bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Corallimorpharians are not “naked corals”: insights into relationships between Scleractinia and Corallimorpharia from phylogenomic analyses
Authors: Lin Mei Fang , Chou Wen Hwa , Kitahara Marcelo V. , Chen Chao Lun Allen , Miller David John , Forêt Sylvain
Published: October 2016

Calcification is one of the most distinctive traits of scleractinian corals. Their hard skeletons form the substratum of reef ecosystems and confer on corals their remarkable diversity of shapes. Corallimorpharians are non-calcifying, close relatives of scleractinian corals, and the evolutionary relationship between these two groups is key to understanding the evolution of calcification in the coral lineage. One pivotal question is whether scleractinians are a monophyletic group, paraphyly being an alternative possibility if corallimorpharians are corals that have lost their ability to calcify, as is implied by the “naked-coral” hypothesis. Despite major efforts, relationships between scleractinians and corallimorpharians remain equivocal and controversial. Although the complete mitochondrial genomes of a range of scleractinians and corallimorpharians have been obtained, heterogeneity in composition and evolutionary rates means that mitochondrial sequences are insufficient to understand the relationship between these two groups. To overcome these limitations, transcriptome data were generated for three representative corallimorpharians. These were used in combination with sequences available for a representative range of scleractinians to identify 291 orthologous single copy protein-coding nuclear markers. Unlike the mitochondrial sequences, these nuclear markers do not display any distinct compositional bias in their nucleotide or amino-acid sequences. A range of phylogenomic approaches congruently reveal a topology consistent with scleractinian monophyly and corallimorpharians as the sister clade of scleractinians.
Phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary history of the greater horseshoe bat,Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, in Northeast Asia
Authors: Liu Tong , Sun Keping , Park Yung Chul , Feng Jiang
Published: October 2016

The greater horseshoe bat,Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, is an important model organism for studies on chiropteran phylogeographic patterns. Previous studies revealed the population history ofR. ferrumequinumfrom Europe and most Asian regions, yet there continue to be arguments about their evolutionary process in Northeast Asia. In this study, we obtained mitochondrial DNA cytband D-loop data ofR. ferrumequinumfrom Northeast China, South Korea and Japan to clarify their phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary process. Our results indicate a highly supported monophyletic group of Northeast Asian greater horseshoe bats, in which Japanese populations formed a single clade and clustered into the mixed branches of Northeast Chinese and South Korean populations. We infer thatR. ferrumequinumin Northeast Asia originated in Northeast China and South Korea during a cold glacial period, while some ancestors likely arrived in Japan by flying or land bridge and subsequently adapted to the local environment. Consequently, during the warm Eemian interglaciation, the Korea Strait, between Japan and South Korea, became a geographical barrier to Japanese and inland populations, while the Changbai Mountains, between China and North Korea, did not play a significant role as a barrier between Northeast China and South Korea populations.
Comparative functional characterization of novel non-syndromicGJB2gene variant p.Gly45Arg and lethal syndromic variant p.Gly45Glu
Authors: Rodriguez-Paris Juan , Waldhaus Jörg , Gordhandas Jeenal A. , Pique Lynn , Schrijver Iris
Published: October 2016

We characterized a novelGJB2missense variant, c.133G>A, p.Gly45Arg, and compared it with the only other variant at the same amino acid position of the connexin 26 protein (Cx26) reported to date: c.134G>A, p.Gly45Glu. Whereas both variants are associated with hearing loss and are dominantly inherited, p.Gly45Glu has been implicated in the rare fatal keratitis-ichthyosis-deafness (KID) syndrome, which results in cutaneous infections and septicemia with premature demise in the first year of life. In contrast, p.Gly45Arg appears to be non-syndromic. Subcellular localization experiments in transiently co-transfected HeLa cells demonstrated that Cx26-WT (wild-type) and p.Gly45Arg form gap junctions, whereas Cx26-WT with p.Gly45Glu protein does not. The substitution of a nonpolar amino acid glycine in wildtype Cx26 at position 45 with a negatively charged glutamic acid (acidic) has previously been shown to interfere with Ca2+regulation of hemichannel gating and to inhibit the formation of gap junctions, resulting in cell death. The novel variant p.Gly45Arg, however, changes this glycine to a positively charged arginine (basic), resulting in the formation of dysfunctional gap junctions that selectively affect the permeation of negatively charged inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) and contribute to hearing loss. Cx26 p.Gly45Arg transfected cells, unlike cells transfected with p.Gly45Glu, thrived at physiologic Ca2+concentrations, suggesting that Ca2+regulation of hemichannel gating is unaffected in Cx26 p.Gly45Arg transfected cells. Thus, the two oppositely charged amino acids that replace the highly conserved uncharged glycine in p.Gly45Glu and p.Gly45Arg, respectively, produce strikingly different effects on the structure and function of the Cx26 protein.
Greater thanXkb: a quantitative assessment of preservation conditions on genomic DNA quality, and a proposed standard for genome-quality DNA
Authors: Mulcahy Daniel G. , Macdonald Kenneth S. , Brady Seán G. , Meyer Christopher , Barker Katharine B. , Coddington Jonathan
Published: October 2016

