bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intensity enhancement of photoluminescent polyesters by photocrosslinking
Authors: Lim Wan‐Leng , Oo Chuan‐Wei
Published: May 2015

A series of polyesters with alkylated triazole heterocyclic rings at the branches were designed and synthesized via the polycondensation reaction. The synthesized polyesters were examined with various spectroscopic methods such as Fourier transform IR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR. The alkyl chain length at the branch was found to affect the thermal stability of the polyesters, which decreased with longer alkyl chain. These polyesters possessed an aggregation‐induced emission enhancement characteristic evidenced by the transformation of the clear solutions in tetrahydrofuran with weak greenish blue emission to cloudy solutions with enhanced blue emission when water was added to promote aggregation. Furthermore, enhancement in the photoluminescence intensity was observed when the polyesters underwent photocrosslinking upon UV irradiation and appeared as self‐assembled aggregates. The formation of aggregates in the water − tetrahydrofuran solutions and after photocrosslinking was confirmed via TEM analysis. The SEM images showed that the photocrosslinked polyesters were highly porous which may enhance the π − π stacking interaction that improved the photoluminescence intensity. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
A Naive Bayes machine learning approach to risk prediction using censored, time‐to‐event data
Authors: Wolfson Julian , Bandyopadhyay Sunayan , Elidrisi Mohamed , Vazquez‐Benitez Gabriela , Vock David M. , Musgrove Donald , Adomavicius Gediminas , Johnson Paul E. , O'Connor Patrick J.
Published: May 2015

Predicting an individual's risk of experiencing a future clinical outcome is a statistical task with important consequences for both practicing clinicians and public health experts. Modern observational databases such as electronic health records provide an alternative to the longitudinal cohort studies traditionally used to construct risk models, bringing with them both opportunities and challenges. Large sample sizes and detailed covariate histories enable the use of sophisticated machine learning techniques to uncover complex associations and interactions, but observational databases are often ‘messy’, with high levels of missing data and incomplete patient follow‐up. In this paper, we propose an adaptation of the well‐known Naive Bayes machine learning approach to time‐to‐event outcomes subject to censoring. We compare the predictive performance of our method with the Cox proportional hazards model which is commonly used for risk prediction in healthcare populations, and illustrate its application to prediction of cardiovascular risk using an electronic health record dataset from a large Midwest integrated healthcare system. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Buying bad behavior: Tournament incentives and securities class action lawsuits
Authors: Shi Wei , Connelly Brian L. , Sanders Wm. Gerard
Published: May 2015

Research summary: Tournament theory suggests that a large gap in pay between CEOs and top managers can provide incentives to perform, but we argue that it can also elicit negative effort and even motivate the kind of behavior that leads to lawsuits. We posit that this negative effort is greater when firms have high levels of unrelated diversification because there is less operational interdependency, so tournament effects are stronger. We also contend that the influence of tournament incentives on behavior leading to lawsuits is weaker when environmental uncertainty is high. We discuss the consequences of these findings for research on fraud and tournament theory as well as the practical repercussions for firms, investors, and policymakers.

Managerial summary: Each year, the press has a field day when companies announce the outsized compensation packages laid out for CEOs. Economists use “tournament theory” to describe how high CEO pay motivates everyone else to work hard to get into the top job. The problem with this approach is that, yes, top managers work harder when the gap between their and the CEO's pay increases, but as that gap widens, it also incentivizes top managers to cheat or cut corners. As a result, we find that the gap between CEO and top manager compensation predicts the likelihood that shareholders will file a securities class action lawsuit against the company. This gap in pay is an especially good predictor of lawsuits for highly unrelated diversified companies and companies facing a low level of external uncertainty. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The prevalence of occult leiomyosarcoma at surgery for presumed uterine fibroids: a meta-analysis
Authors: Pritts Elizabeth A. , Vanness David J. , Berek Jonathan S. , Parker William , Feinberg Ronald , Feinberg Jacqueline , Olive David L.
Published: May 2015

There is a concern regarding the risk of occult leiomyosarcomas found at surgery for presumed benign fibroids. We sought to produce a comprehensive review of published data addressing this issue and provide high-quality prevalence estimates for clinical practice and future research. A comprehensive literature search using the PubMed/MEDLINE database and the Cochrane Library was performed. Inclusion criteria were human studies, peer-reviewed, with original data, involving cases for surgery in which fibroid-related indications were the primary reason for surgery, and histopathology was provided. Candidate studies (4864) were found; 3844 were excluded after review of the abstract. The remaining 1020 manuscripts were reviewed in their entirety, and 133 were included in the Bayesian binomial random effect meta-analysis. The estimated rate of leiomyosarcoma was 0.51 per 1000 procedures (95 % credible interval (CrI) 0.16–0.98) or approximately 1 in 2000. Restricting the meta-analysis to the 64 prospective studies resulted in a substantially lower estimate of 0.12 leiomyosarcomas per 1000 procedures (95 % CrI <0.01–0.75) or approximately 1 leiomyosarcoma per 8300 surgeries. Results suggest that the prevalence of occult leiomyosarcomas at surgery for presumed uterine fibroids is much less frequent than previously estimated. This rate should be incorporated into both clinical practice and future research.
Subjects At‐Risk for Genetic Diseases in Portugal: Illness Representations
Authors: Leite Ângela , Dinis Maria Alzira P. , Sequeiros Jorge , Paúl Constança
Published: May 2015

