bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Motivated Social Cognition and Authoritarianism
Authors: Berggren Mathias , Akrami Nazar , Bergh Robin , Ekehammar Bo
Published: March 2019

Abstract. The domain of motivated social cognition includes a variety of concepts dealing with a need to seek structure and avoid ambiguity, and several of these concepts are also powerful predictors of social attitudes, such as authoritarianism. It is possible though that these relations are due to certain facets reoccurring in the different scales. In this paper, we tested the notion that authoritarianism is predicted specifically by rigidity in beliefs (closed-mindedness), rather than broader cognitive styles. Thus, we initially identified items in the motivated social cognition scales that are specifically measuring closed-mindedness. These items included the closed-mindedness facet of the need for closure scale and items from intolerance of ambiguity and need for cognition. We used these items to predict right-wing authoritarianism, social dominance orientation, and their common factor authoritarianism (generalized). In line with our prediction, two studies showed that the motivated social cognition scales did not provide a significant prediction of authoritarianism beyond the closed-mindedness items. We conclude that the relation between motivated social cognition and authoritarianism is captured entirely by the former’s closed-mindedness component.
Assessing the Skill of the Improved Treatment of Riverine Freshwater in the Community Earth System Model (CESM) Relative to a New Salinity Climatology
Authors: Sun Qiang , Whitney Michael M. , Bryan Frank O. , Tseng Yu‐heng
Published: March 2019

Recent studies have explored the sensitivity of global ocean model simulations to the treatment of riverine freshwater and the representation of estuarine processes via an estuary box model applied within Community Earth System Model (CESM). This study builds on these efforts by assessing the model skill score relative to a new salinity climatology. The new climatology averages the original observational data of the World Ocean Database directly onto the CESM ocean component tracer grid cells without spatial interpolation, smoothing, or other gap‐filling techniques to mitigate coastal ocean salinity bias present in the World Ocean Atlas. The mean square error for coastal upper ocean salinity relative to climatology is reduced by up to 14%, and the mean square error of near‐surface salinity stratification is reduced by up to 28% near major river mouths in the simulations with improved treatments of river runoff. The improvement in upper ocean bulk salinity is attributed primarily to focusing runoff as point sources thereby avoiding the artificial horizontal spreading of the control run and to applying a locally varying instead of a global constant reference salinity for riverine virtual salt fluxes. The improvements in near‐surface salinity stratification are primarily attributed to adding parameterized estuarine mixing with the estuary box model. Salinity and salinity stratification skill improvements are achieved not just near large rivers but also along the global coast and skill improvements extend far offshore. Despite these improvements, many other sources of model‐climatology mismatch in coastal salinity and stratification remain and merit further attention.
Machine learning metrology of cell confinement in melt electrowritten three-dimensional biomaterial substrates
Authors: Tourlomousis Filippos , Jia Chao , Karydis Thrasyvoulos , Mershin Andreas , Wang Hongjun , Kalyon Dilhan M. , Chang Robert C.
Published: March 2019

Tuning cell shape by altering the biophysical properties of biomaterial substrates on which cells operate would provide a potential shape-driven pathway to control cell phenotype. However, there is an unexplored dimensional scale window of three-dimensional (3D) substrates with precisely tunable porous microarchitectures and geometrical feature sizes at the cell’s operating length scales (10–100 μm). This paper demonstrates the fabrication of such high-fidelity fibrous substrates using a melt electrowriting (MEW) technique. This advanced manufacturing approach is biologically qualified with a metrology framework that models and classifies cell confinement states under various substrate dimensionalities and architectures. Using fibroblasts as a model cell system, the mechanosensing response of adherent cells is investigated as a function of variable substrate dimensionality (2D vs. 3D) and porous microarchitecture (randomly oriented, “non-woven” vs. precision-stacked, “woven”). Single-cell confinement states are modeled using confocal fluorescence microscopy in conjunction with an automated single-cell bioimage data analysis workflow that extracts quantitative metrics of the whole cell and sub-cellular focal adhesion protein features measured. The extracted multidimensional dataset is employed to train a machine learning algorithm to classify cell shape phenotypes. The results show that cells assume distinct confinement states that are enforced by the prescribed substrate dimensionalities and porous microarchitectures with the woven MEW substrates promoting the highest cell shape homogeneity compared to non-woven fibrous substrates. The technology platform established here constitutes a significant step towards the development of integrated additive manufacturing—metrology platforms for a wide range of applications including fundamental mechanobiology studies and 3D bioprinting of tissue constructs to yield specific biological designs qualified at the single-cell level.
Enhancing folic acid metabolism suppresses defects associated with loss of Drosophila mitofusin
Authors: Garrido-Maraver Juan , Celardo Ivana , Costa Ana C. , Lehmann Susann , Loh Samantha H. Y. , Martins L. Miguel
Published: March 2019

