bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The cytochrome P450 CYP6DE1 catalyzes the conversion of α-pinene into the mountain pine beetle aggregation pheromone trans-verbenol
Authors: Chiu Christine C. , Keeling Christopher I. , Bohlmann Joerg
Published: February 2019

The recent outbreak of the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae; MPB) has affected over 20 M hectares of pine forests in western North America. During the colonization of host trees, female MPB release the aggregation pheromone (−)-trans-verbenol. (−)-trans-Verbenol is thought to be produced from the pine defense compound (−)-α-pinene by cytochrome P450 (P450) dependent hydroxylation. MPB may also use P450s for the detoxification of other monoterpenes of the pine defense system. Here we describe the functional characterization of MPB CYP6DE1. CYP6DE1, but not the closely related CYP6DE2, used the bicyclic monoterpenes (−)-α-pinene, (+)-α-pinene, (−)-β-pinene, (+)-β-pinene and (+)-3-carene as substrates. CYP6DE1 was not active with other monoterpenes or diterpene resin acids that were tested as substrates. trans-Verbenol is the major product of CYP6DE1 activity with (−)-α-pinene or (+)-α-pinene as substrates. When tested with blends of different ratios of (−)-α-pinene and (+)-α-pinene, CYP6DE1 produced trans-verbenol with an enantiomeric profile that was similar to that produced by female MPB exposed to the α-pinene enantiomers.
Statin Use is Associated with Decreased Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence in Liver Transplant Patients
Authors: Cho Yongin , Kim Myoung Soo , Nam Chung Mo , Kang Eun Seok
Published: February 2019

Statins have been reported to prevent the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We examined whether statin therapy is associated with decreased HCC recurrence in patients who underwent liver transplantation for HCC. Three hundred forty-seven patients ≥ 20 years old who underwent liver transplantation for HCC from 2006 to 2016 were enrolled in this study. Statin therapy was defined as the administration of statins for more than 30 days after liver transplantation. One hundred twelve (32.3%) patients treated with statins over 30 days were defined as the statin group, and the remaining 235 (67.7%) were defined as the non-statin group. Several risk factors reported to be associated with HCC recurrence, such as proportion of underlying liver disease, above Milan criteria, differentiation of HCC, vascular invasion, and preoperative alpha-fetoprotein level were not different between the two groups. Time-dependent Cox regression analysis showed that statin treatment was associated with significantly lower recurrence risk of HCC after adjusting for other risk factors (hazard ratio = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.11–0.89).
Elevated serum levels of bone sialoprotein (BSP) predict long-term mortality in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma
Authors: Loosen Sven H. , Hoening Pia , Puethe Niklas , Luedde Mark , Spehlmann Martina , Ulmer Tom F. , Cardenas David V. , Roy Sanchari , Tacke Frank , Trautwein Christian , Neumann Ulf P. , Luedde Tom , Roderburg Christoph
Published: February 2019

Patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) still face a very limited prognosis. At early stage, surgical tumor resection might offer long-term survival but disease recurrence is common and the existing stratification algorithms are often unsuitable to identify patients who particularly benefit from surgery. Here, we investigated the potential role of bone sialoprotein (BSP) as a circulating marker in patients undergoing resection of PDAC. We used ELISA to determine serum concentrations of BSP in a cohort of 132 PDAC patients as well as 39 healthy controls. Circulating BSP levels were significantly higher in PDAC patients compared to healthy controls. Notably, elevated preoperative BSP levels above the ideal cut-off value of 4743 pg/ml turned out as a significant predictor for an impaired postoperative survival. The potential of preoperative BSP levels as a prognostic marker was further underlined by uni- and multivariate Cox-regression analyses including various tumour- and patient-specific. Finally, high tumoral BSP expression was also associated with a significantly impaired long-term survival. In conclusion, we identified a novel role of circulating BSP as a biomarker in PDAC patients undergoing tumor resection. Such data might help to establish new preoperative stratification strategies to better identify patients who particularly benefit from tumor resection.
Traditional risk factors for essential hypertension: analysis of their specific combinations in the EPIC-Potsdam cohort
Authors: Andriolo Violetta , Dietrich Stefan , Knüppel Sven , Bernigau Wolfgang , Boeing Heiner
Published: February 2019

Appropriate interventions might improve the prevention of essential hypertension. This requires a comprehensive view of modifiable lifestyle factors (MLFs) distribution and effect. To determine how six MLFs (general adiposity, abdominal adiposity, alcohol consumption, smoking, diet, physical inactivity) for risk of hypertension are distributed and how their combinations affect the risk, a prospective study cohort of 11,923 healthy participants from the population-based European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)–Potsdam Study was used. Of these, 1,635 developed hypertension during a mean follow-up of 10.3 years. Mutually exclusive combinations, clustering and interactions of MLFs were then investigated stratifying by sex, Hazard Ratios (HRs) and Population Attributable Risks (PARs%) were calculated. General adiposity alone was sufficient to increase the risk of hypertension (HR = 1.86, PAR% 3.36), and in this cohort it played a major role in enhancing the risk of hypertension, together with smoking and physical inactivity. MLFs had a different impact and a different modulation of risk in women and men, and they showed a remarkable tendency to occur in specific patterns with higher prevalence than expected. This indication can help to promote a holistic approach through multifactorial preventive strategies addressing more than a factor at a time. For prevention of hypertension addressing adiposity together with smoking, promoting at the same time physical activity should be the first choice.
Harnessing the layer-by-layer assembly technique to design biomaterials vaccines for immune modulation in translational applications
Authors: Tang Tan , Weng Tujun , Jia Hongxing , Luo Sida , Xu Ye , Li Liuhe , Zhang Peipei
Published: February 2019

