bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Positive emotions, self-esteem, interpersonal relationships and social support as mediators between emotional intelligence and life satisfaction
Authors: Ruvalcaba-Romero Norma Alicia , Fernández-Berrocal Pablo , Salazar-Estrada José Guadalupe , Gallegos-Guajardo Julia
Published: November 2017

El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar si existen diferentes niveles de cortisol en trabajadores universitarios en función de su posición en la jerarquía institucional. Con base en estudios previos, que encontraron tanto en primates como en humanos que los individuos subordinados tienen más cortisol que los individuos dominantes en sociedades estables y en situación de reposo, se buscó replicar dichos estudios en el contexto de una universidad. Se trabajó con 144 empleados, 89 hombres y 55 mujeres, que pertenecían a personal dirigente, mandos medios y personal operativo. Se tomaron 2 muestras salivales por la tarde con un intervalo de 30 min y se promediaron. Los resultados mostraron que los mandos medios tienen mayores niveles de cortisol que los dirigentes, pero estos a su  vez tienen más cortisol que el personal operativo. Se discute respecto a cómo las interacciones sociales institucionales y la dimensión de poder de las mismas regulan los niveles de estrés de los individuos que trabajan en este contexto. Se mencionan algunas de las implicaciones metodológicas de este tipo de evaluaciones, así como sus implicaciones prácticas
On the generation of spiral-like paths within planar shapes
Authors: Held Martin , de Lorenzo Stefan
Published: November 2017

We simplify and extend prior work by Held and Spielberger [CAD 2009, CAD&A 2014] to obtain spiral-like paths inside of planar shapes bounded by straight-line segments and circular arcs: We use a linearization to derive a simple algorithm that computes a continuous spiral-like path which (1) consists of straight-line segments, (2) has no self-intersections, (3) respects a user-specified maximum step-over distance, and (4) starts in the interior and ends at the boundary of the shape. Then we extend this basic algorithm to double-spiral paths that start and end at the boundary, and show how these double spirals can be used to cover complicated planar shapes by composite spiral paths. We also discuss how to improve the smoothness and reduce the curvature variation of our paths, and how to boost them to higher levels of continuity.

Highlights The algorithm computes a spiral path within planar shapes with and without islands. It respects a user-specified maximum step-over distance. Double spirals and composite spiral paths can be computed. Heuristics for smoothing the spirals are discussed. The algorithm is simple and easy to implement, and suitable for various applications.
Methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus in acute otitis externa
Authors: Duarte Maria J. , Kozin Elliott D. , Bispo Paulo J.M. , Mitchell Andreas H. , Gilmore Michael S. , Remenschneider Aaron K.
Published: November 2017

Objective

Otologic methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection has historically been rare, but given the rise in community‐acquired MRSA carriage and infection at other body sites, prevalence rates may be changing. The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of MRSA in recent otologic cultures from patients with acute otitis externa (AOE).

Study design

Retrospective review of an institutional microbiologic database.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was performed on serial culture isolates taken from the ear at a quaternary care hospital from January 2014 to April 2016. The causative pathogen and antibiotic sensitivity was determined by culture isolation and end point mean inhibitory concentration (MIC) testing. Medical records were reviewed to document patient characteristics, chronicity of infection, symptomatology, and previous treatments.

Results

Over the study period, 173 patients were diagnosed with AOE and underwent otologic cultures of the ear. Fifty‐three (30.6%) of cultures grew S. aureus (SA). Of SA infections, 15 (28.3%) were identified as MRSA. MRSA patients were typically older than patients with methicillin‐sensitive SA (MSSA) (mean age 46.7 ± 17.9 vs 29 ± 19.4, P = 0.003) and had more medical comorbidities (4 vs 1.7, P = 0.001). Compared to patients with MSSA, patients with MRSA were significantly more likely to have had prior ototopical antibiotic exposure (37% vs 73%, P = 0.019).

Conclusion

Contemporary ear culture isolates at quaternary care center show higher rates of MRSA compared to historical reports in the literature. Clinicians should consider ear cultures to identify MRSA AOE.

Level of Evidence

IV.
Diachronie de la négation phrastique en français : apports d'une approche sociohistorique
Authors: Donaldson Bryan
Published: November 2017

This article examines the evolution of Old French sentential negation from a sociohistorical perspective. In Old French, simple negation (ne+ verb) comes increasingly into competition with the innovative reinforced or bipartite variant (ne+ verb +pas/mie/point). Starting from the hypothesis that the distribution of conservative and innovative forms varies by language register, frequencies of each form are analyzed in represented speech and in narrative, two distinct registers within a single text. In some texts, register is shown to influence the distribution of the variants, with higher rates of reinforced negation appearing in represented speech as opposed to narrative passages. Furthermore, some of the data reveal gender variation, with the represented speech of men appearing more innovative than that of women with respect to negation. The results suggest that the form of sentential negation in Old French was influenced by sociostylistic factors.
Origins of the Sicilian Mafia: The Market for Lemons
Authors: Dimico Arcangelo , Isopi Alessia , Olsson Ola
Published: November 2017

In this article, we study the emergence of an extractive institution that hampered economic development in Italy for more than a century: the Sicilian mafia. Since its first appearance in the late 1800s, the reasons behind the rise of the Sicilian mafia have remained a puzzle. In this article, we argue that the mafia arose as a response to an exogenous shock in the demand for oranges and lemons, following Lind's discovery in the late eighteenth century that citrus fruits cured scurvy. More specifically, we claim that mafia appeared in locations where producers made high profits from citrus production for overseas export. Operating in an environment with a weak rule of law, the mafia protected citrus production from predation and acted as intermediaries between producers and exporters. Using original data from a parliamentary inquiry in 1881–1886 on Sicilian towns, the Damiani Inquiry, we show that mafia presence is strongly related to the production of oranges and lemons. The results hold when different data sources and several controls are employed.
World War II and the Industrialization of the American South
Authors: Jaworski Taylor
Published: November 2017

When private incentives are insufficient, a big push by government may lead to industrialization. This article uses mobilization for WWII to test the big push hypothesis in the context of postwar industrialization in the American South. Specifically, I investigate the role of capital deepening at the county level using newly assembled data on the location and value of wartime investment. Despite a boom in manufacturing activity during the war, the evidence is not consistent with differential postwar growth in counties that received more investment. This does not rule out positive effects of mobilization on firms or sectors, but a decisive role for wartime capital deepening in the South's postwar industrial development should be viewed more skeptically.
America's First Great Moderation
Authors: Davis Joseph , Weidenmier Marc D.
Published: November 2017

We identify the longest expansion in U.S. history, a recession-free 16-year period from 1841 to 1856 that we call America's First Great Moderation. Using newer data on industrial production, we show that the record-long expansion was primarily driven by a boom in transportation-goods investment following the discovery of gold in California. Furthermore, the low volatility of industrial production and stock returns during the First Great Moderation, which occurred during a period without a U.S. central bank, is similar to that observed for the Second Great Moderation (1984–2007).
Why Are Modern Bureaucracies Special? State Support to Private Firms in Early Eighteenth-Century France
Authors: Beuve Jean , Brousseau Eric , Sgard Jérôme
Published: November 2017

TheBureau du Commerceallocated rights and rents to private entrepreneurs via a mix of hierarchical division of labor and peer-based collegial deliberation. This set-up reflected an attempt to maximize information and expertise, but also allowed for the recognition of private rights and social interests. The final decisions of theBureau(for or against each demand), and the qualitative arguments brought forward during the procedure, are robust predictors of eventual decisions. We see this result as an indication that impersonal, rational and informed decision-making could be obtained even within a patrimonialist, rent-seeking State.
Physical Intentions: Exploring Michel Waisvisz’s The Hands (Movement 1)
Authors: Bellona Jon
Published: November 2017

Through a musical examination of The Hands (Movement 1) (1986), this article reveals musical developments of Michel Waisvisz’s early performance practice with The Hands. Waisvisz’s digital musical instrument, The Hands, helped shape the body as a recognisable agent of musical structure; this article details how the instrument controls relate to musical gesture and reveals the physical efforts of the composer through spectral analyses of the sound recording and an investigation of a 1987 performance video. The rich context of The Hands – the instrument controls, Waisvisz’s decades-long dedication to the instrument’s potential and, more centrally, the exploration of human effort in performance – have made this pioneering live-performance system for electronic music stand for more than just a musical instrument. Many authors cite Michel Waisvisz’s Hands technology but few provide musical analyses of Waisvisz’s music. The musical analysis of The Hands (Movement 1) (1986) highlights the art practice of a seminal composer–performer through one of his most important digital musical instruments and signals how the body became an instrument for playing digital electronic music.
The UN Security Council and the Political Economy of the WPS Resolutions
Authors: Basu Soumita
Published: November 2017

As of June 2017, there were eight United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs) on “women and peace and security”—UNSCRs 1325, 1820, 1888, 1889, 1960, 2106, 2122, and 2242. These UNSCRs recognize the gendered nature of armed conflicts and peace processes. They propose institutional provisions geared mainly toward protecting women and girls during armed conflicts and promoting their participation in conflict resolution and prevention. In addition, in March 2016, the Security Council adopted UNSCR 2272, which recommends concrete steps to combat sexual exploitation and abuse in United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations, an issue that is of significant concern for women, peace, and security (WPS) advocates. The volume of resolutions and policy literature on WPS would suggest that UNSCR 1325 and the follow-up UNSCRs have become central to the mandate of the Security Council. Yet there is a paucity of financial resources to pay for implementation of the resolutions; this has been described as “perhaps the most serious and persistent obstacle … over the past 15 years” (UN Women 2015, 372).
Colloidal shuttles for programmable cargo transport
Authors: Demirörs Ahmet F. , Eichenseher Fritz , Loessner Martin J. , Studart André R.
Published: November 2017

The active transport of cargo molecules within cells is essential for life. Developing synthetic strategies for cargo control in living or inanimate thermal systems could lead to powerful tools to manipulate chemical gradients at the microscale and thus drive processes out of equilibrium to realize work. Here we demonstrate a colloidal analog of the complex biological shuttles responsible for molecular trafficking in cells. Our colloidal shuttles consist of magneto-dielectric particles that are loaded with cargo particles or living cells through size-selective dielectrophoretic trapping using electrical fields. The loaded colloidal shuttle can be transported with magnetic field gradients before cargo is released at the target location by switching off the electrical field. Such spatiotemporal control over the distribution of chemically active cargo in a reversible fashion can be potentially exploited for fundamental biological research or for the development of novel technologies for advanced cell culturing, drug discovery and medical diagnosis.
Restoration of patterned vision with an engineered photoactivatable G protein-coupled receptor
Authors: Berry Michael H. , Holt Amy , Levitz Joshua , Broichhagen Johannes , Gaub Benjamin M. , Visel Meike , Stanley Cherise , Aghi Krishan , Kim Yang Joon , Cao Kevin , Kramer Richard H. , Trauner Dirk , Flannery John , Isacoff Ehud Y.
Published: November 2017

