bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Psychotic Aggressor — A Generation Later
Authors: Fletcher George P.
Published: February 2016

Some twenty years ago my imaginary character the “psychotic aggressor” made his debut in the pages of the Israel Law Review. Of all the hypothetical cases I have devised over the years, the story of the psychotic aggressor in the elevator, attacking someone who must defend herself, has become one of the most vigorous and long-lasting. This unlikely case has proven to be a useful medium for understanding the difference between claims of justification and claims of excuse in structuring criminal liability. Everyone assumes that the person attacked should be able to defend herself; the problem is whether the defense is right and proper (justified) or whether it is simply the human response and therefore free from blame (excused). This classification has implications, in turn, for whether third parties may come to the aid of the person attacked and whether the psychotic aggressor, in turn, has a right to defend himself against efforts to kill him. These issues have given rise to considerable debate over the last two decades, and much of it can be traced to the conundrum whether resisting a psychotic but purposeful aggressor should be treated as right in itself or, alternatively, wrong but free from blame.
Judicial Review of Knesset Decisions by the High Court of Justice
Authors: Shamgar Meir
Published: February 2016

Some fifteen years ago, an address on the subject of judicial review of the actions of the Knesset would have been extremely short and quite familiar to English jurists. Our practice was basically the same as in England: the Parliament is sovereign, its laws inviolate, and its inner proceedings immune from review.

Beginning with two decisions in the early 1980s, Flato-Sharon and Sarid, the Court has gradually recognized the justiciability of a limited range of Knesset decisions. While the precise level of review varies according to the type of decision at issue, the Court's review has been motivated in all cases by the need to preserve the rule of law and the integrity of our democratic regime.
Human Rights in an Age of Terrorism
Authors: Pannick David
Published: February 2016

In difficult times, you need friends. The Legal Friends of the Hebrew University in London, and your many friends elsewhere in the world, have been thinking about you a great deal during recent months. As your President, Professor Magidor, wrote in his moving letter on 31 July, this university symbolizes the values of pluralism and tolerance. You exemplify the spirit of Israel, with your deep historical roots and your encouragement of open debate about the future. It is a great pleasure to be invited to address you today as the Lionel Cohen Lecturer.

My subject concerns the very limits of pluralism and tolerance: the application of human rights in an age of terrorism. When dealing with enemies, politicians need to be tough. In the latest volume of his compelling biography of Lyndon B. Johnson, Robert A. Caro describes the future American president's explanation to his mother in 1956 of why he did not think much of the chances in the presidential election that year of the Democratic Party candidate, Adlai Stevenson: “He's a nice fellow, Mother, but he won't make it ‘cause he's got too much lace on his drawers.”

The threat posed by terrorist enemies understandably provokes politicians to be tough. But how should judges respond when asked to rule on whether a state can afford to grant human rights to those who seek to destroy its very existence? Or, to put it another way, equally tendentious, should judges accept that the State cannot afford to deny human rights to such people if it is to maintain the values which make our society worth defending?
Shock-Incarceration Programs in Israeli Sanctioning Policy: Toward a New Model of Punishment
Authors: Einat Tomer
Published: February 2016

Issues such as prison overcrowding, a growing realization that prisons cannot rehabilitate, and the belief that many inmates could be adequately managed in less intrusive and costly settings, have led Israeli scholars and practitioners, in the last four decades, to devote efforts to the development of alternative sanctions to imprisonment. Specifically, the focus has been on the development and elaboration of alternative sanctions that match the severity of punishment to the seriousness of the crime.

Intermediate sanctions (also called “alternative sanctions,” “alternatives to imprisonment,” or “community-based sanctions”) have been proposed as “ways to manage the burgeoning numbers of offenders without sacrificing public safety.” These punishment options are considered to fall on a continuum between traditional probation supervision and traditional incarceration.
Smart walkers: an application-oriented review
Authors: Page Solenne , Saint-Bauzel Ludovic , Rumeau Pierre , Pasqui Viviane
Published: February 2016

In this paper, a development method for smart walker prototypes is proposed. Development of such prototypes is based on technological choices and device evaluations. The method is aimed at guiding technological choices in a modular fashion. First, the method for choosing modules to be integrated in a smart walker is presented. Application-specific modules are then studied. Finally, the issues of evaluation are investigated. In order to work out this method, more than 50 smart walkers and their pros and cons with respect to the different studied applications are reviewed.
Neoliberalism and the Musical Entrepreneur
Authors: MOORE ANDREA
Published: February 2016

In 2012, the flutist Claire Chase, founder of the International Contemporary Ensemble, received a MacArthur Award for her work as an “arts entrepreneur and flutist.” The award's emphasis on Chase's entrepreneurship reflects the growing demand among classical musicians, educators, and critics for self-driven musical projects, promoted as an engine of classical music's concert culture and as crucial to its renewal in the United States. Entrepreneurship curricula are now in place at almost every music school in the country.

