bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A basal-like breast cancer-specific role for SRF–IL6 in YAP-induced cancer stemness
Authors: Kim Tackhoon , Yang Suk-Jin , Hwang Daehee , Song Jinhoi , Kim Minchul , Kyum Kim Sang , Kang Keunsoo , Ahn Jaebum , Lee Daeyoup , Kim Mi-young , Kim Seyun , Seung Koo Ja , Seok Koh Sang , Kim Seon-Young , Lim Dae-Sik
Published: December 2015

The switch between stem/progenitor cell expansion and differentiation is critical for organ homeostasis. The mammalian Hippo pathway effector and oncoprotein YAP expands undifferentiated stem/progenitor cells in various tissues. However, the YAP-associated transcription factors and downstream targets underlying this stemness-promoting activity are poorly understood. Here we show that the SRF–IL6 axis is the critical mediator of YAP-induced stemness in mammary epithelial cells and breast cancer. Specifically, serum response factor (SRF)-mediated binding and recruitment of YAP to mammary stem cell (MaSC) signature-gene promoters induce numerous MaSC signature genes, among which the target interleukin (IL)-6 is critical for YAP-induced stemness. High SRF–YAP/TAZ expression is correlated with IL6-enriched MaSC/basal-like breast cancer (BLBC). Finally, we show that this high SRF expression enables YAP to more efficiently induce IL6 and stemness in BLBC compared with luminal-type breast cancer. Collectively, our results establish the importance of SRF–YAP–IL6 signalling in promoting MaSC-like properties in a BLBC-specific manner.
Transcriptional elongation requires DNA break-induced signalling
Authors: Bunch Heeyoun , Lawney Brian P. , Lin Yu-Fen , Asaithamby Aroumougame , Murshid Ayesha , Wang Yaoyu E. , Chen Benjamin P. C. , Calderwood Stuart K.
Published: December 2015

We have previously shown that RNA polymerase II (Pol II) pause release and transcriptional elongation involve phosphorylation of the factor TRIM28 by the DNA damage response (DDR) kinases ATM and DNA-PK. Here we report a significant role for DNA breaks and DDR signalling in the mechanisms of transcriptional elongation in stimulus-inducible genes in humans. Our data show the enrichment of TRIM28 and γH2AX on serum-induced genes and the important function of DNA-PK for Pol II pause release and transcriptional activation-coupled DDR signalling on these genes. γH2AX accumulation decreases when P-TEFb is inhibited, confirming that DDR signalling results from transcriptional elongation. In addition, transcriptional elongation-coupled DDR signalling involves topoisomerase II because inhibiting this enzyme interferes with Pol II pause release and γH2AX accumulation. Our findings propose that DDR signalling is required for effective Pol II pause release and transcriptional elongation through a novel mechanism involving TRIM28, DNA-PK and topoisomerase II.
Epigenetic regulation of puberty via Zinc finger protein-mediated transcriptional repression
Authors: Lomniczi Alejandro , Wright Hollis , Castellano Juan Manuel , Matagne Valerie , Toro Carlos A. , Ramaswamy Suresh , Plant Tony M. , Ojeda Sergio R.
Published: December 2015

In primates, puberty is unleashed by increased GnRH release from the hypothalamus following an interval of juvenile quiescence. GWAS implicatesZinc finger(ZNF) genes in timing human puberty. Here we show that hypothalamic expression of severalZNFs decreased in agonadal male monkeys in association with the pubertal reactivation of gonadotropin secretion. Expression of two of theseZNFs,GATAD1andZNF573, also decreases in peripubertal female monkeys. However, onlyGATAD1abundance increases when gonadotropin secretion is suppressed during late infancy. Targeted delivery ofGATAD1orZNF573to the rat hypothalamus delays puberty by impairing the transition of a transcriptional network from an immature repressive epigenetic configuration to one of activation. GATAD1 represses transcription of two key puberty-related genes,KISS1andTAC3, directly, and reduces the activating histone mark H3K4me2 at each promoter via recruitment of histone demethylase KDM1A. We conclude that GATAD1 epitomizes a subset of ZNFs involved in epigenetic repression of primate puberty.
Tongue Epithelium Cells from shRNA Mediated Transgenic Goat Show High Resistance to Foot and Mouth Disease Virus
Authors: Li Wenting , Wang Kejun , Kang Shimeng , Deng Shoulong , Han Hongbing , Lian Ling , Lian Zhengxing
Published: December 2015

Foot and mouth disease induced by foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) is severe threat to cloven-hoofed domestic animals. The gene 3Dpol in FMDV genome encodes the viral RNA polymerase, a vital element for FMDV replication. In this study, a conserved 3D-7414shRNA targeting FMDV-3Dpol gene was designed and injected into pronuclear embryos to produce the transgenic goats. Sixty-one goats were produced, of which, seven goats positively integrated 3D-7414shRNA. Loss of function assay demonstrated that siRNA effectively knockdown 3Dpol gene in skin epithelium cells of transgenic goats. Subsequently, the tongue epithelium cells from transgenic and non-transgenic goats were infected with FMDV O/YS/CHA/05 strain. A significant decrease of virus titres and virus copy number was observed in cells of transgenic goats compared with that of non-transgenic goats, which indicated that 3D-7414siRNA inhibited FMDV replication by interfering FMDV-3Dpol gene. Furthermore, we found that expression of TLR7, RIG-I and TRAF6 was lower in FMDV infected cells from transgenic goats compared to that from non-transgenic goats, which might result from lower virus copy number in transgenic goats’ cells. In conclusion, we successfully produced transgenic goats highly expressing 3D-7414siRNA targeting 3Dpol gene and the tongue epithelium cells from the transgenic goats showed effective resistance to FMDV.
Controllable Fabrication and Optical Properties of Uniform Gadolinium Oxysulfate Hollow Spheres
Authors: Chen Fashen , Chen Gen , Liu Tao , Zhang Ning , Liu Xiaohe , Luo Hongmei , Li Junhui , Chen Limiao , Ma Renzhi , Qiu Guanzhou
Published: December 2015

