bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhanced removal of Cd(ii) from aqueous solution using CaCO3 nanoparticle modified sewage sludge biochar
Authors: Zuo Wei-Qi , Chen Chen , Cui Hao-Jie , Fu Ming-Lai
Published: March 2017

Nanostructured CaCO3 modified sewage sludge biochar (CMSSB) was successfully fabricated for efficient removal of Cd(ii) from aqueous solutions.
Towards white-light generation through upconversion of low-power near-infrared photons
Authors: Dimitriev Oleg P. , Bricks Julia L. , Smirnova Anna L. , Slominskii Yuri L.
Published: March 2017

A broadband upconverted emission combined with a broadband infrared absorption takes place in films composed of the same infrared dye molecules.
Selective and sensitive colorimetric determination of cobalt ions using Ag–Au bimetallic nanoparticles
Authors: Xu Dong , Chen Hong , Lin Qinlu , Li Ziwei , Yang Tao , Yuan Zhiqin
Published: March 2017

Selective and sensitive colorimetric detection of Co2+based on the aggregation of Ag–Au BNPs is due to the formation of positively charged (en)2CoS2O3+on the negative nanoparticle surface.
Graphene sheets manipulated the thermal-stability of ultrasmall Pt nanoparticles supported on porous Fe2O3nanocrystals against sintering
Authors: Dai Yunqian , Qi Xiaomian , Fu Wanlin , Huang Chengqian , Wang Shimei , Zhou Jie , Zeng Tingying Helen , Sun Yueming
Published: March 2017

This study reports a new sinter-resistant catalyst system, consisting of Pt nanoparticles on Fe2O3rhombohedrons isolated by wrinkled graphene sheets.
Robust ambient pressure dried polyimide aerogels and their graphene oxide directed growth of 1D–2D nanohybrid aerogels using water as the only solvent
Authors: Yang Guangjie , Ning Tianli , Zhao Wei , Deng Wenxiu , Liu Xikui
Published: March 2017

Through soft/hard template directed hydrothermal polymerization, we reported the first green approach to the morpho-controlled synthesis of monolithic polyimide aerogels and their graphene nanohybrid aerogel using nothing but water.
Carbon nitride supported AgPd alloy nanocatalysts for dehydrogenation of formic acid under visible light
Authors: Xiao Liping , Jun Young-Si , Wu Binghui , Liu Deyu , Chuong Tracy T , Fan Jie , Stucky Galen D.
Published: March 2017

We report a facile approach for the one-step room-temperature preparation of nearly monodisperse AgPd alloy nanoparticles supported on semiconductor graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN). The AgPd/g-CN nanocatalysts are highly active and durable for dehydrogenation of formic acid under visible light or dark at ambient condition.
Novel hybrid Si nanocrystals embedded in a conductive SiOx@C matrix from one single precursor as a high performance anode material for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Zhu Min , Yang Jie , Yu Zhihao , Chen Haibiao , Pan Feng
Published: March 2017

A Si/SiOx@C nanocomposite was synthesized from a silicone precursor and used as an effective anode material for Li-ion batteries.
Selective H2O2 conversion to hydroxyl radicals in the electron-rich area of hydroxylated C-g-C3N4/CuCo–Al2O3
Authors: Lyu Lai , Zhang Lili , He Guangzhi , He Hong , Hu Chun
Published: March 2017

Twice the amount of ˙OH as that of the reacted H2O2 is produced via two electron transfer processes from the electron-rich Cu centers to H2O2 and from H2O to the N atom of the OH–CCN/CuCo–Al2O3 composite, which results in extremely high activity for pollutant degradation with a high utilization efficiency of H2O2.
Widely tunable photonic bandgap and lasing emission in enantiomorphic cholesteric liquid crystal templates
Authors: Lin Jia-De , Lin Hong-Lin , Lin Hsin-Yu , Wei Guan-Jhong , Chuang Yu-Chou , Chen Lin-Jer , Huang Shuan-Yu , Huang Chia-Yi , Mo Ting-Shan , Lee Chia-Rong
Published: March 2017

Widely tunable reflection and lasing emission in a dye-doped nematic liquid crystal refilled gradient-pitched enantiomorphic cholesteric liquid crystal polymer template.
Ultrathin flexible reduced graphene oxide/cellulose nanofiber composite films with strongly anisotropic thermal conductivity and efficient electromagnetic interference shielding
Authors: Yang Weixing , Zhao Zedong , Wu Kai , Huang Rui , Liu Tianyu , Jiang Hong , Chen Feng , Fu Qiang
Published: March 2017

In this study, ultrathin flexible RGO/CNF films with outstanding EMI shielding performances and strongly anisotropic thermal conductivity were successfully fabricated.
De‐noising algorithm for enhancing microwave imaging
Authors: Shumakov Denys S. , Beaverstone Alexander S. , Nikolova Natalia K.
Published: March 2017

An algorithm for the de‐noising of S ‐parameter data used in microwave imaging is proposed. The complex S ‐parameter frequency‐sweep data are collected through scans over an acquisition surface and the algorithm separates efficiently the resulting two‐dimensional responses (one frequency at a time) into a signal and a noise component. The separation is performed with an iterative procedure similar to the empirical mode decomposition. The signal component estimates the noise‐free data, whereas the remaining data content estimates the noise and uncertainty in the measurement. The algorithm performance is verified with measured data.
Graph cuts segmentation based on multi‐dimensional features for the right ventricle in cardiac MRI
Authors: Lu Xuesong , Ma Shuang , Zhao Danqing , Liu Liman
Published: March 2017

