bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The global transformation, multiple early modernities, and international systems change
Authors: Phillips Andrew
Published: October 2016

This article critically engages the Global Transformation thesis through the lens of multiple early modernities. The 19th century undeniably saw a profound shift in the global mode of power, driven by industrialization, rational state-building, and the rise of ideologies of progress. But this triad impacted on regions that had already been reconfigured by an early modern Eurasian Transformation, centered on an ‘industrious revolution’, absolutist state-building, and the spread of ‘civilizing processes’. This Eurasian Transformation yielded distinct early modernities and regional orders, which fundamentally conditioned the nature, extent, impact, and legacy of later Western expansion. Acknowledging the diversity of these early modern orders enhances our understanding of the variance in patterns of order reconfiguration that attended the Global Transformation. Equally, it strengthens the case for reconceptualizing international systems change as encompassing reconfiguration as much as revolutionary transformation. This cautions against thinking of ‘great transformations’ in world politics as constituting radically discontinuous breaks with the past.
What Difference Does CBDR Make? A Socio-Legal Analysis of the Role of Differentiation in the Transnational Legal Process for REDD+
Authors: Jodoin Sébastien , Mason-Case Sarah
Published: October 2016

This article offers a socio-legal analysis of the role played by the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR) in the development, diffusion, and implementation of jurisdictional REDD+ activities throughout the developing world. It employs a qualitative research method known as process tracing to uncover whether and, if so, to what extent and how actors have used CBDR to support the emergence and effectiveness of the transnational legal process for REDD+. The article argues that the transnational legal process for REDD+ reflects a conception of CBDR in which developing country governments may take on voluntary commitments to reduce their carbon emissions, with the multilateral, bilateral, and private sources of financial support and technical assistance provided by developed countries, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and corporations. This creative conception and application of CBDR has fostered the construction and diffusion of legal norms for REDD+ because it has influenced the interests, ideas, and identities of public and private actors in the North and South. However, the early challenges associated with the implementation of REDD+ reveal a worrying gap between the financial pledges made by developed countries and the costs associated with the full implementation of REDD+, as well as contradictions in the very way in which the responsibilities of various countries have been defined in the context of REDD+. The analysis has important implications for the transnational governance of REDD+, as well as for scholarship on the role of differentiation in the pursuit of effective and equitable climate change solutions.
W. Horsley Gantt, Nick, and the Pavlovian Science at Phipps Clinic
Authors: Ruiz Gabriel , Sánchez Natividad
Published: October 2016

William Horsley Gantt is well known as one to the principal proponents of Pavlovian methodology in the U.S. After a long stay at Ivan Petrovich Pavlov’s laboratory in Leningrad from 1925 to 1929, Gantt was invited by Adolf Meyer to join the Henry Phipps Psychiatric Clinic, where he founded and directed the Pavlovian Laboratory from 1930 to 1964. Soon after his arrival at Phipps Clinic in 1931, Gantt began a Pavlovian research program that included the investigation of nervous disturbances in dogs and clinical researches with psychiatric patients. In these studies, Gantt combined a physiological method (the conditional reflexes approach), with a psychiatric problem (nervous disorders) in the context of Meyer’s psychobiology that established the person or individual as unit of analysis. This fact, concentrating upon a single individual, made Gantt studies with dogs recognizable and interesting to physicians, psychologists, and psychiatrists who also worked on individuals. In this paper, we use archival materials –including correspondence, notebooks, and unpublished autobiographical material- to present a case study, that of William Horsley Gantt and his dog Nick. We will explore the reasons why Gantt’ studies on nervous disturbances with this dog captured the interest of psychiatrists and clinical psychologists.
Ca1−xLixAl1−xSi1+xN3:Eu2+ solid solutions as broadband, color-tunable and thermally robust red phosphors for superior color rendition white light-emitting diodes
Authors: Wang Le , Xie Rong-Jun , Li Yuanqiang , Wang Xiaojun , Ma Chong-Geng , Luo Dong , Takeda Takashi , Tsai Yi-Ting , Liu Ru-Shi , Hirosaki Naoto
Published: October 2016

Color rendition, luminous efficacy and reliability are three key technical parameters for white light-emitting diodes (wLEDs) that are dominantly determined by down-conversion phosphors. However, there is usually an inevitable trade-off between color rendition and luminescence efficacy because the spectrum of red phosphor (that is, spectral broadness and position) cannot satisfy them simultaneously. In this work, we report a very promising red phosphor that can minimize the aforementioned trade-off via structure and band-gap engineering, achieved by introducing isostructural LiSi2N3 into CaAlSiN3:Eu2+. The solid solution phosphors show both substantial spectra broadening (88→117 nm) and blueshift (652→642 nm), along with a significant improvement in thermal quenching (only a 6% reduction at 150 °C), which are strongly associated with electronic and crystal structure evolutions. The broadband and robust red phosphor thus enables fabrication of super-high color rendering wLEDs (Ra=95 and R9=96) concurrently with the maintenance of a high-luminous efficacy (101 lm W−1), validating its superiority in high-performance solid state lightings over currently used red phosphors.
Chemosynthetic symbionts of marine invertebrate animals are capable of nitrogen fixation
Authors: Petersen Jillian M. , Kemper Anna , Gruber-Vodicka Harald , Cardini Ulisse , van der Geest Matthijs , Kleiner Manuel , Bulgheresi Silvia , Mußmann Marc , Herbold Craig , Seah Brandon K.B. , Antony Chakkiath Paul , Liu Dan , Belitz Alexandra , Weber Miriam
Published: October 2016

Chemosynthetic symbioses are partnerships between invertebrate animals and chemosynthetic bacteria. The latter are the primary producers, providing most of the organic carbon needed for the animal host's nutrition. We sequenced genomes of the chemosynthetic symbionts from the lucinid bivalveLoripes lucinalisand the stilbonematid nematodeLaxus oneistus. The symbionts of both host species encoded nitrogen fixation genes. This is remarkable as no marine chemosynthetic symbiont was previously known to be capable of nitrogen fixation. We detected nitrogenase expression by the symbionts of lucinid clams at the transcriptomic and proteomic level. Mean stable nitrogen isotope values ofLoripes lucinaliswere within the range expected for fixed atmospheric nitrogen, further suggesting active nitrogen fixation by the symbionts. The ability to fix nitrogen may be widespread among chemosynthetic symbioses in oligotrophic habitats, where nitrogen availability often limits primary productivity.
SUSD2 expression in high-grade serous ovarian cancer correlates with increased patient survival and defective mesothelial clearance
Authors: Sheets J N , Iwanicki M , Liu J F , Howitt B E , Hirsch M S , Gubbels J A A , Drapkin R , Egland K A
Published: October 2016

The cause of death among the majority of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients involves passive dissemination of cancer cells within the peritoneal cavity and subsequent implantation of cancer spheroids into adjacent organs. Thus, it is important to identify the factors that mediate EOC metastasis and implantation, including clearance of the mesothelium. Sushi domain containing 2 (SUSD2) encodes a type I transmembrane protein containing several functional domains inherent to adhesion molecules. Immunohistochemical analysis determined the presence of SUSD2 in several subtypes of EOC, with the strongest staining observed in high-grade serous ovarian carcinomas (HGSOCs). A high-density, clinically annotated HGSOC tissue microarray was stained with an anti-SUSD2 antibody. Patients with tumors that had a low percentage of SUSD2 staining cells had a shorter median survival (31.7 months) compared with patients who had tumors with extensive SUSD2 staining (49.1 months; P-value=0.0083). To investigate the role of SUSD2 in HGSOCs, stable OVCAR3, OVSAHO and KURAMOCHI cell lines were established with knockdown (KD) or non-targeting (NT) of SUSD2. Boyden chamber and wound-healing assays demonstrated that OVCAR3, OVSAHO and KURAMOCHI SUSD2-KD cells migrated at significantly higher rates compared with their SUSD2 NT counterpart cell lines. Quantitative reverse transcription–PCR and western immunoblot analysis indicated an inverse relationship between SUSD2 and well-characterized mesenchymal proteins, including Twist-1, Zeb-1, N-cadherin, STEAP1, AHNAK, Snail-1, COL5A2 and Snail-3 in OVCAR3, OVSAHO and KURAMOCHI cell line models. In addition, OVCAR3 and KURAMOCHI SUSD2-KD spheroids displayed increased mesothelial clearance ability compared with cells that express endogenous levels of SUSD2. These data suggest that SUSD2 has a role in the inhibition of mesothelial clearance, which is required for metastasis. Altogether, our findings indicate that SUSD2 impedes migration, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitional and mesothelial clearance of HGSOC cells, consistent with prolonged survival of patients with SUSD2-expressing tumors.
A studyforrest extension, retinotopic mapping and localization of higher visual areas
Authors: Sengupta Ayan , Kaule Falko R. , Guntupalli J. Swaroop , Hoffmann Michael B. , Häusler Christian , Stadler Jörg , Hanke Michael
Published: October 2016

The studyforrest (http://studyforrest.org) dataset is likely the largest neuroimaging dataset on natural language and story processing publicly available today. In this article, along with a companion publication, we present an update of this dataset that extends its scope to vision and multi-sensory research. 15 participants of the original cohort volunteered for a series of additional studies: a clinical examination of visual function, a standard retinotopic mapping procedure, and a localization of higher visual areas—such as the fusiform face area. The combination of this update, the previous data releases for the dataset, and the companion publication, which includes neuroimaging and eye tracking data from natural stimulation with a motion picture, form an extremely versatile and comprehensive resource for brain imaging research—with almost six hours of functional neuroimaging data across five different stimulation paradigms for each participant. Furthermore, we describe employed paradigms and present results that document the quality of the data for the purpose of characterising major properties of participants’ visual processing stream.
Peptide-substituted oligonucleotide synthesis and non-toxic, passive cell delivery
Authors: Shang Shiying , Monfregola Luca , Caruthers Marvin H
Published: October 2016

Chemically modified oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) are known to modulate gene expression by interacting with RNA. An efficient approach for synthesizing amino acid- or peptide-substituted triazolylphosphonate analogs (TP ODNs) has been developed to provide improved stability and cell uptake. The chemistry is quite general, as peptides can be introduced throughout the TP ODN at any preselected internucleotide linkage. These synthetic TP ODNs enter cells through endocytosis in the absence of transfection reagents and localize into perinuclear organelles. The entrapped ODNs are released into the cytoplasm by treatment with endosomal-releasing agents and several are then active as microRNA inhibitors.
Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors with non-periodic dielectric multilayers
Authors: Yamashita Taro , Waki Kentaro , Miki Shigehito , Kirkwood Robert A. , Hadfield Robert H. , Terai Hirotaka
Published: October 2016

We present superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SSPDs) on non-periodic dielectric multilayers, which enable us to design a variety of wavelength dependences of optical absorptance by optimizing the dielectric multilayer. By adopting a robust simulation to optimize the dielectric multilayer, we designed three types of SSPDs with target wavelengths of 500 nm, 800 nm, and telecom range respectively. We fabricated SSPDs based on the optimized designs for 500 and 800 nm, and evaluated the system detection efficiency at various wavelengths. The results obtained confirm that the designed SSPDs with non-periodic dielectric multilayers worked well. This versatile device structure can be effective for multidisciplinary applications in fields such as the life sciences and remote sensing that require high efficiency over a precise spectral range and strong signal rejection at other wavelengths.
Direct and indirect mechanisms of KLK4 inhibition revealed by structure and dynamics
Authors: Riley Blake T. , Ilyichova Olga , Costa Mauricio G. S. , Porebski Benjamin T. , de Veer Simon J. , Swedberg Joakim E. , Kass Itamar , Harris Jonathan M. , Hoke David E. , Buckle Ashley M.
Published: October 2016

The kallikrein-related peptidase (KLK) family of proteases is involved in many aspects of human health and disease. One member of this family, KLK4, has been implicated in cancer development and metastasis. Understanding mechanisms of inactivation are critical to developing selective KLK4 inhibitors. We have determined the X-ray crystal structures of KLK4 in complex with both sunflower trypsin inhibitor-1 (SFTI-1) and a rationally designed SFTI-1 derivative to atomic (~1 Å) resolution, as well as with bound nickel. These structures offer a structural rationalization for the potency and selectivity of these inhibitors, and together with MD simulation and computational analysis, reveal a dynamic pathway between the metal binding exosite and the active site, providing key details of a previously proposed allosteric mode of inhibition. Collectively, this work provides insight into both direct and indirect mechanisms of inhibition for KLK4 that have broad implications for the enzymology of the serine protease superfamily, and may potentially be exploited for the design of therapeutic inhibitors.
Energy Transfer Sensitization of Luminescent Gold Nanoclusters: More than Just the Classical Förster Mechanism
Authors: Oh Eunkeu , Huston Alan L. , Shabaev Andrew , Efros Alexander , Currie Marc , Susumu Kimihiro , Bussmann Konrad , Goswami Ramasis , Fatemi Fredrik K. , Medintz Igor L.
Published: October 2016

Luminescent gold nanocrystals (AuNCs) are a recently-developed material with potential optic, electronic and biological applications. They also demonstrate energy transfer (ET) acceptor/sensitization properties which have been ascribed to Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) and, to a lesser extent, nanosurface energy transfer (NSET). Here, we investigate AuNC acceptor interactions with three structurally/functionally-distinct donor classes including organic dyes, metal chelates and semiconductor quantum dots (QDs). Donor quenching was observed for every donor-acceptor pair although AuNC sensitization was only observed from metal-chelates and QDs. FRET theory dramatically underestimated the observed energy transfer while NSET-based damping models provided better fits but could not reproduce the experimental data. We consider additional factors including AuNC magnetic dipoles, density of excited-states, dephasing time, and enhanced intersystem crossing that can also influence ET. Cumulatively, data suggests that AuNC sensitization is not by classical FRET or NSET and we provide a simplified distance-independent ET model to fit such experimental data.
Emodin ameliorates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats by suppressing epithelial-mesenchymal transition and fibroblast activation
Authors: Guan Ruijuan , Wang Xia , Zhao Xiaomei , Song Nana , Zhu Jimin , Wang Jijiang , Wang Jin , Xia Chunmei , Chen Yonghua , Zhu Danian , Shen Linlin
Published: October 2016

Aberrant activation of TGF-β1 is frequently encountered and promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and fibroblast activation in pulmonary fibrosis. The present study investigated whether emodin mediates its effect via suppressing TGF-β1-induced EMT and fibroblast activation in bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. Here, we found that emodin induced apoptosis and inhibited cellular proliferation, migration and differentiation in TGF-β1-stimulated human embryonic lung fibroblasts (HELFs). Emodin suppressed TGF-β1-induced EMT in a dose- and time-dependent manner in alveolar epithelial A549 cells. Emodin also inhibited TGF-β1-induced Smad2, Smad3 and Erk1/2 activation, suggesting that Smad2/3 and Erk1/2 inactivation mediated the emodin-induced effects on TGF-β1-induced EMT. Additionally, we provided in vivo evidence suggesting that emodin apparently alleviated BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis and improved pulmonary function by inhibiting TGF-β1 signaling and subsequently repressing EMT, fibroblast activation and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition. Taken together, our data suggest that emodin mediates its effects mainly via inhibition of EMT and fibroblast activation and thus has a potential for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.
Use of next generation sequence to investigate potential novel macrolide resistance mechanisms in a population of Moraxella catarrhalis isolates
Authors: Liu Ya-Li , Li Dong-Fang , Xu He-Ping , Xiao Meng , Cheng Jing-Wei , Zhang Li , Xu Zhi-Peng , Chen Xin-Xin , Zhang Ge , Kudinha Timothy , Kong Fanrong , Gong Yan-Ping , Wang Xin-Ying , Zhang Yin-Xin , Wu Hong-Long , Xu Ying-Chun
Published: October 2016

Although previous studies have confirmed that 23S rRNA gene mutation could be responsible for most of macrolide resistance in M. catarrhalis, a recent study suggested otherwise. Next generation sequence based comparative genomics has revolutionized the mining of potential novel drug resistant mechanisms. In this study, two pairs of resistant and susceptible M. catarrhalis isolates with different multilocus sequence types, were investigated for potential differential genes or informative single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The identified genes and SNPs were evaluated in 188 clinical isolates. From initially 12 selected differential genes and 12 informative SNPs, 10 differential genes (mboIA, mcbC, mcbI, mboIB, MCR_1794, MCR_1795, lgt2B/C, dpnI, mcbB, and mcbA) and 6 SNPs (C619T of rumA, T140C of rplF, G643A of MCR_0020, T270G of MCR_1465, C1348A of copB, and G238A of rrmA) were identified as possibly linked to macrolide resistance in M. catarrhalis. Most of the identified differential genes and SNPs are related to methylation of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) or DNA, especially MCR_0020 and rrmA. Further studies are needed to determine the function and/or evolution process, of the identified genes or SNPs, to establish whether some novel or combined mechanisms are truly involved in M. catarrhalis macrolide resistance mechanism.
REAC technology modifies pathological neuroinflammation and motor behaviour in an Alzheimer’s disease mouse model
Authors: Lorenzini Luca , Giuliani Alessandro , Sivilia Sandra , Baldassarro Vito Antonio , Fernandez Mercedes , Margotti Matteo Lotti , Giardino Luciana , Fontani Vania , Rinaldi Salvatore , Calzà Laura
Published: October 2016

The search for new therapeutic approaches to Alzheimer disease (AD) is a major goal in medicine and society, also due to the impressive economic and social costs of this disease. In this scenario, biotechnologies play an important role. Here, it is demonstrated that the Radio Electric Asymmetric Conveyer (REAC), an innovative technology platform for neuro- and bio-modulation, used according to the neuro-regenerative protocol (RGN-N), significantly increases astroglial reaction around the amyloid plaques in an AD mouse model, as evaluated by GFAP-immunoreactivity, and reduces microglia-associated neuroinflammation markers, as evaluated by Iba1-immunoreactivity and mRNA expression level of inflammatory cytokines TREM. IL1beta, iNOS and MRC1 were not affected neither by the genotype or by REAC RGN-N treatment. Also observed was an increase in locomotion in treated animals. The study was performed in 24-month-old male Tg2576 mice and age-matching wild-type animals, tested for Y-maze, contextual fear conditioning and locomotion immediately after the end of a specific REAC treatment administered for 15 hours/day for 15 days. These results demonstrated that REAC RGN-N treatment modifies pathological neuroinflammation, and mitigates part of the complex motor behaviour alterations observed in very old Tg2576 mice.
The temporal frequency tuning of continuous flash suppression reveals peak suppression at very low frequencies
Authors: Han Shui’er , Lunghi Claudia , Alais David
Published: October 2016

Continuous flash suppression (CFS) is a psychophysical technique where a rapidly changing Mondrian pattern viewed by one eye suppresses the target in the other eye for several seconds. Despite the widespread use of CFS to study unconscious visual processes, the temporal tuning of CFS suppression is currently unknown. In the present study we used spatiotemporally filtered dynamic noise as masking stimuli to probe the temporal characteristics of CFS. Surprisingly, we find that suppression in CFS peaks very prominently at approximately 1 Hz, well below the rates typically used in CFS studies (10 Hz or more). As well as a strong bias to low temporal frequencies, CFS suppression is greater for high spatial frequencies and increases with increasing masker contrast, indicating involvement of parvocellular/ventral mechanisms in the suppression process. These results are reminiscent of binocular rivalry, and unifies two phenomenon previously thought to require different explanations.
Bacterial mimetics of endocrine secretory granules as immobilized in vivo depots for functional protein drugs
Authors: Céspedes María Virtudes , Fernández Yolanda , Unzueta Ugutz , Mendoza Rosa , Seras-Franzoso Joaquin , Sánchez-Chardi Alejando , Álamo Patricia , Toledo-Rubio Verónica , Ferrer-Miralles Neus , Vázquez Esther , Schwartz Simó , Abasolo Ibane , Corchero José Luis , Mangues Ramon , Villaverde Antonio
Published: October 2016

In the human endocrine system many protein hormones including urotensin, glucagon, obestatin, bombesin and secretin, among others, are supplied from amyloidal secretory granules. These granules form part of the so called functional amyloids, which within the whole aggregome appear to be more abundant than formerly believed. Bacterial inclusion bodies (IBs) are non-toxic, nanostructured functional amyloids whose biological fabrication can be tailored to render materials with defined biophysical properties. Since under physiological conditions they steadily release their building block protein in a soluble and functional form, IBs are considered as mimetics of endocrine secretory granules. We have explored here if the in vivo implantation of functional IBs in a given tissue would represent a stable local source of functional protein. Upon intratumoral injection of bacterial IBs formed by a potent protein ligand of CXCR4 we have observed high stability and prevalence of the material in absence of toxicity, accompanied by apoptosis of CXCR4+ cells and tumor ablation. Then, the local immobilization of bacterial amyloids formed by therapeutic proteins in tumors or other tissues might represent a promising strategy for a sustained local delivery of protein drugs by mimicking the functional amyloidal architecture of the mammals’ endocrine system.
Multilocus sequence analysis reveals high genetic diversity in clinical isolates of Burkholderia cepacia complex from India
Authors: Gautam Vikas , Patil Prashant P. , Kumar Sunil , Midha Samriti , Kaur Mandeep , Kaur Satinder , Singh Meenu , Mali Swapna , Shastri Jayanthi , Arora Anita , Ray Pallab , Patil Prabhu B.
Published: October 2016

Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) is a complex group of bacteria causing opportunistic infections in immunocompromised and cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Herein, we report multilocus sequence typing and analysis of the 57 clinical isolates of Bcc collected over the period of seven years (2005–2012) from several hospitals across India. A total of 21 sequence types (ST) including two STs from cystic fibrosis patient’s isolates and twelve novel STs were identified in the population reflecting the extent of genetic diversity. Multilocus sequence analysis revealed two lineages in population, a major lineage belonging to B. cenocepacia and a minor lineage belonging to B. cepacia. Split-decomposition analysis suggests absence of interspecies recombination and intraspecies recombination contributed in generating genotypic diversity amongst isolates. Further linkage disequilibrium analysis indicates that recombination takes place at a low frequency, which is not sufficient to break down the clonal relationship. This knowledge of the genetic structure of Bcc population from a rapidly developing country will be invaluable in the epidemiology, surveillance and understanding global diversity of this group of a pathogen.
Evaluating the mobility potential of antibiotic resistance genes in environmental resistomes without metagenomics
Authors: Pärnänen Katariina , Karkman Antti , Tamminen Manu , Lyra Christina , Hultman Jenni , Paulin Lars , Virta Marko
Published: October 2016

Antibiotic resistance genes are ubiquitous in the environment. However, only a fraction of them are mobile and able to spread to pathogenic bacteria. Until now, studying the mobility of antibiotic resistance genes in environmental resistomes has been challenging due to inadequate sensitivity and difficulties in contig assembly of metagenome based methods. We developed a new cost and labor efficient method based on Inverse PCR and long read sequencing for studying mobility potential of environmental resistance genes. We applied Inverse PCR on sediment samples and identified 79 different MGE clusters associated with the studied resistance genes, including novel mobile genetic elements, co-selected resistance genes and a new putative antibiotic resistance gene. The results show that the method can be used in antibiotic resistance early warning systems. In comparison to metagenomics, Inverse PCR was markedly more sensitive and provided more data on resistance gene mobility and co-selected resistances.
Coupling of carbon and silicon geochemical cycles in rivers and lakes
Authors: Wang Baoli , Liu Cong-Qiang , Maberly Stephen C. , Wang Fushun , Hartmann Jens
Published: October 2016

Carbon (C) and silicon (Si) biogeochemical cycles are important factors in the regulation of atmospheric CO2 concentrations and hence climate change. Theoretically, these elements are linked by chemical weathering and organism stoichiometry, but this coupling has not been investigated in freshwaters. Here we compiled data from global rivers and lakes in the United States of America and the United Kingdom, in order to characterize the stoichiometry between the biogeochemical cycles of C and Si. In rivers this coupling is confirmed by a significant relationship between HCO3−/Na+ and DSi/Na+, and DSi:HCO3− ratio can reflect the mineral source of chemical weathering. In lakes, however, these characteristic ratios of chemical weathering are altered by algal activity. The lacustrine Si:C atomic ratio is negative feedback regulation by phytoplankton, which may result in this ratio in algal assemblages similar to that in water column. And this regulation suggests lacustrine photosynthetic C fixation in this equilibrium state is quantitative and depends on the DSi concentration. These findings provide new insights into the role of freshwaters in global C and Si biogeochemical cycles.
Microchip-based ultrafast serodiagnostic assay for tuberculosis
Authors: Mani Vigneshwaran , Paleja Bhairav , Larbi Karima , Kumar Pavanish , Tay Jo Ann , Siew Jie Yee , Inci Fatih , Wang ShuQi , Chee Cynthia , Wang Yee Tang , Demirci Utkan , De Libero Gennaro , Singhal Amit
Published: October 2016

Access to point-of-care (POC), rapid, inexpensive, sensitive, and instrument-free tests for the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) remains a major challenge. Here, we report a simple and low-cost microchip-based TB ELISA (MTBE) platform for the detection of anti-mycobacterial IgG in plasma samples in less than 15 minutes. The MTBE employs a flow-less, magnet-actuated, bead-based ELISA for simultaneous detection of IgG responses against multiple mycobacterial antigens. Anti-trehalose 6,6′-dimycolate (TDM) IgG responses were the strongest predictor for differentiating active tuberculosis (ATB) from healthy controls (HC) and latent tuberculosis infections (LTBI). The TDM-based MTBE demonstrated superior sensitivity compared to sputum microscopy (72% vs. 56%) with 80% and 63% positivity among smear-positive and smear-negative confirmed ATB samples, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated good accuracy for differentiating ATB from HC (AUC = 0.77). Thus, TDM-based MTBE can be potentially used as a screening device for rapid diagnosis of active TB at the POC.
Adverse Cardiovascular Outcomes associated with Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Everolimus Eluting Stents: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Bundhun Pravesh Kumar , Pursun Manish , Teeluck Abhishek Rishikesh , Bhurtu Akash , Soogund Mohammad Zafooruddin Sani , Huang Wei-Qiang
Published: October 2016

This study aimed to compare the mid-term adverse cardiovascular outcomes associated with Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (CABG) and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) with Everolimus Eluting Stents (EES). Electronic databases were searched for studies comparing the mid-term (>1 year) adverse cardiovascular outcomes between CABG and PCI with EES. Odd Ratios (OR) with 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) were calculated and the pooled analyses were performed with RevMan 5.3 software. A total number of 5207 patients were involved in this analysis. No significant difference was observed in mortality between CABG and EES with OR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.73–1.10; P = 0.30. Moreover, CABG was associated with a high stroke rate, with OR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.45–1.17; P = 0.19, without any statistical significant. CABG was associated with significantly lower Major Adverse Cardiac Events and Myocardial Infarction with OR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.05–2.04; P = 0.03 and OR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.01–2.12; P = 0.05 respectively whereas PCI was associated with a significantly higher repeated revascularization with OR: 2.21; 95% CI: 1.76–2.77; P = 0.00001. In conclusion, significant differences were noted in several subgroups analyzing the mid-term cardiovascular outcomes between CABG and EES.
Disentangling the drivers of taxonomic and phylogenetic beta diversities in disturbed and undisturbed subtropical forests
Authors: Liu Jinliang , Qian Hong , Jin Yi , Wu Chuping , Chen Jianhua , Yu Shuquan , Wei Xinliang , Jin Xiaofeng , Liu Jiajia , Yu Mingjian
Published: October 2016

Understanding the relative importance of dispersal limitation and environmental filtering processes in structuring the beta diversities of subtropical forests in human disturbed landscapes is still limited. Here we used taxonomic (TBD) and phylogenetic (PBD), including terminal PBD (PBDt) and basal PBD (PBDb), beta diversity indices to quantify the taxonomic and phylogenetic turnovers at different depths of evolutionary history in disturbed and undisturbed subtropical forests. Multiple linear regression model and distance-based redundancy analysis were used to disentangle the relative importance of environmental and spatial variables. Environmental variables were significantly correlated with TBD and PBDt metrics. Temperature and precipitation were major environmental drivers of beta diversity patterns, which explained 7–27% of the variance in TBD and PBDt, whereas the spatial variables independently explained less than 1% of the variation for all forests. The relative importance of environmental and spatial variables differed between disturbed and undisturbed forests (e.g., when Bray-Curtis was used as a beta diversity metric, environmental variable had a significant effect on beta diversity for disturbed forests but had no effect on undisturbed forests). We conclude that environmental filtering plays a more important role than geographical limitation and disturbance history in driving taxonomic and terminal phylogenetic beta diversity.
Colloidal Organometal Halide Perovskite (MAPbBrxI3−x, 0≤x≤3) Quantum Dots: Controllable Synthesis and Tunable Photoluminescence
Authors: Zhao Ying , Xu Xiangxing , You Xiaozeng
Published: October 2016

Organic-inorganic perovskite materials, typically methylammonium lead trihalide (MAPbX3: MA = methylammonium; X = Br, I), are recently attract enormous attention for their distinguished photo-electronic properties. The control of morphology, composition and dispersability of MAPbX3 perovskite nanocrystals is crucial for the property tailoring and still a major challenge. Here we report the synthesis of colloidal MAPbBrxI3−x(0 ≤ x ≤ 3) nanocrystals at room temperature by using alkyl carboxylate as capping ligands. These nanocrystals exhibit continuously tunable UV-vis absorption and photoluminescence (PL) across the visible spectrum, which is attributed to the quantum confinement effect with certain stoichiometry. Their unique exciton recombination dynamics was investigated and discussed.
A high-throughput microfluidic approach for 1000-fold leukocyte reduction of platelet-rich plasma
Authors: Xia Hui , Strachan Briony C. , Gifford Sean C. , Shevkoplyas Sergey S.
Published: October 2016

Leukocyte reduction of donated blood products substantially reduces the risk of a number of transfusion-related complications. Current ‘leukoreduction’ filters operate by trapping leukocytes within specialized filtration material, while allowing desired blood components to pass through. However, the continuous release of inflammatory cytokines from the retained leukocytes, as well as the potential for platelet activation and clogging, are significant drawbacks of conventional ‘dead end’ filtration. To address these limitations, here we demonstrate our newly-developed ‘controlled incremental filtration’ (CIF) approach to perform high-throughput microfluidic removal of leukocytes from platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in a continuous flow regime. Leukocytes are separated from platelets within the PRP by progressively syphoning clarified PRP away from the concentrated leukocyte flowstream. Filtrate PRP collected from an optimally-designed CIF device typically showed a ~1000-fold (i.e. 99.9%) reduction in leukocyte concentration, while recovering >80% of the original platelets, at volumetric throughputs of ~1 mL/min. These results suggest that the CIF approach will enable users in many fields to now apply the advantages of microfluidic devices to particle separation, even for applications requiring macroscale flowrates.
Multifunctional Cu2−xTe Nanocubes Mediated Combination Therapy for Multi-Drug Resistant MDA MB 453
Authors: Poulose Aby Cheruvathoor , Veeranarayanan Srivani , Mohamed M. Sheikh , Aburto Rebeca Romero , Mitcham Trevor , Bouchard Richard R. , Ajayan Pulickel M. , Sakamoto Yasushi , Maekawa Toru , Kumar D. Sakthi
Published: October 2016

Hypermethylated cancer populations are hard to treat due to their enhanced chemo-resistance, characterized by aberrant methylated DNA subunits. Herein, we report on invoking response from such a cancer lineage to chemotherapy utilizing multifunctional copper telluride (Cu2−XTe) nanocubes (NCs) as photothermal and photodynamic agents, leading to significant anticancer activity. The NCs additionally possessed photoacoustic and X-ray contrast imaging abilities that could serve in image-guided therapeutic studies.
CeO2 nanorods anchored on mesoporous carbon as an efficient catalyst for imine synthesis
Authors: Geng Longlong , Song Jinling , Zhou Yahui , Xie Yan , Huang Jiahui , Zhang Wenxiang , Peng Luming , Liu Gang
Published: October 2016

CeO2 nanorods anchored on mesoporous carbon exhibit high activity and stability in aerobic oxidative coupling of alcohols and amines to imines.
Rapid characterization of folding and binding interactions with thermolabile ligands by DSC
Authors: Harkness R. W. , Slavkovic S. , Johnson P. E. , Mittermaier A. K.
Published: October 2016

A new method to characterize interactions between macromolecules and thermolabile ligands by DSC yields stability, affinity, and kinetic information.
Cyclisation of biscarbenoids – a novel mode of cyclobutadiene stabilisation
Authors: Bertermann Rüdiger , Braunschweig Holger , Celik Mehmet Ali , Dellermann Theresa , Kelch Hauke
Published: October 2016

The reaction of the vicinal biscarbenoid Pip–CC–Pip with dimethyltin dichloride yields a unique tetraamino-substituted cyclobutadienyl system featuring a dative C–Sn interaction.
Self-assembly of a supramolecular network with pseudo-rotaxane cross-linking nodes and its transformation into a mechanically locked structure by rotaxane formation
Authors: Soto Miguel A. , Tiburcio Jorge
Published: October 2016

A main chain poly(crown ether) macromolecule has been cross-linked with a two binding site guest to afford a stimuli-responsive supramolecular polymeric network with pseudo-rotaxane nodes.
Two-dimensional optical spectroscopy of homo- and heterodimers
Authors: Wehner Johannes , Engel Volker
Published: October 2016

We theoretically study the two-dimensional (2D) spectroscopy of molecular dimers.
A computational study on the superionic behaviour of ThO2
Authors: Ghosh P. S. , Arya A. , Dey G. K. , Kuganathan N. , Grimes R. W.
Published: October 2016

This study reports DFT and MD study of lattice dynamical, mechanical and anionic transport behaviour of ThO2 in the superionic state. Softening of B1u phonon mode is a precursor to the dynamical disorder of the oxygen sublattice and 〈001〉 is the easy direction for anion migration in the superionic state.
Interfacial catalysis in and initial reaction mechanism of Al2O3 films fabricated by atomic layer deposition using non-hydrolytic sol–gel chemistry
Authors: Xu Lina , Fang Guoyong , Cao Yanqiang , Li Aidong
Published: October 2016

DFT investigation shows that metal alkoxides can directly form M–O bonds through strong chemisorption and interfacial interactions between alkyl groups and the surface can catalyze the elimination of alkyl groups through interfacial catalysis.
Enhancing cycling durability of Li-ion batteries with hierarchical structured silicon–graphene hybrid anodes
Authors: Loveridge Melanie J. , Lain Michael J. , Huang Qianye , Wan Chaoying , Roberts Alexander J. , Pappas George S. , Bhagat Rohit
Published: October 2016

Hybrid anode materials consisting of micro-sized silicon (Si) particles interconnected with few-layer graphene (FLG) nanoplatelets and sodium-neutralized poly (acrylic acid) as a binder were evaluated for Li-ion batteries.
Efficient photocatalytic reduction of aqueous Cr(vi) over porous BNNSs/TiO2 nanocomposites under visible light irradiation
Authors: Liu D. , Zhang M. W. , Xie W. J. , Sun L. , Chen Y. , Lei W. W.
Published: October 2016

Photocatalytic reduction of aqueous Cr(vi) was successfully achieved using porous boron nitride nanosheets/TiO2 composites under visible light irradiation.
Aerosol-assisted CVD of SnO from stannous alkoxide precursors
Authors: Hill Michael S. , Johnson Andrew L. , Lowe John P. , Molloy Kieran C. , Parish James D. , Wildsmith Thomas , Kingsley Andrew L.
Published: October 2016

The stannous alkoxides [Sn(OR)2] [R = i-Pr, t-Bu, C(Et)Me2, CHPh2, CPh3] have been synthesised by reaction of Sn(NR′2)2 with two equivalents of HOR [R′ = Me, R = i-Pr; R′ = SiMe3, R = t-Bu, C(Et)Me2, CHPh2, CPh3].
Structural characterization and proton reduction electrocatalysis of thiolate-bridged bimetallic (CoCo and CoFe) complexes
Authors: Tong Peng , Xie Wenjie , Yang Dawei , Wang Baomin , Ji Xiaoxiao , Li Jianzhe , Qu Jingping
Published: October 2016

Using an assembly method, dinuclear CoCo and CoFe complexes supported by a bdt ligand, [Cp*Co(μ–η2:η2-bdt)(μ-I)CoCp*][PF6] (1[PF6], Cp* = η5-C5Me5, bdt = benzene-1,2-dithiolate), and [Cp*Co(μ–η2:η4-bdt)FeCp′][PF6] (3[PF6], Cp′ = η5-C5Me4H) were synthesized in high yields.
Exo-bonded six-membered heterocycle in the crystal structures of RE7Co2Ge4(RE = La–Nd)
Authors: Ponou Siméon , Lidin Sven
Published: October 2016

The stability of the heterocyclic {Co4Ge6} clusters in RE7Co2Ge4(RE = La–Nd) is determined by strong interactions with the surrounding RE atoms in the structures.
Characterization and utilization of Prussian blue and its pigments
Authors: Grandjean Fernande , Samain Louise , Long Gary J.
Published: October 2016

An improved understanding of Prussian blue fading in paintings and cultural objects has been gained through a study of its structure and properties.
Water induced spin-crossover behaviour and magneto-structural correlation in octacyanotungstate(iv)-based iron(ii) complexes
Authors: Wei Rong-Min , Kong Ming , Cao Fan , Li Jing , Pu Tian-Cheng , Yang Li , Zhang Xiu-Ling , Song You
Published: October 2016

The SCO is mainly tuned by the octahedral distortion of the [FeN6] core caused by intermolecular hydrogen bonds, and there is an exact correlation between SCO behavior and the amount of lattice water molecules existing in the crystal.
Technetium incorporation in scheelite: insights from first-principles
Authors: Ackerman Matthew , Kim Eunja , Weck Philippe F. , Chernesky Wendy , Czerwinski Kenneth R.
Published: October 2016

The energetics of 99Tc incorporation into the lattice of scheelite, CaWO4, was investigated within the framework of density functional theory.
Magnetic fluorescent bifunctional spin-crossover complexes
Authors: Wang Jun-Li , Liu Qiang , Lv Xiao-Jin , Wang Rui-Lin , Duan Chun-Ying , Liu Tao
Published: October 2016

Bifunctional fluorescent spin crossover complexes exhibit thermally and light induced conversion from the low spin to the high spin state, as well as fluorescence emission.
Tetravalent cerium pseudohalide complexes supported by the Kläui tripodal ligand [Co(η5-C5H5){P(O)(OEt)2}3]−
Authors: Au-Yeung Ka-Chun , So Yat-Ming , Sung Herman H.-Y. , Williams Ian D. , Leung Wa-Hung
Published: October 2016

Cerium(iv) pseudohalide complexes supported by the Kläui tripodal ligand [Co(η5-C5H5){P(O)(OEt)2}3]− (LOEt−) have been synthesized and structurally characterized.
Synthesis, structures, magnetic, and theoretical investigations of layered Co and Ni thiocyanate coordination polymers
Authors: Suckert Stefan , Rams Michał , Böhme Michael , Germann Luzia S. , Dinnebier Robert E. , Plass Winfried , Werner Julia , Näther Christian
Published: October 2016

Two new ferromagnetic layered Co(ii) and Ni(ii) thiocyanate coordination polymers were synthesized, structurally characterized and investigated for their magnetic behavior using susceptibility measurements and theoretical methods.
Strategies to enhance the excitation energy-transfer efficiency in a light-harvesting system using the intra-molecular charge transfer character of carotenoids
Authors: Yukihira Nao , Sugai Yuko , Fujiwara Masazumi , Kosumi Daisuke , Iha Masahiko , Sakaguchi Kazuhiko , Katsumura Shigeo , Gardiner Alastair T. , Cogdell Richard J. , Hashimoto Hideki
Published: October 2016

Fucoxanthin is a carotenoid that is mainly found in light-harvesting complexes from brown algae and diatoms. Due to the presence of a carbonyl group attached to polyene chains in polar environments, excitation produces an excited intra-molecular charge transfer. This intra-molecular charge transfer state plays a key role in the highly efficient (∼95%) energy-transfer from fucoxanthin to chlorophyllain the light-harvesting complexes from brown algae. In purple bacterial light-harvesting systems the efficiency of excitation energy-transfer from carotenoids to bacteriochlorophylls depends on the extent of conjugation of the carotenoids. In this study we were successful, for the first time, in incorporating fucoxanthin into a light-harvesting complex 1 from the purple photosynthetic bacterium,Rhodospirillum rubrumG9+ (a carotenoidless strain). Femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy was applied to this reconstituted light-harvesting complex in order to determine the efficiency of excitation energy-transfer from fucoxanthin to bacteriochlorophyllawhen they are bound to the light-harvesting 1 apo-proteins.
Composite foods: from structure to sensory perception
Authors: Scholten Elke
Published: October 2016

This review article gives an overview of structural features of composite foods, and its relation to rheological, lubrication and sensory properties.
Ionic liquids that form adducts with alcohols
Authors: Gunaratne H. Q. Nimal , McCarron Philip , Seddon Kenneth R.
Published: October 2016

Ionic liquids bearing an activated carbonyl group in the cation are shown to form adducts with alcohols without the aid of any catalysts. How these functionalised ionic liquids could be used in altering vapour phase compositions of alcohols and in alcohol separations are demonstrated.
Hydride generation-point discharge microplasma-optical emission spectrometry for the determination of trace As, Bi, Sb and Sn
Authors: Li Mengtian , Deng Yujia , Zheng Chengbin , Jiang Xiaoming , Hou Xiandeng
Published: October 2016

A miniaturized optical emission spectrometer (OES) with point discharge (PD) helium–hydrogen microplasma as an excitation source and hydride generation (HG) for sample introduction was constructed for the determination of trace As, Bi, Sb and Sn.
Polyphenolic carbosilane dendrimers as anticancer agents against prostate cancer
Authors: Mencia Gabriel , del Olmo Natalia Sanz , Muñoz-Moreno Laura , Maroto-Diaz Marta , Gomez Rafael , Ortega Paula , José Carmena Ma , Javier de la Mata F.
Published: October 2016

Polyphenolic carbosilane dendrimers improved the antioxidant and anticancer properties of free vanillin.
Transformations of alkynes to carboxylic acids and their derivatives via CC bond cleavage
Authors: Kolle Shivalinga , Batra Sanjay
Published: October 2016

Alkynes are building blocks of high synthetic value and their usefulness as precursors to many chemical and biological systems is widely established.
Synthesis of natural urolithin M6, a galloflavin mimetic, as a potential inhibitor of lactate dehydrogenase A
Authors: Rupiani Sebastiano , Guidotti Laura , Manerba Marcella , Di Ianni Lorenza , Giacomini Elisa , Falchi Federico , Stefano Giuseppina Di , Roberti Marinella , Recanatini Maurizio
Published: October 2016

An efficient synthetic pathway has been developed to synthesize for the first time UM6, identified as a suitable hit in the search for new LDH-A inhibitors.
Oxidative degradation of l-histidine by manganese dioxide (MnO2) nano-colloid in HClO4 medium with/without using TX-100 catalyst: a kinetic approach
Authors: Altaf Mohammad , Jaganyi Deogratius
Published: October 2016

The kinetics of the oxidative degradation of l-histidine (His) in perchloric acid medium by freshly prepared manganese dioxide (MnO2) nano-colloid have been investigated with and without using TX-100 catalyst.
Intracellular metabolic changes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and promotion of ethanol tolerance during the bioethanol fermentation process
Authors: Chen Ze , Zheng Zhou , Yi Chenfeng , Wang Fenglian , Niu Yuanpu , Li Hao
Published: October 2016

During the batch bioethanol fermentation process, although Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells are challenged by accumulated ethanol, our previous work showed that the ethanol tolerance of S. cerevisiae increased as fermentation time increased.
An overview on dry reforming of methane: strategies to reduce carbonaceous deactivation of catalysts
Authors: Arora Shalini , Prasad R.
Published: October 2016

Catalytic reforming of methane (CH4) with carbon dioxide (CO2), known as dry reforming of methane (DRM), produces synthesis gas, which is a mixture of hydrogen (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO).