bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of hexyl substituent groups on photophysical and electrochemical properties of the poly[(9,9‐Dioctyluorene)−2,7‐diyl‐alt‐(4,7‐bis (3‐Hexylthien‐5‐Yl)−2,1,3‐Benzothiadiazole)−2′,2″‐diyl]
Authors: da Silva Daniel J. , Takimoto Herick G. , dos Santos Karine C. C. Weber , Garcia Jarem R. , Balogh Debora T. , Wang Shu Hui
Published: June 2016

The effect of the presence of hexyl group in thiophene on the photophysical and electrochemical properties of poly[(9,9‐dioctyluorene)−2,7‐diyl‐alt‐(4,7‐bis(3‐hexylthien‐5‐yl)−2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole)−2′,2″‐diyl] (F8TBT) is investigated. The copolymers present electron donor–acceptor architecture and are synthesized by Suzuki coupling reaction. The UV/Vis spectra show absorption maximum in the wavelength range of blue and orange, which are associated with different segments of the polymer backbone. Addition of hexyl substituent groups has a positive effect on the molar absorptivity and increases the emission and absorption intensities due to fluorene and thiophene‐benzothiadiazole‐thiophene (TBT) units, although an increment in the bandgap is observed. Cyclic voltammetry study of the polymer films reveal irreversible reduction and oxidation processes of the TBT units in the polymer chain and the HOMO and LUMO energy levels suggest ambipolar character for the polymers, while the electrochemical bandgaps are consistent with the absorbance measurements. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016, 54, 1975–1982
Structural characterization of the heme‐based oxygen sensor, AfGcHK, its interactions with the cognate response regulator, and their combined mechanism of action in a bacterial two‐component signaling system
Authors: Stranava Martin , Martínek Václav , Man Petr , Fojtikova Veronika , Kavan Daniel , Vaněk Ondřej , Shimizu Toru , Martinkova Marketa
Published: June 2016

The oxygen sensor histidine kinase AfGcHK from the bacterium Anaeromyxobacter sp. Fw 109‐5 forms a two‐component signal transduction system together with its cognate response regulator (RR). The binding of oxygen to the heme iron of its N‐terminal sensor domain causes the C‐terminal kinase domain of AfGcHK to autophosphorylate at His183 and then transfer this phosphate to Asp52 or Asp169 of the RR protein. Analytical ultracentrifugation revealed that AfGcHK and the RR protein form a complex with 2:1 stoichiometry. Hydrogen‐deuterium exchange coupled to mass spectrometry (HDX‐MS) suggested that the most flexible part of the whole AfGcHK protein is a loop that connects the two domains and that the heme distal side of AfGcHK, which is responsible for oxygen binding, is the only flexible part of the sensor domain. HDX‐MS studies on the AfGcHK:RR complex also showed that the N‐side of the H9 helix in the dimerization domain of the AfGcHK kinase domain interacts with the helix H1 and the β‐strand B2 area of the RR protein's Rec1 domain, and that the C‐side of the H8 helix region in the dimerization domain of the AfGcHK protein interacts mostly with the helix H5 and β‐strand B6 area of the Rec1 domain. The Rec1 domain containing the phosphorylable Asp52 of the RR protein probably has a significantly higher affinity for AfGcHK than the Rec2 domain. We speculate that phosphorylation at Asp52 changes the overall structure of RR such that the Rec2 area containing the second phosphorylation site (Asp169) can also interact with AfGcHK. Proteins 2016; 84:1375–1389. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Spin‐polarized electron gas in Co2M Si/SrTiO3 (M = Ti, V, Cr, Mn, and Fe) heterostructures
Authors: Nazir S. , Schwingenschlögl U.
Published: June 2016

Spin‐polarized density functional theory is used to study the TiO2 terminated interfaces between the magnetic Heusler alloys Co2Si (M = Ti, V, Cr, Mn, and Fe) and the non‐polar band insulator SrTiO3. The structural relaxation at the interface turns out to depend systematically on the lattice mis‐ match. Charge transfer from the Heusler alloys (mainly the M 3d orbitals) to the Ti dxy orbitals of the TiO2 interface layer is found to gradually grow from M = Ti to Fe, resulting in an electron gas with increasing density of spin‐polarized charge carriers. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Preclinical study of transcervical upper mediastinal dissection for esophageal malignancy by robot‐assisted surgery
Authors: Mori Kazuhiko , Yoshimura Shuntaro , Yamagata Yukinori , Aikou Susumu , Seto Yasuyuki
Published: June 2016

Background

Robotic surgical systems are potentially applicable to transcervical mediastinal lymph dissection for esophageal malignancy.

Methods

Robot‐assisted surgery was performed on a male fresh‐frozen human cadaver. Devices for single‐port laparoscopic surgery were deployed via one small incision in the left clavicular area. The task for the robot‐assisted surgery was the upper mediastinal dissection to the level of the left main bronchus and en bloc harvest of the lymph nodes adherent to the left recurrent laryngeal nerve.

Results

An up‐angled 30° scope in the 6 o'clock port and two robotic arms from the 3 and 9 o'clock ports worked effectively together. No collisions of the devices inside the cadaveric body or unexpected traumatic events occurred.