This study investigates illness representations of subjects at‐risk for 3 autosomal dominant late‐onset disorders: Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy (FAP) TTR V30M, Huntington's disease (HD) and Machado‐Joseph disease (MJD), comparing them with the illness representations of subjects at‐risk for Hemochromatosis (HH). The present study included a clinical group that consisted of 213 subjects at genetic risk (FAP, HD and MJD), comprising 174 subjects at‐risk for FAP, 34 subjects at‐risk for HD and only 5 subjects at‐risk for MJD; and the control group consisting of 31 subjects at genetic risk for HH. All subjects at‐risk were undergoing the process of genetic counseling to learn their genetic status (carrier or non‐carrier). Subjects were assessed through a semi‐structured single interview, in order to obtain sociodemographic data and the answer to an open‐ended question relating to the illness representation issue: “What does this illness mean to you?/ What is this disease to you?” It was in the subjects’ metaphors that subjects best expressed what they felt regarding the disease and the situation of being at‐risk for this disease. Family is their mirror and their source of learning and, therefore, it is inevitable that family is related to the meaning of the disease itself.
Arsenic content in red‐crowned crane (Grus japonensis) and invertebrates at the bottom of food chain in Zhalong wetland, northeastern China
Authors: Luo Jinming , Ye Yajie , Gao Zhongyan
Published: May 2015

Arsenic (As) concentration was analyzed in four sediment‐inhabiting animals (Pearsonia of Mollusca Gastropoda, Enchytraeus of Annelida Lumbricidae, Cybister japonicus Sharp of Hexapoda Dytiscidae and Chipangopaludina chinensis of Mollusca Gastropoda) from 19 sampling sites and eight carcasses of red‐crowned crane (Grus japonensis) to examine As transfer along the typical food chain in Wuyur catchments, northeastern China. Results indicated that As concentration in the prey of the red‐crowned cranes was elevated via the food chain. Geo‐accumulation indices at all sites were less than 0, which suggests that this region contained background As concentration. The four aquatic animal families containing As were land snail < water snail < beetle < earthworm. The highest As concentration was found in the liver of the red‐crowned cranes (145–441 ppb) followed by the kidneys (116–258 ppb) and muscles (36–94 ppb). The eggshells of red‐crowned cranes contained relatively high As concentration, which varied from 35 to 235 ppb, whereas the feathers had the lowest concentration, with an average of 25 ppb. The dietary exposure level to As of the red‐crowned crane population in Zhalong Wetland, Northeastern China was lower than the As toxicity threshold concentration. This study reported that eggshells are suitable indicators of As risk levels in red‐crowned crane.
Study of Calc-Silicate Rocks of Hammer-Head Syncline from Southern Sandmata Complex, Northwestern India: Implications on Existence of an Archaean Protolith
Authors: Purohit Ritesh , Papineau Dominic , Mehta Prakshal , Fogel Marilyn , Rao C.V. Dharma
Published: May 2015

Existence of an Archaean protolith is suggested in present study from an ensemble of rocks named as Sandmata Complex from northwestern India which have a debatable stratigraphic status of Archaean vs. Proterozoic. Rocks of the Sandmata Complex are represented by a highly metamorphosed volcano-sedimentary complex with multiple cycles of deformation. The manifold tectono-thermal events have obscured the pristine character of the protoliths. In this work we present geochemical features of calc-silicate protolith that show consistent Archaean affinity in the Hammer-Head Syncline (HHS) from southern part of the Sandmata Complex. Notable geochemical characteristics of calc-silicate metasediments in the HHS include high Th/U, high Cr concentrations, high La/Th, moderate La/Yb, and weak positive Eu anomaly. Carbon and oxygen stable isotope compositions of these carbonate metasediments vary between −3.0 and −0.3‰ (δ13Ccarb),-11.6 and −35.0 (δ13Corg) and −19.1 and −13.4‰, (δ18O) respectively. These geochemical observations are in conjunction with the recently published Neoarchaean ages from the HHS and the proximal Hooke syncline.
MineVue Radar for Delineation of Coal Barrier Thickness in Underground Coal Mines: Case Studies
Authors: Singh K. K. K.
Published: May 2015

Disaster due to inundation is one of the major threats of coalmines. Sudden heavy inrush of high volume of water from the unapproachable and unknown waterlogged workings in underground mines is defined as inundation. There have been several instances of inrush of water due to old galleries getting connected by new development headings, resulting in disasters involving heavy fatalities and loss of machines. This type of disaster has occurred in many coal producing countries and may occur in future until a suitable tool to investigate barriers thickness is in regular use. Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) has stipulated that a safety barrier thickness of not less than 60 m must be maintained between abandoned workings and contemporary mine developments. It has been estimated that a large number of underground coal mines in India are under threat of adjacent unknown waterlogged mine workings. Therefore, evaluation of barrier thickness up to 60 m is essential to prevent mine disasters due to inundations.

