bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Developmental stability and genetic heterozygosity in wild and cultured stocks of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata)
Authors: Palma J. , Alarcon J.A. , Alvarez C. , Zouros E. , Magoulas A. , Andrade J.P.
Published: May 2015

The present study checks on the validity of the hypothesis that heterozygosity and the fluctuating asymmetry (FA), common measure of the developmental stability, are linked in populations of wild and cultured stocks of Sparus aurata from five countries. Muscle and liver samples were analysed for variation in 26 allozymes and three microsatellite loci. Pectoral fin rays and upper and lower gill rakers of the first branchial arch were counted on the left and on the right sides of each fish. Fluctuating asymmetry existed in the majority of the samples although their values were consistently low, (0·305±0·147), but higher in the cultured samples. The allozyme heterozygosity values were always high, but lower in the cultured samples. The microsatellite DNA analysis produced similar results. Heterozygosity was higher in cultured individuals (except for the Greek samples). These findings seem to be early evidence that the reared samples are losing some genetic variation, especially due to the loss of the rarest alleles (which were present in the wild populations). Genetic drift, probably caused by propagation practices, is most likely responsible for the decrease of the genetic variation. No distinct pattern of geographic separation was identified.
Direct assessment of post-spawning survival of female capelin, Mallotus villosus
Authors: Flynn S.R. , Nakashima B.S. , Burton M.P.M.
Published: May 2015

Assessment of spawning survival for female capelin Mallotus villosus (Pisces: Osmeriformes) greater than 12 cm in length was made in the autumn of 1995–1997 comparing a histological technique with existing methods. An intensive macroscopic visual assessment of selected samples from 1995, 1996 and 1997 revealed that 10, 20 and 40% of the females were recovering from spawning respectively each year. Histological assessments of the same fish revealed that 20% in 1995, and nearly 60% of the fish in 1996 and 1997 showed physiological evidence of previous spawning. The proportion of recovering spawners increased with both length and age of the fish. One sample from the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization area of 2J during October 1997 contained nearly 90% recovering fish. The potential impact of the fishery in light of the variability in post-spawning survival of the iteroparous female capelin is discussed.
Embryonic and larval development of the tub gurnard Trigla lucerna (Pisces: Triglidae)
Authors: Dulčić J. , Grubišić L. , Katavić I. , Skakelja N.
Published: May 2015

The embryonic and early larval development of the laboratory-reared tub gurnard, Trigla lucerna are described. The eggs ranged in diameter from 1·33 to 1·40 mm, with a mean of 1·36±0·236 mm, were pelagic and spherical with a homogeneous and unsegmented yolk. There was single oil globule in the eggs. Globule ranged in diameter from 0·25 to 0·29 mm (mean 0·28±0·012 mm). Embryonic development lasted 115 h 2 min at mean temperature 13·5 °C. Newly-hatched larvae were 3·09±0·014 mm in total length. Absorption of the yolk sac was complete after the sixth day, when larvae reached 4·85±0·015 mm in total length. The only character for identifying eggs among species could be diameter, since the values obtained are lower than those obtained for Eutrigla gurnardus and Aspitrigla cuculus, but larger than those for Trigloporus lastoviza. The length of newly hatched yolk-sac larvae of tub gurnard is significantly lower (t-test, P<0·05) than those of most of the other gurnard species. Characters likely to help in identification of species will probably prove to be the length, shape and pigmentation of the pectoral fin, and the degrees of development of spiny armature on the head.
Intersexual differences in the mudballs of Uca annulipes (Decapoda: Ocypodidae)
Authors: Burford Fiona R.L. , McGregor Peter K. , Oliveira Rui F.
Published: May 2015

This study investigated the features of mudballs produced by male and female Uca annulipes. Both sexes formed mudballs from mud excavated from within the burrow during the final hour of the low tide period. Males placed the centre of the mudball aggregation and the furthest mudball significantly further from the burrow than females. These observations suggest that the placement of male mudballs was not simply a by-product of burrow excavation.
Sea temperature variability and Paracentrotus lividus (Echinoidea) population fluctuations
Authors: Barnes David K.A. , Crook Anne , O'Mahoney Maria , Steele Susan , Maguire David
Published: May 2015

Observations and censi of the echinoid Paracentrotus lividus over 40 y at Lough Hyne marine nature reserve have revealed population fluctuations of >4 orders of magnitude. The P. lividus population has been anomalously low since the mid 1980s. The population age–size structure has also changed considerably and is now dominated by older individuals. Sea temperature is a known and important determinant of spawning (and recruitment) in this species. In certain years sea surface temperatures (SST) may not reach critical values for P. lividus mass-spawning to be triggered. In addition, toxic dinoflagellate blooms may have been responsible for large-scale mortalities within short periods. Years of anomalously low SSTs match the timing of critical decreases in the Lough Hyne P. lividus population. Years with low maximum SSTs coincide with the timing of major El Niňo Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events. We suggest a SST and possibly ENSO link to unfished (Lough Hyne) P. lividus population changes and propose such links as potential aggravating factors in the decline of the fisheries.
Demographic structure suggests migration of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus in a coastal lagoon
Authors: Fernandez Catherine , Caltagirone Angela , Johnson Monique
Published: May 2015

