bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Hair in the Sinus: Sharp‐Ended Rootless Head Hair Fragments can be Found in Large Amounts in Pilonidal Sinus Nests
Authors: Bosche Friederike , Luedi Markus M. , van der Zypen Dominic , Moersdorf Philipp , Krapohl Bjoern , Doll Dietrich
Published: June 2017

Purpose

Hair has been identified as the causative agent of Pilonidal Sinus Disease (PSD). Stiffer, dark hair as well as hairiness has been postulated as causative factors. Astonishingly, despite the early clinical significance of this condition (Hodges in Boston Med Surg J 2:485–486, 1880), macroscopic and microscopic examinations of hair inside pilonidal sinus cavities have been scarce. The purpose of this study was to study the morphological aspects of the hair found in PSD in order to determine the origin of the hair.

Methods

Hair from inside pilonidal sinus cavities was collected intraoperatively from 20 PSD patients. Additionally, occipital, lumbar and intergluteal hair was harvested from the same patients and compared to the hair of volunteer‐matched pair patients admitted to the hospital at the same time for non‐PSD surgery. Intra‐ and intergroup variations of hair length were characterized with analysis of variance. Numbers and lengths of pilonidal sinus nest hair were recorded. Hair was examined clinically and with light and scanning electron microscopy using surface enhancing gold and carbon dust coating techniques.

Results

Analysis of 624 pilonidal sinus nest hair samples from 20 independent sinus cavities revealed that hair within pilonidal sinus nests is rootless in 74%. Shorter hair was found inside the pilonidal sinus compared to other sites (length 0.9 ± 0.7 cm p < 0.0001). Furthermore, hair found inside of the sinus was significantly shorter than hair protruding from pores (p < 0.000). Hair samples show razor sharp but no broken or split ends. On electron microscopy, these spiky hair ends resemble cut hair ends. Pilonidal hair nests contained between 1 and over 400 hair fragments.

Conclusion

Short hair fragments with rootless sharp cut ends were found within pilonidal sinus cavities. Morphologically, these fragments resemble short cut rather than intact body hair. Since short cut hair, e.g., derived from the head potentially enters the pilonidal cavity more easily than longer hair, the source of these cut hair fragments needs to be eliminated when aiming to prevent Pilonidal Sinus Disease.
Central Hepatectomy Still Plays an Important Role in Treatment of Early‐Stage Centrally Located Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Chen Chun‐Han , Huang Tzu‐Hao , Chang Cheng‐Chih , Li Wei‐Feng , Lin Ting‐Lung , Wang Chih‐Chi
Published: June 2017

Background

Surgical management of centrally located hepatocellular carcinoma (CL‐HCC) poses a great challenge. Major hepatectomy (MH) might compromise future remnant liver volume (FRLV), while the long‐term benefits of central hepatectomy (CH) had not been well demonstrated.

Methods

Consecutive patients with early‐stage CL‐HCC who underwent liver resection were enrolled. Fifteen patients underwent CH, while thirty‐three were subjected to MH. All relevant clinicopathological variables were analyzed. Disease‐free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) of both groups were compared.

Results

There were no differences between CH and MH in terms of predisposing liver disease, tumor size, blood loss, complication rate and vascular invasion. Mean FRLV increased from 40.9 to 69.2% by using CH resection lines. The parenchymal transection time is longer in CH. There were no differences of DFS between two groups. The 5‐year OS rates of CH and MH were 93.3 and 62.6%, respectively. MH was a poor prognostic factor.

Conclusions

CH is a relatively time‐consuming and technique‐demanding procedure, but excellent long‐term survival could be achieved. CH could increase liver volume preservation without compromising intra‐hepatic recurrence. In an endemic area of hepatitis and cirrhosis, CH should still play an important role in surgical treatment of CL‐HCC.
Maternal SSRI exposure increases the risk of autistic offspring: A meta-analysis and systematic review
Authors: Andalib S. , Emamhadi M.R. , Yousefzadeh-Chabok S. , Shakouri S.K. , Høilund-Carlsen P.F. , Vafaee M.S. , Michel T.M.
Published: June 2017

Background:

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most common antidepressants used to preclude maternal pregnancy depression. There is a growing body of literature assessing the association of prenatal exposure to SSRIs with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The present systematic review and meta-analysis reviewed the medical literature and pooled the results of the association of prenatal exposure to SSRIs with ASD.

Methods:

Published investigations in English by June 2016 with keywords of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, SSRI, autism spectrum disorder, ASD, pregnancy, childhood, children, neurodevelopment were identified using databases PubMed and PMC, MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar. Cochran's Q statistic-value (Q), degree of freedom (df), and I2 indices (variation in odds ratio [OR] attributable to heterogeneity) were calculated to analyze the risk of heterogeneity of the within- and between-study variability. Pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were reported by a Mantel–Haenszel test.

Results:

There was a non-significant heterogeneity for the included studies ([Q = 3.61, df = 6, P = 0.730], I2 = 0%). The pooled results showed a significant association between prenatal SSRI exposure and ASD (OR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.59–2.10, Z = 8.49, P = 0.00).

Conclusion:

The evidence from the present study suggests that prenatal exposure to SSRIs is associated with a higher risk of ASD.
Thalassemia Major
Authors: Mohamed Said Y.
Published: June 2017

Thalassemia is the most common monogenic hematologic disease that affects millions in the world and kills thousands of patients every year.

