bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fast Triggering of Shape Memory Polymers using an Embedded Carbon Nanotube Sponge Network
Authors: Zhou Guoxiang , Zhang Heng , Xu Shuping , Gui Xuchun , Wei Hongqiu , Leng Jinsong , Koratkar Nikhil , Zhong Jing
Published: April 2016

In this work, a 3-D porous carbon nanotube sponge (CNTS) was embedded within a shape memory polymer (SMPs) matrix. We demonstrate complete infiltration and filling of the SMPs into the CNTS by capillary force without any damage to the CNTS structure. With only ~0.2 wt% carbon nanotube loading, the glass transition temperature is increased by ~20 °C, indicating strong interaction between CNTS and the SMPs matrix. Further, we find that the uniform distribution of the carbon nanotubes in the nanocomposite results in high electrical conductivity, and thus highly effective electricity triggering capability. The carbon nanotube sponge shape memory polymer (CNTS/SMPs) nanocomposite could be triggered within ~10 seconds by the application of ~10 volts. Results from finite element simulations showed good agreement with the experimental results, and indicated that for our system the interface thermal energy loss does not have a significant effect on the heating rate of the polymer matrix.
Elevated expression of circulating miR876-5p is a specific response to severe EV71 infections
Authors: Wang Robert Y. L. , Weng Kuo-Feng , Huang Yhu-Chering , Chen Chih-Jung
Published: April 2016

Human enterovirus 71 (EV71) is a major causative agent of hand, foot, and, mouth disease, accounting for more than 65% of recent outbreaks. Following enteroviral infection, the host responses are crucial indicators for the development of a diagnosis regarding the clinical severity of EV71 infections. In this study, we implemented NanoString nCounter technology to characterize the responses of serum microRNA (miRNA) profiles to various EV71 infection diseases. Upon EV71 infection, 44 miRNAs were observed in patients with EV71 infections, with at least a 2-fold elevation and 133 miRNAs with a 2-fold reduction compared with the same miRNAs in healthy controls. Further detailed work with miR876-5p, a 9.5-fold change of upregulated miR-876-5p expression was observed in cases with severe EV71 symptoms, revealed that in vitro and in vivo knockdown of miR876-5p reduced viral RNA in cultured cells, and attenuated the severity of symptoms in EV71-infected mice. Altogether, we demonstrated that the elevated expression of circulating miR876-5p is a specific response to severe EV71 infections.
Monitoring schistosomiasis risk in East China over space and time using a Bayesian hierarchical modeling approach
Authors: Hu Yi , Ward Michael P. , Xia Congcong , Li Rui , Sun Liqian , Lynn Henry , Gao Fenghua , Wang Qizhi , Zhang Shiqing , Xiong Chenglong , Zhang Zhijie , Jiang Qingwu
Published: April 2016

Schistosomiasis remains a major public health problem and causes substantial economic impact in east China, particularly along the Yangtze River Basin. Disease forecasting and surveillance can assist in the development and implementation of more effective intervention measures to control disease. In this study, we applied a Bayesian hierarchical spatio-temporal model to describe trends in schistosomiasis risk in Anhui Province, China, using annual parasitological and environmental data for the period 1997–2010. A computationally efficient approach–Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation–was used for model inference. A zero-inflated, negative binomial model best described the spatio-temporal dynamics of schistosomiasis risk. It predicted that the disease risk would generally be low and stable except for some specific, local areas during the period 2011–2014. High-risk counties were identified in the forecasting maps: three in which the risk remained high, and two in which risk would become high. The results indicated that schistosomiasis risk has been reduced to consistently low levels throughout much of this region of China; however, some counties were identified in which progress in schistosomiasis control was less than satisfactory. Whilst maintaining overall control, specific interventions in the future should focus on these refractive counties as part of a strategy to eliminate schistosomiasis from this region.
Sustainable starch modified polyol based tough, biocompatible, hyperbranched polyurethane with a shape memory attribute
Authors: Duarah Rituparna , Singh Yogendra Pratap , Mandal Biman B. , Karak Niranjan
Published: April 2016

Starch modified polyol based tough, biodegradable, biocompatible hyperbranched polyurethane with excellent thermoresponsive shape memory behavior near body temperature was demonstrated.
Surface waves on a soft viscoelastic layer produced by an oscillating microbubble
Authors: Tinguely Marc , Hennessy Matthew G. , Pommella Angelo , Matar Omar K. , Garbin Valeria
Published: April 2016

An ultrasound-driven microbubble undergoing volumetric oscillations deforms a soft viscoelastic layer causing propagation of a surface elastic wave. High-speed video microscopy reveals characteristics of the elliptical particle trajectories that depend on the rheological properties of the layer.
Shape engineering boosts antibacterial activity of chitosan coated mesoporous silica nanoparticle doped with silver: a mechanistic investigation
Authors: Şen Karaman D. , Sarwar S. , Desai D. , Björk E. M. , Odén M. , Chakrabarti P. , Rosenholm J. M. , Chakraborti S.
Published: April 2016

