bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cover Picture: Towards a metallic quasi‐d9 system without copper: AgO at high pressure (Phys. Status Solidi RRL 7/2015)
Authors: Włodarska Izabela , Derzsi Mariana , Grochala Wojciech
Published: July 2015

No abstract is available for this article.
Biology and oncogenicity of the Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus K1 protein
Authors: Sousa‐Squiavinato Annie Cristhine Moraes , Silvestre Renata Nacasaki , Elgui De Oliveira Deilson
Published: July 2015

The Kaposi sarcoma‐associated herpesvirus (KSHV), or human herpesvirus 8, is a gammaherpesvirus etiologically linked to the development of Kaposi sarcoma, primary effusion lymphomas, and multicentric Castleman disease in humans. KSHV is unique among other human herpesviruses because of the elevated number of viral products that mimic human cellular proteins, such as a viral cyclin, a viral G protein‐coupled receptor, anti‐apoptotic proteins (e.g. v‐bcl2 and v‐FLIP), viral interferon regulatory factors, and CC chemokine viral homologues. Several KSHV products have oncogenic properties, including the transmembrane K1 glycoprotein. KSHV K1 is encoded in the viral ORFK1, which is the most variable portion of the viral genome, commonly used to discriminate among viral genotypes. The extracellular region of K1 has homology with the light chain of lambda immunoglobulin, and its cytoplasmic region contains an immunoreceptor tyrosine‐based activation motif (ITAM). KSHV K1 ITAM activates several intracellular signaling pathways, notably PI3K/AKT. Consequently, K1 expression inhibits proapoptotic proteins and increases the life‐span of KSHV‐infected cells. Another remarkable effect of K1 activity is the production of inflammatory cytokines and proangiogenic factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor. KSHV K1 immortalizes primary human endothelial cells and transforms rodent fibroblasts in vitro; moreover, K1 induces tumors in vivo in transgenic mice expressing this viral protein. This review aims to consolidate and discuss the current knowledge on this intriguing KSHV protein, focusing on activities of K1 that can contribute to the pathogenesis of KSHV‐associated human cancers. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A reliability‐based investigation into ductility measures of RC beams designed according to fib Model Code 2010
Authors: Baji Hassan , Ronagh Hamid R.
Published: July 2015

A reliability‐based investigation into the ductility measures for reinforced concrete (RC) beams designed according to the current fib Model Code for Concrete Structures 2010 is presented in this paper. Based on the ductility ratio (= ratio of strain in tensile rebar to yield stress of steel), a limit state to ensure adequate ductility in RC beams is proposed. Results show that the ductility ratio generally follows a right‐skewed distribution, and due to variability in the material properties and model error, there is high variability in the strain ductility. This high variability in the ductility ratio leads to a high probability of non‐ductile behaviour for RC beam designs based on the code. This is more pronounced for normal‐strength concrete and grade S500 steel. Based on a target probability taken from the literature, a modification to the allowable neutral axis depth advised by the code is proposed. The results presented in this paper indicate that more reliability‐based studies of the safety factors provided by fib Model Code 2010 are needed in order to ensure adequate ductility in RC beams.
Modeling the effects of material properties on the pull‐in instability of nonlocal functionally graded nano‐actuators
Authors: Sedighi Hamid M. , Daneshmand Farhang , Abadyan Mohamadreza
Published: July 2015

Dynamic pull‐in behavior of nonlocal functionally graded nano‐actuators by considering Casimir attraction is investigated in this paper. It is assumed that the nano‐bridge is initially at rest and the fundamental frequency of nano‐structure as a function of system parameters is obtained asymptotically by Iteration Perturbation Method (IPM). The effects of actuation voltage, nonlocal parameter, properties of FGM materials and intermolecular force on the dynamic pull‐in behavior are studied. It is exhibited that two terms in series expansions are adequate to achieve the acceptable approximations for fundamental frequency as well as the analytic solution. Comparison between the obtained results based on the asymptotic analysis and the reported experimental and numerical results in the literature, verify the effectiveness of the asymptotic analysis.
Chemical Synthesis of the Epimeric (23R)‐ and (23S)‐Fluoro Derivatives of Bile Acids via Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons Reaction
Authors: Omura Kaoru , Adachi Yuuki , Kobayashi Yuuki , Sekiguchi Shoutaro , Zhou Biao , Iida Takashi
Published: July 2015

A method for the synthesis of two (23R)‐ and (23S)‐epimeric pairs of 23‐fluoro‐3α,7α,12α‐trihydroxy‐5β‐cholan‐24‐oic acid and 23‐fluoro‐3α,7α‐dihydroxy‐5β‐cholan‐24‐oic acid is described. The key intermediates, 23,24‐dinor‐22‐aldehyde peracetates were prepared from cholic and chenodeoxycholic acids via the 24‐nor‐22‐ene, 24‐nor‐22ξ,23‐epoxy, and 23,24‐dinor‐22‐aldehyde derivatives. The Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction of the 23,24‐dinor‐22‐aldehydes using triethyl 2‐fluoro‐2‐phosphonoacetate in the presence of LiCl and 1,8‐diazabicyclo[5,4,0]undec‐7‐ene (DBU), and subsequent hydrogenation of the resulting 23ξ‐fluoro‐22‐ene ethyl esters, followed by hydrolysis, gave a mixture of the epimeric (23R)‐ and (23S)‐fluorinated bile acids which were resolved efficiently by preparative RP‐HPLC. The stereochemical configuration of the fluorine atom at C‐23 in the newly synthesized compounds was confirmed directly by the X‐ray crystallographic data. The 1H and 13C NMR spectral differences between the (23R)‐ and (23S)‐epimers were also discussed.
Network effects in two-sided markets: why a 50/50 user split is not necessarily revenue optimal
Authors: Voigt Sebastian , Hinz Oliver
Published: July 2015

