bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Teachers’ Perceptions of Relationship Enhancement Upon Implementation of the Social Emotional Learning Program in Latvia: Focus Group Study
Authors: Martinsone Baiba , Vilcina Sabine
Published: July 2017

The goal of this study was to elicit and analyse teachers’ reflections on the benefits of the implementation of the SEL program in Latvia, both in regard to benefits for the students and in regard to benefits for themselves. The school-wide Latvia SEL program was initiated during the 2012–13 academic year and to date has been implemented in 41 Latvian schools. In order to ascertain the teachers’ views on issues of program effectiveness, seven focus groups were organised consisting of teachers who had participated in the SEL program implementation. Thematic analysis of the focus group discussions indicated that the teachers appreciate various benefits of the SEL program, but among the most prominent themes were those concerning improved relationships, both student-student and student-teacher relationships. The views expressed by the teachers align with previous studies implying the significance of the teachers’ own social and emotional competencies in facilitating quality maintenance of the program.
EXPLICIT SURJECTIVITY RESULTS FOR DRINFELD MODULES OF RANK 2
Authors: CHEN IMIN , LEE YOONJIN
Published: July 2017

Let$K=\mathbb{F}_{q}(T)$and$A=\mathbb{F}_{q}[T]$. Suppose that$\unicode[STIX]{x1D719}$is a Drinfeld$A$-module of rank$2$over$K$which does not have complex multiplication. We obtain an explicit upper bound (dependent on$\unicode[STIX]{x1D719}$) on the degree of primes${\wp}$of$K$such that the image of the Galois representation on the${\wp}$-torsion points of$\unicode[STIX]{x1D719}$is not surjective, in the case of$q$odd. Our results are a Drinfeld module analogue of Serre’s explicit large image results for the Galois representations on$p$-torsion points of elliptic curves (Serre, Propriétés galoisiennes des points d’ordre fini des courbes elliptiques, Invent. Math.15(1972), 259–331; Serre, Quelques applications du théorème de densité de Chebotarev, Inst. Hautes Etudes Sci. Publ. Math.54(1981), 323–401.) and are unconditional because the generalized Riemann hypothesis for function fields holds. An explicit isogeny theorem for Drinfeld$A$-modules of rank$2$over$K$is also proven.
Signatures of mito-nuclear discordance inSchistosoma turkestanicumindicate a complex evolutionary history of emergence in Europe
Authors: LAWTON SCOTT P. , BOWEN LAUREN I. , EMERY AIDAN M. , MAJOROS GÁBOR
Published: July 2017

High levels of molecular diversity were identified in mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase (cox1) gene sequences ofSchistosoma turkestanicumfrom Hungary. These cox1 sequences were all specific to Hungary which contrasted with the low levels of diversity seen in the nuclear internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) sequences, the majority of which were shared between China and Iran isolates. Measures of within and between host molecular variation withinS. turkestanicumshowed there to be substantial differences in molecular diversity, with cox1 being significantly more diverse than the ITS. Measures of haplotype frequencies revealed that each host contained its own subpopulation of genetically unique parasites with significant levels of differentiation. Pairwise mismatch analysis of cox1 sequences indicatedS. turkestanicumpopulations to have a bimodal pairwise difference distribution and to be stable unlike the ITS sequences, which appeared to have undergone a recent population expansion event. Positive selection was also detected in the cox1 sequences, and biochemical modelling of the resulting protein illustrated significant mutational events causing an alteration to the isoelectric point of the cox1 protein, potentially altering metabolism. The evolutionary signature from the cox1 indicates local adaptation and long establishment ofS. turkestanicumin Hungary with continual introgression of nuclear genes from Asian isolates. These processes have led to the occurrence of mito-nuclear discordance in a schistosome population
Reduction in extrapulmonary tuberculosis in context of antiretroviral therapy scale-up in rural South Africa
Authors: HOOGENDOORN J. C. , RANOTO L. , MUDITAMBI N. , RAILTON J. , MASWANGANYI M. , STRUTHERS H. E. , MCINTYRE J. A. , PETERS R. P. H.
Published: July 2017

Scale-up of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has reduced the incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in South Africa. Despite the strong association of HIV infection with extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB), the effect of ART on the epidemiology of EPTB remains undocumented. We conducted a retrospective record review of patients initiated on treatment for EPTB in 2009 (ART coverage <5%) and 2013 (ART coverage 41%) at four public hospitals in rural Mopani District, South Africa. Data were obtained from TB registers and patients’ clinical records. There was a 13% decrease in overall number of TB cases, which was similar for cases registered as EPTB (n = 399 in 2009 vs. 336 in 2013; P < 0·01) and for PTB (1031 vs. 896; P < 0·01). Among EPTB cases, the proportion of miliary TB and disseminated TB decreased significantly (both P < 0·01), TB meningitis and TB of bones increased significantly (P < 0·01 and P = 0·02, respectively) and TB pleural effusion and lymphadenopathy remained the same. This study shows a reduction of EPTB cases that is similar to that of PTB in the context of the ART scale-up. The changing profile of EPTB warrants attention of healthcare workers.
TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION DURING THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT: IMPLICATIONS FOR LONG-RUN PROSPECTS
Authors: Mies Verónica
Published: July 2017

