bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Probing into the epitaxial crystallization of β form isotactic polypropylene: From experimental observations to molecular mechanics computation
Authors: Wang Zefan , Yang Wenhong , Liu Guoming , Müller Alejandro J. , Zhao Ying , Dong Xia , Wang Kezhi , Wang Dujin
Published: January 2017

Compared with the most stable crystalline form of isotactic polypropylene (α‐iPP), β‐iPP shows superior impact strength and high temperature performance, though the mechanism of how the frustrated structure of β‐iPP is formed still remains unclear. In present work, the single crystal structure of a traditional β‐iPP nucleating agent, N,N′‐dicyclohexylterephthalamide (DCHT), was obtained for the first time and correlated with the epitaxial crystallization of β‐iPP on the surface of DCHT crystal. The combination of synchrotron radiation X‐ray microdiffraction and molecular chain packing model confirmed that a two dimensional match of chain‐axis and inter‐chain direction coexists between β‐iPP (110) plane and DCHT (001) plane. It was further found that an epitaxial model is helpful to understand the formation of the frustrated structure of 31 helices packing in β‐iPP. The molecular mechanics computation showed that as the (001) plane of DCHT is fixed, the packing mode of β‐iPP (110) plane on the substrate surface is more stable than that of α‐iPP (010) plane. This work clarifies the epitaxial crystallization mechanism of β‐iPP on DCHT by employing both experimental and computational evidences. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017, 55, 418–424
Diagnostic yield of bronchoalveolar lavage in immunocompromised children with malignant and non‐malignant disorders
Authors: Nadimpalli Sruti , Foca Marc , Satwani Prakash , Sulis Maria Luisa , Constantinescu Andrei , Saiman Lisa
Published: January 2017

Background

The diagnostic yield of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in the Immunocompromised pediatric population has ranged from 28% to 68%. We hypothesized that the diagnostic yield of BALs would be higher in more recent years due to new diagnostic assays.

Methods

A retrospective case series was performed among immunocompromised children ≤18 years old who underwent BALs from 2001 to 2012, to assess the yield of microbiologic diagnostic studies and to determine the impact of BAL findings on antimicrobial management.

Results

In all, 123 subjects underwent 174 BALs (mean age 9.9 years). Underlying diagnoses included both malignant (n = 79) and non‐malignant (n = 44) disorders, and 75 (61.0%) subjects were hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients. Fifty‐four (31.0%) of 174 BAL were positive for ≥1 potential pathogen (n = 58 microorganisms). The diagnostic yield of BALs performed from 2001 to 2006 versus2007–2012 was similar (40.5% vs. 26.6%, respectively, P = 0.07). Most subjects (86.2%) were on ≥1 antimicrobial at the time of BAL. Most (65.8%) negative BALs were associated with narrowing antimicrobial therapy, while most (74.1%) positive BALs were associated with continuing or changing to targeted antimicrobial therapy.

Conclusions

In this study population, the diagnostic yield of BAL was similar to that previously described and unchanged in more recent years. Both negative and positive BALs were associated with changes in antimicrobial management.

A 10‐year retrospective review of bronchoalveolar lavage in 123 immunocompromised children determined that the rate of isolation of potential pathogens was 31% in this population. The majority of BAL was associated with a change in antimicrobial therapy. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2017;52:820–826. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Thermal expansion coefficient of carbon‐supported Pt nanoparticles: In‐situ X‐ray diffraction study
Authors: Leontyev I. N. , Kulbakov A. A. , Allix M. , Rakhmatullin A. , Kuriganova A. B. , Maslova O. A. , Smirnova N. V.
Published: January 2017

The thermal expansion of carbon‐supported Pt nanoparticles with different particle size has been studied in‐situ via X‐ray diffraction at temperatures from 100 to 300 K. The thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) of investigated Pt/C nanoparticles is always superior to that of bulk Pt. When the grain size D decreases from 11 to 3 nm, the TEC nonlinearly increases by about 1.66 × 10−6 K−1 which corresponds to a variation of ∼20% from bulk Pt. The obtained experimental dependence of TEC for Pt/C nanoparticles has been interpreted using different theoretical approaches. A comparison of the considered models with the experimental data reveals the best agreement from the binding order–length–strength model with the size dependence of TEC experimentally found in carbon‐supported Pt nanoparticles.
A novel zero‐watermarking approach of medical images based on Jacobian matrix model
Authors: Ghadi Musab , Laouamer Lamri , Nana Laurent , Pascu Anca
Published: January 2017

Ensuring the medical images authenticity becomes an essential need. This need has to keep of course two factors: (i) high robustness and (ii) low complexity in term of processing. A zero‐watermarking scheme could be a practical solution for this matter. This paper proposes a zero‐watermarking algorithm to assure the authenticity of the transmitted medical images through an e‐healthcare network. The targeted image is partitioned into 8 × 8 non‐overlapping blocks, and the Jacobian matrix model is used to construct a meaningful watermark. In order to reduce the complexity, our model does not encrypt the watermark image. The experiment results show a remarkable efficiency of the proposed model in terms of similarity, error probability, and robustness against a variety of geometric and non‐geometric attacks. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Light‐Activated Antibacterial Nanoscale Films: Metallo‐Organics for Catalytic Generation of Chemically Accessible Singlet‐Oxygen in Water
Authors: Morozov Michael , Carmieli Raanan , Lahav Michal , van der Boom Milko E.
Published: January 2017

