bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, CREDIT MARKET CONDITIONS, AND THE HOUSING MARKET
Authors: Agnello Luca , Castro Vitor , Sousa Ricardo M.
Published: July 2017

In this paper, we assess the characteristics of the housing market and its main determinants. Using data for 20 industrial countries over the period 1970Q1–2012Q2 and a discrete-time Weibull duration model, we find that the likelihood of the end of a housing boom or a housing bust increases over time. Additionally, we show that the different phases of the housing market cycle are strongly dependent on the economic activity, but credit market conditions are particularly important in the case of housing booms. The empirical findings also indicate that although housing booms have similar lengths in European and non-European countries, housing busts are typically shorter in European countries. The use of a more flexible specification for the hazard function that is based on cubic splines suggests that it evolves in a nonlinear way. From a policy perspective, our study can be useful for predicting the timing and the length of housing boom–bust cycles. Moreover, it highlights the importance of monetary policy by influencing lending rates and affecting the likelihood of occurrence of housing booms.
Selektion, Integration und Evaluation
Authors: Stadtler Marc , Winter Stephan , Scharrer Lisa , Thomm Eva , Krämer Nicole , Bromme Rainer
Published: July 2017

Zusammenfassung. Laien treffen heute im Internet auf eine besonders große Vielfalt an Wissenschaftsinformationen. Wer hiervon profitieren will, muss Informationen auswählen, Verknüpfungen zwischen verschiedenen, oftmals konfligierenden Aussagen herstellen und deren Gültigkeit kritisch überprüfen. Anhand der Ergebnisse aus zwei Projekten aus dem SPP 1409 ‚Wissenschaft und Öffentlichkeit‘ zeigen wir, wie Laien diese Anforderungen bewältigen und auf welche kognitiven und motivationalen Ressourcen sie dabei zurückgreifen können. Obwohl erwachsene Laien bereits über vielfältige Kompetenzen im Umgang mit Wissenschaftsinformationen verfügen, deuten unsere Befunde auch auf einen Bedarf an pädagogischen Interventionen hin, um diese weiter zu verfeinern.
Wissenschaftskommunikation in naturwissenschaftlich-technischen Museen aus psychologischer Sicht
Authors: Lewalter Doris , Schwan Stephan
Published: July 2017

Zusammenfassung. Ausgangspunkt des Beitrags ist die wichtige Rolle von Museen und Ausstellungen für die Vermittlung wissenschaftlicher Befunde und Erkenntnisse an breite Bevölkerungsschichten. Diese Kommunikation ist sowohl durch spezifische Merkmale der Informationspräsentation als auch der Informationsrezeption in Museen gekennzeichnet. Im Rahmen des Beitrags wird aufgezeigt, dass die Anwendung lern- und kommunikationspsychologischer Theorien und Ansätze auf diesen Kontext und Inhaltsbereich zum einen zu einem tiefergehenden Verständnis der Informationsaufnahme und –verarbeitung sowie der Kommunikationsstrukturen in dieser komplexen Umgebung beitragen, zum anderen aber auch Hinweise auf die Anwendbarkeit, Tragfähigkeit und ggf. Erweiterung der jeweiligen Ansätze in komplexen ökologisch validen Lernumgebungen und Kommunikationssettings geben kann.
Wie können Lehrkräfte und ihre Schülerinnen und Schüler lernen, fragile Evidenz zu verstehen und zu nutzen?
Authors: Bauer Johannes , Berthold Kirsten , Hefter Markus H. , Prenzel Manfred , Renkl Alexander
Published: July 2017

Zusammenfassung. Kompetenzen zur kritischen Bewertung und argumentativen Nutzung wissenschaftlicher Evidenz sind für die Schule von großer Bedeutung. Bei Lehrkräften sind sie Voraussetzung für professionelles Handeln, das den aktuellen Forschungsstand berücksichtigt. Auch Schülerinnen und Schüler sollten entsprechende Kompetenzen – wenngleich auf einem anderen Niveau – im Sinne einer wissenschaftlichen Grundbildung entwickeln. Auf Basis theoretischer Ansätze zur Wissenschaftskommunikation und zum wissenschaftlichen Denken und Argumentieren arbeiten wir kognitive und motivational/überzeugungsbezogene Facetten dieser Kompetenzen heraus und beschreiben instruktionale Prinzipien, um sie in der Schule und in der Lehrerbildung zu fördern.
Caspases in retinal ganglion cell death and axon regeneration
Authors: Thomas Chloe N , Berry Martin , Logan Ann , Blanch Richard J , Ahmed Zubair
Published: July 2017

Retinal ganglion cells (RGC) are terminally differentiated CNS neurons that possess limited endogenous regenerative capacity after injury and thus RGC death causes permanent visual loss. RGC die by caspase-dependent mechanisms, including apoptosis, during development, after ocular injury and in progressive degenerative diseases of the eye and optic nerve, such as glaucoma, anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy and multiple sclerosis. Inhibition of caspases through genetic or pharmacological approaches can arrest the apoptotic cascade and protect a proportion of RGC. Novel findings have also highlighted a pyroptotic role of inflammatory caspases in RGC death. In this review, we discuss the molecular signalling mechanisms of apoptotic and inflammatory caspase responses in RGC specifically, their involvement in RGC degeneration and explore their potential as therapeutic targets.
Universal features of amorphous plasticity
Authors: Budrikis Zoe , Castellanos David Fernandez , Sandfeld Stefan , Zaiser Michael , Zapperi Stefano
Published: July 2017

