bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Zebrafish as a model for studying the developmental neurotoxicity of propofol
Authors: Guo Peipei , Huang Zhibin , Tao Tao , Chen Xiaohui , Zhang Wenqing , Zhang Yiyue , Lin Chunshui
Published: June 2015

Anesthetics can cause widespread apoptotic neurodegeneration and adverse effects on synaptogenesis during early postnatal life. Synaptogenesis correlates with several proteins, including myelin basic protein (MBP). However, little is known about the adverse effects of exposure to propofol on MBP, particularly during embryonic development. Our goal was to use zebrafish to explore the effect of propofol on embryonic development, apoptosis and MBP expression. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to propofol at defined doses and stages from 6 to 48 h postfertilization by immersion. The survival rate, hatchability, aberration rate, cell apoptosis and gene expression were analyzed at defined stages. Analysis revealed that doses of 1, 2 and 3 µg ml–1 propofol were reasonable anesthetic concentrations for zebrafish embryos. These doses of propofol caused a significant decrease in hatchability and an increase in aberration rate. Moreover, 6 days postfertilization (dpf) larvae are anesthetized by immersion into water containing 1, 2 or 3 µg ml–1 of propofol. The number of apoptotic cells in the head of propofol‐treated 36 h postfertilization embryos were significantly increased, and the expression of caspases‐3, ‐8 and ‐9 were upregulated. Apoptosis was also induced in the brain of 3 dpf larvae exposed to propofol. However, propofol caused a decrease in mbp gene and protein (dose‐dependent) expression levels in the central nervous system of 3 dpf zebrafish. These data show that embryonic exposure to propofol is neurotoxic, causing increased apoptosis and decreased MBP expression. We believe zebrafish can be used as a novel model to explore the mechanisms of propofol neurotoxicity. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hydrogen bond–aromaticity cooperativity in self‐assembling 4‐pyridone chains
Authors: Anand Megha , Fernández Israel , Schaefer Henry F. , Wu Judy I‐Chia
Published: June 2015

Self‐assembling building blocks like the 4‐pyridone can exhibit extraordinary H‐bond‐aromaticity coupling effects. Computed dissected nucleus independent chemical shifts (NICS(1)zz), natural bond orbital (NBO) charges, and energy decomposition analyses (EDA) for a series of hydrogen (H‐) bonded 4‐pyridone chains (4‐py)n (n = 2 to 8) reveal that H‐bonding interactions can polarize the 4‐pyridone exocyclic C=O bonds and increase 4n+2 π‐electron delocalization in the six‐membered ring. The resulting H‐bonded 4‐pyridone units display enhanced π‐aromatic character (both magnetically and energetically) and their corresponding NH···OC interactions are strengthened. These π‐electron polarization effects do not depend on the relative orientations (co‐planar or perpendicular) of the neighboring 4‐pyridone units, but increase with the number of H‐bonded units. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Poetry and Poetic Metaphor in Teaching Leadership and Ethics
Authors: Van Buskirk William , London Michael , Plump Carolyn
Published: June 2015

One result of the overextended and frenetic academic and managerial environments in which we find ourselves is the tendency to compartmentalize many discussions into rigidified and limiting formats. This is a particular problem with ethical discourse, where ethical concerns often exist in tension with managerial rhetoric. Pressurized command and control approaches, found in both business schools and organizations, often lack the linguistic resources to enable managers to discuss the subtle, ethical dimensions of the situations they face. The current article sketches an approach to this problem through the use of poetic metaphor.
Multiplicity results for superlinear boundary value problems with impulsive effects
Authors: D'Aguì Giuseppina , Di Bella Beatrice , Tersian Stepan
Published: June 2015

We study the existence and multiplicity of solutions for a nonlinear boundary value problem subject to perturbations of impulsive terms. Under suitable assumptions on the potential of the nonlinearity, the existence of one or two solutions is established. Our approach is based on a local minimum theorem and a two non‐zero critical points for differentiable functionals. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quantitative ROESY analysis of computational models: structural studies of citalopram and β‐cyclodextrin complexes by 1H‐NMR and computational methods
Authors: Ali Syed Mashhood , Shamim Shazia
Published: June 2015

Complexation of racemic citalopram with β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) in aqueous medium was investigated to determine atom‐accurate structure of the inclusion complexes. 1H‐NMR chemical shift change data of β‐CD cavity protons in the presence of citalopram confirmed the formation of 1 : 1 inclusion complexes. ROESY spectrum confirmed the presence of aromatic ring in the β‐CD cavity but whether one of the two or both rings was not clear. Molecular mechanics and molecular dynamic calculations showed the entry of fluoro‐ring from wider side of β‐CD cavity as the most favored mode of inclusion. Minimum energy computational models were analyzed for their accuracy in atomic coordinates by comparison of calculated and experimental intermolecular ROESY peak intensities, which were not found in agreement. Several least energy computational models were refined and analyzed till calculated and experimental intensities were compatible. The results demonstrate that computational models of CD complexes need to be analyzed for atom‐accuracy and quantitative ROESY analysis is a promising method. Moreover, the study also validates that the quantitative use of ROESY is feasible even with longer mixing times if peak intensity ratios instead of absolute intensities are used. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
AGC of a two‐area multi‐source power system interconnected via AC/DC parallel links under restructured power environment
Authors: Arya Yogendra , Kumar Narendra , Ibraheem
Published: June 2015