Advances in biodiversity genomic sequencing will increasingly depend on the availability of DNA samples—and their quantifiable metadata—preserved in large institutional biorepositories that are discoverable to the scientific community. Improvements in sequencing technology constantly provide longer reads, such that longer fragment length, higher molecular weight, and overall “genome-quality” DNA (gDNA) will be desirable. Ideally, biorepositories should publish numerical scale measurements of DNA quality useful to the user community. However, the most widely used technique to evaluate DNA quality, the classic agarose gel, has yet to be quantified. Here we propose a simple and economical method using open source image analysis software to make gDNA gel images quantifiable, and propose percentage of gDNA “greater thanXkb” as a standard of comparison, whereXis a band from any widely used DNA ladder with desirably large band sizes. We employ two metadata standards (“DNA Threshold” and “Percent above Threshold”) introduced as part of the Global Genome Biodiversity Network (GGBN) Darwin Core extension. We illustrate the method using the traditionally usedHindIII ladder and the 9,416 base-pair (bp) band as a standard. We also present data, for two taxa, a vertebrate (fish) and an invertebrate (crab), on how gDNA quality varies with seven tissue preservation methods, time since death, preservation method (i.e. buffers vs. cold temperatures), and storage temperature of various buffers over time. Our results suggest that putting tissue into a buffer prior to freezing may be better than directly into ultra-cold conditions.
Boundary curves of individual items in the distribution of total depressive symptom scores approximate an exponential pattern in a general population
Authors: Tomitaka Shinichiro , Kawasaki Yohei , Ide Kazuki , Akutagawa Maiko , Yamada Hiroshi , Furukawa Toshiaki A. , Ono Yutaka
Published: October 2016

Background

Previously, we proposed a model for ordinal scale scoring in which individual thresholds for each item constitute a distribution by each item. This lead us to hypothesize that the boundary curves of each depressive symptom score in the distribution of total depressive symptom scores follow a common mathematical model, which is expressed as the product of the frequency of the total depressive symptom scores and the probability of the cumulative distribution function of each item threshold. To verify this hypothesis, we investigated the boundary curves of the distribution of total depressive symptom scores in a general population.

Methods

Data collected from 21,040 subjects who had completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) questionnaire as part of a national Japanese survey were analyzed. The CES-D consists of 20 items (16 negative items and four positive items). The boundary curves of adjacent item scores in the distribution of total depressive symptom scores for the 16 negative items were analyzed using log-normal scales and curve fitting.

Results

The boundary curves of adjacent item scores for a given symptom approximated a common linear pattern on a log normal scale. Curve fitting showed that an exponential fit had a markedly higher coefficient of determination than either linear or quadratic fits. With negative affect items, the gap between the total score curve and boundary curve continuously increased with increasing total depressive symptom scores on a log-normal scale, whereas the boundary curves of positive affect items, which are not considered manifest variables of the latent trait, did not exhibit such increases in this gap.

Discussion

The results of the present study support the hypothesis that the boundary curves of each depressive symptom score in the distribution of total depressive symptom scores commonly follow the predicted mathematical model, which was verified to approximate an exponential mathematical pattern.
LOS PROYECTOS FALLIDOS DE CONCORDATO ENTRE CHILE Y LA SANTA SEDE DE 1928
Authors:   Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Salinas Araneda Carlos
Published: October 2016

El inicio de la misión diplomática en Chile del nuncio Ettore Felici en 1928, fue ocasión para invitar al gobierno chileno a celebrar un concordato. En el artículo se estudian las gestiones realizadas a tal efecto y los tres proyectos de concordato que se redactaron los que se contextualizan con una introducción en la se resumen las misiones diplomáticas habidas entre Chile y la Santa Sede a partir de la independencia
LIBERTAD RELIGIOSA EN EL PERÚ: EL SISTEMA DE RELACIÓN DEL ESTADO CON LAS ENTIDADES RELIGIOSAS
Authors:   Universidad Católica San Pablo de Arequipa (Perú), Flores Santana Gonzalo
Published: October 2016

El Perú es un paí­s con una población mayoritariamente religiosa, con tradiciones y con una cultura que guarda conexión directa con la religión, especialmente con la católica, constituyéndose en uno de los elementos esenciales de aquella, lo que ha sido determinante para configurar la estructura de valores de la sociedad peruana y las reglas jurí­dicas primarias de su sistema jurí­dico. En este contexto, el Perú ha diseñado un sistema de relación con las entidades religiosas, establecido en la Constitución de la República, que se ha ido desarrollando progresivamente a través de la jurisprudencia constitucional, la ley y reglamento de libertad religiosa y otras normas de menor rango. Salvo el Acuerdo celebrado con la Santa Sede, el Estado no ha suscrito acuerdos especí­ficos con otras entidades religiosas y no se vislumbra que en el corto plazo se vayan a celebrar. El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo explicar el sistema jurí­dico vigente, partiendo de las manifestaciones públicas del hecho religioso, y de su génesis histórica confesional. Luego pasará a desarrollar la estructura jerárquica normativa que regula el derecho de religión, sus principios jurí­dicos, dedicando un espacio propio al régimen de la Iglesia Católica y la naturaleza del acuerdo que los vincula. Posteriormente se abocará a sustentar el estatuto jurí­dico de las entidades religiosas, con capí­tulos especí­ficos a la educación, la cultura y el sistema de colaboración con las mismas.
IGUALDAD Y NO DISCRIMINACIÓN RELIGIOSA EN EL DERECHO DE LA UNIÓN EUROPEA. A PROPÓSITO DE LAS CONCLUSIONES EN LOS CASOS ACHBITA Y BOUGNAOUI
Authors:   Universidad Complutense de Madrid (España), Palomino Lozano Rafael
Published: October 2016