In this article, I offer a critique of the increasingly institutionalized push for musical entrepreneurship, demonstrating that it is rooted in the discourse and ideals of neoliberalism. Drawing on scholarship by economist Guy Standing and political theorist Wendy Brown, I analyze the discourse supporting musical entrepreneurship training, demonstrating the ways it advances neoliberal values through the association of “freedom” and “innovation” with the dismantling of collectivity and valorization of precarious labor structures. This discourse produces an expectation of radical self-sufficiency throughout U.S. society, across multiple economic sectors and including non-economic areas of life. I argue that musical entrepreneurship training serves not as a progressive alternative to other forms of musical career building, but instead habituates musicians to precariousness and insecurity through its rhetoric and institutional endorsement.
Miniaturized curved slotted patch antenna over a fractalized EBG ground plane
Authors: Kumar Saurabh , Vishwakarma Dinesh Kumar
Published: February 2016

In this paper, a miniaturized coaxial feed curved-slotted microstrip patch antenna over a fractalized uniplanar compact electromagnetic bandgap (F-UC-EBG) ground plane is proposed and investigated. Compact size is achieved by cutting the curved slots along the orthogonal directions of the patch radiator. The curved-slotted microstrip patch antenna is 38.30% miniaturized as compared with the conventional microstrip patch antenna resonating at 2.38 GHz. Furthermore, the ordinary ground plane of the curved slotted patch antenna is replaced by the F-UC-EBG ground plane. Due to the slow wave phenomenon created in the F-UC-EBG structure and the better impedance matching at the lower frequency further miniaturization and improved performance are obtained. The proposed antenna shows 74.76% miniaturization as compared with the conventional microstrip patch antenna resonating at 1.57 GHz and has 2.61% 10-dB fractional bandwidth, 1.49 dB gain, and 81.59% radiation efficiency. The proposed antenna is fabricated on a low-cost FR4 substrate having an overall volume of 0.184λ0 × 0.184λ0 × 0.0236λ0 at 1.57 GHz GPS band. The measured and simulated results are in good agreement and predicting appropriateness of the antenna in portable and handheld communication systems for GPS applications.
Precipitation Data Key to Food Security and Public Health
Authors: Kirschbaum Dalia , Patel Kasha
Published: February 2016

2015 Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Mission Applications Workshop; Hyattsville, Maryland, 9–10 June 2015
Cellular localization of NRF2 determines the self-renewal and osteogenic differentiation potential of human MSCs via the P53–SIRT1 axis
Authors: Yoon D S , Choi Y , Lee J W
Published: February 2016

NRF2 (nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2) plays an important role in defense against oxidative stress at the cellular level. Recently, the roles of NRF2 in embryonic and adult stem cells have been reported, but its role in maintaining self-renewal and differentiation potential remains unknown. We studied the mechanisms of NRF2 action in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from human bone marrow. We found that the cellular localization of NRF2 changed during prolonged cell passage and osteogenic differentiation. Blocking the nuclear import of NRF2 using ochratoxin A (OTA) induced the loss of the self-renewal and osteogenic potential of early-passage (EP) MSCs. Conversely, reinforcing the nuclear import of NRF2 using tert-butylhydroquinone (t-BHQ) improved the self-renewal capacity and maintained the differentiation potential in the osteogenic lineage of EP MSCs. Real-time quantitative PCR and western blot analysis showed that NRF2 positively regulates sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) at the mRNA and protein levels via the negative regulation of p53. The self-renewal and osteogenic potential suppressed in OTA-treated or NRF2-targeting small hairpin RNA (shRNA)-infected EP MSCs were rescued by introducing small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting p53. t-BHQ treatment in late-passage (LP) MSCs, which lost their self-renewal and osteogenic potential, reversed these effects. In LP MSCs treated with t-BHQ for ∼7 days, the phosphorylation and nuclear localization of NRF2 improved and SIRT1 protein level increased, whereas p53 protein levels decreased. Therefore, our results suggest that NRF2 plays an important role in regulating p53 and SIRT1 to maintain MSC stemness. This study is the first to establish a functional link between NRF2 and SIRT1 expression in the maintenance of MSC self-renewal and differentiation potential.
Fine‐tuning of CD8+ T‐cell effector functions by targeting the 2B4‐CD48 interaction
Authors: Lissina Anna , Ambrozak David R , Boswell Kristin L , Yang Wenjing , Boritz Eli , Wakabayashi Yoshiyuki , Iglesias Maria C , Hashimoto Masao , Takiguchi Masafumi , Haddad Elias , Douek Daniel C , Zhu Jun , Koup Richard A , Yamamoto Takuya , Appay Victor
Published: February 2016

Polyfunctionality and cytotoxic activity dictate CD8+ T‐cell efficacy in the eradication of infected and malignant cells. The induction of these effector functions depends on the specific interaction between the T‐cell receptor (TCR) and its cognate peptide‐MHC class I complex, in addition to signals provided by co‐stimulatory or co‐inhibitory receptors, which can further regulate these functions. Among these receptors, the role of 2B4 is contested, as it has been described as either co‐stimulatory or co‐inhibitory in modulating T‐cell functions. We therefore combined functional, transcriptional and epigenetic approaches to further characterize the impact of disrupting the interaction of 2B4 with its ligand CD48, on the activity of human effector CD8+ T‐cell clones. In this setting, we show that the 2B4‐CD48 axis is involved in the fine‐tuning of CD8+ T‐cell effector function upon antigenic stimulation. Blocking this interaction resulted in reduced CD8+ T‐cell clone‐mediated cytolytic activity, together with a subtle drop in the expression of genes involved in effector function regulation. Our results also imply a variable contribution of the 2B4‐CD48 interaction to the modulation of CD8+ T‐cell functional properties, potentially linked to intrinsic levels of T‐bet expression and TCR avidity. The present study thus provides further insights into the role of the 2B4‐CD48 interaction in the fine regulation of CD8+ T‐cell effector function upon antigenic stimulation.
Deformation-induced trace element redistribution in zircon revealed using atom probe tomography
Authors: Piazolo Sandra , La Fontaine Alexandre , Trimby Patrick , Harley Simon , Yang Limei , Armstrong Richard , Cairney Julie M.
Published: February 2016