The segmentation of the right ventricle in cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is a difficult task due to the blurred border and variable shape. To overcome these problems, an approach using graph cuts (GC) segmentation based on multi‐dimensional local features is proposed. The features are reduced by a principal component analysis, which are incorporated into the t‐link and the n‐link. Experiments are performed on 240 MR images from 16 patients. The segmentation results of the proposed algorithm are obtained using Gabor and histogram of oriented gradient (HOG) features, respectively. For Dice metric, the median value of using Gabor and HOG increases significantly compared to original GC from 0.8012 to 0.8174 and 0.8306 at end‐diastole (ED), from 0.6555 to 0.7021 and 0.7124 at end‐systole (ES). For Hausdorff distance, the median value of using Gabor and HOG decreases significantly compared to original GC from 12.88 to 12.33 and 11.82 mm at ED, from 17.20 to 12.75 and 13.41 mm at ES. The proposed method outperforms original GC depending on image intensity only. The segmentation errors of using HOG are slightly less than those of using Gabor.
Synthesis of Functionalized Pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridines: [3+2] Cycloaddition of N-Aminopyridines and α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds/Alkenes at Room Temperature
Authors: Ravi Chitrakar , Samanta Supravat , Mohan Darapaneni , Reddy N. , Adimurthy Subbarayappa
Published: March 2017

The synthesis of functionalized pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridines through oxidative [3+2] cycloaddition of N-aminopyridines with α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds or electron-withdrawing olefins is described. The reactions proceed in N-methylpyrrolidone as the solvent under metal-free conditions at room temperature.
Attitude change among U.S. adults after the Castro-Obama announcement: the role of soft power in agenda setting
Authors: Fullerton Jami , Kendrick Alice , Broyles Sheri
Published: March 2017

The United States and Cuba made history in late 2014 by announcing the resumption of diplomatic relations. With the media coverage and social media content related to the announcements as a stimulus, this pre-post-study noted increases in U.S. adults’ levels of perceived knowledge, salience of attributes, as well as attitudes toward Cuba after the joint proclamations. Results suggest that media coverage and social media content played major roles in influencing both public knowledge of and attitudes toward Cuba as a country. These first- and second-level agenda-setting effects are positioned within the Model of Country Concept as an example of soft power. The power of international media to affect both cognitive and affective evaluations among the citizens of one country about the government and citizenry of another is discussed. This article is published as part of a collection on soft power.
Evidence for the formation of SiGe nanoparticles in Ge-implanted Si3N4
Authors: Mirzaei S. , Kremer F. , Feng R. , Glover C. J. , Sprouster D. J.
Published: March 2017

SiGe nanoparticles were formed in an amorphous Si3N4 matrix by Ge+ ion implantation and thermal annealing. The size of the nanoparticles was determined by transmission electron microscopy and their atomic structure by x-ray absorption spectroscopy. Nanoparticles were observed for excess Ge concentrations in the range from 9 to 12 at. % after annealing at temperatures in the range from 700 to 900 °C. The average nanoparticle size increased with excess Ge concentration and annealing temperature and varied from an average diameter of 1.8 ± 0.2 nm for the lowest concentration and annealing temperature to 3.2 ± 0.5 nm for the highest concentration and annealing temperature. Our study demonstrates that the structural properties of embedded SiGe nanoparticles in amorphous Si3N4 are sensitive to the implantation and post implantation conditions. Furthermore, we demonstrate that ion implantation is a novel pathway to fabricate and control the SiGe nanoparticle structure and potentially useful for future optoelectronic device applications.
Nonclassical dynamics of the methyl group in 1,1,1-triphenylethane. Evidence from powder 1H NMR spectra
Authors: Osior Agnieszka , Kalicki Przemysław , Kamieński Bohdan , Szymański Sławomir , Bernatowicz Piotr , Shkurenko Aleksander
Published: March 2017

According to the damped quantum rotation (DQR) theory, hindered rotation of methyl groups, evidenced in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) line shapes, is a nonclassical process. It comprises a number of quantum-rate processes measured by two different quantum-rate constants. The classical jump model employing only one rate constant is reproduced if these quantum constants happen to be equal. The values of their ratio, or the nonclassicallity coefficient, determined hitherto from NMR spectra of single crystals and solutions range from about 1.20 to 1.30 in the latter case to above 5.0 in the former, with the value of 1 corresponding to the jump model. Presently, first systematic investigations of the DQR effects in wide-line NMR spectra of a powder sample are reported. For 1,1,1-triphenylethane deuterated in the aromatic positions, the relevant line-shape effects were monitored in the range 99–121 K. The values of the nonclassicality coefficient dropping from 2.7 to 1.7 were evaluated in line shape fits to the experimental powder spectra from the range 99–108 K. At these temperatures, the fits with the conventional line-shape model are visibly inferior to the DQR fits. Using a theoretical model reported earlier, a semiquantitative interpretation of the DQR parameters evaluated from the spectra is given. It is shown that the DQR effects as such can be detected in wide-line NMR spectra of powdered samples, which are relatively facile to measure. However, a fully quantitative picture of these effects can only be obtained from the much more demanding experiments on single crystals.
Influence of growing conditions on the reactivity of Ni supported graphene towards CO
Authors: Celasco E. , Carraro G. , Smerieri M. , Savio L. , Rocca M. , Vattuone L.
Published: March 2017

