bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Finding the Harm in Hate Speech: An Argument against Censorship
Authors: Newman Stephen L.
Published: January 2017

The liberal justification for censorship equates the harm in hate speech with the sort of tangible injury that would justify state intervention under J.S. Mill's harm principle. Recently, Jeremy Waldron has suggested that the real harm perpetuated by hate speech is less tangible, taking it to be a variety of moral pollution which undermines both the public good of inclusiveness and the minority's assurance of personal dignity. This paper scrutinizes Waldron's conception of the harm in hate speech, arguing that it lacks the specificity and gravity Mill's principle requires in order to justify censorship. The paper also questions the categorical distinction between hate speech and speech that is “merely offensive,” arguing that Waldron's reasons for censoring the one also apply to the other. The result is a censorship regime that liberals ought not to accept.
THE DECLINE OF SOPHIA AND A MISLEADING GLOSS IN PLOTINUS, ENN. II.9 [33].10.25
Authors: Gertz S.R.P.
Published: January 2017

In two chapters of Enn. II.9 [33], Plotinus discusses the Gnostic idea that the creation of the world is due to the ‘decline’ (νεῦσις) of a principle that he variously calls Soul or Sophia. The identity of Plotinus' Gnostics is notoriously difficult to establish with any degree of precision; I can only note here that the idea of Sophia's ‘decline’ features in a number of extant Gnostic texts, such as those from Nag Hammadi and the Berlin Codex (Papyrus Berolinensis 8502), as a recent survey of the evidence by Poirier has demonstrated.
RE-READING POLLUX: ENCYCLOPAEDIC STRUCTURE AND ATHLETIC CULTURE IN ONOMASTICON BOOK 3
Authors: König Jason
Published: January 2017

Ioulios Polydeukes, more commonly known as Pollux, was a Greek sophist and lexicographer active in the closing decades of the second century a.d. His Onomasticon is one of the most important lexicographical texts of the Imperial period. It is essentially a set of word lists dedicated to collecting clusters of related words on topics from a vast range of different areas of intellectual activity and everyday life. The text survives only in epitomized form, and shows signs of interpolation as well as abridgement. Nevertheless, the consensus is that the bulk of what survives is Pollux’ own work, and that reading it in Eric Bethe's Teubner edition gives an accurate cumulative impression of Pollux’ standard procedures and preoccupations, even if we cannot be entirely confident that any particular cluster of words had exactly the same form within the text's original design. It is divided into ten books, each with its own dedicatory preface addressed to the Emperor Commodus. Each book has its own distinctive focus on certain key themes, although the ordering principles are much clearer in some than in others.
CONTAGIOUS ΑΣΕΒΕΙΑ
Authors: Naiden F.S.
Published: January 2017

Ἀσέβεια is one of Greek religion's vexatious topics. It was a crime, or γραφή, as well as a religious wrong according to ‘sacred law’. It happened to be the charge in the most famous Greek trial, that of Socrates, and thus became part of alocus classicus, with the result, as Kenneth Dover showed, that later reports of ἀσέβεια trials were often distorted by the influence of Socrates' example. Focussing mostly on the sources found reliable by Dover, this article proposes that ἀσέβεια sometimes resembled μίασμα, which was contagious religious pollution. An impious person could sometimes spread his or her ἀσέβεια, and others could catch it.
On the Universal SL2-Representation Rings of Free Groups
Authors: Satoh Takao
Published: January 2017

In this paper, we give an explicit realization of the universal SL2-representation rings of free groups by using ‘the ring of component functions’ of SL(2, ℂ)-representations of free groups. We introduce a descending filtration of the ring, and determine the structure of its graded quotients. Then we study the natural action of the automorphism group of a free group on the graded quotients, and introduce a generalized Johnson homomorphism. In the latter part of this paper, we investigate some properties of these homomorphisms from a viewpoint of twisted cohomologies of the automorphism group of a free group.
GRIN3B missense mutation as an inherited risk factor for schizophrenia: whole-exome sequencing in a family with a familiar history of psychotic disorders
Authors: HORNIG TOBIAS , GRÜNING BJÖRN , KUNDU KOUSIK , HOUWAART TORSTEN , BACKOFEN ROLF , BIBER KNUT , NORMANN CLAUS
Published: January 2017

Glutamate is the most important excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor is a glutamate-gated ionotropic cation channel that is composed of several subunits and modulated by a glycine binding site. Many forms of synaptic plasticity depend on the influx of calcium ions through NMDA receptors, and NMDA receptor dysfunction has been linked to a number of neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. Whole-exome sequencing was performed in a family with a strong history of psychotic disorders over three generations. We used an iterative strategy to obtain condense and meaningful variants. In this highly affected family, we found a frameshift mutation (rs10666583) in the GRIN3B gene, which codes for the GluN3B subunit of the NMDA receptor in all family members with a psychotic disorder, but not in the healthy relatives. Matsuno et al., also reported this null variant as a risk factor for schizophrenia in 2015. In a broader sample of 22 patients with psychosis, the allele frequency of the rs10666583 mutation variant was increased compared to those of healthy population samples and unaffected relatives. Compared to the 1000 Genomes Project population, we found a significant increase of this variant with a large effect size among patients. The amino acid shift degrades the S1/S2 glycine binding domain of the dominant modulatory GluN3B subunit of the NMDA receptor, which subsequently affects the permeability of the channel pore to calcium ions. A decreased glycine affinity for the GluN3B subunit might cause impaired functional capability of the NMDA receptor and could be an important risk factor for the pathogenesis of psychotic disorders.
Effective experimental validation of miRNA targets using an improved linker reporter assay
Authors: CHOI CHEOLWON , HAN JAMES , THAO TRAN NGUYEN THI , YOON SEULGI , KIM GOEUN , SONG SUJUNG , KIM YOUNGJO , RYU SEONGHO
Published: January 2017

