bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
XeF2 etching of epitaxial Nb2N for lift-off or micromachining of III-N materials and devices
Authors: Downey Brian P. , Katzer D. Scott , Nepal Neeraj , Hardy Matthew T. , Meyer David J.
Published: July 2017

This paper presents characterization of the effects of XeF2 vapor phase etching conditions on the lateral etch rate and etch uniformity of a sacrificial, epitaxial Nb2N layer grown between a III-N high-electron-mobility transistor heterostructure and a 6H-SiC substrate. To achieve uniform and repeatable lateral Nb2N removal, an etch temperature of 100 °C or higher was required, providing average etch rates ranging from 10 to 40 μm/min. A net compressive stress and positive strain gradient in the released III-N material were inferred from the buckling of clamped-clamped beams and the convex curvature of cantilever structures, respectively. XeF2 etching of epitaxial Nb2N sacrificial layers in III-N material structures allows for a highly selective, completely dry release process that is compatible with common micromachining and epitaxial lift-off techniques.
Localization and separation of acoustic sources by using a 2.5-dimensional circular microphone array
Authors: Bai Mingsian R. , Lai Chang-Sheng , Wu Po-Chen
Published: July 2017

Circular microphone arrays (CMAs) are sufficient in many immersive audio applications because azimuthal angles of sources are considered more important than the elevation angles in those occasions. However, the fact that CMAs do not resolve the elevation angle well can be a limitation for some applications which involves three-dimensional sound images. This paper proposes a 2.5-dimensional (2.5-D) CMA comprised of a CMA and a vertical logarithmic-spacing linear array (LLA) on the top. In the localization stage, two delay-and-sum beamformers are applied to the CMA and the LLA, respectively. The direction of arrival (DOA) is estimated from the product of two array output signals. In the separation stage, Tikhonov regularization and convex optimization are employed to extract the source amplitudes on the basis of the estimated DOA. The extracted signals from two arrays are further processed by the normalized least-mean-square algorithm with the internal iteration to yield the source signal with improved quality. To validate the 2.5-D CMA experimentally, a three-dimensionally printed circular array comprised of a 24-element CMA and an eight-element LLA is constructed. Objective perceptual evaluation of speech quality test and a subjective listening test are also undertaken.
Labmade smallpox is possible, study shows
Authors: Kupferschmidt Kai
Published: July 2017

Reconstitution of horsepox virus from mail-order DNA reignites synthetic biology debate
Surviving the cure
Authors: Cohen Jon
Published: July 2017

A stem cell transplant helped beat back a young doctor's cancer. Now,
it's assaulting his body
High-temperature quantum oscillations caused by recurring Bloch states in graphene superlattices
Authors: Krishna Kumar R. , Chen X. , Auton G. H. , Mishchenko A. , Bandurin D. A. , Morozov S. V. , Cao Y. , Khestanova E. , Ben Shalom M. , Kretinin A. V. , Novoselov K. S. , Eaves L. , Grigorieva I. V. , Ponomarenko L. A. , Fal’ko V. I. , Geim A. K.
Published: July 2017

Heat-loving quantum oscillations

The shape of the Fermi surface in a conductor can be gleaned through quantum oscillations—periodic changes in transport properties as an external magnetic field is varied. Like most quantum properties, the phenomenon can usually be observed only at very low temperatures. Krishna Kumar
et al.
report quantum oscillations in graphene that do not go away even at the temperature of boiling water. Although “ordinary,” low-temperature quantum oscillations die away, another oscillatory behavior sets in that is extremely robust to heating. These resilient oscillations appear only in samples in which graphene is nearly aligned with its hexagonal boron nitride substrate, indicating that they are caused by the potential of the moiré superlattice that forms in such circumstances.

Science
, this issue p.
181
Reconciling solar and stellar magnetic cycles with nonlinear dynamo simulations
Authors: Strugarek A. , Beaudoin P. , Charbonneau P. , Brun A. S. , do Nascimento J.-D.
Published: July 2017

Is the Sun a solar-type star?

The Sun's activity, including sun-spot activity, varies on an 11-year cycle driven by changes in its magnetic field. Other nearby solar-type stars have their own cycles, but the Sun does not seem to match their behavior. Strugarek
et al.
used magnetohydrodynamic simulations to show that stellar activity periods should depend on the star's Rossby number, the ratio between the inertial and Coriolis forces. Turning to observations, they found that solar-type stars, including the Sun, follow this relation. The results advance our understanding of how stars generate their magnetic fields and confirm that the Sun is indeed a solar-type star.

