bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
H‐bond and electric field correlations for water in highly hydrated crystals
Authors: Sen Anik , Mitev Pavlin D. , Eriksson Anders , Hermansson Kersti
Published: December 2015

We present periodic plane‐wave density functional theory (DFT) Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof (PBE‐D2) calculations for four highly hydrated crystals, Na2CO3·10H2O, MgSO4·7H2O, MgSO4·11H2O, and Al(NO3)3·9H2O, containing 37 structurally unique water molecules and 74 unique hydrogen bonds. The calculated R(H···O) distances lie in the range 1.60–2.05 Å, the anharmonic OH frequencies in the range 2570–3425 cm−1, and the water dipole moments lie in the range 2.9–4.3 Debye, as calculated from the Wannier function centers and the nuclei. We present the following findings. (i) Our optimized intramolecular r(OH) distances are always larger than the gas‐phase value and thus more accurate than those derived from neutron diffraction experiments; (ii) The local in situ electric field over the molecule, calculated from the positions of the nuclei and the Wannier centers in the surrounding crystal, appears to be a good descriptor of the pertturbation from the water molecule's surroundings as the internal molecular properties (re, ν, μ) are found to correlate well with the crystal‐generated electric field; (iii) We have added DFT‐calculated data points to the well‐known experimental ‘OH frequency versus R(H···O)' correlation curve in a region where the experimental data points are scarce; (iv) For all 37 water molecules, the Wannier centers located in the lone‐pair region, and those located in the OH bonds, displace about equally much due to the polarizing environment. Finally, we propose that our resulting 'OH frequency versus Wannier‐type electric field' correlation curve may constitute a useful tool for predicting OH vibrational frequencies from snapshots from PBE‐D2‐based ab initio molecular dynamics simulations of water‐containing systems. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A two‐stage surface treatment for the long‐term stability of hydrophilic SU‐8
Authors: Sobiesierski Angela , Thomas Robert , Buckle Philip , Barrow David , Smowton Peter M.
Published: December 2015

The use of SU‐8 photoresist as a structuring material for portable capillary‐flow cytometry devices has been restricted by the near‐hydrophobic nature of the SU‐8 surface. In this work, we evaluate the use of chemical and plasma treatments to render the SU‐8 surface hydrophilic and characterise the resulting surface utilising a combination of techniques including contact angle goniometry, atomic force microscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. In particular, for low‐power plasma treatments, we find that the chemistry of the plasma used to modify the SU‐8 surface and the incorporation of O2 on that modified surface are paramount for improved surface wettability, whilst plasma‐induced surface roughness is not a necessary requirement. We demonstrate a technique to obtain a hydrophilic SU‐8 surface with contact angle as low as 7° whilst controlling and significantly reducing the level of surface roughness generated via the applied plasma. An additional chemical treatment step is found to be essential to stabilise the activated SU‐8 surface, and incubation of the samples with ethanolamine is demonstrated as an effective second‐stage treatment. Application of the optimised two‐stage surface treatment to cross‐linked SU‐8 is shown to result in a smooth hydrophilic surface that remains stable for over 3 months. Copyright © 2015 The Authors Surface and Interface Analysis Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Characterization of traditional Korean lacquers using surface analytical techniques
Authors: Lee Jihye , Kim Min Jung , Kim Man‐Ho , Doh Jung‐Mann , Hahn Hoh‐Gyu , Lee Yeonhee
Published: December 2015

Traditional Korean lacquer films, such as Otchil and Hwangchil, are natural paints extracted from Rhus vernicifera and Dendropanax morbifera trees that grow in the eastern part and on the west and south coast of the Korean Peninsula, respectively. Rhus lacquer has a black color, and Hwangchil has a transparent gold color and a rich camphoric perfume (benzoin). These lacquers have been used since ancient times. In this study, analytical techniques, such as Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF‐SIMS), were used to study the traditional Rhus lacquer and Hwangchil films, avoiding time‐consuming and destructive extraction procedures. To compare the Rhus and Hwangchil lacquers, reference lacquer films were prepared using Rhus and Dendropanax saps. These films were then analyzed using FT‐IR, XPS, and TOF‐SIMS. After establishing the methodology using the reference lacquer films, surface analytical techniques were applied to two different plates painted by an artist. The results suggest that FT‐IR, XPS, and TOF‐SIMS are simple and complementary analytical techniques for the discrimination of old lacquer films. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mitochondrial Delivery of Therapeutic Agents by Amphiphilic DNA Nanocarriers
Authors: Chan Miu Shan , Tam Dick Yan , Dai Ziwen , Liu Ling Sum , Ho Jonathan Weng‐Thim , Chan Man Lee , Xu Di , Wong Man Shing , Tin Chung , Lo Pik Kwan
Published: December 2015

The first example of mitochondrial delivery of the anticancer drug doxorubicin (Dox) is presented by lipid‐functionalized DNA nanocages (LNCs). Dox localized in mitochondria induces significant cytotoxicity and cellular apoptosis in MCF‐7 compared with Dox localized in lysosomes. These results suggest that LNC has the potential to be an outstanding tool in the treatment of specific organelle‐related diseases such as cancers.
Fair coding for inter‐session network coding in wireless mesh networks
Authors: Yang Xiang , Wang Weiping , Lu Mingming , Wang Jianxin , Zhang Xi
Published: December 2015