Conclusion

The robotic surgical system can be used safely for the upper mediastinal dissection. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Perspective on the Trends and Challenges Facing Porphyrin‐Based Anti‐Microbial Materials
Authors: Jiang Lu , Gan Ching Ruey Raymond , Gao Jian , Loh Xian Jun
Published: June 2016

The emergence of multidrug resistant bacterium threatens to unravel global healthcare systems, built up over centuries of medical research and development. Current antibiotics have little resistance against this onslaught as bacterium strains can quickly evolve effective defense mechanisms. Fortunately, alternative therapies exist and, at the forefront of research lays the photodynamic inhibition approach mediated by porphyrin based photosensitizers. This review will focus on the development of various porphyrins compounds and their incorporation as small molecules, into polymers, fibers and thin films as practical therapeutic agents, utilizing photodynamic therapy to inhibit a wide spectrum of bacterium. The use of photodynamic therapy of these porphyrin molecules are discussed and evaluated according to their electronic and bulk material effect on different bacterium strains. This review also provides an insight into the general direction and challenges facing porphyrins and derivatives as full‐fledged therapeutic agents and what needs to be further done in order to be bestowed their rightful and equal status in modern medicine, similar to the very first antibiotic; penicillin itself. It is hoped that, with this perspective, new paradigms and strategies in the application of porphyrins and derivatives will progressively flourish and lead to advances against disease.
Photocatalytic Reduction of CO2 over Heterostructure Semiconductors into Value‐Added Chemicals
Authors: Guo Ling‐ju , Wang Yan‐jie , He Tao
Published: June 2016

Photoreduction of CO2, which utilizes solar energy to convert CO2 into hydrocarbons, can be an effective means to overcome the increasing energy crisis and mitigate the rising emissions of greenhouse gas. This article covers recent advances in the CO2 photoreduction over heterostructure‐based photocatalysts. The fundamentals of CO2 photoreduction and classification of the heterostructured photocatalysts are discussed first, followed by the latest work on the CO2 photoreduction over heterostructured photocatalysts in terms of the classification of the coupling semiconductors. Finally, a brief summary and a perspective on the challenges in this area are presented.
Treatment of Pre-Collapse Stages of Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head: A Systematic Review of Randomized Control Trials
Authors: Villa Jordan C. , Husain Solomon , van der List Jelle P. , Gianakos Arianna , Lane Joseph M.
Published: June 2016

Background

Treatment for osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) remains controversial. Current reviews include low-level evidence studies evaluating the treatment of both pre-collapse and collapse stages of the disease.

Questions/Purposes

The purpose of the current study is to systematically review the literature evaluating core decompression (CD) with bone marrow mesenchymal cells (BMMCs), CD alone, and bisphosphonate treatment in pre-collapse ONFH by focusing just on randomized clinical trials (RCTs) reporting functional and radiologic outcomes. We aim to determine if the literature provides evidence supporting any single approach.

Methods

Using PubMed and EMBASE databases, we reviewed the clinical evidence of treatments for pre-collapse ONFH following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Twelve RCTs met the inclusion criteria.

Results

Results showed that CD with BMMCs has lower risk of femoral head collapse when compared to the CD alone excluding hips lost to follow-up (relative risk (RR) [95% CI]:0.25 [0.11, 0.60]; p = 0.002) and when assumed that hips lost to follow-up experienced collapse (RR [95% CI]: 0.11 [0.03, 0.47]; p = 0.003). Neither CD nor bisphosphonate treatments showed lower risk to femoral head collapse when compared to control treatments ( p = 0.46 and 0.31, respectively)

Conclusion

Current literature shows that there is a lower risk of femoral head collapse in patients with ONFH treated with CD combined with BMMCs when compared to CD alone; however, there is no robust evidence to determine the effect on functional outcomes. More RCTs assessing new combination therapies and using standardized outcome measures are required.
Magmatism in Western Cuddapahs: The Mafic Sills and Lava Flows of Vempalle and Tadpatri Formations
Authors: Chakraborty Kasturi , Mukhopadhyay P. K. , Pankaj Praveer
Published: June 2016

The western part of Cuddapah basin has been considered as a foreland to the fold-thrust belt represented by eastern Nallamalais and Nellore schist belt. The igneous activities, in the form of lava flows and sills, in western Cuddapahs have been a subject of controversy since tectonogenetic models ranging from a mantle plume to lithospheric extension have been suggested. The present work covers a detailed study of the mafic sills and lava flows of Vempalle and Tadpatri formations in western Cuddapahs, which earlier workers have also noted. A detailed field and laboratory work in this study brings out, for the first time, five distinct petrographic and geochemical varieties of sills. Geochemical studies also suggest that the different sill types have originated from varying degrees of partial melting of a metasomatized sub-crustal lithospheric mantle, the metasomatism of source being attributed to older Archaean convergent settings/greenstone belts that the basin unconformably overlies. The possible contribution of any small plume is only heating and doming of overlying mantle that induced incipient crustal rifting. Our geochemical studies on the lava flows of Vempalle Formation also suggest that the magma was derived from small degree of partial melting of spinel-garnet peridotite mantle in a rift setting.
An Ichthyosaur Vertebra from the Cretaceous (Middle Cenomanian) Karai Formation, Southern India
Authors: Ayyasami K. , Elamparuthi S. , Gowtham B.
Published: June 2016

The note describes a well-preserved ichthyosaur vertebra from the upper Cretaceous Karai Formation (late Albian to late Cenomanian) of the Uttattur Group of rocks exposed near Ariyalur, Tamil Nadu, southern India.
MAPT haplotype H1G is associated with increased risk of dementia with Lewy bodies
Authors: Labbé Catherine , Heckman Michael G. , Lorenzo‐Betancor Oswaldo , Soto‐Ortolaza Alexandra I. , Walton Ronald L. , Murray Melissa E. , Allen Mariet , Uitti Ryan J. , Wszolek Zbigniew K. , Smith Glenn E. , Kantarci Kejal , Knopman David S. , Lowe Val J. , Jack Clifford R. , Ertekin‐Taner Nilüfer , Hassan Anhar , Savica Rodolfo , Petersen Ronald C. , Parisi Joseph E. , Maraganore Demetrius M. , Graff‐Radford Neill R. , Ferman Tanis J. , Boeve Bradley F. , Dickson Dennis W. , Ross Owen A.
Published: June 2016

Introduction

The MAPT H1 haplotype has been associated with several neurodegenerative diseases. We were interested in exploring the role of MAPT haplotypic variation in risk of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB).

