bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of integrated district level mental health care on clinical and social outcomes of people with severe mental illness in rural Ethiopia: an intervention cohort study
Authors: Hanlon C. , Medhin G. , Selamu M. , Birhane R. , Dewey M. , Tirfessa K. , Garman E. , Asher L. , Thornicroft G. , Patel V. , Lund C. , Prince M. , Fekadu A.
Published: August 2019

Aim

There is limited evidence of the safety and impact of task-shared care for people with severe mental illnesses (SMI; psychotic disorders and bipolar disorder) in low-income countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and impact of a district-level plan for task-shared mental health care on 6 and 12-month clinical and social outcomes of people with SMI in rural southern Ethiopia.

Methods

In the Programme for Improving Mental health carE, we conducted an intervention cohort study. Trained primary healthcare (PHC) workers assessed community referrals, diagnosed SMI and initiated treatment, with independent research diagnostic assessments by psychiatric nurses. Primary outcomes were symptom severity and disability. Secondary outcomes included discrimination and restraint.

Results

Almost all (94.5%) PHC worker diagnoses of SMI were verified by psychiatric nurses. All prescribing was within recommended dose limits. A total of 245 (81.7%) people with SMI were re-assessed at 12 months. Minimally adequate treatment was received by 29.8%. All clinical and social outcomes improved significantly. The impact on disability (standardised mean difference 0.50; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.35–0.65) was greater than impact on symptom severity (standardised mean difference 0.28; 95% CI 0.13–0.44). Being restrained in the previous 12 months reduced from 25.3 to 10.6%, and discrimination scores reduced significantly.

Conclusions

An integrated district level mental health care plan employing task-sharing safely addressed the large treatment gap for people with SMI in a rural, low-income country setting. Randomised controlled trials of differing models of task-shared care for people with SMI are warranted.
Sustainable development: in space as on Earth?
Authors: Wallacher Johannes , Einsiedel Stefan , Gösele Andreas
Published: August 2019

Non-technical abstract

Although the concept of sustainable development is widely used as a guiding principle, there is much less consensus on its normative foundation and ethical implications. Since the 1880s, when social tensions threatened to tear apart European societies during the Industrial Revolution, Catholic social teaching (CST) has served as a sound basis for dialogue for many political leaders regardless of national or religious affiliation. This article examines how Pope Francis’ present-day CST might foster a cross-cultural debate on the ethics of economic growth, social and ecological justice and civil participation on Planet Earth as well as in outer space.
Girl Scouts Emphasize STEM Education
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: August 2019

With women still underrepresented in STEM fields, experts hope that new Girl Scout badges and other efforts will propel girls to study and enter science and related areas.
mTORC2 activation protects retinal ganglion cells via Akt signaling after autophagy induction in traumatic optic nerve injury
Authors: Wen Yao-Tseng , Zhang Jia-Rong , Kapupara Kishan , Tsai Rong-Kung
Published: August 2019

Traumatic optic neuropathy is an injury to the optic nerve that leads to vision loss. Autophagy is vital for cell survival and cell death in central nervous system injury, but the role of autophagy in traumatic optic nerve injury remains uncertain. Optic nerve crush is a robust model of traumatic optic nerve injury. p62 siRNA and rapamycin are autophagy inducers and have different neuroprotective effects in the central nervous system. In this study, p62 and rapamycin induced autophagy, but only p62 siRNA treatment provided a favorable protective effect in visual function and retinal ganglion cell (RGC) survival. Moreover, the number of macrophages at the optic nerve lesion site was lower in the p62-siRNA-treated group than in the other groups. p62 siRNA induced more M2 macrophage polarization than rapamycin did. Rapamycin inhibited both mTORC1 and mTORC2 activation, whereas p62 siRNA inhibited only mTORC1 activation and maintained mTORC2 and Akt activation. Inhibition of mTORC2-induced Akt activation resulted in blood–optic nerve barrier disruption. Combined treatment with rapamycin and the mTORC2 activator SC79 improved RGC survival. Overall, our findings suggest that mTORC2 activation after autophagy induction is necessary for the neuroprotection of RGCs in traumatic optic nerve injury and may lead to new clinical applications.
Role of TGFβ3-Smads-Sp1 axis in DcR3-mediated immune escape of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Zhu Hui-fang , Liu Yan-ping , Liu Ding-li , Ma Yi-dan , Hu Zhi-yan , Wang Xiao-yan , Gu Chuan-sha , Zhong Yan , Long Ting , Kan He-ping , Li Zu-guo
Published: August 2019

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of tumour-associated mortality worldwide, but no significant improvement in treating HCC has been reported with currently available systemic therapies. Immunotherapy represents a new frontier in tumour therapy. Therefore, the immunobiology of hepatocarcinoma has been under intensive investigation. Decoy receptor 3 (DcR3), a member of the tumour necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) superfamily, is an immune suppressor associated with tumourigenesis and cancer metastasis. However, little is known about the role of DcR3 in the immunobiology of hepatocarcinoma. In this study, we found that overexpression of DcR3 in HCC is mediated by the TGFβ3-Smad-Sp1 signalling pathway, which directly targets DcR3 promoter regions. Moreover, overexpression of DcR3 in HCC tissues is associated with tumour invasion and metastasis and significantly promotes the differentiation and secretion of Th2 and Treg cells while inhibiting the differentiation and secretion of Th1 cells. Conversely, knockdown of DcR3 expression in HCC significantly restored the immunity of CD4+ T cells. Inhibition of DcR3 expression may provide a novel immunotherapeutic approach to restoring immunity in HCC patients.
Sirtuin 3-mediated pyruvate dehydrogenase activity determines brown adipocytes phenotype under high-salt conditions
Authors: Wei Tong , Huang Gaojian , Liu Penghao , Gao Jing , Huang Chenglin , Sun Mengwei , Shen Weili
Published: August 2019

