bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Correlates of perceived death competence: What role does meaning-in-life and quality-of-life play?
Authors: Miller-Lewis Lauren , Tieman Jennifer , Rawlings Deb , Sanderson Christine , Parker Deborah
Published: January 2019

Objective

Understanding factors that are associated with more adaptive death attitudes and competencies can inspire future health-promoting palliative care strategies and inform approaches to training and development for health professionals. The potential importance of meaning, purpose, quality, and values in life for promoting adaptive death attitudes has been highlighted, but there is limited research in this area, particularly in relation to death competence. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to develop an understanding of demographic and life-related factors associated with perceived death competence, such as meaning in life and quality of life.

Method

During the course enrollment period of a Massive-Online-Open-Course about death and dying, 277 participants completed questionnaires on death competence, meaning in life, quality of life, and sociodemographic background.

Result

Findings indicated that greater presence of meaning in life, quality of life, age, death experience, and carer experience were each statistically significant unique predictors of death competence scores. Life-related variables were more strongly associated with death competence than demographic variables. Bereavement experience and experience caring for the dying was associated with greater death competence, but there were no differences on death competence between health professionals and the general community. Above all other factors, the presence of meaning in life was the strongest predictor of higher perceived competence in coping with death.

Significance of results

The findings demonstrate important interconnections between our attitudes about life and death. Knowledge of factors associated with poorer death competence may help identify those at risk of greater distress when facing death, and might prove useful additions to bereavement risk assessments. Understanding factors associated with greater death competence in health professionals and volunteers may help predict or prevent burnout and compassion fatigue, and help identify who would benefit from additional training and support. Future longitudinal studies including both health professionals and the general community are needed to determine the effect adaptive attitudes toward meaning in life can potentially have on bolstering subsequent adaptive coping and competence regarding death and dying.
UNCOVERING THE CONTRADICTIONS IN SAMUEL GOMPERS'S “MORE”: READING “WHAT DOES LABOR WANT?”
Authors: Schneirov Richard
Published: January 2019

Samuel Gompers's address at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago is typically remembered for its invocation, “we want ‘more.’” This essay views Gompers's address in its broader context as a window into the Gilded Age labor movement and America's crisis of the 1890s. Gompers's thinking can be understood in terms of two sets of contradictory discourses or antinomies: labor republicanism as distinguished from socialism and apocalyptic change as distinguished from evolutionary development. Rather than someone who rationalized the interests of a narrow stratum of craft workers, Gompers emerges from this analysis as a serious and complex thinker who sought to bridge and contain divergent discourses and political tendencies within the broader labor movement for which he was the spokesperson.
Geological Evidence of Planet‐Wide Groundwater System on Mars
Authors: Salese Francesco , Pondrelli Monica , Neeseman Alicia , Schmidt Gene , Ori Gian Gabriele
Published: January 2019

The scale of groundwater upwelling on Mars, as well as its relation to sedimentary systems, remains an ongoing debate. Several deep craters (basins) in the northern equatorial regions show compelling signs that large amounts of water once existed on Mars at a planet‐wide scale. The presence of water‐formed features, including fluvial Gilbert and sapping deltas fed by sapping valleys, constitute strong evidence of groundwater upwelling resulting in long term standing bodies of water inside the basins. Terrestrial field evidence shows that sapping valleys can occur in basalt bedrock and not only in unconsolidated sediments. A hypothesis that considers the elevation differences between the observed morphologies and the assumed basal groundwater level is presented and described as the “dike‐confined water” model, already present on Earth and introduced for the first time in the Martian geological literature. Only the deepest basins considered in this study, those with bases deeper than −4000 m in elevation below the Mars datum, intercepted the water‐saturated zone and exhibit evidence of groundwater fluctuations. The discovery of these groundwater discharge sites on a planet‐wide scale strongly suggests a link between the putative Martian ocean and various configurations of sedimentary deposits that were formed as a result of groundwater fluctuations during the Hesperian period. This newly recognized evidence of water‐formed features significantly increases the chance that biosignatures could be buried in the sediment. These deep basins (groundwater‐fed lakes) will be of interest to future exploration missions as they might provide evidence of geological conditions suitable for life.
The Importance of International Collaborative Research for Advancing Understanding of Child and Youth Development
Authors: Lansford Jennifer E. , Gauvain Mary , Koller Silvia H. , Daiute Colette , Hyson Marilou , Motti-Stefanidi Frosso , Smith Olivia , Verma Suman , Zhou Nan
Published: January 2019

International collaborative research has the potential to advance developmental psychology in important ways. When basic science is conducted only in high-income, Western countries, the experiences of children and youth in these countries end up defining what is known about development. Young people adapt to the circumstances in which they live, so to understand development fully, research must be conducted in the range of cultural contexts in which development occurs. International collaborations, collecting data in a wide range of countries, and incorporating diverse cultural perspectives are central to this effort. This article outlines seven recommendations for researchers conducting collaborative international research on child and youth development. The recommendations address conceptual and methodological issues (avoiding a deficit perspective, rethinking ideas about standard or so-called “normative” development patterns, considering relations between age and development, and attending to comparability of samples and measures) and issues related to researchers themselves (collaborating with scholars and community members from other cultures, being strategic with potential collaborators and research participants, and communicating in person).
Circular RNA hsa_circ_001783 regulates breast cancer progression via sponging miR-200c-3p
Authors: Liu Zihao , Zhou You , Liang Gehao , Ling Yun , Tan Weige , Tan Luyuan , Andrews Robert , Zhong Wenjing , Zhang Xuanxuan , Song Erwei , Gong Chang
Published: January 2019