The demographic structure of a population of Paracentrotus lividus living in a coastal Mediterranean lagoon was studied in 1990. Analysis of this structure revealed that the population examined was made up of four distinct cohorts which represented individuals 2, 3, 4 and over 4 y of age. The variability in demographic structure as a function of biotope revealed that sea urchin migration occurred from the pebble area (recruitment area, high sea urchin density and overgrazing facies) towards areas made up of Cymodocea nodosa sea grass beds (growth areas, low density and abundant prefered food). These migrations seem to have been caused by food limitation in the former biotope coupled with a shift in diet in young individuals.
Polymorphic microsatellite loci in the European plaice, Pleuronectes platessa, and their utility in flounder, lemon sole and Dover sole
Authors: Watts Phillip C. , Nash Richard D.M. , Kemp Stephen J.
Published: May 2015

Microsatellite loci are one category of genetic markers that are frequently highly polymorphic. As such they have proved to be extremely useful tools for examining the population biology of many different taxa, and offer the potential to discriminate among fish stocks. Here, four new polymorphic microsatellite loci in the European plaice, Pleuronectes platessa are reported. In addition, data are provided on the utility of all published plaice microsatellite loci in flounder (P. flesus), lemon sole (Microstomus kitt) and Dover sole (Solea solea).
The Allegorical Exegesis of Song of Songs by R. Tuviah ben ’Eliʽezer—Lekaḥ Tov, and Its Relation to Rashi's Commentary
Authors: Jacobs Jonathan
Published: May 2015

This article examines three facets of R. Tuviah ben ’Eliʽezer's commentary,Lekaḥ tov, on Song of Songs: (a) his unique approach to allegorical interpretation; (b) his participation in Judeo-Christian polemics; and (c) the question of a connection between his commentary on Songs and Rashi's. R. Tuviah proposes to read the verses of Songs as simultaneously describing the past, the present, and the future of the Jewish nation, a type of reading that is extremely rare in rabbinic midrashim, which R. Tuviah adopts to create a systematic allegorical commentary. There are similarities between the interpretations of R. Tuviah and those of Rashi; while not numerous, all the same these two scholars were the first to propose a literal interpretation of Songs, they both engaged in similar Judeo-Christian polemic, and they interpreted Songs on the allegorical level in a similar fashion. These points of similarity support the possibility that Rashi was exposed to reports of R. Tuviah's commentary on Songs.
בין הלכה, קבלה, ומגדר—אתיקה מינית בפרשת "סבא דמשפטים" בזוהר
Authors: קניאל רות קרא-איוונוב
Published: May 2015

ספר הזוהר מסמן את שיאה של הספרות התיאורגית-תיאוסופית ומתאפיין בחשיבה אנתרופומורפית שמדגישה את השפעת הגוף והארוס על מערכת האלוהות ויחסי הספירות. בדומה להנכחת הגוף בפרקסיס ובריטואל הקבלי, עולם ההלכה מתמקד אף הוא בידע הביצועי שטמון בגוף ונטוע בהקשרים של מין ומגדר. האתיקה והמיסטיקה אינן ניתנות להבנה מתוך עיון תיאורטי גרידא, שכן הידע המיסטי "הטהור," בדומה ל"חוק האידיאלי," אינם מתגלים כשלעצמם, אלא נחשפים מבעד למקרים פרטיים וקונפליקטואלים, ועל כן ניתן להציע כי המערכת הקבלית וההלכתית מבטאת כל אחת בדרכה "אתיקה ומיסטיקה בפעולה."
Solvability of free boundary problems for steady groundwater flow
Authors: BELIAEV A. Yu.
Published: May 2015

In this paper the free boundary problem for groundwater phreatic surface is represented in the form of a variational principle. It is proved that the flow domain Ω that solves the problem is a minimizer of some functional Λ(Ω). Weak solutions are introduced as minimizers of the lower semi-continuous regularization of Λ(⋅). Within this approach the existence of weak solutions is proved for a wide class of input data.
Characterising E-projectives via Comonads
Authors: HO WENG KIN
Published: May 2015

This paper demonstrates the usefulness of a comonadic approach to give previously unknown characterisation of projective objects in certain categories over particular subclasses of epimorphisms. This approach is a simple adaptation of a powerful technique due to Escardó which has been used extensively to characterise injective spaces and locales over various kinds of embeddings, but never previously for projective structures. Using some examples, we advertise the versatility of this approach – in particular, highlighting its advantage over existing methods on characterisation of projectives, which is that the comonadic machinery forces upon us the structural properties of projectives without relying on extraneous characterisations of the underlying object of the coalgebra arising from the comonad.
Electron Probe Microanalysis: A Review of the Past, Present, and Future
Authors: Rinaldi Romano , Llovet Xavier
Published: May 2015

The 50th anniversary of the application of electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) to the Earth Sciences provides an opportunity for an assessment of the state-of-the-art of the technique. Stemming from the introduction of the first automated instruments, the latest developments of EPMA and some typical applications are reviewed with an eye to the future. The most noticeable recent technical achievements such as the field-emission electron gun, the latest generation of energy and wavelength dispersive spectrometers, and the development of analytical methods based on new sets of first principle data obtained by the use of sophisticated computer codes, allow for the extension of the method to the analysis of trace elements, ultra-light elements (down to Li), small particles, and thin films, with a high degree of accuracy and precision and within a considerably reduced volume of interaction. A number of working examples and a thorough list of references provide the reader with a working knowledge of the capabilities and limitations of EPMA today.
Natural resources and global value chains: What role for the WTO?
Authors: Smith Fiona
Published: May 2015

