bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hydrogelation Induced by Change in Hydrophobicity of Amino Acid Side Chain in Fmoc‐Functionalised Amino Acid: Significance of Sulfur on Hydrogelation
Authors: Reddy Samala Murali Mohan , Dorishetty Pramod , Deshpande Abhijit P. , Shanmugam Ganesh
Published: March 2016

Although a few Fmoc‐functionalised amino acids (Fmoc‐AA) are capable of forming hydrogels, the exact levels of hydrophobicity, hydrogen bonding, and ionic nature of the Fmoc‐AA gelator required for hydrogel formation remains uncertain. Here, the role of hydrophobicity of amino acid side chain, particularly in the formation of hydrogel, was studied by using Fmoc‐norleucine (Fmoc‐Nle) and its simple sulfur analogues such as Fmoc‐methionine (Fmoc‐M) in which the γCH2 of Fmoc‐Nle is replaced by sulfur. Results indicate that Fmoc‐M forms thermally reversible hydrogels in water (pH ca. 6.8), whereas Fmoc‐Nle fails to display any gelation under similar conditions. The result suggests that substitution of the sulfur atom likely reduces the hydrophobicity of the alkyl side chain in Fmoc‐Nle to the optimum level, which is sufficient to induce supramolecular hydrogelation in Fmoc‐M. The difference in the self‐association behaviour of Fmoc‐M and Fmoc‐Nle emphasise the importance of weak noncovalent interaction between side chains (in addition to the hydrogen‐bond and aromatic interactions) to stabilise supramolecular self‐assembly of Fmoc‐functionalised compounds. The current observations provide a lead to the design of new sulfur‐based low molecular weight gelators for various potential applications.
Imine‐Functionalized Triazatriangulenium Platforms: Towards an Artificial Ciliated Epithelium
Authors: Hammerich Melanie , Rusch Talina , Krekiehn Nicolai R. , Bloedorn Andreas , Magnussen Olaf M. , Herges Rainer
Published: March 2016

Triazatriangulenium (TATA) platforms have been used to prepare highly ordered, self‐assembled monolayers of free‐ and vertically standing imines on Au(111) surfaces. Upon irradiation, the imines undergotrans–cisisomerization and a fast thermal reaction (t1/2=0.58 s at 20 °C) back to the more stabletransform. It is known that the photochemical reaction proceeds through rotation of the C=N bond and the thermochemical reaction through inversion at the N atom. The imine motors, therefore, should be able to induce a net displacement of particles above the surface similar to cilia epithelia in nature.
Donor/Acceptor Mixed Self‐Assembled Monolayers for Realising a Multi‐Redox‐State Surface
Authors: Casado‐Montenegro Javier , Marchante Elena , Crivillers Núria , Rovira Concepció , Mas‐Torrent Marta
Published: March 2016

Mixed molecular self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold, based on two types of electroactive molecules, that is, electron‐donor (ferrocene) and electron‐acceptor (anthraquinone) molecules, are prepared as an approach to realise surfaces exhibiting multiple accessible redox states. The SAMs are investigated in different electrolyte media. The nature of these media has a strong impact on the types of redox processes that take place and on the redox potentials. Under optimised conditions, surfaces with three redox states are achieved. Such states are accessible in a relatively narrow potential window in which the SAMs on gold are stable. This communication elucidates the key challenges in fabricating bicomponent SAMs as electrochemical switches.
A Bis‐Manganese(II)–DOTA Complex for Pulsed Dipolar Spectroscopy
Authors: Demay‐Drouhard Paul , Ching H. Y. Vincent , Akhmetzyanov Dmitry , Guillot Régis , Tabares Leandro C. , Bertrand Hélène C. , Policar Clotilde
Published: March 2016

High‐spin gadolinium(III) and manganese(II) complexes have emerged as alternatives to standard nitroxide radical spin labels for measuring nanometric distances by using pulsed electron–electron double resonance (PELDOR or DEER) at high fields/frequencies. For certain complexes, particularly those with relatively small zero‐field splitting (ZFS) and short distances between the two metal centers, the pseudosecular term of the dipolar coupling Hamiltonian is non‐negligible. However, in general, the contribution from this term during conventional data analysis is masked by the flexibility of the molecule of interest and/or the long tethers connecting them to the spin labels. The efficient synthesis of a model system consisting of two [Mn(dota)]2− (MnDOTA; DOTA4−=1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane‐1,4,7,10‐tetraacetate) directly connected to the ends of a central rodlike oligo(phenylene–ethynylene) (OPE) spacer is reported. The rigidity of the OPE is confirmed by Q‐band PELDOR measurements on a bis‐nitroxide analogue. The MnII−MnII distance distribution profile determined by W‐band PELDOR is in reasonable agreement with one simulated by using a simple rotamer analysis. The small degree of flexibility arising from the linking MnDOTA arm appears to outweigh the contribution from the pseudosecular term at this interspin distance. This study illustrates the potential of MnDOTA‐based spin labels for measuring fairly short nanometer distances, and also presents an interesting candidate for in‐depth studies of pulsed dipolar spectroscopy methods on MnII−MnII systems.
Application of quorum response and information entropy to animal collective motion modeling
Authors: Hu Feng , Escudero Carlos , Buhl Jerome , Simpson Stephen J.
Published: March 2016

