bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Feeding and Management Strategies for Producing Beef from Holstein Steers on Northeast Dairy Farms
Authors: Fox Danny G. , Nowak Caroline J.
Published: May 2017

There are nearly one million Holstein hull calves born in the Northeast each year. This is a sizeable resource that should be evaluated for fed beef production to determine if it is a potentially viable alternative enterprise for Northeast farms. Previous research at Cornell has presented several beef production systems that would be practical in the Northeast (Knoblauch et al., Woodell). An additional system would be the rearing of the steer calves with the replacement heifers on dairy farms. Many dairymen have expressed a desire to expand their operation without increasing the milking herd, because of labor, management, facilities limitation or personal desires. Raising the Holstein steer calves produced on dairy farms is an alternative for expanding the farm operation and a means of marketing surplus forages. The purpose of this paper is to outline feeding and management strategies for raising the steers with the replacement heifers and marketing them either as feeder cattle or fed beef. The objectives are to use home-grown forages for as much of the feeding period as possible, maintain efficient growth and produce a quality feeder or slaughter weight steer.
Reaganomics and Rural Development
Authors: Schuh G. Edward
Published: May 2017

There are many unsettled questions as one attempts to address the subject of this paper. The obvious ones are “What is Reaganomics?” and “What is rural development?” Back of those are many questions having to do with whether policy as it is now being enacted and implemented is actually Reagonomics, or whether it is the end product of the usual leavening process that takes place as political rhetoric is translated into political action and programs. Similarly, public programs at the local level are an amalgam of actions by local, state, and Federal governments. How does one sort out the effects of one of these when all are going through a transition?
The Economic Feasibility of Tree Fruit Integrated Pest Management in the Northeast
Authors: White G. B. , Thompson Peter
Published: May 2017

A pilot tree fruit pest management program in Wayne County, New York was evaluated. Thirty-three blocks of fruit were matched for 26 participants in the pilot program and for 23 nonparticipants. Participants reduced pesticide costs and total pest management costs in comparison to nonparticipants. Factors which will affect the adoption of Integrated Pest Management in other locations include the attitudes of growers, farm size, and the density of fruit production. Integrated Pest Management programs are economically feasible for several other areas of high tree fruit density in the Northeast.
Tenure and Satisfaction as Indicators of Attachment: A Note
Authors: Luloff A. E. , Swanson Louis E. , Warland Rex H.
Published: May 2017

The role of community attachments in decision-making models of migration is evaluated. Findings of a block model analysis (with multiple partials) are reported with data from a longitudinal study. Findings indicate that attachments to community only partially explain willingness to move.
Meeting World Food Needs: Food Policy and Population Growth Among the Poorest of the Poor
Authors: Schutjer Wayne A. , Stokes C. Shannon
Published: May 2017

The current and future world food problem is centered in low income nations and among low income segments of populations world wide. The thesis of this paper is that increases in income and food production in the poorer nations and among low income segments of rural populations elsewhere are likely to aggravate that problem in the first instance. It is after some minimum level of economic well being has been attained that further increases in income will result in reduced family size.
Increasing Food Production in Asia Through Investments in Irrigation: Potential and Problems
Authors: Small Leslie E.
Published: May 2017

Technological developments in rice production in Asia have greatly increased the potential returns to irrigation investments. It is likely that a substantial amount of resources will be allocated to irrigation development in the next two decades. But past experience suggests that the returns actually realized on these investments will be disappointing unless greater attention is paid to problems of effective water management, particularly in the main irrigation system. Human and institutional capabilities, and not physical or financial capital, are likely to be the most limiting factors in dealing with these problems.
Forecasting Maine Potato Prices
Authors: Fackler Paul
Published: May 2017

Forecasting models were developed for annual and monthly average price of Maine potatoes, using Crop Reporting Board data. Several approaches to the forecasting problem were explored, as were a number of statistical aids to model development and evaluation. Attention was focused on providing timely forecasts as data became available.

Specifically, three models were developed. The first provided forecasts of the season average price. Attention here was placed on the selection of a subset of influential variables from a set of potentially important ones, as well as the detection of outliers and colinearities. These problems were especially significant given the small number of observations in the annual price series. Production data for five regions were deemed most influential.

The other two models were developed to provide forecasts of the monthly average price from November through May. A modified ARIMA (0,1,0) (2,1,0) model was estimated and used to provide forecasts based on the price data series alone. An alternate model, using production levels from four regions, current stocks levels and a monthly trend variable (and, implicitly, lagged price), was also developed.