Layer-by-layer (LbL)-based biomaterials vaccines are broadly explored to tune the immunity in different diseases for translational purposes.
Photocatalytic reductive radical–radical coupling of N,N′-cyclicazomethine imines with difluorobromo derivatives
Authors: Xia Peng-Ju , Ye Zhi-Peng , Song Dan , Ren Ji-Wei , Wu Han-Wen , Xiao Jun-An , Xiang Hao-Yue , Chen Xiao-Qing , Yang Hua
Published: February 2019

A variety of difluorinated 3-pyrazolidinone scaffolds were prepared through a novel photoredox radical-radical cross-coupling reaction of N,N′-cyclicazomethine imines.
Ferri- and ferro-magnetism in CaMnMReO6 double double perovskites of late transition metals M = Co and Ni
Authors: Solana-Madruga Elena , Sun Yu , Arévalo-López Ángel M. , Attfield J. Paul
Published: February 2019

Doubly ordered perovskites are reported for CaMnMReO6 (M = Co, Ni). CaMnNiReO6 is a remarkable example of a ferromagnetic oxide with four distinct spin sublattices all collinearly ordered below TC = 152 K.
Towards high-level theoretical studies of large biodiesel molecules: an ONIOM/RRKM/Master-equation approach to the isomerization and dissociation kinetics of methyl decanoate radicals
Authors: Meng Qinghui , Chi Yicheng , Zhang Lidong , Zhang Peng , Sheng Liusi
Published: February 2019

The isomerization and dissociation reactions of methyl decanoate (MD) radicals were theoretically investigated by using high-level theoretical calculations based on a two-layer ONIOM method, employing the QCISD(T)/CBS method for the high layer and the M06-2X/6-311++G(d,p) method for the low layer.
Photo-generation of cyclic carbonates using hyper-branched Ru–TiO2
Authors: Gavrielides Stelios , Tan Jeannie Z. Y. , Fernandez Eva Sanchez , Maroto-Valer M. Mercedes
Published: February 2019

The photo-catalytic fixation of CO2 and epoxides for the photo-generation of cyclic carbonates (CCs) using Ru–TiO2 hyper-branched nanorods.
Design, synthesis and properties of hemiphasmidic luminescent liquid crystal polymers with the AIEE effect
Authors: Yang Ming , Liu Zui , Yang Bohao , Zhang Hailiang
Published: February 2019

Novel hemiphasmidic side-chain luminescent liquid crystal polymers with different self-assembly structures and fluorescence properties have been prepared and investigated.
Ruthenium(ii)-catalyzed C–O/C–S cyclization for the synthesis of 5-membered O-containing and S-containing heterocycles
Authors: Liu Jian , Wen Yu , He Fengjun , Gao Liang , Gao Lina , Wang Junwei , Wang Xiachang , Zhang Yinan , Hu Lihong
Published: February 2019

An efficient and convenient method for the synthesis of oxazole derivatives from enamides has been established via a ruthenium-catalyzed C–O cyclization.
Ultrafine NiMoOx nanoparticles confined in mesoporous carbon for the reduction of nitroarenes: effect of the composition and accessibility of the active sites
Authors: Li Shuna , Lv Yipin , Song Guolong , Li Cuncheng , Gao Daowei , Chen Guozhu
Published: February 2019

Ultrafine NiMoOx NPs were confined in the framework of mesoporous carbon by using the replication method for the reduction of nitroarenes.
Analysis of energies of halogen and hydrogen bonding interactions in the solid state structures of vanadyl Schiff base complexes
Authors: Thakur Snehasish , Drew Michael G. B. , Franconetti Antonio , Frontera Antonio , Chattopadhyay Shouvik
Published: February 2019

Four vanadyl Schiff base complexes have been prepared and characterized. Energies of supramolecular interactions in complexes 1, 2 and 3 were estimated using DFT calculations, and further corroborated with NCI plot index computational tool.
Reversible temperature-dependent high- to low-spin transition in the heme Fe–Cu binuclear center of cytochrome ba3 oxidase
Authors: Nicolaides Antonis , Soulimane Tewfik , Varotsis Constantinos
Published: February 2019

A reversible temperature-dependent high- to low-spin transition with T1/2 = −60 °C has been observed in the resonance Raman spectra of the equilibrium reduced and photoreduced heme a3 of the thermophilic ba3 heme–copper oxidoreductase.
Modulation of aggregation with an electric field; scientific roadmap for a potential non-invasive therapy against tauopathies
Authors: Pandey Gaurav , Morla Sudhir , Nemade Harshal B. , Kumar Sachin , Ramakrishnan Vibin
Published: February 2019

Potential use of electric field as a non-invasive therapeutic option against Alzheimer's disease, by modulating the aggregation kinetics and morphology of tau protein.
Preparation and characterization of POSS-containing poly(perfluoropolyether)methacrylate hybrid copolymer and its superhydrophobic coating performance
Authors: Lyu Zhujun , An Qiufeng , Qin Pengwei , Li Weiwei , Wang Xiaoge
Published: February 2019

A coating with excellent superhydrophobicity and durability was built via incorporating an environmentally-friendly poly(perfluoropolyether)methacrylate copolymer into polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS).
Solid-state p-type dye-sensitized solar cells: progress, potential applications and challenges
Authors: Tian Haining
Published: February 2019