Previous study indicated that Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) is a central regulator of adaptive thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue (BAT). Here we investigate the role of SIRT3 in the modulation of cellular phenotype in BAT under high salt intake (HS). HS downregulated SIRT3 level in BAT, accompanied by decreased oxygen consumption rate, and caused a severe loss of BAT characteristics. Mechanically, SIRT3 interacted with pyruvate dehydrogenase E1α (PDHA1) and deacetylated Lys-83 both in vitro and in vivo under HS. In parallel, HS suppressed salt-induced kinase (Sik) 2 phosphorylation. Silencing Sik2 further diminished SIRT3 activity and enhanced acetylation of PDHA1 K83 level. Reconstruction of SIRT3 restored PDH activity and thermogenic markers expression in differentiated brown adipocytes from SIRT3 knockout (KO) mice. In addition, loss of SIRT3 induced selective remodelling of phospholipids and glycerolipids in BAT exposure to HS. These data indicate that SIRT3 is an essential enzymatic switch that controls brown adipose cell phenotype.
Characterization of TNF-induced cell death in Drosophila reveals caspase- and JNK-dependent necrosis and its role in tumor suppression
Authors: Li Mingli , Sun Shiyao , Priest Jessica , Bi Xiaolin , Fan Yun
Published: August 2019

Tumor-necrosis factor (TNF) and its superfamily members are pleiotropic cytokines. Activation of TNF can lead to distinct cellular outcomes including inflammation, cell survival, and different forms of cell death, such as apoptosis and necrosis in a context-dependent manner. However, our understanding of what determines the versatile functions of TNF is far from complete. Here, we examined the molecular mechanisms that distinguish the forms of cell death induced by Eiger (Egr), the sole homolog of TNF in Drosophila. We show that expression of Egr in the developing Drosophila eye simultaneously induces apoptosis and apoptosis-independent developmental defects indicated by cellular disorganization, both of which rely on the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling activity. Intriguingly, when effector caspases DrICE and Dcp-1 are defective or inhibited, expression of Egr triggers necrosis which is characterized by loss of cell membrane integrity, translucent cytoplasm, and aggregation of cellular organelles. Moreover, such Egr-induced necrosis depends on the catalytic activity of the initiator caspase Dronc and the input from JNK signaling but is independent of their roles in apoptosis. Further mosaic analysis with mutants of scribble (scrib), an evolutionarily conserved tumor suppressor gene regulating cell polarity, suggests that Egr/JNK-mediated apoptosis and necrosis establish a two-layered defense system to inhibit the oncogenic growth of scrib mutant cells. Together, we have identified caspase- and JNK-dependent mechanisms underlying Egr-induced apoptosis versus necrosis and their fail-safe roles in tumor suppression in an intact organism in vivo.
Mul1 restrains Parkin-mediated mitophagy in mature neurons by maintaining ER-mitochondrial contacts
Authors: Puri Rajat , Cheng Xiu-Tang , Lin Mei-Yao , Huang Ning , Sheng Zu-Hang
Published: August 2019

Chronic mitochondrial stress associates with major neurodegenerative diseases. Recovering stressed mitochondria constitutes a critical step of mitochondrial quality control and thus energy maintenance in early stages of neurodegeneration. Here, we reveal Mul1-Mfn2 pathway that maintains neuronal mitochondrial integrity under stress conditions. Mul1 deficiency increases Mfn2 activity that triggers the first phasic mitochondrial hyperfusion and also acts as an ER-Mito tethering antagonist. Reduced ER-Mito coupling leads to increased cytoplasmic Ca2+load that activates calcineurin and induces the second phasic Drp1-dependent mitochondrial fragmentation and mitophagy. Overexpressing Mfn2, but not Mfn1, mimics Mul1-deficient phenotypes, while expressing PTPIP51, an ER-Mito anchoring protein, suppresses Parkin-mediated mitophagy. Thus, by regulating mitochondrial morphology and ER-Mito contacts, Mul1-Mfn2 pathway plays an early checkpoint role in maintaining mitochondrial integrity. Our study provides new mechanistic insights into neuronal mitochondrial maintenance under stress conditions, which is relevant to several major neurodegenerative diseases associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and altered ER-Mito interplay.
Studying nucleic envelope and plasma membrane mechanics of eukaryotic cells using confocal reflectance interferometric microscopy
Authors: Singh Vijay Raj , Yang Yi An , Yu Hanry , Kamm Roger D. , Yaqoob Zahid , So Peter T. C.
Published: August 2019

Mechanical stress on eukaryotic nucleus has been implicated in a diverse range of diseases including muscular dystrophy and cancer metastasis. Today, there are very few non-perturbative methods to quantify nuclear mechanical properties. Interferometric microscopy, also known as quantitative phase microscopy (QPM), is a powerful tool for studying red blood cell biomechanics. The existing QPM tools, however, have not been utilized to study biomechanics of complex eukaryotic cells either due to lack of depth sectioning, limited phase measurement sensitivity, or both. Here, we present depth-resolved confocal reflectance interferometric microscopy as the next generation QPM to study nuclear and plasma membrane biomechanics. The proposed system features multiple confocal scanning foci, affording 1.5 micron depth-resolution and millisecond frame rate. Furthermore, a near common-path interferometer enables quantifying nanometer-scale membrane fluctuations with better than 200 picometers sensitivity. Our results present accurate quantification of nucleic envelope and plasma membrane fluctuations in embryonic stem cells.
DRAMP 2.0, an updated data repository of antimicrobial peptides
Authors: Kang Xinyue , Dong Fanyi , Shi Cheng , Liu Shicai , Sun Jian , Chen Jiaxin , Li Haiqi , Xu Hanmei , Lao Xingzhen , Zheng Heng
Published: August 2019

