bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Central Europe and the Portuguese, Spanish and French Atlantic, Fifteenth to Nineteenth Centuries
Authors: dos Santos Arnold Torsten
Published: June 2018

Applying a comparative and cross-national approach, this article is based on case studies of four representative European Atlantic port cities, namely Nantes, Bordeaux, Lisbon and Cádiz, and their socio-economic relations with Hamburg, one of Central Europe’s most important marketplaces. Based on quantitative data of commodity flows towards and from the Atlantic basin, it also analyses the role of German and German-speaking merchant communities that were established in these metropolitan port cities. The article will show how these foreigners circumvented the respective monopolies that excluded them from direct trade with French, Portuguese and Spanish colonies. These monopolies crumbled only during the era of the Atlantic Revolutions and the disintegration of the respective empires.
MODAL STRUCTURALISM AND REFLECTION
Authors: ROBERTS SAM
Published: June 2018

Modal structuralism promises an interpretation of set theory that avoids commitment to abstracta. This article investigates its underlying assumptions. In the first part, I start by highlighting some shortcomings of the standard axiomatisation of modal structuralism, and propose a new axiomatisation I call MSST (forModal Structural Set Theory). The main theorem is that MSST interprets exactly Zermelo set theory plus the claim that every set is in some inaccessible rank of the cumulative hierarchy. In the second part of the article, I look at the prospects for supplementing MSST with a modal structuralreflection principle, as suggested in Hellman (2015). I show that Hellman’s principle is inconsistent (Theorem 5.32), and argue that modal structural reflection principles in general are either incompatible with modal structuralism or extremely weak.
Anxiety-like behavior and structural changes of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) in gestational protein-restricted male offspring
Authors: Torres D. B. , Lopes A. , Rodrigues A. J. , Cerqueira J. J , Sousa N. , Gontijo J. A. R. , Boer P. A.
Published: June 2018

Animal evidence has suggested that maternal emotional and nutritional stress during pregnancy is associated with behavioral outcomes in offspring. The nature of the stresses applied may differ, but it is often assumed that the mother’s hippocampus–hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HHPA) axis response releases higher levels of glucocorticoid hormones. The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) is in a pivotal position to regulate the HHPA axis and the stress response, and it has been implicated in anxiety behavior. In the current study, to search whether BNST structural changes and neurochemical alterations are associated with anxiety-related behavior in adult gestational protein-restricted offspring relative to an age-matched normal protein diet (NP) rats, we conduct behavioral tests and, BNST dendritic tree analysis by Sholl analysis, associated to immunoblotting–protein quantification [11β-HSD2, GR, MR, AT1R, 5HT1A and 5HT2A, corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRH) and CRH1]. Dams were maintained either on isocaloric standard rodent chow [with NP content, 17% casein or low protein content (LP), 6% casein] chow throughout their entire pregnancy. Here, in rats subjected to gestational protein restriction, we found: (a) a significant reduction in dendritic length and impoverished dendritic arborization in BNST neurons; (b) an elevated plasmatic corticosterone levels; and (c) associated with enhanced anxiety-like behavior when compared with age-matched NP offspring. Moreover, altered protein (11β-HSD2, GR, MR and type 1 CRH receptors) expressions may underlie the increase in anxiety-like behavior in LP offspring. This work represents the first demonstration that BNST developmental plasticity by maternal protein restriction, resulting in fine structural changes and neurochemical alterations that are associated with modified behavioral states.
Modeling the Offshore Export of Subantarctic Shelf Waters From the Patagonian Shelf
Authors: Franco B. C. , Palma E. D. , Combes V. , Acha E. M. , Saraceno M.
Published: June 2018

It has been suggested that the Subtropical Shelf Front (STSF) could be a preferential site for the detrainment of Subantarctic Shelf Water (SASW) and related planktonic shelf species onto the open SW Atlantic Ocean. The offshore detrainment of SASW and planktonic shelf species might be an exportation mechanism, affecting the population abundances of fishing resources in Argentina, Uruguay, and Southern Brazil. In this study, we characterize for the first time the 3‐D structure of the STSF and the main routes of offshore export of SASW from the Patagonian shelf during austral summer (summer and early fall) and winter (winter and early spring) by using numerical hydrodynamical model results and Lagrangian tracking simulations of neutrally buoyant floats. The transport of SASW toward the open ocean is ~1 Sv (1 Sv = 106 m3/s) during summer and ~0.8 Sv during winter. SASW are exported offshore mainly near the Brazil‐Malvinas Confluence region during both seasons. The STSF appears to act as an important retention mechanism for the plankton over the inner and middle shelf mainly during late summer and early fall. Our findings could explain the life cycle of distinct fish species that are distributed in the region, as well as the population abundance variability of such species.
Deregulation of UBE2C-mediated autophagy repression aggravates NSCLC progression
Authors: Guo Jiwei , Wu Yan , Du Jing , Yang Lijuan , Chen Weiwei , Gong Kaikai , Dai Juanjuan , Miao Shuang , Jin Dan , Xi Sichuan
Published: June 2018

