bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Facile preparation of polyamide 6/exfoliated graphite nanoplate composites via ultrasound‐assisted processing
Authors: Yang Yaqi , Zhao Mingjuan , Xia Zhaolu , Duan Hongji , Zhao Guizhe , Liu Yaqing
Published: November 2017

In this work, we report a facile strategy to prepare polyamide 6/exfoliated graphite nanoplate (PA6/xGNP) nanocomposites by in situ exfoliation of expanded graphite (EG) via ultrasound‐assisted extrusion. The EG was preliminarily exfoliated by ultrasonication, and then blended with PA6 and further exfoliated into graphite nanoplates during the ultrasound‐assisted extrusion process. Compared with chemical exfoliation of EG, ultrasonic exfoliation minimized defects in the carbon layers. Meanwhile, the in situ exfoliation of EG via ultrasound‐assisted extrusion prevented the reagglomeration of xGNPs in the melt blending process. The well‐dispersed xGNP structure significantly improved the mechanical performance of PA6 composites; with an xGNP loading of only 0.5 wt%, the tensile and flexural strengths of the PA6 nanocomposite increased from 65.4 and 67.8 MPa to 90.5 and 91.2 MPa, respectively. The heat deflection temperature also greatly improved from 76.5°C to 115.4°C by adding 1 wt% xGNPs. These results demonstrate a promising approach for large‐scale fabrication of high‐performance polymer/xGNP nanocomposites. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 58:1739–1745, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers
Performance metrics for guidance active constraints in surgical robotics
Authors: Enayati Nima , Ferrigno Giancarlo , De Momi Elena
Published: November 2017

Active constraint (AC)/virtual fixture (VF) is among the most popular approaches towards the shared execution of subtasks by the surgeon and robotic systems. As more possibilities appear for the implementation of ACs in surgical scenarios, the need to introduce methods that guarantee a safe and intuitive user‐interaction increases. The presence of the human in the loop adds a layer of interactivity and adaptability that renders the assessment of such methods non‐trivial. In most works, guidance ACs have been evaluated mainly in terms of enhancement of accuracy and completion time with little regard for other aspects such as human factors, even though the continuous engagement of these methods can considerably degrade the user experience. This paper proposes a set of performance metrics and considerations that can help evaluate guidance ACs with reference to accuracy enhancement, force characteristics and subjective aspects. The use of these metrics is demonstrated through two sets of experiments on 12 surgeons and 6 inexperienced users.
Stable Low‐Current Electrodeposition of α‐MnO2 on Superaligned Electrospun Carbon Nanofibers for High‐Performance Energy Storage
Authors: Liu Yiyang , Zeng Zheng , Bloom Brian , Waldeck David H. , Wei Jianjun
Published: November 2017

Metal oxide/carbonaceous nanomaterials are promising candidates for energy‐storage applications. However, inhomogeneous mass and charge transfer across the electrode/electrolyte interface due to unstable metal oxide/carbonaceous nanomaterial synthesis limit their performance in supercapacitors. Here, it is shown that the above problems can be mitigated through stable low‐current electrodeposition of MnO2 on superaligned electrospun carbon nanofibers (ECNFs). The key to this approach is coupling a self‐designed four steel poles collector for aligned ECNFs and a constant low‐current (40 µA) electrodeposition technique to form a uniform Na+‐induced α‐MnO2 film which proceeds by a time‐dependent growth mechanism involving cluster‐“kebab” structures and ending with a compact, uniform MnO2 film for high‐performance energy storage.
International human resource management in an era of political nationalism
Authors: Horak Sven , Farndale Elaine , Brannen Mary Yoko , Collings David G.
Published: November 2017

In times of the “Brexit” and “America First” policies, several industrialized countries' governments are turning toward more national‐oriented migration policies. Simultaneously, societal aversion to immigration is growing. Both trends are sending negative signals to highly skilled employees and making immigrants feel that they are no longer welcome. Consequently, international careers are becoming uncertain, risky, and unpredictable. This new reality in industrialized knowledge‐based economies may affect firms' talent pool and the skill set available to a country. To shed light on the new environment of international human resource management, we interviewed Mary Yoko Brannen and David Collings, leading experts in the field, to explore their perspective on how the field is changing. The interviews reported here uncover fascinating insights, including the need to counteract the globalization fears in the West of the predominantly White working and lower‐middle class through education. Companies may also rethink their organizational boundaries and the notion of traditional employees by using their agility to counteract the political forces harming their talent pool strategy.
Effect of the cross‐talk between autophagy and endoplasmic reticulum stress on Mn‐induced alpha‐synuclein oligomerization
Authors: Liu Chang , Yan Dong‐Ying , Tan Xuan , Ma Zhuo , Wang Can , Deng Yu , Liu Wei , Yang Tian‐Yao , Xu Zhao‐Fa , Xu Bin
Published: November 2017

