bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Osteogenic activity and antibacterial effect of porous titanium modified with metal‐organic framework films
Authors: Chen Junyu , Zhang Xin , Huang Chao , Cai He , Hu Shanshan , Wan Qianbing , Pei Xibo , Wang Jian
Published: November 2016

As a new class of crystalline nanoporous materials, metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) have recently been used for biomedical applications due to their large surface area, high porosity, and theoretically infinite structures. To improve the biological performance of titanium, MOF films were applied to surface modification of titanium. Zn‐based MOF films composed of zeolitic imidazolate framework‐8 (ZIF‐8) crystals with nanoscale and microscale sizes (nanoZIF‐8 and microZIF‐8) were prepared on porous titanium surfaces by hydrothermal and solvothermal methods, respectively. The ZIF‐8 films were characterized by powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The nanoZIF‐8 film exhibited good biocompatibility, whereas the microZIF‐8 film showed obvious cytotoxicity to MG63 cells. Compared to pure titanium and alkali‐ and heat‐treated porous titanium, the nanoZIF‐8 film not only enhanced alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, extracellular matrix mineralization, and expression of osteogenic genes (ALP, Runx2) in MG63 cells but also inhibited the growth of Streptococcus mutans. These results indicate that MOF films or coatings may be promising candidates for bone tissue engineering. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 834–846, 2017.
Novel functionalization strategies of polymeric nanoparticles as carriers for brain medications
Authors: Portioli Corinne , Bovi Michele , Benati Donatella , Donini Marta , Perduca Massimiliano , Romeo Alessandro , Dusi Stefano , Monaco Hugo L. , Bentivoglio Marina
Published: November 2016

For targeted brain delivery, nanoparticles (NPs) should bypass the blood‐brain barrier (BBB). Novel functionalization strategies, based on low‐density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) binding domain, have been here tested to increase the brain targeting efficacy of polyd,l‐lactic‐co‐glycolic acid (PLGA) NPs, biodegradable and suited for biomedical applications. Custom‐made PLGA NPs were functionalized with an apolipoprotein E modified peptide (pep‐apoE) responsible for LDLR binding, or with lipocalin‐type prostaglandin‐d‐synthase (L‐PGDS), highly expressed in the brain. At the comparison of pep‐apoE and L‐PGDS sequences, a highly homologs region was here identified, indicating that also L‐PGDS could bind LDLR. Non‐functionalized and functionalized NPs did not affect the viability of cultured human dendritic cells, protagonists of the immune response, and did not activate them to a proinflammatory profile. At 2 h after intravenous injection in mice, functionalized, but not the non‐functionalized ones, fluorescent‐tagged NPs were observed in the cerebral cortex parenchyma. The NPs were mostly internalized by neurons and microglia; glial cells showed a weak activation. The findings indicate that the tested functionalization strategies do not elicit adverse immune responses and that the peptidic moieties enable BBB traversal of the NPs, thus providing potential brain drug carriers. These could be especially effective for brain diseases in which LDLR is involved. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 847–858, 2017.
Free Fatty Acids Induce Autophagy and LOX‐1 Upregulation in Cultured Aortic Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells
Authors: Cheng Cheng‐I , Lee Yueh‐Hong , Chen Po‐Han , Lin Yu‐Chun , Chou Ming‐Huei , Kao Ying‐Hsien
Published: November 2016

Elevation of free fatty acids (FFAs) is known to affect microvascular function and contribute to obesity‐associated insulin resistance, hypertension, and microangiopathy. Proliferative and synthetic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) increase intimal thickness and destabilize atheromatous plaques. This study aimed to investigate whether saturated palmitic acid (PA) and monounsaturated oleic acid (OA) modulate autophagy activity, cell proliferation, and vascular tissue remodeling in an aortic VSMC cell line. Exposure to PA and OA suppressed growth of VSMCs without apoptotic induction, but enhanced autophagy flux with elevation of Beclin‐1, Atg5, and LC3I/II. Cotreatment with autophagy inhibitors potentiated the FFA‐suppressed VSMC growth and showed differential actions of PA and OA in autophagy flux retardation. Both FFAs upregulated lectin‐like oxidized low‐density lipoprotein receptor 1 (LOX‐1) but only OA increased LDL uptake by VSMCs. Mechanistically, FFAs induced hyperphosphorylation of Akt, ERK1/2, JNK1/2, and p38 MAPK. All pathways, except OA‐activated PI3K/Akt cascade, were involved in the LOX‐1 upregulation, whereas blockade of PI3K/Akt and MEK/ERK cascades ameliorated the FFA‐induced growth suppression on VSMCs. Moreover, both FFAs exhibited tissue remodeling effect through increasing MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 expression and their gelatinolytic activities, whereas high‐dose OA significantly suppressed collagen type I expression. Conversely, siRNA‐mediated LOX‐1 knockdown significantly attenuated the OA‐induced tissue remodeling effects in VSMCs. In conclusion, OA and PA enhance autophagy flux, suppress aortic VSMC proliferation, and exhibit vascular remodeling effect, thereby leading to the loss of VSMCs and interstitial ECM in vascular walls and eventually the instability of atheromatous plaques. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 1249–1261, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Response of long‐term water availability to more extreme climate in the Pearl River Basin, China
Authors: Li Jianfeng , Zhang Lu , Shi Xiaogang , Chen Yongqin David
Published: November 2016

