bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Electrochemical Cinnamyl C—H Amination Reaction Using Carbonyl Sulfamate
Authors: Liu Shuai , Li Jin , Wang Dalin , Liu Feng , Liu Xu , Gao Yongyuan , Jie Dai , Cheng Xu
Published: April 2019

Summary of main observation and conclusion

An electrochemical cinnamyl C—H amination reaction in the absence of transition metal catalyst and oxidant was reported. The choice of carbonyl sulfamate as nitrogen source is the key to achieve desired chemoselectivity. A series of terminal amine derivatives are prepared using this protocol and the sulfonyl group can be removed with basic hydrolysis. The reaction is suggested to proceed via a continuous anodic oxidation, deprotonation, anodic oxidation, and intermolecular nucleophilic addition pathway, demonstrating the first example of electrochemical cinnamyl C—H amination.
Noble‐Metal Nanostructures as Highly Efficient Peroxidase Mimics
Authors: Ye Haihang , Xi Zheng , Magloire Kuryn , Xia Xiaohu
Published: April 2019

Noble‐metal nanostructures have emerged as a category of efficient and versatile peroxidase mimics in recent years. Enhancing their peroxidase‐like activities is essential to the realization of certain applications. In this review, we focus on how to engineer noble‐metal nanostructures with enhanced peroxidase‐like activities. The article is organized by introducing the impacts of surface capping ligands, particle size, shape, elemental composition, and internal structure as key parameters for the peroxidase‐like activity of noble‐metal nanostructures. Emphasis is given to the controlled synthesis of nanostructures and their peroxidase‐like catalytic efficiencies. At the end, we provide a perspective on future developments in the research relevant to peroxidase mimics of noble metals.
Targeted Transcriptional Activation in Plants Using a Potent Dead Cas9–Derived Synthetic Gene Activator
Authors: Li Zhenxiang , Wang Fengzhu , Li Jian‐Feng
Published: April 2019

Genetic tools for specific perturbation of endogenous gene expression are highly desirable for interrogation of plant gene functions and improvement of crop traits. Synthetic transcriptional activators derived from the CRISPR/Cas9 system are emerging as powerful new tools for activating the endogenous expression of genes of interest in plants. These synthetic constructs, generated by tethering transcriptional activation domains to a nuclease‐dead Cas9 (dCas9), can be directed to the promoters of endogenous target genes by single guide RNAs (sgRNAs) to activate transcription. Here, we provide a detailed protocol for targeted transcriptional activation in plants using a recently developed, highly potent dCas9 gene activator construct referred to as dCas9‐TV. This protocol covers selection of sgRNA targets, construction of sgRNA expression cassettes, and screening for an optimal sgRNA using a protoplast‐based promoter‐luciferase assay. Finally, the dCas9‐TV gene activator coupled with the optimal sgRNA is delivered into plants via Agrobacterium‐mediated transformation, thereby enabling robust upregulation of target gene expression in transgenic Arabidopsis and rice plants. © 2019 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Non‐Macrocyclic Schiff Base Complexes of Iron(II) as ParaCEST Agents for MRI
Authors: Scepaniak Jeremiah J. , Kang Eun Byoung , John Michael , Kaminsky Werner , Dechert Sebastian , Meyer Franc
Published: April 2019

Nearly two decades of research efforts have been devoted to paramagnetic chemical exchange saturation transfer (paraCEST) to produce image contrast in magnetic resonance imaging. Less than twenty iron‐based paraCEST agents have been reported so far, the majority of which are ligated by macrocyclic chelates. In the work presented here three isostructural tripodal ligands sharing a common tris‐(aza‐butenyl)amine foundation are explored to further diversify iron‐based paraCEST agents. One of the complexes provides contrast with a CEST effect of 33 % for a 10 mm sample, a paramagnetic shift (Δω) of 85 ppm from bulk H2O, and exhibits some stability to biologically relevant ions.
A comprehensive review on the determination of enzymatic assay and nonenzymatic antioxidant activities
Authors: Haida Zainol , Hakiman Mansor
Published: April 2019

This review article presents a comprehensive review pertaining to antioxidants and various assays that determined enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants. Antioxidants have gained attention at the global scale on its prominent beneficial roles that can fight against many chronic infirmities, including cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Many studies have investigated different types of samples, such as medicinal plants, fruits, and vegetables, by using various antioxidant assays. Antioxidants can be grouped into enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants. To date, most studies had looked into nonenzymatic antioxidants due to lack of references on enzymatic antioxidant assays. Therefore, this review article depicts on seven assays of enzymatic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, ascorbate oxidase, guaiacol peroxidase, and glutathione reductase) and fifteen activities of nonenzymatic antioxidants (total polyphenol, total phenolic acids, total flavonoids, total ascorbic acid, anthocyanin content, DPPH scavenging activity, FRAP assay, hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity, nitric oxide scavenging activity, superoxide radical scavenging activity, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, phosphomolybdate assay, reducing power, metal ion chelating activity, and β‐carotene), which are described in detail to ease further investigations on antioxidants in future.
Zircon U–Pb geochronology, Hf isotopes, and whole‐rock geochemistry of Hongshuihe Early to Middle Triassic quartz diorites and granites in the Eastern Kunlun Orogen, NW China: Implication for petrogenesis and geodynamics
Authors: Song Kai , Ding Qing‐Feng , Zhang Qiang , Cheng Long , Han Yu , Liu Fei
Published: April 2019

