bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pilot randomized controlled trial on early and late remote ischemic preconditioning prior to complex cardiac surgery in young infants
Authors: Guerra Gonzalo Garcia , Joffe Ari R. , Seal Rob , Phillipos Ernest , Wong Maggie , Moez Elham Khodayari , Dinu Irina A. , Duff Jonathan P. , Ross David , Rebeyka Ivan , Robertson Charlene M.T.
Published: March 2017

Background

Remote ischemic preconditioning involves providing a brief ischemia–reperfusion event to a tissue to create subsequent protection from a more severe ischemia–reperfusion event to a different tissue/organ. The few pediatric remote ischemic preconditioning studies in the literature show conflicting results.

Aim

We conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial to determine the feasibility of conducting a larger trial and to gather provisional data on the effect of early and late remote ischemic preconditioning on outcomes of infants after surgery for congenital heart disease.

Methods

This single‐center, double‐blind randomized controlled trial of remote ischemic preconditioning vs control (sham‐remote ischemic preconditioning) in young infants going for surgery for congenital heart disease at the Stollery Children's Hospital. Remote ischemic preconditioning was performed at 24–48 h preoperatively and immediately prior to cardiopulmonary bypass. Remote ischemic preconditioning stimulus was performed with blood pressure cuffs around the thighs. Primary outcomes were feasibility and peak blood lactate level on day 1 postoperatively.

Results

Fifty‐two patients were randomized but seven patients became ineligible after randomization leaving 45 patients included in the study. In the included patients, 7 (15%) had protocol deviations (five infants did not have the preoperative intervention and two did not receive the intervention in the operating room). From a comfort point of view, only one subject in the control group and two in the Remote ischemic preconditioning group received sedation during the preoperative intervention. There were no study‐related adverse events and no complications to the limbs subjected to preconditioning. There were no significant differences between the Remote ischemic preconditioning group and the control group in the highest blood lactate level on day 1 postoperatively (mean difference, 1.28; 95%CI, −0.22, 2.78; P‐value = 0.093).

Conclusion

In infants who underwent surgery for congenital heart disease, our pilot randomized controlled trial on early and late remote ischemic preconditioning proved to be feasible but did not find any significant difference in acute outcomes. A larger trial may be necessary.
Hypoxia‐responsive ERFs involved in postdeastringency softening of persimmon fruit
Authors: Wang Miao‐miao , Zhu Qing‐gang , Deng Chu‐li , Luo Zheng‐rong , Sun Ning‐jing , Grierson Donald , Yin Xue‐ren , Chen Kun‐song
Published: March 2017

Removal of astringency by endogenously formed acetaldehyde, achieved by postharvest anaerobic treatment, is of critical importance for many types of persimmon fruit. Although an anaerobic environment accelerates de‐astringency, it also has the deleterious effect of promoting excessive softening, reducing shelf life and marketability. Some hypoxia‐responsive ethylene response factors (ERFs) participate in anaerobic de‐astringency, but their role in accelerated softening was unclear. Undesirable rapid softening induced by high CO2 (95%) was ameliorated by adding the ethylene inhibitor 1‐MCP (1 μL/L), resulting in reduced astringency while maintaining firmness, suggesting that CO2‐induced softening involves ethylene signalling. Among the hypoxia‐responsive genes, expression of eight involved in fruit cell wall metabolism (Dkβ‐gal1/4, DkEGase1, DkPE1/2, DkPG1, DkXTH9/10) and three ethylene response factor genes (DkERF8/16/19) showed significant correlations with postdeastringency fruit softening. Dual‐luciferase assay indicated that DkERF8/16/19 could trans‐activate the DkXTH9 promoter and this interaction was abolished by a mutation introduced into the C‐repeat/dehydration‐responsive element of the DkXTH9 promoter, supporting the conclusion that these DkERFs bind directly to the DkXTH9 promoter and regulate this gene, which encodes an important cell wall metabolism enzyme. Some hypoxia‐responsive ERF genes are involved in deastringency and softening, and this linkage was uncoupled by 1‐MCP. Fruit of the Japanese cultivar ‘Tonewase’ provide a model for altered anaerobic response, as they lost astringency yet maintained firmness after CO2 treatment without 1‐MCP and changes in cell wall enzymes and ERFs did not occur.
The Solidarity of Suffering: Gender, Cross‐Cultural Contact, and the Foreign Mission Work of Sister Ita Ford
Authors: Mollin Marian
Published: March 2017

This article examines how the identity and experiences of Maryknoll Sister Ita Ford, one of the four U.S. churchwomen murdered by the El Salvadoran military in December 1980, shaped her relationships with host communities as she engaged in the work of Catholic foreign mission. In contrast to prevailing views of Western missionary history, which emphasize patterns of domination and difference, Ford's story provides an alternate perspective on the dynamics of transnational encounter, one that casts her pastoral endeavors as a form of international solidarity. Through her mission work in Chile and El Salvador, Ford often stood apart from the people she served, even as she engaged in grassroots community‐building efforts. Although this community organizing was central to her work as a pastoral agent, it was Ford's willingness to take risks and assume the suffering of those around her that ultimately allowed her to forge the most enduring relations of solidarity.
Towards a theory of the discordant border
Authors: Walker Margath , Winton Ailsa
Published: March 2017

