bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electron Probe Microanalysis of REE in Eudialyte Group Minerals: Challenges and Solutions
Authors: Atanasova Petya , Krause Joachim , Möckel Robert , Osbahr Inga , Gutzmer Jens
Published: August 2015

Accurate quantification of the chemical composition of eudialyte group minerals (EGM) with the electron probe microanalyzer is complicated by both mineralogical and X-ray-specific challenges. These include structural and chemical variability, mutual interferences of X-ray lines, in particular of the rare earth elements, diffusive volatility of light anions and cations, and instability of EGM under the electron beam. A novel analytical approach has been developed to overcome these analytical challenges. The effect of diffusive volatility and beam damage is shown to be minimal when a square of 20×20µm is scanned with a beam diameter of 6µm at the fastest possible speed, while measuring elements critical to electron beam exposure early in the measurement sequence. Appropriate reference materials are selected for calibration considering their volatile content and composition, and supplementary offline overlap correction is performed using individual calibration factors. Preliminary results indicate good agreement with data from laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry demonstrating that a quantitative mineral chemical analysis of EGM by electron probe microanalysis is possible once all the parameters mentioned above are accounted for.
Peru's National Committee for the Study and Implementation of International Humanitarian Law
Authors: Arzapalo Villón Tania Elizabeth
Published: August 2015

Implementation of international humanitarian law (IHL) in national legislation is necessary to promote compliance with IHL in the event of an armed conflict. Owing to its consultative and interdepartmental nature, the National Committee for the Study and Implementation of International Humanitarian Law (CONADIH) plays a strategic role in promoting its implementation in Peru. To fulfil that role more effectively, CONADIH was strengthened during a structural internal reform of the Peruvian Ministry of Justice and Human Rights (MINJUS), where its presidency lies. Two of the crucial steps to that end were that the presidency fell under a higher authority within the Ministry and the creation of a governing body with decision-making powers regarding IHL and international human rights law, thus leading to the incorporation of IHL into a broad range of public policies.
Alles eine Illusion? Was ist für das Lernen wirklich wichtig?
Authors: Schewior-Popp Susanne
Published: August 2015

Zusammenfassung. Es gibt wohl in den letzten Jahrzehnten keine pädagogische Studie, die so viel Resonanz erfahren hat wie die Metaanalyse des neuseeländischen Lehr-Lernforschers John Hattie mit dem Titel „Visible Learning“. Diese Resonanz bezieht sich nicht nur auf die erziehungswissenschaftliche „Scientific Community“, vielmehr reicht sie von Lehrern über Eltern bis hin zu Bildungspolitik und populärwissenschaftlicher Literatur. Dieser Beitrag fasst die wichtigsten Aspekte, aber auch kritische Stimmen, insbesondere unter dem Gesichtspunkt der Bedeutung für Schulentwicklungsprogramme, zusammen.
Anleitung im Erleben der Studierenden
Authors: Steffan Sabine , Knoch Tina
Published: August 2015

Zusammenfassung. Zunehmend werden an Hochschulen duale bzw. ausbildungsbegleitende Pflegestudiengänge angeboten. Die Hochschulen als dritter Lernstandort der Pflegeausbildungen betreten damit ein bislang wenig erforschtes Feld. Schwierigkeiten der praktischen Ausbildung sind seit Jahren bekannt. Problemzentrierte Interviews vom Sommer 2014 sollten klären, wie dual Studierende des „Gesundheits- und Pflegemanagements“ ihre praktische Ausbildung erleben und welche Wünsche sie haben.
Global Warming Intensifies Drought Conditions in California
Authors: Strelich Lily
Published: August 2015

The rise in global temperatures has amplified naturally occurring drought conditions in California and has increased the chance of severe droughts in the future.
DED or alive: assembly and regulation of the death effector domain complexes
Authors: Riley J S , Malik A , Holohan C , Longley D B
Published: August 2015

Death effector domains (DEDs) are protein–protein interaction domains initially identified in proteins such as FADD, FLIP and caspase-8 involved in regulating apoptosis. Subsequently, these proteins have been shown to have important roles in regulating other forms of cell death, including necroptosis, and in regulating other important cellular processes, including autophagy and inflammation. Moreover, these proteins also have prominent roles in innate and adaptive immunity and during embryonic development. In this article, we review the various roles of DED-containing proteins and discuss recent developments in our understanding of DED complex formation and regulation. We also briefly discuss opportunities to therapeutically target DED complex formation in diseases such as cancer.
α-Solanine induces ROS-mediated autophagy through activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress and inhibition of Akt/mTOR pathway
Authors: Hasanain M , Bhattacharjee A , Pandey P , Ashraf R , Singh N , Sharma S , Vishwakarma A L , Datta D , Mitra K , Sarkar J
Published: August 2015

