bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ER stress‐related ATF6 upregulates CIP2A and contributes to poor prognosis of colon cancer
Authors: Liu Chun‐Yu , Hsu Chia‐Chi , Huang Tzu‐Ting , Lee Chia‐Han , Chen Ji‐Lin , Yang Shung‐Haur , Jiang Jeng‐Kai , Chen Wei‐Shone , Lee Kuan‐Der , Teng Hao‐Wei
Published: July 2018

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is an adaptive response to various stress conditions and plays emerging roles in cancer. Activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6), one of the three major ER stress transducers, has been shown to contribute to chemoresistance by altering cancer cell survival. Cancerous inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A (CIP2A) is an oncogene, and its expression has been correlated with the prognosis of patients with cancer. In this study, we aimed to explore the relationship between ER stress‐related ATF signaling and CIP2A. We found that CIP2A expression was positively correlated with ATF6 expression by analyzing publicly available RNA sequence data of patients with colorectal cancer (The Cancer Genome Atlas, TCGA). In addition, we demonstrated that tunicamycin‐induced ER stress in vitro upregulated ATF6 and CIP2A. Mechanistically, we found that ATF6 directly bound to the CIP2A promoter and induced CIP2A gene expression, which contributed to colon cancer cell survival. Furthermore, knockdown of CIP2A reduced the viability of cells under ER stress. Most importantly, immunohistochemical analysis of a tissue microarray from a colon cancer patient cohort showed that higher expression levels of ATF6 and CIP2A were associated with a trend toward poor prognosis. Taken together, our results show that ER stress‐related ATF6 upregulates CIP2A and contributes to the prognosis of colon cancer. Targeting CIP2A may disrupt ER stress‐mediated colon cancer cell survival and thus improve the prognosis of patients with colon cancer.
Vibrational Spectroscopy of Water with High Spatial Resolution
Authors: Jokisaari Jacob R. , Hachtel Jordan A. , Hu Xuan , Mukherjee Arijita , Wang Canhui , Konecna Andrea , Lovejoy Tracy C. , Dellby Niklas , Aizpurua Javier , Krivanek Ondrej L. , Idrobo Juan‐Carlos , Klie Robert F.
Published: July 2018

The ability to examine the vibrational spectra of liquids with nanometer spatial resolution will greatly expand the potential to study liquids and liquid interfaces. In fact, the fundamental properties of water, including complexities in its phase diagram, electrochemistry, and bonding due to nanoscale confinement are current research topics. For any liquid, direct investigation of ordered liquid structures, interfacial double layers, and adsorbed species at liquid–solid interfaces are of interest. Here, a novel way of characterizing the vibrational properties of liquid water with high spatial resolution using transmission electron microscopy is reported. By encapsulating water between two sheets of boron nitride, the ability to capture vibrational spectra to quantify the structure of the liquid, its interaction with the liquid‐cell surfaces, and the ability to identify isotopes including H2O and D2O using electron energy‐loss spectroscopy is demonstrated. The electron microscope used here, equipped with a high‐energy‐resolution monochromator, is able to record vibrational spectra of liquids and molecules and is sensitive to surface and bulk morphological properties both at the nano‐ and micrometer scales. These results represent an important milestone for liquid and isotope‐labeled materials characterization with high spatial resolution, combining nanoscale imaging with vibrational spectroscopy.
Role of lncRNAs in aging and age‐related diseases
Authors: He Jieyu , Tu Chao , Liu Youshuo
Published: July 2018

Aging is progressive physiological degeneration and consequently declined function, which is linked to senescence on both cellular and organ levels. Accumulating studies indicate that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in cellular senescence at all levels—transcriptional, post‐transcriptional, translational, and post‐translational. Understanding the molecular mechanism of lncRNAs underlying senescence could facilitate interpretation and intervention of aging and age‐related diseases. In this review, we describe categories of known and novel lncRNAs that have been involved in the progression of senescence. We also identify the lncRNAs implicated in diseases arising from age‐driven degeneration or dysfunction in some representative organs and systems (brains, liver, muscle, cardiovascular system, bone pancreatic islets, and immune system). Improved comprehension of lncRNAs in the aging process on all levels, from cell to organismal, may provide new insights into the amelioration of age‐related pathologies and prolonged healthspan.
Guidelines for the performance of the first trimester ultrasound
Authors: Mizia Karen , Campbell Westerway Sue , Robertson Meiri , Parry Emma , Paoletti Debra , Perry David , Ramkrishna Jayshree , Macpherson Lyndal , Condous George
Published: July 2018

The purpose of this document is to guide ultrasound practitioners in providing accurate information on the assessment of gestational age, viability and fetal development in the first trimester. In the presence of twins and higher order multiple pregnancies, it is also intended to assess chorionicity and amnionicity which have implications for risk assessment and continuing antenatal care. This guideline has been adopted by the ASUM Council and is applicable to all ultrasound practitioners.
Effect of silk nano‐disc dispersion on mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties of poly(lactic acid) based bionanocomposites
Authors: Patwa Rahul , Kumar Amit , Katiyar Vimal
Published: July 2018

