bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Low power phase change memory switching of ultra-thin In3Sb1Te2 nanowires
Authors: Selmo S. , Cecchini R. , Cecchi S. , Wiemer C. , Fanciulli M. , Rotunno E. , Lazzarini L. , Rigato M. , Pogany D. , Lugstein A. , Longo M.
Published: November 2016

We report on the fabrication and electrical characterization of phase change memory (PCM) devices formed by In3Sb1Te2 chalcogenide nanowires (NWs), with diameters as small as 20 nm. The NWs were self-assembled by metal organic chemical vapor deposition via the vapor–liquid–solid method, catalyzed by Au nanoparticles. Reversible and well reproducible memory switching of the NWs between low and high resistance states was demonstrated. The conduction mechanism of the high resistance state was investigated according to a trap-limited model for electrical transport in the amorphous phase. The size of the amorphized portion of the NW and the critical electric field for the transition to the low resistance state were evaluated. The In3Sb1Te2 NW-based devices showed very low working parameters, such as RESET voltage (∼3 V), current (∼40 μA), and power (∼130 μW). Our results indicated that the studied NWs are suitable candidates for the realization of ultra-scaled, high performance PCM devices.
Negative thermal expansion and photoluminescence properties in a novel material ZrScW2PO12
Authors: Ge Xianghong , Liu Xiansheng , Cheng Yongguang , Yuan Baohe , Chen Dongxia , Chao Mingju , Guo Juan , Wang Junqiao , Liang Erjun
Published: November 2016

A novel material, ZrScW2PO12, with negative thermal expansion (NTE) behavior, at least from 138 to 1300 K, and intense photoluminescence (PL) property is first reported in this paper. Temperature dependent Raman and PL spectral studies indicate that the material holds an orthorhombic structure down to about 74 K and exhibits NTE property in the temperature range. The intense PL covering nearly the whole visible region was observed and can be deconvoluted into four bands, which present different shifts with elevation of temperature. The abundant optical property may be attributed to n- and p-type like co-doping effect and the specific structure with the abnormal thermal expansion property of the material. The integrated properties might suggest potential applications of this material in light emitting diodes and other light emitting devices.
Room-temperature mid-infrared quantum well lasers on multi-functional metamorphic buffers
Authors: Jung Daehwan , Yu Lan , Dev Sukrith , Wasserman Daniel , Lee Minjoo Larry
Published: November 2016

The modern commercial optoelectronic infrastructure rests on a foundation of only a few, select semiconductor materials, capable of serving as viable substrates for devices. Any new active device, to have any hope of moving past the laboratory setting, must demonstrate compatibility with these substrate materials. Across much of the electromagnetic spectrum, this simple fact has guided the development of lasers, photodetectors, and other optoelectronic devices. In this work, we propose and demonstrate the concept of a multi-functional metamorphic buffer (MFMB) layer that not only allows for growth of highly lattice-mismatched active regions on InP substrates but also serves as a bottom cladding layer for optical confinement in a laser waveguide. Using the MFMB concept in conjunction with a strain-balanced multiple quantum well active region, we demonstrate laser diodes operating at room temperature in the technologically vital, and currently underserved, 2.5–3.0 μm wavelength range.
An organic water-gated ambipolar transistor with a bulk heterojunction active layer for stable and tunable photodetection
Authors: Xu Haihua , Zhu Qingqing , Wu Tongyuan , Chen Wenwen , Zhou Guodong , Li Jun , Zhang Huisheng , Zhao Ni
Published: November 2016

Organic water-gated transistors (OWGTs) have emerged as promising sensing architectures for biomedical applications and environmental monitoring due to their ability of in-situ detection of biological substances with high sensitivity and low operation voltage, as well as compatibility with various read-out circuits. Tremendous progress has been made in the development of p-type OWGTs. However, achieving stable n-type operation in OWGTs due to the presence of solvated oxygen in water is still challenging. Here, we report an ambipolar OWGT based on a bulk heterojunction active layer, which exhibits a stable hole and electron transport when exposed to aqueous environment. The device can be used as a photodetector both in the hole and electron accumulation regions to yield a maximum responsivity of 0.87 A W−1. More importantly, the device exhibited stable static and dynamic photodetection even when operated in the n-type mode. These findings bring possibilities for the device to be adopted for future biosensing platforms, which are fully compatible with low-cost and low-power organic complementary circuits.
Integration of colloidal silicon nanocrystals on metal electrodes in single-electron transistor
Authors: Higashikawa Yasuhiro , Azuma Yasuo , Majima Yutaka , Kano Shinya , Fujii Minoru
Published: November 2016

We develop a facile process to integrate colloidal silicon nanocrystals (Si NCs) with metal electrodes in a single-electron transistor by self-assembly. Gold (Au) surface is modified by an amine-terminated self-assembled monolayer to have a positive potential. All-inorganic boron (B) and phosphorus (P) codoped Si NCs, with a negative surface potential and size-controllability, are selectively adsorbed on an amine-terminated Au surface by electrostatic attraction. We demonstrate the fabrication of SETs consisting of electroless-plated Au nanogap electrodes and codoped Si NCs using this process and observation of clear Coulomb diamonds at 9 K.
Adiabatic magnetocaloric effect in Ni50Mn35In15 ribbons
Authors: Álvarez-Alonso P. , Aguilar-Ortiz C. O. , Camarillo J. P. , Salazar D. , Flores-Zúñiga H. , Chernenko V. A.
Published: November 2016