α-Solanine is a glycoalkaloid found in species of the nightshade family including potato. It was primarily reported to have toxic effects in humans. However, there is a growing body of literature demonstrating in vitro and in vivo anticancer activity of α-solanine. Most of these studies have shown activation of apoptosis as the underlying mechanism in antitumor activity of α-solanine. In this study, we report α-solanine as a potential inducer of autophagy, which may act synergistically or in parallel with apoptosis to exert its cytotoxic effect. Induction of autophagy was demonstrated by several assays including electron microscopy, immunoblotting of autophagy markers and immunofluorescence for LC3 (microtubule-associated protein 1 (MAP1) light chain-3) puncta. α-Solanine-induced autophagic flux was demonstrated by additionally enhanced – turnover of LC3-II and – accumulation of LC3-specific puncta after co-incubation of cells with either of the autophagolysosome inhibitors – chloroquine and – bafilomycin A1. We also demonstrated α-solanine-induced oxidative damage in regulating autophagy where pre-incubation of cells with reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger resulted in suppression of CM-H2DCFDA (5 (and 6)-chloromethyl-2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate acetyl ester) fluorescence as well as decrease in LC3-II turnover. α-Solanine treatment caused an increase in the expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress proteins (BiP, activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6), X-box-binding protein 1, PERK, inositol-requiring transmembrane kinase/endonuclease 1, ATF4 and CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP)-homologous protein) suggesting activation of unfolded protein response pathway. Moreover, we found downregulation of phosphorylated Akt (Thr308 and Ser473), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR; Ser2448 and Ser2481) and 4E-BP1 (Thr37/46) by α-solanine implying suppression of the Akt/mTOR pathway. Collectively, our results signify that α-solanine induces autophagy to exert anti-proliferative activity by triggering ER stress and inhibiting Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.
MicroRNA-26a supports mammalian axon regeneration in vivo by suppressing GSK3β expression
Authors: Jiang J-J , Liu C-M , Zhang B-Y , Wang X-W , Zhang M , Saijilafu  , Zhang S-R , Hall P , Hu Y-W , Zhou F-Q
Published: August 2015

MicroRNAs are emerging to be important epigenetic factors that control axon regeneration. Here, we report that microRNA-26a (miR-26a) is a physiological regulator of mammalian axon regeneration in vivo. We demonstrated that endogenous miR-26a acted to target specifically glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) in adult mouse sensory neurons in vitro and in vivo. Inhibition of endogenous miR-26a in sensory neurons impaired axon regeneration in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the regulatory effect of miR-26a was mediated by increased expression of GSK3β because downregulation or pharmacological inhibition of GSK3β fully rescued axon regeneration. Our results also suggested that the miR-26a-GSK3β pathway regulated axon regeneration at the neuronal soma by controlling gene expression. We provided biochemical and functional evidences that the regeneration-associated transcription factor Smad1 acted downstream of miR-26a and GSK3β to control sensory axon regeneration. Our study reveals a novel miR-26a-GSK3β-Smad1 signaling pathway in the regulation of mammalian axon regeneration. Moreover, we provide the first evidence that, in addition to inhibition of GSK3β kinase activity, maintaining a lower protein level of GSK3β in neurons by the microRNA is necessary for efficient axon regeneration.
Regulation of autophagy by coordinated action of mTORC1 and protein phosphatase 2A
Authors: Wong Pui-Mun , Feng Yan , Wang Junru , Shi Rong , Jiang Xuejun
Published: August 2015

Autophagy is a cellular catabolic process critical for cell viability and homoeostasis. Inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex-1 (mTORC1) activates autophagy. A puzzling observation is that amino acid starvation triggers more rapid autophagy than pharmacological inhibition of mTORC1, although they both block mTORC1 activity with similar kinetics. Here we find that in addition to mTORC1 inactivation, starvation also causes an increase in phosphatase activity towards ULK1, an mTORC1 substrate whose dephosphorylation is required for autophagy induction. We identify the starvation-stimulated phosphatase for ULK1 as the PP2A–B55α complex. Treatment of cells with starvation but not mTORC1 inhibitors triggers dissociation of PP2A from its inhibitor Alpha4. Furthermore, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells, whose growth depends on high basal autophagy, possess stronger basal phosphatase activity towards ULK1 and require ULK1 for sustained anchorage-independent growth. Taken together, concurrent mTORC1 inactivation and PP2A–B55α stimulation fuel ULK1-dependent autophagy.
Nonradiating anapole modes in dielectric nanoparticles
Authors: Miroshnichenko Andrey E. , Evlyukhin Andrey B. , Yu Ye Feng , Bakker Reuben M. , Chipouline Arkadi , Kuznetsov Arseniy I. , Luk’yanchuk Boris , Chichkov Boris N. , Kivshar Yuri S.
Published: August 2015

Nonradiating current configurations attract attention of physicists for many years as possible models of stable atoms. One intriguing example of such a nonradiating source is known as ‘anapole’. An anapole mode can be viewed as a composition of electric and toroidal dipole moments, resulting in destructive interference of the radiation fields due to similarity of their far-field scattering patterns. Here we demonstrate experimentally that dielectric nanoparticles can exhibit a radiationless anapole mode in visible. We achieve the spectral overlap of the toroidal and electric dipole modes through a geometry tuning, and observe a highly pronounced dip in the far-field scattering accompanied by the specific near-field distribution associated with the anapole mode. The anapole physics provides a unique playground for the study of electromagnetic properties of nontrivial excitations of complex fields, reciprocity violation and Aharonov–Bohm like phenomena at optical frequencies.
Efficiently photo-charging lithium-ion battery by perovskite solar cell
Authors: Xu Jiantie , Chen Yonghua , Dai Liming
Published: August 2015

Electric vehicles using lithium-ion battery pack(s) for propulsion have recently attracted a great deal of interest. The large-scale practical application of battery electric vehicles may not be realized unless lithium-ion batteries with self-charging suppliers will be developed. Solar cells offer an attractive option for directly photo-charging lithium-ion batteries. Here we demonstrate the use of perovskite solar cell packs with four single CH3NH3PbI3 based solar cells connected in series for directly photo-charging lithium-ion batteries assembled with a LiFePO4 cathode and a Li4Ti5O12 anode. Our device shows a high overall photo-electric conversion and storage efficiency of 7.80% and excellent cycling stability, which outperforms other reported lithium-ion batteries, lithium–air batteries, flow batteries and super-capacitors integrated with a photo-charging component. The newly developed self-chargeable units based on integrated perovskite solar cells and lithium-ion batteries hold promise for various potential applications.
The relationships between mild cognitive impairment and phenotype in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Szeto Jennifer YY , O’Callaghan Claire , Shine James M , Walton Courtney C , Mowszowski Loren , Naismith Sharon L , Halliday Glenda M , Lewis Simon JG
Published: August 2015

Background:

The concept of differing clinical phenotypes within Parkinson’s disease (PD) is well represented in the literature. However, there is no consensus as to whether any particular disease phenotype is associated with an increased risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) using the newly proposed Movement Disorders Society diagnostic criteria for this feature.

