bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors affecting the acceptability and consumption of Corn Soya Blend Plus as a prenatal dietary supplement among pregnant women in rural Cambodia
Authors: Janmohamed Amynah , Karakochuk Crystal D , Boungnasiri Somchit , Whitfield Kyly C , Chapman Gwen E , Janssen Patricia , McLean Judy , Green Timothy J
Published: October 2015

Objective

Undernutrition is prevalent among pregnant women in Cambodia. The provision of fortified dietary supplements is one strategy to help pregnant women meet their nutritional needs. Corn Soya Blend Plus (CSBP) is a widely used prenatal dietary supplement in areas with high rates of undernutrition and food insecurity. However, little is known about its acceptability during pregnancy. The present study aimed to identify factors that affected the acceptability and consumption of CSBP supplements among pregnant women.

Design

Women completed a structured interview designed to provide information on facilitators of and barriers to utilization. In addition, six focus groups were conducted with a subset of women (n 70) to further explore attitudes, perceptions and experiences related to CSBP use.

Setting

Two districts in Kampong Chhnang Province, Cambodia.

Subjects

Pregnant women (n 288) participating in a cluster-randomized trial of CSBP.

Results

The acceptability of CSBP was influenced by sensory attributes, family support, peer influences, and attitudes related to diet, nutritional status and weight gain in pregnancy. Attaining adequate nutrition was considered less important than other concerns during pregnancy, particularly anxiety related to the costs of delivery and postpartum care. Acceptance was lower among new mothers due to fears of weight gain. Health benefits were common reasons for continued use and minor side-effects, such as nausea, were not major barriers to consumption.

Conclusions

CSBP was generally well accepted in this population. However, organoleptic factors and perceptions regarding nutrition and weight gain in pregnancy, particularly for first-time mothers, were barriers to increasing acceptance among Cambodian women.
Emotional intelligence development in radiation therapy students: a longitudinal study
Authors: Carmichael Mary-Ann , Bridge Pete , Harriman Anita
Published: October 2015

Purpose

Emotional intelligence (EI) is an increasingly important aspect of a health professional’s skill set. It is strongly associated with empathy, reflection and resilience; all key aspects of radiotherapy practice. Previous work in other disciplines has formed contradictory conclusions concerning development of EI over time. This study aimed to determine the extent to which EI can develop during a radiotherapy undergraduate course and identify factors affecting this.

Methods and materials

This study used anonymous coded Likert-style surveys to gather longitudinal data from radiotherapy students relating to a range of self-perceived EI traits during their 3-year degree. Data were gathered at various points throughout the course from the whole cohort.

Results

A total of 26 students provided data with 14 completing the full series of datasets. There was a 17·2% increase in self-reported EI score with ap-value<0·0001. Social awareness and relationship skills exhibited the greatest increase in scores compared with self-awareness. Variance of scores decreased over time; there was a reduced change in EI for mature students who tended to have higher initial scores. EI increase was most evident immediately after clinical placements.

Conclusions

Radiotherapy students increase their EI scores during a 3-year course. Students reported higher levels of EI immediately after their clinical placement; radiotherapy curricula should seek to maximise on these learning opportunities.
Der Einfluss des Übergangs in differenzielle Lernumwelten auf das allgemeine und schulische Wohlbefinden von Kindern
Authors: Knoppick Henrike , Becker Michael , Neumann Marko , Maaz Kai , Baumert Jürgen
Published: October 2015

Zusammenfassung. Der Übergang an die weiterführende Schule stellt eine Veränderung der schulischen Lernumwelt dar, die mit Änderungen im Wohlbefinden assoziiert sein kann. Als maßgeblicher Einflussfaktor wird in der Literatur die weiterführende Schulform erörtert, wobei vor allem Unterschiede in der Bezugsgruppe und institutionelle Unterschiede zwischen den verschiedenen Schulformen diskutiert werden. Die vorliegende Arbeit untersucht die Bedeutung der weiterführenden Schulform für die Entwicklung ausgewählter Facetten des allgemeinen (Lebenszufriedenheit, Selbstwert) und schulischen Wohlbefindens (Schulzufriedenheit, Leistungsangst, schulbezogene Psychosomatik) während des unmittelbaren Übergangsprozesses von der Grundschule in das reformierte nunmehr aus Gymnasium und Integrierter Sekundarschule (ISS) bestehende zweigliedrige Berliner Sekundarschulsystem. Um Effekte der Schulform von Eingangsunterschieden der Schülerschaft zu trennen, wurden Propensity Score Matching Analysen durchgeführt. Während sich das Gymnasium als Lernumwelt erwies, in der sich bei günstigeren Mittelwerten vor dem Übergang eine negativere Entwicklung des Wohlbefindens beobachten ließ, war der Wechsel auf die ISS kaum mit Veränderungen in den betrachteten Wohlbefindensmerkmalen assoziiert.
Zur Bedeutung von Grundschulnoten für die Veränderung von Intrinsischer Motivation und Fähigkeitsselbstkonzept in Deutsch
Authors: Weidinger Anne F. , Spinath Birgit , Steinmayr Ricarda
Published: October 2015