Most papers studying the impacts of technology adoption on income trajectories assume that firms adopt frontier technologies when available. If these technologies are skill intensive, less-developed economies may fail in successfully implementing them and may become trapped in a low-growth equilibrium. Within a Schumpeterian growth model, we show that differences in adoption barriers and incentives to the accumulation of skills produce differences in the technology level that is optimal to adopt. If the economy is not overly distorted, copying nonfrontier technologies helps compensating for the scarcity of skills and increases the likelihood of copying frontier technologies in the long run. If distortions are significant, it may be optimal to copy less-advanced technologies even in the long run. If adoption is not a skill-intensive activity, then copying frontier technologies is always optimal; all economies achieve a high-growth equilibrium and only income differences persist in the long run.
Age at Exposure to Parental Suicide and the Subsequent Risk of Suicide in Young People
Authors: Lee Kuan-Ying , Li Chung-Yi , Chang Kun-Chia , Lu Tsung-Hsueh , Chen Ying-Yeh
Published: July 2017

Abstract. Background: We investigated the age at exposure to parental suicide and the risk of subsequent suicide completion in young people. The impact of parental and offspring sex was also examined. Method: Using a cohort study design, we linked Taiwan's Birth Registry (1978–1997) with Taiwan's Death Registry (1985–2009) and identified 40,249 children who had experienced maternal suicide (n = 14,431), paternal suicide (n = 26,887), or the suicide of both parents (n = 281). Each exposed child was matched to 10 children of the same sex and birth year whose parents were still alive. This yielded a total of 398,081 children for our non-exposed cohort. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to compare the suicide risk of the exposed and non-exposed groups. Results: Compared with the non-exposed group, offspring who were exposed to parental suicide were 3.91 times (95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.10–4.92 more likely to die by suicide after adjusting for baseline characteristics. The risk of suicide seemed to be lower in older male offspring (HR = 3.94, 95% CI = 2.57–6.06), but higher in older female offspring (HR = 5.30, 95% CI = 3.05–9.22). Stratified analyses based on parental sex revealed similar patterns as the combined analysis. Limitations: As only register-­based data were used, we were not able to explore the impact of variables not contained in the data set, such as the role of mental illness. Conclusion: Our findings suggest a prominent elevation in the risk of suicide among offspring who lost their parents to suicide. The risk elevation differed according to the sex of the afflicted offspring as well as to their age at exposure.
Retinoic acid-induced upregulation of miR-219 promotes the differentiation of embryonic stem cells into neural cells
Authors: Wu Haibo , Zhao Jiamin , Fu Beibei , Yin Songna , Song Chao , Zhang Jingcheng , Zhao Shanting , Zhang Yong
Published: July 2017

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate critical cell processes, such as apoptosis, proliferation, and development. However, the role of miRNAs in embryonic stem cell (ESC) neural differentiation induced by retinoic acid (RA) and factors that govern neural directional differentiation remain poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrated that miR-219 is sufficient in promoting mouse ESCs to undergo neural differentiation. We discovered that Foxj3 and Zbtb18, two target genes of miR-219, are not able to determine the process of RA-induced differentiation, however they prevent ESCs from differentiating into neural cells. We identified four downstream genes, namely, Olig1, Zic5, Erbb2, and Olig2, which are essential to the gene interaction networks for neural differentiation. These data explain the mechanism of RA-induced neural differentiation of mESCs on the basis of miRNAs and support the crucial role of miR-219 in neurodevelopment.
Regulation of Drosophila hematopoietic sites by Activin-β from active sensory neurons
Authors: Makhijani Kalpana , Alexander Brandy , Rao Deepti , Petraki Sophia , Herboso Leire , Kukar Katelyn , Batool Itrat , Wachner Stephanie , Gold Katrina S. , Wong Corinna , O’Connor Michael B. , Brückner Katja
Published: July 2017

An outstanding question in animal development, tissue homeostasis and disease is how cell populations adapt to sensory inputs. During Drosophila larval development, hematopoietic sites are in direct contact with sensory neuron clusters of the peripheral nervous system (PNS), and blood cells (hemocytes) require the PNS for their survival and recruitment to these microenvironments, known as Hematopoietic Pockets. Here we report that Activin-β, a TGF-β family ligand, is expressed by sensory neurons of the PNS and regulates the proliferation and adhesion of hemocytes. These hemocyte responses depend on PNS activity, as shown by agonist treatment and transient silencing of sensory neurons. Activin-β has a key role in this regulation, which is apparent from reporter expression and mutant analyses. This mechanism of local sensory neurons controlling blood cell adaptation invites evolutionary parallels with vertebrate hematopoietic progenitors and the independent myeloid system of tissue macrophages, whose regulation by local microenvironments remain undefined.
Dimensionality Effects in FeGe2 Nanowires: Enhanced Anisotropic Magnetization and Anomalous Electrical Transport
Authors: Tang Siwei , Kravchenko Ivan , Ward T. Z. , Zou Qiang , Yi Jieyu , Ma Cheng , Chi Miaofang , Cao Guixin , Li An-Ping , Mandrus David , Gai Zheng
Published: July 2017

We report the synthesis of single-crystal iron germanium nanowires via chemical vapor deposition without the assistance of any catalysts. The assembly of single-crystal FeGe2 nanowires with tetragonal C16 crystal structure shows anisotropic magnetic behavior along the radial direction or the growth axial direction, with both antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic orders. Single FeGe2 nanowire devices were fabricated using e-beam lithography. Electronic transport measurement in these devices show two resistivity anomalies near 250 K and 200 K which are likely signatures of the two spin density wave states in FeGe2.
Species specific anaesthetics for fish anaesthesia and euthanasia
Authors: Readman Gareth D. , Owen Stewart F. , Knowles Toby G. , Murrell Joanna C.
Published: July 2017

