bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Danger of Analogical Myths: Explaining the Power and Consequences of the Sykes-Picot Delusion
Authors: Dodge Toby
Published: July 2017

Even before its hundredth year anniversary on 16 May 2016, the Sykes-Picot agreement had become a widely cited historical analogy both in the region itself and in Europe and the United States. In the Middle East, it is frequently deployed as an infamous example of European imperial betrayal and Western attempts more generally to keep the region divided, in conflict, and easy to dominate. In Europe and the United States, however, its role as a historical analogy is more complex—a shorthand for understanding the Middle East as irrevocably divided into mutually hostile sects and clans, destined to be mired in conflict until another external intervention imposes a new, more authentic, set of political units on the region to replace the postcolonial states left in the wake of WWI. What is notable about both these uses of the Sykes-Picot agreement is that they fundamentally misread, and thus overstate, its historical significance. The agreement reached by the British diplomat Mark Sykes and his French counterpart, François Georges-Picot, in May 1916, quickly became irrelevant as the realities on the ground in the Middle East, U.S. intervention into the war, a resurgent Turkey and the comparative weakness of the French and British states transformed international relations at the end of the First World War. Against this historical background, explaining the contemporary power of the narrative surrounding the use of the Sykes-Picot agreement becomes more intellectually interesting than its minor role in the history of European imperial interventions in the Middle East.
International Criminal Law as a Spotlight and Black Holes as Constituents of Legacy
Authors: Herik Larissa van den
Published: July 2017

This contribution engages with Sara Kendall’s and Sarah Nouwen’s article on the legacy of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and their call for an ethos of institutional modesty. I much support the nuanced approach that underlies their call and I see it as a prerequisite to properly and adequately appreciate the ICTR’s past existence and operation. I would even be open to moving one step further in the direction of an ethos of sobriety. Rather than seizing the momentum to celebrate accomplishments and highlight milestones, legacy-talk and legacy-construction of international criminal tribunals should entail a form of reckoning. Indeed, as suggested by Kendall and Nouwen, the “justices not done” and the “justices pending” must be part and parcel of the ICTR’s legacy-constructions so as to offer a fair balance and to capture the ICTR’s overall performance, explicitly accounting for results as well as omissions.
Demystifying Political Violence: Some Bequests of ICTY and ICTR
Authors: Luban David
Published: July 2017

As Sara Kendall and Sarah M. H. Nouwen rightly notice, “legacy” is a big word, and it may be too soon even to begin to evaluate the legacies of the international criminal tribunals. Legacies are whatever future generations take from the tribunals. That, obviously, is in their hands, not the hands of the tribunals. So the question of legacies is more properly a question of bequests, and the inquiry must be a modest one: how do we evaluate the successes and failures of the tribunals in the here and now rather than the further future? Failures matter as well as successes, and as in science, failures can be as instructive and useful as successes. For example, many observers concluded that the tribunals, operating in The Hague and Arusha without an initial ground game in former Yugoslavia or Rwanda, were too far removed from the peoples who experienced the crimes; that perception helped motivate the movement toward hybrid tribunals. If that is right, the hybrid model counts amongthe “legacies” oftheInternational Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY)and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), if only in the negative way that they exposed a problem the hybrids tried to remedy. As another example, Kendall and Nouwen remarkthat the impunity of the RPF has also become part of ICTR’s legacy. That too would be an instructive failure—instructive, in this case, as a foretaste of how difficult it is to prosecute cases against an intransigent government in power, a lesson that the International Criminal Court’s (ICC)troubles in Sudan and Kenya confirm.
Jurisdiction of the Arbitral Tribunalin Philippines V.China Under UNCLOS and in the absence of China
Authors: Parlett Kate
Published: July 2017

It is not uncommon for decisions of international tribunals to be reported in the pages of the Washington Post or feature on the BBC News website. It is rather less common for awards to feature on the giant screens of New York’s Times Square. But less than two weeks after the Arbitral Tribuna lunder Annex VII to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea issued its Awardin Philippines v.China, a three-minute video featuring China’s position was broadcast repeatedly on the screen better known forbroadcasting New Year’s Eve festivities than argumentation on the competence of international tribunals. The video asserted that China’s “indisputable sovereignty over [the South China Sea islands] has sufficient historic and legal basis” and that “the Arbitral Tribunalvainly attempted to deny China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea.” It further stated that “China did not participate in the illegal South China Sea arbitration, nor accepts the Awardso as to defend the solemnity of international law.” This latter statement goes to the very heart of the Arbitral Tribunal’s jurisdiction under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (the Convention) and its competence to decide the case despite China’s nonparticipation in the proceedings.
High Planting Rates Improve Weed Suppression, Yield, and Profitability in Organically-Managed, No-till–Planted Soybean
Authors: Liebert Jeffrey A. , Ryan Matthew R.
Published: July 2017