Exacerbated environmental concerns about petroleum‐based plastics provide the impetus to foster sustainable poly(lactic acid) (PLA) based food packaging. Nonetheless, PLA has its foibilities such as its brittleness, higher gas permeability, and slow crystallization. With the intent to mitigate the above shortcomings, we report a maiden effort for the fabrication of PLA/crystalline silk nano‐discs (CSNs) based bionanocomposites by melt‐extrusion for high temperature engineering and food packaging applications. Acid hydrolyzed silk fibroin from muga silk (Antheraea assama) yields CSNs, a crystalline hydrophobic discotic nanofiller with diameter of ∼50 nm and thickness ∼3 nm. At optimum loadings of 1 wt % uniform dispersed CSNs with percolated network structures covering the entire matrix can be seen. Due to enhanced crystal nucleation density, water vapor, and oxygen permeability reduced by ∼30% and ∼70%, respectively. Enhancement in toughness, percentage elongation, and tensile strength up to ∼65%, ∼40%, and ∼10%, respectively, is obtained. Onset of thermal decomposition for the PLA/CSN improved ∼10 °C, confirming the role of CSN in enhancing melt stability. Accordingly, this investigation renders a novel non‐invasive approach for increasing the crystallinity with improvement in thermomechanical and barrier properties which make this bionanocomposite, a promising candidate for food packaging applications. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46671.
Effects of variation of steric repulsion between multiwall carbon nanotubes and anionic surfactant in epoxy nanocomposites
Authors: Sumdani M. G. , Islam M. R. , Yahaya A. N. A.
Published: July 2018

The aim of this research is to investigate the effects of the variation of the steric repulsion force among multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) while dispersed in epoxy. Different amounts (0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 wt %) of MWCNTs were used to prepare nanocomposites in the presence of an anionic surfactant, linear alkyl benzene sulfonic acid (LABSA), to examine the effect of loading MWCNTs into the epoxy composites. The mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were analyzed by tensile, flexural, and impact testing. The structural and crystalline properties were evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction analysis. The thermal properties were assessed by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry, whereas dispersion and surface morphology were examined by scanning electron microscopy. It was observed that MWCNTs enhanced the tensile strength (TS) and flexural strength (FS) of the composites. The TS and FS of the composites were improved by 75.0% and 91.6%, respectively, with the inclusion of 0.50 wt % MWCNTs. The thermal properties of the composites were enhanced significantly with the addition of MWCNTs. LABSA improved the steric repulsion of MWCNTs as a consequence of homogeneous dispersion in the composites. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46883.
A Zn0.5Cd0.5S Photocatalyst Modified by 2D Black Phosphorus for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution from Water
Authors: Zhao Haitao , Liu Heyuan , Sun Ranran , Chen Yanli , Li Xiyou
Published: July 2018

In this work, a photocatalyst composited of Zn0.5Cd0.5S and 2D black phosphorus (BP) nanosheets was successfully constructed for high‐efficient hydrogen evolution. The structure, morphology and chemical composition of BPx/Zn0.5Cd0.5S photocatalysts were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Remarkably, the hydrogen production rate of optimal BP15.2/Zn0.5Cd0.5S nanocomposite achieves as high as 137.17 mmol/g/h under visible light irradiation (λ>420 nm), which is 5 times of that of pristine Zn0.5Cd0.5S. The corresponding apparent quantum efficiency (QE) is measured to be 36.3 % at 420 nm. Moreover, the hydrogen production rate reaches 26.96 mmol/g/h for BP15.2/Zn0.5Cd0.5S under the irradiation of light with wavelength longer than 510 nm. The improved photocatalytic activity can be attributed to the interfacial contact between BP and Zn0.5Cd0.5S, which efficiently promotes electron‐hole pair separation. Moreover, 2D black phosphorus has successfully extended the absorption spectrum of BPx/Zn0.5Cd0.5S to the wavelength longer than 510 nm. Our result highlights the significance of BP as co‐catalyst in the development of new photocatalysis for hydrogen production from water.
Development of a 3D Hybrid Intelligent‐Mechanistic Model for Simulation of Multiphase Chemical Reactors
Authors: Rezakazemi Mashallah , Shirazian Saeed
Published: July 2018

A novel intelligent‐mechanistic model was developed to understand the behavior of multiphase chemical reactors. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and an intelligent algorithm were combined to predict different levels of 3D cylindrical bubble‐column reactors. An adaptive neuro‐fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) was used as the intelligence algorithm, and different ANFIS parameters were evaluated. With about one third of the training data the method can predict the overall behavior of the gas fraction in the reactor. A number of rules significantly influence the accuracy of the ANFIS method. After finding appropriate parameters, the method is applied for prediction of points which are not simulated with CFD, representing ANFIS mesh refinement. Also, bubble‐column reactors without training of exact values of measured data or numerical results can be predicted. Main advantages are time savings and reduction of computational expenses.
Patient‐specific CFD modelling in the thoracic aorta with PC‐MRI–based boundary conditions: A least‐square three‐element Windkessel approach
Authors: Romarowski Rodrigo M. , Lefieux Adrien , Morganti Simone , Veneziani Alessandro , Auricchio Ferdinando
Published: July 2018