Retinitis pigmentosa results in blindness due to degeneration of photoreceptors, but spares other retinal cells, leading to the hope that expression of light-activated signaling proteins in the surviving cells could restore vision. We used a retinal G protein-coupled receptor, mGluR2, which we chemically engineered to respond to light. In retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) of blind rd1 mice, photoswitch-charged mGluR2 (“SNAG-mGluR2”) evoked robust OFF responses to light, but not in wild-type retinas, revealing selectivity for RGCs that have lost photoreceptor input. SNAG-mGluR2 enabled animals to discriminate parallel from perpendicular lines and parallel lines at varying spacing. Simultaneous viral delivery of the inhibitory SNAG-mGluR2 and excitatory light-activated ionotropic glutamate receptor LiGluR yielded a distribution of expression ratios, restoration of ON, OFF and ON-OFF light responses and improved visual acuity. Thus, SNAG-mGluR2 restores patterned vision and combinatorial light response diversity provides a new logic for enhanced-acuity retinal prosthetics.
Observed positive vegetation-rainfall feedbacks in the Sahel dominated by a moisture recycling mechanism
Authors: Yu Yan , Notaro Michael , Wang Fuyao , Mao Jiafu , Shi Xiaoying , Wei Yaxing
Published: November 2017

Classic, model-based theory of land-atmosphere interactions across the Sahel promote positive vegetation-rainfall feedbacks dominated by surface albedo mechanism. However, neither the proposed positive vegetation-rainfall feedback nor its underlying albedo mechanism has been convincingly demonstrated using observational data. Here, we present observational evidence for the region’s proposed positive vegetation-rainfall feedback on the seasonal to interannual time scale, and find that it is associated with a moisture recycling mechanism, rather than the classic albedo-based mechanism. Positive anomalies of remotely sensed vegetation greenness across the Sahel during the late and post-monsoon periods favor enhanced evapotranspiration, precipitable water, convective activity and rainfall, indicative of amplified moisture recycling. The identified modest low-level cooling and anomalous atmospheric subsidence in response to positive vegetation greenness anomalies are counter to the responses expected through the classic vegetation-albedo feedback mechanism. The observational analysis further reveals enhanced dust emissions in response to diminished Sahel vegetation growth, potentially contributing to the positive vegetation-rainfall feedback.
Erratum: Brain structural plasticity with spaceflight
Authors: Koppelmans Vincent , Bloomberg Jacob J , Mulavara Ajitkumar P , Seidler Rachael D
Published: November 2017

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML version of this article.
Endogenous Annexin-A1 Regulates Haematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilisation and Inflammatory Response Post Myocardial Infarction in Mice In Vivo
Authors: Qin Cheng Xue , Finlayson Siobhan B. , Al-Sharea Annas , Tate Mitchel , De Blasio Miles J. , Deo Minh , Rosli Sarah , Prakoso Darnel , Thomas Colleen J. , Kiriazis Helen , Gould Eleanor , Yang Yuan H. , Morand Eric F. , Perretti Mauro , Murphy Andrew J. , Du Xiao-Jun , Gao Xiao-Ming , Ritchie Rebecca H.
Published: November 2017

Endogenous anti-inflammatory annexin-A1 (ANX-A1) plays an important role in preserving left ventricular (LV) viability and function after ischaemic insults in vitro, but its long-term cardioprotective actions in vivo are largely unknown. We tested the hypothesis that ANX-A1-deficiency exaggerates inflammation, haematopoietic stem progenitor cell (HSPC) activity and LV remodelling in response to myocardial ischaemia in vivo. Adult ANX-A1−/− mice subjected to coronary artery occlusion exhibited increased infarct size and LV macrophage content after 24–48 h reperfusion compared with wildtype (WT) counterparts. In addition, ANX-A1−/− mice exhibited greater expansion of HSPCs and altered pattern of HSPC mobilisation 8 days post-myocardial infarction, with increased circulating neutrophils and platelets, consistent with increased cardiac inflammation as a result of increased myeloid invading injured myocardium in response to MI. Furthermore, ANX-A1−/− mice exhibited significantly increased expression of LV pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic genes and collagen deposition after MI compared to WT counterparts. ANX-A1-deficiency increased cardiac necrosis, inflammation, hypertrophy and fibrosis following MI, accompanied by exaggerated HSPC activity and impaired macrophage phenotype. These findings suggest that endogenous ANX-A1 regulates mobilisation and differentiation of HSPCs. Limiting excessive monocyte/neutrophil production may limit LV damage in vivo. Our findings support further development of novel ANX-A1-based therapies to improve cardiac outcomes after MI.
Spindle associated membrane protein 1 (Samp1) is required for the differentiation of muscle cells
Authors: Jafferali Mohammed Hakim , Figueroa Ricardo A. , Hasan Mehedi , Hallberg Einar
Published: November 2017

