bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and Characterization of Estolide Esters Containing Epoxy and Cyclic Carbonate Groups
Authors: Doll Kenneth M. , Cermak Steven C. , Kenar James A. , Isbell Terry A.
Published: July 2016

The unsaturated sites in oleic 2‐ethylhexyl estolide esters (containing 35 % monoenic fatty acids) were converted into epoxide and five‐membered cyclic carbonate groups and the products characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), 1H, and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies. Epoxidation of the alkene bonds was accomplished using performic acid generated in situ from formic acid and hydrogen peroxide. Greater than 90 % alkenes were converted into their corresponding epoxide groups as determined by oxirane values and the epoxide ring structure was confirmed by 1H and 13C NMR. The estolide ester epoxide material was subsequently reacted with supercritical carbon dioxide in the presence of tetrabutylammonium bromide catalyst to produce the corresponding estolide ester containing the cyclic carbonate group. The signals at 1,807 cm−1 and δ 82 ppm in the FTIR and 13C‐NMR spectra, respectively, confirmed the desired cyclic carbonate was produced. The carbonated estolide ester exhibited a dynamic viscosity, at 25 °C, of 172 mPa·s as compared to 155 mPa·s for the estolide ester starting material. The estolide ester structure of these new derivatives was shown to be consistent throughout their synthesis.
Abdominal wall recurrence following laparoscopic surgical treatment of colorectal cancer – case report
Authors: Kock Kaiser de Souza , Reis Matheus da Silva Pacheco dos , Uliano Estevão José Muller , Rech Fernanda Maraschin
Published: July 2016

The treatment of colorectal diseases by videolaparoscopy (VL) began in the 1990s, bringing multiple advantages in the treatment of cancers in general, especially benign tumors. Specifically, in case of colorectal cancer (CRC), the laparoscopic approach offers very attractive prospects, such as the staging of advanced lesions and palliative management of patients with incurable CCR. The most controversial aspect of this technique is the use of VL in curative resections. One questions the possibility of metastasis in portals related to tumor recurrence, as well as the violation of oncological principles. The mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon may be related to pneumoperitoneum, tissue manipulation, and biological factors.
Community Mediation as a Hybrid Practice: The Case of Mediation Boards in Sri Lanka
Authors: WELIKALA Sepalika
Published: July 2016

Through an empirical study of the state-sponsored community mediation programme in Sri Lanka known as Mediation Boards (MBs), this paper examines this local-level mediation as a hybrid practice. Established as an Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanism, the MBs were initiated as a more effective and efficient alternative to the formal courts for local and minor disputes. In the case-study conducted on an MB, it was found that there is extensive replication of formal legal procedures alongside the mediators’ own cultural interpretations of disputes. By locating this hybrid practice theoretically within the framework of legal pluralism and its broad definition of law, an attempt is made to expand the scope of the pluralistic nature of law not only to include alternative forms of law, but also to understand the dynamic interactions between multiple normative orderings.
Functional characterization of a pheromone-binding protein from rice leaffolderCnaphalocrocis medinalisin detecting pheromones and host plant volatiles
Authors: Sun X. , Zhao Z.-F. , Zeng F.-F. , Zhang A. , Lu Z.-X. , Wang M.-Q.
Published: July 2016

Pheromone-binding proteins (PBPs) are believed to be involved in the recognition of semiochemicals. In the present study, western blot analysis, fluorescence-binding characteristics and immunolocalization of CmedPBP4 from the rice leaffolder,Cnaphalocrocis medinalis, were investigated. Western blot analysis revealed that CmedPBP4 showed obvious antenna-specific expression patterns in female and male antenna, and made a clearly different sex-biased expression. Immunocytochemical labeling revealed that CmedPBP4 showed specific expression in the trichoid sensilla. Competitive fluorescence binding assays indicated that CmedPBP4 could selectively recognize three sex pheromone components (Z13-18:Ac, Z11-16:Al and Z13-18:OH) and eleven rice plant volatiles, including cyclohexanol, nerolidol, cedrol, dodecanal, ionone, (−)-α-cedrene, (Z)-farnesene, β-myrcene, R-(+)-limonene, (−)-limonene, and (+)-3-carene. Meanwhile the CmedPBP4 detection of sex pheromones and host odorants was pH-dependent. Our results, for the first time, provide further evidence that trichoid sensilla might be play an important role in detecting sex pheromones and host plant volatiles in theC. medinalismoth. Our systematic studies provided further detailed evidence for the function of trichoid sensilla in insect semiochemical perception.
Commission incomplete: exploring the new model for purchasing public services from the third sector
Authors: REES JAMES , MILLER ROBIN , BUCKINGHAM HEATHER
Published: July 2016

The concept of commissioning has risen in prominence in recent years as a result of ongoing reforms to the funding and delivery of public services in the UK. The model of commissioning constructed by policy has however been overlaid on existing practices, which themselves differ between different service areas. This paper, focusing on commissioning of third sector organisations (TSOs) in the field of community mental health services, shows that its introduction has not led to the straightforward public sector ‘marketisation’ that advocates desire or that critics fear. Instead, commissioning has led to an indeterminate outcome or ‘halfway house’ position in which the status and role of commissioning remains somewhat muddled – both internally to participants within public sector organisations and externally in terms of the experience of the interface by TSOs. We found that commissioning as it is actually practiced remains contested and political – it is a highly relational process dependent on personal practices and skills and on personal relationships between stakeholders – and is therefore not fully managerialised or marketised. This has implications for the policy and practice of commissioning and the interpretation of more ‘open’ public services.
Industrial compliant robot bases in interaction tasks: a force tracking algorithm with coupled dynamics compensation
Authors: Roveda Loris , Pedrocchi Nicola , Vicentini Federico , Molinari Tosatti Lorenzo
Published: July 2016

