bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modeling multidisciplinary design with multiagent learning
Authors: Hulse Daniel , Tumer Kagan , Hoyle Christopher , Tumer Irem
Published: August 2018

Complex engineered systems design is a collaborative activity. To design a system, experts from the relevant disciplines must work together to create the best overall system from their individual components. This situation is analogous to a multiagent system in which agents solve individual parts of a larger problem in a coordinated way. Current multiagent models of design teams, however, do not capture this distributed aspect of design teams – instead either representing designers as agents which control all variables, measuring organizational outcomes instead of design outcomes, or representing different aspects of distributed design, such as negotiation. This paper presents a new model which captures the distributed nature of complex systems design by decomposing the ability to control design variables to individual computational designers acting on a problem with shared constraints. These designers are represented as a multiagent learning system which is shown to perform similarly to a centralized optimization algorithm on the same domain. When used as a model, this multiagent system is shown to perform better when the level of designer exploration is not decayed but is instead controlled based on the increase of design knowledge, suggesting that designers in multidisciplinary teams should not simply reduce the scope of design exploration over time, but should adapt based on changes in their collective knowledge of the design space. This multiagent system is further shown to produce better-performing designs when computational designers design collaboratively as opposed to independently, confirming the importance of collaboration in complex systems design.
Physiologic effects of delayed sternal closure following stage 1 palliation
Authors: Mills Kimberly I. , van den Bosch Sarah J. , Gauvreau Kimberlee , Allan Catherine K. , Thiagarajan Ravi R. , Hoganson David M. , Baird Christopher W. , Nathan Meena , DiNardo James A. , Kheir John N.
Published: August 2018

Background

Following stage 1 palliation, delayed sternal closure may be used as a technique to enhance thoracic compliance but may also prolong the length of stay and increase the risk of infection.

Methods

We reviewed all neonates undergoing stage 1 palliation at our institution between 2010 and 2017 to describe the effects of delayed sternal closure.

Results

During the study period, 193 patients underwent stage 1 palliation, of whom 12 died before an attempt at sternal closure. Among the 25 patients who underwent primary sternal closure, 4 (16%) had sternal reopening within 24 hours. Among the 156 infants who underwent delayed sternal closure at 4 [3,6] days post-operatively, 11 (7.1%) had one or more failed attempts at sternal closure. Patients undergoing primary sternal closure had a shorter duration of mechanical ventilation and intensive care unit length of stay. Patients who failed delayed sternal closure had a longer aortic cross-clamp time (123±42 versus 99±35 minutes, p=0.029) and circulatory arrest time (39±28 versus 19±17 minutes, p=0.0009) than those who did not fail. Failure of delayed sternal closure was also closely associated with Technical Performance Score: 1.3% of patients with a score of 1 failed sternal closure compared with 18.9% of patients with a score of 3 (p=0.0028). Among the haemodynamic and ventilatory parameters studied, only superior caval vein saturation following sternal closure was different between patients who did and did not fail sternal closure (30±7 versus 42±10%, p=0.002). All patients who failed sternal closure did so within 24 hours owing to hypoxaemia, hypercarbia, or haemodynamic impairment.

Conclusion

When performed according to our current clinical practice, sternal closure causes transient and mild changes in haemodynamic and ventilatory parameters. Monitoring of SvO2following sternal closure may permit early identification of patients at risk for failure.
Development of a training programme for primary care mental health staff to support management of depression and anxiety in long-term conditions
Authors: Hamilton-Westa Kate , Batesb Amanda , Hothamc Sarah , Wilsond Patricia
Published: August 2018

Aim

We aimed to develop, deliver and evaluate a brief training programme for primary care mental health staff in NW London focussing on long-term physical health conditions (LTCs). The objective was to improve participants’ knowledge, understanding and confidence (self-efficacy) in providing effective support to people with LTCs. The second objective was to develop an online version to be made available more widely.

Background

The project was commissioned by NW London Collaboration of Clinical Commissioning Groups as part of a strategy to develop more joined up care and support for people with mental health needs. Training was developed by a team of experts, with input from commissioners, service users, clinicians and service managers.

Methods

Training was delivered via two-day interactive workshops providing: (i) key facts (informed by a review of published research and publically available health information); (ii) opportunity to engage with the ‘lived experience’ of people with LTCs (via videos, role plays, case studies and group discussion); (iii) skills-based training (in specific assessment and intervention methods). Knowledge, understanding and confidence (with respect to supporting people with LTCs) were assessed at the start and end of the training. An online training programme (with embedded evaluation questionnaire) was also developed, covering the same themes as the workshop.

Findings

Mental health staff (n=60) reported limited knowledge, understanding and confidence before the workshop, underlining the need for training. Knowledge of LTCs improved significantly following training (P<0.0001), along with awareness of the impact of poor psychological wellbeing on physical health (P<0.05) and the role of psychological therapies in supporting people with LTCs (P<0.0001). Self-efficacy also improved (P<0.001). Online training was accessed by 894 participants in the first six months and 187 provided feedback via the evaluation questionnaire. Responses indicated that participants found the training useful (88%), interesting (91%) and easy to understand (97%).
Welfare States’ Social Investment Strategies and the Emergence of Dutch Experiments on a Minimum Income Guarantee
Authors: Groot Loek , Muffels Ruud , Verlaat Timo
Published: August 2018

