bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nature of the Dusty S-cluster Object (DSO/G2): Pre-main-sequence star with non-spherical dusty envelope
Authors: Zajaček M. , Valencia-S. M. , Shahzamanian B. , Peissker F. , Eckart A. , Parsa M.
Published: February 2017

Near-infrared observations reveal several infrared-excess sources near the Galactic Centre with emission lines present in their spectra. One of these objects, DSO/G2, which moves around the supermassive black hole (Sgr A*) on a highly eccentric orbit, passed the pericentre at approximately 160 AU in 2014. It remained compact, which implies that at least in this case it is a star embedded in a dusty envelope. The spectral energy distribution and the detection of polarized continuum emission indicate that it is probably a pre-main-sequence star surrounded by a dense envelope with bipolar cavities. In addition, the star associated with DSO/G2 plausibly develops a bow shock due to its supersonic motion. The model of the star surrounded by the non-spherical dusty envelope can reproduce the main characteristics of the DSO/G2 source: 1. spectral energy distribution in near-infrared bands; 2. linear polarization in Ks band; and 3. the overall compact behaviour.
Diffuse gamma-ray emission from the Galactic center and implications of its past activities
Authors: Fujita Yutaka , Kimura Shigeo S. , Murase Kohta
Published: February 2017

It has been indicated that low-luminosity active galactic nuclei (LLAGNs) are accelerating high-energy cosmic-ray (CR) protons in their radiatively inefficient accretion flows (RIAFs). If this is the case, Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*) should also be generating CR protons, because Sgr A* is a LLAGN. Based on this scenario, we calculate a production rate of CR protons in Sgr A* and their diffusion in the central molecular zone (CMZ) around Sgr A*. The CR protons diffusing in the CMZ create gamma-rays through pp interaction. We show that the gamma-ray luminosity and spectrum are consistent with observations if Sgr A* was active in the past.
Detection of polarized continuum emission of the Dusty S-cluster Object (DSO/G2)
Authors: Shahzamanian B. , Zajaček M. , Valencia-S. M. , Peissker F. , Eckart A. , Sabha N. , Parsa M.
Published: February 2017

A peculiar source in the Galactic center known as the Dusty S-cluster Object (DSO/G2) moves on a highly eccentric orbit around the supermassive black hole with the pericenter passage in the spring of 2014. Its nature has been uncertain mainly because of the lack of any information about its intrinsic geometry. For the first time, we use near-infrared polarimetric imaging data to obtain constraints about the geometrical properties of the DSO. We find out that DSO is an intrinsically polarized source, based on the significance analysis of polarization parameters, with the degree of the polarization of ~30% and an alternating polarization angle as it approaches the position of Sgr A*. Since the DSO exhibits a near-infrared excess of Ks-L′ > 3 and remains rather compact in emission-line maps, its main characteristics may be explained with the model of a pre-main-sequence star embedded in a non-spherical dusty envelope.
Vertical flows and structures excited by magnetic activity in the Galactic center region
Authors: Kakiuchi Kensuke , Suzuki Takeru K. , Fukui Yasuo , Torii Kazufumi , Machida Mami , Matsumoto Ryoji
Published: February 2017

Various observations show peculiar features in the Galactic Center region, such as loops and filamentary structure. It is still unclear how such characteristic features are formed. Magnetic field is believed to play very important roles in the dynamics of gas in the Galaxy Center. Suzuki et al. (2015) performed a global magneto-hydrodynamical simulation focusing on the Galactic Center with an axisymmetric gravitational potential and claimed that non-radial motion is excited by magnetic activity. We further analyzed their simulation data and found that vertical motion is also excited by magnetic activity. In particular, fast down flows with speed of ~100 km/s are triggered near the footpoint of magnetic loops that are buoyantly risen by Parker instability. These downward flows are accelerated by the vertical component of the gravity, falling along inclined field lines. As a result, the azimuthal and radial components of the velocity are also excited, which are observed as high velocity features in a simulated position-velocity diagram. Depending on the viewing angle, these fast flows will show a huge variety of characteristic features in the position-velocity diagram.
The Fingerprint of a Galactic Nucleus
Authors: Nogueras-Lara Francisco , Schödel Rainer
Published: February 2017

Because of the unique observational challenges -extreme crowding and extinction- any existing large-scale near-infrared (NIR) imaging data on the Galactic Center (GC) are limited by either one, or a combination, of the following: saturation, lack of sensitivity, too low angular resolution, or lack of multi-wavelength coverage. To overcome this situation, we are currently carrying out a sensitive, 0.2” resolution JHK imaging survey of the Galactic Centre with HAWK-I/VLT. Thanks to holographic imaging, we achieve a similar resolution than with HST/WFC, but can cover also the long NIR, beyond 2 micrometers, which is essential to deal with extinction. Our survey is supported by an ESO Large Programme and will provide photometrically accurate (few percent uncertainty for H < 18 stars), high-angular resolution, NIR data for an area of several 1000 pc2, a more than ten-fold increase compared to the current state of affairs. Here we present an overview and first results.
Search for the CO-dark Mass in the Central Molecular Zone by using the ASTE 10-m Telescope
Authors: Tanaka Kunihiko
Published: February 2017

Atomic carbon (C0) is one of the most abundant carbon-bearing species in the interstellar molecular gas, and its submillimeter lines are good tracers of low-density molecular clouds which are often dark in CO rotational lines. We present a new map of the central 150 pc region of the Milky Way in the 500 GHz [CI] line, which has been recently obtained with the ASTE 10-m telescope. The [CI] emission is brightest toward the central 5-pc region, where massive GMCs are absent. This [CI]-bright region is approximately centered toward Sgr A*, covering the entire circum-nuclear ring (CND) and the western part of the 50-km/s cloud. The C0/CO abundance ratio is 0.5–2 there, and the highest ratio is observed toward the CND but just outside of the 2-pc ring of dense gas. This discovery may suggest that the CO-dark component occupies a significant fraction of the molecular gas in the circumnuclear region.
3D AMR simulations of G2 as an outflow
Authors: Ballone A. , Schartmann M. , Burkert A. , Gillessen S. , Plewa P.M. , Pfuhl O. , Genzel R. , Eisenhauer F. , Ott T. , George E.M. , Habibi M.
Published: February 2017

We study the evolution of G2 in a Compact Source Scenario, where G2 is the outflow from a low-mass central star moving on the observed orbit. This is done through 3D AMR simulations of the hydrodynamic interaction of G2 with the surrounding hot accretion flow. A comparison with observations is done by means of mock position-velocity (PV) diagrams. We found that a massive (Ṁw = 5× 10−7M⊙ yr−1) and slow (vw = 50 km s−1) outflow can reproduce G2’s properties. A faster outflow (vw = 400 km s−1) might also be able to explain the material that seems to follow G2 on the same orbit.
High Energy Gamma Rays and Neutrinos from Star-forming Activities in the Galactic and Extragalactic Sources
Authors: Razzaque Soebur
Published: February 2017

The origin of the IceCube astrophysical neutrinos is an outstanding question. Star-forming activities which can accelerate particles to very high energies have been suggested as possible origin of these neutrinos. I will present a scenario where a subset of the neutrino events originate from the Galactic center region and Fermi Bubbles, resulting from star-forming activities. Multi-messenger signal in high energy gamma rays and neutrinos can probe this scenario. I will also present an analysis of the statistical association of the star-forming sources in our Galaxy and outside, with astrophysical neutrinos, as well as expected neutrino signal from these sources by fitting gamma-ray data.
Statistical Study of High-Velocity Compact Clouds Based on the Complete CO Imagings of the Central Molecular Zone
Authors: Tokuyama Sekito , Oka Tomoharu , Takekawa Shunya , Yamada Masaya , Iwata Yuhei , Tsujimoto Shiho
Published: February 2017

High-velocity compact clouds (HVCCs) is one of the populations of peculiar clouds detected in the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ) of our Galaxy. They have compact appearances (< 5 pc) and large velocity widths (> 50 km s−1). Several explanations for the origin of HVCC were proposed; e.g., a series of supernovae (SN) explosions (Okaet al.1999) or a gravitational kick by a point-like gravitational source (Okaet al.2016). To investigate the statistical property of HVCCs, a complete list of them is acutely necessary. However, the previous list is not complete since the identification procedure included automated processes and manual selection (Nagai 2008). Here we developed an automated procedure to identify HVCCs in a spectral line data.
Low radio frequency spectrum of Sgr-A*
Authors: Roy Subhashis
Published: February 2017

We observed the Galactic centre (GC) region with the partially upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) using a wideband system in frequency ranges of 300– 500 MHz with 16 antennas. Preliminary results are presented here. Sgr-A* is clearly detected down to 450 MHz. Sgr-A West slowly disappears at lower frequencies across the band. By taking cross-cuts across the known major-axis of Sgr-A*, we measure its total flux density across the band to be 0.4 Jy consistent with what is expected from earlier results. It clearly indicates lack of absorption from Sgr-A West. Its spectral index is consistent with its higher frequency value of +0.3.
Issues in the Development of a Gulf Studies Program at the American University of Kuwait: an Ethnography
Authors: Kelly Marjorie
Published: February 2017

The most frequently asked questions regarding the phenomenon of American universities in the Arabian Gulf are: how good are they and how likely are they to endure? Already one of the first to enter the arena (George Mason University in 2005) was forced to close its Ras al-Khaimah campus in October of 2009 “after reaching an impasse with our partner over budget and control issues” (http://eagle.gmu.edu/newsrooms/740). GMU’s former students were directed to its American campus and seven other institutions within the UAE with whom GMU had teach-out agreements. One of these seven institutions has now closed as well: on 6 July 2010 Michigan State University (MSU) announced it was closing its undergraduate programs in Dubai. Its former students were offered a special package to attend the MSU campus in Lansing. As reported in the Lansing State Journal, the reason given was that the Dubai campus had “failed to attract sufficient numbers of students and was no longer financially sustainable.” It had just eighty-five students. However, MSU still had to pay between $1.3–1.7 million in “wind-down costs” (http://lansingstatejournal.com/article/20100706/NEWS01/307060031/MSU-to-close-programs-at-Dubai-campus).
Maronite Music: History, Transmission, and Performance Practice
Authors: Moufarrej Guilnard
Published: February 2017