Method

We genotyped six MAPT haplotype tagging SNPs and screened 431 clinical DLB cases, 347 pathologically defined high‐likelihood DLB cases, and 1049 controls.

Result

We performed haplotypic association tests and detected an association with the protective H2 haplotype in our combined series (odds ratio [OR] = 0.75). We fine‐mapped the locus and identified a relatively rare haplotype, H1G, that is associated with an increased risk of DLB (OR = 3.30, P = .0017). This association was replicated in our pathologically defined series (OR = 2.26, P = .035).

Discussion

These results support a role for H1 and specifically H1G in susceptibility to DLB. However, the exact functional variant at the locus is still unknown, and additional studies are warranted to fully explain genetic risk of DLB at the MAPT locus.
Drag cancellation by added-mass pumping
Authors: Giorgio-Serchi F. , Weymouth G. D.
Published: June 2016

A submerged body subject to a sudden shape change experiences large forces due to the variation of added-mass energy. While this phenomenon has been studied for single actuation events, application to sustained propulsion requires the study of periodic shape change. We do so in this work by investigating a spring–mass oscillator submerged in quiescent fluid subject to periodic changes in its volume. We develop an analytical model to investigate the relationship between added-mass variation and viscous damping, and demonstrate its range of application with fully coupled fluid–solid Navier–Stokes simulations at large Stokes number. Our results demonstrate that the recovery of added-mass kinetic energy can be used to completely cancel the viscous damping of the fluid, driving the onset of sustained oscillations with amplitudes as large as four times the average body radius$r_{0}$. A quasi-linear relationship is found to link the terminal amplitude of the oscillations$X$to the extent of size change$a$, with$X/a$peaking at values from 4 to 4.75 depending on the details of the shape-change kinematics. In addition, it is found that pumping in the frequency range of$1-a/2r_{0}<{\it\omega}^{2}/{\it\omega}_{n}^{2}<1+a/2r_{0}$, with${\it\omega}/{\it\omega}_{n}$being the ratio between frequency of actuation and natural frequency, is required for sustained oscillations. The results of this analysis shed light on the role of added-mass recovery in the context of shape-changing bodies and biologically inspired underwater vehicles.
Sozialmedizinische Begutachtung
Authors: Schneider Wolfgang , Freyberger Harald J.
Published: June 2016

Zusammenfassung. Es werden die Konzepte und Ergebnisse verschiedener Studien vorgestellt, die sich mit der Berentungsproblematik bei eingeschränkter Arbeits- und Berufsfähigkeit beschäftigen. Dabei wird auf die Merkmale sozial wirksamer Variablen, Langzeitarbeitslosigkeit, medizinische Hintergründe, Fragen der testpsychologischen Zusatzbegutachtung, Steuerungsprozesse und der psychosomatischen Rehabilitation eingegangen.
Achtsamkeit zur Stressbewältigung
Authors: Haarig Frederik , Winkler Denise , Graubner Marian , Sipos Linda , Mühlig Stephan
Published: June 2016

Zusammenfassung. Achtsamkeitsbasierte Verfahren wie Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) etablieren sich zunehmend in der Stressbewältigung, Förderung von Problemlösefähigkeiten, Prävention und begleitendenden Behandlung psychischer Störungen. Derzeit wird die Übertragbarkeit achtsamkeitsbasierter Verfahren auf die psychosoziale Beratung diskutiert. Welche Auswirkungen zeigt ein achtsamkeitsorientiertes Stressbewältigungstraining (AST) im Beratungssetting auf Achtsamkeitsniveau, Lebensqualität, Stress und depressive Symptomatik? In einer randomisiert-kontrollierten Pilotstudie (N = 28) wurde in der Psychosozialen Beratungsstelle (TU Chemnitz) ein Achtsamkeitsorientiertes Stressbewältigungstraining (6 wöchentliche Einheiten à 2 Stunden) im Warteliste-Kontrollgruppendesign (TAU) durchgeführt (Messzeitpunkte: Prä, Post, 3-Monats-Follow-Up). Trainingsteilnehmende wiesen gegenüber der Kontrollgruppe eine höhere Lebensqualität, weniger dysfunktionale und häufiger funktionale Stressbewältigungsstrategien und geringere depressive Symptome auf. Das Potential achtsamkeitsbasierter Verfahren kann erfolgreich in einer ökonomischen Kurzversion im Beratungssetting mit positiven Effekten auf Stresserleben, Lebensqualität und Depression umgesetzt werden. Der Einsatz achtsamkeitsorientierter Kurz-Trainings im Behandlungskontext sowie in der (psychosozialen) Beratung kann zur Überbrückung und Verringerung von Versorgungsengpässen beitragen.
Sonografieunterricht im Medizinstudium an der Universität Bern – ein Pilotprojekt
Authors: Herrmann Gudrun , Essig Manfred
Published: June 2016

Zusammenfassung. Die Sonografie ist ein modernes Bildgebungsverfahren, das im medizinischen Alltag eine breite Anwendung findet. Obwohl die Ultraschallmethode in fast allen medizinischen Fachdisziplinen verwendet wird, ist die Sonografie kein obligates Lernziel im Medizinstudium der Schweiz. Im Artikel wird über eine Initiative an der Medizinischen Fakultät der Universität Bern berichtet, die Studierenden des zweiten Studienjahres einen Kurs «Sonografie des Abdomens» anbietet. Dieser gemeinsam mit Mitgliedern der Schweizerischen Gesellschaft für Ultraschallmedizin (SGUM) durchgeführte Kurs vermittelt theoretisches Wissen zur Ultraschallanatomie und gibt den Studierenden die Möglichkeit, selbst Ultraschalluntersuchungen durchzuführen.
Wie kann Beratungskompetenz geprüft werden?
Authors: Doll Axel
Published: June 2016