Data Repository of Antimicrobial Peptides (DRAMP, http://dramp.cpu-bioinfor.org/) is an open-access comprehensive database containing general, patent and clinical antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Currently DRAMP has been updated to version 2.0, it contains a total of 19,899 entries (newly added 2,550 entries), including 5,084 general entries, 14,739 patent entries, and 76 clinical entries. The update covers new entries, structures, annotations, classifications and downloads. Compared with APD and CAMP, DRAMP contains 14,040 (70.56% in DRAMP) non-overlapping sequences. In order to facilitate users to trace original references, PubMed_ID of references have been contained in activity information. The data of DRAMP can be downloaded by dataset and activity, and the website source code is also available on dedicatedly designed download webpage. Although thousands of AMPs have been reported, only a few parts have entered clinical stage. In the paper, we described several AMPs in clinical trials, including their properties, indications and clinicaltrials.gov identifiers. Finally, we provide the applications of DRAMP in the development of AMPs.
Electrochemical Determination of Dexamethasone by Graphene Modified Electrode: Experimental and Theoretical Investigations
Authors: Alimohammadi Somayeh , Kiani Mohammad Ali , Imani Mohammad , Rafii-Tabar Hashem , Sasanpour Pezhman
Published: August 2019

We report on a combined experimental and theoretical study concerning the electrochemical behavior of the dexamethasone (DEX) on a graphene modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). A good agreement between experiments and density functional theory (DFT)-based calculations is observed for the DEX reduction. The electrochemical behavior of the DEX was investigated on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with different type of graphenes, including graphene quantum dot (GQD), graphene oxide (GO), electrochemically synthesized graphene (EG), graphene synthesized by the Hummer method (HG) and graphene nanoplate (GNP) using voltammetric techniques (CV, DPV and SWV). The results exhibited a significant increase in the reduction of the peak current of the DEX in  the GNP modified GCE (GNP/GCE) in comparison to other modified electrodes and bare GCE. The unique morphology, size and electro catalytic properties of the GNP cause a sensitive response of the DEX in a novel sensor. Under the optimized experimental condition, the GNP/ GCE showed two linear dynamic ranges of 0.1–50 μM and 50–5000 μM with a low detection limit of 15 nM for determination of the DEX. The novel sensor is successfully applied to the sensitive determination of the DEX in human plasma samples with satisfactory recoveries. Energy of the LUMO and HUMO orbitals and energy calculations for the DEX molecule interacting with graphene were performed using the density functional B3LYP/6–31G. The theoretical results allied to significant charge transfer took place due to the interaction of the DEX with the applied graphene.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Mass–Energy Equivalence Extension onto a Superfluid Quantum Vacuum
Authors: Šorli Amrit Srečko
Published: August 2019

In contemporary physics, the model of space–time as the fundamental arena of the universe is replaced by some authors with the superfluid quantum vacuum. In a vacuum, time is not a fourth dimension of space, it is merely the duration of the physical changes, i.e. motion in a vacuum. Mass–energy equivalence has its origin in the variable density of the vacuum. Inertial mass and gravitational mass are equal and both originate in the vacuum fluctuations from intergalactic space towards stellar objects.
Oscillometry in Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease: In vitro and in vivo evaluation of the impulse oscillometry and tremoflo devices
Authors: Lundblad Lennart K. A. , Miletic Ruzica , Piitulainen Eeva , Wollmer Per
Published: August 2019

Impedance, or oscillometry, measurements of the respiratory system can generate information about the function of the respiratory system not possible with traditional spirometry. There are currently several instruments on the market using different perturbations. We have compared a new respiratory oscillometry instrument, the tremoflo, with Impulse Oscillometry (IOS). Patients with a physician’s diagnosis of chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) and healthy subjects were recruited. They underwent assessment of respiratory function with oscillometry using the IOS and tremoflo devices and the resulting impedance data from the two methods were compared. The two devices were also tested against a reference respiratory phantom with variable resistances. Whereas both devices detected impairments in the patients’ lung function commensurate with small airways pathology, the tremoflo appeared to be more sensitive than the IOS. We found systematic differences between the two instruments especially for reactance measurements where the area over the reactance curve (AX) was significantly lower with the IOS compared with the tremoflo (p < 0.001). Moreover, the agreement between the two devices was reduced with increasing severity of the disease as determined with a Bland-Altman test. Testing both instruments against a respiratory phantom unit confirmed that the resistance measured by the tremoflo compares closely with the known resistance of test loads, whereas the IOS’ resistance correlated with a test load of 0.19, kPa.s.L−1 at higher loads it deviated significantly from the known resistance (p < 0.0028). We conclude that the absolute values measured with the two devices may not be directly comparable and suggest that differences in the calibration procedures might account for the differences.
UV random laser emission from flexible ZnO-Ag-enriched electrospun cellulose acetate fiber matrix
Authors: da Silva-Neto Manoel L. , de Oliveira Mário C. A. , Dominguez Christian T. , Lins Raquel E. M. , Rakov Nikifor , de Araújo Cid B. , Menezes Leonardo de Souza , de Oliveira Helinando P. , Gomes Anderson S. L.
Published: August 2019