El Tribunal de Justicia la Unión Europea ha hecho públicas las conclusiones de sus abogadas generales en dos casos sobre discriminación por motivos de religión o convicciones en el empleo, relativos ambos al uso de sí­mbolos religiosos personales. Este artí­culo analiza esas conclusiones, que parten de posturas antagónicas y llegan a resultados diferentes. Con carácter previo, se exponen algunas nociones sobre la igualdad y no discriminación en la Unión Europea. Se concluye que la orientación de las futuras sentencias del Tribunal de Justicia de la Unión Europea es incierta, aunque las conclusiones analizadas tienen ya un valor destacable, al ofrecer elementos importantes en el debate jurí­dico en torno al derecho fundamental de libertad religiosa y a la no discriminación por motivos de religión o convicciones.
LA ADQUISICIÓN DE LA CIUDANÍA ESPAÑOLA POR PARTE DE LOS JUDÍOS SEFARDÍES TRAS LA APROBACIÓN DE LA LEY 12/2015
Authors:   Universidad de Jaén (España), González-Varas Ibáñez Alejandro
Published: October 2016

Este artí­culo analiza el sistema establecido por la Ley española 12/2015 para facilitar la obtención de la nacionalidad española a través del otorgamiento de la carta de naturaleza a los judí­os sefardí­es. Con ello se pretende compensar la pérdida de la condición de españoles que sufrieron tras su expulsión en el siglo XV. Para ello se estudian antes los modos que el sistema legal español establece para adquirir la nacionalidad, así­ como los antecedentes de la Ley 12/2015 y los efectos de su aprobación.
RÉGIMEN LEGAL DE LAS IGLESIAS Y OTRAS ENTIDADES RELIGIOSAS, J. DEL PICÓ.
Authors:   Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Published: October 2016

RÉGIMEN LEGAL DE LAS IGLESIAS Y OTRAS ENTIDADES RELIGIOSAS
Physicochemical and Photocatalytic Properties of Fe-Pillared Bentonite at Various Fe Content
Authors: Fatimah Is , Nurkholifah Yuyun Yunani
Published: October 2016

Iron-pillared bentonites (Fe/Bents) were successfully prepared using a ferric chloride precursor. The prepared samples were characterized using XRD, BET and SEM-EDX. The results show that the pillared bentonite physicochemical character is affected by the iron content in a precursor solution. By Fe content variation it is found that Fe content in Fe/Bents is not linearly correlated with the specific surface area and the increased in d001 in which both the maximum specific surface are and d001 reach maximum at the Fe content of 20 mmol/g. Due to the kinetics of photocatalytic activity in phenol removal, it is concluded that in photo-Fenton-like processes.
Ultrasonically Promoted Synthesis of Ethyl 2-(naphthalen-2-yloxy)acetate in Solid-Liquid Heterogeneous Phase Transfer Catalysis Condition
Authors: Abimannan Pachaiyappan , Rajendran Venugopal
Published: October 2016

In this paper, the synthesis of ethyl 2-(naphthalen-2-yloxy)acetate from β-naphthol and ethyl 2-bromoacetate under ultrasound and catalyzed by quaternary ammonium salt in solid-liquid heterogeneous condition was described. Trace amount of water play a major role in this solid-liquid reaction. The reaction follows pseudo first order rate law. The apparent rate constant of the organic phase reaction was obtained form the experimental data. The combination of small amount of tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) and ultrasound (kapp = 25.22×10-3 min-1) shows several fold enhanced rate of the reaction than the conventional operation (kapp = 6.42×10-3 min-1 for TBAB only).  The rate constant increases (0.05 to 0.3 g) with increase in the concentration of catalyst (from kapp = 10.12×10-3 min-1 to kapp = 34.46×10-3 min-1). The other kinetic effects such as, effect of agitation speed, kind of frequency of ultrasound, kind of various quantity of K2CO3, quantity of water, temperature, different quaternary ammonium salts, solvents and volume of organic solvents on the conversion of ethyl 2-bromoacetate  and apparent rate constant were investigated in detail and rational explanations are provided.
Silica-Supported Co3O4 Nanoparticles as a Recyclable Catalyst for Rapid Degradation of Azodye
Authors: Baghban Ali , Doustkhah Esmail , Rostamnia Sadegh , Aghbash Khadijeh Ojaghi
Published: October 2016

In this paper, silica nanoparticles with particle size of ~ 10-20 nm were selected as a support for the synthesis of Co3O4 nanoparticles by impregnation of silica nanoparticles in solution of Co(II) in a specific concentrations and then calcination to 800 oC. This nanocomposite was then, used as a catalyst for oxidative degradation of methyl orange (MO) with ammonium persulfate in aqueous media. Effect of pH, temperature, contact time, amount of oxidant and catalyst were studied in the presence of manuscript. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), electron dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), FT-IR, and ICP-AES analyses were used for analysis of silica-supported Co3O4 (Co3O4/SiO2). Treating MO with ammonium persulfate in the presence of Co3O4/SiO2 led to complete degradation of MO under the optimized conditions. Also, the catalyst exhibited recyclability at least over 10 consecutive runs.
Sustainable Catalytic Process for Synthesis of Triethyl Citrate Plasticizer over Phosphonated USY Zeolite
Authors: Nandiwaleand Kakasaheb Y. , Bokade Vijay V.
Published: October 2016

