bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patterns of Failure and Determinants of Outcomes Following Radical Re‐resection for Incidental Gallbladder Cancer
Authors: Barreto Savio George , Pawar Satish , Shah Sanket , Talole Sanjay , Goel Mahesh , Shrikhande Shailesh V.
Published: October 2013

Background

Better appreciation of the course and factors that influence incidental gallbladder cancer is needed to develop treatment strategies aimed at improved outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine pattern of disease recurrence and influencing factors in patients undergoing radical re‐resection for incidental gallbladder cancer.

Methods

Patients undergoing radical re‐resection from February 2003 to May 2010 were analyzed. Influence of variables (lymph node ratio, ASA grade, gender, adjuvant treatment, time interval between cholecystectomy and radical re‐resection (in months), and TNM stage) on disease‐free survival was assessed.

Results

Of 163 patients, 127 (92 female and 35 male patients; median age 50 years) underwent successful radical re‐resection. Median duration between two surgeries was 2 months (range 1–10). Twenty‐five percent of patients with pT1b disease had lymph node metastases. Two‐year disease‐free survival rate was 79.6 % (median follow‐up, 16 months). On follow‐up, 18 of 24 patients developed recurrences at distant sites. Lymph node metastasis was the single variable significantly influencing disease‐free survival. Adjusting for disease stage when analyzing time interval between cholecystectomy and radical re‐resection on a continuous scale as a prognostic factor for recurrence revealed no significant impact of increasing interval between surgeries (hazard ratio 1.12; 95 % confidence interval 0.95–1.34; p = 0.17).

Conclusions

The most important predictor of disease recurrence is lymph node metastases. In patients who undergo curative radical re‐resection for incidental gallbladder cancer, recurrent disease is more likely to occur at distant sites. Patients with pT1b disease should be offered radical re‐resection with a radical lymphadenectomy. It is not the delay in revision surgery but TNM stage that influences outcomes in incidental gallbladder cancer.
The Use of Bone Cement in Difficult Distal Radius Fractures
Authors: Neral Mithun , Solari Mario , Purnell Chad , Wollstein Ronit
Published: October 2013

Background

he lack of structural support remains a challenge in the treatment of comminuted distal radius fractures. Calcium phosphate and calcium sulfate bone cement has been used in other fracture locations in addition to fixation and has been shown to allow for retention of reduction in difficult cases.

Methods

A case-control retrospective review of 34 consecutive distal radius fractures treated with surgery was performed with the patients classified by Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen (AO) classification. Complications and postoperative radiographs were evaluated.

Results

Cement was used in the most difficult cases. Radial height was retained in both groups. Volar tilt was significantly better in the cement group. There were no significant differences between the case and control groups for any complication. No complications related to the use of the cement were found.

Conclusions

The use of bone cement as an adjunct to fixation of distal radius fractures seems to include minimal risks and may afford a technical advantage in maintaining reduction during surgery for difficult fractures. Since there is an aspect of fracture difficulty that we cannot control for by using radiographic assessment alone, cement may provide an advantage over fixation without cement, despite similar outcomes. Bone cement can be part of the “tool box” for difficult distal radius fractures. Further study is necessary to define the technical advantages and limitations of each particular cement product.
Antimycin A‐like molecules inhibit cyclic electron transport around photosystem I in ruptured chloroplasts
Authors: Taira Yoshichika , Okegawa Yuki , Sugimoto Kazuhiko , Abe Masato , Miyoshi Hideto , Shikanai Toshiharu
Published: October 2013

Antimycin A3 (AA) is used as an inhibitor of cyclic electron transport around photosystem I. However, the high concentrations of AA that are needed for inhibition have secondary effects, even in chloroplasts. Here, we screened for chemicals that inhibited ferredoxin‐dependent plastoquinone reduction in ruptured chloroplasts at lower concentrations than those required for AA. We identified two AA‐like compounds: AAL1 and AAL2. AAL1 likely shares an inhibitory site with AA, most probably in the PGR5–PGRL1 protein complex, and enhances O2 evolution in photosystem II, most likely via an uncoupler‐like effect. AAL1 and AAL2 are unlikely to penetrate intact leaves. In ruptured chloroplasts, AALs are superior to AA as inhibitors of cyclic electron transport.
The Functions of MicroRNAs and Long Non-Coding RNAs in Embryonic and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Authors: Jia Wenwen , Chen Wen , Kang Jiuhong
Published: October 2013

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) hold immense promise for regenerative medicine due to their abilities to self-renew and to differentiate into all cell types. This unique property is controlled by a complex interplay between transcriptional factors and epigenetic regulators. Recent research indicates that the epigenetic role of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) is an integral component of this regulatory network. This report will summarize findings that focus on two classes of regulatory ncRNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs) and long ncRNAs (lncRNAs), in the induction, maintenance and directed differentiation of ESCs and iPSCs. Manipulating these two important types of ncRNAs would be crucial to unlock the therapeutic and research potential of pluripotent stem cells.
Human disease locus discovery and mapping to molecular pathways through phylogenetic profiling
Authors: Tabach Yuval , Golan Tamar , Hernández‐Hernández Abrahan , Messer Arielle R , Fukuda Tomoyuki , Kouznetsova Anna , Liu Jian‐Guo , Lilienthal Ingrid , Levy Carmit , Ruvkun Gary
Published: October 2013

