bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Ramble Round Ludlow
Authors: Roberts George E.
Published: March 2016

After the al fresco dinner of the “Worcestershire Naturalist Club,” under the Sorb Tree, in Wyre Forest, I and Mr. Baxter of Worcester, well known for his botanical acumen, started for the Ludlow promontory, via Cleobury and Caynham. I copy from my note-book the following geological facts—some may be of use to the definer of the limits of ancient life-periods; others, deficient in value for such purposes, may save future explorers time and trouble in working up the district.

I arrange them in the order of their occurrence.

The “Brownstones” of the cornstone series are finely quarried a mile east of Cleobury; very fine rippled-marked slabs may be obtained, and ichnites (fossil footprints) should be apparent, it being an equivalent bed to the one in which they occur at Puddlestone, Herefordshire.

The curious outlier of the “Forest Coal-field,” on which Cleobury stands, has been fruitlessly sunk into for coal this year; another proof that the geologist is not “abroad” in the land, no bed in the whole coal-field having paid expenses, and, in some instances—this I find among the number—the Old Red has been reached without coal being met with.

The south end of the Titterstone Hill, presenting a fine escarpment of mountain limestone to the valley, is very barren of fossils. I could not meet with or hear of any of those interesting fish-jaws, spines, and palatal teeth, so numerous along its northern sides at Oreton and Farlow.
British Fossils, Stratigraphically Arranged
Authors: Morris John
Published: March 2016

The Llandovery rocks were so named by Sir R. Murchison from the locality in South Wales where they are most fully developed, and where their physical relations to the formations above and below them are clearly exposed. Those rocks constitute an intermediate place in the Silurian table, connecting, by some of their contained organic remains, the fauna of the upper and lower Silurian groups. The upper Llandovery rock contains many shells common to the Wenlock beds, and is considered to form the natural base of those deposits; on the other hand, the lower Llandovery is related by its fossils to the Caradoc beds below, and both members of this formation are united by having certain fossils in common and peculiar to them, but are chiefly characterized by the abundance of some species of Petraia, Atrypa, and especially Pentamerus. This group consists of soft, argillaceous sandstones and building stones (Goleugoed), shales, some calcareous bands, hard, coarse grits, and quartzose, pebbly conglomerates. Thickness 2,000 to 3,000 feet.

Localities.—Both members of this group, and their relations to the overlying and subjacent rocks, are well exhibited at Noeth Grüg, near Llandovery, South Wales. In Radnorshire, Shropshire, and Hereford, the upper member, or Pentamerus oblongus zone, is alone present, and is seen in some places to be unconformable to the Longmynd and Caradoc rocks. The conglomerates of the west flank of the Malverns, and the sandstones of May Hill and Huntly, Gloucestershire, are of this age.
The Common fossils of the British Rocks
Authors: Mackie S. J.
Published: March 2016

A Man would see but little of the reality of the world if he shut himself up in his house, and only gazed out from the same window; he would learn little more if he contented himself with alternately gazing upon the scenes passing around him, from the windows of every storey. So a geologist, in limiting himself to the study of the rock-masses of a circumscribed area, would never, by the utmost perseverance, in going continually over the same ground, attain to a perfect understanding of the subject of his study. He must go abroad, either in his own person or equivalently, by making himself acquainted with the travels and labours of others. Our knowledge of the ancient conditions and relations of the oldest rock-masses would not be complete if we limited our investigations to those isolated patches in our own country, which, however important, are still only a part of that great whole, more important traces of which are to be met in regions far away. Thus those very old—indeed, primitive sedimentary rocks, represented in the British Isles in a fragmentary manner, as by the younger or bedded gneiss of the Scottish Highlands, assume in Canada and the Arctic regions proportions of great extent, and consequently, of far greater value. Far back in the obscurity of the past, as must be placed the birth-time of these primitive land-masses, we seem, in our first investigations, plunged in interminable ignorance, like the explorers of some vast subterranean cave in impenetrable darkness.
On Some New Palæozoic Crinoids from England and Scotland
Authors: de Koninck L.
Published: March 2016

The two following species appear to me to be new, and come likewise from the carboniferous limestone:—

1. Hydreionocrinus Woodianus. De Koninch. Pl. IV. fig. 5, 5a.

The head of this species is of medium size, sub-cylindrical in form, and terminated at its upper part by a crown composed of fifteen pieces, disposed in a circle, and attached one to another, the central space being occupied by the dome. The calix, taken by itself, resembles a little open cup. The base is composed of rather small plates, most of which have a point attached to the stem. The subradial plates, with the exception of that on the anal side, are much broader than long. They are very thick and strongly arched, and consequently their sutures are very decidedly exhibited. The first radial plates are pentagonal in shape, about a third broader than long, and, like the preceding, rather thick, and separated from each other by a strong groove. The second radial plates are also pentagonal, and broader than long. The axillary plate is very thick, and furnished with a slight protuberance, and juts outwards. The brachial plates, which follow the axillary plate, offer nothing remarkable. The external surface of these plates is indented with little irregular tracings, which make it rough, and the test thus resembles shagreen. The arms—twenty in number—are composed of cuneiform alternating articulations, and are joined together laterally. I have not observed any traces of pinnules. The little plates of which the dome is composed are all ornamented with a prominent tubercle in the middle. Their surface is apparently smooth, their number variable, and their form is generally hexagonal. I have not been able to discover any traces of a horn or proboscis, nor of any anal or buccal opening. It is probable these were situated between the arms, which were placed on the anal or irregular side of the bulb, and that these arms were capable of extension, and of admitting a passage for the food of the animal. The stem is rather stout, in comparison to that of most of the other species, among which it is often very slight.
The Practical Application of Geology in Coal-Seeking
Authors: Buckman James
Published: March 2016

