bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Printed Nanostructures for Organic Photovoltaic Cells and Solution‐Processed Polymer Light‐Emitting Diodes
Authors: Youn Hongseok , Park Hui Joon , Guo L. Jay
Published: February 2015

We review the progress on printing‐based technologies for organic electronic devices, especially organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells and polymer light‐emitting diodes (PLEDs). First we discuss recent efforts to introduce interdigitated nanostructures on the order of tens of nanometers to the photoactive layers of OPV cells using nanoimprint lithography including a soft‐printing process developed in our research group that can easily produce sub‐20 nm scale organic semiconductor nanopillars. Second, we review solution‐processible printing technologies such as gravure printing, screen printing, blade coating, and slot–die coating for high‐throughput manufacturing of PLEDs.
Bisphenol A reduces fertilizing ability and motility by compromising mitochondrial function of sperm
Authors: Singh Ram P. , Shafeeque Chathathayil M. , Sharma Sanjeev K. , Pandey Nitin K. , Singh Renu , Mohan Jag , Kolluri Gautham , Saxena Meeta , Sharma Bhaskar , Sastry Kochiganti V.H. , Kataria Jag M. , Azeez Parappurath A.
Published: February 2015

Bisphenol A (BPA) acts as an endocrine disruptor, affects animal reproductive success in vivo and affects sperm functions in vitro at environmentally relevant concentrations, leading to reduction in sperm motility and fertilizing ability in fish. The effect of in vitro BPA on avian sperm functions has not been explored. The present study examined the effect of environmentally relevant concentrations of BPA (0 mM, 0.18 mM, 0.37 mM, and 0.74 mM) on sperm functions in chicken in vitro. Sperm were exposed to concentrations of BPA for 30 min and analyzed for motility, fertilizing ability, live sperm percentage, and mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm). Results showed that BPA at a concentration of 0.74 mM significantly decreased motility, fertilizing ability, live sperm count percentage, and sperm Δψm. Sperm motility was positively correlated with fertility (r = 0.73, p ≤ 0.01), live sperm percentage (r = 0.64, p ≤ 0.01), and high Δψm (r = 0.44, p ≤ 0.01). A dose-dependent and time-dependent effect of BPA was observed on sperm motility at all BPA concentrations. However, sperm's fertilizing ability was unaffected in low BPA concentration (0.18 mM and 0.37 mM). A significantly higher percentage of moribund sperm was observed at 0.37 mM and 0.74 mM BPA compared with at 0.18 mM BPA, in the negative control, and in the vehicle control. The present study confirms that environmentally relevant concentrations of BPA are capable of compromising sperm functions, leading to reduction in fertilizing ability of chicken sperm. Environ Toxicol Chem 2015;34:1617–1622. © 2015 SETAC
The effect of ageing on fMRI: Correction for the confounding effects of vascular reactivity evaluated by joint fMRI and MEG in 335 adults
Authors: Tsvetanov Kamen A. , Henson Richard N. A. , Tyler Lorraine K. , Davis Simon W. , Shafto Meredith A. , Taylor Jason R. , Williams Nitin , Cam‐CAN  , Rowe James B.
Published: February 2015

In functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) research one is typically interested in neural activity. However, the blood‐oxygenation level‐dependent (BOLD) signal is a composite of both neural and vascular activity. As factors such as age or medication may alter vascular function, it is essential to account for changes in neurovascular coupling when investigating neurocognitive functioning with fMRI. The resting‐state fluctuation amplitude (RSFA) in the fMRI signal (rsfMRI) has been proposed as an index of vascular reactivity. The RSFA compares favourably with other techniques such as breath‐hold and hypercapnia, but the latter are more difficult to perform in some populations, such as older adults. The RSFA is therefore a candidate for use in adjusting for age‐related changes in vascular reactivity in fMRI studies. The use of RSFA is predicated on its sensitivity to vascular rather than neural factors; however, the extent to which each of these factors contributes to RSFA remains to be characterized. The present work addressed these issues by comparing RSFA (i.e., rsfMRI variability) to proxy measures of (i) cardiovascular function in terms of heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) and (ii) neural activity in terms of resting state magnetoencephalography (rsMEG). We derived summary scores of RSFA, a sensorimotor task BOLD activation, cardiovascular function and rsMEG variability for 335 healthy older adults in the population‐based Cambridge Centre for Ageing and Neuroscience cohort (Cam‐CAN; www.cam-can.com). Mediation analysis revealed that the effects of ageing on RSFA were significantly mediated by vascular factors, but importantly not by the variability in neuronal activity. Furthermore, the converse effects of ageing on the rsMEG variability were not mediated by vascular factors. We then examined the effect of RSFA scaling of task‐based BOLD in the sensorimotor task. The scaling analysis revealed that much of the effects of age on task‐based activation studies with fMRI do not survive correction for changes in vascular reactivity, and are likely to have been overestimated in previous fMRI studies of ageing. The results from the mediation analysis demonstrate that RSFA is modulated by measures of vascular function and is not driven solely by changes in the variance of neural activity. Based on these findings we propose that the RSFA scaling method is articularly useful in large scale and longitudinal neuroimaging studies of ageing, or with frail participants, where alternative measures of vascular reactivity are impractical. Hum Brain Mapp 36:2248–2269, 2015. © 2015 The Authors Human Brain Mapping Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Toward a more complete understanding of the association between a hepatitis C sustained viral response and cause‐specific outcomes
Authors: Innes Hamish A. , McDonald Scott A. , Dillon John F. , Allen Sam , Hayes Peter C. , Goldberg David , Mills Peter R. , Barclay Stephen T. , Wilks David , Valerio Heather , Fox Ray , Bhattacharyya Diptendu , Kennedy Nicholas , Morris Judith , Fraser Andrew , Stanley Adrian J. , Bramley Peter , Hutchinson Sharon J.
Published: February 2015

