bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Geriatric Disaster Preparedness
Authors: Bhalla Mary Colleen , Burgess Amos , Frey Jennifer , Hardy William
Published: September 2015

Introduction

The elderly population has proven to be vulnerable in times of a disaster. Many have chronic medical problems for which they depend on medications or medical equipment. Some older adults are dependent on caregivers for managing their activities of daily living (ADLs), such as dressing, and their instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), such as transportation.

Problem

A coordinated effort for disaster preparation in the elderly population is paramount. This study assessed the potential needs and plans of older adults in the face of a local disaster.

Methods

The setting was a community-based, university-affiliated, urban emergency department (ED) that sees more than 77,000 adult patients per year. A survey on disaster plans and resources needed if evacuated was distributed to 100 community-residing ED patients and visitors aged 65 years and older from January through July 2013. Means and proportions are reported with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

Data were collected from 13 visitors and 87 patients. The mean age was 76 years, and 54% were female. Thirty-one responded that they had a disaster plan in place (31/100; CI, 22.4-41.4%). Of those 31, 94% (29/31; CI, 78.6-99.2%) had food and water as part of their plan, 62% (19/29; CI, 42.2-78.2%) had a supply of medication, and 35% (12/31; CI, 21.8-57.8%) had an evacuation plan. When asked what supplies the 100 subjects might need if evacuated, 33% (CI, 23.9-43.1%) needed a walker, 15% (CI, 8.6-23.5%) needed a wheelchair, 78% (CI, 68.6-85.7%) needed glasses, 17% (CI, 10.2-25.8%) needed a hearing aid, 16% (CI, 9.4-24.7%) needed a glucometer, 93% (CI, 86.1-97.1%) needed medication, 14% (CI, 7.8-22.4%) needed oxygen, 23% (CI, 15.2-32.5%) needed adult diapers, and 21% (CI, 13.2-30.3%) had medical equipment that required electricity. Many of the subjects also required help with one or more of their ADLS, the most common being dressing (17%; CI, 10.3-26.1%), or their IADLS, the most common being transportation (39%; CI, 29.7-49.7%). Only 42% (CI, 32.3-52.7%) were interested in learning more about disaster preparation.

Conclusion

Only a minority of the older adults in the study population had a disaster plan in place. Most of the respondents would require medications, and many would require medical supplies if evacuated.

BhallaMC, BurgessA, FreyJ, HardyW. Geriatric disaster preparedness. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2015;30(5):443–446.
Development of an Online Toolkit for Measuring Performance in Health Emergency Response Exercises
Authors: Agboola Foluso , Bernard Dorothy , Savoia Elena , Biddinger Paul D.
Published: September 2015

Introduction

Exercises that simulate emergency scenarios are accepted widely as an essential component of a robust Emergency Preparedness program. Unfortunately, the variability in the quality of the exercises conducted, and the lack of standardized processes to measure performance, has limited the value of exercises in measuring preparedness.

Methods

In order to help health organizations improve the quality and standardization of the performance data they collect during simulated emergencies, a model online exercise evaluation toolkit was developed using performance measures tested in over 60 Emergency Preparedness exercises. The exercise evaluation toolkit contains three major components: (1) a database of measures that can be used to assess performance during an emergency response exercise; (2) a standardized data collection tool (form); and (3) a program that populates the data collection tool with the measures that have been selected by the user from the database. The evaluation toolkit was pilot tested from January through September 2014 in collaboration with 14 partnering organizations representing 10 public health agencies and four health care agencies from eight states across the US. Exercise planners from the partnering organizations were asked to use the toolkit for their exercise evaluation process and were interviewed to provide feedback on the use of the toolkit, the generated evaluation tool, and the usefulness of the data being gathered for the development of the exercise after-action report.

Results

Ninety-three percent (93%) of exercise planners reported that they found the online database of performance measures appropriate for the creation of exercise evaluation forms, and they stated that they would use it again for future exercises. Seventy-two percent (72%) liked the exercise evaluation form that was generated from the toolkit, and 93% reported that the data collected by the use of the evaluation form were useful in gauging their organization’s performance during the exercise. Seventy-nine percent (79%) of exercise planners preferred the evaluation form generated by the toolkit to other forms of evaluations.

Conclusion

Results of this project show that users found the newly developed toolkit to be user friendly and more relevant to measurement of specific public health and health care capabilities than other tools currently available. The developed toolkit may contribute to the further advancement of developing a valid approach to exercise performance measurement.

AgboolaF, BernardD, SavoiaE, BiddingerPD. Development of an online toolkit for measuring performance in health emergency response exercises. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2015;30(5):503–508.
US – Shrimp II (Viet Nam) (DS429)
Authors: Carlson Geoffrey
Published: September 2015

US laws and practices related to the imposition of anti-dumping measures against imports of certain shrimp products from Viet Nam. In particular, the dispute concerned various aspects of certain administrative reviews and a sunset review regarding such measures. The dispute also concerned certain US laws regarding the implementation of DSB recommendations and rulings.
Presence of Celleporaria brunnea (Bryozoa: Lepraliellidae) in the Central Mediterranean: first occurrence in the Gulf of Taranto
Authors: Lezzi Marco , Pierri Cataldo , Cardone Frine
Published: September 2015

