bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Extracranial and Intracranial Ultrasonographic Findings in Posterior Circulation Infarction
Authors: Chi Hsin‐Yi , Hsu Chung‐Fu , Chen An‐Chih , Su Chun‐Hung , Hu Han‐Hwa , Fu Wen‐Mei
Published: November 2017

Objectives

Patients with posterior circulation infarction are at higher risk of early recurrent stroke, especially those with vertebrobasilar stenosis or hypoplasia. The clinical presentations of this condition vary over a broad range, making diagnosis and treatment a challenge. Hemodynamic changes and stenosis detected by ultrasonography (US) are sensitive and important indicators for further evaluation. In this study, we correlated extracranial and intracranial US characteristics with brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with posterior circulation infarction.

Methods

Inpatients with acute ischemic stroke who received both MRI and US were enrolled. Baseline characters, underlying disorders, the ischemic territory, and vascular stenosis on MRI were recorded. Series of US data, including flow volume, diameter, mean velocity, and pulsatility index, were analyzed. Patients with new infarction over the medulla, pons, midbrain, or cerebellum were enrolled as the posterior circulation infarction group. Patients with pure anterior circulation infarction were also enrolled.

Results

A total of 210 patients with anterior circulation infarction (mean age ± SD, 66.24 ± 12.88 years) and 143 with posterior circulation infarction (mean age, 65.82 ± 11.39 years) were enrolled. Significant higher frequencies of vertebral artery hypoplasia and decreased intracranial vertebrobasilar velocity in the posterior circulation infarction group (44.75% and 64.33%, respectively) were documented (P < .0001; P = .035). Ischemic lesion distributions were correlated with vertebral artery hypoplasia (55.56 %) and low vertebral and basilar artery velocities (44.44% and 25.53%), as documented by US. A low vertebrobasilar velocity was highly correlated with MRI‐documented vascular stenosis (53.06%).

Conclusions

Vertebral artery hypoplasia and a low velocity in the intracranial vertebrobasilar system on US might change the treatment of patients with posterior circulation infarction for primary and secondary prevention.
Two kinds of fixed point theorems and reverse mathematics
Authors: Peng Weiguang , Yamazaki Takeshi
Published: November 2017

In this paper, we investigate the logical strength of two types of fixed point theorems in the context of reverse mathematics. One is concerned with extensions of the Banach contraction principle. Among theorems in this type, we mainly show that the Caristi fixed point theorem is equivalent to over . The other is dedicated to topological fixed point theorems such as the Brouwer fixed point theorem. We introduce some variants of the Fan‐Browder fixed point theorem and the Kakutani fixed point theorem, which we call and , respectively. Then we show that is equivalent to and is equivalent to , over . In addition, we also study the application of the Fan‐Browder fixed point theorem to game systems.
The Proteomic Response of Bacillus pumilus Cells to Glucose Starvation
Authors: Handtke Stefan , Albrecht Dirk , Otto Andreas , Becher Dörte , Hecker Michael , Voigt Birgit
Published: November 2017

Since starvation for carbon sources is a common condition for bacteria in nature and it can also occur in industrial fermentation processes due to mixing zones, knowledge about the response of cells to carbon starvation is beneficial. The preferred carbon source for bacilli is glucose. The response of Bacillus pumilus cells to glucose starvation using metabolic labeling and quantitative proteomics was analyzed. Glucose starvation led to an extensive reprogramming of the protein expression pattern in B. pumilus. The amounts of proteins of the central carbon metabolic pathways (glycolysis and TCC) remained stable in starving cells. Proteins for gluconeogenesis were found in higher amounts during starvation. Furthermore, many proteins involved in acquisition and usage of alternative carbon sources were present in elevated amounts in starving cells. Enzymes for fatty acid degradation and proteases and peptidases were also found in higher abundance when cells entered stationary phase. Among the proteins found in lower amounts were many enzymes involved in amino acid and nucleotide synthesis and several NRPS and PKS proteins.
Practical Remediation of 3‐Nitro‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐one Wastewater
Authors: Chew Siao Chien , Tennant Mat , Mai Nathalie , McAteer Daniel , Pons Jean‐François
Published: November 2017

Limiting environmental impact is a top priority for the chemical industry, and manufacturing practices need to be well controlled to avoid any potential contamination. In order to reduce waste streams during the processing of 3‐nitro‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐one (NTO), potentially evironmental hazardous at concentrations of 1 g/l, we investigated the potential remediation and recycling of water using a wide range of commercial sorption media. We studied the effect of experimental conditions, including flow rate, initial contaminant concentration and temperature. This led to the selection of Amberlyst A26 OH in a batch process and Activated Carbon in continuous flow, as the most effective sorption methods. Using high performance liquid chromatography photodiode array detection (HPLC‐PDA), NTO was quantified from solutions, before and after remediation, showing a complete removal from a 10 g/l NTO solution. Our purification method therefore appears to be suitable for the remediation of NTO‐contaminated wastewater.
Thermodynamic secrets of multidrug resistance: A new take on transport mechanisms of secondary active antiporters
Authors: Zhang Xuejun C. , Liu Min , Lu Guangyuan , Heng Jie
Published: November 2017

