bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DLLMiner: structural mining for malware detection
Authors: Narouei Masoud , Ahmadi Mansour , Giacinto Giorgio , Takabi Hassan , Sami Ashkan
Published: April 2015

Existing anti‐malware products usually use signature‐based techniques as their main detection engine. Although these methods are very fast, they are unable to provide effective protection against newly discovered malware or mutated variant of old malware. Heuristic approaches are the next generation of detection techniques to mitigate the problem. These approaches aim to improve the detection rate by extracting more behavioral characteristics of malware. Although these approaches cover the disadvantages of signature‐based techniques, they usually have a high false positive, and evasion is still possible from these approaches. In this paper, we propose an effective and efficient heuristic technique based on static analysis that not only detect malware with a very high accuracy, but also is robust against common evasion techniques such as junk injection and packing. Our proposed system is able to extract behavioral features from a unique structure in portable executable, which is called dynamic‐link library dependency tree, without actually executing the application. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A study on SW‐Blackbox to ensure the reliability of content distribution using file system event monitoring of online service providers
Authors: Seo Sang‐Ho , Jung Byung‐Ok , Koh Byung‐Su , Jeong James
Published: April 2015

As the utilization of cultural content has changed to a digital paradigm, music and movies have been copied without permission and distributed quickly on a real‐time basis. Because these copies have the same quality as the original works, authors and producers find it increasingly difficult to protect the copyright of the materials they create. Accordingly, illegal online service providers (OSPs) are deemed responsible for the illegal distribution of cultural content. Although relevant copyright laws are implemented and filtering technical protection measures are applied, OSP operators continue to distribute illegal content by bypassing filtering technologies and omitting and fabricating or altering log records related to content distribution. As a result, the legal market order of content distribution is damaged, and the rights and interests of users and owners are severely infringed. However, restricting the illegal distribution and technical filtering of content under current regulations are not solutions to this problem. Therefore, fundamental control and active monitoring are necessary to complement existing regulations and technical protection measures. This paper proposes an SW‐Blackbox technical method using file system event monitoring to verify the reliability of OSPs that operate file hosting services (Web Hard). This method prevents the bypassing of filtering solutions and the omission, fabrication, and altering of transaction‐related logs for the intentional distribution of illegal content. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Network throughput maximization in unreliable wireless sensor networks with minimal remote data transfer cost
Authors: Xu Xu , Liang Weifa , Jia Xiaohua , Xu Wenzheng
Published: April 2015

In this paper, we consider large‐scale remote environmental monitoring (data gathering) through deploying an unreliable wireless sensor network in a remote region. The data monitoring center is geographically located far away from the region of the sensor network, which consists of sensors and gateways. Sensors are responsible for sensing and relaying data, and gateways are equipped with 3G/4G radios and can store the collected data from sensors temporarily and transmit the data to the remote data center through a third‐party communication service. A service cost of using this service will be charged, which depends on not only the number of gateways employed but also the volume of data transmitted from each gateway within a given monitoring period. For this large‐scale, remote, and unreliable data gathering, we first formulate a problem of maximizing network throughput with minimal service cost with an objective to maximize the amount of data collected by all gateways while minimizing the service cost. We then show that the problem is NP‐complete and propose novel approximation algorithms. The key ingredients of the proposed algorithms include building load‐balanced routing trees rooted at gateways and dynamically adjusting data load among the gateways. Finally, we conduct experiments by simulations to evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithms. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithms are very promising, and the obtained solutions are fractional of the optimum in terms of network throughput and the data service cost. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis, Crystal Structure and Properties of the Strontium Vanadate Fluoride Sr5(VO4)3F
Authors: Zhang Fangyuan , Zhang Fangfang , Jing Qun , Pan Shilie , Yang Zhihua , Jia Dianzeng
Published: April 2015

The apatite‐type strontium vanadate fluoride Sr5(VO4)3F was synthesized by standard solid‐state reaction method and grown by spontaneous crystallization flux method. It crystallizes in the hexagonal space group P63/m with lattice constants a = 9.988(4) Å, c = 7.415(6) Å, Z = 2. The structure consists of infinite three‐dimensional [Sr(2)2(VO4)3]5+ framework with tunnels along the c axis, where Sr(1)2+ and F– ions are filled. Functional groups in the structure have been identified by IR spectroscopy and the very high thermal stability up to 1400 °C has been identified by TG and DSC analyses. UV/Vis/NIR diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and first‐principle theoretical studies were also carried out to aid the understanding of optical properties and electronic structure.
Rebuild or Relocate? Resilience and Postdisaster Decision‐Making After Hurricane Sandy
Authors: Binder Sherri Brokopp , Baker Charlene K. , Barile John P.
Published: April 2015

Hurricane Sandy struck the east coast of the United States on October 29, 2012, devastating communities in its path. In the aftermath, New York implemented a home buyout program designed to facilitate the permanent relocation of residents out of areas considered to be at risk for future hazards. While home buyout programs are becoming popular as policy tools for disaster mitigation, little is known about what factors influence homeowners to participate in or reject these programs. This study used mixed methods to assess the relationship between community resilience and the relocation decision in two heavily damaged communities in which the majority of residents made different decisions regarding whether or not to pursue a buyout. The sample was composed of residents from Oakwood Beach and Rockaway Park, both working‐class communities in New York City, who participated via a community survey (N = 133) and/or in‐depth interviews (N = 28). Results suggested that community resilience moderated the relationship between community of residence and the buyout decision, leading to opposite responses on the buyout decision. Contextual community factors, including the history of natural disasters, local cultural norms, and sense of place, were instrumental in explaining these different responses. Implications for disaster policy are discussed.
Functional roles of N‐terminal and C‐terminal domains in the overall activity of a novel single‐stranded DNA binding protein ofDeinococcus radiodurans
Authors: Ujaoney Aman K. , Basu Bhakti , Muniyappa K. , Apte Shree K.
Published: April 2015