The focus in welfare state support in the Netherlands has been shifted from workfare and activation policies to social investment strategies. The discourse on basic income and the related municipal experiments highlights this shift. We address the inspiration found in basic income and behavioural economic and motivational psychological theoretical insights for the design of the experiments and for new avenues of minimum income protection and providing participation opportunities for the disadvantaged. The emerging new paradigm also implies a shift in the cultural values and principles on which welfare state policies are implicitly founded. This means that in these endeavours particular social values are put more upfront, such as personal autonomy (capacitating people by providing opportunities and therewith ‘free choice’) and trust (activating people by putting trust in their self-management capacities) which in day-to-day policy practice means more tailor-made, demand-oriented integrated mediation and coaching while rewarding people instead of penalising them.
Depression ist weiblich – auch nach Schlaganfall? Geschlechtervergleich von Diagnosehäufigkeit und depressiver Symptomatik im Quer- und Längsschnitt
Authors: Ladwig Simon , Volz Matthias , Werheid Katja
Published: August 2018

Zusammenfassung. Während Frauen in der Allgemeinbevölkerung ein höheres Depressionsrisiko aufweisen als Männer, ist die Forschungslage zu Geschlechterunterschieden nach Schlaganfall heterogen. Die vorliegende Längsschnittstudie untersucht Geschlechterunterschiede in der Häufigkeit von depressiven Störungen und Symptomen nach Schlaganfall. An zwei deutschen Rehabilitationszentren wurden N = 174 Schlaganfallpatienten und -patientinnen 1 (n = 72 weiblich) rekrutiert und etablierte Risikofaktoren erfasst. Nacherhebungen fanden nach acht und 15 Monaten statt. Depressive Störungen und Symptome waren häufiger bei Frauen (48.2 %) als bei Männern (28.3 %) während der stationären Rehabilitation, jedoch nicht in den Folgeuntersuchungen. Etablierte Risikofaktoren beeinflussten geschlechtsunabhängig die Ausprägung depressiver Symptomatik. In Übereinstimmung mit aktuellen Meta-Analysen zeigten sich keine dauerhaften Geschlechterunterschiede bei Depression nach Schlaganfall. In der klinischen Praxis sollte die Affektlage von Schlaganfallpatienten geschlechtsunabhängig betrachtet werden.
Modeling Sediment Yield in Land Surface and Earth System Models: Model Comparison, Development, and Evaluation
Authors: Tan Zeli , Leung L. Ruby , Li Hong‐Yi , Tesfa Teklu
Published: August 2018

Sediment yield (SY) plays an important role in the global carbon cycle for carrying particulate carbon into rivers and oceans, but it is rarely represented in Earth system models (ESMs). Existing SY models have mostly been tested over a few small catchments in specific regions or in large river basins globally. By comparing the performance of eight well‐known SY models in 454 small catchments with various land covers and uses across the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam, we identified the simple Morgan model for its better performance in representing the spatial variability of continental scale SY at spatial scales relevant to ESMs (several to hundreds of square kilometers) than other models because of a more realistic representation of runoff‐driven erosion and sediment transport capacity in the context of current data availability. The results also indicated that runoff‐driven erosion should be formulated using a power function of runoff, shear stress, or stream power to better represent the total effect of concentrated flow if gully erosion and channel erosion are not explicitly modeled. We also demonstrated that the Morgan model can be further improved by removing snowmelt‐driven runoff in modeling runoff‐driven erosion and to a minor degree by integrating a landslide model. The improved Morgan model explains 57% of the spatial variability of the measured SY. The new model also demonstrated the capability to simulate SY in cross‐validation catchments at fine temporal scales, which is important for coupling SY with other biogeochemistry processes in ESMs.
Development and Application of the Heat Pulse Method for Soil Physical Measurements
Authors: He Hailong , Dyck Miles F. , Horton Robert , Ren Tusheng , Bristow Keith L. , Lv Jialong , Si Bingcheng
Published: August 2018

Accurate and continuous measurements of soil thermal and hydraulic properties are required for environmental, Earth and planetary science, and engineering applications, but they are not practically obtained by steady‐state methods. The heat pulse (HP) method is a transient method for determination of soil thermal properties and a wide range of other physical properties in laboratory and field conditions. The HP method is based on the line‐heat source solution of the radial heat flow equation. This literature review begins with a discussion of the evolution of the HP method and related applications, followed by the principal theories, data interpretation methods, and their differences. Important factors for HP probe construction are presented. The properties determined in unfrozen and frozen soils are discussed, followed by a discussion of limitations and perspectives for the application of this method. The paper closes with a brief overview of future needs and opportunities for further development and application of the HP method.
Geology in 3-D and the Evolving Future of Earth Science
Authors: Boyd O. , Thorleifson L.
Published: August 2018

Geologic Mapping Forum; Minneapolis, Minnesota, 26–29 March 2018
Very high-protein and low-carbohydrate enteral nutrition formula and plasma glucose control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized crossover trial
Authors: Huhmann Maureen B. , Yamamoto Shinobu , Neutel Joel M. , Cohen Sarah S. , Ochoa Gautier Juan B.
Published: August 2018

Background and objectives

Standard enteral nutrition (EN) formulas can  worsen hyperglycemia in diabetic patients. We hypothesized that altering the proportion of macronutrients in a formula; increasing protein while decreasing carbohydrate concentrations would improve glycemic response. The objective of this study was to demonstrate that an EN formula containing a very high concentration of protein (in the form of whey peptides) and low concentration of carbohydrate provide better control of postprandial blood glucose relative to a very high-protein/higher-carbohydrate formula.

Subjects and methods

This was a randomized crossover clinical trial of 12 ambulatory adult subjects with type 2 diabetes. The primary outcome was glycemic response following a bolus of isocaloric amounts of two EN formulas; the secondary outcome was insulin response. Subjects were randomized to the experimental or the control formula, on two separate days, 5–7 days apart.