Natural resources are critical to global value chains as minerals, good climate and fertile soil are commonly required for the beginning of the chain, with the consequence that any interruption in their supply threatens the chain's continued integrity. Trade in such resources provides a valuable source of income for resource-rich states. Yet exploitation of natural resources can result in their exhaustion and biodiversity loss, while their extraction can lead to environmental damage and human rights abuses, with the result that any positive contribution to sustainable development for resource-rich states is quickly undermined. Effective regulation is critical to maximise benefits and minimise potential harm. The WTO's rules seem ideally suited to allow the state to impose measures that militate against the overexploitation of the resource by corporations, whilst simultaneously ensuring that that regulation does not unnecessarily impede the flow of resources within the value chain. However, this paper will show that applying the WTO's rules to natural resource use in global value chains presents both substantive and normative challenges.
David Barker, Buruli ulcer and the epidemiology of a neglected tropical disease
Authors: Phillips D. I. W.
Published: May 2015

In 1969, David Barker, his wife and four children moved to Uganda to work at Makerere Medical School in the capital Kampala. During the 1960s, Makerere had become a research and teaching centre with an international reputation based on the work of Trowell, Burkitt, Hutt and many others who had pioneered studies explaining the disease patterns in the West Nile area on the basis of the local climate, nutrition and lifestyle. David Barker was funded by the Medical Research Council to carry out research on a poorly understood disease, Buruli ulcer, joining Scottish surgeon Wilson Carswell, who was later to achieve fame as the role model for Dr Garrigan in Giles Foden’s novel The Last King of Scotland.
Anammox Planctomycetes have a peptidoglycan cell wall
Authors: van Teeseling Muriel C.F. , Mesman Rob J. , Kuru Erkin , Espaillat Akbar , Cava Felipe , Brun Yves V. , VanNieuwenhze Michael S. , Kartal Boran , van Niftrik Laura
Published: May 2015

Planctomycetes are intriguing microorganisms that apparently lack peptidoglycan, a structure that controls the shape and integrity of almost all bacterial cells. Therefore, the planctomycetal cell envelope is considered exceptional and their cell plan uniquely compartmentalized. Anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing (anammox) Planctomycetes play a key role in the global nitrogen cycle by releasing fixed nitrogen back to the atmosphere as N2. Here using a complementary array of state-of-the-art techniques including continuous culturing, cryo-transmission electron microscopy, peptidoglycan-specific probes and muropeptide analysis, we show that the anammox bacterium Kuenenia stuttgartiensis contains peptidoglycan. On the basis of the thickness, composition and location of peptidoglycan in K. stuttgartiensis, we propose to redefine Planctomycetes as Gram-negative bacteria. Our results demonstrate that Planctomycetes are not an exception to the universal presence of peptidoglycan in bacteria.
Widespread seasonal gene expression reveals annual differences in human immunity and physiology
Authors: Dopico Xaquin Castro , Evangelou Marina , Ferreira Ricardo C. , Guo Hui , Pekalski Marcin L. , Smyth Deborah J. , Cooper Nicholas , Burren Oliver S. , Fulford Anthony J. , Hennig Branwen J. , Prentice Andrew M. , Ziegler Anette-G. , Bonifacio Ezio , Wallace Chris , Todd John A.
Published: May 2015

Seasonal variations are rarely considered a contributing component to human tissue function or health, although many diseases and physiological process display annual periodicities. Here we find more than 4,000 protein-coding mRNAs in white blood cells and adipose tissue to have seasonal expression profiles, with inverted patterns observed between Europe and Oceania. We also find the cellular composition of blood to vary by season, and these changes, which differ between the United Kingdom and The Gambia, could explain the gene expression periodicity. With regards to tissue function, the immune system has a profound pro-inflammatory transcriptomic profile during European winter, with increased levels of soluble IL-6 receptor and C-reactive protein, risk biomarkers for cardiovascular, psychiatric and autoimmune diseases that have peak incidences in winter. Circannual rhythms thus require further exploration as contributors to various aspects of human physiology and disease.
External stimulation-controllable heat-storage ceramics
Authors: Tokoro Hiroko , Yoshikiyo Marie , Imoto Kenta , Namai Asuka , Nasu Tomomichi , Nakagawa Kosuke , Ozaki Noriaki , Hakoe Fumiyoshi , Tanaka Kenji , Chiba Kouji , Makiura Rie , Prassides Kosmas , Ohkoshi Shin-ichi
Published: May 2015

Commonly available heat-storage materials cannot usually store the energy for a prolonged period. If a solid material could conserve the accumulated thermal energy, then its heat-storage application potential is considerably widened. Here we report a phase transition material that can conserve the latent heat energy in a wide temperature range, T<530 K and release the heat energy on the application of pressure. This material is stripe-type lambda-trititanium pentoxide, λ-Ti3O5, which exhibits a solid–solid phase transition to beta-trititanium pentoxide, β-Ti3O5. The pressure for conversion is extremely small, only 600 bar (60 MPa) at ambient temperature, and the accumulated heat energy is surprisingly large (230 kJ L−1). Conversely, the pressure-produced beta-trititanium pentoxide transforms to lambda-trititanium pentoxide by heat, light or electric current. That is, the present system exhibits pressure-and-heat, pressure-and-light and pressure-and-current reversible phase transitions. The material may be useful for heat storage, as well as in sensor and switching memory device applications.
Cells change their sensitivity to an EGF morphogen gradient to control EGF-induced gene expression
Authors: van Zon Jeroen Sebastiaan , Kienle Simone , Huelsz-Prince Guizela , Barkoulas Michalis , van Oudenaarden Alexander
Published: May 2015

