bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Positive and Negative Consequences of Making Coffee among Breakfast Related Irrelevant Objects: Evidence from MCI, Dementia, and Healthy Ageing
Authors: Rodríguez-Bailón María , García-Morán Tamara , Montoro-Membila Nuria , Ródenas-García Estrella , Montoro Marisa Arnedo , Funes Molina María Jesús
Published: May 2017

Objectives: Previous studies have reported impairments in activities of daily living (ADL) performance in the presence of irrelevant but physically/functionally related objects in dementia patients. The aim of the present study was to increase our knowledge about the impact of the presence of contextually related non-target objects on ADL execution in patients with multi-domain mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. Methods: We compared ADL execution in patients with MCI, dementia, and healthy elderly participants under two experimental conditions: One in which the target objects were embedded with contextually related non-target items that constituted the object set necessary to complete two additional (but unrequired) ADL tasks related to the target task, and a second, control condition where target objects were surrounded by isolated objects (they never constituted a whole set needed to complete an alternative ADL task). Results: Separate analysis of ADL errors associated with the target task versus errors involving the non-target objects revealed that, although the presence of contextually related objects facilitated the accomplishment of the target task, such a condition also led to errors involving the use of irrelevant objects in dementia and MCI. Conclusions: The presence of contextually related non-target items produces both positive and negative effects on ADL performance. These types of non-target objects might help to cue the retrieval of the action schema related to the target task, particularly in patients with MCI. In contrast, the presence of these objects might also lead to distraction in dementia and MCI. (JINS, 2017, 23, 481–492)
Earnings volatility and 401(k) contributions
Authors: GHILARDUCCI TERESA , SAAD-LESSLER JOELLE , REZNIK GAYLE
Published: May 2017

Using longitudinal Survey of Income and Program Participation data linked to Social Security Administration administrative records from 2009 and 2012, we find negative economic shocks cause 401(k) contribution behavior to react in ways consistent with reactions to fear and past trauma. If employees participating in 401(k) plans did not experience real earnings declines or unemployment spells between 2009 and 2012, then their contribution rates would have been 5% higher and each person would have contributed US $193 more toward their defined contribution plan accounts. We conclude that previous studies may have swung too far in emphasizing inertia as a primary behavior trait explaining workers’ 401(k) plan engagement. Reactive behavior to protect living standards by reducing retirement savings is also important.
High-yielding winter synthetic hexaploid wheats resistant to multiple diseases and pests
Authors: Morgounov Alexey , Abugalieva Aygul , Akan Kadir , Akın Beyhan , Baenziger Stephen , Bhatta Madhav , Dababat Abdelfattah A. , Demir Lütfü , Dutbayev Yerlan , El Bouhssini Moustapha , Erginbaş-Orakci Gül , Kishii Masahiro , Keser Mesut , Koç Emrah , Kurespek Altynbek , Mujeeb-Kazi Abdul , Yorgancılar Aysel , Özdemir Fatih , Özturk Ibrahim , Payne Thomas , Qadimaliyeva Gular , Shamanin Vladimir , Subasi Kemal , Suleymanova Gulnura , Yakişir Enes , Zelenskiy Yuriy
Published: May 2017

Development of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) synthetics started at CIMMYT-Mexico in 2004, when winter durum wheat (Triticum turgidum) germplasm from Ukraine and Romania was crossed with Aegilops tauschii accessions from the Caspian Sea region. Chromosomes were doubled after pollination and embryo rescue, but chromosome number and cytological validation was not performed. F2 populations were grown in Mexico and were shipped to Turkey in 2008. During 2009–2015, these populations were subjected to rigorous pedigree selection under dry, cold, disease-affected environments of the Central Anatolian Plateau. The wide segregation and partial sterility observed in 2009 gradually decreased and, by 2016, most of the F8 single spike progenies demonstrated good fertility and agronomic performance. Since 2013, lines have been selected from synthetic populations and evaluated at multiple sites. Superior lines were characterized for resistance to leaf, stripe and stem rust, plant height, and reaction to common bunt and soil-borne pathogens. Thousand kernel weight of many lines exceeded 50 g, compared with the check varieties that barely reached 40 g. Threshability of synthetic lines varied from 0 to 95%, demonstrating genetic variation for this important domestication trait. Screening against Hessian fly, sunny pest and Russian wheat aphid identified several resistant genotypes. Both durum and Aegilops parents affected synthetic wheat traits. Several studies are underway to reveal the genetic diversity of synthetic lines and the basis of resistance to diseases and insects. This synthetic germplasm represents a new winter bread wheat parental pool. It is available upon request to interested breeding/research programmes.
Law and compassion: between ethics and economy, philosophical speculation and arche-ology
Authors: Diamantides Marinos
Published: May 2017