This essay discusses the music of the Maronite Church, a Christian church based in Lebanon. It provides an overview of the chants used in religious services and examines their transmission and performance practice. The Maronites have always faced challenges to maintain their identity and preserve their heritage while adapting to their cultural milieu. Their religious music reflects the dichotomy between safeguarding tradition and accepting contemporary trends. Since the late nineteenth century, Maronites looking for better opportunities and political freedom have increasingly immigrated to the New World, where they face new challenges to preserving their religious identity while assimilating to the culture of their new homeland. Therefore, this essay reaches beyond the traditional geographic boundaries of the Maronite Church in Lebanon to examine issues in the transmission of Maronite music in the diaspora.
Mesa Presidential Address 2010: A Translator’s Tale
Authors: Allen Roger M.A.
Published: February 2017

In preparation for this occasion, I have taken the opportunity to read a number of the addresses by my distinguished predecessors as presidents of MESA. I am aware therefore that it may be a somewhat unusual introductory gesture on my part to open my address with a few secret details about the process whereby I find myself standing in front of you all this evening.

When I was initially contacted about putting my name forward as a candidate for the presidency of MESA, I immediately responded, as I now recollect, “But I’m a literature scholar.” That admittedly feeble attempt was instantly rebuffed by a vigorous assertion of the fact that literature is a significant field within this organization, but would I please not launch into a disquisition on any of the mu‘allaqat, nor even of a novel by Naguib Mahfouz. Now, finding myself at the proverbial cross-roads, I decided to play what I thought would be my trump-card: “But I’ve only been cited on Campus Watch three times!” Yes, we know, came the response; that is pathetic, but you’ve still got some time. Just try a bit harder, can’t you?
The Iraqi Novel and the Kurds
Authors: Zeidel Ronen
Published: February 2017

This article is a part of an attempt to show how the Iraqi novel depicts the main sectarian and ethnic groups in Iraq. Concentrating on Iraqi novels in Arabic, written mainly by Arab writers, I will examine the attitude of intellectuals to the Kurds as well as the role accorded to Kurds in the narratives of contemporary Iraqi novels.

Benedict Anderson was one of the first scholars to speak about the role of the novel in creating and spreading a national identity. This is done through a creation of an “imagined community” with shared notions of time and space. The Iraqi novel was and still is committed to this idea and most Iraqi (Arab) novelists were partisans of an Iraqi nationalism that strongly supports the integrity of the country within its current borders and envisions a nationalism that contains all of Iraq’s communities.
It’s Not Just Academic—Writing Public Scholarship in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies
Authors: Ernst Carl W.
Published: February 2017

Everyone knows that the work of scholars in America is often considered to be irrelevant to the real issues of life. According to the mild anti-intellectualism that seems to be an endemic feature of American culture, anything that is “academic” is automatically impractical, complex, and impenetrable—in short, it is bad. This is a little hard for professors to live with; no one likes being called a pointy-headed intellectual or an egghead. The very skills and specializations that are the keys to academic success can be seen by the public as defects that remove scholars from the sphere of ordinary existence and disqualify their pronouncements. Here I would like to argue that the gap between academics and an unappreciative public is in good part a function of the language and style of communication that scholars commonly practice in all fields. But if in fact there are large segments of the public who are keenly interested in issues relating to subjects like Middle Eastern studies, or the study of Islam, it should be possible for academics to communicate the results of their labor in clear and meaningful ways. If qualified scholars do not respond to the demands of the public, we know what the alternative is: the public will remain content with the standard media sources of information and disinformation.
Climbing the Virtual Minbar of Cyberspace
Authors: Varisco Daniel M.
Published: February 2017

“Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair, so that I may climb the golden stair.

BROTHERS GRIMM FAIRY TALE

As an avowedly secular anthropologist who studies Islamic cultures, what better way to orient myself than a fairy tale of the Brothers Grimm. As the story of Rapunzel is spun, a young maiden is trapped in a tower by a wicked witch and forced to let down her golden hair for the old dame to climb. One day along comes a prince, who with the best of intentions tries to free the girl but is pushed out of the tower by the witch and blinded by thorns. In the children’s version the couple is eventually reunited and lives happily ever after. In the real world ever before us there are seldom such happy endings. As scholars of Islam, institutionally holed up in the Ivory Tower of Academic Isolation, there are not many opportunities to let down our doctored hair and allow our golden voices to escape the classroom. One such opportunity, seemingly out of a fantasy world not even imagined by Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm, is opened up by the Internet.
MESA Presidential Address 2011: History and Its Histories: Story-Making and The Present
Authors: Joseph Suad
Published: February 2017

We live in an age of history-making. We live in an age of liquid boundaries, malleable categories, moving and movable human subjects. We live in an age of unspeakable horror, illegible events, incomprehensible human actions. We live in an age of unimagined heroics, unthinkable sacrifices, unforeseen human capacities.