Progress, potential applications and challenges of solid-state p-type dye-sensitized solar cells have been overviewed and discussed.
Topological entanglement of interlocked knotted–unknotted polymer rings
Authors: Najafi Saeed
Published: February 2019

We demonstrate that a non-identical crossing pattern in the braid of interlocked rings could distinctly enforce concerted internal conformational fluctuations.
Hot carrier solar cells and the potential of perovskites for breaking the Shockley–Queisser limit
Authors: Kahmann Simon , Loi Maria A.
Published: February 2019

We review the cooling of charge carriers in metal halide perovskites for the use in hot carrier solar cells.
Molecular engineering of enamine-based small organic compounds as hole-transporting materials for perovskite solar cells
Authors: Daskeviciene Maryte , Paek Sanghyun , Magomedov Artiom , Cho Kyoung Taek , Saliba Michael , Kizeleviciute Ausra , Malinauskas Tadas , Gruodis Alytis , Jankauskas Vygintas , Kamarauskas Egidijus , Nazeeruddin Mohammad Khaja , Getautis Vytautas
Published: February 2019

Optimization of the structure of hole transporting material leads to over 19% efficiency.
Visible-light-induced metathesis reaction between diselenide and ditelluride
Authors: Liu Cheng , Xia Jiahao , Ji Shaobo , Fan Zhiyuan , Xu Huaping
Published: February 2019

A visible-light-responsive metathesis reaction between diselenide and ditelluride proceeding through a radical mechanism without catalysts.
Using nanotubes to study the phonon spectrum of two-dimensional materials
Authors: Carrete Jesús , Ngoc Tuoc Vu , Madsen Georg K. H.
Published: February 2019

We develop a method to characterize the phonon spectrum of 2D monolayers from IR and Raman measurements performed on nanotubes.
An isolable iron(ii) bis(supersilyl) complex as an effective catalyst for reduction reactions
Authors: Arata Shogo , Sunada Yusuke
Published: February 2019

An isolable 14-electron iron bis(supersilyl) complex, Fe[Si(SiMe3)3]2(THF)2, was successfully synthesized, and catalytic performance toward reduction reactions was also demonstrated.
Fischeriana A, a meroterpenoid with an unusual 6/6/5/5/5/6/6 heptacyclic carbon skeleton from the roots of Euphorbia fischeriana
Authors: He Jun , Xu Jie-Kun , Zhang Jia , Bai Hong-Jin , Ma Bing-Zhi , Cheng Yung-Chi , Zhang Wei-Ku
Published: February 2019

Fischeriana A (1), a new meroterpenoid with a rare carbon skeleton, was isolated from the roots of Euphorbia fischeriana.
Synthesis of α-arylthioacetones using TEMPO as theC3synthonviaa reaction cascade of sequential oxidation, skeletal rearrangement and C–S bond formation
Authors: Zou Jiao-Xia , Jiang Yi , Lei Shuai , Yin Gao-Feng , Hu Xiao-Ling , Zhao Quan-Yi , Wang Zhen
Published: February 2019

Here, we present an unprecedented pathway to α-arythioacetones from commercially available thiols and universally employed TEMPO and its analogues.
The identification of active N species in N-doped carbon carriers that improve the activity of Fe electrocatalysts towards the oxygen evolution reaction
Authors: Jia Jia , Liu Ziwu , Han Fei , Kang Guo-Jun , Liu Ling , Liu Jinlong , Wang Quan-De
Published: February 2019

Experiments and DFT calculations demonstrate that graphitic N is the active species which improves the OER activity of Fe catalyst.
Abnormal NIR photoemission from bismuth doped germanophosphate photonic glasses
Authors: Cao Jiangkun , Zhang Ziyang , Li Xingyu , Peng Mingying
Published: February 2019

The changes in the Bi valence and distribution brought about by the addition of germanium are responsible for the unusual NIR luminescence behavior in Bi-doped germanophosphate glasses.
Categories of Auditory Performance and Speech Intelligibility Ratings in Prelingually Deaf Children With Bilateral Implantation
Authors: Albalawi Yasser , Nidami Mohamad , Almohawas Fida , Hagr Abdulrahman , Garadat Soha N.
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The aim of the current study was to review all pediatric cases with congenital deafness who underwent bilateral implantation in our center. Specifically, auditory performance and speech intelligibility ratings were compared across children based on their mode of bilateral stimulation (simultaneous or sequential implantation).

Method

A retrospective chart review design was used in this study. A total of 46 congenitally deaf children were included. Children ranged in age between 2 and 8 years, with a mean of 3 years 7 months. Participants were divided into 2 groups: those who received their bilateral implant simultaneously and those who received them sequentially. Categories of Auditory Performance (CAP;
Archbold, Lutman, & Marshall, 1995
) scores and Speech Intelligibility Rating (SIR;
M. C. Allen, Nikolopoulos, & O'Donoghue, 1998
) scores were used to measure their performance.

Results

Children scored an average of 4.1 (±1.6) on the CAP Scale and 1.6 (±1) on the SIR Scale. Results showed that children who received their implants simultaneously scored relatively higher on the CAP Scale than those with sequential implants. However, there were no differences between the 2 groups in SIR scores. These 2 outcome measures were not correlated with age at implantation.