Because of the broadcast and overhearing capability of wireless networks, network coding can greatly improve throughput in wireless networks. However, our investigation of existing inter‐session network coding protocols found that the short‐term unfairness that existed in 802.11‐based medium access control (MAC) protocols actually decreases the coding opportunity, which in turn compromises the throughput gain of network coding. To alleviate the negative impact of this unfairness, we propose a coding‐aware cross‐layer heuristic approach to optimize the coordination of network coding and MAC layer protocol, named FairCoding, which can significantly increase coding opportunities for inter‐session network coding through a fair short‐term traffic allocation for different coding flows. Experiment evaluation shows that the proposed mechanism can bring more coding opportunities and improve the total throughput of wireless mesh networks by up to 20%, compared with the coding mechanism, without considering the negative impact of the short‐term unfairness. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Relationship between Activation Energy of Thermolysis and Friction Sensitivity of Cyclic and Acyclic Nitramines
Authors: Keshavarz Mohammad Hossein , Hayati Mehran , Ghariban‐Lavasani Sara , Zohari Narges
Published: December 2015

The knowledge of sensitiveness of an energetic compound to friction stimuli is important to ensure the safety of people and protection of property during shipment. The information on sensitivity to friction is considered very valuable for nitramines, which show relatively higher sensitivity with respect to the other classes of secondary explosives. This study presents a novel general simple model for prediction of the relationship between friction sensitivity and activation energy of thermolysis of cyclic and acyclic nitramines on the basis of their molecular structures. This methodology assumes that friction sensitivity of an energetic compound with general formula CaHbNcOd can be expressed as a function of activation energy of thermolysis and the contribution of specific molecular structural parameters. For 21 nitramines with different molecular structures, the new correlation has the root mean square and the average standard deviations of 14.2 and 17.8 N, respectively, as compared to experimental values. The proposed new method is also tested for further 8 nitramines containing complex molecular structures, which gives good predictions.
Influence of Steric Hindrance of N‐Heterocyclic Ancillary Ligands on the Structure and Magnetic Properties of Manganese(II) Coordination Polymers
Authors: Jiang Jun , Huang Wei , Xu Jun , Pan Fei‐Fei , Wu Da‐Yu
Published: December 2015

Three biphenyl‐3,5‐dicarboxylic acid (H2L) based coordination polymers, namely, [Mn3(L)3(2,2′‐bpy)2]n (1), {[Mn(L)(phen)]·(MeOH)}n (2), and [Mn(L)(dipt)]n (3), (2,2′‐bpy = 2,2′‐bipyridine, phen = 1,10‐phenanthroline, and dipt = 2,9‐dimethyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline) were synthesized and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and analyses of their magnetic properties. 1 is a trinuclear manganese structure with a 2D motifs, which can join by hydrogen bond bridges to give 3D supramolecular architectures. 2 has a dinuclear center forming a 1D supramolecular ladder chain. The mononuclear complex 3 displays 1D metal‐organic chains driven by μ2‐L linkers. Their structural differences were investigated, revealing that the influence of steric hindrance on the structures of acid‐based coordination polymers is realized through changing the N‐heterocyclic ancillaries of diverse steric hindrance. Obviously, with decreasing of the steric hindrance of the N‐donor ligand, complexes 1–3 show structures from 1D to 2D and mononuclear to multinuclear. Magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate that 1 and 2 have dominating antiferromagnetic couplings between metal ions, whereas compound 3 is paramagnetic.
Breeding system of the critically endangered Lakela's Mint and influence of plant height on pollinators and seed output
Authors: Richardson Matthew L. , Keathley Craig P. , Peterson Cheryl L.
Published: December 2015

Understanding reproductive systems of rare plants is critical for conservation efforts. Lakela's Mint, Dicerandra immaculata Lakela var. immaculata, is an endangered plant endemic to an approximately 4.8‐km long area in Florida, USA. We used an experimental garden and three populations of Lakela's Mint to determine: (1) what is the breeding system (autonomous, asexual, self‐fertile, cross‐fertile) and are insects necessary for reproduction; (2) which native and nonnative insect species visit flowers and is the frequency of visits to a plant influenced by its height; (3) does the number of flowers visited within a plant by individual insects differ among native and nonnative insect species and due to plant height; and (4) is seed output influenced by plant height? Our results indicate that the breeding system of Lakela's Mint was facultative outcrossing. Insect‐pollinated flowers produced more seeds than flowers that reproduced autonomously or asexually. The honey bee Apis mellifera L., a nonnative species, was the most frequent visitor to plants and visited more flowers within plants than native pollinators, but its behavior was not influenced by plant height. Native pollinators such as Bombus impatiens Cresson were attracted more frequently to shorter plants, but visited fewer flowers than on taller plants. Despite having fewer total and pollinated flowers, shorter plants had a higher output of intact seeds than taller plants, which could be due to differences in efficiency between native and nonnative pollinators or other factors. Our results add insight into factors influencing seed output and interactions between pollinators and rare plants.
Effect of the Molecular Structure on the Adsorption Properties of Cationic Surfactants at the Air–Water Interface
Authors: Lehanine Zineb , Badache Leila
Published: December 2015