Mutations in the mitochondrial GTPase mitofusin 2 (MFN2) cause Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2 (CMT2A), a form of peripheral neuropathy that compromises axonal function. Mitofusins promote mitochondrial fusion and regulate mitochondrial dynamics. They are also reported to be involved in forming contacts between mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum. The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, is a powerful tool to model human neurodegenerative diseases, including CMT2A. Here, we have downregulated the expression of the Drosophila mitofusin (dMfn RNAi) in adult flies and showed that this activates mitochondrial retrograde signalling and is associated with an upregulation of genes involved in folic acid (FA) metabolism. Additionally, we demonstrated that pharmacological and genetic interventions designed to increase the FA metabolism pathway suppresses the phenotype of the dMfn RNAi flies. We conclude that strategies to increase FA metabolism may ameliorate diseases, such as peripheral neuropathies, that are associated with loss of mitochondrial function. A video abstract for this article is available at https://youtu.be/fs1G-QRo6xI.
Cervical cancer subtypes harbouring integrated and/or episomal HPV16 portray distinct molecular phenotypes based on transcriptome profiling of mRNAs and miRNAs
Authors: Mandal Paramita , Saha Sweta Sharma , Sen Shrinka , Bhattacharya Amrapali , Bhattacharya Nitai P. , Bucha Sudha , Sinha Mithun , Chowdhury Rahul Roy , Mondal Nidhu Ranjan , Chakravarty Biman , Chatterjee Tanmay , Roy Sudipta , Chattapadhyay Ansuman , Sengupta Sharmila
Published: March 2019

Heterogeneity in cervical cancers (CaCx) in terms of HPV16 physical status prompted us to investigate the mRNA and miRNA signatures among the different categories of CaCx samples. We performed microarray-based mRNA expression profiling and quantitative real-time PCR-based expression analysis of some prioritised miRNAs implicated in cancer-related pathways among various categories of cervical samples. Such samples included HPV16-positive CaCx cases that harboured either purely integrated HPV16 genomes (integrated) and those that harboured episomal viral genomes, either pure or concomitant with integrated viral genomes (episomal), which were compared with normal cervical samples that were either HPV negative or positive for HPV16. The mRNA expression profile differed characteristically between integrated and episomal CaCx cases for enriched biological pathways. miRNA expression profiles also differed among CaCx cases compared with controls (upregulation—miR-21, miR-16, miR-205, miR-323; downregulation—miR-143, miR-196b, miR-203, miR-34a; progressive upregulation—miR-21 and progressive downregulation—miR-143, miR-34a, miR-196b and miR-203) in the order of HPV-negative controls, HPV16-positive non-malignant samples and HPV16-positive CaCx cases. miR-200a was upregulated in HPV16-positive cervical tissues irrespective of histopathological status. Expression of majority of the predicted target genes was negatively correlated with their corresponding miRNAs, irrespective of the CaCx subtypes. E7 mRNA expression correlated positively with miR-323 expression among episomal cases and miR-203, among integrated cases. miR-181c expression was downregulated only among the episomal CaCx cases and negatively correlated with protein coding transcript of the proliferative target gene, CKS1B of the significantly enriched “G2/M DNA Damage Checkpoint Regulation” pathway among CaCx cases. Thus, the two CaCx subtypes are distinct entities at the molecular level, which could be differentially targeted for therapy. In fact, availability of a small molecule inhibitor of CKS1B, suggests that drugging CKS1B could be a potential avenue of treating the large majority of CaCx cases harbouring episomal HPV16.
Discovery of HB-EGF binding peptides and their functional characterization in ovarian cancer cell lines
Authors: Shen Yanting , Ruan Lingling , Lian Caixia , Li Ruyan , Tu Zhigang , Liu Hanqing
Published: March 2019

Ovarian cancer is one of the most frequent causes of cancer death among all gynecologic cancers. Though standard therapy often results in temporary clinical remission, most patients suffer from recurrence and metastasis of ovarian cancer, which highlights the need for developing new therapeutic agents targeting specific molecules. Previous studies have demonstrated that the native ligand of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and ErbB4, heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF), plays a critical role in the progression of ovarian cancer and is associated with prognosis of ovarian cancer. In the current study, we tried to develop a peptide-based treatment for ovarian cancer by targeting HB-EGF. After the functions of HB-EGF in promoting migration and invasion of SKOV3 and HO-8910 cells were confirmed, phage display was used to discover peptides binding to HB-EGF. Two peptides, no. 7 and no. 29 were found mildly binding to HB-EGF. Then the effects of these peptides on HB-EGF functions were examined and both peptides no. 7 and no. 29 were found indeed inhibiting the functions of HB-EGF in promoting migration and invasion of SKOV3 and HO-8910 cells in vitro. Further mechanism investigation showed that peptides no. 7 and no. 29 inhibited HB-EGF-promoted cell migration and invasion through attenuating activation of the EGFR signaling pathway manifested by decreased p-Erk1/2 and Snail levels. More importantly, peptides no. 7 and no. 29 showed strong activities in inhibiting migration of SKOV3 cells in vivo. These results provide a proof of concept method for developing novel peptide drugs to combat ovarian cancer through interfering with HB-EGF mediated signaling pathways.
Bone marrow central memory and memory stem T-cell exhaustion in AML patients relapsing after HSCT
Authors: Noviello Maddalena , Manfredi Francesco , Ruggiero Eliana , Perini Tommaso , Oliveira Giacomo , Cortesi Filippo , De Simone Pantaleo , Toffalori Cristina , Gambacorta Valentina , Greco Raffaella , Peccatori Jacopo , Casucci Monica , Casorati Giulia , Dellabona Paolo , Onozawa Masahiro , Teshima Takanori , Griffioen Marieke , Halkes Constantijn J. M. , Falkenburg J. H. F. , Stölzel Friedrich , Altmann Heidi , Bornhäuser Martin , Waterhouse Miguel , Zeiser Robert , Finke Jürgen , Cieri Nicoletta , Bondanza Attilio , Vago Luca , Ciceri Fabio , Bonini Chiara
Published: March 2019