We demonstrated a heterogeneous and efficient photocatalytic method to reduce the bacterial content in water with reusable metallo‐organic thin films. These functionalized assemblies constructed of a network of polypyridyl complexes generate reactive singlet oxygen upon visible light irradiation that induces lysis of bacterial cells. The singlet oxygen photosensitizers are robust and were successfully applied to surface water samples contaminated with both Gram‐positive and ‐negative bacteria. The catalytic formation of singlet oxygen by our antibacterial coatings was confirmed chemically by reactions with both inorganic and organic compounds.
Responsibility‐Shifting in a Gambling Environment
Authors: Mc Namara Cormac
Published: January 2017

Using data that was collected by observing and speaking with customers and members of staff in betting shops in Dublin, Ireland, this article provides a consideration of how regular customers of betting shops explain their bet related failures to themselves and to those around them. It is suggested in this article that a process of self‐reparation of self‐esteem occurs in betting shops after customers experience monetary losses and that this process is facilitated by shifting responsibility for the losses incurred to factors external to and beyond the control of customers.
Crystal Structure, Magnetism, 89Y Solid State NMR, and 121Sb Mössbauer Spectroscopic Investigations of YIrSb
Authors: Benndorf Christopher , Heletta Lukas , Block Theresa , Eckert Hellmut , Pöttgen Rainer
Published: January 2017

The ternary antimonide YIrSb was synthesized from the binary precursor YIr and elemental antimony by a diffusion controlled solid‐state reaction. Single crystals were obtained by a flux technique with elemental bismuth as an inert solvent. The YIrSb structure (TiNiSi type, space group Pnma) was refined from single‐crystal X‐ray diffractometer data: a = 711.06(9), b = 447.74(5), c = 784.20(8) pm, wR2 = 0.0455, 535 F2 values, 20 variables. 89Y solid state MAS NMR and 121Sb Mössbauer spectra show single resonance lines in agreement with single‐crystal X‐ray data. YIrSb is a Pauli paramagnet.
Prediction of the mechanical behavior of flax polypropylene composites based on multi-scale finite element analysis
Authors: Zhong Yucheng , Tran Le Quan Ngoc , Kureemun Umeyr , Lee Heow Pueh
Published: January 2017

Natural fibers and their composites differ in several aspects with carbon fibers, including higher scatter in strength and different tensile responses. The tensile and bending properties of flax fiber composites were experimentally studied and numerically simulated. Composite panels were fabricated from unidirectional flax fiber tapes and polypropylene films via hot pressing technique. The variation in the properties of flax/polypropylene composites was found to be relatively moderate as compared with that of single natural fibers. A multi-scale finite element analysis (FEA) strategy for the progressive damage prediction of natural fiber composites was developed. The FEA model started from micro-scale analysis which predicted the effective properties of unidirectional flax ply through representative volume element. Macro-scale analysis was conducted subsequently to predict the properties of composite coupons using the results of micro-scale analysis as inputs. The developed multi-scale FE model successfully predicted the tensile strength, bending behavior, and major failure modes of flax/polypropylene composites.
Fatty Acid Profiles of Garuga floribunda, Ipomoea pes‐caprae, Melanolepis multiglandulosa and Premna odorata Seed Oils
Authors: Knothe Gerhard , Razon Luis F. , Madulid Domingo A. , Agoo Esperanza Maribel G. , de Castro Maria Ellenita G.
Published: January 2017

The fatty acid profiles of the seed oils of four species from four plant families for which no or only sparse information on the fatty acid profiles is available are reported. The four seed oils are Garuga floribunda of the Burseraceae family, Ipomoea pes‐caprae, of the Convolvulaceae family, Melanolepis multiglandulosa of the Euphorbiaceae family, and Premna odorata of the Labiatae (Lamiaceae) family. Linoleic acid is the most abundant in three seed oils, except I. pes‐caprae in which oleic acid is most abundant. These two acids are overall the most abundant in all four seed oils studied. Of the four seed oils investigated, only G. floribunda contains minor amounts of a cyclic fatty acid (dihydrosterculic acid).
Morphine exposure during early life alters thermal and mechanical thresholds in rats
Authors: Nunes Ellen A. , Medeiros Liciane Fernandes , de Freitas Joice Soares , Macedo Isabel Cristina , Kuo Jonnsin , de Souza Andressa , Rozisky Joanna Rippol , Caumo Wolnei , Torres Iraci L.S.
Published: January 2017

Background

Morphine is an opioid analgesic used to relieve moderate‐to‐severe pain, including pain in neonates at the intensive care unit. In our previous study, we showed that repeated morphine exposure during early life could trigger long‐lasting implications on the developing nervous system, such as long‐term neurochemical and behavioral alterations in adult rats.

Aims

The aim of our study was to determine the short‐, intermediate‐, and long‐term effects of repeated morphine administration during early life on the thermal and mechanical thresholds and on the central levels (cerebral cortex and brainstem) of neurotrophins (brain‐derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF] and nerve growth factor [NGF]) and cytokines (interleukin‐6 [IL‐6] and IL‐10).

Methods

Male Wistar rats were administered morphine (5 μg/day, s.c.) or saline for 7 days from postnatal day 8 (P8) until P14. The nociceptive effect was assessed by evaluating the thermal response using the hot plate test (HPT) and the mechanical response by Von Frey (VFT) and Randall‐Selitto (RST) tests at P16, P30, and P60. BDNF, NGF, IL‐6, and IL‐10 levels were measured in the cerebral cortex and brainstem.

