bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
UV light-mediated difunctionalization of alkenes with CF3SO2Na: synthesis of trifluoromethyl phenanthrene and anthrone derivatives
Authors: Li Bing , Fan Dan , Yang Chao , Xia Wujiong
Published: May 2016

A metal-free and cost-effective protocol for UV light-mediated difunctionalization of alkenes with CF3SO2Na was developed.
Cp*Co(iii)-catalyzed vinylic C–H bond activation under mild conditions: expedient pyrrole synthesis via (3 + 2) annulation of enamides and alkynes
Authors: Lade Dhanaji M. , Pawar Amit B.
Published: May 2016

Cobalt(iii)-catalyzed (3 + 2) oxidative annulation of enamides and alkynes for the synthesis of pyrroles has been developed under mild conditions and simple tuning of reaction temperature lead to the formation of bothN-Ac andN-H pyrroles under an exactly identical catalytic system.
Synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted pyrroles via dehydrogenative condensation of secondary alcohols and 1,2-amino alcohols by supported platinum catalysts
Authors: Siddiki S. M. A. H. , Touchy Abeda S. , Chaudhari Chandan , Kon Kenichi , Toyao Takashi , Shimizu Ken-ichi
Published: May 2016

2,5-Disubstituted pyrroles are synthesized by acceptorless dehydrogenative reaction of 1,2-aminoalcohols and secondary alcohols by Pt/carbon catalyst.
Hierarchical core–shell structured Fe3O4@NiSiO3 magnetic microspheres: preparation, characterization, and adsorption of methylene blue from aqueous solution
Authors: Yuan Senwen , Zhao Lang
Published: May 2016

Core–shell structured Fe3O4@NiSiO3 magnetic microspheres are synthesised and possess high porosity and magnetic properties, which allow the microspheres to exhibit efficient adsorption of methylene blue and convenient separation from wastewater.
Marriage of antibody–drug conjugate with gold nanorods to achieve multi-modal ablation of breast cancer cells and enhanced photoacoustic performance
Authors: Cao Fei , Yao Qian , Yang Tieshan , Zhang Zhao , Han Yu , Feng Jinchao , Wang Xiu-Hong
Published: May 2016

A multifunctional nano platform against cancer using SiO2-coated gold nanorods and antibody–drug conjugate is constructed. It incorporates active targeting, antibody therapy, drug therapy, photothermal therapy, and enhanced photoacoustic performance.
Effect of Fe(iii) on the performance of sediment microbial fuel cells in treating waste-activated sludge
Authors: Zhao Y. N. , Li X. F. , Ren Y. P. , Wang X. H.
Published: May 2016

Chemical energy stored in sludge can be directly converted into electricity using sediment microbial fuel cell (SMFC) technology.
Graphene-like nanocomposites anchored by Ni3S2 slices for Li-ion storage
Authors: Yu Peng , Wang Lei , Wang Jianqiang , Zhao Dongdong , Tian Chungui , Zhao Li , Yu Haitao
Published: May 2016

A facile route is employed to construct thin Ni3S2 nanoslices anchored by 2D RGO-based carbon, which can be used as high-performance LIB anode owing to the 2D structures facilitate to the electron transport and rapid Li+ diffusion.
Size effect of gold on Ag-coated Au nanoparticle-embedded silica nanospheres
Authors: Shim Seongbo , Pham Xuan-Hung , Cha Myeong Geun , Lee Yoon-Sik , Jeong Dae Hong , Jun Bong-Hyun
Published: May 2016

Ag-coated Au nanoparticle (NP)-embedded silica nanospheres (SiO2@Au@Ag NSs) were prepared using three different Au NPs of 2.5, 7 and 15 nm diameter to investigate their optical properties.
Unexpected superhard phases of niobium triborides: first-principles calculations
Authors: Li Xiaofeng , Du Junyi
Published: May 2016

Using an unbiased structure search method based on particle-swarm optimization algorithms in combination with density functional theory calculations, we investigate the phase stability and electronic properties of NbB3 under high pressures.
Radioisotope Co-57 incorporated layered double hydroxide nanoparticles as a cancer imaging agent
Authors: Kim Tae-Hyun , Lee Jun Young , Kim Min-Kyu , Park Jeong Hoon , Oh Jae-Min
Published: May 2016

Radioisotope Co-57 substituted LDH were successfully prepared by isomorphous substitution and showed high in vitro cellular uptake and tumor targeting in vivo biodistribution.
Synthesis of aminopropyltriethoxysilane grafted/tripolyphosphate intercalated ZnAl LDHs and their performance in the flame retardancy and smoke suppression of polyurethane elastomer
Authors: Xu Wenzong , Wang Shaoqing , Li Aijiao , Wang Xiaoling
Published: May 2016

Synthesis procedure of APTS grafted/P3O105− intercalated LDHs.
Enhancing performance of ZnO/NiO UV photodetector by piezo-phototronic effect
Authors: Yin Bing , Qiu Yu , Zhang Heqiu , Chang Yue , Yang Dechao , Hu Lizhong
Published: May 2016

The performance of the ZnO/NiO UV photodetector is enhanced by piezo-phototronic effect.
Electrodeposition preparation of a cauliflower-like Sb–SnO2electrode from DMSO solution for electrochemical dye decolorization
Authors: Duan Ying , Chen Ye , Wen Qing , Duan Tigang
Published: May 2016

