bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Palaeoproterozoic metasedimentary rocks of the Ji'an Group and their significance for the tectonic evolution of the northern segment of the Jiao–Liao–Ji Belt, North China Craton
Authors: MENG EN , WANG CHAO-YANG , LI ZHUANG , LI YAN-GUANG , YANG HONG , CAI JIA , JI LEI , JIN MENG-QI
Published: July 2017

In this paper we present new petrological and whole-rock geochemical data for the Palaeoproterozoic metasedimentary rocks in the upper part of the Ji'an Group within the Jiao–Liao–Ji Belt, China, as well as zircon U–Pb age dates andin situLu–Hf isotope data. The new data improve our understanding of the original nature of the metasedimentary rocks, further providing insights into their tectonic setting and the evolutionary history of the northern segment of the Jiao–Liao–Ji Belt. The zircons can be divided into two groups, viz., one of magmatic origin and the other of metamorphic origin. Zircon U–Pb dating gave mean or statistical peak ages for the magmatic zircons at 2035, 2082, 2178, 2343–2421, 2451–2545, 2643–2814 and 2923–3446 Ma, and mean peak ages for the metamorphic zircons at 1855 and 1912 Ma, which indicate a maximum depositional age of 2.03 Ga and two-stage metamorphic events atc. 1.91 and 1.85 Ga for the metasedimentary rocks. Geochemical data show that (1) the protoliths of these rocks were mainly sandstones, greywackes and claystones, together with some shales; (2) the main sources of the sedimentary material were Palaeoproterozoic granites and acid volcanic rocks, with minor contributions from Archaean granitic rocks; and (3) the sediments were deposited in an active continental margin setting. Moreover, along the northeastern margin of the Eastern Block of the North China Craton there is evidence of ancient crustal materials as old as 3.76 Ga, and multiple crustal growth events at 3.23–3.05, 2.80–2.65, 2.54–2.45 and 2.28–2.08 Ga.
‘ROTTEN PROTESTANTS’: PROTESTANT HOME RULERS AND THE ULSTER LIBERAL ASSOCIATION, 1906–1918
Authors: MORRISSEY CONOR
Published: July 2017

This article assesses ‘Rotten Protestants’, or Protestant home rulers in Ulster, by means of an analysis of the Ulster Liberal Association, from its founding in 1906 until its virtual disappearance by 1918. It argues that Ulster Liberalism has been neglected or dismissed in Irish historiography, and that this predominantly Protestant, pro-home rule organization, with its origins in nineteenth-century radicalism, complicates our understanding of the era. It has previously been argued that this tradition did not really exist: this article uses prosopography to demonstrate the existence of a significant group of Protestant Liberal activists in Ulster, as well as to uncover their social, denominational, and geographic profile. Ulster Liberals endured attacks and boycotting; this article highlights the impact of this inter-communal violence on this group. Although Ulster Liberalism had a substantial grassroots organization, it went into sharp decline after 1912. This article describes how the third home rule crisis, the outbreak of the Great War, and the Easter Rising of 1916 prompted a hardening of attitudes which proved detrimental to the survival of a politically dissenting tradition within Ulster Protestantism.
Dispersal patterns of meiospores shape population spatial structure of saxicolous lichens
Authors: MORANDO M. , FAVERO-LONGO S. E. , CARRER M. , MATTEUCCI E. , NASCIMBENE J. , SANDRONE S. , APPOLONIA L. , PIERVITTORI R.
Published: July 2017

Relationships between reproductive strategies and population spatial structure have often been suggested for lichens, but there is a lack of supporting aerobiological data. For the first time, this study couples aerobiological investigations on meiospore dispersal byCaloplaca crenulatella(Nyl.) H. Olivier andRhizocarpon geographicum(L.) DC. with analysis of local spatial patterns of thalli of both species. During a two-year monitoring period carried out on the walls of a medieval castle in NW Italy, a total of 169 polar diblastic spores, 20% of which were morphologically attributable toC. crenulatella, was detected in the mycoareosol, while muriform spores ofR. geographicumwere never found. Laboratory experiments confirmed that different dispersal patterns characterize the two species, the meiospores ofR. geographicumbeing poorly discharged and only recovered at a short distance from thalli, whereas those ofC. crenulatellawere more abundantly discharged, suspended and better dispersed by a moderate air flow. This difference was reflected on the castle walls by the random spatial pattern ofC. crenulatella, whileR. geographicumshowed a clustered distribution. Different discharge rates and take-off limitations, possibly related to size differences between the spores, are not sufficient to explain the different colonization patterns and dynamics of the two species. Additional intrinsic and extrinsic factors are likely to drive their dispersal and establishment success. Nevertheless, information on the relationships between different dispersal patterns of the species and the local spatial structure of their populations might help to predict the recovery potential of lichen species exposed to habitat loss or disturbance, or encrusting monument surfaces.
Acetone washing for the removal of lichen substances affects membrane permeability
Authors: CANDOTTO CARNIEL Fabio , PELLEGRINI Elisa , BOVE Federica , CROSERA Matteo , ADAMI Gianpiero , NALI Cristina , LORENZINI Giacomo , TRETIACH Mauro
Published: July 2017

Removing lichen substances from dry lichen thalli using pure acetone is the least detrimental method. Measurements of properties strictly related to the photobiont, such as chlorophyllafluorescence (ChlaF), are frequently used to verify acetone toxicity but they cannot reveal possible damage accumulated at the whole thallus level. Here, measurements of ChlaF have been integrated with others concerning the status of cell membranes and photobiont population (potassium leakage, malondialdehyde and photosynthetic pigment content). Dry thalli ofFlavoparmelia caperata,Parmotrema perlatumandXanthoria parietinawere subjected to sequential acetone washings according to standard protocols. Membrane permeability was assessed before and after the washing treatment, and after a recovery period of 48 hours. Measurements of ChlaF were taken in a parallel experiment. Acetone washings increased potassium leakage in all the species from 3·9 to 6·6 times greater than the control level. After recovery, onlyP. perlatumreturned to the control level. ChlaF was affected only inF. caperata, with a 20% decrease inFv/Fmwhich had not fully recovered after 48 hours. There was neither an increase in lipid peroxidation of membranes nor a change in the photosynthetic pigment content. The sensitivity ofF. caperatato this method and the impact of the results on its future application are discussed.
Lichen elements as pollution indicators: evaluation of methods for large monitoring programmes
Authors: WILL-WOLF Susan , JOVAN Sarah , AMACHER Michael C.
Published: July 2017

Lichen element content is a reliable indicator for relative air pollution load in research and monitoring programmes requiring both efficiency and representation of many sites. We tested the value of costly rigorous field and handling protocols for sample element analysis using five lichen species. No relaxation of rigour was supported; four relaxed protocols generated data significantly different from rigorous protocols for many of the 20 validated elements. Minimally restrictive site selection criteria gave quality data from 86% of 81 permanent plots in northern Midwest USA; more restrictive criteria would likely reduce indicator reliability. Use of trained non-specialist field collectors was supported when target species choice considers the lichen community context.Evernia mesomorpha, Flavoparmelia caperataandPhyscia aipolia/stellariswere successful target species. Non-specialists were less successful at distinguishingParmelia sulcataandPunctelia rudectafrom lookalikes, leading to few samples and some poor quality data.
Apoptotic induction inducesLeishmania aethiopicaandL. mexicanaspreading in terminally differentiated THP-1 cells
Authors: RAI RAJEEV , DYER PAUL , RICHARDSON SIMON , HARBIGE LAURENCE , GETTI GIULIA
Published: July 2017

Leishmaniasis develops after parasites establish themselves as amastigotes inside mammalian cells and start replicating. As relatively few parasites survive the innate immune defence, intracellular amastigotes spreading towards uninfected cells is instrumental to disease progression. Nevertheless the mechanism ofLeishmaniadissemination remains unclear, mostly due to the lack of a reliable model of infection spreading. Here, anin vitromodel representing the dissemination ofLeishmaniaamastigotes between human macrophages has been developed. Differentiated THP-1 macrophages were infected with GFP expressingLeishmania aethiopicaandLeishmania mexicana. The percentage of infected cells was enrichedviacamptothecin treatment to achieve 64·1 ± 3% (L. aethiopica) and 92 ± 1·2% (L. mexicana) at 72 h, compared to 35 ± 4·2% (L. aethiopica) and 36·2 ± 2·4% (L. mexicana) in untreated population. Infected cells were co-cultured with a newly differentiated population of THP-1 macrophages. Spreading was detected after 12 h of co-culture. Live cell imaging showed inter-cellular extrusion ofL. aethiopicaandL. mexicanato recipient cells took place independently of host cell lysis. Establishment of secondary infection fromLeishmaniainfected cells provided an insight into the cellular phenomena of parasite movement between human macrophages. Moreover, it supports further investigation into the molecular mechanisms of parasites spreading, which forms the basis of disease development.
Fever and infections during pregnancy and psychosis-like experiences in the offspring at age 11. A prospective study within the Danish National Birth Cohort
Authors: Dreier J. W. , Berg-Beckhoff G. , Andersen A. M. N. , Susser E. , Nordentoft M. , Strandberg-Larsen K.
Published: July 2017

Background

Maternal exposures to fever and infections in pregnancy have been linked to subsequent psychiatric morbidity in the child. This study examined whether fever and common infections in pregnancy were associated with psychosis-like experiences (PLEs) in the child.

Methods

A longitudinal study of 46 184 children who participated in the 11-year follow-up of the Danish National Birth Cohort was conducted. Pregnant women were enrolled between 1996 and 2002 and information on fever, genitourinary infections, respiratory tract infection, and influenza-like illness during pregnancy was prospectively collected in two interviews during pregnancy. PLEs were assessed using the seven-item Adolescent Psychotic-Like Symptom Screener in a web-based questionnaire completed by the children themselves at age 11.

Results

PLEs were reported among 11% of the children. Multinomial logistic regression models with probability weights to adjust for potential selection bias due to attrition suggested that maternal fever, genitourinary infections and influenza-like illness were associated with a weak to moderate increased risk of subclinical psychosis-like symptoms in the offspring, whereas respiratory tract infections were not. No clear pattern was observed between the strengths of the associations and the timing of exposure, or the type of psychosis-like symptom.