miRNAs are small, non-coding RNAs that play critical roles in various cellular processes. Although there are several algorithms that can predict the potential candidate genes that are regulated by a miRNA, these algorithms require further experimental validation in order to demonstrate genuine targets of miRNAs. Moreover, most algorithms predict hundreds to thousands of putative target genes for each miRNA, and it is difficult to validate all candidates using the whole 3′-untranslated region (UTR) reporter assay. We report a fast, simple and efficient experimental approach to screening miRNA candidate targets using a 3′-UTR linker assay. Critically, the linker has only a short miRNA regulatory element sequence of approximately 22 base pairs in length and can provide a benefit for screening strong miRNA candidates for further validation using the whole 3′-UTR sequence. Our technique will provide a simplified platform for the high-throughput screening of miRNA target gene validation.
Chasing the Yellow Demon
Authors: Johnson Ian
Published: January 2017

Author's note: A few years ago, I read David Johnson's Spectacle and Sacrifice: The Ritual Foundations of Village Life in North China.1 The book immediately caught my attention because it dealt with parts of China that I know well: southern Hebei and eastern Shanxi provinces, where I was conducting research for a new book. Johnson describes festivals that helped bind together communities, and in several cases had information showing that some of them had been revived after the Cultural Revolution.

One, particularly, seemed noteworthy: Guyi Village in the south of Hebei Province. This is near the steel-making city of Handan and one of the most polluted parts of China. I had been there several times and was fascinated with the idea that this area could also be home to elaborate, multi-day rituals that seemed otherwise not to exist in North China. According to Johnson's informants, local scholars had visited the village in the 1990s and seen exciting performances of Zhuo Huanggui, or Chasing the Yellow Demon, an exorcistic purging ritual performed at the end of the fifteen-day Chinese New Year's festival. I contacted local officials and academics, who were unsure if the ritual would be performed again. No one, it seemed, had been out to the village in years. So in mid-February 2014, I set off to see if anything was left of these complex performances.2
Locations of Authenticity: S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka and the Search for Indigeneity
Authors: Rambukwella Harshana
Published: January 2017

Visions of a grand hydraulic civilization and a pastoral ideal of paddy cultivation–based village life have shaped Sinhala nationalist discourse since the late nineteenth century. Derived from colonial sociology, the local political elite fashioned these ideas into a discourse of Sinhala authenticity that positioned themselves as legitimate representatives of the people while simultaneously placing them as custodians of national culture. However, this was a fraught dynamic given the elites’ highly Anglicized nature and their inability to maintain control over this discourse in the face of wider participation in public culture in the first half of the twentieth century. S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, who became prime minister in 1956, eight years after Sri Lanka gained independence from British rule, is popularly seen as one of the few elite politicians of the late colonial period who sought to engage substantively in mass-based politics and is remembered as a heroic anti-colonial figure. This article explores the contradictions and ironies in Bandaranaike's turn to indigeneity and the political and cultural implications of this turn. It also briefly discusses authenticity's continued resonance in contemporary Sri Lanka.
Lessons on dietary biomarkers from twin studies
Authors: Menni Cristina
Published: January 2017

Metabolomic and microbiome profiling are promising tools to identify biomarkers of food intake and health status. The individual's genetic makeup plays a significant role on health, metabolism, gut microbes and diet and twin studies provide unique opportunities to untangle gene–environment effects on complex phenotypes. This brief review discusses the value of twin studies in nutrition research with a particular focus on metabolomics and the gut microbiome. Although, the twin model is a powerful tool to segregate the genetic component, to date, very few studies combine the twin design and metabolomics/microbiome in nutritional sciences. Moreover, since the individual's diet has a strong influence on the microbiome composition and the gut microbiome is modifiable (60 % of microbiome diversity is due to the environment), future studies should target the microbiome via dietary interventions.
Effects of nanoparticles on phase morphology in thin films of phase-separated diblock copolymers
Authors: Jehnichen Dieter , Pospiech Doris , Friedel Peter , Horechyy Andriy , Korwitz Andreas , Janke Andreas , Näther Franziskus , Papadakis Christine M. , Perlich Jan , Neu Volker
Published: January 2017

This study investigates the morphology changes in thin diblock copolymer (DiBCP) films occurring in the interaction with modified nanoparticles (NPs). Magnetite (Fe3O4) and silica (SiOx) were prepared and used. Poly(pentyl methacrylate-b-methyl methacrylate) (PPMA-b-PMMA) (70/30 mol mol−1, hcp cylinders of the PMMA phase) DiBCP were employed to prepare thin films having thicknesses to realize standing cylinders in pure DiBCP films. The investigations aimed at two topics: (1) morphology after controlled incorporation of organo-modified NP (gold, silver, Fe3O4, SiOx) and (2) additional solvent vapour annealing (SVA) with tetrahydrofuran (and chloroform for comparison). The laterally ordered morphology in thin films was examined by GISAXS and atomic force microscopy. Keeping the same type of morphology in nanocomposites, the dimensions of the periodic nanostructure altered depending on type and amount of incorporated NP. It was found that SiOx clusters enlarge the lateral distance of the PMMA cylinders, whereas metallic NPs reduce this parameter. Applying SVA improves the phase separation slightly, whereas lateral distances were kept constant or were reduced a little. Switching of domain orientation upon SVA could not be detected in the presence of NPs located at the polymer/substrate interface.
In situX-ray diffraction study of deformation and shape recovery in the aged U–6.2wt%Nb alloy
Authors: Zhang Y. Z. , Wang D. P. , Guan W. J. , Chen X. L. , Wang X. L.
Published: January 2017