Science
, this issue p.
185
When early adopters don't adopt
Authors: Catalini Christian , Tucker Catherine
Published: July 2017

How do bitcoin early adopters seed the adoption S curve?
Comment on “Molecular and neural basis of contagious itch behavior in mice”
Authors: Liljencrantz Jaquette , Pitcher Mark H. , Low Lucie A. , Bauer Lucy , Bushnell M. Catherine
Published: July 2017

Yu
et al
. (Reports, 10 March 2017, p.
1072
) state that contagious itch occurs in mice based on imitative scratching in normal mice observing excessive scratching in genetically modified demonstrator mice. However, despite employing multiple behavioral analysis approaches, we were unable to extend these findings to normal mice observing the well-established histamine model of acute itch in demonstrator mice.
A raven's memories are for the future
Authors: Boeckle Markus , Clayton Nicola S.
Published: July 2017

Ravens can plan for expected future events based on past experiences
Immunology taught by rats
Authors: Klenerman Paul , Barnes Eleanor J.
Published: July 2017

A rodent model of hepatitis C virus infection should guide therapeutics and vaccines
A single dose of peripherally infused EGFRvIII-directed CAR T cells mediates antigen loss and induces adaptive resistance in patients with recurrent glioblastoma
Authors: O’Rourke Donald M. , Nasrallah MacLean P. , Desai Arati , Melenhorst Jan J. , Mansfield Keith , Morrissette Jennifer J. D. , Martinez-Lage Maria , Brem Steven , Maloney Eileen , Shen Angela , Isaacs Randi , Mohan Suyash , Plesa Gabriela , Lacey Simon F. , Navenot Jean-Marc , Zheng Zhaohui , Levine Bruce L. , Okada Hideho , June Carl H. , Brogdon Jennifer L. , Maus Marcela V.
Published: July 2017

A trial of autologous T cells redirected to a specific mutation in glioblastoma patients illustrates mechanisms of resistance.
The microvascular niche instructs T cells in large vessel vasculitis via the VEGF-Jagged1-Notch pathway
Authors: Wen Zhenke , Shen Yi , Berry Gerald , Shahram Farhad , Li Yinyin , Watanabe Ryu , Liao Yaping Joyce , Goronzy Jörg J. , Weyand Cornelia M.
Published: July 2017

Microvascular endothelial cells in the arterial adventitia have immunoregulatory function and build an instructive tissue niche for the induction of pathogenic T cells in giant cell arteritis.
The riddle of
CHD8
haploinsufficiency in autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Novarino Gaia
Published: July 2017

Leading autism-associated mutation in mouse partially mimics human disorder.
Inhibition of Inflammasome-Dependent Interleukin 1β Production by Streptococcal NAD
+
-Glycohydrolase: Evidence for Extracellular Activity
Authors: Hancz Dóra , Westerlund Elsa , Bastiat-Sempe Benedicte , Sharma Onkar , Valfridsson Christine , Meyer Lena , Love John F. , O’Seaghdha Maghnus , Wessels Michael R. , Persson Jenny J.
Published: July 2017

Group A
Streptococcus
(GAS) is a common human pathogen and the etiologic agent of a large number of diseases ranging from mild, self-limiting infections to invasive life-threatening conditions. Two prominent virulence factors of this bacterium are the genetically and functionally linked pore-forming toxin streptolysin O (SLO) and its cotoxin NAD
+
-glycohydrolase (NADase). Overexpression of these toxins has been linked to increased bacterial virulence and is correlated with invasive GAS disease. NADase can be translocated into host cells by a SLO-dependent mechanism, and cytosolic NADase has been assigned multiple properties such as protection of intracellularly located GAS bacteria and induction of host cell death through energy depletion. Here, we used a set of isogenic GAS mutants and a macrophage infection model and report that streptococcal NADase inhibits the innate immune response by decreasing inflammasome-dependent interleukin 1β (IL-1β) release from infected macrophages. Regulation of IL-1β was independent of phagocytosis and ensued also under conditions not allowing SLO-dependent translocation of NADase into the host cell cytosol. Thus, our data indicate that NADase not only acts intracellularly but also has an immune regulatory function in the extracellular niche.

IMPORTANCE
In the mid-1980s, the incidence and severity of invasive infections caused by serotype M1 GAS suddenly increased. The results of genomic analyses suggested that this increase was due to the spread of clonal bacterial strains and identified a recombination event leading to enhanced production of the SLO and NADase toxins in these strains. However, despite its apparent importance in GAS pathogenesis, the function of NADase remains poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrate that NADase inhibits inflammasome-dependent IL-1β release from infected macrophages. While previously described functions of NADase pertain to its role upon SLO-mediated translocation into the host cell cytosol, our data suggest that the immune regulatory function of NADase is exerted by nontranslocated enzyme, identifying a previously unrecognized extracellular niche for NADase functionality. This immune regulatory property of extracellular NADase adds another possible explanation to how increased secretion of NADase correlates with bacterial virulence.
Metabolic Fingerprints from the Human Oral Microbiome Reveal a Vast Knowledge Gap of Secreted Small Peptidic Molecules
Authors: Edlund Anna , Garg Neha , Mohimani Hosein , Gurevich Alexey , He Xuesong , Shi Wenyuan , Dorrestein Pieter C. , McLean Jeffrey S.
Published: July 2017

