bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Survival extrapolation in the presence of cause specific hazards
Authors: Benaglia Tatiana , Jackson Christopher H. , Sharples Linda D.
Published: November 2014

Health economic evaluations require estimates of expected survival from patients receiving different interventions, often over a lifetime. However, data on the patients of interest are typically only available for a much shorter follow‐up time, from randomised trials or cohorts. Previous work showed how to use general population mortality to improve extrapolations of the short‐term data, assuming a constant additive or multiplicative effect on the hazards for all‐cause mortality for study patients relative to the general population. A more plausible assumption may be a constant effect on the hazard for the specific cause of death targeted by the treatments. To address this problem, we use independent parametric survival models for cause‐specific mortality among the general population. Because causes of death are unobserved for the patients of interest, a polyhazard model is used to express their all‐cause mortality as a sum of latent cause‐specific hazards. Assuming proportional cause‐specific hazards between the general and study populations then allows us to extrapolate mortality of the patients of interest to the long term. A Bayesian framework is used to jointly model all sources of data. By simulation, we show that ignoring cause‐specific hazards leads to biased estimates of mean survival when the proportion of deaths due to the cause of interest changes through time. The methods are applied to an evaluation of implantable cardioverter defibrillators for the prevention of sudden cardiac death among patients with cardiac arrhythmia. After accounting for cause‐specific mortality, substantial differences are seen in estimates of life years gained from implantable cardioverter defibrillators. © 2014 The Authors Statistics in Medicine Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Bayesian dose‐finding designs for combination of molecularly targeted agents assuming partial stochastic ordering
Authors: Guo Beibei , Li Yisheng
Published: November 2014

Molecularly targeted agent (MTA) combination therapy is in the early stages of development. When using a fixed dose of one agent in combinations of MTAs, toxicity and efficacy do not necessarily increase with an increasing dose of the other agent. Thus, in dose‐finding trials for combinations of MTAs, interest may lie in identifying the optimal biological dose combinations (OBDCs), defined as the lowest dose combinations (in a certain sense) that are safe and have the highest efficacy level meeting a prespecified target. The limited existing designs for these trials use parametric dose–efficacy and dose–toxicity models. Motivated by a phase I/II clinical trial of a combination of two MTAs in patients with pancreatic, endometrial, or colorectal cancer, we propose Bayesian dose‐finding designs to identify the OBDCs without parametric model assumptions. The proposed approach is based only on partial stochastic ordering assumptions for the effects of the combined MTAs and uses isotonic regression to estimate partially stochastically ordered marginal posterior distributions of the efficacy and toxicity probabilities. We demonstrate that our proposed method appropriately accounts for the partial ordering constraints, including potential plateaus on the dose–response surfaces, and is computationally efficient. We develop a dose‐combination‐finding algorithm to identify the OBDCs. We use simulations to compare the proposed designs with an alternative design based on Bayesian isotonic regression transformation and a design based on parametric change‐point dose–toxicity and dose–efficacy models and demonstrate desirable operating characteristics of the proposed designs. © 2014 The Authors. Statistics in Medicine Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Rice starch active packaging films loaded with antioxidants—development and characterization
Authors: Ashwar Bilal Ahmad , Shah Asima , Gani Adil , Shah Umar , Gani Asir , Wani Idrees Ahmed , Wani Sajad Mohd , Masoodi Farooq Ahmad
Published: November 2014

Active antioxidant food packaging films were developed by the incorporation of ascorbic acid (AA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) into a rice starch–glycerol matrix. BHT significantly improved the water resistance of starch films. Both AA and BHT promoted significant increase in the elastic modulus but a decrease in film stretchability. S/G/BHT film presented significant decrease in water vapour permeability. AA and BHT significantly affected the lightness (L) and yellow (b) color of the films with minor differences in the green (a) colour. SEM revealed smooth surface of the films. Thermal analysis showed increase in glass transition temperature and enthalpy of transition of films with the incorporation of AA and BHT. Exposure of the films to various food simulants showed that the release from the films was dependent on the type of food simulant and the antioxidant. In the aqueous food simulant, films containing ascorbic acid (S/G/AA) produced the largest release and in the fatty food stimulant S/G/BHT film presented fast release.
Surgical Treatment of Incidental Gallbladder Cancer Discovered During or Following Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
Authors: Tian Yuan‐Hu , Ji Xu , Liu Bo , Yang Guang‐Yun , Meng Xiang‐Fei , Xia Hong‐Tian , Wang Jing , Huang Zhi‐Qiang , Dong Jia‐Hong
Published: November 2014

Background

The optimal surgical management of patients with incidental gallbladder cancer (IGBC) and their long‐term survival remains unclear.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to examine the long‐term prognosis of patients with IGBC diagnosed during or after LC.

Methods

Between January 2002 and January 2012, a total of 7,582 consecutive patients underwent LC for presumed gallbladder benign disease in the Chinese PLA General Hospital, China. Among them, 69 patients (0.91 %) were diagnosed to have IGBC. Their medical records, imaging data, surgery records, pathological findings, and survival data were retrospectively reviewed.