AIMS:

To explore the expression of PD-MCI in relation to the heterogeneity of idiopathic PD.

Methods:

A cluster analysis incorporating a range of specific demographic, clinical and cognitive variables was performed on 209 patients in the early stages of PD (between Hoehn and Yahr stages I–III). Post hoc analyses exploring variables not included in the clustering solution were performed to interrogate the veracity of the subgroups generated.

Results:

This study identified four distinct PD cohorts: a younger disease-onset subgroup, a tremor dominant subgroup, a non-tremor dominant subgroup, and a subgroup with rapid disease progression. The present study identified a differential expression of PD-MCI across these subgroups, with the highest frequency observed in the non-tremor dominant cluster. The non-tremor dominant subgroup was also associated with a higher prevalence of freezing of gait, hallucinations, daytime somnolence, and rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder compared with other subgroups.

Conclusions:

This study confirms the existence of heterogeneity within the early clinical stages of PD and for the first time highlights the differential expression of PD-MCI using the newly defined diagnostic criteria for this feature. An improved understanding of PD-MCI and its clinical relationships may lead to an improved understanding of the pathophysiology underlying heterogeneity in PD.
Muslim communities learning about second-hand smoke: a pilot cluster randomised controlled trial and cost-effectiveness analysis
Authors: Shah Sarwat , Ainsworth Hannah , Fairhurst Caroline , Tilbrook Helen , Sheikh Aziz , Amos Amanda , Parrott Steve , Torgerson David , Thompson Heather , King Rebecca , Mir Ghazala , Siddiqi Kamran
Published: August 2015

Background:

In the United Kingdom, men of Bangladeshi and Pakistani origin have higher smoking rates than the general population. This makes non-smokers in their households more vulnerable to second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure than the general population.

Aims:

The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of implementing and pilot testing the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a ‘Smoke-free Homes’ (SFH) intervention in Islamic religious settings to encourage families of Bangladeshi and Pakistani origin to apply smoking restrictions in their homes.

Methods:

We allocated Islamic religious settings (clusters) to either receive SFH—an educational intervention—or to a control arm. Within each cluster, we recruited households with at least one smoker and one non-smoker. SHS exposure among non-smokers was measured using salivary cotinine.

Results:

Seven (50%) clusters were randomised to each trial arm. A total of 468 households were assessed for eligibility and 62% (n=289) were eligible, of which 74% (n=213) agreed to participate in the trial. Six of the seven intervention clusters delivered the intervention, and all clusters were retained throughout the trial. In all, 81% (n=172) of households provided data at follow-up. No evidence of a difference in log cotinine level was observed (adjusted mean difference −0.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) −1.28–1.23,P=0.97) between the two trial arms. The direct mean cost of delivering the intervention was £18.18 per household (range £3.55–42.20).

Conclusions:

It was possible to recruit, randomise and retain Islamic religious settings and participant households. However, some of the original assumptions, in particular our ability to collect primary outcome data, need to be revisited before a definitive trial.
Effectiveness of case finding strategies for COPD in primary care: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Haroon Shamil MM , Jordan Rachel E , O’Beirne-Elliman Joanne , Adab Peymane
Published: August 2015

Background:

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is widely underdiagnosed, but the most effective approach for identifying these patients is unknown.

Aims:

The aim of this study was to summarise and compare the effectiveness of different case finding approaches for undiagnosed COPD in primary care.

Methods:

A systematic review of primary studies of any design evaluating case finding strategies for COPD in primary care among individuals aged ⩾35 years with no prior diagnosis was conducted. Medline, Embase and other bibliographic databases were searched from 1997 to 2013, and methodological quality was assessed using standard tools. Results were described and meta-analysis of the uptake and yield from different approaches was performed where there was sufficient homogeneity.

Results:

Three randomised controlled trials (RCTs), 1 controlled trial and 35 uncontrolled studies were identified that assessed the identification of new cases of COPD through systematic case finding. A range of approaches were used including pre-screening with questionnaires (n=13) or handheld flow meters (n=5) or direct invitation to diagnostic spirometry (n=30). Overall, any approach identified more undiagnosed COPD compared with usual care. Targeting those at higher risk (e.g., smokers) and pre-screening (e.g., using questionnaires) is likely to increase the yield. However, studies were heterogeneous and were limited by a lack of comparison groups, inadequate reporting and diversity in the definition of COPD, which limited our ability to draw firm conclusions.