Plastic yielding of amorphous solids occurs by power-law distributed deformation avalanches whose universality is still debated. Experiments and molecular dynamics simulations are hampered by limited statistical samples, and although existing stochastic models give precise exponents, they require strong assumptions about fixed deformation directions, at odds with the statistical isotropy of amorphous materials. Here, we introduce a fully tensorial, stochastic mesoscale model for amorphous plasticity that links the statistical physics of plastic yielding to engineering mechanics. It captures the complex shear patterning observed for a wide variety of deformation modes, as well as the avalanche dynamics of plastic flow. Avalanches are described by universal size exponents and scaling functions, avalanche shapes, and local stability distributions, independent of system dimensionality, boundary and loading conditions, and stress state. Our predictions consistently differ from those of mean-field depinning models, providing evidence that plastic yielding is a distinct type of critical phenomenon.
Scanning tunnelling spectroscopy of superconductivity on surfaces of LiTi2O4(111) thin films
Authors: Okada Yoshinori , Ando Yasunobu , Shimizu Ryota , Minamitani Emi , Shiraki Susumu , Watanabe Satoshi , Hitosugi Taro
Published: July 2017

Unique superconductivity at surfaces/interfaces, as exemplified by LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interfaces, and the high transition temperature in ultrathin FeSe films, have triggered intense debates on how superconductivity is affected in atomic and electronic reconstructions. The surface of superconducting cubic spinel oxide LiTi2O4 is another interesting system because its inherent surface electronic and atomic reconstructions add complexity to superconducting properties. Investigations of such surfaces are hampered by the lack of single crystals or high-quality thin films. Here, using low-temperature scanning tunnelling microscopy and spectroscopy, we report an unexpected small superconducting energy gap and a long coherence length on the surface of LiTi2O4(111) epitaxial thin films. Furthermore, we find that a pseudogap opening at the Fermi energy modifies the surface superconductivity. Our results open an avenue for exploring anomalous superconductivity on the surface of cubic transition-metal oxides, where the electronic states are spontaneously modulated involving rich many-body interactions.
Matrix stiffness induces epithelial–mesenchymal transition and promotes chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer cells
Authors: Rice A J , Cortes E , Lachowski D , Cheung B C H , Karim S A , Morton J P , del Río Hernández A
Published: July 2017

Increased matrix rigidity associated with the fibrotic reaction is documented to stimulate intracellular signalling pathways that promote cancer cell survival and tumour growth. Pancreatic cancer is one of the stiffest of all human solid carcinomas and is characterised by a remarkable desmoplastic reaction. Here we use mouse models, genetically engineered to recapitulate human pancreatic cancer, and several pancreatic cancer cell lines as a model to investigate the effect of matrix stiffness in epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and resistance to chemotherapeutics. We found that recapitulation of the fibrotic rigidities found in pancreatic cancer tissues promote elements of EMT, including increases in vimentin expression, decreases in E-cadherin expression, nuclear localisation of β-catenin, YAP and TAZ and changes in cell shape towards a mesenchymal phenotype. We also report that stiffness induces chemoresistance to paclitaxel, but not to gemcitabine, both commonly used therapeutics, suggesting that environmental rigidity underlies an aspect of chemoresistance.
Effects of proton versus photon irradiation on (lymph)angiogenic, inflammatory, proliferative and anti-tumor immune responses in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Lupu-Plesu M , Claren A , Martial S , N'Diaye P-D , Lebrigand K , Pons N , Ambrosetti D , Peyrottes I , Feuillade J , Hérault J , Dufies M , Doyen J , Pagès G
Published: July 2017

The proximity of organs at risk makes the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) challenging by standard radiotherapy. The higher precision in tumor targeting of proton (P) therapy could promote it as the treatment of choice for HNSCC. Besides the physical advantage in dose deposition, few is known about the biological impact of P versus photons (X) in this setting. To investigate the comparative biological effects of P versus X radiation in HNSCC cells, we assessed the relative biological effectiveness (RBE), viability, proliferation and mRNA levels for genes involved in (lymph)angiogenesis, inflammation, proliferation and anti-tumor immunity. These parameters, particularly VEGF-C protein levels and regulations, were documented in freshly irradiated and/or long-term surviving cells receiving low/high-dose, single (SI)/multiple (MI) irradiations with P/X. The RBE was found to be 1.1 Key (lymph)angiogenesis and inflammation genes were downregulated (except for vegf-c) after P and upregulated after X irradiation in MI surviving cells, demonstrating a more favorable profile after P irradiation. Both irradiation types stimulated vegf-c promoter activity in a NF-κB-dependent transcriptional regulation manner, but at a lesser extent after P, as compared to X irradiation, which correlated with mRNA and protein levels. The cells surviving to MI by P or X generated tumors with higher volume, anarchic architecture and increased density of blood vessels. Increased lymphangiogenesis and a transcriptomic analysis in favor of a more aggressive phenotype were observed in tumors generated with X-irradiated cells. Increased detection of lymphatic vessels in relapsed tumors from patients receiving X radiotherapy was consistent with these findings. This study provides new data about the biological advantage of P, as compared to X irradiation. In addition to its physical advantage in dose deposition, P irradiation may help to improve treatment approaches for HNSCC.
The Anti-Hiv Candidate Abx464 Dampens Intestinal Inflammation by Triggering Il-22 Production in Activated Macrophages
Authors: Chebli Karim , Papon Laura , Paul Conception , Garcel Aude , Campos Noëlie , Scherrer Didier , J. Ehrlich Hartmut , Hahne Michael , Tazi Jamal
Published: July 2017

