bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interaction of low dose of fish oil and glucocorticoids on insulin sensitivity and lipolysis in healthy humans: A randomized controlled study
Authors: Delarue Jacques , Allain‐Jeannic Gwenola , Guillerm Sophie , Cruciani‐Guglielmacci Céline , Magnan Christophe , Moineau Marie‐Pierre , Le Guen Valérie
Published: January 2016

Scope

This study examined the interaction of fish oil (FO) with dexamethasone on glucose and lipid metabolisms in healthy subjects.

Methods and results

The study included two consecutive parts. Part A (randomized) in 16 subjects studied the effects of dexamethasone (2 days, 2 mg/day) versus placebo (lactose), part B (two parallel subgroups of eight) studied the interaction of FO (3 wk, 840 mg/day of EPA + DHA) with dexamethasone. Insulin sensitivity of lipolysis (d5‐glycerol infusion + microdialysis), endogenous glucose production, and muscle glucose uptake were assessed by a three‐step hot insulin clamp and substrate oxidation by indirect calorimetry. Dexamethasone induced liver and peripheral insulin resistance, an increase in fat oxidation, and a decrease in suppression of plasma nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs). FO amplified the effects of dexamethasone by increasing liver and muscle insulin resistance, by reducing suppression of plasma NEFAs and fat oxidation and by increasing adipose tissue (AT) lipolysis.

Conclusion

FO, given at a moderate dose in healthy subjects prior to a very short‐term (2 days) low dose of a synthetic glucocorticoid, worsened its deleterious effects on insulin sensitivity. The enhancing effect of FO on fat oxidation and AT lipolysis might be a protective effect toward an increase in fat mass.
Basics of the time‐dependent wave‐packet propagation for photodissociations of polyatomic systems
Authors: Baeck Kyoung Koo
Published: January 2016

A brief background on the quantum wave‐packet propagation method for the study of photodissociation dynamics of polyatomic molecules is summarized as a short tutorial review. The main emphasis is on reasons to use the wave‐packet propagation method, followed by a description about basic considerations for practical application of the wave‐packet method to polyatomic molecules. The considerations are divided into six steps in the following sequence: (1) prerequisite information for related states, (2) search for critical points, (3) selection of coordinates and kinetic energy operator, (4) potential energy surface, (5) propagation of wave‐packet, and (6) analysis of the propagated results. Limitations of the present review and a very brief perspective are given as concluding remarks. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Architectures for next generation high throughput satellite systems
Authors: Vasavada Yash , Gopal Rajeev , Ravishankar Channasandra , Zakaria Gaguk , BenAmmar Nassir
Published: January 2016

This paper introduces architectures for next‐generation high throughput satellite (HTS) systems comprising various satellite payload options, ground terminal advances, and scalable system‐level software control and management techniques. It describes a model to estimate aggregate system capacity as a function of radio band, available spectrum, spot beams, waveforms, and payload capability, including antenna size, power, and digital/analog connectivity across various links and availability objectives. This system model has been used to evaluate aggregate capacity of representative Ka‐Band low earth orbit and geosynchronous orbit systems. A system implementation approach is described for next‐generation HTS systems based on widely used Industry standards. Modulation and coding techniques are based on Digital Video Broadcasting – S2 extensions (DVB‐S2X), which comprises spectrally efficient modulation schemes combined with low‐rate codes. Several implementation technologies are analyzed related to configurable onboard payload and ground‐based, software‐defined resource control and management, key enablers of next‐generation HTS systems. Basic architectural building blocks are introduced for design of end‐to‐end systems across low earth orbit, medium earth orbit, and geosynchronous orbit satellite constellations, with and without onboard processing and inter‐satellite links, and including several efficient scenarios to achieve lossless handovers. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Curriculum reform: the more things change, the more they stay the same?
Authors: Hawick Lorraine , Kitto Simon , Cleland Jennifer
Published: January 2016

None
Impact of transesophageal echocardiography during transseptal puncture on atrial fibrillation ablation
Authors: Erden İsmail , Erden Emine Çakcak , Golcuk Ebru , Aksu Tolga , Yalin Kıvanç , Güler Tümer Erdem , Özcan Kazım Serhan , Turan Burak
Published: January 2016

Background

The aim of our study was to demonstrate the added value of routine transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for correctly positioning the transseptal system in the fossa ovalis (FO), thus potentially preventing complications during fluoroscopy‐guided transseptal puncture (TP), and for assessing the optimal puncture site within the FO according to the expected procedure type.

Methods

Ninety‐one patients undergoing pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) procedures by cryoballoon technique for drug‐resistant paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) were prospectively included. In 57 patients, the TP procedure was performed under fluoroscopic guidance and septal localization was confirmed by contrast injection through the needle and demonstration of septal tenting in both the anteroposterior and left lateral fluoroscopic projections. In 34 patients, TP was performed under TEE guidance and positioning was targeted to perform the TP procedure in the more anterior and inferior locations of the FO. Two patient groups were compared according to the incidence of complications directly attributable to transseptal catheterization, thromboembolic complications, recurrence rates after the ablation procedure, total procedural time, and fluoroscopy time.