Under global warming, increasing temporal variability of climatic factors at various timescales (e.g. from inter‐daily to inter‐annual) has been reported in many places of the world over the past decades. The changes of temporal variability can be characterized by more extreme climate, such as more frequent and intensive heavy precipitation, less light rain days, and longer dry spells. These changes can subsequently bring about more frequent and intensive hydrologic extremes, including floods and droughts. This study shows that increase in inter‐daily variability of precipitation and temperature not only triggers more intensive hydrologic extremes, but also causes considerable impacts on long‐term water availability. Sixteen climate scenarios are designed to separate overall changes of precipitation and temperature into two aspects: (1) change in monthly mean and (2) change in inter‐daily variability. Runoff of the Pearl River Basin (PRB) is simulated by the variable infiltration capacity (VIC) model under these scenarios. The results indicate that increase in inter‐daily variability of the climate alone can lead to considerable increase in long‐term water availability with reduced actual evapotranspiration (AET). The simulations also show that the inter‐daily interaction between precipitation and temperature (i.e. lower temperature on a rain day) is important for long‐term hydrologic simulations. The changing directions of simulated AET under scenarios with this interaction are opposite to those under scenarios without the interaction.
Lyapunov type inequalities for a fractional two‐point boundary value problem
Authors: Cabrera I. , Lopez Belen , Sadarangani Kishin
Published: November 2016

In this paper, new Lyapunov‐type inequalities are obtained for the case when one is dealing with a class of fractional two‐point boundary value problems. As an application of this result, we obtain a lower bound for the eigenvalues of corresponding equations. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Aligning the planets: The role of nurses in the care of patients with non‐ST elevation myocardial infarction
Authors: Deaton Christi , Johnson Rachel , Evans Maggie , Timmis Adam , Zaman Justin , Hemingway Harry , Hughes Jacqueline , Feder Gene , Cramer Helen
Published: November 2016

Background

Studies have shown variation in care for patients with non‐ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), including in the roles of specialist and advanced practice nurses in diagnosis, treatment and coordination of care.

Aim

The aim of this study was to describe the roles and responsibilities of specialist and advanced practice nurses in providing care for patients with NSTEMI.

Methods

Secondary analysis of observational field notes and interviews from an ethnographic study of variation in care for NSTEMI patients in 10 UK hospitals conducted 2011–2012. Data were thematically analysed to identify key concepts and themes related to the roles of specialist nurses.

Results

Seven of 10 hospitals had roles for specialist nurses in NSTEMI care. The major theme related to high demand and the complexity of patients and organizations (‘Aligning the planets’). In this theme, nurses contributed to improving services or compensating for deficiencies (‘Making the system work versus making up for the system’). Data collection for audit could take precedence over time with patients (‘Paying worship to the paper’). Nurses expressed a sense of ownership of cardiovascular patients that drove their desire to provide quality of care (‘They are our patients’).
Medication prior authorization in pediatric hematology and oncology
Authors: Dickens David S. , Pollock Brad H.
Published: November 2016

Background

Medication prior authorization (PA) is a commonly occurring requirement, particularly for medications used for rare conditions. Based on standard definitions, cancer and many blood disorders affecting children are rare. The study aims were to describe the relative frequency of PA requests and their association with payers and medications in order to identify opportunities to improve system efficiency.

Procedure

Requests for medication PA were logged prospectively for patients seen at a single institution over a 7‐month period. Period prevalence was used to estimate the relative frequency of PA requests. Descriptive statistics summarized the relationship among payers, medications, and approvals relative to the frequency of PA requests.

Results

For the study duration of 150 clinic days, there were 5,583 patient visits. A total of 142 medication PA requests were received resulting in a period prevalence rate of 2.5% patient visits. Of the 137 medication PA requests with available outcome data, 135 (98.5%) were ultimately approved with additional provider efforts. The median clinic staff time spent per request was 46 min with an interquartile range of 25–80 min. There was striking process heterogeneity among different payers.

Conclusion

Virtually no medication PA request in pediatric hematology and oncology (PHO) leads to alterations in care. Medication utilization management strategies in PHO fail to provide benefits reported in other areas of medicine and have unmeasured negative effects on timeliness of care and parenteral psychological/emotional health. There is opportunity for increasing efficiency through payer and provider collaboration on the creation of prescribing standards for PHO patients.
Hypofractionated re‐irradiation to the brainstem in children with recurrent brain tumors
Authors: Waxweiler Timothy V. , Amini Arya , Vinogradskiy Yevgeniy , Yeh Norman , Foreman Nicholas K. , Hankinson Todd C. , Liu Arthur K.
Published: November 2016

