bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long-term changes in the numbers of Helicoverpa punctigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in a cotton production landscape in northern New South Wales, Australia
Authors: Baker G.H. , Tann C.R.
Published: November 2016

Two noctuid moths, Helicoverpa punctigera and Helicoverpa armigera, are pests of several agricultural crops in Australia, most notably cotton. Cotton is a summer crop, grown predominantly in eastern Australia. The use of transgenic (Bt) cotton has reduced the damage caused by Helicoverpa spp., but the development of Bt resistance in these insects remains a threat. In the past, large populations of H. punctigera have built up in inland Australia, following autumn-winter rains. Moths have then migrated to the cropping regions in spring, when their inland host plants dried off. To determine if there have been any long-term changes in this pattern, pheromone traps were set for H. punctigera throughout a cropping landscape in northern New South Wales from 1992 to 2015. At least three generations of moths were caught from spring to autumn. The 1st generation (mostly spring migrants) was the most numerous. Trap captures varied between sites and decreased in time, especially for moths in the 1st generation. Nearby habitat type influenced the size of catch and there was some evidence that local weather also influenced the numbers of moths caught. There was no correlation between trap catches in the cropping region and rainfall in the inland. In addition, there was little evidence that Bt cotton has reduced the abundance of H. punctigera at landscape scale. The apparent decline in the number of presumably Bt susceptible moths arriving each spring in the cropping regions from inland habitats is of concern in relation to the management of Bt resistance.
Histological analysis of tonsillectomies: relationship with surgical technique, post-operative pain and haemorrhage
Authors: Magdalena ML , Solé A , Blanco V , Rodrigo JP
Published: November 2016

Objectives:

There is no consensus on the optimal technique to decrease post-tonsillectomy morbidity. Histopathological analysis can estimate collateral tissue damage. This study compared histological findings for tonsils removed by cold or electrocautery dissection and their relationship with post-operative complications.

Methods:

Two adult out-patient groups were included in the study: 37 who underwent cold dissection and 37 who underwent electrocautery dissection. Histological analysis was used to assess tissue damage.

Results:

Tissue damage was significantly higher in the electrocautery dissection group (p = 0.002), as were the number of emergency department visits (p = 0.01) and the need for supplemental analgesia (p = 0.013). Patients in the cold dissection group experienced less pain (p = 0.001) and fewer secondary haemorrhage episodes.

Conclusion:

Cold dissection produces less tissue damage, which is associated with lower incidence of complications. This study suggests that cold dissection is the technique of choice for tonsillectomy.
Anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and stressful life events in non-cardiac adolescent chest pain: a comparative study about the hidden part of the iceberg
Authors: Eliacik Kayi , Kanik Ali , Bolat Nurullah , Mertek Hilal , Guven Baris , Karadas Ulas , Dogrusoz Buket , Bakiler Ali Rahmi
Published: November 2016

Chest pain in adolescents is rarely associated with cardiac disease. Adolescents with medically unexplained chest pain usually have high levels of anxiety and depression. Psychological stress may trigger non-cardiac chest pain. This study evaluated risk factors that particularly characterise adolescence, such as major stressful events, in a clinical population. The present study was conducted on 100 adolescents with non-cardiac chest pain and 76 control subjects. Stressful life events were assessed by interviewing patients using a 36-item checklist, along with the Children’s Depression Inventory and Spielberger’s State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for children, in both groups. Certain stressful life events, suicidal thoughts, depression, and anxiety were more commonly observed in adolescents with non-cardiac chest pain compared with the control group. Moreover, binary logistic regression analysis showed that trouble with bullies, school-related problems, and depression may trigger non-cardiac chest pain in adolescents. Non-cardiac chest pain on the surface may point to the underlying psychosocial health problems such as depression, suicidal ideas, or important life events such as academic difficulties or trouble with bullies. The need for a psychosocial evaluation that includes assessment of negative life events and a better management have been discussed in light of the results.
Is having a job a protective factor? Employment status and state of medical care as subjectively perceived by adults with CHD in Germany
Authors: Helm Paul C. , Sticker Elisabeth J. , Keuchen Roland , Koerten Marc-André , Diller Gerhard-Paul , Tutarel Oktay , Bauer Ulrike M. M.
Published: November 2016

Background

Most patients born with CHD nowadays reach adulthood, and thus quality of life, life situation, and state of medical care aspects are gaining importance in the current era. The present study aimed to investigate whether patients’ assessment depends on their means of occupation. The findings are expected to be helpful in optimising care and for developing individual treatment plans.

Methods

The present study was based on an online survey conducted in cooperation with patient organisations. Participants were recruited from the database of the German National Register for Congenital Heart Defects. In total, 1828 individuals (777 males, 1051 females) took part. Participants were asked to rate aspects such their state of health on a six-tier scale (1=worst specification). Response behaviour was measured against the background of occupational details.

Results

Training for or pursuing a profession was found to be significantly associated with participants’ rating of five of the six examined aspects (p<0.05). Sex seemed to play an important part in four of the six aspects.

Conclusions

An optimal treatment plan for adults with CHD should always consider aspects such as sex and employment status. To work out such an optimal and individual treatment plan for each adult CHD patient, an objective tool to measure patients’ actual CHD-specific knowledge precluding socially accepted response bias would be very useful.
The impact of doubling dairy or plant-based foods on consumption of nutrients of concern and proper bone health for adolescent females
Authors: Demmer Elieke , Cifelli Christopher J , Houchins Jenny A , Fulgoni Victor L
Published: November 2016

Objective

To determine the effects of increasing plant-based foods v. dairy foods on energy and nutrients of concern in adolescent females via diet modelling exercises.