Searching for coal is, not only at home but also abroad, a serious subject, and one in which the practical utility of connecting geological knowledge with active operations is particularly obvious, and which from actual experience I can well illustrate by many interesting cases which have come under my own notice. The first determinations in a coal “adventure” may be classified as follows:—

1. Where coal is not. 2. Where coal may be, but at too great a depth for working. 3. Where coal may be found convenient for working. 4. Its quality and extent.

In order to make what follows the more interesting, we may premise, what every Geologist now knows—that the earth is made up of strata of different kinds—e.g., sandstones, limestones, and argillaceous beds called rocks. The different strata have been formed step by step, layer upon layer. Each stratum has its distinct position and age in relation to other strata. The relative age and, consequently, position of a rock can be distinguished by mineral structure, fossil contents, or both.

Again, by way of still more clearly establishing our primary position, let the following table represent some of the strata above and below the general coal deposit:—

Now this partial table of British strata represents the coal measures as being overlaid by the New Red Sandstone deposits, and underlaid by the Mountain Limestone and Old Red Sandstone, which, though a general, is by no means the invariable rule in coal deposits, as sometimes the Mountain Limestone is absent, and the coal measures rest upon the old red system, as in great part of the Shropshire coal-field.
The Common Fossils of the British Rocks
Authors: Mackie S. J.
Published: March 2016

More things remain to be spoken of fossils; wonders of skill to be presented in their construction and design; marvels of mechanical devices for progression, for strength, for lightness, or for protection to be displayed; and consummate wisdom and benevolent forethought to be exhibited in their adaptation to the various purposes for which they were created—in fact, as much as we find to admire or to consider in the structure of existing animals or plants, in their means of developement or of growth, in the influences of climate and seasons upon them, so much also do we find for equal admiration and reflection in those ancient “medals” of past creations.

Even contorted and damaged fossils are not without their evidences.

Squeezed on either side or flattened, they do not merely ndicate the pressure to which they have been subjected, but the direction also from which it came. Everything connected with fossils is of high interest; but from first to last the value of fossils is in their teachings; and it is never by pounds, shillings, and pence that we can value them at all. In such a light they are but worthless bits of stone, as fit to mend the roads as to be saved. To minds that esteem them thus, they are no treasures, but merely merchandise. Properly studied, however, they convey their lessons of the past; and when regarded as letters in the vast and holy book of Nature, which must ever be read with solemnity and reverence, they take their places properly in the great sentences and wonderful passages of that mysterious language from which Geology interprets the order, wisdom, goodness, and prescience displayed in the animated worlds that were. It is thus we shall have attained to the true knowledge of the value of fossils, when we shall turn from such readings with adoration to the Great Author of all.
The Evidences of the Geological Age and Human Manufacture of the Fossil Flint Implements
Authors: Editor The
Published: March 2016

In this notice we commence the first of a series of articles descriptive of the geological diagrams, of which last month we commenced the issue. The notoriety which the discovery of flint implements of human manufacture of Amiens and Abbeville by M. Boucher de Perthes has attained, and the amount of research and investigation now going on renders it necessary for us to lay before our readers the chief points of the proofs of the human workmanship of those articles.
On New Brachiopoda, and On the Development of the loop in Terebratella
Authors: Moore Charles
Published: March 2016

At the time of the commencement of Mr. Davidson's monograph on British Brachiopoda, published by the Palæontographical Society, little had been done towards their systematic arrangement and classification. Sowerby had figured many species; but valuable materials were accumulated, and many new forms waiting for description in the cabinets of different collectors, which have since been done justice to in the above valuable publication.
On a New Genus of Echinoderm, and Observations on the Genus Palæchinus
Authors: Austin Thomas
Published: March 2016

Shape not well defined in the specimens obtained. Ambulacral, areas wide; the two rows of pores in double pairs near the margin, with alternate additional perforated plates near the widest spread of the ambulacra; where these additional plates intervene the pores become quadruple; interambulacral areas wide.

The Protoechinos differs wholly from Palæchinus; and bears bat little affinity to any recent or fossil echinoderm with which I am acquainted.
The Common Fossils of the British Rocks
Authors: Mackie S. J.
Published: March 2016

As One carried beyond his depth for the first time into the waters of ocean, and struggling shorewards, touches but now and then the yellow sands, with every heaving wave again to be set afloat, feels a delight when he plants his foot solidly on the sands, and wades through shallower water to the shore, so do we after our almost footless path through the wide waste of water of the first age, hail with delight our firmer footing on the spreading shores of this next great geological period.
Geological Localities. —No. I. Folkestone
Authors: Mackie S. J.
Published: March 2016

Time passes away, and we all of us grow older and older. As day by day the daylight lengthens or contracts, the air gets warmer or chillier, the skies brighter or bleaker, and everything around us imperceptably changes, it is only after the lapse of weeks that we perceive the change.