Uniform gadolinium oxysulfate (Gd2O2SO4) hollow spheres were successfully fabricated by calcination of corresponding Gd-organic precursor obtained via a facile hydrothermal process. The Gd2O2SO4 hollow spheres have a mean diameter of approximately 550 nm and shell thickness in the range of 30–70 nm. The sizes and morphologies of as-prepared Gd2O2SO4 hollow spheres could be deliberately controlled by adjusting the experimental parameters. Eu-doped Gd2O2SO4 hollow spheres have also been prepared for the property modification and practical applications. The structure, morphology and properties of as-prepared products were characterized by XRD, TEM, HRTEM, SEM and fluorescence spectrophotometer. Excited with ultraviolet (UV) pump laser, successful downconversion (DC) could be achieved for Eu-doped Gd2O2SO4 hollow spheres.
Rat and human STINGs profile similarly towards anticancer/antiviral compounds
Authors: Zhang Heng , Han Min-Jie , Tao Jianli , Ye Zhao-Yang , Du Xiao-Xia , Deng Ming-Jing , Zhang Xiao-Yan , Li Lan-Fen , Jiang Zheng-Fan , Su Xiao-Dong
Published: December 2015

Cyclic dinucleotides (CDNs) and antitumor/antiviral agents (DMXAA and CMA) trigger STING-dependent innate immunity activation. Accumulative evidences have showed that DMXAA and CMA selectively activate mouse, but not human STING signaling. The mechanism underlying this species selectivity remains poorly understood. In this report, we have shown that human and rat STINGs display more similar signaling profiles toward DMXAA and CMA than that of human and mouse STINGs, suggesting that rat is more suitable for preclinical testing of STING-targeted drugs. We have also determined the crystal structures of both apo rat STING and its complex with cyclic GMP-AMP with 2′5′ and 3′5′ phosphodiester linkage (2′3′-cGAMP), a human endogenous CDN. Structure-guided biochemical analysis also revealed the functional importance of the connecting loop (A140-N152) between membrane and cytosolic domains in STING activation. Taken together, these findings reveal that rat STING is more closely related to human STING in terms of substrate preference, serving as a foundation for the development of STING-targeted drugs.
Novel Iron-based ternary amorphous oxide semiconductor with very high transparency, electronic conductivity and mobility
Authors: Malasi A. , Taz H. , Farah A. , Patel M. , Lawrie B. , Pooser R. , Baddorf A. , Duscher G. , Kalyanaraman R.
Published: December 2015

Here we report that ternary metal oxides of type (Me)2O3 with the primary metal (Me) constituent being Fe (66 atomic (at.) %) along with the two Lanthanide elements Tb (10 at.%) and Dy (24 at.%) can show excellent semiconducting transport properties. Thin films prepared by pulsed laser deposition at room temperature followed by ambient oxidation showed very high electronic conductivity (>5 × 104 S/m) and Hall mobility (>30 cm2/V-s). These films had an amorphous microstructure which was stable to at least 500 °C and large optical transparency with a direct band gap of 2.85 ± 0.14 eV. This material shows emergent semiconducting behavior with significantly higher conductivity and mobility than the constituent insulating oxides. Since these results demonstrate a new way to modify the behaviors of transition metal oxides made from unfilled d- and/or f-subshells, a new class of functional transparent conducting oxide materials could be envisioned.
Perturbation of cellular proteostasis networks identifies pathways that modulate precursor and intermediate but not mature levels of frataxin
Authors: Nabhan Joseph F. , Gooch Renea L. , Piatnitski Chekler Eugene L. , Pierce Betsy , Bulawa Christine E.
Published: December 2015

Friedreich’s Ataxia is a genetic disease caused by expansion of an intronic trinucleotide repeat in the frataxin (FXN) gene yielding diminished FXN expression and consequently disease. Since increasing FXN protein levels is desirable to ameliorate pathology, we explored the role of major cellular proteostasis pathways and mitochondrial proteases in FXN processing and turnover. We targeted p97/VCP, the ubiquitin proteasome pathway (UPP) and autophagy with chemical inhibitors in cell lines and patient-derived cells. p97 inhibition by DBeQ increased precursor FXN levels, while UPP and autophagic flux modulators had variable effects predominantly on intermediate FXN. Our data suggest that these pathways cannot be modulated to influence mature functional FXN levels. We also targeted known mitochondrial proteases by RNA interference and discovered a novel protease PITRM1 that regulates intermediate FXN levels. Treatment with the aforementioned chemical and genetic modulators did not have a differential effect in patient cells containing lower amounts of FXN. Interestingly, a number of treatments caused a change in total amount of FXN protein, without an effect on mature FXN. Our results imply that regulation of FXN protein levels is complex and that total amounts can be modulated chemically and genetically without altering the absolute amount of mature FXN protein.
A unique GCN5-related glucosamine N-acetyltransferase region exist in the fungal multi-domain glycoside hydrolase family 3 β-N-acetylglucosaminidase
Authors: Qin Zhen , Xiao Yibei , Yang Xinbin , Mesters Jeroen R. , Yang Shaoqing , Jiang Zhengqiang
Published: December 2015

Glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 3 β-N-acetylglucosaminidases widely exist in the filamentous fungi, which may play a key role in chitin metabolism of fungi. A multi-domain GH family 3 β-N-acetylglucosaminidase from Rhizomucor miehei (RmNag), exhibiting a potential N-acetyltransferase region, has been recently reported to show great potential in industrial applications. In this study, the crystal structure of RmNag was determined at 2.80 Å resolution. The three-dimensional structure of RmNag showed four distinctive domains, which belong to two distinguishable functional regions — a GH family 3 β-N-acetylglucosaminidase region (N-terminal) and a N-acetyltransferase region (C-terminal). From structural and functional analysis, the C-terminal region of RmNag was identified as a unique tandem array linking general control non-derepressible 5 (GCN5)-related N-acetyltransferase (GNAT), which displayed glucosamine N-acetyltransferase activity. Structural analysis of this glucosamine N-acetyltransferase region revealed that a unique glucosamine binding pocket is located in the pantetheine arm binding terminal region of the conserved CoA binding pocket, which is different from all known GNAT members. This is the first structural report of a glucosamine N-acetyltransferase, which provides novel structural information about substrate specificity of GNATs. The structural and functional features of this multi-domain β-N-acetylglucosaminidase could be useful in studying the catalytic mechanism of GH family 3 proteins.
Hierarchical honeycomb auxetic metamaterials
Authors: Mousanezhad Davood , Babaee Sahab , Ebrahimi Hamid , Ghosh Ranajay , Hamouda Abdelmagid Salem , Bertoldi Katia , Vaziri Ashkan
Published: December 2015

Most conventional materials expand in transverse directions when they are compressed uniaxially resulting in the familiar positive Poisson’s ratio. Here we develop a new class of two dimensional (2D) metamaterials with negative Poisson’s ratio that contract in transverse directions under uniaxial compressive loads leading to auxeticity. This is achieved through mechanical instabilities (i.e., buckling) introduced by structural hierarchy and retained over a wide range of applied compression. This unusual behavior is demonstrated experimentally and analyzed computationally. The work provides new insights into the role of structural organization and hierarchy in designing 2D auxetic metamaterials and new opportunities for developing energy absorbing materials, tunable membrane filters and acoustic dampeners.
Antibody induced CD4 down-modulation of T cells is site-specifically mediated by CD64+ cells
Authors: Vogel Stephanie , Grabski Elena , Buschjäger Daniela , Klawonn Frank , Döring Marius , Wang Junxi , Fletcher Erika , Bechmann Ingo , Witte Torsten , Durisin Martin , Schraven Burkhart , Mangsbo Sara M. , Schönfeld Kurt , Czeloth Niklas , Kalinke Ulrich
Published: December 2015

Treatment of PBMC with the CD4-specific mAb BT-061 induces CD4 down-modulation of T cells. Here we report that addition of BT-061 to purified T cells did not confer this effect, whereas incubation of T cells in BT-061 coated wells restored CD4 down-modulation. These results implied that Fcγ receptor mediated cell-cell interactions played a role. In consistence with this hypothesis PBMC depleted of CD64+ monocytes did not confer CD4 down-modulation of BT-061 decorated T cells. Strikingly, CD4 down-modulation was observed in BT-061 treated synovial fluid punctuated from patients’ inflamed joints that comprised enhanced numbers of CD64+ cells. In contrast, in a circulating whole blood system injection of BT-061 did not induce CD4 down-modulation, due to CD64 saturation by serum IgG. Similarly, tonsil derived mononuclear cells devoid of CD64+ cells did not show CD4 down-modulation, whereas addition of blood derived monocytes restored the effect. Thus, the interaction of BT-061 decorated T cells with CD64+ cells is needed for CD4 down-modulation, implying that in patients BT-061 would primarily induce CD4 down-modulation at inflammatory sites. These results highlight the need not only to examine the interaction of a given mAb with single FcγR, but also the immunological environment that is appropriate to support such interactions.
Distillation of photon entanglement using a plasmonic metamaterial
Authors: Asano Motoki , Bechu Muriel , Tame Mark , Kaya Özdemir Şahin , Ikuta Rikizo , Güney Durdu Ö. , Yamamoto Takashi , Yang Lan , Wegener Martin , Imoto Nobuyuki
Published: December 2015

Plasmonics is a rapidly emerging platform for quantum state engineering with the potential for building ultra-compact and hybrid optoelectronic devices. Recent experiments have shown that despite the presence of decoherence and loss, photon statistics and entanglement can be preserved in single plasmonic systems. This preserving ability should carry over to plasmonic metamaterials, whose properties are the result of many individual plasmonic systems acting collectively and can be used to engineer optical states of light. Here, we report an experimental demonstration of quantum state filtering, also known as entanglement distillation, using a metamaterial. We show that the metamaterial can be used to distill highly entangled states from less entangled states. As the metamaterial can be integrated with other optical components this work opens up the intriguing possibility of incorporating plasmonic metamaterials in on-chip quantum state engineering tasks.
Nanoscale Kerr Nonlinearity Enhancement Using Spontaneously Generated Coherence in Plasmonic Nanocavity
Authors: Chen Hongyi , Ren Juanjuan , Gu Ying , Zhao Dongxing , Zhang Junxiang , Gong Qihuang
Published: December 2015

