bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The La Bastida fortification: new light and new questions on Early Bronze Age societies in the western Mediterranean
Authors: Lull Vicente , Micó Rafael , Rihuete-Herrada Cristina , Risch Roberto
Published: July 2015

Recent excavations at La Bastida in south-eastern Spain have revealed an impressive stone-built fortification system dating to 2200–2100 cal BC that protected one of the main economic and political centres of Argaric Early Bronze Age society. It consists of parallel walls with projecting towers flanking a narrow entrance passage. The defensive character of these structures appears beyond question and their design suggests they were a response to significant changes in warfare and weaponry in this period. This sophisticated fortification system raises once again the question of possible Mediterranean contacts, along with social change and the role of physical violence in the rise of Argaric society.
Tracking ancient beach-lines inland: 2600-year-old dentate-stamped ceramics at Hopo, Vailala River region, Papua New Guinea
Authors: Skelly Robert , David Bruno , Petchey Fiona , Leavesley Matthew
Published: July 2015

The Lapita expansion took Austronesian seafaring peoples with distinctive pottery eastward from the Bismarck Archipelago to western Polynesia during the late second millennium BC, marking the first stage in the settlement of Oceania. Here it is shown that a parallel process also carried Lapita pottery and people many hundreds of kilometres westward along the southern shore of Papua New Guinea. The key site is Hopo, now 4.5km inland owing to the progradation of coastal sand dunes, but originally on the sea edge. Pottery and radiocarbon dates indicate Lapita settlement in this location c. 600 BC, and suggest that the long-distance maritime networks linking the entire southern coast of Papua New Guinea in historical times may trace their origin to this period.
New applications of photogrammetry and reflectance transformation imaging to an Easter Island statue
Authors: Miles James , Pitts Mike , Pagi Hembo , Earl Graeme
Published: July 2015

New methods of visualisation offer the potential for a more detailed record of archaeological objects and the ability to create virtual 3D models that can be made widely available online. Here, two different techniques are applied to the impressive Easter Island statue on display in the Wellcome Gallery at the British Museum. Of particular importance are the details revealed of the petroglyphs that decorate its surface.
LOCAL BOUNDEDNESS OF NONAUTONOMOUS SUPERPOSITION OPERATORS IN
Authors: KASPRZAK PIOTR , MAĆKOWIAK PIOTR
Published: July 2015

The main goal of this paper is to give the answer to one of the main problems of the theory of nonautonomous superposition operators acting in the space of functions of bounded variation in the sense of Jordan. Namely, we prove that if the superposition operator maps the space$BV[0,1]$into itself, then it is automatically locally bounded, provided its generator is a locally bounded function.
Some Homological Criteria for Regular, Complete Intersection and Gorenstein Rings
Authors: Majadas Javier
Published: July 2015

Regularity, complete intersection and Gorenstein properties of a local ring can be characterized by homological conditions on the canonical homomorphism into its residue field. In positive characteristic, the Frobenius endomorphism (and, more generally, any contracting endomorphism) can also be used for these characterizations. We introduce here a class of local homomorphisms, in some sense larger than all above, for which these characterizations still hold, providing an unified treatment for this class of homomorphisms.
Potential airway compromise secondary to impacted Wharton's duct calculus: a noteworthy phenomenon
Authors: Van M , Gohil R , Gardiner Q
Published: July 2015

Objectives:

This case report describes a patient who suffered an acute, severe complication of unilateral submandibular sialolithiasis, the disease process and management of these patients.

Case report:

A 70-year-old woman was under investigation for a recurrent, painful right submandibular swelling and subsequently presented with an acute exacerbation. She exhibited symptoms of acute submandibular sialadenitis, and also reported breathing difficulty and a change in voice quality. Computed tomography imaging showed that this was caused by a submandibular gland duct sialolith, with inflammation extending to the ipsilateral supraglottis. She was treated medically and the stone was removed when the inflammation had stabilised.

Conclusion:

This case highlights the need to thoroughly assess patients with neck swellings, especially when symptoms are atypical, to avoid life-threatening complications.
Hand-grip strength does not correlate with treatment-related weight loss in patients with head and neck cancer
Authors: Cosway B , Easby M , Covington S , Bowe I , Paleri V
Published: July 2015

Background:

Hand-grip strength has been shown to be a reliable predictor of health outcomes. However, evidence supporting its use as an indicator of nutritional status is inconsistent. This study investigated its use in monitoring nutritional status in patients with head and neck cancer.

Methods:

A prospective audit of patients treated for head and neck cancer was undertaken at four centres over a three-month period in 2009. Nutritional outcomes were collected at 3, 6 and 12 months, and the data were statistically analysed.

Results:

Data from 114 patients showed that mean weight, but not hand-grip strength, fell significantly at 3, 6 and 12 months post-treatment (p < 0.003 vs p < 0.126).