In this paper, automatic generation control (AGC) of a two‐area multi‐source power system interconnected via alternating current/direct current (AC/DC) parallel links under restructured power environment is proposed. Each area is equipped with multipower generating sources such as thermal and hydro/gas. To execute the different market contracts in restructured power system, the optimal regulators are designed and implemented using optimal control theory. It is observed that the system dynamic results effectively satisfy the AGC requirements in restructured power system, as well as the system dynamic performance is improved by using AC/DC parallel links in comparison with that obtained with AC link as an area interconnection between the control areas. Furthermore, the eigenvalue study is performed to examine the system stability with and without AC/DC parallel links. Finally, the effectiveness of the optimal regulators is checked for the system under study with physical constraints like time delay, boiler dynamics, generation rate constraints, and governor dead band nonlinearity and variations in system parameters from the nominal values. It is shown that the optimal regulators optimized for linear system are robust enough and work well in the proposed realistic AGC system incorporating physical constraints and wide variations in parameters. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thermal stability of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐4‐hydroxybutyrate)/modified montmorillonite bio‐nanocomposites
Authors: Wang Xiaoping , Zhang Hao , Liu Meijun , Jia Demin
Published: June 2015

Poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐4‐hydroxybutyrate) (P34HB)/modified montmorillonite (EMMT) bio‐nanocomposites were prepared via melt intercalation method. The thermal stability of the bio‐nanocomposites was investigated. The results showed that the decomposition temperature (T5%) of P34HB/EMMT bio‐nanocomposite reached 271.4°C, 39.9°C higher than that of pure P34HB. The remarkable thermal stability enhancement was presumably originated from the uniform dispersion of EMMT in the matrix and intercalated structures of P34HB/EMMT bio‐nanocomposites, which was related to the increased compatibility of EMMT and P34HB caused by the ester group in EMMT. TGA‐FTIR analysis on the thermal degradation procedures of the bio‐nanocomposites manifested that the introduction of EMMT did not alter the degradation mechanism of P34HB. However, the intercalated structures hindered the mobility of P34HB macromolecular and slowed down the decomposing process of P34HB. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:673–681, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers
Studies on coconut shell powder and crysnanoclay incorporated acrylonitrile‐butadiene rubber/ styrene butadiene rubber (NBR/SBR) green nanocomposites
Authors: Pashaei Shahryar , Hosseinzadeh Soleyman , Syed Akheel Ahmed
Published: June 2015

The development of commercially viable “green products” based on natural resources for both matrices and reinforcements for a wide range of applications is on the rise. This effort includes new pathways to produce natural polymers with better mechanical properties and thermal stability using nanotechnology and use of naturally occurring fillers such as lignocellulosic and hemicellulose to make biodegradable rubber composites. The blends of acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) and styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) with coconut shell powder (CSP) have been prepared by using a compounding technique in presence of different amounts of crysnanoclay (CN). The effect of CN loading on tensile properties, thermal properties, swelling behavior, and water uptake behavior were studied. Significant improvement of Young's modulus and tensile strength was observed as a result of addition of nanoclay to the rubber matrix especially at 10 wt% loading. Presence of CSP resulted in ahigher in water sorption but after incorporation of CN the water sorption tended to decrease. Thermal characteristics were performed using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). TGA thermograms indicated that incorporation of CSP filler decreases the thermal stability of nanocomposites. The dispersion of CSP and CN in rubber matrix was analyzed from scanning electron microscopy. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:727–735, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers
The combination of montmorillonite and silica in styrene–butadiene rubber/polybutadiene rubber tread compounds
Authors: Bao Zuguo , Tao Jie , Flanigan Cynthia
Published: June 2015

Montmorillonite and silica were used as fillers combined with Si69 as their coupling agent in styrene–butadiene rubber/polybutadiene rubber tread compounds to evaluate their interaction and influences on structure and properties of nanocomposites. Microstructure, filler dispersion, curing properties, and tire performance of the compounded rubber were investigated with the aid of X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, rheometer, and dynamic‐mechanical analysis, respectively. The results showed that montmorillonite could react with coupling agent and their reaction rate was higher than silica/Si69. The dispersion and exfoliation was promoted by the existence of silica. Fully exfoliated montmorillonite were formed when the montmorillonite/silica ratio was 14 or lower, and the as‐prepared rubber compounds displayed well‐balanced properties. Additionally, coupling agent also influenced the curing kinetics, dynamic, and mechanical properties of the tread compounds. But the structure was not affected by the usage amount of Si69. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:918–926, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers
SUPPORTING STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH: THE ROLE OF THE SCHOOL NURSE IN COORDINATED SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH CARE
Authors: Bohnenkamp Jill H. , Stephan Sharon H. , Bobo Nichole
Published: June 2015

