bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Learning from Experiences of Ancient Subak Schemes for Participatory Irrigation System Management in Bali
Authors: Yekti M.I. , Schultz B. , Norken I.N. , Gany A.H.A. , Hayde L.
Published: March 2017

Subak irrigation systems have been well known since the ninth century. These systems are managed by a Subak association based on the Tri Hita Karana philosophy, as a faith of Balinese Hindus based on harmony between human beings and God, harmony between people and nature, and harmony between people and people. This philosophy underlies every activity of Subak farmers. To manage Subak systems, Subak associations and farmers pursue the Subak regulation called Awig‐awig Subak as the togetherness consensus that was originally announced by the King and nowadays by the Head of the Regency. As associations for irrigation system management, Subak associations have been already naturally adapted to participatory irrigation management (PIM). This paper has been prepared based on a literature study to portray centuries of experience with ancient Subak irrigation system management, in which PIM was represented by three linked aspects: PIM in irrigation system operation and maintenance; PIM with respect to socioculture and economics of agriculture; PIM in light of a religious community. While several of these systems are now under stress, the results of this literature study may hopefully contribute to sustainable PIM for the operation and maintenance of irrigation schemes in Bali during the forthcoming decades. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bone Mineral Density Increases in Trans Persons After 1 Year of Hormonal Treatment: A Multicenter Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Wiepjes Chantal M , Vlot Mariska C , Klaver Maartje , Nota Nienke M , de Blok Christel JM , de Jongh Renate T , Lips Paul , Heijboer Annemieke C , Fisher Alessandra D , Schreiner Thomas , T'Sjoen Guy , den Heijer Martin
Published: March 2017

Sex steroids are important determinants of bone acquisition and bone homeostasis. Cross‐sex hormonal treatment (CHT) in transgender persons can affect bone mineral density (BMD). The aim of this study was to investigate in a prospective observational multicenter study the first‐year effects of CHT on BMD in transgender persons. A total of 231 transwomen and 199 transmen were included who completed the first year of CHT. Transwomen were treated with cyproterone acetate and oral or transdermal estradiol; transmen received transdermal or intramuscular testosterone. A dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) was performed to measure lumbar spine (LS), total hip (TH), and femoral neck (FN) BMD before and after 1 year of CHT. In transwomen, an increase in LS (+3.67%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.20 to 4.13%, p < 0.001), TH (+0.97%, 95% CI 0.62 to 1.31%, p < 0.001), and FN (+1.86%, 95% CI 1.41 to 2.31%, p < 0.001) BMD was found. In transmen, TH BMD increased after 1 year of CHT (+1.04%, 95% CI 0.64 to 1.44%, p < 0.001). No changes were observed in FN BMD (–0.46%, 95% CI –1.07 to 0.16%, p = 0.144). The increase in LS BMD was larger in transmen aged ≥50 years (+4.32%, 95% CI 2.28 to 6.36%, p = 0.001) compared with transmen aged <50 years (+0.68%, 95% CI 0.19 to 1.17%, p = 0.007). In conclusion, BMD increased in transgender persons after 1 year of CHT. In transmen of postmenopausal age, the LS BMD increased more than in younger transmen, which may lead to the hypothesis that the increase in BMD in transmen is the result of the aromatization of testosterone to estradiol. © 2017 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Construction of Asymmetric Orthogonal Arrays of Strength Three via a Replacement Method
Authors: Zhang Tian‐fang , Deng Qiaoling , Dey Aloke
Published: March 2017

A replacement procedure to construct orthogonal arrays of strength three was proposed by Suen et al. [7]. This method was later extended by Suen and Dey [8]. In this paper, we further explore the replacement procedure to obtain some new families of orthogonal arrays of strength three.
Simultaneous production of C‐phycocyanin and extracellular polymeric substances by photoautotrophic cultures of Arthrospira platensis
Authors: Dejsungkranont Monchai , Chisti Yusuf , Sirisansaneeyakul Sarote
Published: March 2017

BACKGROUND

Arthrospira platensis produces the blue pigment C‐phycocyanin (C‐PC) and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of potential value in food and pharmaceutical applications.

RESULTS

Batch cultures were used to simultaneously produce C‐PC and EPS. The effects of incident light level on growth and product formation are reported. A maximum biomass concentration of 1.5 g L−1 in 14 days was obtained at a light intensity of 203 µmol m−2 s−1. The light intensity affected the biomass composition and the production of the two products. Protein, phenolic compounds and chlorophyll a in the biomass were reduced at high light levels, but carbohydrate and the total carotenoids were increased. Production of C–PC was growth associated. The highest concentration of C–PC in the culture broth was ∼60 mg L−1 at a photon flux of 135 µmol m−2 s−1. EPS was produced mostly in the stationary phase. The highest EPS concentration of ∼960 mg L−1 occurred at a photon flux of 203 µmol m−2 s−1. Incident light level also affected the antioxidant properties of the two products.

