bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bio‐inspired nanomedicine strategies for artificial blood components
Authors: Sen Gupta Anirban
Published: March 2017

Blood is a fluid connective tissue where living cells are suspended in noncellular liquid matrix. The cellular components of blood render gas exchange (RBCs), immune surveillance (WBCs) and hemostatic responses (platelets), and the noncellular components (salts, proteins, etc.) provide nutrition to various tissues in the body. Dysfunction and deficiencies in these blood components can lead to significant tissue morbidity and mortality. Consequently, transfusion of whole blood or its components is a clinical mainstay in the management of trauma, surgery, myelosuppression, and congenital blood disorders. However, donor‐derived blood products suffer from issues of shortage in supply, need for type matching, high risks of pathogenic contamination, limited portability and shelf‐life, and a variety of side‐effects. While robust research is being directed to resolve these issues, a parallel clinical interest has developed toward bioengineering of synthetic blood substitutes that can provide blood's functions while circumventing the above problems. Nanotechnology has provided exciting approaches to achieve this, using materials engineering strategies to create synthetic and semi‐synthetic RBC substitutes for enabling oxygen transport, platelet substitutes for enabling hemostasis, and WBC substitutes for enabling cell‐specific immune response. Some of these approaches have further extended the application of blood cell‐inspired synthetic and semi‐synthetic constructs for targeted drug delivery and nanomedicine. The current study provides a comprehensive review of the various nanotechnology approaches to design synthetic blood cells, along with a critical discussion of successes and challenges of the current state‐of‐art in this field. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2017, 9:e1464. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1464

This article is categorized under:

Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology
The syntax of correlatives in Isbukun Bunun
Authors: Wu Hsiao-hung Iris
Published: March 2017

This paper investigates the correlative construction in Isbukun Bunun, an Austronesian language spoken in Taiwan. I show that in this language the correlative clause and its associated anaphoric element do not form a constituent at any point in the derivation. Drawing on evidence from island-insensitivity, the absence of Condition C effects and non-constituency facts, I propose that the syntactic relation between the correlative clause and the nominal correlate is derived by a base-generated adjunction structure. Moreover, I argue that the correlative clause, which behaves as a generalized quantifier, binds the nominal correlate phrase in the matrix clause, which is construed as a bound variable. The proposed quantificational binding view is further shown to capture the types of correlate phrases allowed in Isbukun Bunun correlatives.
Confronting the European Portuguese central vowel distinction
Authors: Spahr Christopher
Published: March 2017

Stressed syllables in European Portuguese contrast seven oral vowels, /i, u, e, o, ε, ɔ, a/, which are reduced to a simpler four-vowel set in unstressed syllables. Although /a/ never undergoes any phonological neutralization through vowel reduction, it has a raised allophone [ɐ] which occurs in several environments
Place-Consciousness and Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Model: A Discussion of Recurring Issues that Undermine the Teaching of Indigenous Histories in New Zealand and Australian Schools
Authors: Manning Richard F.
Published: March 2017

This article draws upon a ‘tale from the field’ (Van Maanen, 1988) to encourage New Zealand and Australian teachers of history and social studies to appraise how their own perceptions of place and teaching about Indigenous peoples’ histories impact upon their students’ learning. Moreover, it explains why Uri Bronfenbrenner's (1979) ecological systems model (despite its limitations) can assist the process of critiquing the teaching of Indigenous histories in schools on both sides of the Tasman Sea. It concludes that place conscious Indigenous land-based learning experiences, resulting from mutually beneficial collaborations with Indigenous communities, are needed to enhance the teaching of Indigenous peoples’ histories in both countries.
To be philanthropic when being international: Evidence from Chinese family firms
Authors: Du Xingqiang , Zeng Quan , Chang Yingying
Published: March 2017

This study examines the influence of internationalization on corporate philanthropy, and further investigates the moderating effect of political participation of CEO (Chief Executive Officer). Using a sample of Chinese family firms and hand-collected data on corporate philanthropy, internationalization, and CEO’s political participation, our findings show that internationalization is significantly positively associated with corporate philanthropy, suggesting that internationalization plays an important role in promoting corporate philanthropy because of the mounting interaction of corporate philanthropic consciousness among multinational companies. In addition, CEO’s political participation reinforces the positive association between internationalization and corporate philanthropy. Above findings are robust to a variety of sensitivity tests and further our conclusions are still valid after controlling for the endogeneity between internationalization and corporate philanthropy.
Opportunities and constraints for implementing integrated land–sea management on islands
Authors: JUPITER STACY D. , WENGER AMELIA , KLEIN CARISSA J. , ALBERT SIMON , MANGUBHAI SANGEETA , NELSON JOANNA , TENEVA LIDA , TULLOCH VIVITSKAIA J. , WHITE ALAN T. , WATSON JAMES E.M.
Published: March 2017

Despite a growing body of literature on integrated land–sea management (ILSM), very little critical assessment has been conducted in order to evaluate ILSM in practice on island systems. Here we develop indicators for assessing 10 integrated island management principles and evaluate the performance of planning and implementation in four island ILSM projects from the tropical Pacific across different governance structures. We find that where customary governance is still strongly respected and enabled through national legislation, ILSM in practice can be very effective at restricting access and use according to fluctuations in resource availability. However, decision-making under customary governance systems may be vulnerable to mismanagement. Government-led ILSM processes have the potential to design management actions that address the spatial scale of ecosystem processes and threats within the context of national policy and legislation, but may not fully capture broad stakeholder interests, and implementation may be poorly coordinated across highly dispersed island archipelagos. Private sector partnerships offer unique opportunities for resourcing island ILSM, although these are highly likely to be geared towards private sector interests that may change in the future and no longer align with community and/or national objectives. We identify consistent challenges that arise during island ILSM planning and implementation and offer recommendations for improvement.
Genetics of fat intake in the determination of body mass
Authors: Chmurzynska Agata , Mlodzik Monika A.
Published: March 2017