School nurses play a critical role in the provision of mental health services in the school environment and are valuable members of the coordinated student mental health team. They possess expertise to navigate in today's complicated educational and health care systems, and it is estimated that school nurses spend 33% of their time addressing student mental health issues. Despite their role and expertise, school nurses are often not recognized as part of the school mental health team and, thus, their role in student mental health care and the full collaboration and coordination with other education and mental health professionals in the school has yet to be fully realized. This article reviews school nurse mental health expertise, models of mental health service provision, and current mental health practices as reported by national stakeholders. In addition, it highlights school nurse barriers and additional training needs related to student mental health care and provides concrete recommendations for building strong collaborations between school nurses and other education and mental health professionals to support student mental health.
Microstructure and Texture Evolution in Non‐oriented Electrical Steels Along Novel Strip Casting Route and Conventional Route
Authors: Liu Hai‐Tao , Schneider J. , Stöcker A. , Franke A. , Gao Fei , Song Hong‐Yu , Liu Zhen‐Yu , Kawalla R. , Wang Guo‐Dong
Published: June 2015

In this article, evolution of microstructure and texture in non‐oriented electrical steels along novel strip casting route and conventional route are comparatively investigated in detail. It demonstrates the similar and important role of the microstructure and texture prior to cold rolling to finally obtain desirable recrystallization microstructure and texture in both routes. In both routes, a high intensity of cube‐fiber texture and a low intensity of γ‐fiber texture can be acquired in hot strips by optimizing the hot rolling and thermal treatment parameters. Accordingly, after cold rolling and annealing, a lower intensity of γ‐fiber texture together with a higher intensity of cube‐fiber texture, which are favorable for high‐permeability materials, can be obtained in both routes. The desired large grain size in the finally annealed materials to obtain low magnetic losses may be gained by choosing appropriate annealing conditions after the first stage of recrystallization. The features of microstructure and texture are similar at comparable stages. The main differences in the regarded different processing routes are in the practical efforts. The detailed results and deeply corresponding discussion on how the microstructure and texture develop during cold rolling and annealing in differently processed samples will be given in the future work.
Threat processing: models and mechanisms
Authors: Bentz Dorothée , Schiller Daniela
Published: June 2015

The experience of fear is closely linked to the survival of species. Fear can be conceptualized as a brain state that orchestrates defense reactions to threats. To avoid harm, an organism must be equipped with neural circuits that allow learning, detecting, and rapidly responding to threats. Past experience with threat can transform neutral stimuli present at the time of experience into learned threat‐related stimuli via associative learning. Pavlovian threat conditioning is the central experimental paradigm to study associative learning. Once learned, these stimulus–response associations are not always expressed depending on context or new experiences with the conditioned stimuli. Neural circuits mediating threat learning have the inherent plasticity to adapt to changing environmental threats. Encounters devoid of danger pave the way for extinction or reconsolidation to occur. Extinction and reconsolidation can both lead to changes in the expression of threat‐induced defense responses, but differ in stability and have a different neural basis. This review presents the behavioral models and the system‐level neural mechanisms in animals and humans of threat learning and modulation. WIREs Cogn Sci 2015, 6:427–439. doi: 10.1002/wcs.1353

This article is categorized under:

Psychology > Emotion and Motivation

Psychology > Memory

Psychology > Theory and Methods
Small molecules inhibiting the nuclear localization of YAP/TAZ for chemotherapeutics and chemosensitizers against breast cancers
Authors: Oku Yusuke , Nishiya Naoyuki , Shito Toshiya , Yamamoto Reiichiro , Yamamoto Yasufumi , Oyama Chihiro , Uehara Yoshimasa
Published: June 2015

YAP and TAZ oncoproteins confer malignancy and drug resistance to various cancer types. We screened for small molecules that inhibit the nuclear localization of YAP/TAZ. Dasatinib, statins and pazopanib inhibited the nuclear localization and target gene expression of YAP and TAZ. All three drugs induced phosphorylation of YAP and TAZ, and pazopanib induced proteasomal degradation of YAP/TAZ. The sensitivities to these drugs are correlated with dependence on YAP/TAZ in breast cancer cell lines. Combinations of these compounds with each other or with other anti‐cancer drugs efficiently reduced cell proliferation of YAP/TAZ‐dependent breast cancer cells. These results suggest that these drugs can be therapeutics and chemosensitizers for YAP/TAZ‐dependent breast cancers.
Essential basic and emergency obstetric and newborn care: From education and training to service delivery and quality of care
Authors: Otolorin Emmanuel , Gomez Patricia , Currie Sheena , Thapa Kusum , Dao Blami
Published: June 2015

Approximately 15% of expected births worldwide will result in life‐threatening complications during pregnancy, delivery, or the postpartum period. Providers skilled in emergency obstetric and newborn care (EmONC) services are essential, particularly in countries with a high burden of maternal and newborn mortality. Jhpiego and its consortia partners have implemented three global programs to build provider capacity to provide comprehensive EmONC services to women and newborns in these resource‐poor settings. Providers have been educated to deliver high‐impact maternal and newborn health interventions, such as prevention and treatment of postpartum hemorrhage and pre‐eclampsia/eclampsia and management of birth asphyxia, within the broader context of quality health services. This article describes Jhpiego's programming efforts within the framework of the basic and expanded signal functions that serve as indicators of high‐quality basic and emergency care services. Lessons learned include the importance of health facility strengthening, competency‐based provider education, global leadership, and strong government ownership and coordination as essential precursors to scale‐up of high impact evidence‐based maternal and newborn interventions in low‐resource settings.
RED for PMTCT: An adaptation of immunization's Reaching Every District approach increases coverage, access, and utilization of PMTCT care in Bondo District, Kenya
Authors: Kanyuuru Lynn , Kabue Mark , Ashengo Tigistu A. , Ruparelia Chandrakant , Mokaya Evans , Malonza Isaac
Published: June 2015

