Tuned magnetic properties of Co-doped ZnO/B-doped graphene PN junction

Publication date: 5 July 2018
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 149
Author(s): Yifan Xu, Ranran Zhang, Jun Qian, Hongyan Wang, Peng Wang, Shuangli Ye
Co-doped ZnO(Zn1−xCoxO)/B-doped graphene(BG) PN junction with quasi-core-shell nanostructure is designed and fabricated by a facile chemical process. The interplay between the Zn1−xCoxO core and the BG shell is discussed. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and photoluminescence (PL) spectra confirm that B and Co²⁺ ions are doped successfully. The C1s XPS spectra suggest the formation of the Zn(Co)OCO bonds, which can efficiently transfer the holes from BG to Zn1−xCoxO. X-ray diffraction (XRD) displays that Co doping hardly changes the wurtzite structure of ZnO. It can be clearly seen that edge of the BG covers Zn1−xCoxO to form the quasi-core-shell structure by High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The position of the G band in Raman spectrum indicates that BG is P-type. The interaction between the Zn1−xCoxO and BG can be found by the red-shifts of E2H band of Zn1−xCoxO and broader 2D of BG as well. Magnetization measurement demonstrates that the increasing of the ferromagnetic phases in Zn1−xCoxO/BG nanoparticles with the increasing temperature. The observed ferromagnetic phases can be due to the exchange of the electron/hole at interface in the Zn1−xCoxO/BG PN junction.

Graphical abstract

https://ift.tt/2HbqWdH

Random short sisal fiber biocomposites: Optimal manufacturing process and reliable theoretical models

Publication date: 5 July 2018
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 149
Author(s): Bernardo Zuccarello, Giuseppe Marannano
Although several works have been published in literature on agave fibers and their biocomposites, accurate information about the choice of both the fibers and the manufacturing processes that allow the user to optimize the biocomposites properties in terms of strength and stiffness are not yet available; also, no theoretical models that can be used for an accurate evaluation of the mechanical properties of these biocomposites, are reported.To this aim, the present work intends to give a contribution by considering green epoxy biocomposites reinforced by both short and discontinuous sisal agave fibers arranged in proper MAT-type fabrics. In particular, an optimized manufacturing process that allows to obtain good quality biocomposites, is proposed. A detailed analysis of the experimental results, obtained through preliminary pull-out and tensile tests carried out, along with an accurate analysis of the damage process performed by SEM micrographs, have allowed to develop reliable theoretical models that permit the mechanical properties evaluation of the analyzed biocomposites.Finally, the comparison with the most performing short/discontinuous fiber biocomposites reported in literature has shown how the implemented biocomposites exhibit comparable tensile strength and significantly higher stiffness, also respect to biocomposites reinforced by more stiff and more expensive fibers (flax, hemp, etc.).

Graphical abstract

https://ift.tt/2ILtpsx

Editorial Board

Publication date: May 2018
Source:Peptides, Volume 103





https://ift.tt/2EFfxOg

Asymmetric Tyrosination of Spindle Microtubules Facilitates Selfish Inheritance

Publication date: Available online 10 April 2018
Source:Trends in Cell Biology
Author(s): Shikha Laloraya
Meiotic drive is an enigmatic process that results from biased segregation of selfish genetic elements that enhance their own transmission and drive evolution. During asymmetric female meiotic divisions, selfish elements segregate preferentially towards the egg rather than polar bodies. Recent findings demonstrate that asymmetric spindle tyrosination helps selfish elements to cheat.



https://ift.tt/2qpX2rE

Natural killer cells target and differentiate cancer stem-like cells/undifferentiated tumors: strategies to optimize their growth and expansion for effective cancer immunotherapy

Publication date: April 2018
Source:Current Opinion in Immunology, Volume 51
Author(s): Kawaljit Kaur, Milica Perišić Nanut, Meng-Wei Ko, Tahmineh Safaie, Janko Kos, Anahid Jewett
Natural killer (NK) cells are known to select and differentiate cancer stem-like cells/undifferentiated tumors via lysis, and secreted/membrane bound IFN-γ and TNF-α respectively, resulting in the control of tumor growth. Several in vivo mouse models including humanized-BLT mice have been used to study the biology and significance of NK cells in selection/differentiation of stem-like tumors within the context of a reconstituted human immune system. In addition, we discuss the evidence and significance of NK cell loss at the pre-neoplastic stage. Therefore, because of their indispensable role in targeting CSCs/undifferentiated tumors, NK-cells should be placed high in the armamentarium of tumor therapy.



https://ift.tt/2GN4mF2

Reply

Publication date: Available online 10 April 2018
Source:The Journal of Emergency Medicine
Author(s): Brit Long, Drew Long, Alex Koyfman




https://ift.tt/2qo9Nnu

Simple and label-free pathogen enrichment via homobifunctional imidoesters using a microfluidic (SLIM) system for ultrasensitive pathogen detection in various clinical specimens

Publication date: 15 July 2018
Source:Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Volume 111
Author(s): Choong Eun Jin, Bonhan Koo, Eun Yeong Lee, Ji Yeun Kim, Sung-Han Kim, Yong Shin
Diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms including bacteria and viruses can cause serious medical issues including death and result in huge economic losses. Despite the myriad of recent advances in the rapid and accurate detection of pathogens, large volume clinical samples with a low concentration of pathogens continue to present challenges for diagnosis and surveillance. We here report a simple and label-free approach via homobifunctional imidoesters (HIs) with a microfluidic platform (SLIM) to efficiently enrich and extract pathogens at low concentrations from clinical samples. The SLIM system consists of an assembled double microfluidic chip for streamlining large volume processing and HIs for capturing pathogens and isolating nucleic acids by both electrostatic and covalent interaction without a chaotropic detergent or bulky instruments. The SLIM system significantly increases the enrichment and extraction rate of pathogens (up to 80% at 10 CFU (colony forming unit) in a 1 mL volume within 50 min). We demonstrated its clinical utility in large sample volumes from 46 clinical specimens including environmental swabs, saliva, and blood plasma. The SLIM system showed higher sensitivity with these samples and could detect pathogens that were below the threshold of detection with other methods. Finally, by combining our SLIM approach with an isothermal optical sensor, pathogens could be detected at a very high sensitivity in blood plasma samples within 80 min via enrichment, extraction and detection steps. Our SLIM system thus provides a simple, reliable, cost-effective and ultrasensitive pathogen diagnosis platform for use with large volume clinical samples and would thus have significant utility for various infectious diseases.



https://ift.tt/2GQ5nQA

A sensitive signal-on photoelectrochemical sensor for tetracycline determination using visible-light-driven flower-like CN/BiOBr composites

Publication date: 15 July 2018
Source:Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Volume 111
Author(s): Pengcheng Yan, Desheng Jiang, Yuhui Tian, Li Xu, Junchao Qian, Henan Li, Jiexiang Xia, Huaming Li
As a broad-spectrum antibiotic, tetracycline (TC) is widely used in agricultural purposes and human therapy. More attention is paid to TC as a serious threat to human health, including the fast spreading of antibiotic resistance gene and the serious toxicity to aquatic organisms. Therefore, the timely and accurate determination of TC residues is an urgent task to protect the safety of human. Herein, an effective and facile photoelectrochemical sensor platform based on carbon nitride/bismuth oxyhalide (CN/BiOBr) composites can be constructed for monitoring TC. The flower-like CN/BiOBr composites are prepared via a simple one-pot ethylene glycol-assisted solvothermal process with the addition of ionic liquid 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C16mim]Br). In view of matched energy band positions of CN and BiOBr, the addition of CN can reduce the recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs and improve the efficiency of visible light utilization, leading to enhancing photoelectrochemical response of BiOBr. Under light excitation, the photocurrent of CN/BiOBr composites is drastically improved, which is 6 times as much as that of pure BiOBr. Considering the superior photoelectrochemical performance, a photoelectrochemical sensor for monitoring TC has been developed, displaying linearly enhanced photocurrent with increasing the TC concentration. Two linear relationships received are from 8.0 to 4.0 × 10² ng mL⁻¹, and 4.0 × 10² to 5.2 × 10³ ng mL⁻¹, respectively. The detection limit is 3.8 ng mL⁻¹. The photoelectrochemical sensor exhibits a series of benefits including excellent stability, a wide linear range, a low detection limit and good anti-interference ability. Therefore, this work may offer great promises in providing a universal and efficient photoelectrochemical sensor for the tetracycline detection, and pave the way of constructing more materials used in photoelectrochemical detection field.