Body mass and fat intake are multifactorial traits that have genetic and environmental components. The gene with the greatest effect on body mass is FTO (fat mass and obesity-associated), but several studies have shown that the effect of FTO (and of other genes) on body mass can be modified by the intake of nutrients. The so-called gene–environment interactions may also be important for the effectiveness of weight-loss strategies. Food choices, and thus fat intake, depend to some extent on individual preferences. The most important biological component of food preference is taste, and the role of fat sensitivity in fat intake has recently been pointed out. Relatively few studies have analysed the genetic components of fat intake or fatty acid sensitivity in terms of their relation to obesity. It has been proposed that decreased oral fatty acid sensitivity leads to increased fat intake and thus increased body mass. One of the genes that affect fatty acid sensitivity is CD36 (cluster of differentiation 36). However, little is known so far about the genetic component of fat sensing. We performed a literature review to identify the state of knowledge regarding the genetics of fat intake and its relation to body-mass determination, and to identify the priorities for further investigations.
Expressive Suppression Depletes Executive Functioning in Older Adulthood
Authors: Franchow E. I. , Suchy Yana
Published: March 2017

Objectives: Accurate detection of executive dysfunction in neuropsychological assessments is complicated by the fact that executive functioning (EF) is vulnerable to temporary disruption (i.e., lapses), with more frequent lapses in older adulthood. Effortful regulation of affect (i.e., expressive suppression) is a well-known source of executive lapses in younger adults, but the generalizability of this depleting effect to older adults is unknown. The purpose of this study was to (1) determine whether EF is subject to depletion via expressive suppression and (2) to examine whether this effect is unique to EF, or whether it also applies to lower-order component processes in older adults. Methods: Ninety-seven non-demented, community-dwelling older adults were randomly assigned to either an expressive suppression group or control group. We compared performance of the groups on a battery of tests measuring EF and component processes both before and after exposure to emotionally evocative stimuli. Results: Consistent with the hypothesized depletion effect, suppressing participants showed an attenuated practice effect on post-manipulation EF relative to controls, while performance on lower-order component processes was unaffected by suppression. Conclusions: These results suggest that depletion contributes to executive lapses in older adulthood. (JINS, 2017, 23, 341–351)
School lunches in Japan: their contribution to healthier nutrient intake among elementary-school and junior high-school children
Authors: Asakura Keiko , Sasaki Satoshi
Published: March 2017

Objective

The role of school lunches in diet quality has not been well studied. Here, we aimed to determine the contribution of school lunches to overall nutrient intake in Japanese schoolchildren.

Design

The study was conducted nationwide under a cross-sectional design. A non-consecutive, three-day diet record was performed on two school days and a non-school day separately. The prevalence of inadequate nutrient intake was estimated for intakes on one of the school days and the non-school day, and for daily habitual intake estimated by the best-power method. The relationship between food intake and nutrient intake adequacy was examined.

Setting

Fourteen elementary and thirteen junior high schools in Japan.

Subjects

Elementary-school children (n 629) and junior high-school children (n 281).

Results

Intakes between the school and non-school days were significantly different for ≥60 % of nutrients. Almost all inadequacies were more prevalent on the non-school day. Regarding habitual intake, a high prevalence of inadequacy was observed for fat (29·9–47·7 %), dietary fibre (18·1–76·1 %) and salt (97·0–100 %). Inadequate habitual intake of vitamins and minerals (except Na) was infrequent in elementary-school children, but was observed in junior high-school children, particularly boys.

Conclusions

School lunches appear to improve total diet quality, particularly intake of most vitamins and minerals in Japanese children. However, excess intakes of fat and salt and insufficient intake of dietary fibre were major problems in this population. The contribution of school lunches to improving the intakes of these three nutrients was considered insufficient.
What Should We Mean by “Pattern of Political Violence”? Repertoire, Targeting, Frequency, and Technique
Authors: Gutiérrez-Sanín Francisco , Wood Elisabeth Jean
Published: March 2017

To leverage the full range of observed variation in patterns of violence toward the development and testing of theories of political violence, scholars need adequate conceptual foundations: what should we mean by apattern of violenceon the part of an armed organization? Scholars often distinguish degrees or levels or types of violence across organizations and conflicts, but definitions and measures vary sharply. We argue that patterns of violence are not reducible in ways often assumed in the literature: lethal violence is not a good proxy for the overall pattern, and differences in patterns are not well captured in the binary “terror” versus “restraint.” To address these concerns, we provide a new conceptualization of political violence, defining an organization’spattern of violenceas the configuration of repertoire, targeting, frequency, and technique in which it regularly engages. This approach adds precision to the documentation and analysis of political violence, clarifies the evaluation of rival theories, and opens up new research questions. We demonstrate its utility through an analysis of violence against civilians in Colombia, drawing on an original database of massacres, judicial proceedings, and other sources, and show that the concept of “pattern” helps bring ideology and politics back into the analysis of organized violence.
Disenchanted Professionals: The Politics of Faculty Governance in the Neoliberal Academy
Authors: Kaufman-Osborn Timothy
Published: March 2017