Conclusion:

A fall in weight does not coincide with a drop in hand-grip strength in patients receiving treatment for head and neck cancer. Hand-grip strength may therefore not be of benefit in the nutritional assessment of these patients and should not be part of routine assessment.
Feeding ecology and life-history strategy of nesting males in a fish with long parental care, Lusitanian toadfish (Halobatrachus didactylus, Batrachoididae)
Authors: Félix P.M. , Amorim M.C.P. , Pereira T.J. , Fonseca P.J. , Sousa-Santos C. , Costa J.L.
Published: July 2015

The Lusitanian toadfish,Halobatrachus didactylus, like other batrachoidids, is a benthic fish species with nesting behaviour during the breeding season. During this prolonged period it engages in mating activities and remains in the nest providing parental care. It is not known whether males feed while providing parental care but it is likely that their limited mobility may restrict their diet and influence their fitness. As a consequence, egg cannibalism could occur as a life-history strategy. The aim of the present study is to ascertain the feeding behaviour of nesting males, in comparison to mature non-nesting males, and to identify potential life-history traits related to egg cannibalism. Nest-holders were sampled from artificial nests placed in an intertidal area of the Tagus estuary, only exposed during spring low tides. The diet of nest-holders was compared with that of non-nesting mature males from the same area, captured by otter trawl. The present study demonstrates that despite their constrained mobility nest-holders feed during the breeding season, although in a more opportunistic fashion than non-nesting males. Nest-holders showed a generalist feeding behaviour, with a more heterogeneous diet. Egg cannibalism was not related to male condition, paternity or brood size but showed a higher incidence early in the season when water temperatures were lower. The results suggest a possible seasonal trade-off strategy between care and energy recovery, triggered by environmental factors, where under unfavourable conditions to sustain viable eggs the male may recover energy by eating eggs, thus benefiting future reproductive success, later in the season.
Existence and conditional energetic stability of solitary gravity–capillary water waves with constant vorticity
Authors: Groves M. D. , Wahlén E.
Published: July 2015

We present an existence and stability theory for gravity–capillary solitary waves with constant vorticity on the surface of a body of water of finite depth. Exploiting a rotational version of the classical variational principle, we prove the existence of a minimizer of the wave energy𝓗subject to the constraint𝓘= 2µ, where𝓘is the wave momentum and 0 <µ≪ 1. Since𝓗and𝓘are both conserved quantities, a standard argument asserts the stability of the setDµof minimizers: solutions starting nearDµremain close toDµin a suitably defined energy space over their interval of existence. In the applied mathematics literature solitary water waves of the present kind are described by solutions of a Korteweg–de Vries equation (for strong surface tension) or a nonlinear Schrödinger equation (for weak surface tension). We show that the waves detected by our variational method converge (after an appropriate rescaling) to solutions of the appropriate model equation asµ↓ 0.
A “Manifest Violation” of the Rights of Englishmen: Rights Talk and the Law of Property in Early Eighteenth-Century Jamaica
Authors: Wilson Lee B.
Published: July 2015

In 1706, Jamaica's provost marshal received a writ of escheat from the island's Supreme Court of Judicature. The writ directed him to empanel a jury of “Twelve and Lawful Men of the Neighbourhood” who would determine whether the slaves of James Whitchurch, a Jamaican merchant, should be escheated—returned—to the Crown. Did the “Negro Woman Slave Commonly Called Catalina” and her “Seaven Pickaninny” belong to Whitchurch, or could Queen Anne claim her prerogative right to an escheat because the previous owner of the slaves, Charles Delamaine, had died without an heir? The jury found in the Crown's favor, but a dissatisfied Whitchurch petitioned Queen Anne for relief, asking her to return the slaves and quiet his title. Whitchurch's petition, the first Jamaican escheat case to come before the Queen, sparked a transatlantic legal controversy as colonists, Assembly members, and imperial officials weighed the Crown's prerogative right to escheats against local political grievances and the Board of Trade's desire to encourage West Indian settlement and trade. This seemingly mundane conflict over property law quickly acquired constitutional significance, generating the kind of rights talk so familiar to early American historians: Jamaican colonists claimed the rights of Englishmen, and the Jamaican Assembly asserted an institutional capacity akin to Parliament. In this article, I contextualize colonists' rights talk, rooting their claims to English rights in concerns about the administration of property law during a crucial liminal moment in Jamaican history. As the colony transitioned from a small-scale to a large-scale plantation economy and from a society with slaves to a slave society, property and the law that governed it became the focus of intense political conflict.
A perturbation approach for near bound-state resonances of photonic crystal with defect
Authors: LIN J.
Published: July 2015

This paper is concerned with scattering resonances of a 1D photonic crystal of finite extent. We propose a general perturbation approach to study the resonances that are close to the bound-state frequency of the infinite structure when some defect is embedded in the interior. It is shown that near bound-state resonances exist on the complex plane and the distance between the resonance and the associated bound-state frequency decays exponentially as a function of the number of periodic cells. A numerical approach based upon the perturbation theory is also proposed to calculate the near bound-state resonances accurately.
Needle Thoracostomy for Patients with Prolonged Transport Times: A Case-control Study
Authors: Weichenthal Lori , Crane Desiree Hansen , Rond Luke , Roche Conal
Published: July 2015

Introduction

The use of prehospital needle thoracostomy (NT) is controversial. Some studies support its use; however, concerns exist regarding misplacement, inappropriate patient selection, and iatrogenic injury. Even less is known about its efficacy in situations where there is a delay to definitive care.

Hypothesis/Aim

To determine any differences in survival of patients who underwent NT in the setting of prolonged versus short transport times, and to describe differences in mechanisms and complications between the two groups.

Methods

This was a retrospective, matched, case-control study of trauma patients in a four county Emergency Medical Service (EMS) system from April 1, 2007 through April 1, 2013. This system serves an urban, rural, and wilderness catchment area. A prehospital database was queried for all patients in whom NT was performed, identifying 182 patients. When these calls were limited to those with prolonged transport times, the search was narrowed to 32 cases. A matched control group, based on age and gender, with short transport times was then created as a comparison. Data collected from prehospital and hospital records included: demographics; mechanism of injury; call status; response to NT; and final outcome. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted, as appropriate, to assess the primary outcome of survival and to further elucidate the descriptive data.