To characterize radiation necrosis following hypofractionated brainstem re‐irradiation in pediatric patients, we reviewed 23 cases with 28 tumors invading or abutting brainstem and treated with hypofractionated re‐irradiation from 2004 to 2014. Re‐irradiation delivered total doses of 16–30 Gy in two to five fractions. The most commons regimens used were 24 Gy in three fractions and 25 Gy in five fractions. At median follow‐up of 12.8 months, median overall survival was 14.7 months and eight in‐field recurrences were detected (median time 10.5 months). Five patients experienced symptomatic brainstem necrosis, and all having received 24 Gy in three fractions. Hypofractionated brainstem re‐irradiation may be safer in five fractions.
Comparative analysis of the cost and effectiveness of generic and brand‐name antibiotics: the case of uncomplicated urinary tract infection
Authors: Lin Yu‐Shiuan , Jan I‐Shiow , Cheng Shou‐Hsia
Published: November 2016

Purpose

Generic medications used for chronic diseases are beneficial in containing healthcare costs and improving drug accessibility. However, the effects of generic drugs in acute and severe illness remain controversial. This study aims to investigate treatment costs and outcomes of generic antibiotics prescribed for adults with a urinary tract infection in outpatient settings.

Methods

The data source was the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database of Taiwan. We included outpatients aged 20 years and above with a urinary tract infection who required one oral antibiotic for which brand‐name and generic products were simultaneously available. Drug cost and overall healthcare expense of the index consultation, healthcare cost during a 42‐day follow‐up period, and treatment failure rates were the main dependent variables. Data were compared between brand‐name and generic users from the entire cohort and a propensity score‐matched samples.

Results

Results from the entire cohort and propensity score‐matched samples were similar. Daily antibiotic cost was significantly lower among generic users than brand‐name users. Significant lower total drug claims of the index consultation only existed in patients receiving the investigated antibiotics, while the drug price between brand‐name and generic versions were relatively large (e.g., >50%). The overall healthcare cost of the index consultation, healthcare expenditure during a 42‐day follow‐up period, and treatment failure rates were similar between the two groups.

Conclusions

Compared with those treated with brand‐name antibiotics, outpatients who received generic antibiotics had equivalent treatment outcomes with lower drug costs. Generic antibiotics are effective and worthy of adoption among outpatients with simple infections indicating oral antibiotic treatment. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
People Living With HIV: Implications for Rehabilitation Nurses
Authors: Perazzo Joseph D. , Webel Allison R. , McGough Ellen , Voss Joachim
Published: November 2016

Purpose:

The aim of this study was to present a brief overview of challenges faced by people living with HIV (PLHIV) as they age, to discuss the relevance of HIV to rehabilitation nurses, and to provide evidence-based recommendations for rehabilitation professionals working with PLHIV.

Design:

Current issues article.

Methods:

Literature review related to age-related comorbidities in PLHIV with implications for rehabilitation nurses.

Findings:

Rehabilitation nurses must be prepared to address issues specific to people living with HIV including sensitivity and privacy regarding HIV status and increased risk of delayed or complicated healing. Rehabilitation nurses should also promote self-management behavior to optimize health in people living with HIV.

Conclusions:

Understanding unique characteristics of PLHIV as well as applying focused assessment and tailored interventions in PLHIV will give rehabilitation nurses the tools to successfully guide PLHIV through the rehabilitation process and optimize clinical outcomes.

Clinical Relevance:

As people with HIV age and experience acute and chronic comorbidities, they will require the clinical expertise of rehabilitation nurses in the process to successfully transition through acute and subacute health care and regain function.
Language Games
Authors: Asher Nicholas , Paul Soumya
Published: November 2016

In this paper we summarize concepts from earlier work and demonstrate how infinite sequential games can be used to model strategic conversations. Such a model allows one to reason about the structure and complexity of various kinds of winning goals that conversationalists might have. We show how to use tools from topology, set-theory and logic to express such goals. Our contribution in this paper is to offer a detailed examination of an example in which a player ‘defeats himself’ by going inconsistent, and to introduce a simple yet revealing way of talking about unawareness. We then demonstrate how we can use ideas from epistemic game theory to define various solution concepts and justify rationality assumptions underlying a conversation.
A Compositional Distributional Inclusion Hypothesis
Authors: Kartsaklis Dimitri , Sadrzadeh Mehrnoosh
Published: November 2016

The distributional inclusion hypothesis provides a pragmatic way of evaluating entailment between word vectors as represented in a distributional model of meaning. In this paper, we extend this hypothesis to the realm of compositional distributional semantics, where meanings of phrases and sentences are computed by composing their word vectors. We present a theoretical analysis for how feature inclusion is interpreted under each composition operator, and propose a measure for evaluating entailment at the phrase/sentence level. We perform experiments on four entailment datasets, showing that intersective composition in conjunction with our proposed measure achieves the highest performance.
Factorization and resummation for jet processes
Authors: Becher Thomas , Neubert Matthias , Rothen Lorena , Shao Ding Yu
Published: November 2016

Abstract

From a detailed analysis of cone-jet cross sections in effective field theory, we obtain novel factorization theorems which separate the physics associated with different energy scales present in such processes. The relevant low-energy physics is encoded in Wilson lines along the directions of the energetic particles inside the jets. This multi-Wilson-line structure is present even for narrow-cone jets due to the relevance of small-angle soft radiation. We discuss the renormalization-group equations satisfied by these operators. Their solution resums all logarithmically enhanced contributions to such processes, including non-global logarithms. Such logarithms arise in many observables, in particular whenever hard phase-space constraints are imposed, and are not captured with standard resummation techniques. Our formalism provides the basis for higher-order logarithmic resummations of jet and other non-global observables. As a nontrivial consistency check, we use it to obtain explicit two-loop results for all logarithmically enhanced terms in cone-jet cross sections and verify those against numerical fixed-order computations.
The Enzymatic Synthesis and Characterization of Disolketal Iminodiacetic Acid (DSIDA)
Authors: Wyatt Victor T. , Strahan Gary D. , Jones Kerby
Published: November 2016