Gaps exist in coverage, early access, and utilization of prevention of mother‐to‐child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services in Kenya. The Maternal and Child Health Integrated Program, led by Jhpiego, piloted an adaptation of immunization's Reaching Every District (RED) approach in Bondo District as a way of improving PMTCT care. Routine district‐level monthly summary service delivery pre‐ and post‐implementation data were analyzed. Marked improvements resulted in the proportion of HIV‐infected and non‐infected pregnant women completing four focused prenatal care visits, from 25% to 41%, and the proportion of HIV‐exposed infants (HEIs) tested at six weeks, from 27% to 78% (P < 0.001). The proportion of HEIs tested for HIV infection at 12 months was 52%, while 77% of HEIs were issued antiretroviral prophylaxis by the end of the pilot. Implementation of RED for PMTCT demonstrated that PMTCT services can be delivered effectively in the context of the existing community strategy and resulted in increased coverage, access, and utilization of care for HIV‐positive pregnant women and their children.
Implementation of the Standards‐Based Management and Recognition approach to quality improvement in maternal, newborn, and child health programs in low‐resource countries
Authors: Necochea Edgar , Tripathi Vandana , Kim Young‐Mi , Akram Nabeel , Hyjazi Yolande , da Luz Vaz Maria , Otolorin Emmanuel , Pleah Tsigue , Rashidi Tambudzai , Bishanga Dustan
Published: June 2015

The Standards‐Based Management and Recognition (SBM‐R; Jhpiego, Baltimore, MD, USA) approach to quality improvement was developed by Jhpiego to respond to common challenges faced by health systems in low‐resource settings, including poor pre‐service education, lack of resources for conventional supervisory models, and weak health information systems. Since its introduction in Brazil in 1997, SBM‐R has been implemented in approximately 30 countries and continues expanding to new places and service delivery areas. The present article: (1) describes key steps in the SBM‐R methodology focusing on provider performance assessment using evidence‐based standards; and (2) presents examples of improvements in provider performance in maternal, newborn, and child health care following SBM‐R implementation derived from routine program data, quasi‐experimental evaluations, and in‐depth case studies. SBM‐R incorporates evidence‐based methods that are known to have positive effects on healthcare quality, including audit and feedback, educational outreach visits, and checklist usage; however, further rigorous research is needed to document the population‐level impacts of the SBM‐R approach.
An exploration of flashbulb memory
Authors: Roehm Michelle L.
Published: June 2015

Flashbulb memory (e.g., memory of one's personal situation in relation to an extraordinary event, such as a surprise marriage proposal) has yet to be closely studied by consumer researchers, and its underlying processes remain a subject of ongoing investigation. These memories can be vivid and confidently held for years after the inciting event, and when maintained as such, they appear to often include information about brands and products that were present during the original action. Maintenance of flashbulb memories depends on engagement in extensive rehearsal over time, and this is enabled by oral but not written sharing of the episode.
A simple model of wave–current interaction
Authors: Tambroni Nicoletta , Blondeaux Paolo , Vittori Giovanna
Published: June 2015

The interaction between a steady current and propagating surface waves is investigated by means of a perturbation approach, which assumes small values of the wave steepness and considers current velocities of the same order of magnitude as the amplitude of the velocity oscillations induced by wave propagation. The problems, which are obtained at the different orders of approximation, are characterized by a further parameter which is the ratio between the thickness of the bottom boundary layer and the length of the waves and turns out to be even smaller than the wave steepness. However, the solution is determined from the bottom up to the free surface, without the need to split the fluid domain into a core region and viscous boundary layers. Moreover, the procedure, which is employed to solve the problems at the different orders of approximation, reduces them to one-dimensional problems. Therefore, the solution for arbitrary angles between the direction of the steady current and that of wave propagation can be easily obtained. The theoretical results are compared with experimental measurements; the fair agreement found between the model results and the laboratory measurements supports the model findings.
Phage-fused epitopes fromLeishmania infantumused as immunogenic vaccines confer partial protection againstLeishmania amazonensisinfection
Authors: COSTA LOURENA EMANUELE , CHÁVEZ-FUMAGALLI MIGUEL ANGEL , MARTINS VIVIAN TAMIETTI , DUARTE MARIANA COSTA , LAGE DANIELA PAGLIARA , LIMA MAYARA I. S. , DE JESUS PEREIRA NATHÁLIA CRISTINA , SOTO MANUEL , TAVARES CARLOS ALBERTO PEREIRA , GOULART LUIZ RICARDO , COELHO EDUARDO ANTONIO FERRAZ
Published: June 2015