Single‐stranded DNA binding protein (Ssb) ofDeinococcus radiodurans comprises N‐ and C‐terminal oligonucleotide/oligosaccharide binding (OB) folds connected by a beta hairpin connector. To assign functional roles to the individual OB folds, we generated three Ssb variants: SsbN (N‐terminal without connector), SsbNC (N‐terminal with connector) and SsbC (C‐terminal), each harboring one OB fold. Both SsbN and SsbNC displayed weak single‐stranded DNA (ssDNA) binding activity, compared to the full‐length Ssb (SsbFL). The level of ssDNA binding activity displayed by SsbC was intermediate between SsbFL and SsbN. SsbC and SsbFL predominantly existed as homo‐dimers while SsbNC/SsbN formed different oligomeric forms.In vitro, SsbNC or SsbN formed a binary complex with SsbC that displayed enhanced ssDNA binding activity. Unlike SsbFL, Ssb variants were able to differentially modulate topoisomerase‐I activity, but failed to stimulate Deinococcal RecA‐promoted DNA strand exchange. The results suggest that the C‐terminal OB fold is primarily responsible for ssDNA binding. The N‐terminal OB fold binds weakly to ssDNA but is involved in multimerization.
Near-wall rising behaviour of a deformable bubble at high Reynolds number
Authors: Jeong Hyeonju , Park Hyungmin
Published: April 2015

The dynamics of a large deformable bubble ($\mathit{Re}\sim \mathit{O}(10^{3})$) rising near a vertical wall in quiescent water is experimentally investigated. The reference (without the wall) rising path of the considered bubble is a two-dimensional zigzag. For a range of wall configurations (i.e. initial wall distance and boundary condition), using high-speed shadowgraphy, various rising behaviours such as periodic bouncing, sliding, migrating away, and non-periodic oscillation without collisions are measured and analysed. Unlike low-Reynolds- and Weber-number bubbles, the contribution of the surface deformation to the transport between the energy components becomes significant during the bubble’s rise. In particular, across the bubble–wall collision, the excess surface energy compensates the deficit of kinetic energy. This enables a large deformable bubble to maintain a relatively constant bouncing kinematics, despite the obvious wall-induced energy dissipation. The wall effect, predominantly appearing as energy loss, is found to decrease as the initial distance from the bubble centre to the wall increases. Compared to the regular (no-slip) wall, a hydrophobic surface enhances or reduces the wall effect depending on the wall distance, whereas a porous surface reduces the energy loss due to the wall, regardless of the initial distance from the wall. Furthermore, the bubble–wall collision behaviour is assessed in terms of a restitution coefficient and modified impact Stokes number (ratio of the inertia to viscous forces), which shows a good correlation, the trends of which agree well with the variations in the energy components. The dependence of near-wall bubble motion on the wall distance and boundary condition may suggest a way of predicting or controlling the near-wall gas void-fraction distribution in gas–liquid flow systems.
Adapting a standardised international 24 h dietary recall methodology (GloboDiet software) for research and dietary surveillance in Korea
Authors: Park Min Kyung , Park Jin Young , Nicolas Geneviève , Paik Hee Young , Kim Jeongseon , Slimani Nadia
Published: April 2015

During the past decades, a rapid nutritional transition has been observed along with economic growth in the Republic of Korea. Since this dramatic change in diet has been frequently associated with cancer and other non-communicable diseases, dietary monitoring is essential to understand the association. Benefiting from pre-existing standardised dietary methodologies, the present study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and describe the development of a Korean version of the international computerised 24 h dietary recall method (GloboDiet software) and its complementary tools, developed at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), WHO. Following established international Standard Operating Procedures and guidelines, about seventy common and country-specific databases on foods, recipes, dietary supplements, quantification methods and coefficients were customised and translated. The main results of the present study highlight the specific adaptations made to adapt the GloboDiet software for research and dietary surveillance in Korea. New (sub-) subgroups were added into the existing common food classification, and new descriptors were added to the facets to classify and describe specific Korean foods. Quantification methods were critically evaluated and adapted considering the foods and food packages available in the Korean market. Furthermore, a picture book of foods/dishes was prepared including new pictures and food portion sizes relevant to Korean diet. The development of the Korean version of GloboDiet demonstrated that it was possible to adapt the IARC-WHO international dietary tool to an Asian context without compromising its concept of standardisation and software structure. It, thus, confirms that this international dietary methodology, used so far only in Europe, is flexible and robust enough to be customised for other regions worldwide.
Intermittency of magnetic field turbulence: Astrophysical applications of in-situ observations
Authors: Zelenyi Lev M. , Bykov Andrei M. , Uvarov Yury A. , Artemyev Anton V.
Published: April 2015