We live in an age of uprisings, upended authorities, unbounded rage. We live in an age of speed, motion that seems unnavigable, movement that seems untrackable. We live in age of unprecedented documentation, inconceivable surveillance, uncontrolled intelligence. We live in age of megalith media, lightning communication, urgent immediacy from near and far.
Islamic Studies in U.S. Universities
Authors: Kurzman Charles , Ernst Carl W.
Published: February 2017

As in Europe, Islamic studies in the U.S. originated in the tradition of Orientalist scholarship and Christian theology, with its strong textual emphasis, but it has gradually expanded to overlap with Middle East area studies as well as a number of humanistic and social science disciplines, especially religious studies. Over the past several decades, and especially since 9/11, scholarly interest in Islamic studies has mushroomed. This interest is visible in the number of doctoral dissertations produced on Islam and Muslims over the past half-century. As a percentage of all dissertations in the Proquest Dissertations and Theses Database, Islamic studies themes grew from less than one percent prior to the late 1970s to three percent in the 1980s and 1990s, to over four percent since 2001 (see Figure l).
Tunisian Theater Through the Lens of Revolution: Theatrical Expression as Resistance, Anxiety, Aspiration
Authors: Zahrouni Rafika
Published: February 2017

By comparing pre- and post-2011 Tunisian theatrical scripts and performances, this report analyzes instances of resistance to political oppression. The Tunisian theater provides space for free expression against the way in which the Tunisian government has handled its power, especially with regard to Islamic terrorism, not only before but also after the revolution. The present report also suggests that the pre-revolution plays represent resistance to the Tunisian pre-revolution regime that stifled political, religious, and cultural free expression. Despite the new political plurality that sprang up in 2011 in reaction to the revolution, however, resistance to the post-revolution political system also forms the central focus in the later plays that highlight oppression.
Mohamed el-Gheity’s Ward al-Ganāʾ in or The Rose Garden
Authors: Hashesh Mona F.
Published: February 2017

In the more than two years that have passed since the “post-Mubarak” era began, few plays have directly addressed the revolution that began in Egypt on 25 January 2011. A signifi cant exception among others is Mohamed el- Gheity’s Ward al-Ganāʾin or The Rose Garden (2011). Such plays have generally been commercially successful. Many Egyptians now think of themselves as revolutionaries; in the fi rst years of the Arab Spring, they liked to see revolution everywhere—in the streets, theater, newspapers, television—anywhere. Such responses from the public in turn upset the government, which often tries to stop such performances, and to allow only those theatrical entertainments that do not tackle political issues directly.
Proportional Reasoning
Authors: Stavy Ruth , Babai Reuven , Kallai Arava Y.
Published: February 2017

Abstract. Comparison of ratios is difficult for children and adults. We studied the role of salience and congruity in comparison of ratios using reaction time and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Participants were asked to decide which of two mixtures of red and white paint drops (presented in Arabic numerals) was darker. In congruent trials the mixture with more red drops was darker and in incongruent trials it was lighter. Half of the trials were red salience (more red than white drops in both mixtures) and half of them were white salience. Interaction between congruity and salience was observed. Behaviorally, accuracy was higher and reaction time of correct responses (RTC) was shorter in congruent red salience and incongruent white salience conditions. For these conditions higher activation in a fronto-parietal numerical network was observed in fMRI. These findings suggest that automatic processing of natural numbers supports or suppresses the comparison of ratios as a function of congruity and salience.
Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) Reflecting Feedback and Error	Processing in the Context of Education
Authors: Schillinger Frieder L.
Published: February 2017

Abstract. Feedback allows individuals to detect errors and to adapt subsequent behavior in order to ensure goal achievement. As such, feedback provides rich and essential information for human learning. Consequently, feedback is of great importance for education and has been extensively studied by educational researchers (see Dion & Restrepo, 2016 ). One way to examine feedback and error processing is by means of event-related potentials (ERPs) in the human electroencephalography (EEG). The aim of this commentary is to portray two ERPs which have been directly linked to feedback and error processing in the human brain, namely the feedback-related negativity (FRN) and the error-related negativity (ERN). Firstly, the core empirical findings regarding the FRN/ERN are described, followed by a brief outline of two theories accounting for both ERPs. Finally, the potential of the FRN/ERN in advancing our understanding of feedback and error processing in the context of learning and instruction is discussed.
2016 Fall Meeting by the Numbers
Authors: Parr Lauren
Published: February 2017

It's no secret that scientists love data. Knowing that, we've compiled a list of some of the many notable numbers from last year's AGU Fall Meeting.
MCM7 promotes cancer progression through cyclin D1-dependent signaling and serves as a prognostic marker for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Qu Kai , Wang Zhixin , Fan Haining , Li Juan , Liu Jie , Li Pingping , Liang Zheyong , An Hongli , Jiang Yina , Lin Qiushi , Dong Xiaoqun , Liu Peijun , Liu Chang
Published: February 2017

DNA replication is a central procedure of cell proliferation, whereas aberrant DNA replication is indicated to be a driving force of oncogenesis. Minichromosome maintenance complex component 7 (MCM7) plays an essential role in initiating DNA replication. To investigate the potential oncogenic properties and prognostic value of MCM7 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we conducted immunohistochemistry staining of MCM7 in 153 HCC samples and found that MCM7 high expression level was associated with worse overall survival (OS) of HCC patients. Mechanistically, knockdown of MCM7 significantly inhibited cellular proliferation in vitro and HCC tumorigenicity in vivo. Cyclin D1 was proved to be regulated by MCM7–MAPK signaling pathway. Clinically, high expression of both MCM7 and cyclin D1 exhibited a relatively high sensitivity and specificity to predict worse outcome of HCC patients. Taken together, our results suggest that MCM7–cyclin D1 pathway may participate in cancer progression and serve as a biomarker for prognosis in HCC.
Rapamycin upregulates glutamate transporter and IL-6 expression in astrocytes in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Zhang Yunlong , He Xiaoliang , Wu Xiaojuan , Lei Ming , Wei Zhiyun , Zhang Xiuping , Wen Lei , Xu Pingyi , Li Shaomin , Qu Shaogang
Published: February 2017