Zusammenfassung. Vor dem Hintergrund der Selbstbestimmungstheorie untersuchten wir die reziproken Zusammenhänge zwischen Intrinsischer Motivation (IM) und Deutschnoten bei Grundschulkindern unter zusätzlicher Berücksichtigung des domänenspezifischen Fähigkeitsselbstkonzepts (FSK). Dazu wurden das FSK, die IM und die Noten von N = 523 Grundschulkindern zu 6 Messzeitpunkten vom Beginn der 3. bis zum Ende der 4. Klasse erfasst. Latente Wachstumskurvenmodelle wiesen auf interindividuelle Unterschiede im Abfall der Konstrukte hin. Zudem zeigte sich ein positiver Zusammenhang zwischen den Veränderungen des FSKs, der IM und der Note. Latente cross-lagged Modelle zeigten, dass sich Noten auf die Veränderung des FSKs auswirkten (skill-development Effekte). Noten hatten hingegen allenfalls geringe direkte und keine über das FSK vermittelten Effekte auf die Veränderung der IM. Dies zeigt, dass Noten in Bezug auf die differentielle Entwicklung der IM in der Grundschule eher eine untergeordnete Rolle spielen. Implikationen für die zukünftige Forschung und die pädagogische Praxis werden diskutiert.
"Fingers" of Plasma Invade Saturn's Magnetic Field
Authors: Zastrow Mark
Published: October 2015

NASA's Cassini probe observed vast amounts of plasma on the fringes of Saturn's magnetic field being mysteriously injected hundreds of thousands of kilometers inward.
Romidepsin targets multiple survival signaling pathways in malignant T cells
Authors: Valdez B C , Brammer J E , Li Y , Murray D , Liu Y , Hosing C , Nieto Y , Champlin R E , Andersson B S
Published: October 2015

Romidepsin is a cyclic molecule that inhibits histone deacetylases. It is Food and Drug Administration-approved for treatment of cutaneous and peripheral T-cell lymphoma, but its precise mechanism of action against malignant T cells is unknown. To better understand the biological effects of romidepsin in these cells, we exposed PEER and SUPT1 T-cell lines, and a primary sample from T-cell lymphoma patient (Patient J) to romidepsin. We then examined the consequences in some key oncogenic signaling pathways. Romidepsin displayed IC50 values of 10.8, 7.9 and 7.0 nm in PEER, SUPT1 and Patient J cells, respectively. Strong inhibition of histone deacetylases and demethylases, increased production of reactive oxygen species and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential were observed, which may contribute to the observed DNA-damage response and apoptosis. The stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling pathway and unfolded protein response in the endoplasmic reticulum were activated, whereas the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) and β-catenin pro-survival pathways were inhibited. The decreased level of β-catenin correlated with the upregulation of its inhibitor SFRP1 through romidepsin-mediated hypomethylation of its gene promoter. Our results provide new insights into how romidepsin invokes malignant T-cell killing, show evidence of its associated DNA hypomethylating activity and offer a rationale for the development of romidepsin-containing combination therapies.
Medical case reports in the age of genomic medicine
Authors: Cook Matthew C
Published: October 2015

The case report has been a pillar of medical literature but has been displaced recently because of inherent risks of bias. As we move towards precision medicine, however, the case report format could provide an important method for describing disease mechanisms based on rare genetic variants. Empirical evidence reveals that many previously unexplained Mendelian diseases are accounted for by rare heterozygous alleles, de novo mutations or compound heterozygous mutations, and that disease‐associated variants are often confined to the kindred of the affected individual. Elucidation of the phenotypes of these rare genetic variants will necessarily offer unique insights into disease mechanisms. Even when the association between variants in a specific gene and a disease has already been identified, individual cases are valuable. Allelic series extend both the clinical and laboratory phenotypes. Finally, the prevalence of a disease is not a reliable indicator of the therapeutic importance of the underlying mechanism, so resolving extreme phenotypes even in single cases has the potential to identify new treatment strategies relevant to more common disease.
Ectomycorrhizal fungal spore bank recovery after a severe forest fire: some like it hot
Authors: Glassman Sydney I , Levine Carrie R , DiRocco Angela M , Battles John J , Bruns Thomas D
Published: October 2015

After severe wildfires, pine recovery depends on ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal spores surviving and serving as partners for regenerating forest trees. We took advantage of a large, severe natural forest fire that burned our long-term study plots to test the response of ECM fungi to fire. We sampled the ECM spore bank using pine seedling bioassays and high-throughput sequencing before and after the California Rim Fire. We found that ECM spore bank fungi survived the fire and dominated the colonization of in situ and bioassay seedlings, but there were specific fire adapted fungi such as Rhizopogon olivaceotinctus that increased in abundance after the fire. The frequency of ECM fungal species colonizing pre-fire bioassay seedlings, post-fire bioassay seedlings and in situ seedlings were strongly positively correlated. However, fire reduced the ECM spore bank richness by eliminating some of the rare species, and the density of the spore bank was reduced as evidenced by a larger number of soil samples that yielded uncolonized seedlings. Our results show that although there is a reduction in ECM inoculum, the ECM spore bank community largely remains intact, even after a high-intensity fire. We used advanced techniques for data quality control with Illumina and found consistent results among varying methods. Furthermore, simple greenhouse bioassays can be used to determine which fungi will colonize after fires. Similar to plant seed banks, a specific suite of ruderal, spore bank fungi take advantage of open niche space after fires.
Towards a general diastereoselective route to oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes via a gold-catalysed cascade reaction
Authors: Fu Junkai , Gu Yueqing , Yuan Hao , Luo Tuoping , Liu Song , Lan Yu , Gong Jianxian , Yang Zhen
Published: October 2015