The major cause of death after allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is disease relapse. We investigated the expression of Inhibitory Receptors (IR; PD-1/CTLA-4/TIM-3/LAG-3/2B4/KLRG1/GITR) on T cells infiltrating the bone marrow (BM) of 32 AML patients relapsing (median 251 days) or maintaining complete remission (CR; median 1 year) after HSCT. A higher proportion of early-differentiated Memory Stem (TSCM) and Central Memory BM-T cells express multiple IR in relapsing patients than in CR patients. Exhausted BM-T cells at relapse display a restricted TCR repertoire, impaired effector functions and leukemia-reactive specificities. In 57 patients, early detection of severely exhausted (PD-1+Eomes+T-bet−) BM-TSCM predicts relapse. Accordingly, leukemia-specific T cells in patients prone to relapse display exhaustion markers, absent in patients maintaining long-term CR. These results highlight a wide, though reversible, immunological dysfunction in the BM of AML patients relapsing after HSCT and suggest new therapeutic opportunities for the disease.
A stem group echinoderm from the basal Cambrian of China and the origins of Ambulacraria
Authors: Topper Timothy P. , Guo Junfeng , Clausen Sébastien , Skovsted Christian B. , Zhang Zhifei
Published: March 2019

Deuterostomes are a morphologically disparate clade, encompassing the chordates (including vertebrates), the hemichordates (the vermiform enteropneusts and the colonial tube-dwelling pterobranchs) and the echinoderms (including starfish). Although deuterostomes are considered monophyletic, the inter-relationships between the three clades remain highly contentious. Here we report,Yanjiahella biscarpa, a bilaterally symmetrical, solitary metazoan from the early Cambrian (Fortunian) of China with a characteristic echinoderm-like plated theca, a muscular stalk reminiscent of the hemichordates and a pair of feeding appendages. Our phylogenetic analysis indicates thatY.biscarpais a stem-echinoderm and not only is this species the oldest and most basal echinoderm, but it also predates all known hemichordates, and is among the earliest deuterostomes. This taxon confirms that echinoderms acquired plating before pentaradial symmetry and that their history is rooted in bilateral forms.Yanjiahella biscarpashares morphological similarities with both enteropneusts and echinoderms, indicating that the enteropneust body plan is ancestral within hemichordates.
Hemozoin-catalyzed precipitation polymerization as an assay for malaria diagnosis
Authors: Rifaie-Graham Omar , Pollard Jonas , Raccio Samuel , Balog Sandor , Rusch Sebastian , Hernández-Castañeda María Andrea , Mantel Pierre-Yves , Beck Hans-Peter , Bruns Nico
Published: March 2019

Methods to diagnose malaria are of paramount interest to eradicate the disease. Current methods have severe limitations, as they are either costly or not sensitive enough to detect low levels of parasitemia. Here we report an ultrasensitive, yet low-resource chemical assay for the detection and quantification of hemozoin, a biomarker of all Plasmodium species. Solubilized hemozoin catalyzes the atom transfer radical polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide above the lower critical solution temperature of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide). The solution becomes turbid, which can be observed by naked eye and quantified by UV-visible spectroscopy. The rate of turbidity increase is proportional to the concentration of hemozoin, with a detection limit of 0.85 ng mL−1. Malaria parasites in human blood can be detected down to 10 infected red blood cells μL−1. The assay could potentially be applied as a point-of-care test. The signal-amplification of an analyte by biocatalytic precipitation polymerization represents a powerful approach in biosensing.
Tuning Pt-CeO2 interactions by high-temperature vapor-phase synthesis for improved reducibility of lattice oxygen
Authors: Pereira-Hernández Xavier Isidro , DeLaRiva Andrew , Muravev Valery , Kunwar Deepak , Xiong Haifeng , Sudduth Berlin , Engelhard Mark , Kovarik Libor , Hensen Emiel J. M. , Wang Yong , Datye Abhaya K.
Published: March 2019

In this work, we compare the CO oxidation performance of Pt single atom catalysts (SACs) prepared via two methods: (1) conventional wet chemical synthesis (strong electrostatic adsorption–SEA) with calcination at 350 °C in air; and (2) high temperature vapor phase synthesis (atom trapping–AT) with calcination in air at 800 °C leading to ionic Pt being trapped on the CeO2 in a thermally stable form. As-synthesized, both SACs are inactive for low temperature (<150 °C) CO oxidation. After treatment in CO at 275 °C, both catalysts show enhanced reactivity. Despite similar Pt metal particle size, the AT catalyst is significantly more active, with onset of CO oxidation near room temperature. A combination of near-ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (NAP-XPS) and CO temperature-programmed reduction (CO-TPR) shows that the high reactivity at low temperatures can be related to the improved reducibility of lattice oxygen on the CeO2 support.
A TonB-dependent transporter is required for secretion of protease PopC across the bacterial outer membrane
Authors: Gómez-Santos Nuria , Glatter Timo , Koebnik Ralf , Świątek-Połatyńska Magdalena Anna , Søgaard-Andersen Lotte
Published: March 2019

TonB-dependent transporters (TBDTs) are ubiquitous outer membrane β-barrel proteins that import nutrients and bacteriocins across the outer membrane in a proton motive force-dependent manner, by directly connecting to the ExbB/ExbD/TonB system in the inner membrane. Here, we show that the TBDT Oar in Myxococcus xanthus is required for secretion of a protein, protease PopC, to the extracellular milieu. PopC accumulates in the periplasm before secretion across the outer membrane, and the proton motive force has a role in secretion to the extracellular milieu. Reconstitution experiments in Escherichia coli demonstrate that secretion of PopC across the outer membrane not only depends on Oar but also on the ExbB/ExbD/TonB system. Our results indicate that TBDTs and the ExbB/ExbD/TonB system may have roles not only in import processes but also in secretion of proteins.
Author Correction: Passive film characterisation of duplex stainless steel using scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy in combination with electrochemical measurements
Authors: Örnek Cem , Leygraf Christofer , Pan Jinshan
Published: March 2019

