bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Curcumin represses mouse 3T3-L1 cell adipogenic differentiation via inhibiting miR-17-5p and stimulating the Wnt signalling pathway effector Tcf7l2
Authors: Tian Lili , Song Zhuolun , Shao Weijuan , Du William W , Zhao Lisa R , Zeng Kejing , Yang Burton B , Jin Tianru
Published: January 2017

Understanding mechanisms underlying adipogenic differentiation may lead to the discovery of novel therapeutic targets for obesity. Wnt signalling pathway activation leads to repressed adipogenic differentiation while certain microRNAs may regulate pre-adipocyte proliferation and differentiation. We show here that in mouse white adipose tissue, miR-17-5p level is elevated after high fat diet consumption. miR-17-5p upregulates adipogenic differentiation, as its over-expression increased while its inhibition repressed 3T3-L1 differentiation. The Tcf7l2 gene encodes a key Wnt signalling pathway effector, and its human homologue TCF7L2 is a highly regarded diabetes risk gene. We found that Tcf7l2 is an miR-17-5p target and confirmed the repressive effect of Tcf7l2 on 3T3-L1 adipogenic differentiation. The natural plant polyphenol compound curcumin possesses the body weight lowering effect. We observed that curcumin attenuated miR-17-5p expression and stimulated Tcf7l2 expression in 3T3-L1 cells. These, along with the elevation of miR-17-5p expression in mouse epididymal fat tissue in response to high fat diet consumption, allowed us to suggest that miR-17-5p is among central switches of adipogenic differentiation. It activates adipogenesis via repressing the Wnt signalling pathway effector Tcf7l2, and its own expression is likely nutritionally regulated in health and disease.
α3 Chains of type V collagen regulate breast tumour growth via glypican-1
Authors: Huang Guorui , Ge Gaoxiang , Izzi Valerio , Greenspan Daniel S.
Published: January 2017

Pericellular α3(V) collagen can affect the functioning of cells, such as adipocytes and pancreatic β cells. Here we show that α3(V) chains are an abundant product of normal mammary gland basal cells, and that α3(V) ablation in a mouse mammary tumour model inhibits mammary tumour progression by reducing the proliferative potential of tumour cells. These effects are shown to be primarily cell autonomous, from loss of α3(V) chains normally produced by tumour cells, in which they affect growth by enhancing the ability of cell surface proteoglycan glypican-1 to act as a co-receptor for FGF2. Thus, a mechanism is presented for microenvironmental influence on tumour growth. α3(V) chains are produced in both basal-like and luminal human breast tumours, and its expression levels are tightly coupled with those of glypican-1 across breast cancer types. Evidence indicates α3(V) chains as potential targets for inhibiting tumour growth and as markers of oncogenic transformation.
Logarithmic sensing in Bacillus subtilis aerotaxis
Authors: Menolascina Filippo , Rusconi Roberto , Fernandez Vicente I , Smriga Steven , Aminzare Zahra , Sontag Eduardo D , Stocker Roman
Published: January 2017

Aerotaxis, the directed migration along oxygen gradients, allows many microorganisms to locate favorable oxygen concentrations. Despite oxygen’s fundamental role for life, even key aspects of aerotaxis remain poorly understood. In Bacillus subtilis, for example, there is conflicting evidence of whether migration occurs to the maximal oxygen concentration available or to an optimal intermediate one, and how aerotaxis can be maintained over a broad range of conditions. Using precisely controlled oxygen gradients in a microfluidic device, spanning the full spectrum of conditions from quasi-anoxic to oxic (60 n mol/l–1 m mol/l), we resolved B. subtilis’ ‘oxygen preference conundrum’ by demonstrating consistent migration towards maximum oxygen concentrations (‘monotonic aerotaxis’). Surprisingly, the strength of aerotaxis was largely unchanged over three decades in oxygen concentration (131 n mol/l–196 μ mol/l). We discovered that in this range B. subtilis responds to the logarithm of the oxygen concentration gradient, a rescaling strategy called ‘log-sensing’ that affords organisms high sensitivity over a wide range of conditions. In these experiments, high-throughput single-cell imaging yielded the best signal-to-noise ratio of any microbial taxis study to date, enabling the robust identification of the first mathematical model for aerotaxis among a broad class of alternative models. The model passed the stringent test of predicting the transient aerotactic response despite being developed on steady-state data, and quantitatively captures both monotonic aerotaxis and log-sensing. Taken together, these results shed new light on the oxygen-seeking capabilities of B. subtilis and provide a blueprint for the quantitative investigation of the many other forms of microbial taxis.
Experimental verification of the ab initio phase transition sequence in SrZrO3 and comparisons with SrHfO3 and SrSnO
3
Authors: Kumar Ashok , Kumari Shalini , Borkar Hitesh , Katiyar Ram S , Scott James Floyd
Published: January 2017