The development of an efficient diastereoselective synthesis of the oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane ring system bearing two oxygenated quaternary chiral centres represents a significant challenge. This motif can be found in a wide range of natural products with significant biological activities. Here we report the synthesis of such kind of scaffold using a cyclohexane-trans-1,4-diol with an alkyne side chain in the presence of Au(I) catalyst. This is a domino process in which two C–H, two C–O and one C–C bond is assembled through a sequence of cyclization/semi-pinacol rearrangements. This strategy has been successfully applied to the asymmetric formal total synthesis of (+)-cortistatins.
Optimized measurements of separations and angles between intra-molecular fluorescent markers
Authors: Mortensen Kim I. , Sung Jongmin , Flyvbjerg Henrik , Spudich James A.
Published: October 2015

We demonstrate a novel, yet simple tool for the study of structure and function of biomolecules by extending two-colour co-localization microscopy to fluorescent molecules with fixed orientations and in intra-molecular proximity. From each colour-separated microscope image in a time-lapse movie and using only simple means, we simultaneously determine both the relative (x,y)-separation of the fluorophores and their individual orientations in space with accuracy and precision. The positions and orientations of two domains of the same molecule are thus time-resolved. Using short double-stranded DNA molecules internally labelled with two fixed fluorophores, we demonstrate the accuracy and precision of our method using the known structure of double-stranded DNA as a benchmark, resolve 10-base-pair differences in fluorophore separations, and determine the unique 3D orientation of each DNA molecule, thereby establishing short, double-labelled DNA molecules as probes of 3D orientation of anything to which one can attach them firmly.
Histone methyltransferase SETDB1 regulates liver cancer cell growth through methylation of p53
Authors: Fei Qi , Shang Ke , Zhang Jianhua , Chuai Shannon , Kong Desheng , Zhou Tianlun , Fu Shijun , Liang Ying , Li Chong , Chen Zhi , Zhao Yuan , Yu Zhengtian , Huang Zheng , Hu Min , Ying Haiyan , Chen Zhui , Zhang Yun , Xing Feng , Zhu Jidong , Xu Haiyan , Zhao Kehao , Lu Chris , Atadja Peter , Xiao Zhi-Xiong , Li En , Shou Jianyong
Published: October 2015

SETDB1 is a histone H3K9 methyltransferase that has a critical role in early development. It is located within a melanoma susceptibility locus and facilitates melanoma formation. However, the mechanism by which SETDB1 regulates tumorigenesis remains unknown. Here we report the molecular interplay between SETDB1 and the well-known hotspot gain-of-function (GOF) TP53 R249S mutation. We show that in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) SETDB1 is overexpressed with moderate copy number gain, and GOF TP53 mutations including R249S associate with this overexpression. Inactivation of SETDB1 in HCC cell lines bearing the R249S mutation suppresses cell growth. The TP53 mutation status renders cancer cells dependent on SETDB1. Moreover, SETDB1 forms a complex with p53 and catalyses p53K370 di-methylation. SETDB1 attenuation reduces the p53K370me2 level, which subsequently leads to increased recognition and degradation of p53 by MDM2. Together, we provide both genetic and biochemical evidence for a mechanism by which SETDB1 regulates cancer cell growth via methylation of p53.
Water Status Related Root-to-Shoot Communication Regulates the Chilling Tolerance of Shoot in Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Plants
Authors: Zhang Zi-Shan , Liu Mei-Jun , Gao Hui-Yuan , Jin Li-Qiao , Li Yu-Ting , Li Qing-Ming , Ai Xi-Zhen
Published: October 2015

Although root-to-shoot communication has been intensively investigated in plants under drought, few studies have examined root-to-shoot communication under chilling. Here we explored whether root-to-shoot communication contributes to the chilling-light tolerance of cucumber shoots and clarified the key signal involves in this communication. After leaf discs chilling-light treatment, the photoinhibitions of Photosystem I (PSI) and Photosystem II (PSII) were similar in leaf discs of two cucumber varieties (JY-3 and JC-4). When the whole plants, including roots, were chilled under light, the photosynthetic performances in JC-4 leaves decreased more seriously than that in JY-3 leaves. However, when the water status of leaves was maintained by warming roots or floating the attached leaves on water, the PSII activity and amount of PSI in the leaves of the two varieties were similar after chilling-light treatment. In addition, the differences of PSII activities and amount of PSI between the two varieties under whole plant chilling-light treatment were independent of ABA pretreatment. Above results indicate that (1) the better water status in leaves under chilling contributes to the higher chilling tolerance of JY-3; (2) the water status, rather than an ABA signal, dominates root-to-shoot communication under chilling and the chilling tolerance of cucumber shoot.
Correction: Corrigendum: A biospectroscopic analysis of human prostate tissue obtained from different time periods points to a trans-generational alteration in spectral phenotype
Authors: Theophilou Georgios , Lima Kássio M. G. , Briggs Matthew , Martin-Hirsch Pierre L. , Stringfellow Helen F. , Martin Francis L.
Published: October 2015

