bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enhanced Immunosuppression of T Cells by Sustained Presentation of Bioactive Interferon-γ Within Three-Dimensional Mesenchymal Stem Cell Constructs
Authors: Zimmermann Joshua A. , Hettiaratchi Marian H. , McDevitt Todd C. 
Published: August 2016

Abstract
The immunomodulatory activity of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) to suppress innate and adaptive immune responses offers a potent cell therapy for modulating inflammation and promoting tissue regeneration. However, the inflammatory cytokine milieu plays a critical role in stimulating MSC immunomodulatory activity. In particular, interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-induced expression of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is primarily responsible for MSC suppression of T-cell proliferation and activation. Although pretreatment with IFN-γ is commonly used to prime MSCs for immunomodulatory activity prior to transplantation, the transient effects of pretreatment may limit the potential of MSCs to potently modulate immune responses. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate whether microparticle-mediated presentation of bioactive IFN-γ within three-dimensional spheroidal MSC aggregates could precisely regulate and induce sustained immunomodulatory activity. Delivery of IFN-γ via heparin-microparticles within MSC aggregates induced sustained IDO expression during 1 week of culture, whereas IDO expression by IFN-γ-pretreated MSC spheroids rapidly decreased during 2 days. Furthermore, sustained IDO expression induced by IFN-γ-loaded microparticles resulted in an increased and sustained suppression of T-cell activation and proliferation in MSC cocultures with CD3/CD28-activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The increased suppression of T cells by MSC spheroids containing IFN-γ-loaded microparticles was dependent on induction of IDO and supported by affecting monocyte secretion from pro- to anti-inflammatory cytokines. Altogether, microparticle delivery of IFN-γ within MSC spheroids provides a potent means of enhancing and sustaining immunomodulatory activity to control MSC immunomodulation after transplantation and thereby improve the efficacy of MSC-based therapies aimed at treating inflammatory and immune diseases.
Perceptions of Multiple Sclerosis in Hispanic Americans
Authors: Obiwuru Ozioma , Joseph Sarah , Liu Lihua , Palomeque Ana , Tarlow Leslie , Langer-Gould Annette M. , Amezcua Lilyana 
Published: August 2016

Background:
Illness perceptions have been reported to be important determinants of multiple sclerosis (MS)–related well-being. Hispanic culture is defined by strong cultural beliefs in which illness is often perceived to arise from strong emotions. Understanding the perceptions of MS in Hispanic Americans may provide a better understanding of cultural barriers that may exist. The purpose of this study was to describe Hispanic American perceptions of MS.

Methods:
We gathered information from semistructured interviews, focus groups, and participant responses from the University of Southern California Hispanic MS Registry. This information was then stratified into a matrix of environmental, biological, and sociocultural determinants. Differences were examined by place of birth, treatment preference, and ambulatory difficulty. Logistic regression was used to investigate the relationship between sociocultural perceptions, place of birth, and ambulation.

Results:
Most participants were female (n = 64, 61%), US born (n = 64, 61%), and receiving treatment for MS. Participants cited environmental and sociocultural perceptions, with significant differences noted by place of birth. Sociocultural factors such as strong emotions were almost four times more commonly perceived in immigrants compared with US-born participants (adjusted odds ratio, 3.66; 95% confidence interval, 1.12–11.90; P = .03). Male, low-education, and low-income participants were also more likely to perceive MS to be a result of strong emotions, but these differences were not statistically significant.

Conclusions:
Hispanic American perceptions of MS differ by place of birth, with reports of cultural idioms more common among immigrants, which could affect disease management. These findings may be useful in designing educational interventions to improve MS-related well-being in Hispanic populations.
Diagnostic Value of Contrast‐Enhanced Sonography for Differentiation of Breast Lesions
Authors: Ma Xuelei , Liu Rongjun , Zhu Chenjing , Zhang Jing , Ling Wenwu 
Published: August 2016