Trace elements diffuse negligible distances through the pristine crystal lattice in minerals: this is a fundamental assumption when using them to decipher geological processes. For example, the reliable use of the mineral zircon (ZrSiO4) as a U-Th-Pb geochronometer and trace element monitor requires minimal radiogenic isotope and trace element mobility. Here, using atom probe tomography, we document the effects of crystal–plastic deformation on atomic-scale elemental distributions in zircon revealing sub-micrometre-scale mechanisms of trace element mobility. Dislocations that move through the lattice accumulate U and other trace elements. Pipe diffusion along dislocation arrays connected to a chemical or structural sink results in continuous removal of selected elements (for example, Pb), even after deformation has ceased. However, in disconnected dislocations, trace elements remain locked. Our findings have important implications for the use of zircon as a geochronometer, and highlight the importance of deformation on trace element redistribution in minerals and engineering materials.
Picosecond metrology of laser-driven proton bursts
Authors: Dromey B. , Coughlan M. , Senje L. , Taylor M. , Kuschel S. , Villagomez-Bernabe B. , Stefanuik R. , Nersisyan G. , Stella L. , Kohanoff J. , Borghesi M. , Currell F. , Riley D. , Jung D. , Wahlström C.-G. , Lewis C.L.S. , Zepf M.
Published: February 2016

Tracking primary radiation-induced processes in matter requires ultrafast sources and high precision timing. While compact laser-driven ion accelerators are seeding the development of novel high instantaneous flux applications, combining the ultrashort ion and laser pulse durations with their inherent synchronicity to trace the real-time evolution of initial damage events has yet to be realized. Here we report on the absolute measurement of proton bursts as short as 3.5±0.7 ps from laser solid target interactions for this purpose. Our results verify that laser-driven ion acceleration can deliver interaction times over a factor of hundred shorter than those of state-of-the-art accelerators optimized for high instantaneous flux. Furthermore, these observations draw ion interaction physics into the field of ultrafast science, opening the opportunity for quantitative comparison with both numerical modelling and the adjacent fields of ultrafast electron and photon interactions in matter.
Structural semiconductor-to-semimetal phase transition in two-dimensional materials induced by electrostatic gating
Authors: Li Yao , Duerloo Karel-Alexander N. , Wauson Kerry , Reed Evan J.
Published: February 2016

Dynamic control of conductivity and optical properties via atomic structure changes is of technological importance in information storage. Energy consumption considerations provide a driving force towards employing thin materials in devices. Monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides are nearly atomically thin materials that can exist in multiple crystal structures, each with distinct electrical properties. By developing new density functional-based methods, we discover that electrostatic gating device configurations have the potential to drive structural semiconductor-to-semimetal phase transitions in some monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides. Here we show that the semiconductor-to-semimetal phase transition in monolayer MoTe2 can be driven by a gate voltage of several volts with appropriate choice of dielectric. We find that the transition gate voltage can be reduced arbitrarily by alloying, for example, for MoxW1−xTe2 monolayers. Our findings identify a new physical mechanism, not existing in bulk materials, to dynamically control structural phase transitions in two-dimensional materials, enabling potential applications in phase-change electronic devices.
Pure and stable metallic phase molybdenum disulfide nanosheets for hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Geng Xiumei , Sun Weiwei , Wu Wei , Chen Benjamin , Al-Hilo Alaa , Benamara Mourad , Zhu Hongli , Watanabe Fumiya , Cui Jingbiao , Chen Tar-pin
Published: February 2016

Metallic-phase MoS2 (M-MoS2) is metastable and does not exist in nature. Pure and stable M-MoS2 has not been previously prepared by chemical synthesis, to the best of our knowledge. Here we report a hydrothermal process for synthesizing stable two-dimensional M-MoS2 nanosheets in water. The metal–metal Raman stretching mode at 146 cm−1 in the M-MoS2 structure, as predicted by theoretical calculations, is experimentally observed. The stability of the M-MoS2 is associated with the adsorption of a monolayer of water molecules on both sides of the nanosheets, which reduce restacking and prevent aggregation in water. The obtained M-MoS2 exhibits excellent stability in water and superior activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction, with a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at a low potential of −175 mV and a Tafel slope of 41 mV per decade.
Correction: Corrigendum: Genome-wide association of polycystic ovary syndrome implicates alterations in gonadotropin secretion in European ancestry populations
Authors: Hayes M. Geoffrey , Urbanek Margrit , Ehrmann David A. , Armstrong Loren L. , Lee Ji Young , Sisk Ryan , Karaderi Tugce , Barber Thomas M. , McCarthy Mark I. , Franks Stephen , Lindgren Cecilia M. , Welt Corrine K. , Diamanti-Kandarakis Evanthia , Panidis Dimitrios , Goodarzi Mark O. , Azziz Ricardo , Zhang Yi , James Roland G. , Olivier Michael , Kissebah Ahmed H. ,   Reproductive Medicine Network, Alvero Ruben , Barnhart Huiman X. , Baker Valerie , Barnhart Kurt T. , Bates G. Wright , Brzyski Robert G. , Carr Bruce R. , Carson Sandra A. , Casson Peter , Cataldo Nicholas A. , Christman Gregory , Coutifaris Christos , Diamond Michael P. , Eisenberg Esther , Gosman Gabriella G. , Giudice Linda C. , Haisenleder Daniel J. , Huang Hao , Krawetz Stephen A. , Lucidi Scott , McGovern Peter G. , Myers Evan R. , Nestler John E. , Ohl Dana , Santoro Nanette , Schlaff William D. , Snyder Peter , Steinkampf Michael P. , Trussell J. C. , Usadi Rebecca , Yan Qingshang , Zhang Heping , Stener-Victorin Elisabet , Legro Richard S. , Dunaif Andrea
Published: February 2016