Prostate cancer is the most commonly-diagnosed malignancy in males worldwide; however, there is marked geographic variation in incidence that may be associated with a Westernised lifestyle. We set out to determine whether attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) or Raman spectroscopy combined with principal component analysis-linear discriminant analysis or variable selection techniques employing genetic algorithm or successive projection algorithm could be utilised to explore differences between prostate tissues from differing years. In total, 156 prostate tissues from transurethral resection of the prostate procedures for benign prostatic hyperplasia from 1983 to 2013 were collected. These were distributed to form seven categories: 1983–1984 (n = 20), 1988–1989 (n = 25), 1993–1994 (n = 21), 1998–1999 (n = 21), 2003–2004 (n = 21), 2008–2009 (n = 20) and 2012–2013 (n = 21). Ten-μm-thick tissue sections were floated onto Low-E (IR-reflective) slides for ATR-FTIR or Raman spectroscopy. The prostate tissue spectral phenotype altered in a temporal fashion. Examination of the two categories that are at least one generation (30 years) apart indicated highly-significant segregation, especially in spectral regions containing DNA and RNA bands (≈1,000–1,490 cm−1). This may point towards alterations that have occurred through genotoxicity or through epigenetic modifications. Immunohistochemical studies for global DNA methylation supported this. This study points to a trans-generational phenotypic change in human prostate.
Are fish fed with cyanobacteria safe, nutritious and delicious? A laboratory study
Authors: Liang Hualei , Zhou Wenshan , Zhang Yulei , Qiao Qin , Zhang Xuezhen
Published: October 2015

Toxic cyanobacterial blooms, which produce cyclic heptapeptide toxins known as microcystins, are worldwide environmental problems. On the other hand, the cyanobacteria protein (30–50%) has been recommended as substitute protein for aquaculture. The present laboratory study verified the feasibility of cyanobacteria protein substitution and risk assessment. Goldfish were fed diets supplemented lyophilised cyanobacteria powder for 16 weeks with the various doses: 0% (control), 10%, 20%, 30% and 40%. Low doses (10% and 20%) promoted growth whereas high doses (30% and 40%) inhibited growth. In cyanobacteria treated fish, the proximate composition of ash, crude fat content and crude protein content decreased in 16 weeks; the saturated fatty acid (SFA) content significantly increased; the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid content, collagen content and muscle pH significantly decreased; cooking loss percents increased significantly. Muscle fiber diameter and myofibril length were negatively correlation. Additionally, flavour compounds (e.g., amino acids, nucleotides, organic acids and carnosine) changed significantly in the treated fish and odour compounds geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol increased significantly. The estimated daily intake (EDI) of microcystins in muscle was close to or exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) tolerable daily intake (TDI), representing a great health risk. Cyanobacterie is not feasible for protein sources use in aquaculture.
Dynamic manipulation of particles via transformative optofluidic waveguides
Authors: Lee Kang Soo , Lee Kyung Heon , Kim Sang Bok , Ha Byung Hang , Jung Jin Ho , Sung Hyung Jin , Kim Sang Soo
Published: October 2015

Optofluidics is one of the most remarkable areas in the field of microfluidic research. Particle manipulation with optofluidic platforms has become central to optical chromatography, biotechnology and μ-total analysis systems. Optical manipulation of particles depends on their sizes and refractive indices (n), which occasionally leads to undesirable separation consequences when their optical mobilities are identical. Here, we demonstrate rapid and dynamic particle manipulation according to n, regardless of size. Integrated liquid-core/solid-cladding (LS) and liquid-core/liquid-cladding (L2) waveguides were fabricated and their characteristics were experimentally and theoretically determined. The high and low n particles showed the opposite behaviors by controlling the contrast of their n values to those of the working fluids. The LS waveguide was found to successfully manipulate particles according to n and the L2 waveguide was found to provide additional system stability and flexibility, compared to the LS system.
Ruthenium nanoparticles confined in SBA-15 as highly efficient catalyst for hydrolytic dehydrogenation of ammonia borane and hydrazine borane
Authors: Yao Qilu , Lu Zhang-Hui , Yang Kangkang , Chen Xiangshu , Zhu Meihua
Published: October 2015

Ultrafine ruthenium nanoparticles (NPs) within the mesopores of the SBA-15 have been successfully prepared by using a “double solvents” method, in which n-hexane is used as a hydrophobic solvent and RuCl3 aqueous solution is used as a hydrophilic solvent. After the impregnation and reduction processes, the samples were characterized by XRD, TEM, EDX, XPS, N2 adsorption-desorption and ICP techniques. The TEM images show that small sized Ru NPs with an average size of 3.0 ± 0.8 nm are uniformly dispersed in the mesopores of SBA-15. The as-synthesized Ru@SBA-15 nanocomposites (NCs) display exceptional catalytic activity for hydrogen generation by the hydrolysis of ammonia borane (NH3BH3, AB) and hydrazine borane (N2H4BH3, HB) at room temperature with the turnover frequency (TOF) value of 316 and 706 mol H2 (mol Ru min)−1, respectively, relatively high values reported so far for the same reaction. The activation energies (Ea) for the hydrolysis of AB and HB catalyzed by Ru@SBA-15 NCs are measured to be 34.8 ± 2 and 41.3 ± 2 kJ mol−1, respectively. Moreover, Ru@SBA-15 NCs also show satisfied durable stability for the hydrolytic dehydrogenation of AB and HB, respectively.
Chitosan nanoparticles: A positive modulator of innate immune responses in plants
Authors: Chandra Swarnendu , Chakraborty Nilanjan , Dasgupta Adhiraj , Sarkar Joy , Panda Koustubh , Acharya Krishnendu
Published: October 2015