The enhancement of the optical nonlinear effects at nanoscale is important in the on-chip optical information processing. We theoretically propose the mechanism of the great Kerr nonlinearity enhancement by using anisotropic Purcell factors in a double-Λ type four-level system, i.e., if the bisector of the two vertical dipole moments lies in the small/large Purcell factor axis in the space, the Kerr nonlinearity will be enhanced/decreased due to the spontaneously generated coherence accordingly. Besides, when the two dipole moments are parallel, the extremely large Kerr nonlinearity increase appears, which comes from the double population trapping. Using the custom-designed resonant plasmonic nanostructure which gives an anisotropic Purcell factor environment, we demonstrate the effective nanoscale control of the Kerr nonlinearity. Such controllable Kerr nonlinearity may be realized by the state-of-the-art nanotechnics and it may have potential applications in on-chip photonic nonlinear devices.
The effects of lung and prostate cancer bone metastasis on serum osteoprotegerin levels: a meta-analysis
Authors: Zang Leyuan , Ma Min , Hu Jianxin , Qiu Hao , Huang Bo , Chu Tongwei
Published: December 2015

Bone metastasis leads to skeletal-related events in final-stage cancer patients. The incidence of prostate and lung cancers increases yearly; these cancers readily invade the bone. Some recent studies have found that serum osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels may be altered in patients with bone metastasis, whereas other reports have produced inconsistent findings. Hence, we conducted a meta-analysis to examine the effects of lung and prostate cancer on serum OPG levels. A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, Medline and CNKI to identify relevant studies. A total of 11 studies were included. The standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of the bone metastasis (BM) group, the non-bone metastasis (BM-) group and healthy controls were calculated. In prostate cancer, serum OPG levels in the BM group were higher than in the BM- group and healthy controls. Additionally, no significant difference in serum OPG levels was found between the BM- group and healthy controls. In lung cancer, serum OPG levels in the BM and BM- groups were significantly increased compared with healthy controls. However, no significant difference in serum OPG levels was found between the BM and BM- groups. Studies with larger sample sizes are required to confirm these findings.
Feasibility of US-CT image fusion to identify the sources of abnormal vascularization in posterior sacroiliac joints of ankylosing spondylitis patients
Authors: Hu Zhenlong , Zhu Jiaan , Liu Fang , Wang Niansong , Xue Qin
Published: December 2015

Ultrasound (US) can be used to evaluate the inflammatory activity of the sacroiliac joints (SIJs) in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients, but to precisely locate the abnormal vascularization observed on color Doppler US (CDUS) was difficult. To address this issue, we performed US and computed tomography (CT) fusion imaging of SIJs with 84 inpatients and 30 controls and then assessed the sources of abnormal vascularization in the posterior SIJs of AS patients based on the fused images. Several possible factors impacting the fusion process were considered including the lesion classes of SIJ, the skinfold thickness of the sacral region and the cross-sectional levels of the first, second and third posterior sacral foramina. Our data showed high image fusion success rates at the 3 levels in the AS group (97.0%, 87.5% and 79.8%, respectively) and the control group (96.7%, 86.7% and 86.7%, respectively).The skinfold thickness was identified as the main factor affecting the success rates. The successfully fused images revealed significant differences in the distribution of abnormal vascularization between 3 levels, as detected via CDUS (P = 0.011), which suggested that inflammation occurred in distinct tissues at different levels of the SIJ (intraligamentous inflammation in Regions 1 and 2; intracapsular inflammation in Region 3).
Subsite-specific contributions of different aromatic residues in the active site architecture of glycoside hydrolase family 12
Authors: Zhang Xiaomei , Wang Shuai , Wu Xiuyun , Liu Shijia , Li Dandan , Xu Hao , Gao Peiji , Chen Guanjun , Wang Lushan
Published: December 2015

The active site architecture of glycoside hydrolase (GH) is a contiguous subregion of the enzyme constituted by residues clustered in the three-dimensional space, recognizing the monomeric unit of ligand through hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions. Mutations of the key residues in the active site architecture of the GH12 family exerted different impacts on catalytic efficiency. Binding affinities between the aromatic amino acids and carbohydrate rings were quantitatively determined by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and the quantum mechanical (QM) method, showing that the binding capacity order of Tyr>Trp>His (and Phe) was determined by their side-chain properties. The results also revealed that the binding constant of a certain residue remained unchanged when altering its location, while the catalytic efficiency changed dramatically. Increased binding affinity at a relatively distant subsite, such as the mutant of W7Y at the −4 subsite, resulted in a marked increase in the intermediate product of cellotetraose and enhanced the reactivity of endoglucanase by 144%; while tighter binding near the catalytic center, i.e. W22Y at the −2 subsite, enabled the enzyme to bind and hydrolyze smaller oligosaccharides. Clarification of the specific roles of the aromatics at different subsites may pave the way for a more rational design of GHs.
Telomere mean length in patients with diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Sharma Rupali , Gupta Amod , Thungapathra M. , Bansal Reema
Published: December 2015

Telomere regression has been shown to be associated with several complex disorders like diabetes mellitus, cancer, cataract etc. Diabetic retinopathy develops as a complication of chronic hyperglycemia leading to increased oxidative stress that may potentially lead to shortening of telomeres. We sought to determine whether there is any association between telomere mean length (TML) of peripheral blood monocytes with the presence and severity of diabetic retinopathy. The study involved 120 subjects, comprising 27 non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) without any diabetic retinopathy (NDR), 45 NIDDM subjects with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), 12 NIDDM subjects with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and 36 healthy controls. Determination of TML of the study subjects was performed by Southern hybridization using telomere probe. Among the biochemical parameters, HBA1c showed a negative correlation with shortened telomeres in the PDR subjects. However, telomere length was positively correlated with high density lipo protein (HDL) in the control subjects. The control group had significantly greater TML as compared to the rest of the groups and the NDR subjects with NPDR and PDR had substantially decreased TML than the NIDDM subjects without retinopathy.
Are Immune Modulating Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms Associated with Necrotizing Enterocolitis?
Authors: Franklin Ashanti L. , Said Mariam , Cappiello Clint D. , Gordish-Dressman Heather , Tatari-Calderone Zohreh , Vukmanovic Stanislav , Rais-Bahrami Khodayar , Luban Naomi L. C. , Devaney Joseph M. , Sandler Anthony D.
Published: December 2015