Results

Median age was 61 years (range: 34–83). After a median follow‐up period of 61 months, the 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year survival rates of patients were 89.9, 78.3, and 76.8 %, respectively. The 5‐year survival rates of patients with T1a, T1b, T2, and T3 stages were 95.5, 93.8, 69.2, and 44.4 %, respectively. The 5‐year survival rates in simple LC (n = 45), converted to open extended cholecystectomy (n = 16), and radical second resection (n = 8) groups were 91.1, 37.5, and 75.0 %, respectively. Local port‐site tumor recurrence was identified in one patient. Prognostic factors including depth of invasion, lymph node status, vascular or neural invasion, tumor differentiation, extent of resection, bile spillage, and type of surgery were statistically significant (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Simple LC is appropriate for T1a patients with clear margin and unbroken gallbladder, whereas extended radical resection is recommended for patients with T1b or more advanced IGBC. An intact surgical specimen and the use of plastic retrieval bags are important to reduce the risk of port‐site recurrences and disease relapse. Early diagnosis, meticulous perioperative assessment, and precise surgery are essential factors to obtain good results in IGBC treatment.
Principles and practice of lipidomics
Authors: Vaz Frédéric M. , Pras‐Raves Mia , Bootsma Albert H. , van Kampen Antoine H. C.
Published: November 2014

The technical advances in mass spectrometry, particularly the development of (ultra)‐high‐resolution/mass accuracy measurement capabilities in combination with refinement of soft ionization techniques, have increased the application and success of lipidomics to answer biological questions in relation to lipid metabolism. Together with other omics technologies, lipidomics has become an important tool to practice systems biology as lipids comprise a very significant part of the metabolome and play pleiotropic roles in cellular functions. As an increasing number of disorders are linked to lipid metabolism, lipidomics is used to search for biomarkers, understand disease mechanism and follow the efficacy of therapeutic options. This review provides a first introduction to the major methodological strategies currently used for mass spectrometry‐based lipidomics and associated data pre‐processing and analysis.
A Genetic Lung Cancer Susceptibility Test may have a Positive Effect on Smoking Cessation
Authors: Kammin Tammy , Fenton Andrew K. , Thirlaway Kathryn
Published: November 2014

Smoking increases the risk of developing lung cancer. Genetic loci have been identified which could form the basis of a lung cancer susceptibility test; but little is known whether such a test would interest or motivate those trying to quit smoking. To address this, we investigated the attitudes of people trying to quit smoking towards genetic susceptibility testing for lung cancer. Participant's attitudes to topics associated with lung cancer susceptibility testing were assessed; were they interested in genetic testing? What impact would a hypothetical high‐ or low‐ risk result have on smoking cessation? 680 self‐completion questionnaires were given to individuals attending National Health Service stop smoking clinics in three different areas of the United Kingdom between 2011 and 2012. 139 questionnaires were returned, giving a 20 % response rate. Participants expressed an interest in a genetic susceptibility test for lung cancer and almost all reported that a high‐risk result would increase their motivation to stop smoking. However, many participants had a neutral attitude towards a low‐risk result. Most participants agreed their smoking habit could lead to lung cancer. Lung cancer susceptibility testing may be a useful incentive to help people quit smoking. This study suggests the need for genetic services to work with smoking cessation teams if routine testing becomes available in the future.
EPA and DHA Exposure Alters the Inflammatory Response but not the Surface Expression of Toll‐like Receptor 4 in Macrophages
Authors: Honda Kaori L. , Lamon‐Fava Stefania , Matthan Nirupa R. , Wu Dayong , Lichtenstein Alice H.
Published: November 2014

Dietary intake of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and their respective enrichment in cell membranes have been negatively associated with atherosclerotic lesion development. This effect may be mediated, in part, by dampened inflammatory response of macrophages triggered by toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) activation. This study investigated the influence of membrane fatty acid profile on TLR4‐mediated inflammation in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Cells pretreated with myristic acid (MA), EPA, DHA or vehicle control for 24 h were stimulated with ultra‐pure LPS, a specific TLR4 agonist, for 6 or 24 h, corresponding to early and late stages of TNFα and IL‐6 protein induction. Treatment significantly increased cell membrane MA, EPA, and DHA by 4.5‐, 20.6‐, and 8.9‐fold, respectively. MA significantly increased IL‐6 secretion 6 h post‐exposure to the fatty acid, but did not change TNFα secretion in response to any other treatment condition. EPA and DHA significantly reduced TNFα secretion by 36 and 41 %, respectively, in cells stimulated for 24 h but not 6 h. In contrast, EPA and DHA significantly reduced IL‐6 secretion at both 6 h (67 and 72 %, respectively) and 24 h (69 and 72 %, respectively). MA or DHA treatment had no significant effect compared to vehicle on factors influencing cellular LPS recognition, including LPS‐cell association, and cell surface expression of TLR4, TLR4‐MD2 complex, and CD14. These data suggest that membrane fatty acid profiles influence the TLR4‐mediated inflammatory response in macrophages, via mechanisms that occur downstream of TLR4 receptor activation.
Extract from Ribes nigrum leaves in vitro activates nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and increases CD39 expression in human endothelial cells
Authors: Luzak Boguslawa , Boncler Magdalena , Rywaniak Joanna , Dudzinska Dominika , Rozalski Marek , Krajewska Urszula , Balcerczak Ewa , Podsedek Anna , Redzynia Malgorzata , Watala Cezary
Published: November 2014