“Quorum response” is a type of social interaction in which an individual's chance of choosing an option is a nonlinear function of the number of other individuals already committing to it. This interaction has been widely used to characterize collective decision‐making in animal groups. Here, we first implement it in 1D and 2D models of collective animal movement, and find that the resulting group motion shows the characteristic behaviors which were observed in previous experimental and modeling studies. Further, the analytic form of quorum response renders us an opportunity to propose a mean field theory in 1D with globally interacting particles, so we can estimate the average time period between changes in the group direction (mean switching time). We find that the theoretical results provide an upper bound to the simulation results when the interaction radius grows from local to global. Information entropy, a concept widely used to quantify the uncertainty of a random variable, is introduced here as a new order parameter to study the evolution of systems of two cases in 2D models. The explicitly formulated probability of a particle's dynamic state in the framework of quorum response makes information entropy directly computable. We find that, besides the global order, information entropy can also capture the structural features of local order of the system which previous order parameters such as alignment cannot. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 21: 584–592, 2016
Can chunking reduce syntactic complexity of natural languages?
Authors: Lu Qian , Xu Chunshan , Liu Haitao
Published: March 2016

Natural language is a complex adaptive system with multiple levels. The hierarchical structure may have much to do with the complexity of language. Dependency Distance has been invoked to explain various linguistic patterns regarding syntactic complexity. However, little attention has been paid to how the structural properties of language to minimize dependency distance. This article computationally simulates several chunked artificial languages, and shows, through comparison with Mandarin Chinese, that chunking may significantly reduce mean dependency distance of linear sequences. These results suggest that language may have evolved the mechanism of dynamic chunking to reduce the complexity for the sake of efficient communication. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 21: 33–41, 2016
Complexities of landscape evolution during incision through layered stratigraphy with contrasts in rock strength
Authors: Forte Adam M. , Yanites Brian J. , Whipple Kelin X.
Published: March 2016

Variation in the erodibility of rock units has long been recognized as an important determinant of landscape evolution but has been little studied in landscape evolution models. We use a modified version of the Channel‐Hillslope Integrated Landscape Development (CHILD) model, which explicitly allows for variations in rock strength, to reveal and explore the remarkably rich, complex behavior induced by rock erodibility variations in even very simple geologic settings with invariant climate and tectonics. We study the importance of relative contrasts in erodibility between just two units, the order of these units (whether hard rocks overlie soft or soft rocks overlie hard) and the orientation of the contact between the two units. We emphasize the spatial and temporal evolution of erosion rates, which have important implications for basin analysis, detrital mineral records, and the interpretation of cosmogenic isotope concentrations in detrital samples. Results of the landscape evolution modeling indicate that the stratigraphic order of units in terms of erodibility, the gross orientation of the contact (i.e. dipping away or toward the outlet of the landscape) and the contact dip angle all have measurable effects on landscape evolution, including significant spatial and temporal variations in erosion rates. Steady‐state denudation conditions are unlikely to develop in landscapes with significant contrasts in rock strength in horizontal to moderately tilted rock layers, at least at the scale of the entire landscape. Additionally, our results demonstrate that there is no general relation between rock erodibility and erosion rates in natural settings. Although rock erodibility directly controls the erosion rate constant in our models, it is not uncommon for higher erosion rates to occur in the harder, less erodible rock. Indeed erosion rates may be either greater or less than the rock uplift rate (invariant in time and space in our models) in both hard and soft rocks, depending on the local geology, topography, and the pattern of landscape evolution. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quantitative 3D magnetic resonance elastography: Comparison with dynamic mechanical analysis
Authors: Arunachalam Shivaram P. , Rossman Phillip J. , Arani Arvin , Lake David S. , Glaser Kevin J. , Trzasko Joshua D. , Manduca Armando , McGee Kiaran P. , Ehman Richard L. , Araoz Philip A.
Published: March 2016

Purpose

Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is a rapidly growing noninvasive imaging technique for measuring tissue mechanical properties in vivo. Previous studies have compared two‐dimensional MRE measurements with material properties from dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) devices that were limited in frequency range. Advanced DMA technology now allows broad frequency range testing, and three‐dimensional (3D) MRE is increasingly common. The purpose of this study was to compare 3D MRE stiffness measurements with those of DMA over a wide range of frequencies and shear stiffnesses.

Methods

3D MRE and DMA were performed on eight different polyvinyl chloride samples over 20–205 Hz with stiffness between 3 and 23 kPa. Driving frequencies were chosen to create 1.1, 2.2, 3.3, 4.4, 5.5, and 6.6 effective wavelengths across the diameter of the cylindrical phantoms. Wave images were analyzed using direct inversion and local frequency estimation algorithm with the curl operator and compared with DMA measurements at each corresponding frequency. Samples with sufficient spatial resolution and with an octahedral shear strain signal‐to‐noise ratio > 3 were compared.

Results

Consistency between the two techniques was measured with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and was excellent with an overall ICC of 0.99.

