bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular dynamics simulations of shock waves in cis-1,4-polybutadiene melts
Authors: He Lan , Sewell Thomas D. , Thompson Donald L.
Published: October 2013

Molecular dynamics simulations of supported shock waves in monodisperse melts of cis-1,4-polybutadiene initially at atmospheric pressure and T = 413 K were performed to study the shock-induced structural changes and post-shock relaxation. Simulations were performed for Rankine-Hugoniot shock pressures between 7.22 GPa and 8.26 GPa using the united-atom force field due to Smith and Paul [G. D. Smith and W. Paul, J. Phys. Chem. A 102, 1200 (1998)] for systems composed of chains containing 32, 64, or 128 united atoms. The sensitivity of the results to the non-bonded interaction potential was studied by comparing results obtained using the Lennard-Jones 12–6 potential from the original Smith and Paul force field to ones obtained when the 12–6 potential was replaced by the Buckingham exponential–6 potential. Several structural and mechanical properties were studied as functions of distance (time) behind the shock front. Bulk relaxation was characterized by calculating profiles of temperature, density, and principal and shear stress. Microscopic shock-induced structural rearrangement and relaxation were studied by calculating the ratio of Cartesian components of the mean-squared radius of gyration to corresponding values for the equilibrated material; dihedral angle distributions; and the distribution of, and second Legendre polynomial order parameter for, the angle formed by covalent bond vectors and the shock propagation direction.
Si nanoparticle interfaces in Si/SiO2 solar cell materials
Authors: Kilpeläinen S. , Kujala J. , Tuomisto F. , Slotte J. , Lu Y.-W. , Nylandsted Larsen A.
Published: October 2013

Novel solar cell materials consisting of Si nanoparticles embedded in SiO2 layers have been studied using positron annihilation spectroscopy in Doppler broadening mode and photoluminescence. Two positron-trapping interface states are observed after high temperature annealing at 1100 °C. One of the states is attributed to the (SiO2/Si bulk) interface and the other to the interface between the Si nanoparticles and SiO2. A small reduction in positron trapping into these states is observed after annealing the samples in N2 atmosphere with 5% H2. Enhanced photoluminescence is also observed from the samples following this annealing step.
A cylindrical electrical resistivity tomography array for three-dimensional monitoring of hydrate formation and dissociation
Authors: Priegnitz Mike , Thaler Jan , Spangenberg Erik , Rücker Carsten , Schicks Judith M.
Published: October 2013

The LArge Reservoir Simulator (LARS) was developed to investigate various processes during gas hydrate formation and dissociation under simulated in situ conditions of relatively high pressure and low temperature (close to natural conditions). To monitor the spatial hydrate distribution during hydrate formation and the mobility of the free gas phase generated during hydrate dissociation, a cylindrical Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) array was implemented into LARS. The ERT contains 375 electrodes, arranged in 25 circular rings featuring 15 electrodes each. The electrodes were attached to a neoprene jacket surrounding the sediment sample. Circular (2D) dipole-dipole measurements are performed which can be extended with additional 3D cross measurements to provide supplemental data. The data quality is satisfactory, with the mean standard deviation due to permanent background noise and data scattering found to be in the order of 2.12%. The measured data are processed using the inversion software tool Boundless Electrical Resistivity Tomography to solve the inverse problem. Here, we use data recorded in LARS to demonstrate the data quality, sensitivity, and spatial resolution that can be obtained with this ERT array.
Operation of astigmatic-detection atomic force microscopy in liquid environments
Authors: Liao H.-S. , Huang K.-Y. , Hwang I.-S. , Chang T.-J. , Hsiao Wesley W. , Lin H.-H. , Hwu E.-T. , Chang C.-S.
Published: October 2013

The astigmatic detection system (ADS) based on commercial optical pickup head was demonstrated to achieve a sub-nanometer sensitivity in detecting the vertical movement of an object surface in air. The detection laser spot of the ADS was sub-μm and the detection bandwidth was over 80 MHz. These advantages allow detection of high-frequency mechanical resonance of very small objects, which would have many important applications in nanotechnology. In this work, we optimized the operation conditions of ADS to achieve good sensitivity in aqueous solutions. We demonstrated good contrast and good spatial resolution of cancer cells in water with the optical profilometry mode. We also built an ADS-AFM (atomic force microscopy) for imaging in water. A novel cantilever holder was designed, and the spurious peaks were suppressed down to 26.0% of the real resonance peak. Most importantly, we demonstrated that the ADS-AFM could resolve single atomic steps on a graphite substrate and image soft DNA molecules on mica in water.
The mechanical forces in katydid sound production
Authors: Xiao Huaping , Chiu Cheng-Wei , Zhou Yan , He Xingliang , Epstein Ben , Liang Hong
Published: October 2013