The present work focuses on the deformation and recovery mechanisms of aged monoclinic U–Nb alloy under tension and load–unload cycle testing usingin situX-ray diffraction (XRD). The U–6.2wt% Nb (U–6.2Nb) alloy was prepared and aged at 200 °C, and then underwent tensile testing followed by thein situXRD. The experimental results indicate that the change of diffraction peaks can serve to accurately characterize the macroscopic deformation and recovery. Compared with the as-quenched alloy, the aged U–6.2Nb alloy displays different behavior during deformation and subsequent recovery. Phase transformation competes with twin rearrangement to dominate the deformation and recovery between elastic stage and slip stage of the alloy. The lattice plane relationship between α″ and γ° during phase transformation has also been given.
Characteristics of Medical Teams in Disaster
Authors: Oldenburger David , Baumann Andrea , Banfield Laura
Published: January 2017

Disasters present unique challenges for teams providing medical assistance to those populations impacted by the event. This scoping review focused on the characteristics of medical teams in disaster and how these characteristics are developed. The scoping review methods of Arksey and O’Malley were followed. An inductive thematic analysis of selected articles was used to identify recurrent themes. A total of 6,521 articles were reviewed from eight databases, yielding 33 articles. Four recurrent theme groups were identified: (1) adaptability, flexibility, and improvisation; (2) creativity and innovation; (3) experience and training; and (4) leadership and command structure. The study highlighted key characteristics identified by responders for effective team functioning and interdependence between the characteristics. It also identified the paucity of literature on the subject. Results from the study can help to guide future research and training development for medical teams in disaster.

OldenburgerD,BaumannA,BanfieldL.Characteristics of medical teams in disaster.Prehosp Disaster Med.2017;32(2):195–200.
Postvention bei Suizid: Was man als Kinder- und Jugendpsychiater und -therapeut wissen sollte
Authors: Becker Katja , Manthey Thomas , Kaess Michael , Brockmann Elisabeth , Zimmermann Frank , Plener Paul L.
Published: January 2017

Zusammenfassung. Postvention bezeichnet das notwendige Maßnahmenpaket für alle durch eine Suizidhandlung Betroffenen nach einem Suizid. Patientensuizide in kinder- und jugendpsychiatrischen Kliniken sind selten, stellen aber eine sehr hohe Belastung für Angehörige, Mitpatienten und Klinikmitarbeiter dar. Neben dem Management der akuten Krisensituation mit klaren Kommunikationsregeln, dem angemessenen Umgang mit Suizidhinterbliebenen und der Verhinderung von Folgesuiziden bei Mitpatienten sollten verfügbare Handlungsempfehlungen der Kliniken zum Umgang bei Patientensuizid auch das Prozedere zur Hilfe psychischer Belastungen bei Ärzten, Therapeuten und weiteren Klinikmitarbeitern umfassen. Des Weiteren sollte Postvention aufgrund seiner Bedeutung ein fester Bestandteil in der Aus- und Weiterbildung kinderpsychiatrisch tätiger Therapeuten werden.
Musiktherapie als Regulationstherapie
Authors: Simon Patrick , Wenzel Claudia , Zoderer Iris , Sobotka Marlies , Tucek Gerhard
Published: January 2017

Zusammenfassung. Das Kremser Modell der Musiktherapie (entwickelt an der IMC Fachhochschule Krems unter der Leitung von Gerhard Tucek) integriert wesentliche Elemente der Chronobiologie sowie der Regulationsmedizin und lässt sich konzeptionell am ehesten dem biopsychosozialen Modell zuordnen. Der Artikel beleuchtet ausgehend von den Systemtheorien das gängige biomedizinische Menschenbild und das von ihm abgeleitete Gesundheitsverständnis aus Sicht der biopsychosozialen Medizin und der Chronobiologie. Nach Ausführungen zur Regulationsmedizin wird schließlich die Musiktherapie im Kontext der Regulation dargestellt.
IAPP modulates cellular autophagy, apoptosis, and extracellular matrix metabolism in human intervertebral disc cells
Authors: Wu Xinghuo , Song Yu , Liu Wei , Wang Kun , Gao Yong , Li Shuai , Duan Zhenfeng , Shao Zengwu , Yang Shuhua , Yang Cao
Published: January 2017