Fruits wastage is harmful to health and environment concerning spreading diseases and soil pollution, respectively. To avoid this issue, use of citrus fruit waste for the production of citric acid (CA) is one of viable mean to obtain value added chemicals. Moreover, synthesis of triethyl citrate (TEC), a non-toxic plasticizer by esterification of CA with ethanol over heterogeneous catalyst would be renewable and sustainable catalytic process. In this context, parent Ultrastable Y (USY) and different percentage phosphonated USY (P-USY) zeolites were used for the synthesis of TEC in a closed batch reactor, for the first time. The synthesized catalysts were characterized by N2-adsorption desorption isotherm, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and NH3 temperature programmed desorption (TPD. Effect of reaction conditions, such as the molar ratio of ethanol to CA (5:1 - 20:1), the catalyst to CA ratio (0.05 - 0.25) and reaction temperature (363-403 K), were studied in view to maximizing CA conversion and TEC yield. Phosphonated USY catalysts were found to be superior in activity (CA conversion and TEC yield) than parent USY, which is attributed to the increased in total acidity with phosphonation. Among the studied catalysts, the P2USY (2% phosphorous loaded on USY) was found to be an optimum catalyst with 99% CA conversion and 82% TEC yield, which is higher than the reported values. This study opens new avenues of research demonstrating principles of green chemistry such as easy separable and reusable catalyst, non-toxic product, bio-renewable synthetic route, milder operating parameters and waste minimization.
Reduction of Peroxide Value and Free Fatty Acid Value of Used Frying Oil Using TiO2 Thin Film Photocatalyst
Authors: Kaltsum Ummi , Kurniawan Affandi Faisal , Nurhasanah Iis , Priyono Priyono
Published: October 2016

The quality of used frying oil degraded due to the presence of products degradation, such as; PV and FFA which formed during the frying process. PV and FFA are harmful to human health. The photocatalytic activity of TiO2 thin film has been applied in various fields, especially in the environment. The aim of this study is to evaluate photocatalytic activity of TiO2 thin film for reducing PV and FFA in used frying oil. The TiO2 thin films were deposited on glass substrate by spray coating method at a temperature of 450 oC. The TiO2 precursor solution was prepared by mixing TTiP, AcAc, and ethanol. The thin films were varied into two conditions; as-deposited and annealed at a temperature of 500 oC. The morphology, crystalline structure, and optical properties of the thin films were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and UV-VIS spectrophotometer, respectively. The photocatalytic process was carried out by putting TiO2 thin film in used frying oil and irradiated by sunlight. The result showed that both of TiO2 thin films were still amorphous in nature. However, there was a peak with low intensity for annealed TiO2 thin film which corresponding to the TiO2 anatase crystals plane of (101). Annealing process improved crystallinity and changed the shape morphology of TiO2 thin films. The band gap was found to be 3.59 eV for as-deposited TiO2 thin film and 3.49 eV for the annealed-TiO2 thin film. The photocatalytic process shows that TiO2 thin films reduced FFA and PV of used frying oil up to 67.10% and 79.15%, respectively. Photocatalytic activity of annealed TiO2 thin film was higher than as-deposited TiO2 thin film. The results indicated that TiO2 thin film photocatalyst potential as the new alternative method to purify used frying oil.
Selective Synthesis, Characterization and Kinetics Studies of poly(α-Methyl styrene) induced by Maghnite-Na+ Clay (Algerian MMT)
Authors: Ayat Moulkheir , Belbachir Mohamed , Rahmouni Abdelkader
Published: October 2016

A new and efficient catalyst of Na-Montmorillonite (Na+-MMT) was employed in this paper for α-methylstyrene (AMS) cationic polymerization. Maghnite clay, obtained from Tlemcen Algeria, was investigated to remove heavy metal ion from wastewater. “Maghnite-Na” is a Montmorillonite sheet silicate clay, exchanged with sodium as an efficient catalyst for cationic polymerization of many vinylic and heterocyclic monomers. The various techniques, including 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, IR, DSC and Ubbelohde viscometer, were used to elucidate structural characteristics and thermal properties of the resulting polymers. The structure compositions of “MMT”, “H+-MMT” and “Na+-MMT” have been developed. It was found that the cationic polymerization of AMS is initiated by Na+-MMT at 0 °C in bulk and in solution. The influences of reaction temperature, solvent, weight ratio of initiator/monomer and reaction time on the yield of monomer and the molecular weight are investigated. The kinetics indicated that the polymerization rate is first order with respect to the monomer concentration. A possible mechanism of this cationic polymerization is discussed based on the results of the 1H-NMR Spectroscopic analysis of these model reactions. A cationic mechanism for the reaction was proposed. From the mechanism studies, it was showed that monomer was inserted into the growing chains.
Front-matter
Authors: Istadi Istadi
Published: October 2016

Front-matter
An Experimental Study on Evolution of Grain‐Scale Stress/Strain and Geometrical Necessary Dislocations in Advanced TA15 Titanium Alloy during Uniaxial Tension Deformation
Authors: He Dong , Yasmeen Tabassam , Li Qiang , Li Hong , Zaefferer Stefan
Published: October 2016

This study aims to characterize the spatial distributions of grain‐scale stress/strain and geometrical necessary dislocations (GNDs) in TA15 titanium alloy subjected to tensile deformation at room temperature. The microstructures under different strains are investigated through electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) measurements. Evolution of intergranular stress/strain is revealed by analysis of high angular resolution EBSD patterns. The spatial distributions of GNDs are calculated using a self‐developed routine. Results indicate that many factors influence the spatial distributions of grain‐scale residual stress/strain and GNDs during plastic deformation, and the dominant factor varies with the changes in microstructure characteristics and macroscopic deformation parameters.
Preparation and in vitro investigations of triphenyl[ω‐(tetrahydro‐2H‐pyran‐2‐yloxy)alkyl]tin(IV) compounds
Authors: Edeler David , Bensing Christian , Schmidt Harry , Kaluđerović Goran N.
Published: October 2016