Nature Communications 6: Article number: 7502 (2015); Published: 18 August 2015; Updated: 12 February 2016 In the original version of this Article the genetic locus 8p23.1 was incorrectly referred to as 8p32.1 throughout. For example, in the Abstract, the sentence beginning ‘Three loci reach genome-wide significance in the case-control meta-analysis…' originally read ‘Three loci reach genome-wide significance in the case-control meta-analysis, two novel loci mapping to chr 8p32.
Functionalized graphene as a model system for the two-dimensional metal-insulator transition
Authors: Osofsky M. S. , Hernández S. C. , Nath A. , Wheeler V. D. , Walton S. G. , Krowne C. M. , Gaskill D. K.
Published: February 2016

Reports of metallic behavior in two-dimensional (2D) systems such as high mobility metal-oxide field effect transistors, insulating oxide interfaces, graphene and MoS2 have challenged the well-known prediction of Abrahams, et al. that all 2D systems must be insulating. The existence of a metallic state for such a wide range of 2D systems thus reveals a wide gap in our understanding of 2D transport that has become more important as research in 2D systems expands. A key to understanding the 2D metallic state is the metal-insulator transition (MIT). In this report, we explore the nature of a disorder induced MIT in functionalized graphene, a model 2D system. Magneto-transport measurements show that weak-localization overwhelmingly drives the transition, in contradiction to theoretical assumptions that enhanced electron-electron interactions dominate. These results provide the first detailed picture of the nature of the transition from the metallic to insulating states of a 2D system.
Optical brush: Imaging through permuted probes
Authors: Heshmat Barmak , Lee Ik Hyun , Raskar Ramesh
Published: February 2016

The combination of computational techniques and ultrafast imaging have enabled sensing through unconventional settings such as around corners and through diffusive media. We exploit time of flight (ToF) measurements to enable a flexible interface for imaging through permuted set of fibers. The fibers are randomly distributed in the scene and are packed on the camera end, thus making a brush-like structure. The scene is illuminated by two off-axis optical pulses. Temporal signatures of fiber tips in the scene are used to localize each fiber. Finally, by combining the position and measured intensity of each fiber, the original input is reconstructed. Unlike conventional fiber bundles with packed set of fibers that are limited by a narrow field of view (FOV), lack of flexibility and extended coaxial precalibration, the proposed optical brush is flexible and uses off-axis calibration method based on ToF. The enabled brush form can couple to other types of ToF imaging systems. This can impact probe-based applications such as, endoscopy, tomography and industrial imaging and sensing.
Highly selective polymer electrolyte membranes consisting of poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) and Cu(NO3)2 for SF6 separation
Authors: Lee Woong Gi , Kang Sang Wook
Published: February 2016

Polymer electrolyte membranes consisting of Cu(NO3)2 and poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (POZ) were prepared for SF6/N2 separation. It was anticipated that repulsive forces would be operative between the negative charge of water and the F atoms of SF6 when Cu(NO3)2 in the composite was solvated by water and that the barrier effect of Cu2+ ions would be activated. In fact, Cu(NO3)2 solvated by water in the POZ membrane was observed to have more higher-order ionic aggregates than free ions or ion pairs, as confirmed by FT-Raman spectroscopy. Thus, when Cu(NO3)2 solvated by water was incorporated into the POZ matrix, the N2/SF6 selectivity increased to 28.0 with a N2 permeance of 11.2 GPU at a POZ/Cu(NO3)2 mole ratio of 1:0.7. The coordinative interaction of Cu(NO3)2 with the carbonyl group in POZ was confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy and TGA and the film thickness of the membrane was determined from SEM analysis.
Correction: Corrigendum: Point-of-service, quantitative analysis of ascorbic acid in aqueous humor for evaluating anterior globe integrity
Authors: Gartia Manas R. , Misra Santosh K. , Ye Mao , Schwartz-Duval Aaron , Plucinski Lisa , Zhou Xiangfei , Kellner David , Labriola Leanne T. , Pan Dipanjan
Published: February 2016