Free standing graphene is chemically inert but, as recently demonstrated, CO chemisorption occurs at low crystal temperature on the single layer grown by ethene dehydrogenation on Ni(111). Such layer is inhomogeneous since different phases coexist, the relative abundance of which depends on the growth conditions. Here we show by X ray photoemission and high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopies that the attained CO coverage depends strongly on the relative weight of the different phases as well as on the concentration of carbon in the Ni subsurface region. Our data show that the chemical reactivity is hampered by the carbon content in the substrate. The correlation between the amount of adsorbed CO and the weight of the different graphene phases indicates that the top-fcc configuration is the most reactive.
Distribution of Rydberg atoms acceleration by a laser pulse
Authors: Chen J. H. , Wang J. F. , Li X. F. , Yuan X. Q. , Wang P. X.
Published: March 2017

Simulations of the movement of the excited neutral atoms were performed with random sampling and the ponderomotive model. The modeling parameters were setup according to the experiment of laser acceleration of neutral helium [Nature 431(7268), 1261 (2009)]. A comparison between the simulation results and the experiment measurements is made in detail, and the characteristics of the final distribution of the Rydberg neutral atoms are analyzed. Two important factors that determine the final distribution of Rydberg neutral atoms, namely, the ponderomotive force and the original distribution of the Rydberg atoms corresponding to the distribution of the laser intensity, are discussed.
Sine-wave gating InGaAs/InP single photon detector with ultralow afterpulse
Authors: He De-Yong , Wang Shuang , Chen Wei , Yin Zhen-Qiang , Qian Yong-Jun , Zhou Zheng , Guo Guang-Can , Han Zheng-Fu
Published: March 2017

Sine-wave gating method is widely used in high-speed single photon detection (SPD) but shows extra afterpulse probability compared with the self-differencing technique. Here, we demonstrate that most extra afterpulses of the sine-wave gating SPD come from successive avalanche signals and distortion of electrical filters and also propose an effective method by removing the wider filtered avalanche signals to reduce the afterpulse probability. At 1 GHz gating frequency, the ultralow afterpulse probability is characterized as 1.0% and 0.54% for a photon detection efficiency of 20.7% and 10.9%, respectively.
CFD studies on rotational augmentation at the inboard sections of a 10 MW wind turbine rotor
Authors: Bangga Galih , Lutz Thorsten , Jost Eva , Krämer Ewald
Published: March 2017

In the analysis of the aerodynamic performance of wind turbines, the need to account for the effects of rotation is important as engineering models often failed to predict these phenomena. Investigations are carried out by employing an unsteady computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach on a generic 10 MW AVATAR (Advanced Aerodynamic Tools for Large Rotors) blade. The focus of the studies is the evaluation of the 3D effect characteristics on thick airfoils in the root area. For preliminary studies, 2D simulations of the airfoils constructing the blade and 3D simulations of the turbine near the rated conditions are carried out. The 2D simulations are in good agreement with available measurements within the linear lift region, but the accuracy deteriorates in the post stall region. For the 3D wind turbine rotor results, the prediction is consistent with other CFD computations obtained from the literature. Further calculations of the rotor are conducted at 5 different wind speeds ranging from below to above the rated conditions, which correspond to 5 different angles of attack. The CFD simulations demonstrate that the lift coefficient increases in the blade root region compared to the 2D conditions caused by the centrifugal pumping and Coriolis force via the reduction of the boundary layer thickness and separation delay. The Coriolis force effect decreases with the increasing wind speed and radial position. In addition, the aerodynamic behaviour of the blade inboard region is influenced by the shedding direction of the trailing vortices. The occurrence of downwash is observed causing a local increase in the drag coefficient.
Molecular Dynamics Study of Hydrogen Dissociation on Pd Surfaces using Reactive Force Fields
Authors: Sun Yue-mei , Shen Xiang-jian , Yan Xiao-hong
Published: March 2017

Developing a widely-used reactive force field is meaningful to explore the fundamental reaction mechanism on gas-surface chemical reaction dynamics due to its very high computational efficiency. We here present a study of hydrogen and its deuterated molecules dissociation on Pd surfaces based on a full-dimensional potential energy surface (PES) constructed by using a simple second moment approximation reactive force field (SMA RFF). Although the descriptions of the adsorbate-substrate interaction contain only the dissociation reaction of H2/Pd(111) system, a good transferability of SMA potential energy surface (PES) is shown to investigate the hydrogen dissociation on Pd(100). Our simulation results show that, the dissociation probabilities of H2 and its deuterated molecules on Pd(111) and Pd(100) surfaces keep non-monotonous variations with respect to the incident energy Ei, which is in good agreement with the previous ab initio molecular dynamics. Furthermore, for the oriented molecules, the dissociation probabilities of the oriented H2 (D2 and T2) molecule have the same orientation dependence behavior as those oriented HD (HT and DT) molecules.
It’s the blues Jim, but not as we know it: a response to FitzGibbon et al. (2016)
Authors: Phillips Stephen
Published: March 2017