The increasing use of computational fluid dynamics for simulating blood flow in clinics demands the identification of appropriate patient‐specific boundary conditions for the customization of the mathematical models. These conditions should ideally be retrieved from measurements. However, finite resolution of devices as well as other practical/ethical reasons prevent the construction of complete data sets necessary to make the mathematical problems well posed. Available data need to be completed by modelling assumptions, whose impact on the final solution has to be carefully addressed. Focusing on aortic vascular districts and related pathologies, we present here a method for efficiently and robustly prescribing phase contrast MRI–based patient‐specific data as boundary conditions at the domain of interest. In particular, for the outlets, the basic idea is to obtain pressure conditions from an appropriate elaboration of available flow rates on the basis of a 3D/0D dimensionally heterogeneous modelling. The key point is that the parameters are obtained by a constrained optimization procedure. The rationale is that pressure conditions have a reduced impact on the numerical solution compared with velocity conditions, yielding a simulation framework less exposed to noise and inconsistency of the data, as well as to the arbitrariness of the underlying modelling assumptions. Numerical results confirm the reliability of the approach in comparison with other patient‐specific approaches adopted in the literature.
Phase‐Controlled Synthesis of High‐Bi‐Ratio Ternary Sulfide Nanocrystals of Cu1.57Bi4.57S8 and Cu2.93Bi4.89S9
Authors: Ren Xiaoru , Yuan Long , Liang Qingshuang , Xie Renguo , Geng Zhibin , Sun Yu , Wang Lei , Huang Keke , Wu Tianli , Feng Shouhua
Published: July 2018

High Bi‐ratio ternary sulfides have been recently reported as superior thermoelectric materials. However, the synthesis of high Bi‐ratio Cu−Bi−S nanocrystal remains a challenge. Reported here are the synthesis and characterization of three‐phase Cu−Bi−S nanocrystals with the nominal chemical formulae of Cu1.57Bi4.57S8, Cu2.93Bi4.89S9 and Cu3BiS3. The samples were prepared using a Bi2S3 precursor by varying the amount and type of Cu2‐xS (i. e. Cu2S or Cu7.2S4) reactants. TEM images reveal that two new samples crystalized having nanorod morphology with radii of approximately 50 nm and lengths of 200 nm. XPS results indicate that the valence states of Bi in both the two new phases are +3 with viable oxidation states for Cu. UV‐Vis‐NIR absorption spectroscopy reveals that narrow direct bandgaps are 1.12 and 1.27 eV for Cu1.57Bi4.57S8 and Cu2.93Bi4.89S9, respectively. Besides, this method could also be applied to synthesize the Cu3BiS3 phase with a new nanoplate morphology. The as‐synthesized Cu−Bi−S samples show Cu/Bi ratio‐dependent photoresponsive properties. This study not only reports the structure and bandgap of two ternary sulfides, which have only been discovered in the mineral previously, but also provides an efficient method for synthesizing Bi‐rich ternary chalcogenide nanocrystals.
Slowing down of charged particles in dusty plasmas with power‐law kappa‐distributions
Authors: Du Jiulin , Guo Ran , Liu Zhipeng , Du Songtao
Published: July 2018

We study the slowing down of a particle beam passing through the dusty plasma with power‐law κ‐distributions. Three plasma components, electrons, ions, and dust particles, can have a different κ‐parameter. By using Fokker‐Planck theory, the deceleration factor and slowing down time are derived and expressed by a hyper‐geometric κ‐function. Numerically, we study the slowing down property of an electron beam in the κ‐distributed dusty plasma. We show that the slowing down in the plasma depends strongly on the κ‐parameters of plasma components, and dust particles play a dominant role in the deceleration effects. We also show dependence of the slowing down on mass and charge of a dust particle in the kappa‐distributed plasma.
Comparing environmental flow scenarios from hydrological methods, legislation guidelines, and hydrodynamic habitat models downstream of the Marathon Dam (Attica, Greece)
Authors: Theodoropoulos Christos , Georgalas Spyridon , Mamassis Nikolaos , Stamou Anastasios , Rutschmann Peter , Skoulikidis Nikolaos
Published: July 2018

In their effort to balance anthropogenic water demand and ecosystem conservation within a sustainable water resources management framework, water managers and stakeholders need sound scientific guidance. In this study, we applied a two‐dimensional hydrodynamic habitat model using benthic macroinvertebrates as the target aquatic community and carried out an environmental flow (eflow) assessment downstream of the Marathon Reservoir (Attica, Central Greece). Hydrology‐based eflow scenarios were additionally developed over an 11‐year period, and the lowest acceptable ecosystem‐based eflow was compared with the hydrology‐based eflow predictions. We found that the hydrological methods tend to underestimate the eflows required to ensure functional aquatic ecosystems. The results showed that (a) the different hydrological methods developed highly variable eflow scenarios, ranging from 0.0006 to 0.18 m3/s, (b) the ecosystem‐based eflow was up to 183% higher than the hydrology‐based ones and 26% to 465% higher than those defined by the national legislation, and (c) the probability of agreement between hydrological and ecological predictions was 12.5%, as only one out of the eight hydrology‐based scenarios coincided with the ecosystem‐based eflows. We conclude that hydrological methods should be used with caution in the absence of ecological information. Their use as stand‐alone tools seems problematic and bears a high risk of producing inappropriate eflow scenarios. Integrative frameworks combining hydrological–ecological methods could be useful to provide information on what is ecologically acceptable and hydrologically socially feasible, but because the two methods comprise structurally different, noninteracting concepts, they are inherently insufficient to increase the confidence of predicting and selecting eflows.
The role played by environmental concern and institutional trust in changing public preferences for water management
Authors: Lafuente Regina , Paneque Pilar , Vargas Jesús
Published: July 2018