The immunomodulatory role of the natural biopolymer, chitosan, has already been demonstrated in plants, whilst its nanoparticles have only been examined for biomedical applications. In our present study, we have investigated the possible ability and mechanism of chitosan nanoparticles (CNP) to induce and augment immune responses in plants. CNP-treatment of leaves produced significant improvement in the plant’s innate immune response through induction of defense enzyme activity, upregulation of defense related genes including that of several antioxidant enzymes as well as elevation of the levels of total phenolics. It is also possible that the extracellular localization of CNP may also play a role in the observed upregulation of defense response in plants. Nitric oxide (NO), an important signaling molecule in plant defense, was also observed to increase following CNP treatment. However, such CNP-mediated immuno-stimulation was significantly mitigated when NO production was inhibited, indicating a possible role of NO in such immune induction. Taken together, our results suggest that CNP may be used as a more effective phytosanitary or disease control agent compared to natural chitosan for sustainable organic cultivation.
Notch Signaling in Inflammation-Induced Preterm Labor
Authors: Jaiswal Mukesh K. , Agrawal Varkha , Pamarthy Sahithi , Katara Gajendra K. , Kulshrestha Arpita , Gilman-Sachs Alice , Beaman Kenneth D. , Hirsch Emmet
Published: October 2015

Notch signaling plays an important role in regulation of innate immune responses and trophoblast function during pregnancy. To identify the role of Notch signaling in preterm labor, Notch receptors (Notch1-4), its ligands (DLL (Delta-like protein)-1/3/4), Jagged 1/2) and Notch-induced transcription factor Hes1 were assessed during preterm labor. Preterm labor was initiated on gestation day 14.5 by intrauterine (IU) injection of peptidoglycan (PGN) and polyinosinic:cytidylic acid (poly(I:C). Notch1, Notch2, Notch4, DLL-1 and nuclear localization of Hes1 were significantly elevated in uterus and placenta during PGN+poly(I:C)-induced preterm labor. Ex vivo, Gamma secretase inhibitor (GSI) (inhibitor of Notch receptor processing) significantly diminished the PGN+poly(I:C)-induced secretion of M1- and M2-associated cytokines in decidual macrophages and of proinflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-6) and chemokines (MIP-1β) in decidual and placental cells. Conversely, angiogenesis factors including Notch ligands Jagged 1/2 and DLL-4 and VEGF were significantly reduced in uterus and placenta during PGN+poly(I:C)-induced preterm labor. In vivo GSI treatment prevents PGN+poly(I:C)-induced preterm delivery by 55.5% and increased the number of live fetuses in-utero significantly compared to respective controls 48 hrs after injections. In summary, Notch signaling is activated during PGN+poly(I:C)-induced preterm labor, resulting in upregulation of pro-inflammatory responses and its inhibition improves in-utero survival of live fetuses.
Development and external validation of a prostate health index-based nomogram for predicting prostate cancer
Authors: Zhu Yao , Han Cheng-Tao , Zhang Gui-Ming , Liu Fang , Ding Qiang , Xu Jian-Feng , Vidal Adriana C. , Freedland Stephen J. , Ng Chi-Fai , Ye Ding-Wei
Published: October 2015

To develop and externally validate a prostate health index (PHI)-based nomogram for predicting the presence of prostate cancer (PCa) at biopsy in Chinese men with prostate-specific antigen 4–10 ng/mL and normal digital rectal examination (DRE). 347 men were recruited from two hospitals between 2012 and 2014 to develop a PHI-based nomogram to predict PCa. To validate these results, we used a separate cohort of 230 men recruited at another center between 2008 and 2013. Receiver operator curves (ROC) were used to assess the ability to predict PCa. A nomogram was derived from the multivariable logistic regression model and its accuracy was assessed by the area under the ROC (AUC). PHI achieved the highest AUC of 0.839 in the development cohort compared to the other predictors (p < 0.001). Including age and prostate volume, a PHI-based nomogram was constructed and rendered an AUC of 0.877 (95% CI 0.813–0.938). The AUC of the nomogram in the validation cohort was 0.786 (95% CI 0.678–0.894). In clinical effectiveness analyses, the PHI-based nomogram reduced unnecessary biopsies from 42.6% to 27% using a 5% threshold risk of PCa to avoid biopsy with no increase in the number of missed cases relative to conventional biopsy decision.
Biophysical optimality of the golden angle in phyllotaxis
Authors: Okabe Takuya
Published: October 2015