Results

Fluoroscopy time (p<0.001), total cryoablation time (p=0.002), and total procedural time (p<0.001) were shorter in the TEE‐guided group. Left inferior pulmonary vein (LIPV) cryoablation time (p=0.007) and right inferior pulmonary vein (RIPV) cryoablation time (p=0.004) were significantly shorter and the number of applications to the LIPV (p=0.007) and RIPV (p=0.005) were significantly fewer in the TEE‐guided group. Although there was a trend toward higher complication rates (20.6% vs. 31.6%, p=0.37) and recurrence rates (11.8% vs. 20.1%, p=0.26) in the fluoroscopy‐guided group, the differences between the groups were not statistically significant.

Conclusions

TEE‐guided TP for AF ablation is associated with shorter fluoroscopy time, shorter total cryoablation time, and shorter total procedural time. Importantly, TEE‐guided TP facilitates cryoablation of the inferior pulmonary veins.
Circulating tumor cell technologies
Authors: Ferreira Meghaan M. , Ramani Vishnu C. , Jeffrey Stefanie S.
Published: January 2016

Circulating tumor cells, a component of the “liquid biopsy”, hold great potential to transform the current landscape of cancer therapy. A key challenge to unlocking the clinical utility of CTCs lies in the ability to detect and isolate these rare cells using methods amenable to downstream characterization and other applications. In this review, we will provide an overview of current technologies used to detect and capture CTCs with brief insights into the workings of individual technologies. We focus on the strategies employed by different platforms and discuss the advantages of each. As our understanding of CTC biology matures, CTC technologies will need to evolve, and we discuss some of the present challenges facing the field in light of recent data encompassing epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition, tumor‐initiating cells, and CTC clusters.
Non-Maxwellian electron distributions resulting from direct laser acceleration in near-critical plasmas
Authors: Toncian T. , Wang C. , McCary E. , Meadows A. , Arefiev A.V. , Blakeney J. , Serratto K. , Kuk D. , Chester C. , Roycroft R. , Gao L. , Fu H. , Yan X.Q. , Schreiber J. , Pomerantz I. , Bernstein A. , Quevedo H. , Dyer G. , Ditmire T. , Hegelich B.M.
Published: January 2016

The irradiation of few-nm-thick targets by a finite-contrast high-intensity short-pulse laser results in a strong pre-expansion of these targets at the arrival time of the main pulse. The targets decompress to near and lower than critical densities with plasmas extending over few micrometers, i.e. multiple wavelengths. The interaction of the main pulse with such a highly localized but inhomogeneous target leads to the generation of a short channel and further self-focusing of the laser beam. Experiments at the Glass Hybrid OPCPA Scaled Test-bed (GHOST) laser system at University of Texas, Austin using such targets measured non-Maxwellian, peaked electron distribution with large bunch charge and high electron density in the laser propagation direction. These results are reproduced in 2D PIC simulations using the EPOCH code, identifying direct laser acceleration (DLA) [1] as the responsible mechanism. This is the first time that DLA has been observed to produce peaked spectra as opposed to broad, Maxwellian spectra observed in earlier experiments [2]. This high-density electrons have potential applications as injector beams for a further wakefield acceleration stage as well as for pump-probe applications.
Human Adipose‐Derived Mesenchymal Stromal/Stem Cells Remain Viable and Metabolically Active Following Needle Passage
Authors: Onishi Kentaro , Jones Dakota L. , Riester Scott M. , Lewallen Eric A. , Lewallen David G. , Sellon Jacob L. , Dietz Allan B. , Qu Wenchun , van Wijnen Andre J. , Smith Jay
Published: January 2016

Objective

To assess the biological effects of passage through clinically relevant needles on the viability and metabolic activity of culture‐expanded, human adipose tissue–derived mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (AMSCs).

Design

Prospective observational pilot study.

Setting

Academic medical center.

Participants

Patient‐derived clinical‐grade culture expanded AMSCs.

Interventions

AMSCs were passed through syringes without a needle attached (control), with an 18‐gauge (25.4‐mm) needle attached and with a 30‐gauge (19‐mm) needle attached at a constant injection flow rate and constant cell concentrations. Each injection condition was completed in triplicate.

Main Outcome Measures

Cell number and viability, proliferative capacity, metabolic activity, and acute gene expression as measured by cell counts, mitochondrial activity, and quantitative real time reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction on day 0 (immediately), day 1, and day 4 after injection.

Results

AMSC viability was not significantly affected by injection, and cells proliferated normally regardless of study group. Postinjection, AMSCs robustly expressed both proliferation markers and extracellular matrix proteins. Stress‐response mRNAs were markedly but transiently increased independently of needle size within the first day in culture postinjection.

Conclusions

Human, culture‐expanded AMSCs maintain their viability, proliferative capacity, and metabolic function following passage through needles as small as 30‐gauge at constant flow rates of 4 mL/min, despite an early, nonspecific stress/cytoprotective response. These initial findings suggest that culture‐expanded AMSCs should tolerate the injection process during most cell‐based therapeutic interventions.
A Novel Prevention Bundle to Reduce Surgical Site Infections in Pediatric Spinal Fusion Patients
Authors: Gould Jane M. , Hennessey Patricia , Kiernan Andrea , Safier Shannon , Herman Martin
Published: January 2016

BACKGROUND

The Surgical Care Improvement Project bundle emphasizes operative infection prevention practices. Despite implementing the Surgical Care Improvement Project bundle in 2008, spinal fusion surgical site infections (SF-SSI) continued to be prevalent for this low-volume, high-risk surgery.

