bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association between reduced white matter integrity in the corpus callosum and serotonin transporter gene DNA methylation in medication-naive patients with major depressive disorder
Authors: Won E , Choi S , Kang J , Kim A , Han K-M , Chang H S , Tae W S , Son K R , Joe S-H , Lee M-S , Ham B-J
Published: August 2016

Previous evidence suggests that the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) is associated with the structure of brain regions that are critically involved in dysfunctional limbic-cortical network activity associated with major depressive disorder (MDD). Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and tract-based spatial statistics were used to investigate changes in white matter integrity in patients with MDD compared with healthy controls. A possible association between structural alterations in white matter tracts and DNA methylation of the SLC6A4 promoter region was also assessed. Thirty-five medication-naive patients with MDD (mean age: 40.34, male/female: 10/25) and age, gender and education level matched 49 healthy controls (mean age: 41.12, male/female: 15/34) underwent DTI. SLC6A4 DNA methylation was also measured at five CpG sites of the promoter region, and the cell type used was whole-blood DNA. Patients with MDD had significantly lower fractional anisotropy (FA) values for the genu of the corpus callosum and body of the corpus callosum than that in healthy controls (family-wise error corrected, P<0.01). Significant inverse correlations were observed between SLC6A4 DNA methylation and FA (CpG3, Pearson's correlation: r=−0.493, P=0.003) and axial diffusivity (CpG3, Pearson's correlation: r=−0.478, P=0.004) values of the body of the corpus callosum in patients with MDD. These results contribute to evidence indicating an association between epigenetic gene regulation and structural brain alterations in depression. Moreover, we believe this is the first report of a correlation between DNA methylation of the SLC6A4 promoter region and white matter integrity in patients with MDD.
Addressing Challenges to Progress in Human Stem Cell Toxicology Concepts and Practice
Authors: Sherley James L.
Published: August 2016

Although only a subfield of human toxicology, human stem cell toxicology faces greater challenges. Beyond well studied problems in human toxicology like determination of human exposures, causative agents, and toxicity mechanisms, the development of effective human stem cell toxicology concepts and practice will require solutions for two largely unyielding problems that impede progress in all research and applications involving postnatal tissue stem cells. These are (1) identifying tissue stem cells with sufficient specificity to count them; and (2) isolating or producing tissue stem cells in sufficient purity and number for specific assay development. The inherent and unique properties of postnatal tissue stem cells conspire to present these long-standing challenges. Tissue stem cells exist at minute fractions in tissues, and their unique property of asymmetric self-renewal keeps their fraction low while they continuously produce lineage-committed cells that confound their detection, both morphologically and molecularly. The crucial role of stem cells in fetal and postnatal tissue function, health, aging, and disease makes understanding their toxicology an imperative for environmental health science and medicine. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the topics presented in Human Stem Cell Toxicology that begin to illuminate new paths to improved human stem cell toxicology concepts and practice.
Alternative Methods in Haematopoietic Stem Cell Toxicology
Authors: Yadav Navneet Kumar , Shukla Pooja , Singh R. K.
Published: August 2016

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are pluripotent cells, being capable of both self-renewal and differentiation. They form a complex differentiation system inside the bone marrow, where all kinds of blood cells are produced. Blood cells play a vital role in normal body function. Chemicals and drugs that are toxic to hematopoietic stem cells adversely affect the normal production and function of blood cells. Hematopoietic stem cells toxicity testing by in vitro colony-forming assays plays an impotent role in toxicological evaluation. These assays provide very crucial scientific knowledge to reduce the gap between preclinical toxicology studies in animal models and clinical investigations. With the advancement of science and technology, clonogenic assay has become more sophisticated to reduce the cost and time. This article provides a concise review of colony-forming assays as alternative methods in hematopoietic stem cell toxicology.
The Role of Catecholamines in Stem Cell Mobilisation
Authors: Ryan Bríd M. , Vidal Oscar
Published: August 2016

This review will describe some of the more recent advances in our knowledge about the role of catecholamines, including dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine, in hematopoietic stem cell mobilisation. Recent work has also highlighted the role of catecholamines in regulating mesenchymal stem cells during wound angiogenesis and in endothelial progenitor cell mobilisation from bone marrow during tumor vascularization. A role for catecholamines in normal stem cell biology has been described; and catecholamines have also been implicated in cancer stem cell biology. Many pharmacological compounds modulate the bioavailability of catecholamines, by affecting their re-uptake, receptor interactions or metabolism. While this field is still maturing, it is important to view the contribution of catecholamines to stem cell function in terms of homeostasis, physiology and pathology through the lens of catecholamine modulating agents, including those currently in use and those proposed for clinical development.
Current Developments in the Use of Human Stem Cell Derived Cardiomyocytes to Examine Drug-induced Cardiotoxicity
Authors: Ahuja Varun , Sharma Sharad , Kamboj Raj
Published: August 2016