Plant leaves are arranged around a stem axis in a regular pattern characterized by common fractions, a phenomenon known as phyllotaxis or phyllotaxy. As plants grow, these fractions often transition according to simple rules related to Fibonacci sequences. This mathematical regularity originates from leaf primordia at the shoot tip (shoot apical meristem), which successively arise at fixed intervals of a divergence angle, typically the golden angle of 137.5°. Algebraic and numerical interpretations have been proposed to explain the golden angle observed in phyllotaxis. However, it remains unknown whether phyllotaxis has adaptive value, even though two centuries have passed since the phenomenon was discovered. Here, I propose a new adaptive mechanism explaining the presence of the golden angle. This angle is the optimal solution to minimize the energy cost of phyllotaxis transition. This model accounts for not only the high precision of the golden angle but also the occurrences of other angles observed in nature. The model also effectively explains the observed diversity of rational and irrational numbers in phyllotaxis.
Effects of Stretching Speed on Mechanical Rupture of Phospholipid/Cholesterol Bilayers: Molecular Dynamics Simulation
Authors: Shigematsu Taiki , Koshiyama Kenichiro , Wada Shigeo
Published: October 2015

Rupture of biological cell membrane under mechanical stresses is critical for cell viability. It is triggered by local rearrangements of membrane molecules. We investigated the effects of stretching speed on mechanical rupture of phospholipid/cholesterol bilayers using unsteady molecular dynamics simulations. We focused on pore formation, the trigger of rupture, in a 40 mol% cholesterol-including bilayer. The unsteady stretching was modeled by proportional and temporal scaling of atom positions at stretching speeds from 0.025 to 30 m/s. The effects of the stretching speed on the critical areal strain, where the pore forms, is composed of two regimes. At low speeds (<1.0 m/s), the critical areal strain is insensitive to speed, whereas it significantly increases at higher speeds. Also, the strain is larger than that of a pure bilayer, regardless of the stretching speeds, which qualitatively agrees with available experimental data. Transient recovery of the cholesterol and phospholipid molecular orientations was evident at lower speeds, suggesting the formation of a stretch-induced interdigitated gel-like phase. However, this recovery was not confirmed at higher speeds or for the pure bilayer. The different responses of the molecular orientations may help explain the two regimes for the effect of stretching speed on pore formation.
Density Functional Theory for Steady-State Nonequilibrium Molecular Junctions
Authors: Liu Shuanglong , Nurbawono Argo , Zhang Chun
Published: October 2015

We present a density functional theory (DFT) for steady-state nonequilibrium quantum systems such as molecular junctions under a finite bias. Based on the steady-state nonequilibrium statistics that maps nonequilibrium to an effective equilibrium, we show that ground-state DFT (GS-DFT) is not applicable in this case and two densities, the total electron density and the density of current-carrying electrons, are needed to uniquely determine the properties of the corresponding nonequilibrium system. A self-consistent mean-field approach based on two densities is then derived. The theory is implemented into SIESTA computational package and applied to study nonequilibrium electronic/transport properties of a realistic carbon-nanotube (CNT)/Benzene junction. Results obtained from our steady-state DFT (SS-DFT) are compared with those of conventional GS-DFT based transport calculations. We show that SS-DFT yields energetically more stable nonequilibrium steady state, predicts significantly lower electric current and is able to produce correct electronic structures in local equilibrium under a limiting case.
Revealing crosstalk of plant and fungi in the symbiotic roots of sewage-cleaning Eichhornia crassipes using direct de novo metatranscriptomic analysis
Authors: Luo Bin , Gu Wei , Zhong Jiayong , Wang Ying , Zhang Gong
Published: October 2015

Cultivation and environmental changes can induce development of novel phenotypes in plants. For example, the root morphology of cultivated purple rootEichhornia crassipesdiffers remarkably from normalEichhornia crassipesand also shows an enhanced ability to absorb heavy metal from groundwater. However, the changes in gene expression associated with these processes are unknown because of the lack of information on its large and unsequenced genome and its complex plant-rhizosphere symbiotic system. To investigate these gene expression changes, we applied a new strategy, directde novometatranscriptome analysis. Using this approach, we assembled the metatranscriptome of the entire rhizosphere and identified species-specific differentially expressed genes (DEGs) via hyper-accurate algorithms, showing a polarized plant/fungus distribution: the plant genes were responsible for morphological changes to the root system, offering a greater volume and surface area that hosts more fungi; while genes associated with heavy metal response in the fungusFusariumwere upregulated more than 3600-fold. These results suggested a distinct and synergistic functional response by the plant and fungal transcriptomes, indicating significant plant/fungal crosstalk during environmental changes. This study demonstrates that the metatranscriptomic approach adopted here offers a cost-efficient strategy to study symbiosis systems without the need fora priorigenomic knowledge.
Organic Electronic Memory Devices
Authors: Zhang Bin , Chen Yu , Neoh Koon-Gee , Kang En-Tang
Published: October 2015

With the rapid development of the electronics industry in recent years, information technology devices, such as personal computers, mobile phones, digital cameras and media players, have become an essential part of our daily life. From both the technological and economic points of view, the development of novel information storage materials and devices has become an emergent issue facing the electronics industry. Due to the advantages of good scalability, flexibility, low cost, ease of processing, 3D-stacking capability and high capacity for data storage, organic-based electrical memory devices have been promising alternatives or supplementary devices to conventional inorganic semiconductor-based memory technology. The basic concepts and historical development of electronic memory devices are first presented. The following section introduces the structures and switching mechanisms of organic electronic memory devices classified as transistors, capacitors and resistors. Subsequently, the progress in the field of organic-based memory materials and devices is systematically summarized and discussed. Finally, the challenges posed to the development of novel organic electronic memory devices are summarized.
High Performance Polyimides for Resistive Switching Memory Devices
Authors: Yen Hung-Ju , Wu Jia-Hao , Liou Guey-Sheng
Published: October 2015