The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether blackcurrant leaf extract (BLE) modulates endothelium antithrombotic function, namely increases the expression/activity of ADPase (CD39) and augments the production of nitric oxide in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). It was found that BLE with proanthocyanidins (60 % of the total polyphenol content) increased the CD39-positive endothelial cell fraction (up to 10 % for 2.5 μg/ml, and up to 33 % for 15 μg/ml, p < 0.05 or less) in a concentration-dependent manner, and enhanced endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activation (T495 phosphorylation decreased by 31 ± 6 % for 2.5 μg/ml and 48 ± 6 % for 15 μg/ml; S1177 phosphorylation increased by 13 ± 3 % for 2.5 μg/ml and 18 ± 7 % for 15 μg/ml, compared to untreated cells, p < 0.05 or less). Additionally, incubation for 24 or 48 h with BLE at a lower range of polyphenol concentrations, significantly increased cell viability with a maximal effect at 2.5 μg/ml (viability increased by 24.8 ± 1.0 % for 24 h and by 32.5 ± 2.7 % for 48-h time incubation, p < 0.0001). The increased CD39 expression and the increased eNOS activation in HUVEC can be regarded as the beneficial markers of the improvement of antiplatelet action of endothelial cells. Unexpectedly, these assumptions were not confirmed in the experimental model of platelet-endothelial cell interactions. These observations lead to the conclusion that BLE may improve endothelial cell viability at low physiological concentrations without affecting the antiplatelet action of endothelium.
Introduction: The Failure and Future of the Welfare State in Post-socialism
Authors: Polese Abel , Morris Jeremy , Kovács Borbála
Published: November 2014

Debates on the post-socialist welfare state evolved in two main directions. While some scholars have maintained that they would eventually converge with Western European patterns, some others have pointed at the need of a more ‘particularist’ approach, seeking to demonstrate that post-socialist states might follow a different and non-traditional path, individually or as a region in terms of welfare provision. Our current work is an attempt to contribute to the debate on the direction of post-socialist welfare state adaptation by engaging with corruption and welfare state/public sector failure in post-socialist spaces. In particular, emphasis is put on the tactics and strategies used by public workers and citizens to cope with incomplete and inadequate public social welfare provision. Rooted in different disciplinary schools, and making use of diverse methodological and theoretical approaches, the papers of this special issue provide further evidence to rechart the relationship between the public welfare sector, citizens and the current economic transition, a commonality that allows us to point at alternatives to the capitalist model that for some time has been seen as the only option. In line with our previous works, in this special issue we explore the possibility that informality and formality are complementary or that informality may ‘replace’ formal processes and structures. In other words, where the welfare state does not penetrate, welfare might be spread also through informal channels and it might redefine the very dynamics underpinning of a society.
Methods of Instruction of the Incident Command System and Related Topics at US Veterinary Schools
Authors: Smith Joe S , Kuldau Gretchen A
Published: November 2014

Objective

The Incident Command System (ICS) is an adaptable construct designed to streamline response efforts to a disaster or other incident. We aimed to examine the methods used to teach the ICS at US veterinary schools and to explore alternative and novel methods for instruction of this material.

Methods

A total of 29 US accredited veterinary schools (as of February 2012) were surveyed, and 18 of the 29 schools responded.

Results

The ICS and related topics were taught by both classroom methods and online instruction by most of the surveyed schools. Several of the schools used readily available Federal Emergency Management Agency and US Department of Agriculture resources to aid in instruction. Most schools used one course to teach the ICS, and some schools also used unique methods such as field exercises, drills, side-by-side training with disaster response teams, elective courses, extracurricular clubs, and externships to reinforce the ICS and related topics. Some of the surveyed institutions also utilized fourth-year clinical rotations and field deployments during actual disasters as a component of their ICS and emergency response curriculum.

Conclusion

The ICS is being taught at some form at a significant number of US veterinary schools. Additional research is needed to evaluate the efficacy of the teaching methods of the ICS in US veterinary schools. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2014;8:505-510)
Gut microbiota of humans, dogs and cats: current knowledge and future opportunities and challenges
Authors: Deng Ping , Swanson Kelly S.
Published: November 2014

High-throughput DNA sequencing techniques allow for the identification and characterisation of microbes and their genes (microbiome). Using these new techniques, microbial populations in several niches of the human body, including the oral and nasal cavities, skin, urogenital tract and gastrointestinal tract, have been described recently. Very little data on the microbiome of companion animals exist, and most of the data have been derived from the analysis of the faeces of healthy laboratory animals. High-throughput assays provide opportunities to study the complex and dense populations of the gut microbiota, including bacteria, archaea, fungi, protozoa and viruses. Our laboratory and others have recently described the predominant microbial taxa and genes of healthy dogs and cats and how these respond to dietary interventions. In general, faecal microbial phylogeny (e.g. predominance of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria) and functional capacity (e.g. major functional groups related to carbohydrate, protein, DNA and vitamin metabolism; virulence factors; and cell wall and capsule) of the canine and feline gut are similar to those of the human gut. Initial sequencing projects have provided a glimpse of the microbial super-organism that exists within the canine and feline gut, but leaves much to be explored and discovered. As DNA provides information only about potential functions, studies that focus on the microbial transcriptome, metabolite profiles, and how microbiome changes affect host physiology and health are clearly required. Future studies must determine how diet composition, antibiotics and other drug therapies, breed and disease affect or are affected by the gut microbiome and how this information may be used to improve diets, identify disease biomarkers and develop targeted disease therapies.
A MINIMAL SET OF GENERATORS FOR THE CANONICAL IDEAL OF A NONDEGENERATE CURVE
Authors: CASTRYCK WOUTER , COOLS FILIP
Published: November 2014

We give an explicit way of writing down a minimal set of generators for the canonical ideal of a nondegenerate curve, or of a more general smooth projective curve in a toric surface, in terms of its defining Laurent polynomial.
THE CATENARY DEGREE OF KRULL MONOIDS II
Authors: GEROLDINGER ALFRED , ZHONG QINGHAI
Published: November 2014

