bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A single neonatal administration of Bisphenol A induces higher tumour weight associated to changes in tumour microenvironment in the adulthood
Authors: Palacios-Arreola Margarita Isabel , Nava-Castro Karen Elizabeth , Río-Araiza Víctor Hugo Del , Pérez-Sánchez Nashla Yazmín , Morales-Montor Jorge
Published: August 2017

BPA is an oestrogenic endocrine disrupting chemical compound. Exposure to BPA in as early as pregnancy leads to lifelong effects. Since endocrine and immune systems interact in a bidirectional manner, endocrine disruption may cause permanent alterations of the immune system, affecting a future anti-tumoral response. Neonate (PND 3) female syngeneic BALB/c mice were exposed to a single dose of 250 µg/kg BPA. Once sexual maturity was reached, a mammary tumour was induced injecting 4T1 cells in situ, these cells are derived from a spontaneous adenocarcinoma in a BALB/c mouse and therefore allows for an immunocompetent recipient. After 25 days of injection, showing no major endocrine alterations, BPA-exposed mice developed larger tumours. Tumour leukocytic infiltrate analysis revealed a higher proportion of regulatory T lymphocytes in the BPA-exposed group. RT-PCR analysis of tumour samples showed a decreased expression of TNF-α and IFN-γ, as well as the M2 macrophage marker Fizz-1 in the BPA-exposed group. Flow cytometry analysis revealed differences in ERα expression by T lymphocytes, macrophages and NK cells, both associated to BPA exposure and tumour development. These findings show a new aspect whereby early life BPA exposure can contribute to breast cancer development and progression by modulating the anti-tumoral immune response.
Effects of toxic Microcystis aeruginosa on the silver carp Hypophthalmichtys molitrix revealed by hepatic RNA-seq and miRNA-seq
Authors: Hu Menghong , Qu Xiancheng , Pan Lisha , Fu Chunxue , Jia Peixuan , Liu Qigen , Wang Youji
Published: August 2017

High-throughput sequencing was applied to analyze the effects of toxic Microcystis aeruginosa on the silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix. Silver carps were exposed to two cyanobacteria species (toxic and non-toxic) for RNA-seq and miRNA-seq analysis. RNA-seq revealed that the liver tissue contained 105,379 unigenes. Of these genes, 143 were significantly differentiated, 82 were markedly up-regulated, and 61 were remarkably down-regulated. GO term enrichment analysis indicated that 35 of the 154 enriched GO terms were significantly enriched. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis demonstrated that 17 of the 118 enriched KEGG pathways were significantly enriched. A considerable number of disease/immune-associated GO terms and significantly enriched KEGG pathways were also observed. The sequence length determined by miRNA-seq was mainly distributed in 20–23 bp and composed of 882,620 unique small RNAs, and 53% of these RNAs were annotated to miRNAs. As confirmed, 272 known miRNAs were differentially expressed, 453 novel miRNAs were predicted, 112 miRNAs were well matched with 7,623 target genes, and 203 novel miRNAs were matched with 15,453 target genes. qPCR also indicated that Steap4, Cyp7a1, CABZ01088134.1, and PPP1R3G were significantly differentially expressed and might play major roles in the toxic, detoxifying, and antitoxic mechanisms of microcystin in fish.
A rare-earth free magnesium alloy with improved intrinsic ductility
Authors: Sandlöbes S. , Friák M. , Korte-Kerzel S. , Pei Z. , Neugebauer J. , Raabe D.
Published: August 2017

Metals are the backbone of manufacturing owing to their strength and formability. Compared to polymers they have high mass density. There is, however, one exception: magnesium. It has a density of only 1.7 g/cm3, making it the lightest structural material, 4.5 times lighter than steels, 1.7 times lighter than aluminum, and even slightly lighter than carbon fibers. Yet, the widespread use of magnesium is hampered by its intrinsic brittleness. While other metallic alloys have multiple dislocation slip systems, enabling their well-known ductility, the hexagonal lattice of magnesium offers insufficient modes of deformation, rendering it intrinsically brittle. We have developed a quantum-mechanically derived treasure map which screens solid solution combinations with electronic bonding, structure and volume descriptors for similarity to the ductile magnesium-rare earth alloys. Using this insight we synthesized a surprisingly simple, compositionally lean, low-cost and industry-compatible new alloy which is over 4 times more ductile and 40% stronger than pure magnesium. The alloy contains 1 wt.% aluminum and 0.1 wt.% calcium, two inexpensive elements which are compatible with downstream recycling constraints.
Innate immune activating ligand SUMOylation affects tumor cell recognition by NK cells
Authors: Zitti Beatrice , Molfetta Rosa , Fionda Cinzia , Quatrini Linda , Stabile Helena , Lecce Mario , de Turris Valeria , Ricciardi Maria Rosaria , Petrucci Maria Teresa , Cippitelli Marco , Gismondi Angela , Santoni Angela , Paolini Rossella
Published: August 2017

Natural Killer cells are innate lymphocytes involved in tumor immunosurveillance. They express activating receptors able to recognize self-molecules poorly expressed on healthy cells but up-regulated upon stress conditions, including transformation. Regulation of ligand expression in tumor cells mainly relays on transcriptional mechanisms, while the involvement of ubiquitin or ubiquitin-like modifiers remains largely unexplored. Here, we focused on the SUMO pathway and demonstrated that the ligand of DNAM1 activating receptor, PVR, undergoes SUMOylation in multiple myeloma. Concurrently, we found that PVR is preferentially located in intracellular compartments in human multiple myeloma cell lines and malignant plasma cells and that inhibition of the SUMO pathway promotes its translocation to the cell surface, increasing tumor cell susceptibility to NK cell-mediated cytolysis. Our findings provide the first evidence of an innate immune activating ligand regulated by SUMOylation, and confer to this modification a novel role in impairing recognition and killing of tumor cells.
A functional IFN-λ4-generating DNA polymorphism could protect older asthmatic women from aeroallergen sensitization and associate with clinical features of asthma
Authors: Chinnaswamy Sreedhar , Wardzynska Aleksandra , Pawelczyk Malgorzata , Makowska Joanna , Skaaby Tea , Mercader Josep M. , Ahluwalia Tarunveer S. , Grarup Niels , Guindo-Martinez Marta , Bisgaard Hans , Torrents David , Linneberg Allan , Bønnelykke Klaus , Kowalski Marek L.
Published: August 2017