Multidrug resistance (MDR) presents a growing challenge to global public health. Drug extrusion transporters play a critical part in MDR; thus, their mechanisms of substrate recognition are being studied in great detail. In this work, we review common structural features of key transporters involved in MDR. Based on our membrane potential‐driving hypothesis, we propose a general energy‐coupling mechanism for secondary‐active antiporters. This putative mechanism provides a common framework for understanding poly‐specificity of most—if not all—MDR transporters.
Influence of Nb and V on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Hot–Rolled Medium Mn Steels
Authors: Zhu Yuanshen , Hu Bin , Luo Haiwen
Published: November 2017

In this paper, the authors investigate effects of microalloying elements, including both V and Nb, on the microstructure and mechanical properties of hot–rolled medium–Mn steels. The additions of both V and V + Nb into 9Mn steel can significantly refine the prior austenite grains, which, however, leads to decreased fractions of austenite retained after hot rolling. During the subsequent intercritical annealing (IA) at 670 °C for 5 h, the blocky austenite grains grow coarser, accompanying with the large increment of RA fractions by 30–50%. The additions of both V and V + Nb result in not only finer blocky austenite grains, but also the extensive precipitation of V‐rich carbide in the annealed microstructures, the latter shall be the main contributor to the significant increases of yield strength in 9Mn–V and 9Mn–V–Nb steels. Almost all of the large blocky austenite grains transform to martensite during deformation, leading to significant work hardening via the TRIP effect. As a result, an excellent combination of mechanical properties, including 950 MPa yield strength, 1230 MPa ultimate tensile strength, and 40% total elongation is achieved in the hot rolled and annealed 9Mn–V steel due to both the largest TRIP effect and extensive precipitation of V–containing carbide.
Nash equilibria for nonzero-sum ergodic stochastic differential games
Authors: Cohen Samuel N. , Fedyashov Victor
Published: November 2017

We consider nonzero-sum games where multiple players control the drift of a process, and their payoffs depend on its ergodic behaviour. We establish their connection with systems of ergodic backward stochastic differential equations, and prove the existence of a Nash equilibrium under generalised Isaac's conditions. We also study the case of interacting players of different type.
Connections of Gini, Fisher, and Shannon by Bayes risk under proportional hazards
Authors: Asadi Majid , Ebrahimi Nader , Soofi Ehsan S.
Published: November 2017

The proportional hazards (PH) model and its associated distributions provide suitable media for exploring connections between the Gini coefficient, Fisher information, and Shannon entropy. The connecting threads are Bayes risks of the mean excess of a random variable with the PH distribution and Bayes risks of the Fisher information of the equilibrium distribution of the PH model. Under various priors, these Bayes risks are generalized entropy functionals of the survival functions of the baseline and PH models and the expected asymptotic age of the renewal process with the PH renewal time distribution. Bounds for a Bayes risk of the mean excess and the Gini's coefficient are given. The Shannon entropy integral of the equilibrium distribution of the PH model is represented in derivative forms. Several examples illustrate implementation of the results and provide insights for potential applications.
The failure probability of components in three-state networks with applications to age replacement policy
Authors: Ashrafi S. , Asadi M.
Published: November 2017

In this paper we investigate the stochastic properties of the number of failed components of a three-state network. We consider a network made up of n components which is designed for a specific purpose according to the performance of its components. The network starts operating at time t = 0 and it is assumed that, at any time t > 0, it can be in one of states up, partial performance, or down. We further suppose that the state of the network is inspected at two time instants t1 and t2 (t1 < t2). Using the notion of the two-dimensional signature, the probability of the number of failed components of the network is calculated, at t1 and t2, under several scenarios about the states of the network. Stochastic and ageing properties of the proposed failure probabilities are studied under different conditions. We present some optimal age replacement policies to show applications of the proposed criteria. Several illustrative examples are also provided.
Central limit theorem for the Horton–Strahler bifurcation ratio of general branch order
Authors: Yamamoto Ken
Published: November 2017

The Horton–Strahler ordering method, originating in hydrology, formulates the hierarchical structure of branching patterns using a quantity called the bifurcation ratio. The main result of this paper is the central limit theorem for the bifurcation ratio of a general branch order. This is a generalized form of the central limit theorem for the lowest bifurcation ratio, which was previously proved. Some useful relations regarding the Horton–Strahler analysis are also derived in the proofs of the main theorems.
On sequences of expected maxima and expected ranges
Authors: Papadatos Nickos
Published: November 2017

We investigate conditions in order to decide whether a given sequence of real numbers represents expected maxima or expected ranges. The main result provides a novel necessary and sufficient condition, relating an expected maxima sequence to a translation of a Bernstein function through its Lévy–Khintchine representation.
Optimal scaling of the random walk Metropolis algorithm under Lp mean differentiability
Authors: Durmus Alain , Le Corff Sylvain , Moulines Eric , Roberts Gareth O.
Published: November 2017

In this paper we consider the optimal scaling of high-dimensional random walk Metropolis algorithms for densities differentiable in the Lp mean but which may be irregular at some points (such as the Laplace density, for example) and/or supported on an interval. Our main result is the weak convergence of the Markov chain (appropriately rescaled in time and space) to a Langevin diffusion process as the dimension d goes to ∞. As the log-density might be nondifferentiable, the limiting diffusion could be singular. The scaling limit is established under assumptions which are much weaker than the one used in the original derivation of Roberts et al. (1997). This result has important practical implications for the use of random walk Metropolis algorithms in Bayesian frameworks based on sparsity inducing priors.
Challenges of Fear Conditioning Research in the Age of	RDoC
Authors: Lonsdorf Tina B. , Richter Jan
Published: November 2017

