bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Systematic Medical Appraisal, Referral and Treatment (SMART) Mental Health Programme for providing innovative mental health care in rural communities in India
Authors: Maulik P. K. , Devarapalli S. , Kallakuri S. , Praveen D. , Jha V. , Patel A.
Published: July 2015

Background.

India has few mental health professionals to treat the large number of people suffering from mental disorders. Rural areas are particularly disadvantaged due to lack of trained health workers. Ways to improve care could be by training village health workers in basic mental health care, and by using innovative methods of service delivery. The ongoing Systematic Medical Appraisal, Referral and Treatment Mental Health Programme will assess the acceptability, feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a task-shifting mobile-based intervention using mixed methods, in rural Andhra Pradesh, India.

Method.

The key components of the study are an anti-stigma campaign followed by a mobile-based mental health services intervention. The study will be done across two sites in rural areas, with intervention periods of 1 year and 3 months, respectively. The programme uses a mobile-based clinical decision support tool to be used by non-physician health workers and primary care physicians to screen, diagnose and manage individuals suffering from depression, suicidal risk and emotional stress. The key aim of the study will be to assess any changes in mental health services use among those screened positive following the intervention. A number of other outcomes will also be assessed using mixed methods, specifically focussed on reduction of stigma, increase in mental health awareness and other process indicators.

Conclusions.

This project addresses a number of objectives as outlined in the Mental Health Action Plan of World Health Organization and India's National Mental Health Programme and Policy. If successful, the next phase will involve design and conduct of a cluster randomised controlled trial.
Demonic Violence and Moral Panic in Postwar Sri Lanka: Explaining the Grease Devil Crisis
Authors: Venugopal Rajesh
Published: July 2015

How can crisis, breakdown, violence, and collapse be explained in the social sciences? This paper engages with this broad question by studying an extraordinary episode of mass tension and anxiety in postwar Sri Lanka caused by a mystery male predator known as the “grease devil.” Reports of widespread attacks on women in mid-2011 by this shadowy, ubiquitous, and powerful being led to heightened levels of vigilance and fear across large parts of rural and peri-urban Sri Lanka. It had a particularly strong impact on the formerly war-torn northeastern part of the island, where it led to violent confrontations between affected communities and the police and military. Drawing on primary research and by engaging with a range of literatures across the historical and social science literature, this paper attempts to reconstruct and understand the grease devil crisis. In doing so, it identifies and evaluates the different ways in which the crisis could be explained and the extent to which these approaches produce analytically relevant insights.
The nursing contribution to nutritional care in cancer cachexia
Authors: Hopkinson Jane B.
Published: July 2015

Cancer cachexia is a complex syndrome. Its defining feature is involuntary weight loss, which arises, in part, because of muscle atrophy and is accompanied by functional decline. International expert consensus recommends that nutritional support and counselling is a component of multimodal therapy for cancer cachexia, as poor nutritional intake can contribute to progression of the syndrome. The present paper focuses on what is presently known about the nursing contribution to nutritional care in cancer cachexia. There is potential for nurses to play an important role. However, obstacles to this include lack of a robust evidence base to support their nutritional care practices and unmet need for education about nutrition in cancer. The nursing role's boundaries and the outcomes of nurse-delivered nutritional care in cancer cachexia are both uncertain and should be investigated.
Daily electronic self-monitoring in bipolar disorder using smartphones – the MONARCA I trial: a randomized, placebo-controlled, single-blind, parallel group trial
Authors: Faurholt-Jepsen M. , Frost M. , Ritz C. , Christensen E. M. , Jacoby A. S. , Mikkelsen R. L. , Knorr U. , Bardram J. E. , Vinberg M. , Kessing L. V.
Published: July 2015

Background

The number of studies on electronic self-monitoring in affective disorder and other psychiatric disorders is increasing and indicates high patient acceptance and adherence. Nevertheless, the effect of electronic self-monitoring in patients with bipolar disorder has never been investigated in a randomized controlled trial (RCT). The objective of this trial was to investigate in a RCT whether the use of daily electronic self-monitoring using smartphones reduces depressive and manic symptoms in patients with bipolar disorder.

Method

A total of 78 patients with bipolar disorder according to ICD-10 criteria, aged 18–60 years, and with 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) scores ≤17 were randomized to the use of a smartphone for daily self-monitoring including a clinical feedback loop (the intervention group) or to the use of a smartphone for normal communicative purposes (the control group) for 6 months. The primary outcomes were differences in depressive and manic symptoms measured using HAMD-17 and YMRS, respectively, between the intervention and control groups.

Results

Intention-to-treat analyses using linear mixed models showed no significant effects of daily self-monitoring using smartphones on depressive as well as manic symptoms. There was a tendency towards more sustained depressive symptoms in the intervention group (B = 2.02, 95% confidence interval −0.13 to 4.17, p = 0.066). Sub-group analysis among patients without mixed symptoms and patients with presence of depressive and manic symptoms showed significantly more depressive symptoms and fewer manic symptoms during the trial period in the intervention group.

Conclusions

These results highlight that electronic self-monitoring, although intuitive and appealing, needs critical consideration and further clarification before it is implemented as a clinical tool.
Functional connectivity for face processing in individuals with body dysmorphic disorder and anorexia nervosa
Authors: Moody T. D. , Sasaki M. A. , Bohon C. , Strober M. A. , Bookheimer S. Y. , Sheen C. L. , Feusner J. D.
Published: July 2015

Background.

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and anorexia nervosa (AN) are both characterized by distorted perception of appearance. Previous studies in BDD suggest abnormalities in visual processing of own and others’ faces, but no study has examined visual processing of faces in AN, nor directly compared the two disorders in this respect.

Method.

We collected functional magnetic resonance imaging data on 60 individuals of equivalent age and gender in each of three groups – 20 BDD, 20 weight-restored AN, and 20 healthy controls (HC) – while they viewed images of others’ faces that contained only high or low spatial frequency information (HSF or LSF). We tested hypotheses about functional connectivity within specialized sub-networks for HSF and LSF visual processing, using psychophysiological interaction analyses.

Results.

The BDD group demonstrated increased functional connectivity compared to HC between left anterior occipital face area and right fusiform face area (FFA) for LSF faces, which was associated with symptom severity. Both BDD and AN groups had increased connectivity compared to HC between FFA and precuneous/posterior cingulate gyrus for LSF faces, and decreased connectivity between FFA and insula. In addition, we found that LSF connectivity between FFA and posterior cingulate gyrus was significantly associated with thoughts about own appearance in AN.

Conclusions.

Results suggest similar abnormal functional connectivity within higher-order systems for face processing in BDD and AN, but distinct abnormal connectivity patterns within occipito-temporal visual networks. Findings may have implications for understanding relationships between these disorders, and the pathophysiology underlying perceptual distortions.
Colour vision and food selection ofCallosciurus finlaysonii(Sciuridae) in tropical seasonal forests
Authors: Tamura Noriko , Fujii Yukiko , Boonkeow Phadet , Kanchanasaka Budsabong
Published: July 2015

Finlayson's squirrel is frugivorous and distributed throughout the tropical seasonal forests of South-East Asia. To understand the resource use of tree squirrels in a tropical forest ecosystem, colour vision and fruit selection of Finlayson's squirrel were investigated. Under laboratory conditions, this species possesses dichromatic colour vision; it can discriminate white, yellow, violet, brown and black versus green similar to leaves, but it cannot discriminate orange and red versus green. In addition, squirrels can discriminate pale pink, pink and dark red versus green but cannot discriminate red versus green due to its similar lightness and chroma. Through field observations, squirrels selected black or brown fruits and fed on the mature seeds although fruits of various colours appear on a tree, such as green, orange, yellow, pink or white ones including immature seeds. Brown, violet or black fruits accounted for 87% of those fruits consumed by these squirrels, whereas those with yellow, orange or red colour accounted for only 7%. The dichromatic colour vision in Finlayson's squirrel may be useful for selecting ripe fruits in preference to unripe ones.
The role of great apes in seed dispersal of the tropical forest tree speciesDacryodes normandii(Burseraceae) in Gabon
Authors: Haurez Barbara , Daïnou Kasso , Tagg Nikki , Petre Charles-Albert , Doucet Jean-Louis
Published: July 2015

The identification of seed dispersers and predators is essential to understand the effect of anthropogenic disturbances, and the associated defaunation process, on tropical forest dynamics in Central Africa. In this study, the animals involved in seed predation and dispersal ofDacryodes normandii(Burseraceae), an endozoochorously dispersed tree species endemic to Gabonese forests, were identified in a site in south-east Gabon using two complementary methods: direct observation and camera-trap monitoring of fruit piles. The combined sampling effort (172 h of direct observations and 796 d of camera trapping) led to the identification of six disperser and eight predator species ofD. normandiiseeds. With high frequency of consumption (88% and 57% of their visits, respectively) and long visit duration (83 and 23 min, respectively), the western lowland gorilla and central chimpanzee were identified as the main dispersers of this species. Seeds passed through the gorilla gut exhibited high germination success (68%). Rodents were identified as predators ofD. normandiiseeds, potentially displaying rare secondary dispersal through scatter-hoarding. The results of this study highlight the importance of great apes in the seed dispersal of this tree species.
Universality of Graphs with Few Triangles and Anti-Triangles
Authors: HEFETZ DAN , TYOMKYN MYKHAYLO
Published: July 2015

We study 3-random-likegraphs, that is, sequences of graphs in which the densities of triangles and anti-triangles converge to 1/8. Since the random graph$\mathcal{G}$n,1/2is, in particular, 3-random-like, this can be viewed as a weak version of quasi-randomness. We first show that 3-random-like graphs are 4-universal, that is, they contain induced copies of all 4-vertex graphs. This settles a question of Linial and Morgenstern [10]. We then show that for larger subgraphs, 3-random-like sequences demonstrate completely different behaviour. We prove that for every graphHonn⩾ 13 vertices there exist 3-random-like graphs without an induced copy ofH. Moreover, we prove that for every ℓ there are 3-random-like graphs which are ℓ-universal but notm-universal whenmis sufficiently large compared to ℓ.
Associations between Verbal Learning Slope and Neuroimaging Markers
across the Cognitive Aging Spectrum
Authors: Gifford Katherine A. , Phillips Jeffrey S. , Samuels Lauren R. , Lane Elizabeth M. , Bell Susan P. , Liu Dandan , Hohman Timothy J. , Romano Raymond R. , Fritzsche Laura R. , Lu Zengqi , Jefferson Angela L. ,   for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: July 2015

A symptom of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease
(AD) is a flat learning profile. Learning slope calculation methods vary, and
the optimal method for capturing neuroanatomical changes associated with MCI and
early AD pathology is unclear. This study cross-sectionally compared four
different learning slope measures from the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test
(simple slope, regression-based slope, two-slope method, peak slope) to
structural neuroimaging markers of early AD neurodegeneration (hippocampal
volume, cortical thickness in parahippocampal gyrus, precuneus, and lateral
prefrontal cortex) across the cognitive aging spectrum [normal
control (NC); (n=198;
age=76±5), MCI (n=370;
age=75±7), and AD (n=171;
age=76±7)] in ADNI. Within diagnostic group,
general linear models related slope methods individually to neuroimaging
variables, adjusting for age, sex, education, and APOE4 status. Among MCI,
better learning performance on simple slope, regression-based slope, and late
slope (Trial 2–5) from the two-slope method related to larger
parahippocampal thickness (all p-values<.01) and
hippocampal volume (p<.01). Better regression-based
slope (p<.01) and late slope
(p<.01) were related to larger ventrolateral
prefrontal cortex in MCI. No significant associations emerged between any slope
and neuroimaging variables for NC (p-values ≥.05) or
AD (p-values ≥.02). Better learning performances
related to larger medial temporal lobe (i.e., hippocampal volume,
parahippocampal gyrus thickness) and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex in MCI
only. Regression-based and late slope were most highly correlated with
neuroimaging markers and explained more variance above and beyond other common
memory indices, such as total learning. Simple slope may offer an acceptable
alternative given its ease of calculation. (JINS, 2015,
21, 455–467)
Patterns of federal democracy: tensions, friction, or balance between two government dimensions
Authors: Benz Arthur , Sonnicksen Jared
Published: July 2015

Democracy and federalism are commonly viewed as complementary components of a political system. Conversely, a long-standing discourse claims the incompatibility of inevitable intergovernmental coordination in federalism with democracy, the former being viewed as an impediment or disruption to democratic governing. However, neither are the two inherently compatible nor inevitably incongruous. Instead, research and practice of democratic federations show that their relationship is one of multiple tensions. These may generate conflicts and impasses, yet can equally prove to be productive. To delineate these tensions, but also how different federal systems deal with them, this article examines federalism and democracy as two discrete, but interdependent institutional dimensions. Building upon this framework, we depict variants of coupling between institutions of federalism and democracy-based on selected cases. We demonstrate that particular modes of multilevel governance and intergovernmental relations are essential for linking the logics of federalism and democracy in loosely coupled, flexible patterns. Moreover, federal democracies can effectively cope with these tensions by continuously balancing power established in the two institutional dimensions.
Missouri Mothers and Their Children: A Family Study of the Effects of Genetics and the Prenatal Environment
Authors: Knopik Valerie S. , Heath Andrew C. , Marceau Kristine , Palmer Rohan H. C. , McGeary John E. , Todorov Alexandre , Evans Allison Schettini
Published: July 2015

The Missouri Mothers and Their Children Study (MO-MATCH) was specifically designed to critically investigate prenatal environmental influences on child attention problems and associated learning and cognitive deficits. The project began as a pilot study in 2004 and was formally launched in 2008. Participants in the study were initially identified via the Department of Vital Statistics birth record (BR) database. Interview and lab-based data were obtained from: (1) mothers of Missouri-born children (born 1998–2005), who smoked during one pregnancy but not during another pregnancy; (2) biological fathers when available; and (3) the children (i.e., full sibling pairs discordant for exposure to maternal smoking during pregnancy (SDP). This within-mother, between-pregnancy contrast provides the best possible methodological control for many stable maternal and familial confounding factors (e.g., heritable and socio-demographic characteristics of the mother that predict increased probability of SDP). It also controls for differences between mothers who do and do not smoke during pregnancy, and their partners, that might otherwise artifactually create, or alternatively mask, associations between SDP and child outcomes. Such a design will therefore provide opportunities to determine less biased effect sizes while also allowing us to investigate (on a preliminary basis) the possible contribution of paternal or other second-hand smoke exposure during the pre, peri, and postnatal periods to offspring outcome. This protocol has developed a cohort that can be followed longitudinally through periods typically associated with increased externalizing symptoms and substance used initiation.
Recombinant Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator Transiently Enhances Blood–Brain Barrier Permeability During Cerebral Ischemia through Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-Mediated Endothelial Endocytosis in Mice
Authors: Suzuki Yasuhiro , Nagai Nobuo , Yamakawa Kasumi , Muranaka Yoshinori , Hokamura Kazuya , Umemura Kazuo
Published: July 2015

Recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) modulates cerebrovascular permeability and exacerbates brain injury in ischemic stroke, but its mechanisms remain unclear. We studied the involvement of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-mediated endocytosis in the increase of blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability potentiated by rt-PA after ischemic stroke. The rt-PA treatment at 4 hours after middle cerebral artery occlusion induced a transient increase in BBB permeability after ischemic stroke in mice, which was suppressed by antagonists of either low-density lipoprotein receptor families (LDLRs) or VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2). In immortalized bEnd.3 endothelial cells, rt-PA treatment upregulated VEGF expression and VEGFR-2 phosphorylation under ischemic conditions in an LDLR-dependent manner. In addition, rt-PA treatment increased endocytosis and transcellular transport in bEnd.3 monolayers under ischemic conditions, which were suppressed by the inhibition of LDLRs, VEGF, or VEGFR-2. The rt-PA treatment also increased the endocytosis of endothelial cells in the ischemic brain region after stroke in mice. These findings indicate that rt-PA increased BBB permeability via induction of VEGF, which at least partially mediates subsequent increase in endothelial endocytosis. Therefore, inhibition of VEGF induction may have beneficial effects after thrombolytic therapy with rt-PA treatment after stroke.
The Indirect NMDAR Antagonist Acamprosate Induces Postischemic Neurologic Recovery Associated with Sustained Neuroprotection and Neuroregeneration
Authors: Doeppner Thorsten R , Pehlke Jens R , Kaltwasser Britta , Schlechter Jana , Kilic Ertugrul , Bähr Mathias , Hermann Dirk M
Published: July 2015

Cerebral ischemia stimulates N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) resulting in increased calcium concentration and excitotoxicity. Yet, deactivation of NMDAR failed in clinical studies due to poor preclinical study designs or toxicity of NMDAR antagonists. Acamprosate is an indirect NMDAR antagonist used for patients with chronic alcohol dependence. We herein analyzed the therapeutic potential of acamprosate on brain injury, neurologic recovery and their underlying mechanisms. Mice were exposed to cerebral ischemia, treated with intraperitoneal injections of acamprosate or saline (controls), and allowed to survive until 3 months. Acamprosate yielded sustained neuroprotection and increased neurologic recovery when given no later than 12 hours after stroke. The latter was associated with increased postischemic angioneurogenesis, albeit acamprosate did not stimulate angioneurogenesis itself. Rather, increased angioneurogenesis was due to inhibition of calpain-mediated pro-injurious signaling cascades. As such, acamprosate-mediated reduction of calpain activity resulted in decreased degradation of p35, increased abundance of the pro-survival factor STAT6, and reduced N-terminal-Jun-kinase activation. Inhibition of calpain was associated with enhanced stability of the blood–brain barrier, reduction of oxidative stress and cerebral leukocyte infiltration. Taken into account its excellent tolerability, its sustained effects on neurologic recovery, brain tissue survival, and neural remodeling, acamprosate is an intriguing candidate for adjuvant future stroke treatment.
14-3-3ζ coordinates adipogenesis of visceral fat
Authors: Lim Gareth E. , Albrecht Tobias , Piske Micah , Sarai Karnjit , Lee Jason T. C , Ramshaw Hayley S. , Sinha Sunita , Guthridge Mark A. , Acker-Palmer Amparo , Lopez Angel F. , Clee Susanne M. , Nislow Corey , Johnson James D.
Published: July 2015

The proteins that coordinate complex adipogenic transcriptional networks are poorly understood. 14-3-3ζ is a molecular adaptor protein that regulates insulin signalling and transcription factor networks. Here we report that 14-3-3ζ-knockout mice are strikingly lean from birth with specific reductions in visceral fat depots. Conversely, transgenic 14-3-3ζ overexpression potentiates obesity, without exacerbating metabolic complications. Only the 14-3-3ζ isoform is essential for adipogenesis based on isoform-specific RNAi. Mechanistic studies show that 14-3-3ζ depletion promotes autophagy-dependent degradation of C/EBP-δ, preventing induction of the master adipogenic factors, Pparγ and C/EBP-α. Transcriptomic data indicate that 14-3-3ζ acts upstream of hedgehog signalling-dependent upregulation of Cdkn1b/p27Kip1. Indeed, concomitant knockdown of p27Kip1 or Gli3 rescues the early block in adipogenesis induced by 14-3-3ζ knockdown in vitro. Adipocyte precursors in 14-3-3ζKO embryos also appear to have greater Gli3 and p27Kip1 abundance. Together, our in vivo and in vitro findings demonstrate that 14-3-3ζ is a critical upstream driver of adipogenesis.
Loss of ATM accelerates pancreatic cancer formation and epithelial–mesenchymal transition
Authors: Russell Ronan , Perkhofer Lukas , Liebau Stefan , Lin Qiong , Lechel André , Feld Fenja M , Hessmann Elisabeth , Gaedcke Jochen , Güthle Melanie , Zenke Martin , Hartmann Daniel , von Figura Guido , Weissinger Stephanie E , Rudolph Karl-Lenhard , Möller Peter , Lennerz Jochen K , Seufferlein Thomas , Wagner Martin , Kleger Alexander
Published: July 2015

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is associated with accumulation of particular oncogenic mutations and recent genetic sequencing studies have identified ataxia telangiectasia-mutated (ATM) mutations in PDAC cohorts. Here we report that conditional deletion of ATM in a mouse model of PDAC induces a greater number of proliferative precursor lesions coupled with a pronounced fibrotic reaction. ATM-targeted mice display altered TGFβ-superfamily signalling and enhanced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) coupled with shortened survival. Notably, our mouse model recapitulates many features of more aggressive human PDAC subtypes. Particularly, we report that low expression of ATM predicts EMT, a gene signature specific for Bmp4 signalling and poor prognosis in human PDAC. Our data suggest an intimate link between ATM expression and pancreatic cancer progression in mice and men.
Detecting anthropogenic footprints in sea level rise
Authors: Dangendorf Sönke , Marcos Marta , Müller Alfred , Zorita Eduardo , Riva Riccardo , Berk Kevin , Jensen Jürgen
Published: July 2015

While there is scientific consensus that global and local mean sea level (GMSL and LMSL) has risen since the late nineteenth century, the relative contribution of natural and anthropogenic forcing remains unclear. Here we provide a probabilistic upper range of long-term persistent natural GMSL/LMSL variability (P=0.99), which in turn, determines the minimum/maximum anthropogenic contribution since 1900. To account for different spectral characteristics of various contributing processes, we separate LMSL into two components: a slowly varying volumetric component and a more rapidly changing atmospheric component. We find that the persistence of slow natural volumetric changes is underestimated in records where transient atmospheric processes dominate the spectrum. This leads to a local underestimation of possible natural trends of up to ∼1 mm per year erroneously enhancing the significance of anthropogenic footprints. The GMSL, however, remains unaffected by such biases. On the basis of a model assessment of the separate components, we conclude that it is virtually certain (P=0.99) that at least 45% of the observed increase in GMSL is of anthropogenic origin.
Micromotors with asymmetric shape that efficiently convert light into work by thermocapillary effects
Authors: Maggi Claudio , Saglimbeni Filippo , Dipalo Michele , De Angelis Francesco , Di Leonardo Roberto
Published: July 2015

The direct conversion of light into work allows the driving of micron-sized motors in a contactless, controllable and continuous way. Light-to-work conversion can involve either direct transfer of optical momentum or indirect opto-thermal effects. Both strategies have been implemented using different coupling mechanisms. However, the resulting efficiencies are always very low, and high power densities, generally obtained by focused laser beams, are required. Here we show that microfabricated gears, sitting on a liquid–air interface, can efficiently convert absorbed light into rotational motion through a thermocapillary effect. We demonstrate rotation rates up to 300 r.p.m. under wide-field illumination with incoherent light. Our analysis shows that thermocapillary propulsion is one of the strongest mechanisms for light actuation at the micron- and nanoscale.
Legionella suppresses the host unfolded protein response via multiple mechanisms
Authors: Treacy-Abarca Sean , Mukherjee Shaeri
Published: July 2015

The intracellular pathogen, Legionella pneumophila, secretes ∼300 effector proteins to modulate the host environment. Given the intimate interaction between L. pneumophila and the endoplasmic reticulum, we investigated the role of the host unfolded protein response (UPR) during L. pneumophila infection. Interestingly, we show that the host identifies L. pneumophila infection as a form of endoplasmic reticulum stress and the sensor pATF6 is processed to generate pATF6(N), a transcriptional activator of downstream UPR genes. However, L. pneumophila is able to suppress the UPR and block the translation of prototypical UPR genes, BiP and CHOP. Furthermore, biochemical studies reveal that L. pneumophila uses two effectors (Lgt1 and Lgt2) to inhibit the splicing of XBP1u mRNA to spliced XBP1 (XBP1s), an UPR response regulator. Thus, we demonstrate that L. pneumophila is able to inhibit the UPR by multiple mechanisms including blocking XBP1u splicing and causing translational repression. This observation highlights the utility of L. pneumophila as a powerful tool for studying a critical protein homeostasis regulator.
Band structure engineering via piezoelectric fields in strained anisotropic CdSe/CdS nanocrystals
Authors: Christodoulou Sotirios , Rajadell Fernando , Casu Alberto , Vaccaro Gianfranco , Grim Joel Q. , Genovese Alessandro , Manna Liberato , Climente Juan I. , Meinardi Francesco , Rainò Gabriele , Stöferle Thilo , Mahrt Rainer F. , Planelles Josep , Brovelli Sergio , Moreels Iwan
Published: July 2015

Strain in colloidal heteronanocrystals with non-centrosymmetric lattices presents a unique opportunity for controlling optoelectronic properties and adds a new degree of freedom to existing wavefunction engineering and doping paradigms. We synthesized wurtzite CdSe nanorods embedded in a thick CdS shell, hereby exploiting the large lattice mismatch between the two domains to generate a compressive strain of the CdSe core and a strong piezoelectric potential along its c-axis. Efficient charge separation results in an indirect ground-state transition with a lifetime of several microseconds, almost one order of magnitude longer than any other CdSe/CdS nanocrystal. Higher excited states recombine radiatively in the nanosecond time range, due to increasingly overlapping excited-state orbitals. k˙p calculations confirm the importance of the anisotropic shape and crystal structure in the buildup of the piezoelectric potential. Strain engineering thus presents an efficient approach to highly tunable single- and multiexciton interactions, driven by a dedicated core/shell nanocrystal design.
Increasing impact of urban fine particles (PM2.5) on areas surrounding Chinese cities
Authors: Han Lijian , Zhou Weiqi , Li Weifeng
Published: July 2015

The negative impacts of rapid urbanization in developing countries have led to a deterioration in urban air quality, which brings increasing negative impact to its surrounding areas (e.g. in China). However, to date there has been rare quantitative estimation of the urban air pollution to its surrounding areas in China.We thus evaluated the impact of air pollution on the surrounding environment under rapid urbanization in Chinese prefectures during 1999 – 2011. We found that: (1) the urban environment generated increasing negative impact on the surrounding areas and the PM2.5 concentration difference between urban and rural areas was particularly high in large cities. (2) Nearly half of the Chinese prefectures (156 out of 350) showed increased impact of urban PM2.5 pollution on its surrounding areas. Those prefectures were mainly located along two belts: one from northeast China to Sichuan province, the other from Shanghai to Guangxi province. Our study demonstrates the deterioration in urban air quality and its potential impacts on its surrounding areas in China. We hope that the results presented here will encourage different approaches to urbanization to mitigate the negative impact caused by urban air pollution, both in China and other rapidly developing countries.
Identification of Estrogen Response Element in Aquaporin-3 Gene that Mediates Estrogen-induced Cell Migration and Invasion in Estrogen Receptor-positive Breast Cancer
Authors: Huang Yi-Ting , Zhou Jun , Shi Shuai , Xu Hai-Yan , Qu Fan , Zhang Dan , Chen Yi-Ding , Yang Jing , Huang He-Feng , Sheng Jian-Zhong
Published: July 2015

Accumulating evidence suggests that aquaporins (AQPs) may facilitate tumor development. The molecular pathways connecting the pathological functions of AQPs are unclear and need to be better defined. This study aimed to investigate whether AQP3, one of the AQPs expressed highly in breast cancer, had any clinical implication in estrogen-receptor (ER) positive breast cancer and explore the regulatory mechanisms of AQP3 in estrogen-related breast cancer progression. Here we show that AQP3 is an important enforcer of migration and invasion in breast cancer. We, for the first time, reported that ER-positive breast cancer tissues obtained from premenopausal patients had higher AQP3 expression when compared to those obtained from postmenopausal patients. Estrogen directly upregulates AQP3 by activating ERE in the promoter of the AQP3 gene. The upregulation of AQP3 can influence the expression of molecules related to epithelial-mesenchymal transition and the reorganization of actin-cytoskeleton, resulting in enhancement of cell migration and invasion in ER-positive breast cancer cells.
Trend in major neonatal and maternal morbidities accompanying the rise in the cesarean delivery rate
Authors: Zuarez-Easton Sivan , Shalev Eliezer , Salim Raed
Published: July 2015

The aim of the study was to explore a cesarean delivery rate (CDR) beyond which major neonatal and maternal morbidities may outweigh the benefits of the procedure itself. A retrospective population-based cohort study was conducted at a single university teaching hospital between 1993 and 2012. Pregnant women who delivered at a gestational age of 23 weeks or more were included. Data including delivery mode, brachial plexus injury (BPI), neonatal encephalopathy (NE), placenta accreta (PA), blood transfusion (BT) and cesarean hysterectomy (CH) for each year were extracted, plotted and trends analyzed. The Cochran-Armitage Trend Test was used to identify trends and correlations. Overall, 83,806 deliveries took place during this period. CDR increased from 10.9% to 21.7% (p < 0.001). Significant decreases in the incidence of BPI (p < 0.001) and NE (p = 0.006) were observed. At CDRs of 13.6% and 20%, there was no further significant decrease in the incidence of BPI and NE, respectively. The incidence of BT increased significantly (p < 0.001) while the increase in the incidence of PA was not significant (p = 0.06) nor the change in the incidence of CH (p = 0.4). A CDR of 20% may still confirm additional beneficial effect on major perinatal morbidities without a significant increase in the incidence of PA.
Ubiquitous Graphene Electronics on Scotch Tape
Authors: Chung Yoonyoung , Ho Kim Hyun , Lee Sangryun , Lee Eunho , Won Kim Seong , Ryu Seunghwa , Cho Kilwon
Published: July 2015

We report a novel concept of graphene transistors on Scotch tape for use in ubiquitous electronic systems. Unlike common plastic substrates such as polyimide and polyethylene terephthalate, the Scotch tape substrate is easily attached onto various objects such as banknotes, curved surfaces and human skin, which implies potential applications wherein electronics can be placed in any desired position. Furthermore, the soft Scotch tape serves as an attractive substrate for flexible/foldable electronics that can be significantly bent, or even crumpled. We found that the adhesive layer of the tape with a relatively low shear modulus relaxes the strain when subjected to bending. The capacitance of the gate dielectric made of oxidized aluminum oxide was 1.5 μF cm−2, so that a supply voltage of only 2.5 V was sufficient to operate the devices. As-fabricated graphene transistors on Scotch tape exhibited high electron mobility of 1326 (±155) cm2 V−1 s−1; the transistors still showed high mobility of 1254 (±478) cm2 V−1 s−1 even after they were crumpled.
Isoliensinine induces apoptosis in triple-negative human breast cancer cells through ROS generation and p38 MAPK/JNK activation
Authors: Zhang Xiyu , Wang Xiyao , Wu Tingting , Li Boxuan , Liu Tianqi , Wang Rong , Liu Qiao , Liu Zhaojian , Gong Yaoqin , Shao Changshun
Published: July 2015

Isoliensinine, liensinine and neferine are major bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids in the seed embryo of lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) and exhibit potential anti-cancer activity. Here, we explored the effects of these alkaloids on triple-negative breast cancer cells and found that among the three alkaloids isoliensinine possesses the most potent cytotoxic effect, primarily by inducing apoptosis. Interestingly, isoliensinine showed a much lower cytotoxicity against MCF-10A, a normal human breast epithelial cell line. Further studies showed that isoliensinine could significantly increase the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in triple-negative breast cancer cells, but not in MCF-10A cells. The isoliensinine-induced apoptosis could be attenuated by radical oxygen scavenger N-acetyl cysteine, suggesting that the cytotoxic effect of isoliensinine on cancer cells is at least partially achieved by inducing oxidative stress. We found that both p38 MAPK and JNK signaling pathways were activated by isoliensinine treatment and contributed to the induction of apoptosis. Furthermore, inhibitors or specific siRNAs of p38 MAPK and JNK could attenuate apoptosis induced by isoliensinine. However, only the p38 inhibitor or p38-specific siRNA blocked the elevation of ROS in isoliensinine-treated cells. Our findings thus revealed a novel antitumor effect of isoliensinine on breast cancer cells and may have therapeutic implications.
Biomechanical tactics of chiral growth in emergent aquatic macrophytes
Authors: Zhao Zi-Long , Zhao Hong-Ping , Li Bing-Wei , Nie Ben-Dian , Feng Xi-Qiao , Gao Huajian
Published: July 2015

Through natural selection, many plant organs have evolved optimal morphologies at different length scales. However, the biomechanical strategies for different plant species to optimize their organ structures remain unclear. Here, we investigate several species of aquatic macrophytes living in the same natural environment but adopting distinctly different twisting chiral morphologies. To reveal the principle of chiral growth in these plants, we performed systematic observations and measurements of morphologies, multiscale structures and mechanical properties of their slender emergent stalks or leaves. Theoretical modeling of pre-twisted beams in bending and buckling indicates that the different growth tactics of the plants can be strongly correlated with their biomechanical functions. It is shown that the twisting chirality of aquatic macrophytes can significantly improve their survivability against failure under both internal and external loads. The theoretical predictions for different chiral configurations are in excellent agreement with experimental measurements.
Modeling of switching mechanism in GeSbTe chalcogenide superlattices
Authors: Yu Xiaoming , Robertson John
Published: July 2015

We study the switching process in chalcogenide superlattice (CSL) phase-change memory materials by describing the motion of an atomic layer between the low and high resistance states. Two models have been proposed by different groups based on high-resolution electron microscope images. Model 1 proposes a transition from Ferro to Inverted Petrov state. Model 2 proposes a switch between Petrov and Inverted Petrov states. For each case, we note that the main transition is actually a vertical displacement of a Ge layer through a Te layer, followed by a lateral motion of GeTe sublayer to the final, low energy structure. Through calculating energy barriers, the rate-determining step is the displacive transition.
Protection against dengue disease by synthetic nucleic acid antibody prophylaxis/immunotherapy
Authors: Flingai Seleeke , Plummer Emily M. , Patel Ami , Shresta Sujan , Mendoza Janess M. , Broderick Kate E. , Sardesai Niranjan Y. , Muthumani Kar , Weiner David B.
Published: July 2015

Dengue virus (DENV) is the most important mosquito-borne viral infection in humans. In recent years, the number of cases and outbreaks has dramatically increased worldwide. While vaccines are being developed, none are currently available that provide balanced protection against all DENV serotypes. Advances in human antibody isolation have uncovered DENV neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) that are capable of preventing infection from multiple serotypes. Yet delivering monoclonal antibodies using conventional methods is impractical due to high costs. Engineering novel methods of delivering monoclonal antibodies could tip the scale in the fight against DENV. Here we demonstrate that simple intramuscular delivery by electroporation of synthetic DNA plasmids engineered to express modified human nAbs against multiple DENV serotypes confers protection against DENV disease and prevents antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of disease in mice. This synthetic nucleic acid antibody prophylaxis/immunotherapy approach may have important applications in the fight against infectious disease.
Cyclin Y inhibits plasticity-induced AMPA receptor exocytosis and LTP
Authors: Cho Eunsil , Kim Dong-Hyun , Hur Young-Na , Whitcomb Daniel J. , Regan Philip , Hong Jung-Hwa , Kim Hanna , Ho Suh Young , Cho Kwangwook , Park Mikyoung
Published: July 2015

Cyclin Y (CCNY) is a member of the cyclin protein family, known to regulate cell division in proliferating cells. Interestingly, CCNY is expressed in neurons that do not undergo cell division. Here, we report that CCNY negatively regulates long-term potentiation (LTP) of synaptic strength through inhibition of AMPA receptor trafficking. CCNY is enriched in postsynaptic fractions from rat forebrain and is localized adjacent to postsynaptic sites in dendritic spines in rat hippocampal neurons. Using live-cell imaging of a pH-sensitive AMPA receptor, we found that during LTP-inducing stimulation, CCNY inhibits AMPA receptor exocytosis in dendritic spines. Furthermore, CCNY abolishes LTP in hippocampal slices. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that CCNY inhibits plasticity-induced AMPA receptor delivery to synapses and thereby blocks LTP, identifying a novel function for CCNY in post-mitotic cells.
Enhanced anti-ischemic stroke of ZL006 by T7-conjugated PEGylated liposomes drug delivery system
Authors: Wang Zhongyuan , Zhao Yue , Jiang Yan , Lv Wei , Wu Lin , Wang Baoyan , Lv Lingyan , Xu Qunwei , Xin Hongliang
Published: July 2015

The treatment for ischemic stroke is one of the most challenging problems and the therapeutic effect remains unsatisfied due to the poor permeation of drugs across the blood brain barrier (BBB). In this study, HAIYPRH (T7), a peptide that targeted to transferrin receptor (TfR) can mediate the transport of nanocarriers across the BBB, was conjugated to liposomes for ischemic stroke targeting treatment of a novel neuroprotectant (ZL006). T7-conjugated PEGylated liposomes (T7-P-LPs) loaded with ZL006 (T7-P-LPs/ZL006) were showed satisfactory vesicle size and size distribution. Furthermore, the cellular uptake results showed that T7 modification increased liposomes uptake by the brain capillary endothelial cells (BCECs) and little cytotoxicity of liposomes with or without ZL006 was observed. The in vivo biodistribution and near-infrared fluorescence imaging evidenced that T7 modification rendered liposomes significantly enhanced the transport of liposomes across the BBB. The pharmacodynamic study suggested that, T7-P-LPs/ZL006 exhibited reduced infarct volume and ameliorated neurological deficit compared with unmodified liposomes or free ZL006. T7-P-LPs/ZL006 could be targeted to brain and displayed remarkable neuroprotective effects. They could be used as a potential targeted drug delivery system of ischemic stroke treatment.
Weak Interactions and Instability Cascades
Authors: Kadoya Taku , McCann Kevin S.
Published: July 2015

Food web theory states that a weak interactor which is positioned in the food web such that it tends to deflect, or mute, energy away from a potentially oscillating consumer-resource interaction often enhances community persistence and stability. Here we examine how adding other weak interactions (predation/harvesting) on the stabilizing weak interactor alters the stability of food web using a set of well-established food web models/modules. We show that such “weak on weak” interaction chains drive an indirect dynamic cascade that can rapidly ignite a distant consumer-resource oscillator. Nonetheless, we also show that the “weak on weak” interactions are still more stable than the food web without them and so weak interactions still generally act to stabilize food webs. Rather, these results are best interpreted to say that the degree of the stabilizing effect of a given important weak interaction can be severely compromised by other weak interactions (including weak harvesting).
Phase change dispersion of plasmonic nano-objects
Authors: Zeng Xie , Hu Haifeng , Gao Yongkang , Ji Dengxin , Zhang Nan , Song Haomin , Liu Kai , Jiang Suhua , Gan Qiaoqiang
Published: July 2015

Phase is an inherent and important feature for coherent processes, which, unfortunately, has not been completely understood for surface plasmon polariton (SPP) and matter interactions. Here we propose a practical approach to extract the phase change dispersion during the interaction between free-space light, SPPs and nanogroove/slit based on far-field information only. Numerical simulation and experimental validation were both presented using nanoslit-groove plasmonic interferometers, agreeing well with theoretical near-field analysis. This approach is generally feasible to extract the intrinsic phase dispersion of other plasmonic nanostructures and can reveal more fundamental features of SPP-matter interactions.
In vitro and in vivo host range of Anopheles gambiae densovirus (AgDNV)
Authors: Suzuki Yasutsugu , Barik Tapan K. , Johnson Rebecca M. , Rasgon Jason L.
Published: July 2015

AgDNV is a powerful gene transduction tool and potential biological control agent for Anopheles mosquitoes. Using a GFP reporter virus system, we investigated AgDNV host range specificity in four arthropod cell lines (derived from An. gambiae, Aedes albopictus and Drosophila melanogaster) and six mosquito species from 3 genera (An. gambiae, An. arabiensis, An. stephensi, Ae. albopictus, Ae. aegypti and Culex tarsalis). In vitro, efficient viral invasion, replication and GFP expression was only observed in MOS55 An. gambiae cells. In vivo, high levels of GFP were observed in An. gambiae mosquitoes. Intermediate levels of GFP were observed in the closely related species An. arabiensis. Low levels of GFP were observed in An. stephensi, Ae. albopictus, Ae. aegypti and Cx. tarsalis. These results suggest that AgDNV is a specific gene transduction tool for members of the An. gambiae species complex and could be potentially developed into a biocontrol agent with minimal off-target effects.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Polymerase Spiral Reaction (PSR): A novel isothermal nucleic acid amplification method
Authors: Liu Wei , Dong Derong , Yang Zhan , Zou Dayang , Chen Zeliang , Yuan Jing , Huang Liuyu
Published: July 2015

In this study, we report a novel isothermal nucleic acid amplification method only requires one pair of primers and one enzyme, termed Polymerase Spiral Reaction (PSR) with high specificity, efficiency and rapidity under isothermal condition. The recombinant plasmid of blaNDM-1 was imported to Escherichia coli BL21 and selected as the microbial target. PSR method employs a Bst DNA polymerase and a pair of primers designed targeting the blaNDM-1 gene sequence. The forward and reverse Tab primer sequences are reverse to each other at their 5’ end (Nr and N), whereas their 3’ end sequences are complementary to their respective target nucleic acid sequences. The PSR method was performed at a constant temperature 61 °C–65 °C, yielding a complicated spiral structure. PSR assay was monitored continuously in a real-time turbidimeter instrument or visually detected with the aid of a fluorescent dye (SYBR Greenı) and could be finished within 1 h with a high accumulation of 109 copies of the target and a fine sensitivity of 6 CFU per reaction. Clinical evaluation was also conducted using PSR, showing high specificity of this method. The PSR technique provides a convenient and cost-effective alternative for clinical screening, on-site diagnosis and primary quarantine purposes.
Insight into the mechanism of methane synthesis from syngas on a Ni(111) surface: a theoretical study
Authors: Zhi Cuimei , Wang Qiang , Wang Baojun , Li Debao , Zhang Riguang
Published: July 2015

Solid lines denote the main pathways of CH4 formation by syngas obtained in this work. Ea denotes the activation barrier for the corresponding step. ΔH represents the relevant reaction energy (unit: eV).
A mild carbon–boron bond formation from diaryliodonium salts
Authors: Miralles N. , Romero R. M. , Fernández E. , Muñiz K.
Published: July 2015

Metal-free borylation of diaryliodonium salts with diboron reagents toward formation of aryl boronic esters and concomitant two-step C–C coupling of both aryl groups of the initial diaryliodonium reagent.
Layered gadolinium hydroxides for low-temperature magnetic cooling
Authors: Abellán Gonzalo , Espallargas Guillermo Mínguez , Lorusso Giulia , Evangelisti Marco , Coronado Eugenio
Published: July 2015

A 2D gadolinium hydroxide with a large magnetocaloric effect is an excellent candidate for cryogenic magnetic refrigeration.