In the title of the original version of this Article “probe” was incorrectly spelt as “prove”. This has now been corrected in both the HTML and PDF versions.
Clinical significance of the internal carotid artery angle in ischemic stroke
Authors: Noh Sang-Mi , Kang Hyun Goo
Published: March 2019

The carotid artery plays a major role in stroke aetiology and is a good indicator of atherosclerosis. However, the clinical significance of internal carotid artery (ICA) anatomy remains unclear in patients with ischaemic stroke. This study examined the relationship between ICA angle and risk of ischaemic stroke. ICA angles of patients with acute ischaemic stroke were retrospectively compared with those of control patients between March 2014 and July 2014. Controls consisted of those with headaches but without ischaemic stroke. In both groups, ICA angles were measured using Maximum Intensity Projection images from computed tomography angiography, and the relationship between ICA angle and risk of ischaemic stroke was analysed. Of 128 screened patients with acute ischaemic stroke, 27 were enrolled, and 29 with headache were enrolled as controls. No differences were found in baseline characteristics between the two groups, but intracranial stenosis was more frequent in patients with stroke than in controls. Bilateral ICA angles were significantly larger in patients with stroke than in controls. Multiple logistic regression models showed that the right ICA angle was associated with risk of ischaemic stroke. Measuring the ICA angle may help assess the risk of ischaemic stroke.
Choline kinase inhibitors EB-3D and EB-3P interferes with lipid homeostasis in HepG2 cells
Authors: Sola-Leyva Alberto , López-Cara Luisa C. , Ríos-Marco Pablo , Ríos Antonio , Marco Carmen , Carrasco-Jiménez María P.
Published: March 2019

A full understanding of the molecular mechanism of action of choline kinase α (ChoKα) inhibitors at the cell level is essential for developing therapeutic and preventive approaches for cancer. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the ChoKα inhibitors EB-3D and EB-3P on lipid metabolism in HepG2 cells. We used [methyl-14C]choline, [1,2-14C]acetic acid and [2-3H]glycerol as exogenous precursors of the corresponding phospholipids and neutral lipids. [Methyl-14C]choline was also used to determine choline uptake. Protein levels were determined by Western blot. Ultrastructural alterations were investigated by transmission electron microscopy. In this work, we demonstrate that EB-3D and EB-3P interfere with phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis via both CDP-choline pathway and choline uptake by the cell. Moreover, the synthesis of both diacylglycerols and triacylglycerols was affected by cell exposure to both inhibitors. These effects were accompanied by a substantial decrease in cholesterol biosynthesis, as well as alterations in the expression of proteins related to cholesterol homeostasis. We also found that EB-3D and EB-3P lowered ChoKα protein levels. All these effects could be explained by the modulation of the AMP-activated protein kinase signalling pathway. We show that both inhibitors cause mitochondrial alteration and an endoplasmic reticulum stress response. EB-3D and EB-3P exert effects on ChoKα expression, AMPK activation, apoptosis, endoplasmic reticulum stress and lipid metabolism. Taken together, results show that EB-3D and EB-3P have potential anti-cancer activity through the deregulation of lipid metabolism.
The cochaperone CHIP marks Hsp70- and Hsp90-bound substrates for degradation through a very flexible mechanism
Authors: Quintana-Gallardo Lucía , Martín-Benito Jaime , Marcilla Miguel , Espadas Guadalupe , Sabidó Eduard , Valpuesta José María
Published: March 2019

Some molecular chaperones are involved not only in assisting the folding of proteins but also, given appropriate conditions, in their degradation. This is the case for Hsp70 and Hsp90 which, in concert with the cochaperone CHIP, direct their bound substrate to degradation through ubiquitination. We generated complexes between the chaperones (Hsp70 or Hsp90), the cochaperone CHIP and, as substrate, a p53 variant containing the GST protein (p53-TMGST). Both ternary complexes (Hsp70:p53-TMGST:CHIP and Hsp90:p53-TMGST:CHIP) ubiquitinated the substrate at a higher efficiency than in the absence of the chaperones. The 3D structures of the two complexes, obtained using a combination of cryoelectron microscopy and crosslinking mass spectrometry, showed the substrate located between the chaperone and the cochaperone, suggesting a ubiquitination mechanism in which the chaperone-bound substrate is presented to CHIP. These complexes are inherently flexible, which is important for the ubiquitination process.
Nuclear resonant scattering from 193Ir as a probe of the electronic and magnetic properties of iridates
Authors: Alexeev Pavel , Leupold Olaf , Sergueev Ilya , Herlitschke Marcus , McMorrow Desmond F. , Perry Robin S. , Hunter Emily C. , Röhlsberger Ralf , Wille Hans-Christian
Published: March 2019