Limited training, high cost, and low equipment mobility leads to inaccuracies in decision making and is concerning with serious ocular injuries such as suspected ruptured globe or post-operative infections. Here, we present a novel point-of-service (POS) quantitative ascorbic acid (AA) assay with use of the OcuCheck Biosensor. The present work describes the development and clinical testing of the paper-based biosensor that measures the changes in electrical resistance of the enzyme-plated interdigitated electrodes to quantify the level of AA present in ocular fluid. We have demonstrated the proof-of-concept of the biosensor testing 16 clinical samples collected from aqueous humor of patients undergoing therapeutic anterior chamber paracentesis. Comparing with gold standard colorimetric assay for AA concentration, OcuCheck showed accuracy of >80%, sensitivity of >88% and specificity of >71%. At present, there are no FDA-approved POS tests that can directly measures AA concentration levels in ocular fluid. We envisage that the device can be realized as a handheld, battery powered instrument that will have high impact on glaucoma care and point-of-care diagnostics of penetrating ocular globe injuries.
Nanoparticle-Mediated Targeting of Cyclosporine A Enhances Cardioprotection Against Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury Through Inhibition of Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore Opening
Authors: Ikeda Gentaro , Matoba Tetsuya , Nakano Yasuhiro , Nagaoka Kazuhiro , Ishikita Ayako , Nakano Kaku , Funamoto Daiki , Sunagawa Kenji , Egashira Kensuke
Published: February 2016

Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury limits the therapeutic effects of early reperfusion therapy for acute myocardial infarction (MI), in which mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening plays a critical role. Our aim was to determine whether poly-lactic/glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticle-mediated mitochondrial targeting of a molecule that inhibits mPTP opening, cyclosporine A (CsA), enhances CsA-induced cardioprotection. In an in vivo murine IR model, intravenously injected PLGA nanoparticles were located at the IR myocardium mitochondria. Treatment with nanoparticles incorporated with CsA (CsA-NP) at the onset of reperfusion enhanced cardioprotection against IR injury by CsA alone (as indicated by the reduced MI size at a lower CsA concentration) through the inhibition of mPTP opening. Left ventricular remodeling was ameliorated 28 days after IR, but the treatment did not affect inflammatory monocyte recruitment to the IR heart. In cultured rat cardiomyocytes in vitro, mitochondrial PLGA nanoparticle-targeting was observed after the addition of hydrogen peroxide, which represents oxidative stress during IR and was prevented by CsA. CsA-NP can be developed as an effective mPTP opening inhibitor and may protect organs from IR injury.
The human organic cation transporter OCT1 mediates high affinity uptake of the anticancer drug daunorubicin
Authors: Andreev Emil , Brosseau Nicolas , Carmona Euridice , Mes-Masson Anne-Marie , Ramotar Dindial
Published: February 2016

Anthracyclines such as daunorubicin are anticancer agents that are transported into cells and exert cytotoxicity by blocking DNA metabolism. Although there is evidence for active uptake of anthracyclines into cells, the specific transporter involved in this process has not been identified. Using the high-grade serous ovarian cancer cell line TOV2223G, we show that OCT1 mediated the high affinity (Km ~ 5 μM) uptake of daunorubicin into the cells and that micromolar amounts of choline completely abolished the drug entry. OCT1 downregulation by shRNA impaired daunorubicin uptake into the TOV2223G cells and these cells were significantly more resistant to the drug in comparison to the control shRNA. Transfection of HEK293T cells, which accommodated the ectopic expression of OCT1, with a plasmid expressing OCT1-EYFP showed that the transporter was predominantly localized to the plasma membrane. These transfected cells exhibited an increase in the uptake of daunorubicin in comparison to control cells transfected with an empty EYFP vector. Furthermore, a variant of OCT1, OCT1-D474C-EYFP, failed to enhance daunorubicin uptake. This is the first report demonstrating that human OCT1 is involved in the high affinity transport of anthracyclines. We postulate that OCT1 defects may contribute to the resistance of cancer cells treated with anthracyclines.
Unencapsulated Air-stable Organic Field Effect Transistor by All Solution Processes for Low Power Vapor Sensing
Authors: Feng Linrun , Tang Wei , Zhao Jiaqing , Yang Ruozhang , Hu Wei , Li Qiaofeng , Wang Ruolin , Guo Xiaojun
Published: February 2016

With its excellent mechanical flexibility, low-cost and low-temperature processing, the solution processed organic field-effect transistor (OFET) is a promising platform technology for developing ubiquitous sensor applications in digital health, environment monitoring and Internet of Things. However, a contradiction between achieving low voltage operation and having stable performance severely hinder the technology to become commercially viable. This work shows that, by reducing the sub-gap density of states (DOS) at the channel for low operation voltage and using a proper low-k non-polar polymer dielectric layer, such an issue can be addressed. Stable electrical properties after either being placed for weeks or continuously prolonged bias stressing for hours in ambient air are achieved for all solution processed unencapsulated OFETs with the channel being exposed to the ambient air for analyte detection. The fabricated device presents a steep subthreshold swing less than 100 mV/decade and an ON/OFF ratio of 106 at a voltage swing of 3 V. The low voltage and stable operation allows the sensor made of the OFET to be incorporated into a battery-powered electronic system for continuously reliable sensing of ammonia vapor in ambient air with very small power consumption of about 50 nW.
Dynamic Myofibrillar Remodeling in Live Cardiomyocytes under Static Stretch
Authors: Yang Huaxiao , Schmidt Lucas P. , Wang Zhonghai , Yang Xiaoqi , Shao Yonghong , Borg Thomas K. , Markwald Roger , Runyan Raymond , Gao Bruce Z.
Published: February 2016