The progression of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is associated with mucosal damage in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This damage enables bacterial translocation from the gut and leads to subsequent inflammation. Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS-exposure) is an established animal model for experimental colitis that was recently shown to recapitulate the link between GI-tract damage and pathogenic features of SIV infection. The current study tested the protective properties of ABX464, a first-in-class anti-HIV drug candidate currently in phase II clinical trials. ABX464 treatment strongly attenuated DSS-induced colitis in mice and produced a long-term protection against prolonged DSS-exposure after drug cessation. Consistently, ABX464 reduced the colonic production of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNFα as well as that of the chemoattractant MCP-1. However, RNA profiling analysis revealed the capacity of ABX464 to induce the expression of IL-22, a cytokine involved in colitis tissue repair, both in DSS-treated mice and in LPS-stimulated bone marrow-derived macrophages. Importantly, anti-IL-22 antibodies significantly reduced the protective effect of ABX464 on colitis in DSS-treated mice. Because reduced IL-22 production in the gut mucosa is an established factor of HIV and DSS-induced immunopathogenesis, our data suggest that the anti-inflammatory properties of ABX464 warrant exploration in both HIV and inflammatory ulcerative colitis (UC) disease.
Acinetobacter sp. DW-1 immobilized on polyhedron hollow polypropylene balls and analysis of transcriptome and proteome of the bacterium during phenol biodegradation process
Authors: Gu Qihui , Wu Qingping , Zhang Jumei , Guo Weipeng , Wu Huiqing , Sun Ming
Published: July 2017

Phenol is a hazardous chemical known to be widely distributed in aquatic environments. Biodegradation is an attractive option for removal of phenol from water sources. Acinetobacter sp. DW-1 isolated from drinking water biofilters can use phenol as a sole carbon and energy source. In this study, we found that Immobilized Acinetobacter sp. DW-1cells were effective in biodegradation of phenol. In addition, we performed proteome and transcriptome analysis of Acinetobacter sp. DW-1 during phenol biodegradation. The results showed that Acinetobacter sp. DW-1 degrades phenol mainly by the ortho pathway because of the induction of phenol hydroxylase, catechol-1,2-dioxygenase. Furthermore, some novel candidate proteins (OsmC-like family protein, MetA-pathway of phenol degradation family protein, fimbrial protein and coenzyme F390 synthetase) and transcriptional regulators (GntR/LuxR/CRP/FNR/TetR/Fis family transcriptional regulator) were successfully identified to be potentially involved in phenol biodegradation. In particular, MetA-pathway of phenol degradation family protein and fimbrial protein showed a strong positive correlation with phenol biodegradation, and Fis family transcriptional regulator is likely to exert its effect as activators of gene expression. This study provides valuable clues for identifying global proteins and genes involved in phenol biodegradation and provides a fundamental platform for further studies to reveal the phenol degradation mechanism of Acinetobacter sp.
Andean Mountain Building Did not Preclude Dispersal of Lowland Epiphytic Orchids in the Neotropics
Authors: Pérez-Escobar Oscar Alejandro , Gottschling Marc , Chomicki Guillaume , Condamine Fabien L. , Klitgård Bente B. , Pansarin Emerson , Gerlach Günter
Published: July 2017

The Andean uplift is one of the major orographic events in the New World and has impacted considerably the diversification of numerous Neotropical lineages. Despite its importance for biogeography, the specific role of mountain ranges as a dispersal barrier between South and Central American lowland plant lineages is still poorly understood. The swan orchids (Cycnoches) compriseca34 epiphytic species distributed in lowland and pre-montane forests of Central and South America. Here, we study the historical biogeography ofCycnochesto better understand the impact of the Andean uplift on the diversification of Neotropical lowland plant lineages. Using novel molecular sequences (five nuclear and plastid regions) and twelve biogeographic models, we infer that the most recent common ancestor ofCycnochesoriginated in Amazoniaca5 Mya. The first colonization of Central America occurred from a direct migration event from Amazonia, and multiple bidirectional trans-Andean migrations between Amazonia and Central America took place subsequently. Notably, these rare biological exchanges occurred well after major mountain building periods. The Andes have limited plant migration, yet it has seldom allowed episodic gene exchange of lowland epiphyte lineages such as orchids with great potential for effortless dispersal because of the very light, anemochorous seeds.
Topological delocalization and tuning of surface channel separation in Bi2Se2Te Topological Insulator Thin films
Authors: Gopal Radha Krishna , Singh Sourabh , Mandal Arpita , Sarkar Jit , Mitra Chiranjib
Published: July 2017