The reaction of SnPh3Li with X(CH2)nO–THP (THP = tetrahydro‐2H‐pyran‐2‐yl; n = 3, 4, 6, 8, 11; X = Cl, Br) afforded organotin(IV) compounds with the general formula Ph3Sn(CH2)nO–THP (1–5). The tetraorganotin(IV) compounds were characterized using multinuclear NMR and infrared spectroscopies and high‐resolution mass spectrometry. Anticancer activity of the synthesized compounds was tested in vitro against the A2780 (ovarian), A549 (lung), HeLa (adenocarcinoma) and SW480 (colon) tumour cell lines with SRB assay. The in vitro investigations revealed that when a shorter chain was present a higher activity was achieved; however compounds 1–5 were found to be less active than cisplatin. In addition, the most active compound, 1, enters A2780 cells and causes apoptosis by triggering both intrinsic and extrinsic caspase pathways.
Outpatient administration of BEAM conditioning prior to autologous stem cell transplantation for lymphoma is safe, feasible, and cost‐effective
Authors: Reid Robin M. , Baran Andrea , Friedberg Jonathan W. , Phillips Gordon L. , Liesveld Jane L. , Becker Michael W. , Wedow Lucy , Barr Paul M. , Milner Laurie A.
Published: October 2016

High‐dose BEAM chemotherapy (BCNU, etoposide, Ara‐C, and melphalan) followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is frequently used as consolidative therapy for patients with recurrent or refractory Hodgkin or non‐Hodgkin lymphoma. The BEAM regimen has traditionally been administered over 6 days in the hospital, with patients remaining hospitalized until hematologic recovery and clinical stability. In an effort to reduce the length of hospitalization for these patients, our institution has transitioned from inpatient (IP) to outpatient (OP) administration of BEAM conditioning. Here, we report the results of an analysis of the feasibility, cost, complications, and outcomes for the initial group of patients who received OP BEAM compared to a prior cohort of patients who received IP BEAM. Patient and disease characteristics were comparable for the two cohorts, as were engraftment kinetics. Length of hospital stay was reduced by 6 days for the OP cohort (P < 0.001), resulting in a cost savings of more than $17,000 per patient. Fewer complications occurred in the OP cohort, including severe enteritis (P = 0.01), organ toxicities (P = 0.01), and infections (P = 0.04). Overall survival rate up to 3 years posttransplant was better for the OP cohort (P = 0.02), likely due to differences in posttransplant therapies. We conclude that OP administration of BEAM conditioning is safe and may offer significant advantages, including decreased length of hospitalization, reduced costs, decreased risks for severe toxicities and infectious complications, and likely improvement in patient satisfaction and quality of life.
Mitochondrial pathway and endoplasmic reticulum stress participate in the photosensitizing effectiveness of AE‐PDT in MG63 cells
Authors: Li Kai‐Ting , Chen Qing , Wang Da‐Wu , Duan Qin‐Qin , Tian Si , He Juan‐Wen , Ou Yun‐Sheng , Bai Ding‐Qun
Published: October 2016

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising treatment in cancer therapy, with a photosensitizer activated by visible light. Aloe‐emodin (AE) is a promising photosensitive agent. In this study, the photosensitizing effects and possible mechanisms of AE‐PDT in MG63 cells were evaluated. The efficiency of AE‐PDT was analyzed by MTT assay. The mode of cell death was investigated by Hoechst 33,342 staining and flow cytometer. The intracellular distribution of AE was detected with confocal microscopy. The formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected by DCFH‐DA. The mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was measured by Rhodamine 123. The expression of proteins including cytochrome c, caspase‐3, ‐9, and ‐12, CHOP and GRP78 was detected by western blot. Apoptosis is the primary mode of cell death in our study, which occurs in a manner of depending on AE concentration and irradiation dose. Confocal microscopy showed that AE was primarily localized on the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of MG63 cells. AE‐PDT resulted in rapid increases of intracellular ROS production, which reached a peak at 2 h, followed by declining of mitochondrial membrane potential, releasing of cytochrome c from mitochondria into the cytoplasm, and up‐regulation of caspase‐3, ‐9, and ‐12, CHOP and GRP78. These results suggest that death of MG63 cells induced by AE‐PDT is triggered by ROS. Meanwhile, Mitochondria and ER serve as the subcellular targets, which are responsible for AE‐PDT‐induced death of MG63 cells.
Access to α‐Arylglycines by Umpolung Carboxylation of Aromatic Imines with Carbon Dioxide
Authors: Guo Chun‐Xiao , Zhang Wen‐Zhen , Zhou Hui , Zhang Ning , Lu Xiao‐Bing
Published: October 2016

A straightforward and transition‐metal‐free approach for the efficient synthesis of α‐arylglycine derivatives from aromatic imines and carbon dioxide was enabled by an umpolung carboxylation reaction. Various substituted diphenylmethimines underwent the carboxylation smoothly with carbon dioxide in the presence of potassium tert‐butoxide and 18‐crown‐6 to give the corresponding carboxylated products in good to high yields. Besides the enhancement of the solubility of potassium tert‐butoxide in THF, 18‐crown‐6 also plays key roles in suppressing the reverse protonation or 1, 3‐proton shift isomerization as well as by stabilizing the carboxylated intermediate.
Pica in Rats as a Preclinical Model of Emesis
Authors: Davis T. Gregg
Published: October 2016

The ability to assess the potential for gastrointestinal adverse events in a preclinical setting is a challenge in the development of new drugs, as the vast majority of in vivo research is conducted in rodent species lacking a vomiting reflex. The use of higher species capable of emesis is often limited by cost, technical experience, and relevant efficacy models to define a therapeutic index. Additionally, investigators should be mindful of ethical considerations when using more sentient species when an alternative in lower species is available. This unit describes the use of pica behavior in rodents as an alternative for evaluating emetic potential in vivo. After an acclimation period, the incidence of rats engaging in pica following the administration of a test article can be used to generate a dose‐response curve of the pica behavior. When linked with an appropriate efficacy model, this allows compounds to be ranked based on therapeutic index. © 2016 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Attitudes Toward Professional Psychological Help Seeking in South Asian Students: Role of Stigma and Gender
Authors: Arora Prerna G. , Metz Kristina , Carlson Cindy I.
Published: October 2016

This study examined (a) the roles of perceived and personal stigma on attitudes toward professional psychological help seeking and (b) the effects of these constructs across gender in South Asians. Personal stigma and being male was negatively associated with attitudes toward professional psychological help seeking; no difference in the association between personal and perceived stigma and attitudes across genders was found. These findings have implications for the engagement of South Asians in mental health services in the United States.