We briefly review some aspects of magnetic turbulence intermittency observed in space plasmas. Deviation of statistical characteristics of a system (e.g. its high statistical momenta) from the Gaussian can manifest itself as domination of rare large intensity peaks often associated with the intermittency in the system's dynamics. Thirty years ago, Zeldovich stressed the importance of the non-Gaussian appearance of the sharp values of vector and scalar physical parameters in random media as a factor of magnetic field amplification in cosmic structures. Magnetic turbulence is governing the behavior of collisionless plasmas in space and especially the physics of shocks and magnetic reconnections. Clear evidence of intermittent magnetic turbulence was found in recent in-situ spacecraft measurements of magnetic fields in the near-Earth and interplanetary plasma environments. We discuss the potentially promising approaches of incorporating the knowledge gained from spacecraft in-situ measurements into modern models describing plasma dynamics and radiation in various astrophysical systems. As an example, we discuss supernova remnants (SNRs) which are known to be the sources of energy, momentum, chemical elements, and high-energy cosmic rays (CRs) in galaxies. Supernova shocks accelerate charged particles to very high energies and may strongly amplify turbulent magnetic fields via instabilities driven by CRs. Relativistic electrons accelerated in SNRs radiate polarized synchrotron emission in a broad range of frequencies spanning from the radio to gamma-rays. We discuss the effects of intermittency of magnetic turbulence on the images of polarized synchrotron X-ray emission of young SNRs and emission spectra of pulsar wind nebula.
Creating Citizen-Workers through Civic Integration
Authors: SUVARIEROL SEMIN
Published: April 2015

The shift to the workfare state has brought about ways of governing welfare subjects, the practical implementation of which has often been delegated to private state agents and their street-level bureaucrats. In the neoliberal paternalist state, the words and deeds of these street-level agents become even more relevant in order to understand the impact of contemporary social policies. This article focuses on the case of migrants in the Netherlands, who are problematised in particular as (potential) welfare subjects. By analysing the civic integration programme content for migrants, it reveals the responsibilising and disciplining discourses and practices used to promote the ideal of citizen-worker. That the task of inculcating the virtues and skills demanded by neoliberal policies has been transferred to private course providers makes state ideology all-invasive. While the lack of integration and participation is linked to individual failure, the state loses its social face in the process.
The Habsburg Monarchy in Conflict with the Ottoman Empire, 1527–1593: A Clash of Civilizations
Authors: Tracy James D.
Published: April 2015

From 1527 until 1606, there was nearly constant fightingon the long frontier in Hungary and Croatia that divided the Ottoman Empire from the Habsburg monarchy. The conflict began when Sultan Suleiman the Lawgiver invaded Hungary in 1526 and defeated King Louis II Jagellio, who died trying to escape. Thereafter, Hungary was claimed by Suleiman, by Archduke Ferdinand of Austria, and by thevojvodof Transylvania, Janós Szapolyai. Apart from the “Long” Turkish War of 1593–1606, major invasions from either side were infrequent. The Habsburg monarchy and the Ottoman Empire also agreed to several multiyear treaties of peace, starting in 1547. When a treaty had elapsed, both powers usually accepted truces in the interim. Yet the 1547 Treaty of Edirne reflected the priorities of distant capitals. Emperor Charles V had to have calm in Hungary in order to pursue his plans against the Protestant Schmalkaldic League in Germany; Suleiman needed quiet in the west, so as to march east against Shi'ite Iran, the Ottoman Empire's main enemy. But neither Charles nor Suleiman required more than a semblance of peace in Hungary. Hence, Ferdinand, like his new adversary, thepaşaor governor-general of Buda, had to deal with border garrisons eager for booty and angry subjects demanding retaliation. The counterpart of imperial peace wasKleinkriegin Hungary and Croatia.
Dancing theKolomyikaat the Opéra-Comique: Léo Delibes's Galician OperaKassya
Authors: Kiebuzinski Ksenya
Published: April 2015

In the spring 1893, the following statement appearedin a theater review in one of the Parisian dailies: “Mais, dans ce diable de pays de Galicie, on n'est jamais tranquille et il faut toujours craindre pour le lendemain [But, in this hell of a land Galicia, it's never quiet, and one must always fear for tomorrow].” These words were written in response to the first, and perhaps the only, opera produced in Western Europe about the Austrian province of Galicia. The work's plot centered on a love triangle between a count, a gypsy girl, and a peasant, and was set against the historical backdrop of the Galician peasant uprising of 1846. The opera in question,Kassya, was the swan song of French composer Léo Delibes, written after a trip he took to Hungary and Austrian Galicia. The critic who penned the above words, Georges Street, certainly knew something about intrigue and conspiracy within the Austrian Empire. He was the grandson of Metternich's master spy, Georg Klindworth, and the son of Agnes Street-Klindworth, who gathered intelligence for her father about refugees of the 1848 upheavals living in Weimar. Delibes's opera and Street's biography interconnect only circumstantially—the former composed the music toKassya;the latter attended a performance and wrote a review—yet this coincidence suggests an interesting avenue for investigation regarding French contacts with East Central Europe.
Pan-Europe's Cosmopolitan Outsiders
Authors: Sorrels Katherine
Published: April 2015

