bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Violacein as a genetically-controlled, enzymatically amplified and photobleaching-resistant chromophore for optoacoustic bacterial imaging
Authors: Jiang Yuanyuan , Sigmund Felix , Reber Josefine , Luís Deán-Ben Xosé , Glasl Sarah , Kneipp Moritz , Estrada Héctor , Razansky Daniel , Ntziachristos Vasilis , Westmeyer Gil G. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThere is growing interest in genetically expressed reporters for in vivo studies of bacterial colonization in the context of infectious disease research, studies of the bacterial microbiome or cancer imaging and treatment. To empower non-invasive high-resolution bacterial tracking with deep tissue penetration, we herein use the genetically controlled biosynthesis of the deep-purple pigment Violacein as a photobleaching-resistant chromophore label for in vivo optoacoustic (photoacoustic) imaging in the near-infrared range. We demonstrate that Violacein-producing bacteria can be imaged with high contrast-to-noise in strongly vascularized xenografted murine tumors and further observe that Violacein shows anti-tumoral activity. Our experiments thus identify Violacein as a robust bacterial label for non-invasive optoacoustic imaging with high potential for basic research and future theranostic applications in bacterial tumor targeting.
Tuneable Magnetic Phase Transitions in Layered CeMn2Ge2-xSix Compounds
Authors: Md Din M. F. , Wang J. L. , Cheng Z. X. , Dou S. X. , Kennedy S. J. , Avdeev M. , Campbell S. J. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe structural and magnetic properties of seven CeMn2Ge2-xSix compounds with x = 0.0–2.0 have been investigated in detail. Substitution of Ge with Si leads to a monotonic decrease of both a and c along with concomitant contraction of the unit cell volume and significant modifications of the magnetic states - a crossover from ferromagnetism at room temperature for Ge-rich compounds to antiferromagnetism for Si-rich compounds. The magnetic phase diagram has been constructed over the full range of CeMn2Ge2-xSix compositions and co-existence of ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism has been observed in CeMn2Ge1.2Si0.8, CeMn2Ge1.0Si1.0 and CeMn2Ge0.8Si1.2 with novel insight provided by high resolution neutron and X-ray synchrotron radiation studies. CeMn2Ge2-xSix compounds (x = 0, 0.4 and 0.8) exhibit moderate isothermal magnetic entropy accompanied with a second-order phase transition around room temperature. Analysis of critical behaviour in the vicinity of TCinter for CeMn2Ge2 compound indicates behaviour consistent with three-dimensional Heisenberg model predictions.
Novel small-molecule SIRT1 inhibitors induce cell death in adult T-cell leukaemia cells
Authors: Kozako Tomohiro , Suzuki Takayoshi , Yoshimitsu Makoto , Uchida Yuichiro , Kuroki Ayako , Aikawa Akiyoshi , Honda Shin-ichiro , Arima Naomichi , Soeda Shinji 
Published: June 2015

AbstractAdult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATL) is an aggressive T-cell malignancy that develops after long-term infection with human T-cell leukaemia virus (HTLV)-1. The identification of new molecular targets for ATL prevention and treatment is desired. SIRT1, a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide+ -dependent histone/protein deacetylase, plays crucial roles in various physiological processes, including aging and apoptosis. We previously reported that ATL patients had significantly higher SIRT1 protein levels than healthy controls. Here, we demonstrate that two novel small-molecule SIRT1 inhibitors, NCO-01/04, reduced cell viability and enhanced apoptotic cells in peripheral blood monocyte cells of patients with acute ATL, which has a poor prognosis. NCO-01/04 also reduced the cell viability with DNA fragmentation, Annexin V-positive cells and caspase activation. However, a caspase inhibitor did not inhibit this caspase-dependent cell death. NCO-01/04 enhanced the endonuclease G level in the nucleus with loss of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential, which can promote caspase-independent death. Interestingly, NCO-01/04 increased the LC3-II-enriched protein fraction, indicating autophagosome accumulation as well as autophagy. Thus, NCO-01/04 simultaneously caused caspase activation and autophagy. These results suggest that NCO-01/04 is highly effective against ATL cells in caspase-dependent or -independent manners with autophagy and that its clinical application might improve the prognosis of patients with this fatal disease.
Validation of the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10): A study on illicit drug use among Chinese pregnant women
Authors: Lam Lap Po , Leung Wing Cheong , Ip Patrick , Chow Chun Bong , Chan Mei Fung , Ng Judy Wai Ying , Sing Chu , Lam Ying Hoo , Mak Wing Lai Tony , Chow Kam Ming , Chin Robert Kien Howe 
Published: June 2015

AbstractWe assessed the Chinese version of the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10) for identifying illicit drug use during pregnancy among Chinese population. Chinese pregnant women attending their first antenatal visit or their first unbooked visit to the maternity ward were recruited during a 4-month study period in 2011. The participants completed self-administered questionnaires on demographic information, a single question on illicit drug use during pregnancy and the DAST-10. Urine samples screened positive by the urine Point-of-Care Test were confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. DAST-10 performance was compared with three different gold standards: urinalysis, self-reported drug use and evidence of drug use by urinalysis or self-report. 1214 Chinese pregnant women participated in the study and 1085 complete DAST-10 forms were collected. Women who had used illicit drugs had significantly different DAST-10 scores than those who had not. The sensitivity of DAST-10 for identify illicit drug use in pregnant women ranged from 79.2% to 33.3% and specificity ranged from 67.7% to 99.7% using cut-off scores from ≥1 to ≥3. The ~80% sensitivity of DAST-10 using a cut-off score of ≥1 should be sufficient for screening of illicit drug use in Chinese pregnant women, but validation tests for drug use are needed.
In Silico Prediction and Experimental Confirmation of HA Residues Conferring Enhanced Human Receptor Specificity of H5N1 Influenza A Viruses
Authors: Schmier Sonja , Mostafa Ahmed , Haarmann Thomas , Bannert Norbert , Ziebuhr John , Veljkovic Veljko , Dietrich Ursula , Pleschka Stephan 
Published: June 2015

AbstractNewly emerging influenza A viruses (IAV) pose a major threat to human health by causing seasonal epidemics and/or pandemics, the latter often facilitated by the lack of pre-existing immunity in the general population. Early recognition of candidate pandemic influenza viruses (CPIV) is of crucial importance for restricting virus transmission and developing appropriate therapeutic and prophylactic strategies including effective vaccines. Often, the pandemic potential of newly emerging IAV is only fully recognized once the virus starts to spread efficiently causing serious disease in humans. Here, we used a novel phylogenetic algorithm based on the informational spectrum method (ISM) to identify potential CPIV by predicting mutations in the viral hemagglutinin (HA) gene that are likely to (differentially) affect critical interactions between the HA protein and target cells from bird and human origin, respectively. Predictions were subsequently validated by generating pseudotyped retrovirus particles and genetically engineered IAV containing these mutations and characterizing potential effects on virus entry and replication in cells expressing human and avian IAV receptors, respectively. Our data suggest that the ISM-based algorithm is suitable to identify CPIV among IAV strains that are circulating in animal hosts and thus may be a new tool for assessing pandemic risks associated with specific strains.
Carbon accumulation in arid croplands of northwest China: pedogenic carbonate exceeding organic carbon
Authors: Wang Xiujun , Wang Jiaping , Xu Minggang , Zhang Wenju , Fan Tinglu , Zhang Juan 
Published: June 2015

AbstractSoil carbonate (SIC) exceeds organic carbon (SOC) greatly in arid lands, thus may be important for carbon sequestration. However, field data for quantifying carbonate accumulation have been lacking. This study aims to improve our understanding of SIC dynamics and its role in carbon sequestration. We analyzed two datasets of SOC and SIC and their 13C compositions , one with over 100 soil samples collected recently from various land uses in the Yanqi Basin, Xinjiang and the other with 18 archived soil samples from a long-term experiment (LTE) in Pingliang, Gansu. The data from the Yanqi Basin showed that SOC had a significant relationship with SIC and pedogenic carbonate (PIC); converting shrub land to cropland increased PIC stock by 5.2 kg C m−2, which was 3.6 times of that in SOC stock. The data from the LTE showed greater accumulation of PIC (21–49 g C m−2 year−1) than SOC (10–39 g C m−2 year−1) over 0–20 cm. Our study points out that intensive cropping in the arid and semi-arid regions leads to an increase in both SOC and PIC. Increasing SOC through straw organic amendments enhances PIC accumulation in the arid cropland of northwestern China.
Preclinical optimization of a broad-spectrum anti-bladder cancer tri-drug regimen via the Feedback System Control (FSC) platform
Authors: Liu Qi , Zhang Cheng , Ding Xianting , Deng Hui , Zhang Daming , Cui Wei , Xu Hongwei , Wang Yingwei , Xu Wanhai , Lv Lei , Zhang Hongyu , He Yinghua , Wu Qiong , Szyf Moshe , Ho Chih-Ming , Zhu Jingde 
Published: June 2015

AbstractTherapeutic outcomes of combination chemotherapy have not significantly advanced during the past decades. This has been attributed to the formidable challenges of optimizing drug combinations. Testing a matrix of all possible combinations of doses and agents in a single cell line is unfeasible due to the virtually infinite number of possibilities. We utilized the Feedback System Control (FSC) platform, a phenotype oriented approach to test 100 options among 15,625 possible combinations in four rounds of assaying to identify an optimal tri-drug combination in eight distinct chemoresistant bladder cancer cell lines. This combination killed between 82.86% and 99.52% of BCa cells, but only 47.47% of the immortalized benign bladder epithelial cells. Preclinical in vivo verification revealed its markedly enhanced anti-tumor efficacy as compared to its bi- or mono-drug components in cell line-derived tumor xenografts. The collective response of these pathways to component drugs was both cell type- and drug type specific. However, the entire spectrum of pathways triggered by the tri-drug regimen was similar in all four cancer cell lines, explaining its broad spectrum killing of BCa lines, which did not occur with its component drugs. Our findings here suggest that the FSC platform holdspromise for optimization of anti-cancer combination chemotherapy.
Diffusive Propagation of Exciton-Polaritons through Thin Crystal Slabs
Authors: Zaitsev D. A. , Il’ynskaya N. D. , Koudinov A. V. , Poletaev N. K. , Nikitina E. V. , Egorov A. Yu. , Kavokin A. V. , Seisyan R. P. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractIf light beam propagates through matter containing point impurity centers, the amount of energy absorbed by the media is expected to be either independent of the impurity concentration N or proportional to N, corresponding to the intrinsic absorption or impurity absorption, respectively. Comparative studies of the resonant transmission of light in the vicinity of exciton resonances measured for 15 few-micron GaAs crystal slabs with different values of N, reveal a surprising tendency. While N spans almost five decimal orders of magnitude, the normalized spectrally-integrated absorption of light scales with the impurity concentration as N1/6. We show analytically that this dependence is a signature of the diffusive mechanism of propagation of exciton-polaritons in a semiconductor.
Intersubband Transition in GaN/InGaN Multiple Quantum Wells
Authors: Chen G. , Wang X. Q. , Rong X. , Wang P. , Xu F. J. , Tang N. , Qin Z. X. , Chen Y. H. , Shen B. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractUtilizing the growth temperature controlled epitaxy, high quality GaN/In0.15Ga0.85N multiple quantum wells designed for intersubband transition (ISBT) as novel candidates in III-nitride infrared device applications have been experimentally realized for the first time. Photo-absorption originated from the ISBT has been successfully observed at infrared regime covering the 3–5 μm atmosphere window, where the central absorption wavelength is modulated by adjusting the quantum well width. With increasing the quantum well thickness, the ISBT center wave length blue shifts at thickness less than 2.8 nm and then redshifts with further increase of the well thickness. The non-monotonic trend is most likely due to the polarization induced asymmetric shape of the quantum wells.
Generation of inheritable and “transgene clean” targeted genome-modified rice in later generations using the CRISPR/Cas9 system
Authors: Xu Rong-Fang , Li Hao , Qin Rui-Ying , Li Juan , Qiu Chun-Hong , Yang Ya-Chun , Ma Hui , Li Li , Wei Peng-Cheng , Yang Jian-Bo 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe CRISPR/Cas9 system is becoming an important genome editing tool for crop breeding. Although it has been demonstrated that target mutations can be transmitted to the next generation, their inheritance pattern has not yet been fully elucidated. Here, we describe the CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing of four different rice genes with the help of online target-design tools. High-frequency mutagenesis and a large percentage of putative biallelic mutations were observed in T0 generations. Nonetheless, our results also indicate that the progeny genotypes of biallelic T0 lines are frequently difficult to predict and that the transmission of mutations largely does not conform to classical genetic laws, which suggests that the mutations in T0 transgenic rice are mainly somatic mutations. Next, we followed the inheritance pattern of T1 plants. Regardless of the presence of the CRISPR/Cas9 transgene, the mutations in T1 lines were stably transmitted to later generations, indicating a standard germline transmission pattern. Off-target effects were also evaluated and our results indicate that with careful target selection, off-target mutations are rare in CRISPR/Cas9-mediated rice gene editing. Taken together, our results indicate the promising production of inheritable and “transgene clean” targeted genome-modified rice in the T1 generation using the CRISPR/Cas9 system.
Relations Among Children's Use of Dialect and Literacy Skills: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Gatlin Brandy , Wanzek Jeanne 
Published: June 2015

Purpose
The current meta-analysis examines recent empirical research studies that have investigated relations among dialect use and the development and achievement of reading, spelling, and writing skills.

Method
Studies published between 1998 and 2014 were selected if they: (a) included participants who were in Grades K–6 and were typically developing native English speakers, (b) examined a concurrent quantitative relationship between dialect use and literacy, including reading, spelling, or writing measures, and (c) contained sufficient information to calculate effect size estimates.

Results

Upon the removal of one study that was found to be an outlier, the full sample included 19 studies consisting of 1,947 participants, of which the majority (70%) were African American. The results showed a negative and moderate relationship between dialect use and overall literacy performance (
M
effect size = −0.33) and for dialect and reading (
M
effect size = −0.32). For spelling and writing, the relationship was negative and small (
M
effect size = −0.22). Moderator analyses revealed that socioeconomic status and grade level were not significant predictors for relations among dialect use and literacy skills.

Conclusions
Implications for practice and future research, including analyzing dialect use in a variety of contexts and examining these relations to literacy outcomes, are discussed.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.6170336
A Read-Aloud Storybook Selection System for Prereaders at the Preschool Language Level: A Pilot Study
Authors: Schwarz Amy Louise , van Kleeck Anne , Beaton Derek , Horne Erin , MacKenzie Heather , Abdi Hervé 
Published: June 2015

Purpose
Many well-accepted systems for determining difficulty level exist for books children read independently, but few are available for determining the wide range of difficulty levels of storybooks read aloud to preschoolers. Also, the available tools list book characteristics only on the basis of parents' or authors' opinions. We created an empirically derived difficulty-level system on the basis of 22 speech-language pathologists' (SLPs) judgments of specific storybooks used in preschooler read-alouds.

Method
SLPs sorted 11 storybooks into ranked stacks on the basis of how difficult they thought the storybooks would be for preschoolers to understand when read aloud. SLPs described each stack globally as well as why they assigned each storybook to a particular stack. From transcriptions of the explanations, we derived a glossary of book characteristics using content analysis. We created a difficulty-level scale using a multivariate analysis technique that simultaneously analyzed book sorts and glossary terms.

Results
The book selection system includes a glossary of book characteristics, a 4-level difficulty scale, and exemplar books for each level.

Conclusion
This empirically derived difficulty-level system created for storybooks read aloud to preschoolers represents a step toward filling a gap in the read-aloud literature.
Effects of Regulated River Flows on Habitat Suitability for the Robust Redhorse
Authors: Fisk J. Michael , Kwak Thomas J. , Heise Ryan J. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe Robust Redhorse Moxostoma robustum is a rare and imperiled fish, with wild populations occurring in three drainages from North Carolina to Georgia. Hydroelectric dams have altered the species' habitat and restricted its range. An augmented minimum‐flow regime that will affect Robust Redhorse habitat was recently prescribed for Blewett Falls Dam, a hydroelectric facility on the Pee Dee River, North Carolina. Our objective was to quantify suitable spawning and nonspawning habitat under current and proposed minimum‐flow regimes. We implanted radio transmitters into 27 adult Robust Redhorses and relocated the fish from spring 2008 to summer 2009, and we described habitat at 15 spawning capture locations. Nonspawning habitat consisted of deep, slow‐moving pools (mean depth = 2.3 m; mean velocity = 0.23 m/s), bedrock and sand substrates, and boulders or coarse woody debris as cover. Spawning habitat was characterized as shallower, faster‐moving water (mean depth = 0.84 m; mean velocity = 0.61 m/s) with gravel and cobble as substrates and boulders as cover associated with shoals. Telemetry relocations revealed two behavioral subgroups: a resident subgroup (linear range [mean ± SE] = 7.9 ± 3.7 river kilometers [rkm]) that remained near spawning areas in the Piedmont region throughout the year; and a migratory subgroup (linear range = 64.3 ± 8.4 rkm) that migrated extensively downstream into the Coastal Plain region. Spawning and nonspawning habitat suitability indices were developed based on field microhabitat measurements and were applied to model suitable available habitat (weighted usable area) for current and proposed augmented minimum flows. Suitable habitat (both spawning and nonspawning) increased for each proposed seasonal minimum flow relative to former minimum flows, with substantial increases for spawning sites. Our results contribute to an understanding of how regulated flows affect available habitats for imperiled species. Flow managers can use these findings to regulate discharge more effectively and to create and maintain important habitats during critical periods for priority species.
Conditional Capture Probability of Pallid Sturgeon in Benthic Trawls
Authors: Steffensen Kirk D. , Wilhelm Josh J. , Haas Justin D. , Adams J. David 
Published: June 2015

Abstract
Long-term population monitoring assumes that relative abundance reflects trends in the population. Sampling efficiency and capture probability are assumed to be consistent so samples can be temporally and spatially compared. Benthic otter trawls are being used for a long-term monitoring project on the Missouri River. To estimate the capture probability of Pallid Sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus, we used acoustic telemetry to locate and target tagged sturgeon with benthic otter trawls. Conditional capture probability (pi*) of a fish in a known location was only 0.08 on the first pass, increased slightly (pi* = 0.18) on the second pass, and again on the third pass (pi* = 0.26). Individual habitat parameters or their interactions did not explain when Pallid Sturgeon were successfully or unsuccessfully captured. Our study suggests that otter trawls are a highly inefficient gear for capturing Scaphirhynchus species. Therefore, relative abundance indices based on otter trawl captures need to be assessed cautiously for juvenile and adult Pallid Sturgeon, especially in highly variable conditions.
Received December 4, 2014; accepted March 19, 2015
Mythbusters: What's Real and What's Not When It Comes to Fish Drugs
Authors: Bowker James D , Trushenski Jesse T 
Published: June 2015

Abstract
Successful fish culture programs take a comprehensive approach to disease management, broodstock conditioning and spawning, marking progeny, and reducing handling stress. Occasionally, drugs are needed to facilitate these tasks, and the only drugs legally available are those that have been approved for such use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. A lack of understanding of the approval process and how these products are actually used in fish culture has led to unfounded concerns regarding potential human health issues, unsafe drug residue levels in fish stocked into public waters, and the discharge of elevated concentrations of drugs in hatchery effluents. The rigorous drug approval process requires extensive data to demonstrate that a drug is safe and effective for fish as well as safe to humans and the environment, that it is manufactured and packaged properly, and that it is labeled to avoid misuse. Further, the approval process assumes a naive user and is structured to ensure that, if a drug is approved, even inexperienced personnel could be expected to apply it safely and effectively. If inexperienced personnel can apply these products successfully, experienced fisheries professionals certainly can. In this paper, concerns and misconceptions regarding the drug approval process and use of drugs in fish culture are addressed from a fishery biologist's perspective.