Both monthly models provided current forecasts for each month remaining in the marketing season which were updated as new information became available. The second model, which incorporated more information, was deemed to provide somewhat more accurate forecasts, at all forecast distances, than the simpler ARIMA model, when compared over the 1977–1981 period.
An Empirical Analysis of Dairy Farm Reinvestment Versus Tax-Deferred Plans for Retirement Income
Authors: Tauer Loren W.
Published: May 2017

This study empirically compares the retirement values of dairy farm investments to tax-deferred retirement investments that are funded with bank certificates of deposit or common stock. For a successful dairy farm, the results indicate that tax-deferred retirement plans that generate rates of return similar to certificates of deposit or common stock mutual funds are probably not as good an investment as reinvesting farm earnings back into the farm business.
Measuring the Nonmarket Value of Massachusetts Agricultural Land: A Case Study
Authors: Halstead John M.
Published: May 2017

Agricultural land provides a variety of “nonmarket” services to the Commonwealth, including wildlife habitat, scenic vistas, and recreation. This study utilizes an iterative bidding game to estimate willingness-to-pay of residents of three central Massachusetts counties to preserve state agricultural land. Through the use of these data, estimates of the value of these nonmarket amenities are derived so that a fuller measure of the value of agricultural land can be obtained. This information may be useful to policy makers administering such programs as the Agricultural Preservation Restriction Act (Chapter 780) which are designed to arrest the conversion of Massachusetts farmland to urban uses.
Analysis of an Agricultural Land Zoning Program: Frederick County, Maryland
Authors: Bliven Neal , Lessley Billy V. , Phipps Tim
Published: May 2017

Logit analysis is used to evaluate the performance of the zoning body in Frederick County, Maryland, in terms of its statutory policy objectives. Models are formulated to test the hypothesis that the rezoning process is consistent with the guidelines specified in the County Zoning Ordinance. An analysis of 59 requests for rezoning from agricultural to other uses indicates that, in general, both the Planning Commission staff and the County Commissioners conform to the Ordinance. At the Commissioners’ level, a development bias in favor of industrial use was found. The methodology may also be used to forecast the probability a particular rezoning request would be approved.
Explaining Truck Rate Variations for Produce Shipped to the Northeast
Authors: Beilock Richard , Koburger John H. , Morgan Jeffrey P.
Published: May 2017

Models are developed to examine the determinants of weekly truck rates for produce shipped to the Northeast from California and Florida. In the empirical work, a large proportion of the variation in rates is explained and the estimated parameters are generally consistent with a priori expectations. The total quantity of produce shipped from each state, the proportion of this total which is compatible with the commodity in question, and the F.O.B. price if the commodity were found to be the most important determinants of truck rate levels. Fuel costs have a surprisingly weak influence, at least in the short run, and for Florida origin commodities the truck rate-fuel cost relationship appears to have weakened over the 1979–1983 sample period.
Economic Viability of Investing in Alternative Part-Time Cow-Calf Farms in the Northeastern United States
Authors: Milligan Robert A. , Nowak Caroline J. , Knoblauch Wayne A. , Fox Danny G.
Published: May 2017

Cow-calf enterprises in the Northeastern United States are generally small and often the only agricultural enterprise of families with large off-farm incomes. In this paper, the economic viability of cow-calf enterprises to these investors is considered using a representative farm/economic engineering approach. Investments in farm real estate that is characterized by limited capability soil resources are found to yield negative labor and management incomes but to be economically viable when change in net worth and present value of family after-tax income are considered.
Forecasting Ex-Vessel Prices for Hard Blue Crabs in the Chesapeake Bay Region: Individual and Composite Methods
Authors: Hudson Michael A. , Capps Oral
Published: May 2017

Given the relative importance of the Chesapeake Bay hard blue crab fishery to the U.S. blue crab fishery, this paper analyzes ex-vessel prices for hard blue crabs landed in this region. The purpose is to evaluate alternative methods of forecasting ex-vessel prices for hard blue crabs in the Bay; both individual methods (trend extrapolation, econometric, and time-series) and composite methods. Examining the mean squared errors for the individual methods, the time-series model performs the best, with the econometric model slightly better than the trend extrapolation model. None of the composite methods outperforms the time-series model, although in some cases the differences are slight. Nevertheless, the time-series trend extrapolation composite outperforms all other models in identifying turning points. Generally speaking, it would appear that ex-vessel prices for hard blue crabs possess strong time dependencies, and consequently, better forecasts occur with time-series models than with econometric models.
Strategy for Development of Systems Analytic Models – A Dairy Experience –
Authors: Hallberg M. C. , Manchester A. C.
Published: May 2017

As economists our greatest contribution to policymakers is likely to stem from our ability to make conditional forecasts—conditional forecasts of the outcome of specific possible or actual courses of action on the part of (1) government policymakers, (2) participants in the economy of interest, or (3) participants in other economies. But these conditional forecasts are not easy to come by, given the present state of the arts in our profession. In the first place, we do not yet have models which include parameter estimates in which we can place a great deal of confidence. Secondly, we do not at present have models which adequately encompass the vast number of relationships and constraints characteristic of a given economic system.
On Policy and Plans for Rural Economic Development
Authors: Nesius Ernest J.
Published: May 2017

“As a rule, people feel acute concern about the future, beyond the horizon of the present, only when times are out of joint and when the prospect looks menacing. In o our generation we are living in one of these times of unusually intense stress and anxiety” Arthur J. Toynbee, Change and Habit. Oxford University Press, 1966.
An Analysis of Optimum use with Minimum Potential Loss of Nitrogen Fertilizer on Corn
Authors: Jacobs James J. , Schaffer W. Harry , Casler George L.
Published: May 2017

