bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The eye of the beholder: Can patterns in eye movement reveal aptitudes for spatial reasoning?
Authors: Roach Victoria A. , Fraser Graham M. , Kryklywy James H. , Mitchell Derek G.V. , Wilson Timothy D.
Published: November 2015

Mental rotation ability (MRA) is linked to academic success in the spatially complex Science, Technology, Engineering, Medicine, and Mathematics (STEMM) disciplines, and anatomical sciences. Mental rotation literature suggests that MRA may manifest in the movement of the eyes. Quantification of eye movement data may serve to distinguish MRA across individuals, and serve as a consideration when designing visualizations for instruction. It is hypothesized that high‐MRA individuals will demonstrate fewer eye fixations, conduct shorter average fixation durations (AFD), and demonstrate shorter response times, than low‐MRA individuals. Additionally, individuals with different levels of MRA will attend to different features of the block‐figures presented in the electronic mental rotations test (EMRT). All participants (n = 23) completed the EMRT while metrics of eye movement were collected. The test required participants view pairs of three‐dimensional (3D) shapes, and identify if the pair is rotated but identical, or two different structures. Temporal analysis revealed no significant correlations between response time, average fixation durations, or number of fixations and mental rotation ability. Further analysis of within‐participant variability yielded a significant correlation for response time variability, but no correlation between AFD variability and variability in the number of fixations. Additional analysis of salience revealed that during problem solving, individuals of differing MRA attended to different features of the block images; suggesting that eye movements directed at salient features may contribute to differences in mental rotations ability, and may ultimately serve to predict success in anatomy. Anat Sci Educ 9: 357–366. © 2015 American Association of Anatomists.
Adaptive Controller Design for Unknown Systems Using Measured Data
Authors: Khadraoui Sofiane , Nounou Hazem N. , Nounou Mohamed N. , Datta Aniruddha , Bhattacharyya Shankar P.
Published: November 2015

This paper presents a measurement‐based adaptive control design approach for unknown systems working over a wide range of operating conditions. Traditional control design approaches usually require the availability of a mathematical model. However, it has been shown in many practical situations that, due to complex dynamics of physical systems, some simplifying assumptions are made for the derivation of mathematical models. Hence, controller design based on simplified models may result in degradation of the desired closed‐loop performance. Data‐based control design approaches can be viewed as an alternative approach to model‐based methods. Most data‐based control methods available in the literature aim to design controllers for unknown systems that operate only at a given operating point. However, the dynamical behavior of plants may change for different operating conditions, which makes the task of designing a controller that works over the entire range of operating conditions more challenging. In this paper, we address such a problem and propose to design adaptive controllers based on measured data. Such a proposed method is based on designing a set of measurement‐based controllers validated at a finite set of pre‐specified operating points. Then, the parameters of the adaptive controller are obtained by interpolating between the set of pre‐designed controller parameters to derive a gain‐scheduling controller. Moreover, low‐order adaptive controllers can be designed by simply selecting the desired controller structure. The efficacy of the proposed approach is experimentally validated through a practical application to control a heating system operated over a large range of flow rate.
The impact of transport pricing policy on individual energy consumption: a modeling case study in Kumamoto
Authors: Yin Yanhong , Chen Tie , Du Zhigang , Mizokami Shoshi
Published: November 2015

To investigate the impact of traffic pricing policies on energy consumption, this study shows a microeconomic quantitative analysis scheme to simulate individual consumption behaviors from a microeconomic viewpoint. Energy consumption is estimated based on individual demand of non‐mobility goods and mobility goods under nine policy scenarios based on strategies of gasoline tax adding and mass transit fare reduction independently or combined. Results show that gasoline tax adding has strong effects on consumption behaviors. Energy consumption reduces mostly because of less consumption of non‐mobility goods and car trips. However, policy of mass transit fare reduction has limited impact on energy saving because consumption of non‐mobility goods and mass transit trips increases, but the number of car trips decline by only a small percentage. Comparing with single‐type policy, policies that combined gasoline tax adding and mass transit fare reduction show less energy consumption. Findings suggest that policies that increase cost of car trips, such as gasoline tax adding, are very helpful to reduce the consumption of non‐mobility goods and car trips, which contribute to less energy consumption. However, reducing cost of mass transit trips suggests limited effect on energy saving. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hybrid simulation approach incorporating microscopic interaction along with rigid body degrees of freedom for stacking between base pairs
Authors: Mondal Manas , Halder Sukanya , Chakrabarti Jaydeb , Bhattacharyya Dhananjay
Published: November 2015