This paper examines the relationship between law and compassion from the perspective of two diverse scholars. For philosopher Emmanuel Levinas, rejecting the ideahomo homini lupus,there can simply be no organised societybutfor a primordial, unauthorised, human vocation for compassion (egoism and violence, for him, are nothing but attempts to repress this). Levinas, however, must be understood, as speaking of compassion not in the usual sense, that is as involving a human capacity for, and cultures of, empathy; he defines it, rather, in phenomenological terms, as an irreducible excess of affectivity for the ultimately meaningless suffering of another, beyond all theodicy and causality, whom one is ethically commanded to offer succour to as if s/he is a ‘higher’ and absolutely unique Other, prior to any comparison and judgment. General legal principles and rigorous rules, Natural Justice and positive law are equally ‘born’ of such an-archic, individuated, compassion for which one can only retroactively account. Justice is ‘born’ as one attempts to justify to third parties why one's care benefits some but not others; the paper argues that this perspective is preferable to prioritising empathic compassion over law for it binds compassion with responsibility. Turning to Giorgio Agamben, the role of compassion takes on a darker character; his historicised investigations of the ‘Western-Christian’ paradigm shows how the Greek and Roman legal principles ofepieikeiaandaequitasmerged with the Christian postulates of God-dictated philanthropy and ‘divine economy’ (Gr:oikonomia), leading to – instead of ethical anarchy followed by with infinite responsibility (Levinas) –anomie,legal exceptionalism and social control via patronage and other biopolitical practices to spectacles of compassion. This suggests that what Levinas calls ‘ethical anarchy’ has been captured by economic rationality and endless processes of anomic management that are equally free of ethical constraints as they are from legal and political decision. With reference to contemporary examples from the ‘law and emotion’ debates, medical laws and humanitarianism, the paper asks the reader to ponder upon the importance, if any, of Levinas's thesis in a world where the expediency of managerial rationality, the secular heir of divineoikonomia,prevails over moral, legal and political principle.
Pathologisches Hautzupfen/-quetschen (Skin Picking)
Authors: Mehrmann Linda M. , Hunger Antje , Gerlach Alexander L.
Published: May 2017

Zusammenfassung. Theoretischer Hintergrund: Pathologisches Hautzupfen/-quetschen (Dermatillomanie) ist mit der Aufnahme in das DSM-5 eine anerkannte psychische Störung. Fragestellung: Die Arbeit überprüft zwei Messinstrumente auf ihre psychometrische Güte: Die modifizierte deutsche Übersetzung der Skin Picking Scale (mSPS-D) und die Skin Picking Impact Scale (SPIS-D). Methode: Mittels einer Online-Erhebung wurden die Fragebögen an einer von Dermatillomanie betroffenen Stichprobe psychometrisch und faktorenanalytisch untersucht. Ergebnisse: Für die mSPS-D wurden für drei Subskalen sowie die Gesamtskala gute bis sehr gute Reliabilitätswerte (α = .76 – .81) ermittelt. Für den SPIS-D konnte die Faktorenstruktur der Kurzversion repliziert werden (α = .81). Beide Fragebögen können damit als reliable, valide und ökonomische Messinstrumente zur Erfassung von Pathologischem Hautzupfen/-quetschen gelten. Schlussfolgerungen: Die Messinstrumente bieten eine gute Grundlage für die weitere Erforschung des Pathologischen Hautzupfen/-quetschens.
Genomic exploration of individual giant ocean viruses
Authors: Wilson William H , Gilg Ilana C , Moniruzzaman Mohammad , Field Erin K , Koren Sergey , LeCleir Gary R , Martínez Martínez Joaquín , Poulton Nicole J , Swan Brandon K , Stepanauskas Ramunas , Wilhelm Steven W
Published: May 2017

Viruses are major pathogens in all biological systems. Virus propagation and downstream analysis remains a challenge, particularly in the ocean where the majority of their microbial hosts remain recalcitrant to current culturing techniques. We used a cultivation-independent approach to isolate and sequence individual viruses. The protocol uses high-speed fluorescence-activated virus sorting flow cytometry, multiple displacement amplification (MDA), and downstream genomic sequencing. We focused on ‘giant viruses’ that are readily distinguishable by flow cytometry. From a single-milliliter sample of seawater collected from off the dock at Boothbay Harbor, ME, USA, we sorted almost 700 single virus particles, and subsequently focused on a detailed genome analysis of 12. A wide diversity of viruses was identified that included Iridoviridae, extended Mimiviridae and even a taxonomically novel (unresolved) giant virus. We discovered a viral metacaspase homolog in one of our sorted virus particles and discussed its implications in rewiring host metabolism to enhance infection. In addition, we demonstrated that viral metacaspases are widespread in the ocean. We also discovered a virus that contains both a reverse transcriptase and a transposase; although highly speculative, we suggest such a genetic complement would potentially allow this virus to exploit a latency propagation mechanism. Application of single virus genomics provides a powerful opportunity to circumvent cultivation of viruses, moving directly to genomic investigation of naturally occurring viruses, with the assurance that the sequence data is virus-specific, non-chimeric and contains no cellular contamination.
Image-guided genomics of phenotypically heterogeneous populations reveals vascular signalling during symbiotic collective cancer invasion
Authors: Konen J. , Summerbell E. , Dwivedi B. , Galior K. , Hou Y. , Rusnak L. , Chen A. , Saltz J. , Zhou W. , Boise L. H. , Vertino P. , Cooper L. , Salaita K. , Kowalski J. , Marcus A. I.
Published: May 2017

Phenotypic heterogeneity is widely observed in cancer cell populations. Here, to probe this heterogeneity, we developed an image-guided genomics technique termed spatiotemporal genomic and cellular analysis (SaGA) that allows for precise selection and amplification of living and rare cells. SaGA was used on collectively invading 3D cancer cell packs to create purified leader and follower cell lines. The leader cell cultures are phenotypically stable and highly invasive in contrast to follower cultures, which show phenotypic plasticity over time and minimally invade in a sheet-like pattern. Genomic and molecular interrogation reveals an atypical VEGF-based vasculogenesis signalling that facilitates recruitment of follower cells but not for leader cell motility itself, which instead utilizes focal adhesion kinase-fibronectin signalling. While leader cells provide an escape mechanism for followers, follower cells in turn provide leaders with increased growth and survival. These data support a symbiotic model of collective invasion where phenotypically distinct cell types cooperate to promote their escape.
Giant five-photon absorption from multidimensional core-shell halide perovskite colloidal nanocrystals
Authors: Chen Weiqiang , Bhaumik Saikat , Veldhuis Sjoerd A. , Xing Guichuan , Xu Qiang , Grätzel Michael , Mhaisalkar Subodh , Mathews Nripan , Sum Tze Chien
Published: May 2017