Let$H$be a Krull monoid with finite class group$G$such that every class contains a prime divisor (for example, a ring of integers in an algebraic number field or a holomorphy ring in an algebraic function field). The catenary degree$\mathsf{c}(H)$of$H$is the smallest integer$N$with the following property: for each$a\in H$and each pair of factorizations$z,z^{\prime }$of$a$, there exist factorizations$z=z_{0},\dots ,z_{k}=z^{\prime }$of$a$such that, for each$i\in [1,k]$,$z_{i}$arises from$z_{i-1}$by replacing at most$N$atoms from$z_{i-1}$by at most$N$new atoms. To exclude trivial cases, suppose that$|G|\geq 3$. Then the catenary degree depends only on the class group$G$and we have$\mathsf{c}(H)\in [3,\mathsf{D}(G)]$, where$\mathsf{D}(G)$denotes the Davenport constant of$G$. The cases when$\mathsf{c}(H)\in \{3,4,\mathsf{D}(G)\}$have been previously characterized (see Theorem A). Based on a characterization of the catenary degree determined in the paper by Geroldingeret al.[‘The catenary degree of Krull monoids I’,J. Théor. Nombres Bordeaux23(2011), 137–169], we determine the class groups satisfying$\mathsf{c}(H)=\mathsf{D}(G)-1$. Apart from the extremal cases mentioned, the precise value of$\mathsf{c}(H)$is known for no further class groups.
HYPERBOLICITY OF HOMOCLINIC CLASSES OF VECTOR FIELDS
Authors: LEE KEONHEE , LEE MANSEOB , LEE SEUNGHEE
Published: November 2014

Let${\it\gamma}$be a hyperbolic closed orbit of a$C^{1}$vector field$X$on a compact$C^{\infty }$manifold$M$and let$H_{X}({\it\gamma})$be the homoclinic class of$X$containing${\it\gamma}$. In this paper, we prove that if a$C^{1}$-persistently expansive homoclinic class$H_{X}({\it\gamma})$has the shadowing property, then$H_{X}({\it\gamma})$is hyperbolic.
Enhancement of Thermoelectric Performance by Reducing Phonon Thermal Conductance in Multiple Core-shell Nanowires
Authors: Zhou Wu-Xing , Chen Ke-Qiu
Published: November 2014

The thermoelectric properties of multiple core-shell nanowires are investigated by using nonequilibrium Green's function method and molecular dynamics simulations. The results show that the thermoelectric performance of multiple core-shell NWs can be improved observably with the increase of shell number compared with the single component NWs due to the significant reduction of phonon thermal conductance. The ZT value of multiple core-shell NWs can reach three times greater than that of the single component GaSb NWs at room temperature. Moreover, the ZT values of both the core-shell NWs and single component NWs are increased with the increasing temperature, but the ZT value of core-shell NWs increases more slowly than that of single component NWs. These results show that the single component NWs is suitable as thermoelectric material at much high temperature, but the multiple core-shell NWs is more suitable as thermoelectric material at room temperature.
Sensitive colorimetric detection of melamine with 1,4-dithiothreitol modified gold nanoparticles
Authors: Xiao Can , Zhang Xiaofang , Liu Junfeng , Yang Ankang , Zhao Hong , Li Xiangjun , He Yujian , Yuan Zhuobin
Published: November 2014

The presence of melamine induces a change in the state of 1,4-dithiothreitol modified gold nanoparticles, and the concentration of melamine could be quantified by the naked eye or using a UV-vis spectrometer.
Aptasensors based on supramolecular structures of nucleic acid-stabilized Ag nanoclusters
Authors: Sharon Etery , Enkin Natalie , Albada H. Bauke , Willner Itamar
Published: November 2014

A supramolecular DNA nanocluster consisting of Ag NCs allows the luminescence detection and multiplexed analysis of ligand–aptamer complexes.
Ni-Catalyzed α-arylation of esters and amides with phenol derivatives
Authors: Koch Eva , Takise Ryosuke , Studer Armido , Yamaguchi Junichiro , Itami Kenichiro
Published: November 2014

A nickel-catalyzed α-arylation of esters and amides with phenol derivatives has been accomplished.
Structural requirements for anti-oxidant activity of calix[n]arenes and their associated anti-bacterial activity
Authors: Stephens E. K. , Tauran Y. , Coleman A. W. , Fitzgerald M.
Published: November 2014

We define the structural requirements for antioxidant activity of calix[n]arenes and relate these findings to the differential antibacterial activity of these calix[n]arenes against Gram+ and Gram− bacteria.
Morphology – composition correlations in carbon nanotubes synthesised with nitrogen and phosphorus containing precursors
Authors: Nicholls Rebecca J. , Aslam Zabeada , Sarahan Michael C. , Sanchez Ana M. , Dillon Frank , Koós Antal A. , Nellist Peter D. , Grobert Nicole
Published: November 2014

Co-doping carbon nanotubes with phosphorus and nitrogen produces two dominant, chemically distinct, morphologies.In situelectrical measurements are carried out to understand how the morphologies evolve when current is passed.
Neutral diiron(iii) complexes with Fe2(μ-E)2(E = O, S, Se) core structures: reactivity of an iron(i) dimer towards chalcogens
Authors: Fohlmeister Lea , Vignesh Kuduva R. , Winter Florian , Moubaraki Boujemaa , Rajaraman Gopalan , Pöttgen Rainer , Murray Keith S. , Jones Cameron
Published: November 2014

