bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High sensitivity of a carbon nanowall-based sensor for detection of organic vapours
Authors: Slobodian P. , Cvelbar U. , Riha P. , Olejnik R. , Matyas J. , Filipič G. , Watanabe H. , Tajima S. , Kondo H. , Sekine M. , Hori M.
Published: October 2015

The high sensitivity in response, selectivity and reversibility was achieved on a carbon nanowall-based sensor for the vapor detection of volatile organic compounds, which were tested by an electrical resistance method during adsorption and desorption cycles.
Synthesis and characterization of poly-aluminum silicate sulphate (PASS) for ultra-low density fiberboard (ULDF)
Authors: Chen Tingjie , Niu Min , Wang Xiaodong , Wei Wei , Liu Jinghong , Xie Yongqun
Published: October 2015

Poly-aluminum silicate sulphate (PASS) was synthesized in a mixed aqueous solution of sodium silicate and aluminum silicateviaa sol–gel method for use in ultra-low density fiberboard (ULDF).
Reinforced chitosan beads by chitin nanofibers for the immobilization of β-glucosidase
Authors: Liu Liang , Lv Hechan , Jiang Jie , Zheng Ke , Ye Wenbo , Wang Zhiguo , Fan Yimin
Published: October 2015

Chitin nanofibers prepared from partially deacetylated α-chitin were used as fillers to form DEChN/CS(chitosan) composite beads for application as immobilization supports.
Study on the performance mechanism of methacrylate pour point depressant in soybean biodiesel blends
Authors: Ma Peng , Xue Yuan , Zhao Weina , Lan Guoxian , Hang Zhijun , Liu Fan , Han Sheng
Published: October 2015

The cold flow properties of soybean biodiesel blends with 0# diesel and methacrylate pour point depressant (10-320) were investigated in this study.
Synthesis of functionalized poly(vinyl acetate) mediated by alkyne-terminated RAFT agents
Authors: Góis Joana. R. , Popov Anatoliy V. , Guliashvili Tamaz , Serra Arménio C. , Coelho Jorge F. J.
Published: October 2015

Two new xanthates with alkyne functionalities were synthesized for the reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of vinyl acetate (VAc).
Preparation of a highly permeable alumina membrane via wet film phase inversion
Authors: Qin Wu , Peng Cheng , Wu Jianqing
Published: October 2015

Highly permeable alumina membrane has been prepared via wet film phase inversion. Orientated microtubular pores formed due to phase inversion of cellulose acetate.
An efficient one-pot decarboxylative aromatization of tetrahydro-β-carbolines by using N-chlorosuccinimide: total synthesis of norharmane, harmane and eudistomins
Authors: Kamal Ahmed , Sathish Manda , Prasanthi A. V. G. , Chetna Jadala , Tangella Yellaiah , Srinivasulu Vunnam , Shankaraiah Nagula , Alarifi Abdullah
Published: October 2015

A mild one-pot synthesis of β-carbolines from their tetrahydro-β-carboline acids has been developed via decorboxylative aromatization using N-chlorosuccinimide (NCS).
Novel In2S3/ZnWO4 heterojunction photocatalysts: facile synthesis and high-efficiency visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity
Authors: Wang Fangzhi , Li Wenjun , Gu Shaonan , Li Hongda , Zhou Hualei , Wu Xiaobin
Published: October 2015

Novel In2S3/ZnWO4 heterojunction photocatalysts with high-efficiency visible-light-driven photocatalytic activities were synthesized by a hydrothermal and surface-functionalized method.
One-pot synthesis of 3D flower-like heterostructured SnS2/MoS2 for enhanced supercapacitor behavior
Authors: Wang Lina , Ma Ying , Yang Min , Qi Yanxing
Published: October 2015

3D heterostructured SnS2/MoS2 for enhanced supercapacitor behavior was produced via a one-pot hydrothermal synthesis.
Novel three-dimensional macroporous PbO2 foam electrode for efficient electrocatalytic decolorization of dyes
Authors: Duan Tigang , Chen Ye , Wen Qing , Cong Yupeng , Duan Ying , Wang Yuyang
Published: October 2015

3D macroporous PbO2 foam electrode possesses a binder-free and highly-porous architecture, and ensures a high efficiency for degrading organic contaminants.
Multifunctional core–shell polymer–inorganic hybrid nanofibers prepared via block copolymer self-assembly
Authors: Sanwaria Sunita , Singh Sajan , Horechyy Andriy , Formanek Petr , Stamm Manfred , Srivastava Rajiv , Nandan Bhanu
Published: October 2015

A simple approach for fabricating multifunctional core–shell nanofibers via self-assembly of block copolymer has been demonstrated. The approach is versatile and could easily be extended to a range of targeted combination of nanoparticles.
Adjusting phase transition of titania-based nanotubes via hydrothermal and post treatment
Authors: Lu Haiqiang , Wang Ying , Wang Yuanyang , Liang Wensheng , Yao Jianfeng
Published: October 2015

Titania-based nanotubes are prepared via hydrothermal and post treatment of titania with different anatase/rutile ratios.
Asymmetric synthesis of spiro[chroman-3,3′-pyrazol] scaffolds with an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter via a oxa-Michael–Michael cascade strategy with bifunctional amine-thiourea organocatalysts
Authors: Zheng Weiping , Zhang Jiayong , Liu Shuang , Yu Chengbin , Miao Zhiwei
Published: October 2015

