bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acclimation Strategy Using Complex Volatile Fatty Acid Mixtures Increases the Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) Potential
Authors: Rosales‐Sierra Alejandra , Rosales‐Mendoza Sergio , Monreal‐Escalante Elizabeth , Celis Lourdes B. , Razo‐Flores Elías , Cercado Bibiana
Published: August 2017

The start‐up of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) requires biofilm development onto electrodes and acclimation of the microbial community to specific substrates. This process is time‐consuming and shows low effectivity when complex substrates are utilized. The varying proportions and complex mixtures of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) in bioprocess effluents makes it difficult to predict the power output of VFA‐based MFCs when this technology is coupled to a previous bioprocess. In this work, the effect of the degree of reduction of single VFAs on MFC potential was investigated, and a novel acclimation procedure involving the feeding of gradually more complex VFA mixtures is proposed. The power output obtained with butyric acid (6.1 ± 2 mW m−2) was higher than that obtained with propionic acid (5.0 ± 1 mW m−2), as expected based on their degree of reduction. The MFC potential generated by an acetic acid‐fed MFC reached 60 mV, but an acetic‐butyric acid mixture reduced the cell potential by one order of magnitude. The subsequent addition of propionic acid to the acetic‐butyric mixture increased the MFC potential from 1.9 ± 0.1 mV to 35 ± 10 mV in sequential feeding cycles. Consequently, the feeding sequence of acetic, acetic‐butyric, and acetic‐butyric‐propionic acids is proposed as an efficient strategy for the acclimation of MFCs to complex substrates.
Effects of Anthryl Groups on the Charge Transport and Photovoltaic Properties of Small Triarylamine‐Based Donor‐Acceptor Molecules: A Joint Experimental and Theoretical Study
Authors: Jiang Yue , Cabanetos Clément , Jungsuttiwong Siriporn , Alberga Domenico , Adamo Carlo , Roncali Jean
Published: August 2017

The effects of replacing one of the outer phenyl rings of triphenylamine by 2‐anthryl and 9‐anthryl groups of triphenylamine (TPA) have been investigated on two small push‐pull molecules consisting of a triarylamine donor block connected to a dicyanovinyl acceptor via a thienyl spacer. UV‐Vis absorption, cyclic voltammetry and theoretical calculations show that the mode of linkage of the anthryl group has a limited influence on the electronic properties of the molecule compared to reference compound based on TPA. However experimental and theoretical results show that this simple structural modification exerts a major impact on the hole‐mobility of the resulting materials and thus on their efficiency as donor in planar heterojunction solar cells.
Chromium Stability in Steel Slags
Authors: Cheremisina Elizaveta , Schenk Johannes
Published: July 2017

Chromium is an essential element in steelmaking industry. Steel slag inevitably contains some chromium and there is a risk of Cr emission from slag to the environment, however, in which form the emission of the element occurs and whether it is a hexavalent Cr is a concern. To investigate the conditions of hexavalent chromium formation in steel slags and its migration to the atmosphere, an estimation of Cr oxide's stabilities is carried out in this paper. Factsage 7.1 is applied to analyze the thermodynamic properties of Cr oxides with respect to the Cr6+ formation. An Ellingham diagram and standard Gibbs free energy change are proposed. Stability diagrams for BOF, EAF, and LF slag systems with various compositions are derived. Slag basicity is indicated as an influencing factor for Cr containing phase formation. Based on thermodynamic calculations Cr3+ phases are determined to be dominant for the given slags and no hexavalent Cr phases are found in the real multicomponent slag systems.
Managing patients with metastatic prostate cancer: who takes the lead?
Authors: Hughes Simon , McNeill Alan , Brewster Simon , Clarke Noel , Troup Janis , Payne Heather
Published: July 2017

The increased number of treatment options for prostate cancer has raised questions over who should be taking responsibility for initiating and ongoing management of patients. In this article the authors report on the findings of a survey seeking the views of UK oncologists and urologists on where they think responsibilities lie.
Synthesis and Cytotoxicity of Arene‐Ru Compounds Containing 4‐Nitroaniline or 2‐Halogenated 4‐Nitroaniline
Authors: Chen An‐Liang , Huang Fen , Hu Mao‐Lin , Jin Zhi‐Min , Miao Qian , Tian Bei
Published: August 2017

The compounds [(η6‐p‐cymene)RuCl2(4‐nitroaniline)] and [(η6‐p‐cymene)RuCl2(2‐halogen‐4‐nitroaniline)] were synthesized and characterized by various means. The [(η6‐p‐cymene)RuCl2(4‐nitroaniline)] and [(η6‐p‐cymene)RuCl2(2‐fluoro‐4‐nitroaniline)] compounds were determined by X‐ray diffraction, appearing in a distorted piano‐stool type of arrangement with similar bond lengths and angles around the ruthenium. The compounds exhibited moderate to strong in vitro cytotoxicity against A549 and MCF‐7 human cancer cells. Substitution of heavy halogen atom on the ortho position of para‐nitroaniline weakened the cytotoxicity against both of MCF‐7 and A549, except the cases of fluorine substitution for hydrogen atom regarding A549 and bromine substitution for chlorine atom regarding MCF‐7, which showed minor deviation.
Fütter‑, Ess- und Schluckstörungen bei Säuglingen und Kindern
Authors: Schwemmle C. , Arens C.
Published: July 2017