Yet Time never stays his rapid course; and in mid-life it is perhaps for the first time we stop in our onward path to feel, for the first time too, we are not what we were.

Years ago, when a child, I picked up shells and pebbles on the Kentish strands. In school-boy days, with bolder hand and surer foot, oft have I scrambled o'er those white chalk-cliffs, or clambered homewards for six long miles o'er sea-weeded rocks with satchel loaded full of fossils gathered from the slippery shores of Eastwear Bay, were the dark-blue crumbling Gault daily yields its crop of glittering fossils to the destructive battering of the salt sea waves.
The Geology of Hook Point
Authors: Harkness R.
Published: March 2016

There is something about the margins of Ireland, as seen on a map, and even more so when these margins are visited, which gives to this island a peculiar rugged aspect. Its northern, western, and southern sides are penetrated by deep bays, and cut into prominent headlands by the force of the waves of the Atlantic; and this erosive power of the ocean has not only added much to the boldness and beauty of its coasts, but has also revealed to us much information concerning its physical structure, and the conditions under which many of its rocky masses were formed.
The Hæmatite Deposits of Glamorganshire
Authors: Watson J. J. W.
Published: March 2016

During the last few years, the native iron-making resources of South Wales have received considerable assistance from the re-discovery and working of some very remarkable deposits of hæmatite in the county of Glamorganshire. I propose in the present article to describe two of the most important, perhaps, of those veins of ore, which are found in the districts of Llantrissant and Llanharry, near Cowbridge, and at Newton Nottage, near Bridgend;—the iron-ore in the latter locality being associated with a very large and curious deposit of manganese, chiefly psilomelane. Prefatory to this description, it may not be out of place to give a few remarks on the physical geology of the surrounding country, inasmuch as this district possesses ample materials to engage the attentive and careful examination of the geologist, particularly in relation to the origin of the mineral deposits in question. The exploitation of these hæmatite-mines will have the effect, commercially, of giving a great development and increased prosperity to the iron-manufacture in the district south of Cardiff; while, as a social result, their being worked will probably bring back to a population, at present agricultural, the mining and metallurgical occupations of the ancient fore-dwellers on the soil, and, what is most desirable, give constant occupation to a very large number of the working classes.
No. 1.—Note on Some Granite-Tors
Authors: Jones T. Rupert
Published: March 2016

Many of the common things that occur to us in our walks and rides near home, and which occasionally are noted in our memorandum-books on account of the clearness of their features, or for the sake of some occasional peculiarities in the details observable in them, may not only often prove as useful exemplifications of natural processes and phenomena as facts and instances brought from any distant part of the world, but may bear repeated description and fresh demonstration for the sake of geological enquirers, such as many of the correspondents of The Geologist must necessarily be.
On Canadian Caverns
Authors: Gibb George D.
Published: March 2016

On passing the interesting group of islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, known as the Magdalens, the observer is struck with their beautiful and picturesque appearance, which is suddenly presented to his view. The cliffs, which vary in height, present equally various colours, in which the shades of red predominate; these, contrasted with the yellow of the sand-bars, and the green pastures of the hill-sides, the darker green of the spruce trees, and the blue of sea and sky, produce an effect, as Captain Bayfield describes, extremely beautiful, and one which distinguishes these islands from anything else in the Gulf. Such an agreeable picture it has been my own good fortune to witness and admire. The striking feature in their formation is the dome-shaped hills rising in the centre of the group, and attaining a height of from two hundred to five hundred and eighty feet. They are composed of the Triassic or New Red Sandstone formation, which forms their base, being surmounted or topped by masses of trap rocks.
On the Ossiferous Caverns at Oreston
Authors: Hodge Henry C.
Published: March 2016

To the thick-skinned quadrupeds belong animals of at least four genera—Elephant, Rhinoceros, Horse, and Hog.

In addition to the large grinders of the mammoth, before described, there occurred a remarkable molar tooth of a very young mammoth (length or anteroposterior diameter of the crown one inch and three-quarters, breadth one inch and one-eighth), containing six plates; it appears to belong to the “thick-plated” variety, but is unlike any of the numerous small grinders of this animal, contained in the British Museum and elsewhere, with wnich it has been carefully compared.

The larger molars of the rhinoceros were all fragmentary; but a small tooth, having its enamel equally thick with that of the larger specimens, may, it is presumed, belong to a small species of that animal.
On Canadian Caverns
Authors: Gibb George D.
Published: March 2016