The chiral spiro[chroman-3,3′-pyrazol] derivatives have been synthesized through a catalytic oxa-Michael–Michael cascade reaction of 2-hydroxynitrostyrenes with 4-alkenyl pyrazolin-3-ones in good yields with moderate to high stereoselectivities.
A three dimensional nanowall of calcein/layered double hydroxide as an electrogenerated chemiluminescence sensor
Authors: Shi Wenying , Bai Liqian , Guo Jian , Zhao Yufei
Published: October 2015

This paper reports fabrication of a 3D nanowall structure with calcein intercalated into a layered double hydroxide, and explores its electrogenerated chemiluminescence property.
Dynamic behavior of impurities and native components in model LSM microelectrodes on YSZ
Authors: Norrman Kion , Hansen Karin Vels , Jacobsen Torben
Published: October 2015

Energy conversion materials exhibit complex dynamic behavior when subjected to elevated temperatures and polarization.
Size-dependent ligand exchange of colloidal CdSe nanocrystals with S2− ions
Authors: Liu Limin , Zhang Xianfeng , Ji Li , Li Hanwen , Yu Huijuan , Xu Fangjie , Hu Jianhua , Yang Dong , Dong Angang
Published: October 2015

An unexpected, size-dependent photoluminescence brightening phenomenon is observed during S2− treatment of colloidal CdSe nanocrystals.
Modernization of surfactant chemistry in the age of gemini and bio-surfactants: a review
Authors: Mondal Monohar Hossain , Malik Susanta , Roy Ankit , Saha Rumpa , Saha Bidyut
Published: October 2015

This review contains elaborate discussions on the efficiencies of gemini and bio-surfactants as modern generation green chemicals in various fields.
Bioactive sesquiterpene quinols and quinones from the marine sponge Dysidea avara
Authors: Jiao Wei-Hua , Xu Ting-Ting , Gu Bin-Bin , Shi Guo-Hua , Zhu Yan , Yang Fan , Han Bing-Nan , Wang Shu-Ping , Li Yu-Shan , Zhang Wei , Li Jia , Lin Hou-Wen
Published: October 2015

Reports the isolation, structure determination, and cytotoxic and NF-κB inhibitory activities of eight sesquiterpene quinols and quinones fromDysidea avara.
Integrated analysis of serum and intact muscle metabonomics identify metabolic profiles of cancer cachexia in a dynamic mouse model
Authors: QuanJun Yang , GenJin Yang , LiLi Wan , Yan Huo , YongLong Han , Jin Lu , Jie Li , JinLu Huang , Cheng Guo
Published: October 2015

An integrated analysis of 13 metabolites from the intact muscle gastrocnemius and 43 metabolites from the serum reveals five distinguishable metabolic features of cancer cachexia.
Poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-chlorotrifluoroethylene) (PVDF-CTFE) lithium-ion battery separator membranes prepared by phase inversion
Authors: Sousa R. E. , Kundu Manab , Gören A. , Silva M. M. , Liu Lifeng , Costa C. M. , Lanceros-Mendez S.
Published: October 2015

Separator membranes based on poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-chlorotrifluoroethylene) (PVDF-CTFE) were prepared by a solvent casting technique based on its phase diagram in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) solvent.
Discovery of new scaffolds from approved drugs as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
Authors: Chen Yao , Xu Xiaoli , Fu Tingming , Li Wei , Liu Zongliang , Sun Haopeng
Published: October 2015

Six approved drugs show acetylcholinesterase inhibition and can be the starting point in designing new acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs).
Flipping growth orientation of nanographitic structures by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition
Authors: Ghosh Subrata , Ganesan K. , Polaki S. R. , Ilango S. , Amirthapandian S. , Dhara S. , Kamruddin M. , Tyagi A. K.
Published: October 2015

Nanographitic structures (NGSs) with a multitude of morphological features are grown on SiO2/Si substrates by electron cyclotron resonance-plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (ECR-PECVD).
Hydrolysis of woody biomass by a biomass-derived reusable heterogeneous catalyst
Authors: Kobayashi Hirokazu , Kaiki Hiroyuki , Shrotri Abhijit , Techikawara Kota , Fukuoka Atsushi
Published: October 2015

A carbon catalyst prepared by air oxidation of woody biomass hydrolyses woody biomass, and the reaction residue is transformed back to the catalyst by the same air oxidation method.
Energetic compounds consisting of 1,2,5- and 1,3,4-oxadiazole rings
Authors: Tang Yongxing , He Chunlin , Mitchell Lauren A. , Parrish Damon A. , Shreeve Jean'ne M.
Published: October 2015

3-Nitroamino-4-(5-amino-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)furazan monohydrate (2·H2O), which is a combination of the nitroaminofurazan and 1,3,4-oxadiazole rings, was obtained by the nitration of 3-amino-4-(5-amino-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)furazan (1) with 100% nitric acid.
A unique “cage–cage” shaped hydrophobic fluoropolymer film derived from a novel double-decker structural POSS with a low dielectric constant
Authors: Jiang Qiyang , Zhang Weihai , Hao Jinmeng , Wei Yanfeng , Mu Jianxin , Jiang Zhenhua
Published: October 2015

