bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative Analysis of the Japanese Version of the Revised Impact of Event Scale: A Study of Firefighters
Authors: Mitani Satoko
Published: October 2018

Introduction:

The Impact of Event Scale Revised (IES-R) has been used in various epidemiological studies to assess the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Previous studies using the IES-R Japanese version to assess the mental health of firefighters were based on the premise that firefighters had experienced a traumatic event(s) as a matter of course. However, use of the IES-R-J does not indicate whether or not a traumatic event was experienced. The purpose of this study is to clarify the differences between: (1) IES-R-J high and low score groups; and (2) those who report symptoms similar to those of PTSD with and without having been being exposed to a traumatic event.

Methods:

Questionnaire packets distributed to all 157 workers in a Japanese fire station included the IES-R, the Japan Brief Job Stress Questionnaire, a questionnaire regarding traumatic event experiences, and demographic questions. Participants who scored ≥25 points on the IES-R-J scale were defined as the PTSD high risk (HR) group; those with scores <25 points as the PTSD low risk (LR) group.

Results:

One hundred thirty-one of the 157 subjects (83.4%) responded to the questionnaire; three were excluded from the analysis because of missing data. The mean total IES-R-J score was 14.9 ±15.2. Twenty-eight subjects scored in the PTSD HR group (≥25); 100 scored in the LR group (<25). A total of 54 (42.2%) participants had experienced a traumatic event; 57.8% had not. In the HR group, 14 subjects had experienced a traumatic event and 14 had not. Participants who had experienced a traumatic event reported a higher incidence of intrusion/re-experience symptoms than did those who had not experienced a traumatic event. The level of social support significantly affected the risk for PTSD.

Firefighters who scored ≥25 on the IES-R-J and, thus, considered to be at high risk for the development of PTSD, were less confident about their health, experienced more job stressors and had less social support than did those whose IES-R-J scores were <25. Having experienced a traumatic event was reported by only 42% of all the participants and by only 50% of those in the high risk PTSD group.

Conclusions:

Although the IES-R is an easily-administered tool useful in epidemiological studies evaluating psychological stress, it is recommended that the questionnaire be amended to include a question regarding the existence of a threatened experience or event and to analyze the data using positive and negative predictive value methodology.
Factors that Influence Medical Reserve Corps Recruitment
Authors: Qureshi Kristine , Gershon Robyn M. , Conde Francisco
Published: October 2018

The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a key strategy used in the United States to assure an adequate surge capacity healthcare workforce for response to disasters. A survey of Hawaiian healthcare providers (n = 1,057) was conducted to identify factors that influence interest, ability, and willingness to join the MRC; 468 (44.3%) healthcare providers responded. Overall, females were more likely to demonstrate an interest in joining the MRC, while physicians and dentists reported lower levels of ability and willingness, in addition to a lower level of interest in joining the MRC than the other professional groups. The most important motivating factor in joining the MRC was altruism and the ability to help one's own community. Respondents reported a number of factors that would influence their decision to join or remain a MRC member. These included: (1) time commitment required; (2) MRC organization and management; (3) provision of MRC-sponsored training or education sessions and continuing education credits; (4) concerns regarding the safety of family members during a disaster; (5) professional liability protection for work performed during MRC operations; and (6) competing personal obligations. Strategies targeting these factors probably will be most effective in recruitment and retention of MRC volunteers as well as members of other public health surge capacity volunteer groups.
Ion Kinetics in a Hot Flow Anomaly: MMS Observations
Authors: Schwartz Steven J , Avanov Levon , Turner Drew , Zhang Hui , Gingell Imogen , Eastwood Jonathan P , Gershman Daniel J , Johlander Andreas , Russell Christopher T , Burch James L , Dorelli John C , Eriksson Stefan , Ergun Robert E , Fuselier Stephen A , Giles Barbara L , Goodrich Katherine A , Khotyaintsev Yuri V , Lavraud Benoit , Lindqvist Per‐Arne , Oka Mitsuo , Phan Tai‐Duc , Strangeway Robert J , Trattner Karlheinz J , Torbert Roy B , Vaivads Andris , Wei Hanying , Wilder Frederick
Published: October 2018

Hot Flow Anomalies (HFAs) are transients observed at planetary bow shocks, formed by the shock interaction with a convected interplanetary current sheet. The primary interpretation relies on reflected ions channeled upstream along the current sheet. The short duration of HFAs has made direct observations of this process difficult. We employ high resolution measurements by NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission to probe the ion microphysics within a HFA. Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission data reveal a smoothly varying internal density and pressure, which increase toward the trailing edge of the HFA, sweeping up particles trapped within the current sheet. We find remnants of reflected or other backstreaming ions traveling along the current sheet, but most of these are not fast enough to out‐run the incident current sheet convection. Despite the high level of internal turbulence, incident and backstreaming ions appear to couple gyro‐kinetically in a coherent manner.
Evolution of Submesoscale Ageostrophic Motions Through the Life Cycle of Oceanic Mesoscale Eddies
Authors: Zhang Zhengguang , Qiu Bo
Published: October 2018