The Hongshuihe area of Eastern Kunlun Orogen is well‐known for the BIF‐type deposits. Some widespread intrusive rocks in the northern Hongshuihe area were previously thought to be emplaced in the Hercynian. This article presents LA‐ICP‐MS zircon U–Pb ages, with LA‐MC‐ICP‐MS in situ Hf isotopes and major and trace element data for quartz diorites and granites of the Hongshuihe pluton. Two samples from the Hongshuihe quartz diorite and granite yielded a weighted mean zircon U–Pb age of 244 ± 2 Ma (Anisian) and 246 ± 1 Ma (Olenekian), respectively. The Hongshuihe subalkaline quartz diorite is metaluminous with the alumina saturation index values of 0.93–1.00, and high SiO2 contents of 59.67–65.51 wt.%, low Y values of 11.1–16.7 ppm, and low HREE (Yb = 1.08–1.83 ppm) that collectively suggest high‐SiO2 adakite‐like rocks. The Hongshuihe granites have slightly high alkali contents of 7.04–8.12 wt.%, alumina saturation index values of 1.01–1.03, low (Zr + Nb + Ce + Y) contents of 315.30–455.50 ppm, and high Fe2O3T/MgO ratios of 4.03–5.16, indicating fractionated I‐type normal island arc magma. The zircon εHf(t) values from −4.0 to −1.1 for the Hongshuihe quartz diorite sample and values from −2.4 to +1.7 for the granite sample correspond to partial melting of Mesoproterozoic thickened lower crust and partial melting of juvenile mantle‐derived mafic lower crust, respectively. We conclude that during the Early–Middle Triassic, the Eastern Kunlun area underwent a tectonic setting of the northward subduction of the Palaeo‐Tethys oceanic slabs.
The cingulum and cingulate U‐fibers in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders
Authors: Hau Janice , Aljawad Saba , Baggett Nicole , Fishman Inna , Carper Ruth A. , Müller Ralph‐Axel
Published: April 2019

The cingulum is the major fiber system connecting the cingulate and surrounding medial cortex and medial temporal lobe internally and with other brain areas. It is important for social and emotional functions related to core symptomatology in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). While the cingulum has been examined in autism, the extensive system of cingulate U‐fibers has not been studied. Using probabilistic tractography, we investigated white matter fibers of the cingulate cortex by distinguishing its deep intra‐cingulate bundle (cingulum proper) and short rostral anterior, caudal anterior, posterior, and isthmus cingulate U‐fibers in 61 ASD and 54 typically developing children and adolescents. Increased mean and radial diffusivity of the left cingulum proper was observed in the ASD group, replicating previous findings on the cingulum. For cingulate U‐fibers, an atypical age‐related decline in right posterior cingulate U‐fiber volume was found in the ASD group, which appeared to be driven by an abnormally large volume in younger children. History of repetitive and restrictive behavior was negatively associated with right caudal anterior cingulate U‐fiber volume, linking cingulate motor areas with neighboring gyri. Aberrant development in U‐fiber volume of the right posterior cingulate gyrus may underlie functional abnormalities found in this region, such as in the default mode network.
Instability of brain connectivity during nonrapid eye movement sleep reflects altered properties of information integration
Authors: Kung Yi‐Chia , Li Chia‐Wei , Chen Shuo , Chen Sharon Chia‐Ju , Lo Chun‐Yi Z. , Lane Timothy J. , Biswal Bharat , Wu Changwei W. , Lin Ching‐Po
Published: April 2019

Nonrapid eye movement (NREM) sleep is associated with fading consciousness in humans. Recent neuroimaging studies have demonstrated the spatiotemporal alterations of the brain functional connectivity (FC) in NREM sleep, suggesting the changes of information integration in the sleeping brain. However, the common stationarity assumption in FC does not satisfactorily explain the dynamic process of information integration during sleep. The dynamic FC (dFC) across brain networks is speculated to better reflect the time‐varying information propagation during sleep. Accordingly, we conducted simultaneous EEG‐fMRI recordings involving 12 healthy men during sleep and observed dFC across sleep stages using the sliding‐window approach. We divided dFC into two aspects: mean dFC (dFCmean) and variance dFC (dFCvar). A high dFCmean indicates stable brain network integrity, whereas a high dFCvar indicates instability of information transfer within and between functional networks. For the network‐based dFC, the dFCvar were negatively correlated with the dFCmean across the waking and three NREM sleep stages. As sleep deepened, the dFCmean decreased (N0~N1 > N2 > N3), whereas the dFCvar peaked during the N2 stage (N0~N1 < N3 < N2). The highest dFCvar during the N2 stage indicated the unstable synchronizations across the entire brain. In the N3 stage, the overall disrupted network integration was observed through the lowest dFCmean and elevated dFCvar, compared with N0 and N1. Conclusively, when the network specificity (dFCmean) breaks down, the consciousness dissipates with increasing variability of information exchange (dFCvar).
Synthesis, Profiling, and Bioactive Conformation of trans‐Cyclopropyl Epothilones
Authors: Kuzniewski Christian N. , Glauser Simon , Gaugaz Fabienne Z. , Schiess Raphael , Rodríguez‐Salarichs Javier , Vetterli Stefan , Horlacher Oliver P. , Gertsch Jürg , Redondo‐Horcajo Mariano , Canales Angeles , Jiménez‐Barbero Jesús , Díaz José Fernando , Altmann Karl‐Heinz
Published: April 2019