Two mimotopes ofLeishmania infantumidentified by phage display were evaluated as vaccine candidates in BALB/c mice againstLeishmania amazonensisinfection. The epitope-based immunogens, namely B10 and C01, presented as phage-fused peptides; were used without association of a Th1 adjuvant, and they were administered isolated or in combination into animals. Both clones showed a specific production of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-12 (IL-12) and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) afterin vitrospleen cells stimulation, and they were able to induce a partial protection against infection. Significant reductions of parasite load in the infected footpads, liver, spleen, bone marrow and paws’ draining lymph nodes were observed in the immunized mice, in comparison with the control groups (saline, saponin, wild-type and non-relevant clones). Protection was associated with an IL-12-dependent production of IFN-γ, mediated mainly by CD8+T cells, against parasite proteins. Protected mice also presented low levels of IL-4 and IL-10, as well as increased levels of parasite-specific IgG2a antibodies. The association of both clones resulted in an improved protection in relation to their individual use. More importantly, the absence of adjuvant did not diminish the cross-protective efficacy againstLeishmaniaspp. infection. This study describes for the first time two epitope-based immunogens selected by phage display technology againstL. infantuminfected dogs sera, which induced a partial protection in BALB/c mice infected withL. amazonensis.
THE ROLE OF AGE OF ACQUISITION IN LATE SECOND LANGUAGE ORAL PROFICIENCY ATTAINMENT
Authors: Saito Kazuya
Published: June 2015

The current project examined whether and to what degree age of acquisition (AOA), defined as the first intensive exposure to a second language (L2) environment, can be predictive of the end state of postpubertal L2 oral proficiency attainment. Data were collected from 88 experienced Japanese learners of English and two groups of 20 baseline speakers (inexperienced Japanese speakers and native English speakers). The global quality of their spontaneous speech production was first judged by 10 native English-speaking raters based on accentedness (linguistic nativelikeness) and comprehensibility (ease of understanding) and was then submitted to segmental, prosodic, temporal, lexical, and grammatical analyses. According to the results, AOA was negatively correlated with the accentedness and comprehensibility components of L2 speech production, owing to relatively strong age effects on segmental and prosodic attainment. Yet significant age effects were not observed in the case of fluency and lexicogrammar attainment. The results suggest that AOA plays a key role in determining the extent to which learners can attain advanced-level L2 oral abilities via improving the phonological domain of language (e.g., correct consonant and vowel pronunciation and adequate and varied prosody) and that the temporal and lexicogrammatical domains of language (e.g., optimal speech rate and proper vocabulary and grammar usage) may be enhanced with increased L2 experience, regardless of age.
Thyroid hormones alter the transcriptome of in vitro-produced bovine blastocysts
Authors: Ashkar Fazl A. , Revay Tamas , Rho NaYoung , Madan Pavneesh , Dufort Isabelle , Robert Claude , Favetta Laura A. , Schmidt Chris , King W. Allan
Published: June 2015

Thyroid hormones (THs) have been shown to improve in vitro embryo production in cattle by increasing blastocyst formation rate, and the average cell number of blastocysts and by significantly decreasing apoptosis rate. To better understand those genetic aspects that may underlie enhanced early embryo development in the presence of THs, we characterized the bovine embryonic transcriptome at the blastocyst stage, and examined differential gene expression profiles using a bovine-specific microarray. We found that 1212 genes were differentially expressed in TH-treated embryos when compared with non-treated controls (>1.5-fold at P < 0.05). In addition 23 and eight genes were expressed uniquely in control and treated embryos, respectively. The expression of genes specifically associated with metabolism, mitochondrial function, cell differentiation and development were elevated. However, TH-related genes, including those encoding TH receptors and deiodinases, were not differentially expressed in treated embryos. Furthermore, the over-expression of 52 X-chromosome linked genes in treated embryos suggested a delay or escape from X-inactivation. This study highlights the significant impact of THs on differential gene expression in the early embryo; the identification of TH-responsive genes provides an insight into those regulatory pathways activated during development.
Circumferential stent fracture repaired using a covered stent in a 42-year-old man with coarctation of the aorta
Authors: Ayoub Fares , AlShelleh Sameeha , AL-Ammouri Iyad
Published: June 2015

We present a case of circumferential fracture of aortic coarctation stent with severe re-stentosis presenting 16 years after initial stent implantation with end-stage renal disease. The patient was treated with a covered stent using the stent-in-stent technique. The use of an ultra-high-pressure balloon was proved necessary to overcome the tight, non-compliant stenosis.
The influence of parental encouragement and caring about healthy eating on children’s diet quality and body weights
Authors: Faught Erin , Vander Ploeg Kerry , Chu Yen Li , Storey Kate , Veugelers Paul J
Published: June 2015

Objective

In order to mitigate childhood obesity, evidence on what influences children’s health behaviours is needed to inform new health promotion strategies. The present study investigated the association between parental practices and their child’s diet and body weight status.

Design

Grade 5 students and their parents completed health surveys. Parents were asked how much they ‘encourage their child to eat healthy foods’ and how much they ‘personally care about healthy eating’. Children’s diet quality and vegetable and fruit intake were assessed using an FFQ. Children’s heights and weights were measured to determine body weight status. Mixed-effects regression models were used to determine the influence of parental responses on the outcomes of interest.

Setting

Elementary schools across the province of Alberta, Canada.

Subjects

Grade 5 students (aged 10 and 11 years;n8388) and their parent(s).

Results

Most parents reported caring about healthy eating and encouraging their child to eat healthy foods at least quite a lot. Children whose parents who cared or encouraged ‘very much’ compared with ‘quite a lot’ were more likely have better diet quality and were less likely to be overweight. Children whose parents both cared and encouraged ‘very much’ compared with ‘quite a lot’ scored an average of 2·06 points higher on the diet quality index (β=2·06; 95 % CI 1·45, 2·66).