The surface activity and thermodynamic properties of adsorption at the air–water interface of two series of cationic surfactants based on isourea: the O‐dodecyl‐N,N′‐diisopropylisourea hydrochloride, hydrobromide, and hydroiodide and the O‐tridecafluorooctyl‐N,N′‐diisopropylisourea hydrochloride and hydrobromide were studied. The effect of structural parameters as the nature of the halide counter ion and the nature of the non‐polar chain on the surface activity and thermodynamic properties of adsorption were investigated. The surface parameters, the maximum surface excess concentration (Γmax), the minimum area per molecule (Amin) at the aqueous solution‐air interface, effectiveness of surface tension reduction (πCMC), and efficiency of surface tension reduction (pC20) were estimated. The standard Gibbs free energy of adsorption, (ΔG°ads) change has been calculated at different temperatures.
Enhanced Bioavailability of EPA From Emulsified Fish Oil Preparations Versus Capsular Triacylglycerol
Authors: Raatz Susan K. , Johnson LuAnn K. , Bukowski Michael R.
Published: December 2015

For those individuals who are unable to consume adequate long chain omega‐3 fatty acids (LCn3) from dietary sources, fish oil supplementation is an attractive alternative Pre‐emulsified fish oil supplements, an alternative to capsular triacylglycerol, may enhance the uptake of LCn3 fatty acids it contains. A randomized, Latin‐square crossover design was used to compare the effects of four fish oil supplement preparations (Emulsions S, B and N) on phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) concentrations in ten healthy volunteers compared to oil capsules over 48 h after a single dose and chylomicron fatty acid (CMFA) was evaluated over 8 h. Blood samples were collected at 0, 2, 4, 8, 24 and 48 h and fatty acid concentrations of PLFA and CMFA were determined by gas chromatography and the integrated area under the curve over 40 h (iAUC0–48) was determined. Emulsion S and Emulsion N promoted increased uptake of EPA into PLFA over 48 h when evaluating by iAUC0–48 or individual time points of assessment. No differences were observed between supplements in the CMFA concentrations.
Conjoined Twins Following Assisted Reproduction Technique
Authors: Thomas Anuja , Balakrishnan Bijoy K. , Batra Meenu , Kuriakose Rekha Raichel , Gopinathan Kannoly Karunakaran
Published: December 2015

The incidence of conjoined twins as reported in a worldwide epidemiological study is 1.47 per 100,000 births. It varies from 1 in 45,000–200,000 births. Conjoined twins following assisted reproduction are even rarer and we report one such case. A 36-year-old woman who conceived by intracytoplasmic sperm injection, was referred to the feto-maternal unit for nuchal translucency scan. A diagnosis of thoracopagus conjoined twins was made on ultrasound at 12 weeks 3 days of gestation. The couple was counseled in detail and they opted for termination. Pregnancy was terminated medically and the ultrasound diagnosis was confirmed. Assisted reproduction techniques involve a risk of conjoined twins and the present case report supports this. Early diagnosis of conjoined twins and determination of the type of fusion is possible. This aids in discussing the prognosis and counseling the couple regarding options of termination or continuation of pregnancy.
Mechanical stress models of Alzheimer's disease pathology
Authors: Levy Nogueira Marcel , Epelbaum Stéphane , Steyaert Jean‐Marc , Dubois Bruno , Schwartz Laurent
Published: December 2015

Introduction

Extracellular accumulation of amyloid‐β protein and intracellular accumulation of tau in brain tissues have been described in animal models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mechanical stress‐based diseases of different mechanisms, such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), arterial hypertension (HTN), and normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH).

Methods

We provide a brief overview of experimental models of TBI, HTN, and NPH showing features of tau‐amyloid pathology, neuroinflammation, and neuronal loss.

Results

“Alzheimer‐like” hallmarks found in these mechanical stress‐based models were compared with AD features found in transgenic models.

Discussion

The goal of this review is, therefore, to build on current concepts of onset and progression of AD lesions. We point to the importance of accumulated mechanical stress in brain as an environmental and endogenous factor that pushes protein deposition and neuronal injury over the disease threshold. We further encourage the development of preventing strategies and drug screening based on mechanical stress models.
Four Impediments to Embedding Education for Sustainability in Higher Education
Authors: Gale Fred , Davison Aidan , Wood Graham , Williams Stewart , Towle Nick
Published: December 2015

Higher education institutions have an unavoidable responsibility to address the looming economic, environmental and social crises imperilling humans and ecosystems by placing ‘education for sustainability’ at the heart of their concerns. Yet, for over three decades, the practice of ‘higher education for sustainability’ (HEfS) has encountered significant barriers to implementation, begging the question as to why. Drawing on a diverse, interdisciplinary literature, we identify four structural impediments to implementing HEfS: (1) disciplinary contestation, which creates confusion over what ‘sustainability’ means; (2) institutional fragmentation, which prevents the interdisciplinary dialogue that sustainability demands; (3) economic globalisation, which transforms higher education into just another market opportunity; and (4) ‘fast and frugal’ habits of reasoning, which steer time-pressed academics towards poorly integrated decisions and unsustainable positions. Our analysis highlights that wider structural change within and beyond the academy will be required if higher education institutions are to meet their responsibilities and drive the necessary social transformation.
Armandia sampadae, a new species of polychaete (Opheliidae) from Andaman Sea, Northern Indian Ocean
Authors: Gopal Aiswarya , K.U. Abdul Jaleel , Parameswaran Usha V. , Vijayan Anil Kumar
Published: December 2015