Results

In HPT, no difference in latency was observed at P16; however, at P30 and P60, the morphine‐treated group exhibited a less increase in the nociceptive threshold compared to the saline group. VFT and RST demonstrated an interaction between group and age, where the morphine group showed a less pronounced increase in latency with age, which is indicative of allodynia. In the cerebral cortex, an association between BDNF and NGF levels and age was observed, where neurotrophin level increased with age in the saline group, and decreased with age in the morphine group. In addition, IL‐10 levels decreased with age in both groups; however, there was no significant difference in IL‐6 levels. In the brainstem, BDNF, NGF, IL‐6, and IL‐10 levels increased with age.

Discussion

Repeated morphine exposure during neonatal life triggered alterations in the nociceptive behavior, including thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia, as well as decreased levels of BDNF and NGF in the cerebral cortex. Our study highlights the importance of extensive comprehension of the pharmacological interventions during CNS maturation.
GENDER, VIOLENCE, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IN ISLAM: MUSLIM FEMINIST SCHOLARS IN THE PUBLIC EYE
Authors: Dunn Shannon
Published: January 2017

Three recent books focused on law, gender, and Islam not only make important individual contributions to the field of law and religion, but together, in their attention to issues of gender, sex, violence, and law, signal an important development in both this field and the field of Islamic studies. This state of the field essay examines Kecia Ali's revised and expanded edition ofSexual Ethics and Islam, Ayesha Chaudhry'sDomestic Violence and the Islamic Tradition, and Hina Azam'sSexual Violation in Islamic Law. Individually and collectively, these works shed light on the way that societies use gender as a fundamental tool of social organization and hierarchy. While Ali, Chaudhry, and Azam focus mainly on the classical Sunni Islamic tradition, their insight has wider methodological import for the study of law and religion. Further, they illuminate the intellectual diversity within the Islamic tradition, both in the past and in the present. In doing so, they draw attention to the process of how the intellectual tradition is retrieved and appropriated in contemporary contexts. Finally, their work is historical and descriptive as well as normative: this kind of scholarship challenges the distinction in the study of religion between these two categories. Ali, Chaudhry, and Azam each places her observations and arguments about classical Sunni Islamic texts and traditions in productive conversation with ethical and legal questions that Muslims face today.
Re-evaluating the Role of Emperor John VIII in the Failed Union of Florence
Authors: VAN SICKLE JACOB N.
Published: January 2017

Eastern scholars have long accused John VIII Palaiologos of sacrificing the faith for temporal gain when he oversaw the Union of Florence. Westerners have blamed him for the union's ultimate failure. These competing narratives both err by too sharply differentiating between religion and politics, and allowing the opinions of John's contemporary critics to colour their interpretations of his actions. A contextual analysis of John's activities during and after the council finds his behaviour in keeping with the best elements of his tradition and suggests the potential for a new historiography of Ferrara-Florence which might help to dislodge entrenched ecclesial animosities.
Transatlantic Puritanism and American Singularities
Authors: HALL DAVID D.
Published: January 2017

The taunting question posed in the 1820s by the English critic Sidney Smith, ‘Who reads an American book?’, has long since tumbled into the dustbin of literary history. Yet it continues to reverberate in how Americanists describe the workings of Puritanism in their own country, its presence felt in two respects. One of these is resentment at the indifference to their own work of historians of the Puritan movement in Britain. Another is the assumption among Americanists that the Puritanism of the colonists who arrived in the early seventeenth century was singular in certain respects, be it their sense of ‘errand’, their modifications of Reformed orthodoxy, or perhaps their daring experiment with a congregation-centred polity, the ‘New England Way’. Whenever historians turn to the larger project of Church and State in colonial and modern America, assertions of singularity dominate the telling of our religious history. Do these endeavours warrant returning to Sidney Smith's question and rephrasing it to ask whether Americanists are making the most of European studies of Reformed theology, Puritanism in Britain, and conformity or dissent?
Influence of hot electrons on the spectra of iron plasma irradiated by femtosecond laser pulses with 1021 W/cm2 intensities
Authors: Stafford A. , Safronova A.S. , Faenov A.Ya. , Pikuz T.A. , Kodama R. , Kantsyrev V.L. , Shrestha I. , Shlyaptseva V.V.
Published: January 2017

The use of laboratory experiments as plasma creating sources is a valuable tool for understanding astrophysical observations. Recently plasma created through irradiation by lasers with relativistic intensities has been used to study effects of hot electrons and X-ray pumping on X-ray formation of multiply charged ions spectra. This paper discusses the formation of K-shell Fe spectra recorded from a plasma irradiated by 35 fs pulses with intensities of 1021 W/cm2. Modeling of the spectra suggests three different regions of plasma radiation including a cold ~10 eV region, a mild ~700 eV region, and a hot ~3500 eV region. The influence of hot electrons and X-ray pumping is discussed and a comparison with K-shell Fe spectra from a 1 MA X-pinch experiment is included to highlight the differences due to the shorter time frame of the laser–plasma interaction experiment.
Propagation characteristics of Hermite-cosh-Gaussian laser beam in a rippled density plasmas
Authors: Kaur S. , Kaur M. , Kaur R. , Gill T.S.
Published: January 2017