Cardiac toxicity is a major concern in drug development, and it is imperative that clinical candidates are thoroughly tested for adverse effects earlier in the drug discovery process. Cardiac toxicity arrhythmia has become the single most common cause of the withdrawal or restrictions of previously marketed drugs. The recent advances in stem cell technology and particularly in differentiating embryonic or induced-pluripotent stems cells have created a unique opportunity for providing physiologically relevant and disease relevant model systems for preclinical safety assessment of compounds. Current studies have shown that in vitro tests utilizing human stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes might be beneficial for preclinical risk evaluation. The Comprehensive In Vitro Proarrhythmia Assay (CiPA), which is a joint initiative of various organizations including the U.S. FDA and the EMA, also includes stem cell cardiomyocyte for cardiotoxicity testing. The anticipated final outcome from CiPA is that it will modify existing ICH (International Conference on Harmonisation) S7A/B guidelines for nonclinical safety pharmacology testing of pharmaceuticals, and will eliminate ICH E14 guidelines, which warrants Thorough-QT (TQT) study in humans. Assays based on human stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes could complement or potentially replace cardiac toxicity tests currently used for lead optimization and further development of new drugs. However, such a development could only occur after further validation.
Pesticides and Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Authors: Law Sujata , Chaklader Malay
Published: August 2016

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have jointly defined the term pesticide as chemicals designed to combat the attacks of various pests and vectors on agricultural crops, domestic animals, and human beings. Functionally, pesticides are categorized into insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, rodenticides, algaecides, and nematocides. Chemical insecticides are classified as organophosphates, organochlorides, pyrethroids, carbamates; and most of the agriculturally important fungicides are covered by benzimidazoles, triazole, etc. Depending upon physiological activity, synthetic pyrethroids are of two types: Type-I pyrethroids (without α-cyano group), and Type-II pyrethroids (with α-cyano group). It is evident that pesticides, so defined and characterized as per their functions, have a number of beneficial effects on modern agricultural practice. In doing so, there are certain undesirable and unwanted effects of pesticide usage, which cannot be ignored. Now, pesticides have become ecotoxicants for their undesirable effects on each and every component of the ecosystem. Millions of people and other non-target organisms are victimized by acute pesticide poisoning. Besides poisoning, pesticide exposures cause chronic health problems including acquired aplastic anemia, agranulocytosis, cancer, neurological disorders and birth defects. Despite a few epidemiological reports, so far we have a meager understanding of the hematopoietic failure and the development of marrow aplasia by pesticide toxicity. Most of the previous works regarding pesticide toxicity ignored the hematopoietic system and hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Incidentally, the effect of chronic pesticide toxicity in the hematopoietic system manifests slowly but more deadly than in any other cellular system.
Metakaryotic Cancer Stem Cells are Constitutively Resistant to X-Rays and Chemotherapeutic Agents, but Sensitive to Many Common Drugs
Authors: Gostjeva Elena V. , Koledova Vera V. , Bai Liyuan , Duan Kailin C. , Kamath Tushar , Nelson Meghan , Agnihotri Parul , Moshinski Deborah J. , Ping Wu Li , Zukerberg Lawrence , Chung Daniel C. , Tsai Susan , Evans Douglas B. , Tomita-Mitchell Aoy , Mitchell Michael , Thilly William G.
Published: August 2016

After radio- and chemo-therapy, human tumors display many dead eukaryotic cells with pyknotic nuclei. But amitotic metakaryotic cells with hollow, bell-shaped nuclei appear unaffected as expected of treatment-resistant cancer stem cells. These same phenomena may be observed in vitro using any of many tumor- or metastasis-derived cell lines, for which their immortality is conferred by the presence of amitotic, metakaryotic cancer stem cells. About 5% of human colonic adenocarcinoma-derived HT-29 cells in exponential growth are immortal metakaryotic stem cells that increase by symmetric amitoses and continuously create mortal mitotic eukaryotic cells by asymmetric amitoses. Two assays for agents/conditions lethal to metakaryotic stem cells have been devised: (1) microscopic recognition of necrotic metakaryotic nuclei; and (2) survival of cells forming large immortal colonies visibly containing metakaryotic stem cells in vitro. X-rays and chemotherapeutic agents (i.e., alkylating agents, antimetabolites, and mitocides) kill eukaryotic cells, but not metakaryotic cells, at doses commonly used in cancer therapy. In contradistinction, multiple classes of common drugs are preferentially cytotoxic to metakaryotic stem cells including NSAIDS, antibiotics, and drugs used to treat diabetes or hypertension. Given lesion penetration and treatments of sufficient duration, regimens using multiple metakaryocidal drugs offer means to treat and prevent cancers.
Cancer Stem Cells as Therapeutic Targets
Authors: Tanaka Shinji
Published: August 2016

Heterogeneity is one of the essential hallmarks of cancers. Bulk cancer cells are composed of a striking variability with differences in biological characteristics including the proliferation rate, cell–cell interaction, metastatic tendency and even sensitivity to anticancer therapies. Such diversity makes the investigation and treatment of cancers complicated. Increasing evidence suggest this plasticity of cancers results from the self-renewing and differentiation of a small subpopulation of cancer cells with stem-like properties, called cancer stem cells (CSCs). CSCs are believed to be responsible for the resistance to conventional therapies and metastatic abilities in clinical practice. A recently developed visualization system for CSCs is useful for identifying compounds that are specifically toxic to the CSCs. This review summarizes the molecular pathogenesis of CSCs on the basis of these recent studies and a promising strategy for a novel therapy based on targeting the signal transduction pathways and/or asymmetric division mechanisms of CSCs.
Ultrafast electronic energy relaxation in a conjugated dendrimer leading to inter-branch energy redistribution
Authors: Ondarse-Alvarez D. , Kömürlü S. , Roitberg A. E. , Pierdominici-Sottile G. , Tretiak S. , Fernandez-Alberti S. , Kleiman V. D.
Published: August 2016