We report the presence of the non-indigenous species (NIS)Celleporaria brunnea(Bryozoa, Ascophora) in the Central Mediterranean. It was found in the Gulf of Taranto (Ionian Sea, southern Italy), which represents one of the most important hotspots for NIS in the Mediterranean. Using PVC plates as species collectors, immersed in different times of the year, we observed a recruitment ofC. brunneaduring the warmer period of the year from July to October. This work highlights a range expansion ofC. brunneaand provides information about its autoecology traits in the host environment.
An Arousal Effect of Colors Saturation
Authors: Zieliński Piotr
Published: September 2015

Abstract. The purpose of the experiment was to test the relationship between attributes of color, self-rated arousal, and autonomic reactions to color stimuli. Sixteen colored backgrounds of different hue, saturation, and brightness were each viewed by 64 subjects (females, Mage = 22.48) while skin conductance responses (SCRs) were recorded. Subjective judgments relating to pleasantness (valence) and arousal were also measured. Results show that among color attributes only saturation had an effect on SCR magnitude, F(1, 63) = 6.31, p < .05, ηG2 = .01. There was also significant correlation, r(14) = .64, p < .01, between aggregated SCR magnitude and arousal ratings. It confirms that SCR could be used as a marker of phasic arousal even in response to the abstract, devoid of content stimuli. Saturation seems to be the main property connected with color’s ability to elicit orienting response. More saturated stimuli are better in capturing attention regardless of hue, thus suggesting that at the first stage of color perception, color intensity is more important than qualitative properties. Such results clarify some incoherent findings known from previous studies on psychophysiological responses to color stimuli.
Online News and Corporate Reputation
Authors: Ravaja Niklas , Aula Pekka , Falco Alessio , Laaksonen Salla , Salminen Mikko , Ainamo Antti
Published: September 2015

Abstract. We examined emotional, motivational, and evaluative responses to positively and negatively valenced online news messages about companies with a good or bad corporate reputation; the valence of reader comments on the news messages was also varied. In addition to self-report ratings, physiological measurements, including electroencephalography (EEG), facial electromyography (EMG), and electrodermal activity (EDA), were obtained continuously. Self-reported pleasure and willingness to use products/services, relative left frontal EEG activation (i.e., approach motivation), and EDA were higher for good-reputation companies compared with bad-reputation companies. The findings show that corporate reputation affects emotional and motivational processes and that the emotional tone of messages and reader comments in online news affects reputation formation.
How Realistic Should Avatars Be?
Authors: James Thomas W. , Potter Robert F. , Lee Sungkyoung , Kim Sunah , Stevenson Ryan A. , Lang Annie
Published: September 2015

Abstract. Increased interaction with characters in games and online necessitates a better understanding of how different characteristics of these agents impact media users. This paper investigates a possible neurological underpinning for a common research finding – namely, that animated characters designed to be comparatively more human, more real, and more similar to the people they represent elicit more positive self-reported evaluations. The goal of this study was to examine the extent to which these results might be due to differential processing of character features in brain networks recruited for face recognition. There is some evidence that parts of the face network may be specifically tuned for real human faces. An experiment was conducted where participants viewed photographs of faces of actual agents (humans and animals) or colored drawings of matched agents (cartoon humans and animals). Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure blood oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) activation in the whole brain and specifically in the face network, we investigated the variation in patterns of activation with human and animal faces that were more or less real. The results were consistent with previous reports that the core regions of the face network are sensitive to the humanness of faces. However, our results extended previous work by showing that regions of the core and extended regions of the face network – and some regions outside the network – were sensitive to realism, but only realism of human faces.
Explicating the Emotion Spillover Effect
Authors: Yegiyan Narine S.
Published: September 2015

Abstract. This study proposed and tested the idea that the processing of advertisements following emotionally arousing stimuli is a function of the interaction between motivational system activation and consolidation of the preceding message content in memory. To explain this phenomenon, two competing hypotheses were posed: the motivational decay hypothesis and the consolidation interference hypothesis. Physiological, behavioral, and self-reported data were used to test the predictions. The results demonstrated higher levels of physiological arousal and higher levels of physiological and self-reported positivity and negativity when processing advertisements preceded by arousing positive and negative movie clips. The heart rate data showed that the appetitive motivational system facilitated higher cognitive effort (slower heart rate), and the aversive motivational system facilitated lower cognitive effort (faster heart rate). The state of cognitive overload was reached during the first 10 s of the ads following negative arousing clips, while during ads following positive arousing clips, the cognitive system functioned at the maximum of its capacity. Overall, the results are more supportive of the consolidation interference hypothesis.
Ganti Receives 2015 Luna B. Leopold Young Scientist Award
Authors:   AGU
Published: September 2015

Vamsi Ganti will receive the 2015 Luna B. Leopold Young Scientist Award at the 2015 American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, to be held 14–18 December in San Francisco, Calif. The award recognizes "a young scientist for making a significant and outstanding contribution that advances the field of Earth and planetary surface processes."
Direct regulation of p53 by miR-142a-3p mediates the survival of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in zebrafish
Authors: Lu Xinyan , Wei Yonglong , Liu Feng
Published: September 2015

Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells have the capacity to self-renew and differentiate into all blood cell lineages, and thus sustain life-long homeostasis of the hematopoietic system. Although intensive studies have focused on the orchestrated genetic network of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell specification and expansion, relatively little is known on the regulation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell survival during embryogenesis. Here, we generated two types of miR-142a-3p genetic mutants in zebrafish and showed that the loss-of-function mutants displayed severe reduction of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. Further analysis showed that the diminished proliferation and excessive apoptosis in miR-142a-3p mutants were attributed to the increased p53 signaling. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that miR-142a-3p directly targets p53 during hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell development, and the hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell survival defect in miR-142a-3p mutants could be rescued by loss of p53. Therefore, our work reveals the significance of the miR-142a-3p-p53 pathway in controlling hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell survival, and thus advances our understanding of the role of p53 in vertebrate hematopoiesis.
A predictive structural model for bulk metallic glasses
Authors: Laws K. J. , Miracle D. B. , Ferry M.
Published: September 2015