High soybean populations have been shown to hasten canopy closure, which can improve both weed suppression and soybean yield. In conventional soybean production, the high cost of genetically engineered seed and seed treatments have led growers to plant at lower rates to maximize profitability. For organic farmers, market price premiums are typically double the price received for conventional soybean. Without chemical or mechanical weed management, cultural practices are particularly important for adequate weed suppression in cover crop–based organic no–till planted soybean production. In 2014, an experiment was conducted in Aurora and Hurley, New York, to assess the effects of increasing soybean planting rates on weed suppression, soybean yield, and partial economic return. Five planting rates ranging from 195,000 to 914,000 seedsha−1were arranged in a randomized complete block design. As soybean planting rate increased, weed biomass decreased and soybean yield increased at both sites. An asymptotic model described the relationship between increasing soybean planting rate and yield, and the estimated maximum yield was 2,504 kgha−1in Aurora and 3,178 kgha−1in Hurley. Despite high soybean populations, minimal lodging was observed. Partial returns decreased beyond the predicted economically optimal planting rate of 646,000 seeds ha−1in Aurora and 728,000 seeds ha−1in Hurley as higher seed costs were no longer offset by yield gains. Based on our results, planting rates that are more than double the recommended rate of 321,000 seeds ha−1for wide row (≥76 cm) conventional soybean management in New York can enhance weed suppression, increase yield, and improve profitability in organic no-till planted soybean production.
JUN is important for ocular hypertension-induced retinal ganglion cell degeneration
Authors: Syc-Mazurek Stephanie B , Fernandes Kimberly A , Libby Richard T
Published: July 2017

Ocular hypertension, a major risk factor for glaucoma, is thought to trigger glaucomatous neurodegeneration through injury to retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons. The molecular signaling pathway leading from ocular hypertension to RGC degeneration, however, is not well defined. JNK signaling, a component of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family, and its canonical target, the transcription factor JUN, have been shown to regulate neurodegeneration in many different systems. JUN is expressed after glaucoma-relevant injuries and Jun deficiency protects RGCs after mechanical injury to the optic nerve. Here, we tested the importance of JNK–JUN signaling for RGC death after ocular hypertensive axonal injury in an age-related, mouse model of ocular hypertension. Immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate JUN expression in ocular hypertensive DBA/2J mice. JUN was expressed in a temporal and spatial pattern consistent with a role in glaucomatous injury. To determine the importance of JUN in ocular hypertension-induced RGC death, a floxed allele of Jun and a retinal expressed cre recombinase (Six3-cre) were backcrossed onto the DBA/2J background. Intraocular pressure (IOP) and gross morphology of the retina and optic nerve head were assessed to determine whether removing Jun from the developing retina altered IOP elevation or retinal development. Jun deficiency in the retina did not alter DBA/2J IOP elevation or retinal development. Optic nerves and retinas were assessed at ages known to have glaucomatous damage in DBA/2J mice. Jun deficiency protected RGC somas from ocular hypertensive injury, but did not protect RGC axons from glaucomatous neurodegeneration. Jun is a major regulator of RGC somal degeneration after glaucomatous ocular hypertensive injury. These results suggest in glaucomatous neurodegeneration, JNK–JUN signaling has a major role as a pro-death signaling pathway between axonal injury and somal degeneration.
ALKBH7 drives a tissue and sex-specific necrotic cell death response following alkylation-induced damage
Authors: Jordan Jennifer J , Chhim Sophea , Margulies Carrie M , Allocca Mariacarmela , Bronson Roderick T , Klungland Arne , Samson Leona D , Fu Dragony
Published: July 2017

Regulated necrosis has emerged as a major cell death mechanism in response to different forms of physiological and pharmacological stress. The AlkB homolog 7 (ALKBH7) protein is required for regulated cellular necrosis in response to chemotherapeutic alkylating agents but its role within a whole organism is unknown. Here, we show that ALKBH7 modulates alkylation-induced cellular death through a tissue and sex-specific mechanism. At the whole-animal level, we find that ALKBH7 deficiency confers increased resistance to MMS-induced toxicity in male but not female mice. Moreover, ALKBH7-deficient mice exhibit protection against alkylation-mediated cytotoxicity in retinal photoreceptor and cerebellar granule cells, two cell types that undergo necrotic death through the initiation of the base excision repair pathway and hyperactivation of the PARP1/ARTD1 enzyme. Notably, the protection against alkylation-induced cerebellar degeneration is specific to ALKBH7-deficient male but not female mice. Our results uncover anin vivorole for ALKBH7 in mediating a sexually dimorphic tissue response to alkylation damage that could influence individual responses to chemotherapies based upon alkylating agents.
ATP-dependent modulation of MgtE in Mg2+ homeostasis
Authors: Tomita Atsuhiro , Zhang Mingfeng , Jin Fei , Zhuang Wenhui , Takeda Hironori , Maruyama Tatsuro , Osawa Masanori , Hashimoto Ken-ichi , Kawasaki Hisashi , Ito Koichi , Dohmae Naoshi , Ishitani Ryuichiro , Shimada Ichio , Yan Zhiqiang , Hattori Motoyuki , Nureki Osamu
Published: July 2017

Magnesium is an essential ion for numerous physiological processes. MgtE is a Mg2+ selective channel involved in the maintenance of intracellular Mg2+ homeostasis, whose gating is regulated by intracellular Mg2+ levels. Here, we report that ATP binds to MgtE, regulating its Mg2+-dependent gating. Crystal structures of MgtE–ATP complex show that ATP binds to the intracellular CBS domain of MgtE. Functional studies support that ATP binding to MgtE enhances the intracellular domain affinity for Mg2+ within physiological concentrations of this divalent cation, enabling MgtE to function as an in vivo Mg2+ sensor. ATP dissociation from MgtE upregulates Mg2+ influx at both high and low intracellular Mg2+ concentrations. Using site-directed mutagenesis and structure based-electrophysiological and biochemical analyses, we identify key residues and main structural changes involved in the process. This work provides the molecular basis of ATP-dependent modulation of MgtE in Mg2+ homeostasis.
Into the Dynamics of a Supramolecular Polymer at Submolecular Resolution
Authors: Bochicchio Davide , Salvalaglio Matteo , Pavan Giovanni M.
Published: July 2017