Dendrimers are arrays of coupled chromophores, where the energy of each unit depends on its structure and conformation.
Dietary resistant starch type 4-derived butyrate attenuates nuclear factor-kappa-B1 through modulation of histone H3 trimethylation at lysine 27
Authors: Liu Yi , Upadhyaya Bijaya , Fardin-Kia Ali Reza , Juenemann Robert M. , Dey Moul
Published: August 2016

A fermentation product of RS4, butyrate, attenuates proinflammatory NFκB1 through an enrichment of the repressive H3K27me3 mark, suggesting a potential role of dietary RS4 in immunometabolic health management.
Nanomaterials for elemental speciation
Authors: Karadjova I. , Dakova I. , Yordanova T. , Vasileva P.
Published: August 2016

Various types of nanomaterials such as magnetic nanoparticles, carbon nanostructures, metal oxides, noble metal nanoparticles, and ion imprinted polymers have been incorporated in new innovative approaches for speciation analysis.
A facile hybrid ‘flow and batch’ access to substituted 3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[b][1,4]oxazinones
Authors: Lin Andrew J. S. , Russell Cecilia C. , Baker Jennifer R. , Frailey Shelby L. , Sakoff Jennette A. , McCluskey Adam
Published: August 2016

A simple flow chemistry approach to libraries of 2-substituted-phenylamino 3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[b][1,4]oxazine-6-carboxylates (12a–l and 13a–l) in 38–87% yields.
Total synthesis of fellutamides, lipopeptide proteasome inhibitors. More sustainable peptide bond formation
Authors: Pirrung Michael C. , Zhang Fa , Ambadi Sudhakar , Gangadhara Rao Y.
Published: August 2016

Solution-phase syntheses of three bioactive natural products of mixed polypeptide–polyketide biogenesis, fellutamides A, B, and C, have been achieved.
Synthesis and biological evaluation of palmyrolide A macrocycles as sodium channel blockers towards neuroprotection
Authors: Philkhana Satish Chandra , Mehrotra Suneet , Murray Thomas F. , Reddy D. Srinivasa
Published: August 2016

A detailed account on total synthesis, analogue synthesis, biological evaluation and SAR of palmyrolide A macrocycles towards sodium channel inhibition is reported.
Ruthenium-catalysed hydrosilylation of carbon–carbon multiple bonds
Authors: Zaranek M. , Marciniec B. , Pawluć P.
Published: August 2016

Recent advances in ruthenium-catalysed hydrosilylation of C–C multiple bonds and its application to organic synthesis are highlighted.
Molecular size reforming of undersized and oversized polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers
Authors: Zheng Yanyan , Liu Fang , Guo Liang , Wang Tiefeng , Wang Jinfu
Published: August 2016

The equilibrium molecular size distribution of PODEncompounds followed the Schulz–Flory distribution and determined byMeq.only.
Crystal structure analysis of phycocyanin from chromatically adapted Phormidium rubidum A09DM
Authors: Gupta Gagan Deep , Sonani Ravi R. , Sharma Mahima , Patel Krishna , Rastogi Rajesh P. , Madamwar Datta , Kumar Vinay
Published: August 2016

Structural and sequence analyses ofPhormidium phycocyaninrevealed three co-evolving residues that determine the conformation of a phycocyanobilin chromophore believed to play role in alternate pathways for intra and inter-rod energy transfer.
Performance of a nickel–alumina catalytic layer for simultaneous production and purification of hydrogen in a tubular membrane reactor
Authors: Amanipour Mahdi , Towfighi Jafar , Zamaniyan Akbar , Babakhani Ensieh Ganji , Heidari Marzieh
Published: August 2016

A new approach is used to coat a catalytic layer on top of a composite membrane to make a catalytic membrane reactor.
A mechanically synthesized SiO2–Fe metal matrix composite for effective dechlorination of aqueous 2-chlorophenol: the optimum of the preparation conditions
Authors: Zhang Yunfei , Yang Bo , Fan Jinhong , Ma Luming
Published: August 2016

In this study, abrasives-reinforced metal matrix composites (MMCs) with a microscale size synthesized by ball milling (BM) could achieve highly active and stable dechlorination efficiency for aqueous 2-chlorophenol (2-CP).
Alginic acid/graphene oxide hydrogel film coated functional cotton fabric for controlled release of matrine and oxymatrine
Authors: Gan Lu , Xu Lijie , Pan Zhepeng , Jiang Fuyuan , Shang Songmin
Published: August 2016

The present study describes the fabrication of a functional cotton fabric and investigated the drug release capability of the functional cotton fabric.
Large magnetic entropy change at cryogenic temperature in rare earth HoN nanoparticles
Authors: Shinde K. P. , Jang S. H. , Ranot M. , Sinha B. B. , Kim J. W. , Chung K. C.
Published: August 2016

The most extensive cooling techniques based on gases have faced environmental problems. The magnetic refrigeration is an alternative technology based on magnetocaloric effect. HoN nanoparticles are good refrigerant material at low temperature.
Highly selective amino-functionalized magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers: absorbents for dispersive solid phase extraction and trace level analysis of chlorophenols in seawater
Authors: Shen Haoyu , Liu Baiwei , Xiang Qi , Wang Chunchun , Mao Shi Qiang
Published: August 2016