Metabolomics is the ultimate tool for studies of microbial functions under any specific set of environmental conditions (D. S. Wishart, Nat Rev Drug Discov 45:473–484, 2016,
https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd.2016.32
). This is a great advance over studying genes alone, which only inform about metabolic potential. Approximately 25,000 compounds have been chemically characterized thus far; however, the richness of metabolites such as SMs has been estimated to be as high as 1 × 10
30
in the biosphere (K. Garber, Nat Biotechnol 33:228–231, 2015,
https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt.3161
). Our classical, one-at-a-time activity-guided approach to compound identification continues to find the same known compounds and is also incredibly tedious, which represents a major bottleneck for global SM identification. These challenges have prompted new developments of databases and analysis tools that provide putative classifications of SMs by mass spectral alignments to already characterized tandem mass spectrometry spectra and databases containing structural information (e.g., PubChem and AntiMarin). In this study, we assessed secreted peptidic SMs (PSMs) from 27 oral bacterial isolates and a complex oral
in vitro
biofilm community of >100 species by using the Global Natural Products Social molecular Networking and the DEREPLICATOR infrastructures, which are methodologies that allow automated and putative annotation of PSMs. These approaches enabled the identification of an untapped resource of PSMs from oral bacteria showing species-unique patterns of secretion with putative matches to known bioactive compounds.
Hypertensive encephalopathy mimicking cerebral vasculitis with pontine oedema, cerebellar white matter lesions and multiple cerebral infarctions
Authors: Ceccarelli Daniela , Hargroves David , Balogun Ibrahim , Webb Thomas
Published: July 2017

A 47-year-old man with poorly controlled hypertension presented with headaches, right-sided weakness and dysarthria. CT and MRI scans of the brain showed widespread abnormalities including significant pontine oedema, basal ganglia and corona radiata infarctions and cerebellar white matter high signal. Imaging of the intracerebral vasculature also demonstrated wall irregularities. Initially a central nervous system inflammatory disorder was thought to be the most likely diagnosis, possibly acute demyelinating encephalomyelitis or cerebral vasculitis, and the patient was treated with high-dose intravenous steroids. The diagnosis of hypertensive encephalopathy was made because (1) the patient was hypertensive and (2) the patients MRI findings resolved with antihypertensive treatment.

Blood pressure treatment was instigated from admission, and the patients symptoms improved with resolution of the radiological abnormalities.
Serine proteases of the complement lectin pathway and their genetic variations in ischaemic stroke
Authors: Tsakanova Gohar , Stepanyan Ani , Nahapetyan Karen , Sim Robert B , Arakelyan Arsen , Boyajyan Anna
Published: July 2017

Aims

The aim of the current study was to assess the proteolytic activities of collectin-bound MASP-1 and MASP-2 in the blood of patients with ischaemic stroke, as well as the association of their six genetic polymorphisms (rs3203210, rs28945070, rs28945073 inMASP1gene and rs2273343, rs12711521, rs147270785 inMASP2gene) with this pathology.

Methods

In total, 250 patients and 300 healthy subjects were involved in this study. MBL-associated serine protease (MASP)-1 and MASP-2 activities were measured using in-house developed immunofluorescent and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, respectively. Sequence specific primer PCR was used to study the association ofMASP1andMASP2genetic polymorphisms with ischaemic stroke.

Results

The results obtained demonstrate that the activities of collectin-bound MASP-1 and MASP-2 in patients with ischaemic stroke are significantly higher than those in healthy subjects (p<0.001). According to the data obtained for genotyping, the rs3203210 polymorphism in theMASP1gene and the rs147270785 polymorphism in theMASP2gene are associated with ischaemic stroke (p<0.0001).

Conclusions

In conclusion we suggest that the complement lectin pathway serine proteases, MASP-1 and MASP-2, can be associated with ischaemic stroke development risk and may participate in pathological events leading to post-ischaemic brain damage. Moreover rs3203210 and rs147270785 single nucleotide polymorphisms in theMASP1andMASP2genes, respectively, are strongly associated with ischaemic stroke, and the minor rs3203210*C and rs147270785*A alleles of these polymorphisms may be considered as protective factors for ischameic stroke, at least in the Armenian population.
Dynamics of Epileptiform Discharges Induced by Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Genetic Generalized Epilepsy
Authors: Kugiumtzis Dimitris , Koutlis Christos , Tsimpiris Alkiviadis , Kimiskidis Vasilios K.
Published: July 2017

Objective: In patients with Genetic Generalized Epilepsy (GGE), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can induce epileptiform discharges (EDs) of varying duration. We hypothesized that (a) the ED duration is determined by the dynamic states of critical network nodes (brain areas) at the early post-TMS period, and (b) brain connectivity changes before, during and after the ED, as well as within the ED. Methods: EEG recordings from two GGE patients were analyzed. For hypothesis (a), the characteristics of the brain dynamics at the early ED stage are measured with univariate and multivariate EEG measures and the dependence of the ED duration on these measures is evaluated. For hypothesis (b), effective connectivity measures are combined with network indices so as to quantify the brain network characteristics and identify changes in brain connectivity. Results: A number of measures combined with specific channels computed on the first EEG segment post-TMS correlate with the ED duration. In addition, brain connectivity is altered from pre-ED to ED and post-ED and statistically significant changes were also detected across stages within the ED. Conclusion: ED duration is not purely stochastic, but depends on the dynamics of the post-TMS brain state. The brain network dynamics is significantly altered in the course of EDs.
Cyclic period in the CBE model
Authors: Frampton Paul H.
Published: July 2017

In a cyclic entropy model in which the extroverse is jettisoned at turnaround with a Come Back Empty (CBE) assumption, we address the matching of the contaction scale factor [Formula: see text] to the expansion scale factor [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is the ratio at turnaround of the introverse to the extroverse radii. Such matching is necessary for infinite cyclicity and fixes the CBE period at [Formula: see text] 2.6 Ty.
Equations of motion as covariant Gauss law: The Maxwell–Chern–Simons case
Authors: Balachandran A. P. , Momen Arshad , de Queiroz Amilcar R.
Published: July 2017