A series of new 3‐deoxy‐C(12),C(13)‐trans‐cyclopropyl‐epothilones have been prepared, bearing benzothiazole, quinoline, thiazol‐5‐ylvinyl, or isoxazol‐3‐ylvinyl side chains. For analogs with fused aromatic side chains, macrocyclic ring‐closure was based on ring‐closing olefin metathesis (RCM) of a precursor incorporating the fully elaborated heavy atom framework of the target structure (including the side chain moiety), while side chain attachment for the thiazole and isoxazole‐containing 16‐desmethyl analogs was performed only after establishment of the macrolactone core. Two approaches were elaborated for a macrocyclic aldehyde as the common precursor for the latter analogs that involved ring‐closure either by RCM or by macrolactonization. Benzothiazole‐ and quinoline‐based analogs were found to be highly potent antiproliferative agents; the two analogs with a thiazol‐5‐ylvinyl or an isoxazol‐3‐ylvinyl side chain likewise showed good antiproliferative activity but were significantly less potent than the parent epothilone A. Surprisingly, the desaturation of the C(10)−C(11) bond in these analogs was associated with a virtually complete loss in antiproliferative activity, which likely reflects a requirement for a ca. 60 ° C(10)−C(11) torsion angle in the tubulin‐bound conformation of 12,13‐trans‐epothilones.
Health promotion and food insecurity: Exploring environmental sustainability principles to guide practice within Australia
Authors: Nuttman Sonia , Patrick Rebecca , Townsend Mardie , Lawson Justin
Published: April 2019

Issue addressed

The Australian health promotion sector has made significant advances in food security over the years through recognition of social and economic factors. The incorporation of ecological determinants within health promotion practice to address food insecurity, however, is uncommon. This paper explores the potential of health promotion to use environmental sustainability principles to guide the development of health promotion food security programs in Australia.

Methods

A mixed‐methods approach guided by a pragmatic framework was adopted for this study. A national online survey (n = 61) and semi‐structured interviews (n = 16) targeting Australian health promotion practitioners was utilised. Triangulation involved seven stages to develop points of convergence and corroboration of the data.

Results

Practitioners were adopting principles of environmental sustainability such as ecological integrity and biodiversity protection to guide food security practice. The use of such principles demonstrates their compatibility within health promotion practice. This study, however, reveals that environmental sustainability principles were a relatively new area of practice for health promotion practitioners.

Conclusion

The possibilities for integrating health promotion and environmental sustainability principles are promising for addressing multifaceted issues inherent within food security practice. At present, a lack of principles exist for guiding the sector to address food security that is cognisant of both human health and the environment.

So what?

This study indicates a lack of integration between environmental sustainability and health promotion principles to guide food security practice. It would be pertinent for the sector to consider the development of a set of principles that considers both health promotion and environmental sustainability to ensure future food security and planetary health. Capacity building of current practitioners and pre‐service graduates around the use of such principles to guide practice could assist the sector in this process.
The response of asset prices to monetary policy shocks: Stronger than thought
Authors: Alessi Lucia , Kerssenfischer Mark
Published: April 2019

Standard macroeconomic theory predicts rapid responses of asset prices to monetary policy shocks. Small‐scale vector autoregressions (VARs), however, often find sluggish and insignificant impact effects. Using the same high‐frequency instrument to identify monetary policy shocks, we show that a large‐scale dynamic factor model finds overall stronger and quicker asset price reactions compared to a benchmark VAR, both on euro area and US data. Our results suggest that incorporating a sufficiently large information set is crucial to estimate monetary policy effects.
CCE in fixed‐T panels
Authors: Westerlund Joakim , Petrova Yana , Norkute Milda
Published: April 2019

The presence of unobserved heterogeneity and its likely detrimental effect on inference has recently motivated the use of factor‐augmented panel regression models. The workhorse of this literature is based on first estimating the unknown factors using the cross‐section averages of the observables, and then applying ordinary least squares conditional on the first‐step factor estimates. This is the common correlated effects (CCE) approach, the existing asymptotic theory for which is based on the requirement that both the number of time series observations, T, and the number of cross‐section units, N, tend to infinity. The obvious implication of this theory for empirical work is that both N and T should be large, which means that CCE is impossible for the typical micro panel where only N is large. In the current paper, we put the existing CCE theory and its implications to a test. This is done by developing a new theory that enables T to be fixed. The results show that many of the previously derived large‐T results hold even if T is fixed. In particular, the pooled CCE estimator is still consistent and asymptotically normal, which means that CCE is more applicable than previously thought. In fact, not only do we allow T to be fixed, but the conditions placed on the time series properties of the factors and idiosyncratic errors are also much more general than those considered previously.
Synergistic antitumor effect of anti‐PD‐L1 combined with oxaliplatin on a mouse tumor model
Authors: Golchin Soheila , Alimohammadi Reza , Rostami Nejad Mohammad , Jalali Seyed Amir
Published: April 2019