Three-in-one dispersive magnetic solid phase extraction system for preconcentration of trace-level CPs in seawater was established by using as-prepared molecularly imprinted magnetic polymers with effective, fast, and accurate for routine analyses.
Influence of high-mannose glycan whose glucose moiety is substituted with 5-thioglucose on calnexin/calreticulin cycle
Authors: Sakono Masafumi , Seko Akira , Takeda Yoichi , Hachisu Masakazu , Koizumi Akihiko , Fujikawa Kohki , Seto Hideharu , Ito Yukishige
Published: August 2016

Our study first revealed that UDP-5-thioglucose functions as a glycosyl donor of UDP-glucose: glycoprotein glucosyltransferase to produce 5-thio-glucosylated Man9 (5S-G1M9).
Poly(styrene–maleic anhydride) films as alignment layers for liquid crystal systems via ion-beam irradiation
Authors: Mun H.-Y. , Jeong H.-C. , Lee J. H. , Won J.-H. , Park H.-G. , Oh B.-Y. , Seo D.-S.
Published: August 2016

We report an investigation of poly(styrene–maleic anhydride) (SMA) films as liquid crystal (LC) alignment layers fabricated by ion-beam (IB) irradiation.
Effect of alkyl chain topology on the structure, optoelectronic properties and solar cell performance of thienopyrroledione-cored oligothiophene chromophores
Authors: Walker Bright , Yum Seungjib , Jang Bomee , Kim Jihyeon , Kim Taehyo , Kim Jin Young , Woo Han Young
Published: August 2016

A series of oligothiophenes containing thienopyrroledione with rhodanine, dicyanovinyl and octylcyanoacrylate end-capping groups are explored with two alkyl chain topologies.
Rh-catalyzed direct synthesis of 2,2′-dihydroxybenzophenones and xanthones
Authors: Rao Maddali L. N. , Ramakrishna Boddu S.
Published: August 2016

An efficient rhodium-catalyzed direct synthesis of 2,2′-dihydroxybenzophenones and xanthones was developed from functionalized salicylaldehydes.
Inorganic layered double hydroxides as a 4-hexyl resorcinol delivery system for topical applications
Authors: Mosangi Damodar , Kesavan Pillai Sreejarani , Moyo Lumbidzani , Ray Suprakas Sinha
Published: August 2016

In this study, the hydrophobic even skin tone active, 4-hexylresorcinol is intercalated into a Zn–Al layered double hydroxide by co-precipitation method and used as controlled release ingredient in a skin care formulation.
Correction: Encapsulation of therapeutic lavender oil in an electrolyte assisted polyacrylonitrile nanofibres for antibacterial applications
Authors: Balasubramanian K. , Kodam Kisan M.
Published: August 2016

Correction for ‘Encapsulation of therapeutic lavender oil in an electrolyte assisted polyacrylonitrile nanofibres for antibacterial applications’ by K. Balasubramanian et al., RSC Adv., 2014, 4, 54892–54901.
Using the lens of pedagogical content knowledge for teaching the nature of science to portray novice chemistry teachers' transforming NOS in early years of teaching profession
Authors: Supprakob Surayot , Faikhamta Chatree , Suwanruji Potjanart
Published: August 2016

Pedagogical content knowledge for teaching the nature of science (PCK for NOS) has attracted interest in recent decades. This study investigated the PCK for NOS of six novice chemistry teachers with various educational backgrounds. An interpretive case study was performed. Multiple data sources including classroom observations, field notes, semi-structured interviews, and teachers' artifacts were collected. The inductive process used to analyze data involved categorical aggregation, followed by a search for patterns and themes. The findings revealed that all participants had limited PCK for NOS in terms of all of its components. They had robust chemistry knowledge and expressed adequate views of a few aspects of NOS. The teachers focused only on the chemistry content and rarely taught or reflected NOS in their real practices. The findings indicate that the teachers did not reflect or teach NOS, which might have resulted from inadequacies in their teacher preparation courses, which did not greatly emphasize teaching NOS. The results of this research indicate that science educators and professional developers should use PCK for NOS not only as a lens to shed light on teachers' teaching of NOS but also as a framework to revisit the teaching of NOS in science teacher preparation courses.
On the molecular mechanisms for the H2/CO2 separation performance of zeolite imidazolate framework two-layered membranes
Authors: Cacho-Bailo Fernando , Matito-Martos Ismael , Perez-Carbajo Julio , Etxeberría-Benavides Miren , Karvan Oğuz , Sebastián Víctor , Calero Sofía , Téllez Carlos , Coronas Joaquín
Published: August 2016

A zeolitic imidazolate framework two-layered membrane approach is simulated and experimentally validated to improve the pre-combustion gas separation.
A class of transition metal-oxide@MnOx core–shell structured oxygen electrocatalysts for reversible O2 reduction and evolution reactions
Authors: Cheng Yi , Dou Shuo , Saunders Martin , Zhang Jin , Pan Jian , Wang Shuangyin , Jiang San Ping
Published: August 2016