A new species of polychaete,Armandia sampadaewas collected from shallow sandy sediments off Rutland Island (57 m depth) and off North Andaman (52 m depth) during a benthic survey along the continental shelf of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The major character which distinguishes this species from other members of the genusArmandiais the presence of a pair of large, flattened, rounded, stalked, pigmented, leaf-shaped ventral papillae at the ventral base of the ringed anal funnel and the occurrence of a pair of sub-triangular black pigmented spots in the basal portion of the ventral papillae.
The case for the international governance of immigration
Authors: Hidalgo Javier
Published: December 2015

States have rights to unilaterally determine their own immigration policies under international law and few international institutions regulate states’ decision-making about immigration. As a result, states have extensive discretion over immigration policy. In this paper, I argue that states should join international migration institutions that would constrain their discretion over immigration. Immigration restrictions are morally risky. When states restrict immigration, they risk unjustly harming foreigners and restricting their freedom. Furthermore, biases and epistemic defects pervasively influence states’ decision-making about immigration policy. States should transfer some of their decision-making authority over immigration to more reliable institutions in order to mitigate the risks that they will unjustly restrict immigration. International institutions that include the interests of potential immigrants would be more reliable with respect to immigration policy than unilateral state decision-making. Thus, states should subject their immigration policies to international control.
The “How” of Animacy Effects in Episodic	Memory
Authors: Bonin Patrick , Gelin Margaux , Laroche Betty , Méot Alain , Bugaiska Aurélia
Published: December 2015

Abstract. Animates are better remembered than inanimates. According to the adaptive view of human memory ( Nairne, 2010 ; Nairne & Pandeirada, 2010a , 2010b ), this observation results from the fact that animates are more important for survival than inanimates. This ultimate explanation of animacy effects has to be complemented by proximate explanations. Moreover, animacy currently represents an uncontrolled word characteristic in most cognitive research ( VanArsdall, Nairne, Pandeirada, & Cogdill, 2015 ). In four studies, we therefore investigated the “how” of animacy effects. Study 1 revealed that words denoting animates were recalled better than those referring to inanimates in an intentional memory task. Study 2 revealed that adding a concurrent memory load when processing words for the animacy dimension did not impede the animacy effect on recall rates. Study 3A was an exact replication of Study 2 and Study 3B used a higher concurrent memory load. In these two follow-up studies, animacy effects on recall performance were again not altered by a concurrent memory load. Finally, Study 4 showed that using interactive imagery to encode animate and inanimate words did not alter the recall rate of animate words but did increase the recall of inanimate words. Taken together, the findings suggest that imagery processes contribute to these effects.
The Origins and Future of Control Theory in Psychology
Authors: Mansell Warren , Marken Richard S.
Published: December 2015

The construct of “control” is virtually ubiquitous in psychology and it links to a comprehensive range of real-world outcomes. Control theory is critically important in this regard because it describes and models the dynamic systems that enable control to occur. Yet, the origins and principles of control theory in psychology are often misunderstood. This leads to a failure to capitalize on its strengths as a unifying, dynamic framework. We address this gap in knowledge by describing the early origins of control theory and its 2 main paths of development within psychology, as a “man−machine system” approach, and as a “grand theory” of psychology. We introduce the grand theory approach to control theory, pioneered by William T. Powers (1926-2013). Powers (1973) proposed that behavior is the control of perception and he introduced a closed-loop, hierarchical architecture to implement this principle. We propose that Powers’ control theory provides a wholly new perspective on psychological science and is, as such, a third grand theory, after the behaviorist and cognitive theories. We describe a range of advances in neuroscience, animal behavior, social processes, and mental health, based on Powers’ theory, to illustrate its potential to transform the nature of psychological research and practice.
What Are Emotions? A Physical Theory
Authors: Scheff Thomas
Published: December 2015

This article suggests a way of defining emotion on the basis of the work of John Dewey and Nina Bull. Oddly, emotions go undefined in most current emotion research, creating chaos. Unlike Dewey, Bull provided a useful example of the application of her definition to a particular emotion: grief. This step enables the reader to understand her theory, even though, like Dewey, much of her discussion is not clear or neglects crucial matters. She provides a 2-part model of grief, but only 1 part for anger and fear. However, her discussion of the mammalian pattern of fight or flight/freeze can be taken as a first step toward the second part. She leaves out pride, shame, and “efatigue” (excessive fatigue) entirely, which this article introduces. She also doesn't consider why emotions can be experienced as “good” or “bad.” The drama theory of emotions developed in the theater suggests that backlogged emotion can either be merely relived (a bad grief, anger, shame, efatigue, or fear) or, at what is called aesthetic distance, as a relief from pain. Examples are given of the author's experience of a good anger, fear, shame, and efatigue. This approach suggests that the idea of negative emotions is an illusion: experiencing emotions may be like breathing; it is only troublesome when obstructed. Even if true, it will difficult for it to be considered because the belief that some emotions are inherently negative seems to be a powerfully defended trope in modern societies.
Multiscale patterning of a metallic glass using sacrificial imprint lithography
Authors: Singer Jonathan P. , Pelligra Candice I. , Kornblum Noga , Choo Youngwoo , Gopinadhan Manesh , Bordeenithikasem Punnathat , Ketkaew Jittisa , Fatt Liew Seng , Cao Hui , Schroers Jan , Osuji Chinedum O.
Published: December 2015

Bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) have been developed as a means to achieve durable multiscale, nanotextured surfaces with desirable properties dictated by topography for a multitude of applications. One barrier to this achievement is the lack of a bridging technique between macroscale thermoplastic forming and nanoimprint lithography, which arises from the difficulty and cost of generating controlled nanostructures on complex geometries using conventional top-down approaches. This difficulty is compounded by the necessary destruction of any resulting reentrant structures during rigid demolding. We have developed a generalized method to overcome this limitation by sacrificial template imprinting using zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures. It is established that such structures can be grown inexpensively and quickly with tunable morphologies on a wide variety of substrates out of solution, which we exploit to generate the nanoscale portion of the multiscale pattern through this bottom-up approach. In this way, we achieve metallic structures that simultaneously demonstrate features from the macroscale down to the nanoscale, requiring only the top-down fabrication of macro/microstructured molds. Upon detachment of the formed part from the multiscale molds, the ZnO remains embedded in the surface and can be removed by etching in mild conditions to both regenerate the mold and render the surface of the BMGs nanoporous. The ability to pattern metallic surfaces in a single step on length scales from centimeters down to nanometers is a critical step toward fabricating devices with complex shapes that rely on multiscale topography for their intended functions, such as biomedical and electrochemical applications.
Rapid antibiotic-resistance predictions from genome sequence data for Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Bradley Phelim , Gordon N. Claire , Walker Timothy M. , Dunn Laura , Heys Simon , Huang Bill , Earle Sarah , Pankhurst Louise J. , Anson Luke , de Cesare Mariateresa , Piazza Paolo , Votintseva Antonina A. , Golubchik Tanya , Wilson Daniel J. , Wyllie David H. , Diel Roland , Niemann Stefan , Feuerriegel Silke , Kohl Thomas A. , Ismail Nazir , Omar Shaheed V. , Smith E. Grace , Buck David , McVean Gil , Walker A. Sarah , Peto Tim E. A. , Crook Derrick W. , Iqbal Zamin
Published: December 2015

The rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has led to an urgent need for rapid detection of drug resistance in clinical samples, and improvements in global surveillance. Here we show how de Bruijn graph representation of bacterial diversity can be used to identify species and resistance profiles of clinical isolates. We implement this method for Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a software package (‘Mykrobe predictor’) that takes raw sequence data as input, and generates a clinician-friendly report within 3 minutes on a laptop. For S. aureus, the error rates of our method are comparable to gold-standard phenotypic methods, with sensitivity/specificity of 99.1%/99.6% across 12 antibiotics (using an independent validation set, n=470). For M. tuberculosis, our method predicts resistance with sensitivity/specificity of 82.6%/98.5% (independent validation set, n=1,609); sensitivity is lower here, probably because of limited understanding of the underlying genetic mechanisms. We give evidence that minor alleles improve detection of extremely drug-resistant strains, and demonstrate feasibility of the use of emerging single-molecule nanopore sequencing techniques for these purposes.
Rational engineering of a mesohalophilic carbonic anhydrase to an extreme halotolerant biocatalyst
Authors: Warden Andrew C. , Williams Michelle , Peat Thomas S. , Seabrook Shane A. , Newman Janet , Dojchinov Greg , Haritos Victoria S.
Published: December 2015

Enzymes expressed by highly salt-tolerant organisms show many modifications compared with salt-affected counterparts including biased amino acid and lower α-helix content, lower solvent accessibility and negative surface charge. Here, we show that halotolerance can be generated in an enzyme solely by modifying surface residues. Rational design of carbonic anhydrase II is undertaken in three stages replacing 18 residues in total, crystal structures confirm changes are confined to surface residues. Catalytic activities and thermal unfolding temperatures of the designed enzymes increase at high salt concentrations demonstrating their shift to halotolerance, whereas the opposite response is found in the wild-type enzyme. Molecular dynamics calculations reveal a key role for sodium ions in increasing halotolerant enzyme stability largely through interactions with the highly ordered first Na+ hydration shell. For the first time, an approach to generate extreme halotolerance, a trait with broad application in industrial biocatalysis, in a wild-type enzyme is demonstrated.
MN1–Fli1 oncofusion transforms murine hematopoietic progenitor cells into acute megakaryoblastic leukemia cells
Authors: Wenge D V , Felipe-Fumero E , Angenendt L , Schliemann C , Schmidt E , Schmidt L H , Thiede C , Ehninger G , Berdel W E , Arteaga M-F , Mikesch J-H
Published: December 2015