Heusler-type Ni-Mn-based metamagnetic shape memory alloys (MetaMSMAs) are promising candidates for magnetic refrigeration. To increase heat exchange rate and efficiency of cooling, the material should have a high surface/volume ratio. In this work, the typical Ni50Mn35In15 MetaMSMA was selected to fabricate thin ribbons by melt-spinning. The characteristic transformations of the ribbons were determined by calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and thermomagnetization measurements. The inverse and conventional magnetocaloric effects (MCEs) associated with the martensitic transformation (MT) and the ferromagnetic transition of the austenite (TCA), respectively, were measured directly by the adiabatic method (ΔTad) and indirectly by estimating the magnetic entropy change from magnetization measurements. It is found that the ribbons exhibit large values of ΔTad = −1.1 K at μ0ΔH = 1.9 T, in the vicinity of the MT temperature of 300 K for inverse MCE, and ΔTad = 2.3 K for conventional MCE at TCA = 309 K. This result strongly motivates further development of different MetaMSMA refrigerants shaped as ribbons.
Double-pulse femtosecond laser peening of aluminum alloy AA5038: Effect of inter-pulse delay on transient optical plume emission and final surface micro-hardness
Authors: Ageev E. I. , Bychenkov V. Yu. , Ionin A. A. , Kudryashov S. I. , Petrov A. A. , Samokhvalov A. A. , Veiko V. P.
Published: November 2016

Double-pulse ablative femtosecond laser peening of the AA5038 aluminum alloy surface in the phase explosion regime results in its enhanced microhardness, which monotonously decreases till the initial value versus inter-pulse delay, increasing on a sub-nanosecond timescale. Optical emission spectroscopy of the double-pulse ablative plume reveals the same trend in the yield of the corresponding atomic and ion emission versus inter-pulse delay, enlightening the interaction of the second femtosecond laser pump pulse with the surface and the resulting plume.
On reduction of current leakage in GaN by carbon-doping
Authors: Fariza Aqdas , Lesnik Andreas , Bläsing Jürgen , Hoffmann Marc P. , Hörich Florian , Veit Peter , Witte Hartmut , Dadgar Armin , Strittmatter André
Published: November 2016

Carbon-doping is proposed to reduce the dislocation-mediated leakage currents in the GaN buffer layers. GaN:C grown by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy using propane shows excellent quality up to [C] = 6.7 × 1018 cm−3. Locally probing dislocations by surface scanning potential microscopy reveal a transition from mostly neutral or weakly charged regions to dominantly negatively charged regions relative to the surrounding area at high doping levels. A relation between leakage currents and the relative dislocation charge state exists. Minimum leakage current is achieved if the dominant charge state of dislocation regions becomes negative against the surrounding.
Bayesian estimates of genetic relationship between calving difficulty and productive and reproductive performance in Holstein cows
Authors: Hossein-Zadeh Navid Ghavi , Salimi Mohammad Hossein , Shadparvar Abdol Ahad
Published: November 2016

The objective of present study was to estimate genetic correlations between calving difficulty and productive and reproductive traits in Iranian Holsteins. Calving records from the Animal Breeding Center of Iran, collected from 1991 to 2011 and comprising 183 203 first-calving events of Holstein cows from 1470 herds were included in the dataset. Threshold animal models included direct genetic effect (Model 1) or direct and maternal genetic effects with covariance between them (Model 2) were fitted for the genetic analysis of calving difficulty. Also, linear animal models including direct genetic effect were fitted for the genetic analysis of productive and reproductive performance traits. A set of linear-threshold bivariate models was used for obtaining genetic correlation between calving difficulty and other traits. All analyses were implemented by Bayesian approach via Gibbs sampling methodology. A single Gibbs sampling chain with 300 000 rounds was generated by the TM program. Posterior mean estimates of direct heritabilities for calving difficulty were 0.056 and 0.066, obtained from different models. Also, posterior mean estimate of maternal heritability for this trait was 0.018. Estimate of correlation between direct and maternal genetic effects for calving difficulty was negative (–0.44). Posterior mean estimates of direct heritabilities for milk yield, fat yield, protein yield, days from calving to first service, days open and first calving interval were 0.257, 0.188, 0.235, 0.034, 0.042 and 0.050 respectively. The posterior means of direct genetic correlation between calving difficulty and milk yield, fat yield, protein yield, days from calving to first service, days open and first calving interval were low and equal to –0.135, 0.030, –0.067, –0.010, –0.075 and –0.074 respectively. The results of the current study indicated that exploitable genetic variation in calving difficulty, productive and reproductive traits could be applied in designing future genetic selection plans for Iranian Holsteins.
Assessment of phenotypic diversity in pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] germplasm of Indian origin and identification of trait-specific germplasm
Authors: Kumari Jyoti , Bag Manas K. , Pandey S. , Jha S. K. , Chauhan S. S. , Jha Girish K. , Gautam N. K. , Dutta M.
Published: November 2016