Borders are often portrayed in stark terms, perhaps as national‐scale threats, or as sites of suffering, or conversely as hosts to socio‐cultural symbiosis. Yet borders are many things all at once. In this paper, we use the comparative context of the US–Mexico border and the Mexico‐Guatemala border to critique what we call the ‘border as hegemony’, a borderscape constructed through obstructions, punitive policing and reinforcing the limits of state control. Instead, we propose a model of the ‘border as discord’. In our heuristic framework, diverse mobilities are embraced, interests of borderlanders are acknowledged and prioritized, and borders are interpreted not as a security threat but as a resource for change.
Multiplex single‐cell quantification of rare RNA transcripts from protoplasts in a model plant system
Authors: Kadam Ulhas S. , Schulz Burkhard , Irudayaraj Joseph M.K.
Published: March 2017

Here we demonstrate multiplex and simultaneous detection of four different rare RNA species from plant, Arabidopsis thaliana, using surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and gold nanoprobes at single‐cell resolution. We show the applicability of nanoparticle‐based Raman spectroscopic sensor to study intracellular RNA copies. First, we demonstrate that gold‐nanoparticles decorated with Raman probes and carrying specific nucleic acid probe sequences can be uptaken by the protoplasts. We confirm the internalization of gold nanoprobes by transmission electron microscopy, inductively‐coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry and fluorescence imaging. Second, we show the utility of a SERS platform to monitor individual alternatively spliced (AS) variants and miRNA copies within single cells. Finally, the distinctive spectral features of Raman‐active dyes were exploited for multiplex analysis of AtPTB2, AtDCL2, miR156a and miR172a. Furthermore, single‐cell studies were validated by in vitro quantification and evaluation of nanotoxicity of gold probes. Raman tag functionalized gold nanosensors yielded an approach for the tracking of rare RNAs within the protoplasts. The SERS‐based approach for quantification of RNAs has the capability to be a highly sensitive, accurate and discerning method for single‐cell studies including AS variants quantification and rare miRNA detection in specific plant species.
Determining the rate of underrecognition of West Nile virus neurologic disease in the province of Quebec in 2012
Authors: Delage Gilles , Dubuc Sophie , Grégoire Yves , Lowe Anne‐Marie , Bernier France , Germain Marc
Published: March 2017

BACKGROUND

During a major outbreak of West Nile virus (WNV) infection in the province of Quebec in 2012, public health authorities (PHAs) suspected underrecognition of West Nile neurologic disease (WNND). With data on acute infections detected in blood donors, an estimate of the degree of underrecognition was produced.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

All 2012 donors were tested for WNV infection with the use of reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). With the number of cases detected, the number of donors tested, our estimate of the duration of viremia, an estimate of the population at risk, and the ratio of WNND to total cases, an expected number of WNND cases was calculated. A Monte Carlo simulation was used to estimate the range of several of these variables.

RESULTS

Seventeen RT‐PCR–positive donors were found among 52,309 donations tested. In the base case, the total number of cases was 16,095 and the expected number of WNND cases was 115. In the Monte Carlo simulation, the mean number of expected WNND cases was 136, and the median was 129. Since only 85 cases were reported to PHAs, it is estimated that between 26 and 37.5% of cases occurring in the province went undetected.

CONCLUSION

The observation that close to one‐third of cases of WNND went undetected because of the omission of appropriate laboratory testing indicates the need for improvement in the investigation of acute neurologic syndrome of suspected infectious etiology in Québec.
Sub-100 nm integrated ferroelectric tunnel junction devices using hydrogen silsesquioxane planarization
Authors: Abuwasib Mohammad , Lee Jung-Woo , Lee Hyungwoo , Eom Chang-Beom , Gruverman Alexei , Singisetti Uttam
Published: March 2017

Ferroelectric tunnel junction (FTJ) is an emerging low power and nonvolatile memory device for beyond-complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) applications. The scalability of the FTJ devices need to be investigated for successful integration with CMOS for future nonvolatile circuits. In this article, a novel fabrication methodology is demonstrated to fabricate sub-100 nm FTJs. The fabrication process employs planarization with hydrogen silsesquioxane, an electron beam sensitive resist that is transformed into insulating material after curing. The method uses low temperature processes to minimize degradation of the device structures. The process is implemented to fabricate a Ti/SrTiO3/BaTiO3/SrRuO3 FTJs of size 75 × 75 nm2, and the fabricated device shows ferroelectric switching with large ON/OFF ratio (∼125).
A linearly tapered box model of the cochlea
Authors: Ni Guangjian , Sun Luyang , Elliott Stephen J.
Published: March 2017

A box shape with constant area is often used to represent the complex geometry in the cochlea, although variation of the fluid chambers areas is known to be more complicated. This variation is accounted for here by an “effective area,” given by the harmonic mean of upper and lower chamber area from previous measurements. The square root of this effective area varies linearly along the cochleae in the investigated mammalian species. This suggests the use of a linearly tapered box model in which the fluid chamber width and height are equal, but decrease linearly along its length. The basilar membrane (BM) width is assumed to increase linearly along the model. An analytic form of the far-field fluid pressure difference due to BM motion is derived for this tapered model. The distributions of the passive BM response are calculated using both the tapered and uniform models and compared with human and mouse measurements. The discrepancy between the models is frequency-dependent and becomes small at low frequencies. The tapered model developed here shows a reasonable fit to experimental measurements, when the cochleae are cadaver or driven at high sound pressure level, and provides a convenient way to incorporate cochlear geometrical variations.
Compressive sensing based spherical harmonics decomposition of a low frequency sound field within a cylindrical cavity
Authors: Wang Yan , Chen Kean
Published: March 2017