A novel double-decker structural fluorinated POSS and a diphenol POSS were first synthesized for preparing a unique “cage–cage”-shaped hydrophobic fluoropolymer film with a low dielectric constant.
Cocaine inhibits store-operated Ca2+ entry in brain microvascular endothelial cells: critical role for sigma-1 receptors
Authors: Brailoiu G. Cristina , Deliu Elena , Console-Bram Linda M. , Soboloff Jonathan , Abood Mary E. , Unterwald Ellen M. , Brailoiu Eugen
Published: October 2015

Sigma-1 receptor (Sig-1R) is an intracellular chaperone protein with many ligands, located at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Binding of cocaine to Sig-1R has previously been found to modulate endothelial functions. In the present study, we show that cocaine dramatically inhibits store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE), a Ca2+ influx mechanism promoted by depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores, in rat brain microvascular endothelial cells (RBMVEC). Using either Sig-1R shRNA or pharmacological inhibition with the unrelated Sig-1R antagonists BD-1063 and NE-100, we show that cocaine-induced SOCE inhibition is dependent on Sig-1R. In addition to revealing new insight into fundamental mechanisms of cocaine-induced changes in endothelial function, these studies indicate an unprecedented role for Sig-1R as a SOCE inhibitor.
Mathematical model of grid‐connected inverter system in weak grid
Authors: Li Haoran , Zhao Jinbin , Yang Xuhong
Published: October 2015

Impedance‐based analysis is widely used to study the grid‐connected inverter system in a weak grid. The advantage of the analysis is that without knowing the accurate parameters of an inverter, its equivalent output impedance can be obtained by specific methods (e.g. the specific harmonic injection method) to investigate the system's stability. However, using Zgrid/Zinv to represent the phase margin (Pm) of the system is inaccurate. A more complete mathematical model of the grid‐connected inverter system in a weak grid is proposed, which contains the grid impedance and the load at the point of common coupling being neglected in the traditional model. Then, the error of the Pm from the impedance‐based analysis is proved in detail in theory which indicates that the Pm of the analysis can hardly reflect the real state of the grid‐connected system. Simulations validate the theoretical analysis.
Using measurements with large round‐off errors for interval estimation of normal process variance
Authors: Diamanta Benson‐Karhi , Ellite Dvir‐Harcabi , Itai Regev , Edna Schechtman
Published: October 2015

Large round‐off errors may affect efforts to estimate the distribution parameters. The ratio between the standard deviation σ and the scale step h, δ = σ/h, of the measurement instrument, for which rounding off is large when δ < 0.5, determines the significance of the round off. In this study the authors present a new variance interval estimator based on the method of moments (MoM) approach using the bootstrap technique. The authors compare the MoM interval estimator with two a‐parametric estimators, the naïve estimator and Sheppard's correction, using simulation. They find that the MoM interval estimator performs better than the a‐parametric estimators in terms of coverage probability and interval length, especially for medium and large samples. The MoM interval estimator should be used to compensate for the large round off errors that can occur when using measurement instruments whose scale step is too large.
Light-induced degradation of native silicon oxide–silicon nitride bilayer passivated silicon
Authors: Chowdhury Zahidur R. , Kherani Nazir P.
Published: October 2015

This article reports on the effects of aging and light induced degradation of the passivation quality of the interface formed by the crystalline silicon surface and facile grown oxide—SiNx bilayer. Stable passivation quality against aging and light soaking require thicker oxide layers grown at room temperature, suggesting that thicker oxide layers mitigate the migration of hydrogen from the interface and hence the defect density under light soaking. In addition, the stoichiometry of the PECVD SiNx influences the stability of the passivation quality. Specifically, the rate of degradation in passivation quality is observed to correlate with the optical absorption properties of SiNx; the higher the optical absorption the greater the degradation in passivation. This result is attributed to neutralization of the K+ centers in SiNx. Passivation layers with SiNx deposited with 5% silane in nitrogen to ammonia gas ratio of 7 and facile grown native oxide thickness of ∼1 nm resulted in the most stable passivation scheme within the scope of the reported experiments.
Hardy-Carleman type inequalities for Dirac operators
Authors: Enblom Alexandra
Published: October 2015

General Hardy-Carleman type inequalities for Dirac operators are proved. New inequalities are derived involving particular traditionally used weight functions. In particular, a version of the Agmon inequality and Treve type inequalities is established. The case of a Dirac particle in a (potential) magnetic field is also considered. The methods used are direct and based on quadratic form techniques.
Hole Hall mobility of SiGe alloys grown by the traveling liquidus-zone method
Authors: Maeda Tatsuro , Hattori Hiroyuki , Chang Wen Hsin , Arai Yasutomo , Kinoshita Kyoichi
Published: October 2015

The hole Hall mobility of Si1−xGex single crystal alloys grown by the traveling liquidus-zone method has been investigated. Raman analysis of the alloys with various Ge contents show excellent compositional uniformity and high crystal quality without strain. Secondary ion mass spectrometry indicates that the B concentration is homogeneous throughout the depth of the alloys. The hole Hall mobility in alloys with a low carrier concentration of ∼1 × 1015 cm−3 shows a higher mobility compared with previous results, indicating a reduction in alloy scattering effects. These results suggest that scattering processes in alloy semiconductors should be reconsidered both experimentally and theoretically.
Aspect and prefixation in Old Church Slavonic
Authors: Eckhoff Hanne Martine , Haug Dag T.T.
Published: October 2015