Oxaliplatin (OXP) can change tumor microenvironment from immune‐suppressive toward the immune‐favorable condition. Almost all of the antitumor agents cannot totally cure cancer as monotherapy. So the current focus of cancer research became combining therapy using different treatment regimen, especially chemotherapy with checkpoint blockers. In this study, we assessed the activity of combining regimen using anti‐PD‐L1 with OXP in CT26 tumor‐bearing BALB/c mice. We further analyzed the immune cell phenotypes in tumor site, lymph nodes, and spleen by flow cytometry analysis. Our study showed that combination therapy with OXP and anti‐PD‐L1 significantly increased survival in vivo and inhibited tumor growth of tumor‐bearing mice. Inconsistent with better antitumor activity, our combination therapy led to an increase in tumor‐infiltrating activated CD8+ T cells. In draining lymph nodes and spleen, regulatory T cells decreased significantly. Mice receiving either anti‐PD‐L1 or OXP alone had a larger tumor and lower survival rate in comparison with combination therapy receiving group. The time and order of administration of each component of the combination therapy affected antitumor response.
Fine‐tuning of the automated [18F]PSMA‐1007 radiosynthesis
Authors: Shamni Ofer , Nebeling Bruno , Grievink Hilbert , Mishani Eyal
Published: April 2019

Radiolabeled prostate‐specific membrane antigen (PSMA) targeting PET‐tracers have become desirable radiopharmaceuticals for the imaging of prostate cancer (PC). Recently, the PET radiotracer [18F]PSMA‐1007 was introduced as an alternative to [68Ga]Ga‐PSMA‐11, for staging and diagnosing biochemically recurrent PC. We incorporated a one‐step procedure for [18F]PSMA‐1007 radiosynthesis, using both Synthra RNplus and GE TRACERlab FxFN automated modules, in accordance with the recently described radiolabeling procedure. Although the adapted [18F]PSMA‐1007 synthesis resulted in repeatable radiochemical yields (55 ± 5%, NDC), suboptimal radiochemical purities of 87 ± 8% were obtained using both modules. As described here, modifications made to the radiolabeling and the solid‐phase extraction purification steps reduced synthesis time to 32 minutes and improved radiochemical purity to 96.10%, using both modules, without shearing the radiochemical yield.
Steroid withdrawal or avoidance is safe in high‐risk kidney transplants: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Song Tu‐Run , Jiang Ya‐Mei , Liu Jin‐Peng , Wang Zhi‐Ling , Zeng Jun , Huang Zhong‐Li , Fan Yu , Wang Xian‐Ding , Lin Tao
Published: April 2019

The present study is aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of steroid withdrawal or avoidance (SWA) in high‐risk kidney transplant (HRKT). We performed a systematic review of the literature and pooled analysis of the available data concerning SWA following HRKT. HRKT is associated with patients undergoing repeat kidney transplantation, in African American recipients, or in patients with panel‐reactive antibody levels >20%. Seven cohort studies and one randomized controlled trial, involving a total of 22 075 patients, were included. Pooled analysis to estimate the risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) demonstrated comparable graft loss (RR = 0.91, 95% CI 0.76‐1.09) between the SWA and corticosteroid maintenance groups, but with reduced mortality in the SWA group (RR = 0.90, 95% CI 0.84‐0.98). A subanalysis suggested that SWA was not associated with increased graft loss in patients undergoing steroid withdrawal within 1 week of transplantation, in African American recipients, or in patients with follow‐up >5 years. Additionally, SWA was associated with reduced death in those undergoing withdrawal within 1 week (RR = 0.90, 95% CI 0.84‐0.98), in African Americans (RR = 0.90, 95% CI 0.83‐0.98), and in those with follow‐up extended to >5 years (RR = 0.91, 95% CI 0.84‐0.98). SWA was not associated with an increased risk of acute rejection (RR = 0.95, 95% CI 0.75‐1.21) or cytomegalovirus infection (RR = 1.86, 95% CI 1‐3.47); however, it was associated with a reduced risk of posttransplant diabetes mellitus (RR = 0.60, 95% CI 0.37‐0.97). SWA following HRKT is safe in terms of graft survival and rejection, and patients undergoing an SWA regimen had a lower risk of death and posttransplant diabetes mellitus. Future prospective studies are required to confirm these findings.
Association between polymorphisms of MIR17HG and risk of colorectal cancer in the Chinese Han population
Authors: Chen Peng , Bai Yuwei , Li Yaru , Yuan Yuemin , Cheng Yimin , Pang Jianjian , Zhu Hongli , Chen Chao
Published: April 2019

Background

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide. Recently, an increasing number of evidences suggest that genetic susceptibility plays an important role in the occurrence of colorectal cancer. This study aimed to better understand the influence of MIR17HG polymorphisms on colorectal cancer susceptibility in the Chinese Han population.

Methods

We recruited 514 patients with colorectal cancer and 510 healthy controls to investigate the association between polymorphisms of MIR17HG and risk of colorectal cancer in the Chinese Han population. Genotyping was performed with the Agena MassARRAY platform. We used the χ2 test to compare the distributions of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) allele and genotypes frequencies between cases and controls. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated by logistic regression analysis to evaluate the association under genetic models. Linkage disequilibrium between the five SNPs was assessed using the Haploview software.