Design

Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were used to compare nutrient intakes from usual diet with those from three dietary scenarios that increased current intakes by 100 % of the following: (i) plant-based foods; (ii) protein-rich plant-based foods; and (iii) milk, cheese and yoghurt. The first two scenarios had commensurate reductions in animal products.

Setting

What We Eat in America, NHANES 2007–2010.

Subjects

Female adolescents (n 1594) aged 9–18 years.

Results

When currently consumed plant-based foods were increased by 100 %, there were increases in dietary fibre, added sugar, vitamin E, Fe and folate intakes. These increases were accompanied by decreases in total fat, saturated fat, Zn, vitamin D, Ca and protein intakes. Protein-rich plant foods are consumed in very low quantities in this population such that doubling their intake resulted in no real nutritional impact. When dairy products were increased by 100 % there were increases in intakes of vitamin D, Mg, Zn, Ca, K, energy, saturated fat and protein.

Conclusions

Non-specific recommendations to increase plant foods can lead to unintended nutritional consequences. For adolescent girls, meeting the dietary recommendation of three daily servings of dairy improved the intake of the identified nutrients of concern while simultaneously providing adequate nutrients essential for proper growth and bone health critical during the adolescent phase.
Who benefits from a dietary online intervention? Evidence from Italy, Spain and Greece
Authors: Schwarzer Ralf , Fleig Lena , Warner Lisa M , Gholami Maryam , Serra-Majem Lluis , Ngo Joy , Roman-Viñas Blanca , Ribas-Barba Lourdes , Distante Alessandro , Ntzani Evangelia , Giannakis George , Brandi Maria L
Published: November 2016

Objective

The traditional Mediterranean diet includes high consumption of fruits, vegetables, olive oil, legumes, cereals and nuts, moderate to high intake of fish and dairy products, and low consumption of meat products. Intervention effects to improve adoption of this diet may vary in terms of individuals’ motivational or volitional prerequisites. In the context of a three-country research collaboration, intervention effects on these psychological constructs for increasing adoption of the Mediterranean diet were examined.

Design

An intervention was conducted to improve Mediterranean diet consumption with a two-month follow-up. Linear multiple-level models examined which psychological constructs (outcome expectancies, planning, action control and stage of change) were associated with changes in diet scores.

Setting

Web-based intervention in Italy, Spain and Greece.

Subjects

Adults (n454; mean age 42·2 (sd10·4) years, range 18–65 years;n112 at follow-up).

Results

Analyses yielded an overall increase in the Mediterranean diet scores. Moreover, there were interactions between time and all four psychological constructs on these changes. Participants with lower levels of baseline outcome expectancies, planning, action control and stage of change were found to show steeper slopes, thus greater behavioural adoption, than those who started out with higher levels.

Conclusions

The intervention produced overall improvements in Mediterranean diet consumption, with outcome expectancies, planning, action control and stage of change operating as moderators, indicating that those with lower motivational or volitional prerequisites gained more from the online intervention. Individual differences in participants’ readiness for change need to be taken into account to gauge who would benefit most from the given treatment.
A qualitative Kaupapa Māori approach to understanding infant and young child feeding practices of Māori and Pacific grandparents in Auckland, New Zealand
Authors: Tapera Rachel , Harwood Matire , Anderson Anneka
Published: November 2016

Objective

The present research sought to better understand the barriers, facilitators, attitudes and beliefs that influence the way Māori and Samoan grandparents feed their grandchildren in a deprived urban neighbourhood in New Zealand.

Design

The research adopted a qualitative methodology that was consistent with a Kaupapa Māori research approach. Seven semi-structured interviews were conducted with grandparents to collect narrative data.

Setting

Sampling occurred in one Auckland suburb. The suburb was selected because of its high level of socio-economic deprivation and ethnic diversity.

Subjects

Seven grandparents participated in the study (five Māori and two Samoan). Each participant met the inclusion criteria (i.e. they had provided at least five meals per week over the previous three months to grandchildren aged less than 24 months). Marae (i.e. meeting houses and areas used by local Māori tribes/sub-tribes) and community organisations were used to recruit participants.

Results

A general inductive thematic analysis identified four key themes: (i) grandparents’ understanding of optimal feeding practices; (ii) economic and material factors; (iii) previous experiences and customary norms; and (iv) social support and societal pressure.

Conclusions

The study showed that grandparents’ complementary feeding practices in caring for infant grandchildren were influenced by upstream structural elements such as government policies related to welfare and pensions, employment, income and cultural knowledge. Frameworks that seek to achieve social justice and support cultural practices should be employed and promoted in the development of future policy and research in this area.
Compact UWB–MIMO antenna with quad-band-notched characteristic
Authors: Wu Ling , Xia Yingqing
Published: November 2016

With quad-band-notched characteristic, a compact ultrawideband (UWB) multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) antenna is introduced in the paper. The UWB–MIMO system has two similar monopole elements and occupies 30 × 45 mm2. By inserting two L-shaped slots, CSRR and C-shaped stubs, four notched bands are achieved (3.25–3.9, 5.11–5.35, 5.5–6.06, and 7.18–7.88 GHz) to filter WiMAX, lower WLAN, upper WLAN, and X-band. Meanwhile, the isolation is obviously enhanced with three metal strips on the ground plane. Results indicate that the antenna covers UWB frequency band of 3.1 – 10.6 GHz except four rejected bands, isolation of better than −18 dB, envelope correlation coefficient of <0.02, and good radiation pattern, thus making it useful for UWB systems.
Cross-national comparisons of increasing suicidal mortality rates for Koreans in the Republic of Korea and Korean Americans in the USA, 2003–2012
Authors: Kung A. , Hastings K. G. , Kapphahn K. I. , Wang E. J. , Cullen M. R. , Ivey S. L. , Palaniappan L. P. , Chung S.
Published: November 2016

Aims.