TheHabsburg monarchy has often been held upas a model of European multiethnic coexistence. Such nostalgia is lent a certain credibility by the fact that in the immediate aftermath of the monarchy's collapse, a Habsburg aristocrat, Count Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi, created the Pan-European Union, the most successful pre-1945 movement for European integration. Founded in 1923, the Union still exists today and its honorary president until his death in 2011 was Otto von Habsburg. This seems quite an illustrious pedigree, but the Pan-European Union actually had rather humble origins. The circles in which Coudenhove moved early in his career and those who inspired and supported his movement at its inception hailed from Viennese pacifist and progressive social reform movements. The significance of this formative environment has not been sufficiently explored. What, if anything, was Coudenhove's debt to his Viennese colleagues and predecessors?
A tool for the evaluation of human lower arm injury: approach, experimental validation and application to safe robotics
Authors: Povse B. , Haddadin S. , Belder R. , Koritnik D. , Bajd T.
Published: April 2015

This paper treats the systematic injury analysis of lower arm robot–human impacts. For this purpose, a passive mechanical lower arm (PMLA) was developed that mimics the human impact response and is suitable for systematic impact testing and prediction of mild contusions and lacerations. A mathematical model of the passive human lower arm is adopted to the control of the PMLA. Its biofidelity is verified by a number of comparative impact experiments with the PMLA and a human volunteer. The respective dynamic impact responses show very good consistency and support the fact that the developed device may serve as a human substitute in safety analysis for the described conditions. The collision tests were performed with two different robots: the DLR Lightweight Robot III (LWR-III) and the EPSON PS3L industrial robot. The data acquired in the PMLA impact experiments were used to encapsulate the results in a robot independent safety curve, taking into account robot's reflected inertia, velocity and impact geometry. Safety curves define the velocity boundaries on robot motions based on the instantaneous manipulator dynamics and possible human injury due to unforeseen impacts.
Compensating for livestock killed by lions: payment for environmental services as a policy arrangement
Authors: ANYANGO-VAN ZWIETEN NOWELLA , VAN DER DUIM RENÉ , VISSEREN-HAMAKERS INGRID J.
Published: April 2015

To address human–wildlife conflicts and the related threat of extinction of the African lion, in 2003, the Maasailand Preservation Trust established a fund at the Mbirikani Group Ranch in southern Kenya to provide monetary compensation for livestock killed by wildlife. In this paper, the policy arrangement approach (PAA) is used to analyse this arrangement as a form of payment for environmental services (PES). Although there has been a considerable reduction in the number of lions killed, the analysis reveals several limitations of this arrangement, including three main side effects, namely it has initiated a process that is difficult to sustain or reverse, created a new cycle of dependence and widened the gap between different groups in the community. In conclusion, the drawbacks of this type of compensation fund must be addressed by combining such arrangements with other public and private policies and initiatives. Careful examination and comparison of different kinds of experiments with PES-like arrangements are required to further build understanding of the potential and different contributions of public and private, market-based initiatives in biodiversity governance.
Quantification of stacking disordered Si–Al layer silicates by the Rietveld method: application to exploration for high-sulphidation epithermal gold deposits
Authors: Ufer Kristian , Kleeberg Reinhard , Monecke Thomas
Published: April 2015

Hydrothermally altered rocks hosting precious metal deposits frequently contain stacking disordered layer silicates. X-ray diffraction analysis using the Rietveld method can be used to determine mineral abundances in these rocks if suitable disorder models are applied. It is shown here that disorder models of kaolinite and pyrophyllite can be described by a recursive calculation of structure factors. This permits the physically sound refinement of real structure parameters of these disordered minerals and the determination of mineral abundances. Even mixtures containing two disordered Si–Al layer silicates can be quantified reliably. The developed disorder models can now be implemented in routine phase analysis, allowing the quantification of large numbers of samples to identify mineralogical gradients surrounding ore deposits.
An assessment of the distribution, population size and conservation status of the Santa Marta Foliage-gleanerAutomolus rufipectus: a Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta endemic
Authors: BOTERO-DELGADILLO ESTEBAN , BAYLY NICHOLAS , GÓMEZ CAMILA , PULGARÍN-R. PAULO C. , PÁEZ CARLOS ANDRÉS
Published: April 2015

The Santa Marta Foliage-gleanerAutomolus rufipectusis one of 19 endemic bird species found in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (SNSM) in northern Colombia but until recently it was considered a sub-species of the Ruddy Foliage-gleanerAutomolus rubiginosus. Consequently, published information on its distribution and ecology is lacking, and while it is classified as near- threatened, this designation was based on limited quantitative data. To improve our knowledge of the Santa Marta Foliage-gleaner’s geographical distribution, elevation range, population density, habitat use and conservation status, we analysed both historical and recent site locality records and carried out variable distance transects within forested habitats and shade coffee plantations. We modelled the environmental niche of the species and subsequently estimated its extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, as well as population size. Our results consistently showed that the distribution of the Santa Marta Foliage-gleaner is more restricted than previously considered, both geographically and by elevation (we redefine elevation range as 600–1,875 m). This suggests that the species is more at risk of habitat transformation and combined with our estimates of population size (< 10,000 individuals), it is likely that the species will be uplisted to a higher threat category. More positively, and contrary to published accounts, we found that approximately 40% of the species’ range lies within protected areas. Nevertheless, we recommend the implementation of strategies to maintain forest cover on the western flank of the SNSM and further research to better define the species’ habitat needs and population dynamics.
Evaluation of a novel biomarker of added sugar intake (δ13C) compared with self-reported added sugar intake and the Healthy Eating Index-2010 in a community-based, rural US sample
Authors: Hedrick Valisa E , Davy Brenda M , Wilburn Grace A , Jahren A Hope , Zoellner Jamie M
Published: April 2015

Objective

The δ13C value of human blood is an emerging novel biomarker of added sugar (AS) intake for adults. However, no free-living, community-based assessments of comparative validity of this biomarker have been conducted. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine if Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010) score, SoFAAS score (HEI-2010 sub-component for solid fat, alcohol and AS), AS and sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intakes were associated with δ13C value of fingerstick blood in a community-based sample of adults, while controlling for relevant demographics.