Polymeric materials for memory device applications have attracted a large amount of interest due to their numerous advantages, such as low cost, high mechanical strength, solution processability, and the ability to develop three-dimensional stacking devices. Considering the heat resistance during the device fabrication process and operation, polyimides are one of the most attractive polymers for memory applications due to their high thermal/dimensional stability and mechanical strength. Recently, a large amount of research has reported that most memory properties from volatile to non-volatile can be produced by optimizing the chemical structure of the polyimides. In this chapter, we summarize the most widely used mechanisms in polyimide resistive memory devices, charge transfer, space charge traps, and filamentary conduction. In addition, recent studies of functional polyimides for memory device applications are reviewed, compared and differentiated based on the mechanisms and structural design methods.
Estimating Yields and Quantities of Mass Releases of Toxic Products from Fires
Authors: Purser David A.
Published: October 2015

The concentrations and doses of toxic substances received by those exposed to fire effluents determine the toxic hazards of a fire. The dose depends on the respiratory minute volumes of those exposed, the atmospheric concentrations of the toxic substances at their location, and the duration of exposure. The concentrations, in turn, depend on the dispersal of effluents from the fire, on the materials being burnt, and on the nature of the burning process. One method for assessing such hazards is to sample toxic species directly during an actual fire incident or during a full-scale reconstruction of a fire incident scenario. In most cases the critical period for fire hazards involves the first few minutes after ignition, so that opportunities for real-time sampling are limited, and full-scale reconstruction experiments can be technically challenging and extremely expensive, so are limited to a few cases. For both the acute life-threatening hazards and environmental hazards from fires, the assessment of toxic hazards therefore depends at least to some extent on fire modelling calculations involving the use of input test data on a range of parameters related to fire growth and development, combustion chemistry, and fire plume dispersal. Fire dynamics models vary from relatively simple algebraic calculations to complex computational fluid dynamics simulations. In all cases the methods involve making estimates of the changing mass burning rates and heat release rates of the fuels, the yields of a range of combustion products, and the dynamics of air entrainment and dispersal of the effluent plume. This chapter describes the basis of simple fire dynamics calculations and test methods designed to measure the yields of toxic combustion products under a range of different fire conditions as described in Chapter 2. Data are presented on toxic product yields from building fires and wildfires, and aspects of their application to full-scale fire hazard assessments in situations ranging from acute lethal scenarios to environmental contamination and health hazards.
Application of Animal Models and Human Studies to Prediction of Combustion Toxicity in Humans
Authors: Purser David A.
Published: October 2015

Combustion product atmospheres consist of a complex mixture containing hundreds of chemical substances in the form of gases, liquid and solid particulates. This chapter describes studies of acute physiological and pathological effects of human exposures during fire incidents, effects of accidental human exposures to individual toxic gases and results from experimental studies on humans, non-human primates and rodents involving individual toxic gases, specific toxic gas mixtures and combustion products from a range of materials. The overall findings from these studies are that, despite the complexity of combustion product atmospheres, the acute incapacitating and lethal effects can be attributed mainly to a small number of irritant and asphyxiant gases and particulates. The main toxic effects are sensory irritancy and asphyxia during exposure followed by lung inflammation and oedema several hours later. The effects of these substances and their interactions have been quantified, enabling the development and validation of mathematical models to enable calculation of toxicity endpoints from measurements of the chemical composition of combustion product atmospheres. The advantages and limitations of different combustion toxicity test methods are discussed; the effects of different thermal decomposition and combustion conditions on toxic substance yields from different materials and effects on toxicity are also described. The effects of species differences on uptake and patterns of toxicity from different substances are described with respect to extrapolation from animal toxicity models to predicted effects in humans.
Dioxins and Other Carcinogens
Authors: Purser David A.
Published: October 2015

The occurrence of a range of carcinogens, including halogenated dioxins, furans and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), is a particular area of concern with respect to potential carcinogenicity and other health effects following direct inhalation exposure, dermal exposure to soot, or secondary exposure through oral intake in food as a result of environmental contamination by the products of combustion. This chapter reviews the main carcinogenic substances known to occur in combustion products from different sources and the potential hazards associated with them, with particular reference to dioxins and related compounds. Dioxins and related compounds are discussed with respect to historical and recent data on human intake from different sources. These are compared with toxicity and exposure guidelines. The contribution of different industrial processes and fuels to levels of environmental contamination and the potential acute and long-term exposure hazards are then described. It is concluded that the reduction of hazards from dioxin intake since the 1980s has been quite a success story, and exposure to all carcinogenic smoke toxins from tobacco smoke (both direct and environmental) has also decreased significantly in Western countries, although still responsible for 28% of all cancer deaths. Exposure to smoke carcinogens other than dioxins due to air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions, especially diesel smoke particulates, remains a serious and possibly increasing societal health risk.
Irritant Gases
Authors: Wakefield James C.
Published: October 2015

