bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A transcriptomics resource reveals a transcriptional transition during ordered sarcomere morphogenesis in flight muscle
Authors: Spletter Maria L , Barz Christiane , Yeroslaviz Assa , Zhang Xu , Lemke Sandra B , Bonnard Adrien , Brunner Erich , Cardone Giovanni , Basler Konrad , Habermann Bianca H , Schnorrer Frank
Published: May 2018

Muscles organise pseudo-crystalline arrays of actin, myosin and titin filaments to build force-producing sarcomeres. To study sarcomerogenesis, we have generated a transcriptomics resource of developing Drosophila flight muscles and identified 40 distinct expression profile clusters. Strikingly, most sarcomeric components group in two clusters, which are strongly induced after all myofibrils have been assembled, indicating a transcriptional transition during myofibrillogenesis. Following myofibril assembly, many short sarcomeres are added to each myofibril. Subsequently, all sarcomeres mature, reaching 1.5 µm diameter and 3.2 µm length and acquiring stretch-sensitivity. The efficient induction of the transcriptional transition during myofibrillogenesis, including the transcriptional boost of sarcomeric components, requires in part the transcriptional regulator Spalt major. As a consequence of Spalt knock-down, sarcomere maturation is defective and fibers fail to gain stretch-sensitivity. Together, this defines an ordered sarcomere morphogenesis process under precise transcriptional control – a concept that may also apply to vertebrate muscle or heart development.
Offsetting: no big deal?
Authors: Eriksson Jörgen
Published: May 2018

In this paper I will discuss offsetting deals from their impact on accessibility, affordability to research results and on the possible development of scientific communication towards new modes and methods. I will look at the Swedish National Consortia’s offsetting deals as a specific case study.
Treatment of collagenase-induced osteoarthritis with a viral vector encoding TSG-6 results in ectopic bone formation
Authors: Broeren Mathijs G.A. , Di Ceglie Irene , Bennink Miranda B. , van Lent Peter L.E.M. , van den Berg Wim B. , Koenders Marije I. , Blaney Davidson Esmeralda N. , van der Kraan Peter M. , van de Loo Fons A.J.
Published: May 2018

Objective

Tumor necrosis factor-inducible gene 6 (TSG-6) has anti-inflammatory and chondroprotective effects in mouse models of inflammatory arthritis. Because cartilage damage and inflammation are also observed in osteoarthritis (OA), we determined the effect of viral overexpression of TSG-6 in experimental osteoarthritis.

Methods

Bone marrow-derived cells were differentiated to multinucleated osteoclasts in the presence of recombinant TSG-6 or after transduction with a lentiviral TSG-6 expression vector. Multi-nucleated osteoclasts were analyzed after tartrate resistant acid phosphatase staining and resorption activity was determined on dentin slices. Collagenase-induced osteoarthritis (CIOA) was induced in C57BL/6 mice after intra-articular injection of an adenoviral TSG-6 or control luciferase expression vector. Inflammation-related protease activity was measured using bioluminescent Prosense probes. After a second adenovirus injection, cartilage damage was assessed in histological sections stained with Safranin-O. Ectopic bone formation was scored in X-ray images of the affected knees.

Results

TSG-6 did not inhibit the formation of multi-nucleated osteoclasts, but caused a significant reduction in the resorption activity on dentin slices. Adenoviral TSG-6 gene therapy in CIOA could not reduce the cartilage damage compared to the luciferase control virus and no significant difference in inflammation-related protease activity was noted between the TSG-6 and control treated group. Instead, X-ray analysis and histological analysis revealed the presence of ectopic bone formation in the TSG-6 treated group.

Conclusion

Gene therapy based on the expression of TSG-6 could not provide cartilage protection in experimental osteoarthritis, but instead resulted in increased ectopic bone formation.
Potent antibacterial, antioxidant and toxic activities of extracts from Passiflora suberosa L. leaves
Authors: Bandara Kumudu R.V. , Padumadasa Chayanika , Peiris Dinithi C.
Published: May 2018

Passiflora suberosa L. belonging to the family Passifloraceae is an important medicinal plant used in traditional medicinal system in Sri Lanka to treat diabetes, hypertension and skin diseases. We extracted P. suberosa leaves under reflux conditions using different solvents (hexane, chloroform, methanol and water), then subjected to phytochemical screening. Alkaloids, flavonoids and saponins and saponins and anthraquinones were present in hexane and chloroform extracts. Alkaloids, unsaturated sterols, triterpenes, saponins, flavonoids and tannins were observed in both methanol and aqueous extracts. Proanthocyanidins were observed only in the aqueous extract. Hence, aqueous and methanol extracts with most classes of phytochemicals present were subjected to antimicrobial, antioxidant, antihaemolytic activities and Brine shrimp lethality studies. Antibacterial activity and minimum inhibition concentrations were evaluated using three Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecium) and three Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudumonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimuriam and Escherichia coli). The results indicated that only the methanol extract of P. suberosa exhibited antibacterial activities against all the strains of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial with stronger activity against Gram-negative bacteria. DPHH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazy) scavenging assay was adopted to evaluate antioxidant properties while antihaemolytic and toxic activities were studied respectively using cow blood and Brine shrimp lethality assay. The IC50 values of the aqueous extract in both antioxidant and antihaemolytic assays were significantly lower than the standard ascorbic acid. Similar results were observed in the Brine shrimp lethality assay. In conclusion both aqueous and methanol extracts of P. suberosa leaves showed the presence of majority of phytochemicals including proanthocyanidins. Antibacterial activity was obtained only for methanol extract with better activity against Gram-negative bacteria. The aqueous extract showed better antioxidant, antihaemolytic and toxic activities than the methanol extract and their respective standards. Further investigations on the chemical composition and possible isolation of active ingredients is warranted.
Characterization of tumor heterogeneity by latent haplotypes: a sequential Monte Carlo approach
Authors: Ogundijo Oyetunji E. , Wang Xiaodong
Published: May 2018