Results

Mean blood glucose concentrations at 10–180 min post-infusion and mean area under the curve for glucose over 240 min post-infusion were significantly lower with the experimental formula than with the control formula (71.99 ± 595.18 and 452.62 ± 351.38, respectively; p = 0.025). There were no significant differences in the mean insulin concentrations over time, insulinogenic indices, and first-phase insulin measurements.

Conclusions

An EN formula containing high-protein and low-carbohydrate loads can significantly improve glucose control in subjects with type 2 diabetes in ambulatory settings as evidenced by observed improved glucose control without significant difference in insulin response.
Essential role of Ahnak in adipocyte differentiation leading to the transcriptional regulation of Bmpr1α expression
Authors: Woo Jong Kyu , Shin Jae Hoon , Lee Seo Hyun , Park Hun-Min , Cho Soo Young , Sung You Me , Kim Il Yong , Seong Je Kyung
Published: August 2018

The role of Ahnak in obesity has been reported previously. Loss of Ahnak leads to decreased Bmp4/Smad1 signaling, resulting in the downregulation of adipocyte differentiation. However, the biological significance of Ahnak remains largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that Ahnak-mediated impaired adipogenesis results in decreased Bmpr1α transcriptional expression. To confirm this, Ahnak siRNA was used to knock-down Ahnak in C3H10T1/2 and primary stromal vascular fraction cells. Ahnak siRNA transfected cells showed suppression of Bmpr1α expression and decreased BMP4/ Bmpr1α signaling. The differential adipogenesis was further confirmed by knock-down of Bmpr1α in C3H10T1/2 cells, which resulted in reduced adipogenesis. Moreover, stable Ahnak knock-out C3H10T1/2 cells stably transfected with Ahnak CRISPR/Cas9 plasmid suppressed expression of Bmpr1α and prevented differentiation into adipocytes. Furthermore, we developed immortalized pre-adipocytes from wild-type or Ahnak Knock-out mice’s stromal vascular fraction (SVF) to confirm the function of Ahnak in pre-adipocyte transition. Immortalized Ahnak knock-out SVF cells showed lower level of Bmpr1α expression, evidence by their impaired BMP4/Bmpr1α signaling. Upon adipogenic induction, immortalized Ahnak knock-out SVF cells exhibited a marked decrease in adipocyte differentiation compared with immortalized wild-type pre-adipocytes. Furthermore, over-expression of Bmpr1α restored the adipogenic activity of Ahnak knock-out C3H10T1/2 cells and immortalized Ahnak knock-out SVF cells. Our data reveal the missing link in Ahnak-mediated adipose tissue remodeling and suggest that precise regulation of Ahnak in adipose tissue might have a therapeutic advantage for metabolic disease treatment.
TGF-β1-SOX9 axis-inducible COL10A1 promotes invasion and metastasis in gastric cancer via epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition
Authors: Li Tingting , Huang Haipeng , Shi Guangyao , Zhao Liying , Li Tuanjie , Zhang Ze , Liu Ruoyan , Hu Yanfeng , Liu Hao , Yu Jiang , Li Guoxin
Published: August 2018

Molecular biomarkers that predict disease progression might promote drug development and therapeutic strategies in aggressive cancers, such as gastric cancer (GC). High-throughput mRNA sequencing (RNA-seq) revealed that collagen type X alpha 1 (COL10A1) is a disease progression-associated gene. Analysis of 103 GC patients showed that high COL10A1 mRNA expression was associated with GC metastasis and reduced survival. We analyzed the COL10A1 promoter using the UCSC genome website and JASPAR database, and we found potential SOX9 binding site. Here, we demonstrated that SOX9 and COL10A1 were both up-regulated in GC. We observed a positive correlation between the expression patterns of SOX9 and COL10A1 in GC cells and tissues. The results of electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay and promoter reporter indicated that SOX9 could directly bind to the COL10A1 gene promoter and activate its transcription. Biological function experiments showed that COL10A1 regulated the migration and invasion of GC cells. Knockdown COL10A1 inhibited lung and abdominal cavity metastasis in a nude mouse model. Moreover, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) treatment up-regulated the phosphorylation of Smad2 and increased SOX9 and COL10A1 expression. COL10A1 was confirmed to be a potential inducer of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). SOX9 was essential for COL10A1-mediated EMT, and cell migration, invasion and metastasis. Co-expression of SOX9 and COL10A1 was associated with tumor progression and was strongly predictive of overall survival in GC patients. In summary, this study elucidated the mechanistic link between COL10A1 and the TGF-β1-SOX9 axis. These findings indicated that COL10A1 might play a crucial role in GC progression and serve as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in GC patients.
Specific inhibition of ADAM17/TACE promotes neurogenesis in the injured motor cortex
Authors: Geribaldi-Doldán Noelia , Carrasco Manuel , Murillo-Carretero Maribel , Domínguez-García Samuel , García-Cózar Francisco J. , Muñoz-Miranda Juan Pedro , del Río-García Valme , Verástegui Cristina , Castro Carmen
Published: August 2018