Conclusions

3D MRE and DMA showed excellent consistency over a wide range of frequencies and stiffnesses. Magn Reson Med 77:1184–1192, 2017. © 2016 The Authors Magnetic Resonance in Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution‐NonCommercial‐NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non‐commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.
Evolution in surface morphology during rapid microwave annealing of PS‐b‐PMMA thin films
Authors: Qiang Zhe , Ye Changhuai , Lin Kehua , Becker Matthew L. , Cavicchi Kevin A. , Vogt Bryan D.
Published: March 2016

Microwave annealing enables rapid (60 s) ordering and orientation of block copolymer films. The developed morphology in polystyrene‐block‐poly(methyl methacrylate) (PS‐b‐PMMA) thin films depends on details of the heating rate that is controlled by microwave output energy as well as the sample location in the microwave. Over a wide heating rate (1.1–2.7 °C/s), perpendicular orientation of the cylindrical mesostructure at the surface is >50% after 60 s, but goes through a maximum at 1.8 °C/s leading to approximately 97% perpendicular cylinders at the surface. The propagation of this perpendicular surface morphology through the film thickness is also dependent upon the microwave annealing conditions. The surface structure evolves with the microwave annealing time from imperfect ordering to perpendicular cylinders to parallel cylinders as the annealing time increases. This work demonstrates the importance of controlling the heating rate during microwave annealing, which will be critical for optimizing microwave conditions for directed self‐assembly. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016, 54, 1499–1506
Analysis of breakdown characteristics in source field‐plate AlGaN/GaN HEMTs
Authors: Onodera Hiraku , Hanawa Hideyuki , Horio Kazushige
Published: March 2016

Two‐dimensional analysis of off‐state breakdown characteristics of source field‐plate AlGaN/GaN HEMTs is performed by considering a deep donor and a deep acceptor in a buffer layer. It is shown that the introduction of field plate is effective in improving the breakdown voltage, but it can decrease with the field‐plate length, and hence its optimum length should exist. It is also shown that the breakdown voltage of the source field‐plate structure is a little lower than that of the gate field‐plate structure when the field‐plate length is short, because the electric field at the drain edge of the gate becomes higher. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Concise Review: Cellular Therapies: The Potential to Regenerate and Restore Tolerance in Immune-Mediated Intestinal Diseases
Authors: Ciccocioppo Rachele , Cangemi Giuseppina Cristina , Kruzliak Peter , Corazza Gino Roberto
Published: March 2016

Chronic inflammatory enteropathies, including celiac disease, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis, are lifelong disabling conditions whose cure is still an unmet need, despite the great strides made in understanding their complex pathogenesis. The advent of cellular therapies, mainly based on the use of stem cells, represents a great step forward thanks to their multitarget strategy. Both hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSC) have been employed in the treatment of refractory cases with promising results. The lack of immunogenicity makes MSC more suitable for therapeutic purposes as their infusion may be performed across histocompatibility locus antigen barriers without risk of rejection. The best outcome has been obtained when treating fistulizing Crohn's disease with local injections of MSC. In addition, both HSC and MSC proved successful in promoting regeneration of intestinal mucosa, and favoring the expansion of a T-cell regulatory subset. By virtue of the ability to favor mucosal homeostasis, this last cell population has been exploited in clinical trials, with inconsistent results. Finally, the recent identification of the epithelial stem cell marker has opened up the possibility of tissue engineering, with an array of potential applications for intestinal diseases. However, the underlying mechanisms of action of these interconnected therapeutic strategies are still poorly understood. It is conceivable that over the next few years their role will become clearer as the biological interactions with injured tissues and the hierarchy by which they deliver their action are unraveled through a continuous moving from bench to bedside and vice versa.
Tool trouble: Challenges with using self‐report data to evaluate long‐term chemistry teacher professional development
Authors: Herrington Deborah G. , Yezierski Ellen J. , Bancroft Senetta F.
Published: March 2016

The purpose of this study was to compare the ability of different instruments, independently developed and traditionally used for measuring science teachers’ beliefs in short‐term interventions, to longitudinally measure teachers’ changing beliefs. We compared the ability of three self‐report instruments (Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument Form A [STEBI], Teaching of Science as Inquiry instrument [TSI], Inquiry Teaching Beliefs instrument [ITB]) and one observational instrument (Reformed Teaching Observation Protocol [RTOP]) to appropriately measure high school chemistry teachers’ beliefs as they engaged in a two and a half year professional development program. Collectively our findings from these four instruments, across three separate cohort of teachers (N = 16), indicated conflicting changes in teacher beliefs. For example, the STEBI indicated teachers’ self‐efficacy remained unchanged or increased while the TSI indicated a concurrent decrease in self‐efficacy throughout the PD program. Additionally, the ITB seemed to indicate a decrease in teachers’ knowledge of inquiry while their interview data and RTOP scores indicated a concurrent increase in their knowledge of and ability to enact inquiry‐based practices. We reconcile these conflicting results and discuss the implications these findings have for validly and reliably measuring science teacher belief changes within longer duration PD. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 53:1055–1081, 2016
Polymeric nanoparticles in development for treatment of pulmonary infectious diseases
Authors: Lim Young H. , Tiemann Kristin M. , Hunstad David A. , Elsabahy Mahmoud , Wooley Karen L.
Published: March 2016