Overexposure to manganese (Mn) has been known to induce alpha‐synuclein (α‐Syn) oligomerization, which is degraded mainly depending on endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress) and autophagy pathways. However, little data reported the cross‐talk between ER stress and autophagy on Mn‐induced α‐Syn oligomerization. To explore the relationship between ER stress and autophagy, we used 4‐phenylbutyric acid (4‐PBA, the ER stress inhibitor), rapamycin (Rap, autophagy activator) and 3‐methyladenine (3‐MA, autophagy inhibitor) in mice model of manganism. After 4 weeks of treatment with Mn, both ER stress and autophagy were activated. Exposed to Mn also resulted in α‐Syn oligomerization and neuronal cell damage in the brain tissue of mice, which could be relieved by 4‐PBA pretreatment. Moreover, when the ER stress was inhibited, the activation of autophagy was also inhibited. Rap pretreatment significantly activated autophagy and decreased α‐Syn oligomers. However, 3‐MA pretreatment inhibited autophagy resulting in increase of α‐Syn oligomers, and compensatorily activated PERK signaling pathway. Our results also demonstrated that the inhibition of autophagy by 3‐MA aggravated neuronal cell damage. The findings clearly demonstrated that the cross‐talking between autophagy and ER stress might play an important role in the α‐Syn oligomerization and neurotoxicity by Mn.
A review of market‐based climate change regulation in Alberta's oil and gas sector
Authors: Tarnoczi Tyler Joseph
Published: November 2017

Alberta has implemented the Specified Gas Emitters Regulation to address the issue of growing greenhouse gas emissions. The regulation allows large emitting facilities to achieve emission reduction targets using market‐based compliance instruments. The goal of this analysis is twofold: (1) Overview market participants, composition, and offset management approaches and (2) discuss future corporate offset strategy options. Market participants are generally weighted toward firms in the electricity generation sector. In the oil and gas sector, while many firms participate in the offset market, a small number dominate. Market composition analysis of program compliance instruments over time offers insights regarding supply and demand. A program‐level view of all market‐based compliance instruments, as well as offset credits specifically, shows how major policy changes can transform market dynamics. Corporate offset management approaches of firms in the oil and gas sector are then analyzed and categorized into one of three approaches: development, sourcing and use, and banking. Based on the analysis, a discussion of future offset strategy options for firms operating under the regulation is provided for a range of policy scenarios. The analysis serves to inform regulated emitters in the private sector exposed to newly enacted or increasingly stringent regulation by assessing the current state of activities and providing insights of emergent strategies.WIREs Energy Environ2018, 7:e277. doi: 10.1002/wene.277

This article is categorized under:

Fossil Fuels > Climate and Environment

Energy and Climate > Climate and Environment

Energy and Climate > Economics and Policy

Energy Policy and Planning > Climate and Environment
Homogenized couple stress model of optimal auxetic microstructures computed by topology optimization
Authors: Ganghoffer J. F. , Goda I. , Novotny A. A. , Rahouadj R. , Sokolowski J.
Published: November 2017

Auxetic materials and microstructures are attracting the attention of a growing community of researchers due to their unusual properties and high mechanical performances, in both the static and dynamic regimes. The topological derivative is used in this contribution to determine microstructures having the most negative in‐plane mean Poisson's ratio. The auxetic nature of the computed microstructures is demonstrated by both numerical and real experiments performed over samples fabricated by additive printing. The effective mechanical properties of these auxetic structures have been computed in the framework of couple stress elasticity, allowing to identify both in‐plane and out‐of plane effective properties. The calculated classical moduli are found independent of the size of the window of analysis and are consequently effective coefficients. In contrast to this, the calculated in‐plane bending moduli show a clear dependency on the auxetic cell size, whereas the out‐of‐plane bending moduli appear to be size‐independent.
Using case management in a universal health coverage system to improve quality of life of frequent Emergency Department users: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Iglesias Katia , Baggio Stéphanie , Moschetti Karine , Wasserfallen Jean-Blaise , Hugli Olivier , Daeppen Jean-Bernard , Burnand Bernard , Bodenmann Patrick
Published: November 2017

Purpose

Frequent Emergency Department users are likely to experience poor quality of life (QOL). Case management interventions are efficient in responding to the complex needs of this population, but their effects on QOL have not been tested yet. Therefore, the aim of our study was to examine to what extent a case management intervention improved frequent Emergency Department users’ QOL in a universal health coverage system.

Methods

Data were part of a randomized controlled trial designed to improve frequent Emergency Department users’ QOL at the Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland. A total of 250 frequent Emergency Department users (≥ 5 attendances during the previous 12 months) were randomly assigned to the control (n = 125) or the intervention group (n = 125). The latter benefited from case management intervention. QOL was evaluated using the WHOQOL-BREF at baseline, two, five and a half, nine, and twelve months later. It included four dimensions: physical health, psychological health, social relationship, and environment. Linear mixed-effects models were used to analyze the change in the patients’ QOL over time.

Results

Patients’ QOL improved significantly (p < 0.001) in both groups for all dimensions after two months. However, environment QOL dimension improved significantly more in the intervention group after 12 months.

Conclusions

Environment QOL dimension was the most responsive dimension for short-term interventions. This may have been due to case management’s assistance in obtaining income entitlements, health insurance coverage, stable housing, or finding general health care practitioners. Case management in general should be developed to enhance frequent users’ QOL.