Korea has the highest suicide rate of developed countries, two times higher than the USA. Suicide trends among Koreans Americans living in the USA during the same period have not yet been described. We report suicide mortality rates and trends for four groups: (1) Korean Americans, (2) non-Hispanic White (NHW) Americans, (3) selected Asian American subgroups and (4) Koreans living in the Republic of Korea.

Methods.

We used US national (n = 18 113 585) and World Health Organization (WHO) (n = 232 919 253) mortality records for Korea from 2003 to 2012 to calculate suicide rates, all expressed per 100 000 persons. We assessed temporal trends and differences in age, gender and race/ethnicity using binomial regression.

Results.

Suicide rates are highest in Koreans living in the Republic of Korea (32.4 for men and 14.8 for women). Suicide rates in Korean Americans (13.9 for men and 6.5 for women) have nearly doubled from 2003 to 2012 and exceed rates for all other Asian American subgroups (5.4–10.7 for men and 1.6–4.2 for women). Suicide rates among NHWs (21.0 for men and 5.6 for women) remain high. Among elders, suicide in Korean Americans (32.9 for men and 15.4 for women) is the highest of all examined racial/ethnic groups in the USA.

Conclusions.

Suicide in Korean Americans is higher than for other Asian Americans and follows temporal patterns more similar to Korea than the USA. Interventions to prevent suicide in Korean American populations, particularly among the elderly, are needed.
Manipulating the air-filled zebrafish swim bladder as a neutrophilic inflammation model for acute lung injury
Authors: Zhang Yuefei , Liu Hongcui , Yao Junlin , Huang Yanfeng , Qin Shenlu , Sun Zheng , Xu Yingchun , Wan Shu , Cheng Hongqiang , Li Chunqi , Zhang Xue , Ke Yuehai
Published: November 2016

Acute lung injury (ALI) and its more severe form, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), are life-threatening diseases that are associated with high mortality rates due to treatment limitations. Neutrophils play key roles in the pathogenesis of ALI/ARDS by promoting the inflammation and injury of the alveolar microenvironment. To date, in vivo functional approaches have been limited by the inaccessibility to the alveolar sacs, which are located at the anatomical terminal of the respiratory duct in mammals. We are the first to characterize the swim bladder of the zebrafish larva, which is similar to the mammalian lung, as a real-time in vivo model for examining pulmonary neutrophil infiltration during ALI. We observed that the delivery of exogenous materials, including lipopolysaccharide (LPS), Poly IC and silica nanoparticles, by microinjection triggered significant time- and dose-dependent neutrophil recruitment into the swim bladder. Neutrophils infiltrated the LPS-injected swim bladder through the blood capillaries around the pneumatic duct or a site near the pronephric duct. An increase in the post-LPS inflammatory cytokine mRNA levels coincided with the in vivo neutrophil aggregation in the swim bladder. Microscopic examinations of the LPS-injected swim bladders further revealed in situ injuries, including epithelial distortion, endoplasmic reticulum swelling and mitochondrial injuries. Inhibitor screening assays with this model showed a reduction in neutrophil migration into the LPS-injected swim bladder in response to Shp2 inhibition. Moreover, the pharmacological suppression and targeted disruption of Shp2 in myeloid cells alleviated pulmonary inflammation in the LPS-induced ALI mouse model. Additionally, we used this model to assess pneumonia-induced neutrophil recruitment by microinjecting bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients into swim bladders; this injection enhanced neutrophil aggregation relative to the control. In conclusion, our findings highlight the swim bladder as a promising and powerful model for mechanistic and drug screening studies of alveolar injuries.
Cysteine cathepsins control hepatic NF-κB-dependent inflammation via sirtuin-1 regulation
Authors: de Mingo Álvaro , de Gregorio Estefanía , Moles Anna , Tarrats Núria , Tutusaus Anna , Colell Anna , Fernandez-Checa Jose C , Morales Albert , Marí Montserrat
Published: November 2016

Sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) regulates hepatic metabolism but its contribution to NF-κB-dependent inflammation has been overlooked. Cysteine cathepsins (Cathepsin B or S, CTSB/S) execute specific functions in physiological processes, such as protein degradation, having SIRT1 as a substrate. We investigated the roles of CTSB/S and SIRT1 in the regulation of hepatic inflammation using primary parenchymal and non-parenchymal hepatic cell types and cell lines. In all cells analyzed, CTSB/S inhibition reduces nuclear p65-NF-κB and κB-dependent gene expression after LPS or TNF through enhanced SIRT1 expression. Accordingly, SIRT1 silencing was sufficient to enhance inflammatory gene expression. Importantly, in a dietary mouse model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, or in healthy and fibrotic mice after LPS challenge, cathepsins as well as NF-κB-dependent gene expression are activated. Consistent with the prominent role of cathepsin/SIRT1, cysteine cathepsin inhibition limits NF-κB-dependent hepatic inflammation through the regulation of SIRT1 in all in vivo settings, providing a novel anti-inflammatory therapeutic target in liver disease.
Theranostic barcoded nanoparticles for personalized cancer medicine
Authors: Yaari Zvi , da Silva Dana , Zinger Assaf , Goldman Evgeniya , Kajal Ashima , Tshuva Rafi , Barak Efrat , Dahan Nitsan , Hershkovitz Dov , Goldfeder Mor , Roitman Janna Shainsky , Schroeder Avi
Published: November 2016