The pathogenic process of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is characterized by imbalance in the extracellular matrix (ECM) metabolism. Nucleus pulposus (NP) cells have important roles in maintaining the proper structure and tissue homeostasis of disc ECM. These cells need adequate supply of glucose and oxygen. Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) exerts its biological effects by regulating glucose metabolism. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of IAPP in degenerated IVD tissue, and IAPP modulation of ECM metabolism in human NP cells, especially the crosstalk mechanism between apoptosis and autophagy in these cells. We found that the expression of IAPP and Calcr-RAMP decreased considerably during IDD progression, along with the decrease in the expression of AG, BG, and Col2A1. Induction of IAPP in NP cells by transfection with pLV-IAPP enhanced the synthesis of aggrecan and Col2A1 and attenuated the expression of pro-inflammatory factors, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin (IL)-1. Upregulation of IAPP also affected the expression of the catabolic markers—matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 3, 9 and 13 and ADAMTS 4 and 5. Downregulation of IAPP by siRNA inhibited the expression of anabolic genes but increased the expression of catabolic genes and inflammatory factors. The expressions of autophagic and apoptotic markers in NP cells transfected with pLV-IAPP were upregulated, including BECLIN1, ATG5, ATG7, LC3 II/I and Bcl-2, while significantly increase in the expression of Bax and Caspase-3 in NP cells transfected with pLV-siIAPP. Mechanistically, PI3K/AKT-mTOR and p38/JNK MAPK signal pathways were involved. We propose that IAPP might play a pivotal role in the development of IDD, by regulating ECM metabolism and controlling the crosstalk between apoptosis and autophagy in NP, thus potentially offering a novel therapeutic approach to the treatment of IDD.
Controlled fabrication of nanoscale wrinkle structure by fluorocarbon plasma for highly transparent triboelectric nanogenerator
Authors: Cheng Xiaoliang , Miao Liming , Su Zongming , Chen Haotian , Song Yu , Chen Xuexian , Zhang Haixia
Published: January 2017

In this paper, we report a novel nanoscale wrinkle-structure fabrication process using fluorocarbon plasma on poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and Solaris membranes. Wrinkles with wavelengths of hundreds of nanometers were obtained on these two materials, showing that the fabrication process was universally applicable. By varying the plasma-treating time, the wavelength of the wrinkle structure could be controlled. Highly transparent membranes with wrinkle patterns were obtained when the plasma-treating time was <125 s. The transmittances of these membranes were >90% in the visible region, making it difficult to distinguish them from a flat membrane. The deposited fluorocarbon polymer also dramatically reduced the surface energy, which allowed us to replicate the wrinkle pattern with high precision onto other membranes without any surfactant coating. The combined advantages of high electron affinity and high transparency enabled the fabricated membrane to improve the performance of a triboelectric nanogenerator. This nanoscale, single-step, and universal wrinkle-pattern fabrication process, with the functionality of high transparency and ultra-low surface energy, shows an attractive potential for future applications in micro- and nanodevices, especially in transparent energy harvesters.
Fully inkjet-printed microwave passive electronics
Authors: McKerricher Garret , Vaseem Mohammad , Shamim Atif
Published: January 2017

Fully inkjet-printed three-dimensional (3D) objects with integrated metal provide exciting possibilities for on-demand fabrication of radio frequency electronics such as inductors, capacitors, and filters. To date, there have been several reports of printed radio frequency components metallized via the use of plating solutions, sputtering, and low-conductivity pastes. These metallization techniques require rather complex fabrication, and do not provide an easily integrated or versatile process. This work utilizes a novel silver ink cured with a low-cost infrared lamp at only 80 °C, and achieves a high conductivity of 1×107 S m−1. By inkjet printing the infrared-cured silver together with a commercial 3D inkjet ultraviolet-cured acrylic dielectric, a multilayer process is demonstrated. By using a smoothing technique, both the conductive ink and dielectric provide surface roughness values of <500 nm. A radio frequency inductor and capacitor exhibit state-of-the-art quality factors of 8 and 20, respectively, and match well with electromagnetic simulations. These components are implemented in a lumped element radio frequency filter with an impressive insertion loss of 0.8 dB at 1 GHz, proving the utility of the process for sensitive radio frequency applications.
A general patterning approach by manipulating the evolution of two-dimensional liquid foams
Authors: Huang Zhandong , Su Meng , Yang Qiang , Li Zheng , Chen Shuoran , Li Yifan , Zhou Xue , Li Fengyu , Song Yanlin
Published: January 2017

The evolution of gas-liquid foams has been an attractive topic for more than half a century. However, it remains a challenge to manipulate the evolution of foams, which restricts the development of porous materials with excellent mechanical, thermal, catalytic, electrical or acoustic properties. Here we report a strategy to manipulate the evolution of two-dimensional (2D) liquid foams with a micropatterned surface. We demonstrate that 2D liquid foams can evolve beyond Ostwald ripening (large bubbles always consuming smaller ones). By varying the arrangement of pillars on the surface, we have prepared various patterns of foams in which the size, shape and position of the bubbles can be precisely controlled. Furthermore, these patterned bubbles can serve as a template for the assembly of functional materials, such as nanoparticles and conductive polymers, into desired 2D networks with nanoscale resolution. This methodology provides new insights in controlling curvature-driven evolution and opens a general route for the assembly of functional materials.
A strong diffusive ion mode in dense ionized matter predicted by Langevin dynamics
Authors: Mabey P. , Richardson S. , White T. G. , Fletcher L. B. , Glenzer S. H. , Hartley N. J. , Vorberger J. , Gericke D. O. , Gregori G.
Published: January 2017

The state and evolution of planets, brown dwarfs and neutron star crusts is determined by the properties of dense and compressed matter. Due to the inherent difficulties in modelling strongly coupled plasmas, however, current predictions of transport coefficients differ by orders of magnitude. Collective modes are a prominent feature, whose spectra may serve as an important tool to validate theoretical predictions for dense matter. With recent advances in free electron laser technology, X-rays with small enough bandwidth have become available, allowing the investigation of the low-frequency ion modes in dense matter. Here, we present numerical predictions for these ion modes and demonstrate significant changes to their strength and dispersion if dissipative processes are included by Langevin dynamics. Notably, a strong diffusive mode around zero frequency arises, which is not present, or much weaker, in standard simulations. Our results have profound consequences in the interpretation of transport coefficients in dense plasmas.
Dietary fatty acid metabolism of brown adipose tissue in cold-acclimated men
Authors: Blondin Denis P. , Tingelstad Hans C. , Noll Christophe , Frisch Frédérique , Phoenix Serge , Guérin Brigitte , Turcotte Éric E , Richard Denis , Haman François , Carpentier André C.
Published: January 2017

In rodents, brown adipose tissue (BAT) plays an important role in producing heat to defend against the cold and can metabolize large amounts of dietary fatty acids (DFA). The role of BAT in DFA metabolism in humans is unknown. Here we show that mild cold stimulation (18 °C) results in a significantly greater fractional DFA extraction by BAT relative to skeletal muscle and white adipose tissue in non-cold-acclimated men given a standard liquid meal containing the long-chain fatty acid PET tracer, 14(R,S)-[18F]-fluoro-6-thia-heptadecanoic acid (18FTHA). However, the net contribution of BAT to systemic DFA clearance is comparatively small. Despite a 4-week cold acclimation increasing BAT oxidative metabolism 2.6-fold, BAT DFA uptake does not increase further. These findings show that cold-stimulated BAT can contribute to the clearance of DFA from circulation but its contribution is not as significant as the heart, liver, skeletal muscles or white adipose tissues.
Transcriptomic and anatomic parcellation of 5-HT3AR expressing cortical interneuron subtypes revealed by single-cell RNA sequencing
Authors: Frazer Sarah , Prados Julien , Niquille Mathieu , Cadilhac Christelle , Markopoulos Foivos , Gomez Lucia , Tomasello Ugo , Telley Ludovic , Holtmaat Anthony , Jabaudon Denis , Dayer Alexandre
Published: January 2017

Cortical GABAergic interneurons constitute a highly diverse population of inhibitory neurons that are key regulators of cortical microcircuit function. An important and heterogeneous group of cortical interneurons specifically expresses the serotonin receptor 3A (5-HT3AR) but how this diversity emerges during development is poorly understood. Here we use single-cell transcriptomics to identify gene expression patterns operating in Htr3a-GFP+ interneurons during early steps of cortical circuit assembly. We identify three main molecular types of Htr3a-GFP+ interneurons, each displaying distinct developmental dynamics of gene expression. The transcription factor Meis2 is specifically enriched in a type of Htr3a-GFP+ interneurons largely confined to the cortical white matter. These MEIS2-expressing interneurons appear to originate from a restricted region located at the embryonic pallial–subpallial boundary. Overall, this study identifies MEIS2 as a subclass-specific marker for 5-HT3AR-containing interstitial interneurons and demonstrates that the transcriptional and anatomical parcellation of cortical interneurons is developmentally coupled.
Cellular mechano-environment regulates the mammary circadian clock
Authors: Yang Nan , Williams Jack , Pekovic-Vaughan Vanja , Wang Pengbo , Olabi Safiah , McConnell James , Gossan Nicole , Hughes Alun , Cheung Julia , Streuli Charles H. , Meng Qing-Jun
Published: January 2017

Circadian clocks drive ∼24 h rhythms in tissue physiology. They rely on transcriptional/translational feedback loops driven by interacting networks of clock complexes. However, little is known about how cell-intrinsic circadian clocks sense and respond to their microenvironment. Here, we reveal that the breast epithelial clock is regulated by the mechano-chemical stiffness of the cellular microenvironment in primary cell culture. Moreover, the mammary clock is controlled by the periductal extracellular matrix in vivo, which contributes to a dampened circadian rhythm during ageing. Mechanistically, the tension sensing cell-matrix adhesion molecule, vinculin, and the Rho/ROCK pathway, which transduces signals provided by extracellular stiffness into cells, regulate the activity of the core circadian clock complex. We also show that genetic perturbation, or age-associated disruption of self-sustained clocks, compromises the self-renewal capacity of mammary epithelia. Thus, circadian clocks are mechano-sensitive, providing a potential mechanism to explain how ageing influences their amplitude and function.
Comparative genomics of two jute species and insight into fibre biogenesis
Authors: Islam Md Shahidul , Saito Jennifer A. , Emdad Emdadul Mannan , Ahmed Borhan , Islam Mohammad Moinul , Halim Abdul , Hossen Quazi Md Mosaddeque , Hossain Md Zakir , Ahmed Rasel , Hossain Md Sabbir , Kabir Shah Md Tamim , Khan Md Sarwar Alam , Khan Md Mursalin , Hasan Rajnee , Aktar Nasima , Honi Ummay , Islam Rahin , Rashid Md Mamunur , Wan Xuehua , Hou Shaobin , Haque Taslima , Azam Muhammad Shafiul , Moosa Mahdi Muhammad , Elias Sabrina M. , Hasan A. M. Mahedi , Mahmood Niaz , Shafiuddin Md , Shahid Saima , Shommu Nusrat Sharmeen , Jahan Sharmin , Roy Saroj , Chowdhury Amlan , Akhand Ashikul Islam , Nisho Golam Morshad , Uddin Khaled Salah , Rabeya Taposhi , Hoque S. M. Ekramul , Snigdha Afsana Rahman , Mortoza Sarowar , Matin Syed Abdul , Islam Md Kamrul , Lashkar M. Z. H. , Zaman Mahboob , Yuryev Anton , Uddin Md Kamal , Rahman Md Sharifur , Haque Md Samiul , Alam Md Monjurul , Khan Haseena , Alam Maqsudul
Published: January 2017

