bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conservation of the pure adiabatic state in Ehrenfest dynamics of the photoisomerization of molecules
Authors: Miyamoto Yoshiyuki , Tateyama Yoshitaka , Oyama Norihisa , Ohno Takahisa
Published: December 2015

We examined real-time-propagation time-dependent density functional theory (rtp-TDDFT) coupled with molecular dynamics (MD), which uses single-particle representation of time-evolving wavefunctions allowing exchange of orbital characteristics between occupied and empty states making the effective Kohn-Sham Hamiltonian dependent on the potential energy surfaces (PESs). This scheme is expected to lead to mean-field average of adiabatic potential energy surfaces (PESs) and is one of Ehrenfest (mean-field) approaches. However, we demonstrate that the mean-field average can be absent in simulating photoisomerization of azobenzene and ethylene molecules. A transition from the S2 to the S1 excited state without the mean- field average was observed after examining several rtp-TDDFT-MD trajectories of a photoexcited azobenzene molecule. The subsequent trans-cis isomerization was observed in our simulation, which is consistent with experimental observation and supported by previous calculations. The absence of the mean-field average of PESs was also observed for the transition between the S1 and S0 states, indicating that the MD simulation was on a single PES. Conversely, we found no transition to the ground state (S0 state) when we performed a MD simulation of an S1 excited ethylene molecule owing to the constraint on the occupation number of each molecular orbital. Thus, we conclude that, at least for azobenzene and ethylene molecules, the rtp-TDDFT-MD is an on-the-fly simulation that can automatically see the transition among the PESs of excited states without the mean-field average unless the simulation reaches the PES of the S0 state.
Comparative genomics Lactobacillus reuteri from sourdough reveals adaptation of an intestinal symbiont to food fermentations
Authors: Zheng Jinshui , Zhao Xin , Lin Xiaoxi B. , Gänzle Michael
Published: December 2015

Lactobacillus reuteri is a dominant member of intestinal microbiota of vertebrates and occurs in food fermentations. The stable presence of L. reuteri in sourdough provides the opportunity to study the adaptation of vertebrate symbionts to an extra-intestinal habitat. This study evaluated this adaptation by comparative genomics of 16 strains of L. reuteri. A core genome phylogenetic tree grouped L. reuteri into 5 clusters corresponding to the host-adapted lineages. The topology of a gene content tree, which includes accessory genes, differed from the core genome phylogenetic tree, suggesting that the differentiation of L. reuteri is shaped by gene loss or acquisition. About 10% of the core genome (124 core genes) were under positive selection. In lineage III sourdough isolates, 177 genes were under positive selection, mainly related to energy conversion and carbohydrate metabolism. The analysis of the competitiveness of L. reuteri in sourdough revealed that the competitivess of sourdough isolates was equal or higher when compared to rodent isolates. This study provides new insights into the adaptation of L. reuteri to food and intestinal habitats, suggesting that these two habitats exert different selective pressure related to growth rate and energy (carbohydrate) metabolism.
Novel green tissue-specific synthetic promoters and cis-regulatory elements in rice
Authors: Wang Rui , Zhu Menglin , Ye Rongjian , Liu Zuoxiong , Zhou Fei , Chen Hao , Lin Yongjun
Published: December 2015

As an important part of synthetic biology, synthetic promoter has gradually become a hotspot in current biology. The purposes of the present study were to synthesize green tissue-specific promoters and to discover green tissue-specific cis-elements. We first assembled several regulatory sequences related to tissue-specific expression in different combinations, aiming to obtain novel green tissue-specific synthetic promoters. GUS assays of the transgenic plants indicated 5 synthetic promoters showed green tissue-specific expression patterns and different expression efficiencies in various tissues. Subsequently, we scanned and counted the cis-elements in different tissue-specific promoters based on the plant cis-elements database PLACE and the rice cDNA microarray database CREP for green tissue-specific cis-element discovery, resulting in 10 potential cis-elements. The flanking sequence of one potential core element (GEAT) was predicted by bioinformatics. Then, the combination of GEAT and its flanking sequence was functionally identified with synthetic promoter. GUS assays of the transgenic plants proved its green tissue-specificity. Furthermore, the function of GEAT flanking sequence was analyzed in detail with site-directed mutagenesis. Our study provides an example for the synthesis of rice tissue-specific promoters and develops a feasible method for screening and functional identification of tissue-specific cis-elements with their flanking sequences at the genome-wide level in rice.
The Spatial and Temporal Transcriptomic Landscapes of Ginseng, Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer
Authors: Wang Kangyu , Jiang Shicui , Sun Chunyu , Lin Yanping , Yin Rui , Wang Yi , Zhang Meiping
Published: December 2015

Ginseng, including Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) and American ginseng (P. quinquefolius L.), is one of the most important medicinal herbs in Asia and North America, but significantly understudied. This study sequenced and characterized the transcriptomes and expression profiles of genes expressed in 14 tissues and four different aged roots of Asian ginseng. A total of 265.2 million 100-bp clean reads were generated using the high-throughput sequencing platform HiSeq 2000, representing >8.3x of the 3.2-Gb ginseng genome. From the sequences, 248,993 unigenes were assembled for whole plant, 61,912–113,456 unigenes for each tissue and 54,444–65,412 unigenes for different year-old roots. We comprehensively analyzed the unigene sets and gene expression profiles. We found that the number of genes allocated to each functional category is stable across tissues or developmental stages, while the expression profiles of different genes of a gene family or involved in ginsenoside biosynthesis dramatically diversified spatially and temporally. These results provide an overall insight into the spatial and temporal transcriptome dynamics and landscapes of Asian ginseng and comprehensive resources for advanced research and breeding of ginseng and related species.
[28]Hexaphyrin derivatives for anion recognition in organic and aqueous media
Authors: Figueira Flávio , Farinha Andreia S. F. , Muteto Paulino V. , Polêto Marcelo D. , Verli Hugo , Gomes M. Teresa S. R. , Tomé Augusto C. , Cavaleiro José A. S. , Tomé João P. C.
Published: December 2015