Without transfusion or transplantation, patients with thalassemia major are expected to die within months of diagnosis. However, long-term transfusion and chelation therapy is highly challenging for many developing countries where the disease is prevalent, representing a major and unsustainable health burden.

Stem cell transplantation is the only cure for thalassemia. It has witnessed major developments that have made it less toxic, more successful, and feasible for a larger number of patients with diverse comorbidities and from a wider range of donors. Advances in human leukocyte antigen typing have greatly refined alternate donor selection with results of matched unrelated donors similar to matched sibling donors.

Novel strategies such as haploidentical and cord blood transplantation have increased the possibility of patients with no healthy donor to get a better opportunity to survive and avoid chronic transfusion complications.

Cost-effectively, transplantation should be considered the primary treatment of choice in the presence of a suitable related or unrelated donor and at centers with a satisfactory experience in the field of transplantation and particularly, in managing those with thalassemia. Despite some complications such as graft-versus-host disease and late conditioning effects, the overall improvement in the quality of life of thalassemia is difficult to deny.

Unfortunately, the number of transplants for thalassemia represents only a minority of all transplants conducted globally and the essential requirement for transplants for thalassemia in limited-resources countries should mandate the transplant societies, including Worldwide Network for Blood and Marrow Transplantation, to collaborate to help initiate and support specialized transfusion and transplant programs for managing thalassemia.
Effect of molecular weight on the quality of poly(alpha-methylstyrene) mandrel
Authors: Shangguan Xiuyun , Chen Sufen , Ma Shuang , Liu Meifang , Tang Changhuan , Yi Yong , Zhang Zhanwen
Published: June 2017

Hollow poly(alpha-methylstyrene) (PAMS) shows application in inertial confinement fusion experiments as the degradable mandrels of glow plasma polymer shells. However, the molecular weight of PAMS has great influence on the quality of mandrels. In this work, this influence was systematically studied using several PAMS samples with different molecular weights. For PAMS shells with 900 μm inner diameter and different wall thickness, when the molecular weight of PAMS is in the range of 300–500 kg·mol−1, perfect sphericity and good wall thickness uniformity can be obtained. In contrast, when increasing molecular weight to 800 kg·mol−1, the sphericity and the wall thickness uniformity become worse. Moreover, compared with the wall uniformity, the sphericity of PAMS shells was much less sensitive to the molecular weight. The results also showed that the stability of W1/O compound droplets of PAMS shells were less affected by the molecular weight. It was revealed that the wall uniformity and the sphericity of the PAMS shells were associated with the diffusion rates of fluorobenzene (FB).
A rare case of glial choristoma of the tongue associated with cleft palate
Authors: Yamada Tamaki , Matsuzawa Yusuke , Sogabe Izumi , Donen Masaki , Tei Kanchu , Mikoya Tadashi
Published: June 2017

Glial choristoma is considered a developmental malformation characterized by brain heterotopias without connection to the central nervous system. In this article, we report a rare case of glial choristoma occurring on the dorsum of the tongue with cleft palate in a 3‐month‐old male infant. Complete surgical excision was performed prior to palatoplasty. There were no postoperative complications or evidence of recurrence after 5 years of follow‐up.
Synchronization in Digital Communication Systems
Authors: Ling Fuyun , Proakis John
Published: June 2017

Do you need to know how to develop more efficient digital communication systems? Based on the author's experience of over thirty years in industrial design, this practical guide provides detailed coverage of synchronization subsystems and their relationship with other system components. Readers will gain a comprehensive understanding of the techniques needed for the design, performance analysis and implementation of synchronization functions for a range of different modern communication technologies. Specific topics covered include frequency-looked loops in wireless receivers, optimal OFDM timing phase determination and implementation, and interpolation filter design and analysis in digital resamplers. Numerous implementation examples help readers to develop the necessary practical skills, and slides summarizing key concepts accompany the book online. This is an invaluable guide and essential reference for both practicing engineers and graduate students working in digital communications.
Perioperative Temperature Management
Authors: Bräuer Anselm
Published: June 2017

This practical text offers a comprehensive guide to perioperative temperature management for anaesthetists, surgeons and nurses. The physiological basics of thermoregulation and heat exchange are covered, before the changes that occur during general and regional anaesthesia are outlined. The relevant adverse scenarios associated with perioperative hypothermia, including morbid cardiac events, impairment of coagulation, increased blood loss and surgical site infections are discussed, before the methods of measuring core temperature and the equipment and techniques to keep patients warm are described. Richly illustrated and clearly structured for quick reference, Perioperative Temperature Management is an essential daily resource to help ensure safe, effective practice.
Variation in Empiric Coverage Versus Detection of Methicillin-ResistantStaphylococcus aureusandPseudomonas aeruginosain Hospitalizations for Community-Onset Pneumonia Across 128 US Veterans Affairs Medical Centers
Authors: Jones Barbara E. , Brown Kevin Antoine , Jones Makoto M. , Huttner Benedikt D. , Greene Tom , Sauer Brian C. , Madaras-Kelly Karl , Rubin Michael A. , Bidwell Goetz Matthew , Samore Matthew H.
Published: June 2017

OBJECTIVE

To examine variation in antibiotic coverage and detection of resistant pathogens in community-onset pneumonia.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

A total of 128 hospitals in the Veterans Affairs health system.

