bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cellular response of Chlorella pyrenoidosa to oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes
Authors: Zhang Luqing , Lei Cheng , Yang Kun , White Jason C. , Lin Daohui
Published: September 2018

This study investigated the interaction between carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and algal cells, with a focus on assessing cellular internalization of CNTs as well as physiological and molecular responses to the CNT exposure.
B(C6F5)3: a robust catalyst for the activation of CO2 and dimethylamine borane for the N-formylation reactions
Authors: Saptal Vitthal B. , Juneja Gaurav , Bhanage Bhalchandra M.
Published: September 2018

In this work, B(C6F5)3 is utilized as an organocatalyst for the transition-metal-free N-formylation of amines using carbon dioxide (CO2) as a C1 source and dimethylamine borane (Me2NH·BH3) as a green hydrogen transfer source at 80 °C.
A new heterogeneous host–guest catalytic system as an eco-friendly approach for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from CO2 and epoxides
Authors: Mirabaud Anaïs , Martinez Alexandre , Bayard François , Dutasta Jean-Pierre , Dufaud Véronique
Published: September 2018

New host–guest catalytic systems were immobilized on silica supports and evaluated in the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from CO2 and epoxides.
Anion coordination directed synthesis patterns for [Ni4] aggregates: structural changes for thiocyanate coordination and ligand arm hydrolysis
Authors: Das Manisha , Herchel Radovan , Trávníček Zdeněk , Bertolasi Valerio , Ray Debashis
Published: September 2018

Competitive bridging modes of HO− and NCS− were explored for four NiII-based coordination aggregates in cubane and dicubane topology.
Simple and selective detection of quercetin in extracts of plants and food samples by dispersive-micro-solid phase extraction based on core–shell magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers
Authors: Asfaram Arash , Arabi Maryam , Ostovan Abbas , Sadeghi Hossein , Ghaedi Mehrorang
Published: September 2018

In the present study, a D-μ-SPE clean-up method was established for the analysis of quercetin in extracts of plants and food samples using a magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer as the sorbent by HPLC-UV detection.
Biochemical and functional characterization of OsCSD3, a novel CuZn superoxide dismutase from rice
Authors: Prakash Sanyal Ravi , Samant Amol , Prashar Vishal , Sharan Misra Hari , Saini Ajay
Published: September 2018

Superoxide dismutases (SODs, EC 1.15.1.1) belong to an important group of antioxidant metalloenzymes. Multiple SODs exist for scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in different cellular compartments to maintain an intricate ROS balance. The present study deals with molecular and biochemical characterization of CuZn SOD encoded by LOC_Os03g11960 (referred to as OsCSD3), which is the least studied among the four rice isozymes. The OsCSD3 showed higher similarity to peroxisomal SODs in plants. The OsCSD3 transcript was up-regulated in response to salinity, drought, and oxidative stress. Full-length cDNA encoding OsCSD3 was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli and analyzed for spectral characteristics. UV (ultraviolet)–visible spectroscopic analysis showed evidences of d–d transitions, while circular dichroism analysis indicated high β-sheet content in the protein. The OsCSD3 existed as homodimer (∼36 kDa) with both Cu2+ and Zn2+ metal cofactors and was substantially active over a wide pH range (7.0–10.8), with optimum pH of 9.0. The enzyme was sensitive to diethyldithiocarbamate but insensitive to sodium azide, which are the characteristics features of CuZn SODs. The enzyme also exhibited bicarbonate-dependent peroxidase activity. Unlike several other known CuZn SODs, OsCSD3 showed higher tolerance to hydrogen peroxide and thermal inactivation. Heterologous overexpression of OsCSD3 enhanced tolerance of E. coli sod double-knockout (ΔsodA ΔsodB) mutant and wild-type strain against methyl viologen-induced oxidative stress, indicating the in vivo function of this enzyme. The results show that the locus LOC_Os03g11960 of rice encodes a functional CuZn SOD with biochemical characteristics similar to the peroxisomal isozymes.
Dust attenuation and Hα emission in a sample of galaxies observed with Herschel at 0.6 < z < 1.6
Authors: Buat V. , Boquien M. , Małek K. , Corre D. , Salas H. , Roehlly Y. , Shirley R. , Efstathiou A.
Published: September 2018

Context. Dust attenuation shapes the spectral energy distribution of galaxies. It is particularly true for dusty galaxies in which stars experience a heavy attenuation. The combination of UV to IR photometry with the spectroscopic measurement of the Hα recombination line helps to quantify dust attenuation of the whole stellar population and its wavelength dependence.

Aims. We want to derive the shape of the global attenuation curve and the amount of obscuration affecting young stars or nebular emission and the bulk of the stellar emission in a representative sample of galaxies selected in IR. We will compare our results to the commonly used recipes of Calzetti et al. and Charlot and Fall, and to predictions of radiative transfer models.

Methods. We selected an IR complete sample of galaxies in the COSMOS 3D-HST CANDELS field detected with the Herschel satellite with a signal to noise ratio larger than five. Optical to NIR photometry is available as well as NIR spectroscopy for each source. We reduced the sample to the redshift range 0.6 < z < 1.6 to include the Hα line in the G141 grism spectra. We have used a new version of the CIGALE code to fit simultaneously the continuum and Hα line emission of the 34 selected galaxies.