A major environmental problem is the loss of recreational and asthetic values for bodies of water resulting from accelerated eutrophication. Eutrophication is only part of the concern over increased nitrate levels. More important, several streams have been found to have nitrate concentrations above U. S. Public Health Service Drinking Water Standards of 45 mg/l. Given agriculture's use of nutrients, agriculture's contribution to the nitrogen and phosphorus content of water needs to be evaluated.
Institutional Restructuring in Response to the Changing Mission of Land Grant Colleges
Authors: Sinclair Robert O.
Published: May 2017

The advertisement of one of our automobile manufacturers 10 to 15 years ago ended with the slogan, “Ask the man who owns one.” Probably my presence on this program on institutional restructuring can be explained best by paraphrasing this ad to read “Ask the man who's been through one.” Although I shall describe Vermont's experience with reorganization, in the process I want to discuss a few ideas on the changing role of the university and the land grant college in the last half of the 20th century. I readily confess that many of the ideas expressed in this paper are not original; I have drawn heavily upon recent writings of James Bonnen (1), Emery Castle (2, 3), and Earl Heady (4), and I recommend the original articles to you.
An Analysis of the Federal Extension Service Appropriations
Authors: Brown Sidney E.
Published: May 2017

Appropriations politics in Congress concerning the Department of Agriculture and the Federal Extension Service were described for a period covering the years from 1960 to 1975. Analyses indicated that Congressional Committee decisions were affected by the degree of unity within the committees, external support, and confidence shown in the agency. The analyses confirm the contention that the Department of Agriculture and Extension Service have strong and effective clientele groups.
Writing Instruction in Economics Courses: Experimentation Across Disciplines
Authors: Tobey Donald Marvin
Published: May 2017

We economists value writing skills, holding expectations that our students from introductory through graduate level courses be able “to represent one's analysis and evaluation of an issue in a way which will communicate effectively to others” (Weidenaar, p. 99). We have assumed, over the years, that a certain amount of such communication will be in writing. We often have held, furthermore, expectations that the analytical writing will be of high quality.
Cost Structures in Livestock Auction Markets: Average Versus Optimal Efficiency
Authors: Buccola Steven T. , Polishuk Leonard M.
Published: May 2017

The central role that local auction facilities play in the marketing of feeder, and in some areas slaughter, livestock has resulted in a large volume of literature relating auction costs to auction volume or size. Most auction cost studies have been based on statistical analyses of market accounting costs, although several have been based on synthetic construction of technically efficient market facility models. Studies of the former type include those by Lindberg and Judge (Oklahoma) and Wilson and Kuehn (West Virginia). Examples of the latter type are studies by Gibb and Riley (Michigan) and Kuehn (West Virginia).
Market Functions and the Plight of the Northeast Livestock Auction Industry
Authors: Lesser William H.
Published: May 2017

Most economists characterize spot markets as performing two basic functions: price discovery and locational services (which may be subdivided into assembly and sorting). The livestock auction industry in total does not differ from this general characterization since its basic function is to bring buyers and sellers to the place where the animals are being marketed. Thus whether the principal species and class handled in a particular market is feeder pigs or cull beef cows the functions performed at this level of generality are the same. The marketing procedures used are also highly uniform, consisting principally of unloading, sorting, presentation to buyers and reloading, along with the necessary record keeping. As a result there is a tendendy to view this industry as homogenous with some unit cost differences due principally to variation in size.
The Economic Feasibility of Solar Home Heating Systems in New England
Authors: Stevens Thomas H. , Baker Matthew H. , Beyerlein Steven
Published: May 2017

Since the 1973 oil embargo, substantial interest has focused upon the question of the cost competitiveness of solar space heating and domestic hot water systems for single family residences. As early as 1974, national surveys indicated that homeowners were seriously considering the use of solar systems (National Science Foundation). At the present time, several New England electric companies (Massachusetts Electric, Granite State and Narragansett) are testing commercially available solar domestic hot water heaters in 100 New England homes. Yet, the question of the cost competitiveness of solar systems remains unresolved. For example, a recent study by the Massachusetts Energy Policy Office suggests that solar systems are currently cost competitive with electric resistance heating in the Boston area. The interim findings reported by consultants to the New England Electric Companies conclude that “Solar energy is a victim of unreasonably high expectations … and that several problems must be resolved if solar domestic hot water heaters are to become economically viable.” (Little, p. 3). A number of other studies have also arrived at conflicting results (Bezdek, et al; G. Lof and R. Tybout; W.D. Schulze, et al).
An Examination of Demand Functions for Beef, Pork, and Broilers
Authors: Yanagida John F. , Conway Roger K.
Published: May 2017

Empirical research on single equation, competitive demand models has employed either price dependent or quantity dependent forms. The price dependent models assume that total output is predetermined in the short-run due to the role of past prices and to production cycles as the case of the livestock industry (Heien). On the other hand, quantity dependency can be described as a supply response system.
The Hedonic Approach to Estimating the Value of Unpriced Natural Resources
Authors: Strand Ivar , Ralph William , Charbonneau J. John , Hay Michael J.
Published: May 2017

Strand introduced the symposium with a general discussion of how the hedonic approach is being used to value natural resources. At issue was how one could identify both supply and demand functions for natural resources (e.g. sport fish or waterfowl) from expenditure data collected in cross-sectional interviews of recreationalists. The critical element is that the derivative of the hedonic equation with respect to an output is dependent on another variable within the system.
Bridge-Addability, Edge-Expansion and Connectivity
Authors: McDIARMID COLIN , WELLER KERSTIN
Published: May 2017

A class of graphs is calledbridge-addableif, for each graph in the class and each pairuandvof vertices in different components, the graph obtained by adding an edge joininguandvmust also be in the class. The concept was introduced in 2005 by McDiarmid, Steger and Welsh, who showed that, for a random graph sampled uniformly from such a class, the probability that it is connected is at least 1/e.