Three neutral guanidinato bis(μ-chalcogenido)diiron(iii) complexes (e.g.see picture) have been prepared from reactions of an iron(i) dimer with elemental chalcogens.
Enhancement of flavonoid ability to cross the blood–brain barrier of rats by co-administration with α-tocopherol
Authors: Ferri Paola , Angelino Donato , Gennari Lorenzo , Benedetti Serena , Ambrogini Patrizia , Del Grande Paolo , Ninfali Paolino
Published: November 2014

The dietary α-tocopherol promotes the transport across the blood–brain barrier of quercetin, rutin and their metabolites. Chronic flavonoid administration does not induce any cytotoxic side effects on the hippocampus.
A high transmission wave-guide wire network made by self-assembly
Authors: Salvatore Stefano , Vignolini Silvia , Philpott Julian , Stefik Morgan , Wiesner Ulrich , Baumberg Jeremy J. , Steiner Ullrich
Published: November 2014

Polymer self-assembly of a 3D continuous gyroid morphology was replicated into a network consisting of hollow gold struts causing a strong reduction of optical absorption compared to solid struts with equal amount of Au per gyroid unit cell.
High quality polyacrylic acid modified multifunction luminescent nanorods for tri-modality bioimaging, in vivo long-lasting tracking and biodistribution
Authors: Yi Zhigao , Lu Wei , Liu Hongrong , Zeng Songjun
Published: November 2014

Tri-modality bioimaging and in vivo long lasting tracking based on high quality PAA-modified multifunction nanorods are demonstrated, revealing the biliary excretion route.
Functional, sub-100 nm polymer nanoparticles via thiol–ene miniemulsion photopolymerization
Authors: Amato D. V. , Amato D. N. , Flynt A. S. , Patton D. L.
Published: November 2014

Thiol–ene photopolymerization in miniemulsion under non-stoichiometric conditions offers a facile route to functionalized polymer nanoparticles.
Cobalt phthalocyanine tetracarboxylic acid modified reduced graphene oxide: a sensitive matrix for the electrocatalytic detection of peroxynitrite and hydrogen peroxide
Authors: Hosu Ioana S. , Wang Qian , Vasilescu Alina , Peteu Serban F. , Raditoiu Valentin , Railian Svetlana , Zaitsev Vladimir , Turcheniuk Kostiantyn , Wang Qi , Li Musen , Boukherroub Rabah , Szunerits Sabine
Published: November 2014

The electrocatalytic properties of cobalt phthalocyanine modified reduced graphene oxide for peroxynitrite and hydrogen peroxide are investigated.
Temperature-responsive microspheres-coated separator for thermal shutdown protection of lithium ion batteries
Authors: Ji Weixiao , Jiang Bolun , Ai Fangxing , Yang Hanxi , Ai Xinping
Published: November 2014

A new thermal shutdown separator is prepared by coating thermoplastic ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer microspheres onto conventional polyolefin membrane film.
In situ green synthesis of Au nanoparticles onto polydopamine-functionalized graphene for catalytic reduction of nitrophenol
Authors: Luo Jing , Zhang Nan , Liu Ren , Liu Xiaoya
Published: November 2014

A simple and green route was demonstrated to prepare graphene/Au NPs nanocomposite using polydopamine as surface modifier, reducing agent and stabilizer simultaneously, which exhibits remarkable catalytic activity for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol.
Sample-pretreatment-free based high sensitive determination of aflatoxin M1in raw milk using a time-resolved fluorescent competitive immunochromatographic assay
Authors: Tang Xiaoqian , Zhang Zhaowei , Li Peiwu , Zhang Qi , Jiang Jun , Wang Du , Lei Jiawen
Published: November 2014

A highly-sensitive TRFICA was developed to detect AFM1in raw milk samples within 6 minutes without any sample pretreatments.
Critical formation conditions for β-form hybrid shish-kebab and its structural analysis
Authors: Han Rui , Li Yijun , Wang Qi , Nie Min
Published: November 2014

Critical formation conditions for β-form hybrid shish kebab and its unique condensed state structure.
Direct observation of ligand-induced receptor dimerization with a bioresponsive hydrogel
Authors: Kim Jongseong , Park Yongdoo , Brown Ashley C. , Lyon L. Andrew
Published: November 2014

Microgel assay for real-time measurement of protein multimerization, assembly, and disassembly identifies physiologically important dimerization pathway.
Coordinating ligand functionalized AgNPs for colorimetric sensing: effect of subtle structural and conformational change of ligand on the selectivity
Authors: Vinod Kumar V. , Philip Anthony Savarimuthu
Published: November 2014

Metal coordinating C2-symmetric phenolic chelating ligands (1–3) were used to prepare surface functionalized AgNPs for selective colorimetric sensing of metal cations and anions.
Graphene oxide–polyaniline–polypyrrole nanocomposite for a supercapacitor electrode
Authors: Pal Kaushik , Panwar Vinay , Bag Souvik , Manuel James , Ahn Jou-Hyeon , Kim Jin Kuk
Published: November 2014

Graphene oxide based nanocomposites were prepared through the in situ polymerization of aniline and pyrrole to study the interaction of graphene oxide with polyaniline (PANI) and polypyrrole (PPy).
Mapping the performance of amorphous ternary metal oxide water oxidation catalysts containing aluminium
Authors: Zhang Cuijuan , Fagan Randal D. , Smith Rodney D. L. , Moore Stephanie A. , Berlinguette Curtis P. , Trudel Simon
Published: November 2014