Stacking interaction between the aromatic heterocyclic bases plays an important role in the double helical structures of nucleic acids. Considering the base as rigid body, there are total of 18 degrees of freedom of a dinucleotide step. Some of these parameters show sequence preferences, indicating that the detailed atomic interactions are important in the stacking. Large variants of non‐canonical base pairs have been seen in the crystallographic structures of RNA. However, their stacking preferences are not thoroughly deciphered yet from experimental results. The current theoretical approaches use either the rigid body degrees of freedom where the atomic information are lost or computationally expensive all atom simulations. We have used a hybrid simulation approach incorporating Monte‐Carlo Metropolis sampling in the hyperspace of 18 stacking parameters where the interaction energies using AMBER‐parm99bsc0 and CHARMM‐36 force‐fields were calculated from atomic positions. We have also performed stacking energy calculations for structures from Monte‐Carlo ensemble by Dispersion corrected density functional theory. The available experimental data with Watson–Crick base pairs are compared to establish the validity of the method. Stacking interaction involving A:U and G:C base pairs with non‐canonical G:U base pairs also were calculated and showed that these structures were also sequence dependent. This approach could be useful to generate multiscale modeling of nucleic acids in terms of coarse‐grained parameters where the atomic interactions are preserved. This method would also be useful to predict structure and dynamics of different base pair steps containing non Watson–Crick base pairs, as found often in the non‐coding RNA structures. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 105: 212–226, 2016.
Mitochondrial protein‐derived cryptides: Are endogenous N‐formylated peptides including mitocryptide‐2 components of mitochondrial damage‐associated molecular patterns?
Authors: Marutani Takayuki , Hattori Tatsuya , Tsutsumi Koki , Koike Yusuke , Harada Akihiko , Noguchi Kosuke , Kiso Yoshiaki , Mukai Hidehito
Published: November 2015

Recently, much attention has been paid to “nonclassical” bioactive peptides, which are fragmented peptides simultaneously produced during maturation and degradation of various functional proteins. We identified many fragmented peptides derived from various mitochondrial proteins including mitocryptide‐1 and mitocryptide‐2 that efficiently activate neutrophils. These endogenous, functionally active, fragmented peptides are referred to as “cryptides.” Among them, mitocryptide‐2 is an N‐formylated cryptide cleaved from mitochondrial cytochrome b that is encoded in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). It is known that 13 proteins encoded in mtDNA are translated in mitochondria as N‐formylated forms, suggesting the existence of endogenous N‐formylated peptides other than mitocryptide‐2. Here, we investigated the effects of N‐formylated peptides presumably cleaved from mtDNA‐encoded proteins other than cytochrome b on the functions of neutrophilic cells to elucidate possible regulation by endogenous N‐formylated cryptides. Four N‐formylated cryptides derived from cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and NADH dehydrogenase subunits 4, 5, and 6 among 12 peptides from mtDNA‐encoded proteins efficiently induced not only migration but also β‐hexosaminidase release, which is an indicator of neutrophilic phagocytosis, in HL‐60 cells differentiated into neutrophilic cells. These activities were comparable to or higher than those induced by mitocryptide‐2. Although endogenous N‐formylated peptides that are contained in mitochondrial damage‐associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) have yet to be molecularly identified, they have been implicated in innate immunity. Thus, N‐formylated cryptides including mitocryptide‐2 are first‐line candidates for the contents of mitochondrial DAMPs to promote innate immune responses. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci) 106: 580–587, 2016.
Synthesis and Crystal Structure of a Ternary Lattice Inclusion System of C‐4‐acetamidophenylcalix[4]‐2‐methylresorcinarene dimethylsulfoxide tetrasolvate dihydrate
Authors: Abosadiya Hamza M. , Hasbullah Siti Aishah , Jumina  , Yamin Bohari M.
Published: November 2015

C‐4‐acetamidophenylcalix[4]‐2‐methylresorcinarene was synthesized by condensation reaction of 2‐methylresorcinol with 4‐acetamidobenzaldehyde in the presence of concentrated HCl. The compound was characterized by infrared (IR),
1H, and
13C NMR spectroscopy. Single crystal X‐ray analysis revealed that the molecule crystallized in a triclinic crystal system with space group of Pī and the unit cell dimensions are a = 8.929(1) Å, b = 13.804(2) Å, c = 14.471(2) Å, α = 76.766(4)°, β = 78.563(4)°, γ = 87.168(4)°, Z = 1, and V = 1702.0(4) Å3. The calix molecule is associated with four dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and two water molecules of crystallization that contribute to the stability of the solid via hydrogen bonding. The supramolecule adopts a chair (C2h
) conformation with four phenyl linkage groups that are in rctt (cis–trans–trans) configuration isomer. The thermal gravimetric investigation showed three mass loss steps that occurred at about 100, 400, and 900 °C, respectively. The compound formed after the first loss is thermally stable in the range of 100–400 °C after which the calix moiety began to decompose.
Subparaneurial ganglion cysts of the fibular and tibial nerves: A new variant of intraneural ganglion cysts
Authors: Prasad Nikhil K. , Desy Nicholas M. , Howe B. Matthew , Amrami Kimberly K. , Spinner Robert J.
Published: November 2015

Over the last decade, the mechanism of formation of intraneural ganglion cysts has been established through a meticulous review of clinical findings and correlation with patterns produced on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Pathognomonic imaging patterns distinguish these rare lesions from the more common extraneural variants in almost all cases. In this report, we present a new pattern of cyst occurrence in the subparaneurial compartment of the nerve and provide potential anatomic explanations for its pathogenesis. Using an anatomic framework of connective tissue compartments of the nerve, we reviewed 63 (56 fibular and seven tibial) intraneural ganglion cysts in the knee region evaluated at our institution and all reports with MRI in the world's literature for evidence of cyst occurrence in the subparaneurial compartment. We identified six cases (five in the common fibular nerve and one in the tibial nerve) at our institution that had MR evidence of cyst in the subparaneurial compartment with a new complex lobulated pattern. All cases had articular branch connections to the superior tibiofibular joint, which at operation were resected along with the joints. Follow‐up revealed complete recovery in all instances and no clinical or radiological signs of recurrence. Three cases out of 80 in the literature exhibited the new complex lobulated MRI pattern. We present a new pattern of intraneural ganglion cyst occurrence in a potential space that surrounds peripheral nerves‐ the subparaneurial compartment. We believe that the unifying articular theory applies to the pathogenesis and management of these rare variants. Clin. Anat. 29:530–537, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Beyond the Physical Incident Model: How Children Living with Domestic Violence are Harmed By and Resist Regimes of Coercive Control
Authors: Katz Emma
Published: November 2015