There is a need to ensure that the care and welfare for fish maintained in the laboratory are to the highest standards. This extends to the use of anaesthetics for both scientific study, humane killing and euthanasia at end of life. An anaesthetic should not induce negative behaviours and fish should not seek to avoid the anaesthetic. Surprisingly little information is available to facilitate a humane choice of anaesthetic agent for fish despite over 100 years of use and the millions of fish currently held in thousands of laboratories worldwide. Using a chemotaxic choice chamber we found different species specific behavioural responses among four closely related fish species commonly held in the laboratory, exposed to three widely used anaesthetic agents. As previously found for zebrafish (Danio rerio), the use of MS-222 and benzocaine also appears to induce avoidance behaviours in medaka (Oryzias latipes); but etomidate could provide an alternative choice. Carp (Cyprinus carpio), although closely related to zebrafish showed avoidance behaviours to etomidate, but not benzocaine or MS-222; and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) showed no avoidance to the three agents tested. We were unable to ascertain avoidance responses in fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) and suggest different test paradigms are required for that species.
Post-conventional moral reasoning is associated with increased ventral striatal activity at rest and during task
Authors: Fang Zhuo , Jung Wi Hoon , Korczykowski Marc , Luo Lijuan , Prehn Kristin , Xu Sihua , Detre John A. , Kable Joseph W. , Robertson Diana C. , Rao Hengyi
Published: July 2017

People vary considerably in moral reasoning. According to Kohlberg’s theory, individuals who reach the highest level of post-conventional moral reasoning judge moral issues based on deeper principles and shared ideals rather than self-interest or adherence to laws and rules. Recent research has suggested the involvement of the brain’s frontostriatal reward system in moral judgments and prosocial behaviors. However, it remains unknown whether moral reasoning level is associated with differences in reward system function. Here, we combined arterial spin labeling perfusion and blood oxygen level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging and measured frontostriatal reward system activity both at rest and during a sequential risky decision making task in a sample of 64 participants at different levels of moral reasoning. Compared to individuals at the pre-conventional and conventional level of moral reasoning, post-conventional individuals showed increased resting cerebral blood flow in the ventral striatum and ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Cerebral blood flow in these brain regions correlated with the degree of post-conventional thinking across groups. Post-conventional individuals also showed greater task-induced activation in the ventral striatum during risky decision making. These findings suggest that high-level post-conventional moral reasoning is associated with increased activity in the brain’s frontostriatal system, regardless of task-dependent or task-independent states.
Sex Specific Placental Accumulation and Behavioral Effects of Developmental Firemaster 550 Exposure in Wistar Rats
Authors: Baldwin Kylie R. , Phillips Allison L. , Horman Brian , Arambula Sheryl E. , Rebuli Meghan E. , Stapleton Heather M. , Patisaul Heather B.
Published: July 2017

Firemaster® 550 (FM 550) is a commercial flame retardant mixture of brominated and organophosphate compounds applied to polyurethane foam used in furniture and baby products. Due to widespread human exposure, and structural similarities with known endocrine disruptors, concerns have been raised regarding possible toxicity. We previously reported evidence of sex specific behavioral effects in rats resulting from developmental exposure. The present study expands upon this prior finding by testing for a greater range of behavioral effects, and measuring the accumulation of FM 550 compounds in placental tissue. Wistar rat dams were orally exposed to FM 550 during gestation (0, 300 or 1000 µg/day; GD 9 – 18) for placental measurements or perinatally (0, 100, 300 or 1000 µg/day; GD 9 – PND 21) to assess activity and anxiety-like behaviors. Placental accumulation was dose dependent, and in some cases sex specific, with the brominated components reaching the highest levels. Behavioral changes were predominantly associated with a loss or reversal of sex differences in activity and anxiety-like behaviors. These findings demonstrate that environmental chemicals may sex-dependently accumulate in the placenta. That sex-biased exposure might translate to sex-specific adverse outcomes such as behavioral deficits is a possibility that merits further investigation.
PARTICLE triplexes cluster in the tumor suppressor WWOX and may extend throughout the human genome
Authors: O’Leary Valerie Bríd , Smida Jan , Buske Fabian Andreas , Carrascosa Laura Garcia , Azimzadeh Omid , Maugg Doris , Hain Sarah , Tapio Soile , Heidenreich Wolfgang , Kerr James , Trau Matt , Ovsepian Saak Victor , Atkinson Michael John
Published: July 2017

The long non-coding RNA PARTICLE (Gene PARTICL- ‘Promoter of MAT2A-Antisense RadiaTion Induced Circulating LncRNA) partakes in triple helix (triplex) formation, is transiently elevated following low dose irradiation and regulates transcription of its neighbouring gene - Methionine adenosyltransferase 2A. It now emerges that PARTICLE triplex sites are predicted in many different genes across all human chromosomes. In silico analysis identified additional regions for PARTICLE triplexes at >1600 genomic locations. Multiple PARTICLE triplexes are clustered predominantly within the human and mouse tumor suppressor WW Domain Containing Oxidoreductase (WWOX) gene. Surface plasmon resonance diffraction and electrophoretic mobility shift assays were consistent with PARTICLE triplex formation within human WWOX with high resolution imaging demonstrating its enrichment at this locus on chromosome 16. PARTICLE knockdown and over-expression resulted in inverse changes in WWOX transcripts levels with siRNA interference eliminating PARTICLEs elevated transcription to irradiation. The evidence for a second functional site of PARTICLE triplex formation at WWOX suggests that PARTICLE may form triplex-mediated interactions at multiple positions in the human genome including remote loci. These findings provide a mechanistic explanation for the ability of lncRNAs to regulate the expression of numerous genes distributed across the genome.
Femtogram Level Sensitivity achieved by Surface Engineered Silica Nanoparticles in the Early Detection of HIV Infection
Authors: Chunduri L. A. Avinash , Kurdekar Aditya , Haleyurgirisetty Mohan Kumar , Bulagonda Eswarappa Pradeep , Kamisetti Venkataramaniah , Hewlett Indira K.
Published: July 2017