Trial registration: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov, Unique identifier: NCT01934322
Performance normativity and here-and-now doxastic agency
Authors: Chrisman Matthew
Published: November 2017

Sosa famously argues that epistemic normativity is a species of “performance normativity,” comparing beliefs to archery shots. However, philosophers have traditionally conceived of beliefs asstates, which means that they are not dynamic or telic like performances. A natural response to this tension is to argue that belief formation rather than belief itself is the proper target of epistemic normativity. This response is rejected here on grounds of the way it obscures the “here and now” exercise of cognitive agency that I view as central to any account of epistemic normativity and doxastic agency. Although the etiology of a belief can be relevant to its normative status, often so much more is relevant and more centrally so. This generates a dilemma for anyone following Sosa in pursuing the idea that epistemic normativity is a species of performance normativity.
Informed Consent for Radiation in Interventional Radiology Procedures
Authors: Zener Rebecca , Johnson Peter , Wiseman Daniele , Pandey Sachin , Mujoomdar Amol
Published: November 2017

Purpose

To explore the patient perception on radiation-related cancer risk from interventional radiology (IR) procedures and whether informed radiation consent is warranted.

Methods

A multiple-choice survey was prospectively administered to 68 adults undergoing a body or neuro-IR procedure with ionizing radiation exposure. Subgroup analysis with chi-square or Fisher exact test was performed based on patient past IR history ( P < .05).

Results

A total of 81% of patients wanted to be informed if there was a radiation-related 3% increased cancer risk over 5 years. Although 55% considered 3% a small risk, 28% wanted to further discuss the risks and alternate options, and 15% would have only proceeded if it were a life-saving procedure: 89%, 80%, and 67% of patients wanted to be informed with exposure risks of 1 in 100, 1 in 1000, and 1 in 10,000, respectively. Only 53% were aware they were going to be exposed to radiation, irrespective of past IR history ( P = .15). Most patients believed radiation consent should include radiation-related cancer risks (85%). No past IR history was significantly associated with wanting consent to include cancer-related risk (100% vs 76%; P = .01) and deterministic risks (70% vs 41%; P = .04). A majority (69%) believed both the referring physician and the interventional radiologist were responsible for obtaining radiation consent, and 65% of patients wanted verbal consent followed by signed written consent, regardless of past IR history.

Conclusions

Many patients want to discuss cancer-related radiation risks with both radiologists and physicians. Informed radiation consent should be considered for procedures with high anticipated radiation doses.
African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights v. Libya
Authors: Ayissi Marie Joseph
Published: November 2017

On June 3, 2016, the African Court on Human and People's Rights (the Court) rendered its first default judgment, in a case brought by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission) against Libya for alleged violations of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Charter). The Commission had alleged that the Libyan government had violated its obligations under the Charter to protect one of its citizens, Saif al-Islam Kadhafi, from incommunicado detention and to provide him access to counsel. When Libya failed to respond to the Commission's complaint and to the Court's order of provisional measures, the Court proceeded to the merits and found Libya in violation of several articles of the Charter. Its decision reflected both a measured approach to the issuance of default judgments and an emphasis on the need for states to comply with their human rights obligations even in situations of exceptional political and security instability.
Beta-globin gene haplotypes and selected Malaria-associated variants among black Southern African populations
Authors: Pule G. D. , Chimusa E. R. , Mnika K. , Mhandire K. , Kampira E. , Dandara C. , Wonkam A.
Published: November 2017

Partial carrier-resistance toPlasmodium falciparummalaria conferred by the sickle cell (HbS) mutation has resulted in the local amplification and positive selection of sickle cell disease (SCD) in malaria-endemic regions and particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The present study investigated theβ-globin gene haplotypes, and selected malaria-associated variants among three cohorts of Bantu-speaking individuals from Malawi, Zimbabwe and South Africa compared with reports with data from others SSA populations. The data suggest a south-ward frequency decrease of malaria-associated variants in SSA linked to the evolutionary dynamics of various African populations’ genomes through selective pressure of malaria. These selected genomics differences, positive selection of SCD in malaria-endemic regions among ‘Bantus’ from various part of Africa emphasise the evidence of the dissociation between genetics, anthropology and culture. The present study also showed a relatively prevalent Benin haplotype, which is mostly found in West Africa, among Southern African Blacks and very low Bantu haplotype, which could suggest a major migration route, of Southern Africa Bantu, along the African west coast, post-occurrence of the Sickle cell mutation, which date remain to be fully elucidated.
Neurological soft signs significantly differentiate schizophrenia patients from healthy controls
Authors: Fountoulakis Konstantinos N. , Panagiotidis Panagiotis , Gonda Xenia , Kimiskidis Vasilios , Nimatoudis Ioannis
Published: November 2017

Objective

Neurological soft signs (NSS) are a group of minor non-localisable neurological abnormalities found more often in patients with schizophrenia. The aim of the current study was to test for the effect of gender, age, parental age, age at onset and clinical symptomatology on NSS.

Material and methods

The study sample included 133 patients suffering from schizophrenia according to DSM-IV-TR (77 males and 56 females; aged 33.55±11.22 years old) and 122 normal controls (66 males and 56 females; aged 32.89±9.91 years old). The assessment included the Neurological Evaluation Scale (NES), and a number of scales assessing the clinical symptoms and adverse effects especially extrapyramidal. The statistical analysis included exploratory t-test, simple linear regression analysis, analysis of covariance and the calculation of correlation coefficients.