Sustained viral response (SVR) is the optimal outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy, yet more detailed data are required to confirm its clinical value. Individuals receiving treatment in 1996‐2011 were identified using the Scottish HCV clinical database. We sourced data on 10 clinical events: liver, nonliver, and all‐cause mortality; first hospitalisation for severe liver morbidity (SLM); cardiovascular disease (CVD); respiratory disorders; neoplasms; alcohol‐intoxication; drug intoxication; and violence‐related injury (note: the latter three events were selected a priori to gauge ongoing chaotic lifestyle behaviours). We determined the association between SVR attainment and each outcome event, in terms of the relative hazard reduction and absolute risk reduction (ARR). We tested for an interaction between SVR and liver disease severity (mild vs. nonmild), defining mild disease as an aspartate aminotransferase‐to‐platelet ratio index (APRI) <0.7. Our cohort comprised 3,385 patients (mean age: 41.6 years), followed‐up for a median 5.3 years (interquartile range: 3.3‐8.2). SVR was associated with a reduced risk of liver mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR]: 0.24; P < 0.001), nonliver mortality (AHR, 0.68; P = 0.026), all‐cause mortality (AHR, 0.49; P < 0.001), SLM (AHR, 0.21; P < 0.001), CVD (AHR, 0.70; P = 0.001), alcohol intoxication (AHR, 0.52; P = 0.003), and violence‐related injury (AHR, 0.51; P = 0.002). After 7.5 years, SVR was associated with significant ARRs for liver mortality, all‐cause mortality, SLM, and CVD (each 3.0%‐4.7%). However, we detected a strong interaction, in that ARRs were considerably higher for individuals with nonmild disease than for individuals with mild disease. Conclusions: The conclusions are 3‐fold: (1) Overall, SVR is associated with reduced hazard for a range of hepatic and nonhepatic events; (2) an association between SVR and behavioral events is consistent with SVR patients leading healthier lives; and (3) the short‐term value of SVR is greatest for those with nonmild disease. (Hepatology 2015;62:355–364
Adaptation of the hepatitis B virus core protein to CD8+ T‐cell selection pressure
Authors: Kefalakes Helenie , Budeus Bettina , Walker Andreas , Jochum Christoph , Hilgard Gudrun , Heinold Andreas , Heinemann Falko M. , Gerken Guido , Hoffmann Daniel , Timm Joerg
Published: February 2015

Activation of hepatitis B virus (HBV)–specific CD8 T cells by therapeutic vaccination may promote sustained control of viral replication by clearance of covalently closed circular DNA from infected hepatocytes. However, little is known about the exact targets of the CD8 T‐cell response and whether HBV reproducibly evades CD8 T‐cell immune pressure by mutation. The aim of this study was to address if HBV reproducibly selects substitutions in CD8 T‐cell epitopes that functionally act as immune escape mutations. The HBV core gene was amplified and sequenced from 148 patients with chronic HBV infection, and the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I genotype (A and B loci) was determined. Residues under selection pressure in the presence of particular HLA class I alleles were identified by a statistical approach utilizing the novel analysis package SeqFeatR. With this approach we identified nine residues in HBV core under selection pressure in the presence of 10 different HLA class I alleles. Additional immunological experiments confirmed that seven of the residues were located inside epitopes targeted by patients with chronic HBV infection carrying the relevant HLA class I allele. Consistent with viral escape, the selected substitutions reproducibly impaired recognition by HBV‐specific CD8 T cells. Conclusion: Viral sequence analysis allows identification of HLA class I–restricted epitopes under reproducible selection pressure in HBV core; the possibility of viral escape from CD8 T‐cell immune pressure needs attention in the context of therapeutic vaccination against HBV. (Hepatology 2015;62:47‐56)
The Olympic Effect: Employee Reactions to Their Employer's Sponsorship of a High‐Profile Global Sporting Event
Authors: Edwards Martin R.
Published: February 2015

With companies investing vast sums of money on sponsoring high‐profile sports events, it is surprising that very little research exists to examine the possible impact that this has on the sponsors’ employees. This two‐wave panel study explores the indirect role that Olympic sponsorship and employee support for this sponsorship has on increases in organizational identification and discretionary effort—via, that is, pride and employee assessments of their employer's corporate social responsibility (CSR) credentials. The current study surveyed 241 employees (from three countries) in two phases across a 12‐month period in the run‐up to the 2012 London Olympics. Olympic sponsorship support was found to be positively associated with organizational pride and CSR perceptions, which both predict increases in organizational identification and discretionary effort (controlling for earlier baseline levels of these outcomes). In addition, there is also evidence of an indirect positive effect (through CSR perceptions and pride) of Olympic sponsorship support on increases in organizational identification and discretionary effort. The implications of these findings for decision makers considering sponsoring major sporting events are discussed; the findings provide interesting insights that can help HR functions to understand the consequences of sports sponsorship and processes involved that explain positive employee responses. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Modelling the potential role of forest thinning in maintaining water supplies under a changing climate across the conterminous United States
Authors: Sun Ge , Caldwell Peter V. , McNulty Steven G.
Published: February 2015

The goal of this study was to test the sensitivity of water yield to forest thinning and other forest management/disturbances and climate across the conterminous United States (CONUS). Leaf area index (LAI) was selected as a key parameter linking changes in forest ecosystem structure and functions. We used the Water Supply Stress Index model to examine water yield response under 18 scenarios that combine hypothetical LAI changes (+10%, ±20%, −50%, and −80%), uniform increases in temperature (+1 °C and +2 °C) and precipitation change (±10%), and four climate change scenarios projected by general circulation models (GCMs) for the year 2050. Approximately 2100 large basins produced approximately 2003 billion cubic metres of water annually from 2002 to 2007. Forest lands covered 23% of the land surface area, but contributed 43% of the total water yield for the CONUS. As a whole, water yield increased by 3%, 8%, and 13% when LAI was reduced 20%, 50%, and 80%, respectively, while water yield decreased by 3% when LAI increased by 20%. Temperature increases of 2 °C alone could decrease water yield by 11%. A reduction of precipitation by 10% and 20% could result in a decrease of water yield by 20% and 39%, respectively. The direction and magnitude of water yield response to the combinations of LAI (+10%), climate warming (+1 °C), and precipitation change (±10%) were dominated by the change in precipitation. Climate change projected by the four GCMs (CSIROMK2 B2, CSIROMK3.5 A1B, HADCM3 B2, and MIROC32 A1B) resulted in a large change in water yield (+18% to −64%) by 2045–2055 when compared with the baseline. A 50% reduction in forest LAI under the four GCMs scenarios could greatly mitigate or exacerbate future climate change impacts on water yield in forest‐dominated watersheds with high precipitation. This study provides the first quantitative estimate of the effects of forest thinning options on water yield under future climate across the CONUS. Effective forest water management for climate mitigation should focus on those watersheds identified. Published 2015. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Snow cover variability and snowmelt in a high‐altitude ungauged catchment
Authors: Wang Rui , Yao Zhijun , Liu Zhaofei , Wu Shanshan , Jiang Liguang , Wang Lei
Published: February 2015

Snow variability is an integrated indicator of climate change, and it has important impacts on runoff regimes and water availability in high‐altitude catchments. Remote sensing techniques can make it possible to quantitatively detect the snow cover changes and associated hydrological effects in those poorly gauged regions. In this study, the spatial–temporal variations of snow cover and snow melting time in the Tuotuo River basin, which is the headwater of the Yangtze River, were evaluated based on satellite information from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer snow cover product, and the snow melting equivalent and its contribution to the total runoff and baseflow were estimated by using degree–day model. The results showed that the snow cover percentage and the tendency of snow cover variability increased with rising altitude. From 2000 to 2012, warmer and wetter climate change resulted in an increase of the snow cover area. Since the 1960s, the start time for snow melt has become earlier by 0.9–3 days/10a and the end time of snow melt has become later by 0.6–2.3 days/10a. Under the control of snow cover and snow melting time, the equivalent of snow melting runoff in the Tuotuo River basin has been fluctuating. The average contributions of snowmelt to baseflow and total runoff were 19.6% and 6.8%, respectively. Findings from this study will serve as a reference for future research in areas where observational data are deficient and for planning of future water management strategies for the source region of the Yangtze River. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A comparative study of the effects of 4‐META/MMA‐TBB resin and cyanoacrylate on wound healing of skin defects
Authors: Kidokoro Ryo , Nakajima Kei , Kobayashi Fumitaka , Takeda Yukihiro , Matsuzaka Kenichi , Katakura Akira , Inoue Takashi
Published: February 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate the healing process of wounded skin following the application of cyanoacrylate or a 4‐(2‐methacryloxyethyl) trimellitic anhydride/methyl methacrylate‐tributylborane resin (4‐META resin). Those materials were applied to skin wound areas in rats, and the regenerating tissues were biopsied and examined at days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14. Paraffin‐embedded specimens were sectioned and stained with hematoxylin and eosin or with Azan‐Mallory stain. Sections were also immunohistochemically stained with Pan‐cytokeratin and CD68 antibodies. In cyanoacrylate‐treated wounds, CD68‐positive cells were observed in the connective tissue and their number increased up to day 5. The wound surface was completely covered by epithelial tissue at day 14. In 4‐META resin‐treated wounds, CD68‐positive cells appeared in the soft‐tissue hybrid layer (STHL) and epithelial tissue had migrated under the STHL by day 5. The wound surface was completely covered by epithelial tissue at day 7. CD68‐positive cells were distributed over the entire area of the cyanoacrylate‐treated wounds, but accumulated under the STHL in the 4‐META resin‐treated wounds. In conclusion, the results suggest that covering skin defects with a 4‐META resin is an effective strategy to promote wound healing compared to cyanoacrylate. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 104B: 197–203, 2016.
Three dimensional culture of HepG2 liver cells on a rat decellularized liver matrix for pharmacological studies
Authors: Hussein Kamal H. , Park Kyung M. , Ghim Jinn H. , Yang Se R. , Woo Heung M.
Published: February 2015

Three‐dimensional in vitro tumor models are needed to obtain more information about drug behavior in tumors. The aim of this study is to establish a new model for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using decellularized rat livers. After generating the rat liver scaffolds, HepG2 liver cancer cells were perfused via the portal vein and placed in a bioreactor for 10 days. Histology was performed to analyze cell distribution within the scaffolds. Function and tumor‐related gene expression were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We evaluated the function of HepG2 cells grown on scaffolds in the presence of a well‐known anti‐cancer drug to investigate the potential application of our system for drug screening. The scaffolds were devoid of cellular materials and preserved extracellular matrix components. HepG2 cells grew well on the scaffolds. The PCR results showed that the cells maintained function and invasion ability at significantly higher levels than cells grown on two‐dimensional (2‐D) dishes or spheroids on Matrigel. Unlike the 2‐D cultures, albumin secretion and alpha‐fetoprotein expression in three‐dimensional cultures were less susceptible to lower concentrations of the drug. Cells grown in scaffolds seemed to respond to the drug in an analogous manner to its known activity in vivo. These findings strengthen the potential use of rat liver scaffolds for screening HCC drugs. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 104B: 263–273, 2016.
Evidence of novel plant‐species specific ammonia oxidizing bacterial clades in acidic South African fynbos soils
Authors: Ramond Jean‐Baptiste , Lako Joseph D. W. , Stafford William H. L. , Tuffin Marla I. , Cowan Don A.
Published: February 2015

Ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria (AOB) are essential in the biogeochemical cycling of nitrogen as they catalyze the rate‐limiting oxidation of ammonia into nitrite. Since their first isolation in the late 19th century, chemolithoautotrophic AOBs have been identified in a wide range of natural (e.g., soils, sediments, estuarine, and freshwaters) and man created or impacted habitats (e.g., wastewater treatment plants and agricultural soils). However, little is known on the plant‐species association of AOBs, particularly in the nutrient‐starved fynbos terrestrial biome. In this study, we evaluated the diversity of AOBs in the plant canopy of three South African fynbos‐specific plant species, namelyLeucadendron xanthoconus,Leucospermum truncatulumandLeucadendron microcephalum, through the construction ofamoA‐gene clone libraries. Our results clearly demonstrate that plant‐species specific and monophyletic AOB clades are present in fynbos canopy soils.
Urbanization‐induced regional warming in Yangtze River Delta: potential role of anthropogenic heat release
Authors: Wang Xiaomei , Sun Xuguang , Tang Jianping , Yang Xiuqun
Published: February 2015

Accompanying with the rapid urbanization in Yangtze River Delta (YRD), large amounts of anthropogenic heat are released into the atmosphere, which is becoming a more and more severe issue for the local climate. To understand what role anthropogenic heat release (AHR) plays in the urbanization‐induced regional warming, high‐resolution (3 km) Weather Research and Forecast WRF model experiments are carried out for 7 years (2001–2007) with different configurations of urban land use (ULU) and AHR. The results show that AHR can cause notable warming in almost the whole YRD rather than confining to the local cities where it releases, which is more significant in winter than in summer if the same amounts of AHR apply, especially at winter night. And furthermore, it can decrease (somewhat increase) the diurnal temperature range (DTR) in winter (summer). On the contrary, urban canopy effect due to the change from rural to ULU can produce a stronger warming in summer than in winter, and always reduce DTR in both winter and summer. Contribution of AHR to the sensible heat flux in urban regions is responsible for those AHR‐caused warming and DTR features, because it is larger in winter and at winter night but much smaller in summer and at summer night. Without ambient wind effect, AHR‐caused warming centres in cities and spreads around homogeneously. However, under the prevailing wind, it has less magnitude, shifts to the downwind city edges and forms a warming belt along the wind direction, which may favour linking the adjacent AHR‐caused warming together. On the other hand, AHR‐caused warming depends on the city sizes that are proportional to the total amount of AHR emitted.
Actin cytoskeleton contributes to the elastic modulus of embryonic tendon during early development
Authors: Schiele Nathan R. , von Flotow Friedrich , Tochka Zachary L. , Hockaday Laura A. , Marturano Joseph E. , Thibodeau Jeffrey J. , Kuo Catherine K.
Published: February 2015

Tendon injuries are common and heal poorly. Strategies to regenerate or replace injured tendons are challenged by an incomplete understanding of normal tendon development. Our previous study showed that embryonic tendon elastic modulus increases as a function of developmental stage. Inhibition of enzymatic collagen crosslink formation abrogated increases in tendon elastic modulus at late developmental stages, but did not affect increases in elastic modulus of early stage embryonic tendons. Here, we aimed to identify potential contributors to the mechanical properties of these early stage embryonic tendons. We characterized tendon progenitor cells in early stage embryonic tendons, and the influence of actin cytoskeleton disruption on tissue elastic modulus. Cells were closely packed in embryonic tendons, and did not change in density during early development. We observed an organized network of actin filaments that seemed contiguous between adjacent cells. The actin filaments exhibited a crimp pattern with a period and amplitude that matched the crimp of collagen fibers at each developmental stage. Chemical disruption of the actin cytoskeleton decreased tendon tissue elastic modulus, measured by atomic force microscopy. Our results demonstrate that early developmental stage embryonic tendons possess a well organized actin cytoskeleton network that contributes significantly to tendon tissue mechanical properties. © 2015 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 33:874–881, 2015.
Isolation and identification of chemical constituents from Origanum majorana and investigation of antiproliferative and antioxidant activities
Authors: Erenler Ramazan , Sen Ozkan , Aksit Huseyin , Demirtas Ibrahim , Yaglioglu Ayse Sahin , Elmastas Mahfuz , Telci İsa
Published: February 2015

BACKGROUND

Origanum majorana L., belonging to the Lamiaceae family, has great potential and has been used as a folk medicine against asthma, indigestion, headache and rheumatism; in addition, the essential oils of this plant have been used widely in the food industry. Plant materials have been harvested from the Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Field of Gaziosmanpasa University. Air‐dried plant materials were boiled in water, filtered, and the solvent part subsequently extracted with hexane and ethyl acetate. The chromatographic method was applied to the ethyl acetate extract to isolate bioactive secondary metabolites, the structures of which were elucidated by spectroscopic techniques: basically one‐dimensional and two‐dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance and quadrupole time‐of‐flight liquid chromatography. Antiproliferative and antioxidant activities of isolated secondary metabolites were determined.

RESULTS

5,6,3′‐Trihydroxy‐7,8,4′‐trimethoxyflavone, hesperetin, hydroquinone, arbutin and rosmarinic acid were isolated from the water‐soluble ethyl acetate extract of aerial parts of O. majorana. Antioxidant activities of isolated compounds and water‐soluble ethyl acetate extract were investigated using assays of DPPH•, ABTS•+, reducing power and total phenolic content. Antiproliferative activities of the isolated compounds and plant extracts were investigated against C6 and HeLa cell lines using BrdU cell proliferation enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and xCELLigence assay, respectively. Both hesperetin and hydroquinone were determined to have stronger antiproliferative activities against C6 and HeLa cells than the other isolated compounds and 5‐fluorouracil.

CONCLUSION

The results showed that the extract and isolated compounds exhibited significant antioxidant activities. Hence this plant has the potential to be a natural antioxidant in the food industry and an anticancer drug. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Unroofing hepatectomy: A facilitating approach for resection of deep‐seated hepatocellular carcinoma adjacent to major intrahepatic vessels in cirrhotic patients
Authors: Wu Cheng‐Chung , Shen Ching‐Hui , Liu Hsiao‐Tien , Lai Chia‐Yu , Cheng Shao‐Bin , Yu Cheng‐Chan , Wang John , Yeh Dah‐Cherng , P'eng Fang‐Ku
Published: February 2015

Background and Objectives

Unroofing hepatectomy, an alternative approach to remove a deep‐seated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) adjacent to major intrahepatic vessels by peel‐off technique after sacrificing the overlying noncancerous liver, may result in tumor exposure without resection margin. The aim of the study was to examine the value of this approach in cirrhotic patients.

Methods

Between 1998 and 2012, 51 cirrhotic patients underwent unroofing hepatectomy for deep‐seated newly‐diagnosed HCC adjacent to major intrahepatic vessels (group A). Another 274 cirrhotic patients with similar tumor size and without gross major vessel involvement in the same period were selected as the control cohort (group B). The patients' clinicopathological characteristics, the early and long‐term outcomes of the two groups were compared.

Results

The HCCs in group A had a significantly higher rate of tumor encapsulation, smaller number of associated satellite nodules, and smaller amount of resected liver weight. Postoperative complication and 90‐day mortality rates were similar, but group A patients had a significant better 5‐year disease‐free (56% vs. 32%, P = 0.011) and overall survival rates (82% vs. 53%, P = 0.008).

Conclusions

In selected cirrhotic patients, unroofing hepatectomy facilitates resection of deep‐seated HCC adjacent to major intrahepatic vessels with acceptable early and long‐term results. J. Surg. Oncol. 2015 111:396–403. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Behaviors of cavefish offer insight into developmental evolution
Authors: Yoshizawa Masato
Published: February 2015

Many developmental processes have evolved through natural selection, yet in only a few cases do we understand if and how a change of developmental process produces a benefit. For example, many studies in evolutionary biology have investigated the developmental mechanisms that lead to novel structures in an animal, but only a few have addressed if these structures actually benefit the animal at the behavioral level of prey hunting and mating. As such, this review discusses an animal's behavior as the integrated functional output of its evolved morphological and physiological traits. Specifically, we focus on recent findings about the blind Mexican cavefish,Astyanax mexicanus, for which clear relationships exist between its physical traits and ecosystem. This species includes two morphotypes: an eyed surface dweller versus many conspecific types of blind cave dwellers, some of which evolved independently; all of the blind subtypes derived from eyed surface dwellers. The blind cavefish evolved under clear selection pressures: food is sparse and darkness is perpetual. Simulating the major aspects of a cave ecosystem in the laboratory is relatively easy, so we can use this species to begin resolving the relationships between evolved traits and selection pressures—relationships which are more complex for other animals models. This review discusses the recent advances in cavefish research that have helped us establish some key relationships between morphological evolution and environmental shifts.Mol. Reprod. Dev. 82: 268–280, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A generalized predictive analysis tool for multigrid methods
Authors: Friedhoff S. , MacLachlan S.
Published: February 2015

Multigrid and related multilevel methods are the approaches of choice for solving linear systems that result from discretization of a wide class of PDEs. A large gap, however, exists between the theoretical analysis of these algorithms and their actual performance. This paper focuses on the extension of the well‐known local mode (often local Fourier) analysis approach to a wider class of problems. The semi‐algebraic mode analysis (SAMA) proposed here couples standard local Fourier analysis approaches with algebraic computation to enable analysis of a wider class of problems, including those with strong advective character. The predictive nature of SAMA is demonstrated by applying it to the parabolic diffusion equation in one and two space dimensions, elliptic diffusion in layered media, as well as a two‐dimensional convection‐diffusion problem. These examples show that accounting for boundary conditions and heterogeneity enables accurate predictions of the short‐term and asymptotic convergence behavior for multigrid and related multilevel methods. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structural and functional evolution of chitinase‐like proteins from plants
Authors: Kesari Pooja , Patil Dipak Narhari , Kumar Pramod , Tomar Shailly , Sharma Ashwani Kumar , Kumar Pravindra
Published: February 2015

The plant genome contains a large number of sequences that encode catalytically inactive chitinases referred to as chitinase‐like proteins (CLPs). Although CLPs share high sequence and structural homology with chitinases of glycosyl hydrolase 18 (TIM barrel domain) and 19 families, they may lack the binding/catalytic activity. Molecular genetic analysis revealed that gene duplication events followed by mutation in the existing chitinase gene have resulted in the loss of activity. The evidences show that adaptive functional diversification of the CLPs has been achieved through alterations in the flexible regions than in the rigid structural elements. The CLPs plays an important role in the defense response against pathogenic attack, biotic and abiotic stress. They are also involved in the growth and developmental processes of plants. Since the physiological roles of CLPs are similar to chitinase, such mutations have led to plurifunctional enzymes. The biochemical and structural characterization of the CLPs is essential for understanding their roles and to develop potential utility in biotechnological industries. This review sheds light on the structure–function evolution of CLPs from chitinases.
“You produce while I clean up”, a strategy revealed by exoproteomics during Synechococcus–Roseobacter interactions
Authors: Christie‐Oleza Joseph A. , Scanlan David J. , Armengaud Jean
Published: February 2015

Most of the energy that is introduced into the oceans by photosynthetic primary producers is in the form of organic matter that then sustains the rest of the food web, from micro to macro‐organisms. However, it is the interactions between phototrophs and heterotrophs that are vital to maintaining the nutrient balance of marine microbiomes that ultimately feed these higher trophic levels. The primary produced organic matter is mostly remineralized by heterotrophic microorganisms but, because most of the oceanic dissolved organic matter is in the form of biopolymers, and microbial membrane transport systems operate with molecules <0.6 kDa, it must be hydrolyzed outside the cell before a microorganism can acquire it. As a simili of the marine microbiome, we analyzed, using state‐of‐the‐art proteomics, the exoproteomes obtained from synthetic communities combining specific Roseobacter (Ruegeria pomeroyi DSS‐3, Roseobacter denitrificans OCh114, and Dinoroseobacter shibae DFL‐12) and Synechococcus strains (WH7803 and WH8102). This approach identified the repertoire of hydrolytic enzymes secreted by Roseobacter, opening up the black box of heterotrophic transformation/remineralization of biopolymers generated by marine phytoplankton. As well as highlighting interesting exoenzymes this strategy also allowed us to infer clues on the molecular basis of niche partitioning.
Investigation of Suzuki–Miyaura catalyst‐transfer polycondensation of AB‐type fluorene monomer using coordination‐saturated aryl Pd(II) halide complexes as initiators
Authors: Zhang Zilong , Hu Pan , Li Xiao , Zhan Hongmei , Cheng Yanxiang
Published: February 2015

Novel triarylamine‐based coordination‐saturated aryl Pd(II) halide complexes ligated by PEt3, PCy3, and P(o‐tol)3 were successfully synthesized by direct oxidative addition of aryl halide to the corresponding Pd(0) precursors. Suzuki–Miyaura coupling polymerization of 2‐(7‐halide‐9,9‐dioctylfluoren‐2‐yl)−1,3,2‐dioxaborinane with these Pd(II) complexes as initiators was investigated for the synthesis of poly(fluorene)s with triarylamine end group. Pd(II) complexes with PCy3 or P(o‐tol)3 exhibited catalytic activity and realized the catalyst‐transfer polycondensation at 75 °C and room temperature, respectively, while the polymerization using Pd(II) catalyst ligated by PEt3 did not proceed, which indicated that the bulky phosphine ligands could facilitate the reductive elimination and further promote the polymerization. In addition, the dimeric Pd(II) complex with P(o‐tol)3 can convert into monomeric Pd(II) intermediate with an open coordination site, which had a higher activity. The end groups of the afforded polyfluorene were analyzed by matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight (MALDI‐TOF) mass spectrometry, in which the Ar/H end groups are indicative of the catalyst‐transfer polymerization. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015, 53, 1457–1463
Tuning salicylate‐based polymers to overcome lag time and extend release via copolymers and polymer blends
Authors: Garber Leonid , Jingar Neel , Rosario‐Meléndez Roselin , Uhrich Kathryn E.
Published: February 2015

This work describes how physicochemical properties of salicylate‐based poly(anhydride‐esters) (PAEs) can be tuned for drug delivery and optimized by comparing copolymerization with polymer blending. These alterations reduced the lag time of drug release, while still maintaining a long‐term drug release profile. The chemical composition of the copolymers and polymer blends was determined by proton nuclear magnetic resonance and additional properties such as molecular weight, glass transition temperature and contact angle measurements were obtained. In vitro salicylic acid release from the copolymers and blends is studied in an environment mimicking physiological conditions. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015, 53, 685–689
Quantifying Dynamic Processes in Reactive Materials: An Extended Burn Tube Test
Authors: Sullivan Kyle T. , Cervantes Octavio , Densmore John M. , Kuntz Joshua D. , Gash Alexander E. , Molitoris John D.
Published: February 2015

A common method for measuring the reactivity of rapidly deflagrating materials has been to loosely pack a desired mixture into an approx. 10 cm long×3 mm diameter acrylic tube, ignite the material on one end, and report the observed self‐propagating flame velocity through the material. While this method can yield qualitative information, linking this to quantitative intrinsic properties, such as particle burn time, has remained challenging. In this work, we significantly redesign the traditional burn tube experiment. Between 25 and 250 mg of nanocomposite aluminum/copper oxide (Al/CuO) thermite is loosely packed into the capped end of a 1.8 m long tube, and the remainder of the tube is left unfilled. The material is ignited using a hot wire, resulting in a steadily‐propagating luminous front, which extends part, or all, of the way down the length of the tube. We suggest the behavior is a result of “reactive entrainment”, which occurs when the reaction time scale becomes longer than the characteristic momentum relaxation time scale. When this criterion is met, and when there are significant pressure gradients present or produced during the reaction, material will be entrained by the gases before and/or during the reaction; a behavior very different from conventional thermites, which use larger particle sizes. The effect of sample mass and tube diameter on propagation velocity is investigated, and we find a linear scaling with mass and a power law scaling with tube radius (r−1.3) between 1.56 and 4.76 mm radii. For several conditions, we observe the reaction complete; defined by the distance where the propagation velocity decreases to a fixed fraction of its steady value. The ratio of quench distance to propagation velocity was found to approach a constant value of 3.29±0.70 ms, which we suggest is the burn time of the Material. For the range of masses studied in this work, the burn time was found to be independent of mass, implying that it is an intrinsic particle burn time. We expect other quantitative information can be deduced from this experiment, so long as the chosen sample mass and tube dimensions allow one to observe the full extent of reaction.
Magnetoresistance and electrical resistivity of N‐doped multi‐walled carbon nanotubes at low temperatures
Authors: Ovsienko I. V. , Len T. A. , Matsuy L. Yu. , Prylutskyy Yu. I. , Berkutov I. B. , Andrievskii V. V. , Komnik Yu. F. , Mirzoiev I. G. , Grechnev G. E. , Kolesnichenko Yu. A. , Hayn R. , Scharff P.
Published: February 2015

The magnetoresistance and electrical resistivity of nitrogen‐doped multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (N‐MWCNTs) were studied in the temperature range of 1.6–100.3 and 1.6–286 K, respectively, using a standard four‐probe technique. The possible mechanisms of the observed effects are discussed in detail.
Synchronization of a class of nonlinear network flow systems
Authors: Liu Shuai , Xie Lihua , Zhang Sen
Published: February 2015

In this paper, we consider the synchronization of a class of nonlinear network flow systems. Motivated by air distribution problem in air conditioning and mechanical ventilation (ACMV) systems, we propose a class of coupled nonlinear multi‐agent systems that can model a wide class of network flow systems, including air flow in ACMV systems, water flow in irrigation systems, traffic flow in transportation systems, and so on. Then we consider the synchronization problem for the class of nonlinear multi‐agent systems and propose cooperative controllers for the system. Based on graph theory, we derive conditions on the initial values of the state and the control input such that synchronization can be achieved. An application to air ventilation is provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the cooperative controllers. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
From hillslope to stream: methods to investigate subsurface connectivity
Authors: Blume Theresa , van Meerveld H.J. (Ilja)
Published: February 2015

Hydrologic connectivity is the linkage of separate regions of a catchment via water flow. Knowledge of hillslope–stream connectivity (both at the surface and in the subsurface) is essential for understanding and predicting runoff responses and streamwater quality. Connectivity can be very dynamic: hillslopes may connect to the stream only during certain events or seasons. While surface connectivity is often discussed, particularly in the context of sediment transport, subsurface connectivity is more difficult to describe and assess. This difficulty has led to a wide variety in methodologies that are used in various contexts. Field approaches have focused on intensive monitoring of processes on the hillslope or the fingerprint of connectivity in the stream. Combining experimental studies with modeling allows for testing of hypotheses with respect to thresholds and controls on connectivity, and extrapolation from the hillslope scale to the catchment scale. However, as most modeling approaches are based on datasets from a few intensively studied hillslopes, this carries the inherent risk of oversimplification because it assumes that the observed hillslope responses are representative for the catchment or even the region. Focussed efforts on catchment scale assessment of hillslope–stream connectivity, as well as site intercomparisons and the search for similarity measures may allow us to capture the wider picture of the mechanisms and factors that control hillslope–stream connectivity, and its effects on flow and transport at the catchment scale. This overview focuses on how hillslope–stream connectivity has been studied and describes the advantages, disadvantages, and challenges of the different methods. WIREs Water 2015, 2:177–198. doi: 10.1002/wat2.1071

This article is categorized under:

Science of Water > Hydrological Processes

Science of Water > Water Quality
Specification of the somatic musculature in Drosophila
Authors: Dobi Krista C. , Schulman Victoria K. , Baylies Mary K.
Published: February 2015

The somatic muscle system formed during Drosophila embryogenesis is required for larvae to hatch, feed, and crawl. This system is replaced in the pupa by a new adult muscle set, responsible for activities such as feeding, walking, and flight. Both the larval and adult muscle systems are comprised of distinct muscle fibers to serve these specific motor functions. In this way, the Drosophila musculature is a valuable model for patterning within a single tissue: while all muscle cells share properties such as the contractile apparatus, properties such as size, position, and number of nuclei are unique for a particular muscle. In the embryo, diversification of muscle fibers relies first on signaling cascades that pattern the mesoderm. Subsequently, the combinatorial expression of specific transcription factors leads muscle fibers to adopt particular sizes, shapes, and orientations. Adult muscle precursors (AMPs), set aside during embryonic development, proliferate during the larval phases and seed the formation of the abdominal, leg, and flight muscles in the adult fly. Adult muscle fibers may either be formed de novo from the fusion of the AMPs, or are created by the binding of AMPs to an existing larval muscle. While less is known about adult muscle specification compared to the larva, expression of specific transcription factors is also important for its diversification. Increasingly, the mechanisms required for the diversification of fly muscle have found parallels in vertebrate systems and mark Drosophila as a robust model system to examine questions about how diverse cell types are generated within an organism. WIREs Dev Biol 2015, 4:357–375. doi: 10.1002/wdev.182

This article is categorized under:

Gene Expression and Transcriptional Hierarchies > Regulatory Mechanisms

Gene Expression and Transcriptional Hierarchies > Cellular Differentiation

Signaling Pathways > Cell Fate Signaling
Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) Stimulates Mitochondrial Biogenesis Signaling by the Upregulation of PPARγ Coactivator 1α (PGC‐1α) in C2C12 Cells
Authors: Kim Yoo , Park Yeonhwa
Published: February 2015

Along with its effect on body fat reduction, dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has been reported to improve physical activity and endurance capacity in mice. It has been suggested these effects may in part be due to physiological changes in skeletal muscle, however, the mode of action is not completely understood. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the relevant mechanisms of CLA isomers for mitochondrial biogenesis, one of the most important adaptive responses in skeletal muscle. Both cis‐9,trans‐11 (c9,t11) and trans‐10,cis‐12 (t10,c12) CLA isomers increased the expression of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC‐1α), however, only the t10,c12 isomer, but not c9,t11, increased phosphorylation of AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) compared to the control. Among downstream biomarkers of PGC‐1α, the CLA mixed isomer enhanced the expression of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐δ (PPARδ). Both c9,t11 and t10,c12 CLA isomers increased expression of nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF‐1) and mitochondrial transcription factor A (Tfam), while the c9,t11 increased expression of cytochrome c (Cyt C) and t10,c12 CLA increased expression of voltage‐dependent anion channel (VDAC), respectively. Both CLA isomers significantly increased mitochondrial DNA copy number compared to that of control. These findings suggest that the individual CLA isomers potentiate mitochondrial biogenesis via PGC‐1α‐NRF‐1‐Tfam signaling cascade, although downstream regulation may be isomer dependent.
Analysis of ascitic fluid lactoferrin levels in the diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis after systemic antibiotic treatment
Authors: Wu Chi‐Huan , Chen Tsung‐Hsing , Lin Chun‐Yen , Chiu Cheng‐Hsun , Su Ming‐Yao , Chiu Cheng‐Tang
Published: February 2015

Aims

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is one of the most frequent complications of liver cirrhosis. Ascitic fluid lactoferrin has been proved to be a good diagnostic tool for SBP. However, lactoferrin in ascites may be checked after antibiotic treatment in these patients. Our study aims to assess the utility of ascitic fluid lactoferrin levels for the diagnosis of SBP after antibiotic treatment.

Materials and methods

Twenty‐two ascites samples were collected from patients with cirrhosis. Samples were examined for bacterial culture, lactoferrin concentration, and polymorphonuclear leukocyte count. Clinical symptoms and indications for ascitic paracentesis were obtained from medical records. The diagnosis of SBP was based on an elevated ascitic fluid polymorphonuclear leukocyte count of ≥250 cells/mm3.

Results

Four (18.1%) samples fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for SBP. Three ascites samples showed a positive result for bacterial culture. Patients who received antibiotics for treatment of SBP constituted Group B (n = 9), whereas those who did not receive any antibiotics comprised Group A (n = 9). Lactoferrin concentration was significantly elevated (mean: 261.69 ± 145.5 ng/mL) in the three cases with a positive bacterial culture compared to those without SBP, in both Group A (mean: 19.64 ± 6.32 ng/mL, p = 0.002) and Group B (mean: 23.64 ± 9.53 ng/mL, p = 0.001).

Conclusion

After systemic antibiotic treatment, elevated lactoferrin levels in the ascites of cirrhotic patients appear to be a promising predictor for the presence of SBP having positive ascitic bacterial culture.