Conclusions:

There is extensive heterogeneity among studies evaluating case finding strategies for COPD, with few RCTs. Well-conducted RCTs comparing case finding approaches are needed to identify the most effective target population, recruitment strategy and screening tests, using a clinical definition of COPD, and addressing the limitations highlighted in this review. There is also a need to evaluate the impact of case finding on clinical care and patient outcomes.
Structural Changes and Proton Transfer in Cytochrome c Oxidase
Authors: Vilhjálmsdóttir Jóhanna , Johansson Ann-Louise , Brzezinski Peter
Published: August 2015

In cytochromecoxidase electron transfer from cytochromecto O2is linked to transmembrane proton pumping, which contributes to maintaining a proton electrochemical gradient across the membrane. The mechanism by which cytochromecoxidase couples the exergonic electron transfer to the endergonic proton translocation is not known, but it presumably involves local structural changes that control the alternating proton access to the two sides of the membrane. Such redox-induced structural changes have been observed in X-ray crystallographic studies at residues 423–425 (in theR. sphaeroidesoxidase), located near hemea. The aim of the present study is to investigate the functional effects of these structural changes on reaction steps associated with proton pumping. Residue Ser425 was modified using site-directed mutagenesis and time-resolved spectroscopy was used to investigate coupled electron-proton transfer upon reaction of the oxidase with O2. The data indicate that the structural change at position 425 propagates to the D proton pathway, which suggests a link between redox changes at hemeaand modulation of intramolecular proton-transfer rates.
The substrate matters in the Raman spectroscopy analysis of cells
Authors: Mikoliunaite Lina , Rodriguez Raul D. , Sheremet Evgeniya , Kolchuzhin Vladimir , Mehner Jan , Ramanavicius Arunas , Zahn Dietrich R.T.
Published: August 2015

Raman spectroscopy is a powerful analytical method that allows deposited and/or immobilized cells to be evaluated without complex sample preparation or labeling. However, a main limitation of Raman spectroscopy in cell analysis is the extremely weak Raman intensity that results in low signal to noise ratios. Therefore, it is important to seize any opportunity that increases the intensity of the Raman signal and to understand whether and how the signal enhancement changes with respect to the substrate used. Our experimental results show clear differences in the spectroscopic response from cells on different surfaces. This result is partly due to the difference in spatial distribution of electric field at the substrate/cell interface as shown by numerical simulations. We found that the substrate also changes the spatial location of maximum field enhancement around the cells. Moreover, beyond conventional flat surfaces, we introduce an efficient nanostructured silver substrate that largely enhances the Raman signal intensity from a single yeast cell. This work contributes to the field of vibrational spectroscopy analysis by providing a fresh look at the significance of the substrate for Raman investigations in cell research.
Siliceous spicules enhance fracture-resistance and stiffness of pre-colonial Amazonian ceramics
Authors: Natalio Filipe , Corrales Tomas P. , Wanka Stephanie , Zaslansky Paul , Kappl Michael , Lima Helena Pinto , Butt Hans-Jürgen , Tremel Wolfgang
Published: August 2015

Pottery was a traditional art and technology form in pre-colonial Amazonian civilizations, widely used for cultural expression objects, utensils and as cooking vessels. Abundance and workability of clay made it an excellent choice. However, inferior mechanical properties constrained their functionality and durability. The inclusion of reinforcement particles is a possible route to improve its resistance to mechanical and thermal damage. The Amazonian civilizations incorporated freshwater tree sponge spicules (cauixí) into the clay presumably to prevent shrinkage and crack propagation during drying, firing and cooking. Here we show that isolated siliceous spicules are almost defect-free glass fibres with exceptional mechanical stability. After firing, the spicule Young’s modulus increases (from 28 ± 5 GPa to 46 ± 8 GPa) inferring a toughness increment. Laboratory-fabricated ceramic models containing different inclusions (sand, glass-fibres, sponge spicules) show that mutually-oriented siliceous spicule inclusions prevent shrinkage and crack propagation leading to high stiffness clays (E = 836 ± 3 MPa). Pre-colonial amazonian potters were the first civilization known to employ biological materials to generate composite materials with enhanced fracture resistance and high stiffness in the history of mankind.
A low-phase-noise 18 GHz Kerr frequency microcomb phase-locked over 65 THz
Authors: Huang S.-W. , Yang J. , Lim J. , Zhou H. , Yu M. , Kwong D.-L. , Wong C. W.
Published: August 2015

Laser frequency combs are coherent light sources that simultaneously provide pristine frequency spacings for precision metrology and the fundamental basis for ultrafast and attosecond sciences. Recently, nonlinear parametric conversion in high-Q microresonators has been suggested as an alternative platform for optical frequency combs, though almost all in 100 GHz frequencies or more. Here we report a low-phase-noise on-chip Kerr frequency comb with mode spacing compatible with high-speed silicon optoelectronics. The waveguide cross-section of the silicon nitride spiral resonator is designed to possess small and flattened group velocity dispersion, so that the Kerr frequency comb contains a record-high number of 3,600 phase-locked comb lines. We study the single-sideband phase noise as well as the long-term frequency stability and report the lowest phase noise floor achieved to date with −130 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset for the 18 GHz Kerr comb oscillator, along with feedback stabilization to achieve frequency Allan deviations of 7 × 10−11 in 1 s. The reported system is a promising compact platform for achieving self-referenced Kerr frequency combs and also for high-capacity coherent communication architectures.
A Novel Methodology to Synthesize Highly Conductive Anion Exchange Membranes
Authors: He Yubin , Pan Jiefeng , Wu Liang , Zhu Yuan , Ge Xiaolin , Ran Jin , Yang ZhengJin , Xu Tongwen
Published: August 2015