Zusammenfassung. Beratung von Patienten und Angehörigen bzw. edukatives Handeln in der Pflege wird vielfältig diskutiert, etabliert und implementiert. Vor allem Pflegeexpertinnen und -experten mit unterschiedlichen klinischen Schwerpunkten wird eine explizite Beraterrolle zugeschrieben. Doch wie wird Beratungskompetenz entwickelt? Durch klinische Erfahrung, didaktische Konzepte, Trainings oder durch Selbstreflexion? Und wie evaluiert man die Entwicklung und Aneignung der Kompetenzen in der Weiterbildung? Diese Fragen greift der Artikel auf.
Mobiles PIZ – was ist das denn?
Authors: Nordkämper Eva
Published: June 2016

Zusammenfassung. In einem Patienten-Informations-Zentrum (PIZ) findet außerhalb der Stationsabläufe pflegerische Patientenedukation, d. h. Beratung, Information und Schulung zu den individuell relevanten Gesundheits- und Krankheitsthemen statt. Ist es sinnvoll Patientenedukation für Personen, die nicht ins PIZ kommen können, im Patientenzimmer anzubieten? – Ein Erfahrungsbericht aus dem Patienten-Informations-Zentrum des Universitäts-Herzzentrums Freiburg-Bad Krozingen.
Portfoliokonzept
Authors: Spürk Dorothee , Weyland Ulrike , Nauerth Annette
Published: June 2016

Zusammenfassung. Portfolioarbeit gilt als prominenter Wegbegleiter in Bildungsprozessen und wird als hochschuldidaktisches Format in der Lehrerbildung vielfältig umgesetzt. Dennoch wird kritisiert, dass in Studien zur Portfolioarbeit häufig nicht klar genug dargestellt wird, wie Portfolios gestaltet und mit welchen Inhalten sie verbunden sind. Diese Forderung soll im nachfolgenden Beitrag eingelöst werden.
Rezension: Dem Sterben begegnen – 30 junge Menschen sprechen mit sterbenden Menschen und deren Angehörigen Martin W. Schnell/Christian Schulz (Hrsg.)
Authors: Traut Katrin
Published: June 2016

Zusammenfassung. Martin Schnell ist Lehrstuhlinhaber des Lehrstuhls für Sozialphilosophie und Ethik in der Fakultät für Gesundheit an der Universität Witten-Herdecke. Christian Schulz arbeitet als Oberarzt und Facharzt für psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie. Er leitet das «Interdisziplinäre Zentrum für ­Palliativmedizin» (IZP) am Universitätsklinikum der Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf. Gemeinsam arbeiteten sie 2012 an der Entstehung und Veröffentlichung des Buches «Basiswissen Palliativmedizin».
Plunging into Waterfall Sediment Transport Modeling
Authors: Stanley Sarah
Published: June 2016

A first-of-its-kind model describes how pools at the base of waterfalls adjust their depth to keep up with sediment flow.
Stromal senescence establishes an immunosuppressive microenvironment that drives tumorigenesis
Authors: Ruhland Megan K. , Loza Andrew J. , Capietto Aude-Helene , Luo Xianmin , Knolhoff Brett L. , Flanagan Kevin C. , Belt Brian A. , Alspach Elise , Leahy Kathleen , Luo Jingqin , Schaffer Andras , Edwards John R. , Longmore Gregory , Faccio Roberta , DeNardo David G. , Stewart Sheila A.
Published: June 2016

Age is a significant risk factor for the development of cancer. However, the mechanisms that drive age-related increases in cancer remain poorly understood. To determine if senescent stromal cells influence tumorigenesis, we develop a mouse model that mimics the aged skin microenvironment. Using this model, here we find that senescent stromal cells are sufficient to drive localized increases in suppressive myeloid cells that contributed to tumour promotion. Further, we find that the stromal-derived senescence-associated secretory phenotype factor interleukin-6 orchestrates both increases in suppressive myeloid cells and their ability to inhibit anti-tumour T-cell responses. Significantly, in aged, cancer-free individuals, we find similar increases in immune cells that also localize near senescent stromal cells. This work provides evidence that the accumulation of senescent stromal cells is sufficient to establish a tumour-permissive, chronic inflammatory microenvironment that can shelter incipient tumour cells, thus allowing them to proliferate and progress unabated by the immune system.
Weyl fermions and spin dynamics of metallic ferromagnet SrRuO3
Authors: Itoh Shinichi , Endoh Yasuo , Yokoo Tetsuya , Ibuka Soshi , Park Je-Geun , Kaneko Yoshio , Takahashi Kei S. , Tokura Yoshinori , Nagaosa Naoto
Published: June 2016

Weyl fermions that emerge at band crossings in momentum space caused by the spin–orbit interaction act as magnetic monopoles of the Berry curvature and contribute to a variety of novel transport phenomena such as anomalous Hall effect and magnetoresistance. However, their roles in other physical properties remain mostly unexplored. Here, we provide evidence by neutron Brillouin scattering that the spin dynamics of the metallic ferromagnet SrRuO3 in the very low energy range of milli-electron volts is closely relevant to Weyl fermions near Fermi energy. Although the observed spin wave dispersion is well described by the quadratic momentum dependence, the temperature dependence of the spin wave gap shows a nonmonotonous behaviour, which can be related to that of the anomalous Hall conductivity. This shows that the spin dynamics directly reflects the crucial role of Weyl fermions in the metallic ferromagnet.
Long-term effects of simulated microgravity and/or chronic exposure to low-dose gamma radiation on behavior and blood–brain barrier integrity
Authors: Bellone John A , Gifford Peter S , Nishiyama Nina C , Hartman Richard E , Mao Xiao Wen
Published: June 2016

