bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Functional lignocellulosic materials prepared by ATRP from a wood scaffold
Authors: Cabane Etienne , Keplinger Tobias , Künniger Tina , Merk Vivian , Burgert Ingo 
Published: August 2016

AbstractWood, a natural and abundant source of organic polymers, has been used as a scaffold to develop novel wood-polymer hybrid materials. Through a two-step surface-initiated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP), the porous wood structure can be effectively modified with polymer chains of various nature. In the present study, polystyrene and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) were used. As shown with various characterization techniques including confocal Raman microscopy, FTIR and SEM/EDX, the native wood ultrastructure and features are retained and the polymer chains can be introduced deep within the wood, i.e. inside the wood cell walls. The physical properties of the new materials have been studied and results indicate that the insertion of polymer chains inside the wood cell wall alters the intrinsic properties of wood to yield a hybrid composite material with new functionalities. This approach to the functionalization of wood could lead to the fabrication of a new class of interesting functional materials and promote innovative utilizations of the renewable resource wood.
Protective Effects of Arginine on Saccharomyces cerevisiae Against Ethanol Stress
Authors: Cheng Yanfei , Du Zhaoli , Zhu Hui , Guo Xuena , He Xiuping 
Published: August 2016

AbstractYeast cells are challenged by various environmental stresses in the process of industrial fermentation. As the currently main organism for bio-ethanol production, Saccharomyces cerevisiae suffers from ethanol stress. Some amino acids have been reported to be related to yeast tolerance to stresses. Here the relationship between arginine and yeast response to ethanol stress was investigated. Marked inhibitions of ethanol on cell growth, expression of genes involved in arginine biosynthesis and intracellular accumulation of arginine were observed. Furthermore, extracellular addition of arginine can abate the ethanol damage largely. To further confirm the protective effects of arginine on yeast cells, yeast strains with different levels of arginine content were constructed by overexpression of ARG4 involved in arginine biosynthesis or CAR1 encoding arginase. Intracellular arginine was increased by 18.9% or 13.1% respectively by overexpression of ARG4 or disruption of CAR1, which enhanced yeast tolerance to ethanol stress. Moreover, a 41.1% decrease of intracellular arginine was observed in CAR1 overexpressing strain, which made yeast cells keenly sensitive to ethanol. Further investigations indicated that arginine protected yeast cells from ethanol damage by maintaining the integrity of cell wall and cytoplasma membrane, stabilizing the morphology and function of organellae due to low ROS generation.
NaGd(MoO4)2 nanocrystals with diverse morphologies: controlled synthesis, growth mechanism, photoluminescence and thermometric properties
Authors: Li Anming , Xu Dekang , Lin Hao , Yang Shenghong , Shao Yuanzhi , Zhang Yueli 
Published: August 2016

AbstractPure tetragonal phase, uniform and well-crystallized sodium gadolinium molybdate (NaGd(MoO4)2) nanocrystals with diverse morphologies, e.g. nanocylinders, nanocubes and square nanoplates have been selectively synthesized via oleic acid-mediated hydrothermal method. The phase, structure, morphology and composition of the as-synthesized products are studied. Contents of both sodium molybdate and oleic acid of the precursor solutions are found to affect the morphologies of the products significantly and oleic acid plays a key role in the morphology-controlled synthesis of NaGd(MoO4)2 nanocrystals with diverse morphologies. Growth mechanism of NaGd(MoO4)2 nanocrystals is proposed based on time-dependent morphology evolution and X-ray diffraction analysis. Morphology-dependent down-shifting photoluminescence properties of NaGd(MoO4)2: Eu3+ nanocrystals and upconversion photoluminescence properties of NaGd(MoO4)2: Yb3+/Er3+ and Yb3+/Tm3+ nanoplates are investigated in detail. Charge transfer band in the down-shifting excitation spectra shows a slight blue-shift and the luminescence intensities and lifetimes of Eu3+ are decreased gradually with the morphology of the nanocrystals varying from nanocubes to thin square nanoplates. Upconversion energy transfer mechanisms of NaGd(MoO4)2: Yb3+/Er3+, Yb3+/Tm3+ nanoplates are proposed based on the energy level scheme and power dependence of upconversion emissions. Thermometric properties of NaGd(MoO4)2: Yb3+/Er3+ nanoplates are investigated and the maximum sensitivity is determined to be 0.01333 K−1 at 285 K.
Controllable in-situ cell electroporation with cell positioning and impedance monitoring using micro electrode array
Authors: Guo Xiaoliang , Zhu Rong 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThis paper reports a novel microarray chip for in-situ, real-time and selective electroporation on individual cells integrated with cell positioning and impedance monitoring. An array of quadrupole-electrode units (termed positioning electrodes) and pairs of planar center electrodes located at the centers of each quadrupole-electrode unit were fabricated on the chip. The positioning electrodes are used to trap and position living cells onto the center electrodes based on negative dielectrophoresis (nDEP). The center electrodes are used for in-situ cell electroporation and also used to measure cell impedance for monitoring cellular dynamics in real time. Controllably selective electroporation and electrical measurement on the cells in array are realized. We present an evidence of selective electroporation through use of fluorescent dyes. Subsequently we use in-situ and real-time impedance measurement to monitor the process, which demonstrates the dynamic behavior of the cell electroporation. Finally, we show the use of this device to perform successful transfection onto individual HeLa cells with vector DNA encoding a green fluorescent.
Detection of inflammatory cell function using 13C magnetic resonance spectroscopy of hyperpolarized [6-13C]-arginine
Authors: Najac Chloé , Chaumeil Myriam M. , Kohanbash Gary , Guglielmetti Caroline , Gordon Jeremy W. , Okada Hideho , Ronen Sabrina M. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractMyeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are highly prevalent inflammatory cells that play a key role in tumor development and are considered therapeutic targets. MDSCs promote tumor growth by blocking T-cell-mediated anti-tumoral immune response through depletion of arginine that is essential for T-cell proliferation. To deplete arginine, MDSCs express high levels of arginase, which catalyzes the breakdown of arginine into urea and ornithine. Here, we developed a new hyperpolarized 13C probe, [6-13C]-arginine, to image arginase activity. We show that [6-13C]-arginine can be hyperpolarized and hyperpolarized [13C]-urea production from [6-13C]-arginine is linearly correlated with arginase concentration in vitro. Furthermore we show that we can detect a statistically significant increase in hyperpolarized [13C]-urea production in MDSCs when compared to control bone marrow cells. This increase was associated with an increase in intracellular arginase concentration detected using a spectrophotometric assay. Hyperpolarized [6-13C]-arginine could therefore serve to image tumoral MDSC function and more broadly M2-like macrophages.
The secret life of Pickering emulsions: particle exchange revealed using two colours of particle
Authors: French David J. , Brown Aidan T. , Schofield Andrew B. , Fowler Jeff , Taylor Phil , Clegg Paul S. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractEmulsion droplets stabilised by colloidal particles (Pickering emulsions) can be highly stable, so it is unsurprising that they are beginning to be exploited industrially. The individual colloidal particles have interfacial attachment energies that are vastly larger than the thermal energy, hence they are usually thought of as being irreversibly adsorbed. Here we show, for the first time, particles being exchanged between droplets in a Pickering emulsion. This occurs when the emulsion contains droplets that share particles, often called bridging. By starting with two emulsions showing bridging, each stabilised by a different colour of particle, the dynamics can be studied as they are gently mixed together on a roller bank. We find that particle exchange occurs by two routes: firstly, during a period of unbridging and rebridging whose duration can be tuned by varying the wettability of the particles and secondly, during very rare events when particles are ejected from one droplet and re-adsorbed onto another.
Fine mapping of a dominant gene conferring chlorophyll-deficiency in Brassica napus
Authors: Wang Yankun , He Yongjun , Yang Mao , He Jianbo , Xu Pan , Shao Mingquan , Chu Pu , Guan Rongzhan 
Published: August 2016

AbstractLeaf colour regulation is important in photosynthesis and dry material production. Most of the reported chlorophyll-deficient loci are recessive. The dominant locus is rarely reported, although it may be more important than the recessive locus in the regulation of photosynthesis efficiency. During the present study, we mapped a chlorophyll-deficient dominant locus (CDE1) from the ethyl methanesulfonate-mutagenized Brassica napus line NJ7982. Using an F2 population derived from the chlorophyll-deficient mutant (cde1) and the canola variety ‘zhongshuang11’, a high-density linkage map was constructed, consisting of 19 linkage groups with 2,878 bins containing 13,347 SNP markers, with a total linkage map length of 1,968.6 cM. Next, the CDE1 locus was mapped in a 0.9-cM interval of chromosome C08 of B. napus, co-segregating with nine SNP markers. In the following fine-mapping of the gene using the inherited F2:3 populations of 620 individuals, the locus was identified in an interval with a length of 311 kb. A bioinformatics analysis revealed that the mapping interval contained 22 genes. These results produced a good foundation for continued research on the dominant locus involved in chlorophyll content regulation.
Fine-mapping analysis revealed complex pleiotropic effect and tissue-specific regulatory mechanism of TNFSF15 in primary biliary cholangitis, Crohn’s disease and leprosy
Authors: Sun Yonghu , Irwanto Astrid , Toyo-oka Licht , Hong Myunghee , Liu Hong , Andiappan Anand Kumar , Choi Hyunchul , Hitomi Yuki , Yu Gongqi , Yu Yongxiang , Bao Fangfang , Wang Chuan , Fu Xian , Yue Zhenhua , Wang Honglei , Zhang Huimin , Kawashima Minae , Kojima Kaname , Nagasaki Masao , Nakamura Minoru , Yang Suk-Kyun , Ye Byong Duk , Denise Yosua , Rotzschke Olaf , Song Kyuyoung , Tokunaga Katsushi , Zhang Furen , Liu Jianjun 
Published: August 2016

AbstractGenetic polymorphism within the 9q32 locus is linked with increased risk of several diseases, including Crohn’s disease (CD), primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and leprosy. The most likely disease-causing gene within 9q32 is TNFSF15, which encodes the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF super-family member 15, but it was unknown whether these disparate diseases were associated with the same genetic variance in 9q32, and how variance within this locus might contribute to pathology. Using genetic data from published studies on CD, PBC and leprosy we revealed that bearing a T allele at rs6478108/rs6478109 (r2 = 1) or rs4979462 was significantly associated with increased risk of CD and decreased risk of leprosy, while the T allele at rs4979462 was associated with significantly increased risk of PBC. In vitro analyses showed that the rs6478109 genotype significantly affected TNFSF15 expression in cells from whole blood of controls, while functional annotation using publicly-available data revealed the broad cell type/tissue-specific regulatory potential of variance at rs6478109 or rs4979462. In summary, we provide evidence that variance within TNFSF15 has the potential to affect cytokine expression across a range of tissues and thereby contribute to protection from infectious diseases such as leprosy, while increasing the risk of immune-mediated diseases including CD and PBC.
Large-scale molecular dynamics simulation: Effect of polarization on thrombin-ligand binding energy
Authors: Duan Li L. , Feng Guo Q. , Zhang Qing G. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractMolecular dynamics (MD) simulations lasting 500 ns were performed in explicit water to investigate the effect of polarization on the binding of ligands to human α-thrombin based on the standard nonpolarizable AMBER force field and the quantum-derived polarized protein-specific charge (PPC). The PPC includes the electronic polarization effect of the thrombin-ligand complex, which is absent in the standard force field. A detailed analysis and comparison of the results of the MD simulation with experimental data provided strong evidence that intra-protein, protein-ligand hydrogen bonds and the root-mean-square deviation of backbone atoms were significantly stabilized through electronic polarization. Specifically, two critical hydrogen bonds between thrombin and the ligand were broken at approximately 190 ns when AMBER force field was used and the number of intra-protein backbone hydrogen bonds was higher under PPC than under AMBER. The thrombin-ligand binding energy was computed using the molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM/PBSA) method, and the results were consistent with the experimental value obtained using PPC. Because hydrogen bonds were unstable, it was failed to predict the binding affinity under the AMBER force field. Furthermore, the results of the present study revealed that differences in the binding free energy between AMBER and PPC almost comes from the electrostatic interaction. Thus, this study provides evidence that protein polarization is critical to accurately describe protein-ligand binding.
Support vector machine model of developmental brain gene expression data for prioritization of Autism risk gene candidates
Authors: Cogill S. , Wang L. 
Published: August 2016

