bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Probing electrical tuning of hair cells with a Zap current method in the intact amphibian papilla of bullfrogs
Authors: Frolov Daniil , Li Geng‐Lin
Published: September 2016

Most, if not all, modern vertebrate species have evolved exquisite inner ears to discriminate acoustic signals of different frequencies, through a process called frequency tuning. For non‐mammalian species, at least part of frequency tuning has been attributed to intrinsic electrical properties of hair cells, i.e. electrical tuning. Since it was first discovered, the traditional method to assess electrical tuning has been to inject step current into hair cells and examine dampened membrane voltage oscillation. However, this method is not applicable for hair cells that do not oscillate. In this study, we developed a Zap current method that can be unbiasedly applied to all hair cells regardless of their oscillating behavior. Similar to a chirp sound in acoustic stimulation, a Zap current is a sinusoidal current with the frequency increased linearly with time. We first validated this new method with the traditional step current method on hair cells with dampened membrane voltage oscillation, and then applied it to all hair cells in the intact amphibian papilla of bullfrogs. We found that while hair cells with dampened membrane voltage oscillation are sharply tuned, non‐oscillating hair cells are broadly tuned. In addition, we found a third type of hair cells, which oscillate continuously and are extremely sharply tuned, with multiple peaks that are reminiscent of harmonics in the mammalian cochlea. In conclusion, the new Zap current method provides an unbiased way to assess electrical tuning, and it reveals an underappreciated heterogeneity of electrical tuning in the bullfrog amphibian papilla.
Implementation of a non‐linear foundation model for soil‐structure interaction analysis of offshore wind turbines in FAST
Authors: Krathe V. L. , Kaynia A. M.
Published: September 2016

Bottom‐fixed offshore wind turbines (OWTs) involve a wide range of engineering fields. Of these, modelling of foundation flexibility has been given little priority. This paper investigates the modelling of bottom‐fixed OWTs in the non‐linear aero‐hydro‐servo‐elastic simulation tool FAST v7. The OWTs considered is supported on a monopile. The objective of this paper was to implement a non‐linear foundation model in this software. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory's idealized 5MW reference turbine was used as a base for the analyses.

Default modelling of foundation in FAST v7 is by means of a rigid foundation. This implies that soil stiffness and damping is disregarded. Damping may lead to lower design loads. A softer foundation, on the other hand, will increase the natural periods of the system, shifting them closer to the frequencies of the environmental loads. This may in turn lead to amplified moments at the mudline. Therefore, it is important to include soil stiffness and damping in analyses.

In this paper, a non‐linear foundation model is introduced in FAST v7 by means of uncoupled parallel springs. To verify that the implementation is successful, non‐linear load‐displacement curves of the foundation spring are presented. These show the typical hysteresis loops of an inelastic material, which confirms the implementation. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On‐site filtration of water samples for environmental DNA analysis to avoid DNA degradation during transportation
Authors: Yamanaka Hiroki , Motozawa Hiromu , Tsuji Satsuki , Miyazawa Ryohei C. , Takahara Teruhiko , Minamoto Toshifumi
Published: September 2016

Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis is an innovative tool for determining the distribution or abundance of aquatic macroorganisms. However, because eDNA degrades rapidly in water, long delays between sampling and analysis may hinder eDNA quantification. In the present study, we developed a portable filtration system that enables on‐site (and on‐the‐road) filtration of water samples. Degradation rates of eDNA within 6 h were compared using water from an outdoor pond that was subjected to (1) on‐site filtration, (2) transportation of water on ice, and (3) transportation of water at ambient temperature. Groups 2 and 3 were filtered in the laboratory 6 h after sampling. The concentration of eDNA was determined as the copy number of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene of two fish species using real‐time polymerase chain reaction. The portable filtration system offers the following benefits: (1) the eDNA concentration is preserved as is at the time of sampling, permitting higher accuracy of eDNA quantification, (2) use of a disposable sealed plastic bag reduces the risk of contamination and ensures on‐the‐road filtration, (3) time is saved because filtration can be accomplished when driving between sampling sites.
Insufficient developmental excitatory neuronal activity fails to foster establishment of normal levels of inhibitory neuronal activity
Authors: Therrien Mikaela , Vohnoutka Rishel , Boumil Edward , Guaraldi Mary , Lee Sangmook , Shea Thomas B.
Published: September 2016

The nervous system is composed of excitatory and inhibitory neurons. One major class of inhibitory neurons release the neurotransmitter γ‐Aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABAergic inhibitory activity maintains the balance that is disrupted in conditions such as epilepsy. At least some GABAergic neurons are initially excitatory and undergo a developmental conversion to convert to inhibitory neurons. The mechanism(s) behind this conversion are thought to include a critical developmental increase in excitatory activity.

To test this hypothesis, we subjected ex vivo developing neuronal networks on multi‐electrode arrays to various stimulation and pharmacological regimens. Synaptic activity of networks initially consists of epileptiform‐like high‐amplitude individual “spikes”, which convert to organized bursts of activity over the course of approximately 1 month. Stimulation of networks with a digitized synaptic signal for 5 days hastened the decrease of epileptiform activity. By contrast, stimulation for a single day delayed the appearance of bursts and instead increased epileptiform signaling.

