bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Negative cognition, affect, metacognition and dimensions of paranoia in people at ultra-high risk of psychosis: a multi-level modelling analysis
Authors: Morrison A. P. , Shryane N. , Fowler D. , Birchwood M. , Gumley A. I. , Taylor H. E. , French P. , Stewart S. L. K. , Jones P. B. , Lewis S. W. , Bentall R. P.
Published: July 2015

Background

Paranoia is one of the commonest symptoms of psychosis but has rarely been studied in a population at risk of developing psychosis. Based on existing theoretical models, including the proposed distinction between ‘poor me’ and ‘bad me’ paranoia, we aimed to test specific predictions about associations between negative cognition, metacognitive beliefs and negative emotions and paranoid ideation and the belief that persecution is deserved (deservedness).

Method

We used data from 117 participants from the Early Detection and Intervention Evaluation for people at risk of psychosis (EDIE-2) trial of cognitive–behaviour therapy, comparing them with samples of psychiatric in-patients and healthy students from a previous study. Multi-level modelling was utilized to examine predictors of both paranoia and deservedness, withpost-hocplanned comparisons conducted to test whether person-level predictor variables were associated differentially with paranoia or with deservedness.

Results

Our sample of at-risk mental state participants was not as paranoid, but reported higher levels of ‘bad-me’ deservedness, compared with psychiatric in-patients. We found several predictors of paranoia and deservedness. Negative beliefs about self were related to deservedness but not paranoia, whereas negative beliefs about others were positively related to paranoia but negatively with deservedness. Both depression and negative metacognitive beliefs about paranoid thinking were specifically related to paranoia but not deservedness.

Conclusions

This study provides evidence for the role of negative cognition, metacognition and negative affect in the development of paranoid beliefs, which has implications for psychological interventions and our understanding of psychosis.
THE ROLE OF INITIAL VALUES IN CONDITIONAL SUM-OF-SQUARES ESTIMATION OF NONSTATIONARY FRACTIONAL TIME SERIES MODELS
Authors: Johansen Søren , Nielsen Morten Ørregaard
Published: July 2015

In this paper, we analyze the influence of observed and unobserved initial values on the bias of the conditional maximum likelihood or conditional sum-of-squares (CSS, or least squares) estimator of the fractional parameter,d, in a nonstationary fractional time series model. The CSS estimator is popular in empirical work due, at least in part, to its simplicity and its feasibility, even in very complicated nonstationary models.

We consider a process,Xt, for which data exist from some point in time, which we call –N0+ 1, but we only start observing it at a later time,t= 1. The parameter (d,μ,σ2) is estimated by CSS based on the model${\rm{\Delta }}_0^d \left( {X_t - \mu } \right) = \varepsilon _t ,t = N + 1, \ldots ,N + T$, conditional onX1,...,XN. We derive an expression for the second-order bias of$\hat d$as a function of the initial values,Xt,t= –N0+ 1,...,N, and we investigate the effect on the bias of setting aside the firstNobservations as initial values. We compare$\hat d$with an estimator,$\hat d_c $, derived similarly but by choosingμ=C. We find, both theoretically and using a data set on voting behavior, that in many cases, the estimation of the parameterμpicks up the effect of the initial values even for the choiceN= 0.

IfN0= 0, we show that the second-order bias can be completely eliminated by a simple bias correction. If, on the other hand,N0> 0, it can only be partly eliminated because the second-order bias term due to the initial values can only be diminished by increasingN.
EXISTENCE AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CONDITIONAL DENSITY PROJECTIONS
Authors: Komunjer Ivana , Ragusa Giuseppe
Published: July 2015

In this paper we propose primitive conditions under which a projection of a conditional density onto a set defined by conditional moment restrictions exists and is unique. Moreover, we provide an analytic expression of the obtained projection. The range of applications where conditional density projections are used is wide. The derived results are potentially useful in a variety of areas including: semiparametric efficient estimation and optimal testing in (conditional) moment models, Bayesian prior determination and inference in semiparametric models, density forecasting, and simulation-based econometric analysis.

Regarding existence, we propose three different combinations of assumptions that are all sufficient to show that the projection exists and is unique. The proposed conditions exhibit a clear trade off between restrictions put on the divergence between the conditional densities and on the moment function which defines the projection set. Depending on the nature of the application, the researcher can pick and choose which set of conditions to use. Our second set of results characterizes the projection. The expression for the projected density is new though not surprising given the previously obtained results for the unconditional case. The projection is characterized by the dual of the original projection problem. In establishing the strong duality, however, we work with a constraint qualification condition that is weaker than that used by Borwein and Lewis (1991a, 1992a, 1993 in their seminal work concerning the unconditional case.
Influenza-attributable burden in United Kingdom primary care
Authors: FLEMING D. M. , TAYLOR R. J. , HAGUINET F. , SCHUCK-PAIM C. , LOGIE J. , WEBB D. J. , LUSTIG R. L. , MATIAS G.
Published: July 2015