To rationally design supramolecular polymers capable of self-healing or reconfiguring their structure in a dynamically controlled way, it is imperative to gain access into the intrinsic dynamics of the supramolecular polymer (dynamic exchange of monomers) while maintaining a high-resolution description of the monomer structure. But this is prohibitively difficult at experimental level. Here we show atomistic, coarse-grained modelling combined with advanced simulation approaches to characterize the molecular mechanisms and relative kinetics of monomer exchange in structural variants of a synthetic supramolecular polymer in different conditions. We can capture differences in supramolecular dynamics consistent with the experimental observations, revealing that monomer exchange in and out the fibres originates from the defects present in their supramolecular structure. At the same time, the submolecular resolution of this approach offers a molecular-level insight into the dynamics of these bioinspired materials, and a flexible tool to obtain structure-dynamics relationships for a variety of polymeric assemblies.
Compounds that enhance the tailing activity of Moloney murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptase
Authors: Ohtsubo Yoshiyuki , Nagata Yuji , Tsuda Masataka
Published: July 2017

In a previous study, we showed that MMLV-RT has a strong terminal transferase activity, and that the C-, G-, and T-tailing activities are enhanced by dGMP, dCMP, and dAMP, respectively. In this study, to achieve faster reaction and higher tailing efficiency, we screened other compounds for the ability to enhance the tailing activities of MMLV-RT, and determined the corresponding optimal concentrations. The C-, G-, and T-tailing activities were enhanced by guanine, cytosine, and adenine, respectively, and by derivatives thereof, suggesting a transient Watson-Click base pairing between an enhancer molecule and the nucleotide to be incorporated. In the presence of some additives (GMP and GDP for C-tailing and CMP for G-tailing), the tail length increased continuously, resulting in tail lengths of 7 to 15 (GMP and GDP) or 13 to 22 (CMP) nucleotides. Among the compounds that do not induce continuous addition, adenosine, deoxycytidine, and deoxyguanosine mostly enhanced T-, G-, and C-tailings, respectively. The enhancing chemicals described here will improve the feasibility of N-tailing by MMLV-RT in various biotechnological applications.
Live reef fish displaying physiological evidence of cyanide poisoning are still traded in the EU marine aquarium industry
Authors: Vaz Marcela C. M. , Esteves Valdemar I. , Calado Ricardo
Published: July 2017

The illegal use of cyanide poisoning to supply live reef fish to several markets is one of the main threats to coral reefs conservation in the Indo-Pacific. The present study performed the first survey ever monitoring the marine aquarium trade in the EU for the presence of physiological evidence consistent with cyanide poisoning in live reef fish. This survey was also the first one worldwide employing a non-invasive sampling approach. Nearly 15% of the fish screened displayed physiological evidence of being illegally collected using cyanide poisoning (by testing positive for the presence of the thiocyanate anion (SCN−) in their urine). The efforts promoted so far to completely eradicate cyanide caught fish from the marine aquarium trade have not been effective, as our results suggest that their prevalence in the trade is in line with data reported nearly two decades ago. A new paradigm is urgently needed to effectively ban cyanide caught fish from the marine aquarium trade.
Rap2a serves as a potential prognostic indicator of renal cell carcinoma and promotes its migration and invasion through up-regulating p-Akt
Authors: Wu Jin-Xia , Du Wen-Qi , Wang Xiu-Cun , Wei Lu-Lu , Huo Fu-Chun , Pan Yao-Jie , Wu Xiao-Jin , Pei Dong-Sheng
Published: July 2017

Rap2a, a member of the small GTPase superfamily, belongs to Ras superfamily, and its function in cancer progression is still poorly understood. Our previous study indicated that the ectopic expression of Rap2a enhanced the migration and invasion ability of lung cancer cells. However, its expression and molecular mechanism on renal cell carcinoma (RCC) have not been characterized. This study explored the clinical significance and biological function of Rap2a in human RCC. The clinical relevance of Rap2a in RCC was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining using tissue microarray. Our data showed that Rap2a expression was dramatically increased in RCC tissues compared with normal renal tissues. The ectopic expression of Rap2a enhanced the migration and invasive ability of cancer cells. In contrast, downregulation of Rap2a inhibited cell invasion. Rap2a had no effect on the proliferation of RCC cell lines. Meanwhile, Rap2a can regulate the phosphorylation level of Akt in vitro. In vivo studies also showed that Rap2a positively regulated metastasis of renal cancer cells and the expression of p-Akt. These findings indicate that Rap2a promotes RCC metastasis and may serve as a candidate RCC prognostic marker and a potential therapeutic target.
Magnetocapacitance in La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/Pb(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3/La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 multiferroic heterostructures
Authors: Hrib Luminita M. , Pintilie Lucian , Alexe Marin
Published: July 2017

