Einloft S.
Published: July 2015

Covalently supported ionic liquids in mesoporous materials were prepared by grafting 1-methyl-3-(3-trimethoxysylilpropyl)imidazolium chloride in MCM-41.
A DFT study of the role of the Lewis acid catalysts in the [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of the electrophilic nitrone isomer of methyl glyoxylate oxime with nucleophilic cyclopentene
Authors: Nacereddine Abdelmalek Khorief , Layeb Hatem , Chafaa Fouad , Yahia Wassila , Djerourou Abdelhafid , Domingo Luis Ramon
Published: July 2015

The mechanism and stereoselectivity of the BH3-catalysed 32CA reaction between C-methoxycarbonyl nitrone and cyclopentene has been studied using MPWB1K/6-31G(d) computational level.
Novel quaternary ammonium functional addition-type norbornene copolymer as hydroxide-conductive and durable anion exchange membrane for direct methanol fuel cells
Authors: He Xiaohui , Liu Jingyin , Zhu Hongyu , Zheng Yan , Chen Defu
Published: July 2015

Novel quaternary ammonium functional addition-type norbornene copolymers, and their anion exchange membranes with effective hydrophilic–hydrophobic separation and well performance suitable for direct methanol fuel cells application are achieved.
Laser-induced fabrication of Ag@SiO2@Ag sandwich nanostructures having enhanced catalytic performances
Authors: Lee Jaewon , Jang Du-Jeon
Published: July 2015

A Ag@SiO2@Ag sandwich nanostructure having highly enhanced catalytic performances has been fabricated in a facile and eco-friendly manner without using any reducing agents by irradiating 355 nm laser pulses to Ag@SiO2@Ag-seed nanosphere for 30 min.
pH-operated hybrid silica nanoparticles with multiple H-bond stoppers for colon cancer therapy
Authors: Théron C. , Gallud A. , Giret S. , Maynadier M. , Grégoire D. , Puche P. , Jacquet E. , Pop G. , Sgarbura O. , Bellet V. , Hibner U. , Zink J. I. , Garcia M. , Wong Chi Man M. , Carcel C. , Gary-Bobo M.
Published: July 2015

Controlled delivery of a chemotherapeutic drug from pH-sensitive hybrid silica nanocarriers efficiently targets colon carcinoma cells. The drug, blocked by cyanuric acid as stopper, is autonomously released inside the cancer cells.
New aryloxy-quinone derivatives as potential anti-Chagasic agents: synthesis, trypanosomicidal activity, electrochemical properties, pharmacophore elucidation and 3D-QSAR analysis
Authors: Vázquez Karina , Espinosa-Bustos Christian , Soto-Delgado Jorge , Tapia Ricardo A. , Varela Javier , Birriel Estefanía , Segura Rodrigo , Pizarro Jaime , Cerecetto Hugo , González Mercedes , Paulino Margot , Salas Cristian O.
Published: July 2015

A set of new aryloxy-quinones were synthesized and evaluatedin vitroagainst the epimastigote form ofTrypanosoma cruziand their unspecific cytotoxicity was tested on murine macrophages J-774 cells.
Vapour–liquid–solid growth of one-dimensional In2Se3 nanostructures and their promising field emission behaviour
Authors: Suryawanshi Sachin R. , Bankar Prashant K. , More Mahendra A. , Late Dattatray J.
Published: July 2015

Single crystalline ultra long In2Se3 nanowires have been grown via thermal evaporation route on Au/Si substrates and explored its field emission investigations at ∼1 × 10−8 mbar.
Theoretical investigation of rare gas adsorption on and inside B-doped carbon nanotubes by DFT, QTAIM and NBO
Authors: Zhang Xueli , Gong Xuedong
Published: July 2015

Structures and intramolecular interactions of complexes formed by 1–2 boron atom doped CNTs with rare gases were studied.
Syntheses, characterization, and magnetic properties of novel divalent Co/Ni coordination polymers based on a V-shaped pyridine ligand and dicarboxylate acids
Authors: Wang Ting , Qin Ling , Zhang Chuanlei , Zheng Hegen
Published: July 2015