Design

A cross-sectional analysis of data obtained from assessments of BMI, dietary intake using 24 h recalls and a fingerstick blood sample was completed. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, multiple linear regression and one-way ANOVA.

Setting

Rural Southwest Virginia, USA.

Subjects

Adults (n 216) aged >18 years who consumed at least 837 kJ/d (200 kcal/d) from SSB.

Results

This sample of adult participants with low socio-economic status demonstrated a mean HEI-2010 score of 43·4 (sd 12·2), mean SoFAAS score of 10·2 (sd 5·7), mean AS intake of 93 (sd 65) g/d and mean blood δ13C value of −18·88 (sd 0·7) ‰. In four separate regression models, HEI-2010 (R2=0·16), SoFAAS (R2=0·19), AS (R2=0·15) and SSB (R2=0·14) predicted δ13C value (all P≤0·001). Age was also predictive of δ13C value, but not sex or race.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that fingerstick δ13C value has the potential to be a minimally invasive method for assessing AS and SSB intake and overall dietary quality in community-based settings. Strengths, limitations and future areas of research for using an objective δ13C biomarker in diet-related public health studies are discussed.
Hexagonal plate-like magnetite nanocrystals produced in komatiite–H2O–CO2reaction system at 450°C
Authors: Hao Xi-Luo , Li Yi-Liang
Published: April 2015

Batch experiments of komatiite–H2O–CO2system with temperatures from 200 to 450°C were performed to simulate the interactions between the newly formed ultramafic crust and the proto-atmosphere on Earth before the formation of its earliest ocean. Particularly, magnetite nanocrystals were observed in the experiment carried out at 450°C that are characterized by their hexagonal platelet-like morphology and porous structure. Exactly the same set of lattice fringes on the two opposite sides of one pore suggests post-crystallization erosion. The results demonstrate that magnetite could be produced by the direct interactions between the ultramafic rocky crust and the atmosphere before the formation of the ocean on the Hadean Earth. These magnetite nanoparticles could serve as a catalyst in the synthesis of simple organic molecules during the organochemical evolution towards life.
Structural basis for the targeting of complement anaphylatoxin C5a using a mixed L-RNA/L-DNA aptamer
Authors: Yatime Laure , Maasch Christian , Hoehlig Kai , Klussmann Sven , Andersen Gregers R. , Vater Axel
Published: April 2015

L-Oligonucleotide aptamers (Spiegelmers) consist of non-natural L-configured nucleotides and are of particular therapeutic interest due to their high resistance to plasma nucleases. The anaphylatoxin C5a, a potent inflammatory mediator generated during complement activation that has been implicated with organ damage, can be efficiently targeted by Spiegelmers. Here, we present the first crystallographic structures of an active Spiegelmer, NOX-D20, bound to its physiological targets, mouse C5a and C5a-desArg. The structures reveal a complex 3D architecture for the L-aptamer that wraps around C5a, including an intramolecular G-quadruplex stabilized by a central Ca2+ ion. Functional validation of the observed L-aptamer:C5a binding mode through mutational studies also rationalizes the specificity of NOX-D20 for mouse and human C5a against macaque and rat C5a. Finally, our structural model provides the molecular basis for the Spiegelmer affinity improvement through positional L-ribonucleotide to L-deoxyribonucleotide exchanges and for its inhibition of the C5a:C5aR interaction.
Developmental genetic bases behind the independent origin of the tympanic membrane in mammals and diapsids
Authors: Kitazawa Taro , Takechi Masaki , Hirasawa Tatsuya , Adachi Noritaka , Narboux-Nême Nicolas , Kume Hideaki , Maeda Kazuhiro , Hirai Tamami , Miyagawa-Tomita Sachiko , Kurihara Yukiko , Hitomi Jiro , Levi Giovanni , Kuratani Shigeru , Kurihara Hiroki
Published: April 2015

The amniote middle ear is a classical example of the evolutionary novelty. Although paleontological evidence supports the view that mammals and diapsids (modern reptiles and birds) independently acquired the middle ear after divergence from their common ancestor, the developmental bases of these transformations remain unknown. Here we show that lower-to-upper jaw transformation induced by inactivation of the Endothelin1-Dlx5/6 cascade involving Goosecoid results in loss of the tympanic membrane in mouse, but causes duplication of the tympanic membrane in chicken. Detailed anatomical analysis indicates that the relative positions of the primary jaw joint and first pharyngeal pouch led to the coupling of tympanic membrane formation with the lower jaw in mammals, but with the upper jaw in diapsids. We propose that differences in connection and release by various pharyngeal skeletal elements resulted in structural diversity, leading to the acquisition of the tympanic membrane in two distinct manners during amniote evolution.
ASK1 restores the antiviral activity of APOBEC3G by disrupting HIV-1 Vif-mediated counteraction
Authors: Miyakawa Kei , Matsunaga Satoko , Kanou Kazuhiko , Matsuzawa Atsushi , Morishita Ryo , Kudoh Ayumi , Shindo Keisuke , Yokoyama Masaru , Sato Hironori , Kimura Hirokazu , Tamura Tomohiko , Yamamoto Naoki , Ichijo Hidenori , Takaori-Kondo Akifumi , Ryo Akihide
Published: April 2015