Efforts to improve the efficiency of irrigation systems in areas which suffer from water scarcity have often failed to reduce water demand owing to the constant expansion of irrigation. Andalusia, in southern Spain, is a clear case in point, as the publicly funded programs aimed at improving irrigation put forward since the 1990s after recurrent episodes of drought have not been able to meet agrarian demand. This situation has generated an active debate among stakeholders and public managers. This study aims to investigate the role of public opinion in this debate, as demanded by new water governance models, embodied in the Water Framework Directive. We use the results of a representative annual survey in Andalusia between 2004 and 2013. First, we analyze the evolution of public support for the two most costly public measures: constructing reservoirs and improving irrigation. Second, we analyze some attitudes that may have affected a change in public opinion, including institutional trust and environmental concern. The results suggest that the public legitimizes the administration's bid for more efficient irrigation systems, essentially for environmental reasons. However, should attempts to control water demand continue to fail, support for this measure may be withdrawn.
Sedimentary features and their controls in a mixed siliciclastic–carbonate system in a shallow lake area: An example from the BZ‐X block in the Huanghekou Sag, Bohai Bay Basin, Eastern China
Authors: Ye Maosong , Xie Xinong , Xu Changgui , Du Xiaofeng , Du Xuebin , Song Zhangqiang
Published: July 2018

Mixed siliciclastic–carbonate sediments were well developed in the BZ‐X block as a subunit in the Huanghekou Sag in the southeastern part of the Bohai Bay Basin (China) during the Member 1 of the Shahejie Formation. An integrated approach based on detailed microscopic observation and core descriptions was applied to characterize the lithofacies types, facies associations, and depositional environment of the mixed sediments system. A detailed sedimentary facies analysis suggests that various lithofacies types can be grouped into four facies associations: mixed bioclastic sandy beaches (FA1), mixed clastic bioclastic shoal (FA2), mixed sandy oolitic shoals (FA3), and mixed distal bioclastic sandy beaches (FA4). These facies associations are interpreted to be deposited in varying depositional environments ranging from foreshore to shoreface setting in a shallow lake setting. An interplay of the climate regime, nearshore carbonate productivity, and current activity was proved to control the lithofacies types, dispersion and depositional environment change of mixed sediments in different depositional phases. Meter‐scale mixed cycles were found in this shallow lake setting and their features seem to differ from the classical mixed sediment models. It is suggested that these particular cycles in the stratigraphic record might indicate a typical mark of mixed sediment system in shallow areas of the lacustrine basin.
How does expansion of public health insurance affect risk pools and premiums in the market for private health insurance? Evidence from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act Marketplaces
Authors: Sen Aditi P. , DeLeire Thomas
Published: July 2018

Private insurance market risk pools are likely to be directly affected by expansions of public insurance, in turn affecting premiums. We investigate the effects of Medicaid expansion on private health insurance markets using data on the plans offered through the health insurance “Marketplaces” (also known as Exchanges) established by the Affordable Care Act. We employ geographic matching to compare premiums for private plans in neighboring counties that straddle expansion and nonexpansion states and find that premiums of Marketplace plans are 11% lower in Medicaid expansion states, controlling for demographic and health characteristics as well as measures of health care access. These results are consistent with evidence on the composition of the private insurance risk pool in expansion versus nonexpansion states and associated differences in expected health spending.
Extreme rainfall indices in Distrito Federal, Brazil: Trends and links with El Niño southern oscillation and Madden–Julian oscillation
Authors: Borges Pablo de Amorim , Bernhofer Christian , Rodrigues Regina
Published: July 2018

This study investigates trends and the effects of the interannual and intraseasonal climate variability on the extreme weather of Brazil's capital city Distrito Federal (DF). This area is highly vulnerable to climate variability, having suffered from droughts and floods that affected the drinking water supply and agriculture. We perform trend analysis of 12 rainfall‐related indices from 13 ground observation stations and assess the influence of El Niño southern oscillation (ENSO) and Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) on rainfall totals and extreme indices. The trend analysis confirms: (a) the increase of the dry spells length and (b) the anticipation of the onset of dry periods at regional level. That is also true when considering dry spells in the rainy season, a hazard known in the agriculture sector as “verânico.” On the other hand, extreme wet conditions became less severe in the last decades. Supressed monthly rainfall conditions, and some wet indices, are associated with La Niña episodes. The MJO's intraseasonal variability seems to play a substantial role in DF's climate. MJO phases 3, 7 and 8 are associated to enhanced rainfall conditions; whereas rainfall is supressed during phase 5. Moreover, dry spells during the rainy season, or “verânico,” often coincide with MJO phase 5. When combined with ENSO, the basic response of rainfall to MJO activity changes substantially showing statistically significant influence of El Niño on phases 2 and 8; while La Niña on phases 4, 6 and 7. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the ongoing changes in extreme climate as well as the influence of natural climate variability on local's climate, information that can be used in the management of water resources and land use of DF.
Ice margin oscillations during deglaciation of the northern Irish Sea Basin
Authors: Chiverrell R. C. , Smedley R. K. , Small D. , Ballantyne C. K. , Burke M. J. , Callard S. L. , Clark C. D. , Duller G. A. T. , Evans D. J. A. , Fabel D. , van Landeghem K. , Livingstone S. , Ó Cofaigh C. , Thomas G. S. P. , Roberts D. H. , Saher M. , Scourse J. D. , Wilson P.
Published: July 2018