In the present research work, the authors have investigated the self-focusing and defocusing of Hermite-cosh-Gaussian laser (HChG) beam in an inhomogeneous rippled density plasmas. By taking the relativistic non-linearity into account, an equation for envelope is set up and solved using Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin and the paraxial ray approximation. An ordinary non-linear differential equation governing the beam width parameter as a function of propagation distance is set up for different mode structures of the beam. Further, a numerical study of this differential equation is carried for suitable set of plasma and laser parameters. The beam undergoes periodic self-focusing/defocusing due to relativistic non-linearity. We also report the comparison between self-focusing/defocusing of HChG beam in the absence and presence of density ripple. Presence of ripple does not only leads to substantial increase in self-focusing length, but also results in oscillatory character with decreasing f. In a relativistic case, strong oscillatory self-focusing and defocusing is observed. Further, self-focusing is enhanced with increased value of decentered parameter.
APPROXIMATING AND STABILIZING DYNAMIC RATE JACKSON NETWORKS WITH ABANDONMENT
Authors: Pender Jamol , Massey William A.
Published: January 2017

In this paper, we generalize the Gaussian Variance Approximation (GVA), developed by Massey and Pender [16], to Jackson networks with abandonment. We approximate the queue length process with a multivariate Gaussian distribution and thus, we are able to estimate the mean and covariance matrix of the entire network with more accuracy than the associated fluid and diffusion limits of Mandelbaum, Massey, and Reiman [14]. We also show how the GVA method can be used to construct staffing schedules that approximately stabilize salient performance measures such as the probability of delay and the abandonment probabilities for the entire network. Unlike the work of Feldman et al. [5] which uses Monte Carlo simulation to stabilize the delay probabilities, our method does not require simulation and only requires the numerical integration of ${1 \over 2}(N^2 + 3N)$ differential equations for an N-dimensional network, which is more computationally efficient. Lastly, to confirm our approximations are accurate, we perform several numerical experiments for a wide range of parameter settings.
Bringing African Voices into the Undergraduate African Politics Classroom
Authors: Hershey Megan
Published: January 2017

Many African politics courses rely heavily on readings authored by North American and European scholars. Scholarly and primary sources written or created by Africans are often underrepresented, and a similar problem persists across regionally focused politics courses. Yet a diversity of sources and perspectives are essential to providing students with a well-rounded understanding of African politics. This article offers a brief argument for the pedagogical benefits of increasing the number of African-authored materials in African politics courses and provides a list of suggested resources for instructors eager to diversify their own courses.
Portuguese validation of the Prolonged Grief Disorder Questionnaire–Predeath (PG–12): Psychometric properties and correlates
Authors: Coelho Alexandra , Silva Cláudia , Barbosa António
Published: January 2017

Objective:

This study aimed to contribute to the validation of the Portuguese version of the Prolonged Grief Disorder Questionnaire–Predeath (PG–12), examining its psychometric properties, including factorial, discriminant, and predictive validity. The prevalence of predeath prolonged grief disorder (PGD) and its psychosocial correlates were also analyzed.

Method:

The PG–12 was assessed in a sample of family caregivers (FCs) of oncological patients in palliative care. The factorial and discriminant validity of the PG–12 were evaluated by confirmatory factor analysis. The prevalence of predeath PGD was calculated and correlated with sociodemographic characteristics, perception of illness, intensity of care, coping, and caregiver burden. Prospective data were used to assess predictive validity.

Results:

The sample was composed of 94 FCs, mostly female (78.8%) and daughters (61.3%), with a mean age of 52.02 (SD = 12.87). The PG–12 has been shown to be reliable, to have high internal consistency, to be monofactorial in structure, and to be independent from depression, anxiety, and burden, although predeath grief influences these symptoms. In our sample, 33% met the criteria for predeath PGD. The circumstances and coping mechanisms are also correlated with predeath grief. The PG–12 has also been shown to be predictive of postdeath outcome.

Significance of results:

The PG–12 can be a useful screening tool for early identification of risk for maladjustment to loss among family caregivers.
Entwicklung eines Curriculums für Hygienefachkräfte zur Qualifikation von hygienebeauftragten Pflegenden
Authors: Krüger Cäcilia , Meng Michael , Mattner Frauke , Peter Daniel , Kugler Christiane
Published: January 2017

Zusammenfassung. Hintergrund: In den Richtlinien des Robert Koch-Instituts wird die Ausbildung und Etablierung von hygienebeauftragten Pflegenden (HYG-PFLEGs) als Multiplikatoren für die Akzeptanz und Umsetzung empfohlener Hygienemaßnahmen gefordert. Eine einheitliche Form der Weiterbildung für diese Pflegenden existiert bisher in Deutschland nicht. Ziel: Die Entwicklung eines einheitlichen, modularen Weiterbildungscurriculums für hygienebeauftragte Pflegekräfte durch Hygienefachkräfte. Methode: Stationsleitungen (n = 15) und Hygienefachkräfte (n = 14) aus verschiedenen Krankenhäusern in Nordrhein-Westfalen wurden zu spezifischen Anforderungen eines Curriculums für hygienebeauftragte Pflegende befragt. Dazu wurden vier Fokusgruppeninterviews zwischen Oktober 2012 und Januar 2013 durchgeführt. Die Tonbandaufzeichnungen wurden transkribiert und per Inhaltsanalyse nach Mayring analysiert. Ergebnisse: HYG-PFLEGs wurden als unverzichtbare Instanz zur Steuerung des Informationsflusses zwischen Stationen und Hygieneteams im Krankenhaus angesehen. Ein flexibles, einrichtungsspezifisch anpassbares Curriculum sollte neben inhaltlichen Themen und praktischen Vermittlungsformen hohe Anteile pädagogisch-didaktischer und psychologischer Kompetenzen repräsentieren. Schlussfolgerungen: Die Ergebnisse dienen im Rahmen der Implementierung von komplexen Interventionen als eine Basis für die Konzeption und Implementierung eines modularen Weiterbildungscurriculums für hygienebeauftragte Pflegende.
Issues About Color, Human Movement, and Number of Responses in the	Zulliger Test
Authors: Elisa de Villemor-Amaral Anna , Pianowski Giselle , de Francisco Carvalho Lucas
Published: January 2017