Evaluation of genetic diversity within germplasm collections and identification of trait-specific germplasm is a basic requirement for plant breeders. A total of 221 Indian pearl millet collections from the National Genebank were characterised and evaluated for 27 agro-morphological descriptors. Considerable variation was observed for all characters. Frequency distribution analysis showed predominance of cylindrical and compact spike, grey seeds, earliness (less than 40 days to spike emergence). Hierarchical clustering method was used for classifying 221 pearl millet accessions based on agronomic and disease resistance traits, which resulted into three clusters. Clusters 1, 2 and 3 comprised 91, 54 and 76 accessions respectively. There was high correspondence between the geographic collection sites of accessions and their inclusion in particular clusters. In addition, principal component analysis was used for data reduction and generating biplot. First four principal components explained 66.43% of total variability. Among the traits analysed, plant height, nodes/plant, days to spike emergence, number of tillers, leaf width and leaf length are major contributor towards phenotypic diversity. Further the trait-specific germplasm were identified for agronomic traits, disease resistance, popping and antioxidants activity, namely for earliness (IC343664, IC343689, IC343661, IC309064), spike girth (IC283693, IC283842, IC367638), dual purpose with high grain and fodder yield (IC283705, IC283745, IC283885 and IC335901 and so on). Four accessions of pearl millet germplasm viz., IC309064, IC393365, IC306465 and IC283866, were observed as multiple disease resistant. This study suggested that application of appropriate techniques and their interpretations provide more efficient way to identify potential accessions and improve the utilisation of germplasm collections in plant breeding.
Estimating enhanced prevaccination measles transmission hotspots in the context of cross-scale dynamics
Authors: Becker Alexander D. , Birger Ruthie B. , Teillant Aude , Gastanaduy Paul A. , Wallace Gregory S. , Grenfell Bryan T.
Published: November 2016

A key question in clarifying human–environment interactions is how dynamic complexity develops across integrative scales from molecular to population and global levels. Apart from its public health importance, measles is an excellent test bed for such an analysis. Simple mechanistic models have successfully illuminated measles dynamics at the city and country levels, revealing seasonal forcing of transmission as a major driver of long-term epidemic behavior. Seasonal forcing ties closely to patterns of school aggregation at the individual and community levels, but there are few explicit estimates of school transmission due to the relative lack of epidemic data at this scale. Here, we use data from a 1904 measles outbreak in schools in Woolwich, London, coupled with a stochastic Susceptible-Infected-Recovered model to analyze measles incidence data. Our results indicate that transmission within schools and age classes is higher than previous population-level serological data would suggest. This analysis sheds quantitative light on the role of school-aged children in measles cross-scale dynamics, as we illustrate with references to the contemporary vaccination landscape.
Atomistic insight into lipid translocation by a TMEM16 scramblase
Authors: Bethel Neville P. , Grabe Michael
Published: November 2016

Significance

Lipid scramblases play critical roles in diverse biological events, from cellular apoptosis to coagulation of the blood. The transmembrane protein 16 (TMEM16) family of membrane proteins consists of both ion channels and scramblases, but little is known about how these proteins conduct ions or lipids across the bilayer. Here, we present computational results on a fungal TMEM16 family member that provide insight into how scramblases deform the membrane to facilitate lipid permeation. We identified specific residues on the protein surface that are responsible for scrambling, and homologous positions in the mammalian TMEM16 family members may be promising pharmaceutical targets.
Exon skipping of FcεRIβ eliminates expression of the high-affinity IgE receptor in mast cells with therapeutic potential for allergy
Authors: Cruse Glenn , Yin Yuzhi , Fukuyama Tomoki , Desai Avanti , Arthur Greer K. , Bäumer Wolfgang , Beaven Michael A. , Metcalfe Dean D.
Published: November 2016

Significance

We identified an innovative use for the technique of antisense oligonucleotide-mediated exon skipping to specifically target and down-regulate IgE receptor expression in mast cells. Exon skipping is typically used as part of personalized medicine, where a mutant exon is skipped after sequencing the patients’ affected genes. Our approach, however, targets a nonmutated gene and an exon that is critical for surface IgE receptor expression. It does not require a personalized approach with genetic sequencing or multiple iterations of oligonucleotides that would require clinical trials. Furthermore, the diseases to be treated with this technology are ideal for local delivery of the oligonucleotides by aerosols or topical cream formulations.
Molecular basis for the broad substrate selectivity of a peptide prenyltransferase
Authors: Hao Yue , Pierce Elizabeth , Roe Daniel , Morita Maho , McIntosh John A. , Agarwal Vinayak , Cheatham Thomas E. , Schmidt Eric W. , Nair Satish K.
Published: November 2016

Significance

The cyanobactin prenyltransferases serve as a tool kit for regioselective and chemoselective peptide and protein modifications, in which each enzyme can catalyze the same chemistry on an enormous number of different substrates. Installation of a minimal motif is sufficient to direct modifications on any peptide substrate, which can alter their properties to be more drug-like.
Characterization of the heterooligomeric red-type rubisco activase from red algae
Authors: Loganathan Nitin , Tsai Yi-Chin Candace , Mueller-Cajar Oliver
Published: November 2016