Abstract. As the criticism of the definition of the phenotype (i.e., clinical diagnosis) represents the major focus of the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) initiative, it is somewhat surprising that discussions have not yet focused more on specific conceptual and procedural considerations of the suggested RDoC constructs, sub-constructs, and associated paradigms. We argue that we need more precise thinking as well as a conceptual and methodological discussion of RDoC domains and constructs, their interrelationships as well as their experimental operationalization and nomenclature. The present work is intended to start such a debate using fear conditioning as an example. Thereby, we aim to provide thought-provoking impulses on the role of fear conditioning in the age of RDoC as well as conceptual and methodological considerations and suggestions to guide RDoC-based fear conditioning research in the future.
Frontostriatal Connectivity During Reward	Anticipation
Authors: Becker Alena , Gerchen Martin Fungisai , Kirsch Martina , Ubl Bettina , Subramaniapillai Sivaniya , Diener Carsten , Kuehner Christine , Kiefer Falk , Kirsch Peter
Published: November 2017

Abstract. Neurobiological research indicates that altered reward processing is among the most promising risk mechanisms in alcohol use disorder and depression. To elucidate differences and similarities between both disorders, we investigated clinical patients and at-risk individuals in two studies using a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) monetary reward paradigm. In the first study, alcohol use disorder patients compared to depressed and healthy individuals showed increased activation of the ventral striatum during reward anticipation. In contrast, both patient groups showed reduced frontostriatal connectivity compared to controls. In the second study, at-risk comorbid individuals showed decreased activation in the dorsal striatum along with decreased frontostriatal connectivity. While the connectivity results replicate the common pattern found for the patient groups, the activation results indicate a more depression-related pattern in individuals prone to developing both disorders. In conclusion, frontostriatal connectivity might be a promising transdiagnostic marker for depression, alcohol use disorder, and their comorbidity.
Human CD26high T cells elicit tumor immunity against multiple malignancies via enhanced migration and persistence
Authors: Bailey Stefanie R. , Nelson Michelle H. , Majchrzak Kinga , Bowers Jacob S. , Wyatt Megan M. , Smith Aubrey S. , Neal Lillian R. , Shirai Keisuke , Carpenito Carmine , June Carl H. , Zilliox Michael J. , Paulos Chrystal M.
Published: November 2017

CD8+T lymphocytes mediate potent immune responses against tumor, but the role of human CD4+T cell subsets in cancer immunotherapy remains ill-defined. Herein, we exhibit that CD26 identifies three T helper subsets with distinct immunological properties in both healthy individuals and cancer patients. Although CD26negT cells possess a regulatory phenotype, CD26intT cells are mainly naive and CD26highT cells appear terminally differentiated and exhausted. Paradoxically, CD26highT cells persist in and regress multiple solid tumors following adoptive cell transfer. Further analysis revealed that CD26highcells have a rich chemokine receptor profile (including CCR2 and CCR5), profound cytotoxicity (Granzyme B and CD107A), resistance to apoptosis (c-KIT and Bcl2), and enhanced stemness (β-catenin and Lef1). These properties license CD26highT cells with a natural capacity to traffic to, regress and survive in solid tumors. Collectively, these findings identify CD4+T cell subsets with properties critical for improving cancer immunotherapy.
Developmental nonlinearity drives phenotypic robustness
Authors: Green Rebecca M. , Fish Jennifer L. , Young Nathan M. , Smith Francis J. , Roberts Benjamin , Dolan Katie , Choi Irene , Leach Courtney L. , Gordon Paul , Cheverud James M. , Roseman Charles C. , Williams Trevor J. , Marcucio Ralph S. , Hallgrímsson Benedikt
Published: November 2017

Robustness to perturbation is a fundamental feature of complex organisms. Mutations are the raw material for evolution, yet robustness to their effects is required for species survival. The mechanisms that produce robustness are poorly understood. Nonlinearities are a ubiquitous feature of development that may link variation in development to phenotypic robustness. Here, we manipulate the gene dosage of a signaling molecule, Fgf8, a critical regulator of vertebrate development. We demonstrate that variation in Fgf8 expression has a nonlinear relationship to phenotypic variation, predicting levels of robustness among genotypes. Differences in robustness are not due to gene expression variance or dysregulation, but emerge from the nonlinearity of the genotype–phenotype curve. In this instance, embedded features of development explain robustness differences. How such features vary in natural populations and relate to genetic variation are key questions for unraveling the origin and evolvability of this feature of organismal development.
Galectin-3 impacts Cryptococcus neoformans infection through direct antifungal effects
Authors: Almeida Fausto , Wolf Julie M. , da Silva Thiago Aparecido , DeLeon-Rodriguez Carlos M. , Rezende Caroline Patini , Pessoni André Moreira , Fernandes Fabrício Freitas , Silva-Rocha Rafael , Martinez Roberto , Rodrigues Marcio L. , Roque-Barreira Maria Cristina , Casadevall Arturo
Published: November 2017

Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated fungal pathogen that causes cryptococcosis, which is a major opportunistic infection in immunosuppressed individuals. Mammalian β-galactoside-binding protein Galectin-3 (Gal-3) modulates the host innate and adaptive immunity, and plays significant roles during microbial infections including some fungal diseases. Here we show that this protein plays a role also in C. neoformans infection. We find augmented Gal-3 serum levels in human and experimental infections, as well as in spleen, lung, and brain tissues of infected mice. Gal-3-deficient mice are more susceptible to cryptococcosis than WT animals, as demonstrated by the higher fungal burden and lower animal survival. In vitro experiments show that Gal-3 inhibits fungal growth and exerts a direct lytic effect on C. neoformans extracellular vesicles (EVs). Our results indicate a direct role for Gal-3 in antifungal immunity whereby this molecule affects the outcome of C. neoformans infection by inhibiting fungal growth and reducing EV stability, which in turn could benefit the host.
Non motor symptoms in progressive supranuclear palsy: prevalence and severity
Authors: Radicati Fabiana Giada , Martinez Martin Pablo , Fossati Chiara , Chaudhuri Kallol Ray , Torti Margherita , Rodriguez Blazquez Carmen , Vacca Laura , Stocchi Fabrizio
Published: November 2017

NMSs have been extensively studied in PD patients but not in other forms of parkinsonism such as Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). The primary objective of this study was to analyze the frequency, severity and the type of non-motor symptoms (NMS) in PSP patients using the non-motor symptoms scale (NMSS). The secondary objective was to differentiate NMS between PSP and Parkinson’s disease (PD). We enrolled in this cross-sectional study 50 consecutive PSP and 100 matched Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients, in the proportion PSP/PD = 1/2, matched in age, sex, and disease duration. Motor and Non Motor symptoms (different scales for each disease) were evaluated at baseline using PSP scale, SCOPA Motor, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA), HADS, Hamilton, and Non Motor Symptom scale (NMSS). Comparative analysis was done using chi-squared test, Mann-Whitney test and Fisher’s exact test. Fifty PSP (56% female) and 100 PD (59% female) patients completed the study protocol and were included for statistical analysis. The NMSS total domains score in the PSP group was 77.58 ± 42.95 (range 14–163) with NMS burden grade: 4, very severe, and the in the PD group was 41.97 ± 35.45 (range: 0–215) with NMS burden grade: 3, severe. The comparative analysis showed that NMS total score (p < 0.0001), Sleep/Fatigue (p = 0.0007), Mood/Apathy (p = 0.0001), Gastrointestinal (p < 0.0001), and Urinary dysfunction (p = 0.0001) domains were significantly more severe in PSP patients than in PD. This observational study reports that NMSs are very frequent in PSP patients hence the higher burden of NMS in PSP specifically related to mood/apathy, attention/memory, gastrointestinal, urinary disturbances compared to PD.
Integrative gene network analysis identifies key signatures, intrinsic networks and host factors for influenza virus A infections
Authors: Forst Christian V. , Zhou Bin , Wang Minghui , Chou Tsui-Wen , Mason Guy , Song Won-min , Schadt Eric , Ghedin Elodie , Zhang Bin
Published: November 2017

Influenza A virus, with the limited coding capacity of 10–14 proteins, requires the host cellular machinery for many aspects of its life cycle. Knowledge of these host cell requirements not only reveals molecular pathways exploited by the virus or triggered by the immune system, but also provides further targets for antiviral drug development. To uncover novel pathways and key targets of influenza infection, we assembled a large amount of data from 12 cell-based gene-expression studies of influenza infection for an integrative network analysis. We systematically identified differentially expressed genes and gene co-expression networks induced by influenza infection. We revealed the dedicator of cytokinesis 5 (DOCK5) played potentially an important role for influenza virus replication. CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of DOCK5 reduced influenza virus replication, indicating that DOCK5 is a key regulator for the viral life cycle. DOCK5’s targets determined by the DOCK5 knockout experiments strongly validated the predicted gene signatures and networks. This study systematically uncovered and validated fundamental patterns of molecular responses, intrinsic structures of gene co-regulation, and novel key targets in influenza virus infection.
Exosomes from antigen-pulsed dendritic cells induce stronger antigen-specific immune responses than microvesicles in vivo
Authors: Wahlund Casper J. E. , Güclüler Gözde , Hiltbrunner Stefanie , Veerman Rosanne E. , Näslund Tanja I. , Gabrielsson Susanne
Published: November 2017

Extracellular vesicles (EV), including exosomes and microvesicles (MV), represent a rapidly expanding field of research with diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Although many aspects of EV function remain to be revealed and broad investigations are warranted, most published findings focus on only one vesicle category or a non-separated mix of EVs. In this paper, we investigated both MVs and exosomes from Ovalbumin (OVA)-pulsed dendritic cells for their immunostimulatory potential side-by-side in vivo. Only exosomes induced antigen-specific CD8+ T-cells, and were more efficient than MVs in eliciting antigen-specific IgG production. Further, mainly exosome-primed mouse splenocytes showed significant ex vivo interferon gamma production in response to antigen restimulation. Exosomes carried high levels of OVA, while OVA in MVs was barely detectable, which could explain the more potent antigen-specific response induced by exosomes. Moreover, exosomes induced increased germinal center B cell proportions, whereas MVs had no such effect. Immunisation with both vesicle types combined showed neither inhibitory nor synergistic effects. We conclude that DC-derived MVs and exosomes differ in their capacity to incorporate antigen and induce immune responses. The results are of importance for understanding the role of EVs in vivo, and for future design of vesicle-based immunotherapies and vaccines.
Hydrogen motion in rutile TiO2
Authors: Hupfer A. J. , Monakhov E. V. , Svensson B. G. , Chaplygin I. , Lavrov E. V.
Published: November 2017