Lambda interferons (IFNLs) have immunomodulatory functions at epithelial barrier surfaces. IFN-λ4, a recent member of this family is expressed only in a subset of the population due to a frameshift-causing DNA polymorphism rs368234815. We examined the association of this polymorphism with atopy (aeroallergen sensitization) and asthma in a Polish hospital-based case-control cohort comprising of well-characterized adult asthmatics (n = 326) and healthy controls (n = 111). In the combined cohort, we saw no association of the polymorphism with asthma and/or atopy. However, the IFN-λ4-generating ΔG allele protected older asthmatic women (>50 yr of age) from atopic sensitization. Further, ΔG allele significantly associated with features of less-severe asthma including bronchodilator response and corticosteroid usage in older women in this Polish cohort. We tested the association of related IFNL locus polymorphisms (rs12979860 and rs8099917) with atopy, allergic rhinitis and presence/absence of asthma in three population-based cohorts from Europe, but saw no significant association of the polymorphisms with any of the phenotypes in older women. The polymorphisms associated marginally with lower occurrence of asthma in men/older men after meta-analysis of data from all cohorts. Functional and well-designed replication studies may reveal the true positive nature of these results.
Brain grey matter volume alterations associated with antidepressant response in major depressive disorder
Authors: Liu Jia , Xu Xin , Luo Qiang , Luo Ya , Chen Ying , Lui Su , Wu Min , Zhu Hongyan , Kemp Graham J. , Gong Qiyong
Published: August 2017

Not all patients with major depressive disorder respond to adequate pharmacological therapy. Psychoradiological studies have reported that antidepressant responders and nonresponders show different alterations in brain grey matter, but the findings are inconsistent. The present study reports a meta-analysis of voxel-based morphometric studies of patients with major depressive disorder, both antidepressant responders and nonresponders, using the anisotropic effect size version of Seed-based D Mapping to identify brain regions correlated to clinical response. A systematic search was conducted up to June 2016 to identify studies focussing on antidepressant response. In responders across 9 datasets grey matter volume (GMV) was significantly higher in the left inferior frontal gyrus and insula, while GMV was significantly lower in the bilateral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the right superior frontal gyrus (SFG). In nonresponders across 5 datasets GMV was significantly lower in the bilateral ACC, median cingulate cortex (MCC) and right SFG. Conjunction analysis confirmed significant differences in the bilateral ACC and right SFG, where GMV was significantly lower in nonresponders but higher in responders. The current study adds to psychoradiology, an evolving subspecialty of radiology mainly for psychiatry and clinical psychology.
Quantum mixed phases of a two-dimensional polarized degenerate Fermi gas in an optical cavity
Authors: Feng Yanlin , Zhang Kuang , Fan Jingtao , Mei Feng , Chen Gang , Jia Suotang
Published: August 2017

The coupling of ultracold fermions to a high-finesse optical cavity can result in novel many-body phenomena, and has attracted significant interests at present. Here we consider a realization of the Fermi-Dicke model with controllable parameters, based on a two-dimensional polarized degenerate Fermi gas coupled to an optical cavity. We analytically investigate the ground-state properties of such system under the mean-field approximation. We find the system can exhibit a rich phase diagram depending on the fermion-photon coupling strength and the atomic resonant frequency. Contrasting to the bosonic counterpart, a first-order quantum phase transition between the superradiant phase and the normal phase featuring two Fermi surfaces can occur for the weak atomic resonant frequency, and there is a unique mixed phase where this normal phase and the superradiant phase coexist. The experimental detection of our results is also discussed.
Cell Spheroids with Enhanced Aggressiveness to Mimic Human Liver Cancer In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Jung Hong-Ryul , Kang Hyun Mi , Ryu Jea-Woon , Kim Dae-Soo , Noh Kyung Hee , Kim Eun-Su , Lee Ho-Joon , Chung Kyung-Sook , Cho Hyun-Soo , Kim Nam-Soon , Im Dong-Soo , Lim Jung Hwa , Jung Cho-Rok
Published: August 2017

We fabricated a spheroid-forming unit (SFU) for efficient and economic production of cell spheroids. We optimized the protocol for generating large and homogenous liver cancer cell spheroids using Huh7 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. The large Huh7 spheroids showed apoptotic and proliferative signals in the centre and at the surface, respectively. In particular, hypoxia-induced factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) and ERK signal activation were detected in the cell spheroids. To diminish core necrosis and increase the oncogenic character, we co-cultured spheroids with 2% human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). HUVECs promoted proliferation and gene expression of HCC-related genes and cancer stem cell markers in the Huh7 spheroidsby activating cytokine signalling, mimicking gene expression in liver cancer. HUVECs induced angiogenesis and vessel maturation in Huh7 spheroids in vivo by activating epithelial–mesenchymal transition and angiogenic pathways. The large Huh7 cell spheroids containing HUVECs survived at higher concentrations of anti-cancer drugs (doxorubicin and sorafenib) than did monolayer cells. Our large cell spheroid provides a useful in vitro HCC model to enable intuitive observation for anti-cancer drug testing.
Aging-related changes in the diversity of women’s skin microbiomes associated with oral bacteria
Authors: Shibagaki Nakako , Suda Wataru , Clavaud Cecile , Bastien Philippe , Takayasu Lena , Iioka Erica , Kurokawa Rina , Yamashita Naoko , Hattori Yasue , Shindo Chie , Breton Lionel , Hattori Masahira
Published: August 2017