Tumor samples obtained from a single cancer patient spatially or temporally often consist of varying cell populations, each harboring distinct mutations that uniquely characterize its genome. Thus, in any given samples of a tumor having more than two haplotypes, defined as a scaffold of single nucleotide variants (SNVs) on the same homologous genome, is evidence of heterogeneity because humans are diploid and we would therefore only observe up to two haplotypes if all cells in a tumor sample were genetically homogeneous. We characterize tumor heterogeneity by latent haplotypes and present state-space formulation of the feature allocation model for estimating the haplotypes and their proportions in the tumor samples. We develop an efficient sequential Monte Carlo (SMC) algorithm that estimates the states and the parameters of our proposed state-space model, which are equivalently the haplotypes and their proportions in the tumor samples. The sequential algorithm produces more accurate estimates of the model parameters when compared with existing methods. Also, because our algorithm processes the variant allele frequency (VAF) of a locus as the observation at a single time-step, VAF from newly sequenced candidate SNVs from next-generation sequencing (NGS) can be analyzed to improve existing estimates without re-analyzing the previous datasets, a feature that existing solutions do not possess.
Top-down and bottom-up controls on southern New England salt marsh crab populations
Authors: Raposa Kenneth B. , McKinney Richard A. , Wigand Cathleen , Hollister Jeffrey W. , Lovall Cassie , Szura Katelyn , Gurak, Jr. John A. , McNamee Jason , Raithel Christopher , Watson Elizabeth B.
Published: May 2018

Southern New England salt marsh vegetation and habitats are changing rapidly in response to sea-level rise. At the same time, fiddler crab (Ucaspp.) distributions have expanded and purple marsh crab (Sesarma reticulatum) grazing on creekbank vegetation has increased. Sea-level rise and reduced predation pressure drive these changing crab populations but most studies focus on one species; there is a need for community-level assessments of impacts from multiple crab species. There is also a need to identify additional factors that can affect crab populations. We sampled crabs and environmental parameters in four Rhode Island salt marshes in 2014 and compiled existing data to quantify trends in crab abundance and multiple factors that potentially affect crabs. Crab communities were dominated by fiddler and green crabs (Carcinus maenas);S. reticulatumwas much less abundant. Burrow sizes suggest thatUcais responsible for most burrows. On the marsh platform, burrows andCarcinusabundance were negatively correlated with elevation, soil moisture, and soil percent organic matter and positively correlated with soil bulk density.Ucaabundance was negatively correlated withSpartina patenscover and height and positively correlated withSpartina alternifloracover and soil shear strength. Creekbank burrow density increased dramatically between 1998 and 2016. During the same time, fishing effort and the abundance of birds that prey on crabs decreased, and water levels increased. Unlike in other southern New England marshes where recreational overfishing is hypothesized to drive increasing marsh crab abundance, we propose that changes in crab abundance were likely unrelated to recreational finfish over-harvest; instead, they better track sea-level rise and changing abundances of alternate predators, such as birds. We predict that marsh crab abundance will continue to expand with ongoing sea-level rise, at least until inundation thresholds for crab survival are exceeded.
Synthetic Polymer Tag for Intracellular Delivery of siRNA
Authors: Tai Wanyi , Gao Xiaohu
Published: May 2018

Short interference RNA (siRNA) is capable of precisely controlling the expression levels of virtually any functional genes. Before tapping into the full potential of siRNA, however, the longstanding difficulty of cell type‐specific cytosolic delivery of siRNA must be addressed. Conventional cationic materials are unsuitable because of their toxicity, colloidal instability, large and heterogeneous complex sizes, and interference with targeting. Building on the new concept of tagging individual siRNA‐targeting ligand chimera with charge–neutral endosomolytic agents, a new class of tags based on synthetic polymers is developed. Compared to multifunctional proteins and peptides previously made for the same functions, the synthetic polymer tags are simple and inexpensive to make, compact in size, have a low immunogenic potential, and are stable in circulation. Efficient in vitro and in vivo gene silencing is achieved, opening exciting opportunities for development of targeted biologics.
Revealing the Origins of Mechanically Induced Fluorescence Changes in Organic Molecular Crystals
Authors: Wilbraham Liam , Louis Marine , Alberga Domenico , Brosseau Arnaud , Guillot Régis , Ito Fuyuki , Labat Frédéric , Métivier Rémi , Allain Clémence , Ciofini Ilaria
Published: May 2018