Graphical abstract

https://ift.tt/2qp6Sdp

One-by-one imprinting in two eccentric layers of hollow core-shells: Sequential electroanalysis of anti-HIV drugs

Publication date: 15 July 2018
Source:Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Volume 111
Author(s): Kislay Singh, Swadha Jaiswal, Richa Singh, Sana Fatma, Bhim Bali Prasad
Double layered one-by-one imprinted hollow core-shells@ pencil graphite electrode was fabricated for sequential sensing of anti-HIV drugs. For this, two eccentric layers were developed on the surface of vinylated silica nanospheres to obtain double layered one-by-one imprinted solid core-shells. This yielded hollow core-shells on treatment with hydrofluoric acid. The modified hollow core-shells (single layered dual imprinted) evolved competitive diffusion of probe/analyte molecules. However, the corresponding double layered one-by-one imprinted hollow core-shells (outer layer imprinted with Zidovudine, and inner layer with Lamivudine) were found relatively better owing to their bilateral diffusions into molecular cavities, without any competition. The entire work is based on differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry at double layered one-by-one imprinted hollow core-shells. This resulted in indirect detection of electro inactive targets with limits of detection as low as 0.91 and 0.12 (aqueous sample), 0.94 and 0.13 (blood serum), and 0.99 and 0.20 ng mL^-1 (pharmaceutics) for lamivudine and zidovudine, respectively in anti-HIV drug combination.



https://ift.tt/2GOaGA1

The epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori infection in Europe and the impact of lifestyle on its natural evolution toward stomach cancer after infection: A systematic review

Helicobacter, EarlyView.


https://ift.tt/2IJseda

Editorial Board

Publication date: 1 April 2018
Source:Journal of Neuroscience Methods, Volume 299





https://ift.tt/2GQdnNr

Rapid and selective sampling of IgG from skin in less than 1 min using a high surface area wearable immunoassay patch

Publication date: July 2018
Source:Biomaterials, Volume 170
Author(s): Jacob W. Coffey, Simon R. Corrie, Mark A.F. Kendall
Microprojection array (MPA) patches are an attractive approach to selectively capture circulating proteins from the skin with minimal invasiveness for diagnostics at the point-of-care or in the home. A key challenge to develop this technology is to extract sufficient quantities of specific proteins from within the skin to enable high diagnostic sensitivity within a convenient amount of time. To achieve this, we investigated the effect of MPA geometry (i.e. projection density, length and array size) on protein capture. We hypothesised that the penetrated surface area of MPAs is a major determinant of protein capture however it was not known if simultaneously increasing projection density, length and array size is possible without adversely affecting penetration and/or tolerability. We show that increasing the projection density (5000–30,000 proj. cm⁻²) and array size (4–36 mm²) significantly increases biomarker capture whilst maintaining of a similar level tolerability, which supports previous literature for projection length (40–190 μm). Ultimately, we designed a high surface area MPA (30,000 proj. cm⁻², 36 mm², 140 μm) with a 4.5-fold increase in penetrated surface area compared to our standard MPA design (20,408 proj. cm⁻², 16 mm², 100 μm). The high surface area MPA captured antigen-specific IgG from mice in 30 s with 100% diagnostic sensitivity compared with 10–30 min for previous MPA immunoassay patches, which is over an order of magnitude reduction in wear time. This demonstrates for the first time that MPAs may be used for ultra-rapid (<1 min) protein capture from skin in a time competitive with standard clinical procedures like the needle and lancet, which has broad implications for minimally invasive and point-of-care diagnostics.



https://ift.tt/2EBN7V9

Stromal cell-laden 3D hydrogel microwell arrays as tumor microenvironment model for studying stiffness dependent stromal cell-cancer interactions

Publication date: July 2018
Source:Biomaterials, Volume 170
Author(s): Xiaoshan Yue, Trung Dung Nguyen, Victoria Zellmer, Siyuan Zhang, Pinar Zorlutuna
Tumor properties such as growth and metastasis are dramatically dependent on the tumor microenvironment (TME). However, the diversity of the TME including the stiffness and the composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM), as well as the involvement of stromal cells, makes it extremely difficult to establish proper in vitro models for studying tumor growth and metastasis. In this research, we fabricated a stromal cell-laden microwell array system with tunable stiffness ranging from 200 Pa up to 3 kPa, which covers the stiffness range of normal and cancerous mammary tissues, to study the effect of ECM stiffness on stromal-cancer interaction. Our results showed that, tumor spheroids closely interacted with the pre-adipocyte stromal cells encapsulated within the microwell array, influencing their differentiation and maturation degree in a stiffness related manner. They inhibited adipogenesis in high stiffness tissue constructs that were at breast cancer stiffness range, while the inhibition effect diminished in the low stiffness tissue constructs that were at normal human breast tissue range. Furthermore, the 3D structure of tumor spheroids was shown to be important for the inhibition of the adipogenesis, as conditioned media from monolayer culture of cancer cells did not show any significant effect. These results show, for the first time in literature, that stromal-cancer interactions are highly dependent on ECM stiffness. The biomimetic TME platform developed here is a powerful organ-specific cancer model for studying the involvement of stromal cells in early mammary tumorigenesis and metastasis, and could be powerful platform for high-throughput drug discovery.

Graphical abstract

https://ift.tt/2qm9XvA

pH protective Y1 receptor ligand functionalized antiphagocytosis BPLP-WPU micelles for enhanced tumor imaging and therapy with prolonged survival time

Publication date: July 2018
Source:Biomaterials, Volume 170
Author(s): Zhenqi Jiang, Yuchen Tian, Dingying Shan, Yinjie Wang, Ethan Gerhard, Jianbi Xia, Rong Huang, Yan He, Aiguo Li, Jianchao Tang, Huimin Ruan, Yong Li, Juan Li, Jian Yang, Aiguo Wu
Nanoparticle-based tumor therapies are extensively studied; however, few are capable of improving patient survival time due to premature drug leakage, off target effects, and poor tissue penetration. Previously, we successfully synthesized a novel family of Y1 receptor (Y1R) ligand modified, photoluminescent BPLP nanobubbles and nanoparticles for targeted breast cancer ultrasound imaging; however, increased accumulation could also be observed in the liver, kidney, and spleen, suggesting significant interaction of the particles with macrophages in vivo. Herein, for the first time, we imparted antiphagocytosis capability to Y1R ligand functionalized BPLP-WPU polymeric micelles through the incorporation of a CD47 human glycoprotein based self-peptide. Application of self-peptide modified, DOX loaded micelles in vivo resulted in a 100% survival rate and complete tumor necrosis over 100 days of treatment. In vivo imaging of SPION loaded, self-peptide modified micelles revealed effective targeting to the tumor site while analysis of iron content demonstrated reduced particle accumulation in the liver and kidney, demonstrating reduced macrophage interaction, as well as a 2-fold increase of particles in the tumor. As these results demonstrate, Y1R ligand, self-peptide modified BPLP-WPU micelles are capable of target specific cancer treatment and imaging, making them ideal candidates to improve survival rate and tumor reduction clinically.

Graphical abstract

https://ift.tt/2EBzvcu

Src activation decouples cell division orientation from cell geometry in mammalian cells

Publication date: July 2018
Source:Biomaterials, Volume 170
Author(s): Xiaoyan Sun, Hongsheng Qi, Xiuzhen Zhang, Li Li, Jiaping Zhang, Qunli Zeng, George S. Laszlo, Bo Wei, Tianhong Li, Jianxin Jiang, Alex Mogilner, Xiaobing Fu, Min Zhao
Orientation of cell division plane plays a crucial role in morphogenesis and regeneration. Misoriented cell division underlies many important diseases, such as cancer. Studies with Drosophila and C. elegance models show that Src, a proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase, is a critical regulator of this aspect of mitosis. However, the role for Src in controlling cell division orientation in mammalian cells is not well understood. Using genetic and pharmacological approaches and two extracellular signals to orient cell division, we demonstrated a critical role for Src. Either knockout or pharmacological inhibition of Src would retain the fidelity of cell division orientation with the long-axis orientation of mother cells. Conversely, re-expression of Src would decouple cell division orientation from the pre-division orientation of the long axis of mother cells. Cell division orientation in human breast and gastric cancer tissues showed that the Src activation level correlated with the degree of mitotic spindle misorientation relative to the apical surface. Examination of proteins associated with cortical actin revealed that Src activation regulated the accumulation and local density of adhesion proteins on the sites of cell-matrix attachment. By analyzing division patterns in the cells with or without Src activation and through use of a mathematical model, we further support our findings and provide evidence for a previously unknown role for Src in regulating cell division orientation in relation to the pre-division geometry of mother cells, which may contribute to the misoriented cell division.