GABA treatment reduced total signals in unstimulated networks and networks stimulated for 5 days, but instead increased signaling in networks stimulated for 1 day. This increase was prevented by co‐treatment with (2R)‐amino‐5‐phosphonopentanoate and 6‐cyano‐7‐nitroquinoxaline‐2,3‐dione, confirming that GABA invoked excitatory activity in networks stimulated for 1 day. Glutamate increased signals in networks subjected to all stimulation regimens; the GABA receptor antagonist bicuculline prevented this increase only in networks stimulated for 1 day. These latter findings are consistent with the induction of so‐called “mixed” synapses (which release a combination of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters) in networks stimulated for 1 day, and support the hypothesis that a critical level of excitatory activity fosters the developmental transition of GABAergic neurons from excitatory to inhibitory.
The Sewol Ferry Disaster: Experiences of a Community-Based Hospital in Ansan City
Authors: Park Jong-Hak , Cho Hanjin , Kim Joo Yeong , Song Joo-Hyun , Moon Sungwoo , Cha Sang Hoon , Choi Byung-Min , Han Chang-Su , Ko Young-Hoon , Lee Hongjae
Published: September 2016

The Sewol ferry disaster is one of the most tragic events in Korea’s modern history. Among the 476 people on board, which included Danwon High School students (324) and teachers (14), 304 passengers died in the disaster (295 recovered corpses and 9 missing) and 172 survived. Of the rescued survivors, 72 were attending Danwon High School, located in Ansan City, and residing in a residence nearby. Because the students were young, emotionally susceptible adolescents, both the government and the parents requested the students be grouped together at a single hospital capable of appropriate psychiatric care. Korea University Ansan Hospital was the logical choice, as the only third-tier university-grade hospital with the necessary faculty and facilities within the residential area of the families of the students. We report the experiences and the lessons learned from the processes of preparing for and managing the surviving young students as a community-based hospital. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:389–393)
Hydrodynamics of micro-swimmers in films
Authors: Mathijssen A. J. T. M. , Doostmohammadi A. , Yeomans J. M. , Shendruk T. N.
Published: September 2016

One of the principal mechanisms by which surfaces and interfaces affect microbial life is by perturbing the hydrodynamic flows generated by swimming. By summing a recursive series of image systems, we derive a numerically tractable approximation to the three-dimensional flow fields of a stokeslet (point force) within a viscous film between a parallel no-slip surface and a no-shear interface and, from this Green’s function, we compute the flows produced by a force- and torque-free micro-swimmer. We also extend the exact solution of Liron & Mochon (J. Engng Maths, vol. 10 (4), 1976, pp. 287–303) to the film geometry, which demonstrates that the image series gives a satisfactory approximation to the swimmer flow fields if the film is sufficiently thick compared to the swimmer size, and we derive the swimmer flows in the thin-film limit. Concentrating on the thick-film case, we find that the dipole moment induces a bias towards swimmer accumulation at the no-slip wall rather than the water–air interface, but that higher-order multipole moments can oppose this. Based on the analytic predictions, we propose an experimental method to find the multipole coefficient that induces circular swimming trajectories, allowing one to analytically determine the swimmer’s three-dimensional position under a microscope.
The stability of capillary waves on fluid sheets
Authors: Blyth M. G. , Părău E. I.
Published: September 2016

The linear stability of finite-amplitude capillary waves on inviscid sheets of fluid is investigated. A method similar to that recently used by Tiron & Choi (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 696, 2012, pp. 402–422) to determine the stability of Crapper waves on fluid of infinite depth is developed by extending the conformal mapping technique of Dyachenkoet al.(Phys. Lett. A, vol. 221 (1), 1996a, pp. 73–79) to a form capable of capturing general periodic waves on both the upper and the lower surface of the sheet, including the symmetric and antisymmetric waves studied by Kinnersley (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 77 (02), 1976, pp. 229–241). The primary, surprising result is that both symmetric and antisymmetric Kinnersley waves are unstable to small superharmonic disturbances. The waves are also unstable to subharmonic perturbations. Growth rates are computed for a range of steady waves in the Kinnersley family, and also waves found along the bifurcation branches identified by Blyth & Vanden-Broeck (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 507, 2004, pp. 255–264). The instability results are corroborated by time integration of the fully nonlinear unsteady equations. Evidence is presented for superharmonic instability of nonlinear waves via a collision of eigenvalues on the imaginary axis which appear to have the same Krein signature.
The use of syntactic features in formulating sentences in English as a second language by native speakers of Spanish
Authors: PAE HYE K. , GREENBERG DAPHNE , TAYLOR NICOLE , LAURES-GORE JACQUELINE , QUINONES LIDIA YVETTE
Published: September 2016

abstract

This study examined how native speakers of Spanish formulated sentences in English as a second language (L2) when randomly ordered words were orally presented. Participants included 206 adult literacy students (70 native Spanish speakers and 136 native English speakers) whose word reading equivalency was at third- through fifth-grade levels. The Word Ordering subtest of theTest of Language Development-3 was administered. Although they showed a similar pattern of performance in the sentence type (i.e., declarative, interrogative, or imperative sentence), the two groups showed a different pattern in the misuse of syntactic features. Pertaining to grammatical features, verbs were the most difficult item for the native speakers of Spanish. The findings of this study were explained through the intricate nature of English verbs as well as unique lexicalization patterns resulting from the typological difference between Spanish and English.
‘PROTESTANTISM’ AS A HISTORICAL CATEGORY
Authors: Ryrie Alec
Published: September 2016

The term ‘Protestant’ itself is a historical accident, but the category of western Christians who have separated from Rome since 1517 remains a useful one. The confessionalisation thesis, which has dominated recent Reformation historiography, instead posits the two major Protestant confessions and Tridentine Catholicism as its categories, but this can produce a false parallelism in which the nature of the relationship between the confessions is oversimplified. Instead, this paper proposes we think of a Protestant ecosystem consisting of self-consciously confessional Lutheranism, a broad Calvinism which imagined itself as normative, and a collection of radical currents much more intimately connected to the ‘magisterial’ confessions than any of the participants wished to acknowledge. The magisterial / radical division was maintained only with constant vigilance and exemplary violence, with Calvinism in particular constantly threatening to bleed into radicalism. What gives this quarrelsome family of ‘Protestants’ analytical coherence is neither simple genealogy nor, as has been suggested, mere adherence to the Bible: since in practice both ‘radical’ and ‘magisterial’ Protestants have been more flexible and ‘spiritual’ in their use of Scripture than is generally allowed. It is, rather, the devotional experience underpinning that ‘spiritual’ use of the Bible, of an unmediated encounter with grace.
THE GRAIL OF ORIGINAL MEANING: USES OF THE PAST IN AMERICAN CONSTITUTIONAL THEORYProthero Lecture
Authors: Kidd Colin
Published: September 2016

Originalist jurisprudence, which enjoins a faithful adherence to the values enshrined in the late eighteenth-century Constitution, has become a prominent feature of contemporary American conservatism. Recovering the original meaning of the Constitution is far from straightforward, and raises major issues of historical interpretation. How far do the assumed historical underpinnings of originalist interpretation mesh with the findings of academic historians? To what extent has the conservative invocation of the Founding Fathers obscured a lost American Enlightenment? Nor is ‘tradition’ in American Constitutional law an unproblematic matter. How far does a desire to restore the original meaning of the Constitution ignore the role of ‘stare decisis’ (precedent) in America's common law heritage? It transpires, moreover, that the various schemes of historical interpretation in American Constitutional jurisprudence do not map easily onto a simple liberal–conservative divide.
Comparison of Unscented and Extended Kalman Filters with Application in Vehicle Navigation
Authors: Yang Cheng , Shi Wenzhong , Chen Wu
Published: September 2016

The Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF) is a well-known nonlinear state estimation method. It shows superior performance at nonlinear estimation compared to the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF). This paper is devoted to an investigation between UKF and EKF with different feedback control modes in vehicle navigation. Theoretical formulation, simulation and field tests have been carried out to compare the performance of UKF and EKF. The simulation and test results demonstrate that the estimated state of a UKF relies on the measurements and is less sensitive to historical model information. The results also indicate that UKF has benefits for prototype model design due to avoidance of calculation of a Jacobian matrix. EKF, however, is more computationally efficient and more stable.
Immunity against influenza A(H1N1) infections is determined by age at the time of initial strain circulation
Authors: DELABRE R. M. , SALEZ N. , LAPIDUS N. , LEMAITRE M. , LERUEZ-VILLE M. , de LAMBALLERIE X. , CARRAT F.
Published: September 2016

We explored age-dependent patterns in haemagglutination inhibition (HI) titre to seasonal [1956 A(H1N1), 1977 A(H1N1), 2007 A(H1N1)] and pandemic [A(H1N1)pdm09] influenza strains using serological data collected from an adult French influenza cohort. Subjects were recruited by their general practitioners from 2008 to 2009 and followed until 2010. We explored age-related differences between strain-specific HI titres using 1053 serological samples collected over the study period from 398 unvaccinated subjects. HI titres against the tested seasonal and pandemic strains were determined using the HI technique. Geometric mean titres (GMTs) were estimated using regression models for interval-censored data. Generalized additive mixed models were fit to log-transformed HI estimates to study the relationship between HI titre and age (age at inclusion and/or age at initial strain circulation). GMT against one strain was consistently highest in the birth cohort exposed to that strain during childhood, with peak titres observed in subjects aged 7–8 years at the time of initial strain circulation. Our results complete previous findings on influenza A(H3N2) strains and identify a strain-dependent relationship between HI titre and age at initial strain circulation.
Out of many, one: integrating data in the paediatric cardiovascular environment
Authors: Bradley David J. , Wu Danny T. Y. , Goldberg Caren S. , Serwer Gerald S. , Lowery Ray E. , Donohue Janet E. , Hirsch-Romano Jennifer C. , Zheng Kai , Pasquali Sara K.
Published: September 2016

Large volumes of data and multiple computing platforms are now universal components of paediatric cardiovascular medicine, but are in a constant state of evolution. Often, multiple sets of related data reside in disconnected “silos”, resulting in clinical, administrative, and research activities that may be duplicative, inefficient, and at times inaccurate. Comprehensive and integrated data solutions are needed to facilitate these activities across congenital heart centres. We describe methodology, key considerations, successful use cases, and lessons learnt in developing an integrated data platform across our congenital heart centre.
A CRITICAL RACE THEORY ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC PARK FEATURES IN LATINO IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORHOODS
Authors: García Jennifer J. , Gee Gilbert C. , Jones Malia
Published: September 2016

The present-day location of public parks should be understood in the proper social and historical context of residential segregation and urban development. In Los Angeles, discriminatory practices such as restrictive covenants were used not only for housing, but also to maintain segregated recreational spaces. In addition, the economic changes that came as a result of White flight, suburbanization, and inner city job loss brought with it a reduction in local government resources, including funds for public parks. These changes to the urban landscape disproportionately impacted low-income immigrant communities, including Latino neighborhoods. Health disparities researchers are concerned with the inequitable distribution of parks and recreation facilities because it may contribute to disparities in physical inactivity and obesity, health risks that disproportionately impact Latinos. However, much of the literature investigating disparities in the built environment fails to include a racial analysis. The current study uses a Critical Race Theory framework to examine disparities in park availability in Los Angeles. We used a unique park dataset created in ArcGIS to carry out a county-wide assessment of the availability of park features at the neighborhood level. Data come from two sources, the Los Angeles County Location Management System, which includes information on specific park features (e.g., swimming pools, parks and gardens, recreation centers) and the American Community Survey, which includes neighborhood-level sociodemographic information. A zero-inflated negative binomial regression model was used to test whether Latino immigrant neighborhood characteristics are associated with the availability of park features in Los Angeles. Results indicate that Latino immigrant neighborhoods have limited park availability. The discussion situates these findings of inequitable distribution of park resources in the appropriate social and historical context of Latinos living in Los Angeles.
Emetophobia – A Metacognitive Therapeutic Approach for an Overlooked Disorder
Authors: Simons Michael , Vloet Timo Daniel
Published: September 2016

Abstract. Objective: Emetophobia is the specific fear of vomiting that usually commences during childhood and adolescence. Cognitive behavioral therapy aims to expose patients to vomiting. In this paper, a newly developed metacognitive concept and treatment approach to this disorder is illustrated within a small case series. Method: Three adolescent girls with emetophobia were treated with metacognitive therapy (MCT). Measures of anxiety, worry, depression, and metacognitions before and after the treatment were documented. Results: All patients recovered during the course of 8 to 11 sessions, and measurements of anxiety, worry, depression, and metacognitions dropped markedly. Conclusions: MCT presents a valuable treatment option for emetophobia in adolescents.
Mild Hypothermia in a Child with Low-Dose Risperidone
Authors: Grau Katharina , Plener Paul L. , Gahr Maximilian , Denzer Christian , Freudenmann Roland W.
Published: September 2016

Abstract. Risperidone is a widely used, second-generation antipsychotic approved for treating schizophrenia as well as for treating aggression in children and adolescents with mental retardation. The substance has a well-established risk profile including alterations of body temperature. Apart from hyperthermia with and without full-blown malignant neuroleptic syndrome, low body temperatures (hypothermia) have also been reported anecdotally, usually appearing in the context of comedication. Here, we report a case of hypothermia associated with a low-dose risperidone monotherapy in a child.
Long noncoding RNAs in the progression, metastasis, and prognosis of osteosarcoma
Authors: Yang Zuozhang , Li Xiaojuan , Yang Yihao , He Zewei , Qu Xin , Zhang Ya
Published: September 2016

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a class of non-protein-coding molecules longer than 200 nucleotides that are involved in the development and progression of many types of tumors. Numerous lncRNAs regulate cell proliferation, metastasis, and chemotherapeutic drug resistance. Osteosarcoma is one of the main bone tumor subtypes that poses a serious threat to adolescent health. We summarized how lncRNAs regulate osteosarcoma progression, invasion, and drug resistance, as well as how lncRNAs can function as biomarkers or independent prognostic indicators with respect to osteosarcoma therapy.
Activation of necroptosis in human and experimental cholestasis
Authors: Afonso Marta B , Rodrigues Pedro M , Simão André L , Ofengeim Dimitry , Carvalho Tânia , Amaral Joana D , Gaspar Maria M , Cortez-Pinto Helena , Castro Rui E , Yuan Junying , Rodrigues Cecília M P
Published: September 2016

Cholestasis encompasses liver injury and inflammation. Necroptosis, a necrotic cell death pathway regulated by receptor-interacting protein (RIP) 3, may mediate cell death and inflammation in the liver. We aimed to investigate the role of necroptosis in mediating deleterious processes associated with cholestatic liver disease. Hallmarks of necroptosis were evaluated in liver biopsies of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) patients and in wild-type and RIP3-deficient (RIP3−/−) mice subjected to common bile duct ligation (BDL). The functional link between RIP3, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and antioxidant response was investigated in vivo after BDL and in vitro. We demonstrate increased RIP3 expression and mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL) phosphorylation in liver samples of human PBC patients, coincident with thioflavin T labeling, suggesting activation of necroptosis. BDL resulted in evident hallmarks of necroptosis, concomitant with progressive bile duct hyperplasia, multifocal necrosis, fibrosis and inflammation. MLKL phosphorylation was increased and insoluble aggregates of RIP3, MLKL and RIP1 formed in BLD liver tissue samples. Furthermore, RIP3 deficiency blocked BDL-induced necroinflammation at 3 and 14 days post-BDL. Serum hepatic enzymes, fibrogenic liver gene expression and oxidative stress decreased in RIP3−/− mice at 3 days after BDL. However, at 14 days, cholestasis aggravated and fibrosis was not halted. RIP3 deficiency further associated with increased hepatic expression of HO-1 and accumulation of iron in BDL mice. The functional link between HO-1 activity and bile acid toxicity was established in RIP3-deficient primary hepatocytes. Necroptosis is triggered in PBC patients and mediates hepatic necroinflammation in BDL-induced acute cholestasis. Targeting necroptosis may represent a therapeutic strategy for acute cholestasis, although complementary approaches may be required to control progression of chronic cholestatic liver disease.
Unsupervised learning in probabilistic neural networks with multi-state metal-oxide memristive synapses
Authors: Serb Alexander , Bill Johannes , Khiat Ali , Berdan Radu , Legenstein Robert , Prodromakis Themis
Published: September 2016

In an increasingly data-rich world the need for developing computing systems that cannot only process, but ideally also interpret big data is becoming continuously more pressing. Brain-inspired concepts have shown great promise towards addressing this need. Here we demonstrate unsupervised learning in a probabilistic neural network that utilizes metal-oxide memristive devices as multi-state synapses. Our approach can be exploited for processing unlabelled data and can adapt to time-varying clusters that underlie incoming data by supporting the capability of reversible unsupervised learning. The potential of this work is showcased through the demonstration of successful learning in the presence of corrupted input data and probabilistic neurons, thus paving the way towards robust big-data processors.
Enrichment of hydroxylated C24- and C26-acyl-chain sphingolipids mediates PIN2 apical sorting at trans-Golgi network subdomains
Authors: Wattelet-Boyer Valérie , Brocard Lysiane , Jonsson Kristoffer , Esnay Nicolas , Joubès Jérôme , Domergue Frédéric , Mongrand Sébastien , Raikhel Natasha , Bhalerao Rishikesh P. , Moreau Patrick , Boutté Yohann
Published: September 2016

The post-Golgi compartment trans-Golgi Network (TGN) is a central hub divided into multiple subdomains hosting distinct trafficking pathways, including polar delivery to apical membrane. Lipids such as sphingolipids and sterols have been implicated in polar trafficking from the TGN but the underlying mechanisms linking lipid composition to functional polar sorting at TGN subdomains remain unknown. Here we demonstrate that sphingolipids with α-hydroxylated acyl-chains of at least 24 carbon atoms are enriched in secretory vesicle subdomains of the TGN and are critical for de novo polar secretory sorting of the auxin carrier PIN2 to apical membrane of Arabidopsis root epithelial cells. We show that sphingolipid acyl-chain length influences the morphology and interconnections of TGN-associated secretory vesicles. Our results uncover that the sphingolipids acyl-chain length links lipid composition of TGN subdomains with polar secretory trafficking of PIN2 to apical membrane of polarized epithelial cells.
Topographic generation of submesoscale centrifugal instability and energy dissipation
Authors: Gula Jonathan , Molemaker M. Jeroen , McWilliams James C.
Published: September 2016

Most of the ocean kinetic energy is contained in the large scale currents and the vigorous geostrophic eddy field, at horizontal scales of order 100 km. To achieve equilibrium the geostrophic currents must viscously dissipate their kinetic energy at much smaller scale. However, geostrophic turbulence is characterized by an inverse cascade of energy towards larger scale, and the pathways of energy toward dissipation are still in question. Here, we present a mechanism, in the context of the Gulf Stream, where energy is transferred from the geostrophic flow to submesoscale wakes through anticyclonic vertical vorticity generation in the bottom boundary layer. The submesoscale turbulence leads to elevated local dissipation and mixing outside the oceanic boundary layers. This process is generic for boundary slope currents that flow in the direction of Kelvin wave propagation. Topographic generation of submesoscale flows potentially provides a new and significant route to energy dissipation for geostrophic flows.
Confocal reference free traction force microscopy
Authors: Bergert Martin , Lendenmann Tobias , Zündel Manuel , Ehret Alexander E. , Panozzo Daniele , Richner Patrizia , Kim David K. , Kress Stephan J. P. , Norris David J. , Sorkine-Hornung Olga , Mazza Edoardo , Poulikakos Dimos , Ferrari Aldo
Published: September 2016

The mechanical wiring between cells and their surroundings is fundamental to the regulation of complex biological processes during tissue development, repair or pathology. Traction force microscopy (TFM) enables determination of the actuating forces. Despite progress, important limitations with intrusion effects in low resolution 2D pillar-based methods or disruptive intermediate steps of cell removal and substrate relaxation in high-resolution continuum TFM methods need to be overcome. Here we introduce a novel method allowing a one-shot (live) acquisition of continuous in- and out-of-plane traction fields with high sensitivity. The method is based on electrohydrodynamic nanodrip-printing of quantum dots into confocal monocrystalline arrays, rendering individually identifiable point light sources on compliant substrates. We demonstrate the undisrupted reference-free acquisition and quantification of high-resolution continuous force fields, and the simultaneous capability of this method to correlatively overlap traction forces with spatial localization of proteins revealed using immunofluorescence methods.
Engineering island-chain silicon nanowires via a droplet mediated Plateau-Rayleigh transformation
Authors: Xue Zhaoguo , Xu Mingkun , Zhao Yaolong , Wang Jimmy , Jiang Xiaofan , Yu Linwei , Wang Junzhuan , Xu Jun , Shi Yi , Chen Kunji , Roca i Cabarrocas Pere
Published: September 2016

The ability to program highly modulated morphology upon silicon nanowires (SiNWs) has been fundamental to explore new phononic and electronic functionalities. We here exploit a nanoscale locomotion of metal droplets to demonstrate a large and readily controllable morphology engineering of crystalline SiNWs, from straight ones into continuous or discrete island-chains, at temperature <350 °C. This has been accomplished via a tin (Sn) droplet mediated in-plane growth where amorphous Si thin film is consumed as precursor to produce crystalline SiNWs. Thanks to a significant interface-stretching effect, a periodic Plateau-Rayleigh instability oscillation can be stimulated in the liquid Sn droplet, and the temporal oscillation of the Sn droplets is translated faithfully, via the deformable liquid/solid deposition interface, into regular spatial modulation upon the SiNWs. Combined with a unique self-alignment and positioning capability, this new strategy could enable a rational design and single-run fabrication of a wide variety of nanowire-based optoelectronic devices.
Large optical nonlinearity of ITO nanorods for sub-picosecond all-optical modulation of the full-visible spectrum
Authors: Guo Peijun , Schaller Richard D. , Ocola Leonidas E. , Diroll Benjamin T. , Ketterson John B. , Chang Robert P. H.
Published: September 2016

Nonlinear optical responses of materials play a vital role for the development of active nanophotonic and plasmonic devices. Optical nonlinearity induced by intense optical excitation of mobile electrons in metallic nanostructures can provide large-amplitude, dynamic tuning of their electromagnetic response, which is potentially useful for all-optical processing of information and dynamic beam control. Here we report on the sub-picosecond optical nonlinearity of indium tin oxide nanorod arrays (ITO-NRAs) following intraband, on-plasmon-resonance optical pumping, which enables modulation of the full-visible spectrum with large absolute change of transmission, favourable spectral tunability and beam-steering capability. Furthermore, we observe a transient response in the microsecond regime associated with slow lattice cooling, which arises from the large aspect-ratio and low thermal conductivity of ITO-NRAs. Our results demonstrate that all-optical control of light can be achieved by using heavily doped wide-bandgap semiconductors in their transparent regime with speed faster than that of noble metals.
Radiative heat transfer exceeding the blackbody limit between macroscale planar surfaces separated by a nanosize vacuum gap
Authors: Bernardi Michael P. , Milovich Daniel , Francoeur Mathieu
Published: September 2016

Using Rytov’s fluctuational electrodynamics framework, Polder and Van Hove predicted that radiative heat transfer between planar surfaces separated by a vacuum gap smaller than the thermal wavelength exceeds the blackbody limit due to tunnelling of evanescent modes. This finding has led to the conceptualization of systems capitalizing on evanescent modes such as thermophotovoltaic converters and thermal rectifiers. Their development is, however, limited by the lack of devices enabling radiative transfer between macroscale planar surfaces separated by a nanosize vacuum gap. Here we measure radiative heat transfer for large temperature differences (∼120 K) using a custom-fabricated device in which the gap separating two 5 × 5 mm2 intrinsic silicon planar surfaces is modulated from 3,500 to 150 nm. A substantial enhancement over the blackbody limit by a factor of 8.4 is reported for a 150-nm-thick gap. Our device paves the way for the establishment of novel evanescent wave-based systems.
Quantum decoherence dynamics of divacancy spins in silicon carbide
Authors: Seo Hosung , Falk Abram L. , Klimov Paul V. , Miao Kevin C. , Galli Giulia , Awschalom David D.
Published: September 2016

Long coherence times are key to the performance of quantum bits (qubits). Here, we experimentally and theoretically show that the Hahn-echo coherence time of electron spins associated with divacancy defects in 4H–SiC reaches 1.3 ms, one of the longest Hahn-echo coherence times of an electron spin in a naturally isotopic crystal. Using a first-principles microscopic quantum-bath model, we find that two factors determine the unusually robust coherence. First, in the presence of moderate magnetic fields (30 mT and above), the29Si and13C paramagnetic nuclear spin baths are decoupled. In addition, because SiC is a binary crystal, homo-nuclear spin pairs are both diluted and forbidden from forming strongly coupled, nearest-neighbour spin pairs. Longer neighbour distances result in fewer nuclear spin flip-flops, a less fluctuating intra-crystalline magnetic environment, and thus a longer coherence time. Our results point to polyatomic crystals as promising hosts for coherent qubits in the solid state.
Structural and quantum chemical analysis of exciton coupling in homo- and heteroaggregate stacks of merocyanines
Authors: Bialas David , Zitzler-Kunkel André , Kirchner Eva , Schmidt David , Würthner Frank
Published: September 2016