Ti/Sb–SnO2electrode prepared in DMSO solution exhibits a distinct cauliflower-like structure, and has the significantly enhanced service lifetime and electrochemical dye decolorization activity.
Enhancement of yellow persistent luminescence in Eu2+-doped β-Ba3P4O13 phosphor by Ga3+ codoping
Authors: Chen Wenbo , Wang Yuhua , Zeng Wei , Li Gen , Guo Haijie
Published: May 2016

Codoping non-rare earth Ga3+ enhance yellow persistent luminescence of β-Ba3P4O13:Eu2+ phosphor.
Diffusion kinetics of gold in TiO2 nanotube arrays for formation of Au@TiO2 nanotube arrays
Authors: Zhang Wanggang , Liu Yiming , Zhou Diaoyu , Wen Jing , Zheng Liuwei , Liang Wei , Yang Fuqian
Published: May 2016

Heating treatment leads to the diffusion of Au into TiO2 nanotube arrays and the formation of Au nanocrystals. The activation energy for the Au diffusion on the surface of the TiO2 nanotubes in the temperature range of 400 to 500 °C is 67.2 kJ mol−1.
Stoichiometry-controlled cycloaddition of nitrilimines with unsymmetrical exocyclic dienones: microwave-assisted synthesis of novel mono- and dispiropyrazoline derivatives
Authors: Gazzeh Houda , Boudriga Sarra , Askri Moheddine , Khatyr Abderrahim , Knorr Michael , Strohmann Carsten , Golz Christopher , Rousselin Yoann , Kubicki Marek M.
Published: May 2016

The Microwave-assisted 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of (E,E)-1,3-bisarylidenetetral-2-ones with nitrilimines affords a series of mono- and dispiropyrazolines in good to excellent yields.
Using the isotope effect to probe an aggregation induced emission mechanism: theoretical prediction and experimental validation
Authors: Zhang Tian , Peng Qian , Quan Changyun , Nie Han , Niu Yingli , Xie Yujun , Zhao Zujin , Tang Ben Zhong , Shuai Zhigang
Published: May 2016

The isotope effect (IE) on non-radiative decay is proposed theoretically and verified with experiments. For AIEgens, the IE is much stronger in aggregate than in solution. For non-AIEgens, both phases exhibit appreciable and similar IEs.
Gas phase stabiliser-free production of hydrogen peroxide using supported gold–palladium catalysts
Authors: Akram Adeeba , Freakley Simon J. , Reece Christian , Piccinini Marco , Shaw Greg , Edwards Jennifer K. , Desmedt Frédérique , Miquel Pierre , Seuna Eero , Willock David. J. , Moulijn Jacob A. , Hutchings Graham J.
Published: May 2016

Gas phase hydrogen peroxide is postulated to be a key intermediate in many gas phase oxidations. Using Au–Pd catalysts we show it is possible to synthesise H2O2 in the gas phase from H2 and O2.
Formation and determination of the oxidation products of 5-methylcytosine in RNA
Authors: Huang Wei , Lan Meng-Dan , Qi Chu-Bo , Zheng Shu-Jian , Wei Shao-Zhong , Yuan Bi-Feng , Feng Yu-Qi
Published: May 2016

Chemical labeling coupled with LC-MS enables the sensitive and simultaneous detection of the oxidative products of 5-methylcytosine. With this method, we can determine 5-methylcytosine, 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, 5-formylcytosine and 5-carboxylcytosine in RNA of mammals.
Using Brownian motion to measure shape asymmetry in mesoscopic matter using optical tweezers
Authors: Roy Basudev , Mondal Argha , Bera Sudipta K. , Banerjee Ayan
Published: May 2016

We quantify the asymmetry of single optically trapped red blood cells from the cross-correlation between their rotational and translational Brownian motion.
Tailoring the textural properties of hierarchical porous carbons using deep eutectic solvents
Authors: López-Salas N. , Carriazo D. , Gutiérrez M. C. , Ferrer M. L. , Ania C. O. , Rubio F. , Tamayo A. , Fierro J. L. G. , del Monte F.
Published: May 2016

DESs containing resorcinol, urea and choline chloride allow the preparation of monolithic carbons with bicontinuous porous structures, the pore dimension of which can be easily tailored by the molar ratio of the components at the original DES.
SPION@Cu2−xS nanoclusters for highly sensitive MRI and targeted photothermal therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Liu Xiaolong , Lin Xinyi , Wu Ming , Lin Ruhui , Li Buhong , Liu Jingfeng
Published: May 2016

The diagnostic function of SPIONs and photo-thermal therapeutic function of CuS NPs have been incorporated into a single nanoplatform for biomedical applications.
Optimized trade-offs between triplet emission and transparency in Pt(ii) acetylides through phenylsulfonyl units for achieving good optical power limiting performance
Authors: An Miao , Yan Xiaogang , Tian Zhuanzhuan , Zhao Jiang , Liu Boao , Dang Feifan , Yang Xiaolong , Wu Yong , Zhou Guijiang , Ren Yixia , Gao Loujun
Published: May 2016

Phenylsulfonyl-based Pt(ii) acetylides can achieve optimized trade-offs between high T1 emission ability and good transparency.
Chemical ubiquitination for decrypting a cellular code
Authors: Stanley Mathew , Virdee Satpal
Published: May 2016