PARTICIPANTS

Hospitalizations with a principal diagnosis of pneumonia from 2009 through 2010.

METHODS

We examined proportions of hospitalizations with empiric antibiotic coverage for methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) andPseudomonas aeruginosa(PAER) and with initial detection in blood or respiratory cultures. We compared lowest- versus highest-decile hospitals, and we estimated adjusted probabilities (AP) for patient- and hospital-level factors predicting coverage and detection using hierarchical regression modeling.

RESULTS

Among 38,473 hospitalizations, empiric coverage varied widely across hospitals (MRSA lowest vs highest, 8.2% vs 42.0%; PAER lowest vs highest, 13.9% vs 44.4%). Detection rates also varied (MRSA lowest vs highest, 0.5% vs 3.6%; PAER lowest vs highest, 0.6% vs 3.7%). Whereas coverage was greatest among patients with recent hospitalizations (AP for anti-MRSA, 54%; AP for anti-PAER, 59%) and long-term care (AP for anti-MRSA, 60%; AP for anti-PAER, 66%), detection was greatest in patients with a previous history of a positive culture (AP for MRSA, 7.9%; AP for PAER, 11.9%) and in hospitals with a high prevalence of the organism in pneumonia (AP for MRSA, 3.9%; AP for PAER, 3.2%). Low hospital complexity and rural setting were strong negative predictors of coverage but not of detection.

CONCLUSIONS

Hospitals demonstrated widespread variation in both coverage and detection of MRSA and PAER, but probability of coverage correlated poorly with probability of detection. Factors associated with empiric coverage (eg, healthcare exposure) were different from those associated with detection (eg, microbiology history). Providing microbiology data during empiric antibiotic decision making could better align coverage to risk for resistant pathogens and could promote more judicious use of broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol2017;38:937–944
Activation of a small ephemeral lake in southern Jordan during the last full glacial period and its paleoclimatic implications
Authors: Catlett Gentry A. , Rech Jason A. , Pigati Jeffrey S. , Al Kuisi Mustafa , Li Shanying , Honke Jeffrey S.
Published: June 2017

Playas, or ephemeral lakes, are one of the most common depositional environments in arid and semiarid lands worldwide. Playa deposits, however, have mostly been avoided as paleoclimatic archives because they typically contain exceptionally low concentrations of organic material, making14C dating difficult. Here, we describe a technique for concentrating organic matter in sediments for radiocarbon dating and apply it to playa sediments recovered from a 2.35 m sediment core from a small playa in southern Jordan. Based on14C ages of the organic concentrate fraction, the playa was active from ~29 to 21 ka, coincident with the last major high stand of Paleolake Lisan and wet conditions recorded by other paleoclimatic proxies in the southernmost Levant during the last full glacial period (35–20 ka). The timing and spatial pattern of these records suggests that the increased moisture was likely derived from more frequent and deeper eastern Mediterranean (EM) cyclones associated with the intensification of the westerlies. The presence of full glacial pluvial deposits in southern Jordan (29°N), and the lack of similarly aged deposits in the northern Arabian Peninsula to the south, suggests that the southerly limit of the incursion of EM cyclones during last full glacial period was ~28°N.
CLOSURE OPERATORS, FRAMES AND NEATEST REPRESENTATIONS
Authors: EGROT ROB
Published: June 2017

Given a poset $P$ and a standard closure operator $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6E4}:{\wp}(P)\rightarrow {\wp}(P)$, we give a necessary and sufficient condition for the lattice of $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6E4}$-closed sets of ${\wp}(P)$ to be a frame in terms of the recursive construction of the $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6E4}$-closure of sets. We use this condition to show that, given a set ${\mathcal{U}}$ of distinguished joins from $P$, the lattice of ${\mathcal{U}}$-ideals of $P$ fails to be a frame if and only if it fails to be $\unicode[STIX]{x1D70E}$-distributive, with $\unicode[STIX]{x1D70E}$ depending on the cardinalities of sets in ${\mathcal{U}}$. From this we deduce that if a poset has the property that whenever $a\wedge (b\vee c)$ is defined for $a,b,c\in P$ it is necessarily equal to $(a\wedge b)\vee (a\wedge c)$, then it has an $(\unicode[STIX]{x1D714},3)$-representation.
Informing compensatory habitat creation with experimental trials: a 3-year study of a threatened amphibian
Authors: Valdez Jose W. , Klop-Toker Kaya , Stockwell Michelle P. , Fardell Loren , Clulow Simon , Clulow John , Mahony Michael J.
Published: June 2017

The creation or restoration of habitat to mitigate biodiversity loss is a common conservation strategy. Evidence-based research via an extensively monitored trial study should be undertaken prior to large-scale implementation to predict success and identify potential limiting factors. We constructed an experimental trial habitat for the threatened green and golden bell frogLitoria aurea, in Australia, to inform a broader programme of compensatory habitat creation. Individuals were released into the trial plot and a nearby natural wetland for comparison to determine if the created habitat would support their growth, survival and persistence. Half of the trial waterbodies were enclosed within an exclusion fence to separate the effects of habitat suitability from ecological processes. We found the habitat providedL. aureawith sufficient resources to grow, survive and persist for 3 years. However, no breeding occurred, and further investigations need to focus on understanding the drivers of reproduction. Although a disease outbreak occurred during the study, persistence continued for the next 2 years. This was attributed to the large number of individuals released, a strategy we recommend for future mitigation strategies to account for low survival and high turnover rates. Dispersal probably affected abundance in the unfenced areas, and landscape-level initiatives are suggested for this species. This study demonstrates that experimental trials are valuable, as they can inform future habitat management by identifying limitations that could hinder success prior to the implementation of large-scale initiatives.
Juliet Fraser and Plus Minus, Café OTO, London, 7 February 2017
Authors: Fox Christopher
Published: June 2017

