bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Scaling up interventions for depression in sub-Saharan Africa: lessons from Zimbabwe
Authors: Chibanda D. , Verhey R. , Munetsi E. , Rusakaniko S. , Cowan F. , Lund C.
Published: April 2016

Background

There is a dearth of information on how to scale-up evidence-based psychological interventions, particularly within the context of existing HIV programs. This paper describes a strategy for the scale-up of an intervention delivered by lay health workers (LHWs) to 60 primary health care facilities in Zimbabwe.

Methods

A mixed methods approach was utilized as follows: (1) needs assessment using a semi-structured questionnaire to obtain information from nurses (n = 48) and focus group discussions with District Health Promoters (n = 12) to identify key priority areas; (2) skills assessment to identify core competencies and current gaps of LHWs (n = 300) employed in the 60 clinics; (3) consultation workshops (n = 2) with key stakeholders to determine referral pathways; and (4) in-depth interviews and consultations to determine funding mechanisms for the scale-up.

Results

Five cross-cutting issues were identified as critical and needing to be addressed for a successful scale-up. These included: the lack of training in mental health, unavailability of psychiatric drugs, depleted clinical staff levels, unavailability of time for counseling, and poor and unreliable referral systems for people suffering with depression. Consensus was reached by stakeholders on supervision and support structure to address the cross-cutting issues described above and funding was successfully secured for the scale-up.

Conclusion

Key requirements for success included early buy-in from key stakeholders, extensive consultation at each point of the scale-up journey, financial support both locally and externally, and a coherent sustainability plan endorsed by both government and private sectors.
The Needham Puzzle Reconsidered: Organizations, Organizing, and Innovation in China
Authors: Augier Mie , Guo Jerry , Rowen Harry
Published: April 2016

This paper discusses some aspects of innovation in China. As China seeks to transition to a knowledge-based economy, it may become more important for China to develop innovative technologies to sustain economic growth. How do China's history, culture, institutions, and organizations aid or hinder innovation? How does China's national innovation system compare to the innovation culture in the US, as well as other developed and emerging economies? What are the prospects for the future of the Chinese national innovation system?

Our starting point is the Needham Puzzle – the paradox that while China was once a world leader in technological development, it fell behind; the Industrial Revolution happened in Europe rather than in China. Potential explanations for the Needham Puzzle may shed light on the challenges facing innovation in modern China. We identify three factors that might help explain the Needham Puzzle; assess how the Needham Puzzle and Chinese culture and history have affected the modern innovation system; discuss comparative aspects of innovation ecosystems in the United States and elsewhere; and suggest that Chinese innovation emphasizes exploitation and refinement of existing knowledge to the exploration and development of new knowledge. We also discuss implications for the future of innovation in China.
Diet comparison between silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis) and scalloped hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini) off the south-west coast of Mexico
Authors: Flores-Martínez Isaac Antonio , Torres-Rojas Yassir Edén , Galván-Magaña Felipe , Ramos-Miranda Julia
Published: April 2016

Ecologists examine diet composition in order to assess the spatial and temporal variations in interactions between species, the impact of different species traits on the ecological network structure, and the long-term effects of the removal of different species by small-scale fisheries. In this study, our goal was to compare the diets of silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis) and scalloped hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini) off the south-west coast of Mexico in order to infer their diet preferences and spatial distributions. We sampled 164S. lewini(96 stomachs had food, 68 were empty) and 183C. falciformis(30 stomachs had food, 153 were empty) in Puerto Madero, Chiapas in 2011. The large number of empty stomachs may be the result of using longline fishing gear, which causes high stress resulting in regurgitation. Based on the index of relative importance (%IRI), the fishChloroscombrus orqueta(IIR = 27.7%) was the most important species in the diet ofS. lewini, while the squidDosidicus gigas(IIR = 34%) was the primary prey ofC. falciformis. Levin's index (Bi) and Shannon's index (H′) confirm that both sharks are generalists, as in other regions. The trophic levels ofS. lewini(TL = 4.1) andC. falciformis(TL = 4.2) are characteristic of tertiary consumers; meanwhile, the Morisita–Horn index indicates low interspecific overlap between all categories. These results confirm that these two sharks have different foraging preferences or movement patterns; thus, there is no trophic overlap between species as they play unique roles in the ecological network off the south-west coast of Mexico.
Distribution of benthic fauna in sediment grains and prop roots of a mangrove channel in south-eastern Brazil
Authors: De Souza Silva-Camacho Debora , Gomes Rafaela De S. , Santos Joaquim N.S. , Araújo Francisco Gerson
Published: April 2016

We examined the benthic fauna in four areas along a mangrove tidal channel in south-eastern Brazil, between October 2008 and August 2009. The tested hypothesis is that the most abundant groups avoid competition as they occupy different types of substrata and that the longitudinal distance from the sea also affects the occurrence of benthic fauna along the channel. We also examined the prop root epibiont fauna to describe this different community. Polychaeta was the dominant group in the sediment whereas Isopoda and Tanaidacea were the dominant groups on the prop roots. We found a tendency for higher infauna species richness and diversity in the innermost channel area during the summer. Higher abundance of epibiont fauna was also found in summer with tidal movements allowing the colonization of the prop roots of the mangrove forest by some taxa. The polychaetes Ceratocephale sp. and Laeonereis acuta had indication of habitat partitioning, with the first occurring mainly in very fine sand sediment whereas the latter preferred medium sand sediment. The microcrustaceans Chelorchestia darwini and Tanaidacea sp. 1 occurred in high abundance colonizing the prop roots. Exosphaeroma sp. was found in high abundance in infauna and epibiont fauna. The tested hypothesis of spatial partitioning of the mangrove channel by the benthic fauna was confirmed with the most abundant species occupying the substrata with different grain fractions and prop roots in different stations.
Organochlorine pesticide and polychlorinated biphenyl levels of horse mackerel (Trachurus sp.) caught from Marmara Sea coastal sites
Authors: Ulusoy Ş. , Özden Ö. , Päpke O.
Published: April 2016

The levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were assessed in horse mackerel (Trachurus sp.) samples collected monthly between October 2010 and October 2011 from four regions (Bosphorus, Bandırma, Gelibolu, Tekirdağ) in the Marmara Sea. α-Endosulfan and heptachlor were not detected in any fish samples. The annual average OCP levels among the regions ranged between 0.09–12.2 ng g−1 (wet weight), 0.8–168 (lipid weight), while the annual average PCB levels among the regions ranged between 0.55–4.98 ng g−1 (wet weight), and 7.01–116 (lipid weight), respectively. Total-DDT, total-HCH, PCB 138 and PCB 153 were the most predominant contaminants in the fish samples. There was no relation between lipid content of horse mackerel samples and residues of the contaminants. OCP and PCB levels detected in all of the fish samples were below the limits recommended by the EU Commission (2011), Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (1983), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2011) and Turkish Food Codex (2011).
First quantitative exploration of benthic megafaunal assemblages on the mid-oceanic ridge system of the Carlsberg Ridge, Indian Ocean
Authors: Sautya Sabyasachi , Ingole Baban , Jones Daniel O. B. , Ray Durbar , Kameshraju K. A.
Published: April 2016

There are few quantitative studies on deep-sea biodiversity from the Indian Ocean, particularly on the mid-ocean ridges (MOR). We investigated the benthic megafaunal community structure of the Indian Ocean MOR at the Carlsberg Ridge (CR) using underwater video observation by the Television Gripper (TVG) and Ocean Floor Observation System (OFOS) during a multidisciplinary scientific cruise in 2007. Our aim was to observe megafaunal assemblages and their variation with bottom substrate at different geological settings in the CR region. The fauna was identified at best possible taxonomic resolution from video images and data were quantified by photogrammetry. Variation of substratum type was greatest in the deeper areas of the CR region, with substrata varying from fine sediments to basalts. A total of eight substratum types and 90 megafaunal taxa, representing seven phyla, have been classified throughout the 10 transects. Faunal abundances ranged between 171.3 to 5.7 animals 1000 m−2, with higher abundances at the shallower transects, in off-axial highs, and lower at deeper zones, on the rift valley wall and floor. Cnidarians were dominant at off-axial highs while echinoderms prevailed at rift valley floor transects. Other frequently encountered faunal components were poriferans and chordates, observed at shallower as well as deeper transects. This is the first detailed investigation of megafaunal assemblages from the Indian Ocean MOR.
Changes in life satisfaction when losing one's spouse: individual differences in anticipation, reaction, adaptation and longevity in the German Socio-economic Panel Study (SOEP)
Authors: INFURNA FRANK J. , WIEST MAJA , GERSTORF DENIS , RAM NILAM , SCHUPP JÜRGEN , WAGNER GERT G. , HECKHAUSEN JUTTA
Published: April 2016

Losing a spouse is among the most devastating events that may occur in people's lives. We use longitudinal data from 1,224 participants in the German Socio-economic Panel Study (SOEP) to examine (a) how life satisfaction changes with the experience of spousal loss; (b) whether socio-demographic factors and social and health resources moderate spousal loss-related changes in life satisfaction; and (c) whether extent of anticipation, reaction and adaptation to spousal loss are associated with mortality. Results reveal that life satisfaction shows anticipatory declines about two and a half years prior to (anticipation), steep declines in the months surrounding (reaction) and lower levels after spousal loss (adaptation). Older age was associated with steeper anticipatory declines, but less steep reactive declines. Additionally, younger age, better health, social participation and poorer partner health were associated with better adaptation. Higher pre-loss life satisfaction, less steep reactive declines and better adaptation were associated with longevity. The discussion focuses on the utility of examining the interrelatedness among anticipation, reaction and adaptation to further our understanding of change in life satisfaction in the context of major life events.
The ninth stage in the cycle of life – reflections on E. H. Erikson's theory
Authors: BUGAJSKA BEATA E.
Published: April 2016

In the present paper, Erik H. Erikson's theory of psycho-social development is analysed, including a new, ninth stage proposed by his wife, Joan M. Erikson. However, a new understanding of the ninth stage is proposed, in which integrityversusdespair is still the crisis of the last stage of life regardless of the addition of the ninth stage. The crisis of stage eight takes place on the continuum between involvementversusresignation. The term ‘involvement’ is understood as the choice of one's own way of life in the world, in view of personal development oriented towards the realisation of universal values, in accordance with the ethical dimension of social ethos, and with a sense of acceptance of the changes that are the result of the human ageing process. ‘Resignation’, in turn, is understood as the second pole dynamising the conflict of stage eight, which manifests itself in the fact that no new activities are undertaken or old ones continued by an individual, out of the conviction that it is senseless to undertake any activities for his or her own development. There is, however, strength that can be engendered by the struggle of older people between involvement and resignation, namely courage. In the acquisition of courage, older people should be supported by geragogy of courage. Society needs the courage of older people and their involvement in the ethical preservation of the world.
Laser-induced fusion detonation wave
Authors: Eliezer S. , Ravid A. , Henis Z. , Nissim N. , Martinez Val J.M.
Published: April 2016