Long-term outcome of acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (AMKL) patients without Down’s syndrome remains poor. Founding mutations and chimeric oncogenes characterize various AMKL subtypes. However, for around one third of all cases the underlying mechanisms of AMKL leukemogenesis are still largely unknown. Recently, an in-frame fusion of meningeoma 1–friend leukemia virus integration 1 (MN1–Fli1) gene was detected in a child with AMKL. We intended to investigate the potential role of this oncofusion in leukemogenesis of acute myeloid leukemia. Strikingly, expression of MN1–Fli1 in murine hematopoietic progenitor cells was sufficient to induce leukemic transformation generating immature myeloid cells with cytomorphology and expression of surface markers typical for AMKL. Systematic structure function analyses revealed FLS and 3′ETS domains of Fli1 as decisive domains for the AMKL phenotype. Our data highlight an important role of MN1–Fli1 in AMKL leukemogenesis and provide a basis for research assessing the value of this oncofusion as a future diagnostic marker and/or therapeutic target in AMKL patients.
Constructive remodeling of a synthetic endothelial extracellular matrix
Authors: Han Sewoon , Shin Yoojin , Jeong Hyo Eun , Jeon Jessie S. , Kamm Roger D. , Huh Dongeun , Sohn Lydia L. , Chung Seok
Published: December 2015

The construction of well-controllable in vitro models of physiological and pathological vascular endothelium remains a fundamental challenge in tissue engineering and drug development. Here, we present an approach for forming a synthetic endothelial extracellular matrix (ECM) that closely resembles that of the native structure by locally depositing basement membrane materials onto type 1 collagen nanofibers only in a region adjacent to the endothelial cell (EC) monolayer. Culturing the EC monolayer on this synthetic endothelial ECM remarkably enhanced its physiological properties, reducing its vascular permeability and promoting a stabilized, quiescent phenotype. We demonstrated that the EC monolayer on the synthetic endothelial ECM neither creates non-physiological barriers to cell-cell or cell-ECM interactions, nor hinders molecular diffusion of growth factors and other molecules. The synthetic endothelial ECM and vascular endothelium on it may help us enter in a new phase of research in which various models of the biological barrier behavior can be tested experimentally.
Single-target high-throughput transcription analyses reveal high levels of alternative splicing present in the FPPS/GGPPS from Plasmodium falciparum
Authors: Gabriel Heloisa B. , de Azevedo Mauro F. , Palmisano Giuseppe , Wunderlich Gerhard , Kimura Emília A. , Katzin Alejandro M. , Alves João M. P.
Published: December 2015

Malaria is a tropical disease with significant morbidity and mortality. A better understanding of the metabolism of its most important etiological agent, Plasmodium falciparum, is paramount to the development of better treatment and other mitigation measures. Farnesyldiphosphate synthase/geranylgeranyldiphosphate synthase (FPPS/GGPPS) is a key enzyme in the synthesis of isoprenic chains present in many essential structures. In P. falciparum, as well as a handful of other organisms, FPPS/GGPPS has been shown to be a bifunctional enzyme. By genetic tagging and microscopy, we observed a changing localization of FPPS/GGPPS in blood stage parasites. Given the great importance of alternative splicing and other transcriptional phenomena in gene regulation and the generation of protein diversity, we have investigated the processing of the FPPS/GGPPS transcript in P. falciparum by high-throughput sequencing methods in four time-points along the intraerythrocytic cycle of P. falciparum. We have identified levels of transcript diversity an order of magnitude higher than previously observed in this organism, as well as a few stage-specific splicing events. Our data suggest that alternative splicing in P. falciparum is an important feature for gene regulation and the generation of protein diversity.
Characterization and Biotechnological Potential Analysis of a New Exopolysaccharide from the Arctic Marine Bacterium Polaribacter sp. SM1127
Authors: Sun Mei-Ling , Zhao Fang , Shi Mei , Zhang Xi-Ying , Zhou Bai-Cheng , Zhang Yu-Zhong , Chen Xiu-Lan
Published: December 2015

Although many kinds of exopolysaccharides (EPSs) from microorganisms have been used in industry, the exploration and utilization of EPSs from polar microorganisms is still rather rare. In this study, a flavobacterial strain, SM1127, from the Arctic brown alga Laminaria, was screened for its high EPS production (2.11 g/l) and was identified as belonging to the genus Polaribacter. The EPS secreted by strain SM1127 has a molecular mass of 220 kDa and it mainly comprises N-acetyl glucosamine, mannose and glucuronic acid residues bound by heterogeneous linkages. Rheological studies on the aqueous EPS showed that it had a high viscosity and good shear-thinning property. Moreover, the EPS showed a high tolerance to high salinity and a wide pH range. The EPS also had good antioxidant activity. Particularly, its moisture-retention ability was superior to that of any other reported EPS or functional ingredient generally used in cosmetics. The EPS also showed a protective effect on human dermal fibroblasts at low temperature (4 °C). Safety assessment indicated that the EPS is safe for oral administration and external use. These results indicate the promising potential of the EPS from strain SM1127 in the food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and biomedical fields.
Engineering Heteromaterials to Control Lithium Ion Transport Pathways
Authors: Liu Yang , Vishniakou Siarhei , Yoo Jinkyoung , Dayeh Shadi A.
Published: December 2015

Safe and efficient operation of lithium ion batteries requires precisely directed flow of lithium ions and electrons to control the first directional volume changes in anode and cathode materials. Understanding and controlling the lithium ion transport in battery electrodes becomes crucial to the design of high performance and durable batteries. Recent work revealed that the chemical potential barriers encountered at the surfaces of heteromaterials play an important role in directing lithium ion transport at nanoscale. Here, we utilize in situ transmission electron microscopy to demonstrate that we can switch lithiation pathways from radial to axial to grain-by-grain lithiation through the systematic creation of heteromaterial combinations in the Si-Ge nanowire system. Our systematic studies show that engineered materials at nanoscale can overcome the intrinsic orientation-dependent lithiation and open new pathways to aid in the development of compact, safe and efficient batteries.
High risk of plant invasion in the understory of eucalypt plantations in South China
Authors: Jin Dongmei , Huang Yong , Zhou Xi-Le , Chen Bin , Ma Jinshuang , Yan Yue-Hong
Published: December 2015