Disolketal iminodiacetic acid (DSIDA) has been synthesized from the enzyme‐catalyzed condensation reaction between derivatives of iminodiacetic acid (IDA) and glycerol. According to all available literature, DSIDA is a novel diester that has never been synthesized. It is a precursor to water‐soluble polyhydric alcohols and helps to address the global need of the biodiesel industry to find new uses for glycerol. Reacting diMe‐IDA with solketal, a protected glycerol, produced DSIDA in yields as high as 96.4% under optimal reaction conditions of 70 °C and 200 Torr for 24 h. The reaction was monitored using ATR‐IR and a validated GC method. ATR‐IR monitored the disappearance of the primary solketal alcohol and the appearance of cyclic solketal ether bonds in the molecular backbone of the intermediates and product. Structural analysis of the intermediates and products was performed using two‐dimensional NMR, GC, GC–MS and elemental analysis. All spectral data was in agreement with the proposed structures for the chemical reaction. Thermal profiles were determined by TGA to be single‐stage decompositions above 160 °C.
A comparison of theoretical and statistically derived indices for predicting cognitive decline
Authors: Wilhalme Holly , Goukasian Naira , De Leon Fransia , He Angie , Hwang Kristy S. , Woo Ellen , Elashoff David , Zhou Yan , Ringman John M. , Apostolova Liana G.
Published: November 2016

Introduction

Both theoretical and statistically derived approaches have been used in research settings for predicting cognitive decline.

Methods

Fifty‐eight cognitively normal (NC) and 71 mild cognitive impairment (MCI) subjects completed a comprehensive cognitive battery for up to 5 years of follow‐up. Composite indices of cognitive function were derived using a classic theoretical approach and exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Cognitive variables comprising each factor were averaged to form the EFA composite indices. Logistic regression was used to investigate whether these cognitive composites can reliably predict cognitive outcomes.

Results

Neither method predicted decline in NC. The theoretical memory, executive, attention, and language composites and the EFA‐derived “attention/executive” and “verbal memory” composites were significant predictors of decline in MCI. The best models achieved an area under the curve of 0.94 in MCI.

Conclusions

The theoretical and the statistically derived cognitive composite approaches are useful in predicting decline in MCI but not in NC.
Fatty acid composition of the postmortem corpus callosum of patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depressive disorder
Authors: Hamazaki K. , Maekawa M. , Toyota T. , Dean B. , Hamazaki T. , Yoshikawa T.
Published: November 2016

Background

Studies investigating the relationship between n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels and psychiatric disorders have thus far focused mainly on analyzing gray matter, rather than white matter, in the postmortem brain. In this study, we investigated whether PUFA levels showed abnormalities in the corpus callosum, the largest area of white matter, in the postmortem brain tissue of patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depressive disorder.

Methods

Fatty acids in the phospholipids of the postmortem corpus callosum were evaluated by thin-layer chromatography and gas chromatography. Specimens were evaluated for patients with schizophrenia (n = 15), bipolar disorder (n = 15), or major depressive disorder (n = 15) and compared with unaffected controls (n = 15).

Results

In contrast to some previous studies, no significant differences were found in the levels of PUFAs or other fatty acids in the corpus callosum between patients and controls. A subanalysis by sex gave the same results. No significant differences were found in any PUFAs between suicide completers and non-suicide cases regardless of psychiatric disorder diagnosis.

Conclusions

Patients with psychiatric disorders did not exhibit n-3 PUFAs deficits in the postmortem corpus callosum relative to the unaffected controls, and the corpus callosum might not be involved in abnormalities of PUFA metabolism. This area of research is still at an early stage and requires further investigation.
Rethinking Catalogue and Online B2B Buyer Channel Preferences in the Education Supplies Market
Authors: Richard James E. , Purnell Fruen
Published: November 2016