Mechanism of antibacterial activity of MSPs with high aspect ratio and surface modification.
Improving electron trans-inner membrane movements in microbial electrocatalysts
Authors: Tao Le , Xie Mingshi , Chiew Geraldine Giap Ying , Wang Zhijuan , Chen Wei Ning , Wang Xin
Published: April 2016

A microbial fuel cell loaded with engineered bioelectrocatalysts shows significantly enhanced performance by promoting the utilization of intracellular primary electron donors in bioelectrocatalysts.
A methylation-switchable conformational probe for the sensitive and selective detection of RNA demethylase activity
Authors: Yang Tianming , Cheong Adeline , Mai Xiangrui , Zou Shui , Woon Esther C. Y.
Published: April 2016

A novel detection strategy based on a methylation-switchable probe and DSF for highly sensitive, selective and high-throughput analysis of RNA demethylase activity.
Tuning of photocatalytic reduction by conduction band engineering of semiconductor quantum dots with experimental evaluation of the band edge potential
Authors: Suzuki Takafumi , Watanabe Hiroto , Oaki Yuya , Imai Hiroaki
Published: April 2016

The conduction band edge (CBE) of WO3 quantum dots (QDs) was determined experimentally and engineered by size control to around one nanometer.
Ambient temperature deposition of gallium nitride/gallium oxynitride from a deep eutectic electrolyte, under potential control
Authors: Sarkar Sujoy , Sampath S.
Published: April 2016

A ternary, ionically conducting, deep eutectic solvent based on acetamide, urea and gallium nitrate is reported for the electrodeposition of gallium nitride/gallium indium nitride under ambient conditions; blue and white light emitting photoluminescent deposits are obtained under potential control.
Solvent effects in catalysis: implementation for modelling of kinetics
Authors: Murzin Dmitry Yu.
Published: April 2016

A mathematical framework is developed for analysis of solvent dependent reaction rates and selectivity in the case of complex catalytic reactions by incorporating solvent permittivity into the rate expressions.
Optical and relaxometric properties of monometallic (EuIII, TbIII, GdIII) and heterobimetallic (ReI/GdIII) systems based on a functionalized bipyridine-containing acyclic ligand
Authors: Leygue Nadine , Boulay Alexandre , Galaup Chantal , Benoist Eric , Laurent Sophie , Vander Elst Luce , Mestre-Voegtlé Béatrice , Picard Claude
Published: April 2016

The photophysical and relaxometric properties, in aqueous solution, of Ln-BPMNTA complexes and a derived ReI/GdIII dinuclear complex are reported in this paper.
Studies on apoptosis in HeLa cells via the ROS-mediated mitochondrial pathway induced by new dibenzoxanthenes
Authors: Wang Xiu-Zhen , Yang Hui-Hui , Li Wei , Han Bing-Jie , Liu Yun-Jun
Published: April 2016

The apoptotic mechanism of dibenzoxanthenes C1 and C2 was found to be the ROS-mediated activation of intrinsic mitochondria-caspase protease.
Fabrication of chitosan/silica nanofibrous adsorbent functionalized with amine groups for the removal of Ni(ii), Cu(ii) and Pb(ii) from aqueous solutions: batch and column studies
Authors: Sabourian Vahid , Ebrahimi Ali , Naseri Farzad , Irani Mohammad , Rahimi Arash
Published: April 2016

Homogeneous fibers with average diameters of 90 and 138 nm were formed as pure CS and CS/TEOS/APTES nanofibers and the performance of the prepared nanofibers was investigated for Ni(ii), Cu(ii) and Pb(ii) ion sorption.
Room-temperature metal-free ferromagnetism, stability, and spin transport properties in topologically fluorinated silicon carbide nanotubes
Authors: Lou Ping
Published: April 2016

A new topologically fluorinated armchair single-walled silicon carbide nanotube has been predicted via first principles density functional theory (DFT) and nonequilibrium Green's function method, as well as ab initio molecular dynamic (MD) simulations.
In situ growth of silver nanowires on reduced graphene oxide sheets for transparent electrically conductive films
Authors: Luo Zhonglin , Cai Zengping , Wang Yanbin , Wang Yupeng , Wang Biaobing
Published: April 2016

In situ growth of silver nanowires (AgNWs) on the surface of functionalized-graphene (rGO) nanosheets is achieved and highly transparent, flexible and conductive AgNW–rGO/PVA films could be fabricated.
A self-directed and reconstructible immobilization strategy: DNA directed immobilization of alkaline phosphatase for enzyme inhibition assays
Authors: Yang Ye , Su Ping , Zheng Kangle , Wang Ting , Song Jiayi , Yang Yi
Published: April 2016

A DNA-directed immobilization technique is used to develop a common method for the reversible and self-directed immobilization of enzymes.
Oligonucleotide length- and probe number-dependent assembly of gold nanoparticle on triangular DNA origami
Authors: Wang Ying , Zou Long , Xiao Jing , Qiao Yan , Lu Zhisong
Published: April 2016

Effects of oligonucleotide length and probe number on assembly of gold nanoparticles with DNA origami were investigated.
One-pot facile synthesis of PtCu coated nanoporous gold with unique catalytic activity toward the oxygen reduction reaction
Authors: Zhang Hongjie , Yi Baolian , Zeng Yachao , Jiang Shangfeng , Jiang Yongyi , Bai Yangzhi , Shao Zhigang
Published: April 2016