The high brilliance of modern synchrotron radiation sources facilitates experiments with high-energy x-rays across a range of disciplines, including the study of the electronic and magnetic correlations using elastic and inelastic scattering techniques. Here we report on Nuclear Resonance Scattering at the 73 keV nuclear level in 193Ir. The transitions between the hyperfine split levels show an untypically high E2/M1 multi-polarity mixing ratio combined with an increased sensitivity to certain changes in the hyperfine field direction compared to non-mixing transitions. The method opens a new way for probing local magnetic and electronic properties of correlated materials containing iridium and provides novel insights into anisotropic magnetism in iridates. In particular, unexpected out-of-plane components of magnetic hyperfine fields and non-zero electric field gradients in Sr2IrO4 have been detected and attributed to the strong spin-orbit interaction in this iridate. Due to the high, 62% natural abundance of the 193Ir isotope, no isotopic enrichment of the samples is required, qualifying the method for a broad range of applications.
Resting state functional connectivity predictors of treatment response to electroconvulsive therapy in depression
Authors: Moreno-Ortega M. , Prudic J. , Rowny S. , Patel G. H. , Kangarlu A. , Lee S. , Grinband J. , Palomo T. , Perera T. , Glasser M. F. , Javitt D. C.
Published: March 2019

There is increasing focus on use of resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) analyses to subtype depression and to predict treatment response. To date, identification of RSFC patterns associated with response to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) remain limited, and focused on interactions between dorsal prefrontal and regions of the limbic or default-mode networks. Deficits in visual processing are reported in depression, however, RSFC with or within the visual network have not been explored in recent models of depression. Here, we support prior studies showing in a sample of 18 patients with depression that connectivity between dorsal prefrontal and regions of the limbic and default-mode networks serves as a significant predictor. In addition, however, we demonstrate that including visual connectivity measures greatly increases predictive power of the RSFC algorithm (>80% accuracy of remission). These exploratory results encourage further investigation into visual dysfunction in depression, and use of RSFC algorithms incorporating the visual network in prediction of response to both ECT and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), offering a new framework for the development of RSFC-guided TMS interventions in depression.
Molecular quantification of Plasmodium parasite density from the blood retained in used RDTs
Authors: Robinson Ailie , Busula Annette O. , Muwanguzi Julian K. , Powers Stephen J. , Masiga Daniel K. , Bousema Teun , Takken Willem , de Boer Jetske G. , Logan James G. , Beshir Khalid B. , Sutherland Colin J.
Published: March 2019

Most malaria-endemic countries are heavily reliant upon rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) for malaria case identification and treatment. RDT previously used for malaria diagnosis can subsequently be used for molecular assays, including qualitative assessment of parasite species present or the carriage of resistance markers, because parasite DNA can be extracted from the blood inside the RDT which remains preserved on the internal components. However, the quantification of parasite density has not previously been possible from used RDT. In this study, blood samples were collected from school-age children in Western Kenya, in the form of both dried blood spots on Whatman filter paper, and the blood spot that is dropped into rapid diagnostic tests during use. Having first validated a robotic DNA extraction method, the parasite density was determined from both types of sample by duplex qPCR, and across a range of densities. The methods showed good agreement. The preservation of both parasite and human DNA on the nitrocellulose membrane inside the RDT was stable even after more than one year’s storage. This presents a useful opportunity for researchers or clinicians wishing to gain greater information about the parasite populations that are being studied, without significant investment of resources.
Complementary medicine use during cancer treatment and potential herb-drug interactions from a cross-sectional study in an academic centre
Authors: Jermini Mégane , Dubois Julie , Rodondi Pierre-Yves , Zaman Khalil , Buclin Thierry , Csajka Chantal , Orcurto Angela , Rothuizen Laura E.
Published: March 2019

Complementary medicine (CM) is used by one third to one half of cancer patients throughout the world. The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence of CM use and the potential for interactions with cancer treatments in an academic oncology centre. A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients undergoing current cancer treatment. Among 132 included patients, 56% had used CM since their cancer diagnosis and 45% were using CM during cancer treatment at the time of the survey. The main CM used were green tea (35%), herbal tea (35%), homeopathy (27%), dietary supplements (27%), and herbal medicines (27%). A small majority of patients (58%) spontaneously mentioned the use of CM to their oncologist. Of 42 identified combinations of concomitant use of biologically based CM and anticancer agents among the study patients, the potential for pharmacokinetic interactions of clinical relevance was not expected in 17 combinations (40%), hypothetical and deemed unlikely in 23 (55%), and of probable low clinical relevance in 2 (5%). Considering the high prevalence of CM use, active enquiries should be made by healthcare professionals to detect symptoms that may relate to CM tolerance and effects or that suggest interactions between CM and cancer treatments.
A New Network Feature Affects the Intervention Performance on Public Opinion Dynamic Networks
Authors: Wang Caiyun , Han Huawei , Han Jing
Published: March 2019

The neighborhood network structure plays an important role in the collective opinion of an opinion dynamic system. Does it also affect the intervention performance? To answer this question, we apply three intervention methods on an opinion dynamic model, the weighted DeGroot model, to change the convergent opinion value $$\bar{x}$$

x
¯

. And we define a new network feature Ω, called ‘network differential degree’, to measure how node degrees couple with influential values in the network, i.e., large Ω indicates nodes with high degree is more likely to couple with large influential value. We investigate the relationship between the intervention performance and the network differential degree Ω in the following three intervention cases: (1) add one special agent (shill) to connect to one normal agent; (2) add one edge between two normal agents; (3) add a number of edges among agents. Through simulations we find significant correlation between the intervention performance, i.e., $$|\Delta {\bar{x}}^{\ast }|$$
|

Δ

x
¯

⁎

|
(the maximum value of the change of convergent opinion value $$|\Delta \bar{x}|$$
|

Δ

x
¯

|
) and Ω in all three cases: the intervention performance $$|\Delta {\bar{x}}^{\ast }|$$
|