The greater part of the main road from Carillon to Grenville, a distance of thirteen miles on the northern banks of the Ottawa River, runs over the Calciferous sand rook of the Lower Silurian formation. In many places ihe surface of the rock is exposed, and beyond the village of Chatham, towards Grenville, and even in Chatham, for a short distance, the road consists of the solid limestone rock. As the surface of the rock is more or less rough or uneven, the road is an uncomfortable one to travel over in a wheeled vehicle. On driving over that part of the rock just near Chatham, a tremendous loud rumbling noise is occasioned by the stage, which is not heard, in other situation. This has been attributed to the presence of one or more large caverns situated beneath the road at this place: and, on making inquiry on the spot, I learnt that a prevalent opinion has long been entertained by the country people and many intelligent persons in the to neigbourhood, that a considerable cavern does exist in this part of the country in the place mentioned. On the many occasions that I have driven over this road, the loud rumbling noise has been invariably observed by my fellow travellers as well as by myself. Sotne-day an opening into the cavern may be discovered and the mystery solved. The main road is, elevated and is probably from seventy to ninety feet above the level of the Ottawa River.
High education and increased parity are associated with breast-feeding initiation and duration among Australian women
Authors: Holowko Natalie , Jones Mark , Koupil Ilona , Tooth Leigh , Mishra Gita
Published: March 2016

Objective

Breast-feeding is associated with positive maternal and infant health and development outcomes. To assist identifying women less likely to meet infant nutritional guidelines, we investigated the role of socio-economic position and parity on initiation of and sustaining breast-feeding for at least 6 months.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

Australia.

Subjects

Parous women from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (born 1973–78), with self-reported reproductive and breast-feeding history (N4777).

Results

While 89 % of women (83 % of infants) had ever breast-fed, only 60 % of infants were breast-fed for at least 6 months. Multiparous women were more likely to breast-feed their first child (~90 %v. ~71 % of primiparous women), and women who breast-fed their first child were more likely to breast-feed subsequent children. Women with a low education (adjusted OR (95 % CI): 2·09 (1·67, 2·62)) or a very low-educated parent (1·47 (1·16, 1·88)) had increased odds of not initiating breast-feeding with their first or subsequent children. While fewer women initiated breast-feeding with their youngest child, this was most pronounced among high-educated women. While ~60 % of women breast-fed their first, second and third child for at least 6 months, low-educated women (first child, adjusted OR (95 % CI): 2·19 (1·79, 2·68)) and women with a very low (1·82 (1·49, 2·22)) or low-educated parent (1·69 (1·33, 2·14)) had increased odds of not breast-feeding for at least 6 months.

Conclusions

A greater understanding of barriers to initiating and sustaining breast-feeding, some of which are socio-economic-specific, may assist in reducing inequalities in infant breast-feeding.
Beyond East and West: Reorienting Political Theory through the Prism of Modernity
Authors: El Amine Loubna
Published: March 2016

While critiquing the dominance of the Western tradition in the discipline of political theory, recent methodological discussions in Comparative Political Theory (CPT) fail to move beyond the East-West dichotomy. More specifically, CPT does not offer the resources to deal with global convergence as embodied in the phenomenon of modernity. I focus on the emergence of the sovereign state in the modern period and argue that the universal acceptance of the state form creates a globally-shared institutional condition. This condition, in turn, necessitates a shared normative and conceptual apparatus centered on ideals like constitutionalism, rights, and democracy. Two implications follow from my argument. First, we should reconceptualize the history of political thought such that we move from an East/West division to a modern/pre-modern division. Second, alternatives to the dominant (“Western”) model are not real alternatives unless they transcend the sovereign state itself, charting a new course of multilayered local, regional, and global political arrangements.
A Discussion of Daniel A. Bell’s The China Model: Political Meritocracy and the Limits of Democracy
Authors: He Baogang
Published: March 2016

China, also known as “the People’s Republic of China,” is indisputably the world’s most populous country and also a rising superpower on the world economic and political stage. In The China Model: Political Meritocracy and the Limits of Democracy (Princeton University Press, 2015), Daniel A. Bell argues that China also represents a distinctive “model of governance” that is neither liberal democracy nor authoritarianism—a “political meritocracy.” Expanding on themes developed in a number of previous books, Bell outlines the logic of this “model;” compares it, rather favorably, to liberal democracy, especially as a regime well suited to Chinese history, culture, and political experience; and also considers, briefly, its more general relevance to the politics of the 21st century. The issues he raises are relevant to students of comparative politics, democratic theory, world politics, and U.S. foreign policy. And so we have invited a range of political scientists to comment.
Passive compression technique applied to UWB beamforming and imaging architectures
Authors: Fromenteze Thomas , Kpré Ettien L. , Decroze Cyril , Carsenat David
Published: March 2016