In this article we focus on one grammaticalization path to perfective markers, that of the so-called ‘bounder perfectives’ (Bybee & Dahl 1989). Systems with these kinds of perfective markers – often called ‘Slavic-style aspect’ – are particularly elaborated in the Slavic languages. To examine why this is the case, we study the long-disputed question of the semantic relationship between the inflectional aspectual system inherited from PIE and the emerging affixation-based verb pair system in expressing aspect in Old Church Slavonic (OCS), using parallel Greek and OCS data from the PROIEL corpus. Previous researchers have made extremely conflicting claims about this relationship, some seeing the inflectional system as the main exponent of aspect, others seeing the affixation system as the main exponent of aspect. Our statistical study of the data shows rather that the OCS system attests an interesting language stage where there are two partially overlapping exponents of aspect. By firmly establishing the facts of the synchronic OCS system, we can look both backwards and forwards. We argue that Slavic ‘bounder perfectives’ owe their advanced development to their coexistence with the old inflectional aspect system. We also argue that the well-known interactions between the two aspectual systems in Bulgarian, which still retains both, are probably a later development.
The complex durational relationship of contour tones and level tones
Authors: Köhnlein Björn
Published: October 2015

The production of a contour tone requires a longer duration than the production of a level tone. This paper demonstrates that this durational relationship becomes considerably more complex when tones are realized on bimoraic sonorant units that can support both level tones and contour tones. Evidence comes from diachronic processes in which pitch and duration interact. In languages where (intrinsic) durational differences between two groups of bimoraic units lead to tonal contrasts, the longer units commonly receive a contour tone, and the shorter ones a level tone; yet over time, the units with the fully developed contour tone tend to shorten, and those with the level tone tend to lengthen. Ultimately, this can even lead to durational reversals between the units in question. The discussion focuses primarily on Franconian tone accent dialects but also incorporates data from Estonian, Hup, Las Norias Piman and North Low Saxon.
An extended pair-correlation conjecture and primes in short intervals
Authors: Languasco A. , Perelli A. , Zaccagnini A.
Published: October 2015

In this paper we extend the well-known investigations of Montgomery (1973) and Goldston and Montgomery (1987), concerning the pair-correlation function and its relations with the distribution of primes in short intervals, to a more general version of the pair-correlation function.
Nuclear dimension and 𝒵-stability of non-simple 𝒞*-algebras
Authors: Robert Leonel , Tikuisis Aaron
Published: October 2015

We investigate the interplay of the following regularity properties for non-simple

C

∗

\mathrm C^*

-algebras: finite nuclear dimension,

Z

\mathcal Z

-stability, and algebraic regularity in the Cuntz semigroup. We show that finite nuclear dimension implies algebraic regularity in the Cuntz semigroup, provided that known type I obstructions are avoided. We demonstrate how finite nuclear dimension can be used to study the structure of the central sequence algebra, by factorizing the identity map on the central sequence algebra, in a manner resembling the factorization arising in the definition of nuclear dimension.

Results about the central sequence algebra are used to attack the conjecture that finite nuclear dimension implies

Z

\mathcal {Z}

-stability, for sufficiently non-type I, separable

C

∗

\mathrm C^*

-algebras. We prove this conjecture in the following cases: (i) the

C

∗

\mathrm C^*

-algebra has no simple purely infinite ideals of quotients and its primitive ideal space has a basis of compact open sets, (ii) the

C

∗

\mathrm C^*

-algebra has no purely infinite quotients and its primitive ideal space is Hausdorff. In particular, this covers

C

∗

\mathrm C^*

-algebras with finite decomposition rank and real rank zero. Our results hold more generally for

C

∗

\mathrm C^*

-algebras with locally finite nuclear dimension which are

(
M
,
N
)

(M,N)

-pure (a regularity condition of the Cuntz semigroup).
On Kakeya-Nikodym type maximal inequalities
Authors: Xi Yakun
Published: October 2015

We show that for any dimension

d
≥
3

d\ge 3

, one can obtain Wolff’s

L

(
d
+
2
)

/

2

L^{(d+2)/2}

bound on Kakeya-Nikodym maximal function in

R

d

\mathbb R^d

for

d
≥
3

d\ge 3

without the induction on scales argument. The key ingredient is to reduce to a 2-dimensional

L
2

L^2

estimate with an auxiliary maximal function. We also prove that the same

L

(
d
+
2
)

/

2

L^{(d+2)/2}

bound holds for Nikodym maximal function for any manifold

(

M
d

,
g
)

(M^d,g)

with constant curvature, which generalizes Sogge’s results for

d
=
3

d=3

to any

d
≥
3

d\ge 3

. As in the 3-dimensional case, we can handle manifolds of constant curvature due to the fact that, in this case, two intersecting geodesics uniquely determine a 2-dimensional totally geodesic submanifold, which allows the use of the auxiliary maximal function.
On the Sato-Tate conjecture for non-generic abelian surfaces
Authors: Johansson Christian
Published: October 2015