Increasing evidence suggests circular RNAs (circRNAs) exert critical functions in tumor progression via sponging miRNAs (microRNAs). However, the role of circRNAs in breast cancer remains unclear. Here we systematically analyzed the circular RNAs in breast cancer based on their characteristic in sponging disease-specific miRNAs and identified hsa_circ_001783 as a top ranked circRNA in our computation and verified its high expression in both breast cancer cells and cancer tissue. A higher level of hsa_circ_001783 was significantly correlated with heavier tumor burden and poorer prognosis of patients with breast cancer. Knockdown of this circRNA remarkably inhibited the proliferation and invasion of breast cancer cells. Importantly, hsa_circ_001783 promoted progression of breast cancer cells via sponging miR-200c-3p. Taken together, hsa_circ_001783 may serve as a novel prognostic and therapeutic target for breast cancer.
Transcriptome profiling of caspase-2 deficient EμMyc and Th-MYCN mouse tumors identifies distinct putative roles for caspase-2 in neuronal differentiation and immune signaling
Authors: Dorstyn Loretta , Hackett-Jones Emily , Nikolic Andrej , Norris Murray D. , Lim Yoon , Toubia John , Haber Michelle , Kumar Sharad
Published: January 2019

Caspase-2 is a highly conserved cysteine protease with roles in apoptosis and tumor suppression. Our recent findings have also demonstrated that the tumor suppression function of caspase-2 is context specific. In particular, while caspase-2 deficiency augments lymphoma development in the EμMyc mouse model, it leads to delayed neuroblastoma development in Th-MYCN mice. However, it is unclear how caspase-2 mediates these differential outcomes. Here we utilized RNA sequencing to define the transcriptomic changes caused by caspase-2 (Casp2−/−) deficiency in tumors from EμMyc and Th-MYCN mice. We describe key changes in both lymphoma and neuroblastoma-associated genes and identified differential expression of the EGF-like domain-containing gene, Megf6, in the two tumor types that may contribute to tumor outcome following loss of Casp2. We identified a panel of genes with altered expression in Th-MYCN/Casp2−/− tumors that are strongly associated with neuroblastoma outcome, with roles in melanogenesis, Wnt and Hippo pathway signaling, that also contribute to neuronal differentiation. In contrast, we found that key changes in gene expression in the EμMyc/Casp2−/− tumors, are associated with increased immune signaling and T-cell infiltration previously associated with more aggressive lymphoma progression. In addition, Rap1 signaling pathway was uniquely enriched in Casp2 deficient EμMyc tumors. Our findings suggest that Casp2 deficiency augments immune signaling pathways that may be in turn, enhance lymphomagenesis. Overall, our study has identified new genes and pathways that contribute to the caspase-2 tumor suppressor function and highlight distinct roles for caspase-2 in different tissues.
Septin filament coalignment with microtubules depends on SEPT9_i1 and tubulin polyglutamylation, and is an early feature of acquired cell resistance to paclitaxel
Authors: Targa Benjamin , Klipfel Laurence , Cantaloube Isabelle , Salameh Joëlle , Benoit Béatrice , Poüs Christian , Baillet Anita
Published: January 2019

Cancer cell resistance to taxanes is a complex, multifactorial process, which results from the combination of several molecular and cellular changes. In breast cancer cells adapted to long-term paclitaxel treatment, we previously identified a new adaptive mechanism that contributes to resistance and involves high levels of tubulin tyrosination and long-chain polyglutamylation coupled with high levels of septin expression, especially that of SEPT9_i1. This in turn led to higher CLIP-170 and MCAK recruitment to microtubules to enhance microtubule dynamics and therefore counteract the stabilizing effects of taxanes. Here, we explored to which extent this new mechanism alone could trigger taxane resistance. We show that coupling septins (including SEPT9_i1) overexpression together with long-chain tubulin polyglutamylation induce significant paclitaxel resistance in several naive (taxane-sensitive) cell lines and accordingly stimulate the binding of CLIP-170 and MCAK to microtubules. Strikingly, such resistance was paralleled by a systematic relocalization of septin filaments from actin fibers to microtubules. We further show that this relocalization resulted from the overexpression of septins in a context of enhanced tubulin polyglutamylation and reveal that it could also be promoted by an acute treatment with paclitaxel of sensitve cell displaying a high basal level of SEPT9_i1. These findings point out the functional importance and the complex cellular dynamics of septins in the onset of cell resistance to death caused by microtubule-targeting antimitotic drugs of the taxane family.
Coherent population trapping by dark state formation in a carbon nanotube quantum dot
Authors: Donarini Andrea , Niklas Michael , Schafberger Michael , Paradiso Nicola , Strunk Christoph , Grifoni Milena
Published: January 2019

Illumination of atoms by resonant lasers can pump electrons into a coherent superposition of hyperfine levels which can no longer absorb the light. Such superposition is known as a dark state, because fluorescent light emission is then suppressed. Here we report an all-electric analogue of this destructive interference effect in a carbon nanotube quantum dot. The dark states are a coherent superposition of valley (angular momentum) states which are decoupled from either the drain or the source leads. Their emergence is visible in asymmetric current−voltage characteristics, with missing current steps and current suppression which depend on the polarity of the applied source-drain bias. Our results demonstrate coherent-population trapping by all-electric means in an artificial atom.
A recurrent cancer-associated substitution in DNA polymerase ε produces a hyperactive enzyme
Authors: Xing Xuanxuan , Kane Daniel P. , Bulock Chelsea R. , Moore Elizabeth A. , Sharma Sushma , Chabes Andrei , Shcherbakova Polina V.
Published: January 2019

Alterations in the exonuclease domain of DNA polymerase ε (Polε) cause ultramutated tumors. Severe mutator effects of the most common variant, Polε-P286R, modeled in yeast suggested that its pathogenicity involves yet unknown mechanisms beyond simple proofreading deficiency. We show that, despite producing a catastrophic amount of replication errors in vivo, the yeast Polε-P286R analog retains partial exonuclease activity and is more accurate than exonuclease-dead Polε. The major consequence of the arginine substitution is a dramatically increased DNA polymerase activity. This is manifested as a superior ability to copy synthetic and natural templates, extend mismatched primer termini, and bypass secondary DNA structures. We discuss a model wherein the cancer-associated substitution limits access of the 3’-terminus to the exonuclease site and promotes binding at the polymerase site, thus stimulating polymerization. We propose that the ultramutator effect results from increased polymerase activity amplifying the contribution of Polε errors to the genomic mutation rate.
The circadian clock components BMAL1 and REV-ERBα regulate flavivirus replication
Authors: Zhuang Xiaodong , Magri Andrea , Hill Michelle , Lai Alvina G. , Kumar Abhinav , Rambhatla Srinivasa Bhargav , Donald Claire L. , Lopez-Clavijo Andrea F. , Rudge Simon , Pinnick Katherine , Chang Wai Hoong , Wing Peter A. C. , Brown Ryan , Qin Ximing , Simmonds Peter , Baumert Thomas F. , Ray David , Loudon Andrew , Balfe Peter , Wakelam Michael , Butterworth Sam , Kohl Alain , Jopling Catherine L. , Zitzmann Nicole , McKeating Jane A.
Published: January 2019

The circadian clock regulates immune responses to microbes and affects pathogen replication, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are not well understood. Here we demonstrate that the circadian components BMAL1 and REV-ERBα influence several steps in the hepatitis C virus (HCV) life cycle, including particle entry into hepatocytes and RNA genome replication. Genetic knock out of Bmal1 and over-expression or activation of REV-ERB with synthetic agonists inhibits the replication of HCV and the related flaviruses dengue and Zika via perturbation of lipid signaling pathways. This study highlights a role for the circadian clock component REV-ERBα in regulating flavivirus replication.
Quantum computation is the unique reversible circuit model for which bits are balls
Authors: Krumm Marius , Müller Markus P.
Published: January 2019

The computational efficiency of quantum mechanics can be characterized in terms of the qubit circuit model, which is defined by a few simple properties: each computational gate is a reversible transformation in a connected matrix group; single wires carry quantum bits, i.e. states of a three-dimensional Bloch ball; states on two or more wires are uniquely determined by local measurement statistics and their correlations. In this paper, we ask whether other types of computation are possible if we relax one of those characteristics (and keep all others), namely, if we allow wires to be described by d-dimensional Bloch balls, where d is different from three. Theories of this kind have previously been proposed as possible generalizations of quantum physics, and it has been conjectured that some of them allow for interesting multipartite reversible transformations that cannot be realized within quantum theory. However, here we show that all such potential beyond-quantum models of computation are trivial: if d is not three, then the set of reversible transformations consists entirely of single-bit gates, and not even classical computation is possible. In this sense, qubit quantum computation is an island in theoryspace.
No Association between staging operation and the 5-Year Risk of Reoperation in Patients with Crohn’s Disease
Authors: Zhou Jiajie , Li Yi , Gong Jianfeng , Zhu Weiming
Published: January 2019

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of staging operation on the risk of reoperation in patients with CD who underwent primary bowel resection. This was a retrospective study of 980 patients with CD who were hospitalized in Jinling Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University between January 1, 2001, and October 1, 2016. The patients were grouped according to staging operation (n = 64) and one-stage operation (n = 148). Postoperative intestinal function recovery time, postoperative short-term complications, and reoperation rates were compared between the two groups. There was significant difference in disease behavior between the staging operation group and the one-stage operation group. There was no significant difference in postoperative tolerance of enteral nutrition among groups (P > 0.05). Obvious differences were found in the comparison of the first time of exhaustion, defecation after operation, postoperative length of stay and postoperative complications among groups (all P < 0.05). There was no difference in the 5-year cumulative reoperation-free rates between the two groups (P > 0.05). In conclusion, surgical intervention at proper time and appropriate operation during operation are essential for patients with CD. It is believed that staging operation with ostomy followed by intestinal anastomosis is feasible when there are more than two risk factors for postoperative intra-abdominal infectious complications.
Non-universality of the dynamic exponent in two-dimensional random media
Authors: Cho Hyun Woo , Yethiraj Arun , Sung Bong June
Published: January 2019