Influenza is rarely laboratory-confirmed and the outpatient influenza burden is rarely studied due to a lack of suitable data. We used the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) and surveillance data from Public Health England in a linear regression model to assess the number of persons consulting UK general practitioners (GP episodes) for respiratory illness, otitis media and antibiotic prescriptions attributable to influenza during 14 seasons, 1995–2009. In CPRD we ascertained influenza vaccination status in each season and risk status (conditions associated with severe influenza outcomes). Seasonal mean estimates of influenza-attributable GP episodes in the UK were 857 996 for respiratory disease including 68 777 for otitis media, with wide inter-seasonal variability. In an average season, 2·4%/0·5% of children aged <5 years and 1·3%/0·1% of seniors aged ⩾75 years had a GP episode for respiratory illness attributed to influenza A/B. Two-thirds of influenza-attributable GP episodes were estimated to result in prescription of antibiotics. These estimates are substantially greater than those derived from clinically reported influenza-like illness in surveillance programmes. Because health service costs of influenza are largely borne in general practice, these are important findings for cost-benefit assessment of influenza vaccination programmes.
Generating constrained random data with uniform distribution
Authors: CLAESSEN KOEN , DUREGÅRD JONAS , PAŁKA MICHAŁ H.
Published: July 2015

We present a technique for automatically deriving test data generators from a given executable predicate representing the set of values we are interested in generating. The distribution of these generators is uniform over values of a given size. To make the generation efficient, we rely on laziness of the predicate, allowing us to prune the space of values quickly. In contrast, implementing test data generators by hand is labour intensive and error prone. Moreover, handwritten generators often have an unpredictable distribution of values, risking that some values are arbitrarily underrepresented. We also present a variation of the technique that has better performance, but where the distribution is skewed in a limited, albeit predictable way. Experimental evaluation of the techniques shows that the automatically derived generators are much easier to define than handwritten ones, and their performance, while lower, is adequate for some realistic applications.
A 2-Year Path to Competency: A Developmental Framework for Pediatric Psychology Training at the Yale Child Study Center
Authors: Jerson Bradley , Cardona Laurie , Lewallen Andrea C. , Coleman Kevin R. , Goyette-Ewing Michele
Published: July 2015

The Yale Child Study Center offers a 2-year integrated predoctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship training sequence that emphasizes both child and adolescent generalist and pediatric specialty training. In this article, we outline how the various elements of the Yale Child Study Center Psychology Fellowship link directly to recommended core competencies recently published by the Society for Pediatric Psychology’s (SPP) Task Force on Competencies and Best Training Practices in Pediatric Psychology ( Palermo et al., 2014 ). We review the manner in which our trainees are evaluated for achievement of these competencies and discuss how the 2-year developmental model enables graduating trainees to thrive as highly competent pediatric psychologists within a complex and constantly changing health care environment.
Training Interns to Tackle the Toughest Cases in Pediatric Psychology: Complex Healthcare Systems
Authors: Boshkoff Emily A. , Wilson Anna C. , Harris Michael A. , Freeman Kurt A.
Published: July 2015

Given the complexity and ever-changing landscape of health care, the need for new and varied training experiences in systems-level issues is increasingly evident. At Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), the training program strives to teach interns not only the content and skills of clinical care, but the process of applying these skills in our evolving health care system. This article describes several aspects of our internship program that are designed to contribute to competency in the systems domain. These include didactic and experiential components across a range of settings. It also describes a benchmarks approach to evaluating trainee progress in reaching appropriate milestones in this domain, and outlines challenges facing training programs that are trying to support trainee competency in the systems domain.
Quantitative o perando visualization of the energy band depth profile in solar cells
Authors: Chen Qi , Mao Lin , Li Yaowen , Kong Tao , Wu Na , Ma Changqi , Bai Sai , Jin Yizheng , Wu Dan , Lu Wei , Wang Bing , Chen Liwei
Published: July 2015

The energy band alignment in solar cell devices is critically important because it largely governs elementary photovoltaic processes, such as the generation, separation, transport, recombination and collection of charge carriers. Despite the expenditure of considerable effort, the measurement of energy band depth profiles across multiple layers has been extremely challenging, especially for operando devices. Here we present direct visualization of the surface potential depth profile over the cross-sections of operando organic photovoltaic devices using scanning Kelvin probe microscopy. The convolution effect due to finite tip size and cantilever beam crosstalk has previously prohibited quantitative interpretation of scanning Kelvin probe microscopy-measured surface potential depth profiles. We develop a bias voltage-compensation method to address this critical problem and obtain quantitatively accurate measurements of the open-circuit voltage, built-in potential and electrode potential difference.
Subcycle-resolved probe retardation in strong-field pumped dielectrics
Authors: Pati Aseem Prakash , Wahyutama Imam Setiawan , Pfeiffer Adrian Nikolaus
Published: July 2015

The response of a bulk dielectric to an intense few-cycle laser pulse is not solely determined by the pulse envelope, but also by ultrafast processes occuring during each optical cycle. Here, a method is presented for measuring the retardation of a probe pulse in a strong-field pumped, bulk dielectric with subcycle resolution in the pump–probe delay. Comparisons to model calculations show that the measurement is sensitive to the timing of the electronic Kerr response. When conduction band states are transiently populated at the crests of the laser field, the measurement is also sensitive to the interband dephasing time.
Distinguishing between plasmon-induced and photoexcited carriers in a device geometry
Authors: Zheng Bob Y. , Zhao Hangqi , Manjavacas Alejandro , McClain Michael , Nordlander Peter , Halas Naomi J.
Published: July 2015