Conclusion

The current study demonstrated that simultaneous implantation could potentially improve audiologic outcome.
Sentence Context Facilitation for Children's and Adults' Recognition of Native- and Nonnative-Accented Speech
Authors: Bent Tessa , Holt Rachael Frush , Miller Katherine , Libersky Emma
Published: February 2019

Purpose

Supportive semantic and syntactic information can increase children's and adults' word recognition accuracy in adverse listening conditions. However, there are inconsistent findings regarding how a talker's accent or dialect modulates these context effects. Here, we compare children's and adults' abilities to capitalize on sentence context to overcome misleading acoustic–phonetic cues in nonnative-accented speech.

Method

Monolingual American English–speaking 5- to 7-year-old children (
n
= 90) and 18- to 35-year-old adults (
n
= 30) were presented with full sentences or the excised final word from each of the sentences and repeated what they heard. Participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 conditions: native-accented (Midland American English) or nonnative-accented (Spanish- and Japanese-accented English) speech. Participants also completed the NIH Toolbox Picture Vocabulary Test.

Results

Children and adults benefited from sentence context for both native- and nonnative-accent talkers, but the benefit was greater for nonnative than native talkers. Furthermore, adults showed a greater context benefit than children for nonnative talkers, but the 2 age groups showed a similar benefit for native talkers. Children's age and vocabulary scores both correlated with context benefit.

Conclusions

The cognitive–linguistic development that occurs between the early school-age years and adulthood may increase listeners' abilities to capitalize on top-down cues for lexical identification with nonnative-accented speech. These results have implications for the perception of speech with source degradation, including speech sound disorders, hearing loss, or signal processing that does not faithfully represent the original signal.
Direct torque and flux control of switched reluctance motor with enhanced torque per ampere ratio and torque ripple reduction
Authors: Reddy P. Krishna , Ronanki Deepak , Parthiban P.
Published: February 2019

A smooth torque control of switched reluctance motor (SRM) is essential to avoid speed fluctuations causing stability problems in vehicular applications. This can be accomplished by an appropriate motor design and/or use of direct control of torque in SRM. It is reported that high RMS current is required to minimise the torque ripple in the conventional direct torque and flux control (DTFC), thereby reducing the torque per ampere ratio. To overcome this issue, a new DTFC technique with improved torque per ampere ratio while minimising torque ripple in an SRM traction drive is presented. Results demonstrated that the proposed DTFC technique reduces torque ripple with enhanced torque per ampere. Finally, the performance of the proposed scheme is compared with conventional DTFC of a four‐phase (8/6) SRM to show the improvement in the traction drive.
Constraints on the low frequency spectrum of FRB 121102
Authors: Houben L. J. M. , Spitler L. G. , ter Veen S. , Rachen J. P. , Falcke H. , Kramer M.
Published: February 2019

While repeating fast radio bursts (FRBs) remain scarce in number, they provide a unique opportunity for follow-up observations that enhance our knowledge of their sources and potentially of the FRB population as a whole. Attaining more burst spectra could lead to a better understanding of the origin of these bright, millisecond-duration radio pulses. We therefore performed ∼20 h of simultaneous observations on FRB 121102 with the Effelsberg 100 m radio telescope and the low frequency array (LOFAR) to constrain the spectral behaviour of bursts from FRB 121102 at 1.4 GHz and 150 MHz. This campaign resulted in the detection of nine new bursts at 1.4 GHz but no simultaneous detections with LOFAR. Assuming that the ratio of the fluence at two frequencies scales as a power law, we placed a lower limit of α >  −1.2 ± 0.4 on the spectral index for the fluence of the instantaneous broad band emission of FRB 121102. For the derivation of this limit, a realistic fluence detection threshold for LOFAR was determined empirically assuming a burst would be scattered as predicted by the NE2001 model. A significant variation was observed in the burst repeat rate R at L-band. During observations in September 2016, nine bursts were detected, giving R = 1.1 ± 0.4 h−1, while in November no bursts were detected, yielding R <  0.3 h−1 (95% confidence limit). This variation is consistent with earlier seen episodic emission of FRB 121102. In a blind and targeted search, no bursts were found with LOFAR at 150 MHz, resulting in a repeat rate limit of R <  0.16 h−1 (95% confidence limit). Burst repeat rate ratios of FRB 121102 at 3, 2, 1.4, and 0.15 GHz are consistent within the uncertainties with a flattening of its spectrum below 1 GHz.
The effect of SiO2 nano-filler on dielectric properties of epoxy resin
Authors: Kúdelčík Jozef , Jahoda Emil , Kurimský Juraj
Published: February 2019

The paper presents the impact of SiO2 nano-filler in epoxy resin (ER) on changes of dielectric properties and time to the breakdown. Several composites were tested with the mass fraction of 0.5 wt%, 1 wt% and 2 wt% of SiO2, respectively. The frequency spectra of the real and imaginary parts of complex dielectric constant were measured by a capacitance method within the frequency range from 1 mHz to 1 MHz. The mass fraction 0.5 wt% nanoparticles (NPs) in ER caused the evident decrease of the complex permittivity, while 1 wt% or 2 wt% yielded similar permittivity as measured in the pure ER sample. This change of the permittivity with the nano-filler concentration is discussed on the basis of the multi-core model. Moreover, SiO2 NPs also caused the frequency shift of the local maximum of permittivity to lower frequencies which corresponds with the α-polarization process. The internal partial discharges in the ER and its mixtures with the SiO2 nano-filler by the galvanic method and acoustic method are presented. The decrease of the time to breakdown with the increase of SiO2 the mass fraction is reported, too.
Investigation of the effects of gamma radiation on plasma levels of Zn, Cu, Mn and Se in nuclear medicine staff
Authors: Mirnam Niha M. , Faroughi F. , Beigi Harchegani A. , Bagheri H. , Mahdi Modares M. , Salehi Barough M.
Published: February 2019

We assessed possible changes in the levels of some trace elements among nuclear medicine staff. This study was carried out on 30 nuclear medicine staff and 10 individuals as a control group. After the blood samples were collected, serum levels of trace elements were measured using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Mean Zn levels in the control group (89.75 ± 17.35 µmol/l) were significantly (p = 0.002) higher than in the exposed group (70.91 ± 14.46 µmol/l). Increased duration of exposure was significantly associated with reduced zinc levels (p = 0.005). Furthermore, the 5-year average dose received was adversely and significantly correlated with zinc concentrations (p = 0.019). No significant difference was observed in the Cu level between control group (93.85 ± 25.33 µmol/l) and staff worker group (85.6 ± 21.66 µmol/l) (p = 0.32). A positive significant correlation was observed between exposure time and reduced Cu levels (p = 0.05). No difference was found in mean Mn and Se levels between both groups according to exposure time. Declined Zn and Cu levels may be considered as one of the possible mechanisms of oxidative damages induced by gammas rays. Therefore, an antioxidant treatment could be recommended for people who work in medical radiation centers.
Pflegeforschung mit Kindern
Authors: Knecht Christiane
Published: February 2019

Dieser Schwerpunktbeitrag gibt für Gesundheits- und Kinderkrankenpflegerinnen
sowie für weitere Angehörige in Gesundheitsprofessionen einen ersten Einblick,
mit welchen unterschiedlichen Zielgruppen die Pflegeforschung mit Kindern
konfrontiert ist, welchen Herausforderungen sie sich stellen muss und welche
Konsequenzen daraus für die Erhebung der Daten in qualitativen Interviews
resultieren. Er zeigt am Ende die forschungspraktische Anwendung am Beispiel
einer Studie zu gesunden Geschwistern von Kindern mit chronischer Krankheit.
Wenn Kinder Schmerzen haben
Authors: Zang Stefanie
Published: February 2019

Schmerzen bei Kindern können die unterschiedlichsten Ursachen haben. Ihnen auf
den Grund zu gehen ist oft schwierig, aber immens wichtig, denn die Folgen von
unbehandelten Schmerzen können die gesamte kindliche Entwicklung bedrohen. Zwei
Expertenstandards dienen als Grundlage für ein professionelles
Schmerzmanagement.
Visible Light-Promoted Formation of C–B and C–S Bonds under Metal- and Photocatalyst-Free Conditions
Authors: Blank Lena , Fagnoni Maurizio , Protti Stefano , Rueping Magnus
Published: February 2019

A green, efficient, photoinduced synthesis of arylboronic esters and aryl sulfides has been developed. Bench stable arylazo sulfones were used as radical precursors for a photocatalyst- and additive-free carbon–heteroatom bond formation under visible light. The protocols are applicable to a wide range of substrates, providing products in good yields.
Role of Platelet Size Revisited—Function and Protein Composition of Large and Small Platelets
Authors: Handtke Stefan , Steil Leif , Palankar Raghavendra , Conrad Jane , Cauhan Simran , Kraus Luise , Ferrara Myriam , Dhople Vishnu , Wesche Jan , Völker Uwe , Greinacher Andreas , Thiele Thomas
Published: February 2019

Epidemiological studies found an association between increased platelet size and the risk for thrombotic complications, but functional differences of large and small platelets remain poorly understood due to a lack of standardized protocols separating platelets with different size. We designed a protocol to separate large and small platelets from 15 mL whole blood. Separated large and small platelet fractions differed in mean platelet volume: 12.1 fl (10.3–13.8 fl) versus 7.7 fl (6.8–9.5 fl, p < 0.01), and forward scatter mean fluorescence intensity: 24.75 (19.9–30.9) versus 16.85 (11.3–20.6; p < 0.01). Similar fold differences were observed in cell diameter and plateletcrit. Large platelets express 30 to 50% more glycoprotein (GP) Ia, GPIb, GPIIIa, GPVI and P2Y12 on their membranes compared with small ones. Single large platelets covered a 50% larger area on a collagen surface. Adhesion to collagen was faster in large platelets compared with small ones indicating enhanced outside-in signal transduction in large platelets via collagen receptors. In contrast, integrin activation was more pronounced in small platelets after ADP stimulation. Proteome analysis revealed that 80 of the 894 proteins quantified differed in abundance: ADP-ribosylation factor 1/3, guanosine triphosphate-binding protein SAR1a, Voltage-dependent anion-selective channel protein 3 and guanylate cyclase soluble sub-unit α-3 were higher abundant in large, whereas immunoglobulins, haptoglobin, hemopexin, α-1-antitrypsin, serotransferrin and vitronectin were more abundant in small platelets. We conclude that some functions and the protein composition of large and small platelets differ, which cannot only be explained by the size difference. Our data suggest different functional roles of large and small platelets.
33.1.1.2 Alk-1-enesulfonic Acids and Derivatives (Update 2018)
Authors: Kawęcki R.
Published: February 2019

This chapter is an update to the earlier Science of Synthesis contribution describing methods for the preparation of alk-1-enesulfonic acids and derivatives and their application in synthesis. This update focuses on methods published since 2004.
InAs/GaSb superlattice resonant tunneling diode photodetector with InAs/AlSb double barrier structure
Authors: Nie Biying , Huang Jianliang , Zhao Chengcheng , Huang Wenjun , Zhang Yanhua , Cao Yulian , Ma Wenquan
Published: February 2019

We report on a resonant tunneling diode (RTD) photodetector using type-II InAs/GaSb superlattices with an InAs/AlSb double barrier structure. At 80 K, the maximum response of the detector is at about 4.0 μm and the 50% cutoff wavelength is 4.8 μm. The resonant tunneling mechanism is confirmed by observing the negative differential resistance (NDR) phenomenon. The detector is also tested under illumination by a laser with a wavelength of 3.3 μm. A significant photocurrent and NDR peak shift are observed when changing the laser illumination power. The internal multiplication factor, which means how many excess electrons can be triggered by one absorbed photon, is estimated to be 1.01 × 105 at 4.9 V and is 1.90 × 103 at 1.4 V.
Broadband Airy-like beams by coded acoustic metasurfaces
Authors: Chen Di-Chao , Zhu Xing-Feng , Wu Da-Jian , Liu Xiao-Jun
Published: February 2019

We propose a coded acoustic metasurface (CAM) to generate Airy-like beams (ALBs) in air. A space-folding structure is designed to act as the bit “1” unit of the CAM, and an air unit with the same size is used as the bit “0”. Finite-element simulations demonstrate that the ALBs generated by this simple CAM have excellent self-accelerating, self-healing, and non-diffracting features. It is found that the bit “1” unit works well in a large frequency range of 6–9 kHz, and the CAM, therefore, generates a broadband ALB. Furthermore, two symmetrical CAMs are employed to compose a lens for realizing the acoustic focusing in the frequency range of 6–9 kHz, and the focal length of the CAM lens is sensitive to the working frequency. The work presented here could greatly benefit acoustic imaging, particle trapping and manipulation, and broadband acoustical devices.
Nanostructured GaOOH modified with reactive yellow, red and blue water-soluble dyes
Authors: Adams W. Taylor , Vinueza Nelson R. , Romanyuk Oleksandr , Gordeev Ivan , Paskova Tania , Ivanisevic Albena
Published: February 2019

Water soluble reactive dyes are used to modify nanostructured GaOOH. The resulting particles showed excellent stability in water solutions. The materials were characterized by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) to assess changes due to the dye functionalization. SEM revealed changes in size after dye modification. XPS confirmed the presence of the dyes on the nanostructured materials and assessed changes in functional groups due to use of different type of modification and concentrations of dyes. The reported approach to stabilize the nanostructured GaOOH provides a simple and environmentally friendly route to tune the properties of wide band gap semiconductor materials.
Exact results for the first-passage properties in a class of fractal networks
Authors: Peng Junhao , Agliari Elena
Published: February 2019

In this work, we consider a class of recursively grown fractal networks Gn(t) whose topology is controlled by two integer parameters, t and n. We first analyse the structural properties of Gn(t) (including fractal dimension, modularity, and clustering coefficient), and then we move to its transport properties. The latter are studied in terms of first-passage quantities (including the mean trapping time, the global mean first-passage time, and Kemeny’s constant), and we highlight that their asymptotic behavior is controlled by the network’s size and diameter. Remarkably, if we tune n (or, analogously, t) while keeping the network size fixed, as n increases (t decreases) the network gets more and more clustered and modular while its diameter is reduced, implying, ultimately, a better transport performance. The connection between this class of networks and models for polymer architectures is also discussed.
A fiber-tip photoacoustic sensor for in situ trace gas detection
Authors: Zhou Sheng , Iannuzzi Davide
Published: February 2019

Most trace gas detection methods developed so far largely rely on active sampling procedures, which are known to introduce different kinds of artifacts. Here, we demonstrate sampling-free in situ trace gas detection in millimeter scale volumes with fiber coupled cantilever enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy. Our 2.4 mm diameter fiber-tip sensor is free from the wavelength modulation induced background signal (a phenomenon that is often overlooked in photoacoustic spectroscopy) and reaches a normalized noise equivalent absorption coefficient of 1.3 × 10−9 W cm−1 Hz−1/2 for acetylene detection. To validate its in situ gas detection capability, we inserted the sensor into a mini fermenter for headspace monitoring of CO2 production during yeast fermentation. Our results show that the sensor can easily follow the different stages of the CO2 production of the fermentation process in great detail.
Magneto-hydrodynamic flow and heat transfer of a hybrid nanofluid in a rotating system among two surfaces in the presence of thermal radiation and Joule heating
Authors: Chamkha Ali J. , Dogonchi A. S. , Ganji D. D.
Published: February 2019

In this paper, the researchers explore heat transfer and magneto-hydrodynamic flow of hybrid nanofluid in a rotating system among two surfaces. The upper and lower plates of the system are assumed penetrable and stretchable, respectively. The thermal radiation and Joule heating impacts are considered. A similarity technic is applied to alter governing energy and momentum equations into non-linear ordinary differential ones that contain the convenient boundary conditions and used the Duan-Rach Approach (DRA) to solve them. Influences of assorted parameters including rotation parameter, suction/blowing parameter, radiation parameter, Reynolds number, hybrid nanofluid volume fraction, and magnetic parameter on temperature and velocity profiles are examined. Also, a correlation for the Nusselt number has been developed in terms of the acting parameters of the present study. The outcomes indicate that Nusselt number acts as an ascending function of injection and radiation parameters, as well as volume fraction of nanofluid.
Building Markov state models using optimal transport theory
Authors: Dixit Purushottam D. , Dill Ken A.
Published: February 2019