Abstract. This study aimed to verify the scope and limitations of the stimuli of indicators of Color (C), Human movement (M), and Response number (R) of the Zulliger test through a qualitative analysis of the stimuli present in the Zulliger and the Rorschach, comparisons in expressions of C, M, and R, and R relations with evaluative inconsistencies on Zulliger. Taking the Rorschach as a reference, the qualitative analysis indicated a variation from little equivalence up to an overrepresentativeness of Zulliger stimuli. The comparisons, made with a sample of 51 subjects tested with the Zulliger and Rorschach tests and divided into concordant and discordant groups according to the evaluation of instruments, revealed a significant decrease of C and M for the Zulliger. We also identified a tendency toward a decrease of R on Zulliger for the discordant group. The results reveal distinctions between the instruments, limitations of the Zulliger, and instigate investigations for the R-Optimized Administration.
How to be ConTENT With Rorschach CONtent
Authors: Peterson Charles A.
Published: January 2017

Abstract. Content analysis is a late and contentious addition to the Rorschach canon. The determinants have ruled. Hermann Rorschach was at best, ambivalent about content analysis, focusing on the perceptual aspects of the process. Rorschachers have been not been conTENT about CONtent. The literature on the pros and cons and the how-to of content analysis is reviewed chronologically, concluding with eight issues and objections that have left Rorschach practitioners malcontent with content. Hoping to help practitioners improve the analysis of Rorschach content, ten suggestions, often with examples, are offered, these “hints” affecting both conceptualization and practice. A case fragment is appended to the review to host the above suggestions and to illustrate the (likely) less frequent “active evocation” of content to further the analysis.
Pavel Groisman Receives 2016 Edward A. Flinn III Award
Authors:   AGU
Published: January 2017

Pavel Groisman received the 2016 Edward A. Flinn III Award at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting Honors Ceremony, held on 14 December 2016 in San Francisco, Calif. The award honors an "individual or small group who personifies the Union's motto 'unselfish cooperation in research' through their facilitating, coordinating, and implementing activities."
Bacteria isolated from lung modulate asthma susceptibility in mice
Authors: Remot Aude , Descamps Delphyne , Noordine Marie-Louise , Boukadiri Abdelhak , Mathieu Elliot , Robert Véronique , Riffault Sabine , Lambrecht Bart , Langella Philippe , Hammad Hamida , Thomas Muriel
Published: January 2017

Asthma is a chronic, non-curable, multifactorial disease with increasing incidence in industrial countries. This study evaluates the direct contribution of lung microbial components in allergic asthma in mice. Germ-Free and Specific-Pathogen-Free mice display similar susceptibilities to House Dust Mice-induced allergic asthma, indicating that the absence of bacteria confers no protection or increased risk to aeroallergens. In early life, allergic asthma changes the pattern of lung microbiota, and lung bacteria reciprocally modulate aeroallergen responsiveness. Primo-colonizing cultivable strains were screened for their immunoregulatory properties following their isolation from neonatal lungs. Intranasal inoculation of lung bacteria influenced the outcome of allergic asthma development: the strain CNCM I 4970 exacerbated some asthma features whereas the pro-Th1 strain CNCM I 4969 had protective effects. Thus, we confirm that appropriate bacterial lung stimuli during early life are critical for susceptibility to allergic asthma in young adults.
Lasing in dark and bright modes of a finite-sized plasmonic lattice
Authors: Hakala T. K. , Rekola H. T. , Väkeväinen A. I. , Martikainen J.-P. , Nečada M. , Moilanen A. J. , Törmä P.
Published: January 2017

Lasing at the nanometre scale promises strong light-matter interactions and ultrafast operation. Plasmonic resonances supported by metallic nanoparticles have extremely small mode volumes and high field enhancements, making them an ideal platform for studying nanoscale lasing. At visible frequencies, however, the applicability of plasmon resonances is limited due to strong ohmic and radiative losses. Intriguingly, plasmonic nanoparticle arrays support non-radiative dark modes that offer longer life-times but are inaccessible to far-field radiation. Here, we show lasing both in dark and bright modes of an array of silver nanoparticles combined with optically pumped dye molecules. Linewidths of 0.2 nm at visible wavelengths and room temperature are observed. Access to the dark modes is provided by a coherent out-coupling mechanism based on the finite size of the array. The results open a route to utilize all modes of plasmonic lattices, also the high-Q ones, for studies of strong light-matter interactions, condensation and photon fluids.
Observation of photonic anomalous Floquet topological insulators
Authors: Maczewsky Lukas J. , Zeuner Julia M. , Nolte Stefan , Szameit Alexander
Published: January 2017