PtCu@NPG prepared by a one-pot protocol preserved the 3D nanostructure of NPG and presented unique catalytic activity and durability towards the ORR.
A novel ternary organic microwire radial heterojunction with high photoconductivity
Authors: Zhang Jianfeng , Xu Xinjun , Yao Chuang , Peng Jinghong , Jia Manping , Li Lidong
Published: April 2016

TCTA/PCBM/4CzIPN ternary radial heterojunction hybrid nanowires constructed from nanowires and nanoparticles by self-assembly exhibit high photoconductivity.
Therapeutic Potential of miR-494 in Thrombosis and Other Diseases: A Review
Authors: Tay Jasmine , Tiao Jim , Hughes Quintin , Gilmore Grace , Baker Ross
Published: April 2016

Functional nucleic acids, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), have been implicated in the pathophysiology of many diseases. The miRNA expression profiles of various cancers including haematological malignancies are well defined, but the role of miRNAs in haemostasis and the regulation of coagulation is poorly understood. We identified that miR-494 is oestrogen responsive and directly targets the anticoagulant protein, Protein S, as a mechanism for acquiring Protein S deficiency under high oestrogenic conditions such as during pregnancy and oral contraceptive use. Furthermore, previous studies have also characterised miR-494 to be involved in many biological processes. This paper reviews the current knowledge in the role of miRNAs in regulating haemostatic proteins and the known biological functions of miR-494, highlighting miR-494 as an emerging therapeutic target, with an overview of the strategy we have employed in identifying functional nucleic acids such as miRNAs that target haemostatic factors and the therapeutic potential of miR-494-directed therapy for the treatment of thrombotic disorders.
Human rights and the rights of states: a relational account
Authors: Zylberman Ariel
Published: April 2016

What is the relationship between human rights and the rights of states? Roughly, whilecosmopolitansinsist that international morality must regard as basic the interests of individuals,statistsmaintain that the state is of fundamental moral significance. This article defends a relational version of statism. Human rights are ultimately grounded in a relational norm ofreciprocal independenceand set limits to the exercise of public authority, but,contrathe cosmopolitan, the state is of fundamental moral significance. A relational account promises to justify a limited conception of state sovereignty while avoiding the familiar cosmopolitan criticisms of statist accounts.
Effects of rootstock and soil disinfection on quality of grafted watermelon fruit (Citrullus lanatus L.): a two-year study
Authors: Fallik Elazar , Alkalai-Tuvia Sharon , Chalupowicz Daniel , Zutahy Yohanan , Zaaroor Merav , Beniches Marina , Gamliel Abraham
Published: April 2016

Grafting is a rapid, effective alternative to the relatively slow methodology of breeding, to provide crop plants with increased tolerance to environmental stress and better yield and quality of fruit vegetables. We evaluated the effect of grafting and soil disinfestation on pre- and postharvest parameters in two consecutive years. In both 2013 and 2014, soil disinfection significantly improved the viability of nongrafted plants compared to the same plants grown in nontreated soil. In both years, plants which were grafted on “Nurit” or “TZ” rootstocks showed significantly better vine vigor, with no evidence of disease in either disinfested or nontreated soil. The yield of marketable watermelon fruit was significantly higher in grafted versus nongrafted plants. Grafting significantly influenced watermelon rind color and flesh color, and strongly influenced taste and texture. Watermelon fruit harvested from plants grafted on “Nurit” were tastier and had better flesh texture than fruit harvested from “TZ”-grafted plants. Disinfection during those two years affected only seed formation. The year factor highly influenced rind color, total soluble solids (TSS) near the rind, TSS at the fruit's heart, taste, and texture. An interaction between grafting and year was found on flesh and TSS near the rind. No grafting × disinfection × year interaction was found.
The pH modulation by fungal secreted molecules: a mechanism affecting pathogenicity by postharvest pathogens
Authors: Prusky Dov , Barad Shiri , Ment Dana , Bi Fangcheng
Published: April 2016

A postharvest pathogen can start its attack process as soon as spores land on wounded tissue; other pathogens breach the unripe fruit cuticle, remain quiescent for months until the fruit ripens, and then cause major losses. Postharvest fungal pathogens initiate their development by secreting organic acids or ammonia, which acidify or alkalinize the ambient host environment, respectively. These fungal secreted molecules (SM) modulate the host environment and regulate an arsenal of enzymes in order to increase fungal pathogenicity under any specific conditions. Furthermore, accumulation of these SMs (organic acids and ammonia) is multifunctional and, together with their effect on the ambient pH, they activate virulence factors to further enhance their necrotrophic attack. Interestingly, similar arsenals of genes were detected in species with differing acidifying and alkalizing modes of attack. Recently, the mechanism of switching the acidification and alkalization processes was found to be regulated by the carbon levels present in the host. Based on this regulation process, it will be possible to foresee the fungal activation of acid- and/or alkaline-expressed genes and their contribution to pathogenicity.
Prestorage heat stress to improve storability of fresh produce: a review
Authors: Lurie Susan
Published: April 2016