We report an alternative random laser (RL) architecture based on a flexible and ZnO-enriched cellulose acetate (CA) fiber matrix prepared by electrospinning. The electrospun fibers, mechanically reinforced by polyethylene oxide and impregnated with zinc oxide powder, were applied as an adsorbent surface to incorporate plasmonic centers (silver nanoprisms). The resulting structures – prepared in the absence (CA-ZnO) and in the presence of silver nanoparticles (CA-ZnO-Ag) - were developed to support light excitation, guiding and scattering prototypes of a RL. Both materials were excited by a pulsed (5 Hz, 5 ns) source at 355 nm and their fluorescence emission monitored at 387 nm. The results suggest that the addition of silver nanoprisms to the ZnO- enriched fiber matrix allows large improvement of the RL performance due to the plasmon resonance of the silver nanoprisms, with ~80% reduction in threshold energy. Besides the intensity and spectral analysis, the RL characterization included its spectral and intensity angular dependences. Bending the flexible RL did not affect the spectral characteristics of the device. No degradation was observed in the random laser emission for more than 10,000 shots of the pump laser.
Cerumenogram: a new frontier in cancer diagnosis in humans
Authors: Barbosa João Marcos Gonçalves , Pereira Naiara Zedes , David Lurian Caetano , de Oliveira Camilla Gabriela , Soares Marina Ferraz Gontijo , Avelino Melissa Ameloti Gomes , de Oliveira Anselmo Elcana , Shokry Engy , Filho Nelson Roberto Antoniosi
Published: August 2019

Cancer is the deadliest human disease and the development of new diagnosis methods is important to increase the chances of a cure. In this work it was developed a new method, named here for the first time as cerumenogram, using cerumen (earwax) as a new biomatrix for diagnosis. Earwax samples collected from cancer patients (cancer group) and cancer-free patients (control group) were analyzed by Headspace/Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (HS/GC-MS), following with multivariate analysis steps to process the raw data generated. In total, 158 volatile organic metabolites (VOMs) were identified in the cerumen samples. The 27 selected as potential VOMs biomarkers for cancer provided 100% discrimination between the cancer and control groups. This new test can thus be routinely employed for cancer diagnoses that is non-invasive, fast, cheap, and highly accurate.
Allelic Imbalance of Recurrently Mutated Genes in Acute Myeloid Leukaemia
Authors: Batcha Aarif M. N. , Bamopoulos Stefanos A. , Kerbs Paul , Kumar Ashwini , Jurinovic Vindi , Rothenberg-Thurley Maja , Ksienzyk Bianka , Philippou-Massier Julia , Krebs Stefan , Blum Helmut , Schneider Stephanie , Konstandin Nikola , Bohlander Stefan K. , Heckman Caroline , Kontro Mika , Hiddemann Wolfgang , Spiekermann Karsten , Braess Jan , Metzeler Klaus H. , Greif Philipp A. , Mansmann Ulrich , Herold Tobias
Published: August 2019

The patho-mechanism of somatic driver mutations in cancer usually involves transcription, but the proportion of mutations and wild-type alleles transcribed from DNA to RNA is largely unknown. We systematically compared the variant allele frequencies of recurrently mutated genes in DNA and RNA sequencing data of 246 acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) patients. We observed that 95% of all detected variants were transcribed while the rest were not detectable in RNA sequencing with a minimum read-depth cut-off (10x). Our analysis focusing on 11 genes harbouring recurring mutations demonstrated allelic imbalance (AI) in most patients.GATA2,RUNX1,TET2,SRSF2,IDH2,PTPN11,WT1,NPM1andCEBPAshowed significant AIs. While the effect size was small in general,GATA2exhibited the largest allelic imbalance. By pooling heterogeneous data from three independent AML cohorts with paired DNA and RNA sequencing (N = 253), we could validate the preferential transcription ofGATA2-mutated alleles. Differential expression analysis of the genes with significant AI showed no significant differential gene and isoform expression for the mutated genes, between mutated and wild-type patients. In conclusion, our analyses identified AI in nine out of eleven recurrently mutated genes. AI might be a common phenomenon in AML which potentially contributes to leukaemogenesis.
Correlation of periodontal and microbiological evaluations, with serum levels of estradiol and progesterone, during different trimesters of gestation
Authors: Massoni Renata Santos de Souza , Aranha Andreza Maria Fábio , Matos Fernanda Zanol , Guedes Orlando Aguirre , Borges Álvaro Henrique , Miotto Monize , Porto Alessandra Nogueira
Published: August 2019

Our purpouse was to identify quantitatively and qualitatively the subgingival flora in different gestational trimesters, compared to non-pregnant women; evaluating the correlations between epidemiological characteristics, clinical diagnosis, microbiological findings and levels of estradiol and progesterone. 52 pregnant women divided into 3 groups, according to the gestational trimester and 15 non-pregnant patients, without hormonal contraceptives, were evaluated. Plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) were evaluated. Subgingival biofilm samples were processed by the qPCR technique and the serum levels of estradiol and progesterone quantified by chemiluminescence. Clinical diagnosis during gestation was correlated with the total bacterial count. A higher prevalence of Tannerella forsythia (Tf) was identified in first trimester of pregnancy and this periodontopathogen was correlated with the diagnosis of gingivitis among pregnant women. Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) showed a positive correlation with progesterone levels in the first trimester. High prevalence of periodontopathogens was noticed in this population. Clinical diagnosis in gestation was positively correlated with the total amount of bacteria, without influence of the hormonal levels or the epidemiological factors evaluated. The presence of Tf favored occurrence of gingivitis during pregnancy and the progesterone levels in the first trimester enhanced the growth of Pg.
Risk factors and clinical features for post-transplant thoracic air-leak syndrome in adult patients receiving allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Liu Yao-Chung , Chou Yi-Hsin , Ko Po-Shen , Wang Hao-Yuan , Fan Nai-Wen , Liu Chia-Jen , Hsiao Liang-Tsai , Chien Sheng-Hsuan , Chiou Tzeon-Jye , Liu Jin-Hwang , Gau Jyh-Pyng
Published: August 2019