OBJECTIVE

To design a combined pre-, peri-, and postoperative bundle (PPPB) that would lead to sustained reductions in SF-SSI rates.

DESIGN

Quality improvement project, before-after trial with cost-effectiveness analysis.

SETTING

Children’s hospital.

PATIENTS

All spinal fusion patients, 2008–2015.

INTERVENTION

A multidisciplinary team developed the PPPB composed of Surgical Care Improvement Project elements plus improved wound care practices, nursing standard of care, dedicated nursing unit, dermatology assessment tool and consultation, nursing education tool using “teach back” technique, and a “Back Home” kit. SF-SSI rates were compared before (2008–2010) and after (2011-February 2015) implementation of PPPB. PPPB compliance was monitored.

RESULTS

A total of 224 SF surgeries were performed from 2008 to February 2015. Pre-PPPB analysis revealed median time to SF-SSI of 28 days, secondary to skin and bowel flora. Mean 3-year pre-PPPB SF-SSI rate per 100 SF surgeries was 8.2 (8/98) (2008: 13.3 [4/30], 2009: 2.7 [1/37], 2010: 9.7 [3/31]). Mean SF-SSI rate after PPPB was 2.4 (3/126) (January 2011-February 2015); there was a 71% reduction in mean SSI rate (P=.0695). No SF-SSI occurred in neuromuscular patients (P=.008) after PPPB. Compliance with PPPB elements has been 100%.

CONCLUSIONS

PPPB led to sustained improvement in SF-SSI rates over 50 months. The PPPB could be reproduced for other surgeries.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol2016;37:527–534
Hubs of Governance: Path Dependence and Higher-Order Effects of Preferential Trade Agreement Formation
Authors: Kim Soo Yeon , Manger Mark S.
Published: January 2016

In this paper, we investigate the causes and consequences of institutional design choices in the liberalization of services trade and investment in preferential trade agreements (PTAs). We distinguish between a positive-list and a negative-list approach to services liberalization, and analyze PTAs signed by countries of the Asia-Pacific. We develop an information-based argument that explains why these different types induce path dependence in subsequent choices, and derive hypotheses that capture the “history” effect of choosing either institutional model. In doing so, we examine whether particular “modes of governance” diffuse through the growing network of trade agreements through the adoption of rules by third parties in their own PTAs. The empirical analysis tests these hypotheses using simulation-based dynamic network analysis methods. We find evidence of strong path dependence in the choice of liberalization approach, affecting the evolution of PTA networks in the Asia-Pacific and the diffusion of services liberalization in general. Such path dependence has long-term consequences for the institutional features of the international trade regime.
Weakly dissipative dust-ion acoustic wave modulation
Authors: Alinejad H. , Mahdavi M. , Shahmansouri M.
Published: January 2016

The modulational instability of dust-ion acoustic (DIA) waves in an unmagnetized dusty plasma is investigated in the presence of weak dissipations arising due to the low rates (compared to the ion oscillation frequency) of ionization recombination and ion loss. Based on the multiple space and time scales perturbation, a new modified nonlinear Schrödinger equation governing the evolution of modulated DIA waves is derived with a linear damping term. It is shown that the combined action of all dissipative mechanisms due to collisions between particles reveals the permitted maximum time for the occurrence of the modulational instability. The influence on the modulational instability regions of relevant physical parameters such as ion temperature, dust concentration, ionization, recombination and ion loss is numerically examined. It is also found that the recombination frequency controls the instability growth rate, whereas recombination and ion loss make the instability regions wider.
Adolescent depression, adult mental health and psychosocial outcomes at 30 and 35 years
Authors: McLeod G. F. H. , Horwood L. J. , Fergusson D. M.
Published: January 2016

Background

There is limited information on long-term outcomes of adolescent depression. This study examines the associations between severity of depression in adolescence and a broad array of adult functional outcomes.

Method

Data were gathered as part of the Christchurch Health and Development Study, a 35-year longitudinal study of a birth cohort of 1265 children born in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1977. Severity of depression at age 14–16 years was classified into three levels according to DSM symptom criteria for major depression (no depression/sub-threshold symptoms/major depression). This classification was related to adult functional outcomes assessed at ages 30 and 35 years using a generalized estimating equation modeling approach. Outcome measures spanned domains of mental disorder, education/economic circumstances, family circumstances and partner relationships.

Results

There were modest but statistically significant bivariate associations between adolescent depression severity and most outcomes. After covariate adjustment there remained weak but significant (p < 0.05) associations with rates of major depression, anxiety disorder, illicit substance abuse/dependence, any mental health problem and intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization. Estimates of attributable risk for these outcomes ranged from 3.8% to 7.8%. For two outcomes there were significant (p < 0.006) gender interactions such that depression severity was significantly related to increased rates of unplanned pregnancy and IPV victimization for females but not for males.

