bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gallic acid mediated oxidation of pentachlorophenol by the Fenton reaction under mild oxidative conditions
Authors: Christoforidis Konstantinos C , Vasiliadou Ioanna A , Louloudi Maria , Deligiannakis Yiannis 
Published: November 2017

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe present study demonstrates the decomposition of pentachlorophenol (PCP) by the Fenton reaction in the presence of gallic acid (GA). Unlike other studies, catalytic Fe2+ concentrations were used with respect to PCP in an effort to evaluate an environmentally benign Fenton system, studying the effect of phenolic‐type compounds widely found in the environment. The effect of operating variables was evaluated.RESULTSAt initial reaction times or at low H2O2 and Fe concentrations, GA enhanced PCP removal. At high H2O2 and Fe concentrations GA enhanced PCP removal only at initial reaction times. GA was the determinant factor controlling activity acting both as a chelating agent and reducer of Fe3+. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy was applied to shed light on mechanistic aspects, verifying the interaction of GA with Fe ions. GA accelerated significantly the Fe3+/Fe2+ redox cycling. This enhanced the formation of hydroxyl radicals (HO·) as confirmed by in situ EPR spin trap experiments. A reaction mechanism was proposed including the redox cycle of GA quinoide forms.CONCLUSIONThe operational variables of a GA modified Fenton system are provided and mechanistic steps are discussed including PCP degradation, GA/Fe interaction, Fe3+/Fe2+ redox cycling and HO· formation. GA concentration controls the catalytic degradation of PCP. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Human mesenchymal stem cells induced to differentiate as chondrocytes follow a biphasic pattern of extracellular matrix production
Authors: Sorrell J. Michael , Somoza Rodrigo A. , Caplan Arnold I. 
Published: November 2017

ABSTRACTRegenerative medicine and tissue engineering studies are actively developing novel means to repair adult articular cartilage defects using biological approaches. One such approach is the harnessing of adult human therapeutic cells such as those referred to as mesenchymal stem cells. Upon exposure to chondrogenic signals, these cells differentiate and initiate the production of a complex and voluminous cartilaginous matrix that is crucial to both the structure and function of cartilage. Furthermore, this complexity requires the time‐sensitive activation of a large number of genes to produce the components of this matrix. The current study analyzed the kinetics of matrix production in an aggregate culture model where adult human mesenchymal stem cells were induced to differentiate as chondrocytes. The results indicate the existence of a biphasic mode of differentiation and maturation during which matrix genes and molecules are differentially activated and secreted. These results have important implications for developing novel approaches for the creation of tissue engineered articular cartilage. © 2017 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 36:1757–1766, 2018.
MicroRNAs in orthopaedic research: Disease associations, potential therapeutic applications, and perspectives
Authors: McAlinden Audrey , Im Gun‐Il 
Published: November 2017

ABSTRACTMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non‐coding RNAs that function to control many cellular processes by their ability to suppress expression of specific target genes. Tens to hundreds of target genes may be affected by one miRNA, thereby resulting in modulation of multiple pathways in any given cell type. Therefore, altered expression of miRNAs (i.e., during tissue development or in scenarios of disease or cellular stress) can have a profound impact on processes regulating cell differentiation, metabolism, proliferation, or apoptosis, for example. Over the past 5–10 years, thousands of reports have been published on miRNAs in cartilage and bone biology or disease, thus highlighting the significance of these non‐coding RNAs in regulating skeletal development and homeostasis. For the purpose of this review, we will focus on miRNAs or miRNA families that have demonstrated function in vivo within the context of cartilage, bone or other orthopaedic‐related tissues (excluding muscle). Specifically, we will discuss studies that have utilized miRNA transgenic mouse models or in vivo approaches to target a miRNA with the aim of altering conditions such as osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and bone fractures in rodents. We will not discuss miRNAs in the context skeletal cancers since this topic is worthy of a review of its own. Overall, we aim to provide a comprehensive description of where the field currently stands with respect to the therapeutic potential of specific miRNAs to treat orthopaedic conditions and current technologies to target and modify miRNA function in vivo. © 2017 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 36:33–51, 2018.
Long‐term herpetofaunal response to repeated fuel reduction treatments
Authors: Greenberg Cathryn H. , Moorman Christopher E. , Matthews‐Snoberger Charlotte E. , Waldrop Thomas A. , Simon Dean , Heh Amanda , Hagan Donald 
Published: November 2017