A cautious approach to managing the impacts of disturbance on free-ranging koala (Phascolactos cinereus) populations is fundamental to effective management of this iconic species. The critique by FitzGibbon et al. (2017) of a pioneering study by Phillips (2016) on the impacts of noise on koalas argued that a departure from aspects of the methods, a disregard for disease issues, other koala mortality data and an onerous approach to mitigation of potential impact detracted from the merit of the work. In response and while acknowledging some departures in evaluation criteria, the primary outcomes arising from the study remain unchanged, concerns about unreported koala mortalities are premature, while mitigation measures proposed by Phillips (2016) have been misinterpreted. Unravelling the implications of anthropogenic disturbance on terrestrial wildlife communities is a rapidly expanding field of ecological study. The work in question provides novel descriptions of aversive behaviour by koalas, each of which remains testable in the context of disturbance ecology, thus laying the foundations for further research to be undertaken.
Sunpatiens compact hot coral: memristors in flowers
Authors: Volkov Alexander G. , Nyasani Eunice K.
Published: March 2017

Leon Chua postulated the theory of a memristor – a resistor with memory – in 1971, and the first solid-state memristor was built in 2008. Memristors exist in vivo as components of plasma membranes in plants, fruits, roots and seeds. A memristor is a nonlinear element; its current-voltage characteristic is similar to that of a Lissajous pattern. Here, we found memristors in flowers. Electrostimulation by bipolar periodic sinusoidal or triangular waves of an androecium, a spur, petals and a pedicel in Sunpatiens flowers induces hysteresis loops with a pinched point at low frequencies between 0.1 mHz and 1 mHz. At high frequencies, the pinched hysteresis loop transforms to a non-pinched hysteresis loop instead of a single line I = U/R for ideal memristors because the amplitude of electrical current depends on capacitance of a flower’s tissue and electrodes, frequency and direction of scanning. The discovery of memristors in Sunpatiens (Impatiens spp.) creates a new direction in the modelling and understanding of electrophysiological phenomena in flowers.
Specific deletion of LKB1/
Stk11
in the Müllerian duct mesenchyme drives hyperplasia of the periurethral stroma and tumorigenesis in male mice
Authors: George Jitu W. , Patterson Amanda L. , Tanwar Pradeep S. , Kajdacsy-Balla André , Prins Gail S. , Teixeira Jose M.
Published: March 2017

Significance

Symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) affect many older men, but the etiology of the disease is largely unknown. We show that male mice develop prostatic stromal hyperplasia accompanied by lower urinary tract symptoms that appear similar to BPH with conditional homozygous deletion of the tumor suppressor gene,
Stk11
(serine threonine kinase 11), in the Müllerian duct mesenchyme (MDM), which regresses in males during early fetal development. Cell lineage tracing studies confirmed that cells from the caudal MDM contribute to the stromal cell population of the dorsal periurethral area, which has been compared with the transition zone of the human prostate. These studies show that some of the stromal cells of the prostate are MD-derived, and that their mutation can lead to BPH.
Sediment supply controls equilibrium channel geometry in gravel rivers
Authors: Pfeiffer Allison M. , Finnegan Noah J. , Willenbring Jane K.
Published: March 2017

Significance

Geomorphologists commonly assume that gravel-bedded rivers tend toward a “threshold” equilibrium state, in which the median-sized grains on the riverbed surface begin to move at the bankfull flood stage. However, here we show that this widely held assumption fails to capture a more fundamental pattern in river channel geometry. Our findings provide evidence that river channel geometry and grain size are inherently linked to the supply of sediment transported from upstream. Threshold channels may therefore simply reflect settings with low sediment supplies, while high sediment supply channels are adjusted to transport large volumes of material during bankfull floods. Thus, an understanding of sediment supply is key to interpreting, predicting, and restoring bankfull geometry in rivers.
Conserved role for Gga proteins in phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase localization to the
trans
-Golgi network
Authors: Daboussi Lydia , Costaguta Giancarlo , Ghukasyan Razmik , Payne Gregory S.
Published: March 2017

Significance

Clathrin-coated vesicles (ccv) are fundamental intracellular transport carriers in eukaryotic cells. Assembly of ccv at appropriate intracellular membrane sites requires membrane-associated factors, including phosphoinositide lipids that recruit clathrin adaptors to the membrane to initiate ccv formation. How levels of specific phosphoinositides are controlled at particular membranes is not well understood. At the
trans
-Golgi network (TGN), the key phosphoinositide is phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PtdIns4P). Here we characterize molecular interactions between Gga (Golgi-localized, gamma-adaptin ear homology, Arf-binding) clathrin adaptors and a kinase responsible for PtdIns4P synthesis at the TGN in yeast and mammalian cells. Defects that reduce kinase binding to Gga proteins inhibit kinase recruitment to the TGN. These results identify an evolutionarily conserved role for Gga clathrin adaptors in controlling PtdIns4P synthesis at the TGN.
Deep melting reveals liquid structural memory and anomalous ferromagnetism in bismuth
Authors: Shu Yu , Yu Dongli , Hu Wentao , Wang Yanbin , Shen Guoyin , Kono Yoshio , Xu Bo , He Julong , Liu Zhongyuan , Tian Yongjun
Published: March 2017

Significance

Condensed matter physics owes much of its development to bismuth (Bi). It was the first metal with a Fermi surface that was experimentally identified. Many intriguing phenomena were first discovered in Bi, such as the large magnetoresistance and the propagations of microwaves. For over a century, Bi has been known to be diamagnetic. We have observed an unusual ferromagnetism in pure Bi samples after treatments under certain pathways of pressure and temperature conditions. The ferromagnetism is found to be associated with a surprising structural memory effect in the molten state and the ability for solid Bi to “remember” its liquid structural motifs. This structural memory effect may present an important route in defect engineering for creating materials.
Intensified agriculture favors evolved resistance to biological control
Authors: Tomasetto Federico , Tylianakis Jason M. , Reale Marco , Wratten Steve , Goldson Stephen L.
Published: March 2017