Essen und Schlucken sind dynamische Prozesse, an denen mehr als 30 Muskeln in Koordination der orofazialen Muskulatur sowie der Muskulatur des Rachens, des Kehlkopfs und der Speiseröhre beteiligt sind. Saug‑, Such- und Würgreflex des Neugeborenen und des Säuglings verändern/differenzieren sich mit zunehmendem Alter, sodass der Ess‑, Kau- und Schluckvorgang beim Kleinkind differenziert und willentlich möglich sind. Ess‑, Fütter- und Schluckstörungen sind im Säuglings- und Kleinkindalter häufig schwierig zu unterscheiden. Essstörungen umfassen Nahrungsverweigerung, inadäquate Essgewohnheiten, Verhaltensauffälligkeiten bei der Nahrungsaufnahme, selektive und/oder einseitige Nahrungspräferenzen. Schluckstörungen beschreiben eine Beeinträchtigung der oralen, pharyngealen sowie ösophagealen Phase; alle oder einzelne Phasen können betroffen sein. Ursachen sind Verhaltens- oder Entwicklungsstörungen, Syndrome, neurologische Erkrankungen, Erkrankungen der Atemwege und/oder Ösophagitiden (mit oder ohne gastroösophagealen Reflux, eosinophile Ösophagitis) oder anatomische Fehlbildungen der oberen Speisewege. Ess‑/Schluckbeschwerden werden bei bis zu 25 % aller Kinder beschrieben; circa 40 % der frühgeborenen Kinder, bis zu 64–78 % der entwicklungsauffälligen Kinder und bis zu 99 % der Kinder mit schweren Zerebralparesen zeigen Schluckstörungen.

Die Diagnostik der Ess‑/Schluckstörung beinhaltet einen multifaktoriellen Ansatz. Die Anamnese erfasst das soziale Umfeld, die Eltern-Kind-Interaktion und die elterlichen Sorgen, die körperliche Untersuchung den aktuellen Gesundheitszustand mit Bestimmung von Gewicht, Körpergröße und Kopfumfang sowie eine ausführliche HNO-ärztliche-Diagnostik. Klinische Füttersituationen können Teil der Kindesbeobachtung sein oder Videoaufnahmen von dem Kind beim Füttern/Essen die Diagnostik ergänzen. Zur Beurteilung schluckdynamischer Prozesse sind die Videofluoroskopie und die fiberoptische Diagnostik des Schluckens (FEES) möglich. Bei sehr jungen Kindern ist die standardisierte FEES selten aussagekräftig, stattdessen sollte eine fiberoptische-endoskopische Schluckuntersuchung (FESU) mit „Leeraufnahme“ und Videoaufnahme nach dem Schluckversuch erfolgen.

Die Therapie beginnt mit der Empfehlung einer angenehmen Fütterumgebung, von Hilfsmitteln (spezielle Löffel etc.) beim Essen, Kostform/Konsistenz, Körperhaltung beim Essen, alternativen/additiven Ernährungsmethoden (Gastrostomien, Nasogastralsonden) sowie orofazialen Stimulationsverfahren und Kompensationsverfahren bei kooperativen älteren Kindern.

Ein interdisziplinäres Team ist die Basis für eine umfassende Diagnostik und Therapieplanung.
Discussion of “Formation of an Intermediate Layer Between Grains in Nickel-Based Superalloy Turbine Blades”*
Authors: Campbell John
Published: August 2017

Kim and Withey discuss the formation of an ‘intermediate layer’, formed between grains, which they observe in some Ni-base superalloys. This author proposes that the layer is the result of the presence of a bifilm, a double film probably of oxide or nitride, which appears to be capable of providing a coherent explanation of all the interesting observations reported by the authors.
Spectral Atlas for Amateur Astronomers
Authors: Walker Richard
Published: August 2017

Featuring detailed commented spectral profiles of more than one hundred astronomical objects, in colour, this spectral guide documents most of the important and spectroscopically observable objects accessible using typical amateur equipment. It allows you to read and interpret the recorded spectra of the main stellar classes, as well as most of the steps from protostars through to the final stages of stellar evolution as planetary nebulae, white dwarfs or the different types of supernovae. It also presents integrated spectra of stellar clusters, galaxies and quasars, and the reference spectra of some terrestrial light sources, for calibration purposes. Whether used as the principal reference for comparing with your recorded spectra or for inspiring independent observing projects, this atlas provides a breathtaking view into our Universe's past. The atlas is accompanied and supplemented by Spectroscopy for Amateur Astronomers, which explains in detail the methods for recording, processing, analysing and interpreting your spectra.
Income Elasticities and Global Values of a Statistical Life
Authors: Viscusi W. Kip , Masterman Clayton J.
Published: July 2017