Development of a detonation wave due to α heating following short pulse laser irradiation in pre-compressed deuterium–tritium (DT) plasma is considered. The laser parameters required for development of a detonation wave are calculated. We find that a laser irradiance and energy of IL = 1.75 × 1023 W/cm2 and 12.8 kJ accordingly during 1.0 ps in a pre-compressed target at 900 g/cm3 creates an α heating fusion detonation wave. In this case, the nuclear fusion ignition conditions for the pre-compressed DT plasma are achieved along the detonation wave orbit.
How do size distributions relate to concurrently measured demographic rates? Evidence from over 150 tree species in Panama
Authors: Lima Renato A.F. , Muller-Landau Helene C. , Prado Paulo I. , Condit Richard
Published: April 2016

In stable populations with constant demographic rates, size distributions reflect size-dependent patterns of growth and mortality. However, population growth can also affect size distributions, which may not be aligned with current growth and mortality. Using 25 y of demographic data from the 50-ha Barro Colorado Island plot, we examined how interspecific variation in diameter distributions of over 150 tropical trees relates to growth–diameter and mortality–diameter curves and to population growth rates. Diameter distributions were more skewed in species with faster increases/slower decreases in absolute growth and mortality with diameter and higher population growth rates. The strongest predictor of the diameter distribution shape was the exponent governing the scaling of growth with diameter (partial R2 = 0.20–0.34), which differed among growth forms, indicating a role of life history variation. However, interspecific variation in diameter distributions was also significantly related to population growth rates (partial R2 = 0.03–0.23), reinforcing that many populations are not at equilibrium. Consequently, although fitted size distribution parameters were positively related to theoretical predictions based on current size-dependent growth and mortality, there was considerable deviation. These analyses show that temporally variable demographic rates, probably related to cyclic climate variation, are important influences on forest structure.
Care Perceptions among Residents of LTC Facilities Purporting to Offer Person-Centred Care
Authors: Donnelly Leeann , MacEntee Michael I.
Published: April 2016

Cette étude a exploré d’une manière qualitative comment les résidents des maisons de soins de longue durée (SLD) pensent et s’adaptent aux soins qu’ils reçoivent. Nous avons interrogé et observé un groupe délibérément choisi parmi des personnes âgées dans sept etablissements qui prétendent fournir des soins centrés sur la personne. Les descriptions interprétatives de la part de 43 entrevues personnelles avec 23 participants correspondaient a une réponse à la question: Comment les habitants perçoivent-ils les soins rendus dans les établissements de SLD qui se présentent comme offrant des soins centrés sur la personne? Trois thèmes dominants sont ressortis: (1) l’environnement bienveillant; (2) la préservation de la dignité; et (3) le maintien de l’autonomie personnelle. Les participants étaient sensibles à la charge de travail du personnel infirmier, mais se sentaient éloignés du personnel. Les participants ont donné des exemples de mauvais soins et une manque d’empathie, des indignités humains et des violations de l’autonomie personnelle causées par les politiques institutionnelles qu’ils se sentaient inhibiter leur capacité à recevoir des soins selon leurs propres préférences. En général, ils ont contesté les allégations de soins centrés sur la personne, mais ils s’y sont adaptés pour faire face à un environnement qui menace leur dignité et leur autonomie.
HIGH-ORDER UPWIND FINITE VOLUME ELEMENT METHOD FOR FIRST-ORDER HYPERBOLIC OPTIMAL CONTROL PROBLEMS
Authors: ZHANG QIAN , YAN JINLIANG , ZHANG ZHIYUE
Published: April 2016

We present a high-order upwind finite volume element method to solve optimal control problems governed by first-order hyperbolic equations. The method is efficient and easy for implementation. Both the semi-discrete error estimates and the fully discrete error estimates are derived. Optimal order error estimates in the sense of $L^{2}$-norm are obtained. Numerical examples are provided to confirm the effectiveness of the method and the theoretical results.
A programmable synthetic lineage-control network that differentiates human IPSCs into glucose-sensitive insulin-secreting beta-like cells
Authors: Saxena Pratik , Heng Boon Chin , Bai Peng , Folcher Marc , Zulewski Henryk , Fussenegger Martin
Published: April 2016

Synthetic biology has advanced the design of standardized transcription control devices that programme cellular behaviour. By coupling synthetic signalling cascade- and transcription factor-based gene switches with reverse and differential sensitivity to the licensed food additive vanillic acid, we designed a synthetic lineage-control network combining vanillic acid-triggered mutually exclusive expression switches for the transcription factors Ngn3 (neurogenin 3; OFF-ON-OFF) and Pdx1 (pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1; ON-OFF-ON) with the concomitant induction of MafA (V-maf musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homologue A; OFF-ON). This designer network consisting of different network topologies orchestrating the timely control of transgenic and genomic Ngn3, Pdx1 and MafA variants is able to programme human induced pluripotent stem cells (hIPSCs)-derived pancreatic progenitor cells into glucose-sensitive insulin-secreting beta-like cells, whose glucose-stimulated insulin-release dynamics are comparable to human pancreatic islets. Synthetic lineage-control networks may provide the missing link to genetically programme somatic cells into autologous cell phenotypes for regenerative medicine.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: A natural food sweetener with anti-pancreatic cancer properties
Authors: Liu C , Dai L-H , Dou D-Q , Ma L-Q , Sun Y-X
Published: April 2016