APOBEC3G (A3G) is an innate antiviral restriction factor that strongly inhibits the replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). An HIV-1 accessory protein, Vif, hijacks the host ubiquitin–proteasome system to execute A3G degradation. Identification of the host pathways that obstruct the action of Vif could provide a new strategy for blocking viral replication. We demonstrate here that the host protein ASK1 (apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1) interferes with the counteraction by Vif and revitalizes A3G-mediated viral restriction. ASK1 binds the BC-box of Vif, thereby disrupting the assembly of the Vif–ubiquitin ligase complex. Consequently, ASK1 stabilizes A3G and promotes its incorporation into viral particles, ultimately reducing viral infectivity. Furthermore, treatment with the antiretroviral drug AZT (zidovudine) induces ASK1 expression and restores the antiviral activity of A3G in HIV-1-infected cells. This study thus demonstrates a distinct function of ASK1 in restoring the host antiviral system that can be enhanced by AZT treatment.
Highly compressible 3D periodic graphene aerogel microlattices
Authors: Zhu Cheng , Han T. Yong-Jin , Duoss Eric B. , Golobic Alexandra M. , Kuntz Joshua D. , Spadaccini Christopher M. , Worsley Marcus A.
Published: April 2015

Graphene is a two-dimensional material that offers a unique combination of low density, exceptional mechanical properties, large surface area and excellent electrical conductivity. Recent progress has produced bulk 3D assemblies of graphene, such as graphene aerogels, but they possess purely stochastic porous networks, which limit their performance compared with the potential of an engineered architecture. Here we report the fabrication of periodic graphene aerogel microlattices, possessing an engineered architecture via a 3D printing technique known as direct ink writing. The 3D printed graphene aerogels are lightweight, highly conductive and exhibit supercompressibility (up to 90% compressive strain). Moreover, the Young’s moduli of the 3D printed graphene aerogels show an order of magnitude improvement over bulk graphene materials with comparable geometric density and possess large surface areas. Adapting the 3D printing technique to graphene aerogels realizes the possibility of fabricating a myriad of complex aerogel architectures for a broad range of applications.
Subdiffractional focusing and guiding of polaritonic rays in a natural hyperbolic material
Authors: Dai S. , Ma Q. , Andersen T. , Mcleod A. S. , Fei Z. , Liu M. K. , Wagner M. , Watanabe K. , Taniguchi T. , Thiemens M. , Keilmann F. , Jarillo-Herrero P. , Fogler M. M. , Basov D. N.
Published: April 2015

Uniaxial materials whose axial and tangential permittivities have opposite signs are referred to as indefinite or hyperbolic media. In such materials, light propagation is unusual leading to novel and often non-intuitive optical phenomena. Here we report infrared nano-imaging experiments demonstrating that crystals of hexagonal boron nitride, a natural mid-infrared hyperbolic material, can act as a ‘hyper-focusing lens’ and as a multi-mode waveguide. The lensing is manifested by subdiffractional focusing of phonon–polaritons launched by metallic disks underneath the hexagonal boron nitride crystal. The waveguiding is revealed through the modal analysis of the periodic patterns observed around such launchers and near the sample edges. Our work opens new opportunities for anisotropic layered insulators in infrared nanophotonics complementing and potentially surpassing concurrent artificial hyperbolic materials with lower losses and higher optical localization.
Athermally photoreduced graphene oxides for three-dimensional holographic images
Authors: Li Xiangping , Ren Haoran , Chen Xi , Liu Juan , Li Qin , Li Chengmingyue , Xue Gaolei , Jia Jia , Cao Liangcai , Sahu Amit , Hu Bin , Wang Yongtian , Jin Guofan , Gu Min
Published: April 2015

The emerging graphene-based material, an atomic layer of aromatic carbon atoms with exceptional electronic and optical properties, has offered unprecedented prospects for developing flat two-dimensional displaying systems. Here, we show that reduced graphene oxide enabled write-once holograms for wide-angle and full-colour three-dimensional images. This is achieved through the discovery of subwavelength-scale multilevel optical index modulation of athermally reduced graphene oxides by a single femtosecond pulsed beam. This new feature allows for static three-dimensional holographic images with a wide viewing angle up to 52 degrees. In addition, the spectrally flat optical index modulation in reduced graphene oxides enables wavelength-multiplexed holograms for full-colour images. The large and polarization-insensitive phase modulation over π in reduced graphene oxide composites enables to restore vectorial wavefronts of polarization discernible images through the vectorial diffraction of a reconstruction beam. Therefore, our technique can be leveraged to achieve compact and versatile holographic components for controlling light.
The hypomethylating agent Decitabine causes a paradoxical increase in 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in human leukemia cells
Authors: Chowdhury Basudev , McGovern Andrew , Cui Yi , Choudhury Samrat Roy , Cho Il-Hoon , Cooper Bruce , Chevassut Timothy , Lossie Amy C. , Irudayaraj Joseph
Published: April 2015