Brain injuries in the adult mammalian brain are accompanied by a fast neurogenic response inside neurogenic niches. However, this response does not contribute to the generation of new neurons within damaged tissues like the cerebral cortex, which are essentially non-neurogenic. This occurs because injuries create a hostile environment that favors gliogenesis. Overexpression and sequential activation of the ADAM17/TGFα/EGFR signaling cascade are crucial for the generation of this gliogenic/non-neurogenic environment. Here, we demonstrate that chronic local infusion of a general metalloprotease inhibitor in areas of traumatic cortical injury in adult mice moderately increased the number of neuroblasts around the lesion, by facilitating the survival of neuroblasts and undifferentiated progenitors, which had migrated to the perilesional area from the subventricular zone. Next, we generated a dominant-negative version of ADAM17 metalloprotease, consisting of a truncated protein containing only the pro-domain (ADAM17-Pro). Specific inhibition of ADAM17 activity by ADAM17-Pro overexpression increased the generation of new neurons in vitro. Local overexpression of ADAM17-Pro in injured cortex in vivo, mediated by lentiviral vectors, dramatically increased the number of neuroblasts observed at the lesion 14 days after injury. Those neuroblasts were able to differentiate into cholinergic and GABAergic neurons 28 days after injury. We conclude that ADAM17 is a putative target to develop new therapeutic tools for the treatment of traumatic brain injury.
Intriguing role of water in protein-ligand binding studied by neutron crystallography on trypsin complexes
Authors: Schiebel Johannes , Gaspari Roberto , Wulsdorf Tobias , Ngo Khang , Sohn Christian , Schrader Tobias E. , Cavalli Andrea , Ostermann Andreas , Heine Andreas , Klebe Gerhard
Published: August 2018

Hydrogen bonds are key interactions determining protein-ligand binding affinity and therefore fundamental to any biological process. Unfortunately, explicit structural information about hydrogen positions and thus H-bonds in protein-ligand complexes is extremely rare and similarly the important role of water during binding remains poorly understood. Here, we report on neutron structures of trypsin determined at very high resolutions ≤1.5 Å in uncomplexed and inhibited state complemented by X-ray and thermodynamic data and computer simulations. Our structures show the precise geometry of H-bonds between protein and the inhibitors N-amidinopiperidine and benzamidine along with the dynamics of the residual solvation pattern. Prior to binding, the ligand-free binding pocket is occupied by water molecules characterized by a paucity of H-bonds and high mobility resulting in an imperfect hydration of the critical residue Asp189. This phenomenon likely constitutes a key factor fueling ligand binding via water displacement and helps improving our current view on water influencing protein–ligand recognition.
Microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids promote Th1 cell IL-10 production to maintain intestinal homeostasis
Authors: Sun Mingming , Wu Wei , Chen Liang , Yang Wenjing , Huang Xiangsheng , Ma Caiyun , Chen Feidi , Xiao Yi , Zhao Ye , Ma Chunyan , Yao Suxia , Carpio Victor H. , Dann Sara M. , Zhao Qihong , Liu Zhanju , Cong Yingzi
Published: August 2018

T-cells are crucial in maintanence of intestinal homeostasis, however, it is still unclear how microbiota metabolites regulate T-effector cells. Here we show gut microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) promote microbiota antigen-specific Th1 cell IL-10 production, mediated by G-protein coupled receptors 43 (GPR43). Microbiota antigen-specific Gpr43−/− CBir1 transgenic (Tg) Th1 cells, specific for microbiota antigen CBir1 flagellin, induce more severe colitis compared with wide type (WT) CBir1 Tg Th1 cells in Rag−/− recipient mice. Treatment with SCFAs limits colitis induction by promoting IL-10 production, and administration of anti-IL-10R antibody promotes colitis development. Mechanistically, SCFAs activate Th1 cell STAT3 and mTOR, and consequently upregulate transcription factor B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein 1 (Blimp-1), which mediates SCFA-induction of IL-10. SCFA-treated Blimp1−/− Th1 cells produce less IL-10 and induce more severe colitis compared to SCFA-treated WT Th1 cells. Our studies, thus, provide insight into how microbiota metabolites regulate Th1 cell functions to maintain intestinal homeostasis.
Biased sequential sampling underlies the effects of time pressure and delay in social decision making
Authors: Chen Fadong , Krajbich Ian
Published: August 2018

Social decision making involves balancing conflicts between selfishness and pro-sociality. The cognitive processes underlying such decisions are not well understood, with some arguing for a single comparison process, while others argue for dual processes (one intuitive and one deliberative). Here, we propose a way to reconcile these two opposing frameworks. We argue that behavior attributed to intuition can instead be seen as a starting point bias of a sequential sampling model (SSM) process, analogous to a prior in a Bayesian framework. Using mini-dictator games in which subjects make binary decisions about how to allocate money between themselves and another participant, we find that pro-social subjects become more pro-social under time pressure and less pro-social under time delay, while selfish subjects do the opposite. Our findings help reconcile the conflicting results concerning the cognitive processes of social decision making and highlight the importance of modeling the dynamics of the choice process.
Super-wide-field two-photon imaging with a micro-optical device moving in post-objective space
Authors: Terada Shin-Ichiro , Kobayashi Kenta , Ohkura Masamichi , Nakai Junichi , Matsuzaki Masanori
Published: August 2018

Wide-field imaging of neural activity at a cellular resolution is a current challenge in neuroscience. To address this issue, wide-field two-photon microscopy has been developed; however, the field size is limited by the objective size. Here, we develop a micro-opto-mechanical device that rotates within the post-objective space between the objective and brain tissue. Two-photon microscopy with this device enables sub-second sequential calcium imaging of left and right mouse sensory forelimb areas 6 mm apart. When imaging the rostral and caudal motor forelimb areas (RFA and CFA) 2 mm apart, we found high pairwise correlations in spontaneous activity between RFA and CFA neurons and between an RFA neuron and its putative axons in CFA. While mice performed a sound-triggered forelimb-movement task, the population activity between RFA and CFA covaried across trials, although the field-averaged activity was similar across trials. The micro-opto-mechanical device in the post-objective space provides a novel and flexible design to clarify the correlation structure between distant brain areas at subcellular and population levels.
3D bacterial cellulose biofilms formed by foam templating
Authors: Rühs Patrick A. , Storz Flavian , López Gómez Yuly A. , Haug Matthias , Fischer Peter
Published: August 2018