Syntheses, structures, and properties of compounds 1–3 were investigated in detail. In addition, a magnetism study of compound 3 indicates that there are antiferromagnetic interactions between Co atoms.
Porous organic polymers derived from tetrahedral silicon-centered monomers and a stereocontorted spirobifluorene-based precursor: synthesis, porosity and carbon dioxide sorption
Authors: Ma Qing-Yu , Yang Bing-Xue , Li Jian-Quan
Published: July 2015

Porous organic polymers show high and tunable porosity, and moderate CO2 uptake and CO2 selectivity over other gases simultaneously using tetrahedral silicon-centered monomers and a stereocontorted spirobifluorene-based precursor as building units.
Method to analyse energy and intensity dependent photo-curing of acrylic esters in bulk
Authors: Schmitt M.
Published: July 2015

The photo-polymerizations induced by three different model resins, containing well-known commercial initiators, are monitored by an in situ Raman UV-vis system and analysed in detail.
Application of magnetic nanoparticles modified with poly(2-amino thiophenol) as a sorbent for solid phase extraction and trace detection of lead, copper and silver ions in food matrices
Authors: sedghi Roya , Shojaee Maryam , Behbahani Mohammad , Nabid Mohammad Reza
Published: July 2015

We are introducing magnetic nanoparticles modified with poly(2-amino thiophenol) as a new solid-phase for the extraction of heavy metals ions, including lead(ii), copper(ii) and silver(i).
Nickel-promoted mesoporous ZSM5 for carbon monoxide methanation
Authors: Teh L. P. , Triwahyono S. , Jalil A. A. , Mamat C. R. , Sidik S. M. , Fatah N. A. A. , Mukti R. R. , Shishido T.
Published: July 2015

Synergistic effect of Ni and the mZSM5 support led to high methanation activity of Ni/mZSM5. Two possible reaction routes emerged: (1) adsorbed CO may be reacted with H2 to form CH4 and H2O; (2) adsorbed H may be reacted with CO to form CH4 and CO2.
Enhanced Raman scattering when scatterer molecules located in TiO2/Ag nanojunctions
Authors: Xue Xiangxin , Xu Dongduo , Ruan Weidong , Chen Lei , Chang Limin , Zhao Bing
Published: July 2015

Raman spectrum of TiO2/4-Mpy/Ag sandwich structure was significantly enhanced and the SERS mechanism was well studied.
Targeting delivery and deep penetration using multistage nanoparticles for triple-negative breast cancer
Authors: Ruan Shaobo , Zhang Li , Chen Jiantao , Cao Tingwei , Yang Yuting , Liu Yayuan , He Qin , Gao Fabao , Gao Huile
Published: July 2015

Targeting delivery and size-induced deep penetration have been applied in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) theranostics.
Preparation and heavy-ion irradiation effects of Gd2CexZr2−xO7 ceramics
Authors: Lu Xirui , Ding Yi , Shu Xiaoyan , Mao Xueli , Wang Xiaolin
Published: July 2015

A number of compositions with the general stoichiometry of Gd2CexZr2−xO7 (0 ≤ x ≤ 2) ceramics have been synthesized and received irradiation tests at room temperature with Xe20+ ions in a broad fluence range.
Facile synthesis of fluorescent carbon dots for determination of curcumin based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer
Authors: Shi Ying , Li Chunyan , Liu Shaopu , Liu Zhongfang , Zhu Jinghui , Yang Jidong , Hu Xiaoli
Published: July 2015

A carbon dot-based fluorescence probe was designed for detecting curcumin via fluorescence resonance energy transfer.
Concentration-dependent rhombitrihexagonal tiling patterns at the liquid/solid interface
Authors: Stepanenko Vladimir , Kandanelli Ramesh , Uemura Shinobu , Würthner Frank , Fernández Gustavo
Published: July 2015

A self-assembling Pd(ii) complex forms sophisticated concentration-dependent Archimedean tiling patterns composed of three types of polygons at the liquid/solid interface.