Conclusions

In this study, maternal exposures to fevers and common infections in pregnancy were generally associated with a subtle excess risk of PLEs in the child. A more pronounced association was found for influenza-like illness under an a priori definition, leaving open the possibility that certain kinds of infections may constitute important risk factors.
Directed threat imagery in generalized anxiety disorder
Authors: Buff C. , Schmidt C. , Brinkmann L. , Gathmann B. , Tupak S. , Straube T.
Published: July 2017

Background

Worrying has been suggested to prevent emotional and elaborative processing of fears. In cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) patients are exposed to their fears during the method of directed threat imagery by inducing emotional reactivity. However, studies investigating neural correlates of directed threat imagery and emotional reactivity in GAD patients are lacking. The present functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study aimed at delineating neural correlates of directed threat imagery in GAD patients.

Method

Nineteen GAD patients and 19 healthy controls (HC) were exposed to narrative scripts of either disorder-related or neutral content and were encouraged to imagine it as vividly as possible.

Results

Rating results showed that GAD patients experienced disorder-related scripts as more anxiety inducing and arousing than HC. These results were also reflected in fMRI data: Disorder-relatedv.neutral scripts elicited elevated activity in the amygdala, dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and the thalamus as well as reduced activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex/subgenual anterior cingulate cortex in GAD patients relative to HC.

Conclusion

The present study presents the first behavioral and neural evidence for emotional reactivity during directed threat imagery in GAD. The brain activity pattern suggests an involvement of a fear processing network as a neural correlate of initial exposure during directed imagery in CBT in GAD.
A ninth-century Old English homily from Northumbria
Authors: Scragg Donald
Published: July 2017

A careful consideration of a ‘scribble’ in English in the margin of a page of Oxford, Bodleian Library, Digby 63, a ninth-century Latin manuscript, yields a number of important conclusions: that the English material is homiletic, that it was written before the Latin, that the manuscript is certainly of Northumbrian origin and the English shows traces of Northumbrian dialect, and that therefore at least one vernacular homily in Old English was available for copying in Northumbria in the ninth century. It also adds to the evidence that a group of homilies in the Vercelli Book were drawn from an early and a non-West Saxon source-book.
Re-dating Alcuin's De dialectica: or, did Alcuin teach at Lorsch?
Authors: Rädler-Bohn Eva M. E.
Published: July 2017

Alcuin's De dialectica has traditionally been dated to Alcuin's second stay at Charlemagne's court (c. 795–6/7). This dating has been based on the perceived dating for another didactic work by Alcuin, De rhetorica. It will be argued that De dialectica (and De rhetorica) must be dated to Alcuin's first period on the Continent (c. 784/6–90). The new dating is primarily based on a philological comparison between De dialectica and Opus Caroli regis (written 790–3 by Theodulf of Orleans) but appears to be confirmed both by the contents of De dialectica and by its use of specific sources. In dating De dialectica to Alcuin's first stay on the Continent, we must now also reassess Alcuin's work as presenting a unique testimony to the scholarly structures and intellectual initiatives of the otherwise badly attested pre-Aachen phase of Charlemagne's court.
Landscapes of devotion: the settings of St Swithun's early uitae
Authors: Lorden Jennifer A.
Published: July 2017

Although post-Conquest uitae of St Swithun narrate the saint's earthly life, the original tenth-century accounts relate only his post-mortem miracles, professing ignorance of his life as bishop of Winchester. Most of the miracles in these pre-Conquest uitae take place in or in some way revolve around the site of the saint's relics at the Old Minster, Winchester. Late-tenth-century Winchester, along with the Benedictine Reformers who had taken up residence there, thus figures prominently in these miracle stories; indeed, Winchester comes to be the true protagonist of Swithun's pre-Conquest uitae. Moreover, each of Swithun's three pre-Conquest hagiographers – Lantfred, Wulfstan the Precentor and Ælfric – writes a different Winchester according to his relationship to that place. This phenomenon illuminates these writers’ differing relationships to the Benedictine Reform, as well as how the Reformers sought to write their own histories.
Aristocratic deer hunting in late Anglo-Saxon England: a reconsideration, based upon the Vita S. Dvnstani
Authors: Flight Tim
Published: July 2017

Scholarship is divided over whether there existed a tradition of recreational hunting in Anglo-Saxon England, in addition to pragmatic forms of venery, and the extent to which it was altered by the Normans after the Conquest. However, hunting scholarship has hitherto neglected the detailed account of a recreational royal deer hunt in the Vita S. Dvnstani. By analysing this account, which describes a hunt resembling a typically ‘Norman’ chasse par force de chiens, I reassess the evidence for the nature of hunting in laws, charters, and the archaeological record. I posit that the Anglo-Saxon aristocracy hunted in a similar manner to the Normans, and that hunting was a socially inscribed pursuit, legally restricted to the ruling classes long before 1066. This argument supports the definition of the disputed charter term haga (‘enclosure’) in certain instances as an Anglo-Saxon hunting park. Finally, I suggest the existence of a specialized Anglo-Saxon hunting dog developed specifically to hunt large quarry in the ‘Norman’ manner.
The role of emotional skills in music education
Authors: Campayo–Muñoz Emilia–Ángeles , Cabedo–Mas Alberto
Published: July 2017

Developing emotional skills is one of the challenges that concern teachers and researchers in education, since these skills promote well-being and enhance cognitive performance. Music is an excellent tool with which to express emotions and for this reason music education should play a role in individuals’ emotional development.

This paper reviews the results of previous studies that explore the connections between active engagement with music and the development of emotional skills, specifically in the field of music education. A sample of 21 investigations was analysed.

The results from the selected studies show that music has multiple benefits for the development of certain aspects of emotional skills and positive implications for education. Suggestions for music educators gathered from the previous research are presented and potential areas of interest for further exploration in the field are identified.
TESTING FOR HOMOGENEITY IN MIXTURE MODELS
Authors: Gu Jiaying , Koenker Roger , Volgushev Stanislav
Published: July 2017

Statistical models of unobserved heterogeneity are typically formalized as mixtures of simple parametric models and interest naturally focuses on testing for homogeneity versus general mixture alternatives. Many tests of this type can be interpreted asC(α) tests, as in Neyman (1959), and shown to be locally asymptotically optimal. TheseC(α) tests will be contrasted with a new approach to likelihood ratio testing for general mixture models. The latter tests are based on estimation of general nonparametric mixing distribution with the Kiefer and Wolfowitz (1956) maximum likelihood estimator. Recent developments in convex optimization have dramatically improved upon earlier EM methods for computation of these estimators, and recent results on the large sample behavior of likelihood ratios involving such estimators yield a tractable form of asymptotic inference. Improvement in computation efficiency also facilitates the use of a bootstrap method to determine critical values that are shown to work better than the asymptotic critical values in finite samples. Consistency of the bootstrap procedure is also formally established. We compare performance of the two approaches identifying circumstances in which each is preferred.
Dynamical convexity of the Euler problem of two fixed centers
Authors: KIM SEONGCHAN
Published: July 2017

We give thorough analysis for the rotation functions of the critical orbits from which one can understand bifurcations of periodic orbits. Moreover, we give explicit formulas of the Conley–Zehnder indices of the interior and exterior collision orbits and show that the universal cover of the regularised energy hypersurface of the Euler problem is dynamically convex for energies below the critical Jacobi energy.
Asymptotic analysis of the attractors in two-dimensional Kolmogorov flow
Authors: SMITH W. R. , WISSINK J. G.
Published: July 2017

The high Reynolds-number structure of the laminar, chaotic and turbulent attractors is investigated in a two-dimensional Kolmogorov flow. The laminar attractors include the families of multi-phased travelling waves and quasi-periodic standing waves both of which form the backbone of the transition to a turbulent flow. At leading order, each laminar attractor under study is obtained by solving the Euler equations on a manifold subject to the appropriate periodicity and symmetry conditions. The manifold is determined by a finite number of vorticity equations, these being required to suppress the secular terms at the next order. Our results show that, for the multi-phased travelling waves, the first phase velocity can be determined by an integral conservation law for kinetic energy and the subsequent phase velocities can be evaluated by a non-linear eigenvalue problem. The results also reveal that whereas viscosity determines the smallest scales and controls the amplitude of the flow, the inertial terms govern the shape and form of the flow. The comparison of our analytical predictions for evaluating the stable single-phased travelling wave with the direct numerical simulation of the Navier–Stokes equations has been undertaken, the agreement being excellent. For sufficiently high Reynolds number, after the bifurcation to chaotic flow, all of the multi-phased travelling waves and quasi-periodic standing waves become unstable non-wandering sets. Based on the above new findings for these unstable non-wandering sets and other travelling and standing waves of this kind in phase space, necessary conditions for the invariant manifolds of the chaotic and turbulent attractors are obtained, these necessary conditions being conjectured to be also sufficient.
Combining data from multiple sources to design a raptor census - the first national survey of the Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus in Poland
Authors: KRÓLIKOWSKA NATALIA , KRUPIŃSKI DOMINIK , KUCZYŃSKI LECHOSŁAW
Published: July 2017

The effective conservation management of vulnerable taxa requires up-to-date evaluation of population size. Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus is a farmland raptor of high conservation concern and threatened by agricultural intensification. However, within many European countries, including Poland, the status of this species remains unknown or questionable and information on its breeding is incomplete or imprecise. Here, we estimate the size of the national population of the Montagu’s Harrier and argue that using data from multiple sources may help to design national bird surveys and better contribute to identifying population trends. We built a predictive model based on a presence-absence data obtained by volunteer-based citizen-science projects conducted in Poland during 2000–2012. Afterwards, from the set of 10 km x 10 km squares of high predicted habitat suitability, 100 sampling plots were randomly chosen and regularly surveyed by experienced ornithologists in 2013 and 2014. The evaluation of fieldwork efficiency by the double-observer approach allowed detectability to be estimated and accounted for while estimating population size. We estimated the Polish Montagu’s Harrier population at almost 3,400 breeding pairs (95% CI: 2,700–4,300), thus constituting 20% of the European Union (EU) population. Furthermore, we showed that public-gathered data originating from multiple sources offered great potential for regular surveys to obtain large-scale estimates of population size.
Tri-band compact ACS-fed meander-line antenna for wireless communications
Authors: Saad Ayman Ayd R. , Ibrahim Ahmed A. , Haraz Osama M. , Elboushi Ayman
Published: July 2017

In this paper, a compact tri-band asymmetric coplanar strip (ACS)-fed meander-line antenna for wireless communications is proposed. Two inverted-L-shaped resonators are added to a simple meandered radiator for standard tri-band operation. Parametric studies indicate that operating frequencies of the proposed antenna are determined by the dimensions of the two inverted-L-shaped resonators. The measured results show that the proposed antenna can achieve three frequency bands; i.e. 1.48–1.63, 2.25–2.48, and 4.22–6.0 GHz. These bands can successfully cover the global positioning system L1, wireless local area network (WLAN), and HIPERLAN/2 operation bands, respectively. The proposed antenna exhibits good radiation patterns with reasonable gain and high radiation efficiency across the operating bands. In addition, the proposed antenna has compact size and simple feeding scheme, which make it suitable to be integrated within the portable device for wireless communications.
Factors Affecting Weed Seed Devitalization with the Harrington Seed Destructor
Authors: Tidemann Breanne D. , Hall Linda M. , Harker K. Neil , Beckie Hugh J.
Published: July 2017

The Harrington Seed Destructor (HSD), a novel weed control technology, has been highly effective in Australian cropping systems. To investigate its applicability to conditions in western Canada, stationary threshing was conducted to determine the impact of weed species, seed size, seed number, chaff load, and chaff type on efficacy of seed destruction. Control varied depending on species, with a range of 97.7% to 99.8%. Sieve-sized volunteer canola seed had a linear relationship of increasing control with increasing 1,000-seed weight. However, with greater than 98% control across all tested seed weights, it is unlikely that seed size alone will significantly influence control. Consistently high levels of control were observed at all tested seed densities (10 seeds to 1 million seeds). The response of weed seed control to chaff load was quadratic, but a narrow range of consistently high control (>97%) was again observed. Chaff type had a significant effect on weed seed control (98% to 98.6%); however, seed control values in canola chaff were likely confounded by a background presence of volunteer canola. Overall, the five parameters studied statistically influence control of weed seeds with the HSD. However, small differences between treatments are unlikely to affect the biological impact of the machine, which provides high levels of control for those weed seeds that can be introduced into the harvester.
Mit Kunstherz nach Hause – Wie erleben Menschen mit mechanischer Kreislaufunterstützung ihren Alltag – Eine qualitative Studie
Authors: Braunsdorf Sandy
Published: July 2017

Zusammenfassung. Hintergrund: Steigende Implantationszahlen mechanischer Kreislaufunterstützungssysteme und gute Erfolge hinsichtlich Lebensqualität und körperlicher Belastbarkeit führen dazu, dass immer mehr Menschen mit einem Kunstherz leben und nach Hause entlassen werden. Das stellt hohe Anforderungen an die Krankheitsbewältigung und das Therapiemanagement. Bisher gibt es kaum qualitative Forschung zum Thema. Fragestellung: Die durchgeführte Untersuchung zielte deshalb auf neue Erkenntnisse in Bezug auf die Frage, wie Menschen mit mechanischer Kreislaufunterstützung ihren Alltag erleben. Subjektive Bedeutungszusammenhänge von Betroffenen sollten aus der Insiderperspektive erfasst werden. Methode: Gemäss dem phänomenologisch-interpretativen Paradigma wurden zur Datenerhebung zwei Frauen und acht Männer in narrativen Interviews befragt. Die qualitative Analyse erfolgte in einem mehrstufigen Prozess im Sinn der hermeneutischen Philosophie. Ergebnisse: Die Analyse der Interviewdaten erbrachte fünf zentrale Themenbereiche. Diese beschreiben den Gesundheitszustand nach der Implantation sowie vielfältige Umstellungen, Einschränkungen und Belastungen durch die Krankheit und therapeutische Erfordernisse. Auf der Grundlage werden Formen des Umgangs und der Bewältigung benannt. Darüber hinaus sind soziale Interaktion und Umwelt sowie die Gesundheitsversorgung mit Kunstherz bedeutende Aspekte im Alltagserleben Betroffener. Schlussfolgerungen: Die Ergebnisse leisten einen Erkenntnisbeitrag zum Alltagserleben von Menschen mit mechanischen Kreislaufunterstützungssystemen und machen deren spezielle Situation verstehbar.
BRG1-SWI/SNF-dependent regulation of the Wt1 transcriptional landscape mediates epicardial activity during heart development and disease
Authors: Vieira Joaquim Miguel , Howard Sara , Villa del Campo Cristina , Bollini Sveva , Dubé Karina N. , Masters Megan , Barnette Damien N. , Rohling Mala , Sun Xin , Hankins Laura E. , Gavriouchkina Daria , Williams Ruth , Metzger Daniel , Chambon Pierre , Sauka-Spengler Tatjana , Davies Benjamin , Riley Paul R.
Published: July 2017

Epicardium-derived cells (EPDCs) contribute cardiovascular cell types during development and in adulthood respond to Thymosin β4 (Tβ4) and myocardial infarction (MI) by reactivating a fetal gene programme to promote neovascularization and cardiomyogenesis. The mechanism for epicardial gene (re-)activation remains elusive. Here we reveal that BRG1, the essential ATPase subunit of the SWI/SNF chromatin–remodelling complex, is required for expression of Wilms’ tumour 1 (Wt1), fetal EPDC activation and subsequent differentiation into coronary smooth muscle, and restores Wt1 activity upon MI. BRG1 physically interacts with Tβ4 and is recruited by CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein β (C/EBPβ) to discrete regulatory elements in the Wt1 locus. BRG1-Tβ4 co-operative binding promotes optimal transcription of Wt1 as the master regulator of embryonic EPDCs. Moreover, chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing reveals BRG1 binding at further key loci suggesting SWI/SNF activity across the fetal epicardial gene programme. These findings reveal essential functions for chromatin–remodelling in the activation of EPDCs during cardiovascular development and repair.
Coherent superpositions of three states for phosphorous donors in silicon prepared using THz radiation
Authors: Chick S. , Stavrias N. , Saeedi K. , Redlich B. , Greenland P. T. , Matmon G. , Naftaly M. , Pidgeon C. R. , Aeppli G. , Murdin B. N.
Published: July 2017

Superposition of orbital eigenstates is crucial to quantum technology utilizing atoms, such as atomic clocks and quantum computers, and control over the interaction between atoms and their neighbours is an essential ingredient for both gating and readout. The simplest coherent wavefunction control uses a two-eigenstate admixture, but more control over the spatial distribution of the wavefunction can be obtained by increasing the number of states in the wavepacket. Here we demonstrate THz laser pulse control of Si:P orbitals using multiple orbital state admixtures, observing beat patterns produced by Zeeman splitting. The beats are an observable signature of the ability to control the path of the electron, which implies we can now control the strength and duration of the interaction of the atom with different neighbours. This could simplify surface code networks which require spatially controlled interaction between atoms, and we propose an architecture that might take advantage of this.
Non-canonical WNT/PCP signalling in cancer: Fzd6 takes centre stage
Authors: Corda G , Sala A
Published: July 2017

Frizzled receptors are the mediators of the wnt canonical and non-canonical pathways, which play fundamental roles in cell differentiation and organism development. A large body of work indicates that dysregulation of wnt signalling is a feature of oncogenic transformation, but most of the studies published so far focus on the assessment of the consequences of aberrations of the canonical pathway in human cancer. In this review, we discuss the emerging role of the wnt non-canonical pathway regulated by frizzled receptor 6 (Fzd6) in the pathogenesis of different types of human malignancies. The function played by Fzd6 in the physiology of normal and cancer cells has been highlighted in the view that an increased knowledge of the signalling pathways upstream and downstream of this receptor could ultimately result in the identification of new targets for cancer therapy.
Initial pulse of Siberian Traps sills as the trigger of the end-Permian mass extinction
Authors: Burgess S. D. , Muirhead J. D. , Bowring S. A.
Published: July 2017

Mass extinction events are short-lived and characterized by catastrophic biosphere collapse and subsequent reorganization. Their abrupt nature necessitates a similarly short-lived trigger, and large igneous province magmatism is often implicated. However, large igneous provinces are long-lived compared to mass extinctions. Therefore, if large igneous provinces are an effective trigger, a subinterval of magmatism must be responsible for driving deleterious environmental effects. The onset of Earth’s most severe extinction, the end-Permian, coincided with an abrupt change in the emplacement style of the contemporaneous Siberian Traps large igneous province, from dominantly flood lavas to sill intrusions. Here we identify the initial emplacement pulse of laterally extensive sills as the critical deadly interval. Heat from these sills exposed untapped volatile-fertile sediments to contact metamorphism, likely liberating the massive greenhouse gas volumes needed to drive extinction. These observations suggest that large igneous provinces characterized by sill complexes are more likely to trigger catastrophic global environmental change than their flood basalt- and/or dike-dominated counterparts.
Crystal structure of a Pseudomonas malonate decarboxylase holoenzyme hetero-tetramer
Authors: Maderbocus Riyaz , Fields Blanche L. , Hamilton Keith , Luo Shukun , Tran Timothy H. , Dietrich Lars E. P. , Tong Liang
Published: July 2017

Pseudomonas species and other aerobic bacteria have a biotin-independent malonate decarboxylase that is crucial for their utilization of malonate as the sole carbon and energy source. The malonate decarboxylase holoenzyme contains four subunits, having an acyl-carrier protein (MdcC subunit) with a distinct prosthetic group, as well as decarboxylase (MdcD–MdcE) and acyl-carrier protein transferase (MdcA) catalytic activities. Here we report the crystal structure of a Pseudomonas malonate decarboxylase hetero-tetramer, as well as biochemical and functional studies based on the structural information. We observe a malonate molecule in the active site of MdcA and we also determine the structure of malonate decarboxylase with CoA in the active site of MdcD–MdcE. Both structures provide molecular insights into malonate decarboxylase catalysis. Mutations in the hetero-tetramer interface can abolish holoenzyme formation. Mutations in the hetero-tetramer interface and the active sites can abolish Pseudomonas aeruginosa growth in a defined medium with malonate as the sole carbon source.
The low-temperature highly correlated quantum phase in the charge-density-wave 1T-TaS2 compound
Authors: Kratochvilova Marie , Hillier Adrian D. , Wildes Andrew R. , Wang Lihai , Cheong Sang-Wook , Park Je-Geun
Published: July 2017

A prototypical quasi-2D metallic compound, 1T-TaS2 has been extensively studied due to an intricate interplay between a Mott-insulating ground state and a charge-density-wave order. In the low-temperature phase, 12 out of 13 Ta4+ 5d-electrons form molecular orbitals in hexagonal star-of-David patterns, leaving one 5d-electron with S  = ½ spin free. This orphan quantum spin with a large spin-orbit interaction is expected to form a highly correlated phase of its own. And it is most likely that they will form some kind of a short-range order out of a strongly spin-orbit coupled Hilbert space. In order to investigate the low-temperature magnetic properties, we performed a series of measurements including neutron scattering and muon experiments. The obtained data clearly indicate the presence of the short-ranged phase and put the upper bound on ~0.4 µB for the size of the magnetic moment, consistent with the orphan-spin scenario.
Integrated regulatory network reveals the early salt tolerance mechanism of Populus euphratica
Authors: Chen Jiafei , Zhang Jin , Hu Jianjun , Xiong Wenwei , Du Chunguang , Lu Mengzhu
Published: July 2017

Salinization is one of the major factors that threaten the existence of plants worldwide. Populus euphratica has been deemed to be a promising candidate for stress response research because of its high capacity to tolerate extreme salt stress. We carried out a genome-wide transcriptome analysis to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) response to salt shock and elucidate the early salt tolerance mechanisms in P. euphratica. Both hierarchical clustering and DEG analysis demonstrated a predominant variation from time-course rather than NaCl intensity within 24 hours salt shock. Among the identified 1,678 salt-responsive DEGs, 74.1% (1,244) have not been reported before. We further created an integrated regulatory gene network of the salt response in P. euphratica by combining DEGs, transcription factors (TFs), Helitrons, miRNAs and their targets. The prominent pathways in this network are plant hormone transduction, starch and sucrose metabolism, RNA transport, protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum, etc. In addition, the network indicates calcium-related genes play key roles in P. euphratica response to salt shock. These results illustrated an overview of the systematic molecular response in P. euphratica under different intensities of salt shock and revealed the complex regulatory mechanism.
Biodegradation of 2-hydroxyl-1,4 naphthoquinone (lawsone) by Pseudomonas taiwanensis LH-3 isolated from activated sludge
Authors: Yang Li , Cai Tianming , Ding Dahu , Cai Tianjin , Jiang Canlan , Li Hua , Yang Qian , Chen Liwei
Published: July 2017

2-hydroxy-1,4 naphthoquinone (lawsone) is widely used and induces environmental pollutions during its production and application. In the present study, a lawsone-degrading bacterium strain, LH-3 was successfully isolated from the activated sludge. Based on the 16S rRNA gene analysis, the strain LH-3 phylogenetically belonged to the Pseudomonas taiwanensis. It could degrade 200 mg L−1 lawsone completely in 9 h with an inoculum quantity of 1% (v/v). The effects of environmental conditions on the degradation process and the degradation pathway were systematically investigated. LH-3 could maintain its high degradation efficiency under high salt condition. The identified intermediates of salicylic acid, 2-hydroxy-4-oxo-chroman-2-carboxylic acid, and catechol elucidated the potential degradation pathway. Furthermore, the immobilized LH-3 strain cells prepared with alginate gel and biochar performed excellent stability in nine successive degradation runs. It could sucessfully survive in laboratory scale sequencing batch reactor and become to be the dominant species. This study clearly revealed that LH-3 could serve as an attractive candidate for the microbial remediation of lawsone-containing wastewater.
Transcriptome profiling of monocytes from XLA patients revealed the innate immune function dysregulation due to the BTK gene expression deficiency
Authors: Mirsafian Hoda , Ripen Adiratna Mat , Leong Wai-Mun , Chear Chai Teng , Bin Mohamad Saharuddin , Merican Amir Feisal
Published: July 2017

X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) is a rare genetic disorder, caused by mutations in BTK (Bruton’s Tyrosine Kinase) gene. Deep high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) approach was utilized to explore the possible differences in transcriptome profiles of primary monocytes in XLA patients compared with healthy subjects. Our analysis revealed the differences in expression of 1,827 protein-coding genes, 95 annotated long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and 20 novel lincRNAs between XLA patients and healthy subjects. GO and KEGG pathway analysis of differentially expressed (DE) protein-coding genes showed downregulation of several innate immune-related genes and upregulation of oxidative phosphorylation and apoptosis-related genes in XLA patients compared to the healthy subjects. Moreover, the functional prediction analysis of DE lncRNAs revealed their potential role in regulating the monocytes cell cycle and apoptosis in XLA patients. Our results suggested that BTK mutations may contribute to the dysregulation of innate immune system and increase susceptibility to apoptosis in monocytes of XLA patients. This study provides significant finding on the regulation of BTK gene in monocytes and the potential for development of innovative biomarkers and therapeutic monitoring strategies to increase the quality of life in XLA patients.
Identification of clusters of rapid and slow decliners among subjects at risk for Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Gamberger Dragan , Lavrač Nada , Srivatsa Shantanu , Tanzi Rudolph E. , Doraiswamy P. Murali
Published: July 2017

The heterogeneity of Alzheimer’s disease contributes to the high failure rate of prior clinical trials. We analyzed 5-year longitudinal outcomes and biomarker data from 562 subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) from two national studies (ADNI) using a novel multilayer clustering algorithm. The algorithm identified homogenous clusters of MCI subjects with markedly different prognostic cognitive trajectories. A cluster of 240 rapid decliners had 2-fold greater atrophy and progressed to dementia at almost 5 times the rate of a cluster of 184 slow decliners. A classifier for identifying rapid decliners in one study showed high sensitivity and specificity in the second study. Characterizing subgroups of at risk subjects, with diverse prognostic outcomes, may provide novel mechanistic insights and facilitate clinical trials of drugs to delay the onset of AD.
DMF-MALDI: droplet based microfluidic combined to MALDI-TOF for focused peptide detection
Authors: Mesbah Kiarach , Thai Robert , Bregant Sarah , Malloggi Florent
Published: July 2017

We present an automated droplet microfluidic system (DMF) to generate monitored nanoliter aqueous droplets in oil and their deposition on a commercial stainless steel plate for MALDI-TOF analysis of peptides or protein digests. We demonstrate that DMF-MALDI combination focuses the analyte on the MALDI plate, increasing considerably the homogeneity of the dried material. This results in a 30times enhanced MALDI-TOF MS signal for a model peptide, allowing a significant improvement of the detection sensitivity limit (down to few tens of attomoles). Moreover, positive detection can be achieved from sub-nanomolar peptides solutions and better overall protein sequence coverages are obtained from few tens attomoles of protein digest. These results make DMF-MALDI a promising approach for the treatment of peptides samples as well as a key component for an integrated approach in the proteomic field.
Activation of TGF-β signaling induces cell death via the unfolded protein response in Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy
Authors: Okumura Naoki , Hashimoto Keisuke , Kitahara Miu , Okuda Hirokazu , Ueda Emi , Watanabe Kyoko , Nakahara Makiko , Sato Takahiko , Kinoshita Shigeru , Tourtas Theofilos , Schlötzer-Schrehardt Ursula , Kruse Friedrich , Koizumi Noriko
Published: July 2017

Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is a slowly progressive bilateral disease of corneal endothelium in which accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) and loss of corneal endothelial cells (CECs) are phenotypic features. The corneal endothelium maintains corneal transparency by regulating water hydration; consequently, corneal endothelial dysfunction causes serious vision loss. The only therapy for corneal haziness due to corneal endothelial diseases, including FECD, is corneal transplantation using donor corneas, and no pharmaceutical treatment is available. We provide evidence that the expression levels of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) isoforms and TGF-β receptors are high in the corneal endothelium of patients with FECD. A cell model based on patients with FECD shows that TGF-β signaling induced a chronic overload of ECM proteins to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), thereby enhancing the formation of unfolded protein and triggering the intrinsic apoptotic pathway through the unfolded protein response (UPR). We propose that inhibition of TGF-β signaling may represent a novel therapeutic target that suppresses cell loss as well as the accumulation of ECM in FECD.
Monitoring diffuse volcanic degassing during volcanic unrests: the case of Campi Flegrei (Italy)
Authors: Cardellini C. , Chiodini G. , Frondini F. , Avino R. , Bagnato E. , Caliro S. , Lelli M. , Rosiello A.
Published: July 2017

In volcanoes with active hydrothermal systems, diffuse CO2 degassing may constitute the primary mode of volcanic degassing. The monitoring of CO2 emissions can provide important clues in understanding the evolution of volcanic activity especially at calderas where the interpretation of unrest signals is often complex. Here, we report eighteen years of CO2 fluxes from the soil at Solfatara of Pozzuoli, located in the restless Campi Flegrei caldera. The entire dataset, one of the largest of diffuse CO2 degassing ever produced, is made available for the scientific community. We show that, from 2003 to 2016, the area releasing deep-sourced CO2 tripled its extent. This expansion was accompanied by an increase of the background CO2 flux, over most of the surveyed area (1.4 km2), with increased contributions from non-biogenic source. Concurrently, the amount of diffusively released CO2 increased up to values typical of persistently degassing active volcanoes (up to 3000 t d−1). These variations are consistent with the increase in the flux of magmatic fluids injected into the hydrothermal system, which cause pressure increase and, in turn, condensation within the vapor plume feeding the Solfatara emission.
Metabolic syndrome is associated with an increased incidence of subclinical hypothyroidism – A Cohort Study
Authors: Chang Chia-Hsuin , Yeh Yi-Chun , Caffrey James L. , Shih Shyang-Rong , Chuang Lee-Ming , Tu Yu-Kang
Published: July 2017

Prior cross-sectional analyses have demonstrated an association between subclinical hypothyroidism and metabolic syndrome and selected components. However, the temporal relation between metabolic syndrome and declining thyroid function remains unclear. In a prospective study, an unselected cohort of 66,822 participants with and without metabolic syndrome were followed. A proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for hypothyroidism. Exploratory analyses for the relation between components of metabolic syndrome and declining thyroid function were also undertaken. During an average follow-up of 4.2 years, the incident rates for subclinical hypothyroidism were substantially higher in participants who began the study with metabolic syndrome compared with metabolically normal controls. After controlling for risk factors, patients with metabolic syndrome were at a 21% excess risk of developing subclinical hypothyroidism (adjusted HR 1.21; 95% CI 1.03–1.42). When individual components were analyzed, an increased risk of subclinical hypothyroidism was associated with high blood pressure (1.24; 1.04–1.48) and high serum triglycerides (1.18; 1.00–1.39), with a trend of increasing risk as participants had additional more components. Individuals with metabolic syndrome are at a greater risk for developing subclinical hypothyroidism, while its mechanisms and temporal consequences of this observation remain to be determined.