Alkaline polyelectrolyte fuel cell now receives growing attention as a promising candidate to serve as the next generation energy-generating device by enabling the use of non-precious metal catalysts (silver, cobalt, nickel et al.). However, the development and application of alkaline polyelectrolyte fuel cell is still blocked by the poor hydroxide conductivity of anion exchange membranes. In order to solve this problem, we demonstrate a methodology for the preparation of highly OH− conductive anion exchange polyelectrolytes with good alkaline tolerance and excellent dimensional stability. Polymer backbones were grafted with flexible aliphatic chains containing two or three quaternized ammonium groups. The highly flexible and hydrophilic multi-functionalized side chains prefer to aggregate together to facilitate the formation of well-defined hydrophilic-hydrophobic microphase separation, which is crucial for the superior OH− conductivity of 69 mS/cm at room temperature. Besides, the as-prepared AEMs also exhibit excellent alkaline tolerance as well as improved dimensional stability due to their carefully designed polymer architecture, which provide new directions to pursue high performance AEMs and are promising to serve as a candidate for fuel cell technology.
The RNA-binding protein Sam68 regulates expression and transcription function of the androgen receptor splice variant AR-V7
Authors: Stockley Jacqueline , Markert Elke , Zhou Yan , Robson Craig N. , Elliott David J. , Lindberg Johan , Leung Hing Y. , Rajan Prabhakar
Published: August 2015

Castration-resistant (CR) prostate cancer (PCa) partly arises due to persistence of androgen receptor (AR) transcriptional activity in the absence of cognate ligand. An emerging mechanism underlying the CRPCa phenotype and predicting response to therapy is the expression of the constitutively-active AR-V7 splice variant generated by AR cryptic exon 3b inclusion. Here, we explore the role of the RNA-binding protein (RBP) Sam68 (encoded by KHDRBS1), which is over-expressed in clinical PCa, on AR-V7 expression and transcription function. Using a minigene reporter, we show that Sam68 controls expression of exon 3b resulting in an increase in endogenous AR-V7 mRNA and protein expression in RNA-binding-dependent manner. We identify a novel protein-protein interaction between Sam68 and AR-V7 mediated by a common domain shared with full-length AR and observe these proteins in the cell nucleoplasm. Using a luciferase reporter, we demonstrate that Sam68 co-activates ligand-independent AR-V7 transcriptional activity in an RNA-binding-independent manner and controls expression of the endogenous AR-V7-specific gene target UBE2C. Our data suggest that Sam68 has separable effects on the regulation of AR-V7 expression and transcriptional activity, through its RNA-binding capacity. Sam68 and other RBPs may control expression of AR-V7 and other splice variants as well as their downstream functions in CRPCa.
Differences in Clinicopathology of Early Gastric Carcinoma between Proximal and Distal Location in 438 Chinese Patients
Authors: Huang Qin , Fang Cheng , Shi Jiong , Sun Qi , Wu Hongyan , Gold Jason S. , Weber H. Christian , Guan Wenyan , Zhang Yifen , Yu Chenggong , Zou Xiaoping , Mashimo Hiroshi
Published: August 2015

Early gastric carcinoma (EGC) in Chinese patients remains poorly understood and endoscopic therapy has not been well established. Here, we compared endoscopic and clinicopathologic features between early proximal gastric carcinoma (PGC, n = 131) and distal gastric carcinoma (DGC, n = 307) in consecutive 438 EGCs diagnosed with the WHO criteria. By endoscopy, PGCs showed protruding and elevated patterns in 61.9%, while depressed and excavated patterns in 33.6%, which were significantly different from those (32.6% and 64.5%) in DGCs. PGCs were significantly smaller (1.9 cm in average, versus 2.2 cm in DGCs), invaded deeper (22.9% into SM2, versus 13% in DGCs), but had fewer (2.9%, versus 16.7% in DGCs) lymph node metastases. Papillary adenocarcinoma was significantly more frequent (32.1%, versus 12.1% in DGCs), as were mucinous and neuroendocrine carcinomas, carcinoma with lymphoid stroma (6.9%, versus 1.6% in DGCs); but poorly cohesive carcinoma was significantly less frequent (5.3%, versus 35.8% in DGCs). The overall 5-year survival rate was 92.9% in EGCs and PGC patients showed shorter (42.4 months, versus 48.3 in DGCs) survival. Papillary and micropapillary adenocarcinomas and nodal metastasis were independent risk factors for worse survival in EGCs. EGCs in Chinese were heterogeneous with significant differences in endoscopy and clinicopathology between PGC and DGC.
Structural analysis of fungus-derived FAD glucose dehydrogenase
Authors: Yoshida Hiromi , Sakai Genki , Mori Kazushige , Kojima Katsuhiro , Kamitori Shigehiro , Sode Koji
Published: August 2015

We report the first three-dimensional structure of fungus-derived glucose dehydrogenase using flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) as the cofactor. This is currently the most advanced and popular enzyme used in glucose sensor strips manufactured for glycemic control by diabetic patients. We prepared recombinant nonglycosylated FAD-dependent glucose dehydrogenase (FADGDH) derived from Aspergillus flavus (AfGDH) and obtained the X-ray structures of the binary complex of enzyme and reduced FAD at a resolution of 1.78 Å and the ternary complex with reduced FAD and D-glucono-1,5-lactone (LGC) at a resolution of 1.57 Å. The overall structure is similar to that of fungal glucose oxidases (GOxs) reported till date. The ternary complex with reduced FAD and LGC revealed the residues recognizing the substrate. His505 and His548 were subjected for site-directed mutagenesis studies and these two residues were revealed to form the catalytic pair, as those conserved in GOxs. The absence of residues that recognize the sixth hydroxyl group of the glucose of AfGDH and the presence of significant cavity around the active site may account for this enzyme activity toward xylose. The structural information will contribute to the further engineering of FADGDH for use in more reliable and economical biosensing technology for diabetes management.
A Rich-Club Organization in Brain Ischemia Protein Interaction Network
Authors: Alawieh Ali , Sabra Zahraa , Sabra Mohammed , Tomlinson Stephen , Zaraket Fadi A.
Published: August 2015

