bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Informed Consent Form Challenges for Genetic Research in a Developing Arab Country with High Risk for Genetic Disease
Authors: Nair Satish Chandrasekhar , Ibrahim Halah
Published: September 2014

The prevalence of genetic disease is high in the Middle East, particularly in the United Arab Emirates. Our study assesses the information provided in, and the readability ease of, informed consent forms (ICF) for genetic research studies. A multicenter retrospective cross‐sectional review of 54 ICFs was conducted to assess compliance by comparing them with standard good clinical practice guidelines for developing consent forms. Readability of the forms was determined using the Flesch‐Kincaid scale. Overall Good Clinical Practice compliance for the ICFs averaged at 63 %. Information regarding privacy, confidentiality, specimen collection and storage were absent from the majority of the ICFs. Readability ease score was low (36.7 ± 4.6) and required college‐level (11.8 ± 1.4) reading skills to understand the information. Our study highlights the need to improve the readability and information contained in the ICFs for genetic research studies in our setting. Our findings may be generalized to similar cultures in the Middle East and Asia.
Phenolization and Coralline Hydroxyapatite Grafting following Meticulous Curettage for the Treatment of Enchondroma of the Hand. A Case Series of 82 Patients with 5-year Follow-up
Authors: Georgiannos Dimitrios , Lampridis Vasilios , Bisbinas Ilias
Published: September 2014

Background

Enchondromas are benign cartilaginous tumours. The most common location is in the long bones of the hand. Treatment methods fall into a broad spectrum ranging from conservative, medical therapies, to a variety of surgical procedures, which may or may not employ the use of local adjuvant treatment or bone grafting. The purpose of this study was to report our experience and evaluate the long-term results of patients with enchondroma of the hand, treated in our department with meticulous curettage, phenolization and coralline hydroxyapatite grafting.

Methods

We present 82 patients with hand enchondromas treated surgically in our department during the last 10 years. The patients were treated operatively with meticulous curettage of the bone lesion, with use of phenol 5 % as local adjuvant and coralline hydroxyapatite bone graft to fill in the remaining cavity.

Results

At a minimum of 5-year follow-up, radiographs and clinical examination showed adequate bone formation at the site of enchondroma excavation and no evidence of recurrence, fracture, infection or other complication related to the procedure.

Conclusion

We concluded that the combination of meticulous curettage of the lesion, with the use of phenol as local adjuvant and coralline hydroxyapatite graft is a safe technique that prevents recurrence and allows adequate and uncomplicated local new bone formation.
Analysis of adult 20-year survivors after liver transplantation
Authors: Dopazo C. , Bilbao I. , Castells L. L. , Sapisochin G. , Moreiras C. , Campos-Varela I. , Echeverri J. , Caralt M. , Lázaro J. L. , Charco R.
Published: September 2014

Background

Liver transplantation (LT) is the treatment of choice for chronic and acute liver failure; however, the status of long-term survivors and allograft function is not well known.

Aim

To evaluate the clinical outcome and allograft function of survivors 20 years post-LT, cause of death during the same period and risk factors of mortality.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted from prospective, longitudinal data collected at a single center of adult LT recipients surviving 20 years. A comparative sub-analysis was made with patients who were not alive 20 years post-transplantation to identify the causes of death and risk factors of mortality.

Results

Between 1988 and 1994, 132 patients received 151 deceased-donors LT and 28 (21 %) survived more than 20 years. Regarding liver function in this group, medians of AST, ALT and total bilirubin at 20 years post-LT were 33 IU/L (13–135 IU/L), 27 (11–152 IU/L) and 0.6 mg/dL (0.3–1.1 mg/dL). Renal dysfunction was observed in 40 % of patients and median eGFR among 20-year survivors was 64 mL/min/1.73 m2 (6–144 mL/min/1.73 m2). Sixty-one percent of 20-year survivors had arterial hypertension, 43 % dyslipidemia, 25 % de novo tumors and 21 % diabetes mellitus. Infections were the main cause of death during the 1st year post-transplant (32 %) and between the 1st and 5th year post-transplant (25 %). After 5th year from transplant, hepatitis C recurrence (22 %) became the first cause of death. Factors having an impact on long-term patient survival were HCC indication (p = 0.049), pre-transplant renal dysfunction (p = 0.043) and long warm ischemia time (p = 0.016); furthermore, post-transplant factors were diabetes mellitus (p = 0.001) and liver dysfunction (p = 0.05) at 1 year.

Conclusion

Our results showed the effect of immunosuppression used during decades on long-term outcome in our LT patients in terms of morbidity (arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia and renal dysfunction) and mortality (infections and hepatitis C recurrence).
Research on the maceral characteristics of Shenhua coal and efficient and directional direct coal liquefaction technology
Authors: Shu Geping , Zhang Yuzhuo
Published: September 2014

In this research, molecular structure models were developed respectively for Shenhua coal vitrinite concentrates (SDV) and inertinite concentrates (SDI), on the basis of information on constitutional unit of Shenhau coal and elemental analysis results obtained from 13C-NMR analysis characterization, FTIR analysis characterization, X-ray diffraction XRD and XPS analysis characterization. It can be observed from characterization data and molecular structure models that the structure of SDV and SDI is dominated by aromatic hydrocarbon, with aromaticity of SDI higher than that of SDV; SDV mainly consists of small molecule basic structure unit, while SDI is largely made from macromolecular structure unit. Based on bond-level parameters of the molecular model, the research found through the autoclave experiment that vitrinite liquefaction process goes under thermodynamics control and inertinite liquefaction process under dynamics control. The research developed an efficient directional direct coal liquefaction technology based on the maceral characteristics of Shenhua coal, which can effectively improve oil yield and lower gas yield.
Anomaly and geochemistry of rare earth elements and yttrium in the late Permian coal from the Moxinpo mine, Chongqing, southwestern China
Authors: Zou Jianhua , Liu Dong , Tian Heming , Li Tian , Liu Feng , Tan Lin
Published: September 2014