https://ift.tt/2qm9TvQ

Detecting the functional complexities between high-density lipoprotein mimetics

Publication date: July 2018
Source:Biomaterials, Volume 170
Author(s): Yoshitaka J. Sei, Jungho Ahn, Taeyoung Kim, Eunjung Shin, Angel J. Santiago-Lopez, Seung Soon Jang, Noo Li Jeon, Young C. Jang, YongTae Kim
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is a key regulator of lipid homeostasis through its native roles like reverse cholesterol transport. The reconstitution of this natural nanoparticle (NP) has become a nexus between nanomedicine and multi-disease therapies, for which a major portion of HDL functionality is attributed to its primary scaffolding protein, apolipoprotein A1 (apoA1). ApoA1-mimetic peptides were formulated as cost-effective alternatives to apoA1-based therapies; reverse-4F (r4F) is one such peptide used as part of a nanoparticle platform. While similarities between r4F- and apoA1-based HDL-mimetic nanoparticles have been identified, key functional differences native to HDL have remained undetected. In the present study, we executed a multidisciplinary approach to uncover these differences by exploring the form, function, and medical applicability of engineered HDL-mimetic NPs (eHNPs) made from r4F (eHNP-r4F) and from apoA1 (eHNP-A1). Comparative analyses of the eHNPs through computational molecular dynamics (MD), advanced microfluidic NP synthesis and screening technologies, and in vivo animal model studies extracted distinguishable eHNP characteristics: the eHNPs share identical structural and compositional characteristics with distinct differences in NP stability and organization; eHNP-A1 could more significantly stimulate anti-inflammatory responses characteristic of the scavenger receptor class B type 1 (SR-B1) mediated pathways; and eHNP-A1 could outperform eHNP-r4F in the delivery of a model hydrophobic drug to an in vivo tumor. The biomimetic microfluidic technologies and MD simulations uniquely enabled our comparative analysis through which we determined that while eHNP-r4F is a capable NP with properties mimicking natural eHNP-A1, challenges remain in reconstituting the full functionality of NPs naturally derived from humans.



https://ift.tt/2GNsWpb

The Architecture of Interaction Between Visual Working Memory and Visual Attention.

Author: Bahle, Brett; Beck, Valerie M.; Hollingworth, Andrew

DOI: 10.1037/xhp0000509

Publication Date: POST AUTHOR CORRECTIONS, 9 April 2018

https://ift.tt/2GPQUo1

Emotional Prosody of Task-Irrelevant Speech Interferes With the Retention of Serial Order.

Author: Kattner, Florian; Ellermeier, Wolfgang

DOI: 10.1037/xhp0000537

Publication Date: POST AUTHOR CORRECTIONS, 9 April 2018

https://ift.tt/2qmFqNs

Commentary on: Thoughts on the American Board of Radiology Examinations and the Resident Experience in Radiation Oncology

Publication date: Available online 10 April 2018
Source:Practical Radiation Oncology
Author(s): Paul E. Wallner, Lisa A. Kachnic, Anthony M. Gerdeman




https://ift.tt/2Hc6h9l

Local Control for Clinical Stage I Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Five Fraction Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy is Not Associated with Treatment Schedule

Publication date: Available online 10 April 2018
Source:Practical Radiation Oncology
Author(s): Pamela Samson, Sana Rehman, Aditya Juloori, Todd DeWees, Michael Roach, Jeffrey Bradley, Gregory M.M. Videtic, Kevin Stephans, Clifford Robinson
PurposeClinical concern remains regarding the relationship between consecutive (QD) versus non-consecutive (QoD) lung SBRT treatment schedules and outcomes for clinical Stage I NSCLC. We examined a multi-institutional series of patients receiving five fraction lung SBRT to compare the local failure rates and overall survival between patients receiving QD versus QoD treatment.Methods and MaterialsLung SBRT databases from two high-volume institutions were combined, and patients receiving five fraction SBRT for a solitary Stage I NSCLC were identified. QD treatment was defined as completing SBRT in ≤7days, while QoD treatment was defined as completing treatment in >7days. To control for patient characteristics between the two institutions, a 1:1 propensity matched analysis was performed. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify variables independently associated with local failure, and Cox proportional hazards modeling to identify variables independently associated with increased mortality.ResultsFrom 2005–2016, 245 clinical Stage I NSCLC patients receiving five fraction SBRT were identified. 117 (47.8%) patients received QD treatment and 128 (52.2%) patients received QoD treatment. On propensity matched analysis, no association was seen between QD treatment and local failure (Odds Ratio for QD treatment 0.48, 95% CI 0.12–1.99, p=0.5). On multivariable logistic regression central tumors were independently associated with increased likelihood of local recurrence (OR 5.2, 95% CI 1.11–24.2, p=0.04). Kaplan–Meier analysis identified no difference in median overall survival between QD versus QoD treatments (38.0months versus 38.0months, log-rank p=0.7), respectively. QD treatment was not associated with an increased mortality hazard (HR 1.08, 95% CI 0.67–1.75, p=0.75).ConclusionsThis analysis demonstrated no association between QD versus QoD treatment scheduling and local control or overall survival for early stage NSCLC.



https://ift.tt/2GQ6Imp

The long-term sequelae of palliative radiotherapy to Lumbo-sacral spine using conventional PA-single portal technique

Publication date: Available online 10 April 2018
Source:Practical Radiation Oncology
Author(s): Kuan-Yin Hsiao, Hui-Chuan Wang, Steve H Fung, Waqar Haque, E Brian Butler, Bin S Teh




https://ift.tt/2HcwxR2

Multiple perioral homogenous blue macules

Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, EarlyView.


https://ift.tt/2GP0NlP

Polymeric micelles: Theranostic co-delivery system for poorly water-soluble drugs and contrast agents

Publication date: July 2018
Source:Biomaterials, Volume 170
Author(s): Jaydev R. Upponi, Kaushal Jerajani, Dattatri K. Nagesha, Praveen Kulkarni, Srinivas Sridhar, Craig Ferris, Vladimir P. Torchilin
Interest in theranostic agents has continued to grow because of their promise for simultaneous cancer detection and therapy. A platform-based nanosized combination agent suitable for the enhanced diagnosis and treatment of cancer was prepared using polymeric polyethylene glycol-phosphatidylethanolamine-based micelles loaded with both, poorly soluble chemotherapeutic agent paclitaxel and hydrophobic superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION), a Magnetic Resonance Imaging contrast agent. The co-loaded paclitaxel and SPION did not affect each other's functional properties in vitro. In vivo, the resulting paclitaxel-SPION-co-loaded PEG-PE micelles retained their Magnetic Resonance contrast properties and apoptotic activity in breast and melanoma tumor mouse models. Such theranostic systems are likely to play a significant role in the combined diagnosis and therapy that leads to a more personalized and effective form of treatment.



https://ift.tt/2GLABZ1

Editorial Board

Publication date: June 2018
Source:Biomaterials, Volume 168





https://ift.tt/2qiZf8o

Association between UCP polymorphisms and adipokines with obesity in Mexican adolescents

Journal Name: Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
Issue: Ahead of print


https://ift.tt/2qlrovC

The effect of DLC-coating deposition method on the reliability and mechanical properties of abutment’s screws

Publication date: Available online 10 April 2018
Source:Dental Materials
Author(s): Dimorvan Bordin, Paulo G. Coelho, Edmara T.P. Bergamo, Estevam A. Bonfante, Lukasz Witek, Altair A. Del Bel Cury
ObjectiveTo characterize the mechanical properties of different coating methods of DLC (diamond-like carbon) onto dental implant abutment screws, and their effect on the probability of survival (reliability).MethodsSeventy-five abutment screws were allocated into three groups according to the coating method: control (no coating); UMS – DLC applied through unbalanced magnetron sputtering; RFPA-DLC applied through radio frequency plasma-activated (n=25/group). Twelve screws (n=4) were used to determine the hardness and Young's modulus (YM). A 3D finite element model composed of titanium substrate, DLC-layer and a counterpart were constructed. The deformation (μm) and shear stress (MPa) were calculated. The remaining screws of each group were torqued into external hexagon abutments and subjected to step-stress accelerated life-testing (SSALT) (n=21/group). The probability Weibull curves and reliability (probability survival) were calculated considering the mission of 100, 150 and 200N at 50,000 and 100,000 cycles.ResultsDLC-coated experimental groups evidenced higher hardness than control (p<0.05). In silico analysis depicted that the higher the surface Young's modulus, the higher the shear stress. Control and RFPA showed β<1, indicating that failures were attributed to materials strength; UMS showed β>1 indicating that fatigue contributed to failure. High reliability was depicted at a mission of 100N. At 200N a significant decrease in reliability was detected for all groups (ranging from 39% to 66%). No significant difference was observed among groups regardless of mission. Screw fracture was the chief failure mode.SignificanceDLC-coating have been used to improve titanium's mechanical properties and increase the reliability of dental implant-supported restorations.