Results

Overall analysis found that rs7336610 and rs1428 and haplotype CTAGA were significantly associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer. However, we found rs7318578 was associated with a decreased risk of colorectal cancer in the dominant model. Stratification analysis showed that rs7336610, rs7318578, and rs1428 were also associated with rectal cancer risk. Gender stratification analysis found that rs7336610, rs7318578, rs17735387, and rs1428 were significantly associated with colorectal cancer risk in males.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study indicated that the polymorphisms of MIR17HG were associated with colorectal cancer risk. Therefore, our findings may provide new insights into the development of colorectal cancer. Further association and functional studies are of great importance to confirm these results and to define the potential biological mechanism of colorectal cancer.
Effect of Sb and Na Incorporation in Cu2ZnSnS4 Solar Cells
Authors: Suzon Md Abdul Aziz , Grenet Louis , Emieux Fabrice , De Vito Eric , Roux Frédéric , Mariette Henri
Published: April 2019

Cu2ZnSnS4‐based solar cells suffer from limited power conversion efficiency (PCE) and relative small grain size compared to selenium containing absorbers. Introduction of Na in Cu2ZnSnS4 absorbers either during the synthesis or after this step is used to improve device performances and to determine whether its effect is based on structural properties improvement (grain size enhancement, better crystallization) or on opto‐electronic properties improvement (defect passivation). In both cases, presence of Na in the absorber notably improves current and voltage of the solar cells, but the effect is more pronounced when Na is present during synthesis. Quantum efficiency analysis shows that these improvements can be related to longer minority carrier diffusion length and reduced absorber/buffer interface recombination. Introducing Na in the process mostly leads to preferential (112) orientation of the crystal which is clearly correlated with better device performances. Otherwise, the performance limitation due to small grain size is discarded by the joint use of Sb and Na, which has a significant impact on grain size but does not affect solar cells efficiency.
Methoxycarbonyl Group as a Conformational Regulator for The Benzene Ring of Triphenylamines
Authors: Ohmura Satoshi D. , Yamana Keisuke , Ueno Masaharu , Miyoshi Norikazu
Published: April 2019

A series of triphenylamine derivatives bearing a methoxycarbonyl group at the meta‐position of the benzene ring were synthesized. The structural and physical properties based on the introduction of the methoxycarbonyl group into benzene ring were investigated by single crystal X‐ray diffraction, computational studies, and spectroscopic methods. It was revealed that the methoxycarbonyl group has not only structural regulations but also modifications of the electronic properties of the π‐conjugated moieties.
Twinning as a Guiding Factor in Morphological Anisotropy of Silver Nanoparticles Stabilized Over L–DOPA: A Colorimetric Probe for Sulfide in Aqueous Medium
Authors: Sanskriti Isha , Upadhyay Kaushal K.
Published: April 2019

Herein an interesting case study of morphological anisotropy of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) stabilized over 3,4‐dihydroxy‐L‐phenylalanine (L–DOPA) is presented. The deeper investigation of a variety of shapes of these silver nanoparticles through TEM and HRTEM clearly revealed the definite role of twinning besides the role of multiple structures of L–DOPA prevailing in alkaline medium. These AgNPs were further also exploited as a colorimetric sensor for sulfide (S2−). The same underwent bleaching of their deep yellowish brown color upon their interaction with sulfide in the aqueous medium with an appealing LOD of 65 nM. The probe worked well within the broad pH range 5 to 11. The chemosensing studies were well accomplished by UV‐visible, TEM, EDX and elemental mapping studies.
Highly selective determination of some anti‐depressant drugs in complicated matrices by dual emulsification liquid‐phase microextraction based on filtration followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography
Authors: Moradi Peyman , Asghari Alireza
Published: April 2019

An efficient microextraction method is applied for the determination of some anti‐depressant drugs in complex matrices. The method consists of two steps. In the first step, an organic extraction solvent is dispersed into an aqueous sample solution (20 mL, pH 12), and the resulting mixture is subsequently passed through a hydrophilic polytetrafluoroethylene syringe filter that is permeable to aqueous solutions, and thus the organic phase is retained by the membrane. In the second step, the filter is detached from the syringe and attached to another syringe containing an aqueous solution (pH 2, 150 μL). By the in‐syringe dispersion of the organic phase into the aqueous phase, the target analytes are ionized and selectively back‐extracted into the aqueous phase. In addition to the preconcentration of the analytes in the aqueous phase, which can cause the elimination of the problem of injection of the organic solvent into the final instrument analyzer as well, the method provides a high sample clean‐up since acidic compounds, large molecules, and neutral components are not extracted into the acceptor phase. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the method provides a good linearity (in the range of 5–2000 ng mL−1) and a low limit of detection (1.5–3.0 ng mL−1).
Intracellular Notch1 Signaling in Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Dictates the Plasticity and Stemness of Melanoma Stem/Initiating Cells
Authors: Du Yan , Shao Hongwei , Moller Mecker , Prokupets Rochelle , Tse Yee Ting , Liu Zhao-Jun
Published: April 2019

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play critical roles in cancer initiation, metastasis, recurrence, and drug resistance. Recent studies have revealed involvement of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in regulating CSCs. However, the intracellular molecular mechanisms that determine the regulatory role of CAFs in modulating the plasticity of CSCs remain unknown. Here, we uncovered that intracellular Notch1 signaling in CAFs serves as a molecular switch, which modulates tumor heterogeneity and aggressiveness by inversely controlling stromal regulation of the plasticity and stemness of CSCs. Using mesenchymal stem cell-derived fibroblasts (MSC-DF) harboring reciprocal loss-of-function and gain-of-function Notch1 signaling, we found that MSC-DFNotch1−/− prompted cocultured melanoma cells to form more spheroids and acquire the phenotype (CD271+ and Nestin+) of melanoma stem/initiating cells (MICs), whereas MSC-DFN1IC+/+ suppressed melanoma cell sphere formation and mitigated properties of MICs. MSC-DFNotch1−/− increased stemness of CD271+ MIC, which resultantly exhibited stronger aggressiveness in vitro and in vivo, by upregulating Sox2/Oct4/Nanog expression. Consistently, when cografted with melanoma cells into NOD scid gamma (NSG) mice, MSC-DFNotch1−/− increased, but MSC-DFN1IC+/+ decreased, the amounts of CD271+ MIC in melanoma tissue. The amounts of CD271+ MIC regulated by MSC-DF carrying high or low Notch1 pathway activity is well correlated with capability of melanoma metastasis, supporting that melanoma metastasis is MIC-mediated. Our data demonstrate that intracellular Notch1 signaling in CAFs is a molecular switch dictating the plasticity and stemness of MICs, thereby regulating melanoma aggressiveness, and therefore that targeting the intracellular Notch1 signaling pathway in CAFs may present a new therapeutic strategy for melanoma. Stem Cells  2019;37:865–875
Investigation and proposal for reuse of effluents from beneficiated bentonite products
Authors: Sá Natan Pires , Rocha Elisângela Maria Rodrigues
Published: April 2019

This work is intended to show the characterization of three effluents (X, Y, and Z) derived from laboratory analyses conducted in the quality control department of a beneficiated bentonite products factory in order to present alternatives for their treatment and final disposal according to Brazil's National Solid Waste Policy (Política Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos – PNRS, Law 12,305/2010, Brazil). Analyses to identify the characteristics of the effluents revealed that the pH, salinity, electroconductivity, and total dissolved solids were in agreement with the organic and mineral nature of the effluent constituents: solvent, clay minerals, water, and activating agent. To assess reuse proposals, the effluents were subjected to the following tests: (a) swelling characteristic with effluent X, (b) petrochemical characterization of Y, and (c) swelling characteristic using commercial solvent and activated clay produced with effluent Z. Preliminary results indicate that each of these effluents can be reused variously in the laboratory, as a fuel, or in the original analysis/process.
Shear-induced collective diffusivity down a concentration gradient in a viscous emulsion of drops
Authors: Malipeddi Abhilash Reddy , Sarkar Kausik
Published: April 2019

The shear-induced collective diffusivity down a concentration gradient in a viscous emulsion is computed using direct numerical simulation. A layer of randomly packed drops subjected to a shear flow, shows the layer width to increase with the $1/3$ power of time, consistent with a semi-dilute theory that assumes a diffusivity linear with concentration. This characteristic scaling and the underlying theory are used to compute the collective diffusivity coefficient. This is the first ever computation of this quantity for a system of deformable particles using fully resolved numerical simulation. The results match very well with previous experimental observations. The coefficient of collective diffusivity varies non-monotonically with the capillary number, due to the competing effects of increasing deformation and drop orientation. A phenomenological correlation for the collective diffusivity coefficient as a function of capillary number is presented. We also apply an alternative approach to compute collective diffusivity, developed originally for a statistically homogeneous rigid sphere suspension – computing the dynamic structure factor from the simulated droplet positions and examining its time variation at small wavenumber. We show that the results from this alternative approach qualitatively agree with our computation of collective diffusivity including the prediction of the non-monotonic variation of diffusivity with the capillary number.
The human icon: Gregory of Nazianzus on being animago Dei
Authors: Thomas Gabrielle
Published: April 2019

Theologians have long recognised the significance of theimago Deiin Christian theological anthropology, yet the question of how to construe theimagois not straightforward. This essay offers a fresh reading of Gregory Nazianzen's vision of theimago Dei. Hitherto, historical theologians have attributed to Gregory an essentialist interpretation of theimago, in which it is identified only with the rational soul. I argue that Gregory depicts theimago Deiquite literally as a visible icon of God by weaving together christology, pneumatology and beliefs about images and idols. If interpreted properly, Gregory's vision contributes significantly to contemporary interpretations of theimago Dei, which aim to account for christology, pneumatology and the inclusion of each human person in theimago.
Remembering the Finnish Civil War: Embodied Empathy and Fellman Field
Authors: KORSBERG HANNA , AHO LAURA-ELINA , CHASSANY IRIS , VALTANEN SOFIA
Published: April 2019

On 28 April 2013, ninety-five years after Finland's civil war (27 January–15 May 1918), artist Kaisa Salmi created a performance called Fellman Field: A Living Monument to 22,000 People. It was a site-specific event organized at Fellman Park in Lahti. There, for almost a week in 1918, thousands of civil war prisoners were held to await transport to a prison camp. In 2013, an impressive number of people (close to 10,000) gathered at this site to participate in a commemoration of the civil war, which is still one of the most repressed traumas in the national consciousness of the Finns. This article discusses Fellman Field as an artwork in terms of its utilization of embodied empathy: the sympathetic understanding of the other through physical and emotional experience. The case of Fellman Field demonstrates the challenges and successes of a site-specific participatory performance that aims to promote understanding and constructively handle the complexity of a national tragedy.
WayanginJaman Now: Reflexive Traditionalization and Local, National and Global Networks of Javanese Shadow Puppet Theatre
Authors: COHEN MATTHEW ISAAC
Published: April 2019

Doomsayers and traditionalists prognosticate that the dominance of digital media spells the end of traditional arts in Java, Indonesia.Wayang kulit(shadow puppet theatre), while still highly regarded as theatrical heritage, is said to be under particular threat due to the long duration of its plays, complexity of language and the need for prior knowledge of characters and situations. Such features are at odds with the short attention spans and need for instant comprehension and gratification of Gen Z – the youth referred to in Indonesian media as inhabitingjaman now(literally the ‘era of now’). While digital social media, including Facebook and YouTube, definitely offer up alternative forms of entertainment and amusement, they are also being used by traditional puppet practitioners to reinforce and expand communities of practice. Facebook provides platforms for comparative discussion and critical debate, while YouTube potentiates the inclusion of a geographically dispersed audience, including overseas workers.
Scientific Program Summary
Authors: Voelkl Edgar , Piston Dave , Gauvin Raynald , Lockley Al
Published: April 2019

Microscopy and Microanalysis 2002 hosted by the Microscopy Society
of America (MSA), the Microbeam Analysis Society (MAS), the
Microscopical Society of Canada (MSC)/Societe de Microscopie du Canada
(SMC), and the International Metallographic Society (IMS) will provide
comprehensive Symposia, Tutorials, and Special Sessions covering all
aspects of microscopy. Events will begin on Friday, August 2nd with a
two-day Pre-meeting Congress chaired by Raynald Gauvin of McGill University
entitled “Characterization of non-Conductive or Charging Materials
by Microbeam Analysis.” This Pre-meeting Congress will be at McGill
University, Montreal, Canada. On Sunday, August 4th, there will be several
Short Courses on a variety of topics for those active in teaching, research,
and industrial applications involving microscopy and microanalysis. Formal
meeting sessions will begin on Monday, August 5th, and will consist of a
blend of different presentation formats including Symposia, Tutorials, and
Poster sessions that will offer the latest information on cutting-edge
discoveries and also provide the opportunity to learn new techniques and
procedures. The unique opportunity for “hands-on” learning with
state-of-the-art instrumentation will be provided by the integration of
the program with the commercial exhibits.
Microscopial Society of Canada/ Société de
Microscopie du Canada
Authors: Gauvin Raynald
Published: April 2019

It is my great pleasure to welcome you in Quebec City for the
Microscopy and Microanalysis 2002 meeting. I invite you to
participate in the scientific symposia as well as to attend
the exhibits. I also encourage you to visit the old town and
the Battlefield Park where you can still hear Wolfe's and
Montcalm's weapons used in the dramatic battle of September
1759 that changed the history of North America. I am certain
that you will enjoy “Québec Joie de Vivre”.
How Does the Trend in Thunder Days Relate to the Variation of Lightning Flash Density?
Authors: Lavigne Thomas , Liu Chuntao , Liu Nana
Published: April 2019

A longstanding question for scientists has been whether or not any observable trends or shifts in global lightning activity have occurred since the Industrial Revolution. This study utilized over 8,000 certified ground‐based stations over a 43‐year period, as well as 16 years of Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) data, to provide a better understanding of the processes behind these trends. Ground station results show that many global regions have observed significant increases or decreases in thunder day occurrence. The Amazon, Maritime Continent, India, Congo, Central America, and Argentina display increases in annual thunder days since the 1970s, whereas China, Australia, and the Sahel among others observe decreases in the number of thunder days. The corresponding change in lightning flash density from the TRMM‐LIS, as well as the number of thunderstorm features and lightning flashes per thunderstorm feature, is compared to the thunder day trends during the TRMM lifespan. Results show a positive correlation between the changes of thunder day occurrence and flash density over most regions of the TRMM domain, including the Maritime Continent, China, South Africa, and Argentina. However, there are several regions with disagreements between the flash density and thunder day trends, such as India and Western Africa. The disagreements are related to the changes in the number of flashes per thunderstorm, which suggest other reasons to interpret the long term trends in thunder day occurrence over various regions. Understanding these regional trends in lightning activity is important in understanding the changes of precipitation systems under a varying climate.
A Modular Framework for Modeling Unsaturated Soil Hydraulic Properties Over the Full Moisture Range
Authors: Weber Tobias K. D. , Durner Wolfgang , Streck Thilo , Diamantopoulos Efstathios
Published: April 2019

A generalized modular framework for partitioning soil hydraulic property (SHP) functions into a capillary and a noncapillary part is developed. The full water retention curve (WRC) is modeled as a weighted sum of a parametric capillary saturation function and a new general model for the noncapillary saturation function. This model is directly computed from any selected capillary saturation function. With it, a physically complete, continuous, and flexible representation of the WRC is achieved, ensuring zero water content at oven dryness. In a modular and hierarchical framework, the expressions for the capillary and noncapillary saturation function are used to calculate the respective hydraulic conductivity curves (HCC). This is achieved by adopting Mualem's integral for the capillary part of the HCC only and calculating the noncapillary HCC directly from the new noncapillary saturation function. This leads to consistent descriptions of measured HCC data, including the often observed change in slope beyond −100 cm pressure head. Compared to the classical van Genuchten‐Mualem approach, it requires only one additional model parameter. The SHP framework model describes both WRC and HCC adequately and coherently. We demonstrate the suitability of the SHP framework and versatility by describing measured WRC and HCC data across the full moisture range using soil samples from a wide range of textures and origins. The modular framework was implemented in the soil physics and soil hydrology (spsh) R‐package, available from the Comprehensive R Archive Network. It contains several SHP models, model parameter estimation, and features options for goodness of fit statistics, and model selection.
Dithiothreitol‐Measured Oxidative Potential of Size‐Segregated Particulate Matter in Fukuoka, Japan: Effects of Asian Dust Events
Authors: Nishita‐Hara Chiharu , Hirabayashi Motohiro , Hara Keiichiro , Yamazaki Akihiro , Hayashi Masahiko
Published: April 2019