Conclusions

The findings reinforce the importance of the individual/family context in which adolescent depression occurs. When contextual factors and probable maturational effects are taken into account the direct effects of adolescent depression on functioning in mature adulthood appear to be very modest.
THE NAUTICAL MELODRAMA OFMARY BARTON
Authors: Burroughs Robert
Published: January 2016

In hisMemoirs of anUnfortunate Son of Thespis(1818), the actor Edward Cape Everard recalled a performance of Sheridan'sSchool for Scandalthat was interrupted in its third act by a rowdy bunch of sailors. At the sight of Charles Surface drinking, the sailors allegedly left the auditorium, entered the stage, and accosted the actor playing Charles, “exclaiming ‘My eyes, you're a hearty fellow! Come, my tight one, hand us a glass’” (qtd. in Russell 104). As apocryphal as the encounter seems, it is not the only account of mariners rushing the early-nineteenth century stage to join in with the drama. In her analysis of these anecdotes Gillian Russell comments that though they may have been intended to depict the sailor “as naïve and unsophisticated, unable to make the distinction between fiction and reality. . . it is not surprising that the sailor should have disregarded the rules of mimesis and the distinction between stage and auditorium” (104), for the sailor's life lent itself to, and was structured by, theatricality. Service in “the theatres of war,” or more generally in the “wooden world” of the ship, demanded strict performance of custom and ritual in the forging of social identities and relations, not least of all in the ritualistic initiation ceremonies and corporal punishments that were enacted in front of the amassed audience of the crew (Russell 139–57; see Dening). At sea and in dock sailors entertained themselves with amateur theatricals. On shore, they were keen theatre-goers, and in auditoriums and elsewhere they played up to the characteristics of the sailor in the brazen assertion of an identity that was celebrated in stories, songs, and plays, but frequently also belittled, bemoaned, and victimized, the latter particularly while the press gangs were active.
Dag Hammarskjöld's Religiosity and Norms Entrepreneurship: A Post-secular Perspective
Authors: Dionigi Filippo
Published: January 2016

In 1953, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly elected a low-key and relatively unknown personality as the second Secretary General of the UN. Dag Hammarskjöld, nonetheless, turned out to be one of the most entrepreneurial and innovative Secretary Generals that the UN has ever had. He invented peacekeeping, radically reformed the administrative structure of the UN, and promoted a crucial multi-lateral diplomatic role for the UN Secretariat. Behind this innovative approach to the politics of the UN, there was a personality with a deep and complex religious discernment that emerged occasionally in public speeches, as well as in private writing. This article interprets Hammarskjöld's norms entrepreneurship through the lens of post-secular theory and the concept of Habermasian institutional translation. It shows how — in contrast with merely secularist assumptions — Hammarskjöld's religiosity shaped and advanced international political processes consistently with the principles of the UN Charter.
Trace Gas Exchange Offers Key Insight into Atmospheric Processes
Authors: Strelich Lily
Published: January 2016

Eddy covariance fluxes provide insight into interactions of emissions, chemistry, deposition, and transport in the atmosphere.
The clerodane diterpene casearin J induces apoptosis of T-ALL cells through SERCA inhibition, oxidative stress, and interference with Notch1 signaling
Authors: De Ford C , Heidersdorf B , Haun F , Murillo R , Friedrich T , Borner C , Merfort I
Published: January 2016

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive hematologic malignancy that preferentially affects children and adolescents. Over 50% of human T-ALLs possess activating mutations of Notch1. The clerodane diterpene casearin J (CJ) is a natural product that inhibits the sarcoendoplasmatic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA) pump and induces cell death in leukemia cells, but the molecular mechanism of cytotoxicity remains poorly understood. Here we show that owing to SERCA pump inhibition, CJ induces depletion of the endoplasmic reticulum calcium pools, oxidative stress, and apoptosis via the intrinsic signaling pathway. Moreover, Notch1 signaling is reduced in T-ALL cells with auto-activating mutations in the HD-domain of Notch1, but not in cells that do not depend on Notch1 signaling. CJ also provoked a slight activation of NF-κB, and consistent with this notion a combined treatment of CJ and the NF-κB inhibitor parthenolide (Pt) led to a remarkable synergistic cell death in T-ALL cells. Altogether, our data support the concept that inhibition of the SERCA pump may be a novel strategy for the treatment of T-ALL with HD-domain-mutant Notch1 receptors and that additional treatment with the NF-κB inhibitor parthenolide may have further therapeutic benefits.
TCL1 transgenic mouse model as a tool for the study of therapeutic targets and microenvironment in human B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Bresin A , D'Abundo L , Narducci M G , Fiorenza M T , Croce C M , Negrini M , Russo G
Published: January 2016

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a B-cell malignancy with a mature phenotype. In spite of its relatively indolent nature, no radical cure is as yet available. CLL is not associated with either a unique cytogenetic or a molecular defect, which might have been a potential therapeutic target. Instead, several factors are involved in disease development, such as environmental signals which interact with genetic abnormalities to promote survival, proliferation and an immune surveillance escape. Among these, PI3-Kinase signal pathway alterations are nowadays considered to be clearly important. The TCL1 gene, an AKT co-activator, is the cause of a mature T-cell leukemia, as well as being highly expressed in all B-CLL. A TCL1 transgenic mouse which reproduces leukemia with a distinct immunophenotype and similar to the course of the human B-CLL was developed several years ago and is widely used by many groups. This is a review of the CLL biology arising from work of many independent investigators who have used TCL1 transgenic mouse model focusing on pathogenetic, microenviroment and therapeutic targets.
Structure sensitivity in the nonscalable regime explored via catalysed ethylene hydrogenation on supported platinum nanoclusters
Authors: Crampton Andrew S. , Rötzer Marian D. , Ridge Claron J. , Schweinberger Florian F. , Heiz Ueli , Yoon Bokwon , Landman Uzi
Published: January 2016