CONCLUSION

Incident light strongly affected the production of C‐PC, EPS and the biomass composition. Low light favored C‐PC production whereas high light favored the production of EPS. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Northern bobwhite habitat use in a food subsidized pyric landscape
Authors: McGrath Diana J. , Terhune Theron M. , Martin James A.
Published: March 2017

Animals inhabiting disturbance‐prone systems, such as the northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) in pine (Pinus spp.) savanna, are adapted to certain intensities of disturbance (e.g., frequency, spatial extent, seasonality). Management practices attempt to mimic these natural conditions. Even though northern bobwhites are known as the firebird, most fire‐related management is currently based on tradition and limited peer‐reviewed literature. We studied habitat selection of northern bobwhites on private property in Georgetown County, South Carolina, USA, managed with fire, winter disking, and supplemental feeding. We radio‐tagged 338 individual bobwhites and monitored them 3–4 times weekly via very high frequency (VHF) telemetry for 2 years. We used hierarchical habitat selection functions in a Bayesian framework to model the data. We considered 2 spatial scales: the study site (second‐order) and within home ranges (third‐order). Bobwhites selected for small burns during the breeding season but had the highest selection for areas intermediately distant from burn edges during winter (i.e., 67 m). Bobwhites had the strongest selection for fire return intervals of 2–3 years during winter but 1–2 years during the breeding season. Use of supplemental feed was strong across seasons but not selected for by brooding birds within their home range. Use of fallow fields was strongest for brooding birds. Our results are useful for bobwhite managers, especially those in subtropical climates, because they provide scientifically defensible information supporting the use of prescribed fire, winter disking, and supplemental feeding in the context of habitat use. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.
Are new approaches needed for developing long‐term strategies for STEM information?
Authors: Brown David
Published: March 2017

Key points

Trends point to increased democratization within STEM, driven by open access, Internet delivery, and digital natives.

The current journal publishing system does not meet the needs of researchers who want timely access to the latest results.

Demographic and sociological changes are likely to undermine the inherent conservatism of STEM.

Traditional STEM systems ignore the latent market of knowledge workers, but new information services do not.

Radical approaches to STEM are required if we are to respond to the ‘perfect storm’ of changing needs and expectations.
New microstructured chromium doped poly(p‐toluidine) as a new acid–base indicator and precursor for chromic oxide nanostructured
Authors: Zoromba M.Sh. , Abdel‐Aziz M.H. , Bassyouni M.
Published: March 2017

New chromium doped poly(p‐toluidine) (Cr‐PPT) was synthesized via chemical oxidative polymerization of p‐toluidine with potassium dichromate as an initiator in acidic aqueous medium. The spectrophotometric behavior of Cr‐PPT in acetone and chloroform as different solvents was investigated. Cr‐PPT exhibits bathochromically red shift at 46‐nm value with the increasing of solvent polarity. The intermolecular charge transfer band peak for Cr‐PPT shifted from 422 nm in low‐polar solvent (chloroform) to high‐polar solvent (acetone) to 468 nm. Optical absorption measurements are used to obtain the energy gap of prepared Cr‐PPT. Cr‐PPT has an optical band gap (Eg = 1.90 to 2.05 eV) that is located in the semiconductor range. Pink color was observed using Cr‐PPT solution in acidic media while it changes sharply to yellow in basic medium. Based on intermolecular charge transfer, the Cr‐PPT was used as acid–base indicator. Cr‐PPT and phenolphthalein (phph) indicator were used for determination of normality of HCl using standard 0.1 N NaOH, the two indicators gave equal end point values. Using Cr‐PPT as a new molecular precursor for the production chromium oxide in nanoscale by thermal decomposition route was studied, and the average size of synthesized Cr2O3 was found in the range of 54–61 nm. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis of raspberry‐ and confetti‐like hybrid poly(styrene‐co‐2‐vinyl pyrrolidone)/silica nanocomposite particles via alcoholic dispersion polymerization
Authors: Ghiasi Farzaneh F. , Taromi Faramarz A. , Eslami Hormoz
Published: March 2017

Organic/inorganic hybrid particles with various morphologies play a critical role in the development of advanced materials. In this work, the synthesis of raspberry‐like hybrid poly(styrene‐co‐2‐vinyl pyrrolidone)/nanosilica via dispersion polymerization have been reported, 2‐vinylpyridine involved added to improve the interaction of polymer and nanoparticles. The most important parameters affecting the reaction such as comonomer, cosurfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), and initiator concentrations, reactions media, temperature, pH, and silica preparation method have been explored in great details. Thus micrometer‐sized nanosilica‐stabilized latex particles were successfully produced in alcoholic media in the presence of an alcoholic silica sol as the sole stabilizing agent. Raspberry‐like nanoparticles synthesized using both methanol and isopropanol as dispersion media, and 2,2‐azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator, and an operational window for the established process. Moreover for the first time, confetti‐like hybrid polymer/nanosilica particles synthesized use minor amounts of CTAB in methanol, and isopropanol based media. These particles contain potential applications in drug delivery and medical uses, and in the preparation of various polymer nanocomposites as well. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:3363–3376, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers
Phase Transition and Liquid Crystalline Organization of Colloidal Graphene Oxide as a Function of pH
Authors: Tkacz Rachel , Abedin Md Joynul , Sheath Phillip , Mehta Shalin B. , Verma Amitabh , Oldenbourg Rudolf , Majumder Mainak
Published: March 2017