Jute (Corchorussp.) is one of the most important sources of natural fibre, covering ∼80% of global bast fibre production1. OnlyCorchorus olitoriusandCorchorus capsularisare commercially cultivated, though there are more than 100Corchorusspecies2in the Malvaceae family. Here we describe high-quality draft genomes of these two species and their comparisons at the functional genomics level to support tailor-designed breeding. The assemblies cover 91.6% and 82.2% of the estimated genome sizes forC. olitoriusandC. capsularis, respectively. In total, 37,031C. olitoriusand 30,096C. capsularisgenes are identified, and most of the genes are validated by cDNA and RNA-seq data. Analyses of clustered gene families and gene collinearity show that jute underwent shared whole-genome duplication ∼18.66 million years (Myr) ago prior to speciation. RNA expression analysis from isolated fibre cells reveals the key regulatory and structural genes involved in fibre formation. This work expands our understanding of the molecular basis of fibre formation laying the foundation for the genetic improvement of jute.
Comparative transcriptomic analysis of Gardnerella vaginalis biofilms vs. planktonic cultures using RNA-seq
Authors: Castro Joana , França Angela , Bradwell Katie R. , Serrano Myrna G. , Jefferson Kimberly K. , Cerca Nuno
Published: January 2017

Bacterial vaginosis is the most common gynecological disorder affecting women of reproductive age. Bacterial vaginosis is frequently associated with the development of a Gardnerella vaginalis biofilm. Recent data indicates that G. vaginalis biofilms are more tolerant to antibiotics and are able to incorporate other bacterial vaginosis -associated species, yielding a multi-species biofilm. However, despite its apparent role in bacterial vaginosis, little is known regarding the molecular determinants involved in biofilm formation by G. vaginalis. To gain insight into the role of G. vaginalis in the pathogenesis of bacterial vaginosis, we carried out comparative transcriptomic analysis between planktonic and biofilm phenotypes, using RNA-sequencing. Significant differences were found in the expression levels of 815 genes. A detailed analysis of the results obtained was performed based on direct and functional gene interactions. Similar to other bacterial species, expression of genes involved in antimicrobial resistance were elevated in biofilm cells. In addition, our data indicate that G. vaginalis biofilms assume a characteristic response to stress and starvation conditions. The abundance of transcripts encoding proteins involved in glucose and carbon metabolism was reduced in biofilms. Surprisingly, transcript levels of vaginolysin were reduced in biofilms relative to planktonic cultures. Overall, our data revealed that gene-regulated processes in G. vaginalis biofilms resulted in a protected form of bacterial growth, characterized by low metabolic activity. This phenotype may contribute towards the chronic and recurrent nature of bacterial vaginosis. This suggests that G. vaginalis is capable of drastically adjusting its phenotype through an extensive change of gene expression.
Scalable ion–photon quantum interface based on integrated diffractive mirrors
Authors: Ghadimi Moji , Blūms Valdis , Norton Benjamin G. , Fisher Paul M. , Connell Steven C. , Amini Jason M. , Volin Curtis , Hayden Harley , Pai Chien-Shing , Kielpinski David , Lobino Mirko , Streed Erik W.
Published: January 2017

Quantum networking links quantum processors through remote entanglement for distributed quantum information processing and secure long-range communication. Trapped ions are a leading quantum information processing platform, having demonstrated universal small-scale processors and roadmaps for large-scale implementation. Overall rates of ion–photon entanglement generation, essential for remote trapped ion entanglement, are limited by coupling efficiency into single mode fibers and scaling to many ions. Here, we show a microfabricated trap with integrated diffractive mirrors that couples 4.1(6)% of the fluorescence from a174Yb+ion into a single mode fiber, nearly triple the demonstrated bulk optics efficiency. The integrated optic collects 5.8(8)% of theπtransition fluorescence, images the ion with sub-wavelength resolution, and couples 71(5)% of the collected light into the fiber. Our technology is suitable for entangling multiple ions in parallel and overcomes mode quality limitations of existing integrated optical interconnects.
Unravelling socio-motor biomarkers in schizophrenia
Authors: Słowiński Piotr , Alderisio Francesco , Zhai Chao , Shen Yuan , Tino Peter , Bortolon Catherine , Capdevielle Delphine , Cohen Laura , Khoramshahi Mahdi , Billard Aude , Salesse Robin , Gueugnon Mathieu , Marin Ludovic , Bardy Benoit G. , di Bernardo Mario , Raffard Stephane , Tsaneva-Atanasova Krasimira
Published: January 2017

We present novel, low-cost and non-invasive potential diagnostic biomarkers of schizophrenia. They are based on the ‘mirror-game’, a coordination task in which two partners are asked to mimic each other’s hand movements. In particular, we use the patient’s solo movement, recorded in the absence of a partner, and motion recorded during interaction with an artificial agent, a computer avatar or a humanoid robot. In order to discriminate between the patients and controls, we employ statistical learning techniques, which we apply to nonverbal synchrony and neuromotor features derived from the participants’ movement data. The proposed classifier has 93% accuracy and 100% specificity. Our results provide evidence that statistical learning techniques, nonverbal movement coordination and neuromotor characteristics could form the foundation of decision support tools aiding clinicians in cases of diagnostic uncertainty.
Role of KCNB1 in the prognosis of gliomas and autophagy modulation
Authors: Wang Hao-Yuan , Wang Wen , Liu Yan-Wei , Li Ming-Yang , Liang Ting-Yu , Li Ji-Ye , Hu Hui-Min , Lu Yang , Yao Chen , Ye Yong-Yi , Wang Yong-Zhi , Zhang Shi-Zhong
Published: January 2017