Hexaphyrin-based anion chemosensors are reported for the first time.
Recent advances in the chemistry of organic thiocyanates
Authors: Castanheiro Thomas , Suffert Jean , Donnard Morgan , Gulea Mihaela
Published: December 2015

In this review the different methods for the preparation of organic thiocyantes and their synthetic applications are presented.
Correction: Low bandgap semiconducting polymers for polymeric photovoltaics
Authors: Liu Chang , Wang Kai , Gong Xiong , Heeger Alan J.
Published: December 2015

Correction for ‘Low bandgap semiconducting polymers for polymeric photovoltaics’ by Chang Liu et al., Chem. Soc. Rev., 2016, DOI: 10.1039/c5cs00650c.
An Fe–Mn–Cu/SiO2@silicalite-1 catalyst for CO hydrogenation: the role of the zeolite shell on light-olefin production
Authors: Song Weilin , Zhang Bin , Chen Lifeng , Shi Jing , Cheng Xiaowei , Wu Lianghua , Yang Weimin , Zhou Jian , Zhang Yahong , Tao Yuewu , Tang Yi
Published: December 2015

The silicalite-1 coated catalyst presents a unique temperature-dependent performance due to the zeolite shell’s diffusion limitation on reactants and products and suppression of secondary reactions on downstream catalysts.
Planar tetracoordinate carbon in tungstenacyclobutadiene from alkyne metathesis and expanded structures
Authors: Remya Premaja R. , Suresh Cherumuttathu H.
Published: December 2015

Establishing the Cβ of tungstenacyclobutadiene (WCBD) as a ptC center paves the way for a new strategy to make novel materials containing multiple ptC centers. The 1-, 2- and 3-dimensional expansion of the WCBD motifs provides access to ptC-incorporated new metal–organic frameworks.
Rubrolide analogues and their derived lactams as potential anticancer agents
Authors: Pereira U. A. , Moreira T. A. , Barbosa L. C. A. , Maltha C. R. A. , Bomfim I. S. , Maranhão S. S. , Moraes M. O. , Pessoa C. , Barros-Nepomuceno F. W. A.
Published: December 2015

Analogues of rubrolides were synthesized and shown to be cytotoxic to several cancer cell lines and not toxic to L929 normal cells. The cytotoxicity involved the induction of cell death by apoptosis.
Facile synthesis of a biocompatible silver nanoparticle derived tripeptide supramolecular hydrogel for antibacterial wound dressings
Authors: Simon Turibius , Wu Chung-Shu , Liang Jie-Chuan , Cheng Chieh , Ko Fu-Hsiang
Published: December 2015

Through a mineralization process, Nap-FFC peptides produced transparent silver nanoparticle-based hydrogels (AgNPs@Nap-FFC) for antibacterial wound dressing.
Cross-linking of highly methoxylated pectin with copper: the specific anion influence
Authors: Seslija Sanja , Veljovic Djordje , Kalagasidis Krusic Melina , Stevanovic Jasmina , Velickovic Sava , Popovic Ivanka
Published: December 2015

Highly methoxylated pectin was cross-linked using different copper salts. The dependence between anion type, sorption capacity, mechanical and structural properties of obtained beads was found and correlated with Hofmeister theory.
Quantum confinement and dielectric profiles of colloidal nanoplatelets of halide inorganic and hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites
Authors: Sapori Daniel , Kepenekian Mikaël , Pedesseau Laurent , Katan Claudine , Even Jacky
Published: December 2015

Quantum confinement as well as high frequencyε∞and staticεsdielectric profiles are described for nanoplatelets of halide inorganic perovskites CsPbX3(X = I, Br, Cl) and hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites (HOP) in two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) structures.
Stereocontrolled synthesis of rosuvastatin calcium via iodine chloride-induced intramolecular cyclization
Authors: Xiong Fangjun , Wang Haifeng , Yan Lingjie , Han Sheng , Tao Yuan , Wu Yan , Chen Fener
Published: December 2015

A novel, stereoselective approach towards rosuvastatin calcium from the known (S)-homoallylic alcohol has been developed.
Synthesis of platinum-containing poly(phenyleneethynylene)s having various chromophores: aggregation and optical properties
Authors: Miyagi Yu , Shibutani Yuno , Otaki Yoshinori , Sanda Fumio
Published: December 2015

Various platinum-containing phenylene–ethynylene–arylene polymers were synthesized, and the relationships between the optical properties and aggregation behaviour were examined.
Palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative alkoxycarbonylation of potassium aryltrifluoroborates with potassium oxalate monoesters
Authors: Miao Jinmin , Fang Ping , Jagdeep Sahota , Ge Haibo
Published: December 2015

An efficient method for the preparation of aryl esters has been developed via Pd-catalyzed decarboxylative coupling of potassium aryltrifluoroborates and potassium oxalate monoesters.
Nanoscale water soluble self-assembled zero-valent iron: role of stabilizers in their morphology
Authors: Khan Zaheer , Ahmed AL-Thabaiti Shaeel , Hussain Shokit
Published: December 2015