We prove many non-generic cases of the Sato-Tate conjecture for abelian surfaces as formulated by Fité, Kedlaya, Rotger and Sutherland, using the potential automorphy theorems of Barnet-Lamb, Gee, Geraghty and Taylor.
BiTrinA—multiscale binarization and trinarization with quality analysis
Authors: Müssel Christoph , Schmid Florian , Blätte Tamara J. , Hopfensitz Martin , Lausser Ludwig , Kestler Hans A.
Published: October 2015

Motivation: When processing gene expression profiles or other biological data, it is often required to assign measurements to distinct categories (e.g. ‘high’ and ‘low’ and possibly ‘intermediate’). Subsequent analyses strongly depend on the results of this quantization. Poor quantization will have potentially misleading effects on further investigations. We propose the BiTrinA package that integrates different multiscale algorithms for binarization and for trinarization of one-dimensional data with methods for quality assessment and visualization of the results. By identifying measurements that show large variations over different time points or conditions, this quality assessment can determine candidates that are related to the specific experimental setting.

Availability and implementation: BiTrinA is freely available on CRAN.

Contact:  hans.kestler@leibniz-fli.de or hans.kestler@uni-ulm.de

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
First discovery of a magnetic field in a main-sequence δ Scuti star: the Kepler star HD 188774
Authors: Neiner C. , Lampens P.
Published: October 2015

The Kepler space mission provided a wealth of δ Sct–γ Dor hybrid candidates. While some may be genuine hybrids, others might be misclassified due to the presence of a binary companion or to rotational modulation caused by magnetism and related surface inhomogeneities. In particular, the Kepler δ Sct–γ Dor hybrid candidate HD 188774 shows a few low frequencies in its light and radial velocity curves, whose origin is unclear. In this work, we check for the presence of a magnetic field in HD 188774. We obtained two spectropolarimetric measurements with an Echelle SpectroPolarimetric Device for the Observation of Stars (ESPaDOnS) at Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope. The data were analysed with the least-squares deconvolution (LSD) method. We detected a clear magnetic signature in the Stokes V LSD profiles. The origin of the low frequencies detected in HD 188774 is therefore most probably the rotational modulation of surface spots possibly related to the presence of a magnetic field. Consequently, HD 188774 is not a genuine hybrid δ Sct–γ Dor star, but the first known magnetic main-sequence δ Sct star. This makes it a prime target for future asteroseismic and spot modelling. This result casts new light on the interpretation of the Kepler results for other δ Sct–γ Dor hybrid candidates.
Morphometric and DNA Image Analysis of Endometrial Hyperplasia and Carcinoma
Authors: El-Sharkawy Sonia L. , Abbas Naglaa F. , El-Henawy Ahmed M. Y. , Badawi Manal A. El-Megeed , Yasseen Noha N.
Published: October 2015

Endometrial hyperplasia is believed to increase the risk of endometrial carcinoma and represents a spectrum of morphologic and biological alterations of endometrial glands and stroma ranging from an exaggerated physiological state to carcinoma in situ. Considering the overlap between the various entities, it is not surprising that the morphologic assessment of endometrial lesions is particularly challenging. This work aimed to evaluate endometrial lesions according to their nuclear and glandular morphometric parameters, their D score, and their DNA ploidy, which help in making an accurate diagnosis. In this study, 50 endometrial biopsy specimens were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for their histopathologic and morphometric study and Feulgen stain for DNA analysis. The cases were classified into 20 cases of simple hyperplasia, 10 cases of atypical hyperplasia, and 20 cases of endometrial carcinoma. Morphometric analysis of nuclear, glandular, and stromal parameters was performed using the Leica Qwin 500 image analysis system. In the studied cases, a significant difference was found in the mean values of the morphometrical parameters of endometrial lesions, including the nuclear area and the nuclear roundness, and all glandular measurements including their complexity, area, volume percentage of stroma, and D score were significantly different. The DNA index and diploid and aneuploid values could differentiate significantly between endometrial lesions. We conclude that nuclear morphometric evaluation of the hyperplastic and carcinomatous endometrium may be used as an ancillary technique in the diagnosis of atypical changes occurring in precancerous endometrial lesions. In addition, DNA and D score assessment may be a reproducible and accurate predictor of the outcome of endometrial hyperplasia and may add some objective criteria for the correct diagnosis of difficult cases.
Dynamic criteria of plankton jumping out of water
Authors: Kim Seong Jin , Hasanyan Jalil , Gemmell Brad J. , Lee Sungyon , Jung Sunghwan
Published: October 2015

In nature, jumping out of water is a behaviour commonly observed in aquatic species to either escape from predators or hunt prey. However, not all aquatic species are capable of jumping out, especially small organisms whose length scales are comparable to the capillary length (approx. 2.7 mm for water). Some aquatic animals smaller than the capillary length are able to jump out while others are not, as observed in some marine copepods. To understand the dynamics of jumping out of the water–air interface, we perform physical experiments by shooting a spherical particle towards the liquid–air interface from below. Experimental results show that the particle either penetrates or bounces back from the interface, depending on the particle and fluid properties, and the impact velocity. The transition from bouncing to penetration regimes, which is theoretically predicted based on a particle force balance, is in good agreement with both physical experiments and plankton behavioural data.
The staying power of adhesion-associated antioxidant activity inMytilus californianus
Authors: Miller Dusty R. , Spahn Jamie E. , Waite J. Herbert
Published: October 2015

The California mussel,Mytilus californianus, adheres in the highly oxidizing intertidal zone with a fibrous holdfast called the byssus using 3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl-l-alanine (DOPA)-containing adhesive proteins. DOPA is susceptible to oxidation in seawater and, upon oxidation, loses adhesion. Successful mussel adhesion thus depends critically on controlling oxidation and reduction. To explore how mussels regulate redox during their functional adhesive lifetime, we tracked extractable protein concentration, DOPA content and antioxidant activity in byssal plaques over time. In seawater, DOPA content and antioxidant activity in the byssus persisted much longer than expected—50% of extractable DOPA and 30% of extractable antioxidant activity remained after 20 days. Antioxidant activity was located at the plaque–substrate interface, demonstrating that antioxidant activity keeps DOPA reduced for durable and dynamic adhesion. We also correlated antioxidant activity to cysteine and DOPA side chains of mussel foot proteins (mfps), suggesting that mussels use both cysteine and DOPA redox reservoirs for controlling interfacial chemistry. These data are discussed in the context of the biomaterial structure and properties of the marine mussel byssus.
Blood flow through the embryonic heart outflow tract during cardiac looping in HH13–HH18 chicken embryos
Authors: Midgett Madeline , Chivukula Venkat Keshav , Dorn Calder , Wallace Samantha , Rugonyi Sandra
Published: October 2015

Blood flow is inherently linked to embryonic cardiac development, as haemodynamic forces exerted by flow stimulate mechanotransduction mechanisms that modulate cardiac growth and remodelling. This study evaluated blood flow in the embryonic heart outflow tract (OFT) during normal development at each stage between HH13 and HH18 in chicken embryos, in order to characterize changes in haemodynamic conditions during critical cardiac looping transformations. Two-dimensional optical coherence tomography was used to simultaneously acquire both structural and Doppler flow images, in order to extract blood flow velocity and structural information and estimate haemodynamic measures. From HH13 to HH18, peak blood flow rate increased by 2.4-fold and stroke volume increased by 2.1-fold. Wall shear rate (WSR) and lumen diameter data suggest that changes in blood flow during HH13–HH18 may induce a shear-mediated vasodilation response in the OFT. Embryo-specific four-dimensional computational fluid dynamics modelling at HH13 and HH18 complemented experimental observations and indicated heterogeneous WSR distributions over the OFT. Characterizing changes in haemodynamics during cardiac looping will help us better understand the way normal blood flow impacts proper cardiac development.
On the problem of boundaries and scaling for urban street networks
Authors: Masucci A. Paolo , Arcaute Elsa , Hatna Erez , Stanilov Kiril , Batty Michael
Published: October 2015

Urban morphology has presented significant intellectual challenges to mathematicians and physicists ever since the eighteenth century, when Euler first explored the famous Königsberg bridges problem. Many important regularities and scaling laws have been observed in urban studies, including Zipf's law and Gibrat's law, rendering cities attractive systems for analysis within statistical physics. Nevertheless, a broad consensus on how cities and their boundaries are defined is still lacking. Applying an elementary clustering technique to the street intersection space, we show that growth curves for the maximum cluster size of the largest cities in the UK and in California collapse to a single curve, namely the logistic. Subsequently, by introducing the concept of the condensation threshold, we show that natural boundaries of cities can be well defined in a universal way. This allows us to study and discuss systematically some of the regularities that are present in cities. We show that some scaling laws present consistent behaviour in space and time, thus suggesting the presence of common principles at the basis of the evolution of urban systems.
Omura’s whales (Balaenoptera omurai) off northwest Madagascar: ecology, behaviour and conservation needs
Authors: Cerchio Salvatore , Andrianantenaina Boris , Lindsay Alec , Rekdahl Melinda , Andrianarivelo Norbert , Rasoloarijao Tahina
Published: October 2015

The Omura’s whale (Balaenoptera omurai) was described as a new species in 2003 and then soon after as an ancient lineage basal to a Bryde’s/sei whale clade. Currently known only from whaling and stranding specimens primarily from the western Pacific and eastern Indian Oceans, there exist no confirmed field observations or ecological/behavioural data. Here we present, to our knowledge, the first genetically confirmed documentation of living Omura’s whales including descriptions of basic ecology and behaviour from northwestern Madagascar. Species identification was confirmed through molecular phylogenetic analyses of biopsies collected from 18 adult animals. All individuals shared a single haplotype in a 402 bp sequence of mtDNA control region, suggesting low diversity and a potentially small population. Sightings of 44 groups indicated preference for shallow-water shelf habitat with sea surface temperature between 27.4°C and 30.2°C. Frequent observations were made of lunge feeding, possibly on zooplankton. Observations of four mothers with young calves, and recordings of a song-like vocalization probably indicate reproductive behaviour. Social organization consisted of loose aggregations of predominantly unassociated single individuals spatially and temporally clustered. Photographic recapture of a female re-sighted the following year with a young calf suggests site fidelity or a resident population. Our results demonstrate that the species is a tropical whale without segregation of feeding and breeding habitat, and is probably non-migratory; our data extend the range of this poorly studied whale into the western Indian Ocean. Exclusive range restriction to tropical waters is rare among baleen whale species, except for the various forms of Bryde’s whales and Omura’s whales. Thus, the discovery of a tractable population of Omura’s whales in the tropics presents an opportunity for understanding the ecological factors driving potential convergence of life-history patterns with the distantly related Bryde’s whales.
Fixational eye movements predict visual sensitivity
Authors: Scholes Chris , McGraw Paul V. , Nyström Marcus , Roach Neil W.
Published: October 2015