Rapamycin protects mice against 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced loss of dopaminergic neurons, which is an established model for Parkinson’s disease. We demonstrated that rapamycin preserves astrocytic expression of glutamate transporters and glutamate reuptake. The protective effect was also observed in astrocyte cultures, indicating that rapamycin acts directly on astrocytes. In the MPTP model, rapamycin caused reduced expression of the E3 ubiquitin ligase Nedd4-2 (neuronal precursor cell expressed developmentally downregulated 4-2) and reduced colocalization of glutamate transporters with ubiquitin. Rapamycin increased interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression, which was associated with reduced expression of inflammatory cytokines, indicating anti-inflammatory properties of IL-6 in the MPTP model. NF-κB was shown to be a key mediator for rapamycin, whereas Janus kinase 2, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, phosphoinositide 3-kinase, and Akt partially mediated rapamycin effects in astrocytes. These results demonstrate for the first time in a Parkinson’s disease animal model that the neuroprotective effects of rapamycin are associated with glial and anti-inflammatory effects.
Hetero-oligomerization between the TNF receptor superfamily members CD40, Fas and TRAILR2 modulate CD40 signalling
Authors: Smulski Cristian R , Decossas Marion , Chekkat Neila , Beyrath Julien , Willen Laure , Guichard Gilles , Lorenzetti Raquel , Rizzi Marta , Eibel Hermann , Schneider Pascal , Fournel Sylvie
Published: February 2017

TNF receptor superfamily members (TNFRSF) such as CD40, Fas and TRAIL receptor 2 (TRAILR2) participate to the adaptive immune response by eliciting survival, proliferation, differentiation and/or cell death signals. The balance between these signals determines the fate of the immune response. It was previously reported that these receptors are able to self-assemble in the absence of ligand through their extracellular regions. However, the role of this oligomerization is not well understood, and none of the proposed hypotheses take into account potential hetero-association of receptors. Using CD40 as bait in a flow cytometry Förster resonance energy transfer assay, TNFRSF members with known functions in B cells were probed for interactions. Both Fas and TRAILR2 associated with CD40. Immunoprecipitation experiments confirmed the interaction of CD40 with Fas at the endogenous levels in a BJAB B-cell lymphoma cell line deficient for TRAILR2. TRAILR2-expressing BJAB cells displayed a robust CD40–TRAILR2 interaction at the expense of the CD40–Fas interaction. The same results were obtained by proximity ligation assay, using TRAILR2-positive and -negative BJAB cells and primary human B cells. Expression of the extracellular domains of Fas or TRAILR2 with a glycolipid membrane anchor specifically reduced the intrinsic signalling pathway of CD40 in 293T cells. Conversely, BJAB cells lacking endogenous Fas or TRAILR2 showed an increased NF-κB response to CD40L. Finally, upregulation of TRAILR2 in primary human B cells correlated with reduced NF-κB activation and reduced proliferation in response to CD40L. Altogether, these data reveal that selective interactions between different TNFRSF members may modulate ligand-induced responses upstream signalling events.
MicroRNA-144 is regulated by CP2 and decreases COX-2 expression and PGE2 production in mouse ovarian granulosa cells
Authors: Zhou Jiawei , Lei Bin , Li Huanan , Zhu Lihua , Wang Lei , Tao Hu , Mei Shuqi , Li Fenge
Published: February 2017

Mammalian folliculogenesis is a complex process in which primordial follicles develop into pre-ovulatory follicles, followed by ovulation to release mature oocytes. In this study, we explored the role of miR-144 in ovulation. miR-144 was one of the differentially expressed microRNAs, which showed 5.59-fold changes, in pre-ovulatory ovarian follicles between Large White and Chinese Taihu sows detected by Solexa deep sequencing. We demonstrated that overexpression of miR-144 significantly decreased the luciferase reporter activity under the control of the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) or mothers against decapentaplegic homologue 4 (Smad4) 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) and suppressed COX-2 and Smad4 expression. In contrast, a miR-144 inhibitor increased COX-2 and Smad4 expression in mouse granulosa cells (mGCs). Meanwhile, Smad4 upregulated COX-2 expression, but this effect was abolished when the mGCs were treated with the transforming growth factor beta signalling pathway inhibitor SB431542. Moreover, luciferase reporter, chromatin immunoprecipitation and electrophoretic mobility shift assay results showed that the transcription factor CP2 upregulated miR-144 expression, which partially contributed to the suppression of COX-2 in mGCs. Both CP2 and miR-144 alter prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production by regulating COX-2 expression. In addition, miR-144 regulated mGC apoptosis and affected follicular atresia, but these activities did not appear to be through COX-2 and Smad4. Taken together, we revealed an important CP2/miR-144/COX-2/PGE2/ovulation pathway in mGCs.
Prenatal alcohol exposure impairs autophagy in neonatal brain cortical microvessels
Authors: Girault Virginie , Gilard Vianney , Marguet Florent , Lesueur Céline , Hauchecorne Michelle , Ramdani Yasmina , Laquerrière Annie , Marret Stéphane , Jégou Sylvie , Gonzalez Bruno Jose , Brasse-Lagnel Carole , Bekri Soumeya
Published: February 2017