Muscles are developed and regenerated in a differentiation process called myogenesis, which involves components of the nuclear envelope. We have investigated Samp1 (Spindle Associated Membrane Protein 1), a transmembrane nuclear envelope protein, which interacts with emerin and lamin A, both of which are linked to Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD). We found that the levels of Samp1 increased seven-fold during differentiation of mouse C2C12 muscle progenitor cells. To test if Samp1 could have a role in myogenesis we developed stable C2C12 knockdown cell lines expressing short hairpin RNA targeting Samp1 expression. The Samp1 depleted C2C12 cells displayed normal mobility and normal distribution of emerin and lamin A. However, Samp1 depletion increased ERK signaling and completely blocked differentiation of C2C12 cells, which failed to express myogenic marker proteins and failed to form myotubes. The block in myogenesis in Samp1 depleted cells was completely rescued by ectopic expression of RNAi resistant human Samp1, showing that Samp1 is required for muscle differentiation.
CMScaller: an R package for consensus molecular subtyping of colorectal cancer pre-clinical models
Authors: Eide Peter W. , Bruun Jarle , Lothe Ragnhild A. , Sveen Anita
Published: November 2017

Colorectal cancers (CRCs) can be divided into four gene expression-based biologically distinct consensus molecular subtypes (CMS). This classification provides a potential framework for stratified treatment, but to identify novel CMS-drug associations, translation of the subtypes to pre-clinical models is essential. The currently available classifier is dependent on gene expression signals from the immune and stromal compartments of tumors and fails to identify the poor-prognostic CMS4-mesenchymal group in immortalized cell lines, patient-derived organoids and xenografts. To address this, we present a novel CMS classifier based on a filtered set of cancer cell-intrinsic, subtype-enriched gene expression markers. This new classifier, referred to as CMScaller, recapitulated the subtypes in bothin vitroandin vivomodels (551 in total). Importantly, by analyzing public drug response data from patient-derived xenografts and cell lines, we show that the subtypes are predictive of response to standard CRC drugs. CMScaller is available as an R package.
Monkeys share the neurophysiological basis for encoding sound periodicities captured by the frequency-following response with humans
Authors: Ayala Yaneri A. , Lehmann Alexandre , Merchant Hugo
Published: November 2017

The extraction and encoding of acoustical temporal regularities are fundamental for human cognitive auditory abilities such as speech or beat entrainment. Because the comparison of the neural sensitivity to temporal regularities between human and animals is fundamental to relate non-invasive measures of auditory processing to their neuronal basis, here we compared the neural representation of auditory periodicities between human and non-human primates by measuring scalp-recorded frequency-following response (FFR). We found that rhesus monkeys can resolve the spectrotemporal structure of periodic stimuli to a similar extent as humans by exhibiting a homologous FFR potential to the speech syllable /da/. The FFR in both species is robust and phase-locked to the fundamental frequency of the sound, reflecting an effective neural processing of the fast-periodic information of subsyllabic cues. Our results thus reveal a conserved neural ability to track acoustical regularities within the primate order. These findings open the possibility to study the neurophysiology of complex sound temporal processing in the macaque subcortical and cortical areas, as well as the associated experience-dependent plasticity across the auditory pathway in behaving monkeys.
Mineral particles stimulate innate immunity through neutrophil extracellular traps containing HMGB1
Authors: Peng Hsin-Hsin , Liu Yu-Ju , Ojcius David M. , Lee Chiou-Mei , Chen Ren-Hao , Huang Pei-Rong , Martel Jan , Young John D.
Published: November 2017

Calcium phosphate-based mineralo-organic particles form spontaneously in the body and may represent precursors of ectopic calcification. We have shown earlier that these particles induce activation of caspase-1 and secretion of IL-1β by macrophages. However, whether the particles may produce other effects on immune cells is unclear. Here, we show that these particles induce the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in a size-dependent manner by human neutrophils. Intracellular production of reactive oxygen species is required for particle-induced NET release by neutrophils. NETs contain the high-mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1), a DNA-binding protein capable of inducing secretion of TNF-α by a monocyte/macrophage cell line and primary macrophages. HMGB1 functions as a ligand of Toll-like receptors 2 and 4 on macrophages, leading to activation of the MyD88 pathway and TNF-α production. Furthermore, HMGB1 is critical to activate the particle-induced pro-inflammatory cascade in the peritoneum of mice. These results indicate that mineral particles promote pro-inflammatory responses by engaging neutrophils and macrophages via signaling of danger signals through NETs.
Ice nucleation triggered by negative pressure
Authors: Marcolli Claudia
Published: November 2017

Homogeneous ice nucleation needs supercooling of more than 35 K to become effective. When pressure is applied to water, the melting and the freezing points both decrease. Conversely, melting and freezing temperatures increase under negative pressure, i.e. when water is stretched. This study presents an extrapolation of homogeneous ice nucleation temperatures from positive to negative pressures as a basis for further exploration of ice nucleation under negative pressure. It predicts that increasing negative pressure at temperatures below about 262 K eventually results in homogeneous ice nucleation while at warmer temperature homogeneous cavitation, i. e. bubble nucleation, dominates. Negative pressure occurs locally and briefly when water is stretched due to mechanical shock, sonic waves, or fragmentation. The occurrence of such transient negative pressure should suffice to trigger homogeneous ice nucleation at large supercooling in the absence of ice-nucleating surfaces. In addition, negative pressure can act together with ice-inducing surfaces to enhance their intrinsic ice nucleation efficiency. Dynamic ice nucleation can be used to improve properties and uniformity of frozen products by applying ultrasonic fields and might also be relevant for the freezing of large drops in rainclouds.
Access to a main alphaherpesvirus receptor, located basolaterally in the respiratory epithelium, is masked by intercellular junctions
Authors: Van Cleemput Jolien , Poelaert Katrien C. K. , Laval Kathlyn , Maes Roger , Hussey Gisela S. , Van den Broeck Wim , Nauwynck Hans J.
Published: November 2017