Skin aging is associated with changes in cutaneous physiology including interactions with a skin microbial community. A striking alteration and diversification in the skin microbiome with aging was observed between two different age groups of 37 healthy Japanese women, i.e. younger adults of 21–37 years old and older adults of 60–76 years old, using bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The analyses revealed that the alpha diversity/species richness was significantly higher in the older than the younger group for the cheek and forehead microbiomes, while the beta diversity in the overall structure significantly differed particularly for the forearm and scalp microbiomes between the two age groups. Taxonomic profiling showed a striking reduction in the relative abundance of the majority skin genusPropionibacteriumin the cheek, forearm and forehead microbiomes of the older adults, and identified 38 species including many oral bacteria that significantly differentiated the two age groups with a skin site dependency. Furthermore, we found chronological age-related and unrelated skin clinical parameters that correlate with the observed changes in the skin microbiome diversity. Thus, our data suggested that the diversification of skin microbiomes in adult women was largely affected by chronological and physiological skin aging in association with oral bacteria.
The Schistosoma mansoni genome encodes thousands of long non-coding RNAs predicted to be functional at different parasite life-cycle stages
Authors: Vasconcelos Elton J. R. , daSilva Lucas F. , Pires David S. , Lavezzo Guilherme M. , Pereira Adriana S. A. , Amaral Murilo S. , Verjovski-Almeida Sergio
Published: August 2017

Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) strategies, like RNA-Seq, have revealed the transcription of a wide variety of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the genomes of several organisms. In the present work we assessed the lncRNAs complement of Schistosoma mansoni, the blood fluke that causes schistosomiasis, ranked among the most prevalent parasitic diseases worldwide. We focused on the long intergenic/intervening ncRNAs (lincRNAs), hidden within the large amount of information obtained through RNA-Seq in S. mansoni (88 libraries). Our computational pipeline identified 7029 canonically-spliced putative lincRNA genes on 2596 genomic loci (at an average 2.7 isoforms per lincRNA locus), as well as 402 spliced lncRNAs that are antisense to protein-coding (PC) genes. Hundreds of lincRNAs showed traits for being functional, such as the presence of epigenetic marks at their transcription start sites, evolutionary conservation among other schistosome species and differential expression across five different life-cycle stages of the parasite. Real-time qPCR has confirmed the differential life-cycle stage expression of a set of selected lincRNAs. We have built PC gene and lincRNA co-expression networks, unraveling key biological processes where lincRNAs might be involved during parasite development. This is the first report of a large-scale identification and structural annotation of lncRNAs in the S. mansoni genome.
Characterization and Metabolic Diversity of Flavonoids in Citrus Species
Authors: Wang Shouchuang , Yang Chenkun , Tu Hong , Zhou Junjie , Liu Xianqing , Cheng Yunjiang , Luo Jie , Deng Xiuxin , Zhang Hongyan , Xu Juan
Published: August 2017

Flavonoids are widely distributed in plants and play important roles in many biological processes. Citrus fruits are rich dietary sources of flavonoids. However, there have been very few reports about the comprehensive metabolic profile and natural diversity of flavonoids in different tissues of various Citrus cultivars. In this study, based on the 7416 metabolic signals detected with non-targeted metabolomics approach, Principal Component Analysis revealed the flavedo has the largest differences from other tissues in metabolite levels; as many as 198 flavonoid signals were then detected in 62 Citrus germplasms from 5 species mainly cultivated worldwide, while 117 flavonoids were identified, including 39 polymethoxylated flavonoids (PMFs), 7 flavones, 10 C-O-glycosylflavonoids, 44 O-glycosylflavonoids, 10 C-glycosylflavonoids and 7 newly annotated O-glycosylpolymethoxylated flavonoids. Tissue-specific accumulations were observed: O-glycosylated flavonoids were abundant in all fruit tissues, while PMFs were accumulated preferentially in the flavedo. Among different species, mandarins had the highest levels of PMFs and O-glycosylpolymethoxylated flavonoids, followed by sweet oranges. Based on the flavonoid profiles, 62 germplasms could be clearly grouped into five distinct clusters via hierarchical clustering analysis, which were perfectly matched with their species, with sweet oranges and mandarins clustering closely and being further away from other three species.
The overlaying oil type influences in vitro embryo production: differences in composition and compound transfer into incubation medium between oils
Authors: Martinez Cristina A. , Nohalez Alicia , Parrilla Inmaculada , Motas Miguel , Roca Jordi , Romero Inmaculada , García-González Diego L. , Cuello Cristina , Rodriguez-Martinez Heriberto , Martinez Emilio A. , Gil Maria A.
Published: August 2017

The oil overlay micro-drop system is widely used for cultures of mammalian gametes and embryos. We evaluated hereby the effects of two unaltered commercial oils— Sigma mineral oil (S-MO) and Nidoil paraffin oil (N-PO)—on in vitro embryo production (IVP) outcomes using a pig model. The results showed that while either oil apparently did not affect oocyte maturation and fertilization rates, S-MO negatively affected embryo cleavage rates, blastocyst formation rates, and, consequently, total blastocyst efficiency of the system. No differences in the oxidation state were found between the oils or culture media incubated under S-MO or N-PO. Although both oils slightly differed in elemental composition, there were no differences in the concentrations of elements between fresh media and media incubated under oils. By contrast, we demonstrated clear oil-type differences in both the composition of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and the transfer of some of these VOC´s (straight-chain alkanes and pentanal and 1,3-diethyl benzene) to the culture medium, which could have influenced embryonic development.
FOXO1 deletion in keratinocytes improves diabetic wound healing through MMP9 regulation
Authors: Zhang Chenying , Lim Jason , Jeon Hyeran Helen , Xu Fanxing , Tian Chen , Miao Fang , Hameedaldeen Alhassan , Graves Dana T.
Published: August 2017