Δ

x
¯

⁎

|
is higher when Ω is smaller. So Ω could be used to predict how difficult it is to intervene and change the convergent opinion value of the weighted DeGroot model. Meanwhile, a theorem of adding one edge and an algorithm for adding optimal edges are given.
Influence of Climate Variability and Reservoir Operation on Streamflow in the Yangtze River
Authors: Chai Yuanfang , Li Yitian , Yang Yunping , Zhu Boyuan , Li Sixuan , Xu Can , Liu Congcong
Published: March 2019

Understanding the effects of climate variability and reservoir operation on runoff is important for shipping, irrigation and water supply services, especially during extreme drought years. After the operation of the Three Gorges Dam (TGD) began, the discharge processes in the mid-lower reaches of the Yangtze River were completely different from those during the pre-dam period. The measured hydrological data and the Mike 11-HD model were used to estimate the contributions of the TGD operation and climate variability to the variation in discharge during extreme drought years. The results are as follows: under the effects of the TGD operation and extreme drought, the special phenomenon of a “positive discharge anomaly in drought season and negative discharge anomaly in flood season” occurred compared with the conditions in the pre-dam period. During the flood season, the contributions of climate variation (TGD operation) to the changes in streamflow from Yichang station to Datong station were 86.6% (13.4%) and 80.7% (19.7%) in 2006 and 64.8% (35.2%) and 71.3% (28.7%) in 2011. During the dry season, the values were 81.2% (18.8%) and 93.9% (6.1%) in 2006 and 59.9% (40.1%) and 72.9% (27.1%) in 2011. Clearly, climate variation was the main reason for the variation in seasonal runoff. Furthermore, even in the 156 m and 175 m impoundments, climate variation was the dominant factor.
Magnetic resonance imaging of brain cell water
Authors: Watanabe Takashi , Wang Xiaoqing , Tan Zhengguo , Frahm Jens
Published: March 2019

In the central nervous system of vertebrates, cell bodies of neurons are often assembled as nuclei or cellular layers that play specific roles as functional units. The purpose of this work was to selectively highlight such cell assemblies by magnetic resonance imaging using signals from water protons that are associated with intracellular paramagnetic ions, while saturating lipid-associated water protons as well as extracellular free water protons. Given the significant correlation between image signal intensity and water proton density, the high signal intensities observed for such cell assemblies must be attributed to their abundant paramagnetic-ion-associated water protons. In the hippocampal formation, the technique visualized cell assemblies that were so far not depicted in human in vivo. In the brainstem, the technique delineated noradrenergic neuron groups such as the locus coeruleus in human and mice in vivo. Their reduced magnetization-transfer ratios together with their prolonged relaxation times compared to other gray matter indicate that the source of their high signal intensity is not the presence of T1-shortening molecules, e.g., neuromelanin, but their high water content. Given the general absence of neuromelanin in noradrenergic neurons of rodents, their high signal intensity in mice in vivo further supports this view.
Kisspeptin/kisspeptin receptor system in pseudopregnant rabbit corpora lutea: presence and function
Authors: Maranesi Margherita , Petrucci Linda , Leonardi Leonardo , Bufalari Antonello , Parillo Francesco , Boiti Cristiano , Zerani Massimo
Published: March 2019

Kisspeptin (KiSS) and its related receptors (KiSS1R) have a critical role in the reproduction of mammals. The KiSS/KiSS1R system is expressed in numerous reproductive organs including the ovary. Here, we studied the expression of the KiSS/KiSS1R system and its functional role in rabbit corpora lutea (CL) at days 4 (early-), 9 (mid-), and 13 (late-stage) of pseudopregnancy. In vitro progesterone, prostaglandin (PG) F2α (PGF2α) and E2 (PGE2) productions and prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 1 (PTGS1) and 2 (PTGS2) activities were evaluated. Immune reactivity (IR) for KiSS and KiSS1R were detected in luteal cells at nuclear and cytoplasmic level at all luteal stage for KiSS and only at early- and mid-stage for KiSS1R; IR decreased from early- to later stages of pseudopregnancy. The KiSS-10 augmented progesterone and PGE2 and diminished PGF2α secretions by early- and mid-CL; KiSS-10 reduced PTGS2 activity at early- and mid-stages, but did not affect PTGS1 at any luteal stages. The antagonist KiSS-234 counteracted all KiSS-10 effects. This study shows that the KiSS/KiSS1R system is expressed in CL of pseudopregnant rabbits and exerts a luteotropic action by down-regulating PTGS2, which decreases PGF2α and increases PGE2 and progesterone.
Diversity and Disparity of Therocephalia: Macroevolutionary Patterns through Two Mass Extinctions
Authors: Grunert Henrik Richard , Brocklehurst Neil , Fröbisch Jörg
Published: March 2019

Mass extinctions have the potential to substantially alter the evolutionary trends in a clade. If new regions of ecospace are made available, the clade may radiate. If, on the other hand, the clade passes through an evolutionary “bottleneck” by substantially reducing its species richness, then subsequent radiations may be restricted in the disparity they attain. Here we compare the patterns of diversity and disparity in the Therocephalia, a diverse lineage of amniotes that survived two mass extinction events. We use time calibrated phylogeny and discrete character data to assess macroevolutionary patterns. The two are coupled through the early history of therocephalians, including a radiation following the late Guadalupian extinction. Diversity becomes decoupled from disparity across the end-Permian mass extinction. The number of species decreases throughout the Early Triassic and never recovers. However, while disparity briefly decreases across the extinction boundary, it recovers and remains high until the Middle Triassic.
Identifying progressive CKD from healthy population using Bayesian network and artificial intelligence: A worksite-based cohort study
Authors: Kanda Eiichiro , Kanno Yoshihiko , Katsukawa Fuminori
Published: March 2019