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating gastrointestinal emergency. The purpose of this study is to determine if functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in immune-modulating genes pre-dispose infants to NEC. After Institutional Review Board approval and parental consent, buccal swabs were collected for DNA extraction. TaqMan allelic discrimination assays and BglII endonuclease digestion were used to genotype specific inflammatory cytokines and TRIM21. Statistical analysis was completed using logistic regression. 184 neonates were analyzed in the study. Caucasian neonates with IL-6 (rs1800795) were over 6 times more likely to have NEC (p = 0.013; OR = 6.61, 95% CI 1.48–29.39) and over 7 times more likely to have Stage III disease (p = 0.011; OR = 7.13, (95% CI 1.56–32.52). Neonates with TGFβ-1 (rs2241712) had a decreased incidence of NEC-related perforation (p = 0.044; OR = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.08–0.97) and an increased incidence of mortality (p = 0.049; OR = 2.99, 95% CI: 1.01 – 8.86). TRIM21 (rs660) was associated with NEC-related intestinal perforation (p = 0.038; OR = 4.65, 95% CI 1.09–19.78). In premature Caucasian neonates, the functional SNP IL-6 (rs1800795) is associated with both the development and increased severity of NEC. TRIM21 (rs660) and TGFβ-1 (rs2241712) were associated with NEC- related perforation in all neonates in the cohort. These findings suggest a possible genetic role in the development of NEC.
Are variations in heterotrophic soil respiration related to changes in substrate availability and microbial biomass carbon in the subtropical forests?
Authors: Wei Hui , Chen Xiaomei , Xiao Guoliang , Guenet Bertrand , Vicca Sara , Shen Weijun
Published: December 2015

Soil temperature and moisture are widely-recognized controlling factors on heterotrophic soil respiration (Rh), although they often explain only a portion of Rh variability. How other soil physicochemical and microbial properties may contribute to Rh variability has been less studied. We conducted field measurements on Rh half-monthly and associated soil properties monthly for two years in four subtropical forests of southern China to assess influences of carbon availability and microbial properties on Rh. Rh in coniferous forest was significantly lower than that in the other three broadleaf species-dominated forests and exhibited obvious seasonal variations in the four forests (P < 0.05). Temperature was the primary factor influencing the seasonal variability of Rh while moisture was not in these humid subtropical forests. The quantity and decomposability of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were significantly important to Rh variations, but the effect of DOC content on Rh was confounded with temperature, as revealed by partial mantel test. Microbial biomass carbon (MBC) was significantly related to Rh variations across forests during the warm season (P = 0.043). Our results suggest that DOC and MBC may be important when predicting Rh under some conditions and highlight the complexity by mutual effects of them with environmental factors on Rh variations.
Twinning of cubic diamond explains reported nanodiamond polymorphs
Authors: Németh Péter , Garvie Laurence A. J. , Buseck Peter R.
Published: December 2015

The unusual physical properties and formation conditions attributed to h-, i-, m- and n-nanodiamond polymorphs has resulted in their receiving much attention in the materials and planetary science literature. Their identification is based on diffraction features that are absent in ordinary cubic (c-) diamond (space group: Fd-3m). We show, using ultra-high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) images of natural and synthetic nanodiamonds, that the diffraction features attributed to the reported polymorphs are consistent with c-diamond containing abundant defects. Combinations of {113} reflection and <011> rotation twins produce HRTEM images and d-spacings that match those attributed to h-, i- and m-diamond. The diagnostic features of n-diamond in TEM images can arise from thickness effects of c-diamonds. Our data and interpretations strongly suggest that the reported nanodiamond polymorphs are in fact twinned c-diamond. We also report a new type of twin (<1"Equation missing"1> rotational), which can give rise to grains with dodecagonal symmetry. Our results show that twins are widespread in diamond nanocrystals. A high density of twins could strongly influence their applications.
Magnetoelectricity coupled exchange bias in BaMnF4
Authors: Zhou Shuang , Wang Ji , Chang Xiaofeng , Wang Shuangbao , Qian Bin , Han Zhida , Xu Qingyu , Du Jun , Wang Peng , Dong Shuai
Published: December 2015

Multiferroic BaMnF4 powder was prepared by hydrothermal method. Hysteretic field dependent magnetization curve at 5 K confirms the weak ferromagnetism aroused from the canted antiferromagnetic spins by magnetoelectric coupling. The blocking temperature of 65 K for exchange bias coincides well with the peak at 65 K in the zero-field cooled temperature-dependent magnetization curve, which has been assigned to the onset temperature of two-dimensional antiferromagnetism. An upturn kink of exchange field and coercivity with decreasing temperature was observed from 40 K to 20 K, which is consistent with the two-dimensional to three-dimensional antiferromagnetic transition at Néel temperature (~26 K). In contrast to the conventional mechanism of magnetization pinned by interfacial exchange coupling in multiphases, the exchange bias in BaMnF4 is argued to be a bulk effect in single phase, due to the magnetization pinned by the polarization through magnetoelectric coupling.
Unveiling Bacterial Interactions through Multidimensional Scaling and Dynamics Modeling
Authors: Dorado-Morales Pedro , Vilanova Cristina , P. Garay Carlos , Martí Jose Manuel , Porcar Manuel
Published: December 2015