A novel metal-oxide@MnOx core–shell type structured electrocatalyst has been developed with an excellent bifunctional activity for the ORR and OER and good durability.
Strategies toward improving the performance of organic electrodes in rechargeable lithium (sodium) batteries
Authors: Zhang Yugen , Wang Jinquan , Riduan Siti Nurhanna
Published: August 2016

This article focuses on the recent development of new strategies and approaches for improving the performance of organic electrodes for rechargeable lithium (sodium) batteries.
Room temperature synthesis of a highly active Cu/Cu2O photocathode for photoelectrochemical water splitting
Authors: Jin Zexun , Hu Zhuofeng , Yu Jimmy C. , Wang Jianfang
Published: August 2016

A Cu2O photocathode with excellent PEC performance was fabricated by a simple comproportionation reaction between Cu0 and Cu2+.
High-performance conjugated terpolymer-based organic bulk heterojunction solar cells
Authors: Fan Bingbing , Xue Xiaonan , Meng Xiangyi , Sun Xiaobo , Huo Lijun , Ma Wei , Sun Yanming
Published: August 2016

Constructing conjugated terpolymers with one donor and two acceptor units is an effective strategy for designing high-performance solar cell materials.
Delivery of an active lysosomal enzyme using GNeosomes
Authors: Hamill Kristina M. , Wexselblatt Ezequiel , Tong Wenyong , Esko Jeffrey D. , Tor Yitzhak
Published: August 2016

Guanidinoneomycin derivatives incorporated into liposomes were shown to improve delivery of a fluorescent dye and deliver therapeutic amounts of a lysosomal enzyme.
Electrospinning induced surface activation (EISA) of highly porous PMMA microfiber mats for HIV diagnosis
Authors: Serafim B. M. , Leitolis A. , Crestani S. , Marcon B. H. , Foti L. , Petzhold C. L. , Radtke C. , Krieger M. A. , Saul C. K.
Published: August 2016

Schematic of biological coupling to both dry substrate (DS) and wet substrate (WS) deposited fibers. (A) DS fibers without coupling, (B) WS fibers coupled to AbPE and GFP fluorescent proteins, (C) WS fibers assay coupled to HIV.
Differential internalization of brick shaped iron oxide nanoparticles by endothelial cells
Authors: Sun Zhizhi , Worden Matthew , Wroczynskyj Yaroslav , Manna Palash K. , Thliveris James A. , van Lierop Johan , Hegmann Torsten , Miller Donald W.
Published: August 2016

Nonspherical iron oxide core “nanobricks” have enhanced uptake in endothelial cells through caveolae-mediated endocytosis mechanism.
Design, fabrication, luminescence and biomedical applications of UCNPs@mSiO2–ZnPc–CDs–P(NIPAm-MAA) nanocomposites
Authors: Xu Jiating , Yang Dan , Lv Ruichan , Liu Bin , Gai Shili , He Fei , Li Chunxia , Yang Piaoping
Published: August 2016

The NaGdF4:Yb,Ce,Ho@NaGdF4@mSiO2–ZnPc–CDs–P(NIPAm-MAA)–DOX platform exhibits excellent anti-tumor efficacy due to synergistic PDT, PTT and chemotherapy, accompanied by multimodal imaging properties.
Magnetic vanadium sulfide monolayers: transition from a semiconductor to a half metal by doping
Authors: Wang Tianxing , Li Ying , Xia Congxin , Zhao Xu , An Yipeng , Dai Xianqi
Published: August 2016

Two dimensional crystals, befitting nanoscale electronics and spintronics, can have versatile applications due to their ultrathin and flexible nature.
The importance of gene–environment interactions in human obesity
Authors: Reddon Hudson , Guéant Jean-Louis , Meyre David
Published: August 2016

The worldwide obesity epidemic has been mainly attributed to lifestyle changes. However, who becomes obese in an obesity-prone environment is largely determined by genetic factors. In the last 20 years, important progress has been made in the elucidation of the genetic architecture of obesity. In parallel with successful gene identifications, the number of gene–environment interaction (GEI) studies has grown rapidly. This paper reviews the growing body of evidence supporting gene–environment interactions in the field of obesity. Heritability, monogenic and polygenic obesity studies provide converging evidence that obesity-predisposing genes interact with a variety of environmental, lifestyle and treatment exposures. However, some skepticism remains regarding the validity of these studies based on several issues, which include statistical modelling, confounding, low replication rate, underpowered analyses, biological assumptions and measurement precision. What follows in this review includes (1) an introduction to the study of GEI, (2) the evidence of GEI in the field of obesity, (3) an outline of the biological mechanisms that may explain these interaction effects, (4) methodological challenges associated with GEI studies and potential solutions, and (5) future directions of GEI research. Thus far, this growing body of evidence has provided a deeper understanding of GEI influencing obesity and may have tremendous applications in the emerging field of personalized medicine and individualized lifestyle recommendations.
Actively actuated all dispenser printed thermochromic smart fabric device
Authors: Ahmed Z. , Wei Y. , Torah R. , Tudor J.
Published: August 2016