Countries throughout the world use estimates of the value of a statistical life (VSL) to monetize fatality risks in benefit-cost analyses. However, the vast majority of countries lack reliable revealed preference or stated preference estimates of the VSL. This article proposes that the best way to calculate a population-average VSL for countries with insufficient or unreliable data is to transfer a base VSL from the United States calculated using labor market estimates from Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries data, coupled with adjustments for differences in income between the United States and the country of interest. This approach requires estimation of two critical inputs: a base U.S. VSL and the income elasticity of the VSL. Drawing upon previous meta-analyses that include adjustments for publication selection biases, we adopt a base VSL of $9.6 million. We utilize a sample of 953 VSL estimates from 68 labor market studies of the VSL covering fourteen lower-middle income to high income nations. We estimate the income elasticity of the VSL within the United States to be from 0.5 to 0.7 and to be just above 1.0 for non-U.S. countries. Quantile regression reveals that much of the disparity in income elasticities is attributable to income differences between the United States and other countries, as the income elasticity increases for lower income populations. Using income classifications from the World Bank, we calculate average VSLs in lower income, lower-middle income, upper-middle income, and upper income countries to be $107,000, $420,000, $1.2 million, and $6.4 million, respectively. We also present VSL estimates for all 189 countries for which World Bank income data are available, yielding a VSL range from $45,000 to $18.3 million.
Steven M. Wise and the Common Law Case for Animal Rights: Full Steam Ahead
Authors: Davison-Vecchione Daniel , Pambos Kate
Published: August 2017

This article examines Steven M. Wise’s arguments in favour of rationally extending fundamental rights at common law to other animals, as well as the 2014 and 2017 decisions of the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court, which rejected the possibility of extending common law personhood to a chimpanzee on social contract grounds. The article argues that extending the common law rights to liberty and bodily integrity to animals whose cognitive characteristics indicate an interest in self-determination is both morally correct and legally feasible, since this interest is what said common law rights exist to protect. Moreover, the arguments from reciprocity and community membership adopted by the New York Court fail to provide a philosophically sound basis for denying nonhuman rights, nor does conceptualising rights and duties in terms of social contract necessarily preclude nonhuman emancipation.
Refugee Law and Its Corruptions
Authors: Grey Colin
Published: August 2017

This paper asks whether refugee law is morally trustworthy. Trustworthiness here denotes that those who make refugee law—in particular those who decide refugee claims—are competent in this domain and are moved by the fact that refugee claimants and citizens of countries of refuge count on them to make morally sound decisions. Drawing on Adam Smith’s sentimentalist theory of law, the paper argues that refugee law is presumptively subject to various corruptions of the moral sentiments, namely national prejudice, contempt for the lowly, love of domination, and self-deceit. Combined, these corruptions may explain the apparent arbitrariness of refugee claim outcomes. They also suggest that we should be skeptical of any claims regarding the moral trustworthiness of refugee law. What they do not suggest, contrary to more cynical theories, is that refugee law is free of normative constraint.
The Impact of a Computerized Clinical Decision Support Tool on Inappropriate Clostridium difficile Testing
Authors: White Duncan R. , Hamilton Keith W. , Pegues David A. , Hanish Asaf , Umscheid Craig A.
Published: August 2017

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of a computerized clinical decision support intervention aimed at reducing inappropriate Clostridium difficile testing

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study

SETTING

University of Pennsylvania Health System, comprised of 3 large tertiary-care hospitals

PATIENTS

All adult patients admitted over a 2-year period

INTERVENTION

Providers were required to use an order set integrated into a commercial electronic health record to order C. difficile toxin testing. The order set identified patients who had received laxatives within the previous 36 hours and displayed a message asking providers to consider stopping laxatives and reassessing in 24 hours prior to ordering C. difficile testing. Providers had the option to continue or discontinue laxatives and to proceed with or forgo testing. The primary endpoint was the change in inappropriate C. difficile testing, as measured by the number of patients who had C. difficile testing ordered while receiving laxatives.

RESULTS

Compared to the 1-year baseline period, the intervention resulted in a decrease in the proportion of inappropriate C. difficile testing (29.6% vs 27.3%; P=.02). The intervention was associated with an increase in the number of patients who had laxatives discontinued and did not undergo C. difficile testing (5.8% vs 46.4%; P<.01) and who had their laxatives discontinued and underwent testing (5.4% vs 35.2%; P<.01). We observed a nonsignificant increase in the proportion of patients with C. difficile related complications (5.0% vs 8.9%; P=.11).

CONCLUSIONS

A C. difficile order set was successful in decreasing inappropriate C. difficile testing and improving the timely discontinuation of laxatives.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2017;38:1204–1208
Leadership paradigms and performance in small service firms
Authors: Jing Fenwick Feng
Published: July 2017

The effects of employee-perceived leadership paradigms on multiple measures of firm performance collected from managers and customers in small businesses were examined. Four leadership paradigms operating in Australian retail pharmacies were assessed against six performance measures – financial outcomes, staff and customer satisfaction, productivity, retaining staff, and manager retention. Structural equation modeling, regression, and analysis of variance were employed to test the hypotheses. Predictions that firms characterized by visionary and organic/distributed leadership would outperform those using classical and transactional leadership were supported on all measures. Furthermore, the emerging organic leadership paradigm outperformed the others on every measure.
Signal or noise? A null model method for evaluating the significance of turnover pulses
Authors: Barr W. Andrew
Published: July 2017

Patterns of turnover in the mammalian fossil record have been interpreted as reflecting “pulses” of originations and extinctions hypothesized to be driven by climate change. However, criteria for determining what constitutes a meaningful pulse have been idiosyncratic, and investigations of turnover patterns in mammals have yielded mixed results.

This study presents simple simulations of fossil records in which origination and extinction probabilities for each lineage are held constant. Nonetheless, the total number of turnover events per time bin varies stochastically, producing statistical “noise.” Various simulation and analytical assumptions are examined to determine their impact on the type I error rate (i.e., how often “pulses” are detected in a purely stochastic process).