Self-assembled water soluble sheet-like zero-valent iron nano-composites were prepared using a simple one-pot chemical reduction method in an aqueous solution of FeCl3and NaBH4both with and without CTAB and SDS.
Novel green phosphorescence from pristine ZnO quantum dots: tuning of correlated color temperature
Authors: Das Sagnik , Ghosh Chandan Kr. , Dey Rajib , Pal Mrinal
Published: December 2015

Creating novel functionality is always fascinating as well as advantageous from a device point of view.
Metal ion-coordinated carboxymethylated chitosan grafted carbon nanotubes with enhanced antibacterial properties
Authors: Hao Xiangping , Chen Shougang , Yu Hui , Liu Dan , Sun Weixiang
Published: December 2015

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes were covalently bonded with carboxymethyl chitosan using the grafting method. The composites revealed notable controlled release properties and, after coordination with metal ions, the complexes exhibited good long-term antibacterial properties.
Adsorption behavior of Rhodamine B on nanoporous polymers
Authors: Han Yide , Li Weiwei , Zhang Jing , Meng Hao , Xu Yan , Zhang Xia
Published: December 2015

This study demonstrates that nanoporous materials possess good adsorption capacities for Rhodamine B in water.
Predictability of the time-dependent toxicities of aminoglycoside antibiotic mixtures to Vibrio qinghaiensis sp.-Q67
Authors: Zhang Jin , Liu Shu-Shen , Dong Xin-Qi , Chen Min
Published: December 2015

The combined toxicities of all binary mixtures constructed by four aminoglycoside (AG) antibiotics are concentration additive, which has nothing to do with exposure time, mixture ratio, and concentration level.
Novel nitrogen-rich energetic macromolecules based on 3,6-dihydrazinyl-1,2,4,5-tetrazine
Authors: Cohen Adva , Yan Qi-Long , Shlomovich Avital , Aizikovich Alexander , Petrutik Natan , Gozin Michael
Published: December 2015

Nitrogen-rich energetic macromolecules were synthesized by reacting dihydrazinyl-1,2,4,5-tetrazine (DHTz) with various diisocyanates.
A new organic-silica based nanocomposite prepared for spectrophotometric determination of uranyl ions
Authors: Elabd A. A. , Elhefnawy O. A. , El Nahrawy A. M.
Published: December 2015

A new organic-silica based nanocomposite has been prepared for uranyl ion (UO22+) determination based on the absorbance enhancement of tartrazine incorporated copper sodium silicate nanocomposites (T-CSS).
Ternary polybenzoxazine/POSS/SWCNT hybrid nanocomposites stabilized through supramolecular interactions
Authors: Shih Hsi-Kang , Hsieh Chun-Cheng , Mohamed Mohamed Gamal , Zhu Chao-Yuan , Kuo Shiao-Wei
Published: December 2015

Zero-dimensional POSS with one-dimensional SWCNTs as dual-dimensional nanohybrid complexes within polybenzoxazine matrices stabilized through noncovalent supramolecular interactions.
Controlling compositional homogeneity and crystalline orientation in Bi0.8Sb0.2 thermoelectric thin films
Authors: Rochford C. , Medlin D. L. , Erickson K. J. , Siegal M. P.
Published: December 2015

Compositional-homogeneity and crystalline-orientation are necessary attributes to achieve high thermoelectric performance in Bi1−xSbx thin films. Following deposition in vacuum, and upon air exposure, we find that 50%–95% of the Sb in 100-nm thick films segregates to form a nanocrystalline Sb2O3 surface layer, leaving the film bulk as Bi-metal. However, we demonstrate that a thin SiN capping layer deposited prior to air exposure prevents Sb-segregation, preserving a uniform film composition. Furthermore, the capping layer enables annealing in forming gas to improve crystalline orientations along the preferred trigonal axis, beneficially reducing electrical resistivity.
Anomalous behavior of B1g mode in highly transparent anatase nano-crystalline Nb-doped Titanium Dioxide (NTO) thin films
Authors: Gautam Subodh K. , Gautam Naina , Singh R. G. , Ojha S. , Shukla D. K. , Singh Fouran
Published: December 2015

The effect of Niobium doping and size of crystallites on highly transparent nano-crystalline Niobium doped Titanium Dioxide (NTO) thin films with stable anatase phase are reported. The Nb doping concentration is varied within the solubility limit in TiO2 lattice. Films were annealed in controlled environment for improving the crystallinity and size of crystallites. Elemental and thickness analysis were carried out using Rutherford backscattering spectrometry and cross sectional field emission scanning electron microscopy. Structural characteristics reveal a substitutional incorporation of Nb+5 in the TiO2 lattice which inhibits the anatase crystallites growth with increasing the doping percentage. The micro-Raman (MR) spectra of films with small size crystallites shows stiffening of about 4 cm−1 for the Eg(1) mode and is ascribed to phonon confinement and non-stoichiometry. In contrast, B1g mode exhibits a large anomalous softening of 20 cm−1 with asymmetrical broadening; which was not reported for the case of pure TiO2 crystallites. This anomalous behaviour is explained by contraction of the apical Ti-O bonds at the surface upon substitutional Nb5+ doping induced reduction of Ti4+ ions also known as hetero-coordination effect. The proposed hypotheses is manifested through studying the electronic structure and phonon dynamics by performing the near edge x-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) and temperature dependent MR down to liquid nitrogen temperature on pure and 2.5 at.% doped NTO films, respectively.
What are the intensities and line-shapes of the twenty four polarization terms in coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy?
Authors: Niu Kai , Lee Soo-Y.
Published: December 2015

Coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) is conventionally described by just one diagram/term where the three electric field interactions act on the ket side in a Feynman dual time-line diagram in a specific time order of pump, Stokes and probe pulses. In theory, however, any third-order nonlinear spectroscopy with three different electric fields interacting with a molecule can be described by forty eight diagrams/terms. They reduce to just 24 diagrams/terms if we treat the time ordering of the electric field interactions on the ket independently of those on the bra, i.e. the ket and bra wave packets evolve independently. The twenty four polarization terms can be calculated in the multidimensional, separable harmonic oscillator model to obtain the intensities and line-shapes. It is shown that in fs/ps CARS, for the two cases of off-resonance CARS in toluene and resonance CARS in rhodamine 6G, where we use a fs pump pulse, a fs Stokes pulse and a ps probe pulse, we obtain sharp vibrational lines in four of the polarization terms where the pump and Stokes pulses can create a vibrational coherence on the ground electronic state, while the spectral line-shapes of the other twenty terms are broad and featureless. The conventional CARS term with sharp vibrational lines is the dominant term, with intensity at least one order of magnitude larger than the other terms.
hnRNP-Q1 represses nascent axon growth in cortical neurons by inhibitingGap-43mRNA translation
Authors: Williams Kathryn R. , McAninch Damian S. , Stefanovic Snezana , Xing Lei , Allen Megan , Li Wenqi , Feng Yue , Mihailescu Mihaela Rita , Bassell Gary J.
Published: December 2015

Posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression by mRNA-binding proteins is critical for neuronal development and function. hnRNP-Q1 is an mRNA-binding protein that regulates mRNA processing events, including translational repression. hnRNP-Q1 is highly expressed in brain tissue, suggesting a function in regulating genes critical for neuronal development. In this study, we have identified Growth-associated protein 43 (Gap-43) mRNA as a novel target of hnRNP-Q1 and have demonstrated that hnRNP-Q1 represses Gap-43 mRNA translation and consequently GAP-43 function. GAP-43 is a neuronal protein that regulates actin dynamics in growth cones and facilitates axonal growth. Previous studies have identified factors that regulate Gap-43 mRNA stability and localization, but it remains unclear whether Gap-43 mRNA translation is also regulated. Our results reveal that hnRNP-Q1 knockdown increased nascent axon length, total neurite length, and neurite number in mouse embryonic cortical neurons and enhanced Neuro2a cell process extension; these phenotypes were rescued by GAP-43 knockdown. Additionally, we have identified a G-quadruplex structure in the 5′ untranslated region of Gap-43 mRNA that directly interacts with hnRNP-Q1 as a means to inhibit Gap-43 mRNA translation. Therefore hnRNP-Q1–mediated repression of Gap-43 mRNA translation provides an additional mechanism for regulating GAP-43 expression and function and may be critical for neuronal development.
Intrinsically active variants of Erk oncogenically transform cells and disclose unexpected autophosphorylation capability that is independent of TEY phosphorylation
Authors: Smorodinsky-Atias Karina , Goshen-Lago Tal , Goldberg-Carp Anat , Melamed Dganit , Shir Alexei , Mooshayef Navit , Beenstock Jonah , Karamansha Yael , Darlyuk-Saadon Ilona , Livnah Oded , Ahn Natalie G. , Admon Arie , Engelberg David
Published: December 2015

The receptor-tyrosine kinase (RTK)/Ras/Raf pathway is an essential cascade for mediating growth factor signaling. It is abnormally overactive in almost all human cancers. The downstream targets of the pathway are members of the extracellular regulated kinases (Erk1/2) family, suggesting that this family is a mediator of the oncogenic capability of the cascade. Although all oncogenic mutations in the pathway result in strong activation of Erks, activating mutations in Erks themselves were not reported in cancers. Here we used spontaneously active Erk variants to check whether Erk’s activity per se is sufficient for oncogenic transformation. We show that Erk1(R84S) is an oncoprotein, as NIH3T3 cells that express it form foci in tissue culture plates, colonies in soft agar, and tumors in nude mice. We further show that Erk1(R84S) and Erk2(R65S) are intrinsically active due to an unusual autophosphorylation activity they acquire. They autophosphorylate the activatory TEY motif and also other residues, including the critical residue Thr-207 (in Erk1)/Thr-188 (in Erk2). Strikingly, Erk2(R65S) efficiently autophosphorylates its Thr-188 even when dually mutated in the TEY motif. Thus this study shows that Erk1 can be considered a proto-oncogene and that Erk molecules possess unusual autoregulatory properties, some of them independent of TEY phosphorylation.
Temporal fluctuations in seawater pCO2 may be as important as mean differences when determining physiological sensitivity in natural systems
Authors: Small Daniel P. , Milazzo Marco , Bertolini Camilla , Graham Helen , Hauton Chris , Hall-Spencer Jason M. , Rastrick Samuel P. S.
Published: December 2015