Post-transplant thoracic air-leak syndrome (ALS) is rare but potentially life-threatening in patients receiving allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Nevertheless, papers on thoracic ALS are limited, and this complication remains largely unknown. We reviewed 423 adult patients undergoing allogeneic HSCT from 2003 to 2014. Risk factors, clinical features and survival for thoracic ALS were collected and analysed. Thirteen out of 423 patients (3.1%) developed post-transplant thoracic ALS, including two ALS patients in the early phase. The median age at HSCT was 33 years among 13 patients with thoracic ALS. Male patients were predominant (69%). The median onset time was 253 days (range: 40–2680) after HSCT. Multivariate analysis revealed that grade III–IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) (p = 0.017), extensive chronic GVHD (cGVHD) (p = 0.019) and prior history of pulmonary invasive fungal infection (p = 0.007) were significant risk factors for thoracic ALS. In patients with cGVHD, those with thoracic ALS had a significantly worse survival than those without thoracic ALS (p = 0.04). Currently, published data analysing and exploring post-transplant thoracic ALS are limited. Our study employed a large patient cohort and determined the risk factors and clinical features for post-transplant thoracic ALS.
Impact of maternal characteristics on human milk oligosaccharide composition over the first 4 months of lactation in a cohort of healthy European mothers
Authors: Samuel Tinu Mary , Binia Aristea , de Castro Carlos Antonio , Thakkar Sagar K. , Billeaud Claude , Agosti Massimo , Al-Jashi Isam , Costeira Maria Jose , Marchini Giovanna , Martínez-Costa Cecilia , Picaud Jean-Charles , Stiris Tom , Stoicescu Silvia-Maria , Vanpeé Mireille , Domellöf Magnus , Austin Sean , Sprenger Norbert
Published: August 2019

Human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) composition varies among lactating mothers and changes during the course of lactation period. Interindividual variation is largely driven by fucosyltransferase (FUT2 and FUT3) polymorphisms resulting in 4 distinct milk groups. Little is known regarding whether maternal physiological status contributes to HMO variability. We characterized the trajectories of 20 major HMOs and explored whether maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (ppBMI), mode of delivery, or parity may affect milk HMO composition. Using longitudinal breastmilk samples from healthy mothers (n = 290) across 7 European countries, we characterized HMO composion and employed mixed linear models to explore associations of maternal characteristics with individual HMOs. We observed HMO-specific temporal trajectories and milk group dependencies. We observed relatively small but significant differences in HMO concentrations based on maternal ppBMI, mode of delivery and parity. Our findings suggest that HMO composition to be regulated time-dependently by an enzyme as well as substrate availability and that ppBMI, mode of delivery, and parity may influence maternal physiology to affect glycosylation marginally within the initital period of lactation. Our observational study is the largest European standardized and longitudinal (up to 4 months) milk collection study assessing HMO concentrations and basic maternal characteristics. Time of lactation and milk groups had the biggest impact on HMO variation. Future studies need to elucidate these observations and assess the physiological significance for the breastfed infant.
Forensic Sampling and Sample Preparation
Authors: Kabir Abuzar , Furton Kenneth G.
Published: August 2019

Sample preparation is considered as the most significant, time-consuming, tedious, error-prone and yet inevitable step in forensic chemical analysis workflow. Trace and ultra-trace level concentration of the analyte(s) of interest, the presence of a wide variety of matrix interferents and the limited availability of the forensic sample often pose formidable challenges to forensic analytical chemists. Due to the phenomenal improvement of analytical instruments in recent years in terms of sensitivity, ruggedness, portability and automation, dependence on chemical evidence in forensic investigations is on a continuous rise with robust demand for simple, fast and sensitive sample preparation techniques capable of preparing the sample with minimal effort and cost. Due to the wide variety of forensic samples and the availability of a large number of existing and emerging analytical instruments for their analysis, it is impractical to standardize forensic sample preparation process. Based on the type, nature and the origin of the forensic samples, different sample preparation techniques have emerged over the last couple of decades. The current chapter classifies forensic samples into different classes such as trace evidence, environmental pollutants, gunshot residues, etc. and briefly discusses about the current best practices in sample preparation for each class of the forensic sample. Due to space limitations, only the most important sample preparation techniques have been highlighted. For comprehensive information, the readers are encouraged to consult with the review articles cited in each section.
Point-of-need and Portable Miniaturized Devices for Forensic Chemical Sensing
Authors: de Araujo William Reis
Published: August 2019

This book chapter briefly describes the relevance and main contribution of portable and miniaturized methods for forensic scenario, highlighting various types of detectors and platforms commonly used. From traditional equipment employed for the identification of (bio)chemical trace evidence such as mass, Raman, and NIR spectrometers, whose instrumental advances enabled their miniaturization and portability; to conventionally portable and low-cost devices such as colorimetric, electrochemical, microchip and paper-based analytical devices. A wide range of forensic applications is presented, critically discussed and some remarkable considerations for future studies are pointed out.
Infrared attenuated total reflection and 2D fluorescence spectroscopy for the discrimination of differently aggregated monoclonal antibodies
Authors: Handl Alina , López-Lorente Ángela I. , Handrick René , Mizaikoff Boris , Hesse Friedemann
Published: August 2019