Serious lung infections, such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, and chronic obstructive cystic fibrosis‐related bacterial diseases, are increasingly difficult to treat and can be life‐threatening. Over the last decades, an array of therapeutics and/or diagnostics have been exploited for management of pulmonary infections, but the advent of drug‐resistant bacteria and the adverse conditions experienced upon reaching the lung environment urge the development of more effective delivery vehicles. Nanotechnology is revolutionizing the approach to circumventing these barriers, enabling better management of pulmonary infectious diseases. In particular, polymeric nanoparticle‐based therapeutics have emerged as promising candidates, allowing for programmed design of multi‐functional nanodevices and, subsequently, improved pharmacokinetics and therapeutic efficiency, as compared to conventional routes of delivery. Direct delivery to the lungs of such nanoparticles, loaded with appropriate antimicrobials and equipped with ‘smart’ features to overcome various mucosal and cellular barriers, is a promising approach to localize and concentrate therapeutics at the site of infection while minimizing systemic exposure to the therapeutic agents. The present review focuses on recent progress (2005–2015) important for the rational design of nanostructures, particularly polymeric nanoparticles, for the treatment of pulmonary infections with highlights on the influences of size, shape, composition, and surface characteristics of antimicrobial‐bearing polymeric nanoparticles on their biodistribution, therapeutic efficacy, and toxicity. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2016, 8:842–871. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1401

This article is categorized under:

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Infectious Disease
Emerging Genetic Counselor Roles within the Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Industries: as Industry Interest Grows in Rare Genetic Disorders, How are Genetic Counselors Joining the Discussion?
Authors: Field Tessa , Brewster Stephanie Jo , Towne Meghan , Campion MaryAnn W.
Published: March 2016

Traditionally, the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry (BPI) has focused drug development at the mass‐market level targeting common medical issues. However, a recent trend is the development of therapies for orphan or rare disorders, including many genetic disorders. Developing treatments for genetic disorders requires an understanding of the needs of the community and translating genomic information to clinical and non‐clinical audiences. The core skills of genetic counselors (GCs) include a deep knowledge of genetics and ability to communicate complex information to a broad audience, making GCs a choice fit for this shift in drug development. To date there is limited data defining the roles GCs hold within this industry. This exploratory study aimed to define the roles and motivation of GCs working in BPI, assess job satisfaction, and identify translatable skills and current gaps in GC training programs. The authors surveyed 26 GCs working in BPI in the United States; 79 % work for companies focused on rare disorders. GC positions in BPI are growing, with 57 % of respondents being the first GC in their role. GCs in BPI continue to utilize core genetic counseling competencies, though 72 % felt their training did not fully prepare them for BPI. These data suggest opportunities for exposure to BPI in GC training to better prepare future generations of GCs for these career opportunities. GC satisfaction was high in BPI, notably in areas traditionally reported as less satisfying on the National Society for Genetic Counselors Professional Status Survey: salary and advancement opportunities. BPI's growing interest in rare disorders represents a career opportunity for GCs, addressing both historic areas of dissatisfaction for GCs and BPI's genomic communication needs.
An investigation of negative affect, reactivity, and distress tolerance as predictors of disordered eating attitudes across adolescence
Authors: Juarascio Adrienne S. , Felton Julia W. , Borges Allison M. , Manasse Stephanie M. , Murray Helen B. , Lejuez Carl W.
Published: March 2016

The current study examined internalizing symptoms, affect reactivity, and distress intolerance as prospective predictors of increases in eating disorder (ED)‐attitudes during adolescence. Adolescents (n = 206) took part in a six‐year longitudinal study examining the development of psychopathology. Latent growth curve analysis was used to examine associations between predictors and later ED‐attitudes. Distress intolerance and internalizing symptoms were associated with ED‐attitudes at baseline, but did not predict increases over time. Affect reactivity, however, was significantly associated with increases in ED‐attitudes over time. Baseline affect reactivity did not interact with baseline distress intolerance to predict increases in ED‐attitudes; however higher baseline internalizing symptoms interacted with distress intolerance to predict increases in ED‐attitudes across adolescence. These results are among the first to document that affect reactivity alone and the combined effect of high internalizing symptoms and high distress intolerance early in adolescence are risk factors for the later development of ED‐attitudes.
A lasting effect of postnatal sevoflurane anesthesia on the composition of NMDA receptor subunits in rat prefrontal cortex
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyu , Shen Fengyan , Xu Daojie , Zhao Xuan
Published: March 2016