An all printed actively actuated thermochromic (TC) smart fabric device is reported for the first time using a state of the art dispenser printing technique. The device consists of an ultraviolet curable TC ink with an activation temperature of 33°C actuated by conductive track‐based printed heater. The device is printed on untreated polyester cotton fabric. It offers a significant improvement in flexibility and design freedom over the state of the art TC fabric devices. The printed device changes colour from black to green in 10.8 s using 1.46 W DC power. It is shown that the time required for the device to change colour reduces tenfold with only a threefold increase in input power. It can be fabricated on other fabric or flexible substrates and in a range of colours and activation temperatures depending on the formulation chosen. The printed device is 30 × 21.5 mm which can be scaled up or down to suit the application. It can be used as an indicator in combination with sensors for smart fabric applications.
Dual‐wideband BPF with wide upper stopband using shorted stepped‐impedance stub‐loaded lowpass filter
Authors: Yang Qian , Jiao Yong‐Chang , Zhang Zheng
Published: August 2016

A novel dual‐wideband bandpass filter (BPF) using shorted stepped‐impedance stub‐loaded lowpass filter is proposed. The stub introduces two transmission zeros (TZs) to divide the low passband into dual‐passband. By tuning the stub dimension parameters to control the TZs, the centre frequency and bandwidth (BW) for each passband can be tuned flexibly, and wide upper stopband can be realised. For demonstration, a dual‐wideband BPF operating at 1.08 and 3.05 GHz is designed, fabricated, and measured, and its 3 dB fractional BWs are 103.2 and 48.5%, respectively. The measured results are in good agreement with the simulated ones.
Reconfigurable neuromorphic crossbars based on titanium oxide memristors
Authors: Wang S. , Wang W. , Yakopcic C. , Shin E. , Subramanyam G. , Taha T.M.
Published: August 2016

Memristor crossbars are capable of implementing learning algorithms in a much more energy‐ and area‐efficient manner compared with traditional systems. However, the programmable nature of memristor crossbars must first be explored on a smaller scale to see if physical devices are suitable for applications of reconfigurable computing. The reconfigurability of these devices through small scale memristor crossbar implementations is demonstrated. It is shown that a crossbar containing eight memristors is capable of learning several different two‐input Boolean logic functions. A strong foundation is provided to build on demonstrating that physical memristor crossbars can be programmed as linear classifiers.
Robust fault estimation observer design with finite‐time convergence specification
Authors: Zhang Ke , Jiang Bin , Cocquempot Vincent
Published: August 2016

In this study, the problem of fault estimation observer design with finite‐time convergence specification for continuous‐time dynamic systems subject to external disturbances. First, the unknown input observer is constructed to achieve accurate estimation of the occurred fault and to guarantee robustness against the disturbance. Then a pole placement‐based fault estimation observer is constructed using time‐delay design such that the fault estimation error converges to zero in finite time. Unlike conventional literatures, the proposed fault estimator with finite‐time convergence specification does not contain discontinuous sign function. Finally, simulation results of an aircraft application are presented to illustrate the finite‐time convergence of the proposed fault estimation observer.
Hybrid‐driven‐based stabilisation for networked control systems
Authors: Liu Jinliang , Zha Lijuan , Cao Jie , Fei Shumin
Published: August 2016

This study investigates controller design for networked control systems under hybrid driven scheme. A hybrid driven communication scheme is proposed, which can improve the system performance and reduce the network transmission. A Bernoulli distributed stochastic variable is introduced to describe the switch law of the communication scheme. A general system model under hybrid driven scheme is then constructed. Based on this model, sufficient conditions are derived to guarantee the desired system performance. Furthermore, criteria for co‐designing both the feedback gain and the trigger parameters are established. Finally, simulation results show the usefulness of the proposed method.
An implementation problem for boson fields and quantum Girsanov transform
Authors: Ji Un Cig , Obata Nobuaki
Published: August 2016

We study an implementation problem for quadratic functions of annihilation and creation operators on a boson field in terms of quantum white noise calculus. The implementation problem is shown to be equivalent to a linear differential equation for white noise operators containing quantum white noise derivatives. The solution is explicitly obtained and turns out to form a class of white noise operators including generalized Fourier–Gauss and Fourier–Mehler transforms, Bogoliubov transform, and a quantum extension of the Girsanov transform.
Phase and frequency structure of superradiance pulses generated by relativistic Ka-band backward-wave oscillator
Authors: Rostov V. V. , Romanchenko I. V. , Elchaninov A. A. , Sharypov K. A. , Shunailov S. A. , Ul'masculov M. R. , Yalandin M. I.
Published: August 2016

Phase and frequency stability of electromagnetic oscillations in sub-gigawatt superradiance (SR) pulses generated by an extensive slow-wave structure of a relativistic Ka-band backward-wave oscillator were experimentally investigated. Data on the frequency tuning and radiation phase stability of SR pulses with a variation of the energy and current of electron beam were obtained.
Experimental studies of the overshoot and undershoot in pulse-modulated radio-frequency atmospheric discharge
Authors: Huo W. G. , Li R. M. , Shi J. J. , Ding Z. F.
Published: August 2016

The overshoot and undershoot of the applied voltage on the electrodes, the discharge current, and radio frequency (RF) power were observed at the initial phase of pulse-modulated (PM) RF atmospheric pressure discharges, but factors influencing the overshoot and undershoot have not been fully elucidated. In this paper, the experimental studies were performed to seek the reasons for the overshoot and undershoot. The experimental results show that the overshoot and undershoot are associated with the pulse frequency, the rise time of pulse signal, and the series capacitor Cs in the inversely L-shaped matching network. In the case of a high RF power discharge, these overshoot and undershoot become serious when shortening the rise time of a pulse signal (5 ns) or operating at a moderate pulse frequency (500 Hz or 1 kHz).
Increased water deficit decreases Douglas fir growth throughout western US forests
Authors: Restaino Christina M. , Peterson David L. , Littell Jeremy
Published: August 2016