The modification of proteins with ubiquitin (Ub) is an important regulator of eukaryotic biology and deleterious perturbation of this process is widely linked to the onset of various diseases. The regulatory capacity of the Ub signal is high and, in part, arises from the capability of Ub to be enzymatically polymerised to form polyubiquitin (polyUb) chains of eight different linkage types. These distinct polyUb topologies can then be site-specifically conjugated to substrate proteins to elicit a number of cellular outcomes. Therefore, to further elucidate the biological significance of substrate ubiquitination, methodologies that allow the production of defined polyUb species, and substrate proteins that are site-specifically modified with them, are essential to progress our understanding. Many chemically inspired methods have recently emerged which fulfil many of the criteria necessary for achieving deeper insight into Ub biology. With a view to providing immediate impact in traditional biology research labs, the aim of this review is to provide an overview of the techniques that are available for preparing Ub conjugates and polyUb chains with focus on approaches that use recombinant protein building blocks. These approaches either produce a native isopeptide, or analogue thereof, that can be hydrolysable or non-hydrolysable by deubiquitinases. The most significant biological insights that have already been garnered using such approaches will also be summarized.
Does Working Memory Enhance or Interfere With Speech Fluency in Adults Who Do and Do Not Stutter? Evidence From a Dual-Task Paradigm
Authors: Eichorn Naomi , Marton Klara , Schwartz Richard G. , Melara Robert D. , Pirutinsky Steven
Published: May 2016

Purpose

The present study examined whether engaging working memory in a secondary task benefits speech fluency. Effects of dual-task conditions on speech fluency, rate, and errors were examined with respect to predictions derived from three related theoretical accounts of disfluencies.

Method

Nineteen adults who stutter and twenty adults who do not stutter participated in the study. All participants completed 2 baseline tasks: a continuous-speaking task and a working-memory (WM) task involving manipulations of domain, load, and interstimulus interval. In the dual-task portion of the experiment, participants simultaneously performed the speaking task with each unique combination of WM conditions.

Results

All speakers showed similar fluency benefits and decrements in WM accuracy as a result of dual-task conditions. Fluency effects were specific to atypical forms of disfluency and were comparable across WM-task manipulations. Changes in fluency were accompanied by reductions in speaking rate but not by corresponding changes in overt errors.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that WM contributes to disfluencies regardless of stuttering status and that engaging WM resources while speaking enhances fluency. Further research is needed to verify the cognitive mechanism involved in this effect and to determine how these findings can best inform clinical intervention.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.14963808
Effects of aluminium and sodium co‐doping on the structural and electrochemical performances of the spinel LiMn2O4 cathode materials
Authors: Li Yuzhu , Mao Yanfang , Zhan Taotao , Li Chao , Xiao Shunhua
Published: May 2016

The lithium‐ion battery cathode materials spinel LiMn2O4, LiAl0.1Mn1.9O4 and Li0.94Na0.06Al0.1Mn1.9O4 materials are synthesised by sol–gel method. The structure, morphology and electrochemical performances of the aluminium and sodium co‐doped materials are studied by X‐ray diffraction measurement, scanning electron microscopy, and Electron diffraction spectroscopy, respectively. The results reveal that appropriate amount doping of aluminium and sodium does not change the spinel structure of LiMn2O4. Those materials have a good crystallinity and the sizes are approximately 150 nm. The initial discharge capacity of Li0.94Na0.06Al0.1Mn1.9O4 is 113.8 mAh/g at 0.5 C. Compared with the rate capability of LiMn2O4, the discharge capacity of 107.5 mAh/g at 5 C for Li0.94Na0.06Al0.1Mn1.9O4 has 46.8% improvement. Obviously, aluminium and sodium co‐doping is a very effective way to improve LiMn2O4 rate capability.
Krankenhausapotheke SRH Suhl: Alles andere als Etikettenschwindel
Authors: vom Lehn Birgitta
Published: May 2016

Ein Krankenhausapotheker aus Suhl hat mit einer besonderen Etikettierungsidee auf den Intensivstationen seines Klinikums die Patientensicherheit erhöht und beim „Best Practice Award“ des Einkaufsdienstleisters Prospitalia den 1. Platz belegt.
Effect of variation of magnetic field on laser ablation depth of copper and aluminum targets in air atmosphere
Authors: Singh Khwairakpam Shantakumar , Sharma Ashwini Kumar
Published: May 2016

We report on the effect of transverse magnetic field on laser ablation of copper and aluminum targets both experimentally and numerically. The ablation depth is found to increase with magnetic field from 0 to 0.3 T and decreases at a higher magnetic field (0.5 T). It is demonstrated that the nanosecond laser ablation is mainly due to melt ejection and it solely depends on the thermo-physical parameters of the material. The increase in ablation depth with magnetic field is attributed to the increase in heat transfer from the plasma to the target, vapor pressure, and shock pressure. The ablation due to melt ejection is also calculated using vapor pressure through simulation and compared with the experimentally measured depth. In the presence of magnetic field, we introduce the magnetic pressure in Clausius–Clapeyron vapor pressure equation to account for the combined effect of magnetic field and atmospheric pressure on the vapor pressure of plasma. The ratio of calculated ablation depth at 0.3 T with respect to the absence of magnetic field is close to the corresponding experimental depth ratios indicating that the laser ablation modeling in the present work is validated. As the magnetic field increases, we observed the scattered mass at the center and around the crater. The size of deposited mass at the center is found to decrease at higher magnetic field which is attributed to breaking of large droplets into smaller ones due to increase in instability at higher magnetic field.
The influence of the electrical boundary condition on domain structures and electrocaloric effect of PbTiO3 nanostructures
Authors: Chen Z. Y. , Su Y. X. , Zhou Z. D. , Lei L. S. , Yang C. P.
Published: May 2016