We present detailed Raman studies of SrZrO3 (SZO) that show three anomalies in Raman modes: One has a small jump in frequency ω, one has its intensity vanish, and a third has a sharp change in temperature derivative dω(T)/dT from flat below T = 600 K to a Curie–Weiss dependence above 600 K with extrapolation to zero frequency at the known transition temperature T = 970 K, thereby proving the latter to be displacive. In addition, the P4mm ferroelectric phase predicted at high stresses has preliminary support from polarization-voltage experiments. The inference of a new transition in the temperature region 600–650 K is in disagreement with neutron studies. Comparisons are given for family member SrSnO3 and SrHfO3, and we discuss the different conclusions of Kennedy and Knight. We show that a known transition in SrHfO3 is also displacive with a well-behaved soft mode.
Precision Military Medicine: Conducting a multi-site clinical utility study of genomic and lifestyle risk factors in the United States Air Force
Authors: Delaney Susan K. , Brenner Ruth , Schmidlen Tara J. , Dempsey Michael P. , London Kim E. , Gordon Erynn S. , Bellafante Mark , Nasuti Ashley , Scheinfeldt Laura B. , Rajula Kaveri D. , Jose Leo , Jarvis Joseph P. , Gerry Norman P. , Christman Michael F.
Published: January 2017

Following several years enrolling disease-specific and otherwise healthy cohorts into the Coriell Personalized Medicine Collaborative, a prospective study aimed at evaluating the clinical utility of personal genomic information for common complex disease and pharmacogenomics, the Coriell Personalized Medicine Collaborative expanded to create a military cohort, specifically, the United States Air Force. Initial recruitment focused on Air Force Medical Service personnel and later expanded to include all Active Duty Air Force members and beneficiaries. Now in its 6th year, the study has produced a wide variety of insights, including optimal study design for military-sponsored genomic research, and discussion on genetic information sharing between and amongst Air Force study participants, civilian and military researchers, and the United States Department of Defense. Over the longer term, analyses will further contribute to the development of policies and processes relevant to clinical decision support and data sharing within the US military, and on-going work with the Air Force Medical Service sub-cohort will generate critical insights into how best to deploy useful genomic information in clinical care. Here we discuss challenges faced and critical success factors for military-civilian collaborations around genomic research.
Erratum: MicroRNA-127 targeting of mitoNEET inhibits neurite outgrowth, induces cell apoptosis and contributes to physiological dysfunction after spinal cord transection
Authors: He Qin-Qin , Xiong Liu-Lin , Liu Fei , He Xiang , Feng Guo-Ying , Shang Fei-Fei , Xia Qing-Jie , Wang You-Cui , Qiu De-Lu , Luo Chao-Zhi , Liu Jia , Wang Ting-Hua
Published: January 2017

Scientific Reports 6: Article number: 35205; published online: 17 October 2016; updated: 19 January 2017. The original version of this Article contained a typographical error in Affiliation 1. The affiliation: Institute of Neurological Disease, Department of Anesthesiology and Translational Neuroscience Center, the state key laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Kunming 650500, China.
Demonstration of the Protein Involvement in Cell Electropermeabilization using Confocal Raman Microspectroscopy
Authors: Azan Antoine , Untereiner Valérie , Gobinet Cyril , Sockalingum Ganesh D. , Breton Marie , Piot Olivier , Mir Lluis M.
Published: January 2017

Confocal Raman microspectroscopy was used to study the interaction between pulsed electric fields and live cells from a molecular point of view in a non-invasive and label-free manner. Raman signatures of live human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells exposed or not to pulsed electric fields (8 pulses, 1 000 V/cm, 100 μs, 1 Hz) were acquired at two cellular locations (nucleus and cytoplasm) and two spectral bands (600–1 800 cm−1 and 2 800–3 100 cm−1). Vibrational modes of proteins (phenylalanine and amide I) and lipids were found to be modified by the electropermeabilization process with a statistically significant difference. The relative magnitude of four phenylalanine peaks decreased in the spectra of the pulsed group. On the contrary, the relative magnitude of the amide I band at 1658 cm−1 increased by 40% when comparing pulsed and control group. No difference was found between the control and the pulsed group in the high wavenumber spectral band. Our results reveal the modification of proteins in living cells exposed to pulsed electric fields by means of confocal Raman microspectroscopy.
Correction: Corrigendum: Nanoimaging granule dynamics and subcellular structures in activated mast cells using soft X-ray tomography
Authors: Chen Huan-Yuan , Chiang Dapi Meng-Lin , Lin Zi-Jing , Hsieh Chia-Chun , Yin Gung-Chian , Weng I.-Chun , Guttmann Peter , Werner Stephan , Henzler Katja , Schneider Gerd , Lai Lee-Jene , Liu Fu-Tong
Published: January 2017

Scientific Reports 6: Article number: 34879; published online: 17 October 2016; updated: 19 January 2017. The original version of this Article contained an error in the spelling of the author Peter Guttmann, which was incorrectly given as Peter Guttermann. This has now been corrected in the PDF and HTML versions of the Article.
Correction: Corrigendum: Mitochondrial pathogenic mechanism and degradation in optineurin E50K mutation-mediated retinal ganglion cell degeneration
Authors: Shim Myoung Sup , Takihara Yuji , Kim Keun-Young , Iwata Takeshi , Yue Beatrice Y. J. T. , Inatani Masaru , Weinreb Robert N. , Perkins Guy A. , Ju Won-Kyu
Published: January 2017

Scientific Reports 6: Article number: 33830; published online: 22 September 2016; updated: 19 January 2017. This Article contains an error in panel C of Figure 4, where “WT” was incorrectly written as “E50K−tg”. The correct Figure 4 appears below as Figure 1.
Individualised multiplexed circulating tumour DNA assays for monitoring of tumour presence in patients after colorectal cancer surgery
Authors: Ng Sarah B. , Chua Clarinda , Ng Matthew , Gan Anna , Poon Polly SY , Teo Melissa , Fu Cherylin , Leow Wei Qiang , Lim Kiat Hon , Chung Alexander , Koo Si-Lin , Choo Su Pin , Ho Danliang , Rozen Steve , Tan Patrick , Wong Mark , Burkholder William F. , Tan Iain Beehuat
Published: January 2017

Circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) has the potential to be a specific biomarker for the monitoring of tumours in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Here, our aim was to develop a personalised surveillance strategy to monitor the clinical course of CRC after surgery. We developed patient-specific ctDNA assays based on multiplexed detection of somatic mutations identified from patient primary tumours, and applied them to detect ctDNA in 44 CRC patients, analysing a total of 260 plasma samples. We found that ctDNA detection correlated with clinical events – it is detectable in pre-operative but not post-operative plasma, and also in patients with recurrent CRC. We also detected ctDNA in 11 out of 15 cases at or before clinical or radiological recurrence of CRC, indicating the potential of our assay for early detection of metastasis. We further present data from a patient with multiple primary cancers to demonstrate the specificity of our assays to distinguish between CRC recurrence and a second primary cancer. Our approach can complement current methods for surveillance of CRC by adding an individualised biological component, allowing us not only to point to the presence of residual or recurrent disease, but also attribute it to the original cancer.
Novel Bio-functional Magnesium Coating on Porous Ti6Al4V Orthopaedic Implants: In vitro and In vivo Study
Authors: Li Xiaokang , Gao Peng , Wan Peng , Pei Yifeng , Shi Lei , Fan Bo , Shen Chao , Xiao Xin , Yang Ke , Guo Zheng
Published: January 2017

Titanium and its alloys with various porous structures are one of the most important metals used in orthopaedic implants due to favourable properties as replacement for hard tissues. However, surface modification is critical to improve the osteointegration of titanium and its alloys. In this study, a bioactive magnesium coating was successfully fabricated on porous Ti6Al4V by means of arc ion plating, which was proved with fine grain size and high film/substrate adhesion. The surface composition and morphology were characterized by X-ray diffraction and SEM equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy. Furthermore, the in vitro study of cytotoxicity and proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells showed that magnesium coated porous Ti6Al4V had suitable degradation and biocompatibility. Moreover, the in vivo studies including fluorescent labelling, micro-computed tomography analysis scan and Van-Gieson staining of histological sections indicated that magnesium coated porous Ti6Al4V could significantly promote bone regeneration in rabbit femoral condylar defects after implantation for 4 and 8 weeks, and has better osteogenesis and osteointegration than the bare porous Ti6Al4V. Therefore, it is expected that this bioactive magnesium coating on porous Ti6Al4V scaffolds with improved osteointegration and osteogenesis functions can be used for orthopedic applications.
Non-Destructive Study of Bulk Crystallinity and Elemental Composition of Natural Gold Single Crystal Samples by Energy-Resolved Neutron Imaging
Authors: Tremsin Anton S. , Rakovan John , Shinohara Takenao , Kockelmann Winfried , Losko Adrian S. , Vogel Sven C.
Published: January 2017

Energy-resolved neutron imaging enables non-destructive analyses of bulk structure and elemental composition, which can be resolved with high spatial resolution at bright pulsed spallation neutron sources due to recent developments and improvements of neutron counting detectors. This technique, suitable for many applications, is demonstrated here with a specific study of ~5–10 mm thick natural gold samples. Through the analysis of neutron absorption resonances the spatial distribution of palladium (with average elemental concentration of ~0.4 atom% and ~5 atom%) is mapped within the gold samples. At the same time, the analysis of coherent neutron scattering in the thermal and cold energy regimes reveals which samples have a single-crystalline bulk structure through the entire sample volume. A spatially resolved analysis is possible because neutron transmission spectra are measured simultaneously on each detector pixel in the epithermal, thermal and cold energy ranges. With a pixel size of 55 μm and a detector-area of 512 by 512 pixels, a total of 262,144 neutron transmission spectra are measured concurrently. The results of our experiments indicate that high resolution energy-resolved neutron imaging is a very attractive analytical technique in cases where other conventional non-destructive methods are ineffective due to sample opacity.
Manipulation of Auxin Response Factor 19 affects seed size in the woody perennial Jatropha curcas
Authors: Sun Yanwei , Wang Chunming , Wang Ning , Jiang Xiyuan , Mao Huizhu , Zhu Changxiang , Wen Fujiang , Wang Xianghua , Lu Zhijun , Yue Genhua , Xu Zengfu , Ye Jian
Published: January 2017

Seed size is a major determinant of seed yield but few is known about the genetics controlling of seed size in plants. Phytohormones cytokinin and brassinosteroid were known to be involved in the regulation of herbaceous plant seed development. Here we identified a homolog of Auxin Response Factor 19 (JcARF19) from a woody plant Jatropha curcas and genetically demonstrated its functions in controlling seed size and seed yield. Through Virus Induced Gene Silencing (VIGS), we found that JcARF19 was a positive upstream modulator in auxin signaling and may control plant organ size in J. curcas. Importantly, transgenic overexpression of JcARF19 significantly increased seed size and seed yield in plants Arabidopsis thaliana and J. curcas, indicating the importance of auxin pathway in seed yield controlling in dicot plants. Transcripts analysis indicated that ectopic expression of JcARF19 in J. curcas upregulated auxin responsive genes encoding essential regulators in cell differentiation and cytoskeletal dynamics of seed development. Our data suggested the potential of improving seed traits by precisely engineering auxin signaling in woody perennial plants.
Fractional lattice charge transport
Authors: Flach Sergej , Khomeriki Ramaz
Published: January 2017