Eucalypt plantations expand rapidly out of their natural distribution zones, thus inducing a concern on their effects on biodiversity and ecosystem functions. We compare the understory plant diversity of 46 plots of eucalypt plantations, including early and later stages in rotation, with that of 21 plots of contrast vegetation, including other types of plantations and secondary shrub grassland, in Guangdong and Guangxi Provinces, South China. Although the overall plant diversity did not change significantly in eucalypt plantations relative to the contrast vegetation, the community structures changed dramatically. The Asteraceae family, which is the most important source of destructive invasive plant species in China, is ranked 3rd(7.42%) and 7th(3.14%) in species importance in the early and later stages in eucalypt plantations, respectively. Nevertheless, Asteraceae is ranked 15th(1.73%) in other types of plantations and 21st(0.94%) in secondary shrub grassland. Significant increases in the richness and frequency of invasive species were also observed in eucalypt plantations. Among the 20 invasive species recorded in the eucalypt plantations, 9 species were destructive invasive species and 7 of these species belonged to Asteraceae. This study highlights an enhanced plant invasion risk in eucalypt plantations in South China, particularly by Asteraceae.
Sensitivity of proxies on non-linear interactions in the climate system
Authors: Schultz Johannes A. , Beck Christoph , Menz Gunter , Neuwirth Burkhard , Ohlwein Christian , Philipp Andreas
Published: December 2015

Recent climate change is affecting the earth system to an unprecedented extent and intensity and has the potential to cause severe ecological and socioeconomic consequences. To understand natural and anthropogenic induced processes, feedbacks, trends and dynamics in the climate system, it is also essential to consider longer timescales. In this context, annually resolved tree-ring data are often used to reconstruct past temperature or precipitation variability as well as atmospheric or oceanic indices such as the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) or the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO). The aim of this study is to assess weather-type sensitivity across the Northern Atlantic region based on two tree-ring width networks. Our results indicate that nonstationarities in superordinate space and time scales of the climate system (here synoptic- to global scale, NAO, AMO) can affect the climate sensitivity of tree-rings in subordinate levels of the system (here meso- to synoptic scale, weather-types). This scale bias effect has the capability to impact even large multiproxy networks and the ability of these networks to provide information about past climate conditions. To avoid scale biases in climate reconstructions, interdependencies between the different scales in the climate system must be considered, especially internal ocean/atmosphere dynamics.
From red to green: the propidium iodide-permeable membrane of Shewanella decolorationis S12 is repairable
Authors: Yang Yonggang , Xiang Yinbo , Xu Meiying
Published: December 2015

Viability is a common issue of concern in almost all microbial processes. Fluorescence-based assays are extensively used in microbial viability assessment, especially for mixed-species samples or biofilms. Propidium iodide (PI) is the most frequently used fluorescence indicator for cell viability based on the membrane permeability. Our results showed that the accumulation of succinate from fumarate respiration could induce PI-permeability in Shewanella decolorationis biofilm cells. Confocal laser scanning microscope further showed that the PI-permeable membrane could be repaired in situ when the extracellular succinate was eliminated by switching fumarate respiration to electrode respiration. Simultaneously with the membrane repair, the electrode respiring capacity of the originally PI-permeable cells was recovered. Agar-colony counts suggested that a major portion of the repaired cells were viable but nonculturable (VBNC). The results evidenced that S. decolorationis S12 has the capacity to repair PI-permeable membranes which suggests a reevaluation of the fate and function of the PI-permeable bacteria and expanded our knowledge on the flexibility of bacterial survival status in harsh environments.
Expression of FABP4, adipsin and adiponectin in Paneth cells is modulated by gut Lactobacillus
Authors: Su Xiaomin , Yan Hui , Huang Yugang , Yun Huan , Zeng Benhua , Wang Enlin , Liu Yu , Zhang Yuan , Liu Feifei , Che Yongzhe , Zhang Zhiqian , Yang Rongcun
Published: December 2015

We here found that intestinal epithelial Paneth cells secrete FABP4, adipsin and adiponectin in both mice and human. Deletion of Paneth cell results in the decrease of FABP4, adipsin and adiponectin not only in intestinal crypt cells but also in sera, suggesting that they may influence the state of the whole body. We also demonstrate that expression of FABP4, adipsin and adiponectin may be modulated by specific gut microbiota. In germ-free (GF) mice, the expression of FABP4, adipsin and adiponectin were lower or difficult to be detected. Feces transplantation promoted the expression of FABP4, adipsin and adiponectin in gut epithelial Paneth cells. We have found that Lactobacillus NK6 colony, which has the highest similarity with Lactobacillus taiwanensis strain BCRC 17755, may induce the expression of FABP4, adipsin and adiponectin through TRAF2 and TRAF6 ubiquitination mediated NF-κB signaling. Taken together, our findings set up a novel mechanism for FABP4, adipsin and adiponectin through gut microbiota mediating expression in gut Paneth cells.
Magnetic field induced flow pattern reversal in a ferrofluidic Taylor-Couette system
Authors: Altmeyer Sebastian , Do Younghae , Lai Ying-Cheng
Published: December 2015