Markov State Models (MSMs) describe the rates and routes in conformational dynamics of biomolecules. Computational estimation of MSMs can be expensive because molecular simulations are slow to find and sample the rare transient events. We describe here an efficient approximate way to determine MSM rate matrices by combining maximum caliber (maximizing path entropies) with optimal transport theory (minimizing some path cost function, as when routing trucks on transportation networks) to patch together transient dynamical information from multiple non-equilibrium simulations. We give toy examples.
New species reveal unexpected interspecific microhabitat diversity in the genus Uthina Simon, 1893 (Araneae : Pholcidae)
Authors: Huber Bernhard A. , Caspar Kai R. , Eberle Jonas
Published: February 2019

Representatives of the Southeast Asian pholcid spider genus Uthina Simon, 1893 have been thought to be very homogeneous in their ecology and morphology. The 14 previously known species all inhabit near-ground microhabitats and cave entrances, and range from pale to dark brown in colour. Even their genitalia are partly very similar, with some species pairs being barely distinguishable based on morphological characters. Here we describe three new species from Bali, Java and Sulawesi that represent three further microhabitats and demonstrate considerable ecological and morphological diversity within the genus: U. maya, sp. nov. from Bali is a large dark species on tree trunks; U. hylobatea, sp. nov. from Bali and eastern Java is a pale leaf-dwelling species that exhibits colour dimorphism; and U. mimpi, sp. nov. is a pale troglomorphic species collected in the aphotic zones of two South Sulawesi caves. In addition, we present new data for five previously described species, including ultrastructure, natural history, new records, taxonomic notes and a description of the previously unknown female of Uthina khaosokensis Yao, Li & Jäger, 2014. Molecular data suggest that all previously described species are very closely related to each other (constituting the monophyletic luzonica-group), and that the three new species represent separate clades within the genus. However, the basal trichotomy could not be resolved: U. maya + (U. hylobatea + U. mimpi) + luzonica-group.
A new species of Tithaeidae (Arachnida: Opiliones: Laniatores) from Mindanao reveals contemporaneous colonisation of the Philippines by Sunda Shelf opiliofauna
Authors: Schmidt Stephanie M. , Buenavente Perry A. C. , Blatchley Darrell D. , Diesmos Arvin C. , Diesmos Mae L. , General David Emmanuel M. , Mohagan Alma B. , Mohagan Dale Joy , Clouse Ronald M. , Sharma Prashant P.
Published: February 2019

The Philippine archipelago harbours a remarkable diversity of harvestmen, with respect to both taxonomy and complexity of biogeographic origins. Among the armoured harvestmen (suborder Laniatores), six families of distantly related groups occur in this archipelago. Here, we describe a new species of the family Tithaeidae, Tithaeus odysseus sp. nov., discovered during a collecting campaign on the island of Mindanao. The description of this species expands the known distribution of the family and demonstrates another exception to the zoogeographic boundary known as Huxley’s Line which putatively separates the biota of the Philippines (excluding the Palawan island group) from the Sunda Shelf biota. Given the coincident distributions of Tithaeidae and the mite harvestman family Stylocellidae (Cyphophthalmi), a group renowned for its poor dispersal ability, we inferred phylogenetic relationships and divergence times of the Philippines lineages of both families by using a comprehensive molecular dating analysis of all Opiliones. The internal phylogeny of Tithaeidae mirrored the biogeography of Philippine Stylocellidae, showing a close affinity between the Philippine and Bornean species. Molecular dating showed contemporaneous colonisation of Mindanao by both families in the Cretaceous. We infer these patterns to reflect faunal connections between the southern Philippines and Borneo via the Zamboanga Peninsula. To render the genus Tithaeus monophyletic, we synonymise Metatithaeus with Tithaeus (new synonymy).
Social meaning in the perception of neutral tone variation inPutonghua
Authors: Zhao Hui
Published: February 2019

This study investigates the perception of the variation of neutral tone, a phonetic feature in China’s official language,Putonghua. Specifically, I explore whether native listeners perceive social meanings such as standardness, regional-ness, status and/or solidarity presumably associated with the low-use, standard use, and high-use of neutral tone, and how gender influences the perception of these meanings. Based on the results of a matched-guise test, I argue that the high use of neutral tone, through its link with Beijing dialect, is possibly competing with the standard, though the latter maintains a higher level of positive meanings. I also note that the low use of neutral tone – associated with Southern China and non-Mandarin varieties – carries more negative meanings. The overall gender differences show that gender prejudice towards women still exists in China. This study enriches our understanding of sociolinguistics in China and calls for more research on language variation in China.
Erosion behavior of Ni-based coating under high-speed hot airflow
Authors: Men Xiangdong , Tao Fenghe , Gan Lin , Zhao Fang
Published: February 2019

The erosion behaviour of a nickel-based alloy coating under high-speed hot airflow erosion caused by propellant combustion was studied. The coating was prepared on the PCrNi3MoVA steel substrate via plasma transferred arc, and the coating was subjected to an erosion test using a pressure-vented vessel to simulate the high temperature and high-pressure airflow erosion environment generated by the propellant combustion. The eroded surface was analysed using a scanning electron microscope and an X-ray diffractometer. The results show that the main phases in the coating are Ni solid solution and the hard phases consisting of borides and carbides. The erosion process will cause thermal shock cracks on the surface of the coating, and the carbide on the surface will be fractured, and wiped off by the hot air flow, forming an erosion pit.
“The pastors’ dilemma” revisited. Religious leaders connecting the spiritual and organizational realms through conceptual work
Authors: Sirris Stephen
Published: February 2019