How cells in developing organisms interpret the quantitative information contained in morphogen gradients is an open question. Here we address this question using a novel integrative approach that combines quantitative measurements of morphogen-induced gene expression at single-mRNA resolution with mathematical modelling of the induction process. We focus on the induction of Notch ligands by the LIN-3/EGF morphogen gradient during vulva induction in Caenorhabditis elegans. We show that LIN-3/EGF-induced Notch ligand expression is highly dynamic, exhibiting an abrupt transition from low to high expression. Similar transitions in Notch ligand expression are observed in two highly divergent wild C. elegans isolates. Mathematical modelling and experiments show that this transition is driven by a dynamic increase in the sensitivity of the induced cells to external LIN-3/EGF. Furthermore, this increase in sensitivity is independent of the presence of LIN-3/EGF. Our integrative approach might be useful to study induction by morphogen gradients in other systems.
High-speed multiple-mode mass-sensing resolves dynamic nanoscale mass distributions
Authors: Olcum Selim , Cermak Nathan , Wasserman Steven C. , Manalis Scott R.
Published: May 2015

Simultaneously measuring multiple eigenmode frequencies of nanomechanical resonators can determine the position and mass of surface-adsorbed proteins, and could ultimately reveal the mass tomography of nanoscale analytes. However, existing measurement techniques are slow (<1 Hz bandwidth), limiting throughput and preventing use with resonators generating fast transient signals. Here we develop a general platform for independently and simultaneously oscillating multiple modes of mechanical resonators, enabling frequency measurements that can precisely track fast transient signals within a user-defined bandwidth that exceeds 500 Hz. We use this enhanced bandwidth to resolve signals from multiple nanoparticles flowing simultaneously through a suspended nanochannel resonator and show that four resonant modes are sufficient for determining their individual position and mass with an accuracy near 150 nm and 40 attograms throughout their 150-ms transit. We envision that our method can be readily extended to other systems to increase bandwidth, number of modes, or number of resonators.
CD11c-mediated deletion of Flip promotes autoreactivity and inflammatory arthritis
Authors: Huang Qi-Quan , Perlman Harris , Birkett Robert , Doyle Renee , Fang Deyu , Haines G. Kenneth , Robinson William , Datta Syamal , Huang Zan , Li Quan-Zhen , Phee Hyewon , Pope Richard M.
Published: May 2015

Dendritic cells (DCs) are critical for immune homeostasis. To target DCs, we generated a mouse line with Flip deficiency in cells that express cre under the CD11c promoter (CD11c-Flip-KO). CD11c-Flip-KO mice spontaneously develop erosive, inflammatory arthritis, resembling rheumatoid arthritis, which is dramatically reduced when these mice are crossed with Rag−/− mice. The CD8α+ DC subset is significantly reduced, along with alterations in NK cells and macrophages. Autoreactive CD4+ T cells and autoantibodies specific for joint tissue are present, and arthritis severity correlates with the number of autoreactive CD4+ T cells and plasmablasts in the joint-draining lymph nodes. Reduced T regulatory cells (Tregs) inversely correlate with arthritis severity, and the transfer of Tregs ameliorates arthritis. This KO line identifies a model that will permit in depth interrogation of the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis, including the role of CD8α+ DCs and other cells of the immune system.
Type II spiral ganglion afferent neurons drive medial olivocochlear reflex suppression of the cochlear amplifier
Authors: Froud Kristina E. , Wong Ann Chi Yan , Cederholm Jennie M. E. , Klugmann Matthias , Sandow Shaun L. , Julien Jean-Pierre , Ryan Allen F. , Housley Gary D.
Published: May 2015

The dynamic adjustment of hearing sensitivity and frequency selectivity is mediated by the medial olivocochlear efferent reflex, which suppresses the gain of the ‘cochlear amplifier’ in each ear. Such efferent feedback is important for promoting discrimination of sounds in background noise, sound localization and protecting the cochleae from acoustic overstimulation. However, the sensory driver for the olivocochlear reflex is unknown. Here, we resolve this longstanding question using a mouse model null for the gene encoding the type III intermediate filament peripherin (Prph). Prph(−/−) mice lacked type II spiral ganglion neuron innervation of the outer hair cells, whereas innervation of the inner hair cells by type I spiral ganglion neurons was normal. Compared with Prph(+/+) controls, both contralateral and ipsilateral olivocochlear efferent-mediated suppression of the cochlear amplifier were absent in Prph(−/−) mice, demonstrating that outer hair cells and their type II afferents constitute the sensory drive for the olivocochlear efferent reflex.
Planctomycetes do possess a peptidoglycan cell wall
Authors: Jeske Olga , Schüler Margarete , Schumann Peter , Schneider Alexander , Boedeker Christian , Jogler Mareike , Bollschweiler Daniel , Rohde Manfred , Mayer Christoph , Engelhardt Harald , Spring Stefan , Jogler Christian
Published: May 2015

Most bacteria contain a peptidoglycan (PG) cell wall, which is critical for maintenance of shape and important for cell division. In contrast, Planctomycetes have been proposed to produce a proteinaceous cell wall devoid of PG. The apparent absence of PG has been used as an argument for the putative planctomycetal ancestry of all bacterial lineages. Here we show, employing multiple bioinformatic methods, that planctomycetal genomes encode proteins required for PG synthesis. Furthermore, we biochemically demonstrate the presence of the sugar and the peptide components of PG in Planctomycetes. In addition, light and electron microscopic experiments reveal planctomycetal PG sacculi that are susceptible to lysozyme treatment. Finally, cryo-electron tomography demonstrates that Planctomycetes possess a typical PG cell wall and that their cellular architecture is thus more similar to that of other Gram-negative bacteria. Our findings shed new light on the cellular architecture and cell division of the maverick Planctomycetes.
Single-molecule super-resolution imaging of chromosomes and in situ haplotype visualization using Oligopaint FISH probes
Authors: Beliveau Brian J. , Boettiger Alistair N. , Avendaño Maier S. , Jungmann Ralf , McCole Ruth B. , Joyce Eric F. , Kim-Kiselak Caroline , Bantignies Frédéric , Fonseka Chamith Y. , Erceg Jelena , Hannan Mohammed A. , Hoang Hien G. , Colognori David , Lee Jeannie T. , Shih William M. , Yin Peng , Zhuang Xiaowei , Wu Chao-ting
Published: May 2015