Light-weight manipulators are used in industrial tasks mounted on mobile platforms to improve flexibility. However, such mountings introduce compliance affecting the tasks. This work deals with such scenarios by designing a controller that also takes into account compliant environments. The controller allows the tracking of a target force using the estimation of the environment stiffness (EKF) and the estimation of the base position (KF), compensating the robot base deformation. The closed-loop stability has been analyzed. Observers and the control law have been validated in experiments. An assembly task is considered with a standard industrial non-actuated mobile platform. Control laws with and without base compensation are compared.
Rate effects on the growth of centres
Authors: FRY H. M. , SMITH F. T.
Published: July 2016

Entropy maximising spatial interaction models have been widely exploited in a range of disciplines and applications: from trade and migration flows to the spread of riots and the understanding of spatial patterns in archaeological sites of interest. When embedded into a dynamic system and framed in the context of a retail model, the dynamics of centre growth poses an interesting mathematical problem, with bifurcations and phase changes, which may be addressed analytically. In this paper, we present some analysis of the continuous retail model and the corresponding discrete version, which yields insights into the effect of space on the evolving system, and an understanding of why certain retail centres are more successful than others. The slowly developing growths and the fast explosive growths that are of particular concern are explained in detail.
Multimodal research: Addressing the complexity of multimodal environments and the challenges for CALL
Authors: Tan Sabine , O’Halloran Kay L. , Wignell Peter
Published: July 2016

Multimodality, the study of the interaction of language with other semiotic resources such as images and sound resources, has significant implications for computer assisted language learning (CALL) with regards to understanding the impact of digital environments on language teaching and learning. In this paper, we explore recent manifestations of CALL in 3-D virtual worlds, illustrated by the example ofSecond Life. The multimodal analyses of a conventional face-to-face lesson and three language learning activities inSecond Lifehighlight some of the affordances and challenges presented by 3-D virtual environments. The results suggest that while multimodal resources integrate naturally to facilitate language teaching and learning in an orderly, structured and goal-orientated manner in classroom lessons, the often uncoordinated use (or absence) of avatars’ gaze, facial expression, body posture, gesture, as well as the unclear proxemics and use of space pose problems for effective communication in a 3-D virtual world. In addition, a “technology-oriented” register, alongside traditional instructional and regulative genres and registers, is introduced to help students cope with the demands of learning a language in a 3-D virtual environment. The study raises the issue of the relative effectiveness of 3-D virtual worlds for language teaching and learning. In doing so, a digital approach to multimodal research is proposed in order to address the complexity of multimodal learning environments and the various challenges for CALL.
STRUCTURAL CHANGE AND A CONSTANT GROWTH PATH IN A THREE-SECTOR GROWTH MODEL WITH THREE FACTORS
Authors: Muro Kazunobu
Published: July 2016

This study proposes the unified framework of a three-sector model with structural change where agriculture, manufacturing, and service sectors have different production technologies. All three sectors use the factors of capital, labor, and land as inputs. The constant-growth path (CGP), which is the trajectory along which the rental rate of capital remains constant, is used to reconcile the Kaldor and Kuznets facts, and plays a role in linking the wage rate and land rent in the three-factors model. Because the prices of agricultural goods and services are determined endogenously, the CGP condition is no longer the knife-edge condition. We find that the dynamic system along the CGP in the three-sector, three-factor model corresponds to the standard two-sector optimal growth model.
Protecting humanity from the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons: Reframing the debate towards the humanitarian impact
Authors: Slade Richard , Tickner Robert , Wynn-Pope Phoebe
Published: July 2016

The international community has been struggling to reach agreement on the non-proliferation and elimination of nuclear weapons since they were first used in 1945. Encouragingly, recent global debate has, for the first time, focused on the devastating humanitarian consequences that the use of nuclear weapons will have not only for nuclear weapons States but for all humanity. The fact that the risks and overwhelming humanitarian consequences of a nuclear event are so high, combined with the inability of the global community to adequately respond to the needs of victims, has compelled policy-makers to consider new ways to work towards the prohibition of the use of nuclear weapons under international law. This article examines how the “humanitarian initiative” has reframed the nuclear weapons debate away from the traditional realm of State security, deterrence and military utility, and towards the grim reality of the humanitarian impacts that would confront humankind if nuclear weapons were ever used again.
The human costs and legal consequences of nuclear weapons under international humanitarian law
Authors: Maresca Louis , Mitchell Eleanor
Published: July 2016

The potential use of nuclear weapons has long been a global concern. This article highlights the principal rules of international humanitarian law (IHL) governing the conduct of hostilities applicable to nuclear weapons, and the issues and concerns that would arise were such weapons ever to be used again, in particular the severe and extensive consequences for civilians, civilian objects, combatants and the environment.