During steady fixation, observers make small fixational saccades at a rate of around 1–2 per second. Presentation of a visual stimulus triggers a biphasic modulation in fixational saccade rate—an initial inhibition followed by a period of elevated rate and a subsequent return to baseline. Here we show that, during passive viewing, this rate signature is highly sensitive to small changes in stimulus contrast. By training a linear support vector machine to classify trials in which a stimulus is either present or absent, we directly compared the contrast sensitivity of fixational eye movements with individuals' psychophysical judgements. Classification accuracy closely matched psychophysical performance, and predicted individuals' threshold estimates with less bias and overall error than those obtained using specific features of the signature. Performance of the classifier was robust to changes in the training set (novel subjects and/or contrasts) and good prediction accuracy was obtained with a practicable number of trials. Our results indicate a tight coupling between the sensitivity of visual perceptual judgements and fixational eye control mechanisms. This raises the possibility that fixational saccades could provide a novel and objective means of estimating visual contrast sensitivity without the need for observers to make any explicit judgement.
Latisemenia longshania
, gen. et sp. nov., a new Late Devonian seed plant from China
Authors: Wang De-Ming , Basinger James F. , Huang Pu , Liu Le , Xue Jin-Zhuang , Meng Mei-Cen , Zhang Ying-Ying , Deng Zhen-Zhen
Published: October 2015

The earliest known ovules in the Late Devonian (Famennian) are borne terminally on fertile branches and are typically enclosed in a cupule. Among these ovules are some that have terete integumentary lobes with little or no fusion. Here, we report a new taxon,
Latisemenia longshania
, from the Famennian of South China, which bears cupulate ovules that are terminal as well as opposite on the fertile axis. Each ovule has four broad integumentary lobes, which are extensively fused to each other and also to the nucellus. The cupule is uniovulate, and the five flattened cupule segments of each terminal ovule are elongate cuneate and shorter than the ovule. Associated but not attached pinnules are laminate and
Sphenopteris
-like, with an entire or lobate margin.
Latisemenia
is the earliest known plant with ovules borne on the side of the fertile axis and may foreshadow the diverse ovule arrangements found among younger seed plant lineages that emerge in the Carboniferous. Following the telome theory,
Latisemenia
demonstrates derived features in both ovules and cupules, and the shape and fusion of integumentary lobes suggest effective pollination and protection to the nucellus. Along with other recent discoveries from China,
Latisemenia
extends the palaeogeographic range of the earliest seed plants.
Disease ecology across soil boundaries: effects of below-ground fungi on above-ground host–parasite interactions
Authors: Tao Leiling , Gowler Camden D. , Ahmad Aamina , Hunter Mark D. , de Roode Jacobus C.
Published: October 2015

Host–parasite interactions are subject to strong trait-mediated indirect effects from other species. However, it remains unexplored whether such indirect effects may occur across soil boundaries and connect spatially isolated organisms. Here, we demonstrate that, by changing plant (milkweedAsclepiassp.) traits, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) significantly affect interactions between a herbivore (the monarch butterflyDanaus plexippus) and its protozoan parasite (Ophryocystis elektroscirrha), which represents an interaction across four biological kingdoms. In our experiment, AMF affected parasite virulence, host resistance and host tolerance to the parasite. These effects were dependent on both the density of AMF and the identity of milkweed species: AMF indirectly increased disease in monarchs reared on some species, while alleviating disease in monarchs reared on other species. The species-specificity was driven largely by the effects of AMF on both plant primary (phosphorus) and secondary (cardenolides; toxins in milkweeds) traits. Our study demonstrates that trait-mediated indirect effects in disease ecology are extensive, such that below-ground interactions between AMF and plant roots can alter host–parasite interactions above ground. In general, soil biota may play an underappreciated role in the ecology of many terrestrial host–parasite systems.
Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome due to Mycobacterium genavense in an HIV-infected patient: Impact of rapid species identification by rpoB sequencing on clinical management
Authors: Andre Emmanuel , Belkhir Leila , Goeminne Léonie , Colmant Alexandre , Sottiaux Jean-Yves , Yildiz Halil , Ruelle Jean , Delmee Michel , Vandercam Bernard , Defour Jean-Philippe
Published: October 2015

Introduction:

Diagnosis of infections due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been recently facilitated with the worldwide implementation of rapid molecular tests. However, the diagnosis of non-TB mycobacteria (NTM) remains a major challenge for laboratories, as this group of bacteria contains over 150 different species with highly variable bacteriological properties. The development and implementation in clinical practice of techniques allowing rapid identification of NTM at the species level is, therefore, important for clinical laboratories. We report the case of an HIV-1 positive patient presenting with severe NTM infection who benefited from a novel rapid diagnostic technique, based on the direct sequencing of the rpoB gene from smear-positive clinical samples.

Case Presentation:

A 43-year-old HIV-1 positive woman was hospitalized for bicytopenia in the presence of an inflamed supraclavicular lymph node. The diagnosis of disseminated Mycobacterium genavense infection, which involved the bone marrow and several lymph nodes, was missed by conventional mycobacteriological techniques. Identification was obtained by performing direct sequencing of the rpoB gene.