The respiratory epithelium of humans and animals is frequently exposed to alphaherpesviruses, originating from either external exposure or reactivation from latency. To date, the polarity of alphaherpesvirus infection in the respiratory epithelium and the role of respiratory epithelial integrity herein has not been studied. Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV1), a well-known member of the alphaherpesvirus family, was used to infect equine respiratory mucosal explants and primary equine respiratory epithelial cells (EREC), grown at the air-liquid interface. EHV1 binding to and infection of mucosal explants was greatly enhanced upon destruction of the respiratory epithelium integrity with EGTA or N-acetylcysteine. EHV1 preferentially bound to and entered EREC at basolateral cell surfaces. Restriction of infection via apical inoculation was overcome by disruption of intercellular junctions. Finally, basolateral but not apical EHV1 infection of EREC was dependent on cellular N-linked glycans. Overall, our findings demonstrate that integrity of the respiratory epithelium is crucial in the host’s innate defence against primary alphaherpesvirus infections. In addition, by targeting a basolaterally located receptor in the respiratory epithelium, alphaherpesviruses have generated a strategy to efficiently escape from host defence mechanisms during reactivation from latency.
A combined experimental and theoretical investigation on cellular blebbing
Authors: Fang Chao , Hui T. H. , Wei X. , Shao X. , Lin Yuan
Published: November 2017

Although accumulating evidence has demonstrated the important role of membrane blebbing in various cellular processes, the fundamental question of how the initiation/evolution of blebs are influenced by physical factors like membrane-cortex interactions and intracellular pressure remains unclear. Here, we report a combined modeling and experimental study to address this outstanding issue. Specifically, boundary integral method was used to track the motion of membrane (in 3D) during blebbing while possible rupture of the bilayer-cortex adhesion has also been taken into account. We showed that, for a given differential pressure across the cell membrane, the size of the weakened cortex must be over a critical value for blebbing to occur and the steady-state volume of a bleb is proportional to its initial growth rate, all in good agreement with recent experiments. The predicted shape evolution of blebs also matches well with our observations. Finally, a blebbing map, summarizing the essential physics involved, was obtained which exhibits three distinct regimes: no bleb formation corresponding to a low intracellular pressure or a small weakened cortex region; bleb formed with a fixed width when the disrupted cortex zone is very large; and a growing bleb resulted from progressive membrane-cortex detachment under intermediate weakened cortex size.
Direct conversion of human fibroblasts into hepatocyte-like cells by ATF5, PROX1, FOXA2, FOXA3, and HNF4A transduction
Authors: Nakamori Daiki , Akamine Hiroki , Takayama Kazuo , Sakurai Fuminori , Mizuguchi Hiroyuki
Published: November 2017

Recently, it has been reported that human hepatocyte-like cells can be generated from fibroblasts by direct reprogramming technology. However, the conversion efficiency of human induced hepatocyte-like cells (hiHeps) is not high enough. In addition, comparative analysis with the existing models of hepatocytes, such as human iPS cell-derived hepatocyte-like cells and primary human hepatocytes, has not been sufficiently carried out. In this study, we screened hepatic transcription factors for efficient direct hepatic reprogramming and compared hepatic functions between hiHeps and other existing hepatocyte models. We found that human fibroblasts were efficiently converted into hiHeps by using a combination of ATF5, PROX1, FOXA2, FOXA3, and HNF4A (albumin+/alpha-1 antitrypsin+ cells = 27%, asialoglycoprotein receptor 1+ cells = 22%). The CYP expression levels and CYP activities in hiHeps were higher than those in human iPS cell-derived hepatocyte-like cells, but lower than those in short-term (4 hr) cultured primary human hepatocytes and primary human hepatocytes collected immediately after thawing. These results suggested that functional hiHeps could be efficiently generated by ATF5, PROX1, FOXA2, FOXA3, and HNF4A transduction. We believe that hiHeps generated by our method will be useful for the drug-discovery activities such as hepatotoxicity screening and drug metabolism tests.
Prevalence of mutations linked to antimalarial resistance in Plasmodium falciparum from Chhattisgarh, Central India: A malaria elimination point of view
Authors: Patel Priyanka , Bharti Praveen K. , Bansal Devendra , Ali Nazia A. , Raman Rajive K. , Mohapatra Pradyumna K. , Sehgal Rakesh , Mahanta Jagadish , Sultan Ali A. , Singh Neeru
Published: November 2017

Antimalarial drug resistance is a major global challenge in malaria control and elimination. Mutations in six different genes ofPlasmodium falciparum(crt,mdr1,dhfr,dhps, ATPase6andK-13propeller) that confer resistance to chloroquine, sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine and artemisinin-based combination therapy were analyzed in samples from Chhattisgarh. Seventy-eight percent of the samples were found to have apfcrtmutation (53% double, 24% triple and 1% single mutant), and 59% ofpfmdr1genes were found to have an N86Y mutation. Double mutations were recorded inpfdhfrgene among 76% of the samples while only 6% of the samples harbored mutant genotypes inpfdhps. No mutation was found in theK-13 propellergene, while only one sample showed a mutant genotype for thePfATPase6gene. The Tajima test confirmed that there is no role of evolutionary natural selection in drug resistance, and gene pairwise linkage of disequilibrium showed significant intragenic association. The high level ofpfcrtmutations suggests that parasite resistance to chloroquine is almost at a fixed level, whereas resistance to SP is evolving in the population and parasites remain sensitive to artemisinin derivatives. These findings provide potential information and understanding of the evolution and spread of different drug resistance alleles in Chhattisgarh.
Affective emotion increases heart rate variability and activates left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in post-traumatic growth
Authors: Wei Chuguang , Han Jin , Zhang Yuqing , Hannak Walter , Dai Yanyan , Liu Zhengkui
Published: November 2017