The roles of aberrantly regulated autophagy in human malignancy and the mechanisms that initiate and sustain the repression of autophagy in carcinogenesis are less well defined. Activation of the oncogene UBE2C and repression of autophagy are concurrently underlying the initiation, progression, and metastasis of lung cancer and exploration of essential association of UBE2C with autophagy will confer more options in searching novel molecular therapeutic targets in lung cancer. Here we report that aberrant activation of UBE2C in lung tumors from patients associates with adverse prognosis and enhances cell proliferation, clonogenicity, and invasive growth of NSCLC. UBE2C selectively represses autophagy in NSCLC and disruption of UBE2C-mediated autophagy repression attenuates cell proliferation, clonogenicity, and invasive growth of NSCLC. Autophagy repression is essentially involved in UBE2C-induced cell proliferation, clonogenicity, and invasive growth of NSCLC. Interference of UBE2C-autophagy repression axis by Norcantharidin arrests NSCLC progression. UBE2C is repressed post-transcriptionally via tumor suppressor miR-381 and epitranscriptionally stabilized with maintenance of lower m6A level within its mature RNAs due to the upregulation of m6A demethylase ALKBH5 in NSCLC. Collectively, our results indicated that deregulated UBE2C-autophagy repression axis drives NSCLC progression which renders varieties of potential molecular targets in cancer therapy of NSCLC.
Effects of immune suppression for transplantation on inflammatory colorectal cancer progression
Authors: Angriman Imerio , Furian Lucrezia , Scarpa Melania , Fassan Matteo , Morgan Susan , Porzionato Andrea , Kotsafti Andromachi , Saadeh Luca , Silvestre Cristina , De Caro Raffaele , Carraro Amedeo , Tedeschi Umberto , Bardini Romeo , Rigotti Paolo , Rugge Massimo , Castoro Carlo , Castagliuolo Ignazio , Scarpa Marco
Published: June 2018

Background

Ulcerative colitis patients and transplant recipients are at risk for colorectal cancer. Here, we show that immunosuppressive regimens for kidney transplants are associated with the progression of ulcerative colitis-related carcinogenesis.

Methods

We describe the case of a patient diagnosed with colorectal cancer in ulcerative colitis while on immunosuppressive therapy for a kidney transplant. The immunological microenvironment of the cancer and its mutational status were analyzed, and a mouse colon cancer model was created to replicate the unique clinical conditions. AOM/DSS mice were randomized into seven experimental groups that received different immunosuppressants and an untreated control group to assess the frequencies of adenocarcinoma and high-grade dysplasia. Histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry were also performed on the harvested mouse colons.

Results

All mice treated with an immunosuppressive regimen developed at least an adenoma, and several of those receiving anti-CD3, anti-CD8, and mycophenolate mofetil also developed adenocarcinomas. In contrast, mice receiving rapamycin did not develop adenocarcinomas, and the extent of high-grade dysplasia in those mice was similar to that in control mice.

Conclusions

Patients with pre-neoplastic conditions, such as ulcerative colitis, who are undergoing a solid organ transplant might benefit from the use of mTOR inhibitors given their intrinsic anti-tumor properties.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Platelet-derived growth factor receptor-α and -β promote cancer stem cell phenotypes in sarcomas
Authors: Chang Kevin K. , Yoon Changhwan , Yi Brendan C. , Tap William D. , Simon M. Celeste , Yoon Sam S.
Published: June 2018

Sarcomas are malignant tumors derived from mesenchymal tissues and may harbor a subset of cells with cancer stem-like cell (CSC) properties. Platelet-derived growth factor receptors α and β (PDGFR-α/β) play an important role in the maintenance of mesenchymal stem cells. Here we examine the role of PDGFR-α/β in sarcoma CSCs. PDGFR-α/β activity and the effects of PDGFR-α/β inhibition were examined in 3 human sarcoma cell lines using in vitro assays and mouse xenograft models. In all three cell lines, PDGFR-α/β activity was significantly higher in cells grown as spheroids (to enrich for CSCs) and in cells sorted for CD133 expression (a marker of sarcoma CSCs). Self-renewal transcription factors Nanog, Oct4, and Slug and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) proteins Snail, Slug, and Zeb1 were also significantly higher in spheroids cells and CD133(+) cells. Spheroid cells and CD133(+) cells demonstrated 2.9- to 4.2-fold greater migration and invasion and resistance to doxorubicin chemotherapy. Inhibition of PDGFR-α/β in CSCs using shRNA or pharmacologic inhibitors reduced expression of certain self-renewal and EMT proteins, reduced spheroid formation by 74–82%, reduced migration and invasion by 73–80%, and reversed chemotherapy resistance. In mouse xenograft models, combining PDGFR-α/β inhibition (using shRNA or imatinib) with doxorubicin had a more-than-additive effect in blocking tumor growth, with enhanced apoptosis, especially in CD133(+) cells. These results indicate that PDGFR-α/β activity is upregulated in sarcoma CSCs and promote CSC phenotypes including migration, invasion, and chemotherapy resistance. Thus, the PDGFR-α/β pathway represents a new potential therapeutic target to reduce metastatic potential and increase chemosensitivity.
NMR-based Metabolomic Techniques Identify the Toxicity of Emodin in HepG2 Cells
Authors: Chen Chang , Gao Jian , Wang Tie-Shan , Guo Cong , Yan Yu-Jing , Mao Chao-Yi , Gu Li-Wei , Yang Yang , Li Zhong-Feng , Liu An
Published: June 2018