Este estudio examinó (a) los roles de estigmas percibidos y personales en las actitudes hacia la búsqueda de ayuda psicológica profesional y (b) los efectos de estos constructos en indiviuos sudasiáticos según su sexo. El estigma personal y la identidad masculina se asociaron negativamente con las actitudes hacia la búsqueda de ayuda psicológica profesional; no se halló diferencia en la asociación entre estigmas personales y percibidos y las actitudes de los distintos sexos. Estos hallazgos tienen implicaciones para la participación de los individuos sudasiáticos en los servicios de salud mental en Estados Unidos.
Cerebral blood flow laterality derived from arterial spin labeling as a biomarker for assessing the disease severity of parkinson's disease
Authors: Yamashita Koji , Hiwatashi Akio , Togao Osamu , Kikuchi Kazufumi , Yamaguchi Hiroo , Suzuki Yuriko , Kamei Ryotaro , Yamasaki Ryo , Kira Jun‐ichi , Honda Hiroshi
Published: October 2016

Purpose

To evaluate cerebral blood flow (CBF) laterality derived from arterial spin labeling (ASL) in early‐stage Parkinson's disease (PD) patients compared with those with advanced stages.

Materials and Methods

Thirty‐eight patients with PD (21 patients in early stages, 17 patients in advanced stages) were retrospectively studied. The CBF maps derived from 3T ASL data were co‐registered to the corresponding 3DT1WI using SPM 12 software. Caudate nucleus (CN), putamen (PT), globus pallidus (GP), and thalamus (TH) were manually traced on the representative axial slices of 3DT1WI. CBF of the CN, PT, GP, and TH was measured using corresponding pixels on the co‐registered CBF maps. A laterality index (LI) was calculated as the ratio of the contralateral CBF to primary affected side CBF. Each LI was compared between early and advanced stages of PD using the Mann‐Whitney U‐test. The LIs were also compared between each stage of PD.

Results

In the CN, the LIs were significantly higher in early stages (mean LI ± SD, 95% confidence interval = 1.06 ± 0.14, 1.00–1.13) than in advanced stages (0.94 ± 0.14, 0.87–1.01; P < 0.05). We also observed a tendency toward decreased LIs with disease severity (1.10 ± 0.14, 0.99–1.21 for Hoehn and Yahr stage I; 1.04 ± 0.14, 0.92–1.12 for stage II; 0.96 ± 0.11, 0.89–1.10 for stage III; 0.93 ± 0.17, 0.81–1.05 for stage IV).

Conclusion

The evaluation of CBF laterality pattern in the CN using ASL may be useful for assessing the disease severity of PD patients.

Level of Evidence: 3

J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2017;45:1821–1826
Are there reliable DFT approaches for 13C NMR chemical shift predictions of fullerene C60 derivatives?
Authors: Tulyabaev Arthur R. , Kiryanov Ilya I. , Samigullin Ilnaz S. , Khalilov Leonard M.
Published: October 2016

The relationships between experimental and theoretical 13C NMR chemical shifts of a pristine fullerene C60, monoadducts from [2 + n] cycloaddition (n = 1–3), and one [2 + 1] bis‐adduct are systematically analyzed for the first time by using diverse quantum‐chemical levels of theory. These levels involved B3LYP, B3PW91, B97‐2, mPW1PW91, PBE1PBE, and X3LYP hybrid functionals combined with 3‐21G, 6‐31G, 6‐31G(d), 6‐31G(d,p), 6‐31G(d,2p), LanL2DZ, and SDDAll basis sets. X3LYP/6‐31G approach is determined to have the lowest deviations from the 13C NMR experimental data compared to the other methods for all the fullerene compounds (mean absolute error value is 0.856 ppm and root mean squared error value is 1.197 ppm). The highest deviations are characteristic for α (sp2 C2/C5/C8/C10) and β (sp2 C6/C7/C11/C12) carbon atoms relative to a functionalization site and for those (sp3 C1/C9) directly attached with a side fragment in the [2 + n] monoadducts (n = 1–3). A probable reason of such deviation is that the approaches do not take into account a contribution of paramagnetic ring currents to 13C NMR chemical shifts. The results will be useful in design of novel fullerene derivatives and in performing unambiguous 13C NMR chemical shift assignments with modern quantum chemistry calculations.
Expert Panel Weighting and Aggregation of the Sustainable Society Index (SSI) 2010 – a Decision Analysis Approach
Authors: Seppälä Jyri , Leskinen Pekka , Myllyviita Tanja
Published: October 2016