This paper discusses the influence of pH on colloidal graphene oxide (GO) liquid crystals. The results indicate that there is a crossing point where suspensions at pH > pKa, the GO sheets have different behavior than suspensions at pH < pKa. This behavior is evidenced by broadening of the biphasic region in the isotropic to nematic phase transition, by observing different shape and internal configurations of the nematic droplets, and in the magnitude of fractionation between large and small sheets in the nematic and isotropic phases. The behavior of GO liquid crystal droplets under the influence of a static magnetic field is studied, and evidence is found in the magnetically induced distortions for the support of our interpretation of the internal configurations of the nematic droplets. This study also demonstrates that magnetic distortions are reversible on a time scale of minutes to hours. This research is based on the LC‐PolScope, a polarized light system, which is found to be a powerful tool for characterization of GO liquid crystals due to its fast and easy image acquisition and analysis.
A Smart Responsive Dual Aptamers‐Targeted Bubble‐Generating Nanosystem for Cancer Triplex Therapy and Ultrasound Imaging
Authors: Zhao Feifei , Zhou Jie , Su Xiangjie , Wang Yuhui , Yan Xiaosa , Jia Shaona , Du Bin
Published: March 2017

The absence of targeted, single treatment methods produces low therapeutic value for treating cancers. To increase the accumulation of drugs in tumors and improve the treatment effectiveness, near‐infrared 808 nm photothermal responsive dual aptamers‐targeted docetaxel (DTX)‐containing nanoparticles is proposed. In this system, DTX and NH4HCO3 are loaded in thermosensitive liposomes. The surface of liposomes is coated with gold nanoshells and connected with sulfydryl (SH) modified AS1411 and S2.2 aptamers. The nanosystem has good biocompatibility and uniform size (diameter about 200 nm). The drug is rapidly released, reaching a maximum amount (84%) at 4 h under 808 nm laser irradiation. The experiments conducted in vitro and in vivo demonstrate the nanosystem can synergistically inhibit tumor growth by combination of chemotherapy, photothermal therapy, and biological therapy. Dual ligand functionalization significantly increases cellular uptake on breast cancer cell line (MCF‐7) cells and achieves ultrasound imaging (USI) at tumor site. The results indicate that this drug delivery system is a promising theranostic agent involving light‐thermal response at tumor sites, dual ligand targeted triplex therapy, and USI.
Evolution on Topography of Textured Work Rolls and Steel Strips during Cold Rolling and Temper Rolling
Authors: Xia Chunyu , Zhang Xin , Zhang Jie , Li Hongbo , Jia Shenghui
Published: March 2017

In this paper, topography characteristics are statistically analyzed based on a large number of field measured data to investigate the roughness failure on textured work rolls and the evolution on steel strips during cold rolling and temper rolling. It is revealed that the height distribution in the surface profile of steel strips is barely influenced by the skewed height distribution in the surface profile of work rolls. The roughness of steel strips is efficiently improved by the last stand of cold rolling, while the peak count is mainly increased by the temper rolling. A prediction model of surface roughness for temper rolled strips is established afterwards. This model indicates that the most important factor influencing the roughness of temper rolled strips is the product of reduction and tension ratio. The influence degree of the rolling process parameters is presented, which is helpful to regulate surface roughness of the steel strips by setting and adjusting these parameters during the industrial production process.
Functional diversity of Arabidopsis organelle‐localized RNA‐recognition motif‐containing proteins
Authors: Shi Xiaowen , Hanson Maureen R. , Bentolila Stephane
Published: March 2017

RNA‐Binding Proteins (RBPs) play key roles in plant gene expression and regulation. RBPs contain a variety of RNA‐binding motifs, the most abundant and most widespread one in eukaryotes is the RNA recognition motif (RRM). Many nucleus‐encoded RRM‐containing proteins are transported into chloroplasts and/or mitochondria, and participate in various RNA‐related processes in plant organelles. Loss of these proteins can have a detrimental effect on some critical processes such as photosynthesis and respiration, sometimes leading to lethality. Progress has been made in the last few years in understanding the function of particular organelle‐localized RRM‐containing proteins. Members of the Organelle RRM protein (ORRM, some also characterized as Glycine‐Rich RNA‐Binding Proteins) family and the Chloroplast RiboNucleoProtein (cpRNP) family, are involved in various types of RNA metabolism, including RNA editing, RNA stability and RNA processing. Organelle‐localized RRM proteins also function in plant development and stress responses, in some conditions acting as protein or RNA chaperones. There has been recent progress in characterizing the function of organelle‐localized RRM proteins in RNA‐related processes and how RRM proteins contribute to the normal growth and development of plants. WIREs RNA 2017, 8:e1420. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1420

This article is categorized under:

RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein–RNA Recognition

RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein–RNA Interactions: Functional Implications
Difference between two species of emu hides a test for lepton flavour violation
Authors: Lester Christopher G. , Brunt Benjamin H.
Published: March 2017

Abstract

We argue that an LHC measurement of some simple quantities related to the ratio of rates of e
+
μ
− to e
−
μ
+ events is surprisingly sensitive to as-yet unexcluded R-parity violating supersymmetric models with non-zero λ
231
′
couplings. The search relies upon the approximate lepton universality in the Standard Model, the sign of the charge of the proton, and a collection of favourable detector biases. The proposed search is unusual because: it does not require any of the displaced vertices, hadronic neutralino decay products, or squark/gluino production relied upon by existing LHC RPV searches; it could work in cases in which the only light sparticles were smuons and neutralinos; and it could make a discovery (though not necessarily with optimal significance) without requiring the computation of a leading-order Monte Carlo estimate of any background rate. The LHC has shown no strong hints of post-Higgs physics and so precision Standard Model measurements are becoming ever more important. We argue that in this environment growing profits are to be made from searches that place detector biases and symmetries of the Standard Model at their core — searches based around ‘controls’ rather than around signals.
The patient’s experience of primary ciliary dyskinesia: a systematic review
Authors: Behan Laura , Rubbo Bruna , Lucas Jane S. , Dunn Galvin Audrey
Published: March 2017

Background

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare genetic disorder characterised by progressive sinopulmonary disease, with symptoms starting soon after birth. The aim of this study is to critically review, analyse, and synthesise the literature in order to understand the experiences of patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) and the impact on health-related quality of life.