Postharvest decay and insect infestation are two major causes of postharvest losses along the fresh produce supply chain. Although these problems can usually be controlled with pesticide applications, the use of chemicals postharvest is becoming limited due to increasingly strict regulations enforced by importing countries. Heat treatments are environmentally friendly and are being increasingly used for disinfestation and disinfection of a variety of crops. These treatments help to eradicate pathogens or pests on the fruit while maintaining the overall quality of the fresh produce during storage, shipment and marketing. Treatment times and temperatures range widely, from days at 35–39°C in hot air, up to 63°C in hot water for a few seconds. This review will discuss the heat treatments developed in the Department of Postharvest Science, Volcani Center Israel, for fresh produce to control fungal decay, insect damage and maintain produce quality during storage and marketing.
Effects of fixed vs. self‐suggested rest between sets in upper and lower body exercises performance
Authors: De Salles Belmiro Freitas , Polito Marcos Doederlein , Goessler Karla Fabiana , Mannarino Pietro , Matta Thiago Torres , Simão Roberto
Published: April 2016

In its last position stand about strength training, the American College of Sports Medicine recommends a rest interval (RI) between sets ranging between 1 and 3 min, varying in accordance with the objective. However, there is no consensus regarding the optimal recovery between sets, and most studies have investigated fixed intervals. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyse the effects of fixed versus self‐suggested RI between sets in lower and upper body exercises performance. Twenty‐seven healthy subjects (26 ± 1.5; 75 ± 15 kg; 175 ± 12 cm) were randomly assigned into two groups: G1: lower body exercises and G2: upper body exercises. Squat and leg press 1 repetition maximum (1RM) were tested for the G1 and bench press and biceps curl 1RM for G2. After the 1RM tests, both groups performed three sets to concentric failure with 75% of 1RM in combination with different RIs (2 min or self‐suggested) on separate days and the exercises performance was evaluated by the number of repetitions. The results demonstrated no significant differences in the number of repetitions between 2 min and self‐suggested RIs that presented similar reductions with the sets progression. It was also shown that the self‐suggested RI spent less time recovering than the 2 min RI group on average. This suggests that for individuals with previous experience, the self‐suggested RI can be an effective option when using workloads commonly prescribed aiming hypertrophy. Also, the self‐suggested RI can reduce the total training session duration, which can be a more time‐effective strategy.
Testing enhances both encoding and retrieval for both tested and untested items
Authors: Cho Kit W. , Neely James H. , Crocco Stephanie , Vitrano Deana
Published: April 2016

In forward testing effects, taking a test enhances memory for subsequently studied material. These effects have been observed for previously studied and tested items, a potentially item-specific testing effect, and newly studied untested items, a purely generalized testing effect. We directly compared item-specific and generalized forward testing effects using procedures to separate testing benefits due to encoding versus retrieval. Participants studied two lists of Swahili–English word pairs, with the second study list containing “new” pairs intermixed with the previously studied “old” pairs. Participants completed a review phase in which they took a cued-recall test on only the “old” pairs or restudied them. In Experiments 1a, 1b, and 2, the review phase was given either before or after the second study list. Testing benefited memory to the same degree for both “new” and “old” pairs, suggesting that there were no pair-specific benefits of testing. The larger benefit from testing when review was given before rather than after the second study list suggests that the memory enhancement was due to both testing-enhanced encoding and testing-enhanced retrieval. To better equate generalized testing effects for “new” and “old” pairs, Experiment 3 intermixed them in the review phase. A statistically significant pair-specific testing effect for “old” items was now observed. Overall, these results show that forward testing effects are due to both testing-enhanced encoding and retrieval effects and that direct, pair-specific forward testing benefits are considerably smaller than indirect, generalized forward testing benefits.
English, advertising and positioning: the impact of English on Chinese people’s daily lives
Authors: Li Songqing
Published: April 2016

Situated at the nexus of linguistics, media and identity, this article addresses the impact of English on Chinese people’s daily lives by exploring within the framework of positioning how the community of Chinese people in mainland China is imagined and defined through the use of English in Chinese advertising. Based on a corpus of Chinese–English bilingual advertisements, it mainly discusses the mobilisation of English as a stylistic resource in producing a variety of positioning cues that are at work in this discursive process. Five positioning cues are identified in the analysis of lexical items and discursive features of the English language that was utilized in a representative sample of advertisements: proper names of Western places, emotion words, discourses of success, and discourses of Western masculinity and femininity. They are found to have been used in three interrelated processes of locating, refashioning, and assessing Chinese people. The findings are applied as a ground for discussion of the cultural politics of English in China and the question of whether Chinese people’s sense of cultural identity is being threatened.
Versican Accumulates in Vascular Lesions in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Chang Ya‐Ting , Chan Christina K. , Eriksson Inger , Johnson Pamela Y. , Cao Xiaofang , Westöö Christian , Norvik Christian , Andersson‐Sjöland Annika , Westergren‐Thorsson Gunilla , Johansson Staffan , Hedin Ulf , Kjellén Lena , Wight Thomas N. , Tran‐Lundmark Karin
Published: April 2016