Significance

With ongoing public concern regarding climate change and recent drought that has affected many areas of the western United States, this study provides context and direct evidence for the negative impact of water stress on forest ecosystems. The response of trees to drought is a tangible example of the impacts of climate change on terrestrial ecosystems and is understandable by the public and a broad scientific audience. Any sustained change in the growth rates of trees also affects carbon sequestration, biodiversity maintenance, and ecosystem resilience, influencing both productivity and susceptibility to other disturbances.
Pourquoi une cinquième édition d’Interpréter pour traduire de Danica Seleskovitch et Marianne Lederer ?
Authors: Lederer Marianne
Published: August 2016

La première publication d’Interpréter pour traduire date de 1984. Les textes qui y sont réunis jettent les fondements de la Théorie Interprétative de la Traduction, une théorie cohérente expliquant le processus de l’interprétation et de la traduction. Les avancées des sciences cognitives ont peu à peu confirmé les constatations pragmatiques des auteurs, ce qui justifie cette cinquième édition par les Belles Lettres.
De la cognition à la socio-cognition à la lumière des échanges entre traducteurs
Authors: Plassard Freddie
Published: August 2016

Le présent article a pour objet de faire le point sur l’exploration d’un nouveau pan de la pratique de la traduction professionnelle, celui du recours des praticiens à des listes de diffusion créées à leur propre initiative. Ce dispositif repose sur l’échange de questions et de réponses destiné à résoudre des difficultés de traduction et témoigne d’une appropriation des virtualités de l’outil informatique à des fins dites « amicales » tout en fournissant aux traductologues un nouveau poste d’observation. La pratique décrite s’inscrit dans l’ensemble aujourd’hui répertorié sous le nom de pratiques collaboratives en traduction, sans pour autant en relever à part entière. Elle sera abordée ici en termes descriptifs formels sous l’angle du cadre et des rôles participatifs puis fonctionnels en termes d’apport cognitif et sera l’occasion d’envisager les différences éventuelles entre les notions de réseau et de communauté tout en débouchant sur la mise en évidence de nouvelles modalités cognitives à la charnière de l’individuel et du collectif.
In Situ Expression of Bcl‐2 in Pulmonary Artery Endothelial Cells Associates with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Relative to Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Benza Raymond L. , Williams Gretchen , Wu Changgong , Shields Kelly J. , Raina Amresh , Murali Srinivas , Passineau Michael J.
Published: August 2016

We have previously reported that pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAECs) can be harvested from the tips of discarded Swan‐Ganz catheters after right heart catheterization (RHC). In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the existence of an antiapoptotic phenotype in PAECs obtained during RHC is a distinctive feature of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH; World Health Organization group 1) and might be used to differentiate PAH from other etiologies of pulmonary hypertension. Specifically, we developed a flow cytometry‐based measure of Bcl‐2 activity, referred to as the normalized endothelial Bcl‐2 index (NEBI). We report that higher NEBI values are associated with PAH to the exclusion of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and that this simple diagnostic measurement is capable of differentiating PAH from HFpEF without presenting addition risk to the patient. If validated in a larger, multicenter study, the NEBI has the potential to assist physicians in the selection of appropriate therapeutic interventions in the common and dangerous scenario wherein patients present a clinical and hemodynamic phenotype that makes it difficult to confidently differentiate between PAH and HFpEF.
Tadalafil Therapy for Sarcoidosis‐Associated Pulmonary Hypertension
Authors: Ford H. J. , Baughman R. P. , Aris R. , Engel P. , Donohue J. F.
Published: August 2016

Sarcoidosis‐associated pulmonary hypertension (SAPH) is estimated to occur in at least 5% or more of sarcoidosis patients, and it contributes to significant morbidity and mortality. Optimal therapy for SAPH is not well established. We performed a 24‐week open‐label trial of tadalafil for SAPH at 2 academic medical centers. Subjects were required to have confirmed sarcoidosis plus a right heart catheterization within 12 months of enrollment showing a mean pulmonary artery pressure ≥ 25 mmHg, a pulmonary artery wedge pressure ≤ 15 mmHg, and a calculated pulmonary vascular resistance ≥ 3 Wood units. Subjects received 20 mg/day of tadalafil for the first 4 weeks and then 40 mg/day for the subsequent 20 weeks. Sixteen patients were screened, 12 of whom met criteria for enrollment. At 24 weeks, there was no overall improvement in 6‐minute walk distance (6MWD). Five of the 12 subjects dropped out of the study early (2 for social reasons, 3 for medical reasons). There was no significant change in short form 36, St. George's respiratory questionnaire, or maximum Borg dyspnea scores over the 24 weeks. There were no significant adverse events or laboratory abnormalities clearly related to tadalafil in the cohort. The study did not meet the primary end point of change in 6MWD because of the small sample size. Tadalafil was generally safely administered in this cohort of SAPH patients. There was a relatively high dropout rate but no major adverse events and no clinical worsening. Larger studies are needed to explore this question further. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01324999)
Tritium production assessment for the DCLL EUROfusion DEMO
Authors: Palermo Iole , Rapisarda David , Fernández-Berceruelo Iván , Ibarra Angel
Published: August 2016