The global ocean circulation is forced by large‐scale fluxes at the surface and dissipated at small scales by diffusion. To achieve a long‐term equilibrium requires a dynamical route that transfers energy from large to dissipative scales. The submesoscale ageostrophic motions (1–50 km) have been hypothesized recently to play a critical role in this route by extracting energy from mesoscale eddies (50–500 km) that contain the majority of oceanic kinetic energy. By combining global surface velocity measurements by drifters and satellite altimeter‐tracked eddy data set, we show that the submesoscale ageostrophic kinetic energy exhibits unexpected global mean features through the life cycle of mesoscale eddies. The ageostrophic energy is relatively small in eddy's mature phase but is large both in formation/decaying phases. Furthermore, the energy level of ageostrophic motions depends positively on the local geostrophic strain rate, suggesting that the geostrophic deformation field may dictate the energy transfer from mesoscale eddies to submesoscale motions.
Insights Into the Kinematic Rupture of the 2015 Mw 8.3 Illapel, Chile, Earthquake From Joint Analysis of Geodetic, Seismological, Tsunami, and Superconductive Gravimeter Observations
Authors: Liu Chengli , An Chao , Shan Bin , Xiong Xiong , Chen Xiaodong
Published: October 2018

We investigated the spatiotemporal slip distribution of the 2015 Illapel earthquake (Mw = 8.3) by joint analyses of geodetic, seismological, tsunami, and superconductive gravimeter observations. The coseismic rupture directly overlaps the interseismic coupling zone determined by onshore geodetic measurements. The main slip asperity is located north of the hypocenter with a peak slip of ~9.2 m, and the rupture spans ~200 km along strike and ~150 km along dip with an average rupture speed of ~2.0 km/s. Most aftershocks reveal a clear complementary distribution with the coseismic rupture; that is, aftershock clusters are located at the border of unbroken barriers and regions of sudden transition from high to low rupture area. The calculated Coulomb failure stress changes indicate that 80% of the aftershocks were triggered by the main event. The low‐frequency radiation corresponds to the large coseismic rupture at the shallow portion of the megathrust, while the high‐frequency radiation is associated with the edge of large slip asperity or an isolated patch at a deeper position. The large coseismic slip region correlates well with the high Vp/Vs ratio of the subduction interface, which implies that the Illapel earthquake might nucleate at a relatively weak patch within a strong coupled zone. Furthermore, we argue that the coseismic slip did reach to the trench from tsunami simulations, and historical earthquakes analyses indicate a complex strain accumulation and release in central Chile.
Transient Electromagnetic Surveys for the Determination of Talik Depth and Geometry Beneath Thermokarst Lakes
Authors: Creighton A. L. , Parsekian A. D. , Angelopoulos M. , Jones B. M. , Bondurant A. , Engram M. , Lenz J. , Overduin P. P. , Grosse G. , Babcock E. , Arp C. D.
Published: October 2018

Thermokarst lakes are prevalent in Arctic coastal lowland regions and sublake permafrost degradation and talik development contributes to greenhouse gas emissions by tapping the large permafrost carbon pool. Whereas lateral thermokarst lake expansion is readily apparent through remote sensing and shoreline measurements, sublake thawed sediment conditions and talik growth are difficult to measure. Here we combine transient electromagnetic surveys with thermal modeling, backed up by measured permafrost properties and radiocarbon ages, to reveal closed‐talik geometry associated with a thermokarst lake in continuous permafrost. To improve access to talik geometry data, we conducted surveys along three transient electromagnetic transects perpendicular to lakeshores with different decadal‐scale expansion rates of 0.16, 0.38, and 0.58 m/year. We modeled thermal development of the talik using boundary conditions based on field data from the lake, surrounding permafrost and a borehole, independent of the transient electromagnetics. A talik depth of 91 m was determined from analysis of the transient electromagnetic surveys. Using a lake initiation age of 1400 years before present and available subsurface properties the results from thermal modeling of the lake center arrived at a best estimate talk depth of 80 m, which is on the same order of magnitude as the results from the transient electromagnetic survey. Our approach has provided a noninvasive estimate of talik geometry suitable for comparable settings throughout circum‐Arctic coastal lowland regions.
A Numerical Study of Gravity Wave Propagation Characteristics in the Stratospheric Thermal Duct
Authors: Dong Wenjun , Zhang Shaodong , Huang Chunming , Huang Kaiming , Gong Yun , Gan Quan
Published: October 2018

We developed a fully nonlinear, two‐dimensional, numerical model to simulate the long horizontal distance propagations of atmospheric gravity waves in a stratospheric thermal duct. The numerical results show that after the wind disturbance excited by the initial wave forcing enters the duct completely, symmetric and antisymmetric modes can be identified in the horizontal direction. The frequency‐wave number spectrum indicates that various modes with different spatial structures can exist simultaneously in the duct. The primary parameters (horizontal wavelength, vertical wavelength and wave frequency) of the ducted wave packets in a given thermal duct are mainly determined by the horizontal wavelength of the initial wave forcing. The mean ratio of the upward propagating energy to the downward propagating energy in the thermal duct was regarded as an approximation of the power standing wave ratio (PSWR). The time variation of PSWR indicates that the standing wave was formed with the propagation of the ducted waves. During the gravity waves ducted propagation, most wave energy is restricted to the ducting region and dissipates slowly with time. The higher the wave frequency (or the shorter the horizontal wavelength) of the initial wave forcing, the slower the wave energy dissipates.
Tectonics Inversions, Fault Segmentation, and Triggering Mechanisms in the Central Apennines Normal Fault System: Insights From High‐Resolution Velocity Models
Authors: Buttinelli M. , Pezzo G. , Valoroso L. , De Gori P. , Chiarabba C.
Published: October 2018