Exciton coupling is of fundamental importance and determines functional properties of organic dyes in (opto-)electronic and photovoltaic devices. Here we show that strong exciton coupling is not limited to the situation of equal chromophores as often assumed. Quadruple dye stacks were obtained from two bis(merocyanine) dyes with same or different chromophores, respectively, which dimerize in less-polar solvents resulting in the respective homo- and heteroaggregates. The structures of the quadruple dye stacks were assigned by NMR techniques and unambiguously confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analysis. The heteroaggregate stack formed from the bis(merocyanine) bearing two different chromophores exhibits remarkably different ultraviolet/vis absorption bands compared with those of the homoaggregate of the bis(merocyanine) comprising two identical chromophores. Quantum chemical analysis based on an extension of Kasha’s exciton theory appropriately describes the absorption properties of both types of stacks revealing strong exciton coupling also between different chromophores within the heteroaggregate.
Erratum: Synergistic effects of ion transporter and MAP kinase pathway inhibitors in melanoma
Authors: Eskiocak Ugur , Ramesh Vijayashree , Gill Jennifer G. , Zhao Zhiyu , Yuan Stacy W. , Wang Meng , Vandergriff Travis , Shackleton Mark , Quintana Elsa , Frankel Arthur E. , Johnson Timothy M. , DeBerardinis Ralph J. , Morrison Sean J.
Published: September 2016

Nature Communications 7 Article number:12336 (2016); Published 22 August 2016; Updated 29 September 2016 Arthur E. Frankel, who helped to interpret the clinical relevance of the findings, was inadvertently omitted from the authors list during the final stages of production. This has now been corrected in both the PDF and HTML versions of the Article.
Regulation of BZR1 in fruit ripening revealed by iTRAQ proteomics analysis
Authors: Liu Lihong , Liu Haoran , Li Shuo , Zhang Xin , Zhang Min , Zhu Ning , Dufresne Craig P. , Chen Sixue , Wang Qiaomei
Published: September 2016

Fruit ripening is a complex and genetically programmed process. Brassinosteroids (BRs) play an essential role in plant growth and development, including fruit ripening. As a central component of BR signaling, the transcription factor BZR1 is involved in fruit development in tomato. However, the transcriptional network through which BZR1 regulates fruit ripening is mostly unknown. In this study, we use isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) labeling technology to explore important proteins regulated by BZR1 in two independent tomato transgenic lines over-expressingBZR1-1Dat four ripening stages, identifying 411 differentially expressed proteins. These proteins were implicated in light reaction, plant hormone pathways and cell-wall-related metabolism, etc. The ‘light reaction’ metabolic pathway was identified as a markedly enhanced pathway by BZR1 during tomato fruit ripening. The protein level of a probable 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase 2-ODD2, involved in gibberellin biosynthesis was significantly increased at all four developmental and ripening stages. The results reveal molecular links between BR signaling pathway and downstream components involved in multiple ripening-associated events during tomato fruit ripening, which will provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying tomato ripening regulatory networks, and be potential in understanding BR-regulated fruit ripening.
All Photons Imaging Through Volumetric Scattering
Authors: Satat Guy , Heshmat Barmak , Raviv Dan , Raskar Ramesh
Published: September 2016

Imaging through thick highly scattering media (sample thickness ≫ mean free path) can realize broad applications in biomedical and industrial imaging as well as remote sensing. Here we propose a computational “All Photons Imaging” (API) framework that utilizes time-resolved measurement for imaging through thick volumetric scattering by using both early arrived (non-scattered) and diffused photons. As opposed to other methods which aim to lock on specific photons (coherent, ballistic, acoustically modulated, etc.), this framework aims to use all of the optical signal. Compared to conventional early photon measurements for imaging through a 15 mm tissue phantom, our method shows a two fold improvement in spatial resolution (4db increase in Peak SNR). This all optical, calibration-free framework enables widefield imaging through thick turbid media and opens new avenues in non-invasive testing, analysis and diagnosis.
The evolution of optimal resource allocation and mating systems in hermaphroditic perennial plants
Authors: Wang Ya-Qiang , Li Yao-Tang , Wang Rui-Wu
Published: September 2016

By incorporating the effects of inbreeding depression (ID) on both juveniles and adults survivorship, we developed a new theoretical model for hermaphroditic perennial plants. Our model showed that the effect of the selfing rate on the evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS) reproductive allocation depends on three parameters: (1) the self-fertilized juvenile relative survivorship (SFJRS), (2) the self-fertilized adult relative survivorship (SFARS) and (3) the growth rate of self-fertilized adult, where the SFJRS is the survivorship of self-fertilized juveniles divided by the survivorship of outcrossed juveniles, and likewise for the SFARS. However, the ESS sex allocation decreases as the selfing rate increases. This relationship seems independent of the SFJRS, the SFARS, and the growth rate of self-fertilized adults. Additionally, our model showed that the complete outcrossing is an ESS when the fraction of juvenile inbreeding depression (FJID) is less than 1/2 − τ, where τ is the self-fertilized adults mortality rate caused by ID. In contrast, the complete selfing also acts as an ESS when the FJID is greater than 1/2 − τ. These results could explain the diversity of mating strategies and related resource allocations for plants.
Rescue of Early bace-1 and Global DNA Demethylation by S-Adenosylmethionine Reduces Amyloid Pathology and Improves Cognition in an Alzheimer’s Model
Authors: Do Carmo Sonia , Hanzel Cecilia E. , Jacobs Marie L. , Machnes Ziv , Iulita M. Florencia , Yang Jingyun , Yu Lei , Ducatenzeiler Adriana , Danik Marc , Breuillaud Lionel S. , Bennett David A. , Szyf Moshe , Cuello A. Claudio
Published: September 2016