Katydids and crickets generate their characteristic calling sound by rubbing their wings together. The mechanisms of the rubbing force, however, have not been extensively studied. The change of mechanical force with external parameters (speed and applied load) in the stridulation process has not been reported. Our current study aims to investigate the mechanical forces of katydid stridulation. Four pairs of files and plectrums from a katydid, which are responsible for the katydid's sound production, were examined with a specially designed experimental configuration. Due to the asymmetric nature of the wing motion in their opening and closing, the contact between the plectrum and file resembles that of a ratchet. Multiple frequencies were generated during experimental wing rubbing so that a calling-like sound was produced. Results showed that the morphology of the plectrum/file contact has significant effects on mechanical forces induced on the wings and resulting sound production. The roles of the mechanical forces include sound generation, tone modification, and energy consumption. The findings in this work reveal the variation trend of mechanical force with sliding speed and applied load. The frequency and amplitude of the sound wave produced in tribo-test are close to those in natural condition. By mimicking the microstructure of the plectrum and file teeth, acoustic instruments with high mechanical energy conversion rate can be developed. Our results provide new approaches in the design and improvement of micro-machines for acoustic applications, as well as in hybrid robotic systems.
Nanoscale spintronic oscillators based on the excitation of confined soliton modes
Authors: Finocchio G. , Puliafito V. , Komineas S. , Torres L. , Ozatay O. , Hauet T. , Azzerboni B.
Published: October 2013

This paper demonstrates how to excite complex soliton modes in nanomagnets with perpendicular to plane magnetic anisotropy driven by the non-uniform injection of a spin-polarized current. We addressed the study toward two different scenarios, in the first the excitation of two rotating bubble/antibubble pairs is predicted, in the second one, by means of the topological density, we characterized the dissipative droplet recently measured as single constrained bubble/antibubble pair. Our results are important for the theoretical understanding of how to control the spatial structure of soliton modes for application in spintronics, magnonics, and domain wall devices.
Suspended single-layer MoS2 devices
Authors: Jin Taiyu , Kang Jinyeong , Su Kim Eok , Lee Sunhee , Lee Changgu
Published: October 2013

We have fabricated and characterized suspended single-layer MoS2 devices to investigate the substrate effect on the electrical properties of MoS2. The MoS2 devices were fabricated on Si/SiO2 first by using e-beam lithography and were suspended by etching away half of the SiO2 layer with buffered oxide etchant and drying them with critical point dryer. Compared with SiO2 substrate-supported devices, the suspended devices show 2-10 times of mobility and on/off ratio improvement. While measuring the electronic properties, we observed that the suspended devices were annealed by joule heating and showed the performance improvement, whereas the supported devices did not. Our observations reveal that MoS2 devices are substrate-sensitive in their electrical properties and that proper substrates and cleaning is necessary for the optimal device performance.
Crumpling of a pyrolytic graphite sheet
Authors: Hui Chao , Zhang Ye , Zhang Lei , Sun Rujie , Liu Feng
Published: October 2013

Crumpled graphite thin film balls were fabricated with Panasonic Pyrolytic Graphite Sheets (PGS). The fractal dimension, mechanical properties, and electrical conductivity of the crumpled PGS balls have been investigated. The universal local fractal dimension of the PGS balls is found to be 2.58, which is consistent with that of paper balls. The crumpled PGS balls show good mechanical property with Young's Modulus of 16–17 N, which is about the same as that of paper balls and elastoplastic paper balls, but with much smaller sizes, thinner film thicknesses, and less weight. In addition, the crumpled PGS balls show good conductivity, slightly higher than that of the PGS film before crumpling.
Double-layered vertically integrated amorphous-In2Ga2ZnO7 thin-film transistor
Authors: Ho Rha Sang , Ki Kim Un , Jung Jisim , Suk Hwang Eun , Choi Jung-Hae , Seong Hwang Cheol
Published: October 2013

Two serially connected and vertically integrated amorphous-In2Ga2ZnO7 thin film transistors (V-TFTs) with ∼600 and 400-nm channel lengths were fabricated. Top and bottom V-TFTs showed well-behaved transfer characteristics with an Ion/Ioff ratio of ∼108 and a sub-threshold swing of ∼0.6 V/dec., which are much improved results compared with the previous report on single-layer V-TFTs. Electrical performances of two V-TFTs were cross-checked, and they showed certain influences from the other device depending on operation conditions, which was attributed to charge trapping in the gate dielectric layer during gate voltage sweeping. V-TFT with thermally grown SiO2 showed negligible charge trapping behavior.
High performance phototransistors based on single crystalline perylene-tetracarboxylic-dianhydride nanoparticle
Authors: Nguyen Linh-Nam , Kumar Pradhan Sunil , Yen Chia-Nan , Lin Ming-Chou , Chen Chien-Han , Wu Cen-Shawn , Chang-Liao Kuei-Shu , Lin Minn-Tsong , Chen Chii-Dong
Published: October 2013

Organic semiconducting devices suffer from grain boundary scattering, which can be responsible for low mobility and even mask intrinsic transport properties. In this letter, we show that devices containing only single grains give electron mobility 2–3 orders higher than that of conventional film-structured polycrystalline organic semiconductor transistors. The devices contain single perylene-tetracarboxylic-dianhydride nanoparticles embedded inside gated-nanopore structures. Since there is no inter-grain scattering, we obtain the highest reported electron mobility values of 0.08 cm2/Vs at 300 K and 0.5 cm2/Vs at 80 K. Consequently, the devices, when illuminated with ultraviolet, also yield a previously unrecorded high value of external quantum efficiency of 3.5 × 106.
Understanding the Relationship between Subnational and National Climate Change Politics in the United States: Toward a Theory of Boomerang Federalism
Authors: Fisher Dana R
Published: October 2013

In this paper, I look at how subnational policies in the United States are interacting with policy making at the federal level to address the issue of global climate change. I focus on a coordinated attempt to get the national government to fund local efforts to address climate change. Although local climate initiatives in the US were successfully translated into a national policy to support these local efforts, their implementation through hybrid arrangements that are being formed between business and local governmental actors will potentially create additional challenges to federal policy making. I introduce the notion of boomerang federalism, which builds on the extant research on federalism and vertical policy integration, to explain the process through which local efforts mobilize initiatives at the national level that, in turn, provide support for the local initiatives themselves. Reviewing the implementation process of this effort, I discuss the ways that businesses are working alongside local governments to address climate change.
Effective recruitment and retention strategies in community health programs
Authors: McCann Jennifer , Ridgers Nicola D. , Carver Alison , Thornton Lukar E. , Teychenne Megan
Published: October 2013

Issue addressed

The aim of this project was to identify effective recruitment and retention strategies used by health‐promotion organisations that focus on increasing physical activity and improving nutrition within the local community.