Measurements of the magnetocapacitance effect in epitaxial La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/Pb(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3/La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 heterostructures have been performed using a quasi-static method. Through capacitance-voltage measurements carried out under variable magnetic field it has been found that the magneto-capacitance depends on the orientation of the ferroelectric polarization. The value of magneto-capacitance can be as high as 1% in the voltage range near the ferroelectric coercive field. This has been attributed to a variation of the apparent built-in voltage of the PZT-LSMO Schottky barriers on applied magnetic field.
Targeting phosphorylation of STAT3 delays tumor growth in HPV-negative anal squamous cell carcinoma mouse model
Authors: Bu Lin-Lin , Li Yi-Cun , Yu Guang-Tao , Liu Jian-Feng , Deng Wei-Wei , Zhang Wen-Feng , Zhang Lu , Sun Zhi-Jun
Published: July 2017

Although conventional chemoradiotherapy is effective for most anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) patients, HPV-negative ASCC patients respond poorly to this treatment and new therapeutic approach is required. Our group has previously established an HPV-negative ASCC mouse model and demonstrated that signal transducer and activation of transcription 3 (STAT3) is hyper-activated in the model. Here, we show that in vivo inhibition of STAT3 by S3I-201 effectively delays tumor growth in ASCC mouse model indicated by significantly smaller tumor size and burden in the treatment group compared with control group at the same point. Further analysis shows that survivin and Ki67, important biomarkers for tumor cell survival and proliferation, are significantly reduced after S3I-201 treatment. Additionally, flow cytometry and immunohistofluorescent assays reveal decreased Myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) and tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) populations in the S3I-201 treatment group, which indicates a reversion of the immunosuppressive environment, unraveling the potential role for S3I-201 in immunosuppression in ASCC. Together these results for the first time demonstrated the anti-tumor effects of STAT3 inhibitor S3I-201 in HPV-negative ASCC mouse model and its multiple effects on cancer cells and immune system. Thus we conclude that S3I-201 may be a novel therapeutic approach for HPV-negative ASCC patients.
Compressive sampling based on frequency saliency for remote sensing imaging
Authors: Li Jin , Liu Zilong , Liu Fengdeng
Published: July 2017

In saliency-based compressive sampling (CS) for remote sensing image signals, the saliency information of images is used to allocate more sensing resources to salient regions than to non-salient regions. However, the pulsed cosine transform method can generate large errors in the calculation of saliency information because it uses only the signs of the coefficients of the discrete cosine transform for low-resolution images. In addition, the reconstructed images can exhibit blocking effects because blocks are used as the processing units in CS. In this work, we propose a post-transform frequency saliency CS method that utilizes transformed post-wavelet coefficients to calculate the frequency saliency information of images in the post-wavelet domain. Specifically, the wavelet coefficients are treated as the pixels of a block-wise megapixel sensor. Experiments indicate that the proposed method yields better-quality images and outperforms conventional saliency-based methods in three aspects: peak signal-to-noise ratio, mean structural similarity index, and visual information fidelity.
Singularity in the matrix of the coupled Gross-Pitaevskii equations and the related state-transitions in three-species condensates
Authors: Liu Y. M. , He Y. Z. , Bao C. G.
Published: July 2017

An approach is proposed to solve the coupled Gross-Pitaevskii equations (CGP) of the 3-species BEC in an analytical way under the Thomas-Fermi approximation (TFA). It was found that, when the strength of a kind of interaction increases and crosses over a critical value, a specific type of state-transition will occur and will cause a jump in the total energy. Due to the jump, the energy of the lowest symmetric state becomes considerably higher. This leaves a particular opportunity for the lowest asymmetric state to replace the symmetric states as the ground state. It was further found that the critical values are related to the singularity of either the matrix or a sub-matrix of the CGP. These critical values are not arising from the TFA but inherent in the CGP, and they can be analytically expressed. Furthermore, a model (in which two kinds of atoms separated from each other asymmetrically) has been proposed for the evaluation of the energy of the lowest asymmetric state. With this model the emergence of the asymmetric ground state is numerically confirmed under the TFA. The theoretical formalism of this paper is quite general and can be generalized for BEC with more than three species.
Spin pump and probe in lanthanum strontium manganite/platinum bilayers
Authors: Luo G. Y. , Lin J. G. , Chiang Wen-Chung , Chang Ching-Ray
Published: July 2017

Ferromagnetic resonance driven spin pumping (FMR-SP) is a novel method to transfer spin current from the ferromagnetic (FM) layer into the adjacent normal metal (NM) layer in an FM/NM bilayer system. Consequently, the spin current could be probed in NM layer via inverse spin Hall effect (ISHE). In spite of numerous ISHE studies on FM/Pt bilayers, La0.7Sr0.3MnO3(LSMO)/Pt system has been less explored and its relevant information about interface property (characterized by spin mixing conductance) and spin-charge conversion efficiency (characterized by spin Hall angle) is a matter of importance for the possible applications of spintronic devices. In this work, the technique of FMR-SP has been applied on two series of LSMO/Pt bilayers with the thickness of each layer being varied. The thickness dependences of ISHE voltage allow to extract the values of spin mixing conductance and spin Hall angle of LSMO/Pt bilayers, which are (1.8 ± 0.4) × 1019 m−2 and (1.2 ± 0.1) % respectively. In comparison with other FM/Pt systems, LSMO/Pt has comparable spin current density and spin mixing conductance, regardless its distinct electronic structure from other ferromagnetic metals.
The Microdamage and Expression of Sclerostin in Peri-implant Bone under One-time Shock Force Generated by Impact
Authors: Diao Xiaoou , Li Zhirui , An Baili , Xin Haitao , Wu Yulu , Li Kai , Feng Fan , Dou Chenyun
Published: July 2017

Osseointegration is the key to implant stability and occlusal support. Biomechanical response and remodeling of peri-implant bone occurs under impact loading. Sclerostin participates in bone formation and resorption through Wnt and RANKL pathways. However the mechanism of microdamage and expression of sclerostin in peri-implant bone under impact load is still unclear. In present study, specific impact forces were applied to the implants with favorable osseointegration in rabbits. The microdamage of peri-implant bone and the expression of sclerostin, β-catenin and RANKL during the process of bone damage and remodeling were investigated by micro-CT, histology, immunofluorescence and RT-qPCR analysis. Interface separation and trabecular fracture were found histologically, which were consistent with micro-CT analyses. Throughout remodeling, bone resorption was observed during the first 14 days after impact, and osseointegration and normal trabecular structure were found by 28 d. The expression of sclerostin and RANKL increased after impact and reached a maximum by 14 d, then decreased gradually to normal levels by 28 d. And β-catenin expression was opposite. Results indicated that sclerostin may involve in the peri-implant bone damage caused by impact and remodeling through Wnt/β-catenin and RANKL/RANK pathways. It will provide a new insight in the diagnosis and treatment for patients suffering impact.
Curcumin and Curcuma longa L. extract ameliorate lipid accumulation through the regulation of the endoplasmic reticulum redox and ER stress
Authors: Lee Hwa-Young , Kim Seung-Wook , Lee Geum-Hwa , Choi Min-Kyung , Chung Han-Wool , Lee Yong-Chul , Kim Hyung-Ryong , Kwon Ho Jeong , Chae Han-Jung
Published: July 2017

For this study, we examined the effects of curcumin against acute and chronic stress, paying specific attention to ROS. We also aimed to clarify the differences between acute and chronic stress conditions. We investigated the effects of curcumin against acute stress (once/1 day CCl4 treatment) and chronic-stress (every other day/4week CCl4 treatment). Compared with acute stress, in which the antioxidant system functioned properly and aspartate transaminase (AST) and ROS production increased, chronic stress increased AST, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), hepatic enzymes, and ROS more significantly, and the antioxidant system became impaired. We also found that ER-originated ROS accumulated in the chronic model, another difference between the two conditions. ER stress was induced consistently, and oxidative intra-ER protein folding status, representatively PDI, was impaired, especially in chronic stress. The PDI-associated client protein hepatic apoB accumulated with the PDI-binding status in chronic stress, and curcumin recovered the altered ER folding status, regulating ER stress and the resultant hepatic dyslipidemia. Throughout this study, curcumin and curcumin-rich Curcuma longa L. extract promoted recovery from CCl4-induced hepatic toxicity in both stress conditions. For both stress-associated hepatic dyslipidemia, curcumin and Curcuma longa L. extract might be recommendable to recover liver activity.
A preliminary study of 18F-FES PET/CT in predicting metastatic breast cancer in patients receiving docetaxel or fulvestrant with docetaxel
Authors: Gong Chengcheng , Yang Zhongyi , Sun Yifei , Zhang Jian , Zheng Chunlei , Wang Leiping , Zhang Yongping , Xue Jing , Yao Zhifeng , Pan Herong , Wang Biyun , Zhang Yingjian
Published: July 2017

The present explorative study was initiated to evaluate the clinical value of 18F-FES PET/CT in monitoring the change of estrogen receptor (ER) expression and potential predictive value in metastatic breast cancer patients. Twenty-two pathology-confirmed breast cancer patients were prospectively enrolled and randomly divided into two groups (T: docetaxel, n = 14 and TF: docetaxel + fulvestrant, n = 8). The percentage of patients without disease progression after 12 months (PFS > 12 months) was 62.5% in group TF compared with 21.4% in group T (P = 0.08). According to 18F-FES PET/CT scans, the SUVmax (maximum standard uptake value) of all the metastatic lesions decreased in group TF after 2 cycles of treatment (6 weeks ± 3 days). However, 6 of 9 patients in group T had at least one lesion with higher post-treatment SUVmax. There was a significant difference in the reduction of ER expression between these two groups (P = 0.028). In group TF, the patients with PFS > 12 months had significantly greater SUVmax changes of 18F-FES than those with PFS < 12 months (PFS > 12 months: 91.0 ± 12.0% versus PFS < 12 months: 20.7 ± 16.2%; t = −4.64, P = 0.01). Our preliminary study showed that 18F-FES PET/CT, as a noninvasive method to monitor ER expression, could be utilized to predict prognosis based on changes in SUVmax.
Downregulation of Interferon-β and Inhibition of TLR3 Expression are associated with Fatal Outcome of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome
Authors: Song Peixin , Zheng Nan , Zhang Li , Liu Yong , Chen Taoyu , Bao Changjun , Li Zhifeng , Yong Wei , Zhang Yongyang , Wu Chao , Wu Zhiwei
Published: July 2017

Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease with high mortality and increasing prevalence in the East Asia. Though the etiological agent has been identified as a novel Bunyavirus, cellular mechanisms of viral pathogenesis and host immune response to SFTS virus infection remain unknown. A comprehensive study was conducted on a cohort of 70 patients on clinical manifestations, viral loads, modulation of cytokines, serum interferon level, immune related gene expression in peripheral blood cells, and dynamic changes of circulating dendritic cells during the acute phase of SFTSV infection. We found that high level viremia, reduced platelets, coagulation dysfunction, multi-organ injuries, elevated IL-6 and TNF-α were closely associated with the aggravation of SFTS. In addition, we demonstrated strong correlations between disease severity and the decline of serum IFN-β and IL-1β level, reduction of myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) and suppressed Toll like receptor 3 expression in monocytes and mDCs. In general, dysfunction of innate immune response and cytokine storm are both involved in the pathogenesis of SFTS. Reduction of myeloid DCs contributes to the fatal outcome of SFTS virus infection, and the regulation of TLR3 could probably be the mechanism.
Spleen contributes to restraint stress induced changes in blood leukocytes distribution
Authors: Jiang Wei , Li Yu , Sun Jin , Li Liang , Li Jiang-wei , Zhang Chen , Huang Chen , Yang Jun , Kong Guang-yao , Li Zong-fang
Published: July 2017