Results

The results of the current study confirm that NSS are more frequent in patients with schizophrenia in comparison with normal controls (Wilks=0.622, p<0.0001), but do not support an effect of gender, age, age at onset, paternal or maternal age, education, medication status or clinical subtype of schizophrenia on NES scores.

Discussion

Overall these results suggest that NSS constitute an independent (from the rest of symptoms), core (present in the vast majority of patients) and trait (unrelated to age and probably to the stage of schizophrenia) symptom of schizophrenia which could be of value in the clinical assessment and research of schizophrenia. Overall these results are not in full accord with the literature, but they could serve to fill in gaps and inconsistencies observed so far.
Toward a balanced view of stress-adapted cognition
Authors: Frankenhuis Willem E. , Ellis Bruce J.
Published: November 2017

Pepper & Nettle's paper exemplifies an emerging resistance against an exclusive focus on deficits in people who come from harsh environments. We extend their model by arguing for a perspective that includes not only contextually appropriate responses but also strengths – that is, enhanced mental skills and abilities. Such a well-rounded approach can be leveraged in education, jobs, and interventions.
Socioeconomic status, unpredictability, and different perceptions of the same risk
Authors: Mittal Chiraag , Griskevicius Vladas
Published: November 2017

In this commentary, we address three questions: (1) How might outcomes be affected by the variation in the level of deprivation, rather than the average level of deprivation? (2) Could there be differences in the subjective perception of the same risk as either intrinsic or extrinsic, depending on people's socioeconomic status (SES)? (3) What other psychological mechanisms might play a role in influencing the psychology and behavior of people from deprived backgrounds?
Relative state, social comparison reactions, and the behavioral constellation of deprivation
Authors: Novakowski Dallas , Mishra Sandeep
Published: November 2017

Pepper & Nettle compellingly synthesize evidence indicating that temporal discounting is a functional, adaptive response to deprivation. In this commentary, we underscore the importance of the psychology of relative state, which is an index of relative competitive (dis)advantage. We then highlight two proximate emotional social comparison reactions linked with relative state – personal relative deprivation and envy – that may play an important role in the deprivation-discounting link.
Boredom in art
Authors: Elpidorou Andreas
Published: November 2017

In the light of recent findings on the nature of boredom, I argue that boredom is a potentially useful emotion in art reception and show how the Distancing-Embracing model can be applied to boredom.
Syntactic variation in ‘need’-constructions in Estonian dialects
Authors: Lindström Liina , Uiboaed Kristel
Published: November 2017

The article contributes new data and findings to the growing field of corpus-based dialect syntax research. The focus of the paper is on variation in ‘need’-constructions (tarvis/vaja olema+ nominal complement/infinitive ‘need to’) based on the corpus of Estonian dialects. Our purpose was to demonstrate the complex nature of syntactic variation, constrained geographically, individually or by language-internal factors. The study takes a corpus-based quantitative approach to observing the geographical spread of linguistic units. We apply conditional inference tree and random forests models to capture the (co)varying parts of the construction studied. Our results show that variation in different parts of constructions is influenced by different factors, both geographical and language-internal. Lexical variation (adverbtarvis‘need’ orvaja‘need’) and omission of the copula are clearly geographically distributed, while omission of the experiencer is determined mainly by language-internal factors. However, the study has also found extensive inter-individual differences.
From Politics to Protest: African American Voting in Virginia in the Pre–Civil Rights Movement Era, 1940–1954
Authors: Johnson Kimberley S.
Published: November 2017

This article uses a political developmental approach to examine African American poll-tax registration and voting in Virginia from 1940 to 1954. Using the concept of multiple orders, the article traces how changes in the state's political system of managed race relations created an opening for African American political mobilization. The Virginia Voters League (VVL), in alliance with other African American political, civic, and social organizations, conducted voter education and poll-tax payment campaigns in order foster political efficacy among the state's disenfranchised black voters. The VVL met with mixed success, affected by past political mobilizations, the impact of NAACP mobilization, and local and statewide political competition between the state's main political machine and insurgents. The VVL campaign was successful in achieving short-term victories, including the election of a few African Americans to local office. By 1954, the VVL's internal weakness coupled with the emergence of “massive resistance” stymied further black electoral mobilization through politics and made protest a more viable option for achieving political and civil rights for black Virginians. By tracing the path from politics to protest, this article shows how a political developmental approach can be successfully used to develop a nuanced understanding of the emergence of the civil rights movement and Southern politics in the pre–Brown v. Board of Educationera.
Securing fresh food from fertile soil, challenges to the organic and raw milk movements
Authors: Heckman Joseph R.
Published: November 2017