Topological insulators are a new class of materials that exhibit robust and scatter-free transport along their edges — independently of the fine details of the system and of the edge — due to topological protection. To classify the topological character of two-dimensional systems without additional symmetries, one commonly uses Chern numbers, as their sum computed from all bands below a specific bandgap is equal to the net number of chiral edge modes traversing this gap. However, this is strictly valid only in settings with static Hamiltonians. The Chern numbers do not give a full characterization of the topological properties of periodically driven systems. In our work, we implement a system where chiral edge modes exist although the Chern numbers of all bands are zero. We employ periodically driven photonic waveguide lattices and demonstrate topologically protected scatter-free edge transport in such anomalous Floquet topological insulators.
PAXX promotes KU accumulation at DNA breaks and is essential for end-joining in XLF-deficient mice
Authors: Liu Xiangyu , Shao Zhengping , Jiang Wenxia , Lee Brian J. , Zha Shan
Published: January 2017

Non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) is the most prominent DNA double strand break (DSB) repair pathway in mammalian cells. PAXX is the newest NHEJ factor, which shares structural similarity with known NHEJ factors—XRCC4 and XLF. Here we report that PAXX is dispensable for physiological NHEJ in otherwise wild-type mice. Yet Paxx−/− mice require XLF and Xlf−/− mice require PAXX for end-ligation. As such, Xlf−/−Paxx−/− mice display severe genomic instability and neuronal apoptosis, which eventually lead to embryonic lethality. Despite their structural similarities, only Xlf−/− cells, but not Paxx−/− cells require ATM/DNA-PK kinase activity for end-ligation. Mechanistically, PAXX promotes the accumulation of KU at DSBs, while XLF enhances LIG4 recruitment without affecting KU dynamics at DNA breaks in vivo. Together these findings identify the molecular functions of PAXX in KU accumulation at DNA ends and reveal distinct, yet critically complementary functions of PAXX and XLF during NHEJ.
Experimental observation of anomalous topological edge modes in a slowly driven photonic lattice
Authors: Mukherjee Sebabrata , Spracklen Alexander , Valiente Manuel , Andersson Erika , Öhberg Patrik , Goldman Nathan , Thomson Robert R.
Published: January 2017

Topological quantum matter can be realized by subjecting engineered systems to time-periodic modulations. In analogy with static systems, periodically driven quantum matter can be topologically classified by topological invariants, whose non-zero value guarantees the presence of robust edge modes. In the high-frequency limit of the drive, topology is described by standard topological invariants, such as Chern numbers. Away from this limit, these topological numbers become irrelevant, and novel topological invariants must be introduced to capture topological edge transport. The corresponding edge modes were coined anomalous topological edge modes, to highlight their intriguing origin. Here we demonstrate the experimental observation of these topological edge modes in a 2D photonic lattice, where these propagating edge states are shown to coexist with a quasi-localized bulk. Our work opens an exciting route for the exploration of topological physics in time-modulated systems operating away from the high-frequency regime.
3D nitrogen-doped graphene foam with encapsulated germanium/nitrogen-doped graphene yolk-shell nanoarchitecture for high-performance flexible Li-ion battery
Authors: Mo Runwei , Rooney David , Sun Kening , Yang Hui Ying
Published: January 2017

Flexible electrochemical energy storage devices have attracted extensive attention as promising power sources for the ever-growing field of flexible and wearable electronic products. However, the rational design of a novel electrode structure with a good flexibility, high capacity, fast charge–discharge rate and long cycling lifetimes remains a long-standing challenge for developing next-generation flexible energy-storage materials. Herein, we develop a facile and general approach to three-dimensional (3D) interconnected porous nitrogen-doped graphene foam with encapsulated Ge quantum dot/nitrogen-doped graphene yolk-shell nano architecture for high specific reversible capacity (1,220 mAh g−1), long cycling capability (over 96% reversible capacity retention from the second to 1,000 cycles) and ultra-high rate performance (over 800 mAh g−1 at 40 C). This work paves a way to develop the 3D interconnected graphene-based high-capacity electrode material systems, particularly those that suffer from huge volume expansion, for the future development of high-performance flexible energy storage systems.
Cxcl14 depletion accelerates skeletal myogenesis by promoting cell cycle withdrawal
Authors: Waldemer-Streyer Rachel J , Reyes-Ordoñez Adriana , Kim Dongwook , Zhang Rongping , Singh Nilmani , Chen Jie
Published: January 2017

Skeletal muscle in adults retains a robust ability to regenerate after injury, which progressively declines with age. Many of the regulators of skeletal myogenesis are unknown or incompletely understood. Intriguingly, muscle cells secrete a wide variety of factors, such as cytokines, which can influence muscle development and regeneration in an autocrine or paracrine manner. Here we describe chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 14 (Cxcl14) as a novel negative regulator of skeletal myogenesis. We found that Cxcl14 expression in myoblasts prevented cell cycle withdrawal, thereby inhibiting subsequent differentiation. Knockdown of Cxcl14 in vitro enhanced myogenic differentiation through promoting cell cycle withdrawal in an ERK1/2-dependent manner. Recapitulating these in vitro observations, the process of muscle regeneration following injury in young adult mice was accelerated by Cxcl14 depletion, accompanied by reduced cell proliferation. Furthermore, impaired capacity for muscle regeneration in aging mice was fully restored by Cxcl14 depletion. Our results indicate that Cxcl14 may be a promising target for development of therapeutics to treat muscle disease, especially aging-related muscle wasting.
Agouti Related Peptide Secreted Via Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Upregulates Proteasome Activity in an Alzheimer’s Disease Model
Authors: Lee Na Kyung , Park Sang Eon , Kwon Soo Jin , Shim Sangmi , Byeon Yeji , Kim Jong-Hwa , Na Duk L. , Chang Jong Wook
Published: January 2017