The use of surface plasmons, charge density oscillations of conduction electrons of metallic nanostructures, to boost the efficiency of light-harvesting devices through increased light-matter interactions could drastically alter how sunlight is converted into electricity or fuels. These excitations can decay directly into energetic electron–hole pairs, useful for photocurrent generation or photocatalysis. However, the mechanisms behind plasmonic carrier generation remain poorly understood. Here we use nanowire-based hot-carrier devices on a wide-bandgap semiconductor to show that plasmonic carrier generation is proportional to internal field-intensity enhancement and occurs independently of bulk absorption. We also show that plasmon-induced hot electrons have higher energies than carriers generated by direct excitation and that reducing the barrier height allows for the collection of carriers from plasmons and direct photoexcitation. Our results provide a route to increasing the efficiency of plasmonic hot-carrier devices, which could lead to more efficient devices for converting sunlight into usable energy.
Tumour Necrosis Factor-α Gene Polymorphism Is Associated with Metastasis in Patients with Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Li Hui-Hui , Zhu Hui , Liu Li-Sheng , Huang Yong , Guo Jun , Li Jie , Sun Xin-Ping , Chang Chun-Xiao , Wang Zhe-Hai , Zhai Kan
Published: July 2015

Tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is critical in the regulation of inflammation and tumour progression. TNF-α-308G > A is associated with constitutively elevated TNF-α expression. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between TNF-α-308G > A and breast cancer (BC) risk by subtype and the connection between genotypes and clinical features of BC. A total of 768 patients and 565 controls were enrolled in this study and genotypes were detected using the TaqMan assay. No effect on susceptibility for any BC subtype was found for the TNF-α-308 polymorphism in our study or in the pooled meta-analysis. This polymorphism was shown to be associated with age at menarche in all BC and in progesterone receptor-negative BC. Interestingly, triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients with TNF-α-308A had an increased risk of distant tumour metastasis (OR = 3.80, 95% CI: 1.31–11.02, P = 0.009). Multi-regression analysis showed that TNF-α-308A was also a risk factor for distant tumour metastasis after adjustment for tumour size and lymph node metastasis status (OR= 6.26, 95% CI: 1.88–20.87, P = 0.003). These findings indicate that TNF-α might play a distinct role in the progression of TNBC, especially in distant tumour metastasis of TNBC.
Vy-PER: eliminating false positive detection of virus integration events in next generation sequencing data
Authors: Forster Michael , Szymczak Silke , Ellinghaus David , Hemmrich Georg , Rühlemann Malte , Kraemer Lars , Mucha Sören , Wienbrandt Lars , Stanulla Martin ,   UFO Sequencing Consortium within the I-BFM Study Group, Franke Andre
Published: July 2015

Several pathogenic viruses such as hepatitis B and human immunodeficiency viruses may integrate into the host genome. These virus/host integrations are detectable using paired-end next generation sequencing. However, the low number of expected true virus integrations may be difficult to distinguish from the noise of many false positive candidates. Here, we propose a novel filtering approach that increases specificity without compromising sensitivity for virus/host chimera detection. Our detection pipeline termed Vy-PER (Virus integration detection bY Paired End Reads) outperforms existing similar tools in speed and accuracy. We analysed whole genome data from childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), which is characterised by genomic rearrangements and usually associated with radiation exposure. This analysis was motivated by the recently reported virus integrations at genomic rearrangement sites and association with chromosomal instability in liver cancer. However, as expected, our analysis of 20 tumour and matched germline genomes from ALL patients finds no significant evidence for integrations by known viruses. Nevertheless, our method eliminates 12,800 false positives per genome (80× coverage) and only our method detects singleton human-phiX174-chimeras caused by optical errors of the Illumina HiSeq platform. This high accuracy is useful for detecting low virus integration levels as well as non-integrated viruses.
Disperse fine equiaxed alpha alumina nanoparticles with narrow size distribution synthesised by selective corrosion and coagulation separation
Authors: Pu Sanxu , Li Lu , Ma Ji , Lu Fuliang , Li Jiangong
Published: July 2015

Disperse fine equiaxed α-Al2O3 nanoparticles with narrow size distribution are important materials in nanotechnology and nanomaterials, but syntheses of disperse fine equiaxed α-Al2O3 nanoparticles usually result in fine γ-Al2O3 nanoparticles or large α-Al2O3 nanoparticles larger than 15 nm. α-Al2O3 has a higher surface energy than γ-Al2O3 and becomes thermodynamically not stable with respect to γ-Al2O3 at specific surface areas larger than 100 m2/g (at sizes smaller than 15 nm for spherical particles) at room temperature. So disperse fine equiaxed α-Al2O3 nanoparticles smaller than 15 nm with narrow size distribution are extremely difficult to synthesise. Here we show the successful synthesis of disperse fine equiaxed α-Al2O3 nanoparticles with average sizes below 10 nm and narrow size distribution by selective corrosion and refined fractionated coagulation separation. An almost fully dense nanocrystalline α-Al2O3 ceramic with a relative density of 99.5% and an average grain size of 60 nm can be sintered from disperse fine equiaxed α-Al2O3 nanoparticles with narrow size distribution.
How warm is too warm for the life cycle of actinopterygian fishes?
Authors: Motani Ryosuke , Wainwright Peter C.
Published: July 2015

We investigated the highest constant temperature at which actinopterygian fishes can complete their lifecycles, based on an oxygen supply model for cleavage-stage eggs. This stage is one of the most heat-sensitive periods during the lifecycle, likely reflecting the exhaustion of maternally supplied heat shock proteins without new production. The model suggests that average eggs would not develop normally under a constant temperature of about 36 °C or higher. This estimate matches published empirical values derived from laboratory and field observations. Spermatogenesis is more heat sensitive than embryogenesis in fishes, so the threshold may indeed be lower, at about 35 °C, unless actinopterygian fishes evolve heat tolerance during spermatogenesis as in birds. Our model also predicts an inverse relationship between egg size and temperature and empirical data support this prediction. Therefore, the average egg size and hence hatching size, is expected to shrink in a greenhouse world but a feeding function prohibits the survival of very small hatchlings, posing a limit to the shrinkage. It was once suggested that a marine animal community may be sustained under temperatures up to about 38 °C and this value is being used, for example, in paleotemperature reconstruction. A revision of the value is overdue. (199/200)
Optimization of Parameter Selection for Partial Least Squares Model Development
Authors: Zhao Na , Wu Zhi-sheng , Zhang Qiao , Shi Xin-yuan , Ma Qun , Qiao Yan-jiang
Published: July 2015

In multivariate calibration using a spectral dataset, it is difficult to optimize nonsystematic parameters in a quantitative model, i.e., spectral pretreatment, latent factors and variable selection. In this study, we describe a novel and systematic approach that uses a processing trajectory to select three parameters including different spectral pretreatments, variable importance in the projection (VIP) for variable selection and latent factors in the Partial Least-Square (PLS) model. The root mean square errors of calibration (RMSEC), the root mean square errors of prediction (RMSEP), the ratio of standard error of prediction to standard deviation (RPD) and the determination coefficient of calibration (Rcal2) and validation (Rpre2) were simultaneously assessed to optimize the best modeling path. We used three different near-infrared (NIR) datasets, which illustrated that there was more than one modeling path to ensure good modeling. The PLS model optimizes modeling parameters step-by-step, but the robust model described here demonstrates better efficiency than other published papers.
Programmed Hydrolysis in Designing Paclitaxel Prodrug for Nanocarrier Assembly
Authors: Fu Q. , Wang Y. , Ma Y. , Zhang D. , Fallon J. K. , Yang X. , Liu D. , He Z. , Liu F.
Published: July 2015

Nanocarriers delivering prodrugs are a way of improving in vivo effectiveness and efficiency. For therapeutic efficacy, the prodrug must hydrolyze to its parent drug after administration. Based on the fact that the hydrolysis is impeded by steric hindrance and improved by sufficient polarity, in this study, we proposed the PTX-S-S-VE, the conjugation of paclitaxel (PTX) to vitamin E (VE) through a disulfide bridge. This conjugate possessed the following advantages: first, it can be encapsulated in the VE/VE2-PEG2000/water nanoemulsions because of favorable hydrophobic interactions; second, the nanoemulsions had a long blood circulation time; finally, the concentrated glutathione in the tumor microenvironment could cleave the disulfide bond to weaken the steric hindrance and increase the polarity, promoting the hydrolysis to PTX and increasing the anticancer activity. It was demonstrated in vitro that the hydrolysis of PTX-S-S-VE was enhanced and the cytotoxicity was increased. In addition, PTX-S-S-VE had greater anticancer activity against the KB-3-1 cell line tumor xenograft and the tumor size was smaller after the 4th injection. The present result suggests a new way, use of reduction, to improve the in vivo anticancer activity of a prodrug for nanocarrier delivery by unshielding the ester bond and taking off the steric block.
Enhancement of Charge Transfer and Quenching of Photoluminescence of Capped CdS Quantum Dots
Authors: Mehata Mohan Singh
Published: July 2015

Quantum dots (Q-dots) of cadmium sulfide (CdS) with three different capping ligands, 1-butanethiol (BT), 2-mercaptoethanol (ME) and benzyl mercaptan (BM) have been investigated. An external electric field of variable strength of 0.2–1.0 MV cm−1 was applied to the sample of capped CdS Q-dots doped in a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) films. Field-induced changes in optical absorption of capped CdS Q-dots were observed in terms of purely the second-derivative of the absorption spectrum (the Stark shift), indicating an enhancement in electric dipole moment following transition to the first exciton state. The enhancement depends on the shape and size of the Q-dots prepared using different capping ligands. Field induced-change in photoluminescence (PL) reveals similar changes, an enhancement in charge-transfer (CT) character in exciton state. PL of capped CdS Q-dots is significantly quenched in presence of external electric field. The strong field-induced quenching occurs as a result of the increased charge separation resulting exciton dissociation. Thus, understanding the CT character and field-induced PL quenching of CdS Q-dots is important for photovoltaic, LEDs and biological applications.
Atmospheric benzenoid emissions from plants rival those from fossil fuels
Authors: Misztal P.K. , Hewitt C.N. , Wildt J. , Blande J.D. , Eller A.S.D. , Fares S. , Gentner D.R. , Gilman J.B. , Graus M. , Greenberg J. , Guenther A.B. , Hansel A. , Harley P. , Huang M. , Jardine K. , Karl T. , Kaser L. , Keutsch F.N. , Kiendler-Scharr A. , Kleist E. , Lerner B.M. , Li T. , Mak J. , Nölscher A.C. , Schnitzhofer R. , Sinha V. , Thornton B. , Warneke C. , Wegener F. , Werner C. , Williams J. , Worton D.R. , Yassaa N. , Goldstein A.H.
Published: July 2015

Despite the known biochemical production of a range of aromatic compounds by plants and the presence of benzenoids in floral scents, the emissions of only a few benzenoid compounds have been reported from the biosphere to the atmosphere. Here, using evidence from measurements at aircraft, ecosystem, tree, branch and leaf scales, with complementary isotopic labeling experiments, we show that vegetation (leaves, flowers and phytoplankton) emits a wide variety of benzenoid compounds to the atmosphere at substantial rates. Controlled environment experiments show that plants are able to alter their metabolism to produce and release many benzenoids under stress conditions. The functions of these compounds remain unclear but may be related to chemical communication and protection against stress. We estimate the total global secondary organic aerosol potential from biogenic benzenoids to be similar to that from anthropogenic benzenoids (~10 Tg y−1), pointing to the importance of these natural emissions in atmospheric physics and chemistry.
Genetic variation in the TNF/TRAF2/ASK1/p38 kinase signaling pathway as markers for postoperative pulmonary complications in lung cancer patients
Authors: Hildebrandt Michelle A. T. , Roth Jack A. , Vaporciyan Ara A. , Pu Xia , Ye Yuanqing , Correa Arlene M. , Kim Jae Y. , Swisher Stephen G. , Wu Xifeng
Published: July 2015

Post-operative pulmonary complications are the most common morbidity associated with lung resection in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. The TNF/TRAF2/ASK1/p38 kinase pathway is activated by stress stimuli and inflammatory signals. We hypothesized that genetic polymorphisms within this pathway may contribute to risk of complications. In this case-only study, we genotyped 173 germline genetic variants in a discovery population of 264 NSCLC patients who underwent a lobectomy followed by genotyping of the top variants in a replication population of 264 patients. Complications data was obtained from a prospective database at MD Anderson. MAP2K4:rs12452497 was significantly associated with a decreased risk in both phases, resulting in a 40% reduction in the pooled population (95% CI:0.43–0.83, P = 0.0018). In total, seven variants were significant for risk in the pooled analysis. Gene-based analysis supported the involvement of TRAF2, MAP2K4 and MAP3K5 as mediating complications risk and a highly significant trend was identified between the number of risk genotypes and complications risk (P = 1.63 × 10−8). An inverse relationship was observed between association with clinical outcomes and complications for two variants. These results implicate the TNF/TRAF2/ASK1/p38 kinase pathway in modulating risk of pulmonary complications following lobectomy and may be useful biomarkers to identify patients at high risk.
GreedyPlus: An Algorithm for the Alignment of Interface Interaction Networks
Authors: Law Brian , Bader Gary D.
Published: July 2015

The increasing ease and accuracy of protein-protein interaction detection has resulted in the ability to map the interactomes of multiple species. We now have an opportunity to compare species to better understand how interactomes evolve. As DNA and protein sequence alignment algorithms were required for comparative genomics, network alignment algorithms are required for comparative interactomics. A number of network alignment methods have been developed for protein-protein interaction networks, where proteins are represented as vertices linked by edges if they interact. Recently, protein interactions have been mapped at the level of amino acid positions, which can be represented as an interface-interaction network (IIN), where vertices represent binding sites, such as protein domains and short sequence motifs. However, current algorithms are not designed to align these networks and generally fail to do so in practice. We present a greedy algorithm, GreedyPlus, for IIN alignment, combining data from diverse sources, including network, protein and binding site properties, to identify putative orthologous relationships between interfaces in available worm and yeast data. GreedyPlus is fast and simple, allowing for easy customization of behaviour, yet still capable of generating biologically meaningful network alignments.
An anti-inflammatory role for C/EBPδ in human brain pericytes
Authors: Rustenhoven Justin , Scotter Emma L. , Jansson Deidre , Kho Dan T. , Oldfield Robyn L. , Bergin Peter S. , Mee Edward W. , Faull Richard L. M. , Curtis Maurice A. , Graham Scott E. , Park Thomas I-H. , Dragunow Mike
Published: July 2015

Neuroinflammation contributes to the pathogenesis of several neurological disorders and pericytes are implicated in brain inflammatory processes. Cellular inflammatory responses are orchestrated by transcription factors but information on transcriptional control in pericytes is lacking. Because the transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer binding protein delta (C/EBPδ) is induced in a number of inflammatory brain disorders, we sought to investigate its role in regulating pericyte immune responses. Our results reveal that C/EBPδ is induced in a concentration- and time-dependent fashion in human brain pericytes by interleukin-1β (IL-1β). To investigate the function of the induced C/EBPδ in pericytes we used siRNA to knockdown IL-1β-induced C/EBPδ expression. C/EBPδ knockdown enhanced IL-1β-induced production of intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), interleukin-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and IL-1β, whilst attenuating cyclooxygenase-2 and superoxide dismutase-2 gene expression. Altered ICAM-1 and MCP-1 protein expression were confirmed by cytometric bead array and immunocytochemistry. Our results show that knock-down of C/EBPδ expression in pericytes following immune stimulation increased chemokine and adhesion molecule expression, thus modifying the human brain pericyte inflammatory response. The induction of C/EBPδ following immune stimulation may act to limit infiltration of peripheral immune cells, thereby preventing further inflammatory responses in the brain.
Spatial distribution and ecological niches of non-breeding planktivorous petrels
Authors: Navarro Joan , Cardador Laura , Brown Ruth , Phillips Richard A.
Published: July 2015

According to niche theory, mechanisms exist that allow co-existence of organisms that would otherwise compete for the same prey and other resources. How seabirds cope with potential competition during the non-breeding period is poorly documented, particularly for small species. Here we investigate for the first time the potential role of spatial, environmental (habitat) and trophic (isotopic) segregation as niche-partitioning mechanisms during the non-breeding season for four species of highly abundant, zooplanktivorous seabird that breed sympatrically in the Southern Ocean. Spatial segregation was found to be the main partitioning mechanism; even for the two sibling species of diving petrel, which spent the non-breeding period in overlapping areas, there was evidence from distribution and stable isotope ratios for differences in habitat use and diving depth.
Functional Materials Based on Metal-Containing Polymers
Authors: Abd-El-Aziz Alaa S. , Agatemor Christian , Etkin Nola
Published: July 2015