Considering the above facts, a new GPR system named MineVue radar is developed having depth of penetration of 60 m subject to geo-mining conditions of Indian coalmines first time in the world. Final trial of the developed MineVue radar system was done at the Kachhi Balihari Colliery in Bharat Cocking Coal Limited (BCCL), Dhanbad. The validation of GPR data in the known mine sites were done with accurate existing mine-plans to establish the reliability and confidence of mine operators, policy makers and safety personnel.
Naive play and the process of choice in guessing games
Authors: Agranov Marina , Caplin Andrew , Tergiman Chloe
Published: May 2015

There is growing
evidence that not all experimental subjects understand their strategic environment. We introduce a “choice process” (CP) protocol that aids in identifying these subjects. This protocol elicits in an incentive compatible manner provisional choices as players internalize their decision making environment. We implement the CP protocol in the modified 2/3 guessing game and use it to pinpoint players that are naive by identifying those who make weakly dominated choices some time into the play.
At all time horizons these players average close to 50. This is consistent with the assumption in Level-K theory that the least sophisticated subjects (the naive ones) play uniformly over the [1–100] action space. In contrast, sophisticated players show evidence of increased understanding as time passes. We find that the CP protocol mirrors play in multiple setups with distinct time constraints.
Hence it may be worth deploying more broadly to understand the interaction between decision time and choice.
Fair weather avoidance: unpacking the costs and benefits of “Avoiding the Ask”
Authors: Trachtman Hannah , Steinkruger Andrew , Wood Mackenzie , Wooster Adam , Andreoni James , Murphy James J. , Rao Justin M.
Published: May 2015

If being asked to give to charity stimulates an emotional response, like empathy, that makes giving difficult to resist, a natural self-control mechanism might be to avoid being asked in the first place. We replicate a result from a field experiment that points to the role of empathy in giving. We conduct an experiment in a large superstore in which we solicit donations to charity and randomly allow shoppers the opportunity to avoid solicitation by using the other door. We find the rate of avoidance by store entrants to be 8.9 %. However, we also find that the avoidance effect disappears in very cold weather, suggesting that avoidance behavior is sensitive to its cost.
Effects of pubertal timing on deviant behaviors in Taiwan: A longitudinal analysis of 7th‐ to 12th‐grade adolescents
Authors: Tsai Meng‐Che , Strong Carol , Lin Chung‐Ying
Published: May 2015

We investigated the relationship between pubertal timing and deviant behaviors in Taiwan using Taiwan Youth Project (TYP) data. The TYP used multistage‐stratified and class‐clustered methods in 40 randomly selected schools. We analyzed 1541 adolescents (770 boys; 50.0%) who self‐reported their deviant behaviors in 7th, 8th, 10th, and 12th grades. Participants were assigned to early‐ (n = 244; 15.8%), on‐time‐ (n = 992; 64.4%), and late‐ (n = 305; 19.8%) puberty groups, and one‐way analysis of variance and latent growth modeling were used to examine the frequency of deviant behaviors between them. Early‐puberty adolescents had more deviant behaviors (mean = 0.43, SD = 0.74) than did late‐puberty adolescents during 7th grade (mean = 0.27, SD = 0.59; p = 0.004), but not after 8th grade. There were no significant differences in the deviance level between on‐time‐puberty and early‐ and late‐puberty adolescents. Moreover, puberty was not correlated with the growth of deviant behaviors, which decreased with age. However, boys seemed to engage in more deviant behaviors at the beginning, but their engagement seemed to decline faster than it did for girls. In sum, the deviance of early‐puberty adolescents seemed to diminish as they got older.
Brief report: Attention to positive information mediates the relationship between hope and psychosocial well‐being of adolescents
Authors: Yeung Dannii Y. , Ho Samuel M.Y. , Mak Christine W.Y.
Published: May 2015

This study tested the mediating roles of cognitive reappraisal and attentional preferences in the relationship between hope and psychosocial well‐being among 712 adolescents. Results of the structural equation modeling revealed that the beneficial relation of hope to subjective happiness, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and interpersonal difficulties was partially mediated by attention to positive information but not cognitive reappraisal. Findings of this study may inform the design of intervention research by highlighting the importance of hopeful thinking style and attention to positive information in mental health of adolescents.
Dynamic Modelling of Annular Plates of Functionally Graded Structure Resting on Elastic Heterogeneous Foundation with Two Modules
Authors: Wirowski A. , Michalak B. , Gajdzicki M.
Published: May 2015

The contribution is devoted to formulate an averaged mathematical model describing the dynamic behaviour of the composite annular plates resting on elastic heterogeneous foundation with two foundation modules. The plates are made of two-phased, functionally graded — type composites. In contrast to most of the papers in which material properties vary through the plate thickness, in the presented study we have dealt with the plate and foundation in which effective properties vary in a radial direction of the plate. The formulation of the macroscopic mathematical model for the analysis of the dynamic behaviour of these plates will be based on the tolerance averaging technique (Woźniak, Michalak, Jędrysiak, [ed]). This averaging method is an alternative to known asymptotic homogenization. The general results of the contribution will be illustrated by the analysis of free vibrations of the composite plates on heterogeneous foundation. The results obtained from the tolerance model were compared with the results obtained from FEM. There were compared the first four natural frequencies. A good consistency of the results from both methods was obtained.
Influence of Velocity Slip on Turbulent Features of a Drygranular Dense Flow
Authors: Fang C.
Published: May 2015