The activity of the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) is downregulated in aggregation diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of the Agouti-related peptide (AgRP), which is secreted by human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), in terms of its effect on the regulation of proteasome activity in AD. When SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells were co-cultured with MSCs isolated from human Wharton’s Jelly (WJ-MSC), their proteasome activity was significantly upregulated. Further analysis of the conditioned media after co-culture allowed us to identify significant concentrations of a neuropeptide, called AgRP. The stereotactic delivery of either WJ-MSCs or AgRP into the hippocampi of C57BL6/J and 5XFAD mice induced a significant increase of proteasome activity and suppressed the accumulation of ubiquitin-conjugated proteins. Collectively, these findings suggest strong therapeutic potential for WJ-MSCs and AgRP to enhance proteasome activity, thereby potentially reducing abnormal protein aggregation and delaying the clinical progression of various neurodegenerative diseases.
A new structure-property connection in the skeletal elements of the marine sponge Tethya aurantia that guards against buckling instability
Authors: Monn Michael A. , Kesari Haneesh
Published: January 2017

We identify a new structure-property connection in the skeletal elements of the marine sponge Tethya aurantia. The skeletal elements, known as spicules, are millimeter-long, axisymmetric, silica rods that are tapered along their lengths. Mechanical designs in other structural biomaterials, such as nacre and bone, have been studied primarily for their benefits to toughness properties. The structure-property connection we identify, however, falls in the entirely new category of buckling resistance. We use computational mechanics calculations and information about the spicules’ arrangement within the sponge to develop a structural mechanics model for the spicules. We use our structural mechanics model along with measurements of the spicules’ shape to estimate the load they can transmit before buckling. Compared to a cylinder with the same length and volume, we predict that the spicules’ shape enhances this critical load by up to 30%. We also find that the spicules’ shape is close to the shape of the column that is optimized to transmit the largest load before buckling. In man-made structures, many strategies are used to prevent buckling. We find, however, that the spicules use a completely new strategy. We hope our discussion will generate a greater appreciation for nature’s ability to produce beneficial designs.
Correction: Corrigendum: Unique Features of Ethnic Mongolian Gut Microbiome revealed by metagenomic analysis
Authors: Liu Wenjun , Zhang Jiachao , Wu Chunyan , Cai Shunfeng , Huang Weiqiang , Chen Jing , Xi Xiaoxia , Liang Zebin , Hou Qiangchuan , Zhou Bin , Qin Nan , Zhang Heping
Published: January 2017

Scientific Reports 6: Article number: 34826; published online: 06 October 2016; updated: 04 January 2017 The original version of this Article contained errors in the spelling of the authors Bin Zhou, which was incorrectly given as Bing Zhou, and Xiaoxia Xi, which was incorrectly given as Xiaoxia XI.
Erratum: Intermediate scattering function of an anisotropic active Brownian particle
Authors: Kurzthaler Christina , Leitmann Sebastian , Franosch Thomas
Published: January 2017

Scientific Reports 6: Article number: 36702; published online: 10 November 2016; updated: 04 January 2017 The original version of this Article contained errors. The publication date of the Article, 10th November 2016, was incorrectly listed as 10th October 2016. In addition, an incorrect version of Figure 1 was published where “Drot” was omitted.
RNA synthesis is associated with multiple TBP-chromatin binding events
Authors: Zaidi Hussain A. , Auble David T. , Bekiranov Stefan
Published: January 2017

Competition ChIP is an experimental method that allows transcription factor (TF) chromatin turnover dynamics to be measured across a genome. We develop and apply a physical model of TF-chromatin competitive binding using chemical reaction rate theory and are able to derive the physical half-life or residence time for TATA-binding protein (TBP) across the yeast genome from competition ChIP data. Using our physical modeling approach where we explicitly include the induction profile of the competitor in the model, we are able to estimate yeast TBP-chromatin residence times as short as 1.3 minutes, demonstrating that competition ChIP is a relatively high temporal-resolution approach. Strikingly, we find a median value of ~5 TBP-chromatin binding events associated with the synthesis of one RNA molecule across Pol II genes, suggesting multiple rounds of pre-initiation complex assembly and disassembly before productive elongation of Pol II is achieved at most genes in the yeast genome.
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome hypermobility type is associated with rheumatic diseases
Authors: Rodgers Kyla R. , Gui Jiang , Dinulos Mary Beth P. , Chou Richard C.
Published: January 2017