Emodin is a natural anthraquinone derivative that is present in various herbal preparations. The pharmacological effects of emodin include anticancer, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and even antimicrobial activities. However, emodin also has been reported to induce hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, genotoxicity and reproductive toxicity. The mechanism of emodin’s adverse effects is complicated and currently not well understood. This study aimed to establish a cell metabonomic method to investigate the toxicity of emodin and explore its potential mechanism and relevant targets. In the present study, metabonomic profiles of cell extracts and cell culture media obtained using the 1H NMR technique were used to assess emodin toxicity in HepG2 cells. Multivariate statistical analyses such as partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were used to characterize the metabolites that differed between the control and emodin groups. The results indicated that emodin resulted in differences in 33 metabolites, including acetate, arginine, aspartate, creatine, isoleucine, leucine and histidine in the cell extract samples and 23 metabolites, including alanine, formate, glutamate, succinate and isoleucine, in the cell culture media samples. Approximately 8 pathways associated with these metabolites were disrupted in the emodin groups. These results demonstrated the potential for using cell metabonomics approaches to clarify the toxicological effects of emodin, the underlying mechanisms and potential biomarkers. Our findings may help with the development of novel strategies to discover targets for drug toxicity, elucidate the changes in regulatory signal networks and explore its potential mechanism of action.
Repellency, toxicity, and anti-oviposition of essential oil of Gardenia jasminoides and its four major chemical components against whiteflies and mites
Authors: Wagan Tufail Ahmed , Cai Wanlun , Hua Hongxia
Published: June 2018

We examined the repellent, insecticidal, and anti-oviposition activities of the ethanol-extracted essential oil of Gardenia jasminoides against Bemisia tabaci and Tetranychus urticae adult and nymph stages under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. We used GC-MS to identify the main chemicals in the essential oil and selected four compounds, squalene, ethyl linoleate, n-hexadecanoic acid and 9–12-octadecadienoic, to evaluate their activity on whiteflies and mites. In the laboratory experiments, the essential oil of G. jasminoides showed maximum effects in fumigation against whitefly adults (81.48%) and contact toxicity against whitefly nymphs (46.44%), adult mites (49.81%), and mite nymphs (66.46%). In the greenhouse experiments, squalene showed maximum repellency against whitefly adults at 24 (89.59%) and 48 h (84.76%), whitefly nymphal toxicity at 24 (80.08%) and 48 h (77.28%), and mite toxicity at 24 (78.74%) and 48 h (73.86%). The essential oil showed maximum anti-oviposition activity against whiteflies at 24 (63.58%) and 48 h (59.56%) and toxicity to mite nymphs at 24 (82.45%) and 48 h (57.14%) in the bioassay. The essential oil had LC50 values of 2396.457, 2844.958, 56,990.975 and 21,468.619 against whitefly adults, whitefly nymphs, mite adults and mite nymphs, respectively. G. jasminoides and its major chemicals may effectively control the whiteflies and mites.
Different audio spatial metric representation around the body
Authors: Aggius-Vella Elena , Campus Claudio , Gori Monica
Published: June 2018

Vision seems to have a pivotal role in developing spatial cognition. A recent approach, based on sensory calibration, has highlighted the role of vision in calibrating hearing in spatial tasks. It was shown that blind individuals have specific impairments during audio spatial bisection tasks. Vision is available only in the frontal space, leading to a “natural” blindness in the back. If vision is important for audio space calibration, then the auditory frontal space should be better represented than the back auditory space. In this study, we investigated this point by comparing frontal and back audio spatial metric representations. We measured precision in the spatial bisection task, for which vision seems to be fundamental to calibrate audition, in twenty-three sighted subjects. Two control tasks, a minimum audible angle and a temporal bisection were employed in order to evaluate auditory precision in the different regions considered. While no differences were observed between frontal and back space in the minimum audible angle (MAA) and temporal bisection task, a significant difference was found in the spatial bisection task, where subjects performed better in the frontal space. Our results are in agreement with the idea that vision is important in developing auditory spatial metric representation in sighted individuals.
Anomalous variations of VLF sub-ionospheric signal and Mesospheric Ozone prior to 2015 Gorkha Nepal Earthquake
Authors: Phanikumar D. V. , Maurya Ajeet K. , Kumar Kondapalli Niranjan , Venkatesham K. , Singh Rajesh , Sharma S. , Naja M.
Published: June 2018

The subject of pre-earthquake ionospheric signatures has always been contentious and debatable. Some of the previous reports have documented unforeseen and unusual variations in some of the atmospheric and ionospheric parameters well before an earthquake. Here, we analyze the ionospheric response from the Indian Subcontinent to Nepal Gorkha Earthquakes occurred between April and May 2015, which were the most powerful and disastrous natural calamities in past ~80 years over the Himalayan region left ~9000 causalities and more than ~20000 people injured with the property damage of the order of several billion dollars. In view of severe earthquakes occurrences, their prior information on the shorter time scales are warranted for mitigation of associated disasters. Here, we report for the first time, a case which shows a strong link in anomalous variations between VLF sub-ionospheric signal and mesospheric ozone prior to both April 25, 2015 (Mw = 7.8) earthquake and its biggest aftershock on May 12, 2015 (Mw = 7.3). Observations show an unusual variation in VLF signals amplitude /shift in terminator time (TT) strongly linked with positive (negative) mesospheric ozone anomaly in D-region altitudes prior to the Gorkha Nepal earthquakes. It is surmised that simultaneous continuous observations of both VLF waves and mesospheric ozone can be considered as an important tool to identify the prior earthquake signatures in the vicinity of the extremely earthquake-prone zone such as Himalayan region. In this context, the current report opens up a new dimension in lithosphere-atmosphere-ionosphere coupling during the earthquake preparation processes itself.
Pax3/7 duplicated and diverged independently in amphioxus, the basal chordate lineage
Authors: Barton-Owen Thomas B. , Ferrier David E. K. , Somorjai Ildikó M. L.
Published: June 2018

The Pax3/7 transcription factor family is integral to developmental gene networks contributing to important innovations in vertebrate evolution, including the neural crest. The basal chordate lineage of amphioxus is ideally placed to understand the dynamics of the gene regulatory network evolution that produced these novelties. We report here the discovery that the cephalochordate lineage possesses two Pax3/7 genes, Pax3/7a and Pax3/7b. The tandem duplication is ancestral to all extant amphioxus, occurring in both Asymmetron and Branchiostoma, but originated after the split from the lineage leading to vertebrates. The two paralogues are differentially expressed during embryonic development, particularly in neural and somitic tissues, suggesting distinct regulation. Our results have implications for the study of amphioxus regeneration, neural plate and crest evolution, and differential tandem paralogue evolution.
Transient AID expression for in situ mutagenesis with improved cellular fitness
Authors: Al-Qaisi Talal Salem , Su Yu-Cheng , Roffler Steve R.
Published: June 2018

Activation induced cytidine deaminase (AID) in germinal center B cells introduces somatic DNA mutations in transcribed immunoglobulin genes to increase antibody diversity. Ectopic expression of AID coupled with selection has been successfully employed to develop proteins with desirable properties. However, this process is laborious and time consuming because many rounds of selection are typically required to isolate the target proteins. AID expression can also adversely affect cell viability due to off target mutagenesis. Here we compared stable and transient expression of AID mutants with different catalytic activities to determine conditions for maximum accumulation of mutations with minimal toxicity. We find that transient (3–5 days) expression of an AID upmutant in the presence of selection pressure could induce a high rate of mutagenesis in reporter genes without affecting cells growth and expansion. Our findings may help improve protein evolution by ectopic expression of AID and other enzymes that can induce DNA mutations.
Salinomycin-loaded Nanofibers for Glioblastoma Therapy
Authors: Norouzi Mohammad , Abdali Zahra , Liu Song , Miller Donald W.
Published: June 2018

Salinomycin is an antibiotic that has recently been introduced as a novel and effective anti-cancer drug. In this study, PLGA nanofibers (NFs) containing salinomycin (Sali) were fabricated by electrospinning for the first time. The biodegradable PLGA NFs had stability for approximately 30 days and exhibited a sustained release of the drug for at least a 2-week period. Cytotoxicity of the NFs + Sali was evaluated on human glioblastoma U-251 cells and more than 50% of the treated cells showed apoptosis in 48 h. Moreover, NFs + Sali was effective to induce intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) leading to cell apoptosis. Gene expression studies also revealed the capability of the NFs + Sali to upregulate tumor suppressor Rbl1 and Rbl2 as well as Caspase 3 while decreasing Wnt signaling pathway. In general, the results indicated anti-tumor activity of the Sali-loaded NFs suggesting their potential applications as implantable drug delivery systems in the brain upon surgical resection of the tumor.
Synthesis of lower olefins from syngas over Zn/Al2O3–SAPO-34 hybrid catalysts: role of doped Zr and influence of the Zn/Al2O3ratio
Authors: Raveendra G. , Li Congming , Liu Bin , Cheng Yang , Meng Fanhui , Li Zhong
Published: June 2018

Hybrid catalysts composed of different loadings of Zr-promoted Zn/Al2O3with SAPO-34 zeolite were investigated for the direct synthesis of lower olefins from syngas in a fixed-bed reactor.
Rhodafuran from a methoxy(alkenyl)carbene by the rhoda-1,3,5-hexatriene route
Authors: Talavera M. , Pereira-Cameselle R. , Bolaño S.
Published: June 2018

A methoxy(alkenyl)carbenerhodium complex is the starting material for different rhodacycle complexes and is used in the development of a new method for the synthesis of metallafurans.
Size and crystallinity control of two-dimensional porous cobalt oxalate thin sheets: tuning surface structure with enhanced performance for aqueous asymmetric supercapacitors
Authors: Pu Tao , Li Jie , Jiang Yuqian , Huang Biao , Wang Wensong , Zhao Chenglan , Xie Li , Chen Lingyun
Published: June 2018

Porous cobalt oxalate thin sheets with enhanced performance were synthesized under hydrothermal condition.
Correction: Magnetic properties of the seven-coordinated nanoporous framework material Co(bpy)1.5(NO3)2 (bpy = 4,4′-bipyridine)
Authors: Bartolomé Elena , Alonso Pablo Javier , Arauzo Ana , Luzón Javier , Bartolomé Juan , Racles Carmen , Turta Constantin
Published: June 2018

Correction for ‘Magnetic properties of the seven-coordinated nanoporous framework material Co(bpy)1.5(NO3)2 (bpy = 4,4′-bipyridine)’ by Elena Bartolomé et al., Dalton Trans., 2012, 41, 10382–10389.
The synthesis of novel Co–Al2O3 nanofibrous membranes with efficient activation of peroxymonosulfate for bisphenol A degradation
Authors: Wang Yan , Zhao Shuang , Fan Wencheng , Tian Yang , Zhao Xu
Published: June 2018

Novel flexible Co–Al2O3 nanofibrous membranes were synthesized and they exhibited excellent catalytic activation of peroxymonosulfate for bisphenol A degradation.
Strain-specific properties ofLactobacillus plantarumfor prevention ofSalmonellainfection
Authors: Liu Junsheng , Hu Diangeng , Chen Yingqi , Huang Hongxuan , Zhang Hao , Zhao Jianxin , Gu Zhennan , Chen Wei
Published: June 2018

Lactobacillus plantarumhave strain-specific properties towards prevention ofSalmonellainfection.
Effective lock-in strategy for proteomic analysis of corona complexes bound to amino-free ligands of gold nanoparticles
Authors: Zhou Mi , Tang Min , Li Shuiming , Peng Li , Huang Haojun , Fang Qihua , Liu Zhao , Xie Peng , Li Gao , Zhou Jian
Published: June 2018

A lock-in strategy applicable to proteomic analysis of corona complexes bound to amino-free ligands of gold nanoparticles.
A wet-chemistry-based hydrogel sensing platform for 2D imaging of pressure, chemicals and temperature
Authors: Yun Changsuk , Hwang Seongpil , Kwak Juhyoun
Published: June 2018

A hydrogel sensing platform is developed to map pressure, chemicals and temperature based on the dependency of wet-chemical reactions on external stimuli.
Near surface nucleation and particle mediated growth of colloidal Au nanocrystals
Authors: Cheng Yingwen , Tao Jinhui , Zhu Guomin , Soltis Jennifer A. , Legg Benjamin A. , Nakouzi Elias , De Yoreo James J. , Sushko Maria L. , Liu Jun
Published: June 2018

Interfacial solvent mediated interactions can alter crystallization pathways, leading to near-surface nucleation followed by either diffusive attachment or neck formation.
Access to sulfonylated furans or imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines via a metal-free three-component, domino reaction
Authors: Cui Zhiming , Zhu Baofu , Li Xuechen , Cao Hua
Published: June 2018

An efficient three-component reaction for the synthesis of sulfonylated furans or imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines has been developed.
Techno-economic analysis of wind power integrated with both compressed air energy storage (CAES) and biomass gasification energy storage (BGES) for power generation
Authors: Diyoke Chidiebere , Aneke Mathew , Wang Meihong , Wu Chunfei
Published: June 2018

Wind power was integrated with both compressed air energy storage and biomass gasification energy storage for power generation.
Mixed metal CoII1−xZnIIx–organic frameworks based on chains with mixed carboxylate and azide bridges: magnetic coupling and slow relaxation
Authors: Wang Yan-Qin , Wang Kun , Gao En-Qing
Published: June 2018

A series of mixed-metal systems consisting of CoII1−xZnIIx chains with (μ-COO)2(μ-EO-N3) bridges were prepared, exhibiting interesting magnetic coupling and slow magnetic relaxation.
Interlayer coupling and the phase transition mechanism of stacked MoS2/TaS2 heterostructures discovered using temperature dependent Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopy
Authors: Chen Miao , Zhou Bin , Wang Fang , Xu Liping , Jiang Kai , Shang Liyan , Hu Zhigao , Chu Junhao
Published: June 2018

The important interlayer coupling of the MoS2–TaS2 heterostructure and the phase transition mechanism of ultrathin 1T-TaS2 are described.
Superhydrophilic amorphous Co–B–P nanosheet electrocatalysts with Pt-like activity and durability for the hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Sun Hongming , Xu Xiaobin , Yan Zhenhua , Chen Xiang , Jiao Lifang , Cheng Fangyi , Chen Jun
Published: June 2018

Superhydrophilic ternary Co–B–P nanosheets are developed as a hydrogen evolution electrocatalyst showing Pt-like catalytic activity and superior stability in alkaline media.
Ultrasmall MoC nanoparticles embedded in 3D frameworks of nitrogen-doped porous carbon as anode materials for efficient lithium storage with pseudocapacitance
Authors: Chen Xiudong , Lv Li-Ping , Sun Weiwei , Hu Yiyang , Tao Xuechun , Wang Yong
Published: June 2018

Ultrasmall MoC nanoparticles anchored in 3D networks of N-doped porous carbon are produced and deliver outstanding lithium storage performance.
A free-standing laser energy converter based on energetic graphene oxide for enhanced photothermic ignition
Authors: Yang Fang , Tang Duo , Zhang Tengfei , Qin Wenzhi , Chen Yongsheng , Wang Liang , Wang Jun , Zhang Haibin , Li Yi , Zhang Long
Published: June 2018

The ultrafast and large temperature rise of energetic graphene oxide during laser pulse irradiation.
A single-interface photoelectrochemical sensor based on branched TiO2 nanorods@strontium titanate for the detection of two biomarkers
Authors: Xue Jie , Gao Chaomin , Zhang Lina , Cui Kang , He Wenxing , Yu Jinghua
Published: June 2018

Based on the enhanced photogenerated charge-separation properties of B-TiO2 NRs@SrTiO3 heterostructures, a photoelectrochemical sensor for detecting alpha fetoprotein and cancer antigen 153 at a single interface was first established.
Using porous magnetic iron oxide nanomaterials as a facile photoporation nanoplatform for macromolecular delivery
Authors: Wang Lei , Wu Jingxian , Hu Yayun , Hu Changming , Pan Yue , Yu Qian , Chen Hong
Published: June 2018