Brain developmental lesions are a devastating consequence of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). We recently showed that PAE affects cortical vascular development with major effects on angiogenesis and endothelial cell survival. The underlying molecular mechanisms of these effects remain poorly understood. This study aimed at characterizing the ethanol exposure impact on the autophagic process in brain microvessels in human fetuses with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and in a PAE mouse model. Our results indicate that PAE induces an increase of autophagic vacuole number in human fetal and neonatal mouse brain cortical microvessels. Subsequently, ex vivo studies using green fluorescent protein (GFP)-LC3 mouse microvessel preparations revealed that ethanol treatment alters autophagy in endothelial cells. Primary cultures of mouse brain microvascular endothelial cells were used to characterize the underlying molecular mechanisms. LC3 and p62 protein levels were significantly increased in endothelial cells treated with 50 mM ethanol. The increase of autophagic vacuole number may be due to excessive autophagosome formation associated with the partial inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway upon ethanol exposure. In addition, the progression from autophagosomes to autolysosomes, which was monitored using autophagic flux inhibitors and mRFP–EGFP vector, showed a decrease in the autolysosome number. Besides, a decrease in the Rab7 protein level was observed that may underlie the impairment of autophagosome–lysosome fusion. In addition, our results showed that ethanol-induced cell death is likely to be mediated by decreased mitochondrial integrity and release of apoptosis-inducing factor. Interestingly, incubation of cultured cells with rapamycin prevented ethanol effects on autophagic flux, ethanol-induced cell death and vascular plasticity. Taken together, these results are consistent with autophagy dysregulation in cortical microvessels upon ethanol exposure, which could contribute to the defects in angiogenesis observed in patients with FAS. Moreover, our results suggest that rapamycin represents a potential therapeutic strategy to reduce PAE-related brain developmental disorders.
Wave-based liquid-interface metamaterials
Authors: Francois N , Xia H , Punzmann H , Fontana P W , Shats M
Published: February 2017

The control of matter motion at liquid–gas interfaces opens an opportunity to create two-dimensional materials with remotely tunable properties. In analogy with optical lattices used in ultra-cold atom physics, such materials can be created by a wave field capable of dynamically guiding matter into periodic spatial structures. Here we show experimentally that such structures can be realized at the macroscopic scale on a liquid surface by using rotating waves. The wave angular momentum is transferred to floating micro-particles, guiding them along closed trajectories. These orbits form stable spatially periodic patterns, the unit cells of a two-dimensional wave-based material. Such dynamic patterns, a mirror image of the concept of metamaterials, are scalable and biocompatible. They can be used in assembly applications, conversion of wave energy into mean two-dimensional flows and for organising motion of active swimmers.
Strong coupling and high-contrast all-optical modulation in atomic cladding waveguides
Authors: Stern Liron , Desiatov Boris , Mazurski Noa , Levy Uriel
Published: February 2017

In recent years, there has been marked increase in research aimed to introduce alkali vapours into guided-wave configurations. Owing to the significant reduction in device dimensions, the increase in density of states, the interaction with surfaces and primarily the high intensities carried along the structure, a plethora of light–vapour interactions can be studied. Moreover, such platform may exhibit new functionalities such as low-power nonlinear light–matter interactions. One immense challenge is to study the effects of quantum coherence and shifts in nanoscale waveguides, characterized by ultra-small mode areas and fast dynamics. Here, we construct a highly compact 17 mm long serpentine silicon-nitride atomic vapour cladding waveguide. Fascinating and important phenomena such as van-der-Waals shifts, dynamical stark shifts and coherent effects such as strong coupling (in the form of Autler–Townes splitting) are observed. Some of these effects may play an important role in applications such as all-optical switching, frequency referencing and magnetometry.
Correction: Corrigendum: Entanglement revive and information flow within the decoherent environment
Authors: Shi Jia-dong , Wang Dong , Ye Liu
Published: February 2017

Scientific Reports 6: Article number: 30710; published online: 10 August 2016; updated on: 09 February 2017 The authors neglected to cite a related paper that investigated quantum correlations and information flows in the presence of classical environments. This additional reference is listed below as reference 1, and should appear in the text as below.
Correction: Corrigendum: Structural revisions of small molecules reported to cross-link G-quadruplex DNA in vivo reveal a repetitive assignment error in the literature
Authors: Reyes-Gutiérrez Paul E. , Kapal Tomáš , Klepetářová Blanka , Šaman David , Pohl Radek , Zawada Zbigniew , Kužmová Erika , Hájek Miroslav , Teplý Filip
Published: February 2017