Results. Using flexible attenuation laws with free parameters, we are able to measure the shape of the attenuation curve for each galaxy as well as the amount of attenuation of each stellar population, the former being in general steeper than the starburst law in the UV-optical with a large variation of the slope among galaxies. The attenuation of young stars or nebular continuum is found on average about twice the attenuation affecting older stars, again with a large variation. Our model with power-laws, based on a modification of the Charlot and Fall recipe, gives results in better agreement with the radiative transfer models than the global modification of the slope of the Calzetti law.
Knoblauch zur Gesunderhaltung
Authors: Vlachojannis Julia , Chrubasik-Hausmann Sigrun
Published: September 2018

Die blutdruck-, lipid- und blutzuckersenkende sowie die antiatherogene, antioxidative und antiproliferative Wirkung von Zubereitungen aus weißem, gereiftem oder schwarzem Knoblauch ist in vielen experimentellen Studien untersucht. Die Wirkungsmechanismen für die einzelnen Wirkungen sind plausibel. Doch nicht alle Studien kamen zu einem einheitlich positiven Ergebnis, weshalb weitere Studien erforderlich sind, um die pharmakologischen Wirkungen zu definieren. Im Unterschied zu weißem Knoblauch hat schwarzer Knoblauch nur eine geringe Wirkung auf die Thrombozyten-Aggregation. Alle Zubereitungen aus Knoblauch wirken mehr oder weniger antientzündlich, immunstimulierend, antiallergisch und antibakteriell. Nur weißer Knoblauch wurde bisher experimentell auf spasmolytische, antivirale und antimykotische Wirkung untersucht.

Humanpharmakologische Untersuchungen liegen zur blutdrucksenkenden Wirkung, zur Wirkung auf Blutlipide und Homocystein, zur Gerinnungshemmung, zur rheologischen, antioxidativen und karminativen Wirkung vor. Zubereitungen aus Knoblauch sind nicht mutagen. Präklinische Studien zur Sicherheit während der Schwangerschaft und Stillzeit liegen nicht vor. Hohe Dosen von Zubereitungen aus weißem Knoblauch wirkten zytotoxisch und organschädigend, nicht aber Zubereitungen aus gereiftem oder schwarzem Knoblauch.
Phytotherapie in Vietnam
Authors: Kraft Karin , Peters Uwe
Published: September 2018

In Vietnam ist Phytotherapie ein wichtiger Teil der Behandlung von Patienten auf allen Ebenen des Gesundheitssystems, insbesondere bei Entzündungen und Schmerzen, aber auch beim metabolischen Syndrom. Aufgrund der hohen Selbstbeteiligung bei den Behandlungskosten ist der Anteil der Selbstmedikation mit Phytopharmaka und Nahrungsergänzungsmitteln sehr hoch. Durch die seit Jahren betriebene staatliche Förderung sind der Anbau von Arzneipflanzen und die Entwicklung von entsprechenden Produkten zu einem wichtigen Wirtschaftsfaktor geworden.
ECMO in der Thoraxchirurgie: Grundlagen und Pathophysiologie
Authors: Redwan Bassam , Akil Ali , Freermann Stefan , Fischer Stefan
Published: September 2018

Die extrakorporale Lungenunterstützung (ECLS) stellt heutzutage ein gut etabliertes Verfahren in der Thoraxchirurgie dar. In Abhängigkeit von der respiratorischen und hämodynamischen Situation des Patienten wird die ECLS in verschiedenen Modalitäten eingesetzt. Dies erfordert ein ausreichendes Wissen über die verschiedene ECMO-Modalitäten (ECMO: extrakorporale Membranoxygenierung), Kanülierungswege, zur Verfügung stehendes technisches Equipment und über die pathophysiologischen Grundlagen im Zusammenhang mit derartiger Technologie, um das individuell auf die Patientenbedürfnisse angepasste Verfahren zu wählen. Dementsprechend kann die Therapie je nach klinischer Situation im Verlauf eskaliert bzw. deeskaliert werden.
Picotamide Protects Mice from Death in a Pulmonary Embolism Model by a Mechanism Independent from Thromboxane Suppression
Authors: Gresele Paolo , Corona Cinzia , Alberti Paolo , Nenci Giuseppe G
Published: September 2018

We have previously characterized the new antiplatelet agent picotamide as a dual thromboxane synthase inhibitor/thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist in human platelets. We have now studied the antithrombotic activity of this drug in a simple animal model of lung platelet thromboembolism in the mouse. Picotamide, given i. p. 1 hr before the thrombotic challenge, protected mice from death caused by the i. v. injection of collagen plus epinephrine in a dose-dependent way; the dose reducing mortality by 50% was 277 mg/kg while for aspirin it was 300 mg/ kg. Picotamide was also able to reduce the mortality provoked by the i. v. injection of the stable TxA2 mimetic U46619; BM 13.505, a pure TxA2-receptor blocker, was also effective while aspirin was totally inactive. Picotamide, finally, reduced the lethal consequences of the i. v. injection of a 12.5% suspension of hardened rat red blood cells, a model in which platelets are not involved; aspirin was totally ineffective in this model while nicardipine, a calcium channel blocker, was active. Picotamide did not inhibit the formation of TxB2 in serum at any of the doses tested (100 to 750 mg/kg i.p.) while it did enhance significantly PGI2-synthesis from mice aortae and, even more, from mice lungs. The i.v. administration of picotamide (250 mg/kg 2 min before the thrombotic challenge) lead to a strong inhibition of serum TxB2 (−84.6%) and was associated with a higher antithrombotic effect