Porous magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles are developed as a photoporation nanoplatform for macromolecular delivery.
The association between the miR-146a rs2910164 C>G polymorphism and Kawasaki disease in a southern Chinese population
Authors: Zhang Li , Wang Jinxin , Che Di , Wang Yanfei , Rong Xing , Pi Lei , Xu Yufen , Li Wei , Huang Ping , Chu Maoping , Gu Xiaoqiong
Published: June 2018

miR-146a plays a critical role in innate immune and inflammatory responses. Kawasaki disease involves immune-mediated inflammatory responses, which leads to vascular endothelial injury. However, there has been no study on the association between the miR-146a rs2910164 C>G polymorphism and Kawasaki disease risk. We enrolled 532 Kawasaki disease patients and 623 healthy controls from southern Chinese population, and the miR-146a rs2910164 C>G polymorphism was genotyped by the TaqMan method. There was no evidence that this polymorphism was associated with Kawasaki disease. Stratified analysis also showed no significant association. The present study indicates that the miR-146a rs2910164 C>G polymorphism may not be associated with Kawasaki disease in the southern Chinese population. Larger multicenter studies are needed to confirm our conclusions.
Trendige Superfoods: Placebo oder Wundermittel?
Authors: Leitner Gabriele
Published: June 2018

Der Begriff „Superfood“ war schon Anfang des 20. Jahrhunderts bekannt, in der Umgangssprache ist er aber erst seit Kurzem populär. Das Europäische
Informationszentrum für Lebensmittel (EUFIC) bezeichnet als Superfood „Lebensmittel, insbesondere Obst und Gemüse, die aufgrund ihres Nährstoffgehaltes einen
höheren gesundheitlichen Nutzen als andere Nahrungsmittel aufweisen“ 1.
Influence of Training Load and Altitude on Heart Rate Variability Fatigue Patterns in Elite Nordic Skiers
Authors: Schmitt Laurent , Regnard Jacques , Coulmy Nicolas , Millet Gregoire
Published: June 2018

We aimed to analyse the relationship between training load/intensity and different heart rate variability (HRV) fatigue patterns in 57 elite Nordic-skiers. 1063 HRV tests were performed during 5 years. R-R intervals were recorded in resting supine (SU) and standing (ST) positions. Heart rate, low (LF), high (HF) frequency powers of HRV were determined. Training volume, training load (TL, a.u.) according to ventilatory threshold 1 (VT1) and VT2 were measured in zones I≤VT1; VT1VT2, IV for strength. TL was performed at 81.6±3.5% in zone I, 0.9±0.9% in zone II, 5.0±3.6% in zone III, 11.6±6.3% in zone IV. 172 HRV tests matched a fatigue state and four HRV fatigue patterns (F) were statistically characterized as F(HF-LF-)SU_ST for 121 tests, F(LF+SULF-ST) for 18 tests, F(HF-SUHF+ST) for 26 tests and F(HF+SU) for 7 tests. The occurrence of fatigue states increased substantially with the part of altitude training time (r2=0.52, p<0.001). This study evidenced that there is no causal relationship between training load/intensity and HRV fatigue patterns. Four fatigue-shifted HRV patterns were sorted. Altitude training periods appeared critical as they are likely to increase the overreaching risks.
The Effect of Antiseptics in the Prophylaxis of Infection in Orthopaedic Surgery
Authors: Lüdemann Martin , Munoz Pablo , Wagner Martin , Malzahn Uwe , Horas Konstantin , Heuschmann Peter , Rudert Maximilian
Published: June 2018

Introduction Over the past decade, the incidence of revision arthroplasty has increased substantially. One of the main reasons for revision arthroplasty is periprosthetic joint infection, often resulting in multiple surgical interventions with variable success and poor clinical outcome. Intraoperative wound irrigation has been proposed to reduce bacterial contamination and thus the risk of periprosthetic infection. However, there is currently no widely accepted recommendation for the use of topical antiseptics within the operative setting for primary implantation. We performed a systematic review of studies pertaining to the use of intraoperative topical antiseptics and their effectiveness in preventing infection of orthopaedic implants.

Materials and Methods A comprehensive literature search including MEDLINE (PubMed), Cochrane Library, and Current Contents Medicine (CCMED-Medpilot) was performed according to a standardised protocol.

Results Overall, 1905 articles were initially assessed. Four studies met the inclusion criteria and remained for further analysis, comprising two prospective cohort studies using retrospective control groups (evidence level II – III) and two randomised controlled trials (evidence level I). 0.35% Povidone-iodine (PVP-I) was used in three of these studies and a solution of 6.25% PVP-I and 6.25%-hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in one study for intraoperative wound irrigation. There was a clear trend in all studies suggesting that intraoperative topical antiseptics are effective in preventing periprosthetic infection.

Conclusion Although no clear regimen can be recommended, the available literature indicates that the use of intraoperative topical antiseptics is of clinical relevance in preventing infection of orthopaedic implants. Further randomised controlled trials are recommended.
Zucker-Challenges und Low-Carb-Hype
Authors: Kabisch Stefan
Published: June 2018

Der große Ernährungstrend der letzten Jahre sind gerade unter jungen Menschen sogenannte „Challenges“: vergleichsweise kurze, aber sehr intensive Diätphasen, in
denen eine besonders schwierige diätetische Herausforderung zur Motivation des Einzelnen dient, aber auch als Beweis der eigenen Leistungsfähigkeit im
Wettbewerb mit der gleichaltrigen Peer-Group. Viele der Challenges finden auch außerhalb des Ernährungsgebietes statt und spiegeln den Wortsinn von „Challenge“
eher als Mutprobe wider.
Paroxysmal Movement Disorder and Epilepsy Caused by a De Novo Truncating Mutation in KAT6A
Authors: Efthymiou Stephanie , Salpietro Vincenzo , Bettencourt Conceicao , Houlden Henry
Published: June 2018

Mutations in KAT6A encoding a histone acetyltransferase involved in chromatin remodeling and in other genes involved in histone acetylation and/or deacetylation have been implicated in broad phenotypes of congenital and developmental abnormalities. However, limited genotype–phenotype correlations are available for some of the most rare or recently reported genetic disorders related to chromatin dysregulation. We hereby report a de novo truncating mutation in KAT6A (c.3338C > G; p.S1113X) in a young male patient with intellectual disability associated with impaired speech and autistic features, who also presented with infantile seizures and a complex movement disorder phenotype with paroxysmal episodes of abnormal startle responses.
Atlanto-Occipital Synostosis in a Colombian Population Sample
Authors: Duque Parra J.E. , Barco Ríos J. , García Aguirre J.F.
Published: June 2018

Introduction The Cervico-capital rotation process involves important joints with respect to the neurological field. Among these joints, the atlanto-occipital joint accounts for 40% of the total rotation process and its anatomical changes may affect the joint, i.e when the synostosis of both bones occurs. This anomaly has a reported incidence in the world population of 0.14% to 0.75%. To determine whether this incidence range also corresponds to the Colombian population, atlanto-occipital fusion in Colombian patients was studied.

Materials and Methods The presence of atlanto-occipital fusion was assessed in a random sample of 105 skulls of a Colombian population. Morphometric features were evaluated by using a Vernier caliper.

Results Out of the total sample two cases of atlanto-occipital fusion were identified. One of them exhibited a bilateral fusion between the anterior arch of the foramen magnum and the lateral masses of the atlas; the other one exhibited a left hemisynostosis that compromises the anterior arch foramen magnum and left lateral mass of atlas. The overall frequency of occurrence was 1.9%.

Conclusion A greater incidence of atlanto-occipital fusion was found in contrast to the range of world incidence reported in the literature.
A Contribution to the Anatomical Study of the Mandibular Premolars
Authors: Capote T. , Barroso R. , Pinto S. , Conte M. , Campos J. , Bolini P. , Gonçalves M.
Published: June 2018

Introduction During the practical classes of Dental Anatomy, some students have difficulties in identifying the mandibular first premolars, especially in determining the proximal surfaces.

Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the anatomical structures of those teeth, to determine the criteria for identifying the proximal surfaces in individual teeth.

Materials and Methods Two hundred mandibular first premolars belonging to 100 individuals, at the age of 18 to 25 years old and from both sexes were evaluated according to some features of the dental crown. The associations of interest were estimated using the chi-square test or Fisher's Exact Test and kappa statistic. The level of significance was 5%.

Results The distal occlusal fossa (DOF) was the widest fossa (94.5%), and the distal surface constituted the proximal surface with the largest dimension (94.5%). It was found that in 60% of the teeth, the DOF was located closer to the lingual surface. The grooves from the mesial and distal occlusal fossa, toward the lingual surface, were absent in most teeth (64.5% and 91.5%, respectively).

Conclusions The criteria for determining the proximal surfaces when evaluating individual first mandibular premolars should be: DOF will be the widest occlusal fossa; the proximal surface with the largest buccolingual dimension will be the distal surface. The occlusal fossa which is closer to the lingual surface may also be evaluated, being considered as the DOF. However, this should be considered the last of the three highlighted criteria, since it generates a greater margin of error in relation to the others.
The Effect of Three Different Suture Anchors for Rotator Cuff Repair on Primary Cultures of Human Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Thiébat Gabriele , Capitani Paolo , de Girolamo Laura , Perucca Orfei Carlotta , Facchini Francesca , Schoenhuber Herbert , Viganò Marco
Published: June 2018

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the in vitro biocompatibility of three different suture anchors (all-suture anchor, metal anchor, and polyetheretherketone anchor), commonly used for the rotator cuff repair.

Methods To assess the biocompatibility of the anchors, the possible cytotoxicity and the immunogenicity of the devices were assessed by cell viability assay and cell count on cultures of bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) and peripheral blood leucocytes (PBLs), respectively. The possible inhibitory effect of the devices on BMSCs osteogenic potential was evaluated by alkaline phosphatase activity and matrix deposition assay.

Results The viability of BMSCs was slightly reduced when cultured in the presence of the devices (−24 ± 3%). Nevertheless, they were able to differentiate toward the osteogenic lineage in all culture conditions. The proliferation of PBLs and the production of interleukin-2 were not enhanced by the presence of any device.

Conclusion The analyzed devices did not significantly affect the normal cells functions when directly cultured with human primary BMSCs or PBLs, in terms of osteogenic differentiation and inflammatory reaction.

Clinical Relevance A deeper knowledge of the biological reactions to different devices used in rotator cuff surgeries would improve the clinical outcome of these procedures.
2.2 Transfer Hydrogenation of Ketones to Alcohols
Authors: Matsunami A. , Kayaki Y. , Ikariya T.
Published: June 2018

Transfer hydrogenation offers an alternative to hydrogenation using gaseous hydrogen, as well as a practical synthetic approach to enantiopure compounds. Alcohols, formic acid, and formate salts are often used as safe and nontoxic hydrogen sources in transition-metal catalyzed transfer hydrogenation systems. This chapter highlights effective transfer hydrogenation and asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones catalyzed by transition-metal complexes. The reactions described in this section are classified according to the reducing agents employed and the type of ketone substrate.
2.3 Catalytic Hydrogenation of Ketones
Authors: Llopis Q. , Ayad T. , Phansavath P. , Ratovelomanana-Vidal V.
Published: June 2018