We have engineered streptavidin labelled Europium doped fluorescent silica nanoparticles which significantly increased sensitivity without compromising the specificity of the immunoassay. As a proof of concept, a time resolved fluorescence based sandwich immunoassay was developed to detect HIV-1 p24 antigen in clinical specimens. The detection range of the silica nanoparticle based immunoassay (SNIA) was found to be between 0.02 to 500 pg/mL in a linear dose dependent manner. SNIA offers 1000 fold enhancement over conventional colorimetric ELISA. Testing of plasma samples that were HIV negative showed no false positive results in the detection of HIV-1 p24 antigen. This highly sensitive p24 assay can help improve blood safety by reducing the antibody negative window period in blood donors in resource limited settings where nucleic acid testing is not practical or feasible. This technology can also be easily transferred to a lab-on-a-chip platform for use in resource limited settings and can also be easily adopted for the detection of other antigens.
A diver-operated hyperspectral imaging and topographic surveying system for automated mapping of benthic habitats
Authors: Chennu Arjun , Färber Paul , De’ath Glenn , de Beer Dirk , Fabricius Katharina E.
Published: July 2017

We developed a novel integrated technology for diver-operated surveying of shallow marine ecosystems. The HyperDiver system captures rich multifaceted data in each transect: hyperspectral and color imagery, topographic profiles, incident irradiance and water chemistry at a rate of 15–30 m2 per minute. From surveys in a coral reef following standard diver protocols, we show how the rich optical detail can be leveraged to generate photopigment abundance and benthic composition maps. We applied machine learning techniques, with a minor annotation effort (<2% of pixels), to automatically generate cm-scale benthic habitat maps of high taxonomic resolution and accuracy (93–97%). The ability to efficiently map benthic composition, photopigment densities and rugosity at reef scales is a compelling contribution to modernize reef monitoring. Seafloor-level hyperspectral images can be used for automated mapping, avoiding operator bias in the analysis and deliver the degree of detail necessary for standardized environmental monitoring. The technique can deliver fast, objective and economic reef survey results, making it a valuable tool for coastal managers and reef ecologists. Underwater hyperspectral surveying shares the vantage point of the high spatial and taxonomic resolution restricted to field surveys, with analytical techniques of remote sensing and provides targeted validation for aerial monitoring.
Ectoine can enhance structural changes in DNA in vitro
Authors: Meyer S. , Schröter M.-A. , Hahn M. B. , Solomun T. , Sturm H. , Kunte H. J.
Published: July 2017

Strand breaks and conformational changes of DNA have consequences for the physiological role of DNA. The natural protecting molecule ectoine is beneficial to entire bacterial cells and biomolecules such as proteins by mitigating detrimental effects of environmental stresses. It was postulated that ectoine-like molecules bind to negatively charged spheres that mimic DNA surfaces. We investigated the effect of ectoine on DNA and whether ectoine is able to protect DNA from damages caused by ultraviolet radiation (UV-A). In order to determine different isoforms of DNA, agarose gel electrophoresis and atomic force microscopy experiments were carried out with plasmid pUC19 DNA. Our quantitative results revealed that a prolonged incubation of DNA with ectoine leads to an increase in transitions from supercoiled (undamaged) to open circular (single-strand break) conformation at pH 6.6. The effect is pH dependent and no significant changes were observed at physiological pH of 7.5. After UV-A irradiation in ectoine solution, changes in DNA conformation were even more pronounced and this effect was pH dependent. We hypothesize that ectoine is attracted to the negatively charge surface of DNA at lower pH and therefore fails to act as a stabilizing agent for DNA in our in vitro experiments.
Thermoneutral housing temperature regulates T-regulatory cell function and inhibits ovabumin-induced asthma development in mice
Authors: Liao Wenjing , Zhou Libo , Zhao Xiaolong , Song Lijuan , Lu Yingshen , Zhong Nanshan , Yang Pingchang , Sun Baoqing , Zhang Xiaowen
Published: July 2017

The change in ambient temperature is one of the risk factors for the aggravation of bronchial asthma (BA). Yet, whether the ambient temperature influences the immune functions associated with allergic asthma remains unknown. In this study, we treated asthmatic mice with standard temperature (ST, 20 °C) or thermoneutral temperature (TT, 30 °C). The results showed that the airway inflammatory cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) were significantly reduced in the mice treated with TT as compared with the mice treated with ST. The imbalance of Th1/Th2 response in the lung was improved following housing the mice at TT. In addition, the pulmonary Treg cells were increased in asthmatic mice after TT treatment. The temperature stress (29 °C and 41 °C) drove naïve CD4T cells towards Th2 cells. Our data demonstrate that the change of ambient temperature was a risk factor to aggravate experimental asthma.
Dynamics of angiogenesis in ischemic areas of the infarcted heart
Authors: Kobayashi Koichi , Maeda Kengo , Takefuji Mikito , Kikuchi Ryosuke , Morishita Yoshihiro , Hirashima Masanori , Murohara Toyoaki
Published: July 2017