Increasing evidence suggests that ion channel genes play an important role in the progression of gliomas. However, the mechanisms by which ion channel genes influence the progression of glioma are not fully understood. We identified KCNB1 as a novel ion gene, associated with malignant progression and favorable overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in glioma patients from three datasets (CGGA, GSE16011 and REMBRANDT). Moreover, we characterized a novel function of autophagy induction accompanied by increased apoptosis and reduced proliferation and invasion of glioma cells for KCNB1. KEGG pathway analysis and in vitro studies suggested that the ERK pathway is involved in KCNB1-mediated regulation of autophagy, which was confirmed by inhibition of KCNB1-induced autophagy by using a selective ERK1/2 inhibitor (U0126) or siERK1/2. In vivo studies showed that KCNB1 induced autophagy while inhibiting tumor growth and increasing survival. Overall, our studies define KCNB1 as a novel prognostic factor for gliomas that exerts its tumor suppressive function through autophagy induction.
A 4-study replication of the moderating effects of greed on socioeconomic status and unethical behaviour
Authors: Balakrishnan Anjana , Palma Paolo A. , Patenaude Joshua , Campbell Lorne
Published: January 2017

Four replications of Piff and colleagues’ study examined the moderating effects of greed attitudes on the relationship between socio-economic status (SES) and unethical behaviour (Study 7). In the original study, the researchers found that both greed and SES predicted increased propensity to engage in unethical behavior. Furthermore, this association was moderated such that the effects of SES on unethical behaviour were no longer present in the greed prime condition versus the neutral condition. In replication 1 of the original study main effects of greed attitudes and SES were found, but no interaction was found. Main effects for greed emerged in replications 3 and 4. However no main effects for SES or interactions emerged for replications 2–4. A meta-analysis was conducted with all replications and the original study, and found no moderating effect of greed on the relationship between SES and unethical behavior.
High-throughput screening of inorganic compounds for the discovery of novel dielectric and optical materials
Authors: Petousis Ioannis , Mrdjenovich David , Ballouz Eric , Liu Miao , Winston Donald , Chen Wei , Graf Tanja , Schladt Thomas D. , Persson Kristin A. , Prinz Fritz B.
Published: January 2017

Dielectrics are an important class of materials that are ubiquitous in modern electronic applications. Even though their properties are important for the performance of devices, the number of compounds with known dielectric constant is on the order of a few hundred. Here, we use Density Functional Perturbation Theory as a way to screen for the dielectric constant and refractive index of materials in a fast and computationally efficient way. Our results constitute the largest dielectric tensors database to date, containing 1,056 compounds. Details regarding the computational methodology and technical validation are presented along with the format of our publicly available data. In addition, we integrate our dataset with the Materials Project allowing users easy access to material properties. Finally, we explain how our dataset and calculation methodology can be used in the search for novel dielectric compounds.
A longitudinal dataset of five years of public activity in the Scratch online community
Authors: Hill Benjamin Mako , Monroy-Hernández Andrés
Published: January 2017

Scratch is a programming environment and an online community where young people can create, share, learn, and communicate. In collaboration with the Scratch Team at MIT, we created a longitudinal dataset of public activity in the Scratch online community during its first five years (2007–2012). The dataset comprises 32 tables with information on more than 1 million Scratch users, nearly 2 million Scratch projects, more than 10 million comments, more than 30 million visits to Scratch projects, and more. To help researchers understand this dataset, and to establish the validity of the data, we also include the source code of every version of the software that operated the website, as well as the software used to generate this dataset. We believe this is the largest and most comprehensive downloadable dataset of youth programming artifacts and communication.
Effect of LPSO and SFs on microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of Mg-Gd-Y-Zn-Zr alloy
Authors: Xu Chao , Nakata Taiki , Qiao Xiaoguang , Zheng Mingyi , Wu Kun , Kamado Shigeharu
Published: January 2017

High performance Mg-8.2Gd-3.8Y-1.0Zn-0.4Zr alloy with high strength and excellent ductility has been successfully developed by hot extrusion. The effect of plate-shaped long period stacking ordered (LPSO) phases and solute-segregated stacking faults (SFs) on the dynamically recrystallization (DRX) behavior was analyzed. The plate-shaped LPSO phases stimulate the DRX by particle stimulated nucleation mechanism, leading to higher DRX ratio and weaker basal texture. While for the alloy with dense fine SFs inside the original grains, discontinuous DRX initially occurs at the original grain boundaries, and the DRX is obviously restricted. Consequently, alloy containing dense SFs exhibits higher strength but lower ductility compared with alloy with plated-shaped LPSO phases.
The dynamic behaviors of complementary correlations under decoherence channels
Authors: Du Ming-Ming , Wang Dong , Ye Liu
Published: January 2017

Complementary correlations can reveal the genuine quantum correlations present in a composite quantum system. Here, we explore an effective method to identify the entangled Bell diagonal states by means of Pearson correlation, one of the complementary correlations. Then, we extend this method to expose the dynamic behavior of complementary correlations under various kinds of decoherence channels. The sudden death and revival of entanglement can be explained by the idea of Pearson correlation. The threshold that is used to identify entanglement is proposed. Furthermore, we put forward a new method to expound the underlying physical mechanisms for which classical and quantum correlations suffer a sudden change in the decoherence process.
Exciton Emission Intensity Modulation of Monolayer MoS2 via Au Plasmon Coupling
Authors: Mukherjee B. , Kaushik N. , Tripathi Ravi P. N. , Joseph A. M. , Mohapatra P. K. , Dhar S. , Singh B. P. , Kumar G. V. Pavan , Simsek E. , Lodha S.
Published: January 2017