Uniaxial-stress experiments have been performed for the 3287- and 2445-cm−1 local vibrational modes assigned to the positive charge state of interstitial hydrogen $$({{\rm{H}}}_{i}^{+})$$
(

H

i

+

)
and deuterium $$({{\rm{D}}}_{i}^{+})$$
(

D

i

+

)
, respectively, occurring in mono-crystalline rutile TiO2. The onset of the defect alignment under the stress applied perpendicular to the [001] axis is detected at 165 K (185 K), which corresponds to the activation energy of 0.53 eV (0.58 eV) for interstitial hydrogen (deuterium). Based on these findings the diffusion constants of $${{\rm{H}}}_{i}^{+}$$

H

i

+

and $${{\rm{D}}}_{i}^{+}$$

D

i

+

along the [001] axis of TiO2 are determined. The experimental data are complemented by density-functional theory calculations and compared with the earlier results on the diffusion of $${{\rm{H}}}_{i}^{+}$$

H

i

+

/$${{\rm{D}}}_{i}^{+}$$

D

i

+

at elevated temperatures up to 700 °C. It is found that the activation energy value deduced from our low-temperature stress measurements yields a very good agreement with the high-temperature data, covering a dynamic range of 12 orders of magnitude.
Reducing biomass recalcitrance by heterologous expression of a bacterial peroxidase in tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana)
Authors: Ligaba-Osena Ayalew , Hankoua Bertrand , DiMarco Kay , Pace Robert , Crocker Mark , McAtee Jesse , Nagachar Nivedita , Tien Ming , Richard Tom L.
Published: November 2017

Commercial scale production of biofuels from lignocellulosic feed stocks has been hampered by the resistance of plant cell walls to enzymatic conversion, primarily owing to lignin. This study investigated whether DypB, the lignin-degrading peroxidase fromRodococcus jostii, depolymerizes lignin and reduces recalcitrance in transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana). The protein was targeted to the cytosol or the ER using ER-targeting and retention signal peptides. For each construct, five independent transgenic lines were characterized phenotypically and genotypically. Our findings reveal that expression of DypB in the cytosol and ER does not affect plant development. ER-targeting increased protein accumulation, and extracts from transgenic leaves showed higher activity on classic peroxidase substrates than the control. Intriguingly,in situDypB activation and subsequent saccharification released nearly 200% more fermentable sugars from transgenic lines than controls, which were not explained by variation in initial structural and non-structural carbohydrates and lignin content. Pyrolysis-GC-MS analysis showed more reduction in the level of lignin associated pyrolysates in the transgenic lines than the control primarily when the enzyme is activated prior to pyrolysis, consistent with increased lignin degradation and improved saccharification. The findings reveal for the first time that accumulation andin situactivation of a peroxidase improves biomass digestibility.
All-optical control of light on a graphene-on-silicon nitride chip using thermo-optic effect
Authors: Qiu Ciyuan , Yang Yuxing , Li Chao , Wang Yifang , Wu Kan , Chen Jianping
Published: November 2017

All-optical signal processing avoids the conversion between optical signals and electronic signals and thus has the potential to achieve a power efficient photonic system. Micro-scale all-optical devices for light manipulation are the key components in the all-optical signal processing and have been built on the semiconductor platforms (e.g., silicon and III-V semiconductors). However, the two-photon absorption (TPA) effect and the free-carrier absorption (FCA) effect in these platforms deteriorate the power handling and limit the capability to realize complex functions. Instead, silicon nitride (Si3N4) provides a possibility to realize all-optical large-scale integrated circuits due to its insulator nature without TPA and FCA. In this work, we investigate the physical dynamics of all-optical control on a graphene-on-Si3N4 chip based on thermo-optic effect. In the experimental demonstration, a switching response time constant of 253.0 ns at a switching energy of ~50 nJ is obtained with a device dimension of 60 μm × 60 μm, corresponding to a figure of merit (FOM) of 3.0 nJ mm. Detailed coupled-mode theory based analysis on the thermo-optic effect of the device has been performed.
Author Correction: Down-regulation of cholinergic signaling in the habenula induces anhedonia-like behavior
Authors: Han Seungrie , Yang Soo Hyun , Kim Jin Yong , Mo Seojung , Yang Esther , Song Ki Myung , Ham Byung-Joo , Mechawar Naguib , Turecki Gustavo , Lee Hyun Woo , Kim Hyun
Published: November 2017

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML version of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper.
Bias induced ferromagnetism and half-metallicity in graphene nano-ribbons
Authors: Maji Rita , Bhattacharjee Joydeep
Published: November 2017

Towards spin selective electronics made of three coordinated carbon atoms, here we computationally propose robust and reversibly bias driven evolution of pristine undoped graphene nano-ribbons(GNR) into ferromagnetic-semiconductor, metal or a half metal, irrespective of their edge configurations. The evolution is a result of a rare ferromagnetic(FM) order emerging among nearest neighbouring(n-n) sites, in positively biased regions in their in-homogeneous bias unit-cells, in attempt to cooperatively minimise on-site Coulomb repulsion and kinetic energy, while maximising localization of electrons at the positively biased sites. The phenomenon appears to be a general property of in-homogeneously biased Coulomb correlated bipartite systems. Consequences are particularly rich in zigzag edged graphene nano-ribbons(ZGNR) due to the contest of bias driven n-n FM order and the inter-edge antiferromagnetic order inherent to ZGNRs, leading to systematic closing of gap for one of the spins, amounting to bias controlled unmissable opening of window for FM-semiconducting and half-metallic transport.
Suppression of Stochastic Domain Wall Pinning Through Control of Gilbert Damping
Authors: Broomhall T. J. , Hayward T. J.
Published: November 2017