Most studies assessing the impacts of ocean acidification (OA) on benthic marine invertebrates have used stable mean pH/pCO2 levels to highlight variation in the physiological sensitivities in a range of taxa. However, many marine environments experience natural fluctuations in carbonate chemistry, and to date little attempt has been made to understand the effect of naturally fluctuating seawater pCO2 (pCO2sw) on the physiological capacity of organisms to maintain acid–base homeostasis. Here, for the first time, we exposed two species of sea urchin with different acid–base tolerances, Paracentrotus lividus and Arbacia lixula, to naturally fluctuating pCO2sw conditions at shallow water CO2 seep systems (Vulcano, Italy) and assessed their acid–base responses. Both sea urchin species experienced fluctuations in extracellular coelomic fluid pH, pCO2, and [HCO3−] (pHe, pCO2e, and [HCO3−]e, respectively) in line with fluctuations in pCO2sw. The less tolerant species, P. lividus, had the greatest capacity for [HCO3−]e buffering in response to acute pCO2sw fluctuations, but it also experienced greater extracellular hypercapnia and acidification and was thus unable to fully compensate for acid–base disturbances. Conversely, the more tolerant A. lixula relied on non-bicarbonate protein buffering and greater respiratory control. In the light of these findings, we discuss the possible energetic consequences of increased reliance on bicarbonate buffering activity in P. lividus compared with A. lixula and how these differing physiological responses to acute fluctuations in pCO2sw may be as important as chronic responses to mean changes in pCO2sw when considering how CO2 emissions will affect survival and success of marine organisms within naturally assembled systems.
Constraining the temperature–density relation of the intergalactic medium with the Lyman α and β forests
Authors: Boera Elisa , Murphy Michael T. , Becker George D. , Bolton James S.
Published: December 2015

The post-reionization thermal state of the intergalactic medium is characterized by a power-law relationship between temperature and density, with a slope determined by the parameter γ. We describe a new method to measure γ using the ratio of flux curvature in the Lyman α and β forests. At a given redshift, this curvature ratio incorporates information from the different gas densities traced by Lyman α and β absorption. It is relatively simple and fast to compute and appears robust against several observational uncertainties. We apply this technique to a sample of 27 high-resolution quasar spectra from the Very Large Telescope. While promising statistical errors on γ appear to be achievable with these spectra, to reach its full potential, the dependence of the curvature ratio on the thermal state of the gas in the foreground Lyman α forest will require further, detailed forward modelling.
Acoustic Cue Weighting by Adults with Cochlear Implants: A Mismatch Negativity Study
Authors: Moberly Aaron C. , Bhat Jyoti , Shahin Antoine J.
Published: December 2015

Objectives:

Formant rise time (FRT) and amplitude rise time (ART) are acoustic cues that inform phonetic identity. FRT represents the rate of transition of the formant(s) to a steady state, while ART represents the rate at which the sound reaches its peak amplitude. Normal-hearing (NH) native English speakers weight FRT more than ART during the perceptual labeling of the /ba/–/wa/ contrast. This weighting strategy is reflected neurophysiologically in the magnitude of the mismatch negativity (MMN)—MMN is larger during the FRT than the ART distinction. The present study examined the neurophysiological basis of acoustic cue weighting in adult cochlear implant (CI) listeners using the MMN design. It was hypothesized that individuals with CIs who weight ART more in behavioral labeling (ART users) would show larger MMNs during the ART than the FRT contrast, and the opposite would be seen for FRT users.

Design:

Electroencephalography was recorded while 20 adults with CIs listened passively to combinations of 3 synthetic speech stimuli: a /ba/ with /ba/-like FRT and ART; a /wa/ with /wa/-like FRT and ART; and a /ba/wa stimulus with /ba/-like FRT and /wa/-like ART. The MMN response was elicited during the FRT contrast by having participants passively listen to a train of /wa/ stimuli interrupted occasionally by /ba/wa stimuli, and vice versa. For the ART contrast, the same procedure was implemented using the /ba/ and /ba/wa stimuli.

Results:

Both ART and FRT users with CIs elicited MMNs that were equal in magnitudes during FRT and ART contrasts, with the exception that FRT users exhibited MMNs for ART and FRT contrasts that were temporally segregated. That is, their MMNs occurred significantly earlier during the ART contrast (~100 msec following sound onset) than during the FRT contrast (~200 msec). In contrast, the MMNs for ART users of both contrasts occurred later and were not significantly separable in time (~230 msec). Interestingly, this temporal segregation observed in FRT users is consistent with the MMN behavior in NH listeners.

Conclusions:

Results suggest that listeners with CIs who learn to classify phonemes based on formant dynamics, consistent with NH listeners, develop a strategy similar to NH listeners, in which the organization of the amplitude and spectral representations of phonemes in auditory memory are temporally segregated.
The Equilibration of Pco 2 in Pigs Is Independent of Lung Injury and Hemodynamics
Authors: Buehler Sarah , Lozano-Zahonero Sara , Wirth Steffen , Runck Hanna , Gamerdinger Katharina , Förster Katharina , Haberstroh Jörg , Guttmann Josef , Schumann Stefan
Published: December 2015

Objectives:

In mechanical ventilation, normoventilation in terms of Pco
2 can be achieved by titration of the respiratory rate and/or tidal volume. Although a linear relationship has been found between changes in respiratory rate and resulting changes in end-tidal co
2 (△Petco
2) as well as between changes in respiratory rate and equilibration time (t
eq) for mechanically ventilated patients without lung injury, it is unclear whether a similar relationship holds for acute lung injury or altered hemodynamics.

Design:

We performed a prospective randomized controlled animal study of the change in Petco
2 with changes in respiratory rate in a lung-healthy, lung-injury, lung-healthy + altered hemodynamics, and lung-injury + altered hemodynamics pig model.

Setting:

University research laboratory.

Subjects:

Twenty mechanically ventilated pigs.

Interventions:

Moderate lung injury was induced by injection of oleic acid in 10 randomly assigned pigs, and after the first round of measurements, cardiac output was increased by approximately 30% by constant administration of noradrenalin in both groups.