Recent works have demonstrated the feasibility of microwave imaging using compressive techniques, exempting the use of active delay lines, phase shifters, or moving parts to achieve beamforming. With this method, waves are coded in a passive way by a compressive device to reduce the complexity of the transmitter and/or receiver chains of the telecommunication and radar systems requiring beamsteering. Such a technique is based on the exploitation of the frequency diversity, implying that a reduction of the compressive device's volume imposes a diminution of the number of driven antennas. In this paper, the improvement brought by simultaneous excitations of the compressive device is presented. Adapting a new mathematical formulation, it is shown that M inputs can send independent waveforms allowing the beamsteering of an N-elements antenna array, while maintaining N > M.
Twin's Birth-Order Differences in Height and Body Mass Index From Birth to Old Age: A Pooled Study of 26 Twin Cohorts Participating in the CODATwins Project
Authors: Yokoyama Yoshie , Jelenkovic Aline , Sund Reijo , Sung Joohon , Hopper John L. , Ooki Syuichi , Heikkilä Kauko , Aaltonen Sari , Tarnoki Adam D. , Tarnoki David L. , Willemsen Gonneke , Bartels Meike , van Beijsterveldt Toos C. E. M. , Saudino Kimberly J. , Cutler Tessa L. , Nelson Tracy L. , Whitfield Keith E. , Wardle Jane , Llewellyn Clare H. , Fisher Abigail , He Mingguang , Ding Xiaohu , Bjerregaard-Andersen Morten , Beck-Nielsen Henning , Sodemann Morten , Song Yun-Mi , Yang Sarah , Lee Kayoung , Jeong Hoe-Uk , Knafo-Noam Ariel , Mankuta David , Abramson Lior , Burt S. Alexandra , Klump Kelly L. , Ordoñana Juan R. , Sánchez-Romera Juan F. , Colodro-Conde Lucia , Harris Jennifer R. , Brandt Ingunn , Nilsen Thomas Sevenius , Craig Jeffrey M. , Saffery Richard , Ji Fuling , Ning Feng , Pang Zengchang , Dubois Lise , Boivin Michel , Brendgen Mara , Dionne Ginette , Vitaro Frank , Martin Nicholas G. , Medland Sarah E. , Montgomery Grant W. , Magnusson Patrik K. E. , Pedersen Nancy L. , Aslan Anna K. Dahl , Tynelius Per , Haworth Claire M. A. , Plomin Robert , Rebato Esther , Rose Richard J. , Goldberg Jack H. , Rasmussen Finn , Hur Yoon-Mi , Sørensen Thorkild I. A. , Boomsma Dorret I. , Kaprio Jaakko , Silventoinen Karri
Published: March 2016

We analyzed birth order differences in means and variances of height and body mass index (BMI) in monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins from infancy to old age. The data were derived from the international CODATwins database. The total number of height and BMI measures from 0.5 to 79.5 years of age was 397,466. As expected, first-born twins had greater birth weight than second-born twins. With respect to height, first-born twins were slightly taller than second-born twins in childhood. After adjusting the results for birth weight, the birth order differences decreased and were no longer statistically significant. First-born twins had greater BMI than the second-born twins over childhood and adolescence. After adjusting the results for birth weight, birth order was still associated with BMI until 12 years of age. No interaction effect between birth order and zygosity was found. Only limited evidence was found that birth order influenced variances of height or BMI. The results were similar among boys and girls and also in MZ and DZ twins. Overall, the differences in height and BMI between first- and second-born twins were modest even in early childhood, while adjustment for birth weight reduced the birth order differences but did not remove them for BMI.
Optogenetic dissection of ictal propagation in the hippocampal–entorhinal cortex structures
Authors: Lu Yi , Zhong Cheng , Wang Lulu , Wei Pengfei , He Wei , Huang Kang , Zhang Yi , Zhan Yang , Feng Guoping , Wang Liping
Published: March 2016

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is one of the most common drug-resistant forms of epilepsy in adults and usually originates in the hippocampal formations. However, both the network mechanisms that support the seizure spread and the exact directions of ictal propagation remain largely unknown. Here we report the dissection of ictal propagation in the hippocampal–entorhinal cortex (HP–EC) structures using optogenetic methods in multiple brain regions of a kainic acid-induced model of TLE in VGAT-ChR2 transgenic mice. We perform highly temporally precise cross-area analyses of epileptic neuronal networks and find a feed-forward propagation pathway of ictal discharges from the dentate gyrus/hilus (DGH) to the medial entorhinal cortex, instead of a re-entrant loop. We also demonstrate that activating DGH GABAergic interneurons can significantly inhibit the spread of ictal seizures and largely rescue behavioural deficits in kainate-exposed animals. These findings may shed light on future therapeutic treatments of TLE.
Cajal bodies are linked to genome conformation
Authors: Wang Qiuyan , Sawyer Iain A. , Sung Myong-Hee , Sturgill David , Shevtsov Sergey P. , Pegoraro Gianluca , Hakim Ofir , Baek Songjoon , Hager Gordon L. , Dundr Miroslav
Published: March 2016

The mechanisms underlying nuclear body (NB) formation and their contribution to genome function are unknown. Here we examined the non-random positioning of Cajal bodies (CBs), major NBs involved in spliceosomal snRNP assembly and their role in genome organization. CBs are predominantly located at the periphery of chromosome territories at a multi-chromosome interface. Genome-wide chromosome conformation capture analysis (4C-seq) using CB-interacting loci revealed that CB-associated regions are enriched with highly expressed histone genes and U small nuclear or nucleolar RNA (sn/snoRNA) loci that form intra- and inter-chromosomal clusters. In particular, we observed a number of CB-dependent gene-positioning events on chromosome 1. RNAi-mediated disassembly of CBs disrupts the CB-targeting gene clusters and suppresses the expression of U sn/snoRNA and histone genes. This loss of spliceosomal snRNP production results in increased splicing noise, even in CB-distal regions. Therefore, we conclude that CBs contribute to genome organization with global effects on gene expression and RNA splicing fidelity.
Optical micromanipulation of nanoparticles and cells inside living zebrafish
Authors: Johansen Patrick Lie , Fenaroli Federico , Evensen Lasse , Griffiths Gareth , Koster Gerbrand
Published: March 2016