In recent years, increased attention has been paid to the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons. Based on what has been learned from extensive research on the humanitarian and environmental effects of nuclear weapons since they were first used in 1945, and the accompanying implications for IHL, it seems appropriate to conclude that the use of nuclear weapons in or near a populated area would amount to an indiscriminate attack and that there should also be a presumption of illegality with regard to the use of nuclear weapons outside such areas.
Die E–Zigarette – Verbreitung, Konsummuster und Nutzermotive bei Siebt- und Achtklässlern
Authors: Schneider Sven , Görig Tatiana , Herr Raphael , Herth Felix J. , Bauer-Kemény Claudia , Huerkamp Robert , Diehl Katharina
Published: July 2016

Zusammenfassung. Zielsetzung: E–Zigaretten erfreuen sich weltweit zunehmender Beliebtheit. In der vorliegenden Studie haben wir ein vergleichsweise junges Kollektiv deutscher Schülerinnen und Schüler nach Bekanntheit, Konsum und Konsummustern befragt, typische Nutzergruppen identifiziert und Motive der Nutzung untersucht. Methodik: Im Rahmen der hier erstmals vorgestellten PrevEND study II wurden zwischen 10/2014 und 03/2015 insgesamt 840 Schülerinnen und Schüler aus siebten und achten Klassen der Metropolregion Rhein-Neckar anonym mittels eines standardisierten Fragebogens zu E–Zigaretten (einschließlich E–Shishas) befragt. Ergebnisse: Nahezu alle befragten Schülerinnen und Schüler kannten die E–Zigarette (98 %) und 16 % hatten schon mindestens einmal eine E–Zigarette benutzt. Es zeigt sich ein sozialer Gradient, wonach 9 % aller Gymnasiasten und Gesamtschüler und 17 % aller Real- und 33 % aller Werkreal- und Hauptschüler schon einmal E–Zigaretten konsumiert hatten (p < 0,001). Nutzer von E–Zigaretten waren mehrheitlich Nichttabakraucher. E–Zigarettenkonsum in der Peergroup ist die bedeutendste Determinante des eigenen Konsums. Außerdem war die Lebenszeitprävalenz für E–Zigarettenkonsum höher als die Lebenszeitprävalenz für den Konsum von Tabakzigaretten. Schlussfolgerungen: Die Ergebnisse zeigen eine weite Verbreitung der E–Zigarette unter Jugendlichen und legen u. a. ein bundesweites Monitoring sowie eine weitere Untersuchung des Risikoprofils dieser Produktinnovation nahe.
Optimal Perceived Timing: Integrating Sensory Information with Dynamically Updated Expectations
Authors: Di Luca Massimiliano , Rhodes Darren
Published: July 2016

The environment has a temporal structure and knowing when a stimulus will appear translates into increased perceptual performance. Here we investigated how the human brain exploits temporal regularity in stimulus sequences for perception. We find that the timing of stimuli that occasionally deviate from a regularly paced sequence is perceptually distorted. Stimuli presented earlier than expected are perceptually delayed, whereas stimuli presented on time and later than expected are perceptually accelerated. This result suggests that the brain regularizes slightly deviant stimuli with an asymmetry that leads to the perceptual acceleration of expected stimuli. We present a Bayesian model for the combination of dynamically-updated expectations, in the form of a priori probability of encountering future stimuli, with incoming sensory information. The asymmetries in the results are accounted for by the asymmetries in the distributions involved in the computational process.
Systems view of adipogenesis via novel omics-driven and tissue-specific activity scoring of network functional modules
Authors: Nassiri Isar , Lombardo Rosario , Lauria Mario , Morine Melissa J. , Moyseos Petros , Varma Vijayalakshmi , Nolen Greg T. , Knox Bridgett , Sloper Daniel , Kaput Jim , Priami Corrado
Published: July 2016

The investigation of the complex processes involved in cellular differentiation must be based on unbiased, high throughput data processing methods to identify relevant biological pathways. A number of bioinformatics tools are available that can generate lists of pathways ranked by statistical significance (i.e. by p-value), while ideally it would be desirable to functionally score the pathways relative to each other or to other interacting parts of the system or process. We describe a new computational method (Network Activity Score Finder - NASFinder) to identify tissue-specific, omics-determined sub-networks and the connections with their upstream regulator receptors to obtain a systems view of the differentiation of human adipocytes. Adipogenesis of human SBGS pre-adipocyte cells in vitro was monitored with a transcriptomic data set comprising six time points (0, 6, 48, 96, 192, 384 hours). To elucidate the mechanisms of adipogenesis, NASFinder was used to perform time-point analysis by comparing each time point against the control (0 h) and time-lapse analysis by comparing each time point with the previous one. NASFinder identified the coordinated activity of seemingly unrelated processes between each comparison, providing the first systems view of adipogenesis in culture. NASFinder has been implemented into a web-based, freely available resource associated with novel, easy to read visualization of omics data sets and network modules.
Utilizing the micron sized non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma inside the animal body for the tumor treatment application
Authors: Mirpour Shahriar , Piroozmand Somayeh , Soleimani Neda , Jalali Faharani Neda , Ghomi Hamidreza , Fotovat Eskandari Hoda , Sharifi Ali Mohammad , Mirpour Sahar , Eftekhari Mohammad , Nikkhah Maryam
Published: July 2016