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a lethal condition for which there is no effective curative pharmacotherapy. PAH is characterized by vasoconstriction, wall thickening of pulmonary arteries, and increased vascular resistance. Versican is a chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan in the vascular extracellular matrix that accumulates following vascular injury and promotes smooth‐muscle cell proliferation in systemic arteries. Here, we investigated whether versican may play a similar role in PAH. Paraffin‐embedded lung sections from patients who underwent lung transplantation to treat PAH were used for immunohistochemistry. The etiologies of PAH in the subjects involved in this study were idiopathic PAH, scleroderma, and congenital heart disease (atrial septal defect) with left‐to‐right shunt. Independent of the underlying etiology, increased versican immunostaining was observed in areas of medial thickening, in neointima, and in plexiform lesions. Western blot of lung tissue lysates confirmed accumulation of versican in patients with PAH. Double staining for versican and CD45 showed only occasional colocalization in neointima of high‐grade lesions and plexiform lesions. In vitro, metabolic labeling with [35S]sulfate showed that human pulmonary artery smooth‐muscle cells (hPASMCs) produce mainly chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycans. In addition, hypoxia, but not cyclic stretch, was demonstrated to increase both versican messenger RNA expression and protein synthesis by hPASMCs. Versican accumulates in vascular lesions of PAH, and the amount of versican correlates more with lesion severity than with underlying etiology or inflammation. Hypoxia is a possible regulator of versican accumulation, which may promote proliferation of pulmonary smooth‐muscle cells and vascular remodeling in PAH.
The Seckel syndrome and centrosomal protein Ninein localizes asymmetrically to stem cell centrosomes but is not required for normal development, behavior, or DNA damage response inDrosophila
Authors: Zheng Yiming , Mennella Vito , Marks Steven , Wildonger Jill , Elnagdi Esraa , Agard David A. , Megraw Timothy L.
Published: April 2016

Ninein (Nin) is a centrosomal protein whose gene is mutated in Seckel syndrome (SCKL, MIM 210600), an inherited recessive disease that results in primordial dwarfism, cognitive deficiencies, and increased sensitivity to genotoxic stress. Nin regulates neural stem cell self-renewal, interkinetic nuclear migration, and microtubule assembly in mammals. Nin is evolutionarily conserved, yet its role in cell division and development has not been investigated in a model organism. Here we characterize the single Nin orthologue in Drosophila. Drosophila Nin localizes to the periphery of the centrosome but not at centriolar structures as in mammals. However, Nin shares the property of its mammalian orthologue of promoting microtubule assembly. In neural and germline stem cells, Nin localizes asymmetrically to the younger (daughter) centrosome, yet it is not required for the asymmetric division of stem cells. In wing epithelia and muscle, Nin localizes to noncentrosomal microtubule-organizing centers. Surprisingly, loss of nin expression from a nin mutant does not significantly affect embryonic and brain development, fertility, or locomotor performance of mutant flies or their survival upon exposure to DNA-damaging agents. Although it is not essential, our data suggest that Nin plays a supportive role in centrosomal and extracentrosomal microtubule organization and asymmetric stem cell division.
Swift follow-up of the gravitational wave source GW150914
Authors: Evans P. A. , Kennea J. A. , Barthelmy S. D. , Beardmore A. P. , Burrows D. N. , Campana S. , Cenko S. B. , Gehrels N. , Giommi P. , Gronwall C. , Marshall F. E. , Malesani D. , Markwardt C. B. , Mingo B. , Nousek J. A. , O'Brien P. T. , Osborne J. P. , Pagani C. , Page K. L. , Palmer D. M. , Perri M. , Racusin J. L. , Siegel M. H. , Sbarufatti B. , Tagliaferri G.
Published: April 2016

The Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (ALIGO) observatory recently reported the first direct detection of gravitational waves (GW) which triggered ALIGO on 2015 September 14. We report on observations taken with the Swift satellite two days after the trigger. No new X-ray, optical, UV or hard X-ray sources were detected in our observations, which were focused on nearby galaxies in the GW error region and covered 4.7 deg2 (∼2 per cent of the probability in the rapidly available GW error region; 0.3 per cent of the probability from the final GW error region, which was produced several months after the trigger). We describe the rapid Swift response and automated analysis of the X-ray telescope and UV/Optical telescope data, and note the importance to electromagnetic follow-up of early notification of the progenitor details inferred from GW analysis.
The New Numerical Galaxy Catalog (ν2GC): An updated semi-analytic model of galaxy and active galactic nucleus formation with large cosmological N-body simulations
Authors: Makiya Ryu , Enoki Motohiro , Ishiyama Tomoaki , Kobayashi Masakazu A. R. , Nagashima Masahiro , Okamoto Takashi , Okoshi Katsuya , Oogi Taira , Shirakata Hikari
Published: April 2016