We present a new chronology to constrain ice‐margin retreat in the northern Irish Sea Basin. Estimates on the timing of ice thinning derived from surface exposure ages for boulders from the summits of the Isle of Man and south‐west Cumbria suggest that ice thinning was commensurate with the rapid retreat that followed the short‐lived advance of the Irish Sea Ice Stream (ISIS) to maximum limits in the Celtic Sea. This ice retreat in the northern Irish Sea Basin was fastest at 20 ka in response to a wider calving margin, but slowed as ice stabilized and oscillated against the Isle of Man. We provide the first age constraints for the Scottish Readvance (19.2–18.2 ka) and demonstrate that it was a potentially regional event across the Isle of Man and Cumbrian lowlands not linked with Heinrich Event 1. After the Scottish Readvance, the ice front retreated northwards towards the Southern Uplands of Scotland at the same time as climate north of ∼45°N warmed in response to summer insolation. This sequence demonstrates the importance of internal dynamics in controlling ice retreat rates in the Irish Sea, but also that deglaciation of the northern Irish Sea Basin was a response to climate warming.
Molecular‐sieve‐based matrix solid‐phase extraction combined with field‐amplified sample stacking in capillary electrophoresis for the determination of three organic acids in a complex solid matrix
Authors: Wei Mengmeng , Liu Caijing , Zhang Huan , Jiang Luyi , Yan Jizhong , Chu Chu
Published: July 2018

A simple, convenient, and sensitive method that involves combining matrix solid‐phase dispersion extraction with field‐amplified sample stacking in capillary electrophoresis has been developed for the determination of organic acids in a complex solid matrix. Mesoporous molecular sieve, MCM‐48, was synthesized by a hydrothermal method and selected as the adsorbent in matrix solid‐phase dispersion. After fast extraction, the enriched analytes were back‐extracted into a basic aqueous solution for field‐amplified sample stacking in capillary electrophoresis. Parameters that affect extraction efficiency and sample stacking were optimized. Under the optimal conditions, approximately 42‐, 49‐, and 56‐fold sensitivity enhancements were achieved for danshensu, protocatechuic acid, and cinnamic acid, respectively, when compared to normal injection. A satisfactory correlation coefficient (r > 0.99) was obtained. Both intra‐ and interday precision were lower than 2.53%. And the limits of detection of the three organic acids ranged between 0.01 and 0.029 μg/mL. Finally, the newly proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of organic acids in Fufang Danshen tablets, which indicates its great potential in analyzing organic acids in a complex matrix.
Electrochromic Os(II)‐Based Metallo‐Supramolecular Polymers
Authors: Bera Manas Kumar , Chakraborty Chanchal , Rana Utpal , Higuchi Masayoshi
Published: July 2018

This work presents the preparation of a series of novel Os(II)‐based metallo‐supramolecular polymers (polyOss: linear polyOsL1100% and hyperbranched polyOsL1x%L2y%) that show a broad absorption spanning 312 to 677 nm and a low Os(II)/(III) redox potential of 0.94 V. The electrochromic properties of a polyOs film cast on an ITO substrate is investigated. The change in transmittance (ΔT) of polyOsL1100% is 49.9%, and the switching times for coloration (t
c) and bleaching (t
b) are 0.70 and 0.82 s, respectively. The introduction of a 10% branching structure (polyOsL190%L210%) further enhanced the electrochromic performance with ΔT = 59.4%, t
c = 0.41 s, and t
b = 0.54 s. The coloration efficiency (η) increased from 396.1 to 467.5 cm2 C−1 upon branching. A solid‐state electrochromic device with polyOsL1100% is successfully fabricated to use the polymer for potential applications.
Pulmonary metastatic colonisation and granulomas in NOX2‐deficient mice
Authors: van der Weyden Louise , Speak Anneliese O , Swiatkowska Agnieszka , Clare Simon , Schejtman Andrea , Santilli Giorgia , Arends Mark J , Adams David J
Published: July 2018

Metastasis is the leading cause of death in cancer patients, and successful colonisation of a secondary organ by circulating tumour cells (CTCs) is the rate‐limiting step of this process. We used tail‐vein injection of B16‐F10 melanoma cells into mice to mimic the presence of CTCs and to allow for the assessment of host (microenvironmental) factors that regulate pulmonary metastatic colonisation. We found that mice deficient for the individual subunits of the NADPH oxidase of myeloid cells, NOX2 (encoded by Cyba, Cybb, Ncf1, Ncf2, and Ncf4), all showed decreased pulmonary metastatic colonisation. To understand the role of NOX2 in controlling tumour cell survival in the pulmonary microenvironment, we focused on Cyba‐deficient (Cybatm1a) mice, which showed the most significant decrease in metastatic colonisation. Interestingly, histological assessment of pulmonary metastatic colonisation was not possible in Cybatm1a mice, owing to the presence of large granulomas composed of galectin‐3 (Mac‐2)‐positive macrophages and eosinophilic deposits; granulomas of variable penetrance and severity were also found in Cybatm1a mice that were not injected with melanoma cells, and these contributed to their decreased survival. The decreased pulmonary metastatic colonisation of Cybatm1a mice was not due to any overt defects in vascular permeability, and bone marrow chimaeras confirmed a role for the haematological system in the reduced metastatic colonisation phenotype. Examination of the lymphocyte populations, which are known key regulators of metastatic colonisation, revealed an enhanced proportion of activated T and natural killer cells in the lungs of Cybatm1a mice, relative to controls. The reduced metastatic colonisation, presence of granulomas and altered immune cell populations observed in Cybatm1a lungs were mirrored in Ncf2‐deficient (Ncf2tm1a) mice. Thus, we show that NOX2 deficiency results in both granulomas and the accumulation of antitumoural immune cells in the lungs that probably mediate the decreased pulmonary metastatic colonisation. © 2018 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Polyamines delay leaf maturation in low‐alkaloid tobacco varieties
Authors: Nölke Greta , Volke Daniel , Chudobová Ivana , Houdelet Marcel , Lusso Marcos , Frederick Jesse , Adams Andrew , Kudithipudi Chengalrayan , Warek Ujwala , Strickland James A. , Xu Dongmei , Schinkel Helga , Schillberg Stefan
Published: July 2018

