bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
IL-4 Protects the Mitochondria Against TNFα and IFNγ Induced Insult During Clearance of Infection with Citrobacter rodentium and Escherichia coli
Authors: Maiti Arpan K. , Sharba Sinan , Navabi Nazanin , Forsman Huamei , Fernandez Harvey R. , Lindén Sara K.
Published: October 2015

Citrobacter rodentium is a murine pathogen that serves as a model for enteropathogenic Escherichia coli. C. rodentium infection reduced the quantity and activity of mitochondrial respiratory complexes I and IV, as well as phosphorylation capacity, mitochondrial transmembrane potential and ATP generation at day 10, 14 and 19 post infection. Cytokine mRNA quantification showed increased levels of IFNγ, TNFα, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-12 during infection. The effects of adding these cytokines, C. rodentium and E. coli were hence elucidated using an in vitro colonic mucosa. Both infection and TNFα, individually and combined with IFNγ, decreased complex I and IV enzyme levels and mitochondrial function. However, IL-4 reversed these effects and IL-6 protected against loss of complex IV. Both in vivo and in vitro, the dysfunction appeared caused by nitric oxide-generation and was alleviated by an antioxidant targeting mitochondria. IFNγ −/− mice, containing a similar pathogen burden but higher IL-4 and IL-6, displayed no loss of any of the four complexes. Thus, the cytokine environment appears to be a more important determinant of mitochondrial function than direct actions of the pathogen. As IFNγ and TNFα levels increase during clearance of infection, the concomitant increase in IL-4 and IL-6 protects mitochondrial function.
Correction: Sub-micron proximal probe thermal desorption and laser mass spectrometry on painting cross-sections
Authors: Owens Shawn C. , Berenbeim Jacob A. , Patterson Catherine Schmidt , Dillon Eoghan P. , de Vries M. S.
Published: October 2015

Correction for ‘Sub-micron proximal probe thermal desorption and laser mass spectrometry on painting cross-sections’ by Shawn C. Owens et al., Anal. Methods, 2014, 6, 8940–8945.
Carbon monoxide mediated chemical deposition of Pt or Pd quasi-monolayer on Au surfaces with superior electrocatalysis for ethanol oxidation in alkaline media
Authors: Wang Han , Jiang Kun , Chen Qiaoli , Xie Zhaoxiong , Cai Wen-Bin
Published: October 2015

CO-mediated chemical deposition of a Pt or Pd quasi-monolayer on Au surfaces with superior electrocatalysis for ethanol oxidation in alkaline media.
Power driven tunable white upconversion luminescence from Lu2TeO6 tri-doped with Yb3+, Tm3+ and Ho3+
Authors: Tang J. F. , Li G. N. , Yang C. , Gou J. , Luo D. H. , He H.
Published: October 2015

Tunable power driven white upconversion luminescence was realized in the Yb3+, Tm3+, and Ho3+ tri-doped Lu2TeO6.
Effect of hydration on the organo-noble gas molecule HKrCCH: role of krypton in the stabilization of hydrated HKrCCH complexes
Authors: Biswas Biswajit , Singh Prashant Chandra
Published: October 2015

Active role of krypton in the hydration of HKrCCH, a rare gas molecule.
Modulation of ultrafast photoinduced electron transfer in H-bonding environment: PET from aniline to coumarin 153 in the presence of an inert co-solvent cyclohexane
Authors: Barman Nabajeet , Hossen Tousif , Mondal Koushik , Sahu Kalyanasis
Published: October 2015

A passive component is found to boost H-bond assisted PET in a mixture using femtosecond fluorescence measurements and MD simulation.
Improving lipid recovery from Scenedesmus wet biomass by surfactant-assisted disruption
Authors: Lai YenJung Sean , Francesco Federica De , Aguinaga Alyssa , Parameswaran Prathap , Rittmann Bruce E.
Published: October 2015

Microalgae-derived lipids are good sources of biofuel, but extracting them involves high cost, energy expenditure, and environmental risk. Surfactant-assisted disruption offers a novel strategy for more efficient, sustainable and economical extraction of fuel feedstock from microalgae.
Poly(pentacyclic lactam-alt-diketopyrrolopyrrole) for field-effect transistors and polymer solar cells processed from non-chlorinated solvents
Authors: Feng Guitao , Xu Yunhua , Xiao Chengyi , Zhang Jianqi , Zhang Xiaotao , Li Cheng , Wei Zhixiang , Hu Wenping , Wang Zhaohui , Li Weiwei
Published: October 2015

A highly crystalline conjugated polymer incorporating two electron-deficient units was applied in high performance organic field-effect transistors and polymer solar cells.
Discrete copper(ii)-formate complexes as catalytic precursors for photo-induced reversible deactivation polymerization
Authors: Nikolaou Vasiliki , Anastasaki Athina , Brandford-Adams Francesca , Whitfield Richard , Jones Glen R. , Nurumbetov Gabit , Haddleton David M.
Published: October 2015

Traditional copper-mediated reversible deactivation polymerization techniques (RDRP) employ various components mixedin situ(e.g.ligand, metal salt, additional deactivation speciesetc.) in order to achieve good control over the molecular weight distributions.
Mechanistic investigation on up and down conversion of Er3+ and Gd3+ co-doped YTiNbO6 phosphors
Authors: Yu Zhichao , Zhou Guangjun , Zhou Juan , Zhou Haifeng , Kong Peng , Wu Yaqiang , Huang Huining , Yu Xiaoqiang , Zhang Xingshuang , Zhang Ruoyao
Published: October 2015