Picotamide (375 mg/kg) reduced also significantly the drop in the number of circulating platelets and the number of histologi-cally-detected lung thromboemboli provoked by i. v. collagen plus epinephrine; however, aspirin (300 mg/kg), although less effective against mortality, was more active than picotamide in this respect. Finally, the addition of aspirin (100 and 300 mg/kg) to picotamide (250 and 375 mg/kg) led to a better antithrombotic effect despite a strong inhibition of PGI2 synthesis. Our data show that picotamide prevents sudden death provoked in mice by platelet lung thromboembolism through a mechanism largely independent from eicosanoid synthesis and only partially dependent on platelet inhibition. This drug reduces also the lethal consequences of mechanical (platelet-independent) lung embolism. A direct vasodilatory action on pulmonary vessels might explain the protective effects of picotamide in this model.
The Influence of Coronary Angiography and Angioplasty on Parameters of Hemostasis and Fibrinolysis
Authors: Jacob Six A , Melvyn Tjon R , Buys Eugene M , Haas Fred , Hollander-van Zalk Aly , Haverkate Frits
Published: September 2018

The influence of invasive investigations on parameters of hemostasis and fibrinolysis is generally unknown; although this has consequences for the design of prospective studies on the association between those parameters and regression or progression of atherosclerosis. We therefore determined hemostatic and fibrinolytic factors in 12 patients who were admitted to the hospital for coronary angrography (CAG, , = 5) or percutaneous transluminal coronary angroplasty (PRCA; n = 7). Blood samples were drawn under basal circumstances on the day before, the day of and the day after CAG or PTCA. Significant changes occur in the concentrations of platelets and white blood cells, hematocrit (Ht), von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF:ag), antithrombin IIIactivity (AT III-ag), antithrombin Ill-antigen (AT III-ant), fibrinogen, plasminogen, alpha2-antiplasmin (alpha2-Alr),' histidine- rich glycoprotein (HRG), and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAl)-activity. Mean values of beta,thromboglobulin, platelet factor 4, factor vIII: c, tissue-type plasminogen activator activity (t-PA act) and euglobulin clot lysis time (ECLT) do not differ signiticantly. After correction for Ht, no significant differences exist between the day before and the du, of the procedure; but on the day after CAG and prCA significant differences occur in white blood cells, factor VIII: C, AT III-ag, alpha2-AP and PAI-act.

It is concluded that principally blood samples for investigations on fibrinolysis may be taken on the day before or the day of CeC or PTCA without a loss of quality, if the values are corrected for Ht- Samples taken on the day after the procedure are not useful for such prrposes.
The Contact-System Dependent Plasminogen Activator from Human Plasma: Identification and Characterization
Authors: Binnema D J , Dooijewaard G , van Iersel J J L , Turion P N C , Kluft C
Published: September 2018

Apart from tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA), a third PA appears to occur in human plasma. Its activity is initiated when appropriate triggers of the contact system are added, and the activation depends on the presence of factor III and prekallikrein in plasma. The activity of this, so-called, contact-system dependent
PA accounts for 30% of the PA activity in the dextran sulphate euglobulin fraction of plasma and was shown not to be an intrinsic property of one of the contact-system components, nor could it be inhibited by inhibitory antibodies against t-PA or u-PA. We have succeeded in identifying this third PA in dextran sulphate euglobulin fractions of human plasma. Its smallest unit (SDSPAGE) is an inactive 110 kDa single-chain polypeptide which upon activation of the contact system is converted to a cleaved, disulphide-bridged molecule with PA activity. The native form,
presumably, is an oligomer, since the apparent M. on gelchromatography is 600,000. The IEP is 4.8, much lower than that of t-PA and u-PA. Although the active 110 kDa polypeptide cannot be inhibited by anti-u-PA, it yet comprises a 37 kDa piece with some u-PA related antigenic determinants. However, these determinants are in a latent or cryptic form, only detectable after denaturation by SDS. The 110 kDa polypeptide is evidently not a dimer of 55 kDa u-PA or a complex of u-PA with an inhibitor. It is probably a PA derived from a gene quite distinct from that of
t-PA or u-PA, but sharing some homology with u-PA. The physiological role of this contact-system dependent PA remains to be established
Factor XIII Assay by an Isotope Method II. Heparin Inhibition of Factor XIII Activation
Authors: Dvilansky Alexander , Britten Anthony F H. , Loewy Ariel G
Published: September 2018

A radioisotope method has been used for measuring factor XIII activity. The incorporation of 14C putrescine into casein is used as a model, substituting for the physiologic transamidation fibrin-fibrin bond.