Astronauts on lengthy voyages will be exposed to an environment of microgravity and ionizing radiation that may have adverse effects on physical abilities, mood, and cognitive functioning. However, little is known about the long-term effects of combined microgravity and low-dose radiation. We exposed mice to gamma radiation using a cobalt-57 plate (0.01 cGy/h for a total dose of 0.04 Gy), hindlimb unloading to simulate microgravity, or a combination of both for 3 weeks. Mice then underwent a behavioral test battery after 1 week, 1 month, 4 months, and 8 months to assess sensorimotor coordination/balance (rotarod), activity levels (open field), learned helplessness/depression-like behavior (tail suspension test), risk-taking (elevated zero maze), and spatial learning/memory (water maze). Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) expression was assessed in the brain after behavioral testing to determine blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity. Mice that received unloading spent significantly more time in the exposed portions of the elevated zero maze, were hypoactive in the open field, and spent less time struggling on the tail suspension test than mice that did not receive unloading. Mice in the combination group expressed more AQP4 immunoactivity than controls. Elevated zero maze and AQP4 data were correlated. No differences were seen on the water maze or rotarod, and no radiation-only effects were observed. These results suggest that microgravity may lead to changes in exploratory/risk-taking behaviors in the absence of other sensorimotor or cognitive deficits and that combined microgravity and a chronic, low dose of gamma radiation may lead to BBB dysfunction.
Physiological fluid shear alters the virulence potential of invasive multidrug-resistant non-typhoidal Salmonella Typhimurium D23580
Authors: Yang Jiseon , Barrila Jennifer , Roland Kenneth L , Ott C Mark , Nickerson Cheryl A
Published: June 2016

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium strains belonging to sequence type ST313 are a major cause of fatal bacteremia among HIV-infected adults and children in sub-Saharan Africa. Unlike “classical” non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS), gastroenteritis is often absent during ST313 infections and isolates are most commonly recovered from blood, rather than from stool. This is consistent with observations in animals, in which ST313 strains displayed lower levels of intestinal colonization and higher recovery from deeper tissues relative to classic NTS isolates. A better understanding of the key environmental factors regulating these systemic infections is urgently needed. Our previous studies using dynamic Rotating Wall Vessel (RWV) bioreactor technology demonstrated that physiological levels of fluid shear regulate virulence, gene expression, and stress response profiles of classic S. Typhimurium. Here we provide the first demonstration that fluid shear alters the virulence potential and pathogenesis-related stress responses of ST313 strain D23580 in a manner that differs from classic NTS.
STMN1 Promotes Progesterone Production Via StAR Up-regulation in Mouse Granulosa Cells
Authors: Dou Yun-De , Zhao Han , Huang Tao , Zhao Shi-Gang , Liu Xiao-Man , Yu Xiao-Chen , Ma Zeng-Xiang , Zhang Yu-Chao , Liu Tao , Gao Xuan , Li Lei , Lu Gang , Chan Wai-Yee , Gao Fei , Liu Hong-Bin , Chen Zi-Jiang
Published: June 2016

Stathmin 1 (STMN1) is a biomarker in several types of neoplasms. It plays an important role in cell cycle progression, mitosis, signal transduction and cell migration. In ovaries, STMN1 is predominantly expressed in granulosa cells (GCs). However, little is known about the role of STMN1 in ovary. In this study, we demonstrated that STMN1 is overexpressed in GCs in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In mouse primary GCs, the overexpression of STMN1 stimulated progesterone production, whereas knockdown of STMN1 decreased progesterone production. We also found that STMN1 positively regulates the expression of Star (steroidogenic acute regulatory protein) and Cyp11a1 (cytochrome P450 family 11 subfamily A member 1). Promoter and ChIP assays indicated that STMN1 increased the transcriptional activity of Star and Cyp11a1 by binding to their promoter regions. The data suggest that STMN1 mediates the progesterone production by modulating the promoter activity of Star and Cyp11a1. Together, our findings provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of STMN1 in ovary GC steroidogenesis. A better understanding of this potential interaction between STMN1 and Star in progesterone biosynthesis in GCs will facilitate the discovery of new therapeutic targets in PCOS.
Computational support for a scaffolding mechanism of centriole assembly
Authors: Klein Heinrich C. R. , Guichard Paul , Hamel Virginie , Gönczy Pierre , Schwarz Ulrich S.
Published: June 2016

Centrioles are essential for forming cilia, flagella and centrosomes. Successful centriole assembly requires proteins of the SAS-6 family, which can form oligomeric ring structures with ninefold symmetry in vitro. While important progress has been made in understanding SAS-6 protein biophysics, the mechanisms enabling ring formation in vivo remain elusive. Likewise, the mechanisms by which a nascent centriole forms near-orthogonal to an existing one are not known. Here, we investigate possible mechanisms of centriole assembly using coarse-grained Brownian dynamics computer simulations in combination with a rate equation approach. Our results suggest that without any external factors, strong stabilization associated with ring closure would be needed to enable efficient ring formation. Strikingly, our simulations reveal that a scaffold-assisted assembly mechanism can trigger robust ring formation owing to local cooperativity, and that this mechanism can also impart orthogonalilty to centriole assembly. Overall, our findings provide novel insights into the organizing principles governing the assembly of this important organelle.
Impaired HDL cholesterol efflux in metabolic syndrome is unrelated to glucose tolerance status: the CODAM study
Authors: Annema Wijtske , Dikkers Arne , de Boer Jan Freark , van Greevenbroek Marleen M. J. , van der Kallen Carla J. H. , Schalkwijk Casper G. , Stehouwer Coen D. A. , Dullaart Robin P. F. , Tietge Uwe J. F.
Published: June 2016