Significance

The need for agricultural production to meet the food demands of a growing human population will require sustainable and acceptable pest management, such as biological control, across 11% (1.5 billion ha) of the globe’s land surface. However, the long-term viability of this ecosystem service can be threatened by the expansion and simplification of agricultural systems, which may facilitate the evolution of resistance by pests to their control agents. This study uses a national dataset to present evidence for the acquisition of resistance by a ryegrass weevil pest to its parasitoid wasp over the last 21 y. This resistance was not associated with differences in environmental conditions but rather is specific to the most commonly grown pasture grass species.
Biological regulation of atmospheric chemistry en route to planetary oxygenation
Authors: Izon Gareth , Zerkle Aubrey L. , Williford Kenneth H. , Farquhar James , Poulton Simon W. , Claire Mark W.
Published: March 2017

Significance

It has been proposed that enhanced methane fluxes to Earth’s early atmosphere could have altered atmospheric chemistry, initiating a hydrocarbon-rich haze reminiscent of Saturn’s moon Titan. The occurrence, cause, and significance of haze development, however, remain unknown. Here, we test and refine the “haze hypothesis” by combining an ultra-high-resolution sulfur- and carbon-isotope dataset with photochemical simulations to reveal the structure and timing of haze development. These data suggest that haze persisted for ∼1 million years, requiring a sustained biological driver. We propose that enhanced atmospheric CH4, implied by the presence of haze, could have had a significant impact on the escape of hydrogen from the atmosphere, effectively contributing to the terminal oxidation of Earth’s surficial environments ∼2.4 billion years ago.
Cathepsin S is the major activator of the psoriasis-associated proinflammatory cytokine IL-36γ
Authors: Ainscough Joseph S. , Macleod Tom , McGonagle Dennis , Brakefield Rosella , Baron Jens M. , Alase Ade , Wittmann Miriam , Stacey Martin
Published: March 2017

Significance

IL-36γ is a potent cytokine that drives and orchestrates inflammation. It is strongly expressed at barrier tissues such as the skin and thus is particularly relevant to inflammatory diseases that affect these tissues, including psoriasis. IL-36γ is expressed as an inactive precursor that requires precise N-terminal truncation for activation. In these investigations, we demonstrate that cathepsin S is the major IL-36γ–activating protease expressed by barrier tissues. Moreover, we show that both cathepsin S and IL-36γ are strongly up-regulated in psoriatic inflammation. These findings are important as they both identify the mechanism of IL-36γ activation and highlight that this mechanism may play a central role in the development of psoriatic inflammation.
Eradicating catastrophic collapse in interdependent networks via reinforced nodes
Authors: Yuan Xin , Hu Yanqing , Stanley H. Eugene , Havlin Shlomo
Published: March 2017

Significance

Percolation theory assumes that only the largest connected component is functional. However, in reality, some components that are not connected to the largest component can also function. Here, we generalize the percolation theory by assuming a fraction of reinforced nodes that can function and support their components, although they are disconnected from the largest connected component. We find that the reinforced nodes reduce significantly the cascading failures in interdependent networks system. Moreover, including a small critical fraction of reinforced nodes can avoid abrupt catastrophic failures in such systems.
Synthesis characterization and cytotoxicity studies of platinum(II) complexes with reduced amino pyridine schiff base and its derivatives as ligands
Authors: Li Li-Jun , Yan Qin-Qin , Liu Guo-Jun , Yuan Zhen , Lv Zhen-Hua , Fu Bin , Han Yan-Jun , Du Jian-Long
Published: March 2017

A series of reduced amino pyridine Schiff base platinum(II) complexes were prepared as potential anticancer drugs, and characterized by NMR, IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and molar conductivity. UV and CD results showed the binding mode between these compounds and salmon sperm DNA may be intercalation. The cytotoxicity of these complexes was validated against A549, Hela, and MCF-7 cell lines by MTT assay. Some complexes exhibited better cytotoxic activity than cisplatin against Hela and MCF-7 cell lines.
Dipeptidyl peptidase IV is involved in the cellulose-responsive induction of cellulose biomass-degrading enzyme genes in Aspergillus aculeatus
Authors: Tani Shuji , Yuki Shota , Kunitake Emi , Sumitani Jun-ichi , Kawaguchi Takashi
Published: March 2017

We screened for factors involved in the cellulose-responsive induction of cellulose biomass-degrading enzyme genes from approximately 12,000 Aspergillus aculeatus T-DNA insertion mutants harboring a transcriptional fusion between the FIII-avicelase gene (cbhI) promoter and the orotidine 5′-monophosphate decarboxylase gene. Analysis of 5-fluoroorodic acid (5-FOA) sensitivity, cellulose utilization, and cbhI expression of the mutants revealed that a mutant harboring T-DNA at the dipeptidyl peptidase IV (dppIV) locus had acquired 5-FOA resistance and was deficient in cellulose utilization and cbhI expression. The deletion of dppIV resulted in a significant reduction in the cellulose-responsive expression of both cbhI as well as genes controlled by XlnR-independent and XlnR-dependent signaling pathways at an early phase in A. aculeatus. In contrast, the dppIV deletion did not affect the xylose-responsive expression of genes under the control of XlnR. These results demonstrate that DppIV participates in cellulose-responsive induction in A. aculeatus.
MCAK-mediated regulation of endothelial cell microtubule dynamics is mechanosensitive to myosin-II contractility
Authors: D’Angelo Lauren , Myer Nicole M. , Myers Kenneth A.
Published: March 2017