Genes with common profiles of the presence and absence in disparate genomes tend to function in the same pathway. By mapping all human genes into about 1000 clusters of genes with similar patterns of conservation across eukaryotic phylogeny, we determined that sets of genes associated with particular diseases have similar phylogenetic profiles. By focusing on those human phylogenetic gene clusters that significantly overlap some of the thousands of human gene sets defined by their coexpression or annotation to pathways or other molecular attributes, we reveal the evolutionary map that connects molecular pathways and human diseases. The other genes in the phylogenetic clusters enriched for particular known disease genes or molecular pathways identify candidate genes for roles in those same disorders and pathways. Focusing on proteins coevolved with the microphthalmia‐associated transcription factor (MITF), we identified the Notch pathway suppressor of hairless (RBP‐Jk/SuH) transcription factor, and showed that RBP‐Jk functions as an MITF cofactor.
Functional lacrimal gland regeneration by transplantation of a bioengineered organ germ
Authors: Hirayama Masatoshi , Ogawa Miho , Oshima Masamitsu , Sekine Yurie , Ishida Kentaro , Yamashita Kentaro , Ikeda Kazutaka , Shimmura Shigeto , Kawakita Tetsuya , Tsubota Kazuo , Tsuji Takashi
Published: October 2013

The lacrimal gland has a multifaceted role in maintaining a homeostatic microenvironment for a healthy ocular surface via tear secretion. Dry-eye disease, which is caused by lacrimal gland dysfunction, is one of the most prevalent eye diseases that cause corneal epithelial damage and results in significant loss of vision and a reduction in the quality of life. Here we demonstrate orthotopic transplantation of bioengineered lacrimal gland germs into adult mice with an extra-orbital lacrimal gland defect, a mouse model that mimics the corneal epithelial damage caused by lacrimal gland dysfunction. The bioengineered lacrimal gland germs and harderian gland germs both developin vivoand achieve sufficient physiological functionality, including tear production in response to nervous stimulation and ocular surface protection. This study demonstrates the potential for bioengineered organ replacement to functionally restore the lacrimal gland.
Redox regulation of chloroplastic G6PDH activity by thioredoxin occurs through structural changes modifying substrate accessibility and cofactor binding
Authors: Née Guillaume , Aumont-Nicaise Magali , Zaffagnini Mirko , Nessler Sylvie , Valerio-Lepiniec Marielle , Issakidis-Bourguet Emmanuelle
Published: October 2013

In chloroplasts, redox regulation of enzyme activities by TRXs (thioredoxins) allows the co-ordination of light/dark metabolisms such as the reductive (so-called Calvin–Benson) pathway and the OPPP (oxidative pentose phosphate pathway). Although the molecular mechanisms underlying the redox regulation of several TRX-regulated enzymes have been investigated in detail, only partial information was available for plastidial G6PDH (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) catalysing the first and rate-limiting step of the OPPP. In the present study, we investigated changes in catalytic and structural properties undergone by G6PDH1 from Arabidopsis thaliana upon treatment with TRX f1, the most efficient regulator of the enzyme that did not show a stable interaction with its target. We found that the formation of the regulatory disulfide bridge that leads to activation of the enzyme allows better substrate accessibility to the active site and strongly modifies the cofactor-binding properties. Structural modelling and data from biochemical and biophysical studies of site-directed mutant proteins support a mechanism in which the positioning/function of the highly conserved Arg131 in the cofactor-binding site can be directly influenced by the redox state of the adjacent regulatory disulfide bridge. These findings constitute another example of modifications to catalytic properties of a chloroplastic enzyme upon redox regulation, but by a mechanism unique to G6PDH.
Three‐dimensional hierarchical nickel‐based hydroxides and oxides microspheres and their electrochemical properties
Authors: Liu Hui , Dong Xiaonan , Duan Congyue , Su Xing , Zhu Zhenfeng
Published: October 2013

Nickel hydroxides (Ni(OH)2) with various morphologies, including flower‐like, walnut‐like and particle‐aggregated microspheres, have been successfully synthesised by a surfactant‐assisted microwave hydrothermal method. NiO microspheres have been obtained by calcining corresponding Ni(OH)2 precursors at 400°C for 2 h. The products were characterised by X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy and transform electron microscopy. The electrochemical properties of the NiO microspheres with different morphologies were also investigated.
Effect of scan parameters and etching temperature on low‐destructive nanofabrication of quartz
Authors: Song Chenfei , Yu Bingjun , Qian Linmao
Published: October 2013

Maskless and low‐destructive nanofabrication on quartz surface can be realised by friction‐induced selective etching. In this reported work, the effect of scan parameters and etching temperature on low‐destructive nanofabrication of quartz was studied. It was found that the etching thickness increased with the increase of the scan load and the number of scan cycles, but decreased with the scan speed. The wear of quartz did not help to increase the etching thickness. To limit the possible destruction, the scanning should be finished under low‐destructive conditions. Compared with single scanning under high load, repeated scanning under lower load was more beneficial for fabricating a deeper structure in a low‐destructive way. To improve the fabrication efficiency, faster scan speed and higher etching temperature were the preferential selection. Based on the optimisation of the fabrication parameters, various styles of nanostructures can be produced on the quartz surface. These results will help realise the controllable low‐destructive nanofabrication on quartz.
Why can't I use my iPhone at Work?: Managing Consumerization of IT at a Multi-national Organization
Authors: Weiß Frank , Leimeister Jan Marco
Published: October 2013

