bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of pharmacists in the application of the transtheoretical model approach to enhance medication adherence in chronic diseases
Authors: Arafat Yara , Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed Izham , Awaisu Ahmed
Published: October 2016

Adherence to prescribed medications is one of the most important aspects contributing to successful treatment. Medication adherence through self‐management of chronic diseases is thought to be necessary to achieve improvements in quality of life for patients. Many models and interventions have been tested to enhance self‐management, but to date none have been convincingly successful. The challenges inherent to disease self‐management are fundamentally socio‐behavioural issues, and the use of a model such as the transtheoretical model (TTM) has potential to be of assistance. Described here is a brief summary of a systematic review that was conducted to assess the potential for the use of the TTM in improving disease self‐management activities for patients with chronic diseases, particularly type 2 diabetic patients. Seven studies describing the effect of the TTM on different aspects of medication adherence were reviewed. All the studies reviewed suggest that a TTM approach can help patients with chronic diseases change their behaviour to incorporate more desirable characteristics that will help them manage chronic conditions. However, at present there are still not enough studies to definitively determine whether pharmacists could practically use the TTM to enhance medication adherence.
Effective fluorescence‐guided surgery of liver metastasis using a fluorescent anti‐CEA antibody
Authors: Hiroshima Yukihiko , Lwin Thinzar M. , Murakami Takashi , Mawy Ali A. , Kuniya Tanaka , Chishima Takashi , Endo Itaru , Clary Bryan M. , Hoffman Robert M. , Bouvet Michael
Published: October 2016

Background and Objectives

Delineation of adequate tumor margins is critical in oncologic surgery, particularly in resection of metastatic lesions. Surgeons are limited in visualization with bright‐light surgery, but fluorescence‐guided surgery (FGS) has been efficacious in helping the surgeon achieve negative margins.

Methods

The present study uses FGS in a mouse model that has undergone surgical orthotopic implantation (SOI) of colorectal liver metastasis tagged with green fluorescent protein (GFP). An anti‐CEA antibody conjugated to DyLight 650 was used to highlight the tumor.

Results

The fluorescent antibody clearly demarcated the lesion at deeper tissue depth compared to GFP. Fluorescence of the anti‐CEA‐DyLight650 showed maximal tumor‐to‐liver contrast at 72 hr. Fifteen mice underwent bright‐light surgery (BLS) versus FGS with GFP versus FGS with anti‐CEA‐DyLight650. Mice that underwent FGS had a significantly smaller area of residual tumor (P < 0.001) and significantly longer overall survival (P < 0.001) and disease‐free survival (P < 0.001). Within the two FGS groups, mice undergoing surgery with anti‐CEA‐DyLight650 improved survival compared to only GFP labeling.

Conclusions

In the present report, we demonstrate that an anti‐CEA antibody conjugated to a DyLight 650 nm dye clearly labeled colon cancer liver metastases, thereby enabling successful FGS. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;114:951–958. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Investigation of multivalent interactions between conjugate of quantum dots with c‐Myc peptide tag and the anti‐c‐Myc antibody by capillary electrophoresis with fluorescence detection
Authors: Wang Jianhao , Yang Li , Liu Li , Wu Hao , Wang Jianpeng , Jiang Pengju , Jiang Xiyuan , Qiu Lin
Published: October 2016

Herein, we report an assay for detecting the binding of a multivalent peptide and antibody within a capillary with the use of fluorescence coupled capillary electrophoresis. Quantum dots and a c‐Myc tag containing peptide EQKLISEEDLG4H6 were injected sequentially and formed a multivalent quantum dot‐EQKLISEEDLG4H6 assembly within the capillary. The efficiency of the quantum dot‐peptide self‐assembly was affected by the peptide/quantum dot molar ratio, sampling time, and interval time. Finally, the binding of the monoclonal anti‐c‐Myc antibody and the multivalent quantum dot‐EQKLISEEDLG4H6 ligand was studied using an in‐capillary assay. The microscopic dissociation constant for the self‐assembly of monoclonal anti‐c‐Myc antibody and quantum dot‐EQKLISEEDLG4H6 was determined to be 14.1 μM with a stoichiometry of the peptide‐antibody complex of 1.7 determined after fitting this to the Hill equation. This method can be further extended to detect a wide range of biomolecule–biomolecule binding interactions.
A review of altmetrics as an emerging discipline for research evaluation
Authors: González‐Valiente Carlos Luis , Pacheco‐Mendoza Josmel , Arencibia‐Jorge Ricardo
Published: October 2016

This article analyses the scientific production of publications on altmetrics as an emergent discipline for research evaluation. The research objective was to identify the investigative tendencies that characterize the subject. The analysis studied documents indexed by Web of Science and Scopus databases. About 253 documents were retrieved, showing a growth in articles 2005–2015. We discovered that the most productive authors, journals, institutions, and countries were from Europe and North America. The collaboration networks between authors and institutions reveal a homogenous community formed by the most prolific contributors. The most explored subjects deal with (1) social media and networking, (2) internet, (3) scholarly and scientific communication and publication, (4) open access and public libraries, (5) citation analysis, (6) impact factor measurements, (7) metric disciplines, (8) information analysis, retrieval, and processing, (9) search engines and data bases, and (10) evaluative bibliometrics. We discovered a nucleus of contributors who have attempted to solidify the knowledge area, with emerging principles of high theoretical consistency.
Fast diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) with Inherent COrrelation‐based Normalization (ICON) enhances automatic segmentation of heterogeneous diffusion MRI lesion in acute stroke
Authors: Zhou Iris Yuwen , Guo Yingkun , Igarashi Takahiro , Wang Yu , Mandeville Emiri , Chan Suk‐Tak , Wen Lingyi , Vangel Mark , Lo Eng H. , Ji Xunming , Sun Phillip Zhe
Published: October 2016

Diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) has been shown to augment diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) for the definition of irreversible ischemic injury. However, the complexity of cerebral structure/composition makes the kurtosis map heterogeneous, limiting the specificity of kurtosis hyperintensity to acute ischemia. We propose an Inherent COrrelation‐based Normalization (ICON) analysis to suppress the intrinsic kurtosis heterogeneity for improved characterization of heterogeneous ischemic tissue injury. Fast DKI and relaxation measurements were performed on normal (n = 10) and stroke rats following middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) (n = 20). We evaluated the correlations between mean kurtosis (MK), mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) derived from the fast DKI sequence and relaxation rates R1 and R2, and found a highly significant correlation between MK and R1 (p < 0.001). We showed that ICON analysis suppressed the intrinsic kurtosis heterogeneity in normal cerebral tissue, enabling automated tissue segmentation in an animal stroke model. We found significantly different kurtosis and diffusivity lesion volumes: 147 ± 59 and 180 ± 66 mm3, respectively (p = 0.003, paired t‐test). The ratio of kurtosis to diffusivity lesion volume was 84% ± 19% (p < 0.001, one‐sample t‐test). We found that relaxation‐normalized MK (RNMK), but not MD, values were significantly different between kurtosis and diffusivity lesions (p < 0.001, analysis of variance). Our study showed that fast DKI with ICON analysis provides a promising means of demarcation of heterogeneous DWI stroke lesions.
Stimulation‐induced transient changes in neuronal activity, blood flow and N‐acetylaspartate content in rat prefrontal cortex: a chemogenetic fMRS‐BOLD study
Authors: Baslow Morris H. , Cain Christopher K. , Sears Robert , Wilson Donald A. , Bachman Alvin , Gerum Scott , Guilfoyle David N.
Published: October 2016

Brain activation studies in humans have shown the dynamic nature of neuronal N‐acetylaspartate (NAA) and N‐acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG) based on changes in their MRS signals in response to stimulation. These studies demonstrated that upon visual stimulation there was a focal increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF) and a decrease in NAA or in the total of NAA and NAAG signals in the visual cortex, and that these changes were reversed upon cessation of stimulation. In the present study we have developed an animal model in order to explore the relationships between brain stimulation, neuronal activity, CBF and NAA. We use “designer receptor exclusively activated by designer drugs” (DREADDs) technology for site‐specific neural activation, a local field potential electrophysiological method for measurement of changes in the rate of neuronal activity, functional MRS for measurement of changes in NAA and a blood oxygenation level‐dependent (BOLD) MR technique for evaluating changes in CBF. We show that stimulation of the rat prefrontal cortex using DREADDs results in the following: (i) an increase in level of neuronal activity; (ii) an increase in BOLD and (iii) a decrease in the NAA signal. These findings show for the first time the tightly coupled relationships between stimulation, neuron activity, CBF and NAA dynamics in brain, and also provide the first demonstration of the novel inverse stimulation–NAA phenomenon in an animal model.
Goal Attainment Scaling in Individuals with Upper Limb Spasticity Post Stroke
Authors: Eftekhar Parvin , Mochizuki George , Dutta Tilak , Richardson Denyse , Brooks Dina
Published: October 2016

Focusing on rehabilitation goals is an effective approach for improving function in individuals with spasticity after stroke. The objectives of this study were to examine and map goals of post‐stroke individuals with spasticity using the Goal Attainment Scale (GAS) and International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), and to evaluate the impact of botulinum toxin A (BoNTA) on occupational performance based on the type of rehabilitation goals. Thirty‐one patients were recruited from an outpatient spasticity management clinic. Each patient set one goal, was injected with BoNTA in their spastic upper limb muscles and received standard rehabilitation services twice a week for four weeks. Twenty‐seven participants achieved the expected level, and four exceeded the expected level of their rehabilitation goals. Fifty‐five percent of the goals were related to Activity/Participation, and 45% of the goals were categorized in the Body Structures and Function domain of the ICF. Fifteen goals focused on positioning, while 16 goals focused on (independent) activities of daily living (ADL/IADL). Both the positioning and ADL/IADL groups experienced a reduction in MAS following the administration of BoNTA. The positioning group was older and more impaired. Mapping goals to ICF identifies specific targets for intervention, establishes a common language within the interdisciplinary team and contextualizes the ways disability impacts goals. This study is limited by a relatively small sample size and absence of a functional measure. Further studies can explore the development of goal/item banks to advance the use of GAS for spasticity management. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
RETRACTED: Glyoxalase 2 Is Involved in Human Prostate Cancer Progression as Part of a Mechanism Driven By PTEN/PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling With Involvement of PKM2 and ERα
Authors: Talesa Vincenzo N. , Ferri Ivana , Bellezza Guido , Love Harold D. , Sidoni Angelo , Antognelli Cinzia
Published: October 2016

BACKGROUND

Glyoxalase 2 (Glo2), together with glyoxalase 1 (Glo1), forms the main scavenging system of methylglyoxal, a potent pro‐apoptotic agent mainly generated by glycolysis. An increased rate of glycolysis is a well known signature of cancer cells. As a survival strategy, Glo1 is overexpressed in many human malignant cells, including prostate cancer (PCa), where it plays a crucial role in progression. No information is available on the role of Glo2 in the same ambit. PCa is the most common malignancy affecting men in the western world. Progression to a lethal hormone‐refractory PCa represents the major concern in this pathology. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying PCa invasiveness and metastasis is urgently needed in order to develop novel therapeutic targets for this incurable state of the malignancy.

METHODS

Glo2 and Glo1 expression was examined in clinical samples of PCa by immunohistochemistry and in different PCa cell models by western blotting and quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Gene silencing/overexpression and scavenging/inhibitory agents were used for functional analyses.

RESULTS

We demonstrated that Glo2, together with Glo1, represents a novel mechanism in PCa progression as part of a pathway driven by PTEN/PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling with involvement of PKM2 and ERα. Importantly, Glo1/Glo2 silencing did not alter the behavior of benign cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Targeting glyoxalases metabolic pathway may represent a strategy to selectively inhibit advanced PCa. Prostate 77:196–210, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Calibration bias of experimentally determined chlorine isotope enrichment factors: the need for a two‐point calibration in compound‐specific chlorine isotope analysis
Authors: Ebert Karin A. , Laskov Christine , Elsner Martin , Haderlein Stefan B.
Published: October 2016

Rationale

The recent development of compound‐specific online chlorine isotope analysis (37Cl‐CSIA) methods has fostered dual chlorine–carbon isotope studies to gain better insights into sources and environmental transformation reactions of chlorinated ethenes. One‐point and two‐point calibration schemes are currently used to convert raw data to the international δ37ClSMOC scale, but a critical evaluation of best practices to arrive at reliable δ37ClSMOC signatures and enrichment factors was missing and is presented here.

Methods

Aqueous solutions of neat perchloroethylene and trichloroethylene (TCE) and aqueous samples from a TCE biodegradation experiment with pure cultures of Desulfitobacterium hafniense Y51 were analysed for their chlorine isotope ratios using GC/qMS and GC/IRMS. The δ37ClSMOC values were obtained using one‐point and two‐point calibration schemes. Chlorine isotope enrichment factors, εCl, were calculated using both approaches and the corresponding bias of δ37ClSMOC values introduced by the different types of calibration was determined.

Results

Different calibration methods resulted in significant differences (up to 30%) in both δ37Cl signatures and εCl values.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate that a two‐point calibration together with comprehensive information on reference materials is indispensable and should become standard practice for reliable 37Cl‐CSIA of organic compounds. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stakeholder Engagement and Environmental Practice Adoption: The Mediating Role of Process Management Practices
Authors: Jakhar Suresh Kumar
Published: October 2016

This study extends the current research on diverse organizational responses to stakeholder demands on environmental practice adoption. I argue that process management practices influence ‘green’ innovation and that these differences in their adoption level engender heterogeneous responses to similar stakeholder pressures. Theoretically, the proposed relationship is supported by the relationship between institutional theory, the resource‐based view of the firm and complementary assets. The proposed relationship is empirically tested using original survey data obtained from Indian manufacturing facilities. Results obtained using the structural equation modeling approach support the proposed hypothesis that process management practices mediate the relationship between stakeholder pressure and environmental practice adoption. This study contributes to a theoretical and practical understanding of why there is an idiosyncratic organizational response to environmental demand, by analyzing institutional factors (stakeholder pressure) as predictors and internal firm resources and capabilities as mediators. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
Promoting Sustainable Development at an Organizational Level: An Analysis of the Drivers of Workplace Environmentally Friendly Behaviour of Employees
Authors: Saifulina Nailya , Carballo‐Penela Adolfo
Published: October 2016

Taking into account the importance of improving organizational environmental performance, the current study examines the drivers of workplace environmentally friendly behaviour (WEFB) of employees in a public organization. Multiple regression analysis with data from sample of 59 employees was used to test the proposed hypotheses.

Results show that harmonious environmental passion of employees and organizational environmental support are significantly related to WEFB. Furthermore, our findings show that gender and perceived incomes also influence the workplace environmentally friendly behaviour of employees. The obtained findings may add knowledge to this field since previous investigations have paid little attention to the determinants of WEFB in the public sector. Besides, the findings have practical implications, suggesting that public organizations should demonstrate their environmental commitment to their employees. Providing employees with information to develop environmentally friendly behaviours at work could support those organizations interested in improving their environmental performance. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
Surgery‐Related Muscle Loss and Its Association with Postoperative Complications After Major Hepatectomy with Extrahepatic Bile Duct Resection
Authors: Otsuji Hidehiko , Yokoyama Yukihiro , Ebata Tomoki , Igami Tsuyoshi , Sugawara Gen , Mizuno Takashi , Yamaguchi Junpei , Nagino Masato
Published: October 2016

Background

Several studies have reported that preoperative sarcopenia negatively impacts postoperative outcomes. Meanwhile, changes in skeletal muscle mass during the acute phase after surgery and their association with postoperative complications are unknown.

Objective

The objective of this study was to investigate the relation between changes in skeletal muscle mass and postoperative complications after major hepatectomy with extrahepatic bile duct resection.

Methods

This study included 254 patients who underwent major hepatectomies with extrahepatic bile duct resections. Total psoas muscle area (TPA) was measured using abdominal computed tomography images obtained before and 1 week after surgery. The percent change in TPA after surgery was calculated. Patients were stratified by sex‐specific tertiles according to the extent of muscle mass change by percentage. Surgery‐related muscle loss (SML) was defined as the lowest tertile of percent change in TPA.

Results

Male patients with a percent change of TPA lower than −5.0 % (n = 54) and female patients with that lower than −2.6 % (n = 31) were included in the lowest tertile and were categorized into a group with SML. The incidence rates of major complications, pancreatic fistula, infectious complications, and mortality were all significantly higher in the group with SML than in the group without SML. By multivariate analyses, SML was identified as an independent factor associated with major complications (odds ratio 3.21; 95 % confidential interval 1.82–5.76, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

SML is significantly associated with postoperative morbidity and mortality in patients who underwent major hepatectomies with extrahepatic bile duct resections.
Sublobar Resection Margin Width Does Not Affect Recurrence of Clinical N0 Non‐small Cell Lung Cancer Presenting as GGO‐Predominant Nodule of 3 cm or Less
Authors: Moon Youngkyu , Lee Kyo Young , Moon Seok Whan , Park Jae Kil
Published: October 2016

Background

Sublobar resection of lung cancer may benefit patients with lung cancer presenting as ground‐glass opacity (GGO) nodules. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of margin width on recurrence after sublobar resection in patients with clinical N0 non‐small cell lung cancer presenting as GGO‐predominant nodule.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective chart review of 91 patients treated for clinical N0 non‐small cell lung cancer ≤3 cm by sublobar resection with clear resection margins. We assigned them to two groups: GGO‐predominant tumor and solid‐predominant tumor. Each group was subdivided into two groups according to the margin width: resection margin ≤5 mm and resection margin >5 mm. We analyzed the clinicopathological findings and survival among these four groups.

Results

There was no recurrence in GGO‐predominant tumors after sublobar resection. Margin width did not influence the recurrence in GGO‐predominant tumors. In the cases of solid‐predominant tumor, 5‐year recurrence‐free survival after sublobar resection according to margin width ≤5 and >5 mm was 24.2 and 79.6 %, respectively (p < 0.001). Therefore, narrow margin width (resection margin ≤5 mm) was a significant risk factor for recurrence of solid‐predominant tumors (hazard ratio 3.868, 95 % confidence interval 1.177–12.714, p = 0.026).

Conclusions

The width between the tumor and resection margin does not affect the recurrence after R0 sublobar resection in patients with clinical N0 GGO‐predominant lung cancer ≤3 cm. By contrast, margin width is a significant risk factor for recurrence after sublobar resection in patients with clinical N0 solid‐predominant lung cancer.
Microstructural and Chemical Rejuvenation of a Ni-Based Superalloy
Authors: Yao Zhiqi , Degnan Craig C. , Jepson Mark A. E. , Thomson Rachel C.
Published: October 2016

The microstructural evolution of the Ni-based superalloy CMSX-4 including the change in gamma prime morphology, size, and distribution after high-temperature degradation and subsequent rejuvenation heat treatments has been examined using field emission gun scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. In this paper, it is shown that there are significant differences in the size of the ‘channels’ between gamma prime particles, the degree of rafting, and the size of tertiary gamma prime particles in each of the different microstructural conditions studied. Chemical analysis has been carried out to compare rejuvenated and pre-service samples after the same subsequent degradation procedure. The results indicate that although the microstructures of pre-service and rejuvenated samples are similar, chemical differences are more pronounced in the rejuvenated samples, suggesting that chemical segregation from partitioning of the elements was not completely eliminated through the applied rejuvenation heat treatment. A number of modified rejuvenation heat treatment trials were carried out to reduce the chemical segregation prior to creep testing. The creep test results suggest that chemical segregation has an immeasurable influence on the short-term mechanical properties under the test conditions used here, indicating that further work is required to fully understand the suitability of specific rejuvenation heat treatments and their role in the extension of component life in power plant applications.
Morphometrics and paleoecology ofCatenipora(Tabulata) from the Xiazhen Formation (Upper Ordovician), Zhuzhai, South China
Authors: Liang Kun , Elias Robert J. , Choh Suk-Joo , Lee Dong-Chan , Lee Dong-Jin
Published: October 2016

Cateniporais one of the most common tabulate coral genera occurring in various lithofacies in the Upper Ordovician Xiazhen Formation at Zhuzhai in South China. A combination of traditional multivariate analysis and geometric morphometrics is applied to a large number of specimens to distinguish and identify species. Based on three major principal components extracted from 11 morphological characters, three major groups as determined by the cluster-analysis dendrogram are considered to be morphospecies. Their validity and distinctiveness are confirmed by discriminant analysis, descriptive statistics, and bivariate plots. Tabularium area and common wall thickness are the most meaningful characters to distinguish the three morphospecies. Geometric morphometrics is adopted to compare the morphospecies with types and/or figured specimens of species previously reported from the vicinity of Zhuzhai. Despite discrepancies in corallite size, principal component analysis and discriminant analysis, as well as consideration of overall morphological characteristics, indicate that the morphospecies representC.zhejiangensisYu in Yu et al., 1963,C.shiyangensisLin and Chow, 1977, andC.dianbiancunensisLin and Chow, 1977.

Cateniporaoccurs in seven stratigraphic intervals in the Xiazhen Formation at Zhuzhai, representing a variety of heterogeneous environments. The coralla preservation is variable due to differential compaction; coralla preserved in limestones are commonly intact and in growth position, whereas those in shales are mostly crushed or fragmentary. The size and shape of corallites are considered primarily to be species-specific characters, but are also related to the depositional environments. In all species, morphological characters, including corallite size, septal development, and shape and size of lacunae, show high variability in accordance with lithofacies and stratigraphic position. The intraspecific differences in corallite size at various localities in the Zhuzhai area may indicate responses to local environmental factors, but may also reflect genetic differences if there was limited connection among populations.
How Representational Pictures Enhance Students’ Performance	and Test-Taking Pleasure in Low-Stakes Assessment
Authors: Lindner Marlit A. , Ihme Jan M. , Saß Steffani , Köller Olaf
Published: October 2016

Abstract. Pictures are often used in standardized educational large-scale assessment (LSA), but their impact on test parameters has received little attention up until now. Even less is known about pictures’ affective effects on students in testing (i.e., test-taking pleasure and motivation). However, such knowledge is crucial for a focused application of multiple representations in LSA. Therefore, this study investigated how adding representational pictures (RPs) to text-based item stems affects (1) item difficulty and (2) students’ test-taking pleasure. An experimental study with N = 305 schoolchildren was conducted, using 48 manipulated parallel science items (text-only vs. text-picture) in a rotated multimatrix design to realize within-subject measures. Students’ general cognitive abilities, reading abilities, and background variables were assessed to consider potential interactions between RPs’ effects and students’ performance. Students also rated their item-solving pleasure for each item. Results from item-response theory (IRT) model comparisons showed that RPs only reduced item difficulty when pictures visualized information mandatory for solving the task, while RPs substantially enhanced students’ test-taking pleasure even when they visualized optional context information. Overall, our findings suggest that RPs have a positive cognitive and affective influence on students’ performance in LSA (i.e., multimedia effect in testing) and should be considered more frequently.
Joint Aerosol Research Between Cuba and Spain Proves Fruitful
Authors: Antuña-Marrero Juan , De Frutos Baraja Ángel , Estevan Arredondo René
Published: October 2016

Optics Atmospheric Teams' Workshop; Camagüey, Cuba, 27–29 January 2016
Why 2015 Was a Big Hurricane Year for the Eastern North Pacific
Authors: Stanley Sarah
Published: October 2016

Record-breaking oceanic and atmospheric conditions led to a remarkable season in a key Pacific hurricane development region.
Tracking Landslide Hazards Around the World, Pixel by Pixel
Authors: Sidder Aaron
Published: October 2016

Combining satellite precipitation measurements and remotely sensed environmental data, a new system aims to improve landslide awareness and preparedness in all corners of the globe.
Effect of growth hormone and IgG aggregates on dendritic cells activation and T‐cells polarization
Authors: Gallais Yann , Szely Natacha , Legrand François‐Xavier , Leroy Arnaud , Pallardy Marc , Turbica Isabelle
Published: October 2016

Patients treated with therapeutic biological products (BP) frequently develop anti‐drug antibodies (ADA) with potential neutralizing capacities leading to loss of clinical response or serious side effects. BP aggregates have been suggested to promote immunogenicity, thus enhancing ADA production. Dendritic cells (DC) are key effectors in T‐cell and B‐cell fates, and the subsequent generation of immunogenicity. The objective of this work was to determine if BP aggregates can participate to DC maturation and T‐cell activation. We compared aggregates from three different proteins: human growth hormone (hGH), Rituximab, a chimeric anti‐CD20 antibody and a serum‐purified human IgG1. All three proteins underwent a stir stress, generating comparable populations of aggregated particles. Maturation of human monocyte‐derived DC (moDC) upon exposure to native BPs or aggregates was evaluated in vitro. Results showed that hGH aggregates induced an increased expression of moDC co‐stimulation markers, and augmented levels of IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐12p40, CCL2, CCL3, CCL4 and CXCL10. Both antibodies aggregates were also able to modify DC phenotype, but cytokine and chemokine productions were seen only with IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐12p40 and CXCL10. Aggregates‐treated moDC enhanced allogenic T‐cell proliferation and cytokines production, suggesting Th1 polarization with hGH, and mixed T‐cell responses with antibodies aggregates. These results showed that BP aggregates provoked DC maturation, thus driving adaptive T‐cell responses and polarization.
Plasma-induced, nitrogen-doped graphene-based aerogels for high-performance supercapacitors
Authors: Zhang Xue-Yu , Sun Shi-Han , Sun Xiao-Juan , Zhao Yan-Rong , Chen Li , Yang Yue , Lü Wei , Li Da-Bing
Published: October 2016

Commonly used energy storage devices include stacked layers of active materials on two-dimensional sheets, and the limited specific surface area restricts the further development of energy storage. Three-dimensional (3D) structures with high specific surface areas would improve device performance. Herein, we present a novel procedure to fabricate macroscopic, high-quality, nitrogen-doped, 3D graphene/nanoparticle aerogels. The procedure includes vacuum filtration, freeze-drying, and plasma treatment, which can be further expanded for large-scale production of nitrogen-doped, graphene-based aerogels. The behavior of the supercapacitor is investigated using a typical nitrogen-doped graphene/Fe3O4nanoparticle 3D structure (NG/Fe3O4). Compared with 3D graphene/Fe3O4structures prepared by the traditional hydrothermal method, the NG/Fe3O4supercapacitor prepared by the present method has a 153% improvement in specific capacitance, and there is no obvious decrease in specific capacitance after 1000 cycles. The present work provides a new and facile method to produce large-scale, 3D, graphene-based materials with high specific capacitance for energy storage.
Electronic control of H+ current in a bioprotonic device with Gramicidin A and Alamethicin
Authors: Hemmatian Zahra , Keene Scott , Josberger Erik , Miyake Takeo , Arboleda Carina , Soto-Rodríguez Jessica , Baneyx François , Rolandi Marco
Published: October 2016

In biological systems, intercellular communication is mediated by membrane proteins and ion channels that regulate traffic of ions and small molecules across cell membranes. A bioelectronic device with ion channels that control ionic flow across a supported lipid bilayer (SLB) should therefore be ideal for interfacing with biological systems. Here, we demonstrate a biotic–abiotic bioprotonic device with Pd contacts that regulates proton (H+) flow across an SLB incorporating the ion channels Gramicidin A (gA) and Alamethicin (ALM). We model the device characteristics using the Goldman–Hodgkin–Katz (GHK) solution to the Nernst–Planck equation for transport across the membrane. We derive the permeability for an SLB integrating gA and ALM and demonstrate pH control as a function of applied voltage and membrane permeability. This work opens the door to integrating more complex H+ channels at the Pd contact interface to produce responsive biotic–abiotic devices with increased functionality.
Evolutionary interplay between sister cytochrome P450 genes shapes plasticity in plant metabolism
Authors: Liu Zhenhua , Tavares Raquel , Forsythe Evan S. , André François , Lugan Raphaël , Jonasson Gabriella , Boutet-Mercey Stéphanie , Tohge Takayuki , Beilstein Mark A. , Werck-Reichhart Danièle , Renault Hugues
Published: October 2016

Expansion of the cytochrome P450 gene family is often proposed to have a critical role in the evolution of metabolic complexity, in particular in microorganisms, insects and plants. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the evolution of this complexity are poorly understood. Here we describe the evolutionary history of a plant P450 retrogene, which emerged and underwent fixation in the common ancestor of Brassicales, before undergoing tandem duplication in the ancestor of Brassicaceae. Duplication leads first to gain of dual functions in one of the copies. Both sister genes are retained through subsequent speciation but eventually return to a single copy in two of three diverging lineages. In the lineage in which both copies are maintained, the ancestral functions are split between paralogs and a novel function arises in the copy under relaxed selection. Our work illustrates how retrotransposition and gene duplication can favour the emergence of novel metabolic functions.
Mutually exclusive sense–antisense transcription at FLC facilitates environmentally induced gene repression
Authors: Rosa Stefanie , Duncan Susan , Dean Caroline
Published: October 2016

Antisense transcription through genic regions is pervasive in most genomes; however, its functional significance is still unclear. We are studying the role of antisense transcripts (COOLAIR) in the cold-induced, epigenetic silencing of Arabidopsis FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC), a regulator of the transition to reproduction. Here we use single-molecule RNA FISH to address the mechanistic relationship of FLC and COOLAIR transcription at the cellular level. We demonstrate that while sense and antisense transcripts can co-occur in the same cell they are mutually exclusive at individual loci. Cold strongly upregulates COOLAIR transcription in an increased number of cells and through the mutually exclusive relationship facilitates shutdown of sense FLC transcription in cis. COOLAIR transcripts form dense clouds at each locus, acting to influence FLC transcription through changed H3K36me3 dynamics. These results may have general implications for other loci showing both sense and antisense transcription.
Abundant DNA 6mA methylation during early embryogenesis of zebrafish and pig
Authors: Liu Jianzhao , Zhu Yuanxiang , Luo Guan-Zheng , Wang Xinxia , Yue Yanan , Wang Xiaona , Zong Xin , Chen Kai , Yin Hang , Fu Ye , Han Dali , Wang Yizhen , Chen Dahua , He Chuan
Published: October 2016

DNA N6-methyldeoxyadenosine (6mA) is a well-known prokaryotic DNA modification that has been shown to exist and play epigenetic roles in eukaryotic DNA. Here we report that 6mA accumulates up to ∼0.1–0.2% of total deoxyadenosine during early embryogenesis of vertebrates, but diminishes to the background level with the progression of the embryo development. During this process a large fraction of 6mAs locate in repetitive regions of the genome.
Formation of metastable phases by spinodal decomposition
Authors: Alert Ricard , Tierno Pietro , Casademunt Jaume
Published: October 2016

Metastable phases may be spontaneously formed from other metastable phases through nucleation. Here we demonstrate the spontaneous formation of a metastable phase from an unstable equilibrium by spinodal decomposition, which leads to a transient coexistence of stable and metastable phases. This phenomenon is generic within the recently introduced scenario of the landscape-inversion phase transitions, which we experimentally realize as a structural transition in a colloidal crystal. This transition exhibits a rich repertoire of new phase-ordering phenomena, including the coexistence of two equilibrium phases connected by two physically different interfaces. In addition, this scenario enables the control of sizes and lifetimes of metastable domains. Our findings open a new setting that broadens the fundamental understanding of phase-ordering kinetics, and yield new prospects of applications in materials science.
Scaled laboratory experiments explain the kink behaviour of the Crab Nebula jet
Authors: Li C. K. , Tzeferacos P. , Lamb D. , Gregori G. , Norreys P. A. , Rosenberg M. J. , Follett R. K. , Froula D. H. , Koenig M. , Seguin F. H. , Frenje J. A. , Rinderknecht H. G. , Sio H. , Zylstra A. B. , Petrasso R. D. , Amendt P. A. , Park H. S. , Remington B. A. , Ryutov D. D. , Wilks S. C. , Betti R. , Frank A. , Hu S. X. , Sangster T. C. , Hartigan P. , Drake R. P. , Kuranz C. C. , Lebedev S. V. , Woolsey N. C.
Published: October 2016

The remarkable discovery by the Chandra X-ray observatory that the Crab nebula’s jet periodically changes direction provides a challenge to our understanding of astrophysical jet dynamics. It has been suggested that this phenomenon may be the consequence of magnetic fields and magnetohydrodynamic instabilities, but experimental demonstration in a controlled laboratory environment has remained elusive. Here we report experiments that use high-power lasers to create a plasma jet that can be directly compared with the Crab jet through well-defined physical scaling laws. The jet generates its own embedded toroidal magnetic fields; as it moves, plasma instabilities result in multiple deflections of the propagation direction, mimicking the kink behaviour of the Crab jet. The experiment is modelled with three-dimensional numerical simulations that show exactly how the instability develops and results in changes of direction of the jet.
Disaggregating the evidence linking biodiversity and ecosystem services
Authors: Ricketts Taylor H. , Watson Keri B. , Koh Insu , Ellis Alicia M. , Nicholson Charles C. , Posner Stephen , Richardson Leif L. , Sonter Laura J.
Published: October 2016

Ecosystem services (ES) are an increasingly popular policy framework for connecting biodiversity with human well-being. These efforts typically assume that biodiversity and ES covary, but the relationship between them remains remarkably unclear. Here we analyse >500 recent papers and show that reported relationships differ among ES, methods of measuring biodiversity and ES, and three different approaches to linking them (spatial correlations, management comparisons and functional experiments). For spatial correlations, biodiversity relates more strongly to measures of ES supply than to resulting human benefits. For management comparisons, biodiversity of ‘service providers’ predicts ES more often than biodiversity of functionally unrelated taxa, but the opposite is true for spatial correlations. Functional experiments occur at smaller spatial scales than management and spatial studies, which show contrasting responses to scale. Our results illuminate the varying dynamics relating biodiversity to ES, and show the importance of matching management efforts to the most relevant scientific evidence.
Social learning strategies modify the effect of network structure on group performance
Authors: Barkoczi Daniel , Galesic Mirta
Published: October 2016

The structure of communication networks is an important determinant of the capacity of teams, organizations and societies to solve policy, business and science problems. Yet, previous studies reached contradictory results about the relationship between network structure and performance, finding support for the superiority of both well-connected efficient and poorly connected inefficient network structures. Here we argue that understanding how communication networks affect group performance requires taking into consideration the social learning strategies of individual team members. We show that efficient networks outperform inefficient networks when individuals rely on conformity by copying the most frequent solution among their contacts. However, inefficient networks are superior when individuals follow the best member by copying the group member with the highest payoff. In addition, groups relying on conformity based on a small sample of others excel at complex tasks, while groups following the best member achieve greatest performance for simple tasks. Our findings reconcile contradictory results in the literature and have broad implications for the study of social learning across disciplines.
Single-shot observation of optical rogue waves in integrable turbulence using time microscopy
Authors: Suret Pierre , Koussaifi Rebecca El , Tikan Alexey , Evain Clément , Randoux Stéphane , Szwaj Christophe , Bielawski Serge
Published: October 2016

Optical fibres are favourable tabletop laboratories to investigate both coherent and incoherent nonlinear waves. In particular, exact solutions of the one-dimensional nonlinear Schrödinger equation such as fundamental solitons or solitons on finite background can be generated by launching periodic, specifically designed coherent waves in optical fibres. It is an open fundamental question to know whether these coherent structures can emerge from the nonlinear propagation of random waves. However the typical sub-picosecond timescale prevented—up to now—time-resolved observations of the awaited dynamics. Here, we report temporal ‘snapshots’ of random light using a specially designed ‘time-microscope’. Ultrafast structures having peak powers much larger than the average optical power are generated from the propagation of partially coherent waves in optical fibre and are recorded with 250 femtoseconds resolution. Our experiment demonstrates the central role played by ‘breather-like’ structures such as the Peregrine soliton in the emergence of heavy-tailed statistics in integrable turbulence.
Polymer-dispersed liquid crystal elastomers
Authors: Rešetič Andraž , Milavec Jerneja , Zupančič Blaž , Domenici Valentina , Zalar Boštjan
Published: October 2016

The need for mechanical manipulation during the curing of conventional liquid crystal elastomers diminishes their applicability in the field of shape-programmable soft materials and future applications in additive manufacturing. Here we report on polymer-dispersed liquid crystal elastomers, novel composite materials that eliminate this difficulty. Their thermal shape memory anisotropy is imprinted by curing in external magnetic field, providing for conventional moulding of macroscopically sized soft, thermomechanically active elastic objects of general shapes. The binary soft-soft composition of isotropic elastomer matrix, filled with freeze-fracture-fabricated, oriented liquid crystal elastomer microparticles as colloidal inclusions, allows for fine-tuning of thermal morphing behaviour. This is accomplished by adjusting the concentration, spatial distribution and orientation of microparticles or using blends of microparticles with different thermomechanical characteristics. We demonstrate that any Gaussian thermomechanical deformation mode (bend, cup, saddle, left and right twist) of a planar sample, as well as beat-like actuation, is attainable with bilayer microparticle configurations.
Hierarchical Micro/Nano-Porous Acupuncture Needles Offering Enhanced Therapeutic Properties
Authors: In Su-ll , Gwak Young S. , Kim Hye Rim , Razzaq Abdul , Lee Kyeong-Seok , Kim Hee Young , Chang SuChan , Lee Bong Hyo , Grimes Craig A. , Yang Chae Ha
Published: October 2016

Acupuncture as a therapeutic intervention has been widely used for treatment of many pathophysiological disorders. For achieving improved therapeutic effects, relatively thick acupuncture needles have been frequently used in clinical practice with, in turn, enhanced stimulation intensity. However due to the discomforting nature of the larger-diameter acupuncture needles there is considerable interest in developing advanced acupuncture therapeutical techniques that provide more comfort with improved efficacy. So motivated, we have developed a new class of acupuncture needles, porous acupuncture needles (PANs) with hierarchical micro/nano-scale conical pores upon the surface, fabricated via a simple and well known electrochemical process, with surface area approximately 20 times greater than conventional acupuncture needles. The performance of these high-surface-area PANs is evaluated by monitoring the electrophysiological and behavioral responses from the in vivo stimulation of Shenmen (HT7) points in Wistar rats, showing PANs to be more effective in controlling electrophysiological and behavioral responses than conventional acupuncture needles. Comparative analysis of cocaine induced locomotor activity using PANs and thick acupuncture needles shows enhanced performance of PANs with significantly less pain sensation. Our work offers a unique pathway for achieving a comfortable and improved acupuncture therapeutic effect.
Recent origin and semi-permeable species boundaries in the scleractinian coral genus Stylophora from the Red Sea
Authors: Arrigoni Roberto , Benzoni Francesca , Terraneo Tullia I. , Caragnano Annalisa , Berumen Michael L.
Published: October 2016

Reticulate evolution, introgressive hybridisation, and phenotypic plasticity have been documented in scleractinian corals and have challenged our ability to interpret speciation processes. Stylophora is a key model system in coral biology and physiology, but genetic analyses have revealed that cryptic lineages concealed by morphological stasis exist in the Stylophora pistillata species complex. The Red Sea represents a hotspot for Stylophora biodiversity with six morphospecies described, two of which are regionally endemic. We investigated Stylophora species boundaries from the Red Sea and the associated Symbiodinium by sequencing seven DNA loci. Stylophora morphospecies from the Red Sea were not resolved based on mitochondrial phylogenies and showed nuclear allele sharing. Low genetic differentiation, weak isolation, and strong gene flow were found among morphospecies although no signals of genetic recombination were evident among them. Stylophora mamillata harboured Symbiodinium clade C whereas the other two Stylophora morphospecies hosted either Symbiodinium clade A or C. These evolutionary patterns suggest that either gene exchange occurs through reticulate evolution or that multiple ecomorphs of a phenotypically plastic species occur in the Red Sea. The recent origin of the lineage leading to the Red Sea Stylophora may indicate an ongoing speciation driven by environmental changes and incomplete lineage sorting.