Significance

Eukaryotic phytoplankton of the red plastid lineage dominate the oceans and are responsible for a significant proportion of global photosynthetic CO
2
fixation. In contrast to their ecological importance, relatively little is known about the biochemical properties of their carbon dioxide fixation machinery. In plants, the carbon dioxide fixing enzyme ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (rubisco) forms inactive complexes with sugar phosphates and needs to be constantly remodeled by the motor protein rubisco activase (Rca). Here we show that in red algae, rubisco also forms inhibited complexes, which can be rescued by a convergently evolved Rca similar to one described in photosynthetic bacteria. Some red algal rubiscos are a target for crop improvement strategies, because their kinetics are better suited to the current atmospheric gas composition.
Armed conflict and population displacement as drivers of the evolution and dispersal of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Eldholm Vegard , Pettersson John H.-O. , Brynildsrud Ola B. , Kitchen Andrew , Rasmussen Erik Michael , Lillebaek Troels , Rønning Janne O. , Crudu Valeriu , Mengshoel Anne Torunn , Debech Nadia , Alfsnes Kristian , Bohlin Jon , Pepperell Caitlin S. , Balloux Francois
Published: November 2016

Significance

We used population genomic analyses to reconstruct the recent history and dispersal of a major clade of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
in central Asia and beyond. Our results indicate that the fall of the Soviet Union and the ensuing collapse of public health systems led to a rise in
M. tuberculosis
drug resistance. We also show that armed conflict and population displacement is likely to have aided the export of this clade from central Asia to war-torn Afghanistan and beyond.
Interactions of divalent cations with calcium binding sites of BK channels reveal independent motions within the gating ring
Authors: Miranda Pablo , Giraldez Teresa , Holmgren Miguel
Published: November 2016

Significance

Large-conductance voltage- and calcium-activated K
+
(BK) channels are allosterically regulated by intracellular Ca
2+
and voltage. The Ca
2+
sensor is a large tetrameric structure called the “gating ring.” Each subunit of this structure contains two distinct regulator of conductance of potassium (RCK) domains, each contributing one Ca
2+
binding site. Both sites have a different selectivity for Ca
2+
, Mg
2+
, Cd
2+
, and Ba
2+
. Using FRET, we monitored the conformational changes of different regions of the gating ring upon binding of divalent ions. Our results reveal the existence of additive and independent motions by the two RCK domains that form the gating ring. These results indicate that the gating ring is a flexible structure capable of complex conformational changes that can be triggered specifically by different divalent ions.
High-pressure phase of brucite stable at Earth’s mantle transition zone and lower mantle conditions
Authors: Hermann Andreas , Mookherjee Mainak
Published: November 2016

Significance

Hydrous minerals help transport water deep into Earth’s mantle, and form part of a cycle that regulates the sustained presence of surface water on Earth. To understand the deep-water cycle, it is crucial to study the properties of hydrous minerals under the conditions present in Earth’s mantle. Brucite is one of the simplest hydrous minerals and stores significant amounts of water as hydroxyl groups. It is assumed to decompose in the mantle transition zone, but we show here that a more compact high-pressure phase is stabilized instead that pushes the stability region of brucite into the lower mantle. Brucite might be present in much larger quantities, and play a larger role in water transport and storage, than previously thought.
Linguistic positivity in historical texts reflects dynamic environmental and psychological factors
Authors: Iliev Rumen , Hoover Joe , Dehghani Morteza , Axelrod Robert
Published: November 2016

Significance

For nearly 50 y social scientists have observed that across cultures and languages people use more positive words than negative words, a phenomenon referred to as “linguistic positivity bias” (LPB). Although scientists have proposed multiple explanations for this phenomenon—explanations that hinge on mechanisms ranging from cognitive biases to environmental factors—no consensus on the origins of LPB has been reached. In this research, we derive and test, via natural language processing and data aggregation, divergent predictions from dominant explanations of LPB by examining it across time. We find that LPB varies across time and therefore cannot be explained simply as the product of cognitive biases and, further, that these variations correspond to fluctuations in objective circumstances and subjective mood.
An oligotrophic deep-subsurface community dependent on syntrophy is dominated by sulfur-driven autotrophic denitrifiers
Authors: Lau Maggie C. Y. , Kieft Thomas L. , Kuloyo Olukayode , Linage-Alvarez Borja , van Heerden Esta , Lindsay Melody R. , Magnabosco Cara , Wang Wei , Wiggins Jessica B. , Guo Ling , Perlman David H. , Kyin Saw , Shwe Henry H. , Harris Rachel L. , Oh Youmi , Yi Min Joo , Purtschert Roland , Slater Greg F. , Ono Shuhei , Wei Siwen , Li Long , Sherwood Lollar Barbara , Onstott Tullis C.
Published: November 2016

Significance

Microorganisms are known to live in the deep subsurface, kilometers below the photic zone, but the community-wide metabolic networks and trophic structures (the organization of their energy and nutritional hierarchy) remain poorly understood. We show that an active subsurface lithoautotrophic microbial ecosystem (SLiME) under oligotrophic condition exists. Taxonomically and metabolically diverse microorganisms are supported, with sulfur-driven autotrophic denitrifiers predominating in the community. Denitrification is a highly active process in the deep subsurface that evaded recognition in the past. This study highlights the critical role of metabolic cooperation, via syntrophy between subsurface microbial groups, for the survival of the whole community under the oligotrophic conditions that dominate in the subsurface.
Phosphate-binding pocket in Dicer-2 PAZ domain for high-fidelity siRNA production
Authors: Kandasamy Suresh K. , Fukunaga Ryuya
Published: November 2016