Oxidative potential is an important property of particulate matter (PM) that has been regarded as a more health‐relevant metric than PM mass. We investigated the oxidative potential of size‐segregated PM and effects of Asian dust events in Fukuoka, western Japan. Aerosol particles with diameters smaller and larger than 2.5 μm (fine and coarse particles, respectively) were collected continually from 16 March through 26 May 2016. The oxidative potential was analyzed using dithiothreitol (DTT) assay; chemical components of PM were also found. Air‐volume normalized oxidative potential quantified by DTT assay (DTTv) was significantly higher during Asian dust events than during nondust‐event days. The mean DTTv of fine and coarse particles during Asian dust events were, respectively, 1.5 and 2.7 times higher than that during nonevent days. DTTv of fine particles was highly correlated with elements dominated by anthropogenic combustion sources and with the elements emitted from multiple sources including mineral dust and combustion sources. DTTv of coarse particles strongly correlated with the mineral dust derived elements, suggesting concentration of mineral dust particles as an important controlling factor especially for the oxidative potential of the coarse particles. We estimated the contributions of water‐soluble transition metals to the oxidative potential of PM. Water‐soluble transition metals (mainly Cu and Mn) can explain only approximately 37% and 60% of the measured oxidative potential of fine and coarse particles, respectively, suggesting substantial contributions of aerosol components other than water‐soluble transition metals such as quinones and insoluble minerals.
Quo vadis, plasmonic optical tweezers?
Authors: Crozier Kenneth B.
Published: April 2019

Conventional optical tweezers based on traditional optical microscopes are subject to the diffraction limit, making the precise trapping and manipulation of very small particles challenging. Plasmonic optical tweezers can surpass this constraint, but many potential applications would benefit from further enhanced performance and/or expanded functionalities. In this Perspective, we discuss trends in plasmonic tweezers and describe important opportunities presented by its interdisciplinary combination with other techniques in nanoscience. We furthermore highlight several open questions concerning fundamentals that are likely to be important for many potential applications.
Cancer testis antigen 55 deficiency attenuates colitis-associated colorectal cancer by inhibiting NF-κB signaling
Authors: Zhao Huan , Pan Wen-Ming , Zhang Hui-Hui , Song Yang , Chen Jie , Xiang Ying , Gu Bo , Li Shang-Ze , Du Run-Lei , Zhang Xiao-Dong
Published: April 2019

Colitis-associated cancer (CAC), a prototype of inflammation-associated cancer, is one of the most common gastrointestinal tumors. As a potential cancer testis antigen (CT antigen), cancer testis antigen 55 (CT55) is expressed in different tumors and normal testes. However, its role in CAC remains unknown. Here, we identified CT55 as a new potent promoter of CAC. We discovered that Ct55 deficiency alleviated inflammatory responses, decreased cell proliferation and colitis-associated tumorigenesis in an azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium (AOM/DSS) mouse model. Mechanistically, CT55 acts as an accelerator of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-induced nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling. Upon stimulation with TNF-α, CT55 interacts with the IκB kinase (IKK) complex, which increases the phosphorylation of IKKα/β and activates IKK–p65 signaling, while knockout of CT55 blocks IKK–p65 signaling. Notably, inhibition of IKK abolished the positive effect of CT55 on NF-κB activation. Collectively, our findings strongly indicate that CT55 deficiency suppresses the development of CAC and that the CT55-TNF-α-induced NF-κB axis may represent a promising target for CAC therapy.
Temporal dynamic reorganization of 3D chromatin architecture in hormone-induced breast cancer and endocrine resistance
Authors: Zhou Yufan , Gerrard Diana L. , Wang Junbai , Li Tian , Yang Yini , Fritz Andrew J. , Rajendran Mahitha , Fu Xiaoyong , Stein Gary , Schiff Rachel , Lin Shili , Frietze Seth , Jin Victor X.
Published: April 2019

Recent studies have demonstrated that chromatin architecture is linked to the progression of cancers. However, the roles of 3D structure and its dynamics in hormone-dependent breast cancer and endocrine resistance are largely unknown. Here we report the dynamics of 3D chromatin structure across a time course of estradiol (E2) stimulation in human estrogen receptor α (ERα)-positive breast cancer cells. We identified subsets of temporally highly dynamic compartments predominantly associated with active open chromatin and found that these highly dynamic compartments showed higher alteration in tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells. Remarkably, these compartments are characterized by active chromatin states, and enhanced ERα binding but decreased transcription factor CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) binding. We finally identified a set of ERα-bound promoter–enhancer looping genes enclosed within altered domains that are enriched with cancer invasion, aggressiveness or metabolism signaling pathways. This large-scale analysis expands our understanding of high-order temporal chromatin reorganization underlying hormone-dependent breast cancer.