Methods

Semistructured telephone or face‐to‐face interviews with 25 key informants from stakeholder organisations were conducted. Key informants discussed strategies used by their organisation to effectively recruit and retain participants into community‐based healthy eating and/or physical activity programs. Transcribed data were analysed with NVivo software.

Results

Effective recruitment strategies included word of mouth, links with organisations, dissemination of printed materials, media, referrals, cross‐promotion of programs and face‐to‐face methods. Effective retention strategies included encouraging a sense of community ownership, social opportunities, recruiting a suitable leader and offering flexibility and support. Fees and support for recruiting and retaining participants was also identified.

Conclusion

This study provides novel insights to a greatly under researched topic in the field of health promotion. There are two key take‐home messages from the present study that are applicable to health practitioners as well as developers and deliverers of community health‐promotion programs: (1) it is imperative that all community health organisations report on the effectiveness of their recruitment and retention, both successes and failures; and (2) there is a clear need to tailor the recruitment and retention approach to the target population and the setting the program is occurring in.

So what?

These findings provide important insights for the development of future community‐based healthy eating and physical activity programs.
A long-term survey of Posidonia oceanica fish assemblages in a Mediterranean Marine Protected Area: emphasis on stability and no-take area effectiveness
Authors: Seytre Catherine , Francour Patrice
Published: October 2013

Marine reserves have become an important tool advocated to protect diversity, habitat or to restore depleted fish stocks. However, the links between reserve effect and temporal variability of assemblages remains equivocal. The present study presents the results obtained in a long-term series of annual surveys in the Scandola Marine Reserve (Corsica, North-western Mediterranean). An underwater visual census was performed on Posidonia oceanica seagrass beds. Species richness and density of target fish were positively affected by fishing prohibition in the no-take zone. The whole assemblage density and density of non-target and prey fish, prevailing in the seagrass bed, were not or negatively affected by fishing prohibition. Concomitantly, temporal stability was positively related to fishing prohibition. This stabilisation of the fish assemblage in the no-take zone had not been observed over rocky reefs in previous studies. This outcome may be linked to wandering predators of rocky areas, preying upon seagrass fish assemblages. In addition, the complete fishing ban appeared to be to only effective tool in restoring target fish stocks and maintaining a higher stability of the fish assemblage whereas partial fishing prohibition failed to meet this goal.
C1q induction and global complement pathway activation do not contribute to ALS toxicity in mutant SOD1 mice
Authors: Lobsiger Christian S. , Boillée Severine , Pozniak Christine , Khan Amir M. , McAlonis-Downes Melissa , Lewcock Joseph W. , Cleveland Don W.
Published: October 2013

Significance

Activation of the immune system within the nervous system is widely found in neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS. In mice that develop fatal paralytic disease from ALS-causing superoxide dismutase (SOD1) mutants, motor neurons activate expression of C1q, the initiating component of the classic complement system. As C1q and complement play a central role in developmental synapse elimination, disease-linked activation has suggested that it drives motor neuron denervation. Instead, suppressing C1q induction by gene deletion is shown to enhance loss, not retention, of synapses, whereas elimination of global complement activation by C1q or C3 gene deletions leave onset and progression of paralytic disease unaffected. Thus, C1q induction and complement activation are not significant contributors to SOD1 mutant-mediated ALS disease mechanism in mice.
The genitive alternation in Chinese and German ESL learners
Authors: Gries Stefan Th. , Wulff Stefanie
Published: October 2013

This paper exemplifies an approach to learner corpus data that adopts a multifactorial definition of ‘context’. We apply a logistic regression to 2,986 attestations of genitive alternation (the squirrel’s nest vs. the nest of the squirrel) from the Chinese and German sub-sections of the International Corpus of Learner English and the British component of the International Corpus of English that were coded for 12 factors. Importantly, the speakers’ L1 was included as a predictor to be able to compare properly the native speakers with the learners as well as the two learner groups with each other. The final regression model predicts all speakers’ genitive choices very accurately (> 93%) and suggests that (i) the learners rely heavily on processing-related factors, which can be overridden by semantic constraints, and (ii) learners’ choices are differentially modulated by their L1. We close with a discussion of how this context-based, multifactorial approach goes beyond traditional learner corpus research.
The interaction of text and visual in specialized dictionary definitions
Authors: Antia Bassey E. , Ivo Njuasi
Published: October 2013