Our study applies empirical scrutiny to the network effects of a leading European online dating platform. While one might expect equal gender representation on such a platform to yield the best user experience and the highest revenue per user, our analysis shows that the platform requires only 36.2 % of its user base to be female to maximize revenue, primarily because women exert stronger positive cross-side network effects on men than vice versa; this optimum results in 17.2 % higher sales than a 50/50 split. Intermediaries of two-sided markets can use our model to improve user acquisition strategies.
Asp3Gly polymorphism affects fatty acid‐binding protein 3 intracellular stability and subcellular localization
Authors: Kusudo Tatsuya , Hashida Yasuhiko , Ando Fujiko , Shimokata Hiroshi , Yamashita Hitoshi
Published: July 2015

Fatty acid‐binding proteins (FABP) play a crucial role in intracellular fatty acid transportation and metabolism. In this study, we investigate the effects of the FABP3 Asp3Gly (D3G) polymorphism on protein structure and function. Although the mutation did not alter protein secondary structure or the ability to bind 1‐anilinonaphthalene‐8‐sulfonic acid and palmitate, the intracellular stability of the D3G mutant was significantly decreased. Immunocytochemical analysis reveals that the mutation alters FABP3 subcellular localization. Our results suggest that the D3G polymorphism may impact energy metabolism and physiological functions.
Early-onset vs. Late-onset Parkinson’s disease: A Clinical-pathological Study
Authors: Ferguson Leslie Wayne , Rajput Ali H. , Rajput Alexander
Published: July 2015

Background:Several studies have compared early-onset Parkinson disease (EOPD) and late-onset Parkinson disease (LOPD) but most are not based on autopsy confirmed cases.Methods:We compared clinical and pharmacological profiles, time to reach irreversible Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) Stage 3 and levodopa motor complications in autopsy confirmed EOPD and LOPD cases.Results:At first clinic visit EOPD cases were younger but had longer disease duration and they died at a younger age (all p<0.0001). Anti-Parkinsonian drug use, including levodopa, was significantly delayed in EOPD. Lifetime use of amantadine (p<0.05) and dopamine agonists (p<0.01) were higher in EOPD. While lifetime use of levodopa was similar in the two groups, levodopa was used for a significantly longer period by EOPD (p< 0.0001). EOPD had a higher cumulative incidence of dyskinesias (p<0.01), wearing-off (p<0.01), and on-off (p<0.01). However, the time to dyskinesia onset was similar in the two groups. The threshold to wearing-off was much longer in EOPD (p<0.01). H&Y stage profile at first visit was similar in the two groups. The duration from disease onset to reach irreversible H&Y stage 3 was significantly longer in EOPD.Conclusions:Our observations indicate that progression of PD is slower in EOPD and suggest that the pre-clinical interval in this group is longer. These findings can be used for case selection for drug trials and studies of the pathogenesis of PD.
The Industrial Development Authority, 1949–58: establishment, evolution and expansion of influence
Authors: Barry Frank , Ó Fathartaigh Mícheál
Published: July 2015

Established in 1949 in the face of Fianna Fáil hostility, and greeted with suspicion by both the department of Industry and Commerce and the department of Finance, the Industrial Development Authority within ten years had carved out a powerful position for itself within the bureaucracy. By the early 1950s, while Seán Lemass was still wedded to the concept of import-substituting industrialisation, the I.D.A. was formulating its vision for ‘industrialisation by invitation’ and lobbying internally for the introduction of export profits tax relief. The adoption of this measure in 1956 initiated the low corporation-tax regime that remains in place to this day. Though frequently conflated, the reorientation of industrial policy in the 1950s and the dismantling of tariff barriers in the 1960s were quite separate initiatives. That the establishment of the I.D.A. and the adoption of export profits tax relief were opposed by the department of Finance and enacted by inter-party governments clearly distinguishes them from the later trade-liberalisation initiative associated with the partnership of T. K. Whitaker and Lemass. The present paper explores the circumstances surrounding the establishment of the I.D.A. and traces its evolution and expanding influence over the first ten years of its existence.
Why Do Family-controlled Firms Donate to Charity? The Role of Intrafamily Succession Intention, Social Status, and Religiosity
Authors: Li Weiwen , Au Kevin Yuk-fai , He Ai , Song Lihong
Published: July 2015

Drawing on expectancy theory and the socioemotional wealth (SEW) perspective, we propose that family owners with intrafamily succession intention are more motivated to accumulate or preserve SEW. As corporate philanthropy is a critical way for family-controlled firms to accumulate or maintain SEW, family owners with intrafamily succession intention are more likely to engage in corporate philanthropic activities. Data on a nationally representative sample of family-controlled firms in China support our prediction. We also find that the relationship between intrafamily succession intention and corporate philanthropy is moderated by family owners’ social status and religiosity. The findings contribute to our understanding about family businesses, in general, and those in China, in particular, as well as the SEW perspective.
Development of an improved Streptococcus uberis experimental mastitis challenge model using different doses and strains in lactating dairy cows
Authors: Khazandi Manouchehr , Eats Patricia , Trott Darren , Ebrahimie Esmaeil , Perry Jeanette , Hickey Elizabeth , Page Stephen , Garg Sanjay , Petrovski Kiro R
Published: July 2015