Compliance and dimensionality mechanosensing, the processes by which cells sense the physical attributes of the extracellular matrix (ECM), are known to drive cell branching and shape change largely through a myosin-II–mediated reorganization of the actin and microtubule (MT) cytoskeletons. Subcellular regulation of MT dynamics is spatially controlled through a Rac1–Aurora-A kinase pathway that locally inhibits the MT depolymerizing activity of mitotic centromere–associated kinesin (MCAK), thereby promoting leading-edge MT growth and cell polarization. These results suggest that the regulation of MT growth dynamics is intimately linked to physical engagement of the cell with the ECM. Here, we tested the hypothesis that MCAK contributes to compliance and dimensionality mechanosensing-mediated regulation of MT growth dynamics through a myosin-II–dependent signaling pathway. We cultured endothelial cells (ECs) on collagen-coupled stiff or compliant polyacrylamide ECMs to examine the effects of MCAK expression on MT growth dynamics and EC branching morphology. Our results identify that MCAK promotes fast MT growth speeds in ECs cultured on compliant 2D ECMs but promotes slow MT growth speeds in ECs cultured on compliant 3D ECMs, and these effects are myosin-II dependent. Furthermore, we find that 3D ECM engagement uncouples MCAK-mediated regulation of MT growth persistence from myosin-II–mediated regulation of growth persistence specifically within EC branched protrusions.
Mechanisms of kinetic stabilization by the drugs paclitaxel and vinblastine
Authors: Castle Brian T. , McCubbin Seth , Prahl Louis S. , Bernens Jordan N. , Sept David , Odde David J.
Published: March 2017

Microtubule-targeting agents (MTAs), widely used as biological probes and chemotherapeutic drugs, bind directly to tubulin subunits and “kinetically stabilize” microtubules, suppressing the characteristic self-assembly process of dynamic instability. However, the molecular-level mechanisms of kinetic stabilization are unclear, and the fundamental thermodynamic and kinetic requirements for dynamic instability and its elimination by MTAs have yet to be defined. Here we integrate a computational model for microtubule assembly with nanometer-scale fluorescence microscopy measurements to identify the kinetic and thermodynamic basis of kinetic stabilization by the MTAs paclitaxel, an assembly promoter, and vinblastine, a disassembly promoter. We identify two distinct modes of kinetic stabilization in live cells, one that truly suppresses on-off kinetics, characteristic of vinblastine, and the other a “pseudo” kinetic stabilization, characteristic of paclitaxel, that nearly eliminates the energy difference between the GTP- and GDP-tubulin thermodynamic states. By either mechanism, the main effect of both MTAs is to effectively stabilize the microtubule against disassembly in the absence of a robust GTP cap.
CYK-4 regulates Rac, but not Rho, during cytokinesis
Authors: Zhuravlev Yelena , Hirsch Sophia M. , Jordan Shawn N. , Dumont Julien , Shirasu-Hiza Mimi , Canman Julie C.
Published: March 2017

Cytokinesis is driven by constriction of an actomyosin contractile ring that is controlled by Rho-family small GTPases. Rho, activated by the guanine-nucleotide exchange factor ECT-2, is upstream of both myosin-II activation and diaphanous formin-mediated filamentous actin (f-actin) assembly, which drive ring constriction. The role for Rac and its regulators is more controversial, but, based on the finding that Rac inactivation can rescue cytokinesis failure when the GTPase-activating protein (GAP) CYK-4 is disrupted, Rac activity was proposed to be inhibitory to contractile ring constriction and thus specifically inactivated by CYK-4 at the division plane. An alternative model proposes that Rac inactivation generally rescues cytokinesis failure by reducing cortical tension, thus making it easier for the cell to divide when ring constriction is compromised. In this alternative model, CYK-4 was instead proposed to activate Rho by binding ECT-2. Using a combination of time-lapse in vivo single-cell analysis and Caenorhabditis elegans genetics, our evidence does not support this alternative model. First, we found that Rac disruption does not generally rescue cytokinesis failure: inhibition of Rac specifically rescues cytokinesis failure due to disruption of CYK-4 or ECT-2 but does not rescue cytokinesis failure due to disruption of two other contractile ring components, the Rho effectors diaphanous formin and myosin-II. Second, if CYK-4 regulates cytokinesis through Rho rather than Rac, then CYK-4 inhibition should decrease levels of downstream targets of Rho. Inconsistent with this, we found no change in the levels of f-actin or myosin-II at the division plane when CYK-4 GAP activity was reduced, suggesting that CYK-4 is not upstream of ECT-2/Rho activation. Instead, we found that the rescue of cytokinesis in CYK-4 mutants by Rac inactivation was Cdc42 dependent. Together our data suggest that CYK-4 GAP activity opposes Rac (and perhaps Cdc42) during cytokinesis.
Effect of Home Blood Pressure on Inducing Remission/Regression of Microalbuminuria in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Nishimura Motonobu , Kato Yasuhisa , Tanaka Tsuyoshi , Taki Hideki , Tone Atsuhito , Yamada Kazunori , Suzuki Seiji , Saito Miho , Ando Yutaka , Hoshiyama Yoshiharu
Published: March 2017

BACKGROUND

The Home Blood Pressure for Diabetic Nephropathy study is a prospective observational study conducted to determine the effect of home blood pressure (HBP) on remission/regression of microalbuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).