The development of low‐alkaloid (LA) tobacco varieties is an important target in the tobacco breeding industry. However, LA Burley 21 plants, in which the Nic1 and Nic2 loci controlling nicotine biosynthesis are deleted, are characterized by impaired leaf maturation that leads to poor leaf quality before and after curing. Polyamines are involved in key developmental, physiological, and metabolic processes in plants, and act as anti‐senescence and anti‐ripening regulators. We investigated the role of polyamines in tobacco leaf maturation by analyzing the free and conjugated polyamine fractions in the leaves and roots of four Burley 21 varieties: NA (normal alkaloid levels, wild‐type control), HI (high intermediates, nic2−), LI (low intermediates, nic1−), and LA (nic1−nic2−). The pool of conjugated polyamines increased with plant age in the roots and leaves of all four varieties, but the levels of free and conjugated putrescine and spermidine were higher in the LI and LA plants than NA controls. The increase in the polyamine content correlated with delayed maturation and senescence, i.e., LA plants with the highest polyamine levels showed the most severe impaired leaf maturation phenotype, characterized by higher chlorophyll content and more mesophyll cells per unit leaf area. Treatment of LA plants with inhibitors of polyamine biosynthesis and/or the growth regulator Ethephon® reduced accumulation of polyamines, achieving a partial amelioration of the LA phenotype. Our data show that the regulation of polyamine homeostasis is strongly disrupted in LA plants, and that free and conjugated polyamines contribute to the observed impairment of leaf maturation.
Perceived Risk of Terrorism and Policy Preferences for Government Counterterrorism Spending: Evidence From a U.S. National Panel Survey
Authors: Liu Xinsheng , Mumpower Jeryl L. , Portney Kent E. , Vedlitz Arnold
Published: July 2018

Drawing on past literature and using data from a two‐wave survey, we expand existing research to examine how individual social‐economic‐political characteristics and psychometric factors shape citizens’ terrorism risk perception, and how such risk perception and citizens’ perception of government competence affect policy preference for government counterterrorism spending. Using the two‐wave panel data, we also assess whether there is decay over time in the public's overall risk perception and in their overall policy preference for counterterrorism spending. We further examine the key factors driving changes between the two waves in individual respondents’ risk perception and spending preference. Results reveal that risk perception is influenced by both social‐economic‐political characteristics and psychometric factors, with the latter showing stronger predictive power, and that higher levels of risk perception and greater perceived government competence lead to stronger support for counterterrorism spending. We find no significant decay between the two waves in either the overall level of risk perception or the overall level of spending preference, but at the individual level, changes in risk perception are positively associated with changes in psychometric variables, and changes in spending preference are predicted by changes in perceived risk and changes in perceived government competence.
Nanoparticles to mediate X‐ray‐induced photodynamic therapy and Cherenkov radiation photodynamic therapy
Authors: Cline Benjamin , Delahunty Ian , Xie Jin
Published: July 2018

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as an attractive option for cancer treatment. However, conventional PDT is activated by light that has poor tissue penetration depths, limiting its applicability in the clinic. Recently the idea of using X‐ray sources to activate PDT and overcome the shallow penetration issue has garnered significant interest. This can be achieved by external beam irradiation and using a nanoparticle scintillator as transducer. Alternatively, research on exploiting Cherenkov radiation from radioisotopes to activate PDT has also begun to flourish. In either approach, the most auspicious success is achieved using nanoparticles as either a scintillator or a photosensitizer to mediate energy transfer and radical production. Both X‐ray induced PDT (X‐PDT) and Cherenkov radiation PDT (CR‐PDT) contain a significant radiation therapy (RT) component and are essentially PDT and RT combination. Unlike the conventional combination, however, in X‐PDT and CR‐PDT, one energy source simultaneously activates both processes, making the combination always in synchronism and the synergy potential maximized. While still in early stage of development, X‐PDT and CR‐PDT address important issues in the clinic and hold great potential in translation.