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) increase atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk. Cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) is a key metric of the anti-atherosclerotic functionality of high-density lipoproteins (HDL). The present study aimed to delineate if T2DM and MetS cross-sectionally associate with altered CEC in a large high cardiometabolic risk population. CEC was determined from THP-1 macrophage foam cells towards apolipoprotein B-depleted plasma from 552 subjects of the CODAM cohort (288 controls, 126 impaired glucose metabolism [IGM], 138 T2DM). MetS was present in 297 participants. CEC was not different between different glucose tolerance categories but was lower in MetS (P < 0.001), at least partly attributable to lower HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) and apoA-I levels (P < 0.001 for each). Low grade inflammation was increased in IGM, T2DM and MetS as determined by a score comprising 8 different biomarkers (P < 0.05-< 0.001; n = 547). CEC inversely associated with low-grade inflammation taking account of HDL-C or apoA-I in MetS (P < 0.02), but not in subjects without MetS (interaction: P = 0.015). This study demonstrates that IGM and T2DM do not impact the HDL CEC function, while efflux is lower in MetS, partly dependent on plasma HDL-C levels. Enhanced low-grade inflammation in MetS may conceivably impair CEC even independent of HDL-C and apoA-I.
Subtilisin-like protease-1 secreted through type IV secretion system contributes to high virulence of Streptococcus suis 2
Authors: Yin Supeng , Li Ming , Rao Xiancai , Yao Xinyue , Zhong Qiu , Wang Min , Wang Jing , Peng Yizhi , Tang Jiaqi , Hu Fuquan , Zhao Yan
Published: June 2016

Streptococcus suis serotype 2 is an emerging zoonotic pathogen that triggered two outbreaks of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) in China. Our previous research demonstrated that a type IV secretion system (T4SS) harbored in the 89K pathogenicity island contributes to the pathogenicity of S. suis 2. In the present study, a shotgun proteomics approach was employed to identify the effectors secreted by T4SS in S. suis 2 and surface-associated subtilisin-like protease-1 (SspA-1) was identified as a potential virulence effector. Western blot analysis and pull-down assay revealed that SspA-1 secretion depends on T4SS. Knockout mutations affecting sspA-1 attenuated S. suis 2 and impaired the pathogen’s ability to trigger inflammatory response in mice. And purified SspA-1 induced the secretion of IL-6, TNF-α and IL-12p70 in THP-1 cells directly. SspA-1 is the first T4SS virulence effector reported in Gram-positive bacteria. Overall, these findings allow us to gain further insights into the pathogenesis of T4SS and STSS.
Giant reversible anisotropy changes at room temperature in a (La,Sr)MnO3/Pb(Mg,Nb,Ti)O3 magneto-electric heterostructure
Authors: Chopdekar Rajesh Vilas , Buzzi Michele , Jenkins Catherine , Arenholz Elke , Nolting Frithjof , Takamura Yayoi
Published: June 2016

In a model artificial multiferroic system consisting of a (011)-oriented ferroelectric Pb(Mg,Nb,Ti)O3 substrate intimately coupled to an epitaxial ferromagnetic (La,Sr)MnO3 film, electric field pulse sequences of less than 6 kV/cm induce large, reversible and bistable remanent strains. The magnetic anisotropy symmetry reversibly switches from a highly anisotropic two-fold state to a more isotropic one, with concomitant changes in resistivity. Anisotropy changes at the scale of a single ferromagnetic domain were measured using X-ray microscopy, with electric-field dependent magnetic domain reversal showing that the energy barrier for magnetization reversal is drastically lowered. Free energy calculations confirm this barrier lowering by up to 70% due to the anisotropic strain changes generated by the substrate. Thus, we demonstrate that an electric field pulse can be used to ‘set’ and ‘reset’ the magnetic anisotropy orientation and resistive state in the film, as well as to lower the magnetization reversal barrier, showing a promising route towards electric-field manipulation of multifunctional nanostructures at room temperature.
Soluble B7-H3 promotes the invasion and metastasis of pancreatic carcinoma cells through the TLR4/NF-κB pathway
Authors: Xie Chao , Liu Danqing , Chen Qijun , Yang Chong , Wang Bo , Wu Heshui
Published: June 2016

Many studies have demonstrated a relationship between soluble B7-H3 (sB7-H3) and the poor prognosis of patients with malignant tumors, and increasing evidence has shown a connection between sB7-H3 and NF-κB in tumor progression. In the present study, we demonstrate for the first time that sB7-H3 promotes the invasion and metastasis of pancreatic carcinoma cells through the TLR4/NF-κB pathway. In this study, we observed that sB7-H3 was highly expressed in mB7-H3-positive pancreatic carcinoma (PCa) cells. Exogenous sB7-H3 significantly increased NF-κB activity and promoted the migration and invasion of PCa cells. Further studies proved that sB7-H3 first up-regulated TLR4 expression, then activated NF-κB signaling and finally promoted IL-8 and VEGF expression. In contrast, the silencing of TLR4 using a stable short hairpin RNA significantly decreased the sB7-H3-induced activity of NF-κB and the expression of IL-8 and VEGF in PCa cells. In vivo animal experiments further demonstrated that TLR4-knock-down tumor cells displayed a decreased ability to metastasize compared with the control tumor cells after being induced by sB7-H3. Collectively, these results demonstrate that sB7-H3 promotes invasion and metastasis through the TLR4/NF-κB pathway in pancreatic carcinoma cells.
Modulation of oxidative stress and subsequent induction of apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress allows citral to decrease cancer cell proliferation
Authors: Kapur Arvinder , Felder Mildred , Fass Lucas , Kaur Justanjot , Czarnecki Austin , Rathi Kavya , Zeng San , Osowski Kathryn Kalady , Howell Colin , Xiong May P. , Whelan Rebecca J. , Patankar Manish S.
Published: June 2016