We present a new cosmological galaxy formation model, ν2GC, as an updated version of our previous model νGC. We adopt the so-called “semi-analytic” approach, in which the formation history of dark matter halos is computed by N-body simulations, while the baryon physics such as gas cooling, star formation, and supernova feedback are simply modeled by phenomenological equations. Major updates of the model are as follows: (1) the merger trees of dark matter halos are constructed in state-of-the-art N-body simulations, (2) we introduce the formation and evolution process of supermassive black holes and the suppression of gas cooling due to active galactic nucleus (AGN) activity, (3) we include heating of the intergalactic gas by the cosmic UV background, and (4) we tune some free parameters related to the astrophysical processes using a Markov chain Monte Carlo method. Our N-body simulations of dark matter halos have unprecedented box size and mass resolution (the largest simulation contains 550 billion particles in a 1.12 Gpc h−1 box), enabling the study of much smaller and rarer objects. The model was tuned to fit the luminosity functions of local galaxies and mass function of neutral hydrogen. Local observations, such as the Tully–Fisher relation, the size–magnitude relation of spiral galaxies, and the scaling relation between the bulge mass and black hole mass were well reproduced by the model. Moreover, the model also reproduced well the cosmic star formation history and redshift evolution of rest-frame K-band luminosity functions. The numerical catalog of the simulated galaxies and AGNs is publicly available on the web.
Clonal Expansion and Migration of a Highly Virulent, Defoliating Lineage of Verticillium dahliae
Authors: Milgroom Michael G. , del Mar Jiménez-Gasco María , Olivares-García Concepción , Jiménez-Díaz Rafael M.
Published: April 2016

We used a population genomics approach to test the hypothesis of clonal expansion of a highly fit genotype in populations of Verticillium dahliae. This fungal pathogen has a broad host range and can be dispersed in contaminated seed or other plant material. It has a highly clonal population structure, with several lineages having nearly worldwide distributions in agricultural crops. Isolates in lineage 1A are highly virulent and cause defoliation in cotton, okra, and olive (denoted 1A/D), whereas those in other lineages cause wilting but not defoliation (ND). We tested whether the highly virulent lineage 1A/D could have spread from the southwestern United States to the Mediterranean basin, as predicted from historical records. We found 187 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), determined by genotyping by sequencing, among 91 isolates of lineage 1A/D and 5 isolates in the closely related lineage 1B/ND. Neighbor-joining and maximum-likelihood analyses on the 187 SNPs showed a clear divergence between 1A/D and 1B/ND haplotypes. Data for only 77 SNPs were obtained for all 96 isolates (no missing data); lineages 1A/D and 1B/ND differed by 27 of these 77 SNPs, confirming a clear divergence between the two lineages. No evidence of recombination was detected within or between these two lineages. Phylogenetic and genealogical analyses resulted in five distinct subclades of 1A/D isolates that correlated closely with geographic origins in the Mediterranean basin, consistent with the hypothesis that the D pathotype was introduced at least five times in independent founder events into this region from a relatively diverse source population. The inferred ancestral haplotype was found in two isolates sampled before 1983 from the southwestern United States, which is consistent with historical records that 1A/D originated in North America. The five subclades coalesce with the ancestral haplotype at the same time, consistent with a hypothesis of rapid population expansion in the source population during the emergence of 1A/D as a severe pathogen of cotton in the United States.
Rice Bran Amendment Suppresses Potato Common Scab by Increasing Antagonistic Bacterial Community Levels in the Rhizosphere
Authors: Tomihama Tsuyoshi , Nishi Yatsuka , Mori Kiyofumi , Shirao Tsukasa , Iida Toshiya , Uzuhashi Shihomi , Ohkuma Moriya , Ikeda Seishi
Published: April 2016

Potato common scab (PCS), caused by pathogenic Streptomyces spp., is a serious disease in potato production worldwide. Cultural practices, such as optimizing the soil pH and irrigation, are recommended but it is often difficult to establish stable disease reductions using these methods. Traditionally, local farmers in southwest Japan have amended soils with rice bran (RB) to suppress PCS. However, the scientific mechanism underlying disease suppression by RB has not been elucidated. The present study showed that RB amendment reduced PCS by repressing the pathogenic Streptomyces population in young tubers. Amplicon sequencing analyses of 16S ribosomal RNA genes from the rhizosphere microbiome revealed that RB amendment dramatically changed bacterial composition and led to an increase in the relative abundance of gram-positive bacteria such as Streptomyces spp., and this was negatively correlated with PCS disease severity. Most actinomycete isolates derived from the RB-amended soil showed antagonistic activity against pathogenic Streptomyces scabiei and S. turgidiscabies on R2A medium. Some of the Streptomyces isolates suppressed PCS when they were inoculated onto potato plants in a field experiment. These results suggest that RB amendment increases the levels of antagonistic bacteria against PCS pathogens in the potato rhizosphere.
Parallel evolution of metazoan mitochondrial proteins
Authors: Klink Galya V. , Bazykin Georgii A.
Published: April 2016

Amino acid propensities at amino acid sites change with time due to epistatic interactions or changing environment, affecting the probabilities of fixation of different amino acids. Such changes should lead to an increased rate of homoplasies (reversals, parallelisms, and convergences) at closely related species. Here, we reconstruct the phylogeny of twelve mitochondrial proteins from several thousand metazoan species, and measure the phylogenetic distances between branches at which either the same allele originated repeatedly due to homoplasies, or different alleles originated due to divergent substitutions. The mean phylogenetic distance between parallel substitutions is ∼20% lower than the mean phylogenetic distance between divergent substitutions, indicating that a variant fixed in a species is more likely to be deleterious in a more phylogenetically remote species, compared to a more closely related species. These findings are robust to artefacts of phylogenetic reconstruction or of pooling of sites from different conservation classes or functional groups, and imply that single-position fitness landscapes change at rates similar to rates of amino acid changes.
Interpretability of Multivariate Brain Maps in Brain Decoding: Definition and Quantification
Authors: Kia Seyed Mostafa
Published: April 2016