Bacterial cellulose is a remarkable fibrous structural component of biofilms, as it forms a mechanically strong hydrogel with high water adsorption capabilities. Additionally, bacterial cellulose is biocompatible and therefore of potential interest for skin regeneration and wound healing applications. However, bacterial cellulose produced through conventional production processes at water–air interfaces lack macroporosity control, which is crucial for regenerative tissue applications. Here we demonstrate a straightforward and efficient approach to form a macroporous bacterial cellulose foam by foaming a mannitol-based media with a bacterial suspension ofGluconoacetobacter xylinus. The bacterial suspension foam is stabilized with Cremodan as a surfactant and viscosified with Xanthan preventing water drainage. Further foam stabilization occurs through cellulose formation across the foam network. As bacterial cellulose formation is influenced by the viscosity of the growth media, we fine-tuned the concentration of Xanthan to allow for bacterial cellulose formation while avoiding water drainage caused by gravity. With this simple approach, we were able to design 3D bacterial cellulose foams without any additional processing steps. We argue that this templating approach can further be used to design foamy biofilms for biotechnological approaches, increasing the surface area and therefore the yield by improving the exchange of nutrients and metabolic products.
Isoform-specific hyperactivation of calpain-2 occurs presymptomatically at the synapse in Alzheimer’s disease mice and correlates with memory deficits in human subjects
Authors: Ahmad Faraz , Das Debajyoti , Kommaddi Reddy Peera , Diwakar Latha , Gowaikar Ruturaj , Rupanagudi Khader Valli , Bennett David A. , Ravindranath Vijayalakshmi
Published: August 2018

Calpain hyperactivation is implicated in late-stages of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, calpains are also critical for synaptic function and plasticity, and hence memory formation and learning. Since synaptic deficits appear early in AD pathogenesis prior to appearance of overt disease symptoms, we examined if localized dysregulation of calpain-1 and/or 2 contributes to early synaptic dysfunction in AD. Increased activity of synaptosomal calpain-2, but not calpain-1 was observed in presymptomatic 1 month old APPswe/PS1ΔE9 mice (a mouse model of AD) which have no evident pathological or behavioural hallmarks of AD and persisted up to 10 months of age. However, total cellular levels of calpain-2 remained unaffected. Moreover, synaptosomal calpain-2 was hyperactivated in frontal neocortical tissue samples of post-mortem brains of AD-dementia subjects and correlated significantly with decline in tests for cognitive and memory functions, and increase in levels of β-amyloid deposits in brain. We conclude that isoform-specific hyperactivation of calpain-2, but not calpain-1 occurs at the synapse early in the pathogenesis of AD potentially contributing to the deregulation of synaptic signaling in AD. Our findings would be important in paving the way for potential therapeutic strategies for amelioration of cognitive deficits observed in ageing-related dementia disorders like AD.
Publisher Correction: Effects of a Finger Tapping Fatiguing Task on M1-Intracortical Inhibition and Central Drive to the Muscle
Authors: Madrid Antonio , Madinabeitia-Mancebo Elena , Cudeiro Javier , Arias Pablo
Published: August 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.
Pathways for mitigating thermal losses in solar photovoltaics
Authors: Vaillon Rodolphe , Dupré Olivier , Cal Raúl Bayoán , Calaf Marc
Published: August 2018

To improve the performance of solar photovoltaic devices one should mitigate three types of losses: optical, electrical and thermal. However, further reducing the optical and electrical losses in modern photovoltaic devices is becoming increasingly costly. Therefore, there is a rising interest in minimizing the thermal losses. These correspond to the reduction in electrical power output resultant of working at temperatures above 25 °C and the associated accelerated aging. Here, we quantify the impact of all possible strategies to mitigate thermal losses in the case of the mainstream crystalline silicon technology. Results indicate that ensuring a minimum level of conductive/convective cooling capabilities is essential. We show that sub-bandgap reflection and radiative cooling are strategies worth pursuing and recommend further field testing in real-time operating conditions. The general method we propose is suitable for every photovoltaic technology to guide the research focused on reducing thermal losses.
Ultra-low noise optical injection locking amplifier with AOM-based coherent detection scheme
Authors: Feng Zitong , Yang Fei , Zhang Xi , Chen Dijun , Wei Fang , Cheng Nan , Sun Yanguang , Gui Youzhen , Cai Haiwen
Published: August 2018

A novel optical injection locking amplifier with acousto-optic modulator based phase modulation and a coherent detection scheme for optical frequency transfer applications is experimentally demonstrated in this study. A commercial distributed feedback diode laser is injection-locked to the resonant frequency of the optical signal with an optical fiber path length of hundreds of kilometers. This provides approximately 59 dB gain and ensures that the input carrier frequency fractional stability can be as good as 10−20 at 1000 s. The amplifier was tested for the transfer of a commercial narrow-linewidth laser in a 180 km fiber link to a remote site with only a single amplification step. The transferred frequency at the remote end reached 10−20 at 20000 s, which is suitable for optical frequency distribution and remote comparison between optical atomic clocks.
The neural dynamics of deficient memory control in heavily traumatized refugees
Authors: Waldhauser Gerd T. , Dahl Martin J. , Ruf-Leuschner Martina , Müller-Bamouh Veronika , Schauer Maggie , Axmacher Nikolai , Elbert Thomas , Hanslmayr Simon
Published: August 2018