Measurements and Main Results:

We systematically increased and decreased changes in respiratory rate according to a set protocol: +2, -4, +6, -8, +10, -12, +14 breaths/min and awaited equilibration of Petco2. We found a linear relationship between changes in respiratory rate and △Petco
2 as well as between changes in respiratory rate and t
eq. A two-sample t test resulted in no significant differences between the lung injury and healthy control group before or after hemodynamic intervention. Furthermore, exponential extrapolation allowed prediction of the new Petco
2 equilibrium and t
eq after 5.7 ± 5.6 min.

Conclusions:

The transition between Petco
2 equilibria after changes in respiratory rate might not be dependent on moderate lung injury or cardiac output but on the metabolic production or capacity of co
2 stores. Linear relationships previously found for lung-healthy patients and early prediction of Petco
2 equilibration could therefore also be used for the titration of respiratory rate on the Petco
2 for a wider range of pathologies by the physician or an automated ventilation system.
Adrenergic blockers and the risk for common solid cancers: a case–control study
Authors: Numbere Beade , Fleming Kate M. , Walker Alex , Card Timothy R.
Published: December 2015

Laboratory studies have suggested that adrenergic blockers may inhibit the proliferation and migration of cancer cells, but epidemiological evidence of their effect on cancer incidence has proven inconsistent. We therefore conducted a case–control study using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink to assess the effect of adrenergic blockers on the incidence of prostate, lung, bowel and breast cancers. From among patients aged 18 years or older who contributed at least 2 years of prospectively gathered data between 1 January 1987 and 31 December 2012, we selected incident cases of relevant cancers and controls, frequency matched 10 : 1 by age. Logistic regression was used to adjust effect estimates for age, sex, smoking, alcohol use, and a number of potentially confounding comorbidities and coprescriptions. A total of 18 968 colorectal, 19 082 lung, 21 608 prostate and 29 109 breast cancers were identified. We found no evidence of a protective effect of adrenergic blockade in lung and prostate cancers and found a slightly increased risk for colorectal and breast cancers in users. This was largely explained by the effects of confounding in multivariate analyses, with final odds ratio estimates for lung, colorectal, breast and prostate cancers of 0.99 [95% confidence interval (0.96–1.04)], 1.14 (1.09–1.18), 1.10 (1.06–1.14), and 1.01 (0.98–1.05), respectively, for β-blocker exposure, and final odds ratio estimates for lung, colorectal and breast cancer of 1.03 (0.97–1.09), 1.13 (1.07–1.20), and 1.08 (1.00–1.17), respectively, for α-blocker exposure. We found no evidence to suggest that adrenergic blocker use prevents common cancers. Indeed, we found a slightly increased risk for colorectal and breast cancers, which may reflect residual confounding.
Early Results From the Implementation of a Lung Cancer Screening Program
Authors: Lanni Thomas B. , Stevens Craig , Farah Michael , Boyer Andrew , Davis James , Welsh Robert , Keena Daniel , Akhtar Adil , Mezwa Duane
Published: December 2015

Purpose:

In 2010, a new study published by the National Lung Screening Trial showed a 20% reduction in mortality for those patients screened with low-dose computed topography (CT) versus x-ray. Recently, the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid have agreed to cover this service for those patients who meet the screening criteria. We compare the outcomes and costs associated with developing and implementing a lung cancer screening program.

Materials and Methods:

One thousand sixty-five patients were screened from January 2014 to December 2014. These patients were screened on a low-dose CT screening protocol throughout Beaumont Health System. The American College of Radiology Lung Imaging Reporting and Data System (Lung-RADS) were used to assign the score for each patient. Screening eligibility criteria were based on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. Downstream activity and revenue was determined after initial low-dose CT screening.

Results:

At 1 year, 20 patients (1.6%) were diagnosed with lung cancer and another 15 patients were diagnosed with another form of cancer after screening. The median age, packs per day, and pack years smoked for all patients was 63, 1.0, and 39.0 years, respectively. Lung-RADS scores for all patients was 18% (1), 24.1% (2), 6.3% (3), and 5.4% (4). The net revenue for all activity after screening was $3.2 million.

Conclusions:

The establishment of a low-dose CT lung cancer screening program improved the ability to screen patients as demonstrated by the number of patients screened and those diagnosed with a malignancy. These findings were also consistent with the findings from the National Lung Screening Trial study.
Long-term Outcomes After Radiosurgery for Temporal Bone Paragangliomas
Authors: Scheick Stacey M. , Morris Christopher G. , Amdur Robert J. , Bova Frank J. , Friedman William A. , Mendenhall William M.
Published: December 2015

Objectives

To determine the long-term outcome after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for temporal bone paragangliomas.

Materials and Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 11 patients with temporal bone paragangliomas (10 patients with a glomus jugulare tumor and 1 patient with a glomus tympanicum tumor) treated between January 1997 and July 2012 at the University of Florida with SRS to a median dose of 15 Gy in 1 fraction. Ten previously unirradiated patients received SRS as did 1 patient who received prior fractionated radiotherapy (FRT) and then received salvage SRS for a local recurrence. The major outcome endpoint was local control, meaning no further growth or shrinkage on follow-up computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scans.

Results:

The median follow-up time was 5.3 years. Two patients developed a local recurrence after SRS, including the patient who received salvage SRS after prior FRT. The overall local control rates at 5 and 10 years were both 81%. The cause-specific survival rates at 5 and 10 years were both 88%. The distant metastasis-free survival rates at 5 and 10 years were both 100%. The overall survival rates at 5 and 10 years were both 78%. There were no severe complications.