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of micron sized non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma inside the animal body on breast cancer tumor. The μ-plasma jet consists of micron sized hollow tube in which pure helium gas is ionized by high voltage (4 kV) and high frequency (6 kHz). The efficiency of the plasma treatment in killing cancer cells was first investigated by cell viability measurements of treated 4T1 cells using flow cytometry and cell cycle analysis. For exploration of the in vivo effects of the plasma treatment, the BALB/c mice inoculated by 4T1 cell lines were exposed subcutaneously to plasma for 3 minutes. In addition, H&E staining, TUNEL and Western blotting assays were performed in order to observed the effects of the non-thermal plasma on the tumor cells. The results showed that the efficiency of the plasma in suppression of the tumor growth is comparable to that of a typical chemotherapy drug. Moreover, the results indicated that the plasma induces apoptosis in the tumor tissue and increases the ratio of the apoptotic to anti-apoptotic protein expression. We believe that these findings presented herein may extend our knowledge of the mechanisms by which the plasma exerts its promising anti-cancer effects.
Monocyte polarization in children with falciparum malaria: relationship to nitric oxide insufficiency and disease severity
Authors: Weinberg J. Brice , Volkheimer Alicia D. , Rubach Matthew P. , Florence Salvatore M. , Mukemba Jackson P. , Kalingonji Ayam R. , Langelier Charles , Chen Youwei , Bush Margaret , Yeo Tsin W. , Granger Donald L. , Anstey Nicholas M. , Mwaikambo Esther D.
Published: July 2016

We earlier established that nitric oxide (NO) is protective against severe malaria and that arginine and NO levels are reduced in malaria patients. We now show that an M2-like blood monocyte phenotype is significantly associated with hypoargininemia, NO insufficiency, and disease severity in Tanzanian children with falciparum malaria. Compared to control children (n = 106), children with moderately severe (n = 77) and severe falciparum malaria (n = 129) had significantly higher mononuclear cell arginase 1 mRNA, protein, and enzyme activity; lower NOS2 mRNA; lower plasma arginine; and higher plasma IL-10, IL-13, and IL-4. In addition, monocyte CD206 and CD163 and plasma soluble CD163 were elevated. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed a significant correlation of risk of severe malaria with both plasma IL-10 and soluble CD163 levels. Monocyte M2 skewing likely contributes to NO bioinsufficiency in falciparum malaria in children. Treatments that reverse the M2 polarization may have potential as adjunctive treatment for malaria.
A native promoter and inclusion of an intron is necessary for efficient expression of GFP or mRFP in Armillaria mellea
Authors: Ford Kathryn L. , Baumgartner Kendra , Henricot Béatrice , Bailey Andy M. , Foster Gary D.
Published: July 2016

Armillaria mellea is a significant pathogen that causes Armillaria root disease on numerous hosts in forests, gardens and agricultural environments worldwide. Using a yeast-adapted pCAMBIA0380 Agrobacterium vector, we have constructed a series of vectors for transformation of A. mellea, assembled using yeast-based recombination methods. These have been designed to allow easy exchange of promoters and inclusion of introns. The vectors were first tested by transformation into basidiomycete Clitopilus passeckerianus to ascertain vector functionality then used to transform A. mellea. We show that heterologous promoters from the basidiomycetes Agaricus bisporus and Phanerochaete chrysosporium that were used successfully to control the hygromycin resistance cassette were not able to support expression of mRFP or GFP in A. mellea. The endogenous A. mellea gpd promoter delivered efficient expression, and we show that inclusion of an intron was also required for transgene expression. GFP and mRFP expression was stable in mycelia and fluorescence was visible in transgenic fruiting bodies and GFP was detectable in planta. Use of these vectors has been successful in giving expression of the fluorescent proteins GFP and mRFP in A. mellea, providing an additional molecular tool for this pathogen.
Independent Tumor Origin in Two Cases of Synchronous Bilateral Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Ji Zhengguo , Zhao Jialu , Zhao Tian , Han Yuying , Zhang Yujun , Ye Haihong
Published: July 2016

Bilateral renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) pose a challenge for clinical treatment and management. Most bilateral RCCs are sporadic, and do not show a hereditary pattern indicative of VHL syndrome or other inherited cancers. The origin and evolution of these sporadic bilateral RCCs remains elusive. We obtained normal and tumor samples from two male patients suffering from early stage synchronous bilateral clear cell RCC (ccRCC), and analyzed genomic DNA using whole exome sequencing and bisulfite pyrosequencing. We detected distinct 3p loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in both tumors in each patient. Two tumors within the same patient harbored distinct driver mutations and different CpG hypermethylation sites in the VHL promoter. Moreover, tumors exhibit independent evolutionary trajectories. Therefore, distinct 3p LOH, combined with contingent driver gene mutations and independent VHL hypermethylation, led to independent tumor origin and parallel evolution of bilateral ccRCC in these two patients. Our results indicate that tumors in these two cases were not due to common germline oncogenic mutations. They were results of multiple de novo mutations in each kidney, rather than primary ccRCC with contralateral renal metastasis. Therefore, histopathologic and genetic profiling from single tumor specimen may underestimate the mutational burden and somatic heterogeneity of bilateral ccRCCs.
Engineering de novo disulfide bond in bacterial α-type carbonic anhydrase for thermostable carbon sequestration
Authors: Jo Byung Hoon , Park Tae Yoon , Park Hyun June , Yeon Young Joo , Yoo Young Je , Cha Hyung Joon
Published: July 2016