Conclusions

Health promotion strategies that aim for a high level of parental interest and encouragement of their children to eat healthy foods may improve diet quality and prevent overweight among children.
The recently described parasitoid braconid wasp, Napo townsendi (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Euphorinae: Dinocampini), forms leks and deters predators in the Ecuadorian cloud forest
Authors: Robinson Willard S. , Dority Delina E. , Kulikowski Andy J. , Shaw Scott R.
Published: June 2015

In the Ecuadorian cloud forest, males of the parasitoid braconid waspNapo townsendiShaw displayed facultative lekking, appearing both singly and in groups of 2–7 on the leaf tops of various plant species. To attract females, they constantly employed a stereotypical, spread-winged calling behaviour, apparently releasing a sex pheromone combed from the lateral metasomal exocrine glands and applied to the wings and hind legs. Aggregated males used the same posture in conspecific agonistic displays, often leading to physical fighting. While female wasps were attracted to and mated with displaying singletons, they also made a choice among aggregated males. When females approached, males vibrated their wings in a brief courtship and mounted. Details of copulation behaviour, which lasted on an average of 3–4 min, are described. Without apparent physical weaponry, the displaying wasps successfully warded off attacks from an assortment of predatory arthropods, particularly salticid spiders. We present case studies of repeated unsuccessful predation attempts by salticids. Here, we postulate that calling and release of sex pheromone may double as both an intrasexual agonistic display and an aposematic advisory to predators that the wasps employ a chemical defence.
Using the transit of Venus to probe the upper planetary atmosphere
Authors: Reale Fabio , Gambino Angelo F. , Micela Giuseppina , Maggio Antonio , Widemann Thomas , Piccioni Giuseppe
Published: June 2015

During a planetary transit, atoms with high atomic number absorb short-wavelength radiation in the upper atmosphere, and the planet should appear larger during a primary transit observed in high-energy bands than in the optical band. Here we measure the radius of Venus with subpixel accuracy during the transit in 2012 observed in the optical, ultraviolet and soft X-rays with Hinode and Solar Dynamics Observatory missions. We find that, while Venus’s optical radius is about 80 km larger than the solid body radius (the top of clouds and haze), the radius increases further by >70 km in the extreme ultraviolet and soft X-rays. This measures the altitude of the densest ion layers of Venus’s ionosphere (CO2 and CO), useful for planning missions in situ, and a benchmark case for detecting transits of exoplanets in high-energy bands with future missions, such as the ESA Athena.
Contributions of wheat and maize residues to soil organic carbon under long-term rotation in north China
Authors: Wang Jinzhou , Wang Xiujun , Xu Minggang , Feng Gu , Zhang Wenju , Yang Xueyun , Huang Shaomin
Published: June 2015

Soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics in agro-ecosystem is largely influenced by cropping. However, quantifying the contributions of various crops has been lacking. Here we employed a stable isotopic approach to evaluate the contributions of wheat and maize residues to SOC at three long-term experimental sites in north China. Soil samples were collected from 0–20, 20–40, 40–60, 60–80 and 80–100 cm after 13 and 20 years of wheat-maize rotation and SOC and its stable 13C composition were determined. Our data showed that the δ13C value of SOC varied, on average, from −22.1‰ in the 0–20 cm to −21.5‰ in the 80–100 cm. Carbon input through maize residues ranged from 35% to 68% whereas the contribution of maize residues to SOC (0–40 cm) ranged from 28% to 40%. Our analyses suggested that the retention coefficient was in the range of 8.0–13.6% for maize residues and 16.5–28.5% for wheat residues. The two-fold higher retention coefficient of wheat versus maize residues was due to the differences in the quality of residues and probably also in the temperature during the growing season. Our study highlighted the importance of crop management on carbon sequestration in agricultural lands.
Tunable room-temperature ferromagnet using an iron-oxide and graphene oxide nanocomposite
Authors: Lin Aigu L. , Rodrigues J. N. B. , Su Chenliang , Milletari M. , Loh Kian Ping , Wu Tom , Chen Wei , Neto A. H. Castro , Adam Shaffique , Wee Andrew T. S.
Published: June 2015

Magnetic materials have found wide application ranging from electronics and memories to medicine. Essential to these advances is the control of the magnetic order. To date, most room-temperature applications have a fixed magnetic moment whose orientation is manipulated for functionality. Here we demonstrate an iron-oxide and graphene oxide nanocomposite based device that acts as a tunable ferromagnet at room temperature. Not only can we tune its transition temperature in a wide range of temperatures around room temperature, but the magnetization can also be tuned from zero to 0.011 A m2/kg through an initialization process with two readily accessible knobs (magnetic field and electric current), after which the system retains its magnetic properties semi-permanently until the next initialization process. We construct a theoretical model to illustrate that this tunability originates from an indirect exchange interaction mediated by spin-imbalanced electrons inside the nanocomposite.
Phosphorylation of Pex11p does not regulate peroxisomal fission in the yeast Hansenula polymorpha
Authors: Thomas Ann S. , Krikken Arjen M. , van der Klei Ida J. , Williams Chris P.
Published: June 2015