Time-independent gauge transformations are implemented in the canonical formalism by the Gauss law which is not covariant. The covariant form of Gauss law is conceptually important for studying the asymptotic properties of the gauge fields. For QED in 3 + 1 dimensions, we have developed a formalism for treating the equations of motion (EOM) themselves as constraints, that is, constraints on states using Peierls’ quantization.1 They generate spacetime dependent gauge transformations. We extend these results to the Maxwell–Chern–Simons (MCS) Lagrangian. The surprising result is that the covariant Gauss law commutes with all observables: the gauge invariance of the Lagrangian gets trivialized upon quantization. The calculations do not fix a gauge. We also consider a novel gauge condition on the test functions (not on quantum fields) which we name the “quasi-self-dual gauge” condition. It explicitly shows the mass spectrum of the theory. In this version, no freedom remains for the gauge transformations: EOM commute with all observables and are in the center of the algebra of observables.
MICROSTRUCTURE AND CORROSIVE BEHAVIOR OF ENAMEL COATING MODIFIED ON MILD STEEL
Authors: LI Y. L. , HUANG Z. R. , ZHONG Q. D.
Published: July 2017

Due to the study of marine corrosion of mild steel, in order to simulate the corrosion conditions of enamel coatings in seawater, enamel coatings applied on mild steel were immersed in 3.5[Formula: see text]wt.% NaCl liquor and the related corrosion features and behavior of enamel were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and evaluated by electro-chemical method such as potentiodynamic polarization testing. Under the appropriate heat treatment system, the enamel coatings sintered on the same kind of mild steel at different temperatures were studied: all enamel samples were within the temperature range from 710[Formula: see text]C to 830[Formula: see text]C, the heat treating process at the microstructural level was evaluated and correlated with corrosion resistance properties. All the enamel coatings were characterized and it was observed that the enamel coatings that showed excellent corrosion resistance when sintered at a temperature of 810[Formula: see text]C can offer a better physical barrier than other temperatures because of their better bonding force and dense microstructure with less pores.
A Window into Thai Mutual Fund Managers’ Perception and Decision-Making Process
Authors: Charoenrook Anchada , Pavabutr Pantisa
Published: July 2017

This paper identifies key features of the Thai mutual fund industry and analyzes determinants of those characteristics using unique survey data from 45% of fund managers registered in Thailand in 2012. The Thai mutual fund industry has some unique characteristics. It has experienced rapid growth and is dominated by bank-related funds that are mostly fixed income funds. Equity allocation of the fund industry and our sample funds are below optimal allocation benchmarks. However, country-level allocation is close to optimal, suggesting that Thai investors who invest in equity prefer to do so directly rather than through equity mutual funds. Fund managers perceive that too much regulation, investors’ preference for deposits and insufficient liquidity limit growth in their equity investments. Managers in our survey indicate that investors do not consider expense ratio and management fee important in determining mutual fund investments. This is contrary to general investment recommendations. Thai bank-related fund managers believe that investors place more importance to brand reputation than performance, whereas foreign fund managers view performance as more important. Thai bank fund managers are more concerned about local interest rates than Thai non-bank and foreign fund managers.
On enhanced power graphs of finite groups
Authors: Bera Sudip , Bhuniya A. K.
Published: July 2017

Given a group [Formula: see text], the enhanced power graph of [Formula: see text], denoted by [Formula: see text], is the graph with vertex set [Formula: see text] and two distinct vertices [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are edge connected in [Formula: see text] if there exists [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] for some [Formula: see text]. Here, we show that the graph [Formula: see text] is complete if and only if [Formula: see text] is cyclic; and [Formula: see text] is Eulerian if and only if [Formula: see text] is odd. We characterize all abelian groups and all non-abelian [Formula: see text]-groups [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text] is dominatable. Besides, we show that there is a one-to-one correspondence between the maximal cliques in [Formula: see text] and the maximal cyclic subgroups of [Formula: see text].
A dual approach to the theory of inverse split modules
Authors: Ungor Burcu , Halicioglu Sait , Harmanci Abdullah
Published: July 2017

Let [Formula: see text] be an arbitrary ring with identity, [Formula: see text] a right [Formula: see text]-module and [Formula: see text] a fully invariant submodule of [Formula: see text]. The notion of an [Formula: see text]-inverse split module [Formula: see text] has been defined and studied by the present authors recently. In this paper, we introduce its dual notion, namely, dual [Formula: see text]-inverse split module [Formula: see text]. This work is devoted to investigation of various properties and characterizations of a dual [Formula: see text]-inverse split module [Formula: see text]. We include applications for rings and cosingular submodules. We also deal with the notion of relatively dual inverse splitness to investigate direct sums of dual inverse split modules.
Matrix 3-Lie superalgebras and BRST supersymmetry
Authors: Abramov Viktor
Published: July 2017