Scientific Reports 6: Article number: 23499; published online: 23 March 2016; updated: 09 February 2017 This article contains inaccuracies in its description of the work presented in reference 1. In the Introduction, “the authors reported a carboxy-substituted derivative of bis-imine 1 which they used in a pull-down study”.
Sleep habits, academic performance, and the adolescent brain structure
Authors: Urrila Anna S. , Artiges Eric , Massicotte Jessica , Miranda Ruben , Vulser Hélène , Bézivin-Frere Pauline , Lapidaire Winok , Lemaître Hervé , Penttilä Jani , Conrod Patricia J. , Garavan Hugh , Paillère Martinot Marie-Laure , Martinot Jean-Luc ,   The IMAGEN consortium, Banaschewski Tobias , Flor Herta , Fauth-Bühler Mira , Poutska Louise , Nees Frauke , Grimmer Yvonne , Struve Maren , Heinz Andeas , Ströhle Andreas , Kappel Viola , van Noort Betteke Maria , Poline Jean-Baptiste , Schwartz Yanick , Thyreau Benjamin , Ireland James , Rogers John , Bordas Nadège , Bricaud Zuleima , Filippi Irina , Galinowski André , Gollier-Briant Fanny , Ménard Vincent , Schumann Gunter , Desrivières Sylvane , Cattrell Anna , Goodman Robert , Stringaris Argyris , Nymberg Charlotte , Reed Laurence , Barker Gareth J , Ittermann Berndt , Brühl Ruediger , Smolka Michael , Hübner Thomas , Müller Kathrin , Bokde Arun L. W. , Büchel Christian , Bromberg Uli , Gallinat Jurgen , Fadai Tahmine , Gowland Pennylaire , Lawrence C , Paus Tomas
Published: February 2017

Here we report the first and most robust evidence about how sleep habits are associated with regional brain grey matter volumes and school grade average in early adolescence. Shorter time in bed during weekdays, and later weekend sleeping hours correlate with smaller brain grey matter volumes in frontal, anterior cingulate, and precuneus cortex regions. Poor school grade average associates with later weekend bedtime and smaller grey matter volumes in medial brain regions. The medial prefrontal - anterior cingulate cortex appears most tightly related to the adolescents’ variations in sleep habits, as its volume correlates inversely with both weekend bedtime and wake up time, and also with poor school performance. These findings suggest that sleep habits, notably during the weekends, have an alarming link with both the structure of the adolescent brain and school performance, and thus highlight the need for informed interventions.
Determining the nature of the gap in semiconducting graphene
Authors: Prestigiacomo J. C. , Nath A. , Osofsky M. S. , Hernández S. C. , Wheeler V. D. , Walton S. G. , Gaskill D. K.
Published: February 2017

Since its discovery, graphene has held great promise as a two-dimensional (2D) metal with massless carriers and, thus, extremely high-mobility that is due to the character of the band structure that results in the so-called Dirac cone for the ideal, perfectly ordered crystal structure. This promise has led to only limited electronic device applications due to the lack of an energy gap which prevents the formation of conventional device geometries. Thus, several schemes for inducing a semiconductor band gap in graphene have been explored. These methods do result in samples whose resistivity increases with decreasing temperature, similar to the temperature dependence of a semiconductor. However, this temperature dependence can also be caused by highly diffusive transport that, in highly disordered materials, is caused by Anderson-Mott localization and which is not desirable for conventional device applications. In this letter, we demonstrate that in the diffusive case, the conventional description of the insulating state is inadequate and demonstrate a method for determining whether such transport behavior is due to a conventional semiconductor band gap.
PARP-1/PARP-2 double deficiency in mouse T cells results in faulty immune responses and T lymphomas
Authors: Navarro Judith , Gozalbo-López Beatriz , Méndez Andrea C. , Dantzer Françoise , Schreiber Valérie , Martínez Carlos , Arana David M. , Farrés Jordi , Revilla-Nuin Beatriz , Bueno María F. , Ampurdanés Coral , Galindo-Campos Miguel A. , Knobel Philip A. , Segura-Bayona Sandra , Martin-Caballero Juan , Stracker Travis H. , Aparicio Pedro , Del Val Margarita , Yélamos José
Published: February 2017

The maintenance of T-cell homeostasis must be tightly regulated. Here, we have identified a coordinated role of Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) and PARP-2 in maintaining T-lymphocyte number and function. Mice bearing a T-cell specific deficiency of PARP-2 in a PARP-1-deficient background showed defective thymocyte maturation and diminished numbers of peripheral CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells. Meanwhile, peripheral T-cell number was not affected in single PARP-1 or PARP-2-deficient mice. T-cell lymphopenia was associated with dampened in vivo immune responses to synthetic T-dependent antigens and virus, increased DNA damage and T-cell death. Moreover, double-deficiency in PARP-1/PARP-2 in T-cells led to highly aggressive T-cell lymphomas with long latency. Our findings establish a coordinated role of PARP-1 and PARP-2 in T-cell homeostasis that might impact on the development of PARP-centred therapies.
Lack of phylogenetic signals within environmental niches of tropical tree species across life stages
Authors: Zhang Caicai , Yang Jie , Sha Liqing , Ci Xiuqin , Li Jie , Cao Min , Brown Calum , Swenson Nathan G. , Lin Luxiang
Published: February 2017