We generalize this and related results to bridge-addable classes with edge-weights which have an edge-expansion property. Here, a graph is sampled with probability proportional to the product of its edge-weights. We obtain for example lower bounds for the probability of connectedness of a graph sampled uniformly from a relatively bridge-addable class of graphs, where some but not necessarily all of the possible bridges are allowed to be introduced. Furthermore, we investigate whether these bounds are tight, and in particular give detailed results about random forests in complete balanced multipartite graphs.
Aortic dissection and cystinosis: is there any relationship?
Authors: Tajdini Masih , Bayati Mehdi , Vasheghani-Farahani Ali
Published: May 2017

Cystinosis is a rare, autosomal-recessive genetic disorder. The kidneys are commonly involved, as there is cystinosin protein malfunction, and nephropathic cystinosis ensues. Although cardiac and vascular involvements are rare, we describe a unique case of aortic dissection in a 25-year-old female with cystinosis. We discuss the possible aetiologies of aortic dissection in this condition.
Preface – CORRIGENDUM
Authors: Benvenuti Piero
Published: May 2017

In the Astronomy in Focus series, volume XXIXA, Focus Meeting 4 was omitted from table 2 of the preface (Benvenuti 2016) on page xv. The editor apologizes for this error.
Preface – CORRIGENDUM
Authors: Benvenuti Piero
Published: May 2017

In the Astronomy in Focus series, volume XXIXB, Focus Meeting 4 was omitted from table 2 of the preface (Benvenuti 2016) on page xxi. The editor apologizes for this error.
Chemical abundances from planetary nebulae in local spiral galaxies
Authors: Richer Michael G. , McCall Marshall L.
Published: May 2017

While the chemical abundances observed in bright planetary nebulae in local spiral galaxies are less varied than their counterparts in dwarfs, they provide new insight. Their helium abundances are typically enriched by less than 50% compared to the primordial abundance. Nitrogen abundances always show some level of secondary enrichment, but the absolute enrichment is not extreme. In particular, type I PNe are rare among the bright PNe in local spirals. The oxygen and neon abundances are very well correlated and follow the relation between these abundances observed in star-forming galaxies, implying that either the progenitor stars of these PNe modify neither abundance substantially or that they modify both to maintain the ratio (not predicted by theory). According to theory, these results imply that the progenitor stars of bright PNe in local spirals have masses of about 2 M⊙ or less. If so, the progenitors of these PNe have substantial lifetimes that allow us to use them to study the recent history of their host galaxies, including gravitational interactions with their neighbours. Areas that require further study include the systematic differences observed between spectroscopy obtained through slits and fibres, the uncertainties assigned to chemical abundances, including effects due to ionization correction factors, and the physics that gives rise to the PN luminosity function. Indeed, so long as we lack an understanding of how the last arises, our ability to use bright PNe as probes to understand the evolution of their host galaxies will remain limited.
Nonlinear convective pulsation models of type II Cepheids
Authors: Smolec Radoslaw
Published: May 2017

We present a grid of nonlinear convective pulsation models of type-II Cepheids: BL Her stars, W Vir stars and RV Tau stars. The models have 0.6M⊙ and cover a wide range of luminosities, effective temperatures and chemical compositions. The most important result is the detection of two domains in the HR diagram, in which period doubling effect is present. First domain, with pulsation periods in between 2 d and 5.5 d, was also detected in earlier radiative computations. The first star showing the period doubling effect with period in the predicted range (≈ 2.4 d) was discovered recently. The second domain extends for periods longer than 9.5 d but so far no period-doubled type-II Cepheid that could be associated with this domain was discovered. We also detect very small domains in which modulation of pulsation is possible. The origin of these phenomena may be assocaited with half-integer resonances between radial pulsation modes. In the most luminous models a dynamical instability is detected, which indicates that pulsation driven mass loss is important process occurring in type-II Cepheids.
Optically controlled UWB antenna using photonic crystal waveguides
Authors: Zakaria Heba , Hindy Moataza , El-Henawi Adel
Published: May 2017

This paper presents a new optically controlled reconfigurable ultra-wideband antenna using reconfigurable optical router with photonic crystal substrate. The proposed antenna has three optical switches. The optical switches are made by placing silicon wafers over three slots etched on the resonator. The coplanar fed microstrip antenna can work at eight modes using optically controlled switches. This design proposes triple narrow notched bands at center frequencies 3.5 GHz “WiMAX”, 5.5 GHz “WLAN” and 8.4 GHz “X-band satellite communication”. The proposed antenna satisfies the voltage standing wave ratio requirement of <2 in the frequency band between 2.6 and 11.8 GHz except for the three rejected bands. According to the incident light, the physical properties of these switches can be changed from an insulator state (OFF state) to a near-conducting state (ON state). The incident light is coupled to the optical switches using a reconfigurable optical router. The proposed antenna provides high gain, and high efficiency all over the frequency band excluding the rejected bands.
An Appropriate Stepping Stone? A case study into student and teacher perceptions of the value of the WJEC Level 1 Certificate in Latin
Authors: McPherson Lisa
Published: May 2017