Results suggest that simple analytical parameters (length of time bins and turnover-pulse criterion) have predictable and straightforward effects on false-positive rates. Furthermore, “pulses” of turnover of a magnitude similar to that observed in the terrestrial mammalian fossil record may be quite common under realistic analytical conditions.

The null turnover model offers a practical way to evaluate the significance of observed turnover events in future empirical studies of the fossil record. In evaluating the significance of a “pulse” of fossil origination or extinction events, analytical parameters can be explored using this null model to determine the approximate type I error rate for a set of parameters. Because false-positive rates are shown to be quite high, functional trait-based approaches may offer more reliable indicators of the impact of climate change on turnover dynamics.
Between the Global, the National and the Local in Japan: Two Musical Pioneers from Sendai
Authors: Mehl Margaret
Published: July 2017

Western visitors to Japan are often surprised at how widely European art music can be heard. The roots of what is arguably one of Japan’s greatest success stories lie in the systematic introduction and dissemination of Western music by the government after the Meiji Restoration of 1868. Much research has focused on the government’s role; but how was Western music disseminated and received in different parts of Japan? This article discusses the roles of two brothers, Shikama Totsuji (1853–1928) and Shikama Jinji (1863–1941), who in different ways contributed significantly to the dissemination of Western music beyond Tokyo and in particular to the northern provincial town of Sendai.
Induced Subgraphs With Many Distinct Degrees
Authors: NARAYANAN BHARGAV , TOMON ISTVÁN
Published: August 2017

Let hom(G) denote the size of the largest clique or independent set of a graphG. In 2007, Bukh and Sudakov proved that everyn-vertex graphGwith hom(G) =O(logn) contains an induced subgraph with Ω(n1/2) distinct degrees, and raised the question of deciding whether an analogous result holds for everyn-vertex graphGwith hom(G) =O(nϵ), whereϵ> 0 is a fixed constant. Here, we answer their question in the affirmative and show that every graphGonnvertices contains an induced subgraph with Ω((n/hom(G))1/2) distinct degrees. We also prove a stronger result for graphs with large cliques or independent sets and show, for any fixedk∈ ℕ, that if ann-vertex graphGcontains no induced subgraph withkdistinct degrees, then hom(G)⩾n/(k− 1) −o(n); this bound is essentially best possible.
Corrigendum to ‘Mixing, Communication Complexity and Conjectures of Gowers and Viola’
Authors: SHALEV ANER
Published: August 2017

In my paper [1], a normalization factor of |G|−1 was missing in the statements of Theorem 2.4, Theorem 2.6 and Corollary 2.7.
Evaluation of cardiac autonomic function using heart rate variability in children with acute carbon monoxide poisoning
Authors: Vural Cagdas , Dinleyici Ener Cagri , Kosger Pelin , Bolluk Ozge , Kilic Zubeyir , Ucar Birsen
Published: August 2017

Introduction

Carbon monoxide poisoning may cause myocardial toxicity and cardiac autonomic dysfunction, which may contribute to the development of life-threatening arrhythmias. We investigated the potential association between acute carbon monoxide exposure and cardiac autonomic function measured by heart rate variability.

Method

The present study included 40 children aged 1–17 years who were admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit with acute carbon monoxide poisoning and 40 healthy age- and sex-matched controls. Carboxyhaemoglobin and cardiac enzymes were measured at admission. Electrocardiography was performed on admission and discharge, and 24-hour Holter electrocardiography was digitally recorded. Heart rate variability was analysed at both time points – 24-hour recordings – and frequency domains – from the first 5 minutes of intensive care unit admission.

Results

Time domain and frequency indices such as high-frequency spectral power and low-frequency spectral power were similar between patient and control groups (p>0.05). The ratio of low-frequency spectral power to high-frequency spectral power was significantly lower in the carbon monoxide poisoning group (p<0.001) and was negatively correlated with carboxyhaemoglobin levels (r=−0.351, p<0.05). The mean heart rate, QT dispersion, corrected QT dispersion, and P dispersion values were higher in the carbon monoxide poisoning group (p<0.05) on admission. The QT dispersion and corrected QT dispersion remained longer in the carbon monoxide poisoning group compared with controls on discharge (p<0.05).

Conclusion

The frequency domain indices, especially the ratio of low-frequency spectral power to high-frequency spectral power, are useful for the evaluation of the cardiac autonomic function. The decreased low-frequency spectral power-to-high-frequency spectral power ratio reflects a balance of the autonomic nervous system, which shifted to parasympathetic components.
Psychometric Properties of the Worry Behaviors Inventory: Replication and Extension in a Large Clinical and Community Sample
Authors: Mahoney Alison E. J. , Hobbs Megan J. , Newby Jill M. , Williams Alishia D. , Andrews Gavin
Published: July 2017

Background: The use of maladaptive behaviors by individuals with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is theoretically important and clinically meaningful. However, little is known about the specificity of avoidant behaviors to GAD and how these behaviors can be reliably assessed. Aims: This study replicated and extended the psychometric evaluation of the Worry Behaviors Inventory (WBI), a brief self-report measure of avoidant behaviors associated with GAD. Method: The WBI was administered to a hospital-based sample of adults seeking treatment for symptoms of anxiety and/or depression (n = 639) and to a community sample (n = 55). Participants completed measures of symptom severity (GAD, depression, panic disorder, health anxiety, and personality disorder), and measures of checking, reassurance-seeking and behavioral inhibition. Analyses evaluated the factor structure, convergent, divergent, incremental, and discriminant validity, as well the temporal stability and treatment sensitivity of the WBI. Results: The two-factor structure found in the preliminary psychometric evaluation of the WBI was replicated. The WBI was sensitive to changes across treatment and correlated well with measures of GAD symptom severity and maladaptive behaviors. The WBI was more strongly related to GAD symptom severity than other disorders. The WBI discriminated between clinical and community samples. Conclusions: The WBI provides clinicians and researchers with a brief, clinically meaningful index of problematic behaviors that may guide treatment decisions and contribute to our understanding of maintaining factors in GAD.
Observation of the hyperfine spectrum of antihydrogen
Authors: Ahmadi M. , Alves B. X. R. , Baker C. J. , Bertsche W. , Butler E. , Capra A. , Carruth C. , Cesar C. L. , Charlton M. , Cohen S. , Collister R. , Eriksson S. , Evans A. , Evetts N. , Fajans J. , Friesen T. , Fujiwara M. C. , Gill D. R. , Gutierrez A. , Hangst J. S. , Hardy W. N. , Hayden M. E. , Isaac C. A. , Ishida A. , Johnson M. A. , Jones S. A. , Jonsell S. , Kurchaninov L. , Madsen N. , Mathers M. , Maxwell D. , McKenna J. T. K. , Menary S. , Michan J. M. , Momose T. , Munich J. J. , Nolan P. , Olchanski K. , Olin A. , Pusa P. , Rasmussen C. Ø. , Robicheaux F. , Sacramento R. L. , Sameed M. , Sarid E. , Silveira D. M. , Stracka S. , Stutter G. , So C. , Tharp T. D. , Thompson J. E. , Thompson R. I. , van der Werf D. P. , Wurtele J. S.
Published: August 2017

The observation of hyperfine structure in atomic hydrogen by Rabi and co-workers1,2,3 and the measurement4 of the zero-field ground-state splitting at the level of seven parts in 1013 are important achievements of mid-twentieth-century physics. The work that led to these achievements also provided the first evidence for the anomalous magnetic moment of the electron5,6,7,8, inspired Schwinger’s relativistic theory of quantum electrodynamics9,10 and gave rise to the hydrogen maser11, which is a critical component of modern navigation, geo-positioning and very-long-baseline interferometry systems. Research at the Antiproton Decelerator at CERN by the ALPHA collaboration extends these enquiries into the antimatter sector. Recently, tools have been developed that enable studies of the hyperfine structure of antihydrogen12—the antimatter counterpart of hydrogen. The goal of such studies is to search for any differences that might exist between this archetypal pair of atoms, and thereby to test the fundamental principles on which quantum field theory is constructed. Magnetic trapping of antihydrogen atoms13,14 provides a means of studying them by combining electromagnetic interaction with detection techniques that are unique to antimatter12,15. Here we report the results of a microwave spectroscopy experiment in which we probe the response of antihydrogen over a controlled range of frequencies. The data reveal clear and distinct signatures of two allowed transitions, from which we obtain a direct, magnetic-field-independent measurement of the hyperfine splitting. From a set of trials involving 194 detected atoms, we determine a splitting of 1,420.4 ± 0.5 megahertz, consistent with expectations for atomic hydrogen at the level of four parts in 104. This observation of the detailed behaviour of a quantum transition in an atom of antihydrogen exemplifies tests of fundamental symmetries such as charge–parity–time in antimatter, and the techniques developed here will enable more-precise such tests.
Correction: Corrigendum: Controlling hybrid nonlinearities in transparent conducting oxides via two-colour excitation
Authors: Clerici M. , Kinsey N. , DeVault C. , Kim J. , Carnemolla E. G. , Caspani L. , Shaltout A. , Faccio D. , Shalaev V. , Boltasseva A. , Ferrera M.
Published: August 2017

Nature Communications 8 Article number: 15829 (2017); Published 9 June 2017; Updated 1 August 2017 An incorrect version of the Supplementary Information was inadvertently published with this Article, where the pump wavelengths for panels a and b were interchanged in the figure caption of Supplementary Fig.
Structural insights into the mechanism and E2 specificity of the RBR E3 ubiquitin ligase HHARI
Authors: Yuan Lingmin , Lv Zongyang , Atkison James H. , Olsen Shaun K.
Published: August 2017

RING-in-between-RING (RBR) ubiquitin (Ub) E3 ligases function with Ub E2s through a RING/HECT hybrid mechanism to conjugate Ub to target proteins. Here, we report the crystal structure of the RBR E3, HHARI, in complex with a UbcH7 ~ Ub thioester mimetic which reveals the molecular basis for the specificity of this cognate E2/RBR E3 pair. The structure also reveals mechanistically important conformational changes in the RING1 and UBA-like domains of HHARI that accompany UbcH7 ~ Ub binding and provides a molecular basis by which HHARI recruits E2 ~ Ub in an ‘open’ conformation. In addition to optimally functioning with an E2 that solely performs transthiolation, our data suggests that HHARI prevents spurious discharge of Ub from E2 to lysine residues by: (1) harboring structural elements that block E2 ~ Ub from adopting a ‘closed’ conformation and (2) participating in contacts to ubiquitin that promote an open E2 ~ Ub conformation.
Fragmentation in spin ice from magnetic charge injection
Authors: Lefrançois E. , Cathelin V. , Lhotel E. , Robert J. , Lejay P. , Colin C. V. , Canals B. , Damay F. , Ollivier J. , Fåk B. , Chapon L. C. , Ballou R. , Simonet V.
Published: August 2017

The complexity embedded in condensed matter fertilizes the discovery of new states of matter, enriched by ingredients like frustration. Illustrating examples in magnetic systems are Kitaev spin liquids, skyrmions phases, or spin ices. These unconventional ground states support exotic excitations, for example the magnetic charges in spin ices, also called monopoles. Here, we propose a mechanism to inject monopoles in a spin ice at equilibrium through a staggered magnetic field. We show theoretically, and demonstrate experimentally in the Ho2Ir2O7 pyrochlore iridate, that it results in the stabilization of a monopole crystal, which exhibits magnetic fragmentation. In this new state of matter, the magnetic moment fragments into an ordered part and a persistently fluctuating one. Compared to conventional spin ices, the different nature of the excitations in this fragmented state opens the way to tunable field-induced and dynamical behaviors.
Learning surface molecular structures via machine vision
Authors: Ziatdinov Maxim , Maksov Artem , Kalinin Sergei V.
Published: August 2017

Recent advances in high resolution scanning transmission electron and scanning probe microscopies have allowed researchers to perform measurements of materials structural parameters and functional properties in real space with a picometre precision. In many technologically relevant atomic and/or molecular systems, however, the information of interest is distributed spatially in a non-uniform manner and may have a complex multi-dimensional nature. One of the critical issues, therefore, lies in being able to accurately identify (‘read out’) all the individual building blocks in different atomic/molecular architectures, as well as more complex patterns that these blocks may form, on a scale of hundreds and thousands of individual atomic/molecular units. Here we employ machine vision to read and recognize complex molecular assemblies on surfaces. Specifically, we combine Markov random field model and convolutional neural networks to classify structural and rotational states of all individual building blocks in molecular assembly on the metallic surface visualized in high-resolution scanning tunneling microscopy measurements. We show how the obtained full decoding of the system allows us to directly construct a pair density function—a centerpiece in analysis of disorder-property relationship paradigm—as well as to analyze spatial correlations between multiple order parameters at the nanoscale, and elucidate reaction pathway involving molecular conformation changes. The method represents a significant shift in our way of analyzing atomic and/or molecular resolved microscopic images and can be applied to variety of other microscopic measurements of structural, electronic, and magnetic orders in different condensed matter systems.
Intraoperative Functional Ultrasound Imaging of Human Brain Activity
Authors: Imbault Marion , Chauvet Dorian , Gennisson Jean-Luc , Capelle Laurent , Tanter Mickael
Published: July 2017

The functional mapping of brain activity is essential to perform optimal glioma surgery and to minimize the risk of postoperative deficits. We introduce a new, portable neuroimaging modality of the human brain based on functional ultrasound (fUS) for deep functional cortical mapping. Using plane-wave transmissions at an ultrafast frame rate (1 kHz), fUS is performed during surgery to measure transient changes in cerebral blood volume with a high spatiotemporal resolution (250 µm, 1 ms). fUS identifies, maps and differentiates regions of brain activation during task-evoked cortical responses within the depth of a sulcus in both awake and anaesthetized patients.
Grating-based phase-contrast and dark-field computed tomography: a single-shot method
Authors: Teuffenbach Maximilian von , Koehler Thomas , Fehringer Andreas , Viermetz Manuel , Brendel Bernhard , Herzen Julia , Proksa Roland , Rummeny Ernst J. , Pfeiffer Franz , Noël Peter B.
Published: August 2017

Grating-based X-ray interferometry offers vast potential for imaging materials and tissues that are not easily visualised using conventional X-ray imaging. Tomographic reconstruction based on X-ray interferometric data provides not only access to the attenuation coefficient of an object, but also the refractive index and information about ultra-small-angle scattering. This improved functionality comes at the cost of longer measurement times because existing projection-based signal extraction algorithms require not only a single measurement per projection angle but several with precise grating movements in between. This obstacle hinders the adaptation of grating-based interferometry into a continuously rotating gantry. Several solutions to this problem have been proposed but all suffer from major drawbacks. We present results using an iterative reconstruction algorithm working directly on the interferograms. The suggested direct approach enables improved image quality, since interpolations and unnecessary assumptions about the object are circumvented. Our results demonstrate that it is possible to successfully reconstruct the linear attenuation coefficient, the refractive index and the linear diffusion coefficient, which is a measure related to ultra-small-angle scattering, using a single measurement per projection angle and without any grating movements. This is a milestone for future clinical implementation of grating-based phase-contrast and dark-field contrast X-ray computed tomography.
Predictive clinical factors of cystoid macular edema in patients with Descemet’s stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty
Authors: Kitazawa Koji , Kayukawa Kanae , Wakimasu Koichi , Yokota Isao , Inatomi Tsutomu , Hieda Osamu , Mori Kazuhiko , Sotozono Chie , Kinoshita Shigeru
Published: August 2017

The purpose of this present study was to investigate predictive clinical factors associated with cystoid macular edema (CME) post Descemet’s stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) in a large case series. Of 393 consecutive patients who underwent DSAEK at Baptist Eye Institute, Kyoto, Japan between July 2011 and November 2016, 241 patients without CME at the pre- or early-postoperative periods were enrolled. The occurrence of anatomic CME was prospectively examined via optical coherence tomography (OCT). Possible predictive clinical factors for CME were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression analysis. At 1-month post DSAEK, CME occurred in 27 (11.2%) of the 241 patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) was significantly associated with postoperative CME (odds ratio = 6.4, P = 0.04). The findings of this study revealed that DSAEK in patients with PACG showed a high incidence of CME, thus indicating that they should undergo a careful postoperative observation of the macula via OCT.
Polymer-encased nanodiscs with improved buffer compatibility
Authors: Fiori Mariana C. , Jiang Yunjiang , Altenberg Guillermo A. , Liang Hongjun
Published: August 2017

Styrene-maleic acid copolymers allow for solubilization and reconstitution of membrane proteins into nanodiscs. These polymer-encased nanodiscs are promising platforms for studies of membrane proteins in a near-physiologic environment without the use of detergents. However, current styrene-maleic acid copolymers display severe limitations in terms of buffer compatibility and ensued flexibility for various applications. Here, we present a new family of styrene-maleic acid copolymers that do not aggregate at low pH or in the presence of polyvalent cations, and can be used to solubilize membrane proteins and produce nanodiscs of controlled sizes.
Generation of Myostatin Gene-Edited Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) via Zygote Injection of CRISPR/Cas9 System
Authors: Khalil Karim , Elayat Medhat , Khalifa Elsayed , Daghash Samer , Elaswad Ahmed , Miller Michael , Abdelrahman Hisham , Ye Zhi , Odin Ramjie , Drescher David , Vo Khoi , Gosh Kamal , Bugg William , Robinson Dalton , Dunham Rex
Published: July 2017

The myostatin (MSTN) gene is important because of its role in regulation of skeletal muscle growth in all vertebrates. In this study, CRISPR/Cas9 was utilized to successfully target the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, muscle suppressor gene MSTN. CRISPR/Cas9 induced high rates (88–100%) of mutagenesis in the target protein-encoding sites of MSTN. MSTN-edited fry had more muscle cells (p < 0.001) than controls, and the mean body weight of gene-edited fry increased by 29.7%. The nucleic acid alignment of the mutated sequences against the wild-type sequence revealed multiple insertions and deletions. These results demonstrate that CRISPR/Cas9 is a highly efficient tool for editing the channel catfish genome, and opens ways for facilitating channel catfish genetic enhancement and functional genomics. This approach may produce growth-enhanced channel catfish and increase productivity.
4β-Hydroxywithanolide E Modulates Alternative Splicing of Apoptotic Genes in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Huh-7 Cells
Authors: Lee Chien-Chin , Chang Wen-Hsin , Chang Ya-Sian , Liu Ting-Yuan , Chen Yu-Chia , Wu Yang-Chang , Chang Jan-Gowth
Published: July 2017

Alternative splicing is a mechanism for increasing protein diversity from a limited number of genes. Studies have demonstrated that aberrant regulation in the alternative splicing of apoptotic gene transcripts may contribute to the development of cancer. In this study, we isolated 4β-Hydroxywithanolide E (4bHWE) from the traditional herb Physalis peruviana and investigated its biological effect in cancer cells. The results demonstrated that 4bHWE modulates the alternative splicing of various apoptotic genes, including HIPK3, SMAC/DIABLO, and SURVIVIN. We also discovered that the levels of SRSF1 phospho-isoform were decreased and the levels of H3K36me3 were increased in 4bHWE treatment. Knockdown experiments revealed that the splicing site selection of SMAC/DIABLO could be mediated by changes in the level of H3K36me3 in 4bHWE-treated cells. Furthermore, we extended our study to apoptosis-associated molecules, and detected increased levels of poly ADP-ribose polymerase cleavage and the active form of CASPASE-3 in 4bHWE-induced apoptosis. In vivo experiments indicated that the treatment of tumor-bearing mice with 4bHWE resulted in a marked decrease in tumor size. This study is the first to demonstrate that 4bHWE affects alternative splicing by modulating splicing factors and histone modifications, and provides a novel view of the antitumor mechanism of 4bHWE.
Seabird distribution patterns observed with fishing vessel’s radar reveal previously undescribed sub-meso-scale clusters
Authors: Assali Camille , Bez Nicolas , Tremblay Yann
Published: July 2017

Seabirds are known to concentrate on prey patches or at predators aggregations standing for potential feeding opportunities. They may search for prey using olfaction or by detecting visually feeding con-specifics and sub-surface predators, or even boats. Thus, they might form a foraging network. We hypothesized that conditionally to the existence of a foraging network, the visual detection ability of seabirds should have a bearing on their medium-scale distribution at sea. Using a fishing-boat radar to catch the instantaneous distribution of seabirds groups within 30 km around the vessel, we conducted a spatial clustering of the seabird-echoes. We found 7,657 clusters (i.e. aggregations of echoes), lasting less than 15 minutes and measuring 9.2 km in maximum length (median). Distances between seabirds groups within clusters showed little variation (median: 2.1 km; CV: 0.5), while area varied largely (median: 21.9 km2; CV: 0.8). Given existing data on seabirds’ reaction distances to boats or other marine predators, we suggest that these structures may represent active foraging sequences of seabirds spreading themselves in space such as to possibly cue on each others. These seabird clusters were not previously described and are size compatible with the existence of a foraging network.
Sea level rise, surface warming, and the weakened buffering ability of South China Sea to strong typhoons in recent decades
Authors: Sun Jingru , Oey Leo , Xu F.-H. , Lin Y.-C.
Published: August 2017

Each year, a number of typhoons in the western North Pacific pass through the Luzon Strait into South China Sea (SCS). Although the storms remain above a warm open sea, the majority of them weaken due to atmospheric and oceanic environments unfavorable for typhoon intensification in SCS, which therefore serves as a natural buffer that shields the surrounding coasts from potentially more powerful storms. This study examines how this buffer has changed over inter-decadal and longer time scales. We show that the buffer weakens (i.e. greater potential for more powerful typhoons) in negative Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) years, as well as with sea-level-rise and surface warming, caused primarily by the deepening of the ocean’s 26 °C isotherm Z
26
. A new Intensity Change Index is proposed to describe the typhoon intensity change as a function of Z
26
and other environmental variables. In SCS, the new index accounts for as high as 75% of the total variance of typhoon intensity change.
RNA SEQ Analysis Indicates that the AE3 Cl−/HCO3
− Exchanger Contributes to Active Transport-Mediated CO2 Disposal in Heart
Authors: Vairamani Kanimozhi , Wang Hong-Sheng , Medvedovic Mario , Lorenz John N. , Shull Gary E.
Published: July 2017

Loss of the AE3 Cl−/HCO3− exchanger (Slc4a3) in mice causes an impaired cardiac force-frequency response and heart failure under some conditions but the mechanisms are not known. To better understand the functions of AE3, we performed RNA Seq analysis of AE3-null and wild-type mouse hearts and evaluated the data with respect to three hypotheses (CO2 disposal, facilitation of Na+-loading, and recovery from an alkaline load) that have been proposed for its physiological functions. Gene Ontology and PubMatrix analyses of differentially expressed genes revealed a hypoxia response and changes in vasodilation and angiogenesis genes that strongly support the CO2 disposal hypothesis. Differential expression of energy metabolism genes, which indicated increased glucose utilization and decreased fatty acid utilization, were consistent with adaptive responses to perturbations of O2/CO2 balance in AE3-null myocytes. Given that the myocardium is an obligate aerobic tissue and consumes large amounts of O2, the data suggest that loss of AE3, which has the potential to extrude CO2 in the form of HCO3−, impairs O2/CO2 balance in cardiac myocytes. These results support a model in which the AE3 Cl−/HCO3− exchanger, coupled with parallel Cl− and H+-extrusion mechanisms and extracellular carbonic anhydrase, is responsible for active transport-mediated disposal of CO2.
Size effect on atomic structure in low-dimensional Cu-Zr amorphous systems
Authors: Zhang W. B. , Liu J. , Lu S. H. , Zhang H. , Wang H. , Wang X. D. , Cao Q. P. , Zhang D. X. , Jiang J. Z.
Published: July 2017

The size effect on atomic structure of a Cu64Zr36 amorphous system, including zero-dimensional small-size amorphous particles (SSAPs) and two-dimensional small-size amorphous films (SSAFs) together with bulk sample was investigated by molecular dynamics simulations. We revealed that sample size strongly affects local atomic structure in both Cu64Zr36 SSAPs and SSAFs, which are composed of core and shell (surface) components. Compared with core component, the shell component of SSAPs has lower average coordination number and average bond length, higher degree of ordering, and lower packing density due to the segregation of Cu atoms on the shell of Cu64Zr36 SSAPs. These atomic structure differences in SSAPs with various sizes result in different glass transition temperatures, in which the glass transition temperature for the shell component is found to be 577 K, which is much lower than 910 K for the core component. We further extended the size effect on the structure and glasses transition temperature to Cu64Zr36 SSAFs, and revealed that the Tg decreases when SSAFs becomes thinner due to the following factors: different dynamic motion (mean square displacement), different density of core and surface and Cu segregation on the surface of SSAFs. The obtained results here are different from the results for the size effect on atomic structure of nanometer-sized crystalline metallic alloys.
Income inequality, gene expression, and brain maturation during adolescence
Authors: Parker Nadine , Wong Angelita Pui-Yee , Leonard Gabriel , Perron Michel , Pike Bruce , Richer Louis , Veillette Suzanne , Pausova Zdenka , Paus Tomas
Published: August 2017

Income inequality is associated with poor health and social outcomes. Negative social comparisons and competition may involve the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axes in underlying some of these complex inter-relationships. Here we investigate brain maturation, indexed by age-related decreases in cortical thickness, in adolescents living in neighborhoods with differing levels of income inequality and household income. We examine whether inter-regional variations relate to those in glucocorticoid receptor (HPA) and androgen receptor (HPG) gene expression. For each sex, we used a median split of income inequality and household income (income-to-needs ratio) to create four subgroups. In female adolescents, the high-inequality low-income group displayed the greatest age-related decreases in cortical thickness. In this group, expression of glucocorticoid and androgen receptor genes explained the most variance in these age-related decreases in thickness across the cortex. We speculate that female adolescents living in high-inequality neighborhoods and low-income households may experience greater HPA and HPG activity, leading to steeper decreases in cortical thickness with age.