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to systematically review and evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of contrast‐enhanced sonography in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant breast lesions.MethodsThe scientific literature databases PubMed and Embase were comprehensively searched for relevant studies before January 2015. Data were pooled to yield the summary sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio using meta‐analysis software.ResultsA total of 29 studies with 2296 lesions were included in the analysis. The pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.88 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.86–0.90; inconsistency index [I2] = 77.9%) and 0.80 (95% CI, 0.78–0.83; I2 = 84.0%), respectively. The pooled diagnostic odds ratio was 30.35 (95% CI, 15.75–58.48; I2= 82.1%), and the area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.9115 (SE, 0.0243).ConclusionsThe comprehensive results suggest that contrast‐enhanced sonography could be a potentially effective method for differential diagnosis of benign and malignant breast lesions.
Role of Strain Elastography in the Evaluation of Testicular Torsion
Authors: Herek Duygu , Herek Ozkan , Akbulut Metin , Ufuk Furkan 
Published: August 2016

ObjectivesTo evaluate the utility of real‐time strain elastography in experimentally induced testicular torsion at different degrees and torsion hours.MethodsThirty‐one Wistar albino rats were divided into 4 torsion groups by twisting left testes (group I, sham operated; group II, 360°; group III, 720°; and group IV, 1080°). Elastography was applied at the 8th and 24th hours of torsion. Elasticity patterns (pattern 1, soft testis; pattern 2, moderately soft testis; pattern 3, predominantly hard testis; and pattern 4, almost entirely hard testis) and strain ratios were recorded. Histopathologic evaluation was done at the 24th hour. Interobserver agreement was analyzed.ResultsChanges in elastographic patterns and strain ratios among groups II, III, and IV were statistically significant at both hours as determined by both radiologists (P < .01). Elastographic patterns changed from 2 to 3 in groups II and III to 4 in group III between the 8th and 24th hours (P < .05), but in group IV, patterns were reversed, and pattern 1 was observed at both hours. Pathologically severe necrosis (grade 4) was seen in left testes in group IV. In the other groups, pathologic grading in the left testes was as follows: mostly grade 1 in groups I and II and mostly grade 2 in group III. Elastography showed that right testes were affected in group IV, with significant differences in elastographic patterns and strain ratios (P < .01). Interobserver agreement for elastographic patterns in right testes was substantial at the 8th hour (κ = 0.72) and otherwise excellent (κ = 0.81–0.85). Concordance of strain ratios between observers was excellent for right and left testes at the 8th and 24th hours (intraclass correlation coefficients, 0.990 at the 8th hour and 0.987 at the 24th hour).ConclusionsOur results show that real‐time strain elastography can be a complementary method in the evaluation of testicular tissue in testicular torsion and can guide surgeons in their surgical approach.
Enhanced carbon export to the abyssal depths driven by atmosphere dynamics
Authors: Pedrosa‐Pàmies R. , Sanchez‐Vidal A. , Canals M. , Lampadariou N. , Velaoras D. , Gogou A. , Parinos C. , Calafat A. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractLong‐term biogeochemical observations are critical to understand the natural ability of the oceans to fix CO2 into organic carbon and export it to the deep as sinking particles. Here we present results from a 3 year (2010–2013) sediment trap deployment that allowed detecting interannual variations of carbon fluxes beyond 4000 m depth in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Anomalous atmospheric conditions triggering strong heat losses in winter–spring 2012 resulted in convective mixing, nutrient uplifting, and a diatom‐dominated bloom southeast of Crete. Phytoplankton growth, reinforced by the arrival of nutrients from airborne Etna volcano ash, was the highest in the last decade (satellite‐derived Chl a concentrations up to 1.9 mg m−3). This situation caused carbon export to increase by 2 orders of magnitude (12.2 mg m−2 d−1) with respect to typical values, which demonstrates how pulses of sinking fresh phytodetritus linked to rare atmospheric processes can episodically impact one of the most oligotrophic environments in the world ocean.
Single‐crystal elasticity of natural Fe‐bearing orthoenstatite across a high‐pressure phase transition
Authors: Zhang Jin S. , Bass Jay D. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractSound velocities and elastic moduli have been measured on Fe‐bearing orthoenstatite (OEN) single crystals up to 12 GPa by Brillouin spectroscopy. The ambient adiabatic bulk modulus (Ks0) and shear modulus (G0) are determined to be 113(1) GPa and 75.9(7) GPa, respectively. A fourth‐order finite strain fit to the data yields pressure derivatives of Ks0′ = 8.8(1), Ks0″ = −0.68(6), G0′ = 2.9(1), and G0″ = −0.40(2). These values are significantly higher than those for other major mantle minerals up to 10.5 GPa but lower than some previous measurements on OEN. A pronounced increase of shear anisotropy was observed at a pressure of 12.06(9) GPa, coinciding with a phase transition from orthoenstatite to a recently discovered high‐pressure phase with space group P21/c. A high‐pressure phase transition in OEN is unlikely to be the cause of the X discontinuity in the 250–325 km depth range. Rather, a change in seismic anisotropy would be expected to accompany the orthoenstatite‐to‐P21/c phase transition in the upper mantle at greater depths.
Dune‐like dynamic of Martian Aeolian large ripples
Authors: Silvestro S. , Vaz D. A. , Yizhaq H. , Esposito F. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractMartian dunes are sculpted by meter‐scale bed forms, which have been interpreted as wind ripples based on orbital data. Because aeolian ripples tend to orient and migrate transversely to the last sand‐moving wind, they have been widely used as wind vanes on Earth and Mars. In this report we show that Martian large ripples are dynamically different from Earth's ripples. By remotely monitoring their evolution within the Mars Science Laboratory landing site, we show that these bed forms evolve longitudinally with minimal lateral migration in a time‐span of ~ six terrestrial years. Our observations suggest that the large Martian ripples can record more than one wind direction and that in certain cases they are more similar to linear dunes from a dynamic point of view. Consequently, the assumption of the transverse nature of the large Martian ripples must be used with caution when using these features to derive wind directions.
Plasma perturbations HF‐induced in the topside ionosphere
Authors: Zhang Xuemin , Frolov Vladimir , Zhou Chen , Zhao Shufan , Ruzhin Yury , Shen Xuhui , Zhima Zeren , Liu Jing 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThree plasma perturbations induced by SURA HF (high‐frequency) heating have been selected and analyzed in detail with the DEMETER satellite observing data by instruments of Langmuir probe and ion analyzer. Some common features are revealed, such as (1) electron density and electron temperature both increased during the heating period; (2) both O+ density and ion temperature also increased generally, while H+ varied negatively with O+ density; (3) the ions were accelerated in upward and northward directions, resulting from the thermal pressure gradient, which also caused the variations in ULF (ultralow‐frequency) electric field due to
effects; and (4) the simulation results verify the electron density and temperature enhancement at the topside ionosphere due to the ohmic heating process and thermal self‐focusing instability over the heating region, which is consistent with the observing phenomena by the DEMETER satellite.
Magnetospheric state of sawtooth events
Authors: Fung Shing F. , Tepper Julia A. , Cai Xia 
Published: August 2016