Brain decoding is a popular multivariate approach for hypothesis testing in neuroimaging. Linear classifiers are widely employed in the brain decoding paradigm to discriminate among experimental conditions. Then, the derived linear weights are visualized in the form of multivariate brain maps to further study the spatio-temporal patterns of underlying neural activities. It is well known that the brain maps derived from weights of linear classifiers are hard to interpret because of high correlations between predictors, low signal to noise ratios, and the high dimensionality of neuroimaging data. Therefore, improving the interpretability of brain decoding approaches is of primary interest in many neuroimaging studies. Despite extensive studies of this type, at present, there is no formal definition for interpretability of multivariate brain maps. As a consequence, there is no quantitative measure for evaluating the interpretability of different brain decoding methods. In this paper, first, we present a theoretical definition of interpretability in brain decoding; we show that the interpretability of multivariate brain maps can be decomposed into their reproducibility and representativeness. Second, as an application of the proposed definition, we formalize a heuristic method for approximating the interpretability of multivariate brain maps in a binary magnetoencephalography (MEG) decoding scenario. Third, we pro pose to combine the approximated interpretability and the performance of the brain decoding into a new multi-objective criterion for model selection. Our results for the MEG data show that optimizing the hyper-parameters of the regularized linear classifier based on the proposed criterion results in more informative multivariate brain maps. More importantly, the presented definition provides the theoretical background for quantitative evaluation of interpretability, and hence, facilitates the development of more effective brain decoding algorithms in the future.
Co-workers with benefits
Authors: Shuck Brad , Owen Jesse , Manthos Megan , Quirk Kelley , Rhoades Galena
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the relation between employee engagement, decisions to be in a relationship with a co-worker, and commitment uncertainty in a sample of adults who identified they were currently working with their romantic partner.

Design/methodology/approach

– Because workplace romance can be a taboo topic among working adults, we recruited participants anonymously from online social media websites (n=68). The use of non-experimental design limits the ability to draw causal references in relation to the variables of interest.

Findings

– Participants who reported they were motivated to be in a romantic relationship with a co-worker to increase status also reported lower levels of engagement, even after controlling for other relationship (e.g. relationship adjustment) and workplace variables (e.g. intent to turnover).

Practical implications

– Romantic relationships within the workplace will most certainly transpire yet the topic remains underexplored in the management literature. This work provides scholars and practitioners insight into the psychological mechanisms that influence workplace relationships and more, explores how relationships between co-workers impact performance variables such as employee engagement.

Originality/value

– This is the first study to examine the influence of workplace romantic relationships in the context of employee engagement. Moreover, this is one of only a handful of studies that has documented the empirical linkage between workplace relationships and performance variables.
Addressing the needs of the Millennial workforce through equine assisted learning
Authors: Meola Cheryl Christopher
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– Organizations are striving to stay abreast of the transitions occurring from the influx of Millennials into the workforce. Managers are having trouble building relationships with Millennial employees and understanding what motivates them to be effective workers. Trainings focussed on helping managers work with Millennials can increase retention rates for organizations, saving money as well as building loyalty and buy-in to organizational goals and values. Equine assisted learning (EAL) programs are an effective training tool that many organizations are currently using to bridge this gap between older managers and Millennial employees. These programs would all fulfill the requirements Millennials seek in on-the-job soft skills training. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– A literature review was conducted on ongoing research and use of EAL in the field of management training and development.

Findings

– Current research shows that EAL promotes competency development in leadership, communication, body language awareness, relationship building, and teamwork building.

Originality/value

– EAL is an up-and-coming management training trend that is available on a wider basis than ever before. There is a greater evidence-based research base that is continuing to grow as well in this field.
Surface Characterisation of Electroless Silver-plated Polyester Fibres
Authors: Guo R.H. , Jiang S.Q. , Yuen C.W.M. , Ng M.C.F.
Published: April 2016

Electroless silver-plated polyester fibres are investigated in this work in order to develop functional textiles. The surface modification of silver-plated polyester fibres was characterized by the scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Xray
photoelectron spectroscope (XPS). The results showed that silver particles with high purity were deposited uniformly on polyester and the silver film had a rather perfect crystal structure, demonstrating that electroless deposition is a suitable technique for the uniform deposition of silver.
Robust-Optimal Fuzzy Model-Based Control of Flexible Spacecraft With Actuator Constraint
Authors: Sendi Chokri , Ayoubi Mohammad A.
Published: April 2016