Sevoflurane is widely used in pediatric anesthesia and studies have shown that it is capable of inducing neurodegeneration and subsequent cognitive disorders in the developing brain. However, the evidence that anesthetics are toxic to the human brain is insufficient. N‐Methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) receptors, critical for learning and memory, display expression changes with age and can be modulated by inhalation anesthetics. Generally, NMDA receptor (NR) type 1 is expressed at birth, peaks around the third postnatal week, and then declines slightly to adult levels. NR2Bs slowly decrease and NR2As gradually increase during postnatal development. These developmental switches of NMDA receptor subunits composition mark the transition from immature to adult neural processing and allow for the final maturation of associative learning abilities. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of repeated sevoflurane anesthesia on NMDA receptor subunits composition in the developing rat brain and related behavioral disorders. Six‐day‐old male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly allocated into either a control group (group con) or a sevoflurane group (group sevo). Group sevo inhaled 2.1% sevoflurane carried by 70% oxygen for 2 h each day from postnatal day (PND) 6 to PND 8. The same procedure, without applying the sevoflurane, was executed in group con. The membrane protein expression of NR1, NR2A and NR2B in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus was assessed at the end of the three days of anesthesia and at PND 21. An open field test was carried out to assess spontaneous locomotion on PNDs 21, 28 and 35. Y maze performance was used to assess attention and working memory on PND 28. Sevoflurane induced upregulation of NR1 and NR2B in the PFC at the end of anesthesia. On PND 21, NR1 and NR2B receptors were significantly increased whereas NR2A receptors were significantly decreased in the PFC in group sevo. Sevoflurane‐treated rats showed hyper‐locomotion and impairment of working memory in the behavior tests. These results indicate that repeated sevoflurane anesthesia at early stage of life can induce a long lasting effect of interfering with NMDA receptor subunits composition in rat PFC. These changes may contribute to the effects of sevoflurane on neuronal development and subsequent neurobehavioral disorders.
Outcomes and prognostic factors of simple partial cystectomy for localized bladder urothelial cell carcinoma
Authors: Shao I‐Hung , Chang Ying‐Hsu , Yu Kai‐Jie , Lin Po‐Hung , Liu Chung‐Yi , Chuang Cheng‐Keng , Pang See‐Tong
Published: March 2016

Radical cystectomy has remained the gold standard for recurrent superficial or muscle invasive bladder tumor. However, partial cystectomy still has a role in those who reject or have contraindications for radical cystectomy. In this study, we sought to identify predictors of bladder recurrence and overall survival after simple partial cystectomy. We included 27 patients with bladder tumor who received simple partial cystectomy without pelvic lymph node dissection between March 2000 and September 2013. Adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation therapy was prescribed according to the pathological results. Parameters were compared on the basis of bladder recurrence and overall survival. During a mean follow‐up time of 39 months, five patients (18.5%) experienced bladder recurrence. An older age, a higher pathological stage, positive surgical margins, and distant metastases were significant predictors of overall survival (p = 0.031, p = 0.001, p = 0.001, and p = 0.011, respectively). Meanwhile, previous bladder instillation and positive surgical margins were significant predictors of bladder recurrence (p = 0.026 and p = 0.027, respectively). The rate of consecutive distant metastases (33.3%) was almost twice the rate of bladder recurrence (18.5%), and six patients developed consecutive distant metastases without first experiencing bladder recurrence. In patients who received a simple partial cystectomy as an alternative treatment, previous bladder instillation and positive surgical margins were significant predictors of bladder recurrence. Patients with an older age, positive surgical margins, and consecutive distant metastases had worse overall survival. Partial cystectomy with routine lymph node dissection may be a better option for achieving favorable long‐term outcomes.
Unbiased identification of substrates of protein tyrosine phosphatase ptp‐3 in C. elegans
Authors: Mitchell Christopher J. , Kim Min-Sik , Zhong Jun , Nirujogi Raja Sekhar , Bose Anjun K. , Pandey Akhilesh
Published: March 2016

The leukocyte antigen related (LAR) family of receptor‐like protein tyrosine phosphatases has three members in humans – PTPRF, PTPRD and PTPRS – that have been implicated in diverse processes including embryonic development, inhibition of cell growth and axonal guidance. Mutations in the LAR family are associated with developmental defects such as cleft palate as well as various cancers including breast, neck, lung, colon and brain. Although this family of tyrosine phosphatases is important for many developmental processes, little is known of their substrates. This is partially due to functional redundancy within the LAR family, as deletion of a single gene in the LAR family does not have an appreciable phenotype, but a dual knockout is embryonically lethal in mouse models. To circumvent the inability to knockout multiple members of the LAR family in mouse models, we used a knockout of ptp‐3, which is the only known ortholog of the LAR family in Caenorhabditis elegans and allows for the study of the LAR family at the organismal level. Using SILAC‐based quantitative phosphoproteomics, we identified 255 putative substrates of ptp‐3, which included four of the nine known annotated substrates of the LAR family. A motif analysis of the identified phosphopeptides allowed for the determination of sequences that appear to be preferentially dephosphorylated. Finally, we discovered that kinases were overrepresented in the list of identified putative substrates and tyrosine residues whose phosphorylation is known to increase kinase activity were dephosphorylated by ptp‐3. These data are suggestive of ptp‐3 as a potential negative regulator of several kinase families, such as the mitogen activated kinases (MAPKs), and multiple tyrosine kinases including FER, MET, and NTRK2.
Dynamics of N5+-H electron capture in Debye plasmas
Authors: Liu L. , Wang J.G.
Published: March 2016

