bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
‘Teaching Me to Parent Myself’: The Feasibility of an In-Patient Group Schema Therapy Programme for Complex Trauma
Authors: Younan Rita , Farrell Joan , May Tamara
Published: December 2017

Background: Group schema therapy is an emerging treatment for personality and other psychiatric disorders. It may be particularly suited to individuals with complex trauma given that early abuse is likely to create maladaptive schemas. Aims: This pilot study explored the feasibility and effectiveness of a 4-week in-patient group schema therapy programme for adults with complex trauma in a psychiatric hospital setting. Method: Thirty-six participants with complex trauma syndrome participated in this open trial. Treatment consisted of 60 hours of group schema therapy and 4 hours of individual schema therapy administered over 4 weeks. Feasibility measures included drop-out rates, qualitative interviews with participants to determine programme acceptability and measures of psychiatric symptoms, self-esteem, quality of life and schema modes pre-, post- and 3 months following the intervention. Results: Drop-out rate for the 4-week program was 11%. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts revealed four major themes: connection, mode language explained emotional states, identifying the origin of the problem and the emotional activation of the programme. Measures of psychiatric symptoms, self-esteem and quality of life showed improvement post-treatment and at 3 months post-treatment. There was a reduction in most maladaptive schema modes pre-/post-treatment. Conclusions: A group schema therapy approach for complex trauma is feasible and demonstrates positive effects on psychiatric symptoms and maladaptive schemas.
Improving quality of referral letters from primary to secondary care: a literature review and discussion paper
Authors: Tobin-Schnittger Patrick , O’Doherty Jane , O’Connor Ray , O’Regan Andrew
Published: December 2017

Background

Referral letters sent from primary to secondary or tertiary care are a crucial element in the continuity of patient information transfer. Internationally, the need for improvement in this area has been recognised. This aim of this study is to review the current literature pertaining to interventions that are designed to improve referral letter quality.

Methods

A search strategy designed following a Problem, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome model was used to explore the PubMed and EMBASE databases for relevant literature. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were established and bibliographies were screened for relevant resources.

Results

A total of 18 publications were included in this study. Four types of interventions were described: electronic referrals were shown to have several advantages over paper referrals but were also found to impose new barriers; peer feedback increases letter quality and can decrease ‘inappropriate referrals’ by up to 50%; templates increase documentation and awareness of risk factors; mixed interventions combining different intervention types provide tangible improvements in content and appropriateness.

Conclusion

Several methodological considerations were identified in the studies reviewed but our analysis demonstrates that a combination of interventions, introduced as part of a joint package and involving peer feedback can improve.
Interprofessionelle Ausbildung in den Gesundheitsberufen
Authors: Fleischmann Nina , Eichner Ingrid , Simmenroth Anne , Zarnack Frauke , Müller Christiane
Published: December 2017

Zusammenfassung. Interprofessionelles Lernen wird als effektive Maßnahme zur Förderung der Zusammenarbeit der Berufsgruppen und Verbesserung der Patientenversorgung diskutiert. Praktische Fertigkeiten zum Thema Diabetes mellitus, wie z. B. die Blutzuckermessung, sind Lerninhalt im Medizinstudium und in der beruflichen Ausbildung der Gesundheits- und (Kinder-) Krankenpflege (GKIP). In der hier vorgestellten Lehreinheit leiten Auszubildende die Medizinstudierenden in praktischen Fertigkeiten an und werden von diesen als Experten erlebt.
Problemorientiertes Lernen ist mehr als die selbstgesteuerte Aneignung von Fachwissen
Authors: Kubanski Dagmar
Published: December 2017

Zusammenfassung. Vor dem Hintergrund einer mehrjährigen Evaluation durch Fragebögen sowie strukturierten Auswertungsgesprächen mit allen Beteiligten geht es um die Betrachtung von Faktoren rund um das Problemorientierte Lernen, die in einem dualen berufsqualifizierenden Pflegestudiengang erfolgreich umgesetzt wurden. Offenheit für unterschiedliche Lernprozesse, Flexibilität und forschendes Denken stehen einem zunehmenden Effizienzdenken gegenüber.
Proteomic and functional analysis identifies galectin-1 as a novel regulatory component of the cytotoxic granule machinery
Authors: Clemente Tiago , Vieira Narcisio J , Cerliani Juan P , Adrain Colin , Luthi Alexander , Dominguez Mariana R , Yon Monica , Barrence Fernanda C , Riul Thalita B , Cummings Richard D , Zorn Telma M , Amigorena Sebastian , Dias-Baruffi Marcelo , Rodrigues Maurício M , Martin Seamus J , Rabinovich Gabriel A , Amarante-Mendes Gustavo P
Published: December 2017

Secretory granules released by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are powerful weapons against intracellular microbes and tumor cells. Despite significant progress, there is still limited information on the molecular mechanisms implicated in target-driven degranulation, effector cell survival and composition and structure of the lytic granules. Here, using a proteomic approach we identified a panel of putative cytotoxic granule proteins, including some already known granule constituents and novel proteins that contribute to regulate the CTL lytic machinery. Particularly, we identified galectin-1 (Gal1), an endogenous immune regulatory lectin, as an integral component of the secretory granule machinery and unveil the unexpected function of this lectin in regulating CTL killing activity. Mechanistic studies revealed the ability of Gal1 to control the non-secretory lytic pathway by influencing Fas–Fas ligand interactions. This study offers new insights on the composition of the cytotoxic granule machinery, highlighting the dynamic cross talk between secretory and non-secretory pathways in controlling CTL lytic function.
Vocal learning promotes patterned inhibitory connectivity
Authors: Miller Mark N. , Cheung Chung Yan J. , Brainard Michael S.
Published: December 2017