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is a powerful single-cell technique for studying nuclear structure and organization. Here we report two advances in FISH-based imaging. We first describe the in situ visualization of single-copy regions of the genome using two single-molecule super-resolution methodologies. We then introduce a robust and reliable system that harnesses single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to visually distinguish the maternal and paternal homologous chromosomes in mammalian and insect systems. Both of these new technologies are enabled by renewable, bioinformatically designed, oligonucleotide-based Oligopaint probes, which we augment with a strategy that uses secondary oligonucleotides (oligos) to produce and enhance fluorescent signals. These advances should substantially expand the capability to query parent-of-origin-specific chromosome positioning and gene expression on a cell-by-cell basis.
Development of a Serological Assay for the Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) Anellovirus, ZcAV
Authors: Fahsbender Elizabeth , Rosario Karyna , Cannon John P. , Gulland Frances , Dishaw Larry J. , Breitbart Mya
Published: May 2015

New diseases in marine animals are emerging at an increasing rate, yet methodological limitations hinder characterization of viral infections. Viral metagenomics is an effective method for identifying novel viruses in diseased animals; however, determining virus pathogenesis remains a challenge. A novel anellovirus (Zalophus californianus anellovirus, ZcAV) was recently reported in the lungs of captive California sea lions involved in a mortality event. ZcAV was not detected by PCR in the blood of these animals, creating the inability to assess the prevalence of ZcAV in live sea lions. This study developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect antibodies to ZcAV in sea lion serum. To assess ZcAV prevalence, paired serum and lung samples (n = 96) from wild sea lions that stranded along the California coast were tested through ELISA and PCR, respectively. Over 50% of the samples tested positive for ZcAV by ELISA (34%), PCR (29%), or both (11%) assays. ZcAV is prevalent in stranded wild sea lion populations and results suggest that PCR assays alone may grossly underestimate ZcAV exposure. This ELISA provides a tool for testing live sea lions for ZcAV exposure and is valuable for subsequent studies evaluating the potential pathogenicity of this anellovirus.
Tipping points and early warning signals in the genomic composition of populations induced by environmental changes
Authors: Aguirre Jacobo , Manrubia Susanna
Published: May 2015

We live in an ever changing biosphere that faces continuous and often stressing environmental challenges. From this perspective, much effort is currently devoted to understanding how natural populations succeed or fail in adapting to evolving conditions. In a different context, many complex dynamical systems experience critical transitions where their dynamical behaviour or internal structure changes suddenly. Here we connect both approaches and show that in rough and correlated fitness landscapes, population dynamics shows flickering under small stochastic environmental changes, alerting of the existence of tipping points. Our analytical and numerical results demonstrate that transitions at the genomic level preceded by early-warning signals are a generic phenomenon in constant and slowly driven landscapes affected by even slight stochasticity. As these genomic shifts are approached, the time to reach mutation-selection equilibrium dramatically increases, leading to the appearance of hysteresis in the composition of the population. Eventually, environmental changes significantly faster than the typical adaptation time may result in population extinction. Our work points out several indicators that are at reach with current technologies to anticipate these sudden and largely unavoidable transitions.
Plasma Membrane Proteolipid 3 Protein Modulates Amphotericin B Resistance throughSphingolipid Biosynthetic Pathway
Authors: Bari Vinay K. , Sharma Sushma , Alfatah Md. , Mondal Alok K. , Ganesan K.
Published: May 2015

Invasive opportunistic fungal infections of humans are common among those sufferingfrom impaired immunity and are difficult to treat resulting in high mortality.Amphotericin B (AmB) is one of the few antifungals available to treat suchinfections. The AmB resistance mechanisms reported so far mainly involve decrease inergosterol content or alterations in cell wall. In contrast, depletion ofsphingolipids sensitizes cells to AmB. Recently, overexpression of PMP3 gene,encoding plasma membrane proteolipid 3 protein, was shown to increase and itsdeletion to decrease, AmB resistance. Here we have explored the mechanistic basis ofPMP3 effect on AmB resistance. It was found that ergosterol content andcell wall integrity are not related to modulation of AmB resistance by PMP3.A few prominent phenotypes of PMP3 delete strain, namely, defective actinpolarity, impaired salt tolerance and reduced rate of endocytosis are also notrelated to its AmB-sensitivity. However, PMP3 overexpression mediatedincrease in AmB resistance requires a functional sphingolipid pathway. Moreover, AmBsensitivity of strains deleted in PMP3 can be suppressed by the addition ofphytosphingosine, a sphingolipid pathway intermediate, confirming the importance ofthis pathway in modulation of AmB resistance by PMP3.
Convertible MRI contrast: Sensing the delivery and release of anti-glioma nano-drugs
Authors: Zhang Liang , Zhang Zhongwei , Mason Ralph P. , Sarkaria Jann N. , Zhao Dawen
Published: May 2015