Exploiting carbonic anhydrase (CA), an enzyme that rapidly catalyzes carbon dioxide hydration, is an attractive biomimetic route for carbon sequestration due to its environmental compatibility and potential economic viability. However, the industrial applications of CA are strongly hampered by the unstable nature of enzymes. In this work, we introduced in silico designed, de novo disulfide bond in a bacterial α-type CA to enhance thermostability. Three variants were selected and expressed in Escherichia coli with an additional disulfide bridge. One of the variants showed great enhancement in terms of both kinetic and thermodynamic stabilities. This improvement could be attributed to the loss of conformational entropy of the unfolded state, showing increased rigidity. The variant showed an upward-shifted optimal temperature and appeared to be thermoactivated, which compensated for the lowered activity at 25 °C. Collectively, the variant constructed by the rapid and effective de novo disulfide engineering can be used as an efficient biocatalyst for carbon sequestration under high temperature conditions.
Citrate Accumulation-Related Gene Expression and/or Enzyme Activity Analysis Combined With Metabolomics Provide a Novel Insight for an Orange Mutant
Authors: Guo Ling-Xia , Shi Cai-Yun , Liu Xiao , Ning Dong-Yuan , Jing Long-Fei , Yang Huan , Liu Yong-Zhong
Published: July 2016

‘Hong Anliu’ (HAL, Citrus sinensis cv. Hong Anliu) is a bud mutant of ‘Anliu’ (AL), characterized by a comprehensive metabolite alteration, such as lower accumulation of citrate, high accumulation of lycopene and soluble sugars in fruit juice sacs. Due to carboxylic acid metabolism connects other metabolite biosynthesis and/or catabolism networks, we therefore focused analyzing citrate accumulation-related gene expression profiles and/or enzyme activities, along with metabolic fingerprinting between ‘HAL’ and ‘AL’. Compared with ‘AL’, the transcript levels of citrate biosynthesis- and utilization-related genes and/or the activities of their respective enzymes such as citrate synthase, cytosol aconitase and ATP-citrate lyase were significantly higher in ‘HAL’. Nevertheless, the mitochondrial aconitase activity, the gene transcript levels of proton pumps, including vacuolar H+-ATPase, vacuolar H+-PPase, and the juice sac-predominant p-type proton pump gene (CsPH8) were significantly lower in ‘HAL’. These results implied that ‘HAL’ has higher abilities for citrate biosynthesis and utilization, but lower ability for the citrate uptake into vacuole compared with ‘AL’. Combined with the metabolites-analyzing results, a model was then established and suggested that the reduction in proton pump activity is the key factor for the low citrate accumulation and the comprehensive metabolite alterations as well in ‘HAL’.
Molecular evolution of the capsid gene in human norovirus genogroup II
Authors: Kobayashi Miho , Matsushima Yuki , Motoya Takumi , Sakon Naomi , Shigemoto Naoki , Okamoto-Nakagawa Reiko , Nishimura Koichi , Yamashita Yasutaka , Kuroda Makoto , Saruki Nobuhiro , Ryo Akihide , Saraya Takeshi , Morita Yukio , Shirabe Komei , Ishikawa Mariko , Takahashi Tomoko , Shinomiya Hiroto , Okabe Nobuhiko , Nagasawa Koo , Suzuki Yoshiyuki , Katayama Kazuhiko , Kimura Hirokazu
Published: July 2016

Capsid protein of norovirus genogroup II (GII) plays crucial roles in host infection. Although studies on capsid gene evolution have been conducted for a few genotypes of norovirus, the molecular evolution of norovirus GII is not well understood. Here we report the molecular evolution of all GII genotypes, using various bioinformatics techniques. The time-scaled phylogenetic tree showed that the present GII strains diverged from GIV around 1630CE at a high evolutionary rate (around 10−3 substitutions/site/year), resulting in three lineages. The GII capsid gene had large pairwise distances (maximum > 0.39). The effective population sizes of the present GII strains were large (>102) for about 400 years. Positive (20) and negative (over 450) selection sites were estimated. Moreover, some linear and conformational B-cell epitopes were found in the deduced GII capsid protein. These results suggested that norovirus GII strains rapidly evolved with high divergence and adaptation to humans.
HCV RNA Activates APCs via TLR7/TLR8 While Virus Selectively Stimulates Macrophages Without Inducing Antiviral Responses
Authors: Zhang Yuwei , El-Far Mohamed , Dupuy Franck P. , Abdel-Hakeem Mohamed S. , He Zhong , Procopio Francesco Andrea , Shi Yu , Haddad Elias K. , Ancuta Petronela , Sekaly Rafick-Pierre , Said Elias A.
Published: July 2016

The innate and adaptive immune systems fail to control HCV infection in the majority of infected individuals. HCV is an ssRNA virus, which suggests a role for Toll-like receptors (TLRs) 7 and 8 in initiating the anti-viral response. Here we demonstrate that HCV genomic RNA harbours specific sequences that initiate an anti-HCV immune response through TLR7 and TLR8 in various antigen presenting cells. Conversely, HCV particles are detected by macrophages, but not by monocytes and DCs, through a TLR7/8 dependent mechanism; this leads to chloroquine sensitive production of pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-1β, while the antiviral type I Interferon response is not triggered in these cells. Antibodies to DC-SIGN, a c-type lectin selectively expressed by macrophages but not pDCs or mDCs, block the production of cytokines. Novel anti-HCV vaccination strategies should target the induction of TLR7/8 stimulation in APCs in order to establish potent immune responses against HCV.
Real and hypothetical monetary rewards modulate risk taking in the brain
Authors: Xu Sihua , Pan Yu , Wang You , Spaeth Andrea M. , Qu Zhe , Rao Hengyi
Published: July 2016