Irritant gases are formed in the majority of combustion scenarios and are responsible for the sensory effects encountered during exposure to smoke. The irritant gases evolved and the rate of generation depend upon the temperature and ventilation state of combustion. Combustion derived irritant gases are generally classified either as inorganic acid gases or as organic irritants. The toxicity resulting from exposure to irritant gas is dependent on the chemical, the exposure concentration, the exposure duration and its solubility. The primary effect of irritant gas exposure is likely to be sensory irritation and the severity of irritation is dependent only upon the concentration of the irritant present, and is independent of the exposure duration. The irritant effect of stinging or burning of the eyes and throat may cause exposed individuals to close their eyes and hold their breath to alleviate the irritation, which may hinder their ability to escape from the hazard. Exposure to irritant gases often causes a burning sensation of the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract, including the nose, mouth and throat. Pulmonary irritation commonly follows sensory irritation, due to inhalation of the irritant gas into the lungs resulting in bronchoconstriction, coughing and breathing difficulties. Unlike sensory irritation, the severity of pulmonary irritation is dependent upon both the concentration and the duration of exposure. Exposure to high concentrations of irritant gases can potentially be fatal in a period of between 6 and 48 hours after removal from the exposure due to the development of pulmonary oedema. Continued monitoring of exposed individuals is, therefore, important during this period. This chapter reviews aspects of the mechanisms by which combustion products cause irritancy and the effects of a number of specific irritant substances occurring in combustion products.
Acute Effects of Combinations of Toxicologically Active Substances and Heat on Fire Victims in Buildings and during Exposures to Outdoor Smoke Plumes
Authors: Purser David A.
Published: October 2015

This chapter describes fractional effective dose methods for calculating the acute effects on fire victims during and after exposure to the combinations of smoke particulates, toxic gases and heat encountered in fires. The methods have been developed to enable calculation of the times during and after exposure at a fire scene when exposed subjects are predicted to suffer the following: significant impairment of escape capability and incapacitation due to the effects of exposure to high concentrations of irritant smoke; incapacitation (loss of consciousness) from accumulated exposure doses of asphyxiant gases (CO, HCN, CO2 and low O2) and irritants; pain to exposed skin from heat stimulation of pain receptors, partial and full-thickness skin and respiratory tract burns; exposure doses of lung irritants (vapours and particulates) sufficient to result in post-exposure lung inflammation and oedema; lethal exposure doses of asphyxiant gases. The derivation of the methods is described as well as their application to fire hazard analysis using time–concentration curve data for smoke particulates, toxic fire gases, radiant and convective heat from a set of experimental fires. Examples of applications to fire incident investigations are also presented in which the methods have been validated against data from exposed subjects. The evaluation of effects of outdoor exposures to smoke plumes is also considered in terms of exposure concentrations and exposure doses from different types of fires likely to cause adverse health effects, particularly odour and mild respiratory tract irritancy.
Buncefield Fire
Authors: Waite Thomas , Keshishian Catherine , Murray Virginia
Published: October 2015

The Buncefield depot is one of the largest oil storage and transfer sites in the UK, handling refined petroleum products and additives before distribution to other facilities. On Sunday 11 December 2005, over-filling of tank 912 with unleaded car fuel resulted in spillage of 300 tonnes of petrol around the tank and formation of a vapour cloud. This ignited at 06:01 hours, producing an explosion and fire that burned for five days, by which time 23 tanks of diesel, kerosene and aviation fuel had been destroyed. The fire plume was dispersed widely above a temperature inversion layer, limiting the ground level plume deposition and resulting health hazards. This chapter describes the circumstances of the event and the Health Protection Agency public health response. Aspects covered include estimation of emissions and pollutants, public health response, environmental impact findings (including atmospheric and plume dispersion modelling, air quality monitoring and international impact) and health impact findings (including emergency department case note review, an occupational health surveillance register, and the Buncefield follow up population survey). The significance of the findings and public health lessons identified are discussed, including consideration of potential health outcomes for different meteorological scenarios that had occurred on other days during 2005.
Formation of colloidal nanocrystal clusters of iron oxide by controlled ligand stripping
Authors: Fu Junxiang , He Le , Xu Wenjing , Zhuang Jianle , Yang Xianfeng , Zhang Xiaozeng , Wu Mingmei , Yin Yadong
Published: October 2015

We report a “ligand stripping” method for the creation of secondary structures of colloidal nanocrystals.
Anomalous adsorption of biomolecules on a Zn-based metal–organic framework obtained via a facile room-temperature route
Authors: Vinogradov Alexandr V. , Zaake-Hertling Haldor , Drozdov Andrey S. , Lönnecke Peter , Seisenbaeva Gulaim A. , Kessler Vadim G. , Vinogradov Vladimir V. , Hey-Hawkins Evamarie
Published: October 2015

A new method for the crystal growth of two Zn-based MOFs at room temperature (known MOF-5 and a new modification of [{Zn2(TBAPy)(H2O)2}·3.5DEF]n).
Facile synthesis of carbon dots in an immiscible system with excitation-independent emission and thermally activated delayed fluorescence
Authors: Hou Juan , Wang Long , Zhang Ping , Xu Yuan , Ding Lan
Published: October 2015

A rapid preparative method for carbon dots in an immiscible system was proposed. CDs possess high quantum yield, excitation-independent emission and thermally activated delayed fluorescence.
Silatranes for binding inorganic complexes to metal oxide surfaces
Authors: Materna Kelly L. , Brennan Bradley J. , Brudvig Gary W.
Published: October 2015

Silatranes do not react when synthesizing inorganic complexes and form bonds to metal oxide surfaces that are stable under acidic, neutral, and basic conditions.