The sensitivity, or insensitivity, of catalysed reactions to catalyst structure is a commonly employed fundamental concept. Here we report on the nature of nano-catalysed ethylene hydrogenation, investigated through experiments on size-selected Ptn (n=8–15) clusters soft-landed on magnesia and first-principles simulations, yielding benchmark information about the validity of structure sensitivity/insensitivity at the bottom of the catalyst size range. Both ethylene-hydrogenation-to-ethane and the parallel hydrogenation–dehydrogenation ethylidyne-producing route are considered, uncovering that at the <1 nm size-scale the reaction exhibits characteristics consistent with structure sensitivity, in contrast to structure insensitivity found for larger particles. The onset of catalysed hydrogenation occurs for Ptn (n≥10) clusters at T>150 K, with maximum room temperature reactivity observed for Pt13. Structure insensitivity, inherent for specific cluster sizes, is induced in the more active Pt13 by a temperature increase up to 400 K leading to ethylidyne formation. Control of sub-nanometre particle size may be used for tuning catalysed hydrogenation activity and selectivity.
The occurrence of intracranial rhabdoid tumours in mice depends on temporal control of Smarcb1 inactivation
Authors: Han Zhi-Yan , Richer Wilfrid , Fréneaux Paul , Chauvin Céline , Lucchesi Carlo , Guillemot Delphine , Grison Camille , Lequin Delphine , Pierron Gaelle , Masliah-Planchon Julien , Nicolas André , Ranchère-Vince Dominique , Varlet Pascale , Puget Stéphanie , Janoueix-Lerosey Isabelle , Ayrault Olivier , Surdez Didier , Delattre Olivier , Bourdeaut Franck
Published: January 2016

Rhabdoid tumours (RTs) are highly aggressive tumours of infancy, frequently localized in the central nervous system (CNS) where they are termed atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumours (AT/RTs) and characterized by bi-allelic inactivation of the SMARCB1 tumour suppressor gene. In this study, by temporal control of tamoxifen injection in Smarcb1flox/flox;Rosa26-CreERT2 mice, we explore the phenotypes associated with Smarcb1 inactivation at different developmental stages. Injection before E6, at birth or at 2 months of age recapitulates previously described phenotypes including embryonic lethality, hepatic toxicity or development of T-cell lymphomas, respectively. Injection between E6 and E10 leads to high penetrance tumours, mainly intra-cranial, with short delays (median: 3 months). These tumours demonstrate anatomical, morphological and gene expression profiles consistent with those of human AT/RTs. Moreover, intra- and inter-species comparisons of tumours reveal that human and mouse RTs can be split into different entities that may underline the variety of RT cells of origin.
Excitation of coherent propagating spin waves by pure spin currents
Authors: Demidov Vladislav E. , Urazhdin Sergei , Liu Ronghua , Divinskiy Boris , Telegin Andrey , Demokritov Sergej O.
Published: January 2016

Utilization of pure spin currents not accompanied by the flow of electrical charge provides unprecedented opportunities for the emerging technologies based on the electron’s spin degree of freedom, such as spintronics and magnonics. It was recently shown that pure spin currents can be used to excite coherent magnetization dynamics in magnetic nanostructures. However, because of the intrinsic nonlinear self-localization effects, magnetic auto-oscillations in the demonstrated devices were spatially confined, preventing their applications as sources of propagating spin waves in magnonic circuits using these waves as signal carriers. Here, we experimentally demonstrate efficient excitation and directional propagation of coherent spin waves generated by pure spin current. We show that this can be achieved by using the nonlocal spin injection mechanism, which enables flexible design of magnetic nanosystems and allows one to efficiently control their dynamic characteristics.
Volta phase plate cryo-EM of the small protein complex Prx3
Authors: Khoshouei Maryam , Radjainia Mazdak , Phillips Amy J. , Gerrard Juliet A. , Mitra Alok K. , Plitzko Jürgen M. , Baumeister Wolfgang , Danev Radostin
Published: January 2016

Cryo-EM of large, macromolecular assemblies has seen a significant increase in the numbers of high-resolution structures since the arrival of direct electron detectors. However, sub-nanometre resolution cryo-EM structures are rare compared with crystal structure depositions, particularly for relatively small particles (<400 kDa). Here we demonstrate the benefits of Volta phase plates for single-particle analysis by time-efficient cryo-EM structure determination of 257 kDa human peroxiredoxin-3 dodecamers at 4.4 Å resolution. The Volta phase plate improves the applicability of cryo-EM for small molecules and accelerates structure determination.
Reference genes for accessing differential expression among developmental stages and analysis of differential expression of OBP genes in Anastrepha obliqua
Authors: Nakamura Aline Minali , Chahad-Ehlers Samira , Lima André Luís A. , Taniguti Cristiane Hayumi , Sobrinho Iderval , Torres Felipe Rafael , de Brito Reinaldo Alves
Published: January 2016