The USFDA approved “epigenetic drug”, Decitabine, exerts its effect by hypomethylating DNA, demonstrating the pivotal role aberrant genome-wide DNA methylation patterns play in cancer ontology. Using sensitive technologies in a cellular model of Acute Myeloid Leukemia, we demonstrate that while Decitabine reduces the global levels of 5-methylcytosine (5mC), it results in paradoxical increase of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), 5-formylcytosine (5fC) and 5-carboxylcytosine (5caC) levels. Hitherto, the only biological mechanism known to generate 5hmC, 5fC and 5caC, involving oxidation of 5mC by members of Ten-Eleven-Translocation (TET) dioxygenase family, was not observed to undergo any alteration during DAC treatment. Using a multi-compartmental model of DNA methylation, we show that partial selectivity of TET enzymes for hemi-methylated CpG dinucleotides could lead to such alterations in 5hmC content. Furthermore, we investigated the binding of TET1-catalytic domain (CD)-GFP to DNA by Fluorescent Correlation Spectroscopy in live cells and detected the gradual increase of the DNA bound fraction of TET1-CD-GFP after treatment with Decitabine. Our study provides novel insights on the therapeutic activity of DAC in the backdrop of the newly discovered derivatives of 5mC and suggests that 5hmC has the potential to serve as a biomarker for monitoring the clinical success of patients receiving DAC.
Variations in the non-coding transcriptome as a driver of inter-strain divergence and physiological adaptation in bacteria
Authors: Kopf Matthias , Klähn Stephan , Scholz Ingeborg , Hess Wolfgang R. , Voß Björn
Published: April 2015

In all studied organisms, a substantial portion of the transcriptome consists of non-coding RNAs that frequently execute regulatory functions. Here, we have compared the primary transcriptomes of the cyanobacteria Synechocystis sp. PCC 6714 and PCC 6803 under 10 different conditions. These strains share 2854 protein-coding genes and a 16S rRNA identity of 99.4%, indicating their close relatedness. Conserved major transcriptional start sites (TSSs) give rise to non-coding transcripts within the sigB gene, from the 5′UTRs of cmpA and isiA and 168 loci in antisense orientation. Distinct differences include single nucleotide polymorphisms rendering promoters inactive in one of the strains, e.g., for cmpR and for the asRNA PsbA2R. Based on the genome-wide mapped location, regulation and classification of TSSs, non-coding transcripts were identified as the most dynamic component of the transcriptome. We identified a class of mRNAs that originate by read-through from an sRNA that accumulates as a discrete and abundant transcript while also serving as the 5′UTR. Such an sRNA/mRNA structure, which we name ‘actuaton’, represents another way for bacteria to remodel their transcriptional network. Our findings support the hypothesis that variations in the non-coding transcriptome constitute a major evolutionary element of inter-strain divergence and capability for physiological adaptation.
Releasing N-glycan from Peptide N-terminus by N-terminal Succinylation Assisted Enzymatic Deglycosylation
Authors: Weng Yejing , Sui Zhigang , Jiang Hao , Shan Yichu , Chen Lingfan , Zhang Shen , Zhang Lihua , Zhang Yukui
Published: April 2015

Due to the important roles of N-glycoproteins in various biological processes, the global N-glycoproteome analysis has been paid much attention. However, by current strategies for N-glycoproteome profiling, peptides with glycosylated Asn at N-terminus (PGANs), generated by protease digestion, could hardly be identified, due to the poor deglycosylation capacity by enzymes. However, theoretically, PGANs occupy 10% of N-glycopeptides in the typical tryptic digests. Therefore, in this study, we developed a novel strategy to identify PGANs by releasing N-glycans through the N-terminal site-selective succinylation assisted enzymatic deglycosylation. The obtained PGANs information is beneficial to not only achieve the deep coverage analysis of glycoproteomes, but also discover the new biological functions of such modification.
The effect of ionic strength on oil adhesion in sandstone – the search for the low salinity mechanism
Authors: Hilner E. , Andersson M. P. , Hassenkam T. , Matthiesen J. , Salino P. A. , Stipp S. L. S.
Published: April 2015

Core flood and field tests have demonstrated that decreasing injection water salinity increases oil recovery from sandstone reservoirs. However, the microscopic mechanism behind the effect is still under debate. One hypothesis is that as salinity decreases, expansion of the electrical double layer decreases attraction between organic molecules and pore surfaces. We have developed a method that uses atomic force microscopy (AFM) in chemical force mapping (CFM) mode to explore the relationship between wettability and salinity. We functionalised AFM tips with alkanes and used them to represent tiny nonpolar oil droplets. In repeated measurements, we brought our “oil” close to the surface of sand grains taken from core plugs and we measured the adhesion between the tip and sample. Adhesion was constant in high salinity solutions but below a threshold of 5,000 to 8,000 ppm, adhesion decreased as salinity decreased, rendering the surface less oil wet. The effect was consistent, reproducible and reversible. The threshold for the onset of low salinity response fits remarkably well with observations from core plug experiments and field tests. The results demonstrate that the electric double layer force always contributes at least in part to the low salinity effect, decreasing oil wettability when salinity is low.
Mass spectrometric analysis for nuclear safeguards
Authors: Boulyga Sergei , Konegger-Kappel Stefanie , Richter Stephan , Sangély Laure
Published: April 2015

An important part of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards system is the “analytical laboratory”, with mass spectrometric techniques, belonging to the most powerful methods for the analysis of nuclear material and environmental samples collected during inspections.
Effect of dynamic disorder on charge carrier dynamics in Ph4DP and Ph4DTP molecules
Authors: Navamani K. , Senthilkumar K.
Published: April 2015