During my second placement on the PGCE in Latin with Classics, the Head of Classics explained the curriculum plan for Latin, and the use of the WJEC Level 1 Certificate in Latin which she had implemented for the students in Year 9. She was keen for the students to receive recognition for their effort in Latin and yet concerned that the pressure of an additional external exam might detract from the students’ enjoyment of the subject. I was unaware of the possibility for external exams outside of GCSE and A Level and I was fascinated by what role the certificate might play for the students as they progressed through their education.
Hearing Impairment and the Latin Classroom Experience: A case study of a Year 10 student with a hearing impairment learning Latin
Authors: Carroll Callum
Published: May 2017

Hearing impairment and Latin are not usually something that we pair together, yet it could be seen as an appealing GCSE to a hearing-impaired student. On the one hand learning Latin as an additional language may be seen as difficult when the student is still trying to learn and develop their first language. On the other hand learning Latin does not have, nor require, any formal oral or aural assessment like most Modern Foreign Languages (MFL). My school is an 11-16 mixed comprehensive, where all pupils begin Latin in year 7 on timetable with the choice to continue in Year 8, from where it is taught as an off-timetable subject through to GCSE. Here I was introduced to teach a Year 10 boy who has congenital severe sensory-hearing loss in both ears and he wears two Nathos UP digital hearing aids all waking hours. I was immediately interested in his reasons for choosing to study Latin, especially as it is an elective GCSE timetabled before school and during lunch time. Prior to this encounter, I had recently attended a session on British Sign Language and the experience of Deaf and hearing-impaired students in school. Hearing about their experiences led me to think about the benefits of learning Latin, which consequently led me to investigate Kim's experience (name changed for confidentiality). I began focusing my observations on him and informally questioning his teachers; I was met by an array of praise stating that he proudly saw his hearing impairment as part of his identity rather than an obstacle. I started searching for information on teaching Latin to hearing-impaired pupils, but there was almost nothing specifically related to Latin. As a result, I saw this as my opportunity to collate my experiences and the experiences of the pupil and teacher to develop my research into something that may benefit other Latin teachers of hearing-impaired pupils.
New Instrument May Aid Search for Extraterrestrial Life
Authors: Wendel JoAnna
Published: May 2017

For 2 weeks on the Greenland ice cap, scientists tested an instrument that might help us find life on icy moons with oceans beneath their crusts.
PLSCR1/IP3R1/Ca2+ axis contributes to differentiation of primary AML cells induced by wogonoside
Authors: Li Hui , Xu Jingyan , Zhou Yuxin , Liu Xiao , Shen L e , Zhu Y u , Li Zhiyu , Wang Xiaotang , Guo Qinglong , Hui Hui
Published: May 2017

Multiple lines of evidence have demonstrated that increased expression of phospholipid scramblase 1 (PLSCR1) is involved in the differentiation of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells by several differentiation-inducing agents including ATRA and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. However, none of these agents can achieve nonhomogenous subcellular distribution of PLSCR1. We have demonstrated that wogonoside possesses differentiation and anti-leukemic effects in AML cell lines by promoting PLSCR1 trafficking into nucleus. Here we report that wogonoside promotes the expression of PLSCR1 and enhances its nuclear translocation and binding to the 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate receptor 1 (IP3R1) promoter in AML patient-derived primary cells. Wogonoside activates IP3R1, in turn, promotes release of Ca2+ from endoplasmic reticulum, and eventually leads to cell differentiation. Our in vivo study further confirms that wogonoside can promote PLSCR1 and IP3R1 expression in primary AML cells and reduce the AML cell counts in engrafted nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient mice. Taken together, our findings provide new insight into the mechanism of wogonoside-induced differentiation and anti-leukemic effect on primary AML cells, suggesting the therapeutic potential of wogonoside for AML, especially for non-APL AML.
Acidic pH is essential for maintaining mast cell secretory granule homeostasis
Authors: Pejler Gunnar , Hu Frisk Jun Mei , Sjöström Daniel , Paivandy Aida , Öhrvik Helena
Published: May 2017

It has been recognized for a long time that the secretory granules of mast cells are acidic, but the functional importance of maintaining an acidic pH in the mast cell granules is not fully understood. Here we addressed this issue by examining the effects of raising the pH of the mast cell secretory granules. Mast cells were incubated with bafilomycin A1, an inhibitor of the vacuolar-type ATPase proton pump. Supporting a role of vacuolar-type ATPase in mast cell granule acidification, bafilomycin A1 treatment caused a robust increase in granule pH. This was accompanied by marked effects on mast cell granules, including swelling and acquisition of vacuole-like morphology. Moreover, bafilomycin A1 caused extensive, yet selective effects on the granule content. These included aberrant processing of pro-carboxypeptidase A3 and a reduction in the level of intracellular histamine, the latter being accompanied by an increase in extracellular histamine. In contrast, the storage of β-hexosaminidase, a prototype lysosomal hydrolase known to be stored in mast cell granules, was not affected by abrogation of granule acidification. Moreover, bafilomycin A1 caused a reduction of tryptase enzymatic activity and appearance of tryptase degradation products. Tryptase inhibition prevented the formation of such degradation products, suggesting that the pH elevation causes tryptase to undergo autoproteolysis. Taken together, our findings reveal that mast cell secretory granule homeostasis is critically dependent on an acidic milieu.
High-efficiency and high-power rechargeable lithium–sulfur dioxide batteries exploiting conventional carbonate-based electrolytes
Authors: Park Hyeokjun , Lim Hee-Dae , Lim Hyung-Kyu , Seong Won Mo , Moon Sehwan , Ko Youngmin , Lee Byungju , Bae Youngjoon , Kim Hyungjun , Kang Kisuk
Published: May 2017

Shedding new light on conventional batteries sometimes inspires a chemistry adoptable for rechargeable batteries. Recently, the primary lithium-sulfur dioxide battery, which offers a high energy density and long shelf-life, is successfully renewed as a promising rechargeable system exhibiting small polarization and good reversibility. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that reversible operation of the lithium-sulfur dioxide battery is also possible by exploiting conventional carbonate-based electrolytes. Theoretical and experimental studies reveal that the sulfur dioxide electrochemistry is highly stable in carbonate-based electrolytes, enabling the reversible formation of lithium dithionite. The use of the carbonate-based electrolyte leads to a remarkable enhancement of power and reversibility; furthermore, the optimized lithium-sulfur dioxide battery with catalysts achieves outstanding cycle stability for over 450 cycles with 0.2 V polarization. This study highlights the potential promise of lithium-sulfur dioxide chemistry along with the viability of conventional carbonate-based electrolytes in metal-gas rechargeable systems.
Fast oxygen diffusion and iodide defects mediate oxygen-induced degradation of perovskite solar cells
Authors: Aristidou Nicholas , Eames Christopher , Sanchez-Molina Irene , Bu Xiangnan , Kosco Jan , Islam M. Saiful , Haque Saif A.
Published: May 2017

Methylammonium lead halide perovskites are attracting intense interest as promising materials for next-generation solar cells, but serious issues related to long-term stability need to be addressed. Perovskite films based on CH3NH3PbI3 undergo rapid degradation when exposed to oxygen and light. Here, we report mechanistic insights into this oxygen-induced photodegradation from a range of experimental and computational techniques. We find fast oxygen diffusion into CH3NH3PbI3 films is accompanied by photo-induced formation of highly reactive superoxide species. Perovskite films composed of small crystallites show higher yields of superoxide and lower stability. Ab initio simulations indicate that iodide vacancies are the preferred sites in mediating the photo-induced formation of superoxide species from oxygen. Thin-film passivation with iodide salts is shown to enhance film and device stability. The understanding of degradation phenomena gained from this study is important for the future design and optimization of stable perovskite solar cells.
Paramagnetic resonance in spin-polarized disordered Bose-Einstein condensates
Authors: Kovalev V. M. , Savenko I. G.
Published: May 2017

We study the pseudo-spin density response of a disordered two-dimensional spin-polarized Bose gas to weak alternating magnetic field, assuming that one of the spin states of the doublet is macroscopically occupied and Bose-condensed while the occupation of the other state remains much smaller. We calculate spatial and temporal dispersions of spin susceptibility of the gas taking into account spin-flip processes due to the transverse-longitudinal splitting, considering microcavity exciton polaritons as a testbed. Further, we use the Bogoliubov theory of weakly-interacting gases and show that the time-dependent magnetic field power absorption exhibits double resonance structure corresponding to two particle spin states (contrast to paramagnetic resonance in regular spin-polarized electron gas). We analyze the widths of these resonances caused by scattering on the disorder and show that, in contrast with the ballistic regime, in the presence of impurities, the polariton scattering on them is twofold: scattering on the impurity potential directly and scattering on the spatially fluctuating condensate density caused by the disorder. As a result, the width of the resonance associated with the Bose-condensed spin state can be surprisingly narrow in comparison with the width of the resonance associated with the non-condensed state.
Automatic Segmentation of Kidneys using Deep Learning for Total Kidney Volume Quantification in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease
Authors: Sharma Kanishka , Rupprecht Christian , Caroli Anna , Aparicio Maria Carolina , Remuzzi Andrea , Baust Maximilian , Navab Nassir
Published: May 2017

Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) is the most common inherited disorder of the kidneys. It is characterized by enlargement of the kidneys caused by progressive development of renal cysts, and thus assessment of total kidney volume (TKV) is crucial for studying disease progression in ADPKD. However, automatic segmentation of polycystic kidneys is a challenging task due to severe alteration in the morphology caused by non-uniform cyst formation and presence of adjacent liver cysts. In this study, an automated segmentation method based on deep learning has been proposed for TKV computation on computed tomography (CT) dataset of ADPKD patients exhibiting mild to moderate or severe renal insufficiency. The proposed method has been trained (n = 165) and tested (n = 79) on a wide range of TKV (321.2–14,670.7 mL) achieving an overall mean Dice Similarity Coefficient of 0.86 ± 0.07 (mean ± SD) between automated and manual segmentations from clinical experts and a mean correlation coefficient (ρ) of 0.98 (p < 0.001) for segmented kidney volume measurements in the entire test set. Our method facilitates fast and reproducible measurements of kidney volumes in agreement with manual segmentations from clinical experts.
MiR-520b as a novel molecular target for suppressing stemness phenotype of head-neck cancer by inhibiting CD44
Authors: Lu Ya-Ching , Cheng Ann-Joy , Lee Li-Yu , You Guo-Rung , Li Yan-Liang , Chen Hsin-Ying , Chang Joseph T.
Published: May 2017

Cancer stem cells preferentially acquire the specific characteristics of stress tolerance and high mobility, allowing them to progress to a therapy-refractive state. To identify a critical molecule to regulate cancer stemness is indispensable to erratically cure cancer. In this study, we identified miR-520b as a novel molecular target to suppress head-neck cancer (HNC) with stemness phenotype. MiR-520b inhibited cellular migration and invasion via the mechanism of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. It also sensitized cells to therapeutic drug and irradiation. Significantly, miR-520b suppressed spheroid cell formation, as well as reduced expressions of multiple stemness regulators (Nestin, Twist, Nanog, Oct4). The CD44 molecule was identified as a direct target of miR-520b, as shown by the reverse correlative expressions, the response to miR-520 modulation, the luciferase reporter assay, and the functional rescue analyses. These cellular results were confirmed by a tumor xenograft mice study. Administration of miR-520b dramatically restrained tumorigenesis and liver colonization. Conversely, miR-520b silencing led to an acceleration of tumor growth. Taken together, our study demonstrated that miR-520b inhibits the malignancy of HNC through regulation of cancer stemness conversion by targeting CD44. MiR-520b may serve as an emerging therapeutic target that may be further developed for the intervention of refractory HNC.
Cancer cachexia associates with a systemic autophagy-inducing activity mimicked by cancer cell-derived IL-6 trans-signaling
Authors: Pettersen Kristine , Andersen Sonja , Degen Simone , Tadini Valentina , Grosjean Joël , Hatakeyama Shinji , Tesfahun Almaz N. , Moestue Siver , Kim Jana , Nonstad Unni , Romundstad Pål R. , Skorpen Frank , Sørhaug Sveinung , Amundsen Tore , Grønberg Bjørn H. , Strasser Florian , Stephens Nathan , Hoem Dag , Molven Anders , Kaasa Stein , Fearon Kenneth , Jacobi Carsten , Bjørkøy Geir
Published: May 2017

The majority of cancer patients with advanced disease experience weight loss, including loss of lean body mass. Severe weight loss is characteristic for cancer cachexia, a condition that significantly impairs functional status and survival. The underlying causes of cachexia are incompletely understood, and currently no therapeutic approach can completely reverse the condition. Autophagy coordinates lysosomal destruction of cytosolic constituents and is systemically induced by starvation. We hypothesized that starvation-mimicking signaling compounds secreted from tumor cells may cause a systemic acceleration of autophagy during cachexia. We found that IL-6 secreted by tumor cells accelerates autophagy in myotubes when complexed with soluble IL-6 receptor (trans-signaling). In lung cancer patients, were cachexia is prevalent, there was a significant correlation between elevated IL-6 expression in the tumor and poor prognosis of the patients. We found evidence for an autophagy-inducing bioactivity in serum from cancer patients and that this is clearly associated with weight loss. Importantly, the autophagy-inducing bioactivity was reduced by interference with IL-6 trans-signaling. Together, our findings suggest that IL-6 trans-signaling may be targeted in cancer cachexia.
Cardiolipin content, linoleic acid composition, and tafazzin expression in response to skeletal muscle overload and unload stimuli
Authors: Fajardo Val A. , Mikhaeil John S. , Leveille Cameron F. , Saint Caitlin , LeBlanc Paul J.
Published: May 2017

Cardiolipin (CL) is a unique mitochondrial phospholipid that, in skeletal muscle, is enriched with linoleic acid (18:2n6). Together, CL content and CL 18:2n6 composition are critical determinants of mitochondrial function. Skeletal muscle is comprised of slow and fast fibers that have high and low mitochondrial content, respectively. In response to overloading and unloading stimuli, these muscles undergo a fast-to-slow oxidative fiber type shift and a slow-to-fast glycolytic fiber type shift, respectively, with a concomitant change in mitochondrial content. Here, we examined changes in CL content and CL 18:2n6 composition under these conditions along with tafazzin (Taz) protein, which is a transacylase enzyme that generates CL lipids enriched with 18:2n6. Our results show that CL content, CL 18:2n6 composition, and Taz protein content increased with an overload stimulus in plantaris. Conversely, CL content and CL 18:2n6 composition was reduced with an unloaded stimulus in soleus. Interestingly, Taz protein was increased in the unloaded soleus, suggesting that Taz may provide some form of compensation for decreased CL content and CL 18:2n6 composition. Together, this study highlights the dynamic nature of CL and Taz in skeletal muscle, and future studies will examine the physiological significance behind the changes in CL content, CL 18:2n6 and Taz.
A Split Ring Resonator Dielectric Probe for Near-Field Dielectric Imaging
Authors: Isakov Dmitry , Stevens Chris J. , Castles Flynn , Grant Patrick S.
Published: May 2017