Keratinocyte migration is a key aspect of re-epithelialization during wound healing. Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) contributes to this process and deficiencies in the MMP9 lead to impaired healing. Inappropriate expression of MMP9 also contributes to impaired re-epithelialization. Previously we demonstrated that FOXO1 was activated in wound healing but to higher levels in diabetic wounds. To address mechanisms of impaired re-epithelialization we examined MMP9 expression in vivo in full thickness dermal scalp wounds created in experimental K14.Cre
+
.Foxo1
L/L
mice with lineage-specific Cre recombinase deletion of floxed FOXO1 and compared the results to control littermates. MMP9 was induced during wound healing but at a significantly higher level in diabetic compared to normal wounds. FOXO1 deletion substantially blocked this increase. By chromatin immunoprecipitation FOXO1 was shown to bind to the MMP9 promoter, FOXO1 overexpression increased MMP9 transcriptional activity and increased MMP9 expression stimulated by high glucose was blocked by FOXO1 deletion or FOXO1 knockdown. We also show for the first time that high glucose impairs keratinocyte migration by inducing high levels of MMP9 expression and establish that it involves FOXO1. Thus, FOXO1 drives high levels of MMP9 expression in diabetic wound healing, which represents a novel mechanism for impaired re-epithelization in diabetic wounds.
Structural and pharmacological basis for the induction of mitochondrial biogenesis by formoterol but not clenbuterol
Authors: Cameron Robert B. , Peterson Yuri K. , Beeson Craig C. , Schnellmann Rick G.
Published: August 2017

Mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with numerous acute and chronic degenerative diseases. The beta-2 adrenergic receptor (β2AR) agonist formoterol induces mitochondrial biogenesis (MB), but other β2AR agonists, such as clenbuterol, do not. We sought to identify the MB signaling pathway of formoterol and the differences in signaling between these two ligands that result in the differential induction of MB. While formoterol and clenbuterol increased cAMP, only formoterol increased the phosphorylation of Akt and its downstream target eNOS. The increase in Akt phosphorylation was Gβγ- and PI3K-dependent, and the increase in eNOS phosphorylation was Gβγ- and Akt-dependent. Only formoterol increased cGMP. Formoterol induced MB as measured by increases in uncoupled cellular respiration and PGC-1α and NDUFS1 mRNA expression and was blocked by inhibitors of Gβγ, Akt, NOS, and soluble guanylate cyclase. To identify distinct receptor-ligand interactions leading to these differences in signaling, we docked formoterol and clenbuterol to six structures of the β2AR. Compared to clenbuterol, the methoxyphenyl group of formoterol interacted more frequently with V114 and F193, while its formamide group interacted more frequently with C191. These data indicate that the unique structural features of formoterol allow it to interact with the β2AR to activate the Gβγ-Akt-eNOS-sGC pathway to induce MB.
Epiphyseal bone formation occurs via thyroid hormone regulation of chondrocyte to osteoblast transdifferentiation
Authors: Aghajanian Patrick , Xing Weirong , Cheng Shaohong , Mohan Subburaman
Published: August 2017

Endochondral ossification in the diaphysis of long bones has been studied in-depth during fetal development but not postnatally in the epiphysis. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that Sox9 and Col2 expressing immature chondrocytes in the epiphysis transition into prehypertrophic and hypetrophic chondrocytes and finally into osteoblasts expressing Col1 and BSP during postnatal day 7–10, when serum levels of thyroid hormone (TH) rise. Lineage tracing using Rosa-td tomato
Col2-Cre-ERT2
mice treated with tamoxifen indicated that the same Col2 expressing chondrocytes expressed prehypertrophic, hypertrophic, and subsequently bone formation markers in a sequential manner in euthyroid but not hypothyroid mice, thus providing evidence that chondrocyte to osteoblast transdifferentiation is TH-dependent. Vascular invasion was apparent at the time of bone formation but not earlier. In vitro studies revealed that TH acting via TRα1 promoted expression of SHH while TRβ1 activation increased IHH but inhibited SHH expression. SHH promoted expression of markers of immature chondrocytes but inhibited chondrocyte hypertrophy while IHH promoted chondrocyte hypertrophy. Based on our data, we propose a model in which TH acting through TRα1 and TRβ1, respectively, fine tune levels of SHH and IHH and, thereby control the transit of proliferating immature chondrocytes into mature hypertrophic chondrocytes to become osteoblasts at the epiphysis.
Oceanographic drivers of the vertical distribution of a highly migratory, endothermic shark
Authors: Coffey Daniel M. , Carlisle Aaron B. , Hazen Elliott L. , Block Barbara A.
Published: August 2017