An increase in mechanical load in the heart causes cardiac hypertrophy, either physiologically (heart development, exercise and pregnancy) or pathologically (high blood pressure and heart-valve regurgitation). Understanding cardiac hypertrophy is critical to comprehending the mechanisms of heart development and treatment of heart disease. However, the major molecular event that occurs during physiological or pathological hypertrophy is the dynamic process of sarcomeric addition, and it has not been observed. In this study, a custom-built second harmonic generation (SHG) confocal microscope was used to study dynamic sarcomeric addition in single neonatal CMs in a 3D culture system under acute, uniaxial, static, sustained stretch. Here we report, for the first time, live-cell observations of various modes of dynamic sarcomeric addition (and how these real-time images compare to static images from hypertrophic hearts reported in the literature): 1) Insertion in the mid-region or addition at the end of a myofibril; 2) Sequential addition with an existing myofibril as a template; and 3) Longitudinal splitting of an existing myofibril. The 3D cell culture system developed on a deformable substrate affixed to a stretcher and the SHG live-cell imaging technique are unique tools for real-time analysis of cultured models of hypertrophy.
Control of Multilayer Networks
Authors: Menichetti Giulia , Dall’Asta Luca , Bianconi Ginestra
Published: February 2016

The controllability of a network is a theoretical problem of relevance in a variety of contexts ranging from financial markets to the brain. Until now, network controllability has been characterized only on isolated networks, while the vast majority of complex systems are formed by multilayer networks. Here we build a theoretical framework for the linear controllability of multilayer networks by mapping the problem into a combinatorial matching problem. We found that correlating the external signals in the different layers can significantly reduce the multiplex network robustness to node removal, as it can be seen in conjunction with a hybrid phase transition occurring in interacting Poisson networks. Moreover we observe that multilayer networks can stabilize the fully controllable multiplex network configuration that can be stable also when the full controllability of the single network is not stable.
Erratum: Importance of Oceanian small mountainous rivers (SMRs) in global land-to-ocean output of lignin and modern biospheric carbon
Authors: Bao Hongyan , Lee Tsung-Yu , Huang Jr-Chuan , Feng Xiaojuan , Dai Minhan , Kao Shuh-Ji
Published: February 2016

Scientific Reports 5: Article number: 16217; published online: 20 November 2015; updated: 12 February 2016. This article contains a typographical error in the ‘Introduction’ section. “These small mountainous watersheds were rapidly flushed during typhoons, the lag time between flood peak and rain peak is only ~6 hours12,40…”
Obstructive Sleep Apnea and the Subsequent Risk of Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A Population-Based Study
Authors: Kao Li-Ting , Hung Shih-Han , Lin Herng-Ching , Liu Chih-Kuang , Huang Hung-Meng , Wu Chuan-Song
Published: February 2016

The relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) still remains unclear. This retrospective cohort study aimed to investigate the relationship between OSA and subsequent CRS using a population-based dataset. The study used data from the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2005. We selected 971 patients with OSA for the study cohort and 4855 patients without OSA for the comparison cohort. Each patient was tracked for 5 years to determine those who were subsequently diagnosed with CRS. Stratified Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were performed to examine the association of OSA with subsequent CRS. The results revealed that 161 (2.76%) of the total sampled patients were subsequently diagnosed with CRS. Subsequent incidences of CRS were found in 64 (6.59%) patients with OSA and 97 (2.00%) patients without OSA. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of subsequent CRS for patients with OSA was 3.18 (95% confidence interval: 2.27~4.45) compared to those without OSA. Furthermore, the HR for CRS was similar for subjects with OSA for both genders (with an adjusted HR of 3.44 for males and 2.63 for females). We concluded that patients with OSA had a higher risk of subsequent CRS compared to patients without OSA regardless of sex.
ApoCanD: Database of human apoptotic proteins in the context of cancer
Authors: Kumar Rahul , Raghava Gajendra P. S.
Published: February 2016

In the past decade, apoptosis pathway has gained a serious consideration being a critical cellular process in determining the cancer progression. Inverse relationship between cancer progression and apoptosis rate has been well established in the literature. It causes apoptosis proteins under the investigative scanner for developing anticancer therapies, which certainly got a success in the case of few apoptosis proteins as drug targets. In the present study, we have developed a dedicated database of 82 apoptosis proteins called ApoCanD. This database comprises of crucial information of apoptosis proteins in the context of cancer. Genomic status of proteins in the form of mutation, copy number variation and expression in thousands of tumour samples and cancer cell lines are the major bricks of this database. In analysis, we have found that TP53 and MYD88 are the two most frequently mutated proteins in cancer. Availability of other information e.g. gene essentiality data, tertiary structure, sequence alignments, sequences profiles, post-translational modifications makes it even more useful for the researchers. A user-friendly web interface is provided to ameliorate the use of ApoCanD. We anticipate that, this database will facilitate the research community working in the field of apoptosis and cancer. The database can be accessed at: http://crdd.osdd.net/raghava/apocand.
Symmetry constraints during the development of anisotropic spinodal patterns
Authors: Sánchez-Muñoz Luis , del Campo Adolfo , Fernández José F.
Published: February 2016