We retrospectively analyzed electronic medical records of patients with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome hypermobility type (HEDS), including demographic information, workup, rheumatological diagnoses in order to determine its association with rheumatological conditions. HEDS Patients were stratified according to level of workup received (no additional work (physical exam only) = NWU, limited workup = LWU, comprehensive workup = CWU)). HEDS patients were predominantly female (21:4, F:M). The percentage of patients with at least one rheumatological condition was significantly correlated with level of workup (NWU, 9.2%; LWU, 33.3%, CWU, 67.1%; p-value < 0.0001). The HLA-B27 antigen was more prevalent (p-value < 2.2 × 10–8) in the CWU HEDS patients (23.9%) than in the general population of the United States (6.1%). HEDS with CWU were associated with more rheumatological conditions (i.e. psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia) than those with NWU or LWU. In conclusion, HEDS is associated with complicated rheumatological conditions, which are uncovered by comprehensive workup. These conditions require different clinical management strategies than HEDS, and left untreated could contribute to the pain or even physical disability (i.e. joint erosions) in HEDS patients. While the mechanisms underlying these associations are unknown, it is important that all HEDS patients receive adequate workup to ensure a complete clinical understanding for the best care strategy possible.
EColiCore2: a reference network model of the central metabolism of Escherichia coli and relationships to its genome-scale parent model
Authors: Hädicke Oliver , Klamt Steffen
Published: January 2017

Genome-scale metabolic modeling has become an invaluable tool to analyze properties and capabilities of metabolic networks and has been particularly successful for the model organism Escherichia coli. However, for several applications, smaller metabolic (core) models are needed. Using a recently introduced reduction algorithm and the latest E. coli genome-scale reconstruction iJO1366, we derived EColiCore2, a model of the central metabolism of E. coli. EColiCore2 is a subnetwork of iJO1366 and preserves predefined phenotypes including optimal growth on different substrates. The network comprises 486 metabolites and 499 reactions, is accessible for elementary-modes analysis and can, if required, be further compressed to a network with 82 reactions and 54 metabolites having an identical solution space as EColiCore2. A systematic comparison of EColiCore2 with its genome-scale parent model iJO1366 reveals that several key properties (flux ranges, reaction essentialities, production envelopes) of the central metabolism are preserved in EColiCore2 while it neglects redundancies along biosynthetic routes. We also compare calculated metabolic engineering strategies in both models and demonstrate, as a general result, how intervention strategies found in a core model allow the identification of valid strategies in a genome-scale model. Overall, EColiCore2 holds promise to become a reference model of E. coli’s central metabolism.
Low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D is associated with higher risk of frequent headache in middle-aged and older men
Authors: Virtanen Jyrki K. , Giniatullin Rashid , Mäntyselkä Pekka , Voutilainen Sari , Nurmi Tarja , Mursu Jaakko , Kauhanen Jussi , Tuomainen Tomi-Pekka
Published: January 2017

Vitamin D has been suggested to have a role in various neurovascular diseases, but the data regarding headache is inconclusive. Our aim was to investigate the associations between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], a marker for vitamin D status, and risk of frequent headache. The study population consisted of 2601 men from the population-based Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study (KIHD) from eastern Finland, aged 42–60 years in 1984–1989. The cross-sectional associations with prevalence of self-reported frequent headache (defined as weekly or daily headaches) were estimated with multivariable-adjusted odds ratios. The average serum 25(OH) concentration was 43.4 nmol/L (SD 18.9, min-max 7.8–136.1 nmol/L). A total of 250 men (9.6%) reported frequent headache. The average serum 25(OH)D concentration among those with frequent headache was 38.3 nmol/L (SD 18.8) and 43.9 nmol/L (SD 18.9) among those without frequent headache, after adjustment for age and year and month of blood draw (P for difference <0.001). After multivariable adjustments, those in the lowest vs. the highest serum 25(OH)D quartile had 113% (95% CI 42, 218%; P for trend <0.001) higher odds for frequent headache. In conclusion, low serum 25(OH)D concentration was associated with markedly higher risk of frequent headache in men.
Nucleocapsid Interacts with NPM1 and Protects it from Proteolytic Cleavage, Enhancing Cell Survival, and is Involved in PEDV Growth
Authors: Shi Da , Shi Hongyan , Sun Dongbo , Chen Jianfei , Zhang Xin , Wang Xiaobo , Zhang Jialin , Ji Zhaoyang , Liu Jianbo , Cao Liyan , Zhu Xiangdong , Yuan Jing , Dong Hui , Wang Xin , Chang Tiecheng , Liu Ye , Feng Li
Published: January 2017

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) replicates in the cytoplasm of infected cells, but its nucleocapsid (N) protein localizes specifically to the nucleolus. The mechanism of nuclear translocation, and whether N protein associates with particular nucleolar components, is unknown. In this study, we confirm that a nucleolar phosphoprotein nucleophosmin (NPM1) interacts and co-localizes with the N protein in the nucleolus. In vitro binding studies indicated that aa 148–294 of N and aa 118–188 of NPM1 were required for binding. Interestingly, N protein importation into the nucleolus is independent of the ability of NPM1 to shuttle between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Furthermore, overexpression of NPM1 promoted PEDV growth, while knockdown of NPM1 suppressed PEDV growth. In addition, binding of N protein to NPM1 protects it from proteolytic degradation by caspase-3, leading to increased cell survival. Taken together, our studies demonstrate a specific interaction of the N protein with the host cell protein NPM1 in the nucleolus. The results suggest potential linkages among viral strategies for the regulation of cell survival activities, possibly through an interaction of N protein with NPM1 which prevents its proteolytic cleavage and enhances cell survival, thus ultimately promoting the replication of PEDV.