The diffusion of solutes in two-dimensional random media is important in diverse physical situations including the dynamics of proteins in crowded cell membranes and the adsorption on nano-structured substrates. It has generally been thought that the diffusion constant,D, should display universal behavior near the percolation threshold, i.e.,D ~ (ϕ − ϕc)μ, whereϕis the area fraction of the matrix,ϕcis the value ofϕat the percolation threshold, andμis the dynamic exponent. The universality ofμis important because it implies that very different processes, such as protein diffusion in membranes and the electrical conductivity in two-dimensional networks, obey similar underlying physical principles. In this work we demonstrate, using computer simulations on a model system, that the exponentμis not universal, but depends on the microscopic nature of the dynamics. We consider a hard disc that moves via random walk in a matrix of fixed hard discs and show thatμdepends on the maximum possible displacement Δ of the mobile hard disc, ranging from 1.31 at Δ ≤ 0.1 to 2.06 for relatively large values of Δ. We also show that this behavior arises from a power-law singularity in the distribution of transition rates due to a failure of the local equilibrium approximation. The non-universal value ofμobeys the prediction of the renormalization group theory. Our simulations do not, however, exclude the possibility that the non-universal values ofμmight be a crossover between two different limiting values at very large and small values of Δ. The results allow one to rationalize experiments on diffusion in two-dimensional systems.
Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 Promotes the Expression of Genes Encoding Electron Transport Chain Proteins and Stimulates Oxidative Phosphorylation in Primary Human Trophoblast Cells by Regulating Mitochondrial Biogenesis
Authors: Rosario Fredrick J. , Gupta Madhulika B. , Myatt Leslie , Powell Theresa L. , Glenn Jeremy P. , Cox Laura , Jansson Thomas
Published: January 2019

Trophoblast oxidative phosphorylation provides energy for active transport and protein synthesis, which are critical placental functions influencing fetal growth and long-term health. The molecular mechanisms regulating trophoblast mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation are largely unknown. We hypothesized that mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 (mTORC1) is a positive regulator of key genes encoding Electron Transport Chain (ETC) proteins and stimulates oxidative phosphorylation in trophoblast and that ETC protein expression is down-regulated in placentas of infants with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). We silenced raptor (mTORC1 inhibition), rictor (mTORC2 inhibition) or DEPTOR (mTORC1/2 activation) in cultured term primary human trophoblast (PHT) cells. mTORC1 inhibition caused a coordinated down-regulation of 18 genes encoding ETC proteins representing all ETC complexes. Inhibition of mTORC1, but not mTORC2, decreased protein expression of ETC complexes I–IV, mitochondrial basal, ATP coupled and maximal respiration, reserve capacity and proton leak, whereas activation of mTORC1 had the opposite effects. Moreover, placental protein expression of ETC complexes was decreased and positively correlated to mTOR signaling activity in IUGR. By controlling trophoblast ATP production, mTORC1 links nutrient and O2 availability and growth factor signaling to placental function and fetal growth. Reduced placental mTOR activity may impair mitochondrial respiration and contribute to placental insufficiency in IUGR pregnancies.
Thermodynamics of sustaining liquid water within rough icephobic surfaces to achieve ultra-low ice adhesion
Authors: Zhao Tom Y. , Jones Paul R. , Patankar Neelesh A.
Published: January 2019

The build-up of ice on aircraft, bridges, oil rigs, wind turbines, electrical lines, and other surfaces exposed to cold environments diminishes their safe and effective operation. To engineer robust surfaces that reduce ice adhesion, it is necessary to understand the physics of what makes a surface icephobic (“ice-hating”) as well as the relationship between icephobicity and ice adhesion. Here we elucidate the molecular origin of icephobicity based on ice-surface interactions and characterize the correlation between material icephobicity and liquid wettability. This fundamental understanding of icephobic characteristics enables us to propose a robust design for topologically textured, icephobic surfaces. The design identifies the critical confinement length scale to sustain liquid water (as opposed to ice) in between roughness features and can reduce the strength of ice adhesion by over a factor of twenty-seven compared to traditional hydrophobic surfaces. The reduction in ice adhesion is due to the metastability of liquid water; as ambient ice cleaves from the textured surface, liquid water leaves confinement and freezes – a process which takes the system from a local energy minimum to a global energy minimum. This phase transition generates a detachment force that actively propels ambient ice from the surface.
miR-181a modulates circadian rhythm in immortalized bone marrow and adipose derived stromal cells and promotes differentiation through the regulation of PER3
Authors: Knarr Matthew , Nagaraj Anil Belur , Kwiatkowski Lily J. , DiFeo Analisa
Published: January 2019

miRNAs are important regulators of diverse cellular processes including proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation. In the context of bone marrow derived stromal cell and adipose derived stromal cell differentiation, miRNAs are established regulators of both differentiation or stemness depending on their target. Furthermore, miRNA dysregulation can play a key role in various disease states. Here we show that miR-181a is regulated in a circadian manner and is induced during both immortalized bone marrow derived stromal cell (iBMSC) as well as primary patient adipose derived stromal cell (PASC) adipogenesis. Enhanced expression of miR-181a in iBMSCs  and PASCs produced a robust increase in adipogenesis through the direct targeting of the circadian factor period circadian regulator 3 (PER3). Furthermore, we show that knocking down endogenous miR-181a expression in iBMSC has a profound inhibitory effect on iBMSC adipogenesis through its regulation of PER3. Additionally, we found that miR-181a regulates the circadian dependency of the adipogenesis master regulator PPARγ. Taken together, our data identify a previously unknown functional link between miR-181a and the circadian machinery in immortalized bone marrow stromal cells and adipose derived stromal cells highlighting its importance in iBMSC and ASC adipogenesis and circadian biology.
Comprehensive circRNA expression profile during ischemic postconditioning attenuating hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury
Authors: Zhang Pengpeng , Ming Yingzi , Ye Qifa , Niu Ying
Published: January 2019