The reaction takes place in two phases, activation of factor XIII by thrombin, and incorporation of 14C putrescine by the active enzyme (transamidase). Heparin inhibits the activation of factor XIII but has no effect upon the active enzyme (transamidase). This heparin effect requires a “co-factor” and does not occur when purified factor XIII is the source of enzyme activity. Protamine sulfate can neutralize the heparin effect if added before the reaction heparin + “co-factor” + thrombin can take place. The heparin inhibition is due to rapid thrombin neutralization, analogous to the heparin anticoagulant effect. Protamine sulfate alone ha s no effect upon either the activation or enzyme phase of factor XIII activity.
Clinical Experience with Secondary Endoscopic Reconstruction of Clival Defects with Extracranial Pericranial Flaps
Authors: Gode Sercan , Lieber Stefan , Nakassa Ana Carolina Igami , Wang Eric W. , Fernandez-Miranda Juan C. , Gardner Paul A. , Snyderman Carl H.
Published: September 2018

Objectives The aim of this study is to report the clinical outcome of extracranial pericranial flaps (ePCF) used for reconstruction of clival dural defects following failure of primary repair.

Design Retrospective review of skull base database.

Setting Academic medical center.

Participants Patients undergoing reconstruction of clival defects with ePCF following endoscopic endonasal surgery (EES).

Main outcome measures Postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, meningitis, and flap necrosis.

Results Seven patients (five males and two females) who underwent ePCF reconstruction for clival defects following EES were included. All patients (ages 8–64 years) had a postoperative CSF leak due to a failed primary clival reconstruction (five had one, one had two, and one had three failed CSF leak repairs prior to ePCF reconstruction). Nasoseptal and inferior turbinate (lateral nasal wall) flaps were not available for secondary reconstruction due to prior surgeries. The immediate success rate of ePCF for the reconstruction of clival defects in patients with multiple flap failures was 58%. Two patients developed CSF leaks that were successfully repaired endoscopically with the addition of free tissue grafts; one patient had partial flap necrosis that required debridement; none required an additional vascularized flap. Width of the defect, length of the defect, properties of the ePCF, and age did not demonstrate significance (p > 0.05) for adverse outcome.

Conclusion An ePCF is a reconstructive option for high-risk, large clival defects when other local and regional vascularized flaps are not available or fail. ePCFs can be used for reconstruction of clival defects in all populations, including pediatric patients.
Distorção da autopercepção de imagem corporal em adolescentes
Authors: Nogueira-de-Almeida Carlos , Garzella Rafael , Natera Camila , Almeida Ane , Ferraz Ivan , Ciampo Luiz
Published: September 2018

Introdução Na adolescência, período de aceleração do crescimento e de mudanças corporais, podem ocorrer comportamentos de contestação que tornam o indivíduo vulnerável a preocupações ligadas ao corpo e à aparência.

Objetivo Verificar a presença de distorção da autopercepção da imagem corporal em adolescentes da cidade de Ribeirão Preto, SP.

Métodos Estudo transversal, observacional e analítico. Foram avaliados 343 adolescentes entre 12 e 19 anos pertencentes ao Programa de Informação Profissional (PIP) da Universidade de Ribeirão Preto, SP. Os adolescentes responderam como se consideravam em relação ao seu peso corporal. Foram realizadas medidas antropométricas dos participantes (peso, estatura e índice de massa corporal [IMC]). A presença de distorção da imagem corporal foi avaliada por meio da discrepância entre o IMC diagnosticado pelo profissional e o IMC percebido pelo adolescente.

Resultados Houve prevalência de 41,7% de adolescentes com distorção da imagem corporal, seja por superestimação ou subestimação do tamanho do corpo. Adolescentes do sexo feminino tiveram maiores distorções da percepção da autoimagem. A superestimação da imagem corporal foi maior em adolescentes eutróficos, enquanto a subestimação foi maior em adolescentes obesos e com sobrepeso.

Conclusão Os resultados indicam a necessidade de implantação de políticas públicas e de projetos dentro do âmbito escolar para a prevenção de distúrbios de imagem corporal e de transtornos alimentares, inclusive nos adolescentes eutróficos.
Extracting the turbulent flow-field from beam emission spectroscopy images using velocimetry
Authors: Kriete D. M. , McKee G. R. , Fonck R. J. , Smith D. R. , Whelan G. G. , Yan Z.
Published: September 2018

The 2D turbulent E × B flow-field is inferred from density fluctuation images obtained with the beam emission spectroscopy diagnostic on DIII-D using the orthogonal dynamic programming velocimetry algorithm. A synthetic turbulence model is used to test the algorithm and optimize it for measuring zonal flows. Zonal flow measurements are found to require a signal-to-noise ratio above ∼10 and a zonal flow wavelength longer than ∼2 cm. Comparison between the velocimetry-estimated flow-field and the E × B flow-field using a nonlinear gyrokinetic GENE simulation finds that the flow-fields have identical spatial structure and differ only by the mean turbulence phase velocity, which is spatially uniform in this flux tube simulation.
Thickness-dependent crystal structure and electric properties of epitaxial ferroelectric Y2O3-HfO2 films
Authors: Mimura Takanori , Shimizu Takao , Uchida Hiroshi , Sakata Osami , Funakubo Hiroshi
Published: September 2018