In recent decades, a diverse community of dairy farmers, consumers and nutrition advocates has campaigned amidst considerable government opposition, to secure and expand the right of individuals to produce, sell and consume fresh unprocessed milk, commonly referred to as ‘raw milk’. This advocacy shares important parallels with battles fought in the organic food movement over the past century. Both the raw milk and organic food movements originated with farmers and consumers who sought to replace industrialized food production and processing practices with more traditional ones. Both movements equate the preservation of natural integrity in farming and food handling with more wholesome, nutritious food and environmental conservation. Both movements have had to work diligently to overcome a false perception that their practices are anachronistic, notably with regard to productive output of organic agriculture and the safety of fresh unprocessed milk. There is also the failure of opponents to acknowledge a growing body of scientific evidence for health benefits associated with drinking of fresh unprocessed milk. The raw milk movement has the potential to economically benefit family farmers, much as organic agriculture has done. Building soil fertility, a foundational principle of organic farming, would benefit from having numerous small pasture-based dairies spread across the land providing fresh unprocessed milk. Agricultural universities and the Cooperative Extension System could seize a real leadership opportunity by promoting and participating in this reinvention of dairy farming, and restoring the ecology of this traditional food and farming system.
Monitoring the Changes in Weed Populations in a Continuous Glyphosate- and Dicamba-Resistant Soybean System: A Five-Year Field-Scale Investigation
Authors: Shergill Lovreet S. , Bish Mandy D. , Biggs Meghan E. , Bradley Kevin W.
Published: November 2017

Research was conducted from 2011 to 2015 to determine the effect of herbicide strategy on efficacy and evolution of herbicide resistance in weeds in a continuous glyphosate- and dicamba-resistant (GDr) soybean system. The nine herbicide strategies included sequential applications of glyphosate only, glyphosate plus dicamba with or without acetochlor, PRE application of residual herbicides with POST glyphosate or non-glyphosate herbicides, and their biennial rotation with one another. Giant foxtail and horseweed were the least problematic during all growing seasons. An increase in horseweed was observed by the end of the experiment especially in the plots where POST glyphosate was not used with PRE application of residual herbicides. Giant ragweed evolved resistance to glyphosate over a 4-yr period of selection with strategies that predominantly included PRE and POST glyphosate. Herbicide use strategies that included glyphosate-only and PRE application of residual herbicides fb POST glyphosate annually or in a biennial rotation were ineffective in controlling giant ragweed and glyphosate-resistant (GR) common waterhemp. Over the years, application of PRE herbicide mixtures before POST glyphosate application improved weed control and soybean yields compared with the glyphosate-only strategy. During all growing seasons, the greatest yield and reduction in total weed density before harvest was provided by herbicide use strategies that included glyphosate plus dicamba annually or in a biennial rotation regardless of the inclusion of acetochlor POST. Dicamba proved to be a valuable addition to improve the control of GR weeds. GDr soybean will provide growers with a new option for managing resistant weeds, but it needs to be used with caution, as multiple resistance in weeds, including waterhemp and giant ragweed, is already widespread.
Ansätze ärztlicher Spiritual Care
Authors: Peng-Keller Simon
Published: November 2017

Zusammenfassung. Dieser Artikel gibt einen Überblick über die aktuelle Diskussion zu Ansätzen ärztlicher Spiritual Care. Der ärztliche Beitrag zu einer interprofessionellen Spiritual Care ist aus drei Gründen wichtig: 1. Für manche Patienten stellen religiös-spirituelle Faktoren im Umgang mit Krankheit und Sterben entweder eine Ressource oder ein Problem dar. 2. Religiös-spirituelle Faktoren können medizinische Entscheidungen beeinflussen, insbesondere am Lebensende. 3. Aufgrund des besonderen Abhängigkeitsverhältnisses im stationären Bereich tragen Ärzte eine Mitverantwortung dafür, dass die Ausübung religiöser Lebensvollzüge unter den Bedingungen des klinischen Alltags gewährleistet bleibt. Eine spezifisch ärztliche Spiritual Care ist deshalb als integrales Moment des ärztlichen Behandlungsauftrags zu verstehen.
Correction: Corrigendum: High-rate aluminium yolk-shell nanoparticle anode for Li-ion battery with long cycle life and ultrahigh capacity
Authors: Li Sa , Niu Junjie , Zhao Yu Cheng , So Kang Pyo , Wang Chao , Wang Chang An , Li Ju
Published: November 2017

Nature Communications 6: Article number: 7872 (2015); Published 5 August 2015; Updated 29 November 2017 This Article contains an error in which the scanning electron microscope image shown in Fig. 2b was included incorrectly. The original Fig. 2b showed yolk-shell microstructures, as previously published in Li, S.
Publisher Correction: Multi-orbital charge transfer at highly oriented organic/metal interfaces
Authors: Zamborlini Giovanni , Lüftner Daniel , Feng Zhijing , Kollmann Bernd , Puschnig Peter , Dri Carlo , Panighel Mirko , Di Santo Giovanni , Goldoni Andrea , Comelli Giovanni , Jugovac Matteo , Feyer Vitaliy , Schneider Claus Michael
Published: November 2017

The original version of this Article contained an error in the spelling of the author Claus Michael Schneider, which was incorrectly given as Claus Michael Schneidery. This has now been corrected in both the PDF and HTML versions of the Article.
Future loss of Arctic sea-ice cover could drive a substantial decrease in California’s rainfall
Authors: Cvijanovic Ivana , Santer Benjamin D. , Bonfils Céline , Lucas Donald D. , Chiang John C. H. , Zimmerman Susan
Published: November 2017