Mogroside V is a triterpenoid isolated from the traditional Chinese medical plant Siraitia grosvenorii. Mogroside V has a high degree of sweetness and a low calorific content. Herein, we found that mogroside V possesses tumor growth inhibitory activity in in vitro and in vivo models of pancreatic cancer by promoting apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of pancreatic cancer cells (PANC-1 cells), which may in part be mediated through regulating the STAT3 signaling pathway. These results were confirmed in vivo in a mouse xenograft model of pancreatic cancer. In xenograft tumors, Ki-67 and PCNA, the most commonly used markers of tumor cell proliferation, were downregulated after intravenous administration of mogroside V. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assays showed that mogroside V treatment promoted apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells in the xenograft tumors. Furthermore, we found that mogroside V treatment significantly reduced the expression of CD31-labeled blood vessels and of the pro-angiogenic factor vascular endothelial growth factor in the xenografts, indicating that mogroside V might limit the growth of pancreatic tumors by inhibiting angiogenesis and reducing vascular density. These results therefore demonstrate that the natural, sweet-tasting compound mogroside V can inhibit proliferation and survival of pancreatic cancer cells via targeting multiple biological targets.
A multi-decade dataset of monthly beach profile surveys and inshore wave forcing at Narrabeen, Australia
Authors: Turner Ian L. , Harley Mitchell D. , Short Andrew D. , Simmons Joshua A. , Bracs Melissa A. , Phillips Matthew S. , Splinter Kristen D.
Published: April 2016

Long-term observational datasets that record and quantify variability, changes and trends in beach morphology at sandy coastlines together with the accompanying wave climate are rare. A monthly beach profile survey program commenced in April 1976 at Narrabeen located on Sydney’s Northern Beaches in southeast Australia is one of just a handful of sites worldwide where on-going and uninterrupted beach monitoring now spans multiple decades. With the Narrabeen survey program reaching its 40-year milestone in April 2016, it is timely that free and unrestricted use of these data be facilitated to support the next advances in beach erosion-recovery modelling. The archived dataset detailed here includes the monthly subaerial profiles, available bathymetry for each survey transect extending seawards to 20 m water depth, and time-series of ocean astronomical tide and inshore wave forcing at 10 m water depths, the latter corresponding to the location of individual survey transects. In addition, on-going access to the results of the continuing monthly survey program is described.
Inhibition of HSV-1 Replication by Gene Editing Strategy
Authors: Roehm Pamela C. , Shekarabi Masoud , Wollebo Hassen S. , Bellizzi Anna , He Lifan , Salkind Julian , Khalili Kamel
Published: April 2016

HSV-1 induced illness affects greater than 85% of adults worldwide with no permanent curative therapy. We used RNA-guided CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to specifically target for deletion of DNA sequences of the HSV-1 genome that span the region directing expression of ICP0, a key viral protein that stimulates HSV-1 gene expression and replication. We found that CRISPR/Cas9 introduced InDel mutations into exon 2 of the ICP0 gene profoundly reduced HSV-1 infectivity in permissive human cell culture models and protected permissive cells against HSV-1 infection. CRISPR/Cas9 mediated targeting ICP0 prevented HSV-1-induced disintegration of promonocytic leukemia (PML) nuclear bodies, an intracellular event critical to productive HSV-1 infection that is initiated by interaction of the ICP0 N-terminus with PML. Combined treatment of cells with CRISPR targeting ICP0 plus the immediate early viral proteins, ICP4 or ICP27, completely abrogated HSV-1 infection. We conclude that RNA-guided CRISPR/Cas9 can be used to develop a novel, specific and efficacious therapeutic and prophylactic platform for targeted viral genomic ablation to treat HSV-1 diseases.
How to describe disordered structures
Authors: Nishio Kengo , Miyazaki Takehide
Published: April 2016

Disordered structures such as liquids and glasses, grains and foams, galaxies, etc. are often represented as polyhedral tilings. Characterizing the associated polyhedral tiling is a promising strategy to understand the disordered structure. However, since a variety of polyhedra are arranged in complex ways, it is challenging to describe what polyhedra are tiled in what way. Here, to solve this problem, we create the theory of how the polyhedra are tiled. We first formulate an algorithm to convert a polyhedron into a codeword that instructs how to construct the polyhedron from its building-block polygons. By generalizing the method to polyhedral tilings, we describe the arrangements of polyhedra. Our theory allows us to characterize polyhedral tilings and thereby paves the way to study from short- to long-range order of disordered structures in a systematic way.
Helical Majorana fermions in "Equation missing" -wave topological superconductivity of doped correlated quantum spin Hall insulators
Authors: Sun Shih-Jye , Chung Chung-Hou , Chang Yung-Yeh , Tsai Wei-Feng , Zhang Fu-Chun
Published: April 2016

There has been growing interest in searching for exotic self-conjugate, charge-neutral low-energy fermionic quasi-particles, known as Majorana fermions (MFs) in solid state systems. Their signatures have been proposed and potentially observed at edges of topological superconcuctors with non-trivial topological invariant in the bulk electronic band structure. Much effort have been focused on realizing MFs in odd-parity superconductors made of strong spin-orbit coupled materials in proximity to conventional superconductors. In this paper, we propose a novel mechanism for realizing MFs in 2D spin-singlet topological superconducting state induced by doping a correlated quantum spin Hall (Kane-Mele) insulator. Via a renormalized mean-field approach, the system is found to exhibits time-reversal symmetry (TRS) breaking "Equation missing"-wave (chiral d–wave) superconductivity near half-filling in the limit of large on-site repulsion. Surprisingly, however, at large spin-orbit coupling, the system undergoes a topological phase transition and enter into a new topological phase protected by a pseudo-spin Chern number, which can be viewed as a persistent extension of the quantum spin Hall phase upon doping. From bulk-edge correspondence, this phase is featured by the presence of two pairs of counter-propagating helical Majorana modes per edge, instead of two chiral propagating edge modes in the d + id′ superconductors.
Lipid-mediated Protein-protein Interactions Modulate Respiration-driven ATP Synthesis
Authors: Nilsson Tobias , Lundin Camilla Rydström , Nordlund Gustav , Ädelroth Pia , von Ballmoos Christoph , Brzezinski Peter
Published: April 2016