The electron capture in N5+-H collisions imbedded in a Debye plasma is studied by using the two-center atomic orbital close-coupling method in the energy range from 1 keV/u to 200 keV/u. The atomic orbitals and electron binding energies of atomic states are calculated within the Debye–Hückel approximation of the screened Coulomb potential and used in atomic orbital close-coupling dynamics formalism to calculate the electron capture cross sections. The electron capture cross sections and the charge transfer spectral lines of N4+(1s2nl) for a number of representative screening parameter values are presented and discussed. It is found that the screening of Coulomb interactions affects the entire collision dynamics and the magnitude and energy behavior of state-selective cross sections. The changes in electron binding energies and capture cross sections when the interaction screening varies introduce dramatic changes in the radiation spectrum of N4+(1s2nl) capture states with respect to the unscreened interaction case.
Role of natural convection in the dissolution of sessile droplets
Authors: Dietrich Erik , Wildeman Sander , Visser Claas Willem , Hofhuis Kevin , Kooij E. Stefan , Zandvliet Harold J. W. , Lohse Detlef
Published: March 2016

The dissolution process of small (initial (equivalent) radius $R_{0}<1$  mm) long-chain alcohol (of various types) sessile droplets in water is studied, disentangling diffusive and convective contributions. The latter can arise for high solubilities of the alcohol, as the density of the alcohol–water mixture is then considerably less than that of pure water, giving rise to buoyancy-driven convection. The convective flow around the droplets is measured, using micro-particle image velocimetry (${\rm\mu}$PIV) and the schlieren technique. When non-dimensionalizing the system, we find a universal $Sh\sim Ra^{1/4}$ scaling relation for all alcohols (of different solubilities) and all droplets in the convective regime. Here $Sh$ is the Sherwood number (dimensionless mass flux) and $Ra$ is the Rayleigh number (dimensionless density difference between clean and alcohol-saturated water). This scaling implies the scaling relation ${\it\tau}_{c}\propto R_{0}^{5/4}$ of the convective dissolution time ${\it\tau}_{c}$, which is found to agree with experimental data. We show that in the convective regime the plume Reynolds number (the dimensionless velocity) of the detaching alcohol-saturated plume follows $Re_{p}\sim Sc^{-1}Ra^{5/8}$, which is confirmed by the ${\rm\mu}$PIV data. Here, $Sc$ is the Schmidt number. The convective regime exists when $Ra>Ra_{t}$, where $Ra_{t}=12$ is the transition $Ra$ number as extracted from the data. For $Ra\leqslant Ra_{t}$ and smaller, convective transport is progressively overtaken by diffusion and the above scaling relations break down.
A Recursion Formula for the Moments of the First Passage Time of the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck Process
Authors: Veestraeten Dirk
Published: March 2016

In this paper we use the Siegert formula to derive alternative expressions for the moments of the first passage time of the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process through a constant threshold. The expression for the nth moment is recursively linked to the lower-order moments and consists of only n terms. These compact expressions can substantially facilitate (numerical) applications also for higher-order moments.
Couplings for locally branching epidemic processes
Authors: Barbour A. D.
Published: March 2016

The asymptotic behaviour of many locally branching epidemic models can, at least to first order, be deduced from the limit theory of two branching processes. The first is Whittle's (1955) branching approximation to the early stages of the epidemic, the phase in which approximately exponential growth takes place. The second is the susceptibility approximation; the backward branching process that approximates the history of the contacts that would lead to an individual becoming infected. The simplest coupling arguments for demonstrating the closeness of these branching process approximations do not keep the processes identical for quite long enough. Thus, arguments showing that the differences are unimportant are also needed. In this paper we show that, for some models, couplings can be constructed that are sufficiently accurate for this extra step to be dispensed with.
Percolation on stationary tessellations: models, mean values, and second-order structure
Authors: Last Günter , Ochsenreither Eva
Published: March 2016

We consider a stationary face-to-face tessellationXofRdand introduce several percolation models by colouring some of the faces black in a consistent way. Our main model is cell percolation, where cells are declared black with probabilitypand white otherwise. We are interested in geometric properties of the unionZof black faces. Under natural integrability assumptions, we first express asymptotic mean values of intrinsic volumes in terms of Palm expectations associated with the faces. In the second part of the paper we focus on cell percolation on normal tessellations and study asymptotic covariances of intrinsic volumes ofZ∩W, where the observation windowWis assumed to be a convex body. Special emphasis is given to the planar case where the formulae become more explicit, though we need to assume the existence of suitable asymptotic covariances of the face processes ofX. We check these assumptions in the important special case of a Poisson-Voronoi tessellation.
On the singular components of a copula
Authors: Durante Fabrizio , Fernández-Sánchez Juan , Trutschnig Wolfgang
Published: March 2016

We analyze copulas with a nontrivial singular component by using their Markov kernel representation. In particular, we provide existence results for copulas with a prescribed singular component. The constructions not only help to deal with problems related to multivariate stochastic systems of lifetimes when joint defaults can occur with a nonzero probability, but even provide a copula maximizing the probability of joint default.
Bounded truncation error for long-run averages in infinite Markov chains
Authors: Baumann Hendrik , Sandmann Werner
Published: March 2016