Electronic structure calculations were used to study the charge transport and optical properties of 2,2′,6,6′-tetraphenyldipyranylidene (Ph4DP) and its sulfur analogue 2,2′,6,6′-tetraphenyldithiopyranylidene (Ph4DTP) based molecules.
A concise formal total synthesis of lactimidomycin
Authors: Li Wei , Georg Gunda I.
Published: April 2015

An ene–yne coupling/alkyne reduction tandem ring-closing reaction was employed for the formal total synthesis of the anti-tumor natural product lactimidomycin.
An in situ Raman spectroscopy-based microfluidic “lab-on-a-chip” platform for non-destructive and continuous characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms
Authors: Feng Jinsong , de la Fuente-Núñez César , Trimble Michael J. , Xu Jie , Hancock Robert E. W. , Lu Xiaonan
Published: April 2015

Pseudomonas aeruginosabiofilm was cultivated and characterized in a microfluidic “lab-on-a-chip” platform coupled with confocal Raman microscopy in a non-destructive manner.
Copper-triggered three-component reaction of CF3CHN2, nitriles, and aldehydes: highly diastereoselective synthesis of CF3-substituted oxazolines and vicinal amino alcohols
Authors: Cai Ai-Jie , Zheng Yan , Ma Jun-An
Published: April 2015

A novel, catalytic, three-component C–C, C–N and C–O bond forming reaction to afford CF3-substituted oxazolines is realized.
Influence of surface functionalization on the hydrophilic character of mesoporous silica nanoparticles
Authors: Musso G. E. , Bottinelli E. , Celi L. , Magnacca G. , Berlier G.
Published: April 2015

Microgravimetric water sorption isotherms measured on functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN).
Energies and structures in biradical chemistry from the parametric two-electron reduced-density matrix method: applications to the benzene and cyclobutadiene biradicals
Authors: McManus Alison L. , Hoy Erik P. , Mazziotti David A.
Published: April 2015

The treatment of biradical chemistry presents a challenge for electronic structure theory, especially single-reference methods, as it requires the description of varying degrees and kinds of electron correlation.
4-Substituent pyridine directed cobalt(ii) azides: solvothermal synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties
Authors: Zhao Jiong-Peng , Zhao Cui , Song Wei-Chao , Wang Lei , Xie Yabo , Li Jian-Rong , Bu Xian-He
Published: April 2015

Azido-bridged magnetic complexes: Different 4-substituent groups of pyridine co-ligands directed the linkages between azide and Co(ii) ions, to give three azide–Co(ii) complexes with different structures and magnetic properties.
An efficient synthesis of 2,4,7-trisubstituted pyrimido[1,2-a][1,3,5]triazin-6-ones
Authors: Sachdeva Nikhil , Dolzhenko Anton V. , Lim Seow Joo , Ong Wee Ling , Chui Wai Keung
Published: April 2015

A practical synthesis of 3,4-dihydro pyrimido[1,2-a][1,3,5]triazin-6-ones, experimental and theoretical assessment of their tautomeric preferences and biological activity results are presented.
Activation of carbon dioxide by new mixed sandwich uranium(iii) complexes incorporating cyclooctatetraenyl and pyrrolide, phospholide, or arsolide ligands
Authors: Kahan Rachel J. , Cloke F. Geoffrey N. , Roe S. Mark , Nief François
Published: April 2015

Mixed-sandwich complexes of the type [U(COTTIPS2)(CpEMe4)] (where E is N or P and COTTIPS2 = C8H6{1,4-SiiPr3}) both reduce and insert CO2 to afford dimeric, oxo-bridged, uranium carbamate and phosphacarbonate complexes.
Rare-earth–iridium heterobimetallic complexes with bridging imido and silylmethyl ligands: synthesis, structure and reactivity
Authors: Shima Takanori , Yanagi Takako , Hou Zhaomin
Published: April 2015

The reaction of [(C5Me5)IrNtBu] with [(C5Me4R)Ln(CH2SiMe3)2(THF)] (Ln = Lu, Sc; R = Me, SiMe3) afforded novel heterometallic rare earth–iridium imido complexes, which show unique structural features and reactivities.
Gold nanorods-paper electrode based enzyme-free electrochemical immunoassay for prostate specific antigen using porous zinc oxide spheres–silver nanoparticles nanocomposites as labels
Authors: Sun Guoqiang , Liu Haiyun , Zhang Yan , Yu Jinghua , Yan Mei , Song Xianrang , He Wenxing
Published: April 2015

Gold nanorods-modified paper electrode and porous zinc oxide spheres–silver nanoparticles nanocomposites were used to construct an enzyme-free immunosensor.
Biodegradation of bromoxynil using the cascade enzymatic system nitrile hydratase/amidase from Microbacterium imperiale CBS 498-74. Comparison between free enzymes and resting cells
Authors: Pasquarelli Fabrizia , Spera Agata , Cantarella Laura , Cantarella Maria
Published: April 2015

This work investigates the biodegradation of bromoxynil to the corresponding acid to reduce its acute toxicity.
Surface modification of neural electrodes with a pyrrole-hyaluronic acid conjugate to attenuate reactive astrogliosis in vivo
Authors: Lee J. Y. , Khaing Z. Z. , Siegel J. J. , Schmidt C. E.
Published: April 2015

Surfaces of neural probes were electrochemically modified with a non-cell adhesive and biocompatible conjugate, pyrrole-hyaluronic acid (PyHA), to reduce reactive astrogliosis.