Graphical abstract

https://ift.tt/2qnD6pH

Thermo-setting glass ionomer cements promote variable biological responses of human dental pulp stem cells

Publication date: Available online 9 April 2018
Source:Dental Materials
Author(s): Mar Collado-González, Miguel R. Pecci-Lloret, Christopher J. Tomás-Catalá, David García-Bernal, Ricardo E. Oñate-Sánchez, Carmen Llena, Leopoldo Forner, Vinicius Rosa, Francisco J. Rodríguez-Lozano
ObjectiveTo evaluate the in vitro cytotoxicity of Equia Forte (GC, Tokyo, Japan) and Ionostar Molar (Voco, Cuxhaven, Germany) on human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs).MethodshDPSCs isolated from third molars were exposed to several dilutions of Equia Forte and Ionostar Molar eluates (1/1, 1/2 and 1/4). These eluates were obtained by storing material samples in respective cell culture medium for 24h (n=40). hDPSCs in basal growth culture medium were the control. Cell viability and cell migration assays were performed using the MTT and wound-healing assays, respectively. Also, induction of apoptosis and changes in cell phenotype were evaluated by flow cytometry. Changes in cell morphology were analysed by immunocytofluorescence staining. To evaluate cell attachment to the different materials, hDPSCs were directly seeded onto the material surfaces and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The chemical composition of the materials was determined by energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and eluates were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Statistical analysis was performed with analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Student's t-test (α<0.05).ResultsUndiluted Equia Forte extracts led to a similar cell proliferation rates than the control group from 72h onwards. There were no significance differences between Equia Forte and Ionostar Molar in terms of cell apoptosis and phenotype. However, in presence of Equia extracts the migration capacity of hDPSCs was higher than in presence of Ionostar Molar (p<0.05). Also, SEM studies showed a higher degree of cell attachment when Equia Forte extracts were used. Finally, EDX analysis pointed to different weight percentages of C, O and Ca ions in glass ionomer cements, while other elements such as La, Al, Si, W, Mo and F were also detected.SignificanceIn summary, Equia Forte promoted better biological responses in hDPSCs than Ionostar Molar.



https://ift.tt/2GO1nQH

Numerical fatigue analysis of premolars restored by CAD/CAM ceramic crowns

Publication date: Available online 10 April 2018
Source:Dental Materials
Author(s): Ehsan Homaei, Xiao-Zhuang Jin, Edmond Ho Nang Pow, Jukka Pekka Matinlinna, James Kit-Hon Tsoi, Khalil Farhangdoost
ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to estimate the fatigue life of premolars restored with two dental ceramics, lithium disilicate (LD) and polymer infiltrated ceramic (PIC) using the numerical method and compare it with the published in vitro data.MethodsA premolar restored with full-coverage crown was digitized. The volumetric shape of tooth tissues and crowns were created in Mimics^®. They were transferred to IA-FEMesh for mesh generation and the model was analyzed with Abaqus. By combining the stress distribution results with fatigue stress–life (S–N) approach, the lifetime of restored premolars was predicted.ResultsThe predicted lifetime was 1,231,318 cycles for LD with fatigue load of 1400N, while the one for PIC was 475,063 cycles with the load of 870N. The peak value of maximum principal stress occurred at the contact area (LD: 172MPa and PIC: 96MPa) and central fossa (LD: 100MPa and PIC: 64MPa) for both ceramics which were the most seen failure areas in the experiment. In the adhesive layer, the maximum shear stress was observed at the shoulder area (LD: 53.6MPa and PIC: 29MPa).SignificanceThe fatigue life and failure modes of all-ceramic crown determined by the numerical method seem to correlate well with the previous experimental study.



https://ift.tt/2qlpkDS

Leaching of metals from end-of-life solar cells

Abstract

The issue of recycling waste solar cells is critical with regard to the expanded use of these cells, which increases waste production. Technology establishment for this recycling process is essential with respect to the valuable and hazardous metals present therein. In the present study, the leaching potentials of Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans, Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Penicillium chrysogenum, and Penicillium simplicissimum were assessed for the recovery of metals from spent solar cells, with a focus on retrieval of the valuable metal Te. Batch experiments were performed to explore and compare the metal removal efficiencies of the aforementioned microorganisms using spent media. P. chrysogenum spent medium was found to be most effective, recovering 100% of B, Mg, Si, V, Ni, Zn, and Sr along with 93% of Te at 30 °C, 150 rpm and 1% (w/v) pulp density. Further optimization of the process parameters increased the leaching efficiency, and 100% of Te was recovered at the optimum conditions of 20 °C, 200 rpm shaking speed and 1% (w/v) pulp density. In addition, the recovery of aluminum increased from 31 to 89% upon process optimization. Thus, the process has considerable potential for metal recovery and is environmentally beneficial.

https://ift.tt/2GTFjQM

Scholar : These new articles for Studies in Chinese Religions are available online

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The online platform for Taylor & Francis Online content New for Studies in Chinese Religions and online now on Taylor & Francis Online: Article Lu Xiujing's Shoudu yi 授度儀: a grammatical reading John Lagerwey Pages: 1-16 | DOI: 10.1080/23729988.2018.1429140 Do you have original research that relates to present-day Japan and its recent historical development? Contemporary Japan welcomes your submissions. To update which email alerts you receive, manage your alerts within the My Account area. Unsubscribe from new content alerts for this journal (both new issue and latest article notifications) with one click. If you need any further help, please contact us at support@tandfonline.com Please do not reply to this email. To ensure that you receive your alerts and information from Taylor & Francis Online, please add "alerts@tandfonline.com" and "info@tandfonline.com" to your safe senders list. Taylor & Francis, an Informa business. Taylor & Francis is a trading name of Informa UK Limited, registered in England under no. 1072954. Registered office: 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.

Scholar : These new articles for Canadian Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Studies / Revue canadienne des études latino-américaines et caraïbes are available online

The online platform for Taylor & Francis Online content New for Canadian Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Studies/Revue canadienne des études latino-américaines et caraïbes and online now on Taylor & Francis Online: Book Review After human rights: literature, visual arts, and film in Latin America, 1990–2010 Cynthia E. Milton Pages: 1-2 | DOI: 10.1080/08263663.2018.1458959 Culture and Revolution: Violence, Memory, and the Making of Modern Mexico Susan Antebi Pages: 1-2 | DOI: 10.1080/08263663.2018.1458960 Mercados en común. Estudios sobre conexiones transnacionales, negocios y diplomacia en las Américas Christy Thornton Pages: 1-3 | DOI: 10.1080/08263663.2018.1458962 Endangered city: the politics of security and risk in Bogotá James Rochlin Pages: 1-2 | DOI: 10.1080/08263663.2018.1458961 Do you have original research that relates to present-day Japan and its recent historical development? Contemporary Japan welcomes your submissions. To update which email alerts you receive, manage your alerts within the My Account area. Unsubscribe from new content alerts for this journal (both new issue and latest article notifications) with one click. If you need any further help, please contact us at support@tandfonline.com Please do not reply to this email. To ensure that you receive your alerts and information from Taylor & Francis Online, please add "alerts@tandfonline.com" and "info@tandfonline.com" to your safe senders list. Taylor & Francis, an Informa business. Taylor & Francis is a trading name of Informa UK Limited, registered in England under no. 1072954. Registered office: 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.

Scholar : These new articles for Comedy Studies are available online

The online platform for Taylor & Francis Online content New for Comedy Studies and online now on Taylor & Francis Online: Commentary The origin of the term 'stand-up comedy' – update Oliver Double Pages: 1-3 | DOI: 10.1080/2040610X.2018.1428427 To update which email alerts you receive, manage your alerts within the My Account area. Unsubscribe from new content alerts for this journal (both new issue and latest article notifications) with one click. If you need any further help, please contact us at support@tandfonline.com Please do not reply to this email. To ensure that you receive your alerts and information from Taylor & Francis Online, please add "alerts@tandfonline.com" and "info@tandfonline.com" to your safe senders list. Taylor & Francis, an Informa business. Taylor & Francis is a trading name of Informa UK Limited, registered in England under no. 1072954. Registered office: 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.

Manganese Increases the Sensitivity of the cGAS-STING Pathway for Double-Stranded DNA and Is Required for the Host Defense against DNA Viruses

Publication date: Available online 10 April 2018
Source:Immunity
Author(s): Chenguang Wang, Yukun Guan, Mengze Lv, Rui Zhang, Zhaoying Guo, Xiaoming Wei, Xiaoxia Du, Jing Yang, Tong Li, Yi Wan, Xiaodong Su, Xiaojun Huang, Zhengfan Jiang
Manganese (Mn) is essential for many physiological processes, but its functions in innate immunity remain undefined. Here, we found that Mn²⁺ was required for the host defense against DNA viruses by increasing the sensitivity of the DNA sensor cGAS and its downstream adaptor protein STING. Mn²⁺ was released from membrane-enclosed organelles upon viral infection and accumulated in the cytosol where it bound directly to cGAS. Mn²⁺ enhanced the sensitivity of cGAS to double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) and its enzymatic activity, enabling cGAS to produce secondary messenger cGAMP in the presence of low concentrations of dsDNA that would otherwise be non-stimulatory. Mn²⁺ also enhanced STING activity by augmenting cGAMP-STING binding affinity. Mn-deficient mice showed diminished cytokine production and were more vulnerable to DNA viruses, and Mn-deficient STING-deficient mice showed no increased susceptibility. These findings indicate that Mn is critically involved and required for the host defense against DNA viruses.