Catalytic hydrogenation using molecular hydrogen to reduce ketones is arguably one of the most efficient, practical, and environmentally responsible methods for the production of secondary alcohols, which are important building blocks for the synthesis of fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, perfumes, and agrochemicals, as well as functional materials. This chapter, presents a non-exhaustive review of transition-metal-catalyzed homogeneous racemic as well as asymmetric hydrogenation of simple and functionalized ketones to give the corresponding secondary alcohols, with a focus on major advances in this important field from 2008 to late 2016.
2.4 Hydrogenolysis of Aryl Ketones and Aldehydes, Benzylic Alcohols and Amines, and Their Derivatives
Authors: Ciszek B. , Fleischer I.
Published: June 2018

This chapter provides an overview of the hetero- and homogeneous metal-catalyzed hydrogenolysis of C=O, C–O, and C–N bonds at benzylic positions. This reaction constitutes an atom- and waste-economic alternative to traditional defunctionalization methods. It has found numerous applications in organic synthesis, including in the removal of protecting groups from alcohols and amines. Moreover, its role in the valorization of biomass feedstocks is being intensely investigated.
2.7 Reduction of Nitro Compounds to Amines, Azo Compounds, Hydroxylamines, and Oximes, and Reduction of N-Oxides to Amines
Authors: Puylaert P. , Savini A. , Hinze S.
Published: June 2018

Various catalytic strategies are discussed for the reduction of both aromatic and aliphatic nitro functionalities to the corresponding amines, including homogeneous and heterogeneous (transfer) hydrogenations, as well as the water–gas shift reaction. Chemoselectivity with respect to other reducible moieties (carbonyls, alkenes, alkynes) and hydrodehalogenation is taken into account. The isolation of azobenzenes, N-substituted hydroxylamines, and oximes, which are typically considered intermediates or byproducts in nitro reductions, is included as well. Finally, developments in the deoxygenation of N-oxides are addressed briefly.
2.9 Catalytic Reduction of Nitriles
Authors: Bagal D. B. , Bhanage B. M.
Published: June 2018

Catalytic reduction of nitriles is an important industrial process for the one-step synthesis of diverse amines. Despite this, the selective reduction of nitriles to the corresponding amines has so far been less investigated compared to the reductions of C=C, C=O, C=N, and NO2 units. This is primarily due to high redox potential of nitriles compared to other carboxylic acid derivatives, low C–CN bond dissociation energy, the various factors that control the selectivity, low selectivity toward primary amines, and significant amounts of secondary amine formation. In recent years, great success has been achieved in the chemoselective reduction of nitriles using homogeneous transition-metal catalysts, but a major limitation of such catalysts is often their poor stability. Alternatively, heterogeneous catalytic systems represent an economic and simple alternative for these transformations. However, the use of heterogeneous catalysts for the selective reduction of nitriles to primary amines has been not well explored to date.
Supporting general practice to make timely decisions for better health care: a population health approach
Authors: Davies Deborah
Published: June 2018

Primary Health Networks (PHNs) are tasked to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of general practice. Gold Coast Primary Health Network (GCPHN) has been collecting de-identified aggregated clinical data from general practices and reporting back on areas for improvement on data coding and some clinical metrics, such as blood pressure not being recorded. However, aggregated data cannot be used to intervene at the individual patient level, and because of the collection-to-reporting time-lag, the data cannot help facilitate immediate action in the general practice. GCPHN developed a practice-based population health management approach based on mapping data from general practices to international coding classification systems, and applying evidenced-based algorithms and tools. General practices are provided with a health profile of their entire patient population, from the healthiest to the most complex comorbid patients. The information is conveyed as alerts and reports on areas including medication quality and safety, possible gaps in care and high-risk patients. The information is received based on the practice’s preferences; this can be at the time of data entry, the following day or as specified. Strong clinical governance has ensured GCPHN’s approach and methodologies are evidenced-based and appropriate. The consistent application of clinical governance within general practices is also needed to ensure the approach is sustainable and improves clinical outcomes.
Payments for environmental services supported social capital while increasing land management
Authors: Alix-Garcia Jennifer M. , Sims Katharine R. E. , Orozco-Olvera Victor H. , Costica Laura E. , Fernández Medina Jorge David , Romo Monroy Sofía
Published: June 2018

Significance

Financial incentives for conservation are popular worldwide, but are also highly controversial. A core concern is that paying for environmental stewardship that community members have historically provided for free will undermine intrinsic conservation motivations or other prosocial attitudes, institutions, and values. We provide rigorous evaluation of the social capital impacts of a large payments for environmental services program. We find that conservation payments in Mexico increased land management activities, did not decrease prosocial work, and improved communal social capital. Although similar studies need to be conducted in multiple contexts, we provide evidence that conservation incentives can support social institutions, attitudes, and values while rewarding environmental stewardship.
Interface morphology and microstructure of high-power ultrasonic spot welded Mg/Al dissimilar joint
Authors: Feng Meng-Nan , Luo Zhen
Published: June 2018

High-power ultrasonic welding technology, which has the excellent characteristics of low-energy input and high efficiency, can effectively shorten the welding time, reduce the formation of intermetallic compounds (IMCs), and improve the strength of Mg/Al dissimilar welded joints in the future manufacturing industry. Mg/Al dissimilar metal ultrasonic welded joints with favourable mechanical properties were obtained through reasonable selection of sonotrode patterns and optimisation of welding parameters. The connection mechanisms of joints were discussed based on the analysis of weld interface morphology, microstructure evolution, and the composition and distribution of Mg–Al IMCs that varied with welding energy. The mechanical interlocking phenomenon and discontinuously distributed Mg17Al12 with low thickness were observed at the weld interface, which helped to improve the joint performance.