Results

There was no difference in survival between the case and control groups, either when evaluated with univariate (34% vs 25%; P=.41) or multivariate (odds ratio=0.99; 95% CI, 0.96-1.02; P=.57) analyses. Blunt trauma was the most common mechanism in both groups, but penetrating trauma was more common in the control group (30% vs 9%; P=.003). Patients in the control group were also more likely to have no vital signs on initial assessment (62% vs 31%; P=.003). More patients in the case group were described as having clinical improvement after NT (34% vs 19%; P=.03). No complications of NT were reported in either group.

Conclusions

There was no significant difference in survival between patients with prolonged versus short transport times who underwent NT. Patients with prolonged transport times were more likely to have sustained blunt trauma, have vital signs on EMS arrival, and to have clinical improvement after NT.

WeichenthalL, CraneDH, RondL, RocheC. Needle thoracostomy for patients with prolonged transport times: a case-control study. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2015;30(4):1–5.
Naturalistic Action Performance Distinguishes Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment from Healthy Aging
Authors: Gold David A. , Park Norman W. , Murphy Kelly J. , Troyer Angela K.
Published: July 2015

Individuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) show minor decrements in their instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Sensitive measures of IADL performance are needed to capture the mild difficulties observed in aMCI groups. Routine naturalistic actions (NAs) are familiar IADL-type activities that require individuals to enact everyday tasks such as preparing coffee. In the current study we examined the extent to which NAs could be used to help facilitate differential diagnosis of aMCI relative to composite measures of episodic memory, semantic knowledge, and executive function. Healthy older adults (n=24) and individuals with aMCI (n=24) enacted two highly familiar NAs and completed tests of episodic memory, semantic knowledge, and executive function. Binary logistic regression was used to predict group membership (aMCI vs. control participants). The regression analyses indicated that NA performance could reliably predict group membership, over and above measures of cognitive functioning. These findings indicated that NA performance can be used to help facilitate differential diagnosis of healthy aging and aMCI and used as an outcome measure in intervention studies. (JINS, 2015, 21, 419–428)
Looking After Me Looking After You: using positive cognitive behavioural techniques to improve emotional well-being
Authors: Bhutani G. E.
Published: July 2015

Stress and anxiety have been identified as among the most common reasons for sickness absence. Therefore, timely work-based well-being interventions are needed. Strengths-based Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy (CBT) approaches are of benefit therapeutically. Guided imagery approaches enable individuals utilize previous positive experiences and construct positive future templates potentially increasing the likelihood of better outcomes. One hundred and seventeen participants from a health service clinical/corporate environment participated in the Looking After Me Looking After You (LAMLAY) programme. It comprised three 3-hour or four 2-hour sessions weekly. Positive imagery and strengths-based cognitive-behavioural approaches were delivered via participant exercises and didactically. Completion rate was 77.8%; seventy-five participants (83% of completers) completed the Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS) pre-course (mean 46.4) and post-course (mean 52.4). Significant improvements in well-being were obtained (t = 9.32, d.f. = 74, p<0.0001, d = 0.82). An online follow-up survey demonstrated sustained improved scores on the WEMWBS (F2,223 = 17.04, p<0.001, η = 0.13). Satisfaction ratings indicated high approval levels. Participants’ well-being improved at the end of the LAMLAY programme and was sustained at follow-up. The potential impact of LAMLAY and the potential to deliver cost-effective benefits is discussed. Further development work is required including more systematic investigation over a longer term.
Prenatal stress produces sex-specific changes in depression-like behavior in rats: implications for increased vulnerability in females
Authors: Sickmann H. M. , Arentzen T. S. , Dyrby T. B. , Plath N. , Kristensen M. P.
Published: July 2015

Stress during rat gestation can elicit depression-like physiological and behavioral responses in the offspring. However, human clinical depression is more prevalent among females than males. Accordingly, we examined how repeated variable prenatal stress (PS) alters rat anxiety- and depression-like behavior as well as circadian patterning of motor activity in both male and female offspring. For this purpose, we exposed pregnant Sprague–Dawley rats to multiple stressors during gestational days 13–21. Subsequently, we monitored locomotor and rearing/climbing activities in home-like cages for 24 h and measured anxiety- (elevated plus maze, EPM) and depression-like (forced swim test, FST) behaviors in the offspring at a young adult age. As a stressful event later in life (in addition to PS) may be needed to actually trigger an episode of clinical depression, half of the animals were exposed to an acute stressor (elevated platform) before EPM testing. Dams exposed to the stressor battery had increased plasma corticosterone levels compared with controls. Male PS offspring displayed changes in locomotor and rearing/climbing activity relative to controls. Additionally, anxiety measures in the EPM were affected in control animals after acute stressor exposure, however, this response was blunted in PS offspring. Moreover, FST immobility, as an indicator of depressive-like behavior, was increased in female but not male PS rats. Altogether, our results identify both sex- and circadian phase-specific effects of PS. These findings indicate that the PS rat model reflects multiple clinical depression characteristics, including elevated female vulnerability.
Weak Shaking Lessened Nepal Earthquake Impact
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: July 2015