Psychological stress has great impacts on the immune system, particularly the leukocytes distribution. Although the impacts of acute stress on blood leukocytes distribution are well studied, however, it remains unclear how chronic stress affects leukocytes distribution in peripheral circulation. Furthermore, there is no report about the role of spleen in the blood leukocytes distribution induced by stress. Here we show that spleen contributes to the alteration of restraint stress induced blood leukocytes distribution. Our data confirmed that restraint stress induced anxiety-like behavior in mice. Furthermore, we found that restraint stress decreased the CD4/CD8 ratio and elevated the percentages of natural killer cells, monocytes and polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cell. We demonstrated that activation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) and sympathetic nervous system (SNS) contributes to restraint stress induced alteration of blood leukocyte distribution. Interestingly, we found that splenectomy could reverse the change of CD4/CD8 ratio induced by restraint stress. Together, our findings suggest that activation of HPA axis and SNS was responsible for the blood leukocyte subsets changes induced by restraint stress. Spleen, at least in part, contributed to the alteration in peripheral circulation induced by restraint stress.
Epidemiology and characterization of avian infectious bronchitis virus strains circulating in southern China during the period from 2013–2015
Authors: Feng Keyu , Wang Feng , Xue Yu , Zhou Qingfeng , Chen Feng , Bi Yingzuo , Xie Qingmei
Published: July 2017

Two hundred and six strains of avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) were isolated from chickens showing signs of disease in southern China during the period from 2013–2015. The nucleotide and amino acid sequences from the isolated field strains were compared to 42 published references. Nucleotide homologies ranged from 63.1–99.9% and amino acid homologies ranging from 60.2–100%. At least seven IBV genotypes were co-circulating in commercial chicken farms in southern China. The IBV isolates were genetically diverse and underwent continuing evolution. The QX-type, TW I-type, and 4/91-type were the most common genotypes during the three-year observation period and accounted for 88.8% of the isolated strains. Notably, the prevalence of the TW I-type strains has been increasing in recent years and has become the most common genotype in China. The emergence of variant IBV strains can be attributed to recombination. Serologic analysis and antigenic 3D cartography of 4 reference and 14 field isolated strains indicated the surveyed IBVs had diverse serology types and that the serotype of the isolated QX-type and TW I-type strains was distinct from the vaccines strains. Therefore, long-term continuing surveillance is necessary for IBV prevention and control.
Comprehensive molecular analysis of arginase-encoding genes in common wheat and its progenitor species
Authors: She Maoyun , Wang Jing , Wang Xinmin , Yin Guixiang , Wang Ke , Du Lipu , Ye Xingguo
Published: July 2017

Arginase (ARG) contributes to nitrogen remobilization by conversion of arginine to ornithine and urea. However, wheat ARG genes have not yet been identified. Here we isolated and characterized ARG genes from wheat and its progenitor species and found that a single copy was present in wheat progenitors. Three common wheat ARG genes of TaARG-2AS, TaARG-2BS, and TaARG-2DS were experimentally assigned to the short arms of the group 2 chromosomes. We found an in-frame stop codon in TaARG-2AS, but not in the other two genes. The highest expression was detected in stems and sheaths for TaARG-2BS and in leaves for TaARG-2DS. Both genes have similar expression trend in different developmental stages, peaking at booting and grain filling stages. TaARG-2BS transcript was induced by high salinity and drought, whereas TaARG-2DS was induced by drought only, but neither of them were induced by low temperature. In addition, both genes showed analogous expression pattern upon powdery mildew (PM) infection in the resistant line Pm97033, with TaARG-2BS induced greatly at 72 h post PM infection. In contrast, no obvious transcripts were accumulated for TaARG-2DS in the PM susceptible line Wan7107. Monocot ARGs have more conserved mitochondrion-targeting signals and are more evolutionarily conserved than dicot ARGs.
Chiral pyrethroid insecticide fenpropathrin and its metabolite: enantiomeric separation and pharmacokinetic degradation in soils by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography
Authors: Zhang Ping , Yu Qian , He Yuhan , Zhu Wentao , Zhou Zhiqiang , He Lin
Published: July 2017

The enantiomeric separation of fenpropathrin enantiomers on Lux Cellulose-1, Lux Cellulose-3 and Chiralpak IC chiral columns as well as enantioselective degradation of fenpropathrin in soil were investigated by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC).
Tailoring the magnetic properties of FexCo(1−x) nanopowders prepared by a polyol process
Authors: Clifford Dustin M. , Castano Carlos E. , Tsui Melissa H. M. , Rojas Jessika V. , Carpenter Everett E.
Published: July 2017