Victims of war, torture and natural catastrophes are prone to develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These individuals experience the recurrent, involuntary intrusion of traumatic memories. What neurocognitive mechanisms are driving this memory disorder? Here we show that PTSD symptoms in heavily traumatized refugees are related to deficits in the effective control of memory retrieval. In a think/no-think task, PTSD patients were unable to forget memories that they had previously tried to suppress when compared to control participants with the same trauma history but without PTSD. Deficits in voluntary forgetting were clinically relevant since they correlated with memory intrusions in everyday life. Magnetoencephalography (MEG) recorded during suppression attempts revealed that PTSD patients were unable to downregulate signatures of sensory long-term memory traces in the gamma frequency band (70–120 Hz). Thus, our data suggest that the inability to suppress unwanted memories through modulation of gamma activity is related to PTSD symptom severity.
The osteopontin-CD44 axis in hepatic cancer stem cells regulates IFN signaling and HCV replication
Authors: Shirasaki Takayoshi , Honda Masao , Yamashita Taro , Nio Kouki , Shimakami Tetsuro , Shimizu Ryougo , Nakasyo Saki , Murai Kazuhisa , Shirasaki Natsumi , Okada Hikari , Sakai Yoshio , Sato Tokiharu , Suzuki Tetsuro , Yoshioka Katsuji , Kaneko Shuichi
Published: August 2018

Osteopontin (OPN) is involved in cell proliferation, migration, inflammation, and tumor progression in various tissues. OPN induces stemness by interacting with CD44, but the functional relevance of OPN-mediated interferon (IFN) signaling and hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication in stem cell populations remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of OPN on HCV replication and IFN signaling in cancer stem cells (CSCs) positive for epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) and CD44. We show that the EpCAM+/CD44+ CSCs show marked HCV replication when compared to EpCAM−/CD44− cells. In addition, OPN significantly enhances this HCV replication in EpCAM+/CD44+ CSCs and markedly suppresses IFN-stimulated gene expression. The GSK-3β inhibitor BIO increases the EpCAM+/CD44+ CSC population and OPN expression and impairs IFN signaling via STAT1 degradation. Taken together, our data suggest that OPN enhances HCV replication in the EpCAM+/CD44+ CSCs, while it also negatively regulates the IFN signaling pathway via inhibition of STAT1 phosphorylation and degradation. Therefore, OPN may represent a novel therapeutic target for treating HCV-related hepatocellular carcinoma.
Ultralong π-phase shift fiber Bragg grating empowered single-longitudinal mode DFB phosphate fiber laser with low-threshold and high-efficiency
Authors: Jiang Man , Zhou Pu , Gu Xijia
Published: August 2018

Phosphate glass fiber is one of the candidates for building compact fiber lasers because of its capability of high-concentration of rare-earth ions doping in fiber core. Nevertheless, it is challenging for the integration of UV-written intra-core fiber Bragg gratings into the fiber laser cavity due to the low photosensitivity of phosphate glass fiber. The research presented in this paper will focus on demonstration of UV-written Bragg gratings in phosphate glass fiber and its application in direct-written short monolithic single-frequency fiber lasers. A 5-cm-long strong π-phase shift Bragg grating structure is direct-inscribed into the Er/Yb co-doped gain fiber using an excimer laser. The fiber laser device emits output power of 10.44 mW with a slope efficiency of 21.5% and the threshold power is about 42.8 mW. Single-longitudinal mode operation is validated by radio frequency spectrum measurement. Moreover, the output spectrum at the highest power shows an excellent optical signal to noise ratio of about 70 dB. These results, to the best of our knowledge, show the lowest power threshold and highest efficiency among the reports that using the same structure to achieve single-longitudinal mode laser output.
Class II histone deacetylases require P/Q-type Ca2+ channels and CaMKII to maintain gamma oscillations in the pedunculopontine nucleus
Authors: Urbano Francisco J. , Bisagno Verónica , Mahaffey Susan , Lee Sang-hun , Garcia-Rill Edgar
Published: August 2018

Epigenetic mechanisms (i.e., histone post-translational modification and DNA methylation) play a role in regulation of gene expression. The pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN), part of the reticular activating system, manifests intrinsic gamma oscillations generated by voltage-dependent, high threshold N- and P/Q-type Ca2+ channels. We studied whether PPN intrinsic gamma oscillations are affected by inhibition of histone deacetylation. We showed that, a) acute in vitro exposure to the histone deacetylation Class I and II inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA, 1 μM) eliminated oscillations in the gamma range, but not lower frequencies, b) pre-incubation with TSA (1 μM, 90–120 min) also decreased gamma oscillations, c) Ca2+ currents (ICa) were reduced by TSA, especially on cells with P/Q-type channels, d) a HDAC Class I inhibitor MS275 (500 nM), and a Class IIb inhibitor Tubastatin A (150–500 nM), failed to affect gamma oscillations, e) MC1568, a HDAC Class IIa inhibitor (1 μM), blocked gamma oscillations, and f) the effects of both TSA and MC1568 were blunted by blockade of CaMKII with KN-93 (1 μM). These results suggest a cell type specific effect on gamma oscillations when histone deacetylation is blocked, suggesting that gamma oscillations through P/Q-type channels modulated by CaMKII may be linked to processes related to gene transcription.
Negative fluorescence anisotropy of phosphole oxide-based dyes in nematic liquid crystals
Authors: Ohzono Takuya , Yatabe Tetsuo , Wang Chenguang , Fukazawa Aiko , Yamaguchi Shigehiro
Published: August 2018