As IT innovations in the last years emerged on the consumer market, employees are more experienced in the private than in the corporate use of innovative IT devices and applications. These employees, familiar with the benefits consumer products offer, expect those to be provided by their corporate IT. This trend, referred to as ‘consumerization of IT’, leads to more and more consumer innovations infiltrating companies. In particular, mobile consumer devices are currently spreading into companies, strongly pushed by top management, and create several challenges to Chief Information Officers (CIOs) around the globe: ‘What IT costs are associated with the use of mobile consumer devices?’, ‘How will corporate use of mobile consumer devices affect IT management?’, and ‘How to introduce an IT service for corporate as well as personal mobile consumer devices?’. OMEGA Group, a multi-national company with 50,000 employees, wants to leverage the potential of mobile consumer devices for corporate purposes. Therefore, these questions have to be addressed and answered by its CIO. The teaching case is designed to introduce the characteristics of consumerization and associated challenges for IT management. The case uses selected information systems methodologies and frameworks.
Direct numerical simulations of turbulent thermal boundary layers subjected to adverse streamwise pressure gradients
Authors: Araya Guillermo , Castillo Luciano
Published: October 2013

An innovative method for prescribing turbulent thermal inflow information in spatially developing boundary layers under streamwise pressure gradients is introduced for attached flows. The approach is tested and validated in a suite of Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS) of thermal boundary layers for zero (ZPG) and adverse (APG) pressure gradients with momentum thickness Reynolds numbers (Reθ) up to 3000. The turbulent thermal data are generated based on the dynamic multi-scale approach proposed by Araya et al. [“A dynamic multi-scale approach for turbulent inflow boundary conditions in spatially evolving flows,” J. Fluid Mech. 670, 581–605 (2011)], which is extended to include thermal field simulations in the present article. The approach is based on the original rescaling-recycling method developed by Lund, Wu, and Squires [“Generation of turbulent inflow data for spatially developing boundary layer simulations,” J. Comput. Phys. 140, 233–258 (1998)] for ZPG flows. Isothermal walls are considered for the thermal field and the molecular Prandtl number is 0.71. In addition, only inlet momentum/thermal boundary layer thicknesses must be prescribed while other flow parameters such as the inlet friction velocity, uτ, and friction temperature, Θτ, are computed dynamically based on the flow solution obtained downstream by means of a test plane. This plane is located between the inlet and recycle stations. Based on the unique and extensive DNS results of heat transfer obtained in this investigation, the effects of Reynolds numbers and adverse pressure gradients on the flow and thermal parameters are also explored and visualized. The principal outcome of adverse pressure gradient on the flow parameters has been determined as a secondary peak, particularly on the streamwise velocity fluctuations in the outer region, which shows clear evidence of energy production in the outer flow and not only in the buffer layer as traditionally known. Nevertheless, this peak is not so obvious on the thermal fluctuations but it is hypothesized that the reason is mainly attributed to the absence of a freestream thermal gradient, as imposed in the velocity field. Furthermore, the high-speed streaks in the buffer layer are observed to be notably shorter and wider in a Strong APG than in the ZPG case. Finally, a significant decrease of the turbulent Prandtl number is attributed to the presence of a Strong APG.
Metasurfaces for manipulating surface plasmons
Authors: Liu Yongmin , Zhang Xiang
Published: October 2013

Metasurfaces have recently emerged as an innovative approach to control light propagation with unprecedented capabilities. Different from previous work concentrating on steering far-field propagating waves, here we demonstrate that metallic metasurfaces can efficiently and effectively manipulate surface plasmons in the near-field regime. By engineering the dispersion of surface plasmons on a simple grating structure, we are able to realize normal, non-divergent as well as anomalous diffraction of surface plasmons. In particular, all-angle and broadband negative refraction of surface plasmons is achieved, largely attributed to the uniquely designed hyperbolic constant frequency contour of surface plasmons propagating along the metasurface.
Flapping states of an elastically anchored plate in a uniform flow with applications to energy harvesting by fluid-structure interaction
Authors: Orchini A. , Mazzino A. , Guerrero J. , Festa R. , Boragno C.
Published: October 2013

Linear stability analysis of an elastically anchored flat plate in a uniform flow is investigated both analytically and numerically. The analytical formulation explicitly takes into account the effect of the wake on the plate by means of Theodorsen's theory. Three different parameters non-trivially rule the observed dynamics: mass density ratio between plate and fluid, spring elastic constant, and distance between the plate center of mass and the spring anchor point on the plate. We found relationships between these parameters which rule the transition between stable equilibrium and fluttering. The shape of the resulting marginal curve has been successfully verified by high Reynolds number numerical simulations. Finally, the limiting case corresponding to a simply supported rigid rod is also analyzed and the resulting flapping instability traced back to a simple resonance condition. Our findings are of interest in applications related to energy harvesting by fluid-structure interaction, a problem that has recently attracted a great deal of attention. The main aim in that context is to identify the optimal physical/geometrical system configuration leading to large sustained motion, which is the source of energy one aims to extract.
A DFT based equilibrium study on the hydrolysis and the dehydration reactions of MgCl2 hydrates
Authors: Smeets B. , Iype E. , Nedea S. V. , Zondag H. A. , Rindt C. C. M.
Published: October 2013

Magnesium chloride hydrates are characterized as promising energy storage materials in the built-environment. During the dehydration of these materials, there are chances for the release of harmful HCl gas, which can potentially damage the material as well as the equipment. Hydrolysis reactions in magnesium chloride hydrates are subject of study for industrial applications. However, the information about the possibility of hydrolysis reaction, and its preference over dehydration in energy storage systems is still ambiguous at the operating conditions in a seasonal heat storage system. A density functional theory level study is performed to determine molecular structures, charges, and harmonic frequencies in order to identify the formation of HCl at the operating temperatures in an energy storage system. The preference of hydrolysis over dehydration is quantified by applying thermodynamic equilibrium principles by calculating Gibbs free energies of the hydrated magnesium chloride molecules. The molecular structures of the hydrates (n = 0, 1, 2, 4, and 6) of MgCl2 are investigated to understand the stability and symmetry of these molecules. The structures are found to be noncomplex with almost no meta-stable isomers, which may be related to the faster kinetics observed in the hydration of chlorides compared to sulfates. Also, the frequency spectra of these molecules are calculated, which in turn are used to calculate the changes in Gibbs free energy of dehydration and hydrolysis reactions. From these calculations, it is found that the probability for hydrolysis to occur is larger for lower hydrates. Hydrolysis occurring from the hexa-, tetra-, and di-hydrate is only possible when the temperature is increased too fast to a very high value. In the case of the mono-hydrate, hydrolysis may become favorable at high water vapor pressure and at low HCl pressure.
Theoretical investigation on the 2e/12c bond and second hyperpolarizability of azaphenalenyl radical dimers: Strength and effect of dimerization
Authors: Zhong Rong-Lin , Xu Hong-Liang , Sun Shi-Ling , Qiu Yong-Qing , Zhao Liang , Su Zhong-Min
Published: October 2013

An increasing number of chemists have focused on the investigations of two-electron/multicenter bond (2e/mc) that was first introduced to describe the structure of radical dimers. In this work, the dimerization of two isoelectronic radicals, triazaphenalenyl (TAP) and hexaazaphenalenyl (HAP) has been investigated in theory. Results show TAP2 is a stable dimer with stronger 2e/12c bond and larger interaction energy, while HAP2 is a less stable dimer with larger diradical character. Interestingly, the ultraviolet–visible absorption spectra suggest that the dimerization induces a longer wavelength absorption in visible area, which is dependent on the strength of dimerization. Significantly, the amplitude of second hyperpolarizability (γyyyy) of HAP2 is 1.36 × 106 a.u. that is larger than 7.79 × 104 a.u. of TAP2 because of the larger diradical character of HAP2. Therefore, the results indicate that the strength of radical dimerization can be effectively detected by comparing the magnitude of third order non-linear optical response, which is beneficial for further theoretical and experimental studies on the properties of complexes formed by radical dimerization.
Response of silicane and germanane to uni-axial compression: Superstructures, polymorph nano-ribbons, and extreme bending
Authors: Kaltsas D. , Tsatsoulis T. , Ziogos O. G. , Tsetseris L.
Published: October 2013

Germanane (GeH) and silicane (SiH) are the fully hydrogenated forms of germanene and silicene, the Ge- and Si-analogues of graphene. Here we use density-functional theory calculations to probe the properties of GeH and SiH sheets and their dependence on applied uni-axial compression. We find that GeH polymorphs with distinct hydrogen arrangements have markedly different energy band gaps. We also show that, when compressed, GeH forms superstructures with parts in low- and wide-gap geometries, enabling the creation of alternating polymorph nano-ribbons. An alternative to superstructure formation is the adoption by GeH of a corrugated form with extreme bending. Silicane shows similar behavior under compression, with either high corrugation, or successive parts with different geometries. Finally, we demonstrate that interaction with a substrate can influence the relative stability of GeH overlayer polymorphs. Overall, the results reveal ways to enhance the functionalities of these two-dimensional materials through the formation of superstructures with sizeable quantum well effects or outstanding mechanical response.
Pump-probe imaging of laser-induced periodic surface structures after ultrafast irradiation of Si
Authors: Murphy Ryan D. , Torralva Ben , Adams David P. , Yalisove Steven M.
Published: October 2013

Ultrafast pump-probe microscopy has been used to investigate laser-induced periodic surface structure (LIPSS) formation on polished Si surfaces. A crater forms on the surface after irradiation by a 150 fs laser pulse, and a second, subsequent pulse forms LIPSS within the crater. Sequentially delayed images show that LIPSS with a periodicity slightly less than the fundamental laser wavelength of 780 nm appear on Si surfaces ∼50 ps after arrival of the second pump laser pulse, well after the onset of melting. LIPSS are observed on the same timescale as material removal, suggesting that their formation involves material ejection.
Effect of composition and strain on the electrical properties of LaNiO3 thin films
Authors: Zhu Mingwei , Komissinskiy Philipp , Radetinac Aldin , Vafaee Mehran , Wang Zhanjie , Alff Lambert
Published: October 2013