Drawing on a qualitative study in the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Norway, this article analyzes how Deans as religious leadersandorganizational managers implement a clergy reform. In an ecclesiastical context, traditionally characterized by weak managerial control and strong professional autonomy, the article explores how Deans use the ambiguity of the reform and negotiate between spiritual and organizational responsibilities. Through such efforts, analytically termedconceptual work, managers reframe an administrative reform into professional strategy and seek to conceptualize the institution of clergy as both a traditional calling and a modern occupation. The article contributes to the literature by theorizing through systematic analyses on the strategic efforts of religious leaders on a micro-level within organizations, thereby expanding our understanding of various types of institutional work and showing how leaders mediate between differing demands in their daily work.
The developmental stage of the hematopoietic niche regulates lineage in MLL-rearranged leukemia
Authors: Rowe R. Grant , Lummertz da Rocha Edroaldo , Sousa Patricia , Missios Pavlos , Morse Michael , Marion William , Yermalovich Alena , Barragan Jessica , Mathieu Ronald , Jha Deepak Kumar , Fleming Mark D. , North Trista E. , Daley George Q.
Published: February 2019

Leukemia phenotypes vary with age of onset. Delineating mechanisms of age specificity in leukemia could improve disease models and uncover new therapeutic approaches. Here, we used heterochronic transplantation of leukemia driven by MLL/KMT2A translocations to investigate the contribution of the age of the hematopoietic microenvironment to age-specific leukemia phenotypes. When driven by MLL-AF9, leukemia cells in the adult microenvironment sustained a myeloid phenotype, whereas the neonatal microenvironment supported genesis of mixed early B cell/myeloid leukemia. In MLL-ENL leukemia, the neonatal microenvironment potentiated B-lymphoid differentiation compared with the adult. Ccl5 elaborated from adult marrow stroma inhibited B-lymphoid differentiation of leukemia cells, illuminating a mechanism of age-specific lineage commitment. Our study illustrates the contribution of the developmental stage of the hematopoietic microenvironment in defining the age specificity of leukemia.
Cell cycle–dependent association of polo kinase Cdc5 with CENP-A contributes to faithful chromosome segregation in budding yeast
Authors: Mishra Prashant K. , Olafsson Gudjon , Boeckmann Lars , Westlake Timothy J. , Jowhar Ziad M. , Dittman Lauren E. , Baker Richard E. , D’Amours Damien , Thorpe Peter H. , Basrai Munira A.
Published: February 2019

Evolutionarily conserved polo-like kinase, Cdc5 (Plk1 in humans), associates with kinetochores during mitosis; however, the role of cell cycle–dependent centromeric ( CEN) association of Cdc5 and its substrates that exclusively localize to the kinetochore have not been characterized. Here we report that evolutionarily conserved CEN histone H3 variant, Cse4 (CENP-A in humans), is a substrate of Cdc5, and that the cell cycle–regulated association of Cse4 with Cdc5 is required for cell growth. Cdc5 contributes to Cse4 phosphorylation in vivo and interacts with Cse4 in mitotic cells. Mass spectrometry analysis of in vitro kinase assays showed that Cdc5 phosphorylates nine serine residues clustered within the N-terminus of Cse4. Strains with cse4-9SA exhibit increased errors in chromosome segregation, reduced levels of CEN-associated Mif2 and Mcd1/Scc1 when combined with a deletion of MCM21. Moreover, the loss of Cdc5 from the CEN chromatin contributes to defects in kinetochore integrity and reduction in CEN-associated Cse4. The cell cycle–regulated association of Cdc5 with Cse4 is essential for cell viability as constitutive association of Cdc5 with Cse4 at the kinetochore leads to growth defects. In summary, our results have defined a role for Cdc5-mediated Cse4 phosphorylation in faithful chromosome segregation.
Modeling cell proliferation in human acute myeloid leukemia xenografts
Authors: Nobile Marco S , Vlachou Thalia , Spolaor Simone , Bossi Daniela , Cazzaniga Paolo , Lanfrancone Luisa , Mauri Giancarlo , Pelicci Pier Giuseppe , Besozzi Daniela
Published: February 2019

Motivation

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is one of the most common hematological malignancies, characterized by high relapse and mortality rates. The inherent intra-tumor heterogeneity in AML is thought to play an important role in disease recurrence and resistance to chemotherapy. Although experimental protocols for cell proliferation studies are well established and widespread, they are not easily applicable to in vivo contexts, and the analysis of related time-series data is often complex to achieve. To overcome these limitations, model-driven approaches can be exploited to investigate different aspects of cell population dynamics.

Results

In this work, we present ProCell, a novel modeling and simulation framework to investigate cell proliferation dynamics that, differently from other approaches, takes into account the inherent stochasticity of cell division events. We apply ProCell to compare different models of cell proliferation in AML, notably leveraging experimental data derived from human xenografts in mice. ProCell is coupled with Fuzzy Self-Tuning Particle Swarm Optimization, a swarm-intelligence settings-free algorithm used to automatically infer the models parameterizations. Our results provide new insights on the intricate organization of AML cells with highly heterogeneous proliferative potential, highlighting the important role played by quiescent cells and proliferating cells characterized by different rates of division in the progression and evolution of the disease, thus hinting at the necessity to further characterize tumor cell subpopulations.

Availability and implementation

The source code of ProCell and the experimental data used in this work are available under the GPL 2.0 license on GITHUB at the following URL: https://github.com/aresio/ProCell.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.