The lasting imprint of phylogenetic history on current day ecological patterns has long intrigued biologists. Over the past decade ecologists have increasingly sought to quantify phylogenetic signals in environmental niche preferences and, especially, traits to help uncover the mechanisms driving plant community assembly. However, relatively little is known about how phylogenetic patterns in environmental niches and traits compare, leaving significant uncertainty about the ecological implications of trait-based analyses. We examined phylogenetic signals within known environmental niches of 64 species, at seedling and adult life stages, in a Chinese tropical forest, to test whether local environmental niches had consistent relationships with phylogenies. Our analyses show that local environmental niches are highly phylogenetically labile for both seedlings and adult trees, with closely related species occupying niches that are no more similar than expected by random chance. These findings contrast with previous trait-based studies in the same forest, suggesting that phylogenetic signals in traits might not a reliable guide to niche preferences or, therefore, to community assembly processes in some ecosystems, like the tropical seasonal rainforest in this study.
HIV-related proteins prolong macrophage survival through induction of Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1
Authors: Yuan Zhihong , Fan Xian , Staitieh Bashar , Bedi Chetna , Spearman Paul , Guidot David M , Sadikot Ruxana T
Published: February 2017

Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1(TREM-1) is a member of the superimmunoglobulin receptor family. We have previously shown that TREM-1 prolongs survival of macrophages treated with lipoolysaccharide through Egr2-Bcl2 signaling. Recent studies suggest a role for TREM-1 in viral immunity. Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV) targets the monocyte/macrophage lineage at varying stages of infection. Emerging data suggest that macrophages are key reservoirs for latent HIV even in individuals on antiretroviral therapy. Here, we investigated the potential role of TREM-1 in HIV latency in macrophages. Our data show that human macrophages infected with HIV show an increased expression of TREM-1. In parallel, direct exposure to the HIV-related proteins Tat or gp120 induces TREM-1 expression in macrophages and confers anti-apoptotic attributes.NF-κB p65 silencing identified that these proteins induce TREM-1 in p65-dependent manner. TREM-1 silencing in macrophages exposed to HIV-related proteins led to increased caspase 3 activation and reduced Bcl-2 expression, rendering them susceptible to apotosis. These novel data reveal that TREM-1 may play a critical role in establishing HIV reservoir in macrophages by inhibiting apoptosis. Therefore, targeting TREM-1 could be a novel therapeutic approach to enhance clearance of the HIV reservoir, at least within the macrophage pools.
Dissecting the brown adipogenic regulatory network using integrative genomics
Authors: Pradhan Rachana N. , Bues Johannes J. , Gardeux Vincent , Schwalie Petra C. , Alpern Daniel , Chen Wanze , Russeil Julie , Raghav Sunil K. , Deplancke Bart
Published: February 2017

Brown adipocytes regulate energy expenditure via mitochondrial uncoupling, which makes them attractive therapeutic targets to tackle obesity. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying brown adipogenesis are still poorly understood. To address this, we profiled the transcriptome and chromatin state during mouse brown fat cell differentiation, revealing extensive gene expression changes and chromatin remodeling, especially during the first day post-differentiation. To identify putatively causal regulators, we performed transcription factor binding site overrepresentation analyses in active chromatin regions and prioritized factors based on their expression correlation with thebona-fidebrown adipogenic markerUcp1across multiple mouse and human datasets. Using loss-of-function assays, we evaluated both the phenotypic effect as well as the transcriptomic impact of several putative regulators on the differentiation process, uncovering ZFP467, HOXA4 and Nuclear Factor I A (NFIA) as novel transcriptional regulators. Of these, NFIA emerged as the regulator yielding the strongest molecular and cellular phenotypes. To examine its regulatory function, we profiled the genomic localization of NFIA, identifying it as a key early regulator of terminal brown fat cell differentiation.
Correction: Corrigendum: Efficient biosynthesis of a Cecropin A-melittin mutant in Bacillus subtilis WB700
Authors: Ji Shengyue , Li Weili , Baloch Abdul Rasheed , Wang Meng , Li Hengxin , Cao Binyun , Zhang Hongfu
Published: February 2017

Scientific Reports 7: Article number: 40587; published online: 10 January 2017; updated: 09 February 2017 In the original version of this Article, Hongfu Zhang was incorrectly affiliated with ‘Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100094, China’. The correct affiliation is listed below:
Genetic susceptibility variants for lung cancer: replication study and assessment as expression quantitative trait loci
Authors: Pintarelli Giulia , Cotroneo Chiara Elisabetta , Noci Sara , Dugo Matteo , Galvan Antonella , Delli Carpini Simona , Citterio Lorena , Manunta Paolo , Incarbone Matteo , Tosi Davide , Santambrogio Luigi , Dragani Tommaso A. , Colombo Francesca
Published: February 2017

Many single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been associated with lung cancer but lack confirmation and functional characterization. We retested the association of 56 candidate SNPs with lung adenocarcinoma risk and overall survival in a cohort of 823 Italian patients and 779 healthy controls, and assessed their function as expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs). In the replication study, eight SNPs (rs401681, rs3019885, rs732765, rs2568494, rs16969968, rs6495309, rs11634351, and rs4105144) associated with lung adenocarcinoma risk and three (rs9557635, rs4105144, and rs735482) associated with survival. Five of these SNPs acted as cis-eQTLs, being associated with the transcription of IREB2 (rs2568494, rs16969968, rs11634351, rs6495309), PSMA4 (rs6495309) and ERCC1 (rs735482), out of 10,821 genes analyzed in lung. For these three genes, we obtained experimental evidence of differential allelic expression in lung tissue, pointing to the existence of in-cis genomic variants that regulate their transcription. These results suggest that these SNPs exert their effects on cancer risk/outcome through the modulation of mRNA levels of their target genes.