Modulation of photoluminescence of atomically thin transition metal dichalcogenide two-dimensional materials is critical for their integration in optoelectronic and photonic device applications. By coupling with different plasmonic array geometries, we have shown that the photoluminescence intensity can be enhanced and quenched in comparison with pristine monolayer MoS2. The enhanced exciton emission intensity can be further tuned by varying the angle of polarized incident excitation. Through controlled variation of the structural parameters of the plasmonic array in our experiment, we demonstrate modulation of the photoluminescence intensity from nearly fourfold quenching to approximately threefold enhancement. Our data indicates that the plasmonic resonance couples to optical fields at both, excitation and emission bands, and increases the spontaneous emission rate in a double spacing plasmonic array structure as compared with an equal spacing array structure. Furthermore our experimental results are supported by numerical as well as full electromagnetic wave simulations. This study can facilitate the incorporation of plasmon-enhanced transition metal dichalcogenide structures in photodetector, sensor and light emitter applications.
Analyzing historical land use changes using a Historical Land Use Reconstruction Model: a case study in Zhenlai County, northeastern China
Authors: Yang Yuanyuan , Zhang Shuwen , Liu Yansui , Xing Xiaoshi , de Sherbinin Alex
Published: January 2017

Historical land use information is essential to understanding the impact of anthropogenic modification of land use/cover on the temporal dynamics of environmental and ecological issues. However, due to a lack of spatial explicitness, complete thematic details and the conversion types for historical land use changes, the majority of historical land use reconstructions do not sufficiently meet the requirements for an adequate model. Considering these shortcomings, we explored the possibility of constructing a spatially-explicit modeling framework (HLURM: Historical Land Use Reconstruction Model). Then a three-map comparison method was adopted to validate the projected reconstruction map. The reconstruction suggested that the HLURM model performed well in the spatial reconstruction of various land-use categories, and had a higher figure of merit (48.19%) than models used in other case studies. The largest land use/cover type in the study area was determined to be grassland, followed by arable land and wetland. Using the three-map comparison, we noticed that the major discrepancies in land use changes among the three maps were as a result of inconsistencies in the classification of land-use categories during the study period, rather than as a result of the simulation model.
Identification and Characterization of a Plastidic Adenine Nucleotide Uniporter (OsBT1-3) Required for Chloroplast Development in the Early Leaf Stage of Rice
Authors: Hu Daoheng , Li Yang , Jin Wenbin , Gong Hanyu , He Qiong , Li Yangsheng
Published: January 2017

Chloroplast development is an important subject in botany. In this study, a rice (Oryza sativa) mutant exhibiting impairment in early chloroplast development (seedling leaf albino (sla)) was isolated from a filial generation via hybridization breeding. The sla mutant seedlings have an aberrant form of chloroplasts, which resulted in albinism at the first and second leaves; however, the leaf sheath was green. The mutant gradually turned green after the two-leaf stage, and the third leaf was a normal shade of green. Map-based cloning indicated that the gene OsBT1-3, which belongs to the mitochondrial carrier family (MCF), is responsible for the sla mutant phenotype. OsBT1-3 expression was high in the young leaves, decreased after the two-leaf stage, and was low in the sheath, and these findings are consistent with the recovery of a number of chloroplasts in the third leaf of sla mutant seedlings. The results also showed that OsBT1-3-yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) was targeted to the chloroplast, and a Western blot assay using a peptide-specific antibody indicated that OsBT1-3 localizes to the chloroplast envelope. We also demonstrated that OsBT1-3 functions as a unidirectional transporter of adenine nucleotides. Based on these findings, OsBT1-3 likely acts as a plastid nucleotide uniporter and is essential for chloroplast development in rice leaves at the young seedling stage.
Characterization of faecal microbial communities of dairy cows fed diets containing ensiled Moringa oleifera fodder
Authors: Sun Jiajie , Zeng Bin , Chen Zujing , Yan Shijuan , Huang Wenjie , Sun Baoli , He Qian , Chen Xiaoyang , Chen Ting , Jiang Qingyan , Xi Qianyun , Zhang Yongliang
Published: January 2017

Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) is a remarkable species with high nutritional value and good biomass production, which can be used as livestock fodder. In this study, we examined changes in the faecal microbiota of thirty dairy cows in response to alternative M. oleifera diets and their effects on nutrient digestion, milk traits and the faecal concentrations of short-chain fatty acids. No differences in milk yield and constituents were found between the control and the M. oleifera alternative groups. Cows fed M. oleifera silage had lower dry matter digestibility, as well as the propionate and isovalerate concentrations in M. oleifera treated group. Using 16S rDNA gene sequencing, 1,299,556 paired-end reads were obtained. Clustering analysis revealed 13 phyla and 93 genera across all samples. Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were the co-dominant phyla. Ten taxa displayed a significant difference in response to the high M. oleifera diet. In addition, strong correlations between Akkermansia and Prevotella with milk yield and protein indicated that some bacterial groups could be used to improve milk traits. Our results provided an insight into the microbiome-associated responses to M. oleifera in livestock diets, and could aid the development of novel applications of M. oleifera.