bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
O FUTURO DO DIREITO ANIMAL: INDO ALÉM DE "ENSINAR O PAI NOSSO AO VIGÁRIO"
Authors: SENATORI Megan A. , FRASCH Pamela D.
Published: January 2019

O artigo analisa o futuro do direito animal, oferecendo uma
visão geral do sucesso alcançado pelo direito animal nas faculdades
de direito dos EUA. Em seguida, a partir de uma análise comparativa
com o direito ambiental, as autoras demonstram a importância de se
acionar algumas “alavancas” que podem promover o avanço jurídico
na proteção animal: o interesse humano, os depoimentos de pessoas
credibilizadas, a adesão de não-ativistas e a pressão política. Finalmente,
sugere ações concretas que podem desenvolver ainda mais o
direito animal, com vista a expandir o círculo de compaixão para além
dos animalistas.
COMO AMPLIAR O DIÁLOGO SOBRE ABOLICIONISMO ANIMAL? CONTRIBUIÇÕES PELOS CAMINHOS DA EDUCAÇÃO E DAS POLÍTICAS PÚBLICAS
Authors: CASTELLANO Maria , SORRENTINO Marcos
Published: January 2019

O movimento pelos direitos animais tem como objetivo a
abolição de toda e qualquer forma de exploração animal. Na prática,
tal objetivo poderia ser sintetizado pela ideia de que para se abolir
a exploração animal no planeta, todos os seres humanos precisariam
se tornar veganos, já que o veganismo é o modo de vida que se fundamenta
ideologicamente no respeito aos direitos animais. Caso contrário,
pode-se tentar diminuir, reformar ou maquiar a exploração
animal, mas não se chegará à sua abolição. Estando clara essa ideia,
o grande desafio que se apresenta é como ampliar o diálogo sobre
veganismo ou, sobre o ideal abolicionista animal, em um planeta onde a maioria da população está completamente alheia a esse tema. O presente
artigo busca provocar reflexões sobre formas como a educação, o
diálogo com outros movimentos sociais e as políticas públicas podem
influenciar positivamente esse processo.
AÇÃO CIVIL PÚBLICA
Authors: RODRIGUES Danielle Tetü
Published: January 2019

em face da UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO ESTADO DE
SANTA CATARINA - UFSC, pessoa jurídica de direito público,
integrante da Administração Pública Indireta (Autarquia
Estadual),
EDITORIAL
Authors: GORDILHO Heron Santana
Published: January 2019

Estimados leitores, ao chegarmos ao final do ano de 2013, estamos
concluindo o oitavo ano da Revista Brasileira de Direito
Animal (Brazilian Animal Law Journal).
Hypoxia‐sensitive LINC01436 is regulated by E2F6 and acts as an oncogene by targeting miR‐30a‐3p in non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Yuan Shuai , Xiang Ying , Wang Guilu , Zhou Meiyu , Meng Gang , Liu Qingyun , Hu Zeyao , Li Chengying , Xie Weijia , Wu Na , Wu Long , Cai Tongjian , Ma Xiangyu , Zhang Yao , Yu Zubin , Bai Li , Li Yafei
Published: January 2019

Dysregulation of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) is known to be involved in numerous human diseases, including lung cancer. However, the precise biological functions of most lncRNA remain to be elucidated. Here, we identified a novel up‐regulated lncRNA, LINC01436 (RefSeq: NR_110419.1), in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). High expression of LINC01436 was significantly associated with poor overall survival. Notably, LINC01436 expression was transcriptionally repressed by E2F6 under normoxia, and the inhibitory effect was relieved in a hypoxic microenvironment. Gain‐ and loss‐of‐function studies revealed that LINC01436 acted as a proto‐oncogene by promoting lung cancer cell growth, migration and invasion in vitro. Xenograft tumor assays in nude mice confirmed that LINC01436 promoted tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, LINC01436 exerted biological functions by acting as a microRNA (miR)‐30a‐3p sponge to regulate the expression of its target gene EPAS1. Our findings characterize LINC01436 as a new hypoxia‐sensitive lncRNA with oncogenic function in NSCLC, suggesting that LINC01436 may be a potential biomarker for prognosis and a potential target for treatment.
Inflammatory periosteal reaction on ribs associated with lower respiratory tract disease: A method for recording prevalence from sites with differing preservation
Authors: Davies‐Barrett Anna M. , Antoine Daniel , Roberts Charlotte A.
Published: January 2019

Objectives

Inflammatory periosteal reaction (IPR) on the visceral surfaces of the ribs has been used in bioarchaeology as an indicator of lower respiratory tract disease. This article presents a detailed method for recording IPR on the ribs, even those in severely fragmented states, with the objectives of increasing the consistency of recording and producing true prevalence rates for skeletons so as to improve data comparability between future bioarchaeological studies of lower respiratory tract disease.

Materials and methods

The presence and prevalence of respiratory‐related IPR were recorded from three different Sudanese cemetery sites using a detailed method for identifying and recording IPR. Sites with variable preservation were chosen to test the applicability of the method. A flowchart to aid in identification of bony changes is presented. The method requires the recording of IPR on three separate sections of the rib (neck, angle, and shaft) and the allocation of ribs into rib cage regions of upper, upper‐middle, middle, lower‐middle, and lower.

Results

Results demonstrate differences in the distribution of IPR between sites and verify the method's applicability to archeological sites with various levels of skeletal preservation.