Skill learning is instantiated by changes to functional connectivity within premotor circuits, but whether the specificity of learning depends on structured changes to inhibitory circuitry remains unclear. We used slice electrophysiology to measure connectivity changes associated with song learning in the avian analog of primary motor cortex (robust nucleus of the arcopallium, RA) in Bengalese Finches. Before song learning, fast-spiking interneurons (FSIs) densely innervated glutamatergic projection neurons (PNs) with apparently random connectivity. After learning, there was a profound reduction in the overall strength and number of inhibitory connections, but this was accompanied by a more than two-fold enrichment in reciprocal FSI–PN connections. Moreover, in singing birds, we found that pharmacological manipulations of RA's inhibitory circuitry drove large shifts in learned vocal features, such as pitch and amplitude, without grossly disrupting the song. Our results indicate that skill learning establishes nonrandom inhibitory connectivity, and implicates this patterning in encoding specific features of learned movements.
Atmospheric pressure mass spectrometric imaging of live hippocampal tissue slices with subcellular spatial resolution
Authors: Kim Jae Young , Seo Eun Seok , Kim Hyunmin , Park Ji-Won , Lim Dong-Kwon , Moon Dae Won
Published: December 2017

We report a high spatial resolution mass spectrometry (MS) system that allows us to image live hippocampal tissue slices under open-air atmospheric pressure (AP) and ambient temperature conditions at the subcellular level. The method is based on an efficient desorption process by femtosecond (fs) laser assisted with nanoparticles and a subsequent ionization step by applying nonthermal plasma, termed AP nanoparticle and plasma assisted laser desorption ionization (AP-nanoPALDI) MS method. Combining the AP-nanoPALDI with microscopic sample scanning, MS imaging with spatial resolution of 2.9 µm was obtained. The observed AP-nanoPALDI MS imaging clearly revealed the differences of molecular composition between the apical and basal dendrite regions of a hippocampal tissue. In addition, the AP-nanoPALDI MS imaging showed the decrease of cholesterol in hippocampus by treating with methyl β-cyclodextrin, which exemplifies the potential of AP-nanoPALDI for live tissue imaging for various biomedical applications without any chemical pretreatment and/or labeling process.
PI3Kδ activates E2F1 synthesis in response to mRNA translation stress
Authors: Gnanasundram Sivakumar Vadivel , Pyndiah Slovénie , Daskalogianni Chrysoula , Armfield Kate , Nylander Karin , Wilson Joanna B. , Fåhraeus Robin
Published: December 2017

The c-myc oncogene stimulates ribosomal biogenesis and protein synthesis to promote cellular growth. However, the pathway by which cells sense and restore dysfunctional mRNA translation and how this is linked to cell proliferation and growth is not known. We here show that mRNA translation stress in cis triggered by the gly-ala repeat sequence of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-encoded EBNA1, results in PI3Kδ-dependent induction of E2F1 mRNA translation with the consequent activation of c-Myc and cell proliferation. Treatment with a specific PI3Kδ inhibitor Idelalisib (CAL-101) suppresses E2F1 and c-Myc levels and causes cell death in EBNA1-induced B cell lymphomas. Suppression of PI3Kδ prevents E2F1 activation also in non-EBV-infected cells. These data illustrate an mRNA translation stress–response pathway for E2F1 activation that is exploited by EBV to promote cell growth and proliferation, offering new strategies to treat EBV-carrying cancers.
Structural and functional dissection of the DH and PH domains of oncogenic Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase
Authors: Reckel Sina , Gehin Charlotte , Tardivon Delphine , Georgeon Sandrine , Kükenshöner Tim , Löhr Frank , Koide Akiko , Buchner Lena , Panjkovich Alejandro , Reynaud Aline , Pinho Sara , Gerig Barbara , Svergun Dmitri , Pojer Florence , Güntert Peter , Dötsch Volker , Koide Shohei , Gavin Anne-Claude , Hantschel Oliver
Published: December 2017

The two isoforms of the Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase, p210 and p190, are associated with different leukemias and have a dramatically different signaling network, despite similar kinase activity. To provide a molecular rationale for these observations, we study the Dbl-homology (DH) and Pleckstrin-homology (PH) domains of Bcr-Abl p210, which constitute the only structural differences to p190. Here we report high-resolution structures of the DH and PH domains and characterize conformations of the DH–PH unit in solution. Our structural and functional analyses show no evidence that the DH domain acts as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor, whereas the PH domain binds to various phosphatidylinositol-phosphates. PH-domain mutants alter subcellular localization and result in decreased interactions with p210-selective interaction partners. Hence, the PH domain, but not the DH domain, plays an important role in the formation of the differential p210 and p190 Bcr-Abl signaling networks.
The ideal harvest time for seeds of hybrid maize (Zea mays L.) XY335 and ZD958 produced in multiple environments
Authors: Gu Riliang , Li Li , Liang Xiaolin , Wang Yanbo , Fan Tinglu , Wang Ying , Wang Jianhua
Published: December 2017