Ischemic stroke involves multiple pathophysiological mechanisms with complex interactions. Efforts to decipher those mechanisms and understand the evolution of cerebral injury is key for developing successful interventions. In an innovative approach, we use literature mining, natural language processing and systems biology tools to construct, annotate and curate a brain ischemia interactome. The curated interactome includes proteins that are deregulated after cerebral ischemia in human and experimental stroke. Network analysis of the interactome revealed a rich-club organization indicating the presence of a densely interconnected hub structure of prominent contributors to disease pathogenesis. Functional annotation of the interactome uncovered prominent pathways and highlighted the critical role of the complement and coagulation cascade in the initiation and amplification of injury starting by activation of the rich-club. We performed an in-silico screen for putative interventions that have pleiotropic effects on rich-club components and we identified estrogen as a prominent candidate. Our findings show that complex network analysis of disease related interactomes may lead to a better understanding of pathogenic mechanisms and provide cost-effective and mechanism-based discovery of candidate therapeutics.
Synthesis of Structurally Diverse 2,3-Fused Indoles via Microwave-Assisted AgSbF6-Catalysed Intramolecular Difunctionalization of o-Alkynylanilines
Authors: Huang Yuanqiong , Yang Yan , Song Hongjian , Liu Yuxiu , Wang Qingmin
Published: August 2015

2,3-Fused indoles are found in numerous natural products and drug molecules. Although several elegant methods for the synthesis of this structural motif have been reported, long reaction times and harsh conditions are sometimes required and the yields tend to be low. Herein, we report a microwave method for straightforward access to various types of 2,3-fused indoles via AgSbF6-catalysed intramolecular difunctionalization of o-alkynylanilines. AgSbF6 played a role in both the hydroamination step and the imine-formation step. This method, which exhibited excellent chemoselectivity (no ring-fused 1,2-dihydroquinolines were formed), was used for formal syntheses of the natural products conolidine and ervaticine and the antihistamine drug latrepirdine.
Water: Promising Opportunities For Tunable All-dielectric Electromagnetic Metamaterials
Authors: Andryieuski Andrei , Kuznetsova Svetlana M. , Zhukovsky Sergei V. , Kivshar Yuri S. , Lavrinenko Andrei V.
Published: August 2015

We reveal an outstanding potential of water as an inexpensive, abundant and bio-friendly high-refractive-index material for creating tunable all-dielectric photonic structures and metamaterials. Specifically, we demonstrate thermal, mechanical and gravitational tunability of magnetic and electric resonances in a metamaterial consisting of periodically positioned water-filled reservoirs. The proposed water-based metamaterials can find applications not only as cheap and ecological microwave devices, but also in optical and terahertz metamaterials prototyping and educational lab equipment.
A subset of ocular adnexal marginal zone lymphomas may arise in association with IgG4-related disease
Authors: Ohno Kyotaro , Sato Yasuharu , Ohshima Koh-ichi , Takata Katsuyoshi , Miyata-Takata Tomoko , Takeuchi Mai , Gion Yuka , Tachibana Tomoyasu , Orita Yorihisa , Ito Toshihiro , Swerdlow Steven H. , Yoshino Tadashi
Published: August 2015

We previously suggested a relationship between ocular immunoglobulin (Ig)G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) and marginal zone lymphomas (MZLs). However, the cytokine background associated with these disorders and whether it differs between ocular adnexal MZLs with (IgG4-associated MZL) and without (IgG4-negative MZL) numerous IgG4+ plasma cells are unknown. In this study, we identified the mRNA expression pattern of Th2 and regulatory T-cell (Treg) cytokines in IgG4-RD and in IgG4-associated MZL and IgG4-negative MZL using real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. Ocular IgG4-RD and IgG4-associated MZL exhibited significantly higher expression ratios of interleukin (IL)-4/β-actin, IL-10/β-actin, IL-13/β-actin, transforming growth factor (TGF) β1/β-actin and FOXP3/β-actin than did IgG4-negative MZL (p < 0.05). This finding further supports our prior observations that a significant subset of ocular MZLs arises in the setting of IgG4-RD. Furthermore, the presence of a different inflammatory background in IgG4-negative MZLs suggests that IgG4-associated MZLs may have a different pathogenesis.
Discovery of γ-Mangostin as an Amyloidogenesis Inhibitor
Authors: Yokoyama Takeshi , Ueda Mitsuharu , Ando Yukio , Mizuguchi Mineyuki
Published: August 2015

Transthyretin (TTR) is a homotetrameric protein involved in human hereditary amyloidoses. The discovery and development of small molecules that inhibit the amyloid fibril formation of TTR is one of the therapeutic strategies for these diseases. Herein, we discovered that γ-mangostin (γ-M) is an effective inhibitor against the amyloid fibril formation of V30M amyloidogenic TTR. In-vitro binding assays revealed that γ-M was the most potent of the selected xanthone derivatives and it bound to the thyroxine (T4)-binding sites and stabilized the TTR tetramer. X-ray crystallographic analysis revealed the diagonal binding mode of γ-M and the two binding sites of chloride ions at the T4-binding site. One of the chloride ions was replaced with a water molecule in the α-mangostin complex, which is a methylated derivative of γ-M. The stronger inhibitory potency of γ-M could be explained by the additional hydrogen bonds with the chloride ion. The present study establishes γ-M as a novel inhibitor of TTR fibrillization.
Computational DNA hole spectroscopy: A new tool to predict mutation hotspots, critical base pairs and disease ‘driver’ mutations
Authors: Suárez Martha Y. , Villagrán  , Miller John H.
Published: August 2015