Mechanofluorochromic molecular materials display a change in fluorescence color through mechanical stress. Complex structure–property relationships in both the crystalline and amorphous phases of these materials govern both the presence and strength of this behavior, which is usually deemed the result of a mechanically induced phase transition. However, the precise nature of the emitting species in each phase is often a matter of speculation, resulting from experimental data that are difficult to interpret, and a lack of an acceptable theoretical model capable of capturing complex environmental effects. With a combined strategy using sophisticated experimental techniques and a new theoretical approach, here the varied mechanofluorochromic behavior of a series of difluoroboron diketonates is shown to be driven by the formation of low‐energy exciton traps in the amorphous phase, with a limited number of traps giving rise to the full change in fluorescence color. The results highlight intrinsic structural links between crystalline and amorphous phases, and how these may be exploited for further development of powerful mechanofluorochromic assemblies, in line with modern crystal engineering approaches.
Lithium Niobate Crystal with Embedded Au Nanoparticles: A New Saturable Absorber for Efficient Mode‐Locking of Ultrafast Laser Pulses at 1 µm
Authors: Pang Chi , Li Rang , Li Ziqi , Dong Ningning , Cheng Chen , Nie Weijie , Böttger Roman , Zhou Shengqiang , Wang Jun , Chen Feng
Published: May 2018

Plasmonic Au nanoparticles embedded in LiNbO3 crystals as efficient saturable absorbers to realize 74.1 ps mode‐locked laser pulse generation at 1 µm are reported. The system is fabricated by Au ion implantation and subsequent annealing, a well‐developed chip technology. The strong optical absorption band peaking at 640 nm is observed due to the localized surface plasmon resonance. Z‐scan investigation shows that the LiNbO3 crystals with embedded Au nanoparticles possess ultrafast saturable absorption properties at near‐infrared 1 µm wavelength. With this feature the Au nanoparticles embedded LiNbO3 wafer is applied as saturable absorber into a laser‐written Nd:YVO4 waveguide platform. Stable laser pulses at 1064 nm based on an efficient passive Q‐switched mode‐locking process, reaching a fundamental repetition rate of 6.4 GHz and a pulse duration of 74.1 ps, are obtained. Since LiNbO3 has broadband applications in various optical systems, this work opens the way to develop intriguing devices in LiNbO3‐based photonic circuits by using embedded metallic nanoparticles.
Transition‐Metal‐Catalyzed C−H Functionalization Reactions of π‐Deficient Heterocycles
Authors: Das Riki , Kapur Manmohan
Published: May 2018

Electron‐deficient aromatic heterocycles, such as pyridine, quinoline, and isoquinoline, occupy a vast and rapidly expanding area of chemistry because of the obvious application of their derivatives in medicine, agriculture, polymers, and other fields. These heterocycles are rather poorly reactive towards electrophilic metalation by C−H activation and oxidative C−H activation mechanisms. The catalytic C−H functionalization of electron‐ deficient heterocycles remains a challenge for the synthetic chemistry community. This Focus Review highlights significant developments made in the area of transition‐metal‐catalyzed C−H functionalization of π‐deficient heterocycles.
Degradation of Nile blue sulphate dye onto iron oxide nanoparticles: Kinetic study, identification of reaction intermediates, and proposed mechanistic pathways
Authors: Kushwaha Rajkamal , Garg Sangeeta , Bajpai Shailendra , Giri Ardhendu Sekhar
Published: May 2018

Iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs) were synthesized and characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, vibrating sample magnetometer, nitrogen adsorption–desorption, and transmission electron microscopy. Vibrating sample magnetometer analysis confirmed the superparamagnetic behavior of Fe3O4 NPs with a specific saturation magnetization value 43 emu g−1. Synthesized Fe3O4 NPs exhibited surface area 52 m2 g−1 with pore volume 0.0729 cc g−1 and average pore diameter 5.528 nm. The degradation efficiency of Nile blue sulphate (NBS) dye onto Fe3O4 NPs was 86.8% with total organic carbon removal and chemical oxygen demand conversion of 65.6% and 55.9%, respectively, at 5mM H2O2 and 50 mg l−1 of NBS dye concentration for 12 min of reaction time. Rate of degradation of dye onto Fe3O4 NPs followed second‐order kinetic rate equation with high value of regression coefficient (R2 = 0.997) at 303 K. The low activation energy (19.16 kJ mol−1) obtained from Arrhenius plot showed that of Fe3O4 NPs have high catalytic activity towards the degradation of NBS dye during oxidation process. The intermediate products formed during degradation of NBS dye were detected by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry experiment, and 11 numbers of fragments were detected on the basis of mass to charge ratio (m/z) at 24.186 min. The degradation of NBS dye was attributed to formation of intermediates from destruction of conjugated structure of dye and transformation of these intermediates into small molecules, which were further mineralized to water and carbon dioxide.
Blending ultrahigh‐molecular‐weight polyethylene and poly(ethylene/10‐undecen‐1‐ol) in one nascent particle
Authors: Zhang Ganchao , Tong Xueqing , Hui Lei , Chen Tao , Mu Jingshan , Li Wei , Zhou Qi
Published: May 2018