This article begins to build knowledge of how non‐violent coercive controlling behaviours can be central to children's experiences of domestic violence. It considers how children can be harmed by, and resist, coercive controlling tactics perpetrated by their father/father‐figure against their mother. Already, we know much about how women/mothers experience non‐physical forms of domestic violence, including psychological/emotional/verbal and financial abuse, isolation and monitoring of their activities. However, this knowledge has not yet reached most research on children and domestic violence, which tends to focus on children's exposure to physical violence. In this qualitative study, 30 participants from the UK, 15 mothers and 15 of their children (most aged 10–14) who had separated from domestic violence perpetrators, participated in semi‐structured interviews. All participants were living in the community. Using the ‘Framework’ approach to thematically analyse the data, findings indicated that perpetrators'/fathers' coercive control often prevented children from spending time with their mothers and grandparents, visiting other children's houses and engaging in extra‐curricular activities. These non‐violent behaviours from perpetrators/fathers placed children in isolated, disempowering and constrained worlds which could hamper children's resilience and development and contribute to emotional/behavioural problems. Implications for practice and the need to empower children in these circumstances are discussed. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

‘Considers how children can be harmed by, and resist, coercive controlling tactics perpetrated by their father/father‐figure against their mother’

Key Practitioner Messages

Children experiencing domestic violence may be affected by more than the physical violence perpetrated by one parent against the other.

Children may be harmed by non-physical abusive behaviours inherent to coercive control-based domestic violence, including continual monitoring, isolation and verbal/emotional/psychological and financial abuses.

Responsibility for the impacts on children of coercive control-based domestic violence should be placed with the perpetrator (usually fathers/father‐figures) and not with the victimised parent (usually mothers).
Segmenting initial fans of a new team: A taxonomy of sport early adopters
Authors: McDonald Heath , Leckie Civilai , Karg Adam , Zubcevic‐Basic Nives , Lock Daniel
Published: November 2015

Marketers are interested in the first buyers of new products, given their important role in driving wider community adoption. This is especially the case for new entertainment products, like new or relocated sports teams who must quickly build fan connections and loyalty, given the importance of crowds and social networks in adding value to the entertainment experience. Fans choose to connect with sports teams for numerous reasons; however, fan development in the context of a new team has rarely been examined. This paper examines the diversity and similarity among inaugural fans of an expansion team. A large sample (n = 1724) was classified into five segments revealing how each varies in their brand associations, satisfaction, identification and involvement. By analysing key dimensions (relationship identifiers) that characterise how consumers connect with a new team, the authors provide new insights about the nature of consumers in the context of a new sports team. Furthermore, the five segments were found to be distinct cohorts, with sufficient variation between them to warrant variant marketing approaches to achieve the outcome of committed, long‐term fans. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Primary osteosarcoma of the breast: a case report
Authors: Crèvecoeur Julie , Jossa Véronique , Gennigens Christine , Parmentier Jean‐Claude , Crèvecoeur André
Published: November 2015

Key Clinical Message

We report a rare case of primary osteosarcoma of the breast in a patient who presented a calcified fibroadenoma one year before the appearance of the malignant lesion. We describe the follow‐up of the patient and the discovery of a similar osteosarcoma in the other breast one year later.
Formation of Gold Nanoparticle Size and Density Gradients via Bipolar Electrochemistry
Authors: Lundgren Anders , Munktell Sara , Lacey Matthew , Berglin Mattias , Björefors Fredrik
Published: November 2015

Bipolar electrochemistry is employed to demonstrate the formation of gold nanoparticle size gradients on planar surfaces. By controlling the electric field in a HAuCl4‐containing electrolyte, gold was reduced onto 10 nm diameter particles immobilized on pre‐modified thiolated bipolar electrode (BPE) templates, resulting in larger particles towards the more cathodic direction. As the gold deposition was the dominating cathodic reaction, the increased size of the nanoparticles also reflected the current distribution on the bipolar electrode. The size gradients were also combined with a second gradient‐forming technique to establish nanoparticle surfaces with orthogonal size and density gradients, resulting in a wide range of combinations of small/large and few/many particles on a single bipolar electrode. Such surfaces are valuable in, for example, cell‐material interaction and combinatorial studies, where a large number of conditions are probed simultaneously.
Fabrication of Li+‐Conductive Li2ZrO3‐Based Shell Encapsulated LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 Microspheres as High‐Rate and Long‐Life Cathode Materials for Li‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Wu Hao , Wang Zongyi , Liu Shengjie , Zhang Li , Zhang Yun
Published: November 2015