Given a matrix Lie algebra one can construct the 3-Lie algebra by means of the trace of a matrix. In the present paper, we show that this approach can be extended to the infinite-dimensional Lie algebra of vector fields on a manifold if instead of the trace of a matrix we consider a differential 1-form which satisfies certain conditions. Then we show that the same approach can be extended to matrix Lie superalgebras [Formula: see text] if instead of the trace of a matrix we make use of the supertrace of a matrix. It is proved that a graded triple commutator of matrices constructed with the help of the graded commutator and the supertrace satisfies a graded ternary Filippov–Jacobi identity. In two particular cases of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], we show that the Pauli and Dirac matrices generate the matrix 3-Lie superalgebras, and we find the non-trivial graded triple commutators of these algebras. We propose a Clifford algebra approach to 3-Lie superalgebras induced by Lie superalgebras. We also discuss an application of matrix 3-Lie superalgebras in BRST-formalism.
Fish and broiler optimal harvesting models in imprecise environment
Authors: De A. , Maity K. , Panigrahi G.
Published: July 2017

In this paper, a two-species harvesting model has been considered and developed a solution procedure which is able to calculate the equilibrium points of the model where some biological parameters of the model are interval numbers. A parametric mathematical program is formulated to find the biological equilibrium of the model for different values of parameters. This interval-valued problem is converted into an equivalent crisp model using interval mathematics. The main advantage of the proposed procedure is that different characteristics of the model can be presented in a single framework. Analytically, the existence of steady state and stabilities are looked into. Using mathematical software, the model is illustrated and the results are obtained and presented in tabular and graphical forms.
Connected hop domination in graphs under some binary operations
Authors: Pabilona Yamilita M. , Rara Helen M.
Published: July 2017

Let [Formula: see text] be a simple graph. A hop dominating set [Formula: see text] is called a connected hop dominating set of [Formula: see text] if the induced subgraph [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] is connected. The smallest cardinality of a connected hop dominating set of [Formula: see text], denoted by [Formula: see text], is called the connected hop domination number of [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we characterize the connected hop dominating sets in the join, corona and lexicographic product of graphs and determine the corresponding connected hop domination number of these graphs. The study of these concepts is motivated with a social network application.
Geological studies in tsunami research since the 2011 Tohoku earthquake
Authors: Wallis Simon R. , Fujiwara Osamu , Goto Kazuhisa
Published: July 2017

The 2011 Tohoku earthquake, tsunami and resulting damage is often referred to as 3.11 after the date on which it took place. Leading to almost 20 000 people dead or missing, a major nuclear disaster and severe economic damage, 3.11 represents the biggest challenge faced by Japan since the end of World War II. Before 3.11, the possibility of a Mw 9 earthquake in this area was not generally recognized, highlighting the need to reassess seismic risk in NE Japan. The large amount of new quantitative data covering a range of disciplines and from onshore and offshore studies makes 3.11 an important case study that can contribute to improving our understanding of tsunamis, including their formation, their effects on coastal regions and the effectiveness of defensive measures old and new. Geological studies have a key role to play in this new phase of tsunami studies and this is the only method available for determining recurrence intervals over timescales of thousands of years. Data from 3.11 have improved our ability to identify sedimentary records of tsunami events and to estimate tsunami size from geological data. More complete databases will provide invaluable information for long-term planning of coastal regions in convergent plate margins.
The Late Heavy Bombardment
Authors: Bottke William F. , Norman Marc D.
Published: July 2017

Heavily cratered surfaces on the Moon, Mars, and Mercury show that the terrestrial planets were battered by an intense bombardment during their first billion years or more, but the timing, sources, and dynamical implications of these impacts are controversial. The Late Heavy Bombardment refers to impact events that occurred after stabilization of the planetary lithospheres such that they could be preserved as craters and basins. Lunar melt rocks and meteorite shock ages point toward a discrete episode of elevated impact flux between ∼3.5 and ∼4.0–4.2 Ga, and a relative quiescence between ∼4.0–4.2 and ∼4.4 Ga. Evidence from Precambrian impact spherule layers suggests that a long-lived tail of terrestrial impactors lasted to ∼2.0–2.5 Ga. Dynamical models that include populations residual from primary accretion and destabilized by giant planet migration can potentially account for the available observations, although all have pros and cons. The most parsimonious solution to match constraints is a hybrid model with discrete early, post-accretion and later, planetary instability–driven populations of impactors.
Speed invariance of tactile texture perception
Authors: Boundy-Singer Zoe M. , Saal Hannes P. , Bensmaia Sliman J.
Published: July 2017

The nervous system achieves stable perceptual representations of objects despite large variations in the activity patterns of sensory receptors. Here, we explore perceptual constancy in the sense of touch. Specifically, we investigate the invariance of tactile texture perception across changes in scanning speed. Texture signals in the nerve have been shown to be highly dependent on speed: temporal spiking patterns in nerve fibers that encode fine textural features contract or dilate systematically with increases or decreases in scanning speed, respectively, resulting in concomitant changes in response rate. Nevertheless, texture perception has been shown, albeit with restricted stimulus sets and limited perceptual assays, to be independent of scanning speed. Indeed, previous studies investigated the effect of scanning speed on perceived roughness, only one aspect of texture, often with impoverished stimuli, namely gratings and embossed dot patterns. To fill this gap, we probe the perceptual constancy of a wide range of textures using two different paradigms: one that probes texture perception along well-established sensory dimensions independently and one that probes texture perception as a whole. We find that texture perception is highly stable across scanning speeds, irrespective of the texture or the perceptual assay. Any speed-related effects are dwarfed by differences in percepts evoked by different textures. This remarkable speed invariance of texture perception stands in stark contrast to the strong dependence of the texture responses of nerve fibers on scanning speed. Our results imply neural mechanisms that compensate for scanning speed to achieve stable representations of surface texture.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Our brain forms stable representations of objects regardless of viewpoint, a phenomenon known as invariance that has been described in several sensory modalities. Here, we explore invariance in the sense of touch and show that the tactile perception of texture does not depend on scanning speed. This perceptual constancy implies neural mechanisms that extract information about texture from the response of nerve fibers such that the resulting neural representation is stable across speeds.
A reduced somatosensory gating response in individuals with multiple sclerosis is related to walking impairment
Authors: Arpin David J. , Gehringer James E. , Wilson Tony W. , Kurz Max J.
Published: July 2017

When identical stimuli are presented in rapid temporal succession, neural responses to the second stimulation are often weaker than those observed for the first. This phenomenon is termed sensory gating and is believed to be an adaptive feature that helps prevent higher-order cortical centers from being flooded with unnecessary information. Recently, sensory gating in the somatosensory system has been linked to deficits in tactile discrimination. Additionally, studies have linked poor tactile discrimination with impaired walking and balance in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). In this study, we examine the neural basis of somatosensory gating in patients with MS and healthy controls and assess the relationship between somatosensory gating and walking performance. We used magnetoencephalography to record neural responses to paired-pulse electrical stimulation applied to the right posterior tibial nerve. All participants also walked across a digital mat, which recorded their spatiotemporal gait kinematics. Our results showed the amplitude of the response to the second stimulation was sharply reduced only in controls, resulting in a significantly reduced somatosensory gating in the patients with MS. No group differences were observed in the amplitude of the response to the first stimulation nor the latency of the neural response to either the first or second stimulation. Interestingly, the altered somatosensory gating responses were correlated with aberrant spatiotemporal gait kinematics in the patients with MS. These results suggest that inhibitory GABA circuits may be altered in patients with MS, which impacts somatosensory gating and contributes to the motor performance deficits seen in these patients.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY We aimed to determine whether somatosensory gating in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) differed compared with healthy controls and whether a relationship exists between somatosensory gating and walking performance. We found reduced somatosensory gating responses in patients with MS, and these altered somatosensory gating responses were correlated with the mobility impairments. These novel findings show that somatosensory gating is impaired in patients with MS and is related to the mobility impairments seen in these patients.
Lane-Based Optimization for Macroscopic Network Configuration Designs
Authors: Wong C. K. , Liu Yi
Published: July 2017

Lane markings (arrows) at individual intersections serve as interfaces to connect upstream and downstream intersections in signal-controlled networks. Demand flows from origins to destinations may need to pass through a series of intersections. If lane markings are not well established to ban turns at intersections, then paths connecting origin and destination (OD) pairs could be inefficient. Due to indirect connections, road users need to take longer paths to reach their destinations. Conventionally, network configurations are fixed inputs for network analysis. In the present study, concepts of the lane-based designs for individual signalized intersections are extended for signal-controlled network designs. Taking OD demand flows as inputs, the proposed algorithm will optimize all lane markings and assigned lane flows on approach lanes. Paths (flows) will then be optimized by linking up the optimized lane markings across upstream and downstream intersections. Traffic signal settings at individual intersections will be optimized simultaneously by maximizing the reserve capacity for the entire OD demand flow matrix. The problem is formulated as a Binary-Mixed-Integer-Linear-Program (BMILP) and a standard branch-and-bound routine is applied to solve for global optimum solutions. A numerical example using a 4-intersection network will be given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed design methodology.
A Variable Interval Rescheduling Strategy for Dynamic Flexible Job Shop Scheduling Problem by Improved Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Wang Lei , Luo Chaomin , Cai Jingcao
Published: July 2017

In real-world manufacturing systems, production scheduling systems are often implemented under random or dynamic events like machine failure, unexpected processing times, stochastic arrival of the urgent orders, cancellation of the orders, and so on. These dynamic events will lead the initial scheduling scheme to be nonoptimal and/or infeasible. Hence, appropriate dynamic rescheduling approaches are needed to overcome the dynamic events. In this paper, we propose a dynamic rescheduling method based on variable interval rescheduling strategy (VIRS) to deal with the dynamic flexible job shop scheduling problem considering machine failure, urgent job arrival, and job damage as disruptions. On the other hand, an improved genetic algorithm (GA) is proposed for minimizing makespan. In our improved GA, a mix of random initialization population by combining initialization machine and initialization operation with random initialization is designed for generating high-quality initial population. In addition, the elitist strategy (ES) and improved population diversity strategy (IPDS) are used to avoid falling into the local optimal solution. Experimental results for static and several dynamic events in the FJSP show that our method is feasible and effective.
The Effect of Crack Width on Chloride-Induced Corrosion of Steel in Concrete
Authors: Li Weiwei , Liu Weiqing , Wang Shuguang
Published: July 2017