The electrocaloric effect (ECE) induced by the domain switching of PbTiO3 (PTO) nanoparticles under the different electrical boundary conditions is carried out using the phase field model. The toroidal moment of polarization with vortex domain structures decreases to zero taking surface charge compensation into the electrical boundary condition, i.e. intermediate electrical boundary. There exists a critical parameter value 0.25, which decides the single domain and vortex domain structures of ferroelectric nanomaterial at the room temperature. The loops of toroidal moment as a function of the applied curled electric filed are obtained under the different electrical boundary conditions. The various domain structures in ferroelectric nanostructure are discussed in detail. Moreover negative and positive adiabatic temperature changes accompanying with vortex domain structure switching are obtained with the curled electric field under the intermediate electrical boundary. These results indicate that ferroelectric nanostructures can be practical used in field of cooling and heating technology through adjusting the surface electrical boundary.
Stability analysis of an autocatalytic protein model
Authors: Lee Julian
Published: May 2016

A self-regulatory genetic circuit, where a protein acts as a positive regulator of its own production, is known to be the simplest biological network with a positive feedback loop. Although at least three components—DNA, RNA, and the protein—are required to form such a circuit, stability analysis of the fixed points of this self-regulatory circuit has been performed only after reducing the system to a two-component system, either by assuming a fast equilibration of the DNA component or by removing the RNA component. Here, stability of the fixed points of the three-component positive feedback loop is analyzed by obtaining eigenvalues of the full three-dimensional Hessian matrix. In addition to rigorously identifying the stable fixed points and saddle points, detailed information about the system can be obtained, such as the existence of complex eigenvalues near a fixed point.
A pressure consistent bridge correction of Kovalenko-Hirata closure in Ornstein-Zernike theory for Lennard-Jones fluids by apparently adjusting sigma parameter
Authors: Ebato Yuki , Miyata Tatsuhiko
Published: May 2016

Ornstein-Zernike (OZ) integral equation theory is known to overestimate the excess internal energy, Uex, pressure through the virial route, Pv, and excess chemical potential, μex, for one-component Lennard-Jones (LJ) fluids under hypernetted chain (HNC) and Kovalenko-Hirata (KH) approximatons. As one of the bridge correction methods to improve the precision of these thermodynamic quantities, it was shown in our previous paper that the method to apparently adjust σ parameter in the LJ potential is effective [T. Miyata and Y. Ebato, J. Molec. Liquids. 217, 75 (2016)]. In our previous paper, we evaluated the actual variation in the σ parameter by using a fitting procedure to molecular dynamics (MD) results. In this article, we propose an alternative method to determine the actual variation in the σ parameter. The proposed method utilizes a condition that the virial and compressibility pressures coincide with each other. This method can correct OZ theory without a fitting procedure to MD results, and possesses characteristics of keeping a form of HNC and/or KH closure. We calculate the radial distribution function, pressure, excess internal energy, and excess chemical potential for one-component LJ fluids to check the performance of our proposed bridge function. We discuss the precision of these thermodynamic quantities by comparing with MD results. In addition, we also calculate a corrected gas-liquid coexistence curve based on a corrected KH-type closure and compare it with MD results.
In situ detection of laccase activity and immunolocalisation of a compression-wood-specific laccase (CoLac1) in differentiating xylem of Chamaecyparis obtusa
Authors: Hiraide Hideto , Yoshida Masato , Sato Saori , Yamamoto Hiroyuki
Published: May 2016

The secondary cell wall of compression wood tracheids has a highly lignified region (S2 L) in its outermost portion. To better understand the mechanism of S2 L formation, we focussed on the activity of laccase (a monolignol oxidase) and performed in situ studies of this enzyme in differentiating compression wood. Staining of differentiating compression wood demonstrated that laccase activity began in all cell wall layers before the onset of lignification. We detected no activity of peroxidase (another monolignol oxidase) in any cell wall layer. Thus, laccase likely plays the major role in monolignol oxidisation during compression wood differentiation. Laccase activity was higher in the S2 L region than in other secondary wall regions, suggesting that this enzyme was responsible for the high lignin concentration in this region of the cell wall. Immunolabelling demonstrated the expression of a compression-wood-specific laccase (CoLac1) immediately following the onset of secondary wall thickening, this enzyme was localised to the S2 L region, whereas much less abundant in the S1 layer or inner S2 layer. Thus, the CoLac1 protein is most likely localised to the outer part of S2 and responsible for the high lignin concentration in the S2 L region.
Plant bugs, plant interactions and the radiation of a species rich clade in south-western Australia: Naranjakotta, gen. nov. and eighteen new species (Insecta : Heteroptera : Miridae : Orthotylinae)
Authors: Cassis Gerasimos , Symonds Celia
Published: May 2016