Great progress has been made in understanding the atomic structure of metallic glasses, but there is still no clear connection between atomic structure and glass-forming ability. Here we give new insights into perhaps the most important question in the field of amorphous metals: how can glass-forming ability be predicted from atomic structure? We give a new approach to modelling metallic glass atomic structures by solving three long-standing problems: we discover a new family of structural defects that discourage glass formation; we impose efficient local packing around all atoms simultaneously; and we enforce structural self-consistency. Fewer than a dozen binary structures satisfy these constraints, but extra degrees of freedom in structures with three or more different atom sizes significantly expand the number of relatively stable, ‘bulk’ metallic glasses. The present work gives a new approach towards achieving the long-sought goal of a predictive capability for bulk metallic glasses.
dNP2 is a blood–brain barrier-permeable peptide enabling ctCTLA-4 protein delivery to ameliorate experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
Authors: Lim Sangho , Kim Won-Ju , Kim Yeon-Ho , Lee Sohee , Koo Ja-Hyun , Lee Jung-Ah , Yoon Heeseok , Kim Do-Hyun , Park Hong-Jai , Kim Hye-Mi , Lee Hong-Gyun , Yun Kim Ji , Lee Jae-Ung , Hun Shin Jae , Kyun Kim Lark , Doh Junsang , Kim Hongtae , Lee Sang-Kyou , Bothwell Alfred L. M. , Suh Minah , Choi Je-Min
Published: September 2015

Central nervous system (CNS)-infiltrating effector T cells play critical roles in the development and progression of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, current drugs for MS are very limited due to the difficulty of delivering drugs into the CNS. Here we identify a cell-permeable peptide, dNP2, which efficiently delivers proteins into mouse and human T cells, as well as various tissues. Moreover, it enters the brain tissue and resident cells through blood vessels by penetrating the tightly organized blood–brain barrier. The dNP2-conjugated cytoplasmic domain of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (dNP2-ctCTLA-4) negatively regulates activated T cells and shows inhibitory effects on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in both preventive and therapeutic mouse models, resulting in the reduction of demyelination and CNS-infiltrating T helper 1 and T helper 17 cells. Thus, this study demonstrates that dNP2 is a blood–brain barrier-permeable peptide and dNP2-ctCTLA-4 could be an effective agent for treating CNS inflammatory diseases such as MS.
The fatty acid elongase Bond is essential for Drosophila sex pheromone synthesis and male fertility
Authors: Ng Wan Chin , Chin Jacqueline S. R. , Tan Kah Junn , Yew Joanne Y.
Published: September 2015

Insects use a spectacular variety of chemical signals to guide their social behaviours. How such chemical diversity arises is a long-standing problem in evolutionary biology. Here we describe the contribution of the fatty acid elongase Bond to both pheromone diversity and male fertility inDrosophila. Genetic manipulation and mass spectrometry analysis reveal that the loss ofbondeliminates the male sex pheromone (3R,11Z,19Z)-3-acetoxy-11,19-octacosadien-1-ol (CH503). Unexpectedly, silencingbondexpression severely suppresses male fertility and the fertility of conspecific rivals. These deficits are rescued on ectopic expression ofbondin the male reproductive system. A comparative analysis across sixDrosophilaspecies shows that the gain of a novel transcription initiation site is correlated withbondexpression in the ejaculatory bulb, a primary site of male pheromone production. Taken together, these results indicate that modification ofcis-regulatory elements and subsequent changes in gene expression pattern is one mechanism by which pheromone diversity arises.
Autoantibody Profiling of Glioma Serum Samples to Identify Biomarkers Using Human Proteome Arrays
Authors: Syed Parvez , Gupta Shabarni , Choudhary Saket , Pandala Narendra Goud , Atak Apurva , Richharia Annie , KP Manubhai , Zhu Heng , Epari Sridhar , Noronha Santosh B. , Moiyadi Aliasgar , Srivastava Sanjeeva
Published: September 2015

The heterogeneity and poor prognosis associated with gliomas, makes biomarker identification imperative. Here, we report autoantibody signatures across various grades of glioma serum samples and sub-categories of glioblastoma multiforme using Human Proteome chips containing ~17000 full-length human proteins. The deduced sets of classifier proteins helped to distinguish Grade II, III and IV samples from the healthy subjects with 88, 89 and 94% sensitivity and 87, 100 and 73% specificity, respectively. Proteins namely, SNX1, EYA1, PQBP1 and IGHG1 showed dysregulation across various grades. Sub-classes of GBM, based on its proximity to the sub-ventricular zone, have been reported to have different prognostic outcomes. To this end, we identified dysregulation of NEDD9, a protein involved in cell migration, with probable prognostic potential. Another subcategory of patients where the IDH1 gene is mutated, are known to have better prognosis as compared to patients carrying the wild type gene. On a comparison of these two cohorts, we found STUB1 and YWHAH proteins dysregulated in Grade II glioma patients. In addition to common pathways associated with tumourigenesis, we found enrichment of immunoregulatory and cytoskeletal remodelling pathways, emphasizing the need to explore biochemical alterations arising due to autoimmune responses in glioma.
SENP2 regulates MMP13 expression in a bladder cancer cell line through SUMOylation of TBL1/TBLR1
Authors: Tan Mingyue , Gong Hua , Wang Jun , Tao Le , Xu Dongliang , Bao Erdun , Liu Zhihong , Qiu Jianxin
Published: September 2015