When subjected to loading or thermal shrinkage, reinforced concrete structures usually behave in a cracking state, which raises the risk of bar corrosion from the working environment. The influence of cover cracking on chloride-induced corrosion was experimentally investigated through a 654-day laboratory test on cracked reinforced concrete specimens exposed to chloride solution. The concrete specimens have a dimension of 100 mm × 100 mm × 400 mm and a single prefabricated crack at the midspan. When the percentage concentration of chloride ion (0.6%, 1.2%, 2.1%, 3.0%, and 6.0%) and crack width (uncracked, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 mm) are taken as variables, the experimental results showed that the corrosion rates for cracked specimens increased with increasing percentage concentration of chloride and increasing crack width. This study also showed the interrelationship between crack width and percentage concentration of chloride on the corrosion rate. In addition, an empirical model, incorporating the influence of the cover cracking and chloride concentration, was developed to predict the corrosion rate. This model allows the prediction of the maximum allowable wcr based on the given percentage concentration of chloride in the exposure condition.
Pharmacogenetic Biomarkers to Predict Treatment Response in Multiple Sclerosis: Current and Future Perspectives
Authors: Coyle Patricia K.
Published: July 2017

Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) have significantly advanced the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), decreasing the frequency of relapses, disability, and magnetic resonance imaging lesion formation. However, patients’ responses to and tolerability of DMTs vary considerably, creating an unmet need for biomarkers to identify likely responders and/or those who may have treatment-limiting adverse reactions. Most studies in MS have focused on the identification of pharmacogenetic markers, using either the candidate-gene approach, which requires prior knowledge of the genetic marker and its role in the target disease, or genome-wide association, which examines multiple genetic variants, typically single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Both approaches have implicated numerous alleles and SNPs in response to selected MS DMTs. None have been validated for use in clinical practice. This review covers pharmacogenetic markers in clinical practice in other diseases and then reviews the current status of MS DMT markers (interferonβ, glatiramer acetate, and mitoxantrone). For a complex disease such as MS, multiple biomarkers may need to be evaluated simultaneously to identify potential responders. Efforts to identify relevant biomarkers are underway and will need to be expanded to all MS DMTs. These will require extensive validation in large patient groups before they can be used in clinical practice.
Hongjingtian Injection Attenuates Myocardial Oxidative Damage via Promoting Autophagy and Inhibiting Apoptosis
Authors: Zhang Shujing , Zhang Ling , Zhang Han , Fan Guanwei , Qiu Jiuwen , Fang Zongbao , Wu Haibo , Wang Yi , Zhao Xiaoping
Published: July 2017

Natural products with antioxidative activities are widely applied to prevent and treat various oxidative stress related diseases, including ischemic heart disease. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of those therapies are still needed to be illustrated. In this study, we characterized the cardioprotective effects of Hongjingtian Injection (HJT), an extensively used botanical drug for treating coronary heart disease. The H/R‐induced profound elevation of oxidative stress was suppressed by HJT. HJT also attenuates oxidative injury by promoting cell viability, intracellular ATP contents, and mitochondrial oxygen consumption. Validation experiments indicated that HJT inhibited H/R‐induced apoptosis and regulated the expression of apoptosis‐associated proteins Bcl‐2 and cleaved caspase3. Interestingly, HJT significantly regulated the expression of autophagy‐related proteins LC3, Beclin, and mTOR as well as ERK and AKT. We provide evidence that the mechanism involves activation of AKT/Beclin‐1, AKT, and ERK/mTOR pathway in cardiomyocyte autophagy. Histological and physiological evaluation revealed that HJT significantly decreased the infarct area of the heart, improved cardiac function, and increased the expression of LC3B in a rat model of coronary occlusion. From the obtained data, we proposed that HJT diminished myocardial oxidative damage through regulating the balance of autophagy and apoptosis and reducing oxidative stress.
Evaluation of Selected Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Lines for Yield and Haulm Nutritive Quality Traits
Authors: Oteng-Frimpong Richard , Konlan Solomon Pigangsoa , Denwar Nicholas Ninju
Published: July 2017

Groundnut, the most important grain legume in Ghana, is largely cultivated under rainfed conditions within the Guinea savanna zone of the country. The pods and haulms are important sources of income for smallholder farmers in the region. There is an emerging market for groundnut haulms as livestock feed in Ghana. A population of 30 groundnut genotypes were evaluated for yield (pod and haulm) and its components as well as good haulm nutritive value. High significant differences were observed among the genotypes for all agronomic traits. Average pod yield ranged from 1.6 to 5.7 t/ha with SAMNUT 23 and ICGV-IS 13081 being the most productive. Eight out of the 30 genotypes produced haulm yields above 8 t/ha. There was no significant difference among genotypes for in vitro gas production, digestible organic matter, ash, neutral detergent fibre, and metabolizable energy. However, crude protein, crude fibre, and acid detergent fibre were significantly different. Crude protein content was highest (12.53%) in GAF 1723 and lowest (8.00%) in ICGV-IS 08837. Genotypes GAF 1723, ICGV 00064, and ICGV-IS 13998 combined good pod/haulm yield with high haulm nutritive quality. Their utilization will improve farmers’ income and livelihoods in the Guinea savanna of Ghana.
Effect of Freeze-Thaw Cycles on the Internal Structure and Performance of Semirigid Base Materials
Authors: Wang Yiqi , Tan Yiqiu , Guo Meng , Wang Xinglong
Published: July 2017