Regulation of biological processes is often based on physical interactions between cells and their microenvironment. To unravel how and where interactions occur, micromanipulation methods can be used that offer high-precision control over the duration, position and magnitude of interactions. However, lacking an in vivo system, micromanipulation has generally been done with cells in vitro, which may not reflect the complex in vivo situation inside multicellular organisms. Here using optical tweezers we demonstrate micromanipulation throughout the transparent zebrafish embryo. We show that different cells, as well as injected nanoparticles and bacteria can be trapped and that adhesion properties and membrane deformation of endothelium and macrophages can be analysed. This non-invasive micromanipulation inside a whole-organism gives direct insights into cell interactions that are not accessible using existing approaches. Potential applications include screening of nanoparticle-cell interactions for cancer therapy or tissue invasion studies in cancer and infection biology.
Correction: Corrigendum: Localised excitation of a single photon source by a nanowaveguide
Authors: Geng Wei , Manceau Mathieu , Rahbany Nancy , Sallet Vincent , De Vittorio Massimo , Carbone Luigi , Glorieux Quentin , Bramati Alberto , Couteau Christophe
Published: March 2016

Scientific Reports 6: Article number: 19721; published online: 29 January 2016; updated: 21 March 2016 This Article contains typographical errors in Equation 1: should read:
A wearable biochemical sensor for monitoring alcohol consumption lifestyle through Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) detection in human sweat
Authors: Panneer Selvam Anjan , Muthukumar Sriram , Kamakoti Vikramshankar , Prasad Shalini
Published: March 2016

We demonstrate for the first time a wearable biochemical sensor for monitoring alcohol consumption through the detection and quantification of a metabolite of ethanol, ethyl glucuronide (EtG). We designed and fabricated two co-planar sensors with gold and zinc oxide as sensing electrodes. We also designed a LED based reporting for the presence of EtG in the human sweat samples. The sensor functions on affinity based immunoassay principles whereby monoclonal antibodies for EtG were immobilized on the electrodes using thiol based chemistry. Detection of EtG from human sweat was achieved through chemiresistive sensing mechanism. In this method, an AC voltage was applied across the two coplanar electrodes and the impedance across the sensor electrodes was measured and calibrated for physiologically relevant doses of EtG in human sweat. EtG detection over a dose concentration of 0.001–100 μg/L was demonstrated on both glass and polyimide substrates. Detection sensitivity was lower at 1 μg/L with gold electrodes as compared to ZnO, which had detection sensitivity of 0.001 μg/L. Based on the detection range the wearable sensor has the ability to detect alcohol consumption of up to 11 standard drinks in the US over a period of 4 to 9 hours.
ROS-generating TiO2 nanoparticles for non-invasive sonodynamic therapy of cancer
Authors: You Dong Gil , Deepagan V. G. , Um Wooram , Jeon Sangmin , Son Sejin , Chang Hyeyoun , Yoon Hwa In , Cho Yong Woo , Swierczewska Maggie , Lee Seulki , Pomper Martin G. , Kwon Ick Chan , Kim Kwangmeyung , Park Jae Hyung
Published: March 2016

The non-invasive photodynamic therapy has been limited to treat superficial tumours, primarily ascribed to poor tissue penetration of light as the energy source. Herein, we designed a long-circulating hydrophilized titanium dioxide nanoparticle (HTiO2 NP) that can be activated by ultrasound to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). When administered systemically to mice, HTiO2 NPs effectively suppressed the growth of superficial tumours after ultrasound treatments. In tumour tissue, the levels of proinflammatory cytokines were elevated several fold and intense vascular damage was observed. Notably, ultrasound treatments with HTiO2 NPs also suppressed the growth of deeply located liver tumours at least 15-fold, compared to animals without ultrasound treatments. This study provides the first demonstration of the feasibility of using HTiO2 NPs as sensitizers for sonodynamic therapy in vivo.
Pectin as an Extraordinary Natural Kinetic Hydrate Inhibitor
Authors: Xu Shurui , Fan Shuanshi , Fang Songtian , Lang Xuemei , Wang Yanhong , Chen Jun
Published: March 2016

Pectin as a novel natural kinetic hydrate inhibitor, expected to be eco-friendly and sufficiently biodegradable, was studied in this paper. The novel crystal growth inhibition (CGI) and standard induction time methods were used to evaluate its effect as hydrate inhibitor. It could successfully inhibit methane hydrate formation at subcooling temperature up to 12.5 °C and dramatically slowed the hydrate crystal growth. The dosage of pectin decreased by 66% and effective time extended 10 times than typical kinetic inhibitor. Besides, its maximum growth rate was no more than 2.0%/h, which was far less than 5.5%/h of growth rate for PVCap at the same dosage. The most prominent feature was that it totally inhibited methane hydrate crystal rapid growth when hydrate crystalline occurred. Moreover, in terms of typical natural inhibitors, the inhibition activity of pectin increased 10.0-fold in induction time and 2.5-fold in subcooling temperature. The extraordinary inhibition activity is closely related to its hydrogen bonding interaction with water molecules and the hydrophilic structure. Finally, the biodegradability and economical efficiency of pectin were also taken into consideration. The results showed the biodegradability improved 75.0% and the cost reduced by more than 73.3% compared to typical commercial kinetic inhibitors.
Quasi-extinction risk and population targets for the Eastern, migratory population of monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus)
Authors: Semmens Brice X. , Semmens Darius J. , Thogmartin Wayne E. , Wiederholt Ruscena , López-Hoffman Laura , Diffendorfer Jay E. , Pleasants John M. , Oberhauser Karen S. , Taylor Orley R.
Published: March 2016