The present study evaluated the activities of heart rate variability (HRV) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in response to the presentation of affective pictures correlated with posttraumatic growth (PTG) among adults exposed to the Tianjin explosion incident. The participants who were directly involved in the Tianjin explosions were divided into control, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and PTG group according to the scores of PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version and PTG Inventory survey. All participants received exposure to affective images. Electrocardiogram recording took place during the process for the purpose of analyzing HRV. Meanwhile, functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was used to measure DLPFC activity through hemodynamic response. Our results indicated that, while performing the negative and positive picture stimulating, PTG increased both in low and high frequency components of HRV compared with the control group, but PTSD was not observed in this phenomenon. Moreover, the fNIRS data revealed that PTG had an increased activation in the left DLPFC compared to the control in the condition of negative pictures stimulating, wheras PTSD showed a higher activation in the right DLPFC while receiving positive pictures stimulating. To our knowledge, this is the first study which provides the differences between PTSD and PTG in emotional regulation.
Habitat-dependent changes in vigilance behaviour of Red-crowned Crane influenced by wildlife tourism
Authors: Li Donglai , Liu Yu , Sun Xinghai , Lloyd Huw , Zhu Shuyu , Zhang Shuyan , Wan Dongmei , Zhang Zhengwang
Published: November 2017

The Endangered Red-crowned Crane (Grus japonensis) is one of the most culturally iconic and sought-after species by wildlife tourists. Here we investigate how the presence of tourists influence the vigilance behaviour of cranes foraging in Suaeda salsa salt marshes and S. salsa/Phragmites australis mosaic habitat in the Yellow River Delta, China. We found that both the frequency and duration of crane vigilance significantly increased in the presence of wildlife tourists. Increased frequency in crane vigilance only occurred in the much taller S. salsa/P. australis mosaic vegetation whereas the duration of vigilance showed no significant difference between the two habitats. Crane vigilance declined with increasing distance from wildlife tourists in the two habitats, with a minimum distance of disturbance triggering a high degree of vigilance by cranes identified at 300 m. The presence of wildlife tourists may represent a form of disturbance to foraging cranes but is habitat dependent. Taller P. australis vegetation serves primarily as a visual obstruction for cranes, causing them to increase the frequency of vigilance behaviour. Our findings have important implications for the conservation of the migratory red-crowned crane population that winters in the Yellow River Delta and can help inform visitor management.
Spatially resolved Raman spectroscopy of defects, strains, and strain fluctuations in domain structures of monolayer graphene
Authors: Lee Taegeon , Mas’ud Felisita A , Kim Myung Jong , Rho Heesuk
Published: November 2017

We report spatially resolved Raman scattering results of polycrystalline monolayer graphene films to study the effects of defects, strains, and strain fluctuations on the electrical performance of graphene. Two-dimensional Raman images of the integrated intensities of the G and D peaks (IG and ID) were used to identify the graphene domain boundaries. The domain boundaries were also identified using Raman images of ID/IG and I2D/IG ratios and 2D spectral widths. Interestingly, the ID maps showed that the defects within individual domains significantly increased for the graphene with large domain size. The correlation analysis between the G and 2D peak energies showed that biaxial tensile strain was more developed in the graphene with large domain size than in the graphene with small domain size. Furthermore, spatial variations in the spectral widths of the 2D peaks over the graphene layer showed that strain fluctuations were more pronounced in the graphene with large domain size. It was observed that the mobility (sheet resistance) was decreased (increased) for the graphene with large domain size. The degradation of the electrical transport properties of the graphene with large domain size is mainly due to the defects, tensile strains, and local strain fluctuations within the individual domains.
Transient experimental demonstration of an elliptical thermal camouflage device
Authors: He Xiao , Yang Tianzhi , Zhang Xingwei , Wu Linzhi , He Xiao Qiao
Published: November 2017

The camouflage phenomenon (invisibility or illusion) of thermodynamics has attracted great attentions and many experimental demonstrations have been achieved by virtue of simplified approaches or the scattering cancellation. However, all of the experiments conducted are limited in the invisibility of spheres or two-dimensional (2D) cylinders. An ellipsoid camouflage device with a homogenous and isotropic shell is firstly reported based on the idea of the neutral inclusion and a 2D elliptical thermal camouflage device is realized by a thin-layer cloak of homogeneous isotropic material firstly. The robustness of this scheme is validated in both 2D and 3D configurations. The current work may provide a new avenue to the control of the thermal signatures and we believe this work will broaden the current research and pave a new path to the control of the path of the heat transfer.
An external reference 1H qNMR method (PULCON) for characterization of high purity cocaine seizures
Authors: Benedito L. E. C. , Maldaner A. O. , Oliveira A. L.
Published: November 2017

An external reference 1H qNMR method is developed and validated for the determination of three major alkaloids – cocaine, cis-cinnamoylcocaine and trans-cinnamoylcocaine – in high purity cocaine seizures.
Zwitterionic stealth peptide-protected gold nanoparticles enable long circulation without the accelerated blood clearance phenomenon
Authors: Zhao Jue , Qin Zhihui , Wu Jina , Li Lijie , Jin Qiao , Ji Jian
Published: November 2017