The potential role of subsequent tectonic phases in reworking inherited geological structures is a key issue to unravel the seismotectonics of an area. This has a direct connection with fault segmentation, earthquakes maximum magnitude, and strong implications for seismic hazard assessment. The central Apennines (Italy) represent an exemplary case, since it developed because of the overprint of different deformational phases, producing potential conditions for episodic tectonic inversions and a very complex structural architecture. In this paper, we show how inherited compressional structures, still dominating the Apennines belt architecture, interfere with the active extension, having a direct connection with active seismotectonics. We present seismicity and new velocity tomograms of an 80‐km‐long section of the normal fault system activated during the 2009 and 2016–2018 seismic sequences. The joint interpretation highlights how the extensional seismic sequences partially reactivated inherited compressive structures, which have not an undisputable relationship with the surficial geological setting. Complexity deriving from the irregular geometry of normal faults and inverted thrust ramps is responsible for the observed intense fragmentation of the extensional system. Fluid overpressure seems to be a viable mechanism behind the partial remobilization of unbroken segments of the fault system.
Disaggregating Soil Moisture to Finer Spatial Resolutions: A Comparison of Alternatives
Authors: Ajami Hoori , Sharma Ashish
Published: October 2018

The spatial and temporal variability in soil moisture modulates runoff generation and the degree of land‐atmosphere coupling. Numerous statistical and modeling approaches have been implemented to characterize soil moisture spatial heterogeneity at fine spatial resolution using data from sparse observational networks or distributed model simulations. This characterization has been subsequently employed to translate coarse model simulations (of the order of a few hundred meters or kilometers) to finer spatial scales for a range of ensuing applications that rely on high‐resolution characterization of soil moisture. One common feature of these disaggregation methods is that the impact of soil moisture memory is ignored. This results in both spatial and temporal persistence being poorly simulated, leading to poorer specifications of cropping and irrigation plans. To overcome this shortcoming, we developed a hybrid disaggregation method that uses the first‐order autoregressive model (AR1) constructed from fine‐resolution (60 m) soil moisture simulations to disaggregate catchment mean soil moisture obtained from remote sensing or semidistributed model simulations. Soil moisture simulations from an integrated land surface‐groundwater model, ParFlow‐Common Land Model in Baldry subcatchment, Australia, are used as virtual observations. We examined the AR1 method performance against topographic wetness index‐based methods and those developed from temporal stability method. Results illustrate that the disaggregation schemes calibrated to a 10‐day fine‐scale model simulation perform better than the topographic‐based methods in approximating soil moisture distribution at a 60‐m resolution in the catchment. Furthermore, the AR1 model is the best model (Nash‐Sutcliffe efficiency [NSE] > 0.45) among various alternatives explored here. Applying the hybrid univariate AR1 model is promising for disaggregating semidistributed models' soil moisture simulations while significantly reducing the computational time.
A functional genetic variation of SLC6A2 repressor hsa-miR-579-3p upregulates sympathetic noradrenergic processes of fear and anxiety
Authors: Hommers L. G. , Richter J. , Yang Y. , Raab A. , Baumann C. , Lang K. , Schiele M. A. , Weber H. , Wittmann A. , Wolf C. , Alpers G. W. , Arolt V. , Domschke K. , Fehm L. , Fydrich T. , Gerlach A. , Gloster A. T. , Hamm A. O. , Helbig-Lang S. , Kircher T. , Lang T. , Pané-Farré C. A. , Pauli P. , Pfleiderer B. , Reif A. , Romanos M. , Straube B. , Ströhle A. , Wittchen H.-U. , Frantz S. , Ertl G. , Lohse M. J. , Lueken U. , Deckert J.
Published: October 2018

Increased sympathetic noradrenergic signaling is crucially involved in fear and anxiety as defensive states. MicroRNAs regulate dynamic gene expression during synaptic plasticity and genetic variation of microRNAs modulating noradrenaline transporter gene (SLC6A2) expression may thus lead to altered central and peripheral processing of fear and anxiety. In silico prediction of microRNA regulation of SLC6A2 was confirmed by luciferase reporter assays and identified hsa-miR-579-3p as a regulating microRNA. The minor (T)-allele of rs2910931 (MAFcases = 0.431, MAFcontrols = 0.368) upstream of MIR579 was associated with panic disorder in patients (pallelic = 0.004, ncases = 506, ncontrols = 506) and with higher trait anxiety in healthy individuals (pASI = 0.029, pACQ = 0.047, n = 3112). Compared to the major (A)-allele, increased promoter activity was observed in luciferase reporter assays in vitro suggesting more effective MIR579 expression and SLC6A2 repression in vivo (p = 0.041). Healthy individuals carrying at least one (T)-allele showed a brain activation pattern suggesting increased defensive responding and sympathetic noradrenergic activation in midbrain and limbic areas during the extinction of conditioned fear. Panic disorder patients carrying two (T)-alleles showed elevated heart rates in an anxiety-provoking behavioral avoidance test (F(2, 270) = 5.47, p = 0.005). Fine-tuning of noradrenaline homeostasis by a MIR579 genetic variation modulated central and peripheral sympathetic noradrenergic activation during fear processing and anxiety. This study opens new perspectives on the role of microRNAs in the etiopathogenesis of anxiety disorders, particularly their cardiovascular symptoms and comorbidities.
Advanced smart biomaterials and constructs for hard tissue engineering and regeneration
Authors: Zhang Ke , Wang Suping , Zhou Chenchen , Cheng Lei , Gao Xianling , Xie Xianju , Sun Jirun , Wang Haohao , Weir Michael D. , Reynolds Mark A. , Zhang Ning , Bai Yuxing , Xu Hockin H. K.
Published: October 2018

Hard tissue repair and regeneration cost hundreds of billions of dollars annually worldwide, and the need has substantially increased as the population has aged. Hard tissues include bone and tooth structures that contain calcium phosphate minerals. Smart biomaterial-based tissue engineering and regenerative medicine methods have the exciting potential to meet this urgent need. Smart biomaterials and constructs refer to biomaterials and constructs that possess instructive/inductive or triggering/stimulating effects on cells and tissues by engineering the material’s responsiveness to internal or external stimuli or have intelligently tailored properties and functions that can promote tissue repair and regeneration. The smart material-based approaches include smart scaffolds and stem cell constructs for bone tissue engineering; smart drug delivery systems to enhance bone regeneration; smart dental resins that respond to pH to protect tooth structures; smart pH-sensitive dental materials to selectively inhibit acid-producing bacteria; smart polymers to modulate biofilm species away from a pathogenic composition and shift towards a healthy composition; and smart materials to suppress biofilms and avoid drug resistance. These smart biomaterials can not only deliver and guide stem cells to improve tissue regeneration and deliver drugs and bioactive agents with spatially and temporarily controlled releases but can also modulate/suppress biofilms and combat infections in wound sites. The new generation of smart biomaterials provides exciting potential and is a promising opportunity to substantially enhance hard tissue engineering and regenerative medicine efficacy.
Loss of GRHL3 leads to TARC/CCL17-mediated keratinocyte proliferation in the epidermis
Authors: Goldie Stephen J. , Cottle Denny L. , Tan Fiona H. , Roslan Suraya , Srivastava Seema , Brady Rhys , Partridge Darren D. , Auden Alana , Smyth Ian M. , Jane Stephen M. , Dworkin Sebastian , Darido Charbel
Published: October 2018

Identifying soluble factors that influence epidermal integrity is critical for the development of preventative and therapeutic strategies for disorders such as ichthyosis, psoriasis, dermatitis and epidermal cancers. The transcription factor Grainyhead-like 3 (GRHL3) is essential for maintaining barrier integrity and preventing development of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC); however, how loss of this factor, which in the skin is expressed exclusively within suprabasal epidermal layers triggers proliferation of basal keratinocytes, had thus far remained elusive. Our present study identifies thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) as a novel soluble chemokine mediator of keratinocyte proliferation following loss of GRHL3. Knockdown of GRHL3 in human keratinocytes showed that of 42 cytokines examined, TARC was the only significantly upregulated chemokine. Mouse skin lacking Grhl3 presented an inflammatory response with hallmarks of TARC activation, including heightened induction of blood clotting, increased infiltration of mast cells and pro-inflammatory T cells, increased expression of the pro-proliferative/pro-inflammatory markers CD3 and pSTAT3, and significantly elevated basal keratinocyte proliferation. Treatment of skin cultures lacking Grhl3 with the broad spectrum anti-inflammatory 5-aminosalicylic acid (5ASA) partially restored epidermal differentiation, indicating that abnormal keratinocyte proliferation/differentiation balance is a key driver of barrier dysfunction following loss of Grhl3, and providing a promising therapeutic avenue in the treatment of GRHL3-mediated epidermal disorders.
Targeting enhancer of zeste homolog 2 protects against acute kidney injury
Authors: Zhou X. , Zang X. , Guan Y. , Tolbert T. , Zhao T. C. , Bayliss G. , Zhuang S.
Published: October 2018

Despite the established oncogenic and profibrotic functions of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), a methyltransferase that induces histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3), its role in acute kidney injury (AKI) remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that EZH2 and H3K27me3 were upregulated in the murine kidney with AKI induced by either ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) or folic acid (FA). Pharmacologic inhibition of EZH2 with 3-deazaneplanocin A (3-DZNeP) prevented tubular injury in both models as demonstrated by reduced renal dysfunction, diminished neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin expression and decreased renal tubular cell death. Injury to the kidney resulted in reduced expression of E-cadherin and ZO-1, whereas EZH2 inhibition largely preserved their expression. Moreover, 3-DZNep was effective in counteracting the increased expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9, as well as the phosphorylation of Raf-1 and ERK1/2 in the injured kidney. Conversely, blocking EZH2 reversed the decrease of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-2 and metalloproteinase (TIMP)-3, and Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) in the kidney after acute injury. Similarly, oxidant injury to cultured kidney proximal tubular epithelial cells caused a decrease in the expression of E-cadherin, ZO-1, TIMP-2/-3, and RKIP, as well as an increase in the expression of MMP-2/9 and phosphorylation of Raf-1 ERK1/2. Blocking EZH2 with 3-DZNep or SiRNA hindered these responses. Thus, these results suggest that targeting EZH2 protects against AKI through a mechanism associated with the preservation of adhesion/junctions, reduction of matrix metalloproteinases and attenuation of the Raf-1/ERK1/2 pathway.
Diesel exhaust particles induce autophagy and citrullination in Normal Human Bronchial Epithelial cells
Authors: Colasanti Tania , Fiorito Silvana , Alessandri Cristiano , Serafino Annalucia , Andreola Federica , Barbati Cristiana , Morello Francesca , Alfè Michela , Di Blasio Gabriele , Gargiulo Valentina , Vomero Marta , Conti Fabrizio , Valesini Guido
Published: October 2018

A variety of environmental agents has been found to influence the development of autoimmune diseases; in particular, the studies investigating the potential association of systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases with environmental micro and nano-particulate matter are very few and contradictory. In this study, the role of diesel exhaust particles (DEPs), one of the most important components of environment particulate matter, emitted from Euro 4 and Euro 5 engines in altering the Normal Human Bronchial Epithelial (NHBE) cell biological activity was evaluated. NHBE cells were exposed in vitro to Euro 4 and Euro 5 particle carbon core, sampled upstream of the typical emission after-treatment systems (diesel oxidation catalyst and diesel particulate filter), whose surfaces have been washed from well-assessed harmful species, as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to: (1) investigate their specific capacity to affect cell viability (flow cytometry); (2) stimulate the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-18 (Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay -ELISA-); (3) verify their specific ability to induce autophagy and elicit protein citrullination and peptidyl arginine deiminase (PAD) activity (confocal laser scanning microscopy, immunoprecipitation, Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate-PolyAcrylamide Gel Electrophoresis -SDS-PAGE- and Western blot, ELISA). In this study we demonstrated, for the first time, that both Euro 4 and Euro 5 carbon particles, deprived of PAHs possibly adsorbed on the soot surface, were able to: (1) significantly affect cell viability, inducing autophagy, apoptosis and necrosis; (2) stimulate the release of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-18; (3) elicit protein citrullination and PAD activity in NHBE cells. In particular, Euro 5 DEPs seem to have a more marked effect with respect to Euro 4 DEPs.
A functional genomics screen reveals a strong synergistic effect between docetaxel and the mitotic gene DLGAP5 that is mediated by the androgen receptor
Authors: Hewit Kay , Sandilands Emma , Martinez Rafael Sanchez , James Daniel , Leung Hing Y. , Bryant David M. , Shanks Emma , Markert Elke K.
Published: October 2018

Based on a molecular classification of prostate cancer using gene expression pathway signatures, we derived a set of 48 genes in critical pathways that significantly predicts clinical outcome in all tested patient cohorts. We tested these genes in a functional genomics screen in a panel of three prostate cancer cell lines (LNCaP, PC3, DU145), using RNA interference. The screen revealed several genes whose knockdown caused strong growth inhibition in all cell lines. Additionally, we tested the gene set in the presence of docetaxel to see whether any gene exhibited additive or synergistic effects with the drug. We observed a strong synergistic effect between DLGAP5 knockdown and docetaxel in the androgen-sensitive line LNCaP, but not in the two other androgen-independent lines. We then tested whether this effect was connected to androgen pathways and found that knockdown of the androgen receptor by si-RNA attenuated the synergy significantly. Similarly, androgen desensitized LNCaP-AI cells had a higher IC50 to docetaxel and did not exhibit the synergistic interaction. Short-term exposure to enzalutamide did not significantly alter the behaviour of parental LNCaP cells. An immunofluorescence analysis in LNCaP cells suggests that under the double insult of DLGAP5 knockdown and docetaxel, cells predominantly arrest in metaphase. In contrast, the knockdown of the androgen receptor by siRNA appears to assist cells to progress through metaphase in to anaphase, even in the presence of docetaxel. Our data suggest that DLGAP5 has a unique function in stabilizing spindle formation and surviving microtubule assault from docetaxel, in an androgen-regulated cell cycle system.
Medial temporal lobe functional connectivity predicts stimulation-induced theta power
Authors: Solomon E. A. , Kragel J. E. , Gross R. , Lega B. , Sperling M. R. , Worrell G. , Sheth S. A. , Zaghloul K. A. , Jobst B. C. , Stein J. M. , Das S. , Gorniak R. , Inman C. S. , Seger S. , Rizzuto D. S. , Kahana M. J.
Published: October 2018

Focal electrical stimulation of the brain incites a cascade of neural activity that propagates from the stimulated region to both nearby and remote areas, offering the potential to control the activity of brain networks. Understanding how exogenous electrical signals perturb such networks in humans is key to its clinical translation. To investigate this, we applied electrical stimulation to subregions of the medial temporal lobe in 26 neurosurgical patients fitted with indwelling electrodes. Networks of low-frequency (5–13 Hz) spectral coherence predicted stimulation-evoked increases in theta (5–8 Hz) power, particularly when stimulation was applied in or adjacent to white matter. Stimulation tended to decrease power in the high-frequency broadband (HFB; 50–200 Hz) range, and these modulations were correlated with HFB-based networks in a subset of subjects. Our results demonstrate that functional connectivity is predictive of causal changes in the brain, capturing evoked activity across brain regions and frequency bands.
Author Correction: VAMPnets for deep learning of molecular kinetics
Authors: Mardt Andreas , Pasquali Luca , Wu Hao , Noé Frank
Published: October 2018

In the original version of this Article, financial support was not fully acknowledged. The PDF and HTML versions of the Article have now been corrected to include funding from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Grant SFB958/A04.
Simultaneous weak measurement of non-commuting observables: a generalized Arthurs-Kelly protocol
Authors: Ochoa Maicol A. , Belzig Wolfgang , Nitzan Abraham
Published: October 2018

In contrast to a projective quantum measurement, in a weak measurement the system is only weakly perturbed while only partial information on the measured observable is obtained. A simultaneous measurement of non-commuting observables cannot be projective, however the strongest possible such measurement can be defined as providing their values at the smallest uncertainty limit. Starting with the Arthurs and Kelly (AK) protocol for such measurement of position and momentum, we derive a systematic extension to a corresponding weak measurement along three steps: First, a plausible form of the weak measurement operator analogous to the Gaussian Kraus operator, often used to model a weak measurement of a single observable, is obtained by projecting a naïve extension (valid for commuting observable) onto the corresponding Gabor space. Second, we show that the so obtained set of measurement operators satisfies the normalization condition for the probability to obtain given values of the position and momentum in the weak measurement operation, namely that this set constitutes a positive operator valued measure (POVM) in the position-momentum space. Finally, we show that the so-obtained measurement operator corresponds to a generalization of the AK measurement protocol in which the initial detector wavefunctions is suitable broadened.
Angiotensin 1–7 modulates molecular and cellular processes central to the pathogenesis of prostate cancer
Authors: Domińska Kamila , Okła Piotr , Kowalska Karolina , Habrowska-Górczyńska Dominika Ewa , Urbanek Kinga Anna , Ochędalski Tomasz , Piastowska-Ciesielska Agnieszka Wanda
Published: October 2018

Angiotensin 1–7 (Ang1–7) is an endogenous bioactive component of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). In addition to its cardiovascular properties, its anti-proliferative and anti-angiogenic traits are believed to play important roles in carcinogenesis. The present study examines the influence of Ang1–7 on processes associated with development and progression of prostate cancer cells. Our findings indicate that while Ang1–7 (1 nM; 48 h) can effectively reduce cell proliferation in DU-145, it can induce a significant decrease in the expression of MKI67 in LNCaP. In both cell lines we also observed a reduction in colony size in soft agar assay. A various changes in gene expression were noted after exposure to Ang1–7: those of anti- and pro-apoptotic agents and the NF-kB family of transcription factors, as well as mesenchymal cell markers and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA). In addition, Ang1–7 was found to modulate cell adhesion and matrix metallopeptidase (MMP) activity. Changes were also observed in the levels of angiotensin receptors and sex steroid hormone receptors. Ang1–7 reduced the levels of estrogen receptor alpha gene (ESR1) and increased the expression of estrogen receptor beta gene (ESR2) in all prostate cancer cells; it also up-regulated androgen receptor (AR) expression in androgen-sensitive cells but contradictory effect was observed in androgen- irresponsive cell lines. In summary, the results confirm the existence of complex network between the various elements of the local RAS and the molecular and cellular mechanisms of prostate cancerogenesis. The response of cancer cells to Ang1–7 appears to vary dependently on the dose and time of incubation as well as the aggressiveness and the hormonal status of cells.
High expression of WNT7A predicts poor prognosis and promote tumor metastasis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Wu Dong-jin , Jiang Yong-sheng , He Rui-zhe , Tao Ling-ye , Yang Min-wei , Fu Xue-liang , Yang Jiang-yu , Zhu Kun
Published: October 2018

Due to the therapy resistance and frequent metastasis, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC) remains one of the most malignant carcinoma. WNT7A, an important ligand of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways, has a controversial role in tumor development. The role of WNT7A in PDAC remains unclear. In this study, we analyzed the expression pattern of WNT7A at mRNA and protein levels. We found pancreatic cancer tissue demonstrated a significant high WNT7A expression compared with the adjacent non-tumor tissue and the expression of WNT7A positively correlates with poor prognosis and lymph node metastasis. Then, we performed transwell assays and wound healing assays in vitro and found that WNT7A promotes the migration capacity of cancer cells. Furthermore, we explored the underlying mechanism of the WNT7A inducing cell migration. Results showed that up-regulated WNT7A expression inducing higher expression of N-cadherin and lower expression of E-cadherin while the contrast result was shown in the WNT7A knock-down group, which suggested that WNT7A might contribute to an epithelial–mesenchymal transition. Finally, we found that the hypoxia culture condition remarkably increased the WNT7A expression. In conclusion, our work demonstrated that hypoxia induced high expression of WNT7A might promote the cell migration via enhancing the epithelial–mesenchymal transition in PDAC.
Dental pulp-derived stem cells can counterbalance peripheral nerve injury-induced oxidative stress and supraspinal neuro-inflammation in rat brain
Authors: Ullah Imran , Choe Yong-ho , Khan Mehtab , Bharti Dinesh , Shivakumar Sharath Belame , Lee Hyeon-Jeong , Son Young-Bum , Shin Yurianna , Lee Sung-Lim , Park Bong-Wook , Ock Sun-A , Rho Gyu-Jin
Published: October 2018

Previously, we reported the successful regeneration of injured peripheral nerves using human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) or differentiated neuronal cells from DPSCs (DF-DPSCs) in a rat model. Here, we attempted to evaluate oxidative stress and supraspinal neuro-inflammation in rat brain after sciatic nerve injury (SNI). We divided our experimental animals into three SNI groups based on time. The expression of a microglial (Iba1) marker and reactive oxygen species (ROS) was lower in DPSCs and higher in DF-DPSCs. In contrast, the expression of an astroglial (GFAP) marker was higher in DPSCs and lower in DF-DPSCs at 2 weeks. However, the expression of ROS, Iba1 and GFAP gradually decreased at 8 and 12 weeks in the SNI DPSCs and DF-DPSCs groups compared to the SNI control. Furthermore, anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-4 and TGF-β) expression was lower at 2 weeks, while it gradually increased at 8 and 12 weeks after surgery in the SNI DPSCs and DF-DPSCs groups. Similarly, SNI DPSCs had a high expression of pAMPK, SIRT1 and NFkB at the onset of SNI. However, 12 weeks after surgery, pAMPK and SIRT1 expression levels were higher and NFkB was down-regulated in both DPSCs and DF-DPSCs compared to the control group. Finally, we concluded that DPSCs responded early and more efficiently than DF-DPSCs to counterbalance peripheral nerve injury (PNI)-induced oxidative stress and supraspinal neuro-inflammation in rat brain.
Prediction of potential disease-associated microRNAs by composite network based inference
Authors: He Bin-Sheng , Qu Jia , Chen Min
Published: October 2018

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) act a significant role in multiple biological processes and their associations with the development of all kinds of complex diseases are much close. In the research area of biology, medicine, and bioinformatics, prediction of potential miRNA-disease associations (MDAs) on the base of a variety of heterogeneous biological datasets in a short time is an important subject. Therefore, we proposed the model of Composite Network based inference for MiRNA-Disease Association prediction (CNMDA) through applying random walk to a multi-level composite network constructed by heterogeneous dataset of disease, long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) and miRNA. The results showed that CNMDA achieved an AUC of 0.8547 in leave-one-out cross validation and an AUC of 0.8533+/−0.0009 in 5-fold cross validation. In addition, we employed CNMDA to infer novel miRNAs for kidney neoplasms, breast neoplasms and lung neoplasms on the base of HMDD v2.0. Also, we employed the approach for lung neoplasms on the base of HMDD v1.0 and for breast neoplasms that have no known related miRNAs. It was found that CNMDA could be seen as an applicable tool for potential MDAs prediction.
The 3D architecture of a bacterial swarm has implications for antibiotic tolerance
Authors: Partridge Jonathan D. , Ariel Gil , Schvartz Orly , Harshey Rasika M. , Be’er Avraham
Published: October 2018

Swarming bacteria are an example of a complex, active biological system, where high cell density and super-diffusive cell mobility confer survival advantages to the group as a whole. Previous studies on the dynamics of the swarm have been limited to easily observable regions at the advancing edge of the swarm where cells are restricted to a plane. In this study, using defocused epifluorescence video imaging, we have tracked the motion of fluorescently labeled individuals within the interior of a densely packed three-dimensional (3D) region of a swarm. Our analysis reveals a novel 3D architecture, where bacteria are constrained by inter-particle interactions, sandwiched between two distinct boundary conditions. We find that secreted biosurfactants keep bacteria away from the swarm-air upper boundary, and added antibiotics at the lower swarm-surface boundary lead to their migration away from this boundary. Formation of the antibiotic-avoidance zone is dependent on a functional chemotaxis signaling system, in the absence of which the swarm loses its high tolerance to the antibiotics.
Clogging and jamming of colloidal monolayers driven across disordered landscapes
Authors: Stoop Ralph L. , Tierno Pietro
Published: October 2018

Understanding microscale transport across heterogeneous landscapes is relevant for many phenomena in condensed matter physics, from pinning of vortices in dirty superconductors, to electrons on liquid helium, skyrmions, and active matter. Here, we experimentally investigate the clogging and jamming of field tunable interacting colloids driven through a quenched disordered landscape of fixed obstacles. We focus on the emergent phenomenon of clogging, that has been the matter of much investigation at the level of a single aperture in macroscopic and granular systems. With our colloidal system, we find that quenched disorder significantly alters the particle flow, and we provide the experimental observation of the “Faster is Slower” effect with quenched disorder, that occurs when increasing the particle speed. Further, we show that clogging events may be controlled by tuning the pair interactions during transport, such that the colloidal flow decreases for repulsive interactions, but it increases for anisotropic attraction.
Selectivity enhancement of amperometric nitric oxide detection via shape-controlled electrodeposition of platinum nanostructures
Authors: Kim Sohee , Ha Yejin , Kim Su-jin , Lee Chongmok , Lee Youngmi
Published: October 2018

Selectivity in amperometric nitric oxide measurements was improved via controlling the shape of electrodeposited platinum nanostructures without any selective membranes.
“Turn-on” Pb2+ sensing and rapid detection of biothiols in aqueous medium and real samples
Authors: Singh Rupinder , Das Gopal
Published: October 2018

A single probe senses Pb2+ in mixed aqueous medium and real samples followed by detection of a variety of biothiols in the same medium as well as in onion and garlic extract.
A facile approach to improve the spray time and stability of paper spray ionization mass spectrometry with a Teflon tube
Authors: Cao Yuan , Huang Guangming
Published: October 2018

Improving the spray time and stability of paper spray ionization (PSI) mass spectrometry with a Teflon tube by reducing solvent evaporation.
Photoinduced electron and hole transfers in carbazole dendrimers with heteroleptic Ir-complex cores
Authors: Kim So-Yoen , Cho Yang-Jin , Yun Bo-Sun , Son Ho-Jin , Cho Dae Won , Kang Sang Ook
Published: October 2018

The PET and PHT processes in dendrimer systems are affected by the selective excitation of the dendron antennae or Ir-complex core.
Gravimetric tank method to evaluate material-enhanced hydrogen storage by physisorbing materials
Authors: Iakunkov Artem , Klechikov Alexey , Sun Jinhua , Steenhaut Timothy , Hermans Sophie , Filinchuk Yaroslav , Talyzin Alexandr
Published: October 2018

Weighing of whole gas-filled tank is proposed as a simple and inexpensive method to evaluate hydrogen storage properties of materials relative to compressed gas.
On the molecular optical nonlinearity of halogen-bond-forming azobenzenes
Authors: Virkki Matti , Maurice Anthony , Forni Alessandra , Sironi Maurizio , Dichiarante Valentina , Brevet Pierre-Francois , Metrangolo Pierangelo , Kauranen Martti , Priimagi Arri
Published: October 2018

We study hyper-Rayleigh scattering and computed molecular hyperpolarizability in a series of azobenzene chromophores in chloroform and dimethylformamide as solvents.
Rh(iii)-Catalysed solvent-free hydrodehalogenation of alkyl halides by tertiary silanes
Authors: Almenara N. , Azpeitia S. , Garralda M. A. , Huertos M. A.
Published: October 2018

An easy rhodium-catalysed dehalogenation of alkyl halides using trialkyl silanes was developed.
Field-induced slow relaxation of magnetisation in an anionic heterotetranuclear [ZnIIReIV3] system
Authors: Sanchis-Perucho Adrián , Rojas-Dotti Carlos , Moliner Nicolás , Martínez-Lillo José
Published: October 2018

The compound (NBu4)4[ZnII{ReIVCl4(μ-ox)}3] (1) [NBu4+ = tetra-n-butylammonium cation and ox2− = oxalate dianion] is the first example of an oxalato-bridged ZnII system coordinated to a 5d metal ion that exhibits slow relaxation of magnetisation.
Gas bubble evolution on microstructured silicon substrates
Authors: van der Linde Peter , Peñas-López Pablo , Moreno Soto Álvaro , van der Meer Devaraj , Lohse Detlef , Gardeniers Han , Fernández Rivas David
Published: October 2018

The formation, growth and detachment of gas bubbles on electrodes and gas-producing chemical processes can be controlled with novel microfabricated structures.
A flexible enzyme-electrode sensor with cylindrical working electrode modified with a 3D nanostructure for implantable continuous glucose monitoring
Authors: Pu Zhihua , Tu Jiaan , Han Ruixue , Zhang Xingguo , Wu Jianwei , Fang Chao , Wu Hao , Zhang Xiaoli , Yu Haixia , Li Dachao
Published: October 2018

A novel flexible enzyme-electrode sensor was fabricated with a big cylindrical working electrode which, cooperating with the surface-modified 3D nanostructure, significantly improved the sensitivity.
Charge transfer from internal electrostatic fields is superior to surface defects for 2,4-dichlorophenol degradation in K3−xNaxB6O10Br photocatalysts
Authors: Fan Xiaoyun , Zhang Yang , Zhong Kangdi
Published: October 2018

The driving force from the bulk could offer greater motivation for charge separation than from surface defects during 2,4-DCP degradation process.
Efficiency and fidelity of T3 DNA ligase in ligase-catalysed oligonucleotide polymerisations
Authors: Lei Yi , Washington Joshua , Hili Ryan
Published: October 2018

T3 and T4 DNA ligase have contrasting performance in ligase-catalysed oligonucleotide polymerisations.
Formation of high aspect ratio wrinkles and ridges on elastic bilayers with small thickness contrast
Authors: Auguste Anesia , Yang Jiawei , Jin Lihua , Chen Dayong , Suo Zhigang , Hayward Ryan C.
Published: October 2018

An elastic bilayer composed of a stiff film bonded to a soft substrate forms wrinkles under compression. Experiments and finite element simulations reveal that at small thickness contrast, secondary bifurcations such as period doubling are delayed, providing access to high aspect ratio wrinkles. For high modulus contrast, the periodic wrinkles can evolve into a regular pattern of ridges with even higher aspect ratio.
Two active site arginines are critical determinants of substrate binding and catalysis in MenD: a thiamine-dependent enzyme in menaquinone biosynthesis
Authors: Qin Mingming , Song Haigang , Dai Xin , Chen Yaozong , Guo Zhihong
Published: October 2018

The bacterial enzyme MenD, or 2-succinyl-5-enolpyruvyl-6-hydroxy-3-cyclohexene-1-carboxylate (SEPHCHC) synthase, catalyzes an essential Stetter reaction in menaquinone (vitamin K2) biosynthesis via thiamine diphosphate (ThDP)-bound tetrahedral post-decarboxylation intermediates. The detailed mechanism of this intermediate chemistry, however, is still poorly understood, but of significant interest given that menaquinone is an essential electron transporter in many pathogenic bacteria. Here, we used site-directed mutagenesis, enzyme kinetic assays, and protein crystallography to reveal an active–inactive intermediate equilibrium in MenD catalysis and its modulation by two conserved active site arginine residues. We observed that these conserved residues play a key role in shifting the equilibrium to the active intermediate by orienting the C2-succinyl group of the intermediates through strong ionic hydrogen bonding. We found that when this interaction is moderately weakened by amino acid substitutions, the resulting proteins are catalytically competent with the C2-succinyl group taking either the active or the inactive orientation in the post-decarboxylation intermediate. When this hydrogen-bonding interaction was strongly weakened, the succinyl group was re-oriented by 180° relative to the native intermediate, resulting in the reversal of the stereochemistry at the reaction center that disabled catalysis. Interestingly, this inactive intermediate was formed with a distinct kinetic behavior, likely as a result of a non-native mode of enzyme–substrate interaction. The mechanistic insights gained from these findings improve our understanding of the new ThDP-dependent catalysis. More importantly, the non-native-binding site of the inactive MenD intermediate uncovered here provides a new target for the development of antibiotics.