The viability of a fusion reactor is preeminently conditioned by the tritium self-sufficiency. An assessment of different parameters representing the tritium production, as the tritium breeding ratio (TBR), the tritium production rate (TPR) density and their poloidal and radial variations along the PbLi breeder zones has been performed for the last DCLL DEMO designs developed in the frame of the EUROfusion Programme. The final overall value of 1.104 obtained allows accomplishing the fuel self-sufficiency requirement. This TBR value includes not only the contribution of the breeding blanket (BB) modules but also of the back supporting structure (BSS). The BSS design resulted fundamental to reach the 1.1 criterion. Lastly, the influence of the integration in the reactor of the heating and current drive (H&CD) systems that will penetrate the breeder volume has been evaluated. Assuming different configurations for them, the TBR loss has been determined. All the calculations have entailed the use of the particle transport Monte Carlo code MCNP5.
Analytical collisionless damping rate of geodesic acoustic mode
Authors: Ren H. , Xu X.Q.
Published: August 2016

Collisionless damping of geodesic acoustic mode (GAM) is analytically investigated by considering the finite-orbit-width (FOW) resonance effect to the 3rd order in the gyro-kinetic equations. A concise and transparent expression for the damping rate is presented for the first time. Good agreement is found between the analytical damping rate and the previous TEMPEST simulation result (Xu 2008 et al Phys. Rev. Lett.
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215001) for systematic q scans. Our result also shows that it is of sufficient accuracy and has to take into account the FOW effect to the 3rd order.
Media and Democracy from a European Perspective
Authors: Nieminen Hannu
Published: August 2016

There is no immediate or absolute relationship between the media and democracy in the sense that, without media, there could be no democracy. Similarly, it does not follow that with the (modern) media comes democracy. Autocracies exist wherein the media supports a political system, and likewise, democracies exist wherein the media works to undermine a political system. However, most often the media and democracy are viewed as supporting each other. This connection is the product of a long historical development, one peculiar to European (and North American) societies, involving not only institutions and practices directly linked to the media-based and democratic processes, but numerous other institutions (such as education, the political system, religion, etc.) as well.

The media are not the only institutions that promote (or do not promote) democratic legitimacy. Other major institutions of such influence include education, religion, public authority, cultural institutions, and political systems, among others. From a wider societal viewpoint, the role of the media is rather reduced in influence. If, for example, an education system is based on ethnic or other forms of segregation, or if there is widespread religious intolerance, or if public authority suffers from corruption, it is obvious that the media has only so many resources to encourage systemic legitimacy. The fundamental interrelatedness of different social institutions makes it difficult, or even impossible, to study the media as a phenomenon isolated from the rest of society. For this reason, we should be careful when making comparisons between the media in different countries, even the media outlets within liberal democracies.

In addition, there is no consensus as to the right balance of media and other social institutions in a democracy. Throughout the history of democracy, the relations between institutions (the political system, economy, media, and civil society) have undergone renegotiations and adjustments during times of crisis. Over the past few decades, this relationship appears to have reached a new crisis, one that continues to this day and still lacks a clear solution. In many countries, civil society–based media reform movements have been established with clear goals to further democratize media systems. One of the key arguments of these movements has centered on the contradiction between the constitutional obligations of democratic countries and the reality that, in practice, these rights do not apply equally to all. There remain major differences today between different social groups in terms of open access to and the unrestricted availability of information, the ability to utilize information according to one’s needs, having a voice represented by decision-makers, and respect for privacy and personal integrity.
The Indexing Model of State-Press Relations
Authors: Livingston Steven
Published: August 2016

State-media-relations theory hopes to explain variability in news content in open media systems according to the effects of professional journalistic norms and political and economic pressures felt by news organizations. According to the indexing model, variability in critical engagement of government policies rises and falls according to the degree of official public debate on an issue. As oppositional voices are silenced by political pressure campaigns of various types, oppositional frames in news content will diminish. As controversy among officials expands, so, too, will controversy in the news. Several alternative models of state-media relations, as well as their possible limitations in terms of applicability to non-American political systems, require further exploration; especially as to its relevance in the 21st century political and technical environment.
Luhmann and Systems Theory
Authors: Albert Mathias
Published: August 2016

The German sociologist Niklas Luhmann has provided one of the most elaborate theories of society available, as well as numerous works on specific aspects of society. Commonly labeled as “systems theory,” this is but a shorthand description of Luhmann’s theory. In fact, the theory rests on at least three main theoretical pillars. In addition to systems theory, a theory of social evolution and a theory of social differentiation play important roles. The present article introduces these three pillars and describes Luhmann’s theory of politics in this context. It outlines the crucial difference between a theory of politics as part of a theory of society on the one hand, and political theory as a reflective theory within the political system on the other hand. More specifically, it introduces Luhmann’s accounts of the notions of political power, differentiation, the state, political steering, and the self-description of the political system. The contribution concludes with some observations on the fact that Luhmann’s theory has tended to overlook the dimension of international politics, but that his theory provides opportunities to account for it in innovative ways.