The surface states of a 3D topological insulator (TI) exhibit topological protection against backscattering. However, the contribution of bulk electrons to the transport data is an impediment to the topological protection of surface states. We report the tuning of the chemical potential in the bulk in Bi2Se2Te TI thin films, pinning it near the center of the bulk band gap, thereby suppressing the bulk carriers. The temperature dependent resistance of these films show activated behavior down to 50 K, followed by a metallic transition at lower temperatures, a hallmark of robustness of TI surface states. Manifestation of topological protection and surface dominated transport is explained by 2D weak antilocalization phenomenon. We further explore the effect of surface to bulk coupling in TI in this work, which is captured by the number of effective conducting surface channels that participate in the transport. The presence of a single conducting channel indicates a strong surface to bulk coupling which is detrimental to purely topological transport. We demonstrate the decoupling of topological surface states on opposite surfaces of thin films, thereby suppressing the bulk transport. Our findings provide a deeper understanding of surface to bulk coupling along with topological transport behavior and their respective tunability.
Catechol-O-methyltransferase polymorphism is associated with the cortico-cerebellar functional connectivity of executive function in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Authors: Mizuno Yoshifumi , Jung Minyoung , Fujisawa Takashi X. , Takiguchi Shinichiro , Shimada Koji , Saito Daisuke N. , Kosaka Hirotaka , Tomoda Akemi
Published: July 2017

The cerebellum, although traditionally considered a motor structure, has been increasingly recognized to play a role in regulating executive function, the dysfunction of which is a factor in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Additionally, catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) polymorphism has been reported to be associated with executive function. We examined whether the cortico-cerebellar executive function network is altered in children with ADHD and whether COMT polymorphism is associated with the altered network. Thirty-one children with ADHD and thirty age- and IQ-matched typically developing (TD) controls underwent resting-state functional MRI, and functional connectivity of executive function-related Crus I/II in the cerebellum was analysed. COMT Val158Met genotype data were also obtained from children with ADHD. Relative to TD controls, children with ADHD showed significantly lower functional connectivity of the right Crus I/II with the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Additionally, the functional connectivity of children with ADHD was modulated by COMT polymorphism, with Met-carriers exhibiting significantly lower functional connectivity than the Val/Val genotype. These results suggest the existence of variations, such as ethnic differences, in COMT genetic effects on the cortico-cerebellar executive function network. These variations contribute to heterogeneity in ADHD. Further neuroimaging genetics study might lead to the development of fundamental therapies that target ADHD pathophysiology.
The effect of tetrahedron framed permeable weirs on river bed stability in a mountainous area under clear water conditions
Authors: Wang Jia-mei , Yang Xing-guo , Zhou Hong-wei , Wang Zi-hao , Zhou Jia-wen , Liang Yu-feng
Published: July 2017

A flexible riverbed protection called tetrahedron framed permeable weirs (TFPW) is proposed to protect riverbeds in mountainous areas from scouring. Under clear water conditions, a series of laboratory flume experiments were performed to study the effects of TFPW with different layout types on the stability of riverbeds. The objectives of this paper were to advance understanding of the role that TFPW play in the erosion process of river beds and to optimize the TFPW design for reducing velocity, promoting sediment deposition and good structural stability. Data on velocity distribution and variation, equilibrium bathymetry, flow resistance, bed form characteristics and structural stability were collected and analyzed. The results indicate that (1) with good structural stability, all the TFPW with different layout types had significant effects on the stabilization of the riverbed by reducing velocity, raising the water level, increasing the roughness coefficient, protecting the riverbed from degradation and promoting deposition; and (2) the random Double TFPW with large rates of deceleration, large deposition ranges, and good structural stability, and the paved Single TFPW with small rates of deceleration but large deposition ranges and perfect structural stability, were suitable and optimal for riverbed protection in a clear water channel.
On Local Unitary Equivalence of Two and Three-qubit States
Authors: Sun Bao-Zhi , Fei Shao-Ming , Wang Zhi-Xi
Published: July 2017

We study the local unitary equivalence for two and three-qubit mixed states by investigating the invariants under local unitary transformations. For two-qubit system, we prove that the determination of the local unitary equivalence of 2-qubits states only needs 14 or less invariants for arbitrary two-qubit states. Using the same method, we construct invariants for three-qubit mixed states. We prove that these invariants are sufficient to guarantee the LU equivalence of certain kind of three-qubit states. Also, we make a comparison with earlier works.
Biochemical and genetic predictors of overall survival in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer treated with capecitabine and nab-paclitaxel
Authors: Bianconi Daniela , Heller Gerwin , Spies Daniel , Herac Merima , Gleiss Andreas , Liebmann-Reindl Sandra , Unseld Matthias , Kieler Markus , Scheithauer Werner , Streubel Berthold , Zielinski Christoph C. , Prager Gerald W.
Published: July 2017

Pancreatic cancer is a dismal disease with a mortality rate almost similar to its incidence rate. To date, there are neither validated predictive nor prognostic biomarkers for this lethal disease. Thus, the aim of the present study was to retrospectively investigate the capability of biochemical parameters and molecular profiles to predict survival of patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC) who participated in a phase II clinical trial to test the safety and efficacy of the combination treatment of capecitabine plus nab-paclitaxel. Herein, we investigated the association of 18 biochemical parameters obtained from routine diagnosis and the clinical outcome of the 30 patients enrolled in the clinical trial. Furthermore, we analysed formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumour tissue to identify molecular biomarkers via RNA seq and the Illumina TruSeq Amplicon Cancer panel which covers 48 hotspot genes. Our analysis identified SERPINB7 as a novel transcript and a DNA mutation signature that might predict a poor outcome of disease. Moreover, we identified the bilirubin basal level as an independent predictive factor for overall survival in our study cohort.
Evaluating methane inventories by isotopic analysis in the London region
Authors: Zazzeri G. , Lowry D. , Fisher R. E. , France J. L. , Lanoisellé M. , Grimmond C. S. B. , Nisbet E. G.
Published: July 2017