Ternary amorphous catalysts containing varying stoichiometries of aluminium, iron, nickel and/or cobalt for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) were mapped out to define the optimal composition for mediating oxygen evolution from water.
Opto-electronic properties of TiO2nanohelices with embedded HC(NH2)2PbI3perovskite solar cells
Authors: Lee Jin-Wook , Lee Seung Hee , Ko Hyun-Seok , Kwon Jeong , Park Jong Hyeok , Kang Seong Min , Ahn Namyoung , Choi Mansoo , Kim Jong Kyu , Park Nam-Gyu
Published: November 2014

A HC(NH2)2PbI3perovskite solar cell based on TiO2nanohelices has been developed.
Fe3O4@mSiO2 core–shell nanocomposite capped with disulfide gatekeepers for enzyme-sensitive controlled release of anti-cancer drugs
Authors: Yang Chunyu , Guo Wei , Cui Liru , An Na , Zhang Ting , Guo Gang , Lin Huiming , Qu Fengyu
Published: November 2014

Multifunctional nanocarriers based on the magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticle core and bis-(3-carboxy-4-hydroxy phenyl) disulfide modified mesoporous silica shell were synthesized for cancer treatment through passive targeting and enzyme-sensitive drug release.
Ubiquitination profiling identifies sensitivity factors for IAP antagonist treatment
Authors: Varfolomeev Eugene , Izrael-Tomasevic Anita , Yu Kebing , Bustos Daisy , Goncharov Tatiana , Belmont Lisa D. , Masselot Alexandre , Bakalarski Corey E. , Kirkpatrick Donald S. , Vucic Domagoj
Published: November 2014

Evasion of cell death is one crucial capability acquired by tumour cells to ward-off anti-tumour therapies and represents a fundamental challenge to sustaining clinical efficacy for currently available agents. Inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) proteins use their ubiquitin E3 ligase activity to promote cancer cell survival by mediating proliferative signalling and blocking cell death in response to diverse stimuli. Using immunoaffinity enrichment and MS, ubiquitination sites on thousands of proteins were profiled upon initiation of cell death by IAP antagonists in IAP antagonist-sensitive and -resistant breast cancer cell lines. Our analyses identified hundreds of proteins with elevated levels of ubiquitin-remnant [K-GG (Lys-Gly-Gly)] peptides upon activation of cell death by the IAP antagonist BV6. The majority of these were observed in BV6-sensitive, but not-resistant, cells. Among these were known pro-apoptotic regulators, including CYC (cytochrome c), RIP1 (receptor-interacting protein 1) and a selection of proteins known to reside in the mitochondria or regulate NF-κB (nuclear factor κB) signalling. Analysis of early time-points revealed that IAP antagonist treatment stimulated rapid ubiquitination of NF-κB signalling proteins, including TRAF2 [TNF (tumour necrosis factor) receptor-associated factor 2], HOIL-1 (haem-oxidized iron-regulatory protein 2 ubiquitin ligase-1), NEMO (NF-κB essential modifier), as well as c-IAP1 (cellular IAP1) auto-ubiquitination. Knockdown of several NF-κB pathway members reduced BV6-induced cell death and TNF production in sensitive cell lines. Importantly, RIP1 was found to be constitutively ubiquitinated in sensitive breast-cancer cell lines at higher basal level than in resistant cell lines. Together, these data show the diverse and temporally defined roles of protein ubiquitination following IAP-antagonist treatment and provide critical insights into predictive diagnostics that may enhance clinical efficacy.
Radioluminescence characterization of in situ x-ray nanodosimeters: Potential real-time monitors and modulators of external beam radiation therapy
Authors: Souris Jeffrey S. , Cheng Shih-Hsun , Pelizzari Charles , Chen Nai-Tzu , La Riviere Patrick , Chen Chin-Tu , Lo Leu-Wei
Published: November 2014

Europium-doped yttrium oxide (Y2O3:Eu) has garnered considerable interest recently for its use as a highly efficient, red phosphor in a variety of lighting applications that include fluorescent lamps, plasma, and field emission display panels, light emitting diodes (LEDs), and lasers. In the present work, we describe the development of Y2O3:Eu nanoparticles for a very different application: in situ, in vivo x-ray dosimetry. Spectroscopic analyses of these nanoparticles during x-ray irradiation reveal surprisingly bright and stable radioluminescence at near-infrared wavelengths, with markedly linear response to changes in x-ray flux and energy. Monte Carlo modeling of incident flux and broadband, wide-field imaging of mouse phantoms bearing both Y2O3:Eu nanoparticles and calibrated LEDs of similar spectral emission demonstrated significant transmission of radioluminescence, in agreement with spectroscopic studies; with approximately 15 visible photons being generated for every x-ray photon incident. Unlike the dosimeters currently employed in clinical practice, these nanodosimeters can sample both dose and dose rate rapidly enough as to provide real-time feedback for x-ray based external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). The technique's use of remote sensing and absence of supporting structures enable perturbation-free dosing of the targeted region and complete sampling from any direction. With the conjugation of pathology-targeting ligands onto their surfaces, these nanodosimeters offer a potential paradigm shift in the real-time monitoring and modulation of delivered dose in the EBRT of cancer in situ.
Facilitation of interfacial dynamics in entangled polymer films
Authors: Glor Ethan C. , Fakhraai Zahra
Published: November 2014

In this article, we use cooling-rate dependent Tg measurements (CR-Tg) to indirectly probe the relaxation dynamics of supported polystyrene thin films of various molecular weights, all chosen to be above the entanglement molecular weight. We show that the dynamics in these films deviate from bulk dynamics below a temperature T* = Tg + 6 K = 380  K ± 1  K. We show that T* for films of all thicknesses and molecular weights is the same as the temperature at which the free surface dynamics deviate from the bulk dynamics. The apparent activation barrier of the glass transition in thin films decreases towards that of the free surface as the film thickness decreases. This provides strong evidence that thin film dynamics are facilitated by the enhanced mobility at the free surface. The observation of T* can help resolve some seemingly contradictory data by suggesting that studies performed at higher temperatures (T > T*), or which probe shorter relaxation times (τ < τ* ∼ 1 s) would not observe properties that deviate from bulk values. We also demonstrate that the relaxation dynamics of supported entangled polystyrene films slow down slightly as the molecular weight of polystyrene increases. An eight nanometer film of Mw =2240 kg/mol polystyrene shows a Tg reduction of 27 K at a cooling rate of 1 K/min, while a film of the same thickness made of Mw =45.8 kg/mol polystyrene has a 36 K reduction of Tg compared to the bulk film at the same cooling rate. We hypothesize this is either due to the density of a dynamically “dead” layer near the substrate increasing with molecular weight, or partial anchoring of long chains, which could hinder segmental diffusion near the free surface.
Boson-fermion correspondence of type D-A and multi-local Virasoro representations on the Fock space $\mathit {F^{\otimes \frac{1}{2}}}$F⊗12
Authors: Anguelova Iana I.
Published: November 2014

We construct the bosonization of the Fock space \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}$\mathit {F^{\otimes \frac{1}{2}}}$\end{document}F⊗12 of a single neutral fermion by using a 2-point local Heisenberg field. We decompose \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}$\mathit {F^{\otimes \frac{1}{2}}}$\end{document}F⊗12 as a direct sum of irreducible highest weight modules for the Heisenberg algebra \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}$\mathcal {H}_{\mathbb {Z}}$\end{document}HZ, and thus we show that under the Heisenberg \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}$\mathcal {H}_{\mathbb {Z}}$\end{document}HZ action the Fock space \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}$\mathit {F^{\otimes \frac{1}{2}}}$\end{document}F⊗12 of the single neutral fermion is isomorphic to the Fock space \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}$\mathit {F^{\otimes 1}}$\end{document}F⊗1 of a pair of charged free fermions, thereby constructing the boson-fermion correspondence of type D-A. As a corollary we obtain the Jacobi identity equating the graded dimension formulas utilizing both the Heisenberg and the Virasoro gradings on \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}$\mathit {F^{\otimes \frac{1}{2}}}$\end{document}F⊗12. We construct a family of 2-point-local Virasoro fields with central charge \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}$-2+12\lambda -12\lambda ^2, \ \lambda \in \mathbb {C}$\end{document}−2+12λ−12λ2,λ∈C, on \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}$\mathit {F^{\otimes \frac{1}{2}}}$\end{document}F⊗12. We construct a W1 + ∞ representation on \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}$\mathit {F^{\otimes \frac{1}{2}}}$\end{document}F⊗12 and show that under this W1 + ∞ action \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}$\mathit {F^{\otimes \frac{1}{2}}}$\end{document}F⊗12 is again isomorphic to \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}$\mathit {F^{\otimes 1}}$\end{document}F⊗1.
Nonorthogonal orbital based N-body reduced density matrices and their applications to valence bond theory. IV. The automatic implementation of the Hessian based VBSCF method
Authors: Chen Xun , Chen Zhenhua , Wu Wei
Published: November 2014

In this paper, the Hessian matrix of valence bond (VB) self-consistent field (VBSCF) energy with respect to orbitals are evaluated by applying the nonorthogonal orbital based N-body reduced density matrices, which was presented in Paper I. To this end, an automatic formula/code generator (AFCG) is developed; with which the matrix elements between internally contracted excited configurations of VB wave function and the corresponding codes are generated automatically. Compared to the tedious manual formula deducing and implementing, AFCG is much more convenient and efficient, and enables us to avoid troublesome debugging. With the help of AFCG, the Hessian-based Newton-Raphson algorithm is implemented for the VBSCF orbital optimization. Test calculations indicate that the Newton-Raphson algorithm converges quadratically and has much better convergence behavior than the gradient-based LBFGS algorithms. Furthermore, a combined approach with LBFGS and Newton-Raphson algorithms is applied to reduce the total CPU time of the calculation.
Aggregation of nanoparticles on one and two-component bilayer membranes
Authors: Cheung David L.
Published: November 2014

Using dissipative particle dynamics simulations the aggregation of nanoparticles on single and two-component bilayers is investigated. For a uniform bilayer the aggregation of nanoparticles depends strongly on the location of the particles in the bilayer; particles residing on the bilayer exterior cluster strongly under the influence of bilayer-mediated interactions, whereas the interaction between the particles in the bilayer interior is significantly weaker leading to more loosely bound, dynamic aggregates. The aggregation of nanoparticles on two-component bilayers composed of immiscible components changes due to competition between nanoparticle clustering and their adsorption on the boundary between the bilayer components. This reduces the size of the nanoparticle clusters formed on the bilayer exterior, with the clusters adhering onto the boundary between the bilayer components. Due to their weaker attraction nanoparticles in the interior of a mixed bilayer no longer aggregate and instead form strings along the boundary between the two bilayer components. Nanoparticles with an affinity to one bilayer component nucleate small domains of their favoured component around themselves. For asymmetric mixtures this leads to a notable change in the aggregation behaviour of the nanoparticles.
Motion on constant curvature spaces and quantization using noether symmetries
Authors: Bracken Paul
Published: November 2014