The thickness dependences of the crystal structure and electric properties of (111)-oriented epitaxial 0.07YO1.5-0.93HfO2 (YHO7) ferroelectric films were investigated for the film thickness range of 10–115 nm. The YHO7 films were grown by pulsed laser deposition or sputtering at room temperature and subsequent heat treatment. As a substrate for the epitaxial growth of the YHO7 film, (111)-oriented 10 wt. % Sn-doped In2O3(ITO)//(111) yttria-stabilized zirconia was used. X-ray diffraction measurements confirmed that the main crystal phase of these YHO7 films was ferroelectric orthorhombic for up to 115-nm-thick films. Small film-thickness dependences of remanent polarization (Pr) and saturation polarization (Ps) were observed. Thickness dependence of the coercive field (Ec) is also small, and this behavior does not resemble that of conventional ferroelectric films such as Pb(Zr,Ti)O3. Additionally, non-oriented polycrystalline YHO7 films are reported to have similar thickness dependence of Ec and almost the same Ec value to epitaxial YHO7 films. We suggest that the ferroelectric domain is significantly small for both epitaxial and polycrystalline films. Such small domains remain even in thicker films, giving rise to thickness-independent Ec.
Observation of carrier recombination in single Shockley stacking faults and at partial dislocations in 4H-SiC
Authors: Kato Masashi , Katahira Shinya , Ichikawa Yoshihito , Harada Shunta , Kimoto Tsunenobu
Published: September 2018

Because the expansion of single Shockley stacking faults (1SSFs) is an important problem for the viability of SiC bipolar devices, there is a need to suppress it during device operation. The expansion mechanism, however, is still unclear. Therefore, the method to suppress the expansion has never been established. An important factor for the expansion could be carrier recombination in 1SSFs because the expansion has only been observed during bipolar operation or light illumination. In this study, we characterized carrier recombination by observing the photoluminescence from 1SSFs and partial dislocations (PDs). The luminescence from 1SSFs and PDs showed a fast decay component compared with that from the band edge. This result indicates that the carrier recombination in 1SSFs and at PDs was faster than that in regions without 1SSFs in 4H-SiC. In addition, because of the slower recombination at Si-core PDs compared with that in 1SSFs and at C-core PDs, the velocity of 1SSF expansion would be limited by the carrier recombination at Si-core PDs. The temperature dependence of the decay time implies that the recombination at the Si-core PD was enhanced on increasing the temperature.
Evaporation-induced assembly of colloidal crystals
Authors: Howard Michael P. , Reinhart Wesley F. , Sanyal Tanmoy , Shell M. Scott , Nikoubashman Arash , Panagiotopoulos Athanassios Z.
Published: September 2018

Colloidal crystals are often prepared by evaporation from solution, and there is considerable interest to link the processing conditions to the crystal morphology and quality. Here, we study the evaporation-induced assembly of colloidal crystals using massive-scale nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations. We apply a recently developed machine-learning technique to characterize the assembling crystal structures with unprecedented microscopic detail. In agreement with previous experiments and simulations, faster evaporation rates lead to earlier onset of crystallization and more disordered surface structures. Surprisingly, we find that collective rearrangements of the bulk crystal during later stages of drying reduce the influence of the initial surface structure, and the final morphology is essentially independent of the evaporation rate. Our structural analysis reveals that the crystallization process is well-described by two time scales, the film drying time and the crystal growth time, with the latter having an unexpected dependence on the evaporation rate due to equilibrium thermodynamic effects at high colloid concentrations. These two time scales may be leveraged to control the relative influence of equilibrium and nonequilibrium growth mechanisms, suggesting a route to rapidly process colloidal crystals while also removing defects. Our analysis additionally reveals that solvent-mediated interactions play a critical role in the crystallization kinetics and that commonly used implicit-solvent models do not faithfully resolve nonequilibrium processes such as drying.
Morphological and ontogenetic studies in Palms. II. Growth pattern of the leaves of Cocos nucifera and Borassus flabellifer after the initiation of plications
Authors: Periasamy K
Published: September 2018

Growth of the young leaf prirnordium into the adult leaf involves the operation
of three types of tissue growth which may be designated as perpetuative growth, differentiative
growth, and generative growth. In the first one, the tissue is perpetuated as such
without histological differentiation into another, and the size of its cells is maintained
constant so that growth in volume is due to increase in the number of cells. In the
second, the tissue differentiates histologically into another, and growth is due to increase
in the size of cells without increase in their number. The larger cell size thus attained
enables the tissue to reduce the number of divisions necessary for subsequent growth
of the first type. In the third, the size of the cells is reduced by rapid divisions and
this is accompanied by the internal genesis of a new tissue within an already differentiated
one.
In Cocos and Borassus, the leaf primordium, the lamina wing of the leaf primordium,
and the plications in the submarginal portion of the lamina wing all have cells
of the same size as those of the tunica and corpus of the shoot apex, at the time of
their initiation. This is because they all arise by perpetuative growth before the onset
of any differentiative growth, during the succession of their ontogeny from the shoot
apex. By contrast, the rachis, the petiole, the marginal portion of the lamina wing, and
the ridges of plications exhibit an increase in cell size due to the onset of differentiative
growth.
The adaxial and the abaxial ridges that arise as a result of the development of
plications in the lamina wing are not morphologically similar. In Cocos, the adaxial
ridge joins the two halves of the same pinna whereas the abaxial ridge connects the
adjacent halves of two neighbouring pinnae. The former becomes the hard midrib of
the pinna and the latter is gradually weakened and finally lost by loosening of its cells
to bring about the separation of the pinnae in the mature leaf. The terminal abaxial
ridge, however, shows a different behaviour and becomes constricted off as a terminal
whip between the two terminal pinnae.
In Borassus, the apex of the petiole resumes a limited amount of growth in length
after an initial cessation of elongation, and produces a short intralaminar rachis and
an abaxial crest. The basal and terminal halves of the abaxial ridges behave differently.
While the former becomes thickened and provided with numerous vascular traces, the
latter is provided with only a single trace and is finally constricted off as a filamentous
structure to bring about the dissection of the palmate leaf.
Studies on Australasian Agaricales
Authors: Pegler DN
Published: September 2018