Significance

In
Drosophila
, Dicer-1 produces ∼22–24-nt micro-RNAs (miRNAs) from pre-miRNAs, whereas Dicer-2 makes 21-nt siRNAs from long dsRNAs. siRNAs function in antivirus and antitransposon immunity. The molecular mechanism by which the length of small RNAs produced by Dicer enzymes is defined is not fully understood. We found that high fidelity in 21-nt siRNA production by Dicer-2 is important for efficient RNA silencing. We also found that recognition of the terminal monophosphate on RNA substrates by the Dicer-2 phosphate-binding pocket is crucial for high fidelity in siRNA production and mutation in the pocket increased length heterogeneity of siRNAs. Our study sheds light on the importance and the molecular mechanism of high-fidelity siRNA production.
Role of the receptor Mas in macrophage-mediated inflammation in vivo
Authors: Hammer Anna , Yang Guang , Friedrich Juliane , Kovacs Agnes , Lee De-Hyung , Grave Katharina , Jörg Stefanie , Alenina Natalia , Grosch Janina , Winkler Jürgen , Gold Ralf , Bader Michael , Manzel Arndt , Rump Lars C. , Müller Dominik N. , Linker Ralf A. , Stegbauer Johannes
Published: November 2016

Significance

The alternative renin–angiotensin system pathway, the angiotensin (Ang)-(1–7)/Mas axis, may counterbalance Ang II-mediated proinflammatory effects. To investigate the role of the Ang-(1–7)/Mas axis in immune cell function and inflammatory diseases in vivo, we used two different chronic inflammatory animal models. Deletion of Mas affects macrophage function and phenotype independently of the underlying phagocyte stimulus and aggravates the clinical course of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis as well as atherosclerosis in mice by tipping the in vivo balance from M(IL-4+IL-13)- to M(LPS+IFNγ)-like macrophages. Thus, modulation of the Ang-(1–7)/Mas axis counteracts the proinflammatory role of Ang II by regulating the delicate equilibrium between M(LPS+IFNγ)- and M(IL-4+IL-13)-like macrophages, thereby representing a promising pharmacological target for chronic inflammatory diseases.
MIFallele-dependent regulation of the MIF coreceptor CD44 and role in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Yoo Seung-Ah , Leng Lin , Kim Bum-Joon , Du Xin , Tilstam Pathricia V. , Kim Kyung Hee , Kong Jin-Sun , Yoon Hyung-Ju , Liu Aihua , Wang Tian , Song Yan , Sauler Maor , Bernhagen Jurgen , Ritchlin Christopher T. , Lee Patty , Cho Chul-Soo , Kim Wan-Uk , Bucala Richard
Published: November 2016

Significance

High-expression alleles of the cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) are associated with severe joint destruction in autoimmune arthritis, but the mechanism for this effect is unknown. High-genotypicMIF-expressing joint fibroblasts produce high levels of MIF under inflammatory stimulation to up-regulate the surface expression of the MIF signaling coreceptor CD44 and promote its alternative splicing into invasive, tumor-associated isoforms, which contribute to the invasive and tissue-destructive character of the rheumatoid joint synovium. These findings support a precision medicine approach to the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis by pharmacologically targeting the MIF pathway in high-genotypicMIF-expressing patients.
Disparities in influenza mortality and transmission related to sociodemographic factors within Chicago in the pandemic of 1918
Authors: Grantz Kyra H. , Rane Madhura S. , Salje Henrik , Glass Gregory E. , Schachterle Stephen E. , Cummings Derek A. T.
Published: November 2016

Significance

The pervasiveness of influenza among humans and its rapid spread during pandemics create a false sense that all humans are affected equally. In this work, we show that neighborhood-level social determinants were associated with greater burdens of pandemic influenza in 1918 and several other diseases in a major US city. We show that literacy, homeownership, and unemployment were associated with cumulative influenza mortality as well as measures of the speed of transmission using a unique dataset describing the home location and week of death of individuals who died during the influenza pandemic in 1918. Our results suggest that, similar to other infectious diseases, social disparities should be a focus of research and public health response in future pandemics.
Fibrous nonlinear elasticity enables positive mechanical feedback between cells and ECMs
Authors: Hall Matthew S. , Alisafaei Farid , Ban Ehsan , Feng Xinzeng , Hui Chung-Yuen , Shenoy Vivek B. , Wu Mingming
Published: November 2016

Significance

Mechanical interactions between cells and the ECM critically regulate cell function, including growth and migration. By measuring forces exerted by breast tumor cells embedded within collagen matrices, we reveal a positive mechanical cross-talk between the cell and ECM: cells pulling onto collagen fibers align and stiffen the matrices, and stiffer collagen matrices promote greater cell force generation. Our work highlights the importance of strain-induced fiber alignment in mediating cell–ECM interaction within a 3D architecture. The basic force regulation principle uncovered here can be extended to understand the tissue-stiffening processes occurring in many diseases, such as tumor progression and fibrosis, and better design biomaterial scaffolds to control cell behavior in tissue engineering applications.
RETRACTED: Long-term aggregation of larval fish siblings during dispersal along an open coast
Authors: Ottmann Daniel , Grorud-Colvert Kirsten , Sard Nicholas M. , Huntington Brittany E. , Banks Michael A. , Sponaugle Su
Published: November 2016