Both real and hypothetical monetary rewards are widely used as reinforcers in risk taking and decision making studies. However, whether real and hypothetical monetary rewards modulate risk taking and decision making in the same manner remains controversial. In this study, we used event-related potentials (ERP) with a balloon analogue risk task (BART) paradigm to examine the effects of real and hypothetical monetary rewards on risk taking in the brain. Behavioral data showed reduced risk taking after negative feedback (money loss) during the BART with real rewards compared to those with hypothetical rewards, suggesting increased loss aversion with real monetary rewards. The ERP data demonstrated a larger feedback-related negativity (FRN) in response to money loss during risk taking with real rewards compared to those with hypothetical rewards, which may reflect greater prediction error or regret emotion after real monetary losses. These findings demonstrate differential effects of real versus hypothetical monetary rewards on risk taking behavior and brain activity, suggesting a caution when drawing conclusions about real choices from hypothetical studies of intended behavior, especially when large rewards are used. The results have implications for future utility of real and hypothetical monetary rewards in studies of risk taking and decision making.
Potentiometry for the determination of oxidant activity
Authors: Brainina Kh. Z. , Zaharov A. S. , Vidrevich M. B.
Published: July 2016

This paper aims to describe a new approach to using potentiometry for determining oxidants in liquids and ozonized and chlorinated water, in particular.
Formation of amorphous alloys on 4H-SiC with NbNi film using pulsed-laser annealing
Authors: De Silva Milantha , Ishikawa Seiji , Miyazaki Takamichi , Kikkawa Takamaro , Kuroki Shin-Ichiro
Published: July 2016

Amorphous alloys containing Ni-Si-Nb-C were formed on 4H-SiC creating a low resistance Ohmic contact electrode. In a conventional nickel silicide (NiSi) electrode on SiC, a carbon agglomeration at the silicide/SiC interface occurs, and contact resistance between NiSi and SiC substrate becomes larger. For carbon agglomeration suppression, nanosecond non-equilibrium laser annealing was introduced, and to form metal carbides, carbon-interstitial type metals Nb and Mo were introduced. Ni, Nb, Mo, Nb/Ni, Mo/Ni multilayer contacts, and NbNi mixed contact were formed on the C-face side of n-type 4H-SiC wafers. The electrical contact properties were investigated after a 45 ns pulse laser annealing in N2 ambient. As a result, with NbNi film, an amorphous alloy with Ni-Si-Nb-C was formed, and a low specific contact resistance of 5.3 × 10−4 Ω cm2 was realized.
Magnetism and magnetocrystalline anisotropy in single-layer PtSe2: Interplay between strain and vacancy
Authors: Zhang Wei , Guo Hai Tao , Jiang Jing , Tao Qiu Chen , Song Xiao Jiao , Li Hao , Huang Jie
Published: July 2016

The electronic and magnetic properties of the newly synthesized single-layer (1 L) transition-metal dichalcogenide (TMD) PtSe2 are studied by first-principles calculations. We find the strain or selenium vacancy (VSe) alone cannot induce the magnetism. However, an interplay between strain and VSe leads to the magnetism due to the breaking of Pt-Pt metallic bonds. Different from the case of 1 L-MoS2 with VS, the defective 1 L-PtSe2 has the spatially extended spin density, which is responsible for the obtained long range ferromagnetic coupling. Moreover, the 1 L-PtSe2 with VSe undergoes a spin reorientation transition from out-of-plane to in-plane magnetization, accompanying a maximum magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy of ∼9–10.6 meV/VSe. These results indicate the strain not only can effectively tune the magnetism but also can manipulate the magnetization direction of 1 L-TMDs.
Strain-induced phase variation and dielectric constant enhancement of epitaxial Gd2O3
Authors: Shekhter P. , Schwendt D. , Amouyal Y. , Wietler T. F. , Osten H. J. , Eizenberg M.
Published: July 2016

One of the approaches for realizing advanced high k insulators for metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors based devices is the use of rare earth oxides. When these oxides are deposited as epitaxial thin films, they demonstrate dielectric properties that differ greatly from those that are known for bulk oxides. Using structural and spectroscopic techniques, as well as first-principles calculations, Gd2O3 films deposited on Si (111) and Ge (111) were characterized. It was seen that the same 4 nm thick film, grown simultaneously on Ge and Si, presents an unstrained lattice on Ge while showing a metastable phase on Si. This change from the cubic lattice to the distorted metastable phase is characterized by an increase in the dielectric constant of more than 30% and a change in band gap. The case in study shows that extreme structural changes can occur in ultra-thin epitaxial rare earth oxide films and modify their dielectric properties when the underlying substrate is altered.
Direct observation of Ag filament growth and unconventional SET-RESET operation in GeTe amorphous films
Authors: Imanishi Yusuke , Kida Shimon , Nakaoka Toshihiro
Published: July 2016