Modest ground motion for such a big quake and some prior training in earthquake preparedness averted worse death and destruction, earthquake scientists say.
Stereomicroscopic 3D-pattern profiling of murine and human intestinal inflammation reveals unique structural phenotypes
Authors: Rodriguez-Palacios Alex , Kodani Tomohiro , Kaydo Lindsey , Pietropaoli Davide , Corridoni Daniele , Howell Scott , Katz Jeffry , Xin Wei , Pizarro Theresa T. , Cominelli Fabio
Published: July 2015

Histology is fundamental to assess two-dimensional intestinal inflammation; however, inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are often indistinguishable microscopically on the basis of mucosal biopsies. Here, we use stereomicroscopy (SM) to rapidly profile the entire intestinal topography and assess inflammation. We examine the mucosal surface of >700 mice (encompassing >16 strains and various IBD-models), create a profiling catalogue of 3D-stereomicroscopic abnormalities and demonstrate that mice with comparable histological scores display unique sub-clusters of 3D-structure-patterns of IBD pathology, which we call 3D-stereoenterotypes, and which are otherwise indiscernible histologically. We show that two ileal IBD-stereoenterotypes (‘cobblestones’ versus ‘villous mini-aggregation’) cluster separately within two distinct mouse lines of spontaneous ileitis, suggesting that host genetics drive unique and divergent inflammatory 3D-structural patterns in the gut. In humans, stereomicroscopy reveals ‘liquefaction’ lesions and hierarchical fistulous complexes, enriched with clostridia/segmented filamentous bacteria, running under healthy mucosa in Crohn’s disease. We suggest that stereomicroscopic (3D-SMAPgut) profiling can be easily implemented and enable the comprehensive study of inflammatory 3D structures, genetics and flora in IBD.
Discovery of intramolecular trans-sialidases in human gut microbiota suggests novel mechanisms of mucosal adaptation
Authors: Tailford Louise E. , Owen C. David , Walshaw John , Crost Emmanuelle H. , Hardy-Goddard Jemma , Le Gall Gwenaelle , de Vos Willem M. , Taylor Garry L. , Juge Nathalie
Published: July 2015

The gastrointestinal mucus layer is colonized by a dense community of microbes catabolizing dietary and host carbohydrates during their expansion in the gut. Alterations in mucosal carbohydrate availability impact on the composition of microbial species. Ruminococcus gnavus is a commensal anaerobe present in the gastrointestinal tract of >90% of humans and overrepresented in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Using a combination of genomics, enzymology and crystallography, we show that the mucin-degrader R. gnavus ATCC 29149 strain produces an intramolecular trans-sialidase (IT-sialidase) that cleaves off terminal α2-3-linked sialic acid from glycoproteins, releasing 2,7-anhydro-Neu5Ac instead of sialic acid. Evidence of IT-sialidases in human metagenomes indicates that this enzyme occurs in healthy subjects but is more prevalent in IBD metagenomes. Our results uncover a previously unrecognized enzymatic activity in the gut microbiota, which may contribute to the adaptation of intestinal bacteria to the mucosal environment in health and disease.
Cryo-EM structure of Hepatitis C virus IRES bound to the human ribosome at 3.9-Å resolution
Authors: Quade Nick , Boehringer Daniel , Leibundgut Marc , van den Heuvel Joop , Ban Nenad
Published: July 2015

Hepatitis C virus (HCV), a widespread human pathogen, is dependent on a highly structured 5′-untranslated region of its mRNA, referred to as internal ribosome entry site (IRES), for the translation of all of its proteins. The HCV IRES initiates translation by directly binding to the small ribosomal subunit (40S), circumventing the need for many eukaryotic translation initiation factors required for mRNA scanning. Here we present the cryo-EM structure of the human 40S ribosomal subunit in complex with the HCV IRES at 3.9 Å resolution, determined by focused refinement of an 80S ribosome–HCV IRES complex. The structure reveals the molecular details of the interactions between the IRES and the 40S, showing that expansion segment 7 (ES7) of the 18S rRNA acts as a central anchor point for the HCV IRES. The structural data rationalizes previous biochemical and genetic evidence regarding the initiation mechanism of the HCV and other related IRESs.
Real sequence effects on the search dynamics of transcription factors on DNA
Authors: Bauer Maximilian , Rasmussen Emil S. , Lomholt Michael A. , Metzler Ralf
Published: July 2015

Recent experiments show that transcription factors (TFs) indeed use the facilitated diffusion mechanism to locate their target sequences on DNA in living bacteria cells: TFs alternate between sliding motion along DNA and relocation events through the cytoplasm. From simulations and theoretical analysis we study the TF-sliding motion for a large section of the DNA-sequence of a common E. coli strain, based on the two-state TF-model with a fast-sliding search state and a recognition state enabling target detection. For the probability to detect the target before dissociating from DNA the TF-search times self-consistently depend heavily on whether or not an auxiliary operator (an accessible sequence similar to the main operator) is present in the genome section. Importantly, within our model the extent to which the interconversion rates between search and recognition states depend on the underlying nucleotide sequence is varied. A moderate dependence maximises the capability to distinguish between the main operator and similar sequences. Moreover, these auxiliary operators serve as starting points for DNA looping with the main operator, yielding a spectrum of target detection times spanning several orders of magnitude. Auxiliary operators are shown to act as funnels facilitating target detection by TFs.
Membrane-less microfiltration using inertial microfluidics
Authors: Warkiani Majid Ebrahimi , Tay Andy Kah Ping , Guan Guofeng , Han Jongyoon
Published: July 2015