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), which is considered as a gold standard for surface modification of nanoparticles in biomedical applications, has been reported to encounter the accelerated blood clearance (ABC) phenomenon after repeated administration.
A chemoselective cleavable fluorescence turn-ON linker for proteomic studies
Authors: Liew Si Si , Du Shubo , Ge Jingyan , Pan Sijun , Jang Se-Young , Lee Jun-Seok , Yao Shao Q.
Published: November 2017

We have developed a trifunctional cleavable fluorescence turn-ON linker for chemoproteomic applications.
Boron and nitrogen co-doped ordered microporous carbons with high surface areas
Authors: Castro-Muñiz Alberto , Nishihara Hirotomo , Hirota Tetsuya , Ohwada Mao , Li Li-Xiang , Tsuda Tetsuya , Kuwabata Susumu , Maruyama Jun , Kyotani Takashi
Published: November 2017

Boron and nitrogen co-doped ordered microporous carbons with high surface areas are obtained by using NaY zeolite as a hard template and an ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetracyanoborate (EMIT), as a BN source.
2-(1-Methylhydrazinyl)pyridine as a reductively removable directing group in a cobalt-catalyzed C(sp2)–H bond alkenylation/annulation cascade
Authors: Zhai Shengxian , Qiu Shuxian , Chen Xiaoming , Wu Jiang , Zhao Hua , Tao Cheng , Li Yun , Cheng Bin , Wang Huifei , Zhai Hongbin
Published: November 2017

A new application of 2-(1-methylhydrazinyl)pyridine as a reductively bidentate directing group to directing cobalt-catalyzed C(sp2)–H alkenylation/annulation to form isoquinoline backbones.
Improving biomass pyrolysis economics by integrating vapor and liquid phase upgrading
Authors: Iisa Kristiina , Robichaud David J. , Watson Michael J. , ten Dam Jeroen , Dutta Abhijit , Mukarakate Calvin , Kim Seonah , Nimlos Mark R. , Baldwin Robert M.
Published: November 2017

Partial deoxygenation of bio-oil by catalytic fast pyrolysis with subsequent coupling and hydrotreating can lead to improved economics and will aid commercial deployment of pyrolytic conversion of biomass technologies.
Rapid spheroid clearing on a microfluidic chip
Authors: Silva Santisteban Tomas , Rabajania Omid , Kalinina Iana , Robinson Stephen , Meier Matthias
Published: November 2017

Clearing methods enable deep tissue imaging. This work presents a microfluidic approach for reducing the clearing time of hydrogel embedded spheroids by osmotic pumping.
Construction of a Z-scheme core–shell g-C3N4/MCNTs/BiOI nanocomposite semiconductor with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity
Authors: You Zengyu , Shen Qianhong , Su Yuxuan , Yu Yang , Wang Hui , Qin Tian , Zhang Fang , Cheng Di , Yang Hui
Published: November 2017

An S–C–S Z-scheme core–shell g-C3N4/MCNTs/BiOI nanocomposite semiconductor with enhanced photocatalytic activity was designed and fabricated.
Construction of 2D-composite HCa2Nb3O10/CaNb2O6 heterostructured photocatalysts with enhanced hydrogen production performance
Authors: Liu Yue , Zhou Yansong , Lv Chade , Zhang Congmin , Jin Xiaoli , Meng Qingqiang , Chen Gang
Published: November 2017

Semiconductor 2D-composite heterostructures are of great interest in water splitting due to their unique structure.
Bimodal phase separated block copolymer/homopolymer blends self-assembly for hierarchical porous metal nanomesh electrodes
Authors: Kim Ju Young , Jin Hyeong Min , Jeong Seong-Jun , Chang Taeyong , Kim Bong Hoon , Cha Seung Keun , Kim Jun Soo , Shin Dong Ok , Choi Jin Young , Kim Jang Hwan , Yang Geon Gug , Jeon Suwan , Lee Young-Gi , Kim Kwang Man , Shin Jonghwa , Kim Sang Ouk
Published: November 2017

Bimodal macro- and micro-phase separation of block copolymer/homopolymer blends for multiscale porous nanostructures.
Facile synthesis of hierarchical nanocomposites of aligned polyaniline nanorods on reduced graphene oxide nanosheets for microwave absorbing materials
Authors: Zhang Yuefang , Liu Jia , Zhang Yahong , Liu Jin , Duan Yuping
Published: November 2017

Hierarchical nanocomposites of aligned polyaniline nanorods on reduced graphene oxide nanosheets are synthesized in an in situ polymerization process.
Recycling and reuse of waste artificial turfviasolid-state shear milling technology
Authors: Liu Qing , He Pan , Yang Shuangqiao , Bai Shibing , Duan Wenfeng
Published: November 2017

The strong 3-dimensional shear forces of solid-state shear milling technology allowed ultrafine milling of WAT to recycle and reuse it.
Simultaneous enhancements in the mechanical, thermal stability, and flame retardant properties of poly(1,4-butylene terephthalate) nanocomposites with a novel phosphorus–nitrogen-containing polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane
Authors: Zhu San-E , Wang Li-Li , Wang Ming-Zhen , Chun-Yin Yuen Anthony , Bo-Yuan Chen Timothy , Yang Wei , Pan Tian-Zhu , Zhi You-Ran , Lu Hong-Dian
Published: November 2017

A novel functionalized POSS greatly reinforced the mechanical, thermal stability, and flame retardant properties of PBT.
On the solvation of metal ions in liquid ammonia: a molecular simulation study of M(NH2)x(NH3)ycomplexes as a function of pH
Authors: Zahn Dirk
Published: November 2017

The solvation of mono-, di- and trivalent metal ions in liquid ammonia is characterized from molecular simulations using a ‘local’ pKconcept to analyse metal-assisted amide formation.
Poly(acrylonitrile-co-2-methylenesuccinamic acid) as a potential carbon fiber precursor: preparation and stabilization
Authors: Chen Huifang , Pan Yuexiu , Hou Shengfei , Shao Zhilin , Hong Yuqing , Ju Anqi
Published: November 2017

A bifunctional comonomer was synthesized to prepare polyacrylonitrile-co-(2-methylenesuccinamic acid) copolymer, which can improve the stabilization of polyacrylonitrile as carbon fiber precursor.
Synthesis of spiro-3H-indazoles via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of arynes with 6-diazocyclohex-2-en-1-one derivatives and fused-2H-indazoles by subsequent rearrangement
Authors: Cheng Bin , Bao Bian , Zu Bing , Duan Xiaoguang , Duan Shengguo , Li Yun , Zhai Hongbin
Published: November 2017

Rare spiro-3H-indazoles bearing a carbonyl group adjacent to the spirocyclic quarternary carbon were prepared via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of arynes with 6-diazocyclohex-2-en-1-one derivatives under mild conditions.
Structural lithium ion battery electrolytesviareaction induced phase-separation
Authors: Ihrner N. , Johannisson W. , Sieland F. , Zenkert D. , Johansson M.
Published: November 2017

Novel structural battery electrolytes with both high ionic conductivity and stiffness in combination.
Stainless steel with tailored porosity using canister-free hot isostatic pressing for improved osseointegration implants
Authors: Hassanin Hany , Al-Kinani Ali A. , ElShaer Amr , Polycarpou Elena , El-Sayed Mahmoud Ahmed , Essa Khamis
Published: November 2017

Porous biomedical implants hold great potential in preventing stress shielding while improving bone osseointegration and regeneration.
An ultra-small thermosensitive nanocomposite with a Mo154-core as a comprehensive platform for NIR-triggered photothermal-chemotherapy
Authors: Zhang Simin , Chen Haobin , Zhang Guohua , Kong Xueping , Yin Shengyan , Li Bao , Wu Lixin
Published: November 2017

A novel route to use a giant POM cluster-based supramolecular complex as a new kind of photothermal-chemotherapeutic agent.
Guiding growth orientation of two-dimensional Au nanocrystals with marine chitin nanofibrils for ultrasensitive and ultrafast sensing hybrids
Authors: Chen Yijun , Liu Zhengqin , Li Mingjie , Wu Xiaochen , You Jun , Li Chaoxu
Published: November 2017

Chitin nanofibrils are able to modulate two-dimensional Au nanocrystals from nanoribbons, nanokites to nanosheets, showing remarkable application in wearable sensing devices.
Co-precipitation synthesis and photoluminescence properties of BaTiF6:Mn4+: an efficient red phosphor for warm white LEDs
Authors: Liu Yong , Gao Guojun , Huang Lin , Zhu Yiwen , Zhang Xuejie , Yu Jinbo , Richards Bryce S. , Xuan Tongtong , Wang Zhengliang , Wang Jing
Published: November 2017

BaTiF6:Mn4+: a fluoride-based red phosphor with a sharp emission line and broad absorption in the blue region used for warm WLEDs.
The architecture of the electron transport layer for a perovskite solar cell
Authors: Mohamad Noh Mohamad Firdaus , Teh Chin Hoong , Daik Rusli , Lim Eng Liang , Yap Chi Chin , Ibrahim Mohd Adib , Ahmad Ludin Norasikin , Mohd Yusoff Abd. Rashid bin , Jang Jin , Mat Teridi Mohd Asri
Published: November 2017

The architecture of the electron transport layer strongly influences the device efficiency, long-term stability, and hysteresis behavior of perovskite solar cells.
A computational study of photonic materials based on Ni bis(dithiolene) fused with benzene, possessing gigantic second hyperpolarizabilities
Authors: Avramopoulos Aggelos , Otero Nicolás , Reis Heribert , Karamanis Panaghiotis , Papadopoulos Manthos G.
Published: November 2017

Design of efficient photonic materials with exceptionally large nonlinearities: linear and planar oligomers based on nickel bis(dithiolene) and π-electron linkers.
Statistical search range adaptation solution for effective frame rate up‐conversion
Authors: Hoang Van Xiem
Published: November 2017

The recent development of advanced television systems has demonstrated a need for an efficient video conversion technique. In this scenario, frame rate up conversion (FRUC) solutions play an important role due to their benefits in both increasing the viewing quality experience and reducing the cost of video transmission. However, with the recent increase in video resolution, notably from standard definition to high definition (HD) and ultra HD, FRUC now requires not only better interpolated frame quality but also lower FRUC time processing. Considering this problem, this study proposes a novel statistical learning based adaptive search range (SR) solution to enable an effective FRUC mechanism. In the proposed adaptive SR solution, a set of spatial‐temporal features are carefully defined and exploited to adaptively assign an appropriate SR value to each considered block, notably by formulating the SR adaptation as a classification problem and using the well‐known support vector machine framework for the classification task. Experimental results conducted on a rich set of common video test sequences show the advantages of the proposed adaptive SR solution, notably in both interpolated frame quality improvement and time processing reduction.