From 2012 to 2016, California experienced one of the worst droughts since the start of observational records. As in previous dry periods, precipitation-inducing winter storms were steered away from California by a persistent atmospheric ridging system in the North Pacific. Here we identify a new link between Arctic sea-ice loss and the North Pacific geopotential ridge development. In a two-step teleconnection, sea-ice changes lead to reorganization of tropical convection that in turn triggers an anticyclonic response over the North Pacific, resulting in significant drying over California. These findings suggest that the ability of climate models to accurately estimate future precipitation changes over California is also linked to the fidelity with which future sea-ice changes are simulated. We conclude that sea-ice loss of the magnitude expected in the next decades could substantially impact California’s precipitation, thus highlighting another mechanism by which human-caused climate change could exacerbate future California droughts.
Generation of photonic entanglement in green fluorescent proteins
Authors: Shi Siyuan , Kumar Prem , Lee Kim Fook
Published: November 2017

Recent development of spectroscopic techniques based on quantum states of light can precipitate many breakthroughs in observing and controlling light-matter interactions in biological materials on a fundamental quantum level. For this reason, the generation of entangled light in biologically produced fluorescent proteins would be promising because of their biocompatibility. Here we demonstrate the generation of polarization-entangled two-photon state through spontaneous four-wave mixing in enhanced green fluorescent proteins. The reconstructed density matrix indicates that the entangled state is subject to decoherence originating from two-photon absorption. However, the prepared state is less sensitive to environmental decoherence because of the protective β-barrel structure that encapsulates the fluorophore in the protein. We further explore the quantumness, including classical and quantum correlations, of the state in the decoherence environment. Our method for photonic entanglement generation may have potential for developing quantum spectroscopic techniques and quantum-enhanced measurements in biological materials.
Resolving the spin splitting in the conduction band of monolayer MoS2
Authors: Marinov Kolyo , Avsar Ahmet , Watanabe Kenji , Taniguchi Takashi , Kis Andras
Published: November 2017

Time-reversal symmetry and broken spin degeneracy enable the exploration of spin and valley quantum degrees of freedom in monolayer transition-metal dichalcogenides. While the strength of the large spin splitting in the valance band of these materials is now well-known, probing the 10–100 times smaller splitting in the conduction band poses significant challenges. Since it is easier to achieve n-type conduction in most of them, resolving the energy levels in the conduction band is crucial for the prospect of developing new spintronic and valleytronic devices. Here, we study quantum transport in high mobility monolayer MoS2 devices where we observe well-developed quantized conductance in multiples of e2/h in zero magnetic field. We extract a sub-band spacing energy of 0.8 meV. The application of a magnetic field gradually increases the interband spacing due to the valley-Zeeman effect. Here, we extract a g-factor of ~2.16 in the conduction band of monolayer MoS2.
Discrete and continuous mechanisms of temporal selection in rapid visual streams
Authors: Marti Sébastien , Dehaene Stanislas
Published: November 2017

Humans can reliably detect a target picture even when tens of images are flashed every second. Here we use magnetoencephalography to dissect the neural mechanisms underlying the dynamics of temporal selection during a rapid serial visual presentation task. Multivariate decoding algorithms allow us to track the overlapping brain responses induced by each image in a rapid visual stream. The results show that temporal selection involves a sequence of gradual followed by all-or-none stages: (i) all images first undergo the same parallel processing pipeline; (ii) starting around 150 ms, responses to multiple images surrounding the target are continuously amplified in ventral visual areas; (iii) only the images that are subsequently reported elicit late all-or-none activations in visual and parietal areas around 350 ms. Thus, multiple images can cohabit in the brain and undergo efficient parallel processing, but temporal selection also isolates a single one for amplification and report.
Polη O-GlcNAcylation governs genome integrity during translesion DNA synthesis
Authors: Ma Xiaolu , Liu Hongmei , Li Jing , Wang Yihao , Ding Yue-He , Shen Hongyan , Yang Yeran , Sun Chenyi , Huang Min , Tu Yingfeng , Liu Yang , Zhao Yongliang , Dong Meng-Qiu , Xu Ping , Tang Tie-Shan , Guo Caixia
Published: November 2017

DNA polymerase η (Polη) facilitates translesion DNA synthesis (TLS) across ultraviolet (UV) irradiation- and cisplatin-induced DNA lesions implicated in skin carcinogenesis and chemoresistant phenotype formation, respectively. However, whether post-translational modifications of Polη are involved in these processes remains largely unknown. Here, we reported that human Polη undergoes O-GlcNAcylation at threonine 457 by O-GlcNAc transferase upon DNA damage. Abrogation of this modification results in a reduced level of CRL4CDT2-dependent Polη polyubiquitination at lysine 462, a delayed p97-dependent removal of Polη from replication forks, and significantly enhanced UV-induced mutagenesis even though Polη focus formation and its efficacy to bypass across cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers after UV irradiation are not affected. Furthermore, the O-GlcNAc-deficient T457A mutation impairs TLS to bypass across cisplatin-induced lesions, causing increased cellular sensitivity to cisplatin. Our findings demonstrate a novel role of Polη O-GlcNAcylation in TLS regulation and genome stability maintenance and establish a new rationale to improve chemotherapeutic treatment.
Simultaneous representation of a spectrum of dynamically changing value estimates during decision making
Authors: Meder David , Kolling Nils , Verhagen Lennart , Wittmann Marco K. , Scholl Jacqueline , Madsen Kristoffer H. , Hulme Oliver J. , Behrens Timothy E.J. , Rushworth Matthew F.S.
Published: November 2017