Personalized medicine promises to revolutionize cancer therapy by matching the most effective treatment to the individual patient. Using a nanoparticle-based system, we predict the therapeutic potency of anticancer medicines in a personalized manner. We carry out the diagnostic stage through a multidrug screen performed inside the tumour, extracting drug activity information with single cell sensitivity. By using 100 nm liposomes, loaded with various cancer drugs and corresponding synthetic DNA barcodes, we find a correlation between the cell viability and the drug it was exposed to, according to the matching barcodes. Based on this screen, we devise a treatment protocol for mice bearing triple-negative breast-cancer tumours, and its results confirm the diagnostic prediction. We show that the use of nanotechnology in cancer care is effective for generating personalized treatment protocols.
IgD attenuates the IgM-induced anergy response in transitional and mature B cells
Authors: Sabouri Zahra , Perotti Samuel , Spierings Emily , Humburg Peter , Yabas Mehmet , Bergmann Hannes , Horikawa Keisuke , Roots Carla , Lambe Samantha , Young Clara , Andrews T. Dan , Field Matthew , Enders Anselm , Reed Joanne H. , Goodnow Christopher C.
Published: November 2016

Self-tolerance by clonal anergy of B cells is marked by an increase in IgD and decrease in IgM antigen receptor surface expression, yet the function of IgD on anergic cells is obscure. Here we define the RNA landscape of thein vivoanergy response, comprising 220 induced sequences including a core set of 97. Failure to co-express IgD with IgM decreases overall expression of receptors for self-antigen, but paradoxically increases the core anergy response, exemplified by increasedSdc1encoding the cell surface marker syndecan-1. IgD expressed on its own is nevertheless competent to induce calcium signalling and the core anergy mRNA response. Syndecan-1 induction correlates with reduction of surface IgM and is exaggerated without surface IgD in many transitional and mature B cells. These results show that IgD attenuates the response to self-antigen in anergic cells and promotes their accumulation. In this way, IgD minimizes tolerance-induced holes in the pre-immune antibody repertoire.
Cascaded emission of single photons from the biexciton in monolayered WSe2
Authors: He Yu-Ming , Iff Oliver , Lundt Nils , Baumann Vasilij , Davanco Marcelo , Srinivasan Kartik , Höfling Sven , Schneider Christian
Published: November 2016

Monolayers of transition metal dichalcogenide materials emerged as a new material class to study excitonic effects in solid state, as they benefit from enormous Coulomb correlations between electrons and holes. Especially in WSe2, sharp emission features have been observed at cryogenic temperatures, which act as single photon sources. Tight exciton localization has been assumed to induce an anharmonic excitation spectrum; however, the evidence of the hypothesis, namely the demonstration of a localized biexciton, is elusive. Here we unambiguously demonstrate the existence of a localized biexciton in a monolayer of WSe2, which triggers an emission cascade of single photons. The biexciton is identified by its time-resolved photoluminescence, superlinearity and distinct polarization in micro-photoluminescence experiments. We evidence the cascaded nature of the emission process in a cross-correlation experiment, which yields a strong bunching behaviour. Our work paves the way to a new generation of quantum optics experiments with two-dimensional semiconductors.
Trapped charge-driven degradation of perovskite solar cells
Authors: Ahn Namyoung , Kwak Kwisung , Jang Min Seok , Yoon Heetae , Lee Byung Yang , Lee Jong-Kwon , Pikhitsa Peter V. , Byun Junseop , Choi Mansoo
Published: November 2016

Perovskite solar cells have shown unprecedent performance increase up to 22% efficiency. However, their photovoltaic performance has shown fast deterioration under light illumination in the presence of humid air even with encapulation. The stability of perovskite materials has been unsolved and its mechanism has been elusive. Here we uncover a mechanism for irreversible degradation of perovskite materials in which trapped charges, regardless of the polarity, play a decisive role. An experimental setup using different polarity ions revealed that the moisture-induced irreversible dissociation of perovskite materials is triggered by charges trapped along grain boundaries. We also identified the synergetic effect of oxygen on the process of moisture-induced degradation. The deprotonation of organic cations by trapped charge-induced local electric field would be attributed to the initiation of irreversible decomposition.
Novel pH sensing semiconductor for point-of-care detection of HIV-1 viremia
Authors: Gurrala R. , Lang Z. , Shepherd L. , Davidson D. , Harrison E. , McClure M. , Kaye S. , Toumazou C. , Cooke G. S.
Published: November 2016

The timely detection of viremia in HIV-infected patients receiving antiviral treatment is key to ensuring effective therapy and preventing the emergence of drug resistance. In high HIV burden settings, the cost and complexity of diagnostics limit their availability. We have developed a novel complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) chip based, pH-mediated, point-of-care HIV-1 viral load monitoring assay that simultaneously amplifies and detects HIV-1 RNA. A novel low-buffer HIV-1 pH-LAMP (loop-mediated isothermal amplification) assay was optimised and incorporated into a pH sensitive CMOS chip. Screening of 991 clinical samples (164 on the chip) yielded a sensitivity of 95% (in vitro) and 88.8% (on-chip) at >1000 RNA copies/reaction across a broad spectrum of HIV-1 viral clades. Median time to detection was 20.8 minutes in samples with >1000 copies RNA. The sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility are close to that required to produce a point-of-care device which would be of benefit in resource poor regions, and could be performed on an USB stick or similar low power device.
Lucky Rhythms in Orbitofrontal Cortex Bias Gambling Decisions in Humans
Authors: Sacré Pierre , Kerr Matthew S. D. , Kahn Kevin , Gonzalez-Martinez Jorge , Bulacio Juan , Park Hyun-Joo , Johnson Matthew A. , Thompson Susan , Jones Jaes , Chib Vikram S. , Gale John T. , Sarma Sridevi V.
Published: November 2016

It is well established that emotions influence our decisions, yet the neural basis of this biasing effect is not well understood. Here we directly recorded local field potentials from the OrbitoFrontal Cortex (OFC) in five human subjects performing a financial decision-making task. We observed a striking increase in gamma-band (36–50 Hz) oscillatory activity that reflected subjects’ decisions to make riskier choices. Additionally, these gamma rhythms were linked back to mismatched expectations or “luck” occurring in past trials. Specifically, when a subject expected to win but lost, the trial was defined as “unlucky” and when the subject expected to lose but won, the trial was defined as “lucky”. Finally, a fading memory model of luck correlated to an objective measure of emotion, heart rate variability. Our findings suggest OFC may play a pivotal role in processing a subject’s internal (emotional) state during financial decision-making, a particularly interesting result in light of the more recent “cognitive map” theory of OFC function.
ROR1 is a novel prognostic biomarker in patients with lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Zheng Yu-Zhu , Ma Rui , Zhou Jian-Kang , Guo Cheng-Lin , Wang Yong-Sheng , Li Zheng-Guang , Liu Lun-Xu , Peng Yong
Published: November 2016

Currently, there is no reliable biomarker to clinically predict the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma (ADC). The receptor-tyrosine-kinase like orphan receptor 1 (ROR1) is reported to be overexpressed and associated with poor prognosis in several tumors. This study aimed to examine the expression of ROR1 and evaluate its prognostic significance in human lung ADC patients. In this present study, Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry were performed to characterize expression of ROR1 protein in lung ADC patients. The results revealed that ROR1 protein expression was significantly higher in lung ADC tissues than that in their adjacent non-tumor tissues. Patients at advanced stages and those with positive lymph node metastasis expressed higher level of ROR1 (P < 0.001). Moreover, Chi-square test showed that ROR1 expression was correlated to gender (P = 0.028), the 7th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer tumor-node-metastasis (AJCC TNM) staging system and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated an association of high ROR1 expression with worse overall survival (OS) in lung ADC patients (P < 0.001). Multivariate COX regression analysis further confirmed that ROR1 is an independent prognostic predictor (P < 0.001, HR = 4.114, 95% CI: 2.513–6.375) for OS. Therefore, ROR1 expression significantly correlates with malignant attributes of lung ADC and it may serve as a novel prognostic marker in lung ADC patients.
Dynamic Oligomerization of Integrase Orchestrates HIV Nuclear Entry
Authors: Borrenberghs Doortje , Dirix Lieve , De Wit Flore , Rocha Susana , Blokken Jolien , De Houwer Stéphanie , Gijsbers Rik , Christ Frauke , Hofkens Johan , Hendrix Jelle , Debyser Zeger
Published: November 2016

Nuclear entry is a selective, dynamic process granting the HIV-1 pre-integration complex (PIC) access to the chromatin. Classical analysis of nuclear entry of heterogeneous viral particles only yields averaged information. We now have employed single-virus fluorescence methods to follow the fate of single viral pre-integration complexes (PICs) during infection by visualizing HIV-1 integrase (IN). Nuclear entry is associated with a reduction in the number of IN molecules in the complexes while the interaction with LEDGF/p75 enhances IN oligomerization in the nucleus. Addition of LEDGINs, small molecule inhibitors of the IN-LEDGF/p75 interaction, during virus production, prematurely stabilizes a higher-order IN multimeric state, resulting in stable IN multimers resistant to a reduction in IN content and defective for nuclear entry. This suggests that a stringent size restriction determines nuclear pore entry. Taken together, this work demonstrates the power of single-virus imaging providing crucial insights in HIV replication and enabling mechanism-of-action studies.
Exploration of the Sphingolipid Metabolite, Sphingosine-1-phosphate and Sphingosine, as Novel Biomarkers for Aspirin-exacerbated Respiratory Disease
Authors: Trinh Hoang Kim Tu , Kim Su-Chin , Cho Kumsun , Kim Su-Jung , Ban Ga-Young , Yoo Hyun-Ju , Cho Joo-Youn , Park Hae-Sim , Kim Seung-Hyun
Published: November 2016