It is important to understand how solute molecules align in anisotropic media such as liquid crystals and biological membranes. Alignment of fluorescent probes used in polarised fluorescence microscopy is of interest because anisotropy of the medium is indirectly estimated through the fluorescence intensity originating from the transition dipole moments fixed on the molecule. Here we report fluorescence anisotropies of a series of phosphole oxide-based dyes with an elongatedπ-conjugated system, along which the transition dipole moment lies, in nematic liquid crystals. We observe that as the number, size and rigidity of substituents protruding from theπ-conjugated plane increase, the transition dipole moment tends to tilt away from the nematic director over the magic angle, ~54.7°, showing conspicuous negative fluorescence anisotropy. Analysis of molecular shapes suggests that the substitutions modulate the interaction with the nematic mean field, impacting the direction of the principal molecular axis aligned with the nematic director.
Transition Metal-catalyzed Click Polymerization
Authors: Huang Die , Qin AnJun , Tang Ben Zhong
Published: August 2018

This chapter gives a summary of the recent research efforts devoted to the development of transition metal-catalyzed azide–alkyne click polymerizations (AACPs) and their applications in the preparation of linear and hyperbranched polytriazoles (PTAs) with advanced functions. Cu(i)- and Ru(ii)-catalyzed AACPs can yield 1,4- and 1,5-regioregular PTAs, respectively. Various Cu(i) complexes have been applied as catalysts for AACPs. The produced PTAs showed unique properties, such as luminescence, fluorescence imaging, biodegradability, optical nonlinearity, stimulus-responsiveness, thermal stability, self-assembly and catalytic activity.
Structuring polarity-inverted TBA to G-quadruplex for selective recognition of planarity of natural isoquinoline alkaloids
Authors: Zhou Yufeng , Yu Yali , Gao Longlong , Fei Yifan , Ye Ting , Li Qiusha , Zhou Xiaoshun , Gan Ning , Shao Yong
Published: August 2018

Selective small molecules’ planarity identification is first developed using the polarity inverted G-quadruplex as a high-performance selector.
Morphology led high dispersion of Pt icosahedral nanocrystals on carbon nanotubes for enhanced electro-catalytic activity and stability
Authors: Du Guifen , Zhang Jiawei , Chen Qiaoli , Kuang Qin , Xie Zhaoxiong
Published: August 2018

Monodispersed small icosahedral Pt nanocrystals supported on carbon nanotubes show enhanced activity and stability towards methanol electro-oxidation compared to their cubic counterparts.
Diving–floating locomotion induced by capturing and manipulating bubbles in an aqueous environment
Authors: Tian Pan , Gao Xiaoyu , Wen Gang , Zhong Lieshuang , Wang Zelinlan , Guo Zhiguang
Published: August 2018

A superaerophilic surface achieves capturing and manipulating bubbles to induce the diving-floating locomotion.
Correction: Bifunctional organic sponge photocatalyst for efficient cross-dehydrogenative coupling of tertiary amines to ketones
Authors: Zhang Teng , Liang Weiwei , Huang Yuxing , Li Xingrong , Liu Yizhen , Yang Bo , He Chuanxin , Zhou Xuechang , Zhang Junmin
Published: August 2018

Correction for 'Bifunctional organic sponge photocatalyst for efficient cross-dehydrogenative coupling of tertiary amines to ketones' by Teng Zhang et al., Chem. Commun., 2017, 53, 12536–12539.
Direct imaging of a single Ni atom cutting graphene to form a graphene nanomesh
Authors: Zhang Haixia , Liu Weiwei , Zhang Zhenhua , Li Meifen , Xu Bingshe , Guo Junjie
Published: August 2018

A GNM is synthesized by an arc discharge in a Ni-containing solution. Ni atoms or particles act as an “atomic knife” to cut graphene to feed GNM formation.
Revisiting the iridacycle-catalyzed hydrosilylation of enolizable imines
Authors: Pèrez-Miqueo Jorge , San Nacianceno Virginia , Urquiola F. Borja , Freixa Zoraida
Published: August 2018

In situ1H NMR spectroscopy reveals a cascade mechanism for the hydrosilylation of enolizable imines catalyzed by iridium(iii) metallacycles.
Highly efficient removal of organic pollutants by ultrahigh-surface-area-ethynylbenzene-based conjugated microporous polymers via adsorption–photocatalysis synergy
Authors: Wang Junhui , Yang Huangsheng , Jiang Long , Liu Shuqin , Hao Zhengping , Cheng Jie , Ouyang Gangfeng
Published: August 2018

Conjugated microporous polymers with a high surface area and a narrow band gap exhibited efficient removal of organic pollutants via adsorption–photocatalysis synergy.
Good isomerization of 2-cyclohexenol by two Ru(ii) complexes, synthesis and characterization of a reaction intermediate
Authors: Scalambra Franco , López-Sanchez Belen , Romerosa Antonio
Published: August 2018

The catalytic isomerization of 2-cyclohexenol to cyclohexanone has been accomplished with large conversion rates using two Ru(ii) catalysts containing PTA under mild reaction conditions in both water and biphasic media.
A microfluidic approach to study the effect of mechanical stress on erythrocytes in sickle cell disease
Authors: Lizarralde Iragorri Maria Alejandra , El Hoss Sara , Brousse Valentine , Lefevre Sophie D. , Dussiot Michael , Xu Tieying , Ferreira Alexander Rodrigo , Lamarre Yann , Silva Pinto Ana Cristina , Kashima Simone , Lapouméroulie Claudine , Covas Dimas Tadeu , Le Van Kim Caroline , Colin Yves , Elion Jacques , Français Olivier , Le Pioufle Bruno , El Nemer Wassim
Published: August 2018