Multiphoton absorption processes enable many technologically important applications, such as in vivo imaging, photodynamic therapy and optical limiting, and so on. Specifically, higher-order nonlinear absorption such as five-photon absorption offers significant advantages of greater spatial confinement, increased penetration depth, reduced autofluorescence, enhanced sensitivity and improved resolution over lower orders in bioimaging. Organic chromophores and conventional semiconductor nanocrystals are leaders in two-/three-photon absorption applications, but face considerable challenges from their small five-photon action cross-sections. Herein, we reveal that the family of halide perovskite colloidal nanocrystals transcend these constraints with highly efficient five-photon-excited upconversion fluorescence—unprecedented for semiconductor nanocrystals. Amazingly, their multidimensional type I (both conduction and valence band edges of core lie within bandgap of shell) core–shell (three-dimensional methylammonium lead bromide/two-dimensional octylammonium lead bromide) perovskite nanocrystals exhibit five-photon action cross-sections that are at least 9 orders larger than state-of-the-art specially designed organic molecules. Importantly, this family of halide perovskite nanocrystals may enable fresh approaches for next-generation multiphoton imaging applications.
PTEN regulates glioblastoma oncogenesis through chromatin-associated complexes of DAXX and histone H3.3
Authors: Benitez Jorge A. , Ma Jianhui , D’Antonio Matteo , Boyer Antonia , Camargo Maria Fernanda , Zanca Ciro , Kelly Stephen , Khodadadi-Jamayran Alireza , Jameson Nathan M. , Andersen Michael , Miletic Hrvoje , Saberi Shahram , Frazer Kelly A. , Cavenee Webster K. , Furnari Frank B.
Published: May 2017

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most lethal type of human brain cancer, where deletions and mutations in the tumour suppressor gene PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog) are frequent events and are associated with therapeutic resistance. Herein, we report a novel chromatin-associated function of PTEN in complex with the histone chaperone DAXX and the histone variant H3.3. We show that PTEN interacts with DAXX and, in turn PTEN directly regulates oncogene expression by modulating DAXX-H3.3 association on the chromatin, independently of PTEN enzymatic activity. Furthermore, DAXX inhibition specifically suppresses tumour growth and improves the survival of orthotopically engrafted mice implanted with human PTEN-deficient glioma samples, associated with global H3.3 genomic distribution changes leading to upregulation of tumour suppressor genes and downregulation of oncogenes. Moreover, DAXX expression anti-correlates with PTEN expression in GBM patient samples. Since loss of chromosome 10 and PTEN are common events in cancer, this synthetic growth defect mediated by DAXX suppression represents a therapeutic opportunity to inhibit tumorigenesis specifically in the context of PTEN deletion.
Phosphorylation induces sequence-specific conformational switches in the RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain
Authors: Gibbs Eric B. , Lu Feiyue , Portz Bede , Fisher Michael J. , Medellin Brenda P. , Laremore Tatiana N. , Zhang Yan Jessie , Gilmour David S. , Showalter Scott A.
Published: May 2017

The carboxy-terminal domain (CTD) of the RNA polymerase II (Pol II) large subunit cycles through phosphorylation states that correlate with progression through the transcription cycle and regulate nascent mRNA processing. Structural analyses of yeast and mammalian CTD are hampered by their repetitive sequences. Here we identify a region of the Drosophila melanogaster CTD that is essential for Pol II function in vivo and capitalize on natural sequence variations within it to facilitate structural analysis. Mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy reveal that hyper-Ser5 phosphorylation transforms the local structure of this region via proline isomerization. The sequence context of this switch tunes the activity of the phosphatase Ssu72, leading to the preferential de-phosphorylation of specific heptads. Together, context-dependent conformational switches and biased dephosphorylation suggest a mechanism for the selective recruitment of cis-proline-specific regulatory factors and region-specific modulation of the CTD code that may augment gene regulation in developmentally complex organisms.
Tunable and low-loss correlated plasmons in Mott-like insulating oxides
Authors: Asmara Teguh Citra , Wan Dongyang , Zhao Yongliang , Majidi Muhammad Aziz , Nelson Christopher T. , Scott Mary C. , Cai Yao , Yan Bixing , Schmidt Daniel , Yang Ming , Zhu Tao , Trevisanutto Paolo E. , Motapothula Mallikarjuna R. , Feng Yuan Ping , Breese Mark B. H. , Sherburne Matthew , Asta Mark , Minor Andrew , Venkatesan T. , Rusydi Andrivo
Published: May 2017

Plasmonics has attracted tremendous interests for its ability to confine light into subwavelength dimensions, creating novel devices with unprecedented functionalities. New plasmonic materials are actively being searched, especially those with tunable plasmons and low loss in the visible–ultraviolet range. Such plasmons commonly occur in metals, but many metals have high plasmonic loss in the optical range, a main issue in current plasmonic research. Here, we discover an anomalous form of tunable correlated plasmons in a Mott-like insulating oxide from the Sr1−xNb1−yO3+δ family. These correlated plasmons have multiple plasmon frequencies and low loss in the visible–ultraviolet range. Supported by theoretical calculations, these plasmons arise from the nanometre-spaced confinement of extra oxygen planes that enhances the unscreened Coulomb interactions among charges. The correlated plasmons are tunable: they diminish as extra oxygen plane density or film thickness decreases. Our results open a path for plasmonics research in previously untapped insulating and strongly-correlated materials.
An integrated parity-time symmetric wavelength-tunable single-mode microring laser
Authors: Liu Weilin , Li Ming , Guzzon Robert S. , Norberg Erik J. , Parker John S. , Lu Mingzhi , Coldren Larry A. , Yao Jianping
Published: May 2017