Antibody aggregates may occur as undesirable by-products during manufacturing of biopharmaceutical proteins since parameters such as pH, temperature, ionic strength, protein concentration, oxygen, and shear forces can lead to aggregate formation.
An antifouling interface integrated with HRP-based amplification to achieve a highly sensitive electrochemical aptasensor for lysozyme detection
Authors: Liu Zimeng , Wang Haiyan
Published: August 2019

We report here a highly sensitive sandwich type electrochemical aptasensor for lysozyme (lys) detection by the integration of an antifouling interface with HRP-based signal amplification.
Scalable calibration transfer without standardsviadynamic time warping for near-infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Zou Congming , Zhu Huimin , Shen Junru , He Yue , Su Jiaen , Fan Xiaqiong , Lu Hongmei , Zhang Zhimin , Chen Yi
Published: August 2019

A standard-free calibration transfer method has been developed for NIR spectroscopy based on variable penalty dynamic time warping.
Development and prospects of microfluidic platforms for sperm inspection
Authors: Zhou Zhihao , Kang Yuejun , Xu Zhigang , Xue Peng
Published: August 2019

This review systematically summarizes the most prevalently used analytical strategies based on microfluidics towards sperm inspection in recent years.
Heteroleptic diphosphenes and arsaphosphenes bearing neutral and anionic N-heterocyclic carbenes
Authors: Ho Luong Phong , Zaretzke Marc-Kevin , Bannenberg Thomas , Tamm Matthias
Published: August 2019

A modular approach afforded heteroleptic arsaphosphene species supported by neutral and anionic N-heterocyclic carbenes.
Experimental and first-principles DFT studies on the band gap behaviours of microsized and nanosized Zn(1−x)MnxO materials
Authors: Kasim Muhd Firdaus , Darman Ahmad Khairul Azfar bin , Yaakob Muhamad Kamil , Badar Nurhanna , Kamarulzaman Norlida
Published: August 2019

Combining the quantitative analysis of XRD, UV-vis, XPS and DFT can reveal the reason behind band gap changes for the nano and micron dimension of doped ZnO materials.
Membrane softening by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs investigated by neutron spin echo
Authors: Sharma V. K. , Nagao M. , Rai D. K. , Mamontov E.
Published: August 2019

Incorporation of drugs makes membranes softer, and the magnitude of the effect depends on the drug and the phase of the membrane.
Dietary methionine restriction improves the gut microbiota and reduces intestinal permeability and inflammation in high-fat-fed mice
Authors: Yang Yuhui , Zhang Yuanhong , Xu Yuncong , Luo Tingyu , Ge Yueting , Jiang Yuge , Shi Yonghui , Sun Jin , Le Guowei
Published: August 2019

Dietary methionine restriction improved the intestinal microbiota composition, barrier function, oxidative stress, and inflammation in high-fat-fed mice.
The gastrointestinal fate of limonin and its effect on gut microbiota in mice
Authors: Gu Min , Sun Jin , Qi Ce , Cai Xiaokun , Goulette Timothy , Song Mingyue , You Xiaomeng , Sela David A. , Xiao Hang
Published: August 2019

After oral administration, the abundance of limonin was measured in GI tract and its impact on gut microbiota was determined.
Lactobacillus caseiLC2W can inhibit the colonization ofEscherichia coliO157:H7in vivoand reduce the severity of colitis
Authors: Wang Guangqiang , Zhang Ying , Song Xin , Xia Yongjun , Lai Phoency F.-H. , Ai Lianzhong
Published: August 2019

L. caseiLC2W can inhibit the colonization of O157:H7 in mice and its prevention effect is stronger than the treatment effect.
γ-[Glu]n-Trp ameliorates anxiety/depression-like behaviors and its anti-inflammatory effect in an animal model of anxiety/depression
Authors: Zhu Xiping , Tao Qian , Sun-Waterhouse Dongxiao , Li Wenzhi , Liu Shuo , Cui Chun
Published: August 2019

Effects of EW and WPH (high ratio of Trp/5LNAAs) on behavioral, inflammatory and Trp metabolism in anxiety/depression model mice.
Synthesis of spiro[2,3-dihydrofuran-3,3′-oxindole] derivatives via a multi-component cascade reaction of α-diazo esters, water, isatins and malononitrile/ethyl cyanoacetate
Authors: Shi Taoda , Teng Shenghan , Wei Yajie , Guo Xin , Hu Wenhao
Published: August 2019

We report a green synthesis of spiro[2,3-dihydrofuran-3,3′-oxindole] derivatives which are of potential value in medicinal chemistry.
Sustainable recycling of intact carbon fibres from end-of-service-life composites
Authors: Chen Pi-yu , Pei Chun , Zhu Ji-Hua , Su Meini , Xing Feng
Published: August 2019

We demonstrate a sustainable recycling method to reclaim intact carbon fibres from end-of-service-life cement-based composites.
Post-PKS enzyme complexes
Authors: Gober Redding , Wheeler Ryan , Rohr Jürgen
Published: August 2019

This review highlights the protein–protein interactions between type II post-PKS tailoring enzymes with an emphasis on gilvocarcin and mithramycin.
Synthesis, structure and metal ion coordination of novel benzodiazamacrocyclic ligands bearing pyridyl and picolinate pendant side-arms
Authors: Panchenko Pavel A. , Zubenko Anastasia D. , Chernikova Ekaterina Y. , Fedorov Yuri V. , Pashanova Anna V. , Karnoukhova Valentina A. , Fedyanin Ivan V. , Fedorova Olga A.
Published: August 2019