On a gloomy winter's night in Dalston what could be better than Kammerklang at Café OTO? Out of the cold and into a packed house – standing room only for many of us, and sauna-like levels of humidity – for an evening in which an audio-visual piece about bells by Christine Sun Kim and a new string quartet by Lisa Illean frame the main event, two new pieces by the Canadian composer Cassandra Miller.
Normative development of the Child Behavior Checklist Dysregulation Profile from early childhood to adolescence: Associations with personality pathology
Authors: Deutz Marike H. F. , Vossen Helen G. M. , De Haan Amaranta D. , Deković Maja , Van Baar Anneloes L. , Prinzie Peter
Published: June 2017

The Dysregulation Profile (DP) is a broad indicator of concurrent affective, behavioral, and cognitive dysregulation, often measured with the anxious/depressed, aggressive behavior, and attention problems syndrome scales of the Child Behavior Checklist. Despite an expanding body of research on the DP, knowledge of the normative developmental course of the DP from early childhood to adolescence is lacking. Furthermore, although we know that the DP longitudinally predicts personality pathology, no research yet has examined whether next to the DP in early childhood, the rate of change of the DP across development predicts personality pathology. Therefore, using cohort-sequential latent growth modeling in a population-based sample (N = 668), we examined the normative developmental course of mother-reported DP from ages 4 to 17 years and its associations with a wide range of adolescent-reported personality pathology dimensions 3 years later. The results showed that the DP follows a nonlinear developmental course with a peak in early adolescence. The initial level of the DP at age 4 and, to a lesser extent, the rate of change in the DP predicted a range of personality pathology dimensions in late adolescence. The findings suggest that the DP is a broad developmental precursor of personality pathology in late adolescence.
The relationship between community nutritionists’ use of policy, systems and environmental strategies to prevent obesity and its determinants depends on networking
Authors: Lu Angela H , Dickin Katherine L , Constas Mark A , Dollahite Jamie S
Published: June 2017

Objective

To apply the Theory of Planned Behaviour to examine the relationship between the constructs of background factors and beliefs towards using policy, systems and environmental (PSE) strategies and reported use of PSE strategies to prevent obesity by a group of professional nutrition educators.

Design

Cross-sectional study using self-reported survey.

Setting

Cooperative Extension in New York, USA.

Subjects

Nutrition educators (n58); survey response rate 100 %.

Results

Nutrition educators’ reported use of PSE strategies to prevent obesity were positively associated with background factors of their community networking and number of staff they managed, their belief of other people’s expectations of them to make PSE changes and the belief that their communities were ready to use PSE strategies; and negatively associated with their belief that individual-level factors contributed to obesity. The relationships among these variables were complicated and their use of PSE strategies occurred only when they utilized their professional networks at a moderately high level (above mean of 5·3 on a scale of 1–7), given that their community was also ready to use PSE strategies.

Conclusions

Nutrition educators’ use of PSE strategies depends on several internal and external factors. Community networking needs to be emphasized as one of the most significant factors contributing to nutrition educators’ work in this area. Organizational and community support should be in place in order to facilitate nutrition educators’ effective use of PSE strategies.
Estimates of the willingness to pay for locally grown tree fruits in Cusco, Peru
Authors: Blare Trent , Donovan Jason , del Pozo Cesar
Published: June 2017

Urbanization, changes in the retail sector and economic growth in developing countries may offer new opportunities to build connections between urban consumers and nearby farmers. The design of strategies to build such connections will require deeper insights into the food preferences of urban consumers. This paper presents a choice experiment of the preference of locally grown apples, avocados and pears vis-à-vis nonlocal equivalents with 300 consumers in a traditional market in Cusco, Peru. Willingness-to-pay estimates are derived from a multinomal logit analysis. We found that consumers who are younger and more educated and those with young children tend to be willing to pay more for locally produced apples, avocados and pears. The paper concludes with a discussion on the implications of the research for advancing efforts to localize food systems in developing countries and opportunities for future research.
The Affect Misattribution Procedure
Authors: Teige-Mocigemba Sarah , Becker Manuel , Sherman Jeffrey W. , Reichardt Regina , Christoph Klauer Karl
Published: June 2017

Abstract. The Affect Misattribution Procedure (AMP) has been forwarded as one of the most promising alternatives to the Implicit Association Test and the evaluative-priming task for measuring attitudes such as prejudice indirectly. We investigated whether the AMP is indeed able to detect an evaluative out-group bias. In contrast to recent conclusions about the robustness of AMP effects, six out of seven pilot studies indicated that participants did not show any prejudice effects in the AMP. Yet, these pilot studies were not fully conclusive with regard to our research question because they investigated different domains of prejudice, used small sample sizes, and employed a modified AMP version. In a preregistered, high-powered AMP study, we therefore examined whether the standard AMP does reveal prejudice against Turks, the biggest minority in Germany, and found a significant, albeit very small prejudice effect. We discuss possible reasons for the AMP’s weak sensitivity to evaluations in socially sensitive domains.
Hypoxia-induced mobilization of NHE6 to the plasma membrane triggers endosome hyperacidification and chemoresistance
Authors: Lucien Fabrice , Pelletier Pierre-Paul , Lavoie Roxane R. , Lacroix Jean-Michel , Roy Sébastien , Parent Jean-Luc , Arsenault Dominique , Harper Kelly , Dubois Claire M.
Published: June 2017