The “corporatization” of the academy is often cited as a cause of the “de-professionalization” of the professoriate, and that in turn is cited as a cause of the faculty’s current disempowerment. The specifically modern conception of professionalism presupposed by these arguments occludes the deep implication of the academy in the generation and legitimation of specific configurations of power. This essay begins, accordingly, by elaborating this early conception of professionalism and showing how it informs twentieth century arguments on behalf of tenure, academic freedom, and the participation of faculty in institutional governance. The explicitly political reading of professionalism I offer as an alternative better explains how the academic workforce in recent decades has been thoroughly reconfigured in accordance with neoliberal imperatives. The downside of this reading, however, is that it deprives us of the justification for tenure, academic freedom, and shared governance that rested on an apolitical representation of the professoriate. I close, therefore, by asking what we stand to lose if we relinquish this ideal, but I then ask what costs we are likely to incur if we cling to a notion that compromises our ability to grasp the faculty’s current situation.
Praxisorientiert und interprofessionell
Authors: Hemberger Christina , Morgenstern Ulrike
Published: March 2017

Zusammenfassung. Durch eine subjektive Kompetenzeinschätzung von Studierenden der Medizinpädagogik vor und nach einem praxisorientierten, interprofessionell gestalteten Modul Fachdidaktik wurde der pädagogische Kompetenzerwerb im Bereich „Unterrichten“ ermittelt.
Der Gordische Knoten
Authors: Hemkendreis Bruno
Published: March 2017

Zusammenfassung. Im Jahr 333 vor Christus zog Alexander der Große in Richtung Persien. Er strebte die Herrschaft über ganz Asien an. Der Streitwagen des Königs Gordius war mit einem kunstvoll geknoteten Seil untrennbar mit dem Zugjoch verbunden. Nur wem es gelänge, diesen Knoten zu lösen, der solle die Herrschaft über Persien gewinnen. Viele kluge Männer versuchten sich an dem Knoten. Doch bei jedem Lösungsversuch wurde der Knoten nur noch fester zusammen gezogen.

Alexander der Große unternahm nicht einmal den Versuch, den Knoten zu lösen. Er durchtrennte das Seil kurzerhand mit einem Schwerthieb.
In die Normalität des Alltags eingliedern
Authors: Rogge Stefan , Müller Christoph
Published: March 2017

Zusammenfassung. Wenn es um den Transfer ehemals forensisch untergebrachter Menschen geht, kommt dem subjektiven Blick der Betroffenen eine große Bedeutung zu. Sie wünschen sich, dass ihnen auf eine wohlwollende Weise im sozialen Empfangsraum begegnet wird. Die Angehörigen oder andere Menschen im sozialen Umfeld sind natürliche Willkommenspartner. Angehörige verbinden Hoffnungen, aber auch Skepsis mit dem Übergang aus dem forensischen Umfeld in den gesellschaftlichen Alltag. Deshalb ist zu schauen, was psychiatrisch Pflegende leisten können, um Betroffenen wie Angehörigen die Passage zu erleichtern.
Using Strain Rates to Forecast Seismic Hazards
Authors: Evans Eileen
Published: March 2017

Workshop on Geodetic Modeling for Seismic Hazard; Menlo Park, California, 19 September 2016
How Lightning Creates "Killer Electrons" in Earth's Radiation Belts
Authors: Zastrow Mark
Published: March 2017

New calculations show that lightning-triggered plasma waves in Earth's magnetosphere absorb energy from slow particles and energize electrons to levels that can damage satellites severely.
Casimir force phase transitions in the graphene family
Authors: Rodriguez-Lopez Pablo , Kort-Kamp Wilton J. M. , Dalvit Diego A. R. , Woods Lilia M.
Published: March 2017

The Casimir force is a universal interaction induced by electromagnetic quantum fluctuations between any types of objects. The expansion of the graphene family by adding silicene, germanene and stanene (2D allotropes of Si, Ge, and Sn), lends itself as a platform to probe Dirac-like physics in honeycomb staggered systems in such a ubiquitous interaction. We discover Casimir force phase transitions between these staggered 2D materials induced by the complex interplay between Dirac physics, spin-orbit coupling and externally applied fields. In particular, we find that the interaction energy experiences different power law distance decays, magnitudes and dependences on characteristic physical constants. Furthermore, due to the topological properties of these materials, repulsive and quantized Casimir interactions become possible.
Genome-wide association analysis identifies loci governing mercury accumulation in maize
Authors: Zhao Zhan , Fu Zhongjun , Lin Yanan , Chen Hao , liu Kun , Xing Xiaolong , Liu Zonghua , Li Weihua , Tang Jihua
Published: March 2017