Salmon sharks Lamna ditropis are highly migratory, upper trophic level predators in North Pacific ecosystems. We analysed a multi-year satellite tag dataset to investigate the habitat use of female salmon sharks across their broad range in the eastern North Pacific (NEP) and identified key environmental factors that influence vertical distribution. Salmon sharks displayed remarkable plasticity in habitat use across disparate oceanographic regions in the NEP and increased utilization of deeper waters in offshore habitats. Diel shifts in vertical distribution and behaviour were consistently observed across their range and likely reflect shifts in their foraging ecology. Salmon sharks utilized a broad thermal niche and exhibited submergence behaviour, possibly for thermal refuge, when encountering sea surface temperatures outside their preferred temperature distribution. Moreover, the vertical distribution of salmon sharks indicates they were able to exploit low dissolved oxygen environments (<1–3 ml l−1), occasionally for extended periods of time in offshore habitats. However, salmon sharks generally reduced their use of deeper waters when encountering the combination of cold temperatures (<6 °C) and low dissolved oxygen concentrations (<1–3 ml l−1). Combining vertical distribution with high-resolution horizontal movements furthers our understanding of the ecological and environmental drivers of movement across short (diel) and long-term (migratory) scales.
Carbon Dots-AS1411 Aptamer Nanoconjugate for Ultrasensitive Spectrofluorometric Detection of Cancer Cells
Authors: Motaghi Hasan , Mehrgardi Masoud Ayatollahi , Bouvet Philippe
Published: August 2017

In the present study, a sensitive and selective signal-on method for aptamer based spectrofluorometric detection of cancer cells is introduced. AS1411, a nucleolin aptamer, is wrapped around water-soluble carbon dots and used as a probe for the detection of several types of cancer cells. Nucleolin, is overexpressed on the surface of cancer cells. Mouse breast 4T1, human breast MCF7, and human cervical HeLa cancer cells were selected as target cells, while human foreskin fibroblast cells HFFF-PI6 served as control cells. For the sensitive and selective spectrofluorimetric detection of target cancer cells in the presence of control cells, the cells were incubated in carbon dots-aptamer solutions, the cell suspensions were subsequently centrifuged and the fluorescence intensities were measured as an analytical signal. The specific targeting of cancer cells by AS1411 aptamers causes the release of carbon dots and enhances the fluorescence intensity. A calibration curve with a dynamic range between 10–4500 4T1 cells and detectability of roughly 7 cells was obtained. In addition, no significant change in the signal was detected by modifying the amount of human foreskin fibroblast control cells. Our results demonstrate similar responses to human MCF7 breast and cervical HeLa cancer cells.
A new red cell index and portable RBC analyzer for screening of iron deficiency and Thalassemia minor in a Chinese population
Authors: Tong Lieshu , Kauer Josef , Wachsmann-Hogiu Sebastian , Chu Kaiqin , Dou Hu , Smith Zachary J.
Published: August 2017

Anemia is a widespread public health problem with 1/4 ~1/3 of the world’s population being affected. In Southeast Asia, Thalassemia trait (TT) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) are the two most common anemia types and can have a serious impact on quality of life. IDA patients can be treated with iron supplementation, yet TT patients have diminished capacity to process iron. Therefore, distinguishing between types of anemia is essential for effective diagnosis and treatment. Here, we present two advances towards low-cost screening for anemia. First: a new red-cell-based index, Joint Indicator A, to discriminate between IDA, TT, and healthy children in a Chinese population. We collected retrospective data from 384 Chinese children and used discriminant function analysis to determine the best analytic function to separate healthy and diseased groups, achieving 94% sensitivity and 90% specificity, significantly higher than reported indices. This result is achieved using only three red cell parameters: mean cell volume (MCV), red cell distribution width (RDW) and mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). Our second advance: the development of a low cost, portable red cell analyzer to measure these parameters. Taken together, these two results may help pave the way for widespread screening for nutritional and genetic anemias.
Monitoring Pertussis Infections Using Internet Search Queries
Authors: Zhang Yuzhou , Milinovich Gabriel , Xu Zhiwei , Bambrick Hilary , Mengersen Kerrie , Tong Shilu , Hu Wenbiao
Published: August 2017

This study aims to assess the utility of internet search query analysis in pertussis surveillance. This study uses an empirical time series model based on internet search metrics to detect the pertussis incidence in Australia. Our research demonstrates a clear seasonal pattern of both pertussis infections and Google Trends (GT) with specific search terms in time series seasonal decomposition analysis. The cross-correlation function showed significant correlations between GT and pertussis incidences in Australia and each state at the lag of 0 and 1 months, with the variation of correlations between 0.17 and 0.76 (p < 0.05). A multivariate seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) model was developed to track pertussis epidemics pattern using GT data. Reflected values for this model were generally consistent with the observed values. The inclusion of GT metrics improved detective performance of the model (β = 0.058, p < 0.001). The validation analysis indicated that the overall agreement was 81% (sensitivity: 77% and specificity: 83%). This study demonstrates the feasibility of using internet search metrics for the detection of pertussis epidemics in real-time, which can be considered as a pre-requisite for constructing early warning systems for pertussis surveillance using internet search metrics.
Structural determinants of 5′,6′-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid binding to and activation of TRPV4 channel
Authors: Berna-Erro Alejandro , Izquierdo-Serra Mercè , Sepúlveda Romina V. , Rubio-Moscardo Fanny , Doñate-Macián Pau , Serra Selma A. , Carrillo-Garcia Julia , Perálvarez-Marín Alex , González-Nilo Fernando , Fernández-Fernández José M. , Valverde Miguel A.
Published: August 2017