The present work focuses on the up and down conversion of YNbTiO6 with different quenching concentrations of Er3+ and Gd3+ as well as the energy transfer processes.
Hydrolysis and alcoholysis of polysaccharides with high efficiency catalyzed by a (C16TA)xH6−xP2W18O62 nanoassembly
Authors: Sun Zhong , Zhang Xueyan , Wang Shengtian , Li Xiangyu , Wang Xiaohong , Shi Junyou
Published: October 2015

Wells–Dawson structured heteropolyacid (HPA) H6P2W18O62 was first used as a precursor to fabricate a micellar assembly, [C16H33N(CH3)3]xH6−xP2W18O62 (abbreviated as (C16TA)xH6−xP2W18O62).
Fabrication of robust high-transmittance superamphiphobic coatings through dip-coating followed by spray-coating
Authors: Geng Zhi , He Junhui , Yao Lin
Published: October 2015

Solid and hollow silica nanoparticles and a binder solution composed of silica nanosheets and acid-catalyzed silica sol were used to fabricate robust superamphiphobic coatings with high transmittance through dip-coating followed by spray-coating.
UPLC simultaneous determination of empagliflozin, linagliptin and metformin
Authors: Ayoub Bassam M.
Published: October 2015

The first method for determination of empagliflozin either alone or as part of a pharmaceutical combination, and the first simultaneous separation of empagliflozin, linagliptin and metformin.
High selectivity and sensitivity fluorescence sensing of melamine based on the combination of a fluorescent chemosensor and molecularly imprinted polymers
Authors: Sun Kejin , Deng Qiliang , Guo Ting , Su Rina , Gu Yuchen , Wang Shuo
Published: October 2015

In this study, a sensitive and efficient approach was developed for the determination of melamine (MEL) based on the combination of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) with a synthesized fluorescent chemosensor.
Cu(0)@Al2O3/SiO2 NPs: an efficient reusable catalyst for the cross coupling reactions of aryl chlorides with amines and anilines
Authors: Reddy P. Linga , Arundhathi R. , Rawat Diwan S.
Published: October 2015

The C–N cross coupling reaction of aryl chlorides with various alkyl/aryl amines catalyzed by copper nanoparticles impregnated on alumina/silica support (Cu(0)@Al2O3/SiO2) was investigated and the catalyst showed excellent reactivity and efficacy.
Structural and luminescence properties of Nd3+/Yb3+codoped Al4B2O9nanocrystalline powders
Authors: Maia Lauro J. Q. , Faria Filho Fausto M. , Jerez Vladimir , Moura André L. , de Araújo Cid B.
Published: October 2015

Morphological, structural and optical properties of Nd3+/Yb3+codoped Al4B2O9nanopowders prepared by the polymeric precursor method were investigated.
Exchange splitting of the interaction energy and the multipole expansion of the wave function
Authors: Gniewek Piotr , Jeziorski Bogumił
Published: October 2015

The exchange splitting J of the interaction energy of the hydrogen atom with a proton is calculated using the conventional surface-integral formula Jsurf[Φ], the volume-integral formula of the symmetry-adapted perturbation theory JSAPT[Φ], and a variational volume-integral formula Jvar[Φ]. The calculations are based on the multipole expansion of the wave function Φ, which is divergent for any internuclear distance R. Nevertheless, the resulting approximations to the leading coefficient j0 in the large-R asymptotic series J(R) = 2e−R−1R(j0 + j1R−1 + j2R−2 + ⋯) converge with the rate corresponding to the convergence radii equal to 4, 2, and 1 when the Jvar[Φ], Jsurf[Φ], and JSAPT[Φ] formulas are used, respectively. Additionally, we observe that also the higher jk coefficients are predicted correctly when the multipole expansion is used in the Jvar[Φ] and Jsurf[Φ] formulas. The symmetry adapted perturbation theory formula JSAPT[Φ] predicts correctly only the first two coefficients, j0 and j1, gives a wrong value of j2, and diverges for higher jn. Since the variational volume-integral formula can be easily generalized to many-electron systems and evaluated with standard basis-set techniques of quantum chemistry, it provides an alternative for the determination of the exchange splitting and the exchange contribution of the interaction potential in general.
Transport properties of ultra-thin VO2 films on (001) TiO2 grown by reactive molecular-beam epitaxy
Authors: Paik Hanjong , Moyer Jarrett A. , Spila Timothy , Tashman Joshua W. , Mundy Julia A. , Freeman Eugene , Shukla Nikhil , Lapano Jason M. , Engel-Herbert Roman , Zander Willi , Schubert Jürgen , Muller David A. , Datta Suman , Schiffer Peter , Schlom Darrell G.
Published: October 2015

We report the growth of (001)-oriented VO2 films as thin as 1.5 nm with abrupt and reproducible metal-insulator transitions (MIT) without a capping layer. Limitations to the growth of thinner films with sharp MITs are discussed, including the Volmer-Weber type growth mode due to the high energy of the (001) VO2 surface. Another key limitation is interdiffusion with the (001) TiO2 substrate, which we quantify using low angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy in conjunction with electron energy loss spectroscopy. We find that controlling island coalescence on the (001) surface and minimization of cation interdiffusion by using a low growth temperature followed by a brief anneal at higher temperature are crucial for realizing ultrathin VO2 films with abrupt MIT behavior.
Transfer characteristics and low-frequency noise in single- and multi-layer MoS2 field-effect transistors
Authors: Sharma Deepak , Motayed Abhishek , Shah Pankaj B. , Amani Matin , Georgieva Mariela , Glen Birdwell A. , Dubey Madan , Li Qiliang , Davydov Albert V.
Published: October 2015

Leveraging nanoscale field-effect transistors (FETs) in integrated circuits depends heavily on its transfer characteristics and low-frequency noise (LFN) properties. Here, we report the transfer characteristics and LFN in FETs fabricated with molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) with different layer (L) counts. 4L to 6L devices showed highest ION-IOFF ratio (≈108) whereas LFN was maximum for 1L device with normalized power spectral density (PSD) ≈1.5 × 10−5 Hz−1. For devices with L ≈ 6, PSD was minimum (≈2 × 10−8 Hz−1). Further, LFN for single and few layer devices satisfied carrier number fluctuation (CNF) model in both weak and strong accumulation regimes while thicker devices followed Hooge's mobility fluctuation model in the weak accumulation regime and CNF model in strong accumulation regime, respectively. Transfer-characteristics and LFN experimental data are explained with the help of model incorporating Thomas-Fermi charge screening and inter-layer resistance coupling.
The odd origin of Gerstenhaber brackets, Batalin-Vilkovisky operators, and master equations
Authors: Kaufmann Ralph M. , Ward Benjamin C. , Zúñiga J. Javier
Published: October 2015

Using five basic principles, we treat Gerstenhaber/Lie brackets, Batalin-Vilkovisky (BV) operators, and master equations appearing in mathematical and physical contexts in a unified way. The different contexts for this are given by the different types of (Feynman) graphs that underlie the particular situation. Two of the maxims we bring forth are (1) that extending to the non-connected graphs gives a commutative multiplication forming a part of the BV structure and (2) that there is a universal odd twist that unifies and explains seemingly ad hoc choices of signs and is responsible for the BV operator being a differential. Our treatment results in uniform, general theorems. These allow us to prove new results and recover and connect many constructions that have appeared independently throughout the literature. The more general point of view also allows us to disentangle the necessary from the circumstantial.
Electron acceleration in three-dimensional magnetic reconnection with a guide field
Authors: Dahlin J. T. , Drake J. F. , Swisdak M.
Published: October 2015

Kinetic simulations of 3D collisionless magnetic reconnection with a guide field show a dramatic enhancement of energetic electron production when compared with 2D systems. In the 2D systems, electrons are trapped in magnetic islands that limit their energy gain, whereas in the 3D systems the filamentation of the current layer leads to a stochastic magnetic field that enables the electrons to access volume-filling acceleration regions. The dominant accelerator of the most energetic electrons is a Fermi-like mechanism associated with reflection of charged particles from contracting field lines.
High energy scatterings in higher dimensional theories
Authors: Maharana Jnanadeva
Published: October 2015

The high energy behavior of scattering amplitudes in spacetime dimensions, D > 4, is investigated. The bound on total cross sections, σt ≤ Constant (logs)D−2, D ≥ 4 has been obtained in the past under usual assumptions. I derive new bounds on scattering amplitudes in the region t<T0, t being momentum transfer squared and T0 is a constant. The existence of a zero-free region for the amplitude, in complex t-plane, is proved. I prove stronger upper and lower bounds for the absorptive amplitude in the domain 0 < t < T0 under additional assumptions.
Metal-organic frameworks as host materials of confined supercooled liquids
Authors: Fischer J. K. H. , Sippel P. , Denysenko D. , Lunkenheimer P. , Volkmer D. , Loidl A.
Published: October 2015

In this work, we examine the use of metal-organic framework (MOF) systems as host materials for the investigation of glassy dynamics in confined geometry. We investigate the confinement of the molecular glass former glycerol in three MFU-type MOFs with different pore sizes (MFU stands for “Metal-Organic Framework Ulm-University”) and study the dynamics of the confined liquid via dielectric spectroscopy. In accord with previous reports on confined glass formers, we find different degrees of deviations from bulk behavior depending on pore size, demonstrating that MOFs are well-suited host systems for confinement investigations.
Comment on “The two dimensional motion of a particle in an inverse square potential: Classical and quantum aspects” [J. Math. Phys. 54, 053509 (2013)]
Authors: Bietenholz Wolfgang , Chryssomalakos Chryssomalis , Salgado Marcelo
Published: October 2015

We comment on a fatal flaw in the analysis contained in the work of Martínez-y-Romero et al., [J. Math. Phys. 54, 053509 (2013)], which concerns the motion of a point particle in an inverse square potential, and show that most conclusions reached there are wrong. In particular, the manifestly senseless claim that, in the attractive potential case, no bounded orbits exist for negative energies, is traced to a sign error. Several more mistakes, both in the classical and the quantum cases, are pointed out.
Spatial calibration of a tokamak neutral beam diagnostic using in situ neutral beam emission
Authors: Chrystal C. , Burrell K. H. , Grierson B. A. , Pace D. C.
Published: October 2015