Owing to the rapid development of urbanisation and industrialisation, heavy metal pollution has become a widespread environmental problem. Maize planted on mercury (Hg)-polluted soil can absorb and accumulate Hg in its edible parts, posing a potential threat to human health. To understand the genetic mechanism of Hg accumulation in maize, we performed a genome-wide association study using a mixed linear model on an association population consisting of 230 maize inbred lines with abundant genetic variation. The order of relative Hg concentrations in different maize tissues was as follows: leaves > bracts > stems > axes > kernels. Combined two locations, a total of 37 significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with kernels, 12 with axes, 13 with stems, 27 with bracts and 23 with leaves were detected with p < 0.0001. Each significant SNP was calculated and the SNPs significant associated with kernels, axes, stems, bracts and leaves explained 6.96%–10.56%, 7.19%–15.87%, 7.11%–10.19%, 7.16%–8.71% and 6.91%–9.17% of the phenotypic variation, respectively. Among the significant SNPs, nine co-localised with previously detected quantitative trait loci. This study will aid in the selection of Hg-accumulation inbred lines that satisfy the needs for pollution-safe cultivars and maintaining maize production.
Dynamic equilibrium on DNA defines transcriptional regulation of a multidrug binding transcriptional repressor, LmrR
Authors: Takeuchi Koh , Imai Misaki , Shimada Ichio
Published: March 2017

LmrR is a multidrug binding transcriptional repressor that controls the expression of a major multidrug transporter, LmrCD, in Lactococcus lactis. Promiscuous compound ligations reduce the affinity of LmrR for the lmrCD operator by several fold to release the transcriptional repression; however, the affinity reduction is orders of magnitude smaller than that of typical transcriptional repressors. Here, we found that the transcriptional regulation of LmrR is achieved through an equilibrium between the operator-bound and non-specific DNA-adsorption states in vivo. The effective dissociation constant of LmrR for the lmrCD operator under the equilibrium is close to the endogenous concentration of LmrR, which allows a substantial reduction of LmrR occupancy upon compound ligations. Therefore, LmrR represents a dynamic type of transcriptional regulation of prokaryotic multidrug resistance systems, where the small affinity reduction induced by compounds is coupled to the functional relocalization of the repressor on the genomic DNA via nonspecific DNA adsorption.
Serum Wisteria Floribunda Agglutinin-Positive Sialylated Mucin 1 as a Marker of Progenitor/Biliary Features in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Tamaki Nobuharu , Kuno Atsushi , Matsuda Atsushi , Tsujikawa Hanako , Yamazaki Ken , Yasui Yutaka , Tsuchiya Kaoru , Nakanishi Hiroyuki , Itakura Jun , Korenaga Masaaki , Mizokami Masashi , Kurosaki Masayuki , Sakamoto Michiie , Narimatsu Hisashi , Izumi Namiki
Published: March 2017

Histological molecular classification of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is clinically important for predicting the prognosis. However, a reliable serum marker has not been established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum Wisteria Floribunda agglutinin-positive sialylated mucin 1 (WFA-sialylated MUC1), which is a novel biliary marker, as a marker of HCC with hepatic progenitor cell (HPC)/biliary features and of prognosis. A total of 144 consecutive patients who underwent complete radiofrequency ablation of primary HCC were enrolled. A serum WFA-sialylated MUC1 level of 900 μL/mL was determined as the optimal cutoff value for prediction of immunohistochemical staining for HPC/biliary features [sialylated MUC1 and cytokeratin 19 (CK19)]. Positive staining rate of sialylated MUC1 and CK19 was significantly higher in patients with WFA-sialylated MUC1 ≥900 than those with WFA-sialylated MUC1 <900. Furthermore, cumulative incidence of HCC recurrence was significantly higher in patients with WFA-sialylated MUC1 ≥900 and on multivariate analysis, serum WFA-sialylated MUC1 levels was an independent predictor of HCC recurrence. These results revealed that serum WFA-sialylated MUC1 was associated with histological feature of HCC and recurrence after curative therapy and it could be a novel marker of HPC/biliary features in HCC and of prognosis.
A stochastic model of active zone material mediated synaptic vesicle docking and priming at resting active zones
Authors: Jung Jae Hoon , Doniach Sebatian
Published: March 2017

Synaptic vesicles (SVs) fuse with the presynaptic membrane (PM) at specialized regions called active zones for synaptic transmission. SVs are associated with dense aggregates of macromolecules called active zone material (AZM) that has been thought to be involved in SV release. However, its role has recently begun to be elucidated. Several morphological studies proposed distinctively different AZM mediated SV docking and priming models: sequential and concurrent SV docking/priming. To explore ways to reconcile the contradictory models we develop a stochastic AZM mediated SV docking and priming model. We assume that the position of each connection site of the AZM macromolecules on their SV, directly linking the SV with the PM, varies by random shortening and lengthening of the macromolecules at resting active zones. We also perform computer simulations of SVs near the PM at resting active zones, and the results show that the distribution of the AZM connection sites can significantly affect the SV’s docking efficiency and distribution of its contact area with the PM, thus priming and that the area correlates with the shape of the SVs providing a way to account for seemingly irreconcilable observations reported about the spatial relationship of SVs with the PM at active zones.
Differential expression of chemosensory-protein genes in midguts in response to diet of Spodoptera litura
Authors: Yi Xin , Qi Jiangwei , Zhou Xiaofan , Hu Mei Ying , Zhong Guo Hua
Published: March 2017