We report on the direct observation of Ag filament growth and a peculiar resistance switching in amorphous GeTe films with a lateral electrode geometry. The Ag filament growth was monitored by in-situ optical microscopy. The resistance switching was studied in three electrode pairs, Ag–Ag, Pt–Ag, and Pt–Ag/Pt (Ag electrode covered with Pt). In all the three electrode pairs, similar dendritic Ag filaments were clearly observed growing along both directions from one electrode to the other, according to the applied bias polarity. However, the SET and RESET processes are quite different. The Ag-Ag pair produces a unipolar clockwise switching. The Pt–Ag pair shows a bipolar counter-clockwise switching, as predicted in the basic electrochemical metallization theory, but the observed switching polarity is exactly opposite to the basic theory prediction. The Pt–Ag/Pt pair produces a unipolar counter-clockwise switching. The peculiar SET/RESET processes are explained on the basis of strong Ag diffusion into GeTe matrix resulting in an asymmetric effective electrode pair. The findings suggest that the SET/RESET processes are controlled by the amount of Ag and the electrode geometry.
Contribution and Performance of Stocked Walleyes in the Recovery of the Red Lakes, Minnesota, Fishery
Authors: Logsdon Dale E. , Anderson Charles S. , Miller Loren M.
Published: July 2016

Oxytetracycline (OTC) marking and genetic assignment techniques were used to evaluate the contribution and performance of Walleye Sander vitreus fry stocked to accelerate the recovery of a recruitment-overfished population in the Red Lakes, Minnesota. Three stockings of OTC-marked fry from an egg source on the Pike River were conducted at densities of 274 to 358 fry/ha to expedite the recovery of the spawning stock in which the adult female biomass had fallen below 0.5 kg/ha for 10 consecutive years. Two additional stockings of OTC-marked fry from an egg source on a Red Lakes tributary were then conducted at 33 and 87 fry/ha to help quantify natural reproduction as the spawning stock recovered. Subsequent inspection of fish from seine and gill-net samples indicated that Pike River fish composed 50% to 94 % of the stocked year-classes and that the stocked year-classes were three of the strongest in the past 25 years. The Pike River fish survived, grew, and matured at rates similar to the native fish, contributing to an increase in adult female biomass ranging from 2.5 to 8.0 kg/ha. Natural reproduction also increased from a range of 8–120 fry/ha to a range of 199–908 fry/ha, with 49% to 53% Pike River ancestry. For the first 2 years after maturation of the first stocked year-class, however, Pike River ancestry was 13–31 percentage points below what was expected from the relative abundance of Pike River adults in the population. The proportion of Pike River adults present on the tributary spawning runs was also initially below expectations. Both spawning participation and success of Pike River adults increased in successive years, and the stocked fry were judged to have accelerated the recovery of the population to a sustainable and fishable status without the need for additional stocking.

Received October 20, 2015; accepted March 9, 2016 Published online July 7, 2016
Roles of the novel coiled-coil protein Rng10 in septum formation during fission yeast cytokinesis
Authors: Liu Yajun , Lee I-Ju , Sun Mingzhai , Lower Casey A. , Runge Kurt W. , Ma Jianjie , Wu Jian-Qiu
Published: July 2016

Rho GAPs are important regulators of Rho GTPases, which are involved in various steps of cytokinesis and other processes. However, regulation of Rho-GAP cellular localization and function is not fully understood. Here we report the characterization of a novel coiled-coil protein Rng10 and its relationship with the Rho-GAP Rga7 in fission yeast. Both rng10Δ and rga7Δ result in defective septum and cell lysis during cytokinesis. Rng10 and Rga7 colocalize on the plasma membrane at the cell tips during interphase and at the division site during cell division. Rng10 physically interacts with Rga7 in affinity purification and coimmunoprecipitation. Of interest, Rga7 localization is nearly abolished without Rng10. Moreover, Rng10 and Rga7 work together to regulate the accumulation and dynamics of glucan synthases for successful septum formation in cytokinesis. Our results show that cellular localization and function of the Rho-GAP Rga7 are regulated by a novel protein, Rng10, during cytokinesis in fission yeast.
Multiple ER–Golgi SNARE transmembrane domains are dispensable for trafficking but required for SNARE recycling
Authors: Chen Li , Lau Martin S. Y. , Banfield David K.
Published: July 2016

The formation of soluble N-ethylmaleimide–sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complexes between opposing membranes is an essential prerequisite for fusion between vesicles and their target compartments. The composition and length of a SNARE’s transmembrane domain (TMD) is also an indicator for their steady-state distribution in cells. The evolutionary conservation of the SNARE TMD, together with the strict requirement of this feature for membrane fusion in biochemical studies, implies that the TMD represents an essential protein module. Paradoxically, we find that for several essential ER- and Golgi-localized SNAREs, a TMD is unnecessary. Moreover, in the absence of a covalent membrane tether, such SNAREs can still support ER–Golgi vesicle transport and recapitulate established genetic interactions. Transport anomalies appear to be restricted to retrograde trafficking, but these defects are overcome by the attachment of a C-terminal lipid anchor to the SNARE. We conclude that the TMD functions principally to support the recycling of Qb-, Qc-, and R-SNAREs and, in so doing, retrograde transport.
New drugs in cutaneous T-cell lymphomas
Authors: Scarisbrick Julia J.
Published: July 2016

Purpose of review

Currently, there are no curative therapies for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), and consecutive treatments tend to be given until loss of response. There is an urgent need for new and improved therapies in CTCL to treat symptoms such as pruritus and painful skin lesions and prolong survival. This article reviews new drugs available for CTCL.