The monoterpenoid, citral, when delivered through PEG-b-PCL nanoparticles inhibits in vivo growth of 4T1 breast tumors. Here, we show that citral inhibits proliferation of multiple human cancer cell lines. In p53 expressing ECC-1 and OVCAR-3 but not in p53-deficient SKOV-3 cells, citral induces G1/S cell cycle arrest and apoptosis as determined by Annexin V staining and increased cleaved caspase3 and Bax and decreased Bcl-2. In SKOV-3 cells, citral induces the ER stress markers CHOP, GADD45, EDEM, ATF4, Hsp90, ATG5 and phospho-eIF2α. The molecular chaperone 4-phenylbutyric acid attenuates citral activity in SKOV-3 but not in ECC-1 and OVCAR-3 cells. In p53-expressing cells, citral increases phosphorylation of serine-15 of p53. Activation of p53 increases Bax, PUMA and NOXA expression. Inhibition of p53 by pifithrin-α, attenuates citral-mediated apoptosis. Citral increases intracellular oxygen radicals and this leads to activation of p53. Inhibition of glutathione synthesis by L-buthionine sulfoxamine increases potency of citral. Pretreatment with N-acetylcysteine decreases phosphorylation of p53 in citral-treated ECC-1 and OVCAR-3. These results define a p53-dependent and in the absence of p53, ER stress-dependent mode of action of citral. This study indicates that citral in PEG-b-PCL nanoparticle formulation should be considered for treatment of breast and other tumors.
Association-heterogeneity mapping identifies an Asian-specific association of the GTF2I locus with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Kim Kwangwoo , Bang So-Young , Ikari Katsunori , Yoo Dae Hyun , Cho Soo-Kyung , Choi Chan-Bum , Sung Yoon-Kyoung , Kim Tae-Hwan , Jun Jae-Bum , Kang Young Mo , Suh Chang-Hee , Shim Seung-Cheol , Lee Shin-Seok , Lee Jisoo , Chung Won Tae , Kim Seong-Kyu , Choe Jung-Yoon , Momohara Shigeki , Taniguchi Atsuo , Yamanaka Hisashi , Nath Swapan K. , Lee Hye-Soon , Bae Sang-Cheol
Published: June 2016

Considerable sharing of disease alleles among populations is well-characterized in autoimmune disorders (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis), but there are some exceptional loci showing heterogenic association among populations. Here we investigated genetic variants with distinct effects on the development of rheumatoid arthritis in Asian and European populations. Ancestry-related association heterogeneity was examined using Cochran’s homogeneity tests for the disease association data from large Asian (n = 14,465; 9,299 discovery subjects and 5,166 validation subjects; 4 collections) and European (n = 45,790; 11 collections) rheumatoid arthritis case-control cohorts with Immunochip and genome-wide SNP array data. We identified significant heterogeneity between the two ancestries for the common variants in the GTF2I locus (PHeterogeneity = 9.6 × 10−9 at rs73366469) and showed that this heterogeneity was due to an Asian-specific association effect (ORMeta = 1.37 and PMeta = 4.2 × 10−13 in Asians; ORMeta = 1.00 and PMeta = 1.00 in Europeans). Trans-ancestral comparison and bioinfomatics analysis revealed a plausibly causal or disease-variant-tagging SNP (rs117026326; in linkage disequilibrium with rs73366469), whose minor allele is common in Asians but rare in Europeans. In conclusion, we identified largest-ever effect on Asian rheumatoid arthritis across human non-HLA regions at GTF2I by heterogeneity mapping followed by replication studies, and pinpointed a possible causal variant.
Design, biological evaluation and 3D QSAR studies of novel dioxin-containing pyrazoline derivatives with thiourea skeleton as selective HER-2 inhibitors
Authors: Yang Bing , Yang Yu-Shun , Yang Na , Li Guigen , Zhu Hai-Liang
Published: June 2016

A series of novel dioxin-containing pyrazoline derivatives with thiourea skeleton have been designed, synthesized and evaluated for their EGFR/HER-2 inhibitory and anti-proliferation activities. A majority of them displayed selective HER-2 inhibitory activity against EGFR inhibitory activity. Compound C20 displayed the most potent activity against HER-2 and MDA-MB-453 human breast cancer cell line (IC50 = 0.03 μM and GI50 = 0.15 μM), being slightly more potent than the positive control Erlotinib (IC50 = 0.16 μM and GI50 = 1.56 μM) and comparable with Lapatinib (IC50 = 0.01 μM and GI50 = 0.03 μM). It is a more exciting result that C20 was over 900 times more potent against HER-2 than against EGFR while this value was 0.19 for Erlotinib and 1.00 for Lapatinib, indicating high selectivity. The results of docking simulation indicate that the dioxin moiety occupied the exit of the active pocket and pushed the carbothioamide deep into the active site. QSAR models have been built with activity data and binding conformations to begin our work in this paper as well as to provide a reliable tool for reasonable design of EGFR/HER-2 inhibitors in future.
(±)-Japonones A and B, two pairs of new enantiomers with anti-KSHV activities from Hypericum japonicum
Authors: Hu Linzhen , Zhu Hucheng , Li Lei , Huang Jinfeng , Sun Weiguang , Liu Junjun , Li Hua , Luo Zengwei , Wang Jianping , Xue Yongbo , Zhang Yu , Zhang Yonghui
Published: June 2016

Two pairs of new enantiomers with unusual 5,5-spiroketal cores, termed (±)-japonones A and B [(±)-1and (±)-2], were obtained fromHypericum japonicumThunb. The absolute configurations of (±)-1and (±)-2were characterized by extensive analyses of spectroscopic data and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra, the application of modified Mosher’s methods and the assistance of quantum chemical predictions (QCP) of13C NMR chemical shifts. Among these metabolites, (+)-1exhibited some inhibitory activity on Kaposi’s sarcoma associated herpesvirus (KSHV). Virtual screening of (±)-1and (±)-2were conducted using the Surflex-Dock module in the Sybyl software and (+)-1exhibited ability to bind with ERK to form key interactions with residues Lys52, Pro56, Ile101, Asp165, Gly167 and Val99.
Cardiac arrest triggers hippocampal neuronal death through autophagic and apoptotic pathways
Authors: Cui Derong , Shang Hanbing , Zhang Xiaoli , Jiang Wei , Jia Xiaofeng
Published: June 2016