Ischemic postconditioning (IPO) attenuates hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. The aim of this study was to explore the role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in the protective mechanism of IPO. In this study, microarray hybridization analysis was performed to determine the circRNA expression profile. Briefly, a total of 1599 dysregulated circRNAs were detected. The competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network, including 6 circRNAs, 47 miRNAs and 90 mRNAs, indicated that the potential “housekeeping” function of circRNAs is dysregulated in hepatic I/R injury. Based on the validation results of selected circRNAs, miRNAs and mRNAs following qRT-PCR amplification, the mmu_circRNA_005186-miR-124-3p-Epha2 pathway was constructed. Dual-luciferase reporter analysis showed that miR-124-3p interacted directly with mmu_circRNA_005186 and Epha2 through the predicted binding sites, which suggested that mmu_circRNA_005186, serving as a miRNA sponge for miR-124-3p, regulated the expression of Epha2. Functionally, we explored the mechanism of mmu_circRNA_005186 in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells which simulated the inflammation in hepatic I/R injury. We found that mmu_circRNA_005186 silencing attenuated the LPS-induced inflammation and was associated with miR-124-3p upregulation and Epha2 downregulation. Our study is the first to show that circRNAs are closely related to hepatic I/R injury and IPO and suggests that targeting mmu_circRNA_005186-miR-124-3p-Epha2 pathway might attenuate hepatic I/R injury.
High lactose whey cheese consumption and risk of colorectal cancer - The Norwegian Women and Cancer Study
Authors: Barnung Runa Borgund , Jareid Mie , Lukic Marko , Oyeyemi Sunday Oluwafemi , Rudolfsen Jan Håkon , Sovershaeva Evgeniya , Skeie Guri
Published: January 2019

The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) has increased among Norwegian women, and is among the highest in the world. In order to understand this increase, country specific dietary exposures have been investigated. The aim of this study was to quantify the association between consumption of brown cheese, a common bread topping in Norway, and colorectal, colon, and rectal cancer in the prospective Norwegian Women and Cancer (NOWAC) Study. Data on brown cheese consumption and adjustment factors was available for 82 527 women. During a mean of 14.6 years of follow-up (1.2 million person-years), there were 1360 cases of colorectal cancer (907 colon; 453 rectal). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for colorectal, colon, and rectal cancer sites. We modelled restricted cubic splines with 4 knots, to assess a possible non-linear relationship between brown cheese intake and the investigated cancer sites. In the age-adjusted model, consumption of more than 2 slices (>16 grams) of brown cheese per day was associated with 13% reduced risk of colon cancer (95% CI 4%-21%) compared to women who did not consume brown cheese. The multivariable-adjusted model, however, showed no association between brown cheese consumption and the risk of colorectal, colon, or rectal cancer (colorectal: HR = 0.93, 95% CI 0.76–1.13, p-trend 0.37; colon: HR = 0.83, 95% CI 0.65–1.06; p-trend = 0.10; rectal: HR = 1.16, 95% CI 0.84–1.1.61, p-trend = 0.41). In this large, prospective cohort study of women, consumption of brown cheese was suggestively protective against colon cancer. However, adjustment attenuated the inverse risk association. Brown cheese consumption was not associated with rectal cancer, or colorectal cancer overall.
Comparison of whole-body MRI, bone scan, and radiographic skeletal survey for lesion detection and risk stratification of Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis
Authors: Kim Jeong Rye , Yoon Hee Mang , Jung Ah Young , Cho Young Ah , Seo Jong Jin , Lee Jin Seong
Published: January 2019

Accurate risk stratification according to the extent of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) determined on whole-body evaluation is important for determining the treatment plans and prognosis in patients with LCH. This study aimed to compare the lesion detectability and the accuracy of risk stratification of skeletal survey, bone scan, and whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) in patients with LCH. Patients with newly-diagnosed LCH who underwent all three imaging modalities were retrospectively included (n = 46). The sensitivity and mean number of false-positives per patient for LCH lesions, and the accuracy of risk stratification of each modality were assessed. WB-MRI had significantly higher sensitivity (99.0%; 95% confidence interval, 93.2–99.9%) than skeletal survey (56.6%; p < 0.0001) and bone scan (38.4%; p < 0.0001) for LCH lesions, and there were no significant differences in the number of false-positives per patient (p > 0.017). WB-MRI tended to have higher accuracy for the risk stratification than skeletal survey and bone scan (concordance rate of 0.98, 0.91, and 0.83, respectively), although the differences were not significant (overall p-value 0.066). In conclusion, WB-MRI had higher detectability for LCH lesions than skeletal survey and bone scan, while the three whole-body imaging modalities had comparable accuracy in the initial risk stratification of LCH.
Contagious yawning in virtual reality is affected by actual, but not simulated, social presence
Authors: Gallup Andrew C. , Vasilyev Daniil , Anderson Nicola , Kingstone Alan
Published: January 2019