Microfiltration is a ubiquitous and often crucial part of many industrial processes, including biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Yet, all existing filtration systems suffer from the issue of membrane clogging, which fundamentally limits the efficiency and reliability of the filtration process. Herein, we report the development of a membrane-less microfiltration system by massively parallelizing inertial microfluidics to achieve a macroscopic volume processing rates (~ 500 mL/min). We demonstrated the systems engineered for CHO (10–20 μm) and yeast (3–5 μm) cells filtration, which are two main cell types used for large-scale bioreactors. Our proposed system can replace existing filtration membrane and provide passive (no external force fields), continuous filtration, thus eliminating the need for membrane replacement. This platform has the desirable combinations of high throughput, low-cost and scalability, making it compatible for a myriad of microfiltration applications and industrial purposes.
3D Printable Graphene Composite
Authors: Wei Xiaojun , Li Dong , Jiang Wei , Gu Zheming , Wang Xiaojuan , Zhang Zengxing , Sun Zhengzong
Published: July 2015

In human being’s history, both the Iron Age and Silicon Age thrived after a matured massive processing technology was developed. Graphene is the most recent superior material which could potentially initialize another new material Age. However, while being exploited to its full extent, conventional processing methods fail to provide a link to today’s personalization tide. New technology should be ushered in. Three-dimensional (3D) printing fills the missing linkage between graphene materials and the digital mainstream. Their alliance could generate additional stream to push the graphene revolution into a new phase. Here we demonstrate for the first time, a graphene composite, with a graphene loading up to 5.6 wt%, can be 3D printable into computer-designed models. The composite’s linear thermal coefficient is below 75 ppm·°C−1from room temperature to its glass transition temperature (Tg), which is crucial to build minute thermal stress during the printing process.
FGF21 does not require interscapular brown adipose tissue and improves liver metabolic profile in animal models of obesity and insulin-resistance
Authors: Bernardo Barbara , Lu Min , Bandyopadhyay Gautam , Li Pingping , Zhou Yingjiang , Huang Jie , Levin Nancy , Tomas Eva M. , Calle Roberto A. , Erion Derek M. , Rolph Timothy P. , Brenner Martin , Talukdar Saswata
Published: July 2015

FGF21 is a key metabolic regulator modulating physiological processes and its pharmacological administration improves metabolic profile in preclinical species and humans. We used native-FGF21 and a long-acting FGF21 (PF-05231023), to determine the contribution of liver and brown adipose tissue (BAT) towards metabolic improvements in Zucker rats and DIO mice (DIOs). FGF21 improved glucose tolerance and liver insulin sensitivity in Zuckers without affecting BW and improved liver function by decreased lipogenesis, increased fatty acid oxidation and improved insulin signaling. Through detailed lipidomic analyses of liver metabolites in DIOs, we demonstrate that FGF21 favorably alters liver metabolism. We observed a dose-dependent increase of [18F]-FDG-glucose uptake in interscapular BAT (iBAT) of DIOs upon FGF21 administration. Upon excision of iBAT (X-BAT) and administration of FGF21 to mice housed at 80 °F or 72 °F, the favorable effects of FGF21 on BW and glucose excursion were fully retained in both sham and X-BAT animals. Taken together, we demonstrate the liver as an organ that integrates the actions of FGF21 and provide metabolic benefits of FGF21 in Zucker rats and DIOs. Finally, our data demonstrates iBAT does not play a role in mediating favorable metabolic effects of FGF21 administration in DIOs housed at 80 °F or 72 °F.
Bridging Links between Long Noncoding RNA HOTAIR and HPV Oncoprotein E7 in Cervical Cancer Pathogenesis
Authors: Sharma Sweta , Mandal Paramita , Sadhukhan Tamal , Roy Chowdhury Rahul , Ranjan Mondal Nidhu , Chakravarty Biman , Chatterjee Tanmay , Roy Sudipta , Sengupta Sharmila
Published: July 2015

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 oncoprotein E7 plays a major role in cervical carcinogenesis by interacting with and functionally inactivating various host regulatory molecules. Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) HOTAIR is one such regulator that recruits chromatin remodelling complex PRC2, creating gene silencing H3K27 me3 marks. Hence, we hypothesized that HOTAIR could be a potential target of E7, in HPV16 related cervical cancers (CaCx). We identified significant linear trend of progressive HOTAIR down-regulation through HPV negative controls, HPV16 positive non-malignants and CaCx samples. Majority of CaCx cases portrayed HOTAIR down-regulation in comparison to HPV negative controls, with corresponding up-regulation of HOTAIR target, HOXD10 and enrichment of cancer related pathways. However, a small subset had significantly higher HOTAIR expression, concomitant with high E7 expression and enrichment of metastatic pathways. Expression of HOTAIR and PRC2-complex members (EZH2 and SUZ12), showed significant positive correlation with E7 expression in CaCx cases and E7 transfected C33A cell line, suggestive of interplay between E7 and HOTAIR. Functional inactivation of HOTAIR by direct interaction with E7 could also be predicted by in silico analysis and confirmed by RNA-Immunoprecipitation. Our study depicts one of the causal mechanisms of cervical carcinogenesis by HPV16 E7, through modulation of HOTAIR expression and function.
Yeast model identifies ENTPD6 as a potential non-obstructive azoospermia pathogenic gene
Authors: Wang Qian , Liu Chao , Tang Chaoming , Guo Huiping , Liu Yujiao , Wang Lina , Zhao Haichao , Shang Yongliang , Wen Yang , Lin Yuan , Zhou Tao , Zhou Zuomin , Dong Wen , Hu Zhibin , Guo Xuejiang , Sha Jiahao , Li Wei
Published: July 2015