Finite temperature micromagnetic simulations were used to investigate the magnetisation structure, propagation dynamics and stochastic pinning of domain walls in rare earth-doped Ni80Fe20 nanowires. We first show how the increase of the Gilbert damping, caused by the inclusion rare-earth dopants such as holmium, acts to suppress Walker breakdown phenomena. This allows domain walls to maintain consistent magnetisation structures during propagation. We then employ finite temperature simulations to probe how this affects the stochastic pinning of domain walls at notch-shaped artificial defect sites. Our results indicate that the addition of even a few percent of holmium allows domain walls to pin with consistent and well-defined magnetisation configurations, thus suppressing dynamically-induced stochastic pinning/depinning phenomena. Together, these results demonstrate a powerful, materials science-based solution to the problems of stochastic domain wall pinning in soft ferromagnetic nanowires.
Polarization response and scaling law of chirality for a nanofibre optical interface
Authors: Sadgrove Mark , Sugawara Masakazu , Mitsumori Yasuyoshi , Edamatsu Keiichi
Published: November 2017

Two port optical devices couple light to either port dependent on the input photon state. An important class of two-port devices is that of evanescently-coupled interfaces where chirality of photon coupling can lead to important technological applications. Here, we perform a fundamental characterization of such an interface, reconstructing the two-port polarization response over the surface of the Poincaré sphere for an optical nanofibre. From this result, we derive a chirality measure which is universal, obeying a one parameter scaling law independent of the exact parameters of the nanofibre and wavelength of light. Additionally, we note that the polarization response differs qualitatively for single and multiple coupled emitters, with possible implications for sensing and the characterization of waveguide coupled spins.
Inhibiting mevalonate pathway enzymes increases stromal cell resilience to a cholesterol-dependent cytolysin
Authors: Griffin Sholeem , Preta Giulio , Sheldon Iain Martin
Published: November 2017

Animal health depends on the ability of immune cells to kill invading pathogens, and on the resilience of tissues to tolerate the presence of pathogens. Trueperella pyogenes causes tissue pathology in many mammals by secreting a cholesterol-dependent cytolysin, pyolysin (PLO), which targets stromal cells. Cellular cholesterol is derived from squalene, which is synthesized via the mevalonate pathway enzymes, including HMGCR, FDPS and FDFT1. The present study tested the hypothesis that inhibiting enzymes in the mevalonate pathway to reduce cellular cholesterol increases the resilience of stromal cells to PLO. We first verified that depleting cellular cholesterol with methyl-β-cyclodextrin increased the resilience of stromal cells to PLO. We then used siRNA to deplete mevalonate pathway enzyme gene expression, and used pharmaceutical inhibitors, atorvastatin, alendronate or zaragozic acid to inhibit the activity of HMGCR, FDPS and FDFT1, respectively. These approaches successfully reduced cellular cholesterol abundance, but mevalonate pathway enzymes did not affect cellular resilience equally. Inhibiting FDFT1 was most effective, with zaragozic acid reducing the impact of PLO on cell viability. The present study provides evidence that inhibiting FDFT1 increases stromal cell resilience to a cholesterol-dependent cytolysin.
A catch-up illusion arising from a distance-dependent perception bias in judging relative movement
Authors: Meilinger Tobias , Garsoffky Bärbel , Schwan Stephan
Published: November 2017

The perception of relative target movement from a dynamic observer is an unexamined psychological three body problem. To test the applicability of explanations for two moving bodies participants repeatedly judged the relative movements of two runners chasing each other in video clips displayed on a stationary screen. The chased person always ran at 3 m/s with an observer camera following or leading at 4.5, 3, 1.5 or 0 m/s. We harmonized the chaser speed in an adaptive staircase to determine the point of subjective equal movement speed between runners and observed (i) an underestimation of chaser speed if the runners moved towards the viewer, and (ii) an overestimation of chaser speed if the runners moved away from the viewer, leading to a catch-up illusion in case of equidistant runners. The bias was independent of the richness of available self-movement cues. Results are inconsistent with computing individual speeds, relying on constant visual angles, expansion rates, occlusions, or relative distances but are consistent with inducing the impression of relative movement through perceptually compressing and enlarging inter-runner distance. This mechanism should be considered when predicting human behavior in complex situations with multiple objects moving in depth such as driving or team sports.
The SWI/SNF subunit Bcl7a contributes to motor coordination and Purkinje cell function
Authors: Wischhof Lena , Maida Simona , Piazzesi Antonia , Gioran Anna , Barragan Sanz Kristina , Irsen Stephan , Beyer Marc , Schultze Joachim L. , Dyer Martin J. , Salomoni Paolo , Ehninger Dan , Nicotera Pierluigi , Bano Daniele
Published: November 2017