An examination is made of the types and authentic specimens of 117 species of
Australasian agarics deposited in the Kew herbarium. These species are arranged
alphabetically under their original names with their interpretations according to modern
concepts. As a resuit of these studies 37 new combinations are proposed.
The distribution of foliage density with foliage angle estimated from inclined point quadrat observations
Authors: Philip JR
Published: September 2018

Estimation of the distribution of foliage density with foliage angle from contact
frequency data for a number of quadrat inclinations involves solution of a Fredholm
integral equation of the first kind. The kernel is known from the work of Warren
Wilson and Reeves, and the observed contact frequencies constitute the given function
f(β). The solution is g(α), the foliage angle density function. f (β) is known at only
a finite number of points, and each value contains inevitable sampling errors. The
structure of the solution is such that g(β) is consequently subject to serious errors.
A technique involving smoothing of the data is developed with the aim of minimizing
this difficulty. The technique is critically discussed and applied to observations of
Warren Wilson on lucerne leaves. The analysis indicates that the distribution of leaf
angle is roughly symmetrical about the mean angle, with a standard deviation of
about 15°.
Perspective taking can promote short-term inclusionary behavior toward Syrian refugees
Authors: Adida Claire L. , Lo Adeline , Platas Melina R.
Published: September 2018

Social scientists have shown how easily individuals are moved to exclude outgroup members. Can we foster inclusion instead? This study leverages one of the most significant humanitarian crises of our time to test whether, and under what conditions, American citizens adopt more inclusionary behavior toward Syrian refugees. We conduct a nationally representative survey of over 5,000 American citizens in the weeks leading up to the 2016 presidential election and experimentally test whether a perspective-taking exercise increases inclusionary behavior in the form of an anonymous letter supportive of refugees to be sent to the 45th President of the United States. Our results indicate that the perspective-taking message increases the likelihood of writing such a positive letter by two to five percentage points. By contrast, an informational message had no significant effect on letter writing. The effect of the perspective-taking exercise occurs in the short run only, manifests as a behavioral rather than an attitudinal response, and is strongest among Democrats. However, this effect also appears in the subset of Republican respondents, suggesting that efforts to promote perspective taking may move to action a wide cross-section of individuals.
Mammalian STT3A/B oligosaccharyltransferases segregate N-glycosylation at the translocon from lipid-linked oligosaccharide hydrolysis
Authors: Lu Hua , Fermaintt Charles S. , Cherepanova Natalia A. , Gilmore Reid , Yan Nan , Lehrman Mark A.
Published: September 2018

Significance

Specialized sugar polymers (oligosaccharides) are necessary for life at the protein, organelle, cell, and organism levels. Processes for degrading oligosaccharides enhance their repertoire of functions, but a potential problem is short circuiting between degradation and synthesis. With the endoplasmic reticulum of mammalian cells, we show how lipid-linked oligosaccharides (LLOs) meant for attachment to proteins are segregated from an immunogenic process that involves their degradation to free oligosaccharides. Specifically, the STT3A isoform of oligosaccharyltransferase only transfers oligosaccharides, while the STT3B isoform can hydrolyze LLOs when not preoccupied with attachment of oligosaccharides to protein. This allows cells to perform both important processes in concert, without problems due to competition.
The chaperonin TRiC/CCT is essential for the action of bacterial glycosylating protein toxins like
Clostridium difficile
toxins A and B
Authors: Steinemann Marcus , Schlosser Andreas , Jank Thomas , Aktories Klaus
Published: September 2018

Significance

Glucosylation of host proteins is a common pathogenicity mechanism of bacterial protein toxins. Prominent examples are
Clostridium difficile
toxins A and B, which inactivate Rho proteins by glucosylation and cause diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis in
C. difficile
infections. So far, host factors involved in uptake and/or intracellular stabilization of the toxins are not known. Here we show that TRiC/CCT chaperonins interact with glycosylating toxins and play an essential role in the intoxication process. Knockdown of chaperonins or inhibition of TRiC/CCT functions by compound HSF1A prevents the cytotoxic effects of glucosylating toxins. In contrast, HSP90, which is essential for ADP-ribosylating toxins, does not affect the uptake of glucosylating toxins. Our data provide insight into the cellular actions of glucosylating toxins.
Interchromosomal interactions: A genomic love story of kissing chromosomes
Authors: Maass Philipp G. , Barutcu A. Rasim , Rinn John L.
Published: September 2018

Nuclei require a precise three- and four-dimensional organization of DNA to establish cell-specific gene-expression programs. Underscoring the importance of DNA topology, alterations to the nuclear architecture can perturb gene expression and result in disease states. More recently, it has become clear that not only intrachromosomal interactions, but also interchromosomal interactions, a less studied feature of chromosomes, are required for proper physiological gene-expression programs. Here, we review recent studies with emerging insights into where and why cross-chromosomal communication is relevant. Specifically, we discuss how long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and three-dimensional gene positioning are involved in genome organization and how low-throughput (live-cell imaging) and high-throughput (Hi-C and SPRITE) techniques contribute to understand the fundamental properties of interchromosomal interactions.
Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of Generic Dolutegravir-containing Antiretroviral Therapy Regimens Among South Indian Human Immunodeficiency Virus-infected Patients
Authors: Kumarasamy Nagalingeswaran , Prabhu Sandeep , Chandrasekaran Ezhilarasi , Poongulali Selvamuthu , Pradeep Amrose , Chitra Devaraj , Balakrishnan Ramasamy , Benson Constance A
Published: September 2018