Although visuals have been co-deployed with text in specialized dictionaries as far back as the European Renaissance, the interaction of both representational modalities is relatively under-researched. As a consequence, available knowledge is relatively limited with respect to the kinds of visuals employed in specialized dictionaries, the kinds of definiendum that elicit specific types of visuals, the functions of visuals relative to text in definitions, and the association between particular visuals and visual-text functions. This study sheds light on these questions from the perspective of specialized dictionaries in two fields (Biology and Mechanical Engineering). Significantly, the study underscores how the ontology or nature of Biology and Mechanical Engineering appear to determine both the selections made of visual types and the dominant text-visual relationships. The study further makes a contribution to cleaning up the Augean clutter that is the terminology of visuals.
E. E. Just Award Lecture
Authors: Garcia J. Victor
Published: October 2013

What started as a game of discovery for a child with a chemistry set has resulted in a lifetime of fulfillment and dedication to science. It is deeply rewarding to continuously let my curiosity ask questions for which there are no known answers. Equally rewarding has been the opportunity to mentor young students and postdoctorate graduates through their formative years in science.
Enhanced Feeding and Diminished Postnatal Growth Failure in Very‐Low‐Birth‐Weight Infants
Authors: Moltu Sissel J. , Blakstad Elin W. , Strømmen Kenneth , Almaas Astrid N. , Nakstad Britt , Rønnestad Arild , Brække Kristin , Veierød Marit B. , Drevon Christian A. , Iversen Per O. , Westerberg Ane C.
Published: October 2013

Objective:

The aim of the present study was to determine whether an increased supply of energy, protein, essential fatty acids, and vitamin A reduces postnatal growth failure in very‐low‐birth‐weight infants.

Methods:

Fifty infants with birth weight <1500 g were randomized to an intervention (n = 24) or a control (n = 26) feeding protocol within 24 hours after birth. Forty‐four infants were included in the final analysis. This study was discontinued because of an increased occurrence of septicemia in the intervention group.

Results:

The intervention group had a lower mean birth weight (P = 0.03) and a higher proportion of infants small‐for‐gestational age (P = 0.04) than the control group. Other baseline characteristics were similar. The median (interquartile range) energy and protein supplies during the first 4 weeks of life were higher in the intervention group: 139 (128–145) versus 126 (121–128) kcal · kg−1 · day−1 (P < 0.001) and 4.0 (3.9–4.2) versus 3.2 (3.1–3.3) g · kg−1 · day−1 (P < 0.001). The infants in the intervention group regained birth weight faster (P = 0.001) and maintained their z scores for weight and head circumference from birth to 36 weeks' postmenstrual age (both P < 0.001). The median (interquartile range) growth velocity was 17.4 (16.3–18.6) g · kg−1 · day−1 in the intervention group and 13.8 (13.2–15.5) g · kg−1 · day−1 in the control group (P < 0.001). In line with the improved growth in the intervention group, the proportion of growth‐restricted infants was 11 of 23 both at birth and at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age, whereas this proportion increased among the controls from 4 of 21 to 13 of 21 (P = 0.04).

Conclusions:

Enhanced supply of energy, protein, essential fatty acids, and vitamin A caused postnatal growth along the birth percentiles for both weight and head circumference.
Numerical solutions of ideal quantum gas dynamical flows governed by semiclassical ellipsoidal-statistical distribution
Authors: Yang Jaw-Yen , Yan Chih-Yuan , Diaz Manuel , Huang Juan-Chen , Li Zhihui , Zhang Hanxin
Published: October 2013

The ideal quantum gas dynamics as manifested by the semiclassical ellipsoidal-statistical (ES) equilibrium distribution derived in Wuet al.(Wuet al. 2012Proc. R. Soc. A468, 1799–1823 (doi:10.1098/rspa.2011.0673)) is numerically studied for particles of three statistics. This anisotropic ES equilibrium distribution was derived using the maximum entropy principle and conserves the mass, momentum and energy, but differs from the standard Fermi–Dirac or Bose–Einstein distribution. The present numerical method combines the discrete velocity (or momentum) ordinate method in momentum space and the high-resolution shock-capturing method in physical space. A decoding procedure to obtain the necessary parameters for determining the ES distribution is also devised. Computations of two-dimensional Riemann problems are presented, and various contours of the quantities unique to this ES model are illustrated. The main flow features, such as shock waves, expansion waves and slip lines and their complex nonlinear interactions, are depicted and found to be consistent with existing calculations for a classical gas.
The aerodynamic wall
Authors: Cohen Caroline , Darbois-Texier Baptiste , Dupeux Guillaume , Brunel Eric , Quéré David , Clanet Christophe
Published: October 2013

We study the trajectory of dense projectiles subjected to gravity and drag at large Reynolds number. We show that two types of trajectories can be observed: if the initial velocity is smaller than the terminal velocity of free fall, we observe the classical Galilean parabola: if it is larger, the projectile decelerates with an asymmetric trajectory first drawn by Tartaglia, which ends with a nearly vertical fall, as if a wall impeded the movement. This regime is often observed in sports, fireworks, watering, etc. and we study its main characteristics.
Seascape analysis reveals regional gene flow patterns among populations of a marine planktonic diatom
Authors: Godhe Anna , Egardt Jenny , Kleinhans David , Sundqvist Lisa , Hordoir Robinson , Jonsson Per R.
Published: October 2013