Chromatin remodelers have emerged as prominent regulators of epigenetic processes and potential drivers of various human pathologies. The multi-subunit chromatin-remodeling SWI/SNF complex determines gene expression programs and, consequently, contributes to the differentiation, maturation and plasticity of neurons. Here, we investigate the elusive biological function of Bcl7a and Bcl7b, two newly identified subunits of the SWI/SNF complex that are highly expressed throughout the brain. We generated ubiquitous and neuron-specific Bcl7a and Bcl7b single and double knockout mice. We provide evidence that Bcl7b is dispensable for animal survival as well as behavioral plasticity. Conversely, ubiquitous Bcl7a knockout results in perinatal lethality, while genetic deletion of Bcl7a in postmitotic neurons elicits motor abnormalities and affects dendritic branching of Purkinje cells, with no obvious synergistic relationship with Bcl7b. Collectively, our findings reveal novel insights into the cellular processes linked to BCL7-containing SWI/SNF complexes and their unrecognized roles in the brain.
Prophylactic Active Tau Immunization Leads to Sustained Reduction in Both Tau and Amyloid-β Pathologies in 3xTg Mice
Authors: Rajamohamedsait Hameetha , Rasool Suhail , Rajamohamedsait Wajitha , Lin Yan , Sigurdsson Einar M.
Published: November 2017

Amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau pathologies are intertwined in Alzheimer’s disease, and various immunotherapies targeting these hallmarks are in clinical trials. To determine if tau pathology influences Aβ burden and to assess prophylactic benefits, 3xTg and wild-type mice received tau immunization from 2–6 months of age. The mice developed a high IgG titer that was maintained at 22 months of age. Pronounced tau and Aβ pathologies were primarily detected in the subiculum/CA1 region, which was therefore the focus of analysis. The therapy reduced histopathological tau aggregates by 70–74% overall (68% in males and 78–86% in females), compared to 3xTg controls. Likewise, western blot analysis revealed a 41% clearance of soluble tau (38–76% in males and 48% in females) and 42–47% clearance of insoluble tau (47–58% in males and 49% in females) in the immunized mice. Furthermore, Aβ burden was reduced by 84% overall (61% in males and 97% in females). These benefits were associated with reductions in microgliosis and microhemorrhages. In summary, prophylactic tau immunization not only prevents tau pathology but also Aβ deposition and related pathologies in a sustained manner, indicating that tau pathology can promote Aβ deposition, and that a short immunization regimen can have a long-lasting beneficial effect.
Characterization of Large Copy Number Variation in Mexican Type 2 Diabetes subjects
Authors: de Jesús Ascencio-Montiel Iván , Pinto Dalila , Parra Esteban J. , Valladares-Salgado Adán , Cruz Miguel , Scherer Stephen W.
Published: November 2017

The effect of Copy Number Variants (CNVs) on Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) remains little explored. The present study characterized large rare CNVs in 686 T2D and 194 non-T2D subjects of Mexican ancestry genotyped using the Affymetrix Genome-Wide Human SNP array 5.0. Rare CNVs with ≥ 100 kb length were identified using a stringent strategy based on merging CNVs calls generated using Birdsuit, iPattern and PennCNV algorithms. We applied three different strategies to evaluate the distribution of CNVs in the T2D and non-T2D samples: 1) Burden analysis, 2) Identification of CNVs in loci previously associated to T2D, and 3) Identification of CNVs observed only in the T2D group. In the CNV burden analysis, the T2D group showed a higher proportion of CNVs, and also a higher proportion of CNVs overlapping at least one gene than the non T2D group. Five of the six loci previously associated with T2D had duplications or deletions in the T2D sample, but not the non-T2D sample. A gene-set analysis including genes with CNVs observed only in the T2D group highlighted gene-sets related with sensory perception (olfactory receptors, OR) and phenylpyruvate tautomerase/dopachrome isomerase activity (MIF and DDT genes).
Not all observed actions are perceived equally
Authors: Platonov Artem , Orban Guy A.
Published: November 2017

Action observation is the visual process analyzing the actions of others to determine their goals and how the actor’s body (part) movements permit attaining those goals. Our recent psychophysical study demonstrated that 1) observed action (OA) perception differs from shape perception in viewpoint and duration dependence, and 2) accuracy and reaction times of OA discrimination are fitted by the proportional-rate diffusion model whereby a sensory stage provides noisy evidence that is accumulated up to a criterion or bound by a decision stage. That study was devoted to observation of manipulative actions, following a general trend of the field. Recent functional imaging studies of action observation, however, have established various OA classes as separate entities with processing routes involving distinct posterior parietal cortex (PPC) regions. Here, we show that the diffusion model applies to multiple OA classes. Even more importantly, the observers’ ability to discriminate exemplars of a given class differs considerably between OA classes and these performance differences correspond to differences in model parameters. In particular, OA classes differ in the bound parameter which we propose may reflect an urgency signal originating in the PPC regions corresponding to the sensory stages of different OA classes.
Integration of pharmacology, molecular pathology, and population data science to support precision gastrointestinal oncology
Authors: Ogino Shuji , Jhun Iny , Mata Douglas A. , Soong Thing Rinda , Hamada Tsuyoshi , Liu Li , Nishihara Reiko , Giannakis Marios , Cao Yin , Manson JoAnn E. , Nowak Jonathan A. , Chan Andrew T.
Published: November 2017