AbstractMagnetospheric sawtooth events, first identified in the early 1990s, are named for their characteristic appearance of multiple quasiperiodic intervals of slow decrease followed by sharp increase of proton differential energy fluxes in the geosynchronous region. The successive proton flux oscillations have been interpreted as recurrences of stretching and dipolarization of the nightside geomagnetic field. Due to their often extended intervals with 2–10 cycles, sawteeth occurrences are sometimes referred to as a magnetospheric mode. While studies of sawtooth events over the past two decades have yielded a wealth of information about such events, the magnetospheric state conditions for the occurrence of sawtooth events and how sawtooth oscillations may depend on the magnetospheric state conditions remain unclear. In this study, we investigate the characteristic magnetospheric state conditions (specified by Psw interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) Btot, IMF Bz Vsw, AE, Kp and Dst, all time shifted with respect to one another) associated with the intervals before, during, and after sawteeth occurrences. Applying a previously developed statistical technique, we have determined the most probable magnetospheric states propitious for the development and occurrence of sawtooth events, respectively. The statistically determined sawtooth magnetospheric state has also been validated by using out‐of‐sample events, confirming the notion that sawtooth intervals might represent a particular global state of the magnetosphere. We propose that the “sawtooth state” of the magnetosphere may be a state of marginal stability in which a slight enhancement in the loading rate of an otherwise continuous loading process can send the magnetosphere into the marginally unstable regime, causing it to shed limited amount of energy quickly and return to the marginally stable regime with the loading process continuing. Sawtooth oscillations result as the magnetosphere switches between the marginally stable (loading) and unstable (unloading) phases.
Interannual modulation of East African early short rains by the winter Arctic Oscillation
Authors: Gong Dao‐Yi , Guo Dong , Mao Rui , Yang Jing , Gao Yongqi , Kim Seong‐Joong 
Published: August 2016

AbstractIn the present study, we analyzed the interannual linkage between the boreal winter Arctic Oscillation (AO) and East African early short rains. When the Indian Ocean Dipole and El Niño–Southern Oscillation variance are excluded by linear regression, the boreal winter AO index is significantly correlated with the October East African precipitation over the domain of 5°N–5°S and 35°–45°E for the period 1979–2014, r =+ 0.46. The upper ocean heat content likely acts as a medium that links the AO and East African precipitation. Significant subsurface warming and positive upper ocean heat content anomalies occur over the western Indian Ocean during the autumn following positive AO winters, which enriches the atmospheric moisture, intensifies convection, and enhances precipitation. Oceanic dynamics play a key role in causing this subsurface warming. Winter AO‐related atmospheric circulation creates anomalous wind stress, which forces a downwelling oceanic Rossby wave between 60°–75°E and 5°–10°S, where the thermocline significantly deepens. This Rossby wave propagates westward and accompanies significant subsurface warming along the thermocline. The Rossby wave arrives at the western Indian Ocean in the late summer, significantly warming the region to the west of 55°E at a depth of 60–100 m. This warming remains significant through October. Correspondingly, the upper ocean heat content significantly increases by approximately 2–3 × 108 J m−2 in the region west of 60°E between 5° and 10°S. The role of these oceanic dynamics in linking the winter AO, and anomalous subsurface warming was tested by numerical experiments with an oceanic general circulation model. The experiments were performed with the forcing of AO‐related wind stress anomalies over the Indian Ocean in the winter. The oceanic Rossby wave generated in the central Indian Ocean during boreal winter, the consequent subsurface warming, and the anomalous upper ocean heat content in October over the western Indian Ocean were all adequately reproduced. The winter AO can serve as a precursor of East African short rain anomalies.
Catalytic Fehling's Reaction: An Efficient Aerobic Oxidation of Aldehyde Catalyzed by Copper in Water
Authors: Liu Mingxin , Li Chao‐Jun 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThe first example of homogeneous copper‐catalyzed aerobic oxidation of aldehydes is reported. This method utilizes atmospheric oxygen as the sole oxidant, proceeds under extremely mild aqueous conditions, and covers a wide range of various functionalized aldehydes. Chromatography is generally not necessary for product purification.
Biocatalytic Dynamic Kinetic Resolution for the Synthesis of Atropisomeric Biaryl N‐Oxide Lewis Base Catalysts
Authors: Staniland Samantha , Adams Ralph W. , McDouall Joseph J. W. , Maffucci Irene , Contini Alessandro , Grainger Damian M. , Turner Nicholas J. , Clayden Jonathan 
Published: August 2016

AbstractAtropisomeric biaryl pyridine and isoquinoline N‐oxides were synthesized enantioselectively by dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of rapidly racemizing precursors exhibiting free bond rotation. The DKR was achieved by ketoreductase (KRED) catalyzed reduction of an aldehyde to form a configurationally stable atropisomeric alcohol, with the substantial increase in rotational barrier arising from the loss of a bonding interaction between the N‐oxide and the aldehyde. Use of different KREDs allowed either the M or P enantiomer to be synthesized in excellent enantiopurity. The enantioenriched biaryl N‐oxide compounds catalyze the asymmetric allylation of benzaldehyde derivatives with allyltrichlorosilane.
Copper(II)–Graphitic Carbon Nitride Triggered Synergy: Improved ROS Generation and Reduced Glutathione Levels for Enhanced Photodynamic Therapy
Authors: Ju Enguo , Dong Kai , Chen Zhaowei , Liu Zhen , Liu Chaoqun , Huang Yanyan , Wang Zhenzhen , Pu Fang , Ren Jinsong , Qu Xiaogang 
Published: August 2016

AbstractGraphitic carbon nitride (g‐C3N4) has been used as photosensitizer to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) for photodynamic therapy (PDT). However, its therapeutic efficiency was far from satisfactory. One of the major obstacles was the overexpression of glutathione (GSH) in cancer cells, which could diminish the amount of generated ROS before their arrival at the target site. Herein, we report that the integration of Cu2+ and g‐C3N4 nanosheets (Cu2+–g‐C3N4) led to enhanced light‐triggered ROS generation as well as the depletion of intracellular GSH levels. Consequently, the ROS generated under light irradiation could be consumed less by reduced GSH, and efficiency was improved. Importantly, redox‐active species Cu+–g‐C3N4 could catalyze the reduction of molecular oxygen to the superoxide anion or hydrogen peroxide to the hydroxyl radical, both of which facilitated the generation of ROS. This synergy of improved ROS generation and GSH depletion could enhance the efficiency of PDT for cancer therapy.
Oxidation Ability of Plasmon‐Induced Charge Separation Evaluated on the Basis of Surface Hydroxylation of Gold Nanoparticles
Authors: Nishi Hiroyasu , Tatsuma Tetsu 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThe oxidation ability of plasmonic photocatalysts, which has its origins in plasmon‐induced charge separation and has not yet been studied quantitatively and systematically, is important for designing practical photocatalytic systems. Oxidation ability was investigated on the basis of surface hydroxylation of Au nanoparticles on TiO2 at various irradiation wavelengths and electrolyte pH values. The reaction proceeds only when the sum of the flat band potential of TiO2 and the irradiated photon energy is close to, or more positive than, the theoretical potential for the reaction.
In situ preparation of polyaniline within neutral, anionic, and cationic superporous cryogel networks as conductive, semi‐interpenetrating polymer network cryogel composite systems
Authors: Sahiner Nurettin , Demirci Sahin 
Published: August 2016

ABSTRACTPolyaniline [p(An)], one of the most known conducting polymers, was prepared within superporus nonionic polyacrylamide [p(AAm)], anionic poly(2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐1‐propane sulfonic acid sodium salt) [p(AMPS)], and cationic poly(3‐acrylamidopropyltrimethyl ammonium chloride) [p(APTMACl)] cryogels. After they were synthesized, washed, and dried, the neutral p(AAm), anionic p(AMPS), and cationic p(APTMACl) cryogels were soaked in an ammonium persulfate/aniline solution (1:1.25 ratio) in 1 M hydrochloric acid for the in situ oxidative polymerization of p(An) with the cryogel matrices as templates or reactors. The prepared p(AAm)/p(An), p(AMPS)/p(An), and p(APTMACl)/p(An) semi‐interpenetrating polymer network (semi‐IPN) conductive cryogel composites were characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and conductivity analysis. The SEM images revealed that the superporus cryogel networks were almost completely filled with p(An) conductive polymers (CPs). Among the cryogel–CP semi‐IPNs, we found that p(AAm)/p(An) semi‐IPN conductive cryogel composites provided the highest conductivity values of 1.4 × 10−2 ± 4 × 10−4 S/cm; this was a 6.4 × 106 fold increase in the conductivity from the values of 2.2 × 10−9 ± 1 × 10−10 for p(AAm) cryogels. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 44137.
The electrostatic self‐assembly of microgels on polymer brushes and its effects on interfacial friction
Authors: Zhang Ran , Ma Shuanhong , Liu Guoqiang , Cai Meirong , Ye Qian , Yu Bo , Zhou Feng 
Published: August 2016

ABSTRACTIn this article, a series of monodisperse poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐acrylic acid) [P(NIPAm‐AA)] microgels were prepared with different content of acrylic acid (AA) by surfactant‐free emulsion polymerization, and their electrostatic self‐assemble and tribological behavior on polymer brushes were investigated. The ζ‐potential of microgels became more negative with the increase content of AA, which means a stronger hydration capability. For cationic poly[2‐(methacryloyloxy)ethyltrimethylammonium chloride] (PMETAC) brushes, negative P(NIPAm‐AA) microgels adsorbed on the surfaces of brushes as a result of the electrostatic interaction, and more AA content means stronger absorption ability. However, compared to the polymer brushes, P(NIPAm‐AA)2:1 and P(NIPAm‐AA)5:1 microgels possessed the weaker hydration capability, which led to a concomitant increase in friction of interface. In terms of P(NIPAm‐AA)10:1 microgels, due to the weak adsorption, they could be sheared off easily, leading to the PMETAC brushes swell again, and thus, a lower friction of interface was obtained. Moreover, the tribological behavior of microgels was significantly affected by the pH, especially the P(NIPAm‐AA)2:1 microgels exhibited good lubrication property in high pH solution due to high hydration of deprotonated carboxylic acid groups. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 44215.