The front cover artwork is provided by the group of Prof. Yun Zhang and Prof. Hao Wu at the Sichuan University (Chengdu, China). The image shows the surface establishing ternary layered LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 microspheres with a fast‐Li+‐conductive Li2ZrO3 shell, using a facile pre‐coating approach towards high‐rate and long‐life lithium‐ion batteries. Read the full text of the Article at 10.1002/celc.201500303.
Accessing N‐Stereogenicity through a Double Aza‐Michael Reaction: Mechanistic Insights
Authors: Kohrt Sonja , Santschi Nico , Cvengroš Ján
Published: November 2015

Further development of the chemistry and applications of chiral compounds that possess configurationally stable stereogenic nitrogen atoms is hampered by the lack of efficient strategies to access such compounds in an enantiomerically pure form. Esters of propiolic acid and chiral alcohols were evaluated as cheap and readily available Michael acceptors in a diastereoselective synthesis of N‐stereogenic compounds by means of a double aza‐Michael conjugate addition. Diastereomeric ratios of up to 74:26 and high yields were achieved with (−)‐menthyl propiolate as a substrate. Furthermore, a detailed mechanistic investigation was undertaken to shed some light on the course of this domino transformation. Kinetic studies revealed that the protic‐solvent additive acts as a Brønsted acid and activates the ester toward the initial attack of the tetrahydrodiazocine partner. Conversely, acidic conditions proved unfavorable during the final cyclization step that provides the product.
Collective Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Tryptophan‐Based Dimeric Diketopiperazine Alkaloids
Authors: Tadano Shinji , Sugimachi Yukihiro , Sumimoto Michinori , Tsukamoto Sachiko , Ishikawa Hayato
Published: November 2015

A concise two one‐pot synthesis of WIN 64821, eurocristatine, 15,15′‐bis‐epi‐eurocristatine, ditryptophenaline, ditryptoleucine A, WIN 64745, cristatumin C, asperdimin, naseseazine A, and naseseazine B is detailed, based on a unique bioinspired dimerization reaction of tryptophan derivatives in aqueous acidic solution and a one‐pot procedure for the construction of diketopiperazine rings. Total yields of these alkaloid syntheses were from 10 up to 27 %. In addition, 1′‐(2‐phenylethylene)‐ditryptophenaline was synthesized by using three one‐pot operations. The studies detailed herein provided synthesized natural products for inhibitory activities of ubiquitin‐specific protease 7 (USP7) and foam cell formation in macrophages. The newly listed biological evaluation for tryptophan‐based dimeric diketopiperazine alkaloids discovered 15,15′‐bis‐epi‐eurocristatine, 1′‐(2‐phenylethylene)‐ditryptophenaline, and WIN 64745 as new drug candidates.
Recent Progress in Dehydro(genative) Diels–Alder Reaction
Authors: Li Wenbo , Zhou Liejin , Zhang Junliang
Published: November 2015

In recent years, remarkable progress has been made in dehydro or dehydrogenative Diels–Alder (D–A) reactions. This Minireview gives an overview of the major two strategies for dehydro(genative) Diels–Alder reactions, which differ in dehydrogenation and D–A cyclization sequence. Reactions in which D–A cycloaddition is followed by dehydrogenation are useful methods for the synthesis of various aromatic compounds, whereas advancements in dehydro genative procedures with oxidants or catalysts prior to D–A cycloaddition offer yet further new routes to functionalized cycloadducts. Recent leading findings are highlighted and the current state of the art, scope, and limitations of these processes are discussed in this Minireview.
Automatic detection of layout of color yarns of yarn‐dyed fabric. Part 2: Region segmentation of double‐system‐Mélange color fabric
Authors: Zhang Jie , Pan Ruru , Gao Weidong , Xu Bugao , Li Wei
Published: November 2015

To detect the layout of color yarns automatically, a novel projection‐based fabric segmentation method is proposed to segment the double‐system‐mélange color fabric into several regions, which can be seen as single‐system‐mélange color fabrics. This method consists of five main steps: (1) yarn skew detection, (2) fabric image projecting, (3) projection curve smoothing, (4) variance curve calculating, and (5) curve peak confirmation. Based on the acquisition fabric image, the skew angles of warp and weft yarns are detected by Hough transform first. The projection curves of L, a, and b channels in Lab color model are generated and smoothed by Savitzky–Golay filter. The variance curves of L, a, and b are then calculated, and the peaks corresponding to the regional boundaries in each curve are detected. The regional boundaries are confirmed by synthesizing the curve peaks of L, a, and b. The experimental and theoretical analysis proves that the proposed method can segment the double‐system‐mélange color fabric into regions with satisfactory accuracy and good robustness. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 41, 626–635, 2016
Research on filter selection method for broadband spectral imaging system based on ancient murals
Authors: Liang Jinxing , Wan Xiaoxia , Liu Qiang , Li Chan , Li Junfeng
Published: November 2015