We consider the dynamics of noninteracting quantum particles on a square lattice in the presence of a magnetic flux α and a dc electric field E oriented along the lattice diagonal. In general, the adiabatic dynamics will be characterized by Bloch oscillations in the electrical field direction and dispersive ballistic transport in the perpendicular direction. For rational values of α and a corresponding discrete set of values of E(α) vanishing gaps in the spectrum induce a fractionalization of the charge in the perpendicular direction - while left movers are still performing dispersive ballistic transport, the complementary fraction of right movers is propagating in a dispersionless relativistic manner in the opposite direction. Generalizations and the possible probing of the effect with atomic Bose-Einstein condensates and photonic networks are discussed. Zak phase of respective band associated with gap closing regime has been computed and it is found converging to π/2 value.
Electrolyte-Sensing Transistor Decals Enabled by Ultrathin Microbial Nanocellulose
Authors: Yuen Jonathan D. , Walper Scott A. , Melde Brian J. , Daniele Michael A. , Stenger David A.
Published: January 2017

We report an ultra-thin electronic decal that can simultaneously collect, transmit and interrogate a bio-fluid. The described technology effectively integrates a thin-film organic electrochemical transistor (sensing component) with an ultrathin microbial nanocellulose wicking membrane (sample handling component). As far as we are aware, OECTs have not been integrated in thin, permeable membrane substrates for epidermal electronics. The design of the biocompatible decal allows for the physical isolation of the electronics from the human body while enabling efficient bio-fluid delivery to the transistor via vertical wicking. High currents and ON-OFF ratios were achieved, with sensitivity as low as 1 mg·L−1.
Integration of Visual and Joint Information to Enable Linear Reaching Motions
Authors: Eberle Henry , Nasuto Slawomir J. , Hayashi Yoshikatsu
Published: January 2017

A new dynamics-driven control law was developed for a robot arm, based on the feedback control law which uses the linear transformation directly from work space to joint space. This was validated using a simulation of a two-joint planar robot arm and an optimisation algorithm was used to find the optimum matrix to generate straight trajectories of the end-effector in the work space. We found that this linear matrix can be decomposed into the rotation matrix representing the orientation of the goal direction and the joint relation matrix ( MJRM) representing the joint response to errors in the Cartesian work space. The decomposition of the linear matrix indicates the separation of path planning in terms of the direction of the reaching motion and the synergies of joint coordination. Once the MJRM is numerically obtained, the feedfoward planning of reaching direction allows us to provide asymptotically stable, linear trajectories in the entire work space through rotational transformation, completely avoiding the use of inverse kinematics. Our dynamics-driven control law suggests an interesting framework for interpreting human reaching motion control alternative to the dominant inverse method based explanations, avoiding expensive computation of the inverse kinematics and the point-to-point control along the desired trajectories.
Transcriptional profiling of olfactory system development identifies distal antenna as a regulator of subset of neuronal fates
Authors: Barish Scott , Li Qingyun , Pan Jia W. , Soeder Charlie , Jones Corbin , Volkan Pelin C.
Published: January 2017

Drosophila uses 50 different olfactory receptor neuron (ORN) classes that are clustered within distinct sensilla subtypes to decipher their chemical environment. Each sensilla subtype houses 1–4 ORN identities that arise through asymmetric divisions of a single sensory organ precursor (SOP). Despite a number of mutational studies investigating the regulation of ORN development, a majority of the transcriptional programs that lead to the different ORN classes in the developing olfactory system are unknown. Here we use transcriptional profiling across the time series of antennal development to identify novel transcriptional programs governing the differentiation of ORNs. We surveyed four critical developmental stages of the olfactory system: 3rd instar larval (prepatterning), 8 hours after puparium formation (APF, SOP selection), 40 hrs APF (neurogenesis), and adult antennae. We focused on the expression profiles of olfactory receptor genes and transcription factors—the two main classes of genes that regulate the sensory identity of ORNs. We identify distinct clusters of genes that have overlapping temporal expression profiles suggesting they have a key role during olfactory system development. We show that the expression of the transcription factor distal antenna (dan) is highly similar to other prepatterning factors and is required for the expression of a subset of ORs.
Model for large-area monolayer coverage of polystyrene nanospheres by spin coating
Authors: Chandramohan Abhishek , Sibirev Nikolai V. , Dubrovskii Vladimir G. , Petty Michael C. , Gallant Andrew J. , Zeze Dagou A.
Published: January 2017