Mode control in a laser cavity is critical for a stable single-mode operation of a ring laser. In this study we propose and experimentally demonstrate an electrically pumped parity-time (PT)-symmetric microring laser with precise mode control, to achieve wavelength-tunable single-mode lasing with an improved mode suppression ratio. The proposed PT-symmetric laser is implemented based on a photonic integrated circuit consisting of two mutually coupled active microring resonators. By incorporating multiple semiconductor optical amplifiers in the microring resonators, the PT-symmetry condition can be achieved by a precise manipulation of the interplay between the gain and loss in the two microring resonators, and the incorporation of phase modulators in the microring resonators enables continuous wavelength tuning. Single-mode lasing at 1,554.148 nm with a sidemode suppression ratio exceeding 36 dB is demonstrated and the lasing wavelength is continuously tunable from 1,553.800 to 1,554.020 nm.
Orbital-selective pairing and superconductivity in iron selenides
Authors: Nica Emilian M. , Yu Rong , Si Qimiao
Published: May 2017

An important challenge in condensed matter physics is understanding iron-based superconductors. Among these systems, the iron selenides hold the record for highest superconducting transition temperature and pose especially striking puzzles regarding the nature of superconductivity. The pairing state of the alkaline iron selenides appears to be of d-wave type based on the observation of a resonance mode in neutron scattering, while it seems to be of s-wave type from the nodeless gaps observed everywhere on the Fermi surface. Here we propose an orbital-selective pairing state, dubbed sτ3, as a natural explanation of these disparate properties. The pairing function, containing a matrix τ3 in the basis of 3d-electron orbitals, does not commute with the kinetic part of the Hamiltonian. This dictates the existence of both intraband and interband pairing terms in the band basis. A spin resonance arises from a d-wave-type sign change in the intraband pairing component, whereas the quasiparticle excitation is fully gapped on the FS due to an s-wave-like form factor associated with the addition in quadrature of the intraband and interband pairing terms. We demonstrate that this pairing state is energetically favored when the electron correlation effects are orbitally selective. More generally, our results illustrate how the multiband nature of correlated electrons affords unusual types of superconducting states, thereby shedding new light not only on the iron-based materials but also on a broad range of other unconventional superconductors such as heavy fermion and organic systems.
Involvement of FAK-ERK2 signaling pathway in CKAP2-induced proliferation and motility in cervical carcinoma cell lines
Authors: Guo Qi-sang , Song Yu , Hua Ke-qin , Gao Shu-jun
Published: May 2017

Cervical carcinoma is the fourth most common cause of death in woman, caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infections and arising from the cervix. Cytoskeleton-associated protein 2 (CKAP2), also known as tumor-associated microtubule-associated protein, has been linked to tumorigenic effects. In the present study, we screened CKAP2 as a new candidate gene which promotes development of cervical carcinoma, in two independent datasets (TCGA and GSE27678). Results showed that CKAP2 expression was significantly up-regulated in cervical cancerous tissues compared with normal counterparts. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) showed that metastasis, cell cycle and FAK pathways were related with elevated CKAP2 expression. Knockdown of CKAP2 expression significantly inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion both in HeLa and C-33A cells. And depletion of CKAP2 down-regulated the expression of metastasis and cell cycle related proteins as well as the phosphorylation of ERK2 (p-ERK2), except E-cadherin. In vivo experiment revealed that knockdown of CKAP2 inhibited C-33A cells proliferation. However, FAK inhibitor PF-562271 and ERK2 inhibitor VX-11e treatment significantly inhibited CKAP2 overexpression-induced cell proliferation, migration and invasion in SiHa cells. In conclusion, our study suggests that CKAP2 acts as a functional oncogene in cervical carcinoma development and may exert its function by targeting FAK-ERK2 signaling pathway.
Precise genome-wide base editing by the CRISPR Nickase system in yeast
Authors: Satomura Atsushi , Nishioka Ryosuke , Mori Hitoshi , Sato Kosuke , Kuroda Kouichi , Ueda Mitsuyoshi
Published: May 2017

The CRISPR/Cas9 system has been applied to efficient genome editing in many eukaryotic cells. However, the bases that can be edited by this system have been limited to those within the protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) and guide RNA-targeting sequences. In this study, we developed a genome-wide base editing technology, “CRISPR Nickase system” that utilizes a single Cas9 nickase. This system was free from the limitation of editable bases that was observed in the CRISPR/Cas9 system, and was able to precisely edit bases up to 53 bp from the nicking site. In addition, this system showed no off-target editing, in contrast to the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Coupling the CRISPR Nickase system with yeast gap repair cloning enabled the construction of yeast mutants within only five days. The CRISPR Nickase system provides a versatile and powerful technology for rapid, site-specific, and precise base editing in yeast.
Effect of compressibility and non-uniformity in flow on the scattering pattern of acoustic cloak
Authors: Ryoo Hyeonbin , Jeon Wonju
Published: May 2017