ABSTRACTFuel reduction treatments are used to reduce wildfire risk and to restore plant communities. Yet, repeated mechanical or prescribed fire treatments may gradually change forest structure and microhabitat conditions, favoring some taxa and decreasing suitability for others. We experimentally assessed long‐term (intermittent years, 2003–2016) effects of repeated dormant‐season mechanical and prescribed fire treatments on capture rates of reptiles and amphibians in southern Appalachian upland hardwood forests. Treatments were mechanical understory removal (twice), prescribed burning (4 times; burn‐only), mechanical understory removal followed 1 year later by high‐severity prescribed burns and 3 subsequent burns (mechanical + burn), and untreated controls. Initial burns were hotter in mechanical + burn than burn‐only units, resulting in heavy tree mortality and increased canopy openness within 2 growing‐seasons post‐burn. We captured 4,606 individuals of 15 amphibian and 20 reptile species. Capture rates of American toads (Anaxyrus americanus), green frogs (Lithobates clamitans), plethodontid salamanders (Plethodon spp.), and northern red salamanders (Pseudotriton ruber) were not affected by any fuel reduction treatment. The capture rate of five‐lined skinks (Plestiodon fasciatus) was greater in mechanical + burn than burn‐only or control units, and the capture rate of eastern fence lizards (Sceloporus undulatus) was greater in mechanical + burn than control units. Juvenile eastern fence lizard captures were greater in mechanical + burn units and increased over time, indicating that high‐severity burning followed by repeated burns may improve conditions for successful recruitment. Different responses among species highlight the importance of including multiple taxa when assessing effects of forest disturbances on wildlife, and give perspective on how forest health may vary depending on target taxa. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.
Terrestrial carbon inputs to inland waters: A current synthesis of estimates and uncertainty
Authors: Drake Travis W. , Raymond Peter A. , Spencer Robert G. M. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractGlobally, inland waters receive a significant but ill‐defined quantity of terrestrial carbon (C). When summed, the contemporary estimates for the three possible fates of C in inland waters (storage, outgassing, and export) highlight that terrestrial landscapes may deliver upward of 5.1 Pg of C annually. This review of flux estimates over the last decade has revealed an average increase of ∼ 0.3 Pg C yr−1, indicating a historical underestimation of the amount of terrestrial‐C exported to inland waters. The continual increase in the estimates also underscores large data gaps and uncertainty. As research continues to refine these aquatic fluxes, especially C outgassed from the humid tropics and other understudied regions, we expect the global estimate of terrestrial‐C transferred to inland waters to rise. An important implication of this upward refinement is that terrestrial net ecosystem production may be overestimated with ramifications for modeling of the global C cycle.
Local Ramsey theory: an abstract approach
Authors: Di Prisco Carlos , Mijares José G. , Nieto Jesús 
Published: November 2017

AbstractGiven a topological Ramsey space , we extend the notion of semiselective coideal to sets and study conditions for that will enable us to make the structure a Ramsey space (not necessarily topological) and also study forcing notions related to which will satisfy abstract versions of interesting properties of the corresponding forcing notions in the realm of Ellentuck's space (cf. [][]). This extends results from [][] to the most general context of topological Ramsey spaces. As applications, we prove that for every topological Ramsey space , under suitable large cardinal hypotheses every semiselective ultrafilter is generic over ; and that given a semiselective coideal , every definable subset of is ‐Ramsey. This generalizes the corresponding results for the case when is equal to Ellentuck's space (cf. [][]).
Association of MGMT promoter methylation with tumorigenesis features in patients with ovarian cancer: A systematic meta‐analysis
Authors: Qiao Baoli , Zhang Zhenyu , Li Yanfang 
Published: November 2017