While it has been well characterized that chemosensory receptors in guts of mammals have great influence on food preference, much remains elusive in insects. Insect chemosensory proteins (CSPs) are soluble proteins that could deliver chemicals to olfactory and gustatory receptors. Recent studies have identified a number of CSPs expressed in midgut in Lepidoptera insects, which started to reveal their roles in chemical recognition and stimulating appetite in midgut. In this study, we examined expression patterns in midgut of 21 Spodoptera litura CSPs (SlitCSPs) characterized from a previously reported transcriptome, and three CSPs were identified to be expressed highly in midgut. The orthologous relationships between midgut expressed CSPs in S. litura and those in Bombyx mori and Plutella xylostella also suggest a conserved pattern of CSP expression in midgut. We further demonstrated that the expression of midgut-CSPs may change in response to different host plants, and SlitCSPs could bind typical chemicals from host plant in vitro. Overall, our results suggested midgut expressed SlitCSPs may have functional roles, likely contributing to specialization and adaption to different ecosystems. Better knowledge of this critical component of the chemsensation signaling pathways in midguts may improve our understanding of food preference processes in a new perspective.
Epigenetically regulated Fibronectin leucine rich transmembrane protein 2 (FLRT2) shows tumor suppressor activity in breast cancer cells
Authors: Bae Hansol , Kim Byungtak , Lee Hyunkyung , Lee Seungyeon , Kang Han-Sung , Kim Sun Jung
Published: March 2017

To identify dysregulated genes by abnormal methylation and expression in breast cancer, we genome-wide analyzed methylation and expression microarray data from the Gene Expression Omnibus and the Cancer Genome Atlas database. One of the genes screenedin silico, FLRT2, showed hypermethylation and downregulation in the cancer dataset and the association was verified both in cultured cell lines and cancer patients’ tissue. To investigate the role of FLRT2 in breast cancer, its expression was knocked down and upregulated in mammary cell lines, and the effect was examined through three levels of approach: pathway analysis; cell activities such as proliferation, colony formation, migration, and adhesion; target gene expression. The top pathway was “Cellular growth and proliferation”, or “Cancer”-related function, with the majority of the genes deregulated in a direction pointing to FLRT2 as a potential tumor suppressor. Concordantly, downregulation of FLRT2 increased cell proliferation and cell migration, while overexpression of FLRT2 had the opposite effect. Notably, cell adhesion was significantly decreased by FLRT2 in the collagen I-coated plate. Taken together, our results provide insights into the role of FLRT2 as a novel tumor suppressor in the breast, which is inactivated by hypermethylation during tumor development.
Habitat filtering and exclusion of weak competitors jointly explain fern species assemblage along a light and water gradient
Authors: Zhang Hui , Zhu Shidan , John Robert , Li Ronghua , Liu Hui , Ye Qing
Published: March 2017

Fern species are an important component of the diversity of forest plant communities, but very little is known about how fern communities assemble in different environments. In this study, we use multiple trait-based tests to examine the relationships between several key eco-physiological traits which are direct indicators of shade and drought tolerance, and the abundance of fern species in pine forest (PF), pine and mixed broad leaf forest (PMBF) and matured broad leaf forest (MBF) in southern China. These forests are characterized by decreasing light but increasing water availability during succession, and the fern communities correspondingly differ in species composition. We tested community assembly using functional trait distributions and found that habitat filtering and exclusion of weak competitive traits among coexisting species jointly explain fern shade tolerance as measured by photosynthetic capacity (PR), photosynthetic nutrient efficiency (PNUE and PPUE) and water use efficiency as measured by carbon isotope ratio (CIR), and constitute important determinants of fern community assembly in all three forests. These observed fern plant strategies are consistent with known responses of other plant taxa such as flowering plants in similar successional environments and illustrate the value of functional trait based analyses to study community assembly.
A scientific report on heat transfer analysis in mixed convection flow of Maxwell fluid over an oscillating vertical plate
Authors: Khan Ilyas , Shah Nehad Ali , Dennis L. C. C.
Published: March 2017

This scientific report investigates the heat transfer analysis in mixed convection flow of Maxwell fluid over an oscillating vertical plate with constant wall temperature. The problem is modelled in terms of coupled partial differential equations with initial and boundary conditions. Some suitable non-dimensional variables are introduced in order to transform the governing problem into dimensionless form. The resulting problem is solved via Laplace transform method and exact solutions for velocity, shear stress and temperature are obtained. These solutions are greatly influenced with the variation of embedded parameters which include the Prandtl number and Grashof number for various times. In the absence of free convection, the corresponding solutions representing the mechanical part of velocity reduced to the well known solutions in the literature. The total velocity is presented as a sum of both cosine and sine velocities. The unsteady velocity in each case is arranged in the form of transient and post transient parts. It is found that the post transient parts are independent of time. The solutions corresponding to Newtonian fluids are recovered as a special case and comparison between Newtonian fluid and Maxwell fluid is shown graphically.
The redox environment triggers conformational changes and aggregation of hIAPP in Type II Diabetes
Authors: Rodriguez Camargo Diana C. , Tripsianes Konstantinos , Buday Katalin , Franko Andras , Göbl Christoph , Hartlmüller Christoph , Sarkar Riddhiman , Aichler Michaela , Mettenleiter Gabriele , Schulz Michael , Böddrich Annett , Erck Christian , Martens Henrik , Walch Axel Karl , Madl Tobias , Wanker Erich E. , Conrad Marcus , de Angelis Martin Hrabě , Reif Bernd
Published: March 2017