We investigated the gene flow of the common marine diatom,
Skeletonema marinoi
, in Scandinavian waters and tested the null hypothesis of panmixia. Sediment samples were collected from the Danish Straits, Kattegat and Skagerrak. Individual strains were established from germinated resting stages. A total of 350 individuals were genotyped by eight microsatellite markers. Conventional
F-
statistics showed significant differentiation between the samples. We therefore investigated whether the genetic structure could be explained using genetic models based on isolation by distance (IBD) or by oceanographic connectivity. Patterns of oceanographic circulation are seasonally dependent and therefore we estimated how well local oceanographic connectivity explains gene flow month by month. We found no significant relationship between genetic differentiation and geographical distance. Instead, the genetic structure of this dominant marine primary producer is best explained by local oceanographic connectivity promoting gene flow in a primarily south to north direction throughout the year. Oceanographic data were consistent with the significant
F
ST
values between several pairs of samples. Because even a small amount of genetic exchange prevents the accumulation of genetic differences in
F
-statistics, we hypothesize that local retention at each sample site, possibly as resting stages, is an important component in explaining the observed genetic structure.
How ticks get under your skin: insertion mechanics of the feeding apparatus ofIxodes ricinusticks
Authors: Richter Dania , Matuschka Franz-Rainer , Spielman Andrew , Mahadevan L.
Published: October 2013

The tickIxodes ricinususes its mouthparts to penetrate the skin of its host and to remain attached for about a week, during which time Lyme disease spirochaetes may pass from the tick to the host. To understand how the tick achieves both tasks, penetration and attachment, with the same set of implements, we recorded the insertion events by cinematography, interpreted the mouthparts’ function by scanning electron microscopy and identified their points of articulation by confocal microscopy. Our structural dynamic observations suggest that the process of insertion and attachment occurs via a ratchet-like mechanism with two distinct stages. Initially, the two telescoping chelicerae pierce the skin and, by moving alternately, generate a toehold. Subsequently, a breaststroke-like motion, effected by simultaneous flexure and retraction of both chelicerae, pulls in the barbed hypostome. This combination of a flexible, dynamic mechanical ratchet and a static holdfast thus allows the tick to solve the problem of how to penetrate skin and also remain stuck for long periods of time.
Prosthecobacter algae sp. nov., isolated from activated sludge using algal metabolites
Authors: Lee Jangho , Park Banghyo , Woo Sung-Geun , Lee Juyoun , Park Joonhong
Published: October 2013

A Gram-stain-negative, fusiform-shaped, facultatively anaerobic bacterial strain, designated EBTL04T, was isolated from activated sludge using algal metabolites and taxonomically characterized through polyphasic investigation. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain EBTL04T belongs to the family

Verrucomicrobiaceae

, class

Verrucomicrobiae

, and is closely related to

Prosthecobacter dejongeii

DSM 12251T (98.6 % sequence similarity),

Prosthecobacter fusiformis

ATCC 25309T (97.9 %),

Prosthecobacter debontii

DSM 14044T (97.5 %),

Prosthecobacter vanneervenii

DSM 12252T (94.7 %) and

Prosthecobacter fluviatilis

KCTC 22182T (93.7 %). The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain EBTL04T was 62.7 mol%. The menaquinone MK-6 was detected as the predominant quinone. Strain EBTL04T contained phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylserine as major polar lipids. A fatty acid profile with C16 : 1ω5c, iso-C14 : 0, C16 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0 and C14 : 0 as the major components supported the classification of strain EBTL04T in the genus

Prosthecobacter

. Based on several phenotypic, genotypic and chemotaxonomic features, strain EBTL04T was clearly differentiated from its phylogenetic neighbours. Therefore, strain EBTL04T should be considered to represent a novel species of the genus

Prosthecobacter

, for which the name

Prosthecobacter

algae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is EBTL04T ( = KCTC 23681T = JCM 18053T).
Proposal of Vibrionimonas magnilacihabitans gen. nov., sp. nov., a curved Gram-stain-negative bacterium isolated from lake water
Authors: Albert Richard A. , Zitomer Daniel , Dollhopf Michael , Schauer-Gimenez A. E. , Struble Craig , King Michael , Son Sona , Langer Stefan , Busse Hans-Jürgen
Published: October 2013

A mesophilic bacterium appearing as curved rod-shaped cells was isolated from Lake Michigan water. It exhibited highest similarities with

Sediminibacterium ginsengisoli

DCY13T (94.4 %);

Sediminibacterium salmoneum

NJ-44T (93.6 %) and

Hydrotalea flava

CCUG 51397 T (93.1 %) while similarities with other recognized species were <92.0 %. The primary polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine, with moderate amounts of two unidentified glycolipids, three unknown polar lipids, one unknown aminophospholipid and one aminolipid. The primary respiratory quinone was MK-7 and sym-homospermidine was the primary polyamine. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 1G, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 3-OH and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, with moderate amounts of iso-C16 : 0. The presence of glycolipids differentiated the novel strains from related genera. The DNA mol% G+C content of the type strain MU-2T was 45.2. Results for other phenotypic and molecular analyses indicated that strain MU-2T is a representative of a novel genus and species for which the name Vibrionimonas magnilacihabitans is proposed. The type strain is MU-2T ( = NRRL B-59231 = DSM 22423).
GDSL LIPASE1 Modulates Plant Immunity through Feedback Regulation of Ethylene Signaling
Authors: Kim Hye Gi , Kwon Sun Jae , Jang Young Jin , Nam Myung Hee , Chung Joo Hee , Na Yun-Cheol , Guo Hongwei , Park Ohkmae K.
Published: October 2013