Graphical abstract

Teaser

The cGAS-STING pathway is required for host defense against DNA viruses. Wang et al. find that upon virus infection, Manganese (Mn²⁺) is released from organelles into the cytosol and facilitates the activation of cGAS and STING. Their findings identify a role for Mn in innate immune activation and host anti-viral defense.


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An Interleukin-25-Mediated Autoregulatory Circuit in Keratinocytes Plays a Pivotal Role in Psoriatic Skin Inflammation

Publication date: Available online 10 April 2018
Source:Immunity
Author(s): Miao Xu, Huiping Lu, Young-Hee Lee, Yelin Wu, Kewei Liu, Yuling Shi, Haoran An, Jingren Zhang, Xiaohu Wang, Yuping Lai, Chen Dong
Psoriasis is a chronic autoinflammatory skin disease. Although interleukin-17, derived from lymphocytes, has been shown to be critical in psoriasis, the initiation and maintenance of chronic skin inflammation has not been well understood. IL-25 (also called IL-17E), another IL-17 family cytokine, is well known to regulate allergic responses and type 2 immunity. Here we have shown that IL-25, also highly expressed in the lesional skin of psoriasis patients, was regulated by IL-17 in murine skin of a imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis model. IL-25 injection induced skin inflammation, whereas germline or keratinocyte-specific deletion of IL-25 caused resistance to IMQ-induced psoriasis. Via IL-17RB expression in keratinocytes, IL-25 stimulated the proliferation of keratinocytes and induced the production of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, via activation of the STAT3 transcription factor. Thus, our data demonstrate that an IL-17-induced autoregulatory circuit in keratinocytes is mediated by IL-25 and suggest that this circuit could be targeted in the treatment of psoriasis patients.

Graphical abstract

Teaser

The inflammatory mechanism of psoriasis remains incompletely understood. In this issue, Xu et al. identified IL-25 as a key pathogenic factor regulating the proliferation of keratinocytes and psoriasis development in an autocrine expression manner.


https://ift.tt/2IFyAKI

Probing the brain with molecular fMRI

Publication date: June 2018
Source:Current Opinion in Neurobiology, Volume 50
Author(s): Souparno Ghosh, Peter Harvey, Jacob C Simon, Alan Jasanoff
One of the greatest challenges of modern neuroscience is to incorporate our growing knowledge of molecular and cellular-scale physiology into integrated, organismic-scale models of brain function in behavior and cognition. Molecular-level functional magnetic resonance imaging (molecular fMRI) is a new technology that can help bridge these scales by mapping defined microscopic phenomena over large, optically inaccessible regions of the living brain. In this review, we explain how MRI-detectable imaging probes can be used to sensitize noninvasive imaging to mechanistically significant components of neural processing. We discuss how a combination of innovative probe design, advanced imaging methods, and strategies for brain delivery can make molecular fMRI an increasingly successful approach for spatiotemporally resolved studies of diverse neural phenomena, perhaps eventually in people.



https://ift.tt/2JzxvFp

Four years follow up of ACY1 deficient patient and pedigree study

Publication date: Available online 10 April 2018
Source:Brain and Development
Author(s): Maria Grazia Alessandrì, Roberta Milone, Claudia Casalini, Claudia Nesti, Giovanni Cioni, Roberta Battini
Aminoacylase 1 deficiency (ACY1D) is a rare inborn error of metabolism characterized by increased urinary excretion of N-acetylated amino acids. Clinical phenotypes of 15 known patients with ACY1 deficiency have been described up to now. Findings are greatly variable, ranging from normality to relevant neurological and psychiatric impairments, but clinical follow up has been rarely reported. To partially fill this gap, we present a detailed clinical description and the outcome four years post-diagnosis of a patient already described, with mild intellectual disability, language delay, autistic traits and compound heterozygous mutations in ACY1.



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Scholar : These new articles for Critique: Studies in Contemporary Fiction are available online

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The online platform for Taylor & Francis Online content New for Critique: Studies in Contemporary Fiction and online now on Taylor & Francis Online: Original Articles Desiring/desired bodies: Miscegenation and romance in Abdulrazak Gurnah's Desertion Esther Pujolràs-Noguer Pages: 1-13 | DOI: 10.1080/00111619.2018.1459456 To update which email alerts you receive, manage your alerts within the My Account area. Unsubscribe from new content alerts for this journal (both new issue and latest article notifications) with one click. If you need any further help, please contact us at support@tandfonline.com Please do not reply to this email. To ensure that you receive your alerts and information from Taylor & Francis Online, please add "alerts@tandfonline.com" and "info@tandfonline.com" to your safe senders list. Taylor & Francis, an Informa business. Taylor & Francis is a trading name of Informa UK Limited, registered in England under no. 1072954. Registered office: 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.

Differential Proteomic Analysis of Actinic Keratosis, Bowen’s Disease and Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Label-Free LC-MS/MS

Publication date: Available online 10 April 2018
Source:Journal of Dermatological Science
Author(s): Ali Azimi, Kimberley L. Kaufman, Marina Ali, Jonathan Arthur, Steven Kossard, Pablo Fernandez-Penas
BACKGROUNDThe boundaries between actinic keratosis (AK), Bowen's disease (BD), and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) are sometimes not clear. Large-scale proteomic profiling studies of these lesions are also non-existent.OBJECTIVETo evaluate proteomic changes between normal epidermis, AK, BD and cSCC that could support a molecular classification and improve our understanding of disease progression.METHODSMicrodissected formalin-fixed paraffin embedded samples of normal epidermis (n = 4, pooled), AK (n = 10), BD (n = 10) and cSCC (n = 10) were analyzed by mass spectrometry. Following normalization and multiple testing adjustments, differential abundance analysis was performed using Linear Models for Microarray data. Proteins were filtered for significance (adjusted p-value ≤ 0.05) and fold change of at least ±1.5. Comparative bioinformatics analysis was performed using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) software. Proteomic findings were subsequently substantiated using immunohistochemistry.RESULTS2073 unique proteins were identified. cSCC had the highest number of differentially abundant proteins (63 proteins) followed by BD (58 proteins) and AK (46 proteins). Six proteins (APOA1, ALB, SERPINA1, HLA-B, HP and TXNDC5) were differentially abundant in cSCC compared to AK. Immunohistochemical analysis corroborated changes in MIF, RPL37A and TXNDC5. IPA analysis predicted that cell proliferation, angiogenesis and inflammatory reactions were significantly activated in cSCC compared to BD and AK. Cell death and DNA damage were predicted to be inhibited in BD.CONCLUSIONOur study supports the concept that AK and BD are precursors of cSCC. The identification of proteome changes indicates disruption of repair, pro-apoptotic, and tumour promoting pathways. Our findings will help select targets for classification and treatment



https://ift.tt/2EBZv7E

RIPK1 downregulation in keratinocyte enhances TRAIL signaling in psoriasis

Publication date: Available online 10 April 2018
Source:Journal of Dermatological Science
Author(s): Nao Saito, Masaru Honma, Takashi Shibuya, Shin Iinuma, Satomi Igawa, Mari Kishibe, Akemi Ishida-Yamamoto
BackgroundPsoriasis, a common inflammatory skin disorder characterized by scaly erythema and plaques, is induced by dysregulation of dendritic cell- and T cell-mediated immune reaction. Receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) regulates inflammatory signaling in response to stimuli such as TNF-α, TRAIL, and TLRs, resulting in apoptosis, necroptosis and NF-κB activation. However, the physiological relevance in human epidermis remains elusive.ObjectiveIn this study, we examined whether RIPK1 is involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis vulgaris.MethodsSkin samples of eight patients with psoriasis vulgaris were investigated by western blotting and immunohistochemistry. The functions of RIPK1 in keratinocytes were examined by RT-PCR and ELISA in vitro. TRAIL-neutralization-experiment was employed in an imiquimod-induced murine psoriasis model.ResultsIn lesional psoriatic epidermis, RIPK1-expression was decreased compared with that in normal epidermis. Cytokines involved in the pathomechanism of psoriasis, such as IL-1β, IL-17A, IL-22 and TRAIL, reduced RIPK1-expression in normal human epidermal keratinocytes (HEK) in vitro. In addition, RIPK1-knockdown enhanced TRAIL-mediated expression of psoriasis-relating cytokines, such as IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, in HEK. Numerous TRAIL-positive cells were detected in the dermis of lesional psoriatic skin, and TRAIL receptors were expressed in psoriatic epidermis and HEK in conventional cultures. Moreover, TRAIL-neutralization in an imiquimod-induced murine psoriasis model remarkably improved skin phenotypes, such as ear thickness, and TNF-α expression in lesional skin.ConclusionsThese results lead us to conclude that RIPK1-downregulation in keratinocytes increases their susceptibility to TRAIL stimulation, and plays a role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis vulgaris.