The mechanism of neuronal death induced by ischemic injury remains unknown. We investigated whether autophagy and p53 signaling played a role in the apoptosis of hippocampal neurons following global cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, in a rat model of 8-min asphyxial cardiac arrest (CA) and resuscitation. Increased autophagosome numbers, expression of lysosomal cathepsin B, cathepsin D, Beclin-1 and microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3) suggested autophagy in hippocampal cells. The expression of tumor suppressor protein 53 (p53) and its target genes: Bax, p53-upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) and damage-regulated autophagy modulator (DRAM) were upregulated following CA. The p53-specific inhibitor pifithrin-α (PFT-α) significantly reduced the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins (Bax and PUMA) and autophagic proteins (LC3-II and DRAM) that generally increase following CA. PFT-α also reduced hippocampal neuronal damage following CA. Similarly, 3-methyladenine (3-MA), which inhibits autophagy and bafilomycin A1 (BFA), which inhibits lysosomes, significantly inhibited hippocampal neuronal damage after CA. These results indicate that CA affects both autophagy and apoptosis, partially mediated by p53. Autophagy plays a significant role in hippocampal neuronal death induced by cerebral I/R following asphyxial-CA.
Detachment of secondary dendrite arm in a directionally solidified Sn-Ni peritectic alloy under deceleration growth condition
Authors: Peng Peng , Li Xinzhong , Li Jiangong , Su Yanqing , Guo Jingjie , Fu Hengzhi
Published: June 2016

In order to better understand the detachment mechanism of secondary dendrite arm during peritectic solidification, the detachment of secondary dendrite arm from the primary dendrite arms in directionally solidified Sn-36at.%Ni peritectic alloys is investigated at different deceleration rates. Extensive detachment of secondary dendrite arms from primary stem is observed below peritectic reaction temperature TP. And an analytical model is established to characterize the detachment process in terms of the secondary dendrite arm spacing λ2, the root radius of detached arms and the specific surface area (SV) of dendrites. It is found that the detachment mechanism is caused by not only curvature difference between the tips and roots of secondary branches, but also that between the thicker secondary branches and the thinner ones. Besides, this detachment process is significantly accelerated by the temperature gradient zone melting (TGZM) effect during peritectic solidification. It is demonstrated that the reaction constant (f) which is used to characterize the kinetics of peritectic reaction is crucial for the determination of the detachment process. The value of f not only changes with growth rate but also with solidification time at a given deceleration rate. In conclusion, these findings help the better understanding of the detachment mechanism.
Diversity in a simple co-crystal: racemic and kryptoracemic behaviour
Authors: Rao Khandavilli U. B. , Lusi Matteo , Bhogala Balakrishna R. , Maguire Anita R. , Stein Matthias , Lawrence Simon E.
Published: June 2016

The first kryptoracemate co-crystal displays structural diversity and a reversible single-crystal to single-crystal transition between two kryptoracemate forms.
Thermal boundary conductance enhancement using experimentally achievable nanostructured interfaces – analytical study combined with molecular dynamics simulation
Authors: Lee Eungkyu , Zhang Teng , Hu Ming , Luo Tengfei
Published: June 2016

An analytical study demonstrates that SiC/GaN interfaces with square-shape nanopillar arrays enhance thermal boundary conductance, extendable to any characteristic lengths.
Natural abundance 14N and 15N solid-state NMR of pharmaceuticals and their polymorphs
Authors: Veinberg Stanislav L. , Johnston Karen E. , Jaroszewicz Michael J. , Kispal Brianna M. , Mireault Christopher R. , Kobayashi Takeshi , Pruski Marek , Schurko Robert W.
Published: June 2016

14N and 15N solid-state NMR at natural abundance are used in tandem for the investigation of pharmaceuticals and their polymorphs.
LaPtSb: a half-Heusler compound with high thermoelectric performance
Authors: Xue Q. Y. , Liu H. J. , Fan D. D. , Cheng L. , Zhao B. Y. , Shi J.
Published: June 2016

The electronic and transport properties of the half-Heusler compound LaPtSb are investigated by performing first-principles calculations combined with semi-classical Boltzmann theory and deformation potential theory.
Novel poly(2-oxazoline)s with pendant l-prolinamide moieties as efficient organocatalysts for direct asymmetric aldol reaction
Authors: Wang Yao , Shen Huifang , Zhou Le , Hu Fangyu , Xie Shoulei , Jiang Liming
Published: June 2016

Novel poly(2-oxazoline)-bound l-prolinamides have been developed as aldolase biomimetic systems for direct aldol reaction with high stereoselectivity.
A multi-target caffeine derived rhodium(i) N-heterocyclic carbene complex: evaluation of the mechanism of action
Authors: Zhang Jing-Jing , Muenzner Julienne K. , Abu el Maaty Mohamed A. , Karge Bianka , Schobert Rainer , Wölfl Stefan , Ott Ingo
Published: June 2016

A rhodium(i) and a ruthenium(ii) complex with a caffeine derived N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand were biologically investigated as organometallic conjugates consisting of a metal center and a naturally occurring moiety.
Molten salts and energy related materials
Authors: Fray Derek
Published: June 2016

Molten salts have been known for centuries and have been used for the extraction of aluminium for over one hundred years and as high temperature fluxes in metal processing. This and other molten salt routes have gradually become more energy efficient and less polluting, but there have been few major breakthroughs. This paper will explore some recent innovations that could lead to substantial reductions in the energy consumed in metal production and in carbon dioxide production. Another way that molten salts can contribute to an energy efficient world is by creating better high temperature fuel cells and novel high temperature batteries, or by acting as the medium that can create novel materials that can find applications in high energy batteries and other energy saving devices, such as capacitors. Carbonate melts can be used to absorb carbon dioxide, which can be converted into C, CO and carbon nanoparticles. Molten salts can also be used to create black silicon that can absorb more sunlight over a wider range of wavelengths. Overall, there are many opportunities to explore for molten salts to play in an efficient, low carbon world.