During the last decade, most of acoustic cloak research has been done within a theoretical framework in which the medium is at rest. However, such an acoustic cloak cannot preserve its unique properties or functions to make an object acoustically invisible in the presence of flow. In this study, we propose a theoretical framework to accurately investigate the effect of compressibility and non-uniformity in flow on the scattering pattern of acoustic cloak. In the formulation, the wave operator is coupled with the non-uniform velocity vector, and the equivalent source terms due to mean flow are divided into the compressibility effect and the non-uniformity effect with their own physical meanings. Numerical simulation shows the difference in far-field directivity between previous and present formulations. The polarity of the equivale﻿nt s﻿ources ﻿in the present formulation shows hexapole and skewed quadrupole patterns for non-uniformity and compressibility effects, respectively, and their magnitudes increase with power laws of ﻿Mach ﻿number as the Mach number increas﻿es. As an application, we make use of the present formulation for predicting the acoustic scattering from newly designed convective cloaks. The simulation results show better performance compared to the existing convective cloak.
Disruption of melatonin synthesis is associated with impaired 14-3-3 and miR-451 levels in patients with autism spectrum disorders
Authors: Pagan Cécile , Goubran-Botros Hany , Delorme Richard , Benabou Marion , Lemière Nathalie , Murray Kerren , Amsellem Frédérique , Callebert Jacques , Chaste Pauline , Jamain Stéphane , Fauchereau Fabien , Huguet Guillaume , Maronde Erik , Leboyer Marion , Launay Jean-Marie , Bourgeron Thomas
Published: May 2017

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by a wide genetic and clinical heterogeneity. However, some biochemical impairments, including decreased melatonin (crucial for circadian regulation) and elevated platelet N-acetylserotonin (the precursor of melatonin) have been reported as very frequent features in individuals with ASD. To address the mechanisms of these dysfunctions, we investigated melatonin synthesis in post-mortem pineal glands - the main source of melatonin (9 patients and 22 controls) - and gut samples - the main source of serotonin (11 patients and 13 controls), and in blood platelets from 239 individuals with ASD, their first-degree relatives and 278 controls. Our results elucidate the enzymatic mechanism for melatonin deficit in ASD, involving a reduction of both enzyme activities contributing to melatonin synthesis (AANAT and ASMT), observed in the pineal gland as well as in gut and platelets of patients. Further investigations suggest new, post-translational (reduced levels of 14-3-3 proteins which regulate AANAT and ASMT activities) and post-transcriptional (increased levels of miR-451, targeting 14-3-3ζ) mechanisms to these impairments. This study thus gives insights into the pathophysiological pathways involved in ASD.
Efficient Wideband Numerical Simulations for Nanostructures Employing a Drude-Critical Points (DCP) Dispersive Model
Authors: Ren Qiang , Nagar Jogender , Kang Lei , Bian Yusheng , Werner Ping , Werner Douglas H.
Published: May 2017

A highly efficient numerical approach for simulating the wideband optical response of nano-architectures comprised of Drude-Critical Points (DCP) media (e.g., gold and silver) is proposed and validated through comparing with commercial computational software. The kernel of this algorithm is the subdomain level discontinuous Galerkin time domain (DGTD) method, which can be viewed as a hybrid of the spectral-element time-domain method (SETD) and the finite-element time-domain (FETD) method. An hp-refinement technique is applied to decrease the Degrees-of-Freedom (DoFs) and computational requirements. The collocated E-J scheme facilitates solving the auxiliary equations by converting the inversions of matrices to simpler vector manipulations. A new hybrid time stepping approach, which couples the Runge-Kutta and Newmark methods, is proposed to solve the temporal auxiliary differential equations (ADEs) with a high degree of efficiency. The advantages of this new approach, in terms of computational resource overhead and accuracy, are validated through comparison with well-known commercial software for three diverse cases, which cover both near-field and far-field properties with plane wave and lumped port sources. The presented work provides the missing link between DCP dispersive models and FETD and/or SETD based algorithms. It is a competitive candidate for numerically studying the wideband plasmonic properties of DCP media.
Genetic tools to study juvenile hormone action in Drosophila
Authors: Baumann A. A. , Texada M. J. , Chen H. M. , Etheredge J. N. , Miller D. L. , Picard S. , Warner R. , Truman J. W. , Riddiford L. M.
Published: May 2017

The insect juvenile hormone receptor is a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH), Per-Arnt-Sim (PAS) domain protein, a novel type of hormone receptor. In higher flies like Drosophila, the ancestral receptor germ cell-expressed (gce) gene has duplicated to yield the paralog Methoprene-tolerant (Met). These paralogous receptors share redundant function during development but play unique roles in adults. Some aspects of JH function apparently require one receptor or the other. To provide a foundation for studying JH receptor function, we have recapitulated endogenous JH receptor expression with single cell resolution. Using Bacteria Artificial Chromosome (BAC) recombineering and a transgenic knock-in, we have generated a spatiotemporal expressional atlas of Met and gce throughout development. We demonstrate JH receptor expression in known JH target tissues, in which temporal expression corresponds with periods of hormone sensitivity. Larval expression largely supports the notion of functional redundancy. Furthermore, we provide the neuroanatomical distribution of JH receptors in both the larval and adult central nervous system, which will serve as a platform for future studies regarding JH action on insect behavior.
In situ assembly of Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) on porous silkworm cocoon-based wound film: enhanced antimicrobial and wound healing activity
Authors: Yu Kun , Lu Fei , Li Qing , Chen Honglei , Lu Bitao , Liu Jiawei , Li Zhiquan , Dai Fangying , Wu Dayang , Lan Guangqian
Published: May 2017