We propose a new strategy to identify and visualize bacterial consortia by conducting replicated culturing of environmental samples coupled with high-throughput sequencing and multidimensional scaling analysis, followed by identification of bacteria-bacteria correlations and interactions. We conducted a proof of concept assay with pine-tree resin-based media in ten replicates, which allowed detecting and visualizing dynamical bacterial associations in the form of statistically significant and yet biologically relevant bacterial consortia.
Molecular recognition of naphthalene diimide ligands by telomeric quadruplex-DNA: the importance of the protonation state and mediated hydrogen bonds
Authors: Spinello A. , Barone G. , Grunenberg J.
Published: December 2015

How important are mediated hydrogen bonds in terms of molecular recognition? Compliance Constants (relaxed force constants) give the answer.
New organic–inorganic hybrid compounds constructed from polyoxometalates and transition metal mixed-organic-ligand complexes
Authors: Hu Yang-Yang , Zhang Ting-Ting , Zhang Xiao , Zhao De-Chuan , Cui Xiao-Bing , Huo Qi-Sheng , Xu Ji-Qing
Published: December 2015

Five compounds constructed from different polyoxoanions and metal mixed-organic complexes of carboxylates and nitrogen-containing ligands have been synthesized and characterized.
The evolution of ‘sol–gel’ chemistry as a technique for materials synthesis
Authors: Danks A. E. , Hall S. R. , Schnepp Z.
Published: December 2015

From its initial use to describe hydrolysis and condensation processes, the term ‘sol–gel’ is now used for a diverse range of chemistries.
Electrical conductivity and acetaldehyde vapour sensing studies on synthetic polypyrrole–titanium(iv)sulphosalicylophosphate nanocomposite cation exchange material
Authors: Khan Asif Ali , Hussain Rizwan , Shaheen Shakeeba
Published: December 2015

Polypyrrole–titanium(iv)sulphosalicylophosphate composite is a better sensing as well as conducting material than polypyrrole in the semiconducting range.
Star-epoxy mesogen with 1,3,5-triazine core: a model of A4B3fractal polymerization in a liquid crystalline thermoset media
Authors: Pin Jean-Mathieu , Sbirrazzuoli Nicolas , Sacarescu Liviu , Mija Alice
Published: December 2015

Synthesis of a star-epoxy monomer and design of a hierarchically organized thermoset involving both fractal and discotic mesogen self-assembly.
Advances in 1,2,4-triazepines chemistry
Authors: Elattar Khaled M. , Abozeid Mohamed A. , Mousa Ibrahim A. , El-Mekabaty Ahmed
Published: December 2015

This review reports the chemistry of 1,2,4-triazepines. Heterocyclic 1,2,4-triazepines are mono and fused cycles.
A multiple-responsive water-soluble [3]pseudorotaxane constructed by pillar[5]arene-based molecular recognition and disulfide bond connection
Authors: Wang Hu , Xing Hao , Ji Xiaofan
Published: December 2015

A multiple-responsive water-soluble [3]pseudorotaxane was constructed by water-soluble pillar[5]arene-based molecular recognition and disulfide bond connection.
Controllable growth of few-layer spiral WS2
Authors: Sarma Prasad V. , Patil Prasanna D. , Barman Prahalad K. , Kini Rajeev N. , Shaijumon Manikoth M.
Published: December 2015

Spiral and pyramidal WS2 domains controllably synthesized through chemical vapour deposition technique exhibit interesting optical properties.
PbCl2-assisted film formation for high-efficiency heterojunction perovskite solar cells
Authors: Chen Si , Yu Xiao , Cai Xin , Peng Ming , Yan Kai , Dong Bin , Hu Hsienwei , Chen Buxin , Gao Xue , Zou Dechun
Published: December 2015

PbCl2is used as an additive to assist perovskite film formation in a two-step sequential deposition process and the device achieved an average efficiency enhancement of approximately 30% compared to the control group.
A class of rigid linker-bearing glucosides for membrane protein structural study
Authors: Sadaf Aiman , Mortensen Jonas S. , Capaldi Stefano , Tikhonova Elena , Hariharan Parameswaran , Ribeiro Orquidea , Loland Claus J. , Guan Lan , Byrne Bernadette , Chae Pil Seok
Published: December 2015

Novel glycoside amphiphile (NDT-C11) displays favorable behavior in maintaining both protein stability and conformational flexibility compared to DDM and MNG-3.
A graphitic foam framework with hierarchical pore structure as self-supported electrodes of Li–O2batteries and Li ion batteries
Authors: Zhao Guangyu , Zhang Li , Lv Jixian , Li Changle , Sun Kening
Published: December 2015

Self-supported graphitic foam exhibits high capacity in Li–O2batteries and good rate capability in Li ion batteries.
Effect of cesium chloride modification on the film morphology and UV-induced stability of planar perovskite solar cells
Authors: Li Wenzhe , Li Jiangwei , Niu Guangda , Wang Liduo
Published: December 2015

The interface modification of perovskite thin films has shown great potential to boost the performance of perovskite solar cells during the last few years.
MBA – der Arzt von morgen?
Authors: Bork U. , Welsch T. , Weitz J.
Published: December 2015

In den letzten zehn Jahren hat sich das deutsche Gesundheitssystem zunehmend gewandelt. Kliniken stehen unter deutlichem ökonomischen Druck und betriebswirtschaftliches Wissen wird auch für Mediziner immer wichtiger, auch um mit der Klinikverwaltung optimal im Sinne der Patienten zusammenarbeiten zu können. Medizin und Ökonomie stehen hierbei nicht im Widerspruch zueinander. Durch effizientere Leitung einer Abteilung lassen sich häufig Ressourcen einsparen, Prozessabläufe besser gestalten und auch für den Patienten vorteilhafte Ergebnisse bezüglich Service und medizinischer Qualität erzielen.