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Genomics and pharmacogenomics of Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Publication date: Available online 10 April 2018
Source:Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology
Author(s): Chuan Wu, Wei Li
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is a prevalent form of pediatric cancer that accounts for 70-80% of all leukemias. Genome-based analysis, exome sequencing, transcriptomics and proteomics have provided insight into genetic classification of ALL and helped identify novel subtypes of the disease. B and T cell-based ALL are two well-characterized genomic subtypes, significantly marked by bone marrow disorders, along with mutations in trisomy 21 and T53. The other ALLs include Early T-cell precursor ALL, Philadelphia chromosome-like ALL, Down syndrome-associated ALL and Relapsed ALL. Chromosomal number forms a basis of classification, such as, hypodiploid ALL, near-haploid, low-hypodiploid, high-hypodiploid and hypodiploid-ALL. Advances in therapies targeting ALL have been noteworthy, with significant pre-clinical and clinical studies on drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Methotrexate and 6-mercaptopurine are leading drugs with best demonstrated efficacies against childhood ALL. The drugs in combination, following dose titration, have also been used for maintenance therapy. Methotrexate-polyglutamate is a key metabolite that specifically targets the disease pathogenesis, and 6-thioguanine nucleotides, derived from 6-mercaptopurine, impede replication and transcription processes, inducing cytotoxicity. Additionally, glucocorticoids, asparaginase, anthracycline, vincristine and cytarabine that trans-repress gene expression, deprives cells of asparagine, triggers cell cycle arrest, influences cytochrome-P450 polymorphism and inhibits DNA polymerase, respectively, have been used in chemotherapy in ALL patients. Overall, this review covers the progress in genome technology related to different sub-types of ALL and pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of its medications. It also enlightens adverse effects of current drugs, and emphasizes the necessity of genome-wide association studies for restricting childhood ALL.



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Organization, Quality and Cost of Oncological Home-Hospitalization: A Systematic Review

Publication date: Available online 10 April 2018
Source:Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology
Author(s): Lieselot Cool, Dominique Vandijck, Philip Debruyne, Melissa Desmedt, Tessa Lefebvre, Michelle Lycke, Pieter Jan De Jonghe, Hans Pottel, Veerle Foulon, Koen Van Eygen
BackgroundHome-hospitalization might be a patient-centred approach facing the increasing burden of cancer on societies. This systematic review assessed how oncological home-hospitalization has been organized and to what extend its quality and costs were evaluated.ResultsTwenty-four papers describing parenteral cancer drug administration to adult patients in their homes were included. Most papers concluded oncological home-hospitalization had no significant effect on patient-reported quality of life (7/8=88%), but large majority of patients were satisfied (12/13, 92%) and preferred home treatment (7/8, 88%). No safety risks were associated with home-hospitalization (10/10, 100%). The cost of home-hospitalization was found beneficial in five trials (5/9, 56%); others reported no financial impact (2/9, 22%) or additional costs (2/9, 22%).ConclusionDespite heterogeneity, majority of reported models for oncological home-hospitalisation demonstrated that this is a safe, equivalent and acceptable alternative to ambulatory hospital care. More well-designed trials are needed to evaluate its economic impact.



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A new Alzheimer's disease cell model using B cells to induce beta amyloid plaque formation and increase TNF alpha expression

Publication date: June 2018
Source:International Immunopharmacology, Volume 59
Author(s): Mehrouz Dezfulian
Different cell models have been developed for the study of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathways. The neuronal dysfunction and cell death mechanisms that are commonly found in this disease are due to the production of high levels of cytokines and the formation of amyloid plaques. In the cell model introduced in the present study, the production of these two important factors is induced by using B cells from an AD patient.The B cells of an Alzheimer's patient and a normal control were immortalized by using EBV (Epstein-Barr virus) to produce a lymphoblastoid cell line (LCL). The amount of TNF alpha cytokine was evaluated at the RNA and protein levels by RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively. The AD LCL was cultured with SKNMC cells with and without treatment of TNF alpha siRNA. Amyloid plaque formation was monitored by Congo-red staining and microscopy.The amount of TNF alpha cytokine was significantly increased in the AD LCL compared to the normal LCL. The AD LCL induced the formation of amyloid plaques in SKNMC cells. The AD LCL treated with TNF alpha siRNA and co-cultured with SKNMC cells decreased the size and number of amyloid plaques in SKNMC cells.This cellular model is an appropriate model for studying Alzheimer's disease and the mechanisms related to it, as well as for research on cytokine inhibitors, especially TNF alpha inhibitors.



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Application of vermiculite-derived sustainable adsorbents for removal of venlafaxine

Abstract

Removal of emerging pollutants, such as pharmaceuticals, from wastewater is a challenge. Adsorption is a simple and efficient process that can be applied. Clays, which are natural and low-cost materials, have been investigated as adsorbent. In this work, raw vermiculite and its three modified forms (expanded, base, and acid/base treated) were tested for removal of a widely used antidepressant, venlafaxine. Adsorption kinetics followed Elovich's model for raw vermiculite while the pseudo-2nd order model was a better fit in the case of other materials. Equilibrium followed Langmuir's model for the raw and the acid/base-treated vermiculite, while Redlich-Peterson's model fitted better the expanded and the base-treated materials. The adsorption capacity of vermiculite was significantly influenced by the changes in the physical and chemical properties of the materials caused by the treatments. The base-treated, raw, and expanded vermiculites showed lower maximum adsorption capacities (i.e., 6.3 ± 0.5, 5.8 ± 0.7, 3.9 ± 0.2 mg g⁻¹, respectively) than the acid/base-treated material (33 ± 4 mg g⁻¹). The acid/base-treated vermiculite exhibited good properties as a potential adsorbent for tertiary treatment of wastewater in treatment plants, in particular for cationic species as venlafaxine due to facilitation of diffusion of the species to the interlayer gallery upon such treatment.

Graphical abstract

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Neural Networks Supporting Audiovisual Integration for Speech: A Large-Scale Lesion Study

Publication date: Available online 10 April 2018
Source:Cortex
Author(s): Gregory Hickok, Corianne Rogalsky, William Matchin, Alexandra Basilakos, Julia Cai, Sara Pillay, Michelle Ferrill, Soren Mickelsen, Steven W. Anderson, Tracy Love, Jeffrey Binder, Julius Fridriksson
Auditory and visual speech information are often strongly integrated resulting in perceptual enhancements for audiovisual (AV) speech over audio alone and sometimes yielding compelling illusory fusion percepts when AV cues are mismatched, the McGurk-MacDonald effect. Previous research has identified three candidate regions thought to be critical for AV speech integration: the posterior superior temporal sulcus (STS), early auditory cortex, and the posterior inferior frontal gyrus. We assess the causal involvement of these regions (and others) in the first large-scale (N=100) lesion-based study of AV speech integration. Two primary findings emerged. First, behavioral performance and lesion maps for AV enhancement and illusory fusion measures indicate that classic metrics of AV speech integration are not necessarily measuring the same process. Second, lesions involving superior temporal auditory, lateral occipital visual, and multisensory zones in the STS are the most disruptive to AV speech integration. Further, when AV speech integration fails, the nature of the failure—auditory vs. visual capture—can be predicted from the location of the lesions. These findings show that AV speech processing is supported by unimodal auditory and visual cortices as well as multimodal regions such as the STS at their boundary. Motor related frontal regions do not appear to play a role in AV speech integration.



https://ift.tt/2GMJRfv

Study on the preparation of spinel ferrites with enhanced magnetic properties using limonite laterite ore as raw materials

Publication date: 15 August 2018
Source:Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, Volume 460
Author(s): Jian-ming Gao, Fangqin Cheng
Preparation of spinel ferrites using limonite laterite ore as raw materials was proposed. The effect of Zn substitution on the structure, magnetic properties of as-prepared spinel ferrites were systematically characterized and discussed. The results show that single-phase spinel ferrite was directly synthesized from the precursor solution with the leaching temperature and leaching acid concentration of 200 °C and 2.25 mol·L⁻¹, respectively, and after calcination at 1000 °C for 2 h. Moreover, single-phase of spinel ferrites with different Zn substitution contents (x = 0.00, 0.05, 0.23, 0.35, 0.47, 0.58) could be also obtained. All the lattice constant (a), average grain sizes (d) and X-ray density (Dx) increase with increasing Zn substitution content. With Zn substitution content increasing from 0.00 to 0.58, the saturation magnetization (Ms) value increased from 34.0 to 65.9 emu·g⁻¹ for x = 0.35, and then decreased to 50.7 emu·g⁻¹ while the coercivity (Hc) value decreased from 50 Oe to 14 Oe. This paper provides a pathway for comprehensive utilization of limonite laterite ore and synthesis of spinel ferrites with excellent magnetic performance.