Ultrahigh‐molecular‐weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)/polar polyethylene (PE) composites were blended in one nascent particle by in situ polymerization with a hybrid catalyst. Polystyrene‐coated SiO2 particles were used to support the hybrid catalyst. Fe(acac)3/2,6‐bis[1‐(2‐isopropylanilinoethyl)] was supported on SiO2 for the synthesis of UHMWPE, whereas [PhNC(CH3)CHC(Ph)O]VCl2 was immobilized on a polystyrene layer to prepare a copolymer of ethylene and 10‐undecen‐1‐ol (polar PE). Importantly, the core part of the supports (the polystyrene layer) exhibited pronounced transfer resistance to 10‐undecen‐1‐ol; this provided an opportunity to keep the inside iron active sites away from the poisoning of 10‐undecen‐1‐ol. Therefore, UHMWPE was simultaneously synthesized with polar PE by in situ polymerization. Interestingly, the morphological results show that UHMWPE and the polar PE were successfully blended in one nascent polymer. This improved the miscibility of the composites, where most of the chains were difficult to crystallize because of the strong interactions between the PE chains and polar chains. The blends showed an extremely low crystallinity, that is, 9.9%. Finally, the hydrophilic properties of the polymer composites were examined. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46652.
Prediction of learning success/failure via pace of events in a social learning network platform
Authors: Sousa‐Vieira María E. , López‐Ardao Jose C. , Fernández‐Veiga Manuel , Ferreira‐Pires Orlando , Rodríguez‐Pérez Miguel , Rodríguez‐Rubio Raúl F.
Published: May 2018

Earlier studies have shown the power of online learning systems data to develop prediction methods that try to identify successful students patterns of accomplishment and engagement to allow timely pedagogical interventions. Our learning platform, SocialWire, collects a detailed record of the students' activity so, in this paper, we compare and combine the power of different classifiers for success/failure learning prediction, using as inputs some of the features that have measurable correlation with the students' performance. The main conclusion is that, for the courses in study, it is not the type of event/activity initiated by the student what best predicts his/her final grade, but the pace of the events he/she was engaged in.
Phosphorus Doped Multi‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes: An Excellent Electrocatalyst for the VO2+/VO2+ Redox Reaction
Authors: He Zhangxing , Jiang Yingqiao , Zhu Jing , Li Yuehua , Dai Lei , Meng Wei , Wang Ling , Liu Suqin
Published: May 2018

In this paper, phosphorus doped (P doped) multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were prepared and investigated as catalyst for VO2+/VO2+ redox reaction for vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFB). X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirms the equable incorporation of P atoms into carbon layers of the CNTs, and that P doping has no obvious effect on the morphologies of the CNTs. The results of cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy indicate that the electrocatalytic properties of the CNTs are significantly enhanced for the VO2+/VO2+ redox couple by P doping. The sample treated at 800 °C (CNTs‐P8) exhibits the highest electrocatalytic activity, with two times higher peak currents for the redox reaction catalyzed by CNTs‐P8 deposited on glassy carbon than for pristine CNTs. A dynamic cell using the CNTs‐P8 catalyst for VO2+/VO2+ redox couple was assembled and the cell performance was evaluated. This cell exhibits better electrochemical properties including higher discharge capacity and energy efficiency, especially at high current density. The average energy efficiency of the cell for 50 cycles increases by 4.2 % at 50 mA cm−2 by using CNTs‐P8. This study demonstrates that the P doped CNTs are an efficient and promising catalyst material for VO2+/VO2+ redox reaction in VRFB systems.
Organic Sensitizers for Photoanode Water Splitting in Dye‐Sensitized Photoelectrochemical Cells
Authors: Manfredi Norberto , Boldrini Chiara Liliana , Abbotto Alessandro
Published: May 2018

Metal‐free di‐branched organic sensitizers, containing different heteroaromatic (phenothiazine, phenoxazine and carbazole) donor moieties, have been investigated as photoactive anode sensitizers in the photoelectrochemical generation of oxygen and water splitting. Photoelectrochemical properties have been studied both in the presence of a sacrificial electron donor, to closely evaluate the charge‐transfer phenomena and the external quantum efficiency, and with a common water oxidation catalyst, to preliminarily assess the photoelectrochemical water‐splitting activity and oxygen production. The experimental performance trend, in terms of photogenerated charge and evolved gas, was phenothiazine>carbazole>phenoxazine, arising from superior light‐harvesting capability and more efficient electron injection to the semiconductor.
Gold(I) Complexes Containing Phosphanyl‐ and Arsanylborane Ligands
Authors: Braese Jens , Schinabeck Alexander , Bodensteiner Michael , Yersin Hartmut , Timoshkin Alexey Y. , Scheer Manfred
Published: May 2018

The structural and photophysical properties of a series of new AuI compounds have been studied. The reactions of AuCl(tht) with the phosphanyl‐ and arsanylboranes RR′EBH2NMe3 (E=P, As; R=H, Ph; R′=H, Ph, tBu) afford the complexes [AuCl(RR′EBH2NMe3)]. In the solid state, [AuCl(H2PBH2NMe3)]2 (2 a) is a dimer showing unsupported intermolecular aurophilic interactions with short Au⋅⋅⋅Au distances. In contrast, [AuCl(H2AsBH2NMe3)]n (2 b) aggregates to form 1D chains. Organic substituents on the pnictogen atoms lead to discrete molecules in [AuCl(RR′PBH2NMe3)] (2 c: R=H, R′=tBu; 2 d: R=R′=Ph). To increase the aurophilicity, the ionic homoleptic complexes [Au(RR′EBH2NMe3)2][AlCl4] (3 a–d) have been synthesized, for which 3 a,b form chains in the solid state and exhibit luminescence. The emissions show a drastic redshift with temperature decrease, correlating with decreasing Au⋅⋅⋅Au distances. DFT calculations provide insight into the bonding situation of the products.
Time‐integrated habitat availability is a resource attribute that informs patterns of use in intertidal areas
Authors: Calle Leonardo , Green Lauri , Strong Allan , Gawlik Dale E.
Published: May 2018