A zero-order turbulence closure model of a dry granular dense flow is proposed, with the boundary considered an energy source and sink of the turbulent kinetic energy of the grains. Muller-Liu entropy principle is carried out to derive the equilibrium closure relations, with their dynamic responses postulated from the experimental calibrations. A gravity-driven flow with incompressible grains down an inclined moving plane is studied to investigate the influence of velocity slip near solid boundary on the turbulent features of the flow. While the calculated mean porosity and velocity correspond to the experimental outcomes, increasing velocity slip on the boundary tends to enhance the turbulent dissipation nearby. The distribution of the turbulent dissipation shows a similarity with that of conventional Newtonian fluids in turbulent boundary layer flows. Boundary as an energy sink is more apparent in the zero-order model.
Special issue: Macroscopic randomness in astrophysical plasmas: The legacy and vision of Ya. B. Zeldovich
Authors: Shukurov Anvar , Sokoloff Dmitry , Schekochihin Alexander
Published: May 2015

This issue commemorates an outstanding scientist of the twentieth century, Yakov Borisovich Zeldovich, in connection with the centenary of his birth (8 March 1914), with a collection of reviews and research articles broadly related to large-scale random phenomena in astrophysical plasmas.
EQUALITY VERSUS PRIORITY: A MISLEADING DISTINCTION
Authors: Hausman Daniel M.
Published: May 2015

The question for those who are concerned with inequalities is not whether to be an egalitarian or a prioritarian. That choice is mislabelled and misconceived. The relevant question is why distributive inequalities are of more than merely instrumental importance with respect to unrelated goals, such as maximizing well-being. The answer is that lessening inequalities in well-being serves a fundamental commitment to equality of moral status. Depending on the circumstances and what is to be distributed, the underlying concern with equality of moral status (coupled with non-distributional concerns about deprivation) might make one resemble a prioritarian, a non-prioritarian egalitarian, or neither.
A theoretical and numerical approach for selecting miniaturized antenna topologies on magneto-dielectric substrates
Authors: Pacini Alex , Costanzo Alessandra , Masotti Diego
Published: May 2015

An increasing interest is arising in developing miniaturized antennas in the microwave range. However, even when the adopted antennas dimensions are small compared with the wavelength, radiation performances have to be preserved to keep the system-operating conditions. For this purpose, magneto-dielectric materials are currently exploited as promising substrates, which allows us to reduce antenna dimensions by exploiting both relative permittivity and permeability. In this paper, we address generic antennas in resonant conditions and we develop a general theoretical approach, not based on simplified equivalent models, to establish topologies most suitable for exploiting high permeability and/or high-permittivity substrates, for miniaturization purposes. A novel definition of the region pertaining to the antenna near-field and of the associated field strength is proposed. It is then showed that radiation efficiency and bandwidth can be preserved only by a selected combinations of antenna topologies and substrate characteristics. Indeed, by the proposed independent approach, we confirm that non-dispersive magneto-dielectric materials with relative permeability greater than unit, can be efficiently adopted only by antennas that are mainly represented by equivalent magnetic sources. Conversely, if equivalent electric sources are involved, the antenna performances are significantly degraded. The theoretical results are validated by full-wave numerical simulations of reference topologies.
Structural basis for dynamic mechanism of nitrate/nitrite antiport by NarK
Authors: Fukuda Masahiro , Takeda Hironori , Kato Hideaki E. , Doki Shintaro , Ito Koichi , Maturana Andrés D. , Ishitani Ryuichiro , Nureki Osamu
Published: May 2015

NarK belongs to the nitrate/nitrite porter (NNP) family in the major facilitator superfamily (MFS) and plays a central role in nitrate uptake across the membrane in diverse organisms, including archaea, bacteria, fungi and plants. Although previous studies provided insight into the overall structure and the substrate recognition of NarK, its molecular mechanism, including the driving force for nitrate transport, remained elusive. Here we demonstrate that NarK is a nitrate/nitrite antiporter, using an in vitro reconstituted system. Furthermore, we present the high-resolution crystal structures of NarK from Escherichia coli in the nitrate-bound occluded, nitrate-bound inward-open and apo inward-open states. The integrated structural, functional and computational analyses reveal the nitrate/nitrite antiport mechanism of NarK, in which substrate recognition is coupled to the transport cycle by the concomitant movement of the transmembrane helices and the key tyrosine and arginine residues in the substrate-binding site.
Characterization of genome-wide ordered sequence-tagged Mycobacterium mutant libraries by Cartesian Pooling-Coordinate Sequencing
Authors: Vandewalle Kristof , Festjens Nele , Plets Evelyn , Vuylsteke Marnik , Saeys Yvan , Callewaert Nico
Published: May 2015

Reverse genetics research approaches require the availability of methods to rapidly generate specific mutants. Alternatively, where these methods are lacking, the construction of pre-characterized libraries of mutants can be extremely valuable. However, this can be complex, expensive and time consuming. Here, we describe a robust, easy to implement parallel sequencing-based method (Cartesian Pooling-Coordinate Sequencing or CP-CSeq) that reports both on the identity as well as on the location of sequence-tagged biological entities in well-plate archived clone collections. We demonstrate this approach using a transposon insertion mutant library of the Mycobacterium bovis BCG vaccine strain, providing the largest resource of mutants in any strain of the M. tuberculosis complex. The method is applicable to any entity for which sequence-tagged identification is possible.
STED nanoscopy with fluorescent quantum dots
Authors: Hanne Janina , Falk Henning J. , Görlitz Frederik , Hoyer Patrick , Engelhardt Johann , Sahl Steffen J. , Hell Stefan W.
Published: May 2015