Precision medicine has a goal of customizing disease prevention and treatment strategies. Under the precision medicine paradigm, each patient has unique pathologic processes resulting from cellular genomic, epigenomic, proteomic, and metabolomic alterations, which are influenced by pharmacological, environmental, microbial, dietary, and lifestyle factors. Hence, to realize the promise of precision medicine, multi-level research methods that can comprehensively analyze many of these variables are needed. In order to address this gap, the integrative field of molecular pathology and population data science (i.e., molecular pathological epidemiology) has been developed to enable such multi-level analyses, especially in gastrointestinal cancer research. Further integration of pharmacology can improve our understanding of drug effects, and inform decision-making of drug use at both the individual and population levels. Such integrative research demonstrated potential benefits of aspirin in colorectal carcinoma with PIK3CA mutations, providing the basis for new clinical trials. Evidence also suggests that HPGD (15-PDGH) expression levels in normal colon and the germline rs6983267 polymorphism that relates to tumor CTNNB1 (β-catenin)/WNT signaling status may predict the efficacy of aspirin for cancer chemoprevention. As immune checkpoint blockade targeting the CD274 (PD-L1)/PDCD1 (PD-1) pathway for microsatellite instability-high (or mismatch repair-deficient) metastatic gastrointestinal or other tumors has become standard of care, potential modifying effects of dietary, lifestyle, microbial, and environmental factors on immunotherapy need to be studied to further optimize treatment strategies. With its broad applicability, our integrative approach can provide insights into the interactive role of medications, exposures, and molecular pathology, and guide the development of precision medicine.
Microwave-assisted routes for rapid and efficient modification of layered perovskites
Authors: Akbarian-Tefaghi S. , Wiley J. B.
Published: November 2017

Microwave-assisted methods are effective in a variety of topochemical modifications of layered perovskites.
Three Pd-decavanadates with a controllable molar ratio of Pd to decavanadate and their heterogeneous aerobic oxidation of benzylic C–H bonds
Authors: Huang Xianqiang , Li Jikun , Shen Guodong , Xin Nana , Lin Zhengguo , Chi Yingnan , Dou Jianmin , Li Dacheng , Hu Changwen
Published: November 2017

Three Pd-decavanadates have been synthesized and they are active in the heterogeneous aerobic oxidation of benzylic hydrocarbons.
Wastewater from hydraulic fracturing in the UK: assessing the viability and cost of management
Authors: O'Donnell M. C. , Gilfillan S. M. V. , Edlmann K. , McDermott C. I.
Published: November 2017

Mounds of salt recovered during treatment of wastewaters from hydraulic fracturing in the USA.
Thermodynamic and first-principles biomolecular simulations applied to synthetic biology: promoter and aptamer designs
Authors: Presnell Kristin V. , Alper Hal S.
Published: November 2017

A review of recent advances ofin silicotechnology towardde novosynthetic biological design.
Experimental evidence of charged domain walls in lead-free ferroelectric ceramics: light-driven nanodomain switching
Authors: Rubio-Marcos Fernando , Del Campo Adolfo , Rojas-Hernandez Rocío E. , Ramírez Mariola O. , Parra Rodrigo , Ichikawa Rodrigo U. , Ramajo Leandro A. , Bausá Luisa E. , Fernández Jose F.
Published: November 2017

Emergent phenomena driven by light–matter interaction may have potential applications in next-generation domain wall nanoelectronics utilizing polycrystalline ferroelectrics.
Quasi-Talbot effect of orbital angular momentum beams for generation of optical vortex arrays by multiplexing metasurface design
Authors: Gao Hui , Li Yang , Chen Lianwei , Jin Jinjin , Pu Mingbo , Li Xiong , Gao Ping , Wang Changtao , Luo Xiangang , Hong Minghui
Published: November 2017

The quasi-Talbot effect of orbital angular momentum (OAM) beams, in which the centers are placed in a rotationally symmetric position, is demonstrated both numerically and experimentally for the first time.
Assembly of a visible light photoreactor: an inexpensive tool for bottlebrush polymer synthesis via photoiniferter polymerization
Authors: Arrington Kyle J. , Matson John B.
Published: November 2017

We report the design of a simple, inexpensive photoreactor for photoiniferter polymerization of vinyl monomers mediated by thiocarbonylthio compounds. This photoreactor allowed for the synthesis of block copolymers and well-defined bottlebrush polymers by grafting-from and grafting-through.
Binding of anions in triply interlocked coordination catenanes and dynamic allostery for dehalogenation reactions
Authors: Yang Linlin , Jing Xu , An Bowen , He Cheng , Yang Yang , Duan Chunying
Published: November 2017

Triply interlocked metal organic catenanes with several kinds of individual pockets enabled the possibility of encapsulating different anions, allowing the dynamic allostery between the unlocked/locked conformers to efficiently promote the dehalogenation reaction.
The vinylogous Catellani reaction: a combined computational and experimental study
Authors: Yamamoto Y. , Murayama T. , Jiang J. , Yasui T. , Shibuya M.
Published: November 2017

In the presence of 5 mol% Pd(OAc)2, 1 equiv. of norbornene, and K2CO3, the reaction of 4-iodo-2-quinolones with tertiary o-bromobenzylic alcohols produced the desired benzopyran-fused 2-quinolones in moderate to high yields.
Molecular interactions between single layered MoS2 and biological molecules
Authors: Xiao Minyu , Wei Shuai , Li Yaoxin , Jasensky Joshua , Chen Junjie , Brooks Charles L. , Chen Zhan
Published: November 2017

In this research, molecular interactions between several de novo designed alpha-helical peptides and monolayer MoS2 have been studied.