We report on a new technique, computational DNA hole spectroscopy, which creates spectra of electron hole probabilities vs. nucleotide position. A hole is a site of positive charge created when an electron is removed. Peaks in the hole spectrum depict sites where holes tend to localize and potentially trigger a base pair mismatch during replication. Our studies of mitochondrial DNA reveal a correlation between L-strand hole spectrum peaks and spikes in the human mutation spectrum. Importantly, we also find that hole peak positions that do not coincide with large variant frequencies often coincide with disease-implicated mutations and/or (for coding DNA) encoded conserved amino acids. This enables combining hole spectra with variant data to identify critical base pairs and potential disease ‘driver’ mutations. Such integration of DNA hole and variance spectra could ultimately prove invaluable for pinpointing critical regions of the vast non-protein-coding genome. An observed asymmetry in correlations, between the spectrum of human mtDNA variations and the L- and H-strand hole spectra, is attributed to asymmetric DNA replication processes that occur for the leading and lagging strands.
FABP4 reversed the regulation of leptin on mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation in mice adipocytes
Authors: Gan Lu , Liu Zhenjiang , Cao Weina , Zhang Zhenzhen , Sun Chao
Published: August 2015

Fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4), plays key role in fatty acid transportation and oxidation and increases with leptin synergistically during adipose inflammation process. However, the regulation mechanism between FABP4 and leptin on mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation remains unclear. In this study, we found that FABP4 reduced the expression of leptin, CPT-1 and AOX1 in mice adipocytes. Conversely, FABP4 was down-regulated in a time-dependent manner by leptin treatment. Additionally, forced expression of FABP4 attenuated the expression of PGC1-α, UCP2, CPT-1, AOX1 and COX2 compared with leptin incubation. Moreover, mitochondrial membrane potential, fatty acid oxidation enzyme medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD), long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCAD) and Cyt C levels were reduced in response to the overexpression of FABP4. These reductions correspond well with the reduced release of free fatty acid and the inactivation of mitochondrial complexes I and III by FABP4 overexpression. Furthermore, addition of the Akt/mTOR pathway-specific inhibitor (MK2206) blocked the mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation and respiration factors, whereas interference of FABP4 overcame these effects. Taken together, FABP4 could reverse the activation of the leptin-induced mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation and the inhibition of Akt/mTOR signal pathway played a key role in this process.
Affinity imaging mass spectrometry (AIMS): high-throughput screening for specific small molecule interactions with frozen tissue sections
Authors: Yoshimi T. , Kawabata S. , Taira S. , Okuno A. , Mikawa R. , Murayama S. , Tanaka K. , Takikawa O.
Published: August 2015

A novel screening system, called affinity imaging mass spectrometry (AIMS), identifies candidate small molecules with specific affinity for nanoscale structures, including proteins, in unfixed human tissue sections.
Kinetic resolution of alkyne-substituted quaternary oxindoles via copper catalysed azide–alkyne cycloadditions
Authors: Brittain William D. G. , Buckley Benjamin R. , Fossey John S.
Published: August 2015

The synthesis and kinetic resolution of quaternary oxindoles through copper catalysed azide–alkyne cycloadditions is presented.
Synthesis of diversely functionalised 2,2-disubstituted oxetanes: fragment motifs in new chemical space
Authors: Davis Owen A. , Croft Rosemary A. , Bull James A.
Published: August 2015

Novel oxetane motifs incorporating diverse functional groups on the ring are readily accessed by an O–H insertion/cyclisation strategy.
Mechanism-based design of labile precursors for chromium(i) chemistry
Authors: Akturk Eser S. , Yap Glenn P. A. , Theopold Klaus H.
Published: August 2015

A view of alkyne complex TptBu,MeCr(η2-C2(SiMe3)2) showing sites for associative ligand attack.
An insight into the Lewis acid-catalyzed intramolecular aminocyanation and oxycyanation of alkenes: a concerted or stepwise mechanism
Authors: Zhao Jiyang , Wang Guoqiang , Li Shuhua
Published: August 2015

The Lewis-acid promoted intramolecular addition of X–CN (X = N, O) bonds to alkenes represents a novel type of electrophilic addition to alkenes.
Anomalous system-size dependence of electrolytic cells with an electrified oil–water interface
Authors: Westbroek Marise , Boon Niels , van Roij René
Published: August 2015

Manipulation of the charge of the dielectric interface between two bulk liquids not only enables the adjustment of the interfacial tension, but also controls the storage capacity of ions in the ionic double layers adjacent to each side of the interface.
Effects of monovalent cation doping on the structure, microstructure, lattice distortion and magnetic behavior of single crystalline NdMnO3compounds
Authors: Nandy Anshuman , Pradhan S. K.
Published: August 2015

15% monovalent sodium and potassium doping reduces the structural distortion of NdMnO3with a subsequent modification in magnetic behavior.
Transition metal complexes bearing NHC ligands substituted with secondary polyfluoroalkyl groups
Authors: Kolaříková V. , Šimůnek O. , Rybáčková M. , Cvačka J. , Březinová A. , Kvíčala J.
Published: August 2015

Silver and palladium complexes bearing dihydroimidazolylidene or imidazolidinylidene NHC ligands substituted with racemic secondary polyfluoroalkyl groups were synthesized.
Structural diversity of bimetallic rhodium and iridium half sandwich dithiolato complexes
Authors: Nejman Phillip S. , Morton-Fernandez Brian , Moulding David J. , Athukorala Arachchige Kasun S. , Cordes David B. , Slawin Alexandra M. Z. , Kilian Petr , Woollins J. Derek
Published: August 2015

