bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biomimetic gels with chemical and physical interpenetrating networks
Authors: Dobreikina Anastasia , Shklyar Tatyana , Safronov Alexander , Blyakhman Felix
Published: April 2018

This study aimed to create and to characterize the functional properties of gels with semi‐interpenetrating network (semi‐IPN) with focus on possible use of these composites in biomedical engineering. Polyacrylamide as a synthetic biocompatible polymer was chosen for the chemical network. The physical network comprised the gel‐forming polysaccharides xanthan gum or gellan gum. Gels were synthesized by radical polymerization of acrylamide in aqueous solutions of polysaccharides. Mechanical and electrical properties of gels with 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 wt% content of polysaccharide were investigated. It was found that the inclusion of a small amount of xanthan or gellan into the polymeric network of a polyacrylamide gel significantly shifts the gel electrical potential towards the rest potential of living cells and Young's modulus towards the elasticity limits of biological soft tissues like non‐activated muscles. From the viewpoint of biomedical applications, the main advantage of the proposed composites is that the semi‐IPN structure provides a nonlinear dependence of gel tension on gel deformation, which mimics the elasticity of natural tissues. This feature opens the possibility for the promising use of the proposed gels for musculoskeletal minibioimplants or scaffolds for tissue engineering. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Individuality, Freedom, and Community: Ella Flagg Young's Quest for Teacher Empowerment
Authors: Blount Jackie M.
Published: April 2018

After teaching shifted from men's to women's work in the second half of the nineteenth century, women pushed into newly created realms of educational leadership. They earned appointments to principalships and, buoyed by the growing woman's suffrage movement, they began winning elected superintendencies and school board positions. However, fearing that women might overtake men in running the schools, a multifaceted backlash movement emerged to rein in women's advancements. A tightly organized national network of influential male educators sought to centralize power, standardize and mechanize practices, and otherwise push women out of leadership positions while simultaneously making teaching an increasingly servile profession. Ella Flagg Young, Chicago's superintendent of schools who had long advocated for expanding women's public service, staunchly resisted this disempowerment of teachers. Instead, through her leadership, she vividly illustrated how schools might work if freedom, individuality, and community were truly honored.
Coherent instability in wall-bounded shear
Authors: Hack M. J. Philipp , Moin Parviz
Published: April 2018

The mechanism underlying the coherent hairpin process in wall-bounded shear flows is studied. An algorithm for the identification and analysis of flow structures based on morphological operations is presented. The method distils the topology of the flow field into a discrete data set and enables the time-resolved sampling of coherent flow processes across multiple scales. Application to direct simulation data of transitional and turbulent boundary layers at moderate Reynolds number sheds light on the flow physics of the hairpin process. The analysis links the hairpin to an exponential instability which is amplified in the flow distorted by a negative perturbation in the streamwise velocity component. Linear analyses substantiate the connection to an inviscid instability mechanism of varicose type. The formation of packets of hairpins is related to a self-similar process which originates from a single patch of low-speed fluid and describes a recurrence of the dynamics that leads to the formation of an individual hairpin. Analysis of the evolution of several thousand turbulent hairpins provides a statistical characterization of the principal dynamics and yields a time-resolved average of the hairpin process. Comparisons with the transitional hairpin show qualitatively consistent trends and thus support earlier hypotheses of their equivalence. In terms of the causality of events, the results suggest that the hairpin is a manifestation of the varicose instability and as such is a consequence rather than a cause of the primary perturbations of the flow.
Intrusions propagating into linearly stratified ambients
Authors: Khodkar M. A. , El Allam K. , Meiburg E.
Published: April 2018

Equilibrium and non-equilibrium intrusions released from long, full-depth locks and advancing into linearly stratified ambients are investigated via a vorticity-based modelling approach, for the constant-velocity slumping phase. Non-equilibrium intrusions give rise to an upstream-propagating wave, which we model as a bore. Predictions by the vorticity model agree closely with two-dimensional direct numerical simulation results and earlier experimental and computational data regarding front velocities, current thicknesses as well as the height and propagation velocity of the bore.
On mathematical approaches to modelling slender liquid jets with a curved trajectory
Authors: Decent S. P. , Părău E. I. , Simmons M. J. H. , Uddin J.
Published: April 2018

Slender liquid jets that have a curved trajectory have been examined in a range of papers using a method introduced in Wallworket al.(Proc. IUTAM Symp. on Free-Surface Flows, 2000, Kluwer;J. Fluid Mech., vol. 459, 2002, pp. 43–65) and Decentet al.(J. Engng Maths, vol. 42, 2002, pp. 265–282), for jets that emerge from an orifice on the surface of a rotating cylindrical container, successfully comparing computational results to measurements arising from laboratory experiments. Wallworket al.(2000, 2002) and Decentet al.(2002) based their analyses on the slenderness of the jet, and neglected the torsion of the centreline of the jet, which is valid since in most situations examined the torsion is zero or small. Shikhmurzaev & Sisoev (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 819, 2017, pp. 352–400) used differential geometry and incorporated the torsion. This paper shows that these two methods produce identical results at leading order when the torsion is zero or when the torsion is$O(1)$, in an asymptotic framework based upon the slenderness of the jet, and shows that the method of Wallworket al.(2000, 2002) and Decentet al.(2002) is accurate for parameters corresponding to scenarios previously examined and also when the torsion is$O(1)$. It is shown that the method of Shikhmurzaev & Sisoev (2017) should be used when the torsion is asymptotically large or when the jet is not slender.
Taxonomy of limnic Ostracoda (Crustacea) from the Quiricó Formation, Lower Cretaceous, São Francisco basin, Minas Gerais State, Southeast Brazil
Authors: Leite Amanda Moreira , Do Carmo Dermeval Aparecido , Ress Caio Bussaglia , Pessoa Murilo , Caixeta Guilherme Miranda , Denezine Matheus , Adorno Rodrigo Rodrigues , Antonietto Lucas Silveira
Published: April 2018