Ethylene is a key signal in the regulation of plant defense responses. It is required for the expression and function of GDSL LIPASE1 (GLIP1) in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), which plays an important role in plant immunity. Here, we explore molecular mechanisms underlying the relationship between GLIP1 and ethylene signaling by an epistatic analysis of ethylene response mutants and GLIP1-overexpressing (35S:GLIP1) plants. We show that GLIP1 expression is regulated by ethylene signaling components and, further, that GLIP1 expression or application of petiole exudates from 35S:GLIP1 plants affects ethylene signaling both positively and negatively, leading to ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR1 activation and ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE3 (EIN3) down-regulation, respectively. Additionally, 35S:GLIP1 plants or their exudates increase the expression of the salicylic acid biosynthesis gene SALICYLIC ACID INDUCTION-DEFICIENT2, known to be inhibited by EIN3 and EIN3-LIKE1. These results suggest that GLIP1 regulates plant immunity through positive and negative feedback regulation of ethylene signaling, and this is mediated by its activity to accumulate a systemic signal(s) in the phloem. We propose a model explaining how GLIP1 regulates the fine-tuning of ethylene signaling and ethylene-salicylic acid cross talk.
Pyrrolidinium-2-carboxylate–4-nitrophenol (1/2)
Authors: Sowmya Narayanan Swarna , Vidyalakshmi Yechuri , Sampathkrishnan Sadasivam , Srinivasan Thothadri , Velmurugan Devadasan
Published: October 2013

In the title compound, C5H9NO2·2C6H5NO3, the pyrrolidine ring of the pyrrolidinium-2-carboxylate zwitterion adopts a twisted conformation on the –CH2—CH2– bond adjacent to the N atom. The mean plane of this pyrrolidine ring forms dihedral angles of 25.3 (3) and 32.1 (3)° with the two nitrophenol rings. An intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bond occurs in the pyrrolidinium-2-carboxylate molecule. In the crystal, molecules are linkedviaO—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen bonds, enclosingR32(8) ring motifs, forming chains running parallel to theaaxis. These chains are further cross-linked by O—H...O and C—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming undulating two-dimensional networks lying parallel to (001).
N-[(2-Chlorophenyl)sulfonyl]-2-methoxybenzamide
Authors: Sreenivasa S. , Palakshamurthy B. S. , Suresha E , Tonannavar J. , Jayashree Yenagi , Suchetan P. A.
Published: October 2013

The title compound, C14H12ClNO4S, crystallizes with two molecules in the asymmetric unit. The dihedral angles between the benzene rings are 89.68 (1) (molecule 1) and 82.9 (1)° (molecule 2). In each molecule, intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bonds between the amide H atom and the methoxy O atom generateS(6) loops. In the crystal, molecule 2 is linked into inversion dimers through pairs of C—H...O interactions, forming anR22(8) ring motif. Molecules 1 and 2 are further linked along theb-axis direction through C—H...π interactions. The crystal structure is further stabilized by several π–π stacking interactions [centroid–centroid separations = 3.7793 (1), 3.6697 (1) and 3.6958 (1) Å], thus generating a three-dimensional architecture.
4-Ethynyl-N,N-diphenylaniline
Authors: Wang Wan-Qiang
Published: October 2013

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C20H15N, comprises two crystallographically independent molecules (AandB). In each molecule, the N atom adopts an approximately trigonal planar geometry, lying 0.009 (1) or 0.003 (1) Å from the plane defined by the C atoms of the aromatic substituents to which it is attached. In the crystal, molecules are linkedviaC—H...π interactions, forming a three-dimensional structure.
Di-μ-iodido-bis(iodido{methyl 4-[(pyridin-2-ylmethylidene)amino]benzoate-κ2N,N′}cadmium)
Authors: Basu Baul Tushar S. , Kundu Sajal , Ng Seik Weng , Tiekink Edward R. T.
Published: October 2013

The complete binuclear molecule of the title compound, [Cd2I4(C14H12N2O2)2], is generated by the application of a centre of inversion. The Cd—I bond lengths of the central core are close and uniformly longer than the exocyclic Cd—I bond. The coordination sphere of the CdIIatom is completed by two N atoms of a chelating methyl 4-[(pyridin-2-ylmethylidene)amino]benzoate ligand, and is based on a square pyramid with the terminal I atom in the apical position. The three-dimensional crystal packing is stabilized by C—H...O and C—H...π interactions, each involving the pyridine ring.
4-Methoxy-N-(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide monohydrate
Authors: Sreenivasa S. , Mohan N. R. , Kumar Vijith , Palakshamurthy B. S. , Arunakumar D. B. , Suchetan P. A.
Published: October 2013

In the title compound, C15H13F3N2O2·H2O, the dihedral angle between the benzene and pyridine rings is 74.97 (1)°. The –CF3group attached to the benzene ring issynto the C=O bond in the adjacent side chain. In the crystal, molecules are linked to one another through the water molecules by strong N—H...O, O—H...O and O—H...N hydrogen bonds, forming a ladder-type network. The benzamide molecules are also linked to one another through C—H...F interactions, formingC(6) chains parallel to theb-axis direction. Aromatic π–π stacking interactions [centroid–centroid separations = 3.7150 (1) and 3.7857 (1) Å] between adjacent pairs of pyridine and benzene rings are also observed, resulting in a three-dimensional architecture are also observed.
1-[5-Methyl-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl]ethanone
Authors: Vinutha N. , Madan Kumar S. , Nithinchandra  , Balakrishna Kalluraya , Lokanath N. K. , Revannasiddaiah D
Published: October 2013