In den letzten Jahren hat das Angebot an ökonomischen und betriebswirtschaftlichen Zusatzstudiengängen und Weiterbildungsangeboten für Mediziner stetig zugenommen und wird im Folgenden beleuchtet.
Forcing homogeneous turbulence in direct numerical simulation of particulate flow with interface resolution and gravity
Authors: Chouippe Agathe , Uhlmann Markus
Published: December 2015

We consider the case of finite-size spherical particles which are settling under gravity in a homogeneous turbulent background flow. Turbulence is forced with the aid of the random forcing method of Eswaran and Pope [“An examination of forcing in direct numerical simulations of turbulence,” Comput. Fluids 16(3), 257-278 (1988)], while the solid particles are represented with an immersed-boundary method. The forcing scheme is used to generate isotropic turbulence in vertically elongated boxes in order to warrant better decorrelation of the Lagrangian signals in the direction of gravity. Since only a limited number of Fourier modes are forced, it is possible to evaluate the forcing field directly in physical space, thereby avoiding full-size transforms. The budget of box-averaged kinetic energy is derived from the forced momentum equations. Medium-sized simulations for dilute suspensions at low Taylor-scale Reynolds number Reλ = 65, small density ratio ρp/ρf = 1.5, and for two Galileo numbers Ga = 0 and 120 are carried out over long time intervals in order to exclude the possibility of slow divergence. It is shown that the results at zero gravity are fully consistent with previous experimental measurements and available numerical reference data. Specific features of the finite-gravity case are discussed with respect to a reduction of the average settling velocity, the acceleration statistics, and the Lagrangian auto-correlations.
Coupling a nano-particle with isothermal fluctuating hydrodynamics: Coarse-graining from microscopic to mesoscopic dynamics
Authors: Español Pep , Donev Aleksandar
Published: December 2015

We derive a coarse-grained description of the dynamics of a nanoparticle immersed in an isothermal simple fluid by performing a systematic coarse graining of the underlying microscopic dynamics. As coarse-grained or relevant variables, we select the position of the nanoparticle and the total mass and momentum density field of the fluid, which are locally conserved slow variables because they are defined to include the contribution of the nanoparticle. The theory of coarse graining based on the Zwanzing projection operator leads us to a system of stochastic ordinary differential equations that are closed in the relevant variables. We demonstrate that our discrete coarse-grained equations are consistent with a Petrov-Galerkin finite-element discretization of a system of formal stochastic partial differential equations which resemble previously used phenomenological models based on fluctuating hydrodynamics. Key to this connection between our “bottom-up” and previous “top-down” approaches is the use of the same dual orthogonal set of linear basis functions familiar from finite element methods (FEMs), both as a way to coarse-grain the microscopic degrees of freedom and as a way to discretize the equations of fluctuating hydrodynamics. Another key ingredient is the use of a “linear for spiky” weak approximation which replaces microscopic “fields” with a linear FE interpolant inside expectation values. For the irreversible or dissipative dynamics, we approximate the constrained Green-Kubo expressions for the dissipation coefficients with their equilibrium averages. Under suitable approximations, we obtain closed approximations of the coarse-grained dynamics in a manner which gives them a clear physical interpretation and provides explicit microscopic expressions for all of the coefficients appearing in the closure. Our work leads to a model for dilute nanocolloidal suspensions that can be simulated effectively using feasibly short molecular dynamics simulations as input to a FEM fluctuating hydrodynamic solver.
Eliminating unwanted electrons in EBIS devices
Authors: Hershcovitch Ady I.
Published: December 2015

In electron beam ion sources, step-wise ionization to high charge states is accomplished by magnetically confined electron beam. Electron space charge and high voltage electrodes confine the ions. The relativistic heavy ion collider (RHIC) ion source Debye length meets requirements for instabilities with free source of energy to grow. Electrons stripped from ions provide energy for a variety of microinstabilities to grow. Possible solution is to remove these electrons from the trap to a drift tube biased to higher voltage than the other tubes between the gate and the collector. If needed, a split drift tube for bleeding these electrons to ground is added.
Time evolution of nonplanar dust ion-acoustic solitary waves in a charge varying dusty plasma with superthermal electrons
Authors: Mayout Saliha , Sahu Biswajit , Tribeche Mouloud
Published: December 2015

A theoretical study on the nonlinear propagation of nonplanar (cylindrical and spherical) dust ion-acoustic solitary waves (DIASW) is carried out in a dusty plasma, whose constituents are inertial ions, superthermal electrons, and charge fluctuating stationary dust particles. Using the reductive perturbation theory, a modified Korteweg-de Vries equation is derived. It is shown that the propagation characteristics of the cylindrical and spherical DIA solitary waves significantly differ from those of their one-dimensional counterpart.
On supermatrix models, Poisson geometry, and noncommutative supersymmetric gauge theories
Authors: Klimčík Ctirad
Published: December 2015

We construct a new supermatrix model which represents a manifestly supersymmetric noncommutative regularisation of the UOSp(2|1) supersymmetric Schwinger model on the supersphere. Our construction is much simpler than those already existing in the literature and it was found by using Poisson geometry in a substantial way.
Polarization effects on the electric properties of urea and thiourea molecules in solid phase
Authors: Santos O. L. , Fonseca T. L. , Sabino J. R. , Georg H. C. , Castro M. A.
Published: December 2015