Spinodal decomposition is a phase-separation phenomenon occurring at non-equilibrium conditions. In isotropic materials, it is expected to improve the physical properties, in which modulated structures arise from a single system of spinodal waves. However, in anisotropic materials this process is controversial and not very well understood. Here, we report anisotropic spinodal decomposition patterns in single crystals of K-rich feldspar with macroscopic monoclinic 2/m symmetry. The periodicity of the spinodal waves at ~450 nm produces a blue iridescence, typical of the gemstone moonstone. Stripe patterns in the (010) plane, labyrinthine patterns in the (100) plane and coexistence of the two patterns in the (110) plane are first resolved by scanning Rayleigh scattering microscopy. Two orthogonal systems of spinodal waves with the same periodicity are derived from the features and orientations of the patterns on the crystal surfaces. The orthogonality of the waves is related to the perpendicularity of the binary axis and the mirror plane. Thus, the spinodal patterns must be controlled by symmetry constraints during phase separation at early stages. Unusual and new properties could be developed in other anisotropic materials by thermal treatment inducing two orthogonal systems of periodic spinodal waves.
Regulating ehrlich and demethiolation pathways for alcohols production by the expression of ubiquitin-protein ligase gene HUWE1
Authors: Zhang Quan , Jia Kai-Zhi , Xia Shi-Tao , Xu Yang-Hua , Liu Rui-Sang , Li Hong-Mei , Tang Ya-Jie
Published: February 2016

Ehrlich and demethiolation pathways as two competing branches converted amino acid into alcohols. Controlling both pathways offers considerable potential for industrial applications including alcohols overproduction, flavor-quality control and developing new flavors. While how to regulate ehrlich and demethiolation pathways is still not applicable. Taking the conversion of methionine into methionol and methanethiol for example, we constructed two suppression subtractive cDNA libraries ofClonostachys roseaby using suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) technology for screening regulators controlling the conversion. E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase geneHUWE1screened from forward SSH library was validated to be related with the biosynthesis of end products. OverexpressingHUWE1inC. roseaandS. cerevisiaesignificantly increased the biosynthesis of methanethiol and its derivatives in demethiolation pathway, while suppressed the biosynthesis of methional and methionol in ehrlich pathway. These results attained the directional regulation of both pathways by overexpressingHUWE1. Thus,HUWE1has potential to be a key target for controlling and enhancing alcohols production by metabolic engineering.
Identification of Conserved and Diverse Metabolic Shifts during Rice Grain Development
Authors: Hu Chaoyang , Tohge Takayuki , Chan Shen-An , Song Yue , Rao Jun , Cui Bo , Lin Hong , Wang Lei , Fernie Alisdair R. , Zhang Dabing , Shi Jianxin
Published: February 2016

Seed development dedicates to reserve synthesis and accumulation and uncovering its genetic and biochemical mechanisms has been a major research focus. Although proteomic and transcriptomic analyses revealed dynamic changes of genes and enzymes involved, the information regarding concomitant metabolic changes is missing. Here we investigated the dynamic metabolic changes along the rice grain development of two japonica and two indica cultivars using non-targeted metabolomics approach, in which we successfully identified 214 metabolites. Statistical analyses revealed both cultivar and developmental stage dependent metabolic changes in rice grains. Generally, the stage specific metabolic kinetics corresponded well to the physiological status of the developing grains and metabolic changes in developing rice grain are similar to those of dicot Arabidopsis and tomato at reserve accumulation stage but are different from those of dicots at seed desiccation stage. The remarkable difference in metabolite abundances between japonica and indica rice grain was observed at the reserve accumulation stage. Metabolite-metabolite correlation analysis uncovered potential new pathways for several metabolites. Taken together, this study uncovered both conserved and diverse development associated metabolic kinetics of rice grains, which facilitates further study to explore fundamental questions regarding the evolution of seed metabolic capabilities as well as their potential applications in crop improvement.
3D Polyaniline Architecture by Concurrent Inorganic and Organic Acid Doping for Superior and Robust High Rate Supercapacitor Performance
Authors: Gawli Yogesh , Banerjee Abhik , Dhakras Dipti , Deo Meenal , Bulani Dinesh , Wadgaonkar Prakash , Shelke Manjusha , Ogale Satishchandra
Published: February 2016

A good high rate supercapacitor performance requires a fine control of morphological (surface area and pore size distribution) and electrical properties of the electrode materials. Polyaniline (PANI) is an interesting material in supercapacitor context because it stores energy Faradaically. However in conventional inorganic (e.g. HCl) acid doping, the conductivity is high but the morphological features are undesirable. On the other hand, in weak organic acid (e.g. phytic acid) doping, interesting and desirable 3D connected morphological features are attained but the conductivity is poorer. Here the synergy of the positive quality factors of these two acid doping approaches is realized by concurrent and optimized strong-inorganic (HCl) and weak-organic (phytic) acid doping, resulting in a molecular composite material that renders impressive and robust supercapacitor performance. Thus, a nearly constant high specific capacitance of 350 F g−1is realized for the optimised case of binary doping over the entire range of 1 A g−1to 40 A g−1with stability of 500 cycles at 40 A g−1. Frequency dependant conductivity measurements show that the optimized co-doped case is more metallic than separately doped materials. This transport property emanates from the unique 3D single molecular character of such system.
Aldose reductase participates in the downregulation of T cell functions due to suppressor macrophages
Authors: Shimizu Toshiaki , Tatano Yutaka , Tomioka Haruaki
Published: February 2016