Complex formation of benzodiazacrown ethers with heavy and transition metal ions was studied using NMR spectroscopy, potentiometry and X-ray crystallography.
HZIF-based hybrids for electrochemical energy applications
Authors: Li Yang , Wu Xin , Zhang Huabin , Zhang Jian
Published: August 2019

Hybrid zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (HZIFs) possess the characteristics of both ZIFs and inorganic zeolites, attracting tremendous attention for their potential applications in electrochemical energy storage and conversion.
Regioselective radical arylation: silver-mediated synthesis of 3-phosphorylated coumarins, quinolin-2(1H)-one and benzophosphole oxides
Authors: Hou Hong , Xu Yue , Yang Haibo , Yan Chaoguo , Shi Yaocheng , Zhu Shaoqun
Published: August 2019

A silver-mediated domino radical addition/cyclization reaction of diaryl- or dialkyl-phosphine oxides with propynoic acid derivatives delivering 3-phosphorylated coumarins, quinolin-2(1H)-one and benzophosphole oxides is presented.
Amino-BODIPY as the ratiometric fluorescent sensor for monitoring drug release or “power supply” selector for molecular electronics
Authors: Porubský Martin , Gurská Soňa , Stanková Jarmila , Hajdúch Marián , Džubák Petr , Hlaváč Jan
Published: August 2019

Amino-BODIPY as the universal and highly fluorescent OFF–ON and ratiometric sensor for thiol-mediated drug release monitoring.
Electricity generation, salinity, COD removal and anodic biofilm microbial community vary with different anode CODs in a microbial desalination cell for high-salinity mustard tuber wastewater treatment
Authors: Liu Zhe , Xiang Ping , Duan Zhuang , Fu Zhaohui , Zhang Linfang , Zhang Zhi
Published: August 2019

A three-chamber microbial desalination cell (MDC) was constructed for high-salinity mustard tuber wastewater (MTWW) treatment.
Competitive adsorption phenomenon in shale gas displacement processes
Authors: Shi Jihong , Gong Liang , Sun Shuyu , Huang Zhaoqin , Ding Bin , Yao Jun
Published: August 2019

Displacement of methane (CH4) by injection gas is regarded as an effective way to exploit shale gas and sequestrate carbon dioxide (CO2) simultaneously.
Multi-functionalised graphene nanoflakes as tumour-targeting theranostic drug-delivery vehicles
Authors: Lamb Jennifer , Fischer Eliane , Rosillo-Lopez Martin , Salzmann Christoph G. , Holland Jason P.
Published: August 2019

Graphene nanoflakes with pristine aromatic surfaces and polycarboxylated edges have been modified with up to four components for potential use as targeted cancer imaging and therapeutic (theranostic) agents.
Modulation of thermodynamic and kinetic inverted phase behavior of block copolymers by inorganic polyoxometalates
Authors: Tan Junyan , Liu Zhiyao , Wang Rong , Zhou Yue , Xie Siyu , Li Baohui , Wan Xinhua , Zhang Jie
Published: August 2019

The Keggin polyoxometalates (POM) H3PW12O40 (PW) electrostatically complexed with poly(styrene-block-2-vinyl pyridine) (PS-b-P2VP) in DMF, and ordered microphase separation occurred through solvent evaporation.
Cation-tunable flower-like (NixFe1−x)2P@graphitized carbon films as ultra-stable electrocatalysts for overall water splitting in alkaline media
Authors: Zhao Hongyang , Wang Yanwei , Fang Ling , Fu Weiwei , Yang Xiaohui , You Shili , Luo Ping , Zhang Huijuan , Wang Yu
Published: August 2019

Electrocatalytic water splitting is a promising strategy for green and renewable energy development by transforming electrical energy into hydrogen energy.
MicroRNA-302c enhances the chemosensitivity of human glioma cells to temozolomide by suppressing P-gp expression
Authors: Wu YiHan , Yao Yuan , Yun YongLi , Wang MeiLing , Zhu RunXiu
Published: August 2019

Increasing evidence indicates that microRNAs (miRNAs) participate in the regulation of chemoresistance in a variety of cancers including glioma. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the development of chemoresistance in glioma is not well understood. The aim of the present study was to explore the role of miRNAs in the chemosensitivity of glioma cells and the underlying mechanism. By microarray and qRT-PCR, we observed significant down-regulation of microRNA-302c (miR-302c) in the temozolomide (TMZ)-resistant human glioma tissues/cells. The low expression of miR-302c was closely associated with poor prognosis and chemotherapy resistant in patients. miR-302c up-regulation re-sensitized U251MG-TMZ cells and LN229-TMZ cells to TMZ treatment, as evidenced by inhibition of the cell viability, cell migration, and invasion capacity, and promotion of the apoptosis after TMZ treatment. Furthermore, P-glycoprotein (P-gp) was identified as a functional target of miR-302c and this was validated using a luciferase reporter assay. In addition, P-gp was found to be highly expressed in U251MG-TMZ cells and there was an inverse correlation between P-gp and miR-302c expression levels in clinical glioma specimens. Most importantly, we further confirmed that overexpression of P-gp reversed the enhanced TMZ-sensitivity induced by miR-302c overexpression in U251MG-TMZ and LN229-TMZ cells. Our finding showed that up-regulation of miR-302c enhanced TMZ-sensitivity by targeting P-gp in TMZ-resistant human glioma cells, which suggests that miR-302c would be potential therapeutic targets for chemotherapy-resistant glioma patients.
miR-497-5p inhibits gastric cancer cell proliferation and growth through targeting PDK3
Authors: Feng Lan , Cheng Kai , Zang Rongjia , Wang Qingdong , Wang Jianjie
Published: August 2019