This article is categorized under:

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease
Solid‐state and Computational Study of “Venus fly‐trap” Geometric Parameters for 1,5‐Cyclooctadiene in PdII and PtII β‐Enaminonato Complexes
Authors: Hill Tania N. , Roodt Andreas
Published: July 2018

The cod ligand (cis,cis‐1,5‐cyclooctadiene) can be superficially considered to mimic similarities in spatial behavior of a leaf of the Venus fly‐trap (Dionaea muscipula). Thus, the synthesis of an unsymmetrical bidentate trans ligand (N,O‐donor atoms) based on the β‐enaminonate backbone is introduced to evaluate the electronic and steric influence on the structural behavior of the cod ligand when coordinated to a square planar transition metal. A range of platinum(II) / palladium(II) complexes of the type [M(cod)(N,O‐Bid)]A (M = PtII, PdII; β‐enaminonato ligand (N,O‐Bid) = NH‐acac, NMe‐acac, NPh‐acac; A = BF4–, PF6–) is reported. The complexes were fully characterized, including by detailed X‐ray structural investigations. Theoretical calculations on the [M(cod)(N,O‐Bid)]+ complexes for the complete nickel triad are also described and the structural behavior of the cod ligand critically evaluated. The influence of the variation of the β‐enaminonato ligands on the coordination arrangement of the cod was investigated and found that no significant changes to the M–C and C=C bond lengths were observed. The Venus fly‐trap jaw angle (ψ), however, varies by ca. 8° and the twist angle (τ) by ca. 10°, whereas the cod bite angle (χ), as well as the β‐enaminonato ligand bite angle (N–M–O; θ) both remain virtually constant. Calculated spectroscopic tendencies within the Ni‐triad are also included.
Morbus Parkinson
Authors: Borsche Max , Klein Christine
Published: July 2018

Monogene, also auf einem einzelnen Gendefekt beruhende Parkinson-Syndrome (PS), machen ca. 5 % aller Parkinson-Erkrankungen aus. Hierbei konnten in den letzten 20 Jahren drei autosomal-dominant (SNCA, LRRK2, VPS35) und drei autosomal-rezessiv (Parkin, PINK1, DJ-1) vererbte kausale Parkinson-Gene identifiziert und validiert werden. Während pathogene Veränderungen in SNCA sehr selten sind, früh beginnen und mit einer dementiellen Entwicklung einhergehen können, sind pathogene Varianten in LRRK2 unter den monogenen PS am häufigsten und Patienten klinisch nicht vom idiopathischen PS zu unterscheiden. Bei Patienten mit Erkrankungsbeginn vor dem 40. Lebensjahr sollte zunächst an Veränderungen im Parkin- und PINK1-Gen gedacht werden und, ebenso wie bei Patienten mit positiver Familienanamnese, eine genetische Beratung erfolgen. In jüngerer Zeit haben die dynamischen Entwicklungen auf dem Gebiet der Parkinson-Genetik zu neuen therapeutischen Ansätzen und ersten aktuell durchgeführten genspezifischen klinischen Studien geführt. Neben den etablierten monogenen PS existieren zum jetzigen Zeitpunkt noch nicht validierte Parkinson-Kandidatengene und gut charakterisierte genetische Risikofaktoren. Da monogene PS auch für das idiopathische PS Modellerkrankungen darstellen, sind in der Zukunft sowohl für monogene PS als auch für das idiopathische PS weitere Fortschritte auf dem Weg zur personalisierten Medizin zu erwarten.
The role of adolescents' perceived parental psychological control in the links between shyness and socio‐emotional adjustment among youth
Authors: Bullock Amanda , Liu Junsheng , Cheah Charissa S.L. , Coplan Robert J. , Chen Xinyin , Li Dan
Published: July 2018

The goal of this study was to explore the moderating role of perceived parental psychological control in the links between shyness and socio‐emotional adjustment in Chinese adolescents. Participants were N = 462 Grade 7 and 8 Chinese adolescents (246 boys, Mage = 13.42 years, SD = 8 months) recruited from four randomly selected public schools in Shanghai, People's Republic of China. Participants completed peer assessment measures of shyness and peer victimization, sociometric nominations of peer rejection, and self‐report measures of loneliness, depression, and perceived parental psychological control. Among the results, shyness was positively associated with loneliness, depressive symptoms, and peer rejection among adolescents who perceived their parents as higher in psychological control, but no significant associations were found among adolescents who perceived lower levels of parental psychological control. Results are discussed in terms of the implications of parenting practices perpetuating adjustment problems among shy adolescents in urban China.
Enhanced disinfection leads to reduction of microbial contamination and a decrease in patient colonization and infection
Authors: Rutala William A. , Kanamori Hajime , Gergen Maria F. , Knelson Lauren P. , Sickbert-Bennett Emily E. , Chen Luke F. , Anderson Deverick J. , Sexton Daniel J. , Weber David J. ,   and the CDC Prevention Epicenters Program
Published: July 2018

In this prospective study, we monitored 4 epidemiologically important pathogens (EIPs): methicillin-resistane Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), Clostridium difficile, and multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter to assess the effectiveness of 3 enhanced disinfection strategies for terminal room disinfection against standard practice. Our data demonstrated that a decrease in room contamination with EIPs of 94% was associated with a 35% decrease in subsequent patient colonization and/or infection.
Viscous constraints on microorganism approach and interaction
Authors: Jabbarzadeh Mehdi , Fu Henry Chien
Published: July 2018