The West Indian fruit fly,Anastrepha obliqua, is an important agricultural pest in the New World. The use of pesticide-free methods to control invasive species such as this reinforces the search for genes potentially useful in their genetic control. Therefore, the study of chemosensory proteins involved with a range of responses to the chemical environment will help not only on the understanding of the species biology but may also help the development of environmentally friendly pest control strategies. Here we analyzed the expression patterns of three OBP genes,Obp19d_2,Obp56aandObp99c, across different phases ofA. obliquadevelopment byqPCR. In order to do so, we tested eight and identified three reference genes for data normalization,rpl17,rpl18andef1a, which displayed stability for the conditions here tested. All OBPs showed differential expression on adults and some differential expression among adult stages.Obp99chad an almost exclusive expression in males andObp56ashowed high expression in virgin females. Thereby, our results provide relevant data not only for other gene expression studies in this species, as well as for the search of candidate genes that may help in the development of new pest control strategies.
Overlapping signatures of chronic pain in the DNA methylation landscape of prefrontal cortex and peripheral T cells
Authors: Massart Renaud , Dymov Sergiy , Millecamps Magali , Suderman Matthew , Gregoire Stephanie , Koenigs Kevin , Alvarado Sebastian , Tajerian Maral , Stone Laura S. , Szyf Moshe
Published: January 2016

We tested the hypothesis that epigenetic mechanisms in the brain and the immune system are associated with chronic pain. Genome-wide DNA methylation assessed in 9 months post nerve-injury (SNI) and Sham rats, in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) as well as in T cells revealed a vast difference in the DNA methylation landscape in the brain between the groups and a remarkable overlap (72%) between differentially methylated probes in T cells and prefrontal cortex. DNA methylation states in the PFC showed robust correlation with pain score of animals in several genes involved in pain. Finally, only 11 differentially methylated probes in T cells were sufficient to distinguish SNI or Sham individual rats. This study supports the plausibility of DNA methylation involvement in chronic pain and demonstrates the potential feasibility of DNA methylation markers in T cells as noninvasive biomarkers of chronic pain susceptibility.
Adenylylation of Tyr77 stabilizes Rab1b GTPase in an active state: A molecular dynamics simulation analysis
Authors: Luitz Manuel P. , Bomblies Rainer , Ramcke Evelyn , Itzen Aymelt , Zacharias Martin
Published: January 2016

The pathogenic pathway of Legionella pneumophila exploits the intercellular vesicle transport system via the posttranslational attachment of adenosine monophosphate (AMP) to the Tyr77 sidechain of human Ras like GTPase Rab1b. The modification, termed adenylylation, is performed by the bacterial enzyme DrrA/SidM, however the effect on conformational properties of the molecular switch mechanism of Rab1b remained unresolved. In this study we find that the adenylylation of Tyr77 stabilizes the active Rab1b state by locking the switch in the active signaling conformation independent of bound GTP or GDP and that electrostatic interactions due to the additional negative charge in the switch region make significant contributions. The stacking interaction between adenine and Phe45 however, seems to have only minor influence on this stabilisation. The results may also have implications for the mechanistic understanding of conformational switching in other signaling proteins.
Individual Restriction Of Fine Specificity Variability In Anti-GM1 IgG Antibodies Associated With Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Authors: Lardone Ricardo D. , Yuki Nobuhiro , Irazoqui Fernando J. , Nores Gustavo A.
Published: January 2016

Elevated titers of serum antibodies against GM1 ganglioside are associated with a variety of autoimmune neuropathies. Much evidence indicates these autoantibodies play a primary role in the disease processes, but the mechanism for their appearance is unclear. We studied the fine specificity of anti-GM1 antibodies of the IgG isotype present in sera from patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), using thin-layer chromatogram-immunostaining of GM1, asialo-GM1 (GA1), GD1b and GM1-derivatives with small modifications on the oligosaccharide moiety. We were able to distinguish populations of antibodies with different fine specificity. Remarkably, individual patients presented only one or two of them and different patients had different populations. This restriction in the variability of antibody populations suggests that the appearance of the anti-GM1 antibodies is a random process involving restricted populations of lymphocytes. With the origin of disease-associated anti-GM1 antibodies as a context, this finding could provide explanation for the “host susceptibility factor” observed in GBS following enteritis with GM1 oligosaccharide-carrying strains of Campylobacter jejuni.
Tape Stripping Technique for Stratum Corneum Protein Analysis
Authors: Clausen Maja-Lisa , Slotved H.-C. , Krogfelt Karen A. , Agner Tove
Published: January 2016

The aim of this study was to investigate the amount of protein in stratum corneum in atopic dermatitis (AD) patients and healthy controls, using tape stripping technique. Furthermore, to compare two different methods for protein assessment. Tape stripping was performed in AD patients and healthy controls to collect stratum corneum samples and subsequently analysed with two different methods: Squame Scan, which gives an estimate of total protein (soluble and insoluble) and Micro BCA protein determination kit which measures soluble protein. Significant differences in cumulative protein content between AD lesional, AD non-lesional and healthy control skin was found using the Squame Scan as well as the Micro BCA protein determination kit. AD patients had significantly lower amount of protein, both total protein and soluble protein compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, soluble protein formed 82% of total protein in AD lesional skin, compared to 17–24% for AD non-lesional skin and healthy control. A decreasing amount of total protein with increasing stratum corneum depth was found for all skin types. Significant differences in stratum corneum protein content between AD lesional, AD non-lesional and healthy control skin were revealed, independent of method used.
Interactions and exchange of CO2 and H2O in coals: an investigation by low-field NMR relaxation
Authors: Sun Xiaoxiao , Yao Yanbin , Liu Dameng , Elsworth Derek , Pan Zhejun
Published: January 2016