https://ift.tt/2HqhEbo

Zn-Al layered double hydroxides as efficient photocatalysts for NOx abatement

Publication date: 15 August 2018
Source:Chemical Engineering Journal, Volume 346
Author(s): Fredy Rodriguez-Rivas, Adrián Pastor, Cristobalina Barriga, Manuel Cruz-Yusta, Luis Sánchez, Ivana Pavlovic
In this study, we report that layered double hydroxides (LDH) exhibited high photocatalytic activities in degrading NOx gases for the first time. ZnAl-CO3 LDHs with a 1.5–3.0 Zn/Al ratio were prepared by a coprecipitation method both with and without hydrothermal treatment. Syntheses were carried out with high and low metal concentrations, the latter being the most favorable in obtaining pure LDHs in the whole Zn/Al ratio range. The samples were characterized by different techniques such as PXRD, FT-IR, ICP mass, TGA, SBET, SEM and Diffuse reflectance (DR). The LDH particles grew as well-defined hexagonal nanolayers, whose size and crystallization depended on the synthetic procedure and the Zn/Al ratio. Those samples with lower crystallinity exhibit the highest specific surface area values (>50 m²·g⁻¹). The ZnAl-CO3 LDHs were UV light responsive with band–gap values close to 3.5 eV. The LDH photocatalysts show a high performance towards the photochemical oxidation process of NO gas, with efficiencies of around 55%. Remarkably, the ZnAl-CO3 photocatalysts exhibit an impressive selectivity towards the deNOx process, avoiding the emission of the toxic NO2 gas into the atmosphere. Interestingly, these promising deNOx results are repeated when working for a long irradiation period or with the highest concentration of NO in polluted atmospheres.



https://ift.tt/2v2Hu2P

An investigation of magneto-optical Kerr effect signal by optical cavity in [Glass/Co/ZnS] structure

Publication date: 15 August 2018
Source:Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, Volume 460
Author(s): Behnam Esmaeilzadeh, Mehrdad Moradi, Farhad Jahantigh
In this paper, using the magneto optical Kerr effect, the magnetic properties of [Glass/Co/ZnS] structure has been investigated. Initially, by co-precipitation method, zinc sulfide was prepared and then by X-ray diffraction pattern, its structure was confirmed. In the structure of [Glass/Co/ZnS], cobalt was used as a magnetic material and zinc sulfide acts as a capping layer. Before fabrication process, the optimums cobalt and zinc sulfide thicknesses were calculated using the MATLAB simulation software and the desired thicknesses were selected. To obtain layers with variable thicknesses, the oblique thermal evaporation technique was used and different thicknesses of about 5–90 nm for cobalt and 45 nm for zinc sulfide on the glass substrate were coated. The longitudinal Kerr signal (LKS) of the [Glass/Co/ZnS] samples were measured in different cobalt thicknesses. By using the magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE), the hysteresis loop of samples in the longitudinal geometry have been measured samples and it was observed that the sample has an easy axis in the plane of the film and in the direction of its large diameter. The results have shown that the capping layer with suitable thickness, by creation of an optical cavity, has been able to amplify the Kerr signal by more than 1.5 times, which is noticeable by considering the simplicity of the technique. This structure can be applied as a highly accurate magneto-optical sensor.

Graphical abstract

https://ift.tt/2HpGY1h

Risk ranking of environmental contaminants in Xiaoqing River, a heavily polluted river along urbanizing Bohai Rim

Publication date: August 2018
Source:Chemosphere, Volume 204
Author(s): Qifeng Li, Yueqing Zhang, Yonglong Lu, Pei Wang, Sarvajayakesavalu Suriyanarayanan, Jing Meng, Yunqiao Zhou, Ruoyu Liang, Kifayatullah Khan
Xiaoqing River, located in the Laizhou Bay of Bohai Sea, is heavily polluted by various pollutants including heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), bisphenol A (BPA) and pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs). The aim of this study is to identify the relative risks of such contaminants that currently affect the coastal ecosystem. The median and highest concentrations of PFAAs and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were 3.23 μg L⁻¹ and 325.28 μg L⁻¹, and 0.173 μg L⁻¹ and 276.24 μg L⁻¹, respectively, which were ranked higher when compared with global level concentrations. To assess the relative risk levels of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), PFOA, and other contaminants in the upstream and downstream of the Xiaoqing River and in its tributary, a risk ranking analysis was carried out. Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), and arsenic (As) showed the highest risk values in the Xiaoqing River, while the relative risks of PFOA and PFOS differed across the various segments. The risk ranking of PFOA was the second highest in the tributary and the fourth highest in the downstream portion of the river, whereas the PFOS was found to be the lowest in all the segments. Heavy metals and PFOA are the main chemicals that should be controlled in the Xiaoqing River. The results of the present study provide a better understanding of the potential ecological risks of the contaminants in Xiaoqing River.



https://ift.tt/2v8H6zE

Can Biannual Ultrasound Surveillance Detect Smaller Second Cancers or Detect Cancers Earlier in Patients with Breast Cancer History?

Publication date: Available online 10 April 2018
Source:Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology
Author(s): Jai Kyung You, Mi Kyung Song, Min Jung Kim, Eun-Kyung Kim, Hee Jung Moon, Ji Hyun Youk, Jung Hyun Yoon, Vivian Youngjean Park, Seho Park, Seung Il Kim, Byeong-Woo Park
The aim of the work described here was to evaluate whether surveillance with biannual ultrasound (US) plus annual mammography (biannual group) for women with a history of breast cancer surgery results in earlier detection or in the detection of smaller second cancers than annual US plus mammography (annual group). Additionally, we compared the prevalence of distant metastases or palpable second cancers between the biannual and annual groups. The institutional review board of our institution approved this retrospective study, and patient consent was waived. Between January 2011 and December 2012, we retrospectively reviewed the clinical and imaging follow-up of 3023 patients with mammographic and US surveillance after breast cancer surgery to assess second cancers detected by local surveillance (locoregional recurrence, contralateral breast cancer or distant metastasis). The biannual and annual groups were divided with respect to the mean surveillance interval and compared with respect to clinicopathologic findings. Multivariable logistic regression with propensity score methods was used to examine the effect of the type of surveillance on outcomes. As for the size of the second cancer, no difference was seen between the biannual and annual groups (12.8 ± 6.6 mm vs. 14.1 ± 7.1 mm, p = 0.461); neither was there a significant difference between the groups in the presence of symptoms at the time of diagnosis of the second cancer (17.0% [8/47] vs. 10% [2/20], p = 0.711). Regardless of detection by local surveillance, the prevalence of distant metastases did not differ between the two groups (1.1% [27/2370] vs. 1.0% [7/653], p = 0.88) on univariate or multivariate analysis. The results of our retrospective study indicate that second cancers detected by biannual US surveillance in patients with a history of breast cancer surgery are not smaller and do not occur earlier than those detected by annual US surveillance. However, a randomized controlled study is required to verify these results before they can be generalized to clinical practice.



https://ift.tt/2GNeeyl

Pre-Operative Planning Using Real-Time Virtual Sonography, an MRI/Ultrasound Image Fusion Technique, for Breast-Conserving Surgery in Patients with Non-Mass Enhancement on Breast MRI: A Preliminary Study

Publication date: Available online 10 April 2018
Source:Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology
Author(s): Takahito Ando, Yukie Ito, Mirai Ido, Manami Osawa, Junko Kousaka, Yukako Mouri, Kimihito Fujii, Shogo Nakano, Junko Kimura, Tsuneo Ishiguchi, Rie Watanebe, Tsuneo Imai, Takashi Fukutomi
The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the effect of pre-operative planning using real-time virtual sonography (RVS), a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/ultrasound (US) image fusion technique on breast-conserving surgery (BCS) in patients with non-mass enhancement (NME) on breast MRI. Between 2011 and 2015, we enrolled 12 consecutive patients who had lesions with NME that exceeded the US hypo-echoic area, in which it was particularly difficult to evaluate the tumor margin. During pre-operative planning before breast-conserving surgery, RVS was used to delineate the enhancing area on the breast surface after additional supine breast MRI was performed. We analyzed both the surgical margin positivity rate and the re-operation rate. All NME lesions corresponded to the index cancer. In all patients, the diameter of the NME lesion was greater than that of the hypo-echoic lesion. The median diameters of the NME and hypo-echoic lesions were 24 mm (range: 12–39 mm) and 8.0 mm (range: 4.9–18 mm), respectively (p = 0.0002). After RVS-derived skin marking was performed on the surface of the affected breast, lumpectomy and quadrantectomy were conducted in 7 and 5 patients, respectively. The surgical margins were negative in 10 (83%) patients. Two patients with positive margins were found to have ductal carcinoma in situ in 1 duct each, 2.4 and 3.2 mm from the resection margin, respectively. None of the patients required additional resection. Although further prospective studies are required, the findings of our preliminary study suggest that it is very well possible that the use of RVS-derived skin marking during pre-operative planning for BCS in patients with NME would have resulted in surgical outcomes similar to or better than those obtained without the use of such marking.