Neutral beam injection is used in tokamaks to heat, apply torque, drive non-inductive current, and diagnose plasmas. Neutral beam diagnostics need accurate spatial calibrations to benefit from the measurement localization provided by the neutral beam. A new technique has been developed that uses in situ measurements of neutral beam emission to determine the spatial location of the beam and the associated diagnostic views. This technique was developed to improve the charge exchange recombination (CER) diagnostic at the DIII-D tokamak and uses measurements of the Doppler shift and Stark splitting of neutral beam emission made by that diagnostic. These measurements contain information about the geometric relation between the diagnostic views and the neutral beams when they are injecting power. This information is combined with standard spatial calibration measurements to create an integrated spatial calibration that provides a more complete description of the neutral beam-CER system. The integrated spatial calibration results are very similar to the standard calibration results and derived quantities from CER measurements are unchanged within their measurement errors. The methods developed to perform the integrated spatial calibration could be useful for tokamaks with limited physical access.
Experimental approaches for studying non-equilibrium atmospheric plasma jets
Authors: Shashurin A. , Keidar M.
Published: October 2015

This work reviews recent research efforts undertaken in the area non-equilibrium atmospheric plasma jets with special focus on experimental approaches. Physics of small non-equilibrium atmospheric plasma jets operating in kHz frequency range at powers around few Watts will be analyzed, including mechanism of breakdown, process of ionization front propagation, electrical coupling of the ionization front with the discharge electrodes, distributions of excited and ionized species, discharge current spreading, transient dynamics of various plasma parameters, etc. Experimental diagnostic approaches utilized in the field will be considered, including Rayleigh microwave scattering, Thomson laser scattering, electrostatic streamer scatterers, optical emission spectroscopy, fast photographing, etc.
Formation of Ge nanoparticles in SiOxNy by ion implantation and thermal annealing
Authors: Mirzaei S. , Kremer F. , Sprouster D. J. , Araujo L. L. , Feng R. , Glover C. J. , Ridgway M. C.
Published: October 2015

Germanium nanoparticles embedded within dielectric matrices hold much promise for applications in optoelectronic and electronic devices. Here we investigate the formation of Ge nanoparticles in amorphous SiO1.67N0.14 as a function of implanted atom concentration and thermal annealing temperature. Using x-ray absorption spectroscopy and other complementary techniques, we show Ge nanoparticles exhibit significant finite-size effects such that the coordination number decreases and structural disorder increases as the nanoparticle size decreases. While the composition of SiO1.67N0.14 is close to that of SiO2, we demonstrate that the addition of this small fraction of N yields a much reduced nanoparticle size relative to those formed in SiO2 under comparable implantation and annealing conditions. We attribute this difference to an increase in an atomic density and a much reduced diffusivity of Ge in the oxynitride matrix. These results demonstrate the potential for tailoring Ge nanoparticle sizes and structural properties in the SiOxNy matrices by controlling the oxynitride stoichiometry.
A photoluminescence study of excitonic grade CuInSe2 single crystals irradiated with 6 MeV electrons
Authors: Yakushev M. V. , Mudryi A. V. , Borodavchenko O. M. , Volkov V. A. , Martin R. W.
Published: October 2015

High-quality single crystals of CuInSe2 with near-stoichiometric elemental compositions were irradiated with 6 MeV electrons, at doses from 1015 to 3 × 1018 cm−2, and studied using photoluminescence (PL) at temperatures from 4.2 to 300 K. Before irradiation, the photoluminescence spectra reveal a number of sharp and well resolved lines associated with free- and bound-excitons. The spectra also show broader bands relating to free-to-bound transitions and their phonon replicas in the lower energy region below 1.0 eV. The irradiation with 6 MeV electrons reduces the intensity of the free- and the majority of the bound-exciton peaks. Such a reduction can be seen for doses above 1016 cm−2. The irradiation induces new PL lines at 1.0215 eV and 0.9909 eV and also enhances the intensity of the lines at 1.0325 and 1.0102 eV present in the photoluminescence spectra before the irradiation. Two broad bands at 0.902 and 0.972 eV, respectively, are tentatively associated with two acceptor-type defects: namely, interstitial selenium (Sei) and copper on indium site (CuIn). After irradiation, these become more intense suggesting an increase in the concentration of these defects due to irradiation.
Quantum diffraction and shielding effects on the low-energy electron-ion bremsstrahlung in two-component semiclassical plasmas
Authors: Lee Myoung-Jae , Jung Young-Dae
Published: October 2015

The quantum diffraction and shielding effects on the low-energy bremsstrahlung process are investigated in two-component semiclassical plasmas. The impact-parameter analysis with the micropotential taking into account the quantum diffraction and shielding effects is employed to obtain the electron-ion bremsstrahlung radiation cross section as a function of the de Broglie wavelength, density parameter, impact parameter, photon energy, and projectile energy. The result shows that the influence of quantum diffraction and shielding strongly suppresses the bremsstrahlung radiation spectrum in semiclassical plasmas. It is found that the quantum diffraction and shielding effects have broaden the photon emission domain. It is also found that the photon emission domain is almost independent of the radiation photon energy. In addition, it is found that the influence of quantum diffraction and shielding on the bremsstrahlung spectrum decreases with an increase of the projectile energy. The density effect on the electron-ion bremsstrahlung cross section is also discussed.
The structural, magnetic, and magnetocaloric properties of In-doped Mn2−xCrxSb
Authors: Tekgül A. , Çakır Ö. , Acet M. , Farle M. , Ünal N.
Published: October 2015