Developing a reliable mastitis challenge infection model is required to test new intramammary antimicrobial preparations, other novel bovine mastitis treatments, and study mastitis pathogenesis. Three treatment groups of Holstein Friesian cows in active lactation were administered two doses (104 and 106 cfu/quarter) on a single occasion with one of the three Streptococcus uberis strains (BFR6019, MFF1283 and SA002) suspended in 5 ml of sterile PBS, administered via intramammary inoculation immediately after milking. All quarters that were challenged with S. uberis strains MLF1283 and BFR6019 showed clinical signs of mastitis on day 1 and 2 after the challenge. Strain SA002 had a lower rate of inducing clinical mastitis which was detected later than day 3 after the challenge. We successfully developed a rapid and reliable model for inducing experimental S. uberis mastitis with 100% success rate in cows in active lactation. On the basis of the correlation results between strains, RAPD fingerprinting results, clinical findings, and a 100% success rate of mastitis induction for low and high doses S. uberis strains MLF1283 and BFR6019, strain virulence seems to be a more important effect than challenge dose in induction of clinical mastitis following experimental challenge.
Murcian Spanish
Authors: Monroy Rafael , Hernández-Campoy Juan Manuel
Published: July 2015

Murcian Spanish (MuSp) is a regional variety of Spanish spoken in the Comunidad Autónoma de Murcia in south-eastern Spain. It is commonly heard in the capital city, Murcia, with 450,000 inhabitants, situated in the Segura River plain (Central Zone), and in a number of towns like Cartagena (Coastal Zone), Yecla and Jumilla (Altiplano or High Plateau Zone), Lorca and Águilas (Guadalentín River Zone), and Caravaca and Calasparra (North-western Zone). The overall population of the region amounts to well over 1,100,000 inhabitants (Hernández-Campoy 2003: 621).
Ersu
Authors: Chirkova Katia , Wang Dehe , Chen Yiya , Amelot Angélique , Kocjančič Antolík Tanja
Published: July 2015

The Ersu language (/-xò/, 尔苏语ěrsūyǔ, ISO-639 codeers) is spoken by approximately 16,800 people who reside in five counties in Sichuan Province (四川省) in the People's Republic of China: (i) Ganluo (甘洛县), and (ii) Yuexi (越西县) counties of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture (凉山彝族自治州), (iii) Shimian (石棉县) and (iv) Hanyuan (汉源县) counties of Ya’an Municipality (雅安市), and (iv) Jiulong (九龙县, Written Tibetan, hereafter WTbrgyad zur) county of Ganzi (甘孜, WTdkar mdzes) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Ersu has two closely related sister languages: Lizu (/li55-zu55-hũ55/ or /ly55-zu55-hũ55/, 里汝语lǐrǔyǔor 栗苏语lìsūyǔ) and Duoxu (/do33-ɕu33-na31/, 多续语duōxùyǔor 多须语duōxūyǔ). Lizu is spoken in the neighbouring counties of (i) Muli Tibetan Autonomous County (木里藏族自治县, WTsmi li rang skyong rdzong), (ii) Mianning (冕宁县), and (iii) Jiulong; whereas Duoxu is spoken in the county of Mianning, all in Sichuan province (see the map in Figure 1).
Elections 2014–15
Authors: Keating Patricia A.
Published: July 2015

In March–April 2015, ten additional members of the new Council of the International Phonetic Association were elected. They are: Plinio Barbosa, Martine Grice, Asher Laufer, Wai-Sum Lee, Kofi Adu Manyah, Alexis Michaud, Jane Stuart-Smith, Marija Tabain, Masaki Taniguchi, and Jacqueline Vaissière. John Ohala, elected in the previous round, has resigned from the Council.
Marine cave biota of the Tarkhankut Peninsula (Black Sea, Crimea), with emphasis on sponge taxonomic composition, spatial distribution and ecological particularities
Authors: Ereskovsky Alexander V. , Kovtun Oleg A. , Pronin Konstantin K.
Published: July 2015

The main objectives of this study are the establishment of a detailed description of five semi-submerged and shallow-water marine caves from the Tarkhankut Peninsula (Crimea), their biological characteristics with particular attention to species composition, and the distribution of sponge assemblages in these caves. Three semi-submerged and two submerged caves with lengths of 9–131 m and volumes of 61–3060 m3have been investigated. All of them are karst-abrasive or karst in origin. In the investigated caves, we inventoried seven sponge species. All were recorded species of Porifera belong to the class Demospongiae and have previously been recorded also in adjacent open sea waters. These species are tolerant to different hydrological conditions, mostly temperature and salinity. Some of them have wide geographic distribution. The species composition of sponges from the shallow water caves of Crimea is quite different from the sponge composition in Mediterranean caves. This could be due to the geographic isolation of the Black Sea and the differences in the hydro-chemical parameters of the milieu (water salinity in Tarkhankut is 18–21‰).
Reproductive morphology and mating behaviour in the hingebeak shrimp Rhynchocinetes durbanensis Gordon, 1936 (Decapoda: Caridea: Rhynchocinetidae) in India
Authors: Prakash Sanjeevi , Ajithkumar Thipramalai Thangappan , Bauer Raymond , Thiel Martin , Subramoniam Thanumalaya
Published: July 2015