The Ni content of LaNi1−xO3 epitaxial thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition has been varied by ablation from targets with different composition. While tensile strain and Ni substoichiometry reduce the conductivity, nearly stoichiometric and unstrained films show reproducibly resistivities below 100 μΩ × cm. Since the thermodynamic instability of the Ni3+ state drives defect formation, Ni defect engineering is the key to obtain highly conducting LaNiO3 thin films.
Nonplanar solitons collision in ultracold neutral plasmas
Authors: El-Tantawy S. A. , Moslem W. M. , Sabry R. , El-Labany S. K. , El-Metwally M. , Schlickeiser R.
Published: October 2013

Collisions between two nonplanar ion-acoustic solitons in strongly coupled ultracold neutral plasmas composed of ion fluid and non-Maxwellian (nonthermal or superthermal) electron distributions are investigated. The extended Poincare-Lighthill-Kuo method is used to obtain coupled nonplanar Kortweg-de Vries equations for describing the system. The nonplanar phase shifts after the interaction of the two solitons are calculated. It is found that the properties of the nonplanar colliding solitons and its corresponding phase shifts are different from those in the planar case. The polarity of the colliding solitons strongly depends on the type of the non-Maxwellian electron distributions. A critical nonthermality parameter βc is identified. For values of β ≤ βc solitons with double polarity exist, while this behavior cannot occur for superthermal plasmas. The phase shift for nonthermal plasmas increases below βc for a positive soliton, but it decreases for β > βc for a negative soliton. For superthermal plasmas, the phase shift enhances rapidly for low values of spectral index κ and higher values of ions effective temperature ratio σ*. For 2 ≲ κ<10, the phase shift decreases but does not change for κ > 10. The nonlinear structure, as reported here, is useful for controlling the solitons created in forthcoming ultracold neutral plasma experiments.
Microsecond ramp compression of a metallic liner driven by a 5 MA current on the SPHINX machine using a dynamic load current multiplier pulse shaping
Authors: d'Almeida T. , Lassalle F. , Morell A. , Grunenwald J. , Zucchini F. , Loyen A. , Maysonnave T. , Chuvatin A. S.
Published: October 2013

SPHINX is a 6 MA, 1-μs Linear Transformer Driver (LTD) operated by the CEA Gramat (France) and primarily used for imploding Z-pinch loads for radiation effects studies. Among the options that are currently being evaluated to improve the generator performances are an upgrade to a 20 MA, 1-μs LTD machine and various power amplification schemes, including a compact Dynamic Load Current Multiplier (DLCM). A method for performing magnetic ramp compression experiments, without modifying the generator operation scheme, was developed using the DLCM to shape the initial current pulse in order to obtain the desired load current profile. In this paper, we discuss the overall configuration that was selected for these experiments, including the choice of a coaxial cylindrical geometry for the load and its return current electrode. We present both 3-D Magneto-hydrodynamic and 1D Lagrangian hydrodynamic simulations which helped guide the design of the experimental configuration. Initial results obtained over a set of experiments on an aluminium cylindrical liner, ramp-compressed to a peak pressure of 23 GPa, are presented and analyzed. Details of the electrical and laser Doppler interferometer setups used to monitor and diagnose the ramp compression experiments are provided. In particular, the configuration used to field both homodyne and heterodyne velocimetry diagnostics in the reduced access available within the liner's interior is described. Current profiles measured at various critical locations across the system, particularly the load current, enabled a comprehensive tracking of the current circulation and demonstrate adequate pulse shaping by the DLCM. The liner inner free surface velocity measurements obtained from the heterodyne velocimeter agree with the hydrocode results obtained using the measured load current as the input. An extensive hydrodynamic analysis is carried out to examine information such as pressure and particle velocity history profiles or magnetic diffusion across the liner. The potential of the technique in terms of applications and achievable ramp pressure levels lies in the prospects for improving the DLCM efficiency through the use of a closing switch (currently under development), reducing the load dimensions and optimizing the diagnostics.
Simultaneous neutron transmission and diffraction contrast tomography as a non-destructive 3D method for bulk single crystal quality investigations
Authors: Peetermans S. , Lehmann E. H.
Published: October 2013

Traditional neutron tomography allows to reconstruct the attenuation cross section, a measure for the material distribution, at high spatial resolution and non-destructively. However, it does not state anything about the ordering structure of the atoms inside this material. Extending the setup with a second neutron imaging detector, diffracted neutrons from the ordered crystal lattice could be captured. Emerging iterative reconstruction techniques allow reconstructing the local Bragg reflectivity in the sample, a measure for the spatial distribution in crystal quality (orientation, homogeneity of phases). Simultaneous acquisition ensures optimal use of the neutron flux and a direct comparison of different sample properties.
Characterization of flow units in metallic glass through density variation
Authors: Xue R. J. , Wang D. P. , Zhu Z. G. , Ding D. W. , Zhang B. , Wang W. H.
Published: October 2013

The evolution of flow units associated with the flow “defects” in metallic glass is characterized by monitoring the metallic glassy density change upon isothermal annealing far below their glass transition temperature. A meaningful function for the density variation with the concentration of flow units is obtained for the metallic glasses. We show that the correlation between the density variation and the flow unit have implications for understanding the fragility, structural heterogeneous, and structural relaxation behaviors in metallic glasses.
Colloidal particles: Surfactants with a difference
Authors: Garbin Valeria
Published: October 2013

Like the more-familiar detergents, tiny particles can help keep emulsions and foams from separating into their component fluids. But their unique properties also enable novel applications.
Defining efficient enzyme–cofactor pairs for bioorthogonal profiling of protein methylation
Authors: Islam Kabirul , Chen Yuling , Wu Hong , Bothwell Ian R. , Blum Gil J. , Zeng Hong , Dong Aiping , Zheng Weihong , Min Jinrong , Deng Haiteng , Luo Minkui
Published: October 2013

Significance

Many proteins undergo various posttranslational modifications for proper functions. One such modification is methylation carried out by enzyme–cofactor pairs of protein methyltransferases (PMTs) and
S
-adenosyl-
L
-methionine (SAM). Identification of methylated proteins is quite challenging because of the small size and chemical inertness of the methyl group. To address this challenge, we have synthesized SAM surrogates by replacing SAM’s methyl group with bulky, chemically active functionalities and demonstrated their utility as alternative cofactors of engineered PMTs for substrate labeling. Proteins modified with such chemical moieties are amenable to bioorthogonal reactions for subsequent enrichment and identification. An engineered enzyme–cofactor pair has been successfully used to reveal numerous methylated proteins.
Essential role of stress hormone signaling in cardiomyocytes for the prevention of heart disease
Authors: Oakley Robert H. , Ren Rongqin , Cruz-Topete Diana , Bird Gary S. , Myers Page H. , Boyle Michael C. , Schneider Michael D. , Willis Monte S. , Cidlowski John A.
Published: October 2013

Significance

Stress is increasingly associated with heart disease. Glucocorticoids are primary stress hormones, yet their direct role in the heart is poorly understood. Mice lacking the glucocorticoid receptor specifically in cardiomyocytes die prematurely from heart failure. The deficiency in glucocorticoid signaling leads to the aberrant regulation of a large cohort of genes strongly associated with both cardiovascular and inflammatory disease processes. These findings reveal an obligate role for cardiomyocyte glucocorticoid receptors in maintaining normal heart function and define a paradigm for stress in cardiovascular disease.
Source of the great A.D. 1257 mystery eruption unveiled, Samalas volcano, Rinjani Volcanic Complex, Indonesia
Authors: Lavigne Franck , Degeai Jean-Philippe , Komorowski Jean-Christophe , Guillet Sébastien , Robert Vincent , Lahitte Pierre , Oppenheimer Clive , Stoffel Markus , Vidal Céline M. , Surono  , Pratomo Indyo , Wassmer Patrick , Hajdas Irka , Hadmoko Danang Sri , de Belizal Edouard
Published: October 2013

Significance

Based on ice core archives of sulfate and tephra deposition, one of the largest volcanic eruptions of the historic period and of the past 7,000 y occurred in A.D. 1257. However the source of this “mystery eruption” remained unknown. Drawing on a robust body of new evidence from radiocarbon dates, tephra geochemistry, stratigraphic data, a medieval chronicle, this study argues that the source of this eruption is Samalas volcano, part of the Mount Rinjani Volcanic Complex on Lombok Island, Indonesia. These results solve a conundrum that has puzzled glaciologists, volcanologists, and climatologists for more than three decades. In addition, the identification of this volcano gives rise to the existence of a forgotten Pompeii in the Far East.
The LIM homeobox geneIsl1is required for the correct development of the striatonigral pathway in the mouse
Authors: Ehrman Lisa A. , Mu Xiuqian , Waclaw Ronald R. , Yoshida Yutaka , Vorhees Charles V. , Klein William H. , Campbell Kenneth
Published: October 2013

Significance

The basal ganglia process cortical information that controls purposeful movements and appropriate behavior via the striatopallidal and striatonigral pathways. Despite their importance, little is known about the developmental mechanisms that control the formation of these pathways. We show here that telencephalic progenitors expressing the transcription factor Islet1 give rise to striatonigral neurons and that this factor is required for normal development of the striatonigral pathway. Moreover, Islet1 mouse mutants exhibit hyperactivity and a paradoxical response to psychostimulants. Given that the underlying causes of basal ganglia disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are unknown, these findings may implicate possible alterations in neural circuitry.
Graphene quantum point contact transistor for DNA sensing
Authors: Girdhar Anuj , Sathe Chaitanya , Schulten Klaus , Leburton Jean-Pierre
Published: October 2013

Significance

Rapidly sequencing the human genome in a cost-effective manner will revolutionize modern medicine. This article describes a unique paradigm for sensing DNA molecules by threading them through an electrically active solid-state nanopore device containing a constricted graphene layer. We show that the electrical sensitivity of the graphene layer can be easily tuned by both shaping its geometry and modulating its conductance by means of an electric gate integrated in the membrane.
Translation of pre-spliced RNAs in the nuclear compartment generates peptides for the MHC class I pathway
Authors: Apcher Sébastien , Millot Guy , Daskalogianni Chrysoula , Scherl Alexander , Manoury Bénédicte , Fåhraeus Robin
Published: October 2013