New surveys from the Bush Blitz and Planetary Biodiversity Inventory programs has revealed a largely unknown biota of plant bugs in Australia. The mirid subfamily Orthotylinae has exploded in Australia, in association with perennial shrubs in arid and semi-arid Australia. This work documents the discovery of a new clade of 18 new species of the plant bug subfamily Orthotylinae. These new species belong to Naranjakotta, gen. nov., which was analysed phylogenetically and found to be monophyletic. The distribution of Naranjakotta and included species are documented, and analysed in reference to the distribution of all other orthotylines across continental Australia. A paralogy-free subtree analysis was conducted based on a recent phytogeographic classification, which resulted in the recognition of eastern and western subclades, with Tasmania and the Eyre Peninsula unresolved. The host plant associations were optimised at generic and ordinal levels to the Naranjakotta phylogeny and an ancestral Lamiales association for Naranjakotta and an ancestral Acacia association for a subclade of Naranjakotta were found. The eighteen new species described in this work are: N. bicolorata, sp. nov., N. chinnocki, sp. nov., N. cryptandraphila, sp. nov., N. dimorpha, sp. nov., N. graphica, sp. nov., N. hakeaphila, sp. nov., N. hibbertiaphila, sp. nov., N. hyalina, sp. nov., N. keraudrenia, sp. nov., N. lochada, sp. nov., N. macfarlanei, sp. nov., N. minor, sp. nov., N. myrtlephila, sp. nov., N. rosa, sp. nov., N. splendida, sp. nov., N. unicolorata, sp. nov., N. wanarra, sp. nov. and N. watheroo, sp. nov. Orthotylus sidnicus (Stål) is transferred to Naranjakotta.
Identification of motility-associated progesterone-responsive differentially phosphorylated proteins
Authors: Sagare-Patil V. , Modi D.
Published: May 2016

Progesterone is one of the regulators of sperm motility and hyperactivation. In human spermatozoa, the effects of progesterone are thought to be mediated by protein phosphorylation. In the present study, we identified 22 proteins that are differentially phosphorylated (12 phosphorylated and 10 dephosphorylated) by progesterone in human spermatozoa. Functionally, the differentially phosphorylated proteins are predicted to have cytoskeletal localisation and to be associated with sperm motility. 5 µM of progesterone to capacitated increased the phosphorylation of tyrosine residues in the principal piece and protein tyrosine kinase activity increased by almost 3.5-fold. For the first time, we demonstrate that tyrosine phosphatases are also activated in response to progesterone and that inhibition of tyrosine phosphatases attenuates dephosphorylation of flagellar proteins. We propose that progesterone activates both kinase and phosphatase pathways, leading to changes in the phosphorylation of many proteins in sperm flagella to increase motility.
Perinatal exposure to insecticide fipronil: effects on the reproductive system in male rats
Authors: de Barros Aline L. , Bae Julie H. , Borges Cibele S. , Rosa Josiane L. , Cavariani Marilia M. , Silva Patrícia V. , Pinheiro Patricia F. F. , Anselmo-Franci Janete A. , Arena Arielle C.
Published: May 2016

Fipronil is an insecticide widely used in agriculture, veterinary medicine and public health that has recently been listed as a potential endocrine disrupter. In the present study we evaluated the effects of perinatal exposure to fipronil during the period of sexual brain differentiation and its later repercussions on reproductive parameters in male rats. Pregnant rats were exposed (via gavage) to fipronil (0.03, 0.3 or 3 mg kg–1) from Gestational Day 15 until Postnatal Day 7. Fipronil exposure did not compromise the onset of puberty. In adulthood, there was no effect on organ weight or sperm production. Furthermore, there were no adverse effects on the number of Sertoli cells per seminiferous tubule, testicular and epididymal histomorphometry or histopathology or expression patterns of androgen receptor in the testis. Similarly, no changes were observed in the sexual behaviour or hormone levels. However, in rats exposed to fipronil, changes in sperm motility were observed, with a decrease in motile spermatozoa and an increase in non-mobile spermatozoa, which can compromise sperm quality in these rats. Perinatal exposure to fipronil has long-term effects on sperm parameters, and the epididymis can be a target organ. Additional studies should be undertaken to identify the mechanisms by which fipronil affects sperm motility.
p21-activated kinase 1 activity is required for histone H3 Ser10 phosphorylation and chromatin condensation in mouse oocyte meiosis
Authors: Zhang Nana , Li Xiuhong , Liu Xiaoyun , Cao Yan , Chen Dandan , Liu Xiaoyu , Wang Qian , Du Juan , Weng Jing , Ma Wei
Published: May 2016

p21-activated kinase 1 (Pak1) is essential for a variety of cellular events, including gene transcription, cytoskeletal organisation, cell proliferation and apoptosis. Pak1 is activated upon autophosphorylation on many amino residues; in particular, phosphorylation on Thr423 maintains maximal Pak1 activation. In the present study we investigated the protein expression, subcellular localisation and function of Pak1 phosphorylated on Thr423 (pPak1Thr423) in mouse oocytes. pPak1Thr423 was detected upon meiotic resumption and localised on the condensing chromatin. Thr423 phosphorylation was markedly suppressed by the Pak1 ATP-competitive inhibitor PF-3758309, but not by the allosteric inhibitors IPA-3 (2.5 μM and 10 μM) (1, 1′-dithiobis-2-naphthalenol) and TAT-PAK18 (10 μM), which prevent the binding of Pak1 to its upstream activators GTPase Cdc42/Rac and Pak-interacting exchange factor (PIX), respectively, implying that Pak1 activation may be independent of GTPase and PIX in oocyte meiosis. Inhibition of Pak1 activation concomitantly restrained histone H3 phosphorylation on Ser10 and consequently inhibited chromatin condensation; however, this phenotype was reversed by concomitant administration of the Pak1 activator FTY720. The changes in the pattern of expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 in response to PF-3758309 or FTY720 were the same as seen for pPak1Thr423. These results show that activated Pak1 regulates chromatin condensation by promoting H3 Ser10 phosphorylation in oocytes after the resumption of meiotic progression.
Modelling spatiotemporal variability in fires in semiarid savannas: a satellite-based assessment around Africa’s largest protected area
Authors: Mishra Niti B. , Mainali Kumar P. , Crews Kelley A.
Published: May 2016