The widely popular class of quantum-dot molecular labels could so far not be utilized as standard fluorescent probes in STED (stimulated emission depletion) nanoscopy. This is because broad quantum-dot excitation spectra extend deeply into the spectral bands used for STED, thus compromising the transient fluorescence silencing required for attaining super-resolution. Here we report the discovery that STED nanoscopy of several red-emitting commercially available quantum dots is in fact successfully realized by the increasingly popular 775 nm STED laser light. A resolution of presently ∼50 nm is demonstrated for single quantum dots, and sub-diffraction resolution is further shown for imaging of quantum-dot-labelled vimentin filaments in fibroblasts. The high quantum-dot photostability enables repeated STED recordings with >1,000 frames. In addition, we have evidence that the tendency of quantum-dot labels to blink is largely suppressed by combined action of excitation and STED beams. Quantum-dot STED significantly expands the realm of application of STED nanoscopy, and, given the high stability of these probes, holds promise for extended time-lapse imaging.
Change in ocean subsurface environment to suppress tropical cyclone intensification under global warming
Authors: Huang Ping , Lin I. -I , Chou Chia , Huang Rong-Hui
Published: May 2015

Tropical cyclones (TCs) are hazardous natural disasters. Because TC intensification is significantly controlled by atmosphere and ocean environments, changes in these environments may cause changes in TC intensity. Changes in surface and subsurface ocean conditions can both influence a TC’s intensification. Regarding global warming, minimal exploration of the subsurface ocean has been undertaken. Here we investigate future subsurface ocean environment changes projected by 22 state-of-the-art climate models and suggest a suppressive effect of subsurface oceans on the intensification of future TCs. Under global warming, the subsurface vertical temperature profile can be sharpened in important TC regions, which may contribute to a stronger ocean coupling (cooling) effect during the intensification of future TCs. Regarding a TC, future subsurface ocean environments may be more suppressive than the existing subsurface ocean environments. This suppressive effect is not spatially uniform and may be weak in certain local areas.
Highly reproductive Escherichia coli cells with no specific assignment to the UAG codon
Authors: Mukai Takahito , Hoshi Hiroko , Ohtake Kazumasa , Takahashi Mihoko , Yamaguchi Atsushi , Hayashi Akiko , Yokoyama Shigeyuki , Sakamoto Kensaku
Published: May 2015

Escherichia coli is a widely used host organism for recombinant technology and the bacterial incorporation of non-natural amino acids promises the efficient synthesis of proteins with novel structures and properties. In the present study, we developed E. coli strains in which the UAG codon was reserved for non-natural amino acids, without compromising the reproductive strength of the host cells. Ninety-five of the 273 UAG stop codons were replaced synonymously in the genome of E. coli BL21(DE3), by exploiting the oligonucleotide-mediated base-mismatch-repair mechanism. This genomic modification allowed the safe elimination of the UAG-recognizing cellular component (RF-1), thus leaving the remaining 178 UAG codons with no specific molecule recognizing them. The resulting strain B-95.ΔA grew as vigorously as BL21(DE3) in rich medium at 25–42°C and its derivative B-95.ΔAΔfabR was better adapted to low temperatures and minimal media than B-95.ΔA. UAG was reassigned to synthetic amino acids by expressing the specific pairs of UAG-reading tRNA and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase. Due to the preserved growth vigor, the B-95.ΔA strains showed superior productivities for hirudin molecules sulfonated on a particular tyrosine residue and the Fab fragments of Herceptin containing multiple azido groups.
Brain structural alterations associated with young women with subthreshold depression
Authors: Li Haijiang , Wei Dongtao , Sun Jiangzhou , Chen Qunlin , Zhang Qinglin , Qiu Jiang
Published: May 2015

Neuroanatomical abnormalities in patients with major depression disorder (MDD) have been attracted great research attention. However, the structural alterations associated with subthreshold depression (StD) remain unclear and, therefore, require further investigation. In this study, 42 young women with StD and 30 matched non-depressed controls (NCs) were identified based on two-time Beck Depression Inventory scores. Whole-brain voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and region of interest method were used to investigate altered gray matter volume (GMV) and white matter volume (WMV) among a non-clinical sample of young women with StD. VBM results indicated that young women with StD showed significantly decreased GMV in the right inferior parietal lobule than NCs; increased GMV in the amygdala, posterior cingulate cortex and precuneus; and increased WMV in the posterior cingulate cortex and precuneus. Together, structural alterations in specific brain regions, which are known to be involved in the fronto-limbic circuits implicated in depression may precede the occurrence of depressive episodes and influence the development of MDD.
Time-dependent mechanical-electrical coupled behavior in single crystal ZnO nanorods
Authors: Kim Yong-Jae , Yun Tae Gwang , Choi In-Chul , Kim Sungwoong , Park Won Il , Han Seung Min , Jang Jae-il
Published: May 2015