We investigate the dynamics of ferrofluidic wavy vortex flows in the counter-rotating Taylor-Couette system, with a focus on wavy flows with a mixture of the dominant azimuthal modes. Without external magnetic field flows are stable and pro-grade with respect to the rotation of the inner cylinder. More complex behaviors can arise when an axial or a transverse magnetic field is applied. Depending on the direction and strength of the field, multi-stable wavy states and bifurcations can occur. We uncover the phenomenon of flow pattern reversal as the strength of the magnetic field is increased through a critical value. In between the regimes of pro-grade and retrograde flow rotations, standing waves with zero angular velocities can emerge. A striking finding is that, under a transverse magnetic field, a second reversal in the flow pattern direction can occur, where the flow pattern evolves into pro-grade rotation again from a retrograde state. Flow reversal is relevant to intriguing phenomena in nature such as geomagnetic reversal. Our results suggest that, in ferrofluids, flow pattern reversal can be induced by varying a magnetic field in a controlled manner, which can be realized in laboratory experiments with potential applications in the development of modern fluid devices.
Comparative transcriptome analysis of different chemotypes elucidates withanolide biosynthesis pathway from medicinal plant Withania somnifera
Authors: Gupta Parul , Goel Ridhi , Agarwal Aditya Vikram , Asif Mehar Hasan , Sangwan Neelam Singh , Sangwan Rajender Singh , Trivedi Prabodh Kumar
Published: December 2015

Withania somnifera is one of the most valuable medicinal plants synthesizing secondary metabolites known as withanolides. Despite pharmaceutical importance, limited information is available about the biosynthesis of withanolides. Chemo-profiling of leaf and root tissues of Withania suggest differences in the content and/or nature of withanolides in different chemotypes. To identify genes involved in chemotype and/or tissue-specific withanolide biosynthesis, we established transcriptomes of leaf and root tissues of distinct chemotypes. Genes encoding enzymes for intermediate steps of terpenoid backbone biosynthesis with their alternatively spliced forms and paralogous have been identified. Analysis suggests differential expression of large number genes among leaf and root tissues of different chemotypes. Study also identified differentially expressing transcripts encoding cytochrome P450s, glycosyltransferases, methyltransferases and transcription factors which might be involved in chemodiversity in Withania. Virus induced gene silencing of the sterol ∆7-reductase (WsDWF5) involved in the synthesis of 24-methylene cholesterol, withanolide backbone, suggests role of this enzyme in biosynthesis of withanolides. Information generated, in this study, provides a rich resource for functional analysis of withanolide-specific genes to elucidate chemotype- as well as tissue-specific withanolide biosynthesis. This genomic resource will also help in development of new tools for functional genomics and breeding in Withania.
PEDOT/PSS-Halloysite Nanotubes (HNTs) Hybrid Films: Insulating HNTs Enhance Conductivity of the PEDOT/PSS Films
Authors: Yan Hu , Zhang Ping , Li Juan , Zhao Xiao-Li , Zhang Ke , Zhang Bing
Published: December 2015

We have for the first time found that completely insulating Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) significantly enhance electrical conductivity of PEDOT/PSS films by simply mixing. Based on this accident finding we have created highly porous and conductive PEDOT/PSS films hybridized with the HNTs. Through further optimization of the mixing condition we have obtained flexible and conductive hybrid films with high specific surface area. Based on experimental evidences we proposed a plausible mechanism of the phenomenon where the PEDOT/PSS colloidal particle with particle size of several tens nanometers well pack at the nano-channels into well-ordered structures of PEDOT/PSS particles, which show conductivity as higher as several order of magnitude than that of PEDOT/PSS particles in outside of the HNTs.
Responses of community-level plant-insect interactions to climate warming in a meadow steppe
Authors: Zhu Hui , Zou Xuehui , Wang Deli , Wan Shiqiang , Wang Ling , Guo Jixun
Published: December 2015

Climate warming may disrupt trophic interactions, consequently influencing ecosystem functioning. Most studies have concentrated on the temperature-effects on plant-insect interactions at individual and population levels, with a particular emphasis on changes in phenology and distribution. Nevertheless, the available evidence from the community level is limited. A 3-year field manipulative experiment was performed to test potential responses of plant and insect communities and plant-insect interactions, to elevated temperature in a meadow steppe. Warming increased the biomass of plant community and forbs and decreased grass biomass, indicating a shift from grass-dominant to grass-forb mixed plant community. Reduced abundance of the insect community under warming, particularly the herbivorous insects, was attributed to lower abundance ofEuchorthippus unicolorand a Cicadellidae species resulting from lower food availability and higher defensive herbivory. Lower herbivore abundance caused lower predator species richness because of reduced prey resources and contributed to an overall decrease in insect species richness. Interestingly, warming enhanced the positive relationship between insect and plant species richness, implying that the strength of the plant-insect interactions was altered by warming. Our results suggest that alterations to plant-insect interactions at a community level under climate warming in grasslands may be more important and complex than previously thought.