To identify the ideal harvest time (IHT) for the seed production of XY335 and ZD958, six seed-related traits were evaluated in seeds harvested at 11 harvest stages in 8 environments. Standard germination (SG), accelerated aging germination (AAG) and cold test germination (CTG) were vigor traits; hundred-seed weight (HSW) and seed moisture content (SMC) were physiological traits; and ≥10 °C accumulated temperature from pollination to harvest (AT10ph) was an ecological trait. All the traits were significantly affected by harvest stage. The responses of SG, AAG, CTG and HSW to postponing harvest stage fit quadratic models, while SMC and AT10ph fit linear models. The IHT (indicated by the last date to reach maximum SG, AAG and CTG) were 57.97 DAP and 56.80 DAP for XY335 and ZD958, respectively. SMC and AT10ph at IHT were 33.15% and 1234 °C for XY335, and 34.98% and 1226 °C for ZD958, respectively. The period to reach the maximum HSW was 5 days later than the IHT. Compared to HSW and SMC, AT10ph had a closer relationship to the seed vigor traits. Together with the fact that AT10ph was less affected by environment, these results suggested that AT10ph may be a novel indicator for determining the IHT.
Exposure to Magnetic Field Non-Ionizing Radiation and the Risk of Miscarriage: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Li De-Kun , Chen Hong , Ferber Jeannette R. , Odouli Roxana , Quesenberry Charles
Published: December 2017

Magnetic field (MF) non-ionizing radiation is widespread and everyone is exposed to some degree. This prospective cohort study of 913 pregnant women examined the association between high MF exposure and miscarriage risk. Cox (proportional hazards) regression was used to examine the association. After controlling for multiple other factors, women who were exposed to higher MF levels had 2.72 times the risk of miscarriage (hazard ratio = 2.72, 95% CI: 1.42–5.19) than those with lower MF exposure. The increased risk of miscarriage associated with high MF was consistently observed regardless of the sources of high MF. The association was much stronger if MF was measured on a typical day of participants’ pregnancies. The finding also demonstrated that accurate measurement of MF exposure is vital for examining MF health effects. This study provides fresh evidence, directly from a human population, that MF non-ionizing radiation could have adverse biological impacts on human health.
A Multimodal Biomicroscopic System based on High-frequency Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse and Multispectral Imaging Techniques for Tumor Characterization Ex vivo
Authors: Kim Jihun , Seo Anna , Kim Jun-Young , Choi Sung Hyouk , Yoon Hyung-Jin , Kim Eunjoo , Hwang Jae Youn
Published: December 2017

We report a multimodal biomicroscopic system which offers high-frequency ultrasound B-mode, acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI), and multispectral imaging for qualitative tumor characterization ex vivo. Examinations of resected tissues from diseased regions such as tumors are crucial procedures during surgical operations to treat cancer. Particularly, if tiny tumors remain at surgical sites after tumor resection, such tumors can result in unwanted outcomes, such as cancer recurrence or metastasis to other organs. To avoid this, accurate characterizations of tumors resected during surgery are necessary. To this end, we devised a multimodal biomicroscopic system including high-frequency ultrasound B-mode, ARFI, and multispectral imaging modalities to examine resected tumors with high levels of accuracy. This system was evaluated with tissue-mimicking phantoms with different mechanical properties. In addition, colorectal tumors excised from cancer patients were examined. The proposed system offers highly resolved anatomical, mechanical, chemical information pertaining to tumors, thus allowing the detection of tumor regions from the surface to deep inside tissues. These results therefore suggest that the multimodal biomicroscopic system has the potential to undertake qualitative characterizations of excised tumors ex vivo.
Identification of ARNT-regulated BIRC3 as the target factor in cadmium renal toxicity
Authors: Lee Jin-Yong , Tokumoto Maki , Hwang Gi-Wook , Lee Moo-Yeol , Satoh Masahiko
Published: December 2017

Cadmium (Cd) is an environmental contaminant that exhibits renal toxicity. The target transcription factors involved in Cd renal toxicity are still unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that Cd decreased the activity of the ARNT transcription factor, and knockdown of ARNT significantly decreased the viability of human proximal tubular HK-2 cells. Microarray analysis in ARNT knockdown cells revealed a decrease in the expression of a number of genes, including a known apoptosis inhibitor, BIRC3, whose gene and protein expression level was also decreased by Cd treatment. Although the BIRC family consists of 8 members, Cd suppressed only BIRC3 gene expression. BIRC3 is known to suppress apoptosis through the inhibition effect on caspase-3. Knockdown of BIRC3 by siRNA as well as Cd treatment increased the level of active caspase-3. Moreover, knockdown of BIRC3 not only triggered cell toxicity and apoptosis but also strengthened Cd toxicity in HK-2 cells. Meanwhile, the activation of caspase-3 by suppression of BIRC3 gene expression was mostly specific to Cd and to proximal tubular cells. These results suggest that Cd induces apoptosis through the inhibition of ARNT-regulated BIRC3 in human proximal tubular cells.
Genetic adaptation of microbial populations present in high-intensity catfish production systems with therapeutic oxytetracycline treatment
Authors: Zeng Qifan , Tian Xiangli , Wang Luxin
Published: December 2017

Microbial communities that are present in aquaculture production systems play significant roles in degrading organic matter, controlling diseases, and formation of antibiotic resistance. It is important to understand the diversity and abundance of microbial communities and their genetic adaptations associated with environmental physical and chemical changes. Here we collected water and sediment samples from a high-intensity catfish production system and its original water reservoir. The metagenomic analysis showed that Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria, and Firmicutes were the top five phyla identified from all samples. The aquaculture production system significantly changed the structure of aquatic microbial populations. Substantial changes were also observed in SNP patterns among four sample types. The gene-specific sweep was found to be more common than genome-wide sweep. The selective sweep analysis revealed that 21 antibiotic resistant (AR) genes were under selection, with most belonging to antibiotic efflux pathways. Over 200 AR gene gains and losses were determined by changes in gene frequencies. Most of the AR genes were characterized as ABC efflux pumps, RND efflux pumps, and tetracycline MFS efflux pumps. Results of this study suggested that aquaculture waste, especially waste containing therapeutic antibiotics, has a significant impact on microbial population structures and their genetic structures.
Nomogram for cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B: A simple self-assessed scale for individual risk of cirrhosis
Authors: Zhang Zhiqiao , Li Jing , Wang Peng , He Tingshan , Ouyang Yanling , Huang Yiyan
Published: December 2017

The aim of this retrospective study was to establish a simple self-assessed scale for individual risk of cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B. A total of 1808 consecutive patients were enrolled and analyzed. According to the results of multivariate logistic regression analysis, a simple nomogram was calculated for cirrhosis. The area under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCs) were calculated to compare the diagnostic accuracy of nomogram with aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI), fibrosis index based on the four factors (FIB-4), and S index. The AUROCs of nomogram for cirrhosis were 0.807 (adjusted AUROC 0.876) in model group and 0.794 (adjusted AUROC0.866) in validation group. DeLong’s test and Brier Score further demonstrated that nomogram was superior to APRI, FIB-4 and S index in both model group and validation group. The patients with nomogram <0.07 could be defined as low risk group with cirrhosis prevalence lower than 4.3% (17/397). The patients with nomogram >0.52 could be defined as high risk group with cirrhosis prevalence higher than 73.0% (119/163). In conclusion, as a self-assessed style, simple, non-invasive, economical, convenient, and repeatable scale, nomogram is suitable to serve as a massive health screening tool for cirrhosis in CHB patients and further external validation is needed.
Differential contributions of the middle frontal gyrus functional connectivity to literacy and numeracy
Authors: Koyama Maki S. , O’Connor David , Shehzad Zarrar , Milham Michael P.
Published: December 2017

Literacy and numeracy equally affect an individual’s success in and beyond schools, but these two competencies tend to be separately examined, particularly in neuroimaging studies. The current resting-state fMRI study examined the neural correlates of literacy and numeracy in the same sample of healthy adults. We first used an exploratory “Multivariate Distance Matrix Regression” (MDMR) approach to examine intrinsic functional connectivity (iFC), highlighting the middle frontal gyrus (MFG) for both competencies. Notably, there was a hemispheric asymmetry in the MDMR-based MFG findings, with literacy associated with the left MFG, whereas numeracy associated with the right MFG (R.MFG). Results of post-hoc seed-based correlation analyses further strengthened differential contributions of MFG connections to each competency. One of the most striking and novel findings from the present work was that numeracy was negatively related to R.MFG connections with the default network, which has been largely overlooked in the literature. Our results are largely consistent with prior neuroimaging work showing distinct neural mechanisms underlying literacy and numeracy, and also indicate potentially common iFC profiles to both competencies (e.g., R.MFG with cerebellum). Taken together, our iFC findings have a potential to provide novel insights into neural bases of literacy, numeracy, and impairments in these competencies.
Free-Breathing 3D Liver Perfusion Quantification Using a Dual-Input Two-Compartment Model
Authors: Ghodasara Satyam , Pahwa Shivani , Dastmalchian Sara , Gulani Vikas , Chen Yong
Published: December 2017

The purpose of this study is to test the feasibility of applying a dual-input two-compartment liver perfusion model to patients with different pathologies. A total of 7 healthy subjects and 11 patients with focal liver lesions, including 6 patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma and 5 with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), were examined. Liver perfusion values were measured from both focal liver lesions and cirrhotic tissues (from the 5 HCC patients). Compared to results from volunteer livers, significantly higher arterial fraction, fractional volume of the interstitial space, and lower permeability-surface area product were observed for metastatic lesions, and significantly higher arterial fraction and lower vascular transit time were observed for HCCs (P < 0.05). Significantly lower arterial fraction and higher vascular transit time, fractional volume of the vascular space, and fractional volume of the interstitial space were observed for metastases in comparison to HCCs (P < 0.05). For cirrhotic livers, a significantly lower total perfusion, lower fractional volume of the vascular space, higher fractional volume of the interstitial space, and lower permeability-surface area product were noted in comparison to volunteer livers (P < 0.05). Our findings support the possibility of using this model with 3D free-breathing acquisitions for lesion and diffuse liver disease characterization.
In vivo metabolic imaging of Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Guglielmetti Caroline , Chou Austin , Krukowski Karen , Najac Chloe , Feng Xi , Riparip Lara-Kirstie , Rosi Susanna , Chaumeil Myriam M.
Published: December 2017

Complex alterations in cerebral energetic metabolism arise after traumatic brain injury (TBI). To date, methods allowing for metabolic evaluation are highly invasive, limiting our understanding of metabolic impairments associated with TBI pathogenesis. We investigated whether 13C MRSI of hyperpolarized (HP) [1-13C] pyruvate, a non-invasive metabolic imaging method, could detect metabolic changes in controlled cortical injury (CCI) mice (n = 57). Our results show that HP [1-13C] lactate-to-pyruvate ratios were increased in the injured cortex at acute (12/24 hours) and sub-acute (7 days) time points after injury, in line with decreased pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) activity, suggesting impairment of the oxidative phosphorylation pathway. We then used the colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor inhibitor PLX5622 to deplete brain resident microglia prior to and after CCI, in order to confirm that modulations of HP [1-13C] lactate-to-pyruvate ratios were linked to microglial activation. Despite CCI, the HP [1-13C] lactate-to-pyruvate ratio at the injury cortex of microglia-depleted animals at 7 days post-injury remained unchanged compared to contralateral hemisphere, and PDH activity was not affected. Altogether, our results demonstrate that HP [1-13C] pyruvate has great potential for in vivo non-invasive detection of cerebral metabolism post-TBI, providing a new tool to monitor the effect of therapies targeting microglia/macrophages activation after TBI.
Investigation of the effects of the CFTR potentiator ivacaftor on human P-glycoprotein (ABCB1)
Authors: Lingam Swathi , Thonghin Nopnithi , Ford Robert C.
Published: December 2017

Ivacaftor is a potentiator of the CFTR chloride channel and is in worldwide clinical use for the chronic treatment of cystic fibrosis in patients. There is evidence that the bioavailability of ivacaftor in the body may be influenced by the multi-drug exporter P-glycoprotein. Here we have employed purified and reconstituted P-glycoprotein to study its interaction with ivacaftor as well as the ability of the drug to compete with a known transported substrate of the protein. We find that ivacaftor stimulates the ATPase activity of the purified protein and can compete with the transport of the fluorescent substrate Hoechst 33342. These findings lead us to conclude that ivacaftor is very likely an efficiently transported substrate of P-glycoprotein. Evidence for state-dependent binding of ivacaftor was obtained using a fluorescent, cysteine-reactive reporter dye. The quiescent, nucleotide-free state in the P-glycoprotein transport cycle appears to bind ivacaftor strongly.
Metabolic engineering of the pentose phosphate pathway for enhanced limonene production in the cyanobacterium Synechocysti
s sp. PCC 6803
Authors: Lin Po-Cheng , Saha Rajib , Zhang Fuzhong , Pakrasi Himadri B.
Published: December 2017

Isoprenoids are diverse natural compounds, which have various applications as pharmaceuticals, fragrances, and solvents. The low yield of isoprenoids in plants makes them difficult for cost-effective production, and chemical synthesis of complex isoprenoids is impractical. Microbial production of isoprenoids has been considered as a promising approach to increase the yield. In this study, we engineered the model cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 for sustainable production of a commercially valuable isoprenoid, limonene. Limonene synthases from the plants Mentha spicata and Citrus limon were expressed in cyanobacteria for limonene production. Production of limonene was two-fold higher with limonene synthase from M. spicata than that from C. limon. To enhance isoprenoid production, computational strain design was conducted by applying the OptForce strain design algorithm on Synechocystis 6803. Based on the metabolic interventions suggested by this algorithm, genes (ribose 5-phosphate isomerase and ribulose 5-phosphate 3-epimerase) in the pentose phosphate pathway were overexpressed, and a geranyl diphosphate synthase from the plant Abies grandis was expressed to optimize the limonene biosynthetic pathway. The optimized strain produced 6.7 mg/L of limonene, a 2.3-fold improvement in productivity. Thus, this study presents a feasible strategy to engineer cyanobacteria for photosynthetic production of isoprenoids.
Trigonal columnar self-assembly of bent phasmid mesogens
Authors: Cheng Huifang , Li Ya-xin , Zeng Xiang-bing , Gao Hongfei , Cheng Xiaohong , Ungar Goran
Published: December 2017

Three compounds with a bent rod-like core are shown to form the first columnar liquid-crystal phase with confirmed non-centrosymmetric trigonal symmetry.
A far-red fluorescent probe based on a phospha-fluorescein scaffold for cytosolic calcium imaging
Authors: Ogasawara Hiroaki , Grzybowski Marek , Hosokawa Riho , Sato Yoshikatsu , Taki Masayasu , Yamaguchi Shigehiro
Published: December 2017

A far-red fluorescent probe based on a phospha-fluorescein scaffold enables the visualization of cytosolic Ca2+ dynamics in living cells.
Base-catalyzed thio-lactamization of 2-(1-arylvinyl)anilines with CS2 for the synthesis of quinoline-2-thiones
Authors: Wang Tong-Lin , Liu Xiao-Jun , Huo Cong-De , Wang Xi-Cun , Quan Zheng-Jun
Published: December 2017

Quinoline-2-thiones were prepared through a base-catalyzed thio-lactamization of 2-(1-arylvinyl)anilines with CS2.
NHC-catalyzed [4+2] cycloaddition reactions for the synthesis of 3′-spirocyclic oxindoles via a C–F bond cleavage protocol
Authors: Yan Jun , Shi Kuangxi , Zhao Chengtao , Ding Liyuan , Jiang Shengsheng , Yang Limin , Zhong Guofu
Published: December 2017

A chiral NHC-catalyzed cycloaddition of γ-fluoroenals is developed. The nucleophilic γ-carbon generated via C–F bond cleavage undergoes highly enantioselective cycloaddition (up to >99% ee) to isatins and provides 3′-spirocyclic oxindoles in good yields (up to 91%).
Aluminium-mediated carbon–carbon coupling of an isonitrile
Authors: Urwin Stephanie J. , Nichol Gary S. , Cowley Michael J.
Published: December 2017

Cp*Al reacts with diphenylacetylene to form a Cp*-substituted 1,4-dialuminacyclohexene, which mediates the coupling of isonitriles to form a new zwitterionic diamide ligand with a carbocationic backbone.
DNAzyme based visual detection of DNA methylation
Authors: Li Mei , Zhang Lei , Chen Gangyi , Zhou Jing , Yuan Yi , Zou Jiawei , Yuan Mingming , Chen Rong , Du Feng , Cui Xin , Huang Xin , Dong Juan , Tang Zhuo
Published: December 2017

The colorimetric detection of DNA methylation has been achieved with high specificity and sensitivity by using DNAzyme as a signal reporter.
Diverse ring opening of thietanes and other cyclic sulfides: an electrophilic aryne activation approach
Authors: Zheng Tianyu , Tan Jiajing , Fan Rong , Su Shuaisong , Liu Binbin , Tan Chen , Xu Kun
Published: December 2017

An electrophilic aryne-activated ring opening reaction of saturated sulfur heterocycles is achieved with a wide range of nucleophiles.
Increase in the reduction potential of uranyl upon interaction with graphene oxide surfaces
Authors: Bliznyuk V. N. , Conroy N. A. , Xie Y. , Podila R. , Rao A. M. , Powell B. A.
Published: December 2017

Coordination of uranyl (U(vi)) with carboxylate groups on functionalized graphene oxide (GO) surfaces has been shown to alter the reduction potential of the sorbed uranium ion.
Giant negative magnetoresistance in Ni(quinoline-8-selenoate)2
Authors: Black Nicholas , Daiki Tonouchi , Matsushita Michio M. , Woollins J. Derek , Awaga Kunio , Robertson Neil
Published: December 2017

Ni(qs)2 shows giant negative magnetoresistance as a powder sample, attributed to S = 1 magnetic properties arising from a chain structure.
Effect of coordination geometry on the magnetic properties of a series of Ln2 and Ln4 hydroxo clusters
Authors: Rasamsetty Amaleswari , Das Chinmoy , Sañudo E. Carolina , Shanmugam Maheswaran , Baskar Viswanathan
Published: December 2017

Tetra and di-nuclear Lanthanide hydroxo clusters have been synthesized and characterized magnetically.
The role of structure and the metal ion in the fluorescence sensing of nitro compounds for a series of lanthanide(iii) 9,10-anthracene dicarboxylate coordination polymers
Authors: Quah Hong Sheng , Ng Li Ting , Vittal Jagadese J.
Published: December 2017

Of the 9 nitro compounds tested for their efficiency to quench the photoluminescence of 28 lanthanide coordination polymers (CPs) containing 9,10-anthracene dicarboxylate (ADC), Brady's reagent was found to be the best.
An electrochemical cell with Gortex-based electrodes capable of extracting pure hydrogen from highly dilute hydrogen–methane mixtures
Authors: Wagner Klaudia , Tiwari Prerna , Swiegers Gerhard F. , Wallace Gordon G.
Published: December 2017

In this work we report a novel liquid–acid electrochemical cell containing Gortex-based gas diffusion electrodes, layered with suitable catalysts and current collectors, that is capable of sustainably extracting pure hydrogen from methane mixtures containing as little as 5% hydrogen.
Recent status on MOF thin films on transparent conductive oxides substrates (ITO or FTO)
Authors: Genesio Guillaume , Maynadié Jérôme , Carboni Michaël , Meyer Daniel
Published: December 2017

MOF thin films on a conductive support are reviewed with a particular focus on the growth control and the binding strength of the films.
Direct growth of Cr-doped TiO2 nanosheet arrays on stainless steel substrates with visible-light photoelectrochemical properties
Authors: Mao Guobing , Xu Miao , Yao Shuyang , Zhou Beibei , Liu Qi
Published: December 2017

We report the synthesis of Cr-doped TiO2 nanosheet arrays grown directly on stainless steel substrates without adding Cr-dopant, which exhibit enhanced photoactivity under visible light.
Computational insight into the origin of unexpected contrast in chiral markers as revealed by STM
Authors: Sanz-Matías Ana , Ivasenko Oleksandr , Fang Yuan , De Feyter Steven , Tahara Kazukuni , Tobe Yoshito , Harvey Jeremy N.
Published: December 2017

Chiral substituents in self-assembled molecular layers show differences in bias dependence in STM image contrast.
Mechanical stiffening of human rhinovirus by cavity-filling antiviral drugs
Authors: Valbuena Alejandro , Rodríguez-Huete Alicia , Mateu Mauricio G.
Published: December 2017

Mechanical stiffening of human rhinovirus (left) by binding drugs or introducing bulky chemical groups in capsid pockets (center) inhibits viral infection (left).
Searching for avidity by chemical ligation of combinatorially self-assembled DNA-encoded ligand libraries
Authors: Matysiak Stefan , Hellmuth Klaus , El-Sagheer Afaf H. , Shivalingam Arun , Ariyurek Yavuz , de Jong Marco , Hollestelle Martine J. , Out Ruud , Brown Tom
Published: December 2017

DNA encoded ligands are self-assembled into bivalent complexes and chemically ligated to link their identities.
Poly(anhydride) nanoparticles act as effective adjuvants to elicit a persistent immune response
Authors: Liu Caixia , Shen Qiuxai , Zheng Wenwen , Lv Yao , Chen Xinyu , Li Xiaoheng , Zhu Qiqi , Guo Xiaoling , Ge Renshan , Li Chao
Published: December 2017

This research shows that p-OVA nanoparticles composed of poly(anhydride) and OVA have a strong ability to induce an OVA-specific immune response.
Ship in a bottle: confinement-promoted self-assembly
Authors: Lopez-Fontal Elkin , Grochmal Anna , Foran Tom , Milanesi Lilia , Tomas Salvador
Published: December 2017

Lipid vesicles behave like ship-in-a-bottle constructs that direct the ship's assembly following the confinement of key wooden planks.
The surface chemistry of iron oxide nanocrystals: surface reduction of γ-Fe2O3 to Fe3O4 by redox-active catechol surface ligands
Authors: Daniel P. , Shylin S. I. , Lu H. , Tahir M. N. , Panthöfer M. , Weidner T. , Möller A. , Ksenofontov V. , Tremel W.
Published: December 2017

The effect of surface functionalization on the structural and magnetic properties of catechol-functionalized iron oxide magnetic (γ-Fe2O3) nanocrystals was investigated.
Omics of bifidobacteria: research and insights into their health-promoting activities
Authors: Bottacini Francesca , van Sinderen Douwe , Ventura Marco
Published: December 2017

Members of the genus Bifidobacterium include gut commensals that are particularly abundant among the microbial communities residing in the gut of healthy breast-fed infants, where their presence has been linked to many beneficial host effects. Next-generation DNA sequencing and comparative and functional genome methodologies have been shown to be particularly useful in exploring the diversity of this genus. These combined approaches have allowed the identification of genetic features related to bifidobacterial establishment in the gut, involving host–microbe as well as microbe–microbe interactions. Among these, proteinaceous structures, which protrude from the bacterial surface, i.e. pili or fimbriae, and exopolysaccharidic cell surface layers or capsules represent crucial features that assist in their colonization and persistence in the gut. As bifidobacteria are colonizers of the large intestine, they have to be able to cope with various sources of osmotic, oxidative, bile and acid stress during their transit across the gastric barrier and the small intestine. Bifidobacterial genomes thus encode various survival mechanisms, such as molecular chaperones and efflux pumps, to overcome such challenges. Bifidobacteria represent part of an anaerobic gut community, and feed on nondigestible carbohydrates through a specialized fermentative metabolic pathway, which in turn produces growth substrates for other members of the gut community. Conversely, bifidobacteria may also be dependent on other (bifido)bacteria to access host- and diet-derived glycans, and these complex co-operative interactions, based on resource sharing and cross-feeding strategies, represent powerful driving forces that shape gut microbiota composition.
Endoplasmic reticulum stress/autophagy pathway is involved in diabetes-induced neuronal apoptosis and cognitive decline in mice
Authors: Kong Fei-Juan , Ma Lei-Lei , Guo Jun-Jie , Xu Lin-Hao , Li Yun , Qu Shen
Published: December 2017

Diabetes mellitus is a significant global public health problem depicting a rising prevalence worldwide. As a serious complication of diabetes, diabetes-associated cognitive decline is attracting increasing attention. However, the underlying mechanisms are yet to be fully determined. Both endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and autophagy have been reported to modulate neuronal survival and death and be associated with several neurodegenerative diseases. Here, a streptozotocin-induced diabetic mouse model and primary cultured mouse hippocampal neurons were employed to investigate the possible role of ER stress and autophagy in diabetes-induced neuronal apoptosis and cognitive impairments, and further explore the potential molecular mechanisms. ER stress markers GRP78 and CHOP were both enhanced in diabetic mice, as was phosphorylation of PERK, IRE1α, and JNK. In addition, the results indicated an elevated level of autophagy in diabetic mice, as demonstrated by up-regulated expressions of autophagy markers LC3-II, beclin 1 and down-regulated level of p62, and increased formation of autophagic vacuoles and LC3-II aggregates. Meanwhile, we found that these effects could be abolished by ER stress inhibitor 4-phenylbutyrate or JNK inhibitor SP600125 in vitro. Furthermore, neuronal apoptosis of diabetic mice was attenuated by pretreatment with 4-phenylbutyrate, while aggravated by application of inhibitor of autophagy bafilomycin A1 in vitro. These results suggest that ER stress pathway may be involved in diabetes-mediated neurotoxicity and promote the following cognitive impairments. More important, autophagy was induced by diabetes possibly through ER stress-mediated JNK pathway, which may protect neurons against ER stress-associated cell damages.
Robust kernelised correlation filter tracking with least absolute deviations regression
Authors: Zheng Yuhui , Wang Shunfeng , Zhang Kaihua
Published: December 2017

Kernelised correlation filter (KCF) has demonstrated its superior performance in visual tracking. The strength of the approach stems from its ability to efficiently learn the object appearance variations over time. A fundamental drawback to KCF, however, is that the objective function is modelled as a ridge regression problem that is sensitive to outliers, thereby resulting in suboptimal performance when the target appearance during tracking suffers from severe variations due to illumination variation, partial occlusion, background clutter, and so on. To address this issue, the KCF as a least absolute deviations regression (LADR) that is robust to outliers is reformulated, and then an efficient and effective approach to solve it via the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) is presented. The ADMM splits the LADR into a ridge regression problem as the conventional KCF and a soft‐thresholding one, and hence the proposed approach is still extremely efficient as the conventional KCF. Evaluations are conducted on the CVPR2013 tracking benchmark dataset with 50 sequences, which demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed method over the state‐of‐the‐art trackers.
Early termination refresh to reduce refresh overhead
Authors: Lee M.‐K. , Chung K.‐S.
Published: December 2017

Dynamic random access memory (DRAM) is mainly used as the main memory in modern computers. Since data is stored in a memory cell that is composed of a capacitor and a transistor, the cell must be periodically refreshed to prevent data loss due to charge leakage. The refresh operation dissipates energy and degrades system performance. Existing DRAM devices determine the refresh interval based on the retention time of the weakest memory cell. However, most DRAM memory cells retain data much longer than the weakest cell. In this Letter, the authors propose a refresh method with early termination that stops the refresh operations early before the completion depending on the retention time. To minimise changes in the existing auto‐refresh (AR) operation, the proposed early termination refresh (ETR) uses the same refresh granularity as AR, which is a row group, and marks different retention times for each row group in the memory array. While refreshing a row group in a DRAM device, ETR reads the retention time marked in the memory array and stops the refresh operation if the remaining refresh operations are redundant. ETR improves the average system throughput by 3.1% and reduces the refresh power by 65.4% over AR.
Evaluation of voltage imbalance on low‐voltage distribution networks considering delta‐connected distribution transformers with a symmetrical NGS
Authors: Liao Rih‐Neng , Yang Nien‐Che
Published: December 2017

The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of distribution transformers with a delta‐connected neutral‐grounded structure (NGS) on the voltage imbalance of low‐voltage distribution networks. The proposed NGS for delta‐connected distribution transformers has a symmetrical structure. That is, the stability and reliability of the operating characteristic of the proposed delta‐connected NGS are better than other grounding methods such as corner‐grounding, mid‐tapped grounding, a zig–zag grounding transformer, and an asymmetrical NGS. In this study, the coupling‐free equivalent circuit mathematical models for various methods of grounding a delta‐connected structure are first developed. Furthermore, these coupling‐free equivalent circuits can be simply implemented in the MATLAB/Simulink platform. Next, the IEEE test feeder system is used as a benchmark for verification. To determine the feasibility of the proposed NGS and evaluate its operational performance, a Monte Carlo simulation‐based three‐phase power‐flow method was proposed to compare the operational characteristics of various grounding structures (i.e. system imbalance resulting from asymmetric load conditions or asymmetric transformer connections) such as phase‐to‐ground voltages, line currents, power consumption, and voltage unbalance factor. The results provide a valuable reference for distribution engineers and building technologies seeking a suitable method of grounding delta‐connected power service systems.
Distribution network reconfiguration comprehensively considering N−1 security and network loss
Authors: Zu Guoqiang , Xiao Jun , Sun Kai
Published: December 2017

Efficiency pursuit of the distribution system operation should be on the premise of security. This study proposes the network reconfiguration (NR) approach comprehensively considering N −1 security and network loss. A new approach called distribution system security region (DSSR) is first applied in NR problem. The DSSR is the feasible operation space of a system within N −1 security criterion and can quantify the N −1 security margin. Then, the NR is formulated by using the minimum network loss as objective function and the N −1 security margin, which is provided by the DSSR, as constraints. Moreover, the security margin constraints can be customised for each feeder individually, yielding proper compromises between security‐related and efficient concerns. Different NR results for multiple security and efficiency requirements are presented on an extended IEEE‐RBTS test system. Compared with the traditional minimum‐loss NR, the proposed approach reduces the network loss as much as possible with desired security margin, well balancing the security and efficiency of NR.
Real‐time event identification using synchrophasor data from selected buses
Authors: Kundu Pratim , Pradhan Ashok Kumar
Published: December 2017

Events such as fault, line tripping, and load change occur frequently in a large power system. Online identification of such events can assist in the initiation of remedial measures i.e., control signals for better system performance, adjusting relay setting for more reliable protection operation in network, etc. This paper proposes a synchronized data‐based method for real‐time detection of events in a network to improve situational awareness. Impedance‐based indices calculated using synchronized voltage and line current data obtained from the selected locations in a network are used for this purpose. A method for selection of synchrophasor measurement buses in a network is also developed. Impedance observed at various locations in a network is sensitive to any change in network condition. The proposed indices are set to analyse such variations and detect the disturbance region and type of disturbance in the network. The network is grouped into different subsystems and measurements from a set of buses are required for detecting an event. The method is developed to detect three types of events in a network: fault, line tripping and load change. Results for New England 39 bus system show the accuracy of the method in identifying disturbance events for real‐time applications.
Cost‐based optimal siting and sizing of electric vehicle charging stations considering demand response programmes
Authors: Simorgh Hamid , Doagou‐Mojarrad Hasan , Razmi Hadi , Gharehpetian Gevork B.
Published: December 2017

Here, the optimal placement and sizing of electric vehicle charging stations (EVCSs) are presented. High penetration of electric vehicles (EVs) and resulted losses in network would consequently impose more complexity to solution of application problem of EVCSs. To overcome this problem, the model would consider the incentive‐based demand response programmes (DRPs), which is handled by particle swarm optimisation algorithm. Minimising investment cost, connection cost, total cost of losses, and demand response (DR) cost are the objective functions of this problem here. Finally, the proposed model is applied to a test system and results are discussed. By comparing the results obtained through different scenarios, it is concluded that the application of DRP results in a distinct reduction in grid losses and total costs.