Nanoscale time-dependent mechanical-electrical coupled behavior of single crystal ZnO nanorods was systematically explored, which is essential for accessing the long-term reliability of the ZnO nanorod-based flexible devices. A series of compression creep tests combined with in-situ electrical measurement was performed on vertically-grown single crystal ZnO nanorods. Continuous measurement of the current (I)-voltage (V) curves before, during, after the creep tests revealed that I is non-negligibly increased as a result of the time-dependent deformation. Analysis of the I-V curves based on the thermionic emission-diffusion theory allowed extraction of nanorod resistance, which was shown to decrease as time-dependent deformation. Finally, based on the observations in this study, a simple analytical model for predicting the reduction in nanorod resistance as a function of creep strain that is induced from diffusional mechanisms is proposed and this model was demonstrated to be in an excellent agreement with the experimental results.
Chronic hypoxia in pregnancy affected vascular tone of renal interlobar arteries in the offspring
Authors: Tang Jiaqi , Zhu Zhoufeng , Xia Shuixiu , Li Na , Chen Ningjing , Gao Qinqin , Li Lingjun , Zhou Xiuwen , Li Dawei , Zhu Xiaolin , Tu Qing , Li Weisheng , Wu Chonglong , Li Jiayue , Zhong Yuan , Li Xiang , Mao Caiping , Xu Zhice
Published: May 2015

Hypoxia during pregnancy could affect development of fetuses as well as cardiovascular systems in the offspring. This study was the first to demonstrate the influence and related mechanisms of prenatal hypoxia (PH) on renal interlobar arteries (RIA) in the 5-month-old male rat offspring. Following chronic hypoxia during pregnancy, phenylephrine induced significantly higher pressor responses and greater vasoconstrictions in the offspring. Nitric oxide mediated vessel relaxation was altered in the RIA. Phenylephrine-stimulated free intracellular calcium was significantly higher in the RIA of the PH group. The activity and expression of L-type calcium channel (Cav1.2), not T-type calcium channel (Cav3.2), was up-regulated. The whole-cell currents of calcium channels and the currents of Cav1.2 were increased compared with the control. In addition, the whole-cell K+ currents were decreased in the offspring exposed to prenatal hypoxia. Activity of large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels and the expression of MaxiKα was decreased in the PH group. The results provide new information regarding the influence of prenatal hypoxia on the development of the renal vascular system and possible underlying cellular and ion channel mechanisms involved.
DNA immunoprecipitation semiconductor sequencing (DIP-SC-seq) as a rapid method to generate genome wide epigenetic signatures
Authors: Thomson John P. , Fawkes Angie , Ottaviano Raffaele , Hunter Jennifer M. , Shukla Ruchi , Mjoseng Heidi K. , Clark Richard , Coutts Audrey , Murphy Lee , Meehan Richard R.
Published: May 2015

Modification of DNA resulting in 5-methylcytosine (5 mC) or 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) has been shown to influence the local chromatin environment and affect transcription. Although recent advances in next generation sequencing technology allow researchers to map epigenetic modifications across the genome, such experiments are often time-consuming and cost prohibitive. Here we present a rapid and cost effective method of generating genome wide DNA modification maps utilising commercially available semiconductor based technology (DNA immunoprecipitation semiconductor sequencing; “DIP-SC-seq”) on the Ion Proton sequencer. Focussing on the 5hmC mark we demonstrate, by directly comparing with alternative sequencing strategies, that this platform can successfully generate genome wide 5hmC patterns from as little as 500 ng of genomic DNA in less than 4 days. Such a method can therefore facilitate the rapid generation of multiple genome wide epigenetic datasets.
The Smc5-Smc6 heterodimer associates with DNA through several independent binding domains
Authors: Roy Marc-André , Dhanaraman Thillaivillalan , D’Amours Damien
Published: May 2015

The Smc5-6 complex is required for the maintenance of genome integrity through its functions in DNA repair and chromosome biogenesis. However, the specific mode of action of Smc5 and Smc6 in these processes remains largely unknown. We previously showed that individual components of the Smc5-Smc6 complex bind strongly to DNA as monomers, despite the absence of a canonical DNA-binding domain (DBD) in these proteins. How heterodimerization of Smc5-6 affects its binding to DNA and which parts of the SMC molecules confer DNA-binding activity is not known at present. To address this knowledge gap, we characterized the functional domains of the Smc5-6 heterodimer and identify two DBDs in each SMC molecule. The first DBD is located within the SMC hinge region and its adjacent coiled-coil arms, while the second is found in the conserved ATPase head domain. These DBDs can independently recapitulate the substrate preference of the full-length Smc5 and Smc6 proteins. We also show that heterodimerization of full-length proteins specifically increases the affinity of the resulting complex for double-stranded DNA substrates. Collectively, our findings provide critical insights into the structural requirements for effective binding of the Smc5-6 complex to DNA repair substrates in vitro and in live cells.
Highly efficient and stable organic light-emitting diodes with a greatly reduced amount of phosphorescent emitter
Authors: Fukagawa Hirohiko , Shimizu Takahisa , Kamada Taisuke , Yui Shota , Hasegawa Munehiro , Morii Katsuyuki , Yamamoto Toshihiro
Published: May 2015

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) have been intensively studied as a key technology for next-generation displays and lighting. The efficiency of OLEDs has improved markedly in the last 15 years by employing phosphorescent emitters. However, there are two main issues in the practical application of phosphorescent OLEDs (PHOLEDs): the relatively short operational lifetime and the relatively high cost owing to the costly emitter with a concentration of about 10% in the emitting layer. Here, we report on our success in resolving these issues by the utilization of thermally activated delayed fluorescent materials, which have been developed in the past few years, as the host material for the phosphorescent emitter. Our newly developed PHOLED employing only 1 wt% phosphorescent emitter exhibits an external quantum efficiency of over 20% and a long operational lifetime of about 20 times that of an OLED consisting of a conventional host material and 1 wt% phosphorescent emitter.
Comparative analysis of potassium deficiency-responsive transcriptomes in low potassium susceptible and tolerant wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Authors: Ruan Li , Zhang Jiabao , Xin Xiuli , Zhang Congzhi , Ma Donghao , Chen Lin , Zhao Bingzi
Published: May 2015