Cardiomyocytes are susceptible to apoptosis caused by hypoxia during the acute and subacute phases of myocardial infarction (MI). Angiogenesis can reduce MI-induced damage by mitigating hypoxia. It has been speculated that the ischemic border zone is a unique area rescued by angiogenic therapy. However, the mechanism and timing for new vessel formation in the mammalian heart following hypoxia are unclear. Identifying targets that benefit from angiogenesis treatment is indispensable for the development of revolutionary therapies. Here, we describe a novel circulatory system wherein new vessels develop from the endocardium of the left ventricle to perfuse the hypoxic area and salvage damaged cardiomyocytes at 3–14 days after MI by activating vascular endothelial growth factor signaling. Moreover, enhanced angiogenesis increased cardiomyocyte survival along the endocardium in the ischemic zone and suppressed ventricular remodeling in infarcted hearts. In contrast, cardiomyocytes in the border zone’s hypoxic area underwent apoptosis within 12 h of MI, and the border area that was amenable to treatment disappeared. These data indicate that the non-perfused area along the endocardium is a site of active angiogenesis and a promising target for MI treatment.
Connexin 43 is required for the maintenance of mitochondrial integrity in brown adipose tissue
Authors: Kim Sang-Nam , Kwon Hyun-Jung , Im Seo-Woo , Son Yeon-Ho , Akindehin Seun , Jung Young-Suk , Lee Se Jeong , Rhyu Im Joo , Kim Il Yong , Seong Je-Kyoung , Lee Jinu , Yoo Hee-Chan , Granneman James G. , Lee Yun-Hee
Published: July 2017

We investigated the role of connexin 43 (Cx43) in maintaining the integrity of mitochondria in brown adipose tissue (BAT). The functional effects of Cx43 were evaluated using inducible, adipocyte-specific Cx43 knockout in mice (Gja1
adipoq
KO) and by overexpression and knockdown of Cx43 in cultured adipocytes. Mitochondrial morphology was evaluated by electron microscopy and mitochondrial function and autophagy were assessed by immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry, and qPCR. The metabolic effects of adipocyte-specific knockout of Cx43 were assessed during cold stress and following high fat diet feeding. Cx43 expression was higher in BAT compared to white adipose tissue. Treatment with the β3-adrenergic receptor agonist CL316,243 increased Cx43 expression and mitochondrial localization. Gja1
adipoq
KO mice reduced mitochondrial density and increased the presence of damaged mitochondria in BAT. Moreover, metabolic activation with CL316,243 further reduced mitochondrial integrity and upregulated autophagy in the BAT of Gja1
adipoq
KO mice. Inhibition of Cx43 in cultured adipocytes increased the generation of reactive oxygen species and induction of autophagy during β-adrenergic stimulation. Gja1
adipoq
KO mice were cold intolerant, expended less energy in response to β3-adrenergic receptor activation, and were more insulin resistant after a high-fat diet challenge. Collectively, our data demonstrate that Cx43 is required for maintaining the mitochondrial integrity and metabolic activity of BAT.
Discovery of novel therapeutic properties of drugs from transcriptional responses based on multi-label classification
Authors: Xie Lingwei , He Song , Wen Yuqi , Bo Xiaochen , Zhang Zhongnan
Published: July 2017

Drug repositioning strategies have improved substantially in recent years. At present, two advances are poised to facilitate new strategies. First, the LINCS project can provide rich transcriptome data that reflect the responses of cells upon exposure to various drugs. Second, machine learning algorithms have been applied successfully in biomedical research. In this paper, we developed a systematic method to discover novel indications for existing drugs by approaching drug repositioning as a multi-label classification task and used a Softmax regression model to predict previously unrecognized therapeutic properties of drugs based on LINCS transcriptome data. This approach to complete the said task has not been achieved in previous studies. By performing in silico comparison, we demonstrated that the proposed Softmax method showed markedly superior performance over those of other methods. Once fully trained, the method showed a training accuracy exceeding 80% and a validation accuracy of approximately 70%. We generated a highly credible set of 98 drugs with high potential to be repositioned for novel therapeutic purposes. Our case studies included zonisamide and brinzolamide, which were originally developed to treat indications of the nervous system and sensory organs, respectively. Both drugs were repurposed to the cardiovascular category.
Bark and wood tissues of American elm exhibit distinct responses to Dutch elm disease
Authors: Sherif S. M. , Erland L. A. , Shukla M. R. , Saxena P. K
Published: July 2017

Tolerance to Dutch elm disease (DED) has been linked to the rapid and/or high induction of disease-responsive genes after infection with the fungusOphiostoma novo-ulmi. Although the fungal infection byO.novo-ulmiprimarily takes places in xylem vessels, it is still unclear how xylem contributes to the defense against DED. Taking advantage of the easy separation of wood and bark tissues in young American elm saplings, here we show that most disease-responsive genes exhibited higher expression in wood compared to bark tissues after fungal infection. On the other hand, the stress-related phytohormones were generally more abundant in the bark compared to wood tissues. However, only endogenous levels of jasmonates (JAs), but not salicylic acid (SA) and abscisic acid (ABA) increased in the inoculated tissues. This, along with the upregulation of JA-biosynthesis genes in inoculated bark and core tissues further suggest that phloem and xylem might contribute to the de novo biosynthesis of JA after fungal infection. The comparison between two tolerant elm varieties, ‘Valley Forge’ and ‘Princeton,’ also indicated that tolerance against DED might be mediated by different mechanisms in the xylem. The present study sheds some light on the amplitude and kinetics of defense responses produced in the xylem and phloem in response to DED.
Stretching Micro Metal Particles into Uniformly Dispersed and Sized Nanoparticles in Polymer
Authors: Javadi Abdolreza , Zhao Jingzhou , Cao Chezheng , Pozuelo Marta , Yang Yingchao , Hwang Injoo , Lin Ting Chang , Li Xiaochun
Published: July 2017