The Eastern, migratory population of monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus), an iconic North American insect, has declined by ~80% over the last decade. The monarch’s multi-generational migration between overwintering grounds in central Mexico and the summer breeding grounds in the northern U.S. and southern Canada is celebrated in all three countries and creates shared management responsibilities across North America. Here we present a novel Bayesian multivariate auto-regressive state-space model to assess quasi-extinction risk and aid in the establishment of a target population size for monarch conservation planning. We find that, given a range of plausible quasi-extinction thresholds, the population has a substantial probability of quasi-extinction, from 11–57% over 20 years, although uncertainty in these estimates is large. Exceptionally high population stochasticity, declining numbers and a small current population size act in concert to drive this risk. An approximately 5-fold increase of the monarch population size (relative to the winter of 2014–15) is necessary to halve the current risk of quasi-extinction across all thresholds considered. Conserving the monarch migration thus requires active management to reverse population declines and the establishment of an ambitious target population size goal to buffer against future environmentally driven variability.
3D-printed guiding templates for improved osteosarcoma resection
Authors: Ma Limin , Zhou Ye , Zhu Ye , Lin Zefeng , Wang Yingjun , Zhang Yu , Xia Hong , Mao Chuanbin
Published: March 2016

Osteosarcoma resection is challenging due to the variable location of tumors and their proximity with surrounding tissues. It also carries a high risk of postoperative complications. To overcome the challenge in precise osteosarcoma resection, computer-aided design (CAD) was used to design patient-specific guiding templates for osteosarcoma resection on the basis of the computer tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the osteosarcoma of human patients. Then 3D printing technique was used to fabricate the guiding templates. The guiding templates were used to guide the osteosarcoma surgery, leading to more precise resection of the tumorous bone and the implantation of the bone implants, less blood loss, shorter operation time and reduced radiation exposure during the operation. Follow-up studies show that the patients recovered well to reach a mean Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score of 27.125.
First Introduction of NiSe2 to Anode Material for Sodium-Ion Batteries: A Hybrid of Graphene-Wrapped NiSe2/C Porous Nanofiber
Authors: Cho Jung Sang , Lee Seung Yeon , Kang Yun Chan
Published: March 2016

The first-ever study of nickel selenide materials as efficient anode materials for Na-ion rechargeable batteries is conducted using the electrospinning process. NiSe2-reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-C composite nanofibers are successfully prepared via electrospinning and a subsequent selenization process. The electrospun nanofibers giving rise to these porous-structured composite nanofibers with optimum amount of amorphous C are obtained from the polystyrene to polyacrylonitrile ratio of 1/4. These composite nanofibers also consist of uniformly distributed single-crystalline NiSe2 nanocrystals that have a mean size of 27 nm. In contrast, the densely structured bare NiSe2 nanofibers formed via selenization of the pure NiO nanofibers consist of large crystallites. The initial discharge capacities of the NiSe2-rGO-C composite and bare NiSe2 nanofibers at a current density of 200 mA g−1 are 717 and 755 mA h g−1, respectively. However, the respective 100th-cycle discharge capacities of the former and latter are 468 and 35 mA h g−1. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements reveal the structural stability of the composite nanofibers during repeated Na-ion insertion and extraction processes. The excellent Na-ion storage properties of these nanofibers are attributed to this structural stability.
Differential response of patient-derived primary glioblastoma cells to environmental stiffness
Authors: Grundy Thomas James , De Leon Ellen , Griffin Kaitlyn Rose , Stringer Brett William , Day Bryan William , Fabry Ben , Cooper-White Justin , O’Neill Geraldine Margaret
Published: March 2016

The ability of cancer cells to sense external mechanical forces has emerged as a significant factor in the promotion of cancer invasion. Currently there are conflicting reports in the literature with regard to whether glioblastoma (GBM) brain cancer cell migration and invasion is rigidity-sensitive. In order to address this question we have compared the rigidity-response of primary patient-derived GBM lines. Cells were plated on polyacrylamide gels of defined rigidity that reflect the diversity of the brain tissue mechanical environment and cell morphology and migration were analysed by time-lapse microscopy. Invasiveness was assessed in multicellular spheroids embedded in 3D matrigel cultures. Our data reveal a range of rigidity-dependent responses between the patient-derived cell lines, from reduced migration on the most compliant tissue stiffness to those that are insensitive to substrate rigidity and are equally migratory irrespective of the underlying substrate stiffness. Notably, the rigidity-insensitive GBM cells show the greatest invasive capacity in soft 3D matrigel cultures. Collectively our data confirm both rigidity-dependent and independent behaviour in primary GBM patient-derived cells.
Effect of Alzheimer's Disease Risk Variant rs3824968 at SORL1 on Regional Gray Matter Volume and Age-Related Interaction in Adult Lifespan
Authors: Huang Chu-Chung , Liu Mu-En , Kao Hung-Wen , Chou Kun-Hsien , Yang Albert C. , Wang Ying-Hsiu , Chen Tong-Ru , Tsai Shih-Jen , Lin Ching-Po
Published: March 2016