Digitization of cultural heritage protection has received considerable attention in heritage studies and spectral imaging technology has been playing an important role in this research. This article aims to study the technique of selecting optimal filter set to obtain ancient murals spectral image with high spectral and colorimetric accuracy based on the broadband spectral imaging system. The 330 Dunhuang murals mineral pigment color patches and the GretagMacbeth ColorChecker (CC) as well as 27 pieces of optical filters chosen as samples were examined. For each piece of filter, the three‐channel image was captured by the spectral imaging system. Then, 351 groups of six‐channel digital count images were acquired by arbitrary combinations of two among the 27 three‐channel digital count images. The pseudo‐inverse, principal component analysis, and R‐matrix methods were used to reconstruct the spectral reflectance from the six‐channel digital counts for each sample. Finally, this study identified the optimal filter set by evaluating the integrated error (TOTAL ERROR), which was calculated by normalizing the mean spectral root‐mean‐square error (RMS), mean spectral goodness‐of‐fit error (1‐GFC), and mean CIEDE2000 color difference (ΔE00) and by multiplying them together. After the optimal optic filter set was selected, it was applied to the Dunhuang murals spectral imaging and was evaluated. The results showed that the optimal optic filter set could result in promising improvement both in spectral and color accuracy when compared with the production camera. In addition, it can be used for the construction of Dunhuang murals spectral image database. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 41, 585–595, 2016
HLA‐B*38:02:01 predicts carbimazole/methimazole‐induced agranulocytosis
Authors: Cheung C‐L , Sing C‐W , Tang CSM , Cheng VKF , Pirmohamed M , Choi C‐H , Hung C‐S , Lau EY‐F , Lee KF , Mak MW‐H , Leung JYY , Wong T‐W , Ho AYY , Chan K‐W , Hung VHF , Tam V , Siu S‐C , Pang H‐K , Wat WZ‐M , Lee HH‐Y , Chung C‐T , Hue RS‐M , Sham P‐C , Cheung BMY , Wong ICK , Tan KCB , Kung AWC
Published: November 2015

Thioamides antithyroid‐drugs (ATDs) are important in hyperthyroid disease management. Identification of the susceptibility locus of ATD‐induced agranulocytosis is important for clinical management. We performed a genome‐wide association study (GWAS) involving 20 patients with ATD‐induced agranulocytosis and 775 healthy controls. The top finding was further replicated. A single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs185386680, showed the strongest association with ATD‐induced agranulocytosis in GWAS (odds ratio (OR) = 36.4; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 12.8–103.7; P = 1.3 × 10‐24) and replication (OR = 37; 95% CI = 3.7–367.4; P = 9.6 × 10‐7). HLA‐B*38:02:01 was in complete linkage disequilibrium with rs185386680. High‐resolution HLA typing confirmed that HLA‐B*38:02:01 was associated with carbimazole (CMZ)/methimazole (MMI)‐induced agranulocytosis (OR = 265.5; 95% CI = 27.9–2528.0; P = 2.5 × 10‐14), but not associated with propylthiouracil (PTU). The positive and negative predictive values of HLA‐B*38:02:01 in predicting CMZ/MMI‐induced agranulocytosis were 0.07 and 0.999. Approximately 211 cases need to be screened to prevent one case. Screening for the risk allele will be useful in preventing agranulocytosis in populations in which the frequency of the risk allele is high.
Phylogenetic ecology of gall crabs (Cryptochiridae) as associates of mushroom corals (Fungiidae)
Authors: van der Meij Sancia E. T. , Fransen Charles H. J. M. , Pasman Leon R. , Hoeksema Bert W.
Published: November 2015

Coral‐associated fauna is a relatively understudied topic. Hence, the nature of the relationship between an associated organism and its host is usually unknown. In the present study, the obligate associations between gall crabs (Decapoda: Cryptochiridae) and mushroom corals (Scleractinia: Fungiidae) are reviewed from a phylogenetic perspective. Based on field surveys, examination of museum material and a literature review, a total of 35 fungiid species have been found that act as hosts for four gall crab species. Fungiid‐associated gall crabs appear to be more geographically widespread than previously known, with new records showing their occurrences from the Red Sea and western Indian Ocean all the way to the central Pacific Ocean. The obligate nature of the association between cryptochirids and their hosts makes them an ideal model taxon to test for possible cospeciation events. The congruence between their phylogenies was tested by using the program Jane 4.0, resulting in cospeciation and duplication events between the crabs and their host corals. The sharing of several closely related host coral species by the same gall crab species or genus may provide support to models indicating phylogenetic relationships within the Scleractinia.
Species mtDNAgenetic diversity explained by infrapopulation size in a host‐symbiont system
Authors: Doña Jorge , Moreno‐García Marina , Criscione Charles D. , Serrano David , Jovani Roger
Published: November 2015

Understanding what shapes variation in genetic diversity among species remains a major challenge in evolutionary ecology, and it has been seldom studied in parasites and other host‐symbiont systems. Here, we studied mtDNAvariation in a host‐symbiont non‐model system: 418 individual feather mites from 17 feather mite species living on 17 different passerine bird species. We explored how a surrogate of census size, the median infrapopulation size (i.e., the median number of individual parasites per infected host individual), explains mtDNAgenetic diversity. Feather mite species genetic diversity was positively correlated with mean infrapopulation size, explaining 34% of the variation. As expected from the biology of feather mites, we found bottleneck signatures for most of the species studied but, in particular, three species presented extremely low mtDNAdiversity values given their infrapopulation size. Their star‐like haplotype networks (in contrast with more reticulated networks for the other species) suggested that their low genetic diversity was the consequence of severe bottlenecks or selective sweeps. Our study shows for the first time that mtDNAdiversity can be explained by infrapopulation sizes, and suggests that departures from this relationship could be informative of underlying ecological and evolutionary processes.
Circulating biomarker responses to medical management vs. mechanical circulatory support in severe inotrope‐dependent acute heart failure
Authors: Meredith Anna J. , Dai Darlene L. Y. , Chen Virginia , Hollander Zsuzsanna , Ng Raymond , Kaan Annemarie , Tebbutt Scott , Ramanathan Krishnan , Cheung Anson , McManus Bruce M.
Published: November 2015

Background

Severe inotrope‐dependent acute heart failure (AHF) is associated with poor clinical outcomes. There are currently no well‐defined blood biomarkers of response to treatment that can guide management or identify recovery in this patient population. In the present study, we characterized the levels of novel and emerging circulating biomarkers of heart failure in patients with AHF over the first 30 days of medical management or mechanical circulatory support (MCS). We hypothesized a shared a plasma proteomic treatment response would be identifiable in both patient groups, representing reversal of the AHF phenotype.