A thorough understanding of methane sources is necessary to accomplish methane reduction targets. Urban environments, where a large variety of methane sources coexist, are one of the most complex areas to investigate. Methane sources are characterised by specific δ13C-CH4 signatures, so high precision stable isotope analysis of atmospheric methane can be used to give a better understanding of urban sources and their partition in a source mix. Diurnal measurements of methane and carbon dioxide mole fraction, and isotopic values at King’s College London, enabled assessment of the isotopic signal of the source mix in central London. Surveys with a mobile measurement system in the London region were also carried out for detection of methane plumes at near ground level, in order to evaluate the spatial allocation of sources suggested by the inventories. The measured isotopic signal in central London (−45.7 ±0.5‰) was more than 2‰ higher than the isotopic value calculated using emission inventories and updated δ13C-CH4 signatures. Besides, during the mobile surveys, many gas leaks were identified that are not included in the inventories. This suggests that a revision of the source distribution given by the emission inventories is needed.
On the effects of multimodal information integration in multitasking
Authors: Stock Ann-Kathrin , Gohil Krutika , Huster René J. , Beste Christian
Published: July 2017

There have recently been considerable advances in our understanding of the neuronal mechanisms underlying multitasking, but the role of multimodal integration for this faculty has remained rather unclear. We examined this issue by comparing different modality combinations in a multitasking (stop-change) paradigm. In-depth neurophysiological analyses of event-related potentials (ERPs) were conducted to complement the obtained behavioral data. Specifically, we applied signal decomposition using second order blind identification (SOBI) to the multi-subject ERP data and source localization. We found that both general multimodal information integration and modality-specific aspects (potentially related to task difficulty) modulate behavioral performance and associated neurophysiological correlates. Simultaneous multimodal input generally increased early attentional processing of visual stimuli (i.e. P1 and N1 amplitudes) as well as measures of cognitive effort and conflict (i.e. central P3 amplitudes). Yet, tactile-visual input caused larger impairments in multitasking than audio-visual input. General aspects of multimodal information integration modulated the activity in the premotor cortex (BA 6) as well as different visual association areas concerned with the integration of visual information with input from other modalities (BA 19, BA 21, BA 37). On top of this, differences in the specific combination of modalities also affected performance and measures of conflict/effort originating in prefrontal regions (BA 6).
Operating Nanobeams in a Quantum Fluid
Authors: Bradley D. I. , George R. , Guénault A. M. , Haley R. P. , Kafanov S. , Noble M. T. , Pashkin Yu. A. , Pickett G. R. , Poole M. , Prance J. R. , Sarsby M. , Schanen R. , Tsepelin V. , Wilcox T. , Zmeev D. E.
Published: July 2017

Microelectromechanical (MEMS) and nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) are ideal candidates for exploring quantum fluids, since they can be manufactured reproducibly, cover the frequency range from hundreds of kilohertz up to gigahertz and usually have very low power dissipation. Their small size offers the possibility of probing the superfluid on scales comparable to, and below, the coherence length. That said, there have been hitherto no successful measurements of NEMS resonators in the liquid phases of helium. Here we report the operation of doubly-clamped aluminium nanobeams in superfluid 4He at temperatures spanning the superfluid transition. The devices are shown to be very sensitive detectors of the superfluid density and the normal fluid damping. However, a further and very important outcome of this work is the knowledge that now we have demonstrated that these devices can be successfully operated in superfluid 4He, it is straightforward to apply them in superfluid 3He which can be routinely cooled to below 100 μK. This brings us into the regime where nanomechanical devices operating at a few MHz frequencies may enter their mechanical quantum ground state.
Seed Pelleting with Calcium Peroxide Improves Crop Establishment of Direct-seeded Rice under Waterlogging Conditions
Authors: Mei Junhao , Wang Weiqin , Peng Shaobing , Nie Lixiao
Published: July 2017

Poor crop establishment of direct-seeded rice (DSR) is one of the major constraints to wide adoption of DSR, particularly in areas prone to flooding after sowing or where fields are not level. Seed pelleting is an effective, practical and facile technique to enhance crop establishment under unfavorable environmental conditions. To evaluate the effects of seed pelleting on rice germination, seedling growth and associated metabolic events under waterlogging stress, various seed pelleting treatments including formulae, pelleting times (the weight ratio of pelleting agents: rice seeds = 1:1~7:1 (w/w) and CaO2contents were tested in series of experiments. Naked seeds were maintained for comparison as a control. Pelleting treatments with CaO2significantly increased seed germination and seedling growth of DSR under waterlogging conditions compared with pelleted seeds without CaO2and naked seeds. The optimum weight ratios of CaO2to dry seeds were found to be in the range of 0.6:1–1:1 based on seed germination and seedling growth performance under waterlogging conditions. Under waterlogging conditions, high seed germination percentage and vigorous seedling growth of DSR due to seed pelleting with CaO2was associated with an increase in α-amylase activity, but decrease in alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC) activities in pelleted seeds.
Fluvoxamine stimulates oligodendrogenesis of cultured neural stem cells and attenuates inflammation and demyelination in an animal model of multiple sclerosis
Authors: Ghareghani Majid , Zibara Kazem , Sadeghi Heibatollah , Dokoohaki Shima , Sadeghi Hossein , Aryanpour Roya , Ghanbari Amir
Published: July 2017