Decisions are based on value expectations derived from experience. We show that dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and three other brain regions hold multiple representations of choice value based on different timescales of experience organized in terms of systematic gradients across the cortex. Some parts of each area represent value estimates based on recent reward experience while others represent value estimates based on experience over the longer term. The value estimates within these areas interact with one another according to their temporal scaling. Some aspects of the representations change dynamically as the environment changes. The spectrum of value estimates may act as a flexible selection mechanism for combining experience-derived value information with other aspects of value to allow flexible and adaptive decisions in changing environments.
Genome-Wide Association Study of Male Sexual Orientation
Authors: Sanders Alan R. , Beecham Gary W. , Guo Shengru , Dawood Khytam , Rieger Gerulf , Badner Judith A. , Gershon Elliot S. , Krishnappa Ritesha S. , Kolundzija Alana B. , Duan Jubao ,   MGS Collaboration, Shi Jianxin , Levinson Douglas F. , Mowry Bryan J. , Olincy Ann , Amin Farooq , Cloninger C. Robert , Svrakic Dragan M. , Silverman Jeremy M. , Buccola Nancy G. , Byerley William F. , Black Donald W. , Freedman Robert , Gejman Pablo V. , Bailey J. Michael , Martin Eden R.
Published: November 2017

Family and twin studies suggest that genes play a role in male sexual orientation. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of male sexual orientation on a primarily European ancestry sample of 1,077 homosexual men and 1,231 heterosexual men using Affymetrix single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays. We identified several SNPs with p < 10−5, including regions of multiple supporting SNPs on chromosomes 13 (minimum p = 7.5 × 10−7) and 14 (p = 4.7 × 10−7). The genes nearest to these peaks have functions plausibly relevant to the development of sexual orientation. On chromosome 13, SLITRK6 is a neurodevelopmental gene mostly expressed in the diencephalon, which contains a region previously reported as differing in size in men by sexual orientation. On chromosome 14, TSHR genetic variants in intron 1 could conceivably help explain past findings relating familial atypical thyroid function and male homosexuality. Furthermore, skewed X chromosome inactivation has been found in the thyroid condition, Graves’ disease, as well as in mothers of homosexual men. On pericentromeric chromosome 8 within our previously reported linkage peak, we found support (p = 4.1 × 10−3) for a SNP association previously reported (rs77013977, p = 7.1 × 10−8), with the combined analysis yielding p = 6.7 × 10−9, i.e., a genome-wide significant association.
A feasibility study on non-invasive oxidative metabolism detection and acoustic assessment of human vocal cords by using optical technique
Authors: Lin Tzu-Chieh , Chen Jung-Chih , Liu Chih-Hsien , Lee Chia-Yen , Tsou Yung-An , Chuang Ching-Cheng
Published: November 2017

Voice disorder such as vocal fatigue is a common and complex multifaceted clinical problem that presents a significant impact on quality of life. In this study, the functional near-infrared diffuse optical technique (fNIRS-DOT) was proposed as a novel approach for human vocal cords oxidative metabolism detection and acoustic assessment simultaneously to provide a multidimensional assessment of voice disorder. A totally of 60 healthy subjects included 30 male and 30 female adults of age-matched were recruited and performed a vocal loading task to trigger a mild inflammation of the vocal cords in this study. In the results of oxidative metabolism, the vocal cords expressed hypoxia after vocal loading task in both male and female groups that could provide relevant information on the relationship between tissue oxygen consumption and supply for vocal cords diagnosis. Additionally, the results of optical acoustic assessment revealed the worse/changes voice quality after vocal loading task. Therefore, integration of non-invasive oxidative metabolism detection and acoustic assessment by using optical technique could provide more relevant information for diagnosis of voice disorders. The multi-functional vocal cords detection system could provide a good feasibility for clinical applications such as diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of voice disorder.
Prevention and treatment strategies for contextual overgeneralization
Authors: Sevenster Dieuwke , Haesen Kim , Vervliet Bram , Kindt Merel , D’Hooge Rudi
Published: November 2017

At the core of anxiety disorders lies the tendency to generalize fear from a threatening to a safe situation. A deeper understanding of the mechanisms that facilitate and restrain generalization in humans is therefore needed. Rodent studies showed that pre-exposure to a context that is similar to the threatening context enhanced generalization to the similar context. In Experiment 1 we replicated these animal findings in humans (US-expectancy). Studies on the underlying mechanisms showed that the pre-exposure representation was recalled during conditioning (due to similarity between the contexts) and the shock also became linked to the recalled representation, resulting in greater generalization. In Experiment 2 we developed a pre-exposure procedure that increased the ability to distinguish between the conditioned and pre-exposure contexts, such that presentation of the former would no longer result in recall of the latter. We then observed that overgeneralization (US-expectancy) was prevented. Pre-exposure did not affect generalization of skin conductance response or fear potentiated startle. Finally, exploratory analyses revealed that increased generalization (US-expectancy), if not prevented, could be reduced by a reminder of the conditioned context. Hence, we developed a prevention- and a treatment-strategy for overgeneralization. These findings may guide the development of new therapeutic strategies.
Comparative transcriptomic analysis of Tibetan Gynaephora to explore the genetic basis of insect adaptation to divergent altitude environments
Authors: Zhang Qi-Lin , Zhang Li , Yang Xing-Zhuo , Wang Xiao-Tong , Li Xiao-Peng , Wang Juan , Chen Jun-Yuan , Yuan Ming-Long
Published: November 2017