A low frequency sound field within a cylindrical cavity can be well approximated by a sparse set of Fourier−Bessel series in a spherical coordinate system. The approximation accuracy can be guaranteed as long as the series coefficients are well estimated by use of spherical microphone arrays (SMA). Conventional methods like spherical Fourier transform and Helmholtz equation least square require a large number of sensors, and it is difficult to estimate the high order coefficients in the presence of sensor noise. To cope with these issues, compressive sensing (CS) is utilized and compared with the conventional methods. In this study, the estimate of the high order coefficients from contaminated measurements is examined, and the effect of modal behavior is analyzed. Numerical simulations show that sensors can be significantly saved especially for high order cavity modes due to the low sparsity of coefficients which is also stable as the modal frequency increases, and the overall accuracy is also improved. The optimal SMA configuration for the use of CS is studied. A large SMA with omni-microphone deployed by the Fliege sampling scheme is suggested. The CS results are finally validated through the good simulated reconstructions of cylindrical cavity modes.
Earthquake rupture below the brittle-ductile transition in continental lithospheric mantle
Authors: Prieto Germán A. , Froment Bérénice , Yu Chunquan , Poli Piero , Abercrombie Rachel
Published: March 2017

The slow and inefficient deep Wyoming earthquake ruptured in the ductile regime of the upper mantle.
When less is more
Authors: Kaiser Jocelyn
Published: March 2017

Some cancer therapies may work better if doses are timed to thwart tumor evolution.
Probing the limits of heat flow
Authors: Segal Dvira
Published: March 2017

Studies of atomic point contacts reveal the fundamental quantum of heat transport
Fat controls U
Authors: Jastroch Martin , Tschöp Matthias H.
Published: March 2017

Circulating uridine acts as a hunger signal
Medical robotics—Regulatory, ethical, and legal considerations for increasing levels of autonomy
Authors: Yang Guang-Zhong , Cambias James , Cleary Kevin , Daimler Eric , Drake James , Dupont Pierre E. , Hata Nobuhiko , Kazanzides Peter , Martel Sylvain , Patel Rajni V. , Santos Veronica J. , Taylor Russell H.
Published: March 2017

A proposed framework for regulatory, ethical, and legal discussions identifies six levels of autonomy for medical robotics.
BK Polyomavirus: Clinical Aspects, Immune Regulation, and Emerging Therapies
Authors: Ambalathingal George R. , Francis Ross S. , Smyth Mark J. , Smith Corey , Khanna Rajiv
Published: March 2017

BK polyomavirus (BKV) causes frequent infections during childhood and establishes persistent infections within renal tubular cells and the uroepithelium, with minimal clinical implications. However, reactivation of BKV in immunocompromised individuals following renal or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation may cause serious complications, including BKV-associated nephropathy (BKVAN), ureteric stenosis, or hemorrhagic cystitis. Implementation of more potent immunosuppression and increased posttransplant surveillance has resulted in a higher incidence of BKVAN. Antiviral immunity plays a crucial role in controlling BKV replication, and our increasing knowledge about host-virus interactions has led to the development of improved diagnostic tools and clinical management strategies. Currently, there are no effective antiviral agents for BKV infection, and the mainstay of managing reactivation is reduction of immunosuppression. Development of immune-based therapies to combat BKV may provide new and exciting opportunities for the successful treatment of BKV-associated complications.
Dengue Virus NS2B/NS3 Protease Inhibitors Exploiting the Prime Side
Authors: Lin Kuan-Hung , Ali Akbar , Rusere Linah , Soumana Djade I. , Kurt Yilmaz Nese , Schiffer Celia A.
Published: March 2017

The mosquito-transmitted dengue virus (DENV) infects millions of people in tropical and subtropical regions. Maturation of DENV particles requires proper cleavage of the viral polyprotein, including processing of 8 of the 13 substrate cleavage sites by dengue virus NS2B/NS3 protease. With no available direct-acting antiviral targeting DENV, NS2/NS3 protease is a promising target for inhibitor design. Current design efforts focus on the nonprime side of the DENV protease active site, resulting in highly hydrophilic and nonspecific scaffolds. However, the prime side also significantly modulates DENV protease binding affinity, as revealed by engineering the binding loop of aprotinin, a small protein with high affinity for DENV protease. In this study, we designed a series of cyclic peptides interacting with both sides of the active site as inhibitors of dengue virus protease. The design was based on two aprotinin loops and aimed to leverage both key specific interactions of substrate sequences and the entropic advantage driving aprotinin's high affinity. By optimizing the cyclization linker, length, and amino acid sequence, the tightest cyclic peptide achieved a

K
i

value of 2.9 μM against DENV3 wild-type (WT) protease. These inhibitors provide proof of concept that both sides of DENV protease active site can be exploited to potentially achieve specificity and lower hydrophilicity in the design of inhibitors targeting DENV.

IMPORTANCE
Viruses of the flaviviral family, including DENV and Zika virus transmitted by
Aedes aegypti
, continue to be a threat to global health by causing major outbreaks in tropical and subtropical regions, with no available direct-acting antivirals for treatment. A better understanding of the molecular requirements for the design of potent and specific inhibitors against flaviviral proteins will contribute to the development of targeted therapies for infections by these viruses. The cyclic peptides reported here as DENV protease inhibitors provide novel scaffolds that enable exploiting the prime side of the protease active site, with the aim of achieving better specificity and lower hydrophilicity than those of current scaffolds in the design of antiflaviviral inhibitors.
Proteolytic Cleavage of Bovine Adenovirus 3-Encoded pVIII
Authors: Gaba Amit , Ayalew Lisanework , Makadiya Niraj , Tikoo Suresh
Published: March 2017

Proteolytic maturation involving cleavage of one nonstructural and six structural precursor proteins including pVIII by adenovirus protease is an important aspect of the adenovirus life cycle. The pVIII encoded by bovine adenovirus 3 (BAdV-3) is a protein of 216 amino acids and contains two potential protease cleavage sites. Here, we report that BAdV-3 pVIII is cleaved by adenovirus protease at both potential consensus protease cleavage sites. Usage of at least one cleavage site appears essential for the production of progeny BAdV-3 virions as glycine-to-alanine mutation of both protease cleavage sites appears lethal for the production of progeny virions. However, mutation of a single protease cleavage site of BAdV-3 pVIII significantly affects the efficient production of infectious progeny virions. Further analysis revealed no significant defect in endosome escape, genome replication, capsid formation, and virus assembly. Interestingly, cleavage of pVIII at both potential cleavage sites appears essential for the production of stable BAdV-3 virions as BAdV-3 expressing pVIII containing a glycine-to-alanine mutation of either of the potential cleavage sites is thermolabile, and this mutation leads to the production of noninfectious virions.

IMPORTANCE
Here, we demonstrated that the BAdV-3 adenovirus protease cleaves BAdV-3 pVIII at both potential protease cleavage sites. Although cleavage of pVIII at one of the two adenoviral protease cleavage sites is required for the production of progeny virions, the mutation of a single cleavage site of pVIII affects the efficient production of infectious progeny virions. Further analysis indicated that the mutation of a single protease cleavage site (glycine to alanine) of pVIII produces thermolabile virions, which leads to the production of noninfectious virions with disrupted capsids. We thus provide evidence about the requirement of proteolytic cleavage of pVIII for production of infectious progeny virions. We feel that our study has significantly advanced the understanding of the requirement of adenovirus protease cleavage of pVIII.
Bushmeat Hunting and Zoonotic Transmission of Simian T-Lymphotropic Virus 1 in Tropical West and Central Africa
Authors: Mossoun Arsène , Calvignac-Spencer Sébastien , Anoh Augustin E. , Pauly Maude S. , Driscoll Daniel A. , Michel Adam O. , Nazaire Lavry Grah , Pfister Stefan , Sabwe Pascale , Thiesen Ulla , Vogler Barbara R. , Wiersma Lidewij , Muyembe-Tamfum Jean-Jacques , Karhemere Stomy , Akoua-Koffi Chantal , Couacy-Hymann Emmanuel , Fruth Barbara , Wittig Roman M. , Leendertz Fabian H. , Schubert Grit
Published: March 2017

Simian T-lymphotropic virus 1 (STLV-1) enters human populations through contact with nonhuman primate (NHP) bushmeat. We tested whether differences in the extent of contact with STLV-1-infected NHP bushmeat foster regional differences in prevalence of human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1). Using serological and PCR assays, we screened humans and NHPs at two Sub-Saharan African sites where subsistence hunting was expected to be less (Taï region, Côte d'Ivoire [CIV]) or more (Bandundu region, Democratic Republic of the Congo [DRC]) developed. Only 0.7% of human participants were infected with HTLV-1 in CIV (
n
= 574), and 1.3% of humans were infected in DRC (
n
= 302). Two of the Ivorian human virus sequences were closely related to simian counterparts, indicating ongoing zoonotic transmission. Multivariate analysis of human demographic parameters and behavior confirmed that participants from CIV were less often exposed to NHPs than participants from DRC through direct contact, e.g., butchering. At the same time, numbers of STLV-1-infected NHPs were higher in CIV (39%;
n
= 111) than in DRC (23%;
n
= 39). We conclude that similar ultimate risks of zoonotic STLV-1 transmission—defined as the product of prevalence in local NHP and human rates of contact to fresh NHP carcasses—contribute to the observed comparable rates of HTLV-1 infection in humans in CIV and DRC. We found that young adult men and mature women are most likely exposed to NHPs at both sites. In view of the continued difficulties in controlling zoonotic disease outbreaks, the identification of such groups at high risk of NHP exposure may guide future prevention efforts.

IMPORTANCE
Multiple studies report a high risk for zoonotic transmission of blood-borne pathogens like retroviruses through contact with NHPs, and this risk seems to be particularly high in tropical Africa. Here, we reveal high levels of exposure to NHP bushmeat in two regions of Western and Central tropical Africa. We provide evidence for continued zoonotic origin of HTLV-1 in humans at CIV, and we found that young men and mature women represent risk groups for zoonotic transmission of pathogens from NHPs. Identifying such risk groups can contribute to mitigation of not only zoonotic STLV-1 transmission but also transmission of any blood-borne pathogen onto humans in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Central Role of the Trehalose Biosynthesis Pathway in the Pathogenesis of Human Fungal Infections: Opportunities and Challenges for Therapeutic Development
Authors: Thammahong Arsa , Puttikamonkul Srisombat , Perfect John R. , Brennan Richard G. , Cramer Robert A.
Published: March 2017

Invasive fungal infections cause significant morbidity and mortality in part due to a limited antifungal drug arsenal. One therapeutic challenge faced by clinicians is the significant host toxicity associated with antifungal drugs. Another challenge is the fungistatic mechanism of action of some drugs. Consequently, the identification of fungus-specific drug targets essential for fitness
in vivo
remains a significant goal of medical mycology research. The trehalose biosynthetic pathway is found in a wide variety of organisms, including human-pathogenic fungi, but not in humans. Genes encoding proteins involved in trehalose biosynthesis are mechanistically linked to the metabolism, cell wall homeostasis, stress responses, and virulence of
Candida albicans
,
Cryptococcus neoformans
, and
Aspergillus fumigatus
. While there are a number of pathways for trehalose production across the tree of life, the TPS/TPP (trehalose-6-phosphate synthase/trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase) pathway is the canonical pathway found in human-pathogenic fungi. Importantly, data suggest that proteins involved in trehalose biosynthesis play other critical roles in fungal metabolism and
in vivo
fitness that remain to be fully elucidated. By further defining the biology and functions of trehalose and its biosynthetic pathway components in pathogenic fungi, an opportunity exists to leverage this pathway as a potent antifungal drug target. The goal of this review is to cover the known roles of this important molecule and its associated biosynthesis-encoding genes in the human-pathogenic fungi studied to date and to employ these data to critically assess the opportunities and challenges facing development of this pathway as a therapeutic target.
The Type a and Type b Polysaccharide Capsules Predominate in an International Collection of Invasive Kingella kingae Isolates
Authors: Porsch Eric A. , Starr Kimberly F. , Yagupsky Pablo , St. Geme Joseph W.
Published: March 2017

Kingella kingae
has emerged as a significant cause of septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, and bacteremia in young children. A recent study examining a diverse collection of
K. kingae
isolates from Israel revealed four different polysaccharide capsule types in this species, designated types a to d. To determine the global distribution of
K. kingae
capsule types, we assembled and capsule typed an international collection of
K. kingae
isolates. The findings reported here show that the type a and type b capsules represent >95% of the invasive isolates, similar to the Israeli isolate collection, suggesting that a polysaccharide-based vaccine targeting these two capsules could be an attractive approach to prevent
K. kingae
disease.
Amyand's hernia containing an appendiceal goblet cell carcinoid tumour
Authors: Yahya Zarif , Wang Chien-I , Hong Boon
Published: March 2017

Amyand's hernia is a rare occurrence where the appendix is trapped within an inguinal hernia. Appendicitis within the hernia is even rarer. However, the presence of an appendiceal neoplasm in an inguinal hernia is almost unheard of with only two cases reported in the literature. We present an extremely rare case of an inflamed appendix within an Amyand's hernia, which was found to be a goblet cell type carcinoid tumour requiring further oncological resection and treatment.
Integrated knowledge translation: digging deeper, moving forward
Authors: Kothari Anita , Wathen C Nadine
Published: March 2017

Background

Integrated knowledge translation has risen in popularity as a solution to the underuse of research in policy and practice settings. It engages knowledge users—policymakers, practitioners, patients/consumers or their advocates, and members of the wider public—in mutually beneficial research that can involve the joint development of research questions, data collection, analysis and dissemination of findings. Knowledge that is co-produced has a better chance of being implemented.

Discussion

The purpose of this paper is to update developments in the field of integrated knowledge translation through a deeper analysis of the approach in practice-oriented and policy-oriented health research. We present collaborative models that fall outside the scope of integrated knowledge translation, but then explore consensus-based approaches and networks as alternate sites of knowledge co-production. We discuss the need to advance the field through the development, or use, of data collection and interpretation tools that creatively engage knowledge users in the research process. Most importantly, conceptually relevant outcomes need to be identified, including ones that focus on team transformation through the co-production of knowledge.

Conclusions

We explore some of these challenges and benefits in detail to help researchers understand what integrated knowledge translation means, and whether the approach's potential added value is worth the investment of time, energy and other resources.
Vets at the cutting edge
Authors: O'Sullivan Aoife
Published: March 2017

Vets Now's Cutting Edge induction programme is a launch pad for vets seeking a career in emergency and critical care medicine. The course leader is Aoife O'Sullivan
An integrated low 1/f noise and high-sensitivity CMOS instrumentation amplifier for TMR sensors
Authors: Gao Zhiqiang , Luan Bo , Zhao Jincai , Liu Xiaowei
Published: March 2017