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) require medications controlling severity of the pathology and depression, affecting more than half of the patients. In this study, the effect of antidepressant drug fluvoxamine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, was investigatedin vitroandin vivo. Nanomolar concentrations of fluvoxamine significantly increased cell viability and proliferation of neural stem cells (NSCs) through increasing mRNA expression of Notch1, Hes1 and Ki-67, and protein levels of NICD. Also, physiological concentrations of fluvoxamine were optimal for NSC differentiation toward oligodendrocytes, astrocytes and neurons. In addition, fluvoxamine attenuated experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) severity, a rat MS model, by significantly decreasing its clinical scores. Moreover, fluvoxamine treated EAE rats showed a decrease in IFN-γ serum levels and an increase in IL-4, pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines respectively, compared to untreated EAE rats. Furthermore, immune cell infiltration and demyelination plaque significantly decreased in spinal cords of fluvoxamine-treated rats, which was accompanied by an increase in protein expression of MBP and GFAP positive cells and a decrease in lactate serum levels, a new biomarker of MS progression. In summary, besides its antidepressant activity, fluvoxamine stimulates proliferation and differentiation of NSCs particularly toward oligodendrocytes, a producer of CNS myelin.
Hypofractionated stereotactic radiation therapy activates the peripheral immune response in operable stage I non-small-cell lung cancer
Authors: Zhang Ting , Yu Haifeng , Ni Chao , Zhang Tao , Liu Luying , Lv Qinghua , Zhang Zhigang , Wang Zhen , Wu Dang , Wu Pin , Chen Guodi , Wang Liancong , Wei Qichun , Huang Jian , Wang Xiaojian
Published: July 2017

It has been reported that in patients with operable stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), overall survival (OS) is better in those who undergo hypofractionated stereotactic radiation therapy (HSRT) than in those who undergo surgery. However, the reason that HSRT has a better OS has not been fully explored. Here, we analyzed reconstitution kinetics in immune cells in the peripheral blood of NSCLC patients after HSRT. We found that HSRT increased the frequency of total T cells, especially the proportion of CD8+ T cells, but decreased the frequency of inhibitory Tregs. Intracellular staining showed that after HSRT, peripheral CD8+ T cells were transformed into activated T cells, which express high levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, granzyme B and IL-2. HSRT also increased the production of IL-2, TNF-α, and IFN-γ but down-regulated the production of TGF-β in CD4+ T cells. The frequencies of naïve B cells and double-negative B cells were lower, while the proportions of MZ-like B cells, transitional B cells and plasmablast cells were higher after HSRT. Collectively, our results demonstrate that HSRT activates the peripheral immune response and indicate the dynamic variation in peripheral lymphocytes after HSRT, which is very important for optimizing combination treatments in clinical practice.
Efficient activation of the lymphangiogenic growth factor VEGF-C requires the C-terminal domain of VEGF-C and the N-terminal domain of CCBE1
Authors: Jha Sawan Kumar , Rauniyar Khushbu , Karpanen Terhi , Leppänen Veli-Matti , Brouillard Pascal , Vikkula Miikka , Alitalo Kari , Jeltsch Michael
Published: July 2017

The collagen- and calcium-binding EGF domains 1 (CCBE1) protein is necessary for lymphangiogenesis. Its C-terminal collagen-like domain was shown to be required for the activation of the major lymphangiogenic growth factor VEGF-C (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-C) along with the ADAMTS3 (A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase with Thrombospondin Motifs-3) protease. However, it remained unclear how the N-terminal domain of CCBE1 contributed to lymphangiogenic signaling. Here, we show that efficient activation of VEGF-C requires its C-terminal domain both in vitro and in a transgenic mouse model. The N-terminal EGF-like domain of CCBE1 increased VEGFR-3 signaling by colocalizing pro-VEGF-C with its activating protease to the lymphatic endothelial cell surface. When the ADAMTS3 amounts were limited, proteolytic activation of pro-VEGF-C was supported by the N-terminal domain of CCBE1, but not by its C-terminal domain. A single amino acid substitution in ADAMTS3, identified from a lymphedema patient, was associated with abnormal CCBE1 localization. These results show that CCBE1 promotes VEGFR-3 signaling and lymphangiogenesis by different mechanisms, which are mediated independently by the two domains of CCBE1: by enhancing the cleavage activity of ADAMTS3 and by facilitating the colocalization of VEGF-C and ADAMTS3. These new insights should be valuable in developing new strategies to therapeutically target VEGF-C/VEGFR-3-induced lymphangiogenesis.
Identification of stacking faults in silicon carbide by polarization-resolved second harmonic generation microscopy
Authors: Hristu Radu , Stanciu Stefan G. , Tranca Denis E. , Polychroniadis Efstathios K. , Stanciu George A.
Published: July 2017

Although silicon carbide is a highly promising crystalline material for a wide range of electronic devices, extended and point defects which perturb the lattice periodicity hold deep implications with respect to device reliability. There is thus a great need for developing new methods that can detect silicon carbide defects which are detrimental to device functionality. Our experiment demonstrates that polarization-resolved second harmonic generation microscopy can extend the efficiency of the “optical signature” concept as an all-optical rapid and non-destructive set of investigation methods for the differentiation between hexagonal and cubic stacking faults in silicon carbide. This technique can be used for fast and in situ characterization and optimization of growth conditions for epilayers of silicon carbide and similar materials.
Lamin B1 levels modulate differentiation into neurons during embryonic corticogenesis
Authors: Mahajani Sameehan , Giacomini Caterina , Marinaro Federica , De Pietri Tonelli Davide , Contestabile Andrea , Gasparini Laura
Published: July 2017