In this study, we investigate the spatial distributions of the internal structures in semirigid base materials (SRBMs) and explore their effect on the service performance of the SRBMs. X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT) was used to conduct a spatial voids structure analysis. Three variates were selected to study the factors influencing the spatial distributions of the internal structures, including freeze-thaw cycles, curing time, and cement content. The results show that, with the increase in the number of freezing and thawing cycles, the average porosity, void area, and void number of the SRBM samples increased, and the average void diameters of all samples initially increased and then decreased. These trends led to an increase in the mass loss ratio and strength loss ratio. Increasing the cement content and extending the curing time decreased the average number of voids, average void area, and average void diameter and decreased the mass loss ratio and strength loss ratio of the SRBMs. The top and bottom of the SRBM samples were more porous than the middle of the samples, whereas the maximum value of the average void diameter was observed in the middle of the samples.
Using Expert Opinion to Quantify Uncertainty in and Cost of Using Nondestructive Evaluation on Bridges
Authors: Hesse Alex A. , Atadero Rebecca A. , Ozbek Mehmet E.
Published: July 2017

A previous literature review indicated that there is little published experimental data that can be used to determine quantities such as bias, accuracy, reliability, and cost of common Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) methods as far as their use on bridges is concerned. This study attempts to quantify these parameters for common bridge NDE methods through a four-round Delphi method survey with experts in the NDE bridge field. The survey results indicate that most commonly used bridge NDE methods tend to be underbiased and relatively reliable. Furthermore, the accuracy of commonly used bridge NDE methods tends to be relatively variable with the average test measuring a true response between 80% and 85% of the time. In general, it was shown by the participant responses that the more expensive the method was, the better the bias, accuracy, and reliability the method had, and vice versa. The information presented in this paper can serve as a starting point for characterizing different NDE methods for use in bridge management and inspection planning and identifies the type of information that is still needed. As such, this research has the potential to promote further research on this subject.
Effect of Surface Modification of Palygorskite on the Properties of Polypropylene/Polypropylene-g-Maleic Anhydride/Palygorskite Nanocomposites
Authors: Cisneros-Rosado David , Uribe-Calderon Jorge Alonso
Published: July 2017

The effect of surface modification of palygorskite (Pal) on filler dispersion and on the mechanical and thermal properties of polypropylene (PP)/polypropylene grafted maleic anhydride (PP-g-MAH)/palygorskite (Pal) nanocomposites was evaluated. A natural Pal mineral was purified and individually surface modified with hexadecyl tributyl phosphonium bromide and (3-Aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane; the pristine and modified Pals were melt-compounded with PP to produce nanocomposites using PP-g-MAH as compatibilizer. The grafting of Pal surface was verified by FT-IR and the change in surface hydrophilicity was estimated by the contact angle of sessile drops of ethylene glycol on Pal tablets. The extent of Pal dispersion and the degree of improvement in both the mechanical and thermal properties were related to the surface treatment of Pal. Modified Pals were better dispersed during melt processing and improved Young’s modulus and strength; however, maximum deformation tended to decrease. The thermal stability of PP/PP-g-MAH/Pal nanocomposites was considerably improved with the content of modified Pals. The degree of crystallinity increased with Pal content, regardless of the surface modification. Surfactant modified Pal exhibited better results in comparison with silane Pal; it is possible that longer alkyl chains from surfactant molecules promoted interactions with polymer chains, thereby improving nanofiller dispersion and enhancing the properties.
Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase Inhibits ERK Activation and Bypasses Gemcitabine Resistance in Pancreatic Cancer by Blocking IQGAP1–MAPK Interaction
Authors: Jin Xin , Pan Yunqian , Wang Liguo , Ma Tao , Zhang Lizhi , Tang Amy H. , Billadeau Daniel D. , Wu Heshui , Huang Haojie
Published: July 2017

Dysregulation of the MAPK pathway correlates with progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) progression. IQ motif containing GTPase-activating protein 1 (IQGAP1) is a MAPK scaffold that directly regulates the activation of RAF, MEK, and ERK. Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBP1), a key enzyme in gluconeogenesis, is transcriptionally downregulated in various cancers, including PDAC. Here, we demonstrate that FBP1 acts as a negative modulator of the IQGAP1–MAPK signaling axis in PDAC cells. FBP1 binding to the WW domain of IQGAP1 impeded IQGAP1-dependent ERK1/2 phosphorylation (pERK1/2) in a manner independent of FBP1 enzymatic activity. Conversely, decreased FBP1 expression induced pERK1/2 levels in PDAC cell lines and correlated with increased pERK1/2 levels in patient specimens. Treatment with gemcitabine caused undesirable activation of ERK1/2 in PDAC cells, but cotreatment with the FBP1-derived small peptide inhibitor FBP1 E4 overcame gemcitabine-induced ERK activation, thereby increasing the anticancer efficacy of gemcitabine in PDAC. These findings identify a primary mechanism of resistance of PDAC to standard therapy and suggest that the FBP1–IQGAP1–ERK1/2 signaling axis can be targeted for effective treatment of PDAC. Cancer Res; 77(16); 4328–41. ©2017 AACR.