bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
X. Analytical Account of the Pancha Tantra, illustrated with occasional Translations
Authors: Wilson Horace Hayman
Published: July 2016

What the profound observer, quoted above, pronounced generally of fiction, is peculiarly pertinent, when applied to the Hindus. The history of their progress, in the arts of civilized life, is so clouded with mythology, and overcast by time, that our efforts to penetrate the obscurity, have been hitherto of little avail. As the mind, therefore, has little substantial gratification to expect, from this branch of intellectual enjoyment, it may be permitted to indulge in the shadows, that are abundantly presented, and dwell with more interest, than the subject would otherwise excite, on the copious materials afforded by the mass of Hindu fable, within its reach.
XVIII. Observations on the Lepra Arabum, or Elephantiasis of the Greeks, as it appears in India
Authors: Ainslie Whitelaw
Published: July 2016

It is, I presume, a truth pretty well established, that all such cutaneous affections as are not ushered in by particular febrile symptoms, are more common and more inveterate in hot than in temperate climates: but, with the exception of Doctors Hillary and Towne, I am not aware that any author on tropical diseases has bestowed much attention on maladies of this description, though some of them are singular in their character, and most of them very untractable.
XIX. Eugraphia Sinensis; or, the Art of Writing the Chinese Character with Correctness: contained in Ninety-two Rules and Examples. To which are prefixed, Some Observations on the Chinese Writing
Authors: Davis John Francis
Published: July 2016

The graphic beauty of a written language, which approaches so near to the hieroglyphic as the Chinese, where many of the characters are intended as pictures of the idea to be conveyed, where the variety of the lines, or strokes, is so great, and their combinations are so numerous, must be allowed at once to exceed, and to be more difficult of attainment than, that of the alphabetic writing of Europe. The number of the simple characters, or elements, of which all the compounds of the language are formed, greatly exceeds that of any one alphabet; but, when compounded, their relative juxta-position and arrangement, the shortening of some strokes and the lengthening of others, is of course subject to some general rules; which, from the very nature of the subject, must be more numerous and complicated, than the mere joining together of our European letters. The advantage of simplicity (and a very great advantage it is) constitutes the chief merit of alphabetic writing; that of variety and graphic beauty may fairly be claimed by the Chinese.
XXVIII. On Inscriptions at Temples of the Jaina Sect in South Bihar
Authors: Colebrooke H. T.
Published: July 2016

As connected with the subject of an essay on the Sráwacs or Jainas, read at a former meeting, I lay before the Society copies of inscriptions found by Dr. Buchanan Hamilton in South Bihar. Though not ancient, they may be considered to be of some importance, as confirming the prevalence of a Jaina tradition relative to the site of the spot where the last of the Jinas terminated his earthly existence, and as identifying the first of his disciples with Gautama, whose death and apotheosis took place, according to current belief, in the same neighbourhood.
XXXIII. On the Philosophy of the Hindus. Part IV
Authors: Colebrooke Henry Thomas
Published: July 2016

In the present essay, it is my intention to treat of the heretical systems of Jina and Buddha, as proposed in the first essay of this series on the philosophy of the Hindus; and to notice certain other Indian sects, which, like them, exhibit some analogy to the Sánc'hyas, or followers of Capila or of Patanjali.
XVIII.Essay on the Life and Writings of Ferishta
Authors: Briggs John
Published: July 2016

During our last session I did myself the pleasure of presenting to the Society an autobiographical sketch of Nana Farnevis; and of elucidating the character of Madhu Rao the Great, the prince of Poona, from a series of original letters, principally in his own handwriting.

The interest which those papers excited fully proves, that the biography of celebrated men is an object not only deserving your attention, but, I may venture to say, is also one of the most pleasing forms in which information regarding the inhabitants of the East can well be conveyed to the learned of the West. It is this conviction that has induced me to submit to you the following sketch of the life of the great Muhamedan historian of India, commonly known by the name of Ferishta, with some account of his writings; and I feel assured that your attention will be more completely roused, when you know that his work, now lying before me, has lately been translated, and will in a few days, I trust, be open to your inspection, and submitted for your judgment and approval.
XXVII.—Observations on the Lacquered or Japanned Ware of Ava
Authors: Burney Henry
Published: July 2016

This manufacture has been named Lacquered Ware, from an idea, I suppose, that lac forms a part of it; but this is a mistake, no lac is used, and the bright red colour is given by vermilion, which is made by the Burmese from cinnabar (ayain), imported by the Chinese caravans from Yun-nan.
Preface for special section from FLOPS 2014
Authors: CODISH MICHAEL , SUMII EIJIRO
Published: July 2016

The 12th International Symposium on Functional and Logic Programming was held in Kanazawa, Japan, June 4–6, 2014. The aim of the Functional and Logic Programming series of conferences is to bring together researchers interested in declarative programming including functional programming and logic programming. The series aims to promote cross-fertilization and integration between the two paradigms and it is traditionally organized and held in Japan.
A realizability interpretation of Church's simple theory of types
Authors: BERGER ULRICH , HOU TIE
Published: July 2016

We give a realizability interpretation of an intuitionistic version of Church's Simple Theory of Types (CST) which can be viewed as a formalization of intuitionistic higher-order logic. Although definable in CST we include operators for monotone induction and coinduction and provide simple realizers for them. Realizers are formally represented in an untyped lambda–calculus with pairing and case-construct. The purpose of this interpretation is to provide a foundation for the extraction of verified programs from formal proofs as an alternative to type-theoretic systems. The advantages of our approach are that (a) induction and coinduction are not restricted to the strictly positive case, (b) abstract mathematical structures and results may be imported, (c) the formalization is technically simpler than in other systems, for example, regarding the definition of realizability, which is a simple syntactical substitution, and the treatment of nested and simultaneous (co)inductive definitions.
Evaluation of the delirium early monitoring system (DEMS)
Authors: Rippon Daniel , Milisen Koen , Detroyer Elke , Mukaetova-Ladinska Elizabeta , Harrison Beth , Schuurmans Marieke , Pryor Claire , Teodorczuk Andrew
Published: July 2016

Background:

Despite awareness of the negative health and financial outcomes of delirium, systems to routinely assess and manage the condition are absent in clinical practice. We report the development and pilot evaluation of a Delirium Early Monitoring System (DEMS), designed to be completed by non-medical staff to influence clinical processes within inpatient settings. Two versions of the DEMS are described based on a modified Confusion Assessment Method (DEMS-CAM) and Delirium Observation Screening Scale (DEMS-DOSS).

Methods:

Both versions of DEMS were piloted on a 20-bedded Psychogeriatric ward over 6 weeks. Training was administered to ward staff on the use of each version of the DEMS and data were collected via electronic medical records and completed assessment sheets. The primary outcome was patterns of DEMS use and the secondary outcome was the initiation of delirium management protocols. Data regarding the use of the DEMS DOSS and DEMS CAMS were analyzed using χ2 tests.

Results:

Completion rates for the DEMS CAM and DEMS DOSS were 79% and 68%, respectively. Non-medical staff were significantly more likely to use the DEMS-CAM as part of daily practice as opposed to the DEMS-DOSS (p<0.001). However, there was no difference between the use of the DEMS-CAM and DEMS-DOSS in triggering related actions such as documentation of assessment scores in patients’ medical records and implementation of delirium management protocols.

Conclusions:

This real world evaluation revealed that non-medical staff were able to incorporate delirium monitoring into their practice, on the majority of occasions, as part of their daily working routine. Further research is necessary to determine if the routine use of the DEMS can lead to improved understandings and practice of non-medical staff regarding delirium detection.
Standardization of screening technique and evaluation of muskmelon genotypes for drought tolerance
Authors: Pandey Sudhakar , Ansari Waquar Akhter , Atri Neelam , Singh Bijendra , Gupta Sunil , Bhat Kangila Venkataraman
Published: July 2016

A five-point drought stress screening methodology for muskmelon based on visual observation has been standardized by modifying an earlier field screening method. The scale (1 to 5), were categorized into five groups, namely, highly drought tolerant (1), drought tolerant (2), average drought tolerant (3), drought susceptible (4) and highly drought susceptible (5). To validate and standardized the technique, 48 genotypes of muskmelon were evaluated for two successive years. Important physiological parameters, i.e.: relative water content (RWC), electrolyte leakage, photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm), chlorophyll concentration index (CCI), root and shoot length were measured and correlated to make screening results more reliable. Drought tolerance efficiency of genotypes was calculated based on yield, and drought-tolerant genotypes were identified with better yield efficiency and ranking on visual scale. Whereas, yield efficiency of some drought-tolerant genotypes were less, althouth they came under drought-tolerant scale. Being a tolerant genotype, these may not be economical for commercial cultivation. Under water-deficit condition a significant positive correlation was observed between drought tolerance efficiency, and RWC, Fv/Fm, CCI and root length. Out of 48 genotypes, 14 genotypes were came under highly drought-tolerant category based on 5 point scale.
Culture all around? Contextualising anthropological expertise in European courtroom settings
Authors: Vetters Larissa , Foblets Marie-Claire
Published: July 2016

This paper contributes to the debate on the role of anthropological expertise in the legal sphere by broadening the analytical field of vision. Rather than focusing on the anthropologist, his or her positionality, the epistemic status of anthropological knowledge or the ensuing ethical questions – as the other contributions to this themed section do – we turn the question around. Based on empirical data from a survey conducted among European judges on judiciary practice and sociocultural diversity, our focus here is on the question of how judges perceive, assess and accommodate sociocultural diversity in their daily decision-making. We furthermore investigate the conditions under which external expertise is called upon in specific legal settings and situations. We develop a conceptual argument for rethinking the role of anthropological knowledge and research in legal practice and argue for the need to pursue new forms of collaborative ethnography with judges that go beyond participant observation of their courtroom interactions. Working together with the judges who give decisions on cases, we claim, can provide scope for both critical reflection and applied problem-solving.
On the Values of Annuities, which are to pay Certain given Rates of Interest on the Purchase Money During the Whole Term of Their Continuance, and to replace their Original Values, on their Expiration, at Certain other given Rates
Authors: Hardy Peter
Published: July 2016

Notwithstanding the very large amount of leasehold property, which in the course of every year is bought and sold in this country, and notwithstanding the extensive transactions—of almost hourly occurrence—in the public market, in Government and other temporary Annuities, the subject of the rate of interest which any given purchase will yield the buyer is very imperfectly understood, even by those most deeply interested in the inquiry, unless they happen to be at the same time well versed in actuarial computations.

It is not unfrequently imagined by a buyer, that if he purchase a leasehold property or a temporary Annuity at a price corresponding with the value of an Annuity at a given rate of interest, (say 5 per cent.,) that he has made a purchase which will pay him 5 per cent., or which, in other words, will enable him to spend 5 per cent, per annum on his outlay, and at the same time replace his capital undiminished at the expiration of the term.
On a New Method of Constructing a Table of the Probabilities of Survivorship between Two Lives for every Combination of Ages, and also a Table of the Present Value of Survivorship Assurances of £1 on (x) against (y)
Authors: Chisholm David
Published: July 2016

The present paper was undertaken on happening to peruse very lately Messrs. Gray, Smith, and Orchard's laborious and useful work, entitled Assurance and Annuity Tables, according to the Carlisle rate of Mortality, at 3 per Cent. In the introductory section of that work, when referring to the larger Tables V. and VI., containing the single and annual premiums for survivorship assurances, it is there very justly remarked, “Considering the frequency with which occasion arises for the functions here tabulated, and the tedious nature of the operations requisite when their values have to be formed from other tables, it may, at first sight, seem.
Newspaper Reporting on a Cluster of Suicides in the UK
Authors: John Ann , Hawton Keith , Gunnell David , Lloyd Keith , Scourfield Jonathan , Jones Phillip A. , Luce Ann , Marchant Amanda , Platt Steve , Price Sian , Dennis Michael S.
Published: July 2016

Abstract. Background: Media reporting may influence suicide clusters through imitation or contagion. In 2008 there was extensive national and international newspaper coverage of a cluster of suicides in young people in the Bridgend area of South Wales, UK. Aims: To explore the quantity and quality of newspaper reporting during the identified cluster. Method: Searches were conducted for articles on suicide in Bridgend for 6 months before and after the defined cluster (June 26, 2007, to September 16, 2008). Frequency, quality (using the PRINTQUAL instrument), and sensationalism were examined. Results: In all, 577 newspaper articles were identified. One in seven articles included the suicide method in the headline, 47.3% referred to earlier suicides, and 44% used phrases that guidelines suggest should be avoided. Only 13% included sources of information or advice. Conclusion: A high level of poor-quality and sensationalist reporting was found during an ongoing suicide cluster at the very time when good-quality reporting could be considered important. A broad awareness of media guidelines and expansion and adherence to press codes of practice are required by journalists to ensure ethical reporting.
A Qualitative Study of Good-Bye Letters in Prison Therapy
Authors: Walker Tammi , Shaw Jenny , Turpin Clive , Roberts Chris , Reid Catherine , Abel Kathryn
Published: July 2016

Abstract. Background: Self-harm rates among imprisoned women in the UK are extremely high and there are limited psychological therapies available to support them in prison. This paper presents women's subjective accounts of receiving good-bye letters at the end of brief psychodynamic interpersonal therapy (PIT) and how these letters positively impacted on their incidents of self-harm. Aims: This study presents the accounts of 13 imprisoned women who self-harmed and received letters following completion of a minimum of four sessions of brief PIT in prison. Method: A semi-structured interview covered several aspects of their experience, which included details of self-harm since completing brief therapy as well as usage of a good-bye letter and its impact. The interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Three themes emerged from the analysis: connecting with the therapist: receiving the letter; connecting to self: understanding and awareness; and connecting to others: sharing the good-bye letter. Conclusion: Findings show the positive impact the letters had for the women following therapy. The preliminary impressions suggest that letters may be a helpful tool enhancing the benefits of brief PIT therapy with imprisoned women who self-harm.
Suicide in a National Student Mental Health Patient Population, 1997–2012
Authors: Farrell Suhanthini , Kapur Nav , While David , Appleby Louis , Windfuhr Kirsten
Published: July 2016

Abstract. Background: Entering higher education is a time of transition that coincides with the typical age of onset of serious mental illness. Awareness of the distinguishing characteristics of students with mental illness who die by suicide may inform clinical management. Aim: We aimed to compare the characteristics of mental health patients who died by suicide as students with other young people who died by suicide. Method: UK data were analyzed for individuals aged 18–35 years in contact with mental health services who died by suicide from 1997 to 2012. Univariate analyses examined the sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical features of those who died as students. Backward stepwise regression analysis identified factors independently associated with student deaths. Results: In all, 214 university students died by suicide within 12 months of mental health service contact. Factors associated with student deaths were: being younger, female, from an ethnic minority group, and a primary diagnosis of affective disorder. Medication nonadherence was less likely to be associated with student deaths. Conclusion: Deaths by suicide are split almost equally between male and female students, unlike the predominance of male suicide in the general population. There are clear differences in the characteristics of the student and nonstudent groups, although causation could not be established.
Moral Disengagement and Ethical Decision-Making
Authors: Johnson James F. , Connelly Shane
Published: July 2016

Abstract. Process-focused models of ethical decision-making (EDM) have focused on individual and situational constraints influencing EDM processes and outcomes. Trait affect and propensity to morally disengage are two individual factors that influence EDM. The current study examines the moderating role of dispositional guilt and shame on the relationship between moral disengagement and EDM. Results indicate that moderate and high levels of dispositional guilt attenuate the negative relationship between moral disengagement and EDM, while low guilt does not. Dispositional shame does not moderate the relationship between moral disengagement and EDM. Implications for personnel selection are discussed.
Experimental design considerations in microbiota/inflammation studies
Authors: Moore Robert J , Stanley Dragana
Published: July 2016

There is now convincing evidence that many inflammatory diseases are precipitated, or at least exacerbated, by unfavourable interactions of the host with the resident microbiota. The role of gut microbiota in the genesis and progression of diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes have been studied both in human and in animal, mainly rodent, models of disease. The intrinsic variation in microbiota composition, both within one host over time and within a group of similarly treated hosts, presents particular challenges in experimental design. This review highlights factors that need to be taken into consideration when designing animal trials to investigate the gastrointestinal tract microbiota in the context of inflammation studies. These include the origin and history of the animals, the husbandry of the animals before and during experiments, details of sampling, sample processing, sequence data acquisition and bioinformatic analysis. Because of the intrinsic variability in microbiota composition, it is likely that the number of animals required to allow meaningful statistical comparisons across groups will be higher than researchers have generally used for purely immune‐based analyses.
Orexins contribute to restraint stress-induced cocaine relapse by endocannabinoid-mediated disinhibition of dopaminergic neurons
Authors: Tung Li-Wei , Lu Guan-Ling , Lee Yen-Hsien , Yu Lung , Lee Hsin-Jung , Leishman Emma , Bradshaw Heather , Hwang Ling-Ling , Hung Ming-Shiu , Mackie Ken , Zimmer Andreas , Chiou Lih-Chu
Published: July 2016

Orexins are associated with drug relapse in rodents. Here, we show that acute restraint stress in mice activates lateral hypothalamic (LH) orexin neurons, increases levels of orexin A and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), and reinstates extinguished cocaine-conditioned place preference (CPP). This stress-induced reinstatement of cocaine CPP depends on type 1 orexin receptors (OX1Rs), type 1 cannabinoid receptors (CB1Rs) and diacylglycerol lipase (DAGL) in the VTA. In dopaminergic neurons of VTA slices, orexin A presynaptically inhibits GABAergic transmission. This effect is prevented by internal GDP-β-S or inhibiting OX1Rs, CB1Rs, phospholipase C or DAGL, and potentiated by inhibiting 2-AG degradation. These results suggest that restraint stress activates LH orexin neurons, releasing orexins into the VTA to activate postsynaptic OX1Rs of dopaminergic neurons and generate 2-AG through a Gq-protein-phospholipase C-DAGL cascade. 2-AG retrogradely inhibits GABA release through presynaptic CB1Rs, leading to VTA dopaminergic disinhibition and reinstatement of cocaine CPP.
Target-dependent biogenesis of cognate microRNAs in human cells
Authors: Bose Mainak , Bhattacharyya Suvendra N.
Published: July 2016

Extensive research has established how miRNAs regulate target mRNAs by translation repression and/or endonucleolytic degradation in metazoans. However, information related to the effect of target mRNA on biogenesis and stability of corresponding miRNAs in animals is limited. Here we report regulated biogenesis of cognate miRNAs by their target mRNAs. Enhanced pre-miRNA processing by AGO-associated DICER1 contributes to this increased miRNP formation. The processed miRNAs are loaded onto AGO2 to form functionally competent miRISCs both in vivo and also in a cell-free in vitro system. Thus, we identify an additional layer of posttranscriptional regulation that helps the cell to maintain requisite levels of mature forms of respective miRNAs by modulating their processing in a target-dependent manner, a process happening for miR-122 during stress reversal in human hepatic cells.
Metabolic modelling reveals the specialization of secondary replicons for niche adaptation in Sinorhizobium meliloti
Authors: diCenzo George C. , Checcucci Alice , Bazzicalupo Marco , Mengoni Alessio , Viti Carlo , Dziewit Lukasz , Finan Turlough M. , Galardini Marco , Fondi Marco
Published: July 2016

The genome of about 10% of bacterial species is divided among two or more large chromosome-sized replicons. The contribution of each replicon to the microbial life cycle (for example, environmental adaptations and/or niche switching) remains unclear. Here we report a genome-scale metabolic model of the legume symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti that is integrated with carbon utilization data for 1,500 genes with 192 carbon substrates. Growth of S. meliloti is modelled in three ecological niches (bulk soil, rhizosphere and nodule) with a focus on the role of each of its three replicons. We observe clear metabolic differences during growth in the tested ecological niches and an overall reprogramming following niche switching. In silico examination of the inferred fitness of gene deletion mutants suggests that secondary replicons evolved to fulfil a specialized function, particularly host-associated niche adaptation. Thus, genes on secondary replicons might potentially be manipulated to promote or suppress host interactions for biotechnological purposes.
Magneto-nanosensor platform for probing low-affinity protein–protein interactions and identification of a low-affinity PD-L1/PD-L2 interaction
Authors: Lee Jung-Rok , Bechstein Daniel J. B. , Ooi Chin Chun , Patel Ashka , Gaster Richard S. , Ng Elaine , Gonzalez Lino C. , Wang Shan X.
Published: July 2016

Substantial efforts have been made to understand the interactions between immune checkpoint receptors and their ligands targeted in immunotherapies against cancer. To carefully characterize the complete network of interactions involved and the binding affinities between their extracellular domains, an improved kinetic assay is needed to overcome limitations with surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Here, we present a magneto-nanosensor platform integrated with a microfluidic chip that allows measurement of dissociation constants in the micromolar-range. High-density conjugation of magnetic nanoparticles with prey proteins allows multivalent receptor interactions with sensor-immobilized bait proteins, more closely mimicking natural-receptor clustering on cells. The platform has advantages over traditional SPR in terms of insensitivity of signal responses to pH and salinity, less consumption of proteins and better sensitivities. Using this platform, we characterized the binding affinities of the PD-1—PD-L1/PD-L2 co-inhibitory receptor system, and discovered an unexpected interaction between the two known PD-1 ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2.
Structure of the tsunamigenic plate boundary and low-frequency earthquakes in the southern Ryukyu Trench
Authors: Arai Ryuta , Takahashi Tsutomu , Kodaira Shuichi , Kaiho Yuka , Nakanishi Ayako , Fujie Gou , Nakamura Yasuyuki , Yamamoto Yojiro , Ishihara Yasushi , Miura Seiichi , Kaneda Yoshiyuki
Published: July 2016

It has been recognized that even weakly coupled subduction zones may cause large interplate earthquakes leading to destructive tsunamis. The Ryukyu Trench is one of the best fields to study this phenomenon, since various slow earthquakes and tsunamis have occurred; yet the fault structure and seismic activity there are poorly constrained. Here we present seismological evidence from marine observation for megathrust faults and low-frequency earthquakes (LFEs). On the basis of passive observation we find LFEs occur at 15–18 km depths along the plate interface and their distribution seems to bridge the gap between the shallow tsunamigenic zone and the deep slow slip region. This suggests that the southern Ryukyu Trench is dominated by slow earthquakes at any depths and lacks a typical locked zone. The plate interface is overlaid by a low-velocity wedge and is accompanied by polarity reversals of seismic reflections, indicating fluids exist at various depths along the plate interface.
Soft micromachines with programmable motility and morphology
Authors: Huang Hen-Wei , Sakar Mahmut Selman , Petruska Andrew J. , Pané Salvador , Nelson Bradley J.
Published: July 2016

Nature provides a wide range of inspiration for building mobile micromachines that can navigate through confined heterogenous environments and perform minimally invasive environmental and biomedical operations. For example, microstructures fabricated in the form of bacterial or eukaryotic flagella can act as artificial microswimmers. Due to limitations in their design and material properties, these simple micromachines lack multifunctionality, effective addressability and manoeuvrability in complex environments. Here we develop an origami-inspired rapid prototyping process for building self-folding, magnetically powered micromachines with complex body plans, reconfigurable shape and controllable motility. Selective reprogramming of the mechanical design and magnetic anisotropy of body parts dynamically modulates the swimming characteristics of the micromachines. We find that tail and body morphologies together determine swimming efficiency and, unlike for rigid swimmers, the choice of magnetic field can subtly change the motility of soft microswimmers.
A rhodium/silicon co-electrocatalyst design concept to surpass platinum hydrogen evolution activity at high overpotentials
Authors: Zhu Lili , Lin Haiping , Li Youyong , Liao Fan , Lifshitz Yeshayahu , Sheng Minqi , Lee Shuit-Tong , Shao Mingwang
Published: July 2016

Currently, platinum-based electrocatalysts show the best performance for hydrogen evolution. All hydrogen evolution reaction catalysts should however obey Sabatier’s principle, that is, the adsorption energy of hydrogen to the catalyst surface should be neither too high nor too low to balance between hydrogen adsorption and desorption. To overcome the limitation of this principle, here we choose a composite (rhodium/silicon nanowire) catalyst, in which hydrogen adsorption occurs on rhodium with a large adsorption energy while hydrogen evolution occurs on silicon with a small adsorption energy. We show that the composite is stable with better hydrogen evolution activity than rhodium nanoparticles and even exceeding those of commercial platinum/carbon at high overpotentials. The results reveal that silicon plays a key role in the electrocatalysis. This work may thus open the door for the design and fabrication of electrocatalysts for high-efficiency electric energy to hydrogen energy conversion.
The origin of incipient ferroelectricity in lead telluride
Authors: Jiang M. P. , Trigo M. , Savić I. , Fahy S. , Murray É. D. , Bray C. , Clark J. , Henighan T. , Kozina M. , Chollet M. , Glownia J. M. , Hoffmann M. C. , Zhu D. , Delaire O. , May A. F. , Sales B. C. , Lindenberg A. M. , Zalden P. , Sato T. , Merlin R. , Reis D. A.
Published: July 2016

The interactions between electrons and lattice vibrations are fundamental to materials behaviour. In the case of group IV–VI, V and related materials, these interactions are strong, and the materials exist near electronic and structural phase transitions. The prototypical example is PbTe whose incipient ferroelectric behaviour has been recently associated with large phonon anharmonicity and thermoelectricity. Here we show that it is primarily electron-phonon coupling involving electron states near the band edges that leads to the ferroelectric instability in PbTe. Using a combination of nonequilibrium lattice dynamics measurements and first principles calculations, we find that photoexcitation reduces the Peierls-like electronic instability and reinforces the paraelectric state. This weakens the long-range forces along the cubic direction tied to resonant bonding and low lattice thermal conductivity. Our results demonstrate how free-electron-laser-based ultrafast X-ray scattering can be utilized to shed light on the microscopic mechanisms that determine materials properties.
TIFA suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma progression via MALT1-dependent and -independent signaling pathways
Authors: Shen Wenzhi , Du Renle , Li Jun , Luo Xiaohe , Zhao Shuangtao , Chang Antao , Zhou Wei , Gao Ruifang , Luo Dehong , Wang Juan , Hao Na , Liu Yanhua , Chen Yanan , Luo Yunping , Sun Peiqing , Yang Shengyong , Luo Na , Xiang Rong
Published: July 2016

TIFA, also called T2BP, was first identified using yeast two-hybrid screening. Our previous work showed that TIFA suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression via apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. However, the mechanism by which this TIFA suppression occurs remains unclear. Here we demonstrated that TIFA-induced apoptosis demonstrates two distinct time patterns (i.e., at 48 h and >7 days) when TIFA reconstitution occurs. Moreover, we found that MALT1 (a competitor of TIFA) plays a crucial role in short-duration TIFA reconstitution. In this regard, MALT1 silencing with shRNA markedly enhances TIFA-induced apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. In addition, TIFA overexpression triggers JNK and p38 activation in long-duration TIFA reconstitution through TRAF6 binding. In particular, JNK activation leads to TIFA-induced apoptosis while p38 activation governs TIFA-induced cell cycle arrest by p53-p21 signaling in vitro and in vivo. Our data suggest a novel mechanism by which TIFA suppresses HCC progression via both MALT1-dependent and MALT1-independent signaling pathways. This may provide insights into a novel targets where HCC progression may be vulnerable to clinical treatment.
The occurrence of individual slow waves in sleep is predicted by heart rate
Authors: Mensen Armand , Zhang Zhongxing , Qi Ming , Khatami Ramin
Published: July 2016

The integration of near-infrared spectroscopy and electroencephalography measures presents an ideal method to study the haemodynamics of sleep. While the cortical dynamics and neuro-modulating influences affecting the transition from wakefulness to sleep is well researched, the assumption has been that individual slow waves, the hallmark of deep sleep, are spontaneously occurring cortical events. By creating event-related potentials from the NIRS recording, time-locked to the onset of thousands of individual slow waves, we show the onset of slow waves is phase-locked to an ongoing oscillation in the NIRS recording. This oscillation stems from the moment to moment fluctuations of light absorption caused by arterial pulsations driven by the heart beat. The same oscillating signal can be detected if the electrocardiogram is time-locked to the onset of the slow wave. The ongoing NIRS oscillation suggests that individual slow wave initiation is dependent on that signal, and not the other way round. However, the precise causal links remain speculative. We propose several potential mechanisms: that the heart-beat or arterial pulsation acts as a stimulus which evokes a down-state; local fluctuations in energy supply may lead to a network effect of hyperpolarization; that the arterial pulsations lead to corresponding changes in the cerebral-spinal-fluid which evokes the slow wave; or that a third neural generator, regulating heart rate and slow waves may be involved.
Thermal explosion in oscillating ambient conditions
Authors: Novozhilov Vasily
Published: July 2016

Thermal explosion problem for a medium with oscillating ambient temperature at its boundaries is considered. This is a new problem in thermal explosion theory, not previously considered in a distributed system formulation, but important for combustion and fire science. It describes autoignition of wide range of fires (such as but not limited to piles of biosolids and other organic matter; storages of munitions, explosives, propellants) subjected to temperature variations, such as seasonal or day/night variation. The problem is considered in formulation adopted in classical studies of thermal explosion. Critical conditions are determined by frequency and amplitude of ambient temperature oscillations, as well as by a number of other parameters. Effects of all the parameters on critical conditions are quantified. Results are presented for the case of planar symmetry. Development of thermal explosion in time is also considered and a new type of unsteady thermal explosion development is discovered where thermal runaway occurs after several periods of temperature oscillations within the medium.
Quantitative Comparison of Photothermal Heat Generation between Gold Nanospheres and Nanorods
Authors: Qin Zhenpeng , Wang Yiru , Randrianalisoa Jaona , Raeesi Vahid , Chan Warren C. W. , Lipiński Wojciech , Bischof John C.
Published: July 2016

Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) are widely used for biomedical applications due to unique optical properties, established synthesis methods, and biological compatibility. Despite important applications of plasmonic heating in thermal therapy, imaging, and diagnostics, the lack of quantification in heat generation leads to difficulties in comparing the heating capability for new plasmonic nanostructures and predicting the therapeutic and diagnostic outcome. This study quantifies GNP heat generation by experimental measurements and theoretical predictions for gold nanospheres (GNS) and nanorods (GNR). Interestingly, the results show a GNP-type dependent agreement between experiment and theory. The measured heat generation of GNS matches well with theory, while the measured heat generation of GNR is only 30% of that predicted theoretically at peak absorption. This then leads to a surprising finding that the polydispersity, the deviation of nanoparticle size and shape from nominal value, significantly influences GNR heat generation (>70% reduction), while having a limited effect for GNS (<10% change). This work demonstrates that polydispersity is an important metric in quantitatively predicting plasmonic heat generation and provides a validated framework to quantitatively compare the heating capabilities between gold and other plasmonic nanostructures.
IL-33 Contributes to Schistosoma japonicum-induced Hepatic Pathology through Induction of M2 Macrophages
Authors: Peng Hui , Zhang Qixian , Li Xiaojuan , Liu Zhen , Shen Jia , Sun Rui , Wei Jie , Zhao Jia , Wu Xiaoying , Feng Feng , Zhong Shuping , Sun Xi , Wu Zhongdao
Published: July 2016

Interleukin (IL)-33 is involved in T helper (Th)2-biased immune responses in mice infected with Schistosoma, but the precise mechanism remains to be elucidated. Herein, we investigated the role of IL-33 and its receptor ST2L in hepatic granuloma pathology induced by Schistosoma japonicum infection. We found that IL-33 induced the increased production of IL-5 and IL-13 from splenocytes and liver mononuclear cells (MNCs) of infected mice. The infected mice developed significantly higher number of ST2L-expressing cells in spleen and liver. Most of the ST2L-expressing cells in liver were F4/80+ macrophages, indicating the key role of macrophages in the response to IL-33. However, the liver MNCs in male-only worm infection had a poor response to IL-33, though elevated serum IL-33 was observed. ST2L+F4/80+ cells were lower in male-only worm infection than that of mixed infection. IL-33 and soluble egg antigen (SEA) upregulated ST2L expression on macrophages in vitro and ST2L-expressing macrophage displayed MHCII-CD11b+M2 phenotype. Macrophage deletion significantly attenuated IL-33-induced type 2 immunity and egg granuloma formation during S. japonicum infection. These data demonstrate that IL-33 contributes to hepatic granuloma pathology through induction of M2 macrophages during S. japonicum infection.
The Abiotic Chemistry of Thiolated Acetate Derivatives and the Origin of Life
Authors: Chandru Kuhan , Gilbert Alexis , Butch Christopher , Aono Masashi , Cleaves H. James
Published: July 2016

Thioesters and thioacetic acid (TAA) have been invoked as key reagents for the origin of life as activated forms of acetate analogous to acetyl-CoA. These species could have served as high-energy group-transfer reagents and allowed carbon insertions to form higher molecular weight compounds such as pyruvate. The apparent antiquity of the Wood-Ljungdahl CO2 fixation pathway and its presence in organisms which inhabit hydrothermal (HT) environments has also led to suggestions that there may be a connection between the abiotic chemistry of compounds similar to TAA and the origins of metabolism. These compounds’ apparent chemical simplicity has made their prebiotic availability assumed, however, although the kinetic behavior and thermochemical properties of TAA and analogous esters have been preliminarily explored in other contexts, the geochemical relevance of these compounds merits further evaluation. Therefore, the chemical behavior of the simplest thiolated acetic acid derivatives, TAA and methylthioacetate (MTA) were explored here. Using laboratory measurements, literature data and thermochemical models, we examine the plausibility of the accumulation of these compounds in various geological settings. Due to the high free energy change of their hydrolysis and corresponding low equilibrium constants, it is unlikely that these species could have accumulated abiotically to any significant extant.
LmCYP4G102: An oenocyte-specific cytochrome P450 gene required for cuticular waterproofing in the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria
Authors: Yu Zhitao , Zhang Xueyao , Wang Yiwen , Moussian Bernard , Zhu Kun Yan , Li Sheng , Ma Enbo , Zhang Jianzhen
Published: July 2016

Cytochrome P450 superfamily proteins play important roles in detoxification of xenobiotics and during physiological and developmental processes. To contribute to our understanding of this large gene family in insects, we have investigated the function of the cytochrome P450 gene LmCYP4G102 in the migratory locust Locusta migratoria. Suppression of LmCYP4G102 expression by RNA interference (RNAi) does not interfere with moulting but causes rapid loss of body weight - probably due to massive loss of water, and death soon after moulting. Accordingly, maintaining these animals at 90% relative humidity prevented lethality. Consistently, RNAi against LmCYP4G102 provoked a decrease in the content of cuticular alkanes, which as an important fraction of cuticular hydrocarbons have been shown to confer desiccation resistance. In addition, the cuticle of LmCYP4G102-knockdown locusts was fragile and easier deformable than in control animals. Presumably, this phenotype is due to decreased amounts of cuticular water that is reported to modulate cuticle mechanics. Interestingly, LmCYP4G102 was not expressed in the epidermis that produces the cuticle but in the sub-epdiermal hepatocyte-like oenocytes. Together, our results suggest that the oenocyte-specific LmCYP4G102 plays a critical role in the synthesis of cuticular hydrocarbons, which are important for cuticle waterproofing and mechanical stability in L. migratoria
Temporal assessment of nanoparticle accumulation after experimental brain injury: Effect of particle size
Authors: Bharadwaj Vimala N. , Lifshitz Jonathan , Adelson P. David , Kodibagkar Vikram D. , Stabenfeldt Sarah E.
Published: July 2016

Nanoparticle (NP) based therapeutic and theranostic agents have been developed for various diseases, yet application to neural disease/injury is restricted by the blood-brain-barrier (BBB). Traumatic brain injury (TBI) results in a host of pathological alterations, including transient breakdown of the BBB, thus opening a window for NP delivery to the injured brain tissue. This study focused on investigating the spatiotemporal accumulation of different sized NPs after TBI. Specifically, animal cohorts sustaining a controlled cortical impact injury received an intravenous injection of PEGylated NP cocktail (20, 40, 100 and 500 nm, each with a unique fluorophore) immediately (0 h), 2 h, 5 h, 12 h, or 23 h after injury. NPs were allowed to circulate for 1 h before perfusion and brain harvest. Confocal microscopy demonstrated peak NP accumulation within the injury penumbra 1 h post-injury. An inverse relationship was found between NP size and their continued accumulation within the penumbra. NP accumulation preferentially occurred in the primary motor and somatosensory areas of the injury penumbra as compared to the parietal association and visual area. Thus, we characterized the accumulation of particles up to 500 nm at different times acutely after injury, indicating the potential of NP-based TBI theranostics in the acute period after injury.
Green superlubricity of Nitinol 60 alloy against steel in presence of castor oil
Authors: Zeng Qunfeng , Dong Guangneng , Martin Jean Michel
Published: July 2016

In the present work, first, we show that sliding Nitinol 60 alloy against steel under castor oil lubrication exhibits a new case of superlubricity (coefficient of friction CoF ≪ 0.01). So far, CoF below 0.01 have never been achieved under boundary lubrication at high contact pressure and in presence of vegetable oil as a green lubricant. Next, it is demonstrated that superlubricity is controlled by tribochemical reactions, involving chemical degradation of castor oil and the formation of metal oxy-hydroxides. Finally, to explain these findings, we propose a novel superlubricity mechanism consisting of hexanoic acid molecules intercalated between nickel and iron oxy-hydroxide lamellar layers, a structure very similar to the one found in Fe-Ni batteries. We propose that superlubricity is achieved due to repulsive electrostatic forces acting between the intercalated metal oxy-hydroxide lamellar compounds. This system would be suitable for practical engineering applications in many fields including biotechnologies.
Mapping the climatic suitable habitat of oriental arborvitae (Platycladus orientalis) for introduction and cultivation at a global scale
Authors: Li Guoqing , Du Sheng , Wen Zhongming
Published: July 2016

Oriental arborvitae (Platycladus orientalis) is an important afforestation and ornamental tree species, which is native in eastern Asian. Therefore, a global suitable habitat map for oriental arborvitae is urgently needed for global promotion and cultivation. Here, the potential habitat and climatic requirements of oriental arborvitae at global scale were simulated using herbariums data and 13 thermal-moisture variables as input data for maximum entropy model (MaxEnt). The simulation performance of MaxEnt is evaluated by ten-fold cross-validation and a jackknife procedure. Results show that the potential habitat and climate envelop of oriental arborvitae can be successfully simulated by MaxEnt at global scale, with a mean test AUC value of 0.93 and mean training AUC value of 0.95. Thermal factors play more important roles than moisture factors in controlling the distribution boundary of oriental arborvitae’s potential ranges. There are about 50 countries suitable for introduction and cultivation of oriental arborvitae with an area of 2.0 × 107 km2, which occupied 13.8% of land area on the earth. This unique study will provide valuable information and insights needed to identify new regions with climatically suitable habitats for cultivation and introduction of oriental arborvitae around the world.
Generation and propagation of a sine-azimuthal wavefront modulated Gaussian beam
Authors: Lao Guanming , Zhang Zhaohui , Luo Meilan , Zhao Daomu
Published: July 2016

We introduce a method for modulating the Gaussian beam by means of sine-azimuthal wavefront and carry out the experimental generation. The analytical propagation formula of such a beam passing through a paraxial ABCD optical system is derived, by which the intensity properties of the sine-azimuthal wavefront modulated Gaussian (SWMG) beam are examined both theoretically and experimentally. Both of the experimental and theoretical results show that the SWMG beam goes through the process from beam splitting to a Gaussian-like profile, which is closely determined by the phase factor and the propagation distance. Appropriate phase factor and short distance are helpful for the splitting of beam. However, in the cases of large phase factor and focal plane, the intensity distributions tend to take a Gaussian form. Such unique features may be of importance in particle trapping and medical applications.