Nanosphere lithography, an inexpensive and high throughput technique capable of producing nanostructure (below 100 nm feature size) arrays, relies on the formation of a monolayer of self-assembled nanospheres, followed by custom-etching to produce nanometre size features on large-area substrates. A theoretical model underpinning the self-ordering process by centrifugation is proposed to describe the interplay between the spin speed and solution concentration. The model describes the deposition of a dense and uniform monolayer by the implicit contribution of gravity, centrifugal force and surface tension, which can be accounted for using only the spin speed and the solid/liquid volume ratio. We demonstrate that the spin recipe for the monolayer formation can be represented as a pathway on a 2D phase plane. The model accounts for the ratio of polystyrene nanospheres (300 nm), water, methanol and surfactant in the solution, crucial for large area uniform and periodic monolayer deposition. The monolayer is exploited to create arrays of nanoscale features using ‘short’ or ‘extended’ reactive ion etching to produce 30–60 nm (diameter) nanodots or 100–200 nm (diameter) nanoholes over the entire substrate, respectively. The nanostructures were subsequently utilized to create master stamps for nanoimprint lithography.
Polarization conversion in plasmonic nanoantennas for metasurfaces using structural asymmetry and mode hybridization
Authors: Wiecha Peter R. , Black Leo-Jay , Wang Yudong , Paillard Vincent , Girard Christian , Muskens Otto L. , Arbouet Arnaud
Published: January 2017

Polarization control using single plasmonic nanoantennas is of interest for subwavelength optical components in nano-optical circuits and metasurfaces. Here, we investigate the role of two mechanisms for polarization conversion by plasmonic antennas: Structural asymmetry and plasmon hybridization through strong coupling. As a model system we investigate L-shaped antennas consisting of two orthogonal nanorods which lengths and coupling strength can be independently controlled. An analytical model based on field susceptibilities is developed to extract key parameters and to address the influence of antenna morphology and excitation wavelength on polarization conversion efficiency and scattering intensities. Optical spectroscopy experiments performed on individual antennas, further supported by electrodynamical simulations based on the Green Dyadic Method, confirm the trends extracted from the analytical model. Mode hybridization and structural asymmetry allow address-ing different input polarizations and wavelengths, providing additional degrees of freedom for agile polarization conversion in nanophotonic devices.
Coordinated cell motility is regulated by a combination of LKB1 farnesylation and kinase activity
Authors: Wilkinson S. , Hou Y. , Zoine J. T. , Saltz J. , Zhang C. , Chen Z. , Cooper L. A. D. , Marcus A. I.
Published: January 2017

Cell motility requires the precise coordination of cell polarization, lamellipodia formation, adhesion, and force generation. LKB1 is a multi-functional serine/threonine kinase that associates with actin at the cellular leading edge of motile cells and suppresses FAK. We sought to understand how LKB1 coordinates these multiple events by systematically dissecting LKB1 protein domain function in combination with live cell imaging and computational approaches. We show that LKB1-actin colocalization is dependent upon LKB1 farnesylation leading to RhoA-ROCK-mediated stress fiber formation, but membrane dynamics is reliant on LKB1 kinase activity. We propose that LKB1 kinase activity controls membrane dynamics through FAK since loss of LKB1 kinase activity results in morphologically defective nascent adhesion sites. In contrast, defective farnesylation mislocalizes nascent adhesion sites, suggesting that LKB1 farnesylation serves as a targeting mechanism for properly localizing adhesion sites during cell motility. Together, we propose a model where coordination of LKB1 farnesylation and kinase activity serve as a multi-step mechanism to coordinate cell motility during migration.
Time-resolved neutron scattering provides new insight into protein substrate processing by a AAA+ unfoldase
Authors: Ibrahim Ziad , Martel Anne , Moulin Martine , Kim Henry S. , Härtlein Michael , Franzetti Bruno , Gabel Frank
Published: January 2017

We present a combination of small-angle neutron scattering, deuterium labelling and contrast variation, temperature activation and fluorescence spectroscopy as a novel approach to obtain time-resolved, structural data individually from macromolecular complexes and their substrates during active biochemical reactions. The approach allowed us to monitor the mechanical unfolding of a green fluorescent protein model substrate by the archaeal AAA+ PAN unfoldase on the sub-minute time scale. Concomitant with the unfolding of its substrate, the PAN complex underwent an energy-dependent transition from a relaxed to a contracted conformation, followed by a slower expansion to its initial state at the end of the reaction. The results support a model in which AAA ATPases unfold their substrates in a reversible power stroke mechanism involving several subunits and demonstrate the general utility of this time-resolved approach for studying the structural molecular kinetics of multiple protein remodelling complexes and their substrates on the sub-minute time scale.
Low-level predation by lytic phage phiIPLA-RODI promotes biofilm formation and triggers the stringent response in Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Fernández Lucía , González Silvia , Campelo Ana Belén , Martínez Beatriz , Rodríguez Ana , García Pilar
Published: January 2017

An important lesson from the war on pathogenic bacteria has been the need to understand the physiological responses and evolution of natural microbial communities. Bacterial populations in the environment are generally forming biofilms subject to some level of phage predation. These multicellular communities are notoriously resistant to antimicrobials and, consequently, very difficult to eradicate. This has sparked the search for new therapeutic alternatives, including phage therapy. This study demonstrates that S. aureus biofilms formed in the presence of a non-lethal dose of phage phiIPLA-RODI exhibit a unique physiological state that could potentially benefit both the host and the predator. Thus, biofilms formed under phage pressure are thicker and have a greater DNA content. Also, the virus-infected biofilm displayed major transcriptional differences compared to an untreated control. Significantly, RNA-seq data revealed activation of the stringent response, which could slow down the advance of the bacteriophage within the biofilm. The end result would be an equilibrium that would help bacterial cells to withstand environmental challenges, while maintaining a reservoir of sensitive bacterial cells available to the phage upon reactivation of the dormant carrier population.
The role of configurational disorder on plastic and dynamic deformation in Cu64Zr36 metallic glasses: A molecular dynamics analysis
Authors: Feng S. D. , Chan K. C. , Chen S. H. , Zhao L. , Liu R. P.
Published: January 2017