Pelagic dispersal of most benthic marine organisms is a fundamental driver of population distribution and persistence and is thought to lead to highly mixed populations. However, the mechanisms driving dispersal pathways of larvae along open coastlines are largely unknown. To examine the degree to which early stages can remain spatially coherent during dispersal, we measured genetic relatedness within a large pulse of newly recruited splitnose rockfish (
Sebastes diploproa
), a live-bearing fish whose offspring settle along the US Pacific Northwest coast after spending up to a year in the pelagic environment. A total of 11.6% of the recruits in a single recruitment pulse were siblings, providing the first evidence for persistent aggregation throughout a long dispersal period. Such protracted aggregation has profound implications for our understanding of larval dispersal, population connectivity, and gene flow within demersal marine populations.
Reconstitution of a
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
proteostasis network highlights essential cofactor interactions with chaperone DnaK
Authors: Lupoli Tania J. , Fay Allison , Adura Carolina , Glickman Michael S. , Nathan Carl F.
Published: November 2016

Significance

The proteostasis pathway may be a source of new drug targets in
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
(Mtb). The conserved protein chaperone DnaK is essential in
Mycobacterium smegmatis
and predicted to be essential in Mtb. DnaK is regulated by cofactors, J proteins and nucleotide exchange factor GrpE. In contrast to most bacterial pathogens, Mtb has two J proteins, DnaJ1 and DnaJ2. Here, we characterize in vitro activities of Mtb DnaK, DnaJ1, DnaJ2, and GrpE, the disaggregase ClpB, and the small heat shock protein Hsp20, in reactivation of a protein aggregate. We found that DnaJ1 and DnaJ2 are individually dispensable, but collectively essential and mutations in a conserved motif of each result in cellular loss of function. These findings will help in identifying and characterizing inhibitors of Mtb’s proteostasis network.
Paired quantitative and qualitative assessment of the replication-competent HIV-1 reservoir and comparison with integrated proviral DNA
Authors: Lorenzi Julio C. C. , Cohen Yehuda Z. , Cohn Lillian B. , Kreider Edward F. , Barton John P. , Learn Gerald H. , Oliveira Thiago , Lavine Christy L. , Horwitz Joshua A. , Settler Allison , Jankovic Mila , Seaman Michael S. , Chakraborty Arup K. , Hahn Beatrice H. , Caskey Marina , Nussenzweig Michel C.
Published: November 2016

Significance

A reservoir of latently infected cells poses the greatest challenge to HIV-1 eradication. Efforts to develop strategies to eliminate the reservoir have been hampered, in part, by the lack of a precise understanding of the cellular and molecular nature of this reservoir. We describe a new method to analyze the replication-competent latent reservoir quantitatively and qualitatively. We find that over 50% of the replication-competent viruses in the reservoir form part of groups with identical
env
sequences. However, a negative correlation exists between integrated proviral clones and replication-competent viruses, such that the larger the proviral clone, the lower is its probability of representing a replication-competent virus.
Emergence of an abstract categorical code enabling the discrimination of temporally structured tactile stimuli
Authors: Rossi-Pool Román , Salinas Emilio , Zainos Antonio , Alvarez Manuel , Vergara José , Parga Néstor , Romo Ranulfo
Published: November 2016

Significance

What are the neural codes that allow the discrimination of two vibrotactile stimulus patterns of equal mean frequency? We recorded single-neuron activity in primary somatosensory (S1) and dorsal premotor (DPC) cortex while trained monkeys performed a challenging pattern discrimination task. We found a faithful representation of the stimuli in S1 and a heavily transformed, more abstract, and highly varied set of responses in DPC. Most notably, in addition to memory-related activity and responses encoding the monkeys’ choices, the DPC data included a large set of categorical neurons that code specific combinations of past and present stimuli and, at the same time, are strongly predictive of the monkeys’ behavior.
Gender differences in enumerative series
Authors: Peña Ester Brenes
Published: November 2016

The ‘dominance approach’ (Jespersen 1922, Lakoff 1973, 1975) has associated female discourse with mitigation and politeness, two characteristics not suitable for political discourse. The aim of this chapter is to analyse the enumerative series, a linguistic resource that is characterised by its intensifying action, in 40 oral questions of the Andalusian Parliament. Qualitative and quantitative analyses have been performed to determine whether there is any difference between men and women in their use of the enumerative series and to identify the formal aspects characteristic of the enumerative series. The results obtained indicate that the enumerative series is mainly used by male interlocutors, although there is not a marked difference.
Lexical colloquialisation in commissions of the Andalusian Parliament
Authors: González Sanz Marina
Published: November 2016