Since the dawn of human civilization, there has been a demand for materials that include ceramics, metals, and polymers. Increasing demand as well as the need for enhanced performance has driven material scientists to research metal-containing polymers as complements of these materials. Consequently, metal-containing polymers that integrate the excellent thermal, electronic, optical, and magnetic properties of metals with the lightweight, low cost, and in some cases, the chemical stability of organic-based polymers have been designed, and used as catalysts, sensors, ceramic precursors, magnetic materials, and electrical conductors. This chapter provides an overview of some of these functional metal-containing polymers.
Metal-Organic Frameworks as Chemical Sensors
Authors: Waggoner Nolan W. , Bohnsack Alisha M. , Humphrey Simon M.
Published: July 2015

Chemical sensing is of critical importance in today's society in a variety of applications from medicine to environmental pollution control, and from food safety monitoring to the detection of illicit substances and chemical weapons. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have shown tremendous promise as a new class of chemical sensor materials that could be integrated into future devices. MOFs are microporous crystalline materials with infinite, periodic structures composed of organic ‘linkers’ connected to metal ‘nodes’. Their architectures can be fine-tuned by synthetic design for task-specific purposes: as chemical sensors, MOFs can be designed to interact with specific target analytes. Interest in MOFs as chemical sensors has grown significantly over the last decade, particularly given the increasing number of examples of luminescent lanthanide-based MOFs, and MOFs that display mechanochemical responses to external stimuli. In this chapter, we discuss some of the fundamental properties required to prepare MOFs for chemical sensing. We then present an extensive review of recent research in this area, showing how MOFs have been applied in a wide range of applications, including sensing of anions, cations, small organic molecules, biomolecules, as well as changes in physical conditions such as temperature and pH.
Paper cone spray ionization mass spectrometry (PCSI MS) for simple and rapid analysis of raw solid samples
Authors: Kim Purum , Cha Sangwon
Published: July 2015

A novel paper spray ionization platform utilizing a three-dimensional paper cone tip for rapid chemical fingerprinting of raw solid materials.
Determination of heavy metals in water samples using dual-cloud point extraction coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
Authors: Peng Guilong , He Qiang , Zhou Guangming , Li Yong , Su Xiaoxuan , Liu Mengzi , Fan Leilei
Published: July 2015

A dual-cloud point extraction (d-CPE) technique combined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used for preconcentration and determination of Cr, Ga, Ag, Cd, Mn, Fe, In, Cu, Ni, Co, Pb and Zn in real water samples.
Enhancement of 4-electron O2 reduction by a Cu(ii)–pyridylamine complex via protonation of a pendant pyridine in the second coordination sphere in water
Authors: Kotani Hiroaki , Yagi Tomomi , Ishizuka Tomoya , Kojima Takahiko
Published: July 2015

Catalytic four-electron reduction of O2 by a Cu(ii)–pyridylamine complex is selectively enhanced via protonation of a pendant pyridine in the second coordination sphere in water.
β-Mannosylation with 4,6-benzylidene protected mannosyl donors without preactivation
Authors: Heuckendorff Mads , Bols Pernille Sørensen , Barry Collin Bartholomew , Frihed Tobias Gylling , Pedersen Christian Marcus , Bols Mikael
Published: July 2015

Mannosylations with benzylidene protected mannosyl donors were found to be β-selective even when no preactivation was performed.
A BODIPY-based ‘turn-on’ fluorescent probe for hypoxic cell imaging
Authors: Wang Sisi , Liu Hui , Mack John , Tian Jiangwei , Zou Bin , Lu Hua , Li Zhifang , Jiang Jianxiong , Shen Zhen
Published: July 2015

A ‘turn-on’ fluorescent probe based on the BODIPY fluorophore for hypoxic cell imaging is reported.
A dual target-recycling amplification strategy for sensitive detection of microRNAs based on duplex-specific nuclease and catalytic hairpin assembly
Authors: Hao Nan , Dai Pan-Pan , Yu Tao , Xu Jing-Juan , Chen Hong-Yuan
Published: July 2015

A dual target-recycling amplification strategy for detection of microRNAs based on duplex-specific nuclease and catalytic hairpin assembly was reported.
Molecular dynamics of dibenz[a,h]anthracene and its metabolite interacting with lung surfactant phospholipid bilayers
Authors: Padilla-Chavarría Helmut I. , Guizado Teobaldo R. C. , Pimentel Andre S.
Published: July 2015

Dibenz[a,h]anthracene and its metabolite may form aggregates, which have implications in the clearance process of the lung surfactant phospholipid bilayers.
Theoretical study of the pathway to heterogeneous nucleation of liquid copper on the groove substrate with different wedge angles
Authors: Zhou Xuyan , Wu Weikang , He Yezeng , Li Yifan , Wang Long , Li Hui
Published: July 2015

The induced effect from the substrate decays with the increasing distance from the substrate, then the final structure gradually recovers its inherent structure.
Drawing dependent structures, mechanical properties and cyclization behaviors of polyacrylonitrile and polyacrylonitrile/carbon nanotube composite fibers prepared by plasticized spinning
Authors: Li Xiang , Qin Aiwen , Zhao Xinzhen , Liu Dapeng , Wang Haiye , He Chunju
Published: July 2015

Drawing to change the structural properties and cyclization behaviors of the polyacrylonitrile (PAN) chains in crystalline and amorphous regions is carried out on PAN and PAN/carbon nanotube (CNT) composite fibers.
Monitoring the intramolecular charge transfer process in the Z907 solar cell sensitizer: a transient Vis and IR spectroscopy and ab initio investigation
Authors: Azzaroli Nicolò , Lobello Maria Grazia , Lapini Andrea , Iagatti Alessandro , Bussotti Laura , Di Donato Mariangela , Calogero Giuseppe , Pastore Mariachiara , De Angelis Filippo , Foggi Paolo
Published: July 2015

The excited state dynamics of Z907 in solution and on semiconductor substrates has been studied with ultrafast UV/Vis and IR spectroscopy and DFT/TDDFT calculations.
Enhanced energy transfer efficiency and stability of europium β-diketonate complex in ionic liquid-based lyotropic liquid crystals
Authors: Yi Sijing , Wang Jiao , Chen Xiao
Published: July 2015

The self-assembly of luminescent lyotropic liquid crystals with europium β-diketonate complex confined within via hydrogen bonds between P123 and imidazolium cations is demonstrated.
Azide addition to Sc2@C66: favorable activity on unsaturated linear triquinanes and dramatic reactivity difference compared with the free C66 cage
Authors: Li Qiao-Zhi , Zheng Jia-Jia , Zhao Xiang
Published: July 2015

Azide additions on C66 and Sc2@C66: the best reactive sites are both located on the unsaturated linear triquinanes theoretically.
Hexaazatriphenylene (HAT) derivatives: from synthesis to molecular design, self-organization and device applications
Authors: Segura José L. , Juárez Rafael , Ramos Mar , Seoane Carlos
Published: July 2015

The creativity and inventiveness of chemists working with the 1,4,5,8,9,12-hexaazatriphenylene (HAT) building block is highlighted in this review.
Syntheses, structure solutions, and catalytic performance of two novel layered silicates
Authors: Liang Jie , Su Jie , Chen Yanping , Li Zhaofei , Li Kuo , Zhang Hao , Zou Xiaodong , Liao Fuhui , Wang Yingxia , Lin Jianhua
Published: July 2015

PKU-13 and PKU-13a, constructed by the samer52layers by the insertion of mono- and double-layers of SDA molecules respectively, exemplify a structural transformation by the treatment of acetic acid.
Elucidating the structures and cooperative binding mechanism of cesium salts to the multitopic ion-pair receptor through density functional theory calculations
Authors: Sadhu Biswajit , Sundararajan Mahesh , Velmurugan Gunasekaran , Venuvanalingam Ponnambalam
Published: July 2015

Quantum chemical studies predict the binding of Cesium salts to multitopic ion-pair receptor is through cooperative mechanism.
Enlarging the ring by incorporating a phosphonate coligand: from the cyclic hexanuclear to octanuclear dysprosium clusters
Authors: Tian Haiquan , Bao Song-Song , Zheng Li-Min
Published: July 2015

Two cyclic lanthanide clusters based on a rationally designed double pyrazinyl hydrazone ligand EDDC2−, namely, [Dy6(EDDC)2(OAc)14(H2O)2]·MeOH·2H2O (1) and [Dy8(EDDC)4(O3PC10H7)4(OAc)8(H2O)4]·12H2O (2) are reported. The latter shows slow magnetization relaxation below 12 K.
Heat-to-current conversion of low-grade heat from a thermocapacitive cycle by supercapacitors
Authors: Härtel Andreas , Janssen Mathijs , Weingarth Daniel , Presser Volker , van Roij René
Published: July 2015

The thermal voltage rise in supercapacitors can be used to convert efficiently low-grade heat into electric energy.
A study of SeqA subcellular localization in Escherichia coli using photo-activated localization microscopy
Authors: Mika Jacek T. , Vanhecke Aster , Dedecker Peter , Swings Toon , Vangindertael Jeroen , Van den Bergh Bram , Michiels Jan , Hofkens Johan
Published: July 2015

Escherichia coli (E. coli) cells replicate their genome once per cell cycle to pass on genetic information to the daughter cells. The SeqA protein binds the origin of replication, oriC, after DNA replication initiation and sequesters it from new initiations in order to prevent overinitiation. Conventional fluorescence microscopy studies of SeqA localization in bacterial cells have shown that the protein is localized to discrete foci. In this study we have used photo-activated localization microscopy (PALM) to determine the localization of SeqA molecules, tagged with fluorescent proteins, with a localization precision of 20–30 nm with the aim to visualize the SeqA subcellular structures in more detail than previously possible. SeqA–PAmCherry was imaged in wild type E. coli, expressed from plasmid or genetically engineered into the bacterial genome, replacing the native seqA gene. Unsynchronized cells as well as cells with a synchronized cell cycle were imaged at various time points, in order to investigate the evolution of SeqA localization during the cell cycle. We found that SeqA indeed localized into discrete foci but these were not the only subcellular localizations of the protein. A significant amount of SeqA–PAmCherry molecules was localized outside the foci and in a fraction of cells we saw patterns indicating localization at the membrane. Using quantitative PALM, we counted protein copy numbers per cell, protein copy numbers per focus, the numbers of foci per cell and the sizes of the SeqA clusters. The data showed broad cell-to-cell variation and we did not observe a correlation between SeqA–PAmCherry protein numbers and the cell cycle under the experimental conditions of this study. The numbers of SeqA–PAmCherry molecules per focus as well as the foci sizes also showed broad distributions indicating that the foci are likely not characterized by a fixed number of molecules. We also imaged an E. coli strain devoid of the dam methylase (Δdam) and observed that SeqA–PAmCherry no longer formed foci, and was dispersed throughout the cell and localized to the plasma membrane more readily. We discuss our results in the context of the limitations of the technique.
Photoactive amphiphiles for the assembly of supramolecular architectures
Authors: Jarman B. P. , Cucinotta F.
Published: July 2015