Sphingolipid (SL) metabolites have been suggested to be important inflammatory mediators in airway inflammation and asthma. However, little is known about SL metabolites in aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD). We aimed to explore the potential AERD biomarkers by conducting lipidomics targeting SL metabolites. The levels of SL metabolites in serum and urine samples from 45 AERD patients and 45 aspirin-tolerant asthma (ATA) patients were quantified through mass spectrometry. During the lysine-aspirin bronchoprovocation test (ASA-BPT), the levels of serum sphingomyelin (SM) were significantly decreased in AERD (P < 0.05) but not in ATA. The serum SM levels were positively correlated with airway responsiveness to methacholine. At the basal status before the ASA-BPT, the levels of serum sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and urine sphingosine were significantly higher in the AERD patients compared with that of ATA patients (P < 0.001) and were positively correlated with a greater decrease in FEV1 (%) values following the ASA-BPT test (P < 0.001 for each), and with serum periostin level (P < 0.05 for each). This study is the first to evaluate serum S1P and urine sphingosine as potential biomarkers of AERD as well as to examine the metabolic disturbance of SL in AERD patients.
Modeling Volcanic Eruption Parameters by Near-Source Internal Gravity Waves
Authors: Ripepe M. , Barfucci G. , De Angelis S. , Delle Donne D. , Lacanna G. , Marchetti E.
Published: November 2016

Volcanic explosions release large amounts of hot gas and ash into the atmosphere to form plumes rising several kilometers above eruptive vents, which can pose serious risk on human health and aviation also at several thousands of kilometers from the volcanic source. However the most sophisticate atmospheric models and eruptive plume dynamics require input parameters such as duration of the ejection phase and total mass erupted to constrain the quantity of ash dispersed in the atmosphere and to efficiently evaluate the related hazard. The sudden ejection of this large quantity of ash can perturb the equilibrium of the whole atmosphere triggering oscillations well below the frequencies of acoustic waves, down to much longer periods typical of gravity waves. We show that atmospheric gravity oscillations induced by volcanic eruptions and recorded by pressure sensors can be modeled as a compact source representing the rate of erupted volcanic mass. We demonstrate the feasibility of using gravity waves to derive eruption source parameters such as duration of the injection and total erupted mass with direct application in constraining plume and ash dispersal models.
Superior hydrogen storage in high entropy alloys
Authors: Sahlberg Martin , Karlsson Dennis , Zlotea Claudia , Jansson Ulf
Published: November 2016

Metal hydrides (MHx) provide a promising solution for the requirement to store large amounts of hydrogen in a future hydrogen-based energy system. This requires the design of alloys which allow for a very high H/M ratio. Transition metal hydrides typically have a maximum H/M ratio of 2 and higher ratios can only be obtained in alloys based on rare-earth elements. In this study we demonstrate, for the first time to the best of our knowledge, that a high entropy alloy of TiVZrNbHf can absorb much higher amounts of hydrogen than its constituents and reach an H/M ratio of 2.5. We propose that the large hydrogen-storage capacity is due to the lattice strain in the alloy that makes it favourable to absorb hydrogen in both tetrahedral and octahedral interstitial sites. This observation suggests that high entropy alloys have future potential for use as hydrogen storage materials.
Trap-mediated electronic transport properties of gate-tunable pentacene/MoS2 p-n heterojunction diodes
Authors: Kim Jae-Keun , Cho Kyungjune , Kim Tae-Young , Pak Jinsu , Jang Jingon , Song Younggul , Kim Youngrok , Choi Barbara Yuri , Chung Seungjun , Hong Woong-Ki , Lee Takhee
Published: November 2016

We investigated the trap-mediated electronic transport properties of pentacene/molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) p-n heterojunction devices. We observed that the hybrid p-n heterojunctions were gate-tunable and were strongly affected by trap-assisted tunnelling through the van der Waals gap at the heterojunction interfaces between MoS2 and pentacene. The pentacene/MoS2 p-n heterojunction diodes had gate-tunable high ideality factor, which resulted from trap-mediated conduction nature of devices. From the temperature-variable current-voltage measurement, a space-charge-limited conduction and a variable range hopping conduction at a low temperature were suggested as the gate-tunable charge transport characteristics of these hybrid p-n heterojunctions. Our study provides a better understanding of the trap-mediated electronic transport properties in organic/2-dimensional material hybrid heterojunction devices.
Decreased postural control in adult survivors of childhood cancer treated with chemotherapy
Authors: Einarsson Einar-Jón , Patel Mitesh , Petersen Hannes , Wiebe Thomas , Fransson Per-Anders , Magnusson Måns , Moëll Christian
Published: November 2016

The objective of cancer treatment is to secure survival. However, as chemotherapeutic agents can affect the central and peripheral nervous systems, patients must undergo a process of central compensation. We explored the effectiveness of this compensation process by measuring postural behaviour in adult survivors of childhood cancer treated with chemotherapy (CTS). We recruited sixteen adults treated with chemotherapy in childhood for malignant solid (non-CNS) tumours and 25 healthy age-matched controls. Subjects performed posturography with eyes open and closed during quiet and perturbed standing. Repeated balance perturbations through calf vibrations were used to study postural adaptation. Subjects were stratified into two groups (treatment before or from 12 years of age) to determine age at treatment effects. Both quiet (p = 0.040) and perturbed standing (p ≤ 0.009) were significantly poorer in CTS compared to controls, particularly with eyes open and among those treated younger. Moreover, CTS had reduced levels of adaptation compared to controls, both with eyes closed and open. Hence, adults treated with chemotherapy for childhood cancer may suffer late effects of poorer postural control manifested as reduced contribution of vision and as reduced adaptation skills. These findings advocate development of chemotherapeutic agents that cause fewer long-term side effects when used for treating children.
A RGB-Type Quantum Dot-based Sensor Array for Sensitive Visual Detection of Trace Formaldehyde in Air
Authors: Xia Hui , Hu Jing , Tang Jie , Xu Kailai , Hou Xiandeng , Wu Peng
Published: November 2016