A sustainable society index (SSI) has been designed to measure the sustainability of different countries in terms of economic, environmental and human well‐being dimensions. These areas were subdivided into eight categories and 24 indicators. The paper shows that the SSI could be considered as a decision‐making problem with multiple objectives. We propose a decision‐analysis approach for estimation of the weights of indicators, categories and dimensions of well‐being, with the target being a construction of overall scores for countries. A questionnaire was sent to experts from several countries, and the weights were estimated from their individual answers. The SSI 2010 results for different countries were recalculated through utilization of the estimated weights. There were some differences in the rankings compared with the earlier results with equal weights. Potential biases of the SSI approach used are critically evaluated, and opportunities to develop the SSI described. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
Sanierung von Brückenfahrbahnen und Gehwegen mit Stahl‐Kunststoff‐Verbundbauteilen
Authors: Stihl Thomas , Geßler Achim , Feldmann Markus , Kennedy Stephen J.
Published: October 2016

In 2005 wurde auf Veranlassung des Bundesverkehrsministeriums das Sandwich Plate System (SPS) für den Einsatz an Fahrbahnen im Brückenbau in Deutschland an einem Pilotprojekt qualifiziert. Fünf Jahre vorher wurde diese 1998 patentierte Technologie durch Kontakte zwischen der RWTH Aachen und der Carleton University in Ottawa, Kanada, in Deutschland bekannt und wissenschaftlich untersucht. Für das Pilotprojekt wurde die Verstärkung der orthotropen Fahrbahnplatte einer Autobahnbrücke der A57 bei Krefeld ausgewählt. Die aus den 1960er Jahren stammende stählerne Fahrbahnplatte des Überbaus erhielt eine Fahrbahnverstärkung aus SPS‐Overlay. Mit dieser Aktion des Bundesverkehrsministeriums wurde der Start für die baupraktischen Einsätze dieser neuen, innovativen Tragstruktur gelegt. Nun, mehr als zehn Jahre nach dem Pilotprojekt, werden in diesem Bericht die mittlerweile erfolgten Entwicklungen dargestellt und aktuelle Anwendungen der 22 Jahre alten Grundidee aufgezeigt.

Reconstruction of bridge decks and walkways by using Steel‐Elastomer‐Compound Components.On the initiative of the German Federal Ministry of Transport in 2005, the Sandwich Plate System has been qualified for the use on roadways in bridge construction in Germany on a pilot project. Two years before this 1998 patented technology was known in Germany by contacts between the RWTH Aachen and the Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, and in the following scientifically examined. For the pilot project, the strengthening of an orthotropic carriageway of a motorway bridge of the A57 near Krefeld was selected. As a native of the 1960s, the steel slab of the bridge superstructure got roadway reinforcement by SPS Overlay. With this action by the Federal Ministry of Transport, the start of the practical building operations of this innovative new support structure was done. Now, more than ten years after the pilot project, present developments and current applications of the 22‐year‐old basic idea are highlighted in the report.
Feasibility of Laparoscopic Total Mesorectal Excision with Extended Lateral Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection for Advanced Lower Rectal Cancer after Preoperative Chemoradiotherapy
Authors: Ogura Atsushi , Akiyoshi Takashi , Nagasaki Toshiya , Konishi Tsuyoshi , Fujimoto Yoshiya , Nagayama Satoshi , Fukunaga Yosuke , Ueno Masashi , Kuroyanagi Hiroya
Published: October 2016

Background

The feasibility of additional lateral pelvic lymph node dissection (LPLND) compared with total mesorectal excision (TME) alone in patients treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is controversial, especially in laparoscopic surgery. This study was performed to evaluate the feasibility of adding laparoscopic LPLND to TME in patients with advanced lower rectal cancer and swollen LPLNs treated with preoperative CRT.

Methods

We reviewed 327 patients with lower rectal cancer without distant metastasis who underwent preoperative CRT followed by laparoscopic TME. Laparoscopic LPLND was added in patients with swollen LPLNs before CRT. Outcomes were compared between patients with (n = 107) and without (n = 220) LPLND.

Results

LPLN metastasis was found in 26 patients (24.3 %) in the LPLND group. The operation time was significantly longer, and total blood loss was significantly greater in the LPLND than TME group (461 vs. 298 min and 115 vs. 30 mL, respectively; P < 0.0001). The major complication rate was similar in the LPLND and TME groups (9.3 vs. 5.5 %, respectively; P = 0.188), and there were no conversions to open surgery. The LPLND and TME groups also showed a similar 3‐year relapse‐free survival rate (84.7 vs. 82.0 %, respectively; P = 0.536) and local recurrence rate (3.2 vs. 5.2 %, respectively; P = 0.569) despite significantly more patients with pathological lymph node metastasis in the LPLND than TME group (37.4 vs. 22.3 %, respectively; P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Additional laparoscopic LPLND is feasible in patients with advanced lower rectal cancer and clinically swollen LPLNs treated with preoperative CRT, with no significant increase in major complications compared with TME alone.
The use of partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) in management accounting research: Directions for future theory development
Authors: Nitzl Christian
Published: October 2016

In management accounting research, the capabilities of Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) have only partially been utilized. These yet unexploited capabilities of PLS-SEM are a useful tool in the often explorative state of research in management accounting. After reviewing eleven top-ranked management accounting journals through the end of 2013, 37 articles in which PLS-SEM is used are identified. These articles are analysed based on multiple relevant criteria to determine the progress in this research area, including the reasons for using PLS-SEM, the characteristics of the data and the models, and model evaluation and reporting. A special focus is placed on the degree of importance of these analysed criteria for the future development of management accounting research. To ensure continued theoretical development in management accounting, this article also offers recommendations to avoid common pitfalls and provides guidance for the advanced use of PLS-SEM in management accounting research.
Neonatal interventions differently affect maternal care quality and have sexually dimorphic developmental effects on corticosterone secretion
Authors: de Sá Couto‐Pereira Natividade , Ferreira Charles Francisco , Lampert Carine , Arcego Danusa Mar , Toniazzo Ana Paula , Bernardi Juliana Rombaldi , da Silva Diego Carrilho , Von Poser Toigo Eduardo , Diehl Luisa Amalia , Krolow Rachel , Silveira Patrícia Pelufo , Dalmaz Carla
Published: October 2016