Identifying progressive early chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients at a health checkup is a good opportunity to improve their prognosis. However, it is difficult to identify them using common health tests. This worksite-based cohort study for 7 years in Japan (n = 7465) was conducted to evaluate the progression of CKD. The outcome was aggravation of the KDIGO prognostic category of CKD 7 years later. The subjects were male, 59.1%; age, 50.1 ± 6.3 years; and eGFR, 79 ± 14.4 mL/min/1.73 m2. The number of subjects showing CKD progression started to increase from 3 years later. Vector analysis showed that CKD stage G1 A1 was more progressive than CKD stage G2 A1. Bayesian networks showed that the time-series changes in the prognostic category of CKD were related to the outcome. Support vector machines including time-series data of the prognostic category of CKD from 3 years later detected the high possibility of the outcome not only in subjects at very high risks but also in those at low risks at baseline. In conclusion, after the evaluation of kidney function at a health checkup, it is necessary to follow up not only patients at high risks but also patients at low risks at baseline for 3 years and longer.
Tasselseed5 overexpresses a wound-inducible enzyme, ZmCYP94B1, that affects jasmonate catabolism, sex determination, and plant architecture in maize
Authors: Lunde China , Kimberlin Athen , Leiboff Samuel , Koo Abraham J. , Hake Sarah
Published: March 2019

Maize is monecious, with separate male and female inflorescences. Maize flowers are initially bisexual but achieve separate sexual identities through organ arrest. Loss-of-function mutants in the jasmonic acid (JA) pathway have only female flowers due to failure to abort silks in the tassel. Tasselseed5 (Ts5) shares this phenotype but is dominant. Positional cloning and transcriptomics of tassels identified an ectopically expressed gene in the CYP94B subfamily, Ts5 (ZmCYP94B1). CYP94B enzymes are wound inducible and inactivate bioactive jasmonoyl-L-isoleucine (JA-Ile). Consistent with this result, tassels and wounded leaves of Ts5 mutants displayed lower JA and JA-lle precursors and higher 12OH-JA-lle product than the wild type. Furthermore, many wounding and jasmonate pathway genes were differentially expressed in Ts5 tassels. We propose that the Ts5 phenotype results from the interruption of JA signaling during sexual differentiation via the upregulation of ZmCYP94B1 and that its proper expression maintains maize monoecy.
Pentacoordinated and hexacoordinated compounds
Authors: Pajkert Romana , Röschenthaler Gerd-Volker
Published: March 2019

In the past year a lot more emphasis has been placed on the synthesis, characterization and application of pentacoordinated compounds. Among them, chloro-σ5-oxaphosphoranes, spirophosphoranes as well as tri- and dihydroboron phosphoranes were for the first time described. Other aspects have involved the reactivity of H-spirophosphorane toward selected transition metal chlorides and experimental and theoretical investigations on some chiral spirophosphoranes. Furthermore, the coordination tendencies of phosphorus to form hypervalent states have been studied in the nucleophilic substitutions on chiral phosphorus atom as well as in the synthesis of some dioxaphosphepines and upon hydrolysis of phosphoric diesters catalyzed by guanidine units. In turn, the field of the chemistry of hexacoordinated compounds has been targeted on the synthesis and application of ruffled phosphorus meso-corolles as well as novel Bronsted acid possessing TRISPHAT anion.
Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP)-modified and bioactive protein-loaded core–shell nanofibers for bone tissue engineering applications
Authors: Wang Mian , Zhou Yangfang , Shi Di , Chang Run , Zhang Junyan , Keidar Michael , Webster Thomas J.
Published: March 2019

Coaxial electrospinning is a novel technique for producing core–shell nanofibers that provide a robust structure and deliver hydrophilic bioactive agents.
Distinct green electroluminescence from lead-free CsCuBr2 halide micro-crosses
Authors: Li Tao , Mo Xiaoming , Peng Chengyu , Lu Qiuchun , Qi Chengjun , Tao Xiaoma , Ouyang Yifang , Zhou Yulu
Published: March 2019

Novel, stable, and lead-free CsCuBr2 halides were synthesized and utilized as efficient light emitters.
Thermodynamics and kinetics of an oxygen adatom on pristine and functionalized graphene: insight gained into their anticorrosion properties
Authors: Li Qiang , Zheng Shaoxian , Pu Jibin , Sun Junhui , Huang Liang-Feng , Wang Liping , Xue Qunji
Published: March 2019

The thermodynamic and kinetic stabilities of an O adatom on graphene are critical factors for the formation of oxide defects in graphene, which leads to the breakdown of a graphene protective coating.
Removal of 3-chloro-4(dichloromethyl)-2(5H)-furanone (MX) precursors during drinking water biofiltration
Authors: Mian Noreen , Andrews Robert C. , Andrews Susan A.
Published: March 2019

MX precursor removal was compared at pilot-scale in continuously and cyclically operated biofilters with empty bed contact times (EBCTs) of 15 and 30 minutes.
Future opportunities for bio-based adhesives – advantages beyond renewability
Authors: Heinrich Lydia Alexandra
Published: March 2019

A review pointing out and exemplifiying the advantages bio-based adhesives can bring compared to petroleum-based adhesives beyond their renewability.
High-throughput single-particle detections using a dual-height-channel-integrated pore
Authors: Tonomura Wataru , Tsutsui Makusu , Arima Akihide , Yokota Kazumichi , Taniguchi Masateru , Washio Takashi , Kawai Tomoji
Published: March 2019