In dynamic environments, resource availability may change by several orders of magnitude, over hours to months, but the duration of resource availability is not often included as a characteristic attribute of resources even though temporal resource dynamics might limit patterns of use. In our study of wading birds foraging in intertidal areas, tides cause large changes in the areal extent of shallow‐water foraging habitat (i.e., the resource), but tides also constrain the duration of availability, which is often overlooked. We hypothesized that temporal constraints on habitat availability from tides would be reflected in patterns of habitat use by foraging birds. We estimated the time‐integrated habitat availability and compared it to traditional habitat attributes (seagrass cover, substrate type, instantaneous water depth, and proximity to mangrove islands or deep water) that have strong evidential support for influencing patterns of use. To evaluate our hypotheses, we quantified habitat attributes at intertidal areas in the Florida Keys, USA, where wading birds were observed foraging (Little Blue Heron, Egretta caerulea: N = 183; Great White Heron, Ardea herodias occidentalis: N = 162). We tested for nonrandom use by sampling habitat attributes at two spatial scales around the observed feeding locations and we analyzed the data using a conditional logistic regression model. There was no evidence that seagrass cover or substrate explained patterns of use. The proximity of foraging locations relative to mangroves and to deep water were important at both spatial scales but had lower effect sizes (odds ratios) than time‐integrated habitat availability and water depth, and the latter may only serve as a physical constraint on access. We found support that time‐integrated habitat availability was a distinct resource attribute, had the greatest effect size (four‐ to eightfold change in relative probability of use), and best explained patterns of habitat use at the largest spatial scale. In studies of resource use where changes in resource availability are nonlinear or when strong constraints on access are imposed by behavior, incorporating time‐integrated estimates of resource availability into analyses can improve insights into spatiotemporal patterns of resource use.
Defoliation and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi shape plant communities in overgrazed semiarid grasslands
Authors: Yang Xin , Shen Yue , Liu Nan , Wilson Gail W. T. , Cobb Adam B. , Zhang Yingjun
Published: May 2018

Overgrazing substantially contributes to global grassland degradation by decreasing plant community productivity and diversity through trampling, defoliation, and removal of nutrients. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi also play a critical role in plant community diversity, composition, and primary productivity, maintaining ecosystem functions. However, interactions between grazing disturbances, such as trampling and defoliation, and AM fungi in grassland communities are not well known. We examined influences of trampling, defoliation, and AM fungi on semiarid grassland plant community composition for 3 yr, by comparing all combinations of these factors. Benomyl fungicide was applied to reduce AM fungal abundance. Overgrazing typically resulted in reduced dominance of Stipa Krylovii, contributing to degradation of typical steppe grasslands. Our results indicated trampling generally had little effect on plant community composition, unless combined with defoliation or AM fungal suppression. Defoliation was the main component of grazing that promoted dominance of Potentilla acaulis over Stipa krylovii and Artemisia frigida, presumably by alleviating light limitation. In non‐defoliated plots, AM fungi promoted A. frigida, with a concomitant reduction in S. krylovii growth compared to corresponding AM suppressed plots. Our results indicate AM fungi and defoliation jointly suppress S. krylovii biomass; however, prolonged defoliation weakens mycorrhizal influence on plant community composition. These findings give new insight into dominant plant species shifts in degraded semiarid grasslands.
Cascading effects of soil type on assemblage size and structure in a diverse herbivore community
Authors: Robinson Moria L. , Strauss Sharon Y.
Published: May 2018

Soil type is understudied as a driver of herbivore community size and structure across host plants. This study extends predictions of resource availability hypotheses to understand how soil types of different resource levels alter plant resistance and structure of herbivore assemblages. In this 2‐yr study we use seven dominant chaparral shrub species that grow across a natural mosaic of low and high resource soils to explore effects of soil type on plant resistance, and relate these soil‐based differences in resistance to the abundance and diversity of the larval lepidopteran community. We show that growing on low‐resource soils increases plant resistance, as measured by herbivore performance, both within and across host plant species, and that resistance may be driven by variation in plant nutritive and defensive traits. We then show that more resistant plants on low‐resource soils host less abundant and less diverse herbivore assemblages across a natural soil mosaic in the field.
External quantum efficiency artifacts in partial‐irradiated GaInP/GaAs/Ge solar cells by protons and electrons
Authors: Hongliang Guo , Yiyong Wu , Jie Wang , Bin Guo , Jingdong Xiao , Qiang Sun , Hui Yu
Published: May 2018

Artifact is a special kind of phenomenon related to fluorescence coupling and shunt resistance in external quantum efficiency (EQE) measurements in multijunction (MJ) solar cells, and it is sensitive to the defects and damages. In this paper, the changes of artifacts were studied in partial irradiated MJ solar cells by common or two‐dimension mapping Quantum Efficiency (QE) measurements. Simplified mathematical models and graphic analysis were applied to explain the mechanisms of changes of artifacts. Irradiation weakens the artifacts effects due to the decrease in relative fluorescence yield. Artifacts analysis results indicate that after 1 MeV electron irradiation, the open circuit voltage Voc of GaInP subcell decays from 1.40 V to 1.35 V, and the reverse saturation non‐radiative recombination current I02 increases 3.7 times. Correspondingly, after 70 keV protons irradiation, the open circuit voltage Voc decays to 0.90 V and I02 increases 7550 times by EQE artifacts analysis. Lateral scanning of the partial damaged samples shows a smooth artifacts transition region that appears near the boundary of damaged region in MJ solar cells. This is found correlated with the difference in the lighted areas of bias light and EQE pulse spot. 2D artifacts analysis could properly explain the smoothness and shift of damage interface.
Construction of Indium and Cerium Codoped Ordered Mesoporous TiO2 Aerogel Composite Material and Its High Photocatalytic Activity
Authors: Zheng Ren‐Rong , Li Tian‐Tian , Yu Hui
Published: May 2018