The present study tests hypotheses about sexual dimorphism in body size and morphology versus differential mating behaviours of three male ontogenetic stages (typus, intermedius and robustus morphotypes) of the hingebeak shrimp Rhynchocinetes durbanensis Gordon using canonical discriminant analysis. There is strong sexual dimorphism in this species, in that robustus morphotypes are greater in size and with larger appendages (extended third maxillipeds and major [first] chelipeds) than females. As typus males grow bigger in size, their third maxillipeds and major chelipeds become proportionately larger than those of females, and the numbers of corneous spines on the terminal segment of the maxillipeds are reduced. Although there is no sexual dimorphism in body size between typus and intermedius males and females, the robustus males are often substantially larger than females. During mating and spermatophore transfer, all male morphotypes performed similar behaviours (touching, overlapping and holding), but only intermedius and robustus morphotypes appeared to fertilize the broods of the females successfully. Robustus males were faster in approaching as well as mating with receptive females than subordinate males. When mating with robustus males, females spawned more quickly than after mating with typus and intermedius males. Additionally, the time taken for spermatophore transfer by typus males was longer. Rejection by females during the initial approach by typus males often resulted in unsuccessful spermatophore attachment. Results of this study suggest a dominance hierarchy in R. durbanensis similar to certain other rhynchocinetid species in which females appear to prefer mating with the larger robustus males.
Habitat fragmentation and its implications for Endangered chimpanzeePan troglodytesconservation
Authors: Knight Alexander , Chapman Hazel M. , Hale Marie
Published: July 2015

Taraba State, Nigeria, is an important conservation site for the Endangered Nigeria–Cameroon chimpanzeePan troglodytes ellioti. Gashaka Gumti National Park, Nigeria's largest national park and home to potentially the largest contiguous population of the Nigeria–Cameroon chimpanzee, spans a significant portion of the eastern sector of Taraba and the adjoining Adamawa State. South of the Park, Ngel Nyaki Forest Reserve comprises two forest fragments and holds a small population of chimpanzees. We investigated the existence of patterns in population structure and dispersal within this region, using microsatellite loci extracted from non-invasive sources of DNA. Our results indicate that dispersal and thus gene flow between the groups of chimpanzees at the Park and Reserve is limited, at least more so than it is within the Park, and we identified a biased sex ratio at the Reserve, forewarning of potential conservation concerns in relation to demographic and genetic stochasticity. We discuss conservation actions that may be applicable to sustaining the population within Ngel Nyaki Forest Reserve.
Neurocognition in individuals at high familial risk of mood disorders with or without subsequent onset of depression
Authors: Papmeyer M. , Sussmann J. E. , Hall J. , McKirdy J. , Peel A. , Macdonald A. , Lawrie S. M. , Whalley H. C. , McIntosh A. M.
Published: July 2015

Background

Neurocognitive performance deficits have been observed in mood disorder patients and their unaffected relatives and may therefore qualify as endophenotypes. However, the precise time course of neurocognitive deficits has not been studied so that it is unknown whether neurocognitive abnormalities reflect the early effects of familial vulnerability to mood disorders or if they emerge at illness onset.

Method

A neuropsychological test battery was administered at baseline and after a 2-year follow-up interval in 111 initially unaffected young adults at high familial risk of mood disorders and 93 healthy controls (HC). During the follow-up period, 20 high-risk subjects developed major depressive disorder (HR-MDD), with the remainder remaining well (HR-well). Linear mixed-effects models were used to investigate differences and longitudinal changes in the domains of attentional processing, working memory, verbal learning and memory, and cognitive flexibility.

Results

Reduced long delay verbal memory and extradimensional set-shifting performance across both time points were found in the HR-well group relative to controls. The HR-MDD group displayed decreased extradimensional set-shifting abilities across both time points as compared with the HC group only. There were no significant performance differences between the two high-risk groups.

Conclusions

Reduced verbal memory and cognitive flexibility are familial trait markers for vulnerability to mood disorders in individuals with a close family history of bipolar disorder. Both neurocognitive performance deficits appear to be relatively stable over a 2-year time period and do not appear to be linked to the onset of MDD. These findings support their use as stable quantitative endophenotypes for mood disorders.
Abnormalities of cortical structures in adolescent-onset conduct disorder
Authors: Jiang Y. , Guo X. , Zhang J. , Gao J. , Wang X. , Situ W. , Yi J. , Zhang X. , Zhu X. , Yao S. , Huang B.
Published: July 2015

Background.

Converging evidence has revealed both functional and structural abnormalities in adolescents with early-onset conduct disorder (EO-CD). The neurological abnormalities underlying EO-CD may be different from that of adolescent-onset conduct disorder (AO-CD) patients. However, the cortical structure in AO-CD patients remains largely unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate the cortical alterations in AO-CD patients.

Method.

We investigated T1-weighted brain images from AO-CD patients and age-, gender- and intelligence quotient-matched controls. Cortical structures including thickness, folding and surface area were measured using the surface-based morphometric method. Furthermore, we assessed impulsivity and antisocial symptoms using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS) and the Antisocial Process Screening Device (APSD).

Results.

Compared with the controls, we found significant cortical thinning in the paralimbic system in AO-CD patients. For the first time, we observed cortical thinning in the precuneus/posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) in AO-CD patients which has not been reported in EO-CD patients. Prominent folding abnormalities were found in the paralimbic structures and frontal cortex while diminished surface areas were shown in the precentral and inferior temporal cortex. Furthermore, cortical thickness of the paralimbic structures was found to be negatively correlated with impulsivity and antisocial behaviors measured by the BIS and APSD, respectively.

Conclusions.

The present study indicates that AO-CD is characterized by cortical structural abnormalities in the paralimbic system, and, in particular, we highlight the potential role of deficient structures including the precuneus and PCC in the etiology of AO-CD.
Parent and youth dopamine D4 receptor genotypes moderate multilevel contextual effects on rural African American youth's risk behavior
Authors: Cho Junhan , Kogan Steven M.
Published: July 2015

The present investigation extends research on Gene × Environment interactions and youth risk behavior by linking multilevel contextual factors, such as community disadvantage and protective parenting practices, to both parental and youth dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) genotypes. We expected community disadvantage to influence youth risk behavior via a series of indirect effects involving protective parenting and youth's planful future orientation when both parents’ and youth's DRD4 status was considered. Genetic moderation processes also were tested to determine whether they conformed to a diathesis–stress or a differential susceptibility model. Hypotheses were investigated with data from 361 rural African American youth and their parents assessed 3 times when youth were ages 16 to 19. Community disadvantage interacted with parental DRD4 status to predict low levels of protective parenting. Protective parenting, in turn, interacted with youth DRD4 status to forecast increases in youth's planful future orientations, a proximal influence on changes in risk behavior. The Parental DRD4 × Community Disadvantage interaction, but not youth DRD4 × Protective Parenting, conformed to a differential susceptibility model. Indirect effect analyses revealed a significant indirect path linking community disadvantage to youth risk behavior through a series of multilevel Gene × Environment interaction processes.
Bimodal bilingualism reveals mechanisms of cross-language interaction
Authors: KROLL JUDITH F. , BICE KINSEY
Published: July 2015

In the recent swell of research on bilingualism and its consequences for the mind and the brain, there has been a warning that we need to remember that not all bilinguals are the same (e.g., Green & Abutalebi, 2013; Kroll & Bialystok, 2013; Luk & Bialystok, 2013). There are bilinguals who acquired two languages in early childhood and have used them continuously throughout their lives, bilinguals who acquired one language early and then switched to another language when they entered school or emigrated from one country to another, and others who only acquired a second language (L2) as an adult. Among these forms of bilingualism there are differences in both the context and amount of time spent in each language and differences in the status of the languages themselves. The L2 may be a majority language, spoken by almost everyone in the environment, or a minority language, spoken only by a few. The native or first language (L1) may also be the dominant language or may have been overtaken by the influence of the L2 given the circumstances imposed by the environment. Likewise, the L1 and L2 may vary in how similar they are structurally, whether they share the same written script, or whether one language is spoken and the other signed.
Phenotypic and genetic parameters for milk yield in traditional Nublang cattle (Bos indicus) of Bhutan
Authors: Dorji Jigme , Dhendup  , MacLeod Iona M.
Published: July 2015

The Nublang is a unique dual-purpose breed ofBos indicuscattle found in Bhutan. They have been crossed with Mithun (Bos frontalis) andBos taurusbreeds in an effort to improve milk production leading to a decline in the population of purebred Nublang. An alternative to crossbreeding would be the genetic improvement of milk yield within purebred Nublang, thus allowing conservation and sustainable utilization of the pure breed. It is important to measure the genetic variability (heritability) of milk yield to assess the potential for genetic improvement within Nublang. Therefore this study estimated phenotypic and genetic parameters of milk yield using 2 052 test day milk yields from 66 cows recorded from 1997 to 2013 in the National Nublang Farm, Tashiyangphu. The average daily milk yield (DMY) was 2.12 ± 0.7 litres (N 2 052, range: 0.3–5.0 L, CV: 34 percent). Parity, month in milk and year all had a significant effect on DMY (P< 0.05). The average lactation milk yield (LMY) was 519.2 ± 151 L (N: 261, range: 115–881.7, CV: 29.1 percent) and average lactation length was 239 days. LMY was significantly influenced by parity (P< 0.05) and season of calving. The heritability of DMY and LMY was 0.22 ± 0.16 and 0.13 ± 0.20, respectively. The repeatability estimates were 0.45 ± 0.05 and 0.49 ± 0.08 for DMY and LMY, respectively. Overall the heritability and repeatability estimates of milk yields indicate potential for genetic improvement of milk yield in Nublang cattle through selection. However, it is recommended that a larger dataset is generated to enable more precise estimates of genetic parameters.
Gender as Moderator of the Effects of Online Social Support From Friends and Strangers: A Study of Singaporean College Students
Authors: Teoh Ai Ni , Chong Ling Xuan , Yip Chad Chew Eun , Lee Pristin Shu Hui , Wong James Wai Keat
Published: July 2015

Gender differences in Internet use may affect how women and men respond to online support (OS) provided by friends and strangers. The present study compared the psychological effects of brief OS provided by a same-gender, same-ethnicity friend or stranger in young Singaporean women ( n = 73) and men ( n = 60). After random assignment to 1 of 3 groups (supportive friend, supportive stranger, nothing), Singaporean university students completed stressor tasks before and after instant messaging with a friend or stranger, or doing nothing. The findings showed that OS from a friend attenuated women’s negative emotional responses to stress, whereas OS from a stranger was ineffective in regulating women’s negative affect. In contrast, men did not show significant changes in negative affect in association with OS provided by a friend or a stranger. The findings were consistent with gender differences in Internet use, where women use the Internet to seek social support and men to gather information.
3D-printed microelectronics for integrated circuitry and passive wireless sensors
Authors: Wu Sung-Yueh , Yang Chen , Hsu Wensyang , Lin Liwei
Published: July 2015