Potassium (K+) deficiency as a common abiotic stress can inhibit the growth of plants and thus reduce the agricultural yields. Nevertheless, scarcely any development has been promoted in wheat transcriptional changes under K+ deficiency. Here we investigated root transcriptional changes in two wheat genotypes, namely, low-K+ tolerant “Tongzhou916” and low-K+ susceptible “Shiluan02-1”. There were totally 2713 and 2485 probe sets displayed expression changes more than 1.5-fold in Tongzhou916 and Shiluan02-1, respectively. Low-K+ responsive genes mainly belonged to the categories as follows: metabolic process, cation binding, transferase activity, ion transporters and so forth. We made a comparison of gene expression differences between the two wheat genotypes. There were 1321 and 1177 up-regulated genes in Tongzhou916 and Shiluan02-1, respectively. This result indicated that more genes took part in acclimating to low-K+ stress in Tongzhou916. In addition, there were more genes associated with jasmonic acid, defense response and potassium transporter up-regulated in Tongzhou916. Moreover, totally 19 genes encoding vacuolar H+-pyrophosphatase, ethylene-related, auxin response, anatomical structure development and nutrient reservoir were uniquely up-regulated in Tongzhou916. For their important role in root architecture, K+ uptake and nutrient storage, unique genes above may make a great contribution to the strong low-K+ tolerance in Tongzhou916.
Single cell resolution in vivo imaging of DNA damage following PARP inhibition
Authors: Yang Katherine S. , Kohler Rainer H. , Landon Matthieu , Giedt Randy , Weissleder Ralph
Published: May 2015

Targeting DNA repair pathways is a powerful strategy to treat cancers. To gauge efficacy in vivo, typical response markers include late stage effects such as tumor shrinkage, progression free survival, or invasive repeat biopsies. These approaches are often difficult to answer critical questions such as how a given drug affects single cell populations as a function of dose and time, distance from microvessels or how drug concentration (pharmacokinetics) correlates with DNA damage (pharmacodynamics). Here, we established a single-cell in vivo pharmacodynamic imaging read-out based on a truncated 53BP1 double-strand break reporter to determine whether or not poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor treatment leads to accumulation of DNA damage. Using this reporter, we show that not all PARP inhibitor treated tumors incur an increase in DNA damage. The method provides a framework for single cell analysis of cancer therapeutics in vivo.
SMAD3 deficiency promotes vessel wall remodeling, collagen fiber reorganization and leukocyte infiltration in an inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm mouse model
Authors: Dai Xiaohua , Shen Jianbin , Priyanka Annam Neeraja , Jiang Hong , Levi Edi , Schworer Charles M. , Tromp Gerard , Arora Anandita , Higgins Mary , Wang Xiao-Fan , Yang Maozhou , Li Hui J. , Zhang Kezhong , Kuivaniemi Helena , Li Li
Published: May 2015

TGF-β signaling plays critical roles in the pathogenesis of aneurysms; however, it is still unclear whether its role is protective or destructive. In this study, we investigate the role of SMAD3 in the pathogenesis of calcium chloride (CaCl2)-induced abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) in Smad3−/−, Smad3+/− and Smad3+/+ mice. We find that loss of SMAD3 drastically increases wall thickening of the abdominal aorta. Histological analyses show significant vessel wall remodeling with elastic fiber fragmentation. Remarkably, under polarized light, collagen fibers in the hyperplastic adventitia of Smad3−/− mice show extensive reorganization accompanied by loosely packed thin and radial collagen fibers. The expressions of matrix metalloproteinases including MMP2, MMP9 and MMP12 and infiltration of macrophage/T cells are drastically enhanced in the vascular wall of Smad3−/− mice. We also observe marked increase of NF-κB and ERK1/2 signaling as well as the expression of nuclear Smad2, Smad4 and TGF-β1 in the vessel wall of Smad3−/− mice. In addition, we find that SMAD3 expression is reduced in the dedifferentiated medial smooth muscle-like cells of human AAA patients. These findings provide direct in vivo evidence to support the essential roles of SMAD3 in protecting vessel wall integrity and suppressing inflammation in the pathogenesis of AAAs.
Circulating mRNA Profiling in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Identifies FAM84B As A Biomarker In Predicting Pathological Response to Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation
Authors: Hsu Feng-Ming , Chia-Hsien Cheng Jason , Chang Yih-Leong , Lee Jang-Ming , Koong Albert C. , Chuang Eric Y.
Published: May 2015