The cell-to-cell contact of T lymphocytes with immunosuppressive macrophages causes marked changes in the tyrosine phosphorylation of some cytosolic proteins of T cells. By phosphoproteome analysis, we identified a 36-kDa protein as aldose reductase (AR). The AR expression in T cells was not changed by TCR stimulation or due to cell-to-cell transmission of suppressor signals from immunosuppressive macrophages. Therefore, AR phosphorylation/dephosphorylation is essential for the transduction of TCR-mediated T-cell stimulatory signals and moreover plays important roles for the cross-talk of immunosuppressive macrophage-derived suppressor signals with the signaling pathways for T-cell activation. Moreover, AR played important roles in the upregulation of ERK1/2-mediated signaling pathways in T lymphocytes. Notably, the enzymatic activity of AR was not required for its signaling action. Taken together, it is concluded that AR mediates intracellular transmission of the suppressor signal of immunosuppressive macrophages toward downstream ERK1/2 pathways, possibly through its direct interaction with acceptor proteins.
Head-on collision and overtaking collision between an envelope solitary wave and a KdV solitary wave in a dusty plasma
Authors: Zhang Heng , Duan Wen-Shan , Qi Xin , Yang Lei
Published: February 2016

Head-on collision and overtaking collision between a KdV solitary wave and an envelope solitary wave are first studied in present paper by using Particle-in-cell (PIC) method in a dusty plasma. There are phase shifts of the KdV solitary wave in both head-on collision and the overtaking collision, while no phase shift is found for the envelop solitary wave in any cases. The remarkable difference between head-on collision and the overtaking collision is that the phase shift of KdV solitary wave increases as amplitude of KdV solitary wave increases in head-on collision, while it decreases as amplitude of the KdV solitary wave increases in the overtaking collision. It is found that the maximum amplitude during the collision process is less than sum of two amplitudes of both solitary waves, but is larger than either of the amplitude.
Out-coupling of Longitudinal Photoacoustic Pulses by Mitigating the Phase Cancellation
Authors: Lee Taehwa , Li Qiaochu , Guo L. Jay
Published: February 2016

Waves of any kinds, including sound waves and light waves, can interfere constructively or destructively when they are overlapped, allowing for myriad applications. However, unlike continuous waves of a single frequency, interference of photoacoustic pulses is often overlooked because of their broadband characteristics and short pulse durations. Here, we study cancellation of two symmetric photoacoustic pulses radiated in the opposite direction from the same photoacoustic sources near a free surface. The cancellation occurs when one of the two pulses is reflected with polarity reversal from the free surface and catches up with the other. The cancellation effect, responsible for reduced signal amplitudes, is systematically examined by implementing a thin transparent matching medium of the same acoustic impedance. By changing the thickness of the transparent layer, the overlap of the two symmetric pulses is controlled. For optimized matching layers, the cancellation effect can be significantly reduced, while the resulting output waveform remains unchanged. Similar to the planar absorber, different dimensional absorbers including cylinders and spheres also exhibit the cancellation between the outward and inward waves. This work could provide further understanding of photoacoustic generation and a simple strategy for increasing photoacoustic signal amplitudes.
CHK1 expression in Gastric Cancer is modulated by p53 and RB1/E2F1: implications in chemo/radiotherapy response
Authors: Bargiela-Iparraguirre J. , Prado-Marchal L. , Fernandez-Fuente M. , Gutierrez-González A. , Moreno-Rubio J. , Muñoz-Fernandez M. , Sereno M. , Sanchez-Prieto R. , Perona R. , Sanchez-Perez I.
Published: February 2016

Radiation has a limited but relevant role in the adjuvant therapy of gastric cancer (GC) patients. Since Chk1 plays a critical function in cellular response to genotoxic agents, we aimed to analyze the role of Chk1 in GC as a biomarker for radiotherapy resistance. We analyzed Chk1 expression in AGS and MKN45 human GC cell lines by RT-QPCR and WB and in a small cohort of human patient’s samples. We demonstrated that Chk1 overexpression specifically increases resistance to radiation in GC cells. Accordingly, abrogation of Chk1 activity with UCN-01 and its expression with shChk1 increased sensitivity to bleomycin and radiation. Furthermore, when we assessed Chk1 expression in human samples, we found a correlation between nuclear Chk1 accumulation and a decrease in progression free survival. Moreover, using a luciferase assay we found that Chk1’s expression is controlled by p53 and RB/E2F1 at the transcriptional level. Additionally, we present preliminary data suggesting a posttranscriptional regulation mechanism, involving miR-195 and miR-503, which are inversely correlated with expression of Chk1 in radioresistant cells. In conclusion, Chk1/microRNA axis is involved in resistance to radiation in GC, and suggests Chk1 as a potential tool for optimal stratification of patients susceptible to receive adjuvant radiotherapy after surgery.