This paper presents a robust-optimal fuzzy controller for position and attitude stabilization and vibration suppression of a flexible spacecraft during antenna retargeting maneuver. The fuzzy controller is based on Takagi–Sugeno (T–S) fuzzy model and uses the parallel distributed compensator (PDC) technique to quadratically stabilize the closed-loop system. The proposed controller is robust to parameter and unstructured uncertainties of the model. We improve the performance and the efficiency of the controller by minimizing the upper bound of the actuator's amplitude and maximizing the uncertainties terms included in the T–S fuzzy model. In addition to actuator amplitude constraint, a fuzzy model-based observer is considered for estimating unmeasurable states. Using Lyapunov stability theory and linear matrix inequalities (LMIs), we formulate the problem of designing an optimal-robust fuzzy controller/observer with actuator amplitude constraint as a convex optimization problem. Numerical simulation is provided to demonstrate and compare the stability, performance, and robustness of the proposed fuzzy controller with a baseline nonlinear controller.
Malignant messengers
Authors: Kaiser Jocelyn
Published: April 2016

Tumor cells may send out tiny vesicles that prime organs for cancer to spread
A recipe for change: Creating a more inclusive academy
Authors: Mitchneck Beth , Smith Jessi L. , Latimer Melissa
Published: April 2016

Using data, selecting leaders, and changing rules
How to overcome prejudice
Authors: Paluck Elizabeth Levy
Published: April 2016

A brief conversation can have a lasting effect on prejudice

[Also see Report by
Broockman and Kalla
]
How neutrophils promote metastasis
Authors: Tüting Thomas , Visser Karin E. de
Published: April 2016

Neutrophils may be cellular targets for cancer therapy
Detection of Group B Streptococcus Directly from Collected ESwab Samples by Use of the BD Max GBS Assay
Authors: Silbert Suzane , Rocchetti Talita T. , Gostnell Alicia , Kubasek Carly , Widen Raymond
Published: April 2016

Group B
Streptococcus
detection directly from Copan ESwab collected samples, using the BD Max GBS assay, was evaluated on receipt in the laboratory and after 24 h at room temperature. Results were compared to those using Lim broth enrichment PCR and culture. No significant difference was observed between 24 h ESwab and Lim broth PCRs.
Use of Peptide-Based Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay followed by Immunofluorescence Assay To Document Ehrlichia chaffeensis as a Cause of Febrile Illness in Nicaragua
Authors: Chikeka Ijeuru , Matute Armando J. , Dumler J. Stephen , Woods Christopher W. , Mayorga Orlando , Reller Megan E.
Published: April 2016

Ehrlichia chaffeensis
, the etiologic agent of human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME), has been extensively studied as a cause of acute febrile illness and an emerging tick-borne zoonosis in the United States. Limited data suggest its presence in other regions, including Central and South America but not Nicaragua to date. Diagnosis of
E. chaffeensis
infection by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) is the reference standard due to its presumed high sensitivity and specificity, but IFA is impractical, variably reproducible, and cumbersome for large epidemiologic studies and for clinical diagnosis in resource-poor regions. We evaluated a high-throughput, objective peptide-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for use alone or in combination with IFA. We found that it performed best as a screening test (sensitivity, 100%; specificity, 84%) to reduce the proportion of serum samples that were required by the more cumbersome and subjective IFA testing to <20%. Using a two-step diagnostic approach (IFA is performed if the ELISA is positive), we identified
E. chaffeensis
or a serologically and antigenically similar organism as a heretofore unrecognized cause of acute febrile illness in humans in Nicaragua and demonstrated the utility of the peptide ELISA as a screening tool for large-scale clinical studies.
Life Cycle Characterization of Sulfolobus Monocaudavirus 1, an Extremophilic Spindle-Shaped Virus with Extracellular Tail Development
Authors: Uldahl Kristine B. , Jensen Signe B. , Bhoobalan-Chitty Yuvaraj , Martínez-Álvarez Laura , Papathanasiou Pavlos , Peng Xu
Published: April 2016

We provide here, for the first time, insights into the initial infection stages of a large spindle-shaped archaeal virus and explore the following life cycle events. Our observations suggest thatSulfolobusmonocaudavirus 1 (SMV1) exhibits a high adsorption rate and that virions adsorb to the host cells via three distinct attachment modes: nosecone association, body association, and body/tail association. In the body/tail association mode, the entire virion, including the tail(s), aligns to the host cell surface and the main body is greatly flattened, suggesting a possible fusion entry mechanism. Upon infection, the intracellular replication cycle lasts about 8 h, at which point the virions are released as spindle-shaped tailless particles. Replication of the virus retarded host growth but did not cause lysis of the host cells. Once released from the host and at temperatures resembling that of its natural habitat, SMV1 starts developing one or two tails. This exceptional property of undergoing a major morphological development outside, and independently of, the host cell has been reported only once before for the relatedAcidianustwo-tailed virus. Here, we show that SMV1 can develop tails of more than 900 nm in length, more than quadrupling the total virion length.

IMPORTANCEVery little is known about the initial life cycle stages of viruses infecting hosts of the third domain of life,Archaea. This work describes the first example of an archaeal virus employing three distinct association modes. The virus under study,Sulfolobusmonocaudavirus 1, is a representative of the large spindle-shaped viruses that are frequently found in acidic hot springs. The results described here will add valuable knowledge aboutArchaea, the least studied domain in the virology field.