In this paper, a very low 1/f noise integrated Wheatstone bridge magnetoresistive sensor ASIC based on magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) technology is presented for high sensitivity measurements. The present CMOS instrumentation amplifier employs the gain-boost folded-cascode structure based on the capacitive-feedback chopper-stabilized technique. By chopping both the input and the output of the amplifier, combined with MTJ magnetoresistive sensitive elements, a noise equivalent magnetoresistance 1 nT/Hz[Formula: see text] at 2 Hz, the equivalent input noise spectral density 17 nV/Hz[Formula: see text](@2Hz) is achieved. The chip-scale package of the TMR sensor and the instrumentation amplifier is only about 5 mm × 5 mm × 1 mm, while the whole DC current dissipates only 2 mA.
Hořava gravity at a Lifshitz point: A progress report
Authors: Wang Anzhong
Published: March 2017

Hořava’s quantum gravity at a Lifshitz point is a theory intended to quantize gravity by using traditional quantum field theories. To avoid Ostrogradsky’s ghosts, a problem that has been facing in quantization of general relativity since the middle of 1970’s, Hořava chose to break the Lorentz invariance by a Lifshitz-type of anisotropic scaling between space and time at the ultra-high energy, while recovering (approximately) the invariance at low energies. With the stringent observational constraints and self-consistency, it turns out that this is not an easy task, and various modifications have been proposed, since the first incarnation of the theory in 2009. In this review, we shall provide a progress report on the recent development of Hořava gravity. In particular, we first present four so far most-studied versions of Hořava gravity, by focusing first on their self-consistency and then their consistency with experiments, including the solar system tests and cosmological observations. Then, we provide a general review on the recent development of the theory in three different but also related areas: (i) universal horizons, black holes and their thermodynamics, (ii) nonrelativistic gauge/gravity duality and (iii) quantization of the theory. The studies in these areas can be easily generalized to other gravitational theories with broken Lorentz invariance.
INFLUENCE OF SURFACE MODIFICATION ON PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF ZnO THIN FILMS AND NANOSTRUCTURES: A REVIEW
Authors: XIAN FENGLIN , XU LINHUA
Published: March 2017

The surface modification plays an important role on both physical and chemical properties of zinc oxide (ZnO) materials. In this review paper, efforts are made to summarize and analyze reported results regarding surface modification method, surface modification effect on the luminescence and superhydrophobic properties of ZnO thin films and nanostructures. Furthermore, the photocatalytic activity and gas sensor property of modified ZnO using both organic and inorganic species are also involved.
IMPROVING THE PHOTORESPONSE OF POROUS SILICON FOR SOLAR CELL APPLICATIONS BY EMBEDDING OF CdTe NANOPARTICLES
Authors: AGOOL IBRAHIM R. , ABD AHMED N. , DAWOOD MOHAMMED O. , AL-AMEER HARITH M. ABD , HABUBI NADIR F. , MANSOUR HAZIM L.
Published: March 2017

The present work is concerned with the preparation of thin films of nanocrystalline porous silicon (PSi) by the method of electrochemical etching. CdTe nanoparticles (NPs) have been prepared by utilizing the pulsed laser ablation in liquid. The measurements of tunneling microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and atomic force microscopy (AFE) were carried out and revealed that the PSi was nanostructured and the produced CdTe NPs were ball shaped, having good disposability. The diffusion of CdTe NPs on the properties of PSi solar cell assures that there was an improvement upon their properties. The relationship between [Formula: see text] and the reverse bias voltage was observed to be linear. Values of the built-in potential were observed to be dependent on the laser fluence, current density and the etching time.
Strong Morse–Lyapunov functions for Morse decompositions of attractors of random dynamical systems
Authors: Ju Xuewei , Qi Ailing , Wang Jintao
Published: March 2017

In this paper, we first construct strong Lyapunov functions for random attractors. On this basis, we then establish strong Morse–Lyapunov functions for Morse decompositions of the random attractors. Finally, the stability of the Morse decompositions is studied through the Morse–Lyapunov functions.
Single-Molecule Arrays for Protein and Nucleic Acid Analysis
Authors: Cohen Limor , Walt David R.
Published: March 2017

The last few years have seen breakthroughs that will transform our ability to measure important analytes. Miniaturization of reaction volumes and confinement of analytes of interest into ultrasmall containers have greatly enhanced the sensitivity and throughput of many detection methods. Fabrication of microwell arrays and implementation of bead-based assays have been instrumental in the development of methods for measuring relevant biomolecules, with applications to both diagnostics and fundamental biological studies. In this review, we describe how microwell arrays are fabricated and utilized for measuring analytes of interest. We then discuss the fundamental concepts of digital enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using single-molecule arrays and applications of microwell arrays to ultrasensitive protein measurements. We also explore the utility of microwell arrays for nucleic acid detection and applications for single-cell studies.
Eukaryotic DNA Replication Fork
Authors: Burgers Peter M.J. , Kunkel Thomas A.
Published: March 2017

This review focuses on the biogenesis and composition of the eukaryotic DNA replication fork, with an emphasis on the enzymes that synthesize DNA and repair discontinuities on the lagging strand of the replication fork. Physical and genetic methodologies aimed at understanding these processes are discussed. The preponderance of evidence supports a model in which DNA polymerase ε (Pol ε) carries out the bulk of leading strand DNA synthesis at an undisturbed replication fork. DNA polymerases α and δ carry out the initiation of Okazaki fragment synthesis and its elongation and maturation, respectively. This review also discusses alternative proposals, including cellular processes during which alternative forks may be utilized, and new biochemical studies with purified proteins that are aimed at reconstituting leading and lagging strand DNA synthesis separately and as an integrated replication fork.
Systems Biology of Metabolism
Authors: Nielsen Jens
Published: March 2017