This work presents a microfluidic device to challenge the deformability of normal and pathological red cells and their resistance to lysis upon mechanical stress.
Efficient and reliable surface charge transfer doping of black phosphorus via atomic layer deposited MgO toward high performance complementary circuits
Authors: Liao Wugang , Wang Lin , Chen Li , Wei Wei , Zeng Zhe , Feng Xuewei , Huang Li , Tan Wee Chong , Huang Xin , Ang Kah Wee , Zhu Chunxiang
Published: August 2018

Efficient n-doping for BP transistors is realized via atomic layer deposited MgO for the implementation of high-performance complementary logic inverters.
Serum protein corona-responsive autophagy tuning in cells
Authors: Kong Huating , Xia Kai , Ren Ning , Cui Yunzhi , Liu Renduo , Li Qingnuan , Lv Min , Shi Jiye , Yan Qinglong , Cui Zhifen , Fan Chunhai , Zhu Ying , Wang Lihua
Published: August 2018

A simple, safe and effective approach to control the autophagy-inducing activity of nanoparticles was developed.
Lysosome targeted drugs: rhodamine B modified N^N-chelating ligands for half-sandwich iridium(iii) anticancer complexes
Authors: Ma Wenli , Tian Zhenzhen , Zhang Shumiao , He Xiangdong , Li JuanJuan , Xia Xiaorong , Chen Xiaobing , Liu Zhe
Published: August 2018

We designed and synthesized four rhodamine-modified half-sandwich iridium complexes ([(η5-Cpx)Ir(N^N)Cl]PF6).
Doubling the photocatalytic performance of SnO2 by carbon coating mixed-phase particles
Authors: Li Qingbo , Zhao Hongkai , Sun Honggang , Zhao Xian , Fan Weiliu
Published: August 2018

Carbon effectively facilitated the charge transfer and separation between the tetragonal and orthorhombic nanoparticles in mixed-phase SnO2.
Biosynthesis of Ag–Pd bimetallic alloy nanoparticles through hydrolysis of cellulose triggered by silver sulfate
Authors: Li Xianxue , Odoom-Wubah Tareque , Huang Jiale
Published: August 2018

We report a simple but efficient biological route based on the hydrolysis of cellulose to synthesize Ag–Pd alloy nanoparticles (NPs) under hydrothermal conditions.
Characteristics of wear particles and wear behavior of retrieved PEEK-on-HXLPE total knee implants: a preliminary study
Authors: Meng Xiangchao , Du Zhe , Wang You
Published: August 2018

Polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK) has been used clinically for intervertebral fusion and internal fixators in spine and trauma surgery because of its mechanical properties and bioinertness.
Green and facile approach to prepare polypropylene/in situ reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites with excellent electromagnetic interference shielding properties
Authors: George Gejo , Simon Sanu Mathew , V. P. Prakashan , M. S. Sajna , Faisal Muhammad , Wilson Runcy , Chandran Anoop , P. R. Biju , Joseph Cyriac , Unnikrishnan N. V.
Published: August 2018

Fabrication of PP/in situ reduced GO nanocomposites with excellent EMI shielding capability realized via a facile and green route.
Corrosion behaviour of welded low-carbon steel in the Arctic marine environment
Authors: Choi Yoo Youl , Kim Myung Hyun
Published: August 2018

The parent metal have shown higher corrosion than the weld zone under severe Arctic corrosion conditions.
Silver-catalyzed direct benzylation of acetanilide: a highly efficient approach to unsymmetrical triarylmethanes
Authors: Li Yuting , Zhu Yan , Tu Guangliang , Zhang Jingyu , Zhao Yingsheng
Published: August 2018

An efficient approach for the synthesis of triphenylmethanes through the direct combination of acetanilides and diphenylmethanol derivatives using AgOTf as the catalyst has been developed.
In silico stress–strain measurements on self-assembled protein lattices
Authors: Baarda Rachel A. , Marianchuk Tegan L. , Toney Michael D. , Cox Daniel L.
Published: August 2018

We build a model 2-D nano-scaffold from beta-solenoid proteins fused with symmetric microbial multimers and characterize it using stress–strain simulations.
Investigation of nematic to smectic phase transition and dynamical properties of strongly confined semiflexible polymers using Langevin dynamics
Authors: Roy Supriya , Luzhbin Dmytro A. , Chen Yeng-Long
Published: August 2018

Nematic to smectic-C transition in strongly confined semiflexible polymer solutions, with microdomains.
Shear rate dependent margination of sphere-like, oblate-like and prolate-like micro-particles within blood flow
Authors: Ye Huilin , Shen Zhiqiang , Li Ying
Published: August 2018

The shape effect of micro-particles is examined by comparing the margination behaviors of sphere-like, oblate-like and prolate-like micro-particles under different wall shear rates in blood flow.
Cavitation in inhomogeneous soft solids
Authors: Kang Jingtian , Wang Changguo , Tan Huifeng
Published: August 2018

When a large hydrostatic tension is applied to an inhomogeneous soft solid, cavitation instability can be induced in a way that is different from the homogeneous case.
Interfacial engineering enables high efficiency with a high open-circuit voltage above 1.23 V in 2D perovskite solar cells
Authors: Chen Jiehuan , Lian Xiaomei , Zhang Yingzhu , Yang Weitao , Li Jun , Qin Minchao , Lu Xinhui , Wu Gang , Chen Hongzheng
Published: August 2018

High efficiency (12.07%) 2D perovskite solar cells with a high open-circuit voltage above 1.23 V are realizedviainterface engineering.