Conclusion:

We describe a novel technique that allows the rapid diagnosis of NTM infections directly from biological samples. This technique is now implemented in our routine workflow for smear and culture-positive samples, after the exclusion of TB, by rapid molecular assays.
An Effective Model of HL-60 Differentiation
Authors: Tasseff Ryan , Jensen Holly A. , Congleton Johanna , Yen Andrew , Varner Jeffrey D.
Published: October 2015

We present an effective model All-Trans Retinoic Acid (ATRA)-induced differentiation of HL-60 cells. The model describes a key architectural feature of ATRA-induced differentiation, positive feedback between an ATRA-inducible signalsome complex involving many proteins including Vav1, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor, and the activation of the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade. The model, which was developed by integrating logical rules with kinetic modeling, was significantly smaller than previous models. However, despite its simplicity, it captured key features of ATRA induced differentiation of HL-60 cells. We identified an ensemble of effective model parameters using measurements taken from ATRA-induced HL-60 cells. Using these parameters, model analysis predicted that MAPK activation was bistable as a function of ATRA exposure. Conformational experiments supported ATRA-induced bistability. These findings, combined with other literature evidence, suggest that positive feedback is central to a diversity of cell fate programs.

Index Terms—Mathematical modeling, systems biology
Sex and Ageing: The Role of Sexual Recombination in Longevity
Authors: Smith Phillip R.
Published: October 2015

1

I use a set of machines based on the concept of nested rule systems built on the a modified version of the Wolfram elemental cellular automata to investigate the role of recombination in providing resistance to ageing. Class III and class IV machines are observed to respond differently to recombination. Class IV machines show recombinational centring in their neutral networks whereas class III machines respond negatively to recombination. Rule 110 shows a unusual response to recombination. Recombination selects for resistance to recombination, the population moves to regions of genome space with high redundancy, this results in organisms with highly robust genomes, more likely to complete development and to be long lived. The increase in longevity may be sufficient to compensate for the costs of sex, including the two fold cost of sex, through increased reproductive potential in long lived organisms requiring long maturation times. Large complex species should therefore be resistant to invasion by asexual mutants whereas small simple organisms with early maturation should be vulnerable to invasion by asexual forms.
Transcriptome Analysis of Cortical Tissue Reveals Shared Sets of Down-Regulated Genes in Autism and Schizophrenia
Authors: Ellis Shannon E. , Panitch Rebecca , West Andrew B. , Arking Dan E.
Published: October 2015

Autism (AUT), Schizophrenia (SCZ), and bipolar disorder (BPD) are three highly heritable neuropsychiatric conditions. Clinical similarities and genetic overlap between the three disorders have been reported; however, the causes and the downstream effects of this overlap remain elusive. By analyzing transcriptomic RNA-Sequencing data generated from post-mortem cortical brain tissues from AUT, SCZ, BPD and control subjects, we have begun to characterize the extent of gene expression overlap between these disorders. We report that the AUT and SCZ transcriptomes are significantly correlated (p<0.001), while the other two cross disorder comparisons (AUT-BPD, SCZ-BPD) are not. Among AUT and SCZ, we find that the genes differentially expressed across disorders are involved in neurotransmission and synapse regulation. Despite lack of global transcriptomic overlap across all three disorders, we highlight two genes, IQSEC3 and COPS7A, which are significantly down-regulated compared to controls across all three disorders, suggesting either shared etiology or compensatory changes across these neuropsychiatric conditions. Finally, we tested for enrichment of genes differentially expressed across disorders in genetic association signals in AUT, SCZ or BPD, reporting lack of signal in any of the previously published GWAS. Together, these studies highlight the importance of examining gene expression from the primary tissue involved in neuropsychiatric conditions, cortical brain. We identify a shared role for altered neurotransmission and synapse regulation in AUT and SCZ, in addition to two genes that may more generally contribute to neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric conditions.
Halogen bonds on demand: I...S contacts in cocrystals oftrans-bis(thiocyanato-κN)tetrakis(4-vinylpyridine-κN)nickel(II) and 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-1,4-diiodobenzene
Authors: Şerb Mihaela-Diana , Merkens Carina , Kalf Irmgard , Englert Ulli
Published: October 2015

Hydrogen bonds are considered a powerful organizing force in designing supramolecular architectures because they are directional, selective and reversible at room temperature.trans-Dithiocyanatotetrakis(4-vinylpyridine)nickel(II) is a popular host for the inclusion of small molecules and 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-1,4-diiodobenzene (TFDIB) represents a strong halogen-bond donor. These constituents cocrystallize in a 1:1 stoichiometry, [Ni(NCS)2(C7H7N)4]·C6F4I2, in the tetragonal space groupI41/a. Both residues occupy special positions,i.e.the pseudo-octahedral NiIIcomplex is located on a twofold axis and the TFDIB molecule sits about a crystallographic centre of inversion. The components interactviaa short S...I contact of 3.2891 (12) Å between the thiocyanate S atom of the host and the iodine substituent at the perhalogenated aromatic ring of the smaller guest molecule. This interaction meets the commonly accepted criteria for a halogen bond. Such halogen bonds to sulfur are significantly less common than to smaller electronegative atoms.