Contagious yawning occurs in humans and a few other highly social animals following the detection of yawns in others, yet the factors influencing the propagation of this response remain largely unknown. Stemming from earlier laboratory research, we conducted five experiments to investigate the effects of social presence on contagious yawning in virtual reality (VR). We show that, similar to a traditional laboratory setting, having a researcher present during testing significantly inhibited contagious yawning in VR, even though participants were viewing a virtual environment and unable to see the researcher. Unlike previous research, however, manipulating the social presence in VR (i.e., embedding recording devices and humanoid avatars within the simulation) did not affect contagious yawning. These experiments provide further evidence that social presence is a powerful deterrent of yawning in humans, which warrants further investigation. More generally, these findings also have important applications for the use of VR in psychological research. While participants were quite sensitive to social stimuli presented in VR, as evidenced by contagious yawning, our results suggest a major difference in the influence of social factors within real-world and virtual environments. That is, social cues in actual reality appear to dominate and supersede those in VR.
Cancer cell migration on elongate protrusions of fibroblasts in collagen matrix
Authors: Miyazaki Kaoru , Oyanagi Jun , Hoshino Daisuke , Togo Shinsaku , Kumagai Hiromichi , Miyagi Yohei
Published: January 2019

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play critical roles in the tumor progression. However, it remains unclear how cancer cells migrate in the three-dimensional (3D) matrix of cancer tissues and how CAFs support the cancer invasion. Here we propose a novel mechanism of fibroblast-dependent cancer cell invasion in the 3D collagen matrix. Human cancer cell lines from the pancreas (Panc-1), lung (A549) and some other organs actively adhered to normal fibroblasts and primary lung CAFs in cultures. To show its significance in tumor invasion, we designed a new invasion assay in which homogeneous microspheroids consisting of cancer cells and fibroblasts were embedded into collagen gel. Time-lapse experiments showed that cancer cells adhered to and quickly migrated on the long protrusions of fibroblasts in the 3D collagen matrix. Fibroblast-free cancer cells poorly invaded the matrix. Experiments with function-blocking antibodies, siRNAs, and immunocytochemistry demonstrated that cancer cells adhered to fibroblasts through integrin α5β1-mediated binding to fibronectin on the surface of fibroblasts. Immunochemical analyses of the co-cultures and lung cancers suggested that cancer cells could acquire the migratory force by the fibronectin/integrin signaling. Our results also revealed that the fibroblast-bound fibronectin was a preferential substrate for cancer cells to migrate in the collagen matrix.
Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) expression patterns in pearl oyster (Pinctada fucata) somatic tissues
Authors: Huang Songqian , Ichikawa Yuki , Igarashi Yoji , Yoshitake Kazutoshi , Kinoshita Shigeharu , Omori Fumito , Maeyama Kaoru , Nagai Kiyohito , Watabe Shugo , Asakawa Shuichi
Published: January 2019

Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) belong to a recently discovered class of small non-coding RNAs whose best-understood function is repressing transposable element activity. Most piRNA studies have been conducted on model organisms and little is known about piRNA expression and function in mollusks. We performed high-throughput sequencing of small RNAs extracted from the mantle, adductor muscle, gill, and ovary tissues of the pearl oyster, Pinctada fucata. RNA species with sequences of approximately 30 nt were widely expressed in all tissues. Uridine at the 5′ terminal and protection from β-elimination at the 3′ terminal suggested that these were putative piRNAs. A total of 18.0 million putative piRNAs were assigned to 2.8 million unique piRNAs, and 35,848 piRNA clusters were identified. Mapping to the reference genome showed that 25% of the unique piRNAs mapped to multiple tandem loci on the scaffold. Expression patterns of the piRNA clusters were similar within the somatic tissues, but differed significantly between the somatic and gonadal tissues. These findings suggest that in pearl oysters piRNAs have important and novel functions beyond those in the germ line.
Targeting HIV-1 Protease Autoprocessing for High-throughput Drug Discovery and Drug Resistance Assessment
Authors: Huang Liangqun , Li Linfeng , Tien ChihFeng , LaBarbera Daniel V. , Chen Chaoping
Published: January 2019

HIV-1 protease autoprocessing liberates the free mature protease from its Gag-Pol polyprotein precursor through a series of highly regulated autoproteolysis reactions. Herein, we report the development and validation (Z’ ≥ 0.50) of a cell-based functional assay for high-throughput screening (HTS) of autoprocessing inhibitors using fusion precursors in combination with AlphaLISA (amplified luminescent proximity homogeneous assay ELISA). Through pilot screening of a collection of 130 known protease inhibitors, the AlphaLISA assay confirmed all 11 HIV protease inhibitors in the library capable of suppressing precursor autoprocessing at low micromolar concentrations. Meanwhile, other protease inhibitors had no impact on precursor autoprocessing. We next conducted HTS of ~23,000 compounds but found no positive hits. Such high selectivity is advantageous for large-scale HTS campaigns and as anticipated based on assay design because a positive hit needs simultaneously to be nontoxic, cell permeable, and inhibiting precursor autoprocessing. Furthermore, AlphaLISA quantification of fusion precursors carrying mutations known to cause resistance to HIV protease inhibitors faithfully recapitulated the reported resistance, suggesting that precursor autoprocessing is a critical step contributing to drug resistance. Taken together, this reported AlphaLISA platform will provide a useful tool for drug discovery targeting HIV-1 protease autoprocessing and for quantification of PI resistance.
Temperature-induced amperometric glucose biosensor based on a poly(N-vinylcaprolactam)/graphene oxide composite film
Authors: Chen Chao , Zhao Pengcheng , Ni Meijun , Li Chunyan , Xie Yixi , Fei Junjie
Published: January 2019

