bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pre-formulation and systematic evaluation of amino acid assisted permeability of insulin across in vitro buccal cell layers
Authors: Iyire Affiong , Alaayedi Maryam , Mohammed Afzal R.
Published: September 2016

The aim of this work was to investigate alternative safe and effective permeation enhancers for buccal peptide delivery. Basic amino acids improved insulin solubility in water while 200 and 400 μg/mL lysine significantly increased insulin solubility in HBSS. Permeability data showed a significant improvement in insulin permeation especially for 10 μg/mL of lysine (p < 0.05) and 10 μg/mL histidine (p < 0.001), 100 μg/mL of glutamic acid (p < 0.05) and 200 μg/mL of glutamic acid and aspartic acid (p < 0.001) without affecting cell integrity; in contrast to sodium deoxycholate which enhanced insulin permeability but was toxic to the cells. It was hypothesized that both amino acids and insulin were ionised at buccal cavity pH and able to form stable ion pairs which penetrated the cells as one entity; while possibly triggering amino acid nutrient transporters on cell surfaces. Evidence of these transport mechanisms was seen with reduction of insulin transport at suboptimal temperatures as well as with basal-to-apical vectoral transport, and confocal imaging of transcellular insulin transport. These results obtained for insulin are the first indication of a possible amino acid mediated transport of insulin via formation of insulin-amino acid neutral complexes by the ion pairing mechanism.
Stand-Sit Microchip for High-Throughput, Multiplexed Analysis of Single Cancer Cells
Authors: Ramirez Lisa , Herschkowitz Jason I. , Wang Jun
Published: September 2016

Cellular heterogeneity in function and response to therapeutics has been a major challenge in cancer treatment. The complex nature of tumor systems calls for the development of advanced multiplexed single-cell tools that can address the heterogeneity issue. However, to date such tools are only available in a laboratory setting and don’t have the portability to meet the needs in point-of-care cancer diagnostics. Towards that application, we have developed a portable single-cell system that is comprised of a microchip and an adjustable clamp, so on-chip operation only needs pipetting and adjusting of clamping force. Up to 10 proteins can be quantitated from each cell with hundreds of single-cell assays performed in parallel from one chip operation. We validated the technology and analyzed the oncogenic signatures of cancer stem cells by quantitating both aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activities and 5 signaling proteins in single MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. The technology has also been used to investigate the PI3K pathway activities of brain cancer cells expressing mutant epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) after drug intervention targeting EGFR signaling. Our portable single-cell system will potentially have broad application in the preclinical and clinical settings for cancer diagnosis in the future.
Transcriptional regulator PrqR plays a negative role in glucose metabolism and oxidative stress acclimation in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803
Authors: Khan Rezaul Islam , Wang Yushu , Afrin Shajia , Wang Bing , Liu Yumin , Zhang Xiaoqing , Chen Lei , Zhang Weiwen , He Lin , Ma Gang
Published: September 2016

Plant and cyanobacteria can perceive signals from soluble sugar and reactive oxygen species (ROS) and then coordinate gene expression under stress acclimation, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we found that the transcriptional factor PrqR (Slr0895) in Synechocystis can perceive signals from ROS generated after shifting from prolonged darkness with glucose into high-light. The deletion mutant (DprqR) showed increased growth rate and decreased ROS content, whereas the complementary strain (CprqR) restored the growth characteristics, phenotypes and ROS status of WT, thereby establishing PrqR as a negative regulator of ROS.LC/GC-MS-based metabolic profiling also showed active ROS mitigation in DprqR mutant. Further study by qRT-PCR, ChIP-PCR and deletion of both prqR and prqA (DprqR-DprqA mutant) revealed that PrqR exerts this negative regulation of ROS removal by controlling the expression of sodB and prqA (slr0896). Furthermore, PrqR also found to control glucose metabolism by regulating a positive regulator of glucose metabolism, sigE, and its regulons. Results suggest that PrqR was involved in perceiving signals from ROS under physiological condition, as well as in regulating stress removal and glucose metabolism.
New Insight into the Angle Insensitivity of Ultrathin Planar Optical Absorbers for Broadband Solar Energy Harvesting
Authors: Liu Dong , Yu Haitong , Duan Yuanyuan , Li Qiang , Xuan Yimin
Published: September 2016

Two challenging problems still remain for optical absorbers consisting of an ultrathin planar semiconductor film on top of an opaque metallic substrate. One is the angle-insensitive mechanism and the other is the system design needed for broadband solar energy harvesting. Here, first we theoretically demonstrates that the high refractive index, instead of the ultrathin feature as reported in previous studies, is the physical origin of the angle insensitivity for ultrathin planar optical absorbers. They exhibit omnidirectional resonance for TE polarization due to the high complex refractive index difference between the semiconductor and the air, while for TM polarization the angle insensitivity persists up to an incident angle related to the semiconductor refractive index. These findings were validated by fabricating and characterizing an 18 nm Ge/Ag absorber sample (representative of small band gap semiconductors for photovoltaic applications) and a 22 nm hematite/Ag sample (representative of large band gap semiconductors for photoelectrochemical applications). Then, we took advantage of angle insensitivity and designed a spectrum splitting configuration for broadband solar energy harvesting. The cascaded solar cell and unassisted solar water splitting systems have photovoltaic and photoelectrochemical cells that are also spectrum splitters, so an external spectrum splitting element is not needed.
Combination of TLR1/2 and TLR3 ligands enhances CD4+ T cell longevity and antibody responses by modulating type I IFN production
Authors: Lee Bo Ryeong , Jeong Soo Kyung , Ahn Byung Cheol , Lee Byeong-Jae , Shin Sung Jae , Yum Jung Sun , Ha Sang-Jun
Published: September 2016

Despite the possibility of combining Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands as adjuvants to improve vaccine efficacy, it remains unclear which combinations of TLR ligands are effective or what their underlying mechanisms may be. Here, we investigated the mechanism of action of L-pampo, a proprietary adjuvant composed of TLR1/2 and TLR3 ligands. L-pampo dramatically increased humoral immune responses against the tested target antigens, which was correlated with an increase in follicular helper T cells and the maintenance of antigen-specific CD4+ T cells. During the initial priming phase, in contrast to the induction of type I interferon (IFN) and pro-inflammatory cytokines stimulated by polyI:C, L-pampo showed a greatly diminished induction of type I IFN, but not of other cytokines, and remarkably attenuated IRF3 signaling, which appeared to be critical to L-pampo-mediated adjuvanticity. Collectively, our results demonstrate that the adjuvant L-pampo contributes to the promotion of antigen-specific antibodies and CD4+ T cell responses via a fine regulation of the TLR1/2 and TLR3 signaling pathways, which may be helpful in the design of improved vaccines.
Biosynthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles prepared from two novel natural precursors by facile thermal decomposition methods
Authors: Goudarzi Mojgan , Mir Noshin , Mousavi-Kamazani Mehdi , Bagheri Samira , Salavati-Niasari Masoud
Published: September 2016

In this work, two natural sources, including pomegranate peel extract and cochineal dye were employed for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The natural silver complex from pomegranate peel extract resulted in nano-sized structures through solution-phase method, but this method was not efficient for cochineal dye-silver precursor and the as-formed products were highly agglomerated. Therefore, an alternative facile solid-state approach was investigated as for both natural precursors and the results showed successful production of well-dispersed nanoparticles with narrow size distribution for cochineal dye-silver precursor. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM).
Time-dependent reversal of synaptic plasticity induced by physiological concentrations of oligomeric Aβ42: an early index of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Koppensteiner Peter , Trinchese Fabrizio , Fà Mauro , Puzzo Daniela , Gulisano Walter , Yan Shijun , Poussin Arthur , Liu Shumin , Orozco Ian , Dale Elena , Teich Andrew F. , Palmeri Agostino , Ninan Ipe , Boehm Stefan , Arancio Ottavio
Published: September 2016

The oligomeric amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide is thought to contribute to the subtle amnesic changes in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by causing synaptic dysfunction. Here, we examined the time course of synaptic changes in mouse hippocampal neurons following exposure to Aβ42 at picomolar concentrations, mimicking its physiological levels in the brain. We found opposite effects of the peptide with short exposures in the range of minutes enhancing synaptic plasticity and longer exposures lasting several hours reducing it. The plasticity reduction was concomitant with an increase in the basal frequency of spontaneous neurotransmitter release, a higher basal number of functional presynaptic release sites and a redistribution of synaptic proteins including the vesicle-associated proteins synapsin I, synaptophysin and the post-synaptic glutamate receptor I. These synaptic alterations were mediated by cytoskeletal changes involving actin polymerization and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. These in vitro findings were confirmed in vivo with short hippocampal infusions of picomolar Aβ enhancing contextual memory and prolonged infusions impairing it. Our findings provide a model for initiation of synaptic dysfunction whereby exposure to physiologic levels of Aβ for a prolonged period of time causes microstructural changes at the synapse which result in increased transmitter release, failure of synaptic plasticity and memory loss.
Mapping the nicking efficiencies of nickase R.BbvCI for side-specific LNA-substituted substrates using rolling circle amplification
Authors: Wei Hua , Zhao Guojie , Hu Tianyu , Tang Suming , Jiang Jiquan , Hu Bo , Guan Yifu
Published: September 2016

We used a novel asymmetric cleavage analysis method based on rolling circle amplification (RCA) to determine the effects of LNA modification of substrate on the two subunits of R.BbvCI cleavage. We designed two sets of cleavage circular substrates by using two different ligation strategies and analyzed the single strand cleavage efficiency affected by different modification positions both from the cleaved strands and the uncleaved strands. Results showed that the effects of LNA on cleavage rates of modified strands and unmodified strands were both site-dependent. The Nb.BbvCI and Nt.BbvCI were affected by LNA modification in different way. Most of the modification positions showed strong inhibition of both of these two nickases cleavage. However, the modification in T3 position of bottom strand hardly affected both of the two nickases activities. The results suggested an intimated interaction between the two subunits of R.BbvCI and the T3 position in bottom strand might be a less tight position which was hard to be disturbed.
Crystal structure of the two-subunit tRNA m1A58 methyltransferase TRM6-TRM61 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Wang Mingxing , Zhu Yuwei , Wang Chongyuan , Fan Xiaojiao , Jiang Xuguang , Ebrahimi Mohammad , Qiao Zhi , Niu Liwen , Teng Maikun , Li Xu
Published: September 2016

The N1 methylation of adenine at position 58 (m1A58) of tRNA is an important post-transcriptional modification, which is vital for maintaining the stability of the initiator methionine tRNAiMet. In eukaryotes, this modification is performed by the TRM6-TRM61 holoenzyme. To understand the molecular mechanism that underlies the cooperation of TRM6 and TRM61 in the methyl transfer reaction, we determined the crystal structure of TRM6-TRM61 holoenzyme from Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the presence and absence of its methyl donor S-Adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM). In the structures, two TRM6-TRM61 heterodimers assemble as a heterotetramer. Both TRM6 and TRM61 subunits comprise an N-terminal β-barrel domain linked to a C-terminal Rossmann-fold domain. TRM61 functions as the catalytic subunit, containing a methyl donor (SAM) binding pocket. TRM6 diverges from TRM61, lacking the conserved motifs used for binding SAM. However, TRM6 cooperates with TRM61 forming an L-shaped tRNA binding regions. Collectively, our results provide a structural basis for better understanding the m1A58 modification of tRNA occurred in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Discover the network mechanisms underlying the connections between aging and age-related diseases
Authors: Yang Jialiang , Huang Tao , Song Won-min , Petralia Francesca , Mobbs Charles V. , Zhang Bin , Zhao Yong , Schadt Eric E. , Zhu Jun , Tu Zhidong
Published: September 2016

Although our knowledge of aging has greatly expanded in the past decades, it remains elusive why and how aging contributes to the development of age-related diseases (ARDs). In particular, a global mechanistic understanding of the connections between aging and ARDs is yet to be established. We rely on a network modelling named “GeroNet” to study the connections between aging and more than a hundred diseases. By evaluating topological connections between aging genes and disease genes in over three thousand subnetworks corresponding to various biological processes, we show that aging has stronger connections with ARD genes compared to non-ARD genes in subnetworks corresponding to “response to decreased oxygen levels”, “insulin signalling pathway”, “cell cycle”, etc. Based on subnetwork connectivity, we can correctly “predict” if a disease is age-related and prioritize the biological processes that are involved in connecting to multiple ARDs. Using Alzheimer’s disease (AD) as an example, GeroNet identifies meaningful genes that may play key roles in connecting aging and ARDs. The top modules identified by GeroNet in AD significantly overlap with modules identified from a large scale AD brain gene expression experiment, supporting that GeroNet indeed reveals the underlying biological processes involved in the disease.
Effects of Atmospheric-Pressure N2, He, Air, and O2 Microplasmas on Mung Bean Seed Germination and Seedling Growth
Authors: Zhou Renwu , Zhou Rusen , Zhang Xianhui , Zhuang Jinxing , Yang Size , Bazaka Kateryna , Ostrikov Kostya
Published: September 2016

Atmospheric-pressure N2, He, air, and O2 microplasma arrays have been used to investigate the effects of plasma treatment on seed germination and seedling growth of mung bean in aqueous solution. Seed germination and growth of mung bean were found to strongly depend on the feed gases used to generate plasma and plasma treatment time. Compared to the treatment with atmospheric-pressure O2, N2 and He microplasma arrays, treatment with air microplasma arrays was shown to be more efficient in improving both the seed germination rate and seedling growth, the effect attributed to solution acidification and interactions with plasma-generated reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Acidic environment caused by air discharge in water may promote leathering of seed chaps, thus enhancing the germination rate of mung bean, and stimulating the growth of hypocotyl and radicle. The interactions between plasma-generated reactive species, such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and nitrogen compounds, and seeds led to a significant acceleration of seed germination and an increase in seedling length of mung bean. Electrolyte leakage rate of mung bean seeds soaked in solution activated using air microplasma was the lowest, while the catalase activity of thus-treated mung bean seeds was the highest compared to other types of microplasma.
A colorimetric probe for the detection of aluminum ions based on 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid functionalized gold nanoparticles
Authors: Zhu Ruiqi , Song Jinping , Ma Qi , Zhou Ying , Yang Jun , Shuang Shaomin , Dong Chuan
Published: September 2016

An easy, simple and selective colorimetric method for aluminum ions has been developed using 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid functionalized gold nanoparticles (MUA–AuNPs).
Microsecond resolution of cavitation bubble dynamics using a high-speed electrochemical impedance approach
Authors: Birkin P. R. , Foley T. M. , Barber J. L. , Martin H. L.
Published: September 2016

A new method to detect changes in the uncompensated resistance, the capacitance and the Faradaic current at an electrode exposed to cavitation action is presented.
Nitrogen-doped hollow carbon spheres with a wrinkled surface: their one-pot carbonization synthesis and supercapacitor properties
Authors: Liu Lei , Xu Shi-Da , Yu Qing , Wang Feng-Yun , Zhu Hui-Ling , Zhang Ru-Liang , Liu Xin
Published: September 2016

Nitrogen-doped hollow carbon spheres with a wrinkled surface were synthesized through direct pyrolysis of core–shell structured graphene oxide–resol@melamine formaldehyde composites.
Enhancement of magnetic anisotropy in a Mn–Bi heterobimetallic complex
Authors: Pearson Tyler J. , Fataftah Majed S. , Freedman Danna E.
Published: September 2016

A novel Mn2+⋯Bi3+ heterobimetallic complex, featuring the closest Mn⋯Bi interaction for a paramagnetic molecular species, exhibits unusually large axial zero-field splitting.
A chiral pool approach for asymmetric syntheses of (−)-antrocin, (+)-asperolide C, and (−)-trans-ozic acid
Authors: Li Fu-Zhuo , Li Shuang , Zhang Peng-Peng , Huang Zhi-Hui , Zhang Wei-Bin , Gong Jianxian , Yang Zhen
Published: September 2016

Ozonolysis of aromatic abietanes is used to create the important intermediates, resulting in a simple, concise, and asymmetric synthesis of three terpenes.
Induction of unidirectional π-electron rotations in low-symmetry aromatic ring molecules using two linearly polarized stationary lasers
Authors: Mineo Hirobumi , Yamaki Masahiro , Kim Gap-Sue , Teranishi Yoshiaki , Lin Sheng Hsien , Fujimura Yuichi
Published: September 2016

A new laser-control scenario of unidirectional π-electron rotations in an aromatic ring molecule having no degenerate excited states is proposed.
Ultrafast intermolecular proton transfer to a proton scavenger in an organic solvent
Authors: Oscar Breland G. , Liu Weimin , Rozanov Nikita D. , Fang Chong
Published: September 2016

The structural dynamics basis of intermolecular proton transfer from photoacid to acetate in methanol is revealed using femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy.
Partial fusion of a cytochrome P450 system by carboxy-terminal attachment of putidaredoxin reductase to P450cam (CYP101A1)
Authors: Johnson Eachan O. D. , Wong Luet-Lok
Published: September 2016

Fusion of two non-interacting components of a class I Cytochrome P450 system more than doubles the rate of camphor hydroxylation.
A scanning tunneling microscopy study of the electronic and spin states of bis(phthalocyaninato)terbium(iii) (TbPc2) molecules on Ag(111)
Authors: Ara Ferdous , Qi Zhi Kun , Hou Jie , Komeda Tadahiro , Katoh Keiichi , Yamashita Masahiro
Published: September 2016

In this article, we investigate a single molecule magnet bis(phthalocyaninato)terbium(iii) (TbPc2) molecule film by using low temperature STM.
Peripheral halo-functionalization in [Cu(N^N)(P^P)]+emitters: influence on the performances of light-emitting electrochemical cells
Authors: Brunner Fabian , Martínez-Sarti Laura , Keller Sarah , Pertegás Antonio , Prescimone Alessandro , Constable Edwin C. , Bolink Henk J. , Housecroft Catherine E.
Published: September 2016

Trends in the performance data of [Cu(N^N)(P^P)]+-based LECs in which N^N ligands bear peripheral F, Cl, Br or I substituents reveal that fluoro-groups are beneficial, but heavier halo-substituents lead to poor devices.
Challenges in polyoxometalate-mediated aerobic oxidation catalysis: catalyst development meets reactor design
Authors: Lechner Manuel , Güttel Robert , Streb Carsten
Published: September 2016

Current challenges and future directions i of polyoxometalates for selective aerobic oxidation catalysis is discussed with an emphasis on catalyst and reactor design.
Transition of lithium growth mechanisms in liquid electrolytes
Authors: Bai Peng , Li Ju , Brushett Fikile R. , Bazant Martin Z.
Published: September 2016

Root-growing, containable mossy lithium changes to tip-growing, short-causing dendritic lithium at “Sand's capacity”, which is set by electrolyte diffusion limitation.
Thermal degradation of CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite into NH3 and CH3I gases observed by coupled thermogravimetry–mass spectrometry analysis
Authors: Juarez-Perez Emilio J. , Hawash Zafer , Raga Sonia R. , Ono Luis K. , Qi Yabing
Published: September 2016

Thermal gravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA) coupled with quadrupole mass spectrometry (MS) and first principles calculations were employed to elucidate the chemical nature of released gases during the thermal decomposition of CH3NH3PbI3.
Vascular- and hepato-protective effects of passion fruit seed extract containing piceatannol in chronic high-fat diet-fed rats
Authors: Ishihata Akira , Maruki-Uchida Hiroko , Gotoh Nozomi , Kanno Sumika , Aso Yoshitaka , Togashi Satoshi , Sai Masahiko , Ito Tatsuhiko , Katano Yumi
Published: September 2016

The effects of chronic administration of piceatannol-enriched (9.5% w/w) passion fruit seed extract (PFSE) on the cardiovascular damage induced in a high-fat (HF) diet-fed model of Fischer 344 rats were evaluated.
Magnetic separation of acoustically focused cancer cells from blood for magnetographic templating and analysis
Authors: Shields IV C. Wyatt , Wang Jeffrey L. , Ohiri Korine A. , Essoyan Eric D. , Yellen Benjamin B. , Armstrong Andrew J. , López Gabriel P.
Published: September 2016

Liquid biopsies hold enormous promise for the next generation of medical diagnoses.
Microwave-assisted synthesis and photophysical studies of novel fluorescent N-acylhydrazone and semicarbazone-7-OH-coumarin dyes
Authors: Pereira Thiago Moreira , Vitório Felipe , Amaral Ronaldo Costa , Zanoni Kassio Papi Silva , Murakami Iha Neyde Yukie , Kümmerle Arthur Eugen
Published: September 2016

Emissive 7-OH-coumarins were synthesized by a microwave-assisted protocol and spectral changes were induced after conformational changes in low polarity media.
Cu(i) mediated Kinugasa reactions of α,β-unsaturated nitrones: a facile, diastereoselective route to 3-(hydroxy/bromo)methyl-1-aryl-4-(-styryl)azetidin-2-ones
Authors: Kumar Yogesh , Singh Prabhpreet , Bhargava Gaurav
Published: September 2016

A facile and highly diastereoselective synthesis ofcis-3-(hydroxyl/bromo)methyl-1-aryl-4-(-styryl)azetidin-2-onesviacopper(i) mediated Kinugasa reactions of previously unexplored functionalized α,β-unsaturated nitrones.
Total synthesis of odoamide, a novel cyclic depsipeptide, from an Okinawan marine cyanobacterium
Authors: Kaneda Masato , Sueyoshi Kosuke , Teruya Toshiaki , Ohno Hiroaki , Fujii Nobutaka , Oishi Shinya
Published: September 2016

Odoamide, a highly potent cytotoxic cyclic depsipeptide was synthesized.
Cascade bicyclization of triethylammonium thiolates with hydrazines: efficient access to pyrazolo[3,4-c]quinolines
Authors: Fan Wei , Li Yan-Rong , Jiang Bo , Li Guigen
Published: September 2016

A new bicyclization strategy has been established, allowing a flexible and practical approach to 33 examples of pyrazolo[3,4-c]quinolines from low-cost and readily accessible triethylammonium thiolates with hydrazines.
π-Stacking assisted redox active peptide–gallol conjugate: synthesis of a new generation of low-toxicity antimicrobial silver nanoparticles
Authors: Das Manisit , Senapati Kalyan , Panda Sayak Subhra , Bhattacharya Prabuddha , Jana Saibal , Mandal Santi M. , Basak Amit
Published: September 2016

We have synthesized, via click-chemistry, a redox-active peptide–gallol conjugate which facilitates rapid formation of antimicrobial silver nanoparticles with prominent antifungal activity.
Theoretical insight into the Au(i)-catalyzed hydration of halo-substituted propargyl acetate: dynamic water-assisted mechanism
Authors: Jin Lu , Wu Yong , Zhao Xiang
Published: September 2016

Three possible hydration pathways, including 1,5-exo-dig cycloaddition, 1,6-endo-dig cycloaddition, and direct water attack, have been considered and investigated by using DFT method and the cluster-continuum solvent model.
Facile synthesis and characterization of beta lactoglobulin–copper nanocomposites having antibacterial applications
Authors: sardar Subrata , Maity Sanhita , Pal Sampa , Parvej Hasan , Das Niloy , Sepay Nayim , Sarkar Manas , Halder Umesh Chandra
Published: September 2016

The synthesis of Cu0 nanoparticles and Cu–protein nanocomposites is a great challenge.
Inhibitory effects of enzyme-treated dried sardine extract on IgE-mediated degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells and a murine model of Japanese cedar pollinosis
Authors: Awane Seiji , Nishi Kosuke , Nakamoto Masaya , Osajima Katsuhiro , Suemitsu Tomokazu , Sugahara Takuya
Published: September 2016

Protease-digested small dried sardine extract relieved allergic symptoms in mice through inhibiting microtubule dynamics.
Thienopyrimidine sulphonamide hybrids: design, synthesis, antiprotozoal activity and molecular docking studies
Authors: Leeza Zaidi Saadia , Agarwal Subhash M. , Chavalitshewinkoon-Petmitr Porntip , Suksangpleng Thidarat , Ahmad Kamal , Avecilla Fernando , Azam Amir
Published: September 2016

A series of hybrid compounds containing the thienopyrimidine scaffold with sulphonamide piperazine skeleton were synthesized and evaluated against K1 strain of Plasmodium falciparum and the HM1:1MSS strain of Entamoeba histolytica, respectively
Preparation of size controllable porous polymethylmethacrylate template and Cu micro/nanowire arrays
Authors: Yang Bo , Niu Gao , Liu Xu-Dong , Yang Yi , He Wei , Zhu Ye , Yu Bin , Zhou Xiu-Wen , Wu Wei-Dong
Published: September 2016

Preparation of a size controllable porous polymethylmethacrylate template and Cu micro/nanowire arrays by an iterative melt co-drawing and bundling technique.
Selective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde catalyzed by Co-doped Pt clusters: a density functional theoretical study
Authors: Li Laicai , Wei Wei , Wang Wei , Wang Xiaolan , Zhang Lin , Tian Anmin
Published: September 2016

The reaction mechanism of the selective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde catalyzed by pure Pt clusters and Co-doped Pt clusters was studied by the density functional theory.
Understanding the mechanisms, regioselectivies and enantioselectivities of the DMAP-catalyzed [2 + 4] cycloaddition of γ-methyl allenoate and phenyl(phenyldiazenyl)methanone
Authors: Li Yan , Du Shiwen
Published: September 2016

DMAP-catalyzed [2 + 4] cycloaddition reaction.
Pressure-induced phase transitions of lead iodide
Authors: Yang Lihua , Zhang Yu , Wang Jun , Wang Yiding , Yu William W.
Published: September 2016

High-pressure phase transitions of lead iodide have been proposed up to 200 GPa through the theoretically swarm-intelligent global structure searches.
Fe3O4–Mn3O4 nanocomposites with moderate magnetism for in vitro cytotoxicity studies on macrophages
Authors: Rahaman Hasimur , Nath Anupam , Paul Rimi , Sengupta Mahuya , Ghosh Sujit Kumar
Published: September 2016

Reduced magnetism of Fe3O4–Mn3O4 nanocomposites synthesised by alkaline hydrolysis has been explored for in vitro cytotoxicity studies on splenic macrophages.
Introduction of holes into graphene sheets to further enhance graphene–TiO2 photocatalysis activities
Authors: Xu Chao , He Xiaoping , Wang Chen , Chen Xun , Yuan Rusheng , Dai Wenxin
Published: September 2016

Introduction of holes into graphene sheets can more efficiently enhance the photoactivity of semiconductors than that of traditional graphene-involved ones.
Effect of effluent recirculation rate on the performance of anaerobic bio-filter treating coal gasification wastewater under co-digestion conditions
Authors: Li Yajie , Tabassum Salma , Yu Zhenjiang , Wu Xiaogang , Zhang Xiaojun , Song Yaping , Chu Chunfeng , Zhang Zhenjia
Published: September 2016

In this study, anaerobic biofilter (AF) was adopted for anaerobic co-digestion of potato starch wastewater (PSW) and coal gasification wastewater (CGW).
Theoretical study on thiophene-based double helicenes with intrinsic large second-order nonlinear optical response
Authors: Si Yanling , Zhao Xinyu , Su Ziyi , Yang Guochun
Published: September 2016

In view of the intrinsic non-centrosymmetric electronic structures, high transparency, and the large second-order NLO response values, the studied thiophene-based double helicenes are expected to be excellent second-order NLO materials.
Selective electrochemical detection of hydroquinone and catechol at a one-step synthesised pine needle-like nano-CePO4 modified carbon paste electrode
Authors: Dang Yuan , Zhai Yanyan , Yang Lehui , Peng Zhenli , Cheng Nan , Zhou Yuanzhen
Published: September 2016

A pine needle-like nano-CePO4 modified carbon paste electrode was successfully constructed for simultaneous detection of hydroquinone and catechol sensitively and selectively.
Fabrication of CNTs/MnO2 composite as a wrapping layer for surface modification of Cr-doped LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 for lithium ion batteries
Authors: Zhang Yu-Hang , Zhao Qin , Cong Li-Na , Bao Sheng-Da , Xie Hai-Ming , Sun Li-Qun
Published: September 2016

Cr-doped LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 decorated by a special CNTs/MnO2 wrapping layer shows better electrochemical performance.
Crystallization behavior of poly(p-dioxanone) with cyclodextrin complex and nucleation mechanism discussion
Authors: Xu Xiao-bo , Li Qing , Xiong Cheng-dong
Published: September 2016

In the interest of improving the crystallization rate of poly(p-dioxanone) (PPDO), an inclusion complex (IC) based on β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and polyglycolide (PGA) serving as a green nucleating agent for PPDO was achieved by a solution technique.
Dopamine and silane functionalized barium titanate with improved electromechanical properties for silicone dielectric elastomers
Authors: Yang Dan , Ruan Mengnan , Huang Shuo , Wu Yibo , Li Shuxin , Wang Hao , Ao Xiang , Liang Yafei , Guo Wenli , Zhang Liqun
Published: September 2016

A combination of bio-inspired poly(dopamine) deposition and silane grafting is proposed to functionalize bariumtitanate to improve the electromechanical properties of silicone dielectric elastomers.
Understanding undesirable anode lithium plating issues in lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Liu Qianqian , Du Chunyu , Shen Bin , Zuo Pengjian , Cheng Xinqun , Ma Yulin , Yin Geping , Gao Yunzhi
Published: September 2016

Lithium-ion batteries, carbon anode, lithium plating, characterization techniques, sluggish intercalation kinetics.
A simple and highly diasteroselective approach for the vicinal dichlorination of functional olefins
Authors: Zeng Xianghua , Gong Chunhua , Zhang Junyong , Xie Jingli
Published: September 2016

An efficient strategy for triphenylphosphine oxide-catalyzed vicinal dichlorination of functional olefins was developed using sulfuryl chloride as the source of chloride.
Selective catalytic oxidation of ammonia over MnOx–TiO2 mixed oxides
Authors: Song Dongdong , Shao Xunzhe , Yuan Menglong , Wang Li , Zhan Wangcheng , Guo YangLong , Guo Yun , Lu Guanzhong
Published: September 2016

The formation of Mn–O–Ti and a high dispersal of Mn2O3 promoted oxygen activation and NH3 adsorption. The formation of N2O depends on temperature.
Combination therapeutics of doxorubicin with Fe3O4@chitosan@phytic acid nanoparticles for multi-responsive drug delivery
Authors: Xu Dandan , Xie Rui , Xu Tongying , Guo Xuejie , Liu Qi , Liu Jingyuan , Lv Weizhong , Jing Xiaoyan , Zhang Hongsen , Wang Jun
Published: September 2016

Fe3O4@CS nanoparticles as the precursors were encapsulated by PA, developing Fe3O4@CS@PA nanocarriers with high drug loading efficiency, outstanding magnetic saturation, remarkable pH-response and obvious inhibition to tumor cells.
The story of lead: a context for learning about responsible research and innovation (RRI) in the chemistry classroom
Authors: Blonder Ron , Zemler Esty , Rosenfeld Sherman
Published: September 2016

Responsible research and innovation (RRI) stands at the center of several EU projects and represents a contemporary view of the connection between science and society. The goal of RRI is to create a shared understanding of the appropriate behaviors of governments, business and NGOs which are central to building trust and confidence of the public and other stakeholders in research and innovation. In this paper we describe a 4.5 hour lesson, “The Story of Lead,” which was developed for teaching RRI to high school chemistry students, based on the historical story of lead. The lesson is part of a larger module. The lesson connects the chemistry curriculum, related to the scientific aspects of lead, to the 6 RRI dimensions. We describe the progression of the lesson, provide relevant links and teaching materials, and present responses of teachers, after they tried out the lesson. The RRI dimensions are compared to prior work done in the field of Socioscientific Issues (SSI). Based on this evidence, we suggest that the lesson can be a good introduction to the topic of RRI in chemistry classrooms.
Engineering catalytic coordination space in a chemically stable Ir-porphyrin MOF with a confinement effect inverting conventional Si–H insertion chemoselectivity
Authors: Wang Yingxia , Cui Hao , Wei Zhang-Wen , Wang Hai-Ping , Zhang Li , Su Cheng-Yong
Published: September 2016

A robust iridium(iii)-porphyrin metal–organic framework acts as a selective catalyst for carbenoid insertion into primary Si–H bonds with excellent effectivity.
Self-doped conjugated polyelectrolyte with tuneable work function for effective hole transport in polymer solar cells
Authors: Cai Wanzhu , Musumeci Chiara , Ajjan Fátima N. , Bao Qinye , Ma Zaifei , Tang Zheng , Inganäs Olle
Published: September 2016

A water-soluble conjugated polyelectrolyte, PEDOT-S, is demonstrated to be an excellent hole transport material in several polymer solar cells with different donor HOMOs.
Covalently functionalized carbon nanotubes as stable cathode materials of lithium/organic batteries
Authors: Charrier G. , Desrues A. , Barchasz C. , Leroy J. , Cornut R. , Jousselme B. , Campidelli S.
Published: September 2016

Anthraquinone molecules are grafted onto carbon nanotubes in order to avoid their dissolution in the Li battery electrolyte.
MOF-derived Co-doped nickel selenide/C electrocatalysts supported on Ni foam for overall water splitting
Authors: Ming Fangwang , Liang Hanfeng , Shi Huanhuan , Xu Xun , Mei Gui , Wang Zhoucheng
Published: September 2016

Metal organic framework (MOF)-derived Co-doped nickel selenide/C hybrid nanostructure supported on Ni foam can efficiently catalyze the overall water splitting.
A non-fullerene acceptor with a fully fused backbone for efficient polymer solar cells with a high open-circuit voltage
Authors: Li Shuixing , Liu Wenqing , Li Chang-Zhi , Lau Tsz-Ki , Lu Xinhui , Shi Minmin , Chen Hongzheng
Published: September 2016

A planar perylene diimide derivative with a high efficiency of 7.33% and high voltage of 0.99 V is presented.
A TCO-free Prussian blue-based redox-flow electrochromic window
Authors: Yan Ruiting , Liu Lijun , Zhao Hang , Zhu Yun Guang , Jia Chuankun , Han Ming , Wang Qing
Published: September 2016

A TCO-free Prussian blue-based redox-flow electrochromic window exceeding the size of 100 cm2 is demonstrated with significantly shortened decoloration/coloration times.
Histone H2AK119 and H2BK120 mono-ubiquitination modulate SET7/9 and SUV39H1 in type 1 diabetes-induced renal fibrosis
Authors: Goru Santosh Kumar , Kadakol Almesh , Pandey Anuradha , Malek Vajir , Sharma Nisha , Gaikwad Anil Bhanudas
Published: September 2016

Hyperglycaemia-induced expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) components plays a major role in the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN). The epigenetic mechanisms that modulate ECM gene expression in DN remain unclear. Therefore, we examined the role of histone H2A and H2B monoubiquitination on epigenetic chromatin marks, such as histone H3 lysine dimethylation (H3K4Me2, H3K9Me2 and H3K79Me2) in type 1 diabetic rat kidney. Hyperglycaemia increased collagen deposition and Col1a1 gene expression. In whole kidney of diabetic animals, both H2AK119 mono-ubiquitination (H2AK119Ub) and H2BK120 mono-ubiquitination (H2BK120Ub) were found to be increased, whereas, in glomeruli of diabetic animals, expression of both H2AK119Ub and H2BK120Ub was reduced. Changes in ubiquitin proteasome system components like increased Rnf2 (H2A-specific E3 ligase) and decreased H2A- and H2B-specific deubiquitinases (ubiquitin-specific proteases 7, 16, 21 and 22) were also observed. Globally increased levels of chromatin marks associated with active genes (H3K4Me2 and H3K79Me2) and decreased levels of repressive marks (H3K9Me2) were also observed. Hyperglycaemia also increased the protein expression of SET7/9 and decreased the expression of SUV39H1. We also showed the decreased occupancy of H2AK119Ub and H2BK120Ub on the promoters of Set7/9 and Suv39h1 in diabetic kidney. In addition, methylation marks regulated by H2AK119Ub (H3K27Me2 and H3K36Me2) and H2BK120Ub (H3K4Me2 and H3K79Me2) were also found to be altered on the promoters of Set7/9 and Suv39h1. Taken together, these results show the functional role of H2AK119Ub and H2BK120Ub in regulating histone H3K4Me2 and H3K9Me2 through modulating the expression of SET7/9 and SUV39H1 in the development of diabetic renal fibrosis.
miR-140-5p attenuates chemotherapeutic drug-induced cell death by regulating autophagy through inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate kinase 2 (IP3k2) in human osteosarcoma cells
Authors: Wei Renxiong , Cao Gang , Deng Zhouming , Su Jiajia , Cai Lin
Published: September 2016

Acquisition of drug-resistant phenotypes is often associated with chemotherapy in osteosarcoma. A number of studies have demonstrated a critical role for autophagy in osteosarcoma development, therapy and drug resistance. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the autophagy-mediated chemotherapy resistance of osteosarcoma cells remain largely unknown. In the present study, we determined the autophagy and microRNA-140 (miR-140-5p, miRBase ID: MIMAT0000431) expression induced by chemotherapeutic drugs in osteosarcoma cells. Then we determined the promotory role of miR-140-5p to the chemotherapy-induced autophagy. Our results demonstrated that miR-140-5p expression was highly induced during chemotherapy of osteosarcoma cells, and this was accompanied by up-regulated autophagy. The increased miR-140-5p expression levels up-regulated anticancer drug-induced autophagy in osteosarcoma cells and ameliorated the anticancer drug-induced cell proliferation and viability decrease. Importantly, miR-140-5p regulates this context-specific autophagy through its target, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate kinase 2 (IP3k2). Therefore, the results of the present study demonstrated that miR-140-5p mediated drug-resistance in osteosarcoma cells by inducing autophagy. The present study provides evidence of miRNA regulation of autophagy through modulation of IP3 signalling. The present study recognized a novel mechanism of chemoresistance in osteosarcoma cancers.
Pre-Service Training in AAC: Lessons From School Staff Instruction
Authors: Senner Jill , Baud Matthew
Published: September 2016

The article is designed to provide speech-language pathologists with information they can use in designing hands-on augmentative & alternative communication (AAC) partner training programs directed toward speech-language pathology graduate students and instructional staff working in schools. First, the article develops a rationale for the need for such instruction. Next, it details necessary elements of such training programs described in the literature. Then, the authors detail the increases in instructional staff use of partner-augmented input following their implementation of a program based upon one of these training approaches. Last, the authors present the lessons they learned that can be applied to the design and implementation of graduate training opportunities in AAC.
Guiding Student Clinicians as They Develop AAC Goals and Monitor Progress During School-Based Externship
Authors: Carlin Charles H. , Boarman Katie , Brady Erin E.
Published: September 2016

Student clinicians find goal writing and progress monitoring to be difficult tasks to learn, especially when children on the caseload have complex communication needs (CCNs). School-based externship supervisors play an important role in developing students' understanding and competence in these skills. This article provides supervisors with strategies for instructing student clinicians to write goals and evaluate the effectiveness of services for children who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Additionally, the authors adapt the Continuum of Supervision Model (Anderson, 1988) for supervisors who train students to write goals and monitor progress for children who use AAC.
AAC Clinical Education: Measuring Outcomes With Single Subject Designs
Authors: Hyppa-Martin Jolene
Published: September 2016

Single subject experimental designs are a clinical tool that enable speech-language pathologists to make low-inference, data-driven intervention decisions and can be particularly useful when treating heterogeneous clinical populations for which there is limited directly applicable extant scientific evidence. Single-subject experimental designs are also useful in supporting the development of clinical expertise for speech-language pathologists and graduate students. This article provides a basic overview of the role of single-subject experimental designs in augmentative and alternative communication clinical education and the potential contributions that the application of these designs can make to the field of augmentative and alternative communication.
Psychoacoustic Evaluation of the Effects of Aging
Authors: Sheft Stanley , Shafiro Valeriy , Wang Emily , Barnes Lisa L. , Shah Raj C.
Published: September 2016

Many older adults experience difficulties in complex listening environments that exceed expectations based on their audiometric thresholds. Review of past study of the auditory abilities of older adults indicates that age-related deficits are found primarily for aspects of temporal processing, with task complexity and uncertainty often increasing the effect of aging on performance. In many studies, but not all, significant association has been found between psychoacoustic measures of temporal processing and both speech-in-noise abilities and cognitive status. Intended for clinical use, a brief procedure for evaluating psychoacoustic discrimination of static and dynamic spectral patterns is discussed. Along with showing a deleterious effect of aging on task performance, results indicate significant association between discrimination ability and the cognitive status of older adults. In preliminary evaluation of longitudinal data, the rate of decline in global cognitive status was significantly associated with baseline discrimination of dynamic spectral patterns. These results are consistent with the prominence of age-related deficits for temporal processing with stimulus uncertainty increasing the psychoacoustic effect.
Chebyshev chaotic polynomials for MIMO radar waveform generation
Authors: Esmaeili Najafabadi Hamid , Ataei Mohammad , Sabahi Mohamad Farzan
Published: September 2016

In this study, the use of a family of Chebyshev chaotic maps for pulse compression in multiple input–multiple output (MIMO) radars is studied. It is shown that, these one‐dimensional chaotic maps, which are amongst the simplest chaotic systems, can produce arbitrary number of sequences with arbitrary length, low peak‐to‐average power ratio (PAPR), high merit factor (MF) or equivalently low integrated side‐lobe ratio (ISLR), very low peak side‐lobe ratio and low cross‐correlation levels. The complexity of algorithm for generating sequences in this method is linear. Besides, because of the flat spectrum of the generated sequences, high spectral efficiency can be achieved utilising these sequences. Moreover, simplicity of the map results in cheap building blocks of MIMO radars. Additionally, a simple method to improve the autocorrelation side‐lobe is given. By lowering the autocorrelation side‐lobes, ISLR or equivalently MF is enhanced. Nevertheless, in comparison with well‐designed unimodular sequences, the produced sequences show higher PAPRs. By utilising a PAPR reduction mechanism, this shortcoming is alleviated.
OFDM reference signal reconstruction exploiting subcarrier‐grouping‐based multi‐level Lloyd‐Max algorithm in passive radar systems
Authors: Cao Wei , Li Xiaotian , Hu Weidong , Lei Jing , Zhang Wenpeng
Published: September 2016

This study proposes a low‐complexity subcarrier‐grouping‐based multi‐level Lloyd‐Max (SG‐ML‐LM) algorithm to reconstruct orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) reference signal in passive radar systems. The authors’ previously proposed multi‐level Lloyd‐Max (ML‐LM) algorithm is originally intended to blindly estimate the narrowband flat fading channel coefficients for non‐constant modulus constellations. The authors extend it into broadband wireless environment to blindly estimate the frequency‐selective fading channel coefficients by exploiting OFDM signal structure properties. Then a SG‐ML‐LM algorithm is further proposed to reduce the computational complexity of ML‐LM by utilising OFDM subcarrier correlation. Numerical results validate that: (i) ML‐LM and SG‐ML‐LM algorithms are both feasible schemes to reconstruct OFDM reference signals for passive radar applications; (ii) compared with ML‐LM algorithm, SG‐ML‐LM algorithm significantly reduces the computational complexity at the cost of blind channel estimation error, but the OFDM reference signal reconstruction accuracy is nearly maintained, so that the cross‐ambiguity function performance is nearly lossless despite of a negligibly slight increase of main lobe Doppler bandwidth.
Catastrophic Cervical Spine Injuries in Contact Sports
Authors: Hutton Michael James , McGuire Robert A. , Dunn Robert , Williams Richard , Robertson Peter , Twaddle Bruce , Kiely Patrick , Clarke Andrew , Mazda Keyvan , Davies Paul , Pagarigan Krystle T. , Dettori Joseph R.
Published: September 2016

Study Design

Systematic review.

Objectives

To determine the incidence of catastrophic cervical spine injuries (CCSIs) among elite athletes participating in contact team sports and whether the incidence varies depending on the use of protective gear or by player position.

Methods

Electronic databases and reference lists of key articles published from January 1, 2000, to January 29, 2016, were searched.

Results

Fourteen studies were included that reported CCSI in rugby ( n = 10), American football ( n = 3), and Irish hurling ( n = 1). Among Rugby Union players, incidence of CCSI was 4.1 per 100,000 player-hours. Among National Football League players, the CCSI rate was 0.6 per 100,000 player-exposures. At the collegiate level, the CCSI rate ranged from 1.1 to 4.7 per 100,000 player-years. Mixed populations of elite and recreational rugby players in four studies report a CCSI rate of 1.4 to 7.2 per 100,000 player-years. In this same population, the scrum accounted for 30 to 51% of total reported CCSIs in Rugby Union versus 0 to 4% in Rugby League. The tackle accounted for 29 to 39% of injuries in Rugby Union and 78 to 100% of injuries in Rugby League. Making a tackle was responsible for 29 to 80% of injuries in American football.

Conclusion

CCSIs are infrequent among elite athletes. There is insufficient evidence to determine the effect of protective gear (e.g., helmets, padding) on CCSI incidence. Scrum and tackle in rugby and tackling in American football account for the majority of CCSIs in each respective sport.