METHODS

Patients with type 2 DM having microalbuminuria were followed-up for 3 years. Remission of microalbuminuria was defined as shift from microalbuminuria to normoalbuminuria. Regression of microalbuminuria was defined as a 50% reduction in urinary albumin–creatinine ratio from baseline. All measurements of morning and evening HBP were averaged every year and defined as all HBP.

RESULTS

In total, 235 patients were followed up. The 3-year cumulative incidences of remission and regression were 32.3% and 44.7%, respectively. Following analysis of all cases, the degree of decline in all home systolic blood pressure (AHSBP), rather than mean AHSBP, influenced the incidence of remission/regression. There was a strong relationship between the decline in AHSBP during the follow-up period and AHSBP at baseline. Therefore, separate analyses of the patients with AHSBP below 140 mm Hg at baseline were performed, which revealed that mean AHSBP during the follow-up period independently affected the incidence of remission/regression. The hazard ratio for inducing remission/regression was significantly lower in patients with AHSBP during the follow-up period above 130 mm Hg than in those with AHSBP below 120 mm Hg.

CONCLUSIONS

Optimal AHSBP for the induction of remission/regression of microalbuminuria might be below 130 mm Hg. It is required to confirm whether keeping AHSBP below 130 mm Hg leads to subsequent renoprotection or not.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION

Trial Number UMIN000000804.
SynMap2 and SynMap3D: web-based whole-genome synteny browsers
Authors: Haug-Baltzell Asher , Stephens Sean A , Davey Sean , Scheidegger Carlos E , Lyons Eric
Published: March 2017

Current synteny visualization tools either focus on small regions of sequence and do not illustrate genome-wide trends, or are complicated to use and create visualizations that are difficult to interpret. To address this challenge, The Comparative Genomics Platform (CoGe) has developed two web-based tools to visualize synteny across whole genomes. SynMap2 and SynMap3D allow researchers to explore whole genome synteny patterns (across two or three genomes, respectively) in responsive, web-based visualization and virtual reality environments. Both tools have access to the extensive CoGe genome database (containing over 30 000 genomes) as well as the option for users to upload their own data. By leveraging modern web technologies there is no installation required, making the tools widely accessible and easy to use.

Availability and Implementation

Both tools are open source (MIT license) and freely available for use online through CoGe (https://genomevolution.org). SynMap2 and SynMap3D can be accessed at http://genomevolution.org/coge/SynMap.pl and http://genomevolution.org/coge/SynMap3D.pl, respectively. Source code is available: https://github.com/LyonsLab/coge.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
The Preservation of Cognition 1 Year After Carotid Endarterectomy in Patients With Prior Cognitive Decline
Authors: Dempsey Robert J , Jackson Daren C , Wilbrand Stephanie M , Mitchell Carol C , Berman Sara E , Johnson Sterling C , Meshram Nirvedh H , Varghese Tomy , Hermann Bruce P
Published: March 2017

BACKGROUND

Vascular cognitive decline is critically important in the course of atherosclerosis and stroke.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the hypothesis that carotid endarterectomy (CEA) by removing an unstable plaque may slow the course of vascular cognitive decline in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.

METHODS

Patients with clinically significant (>60%) carotid stenosis were studied preop and 1 yr post-CEA for clinical symptoms, vascular cognitive decline, instability of carotid plaque—presence of microemboli, brain white matter changes, and medical risk factors.

RESULTS

Forty-six percent were classically symptomatic. All patients showed vascular cognitive decline at presentation which correlated with degree of plaque instability. Significant white matter hyperintensity changes (48.7%) and cerebral emboli (25%) were also seen at baseline in both classically symptomatic and asymptomatic. One year after CEA, both groups showed no decline in cognitive function and significant improvement in 2 tests (P = .028 and P = .013). Brain white matter hyperintensities were unchanged. Microemboli were reduced but remained present (17.86%). Improvement was predicted by the presence of hypertension (P = .001), or less advanced cognitive decline preoperatively (P = .009).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates the importance of vascular cognitive decline in atherosclerotic disease. This is a function of the degree of instability of the atherosclerotic plaque more than the presence of stroke symptoms. It further suggests that atherosclerotic vascular cognitive decline need not be inevitable, and may be modified by treating hypertension and removal of the unstable plaque. This highlights the need for continued research on the cognitive effects of cerebrovascular disease and the synergistic benefits of intensive medical and surgical therapy.
Quality, Decontamination, and Energy Use Considerations During Radiant‐Heat and Tempering Treatments of Shelled Corn
Authors: Wilson Shantae A. , Atungulu Griffiths G. , Olatunde Gbenga
Published: March 2017

Infrared (IR) heating of corn followed by tempering treatments has potential to decontaminate corn of microbes without adverse effects on the overall corn quality. However, it is vital to determine the optimal processing parameters that maximize throughput and microbial load reduction and minimize drying energy without affecting overall corn quality. This study investigated effects of IR heating and tempering treatments on mold load reduction, corn color change, and drying energy requirements. Freshly harvested corn samples with initial moisture contents (IMCs) of 20, 24, and 28% wet basis were dried with a laboratory‐scale IR batch dryer in one and two drying passes. The dried samples were then tempered for 2, 4, and 6 h at 50, 70, and 90°C. Results showed that mold load reduction ranged from 1 to 3.8 log colony forming units per gram of corn (log CFU/g) for one‐pass treatments and from 0.8 to 4.4 log CFU/g for two‐pass treatments as tempering temperature and tempering duration increased. Compared with the control, treatments resulted in reduction of the corn color parameter (ΔE) (P < 0.05). Energy expended to dry the corn varied between 1.7 and 2.5 MJ/kg for one‐pass treatments and between 4.1 and 6.1 MJ/kg for two‐pass treatments. This work showed that IR heating of corn has the potential to significantly decontaminate microbes on corn. The IR process may help producers combat mycotoxin issues in corn that result from mold contamination.
Beneficial Rhizobacterium Bacillus amyloliquefaciens SQR9 Induces Plant Salt Tolerance through Spermidine Production
Authors: Chen Lin , Liu Yunpeng , Wu Gengwei , Zhang Nan , Shen Qirong , Zhang Ruifu
Published: March 2017

The inoculation of plants with plant-growth-promoting rhizobacterium has been an effective strategy for enhancing plant salt tolerance to diminish the loss of agricultural productivity caused by salt stress; however, the signal transmitted from bacteria to the plant under salt stress is poorly understood. In this study, the salt tolerance of Arabidopsis thaliana and Zea mays was enhanced by inoculation with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens SQR9. Using dialysis bags with different molecular weight cutoffs, we sorted through the molecules secreted by SQR9 and found that spermidine is responsible for enhancing plant salt tolerance. An SQR9 ΔspeB mutant deficient in spermidine production failed to induce plant salt tolerance. However, the induction of plant salt tolerance was disrupted by mutating genes involved in reduced glutathione (GSH) biosynthesis and the salt overly sensitive pathway in Arabidopsis. Using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, this study demonstrated that spermidine produced by SQR9 leads to increased glutamine synthetase and glutathione reductase gene expression, leading to increased levels of GSH, which is critical for scavenging reactive oxygen species. SQR9-derived spermidine also upregulates the expression of NHX1 and NHX7, which sequesters Na+ into vacuoles and expels Na+ from the cell, thereby reducing ion toxicity.
Activity, Translocation, and Persistence of Isopyrazam for Controlling Cucumber Powdery Mildew
Authors: He Lei-ming , Cui Kai-di , Ma Di-cheng , Shen Rui-ping , Huang Xue-ping , Jiang Jian-gong , Mu Wei , Liu Feng
Published: March 2017

A cotyledon bioassay was conducted to assess the activity of isopyrazam against Podosphaera xanthii (Castagne) U. Braun & N. Shishkoff, causal agent of cucumber powdery mildew. Results showed that isopyrazam has protective and curative activity against P. xanthii, with EC50values of 0.04 and 0.05 mg liter–1, respectively. These activities are higher than those for hexaconazole, difenoconazole, pyraclostrobin, kresoxim-methyl, and azoxystrobin, fungicides currently used against cucumber powdery mildew. Isopyrazam at 0.5 mg liter–1damaged conidiophores. Results of inoculation tests in greenhouse pots indicate that isopyrazam demonstrates a level of systemic movement in cucumber plants, especially regarding translaminar and transverse translocation. Efficacy following translaminar and transverse translocations on cotyledons and leaves treated with 60 mg liter–1was 94.40% and 88.96%, and 95.26% and 82.83%, respectively. In addition, isopyrazam at 60 mg liter–1exhibited a long duration of efficacy against cucumber powdery mildew, almost 2 to 3 weeks longer than that of triazoles and strobilurins. Similar trends in residual durations were observed during 2014 and 2015 greenhouse trials. Isopyrazam at 30 and 60 a.i. g ha–1provided efficacy ranging from 83.27 to 90.83% 20 days following treatment. In conclusion, isopyrazam has translaminar and transverse translocation in cucumber leaves, and long duration of activity against cucumber powdery mildew.
Implementation of Electronic Health Records in US Nursing Homes
Authors: Bjarnadottir Ragnhildur I. , Herzig Carolyn T.A. , Travers Jasmine L. , Castle Nicholas G. , Stone Patricia W.
Published: March 2017

While electronic health records have emerged as promising tools to help improve quality of care, nursing homes have lagged behind in implementation. This study assessed electronic health records implementation, associated facility characteristics, and potential impact on quality indicators in nursing homes. Using national Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and survey data for nursing homes, a cross-sectional analysis was conducted to identify variations between nursing homes that had and had not implemented electronic health records. A difference-in-differences analysis was used to estimate the longitudinal effect of electronic health records on commonly used quality indicators. Data from 927 nursing homes were examined, 49.1% of which had implemented electronic health records. Nursing homes with electronic health records were more likely to be nonprofit/government owned (P= .04) and had a lower percentage of Medicaid residents (P= .02) and higher certified nursing assistant and registered nurse staffing levels (P= .002 and .02, respectively). Difference-in-differences analysis showed greater quality improvements after implementation for five long-stay and two short-stay quality measures (P= .001 and .01, respectively) compared with those who did not implement electronic health records. Implementation rates in nursing homes are low compared with other settings, and better-resourced facilities are more likely to have implemented electronic health records. Consistent with other settings, electronic health records implementation improves quality in nursing homes, but further research is needed to better understand the mechanism for improvement and how it can best be supported.