A general approach is presented for quantizing a metric nonlinear system on a manifold of constant curvature. It makes use of a curvature dependent procedure which relies on determining Noether symmetries from the metric. The curvature of the space functions as a constant parameter. For a specific metric which defines the manifold, Lie differentiation of the metric gives these symmetries. A metric is used such that the resulting Schrödinger equation can be solved in terms of hypergeometric functions. This permits the investigation of both the energy spectrum and wave functions exactly for this system.
Enhanced performance of core-shell structured polyaniline at helical carbon nanotube hybrids for ammonia gas sensor
Authors: Tian Xin , Wang Qiang , Chen Xiangnan , Yang Weiqing , Wu Zuquan , Xu Xiaoling , Jiang Man , Zhou Zuowan
Published: November 2014

A core-shell structured hybrid of polyaniline at helical carbon nanotubes was synthesized using in situ polymerization, which the helical carbon nanotubes were uniformly surrounded by a layer of polyaniline nanorods array. More interestingly, repeatable responses were experimentally observed that the sensitivity to ammonia gas of the as-prepared helical shaped core-shell hybrid displays an enhancement of more than two times compared to those of only polyaniline or helical carbon nanotubes sensors because of the peculiar structures with high surface area. This kind of hybrid comprising nanorod arrays of conductive polymers covering carbon nanotubes and related structures provide a potential in sensors of trace gas detection for environmental monitoring and safety forecasting.
Photo-transport properties of Pb2CrO5 single crystals
Authors: Mondal P. S. , Okazaki R. , Taniguchi H. , Terasaki I.
Published: November 2014

We report photo-thermoelectric transport phenomena in Pb2CrO5 single crystals. Without illumination, this material exhibits an insulating behavior characterized by an activation-type temperature variation of the electrical conductivity. The Seebeck coefficient contrastingly shows a crossover from high-temperature insulating to low-temperature metallic behavior, which is attributed to degenerate carriers in a donor level. We have found that under illumination, both the conductivity and the Seebeck coefficient increase in magnitude with increasing photon flux density in the degenerate-conduction regime. This result is difficult to understand within a simple photo-doping effect, which usually leads to a decrease in the Seebeck coefficient under illumination. The observed phenomenon is discussed in terms of a two-carrier contribution to the transport properties.
The role of declarative and procedural memory in disorders of language
Authors: T. Ullman Michael
Published: November 2014

Language is often assumed to rely on domain-specific neurocognitive substrates. However, this human capacity in fact seems to crucially depend on general-purpose memory systems in the brain. Evidence suggests that lexical memory relies heavily on declarative memory, which is specialized for arbitrary associations and is rooted in temporal lobe structures. The mental grammar instead relies largely on procedural memory, a system that underlies rules and sequences, and is rooted in frontal/basal-ganglia structures. Developmental and adult-onset disorders such as Specific Language Impairment, autism, Tourette syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and non-fluent aphasia each seem to involve particular grammatical deficits and analogous non-linguistic procedural memory impairments, as well as abnormalities of procedural memory brain structures. Lexical and declarative memory remain relatively intact in these disorders, and may play compensatory roles. In contrast, Alzheimer’s disease, semantic dementia, fluent aphasia and amnesia each affect lexical and declarative memory, and involve abnormalities of declarative memory brain structures, while leaving grammar and procedural memory largely intact. Overall, the evidence suggests that declarative and procedural memory play critical roles in language disorders, as well as in language more generally.
Lexical retrieval deficits in anomic aphasia and specific language impairment (SLI)
Authors: Kambanaros Maria , van Steenbrugge Willem
Published: November 2014

Lexical retrieval of verbs and nouns was compared in two groups of impaired language users, children diagnosed with SLI and adults with acquired anomic aphasia, on two production tasks: picture confrontation naming and connected speech. Both children with SLI and adults with anomic aphasia showed a more substantial lexical or naming deficit for verbs than for nouns. However, no specific verb retrieval deficit was observed in connected speech in either group. Furthermore, partial correlations between verb and noun naming and their type-token ratios in connected speech failed to find an association between verb/ noun retrieval in naming and in connected speech. The results suggest (1) that children with SLI and adults with anomic aphasia show a specific verb deficit in naming, and (2) that the ability to predict lexical retrieval abilities for verbs (and nouns) in connected speech from naming performance is weak for both groups.
CRISPRdirect: software for designing CRISPR/Cas guide RNA with reduced off-target sites
Authors: Naito Yuki , Hino Kimihiro , Bono Hidemasa , Ui-Tei Kumiko
Published: November 2014

Summary: CRISPRdirect is a simple and functional web server for selecting rational CRISPR/Cas targets from an input sequence. The CRISPR/Cas system is a promising technique for genome engineering which allows target-specific cleavage of genomic DNA guided by Cas9 nuclease in complex with a guide RNA (gRNA), that complementarily binds to a ∼20 nt targeted sequence. The target sequence requirements are twofold. First, the 5′-NGG protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) sequence must be located adjacent to the target sequence. Second, the target sequence should be specific within the entire genome in order to avoid off-target editing. CRISPRdirect enables users to easily select rational target sequences with minimized off-target sites by performing exhaustive searches against genomic sequences. The server currently incorporates the genomic sequences of human, mouse, rat, marmoset, pig, chicken, frog, zebrafish, Ciona, fruit fly, silkworm, Caenorhabditis elegans, Arabidopsis, rice, Sorghum and budding yeast.

Availability: Freely available at http://crispr.dbcls.jp/.

Contact:  y-naito@dbcls.rois.ac.jp

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.