MicroRNA plays an important role in gastric cancer (GC) development, while the function of miR-497-5p in this disease remains unknown. In the present study, we demonstrated miR-497-5p as a tumor suppressive microRNA in GC. miR-497-5p was down-regulated in GC tissues and its expression was associated with the disease stage. Inhibition of miR-497-5p promoted GC cell proliferation and growth. By contrast, miR-497-5p ectopic expression suppressed the proliferation and growth of GC cells. In addition, miR-497-5p inhibited DNA synthesis and enhanced apoptosis in GC cells. The cell cycle progression was suppressed by miR-497-5p. Mechanistically, miR-497-5p directly targeted and suppressed the expression of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 3 (PDK3), which is highly expressed in GC tissues. Over-expression of PDK3 promoted the proliferation of GC cells. Our study revealed that miR-497-5p inhibited GC cell proliferation and growth via targeting PDK3.
Effect of nucleation on icy pebble growth in protoplanetary discs
Authors: Ros Katrin , Johansen Anders , Riipinen Ilona , Schlesinger Daniel
Published: August 2019

Solid particles in protoplanetary discs can grow by direct vapour deposition outside of ice lines. The presence of microscopic silicate particles may nevertheless hinder growth into large pebbles, since the available vapour is deposited predominantly on the small grains that dominate the total surface area. Experiments on heterogeneous ice nucleation, performed to understand ice clouds in the Martian atmosphere, show that the formation of a new ice layer on a silicate surface requires a substantially higher water vapour pressure than the deposition of water vapour on an existing ice surface. In this paper, we investigate how the difference in partial vapour pressure needed for deposition of vapour on water ice versus heterogeneous ice nucleation on silicate grains influences particle growth close to the water ice line. We developed and tested a dynamical 1D deposition and sublimation model, where we include radial drift, sedimentation, and diffusion in a turbulent protoplanetary disc. We find that vapour is deposited predominantly on already ice-covered particles, since the vapour pressure exterior of the ice line is too low for heterogeneous nucleation on bare silicate grains. Icy particles can thus grow to centimetre-sized pebbles in a narrow region around the ice line, whereas silicate particles stay dust-sized and diffuse out over the disc. The inhibition of heterogeneous ice nucleation results in a preferential region for growth into planetesimals close to the ice line where we find large icy pebbles. The suppression of heterogeneous ice nucleation on silicate grains may also be the mechanism behind some of the observed dark rings around ice lines in protoplanetary discs, as the presence of large ice pebbles outside ice lines leads to a decrease in the opacity there.
The tilt of the velocity ellipsoid in the Milky Way with Gaia DR2
Authors: Hagen J. H. J. , Helmi A. , de Zeeuw P. T. , Posti L.
Published: August 2019

The velocity distribution of stars is a sensitive probe of the gravitational potential of the Galaxy, and hence of its dark matter distribution. In particular, the shape of the dark halo (e.g. spherical, oblate, or prolate) determines velocity correlations, and different halo geometries are expected to result in measurable differences. Here we explore and interpret the correlations in the (vR, vz)-velocity distribution as a function of position in the Milky Way. We selected a high-quality sample of stars from the Gaia DR2 catalogue and characterised the orientation of the velocity distribution or tilt angle over a radial distance range of [4 − 13] kpc and up to 3.5 kpc away from the Galactic plane while taking into account the effects of the measurement errors. We find that the tilt angles change from spherical alignment in the inner Galaxy (R ∼ 4 kpc) towards more cylindrical alignments in the outer Galaxy (R ∼ 11 kpc) when using distances that take a global zero-point offset in the parallax of −29 μas. However, if the amplitude of this offset is underestimated, then the inferred tilt angles in the outer Galaxy only appear shallower and are intrinsically more consistent with spherical alignment for an offset as large as −54 μas. We further find that the tilt angles do not seem to strongly vary with Galactic azimuth and that different stellar populations depict similar tilt angles. Therefore we introduce a simple analytic function that describes the trends found over the full radial range. Since the systematic parallax errors in Gaia DR2 depend on celestial position, magnitude, and colour in complex ways, it is not possible to fully correct for them. Therefore it will be particularly important for dynamical modelling of the Milky Way to thoroughly characterise the systematics in astrometry in future Gaia data releases.
Rotational spectroscopy of methyl mercaptan CH332SH at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths
Authors: Zakharenko Olena , Ilyushin Vadim V. , Lewen Frank , Müller Holger S. P. , Schlemmer Stephan , Alekseev Eugene A. , Pogrebnyak Mykola L. , Armieieva Iuliia A. , Dorovskaya Olha , Xu Li-Hong , Lees Ronald M.
Published: August 2019

We present a new global study of the millimeter (mm) wave, submillimeter (sub-mm) wave, and terahertz (THz) spectra of the lowest three torsional states of methyl mercaptan (CH3SH). New measurements have been carried out between 50 and 510 GHz using the Kharkiv mm wave and the Cologne sub-mm wave spectrometers whereas THz spectra records were used from our previous study. The new data, involving torsion–rotation transitions with J up to 61 and Ka up to 18, were combined with previously published measurements and fit using the rho-axis-method torsion–rotation Hamiltonian. The final fit used 124 parameters to give an overall weighted root-mean-square deviation of 0.72 for the dataset consisting of 6965 microwave (MW) and 16 345 far-infrared line frequencies sampling transitions within and between the ground, first, and second excited torsional states. This investigation presents a two-fold expansion in the J quantum numbers and a significant improvement in the fit quality, especially for the MW part of the data, thus allowing us to provide more reliable predictions to support astronomical observations.