The varying degrees of configurational disorder in metallic glasses are investigated quantitatively by molecular dynamics studies. A parameter, the quasi-nearest atom, is used to characterize the configurational disorder in metallic glasses. Our observations suggest configurational disorder play a role in structural heterogeneity, plasticity and dynamic relaxations in metallic glasses. The broad configurational disorder regions distribution is the indicator of abundant potential deformation units and relaxations. Plastic flow, as well as relaxation, is believed to start at configurational disorder regions. The width of the shear bands and dynamic relaxations can then be regulated by the degree of configurational disorder regions in metallic glasses.
Correction: Corrigendum: Purification and Characterization of a Novel Cold Shock Protein-Like Bacteriocin Synthesized by Bacillus thuringiensis
Authors: Huang Tianpei , Zhang Xiaojuan , Pan Jieru , Su Xiaoyu , Jin Xin , Guan Xiong
Published: January 2017

Scientific Reports 6: Article number: 35560; published online: 20 October 2016; updated: 19 January 2017. This Article contains an error in the Acknowledgements section: “We are grateful to professor Zongchao Jia (Queen’s University, Canada) and Dr. Xiaofeng Xie (Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China) for their revision of the manuscript; to professor Jie Zhang, Dr.
Determining arterial wave transit time from a single aortic pressure pulse in rats: vascular impulse response analysis
Authors: Chang Ru-Wen , Chang Chun-Yi , Lai Liang-Chuan , Wu Ming-Shiou , Young Tai-Horng , Chen Yih-Sharng , Wang Chih-Hsien , Chang Kuo-Chu
Published: January 2017

Arterial wave transit time (τw) in the lower body circulation is an effective biomarker of cardiovascular risk that substantially affects systolic workload imposed on the heart. This study evaluated a method for determining τw from the vascular impulse response on the basis of the measured aortic pressure and an assumed triangular flow (Qtri). The base of the unknown Qtri was constructed with a duration set equal to ejection time. The timing of the peak triangle was derived using a fourth-order derivative of the pressure waveform. Values of τws obtained using Qtri were compared with those obtained from the measure aortic flow wave (Qm). Healthy rats (n = 27), rats with chronic kidney disease (CKD; n = 22), and rats with type 1 (n = 22) or type 2 (n = 11) diabetes were analyzed. The cardiovascular conditions in the CKD rats and both diabetic groups were characterized by a decrease in τws. The following significant relation was observed (P < 0.0001): τwtriQ = −1.5709 + 1.0604 × τwmQ (r2 = 0.9641). Our finding indicates that aortic impulse response can be an effective method for the estimation of arterial τw by using a single pressure recording together with the assumed Qtri.
Differential effects of phytotherapic preparations in the hSOD1 Drosophila melanogaster model of ALS
Authors: De Rose Francescaelena , Marotta Roberto , Talani Giuseppe , Catelani Tiziano , Solari Paolo , Poddighe Simone , Borghero Giuseppe , Marrosu Francesco , Sanna Enrico , Kasture Sanjay , Acquas Elio , Liscia Anna
Published: January 2017

The present study was aimed at characterizing the effects of Withania somnifera (Wse) and Mucuna pruriens (Mpe) on a Drosophila melanogaster model for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). In particular, the effects of Wse and Mpe were assessed following feeding the flies selectively overexpressing the wild human copper, zinc-superoxide dismutase (hSOD1-gain-of-function) in Drosophila motoneurons. Although ALS-hSOD1 mutants showed no impairment in life span, with respect to GAL4 controls, the results revealed impairment of climbing behaviour, muscle electrophysiological parameters (latency and amplitude of ePSPs) as well as thoracic ganglia mitochondrial functions. Interestingly, Wse treatment significantly increased lifespan of hSDO1 while Mpe had not effect. Conversely, both Wse and Mpe significantly rescued climbing impairment, and also latency and amplitude of ePSPs as well as failure responses to high frequency DLM stimulation. Finally, mitochondrial alterations were any more present in Wse- but not in Mpe-treated hSOD1 mutants. Hence, given the role of inflammation in the development of ALS, the high translational impact of the model, the known anti-inflammatory properties of these extracts, and the viability of their clinical use, these results suggest that the application of Wse and Mpe might represent a valuable pharmacological strategy to counteract the progression of ALS and related symptoms.
Characterising molecules for fundamental physics: an accurate spectroscopic model of methyltrioxorhenium derived from new infrared and millimetre-wave measurements
Authors: Asselin Pierre , Berger Yann , Huet Thérèse R. , Margulès Laurent , Motiyenko Roman , Hendricks Richard J. , Tarbutt Michael R. , Tokunaga Sean K. , Darquié Benoît
Published: January 2017

Low temperature infrared spectroscopic studies are used to improve our understanding of the structure of methyltrioxorhenium in the context of molecular parity violation measurements.
Recent advances in engineering microparticles and their nascent utilization in biomedical delivery and diagnostic applications
Authors: Choi Andrew , Seo Kyoung Duck , Kim Do Wan , Kim Bum Chang , Kim Dong Sung
Published: January 2017

Engineered microparticles fabricated through recently developed methods for biomedical applications.
Propulsion of copper microswimmers in folded fluid channels by bipolar electrochemistry
Authors: Jiang Jin-Zhi , Guo Mei-Hong , Yao Fen-Zeng , Li Ju , Sun Jian-Jun
Published: January 2017