TRPV4 cation channel activation by cytochrome P450-mediated derivatives of arachidonic acid (AA), epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), constitute a major mechanisms of endothelium-derived vasodilatation. Besides, TRPV4 mechano/osmosensitivity depends on phospholipase A2(PLA2) activation and subsequent production of AA and EETs. However, the lack of evidence for a direct interaction of EETs with TRPV4 together with claims of EET-independent mechanical activation of TRPV4 has cast doubts on the validity of this mechanism. We now report: 1) The identification of an EET-binding pocket that specifically mediates TRPV4 activation by 5′,6′-EET, AA and hypotonic cell swelling, thereby suggesting that all these stimuli shared a common structural target within the TRPV4 channel; and 2) A structural insight into the gating of TRPV4 by a natural agonist (5′,6′-EET) in which K535 plays a crucial role, as mutant TRPV4-K535A losses binding of and gating by EET, without affecting GSK1016790A, 4α-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate and heat mediated channel activation. Together, our data demonstrates that the mechano- and osmotransducing messenger EET gates TRPV4 by a direct action on a site formed by residues from the S2-S3 linker, S4 and S4-S5 linker.
Injectable and thermosensitive TGF-β1-loaded PCEC hydrogel system for in vivo cartilage repair
Authors: Zhou Tengfei , Li Xiaolong , Li Guo , Tian Taoran , Lin Shiyu , Shi Sirong , Liao Jinfeng , Cai Xiaoxiao , Lin Yunfeng
Published: August 2017

Chondral defects pose a great challenge for clinicians to manage owing to the limited capacity for self-healing. Various traditional approaches have been adopted for the repair of these defects with unsatisfactory results. Cartilage tissue engineering techniques have emerged as promising strategies to enhance regeneration and overcome these traditional shortcomings. The cell-homing based technique is considered the most promising owing to its unique advantages. Thermosensitive hydrogels have been applied as scaffolds for biomedical applications with smart sol–gel response for altering environmental temperature. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 is considered to be capable of promoting chondrogenesis. In this study, a novel TGF-β1-loaded poly(ε-caprolactone)–poly(ethylene glycol)–poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCEC) hydrogel was fabricated using simple procedures. Hydrogel characterization, rheological testing, component analysis, and assessment of sol–gel transition, in vitro degradation, and TGF-β1 release confirmed that this material possesses a porous microstructure with favorable injectability and sustained drug release. Full-thickness cartilage defects were induced on rat knees for in vivo cartilage repair for eight weeks. Micro-CT and histological evaluation provided further evidence of the optimal capacity of this novel hydrogel for cartilage regeneration with respect to that of other methods. Moreover, our results demonstrated that the cell-free hydrogel is thermosensitive, injectable, biodegradable, and capable of in vivo cartilage repair and possesses high potential and benefits for acellular cartilage tissue engineering and clinical application in the future.
Biocompatible, large-format, inkjet printed heterostructure MoS2-graphene photodetectors on conformable substrates
Authors: Hossain Ridwan F. , Deaguero Isaac G. , Boland Thomas , Kaul Anupama B.
Published: August 2017

An inkjet printed, biocompatible, heterostructure photodetector is described that was constructed using inks of photo-active molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and electrically conducting graphene which facilitated charge collection of the photocarriers. The importance of such devices stems from their potential utility in age-related-macular degeneration, which is a condition where the photosensitive retinal tissue degrades with aging, eventually compromising vision. The absence of effective therapeutic remedies for patients with this disorder has motivated the development of such devices to restore some degree of visual function. Inkjet printed, flexible prosthetic devices offer design simplicity where additive manufacturing can enable large format, low-cost arrays. The biocompatible inkjet printed two-dimensional heterojunction devices were photoresponsive to broadband incoming radiation in the visible regime, and the photocurrent Iph scaled proportionally with the incident light intensity, exhibiting a photoresponsivity R ~ 0.30 A/W. This is 103 times higher compared to prior reports, and detectivity D was calculated to be ~3.6 × 1010 Jones. Strain-dependent measurements were also conducted with bending, indicating the feasibility of such devices printed on flexible substrates. Drop cast and printed CT-MoS2 inks were characterized using techniques, such as Raman spectroscopy, photoluminescence measurements and scanning electron microscopy. Both mouse embryonic fibroblast and human esophageal fibroblast were used for the biocompatibility analysis for inks drop cast on two types of flexible substrates, polyethylene terephthalate and polyimide. The biocompatibility of inks formed using two-dimensional graphene and MoS2 on polyimide substrates was extremely high, in excess of 98% for mouse embryonic fibroblast.
Evidential value of polymeric materials—chemometric tactics for spectral data compression combined with likelihood ratio approach
Authors: Menżyk A. , Martyna A. , Zadora G.
Published: August 2017

Fusion of an LR framework and chemometrics successfully targets a niche in the sphere of forensic evaluation of spectroscopic data.
Controlled core-to-core photo-polymerisation – fabrication of an optical fibre-based pH sensor
Authors: Mohamad Fuad , Tanner Michael G. , Choudhury Debaditya , Choudhary Tushar R. , Wood Harry A. C. , Harrington Kerrianne , Bradley Mark
Published: August 2017

The fabrication of fluorescence-based pH sensors, embedded into etched pits of an optical fibre via highly controllable and spatially selective photo-polymerisation is described and the sensors validated.
Onsite cavity enhanced Raman spectrometry for the investigation of gas exchange processes in the Earth's critical zone
Authors: Sieburg Anne , Jochum Tobias , Trumbore Susan E. , Popp Jürgen , Frosch Torsten
Published: August 2017

Cavity enhanced Raman spectrometry is a sensitive technique which is capable of continuous onsite analysis of multiple soil gases below-ground.
Fluorescent sensing arrays for cations and anions
Authors: Smith David G. , Topolnicki Inga L. , Zwicker Vincent E. , Jolliffe Katrina A. , New Elizabeth J.
Published: August 2017

A review of fluorescent sensing arrays for anions and cations, highlighting promising strategies and directions for future research.
Recent developments in the synthesis, properties, and biomedical applications of core/shell superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles with gold
Authors: Sabale Sandip , Kandesar Priyanka , Jadhav Vidhya , Komorek Rachel , Motkuri Radha Kishan , Yu Xiao-Ying
Published: August 2017