A temperature-induced sensing film consisting of poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) (PVCL), graphene oxide (GO) and glucose oxidase (GOD) was fabricated and used to modify a glassy carbon electrode (GCE).
Emerging trends in sensors based on carbon nitride materials
Authors: Xavier Marilyn Mary , Nair P. Radhakrishnan , Mathew Suresh
Published: January 2019

A new class of functional materials, carbon nitrides, has recently attracted the attention of researchers.
A rapid multi-class, multi-residue UHPLC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of anticoagulant rodenticides, pesticides and veterinary medicines in wild animals, pets and livestock
Authors: Taylor Michael Jeffrey , Giela Anna , Sharp Elizabeth Ann , Senior Claire Catherine , Vyas Devanshi Shashikant
Published: January 2019

UHPLC-MS/MS method simultaneously detects, identifies and quantifies over 150 multi-class chemicals that could contaminate or poison wildlife, pets or livestock.
Biomaterials Science Emerging Investigators 2019
Authors: Elisseeff J.
Published: January 2019

This themed issue of Biomaterials Science highlights the work of emerging investigators in the field of biomaterials science. Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Elisseeff introduces the issue.
Photoenzymatic epoxidation of styrenes
Authors: van Schie Morten M. C. H. , Paul Caroline E. , Arends Isabel W. C. E. , Hollmann Frank
Published: January 2019

Photochemical reduction of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) enables the direct, non-enzymatic regeneration of styrene monooxygenase for enantiospecific epoxidation reactions.
Electrochemically driven interfacial halogen bonding on self-assembled monolayers for anion detection
Authors: Hijazi Hussein , Vacher Antoine , Groni Sihem , Lorcy Dominique , Levillain Eric , Fave Claire , Schöllhorn Bernd
Published: January 2019

The concept of anion detection via reversible electrochemically driven charge-assisted halogen bonding in solution was transferred on the surface.
A clickable glutamine (CliQ) derivative for the traceless reversible modification of peptides and proteins
Authors: Whedon Samuel D. , Parker Marissa K. , Tyson Elizabeth L. , Ritterhoff Tobias , Shelton Patrick M. M. , Chatterjee Champak
Published: January 2019

The Cu(i)-mediated click reaction of proteins with affinity tags enables their selective isolation from complex mixtures.
A photoinduced Wolff rearrangement/Pd-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition sequence: an unexpected route to tetrahydrofurans
Authors: Liu Jie , Li Miao-Miao , Qu Bao-Le , Lu Liang-Qiu , Xiao Wen-Jing
Published: January 2019

A novel sequential reaction that combines a visible light-induced Wolff rearrangement of α-diazoketones and a Pd-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition of vinyl cyclopropanes with the resulting ketenes is described in this work.
Synthesis of monodisperse ferromagnetic CoxFe3−xO4colloidal particles with magnetically tunable optical properties
Authors: Li Yanlin , Lu Xuegang , Yang Sen , Duan Wenyuan , Zhang Yin , Zhou Chao , Li Kaili , Zhang Yanjun , Shi Qian
Published: January 2019

Monodisperse CoxFe3–xO4colloidal particles with uniform size and tunable composition have been prepared using a one-step hydrothermal method.
5-Mercaptotetrazolyl-derived metallaboratranes
Authors: Hill Anthony F. , Schwich Torsten , Xiong Yaoyao
Published: January 2019

The salts Na[H2B(tttBu)2] and Na[HB(tttBu)3] (tttBu = 1-tert.butyl-5-thiotetrazole have been used to provide the new metallaboratranes [Ru(CO)(PPh3){κ4-B,S,S′,S′′-B(tttBu)3}], [IrH(CO)(PPh3){κ3-B,S,S′-BH(tttBu)2}] and [Ru(CO)(PPh3)2{κ3-B,S,S′-BH(tttBu)2}].
Three-component 3-(phosphoryl)methylindole synthesis from indoles, H-phosphine oxides and carbonyl compounds under metal-free conditions
Authors: Pan Jiaoting , Zhao Runmin , Guo Jiami , Ma Dumei , Xia Ying , Gao Yuxing , Xu Pengxiang , Zhao Yufen
Published: January 2019

The first facile and efficient acid-catalyzed three-component reaction of indoles, H-phosphine oxides and carbonyl compounds has been developed, providing a general, one-pot approach to structurally diverse C3-alkylated indole derivatives.
Spatiotemporal quantification of acoustic cell patterning using Voronoï tessellation
Authors: Armstrong James P. K. , Maynard Stephanie A. , Pence Isaac J. , Franklin Amanda C. , Drinkwater Bruce W. , Stevens Molly M.
Published: January 2019

A new image analysis method based on Voronoï tessellation that enables quantitative and spatiotemporal characterization of acoustic cell patterning.
Improvement of lipidic bicontinuous cubic phases by the addition of a zwitterion with strong hydration ability and kosmotropicity
Authors: Takeuchi Rika , Ichikawa Takahiro
Published: January 2019

The water activity of lipidic bicontinuous cubic phases is successfully reduced by adding an imidazolium-based zwitterion with strong hydration ability and kosmotropicity.
Thiophene containing microporous and mesoporous nanoplates for separation of mercury from aqueous solution
Authors: Modak Arindam , Das Sankar , Chanda Dipak Kr. , Samanta Arnab , Jana Subhra
Published: January 2019