Bladder cancer (BC) is the most popular malignant urinary cancer in China. BC has the highest incidence and mortality among all genitourinary system tumors. Although the early-stage BC could be treated with advanced electron flexible systourethroscope, early metastasis of the BC occur frequently and often results in poor prognosis. Recently, we reported that small ubiquitin related modifier (SUMO)-specific protease 2 (SENP2) was downregulated in BC specimen. SENP2 appeared to inhibit migration and invasion of bladder cancer cells in vitro, through suppressing MMP13 in BC cells. However, the exact underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we reported that SENP2 inhibited nuclear translocation of β-catenin, which targeted the promotor of MMP13 to activate MMP13 to enhance BC cell metastasis. WNT ligands induced TBL1/TBLR1 SUMOylation to form complexes with β-catenin to facilitate β-catenin nuclear translocation, which could be efficiently inhibited through suppression of SUMOylation of TBL1/TBLR1. Together, our data suggest that SENP2 inhibits MMP13 expression in BC cells through de-SUMOylation of TBL1/TBLR1, which inhibits nuclear translocation of β-catenin. Thus, SENP2 may be a promising therapeutic target for BC.
Promotion of regulatory T cell induction by immunomodulatory herbal medicine licorice and its two constituents
Authors: Guo Ao , He Dongming , Xu Hong-Bo , Geng Chang-An , Zhao Jian
Published: September 2015

Regulatory T cells (Treg) play a critical role to control immune responses and to prevent autoimmunity, thus selective increase of Treg cells in vivo has broad therapeutic implications for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Licorice is a well-known herbal medicine used worldwide for over thousands of years and accumulating evidence has shown its immunomodulatory potential. However, it is not clear whether licorice could regulate the induction and function of Treg cells. Here we found licorice extract could promote Treg cell induction and then we used a rational approach to isolate its functional fractions and constituents. The results showed that two constituents, isoliquiritigenin and naringenin, promoted Treg cell induction both in vitro and in vivo. The effective fractions and two constituents of licorice also enhanced immune suppression of Treg cells and they further reduced severity of DSS-induced colitis in mice. This study suggested that promotion of regulatory T cell induction could be an underlying mechanism of the historically and widely used herbal medicine licorice, providing its two effective molecules against autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
Hearing in slow-motion: Humans underestimate the speed of moving sounds
Authors: Senna Irene , Parise Cesare V. , Ernst Marc O.
Published: September 2015

Perception can often be described as a statistically optimal inference process whereby noisy and incomplete sensory evidence is combined with prior knowledge about natural scene statistics. Previous evidence has shown that humans tend to underestimate the speed of unreliable moving visual stimuli. This finding has been interpreted in terms of a Bayesian prior favoring low speed, given that in natural visual scenes objects are mostly stationary or slowly-moving. Here we investigated whether an analogous tendency to underestimate speed also occurs in audition: even if the statistics of the visual environment seem to favor low speed, the statistics of the stimuli reaching the individual senses may differ across modalities, hence potentially leading to different priors. Here we observed a systematic bias for underestimating the speed of unreliable moving sounds. This finding suggests the existence of a slow-motion prior in audition, analogous to the one previously found in vision. The nervous system might encode the overall statistics of the world, rather than the specific properties of the signals reaching the individual senses.
Real-time and label-free analysis of binding thermodynamics of carbohydrate-protein interactions on unfixed cancer cell surfaces using a QCM biosensor
Authors: Li Xueming , Song Siyu , Shuai Qi , Pei Yihan , Aastrup Teodor , Pei Yuxin , Pei Zhichao
Published: September 2015

A novel approach to the study of binding thermodynamics and kinetics of carbohydrate-protein interactions on unfixed cancer cell surfaces using a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) biosensor was developed, in which binding events take place at the cell surface, more closely mimicking a biologically relevant environment. In this study, colon adenocarcinoma cells (KM-12) and ovary adenocarcinoma cells (SKOV-3) grew on the optimized polystyrene-coated biosensor chip without fixation. The association and dissociation between the cell surface carbohydrates and a range of lectins, including WGA, Con A, UEA-I, GS-II, PNA and SBA, were monitored in real time and without label for evaluation of cell surface glycosylation. Furthermore, the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of the interaction between lectins and cell surface glycan were studied, providing detailed information about the interactions, such as the association rate constant, dissociation rate constant, affinity constant, as well as the changes of entropy, enthalpy and Gibbs free energy. This application provides an insight into the cell surface glycosylation and the complex molecular recognition on the intact cell surface, which may have impacts on disease diagnosis and drug discovery.
Monolithic III–V on Silicon Plasmonic Nanolaser Structure for Optical Interconnects
Authors: Li Ning , Liu Ke , Sorger Volker J. , Sadana Devendra K.
Published: September 2015