There is a longstanding challenge to disperse metal nanoparticles uniformly in bulk polymers for widespread applications. Conventional scale-down techniques often are only able to shrink larger elements (such as microparticles and microfibers) into micro/nano-elements (i.e. nanoparticles and nanofibers) without much altering their relative spatial and size distributions. Here we show an unusual phenomenon that tin (Sn) microparticles with both poor size distribution and spatial dispersion were stretched into uniformly dispersed and sized Sn nanoparticles in polyethersulfone (PES) through a stack and draw technique in thermal drawing. It is believed that the capillary instability plays a crucial role during thermal drawing. This novel, inexpensive, and scalable method overcomes the longstanding challenge to produce bulk polymer-metal nanocomposites (PMNCs) with a uniform dispersion of metallic nano-elements.
Flower-Like Internal Emission Distribution of LEDs with Monolithic Integration of InGaN-based Quantum Wells Emitting Narrow Blue, Green, and Red Spectra
Authors: Lee Kwanjae , Choi Ilgyu , Lee Cheul-Ro , Chung Tae-Hoon , Kim Yoon Seok , Jeong Kwang-Un , Chung Dong Chul , Kim Jin Soo
Published: July 2017

We report a phosphor-free white light-emitting diodes (LED) realized by the monolithic integration of In0.18Ga0.82N/GaN (438 nm, blue), In0.26Ga0.74N/GaN (513 nm, green), and In0.45Ga0.55N/In0.13Ga0.87N (602 nm, red) quantum wells (QWs) as an active medium. The QWs corresponding to blue and green light were grown using a conventional growth mode. For the red spectral emission, five-stacked In0.45Ga0.55N/In0.13Ga0.87N QWs were realized by the so-called Ga-flow-interruption (Ga-FI) technique, wherein the Ga supply was periodically interrupted during the deposition of In0.3Ga0.7N to form an In0.45Ga0.55N well. The vertical and lateral distributions of the three different light emissions were investigated by fluorescence microscope (FM) images. The FM image measured at a focal point in the middle of the n-GaN cladding layer for the red-emitting LED shows that light emissions with flower-like patterns with six petals are periodically observed. The chromaticity coordinates of the electroluminescence spectrum for the white LEDs at an injection current of 80 mA are measured to be (0.316, 0.312), which is close to ideal white light. In contrast with phosphor-free white-light-emitting devices based on nanostructures, our white light device exhibits a mixture of three independent wavelengths by monolithically grown InGaN-based QWs, thus demonstrating a more facile technique to obtain white LEDs.
Correction: Corrigendum: A multiply-add engine with monolithically integrated 3D memristor crossbar/CMOS hybrid circuit
Authors: Chakrabarti B. , Lastras-Montaño M. A. , Adam G. , Prezioso M. , Hoskins B. , Payvand M. , Madhavan A. , Ghofrani A. , Theogarajan L. , Cheng K.-T. , Strukov D. B.
Published: July 2017

Scientific Reports 7: Article number: 42429; published online: 14 February 2017; updated: 27 July 2017. M. Payvand, A. Madhavan, A. Ghofrani and L. Theogarajan were omitted from the author list in the original version of this Article. This has been corrected in the PDF and HTML versions of the Article, as well as in the Supplementary Information that now accompanies the Article.
Superior sodium storage performance of reduced graphene oxide-supported Na3.12Fe2.44(P2O7)2/C nanocomposites
Authors: Song Hee Jo , Kim Kyeong-Ho , Kim Jae-Chan , Hong Seong-Hyeon , Kim Dong-Wan
Published: July 2017

We prepared a rGO-supported Na3.12Fe2.44(P2O7)2/C nanocomposite showing superior rate capability and a long lifespan as a NIB cathode material.
Photocatalytic alkene reduction by a B12–TiO2 hybrid catalyst coupled with C–F bond cleavage for gem-difluoroolefin synthesis
Authors: Tian Hui , Shimakoshi Hisashi , Imamura Kenji , Shiota Yoshihito , Yoshizawa Kazunari , Hisaeda Yoshio
Published: July 2017

B12–TiO2 hybrid catalyzed CC bond reduction coupled with C–F bond cleavage under UV light irradiation is reported.
A simple bulk modulus model for crystal materials based on the bond valence model
Authors: Liu Xiao , Wang Hao , Wang Weimin , Fu Zhengyi
Published: July 2017

A new empirical model is presented to estimate the bulk modulus of crystal materials based on the bond valence model.
Silver complexes stabilized by large silanethiolate ligands – crystal structures and luminescence properties
Authors: Ciborska Anna , Hnatejko Zbigniew , Kazimierczuk Katarzyna , Mielcarek Agnieszka , Wiśniewska Aleksandra , Dołęga Anna
Published: July 2017

Emission properties of silanethiolates Ag(SR)2− and Ag3(SR)3 are discussed with reference to their molecular (X-ray) and electronic (DFT) structures.
Ultrahigh thermoelectric performance in Cu2Se-based hybrid materials with highly dispersed molecular CNTs
Authors: Nunna Raghavendra , Qiu Pengfei , Yin Meijie , Chen Hongyi , Hanus Riley , Song Qingfeng , Zhang Tiansong , Chou Mei-Yin , Agne Matthias T. , He Jiaqing , Snyder G. Jeffrey , Shi Xun , Chen Lidong
Published: July 2017