We consider long-run averages of additive functionals on infinite discrete-state Markov chains, either continuous or discrete in time. Special cases include long-run average costs or rewards, stationary moments of the components of ergodic multi-dimensional Markov chains, queueing network performance measures, and many others. By exploiting Foster-Lyapunov-type criteria involving drift conditions for the finiteness of long-run averages we determine suitable finite subsets of the state space such that the truncation error is bounded. Illustrative examples demonstrate the application of this method.
Runs in coin tossing: a general approach for deriving distributions for functionals
Authors: Holst Lars , Konstantopoulos Takis
Published: March 2016

We take a fresh look at the classical problem of runs in a sequence of independent and identically distributed coin tosses and derive a general identity/recursion which can be used to compute (joint) distributions of functionals of run types. This generalizes and unifies already existing approaches. We give several examples, derive asymptotics, and pose some further questions.
Diffusion, Winds and X-Rays from Magnetic Stars
Authors: Babel J.
Published: March 2016

We propose a self-consistent approach of the CP star phenomenon and try to solve simultaneously the problems of abundance spots, wind and X-ray emission from these stars. We also discuss the periodic X-ray emission from the 07V star θ1 Orionis C and its link with Bp stars.
Theoretical Aspects of the Rapidly Oscillating AP Stars
Authors: Shibahashi H.
Published: March 2016

Until the rapid oscillations in Przybylski’s star, HD 101065, were discovered by Kurtz in 1978, chemical peculiarity and pulsation were thought to be mutually exclusive. Though the location of the Ap stars in the HR diagram overlaps with that of the Delta Scuti stars, no Ap stars were known to pulsate, and the Delta Scuti type pulsating stars, with a few exceptions, were not claimed to reveal chemical peculiarity. The striking impact of the discovery of the rapid oscillations of Ap stars is that the basic conception of the exclusiveness of the chemical peculiarity and the pulsation was broken. So far, twenty-nine Ap stars have been discovered to be rapidly oscillating Ap (roAp) stars (Kurtz 1997). The observed pulsations of Ap stars are, however, different from those of the Delta Scuti stars in various aspects. The pulsation periods of roAp stars are typically 10.minutes and are much shorter than those of the Delta Scuti stars, which are typically 2 hrs. In some cases, the amplitudes are modulated with the same period and phase as the magnetic strength variation. The amplitudes of some of the roAp stars are very stable, while some others show a fairly short-term variation of a time scale of a day. Some of the roAp stars show a long-term variation of the frequency with a time scale of years.
On the Obliquity of the Ecliptic
Authors: Chen K.Y.
Published: March 2016

This study was originally motivated from the discussion of the obliquity of the ecliptic, e, in the work of Needham (1959) and his collaborators, and the article, “An 8-th Century Meridian Line,” by Beer et al. (1961). A search in the historical records yields values of e in addition to the published values in the literatures.
Manifestations of Solar Magnetic Fields
Authors: Solanki S.K.
Published: March 2016

The magnetism of the Sun manifests itself in innumerable ways, many of which constitute what is referred to as solar magnetic activity, while others are counted among the phenomena of the quiet Sun. After a brief overview of the structure of the solar magnetic field, a few examples of its manifestations are pointed out.
New Initiatives in Astronomical Facilities in China
Authors: Qibin Li
Published: March 2016

Proposals on future astronomy facilities have been surveyed in China recent years. Among the others, the Large Multi-Object Spectroscopy Telescope (LAMOST) has been cosidered to have higher priority by the astronomical community because of its optimum fit of large aperture and large field of view (POV) in the design. The LAMOST has been approved as a national project this year.
International Educational Projects
Authors: Wentzel Donat G.
Published: March 2016

We aim to help the scientifically lonely astronomer in small astronomical institutions. Criterion: Any country or university the IAU helps to develop astronomy must contribute significantly.
The IAU Program: Exchange of Astronomers
Authors: Jørgensen Henning E.
Published: March 2016

The IAU program on Exchange of Astronomers is directed by Commission 38. The details of the program and the way it is carried out are decribed in the IAU Information Bulletins under the heading “Guidelines for Grants”. Here I only give some basic facts about the program.

First of all it is a general program. All astronomers can apply and until now Commission 38 has been able to offer a grant to those who fulfill the conditions in the “Guidelines for Grants”.
Summary and Outlook
Authors: Harwit Martin
Published: March 2016

This has been an exciting meeting in which we saw all the different instruments on ISO revealing strikingly novel results that challenged conventional perceptions with unexpected findings or confirmed long-held astrophysical views which previously had to be taken on faith.
Combinatorial microenvironmental regulation of liver progenitor differentiation by Notch ligands, TGFβ and extracellular matrix
Authors: Kaylan Kerim B. , Ermilova Viktoriya , Yada Ravi Chandra , Underhill Gregory H.
Published: March 2016