Preventing wound infection and retaining an appropriate level of moisture around wounds represent the most critical issues in wound treatment. Towards these ends, special focus has been placed on Bombyx mori cocoons because the protective function of the silkworm cocoon resembles the manner in which the skin protects the human body. We have designed a facile technique to develop a novel silkworm cocoon-based wound film (SCWF) wound dressing utilizing a CaCl2-ethanol-H2O solution. To improve the anti-bacterial performance of SCWF, we have incorporated the ability of silk sericin to act as a reducing agent for the conversion of Ag+ to Ag, yielding nanoparticles (AgNPs) linked together by peptide bonds of silkworm cocoon wound film (SCWF-AgNPs). SCWF-AgNP dressing exhibited excellent biocompatibility, anti-bacterial performance, and good extensibility. Furthermore, in vivo experiments indicated that SCWF-AgNP dressing was able to significantly accelerate the healing rate of infected wounds in New Zealand White rabbits and histological examination revealed that it aided in the successful reconstruction of intact and thickened epidermis during 14 days of healing of impaired wound tissue. These results demonstrate that the present approach might shed new light on the design of anti-bacterial materials such as SCWF-AgNPs with promising applications in wound dressing.
Daily corticosterone rhythm modulates pineal function through NFκB-related gene transcriptional program
Authors: da Silveira Cruz-Machado Sanseray , Tamura Eduardo K. , Carvalho-Sousa Claudia E. , Rocha Vanderlei Amadeu , Pinato Luciana , Fernandes Pedro A. C. , Markus Regina P.
Published: May 2017

Melatonin and glucocorticoids are key hormones in determining daily rhythmicity and modulating defense responses. In nocturnal animals, corticosterone peaks at light/dark transition,while melatonin peaks at the middle of the night in both nocturnal and diurnal animals. The crosstalk between adrenal and pineal glands under inflammatory conditions indicates that corticosterone potentiates nocturnal melatonin synthesis by reducing the activity of NFκB. This transcription factor, which modulates the expression of a key enzyme in melatonin synthesis, is sharply reduced at the entrance of darkness in the rat pineal gland. In this study, we established the basis for understanding the crosstalk between adrenal and pineal glands in physiological conditions. Here we show that the expression of 70 out of 84 genes implied in defense responses exhibit a sharp reduction exactly at the entrance of darkness. Mifepristone impair the changes of 13 out of 84 genes, suggesting that the rhythm of corticosterone modulates pineal phenotype, as mifepristone also reduces the expression of Aanat and the nocturnal synthesis of melatonin. Therefore, darkness-induced synthesis of the pineal hormone, besides being controlled by the central clock located in the hypothalamus, is also influencedby glucocorticoids through the regulation of NFκB transcriptional program.
Obestatin controls skeletal muscle fiber-type determination
Authors: Santos-Zas Icía , Cid-Díaz Tania , González-Sánchez Jessica , Gurriarán-Rodriguez Uxía , Seoane-Mosteiro Carlos , Porteiro Begoña , Nogueiras Rubén , Casabiell Xesús , Relova José Luis , Gallego Rosalía , Mouly Vincent , Pazos Yolanda , Camiña Jesus P.
Published: May 2017

Obestatin/GPR39 signaling stimulates skeletal muscle growth and repair by inducing both G-protein-dependent and -independent mechanisms linking the activated GPR39 receptor with distinct sets of accessory and effector proteins. In this work, we describe a new level of activity where obestatin signaling plays a role in the formation, contractile properties and metabolic profile of skeletal muscle through determination of oxidative fiber type. Our data indicate that obestatin regulates Mef2 activity and PGC-1α expression. Both mechanisms result in a shift in muscle metabolism and function. The increase in Mef2 and PGC-1α signaling activates oxidative capacity, whereas Akt/mTOR signaling positively regulates myofiber growth. Taken together, these data indicate that the obestatin signaling acts on muscle fiber-type program in skeletal muscle.
Integrated multi-port circulators for unidirectional optical information transport
Authors: Aleahmad Parinaz , Khajavikhan Mercedeh , Christodoulides Demetrios , LiKamWa Patrick
Published: May 2017

On-chip photonic networks hold great promise for enabling next-generation high speed computation and communication systems. It is currently envisioned that future integrated photonic networks will be capable of processing dense digital information on a single monolithic platform by involving a multitude of optical components ranging from lasers to modulators, to routers, interconnects and detectors. Among the possible functionalities to be incorporated in such arrangements is the ability to route information in a unidirectional way among N-ports - a capability typically afforded through the use of optical circulators. Yet, in many settings, what is basically needed is re-routing information in a unidirectional fashion without necessarily invoking optical isolation. Of interest would be to devise strategies through which miniaturized optical devices can be monolithically fabricated on light-emitting semiconductors by solely relying on physical properties that are indigenous to the material itself. By exploiting the interplay between non-Hermiticity and nonlinearity, here we demonstrate a new class of chip-scale information transport devices on spatially modified III-V quantum well systems. These unidirectional structures are broadband (over 2.5 THz) at 1550 nm, effectively loss-free, color-preserving, and in proof-of-principle demonstrations have provided 23 dB isolation when used under pulsed-mode conditions at milliwatt (mW) power levels.
Serum Uric Acid Is Associated with Erectile Dysfunction: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Chinese Men
Authors: Gao Fengbin , Jiang Boren , Cang Zhen , Wang Ningjian , Han Bing , Li Qin , Chen Yi , Chen Yingchao , Xia Fangzhen , Zhai Hualing , Chen Chi , Lu Meng , Meng Ying , Lu Yingli , Shen Zhoujun
Published: May 2017