Type II diabetes (T2D) is characterized by diminished insulin production and resistance of cells to insulin. Among others, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is a principal factor contributing to T2D and induces a shift towards a more reducing cellular environment. At the same time, peripheral insulin resistance triggers the over-production of regulatory hormones such as insulin and human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP). We show that the differential aggregation of reduced and oxidized hIAPP assists to maintain the redox equilibrium by restoring redox equivalents. Aggregation thus induces redox balancing which can assist initially to counteract ER stress. Failure of the protein degradation machinery might finally result in β-cell disruption and cell death. We further present a structural characterization of hIAPP in solution, demonstrating that the N-terminus of the oxidized peptide has a high propensity to form an α-helical structure which is lacking in the reduced state of hIAPP. In healthy cells, this residual structure prevents the conversion into amyloidogenic aggregates.
Correction: Corrigendum: Unraveling the evolutionary dynamics of ancient and recent polyploidization events in Avena (Poaceae)
Authors: Liu Qing , Lin Lei , Zhou Xiangying , Peterson Paul M. , Wen Jun
Published: March 2017

Scientific Reports 7: Article number: 41944; published online: 03 February 2017; updated: 15 March 2017 The original version of this Article contained an error in the title of the paper, where the word “polyploidization” was incorrectly given as “polypoidization”. This has now been corrected in the PDF and HTML versions of the Article.
Antimicrobial peptide gramicidin S is accumulated in granules of producer cells for storage of bacterial phosphagens
Authors: Berditsch Marina , Trapp Mareike , Afonin Sergii , Weber Christian , Misiewicz Julia , Turkson Joana , Ulrich Anne S.
Published: March 2017

Many antimicrobial peptides are synthesized non-ribosomally in bacteria, but little is known about their subcellular route of biosynthesis, their mode of intracellular accumulation, or their role in the physiology of the producer cells. Here, we present a comprehensive view on the biosynthesis of gramicidin S (GS) in Aneurinibacillus migulanus, having observed a peripheral membrane localization of its synthetases. The peptide gets accumulated in nano-globules, which mature by fusion into larger granules and end up within vacuolar structures. These granules serve as energy storage devices, as they contain GS molecules that are non-covalently attached to alkyl phosphates and protect them from dephosphorylation and premature release of energy. This finding of a fundamentally new type of high-energy phosphate storage mechanism can explain the curious role of GS biosynthesis in the physiology of the bacterial producer cells. The unknown role of the GrsT protein, which is part of the non-ribosomal GS synthetase operon, can thus be assumed to be responsible for the biosynthesis of alkyl phosphates. GS binding to alkyl phosphates may suggest its general affinity to phosphagens such as ATP and GTP, which can represent the important intracellular targets in pathogenic bacteria.
Correction: Corrigendum: Differences in the transcriptome of medullary thyroid cancer regarding the status and type of RET gene mutations
Authors: Oczko-Wojciechowska Malgorzata , Swierniak Michal , Krajewska Jolanta , Kowalska Malgorzata , Kowal Monika , Stokowy Tomasz , Wojtas Bartosz , Rusinek Dagmara , Pawlaczek Agnieszka , Czarniecka Agnieszka , Szpak-Ulczok Sylwia , Gawlik Tomasz , Chmielik Ewa , Tyszkiewicz Tomasz , Nikiel Barbara , Lange Dariusz , Jarzab Michal , Wiench Malgorzata , Jarzab Barbara
Published: March 2017

Scientific Reports 7: Article number: 42074; published online: 09 February 2017; updated: 15 March 2017 In this Article, an affiliation for Bartosz Wojtas was omitted. The correct affiliations for Bartosz Wojtas are listed below: Department of Nuclear Medicine and Endocrine Oncology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Gliwice Branch, Poland.
Aptamer-based Field-Effect Biosensor for Tenofovir Detection
Authors: Aliakbarinodehi N. , Jolly P. , Bhalla N. , Miodek A. , De Micheli G. , Estrela P. , Carrara S.
Published: March 2017

During medical treatment it is critical to maintain the circulatory concentration of drugs within their therapeutic range. A novel biosensor is presented in this work to address the lack of a reliable point-of-care drug monitoring system in the market. The biosensor incorporates high selectivity and sensitivity by integrating aptamers as the recognition element and field-effect transistors as the signal transducer. The drug tenofovir was used as a model small molecule. The biointerface of the sensor is a binary self-assembled monolayer of specific thiolated aptamer and 6-mercapto-1-hexanol (MCH), whose ratio was optimized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements to enhance the sensitivity towards the specific target. Surface plasmon resonance, performed under different buffer conditions, shows optimum specific and little non-specific binding in phosphate buffered saline. The dose-response behavior of the field-effect biosensor presents a linear range between 1 nM and 100 nM of tenofovir and a limit of detection of 1.2 nM. Two non-specific drugs and one non-specific aptamer, tested as stringent control candidates, caused negligible responses. The applications were successfully extended to the detection of the drug in human serum. As demonstrated by impedance measurements, the aptamer-based sensors can be used for real-time drug monitoring.
A cross-functional nanostructured platform based on carbon nanotube-Si hybrid junctions: where photon harvesting meets gas sensing
Authors: Rigoni F. , Pintossi C. , Drera G. , Pagliara S. , Lanti G. , Castrucci P. , De Crescenzi M. , Sangaletti L.
Published: March 2017

A combination of the functionalities of carbon nanotube (CNT)-Si hybrid heterojunctions is presented as a novel method to steer the efficiency of the photovoltaic (PV) cell based on these junctions, and to increase the selectivity and sensitivity of the chemiresistor gas sensor operated with the p-doped CNT layer. The electrical characteristics of the junctions have been tracked by exposing the devices to oxidizing (NO2) and reducing (NH3) molecules. It is shown that when used as PV cells, the cell efficiency can be reversibly steered by gas adsorption, providing a tool to selectively dope the p-type layer through molecular adsorption. Tracking of the current-voltage curve upon gas exposure also allowed to use these cells as gas sensors with an enhanced sensitivity as compared to that provided by a readout of the electrical signal from the CNT layer alone. In turn, the chemiresistive response was improved, both in terms of selectivity and sensitivity, by operating the system under illumination, as the photo-induced charges at the junction increase the p-doping of CNTs making them more sensitive to NH3 and less to NO2.
Calretinin and Neuropeptide Y interneurons are differentially altered in the motor cortex of the SOD1G93A mouse model of ALS
Authors: Clark Rosemary M. , Blizzard Catherine A. , Young Kaylene M. , King Anna E. , Dickson Tracey C.
Published: March 2017

Increasing evidence indicates an excitatory/inhibitory imbalance may have a critical role in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Impaired inhibitory circuitry is consistently reported in the motor cortex of both familial and sporadic patients, closely associated with cortical hyperexcitability and ALS onset. Inhibitory network dysfunction is presumably mediated by intra-cortical inhibitory interneurons, however, the exact cell types responsible are yet to be identified. In this study we demonstrate dynamic changes in the number of calretinin- (CR) and neuropeptide Y-expressing (NPY) interneurons in the motor cortex of the familial hSOD1G93A ALS mouse model, suggesting their potential involvement in motor neuron circuitry defects. We show that the density of NPY-populations is significantly decreased by ~17% at symptom onset (8 weeks), and by end-stage disease (20 weeks) is significantly increased by ~30%. Conversely, the density of CR-populations is progressively reduced during later symptomatic stages (~31%) to end-stage (~36%), while CR-expressing interneurons also show alteration of neurite branching patterns at symptom onset. We conclude that a differential capacity for interneurons exists in the ALS motor cortex, which may not be a static phenomenon, but involves early dynamic changes throughout disease, implicating specific inhibitory circuitry.
Coherent selection of invisible high-order electromagnetic excitations
Authors: Tseng Ming Lun , Fang Xu , Savinov Vassili , Wu Pin Chieh , Ou Jun-Yu , Zheludev Nikolay I. , Tsai Din Ping
Published: March 2017

Far-field spectroscopy and mapping of electromagnetic near-field distribution are the two dominant tools for analysis and characterization of the electromagnetic response in nanophotonics. Despite the widespread use, these methods can fail at identifying weak electromagnetic excitations masked by stronger neighboring excitations. This is particularly problematic in ultrafast nanophotonics, including optical sensing, nonlinear optics and nanolasers, where the broad resonant modes can overlap to a significant degree. Here, using plasmonic metamaterials, we demonstrate that coherent spectroscopy can conveniently isolate and detect such hidden high-order photonic excitations. Our results establish that the coherent spectroscopy is a powerful new tool. It complements the conventional methods for analysis of the electromagnetic response, and provides a new route to designing and characterizing novel photonic devices and materials.
Glycol porphyrin derivatives and temoporfin elicit resistance to photodynamic therapy by different mechanisms
Authors: Kralova Jarmila , Kolar Michal , Kahle Michal , Truksa Jaroslav , Lettlova Sandra , Balusikova Kamila , Bartunek Petr
Published: March 2017

The development of drug resistance is a major problem which often occurs during anticancer chemotherapies. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been studied as an alternative treatment modality for drug-resistant tumors, however the question of resistance to PDT and potential cross-resistance with chemotherapy has yet to be fully answered. To investigate the mechanism of resistance to PDT, we developed an in vitro experimental model system in a mouse mammary carcinoma cell line 4T1. We used two ethylene glycol derivatives of tetraphenylporphyrin, and tetraphenylchlorin derivative, temoporfin, as photosensitizers (PS). PDT-resistant clones were obtained by exposure to a set concentration of PS followed by irradiation with increasing light doses. PDT resistance to soluble glycol porphyrins was mediated mainly by increased drug efflux through ABCB1 (P-glycoprotein) as we demonstrated by specific ABCB1 knockdown experiments, which in turn rescued the sensitivity of resistant cells to PDT. In contrast, resistance raised to temoporfin, which is generally more lipophilic than glycol porphyrins, elicited mechanism based on sequestration of the drug to lysosomes. The resistance that is acquired from a particular PS could be overcome by using a different PS, which is not susceptible to the same mechanism(s) of resistance. Elucidation of the underlying mechanisms in various types of resistance might facilitate improvements in PDT treatment design.
Mixed Molybdenum Oxides with Superior Performances as an Advanced Anode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Wu Di , Shen Rui , Yang Rong , Ji Wenxu , Jiang Meng , Ding Weiping , Peng Luming
Published: March 2017

A simple and effective carbon-free strategy is carried out to prepare mixed molybdenum oxides as an advanced anode material for lithium-ion batteries. The new material shows a high specific capacity up to 930.6 mAh·g−1, long cycle-life (>200 cycles) and high rate capability. 1D and 2D solid-state NMR, as well as XRD data on lithiated sample (after discharge) show that the material is associated with both insertion/extraction and conversion reaction mechanisms for lithium storage. The well mixed molybdenum oxides at the microscale and the involvement of both mechanisms are considered as the key to the better electrochemical properties. The strategy can be applied to other transition metal oxides to enhance their performance as electrode materials.
The role of electron interfacial transfer in mesoporous nano-TiO2photocatalysis: a combined study of in situ photoconductivity and numerical kinetic simulation
Authors: Liu Baoshun , Yang Jingjing , Zhao Xiujian , Yu Jiaguo
Published: March 2017