Pex11p plays a crucial role in peroxisomal fission. Studies in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia pastoris indicated that Pex11p is activated by phosphorylation, which results in enhanced peroxisome proliferation. In S. cerevisiae but not in P. pastoris, Pex11p phosphorylation was shown to regulate the protein’s trafficking to peroxisomes. However, phosphorylation of PpPex11p was proposed to influence its interaction with Fis1p, another component of the organellar fission machinery. Here, we have examined the role of Pex11p phosphorylation in the yeast Hansenula polymorpha. Employing mass spectrometry, we demonstrate that HpPex11p is also phosphorylated on a Serine residue present at a similar position to that of ScPex11p and PpPex11p. Furthermore, through the use of mutants designed to mimic both phosphorylated and unphosphorylated forms of HpPex11p, we have investigated the role of this post-translational modification. Our data demonstrate that mutations to the phosphorylation site do not disturb the function of Pex11p in peroxisomal fission, nor do they alter the localization of Pex11p. Also, no effect on peroxisome inheritance was observed. Taken together, these data lead us to conclude that peroxisomal fission in H. polymorpha is not modulated by phosphorylation of Pex11p.
Zeno dynamics in quantum open systems
Authors: Zhang Yu-Ran , Fan Heng
Published: June 2015

Quantum Zeno effect shows that frequent observations can slow down or even stop the unitary time evolution of an unstable quantum system. This effect can also be regarded as a physical consequence of the statistical indistinguishability of neighboring quantum states. The accessibility of quantum Zeno dynamics under unitary time evolution can be quantitatively estimated by quantum Zeno time in terms of Fisher information. In this work, we investigate the accessibility of quantum Zeno dynamics in quantum open systems by calculating noisy Fisher information when a trace preserving and completely positive map is assumed. We firstly study the consequences of non-Markovian noise on quantum Zeno effect and give the exact forms of the dissipative Fisher information and the quantum Zeno time. Then, for the operator-sum representation, an achievable upper bound of the quantum Zeno time is given with the help of the results in noisy quantum metrology. It is of significance that the noise reducing the accuracy in the entanglement-enhanced parameter estimation can conversely be favorable for the accessibility of quantum Zeno dynamics of entangled states.
Th17 and Th17/Treg ratio at early HIV infection associate with protective HIV-specific CD8+ T-cell responses and disease progression
Authors: Falivene Juliana , Ghiglione Yanina , Laufer Natalia , Socías María Eugenia , Holgado María Pía , Ruiz María Julia , Maeto Cynthia , Figueroa María Inés , Giavedoni Luis D. , Cahn Pedro , Salomón Horacio , Sued Omar , Turk Gabriela , Gherardi María Magdalena
Published: June 2015

The aim of this study was to analyze Th17 and Treg subsets and their correlation with anti-HIV T-cell responses and clinical parameters during (acute/early) primary HIV infection (PHI) and up to one year post-infection (p.i). Samples from 14 healthy donors (HDs), 40 PHI patients, 17 Chronics and 13 Elite controllers (ECs) were studied. The percentages of Th17 and Treg subsets were severely altered in Chronics, whereas all HIV-infected individuals (including ECs) showed Th17/Treg imbalance compared to HDs, in concordance with higher frequencies of activated CD8+ T-cells (HLA-DR+/CD38+). Better clinical status (higher CD4 counts, lower viral loads and activation) was associated with higher Th17 and lower Treg levels. We found positive correlations between Th17 at baseline and anti-HIV CD8+ T-cell functionality: viral inhibitory activity (VIA) and key polyfunctions (IFN-γ+/CD107A/B+) at both early and later times p.i, highlighting the prognostic value of Th17 cells to preserve an effective HIV T-cell immunity. Th17/Treg ratio and the IL-17 relative mean fluorescence intensity (rMFI of IL-17) were also positively correlated with VIA. Taken together, our results suggested a potential link between Th17 and Th17/Treg ratio with key HIV-specific CD8+ T-cell responses against the infection.
Burning Graphene Layer-by-Layer
Authors: Ermakov Victor A. , Alaferdov Andrei V. , Vaz Alfredo R. , Perim Eric , Autreto Pedro A. S. , Paupitz Ricardo , Galvao Douglas S. , Moshkalev Stanislav A.
Published: June 2015

Graphene, in single layer or multi-layer forms, holds great promise for future electronics and high-temperature applications. Resistance to oxidation, an important property for high-temperature applications, has not yet been extensively investigated. Controlled thinning of multi-layer graphene (MLG), e.g., by plasma or laser processing is another challenge, since the existing methods produce non-uniform thinning or introduce undesirable defects in the basal plane. We report here that heating to extremely high temperatures (exceeding 2000 K) and controllable layer-by-layer burning (thinning) can be achieved by low-power laser processing of suspended high-quality MLG in air in “cold-wall” reactor configuration. In contrast, localized laser heating of supported samples results in non-uniform graphene burning at much higher rates. Fully atomistic molecular dynamics simulations were also performed to reveal details of oxidation mechanisms leading to uniform layer-by-layer graphene gasification. The extraordinary resistance of MLG to oxidation paves the way to novel high-temperature applications as continuum light source or scaffolding material.
Amniotic fluid stem cells provide considerable advantages in epidermal regeneration: B7H4 creates a moderate inflammation microenvironment to promote wound repair
Authors: Sun Qing , Li Fang , Li Hong , Chen Rui-Hua , Gu Yan-Zheng , Chen Ying , Liang Han-Si , You Xin-Ran , Ding Si-Si , Gao Ling , Wang Yun-Liang , Qin Ming-De , Zhang Xue-Guang
Published: June 2015