Methods and results

Time course plasma samples of the first 30 days of therapy, obtained from patients managed medically (n = 8) or with implantable MCS (n = 5), underwent semi‐targeted and candidate biomarker analyses, using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mass spectrometry, antibody arrays, and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays. Differentially expressed proteins were identified using robust limma for MRM and antibody array data. Patients managed medically or with implantable MCS had a shared proteomic signature of six plasma proteins: circulating cardiotrophin 1, cardiac troponin T, clusterin, and dickopff 1 increased, while levels of C‐reactive protein and growth differentiation factor 15 decreased in both groups over the 30 day time course.

Conclusions

We have characterized the temporal proteomic signature of clinical recovery in AHF patients managed medically or with MCS, over the first 30 days of treatment. Changes in biomarker expression over the time course of treatment may provide a basis for understanding the biological basis of AHF, potentially identifying novel markers and pathophysiologic mechanisms of recovery.
Self‐Assembly of Oxamidato‐Chelated ReI‐ and MnI‐Based Flexible Dinuclear Horse‐Stirrup‐Like Metallacycles
Authors: Ramakrishna Buthanapalli , Divya D. , Monisha P. V. , Manimaran Bala.
Published: November 2015

The self‐assembly of M2(CO)10 (M = Mn, Re), oxamide ligands [H2L = N,N′‐dibutyloxamide (dbo), N,N′‐dibenzyloxamide (dbno)], and flexible bidentate linkers [L′ = 1,2‐bis(4‐pyridyl)ethane (bpe), 1,3‐bis(4‐pyridyl)propane (bpp)] afforded MnI‐ and ReI‐based dinuclear metallacycles [(CO)3M(μ‐η4‐L)(μ‐L′)M(CO)3] (1–6). The oxidative addition of oxamide ligands to the equatorial sites and the addition of flexible dipyridyl ligands to the axial sites of facial metal tricarbonyl cores resulted in the formation of dinuclear metallacycles under one‐pot reaction conditions. Metallacycles 1–6 were characterized through elemental analysis, IR, UV/Vis, and NMR spectroscopy. The formation of dinuclear compounds 1 and 4 was ascertained by ESI mass spectrometry. The molecular structures of 2, 3, 5, and 6 were elucidated by single‐crystal X‐ray crystallographic methods, which revealed horse‐stirrup‐like dinuclear frameworks in which the metal centers are orthogonally connected by a bridging oxamide ligand through ON∩NO bis(chelation) and a flexible bidentate ligand through M–N coordination. The first one‐step syntheses of self‐assembled neutral MnI‐based dinuclear metallastirrups containing bis(chelating) oxamide ligands and their rhenium analogues are reported herein.
Direct Electrochemical Sensing of Phenazine‐1‐carboxylic Acid Secreted by Pseudomonas chlororaphis subsp. aureofaciens BCRC 11057T Using Disposable Screen‐printed Carbon Electrode
Authors: Hameed Asif , Pi Hong‐Wei , Lin Shih‐Yao , Lai Wei‐An , Young Li‐Sen , Liu You‐Cheng , Shen Fo‐Ting , Young Chiu‐Chung
Published: November 2015

A novel electrochemical approach for direct recognition of antibiotic phenazine‐1‐carboxylic acid (PCA) was developed. PCA was electropolymerized on preanodized screen‐printed carbon electrode (SPCE*‐PCA) through repetitive cyclic voltammetry and characterized by XPS and FESEM. Electron transfer involved intermediate phenomenon of diffusion‐controlled redox process and surface bound redox reaction. At pH 8 (optimum), SPCE*‐PCA had a detection limit of 0.51±0.04 μM, a quantification limit of 1.7±0.13 μM, linearity of up to 50 µM, a repeatability of 15.5 % and a reproducibility of 1.7 %. PCA secreted by Pseudomonas chlororaphis subsp. aureofaciens BCRC 11057T was investigated successfully using present single run approach.
Chiral Recognition of Tryptophan Enantiomers Based on β‐Cyclodextrin‐platinum Nanoparticles/Graphene Nanohybrids Modified Electrode
Authors: Xu Juanjuan , Wang Qinghong , Xuan Chunzhi , Xia Qiao , Lin Xia , Fu Yingzi
Published: November 2015

The nanohybrids which based on β‐cyclodextrin, platinum nanoparticles and graphene (β‐CD‐PtNPs/GNs) were successfully synthesized and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Then they were used to construct a simple and reliable chiral sensing platform to interact with tryptophan (Trp) enantiomers. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was used to investigate the stereo selectivity of β‐CD‐PtNPs/GNs to Trp enantiomers. After interaction, the obvious difference of peak currents of L‐Trp and D‐Trp was obtained, indicating this strategy could be employed to chiral recognition of Trp enantiomers. Under the optimum conditions, the chiral sensor exhibited a good linear response to Trp enantiomers in a linear range of 5.0×10−5 to 5.0×10−3 M with a low limit of detection of 1.7×10−5 M (S/N=3). This approach provided a new available platform to recognize and determine Trp enantiomers.
Facile Fabrication of Solid‐state Electrochemiluminescence Sensor via Non‐covalent π‐π Stacking and Covalent Bonding on Graphite Electrode
Authors: Wang Jianmei , Xu Yuanhong , Liu Mengli , Niu Fushuang , Liu Jingquan
Published: November 2015

Herein, a facile and efficient method was developed for fabrication of solid‐state electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensor via non‐covalent π‐π stacking and covalent bonding on the graphite electrode (GE) surface. The electrode was firstly modified with 1‐aminopyrene via π‐π stacking between GE surface and the pyrene moiety. Thereafter a stable and efficient solid‐state ECL sensor was fabricated by covalent immobilization of ruthenium(II) onto the GE surface via amidation reaction between the 1‐aminopyrene and bis(2,2′‐bipyridyl)(4‐methyl‐4′‐carboxypropyl‐2,2′‐bipyridyl) ruthenium(II) bishexafluorophosphate. The sensor has been investigated using tripropylamine and tetracycline as representative analytes, and low detection limits of 0.7 nM and 3.5 nM (S/N=3) were reached, respectively.
Design and characterization of spatial units for monitoring global impacts of environmental factors on major crops and food security
Authors: Gommes René , Wu Bingfang , Li Zhongyuan , Zeng Hongwei
Published: November 2015

This paper describes the design and characterization of a limited number of areas to be used as spatial monitoring and reporting units (MRU) by CropWatch, the global crop monitoring system ( http://www.cropwatch.com.cn/) hosted by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The MRUs are modified and adapted from an existing standard vegetation zoning map. They are designed to be areas of uniform vulnerability as assessed by three sets of variables: environmental (such as climate and NDVI), seasonality (such as intra‐annual climate variations and interannual NDVI variability) and agronomy (such as presence/absence of major crops and their yield). The paper pays due attention to within‐zone spatial variability for each of the three groups of variables: in general, the variability measured as the average of the spatial coefficient of variation inside MRUs, is much larger for agronomic variables (330%) than for environmental variables (38%) and seasonality (55%). The MRUs provide a rather coherent picture of the variations of global agriculture, for instance, the links between the distribution of crops, agricultural production potential, and environmental variability (over space and time). They closely delineate the distribution of the major nonsugar food crops (barley, cassava, maize, potatoes, rice, soybean, and wheat). The discussion focuses on the relations between the size of the MRUs and the within‐MRU variability (spatial heterogeneity) of cropping, and environmental conditions including seasonality. The conclusion stresses that spatial variability in agriculture is bound to be larger than the variability in the environmental variables used to define the units, regardless of the units’ size. The size of the spatial units (and therefore their number) is not a very critical constraint for operational impact reporting, especially if impact indicators focus on agricultural areas inside MRUs.
Forecasting Government Bond Yields with Neural Networks Considering Cointegration
Authors: Wegener Christoph , von Spreckelsen Christian , Basse Tobias , von Mettenheim Hans‐Jörg
Published: November 2015

This paper discusses techniques that might be helpful in predicting interest rates and tries to evaluate a new hybrid forecasting approach. Results of examining government bond yields in Germany and France reported in this study indicate that a hybrid forecasting approach which combines techniques of cointegration analysis with neural network (NN) forecasting models can produce superior results to the use of NN forecasting models alone. The findings documented in this paper could be a consequence of the fact that examining differenced data under certain conditions will lead to a loss of information and that the inclusion of the error correction term from the cointegration model can help to cope with this problem. The paper also discusses some possibly interesting directions for further research. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PI3K/AKT/mTOR‐dependent stabilization of oncogenic far‐upstream element binding proteins in hepatocellular carcinoma cells
Authors: Samarin Jana , Laketa Vibor , Malz Mona , Roessler Stephanie , Stein Ilan , Horwitz Elad , Singer Stephan , Dimou Eleni , Cigliano Antonio , Bissinger Michaela , Falk Christine Susanne , Chen Xin , Dooley Steven , Pikarsky Eli , Calvisi Diego Francesco , Schultz Carsten , Schirmacher Peter , Breuhahn Kai
Published: November 2015