The present study showed that electron interfacial transfer is rate-determined for the whole electron kinetics during the gaseous photocatalysis of formic acid due to the existence of a high thermal barrier.
Incorporation of vanadium into the framework of hydroxyapatites: importance of the vanadium content and pH conditions during the precipitation step
Authors: Petit Sarah , Gode Thrimurthulu , Thomas Cyril , Dzwigaj Stanislaw , Millot Yannick , Brouri Dalil , Krafft Jean-Marc , Rousse Gwenaelle , Laberty-Robert Christel , Costentin Guylène
Published: March 2017

A vanadium-hydroxyapatite solid solution can only be successfully prepared provided that the pH is maintained at 9.
In situ synthesis of Prussian blue nanoparticles within a biocompatible reverse micellar system for in vivo Cs+uptake
Authors: Lavaud Cyril , Kajdan Marilyn , Compte Elsa , Maurel Jean-Claude , Lai Kee Him Joséphine , Bron Patrick , Oliviero Erwan , Long Jérôme , Larionova Joulia , Guari Yannick
Published: March 2017

A Prussian blue reverse micellar system forin vivoCs+uptake exhibiting high efficiency and a significant dose effect.
Investigation of the active sites for NO oxidation reactions over MnOx–CeO2 catalysts
Authors: Sun Zhihui , Wang Jun , Zhu Jinxin , Wang Chen , Wang Jianqiang , Shen Meiqing
Published: March 2017

Mn4+/Mn3+ is the active site for NO oxidation reactions, according to the TOF calculated with respect to the initial reducibility measured by H2-TPR quantification.
Desktop NMR for structure elucidation and identification of strychnine adulteration
Authors: Singh Kawarpal , Blümich Bernhard
Published: March 2017

A complete assignment of the structure of strychnine with NMR spectroscopy at 1 T and identification of strychnine adulteration.
Enzymatic site-selectivity enabled by structure-guided directed evolution
Authors: Wang Jian-bo , Li Guangyue , Reetz Manfred T.
Published: March 2017

This review covers recent advances in the directed evolution of enzymes for controlling site-selectivity of hydroxylation, amination and chlorination.
Selective perrhenate recognition in pure water by halogen bonding and hydrogen bonding alpha-cyclodextrin based receptors
Authors: Cornes Stuart P. , Sambrook Mark R. , Beer Paul D.
Published: March 2017

Alpha-cyclodextrin based anion receptors containing halogen and hydrogen bond donor motifs display selective association of perrhenate in neutral aqueous media.
Mesoscopic helical architectures via self-assembly of porphyrin-based discotic systems
Authors: Vela Sonia , Berrocal José Augusto , Atienza Carmen , Meijer E. W. , Martín Nazario
Published: March 2017

Mesoscopic super-helices with preferred helicity have been serendipitously formed via the self-assembly of electroactive extended core discotic molecules.
Phonon bottleneck and long-lived excited states in π-conjugated pyrene hoop
Authors: Franklin-Mergarejo Ricardo , Nelson Tammie , Tretiak Sergei , Fernandez-Alberti Sebastian
Published: March 2017

The phonon bottleneck in the nonradiative relaxation of a pyrene-based nanohoop slows down electronic relaxation and allows multi-channel relaxation.
Facile synthesis and characterization of a SnO2-modified LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 high-voltage cathode material with superior electrochemical performance for lithium ion batteries
Authors: Ma Feng , Geng Fushan , Yuan Anbao , Xu Jiaqiang
Published: March 2017

The SnO2-modified LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 high-voltage Li-ion cathode material exhibits superior electrochemical performance, and the synthetic method has the advantage of being facile.
Enhanced emission of encaged-OH−-free Ca12(1−x)Sr12xAl14O33:0.1%Gd3+ conductive phosphors via tuning the encaged-electron concentration for low-voltage FEDs
Authors: Zhang Meng , Liu Yuxue , Yang Jian , Zhu Hancheng , Yan Duanting , Zhang Xinyang , Liu Chunguang , Xu Changshan , Zhang Hong
Published: March 2017

This research reported the electrical, magnetic and optical properties of encaged-OH−-free Ca12(1−x)Sr12xAl14O33:0.1%Gd3+ conductive phosphors.
Structural, electronic and mechanical properties of sp3-hybridized BN phases
Authors: Zhou Rulong , Dai Jun , Cheng Zeng Xiao
Published: March 2017

We present several new sp3-hybridized phases of BN and comprehensively study their structural, electronic, and mechanical properties.
“Protrusions” or “holes” in graphene: which is the better choice for sodium ion storage?
Authors: Yang Yijun , Tang Dai-Ming , Zhang Chao , Zhang Yihui , Liang Qifeng , Chen Shimou , Weng Qunhong , Zhou Min , Xue Yanming , Liu Jiangwei , Wu Jinghua , Cui Qiu Hong , Lian Chao , Hou Guolin , Yuan Fangli , Bando Yoshio , Golberg Dmitri , Wang Xi
Published: March 2017

The introduction of protrusions through P-doping into graphene is an effective strategy to enhance electrochemical performances in SIBs.