The role that serum uric acid (UA) plays in the pathophysiological development of erectile dysfunction (ED) is controversial. We aimed to screen the factors related with ED, and to examine the association between serum UA and ED. Our data were derived from a cross-sectional Survey on Prevalence in East China for Metabolic Diseases and Risk Factors study in 2014–2015. Questionnaire of International Index of Erectile Dysfunction-5 was used for assessment of ED. Data were collected in three general communities respectively. A total of 1365 men were enrolled with an overall mean age 55.5 ± 10.8 years (range: 20–83 years). The prevalence of ED was 62.4% (51.4% standardized) in the population. Males with ED were older, and more prone to have a higher follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, sex hormone-binding globulin, glycated hemoglobin, fasting plasma glucose levels and lower free androgen index (FAI), UA levels, and more likely to have diabetes and elevated blood pressure compared with those without ED. Age and UA were independent influencing factors for ED. Besides, UA was positively correlated with FAI after adjustment for age. In conclusion, our study demonstrated the protective role that UA might play in development of ED.
Plasmonics Enhanced Smartphone Fluorescence Microscopy
Authors: Wei Qingshan , Acuna Guillermo , Kim Seungkyeum , Vietz Carolin , Tseng Derek , Chae Jongjae , Shir Daniel , Luo Wei , Tinnefeld Philip , Ozcan Aydogan
Published: May 2017

Smartphone fluorescence microscopy has various applications in point-of-care (POC) testing and diagnostics, ranging from e.g., quantification of immunoassays, detection of microorganisms, to sensing of viruses. An important need in smartphone-based microscopy and sensing techniques is to improve the detection sensitivity to enable quantification of extremely low concentrations of target molecules. Here, we demonstrate a general strategy to enhance the detection sensitivity of a smartphone-based fluorescence microscope by using surface-enhanced fluorescence (SEF) created by a thin metal-film. In this plasmonic design, the samples are placed on a silver-coated glass slide with a thin spacer, and excited by a laser-diode from the backside through a glass hemisphere, generating surface plasmon polaritons. We optimized this mobile SEF system by tuning the metal-film thickness, spacer distance, excitation angle and polarization, and achieved ~10-fold enhancement in fluorescence intensity compared to a bare glass substrate, which enabled us to image single fluorescent particles as small as 50 nm in diameter and single quantum-dots. Furthermore, we quantified the detection limit of this platform by using DNA origami-based brightness standards, demonstrating that ~80 fluorophores per diffraction-limited spot can be readily detected by our mobile microscope, which opens up new opportunities for POC diagnostics and sensing applications in resource-limited-settings.
Erratum: A two-qubit photonic quantum processor and its application to solving systems of linear equations
Authors: Barz Stefanie , Kassal Ivan , Ringbauer Martin , Lipp Yannick Ole , Dakić Borivoje , Aspuru-Guzik Alán , Walther Philip
Published: May 2017

Scientific Reports 4: Article number: 6115; published online: 19 August 2014; updated: 12 May 2017 This article was originally published under a [CC BY-NC-SA 4.0/CC BY-NC-ND 4.0] license, but has now been made available under a [CC BY 4.0] license. The PDF and HTML versions of the paper have been modified accordingly.
Correction: Corrigendum: Oxygen impairs oligodendroglial development via oxidative stress and reduced expression of HIF-1α
Authors: Brill Christina , Scheuer Till , Bührer Christoph , Endesfelder Stefanie , Schmitz Thomas
Published: May 2017

Scientific Reports 7: Article number: 43000; published online: 23 February 2017; updated: 12 May 2017 This Article contains an error in Figure 8: the oxygen percentage for the black columns is incorrectly labeled as 21% instead of the correct value of 5%. The correct Figure 8 appears below as Figure1 along with the accompanying legend.
Exploiting the biomimetic and luminescence properties of multivalent dendrimer–semiconductor nanohybrid materials in the ultra-low level determination of folic acid
Authors: Kundu Somashree , Maiti Susmita , Das Tushar Kanti , Ghosh Debasmita , Roy Chandra Nath , Saha Abhijit
Published: May 2017

In view of the enhanced generation of folate receptors in cancerous cells and diseases linked to the deficiency of folic acid, an ultra-sensitive determination of folic acid is proposed employing dendrimer encapsulated QDs.
Oxygen diffusion in ceria doped with rare-earth elements
Authors: Nilsson Johan O. , Leetmaa Mikael , Vekilova Olga Yu. , Simak Sergei I. , Skorodumova Natalia V.
Published: May 2017

We examine the effects of the dopant type and the dopant distribution on the ion diffusion in ceria doped with rare-earth elements (Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, and Gd).
Electrochemical deposition of a Zn-HNT/p(EDOT-co-EDOP) nanocomposite on LN SS for anti-bacterial and anti-corrosive applications
Authors: Karthikeyan P. , Mitu Liviu , Pandian K. , Anbarasu G. , Rajavel R.
Published: May 2017

A copolymer composite of Zn-HNT/p(EDOT-co-EDOP) was deposited on low nickel stainless steel (LN SS) using an electrochemical polymerization method.
NIR fluorescence detection of dopamine using 3-aminophenyl boronic acid-functionalized and lysozyme-templated gold nanoclusters
Authors: Zhong Tongsheng , Yin Zhifang , Gao Peiyi , Huang Shasheng
Published: May 2017

In this communication, we report phenylboronic acid-functionalized gold nanoclusters (APBA–Lys–AuNCs) using lysozyme as a reducing reagent and capping ligand.
Gas chromatography and diode array detection for the direct measurement of carbon disulfide in challenging matrices
Authors: Gras R. , Luong J. , Shellie R. A.
Published: May 2017