The bipotential differentiation of liver progenitor cells underlies liver development and bile duct formation as well as liver regeneration and disease. TGFβ and Notch signaling are known to play important roles in the liver progenitor specification process and tissue morphogenesis. However, the complexity of these signaling pathways and their currently undefined interactions with other microenvironmental factors, including extracellular matrix (ECM), remain barriers to complete mechanistic understanding. Utilizing a series of strategies, including co-cultures and cellular microarrays, we identified distinct contributions of different Notch ligands and ECM proteins in the fate decisions of bipotential mouse embryonic liver (BMEL) progenitor cells. In particular, we demonstrated a cooperative influence of Jagged-1 and TGFβ1 on cholangiocytic differentiation. We established ECM-specific effects using cellular microarrays consisting of 32 distinct combinations of collagen I, collagen III, collagen IV, fibronectin and laminin. In addition, we demonstrated that exogenous Jagged-1, Delta-like 1 and Delta-like 4 within the cellular microarray format was sufficient for enhancing cholangiocytic differentiation. Further, by combining Notch ligand microarrays with shRNA-based knockdown of Notch ligands, we systematically examined the effects of both cell-extrinsic and cell-intrinsic ligand. Our results highlight the importance of divergent Notch ligand function and combinatorial microenvironmental regulation in liver progenitor fate specification.
Structure of the Cyclic Nucleotide-Binding Homology Domain of the hERG Channel and Its Insight into Type 2 Long QT Syndrome
Authors: Li Yan , Ng Hui Qi , Li Qingxin , Kang CongBao
Published: March 2016

The human ether-à-go-go related gene (hERG) channel is crucial for the cardiac action potential by contributing to the fast delayed-rectifier potassium current. Mutations in the hERG channel result in type 2 long QT syndrome (LQT2). The hERG channel contains a cyclic nucleotide-binding homology domain (CNBHD) and this domain is required for the channel gating though molecular interactions with the eag domain. Here we present solution structure of the CNBHD of the hERG channel. The structural study reveals that the CNBHD adopts a similar fold to other KCNH channels. It is self-liganded and it contains a short β-strand that blocks the nucleotide-binding pocket in the β-roll. Folding of LQT2-related mutations in this domain was shown to be affected by point mutation. Mutations in this domain can cause protein aggregation in E. coli cells or induce conformational changes. One mutant-R752W showed obvious chemical shift perturbation compared with the wild-type, but it still binds to the eag domain. The helix region from the N-terminal cap domain of the hERG channel showed unspecific interactions with the CNBHD.
Transmission-Type 2-Bit Programmable Metasurface for Single-Sensor and Single-Frequency Microwave Imaging
Authors: Li Yun Bo , Li Lian Lin , Xu Bai Bing , Wu Wei , Wu Rui Yuan , Wan Xiang , Cheng Qiang , Cui Tie Jun
Published: March 2016

The programmable and digital metamaterials or metasurfaces presented recently have huge potentials in designing real-time-controlled electromagnetic devices. Here, we propose the first transmission-type 2-bit programmable coding metasurface for single-sensor and single- frequency imaging in the microwave frequency. Compared with the existing single-sensor imagers composed of active spatial modulators with their units controlled independently, we introduce randomly programmable metasurface to transform the masks of modulators, in which their rows and columns are controlled simultaneously so that the complexity and cost of the imaging system can be reduced drastically. Different from the single-sensor approach using the frequency agility, the proposed imaging system makes use of variable modulators under single frequency, which can avoid the object dispersion. In order to realize the transmission-type 2-bit programmable metasurface, we propose a two-layer binary coding unit, which is convenient for changing the voltages in rows and columns to switch the diodes in the top and bottom layers, respectively. In our imaging measurements, we generate the random codes by computer to achieve different transmission patterns, which can support enough multiple modes to solve the inverse-scattering problem in the single-sensor imaging. Simple experimental results are presented in the microwave frequency, validating our new single-sensor and single-frequency imaging system.
Sulforaphane ameliorates the insulin responsiveness and the lipid profile but does not alter the antioxidant response in diabetic rats
Authors: de Souza Carolina Guerini , da Motta Leonardo Lisbôa , de Assis Adriano Martimbianco , Rech Anderson , Bruch Ricardo , Klamt Fábio , Souza Diogo Onofre
Published: March 2016

Diabetes is one of the most prevalent chronic non-communicable diseases and is characterized by hyperglycemia and increased oxidative stress.
Visible light promoted synthesis of dihydropyrano[2,3-c]chromenes via a multicomponent-tandem strategy under solvent and catalyst free conditions
Authors: Tiwari Jyoti , Saquib Mohammad , Singh Swastika , Tufail Fatima , Singh Mandavi , Singh Jaya , Singh Jagdamba
Published: March 2016

First photoactivated, highly efficient, one pot, ‘real’ green synthesis of highly functionalized dihydropyrano[3,2-c]chromenes is reported.
Germanium and phosphorus co-doped carbon nanotubes with high electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction
Authors: Li Qianqian , Yuan Fang , Yan Chunyun , Zhu Jianjie , Sun Jin , Wang Yijun , Ren Jun , She Xilin
Published: March 2016

Germanium and phosphorus co-doped carbon nanotubes (Ge–P-CNTs) were prepared by a simple and scalable approach.
Surface treatment and its effect on the electrochemical behavior of Ti–15Mo–3Nb–3Al alloy
Authors: Lakshmi R. V. , Bera Parthasarathi , Anandan Chinnasamy
Published: March 2016

The effect of alkaline and acidic treatments on the surface morphology, chemical composition and electrochemical behavior of Ti β–21S alloy is studied. Also, the role of GPTMS–TIP sol–gel coating in obviating the effects is explored.