Mn2−xCrxSb exhibits an antiferromagnetic-ferrimagnetic transition of which the temperature can be changed by controlling the Cr concentration. Increasing the Cr content from x = 0.05 to 0.13 raises the transition temperature from about 180 K up to around room temperature. To suppress the inevitable ferromagnetic MnSb impurity phase, we partially replace Sb by In. Mn2−xCrxSb1−yIny alloys have an antiferromagnetic-ferrimagnetic transition and a narrow transition hysteresis and exhibit the inverse magnetocaloric effect. We examine the magnetocaloric effect from the magnetization and direct adiabatic temperature-change measurements.
High temperature and current density induced degradation of multi-layer graphene
Authors: Wang Baoming , Haque M. A. , Mag-isa Alexander E. , Kim Jae-Hyun , Lee Hak-Joo
Published: October 2015

We present evidence of moderate current density, when accompanied with high temperature, promoting migration of foreign atoms on the surface of multi-layer graphene. Our in situ transmission electron microscope experiments show migration of silicon atoms at temperatures above 800 °C and current density around 4.2 × 107 A/cm2. Originating from the micro-machined silicon structures that clamp the freestanding specimen, the atoms are observed to react with the carbon atoms in the multi-layer graphene to produce silicon carbide at temperatures of 900–1000 °C. In the absence of electrical current, there is no migration of silicon and only pyrolysis of polymeric residue is observed.
Surface participation and dielectric loss in superconducting qubits
Authors: Wang C. , Axline C. , Gao Y. Y. , Brecht T. , Chu Y. , Frunzio L. , Devoret M. H. , Schoelkopf R. J.
Published: October 2015

We study the energy relaxation times (T1) of superconducting transmon qubits in 3D cavities as a function of dielectric participation ratios of material surfaces. This surface participation ratio, representing the fraction of electric field energy stored in a dissipative surface layer, is computed by a two-step finite-element simulation and experimentally varied by qubit geometry. With a clean electromagnetic environment and suppressed non-equilibrium quasiparticle density, we find an approximately proportional relation between the transmon relaxation rates and surface participation ratios. These results suggest dielectric dissipation arising from material interfaces is the major limiting factor for the T1 of transmons in 3D circuit quantum electrodynamics architecture. Our analysis also supports the notion of spatial discreteness of surface dielectric dissipation.
An opportunity to revolutionise sow management
Authors: Downing J. A.
Published: October 2015

Research in any area of animal production can provide the opportunity to change how the system operates and is managed. The reliance on having to wean lactating sows to re-mate them has limited the commercial options for sow management. The desire to limit lactation length to maximise the litters per sow per year concurrently creates major challenges for such-aged piglets weaned abruptly. These issues are discussed in the review. This management system also fails to recognise that sows have the potential to spontaneously ovulate in lactation even when housed in farrowing crates. Inhibition of luteinising hormone release is the basis of lactational anoestrus with the suckling stimulus providing the strongest afferent signal to this inhibitory system. Any management strategy that reduces this inhibition has the potential to trigger lactational oestrus. In this review, group housing of sows, boar exposure and intermittent suckling are identified as strong stimuli that can promote lactational oestrus. Removing the need to wean sows to mate them offers further opportunities to change the way lactating sows are managed. One option is a two-stage lactation system in which the sows are housed in farrowing crates for the first 10–14 days and then moved to group accommodation for the remainder of lactation. This system provides welfare benefits for the litter in the early stage of lactation and then the benefits of less confinement for the sows in later lactation. Group lactation would also lend itself to the implementation of stimuli to assist the mating of sows in lactation, such as piglet separation and/or boar exposure. It also accommodates the mating of sows that spontaneously ovulate in lactation. Removing the need to wean sows to re-mate them provides the opportunity to increase weaning age and implement a gradual weaning, helping to attenuate the post-weaning growth check and potentially limiting antimicrobial use in weaner pigs.
Diverse oligomeric states of CEACAM IgV domains
Authors: Bonsor Daniel A. , Günther Sebastian , Beadenkopf Robert , Beckett Dorothy , Sundberg Eric J.
Published: October 2015

Significance

Carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecules (CEACAMs) are cell surface proteins that regulate cell adhesion and signaling in cancer, infection, and immunity through their diverse oligomeric states. Although X-ray crystal structures of CEACAM homodimers have been described, how they form heterodimers or remain monomers is poorly understood. Here we present the crystal structures of homodimeric CEACAM6, monomeric CEACAM8, and the heterodimeric CEACAM6–CEACAM8 complex. Our crystallographic and biophysical data suggest ways in which CEACAM6 and CEACAM8 regulate the biological functions of one another.
Pressure-tuned quantum criticality in the antiferromagnetic Kondo semimetal CeNi

2−
δ

As
2
Authors: Luo Yongkang , Ronning F. , Wakeham N. , Lu Xin , Park Tuson , Xu Z.-A. , Thompson J. D.
Published: October 2015

Significance

An unconventional quantum-critical point involves a critical destruction of the Kondo entanglement and a reconstruction of Fermi surface topology. A description of such quantum criticality requires a broader experimental basis and a theoretical model that includes critical fermionic degrees of freedom. We provide a rare example of peculiar quantum-critical behavior in the low carrier density limit. Most significantly, the similarity between our CeNi

2−
δ

As
2
and the well-known quantum-critical Kondo-lattice system CeCu

6−
x

Au

x

indicates that a condition favorable for the unconventional quantum criticality is a “small” Fermi volume which disfavors the conventional Hertz–Millis-type spin-density-wave criticality. This insight provides new guidance for where new examples of unconventional quantum criticality could be found.
The mitochondrial monothiol glutaredoxin S15 is essential for iron-sulfur protein maturation in
Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Moseler Anna , Aller Isabel , Wagner Stephan , Nietzel Thomas , Przybyla-Toscano Jonathan , Mühlenhoff Ulrich , Lill Roland , Berndt Carsten , Rouhier Nicolas , Schwarzländer Markus , Meyer Andreas J.
Published: October 2015

Significance

Monothiol glutaredoxins have been considered as components of the iron-sulfur protein assembly machinery but lack of suitable mutants, and partial functional redundancy has hampered the functional analysis in plants. Here, we report the identification of previously unrecognized embryonic lethal
Arabidopsis
mutants deficient in mitochondrial glutaredoxin S15 (GRXS15). Recombinant GRXS15 coordinates an iron-sulfur cluster in the presence of reduced glutathione as a cofactor. Genetic interference with glutathione binding through targeted mutagenesis diminished the ability of the protein to complement a yeast mutant lacking the homologous mitochondrial Grx5p. Similarly, mutated GRXS15 variants were not able to fully complement the lethal
Arabidopsis
mutants. Partial complementation resulting in a dwarf phenotype and severely diminished aconitase activity uncovered the role of mitochondrial GRXS15 in iron-sulfur protein maturation.
A distinct pathway for tetrahymanol synthesis in bacteria
Authors: Banta Amy B. , Wei Jeremy H. , Welander Paula V.
Published: October 2015

Significance

Sterols and sterol-like lipids have critical physiological roles in both eukaryotes and bacteria. These cyclic lipids are also well preserved in ancient rocks and can function as microbial molecular fossils. Gammacerane is one such lipid that is used as an indicator of water column stratification deep in time. However, a proper interpretation of gammacerane biosignatures requires a full understanding of the biosynthesis and taxonomic distribution of one of its potential precursors, tetrahymanol, in modern microbes. Here we establish that bacterial tetrahymanol producers are more diverse than previously thought and demonstrate that bacteria have evolved a biochemical mechanism distinct from eukaryotes for synthesizing tetrahymanol.
Metalloregulator CueR biases RNA polymerase’s kinetic sampling of dead-end or open complex to repress or activate transcription
Authors: Martell Danya J. , Joshi Chandra P. , Gaballa Ahmed , Santiago Ace George , Chen Tai-Yen , Jung Won , Helmann John D. , Chen Peng
Published: October 2015

Significance

MerR-family regulators act on suboptimal promoters to control the transcriptions of genes that help bacteria defend against a diverse set of metals and drugs. How they modulate RNA polymerase (RNAP) activity to control transcription initiation remains unclear, however. Here we show that CueR—a Cu
+
-responsive MerR-family metalloregulator—biases the kinetic sampling of RNAP binding events that lead to two noninterconverting states: a dead-end complex to repress or an open complex to activate transcription, constituting a branched pathway distinct from the linear pathway prevalent for transcription initiation at optimal promoters. This mechanistic insight contributes new fundamental knowledge to bacterial transcription regulation, and may help develop antibiotics that target this regulation mechanism to compromise bacterial defenses.
Genome sequence of the Asian Tiger mosquito,Aedes albopictus, reveals insights into its biology, genetics, and evolution
Authors: Chen Xiao-Guang , Jiang Xuanting , Gu Jinbao , Xu Meng , Wu Yang , Deng Yuhua , Zhang Chi , Bonizzoni Mariangela , Dermauw Wannes , Vontas John , Armbruster Peter , Huang Xin , Yang Yulan , Zhang Hao , He Weiming , Peng Hongjuan , Liu Yongfeng , Wu Kun , Chen Jiahua , Lirakis Manolis , Topalis Pantelis , Van Leeuwen Thomas , Hall Andrew Brantley , Jiang Xiaofang , Thorpe Chevon , Mueller Rachel Lockridge , Sun Cheng , Waterhouse Robert Michael , Yan Guiyun , Tu Zhijian Jake , Fang Xiaodong , James Anthony A.
Published: October 2015

Significance

Aedes albopictusis a highly adaptive species that thrives worldwide in tropical and temperate zones. From its origin in Asia, it has established itself on every continent except Antarctica. This expansion, coupled with its ability to vector the epidemic human diseases dengue and Chikungunya fevers, make it a significant global public health threat. A complete genome sequence and transcriptome data were obtained for theAe. albopictusFoshan strain, a colony derived from mosquitoes from its historical origin. The large genome (1,967 Mb) comprises an abundance of repetitive DNA classes and expansions of the numbers of gene family members involved in insecticide resistance, diapause, sex determination, immunity, and olfaction. This large genome repertory and plasticity may contribute to its success as an invasive species.
Solar energy development impacts on land cover change and protected areas
Authors: Hernandez Rebecca R. , Hoffacker Madison K. , Murphy-Mariscal Michelle L. , Wu Grace C. , Allen Michael F.
Published: October 2015

Significance

Decisions humans make about how much land to use, where, and for what end use, can inform innovation and policies directing sustainable pathways of land use for energy. Using the state of California (United States) as a model system, our study shows that the majority of utility-scale solar energy (USSE) installations are sited in natural environments, namely shrublands and scrublands, and agricultural land cover types, and near (<10 km) protected areas. “Compatible” (≤15%) USSE installations are sited in developed areas, whereas “Incompatible” installations (19%) are classified as such owing to, predominantly, lengthier distances to existing transmission. Our results suggest a dynamic landscape where land for energy, food, and conservation goals overlap and where environmental cobenefit opportunities should be explored.
Cyclic deformation leads to defect healing and strengthening of small-volume metal crystals
Authors: Wang Zhang-Jie , Li Qing-Jie , Cui Yi-Nan , Liu Zhan-Li , Ma Evan , Li Ju , Sun Jun , Zhuang Zhuo , Dao Ming , Shan Zhi-Wei , Suresh Subra
Published: October 2015

Significance

Producing strong and defect-free materials is an important objective in developing many new materials. Thermal treatments aimed at defect elimination often lead to undesirable levels of strength and other properties. Although monotonic loading can reduce or even eliminate dislocations in submicroscale single crystals, such “mechanical healing” causes severe plastic deformation and significant shape changes. Inspired by observing an easier pullout of a partly buried object after shaking it first, we demonstrate that “cyclic healing” of the small-volume single crystals can indeed be achieved through repeated low-amplitude straining. The cyclic healing method points to versatile avenues for tailoring the defect structure and strengthening of nanoscale metal crystals without the need for thermal annealing or severe plastic deformation.
Genetic basis of transcriptome diversity in
Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Huang Wen , Carbone Mary Anna , Magwire Michael M. , Peiffer Jason A. , Lyman Richard F. , Stone Eric A. , Anholt Robert R. H. , Mackay Trudy F. C.
Published: October 2015

Significance

RNA provides a link between variation at the DNA and phenotypic levels. We measured the abundances of RNA products of protein-coding genes and novel transcribed regions in a population of wild-derived inbred strains of
Drosophila melanogaster
whose genome sequences are also available. We exploited this unique resource to characterize the genetic basis of transcriptome diversity. We found high complexity of the genetic control of gene expression, including widespread sexual dimorphism, highly modularized expression patterns with involvement of novel RNA transcripts, and frequent epistatic interactions among expression quantitative trait loci (QTLs) which often give rise to variance expression QTLs. This study highlights the importance and general applicability of integrating expression phenotypes to understand the genetic architecture of complex quantitative phenotypes.
What is hindering progress? The marginalization of women's sexual and reproductive health and rights in Brazil and Chile
Authors: Gideon Jasmine , Leite Marianna , Minte Gabriela Alvarez
Published: October 2015

The paper draws on the cases of Brazil and Chile to consider the lack of progress towards securing better health outcomes for women in the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). At first glance, these poor outcomes for women appear surprising, given that both countries represent middle-income countries where significant developments have occurred towards ensuring universal access to healthcare services. Yet, a more nuanced analysis uncovers the historically constructed gender regimes and policy legacies within relevant institutions that act to limit progress. The discussion in the paper specifically focuses on the evolution of the health sector in the two countries, the role of the medical profession and the influence of the Catholic Church, which, we argue, have been key to constraining women's SRHR in Brazil and Chile.
NF2/Merlin mediates contact-dependent inhibition of EGFR mobility and internalization via cortical actomyosin
Authors: Chiasson-MacKenzie Christine , Morris Zachary S. , Baca Quentin , Morris Brett , Coker Joanna K. , Mirchev Rossen , Jensen Anne E. , Carey Thomas , Stott Shannon L. , Golan David E. , McClatchey Andrea I.
Published: October 2015

The proliferation of normal cells is inhibited at confluence, but the molecular basis of this phenomenon, known as contact-dependent inhibition of proliferation, is unclear. We previously identified the neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) tumor suppressor Merlin as a critical mediator of contact-dependent inhibition of proliferation and specifically found that Merlin inhibits the internalization of, and signaling from, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in response to cell contact. Merlin is closely related to the membrane–cytoskeleton linking proteins Ezrin, Radixin, and Moesin, and localization of Merlin to the cortical cytoskeleton is required for contact-dependent regulation of EGFR. We show that Merlin and Ezrin are essential components of a mechanism whereby mechanical forces associated with the establishment of cell–cell junctions are transduced across the cell cortex via the cortical actomyosin cytoskeleton to control the lateral mobility and activity of EGFR, providing novel insight into how cells inhibit mitogenic signaling in response to cell contact.
The dynein cortical anchor Num1 activates dynein motility by relieving Pac1/LIS1-mediated inhibition
Authors: Lammers Lindsay G. , Markus Steven M.
Published: October 2015

Cortically anchored dynein orients the spindle through interactions with astral microtubules. In budding yeast, dynein is offloaded to Num1 receptors from microtubule plus ends. Rather than walking toward minus ends, dynein remains associated with plus ends due in part to its association with Pac1/LIS1, an inhibitor of dynein motility. The mechanism by which dynein is switched from “off” at the plus ends to “on” at the cell cortex remains unknown. Here, we show that overexpression of the coiled-coil domain of Num1 specifically depletes dynein–dynactin–Pac1/LIS1 complexes from microtubule plus ends and reduces dynein-Pac1/LIS1 colocalization. Depletion of dynein from plus ends requires its microtubule-binding domain, suggesting that motility is required. An enhanced Pac1/LIS1 affinity mutant of dynein or overexpression of Pac1/LIS1 rescues dynein plus end depletion. Live-cell imaging reveals minus end–directed dynein–dynactin motility along microtubules upon overexpression of the coiled-coil domain of Num1, an event that is not observed in wild-type cells. Our findings indicate that dynein activity is directly switched “on” by Num1, which induces Pac1/LIS1 removal.
Syntactic and Prosodic Reflexes of Information Structure in Germanic
Authors: Fanselow Gisbert
Published: October 2015

This chapter deals with syntactic and prosodic reflexes of information structure in the Germanic languages. It begins with an overview of givenness and word order variation in the TP, along with aboutness topics and the prosodic prominence of topics and foci. It then considers the postulation of a focus head in Germanic and how contrast seems to intensify the acoustic properties of topics and foci. It shows how the left edge of verb second clauses acts as a slot for placing contrastive elements in all Germanic languages, but that the position is also filled on purely formal grounds. The article also describes the conditions of information structure that decide whether an XP can go to the position preceding the finite verb/auxiliary in the verb second (V2) constructions. Finally, it discusses two types of V2 constructions: unrestricted V2 constructions and pragmatically restricted V2 constructions.
Does Inequality Harm Economic Development and Democracy?
Authors: Houle Christian
Published: October 2015

This article examines whether economic inequality undermines economic development and democracy in the long run. After reviewing the literature on the effect of inequality on economic development and democracy, it considers three approaches that have been put forward to explain why inequality harms the economy and democracy: (1) the political economy approach, (2) the social unrest approach, and (3) the credit market imperfections approach. A complete data set on inequality is generated using three measures of inequality: the capital share data set of Ortega and Rodriguez (2006), the Gini coefficients data set of Solt (2009), and the income Gini coefficients of the “Estimated Household Income Inequality” (EHII) data set, developed by the University of Texas Inequality Project (UTIP). The article then tests the relationship between inequality and democracy using dynamic probit models.
War’s Aftermath and the Ethics of War
Authors: Fabre Cécile
Published: October 2015

This chapter offers an account of the role and place of jus post bellum within just war theory and highlights avenues of inquiry on the aftermath of war that have been largely ignored. The author discusses recent arguments to the effect that jus ad bellum and jus in bello exhaust just war theory and that jus post bellum, far from being a key member of the family, in fact does much better as an outsider. The author claims, on the contrary, that there is ample space for jus post bellum within just war theory; in partial agreement with those arguments, however, the author agrees that a full account of the ethics of war’s aftermath must also draw on other fields of normative inquiry and fleshes out in greater details connections and disconnections between jus post bellum on the one hand and the other two jura on the other.
A Richer Jus ad Bellum
Authors: Buchanan Allen
Published: October 2015

Contemporary jus ad bellum theories are too restricted in the range of issues they explore. They typically fail to ascertain the best directly action-guiding norms leaders should follow in deciding to go to war (these may differ from elements of objective justifications), morally evaluate institutional procedures by which leaders make the decision to go to war, determine the proper division of labour between institutional procedures and directly action-guiding norms for recourse to war decisions, morally evaluate the recourse to war decisions leaders make, provide an account of the virtues of leaders relevant to their decisions to go to war, evaluate leaders’ public acts of justification for going to war, evaluate social practices regarding what counts as a legitimate type of justification for going to war, and evaluate domestic and international law regarding recourse to war. Merely determining what makes recourse to war acts right does not answer these questions.
Justice After War
Authors: Ohlin Jens David
Published: October 2015

After the conclusion of hostilities, whether formal armed conflict or not, parties must be held to account for their behaviour. This sentiment is almost universally shared, regardless of one’s moral or ethical framework, although the specifics of this accounting are deeply controversial and contested. In Section 2 of this brief commentary, the chapter offers a normative foundation for justice after war that appeal to the anti-impunity norm. It concludes that criminal trials, as opposed to nonpenal mechanisms, best vindicate the anti-impunity norm. In light of this conclusion, Section 3 asks how we should achieve justice after war: who should be put on trial (leaders or foot soldiers), who should prosecute them (national or international courts), which crimes they should be charged with (domestic or international crimes), which procedures should govern the trials, and how (and why) they should be punished.
Drones and Robots
Authors: Statman Daniel
Published: October 2015

The recent development of unmanned technology—drones and robots of various types—is transforming the nature of warfare. Instead of fighting against other human beings, combatants will soon be fighting against machines. At present, these machines are operated by human beings, but they are becoming increasingly autonomous. Some people believe that, from a moral point of view, this development is worrisome, especially insofar as fully autonomous offensive systems (‘killer robots’) are concerned. I claim that the arguments that support this belief are pretty weak. Compared with the grand battles of the past, with their shockingly high toll of casualties, drone-centered campaigns seem much more humane. They also enable a better fit between moral responsibility and vulnerability to defensive action. Drones and robots may well be recorded in the annals of warfare as offering real promise for moral progress.
Neuroendocrine and Neurochemical Processes in Depression
Authors: Cowen Phil
Published: October 2015

Neuroendocrine and neurochemical theories of depression have continued to be of importance in understanding pathophysiology and suggesting new kinds of pharmacological interventions. Monoamine theories still dominate the neurochemistry of depression and results from monoamine depletion studies suggest that in certain circumstances lowered activity of serotonin and noradrenaline pathways can indeed lead to clinical depressive symptomatology. More recent developments have implicated changes in the amino acid neurotransmitters γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate in depressed patients; the ability of the N-methyl-d-aspartate acid (NMDA) receptor antagonist, ketamine, to relieve depressive symptomatology rapidly has spurred basic research on the cellular mechanism of glutamatergic antidepressant action. The link between inflammation and depression has led to new kinds of immunological investigations in depressed patients and suggests the possibility of developing effective targeted antiinflammatory treatments. Finally hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis abnormalities remain a focus of interest, particularly in the context of the many medical comorbidities that frequently complicate chronic depressive disorders.