Three-dimensional (3D) additive manufacturing techniques have been utilized to make 3D electrical components, such as resistors, capacitors, and inductors, as well as circuits and passive wireless sensors. Using the fused deposition modeling technology and a multiple-nozzle system with a printing resolution of 30 μm, 3D structures with both supporting and sacrificial structures are constructed. After removing the sacrificial materials, suspensions with silver particles are injected subsequently solidified to form metallic elements/interconnects. The prototype results show good characteristics of fabricated 3D microelectronics components, including an inductor–capacitor-resonant tank circuitry with a resonance frequency at 0.53 GHz. A 3D “smart cap” with an embedded inductor–capacitor tank as the wireless passive sensor was demonstrated to monitor the quality of liquid food (e.g., milk and juice) wirelessly. The result shows a 4.3% resonance frequency shift from milk stored in the room temperature environment for 36 h. This work establishes an innovative approach to construct arbitrary 3D systems with embedded electrical structures as integrated circuitry for various applications, including the demonstrated passive wireless sensors.
Extra virgin olive oil use is associated with improved post-prandial blood glucose and LDL cholesterol in healthy subjects
Authors: Violi F , Loffredo L , Pignatelli P , Angelico F , Bartimoccia S , Nocella C , Cangemi R , Petruccioli A , Monticolo R , Pastori D , Carnevale R
Published: July 2015

Objectives:

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is a key component of the Mediterranean diet and seems to account for the protective effect against cardiovascular disease. However, the underlying mechanism is still elusive.

Design:

We tested the effect of EVOO, added to Mediterranean-type meal, on post-prandial glycemic and lipid profile.

Subjects:

Post-prandial glycemic and lipid profile were investigated in 25 healthy subjects who were randomly allocated in a cross-over design to a Mediterranean-type meal added with or without 10 g EVOO (first study), or Mediterranean-type meal with EVOO (10 g) or corn oil (10 g; second study). Glycemic profile, which included glucose, insulin, dipeptidyl-peptidase-4 (DPP-4) protein and activity, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), and lipid profile, which included, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (LDL-C), oxidized LDL (ox-LDL), triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (HDL-C), were analyzed before and 2 h after the meal.

Results:

In the first study, 2 h after meal, subjects who assumed a meal with EVOO had significantly lower blood glucose (P<0.001), DPP-4 protein (P<0.001) and activity (P<0.001), LDL-C (P<0.001) and ox-LDL (P<0.001) and higher insulin (P<0.05), GLP-1 (P<0.001) and GIP (P<0.05) compared with those without EVOO. The second study showed that compared with corn oil, EVOO improved both glycemic and lipid profile. Thus, a significantly smaller increase of glucose (P<0.05), DPP4 protein (P<0.001) and activity (P<0.05) and higher increase of insulin (P<0.001) and GLP-1 (P<0.001) were observed. Furthermore, compared with corn oil, EVOO showed a significantly less increase of LDL-C (P<0.05) and ox-LDL (P<0.001).

Conclusions:

We report for the first time that EVOO improves post-prandial glucose and LDL-C, an effect that may account for the antiatherosclerotic effect of the Mediterranean diet.
Ethnic differences in insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function among Asian men
Authors: Tan V M H , Lee Y S , Venkataraman K , Khoo E Y H , Tai E S , Chong Y S , Gluckman P , Leow M K S , Khoo C M
Published: July 2015

Background and objectives:

Lean Asian Indians are less insulin sensitive compared with Chinese and Malays, but the pancreatic beta-cell function among these ethnic groups has yet to be studied in depth. We aimed to study beta-cell function in relation to insulin sensitivity among individuals of Chinese, Malay and Asian-Indian ethnicity living in Singapore.

Subjects and methods:

This is a sub-group analysis of 59 normoglycemic lean (body mass index (BMI) <23 kg m−2) adult males (14 Chinese, 21 Malays and 24 Asian Indians) from the Singapore Adults Metabolism Study. Insulin sensitivity was determined using fasting state indices (homeostatic model assessment—insulin resistance), the euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp (ISI-clamp) and a liquid mixed-meal tolerance test (LMMTT) (Matsuda insulin sensitivity index (ISI-Mat)). Beta-cell function was assessed using fasting state indices (homeostatic model assessment—beta-cell function) and from the LMMTT (insulinogenic index and insulin secretion index). The oral disposition index (DI), a measure of beta-cell function relative to insulin sensitivity during the LMMTT, was calculated as a product of ISI-Mat and insulin secretion index.

Results:

Asian Indians had higher waist circumference and percent body fat than Chinese and Malays despite similar BMI. Overall, Asian Indians were the least insulin sensitive whereas the Chinese were most insulin sensitive. Asian Indians had higher beta-cell function compared with Chinese or Malays but these were not statistically different. Malays had the highest incremental area under the curve for glucose during LMMTT compared with Asian Indians and Chinese. However, there were no significant ethnic differences in the incremental insulin area under the curve. The oral DI was the lowest in Malays, followed by Asian Indians and Chinese.

Conclusion:

Among lean Asians, Chinese are the most insulin sensitive whereas Asian Indians are the least insulin sensitive. However, Malays demonstrate higher postprandial glucose excursion with lower beta-cell response compare with Chinese or Asian Indians. The paths leading to type 2 diabetes mellitus might differ between these Asian ethnic groups.
Atlas of Cancer Signalling Network: a systems biology resource for integrative analysis of cancer data with Google Maps
Authors: Kuperstein I , Bonnet E , Nguyen H-A , Cohen D , Viara E , Grieco L , Fourquet S , Calzone L , Russo C , Kondratova M , Dutreix M , Barillot E , Zinovyev A
Published: July 2015

Cancerogenesis is driven by mutations leading to aberrant functioning of a complex network of molecular interactions and simultaneously affecting multiple cellular functions. Therefore, the successful application of bioinformatics and systems biology methods for analysis of high-throughput data in cancer research heavily depends on availability of global and detailed reconstructions of signalling networks amenable for computational analysis. We present here the Atlas of Cancer Signalling Network (ACSN), an interactive and comprehensive map of molecular mechanisms implicated in cancer. The resource includes tools for map navigation, visualization and analysis of molecular data in the context of signalling network maps. Constructing and updating ACSN involves careful manual curation of molecular biology literature and participation of experts in the corresponding fields. The cancer-oriented content of ACSN is completely original and covers major mechanisms involved in cancer progression, including DNA repair, cell survival, apoptosis, cell cycle, EMT and cell motility. Cell signalling mechanisms are depicted in detail, together creating a seamless ‘geographic-like’ map of molecular interactions frequently deregulated in cancer. The map is browsable using NaviCell web interface using the Google Maps engine and semantic zooming principle. The associated web-blog provides a forum for commenting and curating the ACSN content. ACSN allows uploading heterogeneous omics data from users on top of the maps for visualization and performing functional analyses. We suggest several scenarios for ACSN application in cancer research, particularly for visualizing high-throughput data, starting from small interfering RNA-based screening results or mutation frequencies to innovative ways of exploring transcriptomes and phosphoproteomes. Integration and analysis of these data in the context of ACSN may help interpret their biological significance and formulate mechanistic hypotheses. ACSN may also support patient stratification, prediction of treatment response and resistance to cancer drugs, as well as design of novel treatment strategies.
Ultralow charge-transfer resistance with ultralow Pt loading for hydrogen evolution and oxidation using Ru@Pt core-shell nanocatalysts
Authors: Wang Jia X. , Zhang Yu , Capuano Christopher B. , Ayers Katherine E.
Published: July 2015

We evaluated the activities of well-defined Ru@Pt core-shell nanocatalysts for hydrogen evolution and oxidation reactions (HER-HOR) using hanging strips of gas diffusion electrode (GDE) in solution cells. With gas transport limitation alleviated by micro-porous channels in the GDEs, the charge transfer resistances (CTRs) at the hydrogen reversible potential were conveniently determined from linear fit of ohmic-loss-corrected polarization curves. In 1 M HClO4 at 23 °C, a CTR as low as 0.04 Ω cm−2 was obtained with only 20 μg cm−2 Pt and 11 μg cm−2 Ru using the carbon-supported Ru@Pt with 1:1 Ru:Pt atomic ratio. Derived from temperature-dependent CTRs, the activation barrier of the Ru@Pt catalyst for the HER-HOR in acids is 0.2 eV or 19 kJ mol−1. Using the Ru@Pt catalyst with total metal loadings <50 μg cm−2 for the HER in proton-exchange-membrane water electrolyzers, we recorded uncompromised activity and durability compared to the baseline established with 3 mg cm−2 Pt black.
Impaired formation of homotypic cell-in-cell structures in human tumor cells lacking alpha-catenin expression
Authors: Wang Manna , Ning Xiangkai , Chen Ang , Huang Hongyan , Ni Chao , Zhou Changxi , Yu Kaitao , Lan Sanchun , Wang Qiwei , Li Shichong , Liu Hong , Wang Xiaoning , Chen Zhaolie , Ma Li , Sun Qiang
Published: July 2015

Although cell-in-cell structures (CICs) could be detected in a wide range of human tumors, homotypic CICs formed between tumor cells occur at low rate for most of them. We recently reported that tumor cells lacking expression of E- and P-cadherin were incapable of forming homotypic CICs by entosis and re-expression of E- or P-cadherin was sufficient to induce CICs formation in these tumor cells. In this work, we found that homotypic CICs formation was impaired in some tumor cells expressing high level of E-cadherin due to loss expression of alpha-catenin (α-catenin), a molecular linker between cadherin-mediated adherens junctions and F-actin. Expression of α-catenin in these tumor cells restored cell-cell adhesion and promoted CICs formation in a ROCK kinase-dependent way. Thus, our work identified α-catenin as another molecule in addition to E- and P-cadherin that were targeted to inactivate homotypic CICs formation in human tumor cells.
Early Effector CD8 T Cells Display Plasticity in Populating the Short-Lived Effector and Memory-Precursor Pools Following Bacterial or Viral Infection
Authors: Plumlee Courtney R. , Obar Joshua J. , Colpitts Sara L. , Jellison Evan R. , Haining W. Nicholas , Lefrancois Leo , Khanna Kamal M.
Published: July 2015

Naïve antigen-specific CD8 T cells expand in response to infection and can be phenotypically separated into distinct effector populations, which include memory precursor effector cells (MPECs) and short-lived effector cells (SLECs). In the days before the peak of the T cell response, a third population called early effector cells (EECs) predominate the antigen-specific response. However, the contribution of the EEC population to the CD8 T cell differentiation program during an antimicrobial immune response is not well understood. To test if EEC populations were pre-committed to either an MPEC or SLEC fate, we purified EECs from mice infected with Listeria monocytogenes (LM) or vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), where the relative frequency of each population is known to be different at the peak of the response. Sorted EECs transferred into uninfected hosts revealed that EECs were pre-programmed to differentiate based on early signals received from the distinct infectious environments. Surprisingly, when these same EECs were transferred early into mismatched infected hosts, the transferred EECs could be diverted from their original fate. These results delineate a model of differentiation where EECs are programmed to form MPECs or SLECs, but remain susceptible to additional inflammatory stimuli that can alter their fate.
Effects of age and blood pressure on the retinal arterial wall, analyzed using adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy
Authors: Arichika Shigeta , Uji Akihito , Ooto Sotaro , Muraoka Yuki , Yoshimura Nagahisa
Published: July 2015