The mechanisms by which CO2and water interact in coal remain unclear and these are key questions for understanding ECBM processes and defining the long-term behaviour of injected CO2. In our experiments, we injected helium/CO2to displace water in eight water-saturated samples. We used low-field NMR relaxation to investigate CO2and water interactions in these coals across a variety of time-scales. The injection of helium did not change theT2spectra of the coals. In contrast, theT2spectra peaks of micro-capillary water gradually decreased and those of macro-capillary and bulk water increased with time after the injection of CO2. We assume that the CO2diffuses through and/or dissolves into the capillary water to access the coal matrix interior, which promotes desorption of water molecules from the surfaces of coal micropores and mesopores. The replaced water mass is mainly related to the Langmuir adsorption volume of CO2and increases as the CO2adsorption capacity increases. Other factors, such as mineral composition, temperature and pressure, also influence the effective exchange between water and CO2. Finally, we built a quantified model to evaluate the efficiency of water replacement by CO2injection with respect to temperature and pressure.
Recombinant pre-miR-29b for Alzheimer´s disease therapeutics
Authors: Pereira Patrícia A. , Tomás Joana F. , Queiroz João A. , Figueiras Ana R. , Sousa Fani
Published: January 2016

MicroRNAs are arising as the next generation of diagnostic and therapeutic tools for gene silencing. Studies demonstrated that the miR-29 expression is decreased in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients displaying high levels of human β-secretase (hBACE1). Recent advances toward an effective therapy for AD intend to employ miR-29 to suppress hBACE1 expression and subsequent Amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide. However, delivery of mature miRNA has demonstrated modest efficacy in vitro; therefore, the preparation of highly pure and biologically active pre-miRNA arises as one of the most important challenges in the development of these therapeutic strategies. Recently, we described a new strategy based arginine-affinity chromatography to specifically purify the recombinant pre-miR-29b. Following this strategy, the purified pre-miR-29b was successfully encapsulated into polyplexes that were further delivered in cytoplasm. It was verified that Chitosan/pre-miR-29b and Polyethylenimine/pre-miR-29b systems efficiently delivered pre-miR-29b to N2a695 cells, thus reducing the hBACE1 protein expression (around 78% and 86%, respectively) and Aβ42 levels (approximately 44% and 47%, respectively). Furthermore, pre-miR-29b downregulates the hBACE1 mRNA expression in 80%. Overall, it was demonstrated that the recombinant pre-miR-29b using polyplexes allowed to decrease the hBACE1 and Aβ42 expression levels, improving the currently available methodologies of miRNA-based therapeutics.
Self-Styled ZnO Nanostructures Promotes the Cancer Cell Damage and Supresses the Epithelial Phenotype of Glioblastoma
Authors: Wahab Rizwan , Kaushik Neha , Khan Farheen , Kaushik Nagendra Kumar , Choi Eun Ha , Musarrat Javed , Al-Khedhairy Abdulaziz A.
Published: January 2016

Extensive researches have been done on the applications of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) for the biological purposes. However, the role and toxicity mechanisms of ZnO nanostructures (ZnO-NSts) such as nanoplates (NPls), nanorods (NRs), nanosheets (NSs), nanoflowers (NFs) on cancer cells are not largely known. Present study was focused to investigate the possible mechanisms of apoptosis induced by self-designed ZnO-NSts, prepared at fix pH via solution process and exposed against human T98G gliomas including various cancers and non-malignant embryonic kidney HEK293, MRC5 fibroblast cells. NSts were used for the induction of cell death in malignant human T98G gliomas including various cancers and compared with the non-malignant cells. Notably, NRs were found to induce higher cytotoxicity, inhibitory effects on cancer and normal cells in a dose dependent manner. We also showed that NRs induced cancer cell death through oxidative stress and caspase-dependent pathways. Furthermore, quantitative and qualitative analysis of ZnO-NSts have also been confirmed by statistical analytical parameters such as precision, accuracy, linearity, limits of detection and limit of quantitation. These self-styled NSts could provide new perception in the research of targeted cancer nanotechnology and have potentiality to improve new therapeutic outcomes with poor diagnosis.
Mirror-backed Dark Alumina: A Nearly Perfect Absorber for Thermoelectronics and Thermophotovotaics
Authors: Farhat Mohamed , Cheng Tsung-Chieh , Le Khai. Q. , Cheng Mark Ming-Cheng , Bağcı Hakan , Chen Pai-Yen
Published: January 2016