The relative importance of various drivers of fire regimes in savanna ecosystems can be location-specific. We utilised satellite-derived time-series burned area (2001–13) to examine how spatiotemporal variations in burned area and fire frequency were determined by rainfall, vegetation morphology and land use in semiarid savanna. Mean precipitation of the rainy season (Nov–Apr) had a strong and positive relationship with burned area in the following dry season (variance explained 63%), with the relationship being strongest inside protected areas (variance explained 73%). Burned area and fire frequency were higher in vegetation types with higher herbaceous cover, indicating a causal link between herbaceous load and fire. Among land use, fire frequency was highest in protected areas and lowest in farms and ranches. Spatial models (generalised linear models with Poisson and negative binomial distribution) accounting for spatial autocorrelation showed that land-use classes and vegetation types together explained approximately half of the deviance in null model (48%). Existence of fences and boreholes resulted in finer-scale spatial differences in fire frequency. There was minimal dependence of vegetation types on land-use classes in determining fire frequency (interaction between the two predictors was minimal). These results have significant implications for understanding drivers of fire activity in savanna ecosystems.
Application of digital image correlation for the study of strain concentrations due to change in geometry in weld beads: parent interface of structural steel welds
Authors: Pérez Fernández J. Á. , Coppieters S. , Debruyne D.
Published: May 2016

The paper aims to characterise the strain concentration of welded junctions subjected to elastic loads using digital image correlation (DIC). When measuring such small strains and heterogeneous strains fields with DIC, a compromise between noise and accuracy arises where a suitable choice of the image processing settings becomes crucial to obtain accurate results. An extensive study of the influence of the different processing parameters was carried out to ensure the best trade-off between accuracy and noise. A practical application was later performed with the found optimal settings; welded specimens were subjected to uniaxial and biaxial loads to assess possible influence of the strain state on the strain concentration. Results show a great variability of the strain concentration along the weld bead base, evidencing a significant influence of local geometrical characteristics. On the other hand, the strain state influence was found to be moderate, or almost inexistent for lower strain concentrations.
A classification of irreducible admissible mod 𝑝 representations of 𝑝-adic reductive groups
Authors: Abe N. , Henniart G. , Herzig F. , Vignéras M.-F.
Published: May 2016

Let

F
F

be a locally compact non-archimedean field,

p
p

its residue characteristic, and

G

\textbf {G}

a connected reductive group over

F
F

. Let

C
C

be an algebraically closed field of characteristic

p
p

. We give a complete classification of irreducible admissible

C
C

-representations of

G
=

G

(
F
)

G=\mathbf {G}(F)

, in terms of supercuspidal

C
C

-representations of the Levi subgroups of

G
G

, and parabolic induction. Thus we push to their natural conclusion the ideas of the third author, who treated the case

G

=

G
L

m

\mathbf {G}=\mathrm {GL}_m

, as further expanded by the first author, who treated split groups

G

\mathbf {G}

. As in the split case, we first get a classification in terms of supersingular representations of Levi subgroups, and as a consequence show that supersingularity is the same as supercuspidality.
Ubiquilin/Dsk2 promotes inclusion body formation and vacuole (lysosome)-mediated disposal of mutated huntingtin
Authors: Chuang Kun-Han , Liang Fengshan , Higgins Ryan , Wang Yanchang
Published: May 2016

Ubiquilin proteins contain a ubiquitin-like domain (UBL) and ubiquitin-associated domain(s) that interact with the proteasome and ubiquitinated substrates, respectively. Previous work established the link between ubiquilin mutations and neurodegenerative diseases, but the function of ubiquilin proteins remains elusive. Here we used a misfolded huntingtin exon I containing a 103-polyglutamine expansion (Htt103QP) as a model substrate for the functional study of ubiquilin proteins. We found that yeast ubiquilin mutant ( dsk2Δ) is sensitive to Htt103QP overexpression and has a defect in the formation of Htt103QP inclusion bodies. Our evidence further suggests that the UBL domain of Dsk2 is critical for inclusion body formation. Of interest, Dsk2 is dispensable for Htt103QP degradation when Htt103QP is induced for a short time before noticeable inclusion body formation. However, when the inclusion body forms after a long Htt103QP induction, Dsk2 is required for efficient Htt103QP clearance, as well as for autophagy-dependent delivery of Htt103QP into vacuoles (lysosomes). Therefore our data indicate that Dsk2 facilitates vacuole-mediated clearance of misfolded proteins by promoting inclusion body formation. Of importance, the defect of inclusion body formation in dsk2 mutants can be rescued by human ubiquilin 1 or 2, suggesting functional conservation of ubiquilin proteins.
Heterogeneous architecture of vertebrate kinetochores revealed by three-dimensional superresolution fluorescence microscopy
Authors: Wynne David J. , Funabiki Hironori
Published: May 2016