Approximately ten percent of male infertility is caused by non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA), but the etiologies of many NOA remain elusive. Recently, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of NOA in Han Chinese men was conducted and only a few genetic variants associated with NOA were found, which might have resulted from genetic heterogeneity. However, those variants that lack genome-wide significance might still be essential for fertility. Functional analysis of genes surrounding these variants inDrosophilaidentified some spermatogenesis-essential genes. As a complementary method ofDrosophilascreening, SK1 backgroundSaccharomvces cerevisiaewas used as a model to screen meiosis-related genes from the NOA GWAS data in this study. After functional screening,GDA1(orthologous to humanENTPD6) was found to be a novel meiosis-related gene. The deletion ofGDA1resulted in the failure of yeast sporulation. Further investigations showed that Gda1p was important for pre-meiotic S phase entry. Interestingly, the meiotic role of Gda1p was dependent on its guanosine diphosphatase activity, but not it’s cytoplasmic, transmembrane or stem domains. These yeast data suggest thatENTPD6may be a novel meiosis-associated NOA-related gene and the yeast model provides a good approach to analyze GWAS results of NOA.
Reinitiation at non-canonical start codons leads to leak expression when incorporating unnatural amino acids
Authors: Kalstrup Tanja , Blunck Rikard
Published: July 2015

With the rapid development of a continuously growing selection of unnatural amino acids (UAAs), UAA insertion becomes increasingly popular for investigating proteins. However, it can prove problematic to ensure the homogeneity of the expressed proteins, when homogeneity is compromised by “leak expression”. Here, we show that leak expression may be mediated by reinitiation and can result in unwanted proteins when stop codons for UAA insertion are mutated into the N-terminus of proteins. We demonstrate that up to 25% of leak expression occurs through reinitiation in the Shaker-Kv channel when stop codons are located within the first 70 amino acids. Several non-canonical start codons were identified as translation reinitaition sites and by removing the start codons, we were able to decrease leak expression to less than 1%. Our study emphasizes the need to carefully inspect for leak expression when inserting UAAs and demonstrates how leak expression can be eliminated.
High quality thin films of thermoelectric misfit cobalt oxides prepared by a chemical solution method
Authors: Rivas-Murias Beatriz , Manuel Vila-Fungueiriño José , Rivadulla Francisco
Published: July 2015

Misfit cobaltates ([Bi/Ba/Sr/Ca/CoO]nRS[CoO2]q) constitute the most promising family of thermoelectric oxides for high temperature energy harvesting. However, their complex structure and chemical composition makes extremely challenging their deposition by high-vacuum physical techniques. Therefore, many of them have not been prepared as thin films until now. Here we report the synthesis of high-quality epitaxial thin films of the most representative members of this family of compounds by a water-based chemical solution deposition method. The films show an exceptional crystalline quality, with an electrical conductivity and thermopower comparable to single crystals. These properties are linked to the epitaxial matching of the rock-salt layers of the structure to the substrate, producing clean interfaces free of amorphous phases. This is an important step forward for the integration of these materials with complementary n-type thermoelectric oxides in multilayer nanostructures.
How ants use quorum sensing to estimate the average quality of a fluctuating resource
Authors: Franks Nigel R. , Stuttard Jonathan P. , Doran Carolina , Esposito Julian C. , Master Maximillian C. , Sendova-Franks Ana B. , Masuda Naoki , Britton Nicholas F.
Published: July 2015

We show that one of the advantages of quorum-based decision-making is an ability to estimate the average value of a resource that fluctuates in quality. By using a quorum threshold, namely the number of ants within a new nest site, to determine their choice, the ants are in effect voting with their feet. Our results show that such quorum sensing is compatible with homogenization theory such that the average value of a new nest site is determined by ants accumulating within it when the nest site is of high quality and leaving when it is poor. Hence, the ants can estimate a surprisingly accurate running average quality of a complex resource through the use of extraordinarily simple procedures.
Theory for electric dipole superconductivity with an application for bilayer excitons
Authors: Jiang Qing-Dong , Bao Zhi-qiang , Sun Qing-Feng , Xie X. C.
Published: July 2015

Exciton superfluid is a macroscopic quantum phenomenon in which large quantities of excitons undergo the Bose-Einstein condensation. Recently, exciton superfluid has been widely studied in various bilayer systems. However, experimental measurements only provide indirect evidence for the existence of exciton superfluid. In this article, by viewing the exciton in a bilayer system as an electric dipole, we derive the London-type and Ginzburg-Landau-type equations for the electric dipole superconductors. By using these equations, we discover the Meissner-type effect and the electric dipole current Josephson effect. These effects can provide direct evidence for the formation of the exciton superfluid state in bilayer systems and pave new ways to drive an electric dipole current.
Flowerlike CeO2 microspheres coated with Sr2Fe1.5Mo0.5Ox nanoparticles for an advanced fuel cell
Authors: Liu Yanyan , Tang Yongfu , Ma Zhaohui , Singh Manish , He Yunjuan , Dong Wenjing , Sun Chunwen , Zhu Bin
Published: July 2015