There is considerable interest in developing nanohybrids of imaging contrast agents and drugs for image-guided drug delivery. We have developed a strategy of utilizing manganese (Mn) to enhance the nano-encapsulation of arsenic trioxide (ATO). Formation of arsenite (As3+)-Mn precipitates in liposomes generates magnetic susceptibility effects, reflected as dark contrast on T2-weighted MRI. Intriguingly, following cell uptake, the As-Mn complex decomposes in response to low pH in endosome-lysosome releasing ionic As3+, the active form of ATO and Mn2+, the T1 contrast agent that gives a bright signal. Glioblastoma (GBM) is well known for its high resistance to chemotherapy, e.g., temozolomide (TMZ). Building upon the previously established phosphatidylserine (PS)-targeted nanoplatform that has excellent GBM-targeting specificity, we now demonstrate the effectiveness of the targeted nanoformulated ATO for treating TMZ-resistant GBM cells and the ability of the convertible Mn contrast as a surrogate revealing the delivery and release of ATO.
Systematic Review: Impact of Interferon-based Therapy on HCV-related Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Hsu Ching-Sheng , Chao You-Chen , Lin Hans Hsienhong , Chen Ding-Shinn , Kao Jia-Horng
Published: May 2015

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and several antiviral agents are available for the treatment of chronic HCV infection. However, the impact of antiviral therapy on the long-term outcomes of HCV-related HCC patients remains inconclusive. We aimed to examine the impact of antiviral therapy on the long-term outcomes of HCV-related HCC patients. We conducted a systematic review using PRISMA guidelines to identify trials and English-language literature from PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus and the Cochrane Library database till August 2014. Randomized trials of antiviral treatments examining the effects of antiviral therapy on CHC patients and HCV-related HCC patients were screened and selected. We identified 6 trials evaluated the effectiveness of interferon (IFN)-alfa treatment, 3 studies examined pegylated interferon-alfa treatment and 2 studies examined IFN-beta treatment. IFN-based therapy may decrease HCC incidence in HCV cirrhotic patients after a >5-year follow-up, improve liver reserve, decrease HCC recurrence rate and increase survival rate in HCV-related HCC patients after curative HCC therapy. In conclusion, IFN-based therapy is beneficial and may be recommended in the management of HCV-related HCC patients who are IFN eligible.
Phase-contrast zoom tomography reveals precise locations of macrophages in mouse lungs
Authors: Krenkel Martin , Markus Andrea , Bartels Matthias , Dullin Christian , Alves Frauke , Salditt Tim
Published: May 2015

We have performed x-ray phase-contrast tomography on mouse lung tissue. Using a divergent x-ray beam generated by nanoscale focusing, we used zoom tomography to produce three-dimensional reconstructions with selectable magnification, resolution and field of view. Thus, macroscopic tissue samples extending over several mm can be studied in sub-cellular-level structural detail. The zoom capability and, in particular, the high dose efficiency are enabled by the near-perfect exit wavefront of an optimized x-ray waveguide channel. In combination with suitable phase-retrieval algorithms, challenging radiation-sensitive and low-contrast samples can be reconstructed with minimal artefacts. The dose efficiency of the method is demonstrated by the reconstruction of living macrophages both with and without phagocytized contrast agents. We also used zoom tomography to visualize barium-labelled macrophages in the context of morphological structures in asthmatic and healthy mouse lung tissue one day after intratracheal application. The three-dimensional reconstructions showed that the macrophages predominantly localized to the alveoli, but they were also found in bronchial walls, indicating that these cells might be able to migrate from the lumen of the bronchi through the epithelium.
Large enhancement of superconducting transition temperature of SrBi3 induced by Na substitution for Sr
Authors: Iyo Akira , Yanagi Yousuke , Kinjo Tatsuya , Nishio Taichiro , Hase Izumi , Yanagisawa Takashi , Ishida Shigeyuki , Kito Hijiri , Takeshita Nao , Oka Kunihiko , Yoshida Yoshiyuki , Eisaki Hiroshi
Published: May 2015

The Matthias rule, which is an empirical correlation between the superconducting transition temperature (Tc) and the average number of valence electrons per atom (n) in alloys and intermetallic compounds, has been used in the past as a guiding principle to search for new superconductors with higher Tc. The intermetallic compound SrBi3 (AuCu3 structure) exhibits a Tc of 5.6 K. An ab-initio electronic band structure calculation for SrBi3 predicted that Tc increases on decreasing the Fermi energy, i.e., on decreasing n, because of a steep increase in the density of states. In this study, we demonstrated that high-pressure (~ 3 GPa) and low-temperature ( < 350 °C) synthesis conditions enables the substitution of Na for about 40 at.% of Sr. With a consequent decrease in n, the Tc of (Sr,Na)Bi3 increases to 9.0 K. A new high-Tc peak is observed in the oscillatory dependence of Tc on n in compounds with the AuCu3 structure. We have shown that the oscillatory dependence of Tc is in good agreement with the band structure calculation. Our experiments reaffirm the importance of controlling the number of electrons in intermetallic compounds.
Structural basis for epitope masking and strain specificity of a conserved epitope in an intrinsically disordered malaria vaccine candidate
Authors: Morales Rodrigo A. V. , MacRaild Christopher A. , Seow Jeffrey , Krishnarjuna Bankala , Drinkwater Nyssa , Rouet Romain , Anders Robin F. , Christ Daniel , McGowan Sheena , Norton Raymond S.
Published: May 2015

