bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Iron deposition is associated with differential macrophage infiltration and therapeutic response to iron chelation in prostate cancer
Authors: Leftin Avigdor , Zhao Huiyong , Turkekul Mesru , de Stanchina Elisa , Manova Katia , Koutcher Jason A.
Published: September 2017

Immune cells such as macrophages are drivers and biomarkers of most cancers. Scoring macrophage infiltration in tumor tissue provides a prognostic assessment that is correlated with disease outcome and therapeutic response, but generally requires invasive biopsy. Routine detection of hemosiderin iron aggregates in macrophages in other settings histologically and in vivo by MRI suggests that similar assessments in cancer can bridge a gap in our ability to assess tumor macrophage infiltration. Quantitative histological and in vivo MRI assessments of non-heme cellular iron revealed that preclinical prostate tumor models could be differentiated according to hemosiderin iron accumulation—both in tumors and systemically. Monitoring cellular iron levels during “off-label” administration of the FDA-approved iron chelator deferiprone evidenced significant reductions in tumor size without extensive perturbation to these iron deposits. Spatial profiling of the iron-laden infiltrates further demonstrated that higher numbers of infiltrating macrophage iron deposits was associated with lower anti-tumor chelation therapy response. Imaging macrophages according to their innate iron status provides a new phenotypic window into the immune tumor landscape and reveals a prognostic biomarker associated with macrophage infiltration and therapeutic outcome.
Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in tumour cell and tumour infiltrating lymphocytes of HER2-positive breast cancer and its prognostic value
Authors: Kim Ahrong , Lee So Jeong , Kim Young Keum , Park Won Young , Park Do Youn , Kim Jee Yeon , Lee Chang Hun , Gong Gyungyub , Huh Gi Yeong , Choi Kyung Un
Published: September 2017

Immunotherapy targeting PD-1/PD-L1 axis showed benefits in cancer. Prognostic significance of tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) has been determined. We evaluated PD-L1 protein expression in tumour cells and TILs, PD-L1 mRNA level and various histopathologic factors including TILs using 167 formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissues and 39 fresh tissue of HER2-positive breast cancer. TILs level and PD-L1 expression in tumour cells and TILs were significantly correlated one another. PD-L1 positivity in tumour cells was associated with high histologic grade and high TILs level (p < 0.001, both). High PD-L1 immunoscore in TILs and high total immunoscore (in tumour cells and TILs) of PD-L1 were correlated with high histologic grade (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively), absence of lymphovascular invasion (p = 0.012 and p = 0.007, respectively), negative hormone receptor expression (p = 0.044 and p = 0.001, respectively) and high TILs level (p < 0.001, both). High PD-L1 mRNA expression was associated with high TILs level (p < 0.001, both). PD-L1 positivity in tumour cells was associated with better disease-free survival in HR−/HER2+ breast cancer (p = 0.039). PD-L1 expression in tumour cells and TILs are significantly associated with TILs level in HER2-positive breast cancer. PD-L1 expression in tumour cells might be positive prognostic factor in HR−/HER2+ breast cancers.
Effect of pressure on normal and superconducting state properties of iron based superconductor PrFeAsO0.6F
y
(y = 0.12, 0.14)
Authors: Arumugam S. , Ganguli C. , Thiyagarajan R. , Bhoi D. , Selvan G. Kalai , Manikandan K. , Pariari A. , Mandal P. , Uwatoko Y.
Published: September 2017

The effect of high pressure (up to 8 GPa) on normal and superconducting state properties of PrFeAsO0.6F0.12, an 1111-type iron based superconductor close to optimal doped region, has been investigated by measuring the temperature dependence of resistivity. Initially, the superconducting transition temperature (T
c
) is observed to increase slowly by about 1 K as pressure (P) increases from 0 to 1.3 GPa. With further increase in pressure above 1.3 GPa, T
c
decreases at the rate of ~1.5 K/GPa. The normal-state resistivity decreases monotonically up to 8 GPa. We have also measured the pressure dependence of magnetization (M) on the same piece of PrFeAsO0.6F0.12 sample up to 1.1 GPa and observed T
c
as well as the size of the Meissner signal to increase with pressure in this low-pressure region. In contrast, for an over-doped PrFeAsO0.6F0.14 sample, magnetization measurements up to 1.06 GPa show that both T
c
and the Meissner signal decrease with pressure. The present study clearly reveals two distinct regions in the dome-shaped (T
c
-P) phase diagram of PrFeAsO0.6F0.12.
A cell cycle-independent mode of the Rad9-Dpb11 interaction is induced by DNA damage
Authors: di Cicco Giulia , Bantele Susanne C. S. , Reusswig Karl-Uwe , Pfander Boris
Published: September 2017