Conclusions:

SRS for benign head and neck paragangliomas is a safe and efficacious treatment associated with minimal morbidity. SRS is suitable for patients with skull base tumors <3 cm when FRT is logistically unsuitable. Surgery is reserved for patients in good health whose risk of associated morbidity is low. Observation is a reasonable option for asymptomatic patients with a limited life expectancy.
Chronic atomoxetine treatment during adolescence does not influence decision-making on a rodent gambling task, but does modulate amphetamine’s effect on impulsive action in adulthood
Authors: Silveira Mason M. , Murch W. Spencer , Clark Luke , Winstanley Catharine A.
Published: December 2015

In addition to the symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder exhibit impaired performance on tests of real-world cost/benefit decision-making. Atomoxetine, a nonstimulant drug approved for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor administered chronically during adolescence, a time during which the frontal brain regions necessary for executive function undergo extensive maturation. This treatment protocol can affect behavior well into adulthood, but whether it produces long-term changes in complex decision-making has not been investigated. Twenty-four Long–Evans rats were administered saline or 1.0 mg/kg atomoxetine daily from postnatal day 40 to 54. Two weeks after treatment, the adult rats were trained and assessed on the rodent gambling task, in which the animals chose from four options varying in reward, punishment, and uncertainty. Impulsive action was also measured by recording the number of premature responses made. Regardless of the treatment administered during adolescence, rats learned to favor the advantageous options characterized by small, low-penalty rewards in lieu of the larger, higher-penalty reward options. Rodent gambling task performance was then assessed following acute treatment with atomoxetine (0.1–1.0 mg/kg) and amphetamine (0.3–1.5 mg/kg). Across groups, the highest dose of atomoxetine impaired decision-making and decreased premature responding at all doses tested. Amphetamine also impaired choice performance, but selectively increased impulsive action in rats that had previously received atomoxetine treatment during adolescence. These findings contribute to our understanding of the long-term effects associated with chronic adolescent atomoxetine exposure and suggest that this treatment does not alter decision-making under conditions of risk and uncertainty in adulthood.
Application of Oral Lactulose in Combination With Polyethylene Glycol Electrolyte Powder for Colonoscopy Bowel Preparation in Patients With Constipation
Authors: Lu Juan , Cao Qin , Wang Xiaochun , Pu Jianbin , Peng Xuelian
Published: December 2015

The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy of combined application of lactulose oral solution and polyethylene glycol electrolyte powder compared with conventional method in preparing for colonoscopy bowel cleanliness in patients with constipation. Ninety patients, who had constipation and needed to have colonoscopy, were divided into study group and control group with 45 cases in each group, respectively. One day before the colonoscopy, patients in the experimental group were given lactulose oral solution and polyethylene glycol electrolyte powder, whereas the patients in the control group were given oral polyethylene glycol electrolyte powder only. The following parameters were then obtained: time of the first defecation (duration of the time from taking the drugs to the first bowel movement), defecation frequency, completion of bowel cleaning (duration from the first bowel movement to the stool becoming clear), and adverse reaction. Cleansing effect in the study group bowel preparation was significantly better than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Specifically, time of the first defecation and completion of bowel cleaning were statistically shorter in the study group than those in the control group (P < 0.05), and defecation frequency was significantly higher in the study group than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Incidence of adverse reaction, however, was not significantly different between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). Combined application of lactulose oral solution and polyethylene glycol electrolyte powder is superior to the conventional method of polyethylene glycol electrolyte powder alone for colonoscopy bowel preparation in patients with constipation. Therefore, combined clinical application of the 2 compounds is strongly recommended for colonoscopy bowel preparation in patients with constipation.
A Bloody Mess: An Unusual Case of Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage Because of Warfarin Overdose
Authors: Heffler Enrico , Campisi Raffaele , Ferri Sebastian , Crimi Nunzio
Published: December 2015

We herein present the case of a patient with frank hemoptysis and hematuria, dyspnea, and cough. The patient was known to be affected by Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and dilated cardiomyopathy with atrial fibrillation. For this latter condition, he was supposed to take 1.25 mg warfarin daily. Laboratory findings revealed very high levels of International Normalized Ratio (INR) (16), and the patient referred that he self-increased warfarin dose to 5 mg daily since 8 days before the onset of symptoms. Computed tomography scan revealed diffuse bilateral signs of alveolar hemorrhage with hydroaerial levels within emphysematous cysts. Wafarin was immediately stopped and changed with 220 mg dabigatran daily, and he was properly treated to restore a normal coagulation status. We concluded for a case of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage because of warfarin overdose.
LDHB and FABP4 are Associated With Progression and Poor Prognosis of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinomas
Authors: Luo Yuan , Yang Zhulin , Li Daiqiang , Liu Ziru , Yang Leping , Zou Qiong , Yuan Yuan
Published: December 2015