Through the analysis of parliamentary interventions in the Andalusian Parliament, it is shown how politicians use lexical colloquial features. We assume that there is an expansion of the colloquial employ of the Spanish language, which also reaches formal discursive types such as the parliamentary interaction. To try to confirm this claim, we work with a corpus of 4 commissions in the Andalusian Parliament, focusing on lexical features. We apply both a quantitative and a qualitative approach to prove that, generally speaking, parliamentarians often use colloquial lexical features. Basing on the gender parameter, we show that there is no relevant difference. Finally, we focus on the causes of this tendency, by addressing the interface of media and political discourse.
Time, gender and parliamentary discourse
Authors: Bañón Hernández Antonio M. , Arcos Urrutia Juan Manuel , Requena Romero Samantha
Published: November 2016

The main objective of this chapter is to show the importance of politicians’ time management and its relation to gender. We focus on how men and women manage time through pauses and speech rate. The idea of rhythmic pattern has already been studied (Bañón, Arcos and Requena 2012), and pausative pattern has been discussed in relation to the electoral political debate.

Our hypothesis is that women and men in positions of responsibility in the Andalusian Parliament handle time management differently, both quantitatively and qualitatively. Therefore, we analysed the interventions of several regional ministers of the Andalusian Government to study whether pauses, length and speed of MPs’ speeches have a strategic persuasive or argumentative value.
The modal cycle vs. negation in Slovenian
Authors: Marušič Franc Lanko , Žaucer Rok
Published: November 2016

One of the possible ways of expressing possibility in affirmative sentences in Slovenian is with a modal adverb that combines with a finite verb. Under negation, a modal auxiliary must be used instead of the modal adverb. The pattern with a modal adverb that combines with a finite verb is a peculiarity among Slavic languages as well as European languages more generally (Hansen 2005; Van Olmen & van der Auwera 2016). Looking at diachronic data, which reveal an earlier stage without the modal adverb as well as a subsequent stage with cooccurrence of the modal adverb and the modal auxiliary, we propose that the change be analyzed in terms of the linguistic cycle (van Gelderen 2011), with the modal adverb originating as a reinforcer of the modal auxiliary and then grammaticalizing into a modal. The modal-adverb strategy could not generalize to contexts with sentential negation because of the hierarchical order of the relevant functional projections and the characteristics of the negative particle.
The Slovenian future auxiliary biti as a tenseless gradable evidential modal
Authors: Rivero María Luisa , Milojević Sheppard Milena
Published: November 2016

Adopting a general perspective inspired by formal semantics -most prominently Kratzer’s ideas on modals-, this paper argues that the Slovenian future auxiliary biti may function as an epistemic modal with evidential characteristics. In its epistemic capacity, biti is a Zero-tense/tenseless modal anchored to Speech Time. In other words, it signals a deduction/concession made at Speech Time, or displays a so-called present ‘Temporal Perspective’. Biti does not define the time or ‘Temporal Orientation’ of the depicted event, which is defined by Viewpoint Aspect. Biti may depict present, past, future, or habitual events when it combines with Imperfective (IMPF) Viewpoint Aspect. When combined with Perfective (PERF) Viewpoint Aspect, biti necessarily depicts future events/ acquires a future ‘Temporal Orientation’. Biti is a gradable modal connected to either a scale of believability or a scale of desirability, both anchored in the speaker.
Non-human agents as subjects in English and Dutch
Authors: Doms Steven , De Clerck Bernard , Vandepitte Sonia
Published: November 2016

In English sentences with a verb denoting an action like give, the subject usually plays the semantic role of agent. While in English non-human agents such as this manual in This manual gives instructions on the correct assembly occur quite frequently, Dutch seems to apply more restrictions, as illustrated in Dit handboek bevat voorschriften over de juiste montage in which the Dutch subject dit handboek is not an agent but rather a possessor (see e.g. Delsoir 2011; Vandepitte & Hartsuiker 2011).
This article investigates how a set of 154 English sentences from the Dutch Parallel Corpus with non-human agents as subjects of give are translated into Dutch. The lower number of Dutch non-human agents are discussed with regard to translation tactics and explained in terms of differences in verb meanings between English give and its Dutch cognate geven and the lexico-­semantics of the non-human agents . The lexical choices translators made lead to valency loss in Dutch.
The semantic motivation of non-canonical predicative relations
Authors: Larjavaara Meri
Published: November 2016

The paper discusses the semantic motivation behind the non-standard transitive usage of verbs in contemporary French. An example would be the following: On m’a démissionné hier (‘they fired me yesterday’). In the normative language variety, démissionner is used only in the intransitive construction as in J’ai démissionné (‘I gave in my notice’). The non-canonicity of the predicative relations discussed is of a lexical nature: the verbs in question do not normally appear in the transitive construction. Nevertheless the transitive construction itself belongs to the constructions in frequent use in French, and the novel usage of the verbs can be easily understood.
Speakers use the verbs transitively despite the lack of canonicity of this usage, and the paper proposes a semantic explanation for this: the syntactic choice is semantically motivated. The transitive construction carries in itself – despite its frequency – a semantics that the speaker wants to make use of.
The study takes advantage of the Construction Grammar approach.
The paper starts by presenting definitions of semantic transitivity in a functional, typological perspective (G. Lazard 1994; S. Kittilä 2002; Å. Næss 2007). Then it goes through different cases where a pair of a transitive construction and a non-transitive (oblique) construction can be attested (penser (à), toucher (à), effected objects and others). Many of the examples are from the web where non-normative usage flourishes. The two constructions are compared and it is claimed that more transitive semantic features can be found in the transitive constructions.
Other factors possibly relevant here are also briefly discussed: iconic motivation, semantic generalization in a particular technolect.
The paper shows that the French transitive construction indeed has a semantics and that these novel usages can thus be semantically motivated.
Atypical argument structures in French
Authors: Girard-Gillet Geneviève
Published: November 2016