The present work presents a detailed taxonomic study on Ostracoda from the Quiricó Formation, Areado Group, São Francisco Basin, Brazil. The samples were collected from three outcrops in the Minas Gerais State: Tereza Farm (João Pinheiro Municipality), and from the banks of the São José and Quiricó creeks (Presidente Olegário Municipality). Sixteen ostracode species were recovered:Harbinia alta,Harbiniaaff.H.angulata,Harbiniaaff. H.crepata,Harbiniaaff.H.salitrensis,Harbinia symmetrica,Brasacypris fulfaroi,Brasacypris ovum,Cypridea conjugata,Cypridea hystrix,Cypridea infima,Cypridea jequiensis,Neuquenocypris(Protoneuquenocypris)antiqua,Penthesilenula martinsi,Penthesilenula pintoinew species,Alicenula longiformisnew species, andTimiriasevia sanfranciscanensisnew species. With the recovery of well-preserved specimens, it was possible to observe new characteristics inBrasacypris ovum,Cypridea conjugata,C.hystrix, andC.infima, and propose emendments to them. Additionally, three new species are described:Penthesilenula pintoin. sp.,Alicenula longiformis, n. sp., andTimiriasevia sanfranciscanensisn. sp. To date, the genusTimiriaseviahad not been recorded in strata from Brazil. Also,Darwinula martinsiis reassigned to the genusPenthesilenula. Several species herein recorded are also found in other Brazilian continental basins, as well as in African and Argentinian basins, contributing to the knowledge of Brazilian Cretaceous continental deposits.
Blood money: Harvey'sDe motu cordis(1628) as an exercise in accounting
Authors: NEUSS MICHAEL J.
Published: April 2018

William Harvey's famous quantitative argument fromDe motu cordis(1628) about the circulation of blood explained how a small amount of blood could recirculate and nourish the entire body, upending the Galenic conception of the blood's motion. This paper argues that the quantitative argument drew on the calculative and rhetorical skills of merchants, including Harvey's own brothers. Modern translations ofDe motu cordisobscure the language of accountancy that Harvey himself used. Like a merchant accounting for credits and debits, intake and output, goods and moneys, Harvey treated venous and arterial blood as essentially commensurate, quantifiable and fungible. For Harvey, the circulation (and recirculation) of blood was an arithmetical necessity. The development of Harvey's circulatory model followed shifts in the epistemic value of mercantile forms of knowledge, including accounting and arithmetic, also drawing on an Aristotelian language of reciprocity and balance that Harvey shared with mercantile advisers to the royal court. This paper places Harvey's calculations in a previously underappreciated context of economic crisis, whose debates focused largely on questions of circulation.
‘Does it threaten the status quo?’ Elite responses to British punk, 1976–1978
Authors: Street John , Worley Matthew , Wilkinson David
Published: April 2018

The emergence of punk in Britain (1976–1978) is recalled and documented as a moment of rebellion, one in which youth culture was seen to challenge accepted values and forms of behaviour, and to set in motion a new kind of cultural politics. In this article we do two things. First, we ask how far punk's challenge extended. Did it penetrate those political, cultural and social elites against which it set itself? And second, we reflect on the problem of recovering the history and politics of moments such as punk, and on the value of archives to such exercises in recuperation. In pursuit of both tasks, we make use of a wide range of historical sources, relying on these rather than on retrospective oral or autobiographical accounts. We set our findings against the narratives offered by both subcultural and mainstream histories of punk. We show how punk's impact on elites can be detected in the rhetoric of the popular media, and in aspects of the practice of local government and the police. Its impact on other elites (e.g. central government or the monarchy) is much harder to discern. These insights are important both for enriching our understanding of the political significance of punk and for how we approach the historical record left by popular music.
From ‘Hard Rock Hallelujah’ to ‘Ukonhauta’ in Nokialand: a socionomic perspective on the mood shift in Finland's popular music from 2006 to 2009
Authors: Ketovuori Mikko , Lampert Matt
Published: April 2018

Social mood in Finland shifted from generally positive in the spring of 2006 to generally negative by the spring of 2009. We identify this change in mood via eight indicators, including the onset of a financial and macroeconomic crisis, a decline in measures of sentiment, a rise in radical politics and the demise of an iconic business unit of one of the country's most successful firms. From the standpoint of Prechter's socionomic theory we hypothesise that this change in social mood is also evident in a greater level of pessimism in the songs on the country's pop chart in 2009 relative to 2006. To test this hypothesis, we introduce and validate a tool to measure optimism and pessimism in popular music. We apply this tool to a random sample of songs from the Finnish pop chart from 2006 and a comparable sample from 2009. Indeed, we find that the sample from 2009 in the aggregate is substantially and significantly more pessimistic than the sample from 2006. The study serves to enrich our understanding of what makes pop songs popular and how popular music is linked psychologically to broader popular culture and other domains of social expression through a shared social mood.
Ambulante psychotherapeutische Versorgungssituation von traumatisierten Kindern und Jugendlichen in Deutschland
Authors: Müller Michéle , Klewer Jörg , Karutz Harald
Published: April 2018

Zusammenfassung. Fragestellung: Daten zur ambulanten Versorgungssituation von psychisch traumatisierten Kindern und Jugendlichen in Deutschland liegen bislang nicht vor. Daher sollten Informationen zur ambulanten Versorgung durch niedergelassene ärztliche und psychologische Psychotherapeutinnen und Psychotherapeuten für diese Patientengruppe gewonnen werden. Methodik: Es erfolgte eine anonyme standardisierte schriftliche Befragung von 206 ambulant tätigen Psychotherapeutinnen und Psychotherapeuten mit traumaspezifischer Qualifikation, welche für die Behandlung von Kindern und Jugendlichen zugelassen waren. Ergebnisse: Die Rücklaufquote betrug 44 %. Von den 92 an der Befragung Teilnehmenden waren nur 20 der Meinung, dass in ihrer Ausbildung Inhalte in Bezug auf psychotraumaspezifisches Wissen und Methoden zur Anwendung in der Praxis ausreichend vermittelt wurden. Es zeigte sich ferner, dass ein zeitnaher Zugang zur Behandlung für traumatisierte Kinder und Jugendliche nicht überall gegeben ist, da die Psychotherapeutinnen und Psychotherapeuten nicht genügend Behandlungskapazitäten haben. Kenntnisse zur Traumatherapie im Kindes- und Jugendalter werden in der psychotherapeutischen Ausbildung zu wenig vermittelt. Schlussfolgerungen: Bei der psychotherapeutischen Versorgung von traumatisierten Kindern und Jugendlichen kann es in manchen Regionen in Deutschland zu Problemen kommen. Folglich sind v. a. Veränderungen im Bereich der Aus- und Weiterbildung von Psychotherapeutinnen und Psychotherapeuten sowie der Bedarfsplanung notwendig.
Future Change to Tide‐Influenced Deltas
Authors: Nienhuis Jaap H. , Hoitink A. J. F. (Ton) , Törnqvist Torbjörn E.
Published: April 2018

Tides tend to widen deltaic channels and shape delta morphology. Here we present a predictive approach to assess a priori the effect of fluvial discharge and tides on deltaic channels. We show that downstream channel widening can be quantified by the ratio of the tide‐driven discharge and the fluvial discharge, along with a second metric representing flow velocities. A test of our new theory on a selection of 72 deltas globally shows good correspondence to a wide range of environments, including wave‐dominated deltas, river‐dominated deltas, and alluvial estuaries. By quantitatively relating tides and fluvial discharge to delta morphology, we offer a first‐order prediction of deltaic change that may be expected from altered delta hydrology. For example, we expect that reduced fluvial discharge in response to dam construction will lead to increased tidal intrusion followed by enhanced tide‐driven sediment import into deltas, with implications for navigation and other human needs.
ATOH1/RFX1/RFX3 transcription factors facilitate the differentiation and characterisation of inner ear hair cell-like cells from patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells harbouring A8344G mutation of mitochondrial DNA
Authors: Chen Yen-Chun , Tsai Chia-Ling , Wei Yau-Huei , Wu Yu-Ting , Hsu Wei-Ting , Lin Hung-Ching , Hsu Yi-Chao
Published: April 2018

Degeneration or loss of inner ear hair cells (HCs) is irreversible and results in sensorineural hearing loss (SHL). Human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) have been employed in disease modelling and cell therapy. Here, we propose a transcription factor (TF)-driven approach using ATOH1 and regulatory factor of x-box (RFX) genes to generate HC-like cells from hiPSCs. Our results suggest that ATOH1/RFX1/RFX3 could significantly increase the differentiation capacity of iPSCs into MYO7AmCherry-positive cells, upregulate the mRNA expression levels of HC-related genes and promote the differentiation of HCs with more mature stereociliary bundles. To model the molecular and stereociliary structural changes involved in HC dysfunction in SHL, we further used ATOH1/RFX1/RFX3 to differentiate HC-like cells from the iPSCs from patients with myoclonus epilepsy associated with ragged-red fibres (MERRF) syndrome, which is caused by A8344G mutation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), and characterised by myoclonus epilepsy, ataxia and SHL. Compared with isogenic iPSCs, MERRF-iPSCs possessed ~42–44% mtDNA with A8344G mutation and exhibited significantly elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and CAT gene expression. Furthermore, MERRF-iPSC-differentiated HC-like cells exhibited significantly elevated ROS levels and MnSOD and CAT gene expression. These MERRF-HCs that had more single cilia with a shorter length could be observed only by using a non-TF method, but those with fewer stereociliary bundle-like protrusions than isogenic iPSCs-differentiated-HC-like cells could be further observed using ATOH1/RFX1/RFX3 TFs. We further analysed and compared the whole transcriptome of M1ctrl-HCs and M1-HCs after treatment with ATOH1 or ATOH1/RFX1/RFX3. We revealed that the HC-related gene transcripts in M1ctrl-iPSCs had a significantly higher tendency to be activated by ATOH1/RFX1/RFX3 than M1-iPSCs. The ATOH1/RFX1/RFX3 TF-driven approach for the differentiation of HC-like cells from iPSCs is an efficient and promising strategy for the disease modelling of SHL and can be employed in future therapeutic strategies to treat SHL patients.
Insufficiency of DNA repair enzyme ATM promotes naive CD4 T-cell loss in chronic hepatitis C virus infection
Authors: Zhao Juan , Dang Xindi , Zhang Peixin , Nguyen Lam Nhat , Cao Dechao , Wang Lin , Wu Xiaoyuan , Morrison Zheng D , Zhang Ying , Jia Zhansheng , Xie Qian , Wang Ling , Ning Shunbin , EL Gazzar Mohamed , Moorman Jonathan P , Yao Zhi Q
Published: April 2018