The rare earth elements and yttrium (REY) of the K2 coal from the Moxinpo mine, Chongqing, were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results show that REY are enriched in the K2 coal, with the average content up to 462 μg/g, much higher than average values of most coals in the world. The REY distribution patterns indicate that the light REY is enriched and show a well-pronounced Eu minimum. The fractionation of individual light-REY is higher than that of the heavy-REY. The REY distribution through the K2 coal seam shows that the top and bottom portion of the coal seam have a lower content of REY than the middle portion. Goyazite and rhabdophane were identified with a scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy-dispersed X-ray spectrometer (SEM-EDX). The REY distributions through the coal seam, SEM-EDX data and the correlation analysis between ash yields and the concentrations have revealed that the REY mainly occurs in the organic matter. The K2 coal is a potential rare-metal resource due to its high REY contents, and the coal ash could be regarded as a new and promising raw material for recovery of REY as a by-product.
Experimental forward and reverse in situ combustion gasification of lignite with production of hydrogen-rich syngas
Authors: Cui Yong , Liang Jie , Wang Zhangqing , Zhang Xiaochun , Fan Chenzi , Wang Xuan
Published: September 2014

This research focused on the feasibility of applying the forward and reverse combustion approach to the in situ gasification of lignite with the production of hydrogen-rich syngas (H2 and CO). The so-called forward combustion gasification (FCG) and reverse combustion gasification (RCG) approach in which oxygen and steam are simultaneously fed to the simulated system of underground coal gasification (UCG) was studied. A simulated system of UCG was designed and established. The underground conditions of the coal seam and strata were simulated in the system. The combustion gasification of lignite has been carried out experimentally for almost 6.5 days. The average effective content (H2 + CO) of syngas during the FCG phase was 62.31 % and the maximum content was 70.92 %. For the RCG phase the corresponding figures are 61.33 % and 67.91 %. Thus, the feasibility of using RCG way for UCG has been demonstrated. The temperature profiles have been provided by using of 85 thermocouples during the model experiment, which portrayed the several nephograms of thermal data in the gasifier were of significance for the prospective gasification processes.
Cellulosomal carbohydrate‐binding module from Clostridium josui binds to crystalline and non‐crystalline cellulose, and soluble polysaccharides
Authors: Ichikawa Shunsuke , Karita Shuichi , Kondo Makoto , Goto Masakazu
Published: September 2014

To understand the lignocellulose degradation activity of the Clostridium josui cellulosome, a carbohydrate‐binding module of the scaffoldin CjCBM3 was characterized. CjCBM3 shows binding to crystalline cellulose, non‐crystalline cellulose and soluble polysaccharides. The binding isotherm of CjCBM3 to acid‐swollen cellulose is best fitted by the Langmuir two‐site model, suggesting that there are two CjCBM3 binding sites on acid‐swollen cellulose with different affinities. The second site shows lower affinity and larger binding capacity, suggesting that the cellulosome is directly targeted to the cellulose surface with high affinity, where larger amounts of the cellulosome bind to cellulose with low affinity.
Phylogeny, identification and nomenclature of the genusAspergillus
Authors: Samson R.A. , Visagie C.M. , Houbraken J. , Hong S.-B. , Hubka V. , Klaassen C.H.W. , Perrone G. , Seifert K.A. , Susca A. , Tanney J.B. , Varga J. , Kocsubé S. , Szigeti G. , Yaguchi T. , Frisvad J.C.
Published: September 2014

Aspergilluscomprises a diverse group of species based on morphological, physiological and phylogenetic characters, which significantly impact biotechnology, food production, indoor environments and human health.Aspergilluswas traditionally associated with nine teleomorph genera, but phylogenetic data suggest that together with genera such asPolypaecilum,Phialosimplex,DichotomomycesandCristaspora,Aspergillusforms a monophyletic clade closely related toPenicillium. Changes in the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants resulted in the move to one name per species, meaning that a decision had to be made whether to keepAspergillusas one big genus or to split it into several smaller genera. The International Commission ofPenicilliumandAspergillusdecided to keepAspergillusinstead of using smaller genera. In this paper, we present the arguments for this decision. We introduce new combinations for accepted species presently lacking anAspergillusname and provide an updated accepted species list for the genus, now containing 339 species. To add to the scientific value of the list, we include information about living ex-type culture collection numbers and GenBank accession numbers for available representative ITS, calmodulin, β-tubulin andRPB2sequences. In addition, we recommend a standard working technique forAspergillusand propose calmodulin as a secondary identification marker.
Twisted K-theory constructions in the case of a decomposable Dixmier-Douady class
Authors: Harju Antti J. , Mickelsson Jouko
Published: September 2014

Twisted K-theory on a manifold X, with twisting in the 3rd integral cohomology, is discussed in the case when X is a product of a circle and a manifold M. The twist is assumed to be decomposable as a cup product of the basic integral one form on and an integral class in H2(M,ℤ). This case was studied some time ago by V. Mathai, R. Melrose, and I.M. Singer. Our aim is to give an explicit construction for the twisted K-theory classes using a quantum field theory model, in the same spirit as the supersymmetric Wess-Zumino-Witten model is used for constructing (equivariant) twisted K-theory classes on compact Lie groups.
Identification of a novel cytochrome P450 gene,CYP321E1from the diamondback moth,Plutella xylostella(L.) and RNA interference to evaluate its role in chlorantraniliprole resistance
Authors: Hu Z. , Lin Q. , Chen H. , Li Z. , Yin F. , Feng X.
Published: September 2014

Insect cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s) play an important role in catalysis of many reactions leading to insecticides resistance. Our previous studies on transcriptome analysis of chlorantraniliprole-resistant development in the diamondback moth,Plutella xylostellarevealed that up-regulation of cytochrome P450s are one of the main factors leading to the development of chlorantraniliprole resistance. Here, we report for the first time a novel cytochrome P450 geneCYP321E1, which belongs to the cytochrome P450 gene family CYP321. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT–qPCR) analyses indicated thatCYP321E1was expressed at all developmental stages ofP. xylostellabut was highest in the fourth-instar larvae; furthermore, the relatively high expression was observed in the midgut of the fourth-instar larvae, followed by fat bodies and epidermis. The expression ofCYP321E1inP. xylostellawas differentially affected by three representative insecticides, including alphamethrin, abamectin and chlorantraniliprole. Among them, the exposure to chlorantraniliprole resulted in the largest transcript level of this cytochrome P450 gene. The findings suggested potential involvement ofCYP321E1in chlorantraniliprole resistance ofP. xylostella. To assess the functional link ofCYP321E1to chlorantraniliprole resistance, RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated gene silencing by double stranded RNA (dsRNA) injecting was used. Results revealed that injection delivery of dsRNA can greatly reduce gene expression after 24 h. As a consequence of RNAi, a significant increment in mortality of larvae injectedCYP321E1dsRNA was observed after 24 h of exposure to chlorantraniliprole. These results strongly support our notion that this novel cytochrome P450 gene plays an important role in chlorantraniliprole detoxification in the diamondback moth and is partly responsible for its resistance.
Mother-derived trans-generational immune priming in the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier (Coleoptera, Dryophthoridae)
Authors: Shi Z. H. , Lin Y. T. , Hou Y. M.
Published: September 2014

Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) is the most destructive pest of palm trees worldwide containing it invasive areas, such as the southern part of China. It is always emphasized to develop integrated pest management based on biological agents, but their success is not very exciting. Presently, the immune defenses of this pest against biological agents attract scarce attention. It is still unclear whether immune priming also generally occurs in insect pests and in response to different pathogens. Our results indicated that previous challenge of bacteria pathogen enhanced the magnitude of phenoloxidase activity and antibacterial activity in R. ferrugineus larvae against the secondary infection. Furthermore, trans-generational immune priming was also determined in this pest, and only challenged R. ferrugineus mothers transferred the immune protection to their offspring which suggested males and females of this pest might have evolved different strategies on the investment of delivering immune protection to their offspring. Importantly, our data provide the evidence to suggest that different kinds of biological control agents might be used alternatively or in combination to fight against R. ferrugineus because of the existence of immune priming with low species-specific level. On the other hand, for this invasive pest, the immune priming may also facilitate its adaptation and dispersal in the new regions.
Heterochromatin characterization and ribosomal gene location in two monotypic genera of bloodsucker bugs (Cimicidae, Heteroptera) with holokinetic chromosomes and achiasmatic male meiosis
Authors: Poggio M.G. , Di Iorio O. , Turienzo P. , Papeschi A. G. , Bressa M.J.
Published: September 2014

Members of the family Cimicidae (Heteroptera: Cimicomorpha) are temporary bloodsuckers on birds and bats as primary hosts and humans as secondary hosts.Acanthocrios furnarii(2n=12=10+XY, male) andPsitticimex uritui(2n=31=28+X1X2Y, male) are two monotypic genera of the subfamily Haematosiphoninae, which have achiasmatic male meiosis of collochore type. Here, we examined chromatin organization and constitution of cimicid holokinetic chromosomes by determining the amount, composition and distribution of constitutive heterochromatin, and number and location of nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) in both species. Results showed that these two bloodsucker bugs possess high heterochromatin content and have an achiasmatic male meiosis, in which three regions can be differentiated in each autosomal bivalent: (i) terminal heterochromatic regions in repulsion; (ii) a central region, where the homologous chromosomes are located parallel but without contact between them; and (iii) small areas within the central region, where collochores are detected.Acanthocrios furnariipresented a single NOR on an autosomal pair, whereasP. urituipresented two NORs, one on an autosomal pair and the other on a sex chromosome. All NORs were found to be associated with CMA3bright bands, indicating that the whole rDNA repeating unit is rich in G+C base pairs. Based on the variations in the diploid autosomal number, the presence of simple and multiple sex chromosome systems, and the number and location of 18S rDNA loci in the two Cimicidae species studied, we might infer that rDNA clusters and genome are highly dynamic among the representatives of this family.
ADOPTION OF INTEGRATED FOOD-ENERGY SYSTEMS: IMPROVED COOKSTOVES AND PIGEONPEA IN SOUTHERN MALAWI
Authors: ORR ALASTAIR , KAMBOMBO BLESSINGS , ROTH CHRISTA , HARRIS DAVE , DOYLE VINCENT
Published: September 2014