In this study, ordered mesoporous In2O3‐CeO2/TiO2 aerogel composite material is fabricated via a sol–gel method. According to the preparation process of the aerogel, different weight percentages Ce(NO3)3 and In(NO3)3 are dissolved in the solvent, which would be completely dispersed in the porous gel when the system completely becomes gel. The prepared materials are used to degrade the Rhodamine B (Rh B) under visible light irradiation. 0.2 wt% In2O3‐0.2 wt% CeO2/TiO2 (In0.2‐Ce0.2/TiO2) sample has the highest degradation rate which reaches to 96.20%. When degradation time is continuously increased to 110 min, the degradation efficiency of In0.2‐Ce0.2/TiO2 sample is basically retained. The prepared In0.2‐Ce0.2/TiO2 sample has much better stability and reproducibility under visible light irradiation, the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of In0.2‐Ce0.2/TiO2 sample is still stable at more than 90% after the five times cycle.
A facile and convenient synthesis of 3‐alkylidene‐oxindoles bearing tetrahydropyrazine scaffold under catalyst‐free conditions
Authors: Matloubi Moghaddam Firouz , Moafi Atiyeh
Published: May 2018

A facile and efficient synthesis of 2‐oxindole derivatives bearing tetrahydropyrazine scaffold has been developed. Using water as solvent without any additional acid or metal catalyst, easy work up and high yield of products are the main advantages of this protocol.
Remodeling of the juvenile hormone pathway through caste‐biased gene expression and positive selection along a gradient of termite eusociality
Authors: Jongepier Evelien , Kemena Carsten , Lopez‐Ezquerra Alberto , Belles Xavier , Bornberg‐Bauer Erich , Korb Judith
Published: May 2018

The evolution of division of labor between sterile and fertile individuals represents one of the major transitions in biological complexity. A fascinating gradient in eusociality evolved among the ancient hemimetabolous insects, ranging from noneusocial cockroaches through the primitively social lower termites—where workers retain the ability to reproduce—to the higher termites, characterized by lifetime commitment to worker sterility. Juvenile hormone (JH) is a prime candidate for the regulation of reproductive division of labor in termites, as it plays a key role in insect postembryonic development and reproduction. We compared the expression of JH pathway genes between workers and queens in two lower termites (Zootermopsis nevadensis and Cryptotermes secundus) and a higher termite (Macrotermes natalensis) to that of analogous nymphs and adult females of the noneusocial cockroach Blattella germanica. JH biosynthesis and metabolism genes ranged from reproductive female‐biased expression in the cockroach to predominantly worker‐biased expression in the lower termites. Remarkably, the expression profile of JH pathway genes sets the higher termite apart from the two lower termites, as well as the cockroach, indicating that JH signaling has undergone major changes in this eusocial termite. These changes go beyond mere shifts in gene expression between the different castes, as we find evidence for positive selection in several termite JH pathway genes. Thus, remodeling of the JH pathway may have played a major role in termite social evolution, representing a striking case of convergent molecular evolution between the termites and the distantly related social hymenoptera.
Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Phthalimide‐pyrano[3,2‐c]chromene and Phthalimide‐pyrano‐2‐one Hybrids
Authors: Sameem Bilqees , Saeedi Mina , Mahdavi Mohammad , Nadri Hamid , Vafadarnejad Fahimeh , Amini Mohsen
Published: May 2018

Coumarin skelton holds substantial promise for further exploration because of its immense pharmacological potential. In this pursuit, a series of phthalimide‐chromen and phthalimide‐pyran‐2‐one hybrids were synthesized in efficient yields via one‐pot multicomponent reaction of aldehyde linked to phthalimide moiety, 4‐hydroxy coumarin/4‐hydroxy‐6‐methyl‐2H‐pyran‐2‐one, and malanonitrile by Knoevenagel reaction at room temperature in the presence of DABCO as catalyst. The compounds were characterized by 1H NMR and 13C NMR, MS, and FTIR. All the compounds consisting of phthalimide‐chromen/pyrano‐2‐one moieties tethered by spacers of varying lengths were evaluated for their biological activity in Ellman's assay. Most of the compounds feebly inhibited Acetylcholinesterase Enzyme and were inactive toward Butyrylcholinesterase Enzyme.
Fibril deformation under load of the rabbit Achilles tendon and medial collateral ligament femoral entheses
Authors: Sevick Johnathan L. , Abusara Ziad , Andrews Stephen H. , Xu Minjia , Khurshid Saad , Chatha Jansher , Hart David A. , Shrive Nigel G.
Published: May 2018