Monolithic integration of III–V semiconductor lasers with Si circuits can reduce cost and enhance performance for optical interconnects dramatically. We propose and investigate plasmonic III–V nanolasers as monolithically integrated light source on Si chips due to many advantages. First, these III–V plasmonic light sources can be directly grown on Si substrates free of crystallographic defects due to the submicron cavity footprint (250 nm × 250 nm) being smaller than the average defect free region size of the heteroepitaxial III–V material on Si. Secondly, the small lateral and vertical dimensions facilitate process co-integration with Si complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) in the front end of the line. Thirdly, combining with monolithically integrated CMOS circuits with low device capacitance and parasitic capacitance, the nano-cavity optoelectronic devices consume orders of magnitude less power than the conventional lasers and reduce the energy consumption. Fourthly, the modulation bandwidth of the plasmonic light-sources is enhanced to significantly higher than conventional lasers due to enhanced photon state density and transition rate. In addition, we show that these device performance are very robust after taking into account the surface recombination and variations in device fabrication processes.
Conditional deletion of nonmuscle myosin II-A in mouse tongue epithelium results in squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Anne Conti Mary , Saleh Anthony D. , Brinster Lauren R. , Cheng Hui , Chen Zhong , Cornelius Shaleeka , Liu Chengyu , Ma Xuefei , Van Waes Carter , Adelstein Robert S.
Published: September 2015

To investigate the contribution of nonmuscle myosin II-A (NM II-A) to early cardiac development we crossed Myh9 floxed mice and Nkx2.5 cre-recombinase mice. Nkx2.5 is expressed in the early heart (E7.5) and later in the tongue epithelium. Mice homozygous for deletion of NM II-A (ANkx/ANkx) are born at the expected ratio with normal hearts, but consistently develop an invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the tongue (32/32 ANkx/ANkx) as early as E17.5. To assess reproducibility a second, independent line of Myh9 floxed mice derived from a different embryonic stem cell clone was tested. This second line also develops SCC indistinguishable from the first (15/15). In ANkx/ANkx mouse tongue epithelium, genetic deletion of NM II-A does not affect stabilization of TP53, unlike a previous report for SCC. We attribute the consistent, early formation of SCC with high penetrance to the role of NM II in maintaining mitotic stability during karyokinesis.
The glucocorticoid mometasone furoate is a novel FXR ligand that decreases inflammatory but not metabolic gene expression
Authors: Bijsmans Ingrid T. G. W. , Guercini Chiara , Ramos Pittol José M. , Omta Wienand , Milona Alexandra , Lelieveld Daphne , Egan David A. , Pellicciari Roberto , Gioiello Antimo , van Mil Saskia W. C.
Published: September 2015

The Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) regulates bile salt, glucose and cholesterol homeostasis by binding to DNA response elements, thereby activating gene expression (direct transactivation). FXR also inhibits the immune response via tethering to NF-κB (tethering transrepression). FXR activation therefore has therapeutic potential for liver and intestinal inflammatory diseases. We aim to identify and develop gene-selective FXR modulators, which repress inflammation, but do not interfere with its metabolic capacity. In a high-throughput reporter-based screen, mometasone furoate (MF) was identified as a compound that reduced NF-κB reporter activity in an FXR-dependent manner. MF reduced mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and induction of direct FXR target genes in HepG2-GFP-FXR cells and intestinal organoids was minor. Computational studies disclosed three putative binding modes of the compound within the ligand binding domain of the receptor. Interestingly, mutation of W469A residue within the FXR ligand binding domain abrogated the decrease in NF-κB activity. Finally, we show that MF-bound FXR inhibits NF-κB subunit p65 recruitment to the DNA of pro-inflammatory genes CXCL2 and IL8. Although MF is not suitable as selective anti-inflammatory FXR ligand due to nanomolar affinity for the glucocorticoid receptor, we show that separation between metabolic and anti-inflammatory functions of FXR can be achieved.
Modulation of AMPA receptor mediated current by nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in layer I neurons of rat prefrontal cortex
Authors: Tang Bo , Luo Dong , Yang Jie , Xu Xiao-Yan , Zhu Bing-Lin , Wang Xue-Feng , Yan Zhen , Chen Guo-Jun
Published: September 2015

Layer I neurons in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) exhibit extensive synaptic connections with deep layer neurons, implying their important role in the neural circuit. Study demonstrates that activation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) increases excitatory neurotransmission in this layer. Here we found that nicotine selectively increased the amplitude of AMPA receptor (AMPAR)-mediated current and AMPA/NMDA ratio, while without effect on NMDA receptor-mediated current. The augmentation of AMPAR current by nicotine was inhibited by a selective α7-nAChR antagonist methyllycaconitine (MLA) and intracellular calcium chelator BAPTA. In addition, nicotinic effect on mEPSC or paired-pulse ratio was also prevented by MLA. Moreover, an enhanced inward rectification of AMPAR current by nicotine suggested a functional role of calcium permeable and GluA1 containing AMPAR. Consistently, nicotine enhancement of AMPAR current was inhibited by a selective calcium-permeable AMPAR inhibitor IEM-1460. Finally, the intracellular inclusion of synthetic peptide designed to block GluA1 subunit of AMPAR at CAMKII, PKC or PKA phosphorylation site, as well as corresponding kinase inhibitor, blocked nicotinic augmentation of AMPA/NMDA ratio. These results have revealed that nicotine increases AMPAR current by modulating the phosphorylation state of GluA1 which is dependent on α7-nAChR and intracellular calcium.
Identification of novel mureidomycin analogues via rational activation of a cryptic gene cluster in Streptomyces roseosporus NRRL 15998
Authors: Jiang Lingjuan , Wang Lu , Zhang Jihui , Liu Hao , Hong Bin , Tan Huarong , Niu Guoqing
Published: September 2015