We report for the first time that conducting objects could be propelled in folded liquid filled channels by bipolar electrochemistry.
Tunable metal-enhanced fluorescence by pH-responsive polyacryloyl hydrazide capped Ag nanoparticles
Authors: Yuan Shuai , Ge Fengyan , Chen Yanmin , Cai Zaisheng
Published: January 2017

A new strategy for metal enhanced fluorescence (MEF) was firstly realized based on the surface plasmon resonance of polyacryloyl hydrazide capped Ag nanoparticles (PAH–Ag NPs).
Amino acid-assisted synthesis of In2S3hierarchical architectures for selective oxidation of aromatic alcohols to aromatic aldehydes
Authors: Li Tongtong , Zhang Sujuan , Meng Sugang , Ye Xiangju , Fu Xianliang , Chen Shifu
Published: January 2017

Flowerlike-In2S3photocatalyst was preparedviaa biosynthesis technique and showed high activity toward the selective oxidation of aromatic alcohols.
Challenges Faced in Translating the Benefits of Surfactant Replacement Therapy to a Resource-Limited Setting
Authors: Hamilton N. , Trotman Helen
Published: January 2017

Aim To determine the challenges, if any, in translating the benefits of surfactant replacement therapy (SRT) to a resource-limited setting.

Method This was a retrospective descriptive study comparing the outcome of 75 cases who received surfactant and 69 controls who did not at the University Hospital of the West Indies during the period 2001 to 2011. Descriptive analyses were performed. Statistical significance was taken at the level p < 0.05.

Results Only 13% of neonates with respiratory distress syndrome received surfactant therapy. The median time of surfactant administration was 16.5 hours (interquartile range: 6–37 hours). The mean ± standard deviation time between repeat doses was 19.1 ± 14 hours. There was no difference in mortality between cases (67%) and controls (59%) (p = 0.32). However, the cases who survived were less mature (28.3 ± 2 weeks) and less clinically stable (CRIB II [Clinical Risk Index for Babies] score: 8.2 ± 3) than their controls who survived (30.0 ± 2 weeks; CRIB II score: 6.0 ± 3) (p = 0.01). There was no difference in mean gestational age or CRIB II scores between nonsurviving cases and controls. A high incidence of sepsis, pneumothoraces, and pulmonary hemorrhage was noted in both cases and controls.

Conclusion SRT did not improve the overall outcome in preterm neonates treated with RDS. Challenges encountered in optimizing SRT included affordability and accessibility of surfactant, supportive equipment, and supportive therapies, as well as a high incidence of complications related to prematurity.
“Excellence R Us”: university research and the fetishisation of excellence
Authors: Moore Samuel , Neylon Cameron , Paul Eve Martin , Paul O’Donnell Daniel , Pattinson Damian
Published: January 2017

The rhetoric of “excellence” is pervasive across the academy. It is used to refer to research outputs as well as researchers, theory and education, individuals and organizations, from art history to zoology. But does “excellence” actually mean anything? Does this pervasive narrative of “excellence” do any good? Drawing on a range of sources we interrogate “excellence” as a concept and find that it has no intrinsic meaning in academia. Rather it functions as a linguistic interchange mechanism. To investigate whether this linguistic function is useful we examine how the rhetoric of excellence combines with narratives of scarcity and competition to show that the hyper-competition that arises from the performance of “excellence” is completely at odds with the qualities of good research. We trace the roots of issues in reproducibility, fraud, and homophily to this rhetoric. But we also show that this rhetoric is an internal, and not primarily an external, imposition. We conclude by proposing an alternative rhetoric based on soundness and capacity-building. In the final analysis, it turns out that that “excellence” is not excellent. Used in its current unqualified form it is a pernicious and dangerous rhetoric that undermines the very foundations of good research and scholarship. This article is published as part of a collection on the future of research assessment.
Erratum: Cyberweapons: an emerging global governance architecture
Authors: Stevens Tim
Published: January 2017

Correction to: Palgrave Communications (2017) 3, Article number: 16102. doi: 10.1057/palcomms.2016.102; Published 10 January 2017; Updated 19 January 2017 Previously the volume number given for the citation in the Additional Information section of this paper was incorrectly given as volume 2. This has now been corrected to volume 3.
The chemical space of PbN−nBin and (PbN−nBin)+: A systematic study for N = 3–13
Authors: Seifried Christian , Longo Lilla , Pollak Patrik , Weigend Florian
Published: January 2017

A systematic exploration of the energy hypersurfaces of three to 13-atomic neutral and cationic binary lead-bismuth clusters is presented. Global minima for all 99 compositions (N = 3–13, n = 0–N) were obtained by a density functional theory based genetic algorithm, which was applied to every single composition, both for the neutral clusters and for the cations. Within the genetic algorithm, the energetically most favorable assignment of atom types to atom positions was found via aimed swapping of element types, based on first-order perturbation theory in the nuclear charge. Results of the genetic algorithm procedure were refined with high-level density functional treatments including also the effects of spin-orbit coupling. The resulting global minima were analyzed applying various stability criteria, finally yielding the ∼20 overall most stable neutral and cationic clusters in the chemical space of three to 13-atomic mixed lead bismuth clusters. In most cases, they are polyhedrons that obey the Wade-Mingos rules.
Numerical analysis of the jet stage of bubble near a solid wall using a front tracking method
Authors: Liu L. T. , Yao X. L. , Zhang A. M. , Chen Y. Y.
Published: January 2017