Method

MEDLINE, EBSCO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PsycINFO and EMBASE were searched according to the inclusion criteria. A qualitative analysis of 14 studies was conducted.

Results

Fourteen studies were included in the review, five with qualitative methodologies. Studies originated from the UK, USA, Italy, Denmark and Belgium, one study included a survey distributed internationally. Significant relationships were found between age and worsening of respiratory symptoms, physical, and mental domains of health-related quality of life, with a greater decline compared with reference populations. Variations between the UK and Italy were found for health-related quality of life and its correlation with time since diagnosis. PCD was found to have a physical impact in all age groups: patients found it difficult to keep up with others, and found energy levels were easily depleted compared to family or peers. In terms of social impact, symptoms lead to embarrassment and a sense of isolation, with patients concealing symptoms and/or their diagnosis. In turn, isolation was also linked with the lack of public and medical knowledge. In relation to emotional impact, anxiety was reported in a number of qualitative studies; patients were anxious about getting sick or when thinking about their future health. The burden of treatment and factors influencing adherence were also discussed in depth.

Conclusion

Health-related quality of life decreases with age in patients with PCD. For all age groups, PCD was found to greatly impact physical, emotional, social functioning, and treatment burden. More research is needed on the psychosocial impact of the illness, disease burden and its effect on quality of life.
Negotiating religious change and conflict: Female religious communities in early modern Ireland,c.1530–c.1641
Authors: McShane Bronagh A.
Published: March 2017

This article explores how communities of female religious within the English sphere of influence in Ireland negotiated their survival, firstly in the aftermath of the Henrician dissolution campaigns of the late 1530s and 1540s and thereafter down to the early 1640s. It begins by examining the strategies devised by women religious in order to circumvent the state’s proscription of vocational living in the aftermath of the Henrician suppression campaigns. These ranged from clandestine continuation of conventual life to the maintenance of informal religious vows within domestic settings. It then moves on to consider the modes of migration and destinations of Irish women who, from the late sixteenth century onwards, travelled to the Continent in pursuit of religious vocations, an experience they shared with their English counterparts. Finally, it considers how the return to Ireland from Europe of Irish Poor Clare nuns in 1629 signalled the revival of monastic life for women religious on the island. The article traces the importance of familial and clerical patronage networks to the ongoing survival of Irish female religious communities and highlights their role in sustaining Catholic devotional practices, which were to prove vital to the success of the Counter-Reformation mission in seventeenth-century Ireland.
Effects of the magnetic field gradient on the wall power deposition of Hall thrusters
Authors: Ding Yongjie , Li Peng , Zhang Xu , Wei Liqiu , Sun Hezhi , Peng Wuji , Yu Daren
Published: March 2017

The effect of the magnetic field gradient in the discharge channel of a Hall thruster on the ionization of the neutral gas and power deposition on the wall is studied through adopting the 2D-3V particle-in-cell (PIC) and Monte Carlo collisions (MCC) model. The research shows that by gradually increasing the magnetic field gradient while keeping the maximum magnetic intensity at the channel exit and the anode position unchanged, the ionization region moves towards the channel exit and then a second ionization region appears near the anode region. Meanwhile, power deposition on the walls decreases initially and then increases. To avoid power deposition on the walls produced by electrons and ions which are ionized in the second ionization region, the anode position is moved towards the channel exit as the magnetic field gradient is increased; when the anode position remains at the zero magnetic field position, power deposition on the walls decreases, which can effectively reduce the temperature and thermal load of the discharge channel.
Immunisation status and determinants of left-behind children aged 12–72 months in central China
Authors: NI Z.L. , TAN X.D , SHAO H.Y. , WANG Y.
Published: March 2017

Many parents move from rural China to urban areas in search of job opportunities, and leave their children behind to be raised by relatives. We aimed to assess the immunisation coverage, including the 1:3:3:3:1 vaccine series (one dose of Bacilli Chalmette–Guérin vaccine; three doses of live attenuated oral poliomyelitis vaccine; three doses of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis combined; three doses of hepatitis B vaccine; and one dose of measles-containing vaccine), in children aged 12–72 months and identify the determinants of immunisation uptake among left-behind children in Hubei Province, Central China, in 2014. In this cross-sectional study using the World Health Organization's cluster sampling technique, we surveyed 1368 children from 44 villages in 11 districts of Hubei Province. The socio-demographic and vaccination status data were collected by interviewing primary caregivers using a semi-structured questionnaire and reviewing the immunisation cards of the children. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify the determinants of complete vaccination and age-appropriate vaccination. For each dose of the five vaccines, the vaccination coverage in the left-behind and non-left-behind children was >90%; however, the age-appropriate vaccination coverage for each vaccine was lower in left-behind than in non-left-behind children. For the five vaccines, the fully vaccinated rate of left-behind children were lower than those of non-left-behind children (89·1%, 92·7%;P= 0·013) and age-appropriate immunisation rate of left-behind children were lower than those of non-left-behind children (65·7%, 79·9%;P< 0·001). After controlling for potential confounders, we found that the parenting pattern, annual household income and attitude of the primary caregiver towards vaccination significantly influenced the vaccination status of children. Moreover, we noted a relatively high prevalence of delayed vaccination among left-behind children. Hence, we believe that the age-appropriate immunisation coverage rate among left-behind children in rural areas should be further improved by delivering and sustaining primary care services.
Placemaking and Assessing Physical Space in the Academic Law Library
Authors: Peoples Lee F
Published: March 2017

The concept of placemaking has been widely utilized by public and university libraries to create spaces with library users in mind. This article by Lee F. Peoples describes how academic law libraries can employ placemaking concepts to support their parent law school's program of legal education, encourage collaborative learning, and connect students with their school's community, values and traditions. This article explains how academic law libraries can assess placemaking activities and other uses of library space and demonstrate a return on investment made into library spaces. The article concludes with some predictions for the future of assessing library space use.
Conversations with Professor Anthony Terry Hanmer “Tony” Smith: a New Zealander's Journey Through English Academia, and Notions of Criminality in Common Law Jurisdictions
Authors: Dingle Lesley
Published: March 2017

Professor Tony Smith was born in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1947. He completed his LLB and LLM at Canterbury University, interspersed with a short-lived sortie into legal work with the Treasury. It was during these formative years that he acquired the deep interest in criminal law and its social and constitutional ramifications that has underpinned his whole career, and which gained him numerous academic advances, culminating in his chair of Criminal and Public Law at Cambridge University in 1996. He is currently Professor of Law at Victoria University, Wellington. This article is written by Lesley Dingle and is based on her interviews with Professor Smith which have been incorporated into the Eminent Scholars Archive at Cambridge.
TNF-α-induced LRG1 promotes angiogenesis and mesenchymal stem cell migration in the subchondral bone during osteoarthritis
Authors: Wang Yiyun , Xu Jiajia , Zhang Xudong , Wang Chuandong , Huang Yan , Dai Kerong , Zhang Xiaoling
Published: March 2017

The incomplete understanding of aberrant neovascularization, which contributes to osteoarthritis suggests that additional modulators have yet to be identified. Our objective was to identify the role of Leucine-rich-alpha-2-glycoprotein1 (LRG1), a new regulator of pathogenic angiogenesis, in osteoarthritis progression and to develop effective treatment strategies. In this study, immunohistochemistry showed that LRG1 was increased in the subchondral bone and articular cartilage in anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) mice. Further studies were focused on the role of LRG1 in osteoarthritis. Results showed that LRG1 promoted angiogenesis and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) migration, which contribute to aberrant bone formation in the subchondral bone. Moreover, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), not interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6 or IL-17, induced the LRG1 expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells and this effect was inhibited by p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase or NF-κB inhibitor. Notably, inhibition of TNF-α and LRG1 activity by Lenalidomide, an inhibitor of TNF-α production, in ACLT mice attenuated degeneration of osteoarthritis articular cartilage. This study shows that TNF-α is the predominant proinflammatory cytokine that induces the secretion of LRG1. LRG1 contributes to angiogenesis-coupled de novo bone formation by increasing angiogenesis and recruiting MSCs in the subchondral bone of osteoarthritis joints. Inhibition of TNF-α and LRG1 by Lenalidomide could be a potential therapeutic approach.
RelA/p65 inhibition prevents tendon adhesion by modulating inflammation, cell proliferation, and apoptosis
Authors: Chen Shuai , Jiang Shichao , Zheng Wei , Tu Bing , Liu Shen , Ruan Hongjiang , Fan Cunyi
Published: March 2017

Peritendinous tissue fibrosis which leads to poor tendon function is a worldwide clinical problem; however, its mechanism remains unclear. Transcription factor RelA/p65, an important subunit in the NF-κB complex, is known to have a critical role in many fibrotic diseases. Here, we show that RelA/p65 functions as a core fibrogenic regulator in tendon adhesion and that its inhibition exerts an anti-fibrogenic effect on peritendinous adhesion. We detected the upregulation of the NF-κB pathway in human tendon adhesion using a gene chip microarray assay and revealed the overexpression of p65 and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins Collagen I, Collagen III, and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in human fibrotic tissues by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. We also found that in a rat model of tendon injury, p65 expression correlated with tendon adhesion, whereas its inhibition by small interfering (si)RNA prevented fibrous tissue formation and inflammatory reaction as evidenced by macroscopic, biomechanical, histological, immunohistochemical, and western blotting analyses. Furthermore, in cultured fibroblasts, p65-siRNA, p65-specific inhibitor, Helenalin and JSH23 suppressed cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis, whereas inhibiting the mRNA and protein expression of ECM components and cyclo-oxygenase-2, an inflammatory factor involved in tendon adhesion. Our findings indicate that p65 has a critical role in peritendinous tissue fibrosis and suggest that p65 knockdown may be a promising therapeutic approach to prevent tendon adhesion.
Forkhead box A3 attenuated the progression of fibrosis in a rat model of biliary atresia
Authors: Dong Rui , Yang Yifan , Shen Zhen , Zheng Chao , Jin Zhu , Huang Yanlei , Zhang Zhien , Zheng Shan , Chen Gong
Published: March 2017

Biliary atresia is a rare, devastating disease of infants where a fibroinflammatory process destroys the bile ducts, leading to fibrosis and biliary cirrhosis, and death if untreated. The cause and pathogenesis remain largely unknown. We tried to investigate factors involved in biliary atresia, especially forkhead box A3 (Foxa3), which might exert a role in the treatment of liver disease. We used RNA sequencing to sequence the whole transcriptomes of livers from six biliary atresia and six choledochal cysts patients. Then, we employed a rat disease model by bile duct ligation (BDL) and adenovirus transduction to address the function of Foxa3 in biliary atresia. We found that tight junction, adherence junction, cell cycle, apoptosis, chemokine singling, VEGF and MAPK signaling pathways were enriched in biliary atresia livers. We showed that Foxa3 expression was notably decreased in liver samples from biliary atresia patients. More importantly, we found that its lower expression predicted a poorer overall survival of biliary atresia patients. Rats that received BDL surgery and Foxa3 expression adenovirus resulted in a significant decrease in the deposition of collagen, and expression of profibrotic cytokines (transforming growth factor-β and connective tissue growth factor) and fibrosis markers (α-smooth muscle actin, collagen I and collagen III), as compared with rats that received BDL surgery and control adenovirus. Our data suggested a protection role for Foxa3 during the progression of liver fibrosis in biliary atresia, and thereby supported increasing Foxa3 as a targeted treatment strategy.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and a role for autoimmunity
Authors: Hoyne Gerard F , Elliott Hannah , Mutsaers Steven E , Prêle Cecilia M
Published: March 2017

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most common of the idiopathic interstitial pneumonias. It is typically associated with extensive and progressive fibrosis, and is fatal and has limited treatment options. Characteristically IPF patients display large lymphocyte aggregates composed of CD3+ T cells and CD20+ B cells within the lung tissue that are located near sites of active fibrosis. In addition, IPF patients can have autoantibodies to a range of host antigens, suggesting a breakdown in immunological tolerance. In this review, we examine the role of T and B cells in IPF pathogenesis and discuss how loss of self‐tolerance to lung‐specific proteins could exacerbate disease progression in IPF. We discuss what these results mean in terms of future prospects for immunotherapy of IPF.
Temperature-tunable Fano resonance induced by strong coupling between Weyl fermions and phonons in TaAs
Authors: Xu B. , Dai Y. M. , Zhao L. X. , Wang K. , Yang R. , Zhang W. , Liu J. Y. , Xiao H. , Chen G. F. , Trugman S. A. , Zhu J-X , Taylor A. J. , Yarotski D. A. , Prasankumar R. P. , Qiu X. G.
Published: March 2017

Strong coupling between discrete phonon and continuous electron–hole pair excitations can induce a pronounced asymmetry in the phonon line shape, known as the Fano resonance. This effect has been observed in various systems. Here we reveal explicit evidence for strong coupling between an infrared-active phonon and electronic transitions near the Weyl points through the observation of a Fano resonance in the Weyl semimetal TaAs. The resulting asymmetry in the phonon line shape, conspicuous at low temperatures, diminishes continuously with increasing temperature. This behaviour originates from the suppression of electronic transitions near the Weyl points due to the decreasing occupation of electronic states below the Fermi level (EF) with increasing temperature, as well as Pauli blocking caused by thermally excited electrons above EF. Our findings not only elucidate the mechanism governing the tunable Fano resonance but also open a route for exploring exotic physical phenomena through phonon properties in Weyl semimetals.
CombiROC: an interactive web tool for selecting accurate marker combinations of omics data
Authors: Mazzara Saveria , Rossi Riccardo L. , Grifantini Renata , Donizetti Simone , Abrignani Sergio , Bombaci Mauro
Published: March 2017

Diagnostic accuracy can be improved considerably by combining multiple markers, whose performance in identifying diseased subjects is usually assessed via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The selection of multimarker signatures is a complicated process that requires integration of data signatures with sophisticated statistical methods. We developed a user-friendly tool, called CombiROC, to help researchers accurately determine optimal markers combinations from diverse omics methods. With CombiROC data from different domains, such as proteomics and transcriptomics, can be analyzed using sensitivity/specificity filters: the number of candidate marker panels rising from combinatorial analysis is easily optimized bypassing limitations imposed by the nature of different experimental approaches. Leaving to the user full control on initial selection stringency, CombiROC computes sensitivity and specificity for all markers combinations, performances of best combinations and ROC curves for automatic comparisons, all visualized in a graphic interface. CombiROC was designed without hard-coded thresholds, allowing a custom fit to each specific data: this dramatically reduces the computational burden and lowers the false negative rates given by fixed thresholds. The application was validated with published data, confirming the marker combination already originally described or even finding new ones. CombiROC is a novel tool for the scientific community freely available at http://CombiROC.eu.
Untargeted metabolomics analysis reveals key pathways responsible for the synergistic killing of colistin and doripenem combination against Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Maifiah Mohd Hafidz Mahamad , Creek Darren J. , Nation Roger L. , Forrest Alan , Tsuji Brian T. , Velkov Tony , Li Jian
Published: March 2017

Combination therapy is deployed for the treatment of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, as it can rapidly develop resistance to current antibiotics. This is the first study to investigate the synergistic effect of colistin/doripenem combination on the metabolome of A. baumannii. The metabolite levels were measured using LC-MS following treatment with colistin (2 mg/L) or doripenem (25 mg/L) alone, and their combination at 15 min, 1 hr and 4 hr (n = 4). Colistin caused early (15 min and 1 hr) disruption of the bacterial outer membrane and cell wall, as demonstrated by perturbation of glycerophospholipids and fatty acids. Concentrations of peptidoglycan biosynthesis metabolites decreased at 4 hr by doripenem alone, reflecting its mechanism of action. The combination induced significant changes to more key metabolic pathways relative to either monotherapy. Down-regulation of cell wall biosynthesis (via D-sedoheptulose 7-phosphate) and nucleotide metabolism (via D-ribose 5-phosphate) was associated with perturbations in the pentose phosphate pathway induced initially by colistin (15 min and 1 hr) and later by doripenem (4 hr). We discovered that the combination synergistically killed A. baumannii via time-dependent inhibition of different key metabolic pathways. Our study highlights the significant potential of systems pharmacology in elucidating the mechanism of synergy and optimizing antibiotic pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics.
Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, and Control of Hypertension among Kazakhs with high Salt Intake in Xinjiang, China: A Community-based Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Hu Yaoda , Wang Zixing , Wang Yuyan , Wang Lei , Han Wei , Tang Yong , Xue Fang , Hou Lei , Liang Shaohua , Zhang Biao , Wang Weizhi , Asaiti Kuliqian , Pang Haiyu , Zhang Mingtao , Jiang Jingmei
Published: March 2017

Hypertension is a leading cause of death worldwide; data on hypertension among ethnic minorities in China are sparse. This study aimed to estimate hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control in a Kazakh population, and to assess the association between salt intake and the above measures. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among Kazakh adults (≥30 years old) in the town of Hongdun, Altay, Xinjiang. Survey procedures included a questionnaire, physical measurement, and laboratory tests. Of 1805 eligible individuals, 1668 (92.4%) were included in the analysis. After adjustment for gender, age, and occupation, prevalence of hypertension was 45.5%. The proportions with awareness, treatment, control, or medication-control were 61.0%, 28.8%, 2.9% and 10.1%, respectively. Higher prevalence was seen among nomads and farmers (50.7% and 44.6%, respectively). However, the proportions with treatment or control were lower than seen among urban citizens. Hypertension prevalence was higher in those with higher salt intake (p = 0.0008). In contrast, the proportions with awareness (p = 0.0389), treatment (p = 0.0010), control (p = 0.0503), and medication-control (p = 0.2012) reduced as salt intake increased. In conclusion, hypertension prevalence is high in this population, but the proportions with awareness, treatment, or control are sub-optimal. Public health interventions that improve hypertension prevention and control, particularly among nomads, is needed.
Degradation of topological surface state by nonmagnetic S doping in SrxBi2Se3
Authors: Huang Hui , Gu Juanjuan , Tan Min , Wang Qinglong , Ji Ping , Hu Xueyou
Published: March 2017

Research on possible topological superconductivity has grown rapidly over the past several years, from fundamental studies to the development of next generation technologies. Recently, it has been reported that the SrxBi2Se3 exhibits superconductivity with topological surface state, making this compound a promising candidate for investigating possible topological superconductivity. However, whether or not the topological surface state is robust against impurities is not clear in this system. Here we report a detailed investigation on the lattice structure, electronic and magnetic properties, as well as the topological superconducting properties of SrxBi2Se3−ySy samples. It is found that the superconducting transition temperature keeps nearly unchanged in all samples, despite of a gradual decrease of the superconducting shielding volume fraction with increasing S doping content. Meanwhile, the Shubnikov-de Hass oscillation results of the SrxBi2Se3−ySy samples reveal that the topological surface states are destroyed in S doped samples, suggesting the topological character is degraded by nonmagnetic dopants.
Qubit-flip-induced cavity mode squeezing in the strong dispersive regime of the quantum Rabi model
Authors: Joshi Chaitanya , Irish Elinor K. , Spiller Timothy P.
Published: March 2017

Squeezed states of light are a set of nonclassical states in which the quantum fluctuations of one quadrature component are reduced below the standard quantum limit. With less noise than the best stabilised laser sources, squeezed light is a key resource in the field of quantum technologies and has already improved sensing capabilities in areas ranging from gravitational wave detection to biomedical applications. In this work we propose a novel technique for generating squeezed states of a confined light field strongly coupled to a two-level system, or qubit, in the dispersive regime. Utilising the dispersive energy shift caused by the interaction, control of the qubit state produces a time-dependent change in the frequency of the light field. An appropriately timed sequence of sudden frequency changes reduces the quantum noise fluctuations in one quadrature of the field well below the standard quantum limit. The degree of squeezing and the time of generation are directly controlled by the number of frequency shifts applied. Even in the presence of realistic noise and imperfections, our protocol promises to be capable of generating a useful degree of squeezing with present experimental capabilities.
Correction: Corrigendum: Host-ant specificity of endangered large blue butterflies (Phengaris spp., Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in Japan
Authors: Ueda Shouhei , Komatsu Takashi , Itino Takao , Arai Ryusuke , Sakamoto Hironori
Published: March 2017

Scientific Reports 6: Article number: srep36364; published online: 03 November 2016; updated: 30 March 2017 This Article contains typographical errors in Table 1. For Location E, the ‘L1’ value “2 (0%)” should read “2 (100%)”. Additionally, the Region for ‘P. arionides’, “Chu-bu” should read “Chubu”.
Downregulation of LIMK1–ADF/cofilin by DADS inhibits the migration and invasion of colon cancer
Authors: Su Jian , Zhou Yujuan , Pan Zhibing , Shi Ling , Yang Jing , Liao Aijun , Liao Qianjin , Su Qi
Published: March 2017

This study aimed to explore whether the downregulation of LIM kinase 1 (LIMK1)-actin depolymerization factor (ADF, also known as destrin)/cofilin by diallyl disulfide (DADS) inhibited the migration and invasion of colon cancer. Previous studies have shown that silencing LIMK1 could significantly enhance the inhibitory effect of DADS on colon cancer cell migration and invasion, suggesting that LIMK1 was a target molecule of DADS, which needed further confirmation. This study reported that LIMK1 and destrin were highly expressed in colon cancer and associated with poor prognosis of patients with colon cancer. Also, the expression of LIMK1 was positively correlated with the expression of destrin. The overexpression of LIMK1 significantly promoted colon cancer cell migration and invasion. DADS obviously inhibited migration and invasion by suppressing the phosphorylation of ADF/cofilin via downregulation of LIMK1 in colon cancer cells. Furthermore, DADS-induced suppression of cell proliferation was enhanced and antagonized by the knockdown and overexpression of LIMK1 in vitro and in vivo, respectively. Similar results were observed for DADS-induced changes in the expression of vimentin, CD34, Ki-67, and E-cadherin in xenografted tumors. These results indicated that LIMK1 was a potential target molecule for the inhibitory effect of DADS on colon cancer cell migration and invasion.
Bacterial kinesin light chain (Bklc) links the Btub cytoskeleton to membranes
Authors: Akendengue Lurlène , Trépout Sylvain , Graña Martín , Voegele Alexis , Janke Carsten , Raynal Bertrand , Chenal Alexandre , Marco Sergio , Wehenkel Anne Marie
Published: March 2017

Bacterial kinesin light chain is a TPR domain-containing protein encoded by the bklc gene, which co-localizes with the bacterial tubulin (btub) genes in a conserved operon in Prosthecobacter. Btub heterodimers show high structural homology with eukaryotic tubulin and assemble into head-to-tail protofilaments. Intriguingly, Bklc is homologous to the light chain of the microtubule motor kinesin and could thus represent an additional eukaryotic-like cytoskeletal element in bacteria. Using biochemical characterization as well as cryo-electron tomography we show here that Bklc interacts specifically with Btub protofilaments, as well as lipid vesicles and could thus play a role in anchoring the Btub filaments to the membrane protrusions in Prosthecobacter where they specifically localize in vivo. This work sheds new light into possible ways in which the microtubule cytoskeleton may have evolved linking precursors of microtubules to the membrane via the kinesin moiety that in today’s eukaryotic cytoskeleton links vesicle-packaged cargo to microtubules.
Quantitative prediction of nuclear-spin-diffusion-limited coherence times of molecular quantum bits based on copper(ii)
Authors: Lenz S. , Bader K. , Bamberger H. , van Slageren J.
Published: March 2017

We have investigated the electron spin dynamics in a series of copper(ii) β-diketonate complexes both in frozen solutions and doped solids. We simulate the coherence decay quantitatively without fit parameters.
Operando chemistry of catalyst surfaces during catalysis
Authors: Dou Jian , Sun Zaicheng , Opalade Adedamola A. , Wang Nan , Fu Wensheng , Tao Franklin (Feng)
Published: March 2017

The chemistry of a catalyst surface during catalysis is crucial for a fundamental understanding of the mechanisms of a catalytic reaction performed on the catalyst in the gas or liquid phase.
Antimony(v) catalyzed acetalisation of aldehydes: an efficient, solvent-free, and recyclable process
Authors: Ugarte Renzo Arias , Hudnall Todd W.
Published: March 2017

A highly selective, solvent-free process for the acetalisation of aldehydes was achieved by the use of a readily accessible antimony(v) catalyst which we previously prepared in our lab as a tetraarylstibonium triflate salt ([1][OTf]).
Analytical figures of merit for a novel tissue imaging system
Authors: Straus R. N. , Carew A. , Sandkuijl D. , Closson T. , Baranov V. I. , Loboda A.
Published: March 2017

We demonstrate the performance of a novel LA-ICP-MS system using a metal-doped PMMA film.
NOx selective catalytic reduction (SCR) on self-supported V–W-doped TiO2 nanofibers
Authors: Marani Debora , Silva Rafael Hubert , Dankeaw Apiwat , Norrman Kion , Werchmeister Rebecka Marie Larsen , Ippolito Davide , Gudik-Sørensen Mads , Hansen Kent Kammer , Esposito Vincenzo
Published: March 2017

A nano-fibrous, self-supported and lightweight SCR unit endowed with well-connected and open porosity, high reactivity, and tunable chemistry is herein proposed.