Flowerlike CeO2 coated with Sr2Fe1.5Mo0.5Ox (Sr-Fe-Mo-oxide) nanoparticles exhibits enhanced conductivity at low temperatures (300–600 oC), e.g. 0.12 S cm−1 at 600 oC, this is comparable to pure ceria (0.1 S cm−1 at 800 oC). Advanced single layer fuel cell was constructed using the flowerlike CeO2/Sr-Fe-Mo-oxide layer attached to a Ni-foam layer coated with the conducting transition metal oxide. Such fuel cell has yielded a peak power density of 802 mWcm−2 at 550 oC. The mechanism of enhanced conductivity and cell performance were analyzed. These results provide a promising strategy for developing advanced low-temperature SOFCs.
Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Gastric Cardia Adenocarcinoma Shared Susceptibility Locus in C20orf54: Evidence from Published Studies
Authors: Duan Fujiao , Cui Shuli , Song Chunhua , Zhao Xia , Dai Liping , Shen Yong
Published: July 2015

This study aimed to determine whether C20orf54 rs13042395 polymorphism modify the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and gastric cardia adenocarcinomas (GCA) in common population. We conducted a systematic literature review and evaluated the quality of included studies based on Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) were calculated to estimate the strengths of the associations. 9 articles (10 studies) were identified for synthesis analyses. Overall, the results indicated that the C20orf54 rs13042395 genotype was subtly decrease the risk of ESCC (T vs. C: OR = 0.95; 95%CI = 0.90–0.99; P = 0.02) and the rs13042395 polymorphism was associated with a decreased risk of GCA (T vs. C: OR = 0.95; 95%CI = 0.91–0.98; P < 0.01). The subsets were divided by smoking and drinking status, but none of the genetic comparisons reached statistical significance. Subgroup analysis was also stratified by body mass index (BMI), rs13042395 polymorphism was significantly associated with a subtly decreased cancer risk in under-weight group and normal group, but no association was observed in over-weight group. In conclusion, C20orf54 rs13042395 polymorphism was significantly associated with decreased ESCC and GCA risk especially for the subjects with under-weight or normal.
Compound 331 selectively induces glioma cell death by upregulating miR-494 and downregulating CDC20
Authors: Zhang Lei , Niu Tianhui , Huang Yafei , Zhu Haichuan , Zhong Wu , Lin Jian , Zhang Yan
Published: July 2015

Malignant gliomas are the most common malignant tumors in the central nervous system (CNS). Up to date, the prognosis of glioma is still very poor, effective therapy with less side-effect is very necessary. Herein, we identify a compound named as “331” selectively induced cell death in glioma cells but not in astrocytes. Compound 331 upregulated miR-494 and downregulated CDC20 in glioma cells but not in astrocytes. These results suggest that compound 331 could be a potential drug selectively targeting glioma cells through upregulating miR-494 and downregulating CDC20.
Precipitation deficits increase high diurnal temperature range extremes
Authors: He Bin , Huang Ling , Wang Qianfeng
Published: July 2015

The relationship between precipitation deficits and extreme hot temperatures has been documented in observation and modeling studies. However, it is unclear whether and how increases in maximum temperatures will impact diurnal temperature range (DTR) extremes. Here, we used observational data sets from meteorological stations in China to examine the trends in high DTR extremes from 1971 to 2013, represented by the percentage of high DTR days (%HDD) and maximum high DTR duration (MHDD), as well as their relationships with precipitation deficits over the past four decades in China. We identified both positive and negative trends in the %HDD and MHDD in China during each season, implying an inhomogeneous behavior of DTR and DTR extremes. Furthermore, we observed a significant negative relationship between precipitation deficits and the %HDD and MHDD during each season and the relationship was strongest in the summer. The statistical analysis of this coupled behavior indicated that precipitation deficits were related to an increase in high DTR extremes, with a 22% average higher probability of the occurrence of DTR extremes after dry conditions than wet conditions in the summer. Knowledge from this study has important implications for interpreting climate anomalies.
Photocurrent generation in lateral graphene p-n junction created by electron-beam irradiation
Authors: Yu Xuechao , Shen Youde , Liu Tao , Wu Tao , Jie Wang Qi
Published: July 2015

Graphene has been considered as an attractive material for optoelectronic applications such as photodetectors owing to its extraordinary properties, e.g. broadband absorption and ultrahigh mobility. However, challenges still remain in fundamental and practical aspects of the conventional graphene photodetectors which normally rely on the photoconductive mode of operation which has the drawback of e.g. high dark current. Here, we demonstrated the photovoltaic mode operation in graphene p-n junctions fabricated by a simple but effective electron irradiation method that induces n-type doping in intrinsic p-type graphene. The physical mechanism of the junction formation is owing to the substrate gating effect caused by electron irradiation. Photoresponse was obtained for this type of photodetector because the photoexcited electron-hole pairs can be separated in the graphene p-n junction by the built-in potential. The fabricated graphene p-n junction photodetectors exhibit a high detectivity up to ~3 × 1010 Jones (cm Hz1/2 W−1) at room temperature, which is on a par with that of the traditional III–V photodetectors. The demonstrated novel and simple scheme for obtaining graphene p-n junctions can be used for other optoelectronic devices such as solar cells and be applied to other two dimensional materials based devices.
Light Effect on Water Viscosity: Implication for ATP Biosynthesis
Authors: Sommer Andrei P. , Haddad Mike Kh. , Fecht Hans-Jörg
Published: July 2015