Precise control of the magnetic properties of FeCo alloys is of scientific significance due to their high Curie points and saturation magnetizations. The magnetic properties of FeCo alloy nanopowders were tailored by a polyol route using a DoE.
Biodegradation of graphene oxide-polymer nanocomposite films in wastewater
Authors: Fan Jingjing , Grande Carlos David , Rodrigues Debora F.
Published: July 2017

The polymer present in the nanocomposite is degraded by microorganisms present in the wastewater.
Oleuropein represses the radiation resistance of ovarian cancer by inhibiting hypoxia and microRNA-299-targetted heparanase expression
Authors: Xing Yubai , Cui Dawei , Wang Shun , Wang Pingping , Xing Xiaojing , Li Hui
Published: July 2017

Radiotherapy in ovarian cancer frequently invokes resistance; this severely compromises its therapeutic effect and results in poor clinical prognosis.
MALDI MS imaging investigation of the host response to visceral leishmaniasis
Authors: Jaegger C. F. , Negrão F. , Assis D. M. , Belaz K. R. A. , Angolini C. F. F. , Fernandes A. M. A. P. , Santos V. G. , Pimentel A. , Abánades D. R. , Giorgio S. , Eberlin M. N. , Rocha D. F. O.
Published: July 2017

MALDI MSI and statistical analysis revealed new features of the protein/peptide profile in mouse livers infected withLeishmania infantumat different stages of the disease.
Measurement of specific heat and thermal conductivity of supported and suspended graphene by a comprehensive Raman optothermal method
Authors: Li Qin-Yi , Xia Kailun , Zhang Ji , Zhang Yingying , Li Qunyang , Takahashi Koji , Zhang Xing
Published: July 2017

The specific heat and thermal conductivity of graphene were comprehensively measured by an improved Raman method without pre-knowledge of laser absorption.
Understanding the graphitization and growth of free-standing nanocrystalline graphene using in situ transmission electron microscopy
Authors: Shyam Kumar C. N. , Chakravadhanula Venkata Sai Kiran , Riaz Adnan , Dehm Simone , Wang Di , Mu Xiaoke , Flavel Benjamin , Krupke Ralph , Kübel Christian
Published: July 2017

In situTEM analysis of the thermally induced graphitization and domain growth of free-standing nanocrystalline graphene thin films.
Proof of principle of a three-input AND–INHIBIT–OR combinatorial logic gate array
Authors: Magri David C. , Spiteri Jake C.
Published: July 2017

A designed molecule provides a fluorescent signal according to a combinatorial logic array comprised of three-input AND, three-input INHIBIT and two-input OR logic gates.
A β-galactosidase probe for the detection of cellular senescence by mass cytometry
Authors: Lumba M. A. , Willis L. M. , Santra S. , Rana R. , Schito L. , Rey S. , Wouters B. G. , Nitz M.
Published: July 2017

Enzyme substrates for mass cytometry applications enable new dimensions in multiparametric cellular assays.
Improved i-motif thermal stability by insertion of anthraquinone monomers
Authors: Gouda Alaa S. , Amine Mahasen S. , Pedersen Erik B.
Published: July 2017

Appropriate replacement of nucleosides in the loops of an i-motif with dipropoxyanthraquinones improves the i-motif thermal stability.
Computationally guided discovery of a reactive, hydrophilic trans-5-oxocene dienophile for bioorthogonal labeling
Authors: Lambert William D. , Scinto Samuel L. , Dmitrenko Olga , Boyd Samantha J. , Magboo Ronald , Mehl Ryan A. , Chin Jason W. , Fox Joseph M. , Wallace Stephen
Published: July 2017

The use of organic chemistry principles and prediction techniques has enabled the development of new bioorthogonal reactions.
Complex self-propelled rings: a minimal model for cell motility
Authors: Abaurrea Velasco Clara , Dehghani Ghahnaviyeh Sepehr , Nejat Pishkenari Hossein , Auth Thorsten , Gompper Gerhard
Published: July 2017

Particles with internal degrees of collective self-propulsion – modelled as an ensemble of self-propelled rods – show complex motility behaviour, such as random walks, persistent motion, circling, and run-and-circle motion.
Durable 12‐arm resistive cross‐dipole for use in ground‐penetrating radar
Authors: Noh E. , Kang J. , Kim B. , Choi S. , Kim K.
Published: July 2017

A 12‐arm resistive cross‐dipole antenna is proposed and implemented using planar resistor technology (PRT). To improve the quality of the radiated pulse, the arms are loaded with a profile that is modified from the conventional Wu–King profile. The antenna is implemented with no soldered resistors. Thus, the mechanical vulnerability of the conventional resistive dipoles is resolved. The performance of the antennas implemented using a standard printed circuit board and the PRT is shown to be essentially the same. The performance of the antenna implemented using the PRT as a ground‐penetrating radar antenna is also demonstrated by scanning over buried targets.
Frequency acquisition technique for injection‐locked clock generator using asynchronous‐sampling frequency detection
Authors: Bae W.
Published: July 2017

An injection‐locked clock generator with a frequency acquisition scheme, which eliminates a conflict between the injection and the frequency acquisition loop is described. In the proposed frequency detector (FD), the oscillator clock is sampled by the reference clock, which, respectively, becomes asynchronous sampling and synchronous sampling before and after injection locking. By taking advantage of this aspect, the proposed FD does not generate any active output once the oscillator is injection‐locked, and therefore the conflict is completely resolved. Moreover, it is not turned off but just produces no output, hence it can immediately react to a sudden loss of injection‐locking. The FD is implemented with a low hardware overhead of only six flip‐flops and a few logic gates. The validity of the feasibility of the proposed scheme is verified by a circuit simulation.
Sports and Recreational Activities following Total Ankle Replacement
Authors: Usuelli Federico , Pantalone Andrea , Maccario Camilla , Guelfi Matteo , Salini Vincenzo
Published: July 2017

Purpose In literature, there is a controversy regarding whether patients who have undergone total ankle replacement (TAR) can participate in sports and recreational activities. The purpose of this study was to report change in sports activity level after TAR.

Methods A retrospective study was performed, enrolling 76 patients with symptomatic end-stage ankle arthritis who underwent TAR from May 2011 to October 2014. Patients were mainly males (44/76; 58%) and 56 years old on average (range: 22.3–79.6 years) at the time of surgery. They were treated with mobile-bearing prosthesis implanted with an anterior approach. Patients were evaluated preoperatively and 12 months postoperatively. Pain and function were assessed using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle and hindfoot score, the visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, and the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) – physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS). Activity level was assessed with the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) activity scale.

Results At 12 months postoperatively, statistically significant increase was reported for AOFAS scores (from 32.8 ± 12.7 preoperatively to 72.6 ± 13.3; p < 0.001), SF-12 PCS (from 34.3 ± 5.1 preoperatively to 45.4 ± 6.4; p < 0.001), and SF-12 MCS (from 39.8 ± 7.5 preoperatively to 51.4 ± 6.1; p < 0.001). A statistically significant decrease was detected in VAS pain score (from 8.7 ± 1.6 preoperatively to 2.2 ± 1.6; p < 0.001). The UCLA activity levels increased significantly from 2.4 ± 0.8 to 6.3 ± 2.3 (p < 0.001).

Conclusion Pain and function significantly improved in patients affected by ankle osteoarthritis, who underwent TAR, at 1-year follow-up. In addition, activity level showed a significant increase respect to preoperative condition.

Level of Evidence Level IV, retrospective case series.
Femoral Tunnel Positioning in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Anteromedial Portal versus Transtibial Technique—A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Venosa Michele , Delcogliano Marco , Padua Roberto , Alviti Federica , Delcogliano Antonio
Published: July 2017

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate, through three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT), the accuracy of femoral tunnel positioning in patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, comparing transtibial (TT) and anteromedial (AM) techniques.

Methods We evaluated postoperative 3D-CT scans of 26 patients treated with ACL reconstruction with hamstrings autograft using a low accessory AM portal technique and 26 treated with the TT technique. The position of the femoral tunnel center was measured with the quadrant method.

Results Using quadrant method on CT scans, femoral tunnels were measured at a mean of 32.2 and 28.1% from the proximal condylar surface (parallel to Blumensaat line) and at a mean of 31.2 and 15.1% from the notch roof (perpendicular to Blumensaat line) for the AM and TT techniques, respectively.

Conclusion The AM portal technique provides more anatomical graft placement than TT techniques.

Level of Evidence Level I, randomized clinical study.
Monitoring of Free Flaps with Combined Tissue Spectrophotometry and Laser Doppler Flowmetry in an Animal Experimental Model
Authors: Rauff-Mortensen Andreas , Holst René , Houlind Kim , Birke-Sørensen Hanne , Berggren-Olsen Mette
Published: July 2017

Background When mobilizing free flaps, postoperative monitoring of perfusion is crucial to detect ischemia. Continuous monitoring may be feasible by applying a combination of tissue spectrophotometry and laser Doppler flowmetry (oxygen-2-see [O2C]).

Material and Methods On 10 pigs, two symmetrical myocutaneous flaps were mobilized on each side of the abdomen based on the deep inferior epigastric vessels. Flaps were randomized to clamp either the artery or the vein and measurements using O2C were performed before, during, and after the intervention yielding information on blood flow, saturation (sat), and relative tissue hemoglobin (rHgb) concentration.

Results Baseline values were similar in all groups. Introduction of ischemia caused a rapid decline in arterial ischemic flaps which all reached threshold levels in 3 minutes, whereas that was only the case for three of six venous ischemic flaps. Venous clamping resulted in a decline in sat, while the response to arterial clamping was an initial decline followed by an increase in sat. In all arterial ischemic flaps, rHgb concentration either decreased or remained at baseline levels but increased in all venous ischemic flaps. The median time to a 30% rise was 1 minute at an 8-mm depth. The rate of decreasing flow along with the rHgb measurements made it possible to distinguish the arterial ischemia (AI) from the venous ischemia (VI) within the first few minutes.

Conclusion In this animal experimental model, O2C measurements of blood flow reliably detected ischemia. By adding information about rHgb, it was possible to distinguish between AI and VI.
Parasitic Infections in Pediatric Population of India: Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Strategies for Prevention
Authors: Patwardhan Vrushali , Kumar Dinesh , Singh Sarman
Published: July 2017

Almost one-fourth of the world's population is possibly suffering from parasitic diseases. Children are more vulnerable to various parasitic infections as compared with normal adults due to their outdoor activities, immature immune system, nonadherence to good hygiene practices, and preference for street food. Parasitic infections are known to put a grave strain on their physical and cognitive growth and development. Thus, awareness and importance of pediatric parasitology need escalated recognition among pediatricians. Parasitic diseases both common and uncommon that are encountered in Indian children are contemplated in this review. We have covered epidemiology, life cycle, clinical features, and diagnosis of pediatric parasitic infections that transpire in India, including some preventive strategies.