The pH-dependent partitioning of chemotherapeutic drugs is a fundamental yet understudied drug distribution mechanism that may underlie the low success rates of current approaches to counter multidrug resistance (MDR). This mechanism is influenced by the hypoxic tumour microenvironment and results in selective trapping of weakly basic drugs into acidified compartments such as the extracellular environment. Here we report that hypoxia not only leads to acidification of the tumour microenvironment but also induces endosome hyperacidification. The acidity of the vesicular lumen, together with the alkaline pH of the cytoplasm, gives rise to a strong intracellular pH gradient that drives intravesicular drug trapping and chemoresistance. Endosome hyperacidification is due to the relocalization of the Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 6 (NHE6) from endosomes to the plasma membrane, an event that involves binding of NHE6 to the activated protein kinase C–receptor for activated C kinase 1 complex. These findings reveal a novel mechanism of hypoxia-induced MDR that involves the aberrant intracellular distribution of NHE6.
Single-molecule analysis of steroid receptor and cofactor action in living cells
Authors: Paakinaho Ville , Presman Diego M. , Ball David A. , Johnson Thomas A. , Schiltz R. Louis , Levitt Peter , Mazza Davide , Morisaki Tatsuya , Karpova Tatiana S. , Hager Gordon L.
Published: June 2017

Population-based assays have been employed extensively to investigate the interactions of transcription factors (TFs) with chromatin and are often interpreted in terms of static and sequential binding. However, fluorescence microscopy techniques reveal a more dynamic binding behaviour of TFs in live cells. Here we analyse the strengths and limitations of in vivo single-molecule tracking and performed a comprehensive analysis on the intranuclear dwell times of four steroid receptors and a number of known cofactors. While the absolute residence times estimates can depend on imaging acquisition parameters due to sampling bias, our results indicate that only a small proportion of factors are specifically bound to chromatin at any given time. Interestingly, the glucocorticoid receptor and its cofactors affect each other’s dwell times in an asymmetric manner. Overall, our data indicate transient rather than stable TF-cofactors chromatin interactions at response elements at the single-molecule level.
Munc13-1 and Munc18-1 together prevent NSF-dependent de-priming of synaptic vesicles
Authors: He Enqi , Wierda Keimpe , van Westen Rhode , Broeke Jurjen H. , Toonen Ruud F. , Cornelisse L. Niels , Verhage Matthijs
Published: June 2017

Synaptic transmission requires a stable pool of release-ready (primed) vesicles. Here we show that two molecules involved in SNARE-complex assembly, Munc13-1 and Munc18-1, together stabilize release-ready vesicles by preventing de-priming. Replacing neuronal Munc18-1 by a non-neuronal isoform Munc18-2 (Munc18-1/2SWAP) supports activity-dependent priming, but primed vesicles fall back into a non-releasable state (de-prime) within seconds. Munc13-1 deficiency produces a similar defect. Inhibitors of N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor (NSF), N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) or interfering peptides, prevent de-priming in munc18-1/2SWAP or munc13-1 null synapses, but not in CAPS-1/2 null, another priming-deficient mutant. NEM rescues synaptic transmission in munc13-1 null and munc18-1/2SWAP synapses, in acute munc13-1 null slices and even partially in munc13-1/2 double null synapses. Together these data indicate that Munc13-1 and Munc18-1, but not CAPS-1/2, stabilize primed synaptic vesicles by preventing NSF-dependent de-priming.
miR-15a/miR-16 down-regulates BMI1, impacting Ub-H2A mediated DNA repair and breast cancer cell sensitivity to doxorubicin
Authors: Patel Nibedita , Garikapati Koteswara Rao , Pandita Raj K. , Singh Dharmendra Kumar , Pandita Tej K. , Bhadra Utpal , Bhadra Manika Pal
Published: June 2017

The B-lymphoma Moloney murine leukemia virus insertion region-1 protein (BMI1) acts as an oncogene in various cancers, including breast cancer. Recent evidence suggests that BMI1 is rapidly recruited to sites of DNA double strand breaks where it facilitates histone H2A ubiquitination and DNA double strand break repair by homologous recombination. Here we show that miR-15a and miR-16 expressionis decreased during the initial period after DNA damage where it would otherwise down-regulate BMI1, impairing DNA repair. Elevated miR-15a and miR-16 levels down-regulated BMI1 and other polycomb group proteins like RING1A, RING1B, EZH2 and also altered the expression of proteins associated with the BMI1 dependent ubiquitination pathway. Antagonizing the expression of miR-15a and miR-16, enhanced BMI1 protein levels and increased DNA repair. Further, overexpression of miR-15a and miR-16 sensitized breast cancer cells to DNA damage induced by the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin. Our results suggest that miR-15a and miR-16 mediate the down-regulation of BMI1, which impedes DNA repair while elevated levels can sensitize breast cancer cells to doxorubicin leading to apoptotic cell death. This data identifies a new target for manipulating DNA damage response that could impact the development of improved therapeutics for breast cancer.
High-throughput format for the phenotyping of fungi on solid substrates
Authors: Cánovas David , Studt Lena , Marcos Ana T. , Strauss Joseph
Published: June 2017