The current treatments for severe skin injury all involve skin grafting. However, there is a worldwide shortage of donor skin tissue. In this study, we examined the advantages of using human amniotic fluid stem (hAFS) cells in skin wound healing. In vitro, hAFS cells differentiate into keratinocytes (termed hAFS-K). Like keratinocytes, hAFS-K cells express the markers K5, K14, K10 and involucrin; display typical cellular structure, including a tonofibril-rich cytoplasm; and construct a completely pluristratified epithelium in 3D culture. In vivo, in a mouse excisional wound model, GFP-positive hAFS cells participate in wound repair. Co-localization of GFP/K14 and GFP/K10 in the repaired epidermis demonstrated that hAFS cells can differentiate into keratinocytes. Real-time PCR results confirmed that hAFS cells can initiate and promote early-stage repair of skin damage. During wound repair, hAFS cells did not directly secrete repair-related factors, such as bFGF, VEGF, CXCL12, TGF-β1 and KGF and provided a moderate inflammation reaction with lower expression of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, Cox2 and Mac3. In hAFS cells, the negative co-stimulatory molecule B7H4 regulates low immunogenicity, which can provide a modest inflammatory reaction microenvironment for wound repair. Furthermore, with their uniquely high proliferation rate, hAFS cells offer a promising alternative for epidermal regeneration.
An integrated approach to reveal miRNAs’ impacts on the functional consequence of copy number alterations in cancer
Authors: Li Kening , Liu Yongjing , Zhou Yuanshuai , Zhang Rui , Zhao Ning , Yan Zichuang , Zhang Qiang , Zhang Shujuan , Qiu Fujun , Xu Yan
Published: June 2015

Copy number alteration (CNA) is known to induce gene expression changes mainly through dosage effect and therefore affect the initiation and progression of tumor. However, tumor samples exhibit heterogeneity in gene dosage sensitivity due to the complicated mechanisms of transcriptional regulation. Currently, no high-throughput method has been available for identifying the regulatory factors affecting the functional consequences of CNA and determining their effects on cancer. In view of the important regulatory role of miRNA, we investigated the influence of miRNAs on the dosage sensitivities of genes within the CNA regions. By integrating copy number, mRNA expression, miRNA expression profiles of three kinds of cancer, we observed a tendency for high dosage-sensitivity genes to be more targeted by miRNAs in cancer and identified the miRNAs regulating the dosage sensitivity of amplified/deleted target genes. The results show that miRNAs can modulate oncogenic biological functions by regulating the genes within the CNA regions and thus play a role as a trigger or balancer in cancer, affecting cancer processes, even survival. This work provided a framework for analyzing the regulation of dosage effect, which will shed a light on understanding the oncogenic and tumor suppressive mechanisms of CNA. Besides, new cancer-related miRNAs were identified.
Tailoring low-dimensional structures of bismuth on monolayer epitaxial graphene
Authors: Chen H.-H. , Su S. H. , Chang S.-L. , Cheng B.-Y. , Chen S. W. , Chen H.-Y. , Lin M.-F. , Huang J. C. A.
Published: June 2015

To improve graphene-based multifunctional devices at nanoscale, a stepwise and controllable fabrication procedure must be elucidated. Here, a series of structural transition of bismuth (Bi) adatoms, adsorbed on monolayer epitaxial graphene (MEG), is explored at room temperature. Bi adatoms undergo a structural transition from one-dimensional (1D) linear structures to two-dimensional (2D) triangular islands and such 2D growth mode is affected by the corrugated substrate. Upon Bi deposition, a little charge transfer occurs and a characteristic peak can be observed in the tunneling spectrum, reflecting the distinctive electronic structure of the Bi adatoms. When annealed to ~500 K, 2D triangular Bi islands aggregate into Bi nanoclusters (NCs) of uniform size. A well-controlled fabrication method is thus demonstrated. The approaches adopted herein provide perspectives for fabricating and characterizing periodic networks on MEG and related systems, which are useful in realizing graphene-based electronic, energy, sensor and spintronic devices.
Suppression of non-radiative surface recombination by N incorporation in GaAs/GaNAs core/shell nanowires
Authors: Chen Shula L. , Chen Weimin M. , Ishikawa Fumitaro , Buyanova Irina A.
Published: June 2015

III-V semiconductor nanowires (NWs) such as GaAs NWs form an interesting artificial materials system promising for applications in advanced optoelectronic and photonic devices, thanks to the advantages offered by the 1D architecture and the possibility to combine it with the main-stream silicon technology. Alloying of GaAs with nitrogen can further enhance performance and extend device functionality via band-structure and lattice engineering. However, due to a large surface-to-volume ratio, III-V NWs suffer from severe non-radiative carrier recombination at/near NWs surfaces that significantly degrades optical quality. Here we show that increasing nitrogen composition in novel GaAs/GaNAs core/shell NWs can strongly suppress the detrimental surface recombination. This conclusion is based on our experimental finding that lifetimes of photo-generated free excitons and free carriers increase with increasing N composition, as revealed from our time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) studies. This is accompanied by a sizable enhancement in the PL intensity of the GaAs/GaNAs core/shell NWs at room temperature. The observed N-induced suppression of the surface recombination is concluded to be a result of an N-induced modification of the surface states that are responsible for the nonradiative recombination. Our results, therefore, demonstrate the great potential of incorporating GaNAs in III-V NWs to achieve efficient nano-scale light emitters.