In this first study of generic dolutegravir (DTG)-containing regimens in a low-resource setting, we assessed safety, tolerability, and efficacy within a prospective cohort of 564 patients with at least 6 months of clinical follow-up. We provide support for a large-scale transition to DTG as part of first-line regimens.
2. How Did We Get Here?
Authors: Dinan Desmond
Published: September 2018

This chapter focuses on the historical development of the European Union. The history of the EU began when European governments responded to a series of domestic, regional, and global challenges after the Second World War by establishing new transnational institutions in order to accelerate political and economic integration. These challenges ranged from post-war reconstruction to the Cold War, and then to globalization. Driven largely by mutually compatible national interests, Franco-German bargains, and American influence, politicians responded by establishing the European Communities in the 1950s and the EU in the 1990s. The chapter examines the Schuman Plan, the European Defence Community, the European Community, the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), enlargement, constitution building, and the Eurozone crisis.
4. Member States
Authors: Laffan Brigid
Published: September 2018

This chapter focuses on the member states of the European Union. It first considers six factors that determine how a state engages with the EU: the date of entry, size, wealth, state structure, economic ideology, and integration preference. It then examines how member states behave in the EU’s institutions and seek to influence the outcome of negotiations in Brussels. It also discusses the informal and formal activities of the member states before concluding with an overview of the insights offered by theory in analysing the relationship between the EU and its member states. The chapter clarifies some key concepts and terms such as Europeanization, acquis communautaire, and flexible integration, and explains how the EU’s intergovernmental conferences work.
5. Key Policies
Authors: Peterson John , Sbragia Alberta
Published: September 2018

This chapter examines some of the most important areas of policy-making in the European Union. It first explains how EU policy-making differs from national policy-making before discussing the most important policies aimed at building the internal market and limiting its potentially negative impact on individuals, society, and the environment. The EU’s ‘market-building’ policies include competition policy, trade policy, and the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), while ‘market-correcting’ and ‘cushioning’ policies include the common agricultural policy, the cohesion policy, and environmental and social regulation. The chapter shows how these policies are made and also why and how they matter. It also compares policy types in the EU.
9. The EU as a Global Actor
Authors: Peterson John , Helwig Niklas
Published: September 2018

The European Union’s ambitions to be a global power are a surprising by-product of European integration. Students of European foreign policy mostly focus on EU trade, aid, and the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). But the national foreign policy activities of its member states cannot be neglected. On most economic issues, the EU is able to speak with a genuinely single voice. It has more difficulty showing solidarity on aid policy but is powerful when it does. The Union’s external policy aspirations now extend to traditional foreign and security policy. But distinct national policies persist, and the EU suffers from fragmented leadership. The chapter begins by considering the development of EU foreign policy and then considers how a national system of foreign policies exists alongside EU policies in the area of trade and international development. It then examines the EU’s CFSP and Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).
An exploration of factors influencing inpatient nurses’ care behaviour in an acute hospital setting
Authors: Yau Xinyi Cheryl , Tam Wai San Wilson , Seah Hui Wen Valerie , Siah Chiew Jiat Rosalind
Published: September 2018

Objective

To examine factors influencing caring behaviour of nurses in Singapore.

Design

Descriptive correlational study using Care Behaviour Inventory (CBI-24) questionnaire to assess nurses’ perceptions of their caring behaviours.

Setting

Acute tertiary hospital in Singapore.

Participants

A convenience sample of 167 full time registered nurses working in subsidized wards, with more than 1 year of experience in current practising ward were recruited.

Main outcome measure(s)

Nurses’ perception of their caring behaviours.

Results

Data analysis yielded a mean CBI score of 123.11 out of 144, indicating that nurses had a positive perception of their caring behaviours. Among the 4 CBI subscales, Respectfulness and Connectedness components of CBI were ranked the lowest with a mean score of 4.2 and 4.9, respectively. This indicated that although nurses generally performed adequate caring during patient care, they appeared to be lacking in the expressive aspect of caring. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were found among subgroups of nationality, ethnicity, religion and education level. Nurses’ perception of their caring behaviours was positively correlated to their age and total working experience. Linear regression showed that age, religion, education level positively influenced nurses’ perception of their caring behaviours.

Conclusion

Findings from this study raise awareness to the caring behaviours that nurses were lacking in and also offer valuable insights to the potential factors influencing nurses’ caring behaviours. This information serves as a foundational knowledge to guide the development of interventions aimed to promote patient-centred care and improve quality of future nursing care.
Trends in anesthesiology research: a machine learning approach to theme discovery and summarization
Authors: Rusanov Alexander , Miotto Riccardo , Weng Chunhua
Published: September 2018

Objectives

Traditionally, summarization of research themes and trends within a given discipline was accomplished by manual review of scientific works in the field. However, with the ushering in of the age of “big data,” new methods for discovery of such information become necessary as traditional techniques become increasingly difficult to apply due to the exponential growth of document repositories. Our objectives are to develop a pipeline for unsupervised theme extraction and summarization of thematic trends in document repositories, and to test it by applying it to a specific domain.