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C11H10N4O3, contains two independent molecules in which the benzene rings make dihedral angles of 38.3 (2) and 87.1 (2)° with respect to the triazole rings. In the crystal, the molecules are linked by C—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming chains along [021]. Further, weak C—O...π [3.865 (5) Å, 83.8 (3)°] and N—O...π [3.275 (5) and 3.240 (6) Å, 141.8 (4) and 102.8 (3)°] interactions are observed.
Bis(μ-hydroxido-κ2O:O)bis[bis(5-carboxypyridine-2-carboxylato-κ2N,O2)iron(III)] dihydrate
Authors: Cao Wenhai
Published: October 2013

The complete binuclear complex in [Fe2(C7H4NO4)4(OH)2]·2H2O, is generated by the application twofold symmetry. The FeIIIatom is coordinated by the O atoms of two bridging hydroxyl groups and by two N and two O atoms from two pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylato ligands, forming a distorted octahedral geometry. The Fe...Fe separation within the dinuclear complex is 3.0657 (4) Å. In the crystal, O—H...O and C—H...O hydrogen-bonding interactions connect the molecules into a three-dimensional supramolecular network.
Prevalence and associations of quetiapine fumarate misuse among an Australian national city sample of people who regularly inject drugs
Authors: Reddel Siobhan Emma , Bruno Raimondo , Burns Lucy , Kirwan Amy , Lokuge Kamalini , Dietze Paul
Published: October 2013

Aims

To estimate the prevalence of self‐reported misuse of the antipsychotic quetiapine fumarate (quetiapine) among a sample of urban Australian people who inject drugs (PWID), and correlates of reported misuse in health and social domains.

Design, setting and participants

Data were obtained from a national cross‐sectional convenience sample survey of 868 urban PWID.

Measurements

Self‐reported life‐time and recent (past 6‐month) use, and mode of use, of prescribed and non‐prescribed quetiapine. ‘Misuse’ calculated on non‐oral use of the prescribed drug or non‐prescribed use. Self‐reported potential correlates of quetiapine misuse including socio‐demographic, drug use and health and social characteristics.

Findings

Thirty‐one per cent of the sample [95% confidence interval (CI) = 28–34%] reported ever misusing quetiapine, 15% (95% CI = 13–17%) in the preceding 6 months. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that participants reporting any recent quetiapine misuse were more likely to be from jurisdictions with higher population prescription rates. They were also more likely to report violent crime in the preceding month [odds ratio (OR) = 1.96, 95% CI = 1.17–3.29] and non‐heroin drug overdose in the preceding 12 months (OR = 3.52, 95% CI = 1.39–8.91). Recent quetiapine misuse was also significantly associated with non‐prescribed benzodiazepine use (OR = 4.26, 95% CI = 2.06–8.82), non‐prescribed pharmaceutical opioid use (OR = 2.76 95% CI 1.47–5.19) and amphetamine use (OR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.02–4.22) in the previous 6 months.

Conclusions

Quetiapine misuse appears to be common in PWID in urban Australia. Recent misuse is associated with localities reporting a higher rate of prescriptions and among individuals with a history of non‐heroin drug overdose, violent crime and use of non‐prescribed benzodiazepines and pharmaceutical opioids as well as amphetamines. Awareness of the potential for quetiapine misuse is important, as the drug is prescribed increasingly in a broader range of approved and ‘off‐label’ clinical contexts.
Thermoluminescence Dating of Surface Lithic Artefacts from the Chacabuco Valley, Chilean Patagonia
Authors: Mena F. , Blanco J. F. , Mariani F. , Román A.
Published: October 2013

This work presents several thermoluminescence (TL) dates of six archaeological sites located in the Andean valley of the Chacabuco River, central Patagonia. We discuss the advantages of this method to assess the chronology of human occupations, employing samples of lithic artefacts with evidence of fire exposure from surface contexts in the area. We compare the results with stratigraphic archaeological dating by 14C. We discuss these results in the context of previously formulated hypotheses on the past behaviour of the human population in this area.
Calcium influx pathways in breast cancer: opportunities for pharmacological intervention
Authors: Azimi I , Roberts‐Thomson S J , Monteith G R
Published: October 2013

Ca2+ influx through Ca2+ permeable ion channels is a key trigger and regulator of a diverse set of cellular events, such as neurotransmitter release and muscle contraction. Ca2+ influx is also a regulator of processes relevant to cancer, including cellular proliferation and migration. This review focuses on calcium influx in breast cancer cells as well as the potential for pharmacological modulators of specific Ca2+ influx channels to represent future agents for breast cancer therapy. Altered expression of specific calcium permeable ion channels is present in some breast cancers. In some cases, such changes can be related to breast cancer subtype and even prognosis. In vitro and in vivo models have now helped identify specific Ca2+ channels that play important roles in the proliferation and invasiveness of breast cancer cells. However, some aspects of our understanding of Ca2+ influx in breast cancer still require further study. These include identifying the mechanisms responsible for altered expression and the most effective therapeutic strategy to target breast cancer cells through specific Ca2+ channels. The role of Ca2+ influx in processes beyond breast cancer cell proliferation and migration should become the focus of studies in the next decade.
Peripheral interactions between cannabinoid and opioid systems contribute to the antinociceptive effect of crotalphine
Authors: Machado F C , Zambelli V O , Fernandes A C O , Heimann A S , Cury Y , Picolo G
Published: October 2013

Background and Purpose

Crotalphine is an antinociceptive peptide that, despite its opioid‐like activity, does not induce some of the characteristic side effects of opioids, and its amino acid sequence has no homology to any known opioid peptide. Here, we evaluated the involvement of the peripheral cannabinoid system in the crotalphine effect and its interaction with the opioid system.