Microscopic visualization under load of the region connecting ligaments/tendons to bone, the enthesis, has been performed previously; however, specific investigation of individual fibril deformation may add insight to such studies. Detailed visualization of fibril deformation would inform on the mechanical strategies employed by this tissue in connecting two mechanically disparate materials. Clinically, an improved understanding of enthesis mechanics may help guide future restorative efforts for torn or injured ligaments/tendons, where the enthesis is often a point of weakness. In this study, a custom ligament/tendon enthesis loading device was designed and built, a unique method of sample preparation was devised, and second harmonic and two‐photon fluorescence microscopy were used to capture the fibril‐level load response of the rabbit Achilles tendon and medial collateral ligament femoral entheses. A focus was given to investigation of the mechanical problem of fibril embedment. Resultant images indicate a rapid (occurring over approximately 60 μm) change in fibril orientation at the interface of ligament/tendon and calcified fibrocartilage early in the loading regime, before becoming relatively constant. Such a change in fibril angle helps confirm the materially graded region demonstrated by others, while, in this case, providing additional insight into fibril bending. We speculate that the scale of the mechanical problem (i.e., fibril diameters being on the order of 250 nm) allows fibrils to bend over the small (relative to the imaging field of view, but large relative to fibril diameter) distances observed; thus, potentially lessening required embedment lengths. Nevertheless, this behavior merits further investigation to be confirmed. © 2018 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 36:2506–2515, 2018.
Pretrauma Power and Control Beliefs and Posttraumatic Stress: A Longitudinal Study of Combat Soldiers
Authors: Nanney John T. , Wamser‐Nanney Rachel A. , Linke Lance H. , Constans Joseph I. , Pyne Jeffrey M.
Published: May 2018

Belief in one's ability to exert power and control over outcomes following trauma has long been understood as protective against the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The role of pretrauma beliefs about power and control, however, remains unclear. Though a strong pretrauma belief in power and control may similarly be protective, we predicted such a belief may actually be a diathesis for PTSD. When exposed to trauma, individuals with a strong pretrauma belief in power and control may believe they should have prevented the trauma and/or their acute reactions. Such expectations may lead to negative self‐beliefs and a higher level of PTSD symptoms. Longitudinal structural equation modeling in a sample of combat soldiers (N = 305) supported our hypothesized model. Stronger predeployment power and control beliefs predicted more negative postdeployment self‐beliefs, β = .15, p = .035, 95% CI [.11, .18], and in turn, a higher level of PTSD symptoms, β = .08, 95% CI [.01, .15]. Prior combat exposure moderated these effects in that soldiers with no prior combat experience evidenced the hypothesized associations, whereas those with moderate or high prior combat exposure did not. Resilience interventions for soldiers who are first entering combat may thus benefit from promoting acceptance of uncontrollable events in addition to agentic change skills.
Long‐term clinical evaluation of hair clearance in darkly pigmented individuals using a novel diode1060 nm wavelength with multiple treatment handpieces: A prospective analysis with modeling and histological findings
Authors: Ross Edward V. , Ibrahimi Omar A. , Kilmer Suzanne
Published: May 2018

Objective

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of a 1060 nm diode laser system with multiple handpieces for permanent hair reduction.

Study Design

An open‐label, prospective, multi‐center study of adult subjects (≥18 years old) of any skin type, having dark brown or black hairs at the areas to be treated and seeking to permanently remove hair underwent six treatment sessions, at 4 to 6 weeks intervals with either a 1060 nm chilled sapphire tip or seven treatment sessions, at 6 weeks interval with a large spot vacuum based handpiece.

Methods

Subjects received treatments on various body areas using chilled sapphire tip or large spot size vacuum‐assisted handpiece. Hair counts as well as assessments of hair coarseness and color were performed using photographs taken at baseline, prior to pre‐selected treatments and at the follow up visits. At every visit, immediate skin responses and adverse events were evaluated by the investigator and treatment associated pain level experienced was quantified by the subjects. Subjects were asked to assess their improvement and satisfaction at pre‐selected treatment sessions and at all the follow up visits. A sub group of subjects that were treated with the large spot size vacuum‐assisted handpiece contributed two punch biopsy specimens for histological analysis.

Results

A total of 16 subjects age 33 ± 10.9 years were treated with the chilled sapphire tip, and 26 subjects age 36.3 ± 7.67 years were treated with the large spot size vacuum‐assisted handpiece. Treatment with chilled sapphire tip yielded a mean of 68%, 82%, and 76% skin type‐independent hair reduction in axillae, shin, and arm, respectively, at 6 month follow up visit as compared to baseline. The majority of subjects (≥80%) rated their hair reduction to be either good or very good and were satisfied to highly satisfied with the outcome. Treatment with the large spot size vacuum‐assisted handpiece, was most effective in axillae and calves, with a 77.9% and 78.5% hair count reduction, respectively, at the 6 month follow up visit. Subjects reported high satisfaction and improvement throughout the treatments and follow‐up periods. Treatments with both handpieces were not associated with intolerable pain levels and common post procedural responses included mild to moderate erythema and/or edema.

Conclusion

The 1060 nm diode laser system is safe and effective for hair removal and long‐term hair reduction in all skin types including darkly pigmented individuals. Lasers Surg. Med. 50:893–901, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Bio‐Based Transparent Conductive Film Consisting of Polyethylene Furanoate and Silver Nanowires for Flexible Optoelectronic Devices
Authors: Lam Jeun‐Yan , Shih Chien‐Chung , Lee Wen‐Ya , Chueh Chu‐Chen , Jang Guang‐Way , Huang Cheng‐Jyun , Tung Shih‐Huang , Chen Wen‐Chang
Published: May 2018

Exploiting biomass has raised great interest as an alternative to the fossil resources for environmental protection. In this respect, polyethylene furanoate (PEF), one of the bio‐based polyesters, thus reveals a great potential to replace the commonly used polyethylene terephthalate (PET) on account of its better mechanical, gas barrier, and thermal properties. Herein, a bio‐based, flexible, conductive film is successfully developed by coupling a PEF plastic substrate with silver nanowires (Ag NWs). Besides the appealing advantage of renewable biomass, PEF also exhibits a good transparency around 90% in the visible wavelength range, and its constituent polar furan moiety is revealed to enable an intense interaction with Ag NWs to largely enhance the adhesion of Ag NWs grown above, as exemplified by the superior bending and peeling durability than the currently prevailing PET substrate. Finally, the efficiency of conductive PEF/Ag NWs film in fabricating efficient flexible organic thin‐film transistor and organic photovoltaic (OPV) is demonstrated. The OPV device achieves a power conversion efficiency of 6.7%, which is superior to the device based on ITO/PEN device, manifesting the promising merit of the bio‐based PEF for flexible electronic applications.
The shake‐table study of the effect of longitudinal reinforcement ratio on the behavior of concrete cantilever columns
Authors: Grgić N. , Radnić J. , Smilović M. , Baloević G.
Published: May 2018

The results of the shake‐table study on the effect of longitudinal reinforcement ratio on the behavior of concrete columns are shown. The small‐scale (1 : 3) model of cantilever columns with mass at their top was exposed to horizontal acceleration of an artificial accelerogram. Acceleration amplitudes were successively increased until the collapse of the columns. Characteristic displacements and accelerations, as well as strains in the concrete and reinforcement were measured during the shake‐table tests. It was concluded that the ultimate bearing capacity and deformability of a column significantly depend on the amount of its longitudinal reinforcement. By increasing the amount of longitudinal reinforcement, ultimate bearing capacity of the column is also increased, but not proportionally. The reason is greater stiffness of the column with higher amount of longitudinal reinforcement than of the column with low amount of longitudinal reinforcement, which generates greater seismic forces in it for the same excitation.
Current challenges and future potential of 3D concrete printing
Authors: Panda B. , Tay Y.W.D. , Paul S.C. , Tan M.J.
Published: May 2018

The emphases on reduction of construction time and production costs have profound influences on the construction process that has led us to investigate a new paradigm, known as 3D concrete printing. This technique can fabricate complex 3D building components directly from computer aided design models without any tooling and human intervention. However, compatibility of the presently available materials has impeded its widespread application and commercialization. This paper introduces an overview of concrete printing processes and its noteworthy potentials in the building and construction sector. After sketching the potential, a novel fly ash based inorganic geopolymer is printed and characterized in terms of fresh and hardened properties with an aim for sustainable built environment.
Disagreeing about development: An analysis of parent‐teacher agreement in ADHD symptom trajectories across the elementary school years
Authors: Murray Aja Louise , Booth Tom , Ribeaud Denis , Eisner Manuel
Published: May 2018

Objectives

It is well‐known that in cross‐sectional analyses, agreement between informants is modest as best when rating attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder and other disruptive behaviour disorder symptoms. We here aimed to develop recommendations for the use of multi‐informant data in the context of longitudinal developmental analyses that examine symptom trajectories over time.

Method

Using parallel process modelling, we estimated parent–teacher agreement in inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptom initial levels and slopes across the elementary school years (ages 7, 9, and 11) for a community sample of n = 1,388 youth. We also used these models to examine whether initial levels and slopes differed significantly across informants.

Results

Informant agreement was low to moderate and higher for inattention slopes (r = .47) than for hyperactivity/impulsivity slopes (r = .23). Parents and teachers reported opposite developmental trends for inattention with teachers reporting declines and parents reporting increases over time. Parents reported overall higher levels of hyperactivity/impulsivity, but there were no average informant differences in slopes.

Conclusion

Of the options available, we recommend specifying separate but correlated factors for different informants in developmental analyses of attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder. This can be achieved within latent growth curve and growth mixture models.
Body Composition Growth Patterns in Early Infancy: A Latent Class Trajectory Analysis of the Ethiopian iABC Birth Cohort
Authors: Andersen Gregers Stig , Wibaek Rasmus , Kæstel Pernille , Girma Tsinuel , Admassu Bitiya , Abera Mubarek , Vistisen Dorte , Jørgensen Marit Eika , Michaelsen Kim F. , Friis Henrik , Wells Jonathan C.K.
Published: May 2018

Objective

The objective of this study was to identify subgroups with distinct fat and fat‐free growth patterns in the first 6 months of life and describe predictors of these different patterns.

Methods

A total of 510 apparently healthy Ethiopian infants were followed from birth to 6 months of age. Each infant had at least three and up to six repeated measurements of fat and fat‐free mass using air‐displacement plethysmography. Latent class trajectory analyses were used to categorize infants in groups with distinct body composition patterns.

Results

Four distinct fat mass and two fat‐free mass growth patterns were identified. Of the infants measured, 5% presented a delayed fat growth pattern and 3% presented a catch‐up fat growth pattern involving low birth weight but a significant fat growth velocity from 2.5 to 6 months. A large class had a high fat level at birth and an accelerated fat growth pattern in early infancy. Fat‐free growth was represented by two distinct classes with less variability. Catch‐up growth was primarily seen in fat mass.

Conclusions

We identified distinct patterns of delayed, catch‐up, and accelerated fat growth in early infancy. This variability is not detected in regular anthropometric assessment and could be a mechanism linking early growth with later obesity and cardiometabolic risk.