We analyse the adoption of an Integrated Food-Energy System (IFES) in southern Malawi. The IFES combined the improved cookstove (chitetezo mbaula in Chichewa), designed to reduce demand for fuelwood, with the pigeonpea variety Mthawajuni, which increased both food supply and supply of fuelwood from pigeonpea stems. Adoption of the improved cookstove was found to be higher among households that were better off and where women had greater control over decision-making. However, adoption of the IFES was not associated with reduced demand for fuelwood from forests and hills or reduced frequency of collection. IFES adopters might have high fuelwood consumption because they were better off, but fuelwood consumption in better-off households did not differ significantly between IFES adopters and non-adopters. Pigeonpea increased food supply for adopter households, including children aged less than five years. Consequently, the IFES has had mixed results, improving food supply but not reducing demand for fuelwood. Households ranked early maturity, fuelwood and yield as the three most important reasons for preferring Mthawajuni over other varieties of pigeonpea. The plant breeding programme for pigeonpea in Malawi should evaluate improved varieties not only for earliness and grain yield but also for the production of fuelwood. Improved varieties with desirable market traits have had limited success in the absence of reliable markets and price incentives.
False Start or Brave Beginning? The Society of Jews and Christians, 1924–1944
Authors: SUMMERS ANNE
Published: September 2014

The Society of Jews and Christians drew on relationships formed before 1918 in urban social work, the suffrage campaign and pacifist organisations. Its career was much less smooth than that of its successor, the Council of Christians and Jews, because Liberal Judaism's founding role largely antagonised the Orthodox Jewish mainstream, and Christian affiliates sometimes failed to observe the agreement not to proselytise. This paper discusses the influence of the Revd James Parkes, and the exceptional circumstances of the rise of Nazism, in changing views on both sides, and also reflects on why historians may have ignored a pioneering initiative.
Deletion: The curse of the red-black tree
Authors: GERMANE KIMBALL , MIGHT MATTHEW
Published: September 2014

Okasaki introduced the canonical formulation of functional red-black trees when he gave a concise, elegant method of persistent element insertion. Persistent element deletion, on the other hand, has not enjoyed the same treatment. For this reason, many functional implementations simply omit persistent deletion. Those that include deletion typically take one of two approaches. The more-common approach is a superficial translation of the standard imperative algorithm. The resulting algorithm has functional airs but remains clumsy and verbose, characteristic of its imperative heritage. (Indeed, even the terminsertionis a holdover from imperative origins, but is now established in functional contexts. Accordingly, we use the termdeletionwhich has the same connotation.) The less-common approach leverages the features of advanced type systems, which obscures the essence of the algorithm. Nevertheless, foreign-language implementors reference such implementations and, apparently unable to tease apart the algorithm and its type specification, transliterate the entirety unnecessarily. Our goal is to provide for persistent deletion what Okasaki did for insertion: a succinct, comprehensible method that will liberate implementors. We conceptually simplify deletion by temporarily introducing a “double-black” color into Okasaki's tree type. This third color, with its natural interpretation, significantly simplifies the preservation of invariants during deletion.
THE RANGE OF TREE-INDEXED RANDOM WALK
Authors: Le Gall Jean-François , Lin Shen
Published: September 2014

We provide asymptotics for the range$R_{n}$of a random walk on the$d$-dimensional lattice indexed by a random tree with$n$vertices. Using Kingman’s subadditive ergodic theorem, we prove under general assumptions that$n^{-1}R_{n}$converges to a constant, and we give conditions ensuring that the limiting constant is strictly positive. On the other hand, in dimension$4$, and in the case of a symmetric random walk with exponential moments, we prove that$R_{n}$grows like$n/\!\log n$. We apply our results to asymptotics for the range of a branching random walk when the initial size of the population tends to infinity.
Delinquenz
Authors: Petermann Franz , Brettfeld Katrin
Published: September 2014

Jugenddelinquenz stellt ein ubiquitäres, statistisch normales Phänomen in westlichen Gesellschaften dar. Obwohl über die Entwicklung dissozialen Verhaltens viele Fakten aus Längsschnittstudien bekannt sind, fehlen aktuell erprobte und aussagekräftige Diagnoseverfahren zur frühzeitigen Identifikation massiv delinquenz- und gewaltbereiter Jugendlicher. Solche Verfahren zur Risikoabschätzung sind die Voraussetzung dafür, sekundärpräventive Maßnahmen für solche Jugendliche zu planen und zu implementieren.
Inanspruchnahme von ärztlichen und psychotherapeutischen Leistungen durch Kinder und Jugendliche mit psychischen Auffälligkeiten
Authors: Hintzpeter Birte , Metzner Franka , Pawils Silke , Bichmann Helen , Kamtsiuris Panagiotis , Ravens-Sieberer Ulrike , Klasen Fionna , group The BELLA study
Published: September 2014

Zur psychiatrisch-psychotherapeutischen Inanspruchnahme durch Kinder und Jugendliche in Deutschland liegen bislang kaum Ergebnisse vor. Anhand von repräsentativen Daten der BELLA-Studie, an der insgesamt 2.863 Familien teilnahmen, konnte gezeigt werden, dass 5,6 % der Befragten im Alter von 7 bis 17 Jahren in den letzten 12 Monaten eine psychiatrisch-psychotherapeutische Leistung in Anspruch genommen haben. Von den mit Hilfe des Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) als psychisch auffällig eingestuften Kindern und Jugendlichen sind 28,8 % in psychiatrisch-psychotherapeutischer Behandlung. Hinzu kommt, dass lediglich ein Fünftel der Mädchen und Jungen, die an Einschränkungen aufgrund der psychischen Auffälligkeiten leiden, eine entsprechende Hilfe annehmen.
Activation-induced necroptosis contributes to B-cell lymphopenia in active systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Fan H , Liu F , Dong G , Ren D , Xu Y , Dou J , Wang T , Sun L , Hou Y
Published: September 2014