Experimental Approach

Hyperalgesia was evaluated using the rat paw pressure test. Involvement of the cannabinoid system was determined using a selective cannabinoid receptor antagonist. Cannabinoid and opioid receptor activation were evaluated in paw slices by immunofluorescence assays using conformation state‐sensitive antibodies. The release of endogenous opioid peptides from skin tissue was measured using a commercial enzyme immunoassay (EIA).

Key Results

Both p.o. (0.008–1.0 μg·kg−1) and intraplantar (0.0006 μg per paw) administration of crotalphine induced antinociception in PGE2‐induced hyperalgesia. Antinociception by p.o. crotalphine (1 μg·kg−1) was blocked by AM630 (50 μg per paw), a CB2 receptor antagonist, and by antiserum anti‐dynorphin A (1 μg per paw). Immunoassay studies confirmed that crotalphine increased the activation of both κ‐opioid (51.7%) and CB2 (28.5%) receptors in paw tissue. The local release of dynorphin A from paw skin was confirmed by in vitro EIA and blocked by AM630.

Conclusions and Implications

Crotalphine‐induced antinociception involves peripheral CB2 cannabinoid receptors and local release of dynorphin A, which is dependent on CB2 receptor activation. These results enhance our understanding of the mechanisms involved in the peripheral effect of crotalphine, as well as the interaction between the opioid and cannabinoid systems.
Interleukin‐6 induces malignant transformation of rat mesenchymal stem cells in association with enhanced signaling of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3
Authors: Cui Xiangrong , Liu Jianping , Bai Lu , Tian Jie , Zhu Jing
Published: October 2013

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the potential to be the source for cell‐based therapies. However, MSCs can undergo malignant transformation in a tumor microenvironment where a high level of interleukin (IL)‐6 is present. In this study, we investigated the role of IL‐6 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling in malignant transformation of MSCs. Rat MSCs were isolated and indirectly cocultured with C6 glioma cells. Coculture of MSCs with astrocytes was used as a control. After 7 days of culture, the cells were assessed for malignant transformation using MTT assay and immunofluorescence staining. The levels of hepatocyte growth factor, IL‐6, and basic fibroblast growth factor, and the expression of STAT3 and soluble IL‐6 receptor in the cultured cells and conditioned media were measured using RT‐PCR, ELISA, and Western blot analysis. The expression levels of STAT3 downstream targets, CyclinD1 and Bcl‐xl, were determined as well. Our data showed that almost all of the MSCs became phenotypically malignant after indirect coculture with glioma cells, which was confirmed by tumor formation assays when these cells were injected into nude mice. The expression of IL‐6 was significantly increased in MSCs cocultured with glioma cells, which was associated with significantly increased expressions of soluble IL‐6 receptor, transmembrane glycoprotein GP130, STAT3, phosphorylated STAT3, CyclinD1, and Bcl‐xl. Similar results were obtained when the MSCs were treated with IL‐6. Treatment of the cocultured MSCs and glioma cells with STA‐21, to block the constitutive STAT3 signaling, reduced the risk of MSC tumor‐like transformation in the tumor microenvironment. These data suggest that IL‐6 plays a critical role in malignant transformation of rat MSCs, which is associated with an enhancement of the STAT3 signaling pathway in the tumor microenvironment.
Clinical significance of macrophage heterogeneity in human malignant tumors
Authors: Komohara Yoshihiro , Jinushi Masahisa , Takeya Motohiro
Published: October 2013

The fact that various immune cells, including macrophages, can be found in tumor tissue has long been known. With the recent introduction of the novel concept of macrophage differentiation into a classically activated phenotype (M1) and an alternatively activated phenotype (M2), the role of tumor‐associated macrophages (TAMs) is gradually beginning to be elucidated. Specifically, in human malignant tumors, TAMs that have differentiated into M2 macrophages act as “protumoral macrophages” and contribute to the progression of disease. Based on recent basic and preclinical research, TAMs that have differentiated into protumoral or M2 macrophages are believed to be intimately involved in the angiogenesis, immunosuppression, and activation of tumor cells. In this paper, we specifically discuss both the role of TAMs in human malignant tumors and the cell–cell interactions between TAMs and tumor cells.
Molecular markers and targeted therapies for adrenocortical carcinoma
Authors: Xu Yunze , Qi Yicheng , Zhu Yu , Ning Guang , Huang Yiran
Published: October 2013

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a lethal disease with poor prognosis and lack of effective therapeutic options. Systemic treatment is often employed to treat patients with advanced ACC, but outcomes are disappointing. During the last decade, some of the causative genetic mutations in sporadic ACCs have been identified. Molecular analysis has had a significant impact on the understanding of the pathogenetic mechanism of ACC development and the evaluation of prognostic and predictive markers. Preclinical investigations and clinical trials of tyrosine kinase inhibitors and anti‐angiogenic compounds have been initiated to seek target therapy of ACCs. This review summarizes the current view of molecular alterations involved in the pathophysiology of adrenocortical carcinogenesis. The rationale for testing targeted therapies of ACC is also presented.