The kinetochore is often depicted as having a disk-like architecture in which the outer layer of proteins, which engage microtubules and control checkpoint signaling, are built on a static inner layer directly linked to CENP-A chromatin. Here, applying three-dimensional (3D) structural illumination microscopy (SIM) and stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) to Xenopus egg extracts and tissue culture cells, we report various distribution patterns of inner and outer kinetochore proteins. In egg extracts, a configuration in which outer kinetochore proteins surround the periphery of CENP-A chromatin is common, forming an ∼200-nm ring-like organization that may engage a bundle of microtubule ends. Similar rings are observed in Xenopus tissue culture cells at a lower frequency but are enriched in conditions in which the spindle is disorganized. Although rings are rare in human cells, the distribution of both inner and outer kinetochore proteins elongates in the absence of microtubule attachment in a manner dependent on Aurora B. We propose a model in which the 3D organization of both the outer and inner kinetochore regions respond to the progression from lateral to end-on microtubule attachments by coalescing into a tight disk from less uniform distributions early in prometaphase.
Evaluating the effect of a selective piscivore fishery on rockfish recovery within marine protected areas
Authors: Oken Kiva L. , Essington Timothy E.
Published: May 2016

Although ecosystem-based fisheries management is often associated with trade-offs between conflicting demands for ecosystem services, the holistic ecological considerations the approach promotes may sometimes lead to novel solutions that benefit both conservation and fisheries. Directed fishing on large piscivorous fish can reduce predation on prey and thereby benefit those populations, but incidental take of prey species in these fisheries may negate or even reverse the benefit. Whether benefits from reduced predation outweigh the costs of increased fishing will depend on the relative strength of each mortality source and the sensitivity of the population to mortality at different life stages. In the California Current, predatory lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus) populations recovered rapidly from fishing exploitation over the past two decades, while recovery of some rockfish species (Sebastes spp.) has been slow, mainly because of low natural productivities. One management tool has been the adoption of rockfish conservation areas (RCAs) that prohibit bottom contact fishing gear. Because lingcod also inhabit RCAs, fishers have been unable to catch their sustainable lingcod quotas. Therefore, we explored the conditions under which opening RCAs to a selective lingcod fishery might permit rockfish recovery despite the potential bycatch. We developed a joint equilibrium model of the two populations and analysed scenarios to assess the sensitivity of the model's predictions to key uncertainties. The model suggests a wide range of fishery and ecological conditions under which a lingcod fishery may not harm rockfish populations. However, a sensitivity analysis indicated that the range of fishing scenarios where rockfish are not harmed is highly sensitive to assumptions regarding the nature of the trophic linkage between lingcod and rockfish. We conclude that consideration of trophic interactions may reveal new fishing opportunities that meet both ecological and human goals, but precise predictions of the outcomes will require more detailed models and adaptive management.
Yield Losses Due to Crown Rust in Winter Oats in Alabama
Authors: Bowen K. L. , Hagan A. K. , Pegues M. , Jones J.
Published: May 2016

Crown rust is a common disease on winter oats in Alabama. While considered the most destructive disease of oats, little has been done in recent years, with current cultivars, to demonstrate yield losses due to crown rust. Field studies were conducted to determine the effect of fungicides and application timing on crown rust severity and yield. All fungicides reduced crown rust and improved yield. Two fungicide applications were better than a single fungicide application for reducing crown rust. Relative to yield, a single fungicide application during flag leaf development (FS 8-9) was better than a single application during head extension (FS 10.3). When compared with the non-treated control, significant yield gains were obtained with Tilt and Headline in all four years and Stratego YLD in three of four years. Fungicide programs resulted in a broad range of crown rust severities; disease levels were highly related to decreases in yield in each of four years. In two study years, ‘Coker 227’ was more damaged by crown rust, with about 10% yield loss for each unit disease, than was ‘Horizon 270,’ with 2.5 to 4.5% loss. However, in 2013, virulence patterns of the crown rust pathogen shifted and disease on Horizon 270 was greater than that on Coker 227; relative yield losses were also much lower in 2013.

Accepted for publication 15 April 2016. Published 4 May 2016.
Preservation of potassium balance is strongly associated with insect cold tolerance in the field: a seasonal study of
Drosophila subobscura
Authors: MacMillan Heath A. , Schou Mads F. , Kristensen Torsten N. , Overgaard Johannes
Published: May 2016

There is interest in pinpointing genes and physiological mechanisms explaining intra- and interspecific variations in cold tolerance, because thermal tolerance phenotypes strongly impact the distribution and abundance of wild animals. Laboratory studies have highlighted that the capacity to preserve water and ion homeostasis is linked to low temperature survival in insects. It remains unknown, however, whether adaptive seasonal acclimatization in free-ranging insects is governed by the same physiological mechanisms. Here, we test whether cold tolerance in field-caught
Drosophila subobscura
is high in early spring and lower during summer and whether this transition is associated with seasonal changes in the capacity of flies to preserve water and ion balance during cold stress. Indeed, flies caught during summer were less cold tolerant, and exposure of these flies to sub-zero temperatures caused a loss of haemolymph water and increased the concentration of K
+
in the haemolymph (as in laboratory-reared insects). This pattern of ion and water balance disruption was not observed in more cold-tolerant flies caught in early spring. Thus, we here provide a field verification of hypotheses based on laboratory studies and conclude that the ability to maintain ion homeostasis is important for the ability of free-ranging insects to cope with chilling.
Emergent patterns from probabilistic generalizations of lateral activation and inhibition
Authors: Willis Lisa , Kabla Alexandre
Published: May 2016