By utilizing the interaction between Cu and CNTs, a record-high zT of 2.4 has been achieved in Cu2Se/CNT hybrid materials.
Murine cutaneous leishmaniasis investigated by MALDI mass spectrometry imaging
Authors: Negrão Fernanda , de O. Rocha Daniele F. , Jaeeger Caroline F. , Rocha Francisca J. S. , Eberlin Marcos N. , Giorgio Selma
Published: July 2017

The MALDI-IMS technique was applied to screen for peptides and low molecular weight proteins to unveil potential biomarkers for cutaneous leishmaniasis.
Encapsulation of a hexaaza macrocyclic nickel(ii) complex in zeolite Y: an experimental and theoretical investigation
Authors: Mohan Singaravelu Chandra , Vijay Solomon Rajadurai , Venuvanalingam Ponnambalam , Jothivenkatachalam Kandasamy
Published: July 2017

In this study, a 1,8-dimethyl-1,3,6,8,10,13-hexaazacyclotetradecane nickel(ii) complex was encapsulated in the supercages of zeolite Y for the photocatalytic removal of methylene blue under visible light.
A novel label-free fluorescent molecular beacon for the detection of 3′–5′ exonuclease enzymatic activity using DNA-templated copper nanoclusters
Authors: Ge Jia , Dong Zhen-Zhen , Bai Dong-Mei , Zhang Lin , Hu Ya-Lei , Ji Dan-Yang , Li Zhao-Hui
Published: July 2017

A label-free biosensor was developed for highly sensitive and selective determination of Exo III based on poly(T) molecular beacon-templated CuNPs.
Effect of spermine-derived AGEs on oxidative stress and polyamine metabolism
Authors: Tsutsui Ayumi , Pradipta Ambara R. , Kitazume Shinobu , Taniguchi Naoyuki , Tanaka Katsunori
Published: July 2017

Spermine-derived AGEs CES- and MOSD-induced oxidative stress proceeds through different pathways.
Metal-free radical aromatic carbonylations mediated by weak bases
Authors: Koziakov Denis , Jacobi von Wangelin Axel
Published: July 2017

A radical aromatic substitution mechanism initiated by very weak bases affects the synthesis of benzoates under pressurized CO atmosphere.
Synthesis and conformational analysis of peptides embodying 2,3-methanopipecolic acids
Authors: Ricci Luciano , Sernissi Lorenzo , Scarpi Dina , Bianchini Francesca , Contini Alessandro , Occhiato Ernesto G.
Published: July 2017

When 2,3-methanopipecolic acids replace a proline in peptides, a marked preference (42–92%) for thecisgeometry around the pipecolic amide bond is observed in both water and organic solvents.
Interface-engineered charge separation at selective electron tunneling heterointerfaces
Authors: Gu Chunhui , Jia Chuancheng , Guo Xuefeng
Published: July 2017

Charge/energy transfer was investigated at dye/graphene/TiO2 ternary interfaces based on a novel ipsilateral selective electron tunneling mechanism.
Trace-doped metal–organic gels with remarkably enhanced luminescence
Authors: Feng Xiying , Zeng Lihua , Zou Dianting , Zhang Zizhe , Zhong Guihao , Peng Shuyin , Liu Liping , Chen Liuping , Zhang Jianyong
Published: July 2017

Novel highly luminescent metal–organic gels with a trace amount of doping (as low as 0.01 mol%) have been fabricated.
Understanding the correlation and balance between the miscibility and optoelectronic properties of polymer–fullerene solar cells
Authors: Zhang Chaohong , Langner Stefan , Mumyatov Alexander V. , Anokhin Denis V. , Min Jie , Perea José Darío , Gerasimov Kirill L. , Osvet Andres , Ivanov Dimitri A. , Troshin Pavel , Li Ning , Brabec Christoph J.
Published: July 2017

The miscibility has more influence than the crystallinity on the optimized acceptor : donor ratio in solar cells.
Diaminotetrazine based mesoporous C3N6 with a well-ordered 3D cubic structure and its excellent photocatalytic performance for hydrogen evolution
Authors: Talapaneni Siddulu Naidu , Mane Gurudas P. , Park Dae-Hwan , Lakhi Kripal S. , Ramadass Kavitha , Joseph Stalin , Skinner William M. , Ravon Ugo , Al-Bahily Khalid , Vinu Ajayan
Published: July 2017

Synthesis and excellent photocatalytic H2 evolution performance of diaminotetrazine based highly ordered 3D mesoporous carbon nitrides (MCN-9) with C3N6 stoichiometry prepared by employing KIT-6 silica template has been demonstrated.
New small-molecule acceptors based on hexacyclic naphthalene(cyclopentadithiophene) for efficient non-fullerene organic solar cells
Authors: Yi Yuan-Qiu-Qiang , Feng Huanran , Chang Meijia , Zhang Hongtao , Wan Xiangjian , Li Chenxi , Chen Yongsheng
Published: July 2017

A series of new non-fullerene small molecule acceptors (NTIC, NTIC-Me, NTIC-OMe and NTIC-F) based on the acceptor–donor–acceptor (A–D–A) architecture, using hexacyclic naphthalene-(cyclopentadithiophene) as the central unit, were designed and synthesized.
Enantioseparation performance of CNTs as chiral selectors for the separation of ibuprofen isomers: a dispersion corrected DFT study
Authors: Soleymani Elham , Alinezhad Heshmatollah , Darvish Ganji Masoud , Tajbakhsh Mahmood
Published: July 2017