Merozoite surface protein 2 (MSP2) is an intrinsically disordered, membrane-anchored antigen of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. MSP2 can elicit a protective, albeit strain-specific, antibody response in humans. Antibodies are generated to the conserved N- and C-terminal regions but many of these react poorly with the native antigen on the parasite surface. Here we demonstrate that recognition of a conserved N-terminal epitope by mAb 6D8 is incompatible with the membrane-bound conformation of that region, suggesting a mechanism by which native MSP2 escapes antibody recognition. Furthermore, crystal structures and NMR spectroscopy identify transient, strain-specific interactions between the 6D8 antibody and regions of MSP2 beyond the conserved epitope. These interactions account for the differential affinity of 6D8 for the two allelic families of MSP2, even though 6D8 binds to a fully conserved epitope. These results highlight unappreciated mechanisms that may modulate the specificity and efficacy of immune responses towards disordered antigens.
Chromosome microduplication in somatic cells decreases the genetic stability of human reprogrammed somatic cells and results in pluripotent stem cells
Authors: Yu Yang , Chang Liang , Zhao Hongcui , Li Rong , Fan Yong , Qiao Jie
Published: May 2015

Human pluripotent stem cells, including cloned embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells, offer a limitless cellular source for regenerative medicine. However, their derivation efficiency is limited and a large proportion of cells are arrested during reprogramming. In the current study, we explored chromosome microdeletion/duplication in arrested and established reprogrammed cells. Our results show that aneuploidy induced by somatic cell nuclear transfer technology is a key factor in the developmental failure of cloned human embryos and primary colonies from implanted cloned blastocysts and that expression patterns of apoptosis-related genes are dynamically altered. Overall, ~20%–53% of arrested primary colonies in induced plurpotent stem cells displayed aneuploidy and upregulation of P53 and Bax occurred in all arrested primary colonies. Interestingly, when somatic cells with pre-existing chromosomal mutations were used as donor cells, no cloned blastocysts were obtained and additional chromosomal mutations were detected in the resulting iPS cells following long-term culture, which was not observed in the two iPS cell lines with normal karyotypes. In conclusion, aneuploidy induced by the reprogramming process restricts the derivation of pluripotent stem cells, and, more importantly, pre-existing chromosomal mutations enhance the risk of genome instability, which limits the clinical utility of these cells.
Hierarchical Nanostructures Self-Assembled from a Mixture System Containing Rod-Coil Block Copolymers and Rigid Homopolymers
Authors: Li Yongliang , Jiang Tao , Lin Shaoliang , Lin Jiaping , Cai Chunhua , Zhu Xingyu
Published: May 2015

Self-assembly behavior of a mixture system containing rod-coil block copolymers and rigid homopolymers was investigated by using Brownian dynamics simulations. The morphologies of formed hierarchical self-assemblies were found to be dependent on the Lennard-Jones (LJ) interaction εRR between rod blocks, lengths of rod and coil blocks in copolymer and mixture ratio of block copolymers to homopolymers. As the εRR value decreases, the self-assembled structures of mixtures are transformed from an abacus-like structure to a helical structure, to a plain fiber and finally are broken into unimers. The order parameter of rod blocks was calculated to confirm the structure transition. Through varying the length of rod and coil blocks, the regions of thermodynamic stability of abacus, helix, plain fiber and unimers were mapped. Moreover, it was discovered that two levels of rod block ordering exist in the helices. The block copolymers are helically wrapped on the homopolymer bundles to form helical string, while the rod blocks are twistingly packed inside the string. In addition, the simulation results are in good agreement with experimental observations. The present work reveals the mechanism behind the formation of helical (experimentally super-helical) structures and may provide useful information for design and preparation of the complex structures.
Carbon dioxide utilisation for production of transport fuels: process and economic analysis
Authors: Dimitriou Ioanna , García-Gutiérrez Pelayo , Elder Rachael H. , Cuéllar-Franca Rosa M. , Azapagic Adisa , Allen Ray W. K.
Published: May 2015

Utilising CO2 as a feedstock for chemicals and fuels could help mitigate climate change and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
Diffusion–reaction models of genipin incorporation into fibrin networks
Authors: Ninh Chi , Iftikhar Aimon , Cramer Madeline , Bettinger Christopher J.
Published: May 2015

Genipin, a naturally occurring small molecule from gardenia plant, has potential applications as a compound to stabilize clots for many embolization strategies. This work uses a combination of data and predictive frameworks to provide forward guidance in designing controlled release strategies that use genipin for clot stabilization.
Preparation of carboxymethyl-α-cyclodextrin polymer grafted onto nano TiO2 as a novel solid phase extraction sorbent based on a host–guest mechanism
Authors: Khoddami Nafiseh , Shemirani Farzaneh
Published: May 2015

Carboxymethyl-α-cyclodextrin polymer grafted onto nano TiO2 (CM-α-CD PG/nano TiO2) was fabricated and its feasibility for the determination of levodopa (l-DOPA) was investigated.
Parallelized label-free detection of protein interactions using a hyper-spectral imaging system
Authors: Yoshikawa H. , Murahashi M. , Saito M. , Jiang S. , Iga M. , Tamiya E.
Published: May 2015

Parallelized detection of protein interactions using a multi-array chip and a hyper-spectral imaging system.
A new redox strategy for low-temperature formation of strong basicity on mesoporous silica
Authors: Zhu Li , Lu Feng , Liu Xiao-Dan , Liu Xiao-Qin , Sun Lin-Bing
Published: May 2015

Strong basicity can be generated on mesoporous silica by using the redox interaction of a base precursor with methanol vapor.
CO2-promoted oxidative cross-coupling reaction for C–S bond formation via masked strategy in an odourless way
Authors: Qiao Zongjun , Ge Nanyang , Jiang Xuefeng
Published: May 2015