The wall-to-lumen ratio (WLR) of the vasculature is a promising early marker of retinal microvascular changes. Recently, adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO) enabled direct and noninvasive visualization of the arterial wall. Using AOSLO, we analyzed the correlation between age and WLR in 51 normal subjects. In addition, correlations between blood pressure and WLR were analyzed in 73 subjects (51 normal subjects and 22 hypertensive patients). WLR showed a strong correlation with age (r = 0.68, P < 0.0001), while outer diameter and inner diameter did not show significant correlation with age in the normal group (r = 0.13, P = 0.36 and r = −0.12, P = 0.41, respectively). In the normal and hypertensive groups, WLR showed a strong correlation with systolic and diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.60, P < 0.0001 and r = 0.65, P < 0.0001, respectively). In conclusion, AOSLO provided noninvasive and reproducible arterial measurements. WLR is an early marker of morphological changes in the retinal arteries due to age and blood pressure.
Sphere Drag and Heat Transfer
Authors: Duan Zhipeng , He Boshu , Duan Yuanyuan
Published: July 2015

Modelling fluid flows past a body is a general problem in science and engineering. Historical sphere drag and heat transfer data are critically examined. The appropriate drag coefficient is proposed to replace the inertia type definition proposed by Newton. It is found that the appropriate drag coefficient is a desirable dimensionless parameter to describe fluid flow physical behavior so that fluid flow problems can be solved in the simple and intuitive manner. The appropriate drag coefficient is presented graphically and appears more general and reasonable to reflect the fluid flow physical behavior than the traditional century old drag coefficient diagram. Here we present drag and heat transfer experimental results which indicate that there exists a relationship in nature between the sphere drag and heat transfer. The role played by the heat flux has similar nature as the drag. The appropriate drag coefficient can be related to the Nusselt number. This finding opens new possibilities in predicting heat transfer characteristics by drag data. As heat transfer for flow over a body is inherently complex, the proposed simple means may provide an insight into the mechanism of heat transfer for flow past a body.
Dynamically reconfigurable nanoscale modulators utilizing coupled hybrid plasmonics
Authors: Lin Charles , Helmy Amr S.
Published: July 2015

The balance between extinction ratio (ER) and insertion loss (IL) dictates strict trade-off when designing travelling-wave electro-optic modulators. This in turn entails significant compromise in device footprint (L3dB) or energy consumption (E). In this work, we report a nanoscale modulator architecture that alleviates this trade-off while providing dynamic reconfigurability that was previously unattainable. This is achieved with the aide of three mechanisms: (1) Utilization of epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) effect, which maximizes the attainable attenuation that an ultra-thin active material can inflict on an optical mode. (2) Non-resonant coupled-plasmonic structure which supports modes with athermal long-range propagation. (3) Triode-like biasing scheme for flexible manipulation of field symmetry and subsequently waveguide attributes. By electrically inducing indium tin oxide (ITO) to be in a local ENZ state, we show that a Si/ITO/HfO2/Al/HfO2/ITO/Si coupled-plasmonic waveguide can provide amplitude modulation with ER = 4.83 dB/μm, IL = 0.03 dB/μm, L3dB = 622 nm and E = 14.8 fJ, showing at least an order of magnitude improvement in modulator figure-of-merit and power efficiency compared to other waveguide platforms. Employing different biasing permutations, the same waveguide can then be reconfigured for phase and 4-quadrature-amplitude modulation, with actively device length of only 5.53 μm and 17.78  μm respectively.
Hyperpolarized NMR of plant and cancer cell extracts at natural abundance
Authors: Dumez Jean-Nicolas , Milani Jonas , Vuichoud Basile , Bornet Aurélien , Lalande-Martin Julie , Tea Illa , Yon Maxime , Maucourt Mickaël , Deborde Catherine , Moing Annick , Frydman Lucio , Bodenhausen Geoffrey , Jannin Sami , Giraudeau Patrick
Published: July 2015

Natural abundance 13C 1D and 2D NMR spectra of biological extracts are recorded in a single scan for samples hyperpolarised by dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization combined with cross polarization.
Catalytic oxidation of alkanes by a (salen)osmium(vi) nitrido complex using H2O2as the terminal oxidant
Authors: Chen Man , Pan Yi , Kwong Hoi-Ki , Zeng Raymond J. , Lau Kai-Chung , Lau Tai-Chu
Published: July 2015

A (salen)osmium(vi) nitrido complex functions as an efficient catalyst for the oxidation of alkanes under ambient conditions using H2O2as the oxidant.
A versatile thermally activated delayed fluorescence emitter for both highly efficient doped and non-doped organic light emitting devices
Authors: Tsai Wei-Lung , Huang Ming-Hao , Lee Wei-Kai , Hsu Yi-Jiun , Pan Kuan-Chung , Huang Yi-Hsiang , Ting Hao-Chun , Sarma Monima , Ho Yu-Yi , Hu Hung-Chieh , Chen Chung-Chia , Lee Meng-Ting , Wong Ken-Tsung , Wu Chung-Chih
Published: July 2015

A versatile TADF emitter realized high EQEs of 26.5% and 20% for doped and non-doped OLEDs, respectively.
Vibrational mode assignment of finite temperature infrared spectra using the AMOEBA polarizable force field
Authors: Thaunay Florian , Dognon Jean-Pierre , Ohanessian Gilles , Clavaguéra Carine
Published: July 2015

The Driven Molecular Dynamics approach has been adapted and associated with the AMOEBA polarizable force field to assign and visualize vibrational modes in infrared spectra obtained by molecular dynamics simulations.