The enantioseparation of chiral drugs has been of great interest in the modern pharmaceutical industry since the majority of bioorganic compounds are chiral.
A highly bioactive bone extracellular matrix-biomimetic nanofibrous system with rapid angiogenesis promotes diabetic wound healing
Authors: Gao Wendong , Jin Wanwan , Li Yannan , Wan Li , Wang Chenggui , Lin Cai , Chen Xiaofeng , Lei Bo , Mao Cong
Published: July 2017

BGN-containing CPB nanofibrous scaffolds with rapid angiogenesis promotes diabetic wound healing.
A dual-emissive fluorescent sensor fabricated by encapsulating quantum dots and carbon dots into metal–organic frameworks for the ratiometric detection of Cu2+ in tap water
Authors: Ma Yujie , Xu Guanhong , Wei Fangdi , Cen Yao , Ma Yunsu , Song Yueyue , Xu Xiaoman , Shi Menglan , Muhammad Sohail , Hu Qin
Published: July 2017

A new ratiometric fluorescent sensor (QDs/CDs@ZIF-8) combining the advantages of ratiometry and MOFs was synthesized for Cu2+ detection.
Why organically functionalized nanoparticles increase the electrical conductivity of nematic liquid crystal dispersions
Authors: Urbanski Martin , Lagerwall Jan P. F.
Published: July 2017

We demonstrate that ionic impurities trapped in the dense ligand shell of functionalized nanoparticles significantly increase the conductivity in LC nanodispersions.
Agmatine: multifunctional arginine metabolite and magic bullet in clinical neuroscience?
Authors: Laube Gregor , Bernstein Hans-Gert
Published: July 2017

Agmatine, the decarboxylation product of arginine, was largely neglected as an important player in mammalian metabolism until the mid-1990s, when it was re-discovered as an endogenous ligand of imidazoline and α2-adrenergic receptors. Since then, a wide variety of agmatine-mediated effects have been observed, and consequently agmatine has moved from a wallflower existence into the limelight of clinical neuroscience research. Despite this quantum jump in scientific interest, the understanding of the anabolism and catabolism of this amine is still vague. The purification and biochemical characterization of natural mammalian arginine decarboxylase and agmatinase still are open issues. Nevertheless, the agmatinergic system is currently one of the most promising candidates in order to pharmacologically interfere with some major diseases of the central nervous system, which are summarized in the present review. Particularly with respect to major depression, agmatine, its derivatives, and metabolizing enzymes show great promise for the development of an improved treatment of this common disease.
An improved method for expressing the transient ground resistance of overhead transmission lines by exponential polynomial
Authors: Liu Xin , Wang Litong , Yang Jiawei , Yue Huiqing
Published: July 2017

In this study, a method is proposed for expressing the transient ground resistance of the overhead transmission lines (TLs) by the exponential polynomial. The relation of the poles due to the rational approximation of the ground resistance between the ground conductivity, permittivity and the line geometry is fully discussed. A concept of ‘normalise poles’ is introduced, which makes it very easy to evaluate the poles according to any ground conductivity, permittivity and line geometrical geometry. A new and easily programmed method is achieved which can overcome the uncertain error caused by the conventional vector fitting method when approximating the ground resistance. Based on this method, a recursive convolution can be achieved for analysing the multi‐conductor TLs system, so good efficiency can be obtained. Several examples are provided to demonstrate the validation of the proposed method for evaluating the transient ground resistance with different ground parameters and line geometry, and an application on calculating the lightning induced voltages of the overhead TLs system is also provided.
Pulmonary Sarcoidosis
Authors: Bonifazi Martina , Gasparini Stefano , Alfieri Veronica , Renzoni Elisabetta
Published: July 2017

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disorder of unknown etiology, with a predilection for the respiratory system, involved in more than 90% of cases, with considerable variability in terms of patterns and prognostic implications. A protean interplay between genetic susceptibility and antigen exposure in selected environmental contexts is likely to define not only the risk for disease but also the different clinical phenotypes. Advances in imaging and functional tests over the past decades have increasingly broadened the awareness of the wide spectrum of features potentially occurring in pulmonary sarcoidosis, while the evolution of diagnostic techniques in interventional pulmonology has increased the possibility of obtaining tissue characterization more easily, by means of ultrasound-guided tools and cryotechnology. However, histological proof is not always needed, as, in selected scenarios with compatible clinical and imaging picture, a confirmatory biopsy is perceived as redundant. The diagnostic workup should be tailored on a case-by-case basis, according to an integrated assessment of clinical features, local resources, and expertise availability. Owing to the heterogeneity of possible clinical scenarios and the paucity of evidence-based data on treatments, a standardized clinical management has yet to be established, and general approach usually reflects expert opinion from accumulated clinical data. Key elements of decision-making process are to assess the baseline severity of disease, to stratify the risk of progression, and to define the goals of treatment.
Sarcoidosis: Drugs under Investigation
Authors: Schupp Jonas , Frye Björn , Zissel Gernot , Müller-Quernheim Joachim
Published: July 2017

Etiology of sarcoidosis is still elusive, yet there has been considerable progress in various areas of basic and clinical research. In this review, we focus on ongoing or recently completed clinical–pharmacological studies in patients with sarcoidosis. Positive studies were published in well-characterized and homogenous subcohorts of sarcoid patients. Several drugs have shown a positive effect on sarcoidosis-associated fatigue, cutaneous sarcoidosis, and pulmonary hypertension in sarcoid patients. It seems that the recruitment of clinically precisely defined subcohorts is necessary to achieve positive outcomes in studies on sarcoidosis.