A single split-ring resonator (SRR) probe for 2D surface mapping and imaging of relative dielectric permittivity for the characterisation of composite materials has been developed. The imaging principle, the analysis and the sensitivity of the SRR surface dielectric probe data is described. The surface dielectric properties of composite materials in the frequency range 1–3 GHz have been measured based on the magnetic resonance frequency of the transmission loss of the SRR dielectric probe when in contact with the surface. The SRR probe performance was analysed analytically and using full-wave simulation, and predictions showed close agreement with experiment for composite materials with spatially varying dielectric permittivity manufactured by 3D printing. The spatial and permittivity resolution of the SRR dielectric probe were controlled by the geometrical parameters of the SRR which provided flexibility to tune the SRR probe. The best accuracy of the dielectric permittivity measurements was within 5%.
Spin-orbit-torque-induced magnetic domain wall motion in Ta/CoFe nanowires with sloped perpendicular magnetic anisotropy
Authors: Zhang Yue , Luo Shijiang , Yang Xiaofei , Yang Chang
Published: May 2017

In materials with the gradient of magnetic anisotropy, spin-orbit-torque-induced magnetization behaviour has attracted attention because of its intriguing scientific principle and potential application. Most of the magnetization behaviours microscopically originate from magnetic domain wall motion, which can be precisely depicted using the standard cooperative coordinate method (CCM). However, the domain wall motion in materials with the gradient of magnetic anisotropy using the CCM remains lack of investigation. In this paper, by adopting CCM, we established a set of equations to quantitatively depict the spin-orbit-torque-induced motion of domain walls in a Ta/CoFe nanotrack with weak Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction and magnetic anisotropy gradient. The equations were solved numerically, and the solutions are similar to those of a micromagnetic simulation. The results indicate that the enhanced anisotropy along the track acts as a barrier to inhibit the motion of the domain wall. In contrast, the domain wall can be pushed to move in a direction with reduced anisotropy, with the velocity being accelerated by more than twice compared with that for the constant anisotropy case. This substantial velocity manipulation by anisotropy engineering is important in designing novel magnetic information devices with high reading speeds.
Interplay between Alternative Splicing and Alternative Polyadenylation Defines the Expression Outcome of the Plant Unique OXIDATIVE TOLERANT-6 Gene
Authors: Li Qingshun Q. , Liu Zhaoyang , Lu Wenjia , Liu Man
Published: May 2017

Pre-mRNA alternative splicing and alternative polyadenylation have been implicated to play important roles during eukaryotic gene expression. However, much remains unknown regarding the regulatory mechanisms and the interactions of these two processes in plants. Here we focus on an Arabidopsis gene OXT6 (Oxidative Tolerant-6) that has been demonstrated to encode two proteins through alternative splicing and alternative polyadenylation. Specifically, alternative polyadenylation at Intron-2 of OXT6 produces a transcript coding for AtCPSF30, an Arabidopsis ortholog of 30 kDa subunit of the Cleavage and Polyadenylation Specificity Factor. On the other hand, alternative splicing of Intron-2 generates a longer transcript encoding a protein named AtC30Y, a polypeptide including most part of AtCPSF30 and a YT521B domain. To investigate the expression outcome of OXT6 in plants, a set of mutations were constructed to alter the splicing and polyadenylation patterns of OXT6. Analysis of transgenic plants bearing these mutations by quantitative RT-PCR revealed a competition relationship between these two processes. Moreover, when both splice sites and poly(A) signals were mutated, polyadenylation became the preferred mode of OXT6 processing. These results demonstrate the interplay between alternative splicing and alternative polyadenylation, and it is their concerted actions that define a gene’s expression outcome.
Fluorescence dynamics of the biosynthesized CdSe quantum dots in Candida utilis
Authors: Tian Li-Jiao , Zhou Nan-Qing , Liu Xian-Wei , Zhang Xing , Zhu Ting-Ting , Li Ling-Li , Li Wen-Wei , Yu Han-Qing
Published: May 2017

Organisms served as factories of bio-assembly of nanoparticles attracted a lot of attentions due to the safe, economic and environmental-benignity traits, especially the fabrication of the super fluorescence properties quantum dots (QDs). However, information about the developmental dynamics of QDs in living organisms is still lacking. In this work, we synthesized cadmium-selenium (CdSe) QDs in Candida utilis WSH02-08, and then tracked and quantitatively characterized the developmental dynamics (photoactivation, photostable and photobleaching processes) of bio-QDs by translating fluorescence microscopy movies into visual quantitative curve. These findings shed light on the fluorescence properties of the bio-assembled QDs and are expected to accelerate the applications of the synthesized QDs in vivo. It provided a new way to screen bio-QDs and monitor the quality of QDs in vivo.