Antimicrobial agents are urgently needed to tackle the growing threat of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. An important source of new antimicrobials is the large repertoire of cryptic gene clusters embedded in microbial genomes. Genome mining revealed a napsamycin/mureidomycin biosynthetic gene cluster in the chromosome of Streptomyces roseosporus NRRL 15998. The cryptic gene cluster was activated by constitutive expression of a foreign activator gene ssaA from sansanmycin biosynthetic gene cluster of Streptomyces sp. strain SS. Expression of the gene cluster was verified by RT-PCR analysis of key biosynthetic genes. The activated metabolites demonstrated potent inhibitory activity against the highly refractory pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa and characterization of the metabolites led to the discovery of eight acetylated mureidomycin analogues. To our surprise, constitutive expression of the native activator gene SSGG_02995, a ssaA homologue in S. roseosporus NRRL 15998, has no beneficial effect on mureidomycin stimulation. This study provides a new way to activate cryptic gene cluster for the acquisition of novel antibiotics and will accelerate the exploitation of prodigious natural products in Streptomyces.
Bell’s measure and implementing quantum Fourier transform with orbital angular momentum of classical light
Authors: Song Xinbing , Sun Yifan , Li Pengyun , Qin Hongwei , Zhang Xiangdong
Published: September 2015

We perform Bell’s measurement for the non-separable correlation between polarization and orbital angular momentum from the same classical vortex beam. The violation of Bell’s inequality for such a non-separable classical correlation has been demonstrated experimentally. Based on the classical vortex beam and non-quantum entanglement between the polarization and the orbital angular momentum, the Hadamard gates and conditional phase gates have been designed. Furthermore, a quantum Fourier transform has been implemented experimentally.
Dimethyl adipimidate/Thin film Sample processing (DTS); A simple, low-cost and versatile nucleic acid extraction assay for downstream analysis
Authors: Shin Yong , Lim Swee Yin , Lee Tae Yoon , Park Mi Kyoung
Published: September 2015

Sample processing, especially that involving nucleic acid extraction, is a prerequisite step for the isolation of high quantities of relatively pure DNA for downstream analyses in many life science and biomedical engineering studies. However, existing methods still have major problems, including labor-intensive time-consuming methods and high costs, as well as requirements for a centrifuge and the complex fabrication of filters and membranes. Here, we first report a versatile Dimethyl adipimidate/Thin film based Sample processing (DTS) procedure without the limitations of existing methods. This procedure is useful for the extraction of DNA from a variety of sources, including 6 eukaryotic cells, 6 bacteria cells and 2 body fluids in a single step. Specifically, the DTS procedure does not require a centrifuge and has improved time efficiency (30 min), affordability and sensitivity in downstream analysis. We validated the DTS procedure for the extraction of DNA from human body fluids, as well as confirmed that the quality and quantity of the extracted DNA were sufficient to allow robust detection of genetic and epigenetic biomarkers in downstream analysis.
A nitrogen-vacancy spin based molecular structure microscope using multiplexed projection reconstruction
Authors: Lazariev Andrii , Balasubramanian Gopalakrishnan
Published: September 2015

Methods and techniques to measure and image beyond the state-of-the-art have always been influential in propelling basic science and technology. Because current technologies are venturing into nanoscopic and molecular-scale fabrication, atomic-scale measurement techniques are inevitable. One such emerging sensing method uses the spins associated with nitrogen-vacancy (NV) defects in diamond. The uniqueness of this NV sensor is its atomic size and ability to perform precision sensing under ambient conditions conveniently using light and microwaves (MW). These advantages have unique applications in nanoscale sensing and imaging of magnetic fields from nuclear spins in single biomolecules. During the last few years, several encouraging results have emerged towards the realization of an NV spin-based molecular structure microscope. Here, we present a projection-reconstruction method that retrieves the three-dimensional structure of a single molecule from the nuclear spin noise signatures. We validate this method using numerical simulations and reconstruct the structure of a molecular phantom β-cyclodextrin, revealing the characteristic toroidal shape.
The Anti-fibrotic Effects and Mechanisms of MicroRNA-486-5p in Pulmonary Fibrosis
Authors: Ji Xiaoming , Wu Baiqun , Fan Jingjing , Han Ruhui , Luo Chen , Wang Ting , Yang Jingjin , Han Lei , Zhu Baoli , Wei Dong , Chen Jingyu , Ni Chunhui
Published: September 2015

To identify microRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) with potential roles in lung fibrogenesis, we performed genome-wide profiling of miRNA expression in lung tissues from a silica-induced mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis using microarrays. Seventeen miRNAs were selected for validation via qRT-PCR based on the fold changes between the silica and the control group. The dysregulation of five miRNAs, including miR-21, miR-455, miR-151-3p, miR-486-5p and miR-3107, were confirmed by qRT-PCRs in silica-induced mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis and were also confirmed in a bleomycin (BLM)-induced mouse lung fibrosis. Notably, miR-486-5p levels were decreased in the serum samples of patients with silicosis, as well as in the lung tissues of patients with silicosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). In addition, as determined by luciferase assays and Western blotting, SMAD2, a crucial mediator of pulmonary fibrosis, was identified to be one of target genes of miR-486-5p. To test the potential therapeutic significance of this miRNA, we overexpressed miR-486-5p in animal models. At day 28, miR-486-5p expression significantly decreased both the distribution and severity of lung lesions compared with the silica group (P < 0.01). In addition, miR-486-5p had a similar effect in the BLM group (P < 0.001). These results indicate that miR-486-5p may inhibit fibrosis.
Hematotoxicity of magnetite nanoparticles coated with polyethylene glycol: in vitro and in vivo studies
Authors: Ruiz A. , Ali Lamiaa M. A. , Cáceres-Vélez P. R. , Cornudella R. , Gutiérrez M. , Moreno J. A. , Piñol R. , Palacio F. , Fascineli M. L. , de Azevedo R. B. , Morales M. P. , Millán A.
Published: September 2015