Sortilin receptor 1 (SORL1) is involved in cellular trafficking of amyloid precursor protein and plays an essential role in amyloid-beta peptide generation in Alzheimer disease (AD). The major A allele in a SORL1 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs3824968, is associated with an increased AD risk. However, the role of SORL1 rs3824968 in the normal ageing process has rarely been examined in relation to brain structural morphology. This study investigated the association between SORL1 rs3824968 and grey matter (GM) volume in a nondemented Chinese population of 318 adults within a wide age range (21–92 years). Through voxel-based morphometry, we found that participants carrying SORL1 allele A exhibited significantly smaller GM volumes in the right posterior cingulate, left middle occipital, medial frontal and superior temporal gyri. Considerable interaction between age and SORL1 suggested a detrimental and accelerated ageing effect of allele A on putamen. These findings provide evidence that SORL1 rs3824968 modulates regional GM volume and is associated with brain trajectory during the adult lifespan.
Higher-order Multivariable Polynomial Regression to Estimate Human Affective States
Authors: Wei Jie , Chen Tong , Liu Guangyuan , Yang Jiemin
Published: March 2016

From direct observations, facial, vocal, gestural, physiological and central nervous signals, estimating human affective states through computational models such as multivariate linear-regression analysis, support vector regression and artificial neural network, have been proposed in the past decade. In these models, linear models are generally lack of precision because of ignoring intrinsic nonlinearities of complex psychophysiological processes; and nonlinear models commonly adopt complicated algorithms. To improve accuracy and simplify model, we introduce a new computational modeling method named as higher-order multivariable polynomial regression to estimate human affective states. The study employs standardized pictures in the International Affective Picture System to induce thirty subjects’ affective states and obtains pure affective patterns of skin conductance as input variables to the higher-order multivariable polynomial model for predicting affective valence and arousal. Experimental results show that our method is able to obtain efficient correlation coefficients of 0.98 and 0.96 for estimation of affective valence and arousal, respectively. Moreover, the method may provide certain indirect evidences that valence and arousal have their brain’s motivational circuit origins. Thus, the proposed method can serve as a novel one for efficiently estimating human affective states.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Revealed Splenic Targeting of Canine Parvovirus Capsid Protein VP2
Authors: Ma Yufei , Wang Haiming , Yan Dan , Wei Yanquan , Cao Yuhua , Yi Peiwei , Zhang Hailu , Deng Zongwu , Dai Jianwu , Liu Xiangtao , Luo Jianxun , Zhang Zhijun , Sun Shiqi , Guo Huichen
Published: March 2016

Canine parvovirus (CPV) is a highly contagious infectious virus, whose infectious mechanism remains unclear because of acute gastroenteritis and the lack of an efficient tool to visualize the virus in real time during virology research. In this study, we developed an iron oxide nanoparticle supported by graphene quantum dots (GQD), namely, FeGQD. In this composite material, GQD acts as a stabilizer; thus, vacancies are retained on the surface for further physical adsorption of the CPV VP2 protein. The FeGQD@VP2 nanocomposite product showed largely enhanced colloidal stability in comparison with bare FeGQD, as well as negligible toxicity both in vitro and in vivo. The composite displayed high uptake into transferrin receptor (TfR) positive cells, which are distinguishable from FeGQD or TfR negative cells. In addition, the composite developed a significant accumulation in spleen rather than in liver, where bare FeGQD or most iron oxide nanoparticles gather. As these evident targeting abilities of FeGQD@VP2 strongly suggested, the biological activity of CPV VP2 was retained in our study and its biological functions might correspond to CPV when the rare splenic targeting ability is considered. This approach can be applied to numerous other biomedical studies that require a simple yet efficient approach to track proteins in vivo while retaining biological function and may facilitate virus-related research.
Pinus sylvestris as a missing source of nitrous oxide and methane in boreal forest
Authors: Machacova Katerina , Bäck Jaana , Vanhatalo Anni , Halmeenmäki Elisa , Kolari Pasi , Mammarella Ivan , Pumpanen Jukka , Acosta Manuel , Urban Otmar , Pihlatie Mari
Published: March 2016

Boreal forests comprise 73% of the world’s coniferous forests. Based on forest floor measurements, they have been considered a significant natural sink of methane (CH4) and a natural source of nitrous oxide (N2O), both of which are important greenhouse gases. However, the role of trees, especially conifers, in ecosystem N2O and CH4 exchange is only poorly understood. We show for the first time that mature Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) trees consistently emit N2O and CH4 from both stems and shoots. The shoot fluxes of N2O and CH4 exceeded the stem flux rates by 16 and 41 times, respectively. Moreover, higher stem N2O and CH4 fluxes were observed from wet than from dry areas of the forest. The N2O release from boreal pine forests may thus be underestimated and the uptake of CH4 may be overestimated when ecosystem flux calculations are based solely on forest floor measurements. The contribution of pine trees to the N2O and CH4 exchange of the boreal pine forest seems to increase considerably under high soil water content, thus highlighting the urgent need to include tree-emissions in greenhouse gas emission inventories.