Esophageal cancer patients with pathological complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemoradiation (CRT) have favorable outcomes. Currently, there was no reliable biomarker predicting the response to CRT. Perioperative circulating mRNA may be associated with prognosis, but its application for predicting treatment response is unclear. We prospectively assessed the value of circulating messenger RNA (mRNA) profiling in predicting pCR for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Patients with ESCC completing CRT followed by surgery were enrolled for analysis. Venous peripheral blood was obtained before and after CRT and total RNA was extracted for hybridization-based whole genome expression analysis and quantitative RT-PCR. We found circulating expression profiling was significantly altered after CRT. Altered FAM84B expression was significantly predictive of pCR. The decrease of serum FAM84B protein level after CRT was also associated with pCR. Immunohistochemistry and western blot confirmed that FAM84B protein was overexpressed in the majority of patients and ESCC cell lines. Furthermore, knockdown of FAM84B delayed tumor growth in ectopic xenografts. We demonstrated the decreased of circulating FAM84B mRNA and protein after neoadjuvant CRT may predict pCR and FAM84B protein is overexpressed in ESCC. The potential of FAM84B as a novel predictive biomarker and its biological functions deserve further investigation.
Modulation of Igβ is essential for the B cell selection in germinal center
Authors: Todo Kagefumi , Koga Orie , Nishikawa Miwako , Hikida Masaki
Published: May 2015

The positive and negative selection of antigen-reactive B cells take place in the germinal center (GC) during an immune responses. However, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying these selection machineries, including the involvement of antigen receptor signaling molecules, remain to be elucidated. We found that expression levels of Igα and Igβ, which are the essential components of B cell antigen-receptor complex, were differentially regulated in GC B cells and that the expression of Igβ was more prominently down-regulated in a portion of GC B cells. The suppression of Igβ down-regulation reduced the number of GL7+GC B cells and the affinity maturation in T-dependent responses was markedly impaired. In addition, the disease phenotypes in autoimmune-prone mice were ameliorated by blocking of Igβ down-regulation. These results suggest that Igβ down-regulation is involved in the normal positive selection in GC and the accumulation of autoreactive B cells in autoimmune-prone mice.
The cytosolic tail of the tumor marker protein Trop2 - a structural switch triggered by phosphorylation
Authors: Pavšič Miha , Ilc Gregor , Vidmar Tilen , Plavec Janez , Lenarčič Brigita
Published: May 2015

Trop2 is a transmembrane signaling glycoprotein upregulated in stem and carcinoma cells. Proliferation-enhancing signaling involves regulated intramembrane proteolytic release of a short cytoplasmic fragment, which is later engaged in a cytosolic signaling complex. We propose that Trop2 function is modulated by phosphorylation of a specific serine residue within this cytosolic region (Ser303) and by proximity effects exerted on the cytosolic tail by Trop2 dimerization. Structural characterization of both the transmembrane (Trop2TM) and cytosolic regions (Trop2IC) support this hypothesis and shows that the central region of Trop2IC forms an α-helix. Comparison of NMR structures of non-phosphorylated and phosphorylated forms suggest that phosphorylation of Trop2IC triggers salt bridge reshuffling, resulting in significant conformational changes including ordering of the C-terminal tail. In addition, we demonstrate that the cytosolic regions of two Trop2 subunits can be brought into close proximity via transmembrane part dimerization. Finally, we show that Ser303-phosphorylation significantly affects the structure and accessibility of functionally important regions of the cytosolic tail. These observed structural features of Trop2 at the membrane-cytosol interface could be important for regulation of Trop2 signaling activity.
Low-energy Resistive Random Access Memory Devices with No Need for a Compliance Current
Authors: Xu Zedong , Yu Lina , Wu Yong , Dong Chang , Deng Ning , Xu Xiaoguang , Miao J. , Jiang Yong
Published: May 2015

A novel resistive random access memory device is designed with SrTiO3/ La2/3Sr1/3MnO3 (LSMO)/MgAl2O4 (MAO)/Cu structure, in which metallic epitaxial LSMO is employed as the bottom electrode rather than traditional metal materials. In this device, the critical external compliance current is no longer necessary due to the high self-resistance of LSMO. The LMSO bottom electrode can act as a series resistor to offer a compliance current during the set process. Besides, the device also has excellent switching features which are originated in the formation of Cu filaments under external voltage. Therefore it provides the possibility of reducing power consumption and accelerating the commercialization of resistive switching devices.
Recent developments in carbon nanomaterial sensors
Authors: Baptista Frederico R. , Belhout S. A. , Giordani S. , Quinn S. J.
Published: May 2015

The structural diversity of carbon nanomaterials provides an array of unique electronic, magnetic and optical properties, which when combined with their robust chemistry and ease of manipulation, makes them attractive candidates for sensor applications. In this review recent developments in the use of carbon nanoparticles and nanostructures as sensors and biosensors are explored.
Towards improving the robustness of electrochemical gas sensors: impact of PMMA addition on the sensing of oxygen in an ionic liquid
Authors: Lee Junqiao , Du Plessis Gert , Arrigan Damien W. M. , Silvester Debbie S.
Published: May 2015

An ionic liquid–polymer gel was found to improve the robustness of an integrated planar electrode system for portable oxygen gas-sensing applications.
Development of an automated direct blotting electrophoresis system for bioanalytical applications
Authors: Goto Shinichi , Savory Nasa , Abe Koichi , Kinoshita Hideki , Ikebukuro Kazunori
Published: May 2015

An automated direct blotting electrophoresis system was developed and employed for efficient and reproducible Western analysis.
Quantification of phenol in urine headspace using SIFT-MS and investigation of variability with respect to urinary concentration
Authors: Sovova Kristyna , Wiggins Tom , Markar Sheraz R. , Hanna George B.
Published: May 2015

An optimised kinetics library entry has been developed to investigate the effect of urine concentration during the course of dehydration upon the volatile metabolite phenol.