Motivation: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders with clinical heterogeneity and a substantial polygenic component. High-throughput methods for ASD risk gene identification produce numerous candidate genes that are time-consuming and expensive to validate. Prioritization methods can identify high-confidence candidates. Previous ASD gene prioritization methods have focused on a priori knowledge, which excludes genes with little functional annotation or no protein product such as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs).
Results: We have developed a support vector machine (SVM) model, trained using brain developmental gene expression data, for the classification and prioritization of ASD risk genes. The selected feature model had a mean accuracy of 76.7%, mean specificity of 77.2% and mean sensitivity of 74.4%. Gene lists comprised of an ASD risk gene and adjacent genes were ranked using the model’s decision function output. The known ASD risk genes were ranked on average in the 77.4th, 78.4th and 80.7th percentile for sets of 101, 201 and 401 genes respectively. Of 10,840 lncRNA genes, 63 were classified as ASD-associated candidates with a confidence greater than 0.95. Genes previously associated with brain development and neurodevelopmental disorders were prioritized highly within the lncRNA gene list.
Contact: liangjw@clemson.edu
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Comparison of Smartphone Ophthalmoscopy With Slit-Lamp Biomicroscopy for Grading Vertical Cup-to-Disc Ratio
Authors: Russo Andrea , Mapham William , Turano Raffaele , Costagliola Ciro , Morescalchi Francesco , Scaroni Nicolò , Semeraro Francesco 
Published: August 2016

Purpose of the Study:
The purpose of the study was to determine the agreement between smartphone ophthalmoscopy and slit-lamp indirect biomicroscopy when assessing vertical cup-to-disc ratios (VCDRs).

Materials and Methods:
This was a clinical-based, prospective, comparative instrument study performed in 110 patients with ocular hypertension (OH) or primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). Patients underwent estimation of VCDR by undilated smartphone ophthalmoscopy and slit-lamp biomicroscopy by 2 masked glaucoma specialists.

Results:
The differences between the mean VCDR estimations obtained by each techniques were not statistically significant. Overall exact agreement between the 2 modalities was found in 21 of 29 eyes (72.4%; simple κ=0.63, confidence interval, 0.52-0.73, P<0.001) in POAG patients and in 52 of 78 eyes (66.7%) in OH patients. The optic nerve head was not gradable with smartphone ophthalmoscopy in 1 eye with POAG and in 2 eyes with OH because of media opacities and/or small pupil diameter.

Conclusions:
Smartphone ophthalmoscopy showed substantial agreement with slit-lamp examination for the estimation of the VCDR. The ubiquitous diffusion of the smartphones, together with their connectivity and portability features, enables an extensive benefit for this technology to be used in glaucoma screening, especially in low-resource settings.
The Diagnostic Accuracy of Serum Procalcitonin for Bacteremia in Critically Ill Children
Authors: Nellis Marianne E. , Pon Steven , Giambrone Ashley E. , Coleman Nana E. , Reiss Jonathan , Mauer Elizabeth , Greenwald Bruce M. 
Published: August 2016

BackgroundBacterial sepsis is frequently encountered in children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and requires early recognition and treatment. Procalcitonin (PCT) is a serum biomarker with a high sensitivity to predict bacteremia in critically ill adults. This study sought to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of PCT for bacteremia in febrile children in the PICU.MethodsThis retrospective observational study used data from children admitted to the PICU from October 2010 to October 2012. Patients up to 21 years of age were included if they had an abnormal temperature, serum PCT, and blood culture assayed, and were not receiving empiric antibiotics at the time.ResultsThere were 202 PCT values that met inclusion criteria. The prevalence of positive blood cultures was 13.2% (27 total positive blood cultures). The area under the curve (AUC) for PCT was 0.79 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.70–0.89), the AUC for lactate was 0.76 (95% CI, 0.65–0.87), and the AUC for C-reactive protein was 0.68 (95% CI, 0.57–0.80). The optimal threshold of PCT for accuracy was determined to be 2 ng/mL (sensitivity, 69.2%; specificity, 74.4%; positive predictive value, 28.6%; negative predictive value, 94.2%). The combination of an abnormal lactate (>2.0 mmol/L) increased the specificity of PCT for diagnosing bacteremia.ConclusionsProcalcitonin has a good diagnostic accuracy to rule out bacteremia in critically ill, febrile children. The combination of PCT and an abnormal lactate value increases the specificity and may improve the ability to diagnose bacteremia.
Sudden Death Due to Coronary Blockade by Microfilaremia
Authors: Punia Rajpal Singh , Kundu Reetu , Harish Dasari 
Published: August 2016

Abstract
Extralymphatic filarial disease has varied clinical manifestations and is largely underestimated worldwide. We report an autopsy case of extralymphatic filarial disease with coronary and pulmonary circulations being involved and causing sudden death. Such an isolated event is, perhaps, rare and has not been reported so far to the best of our knowledge. Microfilaremia on autopsy may be easily missed or overlooked due to unawareness. The present report emphasizes the importance of extensive careful scrutiny of autopsy sections.
Enteral Nutrition and Acid-Suppressive Therapy in the PICU: Impact on the Risk of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia*
Authors: Albert Ben D. , Zurakowski David , Bechard Lori J. , Priebe Gregory P. , Duggan Christopher P. , Heyland Daren K. , Mehta Nilesh M. 
Published: August 2016

Objective:
Enteral nutrition has been implicated as a risk factor for ventilator-associated pneumonia. We explored the prevalence of ventilator-associated pneumonia and its association with clinical and nutrition-related therapies in mechanically ventilated children.

Design:
Prospective, multicenter, cohort study.

Setting:
Fifty-nine PICU in 15 countries.

Patients:
Children less than 18 years old, mechanically ventilated for more than 48 hours.

Interventions:
None. Multivariable logistic regression to determine factors associated with ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Measurements and Major Results:
Data are presented as median (interquartile range) or counts (%). We enrolled 1,245 subjects (45% women; 42% surgical), age 20 months (4–84 mo), and duration of mechanical ventilation 7 days (3–13 d). Culture-positive ventilator-associated pneumonia was diagnosed in 80 patients (6.4%); duration of mechanical ventilation for this subgroup was 17 days (8–39 d). Enteral nutrition was delivered in 985 patients (79%), initiated within 48 hours in 592 patients (60%), and via postpyloric route in 354 patients (36%). Acid-suppressive agents were used in 763 patients (61%). The duration of enteral nutrition (p = 0.21), route (gastric vs postpyloric) of delivery (p = 0.94), severity of illness (p = 0.17), and diagnostic category on admission (p = 0.31) were not associated with ventilator-associated pneumonia. After adjusting for enteral nutrition days, illness severity, and site, ventilator-associated pneumonia was significantly associated with mechanical ventilation more than 10 days (odds ratio, 3.7; 95% CI, 2.2–6.5; p < 0.001), PICU length of stay more than 10 days (odds ratio, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1–3.1; p = 0.029), and the use of acid-suppressive medication (odds ratio, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.2–3.6; p = 0.011).

Conclusions:
Ventilator-associated pneumonia was diagnosed in 6.5% of mechanically ventilated children in a heterogeneous multicenter cohort. We did not find a link between enteral nutrition duration or route of delivery and ventilator-associated pneumonia. In addition to duration of mechanical ventilation and length of PICU stay, the use of acid-suppressive therapy independently increased the likelihood of developing ventilator-associated pneumonia in this population. This association must be further explored in clinical trials.
Challenging the One-Dose-Fits-All Model for Insulin in the Acute Treatment of Pediatric Diabetic Ketoacidosis. A Critical Appraisal of “Low-Dose Versus Standard-Dose Insulin in Pediatric Diabetic Ketoacidosis: A Randomized Clinical Trial” by Nallasamy et al (JAMA Pediatrics 2014; 168:999–1005)
Authors: Orwoll Benjamin Edward 
Published: August 2016

Objective:
To review the findings and discuss the implications of the use of low-dose insulin infusions in pediatric diabetic ketoacidosis compared with standard-dose insulin.

Data Sources:
A search of the electronic PubMed database was used to perform the clinical query as well as to search for additional relevant literature.

Study Selection and Data Extraction:
The article by Nallasamy K et al “Low-Dose vs Standard-Dose Insulin in Pediatric Diabetic Ketoacidosis: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Pediatrics 2014; 17:e477–e480” was selected for critical appraisal and literature review.

Data Synthesis:
The authors performed a randomized controlled trial among 50 consecutive patients of 0–12 years old presenting to the emergency department in diabetic ketoacidosis. They found that low-dose (0.05 U/kg/hr) insulin infusion was noninferior to standard-dose (0.1 U/kg/hr) insulin in terms of resolution of hyperglycemia and acidosis with a trend toward lower rates of therapy-related complications in the low-dose group.

Conclusions:
Low-dose insulin infusion is noninferior to standard-dose insulin in the treatment of younger pediatric patients with diabetic ketoacidosis and may lead to fewer therapy-related complications.