A simple colorimetric sensor array based on red-emitting CdTe QDs and green-colored fluorescein that exhibited RGB-type color change was proposed for visual detection of trace formaldehyde. In the presence of formaldehyde, the red fluorescence from CdTe QDs was quenched while the green fluorescein was inert thus as a reference. Through harvesting the varied quenching efficiency of different ligand-capped CdTe QDs by formaldehyde, a simple sensor array can be constructed for both selective detection of formaldehyde with high sensitivity (LOD of 0.08 ppm) and identification of the existence of potential interference from acetaldehyde. The quenching mechanisms of formaldehyde toward different ligand capped CdTe QDs were studied with fluorescence lifetime, zeta potential, and also theoretical calculations. The results from theoretical calculations were in good agreement with the experimental results. The proposed sensor array was successfully explored for visual analysis of formaldehyde in indoor air samples.
Marked increases in mucociliary clearance produced by synergistic secretory agonists or inhibition of the epithelial sodium channel
Authors: Joo Nam Soo , Jeong Jin Hyeok , Cho Hyung-Ju , Wine Jeffrey J.
Published: November 2016

Mucociliary clearance (MCC) is a critical host innate defense mechanism in airways, and it is impaired in cystic fibrosis (CF) and other obstructive lung diseases. Epithelial fluid secretion and absorption modify MCC velocity (MCCV). We tested the hypotheses that inhibiting fluid absorption accelerates MCCV, whereas inhibiting fluid secretion decelerates it. In airways, ENaC is mainly responsible for fluid absorption, while anion channels, including CFTR and Ca2+-activated chloride channels mediate anion/fluid secretion. MCCV was increased by the cAMP-elevating agonists, forskolin or isoproterenol (10 μM) and by the Ca2+-elevating agonist, carbachol (0.3 μM). The CFTR-selective inhibitor, CFTRinh-172, modestly reduced MCCV-increases induced by forskolin or isoproterenol but not increases induced by carbachol. The ENaC inhibitor benzamil increased basal MCCV as well as MCCV increases produced by forskolin or carbachol. MCC velocity was most dramatically accelerated by the synergistic combination of forskolin and carbachol, which produced near-maximal clearance rates regardless of prior treatment with CFTR or ENaC inhibitors. In CF airways, where CFTR-mediated secretion (and possibly synergistic MCC) is lost, ENaC inhibition via exogenous agents may provide therapeutic benefit, as has long been proposed.
Delayed development of systemic immunity in preterm pigs as a model for preterm infants
Authors: Nguyen Duc Ninh , Jiang Pingping , Frøkiær Hanne , Heegaard Peter M. H. , Thymann Thomas , Sangild Per T.
Published: November 2016

Preterm neonates are highly sensitive to systemic infections in early life but little is known about systemic immune development following preterm birth. We hypothesized that preterm neonates have immature systemic immunity with distinct developmental trajectory for the first several weeks of life, relative to those born at near-term or term. Using pigs as a model, we characterized blood leukocyte subsets, antimicrobial activities and TLR-mediated cytokine production during the first weeks after preterm birth. Relative to near-term and term pigs, newborn preterm pigs had low blood leukocyte counts, poor neutrophil phagocytic rate, and limited cytokine responses to TLR1/2/5/7/9 and NOD1/2 agonists. The preterm systemic responses remained immature during the first postnatal week, but thereafter showed increased blood leukocyte numbers, NK cell proportion, neutrophil phagocytic rate and TLR2-mediated IL-6 and TNF-α production. These immune parameters remained different between preterm and near-term pigs at 2–3 weeks, even when adjusted for post-conceptional age. Our data suggest that systemic immunity follows a distinct developmental trajectory following preterm birth that may be influenced by postnatal age, complications of prematurity and environmental factors. Consequently, the immediate postnatal period may represent a window of opportunity to improve innate immunity in preterm neonates by medical, antimicrobial or dietary interventions.
Antibacterial activity of the nitrovinylfuran G1 (Furvina) and its conversion products
Authors: Allas Ülar , Toom Lauri , Selyutina Anastasia , Mäeorg Uno , Medina Ricardo , Merits Andres , Rinken Ago , Hauryliuk Vasili , Kaldalu Niilo , Tenson Tanel
Published: November 2016

2-Bromo-5-(2-bromo-2-nitrovinyl)furan (G1 or Furvina) is an antimicrobial with a direct reactivity against thiol groups. It is active against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, yeasts and filamentous fungi. By reacting with thiol groups it causes direct damage to proteins but, as a result, is very short-living and interconverts into an array of reaction products. Our aim was to characterize thiol reactivity of G1 and its conversion products and establish how much of antimicrobial and cytotoxic effects are due to the primary activity of G1 and how much can be attributed to its reaction products. Stability of G1 in growth media as well as its conversion in the presence of thiols was characterized. The structures of G1 decomposition products were determined using NMR and mass-spectroscopy. Concentration- and time-dependent killing curves showed that G1 is bacteriostatic for Escherichia coli at the concentration of 16 μg/ml and bactericidal at 32 μg/ml. However, G1 is inefficient against non-growing E. coli. Addition of cysteine to medium reduces the antimicrobial potency of G1. Nevertheless, the reaction products of G1 and cysteine enabled prolonged antimicrobial action of the drug. Therefore, the activity of 2-bromo-5-(2-bromo-2-nitrovinyl)furan is a sum of its immediate reactivity and the antibacterial effects of the conversion products.
Pore structure characterization of Chang-7 tight sandstone using MICP combined with N2GA techniques and its geological control factors
Authors: Cao Zhe , Liu Guangdi , Zhan Hongbin , Li Chaozheng , You Yuan , Yang Chengyu , Jiang Hang
Published: November 2016

Understanding the pore networks of unconventional tight reservoirs such as tight sandstones and shales is crucial for extracting oil/gas from such reservoirs. Mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP) and N2 gas adsorption (N2GA) are performed to evaluate pore structure of Chang-7 tight sandstone. Thin section observation, scanning electron microscope, grain size analysis, mineral composition analysis, and porosity measurement are applied to investigate geological control factors of pore structure. Grain size is positively correlated with detrital mineral content and grain size standard deviation while negatively related to clay content. Detrital mineral content and grain size are positively correlated with porosity, pore throat radius and withdrawal efficiency and negatively related to capillary pressure and pore-to-throat size ratio; while interstitial material is negatively correlated with above mentioned factors. Well sorted sediments with high debris usually possess strong compaction resistance to preserve original pores. Although many inter-crystalline pores are produced in clay minerals, this type of pores is not the most important contributor to porosity. Besides this, pore shape determined by N2GA hysteresis loop is consistent with SEM observation on clay inter-crystalline pores while BJH pore volume is positively related with clay content, suggesting N2GA is suitable for describing clay inter-crystalline pores in tight sandstones.
Underwater noise levels in UK waters
Authors: Merchant Nathan D. , Brookes Kate L. , Faulkner Rebecca C. , Bicknell Anthony W. J. , Godley Brendan J. , Witt Matthew J.
Published: November 2016

Underwater noise from human activities appears to be rising, with ramifications for acoustically sensitive marine organisms and the functioning of marine ecosystems. Policymakers are beginning to address the risk of ecological impact, but are constrained by a lack of data on current and historic noise levels. Here, we present the first nationally coordinated effort to quantify underwater noise levels, in support of UK policy objectives under the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). Field measurements were made during 2013–2014 at twelve sites around the UK. Median noise levels ranged from 81.5–95.5 dB re 1 μPa for one-third octave bands from 63–500 Hz. Noise exposure varied considerably, with little anthropogenic influence at the Celtic Sea site, to several North Sea sites with persistent vessel noise. Comparison of acoustic metrics found that the RMS level (conventionally used to represent the mean) was highly skewed by outliers, exceeding the 97th percentile at some frequencies. We conclude that environmental indicators of anthropogenic noise should instead use percentiles, to ensure statistical robustness. Power analysis indicated that at least three decades of continuous monitoring would be required to detect trends of similar magnitude to historic rises in noise levels observed in the Northeast Pacific.
Magnetic solid phase extraction based on fullerene and activated carbon adsorbents for determination of azo dyes in water samples by capillary electrophoresis
Authors: Rodriguez Jose A. , Ibarra Israel S. , Miranda Jose M. , Barrado Enrique , Santos Eva M.
Published: November 2016

A magnetic solid phase extraction method coupled to capillary electrophoresis for the simultaneous determination of three azo dyes (sunset yellow, allura red and tartrazine) in wastewater samples was proposed.
A pendant phosphorus Lewis acid: route to a palladium-benzoyl derived phosphorane
Authors: Firth Kelly F. , Möbus Juri , Stephan Douglas W.
Published: November 2016

The traditional use of phosphorus compounds is as ligands for transition metals, however herein we synthesize Lewis acidic fluorophosphonium cation appended to a palladium complex and effect CO insertion into a Pd–C bond to obtain an unprecedented metal-benzoyl derived phosphorane.
The mechanism of large second harmonic generation enhancement activated by Zn2+substitution
Authors: Mutailipu Miriding , Li Zhi , Zhang Min , Hou Dianwei , Yang Zhihua , Zhang Bingbing , Wu Hongping , Pan Shilie
Published: November 2016

Large SHG enhancement between two isostructural silicates Sr2MSi2O7(M = Zn and Mg) was performed. The significantly enhanced SHG response of Sr2ZnSi2O7can be interpreted by the enhanced inter-band dipole resulting from strong sp hybridization between Zn and O.
Correction: Alkaline versatile peroxidase by directed evolution
Authors: Gonzalez-Perez David , Mateljak Ivan , Garcia-Ruiz Eva , Ruiz-Dueñas Francisco J. , Martinez Angel T. , Alcalde Miguel
Published: November 2016

Correction for ‘Alkaline versatile peroxidase by directed evolution’ by David Gonzalez-Perez et al., Catal. Sci. Technol., 2016, 6, 6625–6636.
Exposure assessment of natural uranium from drinking water
Authors: Jakhu Rajan , Mehra Rohit , Mittal H. M.
Published: November 2016

The uranium concentration in the drinking water of the residents of the Jaipur and Ajmer districts of Rajasthan has been measured for exposure assessment.