T cells have a crucial role in viral clearance and vaccine response; however, the mechanisms regulating their responses to viral infections or vaccinations remain elusive. In this study, we investigated T-cell homeostasis, apoptosis, DNA damage, and repair machineries in a large cohort of subjects with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We found that naive CD4 T cells in chronically HCV-infected individuals (HCV T cells) were significantly reduced compared with age-matched healthy subjects. In addition, HCV T cells were prone to apoptosis and DNA damage, as evidenced by increased 8-oxoguanine expression and γH2AX/53BP1-formed DNA damage foci—hallmarks of DNA damage responses. Mechanistically, the activation of DNA repair enzyme ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) was dampened in HCV T cells. ATM activation was also diminished in healthy T cells exposed to ATM inhibitor or to HCV (core protein) that inhibits the phosphoinositide 3 kinase pathway, mimicking the biological effects in HCV T cells. Importantly, ectopic expression of ATM was sufficient to repair the DNA damage, survival deficit, and cell dysfunctions in HCV T cells. Our results demonstrate that insufficient DNA repair enzyme ATM leads to increased DNA damage and renders HCV T cells prone to apoptotic death, which contribute to the loss of naive T cells in HCV infection. Our study reveals a novel mechanism for T-cell dysregulation and viral persistence, providing a new strategy to improve immunotherapy and vaccine responses against human viral diseases.
Stripe order from the perspective of the Hubbard model
Authors: Huang Edwin W. , Mendl Christian B. , Jiang Hong-Chen , Moritz Brian , Devereaux Thomas P.
Published: April 2018

A microscopic understanding of the strongly correlated physics of the cuprates must account for the translational and rotational symmetry breaking that is present across all cuprate families, commonly in the form of stripes. Here we investigate emergence of stripes in the Hubbard model, a minimal model believed to be relevant to the cuprate superconductors, using determinant quantum Monte Carlo (DQMC) simulations at finite temperatures and density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) ground state calculations. By varying temperature, doping, and model parameters, we characterize the extent of stripes throughout the phase diagram of the Hubbard model. Our results show that including the often neglected next-nearest-neighbor hopping leads to the absence of spin incommensurability upon electron-doping and nearly half-filled stripes upon hole-doping. The similarities of these findings to experimental results on both electron and hole-doped cuprate families support a unified description across a large portion of the cuprate phase diagram.
Author Correction: New insights into gelatinization mechanisms of cereal endosperm starches
Authors: Wang Shujun , Chao Chen , Xiang Fengjuan , Zhang Xiu , Wang Shuo , Copeland Les
Published: April 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.
Author Correction: Gender bias in clinicians’ pathologization of atypical sexuality: a randomized controlled trial with mental health professionals
Authors: Fuss Johannes , Briken Peer , Klein Verena
Published: April 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.
Author Correction: Analyses of HIV-1 integrase sequences prior to South African national HIV-treatment program and availability of integrase inhibitors in Cape Town, South Africa
Authors: Brado Dominik , Obasa Adetayo Emmanuel , Ikomey George Mondinde , Cloete Ruben , Singh Kamalendra , Engelbrecht Susan , Neogi Ujjwal , Jacobs Graeme Brendon
Published: April 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.
Chitosan-titanium oxide fibers supported zero-valent nanoparticles: Highly efficient and easily retrievable catalyst for the removal of organic pollutants
Authors: Ali Fayaz , Khan Sher Bahadar , Kamal Tahseen , Alamry Khalid A. , Asiri Abdullah M.
Published: April 2018

Different chitosan-titanium oxide (CS-TiO2-x, with x = TiO2 loadings of 1, 5, 10,15 and 20 wt%) nanocomposite fibers were prepared and kept separately in each salt solution of CuSO4, CoNO3, AgNO3 and NiSO4 to adsorb Cu2+, Co2+, Ag+, and Ni+ ions, respectively. The metal ions loaded onto CS-TiO2 fibers were reduced to their respective zero-valent metal nanoparticles (ZV-MNPs) like Cu0, Co0, Ag0 and Ni0 by treating with NaBH4. The CS-TiO2 fibers templated with various ZV-MNPs were characterized and investigated for their catalytic efficiency. Among all prepared ZV-MNPs, Cu0 nanoparticles templated on CS-TiO2-15 fibers exhibited high catalytic efficiency for the reduction of dyes (methyl orange (MO), congo red (CR), methylene blue (MB) and acridine orange (AO)) and nitrophenols (4-nitrohphenol (4-NP), 2-nitrophenol (2-NP), 3-nitrophenol (3-NP) and 2,6-dinitrophenol (2,6-DNP)). Besides the good catalytic activities of Cu/CS-TiO2-15 fibers, it could be easily recovered by simply pulling the fiber from the reaction medium.
Reconstructing the Neanderthal brain using computational anatomy
Authors: Kochiyama Takanori , Ogihara Naomichi , Tanabe Hiroki C. , Kondo Osamu , Amano Hideki , Hasegawa Kunihiro , Suzuki Hiromasa , Ponce de León Marcia S. , Zollikofer Christoph P. E. , Bastir Markus , Stringer Chris , Sadato Norihiro , Akazawa Takeru
Published: April 2018

The present study attempted to reconstruct 3D brain shape of Neanderthals and early Homo sapiens based on computational neuroanatomy. We found that early Homo sapiens had relatively larger cerebellar hemispheres but a smaller occipital region in the cerebrum than Neanderthals long before the time that Neanderthals disappeared. Further, using behavioural and structural imaging data of living humans, the abilities such as cognitive flexibility, attention, the language processing, episodic and working memory capacity were positively correlated with size-adjusted cerebellar volume. As the cerebellar hemispheres are structured as a large array of uniform neural modules, a larger cerebellum may possess a larger capacity for cognitive information processing. Such a neuroanatomical difference in the cerebellum may have caused important differences in cognitive and social abilities between the two species and might have contributed to the replacement of Neanderthals by early Homo sapiens.
Population Structure Promotes the Evolution of Intuitive Cooperation and Inhibits Deliberation
Authors: Mosleh Mohsen , Rand David G.
Published: April 2018

Spatial structure is one of the most studied mechanisms in evolutionary game theory. Here, we explore the consequences of spatial structure for a question which has received considerable empirical and theoretical attention in recent years, but has not yet been studied from a network perspective: whether cooperation relies on intuitive predispositions or deliberative self-control. We examine this question using a model which integrates the “dual-process” framework from cognitive science with evolutionary game theory, and considers the evolution of agents who are embedded within a social network and only interact with their neighbors. In line with past work in well-mixed populations, we find that selection favors either the intuitive defector strategy which never deliberates, or the dual-process cooperator strategy which intuitively cooperates but uses deliberation to switch to defection when doing so is payoff-maximizing. We find that sparser networks (i.e., smaller average degree) facilitate the success of dual-process cooperators over intuitive defectors, while also reducing the level of deliberation that dual-process cooperators engage in; and that these results generalize across different kinds of networks. These observations demonstrate the important role that spatial structure can have not just on the evolution of cooperation, but on the co-evolution of cooperation and cognition.
Analysis of microRNA reveals cleistogamous and chasmogamous floret divergence in dimorphic plant
Authors: Wu Fan , Zhang Daiyu , Muvunyi Blaise Pascal , Yan Qi , Zhang Yufei , Yan Zhuanzhuan , Cao Mingshu , Wang Yanrong , Zhang Jiyu
Published: April 2018

Cleistogenes songorica, a grass species that exhibits two spatially different type of inflorescence, chastogamy (CH), flowers localized at the top, and cleistogamy (CL) flowers embedded in leaf sheath. This study aimed at dissecting reasons underlying these distinct floral development patterns at morphological and microRNA level. Phenotyping for CH and CL was conducted and four small RNA libraries were constructed from the CH and CL flowers for high-throughput sequencing to identify the differentiated miRNAs. As results, spikelet, stigma, anther, lemma and lodicule length of CH flowers were found larger than that of CL, and so was seed setting. Also, 17 flower-related differential expression miRNAs were identified which were associated with floral organ development and morphogenesis, and the flower development. Further results showed that miR159a.1-CL3996.Contig2 pair was related to anther development, miR156a-5p-CL1954.Contig2 was linked to response to high light intensity, miR408-3p/miR408d-Unigene429 was related to pollination and Unigene429 positively regulated flower development. To our knowledge, this is the first study on differential miRNA accumulation between CH and CL flowers and our study serves as a foundation to the future elucidation of regulatory mechanisms of miRNAs in the divergent development of CL and CH flowers in a single plant.
Physiological function of phospholipase D2 in anti-tumor immunity: regulation of CD8+ T lymphocyte proliferation
Authors: Ngo Thai Bich Van , Hongu Tsunaki , Miura Yuki , Katagiri Naohiro , Ohbayashi Norihiko , Yamashita-Kanemaru Yumi , Shibuya Akira , Funakoshi Yuji , Kanaho Yasunori
Published: April 2018

Two major phospholipase D (PLD) isozymes in mammals, PLD1 and PLD2, hydrolyze the membrane phospholipid phosphatidylcholine to choline and the lipid messenger phosphatidic acid. Although their roles in cancer cells have been well studied, their functions in tumor microenvironment have not yet been clarified. Here, we demonstrate that PLD2 in cytotoxic CD8+T cells plays a crucial role in anti-tumor immunity by regulating their cell proliferation. We found that growth of tumors formed by subcutaneously transplanted cancer cells is enhanced inPld2-knockout mice. Interestingly, this phenotype was found to be at least in part attributable to the ablation ofPld2from bone marrow cells. The number of CD8+T cells, which induce cancer cell death, significantly decreased in the tumor produced inPld2-knockout mice. In addition, CD3/CD28-stimulated proliferation of primary cultured splenic CD8+T cells is markedly suppressed byPld2ablation. Finally, CD3/CD28-dependent activation of Erk1/2 and Ras is inhibited inPld2-deleted CD8+T cells. Collectively, these results indicate that PLD2 in CD8+T cells plays a key role in their proliferation through activation of the Ras/Erk signaling pathway, thereby regulating anti-tumor immunity.
Prognostic significances of overexpression MYC and/or BCL2 in R-CHOP-treated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: A Systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Li Lu , Li Yanyan , Que Ximei , Gao Xue , Gao Qian , Yu Mingxing , Ma Kaili , Xi Yanfeng , Wang Tong
Published: April 2018

Numerous studies have investigated the prognostic values of MYC and/or BCL2 protein overexpression in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). However, the results still demonstrate discrepancies among different studies. We aimed to do a systematic review and meta-analysis on the relationships between overexpression MYC and/or BCL2 and DLBCLs treated with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP). This study followed the guidelines of PRISMA and Cochrane handbook. The hazard ratios (HRs) for overall survival (OS) were pooled to estimate the main effect size. Twenty studies recruited a total of 5576 patients were available for this meta-analysis. The results showed that MYC (HR = 1.96, 95%CI (confidence interval) = 1.69–2.27)without heterogeneity(I2 = 17.2%, P = 0.280), BCL2 (HR = 1.65, 95%CI = 1.43–1.89, I2 = 20.7%, P = 0.234) protein overexpression, and co-overexpression (HR = 2.58, 95%CI = 2.19–3.04, I2 = 17.2%, P = 0.275) had a poor prognosis in R-CHOP treated DLBCL patients, respectively. The current analysis indicated that MYC and/or BCL2 protein overexpression, and particularly co-overexpression was related to short overall survival in R-CHOP treated DLBCL patients, showing that application of the two new biomarkers can help to better stratify DLBCL patients and guide targeted treatment.
STEAP2 Knockdown Reduces the Invasive Potential of Prostate Cancer Cells
Authors: Burnell Stephanie E. A. , Spencer-Harty Samantha , Howarth Suzie , Bodger Owen , Kynaston Howard , Morgan Claire , Doak Shareen H.
Published: April 2018

Six-transmembrane epithelial antigen of the prostate-2 (STEAP2) expression is increased in prostate cancer when compared to normal prostate, suggesting STEAP2 may drive prostate cancer progression. This study aimed to establish the functional role of STEAP2 in prostate tumourigenesis and evaluate if its knockdown resulted in reduced invasive potential of prostate cancer cells. PC3 and LNCaP cells were transfected with STEAP2 siRNA and proliferation, migration, invasion and gene expression analyses were performed. STEAP2 immunohistochemistry was applied to assess the protein expression and localisation according to Gleason score in 164 prostate cancer patients. Invasion significantly decreased in both cell lines following STEAP2 knockdown. PC3 proliferation and migration capacity significantly reduced, while LNCaP cell morphology and growth characteristics were altered. Additionally, STEAP2 downstream targets associated with driving invasion were identified as MMP3, MMP10, MMP13, FGFR4, IL1β, KiSS1 and SERPINE1 in PC3 cells and, MMP7 in LNCaP cells, with CD82 altered in both. In patient tissues, STEAP2 expression was significantly increased in prostate cancer samples and this significantly correlated with Gleason score. These data demonstrate that STEAP2 drives aggressive prostate cancer traits by promoting proliferation, migration and invasion and significantly influencing the transcriptional profile of ten genes underlying the metastatic cascade.
Enzyme-catalyzed Ag Growth on Au Nanoparticle-assembled Structure for Highly Sensitive Colorimetric Immunoassay
Authors: Pham Xuan-Hung , Hahm Eunil , Kim Tae Han , Kim Hyung-Mo , Lee Sang Hun , Lee Yoon-Sik , Jeong Dae Hong , Jun Bong-Hyun
Published: April 2018

We have developed a sensitive colorimetric immunoassay with broad dynamic range using enzyme-catalyzed Ag growth on gold nanoparticle (NP)-assembled silica (SiO2@Au@Ag). To reduce Ag+ion content and promote Ag growth on the assembled Au NPs, alkaline phosphatase (AP)-based enzymatic amplification was incorporated, which considerably increased the colorimetric read-out. As a model study, sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to quantify target IgG. The immune complexes capture the Ab-IgG-AP-labeled detection Ab and trigger the enzyme-catalyzed reaction to convert 2-phospho-L-ascorbic acid to ascorbic acid in the presence of the target IgG. Ascorbic acid reduced Ag+to Ag, which formed Ag shells on the surface of SiO2@Au and enhanced the absorbance of the SiO2@Au@Ag solution. Plasmonic immunoassay showed a significant linear relationship between absorbance and the logarithm of IgG concentration in the range of ca. 7 × 10−13 M to 7 × 10−11 M. The detection limit was at 1.4 × 10−13 M, which is several hundred folds higher than that of any conventional colorimetric immunoassay. Thus, our novel approach of signal-amplification can be used for highly sensitivein vitrodiagnostics and detection of target proteins with the naked eye without using any sophisticated instrument.
Author Correction: Impact of remote patient monitoring on clinical outcomes: an updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Noah Benjamin , Keller Michelle S. , Mosadeghi Sasan , Stein Libby , Johl Sunny , Delshad Sean , Tashjian Vartan C. , Lew Daniel , Kwan James T. , Jusufagic Alma , Spiegel Brennan M. R.
Published: April 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML version of this article.
Ecology determines how low antibiotic concentration impacts community composition and horizontal transfer of resistance genes
Authors: Cairns Johannes , Ruokolainen Lasse , Hultman Jenni , Tamminen Manu , Virta Marko , Hiltunen Teppo
Published: April 2018

Low concentrations of antibiotics have numerous effects on bacteria. However, it is unknown whether ecological factors such as trophic interactions and spatial structuring influence the effects of low concentrations of antibiotics on multispecies microbial communities. Here, we address this question by investigating the effects of low antibiotic concentration on community composition and horizontal transfer of an antibiotic resistance plasmid in a 62-strain bacterial community in response to manipulation of the spatial environment and presence of predation. The strong effects of antibiotic treatment on community composition depend on the presence of predation and spatial structuring that have strong community effects on their own. Overall, we find plasmid transfer to diverse recipient taxa. Plasmid transfer is likely to occur to abundant strains, occurs to a higher number of strains in the presence of antibiotic, and also occurs to low-abundance strains in the presence of spatial structures. These results fill knowledge gaps concerning the effects of low antibiotic concentrations in complex ecological settings.
M3+O(–Mn4+)2 clusters in doped MnOx catalysts as promoted active sites for the aerobic oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural
Authors: Yu Kai , Liu Yaqi , Lei Da , Jiang Yuanzhi , Wang Yanbing , Feng Yajun , Lou Lan-Lan , Liu Shuangxi , Zhou Wuzong
Published: April 2018

M3+O(–Mn4+)2 clusters in doped MnOx catalysts are principal active sites that make oxygen ‘easy come, easy go’.
Advances in the integration of quantum dots with various nanomaterials for biomedical and environmental applications
Authors: Cui Lin , Li Chen-chen , Tang Bo , Zhang Chun-yang
Published: April 2018

We review the advances in the integration of quantum dots with various nanomaterials for biomedical and environmental applications.
Understanding the viral load during the synthesis and after rebinding of virus imprinted particles via real-time quantitative PCR
Authors: Gast M. , Kühner S. , Sobek H. , Mizaikoff B.
Published: April 2018

In the present study, virus imprinted particles have been synthesized for recognizing and specifically binding viruses.
Electrophysiological measurements reveal that a succinyl linker enhances performance of the synthetic chloride channel SCMTR
Authors: Minooei Farnaz , Martin Michael D. , Fried J. R. , Brian J. Patrick
Published: April 2018

Novel electrophysiological measurements reveal the values of conductance states, voltage gating properties and qualitative activity of a synthetic chloride channel.
Carbodiimides as catalysts for the reduction of CO2 with boranes
Authors: Ramos Alberto , Antiñolo Antonio , Carrillo-Hermosilla Fernando , Fernández-Galán Rafael , Rodríguez-Diéguez Antonio , García-Vivó Daniel
Published: April 2018

Carbodiimides catalyse the reduction of CO2 with H-BBN and BH3·SMe2 under mild conditions to give mainly boron methoxide derivatives.
Phenyl radical + propene: a prototypical reaction surface for aromatic-catalyzed 1,2-hydrogen-migration and subsequent resonance-stabilized radical formation
Authors: Buras Zachary J. , Chu Te-Chun , Jamal Adeel , Yee Nathan W. , Middaugh Joshua E. , Green William H.
Published: April 2018

H-Shifts in the alkyl chain catalyzed by an aromatic ring (green pathway).
Bond energy, site preferential occupancy and Eu2+/3+ co-doping system induced by Eu3+ self-reduction in Ca10M(PO4)7 (M = Li, Na, K) crystals
Authors: Wang Wenjun , Pan Yu , Zhu Yuhan , Xu Haibing , Zhou Liqun , Noh Hyeon Mi , Jeong Jung Hyun , Liu Xiaoguang , Li Ling
Published: April 2018

Ca10M(PO4)7:Eu (M = Li, Na, K) phosphors have been synthesized via a solid-state reaction process, their phase purity was examined using XRD patterns, and Rietveld refinement confirmed that the Ca10Li(PO4)7, Ca10Na(PO4)7 and Ca10K(PO4)7 are pure phases.
Cyclometalated iridium(iii) complexes induce mitochondria-derived paraptotic cell death and inhibit tumor growthin vivo
Authors: He Liang , Wang Kang-Nan , Zheng Yue , Cao Jian-Jun , Zhang Ming-Fang , Tan Cai-Ping , Ji Liang-Nian , Mao Zong-Wan
Published: April 2018

A potent anticancer Ir(iii) complex induces paraptotic cell death by causing mitochondrial dysfunction rapidly and inhibits tumor growth significantlyin vivo.
Zeolite structure determination using genetic algorithms and geometry optimisation
Authors: Liu Xuehua , Valero Soledad , Argente Estefanía , Sastre German
Published: April 2018

The recently presented software zeoGAsolver is discussed, which is based on genetic algorithms, with domain-dependent crossover and selection operators that maintain the size of the population in successive iterations while improving the average fitness.
Development of an isotope analysis method based on diode laser absorption spectroscopy using an arc-jet plasma wind tunnel
Authors: Kuwahara Akira , Aiba Yasuaki , Nankawa Takuya , Matsui Makoto
Published: April 2018

An isotope analysis method is developed for rapid analysis of radioactive waste without sample preparation and sophisticated maintenance.
Visible light active nanofibrous membrane for antibacterial wound dressing
Authors: Jiang Shuai , Ma Beatriz Chiyin , Huang Wei , Kaltbeitzel Anke , Kizisavas Gönül , Crespy Daniel , Zhang Kai A. I. , Landfester Katharina
Published: April 2018

Hydrogel nanofibrous membranes that show visible light-induced disinfection are developed for wound dressing application.
A pyrene-benzimidazole composed effective fluoride sensor: potential mimicking of a Boolean logic gate
Authors: Kushwaha Archana , Patil Sagar K. , Das Dipanwita
Published: April 2018

A highly selective fluoride sensor based on a pyrene benzimidazole unit was developed and studied for recyclable memory function.
Glycosyl nitrates in synthesis: streamlined access to glucopyranose building blocks differentiated at C-2
Authors: Wang Tinghua , Nigudkar Swati S. , Yasomanee Jagodige P. , Rath Nigam P. , Stine Keith J. , Demchenko Alexei V.
Published: April 2018

In an attempt to refine a CAN-mediated synthesis of 1,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-α-d-glucopyranose (2-OH glucose) we unexpectedly discovered that this reaction proceeds via the intermediacy of glycosyl nitrates.
The effect of octahedral distortions on the electronic properties and magnetic interactions in O3 NaTMO2 compounds (TM = Ti–Ni & Zr–Pd)
Authors: Assadi M. Hussein N. , Shigeta Yasuteru
Published: April 2018

Although O3 sodium transition metal oxides (NaTMO2) share many similarities, they still differ from one another by some fine structural details.
Construction of a stable lithium sulfide membrane to greatly confine polysulfides for high performance lithium–sulfur batteries
Authors: Wu Chao , Guo Chunxian , Wu JingGao , Ai Wei , Yu Ting , Li Chang Ming
Published: April 2018

A stable lithium sulfide membrane is constructedin situto wrap the mixed sulfur/C material surface of a lithium–sulfur battery (LSB) by delicately tuning the galvanostatic discharge current.
Ultrasensitive and selective electrochemical sensing of Hg(ii) ions in normal and sea water using solvent exfoliated MoS2: affinity matters
Authors: Aswathi R. , Sandhya K. Y.
Published: April 2018

A solvent exfoliated molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) has been exploited for the electrochemical (EC) sensing of mercury(ii) ions (Hg2+) with excellent selectivity and a detection limit (LOD) of 0.000001 nM,i.e.in parts per quadrillion (0.2 ppq) levels.
The optimized growth of AlN templates for back-illuminated AlGaN-based solar-blind ultraviolet photodetectors by MOCVD
Authors: Chen Yiren , Zhang Zhiwei , Jiang Hong , Li Zhiming , Miao Guoqing , Song Hang
Published: April 2018

The optimized growth of AlN templates via a mesothermal AlN interlayer method for high performance back-illuminated AlGaN-based solar-blind ultraviolet photodetectors is shown.
Association betweenPXRpolymorphisms and cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wen Jing , Lv Zhi , Ding Hanxi , Fang Xinxin , Sun Mingjun
Published: April 2018

Current studies have explored the correlation between the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of pregnane X receptor (PXR) and cancer risk. However, the findings were conflicting. Hence, we performed a comprehensive review and meta-analysis for these researches to determine the effect of PXR polymorphisms on the risk of cancer. Eligible publications were collected based on a series of rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria. In consequence, a total of eight case–control studies (from seven citations) covering 11143 cases and 12170 controls were involved in a meta-analysis of ten prevalent PXR SNPs (rs10504191 G/A, rs3814058 C/T, rs6785049 A/G, rs1464603 A/G, rs1523127 A/C, rs2276706 G/A, rs2276707 C/T, rs3732360 C/T, rs3814055 C/T, rs3814057 A/C). The correlations between PXR SNPs and cancer risk were estimated by odds ratios (ORs) with their 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs). The findings demonstrated that rs3814058 polymorphism (CT compared with CC: pooled OR = 1.280, P=6.36E-05; TT compared with CC: pooled OR = 1.663, P=2.40E-04; dominant model: pooled OR = 1.382, P=2.58E-08; recessive model: pooled OR = 1.422, P=0.002; T compared with C: pooled OR = 1.292, P=6.35E-05) and rs3814057 polymorphism (AC compared with AA: pooled OR = 1.170, P=0.036; dominant model: pooled OR = 1.162, P=0.037) were associated with the risk of overall cancer. In stratified analyses, rs3814058 polymorphism was revealed to increase the cancer risk in lung cancer subgroup. In summary, this meta-analysis indicates that the rs3814057 and rs3814058 polymorphisms of PXR gene play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of cancer and may be novel biomarkers for cancer-forewarning in overall population or in some particular subgroups.
Association of miRNA biosynthesis genes DROSHA and DGCR8 polymorphisms with cancer susceptibility: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wen Jing , Lv Zhi , Ding Hanxi , Fang Xinxin , Sun Mingjun
Published: April 2018

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in miRNA biosynthesis genes DROSHA and DGCR8 were indicated to be correlated with cancer risk. We comprehensively reviewed and analyzed the effect of DROSHA and DGCR8 polymorphisms on cancer risk. Eligible articles were selected according to a series of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Consequently, ten case–control studies (from nine citations) with 4265 cancer cases and 4349 controls were involved in a meta-analysis of seven most prevalent SNPs (rs10719 T/C, rs6877842 G/C, rs2291109 A/T, rs642321 C/T, rs3757 G/A, rs417309 G/A, rs1640299 T/G). Our findings demonstrated that the rs417309 SNP in DGCR8 was significantly associated with an elevated risk of overall cancer in every genetic model. In stratified analysis, correlations of DROSHA rs10719 and rs6877842 SNPs were observed in Asian and laryngeal cancer subgroups, respectively. Moreover, associations of the rs417309 SNP could also be found in numerous subgroups including: Asian and Caucasian population subgroups; laryngeal and breast cancer subgroups; population-based (PB) and hospital-based (HB) subgroups. In conclusion, the DROSHA rs10719, rs6877842 SNPs, and DGCR8 rs417309 SNP play pivotal roles in cancerogenesis and may be potential biomarkers for cancer-forewarning.
Association of FcεRIβ polymorphisms with risk of asthma and allergic rhinitis: evidence based on 29 case–control studies
Authors: Guo Huanhuan , Peng Tao , Luo Ping , Li Huabin , Huang Shuo , Li Shuang , Zhao Weidong , Zhou Xuhong
Published: April 2018

Purpose: Accumulating evidence has shown that allergic diseases are caused by a complex interaction of genetic and environmental factors, some single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) existing in high-affinity IgE receptor β chain (FcεRIβ) are potential risk factors for allergic diseases. However, the results have been inconsistent and inconclusive due to the limited statistical power in individual study. Thus, we conducted a meta-analysis to systematically evaluate the association between FcεRIβ SNPs and allergic diseases risk.

Methods: Eligible studies were collected from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and WanFang databases. Pooled odd ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated to assess the strength of the relationships between five polymorphisms (E237G, -109 C/T, RsaI_in2, RsaI_ex7, and I181L) and the risk of allergic diseases by using five genetic models. In addition, the stability of our analysis was evaluated by publication bias, sensitivity, and heterogeneity analysis.

Results: Overall, a total of 29 case–control studies were included in this meta-analysis. We found that E237G (B vs. A: OR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.06–1.53, P<0.001, I2 = 63.1%) and -109 C/T (BB vs. AA + AB: OR = 1.58, 95%CI = 1.26–1.98, P<0.001, I2 = 66.4%) were risk factors for allergic diseases.

Conclusion: Our meta-analysis suggests that polymorphisms in FcεRIβ may be associated with the development of allergic diseases.