Hematotoxicity of magnetite nanoparticles with different coatings has been evaluated by determining their safety in vitro and in vivo in a rat model up to 30 days.
A non-protein nitrogen index for discriminating raw milk protein adulteration via the Kjeldahl method
Authors: Gao Peipei , Li Zhicheng , Zan Linsen , Yue Tianli , Shi Bo
Published: September 2015

A non-protein nitrogen (NPN) index was proposed for discriminating milk adulteration with whey powder, and with melamine, or other harmful substances in milk.
Comparison of different mass spectrometric techniques for the determination of polychlorinated biphenyls by isotope dilution using37Cl-labelled analogues
Authors: Somoano-Blanco Lourdes , Rodríguez-González Pablo , Pröfrock Daniel , Prange Andreas , García Alonso J. Ignacio
Published: September 2015

The comparison of four different mass spectrometric techniques coupled to gas chromatography for the detection of polychlorinated biphenyls in environmental samples is shown.
An integrated carbon entrapped molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) electrode for voltammetric detection of resveratrol in wine
Authors: Mugo S. M. , Edmunds B. J. , Berg D. J. , Gill N. K.
Published: September 2015

Depiction of a voltammetric MIP sensor for resveratrol analysis in wine.
Biomagnetic separation and pre-concentration of trace amounts of Hg2+ in biological samples based on T-rich oligonucleotide modified magnetic beads
Authors: Farzin Leila , Shamsipur Mojtaba , Tabrizi Mahmoud Amouzadeh
Published: September 2015

We report a simple and sensitive method for the analysis of trace mercury(ii) (Hg2+) in biological samples, based on a magnetic bead (MB) separation/pre-concentration process and thymine-Hg2+-thymine (T-Hg2+-T) coordination chemistry.
High-efficiency dye-sensitized solar cells of up to 8.03% by air plasma treatment of ZnO nanostructures
Authors: He Yitao , Hu Jing , Xie Yahong
Published: September 2015

A photoelectric conversion efficiency of 8.03% for pure ZnO-based DSSCs has been achieved, using air plasma to treat the precursor Zn(OH)2 to reduce the hydrogen-related defects in ZnO.
Ionic liquids as diluents in solvent extraction: first evidence of supramolecular aggregation of a couple of extractant molecules
Authors: Sukhbaatar T. , Dourdain S. , Turgis R. , Rey J. , Arrachart G. , Pellet-Rostaing S.
Published: September 2015

Ionic liquids have many favorable properties over conventional diluents in solvent extraction.
CF3-Substituted semisquarate: a pluripotent building block for the divergent synthesis of trifluoromethylated functional molecules
Authors: Yamamoto Y. , Kurohara T. , Shibuya M.
Published: September 2015

The first synthesis of a CF3-substituted semisquarate was accomplished via nucleophilic trifluoromethylation using CF3SiMe3 and subsequent rhenium-catalyzed allylic alcohol rearrangement.
The discovery of 9/8-ribbons, β/γ-peptides with curved shapes governed by a combined configuration-conformation code
Authors: Grison Claire M. , Robin Sylvie , Aitken David J.
Published: September 2015

The design of a β/γ-peptide reveals an unprecedented 9/8-ribbon whose curvature depends on the β-residue configuration and the γ-residue conformation.
Synthesis and base pairing studies of geranylated 2-thiothymidine, a natural variant of thymidine
Authors: Wang Rui , Ranganathan Srivathsan V. , Basanta-Sanchez Maria , Shen Fusheng , Chen Alan , Sheng Jia
Published: September 2015

A geranylated T:G pair is more stable than a T:A pair in DNA duplexes.
Tuning the Schottky barrier height of the Pd–MoS2 contact by different strains
Authors: Liu Biao , Wu Li-Juan , Zhao Yu-Qing , Wang Ling-Zhi , Cai Meng-Qiu
Published: September 2015

The structures and electronic properties of the Pd–MoS2 contact are investigated using density functional calculations under different strains.
Microplastics in coastal and marine environments of the western tropical and sub-tropical Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Costa Monica F. , Barletta Mário
Published: September 2015

Microplastics interact with marine biota of the tropical western Atlantic Ocean causing chemical and physical harm from the individual to the population levels.
Curcumin dose-dependently improves spermatogenic disorders induced by scrotal heat stress in mice
Authors: Lin Chunmei , Shin Dong-Geun , Park Seul Gi , Chu Sl Bi , Gwon Lee Wha , Lee Jong-Geol , Yon Jung-Min , Baek In-Jeoung , Nam Sang-Yoon
Published: September 2015

Curcumin significantly improves testicular injuries (B & C) induced by scrotal heat stress in a dose-dependent manner (20, 40, and 80 mg kg−1; D–F, respectively).
The effect of heterogeneous acid–base catalysis on conversion of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural into a cyclopentanone derivative
Authors: Ohyama J. , Kanao R. , Ohira Y. , Satsuma A.
Published: September 2015

Acidic metal oxides, in particular Ta2O5, significantly enhanced the conversion of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to a cyclopentanone derivative.
Fluorescent sensing of sulfide ions based on papain-directed gold nanoclusters
Authors: Wang Lichao , Chen Guiqiu , Zeng Guangming , Liang Jie , Dong Haoran , Yan Ming , Li Zhongwu , Guo Zhi , Tao Wei , Peng Lu
Published: September 2015

This fluorescence sensing system showed excellent performance and could be applied to the determination of S2− in natural water samples.
Stereoselective synthesis of the head group of archaeal phospholipid PGP-Me to investigate bacteriorhodopsin–lipid interactions
Authors: Cui Jin , Kawatake Satoshi , Umegawa Yuichi , Lethu Sébastien , Yamagami Masaki , Matsuoka Shigeru , Sato Fuminori , Matsumori Nobuaki , Murata Michio
Published: September 2015

Phosphatidylglycerophosphate methyl ester (PGP-Me), a major constituent of the archaeal purple membrane, is essential for the proper proton-pump activity of bacteriorhodopsin (bR).
Tetraaryl pyrazole polymers: versatile synthesis, aggregation induced emission enhancement and detection of explosives
Authors: Mukundam Vanga , Kumar Atul , Dhanunjayarao Kunchala , Ravi Arthi , Peruncheralathan S. , Venkatasubbaiah Krishnan
Published: September 2015

Here we report a new approach to obtain tetraaryl pyrazole polymers by free radical polymerization of styryl substituted pyrazole monomers.
Modular amphiphilic copolymer-grafted nanoparticles: “nanoparticle micelle” behavior enhances utility as dispersants
Authors: Ejaz Muhammad , Alb Alina M. , Kosakowska Karolina A. , Grayson Scott M.
Published: September 2015

Nanoparticles with amphiphilic polymer grafts exhibit increased stability as dispersants relative to traditional small molecule amphiphiles.
The steric effect of α- and β-substituted anthraquinone units on high performance polymeric memory devices
Authors: Yen Hung-Ju , Chang Jung-Hsiang , Wu Jia-Hao , Liou Guey-Sheng
Published: September 2015

New anthraquinone-substituted triarylamine-based high-performance polymeric memory devices provide a strategy for tailoring the memory characteristics through structure modulation.
Nonlinear optical interactions of Co: ZnO nanoparticles in continuous and pulsed mode of operations
Authors: Ponnusamy Rajeswari , Sivasubramanian Dhanuskodi , Sreekanth P. , Gandhiraj Vinitha , Philip Reji , Bhalerao G. M.
Published: September 2015

Thermal lensing and two photon absorption with saturable absorption based optical limiting behaviour in Co: ZnO nanoparticles under CW and pulsed Nd: YAG laser irradiation.
Continuous fast Fourier transform admittance voltammetry as a new approach for studying the change in morphology of polyaniline for supercapacitors application
Authors: Shayeh J. Shabani , Norouzi P. , Ganjali M. R. , Wojdyla M. , Fic K. , Frackowiak E.
Published: September 2015

In this study, continuous fast Fourier transform admittance voltammetry (CFFTAV) was used to study and characterize the surface morphology of polyaniline (PANI) on glassy carbon (GC) electrodes.
Modeling of the interaction between polypropylene and monolayer sheets: a quantum mechanical study
Authors: Ghorbanzadeh Ahangari M.
Published: September 2015

In this paper, we performed quantum mechanical calculations to determine the best monolayer sheet for preparing polypropylene nanocomposites.
Novel FeOx–polyethylene transparent films: synthesis and mechanism of surface regeneration
Authors: Rtimi S. , Pulgarin C. , Sanjines R. , Kiwi J.
Published: September 2015

The first evidence for the synthesis of a uniform, adhesive polyethylene–FeOx (PE–FeOx) surface leading efficiently to bacterial inactivation is addressed in this study.
Synthetic approaches and functionalizations of imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidines: an overview of the decade
Authors: Goel Richa , Luxami Vijay , Paul Kamaldeep
Published: September 2015

This review gives an overview to the synthesis of the imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidines on the basis of multicomponent reactions, condensation reactions, intramolecular cyclizationsetc.along with its reactivity at 3-position.
Potential use of alginate beads as a chondrocyte delivery vehicle and stepwise dissolving porogen in a hydrogel scaffold for cartilage tissue engineering
Authors: Fan Changjiang , Wang Dong-An
Published: September 2015

A chondroitin sulfate (CS)–alginate bead composite gel (CS–ABG) is developed, and which exhibits superiority to aid cartilage regeneration.
Soy protein isolate-based films cross-linked by epoxidized soybean oil
Authors: Xia Changlei , Wang La , Dong Youming , Zhang Shifeng , Shi Sheldon Q. , Cai Liping , Li Jianzhang
Published: September 2015

Property enhancement of soy protein isolate-based film was achieved by introducing an environmentally friendly cross-linking agent, epoxidized soybean oil.
Ladder- and bridge-like polynorbornenes with phosphate linkers: facile one-pot synthesis and excellent properties
Authors: Ding Liang , Zhang Junmei , Wang Lingfang , Wang Chengshuang
Published: September 2015

A novel telechelic double-stranded polymer with two terminal alkenyl groups was prepared through ROMP of the corresponding monomer bearing a phosphate linker, and was then used as a macromonomer in ADMET polymerization to yield a bridge-like polymer.
Evidence of blue-shifting N–H⋯N hydrogen bonding despite elongation of the N–H bond
Authors: Pandey Prasenjit
Published: September 2015

N–H⋯N hydrogen bonding between pyrrole and N2results blue shift ofνN–Haccompanied by an increase in the N–H bond length.