General DNA hypomethylation is associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but it is unclear when DNA hypomethylation starts or plays a role in AD pathology or whether DNA re-methylation would rescue early amyloid-related cognitive impairments. In an APP transgenic mouse model of AD-like amyloid pathology we found that early intraneuronal amyloid beta build-up is sufficient to unleash a global and beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (bace-1) DNA demethylation in AD-vulnerable brain regions. S-adenosylmethionine administration at these early stages abolished this hypomethylation, diminished the amyloid pathology and restored cognitive capabilities. To assess a possible human significance of findings, we examined the methylation at 12 CpGs sites in the bace-1 promoter, using genome-wide DNA methylation data from 740 postmortem human brains. Thus, we found significant associations of bace-1 promoter methylation with β-amyloid load among persons with AD dementia and PHFtau tangle density. Our results support a plausible causal role for the earliest amyloid beta accumulation to provoke DNA hypomethylation, influencing AD pathological outcomes.
Steady-state equation of water vapor sorption for CaCl2-based chemical sorbents and its application
Authors: Zhang Haiquan , Yuan Yanping , Sun Qingrong , Cao Xiaoling , Sun Liangliang
Published: September 2016

Green CaCl2-based chemical sorbent has been widely used in sorption refrigeration, air purification and air desiccation. Methods to improve the sorption rate have been extensively investigated, but the corresponding theoretical formulations have not been reported. In this paper, a sorption system of solid-liquid coexistence is established based on the hypothesis of steady-state sorption. The combination of theoretical analysis and experimental results indicates that the system can be described by steady-state sorption process. The steady-state sorption equation, μ = (η − γT) "Equation missing", was obtained in consideration of humidity, temperature and the surface area. Based on engineering applications and this equation, two methods including an increase of specific surface area and adjustment of the critical relative humidity (γ) for chemical sorbents, have been proposed to increase the sorption rate. The results indicate that the CaCl2/CNTs composite with a large specific surface area can be obtained by coating CaCl2powder on the surface of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The composite reached sorption equilibrium within only 4 h and the sorption capacity was improved by 75% compared with pure CaCl2powder. Furthermore, the addition of NaCl powder to saturated CaCl2solution could significantly lower the solution’s γ. The sorption rate was improved by 30% under the same environment.
Differential expression pattern of Vago in bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), induced by virulent and avirulent virus infections
Authors: Niu Jinzhi , Meeus Ivan , Smagghe Guy
Published: September 2016

Viruses are one of the main drivers of the decline of domesticated and wild bees but the mechanisms of antiviral immunity in pollinators are poorly understood. Recent work has suggested that next to the small interfering RNA (siRNA) pathway other immune-related pathways play a role in the defense of the bee hosts against viral infection. In addition, Vago plays a role in the cross-talk between the innate immune pathways in Culex mosquito cells. Here we describe the Vago orthologue in bumblebees of Bombus terrestris and investigated its role upon the infection of two different bee viruses, the virulent Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV) and the avirulent slow bee paralysis virus (SBPV). Our results showed that BtVago was downregulated upon the infection of IAPV that killed all bumblebees, but not with SBPV where the workers survived the virus infection. Thus, for the first time, Vago/Vago-like expression appears to be associated with the virulence of virus and may act as a modulator of antiviral immunity.
MiR-24-BIM-Smac/DIABLO axis controls the sensitivity to doxorubicin treatment in osteosarcoma
Authors: Sun Yangbai , He Nengbin , Dong Yang , Jiang Chaoyin
Published: September 2016

Emerging evidence shows that microRNAs (miRNAs) act as critical regulators in the progression and chemoresistance of multiple tumors, including osteosarcoma (OS). In this study, we found that the level of miR-24 was increased in OS patients’ serum, tumor tissues and OS cell lines. Furthermore, we found that knockdown of miR-24 by its specific inhibitors significantly increased the therapeutic effect of doxorubicin (DOX) on OS cell lines (MG-63 and HOS). Moreover, miR-24 inhibitors resensitized the doxorubicin-resistant MG-63 cells (MG-63/R) and HOS cells (HOS/R) to DOX. As the gene of Bcl-2 interacting mediator of cell death (BIM) was proved to be a target of miR-24 in MG-63/R cells, we further observed that the miR-24 inhibitors promoted the DOX-induced apoptosis via mitochondrial pathway. In addition, results of immunoprecipitation showed the release of second mitochondria derived activator of caspase/ direct IAP binding protein with low pI (Smac/DIABLO) abolished the biological activity of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) by binding with it, which subsequently induced the activation of caspase 9, 7 and 3. In summary, those results strongly suggest that the miR-24-BIM-Smac/DIABLO axis might be a novel target for the treatment of OS.