The article analyses some atypical constructions of French intransitive verbs, such as ils ont suicidé le ministre (they suicided the minister), la crème a explosé les poux (the cream exploded the lice), and tries to account for their existence, as the construction is not always possible, and differs semantically from ils l’ont fait se suicider (they made him commit suicide), il a fait exploser la bombe (he triggered the bomb), where the FAIRE faire construction is compulsory. The hypothesis is that the atypical constructions can be explained within the domain of causative constructions, and more particularly with regard to the distinction between internal and external causation (Guéron, Talmy, Levin, McKoon and Macfarland). The atypical constructions are only possible when no internal causation is available, namely when the causee does not possess the internal characteristics enabling the change of state to occur: the minister was not the suicidal type and the interpretation is then that he was murdered. A change of state did occur, but not the one denoted by the lexical verb. The motivation for the structure is the wish to highlight an unexpected event.
Split intransitivity in Lamaholot (East Flores, Indonesia)
Authors: Grangé Philippe
Published: November 2016

Split intransitivity has been identified in many languages, including some Eastern Indonesia languages, but the East Adonara Lamaholot (Eastern Indonesia) may be considered as uncommon by the fact it displays all kinds of Split Intransitivity features that have been separately described for a series of languages.
This language displays a complex split intransitivity, involving a Split-S (lexically fixed alignment) and a Fluid-S (fluid alignment) triggered by a series of contexts, which can accounted for by Proto-Roles properties as defined by Dowty (1991). The subject (S) is either seen as “agent-like” (SA), unmarked, or as “patient-­like” (SP), thus marked by verbal agreement. The Split-S involves verbs expressing feeling, sentience, biological functions or motion verbs, which must agree with their subject. The properties ‘± Control’ and ‘± Affected’ seem more crucial than ‘± Volition’ for Fluid-S. Aspect features can overlap this Split-S; for instance, motion verbs (excluding displacement) become telic when complemented by a locative prepositional phrase (PP). Perfect aspect is marked by the same verbal agreement as SP, on stative verbs, nouns used as a predicate, or displacement verbs.
It appears that in Lamaholot dialects westward from Adonara (Eastern tip of Flores) and eastward (on Lembata Island), the split intransitivity systems are highly eroded, and their remains became lexicalized.
Tissue-specific programming of memory CD8 T cell subsets impacts protection against lethal respiratory virus infection
Authors: Abboud Georges , Desai Pritesh , Dastmalchi Farhad , Stanfield Jessica , Tahiliani Vikas , Hutchinson Tarun E. , Salek-Ardakani Shahram
Published: November 2016

How tissue-specific anatomical distribution and phenotypic specialization are linked to protective efficacy of memory T cells against reinfection is unclear. Here, we show that lung environmental cues program recently recruited central-like memory cells with migratory potentials for their tissue-specific functions during lethal respiratory virus infection. After entering the lung, some central-like cells retain their original CD27hiCXCR3hi phenotype, enabling them to localize near the infected bronchiolar epithelium and airway lumen to function as the first line of defense against pathogen encounter. Others, in response to local cytokine triggers, undergo a secondary program of differentiation that leads to the loss of CXCR3, migration arrest, and clustering within peribronchoarterial areas and in interalveolar septa. Here, the immune system adapts its response to prevent systemic viral dissemination and mortality. These results reveal the striking and unexpected spatial organization of central- versus effector-like memory cells within the lung and how cooperation between these two subsets contributes to host defense.
CASTOR3D: linear stability studies for 2D and 3D tokamak equilibria
Authors: Strumberger E. , Günter S.
Published: November 2016

The CASTOR3D code, which is currently under development, is able to perform linear stability studies for 2D and 3D, ideal and resistive tokamak equilibria in the presence of ideal and resistive wall structures and coils. For these computations ideal equilibria represented by concentric nested flux surfaces serve as input (e.g. computed with the NEMEC code). Solving an extended eigenvalue problem, the CASTOR3D code takes simultaneously plasma inertia and wall resistivity into account. The code is a hybrid of the CASTOR_3DW stability code and the STARWALL code. The former is an extended version of the CASTOR and CASTOR_FLOW code, respectively. The latter is a linear 3D code computing the growth rates of resistive wall modes in the presence of multiply-connected wall structures. The CASTOR_3DW code, and some parts of the STARWALL code have been reformulated in a general 3D flux coordinate representation that allows to choose between various types of flux coordinates. Furthermore, the implemented many-valued current potentials in the STARWALL part allow a correct treatment of the m  =  0, n  =  0 perturbation. In this paper, we outline the theoretical concept, and present some numerical results which illustrate the present status of the code and demonstrate its numerous application possibilities.