We present theoretical results for the dipole moment, linear polarizability, and first hyperpolarizability of the urea and thiourea molecules in solid phase. The in-crystal electric properties were determined by applying a supermolecule approach in combination with an iterative electrostatic scheme, in which the surrounding molecules are represented by point charges. It is found for both urea and thiourea molecules that the influence of the polarization effects is mild for the linear polarizability, but it is marked for the dipole moment and first hyperpolarizability. The replacement of oxygen atoms by sulfur atoms increases, in general, the electric responses. Our second-order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory based iterative scheme predicts for the in-crystal dipole moment of urea and thiourea the values of 7.54 and 9.19 D which are, respectively, increased by 61% and 58%, in comparison with the corresponding isolated values. The result for urea is in agreement with the available experimental result of 6.56 D. In addition, we present an estimate of macroscopic quantities considering explicit unit cells of urea and thiourea crystals including environment polarization effects. These supermolecule calculations take into account partially the exchange and dispersion effects. The results illustrate the role played by the electrostatic interactions on the static second-order nonlinear susceptibility of the urea crystal.
New tuning method of the low-mode asymmetry for ignition capsule implosions
Authors: Gu Jianfa , Dai Zhensheng , Zou Shiyang , Song Peng , Ye Wenhua , Zheng Wudi , Gu Peijun
Published: December 2015

In the deuterium-tritium inertial confinement fusion implosion experiments on the National Ignition Facility, the hot spot and the surrounding main fuel layer show obvious P2 asymmetries. This may be caused by the large positive P2 radiation flux asymmetry during the peak pulse resulting form the poor propagation of the inner laser beam in the gas-filled hohlraum. The symmetry evolution of ignition capsule implosions is investigated by applying P2 radiation flux asymmetries during different time intervals. A series of two-dimensional simulation results show that a positive P2 flux asymmetry during the peak pulse results in a positive P2 shell ρR asymmetry; while an early time positive P2 flux asymmetry causes a negative P2 in the fuel ρR shape. The opposite evolution behavior of shell ρR asymmetry is used to develop a new tuning method to correct the radiation flux asymmetry during the peak pulse by adding a compensating same-phased P2 drive asymmetry during the early time. The significant improvements of the shell ρR symmetry, hot spot shape, hot spot internal energy, and neutron yield indicate that the tuning method is quite effective. The similar tuning method can also be used to control the early time drive asymmetries.
Mechanical properties of phosphorene nanoribbons and oxides
Authors: Hao Feng , Chen Xi
Published: December 2015

Mechanical properties of phosphorene nanoribbons and oxides are investigated by using density functional theory. It is found that the ideal strength of nanoribbon decreases in comparison with that of 2D phosphorene. The Young's modulus of armchair nanoribbon has a remarkable size effect because of the edge relaxations. The analysis of the stress-strain relation indicates that, owing to chemisorbed oxygen atoms, the ideal strength and Young's modulus of 2D phosphorene oxide are greatly reduced along the zigzag direction, especially upon high oxidation ratios. In addition, strain and oxidation have significant impacts on phonon dispersion.
Are the effects of adjacent habitat type on seagrass gastropod communities being masked by previous focus on habitat dyads?
Authors: Ollivier Q. R. , Bramwell N. A. , Hammill E. , Foster-Thorpe C. , Booth D. J.
Published: December 2015

Variation in abundance and diversity of organisms along habitat edges has long been a key research focus in both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Previous investigations into edge effects in seagrass ecosystems have predominantly focussed on the seagrass–sandy substrate boundary. However, little is known about what role other habitats (e.g. rocky algal reefs) may play in faunal assemblage patterns. This study investigated the strength to which habitat type influenced gastropod assemblages within seagrass (Posidonia australis) beds, bordered by both sandy substrate and rocky algal reef. We found that benthic invertebrate community composition significantly changed with distance from rocky algal reef, but not with distance from sandy substrate. Proximity to rocky reef had a stronger effect on community composition than other local drivers examined (seagrass biomass and sand particle size). We hypothesise that gastropod affinity for rocky algal reef may be a result of both species-specific habitat preference, and lower predation pressure along adjacent rocky algal reef habitats. This study provides evidence that heterogeneous habitats within close proximity to seagrass beds may exert previously overlooked effects on the distribution of gastropod assemblages, highlighting the need for the inclusion of adjacent habitat type in experimental design for gastropod assemblage distribution studies.
The terminal phycobilisome emitter, L
CM
: A light-harvesting pigment with a phytochrome chromophore
Authors: Tang Kun , Ding Wen-Long , Höppner Astrid , Zhao Cheng , Zhang Lun , Hontani Yusaku , Kennis John T. M. , Gärtner Wolfgang , Scheer Hugo , Zhou Ming , Zhao Kai-Hong
Published: December 2015

Significance

Photosynthesis, the basis for life on earth, relies on proper balancing of the beneficial and destructive potentials of light. In cyanobacteria and red algae, which contribute substantially to photosynthesis, the core-membrane linker, L
CM
, is critical to this process. Light energy harvested by large antenna complexes, phycobilisomes, is funneled to L
CM
. Depending on light conditions, L
CM
passes this energy productively to reaction centers that transform it into chemical energy or, on oversaturating conditions, to the photoprotecting orange carotenoid protein (OCP). The details of these functions in the complex-structured L
CM
are poorly understood. The crystal structure and time-resolved data of the chromophore domain of L
CM
provide a rationale for the functionally relevant energetic matching, and indicate a mechanism for switching between photoproductive and photoprotective functions.