Significance

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigen presentation pathway allows the immune system to distinguish between self and non-self. Despite extensive research on the processing of antigenic peptides, little is still known about their origin. We recently proposed that a unique class of peptides, termed pioneer translation products (PTPs), is produced during the pioneer rounds of mRNA translation and provides the major source of antigenic peptide substrates for direct presentation to the MHC class I pathway. Here we show that a major portion of the substrates for the MHC class I pathway is synthesized during the early steps of mRNA maturation via a noncanonical translation mechanism within the nucleus and before introns are spliced out.
Stratospheric water vapor feedback
Authors: Dessler A. E. , Schoeberl M. R. , Wang T. , Davis S. M. , Rosenlof K. H.
Published: October 2013

Significance

We show observational evidence for a stratospheric water vapor feedback—a warmer climate increases stratospheric water vapor, and because stratospheric water vapor is itself a greenhouse gas, this leads to further warming. An estimate of its magnitude from a climate model yields a value of +0.3 W/(m2⋅K), suggesting that this feedback plays an important role in our climate system.
Prototype of an intertwined secondary-metabolite supercluster
Authors: Wiemann Philipp , Guo Chun-Jun , Palmer Jonathan M. , Sekonyela Relebohile , Wang Clay C. C. , Keller Nancy P.
Published: October 2013

Significance

Filamentous fungi are well known for their ability to produce a wide range of natural products. Until now, biosynthetic genes contiguously aligned in a cluster have been associated with the production of a distinct natural product. This work demonstrates an additional layer of complexity in fungal secondary-metabolite gene clusters. In contrast to the view of stand-alone secondary-metabolite clusters, our collective data have revealed the existence of superclusters with intertwined biosynthetic genes involved in formation of more than one chemical product. Comparative genomics indicates this supercluster is maintained in a rapidly evolving region of diverse fungal genomes. This intertwined design confounds predictions from established secondary-metabolite cluster search algorithms and provides an expanded view of natural product evolution.
Paracrine activation of WNT/β-catenin pathway in uterine leiomyoma stem cells promotes tumor growth
Authors: Ono Masanori , Yin Ping , Navarro Antonia , Moravek Molly B. , Coon John S. , Druschitz Stacy A. , Serna Vanida Ann , Qiang Wenan , Brooks David C. , Malpani Saurabh S. , Ma Jiajia , Ercan Cihangir Mutlu , Mittal Navdha , Monsivais Diana , Dyson Matthew T. , Yemelyanov Alex , Maruyama Tetsuo , Chakravarti Debabrata , Kim J. Julie , Kurita Takeshi , Gottardi Cara J. , Bulun Serdar E.
Published: October 2013

Significance

Stem cells and the ovarian steroids estrogen and progesterone are essential for leiomyoma tissue growth. The underlying mechanisms are unknown, particularly because leiomyoma stem cells are deficient in estrogen and progesterone receptors. Expression of these receptors is much higher in surrounding mature myometrial or leiomyoma smooth muscle cells. Here, we demonstrate that wingless-type (WNT) acts as a paracrine signal from estrogen/progesterone receptor-rich mature cells to activate the canonical β-catenin pathway in leiomyoma stem cells. Our findings suggest a paracrine role for the canonical WNT pathway in the growth of leiomyoma tumor.
Identification of apolipoprotein D as a cardioprotective gene using a mouse model of lethal atherosclerotic coronary artery disease
Authors: Tsukamoto Kosuke , Mani D. R. , Shi Jianru , Zhang Songwen , Haagensen Darrow E. , Otsuka Fumiyuki , Guan Jian , Smith Jonathan D. , Weng Wei , Liao Ronglih , Kolodgie Frank D. , Virmani Renu , Krieger Monty
Published: October 2013

Significance

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major cause of death and disability. Genetically modified SR-BI/apoE double KO (dKO) mice spontaneously exhibit many features of human CAD, including hypercholesterolemia, clogged arteries, myocardial infarction (MI) (or heart attack), heart failure, and premature death. We identified many changes in gene expression in dKO hearts [e.g., increases in apolipoprotein D (apoD)] during CAD development and compared them to those occurring after surgically induced MI. Additional studies showed that apoD partially protected mice from experimentally induced MI (temporarily blocking a coronary artery) and partially protected isolated rat heart muscle cells from temporary oxygen deprivation. We conclude that dKO mice are useful models for human CAD and apoD may naturally help protect hearts from clogged arteries.
Neutrophil mobilization via plerixafor-mediated CXCR4 inhibition arises from lung demargination and blockade of neutrophil homing to the bone marrow
Authors: Devi Sapna , Wang Yilin , Chew Weng Keong , Lima Ronald , A-González Noelia , Mattar Citra N.Z. , Chong Shu Zhen , Schlitzer Andreas , Bakocevic Nadja , Chew Samantha , Keeble Jo L. , Goh Chi Ching , Li Jackson L.Y. , Evrard Maximilien , Malleret Benoit , Larbi Anis , Renia Laurent , Haniffa Muzlifah , Tan Suet Mien , Chan Jerry K.Y. , Balabanian Karl , Nagasawa Takashi , Bachelerie Françoise , Hidalgo Andrés , Ginhoux Florent , Kubes Paul , Ng Lai Guan
Published: October 2013