The purpose of this study is to better understand B2B paper-based catalogue and online buying channel determinants in the education supplies sector by identifying factors that are critical in determining buyer channel preferences. A conceptual model was developed and empirically tested using self-report survey data from 316 B2B New Zealand educational institutions and analyzed with Hayes PROCESS macro (SPSS). The findings indicate that catalogue is the preferred channel for B2B educational buyers. The most important determinant of channel preference is channel experience. The catalogue and online channels appear to be less substitutable in B2B markets then proposed by B2C market studies. Structural assurance (trust, security, safeguards, and robustness) is a significant predictor of general channel satisfaction, and online channel preference, but not catalogue channel preference. The study results benefit practitioners in the development and implementation of channel strategies by providing a better understanding of the factors that determine online and catalogue channel preference in B2B markets. This study is the first to empirically demonstrate the influence and importance of structural assurance in catalogue channels, while channel experience supported by structural assurance significantly influences online channel choice. These findings indicate that determinants of channel preference found in B2C studies cannot be uncritically transferred to the B2B domain. The research also suggests that existing B2B channel adoption and preference drivers are different from B2C, and B2C research is not necessarily applicable in the B2B context.
Implementation of subjective cognitive decline criteria in research studies
Authors: Molinuevo José L. , Rabin Laura A. , Amariglio Rebecca , Buckley Rachel , Dubois Bruno , Ellis Kathryn A. , Ewers Michael , Hampel Harald , Klöppel Stefan , Rami Lorena , Reisberg Barry , Saykin Andrew J. , Sikkes Sietske , Smart Colette M. , Snitz Beth E. , Sperling Reisa , van der Flier Wiesje M. , Wagner Michael , Jessen Frank ,   Subjective Cognitive Decline Initiative (SCD-I) Working Group
Published: November 2016

Introduction

Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) manifesting before clinical impairment could serve as a target population for early intervention trials in Alzheimer's disease (AD). A working group, the Subjective Cognitive Decline Initiative (SCD‐I), published SCD research criteria in the context of preclinical AD. To successfully apply them, a number of issues regarding assessment and implementation of SCD needed to be addressed.

Methods

Members of the SCD‐I met to identify and agree on topics relevant to SCD criteria operationalization in research settings. Initial ideas and recommendations were discussed with other SCD‐I working group members and modified accordingly.

Results

Topics included SCD inclusion and exclusion criteria, together with the informant's role in defining SCD presence and the impact of demographic factors.

Discussion

Recommendations for the operationalization of SCD in differing research settings, with the aim of harmonization of SCD measurement across studies are proposed, to enhance comparability and generalizability across studies.
Proteomic analysis and translational perspective of hepatocellular carcinoma: Identification of diagnostic protein biomarkers by an onco‐proteogenomics approach
Authors: Chiou Shyh‐Horng , Lee King‐Teh
Published: November 2016

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been ranked as the third leading cause of cancer‐related mortality worldwide. Typically, patients are already in advanced stages of liver cirrhosis at the time of HCC diagnosis. Because HCC is often detected at a late stage and is highly aggressive, noninvasive biomarkers are urgently needed for early diagnosis. Recent advances in gene‐expression profiling technologies have enabled molecular classification of HCC into defined subclasses that provide a firm basis for further study of potential mechanisms and biomarkers underlying the development of HCC. This study applied an integrated onco‐proteogenomics approach to identify and characterize HCC biomarkers. Specifically, this study integrated proteomic, genomic, and transcriptomic methods to obtain protein expression profiles of urine and tissue samples from HCC patients and from normal controls. Two mediators of inflammation were positively identified: S100A9 and granulin protein markers, which belong to the cytoplasmic alarmin family of the host innate immune system. These HCC‐associated cancer‐specific biomarkers may have contributing roles not only in the dysregulated processes associated with various inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, but also in tumorigenesis and cancer metastasis.
Organic geochemistry, petrology and palynofacies of Middle Devonian lacustrine flagstones in the Orcadian Basin, Scotland: depositional environment, thermal history and petroleum generation potential
Authors: GHAZWANI ASSAD , LITTKE RALF , SACHSE VICTORIA , FINK REINHARD , MAHLSTEDT NICOLAJ , HARTKOPF-FRÖDER CHRISTOPH
Published: November 2016

During Middle Devonian time a thick succession of organic-rich, mainly lacustrine flagstones developed within the Orcadian Basin. These petroleum source rocks crop out in northern Scotland. Nineteen samples were studied using organic petrology, palynology and organic geochemistry in order to characterize kerogen type, depositional environment, thermal maturity and petroleum generation potential. Corg, carbonate and sulphur content as well as hydrogen index (HI) values are quite variable (e.g. HI from 79 to 744 mg HC/g Corg). Based on biomarker data, organic material mainly originates from aquatic organic matter deposited under lacustrine conditions with oxygen-depleted, but not permanently anoxic, bottom waters. Petrography reveals small quantities of vitrinite particles, indicating minor input of terrestrial material. This is supported by biomarker data and the palynofacies, which is characterized by a high amount of oil-prone amorphous organic matter (AOM) and generally few miospores. Maturity of the succession studied in Caithness and Orkney is between immature and oil mature. One-dimensional basin modelling shows that a significant remaining hydrocarbon generation potential exists within the Middle Devonian succession. In contrast to the low hydrocarbon generation in the onshore area, offshore oil generation was significant, especially after deposition of thick Upper Jurassic – Upper Cretaceous sediments. At the end of Cretaceous time, hydrocarbon generation ceased due to uplift. The contribution to known oil fields from the Devonian flagstones is a realistic scenario, including a contribution to the Beatrice oil field in the south of the modelled area.
Spiral effect of the law: migrants’ experiences of the state law in Russia – a comparative perspective
Authors: Kubal Agnieszka
Published: November 2016

Through an ethnographic study of the immigration law system in Russia, and interviews with legal professionals and Central Asian migrants themselves, this paper asks: What are the lived experiences of the highly complex, though ambiguous immigration law regime of Russia? According to what ‘rules of the game’ does it operate? Are they specific to Russia only? This paper develops the concept of ‘the spiral effect of the law’ to capture the image of law, as formed through people's experiences of the legal system. Drawing on the comparative tool of analogy, this paper suggests that ‘the spiral effect of the law’ is perhaps not that different from the observable effects of immigration law in other major migration-receiving jurisdictions, namely the US, framed as ‘legal violence’ by Cecilia Menjívar and Leisy Abrego (2012).
Ant Populations Destabilize Under Warming
Authors: Wendel JoAnna
Published: November 2016

In forest experiments in which artificial warming mimicked future climate conditions, heat-tolerant ants thrived, leaving other populations unstable.
Structural and mechanistic insights into regulation of the retromer coat by TBC1d5
Authors: Jia Da , Zhang Jin-San , Li Fang , Wang Jing , Deng Zhihui , White Mark A. , Osborne Douglas G. , Phillips-Krawczak Christine , Gomez Timothy S. , Li Haiying , Singla Amika , Burstein Ezra , Billadeau Daniel D. , Rosen Michael K.
Published: November 2016

Retromer is a membrane coat complex that is recruited to endosomes by the small GTPase Rab7 and sorting nexin 3. The timing of this interaction and consequent endosomal dynamics are thought to be regulated by the guanine nucleotide cycle of Rab7. Here we demonstrate that TBC1d5, a GTPase-activating protein (GAP) for Rab7, is a high-affinity ligand of the retromer cargo selective complex VPS26/VPS29/VPS35. The crystal structure of the TBC1d5 GAP domain bound to VPS29 and complementary biochemical and cellular data show that a loop from TBC1d5 binds to a conserved hydrophobic pocket on VPS29 opposite the VPS29–VPS35 interface. Additional data suggest that a distinct loop of the GAP domain may contact VPS35. Loss of TBC1d5 causes defective retromer-dependent trafficking of receptors. Our findings illustrate how retromer recruits a GAP, which is likely to be involved in the timing of Rab7 inactivation leading to membrane uncoating, with important consequences for receptor trafficking.
Radiation Damage in XFEL: Case study from the oxygen-evolving complex of Photosystem II
Authors: Amin Muhamed , Badawi Ashraf , Obayya S. S.
Published: November 2016

Structural changes induced by radiation damage in X-ray crystallography hinder the ability to understand the structure/function relationship in chemical reactions. Serial femtosecond crystallography overcomes this problem by exposing the sample to very short and intense laser pulse leading to measurement before destruction. Here we use molecular modeling to map the radiation damage during the 10–50 fs to the intensity, the energy and the time duration of the laser pulse on the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) of photosystem II. In the model, the nuclei move classically in a fully quantum potential created by electron density under the effect of strong laser pulse in the Ehrenfest dynamics regime. The results show that the Mn-Mn and Mn-Ca distances are less affected by radiation damage due to the their heavy masses, while one μ-oxo bridge (O5) moves significantly. The radiation damage may induce conformational changes of the water ligands but only bond elongation for the amino acids ligands. These effects are relatively intensity independent from 1016 to 1017 W/cm2, but changes increase dramatically if the beam intensity is increased to 1018 W/cm2. In addition, the self amplified spontaneous emission (SASE) nature of the laser beam does not affect the dynamics of the ions.
Examining the themes of STD-related Internet searches to increase specificity of disease forecasting using Internet search terms
Authors: Johnson Amy K. , Mikati Tarek , Mehta Supriya D.
Published: November 2016

US surveillance of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is often delayed and incomplete which creates missed opportunities to identify and respond to trends in disease. Internet search engine data has the potential to be an efficient, economical and representative enhancement to the established surveillance system. Google Trends allows the download of de-identified search engine data, which has been used to demonstrate the positive and statistically significant association between STD-related search terms and STD rates. In this study, search engine user content was identified by surveying specific exposure groups of individuals (STD clinic patients and university students) aged 18–35. Participants were asked to list the terms they use to search for STD-related information. Google Correlate was used to validate search term content. On average STD clinic participant queries were longer compared to student queries. STD clinic participants were more likely to report using search terms that were related to symptomatology such as describing symptoms of STDs, while students were more likely to report searching for general information. These differences in search terms by subpopulation have implications for STD surveillance in populations at most risk for disease acquisition.
Synchronization and Bellerophon states in conformist and contrarian oscillators
Authors: Qiu Tian , Boccaletti Stefano , Bonamassa Ivan , Zou Yong , Zhou Jie , Liu Zonghua , Guan Shuguang
Published: November 2016

The study of synchronization in generalized Kuramoto models has witnessed an intense boost in the last decade. Several collective states were discovered, such as partially synchronized, chimera, π or traveling wave states. We here consider two populations of globally coupled conformist and contrarian oscillators (with different, randomly distributed frequencies), and explore the effects of a frequency–dependent distribution of the couplings on the collective behaviour of the system. By means of linear stability analysis and mean–field theory, a series of exact solutions is extracted describing the critical points for synchronization, as well as all the emerging stationary coherent states. In particular, a novel non-stationary state, here named as Bellerophon state, is identified which is essentially different from all other coherent states previously reported in the Literature. A robust verification of the rigorous predictions is supported by extensive numerical simulations.
Lack of diversity at innate immunity Toll-like receptor genes in the Critically Endangered White-winged Flufftail (Sarothrura ayresi)
Authors: Dalton Desire L. , Vermaak Elaine , Smit-Robinson Hanneline A. , Kotze Antoinette
Published: November 2016

The White-winged Flufftail (Sarothrura ayresi) population is listed as globally Critically Endangered. White-winged Flufftails are only known to occur, with any regularity, in the high-altitude wetlands of South Africa and Ethiopia. Threats to the species include the limited number of suitable breeding sites in Ethiopia and severe habitat degradation and loss both in Ethiopia and South Africa. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are increasingly being studied in a variety of taxa as a broader approach to determine functional genetic diversity. In this study, we confirm low genetic diversity in the innate immune regions of the White-winged Flufftail similar to that observed in other bird species that have undergone population bottlenecks. Low TLR diversity in White-winged Flufftail indicates that this species is more likely to be threatened by changes to the environment that would potentially expose the species to new diseases. Thus, conservation efforts should be directed towards maintaining pristine habitat for White-winged Flufftail in its current distribution range. To date, no studies on immunogenetic variation in White-winged Flufftail have been conducted and to our knowledge, this is the first study of TLR genetic diversity in a critically endangered species.
Selection of conformational states in surface self-assembly for a molecule with eight possible pairs of surface enantiomers
Authors: Nuermaimaiti A. , S-Falk V. , Cramer J. L. , Svane K. L. , Hammer B. , Gothelf K. V. , Linderoth T. R.
Published: November 2016

Chiral adsorption of a complex molecule with as many as eight possible pairs of surface enantiomers is investigated by STM and the selection of enantiomers is understood by statistical analysis and DFT modelling.
Fluorescent carbon nanoparticles: mimicking hydrogen peroxide properties in a chemiluminescence system
Authors: Dou Xiangnan , Zheng Yongzan , Uchiyama Katsumi , Lin Jin-Ming
Published: November 2016

Fluorescent carbon nanoparticles (FCNs), as novel luminescent reagents exhibiting hydrogen peroxide mimicking properties, can directly react with luminol, NaHCO3 and NaHSO3 in alkaline conditions to yield novel chemiluminescence.
Obviation of hydrogen fluoride in Boc chemistry solid phase peptide synthesis of peptide-αthioesters
Authors: Gates Zachary P. , Dhayalan Balamurugan , Kent Stephen B. H.
Published: November 2016

Trifluoromethanesulfonic acid performs comparably to hydrogen fluoride for the on-resin global deprotection of peptides prepared by Boc chemistry solid phase peptide synthesis.
Core expansion of bis-calix[4]arene-supported clusters
Authors: Coletta Marco , McLellan Ross , Waddington Amy , Sanz Sergio , Gagnon Kevin J. , Teat Simon J. , Brechin Euan K. , Dalgarno Scott J.
Published: November 2016

Stoichiometric control allows for remarkable expansion of the cores of two known bis-calix[4]arene-supported clusters, with concomitant changes to the magnetic properties.
Photocages for protection and controlled release of bioactive compounds
Authors: Aparici-Espert I. , Cuquerella M. C. , Paris C. , Lhiaubet-Vallet V. , Miranda M. A.
Published: November 2016

A photoactivatable ketoprofen–avobenzone dyad was designed for the protection and controlled release of phototoxic drugs.
Investigating the electronic structure of a supported metal nanoparticle: Pd in SiCN
Authors: Schmidt Tobias , Albuquerque Rodrigo Q. , Kempe Rhett , Kümmel Stephan
Published: November 2016

A supporting matrix of SiCN does not significantly change the electronic properties of catalytically active Pd nanoparticles.
Controlled production of sub-millimeter liquid core hydrogel capsules for parallelized 3D cell culture
Authors: Doméjean Hugo , de la Motte Saint Pierre Mathieu , Funfak Anette , Atrux-Tallau Nicolas , Alessandri Kevin , Nassoy Pierre , Bibette Jérôme , Bremond Nicolas
Published: November 2016

High-throughput production of monodisperse sub-millimeter liquid core capsules for the culture of cell aggregates or cell monolayers.
Tuning of synthesis conditions by thermal decomposition towards gadolinium-doped manganese carbonate nanoparticles with uniform size and high relaxivity
Authors: Wang Ting-jian , Liu Kang , Shi Xin , Ye Ling , Gu Wei , Yan Chang-xiang
Published: November 2016

A low temperature thermal decomposition method has been developed to synthesize uniform-sized Gd-doped MnCO3 nanoparticles.
Suppression of neointima formation by targeting β-catenin/TCF pathway
Authors: Williams Helen , Slater Sadie , George Sarah Jane
Published: November 2016

Coronary artery disease is treated by vein grafting and stent implantation. Late vein graft failure and restenosis of stented arteries reduce the success rates of these approaches and are caused by neointima formation. We have previously shown that Wnt proteins are up-regulated during intimal thickening, and have speculated that these lead to activation of downstream genes with β-catenin/T-cell factor (TCF)-responsive promoters. In the present study, we aimed to provide evidence that β-catenin/TCF signalling promotes neointima formation and assess whether targeting this pathway has potential for reducing neointima formation. We utilized a gene therapy approach selectively targeting cells in which the β-catenin/TCF pathway is activated by using a recombinant adenovirus Ad-TOPTK, which carries a herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) gene under the control of a β-catenin/TCF-response promoter. Cells with activated β-catenin will therefore be selectively killed. Ad-TOPTK and ganciclovir (GCV) treatment significantly suppressed the growth of the neointima in a murine model of left carotid artery ligation. In summary, we demonstrated that Wnt/β-catenin/TCF signalling promotes neointima formation, by showing that the selective death of cells with activated β-catenin suppressed neointima formation. This highlights the therapeutic potential for reducing late vein graft failure and in-stent restenosis by targeting β-catenin/TCF signalling.
Pathophysiology of exercise intolerance in breast cancer survivors with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction
Authors: Haykowsky Mark J. , Beaudry Rhys , Brothers R. Matthew , Nelson Michael D. , Sarma Satyam , La Gerche Andre
Published: November 2016

Breast cancer (BC) survival rates have improved during the past two decades and as a result older BC survivors are at increased risk of developing heart failure (HF). Although the HF phenotype common to BC survivors has received little attention, BC survivors have a number of risk factors associated with HF and preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) including older age, hypertension, obesity, metabolic syndrome and sedentary lifestyle. Moreover, not unlike HFPEF, BC survivors with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (BCPEF) have reduced exercise tolerance measured objectively as decreased peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2). This review summarizes the literature regarding the mechanisms of exercise intolerance and the role of exercise training to improve peak VO2 in BCPEF.
P
T
-symmetric couplers with competing cubic-quintic nonlinearities
Authors: Burlak Gennadiy , Garcia-Paredes Salomon , Malomed Boris A.
Published: November 2016

We introduce a one-dimensional model of the parity-time (PT)-symmetric coupler, with mutually balanced linear gain and loss acting in the two cores, and nonlinearity represented by the combination of self-focusing cubic and defocusing quintic terms in each core. The system may be realized in optical waveguides, in the spatial and temporal domains alike. Stationary solutions for PT-symmetric solitons in the systems are tantamount to their counterparts in the ordinary coupler with the cubic-quintic nonlinearity, where the spontaneous symmetry breaking of solitons is accounted for by bifurcation loops. A novel problem is stability of the PT-symmetric solitons, which is affected by the competition of the PT symmetry, linear coupling, cubic self-focusing, and quintic defocusing. As a result, the solitons become unstable against symmetry breaking with the increase of the energy (alias integral power, in terms of the spatial-domain realization), and they retrieve the stability at still larger energies. Above a certain value of the strength of the quintic self-defocusing, the PT symmetry of the solitons becomes unbreakable. In the same system, PT-antisymmetric solitons are entirely unstable. We identify basic scenarios of the evolution of unstable solitons, which may lead to generation of additional ones, while stronger instability creates expanding quasi-turbulent patterns with limited amplitudes. Collisions between stable solitons are demonstrated to be quasi-elastic.
Electrical transport properties and modelling of electrostrictive resonance phenomena in Ba2/3Sr1/3TiO3 thin films
Authors: Ghalem A. , Huitema L. , Crunteanu A. , Rammal M. , Trupina L. , Nedelcu L. , Banciu M. G. , Dutheil P. , Constantinescu C. , Marchet P. , Dumas-Bouchiat F. , Champeaux C.
Published: November 2016

We present the conduction mechanisms of Ba2/3Sr1/3TiO3 thin films integrated in metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitors and the modelling of the frequency-dependent electrostrictive resonances (in the 100 MHz–10 GHz domain) induced in the devices upon applying different voltage biases. Au/BST/Ir MIM structures on MgO substrates have been fabricated and, depending on their specific polarization, we highlighted different conduction mechanisms in the devices. Depending on the dc bias polarity, the conduction current across the material shows a space-charge-limited-current behavior under negative polarization, whereas under positive bias, the conduction obeys an electrode-limited Schottky-type law at the Au/BST interface. The application of an electric field on the device induces the onset of acoustic resonances related to electrostrictive phenomena in the ferroelectric material. We modeled these acoustic resonances over a wide frequency range, by using a modified Lakin model, which takes into account the dispersions of acoustic properties near the lower electrode/thin film interface.
Subwavelength far-field ultrasound drug-delivery
Authors: Hingot Vincent , Bézagu Marine , Errico Claudia , Desailly Yann , Bocheux Romain , Tanter Mickael , Couture Olivier
Published: November 2016

The theoretical diffraction-limit of resolution for ultrasound imaging has recently been bypassed in-vitro and in-vivo. However, in the context of ultrasound therapy, the precision of therapeutic beams remains bound to the half-wavelength limit. By combining acoustic vaporization of composite droplets and rapid ultrasound monitoring, we demonstrate that the ultrasound drug-delivery can be restricted to a subwavelength zone. Moreover, two release zones closer than the wavelength/4 can be distinguished both optically and through ultrafast ultrasound localization microscopy. This proof-of-concept let us envision the possibility to treat specific tissues more precisely without compromising on the penetration depth of the ultrasound wave.