Adaptation of insects to different altitudes remain largely unknown, especially those endemic to the Tibetan Plateau (TP). Here, we generated the transcriptomes of Gynaephora menyuanensis and G. alpherakii, inhabiting different high altitudes on the TP, and used these and the previously available transcriptomic and genomic sequences from low-altitude insects to explore potential genetic basis for divergent high-altitude adaptation in Gynaephora. An analysis of 5,869 orthologous genes among Gynaephora and other three low-altitude insects uncovered that fast-evolving genes and positively selected genes (PSGs) in the two Gynaephora species were enriched in energy metabolism and hypoxia response categories (e.g. mitochondrion, oxidation-reduction process, and response to oxidative stress). Particularly, mTOR signaling pathway involving hypoxia was enriched by PSGs, indicating this well-known pathway in mammal hypoxia adaptation may be an important signaling system in Gynaephora. Furthermore, some PSGs were associated with response to hypoxia (e.g. cytochrome proteins), cold (e.g. dehydrogenase) and DNA repair (e.g. DNA repair proteins). Interestingly, several insect-specific genes that were associated with exoskeleton and cuticle development (e.g. chitinase and ecdysteroids) had experienced positive selection, suggesting the specific adaptive mechanisms in insects. This study is favourable for understanding the adaptive evolution of Gynaephora and even TP insects to divergent altitudes.
HSP60 possesses a GTPase activity and mediates protein folding with HSP10
Authors: Okamoto Tomoya , Yamamoto Hiroshi , Kudo Ikuru , Matsumoto Kazuya , Odaka Masafumi , Grave Ewa , Itoh Hideaki
Published: November 2017

The mammalian molecular chaperone, HSP60, plays an essential role in protein homeostasis through mediating protein folding and assembly. The structure and ATP-dependent function of HSP60 has been well established in recent studies. After ATP, GTP is the major cellular nucleotide. In this paper, we have investigated the role of GTP in the activity of HSP60. It was found that HSP60 has different properties with respect to allostery, complex formation and protein folding activity depending on the nucleoside triphosphate present. The presence of GTP slightly affected the ATPase activity of HSP60 during protein folding. These results provide clues as to the functional mechanism of the HSP60-HSP10 complex.
Diet breadth modulates preference - performance relationships in a phytophagous insect community
Authors: Charlery de la Masselière Maud , Facon Benoît , Hafsi Abir , Duyck Pierre-François
Published: November 2017

In most phytophagous insects, larvae are less mobile than adults and their fitness depends on the plant chosen by their mother. To maximize fitness, adult preference and larval performance should thus be correlated. This correlation is not always apparent and seems to increase with the level of specialisation, i.e. specialists have a stronger preference for high quality host plant species compared to generalists. The aim of this study was to test whether the relationship between female preference and larval performance was stronger for specialists than for generalists within a community of fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae). A total of six fruit fly species was used, including four generalists, and two specialists co-existing in La Reunion island (France). We estimated oviposition preference through the number of eggs laid and larval performance through the larval survival on 29 different host plants species belonging to 15 families in the laboratory and evaluated the relationship between these two traits. Preference-performance relationship differed according to the degree of specialisation with a strong positive correlation for specialists and no relationship for generalists. These results substantiate the theory that choosing high quality hosts is more important for specialists that are adapted to survive on fewer host plants than for generalists.
Quantitative trait loci mapping for feed conversion efficiency in crucian carp (Carassius auratus)
Authors: Pang Meixia , Fu Beide , Yu Xiaomu , Liu Haiyang , Wang Xinhua , Yin Zhan , Xie Shouqi , Tong Jingou
Published: November 2017

QTL is a chromosomal region including single gene or gene clusters that determine a quantitative trait. While feed efficiency is highly important in aquaculture fish, little genetic and genomic progresses have been made for this trait. In this study, we constructed a high-resolution genetic linkage map in a full-sib F1 family of crucian carp (Carassius auratus) consisting of 113 progenies with 8,460 SNP markers assigning onto 50 linkage groups (LGs). This genetic map spanned 4,047.824 cM (0.478 cM/marker) and covered 98.76% of the crucian carp genome. 35 chromosome-wide QTL affecting feed conversion efficiency (FCE, 8 QTL), relative growth rate (RGR, 9 QTL), average daily gain (ADG, 13 QTL) and average daily feed intake (ADFI, 5 QTL) were detected on 14 LGs, explaining 14.0–20.9% of the phenotypic variations. In LGs of LG16, LG25, LG36 and LG49, several QTL affecting different traits clustered together at the identical or close regions of the same linkage group. Seven candidate genes, whose biological functions may involve in the energy metabolism, digestion, biosynthesis and signal transduction, were identified from these QTL intervals by comparative genomics analysis. These results provide a basis for elucidating genetic mechanism of feed efficiency and potential marker-assisted selection in crucian carp.