Cu-catalyzed direct oxidative cross-coupling between boronic acids and masked sulfides delivering thioethers was described, in which the SO3−, as a mask, has shown a distinctive effect on the oxidative cross-coupling condition.
Towards multifunctional MOFs – transforming a side reaction into a post-synthetic protection/deprotection method
Authors: Zwoliński K. M. , Nowak P. , Chmielewski M. J.
Published: May 2015

Controlled formylation/deformylation of the important amino-substituted metal–organic framework UiO-66-NH2 allowed for the first successful post-synthetic protection–modification–deprotection sequences in MOFs.
Ab initio study of the O4H+ novel species: spectroscopic fingerprints to aid its observation
Authors: Xavier F. George D. , Hernández-Lamoneda Rámon
Published: May 2015

A detailed ab initio characterization of the structural, energetic and spectroscopic properties of the novel O4H+ species is presented.
Europium(ii)-activated oxonitridosilicate yellow phosphor with excellent quantum efficiency and thermal stability – a robust spectral conversion material for highly efficient and reliable white LEDs
Authors: Wang Le , Zhang Hong , Wang Xiao-Jun , Dierre Benjamin , Suehiro Takayuki , Takeda Takahashi , Hirosaki Naoto , Xie Rong-Jun
Published: May 2015

A highly efficient and thermally stable yellow phosphor was developed to fabricate highly efficient and reliable cool white LEDs.
Metal complexes of curcumin – synthetic strategies, structures and medicinal applications
Authors: Wanninger Simon , Lorenz Volker , Subhan Abdus , Edelmann Frank T.
Published: May 2015

This Tutorial Review provides the first general overview on synthesis and medicinal applications of metal curcumin complexes, including anticancer activity and anti-Alzheimer's disease activity.
Effect of carbon surface functional groups on the synthesis of Ru/C catalysts for supercritical water gasification
Authors: Peng Gaël , Gramm Fabian , Ludwig Christian , Vogel Frédéric
Published: May 2015

A carbon support was treated with HNO3 to create surface functional groups (e.g. –COOH, –OH), which were then characterized by TGA, TPD, CNS elemental analysis, and Boehm titration.
Tunability of catalytic properties of Pd-based catalysts by rational control of strong metal and support interaction (SMSI) for selective hydrogenolyic C–C and C–O bond cleavage of ethylene glycol units in biomass molecules
Authors: Liao Fenglin , Lo T. W. Benedict , Qu Jin , Kroner Anna , Dent Andrew , Tsang S. C. Edman
Published: May 2015

The catalytic properties of Pd can be fine-tuned through the formation of bimetallic nanoparticles with the support.
Scalable synthesis of bi-functional high-performance carbon nanotube sponge catalysts and electrodes with optimum C–N–Fe coordination for oxygen reduction reaction
Authors: Yang Gang , Choi Woongchul , Pu Xiong , Yu Choongho
Published: May 2015

Three-dimensional N/Fe-containing carbon nanotube sponges showing striking improvements in catalytic activity and stability were grown using a facile/scalable synthesis method.
Analytical-performance improvement of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for steel using multi-spectral-line calibration with an artificial neural network
Authors: Li Kuohu , Guo Lianbo , Li Changmao , Li Xiangyou , Shen Meng , Zheng Zhong , Yu Yang , Hao Rongfei , Hao Zhongqi , Zeng Qingdong , Lu Yongfeng , Zeng Xiaoyan
Published: May 2015

A multi-spectral-line calibration approach based on an artificial neural network is presented for steel analysis in LIBS.
Biomimetic synthesis of novel calcium carbonate heterogeneous dendrites
Authors: Ma Li , Zhu Jianhua , Cui Mingfang , Huang Lei , Su Yiping
Published: May 2015

Three-dimensional dendrites of calcium carbonate were successfully synthesized via a nonclassical crystallization pathway by combining two different functional additives. They showed fascinating heterogeneous superstructures made up of calcite scaffolding, aragonite shells, and an external amorphous coating.
A structural investigation of heteroleptic lanthanide substituted cyclopentadienyl complexes
Authors: Ortu Fabrizio , Fowler Jonathan M. , Burton Matthew , Formanuik Alasdair , Mills David P.
Published: May 2015

The synthesis and structural authentication of novel heteroleptic lanthanide complexes supported by bulky cyclopentadienyl ligands is herein presented. Steric effects play a fundamental role in the coordination motifs.
Synthesis and up-conversion luminescence of Yb3+/Er3+/Tm3+ doped Ca9Y(PO4)7
Authors: Du Shanshan , Wang Deyin , Wang Yuhua , Xin Shuangyu , Qiang QinPing , Ma Xinlong
Published: May 2015

Samples of Ca9Y(PO4)7 co-doped with Yb3+/Er3+, Yb3+/Tm3+, or Yb3+/Er3+/Tm3+ have been synthesized through two different routes, i.e. a modified hydrothermal method, followed by annealing in air at 850 °C and a solid-state reaction.
Unexpected furanose/pyranose equilibration of N-glycosyl sulfonamides, sulfamides and sulfamates
Authors: Suthagar Kajitha , Polson Matthew I. J. , Fairbanks Antony J.
Published: May 2015

Arabino N-glycosyl sulfamides, sulfonamides and sulfamates convert from the furanose to the thermodynamically preferred pyranose form in aqueous solution.
Polymerization of ethylene and propylene promoted by group 4 metal complexes bearing thioetherphenolate ligands
Authors: Luciano Ermanno , Della Monica Francesco , Buonerba Antonio , Grassi Alfonso , Capacchione Carmine , Milione Stefano
Published: May 2015

New group 4 complexes with OS ligands promote the polymerization of ethylene and propylene giving linear polyethylene and atactic polypropylene or oligopropene, respectively.