The combination of laterally activating and inhibiting feedbacks is well known to spontaneously generate spatial organization. It was introduced by Gierer and Meinhardt as an extension of Turing's great insight that two reacting and diffusing chemicals can spontaneously drive spatial morphogenesisper se. In this study, we develop an accessible nonlinear and discrete probabilistic model to study simple generalizations of lateral activation and inhibition. By doing so, we identify a range of modes of morphogenesis beyond the familiar Turing-type modes; notably, beyond stripes, hexagonal nets, pores and labyrinths, we identify labyrinthine highways, Kagome lattices, gyrating labyrinths and multi-colour travelling waves and spirals. The results are discussed within the context of Turing's original motivating interest: the mechanisms which underpin the morphogenesis of living organisms.
Raman spectroscopy and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering imaging: prospective tools for monitoring skeletal cells and skeletal regeneration
Authors: Moura Catarina Costa , Tare Rahul S. , Oreffo Richard O. C. , Mahajan Sumeet
Published: May 2016

The use of skeletal stem cells (SSCs) for cell-based therapies is currently one of the most promising areas for skeletal disease treatment and skeletal tissue repair. The ability for controlled modification of SSCs could provide significant therapeutic potential in regenerative medicine, with the prospect to permanently repopulate a host with stem cells and their progeny. Currently, SSC differentiation into the stromal lineages of bone, fat and cartilage is assessed using different approaches that typically require cell fixation or lysis, which are invasive or even destructive. Raman spectroscopy and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy present an exciting alternative for studying biological systems in their natural state, without any perturbation. Here we review the applications of Raman spectroscopy and CARS imaging in stem-cell research, and discuss the potential of these two techniques for evaluating SSCs, skeletal tissues and skeletal regeneration as an exemplar.
Response-mode decomposition of spatio-temporal haemodynamics
Authors: Pang J. C. , Robinson P. A. , Aquino K. M.
Published: May 2016

The blood oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) response to a neural stimulus is analysed using the transfer function derived from a physiologically based poroelastic model of cortical tissue. The transfer function is decomposed into components that correspond to distinct poles, each related to a response mode with a natural frequency and dispersion relation; together these yield the total BOLD response. The properties of the decomposed components provide a deeper understanding of the nature of the BOLD response, via the components' frequency dependences, spatial and temporal power spectra, and resonances. The transfer function components are then used to separate the BOLD response to a localized impulse stimulus, termed the Green function or spatio-temporal haemodynamic response function, into component responses that are explicitly related to underlying physiological quantities. The analytical results also provide a quantitative tool to calculate the linear BOLD response to an arbitrary neural drive, which is faster to implement than direct Fourier transform methods. The results of this study can be used to interpret functional magnetic resonance imaging data in new ways based on physiology, to enhance deconvolution methods and to design experimental protocols that can selectively enhance or suppress particular responses, to probe specific physiological phenomena.
Rhenium uptake and distribution in phaeophyceae macroalgae,
Fucus vesiculosus
Authors: Racionero-Gómez B. , Sproson A. D. , Selby D. , Gröcke D. R. , Redden H. , Greenwell H. C.
Published: May 2016

Owing to Rhenium (Re) having no known biological role, it is not fully understood how Re is concentrated in oil kerogens. A commonly held assumption is that Re is incorporated into decomposing biomass under reducing conditions. However, living macroalgae also concentrate Re to several orders of magnitude greater than that of seawater. This study uses
Fucus vesiculosus
to assess Re uptake and its subsequent localization in the biomass. It is demonstrated that the Re abundance varies within the macroalgae and that Re is not located in one specific structure. In
F. vesiculosus
, the uptake and tolerance of Re was evaluated via tip cultures grown in seawater of different Re(VII) compound concentrations (0–7450 ng g
−1
). A positive correlation is shown between the concentration of Re-doped seawater and the abundance of Re accumulated in the tips. However, significant differences between Re(VII) compounds are observed. Although the specific cell structures where the Re is localized is not known, our findings suggest that Re is not held within chloroplasts or cytoplasmic proteins. In addition, metabolically inactivated
F. vesiculosus
does not accumulate Re, which indicates that Re uptake is via syn-life bioadsorption/bioaccumulation and that macroalgae may provide a source for Re phytomining and/or bioremediation.
Go big or go fish: morphological specializations in carnivorous bats
Authors: Santana Sharlene E. , Cheung Elena
Published: May 2016

Specialized carnivory is relatively uncommon across mammals, and bats constitute one of the few groups in which this diet has evolved multiple times. While size and morphological adaptations for carnivory have been identified in other taxa, it is unclear what phenotypic traits characterize the relatively recent evolution of carnivory in bats. To address this gap, we apply geometric morphometric and phylogenetic comparative analyses to elucidate which characters are associated with ecological divergence of carnivorous bats from insectivorous ancestors, and if there is morphological convergence among independent origins of carnivory within bats, and with other carnivorous mammals. We find that carnivorous bats are larger and converged to occupy a subset of the insectivorous morphospace, characterized by skull shapes that enhance bite force at relatively wide gapes. Piscivorous bats are morphologically distinct, with cranial shapes that enable high bite force at narrow gapes, which is necessary for processing fish prey. All animal-eating species exhibit positive allometry in rostrum elongation with respect to skull size, which could allow larger bats to take relatively larger prey. The skull shapes of carnivorous bats share similarities with generalized carnivorans, but tend to be more suited for increased bite force production at the expense of gape, when compared with specialized carnivorans.