A fast and reliable gas chromatographic technique for the direct measurement of carbon disulfide at the parts-per-billion level is introduced.
A new method for the separation of LREEs in geological materials using a single TODGA resin column and its application to the determination of Nd isotope compositions by MC-ICPMS
Authors: Wang Yuqiong , Huang Xiaoxiao , Sun Yali , Zhao Shouqian , Yue Yahui
Published: May 2017

A new method was developed for the purification of Nd in geological samples using a single column containing TODGA extraction resin and the precise determination of Nd isotope ratios by MC-ICPMS.
Enhanced catalytic performance of a PdO catalyst prepared via a two-step method of in situ reduction–oxidation
Authors: Hu Wei , Li Guang-Xia , Chen Jian-Jun , Huang Fu-Jin , Wu Yang , Yuan Shan-Dong , Zhong Lin , Chen Yao-Qiang
Published: May 2017

A Pd-based catalyst prepared by a controllable two-step method of in situ reduction–oxidation showed significantly enhanced activity and selectivity.
A critical SiOxlayer on Si porous structures to construct highly-reversible anode materials for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Chen Yifan , Lin Yangfan , Du Ning , Zhang Yaguang , Zhang Hui , Yang Deren
Published: May 2017

A novel Si/SiOxporous structure with an ∼9 nm SiOxcoating layer demonstrates a highly reversible discharge capacity of over 915 mA h g−1after 500 long cycles.
Advanced oxygen evolution catalysis by bimetallic Ni–Fe phosphide nanoparticles encapsulated in nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulphur tri-doped porous carbon
Authors: Li Ping , Zeng Hua Chun
Published: May 2017

A nanocomposite composed of bimetallic Ni–Fe phosphide nanoparticles encapsulated in N,P,S-tri-doped porous carbon is engineered for efficient electrocatalytic water oxidation.
Thermally responsive reduced graphene oxide with designable secondary functionality
Authors: Zhang Qian , Zhang Junhui , Liu Bing , Zhang Ling , Dong Li , Li Erni , Zhang Hairan , Xia Lixin
Published: May 2017

Both dual responsive and thermal responsive reduced graphene oxide (rGO) with a strategically inbuilt function have been successfully synthesized by utilizing non-covalent modified poly(NIPAm-co-ViEtImBr) combined with anion exchange.
Light-controlled reversible self-assembly of nanorod suprastructures
Authors: Guo Jie , Zhang Heng-Yi , Zhou Yan , Liu Yu
Published: May 2017

Nanorod suprastructures constructed by the coordination of zinc ions with the inclusion complex of 4,4′-dipyridine in β-cyclodextrin can dissociate and rebuild repeatedly via alternate visible light irradiation in the presence of photoacid merocyanine in aqueous solution.
Gold-catalyzed oxidative hydroacylation reactions of α-iminoalkynes with aldehydes and O2
Authors: Hsu Yu-Chen , Lai Jing-He , Liu Rai-Shung
Published: May 2017

Gold-catalyzed aerobic oxidations of α-iminoalkynes with aryl aldehydes led to oxidative 1,3-hydroacyclation reactions, yielding high Z-selectivity.
Cell-sized mechanosensitive and biosensing compartment programmed with DNA
Authors: Majumder Sagardip , Garamella Jonathan , Wang Ying-Lin , DeNies Maxwell , Noireaux Vincent , Liu Allen P.
Published: May 2017

The bottom-up construction of cell-sized membrane active compartments programmed with DNA is achieved by constructing mechanosensitive liposomes with biosensing capability using cell-free expression.
Heteroaggregation of oppositely charged particles in the presence of multivalent ions
Authors: Cao Tianchi , Sugimoto Takuya , Szilagyi Istvan , Trefalt Gregor , Borkovec Michal
Published: May 2017

Time-resolved dynamic light scattering is used to measure absolute heteroaggregation rate coefficients and the corresponding stability ratios for heteroaggregation between amidine and sulfate charged latex particles.
Structural and electronic properties of defects at grain boundaries in CuInSe2
Authors: Saniz R. , Bekaert J. , Partoens B. , Lamoen D.
Published: May 2017

Octet rule violation near the grain boundary plane is common in Σ3 grain boundaries, with important structural and electronic implications.
Ultrafast IR spectroscopy of photo-induced electron transfer in self-assembled donor–acceptor coordination cages
Authors: Ahrens J. , Frank M. , Clever G. H. , Schwarzer D.
Published: May 2017

Photo-excitation of self-assembled palladium based coordination cages consisting of phenothiazine electron donor and anthraquinone electron acceptor ligands produce charge separated states with lifetimes of up to 1.5 ns.
Mesoporous Mn2O3/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composite with enhanced electrochemical performance for Li-ion battery
Authors: Jadhav Harsharaj S. , Thorat Gaurav M. , Kale Bharat B. , Seo Jeong Gil
Published: May 2017

Transition metal oxides are the most promising candidates in low-cost and eco-friendly energy storage/conversion applications.
Valorisation of agricultural waste with an adsorption/nanofiltration hybrid process: from materials to sustainable process design
Authors: Didaskalou Christos , Buyuktiryaki Sibel , Kecili Rustem , Fonte Claudio P. , Szekely Gyorgy
Published: May 2017

A continuous oleuropein isolation process using imprinted materials coupled with nanofiltration-based solvent recovery utilising olive leaf waste.
Thermal scribing to prototype plastic microfluidic devices, applied to study the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps
Authors: Chandrasekaran Arvind , Kalashnikov Nikita , Rayes Roni , Wang Claire , Spicer Jonathan , Moraes Christopher
Published: May 2017

Plastic microfluidic devices can be rapidly and inexpensively prototyped “on the fly”, for cell culture experiments in which hydrophobic small molecules play an important role.