Neonatal handling (H) and maternal separation (MS) both induce changes in maternal care, but the contribution of these changes to the behavioral and neurochemical outcomes of the offspring remains unclear, as studies often find opposite results concerning the frequency of maternal behaviors, particularly in the MS paradigm. In this study, behavior displayed by H, MS and non‐handled (NH) Wistar rat dams were observed during the first 10 days after birth. A tentative assessment of the quality of maternal care was made, using a previously reported score that reflects behavior fragmentation and inconsistency. Central oxytocin levels and hippocampal synaptic plasticity markers were also evaluated in dams, immediately after litter weaning. In adulthood, male and female offspring were subjected to a contextual stress‐induced corticosterone challenge to provide further information on the impact of early interventions on neuroendocrine parameters. We found that while both H and MS interventions induced an increase in the amount of pup‐directed behavior, MS dams displayed a more fragmented and inconsistent pattern of care, reflecting poorer maternal care quality. Interestingly, an increase in oxytocin levels was observed only in H dams. While H offspring did not differ from NH, MS males and females showed marked differences in corticosterone secretion compared to controls. Our results suggest that briefly removing the pups from the nest alters maternal care quantity but not quality and increases central oxytocin, while long separations appear to increase low quality maternal care and change neuroendocrine responses in adult offspring in a sex‐specific manner.
Phytolith and diatom evidence for rice exploitation and environmental changes during the early mid-Holocene in the Yangtze Delta
Authors: Zuo Xinxin , Lu Houyuan , Li Zhen , Song Bing , Xu Deke , Zou Yafei , Wang Can , Huan Xiujia , He Keyang
Published: October 2016

Using phytolith analysis from a well-dated and high-resolution sediment sequence in the apex of northern Yangtze Delta, we investigate environmental changes, the rise and decline of rice exploitation and possible impacts of environment on rice exploitation during the early mid-Holocene. The phytolith sequence documents a relatively warm and dry interval during ca.9000 to 8200 cal yr BP, followed by climatic amelioration before 7200 cal yr BP. Phytolith evidence indicates that rice exploitation at the apex of northern Yangtze Delta began at 8200 cal yr BP, flourished by 7700 cal yr BP and ceased after 7400 cal yr BP. The first emergence of marine diatom species approximately 7300 cal yr BP likely indicates an accelerated sea-level rise. The apparent correlation of the initiation of rice exploitation with climatic amelioration during the early mid-Holocene suggests that climatic changes may have played an important role in facilitating rice exploitation. Both the ideal climatic conditions and stable sea level enabled flourishing rice exploitation during 8200 to 7400 cal yr BP. Although the climate remained warm and wet after 7400 cal yr BP, local sea-level rise possibly led to the termination of earlier rice exploitation at this site of the northern Yangtze Delta.
Earliest direct evidence of monument building at the archaeological site of Nan Madol (Pohnpei, Micronesia) identified using 230Th/U coral dating and geochemical sourcing of megalithic architectural stone
Authors: McCoy Mark D. , Alderson Helen A. , Hemi Richard , Cheng Hai , Edwards R. Lawrence
Published: October 2016

Archaeologists commonly use the onset of the construction of large burial monuments as a material indicator of a fundamental shift in authority in prehistoric human societies during the Holocene. High-quality direct evidence of this transition is rare. We report new interdisciplinary research at the archaeological site of Nan Madol that allows us to specify where and when people began to construct monumental architecture in the remote islands of the Pacific. Nan Madol is an ancient administrative and mortuary center and the former capital of the island of Pohnpei. It was constructed over 83 ha of lagoon with artificial islets and other architecture built using columnar basalt and coral. We employed geochemical sourcing of basalt used as architectural stone and high-precision uranium-thorium series dates (230Th/U) on coral from the tomb of the first chief of the entire island to identify the beginning of monument building at Nan Madol in AD 1180-1200. Over the next several centuries (AD 1300-1600) monument building began on other islands across Oceania. Future research should be aimed at resolving the causes of these social transformations through higher quality data on monument building.
Cancer-associated fibroblast-secreted CXCL16 attracts monocytes to promote stroma activation in triple-negative breast cancers
Authors: Allaoui Roni , Bergenfelz Caroline , Mohlin Sofie , Hagerling Catharina , Salari Kiarash , Werb Zena , Anderson Robin L. , Ethier Stephen P. , Jirström Karin , Påhlman Sven , Bexell Daniel , Tahin Balázs , Johansson Martin E. , Larsson Christer , Leandersson Karin
Published: October 2016

Triple-negative (TN) breast cancers (ER−PR−HER2−) are highly metastatic and associated with poor prognosis. Within this subtype, invasive, stroma-rich tumours with infiltration of inflammatory cells are even more aggressive. The effect of myeloid cells on reactive stroma formation in TN breast cancer is largely unknown. Here, we show that primary human monocytes have a survival advantage, proliferate in vivo and develop into immunosuppressive myeloid cells expressing the myeloid-derived suppressor cell marker S100A9 only in a TN breast cancer environment. This results in activation of cancer-associated fibroblasts and expression of CXCL16, which we show to be a monocyte chemoattractant. We propose that this migratory feedback loop amplifies the formation of a reactive stroma, contributing to the aggressive phenotype of TN breast tumours. These insights could help select more suitable therapies targeting the stromal component of these tumours, and could aid prediction of drug resistance.