In the last decade, Gold (Au) coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), have immensely promoted the advancement of diagnostics and theranostics in the biomedical field.
Thiophene bridged hydrocyanine – a new fluorogenic ROS probe
Authors: Maity Santanu , Das Subhamoy , Sadlowski Corinne M. , Zhang Jingtuo , Vegesna Giri K. , Murthy Niren
Published: August 2017

In this report, we present a new hydrocyanine analog, termed as thiophene-bridged hydrocyanine (TBHC), which has its double bonds replaced with a bisthiophene, is 8.06-fold more stable to auto-oxidation than hydro-Cy5 and significantly better in cell culture.
Electrografted monolayer based on a naphthalene diimide–ruthenium terpyridine complex dyad: efficient creation of large-area molecular junctions with high current densities
Authors: Frath Denis , Nguyen Van Quyen , Lafolet Frédéric , Martin Pascal , Lacroix Jean-Christophe
Published: August 2017

Robust monolayers with multiple redox states were used to create large-area molecular junctions (MJ) with a high yield of operating devices. These MJs show high current densities and rectifications properties.
Nanoporous gold assemblies of calixarene-phosphine-capped colloids
Authors: Schöttle Christian , Clark Ezra L. , Harker Audrey , Solovyov Andrew , Bell Alexis T. , Katz Alexander
Published: August 2017

Synthesis of high surface-area colloidal assemblies of calixarene-phosphine-capped nanoporous gold with a remarkably high surface-to-volume ratio is reported.
Syntheses and effectiveness of functional peptide-based RAFT agents
Authors: Chen Chao , Kong Fanxing , Wei Xiaohu , Thang San H.
Published: August 2017

These functional peptide-based RAFT agents provide researchers a straightforward access to complex bioconjugates for biomedical applications.
The solution-phase process of a g-C3N4/BiVO4 dyad to a large-area photoanode: interfacial synergy for highly efficient water oxidation
Authors: Zhang Bing , Zhao Shu-Yu , Wang Hong-Hui , Zhao Tian-Jian , Liu Yong-Xing , Lv Li-Bing , Wei Xiao , Li Xin-Hao , Chen Jie-Sheng
Published: August 2017

The inactive g-C3N4 nanolayers could act as a voltage-driven “pump” to extract electrons from BiVO4 and promote the hole–electron separation efficiency.
Imaging on-surface hierarchical assembly of chiral supramolecular networks
Authors: Patera Laerte L. , Zou Zhiyu , Dri Carlo , Africh Cristina , Repp Jascha , Comelli Giovanni
Published: August 2017

Direct observation of hierarchical expression of supramolecular chirality, by means of noncontact atomic force microscopy and high-speed scanning tunnelling microscopy.
Dynamics of ethyl cellulose nanoparticle self-assembly at the interface of a nematic liquid crystal droplet
Authors: Han Yining , Bizmark Navid , Abukhdeir Nasser Mohieddin , Ioannidis Marios A.
Published: August 2017

A general methodology for the assessment of nanoparticle adsorption at the liquid crystal–water interfaces.
Ab initio molecular dynamics of thiophene: the interplay of internal conversion and intersystem crossing
Authors: Schnappinger Thomas , Kölle Patrick , Marazzi Marco , Monari Antonio , González Leticia , de Vivie-Riedle Regina
Published: August 2017

Ab initio on-the-fly molecular dynamics reveals that excited thiophene decays via low lying conical intersections and via intersystem crossing. Open-ring structures are responsible for the observed long life times.
Lanthanum oxycarbonate modified Cu/Al2O3 catalysts for selective hydrogenolysis of glucose to propylene glycol: base site requirements
Authors: Yazdani P. , Wang B. , Du Y. , Kawi S. , Borgna A.
Published: August 2017

Moderate and strong base sites play a key role in glucose hydrogenolysis over bifunctional Cu–La2O2CO3/Al2O3 catalysts.
Efficient route for the construction of polycyclic systems from bioderived HMF
Authors: Kucherov F. A. , Galkin K. I. , Gordeev E. G. , Ananikov V. P.
Published: August 2017

Efficient one-pot synthesis of tricyclic compounds from biobased 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is described using a [4 + 2] cycloaddition reaction.
Sonochemically synthesized green sorbent for the simultaneous removal of trace metal ions: application and estimation of measurement uncertainty through bottom-up approach
Authors: Shah Faheem , Naeemullah Naeemullah , Shah Muhammad Raza , Khan Rafaqat Ali , Ismail Bushra , Khan Asad Muhammad , Khan Abdur Rahman , Ajaz Humayun
Published: August 2017

Synergistic combination of ESM–PEI as a green biosorbent in a packed cartridge for the removal of Cd, Pb, Ni, and Cu from environmental samples.
In situ decoration of stainless steel nanoparticles for synergistic enhancement of α-Ni(OH)2 oxygen evolution reaction catalysis
Authors: Balram Anirudh , Zhang Hanfei , Santhanagopalan Sunand
Published: August 2017

This work reports inexpensive stainless steel support enhanced activity of α-Ni(OH)2 for high performance OER catalysis.
Influence of HDI as a cathode film-forming additive on the performance of LiFe0.2Mn0.8PO4/C cathode
Authors: Xu Xiaoyue , Qin Yinping , Yang Wenchao , Sun Dandan , Liu Yang , Guo Bingkun , Wang Deyu
Published: August 2017

Herein, we construct a polymer protective layer on LiFe0.2Mn0.8PO4/C particles with hexamethylene diisocyanate via the onium ionization–polymerization reaction.
Chemoselective acylation of 2-amino-8-quinolinol in the generation of C2-amides or C8-esters
Authors: Park Yongseok , Fei Xiang , Yuan Yue , Lee Sanha , Hur Joonseong , Park Sung Jean , Jung Jae-Kyung , Seo Seung-Yong
Published: August 2017