Recent findings

CTCL encompasses a group of T-cell neoplasms presenting in the skin without systemic involvement. Mycosis fungoides being the most common type and Sézary syndrome the leukaemic form. Treatment is dependent on stage and responses to previous therapy. Treatments are broadly divided into skin-directed therapies which are first-line for early stage disease and systemic therapy reserved for refractory or advanced stage CTCL. This article reviews mode of action, responses and adverse effects of new drugs being considered for CTCL.

Most drugs for CTCL have response rates between 30 and 40%, and response durations tend to be less than a year. As such new studies looking at drug combinations or as maintenance therapy in those with a response to previous therapy should be trialled and may offer improved quality of life and outcome in CTCL.
New mAb therapies in multiple myeloma: interference with blood transfusion compatibility testing
Authors: De Vooght Karen M.K. , Oostendorp Marlies , van Solinge Wouter W.
Published: July 2016

Purpose of review

Immunotherapeutic strategies are emerging as novel therapeutic approaches in multiple myeloma, with several mAbs being in advanced stages of clinical development. Of these, CD38 targeting antibodies appear very promising. In trials with anti-CD38 mAb daratumumab, all patients demonstrated panreactivity in red blood cell (RBC) panel testing, complicating the selection of compatible RBCs for transfusion. This review provides an overview of the interferences and solutions to safely transfuse these patients.

Recent findings

CD38 is weakly expressed on human erythrocytes. Since the first reports on the interference, different solutions have been reported, including the neutralization of anti-CD38 mAbs in plasma by sCD38 or antiidiotype antibodies, CD38 depletion of RBCs using dithiothreitol or cord blood test cells, and transfusion of extensively typed RBCs.

All methods have (dis)advantages, and it depends on the facilities of the immunohematology laboratory what strategy to choose. As the selection of suitable RBC units can be seriously delayed, hospitals should have protocols to communicate this interference with patients, laboratories, and physicians in a timely manner. As CD38 antibodies may also have a role in the treatment of diseases beyond hematological malignancies, chances are high that health professionals will encounter this issue in the nearby future.
Test Anxiety and Salivary Cortisol Levels in Nursing Students
Authors: Clutter Lynn B. , Potter William T. , Alarbi Ahlam , Caruso John F.
Published: July 2016

Stress, in the form of test anxiety, inhibits examination performance essential to nursing success. Salivary cortisol, a biomarker of stress, was obtained before 3 examinations and 1 nursing didactic class from a sample of baccalaureate nursing students in a midwestern US university. Significant differences were found between cortisol sampling events and by junior or senior status. These findings suggest that diverse examinations and program level yield differences in stress for students.
Impact of Lens Care Solutions on Protein Deposition on Soft Contact Lenses
Authors: Babaei Omali Negar , Heynen Miriam , Subbaraman Lakshman N. , Papinski Dominik , Lakkis Carol , Smith Sarah L. , Morgan Philip B. , Berntsen David A. , Nichols Jason J. , Jones Lyndon W.
Published: July 2016

Purpose

To evaluate the effect of four contemporary lens care solutions on total protein, total lysozyme, and active lysozyme extracted from three contact lens materials.

Methods

Adapted contact lens wearers were recruited at three sites, and all subjects were randomly assigned to daily wear of either etafilcon A, galyfilcon A, or senofilcon A for 2 weeks. Four lens care solutions (Biotrue, OPTI-FREE PureMoist, RevitaLens OcuTec, and ClearCare) were used by each subject in random order with a new pair of lenses after a washout period between solutions of at least 4 days. After 2 weeks of daily wear, contact lenses were collected for analysis. Proteins were extracted from a subset of contact lenses (n = 568) and total protein, total lysozyme, and lysozyme activity were quantified using a modified Bradford assay, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and a micrococcal assay, respectively.

Results

Higher levels of total protein were extracted from etafilcon A when used with Biotrue compared to other solutions (p = 0.0001). There were higher levels of total lysozyme extracted from galyfilcon A lenses when used with PureMoist than with Biotrue or ClearCare (p < 0.006). Higher total lysozyme was extracted from senofilcon A when used with RevitaLens OcuTec compared to Biotrue (p = 0.002). Lower lysozyme activity was recovered from senofilcon A lenses with RevitaLens OcuTec when compared to all other care solutions (all p < 0.004). When Biotrue, PureMoist, or RevitaLens OcuTec were used, higher total lysozyme was extracted from galyfilcon A compared to senofilcon A (p < 0.01). When RevitaLens OcuTec was used, higher levels of active lysozyme were extracted from galyfilcon A compared to senofilcon A (p = 0.02).

Conclusions

The ability of lens care solutions to remove protein from lenses varies depending upon the care solution composition and also the polymeric make-up of the contact lens material.
Skeletal Muscle Metastases from Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Cervix: Report of Two Cases With Literature Review
Authors: Skenderi Faruk , Chikha Adisa , Ibisevic Nermina , Tatarevic-Suko Aida , Kantardzic Nermina , Vranic Semir
Published: July 2016

Cervical carcinoma is the second most common female malignancy worldwide. It usually spreads by direct local extension or the lymphatic vessels. Hematogenous dissemination with distant skeletal muscle metastases is a rare phenomenon. We report here 2 patients whose recurrent squamous cell carcinomas of the cervix presented with symptomatic skeletal muscle metastases affecting the muscles of the thoracic wall and forearm, respectively. We also discuss the differential diagnosis and comprehensively review the previously published literature on this rare presentation of cervical carcinoma.