We present here a broadband, wide-angle and polarization-independent nearly perfect absorber consisting of mirror-backed nanoporous alumina. By electrochemically anodizing the disordered multicomponent aluminum and properly tailoring the thickness and air-filling fraction of nanoporous alumina, according to the Maxwell-Garnet mixture theory, a large-area dark alumina can be made with excellent photothermal properties and absorption larger than 93% over a wide wavelength range spanning from near-infrared to ultraviolet light, i.e. 250 nm–2500 nm. The measured absorption is orders of magnitude greater than other reported anodized porous alumina, typically semi-transparent at similar wavelengths. This simple yet effective approach, however, does not require any lithography, nano-mixture deposition, pre- and post-treatment. Here, we also envisage and theoretically investigate the practical use of proposed absorbers and/or photothermal converters in integrated thermoelectronic and/or thermophotovoltaic energy conversion devices, which make efficient use of the entire spectrum of ambient visible to near-infrared radiation.
The solution configurations of inactive and activated DntR have implications for the
sliding dimer mechanism of LysR transcription factors
Authors: Lerche Michael , Dian Cyril , Round Adam , Lönneborg Rosa , Brzezinski Peter , Leonard Gordon A.
Published: January 2016

LysR Type Transcriptional Regulators (LTTRs) regulate basic metabolic pathways or
virulence gene expression in prokaryotes. Evidence suggests that the activation of
LTTRs involves a conformational change from an inactive compact apo-
configuration that represses transcription to an active, expanded holo- form
that promotes it. However, no LTTR has yet been observed to adopt both
configurations. Here, we report the results of structural studies of various forms
of the LTTR DntR. Crystal structures of apo-DntR and of a partially
autoinducing mutant H169T-DntR suggest that active and inactive DntR maintain a
compact homotetrameric configuration. However, Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS)
studies on solutions of apo-, H169T- and inducer-bound holo-DntR
indicate a different behaviour, suggesting that while apo-DntR maintains a
compact configuration in solution both H169T- and holo-DntR adopt an expanded
conformation. Models of the SAXS-obtained solution conformations of apo- andholo-DntR homotetramers in complex with promoter-operator region DNA are
consistent with previous observations of a shifting of LTTR DNA binding sites upon
activation and a consequent relaxation in the bend of the promoter-operator region
DNA. Our results thus provide clear evidence at the molecular level which strongly
supports the ‘sliding dimer’ hypothesis concerning LTTR
activation mechanisms.
An Injectable Enzymatically Crosslinked Carboxymethylated Pullulan/Chondroitin Sulfate Hydrogel for Cartilage Tissue Engineering
Authors: Chen Feng , Yu Songrui , Liu Bing , Ni Yunzhou , Yu Chunyang , Su Yue , Zhu Xinyuan , Yu Xiaowei , Zhou Yongfeng , Yan Deyue
Published: January 2016

In this study, an enzymatically cross-linked injectable and biodegradable hydrogel system comprising carboxymethyl pullulan-tyramine (CMP-TA) and chondroitin sulfate-tyramine (CS-TA) conjugates was successfully developed under physiological conditions in the presence of both horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) for cartilage tissue engineering (CTTE). The HRP crosslinking method makes this injectable system feasible, minimally invasive and easily translatable for regenerative medicine applications. The physicochemical properties of the mechanically stable hydrogel system can be modulated by varying the weight ratio and concentration of polymer as well as the concentrations of crosslinking reagents. Additionally, the cellular behaviour of porcine auricular chondrocytes encapsulated into CMP-TA/CS-TA hydrogels demonstrates that the hydrogel system has a good cyto-compatibility. Specifically, compared to the CMP-TA hydrogel, these CMP-TA/CS-TA composite hydrogels have enhanced cell proliferation and increased cartilaginous ECM deposition, which significantly facilitate chondrogenesis. Furthermore, histological analysis indicates that the hydrogel system exhibits acceptable tissue compatibility by using a mouse subcutaneous implantation model. Overall, the novel injectable pullulan/chondroitin sulfate composite hydrogels presented here are expected to be useful biomaterial scaffold for regenerating cartilage tissue.
siRNAmod: A database of experimentally validated chemically modified siRNAs
Authors: Dar Showkat Ahmad , Thakur Anamika , Qureshi Abid , Kumar Manoj
Published: January 2016

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) technology has vast potential for functional genomics and development of therapeutics. However, it faces many obstacles predominantly instability of siRNAs due to nuclease digestion and subsequently biologically short half-life. Chemical modifications in siRNAs provide means to overcome these shortcomings and improve their stability and potency. Despite enormous utility bioinformatics resource of these chemically modified siRNAs (cm-siRNAs) is lacking. Therefore, we have developed siRNAmod, a specialized databank for chemically modified siRNAs. Currently, our repository contains a total of 4894 chemically modified-siRNA sequences, comprising 128 unique chemical modifications on different positions with various permutations and combinations. It incorporates important information on siRNA sequence, chemical modification, their number and respective position, structure, simplified molecular input line entry system canonical (SMILES), efficacy of modified siRNA, target gene, cell line, experimental methods, reference etc. It is developed and hosted using Linux Apache MySQL PHP (LAMP) software bundle. Standard user-friendly browse, search facility and analysis tools are also integrated. It would assist in understanding the effect of chemical modifications and further development of stable and efficacious siRNAs for research as well as therapeutics. siRNAmod is freely available at: http://crdd.osdd.net/servers/sirnamod.