The dynamics of a toroidal bubble near a solid wall for a large part of stand-off parameters γ (γ=d/Rmax, d is the distance between the solid wall and the bubble centre at the moment of formation and Rmax is the maximum bubble radius) have been extensively studied, but some mechanics of a toroidal bubble are not completely clear, especially for the small stand-off parameters γ ≤ 0.8. In the present study, on the basis of the finite volume method, the Navier-Stokes equations with inviscid and incompressible assumption are directly solved using a staggered grid on the fixed grid. The dynamics of the toroidal bubble near the solid for different stand-off parameters (γ = 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 0.97, respectively) are simulated by a front tracking method. Initial conditions of numerical simulation are estimated through the Rayleigh–Plesset equation, based on the maximum size and collapse time of a spark-generated bubble. One of the numerical results is compared with a spark-generated bubble experiment, showing that the results between them are favorable with regard to both the bubble shape history and translational motion of the bubble. The numerical results for the different stand-off parameters, including the change process of the water layer, the development process of the splash flow and radial flow, the splitting phenomenon of the toroidal bubble, and the trend of pressure on the center of the solid wall, are discussed, where some new phenomena are discovered.
Simulation of the radiation from the hot spot of an X-pinch
Authors: Oreshkin V. I. , Artyomov A. P. , Chaikovsky S. A. , Oreshkin E. V. , Rousskikh A. G.
Published: January 2017

The results of X-pinch experiments performed using a small-sized pulse generator are analyzed. The generator, capable of producing a 200-kA, 180-ns current, was loaded with an X-pinch made of four 35-μm-diameter aluminum wires. The analysis consists of a one-dimensional radiation magnetohydrodynamic simulation of the formation of a hot spot in an X-pinch, taking into account the outflow of material from the neck region. The radiation loss and the ion species composition of the pinch plasma are calculated based on a stationary collisional-radiative model, including balance equations for the populations of individual levels. With this model, good agreement between simulation predictions and experimental data has been achieved: the experimental and the calculated radiation power and pulse duration differ by no more than twofold. It has been shown that the x-ray pulse is formed in the radiative collapse region, near its boundary.
Frequency scanning non-diffraction beam by metasurface
Authors: Cheng Bo , Liu Dawei , Wu Jiawen , Li Hongliang
Published: January 2017

A reflective metasurface that can form a non-diffraction beam is proposed in this article. This metasurface is designed based on the artificial admittance modulation surface, and the metallic square patch on the grounded dielectric substrate is utilized to construct the whole surface. The beam can change its propagation direction with the change of frequency and have good non-diffraction characteristics. The metasurface is fabricated, and the measurement results demonstrate good performance of generating non-diffraction beams.
Direct synthesis of multilayer graphene on an insulator by Ni-induced layer exchange growth of amorphous carbon
Authors: Murata H. , Toko K. , Saitoh N. , Yoshizawa N. , Suemasu T.
Published: January 2017

Multilayer graphene (MLG) growth on arbitrary substrates is desired for incorporating carbon wiring and heat spreaders into electronic devices. We investigated the metal-induced layer exchange growth of a sputtered amorphous C layer using Ni as a catalyst. A MLG layer uniformly formed on a SiO2 substrate at 600 °C by layer exchange between the C and Ni layers. Raman spectroscopy and electron microscopy showed that the resulting MLG layer was highly oriented and contained relatively few defects. The present investigation will pave the way for advanced electronic devices integrated with carbon materials.
Textured Sb2Te3 films and GeTe/Sb2Te3 superlattices grown on amorphous substrates by molecular beam epitaxy
Authors: Boschker Jos E. , Tisbi E. , Placidi E. , Momand Jamo , Redaelli Andrea , Kooi Bart J. , Arciprete Fabrizio , Calarco Raffaella
Published: January 2017

The realization of textured films of 2-dimensionally (2D) bonded materials on amorphous substrates is important for the integration of this material class with silicon based technology. Here, we demonstrate the successful growth by molecular beam epitaxy of textured Sb2Te3 films and GeTe/Sb2Te3 superlattices on two types of amorphous substrates: carbon and SiO2. X-ray diffraction measurements reveal that the out-of-plane alignment of grains in the layers has a mosaic spread with a full width half maximum of 2.8°. We show that a good texture on SiO2 is only obtained for an appropriate surface preparation, which can be performed by ex situ exposure to Ar+ ions or by in situ exposure to an electron beam. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveals that this surface preparation procedure results in reduced oxygen content. Finally, it is observed that film delamination can occur when a capping layer is deposited on top of a superlattice with a good texture. This is attributed to the stress in the capping layer and can be prevented by using optimized deposition conditions of the capping layer. The obtained results are also relevant to the growth of other 2D materials on amorphous substrates.
The ethics of intergenerational relationships
Authors: Thompson Janna
Published: January 2017

According to the relational approach we have obligations to members of future generations not because of their interests or properties but because, and only because, they are our descendants or successors. Common accounts of relational duties do not explain how we can have obligations to people who do not yet exist. In this defence of the relational approach I examine three sources of intergenerational obligations: the concern of parents for their children, including their future children; the desire of community members to pass on a heritage to their descendants; and the relationship of citizens in an intergenerational polity.