Filamentous fungi naturally grow on solid surfaces, yet most genetic and biochemical analyses are still performed in liquid cultures. Here, we report a multiplexing platform using high-throughput photometric continuous reading that allows parallel quantification of hyphal growth and reporter gene expression directly on solid medium, thereby mimicking natural environmental conditions. Using this system, we have quantified fungal growth and expression of secondary metabolite GFP-based reporter genes in saprophytic Aspergillus and phytopathogenic Fusarium species in response to different nutrients, stress conditions and epigenetic modifiers. With this method, we provide not only novel insights into the characteristic of fungal growth but also into the metabolic and time-dependent regulation of secondary metabolite gene expression.
Dielectric Nanorod Scattering and its Influence on Material Interfaces
Authors: Mangalgiri Gauri M. , Manley Phillip , Riedel Wiebke , Schmid Martina
Published: June 2017

This work elaborates on the high scattering which dielectric nanorods exhibit and how it can be exploited to control light propagation across material interfaces. A detailed overview of how dielectric nanorods interact with light through a combination of dipolar scattering and leaky modes is performed via outward power flux calculations. We establish and account for design parameters that best result in light magnification owing to resonant behavior of nanorods. Impact of material parameters on scattering and their dispersion have been calculated to establish that low loss dielectric oxides like ZnO when nanostructured show excellent antenna like resonances which can be used to control light coupling and propagation. Interfacial scattering calculations demonstrate the high forward directivity of nanorods for various dielectric interfaces. A systematic analysis for different configurations of single and periodic nanorods on air dielectric interface emphasizes the light coupling tendencies exhibited by nanorods to and from a dielectric. Spatial characteristics of the localized field enhancement of the nanorod array on an air dielectric interface show focusing attributes of the nanorod array. We give a detailed account to tailor and selectively increase light propagation across an interface with good spectral and spatial control.
Anderson localization in synthetic photonic lattices
Authors: Vatnik Ilya D. , Tikan Alexey , Onishchukov Georgy , Churkin Dmitry V. , Sukhorukov Andrey A.
Published: June 2017

Synthetic photonic lattices provide unique capabilities to realize theoretical concepts emerging in different fields of wave physics via the utilization of powerful photonic technologies. Here we observe experimentally Anderson localization for optical pulses in time domain, using a photonic mesh lattice composed of coupled fiber loops. We introduce a random potential through programmed electro-optic pulse phase modulation, and identify the localization features associated with varying degree of disorder. Furthermore, we present a practical approach to control the band-gap width in photonic lattices by varying the coupling between the fiber loops, and reveal that the strongest degree of localization is limited and increases in lattices with wider band-gaps. Importantly, this opens a possibility to enhance or reduce the effect of disorder and associated localization of optical pulses.
Peptides derived from MARCKS block coagulation complex assembly on phosphatidylserine
Authors: Kastelowitz Noah , Tamura Ryo , Onasoga Abimbola , Stalker Timothy J. , White Ormacinda R. , Brown Peter N. , Brodsky Gary L. , Brass Lawrence F. , Branchford Brian R. , Di Paola Jorge , Yin Hang
Published: June 2017

Blood coagulation involves activation of platelets and coagulation factors. At the interface of these two processes resides the lipid phosphatidylserine. Activated platelets expose phosphatidylserine on their outer membrane leaflet and activated clotting factors assemble into enzymatically active complexes on the exposed lipid, ultimately leading to the formation of fibrin. Here, we describe how small peptide and peptidomimetic probes derived from the lipid binding domain of the protein myristoylated alanine-rich C-kinase substrate (MARCKS) bind to phosphatidylserine exposed on activated platelets and thereby inhibit fibrin formation. The MARCKS peptides antagonize the binding of factor Xa to phosphatidylserine and inhibit the enzymatic activity of prothrombinase. In whole blood under flow, the MARCKS peptides colocalize with, and inhibit fibrin cross-linking, of adherent platelets. In vivo, we find that the MARCKS peptides circulate to remote injuries and bind to activated platelets in the inner core of developing thrombi.
Anisotropic Optical Response of Silver Nanorod Arrays: Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering Polarization and Angular Dependences Confronted with Ellipsometric Parameters
Authors: Šubr Martin , Petr Martin , Kylián Ondřej , Štěpánek Josef , Veis Martin , Procházka Marek
Published: June 2017

Silver nanorod arrays prepared by oblique angle deposition (AgOADs) represent versatile, simple and inexpensive substrates for high sensitivity surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) applications. Their anisotropic nature suggests that their optical responses such as the SERS signal, the depolarization ratio, reflectivity and ellipsometric parameters critically depend on the states of polarization, nanorod angular arrangement and specific illumination-observation geometry. SERS polarization and angular dependences of AgOADs were measured using methylene blue (MB) molecule. Our study constitutes, to our knowledge, the most detailed investigation of such characteristics of plasmonic nanostructures to date. This is due to the 90°-scattering geometry used in which two out of three Euler angles determining the nanorod spatial orientation and four polarization combinations can be varied simultaneously. We attributed the anisotropic optical response to anisotropic (pseudo)refractive index caused by different periodicity of our structures in different directions since the plasmonic properties were found rather isotropic. For the first time we demonstrate very good correspondence between SERS intensities and ellipsometric parameters for all measured configurations as compared on the basis of the surface selection rules. Obtained results enable quantitative analysis of MB Raman tensor elements, indicating that the molecules adsorb predominantly with the symmetry axis perpendicular to the surface.
On the Shortening of the Lead Time of Ocean Warm Water Volume to ENSO SST Since 2000
Authors: Hu Zeng-Zhen , Kumar Arun , Zhu Jieshun , Huang Bohua , Tseng Yu-heng , Wang Xiaochun
Published: June 2017

The possible factors associated with the shortening of lead time between ocean warm water volume (WWV) variability along the equatorial Pacific and El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) variability after 2000 are documented. It is shown that the shortening of lead time is due to frequency increases of both WWV and ENSO. During 1979–99 the dominant frequencies were 1.5–3.5 years for both the Niño3.4 and WWV indices. In contrast, during 2000–16, both indices had a relatively flatter spectrum and were closer to a white noise process with a relative maximum at 1.5–2.0 years for the Niño3.4 index and 0.8–1.3 years for the WWV index. The frequency change of ENSO and WWV were linked to a westward shift of the Bjerknes feedback region. The results here are consistent with previous argument that the westward shift of the air-sea coupling region will cause an increase of ENSO frequency, as the corresponding zonal advection feedback reduces the period and growth of coupled instability, thus favoring more frequent and weak El Niño events.
Quantitative Assessment of Hydrological Alteration Caused by Irrigation Projects in the Tarim River basin, China
Authors: Xue Lianqing , Zhang Hui , Yang Changbing , Zhang Luochen , Sun Chao
Published: June 2017

The Tarim River is the longest inland river at an arid area in China. Deterioration in its ecohydrological system has received much attention world widely. This study presents quantitative assessment of hydrological alterations in the hydrological regime of the Tarim River caused by reservoir irrigation and channel irrigation over a period of over a half century. The improved indicators of hydrologic alteration and range of variability approach were applied to the daily flow rates at the two representative hydrological stations. Our study shows that the annual extreme water conditions (1-, 3-, 7-day annual minimum and extreme low timing) have been altered, compared with the pre-impact period. The average flow rate in July, the 30-day annual maximum flow rates, the date for the maximum rate, the rise rate, and the fall rate show a significant decreasing trend. The improved overall degree of hydrological alteration for the two stations are approximately 68.7% and 61.8%, suggesting a high degree of alteration. This study greatly improved our understanding of impacts of irrigations on the ecohydrological characteristics in the Tarim River.
Disrupting ceramide-CD300f interaction prevents septic peritonitis by stimulating neutrophil recruitment
Authors: Izawa Kumi , Maehara Akie , Isobe Masamichi , Yasuda Yuka , Urai Makoto , Hoshino Yasutaka , Ueno Keigo , Matsukawa Toshihiro , Takahashi Mariko , Kaitani Ayako , Shiba Emiko , Takamori Ayako , Uchida Shino , Uchida Koichiro , Maeda Keiko , Nakano Nobuhiro , Yamanishi Yoshinori , Oki Toshihiko , Voehringer David , Roers Axel , Nakae Susumu , Ishikawa Junko , Kinjo Yuki , Shimizu Toshiaki , Ogawa Hideoki , Okumura Ko , Kitamura Toshio , Kitaura Jiro
Published: June 2017

Sepsis is a serious clinical problem. Negative regulation of innate immunity is associated with sepsis progression, but the underlying mechanisms remains unclear. Here we show that the receptor CD300f promotes disease progression in sepsis.CD300f−/−mice were protected from death after cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), a murine model of septic peritonitis. CD300f was highly expressed in mast cells and recruited neutrophils in the peritoneal cavity. Analysis of mice (e.g., mast cell-deficient mice) receiving transplants of wild-type orCD300f−/−mast cells or neutrophils indicated that CD300f deficiency did not influence intrinsic migratory abilities of neutrophils, but enhanced neutrophil chemoattractant production (from mast cells and neutrophils) in the peritoneal cavity of CLP-operated mice, leading to robust accumulation of neutrophils which efficiently eliminatedEscherichia coli. Ceramide-CD300f interaction suppressed the release of neutrophil chemoattractants fromEscherichia coli-stimulated mast cells and neutrophils. Administration of the reagents that disrupted the ceramide-CD300f interaction prevented CLP-induced sepsis by stimulating neutrophil recruitment, whereas that of ceramide-containing vesicles aggravated sepsis. Extracellular concentrations of ceramides increased in the peritoneal cavity after CLP, suggesting a possible role of extracellular ceramides, CD300f ligands, in the negative-feedback suppression of innate immune responses. Thus, CD300f is an attractive target for the treatment of sepsis.
Direct conversion of human fibroblasts to brown adipocytes by small chemical compounds
Authors: Takeda Yukimasa , Harada Yoshinori , Yoshikawa Toshikazu , Dai Ping
Published: June 2017

Brown adipocytes play an important role in human energy metabolism and prevention of obesity and diabetes. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) represent a promising source for brown adipocytes; however, exogenous gene induction is generally required for iPSCs generation, which might cause undesired effects particularly in long-term treatment after transplantation. We have previously reported a cocktail of six small chemical compounds that enables a conversion of human fibroblasts into chemical compound-induced neuronal cells (CiNCs). Here, we report that modified combinations of the chemical compounds and rosiglitazone, a PPARγ agonist, afforded direct conversion of human fibroblasts into brown adipocytes. The chemical compound-induced brown adipocytes (ciBAs) exhibit induction of human brown adipocyte-specific genes such as Ucp1, Ckmt1, Cited1 and other adipocyte-specific genes such as Fabp4, AdipoQ, and Pparγ. Treatment with either isoproterenol or Forskolin further induced the expression of Ucp1, suggesting that β adrenergic receptor signalling in ciBAs could be functional for induction of thermogenic genes. Moreover, oxygen consumption rates were elevated in ciBAs along with increase of cellular mitochondria. Our findings might provide an easily accessible approach for generating human brown adipocytes from fibroblasts and offer therapeutic potential for the management of obesity, diabetes, and related metabolic disorders.
Quantitative analysis of 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene and (+)-anti-benzo[a]pyrene-diolepoxide-DNA adducts in benzo[a]pyrene induced mice by the protection of lemongrass essential oil
Authors: Chang Nan , Xu Henggui , Ma Nan , Ma Yanmin , Fang Mengxiong , Cao Jing , Li Fasheng
Published: June 2017

Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) is a well-known carcinogen present in the environment.
Application of solvent demulsification dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for nicotine and cotinine measurement in human urine combined with hydrophilic interaction chromatography tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Wang Qian , Yuan Yue , Li Mingxin , Chen Yaqian , Man Yi , Dard Michel , Zou Xiaoli
Published: June 2017

A SD-DLLME-HILIC-MS method was established and applied for human urinary nicotine and cotinine measurement to evaluate tobacco exposure.
Manipulating tumor hypoxia toward enhanced photodynamic therapy (PDT)
Authors: Dang Juanjuan , He Hua , Chen Donglai , Yin Lichen
Published: June 2017

This mini-review summarizes various methods for overcoming or utilizing hypoxia for enhanced PDT.
Identification and assessment of ecotoxicological hazards attributable to pollutants in urban wet weather discharges
Authors: Gosset Antoine , Durrieu Claude , Orias Frédéric , Bayard Rémy , Perrodin Yves
Published: June 2017

This study provides reliable insights concerning the hazards of pollutants in urban wet weather discharges that may contaminate suburban aquatic ecosystems.
Imidazolium-based ionic liquid-catalyzed hydrosilylation of imines and reductive amination of aldehydes using hydrosilane as the reductant
Authors: Li Bin , Zhang Shilin , Wu Weizhen , Liang Lecheng , Jiang Shaohua , Chen Lu , Li Yibiao
Published: June 2017

Efficient imidazolium-based ionic liquid-catalyzed hydrosilylation of imines and reductive amination using a catalytic amount of [BMIm][FeCl4].
Micro-solvation of tyrosine-kinase inhibitor AG1478 explored with fluorescence spectroscopy and computational chemistry
Authors: Khattab Muhammad , Wang Feng , Clayton Andrew H. A.
Published: June 2017

Fluorescence quenching of the anticancer AG1478, by at least three explicit water molecules, can be exploited to probe drug–protein binding interactions.
Development of humidity-responsive self-healing zwitterionic polyurethanes for renewable shape memory applications
Authors: Wen Hao , Chen Shaojun , Ge Zaochuan , Zhuo Haitao , Ling Jinlong , Liu Qiao
Published: June 2017

A novel humidity-responsive self-healing material based on zwitterionic polyurethanes was synthesized for self-healing shape memory properties.
Simple design to achieve red-to-near-infrared emissive cationic Ir(iii) emitters and their use in light emitting electrochemical cells
Authors: Pal Amlan K. , Cordes David B. , Slawin Alexandra M. Z. , Momblona Cristina , Pertegás Antonio , Ortí Enrique , Bolink Henk J. , Zysman-Colman Eli
Published: June 2017

Two cationic Ir(iii) complexes bearing bithiazole-type ancillary ligands have been synthesised and tested as deep red-to-near-infrared emitters in solution-processed electroluminescent devices.
Encapsulating a high content of iodine into an active graphene substrate as a cathode material for high-rate lithium–iodine batteries
Authors: Zhang Qian , Wu Zhenzhen , Liu Feng , Liu Sheng , Liu Jian , Wang Yonglong , Yan Tianying
Published: June 2017

Iodine-active graphene composites as cathode materials for rechargeable Li–I2 batteries are fabricated. Soluble iodine redox species can be confined in the porous active graphene substrate, making the composites promising materials for high-rate energy storage devices.
Self-bonding and the electrochemical properties of silica-coated nanowires composed of cobalt-coordinated peptide bundles
Authors: Murai Kazuki , Yamamoto Yusuke , Kinoshita Takatoshi , Nagata Kenji , Higuchi Masahiro
Published: June 2017

We propose a method for self-bonding between electrodes by silica-coated peptide nanowire.
Relating polymer chemical structure to the stability of polymer:fullerene solar cells
Authors: Doumon Nutifafa Y. , Wang G. , Chiechi Ryan C. , Koster L. Jan Anton
Published: June 2017

This work shows the key role played by the chemical structure of polymers in the UV-degradation of solar cells.