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Pollination and reproduction of an invasive plant inside and outside its ancestral range

Publication date: May 2018
Source:Acta Oecologica, Volume 89
Author(s): Theodora Petanidou, Mary V. Price, Judith L. Bronstein, Aphrodite Kantsa, Thomas Tscheulin, Rupesh Kariyat, Nikos Krigas, Mark C. Mescher, Consuelo M. De Moraes, Nickolas M. Waser
Comparing traits of invasive species within and beyond their ancestral range may improve our understanding of processes that promote aggressive spread. Solanum elaeagnifolium (silverleaf nightshade) is a noxious weed in its ancestral range in North America and is invasive on other continents. We compared investment in flowers and ovules, pollination success, and fruit and seed set in populations from Arizona, USA ("AZ") and Greece ("GR"). In both countries, the populations we sampled varied in size and types of present-day disturbance. Stature of plants increased with population size in AZ samples whereas GR plants were uniformly tall. Taller plants produced more flowers, and GR plants produced more flowers for a given stature and allocated more ovules per flower. Similar functional groups of native bees pollinated in AZ and GR populations, but visits to flowers decreased with population size and we observed no visits in the largest GR populations. As a result, plants in large GR populations were pollen-limited, and estimates of fecundity were lower on average in GR populations despite the larger allocation to flowers and ovules. These differences between plants in our AZ and GR populations suggest promising directions for further study. It would be useful to sample S. elaeagnifolium in Mediterranean climates within the ancestral range (e.g., in California, USA), to study asexual spread via rhizomes, and to use common gardens and genetic studies to explore the basis of variation in allocation patterns and of relationships between visitation and fruit set.



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Specifying What We Study and Implement in Rehabilitation: Comments on the Reporting of Clinical Research

Publication date: Available online 9 April 2018
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Author(s): John Whyte, Marcel P. Dijkers, Jarrad H. Van Stan, Tessa Hart
Several guidelines have been published with the goal of increasing the usefulness of reports of clinical research. Although such guidelines may clarify key features of study design, the way in which rehabilitation treatments, themselves, are described continues to be problematic and to limit the ability to replicate research, synthesize evidence across studies, or apply these treatments in practice. Lohse, et al report little improvement in the description of rehabilitation treatments in recent years, with particular limitations in the description of comparison or standard-of-care treatments. This commentary explores the kind of published treatment descriptions that would be most useful in supporting evidence synthesis and clinical implementation, and examines the degree to which a developing conceptual framework – the Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System (RTSS) -- might support improvements in research reporting.



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Mandated quality of care metrics for Medicare patients: Examining new or worsened pressure ulcers and rehabilitation outcomes in United States inpatient rehabilitation facilities

Publication date: Available online 9 April 2018
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Author(s): Margaret A. DiVita, Carl V. Granger, Richard Goldstein, Paulette M. Niewczyk, Jo L. Freudenheim
ObjectiveTo examine the association between the Medicare pressure ulcer quality indicator (the development of new or worsened pressure ulcers), with rehabilitation outcomes among Medicare patients seen in an inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF). Data collection on the pressure ulcer quality indicator began in October of 2012, however, the value of this indicator is not known.DesignRetrospective descriptive study.SettingIRFs subscribed to the Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation. Participants: Nearly 500,000 IRF Medicare patients who were discharged between January 2013 and September 2014 were examined.InterventionNA.Main Outcome MeasuresFunctional independence, functional change (gain), and discharge destination.ResultsThe pressure ulcer quality indicator was associated with poorer rehabilitation outcomes; patients were less likely to achieve functional independence (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.44 - 0.51), less likely to be discharged to a community setting (OR 0.88, 95% CI: 0.82 - 0.95) and made less functional gain during their IRF stay (a difference of 6 FIM points).ConclusionThese results support that the pressure ulcer quality indicator is associated with lower quality of rehabilitation outcomes; however given that those patients with a new or worsened pressure injury still made functional gains and most were discharged to the community, the risk of pressure injury development should not preclude the admission of these cases to an IRF.



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Associations between muscle synergies and treatment outcomes in cerebral palsy are robust across clinical centers

Publication date: Available online 10 April 2018
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Author(s): Benjamin R. Shuman, Marije Goudriaan, Kaat Desloovere, Michael H. Schwartz, Katherine M. Steele
ObjectiveTo determine whether patient-specific differences in motor control quantified using muscle synergy analysis were associated with changes in gait after treatment in cerebral palsy across two clinical centers with different treatments and clinical protocols.DesignRetrospective Cohort Study.SettingClinical Medical Center.ParticipantsCenter 1: 473 children with cerebral palsy and 84 typically-developing children. Center 2: 163 children with cerebral palsy and 12 typically-developing children.InterventionsStandard clinical care at each center.Outcome MeasuresThe dynamic motor control index during walking (walk-DMC) was computed from electromyography data during gait using muscle synergy analysis. Regression analysis was used to evaluate whether pre-treatment walking speed or kinematics, muscle synergies, treatment group, prior treatment, or age were associated with post-treatment changes in gait at both clinical centers.ResultsWalk-DMC was significantly associated with changes in speed and kinematics after treatment with similar regression models at both centers. Children with less impaired motor control were more likely to have improvements in walking speed and gait kinematics after treatment, independent of treatment group.ConclusionsDynamic motor control evaluated with synergy analysis was associated with changes in gait after treatment at both centers, despite differences in treatments and clinical protocols. This study further supports the finding that walk-DMC provides additional information, not captured in traditional gait analysis, that may be useful for treatment planning.



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Occupational Exposures of Hairdressers and Barbers and Personal Use of Hair Colourants; Some Hair Dyes, Cosmetic Colourants, Industrial Dyestuffs and Aromatic Amines.

This volume provides a detailed assessment of the carcinogenic risk to humans posed by the professional and personal use of hair colourants. An additional 17 monographs evaluate the carcinogenicity of eight hair dyes, one cosmetic colourant, four industrial dyestuffs, and four aromatic amines, three of which are used in dyestuff manufacture.

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Iodine Thyroid Blocking: Guidelines for Use in Planning for and Responding to Radiological and Nuclear Emergencies.

These guidelines provide a recommendation on iodine thyroid blocking (ITB), via oral administration of stable iodine, as an urgent protective action in responding to a nuclear accident. This recommendation aims to support emergency planners, policy makers, public health specialists, clinicians and other relevant stakeholders, in order to strengthen public health preparedness for radiation emergencies in WHO Member States as required by the International Health Regulations (IHR) and in line with the international safety standards (GSR Part 7). The scope of the guidelines is confined to public health aspects of planning and implementation of ITB before and during a radiation emergency, such as dosage and timing of ITB administration, adverse effects of stable iodine, its packaging, storage, and distribution.

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Effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on cognitive functions, electrocortical activity and neurogenesis in a non-human primate, the grey mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus)

Publication date: 16 July 2018
Source:Behavioural Brain Research, Volume 347
Author(s): Julie Royo, Nicolas Villain, Delphine Champeval, Federico Del Gallo, Giuseppe Bertini, Fabienne Aujard, Fabien Pifferi
Among environmental factors that may affect on brain function, some nutrients and particularly n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) are required for optimal brain development. Their effects on cognitive functions, however, are still unclear, and studies in humans and rodents have yielded contradictory results. We used a non-human primate model, the grey mouse lemur, phylogenetically close to human. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the impact of n-3 PUFA supplementation on cognitive functions, neuronal activity and neurogenesis. Two groups of animals whose diet was supplemented with either fish oil (rich in n-3 PUFA) or olive oil as a control. These two groups were subjected to a visual discrimination task and to a test of anxiety in the open-field. In parallel, cortical activity was measured with telemetric ECoG recordings. Finally, adult neurogenesis was investigated ex vivo by means of immunohistochemistry. Animals supplemented with fish oil exhibited better visual discrimination performance and tended to have lower anxiety levels. Furthermore, supplementation increased the power of alpha, beta and gamma frequency bands in the EEG, which are related to various aspects of memory and decision-making. This study also provides the first evidence of the existence of adult neurogenesis process in a prosimian primate. Notably, lemurs supplemented with n-3 PUFAs for 21 months exhibited a higher number of newly born neurons in brain areas related to memory and emotions, compared to control animals. Altogether, these results point to long-term positive effects of dietary n-3 PUFAs on various functions of the primate brain. Further studies will be needed to determine a formal causal link between behavioral improvement and creation of new neurons.



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