Energy conversion in biological systems is underpinned by membrane-bound proton transporters that generate and maintain a proton electrochemical gradient across the membrane which used, e.g. for generation of ATP by the ATP synthase. Here, we have co-reconstituted the proton pump cytochrome bo3 (ubiquinol oxidase) together with ATP synthase in liposomes and studied the effect of changing the lipid composition on the ATP synthesis activity driven by proton pumping. We found that for 100 nm liposomes, containing 5 of each proteins, the ATP synthesis rates decreased significantly with increasing fractions of DOPA, DOPE, DOPG or cardiolipin added to liposomes made of DOPC; with e.g. 5% DOPG, we observed an almost 50% decrease in the ATP synthesis rate. However, upon increasing the average distance between the proton pumps and ATP synthases, the ATP synthesis rate dropped and the lipid dependence of this activity vanished. The data indicate that protons are transferred along the membrane, between cytochrome bo3 and the ATP synthase, but only at sufficiently high protein densities. We also argue that the local protein density may be modulated by lipid-dependent changes in interactions between the two proteins complexes, which points to a mechanism by which the cell may regulate the overall activity of the respiratory chain.
Oxygen vacancies controlled multiple magnetic phases in epitaxial single crystal Co0.5(Mg0.55Zn0.45)0.5O1-v thin films
Authors: Zhu Dapeng , Cao Qiang , Qiao Ruimin , Zhu Shimeng , Yang Wanli , Xia Weixing , Tian Yufeng , Liu Guolei , Yan Shishen
Published: April 2016

High quality single-crystal fcc-Cox(MgyZn1-y)1-xO1-v epitaxial thin films with high Co concentration up to x = 0.5 have been fabricated by molecular beam epitaxy. Systematic magnetic property characterization and soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy analysis indicate that the coexistence of ferromagnetic regions, superparamagnetic clusters, and non-magnetic boundaries in the as-prepared Cox(MgyZn1-y)1-xO1-v films is a consequence of the intrinsic inhomogeneous distribution of oxygen vacancies. Furthermore, the relative strength of multiple phases could be modulated by controlling the oxygen partial pressure during sample preparation. Armed with both controllable magnetic properties and tunable band-gap, Cox(MgyZn1-y)1-xO1-v films may have promising applications in future spintronics.
Restoring electronic coherence/decoherence for a trajectory-based nonadiabatic molecular dynamics
Authors: Zhu Chaoyuan
Published: April 2016

By utilizing the time-independent semiclassical phase integral, we obtained modified coupled time-dependent Schrödinger equations that restore coherences and induce decoherences within original simple trajectory-based nonadiabatic molecular dynamic algorithms. Nonadiabatic transition probabilities simulated from both Tully’s fewest switches and semiclassical Ehrenfest algorithms follow exact quantum electronic oscillations and amplitudes for three out of the four well-known model systems. Within the present theory, nonadiabatic transitions estimated from statistical ensemble of trajectories accurately follow those of the modified electronic wave functions. The present theory can be immediately applied to the molecular dynamic simulations of photochemical and photophysical processes involving electronic excited states.
Carboxyl-terminal fusion of E7 into Flagellin shifts TLR5 activation to NLRC4/NAIP5 activation and induces TLR5-independent anti-tumor immunity
Authors: Lin Kuo-Hsing , Chang Li-Sheng , Tian Chun-Yuan , Yeh Yi-Chen , Chen Yu-Jie , Chuang Tsung-Hsien , Liu Shih-Jen , Leng Chih-Hsiang
Published: April 2016

Flagellin has the capacity to activate both Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) and Nod-like receptor C4 (NLRC4)/neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein 5 (NAIP5) inflammasome signaling. We fused E7m (the inactivated E7 of human papillomavirus) to either end of the flagellin protein, and the resulting recombinant flagellin-E7m proteins (rFliCE7m and rE7mFliC) were used as immunogens. Both fusion proteins activated receptor signaling to different degrees. rE7mFliC-induced TLR5 activity was 10-fold higher than that of rFliCE7m, whereas rFliCE7m activated the NLRC4/NAIP5 pathway more strongly. Therefore, these recombinant proteins provided a tool to investigate which signaling pathway is critical for the induction of antigen-specific T cell responses and anti-tumor immunity. We demonstrated that rFliCE7m induced higher levels of E7-specific IFN-gamma-secreting cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) than rE7mFliC, and a single injection with rFliCE7m but not rE7mFliC inhibited E7-expressing tumor growth in vivo. Furthermore, we confirmed that CD8+ T cells played a major role in the anti-tumor immunity induced by rFliCE7m. These findings suggested that the NLRC4/NAIP5 intracellular signaling pathway was critical for the induction of anti-tumor immunity. These observations provide important information for the rational design of flagellin-based immunotherapy.
Proximal ADP-ribose Hydrolysis in Trypanosomatids is Catalyzed by a Macrodomain
Authors: Haikarainen Teemu , Lehtiö Lari
Published: April 2016