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a fast-growth tumor with poor prognosis. The molecular events involving in the abnormal energy metabolism have been reported without being fully identified. This study investigated the expression of FABP4 and LDHB, 2 metabolism-associated molecules, in malignant and benign lesions of pancreas by immunohistochemical staining, and analyzed their clinical and pathologic significances. The results showed that FABP4 and LDHB protein were overexpressed in PDAC tumors compared with peritumoral tissues, benign pancreatic tissues, and normal pancreatic tissues (P<0.01). The percentage of patients with FABP4 and LDHB protein overexpression was significantly higher in PDAC patients with lymph node metastasis, invasion, and tumour, node, metastasis stage III/IV disease than in patients without lymph node metastasis and invasion, and having tumour, node, metastasis stage I/II stage disease (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Benign pancreatic lesions with positive FABP4 and LDHB protein expression exhibited dysplasia or intraepithelial neoplasia I and III grade. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that positive FABP4 and LDHB protein expression were associated with worse survival in PDAC patients (P<0.05 or P<0.001). Cox multivariate analysis revealed that positive FABP4 and LDHB protein expression were independent poor prognosis factors in PDAC patients. In conclusion, positive FABP4 and LDHB protein expression are associated with the progression and poor prognosis in patients with PDAC.
The Gastrointestinal Pain Pointer
Authors: Henderson Wendy A. , Rahim-Williams Bridgett , Kim Kevin H. , Sherwin LeeAnne B. , Abey Sarah K. , Martino Angela C. , Fourie Nicolaas H. , Heitkemper Margaret M. , Zuccolotto Anthony P.
Published: December 2015

Abdominal pain is a chronic condition experienced by approximately 20% of individuals in the United States. The purpose of the study was to assess the validity of the Gastrointestinal Pain Pointer as a measure of abdominal pain intensity. A prospective longitudinal time-series study design was utilized. The sample included 93 outpatients (58.1% female). Participants met Rome III criteria for irritable bowel syndrome (n = 32) or were healthy controls (n = 61). The Gastrointestinal Pain Pointer, a new electronic pain assessment tool, was used to assess self-reported abdominal pain intensity among participants before and after ingestion of an intestinal permeability test solution across 11 time points over a 5-hour time period. The results were compared with the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire. The Gastrointestinal Pain Pointer was found to be valid in the assessment of abdominal pain intensity. The tool is a novel and valid measure of abdominal pain intensity that enhances the ability for clinicians to better quantify, in real time, patient-related pain outcomes for both clinical care and research.
The small-angle neutron scattering instrument D33 at the Institut Laue–Langevin
Authors: Dewhurst C. D. , Grillo I. , Honecker D. , Bonnaud M. , Jacques M. , Amrouni C. , Perillo-Marcone A. , Manzin G. , Cubitt R.
Published: December 2015

The D33 small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) instrument at the Institut Laue–Langevin (ILL) is the most recent SANS instrument to be built at the ILL. In a project beginning in 2005 and lasting seven years, the concept has been developed, and the instrument designed, manufactured and installed. D33 was commissioned with neutrons during the second half of 2012, fully entering the ILL user programme in 2013. The scientific case required that D33 should provide a wide dynamic range of measured scattering vector magnitudeq, flexibility with regard to the instrument resolution, and the provision of polarized neutrons and3He spin analysis to facilitate and expand studies in magnetism. In monochromatic mode, a velocity selector and a flexible system of inter-collimation apertures define the neutron beam. A double-chopper system enables a time-of-flight (TOF) mode of operation, allowing an enhanced dynamicqrange (qmax/qmin) and a flexible wavelength resolution. Two large multitube detectors extend the dynamicqrange further, givingqmax/qmin≃ 25 in monochromatic mode and a very largeqmax/qmin> 1000 in TOF mode. The sample zone is large and flexible in configuration, accommodating complex and bulky sample environments, while the position of D33 is such as to allow high magnetic fields at the sample position. The instrument is of general purpose with a performance rivalling that of D22, and is well adapted for SANS studies in scientific disciplines as diverse as solution scattering in biology and soft matter and studies of physics, materials science and magnetism. This article provides a detailed technical description of D33 and its performance and characterization of the individual components, and serves as a technical reference for users of the instrument.
Analysis of small-angle X-ray scattering data in the presence of significant instrumental smearing
Authors: Bergenholtz Johan , Ulama Jeanette , Zackrisson Oskolkova Malin
Published: December 2015

A laboratory-scale small-angle X-ray scattering instrument with pinhole collimation has been used to assess smearing effects due to instrumental resolution. A new, numerically efficient method to smear ideal model intensities is developed and presented. It allows for directly using measured profiles of isotropic but otherwise arbitrary beams in smearing calculations. Samples of low-polydispersity polymer spheres have been used to show that scattering data can in this way be quantitatively modeled even when there is substantial distortion due to instrumental resolution.
Investigations into the construction of the pentasubstituted ringCof Neosurugatoxin – a crystallographic study
Authors: Jones Alan M. , Storey John M. D. , Harrison William T A
Published: December 2015

The crystal structures of three cyclopenta[c]furans with various substituents at the 4-, 5- and 6-positions of the ring system are reported, namely, (±)-(3aR,4S,5S,6aS)-4-methyl-5-phenylhexahydro-1H-cyclopenta[c]furan-4,5-diol, C14H18O3, (I), (±)-(3aR,4S,5S,6aS)-4-benzyloxy-4-methyl-5-phenylhexahydro-1H-cyclopenta[c]furan-5-ol, C21H24O3, (II), and (±)-(1aR,1bS,4aR,5S,5aR)-5-benzyloxy-5-methyl-5a-phenylhexahydro-2H-oxireno[2′,3′:3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]furan, C21H22O3, (III). The dominant interaction in (I) and (II) is an O—H...O hydrogen bond across the bicyclic 5,5-ring system between the non-functionalized hydroxy group and the tetrahydrofuran O atom, which appears to influence the envelope conformations of the fused five-membered rings, whereas in (III), the rings have different conformations. A weak intramolecular C—H...O interaction appears to influence the degree of tilt of the phenyl ring attached to the 5-position and is different in (I) compared to (II) and (III).