Discussion

While crude prevalence rates can indicate the number of individuals experiencing lower respiratory tract disease within a site, this method can provide information about the distribution of IPR within the rib cage. This should lead to new ways of distinguishing respiratory diseases within archeological populations. This method also allows for comparability between well‐preserved and lesser‐preserved sites by accommodating for rib fragmentation.
Exercise‐induced loading increases ilium cortical area in a selectively bred mouse model
Authors: Lewton Kristi L. , Ritzman Terrence , Copes Lynn E. , Garland Theodore , Capellini Terence D.
Published: January 2019

Objectives

Little is known about how ilium cortical bone responds to loading. Using a mouse model, this study presents data testing the hypothesis that iliac cross‐sectional properties are altered in response to increased activity.

Materials and Methods

The sample derives from lines of High Runner (HR) mice bred for increased wheel‐running activity. Four treatment groups of female mice were tested: non‐selected control lines housed without (N = 19) and with wheels (N = 20), and HR mice housed without (N = 17) and with wheels (N = 18) for 13 weeks beginning at weaning. Each pelvis was μCT‐scanned, cross‐sectional properties (cortical area—Ct.Ar, total area—Tt.Ar, polar moment of area, and polar section modulus) were determined from the ilium midshaft, and robusticity indices (ratio of the square root of Ct.Ar or Tt.Ar to caudal ilium length) were calculated. Mixed models were implemented with linetype, wheel access, and presence of the mini‐muscle phenotype as fixed effects, replicate line nested within linetype as a random effect, and body mass as a covariate.

Results

Results demonstrate that the mouse ilium morphologically resembles a long bone in cross section. Body mass and the mini‐muscle phenotype were significant predictors of iliac cross‐sectional properties. Wheel access only had a statistically significant effect on Ct.Ar and its robusticity index, with greater values in mice with wheel access.

Discussion

These results suggest that voluntary exercise increases cortical area, but does not otherwise strengthen the ilium in these mice, corroborating previous studies on the effect of increased wheel‐running activity on femoral and humeral cross‐sectional properties in these mice.
Ages‐at‐death distribution of the early Pleistocene hominin fossil assemblage from Drimolen (South Africa)
Authors: Riga Alessandro , Mori Tommaso , Pickering Travis Rayne , Moggi‐Cecchi Jacopo , Menter Colin G.
Published: January 2019

Objectives

A prevailing hypothesis in paleoanthropology is that early Pleistocene hominin bones were accumulated in South African caves by carnivores, which used those shelters, and the trees surrounding them, as refuge and feeding sites. We tested this hypothesis at the site of Drimolen, by comparing its hominin age‐at‐death distribution to that of the nearby and roughly contemporaneous site of Swartkrans.

Materials and methods

We employed standard dental aging systems in order to categorize the Drimolen hominin teeth into age classes of 5 years each. We then compared the age‐at‐death distribution for Drimolen with the published data available for the Swartkrans hominins.

Results

Age‐at‐death distributions indicate that the age category “young adults” is the best represented age category at Swartkrans and the most poorly represented one at Drimolen. Moreover, Drimolen has a preponderance of infant specimens. Both sites have a low frequency of old adult specimens.

Conclusions

Differences observed in frequencies of the age‐at‐death categories suggest different mechanisms of hominin skeletal accumulation at Drimolen and Swartkrans. Swartkrans' frequency curve reflects mortality in a population subjected to predation and is thus consistent with the carnivore‐accumulating hypothesis. In contrast, the Drimolen curve is similar to that of wild populations of living apes. Living primates have been observed exploiting caves as sleeping shelters, for nutritional, security, drinking, and thermoregulatory purposes. We suggest that similar cave use by Pleistocene hominins can explain, in large part, the accumulation of hominin bones at Drimolen. Such a conclusion is another illustration of the growing awareness that a “one‐size‐fits‐all” taphonomic model for South African early Pleistocene hominin sites is probably insufficient.
Intensive terrestrial or marine locomotor strategies are associated with inter‐ and intra‐limb bone functional adaptation in living female athletes
Authors: Macintosh Alison A. , Stock Jay T.
Published: January 2019

Objectives

To systematically characterize intra‐limb patterns of skeletal plasticity to loading among living women, in order to better understand regional complexity in structural adaptation within the lower limb and more accurately infer behavior in the past.

Materials and methods

We used peripheral quantitative computed tomography imaging of the femur, tibia, first and second metatarsals to quantify bone morphology among female controls and athletes representative of either terrestrial or marine mobility, grouped by loading category (odd‐impact, repetitive low‐impact, and high‐magnitude). Parameters included midshaft bone density, areas, rigidity, and shape, epiphyseal bone densities and areas. We assessed between‐group differences and the influence of training history on significant variation among the loading groups.

Results

Terrestrial mobility strategies were best distinguished by significant midshaft periosteal hypertrophy across the lower limb/foot relative to controls, and by particularly high midshaft femoral and tibial cortical bone areas relative to rowers. Enhanced midshaft bone area was typically paired with decreased bone density among athlete groups. Sport‐specific variation in training duration/timing was significantly correlated with multiple midshaft parameters.

Discussion

Results demonstrate characteristic patterns of intra‐limb adaptation to terrestrial and marine mobility strategies among active women relative to controls, and highlight components of these patterns that may be shaped in part by differences in loading duration/timing. Additionally, our findings support constraints on skeletal variation in the distal tibia and foot relative to more proximal locations about the knee among living women. For example, metatarsal variation was constrained, but where present reflected sport‐specific variation in force distribution in the foot.
Synthese von Samarium‐Polyarseniden aus nanoskaligem Arsen
Authors: Schoo Christoph , Bestgen Sebastian , Egeberg Alexander , Seibert Jasmin , Konchenko Sergey N. , Feldmann Claus , Roesky Peter W.
Published: January 2019

Die Zintl‐Phasen des Arsens und molekulare Zintl‐Anionen der Polyarsenide sind für die angewandte und die Grundlagenforschung von fundamentalem Interesse. Bedauerlicherweise ist gelbes Arsen, As4, das reaktivste und naheliegendste Arsenedukt, schlecht darzustellen, in reiner Form nicht lagerfähig und schwer zu handhaben. Wir berichten hier über die Synthese und Reaktivität elementarer As0‐Nanopartikel (As0nano , d=7.2±1.8 nm), welche in der reduktiven f‐Elementchemie erfolgreich als reaktive Arsenedukte verwendet wurden. Ausgehend von [Cp*2Sm] (Cp*=η5‐C5Me5) konnten aus As0nano die Polyarsenide [(Cp*2Sm)2(μ‐η2:η2‐As2)] und [(Cp*2Sm)4As8], das größte molekulare Polyarsenid der f‐Elemente, erhalten werden. Auf diese Weise wurde die Verwendung von As4 umgangen.
Polymer complexes. LXXII. Spectroscopic studies, thermodynamics, DNA binding and biological activity of polymer complexes
Authors: El‐Sonbati A.Z. , Diab M.A. , Serag L.S.
Published: January 2019

A novel series of copper polymer complexes (1–4) were synthesized and characterized using various spectroscopic techniques. Spectra of all polymer complexes a tetragonal distorted geometry for the Cu(II) ion. The electronic spectra, magnetic moments and electron spin resonance results indicate tetragonal distortion geometry for the Cu(II) polymer complexes. The effects of various solvents on absorption spectra of the ligand are discussed. A prediction of the interaction of the ligand against anti‐cancer receptors was carried out using AutoDock server. The affinity of the compounds to calf thymus DNA was determined through UV–visible DNA binding titration, and intrinsic binding constant (Kb) was found to be 4.16 × 103, 3.10 × 105, 3.18 × 104 and 2.91 × 105 for polymer complexes 1–4, respectively. The antimicrobial activity of the polymer complexes against bacterial species (Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Enterococcus faecalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and fungal species (Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxysporum and Candida albicans) was investigated.
Mo‐Doped Cu/Co Hybrid Oxide Nanoarrays: An Enhanced Electrocatalytic Performance for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Liu Manyu , Wang Jianzhi , Tian Qifeng , Liu Yiheng , Li Pan , Li Wei , Cai Ning , Xue Yanan , Chen Weimin , Yu Faquan
Published: January 2019

To achieve a cost‐effective and performance‐enhanced electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), Mo‐doped Cu/Co hybrid oxides were prepared through the processes of hydrothermal chemistry and dehydration/reduction. Hybrid structures consisting of a polycrystalline hybrid crystal structure and an amorphous structure, and hybrid constituents including at least Cu, Cu2O, CuO, CoO, CuCoO2, and Cu2CoO3 were identified and characterized by using SEM, HR‐TEM, XPS as well as electrochemical analysis. Interestingly, no information of the doped Mo appeared in the XRD patterns. The reasonable deduction is that Mo might be confined in the amorphous area. The highly developed interface, enhanced conductivity, larger active surface area, abundant oxygen vacancies, and redistribution of electrons among these elements resulted in the significantly enhanced electrocatalytic activity. The optimized Mo‐doped hybrid Cu/Co oxide exhibited catalytic activity with an overpotential of 88 mV to obtain a current density of 10 mA cm−2 in alkaline electrolyte with scarce loss of the initial catalyst activity for 28 h and over 5000 cycles. This work may provide a channel to enhance the performance in the HER.
In Situ Tracking of Dynamic NO Capture through a Crystal‐to‐Crystal Transformation from a Gate‐Open‐Type Chain Porous Coordination Polymer to a NO‐Adducted Discrete Isomer
Authors: Zhang Jun , Kosaka Wataru , Kitagawa Susumu , Takata Masaki , Miyasaka Hitoshi
Published: January 2019

Optimal control of gas adsorption properties in metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) or porous coordination polymers (PCPs) remains a great challenge in the field of materials science. An efficient strategy to capture electron‐acceptor‐type gas molecules such as nitrogen monooxide (NO) is to use host–guest interactions by utilizing electron‐donor‐type MOFs/PCPs as host frameworks. Herein, we focus on a highly electron‐donating chain compound by using the paddlewheel‐type [Ru2II,II] complex [Ru2(2,4,5‐Me3PhCO2)4] (2,4,5‐Me3PhCO2−=2,4,5‐trimethylbenzoate) with the phenazine (phz) linker: [Ru2(2,4,5‐Me3PhCO2)4(phz)] (1). Compound 1 exhibited a specific gated adsorption for NO under gas pressures greater than 60 kPa at 121 K, which finally resulted in approximately seven molar equivalents being taken up at 100 kPa followed by four molar equivalents remaining under vacuum at 121 K; its Rh isomorph (2) with weaker donation ability was inactive for NO. When the sample of 1⊃4 NO was heated to room temperature, the compound underwent a crystal‐to‐crystal phase transition to give [Ru2(2,4,5‐Me3PhCO2)4(NO)2](phz) (1‐NO), involving a post‐synthetic nitrosylation on the [Ru2] unit, accompanied by an eventful site‐exchange with phz. This drastic event, which is dependent on the NO pressure, temperature, and time, was coherently monitored by using several different in situ techniques, revealing that the stabilization of NO molecules in nanosized pores dynamically and stepwisely occurred with the support of strong electronic/magnetic host–guest interactions.
TiO2 Nanocoral Structures as Versatile Substrates for Surface‐Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Nakamura Yoshihiro , Soejima Tetsuro
Published: January 2019

Matrix‐free surface‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (SALDI) is a powerful technique for rapidly analyzing a myriad of compounds including biomolecules and polymers. However, previous studies were limited to detecting natural/organic‐based molecules. Biphasic TiO2 nanocoral (TNC) structures consisting of an anatase base film and a rutile nanocoral layer allow analysis of not only organic compounds and polymers but also inorganic clusters by SALDI mass spectrometry (MS). TNC structures with microscopic surface roughness and porosity, which are indispensable for efficient desorption/ionization (D/I) in SALDI, form on Si wafers immersed in aqueous TiOSO4‐H2O2 at 80 °C. Various organic and biological molecules with a wide range of molecular weights such as amino acids, hormones, antioxidants, steroids, organic dyes, sugars, drugs, proteins, and polymers are successfully analyzed by using TNC substrates in SALDI‐MS. After SALDI‐MS, the TNC substrates can be reused for detecting water‐soluble molecules. TNC substrates also allow efficient detection of polyoxometalates and gold clusters as representative inorganic clusters. Survival yield measurements are employed to investigate the D/I mechanism of TNC substrates, and these indicate that the rutile nanocoral layer plays a critical role in ensuring efficient D/I. TNC as a versatile substrate for SALDI‐MS is a potentially important analysis tool in a wide range of chemical and biological fields.
First‐Principles Simulations for Morphology and Structural Evolutions of Catalysts in Oxygen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Li Ye‐Fei
Published: January 2019

Developing a robust catalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction is the major challenge in the field of renewable energy. The difficulty comes from not only the low intrinsic activity, but also the structural uncertainty of catalysts under the operating conditions. Therefore, finding the relationship between structural evolution and the OER activity is urgently required. At present, first‐principles simulations have become a powerful tool to understand the mechanism of the OER at the atomic level. In this review, TiO2, MnOx, and CoS2 are used as examples to demonstrate how first‐principles calculations can predict the morphology of nanoparticles, explore the pathway of electrochemically induced phase transition, and resolve the structure of a heterojunction. With these new theoretical techniques, the structure–activity relationship of the OER for a complex catalytic system can be determined without experimental inputs. Such a bottom‐up strategy holds great promise to reveal the active site and mechanism of a complex catalytic system from first‐principles calculations.
Six‐year follow‐up study on the association between white blood cell count and fasting blood glucose level in Chinese adults: A community‐based health examination survey
Authors: Zang Xiu , Meng Xiangyu , Wang Yun , Jin Xiao , Wu Tingting , Liu Xuekui , Geng Houfa , Xu Wei , Wang Yu , Teng Fei , Qiu Qinqin , Yang Manqing , Liang Jun
Published: January 2019

Background

Pre‐diabetes is considered to be an important reversible stage of type 2 diabetes (T2DM); thus, early identification of pre‐diabetes may help in the prevention of T2DM. This study aimed to explore the relationship between white blood cell (WBC) counts and the cumulative risk of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) regulation at 6 years.

Methods

A community‐based health examination survey was conducted among individuals who were randomly selected from 1300 residents living in China in 2010 to 2016. The participants were divided into four groups according to WBC baseline level. This study initially conducted a cross‐sectional analysis of the population who underwent physical examination to explore the relationship between WBC count and FBG levels. Then, a follow‐up study was conducted on the population who underwent IFG normal physical examination to explore the relationship between baseline WBC count and changes in FBG levels and the cumulative risk of 6‐year IFG.

Results

During the 6‐year cohort follow‐up, 17.2% of the participants developed IFG, and the cumulative incidence rates of IFG in the four groups were 14.7%, 16.3%, 15.8%, and 22.2%. By Cox multiple regression equation the hazard ratio (HR) of the IFG increased by 18.7% for each additional unit of baseline WBC count with no adjustment of any factor. After adjusting factors, HR increased by 8.4%.

Conclusion

Increased WBC counts are associated with risk of IFG, suggesting chronic inflammation may be involved in the development and progression of IFG.
Pharmacokinetics of selegiline, R‐methamphetamine, R‐amphetamine, and desmethylselegiline in oral fluid after a single oral administration of selegiline
Authors: Chen Lizhu , Shen Baohua , Wang Songtao , Yu Yingjia , Yan Hui , Shi Yan , Duan Gengli , Xiang Ping
Published: January 2019

Background

Chiral analysis is a crucial way to differentiate selegiline (SG) intake from drug abuse. Oral fluid (OF) has been successfully used as an alternative matrix for blood testing in several pharmacokinetic studies.

Objective

The aim of this study is to describe the pharmacokinetics of SG and its main metabolites in OF after a single oral administration of SG which is meaningful for results interpretation in forensic analysis.

Methods

Ten milligrams of SG were orally administered to 8 volunteers, and OF samples were collected for up to 96 hours by having participants spit into polypropylene tubes without stimulation. These samples were submitted to liquid–liquid extraction before analysis by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry operating in positive ion multiple‐reaction monitoring mode.

Results and conclusions

After oral administration, each analyte could be detected in OF specimens from all volunteers with an initial detection time of 0.50 hours. The Cmax values of SG, R‐MA, R‐AM and DM‐SG were 50.93–992.67 ng/mL, 29.78–653.64 ng/mL, 8.22–150.15 ng/mL, and 4.34–16.25 ng/mL, respectively, at 0.5 hours, 1–11 hours, 1.5–11 hours, and 0.5–6 hours post dose. The times when the compounds were last determined in OF were 5–24 hours for SG, 52–96 hours for R‐MA, 31–96 hours for R‐AM, and 13–31 hours for DM‐SG after oral administration. There is a period of time in OF in which only MA and AM are present without SG and DM‐SG after a single dose of SG. The pharmacokinetic data could provide supplementary interpretation for OF tests in forensic science and drug treatment programs.
Landscape controls on the distribution and ecohydrology of central Oregon springs
Authors: Freed Zach , Aldous Allison , Gannett Marshall W.
Published: January 2019

Small springs in semiarid landscapes are essential for maintaining aquatic biodiversity and supporting livestock grazing operations. However, little is known about controls on the distribution and physical characteristics of small springs, the aquatic species they support, or their sensitivity to disturbance. We address this information gap in the Crooked River subbasin, a tributary of the Deschutes River in Oregon. We conducted spatial analyses on 2,519 mapped springs to investigate the influence of landscape controls (precipitation and bedrock permeability) on spring density in the Crooked River subbasin and the adjacent Upper Deschutes subbasin. Spring density was highest in areas of low bedrock permeability (P < 0.0001) and high annual precipitation (P < 0.0001). We suggest that the high density of small springs on low‐permeability bedrock indicates that these springs generally have short, shallow flow paths and thus may be susceptible to forecasted climate changes. A survey of 137 springs in the Crooked River subbasin revealed the hydrogeologic setting affects spring discharge type (P = 0.017), temperature (P = 0.011), and pH (P = 0.026). We found a high frequency of anthropogenic impacts on springs: 95% of diffuse‐discharge springs and 79% of discrete‐discharge springs were disturbed by livestock grazing. Species inventories at 10 of the most intact surveyed springs confirm that small springs are biologically diverse, with 151 total species of plants and 135 total taxa of macroinvertebrates. Springs in the Crooked River subbasin are ecologically important habitats but require careful management to protect against livestock disturbance and development.
Electrochemical Synthesis of Highly Nitrogen Containing γ‐FeN0.13 and ε‐Fe3N1.51 in a Molten Salt System
Authors: Lehmann Tanja S. , Niewa Rainer
Published: January 2019

Two iron nitrides γ‐FeN0.13 and ε‐Fe3N1.51 were synthesized electrochemically in a molten salt system KCl–LiCl at 450 °C. For the electrochemical formation of γ‐FeN0.13, which crystallizes in Fm3m with a = 367.46(7) pm, either Li3N or KNO3 can be added to the salt mixture as nitrogen source. An addition of Li3N corresponds to anodic polarization (anodic electrolysis) of the working electrode and KNO3 to cathodic polarization (cathodic electrolysis). The chosen applied voltages were 0.8 V and 1.4 V, respectively. Electrochemical synthesis employing a pure α‐iron foil as working electrode results in thicker layers than using an iron rod, independent of the polarization of the working electrodes. Cathodic electrolysis delivers a higher layer thickness compared to anodic electrolysis. Anodic electrolysis of a pure α‐iron foil at 2.2 V and a duration of 3 h provides ε‐Fe3N1.51 as bulk material. Structural refinements by the Rietveld method result in a hexagonal unit cell with parameters of a = 478.06(3) pm and c = 441.82(3) pm indicating the high nitrogen content in agreement with an elemental analysis.
Highly Active Cobalt/Tungsten Carbide@N‐Doped Porous Carbon Nanomaterials Derived from Metal‐Organic Frameworks as Bifunctional Catalysts for Overall Water Splitting
Authors: Zhao Tao , Gao Junkuo , Wu Jin , He Panpan , Li Yuwen , Yao Juming
Published: January 2019

Currently, the design and application of low‐cost and highly active bifunctional electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reactions (OERs) and hydrogen evolution reactions (HERs) are still challenging. Metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) are used to produce a material composed of porous nitrogen‐doped carbon materials encapsulating cobalt and tungsten carbide (Co/W‐C@NCNSs). Nanoscale MOFs are successfully synthesized via a microwave method and are denoted as HZIF‐W. Moreover, the obtained MOFs are annealed under N2 atmosphere at a temperature of 600 and 800 °C, and the obtained samples are designated as Co/W‐C@NCNSs(600) and Co/W‐C@NCNSs(800), respectively, according to the annealing temperature. The results show that the obtained Co/W‐C@NCNSs exhibit superior performance toward both the OER and HER in alkaline media. Co/W‐C@NCNSs(800) shows the best electrocatalytic activities, requiring an overpotential of 323 mV (vs RHE) and −252 mV (vs RHE) to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm−2 for the electrocatalytic OER and HER in an aqueous solution. A water electrolyzer device using Co/W‐C@NCNSs(800) as both the anode and cathode requires only a cell voltage of 1.68 V to reach a current density of 10 mA cm−2, thus illustrating that cobalt/tungsten carbide‐based NCNSs derived from MOFs can be prospective materials for the electrocatalysis of water splitting.
Efficient Inorganic Cesium Lead Mixed‐Halide Perovskite Solar Cells Prepared by Flash‐Evaporation Printing
Authors: Tai Meiqian , Wang Guang , Yin Xuewen , Zhou Yu , Han Jianhua , Wei Yang , Jiang Kaili , Lin Hong
Published: January 2019

Cesium‐based inorganic perovskites have attracted enormous interest for efficient and stable photovoltaics, while still a few studies apply evaporation methods with high reproducibility to prepare them. Herein, high‐quality CsPbI2Br films are deposited by flash‐evaporation printing (FEP), a single source evaporation method using laser as the heating source and carbon nanotube sheets as the evaporator. Uniform films with balanced stoichiometry and high crystallinity can be obtained by controlling the precursor ratio and post‐annealing conditions. Planar solar cells using these inorganic perovskite films exhibit champion power conversion efficiencies of 12.2% in small areas (0.06 cm2) and 9.4% in large areas (1 cm2) with insignificant hysteresis, indicating that the FEP method is a promising way in preparing high‐quality inorganic perovskite films for efficient large‐area devices.
Application of deep convolutional neural networks in classification of protein subcellular localization with microscopy images
Authors: Xiao Mengli , Shen Xiaotong , Pan Wei
Published: January 2019

Single‐cell microscopy image analysis has proved invaluable in protein subcellular localization for inferring gene/protein function. Fluorescent‐tagged proteins across cellular compartments are tracked and imaged in response to genetic or environmental perturbations. With a large number of images generated by high‐content microscopy while manual labeling is both labor‐intensive and error‐prone, machine learning offers a viable alternative for automatic labeling of subcellular localizations. Contrarily, in recent years applications of deep learning methods to large datasets in natural images and other domains have become quite successful. An appeal of deep learning methods is that they can learn salient features from complicated data with little data preprocessing. For such purposes, we applied several representative types of deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and two popular ensemble methods, random forests and gradient boosting, to predict protein subcellular localization with a moderately large cell image data set. We show a consistently better predictive performance of CNNs over the two ensemble methods. We also demonstrate the use of CNNs for feature extraction. In the end, we share our computer code and pretrained models to facilitate CNN's applications in genetics and computational biology.
Cetuximab‐associated pulmonary toxicity in concurrent chemoradiation for the treatment of a squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
Authors: Mayfield John D. , Mercado Catherine E. , Kaye Frederic J. , Mendenhall William M.
Published: January 2019

Background

Cetuximab is a common EGFR monoclonal antibody used with radiotherapy to treat head‐and‐neck cancer. Severe pulmonary toxicity, including interstitial lung disease (ILD), caused by cetuximab is rare.

Methods

We describe a patient who developed ILD and acute respiratory failure after concurrent chemoradiation with cetuximab for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, and review the literature.

Results

A patient developed acute respiratory failure 2 months after starting concurrent chemoradiation with cetuximab and was hospitalized in intensive care after a procedure for progressive respiratory distress. Cultures and serology were negative for infection and radiologic findings were consistent with drug associated pneumonitits. Steroids were administered until the patient was stabilized. The patient fully recovered 1 month after the onset of respiratory distress, although he died of recurrent disease 10 months after completing treatment.

Conclusion

Although severe pulmonary toxicity caused by EGFR inhibitors has been well described in the literature, ILD caused by cetuximab, an EGFR monoclonal antibody, is rare and not well‐documented. Given its life‐threatening effects, awareness of this potential side effect and early diagnosis is critical.
Should I stay or should I go? A latent threshold approach to large‐scale mixture innovation models
Authors: Huber Florian , Kastner Gregor , Feldkircher Martin
Published: January 2019

We propose a straightforward algorithm to estimate large Bayesian time‐varying parameter vector autoregressions with mixture innovation components for each coefficient in the system. The computational burden becomes manageable by approximating the mixture indicators driving the time‐variation in the coefficients with a latent threshold process that depends on the absolute size of the shocks. Two applications illustrate the merits of our approach. First, we forecast the US term structure of interest rates and demonstrate forecast gains relative to benchmark models. Second, we apply our approach to US macroeconomic data and find significant evidence for time‐varying effects of a monetary policy tightening.
Estimation of linear dynamic panel data models with time‐invariant regressors
Authors: Kripfganz Sebastian , Schwarz Claudia
Published: January 2019

We present a sequential approach to estimating a dynamic Hausman–Taylor model. We first estimate the coefficients of the time‐varying regressors and subsequently regress the first‐stage residuals on the time‐invariant regressors. In comparison to estimating all coefficients simultaneously, this two‐stage procedure is more robust against model misspecification, allows for a flexible choice of the first‐stage estimator, and enables simple testing of the overidentifying restrictions. For correct inference, we derive analytical standard error adjustments. We evaluate the finite‐sample properties with Monte Carlo simulations and apply the approach to a dynamic gravity equation for US outward foreign direct investment.
Ethnic capital and intergenerational transmission of educational attainment
Authors: Postepska Agnieszka
Published: January 2019

This paper studies the role of ethnicity in the intergenerational transmission of educational attainment within the framework outlined by Borjas (Quarterly Journal of Economics, 1992, 107(1), 123–150). Relying on heteroskedasticity to identify parameters in the presence of endogenous regressors, I find evidence that the ordinary least squares estimates of the effect of ethnic capital on intergenerational transmission of education are biased upwards due to the transfer of unobserved ability. I also find that, while the role of parental capital has declined over time, ethnic capital has a relatively constant effect on intergenerational transmission of educational attainment.
NMDA receptor‐driven calcium influx promotes ischemic human cardiomyocyte apoptosis through a p38 MAPK‐mediated mechanism
Authors: Liu Zi‐You , Zhong Qin‐Wen , Tian Cheng‐Nan , Ma Hou Mou , Yu Jun‐Jian , Hu Shuo
Published: January 2019

N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor (NMDAR) activity plays a key role in cerebral ischemia. Although NMDAR is also expressed in cardiomyocytes, little research has been performed on NMDAR activity in myocardial ischemia. Here, using an in vitro oxygen‐glucose deprivation (OGD) cardiomyocyte model, we evaluated the effects of NMDAR activity upon calcium influx, viability, apoptosis, and investigated the roles of several key mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs). Primary human neonatal cardiomyocytes were cultured under OGD conditions to mimic in vivo ischemic conditions. Enhancing NMDAR activity via NMDA significantly promoted calcium influx, decreased cell viability, increased apoptosis, and enhanced p38 MAPK phosphorylation in OGD cardiomyocytes (all P < 0.05). These effects were rescued by several calcium‐channel blockers (ie, MK‐801, La3+, Gap26 peptide, 18β‐glycyrrhetinic acid) but most potently rescued via the NMDAR‐specific antagonist MK‐801 or removal of extracellular free calcium (all P < 0.05). Knocking‐down p38 MAPK activity by small‐molecule inhibition or genetic methods significantly increased cell viability and reduced apoptosis (all P < 0.05). Enhancing p38 MAPK activity abolished MK‐801′s apoptosis‐reducing effects in a p38 MAPK‐dependent manner. In conclusion, NMDAR‐driven calcium influx promotes apoptosis in ischemic human cardiomyocytes, an effect which can be attributed to enhanced p38 MAPK activity.
Inhibition of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway impedes the restoration of neurological function following hypoxic‐ischemic brain damage in a neonatal rabbit model
Authors: Luo Zhihua , Zhang Min , Niu Xia , Wu De , Tang Jiulai
Published: January 2019

Objective

Hypoxic‐ischemic brain damage (HIBD), frequently occurring in infancy and childhood, is a major cause of mortality and severe neurologic impairment. This study was performed to examine the effect of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway on HIBD in a neonatal rabbit model.

Materials and Methods

Uterine artery occlusion was used to establish HIBD models in neonatal rabbits, which were then subjected to sham operation, dimethyl sulfoxide (2 mL) or LY294002 (inhibitor of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, 6.4 μg/kg). Behavioral neurological assessment was performed in neonatal rabbits delivered by cesarean section, after which serum neuron‐specific enolase (NSE) level and cerebral water content were determined. The level of cleaved caspase‐3 level and apoptosis of neurons were observed by immunohistochemistry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated dUTP nick‐end labeling (TUNEL) staining. Furthermore, the expression of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway‐ and apoptosis‐related factors was examined.

Results

In neonatal rabbits, HIBD increased the fetal death rate; reduced neurological scores of posture, righting reflex, and deglutition reflex; elevated serum NSE levels, cerebral water content, cleaved caspase‐3‐positive expression in hippocampal CA1 region and apoptotic neurons; inactivated PI3K/Akt signaling pathway as well as reduced Bcl‐2 expression and increased BAD and Bax expression. Notably, the treatment of LY294002 further aggravated neurological impairment in neonatal rabbits in response to HIBD.

Conclusion

Following the HIBD caused by intrauterine asphyxia, the LY294002 administered through auricular vein infusion into pregnant rabbits exacerbates neurological impairment of neonatal rabbits, suggesting that inhibition of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway may serve as a candidate therapeutic target for neurological recovery.
Circular RNA microarray expression profile in 3,4‐benzopyrene/angiotensin II‐induced abdominal aortic aneurysm in mice
Authors: Wang Jiaoni , Sun Huankun , Zhou Yingying , Huang Kaiyu , Que Jiaqun , Peng Yangpei , Wang Jinsheng , Lin Cong , Xue Yangjing , Ji Kangting
Published: January 2019

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is an unpredictable but lethal disease that poses a therapeutic dilemma. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), whose functional roles as transcriptional regulators and microRNA (miRNA) sponges have been shown in former studies, are potential biomarkers for many diseases. AAA in male C57BL/6 J mice was induced by coadministration of angiotensin II (Ang II) and 3,4‐benzopyrene (BaP). The circRNA expression profiling was performed using two samples from the control group and two samples from the AAA group. Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) was used to confirm the reliability of the microarray results. Among the 14 236 detected circRNAs, 413 showed obvious expression changes (fold change ≥ 2; P < 0.05) between the BaP/Ang II‐induced AAA group and control group. Of the 413 that showed significant changes, 271 were upregulated, while the other 142 were downregulated. The expression levels of 10 circRNAs were validated by qRT‐PCR. The interactions of the differentially expressed circRNAs with miRNAs were predicted. Immunofluorescence showed prominent vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis in abdominal aortic tissues in the BaP/Ang II group. Furthermore, a circRNA‐miRNA coexpression network based on six apoptosis‐related circRNAs was built. The genes regulated by the network mapped to several pathways, including apoptosis, the IL‐17 signaling pathway, and vascular endothelial growth factor signaling pathway, all of which are related to AAA formation. This study performed circRNA expression profiling in AAA and the results specifically predicted the regulatory role of circRNAs in AAA pathogenesis.
RETRACTED: Long noncoding RNA LEF1‐AS1 silencing suppresses the initiation and development of prostate cancer by acting as a molecular sponge of miR‐330‐5p via LEF1 repression
Authors: Liu Da‐Chuang , Song Lin‐Lin , Liang Qing , Hao Lin , Zhang Zhi‐Guo , Han Cong‐Hui
Published: January 2019

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the major cancers affecting males with high mortality around the world. Recent studies have found that some long noncoding RNAs play a critical part in the cellular processes of PCa. In our study, aberrant expressed lymphoid enhancer‐binding factor‐1 antisense RNA 1 (LEF1‐AS1), microRNA‐330‐5p (miR‐330‐5p), and lymphoid enhancer‐binding factor‐1 (LEF1) were screened out from a microarray database, the role of the novel noncoding RNA regulatory circuitry in the initiation and development of PCa was investigated. LEF1‐AS1 and LEF1 were highly expressed while miR‐330‐5p was poorly expressed in PCa. Following that, the PCa PC‐3 cell line was adopted for subsequently experiments, in which the expression of LEF1‐AS1 and miR‐330‐5p was subsequently altered by means of exogenous transfection. After that, the effects of up‐ or downregulation of LEF1‐AS1 and miR‐330‐5p on epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the cell ability for proliferation, invasion, migration in vitro, and tumorigenesis and lymph node metastasis (LNM) in vivo were evaluated. RNA crosstalk revealed that LEF1‐AS1 bound to miR‐330‐5p and LEF1 was the target gene of miR‐330‐5p. Silenced LEF1‐AS1 or elevated miR‐330‐5p exhibited inhibited EMT processes, reduced ability of proliferation, invasion and migration, coupling with decreased tumorigenesis and LNM in nude mice. The key findings of this study collectively propose downregulation of LEF1‐AS1 competing with miR‐330‐5p to inhibit EMT, invasion and migration of PCa by LEF1 repression.
Promotion of TRAIL/Apo2L‐induced apoptosis by low‐dose interferon‐β in human malignant melanoma cells
Authors: Kazaana Akira , Sano Emiko , Yoshimura Sodai , Makita Kotaro , Hara Hiroyuki , Yoshino Atsuo , Ueda Takuya
Published: January 2019

Interferon β (IFN‐β) is considered a signaling molecule with important therapeutic potential in cancer since IFN‐β‐induced gene transcription mediates antiproliferation and cell death induction. Whereas, TNF‐related apoptosis inducing ligand/Apo2 ligand (TRAIL/Apo2L) has emerged as a promising anticancer agent because it induces apoptosis specifically in cancer cells. In this study, we elucidated that IFN‐β augments TRAIL‐induced apoptosis synergistically using five human malignant melanoma cells. All of these cells were induced apoptosis by TRAIL. Whereas, the response against IFN‐β was different in amelanotic cells (A375 and CRL1579) and melanotic cells (G361, SK‐MEL‐28, and MeWo). The responsibility of amelanotic cells against IFN‐β was higher than those of melanotic cells. The synergism of IFN‐β and TRAIL were correlated with the responsibilities of the cells against IFN‐β. The synergistic interaction was confirmed by a combination index based on the Chou‐Talalay method. The upregulation of apoptosis in amelanotic cells was caused by very low doses of IFN‐β (over 0.1 IU/ml). Both of p53‐mediated intrinsic pathway and Fas‐related extrinsic pathway were activated by IFN‐β alone and combination with TRAIL. Further, TRAIL death receptors (DR4 and DR5) were upregulated by a low‐dose IFN‐β (over 0.1 IU/ml) and the expression was more promoted by the combination with TRAIL. It was clarified that the upregulation of DR5 is associated with the declination of viability.
Magnetoelectric nanocomposite scaffold for high yield differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells to neural‐like cells
Authors: Esmaeili Elaheh , Soleimani Masoud , Ghiass Mohammad Adel , Hatamie Shadie , Vakilian Saeed , Zomorrod Mahsa Soufi , Sadeghzadeh Negar , Vossoughi Manouchehr , Hosseinzadeh Simzar
Published: January 2019

While the differentiation factors have been widely used to differentiate mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into various cell types, they can cause harm at the same time. Therefore, it is beneficial to propose methods to differentiate MSCs without factors. Herein, magnetoelectric (ME) nanofibers were synthesized as the scaffold for the growth of MSCs and their differentiation into neural cells without factors. This nanocomposite takes the advantage of the synergies of the magnetostrictive ﬁller, CoFe2O
4 nanoparticles (CFO), and piezoelectric polymer, polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF). Graphene oxide nanosheets were decorated with CFO nanoparticles for a proper dispersion in the polymer through a hydrothermal process. After that, the piezoelectric PVDF polymer, which contained the magnetic nanoparticles, underwent the electrospun process to form ME nanofibers, the ME property of which has the potential to be used in areas such as tissue engineering, biosensors, and actuators.
Morphoanatomical characterization of filamentous green algae of district Lahore based on classical and modern microscopic technique
Authors: Jaffer Mehwish , Ashraf Hammad , Shaheen Shabnum
Published: January 2019

Introduction

For sample collection, four sites were selected, sites where fresh water were present, that is, Ravi syphon, BRB Lahore, Shahdara, and Head Baloki. The latitude and altitude of the locations were recorded at the time of collection.

Results

A total of 21 species of algae belonging to eight genera and four families were examined in the current studies. The collected samples were mainly filamentous and they were primarily green in color as the photosynthetic pigment found to be dominated was Chlorophyll. It was observed that all the genera varied mainly on the basis of cell shape, size, number of pyramids and on the arrangement of cells. The site mainly selected was those where fresh water was mainly found and at the time of collection latitude and altitude was also recorded.

Conclusions

The classical microscopic technique (Light Microscopy) and Modern microscopic technique (Staining Electron Microscopy) of some samples were done that, played a lively part in the correct identification of species as a slight difference was found among species that were only evident when the Modern microscopic technique was done.