ADP-ribosylation is a ubiquitous protein modification utilized by both prokaryotes and eukaryotes for several cellular functions, such as DNA repair, proliferation and cell signaling. Higher eukaryotes, such as humans, utilize various enzymes to reverse the modification and to regulate ADP-ribose dependent signaling. In contrast, some lower eukaryotes, including trypanosomatids, lack many of these enzymes and therefore have a much more simplified ADP-ribose metabolism. Here we identified and characterized ADP-ribose hydrolases from Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi, which are homologous to human O-acetyl-ADP-ribose deacetylases MacroD1 and MacroD2. The enzymes are capable for hydrolysis of protein linked ADP-ribose and a product of sirtuin-mediated lysine deacetylation, O-acetyl-ADP-ribose. Crystal structures of the trypanosomatid macrodomains revealed a conserved catalytic site with distinct differences to human MacroD1 and MacroD2.
Effects of anthropogenic sound on digging behavior, metabolism, Ca2+/Mg2+ ATPase activity, and metabolism-related gene expression of the bivalve Sinonovacula constricta
Authors: Peng Chao , Zhao Xinguo , Liu Saixi , Shi Wei , Han Yu , Guo Cheng , Jiang Jingang , Wan Haibo , Shen Tiedong , Liu Guangxu
Published: April 2016

Anthropogenic sound has increased significantly in the past decade. However, only a few studies to date have investigated its effects on marine bivalves, with little known about the underlying physiological and molecular mechanisms. In the present study, the effects of different types, frequencies, and intensities of anthropogenic sounds on the digging behavior of razor clams (Sinonovacula constricta) were investigated. The results showed that variations in sound intensity induced deeper digging. Furthermore, anthropogenic sound exposure led to an alteration in the O:N ratios and the expression of ten metabolism-related genes from the glycolysis, fatty acid biosynthesis, tryptophan metabolism, and Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle (TCA cycle) pathways. Expression of all genes under investigation was induced upon exposure to anthropogenic sound at ~80 dB re 1 μPa and repressed at ~100 dB re 1 μPa sound. In addition, the activity of Ca2+/Mg2+-ATPase in the feet tissues, which is directly related to muscular contraction and subsequently to digging behavior, was also found to be affected by anthropogenic sound intensity. The findings suggest that sound may be perceived by bivalves as changes in the water particle motion and lead to the subsequent reactions detected in razor clams.
Combined effects of physical exercise and education on age-related cortical thinning in cognitively normal individuals
Authors: Lee Jin San , Shin Hee Young , Kim Hee Jin , Jang Young Kyoung , Jung Na-Yeon , Lee Juyoun , Kim Yeo Jin , Chun Phillip , Yang Jin-Ju , Lee Jong-Min , Kang Mira , Park Key-Chung , Na Duk L. , Seo Sang Won
Published: April 2016

We investigated the association between self-reported physical exercise and cortical thickness in a large sample of cognitively normal individuals. We also determined whether a combination of physical exercise and education had more protective effects on age-related cortical thinning than either parameter alone. A total of 1,842 participants were included in this analysis. Physical exercise was assessed using a questionnaire regarding intensity, frequency and duration. Cortical thickness was measured using a surface-based method. Longer duration of exercise (≥1 hr/day), but not intensity or frequency, was associated with increased mean cortical thickness globally (P-value = 0.013) and in the frontal regions (P-value = 0.007). In particular, the association of exercise with cortical thinning had regional specificity in the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal, precuneus, left postcentral and inferior parietal regions. The combination of higher exercise level and higher education level showed greater global and frontal mean thickness than either parameter alone. Testing for a trend with the combination of high exercise level and high education level confirmed this finding (P-value = 0.001–0.003). Our findings suggest that combined exercise and education have important implications for brain health, especially considering the paucity of known protective factors for age-related cortical thinning.
Ectomycorrhizal fungal communities associated with Populus simonii and Pinus tabuliformis in the hilly-gully region of the Loess Plateau, China
Authors: Long Dongfeng , Liu Jianjun , Han Qisheng , Wang Xiaobing , Huang Jian
Published: April 2016

The Loess Plateau region of northwestern China has unique geological and dry/semi-dry climate characteristics. However, knowledge about ectomycorrhizal fungal (EMF) communities in the Loess Plateau is limited. In this study, we investigated EMF communities in Populus simonii and Pinus tabuliformis patches within the forest-steppe zone, in pine forests within the forest zone and the transitional zone between them. We revealed high species richness (115 operational taxonomic units [OTUs]) of indigenous EMF resources at the Loess Plateau, of which Tomentella (35 OTUs), Inocybe (16), Sebacina (16) and Geopora (7) were the most OTU-rich lineages. EMF richness within the forest-steppe zone and the transitional zone was limited, while the natural pine forest maintained diverse EMF communities in the forest zone. The changes of EMF community richness and composition along arid eco-zones were highlighted for the complex factors including precipitation, soil factors, host, DBH and altitude. Indicator analysis revealed that some EMF showed clear host preference and some taxa, i.e., genera Geopora and Inocybe, were dominant in drought and alkaline-saline conditions attributed to their environmental preference. This study revealed that EMF communities were quite limited in the forest-steppe zone, while the forest region contained diverse EMF communities in the Loess Plateau.
Brønsted activity of two-dimensional zeolites compared to bulk materials
Authors: Sauer Joachim
Published: April 2016

Different reactivity parameters yield different results for the relative acidity of zeolitic Brønsted sites in thin films and in bulk materials. Whereas the adsorption energies of ammonia and pyridine are about the same, the energy of deprotonation is much lower for two-dimensional systems than for three-dimensional systems. It is shown that this is due to the smaller effective dielectric constant of two-dimensional systems, which leads to much lower deprotonation energies, but also to much lower interaction energies between the protonated molecule and the negatively charged surface site. In the total adsorption energies, both effects nearly compensate each other.
Behaviour of oleic acid-depleted bovine alpha-lactalbumin made LEthal to tumor cells (BAMLET)
Authors: Hoque Mehboob , Gupta Jyoti , Rabbani Gulam , Khan Rizwan Hasan , Saleemuddin M.
Published: April 2016

Oleic acid (OA) complexes of human alpha-lactalbumin (α-LA) and several other proteins are effective in the killing of a variety of tumor cells.
Novel anti-diabetic and luminescent coordination compounds based on vanadium
Authors: Fernández Belén , Gómez-Vílchez Alejandro , Sánchez-González Cristina , Bayón Jakelhyne , San Sebastián Eider , Gómez-Ruiz Santiago , López-Chaves Carlos , Aranda Pilar , Llopis Juan , Rodríguez-Diéguez Antonio
Published: April 2016

Novel vanadium coordination compounds have been synthesized. Both compounds exhibit intense photoluminescence emission and showin vivoantidiabetic activity.
Sensitizing basal-like breast cancer to chemotherapy using nanoparticles conjugated with interference peptide
Authors: Sorolla A. , Ho D. , Wang E. , Evans C. W. , Ormonde C. F. G. , Rashwan R. , Singh R. , Iyer K. Swaminathan , Blancafort P.
Published: April 2016

Basal-like breast cancers are highly aggressive malignancies associated with very poor prognosis.
Development of a gas phase source for perfluoroalkyl acids to examine atmospheric sampling methods
Authors: MacInnis John J. , VandenBoer Trevor C. , Young Cora J.
Published: April 2016

A continuous perfluoroalkyl acid gas phase source was constructed to improve current atmospheric sampling techniques.
Illuminating microemulsions: ionic liquid–CdS quantum dots hybrid materials as potential white light harvesting systems
Authors: Damarla Krishnaiah , Bharmoria Pankaj , Rao K. Srinivasa , Gehlot Praveen Singh , Kumar Arvind
Published: April 2016

Ionic liquid–CdS quantum dot hybrid materials have been shown to display balanced white light emission with very high quantum efficiency.
Utilisation of gold nanoparticles on amine-functionalised UiO-66 (NH2-UiO-66) nanocrystals for selective tandem catalytic reactions
Authors: Hinde Christopher S. , Webb William R. , Chew Benny K. J. , Tan Hui Ru , Zhang Wen-Hua , Hor T. S. Andy , Raja Robert
Published: April 2016

One-pot, tandem oxidation–Knoevenagel condensation reactions unlocked by designed bifunctional hybrid catalysts.
Alumina-encapsulated vaccine formulation with improved thermostability and immunogenicity
Authors: Zhou Hangyu , Wang Guangchuan , Li Xiao-Feng , Li Yaling , Zhu Shun-Ya , Qin Cheng-Feng , Tang Ruikang
Published: April 2016

Encapsulation of vaccines within alumina, a FDA approved inorganic adjuvant, can produce a more robust vaccine formulation with improved thermostability and enhanced immunogenicity.
Adsorption and dissociation of H2O on the (001) surface of uranium mononitride: energetics and mechanism from first-principles investigation
Authors: Bo Tao , Lan Jian-Hui , Zhang Yu-Juan , Zhao Yao-Lin , He Chao-Hui , Chai Zhi-Fang , Shi Wei-Qun
Published: April 2016

The adsorption and dissociation behaviors of water as well as the accompanying H2 formation mechanisms have been investigated.
Determination of accurate electron chiral asymmetries in fenchone and camphor in the VUV range: sensitivity to isomerism and enantiomeric purity
Authors: Nahon Laurent , Nag Lipsa , Garcia Gustavo A. , Myrgorodska Iuliia , Meierhenrich Uwe , Beaulieu Samuel , Wanie Vincent , Blanchet Valérie , Géneaux Romain , Powis Ivan
Published: April 2016

Photoelectron circular dichroism is a chiroptical effect able to distinguish isomers and to determine accurately the enantiopurity of chiral compounds.
Absence of a stable atomic structure in fluorinated graphene
Authors: Boukhvalov Danil W.
Published: April 2016

Based on the results of first-principles calculations we demonstrate that significant distortion of graphene sheets caused by adsorption of fluorine atoms leads to the formation of metastable patterns for which the next step of fluorination is considerably less energetically favorable.
Adsorption of indole and quinoline from a model fuel on functionalized MIL-101: effects of H-bonding and coordination
Authors: Seo Pill Won , Ahmed Imteaz , Jhung Sung Hwa
Published: April 2016

Adsorptive denitrogenation was carried out with functionalized metal–organic frameworks in order to understand plausible adsorption mechanisms.
C3-symmetry Mo3S4 aminophosphino clusters combining three sources of stereogenicity: stereocontrol directed by hydrogen bond interactions and ligand configuration
Authors: Alfonso Carmina , Feliz Marta , Safont Vicent S. , Llusar Rosa
Published: April 2016

The reaction between Mo3S4Cl4(PPh)3(H2O)2 and (R)-PPro or (S)-PPro is diastereoselective towards the (P)-Mo3S4 configuration with the preservation of the aminophosphine chirality and the formation of a stereogenic nitrogen center.
An efficient combination of Zr-MOF and microwave irradiation in catalytic Lewis acid Friedel–Crafts benzoylation
Authors: Doan Tan L. H. , Dao Thong Q. , Tran Hai N. , Tran Phuong H. , Le Thach N.
Published: April 2016

The catalytic activity of a highly porous and stable zirconium-based metal–organic framework in the benzoylation reaction was enhanced by microwave irradiation.
Magneto-optical investigations of molecular nanomagnet monolayers
Authors: Rozbořil J. , Rechkemmer Y. , Bloos D. , Münz F. , Wang C. N. , Neugebauer P. , Čechal J. , Novák J. , van Slageren J.
Published: April 2016

Magnetic circular dichroism allows investigation of electronic spectrum and magnetism of a Langmuir–Blodgett monolayer of [Dy(Pc)2].
Redox-mediated reactions of vinylferrocene: toward redox auxiliaries
Authors: Wiles Alan A. , Zhang Xiaolu , Fitzpatrick Brian , Long De-Liang , Macgregor Stuart A. , Cooke Graeme
Published: April 2016

Redox reactions have been used to transform unreactive vinylferrocene into a powerful dienophile and reactive substrate for thiol addition reactions upon conversion to its ferrocenium state.
A chloride capturing system via proton-induced structure transformation between opened- and closed-forms of dodecavanadates
Authors: Inoue Yoshitaka , Kikukawa Yuji , Kuwajima Sho , Hayashi Yoshihito
Published: April 2016

Reactivity of the incorporated chloride was controlled by the reversible structure transformation between two distinct structures of dodecavanadates.
Phase evolution, characterisation, and performance of cement prepared in an oxy-fuel atmosphere
Authors: Zheng Liya , Hills Thomas P. , Fennell Paul
Published: April 2016

Cement manufacture is one of the major contributors (7–10%) to global anthropogenic CO2 emissions. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has been identified as a vital technology for decarbonising the sector. Oxy-fuel combustion, involving burning fuel in a mixture of recycled CO2 and pure O2 instead of air, makes CO2 capture much easier. Since it combines a theoretically lower energy penalty with an increase in production, it is attractive as a CCS technology in cement plants. However, it is necessary to demonstrate that changes in the clinkering atmosphere do not reduce the quality of the clinker produced. Clinkers were successfully produced in an oxy-fuel atmosphere using only pure oxides as raw materials as well as a mixture of oxides and clay. Then, CEM I cements were prepared by the addition of 5 wt% gypsum to the clinkers. Quantitative XRD and XRF were used to obtain the phase and elemental compositions of the clinkers. The particle size distribution and compressive strength of the cements at 3, 7, 14, and 28 days' ages were tested, and the effect of the particle size distribution on the compressive strength was investigated. Additionally, the compressive strength of the cements produced in oxy-fuel atmospheres was compared with those of the cement produced in air and commercially available CEMEX CEM I. The results show that good-quality cement can be successfully produced in an oxy-fuel atmosphere and it has similar phase and chemical compositions to CEM I. Additionally, it has a comparable compressive strength to the cement produced in air and to commercially available CEMEX CEM I.
Vitamin C boosts ceria-based catalyst recycling
Authors: Beaudoux Xavier , Virot Matthieu , Chave Tony , Durand Grégory , Leturcq Gilles , Nikitenko Sergey I.
Published: April 2016

The facile, rapid, and complete reductive dissolution of CeO2 and ceria-based oxides, known to be highly refractive materials towards dissolution, is reported for the first time in very mild conditions.
Total arsenic analysis in Californian wines with hydride generation – microwave plasma – atomic emission spectroscopy (HG-MP-AES)
Authors: Tanabe C. K. , Hopfer H. , Gilleland G. , Liba A. , Ebeler S. E. , Nelson J.
Published: April 2016

A new method was developed to determine total As in wine with HG-MP-AES with detection limits of 0.38 μg L−1.
Observation of cascade f → d → f energy transfer in sensitizing near-infrared (NIR) lanthanide complexes containing the Ru(ii) polypyridine metalloligand
Authors: Zhang Lu-Yin , Li Kang , Pan Mei , Fan Ya-Nan , Wang Hai-Ping , Su Cheng-Yong
Published: April 2016

A possible approach to achieve multiple f → d, d → f and cascade f → d → f energy transfer processes in heteronuclear Ru–Ln and Ln1–Ru–Ln2 complexes.
Various difunctionalizations of acrylamide: an efficient approach to synthesize oxindoles
Authors: Li Chen-Chen , Yang Shang-Dong
Published: April 2016

In this review, we summarize the advancement and applications in the difunctionalization of acrylamide to synthesize oxindoles based on the mechanism.
Reactivity of alkynylindole-2-carboxamides in [Pd]-catalysed C–H activation and phase transfer catalysis: formation of pyrrolo-diindolones vs. β-carbolinones
Authors: Tulichala R. N. Prasad , Swamy K. C. Kumara
Published: April 2016

[Pd]-Catalysed reaction of 3-alkynylindole-2-carboxamidesviaC–H activation leads to pyrrolodiindolones; in contrast, under phase-transfer catalysis, the same precursors afford β-carbolinones.
Synthesis of cycloalkyl substituted purine nucleosides via a metal-free radical route
Authors: Wang Dong-Chao , Xia Ran , Xie Ming-Sheng , Qu Gui-Rong , Guo Hai-Ming
Published: April 2016

The selective synthesis of C6-monocycloalkyl or C6,C8-dicycloalkyl substituted purine nucleosides could be realized. Furthermore, uracil and related nucleosides were also suitable substrates, giving the C5-cyclohexyl substituted uracil derivatives in good yields with excellent regioselectivities.