AbstractBackgroundThe MGMT is a key tumor suppressor gene and aberrant promoter methylation has been reported in many cancers. However, the relationship between MGMT promoter methylation and ovarian cancer remains controversial. This meta‐analysis was first conducted to estimate the clinical significance of MGMT promoter methylation in ovarian carcinoma.MethodsLiterature search was performed in the PubMed, Embase, EBSCO and Cochrane Library databases. The pooled odds ratio (OR) and their corresponding 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were summarized.ResultsFinal 10 studies with 910 ovarian tissue samples were included in this meta‐analysis. MGMT promoter methylation was significantly higher in ovarian cancer than in normal ovarian tissues (OR = 4.13, 95% CI = 2.32–7.33, p < .001). The MGMT had a similar methylation status in cancer versus benign lesions and low malignant potential (LMP) samples (OR = 2.01, 95% CI = 0.67–6.04, p = .212; OR = 1.42, 95% CI = 0.46–4.40, p = .543; respectively). MGMT promoter methylation was correlated with pathological types in which it was significantly lower in serous cancer than in nonserous cancer (OR = 0.29, 95% CI = 0.14–0.59, p = .001). The methylation of the MGMT promoter was not associated with clinical stage and tumor grade (OR = 1.46, 95% CI = 0.71–3.02, p = .301; OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 0.51–2.46, p = .767; respectively).ConclusionsMGMT promoter methylation may be correlated with the tumorigenesis of ovarian cancer. It was associated with tumor histotypes, but not correlated with clinical stage and tumor grade. More prospective studies with lager sample sizes are necessary in the future.
Curcumin, an antibiotic resistance breaker against a multiresistant clinical isolate of Mycobacterium abscessus
Authors: Marini Emanuela , Di Giulio Mara , Magi Gloria , Di Lodovico Silvia , Cimarelli Maria Enrica , Brenciani Andrea , Nostro Antonia , Cellini Luigina , Facinelli Bruna 
Published: November 2017

Curcumin, a phenolic compound extracted from Curcuma longa, exerts multiple pharmacological effects, including an antimicrobial action. Mycobacterium abscessus, an environmental, nontuberculous, rapidly growing mycobacterium, is an emerging human pathogen causing serious lung infections and one of the most difficult to treat, due to its multidrug resistance and biofilm‐forming ability. We wanted to evaluate the antimicrobial and antivirulence activity of curcumin and its ability to synergize with antibiotics against a clinical M. abscessus strain (29904), isolated from the bronchoaspirate of a 66‐year‐old woman admitted to hospital for suspected tuberculosis. Curcumin [minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) = 128 mg/L] was synergic (fractional inhibitory concentration index ≤0.5) with amikacin, clarithromycin, ciprofloxacin, and linezolid, to which strain 29904 showed resistance/intermediate susceptibility. Curcumin at 1/8 × MIC significantly reduced motility, whereas at 4 × MIC, it completely inhibited 4‐ and 8‐day mature biofilms. Synergistic combinations of curcumin and amikacin induced a general reduction in microbial aggregates and substantial loss in cell viability. Disruption of 4‐ and 8‐day biofilms was the main effect detected when curcumin was the predominant compound. The present findings support previous evidence that curcumin is a potential antibiotic resistance breaker. Curcumin, either alone or combined with antibiotics, could provide a novel strategy to combat antibiotic resistance and virulence of M. abscessus.
Toward Wearable Self‐Charging Power Systems: The Integration of Energy‐Harvesting and Storage Devices
Authors: Pu Xiong , Hu Weiguo , Wang Zhong Lin 
Published: November 2017

AbstractOne major challenge for wearable electronics is that the state‐of‐the‐art batteries are inadequate to provide sufficient energy for long‐term operations, leading to inconvenient battery replacement or frequent recharging. Other than the pursuit of high energy density of secondary batteries, an alternative approach recently drawing intensive attention from the research community, is to integrate energy‐generation and energy‐storage devices into self‐charging power systems (SCPSs), so that the scavenged energy can be simultaneously stored for sustainable power supply. This paper reviews recent developments in SCPSs with the integration of various energy‐harvesting devices (including piezoelectric nanogenerators, triboelectric nanogenerators, solar cells, and thermoelectric nanogenerators) and energy‐storage devices, such as batteries and supercapacitors. SCPSs with multiple energy‐harvesting devices are also included. Emphasis is placed on integrated flexible or wearable SCPSs. Remaining challenges and perspectives are also examined to suggest how to bring the appealing SCPSs into practical applications in the near future.
Master integrals for the NNLO virtual corrections to μe scattering in QED: the planar graphs
Authors: Mastrolia Pierpaolo , Passera Massimo , Primo Amedeo , Schubert Ulrich 
Published: November 2017

AbstractWe evaluate the master integrals for the two-loop, planar box-diagrams contributing to the elastic scattering of muons and electrons at next-to-next-to leading-order in QED. We adopt the method of differential equations and the Magnus exponential series to determine a canonical set of integrals, finally expressed as a Taylor series around four space-time dimensions, with coefficients written as combination of generalised polylogarithms. The electron is treated as massless, while we retain full dependence on the muon mass. The considered integrals are also relevant for crossing-related processes, such as di-muon production ate+e−-colliders, as well as for the QCD corrections totop-pair production at hadron colliders.
On the Parisian ruin of the dual Lévy risk model
Authors: Yang Chen , Sendova Kristian P. , Li Zhong 
Published: November 2017

AbstractIn this paper we investigate the Parisian ruin problem of the general dual Lévy risk model. Unlike the usual concept of ultimate ruin, allowing the surplus level to be negative within a prespecified period indicates that the deficit at Parisian ruin is not necessarily equal to zero. Hence, we consider a Gerber–Shiu type expected discounted penalty function at the Parisian ruin and obtain an explicit expression for this function under the dual Lévy risk model. As particular cases, we calculate the Parisian ruin probability and the expected discountedkth moments of the deficit at the Parisian ruin for the compound Poisson dual risk model and a drift-diffusion model. Numerical examples are given to illustrate the behavior of Parisian ruin and the expected discounted deficit at Parisian ruin.
Intercalation events visualized in single microcrystals of graphite
Authors: White Edward R. , Lodico Jared J. , Regan B. C. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe electrochemical intercalation of layered materials, particularly graphite, is fundamental to the operation of rechargeable energy-storage devices such as the lithium-ion battery and the carbon-enhanced lead-acid battery. Intercalation is thought to proceed in discrete stages, where each stage represents a specific structure and stoichiometry of the intercalant relative to the host. However, the three-dimensional structures of the stages between unintercalated and fully intercalated are not known, and the dynamics of the transitions between stages are not understood. Using optical and scanning transmission electron microscopy, we video the intercalation of single microcrystals of graphite in concentrated sulfuric acid. Here we find that intercalation charge transfer proceeds through highly variable current pulses that, although directly associated with structural changes, do not match the expectations of the classical theories. Evidently random nanoscopic defects dominate the dynamics of intercalation.
Nemertean and phoronid genomes reveal lophotrochozoan evolution and the origin of bilaterian heads
Authors: Luo Yi-Jyun , Kanda Miyuki , Koyanagi Ryo , Hisata Kanako , Akiyama Tadashi , Sakamoto Hirotaka , Sakamoto Tatsuya , Satoh Noriyuki 
Published: November 2017

AbstractNemerteans (ribbon worms) and phoronids (horseshoe worms) are closely related lophotrochozoans—a group of animals including leeches, snails and other invertebrates. Lophotrochozoans represent a superphylum that is crucial to our understanding of bilaterian evolution. However, given the inconsistency of molecular and morphological data for these groups, their origins have been unclear. Here, we present draft genomes of the nemertean Notospermus geniculatus and the phoronid Phoronis australis, together with transcriptomes along the adult bodies. Our genome-based phylogenetic analyses place Nemertea sister to the group containing Phoronida and Brachiopoda. We show that lophotrochozoans share many gene families with deuterostomes, suggesting that these two groups retain a core bilaterian gene repertoire that ecdysozoans (for example, flies and nematodes) and platyzoans (for example, flatworms and rotifers) do not. Comparative transcriptomics demonstrates that lophophores of phoronids and brachiopods are similar not only morphologically, but also at the molecular level. Despite dissimilar head structures, lophophores express vertebrate head and neuronal marker genes. This finding suggests a common origin of bilaterian head patterning, although different heads evolved independently in each lineage. Furthermore, we observe lineage-specific expansions of innate immunity and toxin-related genes. Together, our study reveals a dual nature of lophotrochozoans, where conserved and lineage-specific features shape their evolution.
Nanometer collimation enhancement of ion beams using channeling effects in track-etched mica capillaries
Authors: Scheuner Clemens , Jankuhn Steffen , Vogt Jürgen , Pezzagna Sébastien , Trautmann Christina , Meijer Jan 
Published: November 2017

AbstractLong channels with diameter of few tens of nanometer are produced by chemical track etching of swift heavy ion irradiated muscovite sheets. Such small apertures are most suitable e.g. as beam defining apertures for focusing systems in ion beam facilities enabling beam diameters down to a few nanometers. One of the most important parameters to consider is the interaction of the ion beam with the walls of the aperture. We report angle-resolved transmission and energy-loss measurements of MeV ion beams through ion-track-etched capillaries with very high aspect ratio of about 60. For all ion energies, the angle-resolved transmission curves measured through the channels show a significant enhancement with respect to the expected pure geometrical considerations. This broadening of the acceptance angle increases further when the kinetic energy is reduced. This effect is ascribed to low-angle scattering of the ions at the surface of the muscovite capillary walls. These results are well described by simulations applying a similar approach as used for ion beam channeling in crystals.
Evaluation of short interval cortical inhibition and intracortical facilitation from the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in patients with schizophrenia
Authors: Noda Yoshihiro , Barr Mera S. , Zomorrodi Reza , Cash Robin F. H. , Farzan Faranak , Rajji Tarek K. , Chen Robert , Daskalakis Zafiris J. , Blumberger Daniel M. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractGABAergic and glutamatergic dysfunction in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) are thought to be the core pathophysiological mechanisms of schizophrenia. Recently, we have established a method to index these functions from the DLPFC using the paired transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) paradigms of short interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) and facilitation (ICF) combined with electroencephalography (EEG). In this study, we aimed to evaluate neurophysiological indicators related to GABAA and glutamate receptor-mediated functions respectively from the DLPFC in patients with schizophrenia using these paradigms, compared to healthy controls. Given that these activities contribute to cognitive functions, the relationship between the TMS-evoked potential (TEP) modulations by SICI/ICF and cognitive/clinical measures were explored. Compared to controls, patients showed reduced inhibition in P60 (t22 = −4.961, p < 0.0001) by SICI and reduced facilitation in P60 (t22 = 5.174, p < 0.0001) and N100 (t22 = 3.273, p = 0.003) by ICF. In patients, the modulation of P60 by SICI was correlated with the longest span of the Letter-Number Span Test (r = −0.775, p = 0.003), while the modulation of N100 by ICF was correlated with the total score of the Positive and Negative. Syndrome Scale (r = 0.817, p = 0.002). These findings may represent the pathophysiology, which may be associated with prefrontal GABAA and glutamatergic dysfunctions, in the expression of symptoms of schizophrenia.
A Comprehensive Assessment of the Genetic Determinants in Salmonella Typhimurium for Resistance to Hydrogen Peroxide Using Proteogenomics
Authors: Karash Sardar , Liyanage Rohana , Qassab Abdullah , Lay Jackson O. , Kwon Young Min 
Published: November 2017

AbstractSalmonella is an intracellular pathogen infecting a wide range of hosts and can survive in macrophages. An essential mechanism used by macrophages to eradicate Salmonella is production of reactive oxygen species. Here, we used proteogenomics to determine the candidate genes and proteins that have a role in resistance of S. Typhimurium to H2O2. For Tn-seq, a saturated Tn5 insertion library was grown in vitro under either 2.5 (H2O2L) or 3.5 mM H2O2 (H2O2H). We identified two sets of overlapping genes required for resistance of S. Typhimurium to H2O2L and H2O2H, and the results were validated via phenotypic evaluation of 50 selected mutants. The enriched pathways for H2O2 resistance included DNA repair, aromatic amino acid biosynthesis (aroBK), Fe-S cluster biosynthesis, iron homeostasis and a putative iron transporter system (ybbKLM), and H2O2 scavenging enzymes. Proteomics revealed that the majority of essential proteins, including ribosomal proteins, were downregulated upon exposure to H2O2. On the contrary, a subset of conditionally essential proteins identified by Tn-seq were analyzed by targeted proteomics, and 70% of them were upregulated by H2O2. The identified genes will deepen our understanding on S. Typhimurium survival mechanisms in macrophages, and can be exploited to develop new antimicrobial drugs.