We report a proof-of-principle demonstration of particle concentration to achieve high-throughput resistive pulse detections of bacteria using a microfluidic-channel-integrated micropore.
Oriented attachment growth of monocrystalline cuprous oxide nanowires in pure water
Authors: Meng Jun , Hou Chengyi , Wang Hongzhi , Chi Qijin , Gao Yi , Zhu Beien
Published: March 2019

Monocrystalline Cu2O nanowires are synthesized through oriented attachment growth in pure water at controlled temperatures.
Carboxyl functionalized carbon incorporation of stacked ultrathin NiO nanosheets: topological construction and superior lithium storage
Authors: Zhang Jiaxu , Luo Wen , Xiong Tengfei , Yu Ruohan , Wu Peijie , Zhu Jiexin , Dai Yuhang , Mai Liqiang
Published: March 2019

Two-dimensional (2D) nanostructure engineering and surface modification with functional groups are of great importance to anode materials for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.
Rapid synthesis of gold nanoparticles with carbon monoxide in a microfluidic segmented flow system
Authors: Huang He , du Toit Hendrik , Ben-Jaber Sultan , Wu Gaowei , Panariello Luca , Thanh Nguyen Thi Kim , Parkin Ivan P. , Gavriilidis Asterios
Published: March 2019

A microfluidic reactor offers a controllable and convenient platform for fast synthesis of gold nanoparticles with carbon monoxide.
Ultra-facile aqueous synthesis of nanoporous zeolitic imidazolate framework membranes for hydrogen purification and olefin/paraffin separation
Authors: Jiang Xu , Li Songwei , Bai Yongping , Shao Lu
Published: March 2019

An ultra-facile one-step method is discovered to synthesize defect-free ZIF-8 molecular sieve membranes in aqueous solution at room temperature for exceptional gas separation.
Ni- and/or Mn-based layered transition metal oxides as cathode materials for sodium ion batteries: status, challenges and countermeasures
Authors: Wang Shenghan , Sun Chenglin , Wang Ning , Zhang Qichun
Published: March 2019

Sodium ion batteries (SIBs) have been attracting great interest as alternatives for grid and mobile energy storage applications in the modern world due to the sufficient natural abundance and low cost of sodium resources.
Precise delivery of a multifunctional nanosystem for MRI-guided cancer therapy and monitoring of tumor response by functional diffusion-weighted MRI
Authors: Xiao Zeyu , Chan Leung , Zhang Dong , Huang Cuiqing , Mei Chaoming , Gao Peng , Huang Yanyu , Liang Jianye , He Lizhen , Shi Changzheng , Chen Tianfeng , Luo Liangping
Published: March 2019

Herein we synthesize a cRGD peptide-conjugated PLGA nanosystem which is a high-efficiency drug-delivery platform for MR imaging-guided cancer theranostics.
Lateral flow assay ruler for quantitative and rapid point-of-care testing
Authors: Li Zhao , Chen Hui , Wang Ping
Published: March 2019

A microfluidic chip for quantitative and rapid readout of LFA results.
Amplified photoelectrochemical DNA biosensor based on a CdS quantum dot/WS2 nanosheet heterojunction and hybridization chain reaction-mediated enzymatic hydrolysis
Authors: Ju Yun , Hu Xin , Zang Yang , Cao Rong , Xue Huaiguo
Published: March 2019

An amplified photoelectrochemical biosensor was designed for the ultrasensitive monitoring of DNA by coupling a CdS quantum dot (QD)/WS2 nanosheet heterostructure with hybridization chain reaction (HCR)-programmed enzymatic hydrolysis.
Air-plasma treatment promotes bone-like nano-hydroxylapatite formation on protein films for enhanced in vivo osteogenesis
Authors: Zhang Qing , Ma Lu , Zheng Shengnan , Wang Yaru , Feng Meilin , Shuai Yajun , Duan Bo , Fan Xin , Yang Mingying , Mao Chuanbin
Published: March 2019

Introducing hydroxylapatite (HAp) into biomolecular materials is a promising approach to improve their bone regenerative capability.
Bi-continuous emulsion using Janus particles
Authors: Sun Dayin , Si Yan , Song Xi-Ming , Liang Fuxin , Yang Zhenzhong
Published: March 2019

Bi-continuous emulsion stabilized with amphiphilic Janus particles was achieved.
Drastic lattice softening in mixed triazole ligand iron(ii) spin crossover nanoparticles
Authors: Piedrahita-Bello Mario , Ridier Karl , Mikolasek Mirko , Molnár Gábor , Nicolazzi William , Salmon Lionel , Bousseksou Azzedine
Published: March 2019

A Mössbauer study reveals the softening of the crystalline network in a series of mixed triazole ligand iron(ii) spin crossover nanoparticles.
Towards capturing cellular complexity: combining encapsulation and macromolecular crowding in a reverse micelle
Authors: Honegger Philipp , Steinhauser Othmar
Published: March 2019

This paper studies the orientational structure and dynamics of multi-protein systems under confinement and discusses the implications on biological cells.
First-principles calculations of iodine-related point defects in CsPbI3
Authors: Evarestov Robert A. , Senocrate Alessandro , Kotomin Eugene A. , Maier Joachim
Published: March 2019

We present here first principles hybrid functional calculations of the atomic and electronic structure of several iodine-related point defects in CsPbI3, a material relevant for photovoltaic applications.
On the formation of phosphorous polycyclic aromatics hydrocarbons (PAPHs) in astrophysical environments
Authors: Fioroni Marco , Savage Robert E. , DeYonker Nathan J.
Published: March 2019

CP radical astrochemistry. An important molecule in the synthesis of phosphorous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAPH).