bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Phonon limited superconducting correlations in metallic nanograins
Authors: Croitoru M. D. , Shanenko A. A. , Vagov A. , Milošević M. V. , Axt V. M. , Peeters F. M. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractConventional superconductivity is inevitably suppressed in ultra-small metallic grains for characteristic sizes smaller than the Anderson limit. Experiments have shown that above the Anderson limit the critical temperature may be either enhanced or reduced when decreasing the particle size, depending on the superconducting material. In addition, there is experimental evidence that whether an enhancement or a reduction is found depends on the strength of the electron-phonon interaction in the bulk. We reveal how the strength of the e-ph interaction interplays with the quantum-size effect and theoretically obtain the critical temperature of the superconducting nanograins in excellent agreement with experimental data. We demonstrate that strong e-ph scattering smears the peak structure in the electronic density-of-states of a metallic grain and enhances the electron mass and thereby limits the highest Tc achievable by quantum confinement.
Primary Tumor Resection Is Associated with Improved Survival in Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: An Instrumental Variable Analysis
Authors: Xu Hong , Xia Zuguang , Jia Xiaoyan , Chen Kai , Li Dapeng , Dai Yun , Tao Min , Mao Yixiang 
Published: November 2015

AbstractPrimary tumor resection (PTR) is recommended for patients with unresectable stage IV colorectal cancer (CRC) who present with symptoms related to their primary tumor. However, the survival benefit of PTR for asymptomatic patients is controversial. We investigated the change in PTR rates and the contribution of PTR to survival in patients with unresectable stage IV CRC over the past two decades in the United States. Clinicopathological factors and long-term survival were compared for 44 514 patients diagnosed with unresectable stage IV CRC from January 1, 1988, through December 31, 2010, who had or had not undergone PTR. Multivariable Cox regression and the instrumental variable method were used to identify independent factors for survival. Of the 44 514 patients with unresectable stage IV CRC, 27 931 (62.7%) had undergone PTR. The annual rate of PTR decreased from 74.4% to 50.2% diagnosed in 1988 and 2010 and the median overall survival increased for both PTR and non-PTR patients. Instrumental variable analyses revealed that PTR was associated with better overall, cancer-specific and other-cause survival of patients with unresectable stage IV CRC.
Magnesium homeostasis in colon carcinoma LoVo cells sensitive or resistant to doxorubicin
Authors: Castiglioni Sara , Cazzaniga Alessandra , Trapani Valentina , Cappadone Concettina , Farruggia Giovanna , Merolle Lucia , Wolf Federica I. , Iotti Stefano , Maier Jeanette A M 
Published: November 2015

AbstractNeoplastic cells accumulate magnesium, an event which provides selective advantages and is frequently associated with TRPM7overexpression. Little is known about magnesium homeostasis in drug-resistant cancer cells. Therefore, we used the colon cancer LoVo cell model and compared doxorubicin-resistant to sensitive cells. In resistant cells the concentration of total magnesium is higher while its influx capacity is lower than in sensitive cells. Accordingly, resistant cells express lower amounts of the TRPM6 and 7, both involved in magnesium transport. While decreased TRPM6 levels are due to transcriptional regulation, post-transcriptional events are involved in reducing the amounts of TRPM7. Indeed, the calpain inhibitor calpeptin markedly increases the levels of TRPM7 in resistant cells. In doxorubicin-sensitive cells, silencing TRPM7 shifts the phenotype to one more similar to resistant cells, since in these cells silencing TRPM7 significantly decreases the influx of magnesium, increases its intracellular concentration and increases resistance to doxorubicin. On the other hand, calpain inhibition upregulates TRPM7, decreases intracellular magnesium and enhances the sensitivity to doxorubicin of resistant LoVo cells. We conclude that in LoVo cells drug resistance is associated with alteration of magnesium homeostasis through modulation of TRPM7. Our data suggest that TRPM7 expression may be an additional undisclosed player in chemoresistance.
Optimization of human mesenchymal stem cell manufacturing: the effects of animal/xeno-free media
Authors: Oikonomopoulos Angelos , van Deen Welmoed K. , Manansala Aida-Rae , Lacey Precious N. , Tomakili Tamera A. , Ziman Alyssa , Hommes Daniel W. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractDue to their immunosuppressive properties, mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have been evaluated for the treatment of immunological diseases. However, the animal-derived growth supplements utilized for MSC manufacturing may lead to clinical complications. Characterization of alternative media formulations is imperative for MSC therapeutic application. Human BMMSC and AdMSC were expanded in media supplemented with either human platelet lysates (HPL), serum-free media/xeno-free FDA-approved culture medium (SFM/XF), or fetal bovine serum (FBS) and the effects on their properties were investigated. The immunophenotype of resting and IFN-γ primed BMMSC and AdMSC remained unaltered in all media. Both HPL and SFM/XF increased the proliferation of BMMSC and AdMSC. Expansion of BMMSC and AdMSC in HPL increased their differentiation, compared to SFM/XF and FBS. Resting BMMSC and AdMSC, expanded in FBS or SFM/XF, demonstrated potent immunosuppressive properties in both non-primed and IFN-γ primed conditions, whereas HPL-expanded MSC exhibited diminished immunosuppressive properties. Finally, IFN-γ primed BMMSC and AdMSC expanded in SFM/XF and HPL expressed attenuated levels of IDO-1 compared to FBS. Herein, we provide strong evidence supporting the use of the FDA-approved SFM/XF medium, in contrast to the HPL medium, for the expansion of MSC towards therapeutic applications.
Evidence for surprise minimization over value maximization in choice behavior
Authors: Schwartenbeck Philipp , FitzGerald Thomas H. B. , Mathys Christoph , Dolan Ray , Kronbichler Martin , Friston Karl 
Published: November 2015

AbstractClassical economic models are predicated on the idea that the ultimate aim of choice is to maximize utility or reward. In contrast, an alternative perspective highlights the fact that adaptive behavior requires agents’ to model their environment and minimize surprise about the states they frequent. We propose that choice behavior can be more accurately accounted for by surprise minimization compared to reward or utility maximization alone. Minimizing surprise makes a prediction at variance with expected utility models; namely, that in addition to attaining valuable states, agents attempt to maximize the entropy over outcomes and thus ‘keep their options open’. We tested this prediction using a simple binary choice paradigm and show that human decision-making is better explained by surprise minimization compared to utility maximization. Furthermore, we replicated this entropy-seeking behavior in a control task with no explicit utilities. These findings highlight a limitation of purely economic motivations in explaining choice behavior and instead emphasize the importance of belief-based motivations.
Absence of DAB2IP promotes cancer stem cell like signatures and indicates poor survival outcome in colorectal cancer
Authors: Min Jiang , Liu Liang , Li Xiaolan , Jiang Jianwu , Wang Jingtao , Zhang Bo , Cao Dengyi , Yu Dongdong , Tao Deding , Hu Junbo , Gong Jianping , Xie Daxing 
Published: November 2015

AbstractMetastasis is a critical factor for the high mortality of colorectal cancer (CRC), but its mechanism is not completely understood. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is thought to play a key role in metastasis and also increases the cancer stem cell (CSC) feature that facilitates metastatic colonization. In this study, we investigated the biological roles of DAB2IP regulating EMT and stem cell–like features in human CRC. We demonstrate that DAB2IP suppresses NF-κB-mediated EMT and CSC features in CRC cells. In DAB2IP knockout mice, we discovered the hyperplasia in colonic epithelium which aberrantly represents the mesenchymal feature and NF-κB pathway activation. In clinic CRC tissue, we also reveal that reduced DAB2IP can enrich the CD133+ subpopulation. DAB2IP expression was inversely correlated with tumor differentiation and metastasis and patients with lower DAB2IP expression had shorter overall survival time. Taken together, our study demonstrates that DAB2IP inhibits NF-κB-inducing EMT and CSC to suppress the CRC progression and also suggests that DAB2IP is a beneficial prediction factor for CRC patient prognosis.
Identification of neurotoxic cytokines by profiling Alzheimer’s disease tissues and neuron culture viability screening
Authors: Wood Levi B. , Winslow Ashley R. , Proctor Elizabeth A. , McGuone Declan , Mordes Daniel A. , Frosch Matthew P. , Hyman Bradley T. , Lauffenburger Douglas A. , Haigis Kevin M. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractAlzheimer’s disease (AD) therapeutics based on the amyloid hypothesis have shown minimal efficacy in patients, suggesting that the activity of amyloid beta (Aβ) represents only one aspect of AD pathogenesis. Since neuroinflammation is thought to play an important role in AD, we hypothesized that cytokines may play a direct role in promoting neuronal death. Here, we profiled cytokine expression in a small cohort of human AD and control brain tissues. We identified AD-associated cytokines using partial least squares regression to correlate cytokine expression with quantified pathologic disease state and then used neuron cultures to test whether cytokines up-regulated in AD tissues could affect neuronal viability. This analysis identified cytokines that were associated with the pathological severity. Of the top correlates, only TNF-α reduced viability in neuron culture when applied alone. VEGF also reduced viability when applied together with Aβ, which was surprising because VEGF has been viewed as a neuro-protective protein. We found that this synthetic pro-death effect of VEGF in the context of Aβ was commensurate with VEGFR-dependent changes in multiple signaling pathways that govern cell fate. Our findings suggest that profiling of tissues combined with a culture-based screening approach can successfully identify new mechanisms driving neuronal death.
Carbon-Encapsulated Co3O4 Nanoparticles as Anode Materials with Super Lithium Storage Performance
Authors: Leng Xuning , Wei Sufeng , Jiang Zhonghao , Lian Jianshe , Wang Guoyong , Jiang Qing 
Published: November 2015

AbstractA high-performance anode material for lithium storage was successfully synthesized by glucose as carbon source and cobalt nitrate as Co3O4 precursor with the assistance of sodium chloride surface as a template to reduce the carbon sheet thickness. Ultrafine Co3O4 nanoparticles were homogeneously embedded in ultrathin porous graphitic carbon in this material. The carbon sheets, which have large specific surface area, high electronic conductivity and outstanding mechanical flexibility, are very effective to keep the stability of Co3O4 nanoparticales which has a large capacity. As a consequence, a very high reversible capacity of up to 1413 mA h g−1 at a current density of 0.1 A g−1 after 100 cycles, a high rate capability (845, 560, 461 and 345 mA h g−1 at 5, 10, 15 and 20 C, respectively, 1 C = 1 A g−1) and a superior cycling performance at an ultrahigh rate (760 mA h g−1 at 5 C after 1000 cycles) are achieved by this lithium-ion-battery anode material.
Visualization of polymer relaxation in viscoelastic turbulent micro-channel flow
Authors: Tai Jiayan , Lim Chun Ping , Lam Yee Cheong 
Published: November 2015

AbstractIn micro-channels, the flow of viscous liquids e.g. water, is laminar due to the low Reynolds number in miniaturized dimensions. An aqueous solution becomes viscoelastic with a minute amount of polymer additives; its flow behavior can become drastically different and turbulent. However, the molecules are typically invisible. Here we have developed a novel visualization technique to examine the extension and relaxation of polymer molecules at high flow velocities in a viscoelastic turbulent flow. Using high speed videography to observe the fluorescein labeled molecules, we show that viscoelastic turbulence is caused by the sporadic, non-uniform release of energy by the polymer molecules. This developed technique allows the examination of a viscoelastic liquid at the molecular level and demonstrates the inhomogeneity of viscoelastic liquids as a result of molecular aggregation. It paves the way for a deeper understanding of viscoelastic turbulence and could provide some insights on the high Weissenberg number problem. In addition, the technique may serve as a useful tool for the investigations of polymer drag reduction.
TMEM16A/ANO1 is differentially expressed in HPV-negative versus HPV-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma through promoter methylation
Authors: Dixit Ronak , Kemp Carolyn , Kulich Scott , Seethala Raja , Chiosea Simion , Ling Shizhang , Ha Patrick K. , Duvvuri Umamaheswar 
Published: November 2015

AbstractHead and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has a variety of causes. Recently, the human papilloma virus (HPV) has been implicated in the rising incidence of oropharyngeal cancer and has led to variety of studies exploring the differences between HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCC. The calcium-activated chloride channel TMEM16A is overexpressed in a variety of cancers, including HNSCC, but whether or not it plays different roles in HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCC is unknown. Here, we demonstrate that TMEM16A is preferentially overexpressed in HPV-negative HNSCC and that this overexpression of TMEM16A is associated with decreased patient survival. We also show that TMEM16A expression is decreased in HPV-positive HNSCC at the DNA, RNA and protein levels in patient samples as well as cell lines. We demonstrate that the lower levels of TMEM16A expression in HPV-positive tumors can be attributed to both a combination of copy number alteration and promoter methylation at the DNA level. Additionally, our cellular data show that HPV-negative cell lines are more dependent on TMEM16A for survival than HPV-positive cell lines. Therefore, we suspect that the down-regulation of TMEM16A in HPV-positive HNSCC makes TMEM16A a poor therapeutic target in HPV-positive HNSCC, but a potentially useful target in HPV-negative HNSCC.
Elevated levels of endothelial-derived microparticles and serum CXCL9 and SCGF-β are associated with unstable asymptomatic carotid plaques.
Authors: Schiro Andrew , Wilkinson Fiona L. , Weston Ria , Smyth J. Vincent , Serracino-Inglott Ferdinand , Alexander M. Yvonne 
Published: November 2015

AbstractEndothelial microparticles (EMPs) are released from dysfunctional endothelial cells. We hypothesised that patients with unstable carotid plaque have higher levels of circulating microparticles compared to patients with stable plaques and may correlate with serum markers of plaque instability and inflammation. Circulating EMPs, platelet MPs (PMPs) and inflammatory markers were measured in healthy controls and patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. EMP/PMPs were quantified using flow cytometry. Bioplex assays profiled systemic inflammatory and bone-related proteins. Immunohistological analysis detailed the contribution of differentially-regulated systemic markers to plaque pathology. Alizarin red staining showed calcification. EMPs and PMPs were significantly higher in patients with carotid stenosis (≥70%) compared to controls, with no differences between asymptomatic vs symptomatic patients. Asymptomatic patients with unstable plaques exhibited higher levels of EMPs, CXCL9 and SCGF-β compared to those with stable plaques. CXCL9 and SCGF-β were detected within all plaques, suggesting a contribution to both localised and systemic inflammation. Osteopontin and osteoprotegerin were significantly elevated in the symptomatic vs asymptomatic group, while osteocalcin was higher in asymptomatic patients with stable plaque. All plaques exhibited calcification, which was significantly greater in asymptomatic patients. This may impact on plaque stability. These data could be important in identifying patients at most benefit from intervention.
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Defining high-risk patients who may benefit before concurrent chemotherapy combined with intensity-modulated radiotherapy
Authors: Du Xiao-Jing , Tang Ling-Long , Chen Lei , Mao Yan-Ping , Guo Rui , Liu Xu , Sun Ying , Zeng Mu-Sheng , Kang Tie-Bang , Shao Jian-Yong , Lin Ai-Hua , Ma Jun 
Published: November 2015

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to create a prognostic model for distant metastasis in patients with locally advanced NPC who accept concurrent chemotherapy combined with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (CCRT) to identify high-risk patients who may benefit from neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). A total of 881 patients with newly-diagnosed, non-disseminated, biopsy-proven locoregionally advanced NPC were retrospectively reviewed; 411 (46.7%) accepted CCRT and 470 (53.3%) accepted NACT followed by CCRT. Multivariate analysis demonstrated N2–3 disease, plasma Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) DNA > 4000 copies/mL, serum albumin ≤46 g/L and platelet count >300 k/cc were independent prognostic factors for distant metastasis in the CCRT group. Using these four factors, a prognostic model was developed, as follows: 1) low-risk group: 0–1 risk factors; and 2) high-risk group: 2–4 risk factors. In the high-risk group, patients who accepted NACT + CCRT had significantly higher distant metastasis-free survival and progression-free survival rates than the CCRT group (P = 0.001; P = 0.011). This simple prognostic model for distant metastasis in locoregionally advanced NPC may facilitate with the selection of high-risk patients who may benefit from NACT prior to CCRT.
Topology of a G-quadruplex DNA formed by C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeats associated with ALS and FTD
Authors: Zhou Bo , Liu Changdong , Geng Yanyan , Zhu Guang 
Published: November 2015

AbstractAbnormal expansions of an intronic hexanucleotide GGGGCC (G4C2) repeat of the C9orf72 gene are the most common genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Previous studies suggested that the C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion (HRE), either as DNA or the transcribed RNA, can fold into G-quadruplexes with distinct structures. These structural polymorphisms lead to abortive transcripts and contribute to the pathogenesis of ALS and FTD. Using circular dichroism (CD) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, we analyzed the structures of C9orf72 HRE DNA with various G4C2 repeats. They exhibited diverse G-quadruplex folds in potassium ions. Furthermore, we determined the topology of a G-quadruplex formed by d(G4C2)4. It favors a monomeric fold and forms a chair-type G-quadruplex with a four-layer antiparallel G-tetra core and three edgewise loops, which is distinct from known structures of chair-type G-quadruplexes. Our findings highlight the conformational heterogeneity of C9orf72 HRE DNA and may lay the necessary structural basis for designing small molecules for the modulation of ALS/FTD pathogenesis.
Electromagnetic Initiation and Propagation of Bipolar Radiofrequency Tissue Reactions via Invasive Non-Insulated Microneedle Electrodes
Authors: Na Jongju , Zheng Zhenlong , Dannaker Christopher , Lee Sang Eun , Kang Jin-Soo , Cho Sung Bin 
Published: November 2015

AbstractRadiofrequency (RF) energy can be emitted into the skin, either non- or invasively, via a monopolar mode that utilizes an active electrode and a grounded electrode or via a bipolar mode that employs two active electrodes. In this experimental study of RF tissue reactions, bipolar RF energy was emitted in vivo to micropig skin at varying microneedle penetration depths, signal amplitudes and conduction times. Immediately after RF treatment, skin samples exhibited RF-induced coagulation columns of thermal injury, separately generated around each microneedle in the dermis. In ex vivo bovine liver tissue, the thermal coagulation columns were found to be concentrated maximally around the pointed tips of each electrode. After a RF conduction time of 2 seconds, the individual areas of thermal coagulation began to converge with neighboring RF-induced coagulation columns; the convergence of coagulation columns was found to start from the tips of neighboring electrodes.
Time-Domain Filtering of Metasurfaces
Authors: Wakatsuchi Hiroki 
Published: November 2015

AbstractIn general electromagnetic response of each material to a continuous wave does not vary in time domain if the frequency component remains the same. Recently, it turned out that integrating several circuit elements including schottky diodes with periodically metallised surfaces, or the so-called metasurfaces, leads to selectively absorbing specific types of waveforms or pulse widths even at the same frequency. These waveform-selective metasurfaces effectively showed different absorbing performances for different widths of pulsed sine waves by gradually varying their electromagnetic responses in time domain. Here we study time-filtering effects of such circuit-based metasurfaces illuminated by continuous sine waves. Moreover, we introduce extra circuit elements to these structures to enhance the time-domain control capability. These time-varying properties are expected to give us another degree of freedom to control electromagnetic waves and thus contribute to developing new kinds of electromagnetic applications and technologies, e.g. time-windowing wireless communications and waveform conversion.
Urea‐assisted combustion synthesis of porous Li1.2Ni0.13Co0.13Mn0.54O2 microspheres as high‐performance lithium‐ion battery cathodes
Authors: Zhao Chenhao , Hu Zhibiao , Qiu Zehai , Liu Kaiyu 
Published: November 2015

An initial urea‐assisted combustion and subsequent high‐temperature crystallisation route have been used to prepare porous Li1.2Ni0.13Co0.13Mn0.54O2 microspheres. The as obtained microspheres with the size of 2–4 μm are composed of numerous nanoparticles, and these nanoparticles with clear corner and edge have the size of 100–200 nm. A possible formation process of porous microspheres structures is discussed. As lithium‐ion battery cathodes, the porous microspheres can deliver an initial discharge capacity of 252.3 mAh g−1 with high Coulombic efficiency of 80.6% at current density of 20 mA g−1, and keep a stable discharge capacity of 115.5 mAh g−1 at 1000 mA g−1. Although the sample obtained without urea only deliver a discharge capacity of 66.7 mAh g−1 at 1000 mA g−1. Maybe, the facile urea‐assisted combustion route is suitable for the synthesis of lithium‐rich layered oxides as lithium‐ion battery cathodes.