Lamin B1, a key component of the nuclear lamina, plays an important role in brain development. Ablation of endogenous Lamin B1 (Lmnb1) in the mouse strongly impairs embryonic brain development and corticogenesis. However, the mechanisms underlying these neurodevelopmental effects are unknown. Here, we report that Lamin B1 levels modulate the differentiation of murine neural stem cells (NSCs) into neurons and astroglial-like cells. In vitro, endogenous Lmnb1 depletion favors NSC differentiation into glial fibrillar acidic protein (GFAP)-immunoreactive cells over neurons, while overexpression of human Lamin B1 (LMNB1) increases the proportion of neurons. In Lmnb1-null embryos, neurogenesis is reduced, while in vivo Lmnb1 silencing in mouse embryonic brain by in utero electroporation of a specific Lmnb1 sh-RNA results in aberrant cortical positioning of neurons and increased expression of the astrocytic marker GFAP in the cortex of 7-day old pups. Together, these results indicate that finely tuned levels of Lamin B1 are required for NSC differentiation into neurons, proper expression of the astrocytic marker GFAP and corticogenesis.
Association between BRAF V600E Mutation and Ultrasound Features in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Patients with and without Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
Authors: Zhang Qin , Liu Bo-Ji , Ren Wei-Wei , He Ya-Ping , Li Xiao-Long , Zhao Chong-Ke , Zhang Yi-Feng , Yue Wen-Wen , Zheng Jia-Yi , Xu Hui-Xiong
Published: July 2017

To assess the association between BRAF V600E mutation and ultrasound (US) features in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients with and without Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT). We retrospectively reviewed the US features and status of BRAF V600E mutation in 438 consecutive patients with surgically confirmed PTCs. The association between BRAF mutation and US features were analyzed. In addition, we conducted subgroup analyses in terms of coexistent HT. The BRAF mutation was found in 86.5% of patients (379 of 438). Patient age (OR: 1.028, P = 0.010), age ≥ 50 y (OR: 1.904, P = 0.030), and microcalcification (OR: 2.262, P = 0.015) on US were significantly associated with BRAF mutation in PTC patients. Solid component (OR: 5.739, P = 0.019) on US was the significant predictor for BRAF mutation in patients with HT, while age (OR: 1.036, P = 0.017) and microcalcification (OR: 3.093, P = 0.017) were significantly associated with BRAF mutation in patients without HT. In conclusion, older age and microcalcification are risk factors for BRAF mutation in PTC patients, especially in those without HT. For those with HT, however, PTCs with BRAF mutation tend to be solid on ultrasound. These factors might be considered when making treatment planning or prognosis evaluation.
Prominent metallic surface conduction and the singular magnetic response of topological Dirac fermion in three-dimensional topological insulator Bi1.5Sb0.5Te1.7Se1.3
Authors: Dutta Prithwish , Pariari Arnab , Mandal Prabhat
Published: July 2017

We report semiconductor to metal-like crossover in the temperature dependence of resistivity (ρ) due to the switching of charge transport from bulk to surface channel in three-dimensional topological insulator Bi1.5Sb0.5Te1.7Se1.3. Unlike earlier studies, a much sharper drop in ρ(T) is observed below the crossover temperature due to the dominant surface conduction. Remarkably, the resistivity of the conducting surface channel follows a rarely observable T2 dependence at low temperature, as predicted theoretically for a two-dimensional Fermi liquid system. The field dependence of magnetization shows a cusp-like paramagnetic peak in the susceptibility (χ) at zero field over the diamagnetic background. The peak is found to be robust against temperature and χ decays linearly with the field from its zero-field value. This unique behavior of the χ is associated with the spin-momentum locked topological surface state in Bi1.5Sb0.5Te1.7Se1.3. The reconstruction of the surface state with time is clearly reflected through the reduction of the peak height with the age of the sample.
The Power of mind: Blocking visual perception by hypnosis
Authors: Schmidt B. , Hecht H. , Naumann E. , Miltner W. H. R.
Published: July 2017

The present study investigated the effects of suggestion on the processing of visual stimuli. Participants counted rare visual stimuli presented on a screen, once during a hypnosis condition where they were suggested that their vision of the screen is blocked by a virtual wooden board in front of their eyes and once during a control condition without suggestion. In the hypnosis condition, counting performance was about 20% worse than in the control condition. At the same time, the P3b amplitude of the event-related brain potential was about 37% reduced. Smaller P3b amplitudes were significantly associated with deficient counting performance, and this effect was largest in participants who reported the blockade as real. In contrast, earlier brain responses (N1, P2) that reflect basic processing of the visual stimuli were not affected by the suggested blockade. We conclude that the suggestion of the blockade affects later stages of visual perception, leaving early processes intact. This illustrates the impact of suggestions and the power of mind.
Development of Novel Mouse Model of Ulcers Induced by Implantation of Magnets
Authors: Takeuchi Yuriko , Ueno Koji , Mizoguchi Takahiro , Samura Makoto , Harada Takasuke , Oga Atsunori , Murata Tomoaki , Hosoyama Tohru , Morikage Noriyasu , Hamano Kimikazu
Published: July 2017