Metabolism is highly complex and involves thousands of different connected reactions; it is therefore necessary to use mathematical models for holistic studies. The use of mathematical models in biology is referred to as systems biology. In this review, the principles of systems biology are described, and two different types of mathematical models used for studying metabolism are discussed: kinetic models and genome-scale metabolic models. The use of different omics technologies, including transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and fluxomics, for studying metabolism is presented. Finally, the application of systems biology for analyzing global regulatory structures, engineering the metabolism of cell factories, and analyzing human diseases is discussed.
Mechanisms of Autophagy Initiation
Authors: Hurley James H. , Young Lindsey N.
Published: March 2017

Autophagy is the process of cellular self-eating by a double-membrane organelle, the autophagosome. A range of signaling processes converge on two protein complexes to initiate autophagy: the ULK1 (unc51-like autophagy activating kinase 1) protein kinase complex and the PI3KC3–C1 (class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase complex I) lipid kinase complex. Some 90% of the mass of these large protein complexes consists of noncatalytic domains and subunits, and the ULK1 complex has essential noncatalytic activities. Structural studies of these complexes have shed increasing light on the regulation of their catalytic and noncatalytic activities in autophagy initiation. The autophagosome is thought to nucleate from vesicles containing the integral membrane protein Atg9 (autophagy-related 9), COPII (coat protein complex II) vesicles, and possibly other sources. In the wake of reconstitution and super-resolution imaging studies, we are beginning to understand how the ULK1 and PI3KC3–C1 complexes might coordinate the nucleation and fusion of Atg9 and COPII vesicles at the start of autophagosome biogenesis.
Glutaminolysis: A Hallmark of Cancer Metabolism
Authors: Yang Lifeng , Venneti Sriram , Nagrath Deepak
Published: March 2017

Glutamine is the most abundant circulating amino acid in blood and muscle and is critical for many fundamental cell functions in cancer cells, including synthesis of metabolites that maintain mitochondrial metabolism; generation of antioxidants to remove reactive oxygen species; synthesis of nonessential amino acids (NEAAs), purines, pyrimidines, and fatty acids for cellular replication; and activation of cell signaling. In light of the pleiotropic role of glutamine in cancer cells, a comprehensive understanding of glutamine metabolism is essential for the development of metabolic therapeutic strategies for targeting cancer cells. In this article, we review oncogene-, tumor suppressor–, and tumor microenvironment–mediated regulation of glutamine metabolism in cancer cells. We describe the mechanism of glutamine's regulation of tumor proliferation, metastasis, and global methylation. Furthermore, we highlight the therapeutic potential of glutamine metabolism and emphasize that clinical application of in vivo assessment of glutamine metabolism is critical for identifying new ways to treat patients through glutamine-based metabolic therapy.
Recognition of Client Proteins by the Proteasome
Authors: Yu Houqing , Matouschek Andreas
Published: March 2017

The ubiquitin proteasome system controls the concentrations of regulatory proteins and removes damaged and misfolded proteins from cells. Proteins are targeted to the protease at the center of this system, the proteasome, by ubiquitin tags, but ubiquitin is also used as a signal in other cellular processes. Specificity is conferred by the size and structure of the ubiquitin tags, which are recognized by receptors associated with the different cellular processes. However, the ubiquitin code remains ambiguous, and the same ubiquitin tag can target different proteins to different fates. After binding substrate protein at the ubiquitin tag, the proteasome initiates degradation at a disordered region in the substrate. The proteasome has pronounced preferences for the initiation site, and its recognition represents a second component of the degradation signal.
Nanoengineering Heterogeneous Catalysts by Atomic Layer Deposition
Authors: Singh Joseph A. , Yang Nuoya , Bent Stacey F.
Published: March 2017

A new generation of catalysts is needed to meet society's energy and resource requirements. Current catalyst synthesis does not fully achieve optimum control of composition, size, and structure. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is an emerging technique that allows for synthesis of highly controlled catalysts in the form of films, nanoparticles, and single sites. The addition of ALD coatings can also be used to introduce promoters and improve the stability of traditional catalysts. Evolving research shows promise for applying ALD to understand catalytically active sites and create next-generation catalysts using advanced 3D nanostructures.
Big Data Analytics in Chemical Engineering
Authors: Chiang Leo , Lu Bo , Castillo Ivan
Published: March 2017

Big data analytics is the journey to turn data into insights for more informed business and operational decisions. As the chemical engineering community is collecting more data (volume) from different sources (variety), this journey becomes more challenging in terms of using the right data and the right tools (analytics) to make the right decisions in real time (velocity). This article highlights recent big data advancements in five industries, including chemicals, energy, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and food, and then discusses technical, platform, and culture challenges. To reach the next milestone in multiplying successes to the enterprise level, government, academia, and industry need to collaboratively focus on workforce development and innovation.
Sex Differences in Binge Eating: Gonadal Hormone Effects Across Development
Authors: Klump Kelly L. , Culbert Kristen M. , Sisk Cheryl L.
Published: March 2017

Eating disorders are highly sexually differentiated disorders that exhibit a female predominance in risk. Most theories focus on psychosocial explanations to the exclusion of biological/genetic influences. The purpose of this descriptive review is to evaluate evidence from animal and human studies in support of gonadal hormone effects on sex differences in binge eating. Although research is in its nascent stages, findings suggest that increased prenatal testosterone exposure in males appears to protect against binge eating. Although pubertal testosterone may exert additional protective effects, the prenatal period is likely critical for the decreased risk observed in males. By contrast, studies indicate that, in females, it is the lack of prenatal testosterone coupled with the organizational effects of pubertal ovarian hormones that may lead to increased binge eating. Finally, twin data suggest that changes in genetic risk may underlie these hormone influences on sex differences across development.
Harnessing Instabilities to Design Tunable Architected Cellular Materials
Authors: Bertoldi Katia
Published: March 2017

Mechanical instabilities are traditionally regarded as a route toward failure. However, they can also be exploited to design architected cellular materials with tunable functionality. In this review, we focus on three examples and show that mechanical instabilities in architected cellular materials can be harnessed (a) to design auxetic materials, (b) to control the propagation of elastic waves, and (c) to realize reusable energy-absorbing materials. Together, these examples highlight a new strategy to design tunable systems across a wide range of length scales.
Physical Dynamics of Ice Crystal Growth
Authors: Libbrecht Kenneth G.
Published: March 2017

We examine ice crystallization from liquid water and from water vapor, focusing on the underlying physical processes that determine growth rates and structure formation. Ice crystal growth is largely controlled by a combination of molecular attachment kinetics on faceted surfaces and large-scale diffusion processes, yielding a remarkably rich phenomenology of solidification behaviors under different conditions. Layer nucleation plays an especially important role, with nucleation rates determined primarily by step energies on faceted ice/water and ice/vapor interfaces. The measured step energies depend strongly on temperature and other factors, and it appears promising that molecular dynamics simulations could soon be used in conjunction with experiments to better understand the energetics of these terrace steps. On larger scales, computational techniques have recently demonstrated the ability to accurately model the diffusion-limited growth of complex structures that are both faceted and branched. Together with proper boundary conditions determined by surface attachment kinetics, this opens a path to fully reproducing the variety of complex structures that commonly arise during ice crystal growth.
Atomistic Simulations of Activated Processes in Materials
Authors: Henkelman G.
Published: March 2017

Activated processes in materials are important for many of the properties that make them function. Batteries and catalysts are examples for which understanding how the component materials function on a timescale of milliseconds to seconds is critical to making improvements in a rational way. Modeling materials over these long timescales, relative to the timescale of atomic vibrations, is one of the grand challenges of the field. Transition state theory is central to bridging this timescale gap, and in the materials community, the harmonic approximation and the determination of saddle points to quantify reaction rates are ubiquitous. In this review, single- and double-ended methods for saddle point finding are discussed, as well as how finding saddle points can be used in the adaptive kinetic Monte Carlo method to model materials properties on the timescale of activated processes. Applications of surface diffusion and chemistry, phase boundary migration, and solid-solid phase transitions are presented.
Reaction Mechanisms on Multiwell Potential Energy Surfaces in Combustion (and Atmospheric) Chemistry
Authors: Osborn David L.
Published: March 2017

Chemical reactions occurring on a potential energy surface with multiple wells are ubiquitous in low-temperature combustion and in the oxidation of volatile organic compounds in Earth's atmosphere. The rich variety of structural isomerizations that compete with collisional stabilization makes characterizing such complex-forming reactions challenging. This review describes recent experimental and theoretical advances that deliver increasingly complete views of their reaction mechanisms. New methods for creating reactive intermediates coupled with multiplexed measurements provide many experimental observables simultaneously. Automated methods to explore potential energy surfaces can uncover hidden reactive pathways, and master equation methods enable a holistic treatment of both sequential and well-skipping pathways. Our ability to probe and understand nonequilibrium effects and reaction sequences is increasing. These advances provide the fundamental science base for predictive models of combustion and the atmosphere that are crucial to address global challenges.
Hot Charge Carrier Transmission from Plasmonic Nanostructures
Authors: Christopher Phillip , Moskovits Martin
Published: March 2017

Surface plasmons have recently been harnessed to carry out processes such as photovoltaic current generation, redox photochemistry, photocatalysis, and photodetection, all of which are enabled by separating energetic (hot) electrons and holes—processes that, previously, were the domain of semiconductor junctions. Currently, the power conversion efficiencies of systems using plasmon excitation are low. However, the very large electron/hole per photon quantum efficiencies observed for plasmonic devices fan the hope of future improvements through a deeper understanding of the processes involved and through better device engineering, especially of critical interfaces such as those between metallic and semiconducting nanophases (or adsorbed molecules). In this review, we focus on the physics and dynamics governing plasmon-derived hot charge carrier transfer across, and the electronic structure at, metal–semiconductor (molecule) interfaces, where we feel the barriers contributing to low efficiencies reside. We suggest some areas of opportunity that deserve early attention in the still-evolving field of hot carrier transmission from plasmonic nanostructures to neighboring phases.