Subtle changes in the structure of the backbone can lead to profound differences in the binding modes of dithiolato ligands in rhodium and iridium half sandwich complexes.
Spectroscopic studies of lanthanide complexes of varying nuclearity based on a compartmentalised ligand
Authors: Olea-Román Daniela , Bélanger-Desmarais Nicolas , Flores-Álamo Marcos , Bazán Claudia , Thouin Félix , Reber Christian , Castillo-Blum Silvia E.
Published: August 2015

Spectroscopic studies of lanthanide-based coordination compounds of varying nuclearity with a compartmental ligand which show NIR luminescence.
Structure and properties of type-II clathrate Cs8Na16−xTlxGe136
Authors: Zhang Hui , Li Wei , Xu Xuguang , Mu Gang , Xie Xiaoming , Huang Fuqiang
Published: August 2015

The type-II clathrate of Cs8Na16−xTlxGe136was synthesized.
Actinide (An = Th–Pu) dimetallocenes: promising candidates for metal–metal multiple bonds
Authors: Wang Cong-Zhi , Gibson John K. , Lan Jian-Hui , Wu Qun-Yan , Zhao Yu-Liang , Li Jun , Chai Zhi-Fang , Shi Wei-Qun
Published: August 2015

Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations on the actinide dimetallocenes An2Cp*2 (Cp*= C5(CH3)5, An = Th–Pu) reveal the nature of actinide–actinide multiple bonding in these species.
Immobilization of acetylcholinesterase on Pt(ii) and Pt(iv) attached nanoparticles for the determination of pesticides
Authors: Hasanoğlu Özkan E. , Yetim N. Kurnaz , Tümtürk H. , Sarı N.
Published: August 2015

Pt(ii) and Pt(iv)-tagged nanoparticles have been synthesized according to the template method, for the identification of pesticides .
Scalability and feasibility of photoelectrochemical H2evolution: the ultimate limit of Pt nanoparticle as an HER catalyst
Authors: Kemppainen E. , Bodin A. , Sebok B. , Pedersen T. , Seger B. , Mei B. , Bae D. , Vesborg P. C. K. , Halme J. , Hansen O. , Lund P. D. , Chorkendorff I.
Published: August 2015

This study highlights the feasibility to scale-up photoelectrochemical water splitting to the TW level using Pt nanoparticles as hydrogen evolution catalyst.
Universal polymer coatings and their representative biomedical applications
Authors: Wei Qiang , Haag Rainer
Published: August 2015

Universal polymer coatings have excellent potential for biomedical applications, because of their substrate-independent properties and versatile surface functionalization methods.
Detangling extrinsic and intrinsic hysteresis for detecting dynamic switch of electric dipoles using graphene field-effect transistors on ferroelectric gates
Authors: Ma Chunrui , Gong Youpin , Lu Rongtao , Brown Emery , Ma Beihai , Li Jun , Wu Judy
Published: August 2015

GFETs are used to detect ferroelectric dipole switch driven by VBG pulses with positive, negative, and alternating polarities, respectively.
Computational design of nanoparticle drug delivery systems for selective targeting
Authors: Duncan Gregg A. , Bevan Michael A.
Published: August 2015

Binding of targeted drug delivery nanoparticles to healthy and cancerous cells is investigated using Monte Carlo Simulations to determine the optimal degree of functionalization with ligands for selective targeting.
Easy conversion of protein-rich enoki mushroom biomass to a nitrogen-doped carbon nanomaterial as a promising metal-free catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction
Authors: Guo Chaozhong , Liao Wenli , Li Zhongbin , Sun Lingtao , Chen Changguo
Published: August 2015

A protein-rich enoki mushroom biomass is here reported to be the nitrogen source for the original design of a nitrogen-doped carbon nanomaterial, which can act as a metal-free catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction.
Thermal conductivity of zinc blende and wurtzite CdSe nanostructures
Authors: Yang Juekuan , Tang Hao , Zhao Yang , Zhang Yin , Li Jiapeng , Ni Zhonghua , Chen Yunfei , Xu Dongyan
Published: August 2015

Measurements on zinc blende and wurtzite CdSe nanostructures indicate that the bulk zinc blende CdSe possesses higher thermal conductivity.
Unique synthesis of hollow Co3O4 nanoparticles embedded in thin Al2O3 nanosheets for enhanced lithium storage
Authors: Yang Jiao , Qiu Hua-Jun , Peng Liang , Li Wenxiang , Wang Yu
Published: August 2015

Hollow Co3O4 nanoparticles encapsulated in thin Al2O3 hexagonal nanosheets are fabricated which exhibit an excellent performance in LIBs.
Retracted Article: Insights from investigations of tin dioxide and its composites: electron-beam irradiation, fractal assessment, and mechanism
Authors: Chen Zhiwen , Shek Chan-Hung , Lawrence Wu C. M.
Published: August 2015

In this review, we describe the efforts toward understanding the synthetic strategies, microstructural evolution and performance evaluation of tin dioxide (SnO2) functional materials by electron-beam irradiation, fractal assessment, and SnO2 planted graphene.
A high performance triboelectric nanogenerator for self-powered non-volatile ferroelectric transistor memory
Authors: Fang Huajing , Li Qiang , He Wenhui , Li Jing , Xue Qingtang , Xu Chao , Zhang Lijing , Ren Tianling , Dong Guifang , Chan H. L. W. , Dai Jiyan , Yan Qingfeng
Published: August 2015

We demonstrate an integrated module of self-powered ferroelectric transistor memory based on the combination of a ferroelectric FET and a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG).