bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Parents with cancer: Searching for the right balance between telling the truth and protecting children
Authors: Meriggi Fausto , Andreis Federica , Liborio Nadia , Codignola Claudio , Rizzi Anna , Prochilo Tiziana , Rota Luigina , Di Biasi Brunella , Bertocchi Paola , Abeni Chiara , Ogliosi Chiara , Aroldi Francesca , Zaniboni Alberto 
Published: June 2016

AbstractObjective:Recent scientific approaches to cancer patients draw attention to the psychological aspects of the disease and the involvement of their families, who are forced to reorganize themselves in order to manage the patient's illness. Functional responses to a stressful event facilitate open communication between family members and empathy for the patient's children, who need to be involved and informed about the illness in a clear and open fashion. The primary goal of this observational study was to explore the communication styles used by cancer-stricken parents with their children and to identify a correlation with the patient's levels of anxiety and depression and their ability to cope. We also sought to understand whether location, severity, and time from diagnosis influenced communication, coping, anxiety, or depression.Method:From September of 2011 to July of 2015, 151 questionnaires were given to patients who had received at least one course of chemotherapy. The instruments that we employed were the Openness to Discuss Cancer in the Nuclear Family Scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale. Our sample included patients with children aged from 3 to 18 years. The patients had different types of cancer, mainly gastrointestinal and breast cancer. Their disease was at the metastatic stage in approximately 20% of patients.Results:Our results showed statistically significant correlations between higher levels of anxiety and depression and more closed communication styles. The coping styles “hopelessness/helplessness,” “cognitive avoidance,” and “anxious preoccupation” were associated with a closed communication style that is correlated with higher levels of anxiety and depression. Tumor location, time from diagnosis, and stage of disease did not show statistically significant correlations with anxiety, depression, coping mechanisms, or communication styles.Significance of results:Our study confirmed what has been reported in the literature: high levels of anxiety and depression affect communication among family members. Not surprisingly, the “fighting spirit” coping style engenders open communication.
Exploring the Foundations of US State-Level Anti-Sharia Initiatives
Authors: Mitchell Joshua L. , Toner Brendan 
Published: June 2016

AbstractIn recent years, measures have been taken to ban the use of international legal principles in state courts. While these international laws vary in terms of the specific restrictions they place on state legal practices, many of these laws have been aimed implicitly or explicitly at banning Sharia law practices. While dozens of states have attempted to pass anti-Sharia policies, thus far, only eight have been successful. In this article, we apply a policy diffusion framework to help explain the agenda placement and adoption of these measures. We find that both internal state determinants and external regional diffusion factors influence the interstate agenda placement and adoption of anti-Sharia practices. However, the regional effect is negative, meaning that these policies follow an atypical diffusion pattern. This study adds to the growing body of literature that examines the diffusion of controversial morality policies.
Regulation of the divalent metal ion transporter via membrane budding
Authors: Mackenzie KimberlyD , Foot Natalie J , Anand Sushma , Dalton Hazel E , Chaudhary Natasha , Collins Brett M , Mathivanan Suresh , Kumar Sharad 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe release of extracellular vesicles (EVs) is important for both normal physiology and disease. However, a basic understanding of the targeting of EV cargoes, composition and mechanism of release is lacking. Here we present evidence that the divalent metal ion transporter (DMT1) is unexpectedly regulated through release in EVs. This process involves the Nedd4-2 ubiquitin ligase, and the adaptor proteins Arrdc1 and Arrdc4 via different budding mechanisms. We show that mouse gut explants release endogenous DMT1 in EVs. Although we observed no change in the relative amount of DMT1 released in EVs from gut explants in Arrdc1 or Arrdc4 deficient mice, the extent of EVs released was significantly reduced indicating an adaptor role in biogenesis. Furthermore, using Arrdc1 or Arrdc4 knockout mouse embryonic fibroblasts, we show that both Arrdc1 and Arrdc4 are non-redundant positive regulators of EV release. Our results suggest that DMT1 release from the plasma membrane into EVs may represent a novel mechanism for the maintenance of iron homeostasis, which may also be important for the regulation of other membrane proteins.
Tumour-initiating cell-specific miR-1246 and miR-1290 expression converge to promote non-small cell lung cancer progression
Authors: Zhang Wen Cai , Chin Tan Min , Yang Henry , Nga Min En , Lunny Declan Patrick , Lim Edwin Kok Hao , Sun Li Li , Pang Yin Huei , Leow Yi Ning , Malusay Shanneen Rossellini Y , Lim Priscilla Xin Hui , Lee Jeravan Zili , Tan Benedict Jian Wei , Shyh-Chang Ng , Lim Elaine Hsuen , Lim Wan Teck , Tan Daniel Shao Weng , Tan Eng Huat , Tai Bee Choo , Soo Ross Andrew , Tam Wai Leong , Lim Bing 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe tumour-initiating cell (TIC) model accounts for phenotypic and functional heterogeneity among tumour cells. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are regulatory molecules frequently aberrantly expressed in cancers, and may contribute towards tumour heterogeneity and TIC behaviour. More recent efforts have focused on miRNAs as diagnostic or therapeutic targets. Here, we identified the TIC-specific miRNAs, miR-1246 and miR-1290, as crucial drivers for tumour initiation and cancer progression in human non-small cell lung cancer. The loss of either miRNA impacted the tumour-initiating potential of TICs and their ability to metastasize. Longitudinal analyses of serum miR-1246 and miR-1290 levels across time correlate their circulating levels to the clinical response of lung cancer patients who were receiving ongoing anti-neoplastic therapies. Functionally, direct inhibition of either miRNA with locked nucleic acid administered systemically, can arrest the growth of established patient-derived xenograft tumours, thus indicating that these miRNAs are clinically useful as biomarkers for tracking disease progression and as therapeutic targets.
Structural basis for the recognition of guide RNA and target DNA heteroduplex by Argonaute
Authors: Miyoshi Tomohiro , Ito Kosuke , Murakami Ryo , Uchiumi Toshio 
Published: June 2016