The presented study reports the use of photoactive templating structures for the design of porous frameworks with built-in optical functionalities. The materials have been synthesised and characterised using powder X-ray diffractometry, UV-visible absorption and emission spectroscopy. The latter shows that, by varying the relative amount of an amphiphilic chromophore in the micellar templates, it is possible to tune the light absorption and emission properties over the visible spectrum, by means of controlling the molecular organisation and the excitonic coupling of aggregated species. This enables versatile solid materials that can be used as optical components for light-harvesting and converting systems to be obtained .
Effects of dietary extra virgin olive oil and its fractions on antioxidant status and DNA damage in the heart of rats co-exposed to aluminum and acrylamide
Authors: Ghorbel Imen , Khemakhem Mouna , Boudawara Ons , Marrekchi Rim , Jamoussi Kamel , Ben Amar Raja , Boudawara Tahia , Zeghal Najiba , Grati Kamoun Naziha
Published: July 2015

Oxidative stress generated by an excessive production of free radicals has been linked to the development of several health problems such as cardiovascular diseases.
Capabilities of sequential and quasi-simultaneous LA-ICPMS for the multi-element analysis of small quantity of liquids (pl to nl): insights from fluid inclusion analysis
Authors: Harlaux Matthieu , Borovinskaya Olga , Frick Daniel A. , Tabersky Daniel , Gschwind Sabrina , Richard Antonin , Günther Detlef , Mercadier Julien
Published: July 2015

Three configurations of LA-ICPMS (quadrupole, sector-field, time-of-flight) were compared for multi-element analysis of small quantities of liquids (pl to nl), such as fluid inclusions.
Amphotericin B and anidulafungin directly interact with DNA and induce oxidative damage in the mammalian genome
Authors: Mandal Santi M. , Chakraborty Anirban , Hossain Maidul , Mahata Denial , Porto William F. , Chakraborty Ranadhir , Mukhopadhyay Chinmay K. , Franco Octavio L. , Hazra Tapas K. , Basak Amit
Published: July 2015

Amphotericin B and anidulafungin are widely used antifungal drugs for the treatment of systemic and serious mycoses.
Efficiency enhanced rutile TiO2nanowire solar cells based on an Sb2S3absorber and a CuI hole conductor
Authors: Sun Panpan , Zhang Xintong , Wang Lingling , Wei Yongan , Wang Changhua , Liu Yichun
Published: July 2015

The spray technique is introduced for CuI deposition on Sb2S3-sensitized TiO2nanowire solar cells, which enhances the photovoltaic performance of the device.
Fluoride removal from aqueous solutions using cerium loaded mesoporous zirconium phosphate
Authors: Dash Saswati Soumya , Sahu Manoj Kumar , Sahu Eleena , Patel Raj Kishore
Published: July 2015

Adsorption of fluoride on cerium modified mesoporous zirconium phosphate.
Stereoselective α-indolylation of enals via an organocatalytic formal cross-coupling with indoles
Authors: Hu Yang , Ju Lei , Lu Lin , Ma Hongmei , Yu Xinhong
Published: July 2015

A novel organocatalytic one-pot cascade bromination–Michael addition dearomatization–nucleophilic rearrangement aromatization cascade process for the direct α-indolylation of unfunctionalized enals from readily available indoles with good yields and high E selectivity has been developed with great simplicity and practicality.
Palladium-catalyzed Br/D exchange of arenes: selective deuterium incorporation with versatile functional group tolerance and high efficiency
Authors: Zhang Hong-Hai , Bonnesen Peter V. , Hong Kunlun
Published: July 2015

A facile method for introducing deuterium atoms onto an aromatic nucleus via Br/D exchange with high efficiency is disclosed.
Photoreduction of natural redox proteins by CdTe quantum dots is size-tunable and conjugation-independent
Authors: Grzyb Joanna , Kalwarczyk Ewelina , Worch Remigiusz
Published: July 2015

Colloidal CdTe quantum dots may photoreduce both heme and iron–sulfur cluster containing proteins. Reduction level may be tuned by choosing different size of nanocrystals.
Improvement of chemical stability and durability of superhydrophobic wood surface via a film of TiO2coated CaCO3micro-/nano-composite particles
Authors: Gao Zhengxin , Ma Miaolian , Zhai Xianglin , Zhang Ming , Zang Deli , Wang Chengyu
Published: July 2015

Images of water droplets on (a) pristine wood, (b) wood covered with composite particles, (c) wood modified with stearic acid, and (d) superhydrophobic wood.
Degradable cross-linked polymeric microsphere for enhanced oil recovery applications
Authors: Yu Xiaorong , Pu Wanfen , Chen Dajun , Zhang Jian , Zhou Fei , Zhang Rui , Gu Siman
Published: July 2015

DCPM is served as conformance control agents and polymer flooding within deep formation.
Dual role of pinostrobin-a flavonoid nutraceutical as an efflux pump inhibitor and antibiofilm agent to mitigate food borne pathogens
Authors: Christena Lowrence Rene , Subramaniam Shankar , Vidhyalakshmi Mohan , Mahadevan Vijayalakshmi , Sivasubramanian Aravind , Nagarajan Saisubramanian
Published: July 2015

Drastic 128 fold MIC reversal in MRSA stain via EPI effect. Remarkable anti-biofilm effect against gram negative bacteria. Efflux pump other than NorA is involved.