We developed a novel mouse model of human refractory cutaneous ulcers that more faithfully reflects pathology and evaluated the effects of mixed cell sheets comprising peripheral blood mononuclear cells and fibroblasts, which we previously developed for treating refractory cutaneous ulcers. Model development involved sandwiching the skin between two magnets, one of which was implanted under the skin for 7 consecutive days. This magnet-implanted ulcer model produced persistently large amounts of exudate and induced the infiltration of the ulcer with inflammatory cells. The model mice had a thicker epidermis and impaired transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling followed by SMAD2 down-regulation, which causes epidermal hyperplasia in chronic ulcers. Impaired TGF-β signaling also occurred in the ulcers of critical limb ischemia patients. Mixed cell implantation in this ulcer model reduced TNF-α and IL-6 levels in the tissues surrounding the mixed cell sheet-treated ulcers compared with controls or mice treated with trafermin (FGF2). Seven days after commencing therapy, the epidermis was thinner in mice treated with the mixed cell sheets than in controls. This model may therefore serve as a clinically relevant model of human ulcers, and our mixed cell sheets may effectively relieve chronic inflammation and inhibit refractoriness mechanisms.
Spectral clustering using Nyström approximation for the accurate identification of cancer molecular subtypes
Authors: Shi Mingguang , Xu Guofu
Published: July 2017

A major challenge in clinical cancer research is the identification of accurate molecular subtype. While unsupervised clustering methods have been applied for class discovery, this clustering method remains a bottleneck in developing accurate method for molecular subtype discovery. In this analysis, we hypothesize that spectral clustering method could identify molecular subtypes in correlation with survival outcomes. We propose an accurate subtype identification method, Cancer Subtype Identification with Spectral Clustering using Nyström approximation (CSISCN), for the discovery of molecular subtypes, based on spectral clustering method. CSISCN could be used to improve gene expression-based identification of breast cancer molecular subtypes. We demonstrated that CSISCN identified the molecular subtypes with distinct clinical outcomes and was valid for the number of molecular subtypes. Furthermore, CSISCN identified molecular subtypes for improving clinical and molecular relevance which significantly outperformed consensus clustering and spectral clustering methods. To test the general applicability of the CSISCN, we further applied it on human CRC datasets and AML datasets and demonstrated superior performance as compared to consensus clustering method. In summary, CSISCN demonstrated the great potential in gene expression-based subtype identification.
A tyrosine aminotransferase involved in rosmarinic acid biosynthesis in Prunella vulgaris L
Authors: Ru Mei , Wang Kunru , Bai Zhenqing , Peng Liang , He Shaoxuan , Wang Yong , Liang Zongsuo
Published: July 2017

Rosmarinic acid (RA) and its derivants are medicinal compounds that comprise the active components of several therapeutics. We isolated and characterised a tyrosine aminotransferase of Prunella vulgaris (PvTAT). Deduced PvTAT was markedly homologous to other known/putative plant TATs. Cytoplasmic localisation of PvTAT was observed in tobacco protoplasts. Recombinantly expressed and purified PvTAT had substrates preference for L-tyrosine and phenylpyruvate, with apparent Km of 0.40 and 0.48 mM, and favoured the conversion of tyrosine to 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate. In vivo activity was confirmed by functional restoration of the Escherichia coli tyrosine auxotrophic mutant DL39. Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated antisense/sense expression of PvTAT in hairy roots was used to evaluate the contribution of PvTAT to RA synthesis. PvTAT were reduced by 46–95% and RA were decreased by 36–91% with low catalytic activity in antisense transgenic hairy root lines; furthermore, PvTAT were increased 0.77–2.6-fold with increased 1.3–1.8-fold RA and strong catalytic activity in sense transgenic hairy root lines compared with wild-type counterparts. The comprehensive physiological and catalytic evidence fills in the gap in RA-producing plants which didn’t provide evidence for TAT expression and catalytic activities in vitro and in vivo. That also highlights RA biosynthesis pathway in P. vulgaris and provides useful information to engineer natural products.
Whole transcriptome sequencing of Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae-infected kiwifruit plants reveals species-specific interaction between long non-coding RNA and coding genes
Authors: Wang Zupeng , Liu Yifei , Li Li , Li Dawei , Zhang Qiong , Guo Yangtao , Wang Shuaibin , Zhong Caihong , Huang Hongwen
Published: July 2017

An outbreak of kiwifruit bacterial canker disease caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) beginning in 2008 caused disaster to the kiwifruit industry. However the mechanisms of interaction between kiwifruit and Psa are unknown. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are known to regulate many biological processes, but comprehensive repertoires of kiwifruit lncRNAs and their effects on the interaction between kiwifruit and Psa are unknown. Here, based on in-depth transcriptomic analysis of four kiwifruit materials at three stages of infection with Psa, we identified 14,845 transcripts from 12,280 loci as putative lncRNAs. Hierarchical clustering analysis of differentially-expressed transcripts reveals that both protein-coding and lncRNA transcripts are expressed species-specifically. Comparing differentially-expressed transcripts from different species, variations in pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) were the main causes of species-specific responses to infection by Psa. Using weighted gene co-expression network analysis, we identified species-specific expressed key lncRNAs which were closely related to plant immune response and signal transduction. Our results illustrate that different kiwifruit species employ multiple different plant immunity layers to fight against Psa infection, which causes distinct responses. We also discovered that lncRNAs might affect kiwifruit responses to Psa infection, indicating that both protein-coding regions and noncoding regions can affect kiwifruit response to Psa infection.