Microorganisms must approach other suspended organisms or particles in order to interact with them during a host of life processes including feeding and mating. Microorganisms live at low Reynolds number where viscosity dominates and strongly affects the hydrodynamics of swimmer and nearby cells and objects. Viscous hydrodynamics makes it difficult for two surfaces to approach closely at low Reynolds numbers. Nonetheless, it is observed that microorganisms in fluid are still able to approach closely enough to interact with each other or suspended particles. Here, we study how the physical constraints provided by viscous hydrodynamics affects the feasibility of direct approach of flagellated and ciliated microorganisms to targets of different sizes. We find that it is feasible for singly flagellated swimmers to approach targets that are the same size or bigger. On the other hand, for squirmers, the feasibility of approach depends on near-field flows that can be controlled by the details of their swimming strokes.
Flow around an inclined circular disk
Authors: Gao Song , Tao Longbin , Tian Xinliang , Yang Jianmin
Published: July 2018

Direct numerical simulations are performed for the uniform flow around an inclined circular disk. The diameter–thickness aspect ratio ($\unicode[STIX]{x1D712}=D/t_{d}$) of the disk is 50 and the inclination angle ($\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}$) is considered over the range of$0^{\circ }\leqslant \unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}\leqslant 80^{\circ }$, where$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}=0^{\circ }$refers to the condition where the flow is normal to the disk. The Reynolds number ($\mathit{Re}$), based on the short axis of projection in the streamwise direction, is defined as$\mathit{Re}=U_{\infty }D\cos \unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}/\unicode[STIX]{x1D708}$, where$U_{\infty }$is the velocity of the flow and$\unicode[STIX]{x1D708}$is the kinematic viscosity.$\mathit{Re}$is investigated over the range of 50${\leqslant}\mathit{Re}\leqslant$300. In the considered$\mathit{Re}$–$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}$parametric space, five states are observed and denoted as: (I) steady state (SS); (II) periodic state (PS); (III) periodic state with a low frequency modulation (PSL); (IV) quasi-periodic state (QP) and (V) chaotic state (CS). Both$\mathit{Re}$and$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}$affect the bifurcation mechanism. The bifurcating sequence occurring at$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}=0^{\circ }$is generally observed over the whole$\mathit{Re}$–$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}$space, although it is advanced at small$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}$and delayed at large$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}$. The advancement of thresholds for different states is due to the effects introduced by inclination, which tend to select the plane of symmetry for the wake in order to regulate the wake and intensify some flow features. Nevertheless, the bifurcations are still in the dominant position when leading a state without stable symmetry, i.e. the planar symmetry could not be recovered by small$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}$. These phenomena are further discussed with respect to the vortex shedding patterns behind the disk. Furthermore, for any fixed disk, the wake behaviour is only associated with that found in the steady vertical state of a freely falling disk. The fully coupled fluid–body system is fundamentally different from the fixed cases.
Vertically forced stably stratified cavity flow: instabilities of the basic state
Authors: Yalim Jason , Lopez Juan M. , Welfert Bruno D.
Published: July 2018

The linear stability of a stably stratified fluid-filled cavity subject to vertical oscillations is determined via Floquet analysis. Retaining the viscous and diffusion terms in the Navier–Stokes–Boussinesq equations, with no-slip velocity boundary conditions, no-flux temperature conditions on the sidewalls and constant temperatures on the top and bottom walls, we find that the instabilities are primarily subharmonic (as is typical in many parametrically forced systems), except for in a few low-forcing-frequency ranges where the instabilities are synchronous. When the viscosity is small, the Floquet modes resemble the inviscid eigenmodes of the unforced problem, except in boundary layers. We establish scaling laws quantifying how viscosity regularizes the degeneracy associated with the inviscid idealization, and how it scales the thickness and intensity of the boundary layers. The product of boundary layer thickness and intensity remains constant with decreasing viscosity, leading to a delta distribution of vorticity on the walls in the limit of zero viscosity. This is in contrast to the zero wall vorticity in the inviscid case.
Transforming legal education through emotions
Authors: Jones Emma
Published: July 2018

Law has traditionally viewed emotions as the enemies of rationality and reason, irrational and potentially dangerous forces which must be suppressed or disregarded. This separation and enmity has been mirrored within undergraduate legal education in England and Wales, with its rigid focus on seemingly impartial and objective analysis and notions such as the ubiquitous ‘thinking like a lawyer’. This paper will argue that attempts to disregard or suppress emotions within the law school are both misguided and destined to fail. It will explore the integral part emotions play within effective legal learning, the development of legal skills, and the well-being of both law students and legal academics. It will also consider how developments in legal scholarship and the evolving climate of higher education generally offer some potential, but also pitfalls, for the future acknowledgment and incorporation of emotions within undergraduate legal education in England and Wales. Bodies of literature relating to not only legal education, but also education generally, psychology and philosophy will be drawn on to demonstrate that emotions have a potentially transformative power within legal education, requiring them to be acknowledged and utilised within a more holistic, integrated form of law degree.
Historical Disparities and Gendered Citation Patterns
Authors: Peterson David A. M.
Published: July 2018

In this comment on Dion, Sumner, and Mitchell’s article “Gendered Citation Patterns across Political Science and Social Science Methodology Fields,” I explore the role of changes in the disparities of citations to work written by women over time. Breaking down their citation data by era, I find that some of the patterns in citations are the result of the legacy of disparity in the field. Citations to more recent work come closer to matching the distribution of the gender of authors of published work. Although the need for more equitable practices of citation remains, the overall patterns are not quite as bad as Dion, Sumner, and Mitchell conclude.