Methods

To that end, we detail a pipeline, which utilizes machine learning and natural language processing for unsupervised theme extraction, and a novel method for summarization of thematic trends, and network mapping for visualization of thematic relations. We then apply this pipeline to a collection of anesthesiology abstracts.

Results

We demonstrate how this pipeline enables discovery of major themes and temporal trends in anesthesiology research and facilitates document classification and corpus exploration.

Discussion

The relation of prevalent topics and extracted trends to recent events in both anesthesiology, and healthcare in general, demonstrates the pipeline’s utility. Furthermore, the agreement between the unsupervised thematic grouping and human-assigned classification validates the pipeline’s accuracy and demonstrates another potential use.

Conclusion

The described pipeline enables summarization and exploration of large document repositories, facilitates classification, aids in trend identification. A more robust and user-friendly interface will facilitate the expansion of this methodology to other domains. This will be the focus of future work for our group.
ADP-heptose is a pathogen-associated molecular pattern of Shigella flexneri infection
Authors: García-Weber Diego , Dangeard Anne-Sophie , Cornil Johan , Thai Linda , Rytter Héloise , Mulard Laurence A. , Arrieumerlou Cécile
Published: September 2018

During an infection, the detection of pathogens is mediated through interactions between pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and pathogen recognition receptors. β-Heptose 1,7-bisphosphate (βHBP), a metabolite of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis pathway, was recently identified as a PAMP of gram-negative bacteria. It was reported that βHBP sensing leads within minutes to oligomerization of the protein TIFA, a mechanism controlling NF-κB activation and pro-inflammatory gene expression. Here, we compared the ability of chemically synthesized βHBP and Shigella flexneri lysate to induce TIFA oligomerization in epithelial cells. In contrast to lysate, we found that βHBP fails to trigger rapid oligomerization of TIFA. βHBP only induces delayed signaling, suggesting that it has to be processed intracellularly to induce inflammation. By dissecting the LPS biosynthesis pathway with deletion mutants and functional complementation experiments, we show that ADP-D-glycero-β-D-manno-heptose and ADP-L-glycero-β-D-manno-heptose are the bacterial metabolites responsible for rapid TIFA oligomerization, and that they strongly induce interleukin-8 expression during S. flexneri infection. Altogether, our results rule out a major role of βHBP in S. flexneri infection and identify ADP-heptose as a new PAMP.
Coordinate based meta-analysis of networks in neuroimaging studies
Authors: Tench CR , Tanasescu Radu , Constantinescu CS , Auer DP , Cottam WJ
Published: September 2018

Meta-analysis of published neuroimaging results is commonly performed using coordinate based meta-analysis (CBMA). Most commonly CBMA algorithms detect spatial clustering of reported coordinates across multiple studies by assuming that results relating to the common hypothesis fall in similar anatomical locations. The null hypothesis is that studies report uncorrelated results, which is simulated by random coordinates. It is assumed that multiple clusters are independent yet it is likely that multiple results reported per study are not, and in fact represent a network effect. Here the multiple reported effect sizes (reported peak Z scores) are assumed multivariate normal, and maximum likelihood used to estimate the parameters of the covariance matrix. The hypothesis is that the effect sizes are correlated. The parameters are covariance of effect size, considered as edges of a network, while clusters are considered as nodes. In this way coordinate based meta-analysis of networks (CBMAN) estimates a network of reported meta-effects, rather than multiple independent effects (clusters).

CBMAN uses only the same data as CBMA, yet produces extra information in terms of the correlation between clusters. Here it is validated on numerically simulated data, and demonstrated on real data used previously to demonstrate CBMA. The CBMA and CBMAN clusters are similar, despite the very different hypothesis.
The Soft Vertex Classification for Active Module Identification Problem
Authors: Alexeev Nikita , Isomurodov Javlon , Korotkevich Gennady , Sergushichev Alexey
Published: September 2018

Motivation

Integrative network methods are commonly used for interpretation of high-throughput experimental biological data: transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and others. One of the common approaches consists in finding a connected subnetwork of a global interaction network that best encompasses significant individual changes in the data and represents a so-called active module. Usually methods implementing this approach find a single subnetwork and thus solve a hard classification problem for vertices. This subnetwork inherently contains erroneous vertices, while no instrument is provided to estimate the confidence level of any particular vertex inclusion. To address this issue, in the current study we consider the active module problem as a soft classification problem. We propose a method to estimate probabilities of each vertex to belong to the active module based on Markov chain Monte Carlo subnetwork sampling.

Results

The proposed method allows to estimate the probability that an individual vertex belongs to the active module as well as the false discovery rate (FDR) for a given set of vertices. Given the estimated probabilities, it becomes possible to provide a connected subgraph in a consistent manner for any given FDR level: no vertex can disappear when the FDR level is relaxed. We show on simulated dataset that the proposed method has good computational performance and high classification accuracy. As an example of the performance of our method on real data, we run it on a protein-protein interaction network together with a gene expression DLBCL dataset. The results are consistent with the previous studies while, at the same time, the proposed approach is more flexible. Source code is available at https://github.com/ctlab/mcmcRanking under MIT licence.