Transcription factors of the far‐upstream element‐binding protein (FBP) family represent cellular pathway hubs, and their overexpression in liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]) stimulates tumor cell proliferation and correlates with poor prognosis. Here we determine the mode of oncogenic FBP overexpression in HCC cells. Using perturbation approaches (kinase inhibitors, small interfering RNAs) and a novel system for rapalog‐dependent activation of AKT isoforms, we demonstrate that activity of the phosphatidylinositol‐4,5‐biphosphate 3‐kinase/AKT pathway is involved in the enrichment of nuclear FBP1 and FBP2 in liver cancer cells. In human HCC tissues, phospho‐AKT significantly correlates with nuclear FBP1/2 accumulation and expression of the proliferation marker KI67. Mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibition or blockade of its downstream effector eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E activity equally reduced FBP1/2 concentrations. The mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin diminishes FBP enrichment in liver tumors after hydrodynamic gene delivery of AKT plasmids. In addition, the multikinase inhibitor sorafenib significantly reduces FBP levels in HCC cells and in multidrug resistance 2‐deficient mice that develop HCC due to severe inflammation. Both FBP1/2 messenger RNAs are highly stable, with FBP2 being more stable than FBP1. Importantly, inhibition of phosphatidylinositol‐4,5‐biphosphate 3‐kinase/AKT/mTOR signaling significantly diminishes FBP1/2 protein stability in a caspase‐3/‐7‐dependent manner. Conclusion: These data provide insight into a transcription‐independent mechanism of FBP protein enrichment in liver cancer; further studies will have to show whether this previously unknown interaction between phosphatidylinositol‐4,5‐biphosphate 3‐kinase/AKT/mTOR pathway activity and caspase‐mediated FBP stabilization allows the establishment of interventional strategies in FBP‐positive HCCs. (Hepatology 2016;63:813–826)
Dietary Saturated Fat Promotes Development of Hepatic Inflammation Through Toll‐Like Receptor 4 in Mice
Authors: Sutter Alton G. , Palanisamy Arun P. , Lench Julie H. , Esckilsen Scott , Geng Tuoyu , Lewin David N.B. , Cowart Lauren A. , Chavin Kenneth D.
Published: November 2015

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is currently the third most common cause of end stage liver disease necessitating transplantation. The question remains how inflammation and NASH develop in the setting of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and steatosis. Understand the roles of toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) and dietary fats in the development of hepatic inflammation. Wild‐type and TLR4 KO mice were fed a standard high fat diet (LD), a high saturated fat diet (MD), or an isocaloric control diet (CD). Sera and tissue were analyzed for development of hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and injury. MD induced features of hepatic steatosis and inflammation in wild‐type, but not in TLR4 KO, mice. TLR4 KO prevented MD induced increases in NAFLD activity scores, serum alanine aminotransferase levels, and inflammatory cytokine expression. Inflammatory cell infiltration and cytokine expression were also lower in the TLR4 KO mice livers than wild‐type mice fed MD. Hepatic expression of Collagen I transcripts and collagen deposition were also decreased in the TLR4 KO MD animals. Results show that TLR4 plays a critical role in the effects of dietary fat composition on the development of hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and injury consistent with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. J. Cell. Biochem. 117: 1613–1621, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Removal of heavy metals and cyanide from gold mine waste‐water by adsorption and electric adsorption
Authors: Song Yonghui , Lei Siming , Zhou Jun , Tian Yuhong
Published: November 2015

BACKGROUND

Cyanide leaching is the most widely used technology in the gold industry and this process produces large amounts of waste‐water requiring treatment before returning to the environment. There are several established techniques available to treat such toxic waste but all have some disadvantages. This study considers the use of electrical adsorption treatment of a gold mine waste‐water containing cyanide, high copper, iron, and thiocyanate content, as well as the precipitating liquid without iron.

RESULTS

A cell fitted with carbon electrodes made from low grade coal was used in this study and using an applied voltage of 2.0 V, plate spacing of 1 cm, and adsorption time of 24 h, the electric adsorption process provided good results on the raw cyanide waste‐water, with observed percentage removal of total cyanide (71.14), zinc (99.52) and iron (83.28). The liquid waste, following precipitation of the raw solution with zinc sulfate, was also studied and after 5 h the percentage removals of cupric ion were 90.63, 71.49 and 90.63, respectively. Analysis showed that in the process of electric adsorption, the ions in solution interacted by directional migration, enrichment precipitation and adsorption processes.

CONCLUSIONS

Electrical adsorption provides a suitable process for the treatment of waste‐waters from the cyanide leaching of gold. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Biodegradation of chlorpyrifos by bacterial genus Pseudomonas
Authors: Gilani Razia Alam , Rafique Mazhar , Rehman Abdul , Munis Muhammad Farooq Hussain , Rehman Shafiq ur , Chaudhary Hassan Javed
Published: November 2015

Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphorus pesticide commonly used in agriculture. It is noxious to a variety of organisms that include living soil biota along with beneficial arthropods, fish, birds, humans, animals, and plants. Exposure to chlorpyrifos may cause detrimental effects as delayed seedling emergence, fruit deformities, and abnormal cell division. Contamination of chlorpyrifos has been found about 24 km from the site of its application. There are many physico‐chemical and biological approaches to remove organophosphorus pesticides from the ecosystem, among them most promising is biodegradation. The 3,5,6‐trichloro‐2‐pyridinol (TCP) and diethylthiophosphate (DETP) as primary products are made when chlorpyrifos is degraded by soil microorganisms which further break into nontoxic metabolites as CO2, H2O, and NH3. Pseudomonas is a diversified genus possessing a series of catabolic pathways and enzymes involved in pesticide degradation. Pseudomonas putida MAS‐1 is reported to be more efficient in chlorpyrifos degradation by a rate of 90% in 24 h among Pseudomonas genus. The current review analyzed the comparative potential of bacterial species in Pseudomonas genus for degradation of chlorpyrifos thus, expressing an ecofriendly approach for the treatment of environmental contaminants like pesticides.