Thiophene-based novel porous polymeric nanoplates synthesized through a template free approach show high mercury capture efficiency from contaminated water and may be promising for environmental applications.
Synthesis of helical poly(phenylacetylene) derivatives bearing diastereomeric pendants for enantioseparation by HPLC
Authors: Zhou Yanli , Zhang Chunhong , Ma Rui , Liu Lijia , Dong Hongxing , Satoh Toshifumi , Okamoto Yoshio
Published: January 2019

Four novel helical poly(phenylacetylene) derivatives bearing diastereomeric pendants were prepared and used as CSPs in HPLC for enantioseparation.
Graphene oxide nanocomposite hydrogel based on poly(acrylic acid) grafted onto salep: an adsorbent for the removal of noxious dyes from water
Authors: Rezanejade Bardajee Ghasem , Sadat Hosseini Samaneh , Vancaeyzeele Cedric
Published: January 2019

In this study, a graphene oxide nanocomposite hydrogel (GONH) based on poly(acrylic acid) grafted onto a natural salep polysaccharide was synthesized and investigated as an adsorbent for the removal of cationic dye from aqueous solution.
Discovery of novel amide tripeptides as pancreatic lipase inhibitors by virtual screening
Authors: Stefanucci Azzurra , Dimmito Marilisa Pia , Zengin Gokhan , Luisi Grazia , Mirzaie Sako , Novellino Ettore , Mollica Adriano
Published: January 2019

A virtual screening workflow for the discovery of pancreatic lipase inhibitors.
High-performance field emission based on nanostructured tin selenide for nanoscale vacuum transistors
Authors: Nguyen Huu Duy , Kang Joon Sang , Li Man , Hu Yongjie
Published: January 2019

Rational design of two-dimensional tin selenide (SnSe) nanostructures enables high-performance field emission for developing nanoscale vacuum transistors.
In-place bonded semiconductor membranes as compliant substrates for III–V compound devices
Authors: Garcia Jr. Ailton J. , Rodrigues Leonarde N. , Covre da Silva Saimon Filipe , Morelhão Sergio L. , Couto Jr. Odilon D. D. , Iikawa Fernando , Deneke Christoph
Published: January 2019

Overcoming the critical thickness limit in pseudomorphic growth of lattice mismatched heterostructures is a fundamental challenge in heteroepitaxy.
The photoluminescence mechanism of CsPb2Br5 microplates revealed by spatially resolved single particle spectroscopy
Authors: Zhang Tianxiang , Chen Zhihui , Shi Yumeng , Xu Qing-Hua
Published: January 2019

Three different emission centers with different photoluminescence lifetimes were identified in CsPb2Br5 microplates with the primary contribution from embedded CsPbBr3 nanocrystals.
Observation and implication of halide exchange beyond CsPbX3 perovskite nanocrystals
Authors: Jia Chao , Li Hui , Tan Longfei , Meng Xianwei , Gao Jianbo , Li Hongbo
Published: January 2019

Internanocrystal halide exchange between CsPbX3 perovskite nanocrystals and cesium based non-perovskite nanocrystals has been studied for the first time.
Dual-functional melanin-based nanoliposomes for combined chemotherapy and photothermal therapy of pancreatic cancer
Authors: Wang Jian , Chai Jiasui , Liu Lei , Cui Zilin , Duan Dongming , Shi Rui , Zhang Yamin
Published: January 2019

GEM-Mel-Lip converted light to heat based on melanin after entering the tumor cells, and then the phospholipid fluidity was increased under the hyperthermia generated, resulting in the release of GEM.
3D printing with 2D colloids: designing rheology protocols to predict ‘printability’ of soft-materials
Authors: Corker Andrew , Ng Henry C.-H. , Poole Robert J. , García-Tuñón Esther
Published: January 2019

Delving into the ‘printability’ ofsoft matterusing bespoke rheological protocols on suspensions and gels of 2D colloids.
Correction: Facile synthesis of size-tunable tin arsenide nanocrystals
Authors: Tallapally Venkatesham , Damma Devaiah , Darmakkolla Srikar Rao
Published: January 2019

Correction for ‘Facile synthesis of size-tunable tin arsenide nanocrystals’ by Venkatesham Tallapally et al., Chem. Commun., 2019, DOI: 10.1039/c8cc08101h.
Computational modeling of RNA 3D structure based on experimental data
Authors: Ponce-Salvatierra Almudena , Astha  , Merdas Katarzyna , Nithin Chandran , Ghosh Pritha , Mukherjee Sunandan , Bujnicki Janusz M.
Published: January 2019

RNA molecules are master regulators of cells. They are involved in a variety of molecular processes: they transmit genetic information, sense cellular signals and communicate responses, and even catalyze chemical reactions. As in the case of proteins, RNA function is dictated by its structure and by its ability to adopt different conformations, which in turn is encoded in the sequence. Experimental determination of high-resolution RNA structures is both laborious and difficult, and therefore the majority of known RNAs remain structurally uncharacterized. To address this problem, predictive computational methods were developed based on the accumulated knowledge of RNA structures determined so far, the physical basis of the RNA folding, and taking into account evolutionary considerations, such as conservation of functionally important motifs. However, all theoretical methods suffer from various limitations, and they are generally unable to accurately predict structures for RNA sequences longer than 100-nt residues unless aided by additional experimental data. In this article, we review experimental methods that can generate data usable by computational methods, as well as computational approaches for RNA structure prediction that can utilize data from experimental analyses. We outline methods and data types that can be potentially useful for RNA 3D structure modeling but are not commonly used by the existing software, suggesting directions for future development.