Previous work assumed that ATP synthase, the smallest known rotary motor in nature, operates at 100% efficiency. Calculations which arrive to this result assume that the water viscosity inside mitochondria is constant and corresponds to that of bulk water. In our opinion this assumption is not satisfactory for two reasons: (1) There is evidence that the water in mitochondria prevails to 100% as interfacial water. (2) Laboratory experiments which explore the properties of interfacial water suggest viscosities which exceed those of bulk water, specifically at hydrophilic interfaces. Here, we wish to suggest a physicochemical mechanism which assumes intramitochondrial water viscosity gradients and consistently explains two cellular responses: The decrease and increase in ATP synthesis in response to reactive oxygen species and non-destructive levels of near-infrared (NIR) laser light, respectively. The mechanism is derived from the results of a new experimental method, which combines the technique of nanoindentation with the modulation of interfacial water layers by laser irradiation. Results, including the elucidation of the principle of light-induced ATP production, are expected to have broad implications in all fields of medicine.
Rapid electrochemical preparation of porous sponge-like zinc–zinc oxide coating deposited on an etched stainless steel fiber for selective determination of UV filters in environmental water samples
Authors: Song Wenlan , Zhang Yida , Guo Mei , Wang Tiane , Yang Yaoxia , Wang Xuemei , Du Xinzhen
Published: July 2015

A novel porous sponge-like zinc–zinc oxide (Zn–ZnO) coating was directly prepared on an etched stainless steel wire substrate as a solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fiber via previous electrodeposition of a robust ZnO coating.
Tunable coverage of immobilized biomolecules for biofunctional interface design
Authors: Wu Jyun-Ting , Sun Ting-Pi , Huang Chao-Wei , Su Chiao-Tzu , Wu Chih-Yu , Yeh Shu-Yun , Yang Deng-Kai , Chen Lin-Chi , Ding Shih-Torng , Chen Hsien-Yeh
Published: July 2015

Tunable biological responses can be controlled by the modifications of the density of the underlying chemical motifs and the density of the biomolecules immobilized.
High performance Li-ion sulfur batteries enabled by intercalation chemistry
Authors: Lv Dongping , Yan Pengfei , Shao Yuyan , Li Qiuyan , Ferrara Seth , Pan Huilin , Graff Gordon L. , Polzin Bryant , Wang Chongmin , Zhang Ji-guang , Liu Jun , Xiao Jie
Published: July 2015

A new prototype of Li-ion sulfur battery with graphite as an anode has been demonstrated after successfully addressing the interface issue of graphite in an ether based electrolyte.
Higher-order human telomeric G-quadruplex DNA metalloenzyme catalyzed Diels–Alder reaction: an unexpected inversion of enantioselectivity modulated by K+ and NH4+ ions
Authors: Li Yinghao , Wang Changhao , Hao Jingya , Cheng Mingpan , Jia Guoqing , Li Can
Published: July 2015

K+ and NH4+, bearing approximately equal ionic radius, present different allosteric activation for higher-order human telomeric G-quadruplex DNA metalloenzyme.
Reinforcement of guest selectivity through the self-assembly of host molecules: selective recognition of lithium ions by dimerizable tricarboxylic acids
Authors: Minodani Shoichi , Owaki Masaki , Sano Shuhei , Tsuzuki Seiji , Yamanaka Masamichi
Published: July 2015

Selective recognition of lithium ions was achieved by a dimerizable tricarboxylic acid host.
Efficient packing of long flexible bis-imidazolium cations in the ubiquitous bilayers of their p-sulfonatocalixarene salts
Authors: Ling Irene , Sobolev Alexandre N. , Sabah Karem , Hashim Rauzah
Published: July 2015

The terminally charged head groups of the bis-imidazolium dications reside in one calixarene cavity while the other only reaches the sulfonate groups of the next bilayer, with the central spacer penetrating across the multi-layers and adjusted to fit in the tight bilayer.
Crystal growth and characterization of solvated organic charge-transfer complexes built on TTF and 9-dicyanomethylenefluorene derivatives
Authors: Salmerón-Valverde Amparo , Bernès Sylvain
Published: July 2015

A series of solvated donor–acceptor organic complexes were shown to slowly release the lattice solvent while the degree of charge transfer decreases steadily. This behavior is not observed in the case of a hydrate.
A novel synthetic strategy for magnetite-type compounds. A combined experimental and DFT-computational study
Authors: Cigarini Luigi , Vanossi Davide , Bondioli Federica , Fontanesi Claudio
Published: July 2015

The dynamics of the early stage reaction between benzyl alcohol and Fe(acetylacetonate)3is studied by exploiting the Dynamic Reaction Coordinate (DRC) approach, at the PBE0/6-31G* level of theory.
Bond angle variations in XH3[X = N, P, As, Sb, Bi]: the critical role of Rydberg orbitals exposed using a diabatic state model
Authors: Reimers Jeffrey R. , McKemmish Laura K. , McKenzie Ross H. , Hush Noel S.
Published: July 2015

The origins of the observed bond angles in XH3and XH3+are explained using high-level calculations and a simple diabatic model.
Hygroscopic and phase transition properties of alkyl aminium sulfates at low relative humidities
Authors: Chu Yangxi , Sauerwein Meike , Chan Chak K.
Published: July 2015

Chemical composition changes and phase transition during hygroscopic measurements of the studied alkyl aminium sulfate salts.