AbstractArgonaute proteins are key players in the gene silencing mechanisms mediated by small nucleic acids in all domains of life from bacteria to eukaryotes. However, little is known about the Argonaute protein that recognizes guide RNA/target DNA. Here, we determine the 2 Å crystal structure of Rhodobacter sphaeroides Argonaute (RsAgo) in a complex with 18-nucleotide guide RNA and its complementary target DNA. The heteroduplex maintains Watson–Crick base-pairing even in the 3′-region of the guide RNA between the N-terminal and PIWI domains, suggesting a recognition mode by RsAgo for stable interaction with the target strand. In addition, the MID/PIWI interface of RsAgo has a system that specifically recognizes the 5′ base-U of the guide RNA, and the duplex-recognition loop of the PAZ domain is important for the DNA silencing activity. Furthermore, we show that Argonaute discriminates the nucleic acid type (RNA/DNA) by recognition of the duplex structure of the seed region.
Uncertainty in soil data can outweigh climate impact signals in global crop yield simulations
Authors: Folberth Christian , Skalský Rastislav , Moltchanova Elena , Balkovič Juraj , Azevedo Ligia B. , Obersteiner Michael , van der Velde Marijn 
Published: June 2016

AbstractGlobal gridded crop models (GGCMs) are increasingly used for agro-environmental assessments and estimates of climate change impacts on food production. Recently, the influence of climate data and weather variability on GGCM outcomes has come under detailed scrutiny, unlike the influence of soil data. Here we compare yield variability caused by the soil type selected for GGCM simulations to weather-induced yield variability. Without fertilizer application, soil-type-related yield variability generally outweighs the simulated inter-annual variability in yield due to weather. Increasing applications of fertilizer and irrigation reduce this variability until it is practically negligible. Importantly, estimated climate change effects on yield can be either negative or positive depending on the chosen soil type. Soils thus have the capacity to either buffer or amplify these impacts. Our findings call for improvements in soil data available for crop modelling and more explicit accounting for soil variability in GGCM simulations.
Coupling of Higgs and Leggett modes in non-equilibrium superconductors
Authors: Krull H. , Bittner N. , Uhrig G. S. , Manske D. , Schnyder A. P. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractIn equilibrium systems amplitude and phase collective modes are decoupled, as they are mutually orthogonal excitations. The direct detection of these Higgs and Leggett collective modes by linear-response measurements is not possible, because they do not couple directly to the electromagnetic field. In this work, using numerical exact simulations we show for the case of two-gap superconductors, that optical pump–probe experiments excite both Higgs and Leggett modes out of equilibrium. We find that this non-adiabatic excitation process introduces a strong interaction between the collective modes, which is absent in equilibrium. Moreover, we propose a type of pump–probe experiment, which allows to probe and coherently control the Higgs and Leggett modes, and thus the order parameter directly. These findings go beyond two-band superconductors and apply to general collective modes in quantum materials.
Ultrasensitive photodetectors exploiting electrostatic trapping and percolation transport
Authors: Zhang Yingjie , Hellebusch Daniel J. , Bronstein Noah D. , Ko Changhyun , Ogletree D. Frank , Salmeron Miquel , Alivisatos A. Paul 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe sensitivity of semiconductor photodetectors is limited by photocarrier recombination during the carrier transport process. We developed a new photoactive material that reduces recombination by physically separating hole and electron charge carriers. This material has a specific detectivity (the ability to detect small signals) of 5 × 1017 Jones, the highest reported in visible and infrared detectors at room temperature, and 4–5 orders of magnitude higher than that of commercial single-crystal silicon detectors. The material was fabricated by sintering chloride-capped CdTe nanocrystals into polycrystalline films, where Cl selectively segregates into grain boundaries acting as n-type dopants. Photogenerated electrons concentrate in and percolate along the grain boundaries—a network of energy valleys, while holes are confined in the grain interiors. This electrostatic field-assisted carrier separation and percolation mechanism enables an unprecedented photoconductive gain of 1010e− per photon, and allows for effective control of the device response speed by active carrier quenching.
Activation of STING requires palmitoylation at the Golgi
Authors: Mukai Kojiro , Konno Hiroyasu , Akiba Tatsuya , Uemura Takefumi , Waguri Satoshi , Kobayashi Toshihide , Barber Glen N. , Arai Hiroyuki , Taguchi Tomohiko 
Published: June 2016

AbstractStimulator of interferon genes (STING) is essential for the type I interferon response against DNA pathogens. In response to the presence of DNA and/or cyclic dinucleotides, STING translocates from the endoplasmic reticulum to perinuclear compartments. However, the role of this subcellular translocation remains poorly defined. Here we show that palmitoylation of STING at the Golgi is essential for activation of STING. Treatment with palmitoylation inhibitor 2-bromopalmitate (2-BP) suppresses palmitoylation of STING and abolishes the type I interferon response. Mutation of two membrane-proximal Cys residues (Cys88/91) suppresses palmitoylation, and this STING mutant cannot induce STING-dependent host defense genes. STING variants that constitutively induce the type I interferon response were found in patients with autoimmune diseases. The response elicited by these STING variants is effectively inhibited by 2-BP or an introduction of Cys88/91Ser mutation. Our results may lead to new treatments for cytosolic DNA-triggered autoinflammatory diseases.
A dynamic pathway analysis approach reveals a limiting futile cycle in N-acetylglucosamine overproducing Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Liu Yanfeng , Link Hannes , Liu Long , Du Guocheng , Chen Jian , Sauer Uwe 
Published: June 2016

AbstractRecent advances in genome engineering have further widened the gap between our ability to implement essentially any genetic change and understanding the impact of these changes on cellular function. We lack efficient methods to diagnose limiting steps in engineered pathways. Here, we develop a generally applicable approach to reveal limiting steps within a synthetic pathway. It is based on monitoring metabolite dynamics and simplified kinetic modelling to differentiate between putative causes of limiting product synthesis during the start-up phase of the pathway with near-maximal rates. We examine the synthetic N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) pathway in Bacillus subtilis and find none of the acetyl-, amine- or glucose-moiety precursors to limit synthesis. Our dynamic metabolomics approach predicts an energy-dissipating futile cycle between GlcNAc6P and GlcNAc as the primary problem in the pathway. Deletion of the responsible glucokinase more than doubles GlcNAc productivity by restoring healthy growth of the overproducing strain.
Faecal bile acids are natural ligands of the mouse accessory olfactory system
Authors: Doyle Wayne I. , Dinser Jordan A. , Cansler Hillary L. , Zhang Xingjian , Dinh Daniel D. , Browder Natasha S. , Riddington Ian M. , Meeks Julian P. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe accessory olfactory system (AOS) guides behaviours that are important for survival and reproduction, but understanding of AOS function is limited by a lack of identified natural ligands. Here we report that mouse faeces are a robust source of AOS chemosignals and identify bile acids as a class of natural AOS ligands. Single-unit electrophysiological recordings from accessory olfactory bulb neurons in ex vivo preparations show that AOS neurons are strongly and selectively activated by peripheral stimulation with mouse faecal extracts. Faecal extracts contain several unconjugated bile acids that cause concentration-dependent neuronal activity in the AOS. Many AOS neurons respond selectively to bile acids that are variably excreted in male and female mouse faeces, and others respond to bile acids absent in mouse faeces. These results identify faeces as a natural source of AOS information, and suggest that bile acids may be mammalian pheromones and kairomones.
Unassisted photoelectrochemical water splitting exceeding 7% solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency using photon recycling
Authors: Shi Xinjian , Jeong Hokyeong , Oh Seung Jae , Ma Ming , Zhang Kan , Kwon Jeong , Choi In Taek , Choi Il Yong , Kim Hwan Kyu , Kim Jong Kyu , Park Jong Hyeok 
Published: June 2016

AbstractVarious tandem cell configurations have been reported for highly efficient and spontaneous hydrogen production from photoelectrochemical solar water splitting. However, there is a contradiction between two main requirements of a front photoelectrode in a tandem cell configuration, namely, high transparency and high photocurrent density. Here we demonstrate a simple yet highly effective method to overcome this contradiction by incorporating a hybrid conductive distributed Bragg reflector on the back side of the transparent conducting substrate for the front photoelectrochemical electrode, which functions as both an optical filter and a conductive counter-electrode of the rear dye-sensitized solar cell. The hybrid conductive distributed Bragg reflectors were designed to be transparent to the long-wavelength part of the incident solar spectrum (λ>500 nm) for the rear solar cell, while reflecting the short-wavelength photons (λ<500 nm) which can then be absorbed by the front photoelectrochemical electrode for enhanced photocurrent generation.
Slower carriers limit charge generation in organic semiconductor light-harvesting systems
Authors: Stolterfoht Martin , Armin Ardalan , Shoaee Safa , Kassal Ivan , Burn Paul , Meredith Paul 
Published: June 2016

AbstractBlends of electron-donating and -accepting organic semiconductors are widely used as photoactive materials in next-generation solar cells and photodetectors. The yield of free charges in these systems is often determined by the separation of interfacial electron–hole pairs, which is expected to depend on the ability of the faster carrier to escape the Coulomb potential. Here we show, by measuring geminate and non-geminate losses and key transport parameters in a series of bulk-heterojunction solar cells, that the charge-generation yield increases with increasing slower carrier mobility. This is in direct contrast with the well-established Braun model where the dissociation rate is proportional to the mobility sum, and recent models that underscore the importance of fullerene aggregation for coherent electron propagation. The behaviour is attributed to the restriction of opposite charges to different phases, and to an entropic contribution that favours the joint separation of both charge carriers.
Counteracting H3K4 methylation modulators Set1 and Jhd2 co-regulate chromatin dynamics and gene transcription
Authors: Ramakrishnan Saravanan , Pokhrel Srijana , Palani Sowmiya , Pflueger Christian , Parnell Timothy J. , Cairns Bradley R. , Bhaskara Srividya , Chandrasekharan Mahesh B. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractHistone H3K4 methylation is connected to gene transcription from yeast to humans, but its mechanistic roles in transcription and chromatin dynamics remain poorly understood. We investigated the functions for Set1 and Jhd2, the sole H3K4 methyltransferase and H3K4 demethylase, respectively, in S. cerevisiae. Here, we show that Set1 and Jhd2 predominantly co-regulate genome-wide transcription. We find combined activities of Set1 and Jhd2 via H3K4 methylation contribute to positive or negative transcriptional regulation. Providing mechanistic insights, our data reveal that Set1 and Jhd2 together control nucleosomal turnover and occupancy during transcriptional co-regulation. Moreover, we find a genome-wide co-regulation of chromatin structure by Set1 and Jhd2 at different groups of transcriptionally active or inactive genes and at different regions within yeast genes. Overall, our study puts forth a model wherein combined actions of Set1 and Jhd2 via modulating H3K4 methylation−demethylation together control chromatin dynamics during various facets of transcriptional regulation.
Discovery of earth-abundant nitride semiconductors by computational screening and high-pressure synthesis
Authors: Hinuma Yoyo , Hatakeyama Taisuke , Kumagai Yu , Burton Lee A. , Sato Hikaru , Muraba Yoshinori , Iimura Soshi , Hiramatsu Hidenori , Tanaka Isao , Hosono Hideo , Oba Fumiyasu 
Published: June 2016

AbstractNitride semiconductors are attractive because they can be environmentally benign, comprised of abundant elements and possess favourable electronic properties. However, those currently commercialized are mostly limited to gallium nitride and its alloys, despite the rich composition space of nitrides. Here we report the screening of ternary zinc nitride semiconductors using first-principles calculations of electronic structure, stability and dopability. This approach identifies as-yet-unreported CaZn2N2 that has earth-abundant components, smaller carrier effective masses than gallium nitride and a tunable direct bandgap suited for light emission and harvesting. High-pressure synthesis realizes this phase, verifying the predicted crystal structure and band-edge red photoluminescence. In total, we propose 21 promising systems, including Ca2ZnN2, Ba2ZnN2 and Zn2PN3, which have not been reported as semiconductors previously. Given the variety in bandgaps of the identified compounds, the present study expands the potential suitability of nitride semiconductors for a broader range of electronic, optoelectronic and photovoltaic applications.
Mnemonic convergence in the human hippocampus
Authors: Backus Alexander R. , Bosch Sander E. , Ekman Matthias , Grabovetsky Alejandro Vicente , Doeller Christian F. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe ability to form associations between a multitude of events is the hallmark of episodic memory. Computational models have espoused the importance of the hippocampus as convergence zone, binding different aspects of an episode into a coherent representation, by integrating information from multiple brain regions. However, evidence for this long-held hypothesis is limited, since previous work has largely focused on representational and network properties of the hippocampus in isolation. Here we identify the hippocampus as mnemonic convergence zone, using a combination of multivariate pattern and graph-theoretical network analyses of functional magnetic resonance imaging data from humans performing an associative memory task. We observe overlap of conjunctive coding and hub-like network attributes in the hippocampus. These results provide evidence for mnemonic convergence in the hippocampus, underlying the integration of distributed information into episodic memory representations.
Thermoelectric materials by using two-dimensional materials with negative correlation between electrical and thermal conductivity
Authors: Lee Myoung-Jae , Ahn Ji-Hoon , Sung Ji Ho , Heo Hoseok , Jeon Seong Gi , Lee Woo , Song Jae Yong , Hong Ki-Ha , Choi Byeongdae , Lee Sung-Hoon , Jo Moon-Ho 
Published: June 2016

AbstractIn general, in thermoelectric materials the electrical conductivity σ and thermal conductivity κ are related and thus cannot be controlled independently. Previously, to maximize the thermoelectric figure of merit in state-of-the-art materials, differences in relative scaling between σ and κ as dimensions are reduced to approach the nanoscale were utilized. Here we present an approach to thermoelectric materials using tin disulfide, SnS2, nanosheets that demonstrated a negative correlation between σ and κ. In other words, as the thickness of SnS2 decreased, σ increased whereas κ decreased. This approach leads to a thermoelectric figure of merit increase to 0.13 at 300 K, a factor ∼1,000 times greater than previously reported bulk single-crystal SnS2. The Seebeck coefficient obtained for our two-dimensional SnS2 nanosheets was 34.7 mV K−1 for 16-nm-thick samples at 300 K.