Blood neutrophil homeostasis is essential for successful host defense against invading pathogens. Circulating neutrophil counts are positively regulated by CXCR2 signaling and negatively regulated by the CXCR4–CXCL12 axis. In particular, G-CSF, a known CXCR2 signaler, and plerixafor, a CXCR4 antagonist, have both been shown to correct neutropenia in human patients. G-CSF directly induces neutrophil mobilization from the bone marrow (BM) into the blood, but the mechanisms underlying plerixafor-induced neutrophilia remain poorly defined. Using a combination of intravital multiphoton microscopy, genetically modified mice and novel in vivo homing assays, we demonstrate that G-CSF and plerixafor work through distinct mechanisms. In contrast to G-CSF, CXCR4 inhibition via plerixafor does not result in neutrophil mobilization from the BM. Instead, plerixafor augments the frequency of circulating neutrophils through their release from the marginated pool present in the lung, while simultaneously preventing neutrophil return to the BM. Our study demonstrates for the first time that drastic changes in blood neutrophils can originate from alternative reservoirs other than the BM, while implicating a role for CXCR4–CXCL12 interactions in regulating lung neutrophil margination. Collectively, our data provides valuable insights into the fundamental regulation of neutrophil homeostasis, which may lead to the development of improved treatment regimens for neutropenic patients.
The Simple Failure of Curie’s Principle
Authors: Roberts Bryan W.
Published: October 2013

I point out a simple sense in which the standard formulation of Curie’s principle is false when the symmetry transformation it describes is time reversal.
Ashraf into Middle Classes
Authors: Pernau Margrit
Published: October 2013

This book investigates the history of the Muslim communities in Delhi from the conquest of the city by Lord Lake in 1803 to the end of the First World War. It is based on a large range of sources in English, Urdu, and Persian—from government records to novels, from Sufi writings and fatwas to genealogies, from maps to miniatures, from handwritten newsletters to women’s journals. The book follows two main questions. One, Muslims have long been defined, first and foremost, by their religious identity. This study takes religion not as a given but asks about the universe of alternative identities—gender, territorial, class, descent, and language, which all shape a person’s sense of belonging to a specific community. It is only the interaction between the different identities, the book argues, which permits a re-evaluation of religious identity and a response to the question of when and under what circumstances it gains or loses predominance. Two, at the beginning of the nineteenth century, the category of ashraf, marking out the respectable families, brought together the nobility and the educated and distinguished them from the trading communities, which were classified under the common people. This changed from the middle of the century: the new ashraf distinguished themselves not only from the commoners but also the nobility, held responsible for the disaster of 1857. At the same time, their new emphasis on work and achievement brought them nearer to the merchants. Thus the two-tiered social structure gave way to a three-tiered one, and the ashraf were transformed into middle classes.
Conflict between the Religious Communities
Authors: Pernau Margrit
Published: October 2013

In Delhi, the increasing significance of British and Indian religious identities since the 1820s and 1830s was accompanied by a fierce battle to demarcate the religious communities from each other and to homogenize them internally. This in turn led to an escalation in conflicts between the communities. This chapter looks at three aspects of this development. The first section explores the relationship between the British and the Muslims. The second section then casts light on the relationship between Hindus and Muslims and shows how the nature of the disputes changed under the influence of the new forms of public sphere and colonial rule. In the last section, the author examines the conflict between Sunnis and Shi’ites.
Cross-modal alignment of accent structures in multimedia
Authors: Lipscomb Scott D.
Published: October 2013

Since the 1980s, many researchers have investigated the relationship between music and image in the multimedia context; most of these studies address the semantic meaning of the multi-modal stimuli used and the manner in which they are congruent or non-congruent with one another. The unique contribution of the present chapter is its focus on studies that represent a different but complementary approach: the systematic investigation of the salient moments (‘accents’), focusing primarily on the aural and visual modalities, and the impact of their alignment or misalignment upon the multimedia experience. Based on previous research, the author first identifies sources of accent within each domain and then proposes a means of considering cross-modal accent structure alignment empirically. The remainder of the chapter discusses relevant empirical research, including an extensive report on a series of experiments performed by the author, which informs our present understanding of this cross-modal relationship in the multimedia context.
Music and memory in film and other multimedia: The Casablanca effect
Authors: Hoeckner Berthold , Nusbaum Howard C.
Published: October 2013

This chapter explores the artistic representation and empirical study of audiovisual memory in cinema, with a specific focus on memory induced by music. The first section reviews how flashbacks have been used by directors to structure filmic narration and to visualize the recollection of characters. The second section examines how different types of visual memory are cued by music in movies. In cinematic representations of episodic memory, for example, characters may associate music with past events (as in the film Casablanca). Based on musical schemas formed by cultural conventions, musical underscoring relies on semantic and implicit memory to help audiences in the perception and understanding of screen content. The third section surveys empirical studies of musical memory effects in film and multimedia, showing how affective priming through musical underscoring affects the remembrance of film events, product recall in advertisement, the comprehension of the narrative, or character perception.
‘Now, back to our Virchow’: German Medical and Political Traditions in Post-war Berlin
Authors: Reinisch Jessica
Published: October 2013

This chapter brings to light German debates about public health in two very different health institutions based in Berlin. It contrasts the ways in which different sets of German health officers presented their own past and the future of German medicine, and points to significant continuities across the 1945 divide