Budding yeast Rad9, like its orthologs, controls two aspects of the cellular response to DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) – signalling of the DNA damage checkpoint and DNA end resection. Rad9 binds to damaged chromatin via modified nucleosomes independently of the cell cycle phase. Additionally, Rad9 engages in a cell cycle-regulated interaction with Dpb11 and the 9-1-1 clamp, generating a second pathway that recruits Rad9 to DNA damage sites. Binding to Dpb11 depends on specific S/TP phosphorylation sites of Rad9, which are modified by cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK). Here, we show that these sites additionally become phosphorylated upon DNA damage. We define the requirements for DNA damage-induced S/TP phosphorylation of Rad9 and show that it is independent of the cell cycle or CDK activity but requires prior recruitment of Rad9 to damaged chromatin, indicating that it is catalysed by a chromatin-bound kinase. The checkpoint kinases Mec1 and Tel1 are required for Rad9 S/TP phosphorylation, but their influence is likely indirect and involves phosphorylation of Rad9 at S/TQ sites. Notably, DNA damage-induced S/TP phosphorylation triggers Dpb11 binding to Rad9, but the DNA damage-induced Rad9-Dpb11 interaction is dispensable for recruitment to DNA damage sites, indicating that the Rad9-Dpb11 interaction functions beyond Rad9 recruitment.
A NMDA-receptor calcium influx assay sensitive to stimulation by glutamate and glycine/D-serine
Authors: Guo Hongqiu , Camargo L. Miguel , Yeboah Fred , Digan Mary Ellen , Niu Honglin , Pan Yue , Reiling Stephan , Soler-Llavina Gilberto , Weihofen Wilhelm A. , Wang Hao-Ran , Shanker Y. Gopi , Stams Travis , Bill Anke
Published: September 2017

N-methyl-D-aspartate-receptors (NMDARs) are ionotropic glutamate receptors that function in synaptic transmission, plasticity and cognition. Malfunction of NMDARs has been implicated in a variety of nervous system disorders, making them attractive therapeutic targets. Overexpression of functional NMDAR in non-neuronal cells results in cell death by excitotoxicity, hindering the development of cell-based assays for NMDAR drug discovery. Here we report a plate-based, high-throughput approach to study NMDAR function. Our assay enables the functional study of NMDARs with different subunit composition after activation by glycine/D-serine or glutamate and hence presents the first plate-based, high throughput assay that allows for the measurement of NMDAR function in glycine/D-serine and/or glutamate sensitive modes. This allows to investigate the effect of small molecule modulators on the activation of NMDARs at different concentrations or combinations of the co-ligands. The reported assay system faithfully replicates the pharmacology of the receptor in response to known agonists, antagonists, positive and negative allosteric modulators, as well as the receptor’s sensitivity to magnesium and zinc. We believe that the ability to study the biology of NMDARs rapidly and in large scale screens will enable the identification of novel therapeutics whose discovery has otherwise been hindered by the limitations of existing cell based approaches.
Gene Expression and Methylation Analyses Suggest DCTD as a Prognostic Factor in Malignant Glioma
Authors: Hu Huimin , Wang Zheng , Li Mingyang , Zeng Fan , Wang Kuanyu , Huang Ruoyu , Wang Haoyuan , Yang Fan , Liang Tingyu , Huang Hua , Jiang Tao
Published: September 2017

Malignant glioma is the most common brain cancer with dismal outcomes. Individual variation of the patients’ survival times is remarkable. Here, we investigated the transcriptome and promoter methylation differences between patients of malignant glioma with short (less than one year) and the patients with long (more than three years) survival in CGGA (Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas), and validated the differences in TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) to identify the genes whose expression levels showed high concordance with prognosis of glioma patients, as well as played an important role in malignant progression. The gene coding a key enzyme in genetic material synthesis, dCMP deaminase (DCTD), was found to be significantly correlated with overall survival and high level of DCTD mRNA indicated shorter survival of the patients with malignant glioma in different databases. Our finding revealed DCTD as an efficient prognostic factor for malignant glioma. As DCTD inhibitor gemcitabine has been proposed as an adjuvant therapy for malignant glioma, our finding also suggests a therapeutic value of gemcitabine for the patients with high expression level of DCTD.
Graphite Oxide Improves Adhesion and Water Resistance of Canola Protein–Graphite Oxide Hybrid Adhesive
Authors: Bandara Nandika , Esparza Yussef , Wu Jianping
Published: September 2017

Protein derived adhesives are extensively explored as a replacement for synthetic ones, but suffers from weak adhesion and water resistance. Graphite oxide (GO) has been extensively used in nanocomposites, but not in adhesives applications. The objectives of this study were to prepare functionally improved protein adhesive by exfoliating GO with different oxidation levels, and to determine the effect of GO on adhesion mechanism. GO were prepared by oxidizing graphite for 0.5, 2, and 4 h (GO-A, GO-B and GO-C, respectively). Increasing oxidation time decreased C/O ratio; while the relative proportion of C-OH, and C = O groups initially increased up to 2 h of oxidation, but reduced upon further oxidation. Canola protein-GO hybrid adhesive (CPA-GO) was prepared by exfoliating GO at a level of 1% (w/w). GO significantly increased (p < 0.05) adhesion; where GO-B addition showed the highest dry, and wet strength of 11.67 ± 1.00, and 4.85 ± 0.61 MPa, respectively. The improvements in adhesion was due to the improved exfoliation of GO, improved adhesive and cohesive interactions, increased hydrogen bonding, increased hydrophobic interactions and thermal stability of CPA-GO. GO, as we proposed for the first time is easier to process and cost-effective in preparing protein-based adhesives with significantly improved functionalities.
Photoelectrolysis Using Type-II Semiconductor Heterojunctions
Authors: Harrison S. , Hayne M.
Published: September 2017

The solar-powered production of hydrogen for use as a renewable fuel is highly desirable for the world’s future energy infrastructure. However, difficulties in achieving reasonable efficiencies, and thus cost-effectiveness, have hampered significant research progress. Here we propose the use of semiconductor nanostructures to create a type-II heterojunction at the semiconductor–water interface in a photoelectrochemical cell (PEC) and theoretically investigate it as a method of increasing the maximum photovoltage such a cell can generate under illumination, with the aim of increasing the overall cell efficiency. A model for the semiconductor electrode in a PEC is created, which solves the Schrödinger, Poisson and drift–diffusion equations self-consistently. From this, it is determined that ZnO quantum dots on bulk n-InGaN with low In content x is the most desirable system, having electron-accepting and -donating states straddling the oxygen- and hydrogen-production potentials for x < 0.26, though large variance in literature values for certain material parameters means large uncertainties in the model output. Accordingly, results presented here should form the basis for further experimental work, which will in turn provide input to refine and develop the model.
Hydrogeochemical changes before and during the 2016 Amatrice-Norcia seismic sequence (central Italy)
Authors: Barberio Marino Domenico , Barbieri Maurizio , Billi Andrea , Doglioni Carlo , Petitta Marco
Published: September 2017

Seismic precursors are an as yet unattained frontier in earthquake studies. With the aim of making a step towards this frontier, we present a hydrogeochemical dataset associated with the 2016 Amatrice-Norcia seismic sequence (central Apennines, Italy), developed from August 24th, with an Mw 6.0 event, and culminating on October 30th, with an Mw 6.5 mainshock. The seismic sequence occurred during a seasonal depletion of hydrostructures, and the four strongest earthquakes (Mw ≥ 5.5) generated an abrupt uplift of the water level, recorded up to 100 km away from the mainshock area. Monitoring a set of selected springs in the central Apennines, a few hydrogeochemical anomalies were observed months before the onset of the seismic swarm, including a variation of pH values and an increase of As, V, and Fe concentrations. Cr concentrations increased immediately after the onset of the seismic sequence. On November 2016, these elements recovered to their usual low concentrations. We interpret these geochemical anomalies as reliable seismic precursors for a dilational tectonic setting.
Biomimetic Silica Nanoparticles Prepared by a Combination of Solid-Phase Imprinting and Ostwald Ripening
Authors: Piletska Elena , Yawer Heersh , Canfarotta Francesco , Moczko Ewa , Smolinska-Kempisty Katarzyna , Piletsky Stanislav S. , Guerreiro Antonio , Whitcombe Michael J. , Piletsky Sergey A.
Published: September 2017

Herein we describe the preparation of molecularly imprinted silica nanoparticles by Ostwald ripening in the presence of molecular templates immobilised on glass beads (the solid-phase). To achieve this, a seed material (12 nm diameter silica nanoparticles) was incubated in phosphate buffer in the presence of the solid-phase. Phosphate ions act as a catalyst in the ripening process which is driven by differences in surface energy between particles of different size, leading to the preferential growth of larger particles. Material deposited in the vicinity of template molecules results in the formation of sol-gel molecular imprints after around 2 hours. Selective washing and elution allows the higher affinity nanoparticles to be isolated. Unlike other strategies commonly used to prepare imprinted silica nanoparticles this approach is extremely simple in nature and can be performed under physiological conditions, making it suitable for imprinting whole proteins and other biomacromolecules in their native conformations. We have demonstrated the generic nature of this method by preparing imprinted silica nanoparticles against targets of varying molecular mass (melamine, vancomycin and trypsin). Binding to the imprinted particles was demonstrated in an immunoassay (ELISA) format in buffer and complex media (milk or blood plasma) with sub-nM detection ability.
Preserved immune functionality and high CMV-specific T-cell responses in HIV-infected individuals with poor CD4+ T-cell immune recovery
Authors: Gómez-Mora Elisabet , García Elisabet , Urrea Victor , Massanella Marta , Puig Jordi , Negredo Eugenia , Clotet Bonaventura , Blanco Julià , Cabrera Cecilia
Published: September 2017

Poor CD4+ T-cell recovery after cART has been associated with skewed T-cell maturation, inflammation and immunosenescence; however, T-cell functionality in those individuals has not been fully characterized. In the present study, we assessed T-cell function by assessing cytokine production after polyclonal, CMV and HIV stimulations of T-cells from ART-suppressed HIV-infected individuals with CD4+ T-cell counts >350 cells/μL (immunoconcordants) or <350 cells/μL (immunodiscordants). A group of HIV-uninfected individuals were also included as controls. Since CMV co-infection significantly affected T-cell maturation and polyfunctionality, only CMV+ individuals were analyzed. Despite their reduced and skewed CD4+ T-cell compartment, immunodiscordant individuals showed preserved polyclonal and HIV-specific responses. However, CMV response in immunodiscordant participants was significantly different from immunoconcordant or HIV-seronegative individuals. In immunodiscordant subjects, the magnitude of IFN-γ+ CD8+ and IL-2+ CD4+ T-cells in response to CMV was higher and differently associated with the CD4+ T-cell maturation profile., showing an increased frequency of naïve, central memory and EMRA CMV-specific CD4+ T-cells. In conclusion, CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell polyfunctionality was not reduced in immunodiscordant individuals, although heightened CMV-specific immune responses, likely related to subclinical CMV reactivations, may be contributing to the skewed T-cell maturation and the higher risk of clinical progression observed in those individuals.
Alternative splicing complexity contributes to genetic improvement of drought resistance in the rice maintainer HuHan2B
Authors: Wei Haibin , Lou Qiaojun , Xu Kai , Yan Ming , Xia Hui , Ma Xiaosong , Yu Xinqiao , Luo Lijun
Published: September 2017

Water-saving and drought-resistantce rice (WDR) breeding practices have greatly increased grain yield and drought resistance. To study the genetic basis of adaptation to drought, transcriptome sequences from the WDR maintainer line HuHan2B and the recurrent parent HanFengB were analyzed for alternative splicing (AS) complexity. Intron retention, the dominant AS type, accounted for 42% of the observed AS events. Differential expression analysis revealed transcripts were preferentially expressed in different varieties and conditions. Based on gene ontology predictions, the biological functions of drought-induced transcripts were significantly enriched in genes involved in transcription regulation, chloroplast components and response to abiotic stimulus in HuHan2B, whereas developmental processes for reproduction were primarily enriched in HanFengB. The regulatory network of transcription factors was driven by cohorts of transcript splicing targets, resulting in more diversified regulatory relationships due to AS complexity than in our previous findings. Moreover, several genes were validated to accumulate novel splicing transcripts in a drought-induced manner. Together, these results suggest that HuHan2B and HanFengB share similar AS features but that a subset of genes with increased levels of AS involved in transcription regulatory networks may contribute an additional level of control for genetic improvement of drought resistance in rice maintainer HuHan2B through breeding.
The effects of domestication and ontogeny on cognition in dogs and wolves
Authors: Lampe Michelle , Bräuer Juliane , Kaminski Juliane , Virányi Zsófia
Published: September 2017

Cognition is one of the most flexible tools enabling adaptation to environmental variation. Living close to humans is thought to influence social as well as physical cognition of animals throughout domestication and ontogeny. Here, we investigated to what extent physical cognition and two domains of social cognition of dogs have been affected by domestication and ontogeny. To address the effects of domestication, we compared captive wolves (n = 12) and dogs (n = 14) living in packs under the same conditions. To explore developmental effects, we compared these dogs to pet dogs (n = 12) living in human families. The animals were faced with a series of object-choice tasks, in which their response to communicative, behavioural and causal cues was tested. We observed that wolves outperformed dogs in their ability to follow causal cues, suggesting that domestication altered specific skills relating to this domain, whereas developmental effects had surprisingly no influence. All three groups performed similarly in the communicative and behavioural conditions, suggesting higher ontogenetic flexibility in the two social domains. These differences across cognitive domains need to be further investigated, by comparing domestic and non-domesticated animals living in varying conditions.
PTPRJ Inhibits Leptin Signaling, and Induction of PTPRJ in the Hypothalamus Is a Cause of the Development of Leptin Resistance
Authors: Shintani Takafumi , Higashi Satoru , Suzuki Ryoko , Takeuchi Yasushi , Ikaga Reina , Yamazaki Tomomi , Kobayashi Kenta , Noda Masaharu
Published: September 2017

Leptin signaling in the hypothalamus plays a crucial role in the regulation of body weight. Leptin resistance, in which leptin signaling is disrupted, is a major obstacle to the improvement of obesity. We herein demonstrated that protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type J (Ptprj) is expressed in hypothalamic neurons together with leptin receptors, and that PTPRJ negatively regulates leptin signaling by inhibiting the activation of JAK2, the primary tyrosine kinase in leptin signaling, through the dephosphorylation of Y813 and Y868 in JAK2 autophosphorylation sites. Leptin signaling is enhanced in Ptprj-deficient mice, and they exhibit lower weight gain than wild-type mice because of a reduced food intake. Diet-induced obesity and the leptin treatment up-regulated PTPRJ expression in the hypothalamus, while the overexpression of PTPRJ induced leptin resistance. Thus, the induction of PTPRJ is a factor contributing to the development of leptin resistance, and the inhibition of PTPRJ may be a potential strategy for improving obesity.
Early maternal mirroring predicts infant motor system activation during facial expression observation
Authors: Rayson Holly , Bonaiuto James John , Ferrari Pier Francesco , Murray Lynne
Published: September 2017

Processing facial expressions is an essential component of social interaction, especially for preverbal infants. In human adults and monkeys, this process involves the motor system, with a neural matching mechanism believed to couple self- and other-generated facial gestures. Here, we used electroencephalography to demonstrate recruitment of the human motor system during observation and execution of facial expressions in nine-month-old infants, implicating this system in facial expression processing from a very young age. Notably, examination of early video-recorded mother-infant interactions supported the common, but as yet untested, hypothesis that maternal mirroring of infant facial gestures is central to the development of a neural matching mechanism for these gestures. Specifically, the extent to which mothers mirrored infant facial expressions at two months postpartum predicted infant motor system activity during observation of the same expressions at nine months. This suggests that maternal mirroring strengthens mappings between visual and motor representations of facial gestures, which increases infant neural sensitivity to particularly relevant cues in the early social environment.
Accumulation of minor alleles and risk prediction in schizophrenia
Authors: He Pei , Lei Xiaoyun , Yuan Dejian , Zhu Zuobin , Huang Shi
Published: September 2017

Schizophrenia is a common neuropsychiatric disorder with a lifetime risk of 1%. Accumulation of common polygenic variations has been found to be an important risk factor. Recent studies showed a role for the enrichment of minor alleles (MAs) of SNPs in complex diseases such as Parkinson’s disease. Here we similarly studied the role of genome wide MAs in schizophrenia using public datasets. Relative to matched controls, schizophrenia cases showed higher average values in minor allele content (MAC) or the average amount of MAs per subject. By risk prediction analysis based on weighted genetic risk score (wGRS) of MAs, we identified an optimal MA set consisting of 23 238 variants that could be used to predict 3.14% of schizophrenia cases, which is comparable to using 22q11 deletion to detect schizophrenia cases. Pathway enrichment analysis of these SNPs identified 30 pathways with false discovery rate (FDR) <0.02 and of significant P-value, most of which are known to be linked with schizophrenia and other neurological disorders. These results suggest that MAs accumulation may be a risk factor to schizophrenia and provide a method to genetically screen for this disease.
Hormetic potential of methylglyoxal, a side-product of glycolysis, in switching tumours from growth to death
Authors: Nokin Marie-Julie , Durieux Florence , Bellier Justine , Peulen Olivier , Uchida Koji , Spiegel David A. , Cochrane James R. , Hutton Craig A. , Castronovo Vincent , Bellahcène Akeila
Published: September 2017

Metabolic reprogramming toward aerobic glycolysis unavoidably favours methylglyoxal (MG) and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) formation in cancer cells. MG was initially considered a highly cytotoxic molecule with potential anti-cancer value. However, we have recently demonstrated that MG enhanced tumour growth and metastasis. In an attempt to understand this dual role, we explored MG-mediated dicarbonyl stress status in four breast and glioblastoma cancer cell lines in relation with their glycolytic phenotype and MG detoxifying capacity. In glycolytic cancer cells cultured in high glucose, we observed a significant increase of the conversion of MG to D-lactate through the glyoxalase system. Moreover, upon exogenous MG challenge, glycolytic cells showed elevated amounts of intracellular MG and induced de novo GLO1 detoxifying enzyme and Nrf2 expression. Thus, supporting the adaptive nature of glycolytic cancer cells to MG dicarbonyl stress when compared to non-glycolytic ones. Finally and consistent with the pro-tumoural role of MG, we showed that low doses of MG induced AGEs formation and tumour growth in vivo, both of which can be reversed using a MG scavenger. Our study represents the first demonstration of a hormetic effect of MG defined by a low-dose stimulation and a high-dose inhibition of tumour growth.
Packed-nanofiber solid phase extraction coupled with HPLC for the determination of chloramphenicol in milk
Authors: Chu Lanling , Deng Jianjun , Kang Xuejun
Published: September 2017

A sensitive analytical method based on packed-nanofiber solid phase extraction (PFSPE) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has been developed for determining chloramphenicol (CAP) in milk.
Determination of benzo[a]pyrene in smoked foods by high-performance liquid chromatography based on magnetic solid phase extraction
Authors: Pan Yan , Deng Zhifen , Chen Yanlong , Zhang Wenfen , Yang Zhicong , Zhao Wenjie , Zhang Shusheng
Published: September 2017

In this study, a sensitive and practical method for the determination of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) in smoked foods with HPLC-FLD was developed.
Correction: Enzyme-responsive reporter molecules for selective localization and fluorescence imaging of pathogenic biofilms
Authors: Aw Junxin , Widjaja Frances , Ding Yichen , Mu Jing , Yang Liang , Xing Bengang
Published: September 2017

Correction for ‘Enzyme-responsive reporter molecules for selective localization and fluorescence imaging of pathogenic biofilms’ by Junxin Aw et al., Chem. Commun., 2017, 53, 3330–3333.
Ab initio coverage-dependent microkinetic modeling of benzene hydrogenation on Pd(111)
Authors: Sabbe Maarten K. , Canduela-Rodriguez Gonzalo , Joly Jean-François , Reyniers Marie-Françoise , Marin Guy B.
Published: September 2017

Coverage-dependent calculations are required for an accurate DFT-based prediction of the activity and a correct mechanistic understanding of catalytic hydrogenation.
Antihypertensive effects of Tartary buckwheat flavonoids by improvement of vascular insulin sensitivity in spontaneously hypertensive rats
Authors: Hou Zuoxu , Hu Yuanyuan , Yang Xingbin , Chen Wensheng
Published: September 2017

Tartary buckwheat flavonoids alleviate hypertension through attenuating vascular insulin resistance and oxidative stress.
Recent progress in layered double hydroxide based materials for electrochemical capacitors: design, synthesis and performance
Authors: Zhao Mingming , Zhao Qunxing , Li Bing , Xue Huaiguo , Pang Huan , Chen Changyun
Published: September 2017

As representative two-dimensional (2D) materials, layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have received increasing attention in electrochemical energy storage and conversion because of the facile tunability between their composition and morphology.
Ultrasmall and photostable nanotheranostic agents based on carbon quantum dots passivated with polyamine-containing organosilane molecules
Authors: Yang Jingjing , Gao Ge , Zhang Xiaodong , Ma Yong-Hao , Jia Hao-Ran , Jiang Yao-Wen , Wang Zhifei , Wu Fu-Gen
Published: September 2017

Facile synthesis of multifunctional CDs for cell imaging and imaging-guided anticancer drug delivery.
The biocompatible polythiophene-g-polycaprolactone copolymer as an efficient dopamine sensor platform
Authors: Molina Brenda G. , Bendrea Anca D. , Cianga Luminita , Armelin Elaine , del Valle Luis J. , Cianga Ioan , Alemán Carlos
Published: September 2017

Amphiphilic copolymers consisting of an all conjugated polythiophene backbone and sparsely attached oligo-ε-caprolactone side chains have been prepared.
Correction: The effects of polymer topology and chain length on the antimicrobial activity and hemocompatibility of amphiphilic ternary copolymers
Authors: Namivandi-Zangeneh Rashin , Kwan Rebecca J. , Nguyen Thuy-Khanh , Yeow Jonathan , Byrne Frances L. , Oehlers Stefan H. , Wong Edgar H. H. , Boyer Cyrille
Published: September 2017

Correction for ‘The effects of polymer topology and chain length on the antimicrobial activity and hemocompatibility of amphiphilic ternary copolymers’ by Rashin Namivandi-Zangeneh, et al., Polym. Chem., 2017, DOI: 10.1039/c7py01069a.
Profiling of BABA-induced differentially expressed genes of Zea mays using suppression subtractive hybridization
Authors: Shaw Arun K. , Bhardwaj Pardeep K. , Ghosh Supriya , Azahar Ikbal , Adhikari Sinchan , Adhikari Ayan , Sherpa Ang R. , Saha Samir K. , Hossain Zahed
Published: September 2017

This study aims to identify differentially expressed transcripts in BABA-primed maize leaves using suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) strategy. Findings shed new light on the BABA potentiated defense mechanisms in plants.
He-Wei granules inhibit chemotherapy-induced vomiting (CINV) in rats by reducing oxidative stress and regulating 5-HT, substance P, ghrelin and obestatin
Authors: Song Zehai , Chang Hang , Han Na , Liu Zhihui , Wang Zhonglin , Gao Hao , Yin Jun
Published: September 2017

As a common side effect of a variety of chemotherapy drugs, CINV severely limits the clinical use of chemotherapy drugs.
A three dimensional sulfur/reduced graphene oxide with embedded carbon nanotubes composite as a binder-free, free-standing cathode for lithium–sulfur batteries
Authors: Ying Kongqing , Tian Ran , Zhou Jie , Li Hua , Dugnani Roberto , Lu Yanyan , Duan Huanan , Guo Yiping , Liu Hezhou
Published: September 2017

The free-standing electrodes are synthesized by an eco-friendly method with sulfur/carbon nanotubes embedded in the basal plane of graphene oxide.
Polypyridyl substituted BODIPY derivatives; water switchable imaging probes that exhibit halogen substituent dependent localisation in live cells
Authors: Dolan Ciarán , Byrne Aisling , Long Conor , Czamara Krzysztof , Kaczor Agnieszka , Baranska Malgorzata , Keyes Tia E.
Published: September 2017

The synthesis and photophysical properties of water responsive 1,10-phenanthrolyl and 2,2′-bipyridyl substituted BODIPY derivatives prepared as lipid probes for cell imaging are reported.
Enhanced sludge anaerobic fermentation using microwave pretreatment combined with biosurfactant alkyl polyglycoside
Authors: Xiao Jianwei , Zhao Liangjun , Shen Zhe
Published: September 2017

This study investigated the effect of microwave combined with biosurfactant alkyl polyglucose (APG) on sludge anaerobic fermentation in a lab-scale sequencing batch reactor.
Multifold enhancement of the output power of flexible thermoelectric generators made from cotton fabrics coated with conducting polymer
Authors: Du Y. , Cai K. F. , Shen S. Z. , Donelsonand R. , Xu J. Y. , Wang H. X. , Lin T.
Published: September 2017

An flexible TE generator with enhanced output power was fabricated by combining PEDOT:PSS coated fabric with n-type metal wires.
High performance nano-sized LiMn1−xFexPO4cathode materials for advanced lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Lei Zhihong , Naveed Ahmad , Lei Jingyu , Wang Jiulin , Yang Jun , Nuli Yanna , Meng Xiangchen , Zhao Yunliang
Published: September 2017

A series of LiMn1−xFexPO4(0 ≤x≤ 1) cathode materials with different Mn/Fe ratios have been successfully synthesized by a facile solvothermal method.
α-Alkylation of ketimines using visible light photoredox catalysis
Authors: Franchino Allegra , Rinaldi Antonia , Dixon Darren J.
Published: September 2017

A novel α-alkylation of N-diphenylphosphinoyl ketimines with α-bromocarbonyl compounds has been accomplished under mild conditions using nickel and ruthenium light-promoted catalysis.
Increasing local field by interfacial coupling in nanobowl arrays
Authors: Sun Huanhuan , Chen Lei , Wang Yaxin , Hua Zhong , Liu Yang , Zhang Yongjun , Yang Jinghai
Published: September 2017

An increased local field is crucial to create hotspots when applied in detections, which usually means the fabrication of nanostructure arrays with strong electromagnetic couplings.
Michael addition-based probes for ratiometric fluorescence imaging of protein S-depalmitoylases in live cells and tissues
Authors: Beck Michael W. , Kathayat Rahul S. , Cham Candace M. , Chang Eugene B. , Dickinson Bryan C.
Published: September 2017

Ratiometric fluorescent probes for cysteine palmitoylation “erasers” permit live cell and tissue imaging of endogenous enzyme activities.
Mn3O4nanoparticles on layer-structured Ti3C2MXene towards the oxygen reduction reaction and zinc–air batteries
Authors: Xue Qi , Pei Zengxia , Huang Yan , Zhu Minshen , Tang Zijie , Li Hongfei , Huang Yang , Li Na , Zhang Haiyan , Zhi Chunyi
Published: September 2017

Mn3O4nanoparticles supported by layered Ti3C2MXene displayed favorable electrochemical activity for oxygen reduction reaction and superb power density for zinc–air battery.
Nanostructured binary and ternary metal sulfides: synthesis methods and their application in energy conversion and storage devices
Authors: Kulkarni Pranav , Nataraj S. K. , Balakrishna R. Geetha , Nagaraju D. H. , Reddy M. V.
Published: September 2017

Metal sulfides, known as being analogous to metal oxides, have emerged as a new class of materials for energy conversion and/or storage applications due to their low cost and high electrochemical activity.
Challenges and Opportunities in Reading Instruction for Children with Limited Speech
Authors: Barton-Hulsey Andrea
Published: September 2017

The ability to read has implications for communication development for individuals who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems. Access to print for generative language provides a flexible system in which an individual can create novel messages and interact with his or her family, friends, and peers. Several challenges in reading instruction inherently exist for individuals who have limitations in speech ability. Reading instruction is becoming increasingly more accessible with current advances in technology; however, several challenges remain regarding the creation of accessible learning environments, assessment tools, and reading intervention strategies for children with limited speech. The current article provides an overview of the role of the speech-language pathologist in reading instruction and particularly addresses children's need for more experience with instruction in phonological awareness and decoding, an area that has presented the greatest challenge in access to reading instruction for individuals who use AAC. Several considerations are presented to increase access to instruction with directions for future research highlighted.
Using Digital Texts in Interactive Reading Activities for Children with Language Delays and Disorders: A Review of the Research Literature and Pilot Study
Authors: McCoy Ashley , McNaughton David , Light Janice , Boyle Susannah
Published: September 2017

Participation in interactive reading activities can help children with language delays and disorders build important early language and literacy skills. Digital texts (i.e., books presented on tablets and computers) provide new opportunities for learning and supporting communication. Recently, researchers have investigated the use of digital texts that include visual scene displays (VSDs). In this approach, pictures on a tablet are programmed with “hotspots”; when the picture is touched, a word is spoken aloud. In addition, transition to literacy (T2L) features, including dynamic presentation of the text when a hotspot is activated, can be implemented with VSDs. This article provides a review of interactive reading interventions with children with language delays and disorders, and a discussion of the impact of using digital texts. We also describe the results of a pilot study intervention using digital texts including VSDs and T2L features with children with language delays in an inclusive preschool setting.
Integrating cell on chip—Novel waveguide platform employing ultra-long optical paths
Authors: Fohrmann Lena Simone , Sommer Gerrit , Pitruzzello Giampaolo , Krauss Thomas F. , Petrov Alexander Yu. , Eich Manfred
Published: September 2017

Optical waveguides are the most fundamental building blocks of integrated optical circuits. They are extremely well understood, yet there is still room for surprises. Here, we introduce a novel 2D waveguide platform which affords a strong interaction of the evanescent tail of a guided optical wave with an external medium while only employing a very small geometrical footprint. The key feature of the platform is its ability to integrate the ultra-long path lengths by combining low propagation losses in a silicon slab with multiple reflections of the guided wave from photonic crystal (PhC) mirrors. With a reflectivity of 99.1% of our tailored PhC-mirrors, we achieve interaction paths of 25 cm within an area of less than 10 mm2. This corresponds to 0.17 dB/cm effective propagation which is much lower than the state-of-the-art loss of approximately 1 dB/cm of single mode silicon channel waveguides. In contrast to conventional waveguides, our 2D-approach leads to a decay of the guided wave power only inversely proportional to the optical path length. This entirely different characteristic is the major advantage of the 2D integrating cell waveguide platform over the conventional channel waveguide concepts that obey the Beer-Lambert law.
Design of planar microcoil-based NMR probe ensuring high SNR
Authors: Ali Zishan , Poenar D. P. , Aditya Sheel
Published: September 2017

A microNMR probe for ex vivo applications may consist of at least one microcoil, which can be used as the oscillating magnetic field (MF) generator as well as receiver coil, and a sample holder, with a volume in the range of nanoliters to micro-liters, placed near the microcoil. The Signal-to-Noise ratio (SNR) of such a probe is, however, dependent not only on its design but also on the measurement setup, and the measured sample. This paper introduces a performance factor P independent of both the proton spin density in the sample and the external DC magnetic field, and which can thus assess the performance of the probe alone. First, two of the components of the P factor (inhomogeneity factor K and filling factor η) are defined and an approach to calculate their values for different probe variants from electromagnetic simulations is devised. A criterion based on dominant component of the magnetic field is then formulated to help designers optimize the sample volume which also affects the performance of the probe, in order to obtain the best SNR for a given planar microcoil. Finally, the P factor values are compared between different planar microcoils with different number of turns and conductor aspect ratios, and planar microcoils are also compared with conventional solenoids. These comparisons highlight which microcoil geometry-sample volume combination will ensure a high SNR under any external setup.
Effects of sugar cane bagasse biochar and spent mushroom compost on phosphorus fractionation in calcareous soils
Authors: Gerdelidani Arzhang Fathi , Hosseini Hossein Mirseyed
Published: September 2017

In the present study we investigated the effects of using sugar cane bagasse biochar and spent mushroom compost (SMC) on different fractions of phosphorus and plant availability in three calcareous soils with a loam, clay loam and sandy loam texture. The incubation experiment was performed using a completely randomised design, with five treatments (B1 and B2 (15 and 30 t biochar ha–1 respectively), SMC1 and SMC2 (20 and 40 t SMC ha–1 respectively) and C (control)) and three incubation periods (14, 60 and 120 days) over three replicates. The different P fractions evaluated in the soil were Olsen P, dicalcium phosphate (Ca2-P), octacalcium phosphate (Ca8-P), aluminium phosphate (Al-P), iron phosphate, occluded phosphate and apatite. Application of SMC at both levels increased Olsen P, whereas biochar application was less effective. SMC2 increased Olsen P by 473%, 227% and 89% in clay loam, loam and sandy loam soils respectively. In addition, for all soils and all incubation times, SMC1 and SMC2 significantly increased Ca2-P compared with C, which had an increasing trend with time, but biochar only increased Ca2-P significantly in sandy loam soil. SMC2 also increased Ca8-P and Al-P at 120 days. In conclusion, application of SMC can enhance plant-available P and affect P fractions and distribution, with the degree of the increase being soil specific. In contrast, the effects of biochar on P availability, fractions and distribution need more time to become apparent.
Semiotic engineering in Singapore
Authors: Yeo Wan Ting , Tupas Ruanni
Published: September 2017

National campaigns are an extension of governance that aim to subliminally (re)align a society to a country’s nation-building objectives or ideals. They are carefully curated government projects that are heavily invested in the dissemination and reinforcement of nation-building ideologies. This paper has focused its research on the National Courtesy Campaign, which was launched at a time when the ‘Asian values’ discourse dominated much of Singapore’s statal narratives. Although not overtly marketed as part of the ‘Asianizing’ Singapore movement, posters of the National Courtesy Campaign were found to be sites in which ideologies that informed the ‘Asianizing’ Singapore movement were reproduced. This paper explores the micro-communication strategies employed for the dissemination of these nation-building ideologies.
The development of gender assignment and agreement in English-Greek and German-Greek bilingual children
Authors: Kaltsa Maria , Tsimpli Ianthi Maria , Argyri Froso
Published: September 2017

The aim of this experimental study is to examine the development of Greek gender in bilingual English-Greek and German-Greek children. Four gender production tasks were designed, two targeting gender assignment eliciting determiners and two targeting gender agreement eliciting predicate adjectives for real and novel nouns. Participant performance was assessed in relation to whether the ‘other’ language was a gender language or not (English vs. German) along with the role of the bilinguals’ Greek vocabulary knowledge and language input. The results are argued to contribute significantly to disentangling the role of crosslinguistic influence in gender assignment and agreement by bringing together a variety of input measures such as early and current amount of exposure to Greek, the role of area of residence (i.e. whether Greek is the minority or the majority language), the effect of maternal education and the amount of exposure to Greek in a school setting.
Evaluation of an urban canopy model in a tropical city: the role of tree evapotranspiration
Authors: Liu Xuan , Li Xian-Xiang , Harshan Suraj , Roth Matthias , Velasco Erik
Published: September 2017

A single layer urban canopy model (SLUCM) with enhanced hydrologic processes, is evaluated in a tropical city, Singapore. The evaluation was performed using an 11 month offline simulation with the coupled Noah land surface model/SLUCM over a compact low-rise residential area. Various hydrological processes are considered, including anthropogenic latent heat release, and evaporation from impervious urban facets. Results show that the prediction of energy fluxes, in particular latent heat flux, is improved when these processes were included. However, the simulated latent heat flux is still underestimated by ∼40%. Considering Singapore’s high green cover ratio, the tree evapotranspiration process is introduced into the model, which significantly improves the simulated latent heat flux. In particular, the systematic error of the model is greatly reduced, and becomes lower than the unsystematic error in some seasons. The effect of tree evapotranspiration on the urban surface energy balance is further demonstrated during an unusual dry spell. The present study demonstrates that even at sites with relatively low (11%) tree coverage, ignoring evapotranspiration from trees may cause serious underestimation of the latent heat flux and atmospheric humidity. The improved model is also transferable to other tropical or temperate regions to study the impact of tree evapotranspiration on urban climate.
Relationship Between Unsupervised Time and Participation in an Emotion Regulation Intervention and Risk Outcomes
Authors: Hadley Wendy , Barker David , Thamotharan Sneha , Houck Christopher D.
Published: September 2017

Objective.

This study is a secondary analysis of outcomes examining risk behavior in the context of the naturalistic occurrence of parental monitoring and participation in an emotion regulation intervention over a 12-month period.

Method:

Early adolescents with mental health symptoms (N=420), ages 12–14 years, were recruited and randomized into either an Emotional Regulation (ER) or Health Promotion (HP) condition. Assessments included adolescent self-report of unsupervised time, substance use and sexual behavior at baseline, 6-months, and one year post-intervention. Analytic groups were formed by intervention condition (ER or HP) and baseline reports of unsupervised time (≤1× per week or >1× per week of unsupervised time with opposite sex peers) resulting in a total of four groups. Logistic regression and time-to-event analyses were used to test differences in substance use and delay of sexual initiation between the groups.

Results:

Participation in the ER intervention in the presence of low unsupervised time was superior in reducing both substance use and sexual initiation than either factor alone; and either factor alone was more effective than the absence of both.

Conclusion:

Findings suggest that interventions targeting health risk behaviors, including substance use and sexual risk behavior, among early adolescents with mental health symptoms may be more effective when targeting both internal (e.g., emotional regulation) and external (e.g., unsupervised time spent with peers) protective factors. Limiting unsupervised time spent with peers through parental monitoring may serve to scaffold and reinforce early adolescent acquisition of effective emotion regulation which can be employed during emotionally arousing risk situations.