B-cell abnormality including excessive activation and lymphopenia is a central feature of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Although activation threshold, auto-reaction and death of B cells can be affected by intrinsical and/or external signaling, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Herein, we demonstrate that co-activation of Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) and B-cell receptor (BCR) pathways is a core event for the survival/dead states of B cells in SLE. We found that the mortalities of CD19+CD27- and CD19+IgM+ B-cell subsets were increased in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of SLE patients. The gene microarray analysis of CD19+ B cells from active SLE patients showed that the differentially expressed genes were closely correlated to TLR7, BCR, apoptosis, necroptosis and immune pathways. We also found that co-activation of TLR7 and BCR could trigger normal B cells to take on SLE-like B-cell characters including the elevated viability, activation and proliferation in the first 3 days and necroptosis in the later days. Moreover, the necroptotic B cells exhibited mitochondrial dysfunction and hypoxia, along with the elevated expression of necroptosis-related genes, consistent with that in both SLE B-cell microarray and real-time PCR verification. Expectedly, pretreatment with the receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) inhibitor Necrostatin-1, and not the apoptosis inhibitor zVAD, suppressed B-cell death. Importantly, B cells from additional SLE patients also significantly displayed high expression levels of necroptosis-related genes compared with those from healthy donors. These data indicate that co-activation of TLR7 and BCR pathways can promote B cells to hyperactivation and ultimately necroptosis. Our finding provides a new explanation on B-cell lymphopenia in active SLE patients. These data suggest that extrinsic factors may increase the intrinsical abnormality of B cells in SLE patients.
Human thymus medullary epithelial cells promote regulatory T-cell generation by stimulating interleukin-2 production via ICOS ligand
Authors: Nazzal D , Gradolatto A , Truffault F , Bismuth J , Berrih-Aknin S
Published: September 2014

Natural thymic T regulatory (tTreg) cells maintain tolerance to self-antigen. These cells are generated in the thymus, but how this generation occurs is still controversial. Furthermore, the contribution of thymus epithelial cells to this process is still unclear, especially in humans. Using an exceptional panel of human thymic samples, we demonstrated that medullary thymus epithelial cells (mTECs) promote the generation of tTreg cells and favor their function. These effects were mediated through soluble factors and were mTEC specific since other cell types had no such effect. By evaluating the effects of mTECs on the absolute number of Treg cells and their state of proliferation or cell death, we conclude that mTECs promote the proliferation of newly generated CD25+ cells from CD4+CD25− cells and protect Treg cells from cell death. This observation implicates Bcl-2 and mitochondrial membrane potential changes, indicating that the intrinsic cell death pathway is involved in Treg protection by mTECs. Interestingly, when the mTECs were cultured directly with purified Treg cells, they were able to promote their phenotype but not their expansion, suggesting that CD4+CD25− cells have a role in the expansion process. To explore the mechanisms involved, several neutralizing antibodies were tested. The effects of mTECs on Treg cells were essentially due to interleukin (IL)-2 overproduction by thymus CD4+ T cells. We then searched for a soluble factor produced by mTECs able to increase IL-2 production by CD4+ cells and could identify the inducible T-cell costimulator ligand (ICOSL). Our data strongly suggest a « ménage à trois »: mTEC cells (via ICOSL) induce overproduction of IL-2 by CD25− T cells leading to the expansion of tTreg cells. Altogether, these results demonstrate for the first time a role of mTECs in promoting Treg cell expansion in the human thymus and implicate IL-2 and ICOSL in this process.
HIPK2 sustains apoptotic response by phosphorylating Che-1/AATF and promoting its degradation
Authors: De Nicola F , Catena V , Rinaldo C , Bruno T , Iezzi S , Sorino C , Desantis A , Camerini S , Crescenzi M , Floridi A , Passananti C , Soddu S , Fanciulli M
Published: September 2014

Che-1/AATF is an RNA polymerase II-binding protein that is involved in the regulation of gene transcription, which undergoes stabilization and accumulation in response to DNA damage. We have previously demonstrated that following apoptotic induction, Che-1 protein levels are downregulated through its interaction with the E3 ligase HDM2, which leads to Che-1 degradation by ubiquitylation. This interaction is mediated by Pin1, which determines a phosphorylation-dependent conformational change. Here we demonstrate that HIPK2, a proapoptotic kinase, is involved in Che-1 degradation. HIPK2 interacts with Che-1 and, upon genotoxic stress, phosphorylates it at specific residues. This event strongly increases HDM2/Che-1 interaction and degradation of Che-1 protein via ubiquitin-dependent proteasomal system. In agreement with these findings, we found that HIPK2 depletion strongly decreases Che-1 ubiquitylation and degradation. Notably, Che-1 overexpression strongly counteracts HIPK2-induced apoptosis. Our results establish Che-1 as a new HIPK2 target and confirm its important role in the cellular response to DNA damage.
Reestablishing Brain Networks in Patients without Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy after Liver Transplantation
Authors: Lin Wei-Che , Hsu Tun-Wei , Chen Chao-Long , Lu Cheng-Hsien , Chen Hsiu-Ling , Cheng Yu-Fan , Lin Ching-Po
Published: September 2014

Cirrhotic patients without overt hepatic encephalopathy (HE) have associated with widespread neuro-psychological impairment. Liver transplantation can restore metabolic abnormalities but the mechanisms are unclear. We investigate brain functional networks after transplantation using resting-state funtional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Twenty-six cirrhotic patients without overt HE completed neuro-psychological assessment before and 6 to 12 months after transplantation, and compared with 35 healthy controls. Five major functional brain networks, default mode (DMN), dorsal attention (DAN), executive control (ECN), salience (SN), and primary networks (PN), were assessed. Nodal efficiency and strength in different functional networks were weighed and their interaction metrics displayed. Granger causal analysis between pretransplantation and posttransplantation was performed. Before transplantation, the intrafunctional connectivity was decreased in DMN, DAN, ECN, and SN. After transplantation, cognitive functions improved with increased functional connectivity. The interaction metrics among large-scale networks in patients became similar to healthy controls. The increase in PN affected the decrease in SN, while the increase in DAN forced a decrease in DMN. There was a bidirectional balance between DMN and SN. Dynamic disruptions and reconstruction in intrinsic large-scale networks are associated with parallel patterns of cognitive information processing deficits and recovery. Remapping of SN, DMN, and DAN is essential for restoring cognition after transplantation.
Spatial control of the GEN1 Holliday junction resolvase ensures genome stability
Authors: Chan Ying Wai , West Stephen C.
Published: September 2014

Holliday junction (HJ) resolvases are necessary for the processing of persistent recombination intermediates before cell division. Their actions, however, need to be restricted to the late stages of the cell cycle to avoid the inappropriate cleavage of replication intermediates. Control of the yeast HJ resolvase, Yen1, involves phosphorylation changes that modulate its catalytic activity and nuclear import. Here, we show that GEN1, the human ortholog of Yen1, is regulated by a different mechanism that is independent of phosphorylation. GEN1 is controlled exclusively by nuclear exclusion, driven by a nuclear export signal (NES) that restricts GEN1 actions to mitosis when the nuclear membrane breaks down. Construction of a nuclear-localized version of GEN1 revealed that its premature actions partially suppress phenotypes associated with loss of BLM and MUS81, but cause elevated crossover formation. The spatial control of GEN1 therefore contributes to genome stability, by avoiding competition with non-crossover promoting repair pathways.
High-Polarization-Discriminating Infrared Detection Using a Single Quantum Well Sandwiched in Plasmonic Micro-Cavity
Authors: Li Qian , Li ZhiFeng , Li Ning , Chen XiaoShuang , Chen PingPing , Shen XueChu , Lu Wei
Published: September 2014

Polarimetric imaging has proved its value in medical diagnostics, bionics, remote sensing, astronomy and in many other wide fields. Pixel-level solid monolithically integrated polarimetric imaging photo-detectors are the trend for infrared polarimetric imaging devices. For better polarimetric imaging performance the high polarization discriminating detectors are very much critical. Here we demonstrate the high infrared light polarization resolving capabilities of a quantum well (QW) detector in hybrid structure of single QW and plasmonic micro-cavity that uses QW as an active structure in the near field regime of plasmonic effect enhanced cavity, in which the photoelectric conversion in such a plasmonic micro-cavity has been realized. The detector's extinction ratio reaches 65 at the wavelength of 14.7 μm, about 6 times enhanced in such a type of pixel-level polarization long wave infrared photodetectors. The enhancement mechanism is attributed to artificial plasmonic modulation on optical propagation and distribution in the plasmonic micro-cavities.
Rapid hydrothermal cooling above the axial melt lens at fast-spreading mid-ocean ridge
Authors: Zhang Chao , Koepke Juergen , Kirchner Clemens , Götze Niko , Behrens Harald
Published: September 2014

Axial melt lenses sandwiched between the lower oceanic crust and the sheeted dike sequences at fast-spreading mid-ocean ridges are assumed to be the major magma source of oceanic crust accretion. According to the widely discussed “gabbro glacier” model, the formation of the lower oceanic crust requires efficient cooling of the axial melt lens, leading to partial crystallization and crystal-melt mush subsiding down to lower crust. These processes are believed to be controlled by periodical magma replenishment and hydrothermal circulation above the melt lens. Here we quantify the cooling rate above melt lens using chemical zoning of plagioclase from hornfelsic recrystallized sheeted dikes drilled from the East Pacific at the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Hole 1256D. We estimate the cooling rate using a forward modelling approach based on CaAl-NaSi interdiffusion in plagioclase. The results show that cooling from the peak thermal overprint at 1000–1050°C to 600°C are yielded within about 10–30 years as a result of hydrothermal circulation above melt lens during magma starvation. The estimated rapid hydrothermal cooling explains how the effective heat extraction from melt lens is achieved at fast-spreading mid-ocean ridges.
Droplet microfluidics in (bio)chemical analysis
Authors: Basova Evgenia Yu , Foret Frantisek
Published: September 2014

Droplet microfluidics may soon change the paradigm of performing chemical analyses and related instrumentation.
Ion collision crosssection measurements in quadrupole ion traps using a time–frequency analysis method
Authors: He Muyi , Guo Dan , Chen Yu , Xiong Xingchuang , Fang Xiang , Xu Wei
Published: September 2014

In this study, a method for measuring ion collision crosssections (CCSs) was proposed through time–frequency analysis of ion trajectories in quadrupole ion traps.
Rituximab–Au nanoprobes for simultaneous dark-field imaging and DAB staining of CD20 over-expressed on Raji cells
Authors: Fan Lin , Lou Doudou , Zhang Yu , Gu Ning
Published: September 2014

A novel dual-modal cell immunodetection method based on both dark-field imaging and catalysis functions of gold nanoparticles has been established, where the Rituximab–Au conjugates were used as nanoprobes to label and image specifically the CD20 overexpressed on the surface of malignant lymphoma cells of Raji with high affinity.
Classification of soil samples based on Raman spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry combined with chemometric methods and variable selection
Authors: Luna Aderval S. , Lima Igor C. A. , Rocha Werickson F. C. , Araújo Joyce R. , Kuznetsov Alexei , Ferreira Erlon H. Martins , Boqué Ricard , Ferré Joan
Published: September 2014

Soil classification is crucial for its cultivation preparation in countries that export several agricultural commodities.
In situ formation of enzyme-free hydrogels via ferromagnetic microbead-assisted enzymatic cross-linking
Authors: Bae Jin Woo , Kim Bae Young , Lih Eugene , Choi Jong Hoon , Lee Yunki , Park Ki Dong
Published: September 2014

This work reports a new in situ enzymatic crosslinking method to prepare mechanically tunable hydrogels not possessing an enzyme.
On the interaction of copper(ii) with disulfiram
Authors: Lewis David J. , Deshmukh Parikshit , Tedstone Aleksander A. , Tuna Floriana , O'Brien Paul
Published: September 2014

The interaction of copper(ii) ions with disulfiram, potentially important for new anticancer treatments, is explored under steady-state and kinetic conditions using a multi-spectroscopic approach which could lead to a deeper understanding of the mechanism of the reaction and may have implications for in vitro cytotoxicity studies.
Direct enzyme–substrate affinity determination by real-time hyperpolarized13C-MRS
Authors: Friesen-Waldner L. J. , Wiens C. N. , Wade T. P. , Thind K. , Sinclair K. P. , Hovav Y. , Gomori J. M. , Sosna J. , McKenzie C. A. , Katz-Brull R.
Published: September 2014

A direct determination ofKm, a fundamental measure of enzyme–substrate affinity, is now possible without sample manipulation by real-time hyperpolarized13C-MRS.
Dual doping effects (site blockage and electronic promotion) imposed by adatoms on Pd nanocrystals for catalytic hydrogen production
Authors: Jones S. , Fairclough S. M. , Gordon-Brown M. , Zheng W. , Kolpin A. , Pang B. , Kuo W. C. H. , Smith J. M. , Tsang S. C. E.
Published: September 2014

Distinctive doping effects are presented, which modify electronic and geometric properties of Pd nanocrystals for HCOOH decomposition affecting activity and selectivity.
A biferrocenium salt containing paramagnetic tetracyanoquinodimethane hexamers: charge disproportionation via donor–acceptor interactions
Authors: Mochida Tomoyuki , Funasako Yusuke , Takahashi Kazuyuki , Inokuchi Makoto , Sakurai Takahiro , Ikeda Shohei , Ohta Hitoshi , Mori Hatsumi , Uruichi Mikio
Published: September 2014

[Dineopentyl-biferrocene]2[Cl1TCNQ]7, which has a high donor–acceptor ratio of 2 : 7, contains a linear paramagnetic hexamer of Cl1TCNQ.
Organic nanoparticles with aggregation-induced emission for tracking bone marrow stromal cells in the rat ischemic stroke model
Authors: Li Kai , Yamamoto Mie , Chan Su Jing , Chiam Mun Yee , Qin Wei , Wong Peter Tsun Hon , Yim Evelyn King Fai , Tang Ben Zhong , Liu Bin
Published: September 2014

Fluorescent nanoparticles with aggregation-induced emission were successfully used for tracking bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells in rats with ischemic stroke.
Crystal structure analyses facilitate understanding of synthesis protocols in the preparation of 6,6′-dibromo-substituted BINOL compounds
Authors: Agnes Marco , Sorrenti Alessandro , Pasini Dario , Wurst Klaus , Amabilino David B.
Published: September 2014

A combination of crystallographic and spectroscopic techniques has been used in order to address thorough purification protocols for a series of atropisomeric 1,1′-binaphthalene-2,2′-diol (BINOL) derivatives to be used as building blocks for chiral nanoscale constructs.
A new heterometallic multiligand 3D coordination polymer: synthesis and structure of [Pb(OH)]n[Ag(SCN)(CN)]n
Authors: Diana Eliano , Gervasio Giuliana , Priola Emanuele , Bonometti Elisabetta
Published: September 2014

A 3D luminescent coordination polymer built by cyanide linkage of the 2D polymers of [Pb(OH)]nand [Ag(SCN)CN]nhas been synthesized and characterized.
Zinc hydroxide nanostrands: unique precursors for synthesis of ZIF-8 thin membranes exhibiting high size-sieving ability for gas separation
Authors: Li Junwei , Cao Wei , Mao Yiyin , Ying Yulong , Sun Luwei , Peng Xinsheng
Published: September 2014

Well-intergrown ZIF-8 membranes are prepared by using zinc hydroxide nanostrands as the unique zinc source in benign solvent at room temperature and exhibit very fast H2 permeability and high selectivity for gas separation after secondary growth.
Temperature-induced one-dimensional chiral Ag(i) linear chains and left-handed 21 helices: DFT studies, luminescence and SHG response
Authors: Cheng Lin , Wang Jun , Qi Qi , Zhang Xiuying , Yu Haiyan , Gou Shaohua , Fang Lei
Published: September 2014

Two pairs of chiral coordination polymers have been synthesized with the same materials at 25 and 90 °C, respectively.
Crystal growth of MOF-5 using secondary building units studied by in situ atomic force microscopy
Authors: Cubillas Pablo , Etherington Kimberley , Anderson Michael W. , Attfield Martin P.
Published: September 2014

Crystal growth of the metal–organic framework, MOF-5, using basic zinc benzoate, [Zn4O(O2CC6H5)6], was studied in real time using atomic force microscopy.
Low-melting mixtures based on choline ionic liquids
Authors: Rengstl Doris , Fischer Veronika , Kunz Werner
Published: September 2014

This scheme presents the melting points of the single components and the melting points of the produced mixtures.
Brønsted acids in ionic liquids: how acidity depends on the liquid structure
Authors: McCune Jade A. , He Peizhao , Petkovic Marina , Coleman Fergal , Estager Julien , Holbrey John D. , Seddon Kenneth R. , Swadźba-Kwaśny Małgorzata
Published: September 2014

Gutmann Acceptor Number (AN) values have been determined for Brønsted acid–ionic liquid mixtures, over a wide compositional range.
Microscopic interactions of the imidazolium-based ionic liquid with molecular liquids depending on their electron-donicity
Authors: Takamuku Toshiyuki , Hoke Hiroshi , Idrissi Abdenacer , Marekha Bogdan A. , Moreau Myriam , Honda Yusuke , Umecky Tatsuya , Shimomura Takuya
Published: September 2014

The hydrogen bonding between the C2mim cation and DMSO.
Coordination frameworks assembled from CuII ions and H2-1,3-bdpb ligands: X-ray and magneto structural investigations, and catalytic activity in the aerobic oxidation of tetralin
Authors: Grzywa Maciej , Geßner Christof , Bredenkötter Björn , Denysenko Dmytro , van Leusen Jan , Kögerler Paul , Klemm Elias , Volkmer Dirk
Published: September 2014

CFA-5, a novel MOF containing Cu(ii) ions and pyrazolate ligands, shows heterogeneous catalytic activity in the liquid-phase aerobic oxidation of tetralin.
A calix[2]triazole[2]arene-based fluorescent chemosensor for probing the copper trafficking pathway in Wilson's disease
Authors: Cho Jihee , Pradhan Tuhin , Lee Yun Mi , Kim Jong Seung , Kim Sanghee
Published: September 2014

We herein present a synthesis of a new fluorescent chemosensor for Cu2+and its application to Wilson's disease cell model to probe the copper trafficking pathway.
Four new trinuclear {Cu3(μ3-OH)(oximate)3}2+ clusters: crystal structure and magnetic behaviour
Authors: Speed Saskia , Font-Bardía Mercè , El Fallah M. Salah , Vicente Ramon
Published: September 2014

Four new triangular copper(ii) complexes with the fragment {Cu3(μ3-OH)(oximate)3}2+ are reported. They exhibit strong antiferromagnetic coupling and antisymmetric exchange interaction.
Si(SiMe3)2SiPh3 – a ligand for novel sub-valent tin cluster compounds
Authors: Klink R. , Schrenk C. , Schnepf A.
Published: September 2014

[Si(SiMe3)2(SiPh3)]− can be used as a ligand in subvalent tin chemistry as shown by the synthesis of [Sn(Si(SiMe3)2SiPh3)2Cl]− and Cl4Sn4[Si(SiMe3)2SiPh3]4.
Combining experimental and theoretical methods to learn about the reactivity of gas-processing metalloenzymes
Authors: Greco Claudio , Fourmond Vincent , Baffert Carole , Wang Po-hung , Dementin Sébastien , Bertrand Patrick , Bruschi Maurizio , Blumberger Jochen , de Gioia Luca , Léger Christophe
Published: September 2014

New ways of looking at elementary steps in the catalytic mechanisms of the enzymes that activate H2and CO2.
Creating sub-50 nm nanofluidic junctions in a PDMS microchip via self-assembly process of colloidal silica beads for electrokinetic concentration of biomolecules
Authors: Syed A. , Mangano L. , Mao P. , Han J. , Song Y.-A.
Published: September 2014

We applied a simple evaporation-based self-assembly technique to create a sub-50 nm nanofluidic junction between two microchannels in PDMS.
Structure–activity relationship studies of SETD8 inhibitors
Authors: Ma Anqi , Yu Wenyu , Xiong Yan , Butler Kyle V. , Brown Peter J. , Jin Jian
Published: September 2014

Comprehensive SAR studies of the first substrate-competitive SETD8 inhibitor led to the discovery of interesting SAR trends and novel analogs.
Bio-inspired microvascular exchangers employing circular packing – synthetic rete mirabile
Authors: Nguyen Du T. , Kleiman Maya , Truong Richard , Esser-Kahn Aaron P.
Published: September 2014

We report on the exchange properties of syntheticrete mirabilewith biological and abiological analogs. A pattern not found in nature, the “Double Squarer” pattern, had the highest transfer rates.
Efficient extraction of gold from water by liquid–liquid extraction or precipitation using hydrophobic ionic liquids
Authors: Boudesocque Stéphanie , Mohamadou Aminou , Dupont Laurent
Published: September 2014

Tetrahalogenoaurate anions have been successfully removed from water using betaine derivative cationic ionic liquids, by precipitation using hydrophilic ionic liquids or by liquid–liquid extraction with hydrophobic ionic liquids.
Facile synthesis of Pd/Fe3O4/charcoal bifunctional catalysts with high metal loading for high product yields in Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions
Authors: Woo Hyunje , Lee Kyoungho , Park Ji Chan , Park Kang Hyun
Published: September 2014

Bifunctional Pd/Fe3O4/charcoal nanocatalysts are synthesized by simple solid-state grinding. Highly loaded Pd and Fe3O4 nanoparticles are observed and exhibit high product time yield for Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions.
Gadolinium oxide nanoplates with high longitudinal relaxivity for magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Cho Minjung , Sethi Richa , Ananta narayanan Jeyarama Subramanian , Lee Seung Soo , Benoit Denise N. , Taheri Nasim , Decuzzi Paolo , Colvin Vicki L.
Published: September 2014

The MR relaxivity (r1) of PAA–OA gadolinium oxide nanoplates is 10 times higher than that of an FDA-approved agent.
Nanotube Li2MoO4: a novel and high-capacity material as a lithium-ion battery anode
Authors: Liu Xudong , Lyu Yingchun , Zhang Zhihua , Li Hong , Hu Yong-sheng , Wang ZhaoXiang , Zhao Yanming , Kuang Quan , Dong Youzhong , Liang Zhiyong , Fan Qinghua , Chen Liquan
Published: September 2014

Carbon-coated Li2MoO4 nanotubes fabricated by sol–gel method exhibit an excellent electrochemical performance when evaluated as an anode material for Li-ion battery.