Chemoselective controls in acylation of 2-amino-8-quinolinol.
A facilely synthesized ‘spiro’ hole-transporting material based on spiro[3.3]heptane-2,6-dispirofluorene for efficient planar perovskite solar cells
Authors: Li Zhanfeng , Chen Jinbo , Li Hui , Zhang Qi , Chen Zhiliang , Zheng Xiaolu , Fang Guojia , wang Hua , Hao Yuying
Published: August 2017

A low-cost spiro[3.3]heptane-2,6-dispirofluorene-based HTM termed SDF-OMeTAD has been designed and synthesized via a two-step reaction, representing a considerable simplification with respect to that of the well-known spiro-OMeTAD.
Microwave absorption performance of methylimidazolium ionic liquids: towards novel ultra-wideband metamaterial absorbers
Authors: Gong Jianhao , Yang Fulong , Shao Qunfeng , He Xiaodong , Zhang Xiaoping , Liu Shimin , Tang Liyun , Deng Youquan
Published: August 2017

The ultra-wideband absorption of microwaves was achieved by metamaterials based on methylimidazolium ionic liquids for the first time.
Mechanisms of subsurface damage and material removal during high speed grinding processes in Ni/Cu multilayers using a molecular dynamics study
Authors: Fang QiHong , Wang Qiong , Li Jia , Zeng Xin , Liu YouWen
Published: August 2017

Molecular dynamics simulation of Ni/Cu multilayers under grinding process with a diamond tip is performed, with the aim of investigating the subsurface damage and material removal in Ni/Cu multilayers.
Efficient utilization of potash alum as a green catalyst for production of furfural, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and levulinic acid from mono-sugars
Authors: Gupta Dinesh , Ahmad Ejaz , Pant Kamal K. , Saha Basudeb
Published: August 2017

Potash alum (PA) as an inexpensive, efficient and green catalyst for production of high value platform chemicals such as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), levulinic acid and furfural from bio-renewable feedstocks, have been explored.
Bi-functional reduced graphene oxide/AgCo composite nanosheets: an efficient catalyst and SERS substrate for monitoring the catalytic reactions
Authors: Ma Xiaowei , Guo Yue , Jin Jing , Zhao Bing , Song Wei
Published: August 2017

We describe the fabrication of bifunctional rGO/AgCo composite nanosheets as SERS substrates to monitor catalytic and photocatalytic reaction.
Doping-template approach of porous-walled graphitic nanocages for superior performance anodes of lithium ion batteries
Authors: Sheng Zhao Min , Chang Xin Jian , Chen Yu Hang , Hong Cheng Yang , Li Na Na , Chang Cheng Kang , Jia Run Ping , Han Sheng
Published: August 2017

Removal of the N-doped template creates nanopores in the shells of nanocages. The created nanopores enhance fast ion diffusion.
Biofilm evolution and viability during in situ preparation of a graphene/exoelectrogen composite biofilm electrode for a high-performance microbial fuel cell
Authors: Deng Feng , Sun Jian , Hu Yongyou , Chen Junfeng , Li Sizhe , Chen Jie , Zhang Yaping
Published: August 2017

Effect of microbial reduction of graphene oxide on evolution and viability of biofilm during preparation of graphene/exoelectrogen biofilm anode in microbial fuel cell (MFC) were studied by sampling the biofilm at different stages of MFC operation.
Development of an instrument to evaluate high school students' chemical symbol representation abilities
Authors: Wang Zuhao , Chi Shaohui , Luo Ma , Yang Yuqin , Huang Min
Published: August 2017

Chemical symbol representation is a medium for transformations between the actual phenomena of the macroscopic world and those of the sub-microscopic world. The aim of this study is to develop an instrument to evaluate high school students' chemical symbol representation abilities (CSRA). Based on the current literature, we defined CSRA and constructed a four-level measurement framework validated by expert review. After that, an initial measurement instrument was developed based on the framework. Then, 52 students of Grade 10 and 56 students of Grade 11 were selected from school A to participate in the first round of testing. During the data analysis, Rasch measurement was used to investigate and improve the quality of the instrument. After that, 55 Grade 10 students and 57 Grade 11 students from school B participated in the second-round of testing, and the Rasch analysis results demonstrated good reliability and validity of measures based on the CSRA framework.
Use of RAFT macro-surfmers for the synthesis of transparent aqueous colloids with tunable interactions
Authors: Capasso Palmiero Umberto , Agostini Azzurra , Lattuada Enrico , Gatti Simone , Singh Jaspreet , Canova Christopher Thomas , Buzzaccaro Stefano , Moscatelli Davide
Published: August 2017

A water-based colloidal system was designed, in which the particles can be buoyancy and optical matched with the solvent, and where inter-particle interactions are tuned by changing the temperature.
Chiroptical, morphological and conducting properties of chiral nematic mesoporous cellulose/polypyrrole composite films
Authors: Lizundia Erlantz , Nguyen Thanh-Dinh , Vilas Jose L. , Hamad Wadood Y. , MacLachlan Mark J.
Published: August 2017

Conductive chiral nematic cellulose composite materials have been fabricatedvia in situoxidative chemical polymerization of pyrrole onto surface-modified mesoporous cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) films.
One-dimensional water channels in lanthanum sulfate: a first-principles study
Authors: Toyoura Kazuaki , Tai Hirotaka , Hatada Naoyuki , Shizume Kunihiko , Uda Tetsuya
Published: August 2017

The stable structure and diffusion mechanism of water in lanthanum sulfate La2(SO4)3 have been theoretically analyzed in a first-principles manner based on the density functional theory (DFT).