bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of zinc oxide nanoparticles on the bacterial microbiome of activated sludge systems
Authors: Meli K. , Kamika I. , Keshri J. , Momba M. N. B.
Published: December 2016

The expected growth in nanomaterial applications could result in increased amounts of nanoparticles entering municipal sewer systems, eventually ending up in wastewater treatment plants and therefore negatively affecting microbial populations and biological nutrient removal. The aim of this study was to ascertain the impact of zinc oxide nanoparticles (nZnO) on the bacterial microbiome of an activated sludge system. A metagenomic approach combined with the latest generation Illumina MiSeq platform and RDP pipeline tools were used to identify and classify the bacterial microbiome of the sludge. Results revealed a drastic decrease in the number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) from 27 737 recovered in the nZnO-free sample to 23 743, 17 733, and 13 324 OTUs in wastewater samples exposed to various concentrations of nZnO (5, 10 and 100 mg/L nZnO, respectively). These represented 12 phyla, 21 classes, 30 orders, 54 families and 51 genera, completely identified at each taxonomic level in the control samples; 7-15-25-28-20 for wastewater samples exposed to 5 mg/L nZnO; 9-15-24-31-23 for those exposed to 10 mg/L and 7-11-19-26-17 for those exposed 100 mg/L nZnO. A large number of sequences could not be assigned to specific taxa, suggesting a possibility of novel species to be discovered.
Particles from the Echinococcus granulosus laminated layer inhibit IL-4 and growth factor-driven Akt phosphorylation and proliferative responses in macrophages
Authors: Seoane Paula I. , Rückerl Dominik , Casaravilla Cecilia , Barrios Anabella A. , Pittini Álvaro , MacDonald Andrew S. , Allen Judith E. , Díaz Alvaro
Published: December 2016

Proliferation of macrophages is a hallmark of inflammation in many type 2 settings including helminth infections. The cellular expansion is driven by the type 2 cytokine interleukin-4 (IL-4), as well as by M-CSF, which also controls homeostatic levels of tissue resident macrophages. Cystic echinococcosis, caused by the tissue-dwelling larval stage of the cestode Echinococcus granulosus, is characterised by normally subdued local inflammation. Infiltrating host cells make contact only with the acellular protective coat of the parasite, called laminated layer, particles of which can be ingested by phagocytic cells. Here we report that a particulate preparation from this layer (pLL) strongly inhibits the proliferation of macrophages in response to IL-4 or M-CSF. In addition, pLL also inhibits IL-4-driven up-regulation of Relm-α, without similarly affecting Chitinase-like 3 (Chil3/Ym1). IL-4-driven cell proliferation and up-regulation of Relm-α are both known to depend on the phosphatidylinositol (PI3K)/Akt pathway, which is dispensable for induction of Chil3/Ym1. Exposure to pLL in vitro inhibited Akt activation in response to proliferative stimuli, providing a potential mechanism for its activities. Our results suggest that the E. granulosus laminated layer exerts some of its anti-inflammatory properties through inhibition of PI3K/Akt activation and consequent limitation of macrophage proliferation.
Epoxygenated Fatty Acids Inhibit Retinal Vascular Inflammation
Authors: Capozzi Megan E. , Hammer Sandra S. , McCollum Gary W. , Penn John S.
Published: December 2016

The objective of the present study was to assess the effect of elevating epoxygenated fatty acids on retinal vascular inflammation. To stimulate inflammation we utilized TNFα, a potent pro-inflammatory mediator that is elevated in the serum and vitreous of diabetic patients. In TNFα-stimulated primary human retinal microvascular endothelial cells, total levels of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), but not epoxydocosapentaenoic acids (EDPs), were significantly decreased. Exogenous addition of 11,12-EET or 19,20-EDP when combined with 12-(3-adamantane-1-yl-ureido)-dodecanoic acid (AUDA), an inhibitor of epoxide hydrolysis, inhibited VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression and protein levels; conversely the diol product of 19,20-EDP hydrolysis, 19,20-DHDP, induced VCAM1 and ICAM1 expression. 11,12-EET and 19,20-EDP also inhibited leukocyte adherence to human retinal microvascular endothelial cell monolayers and leukostasis in an acute mouse model of retinal inflammation. Our results indicate that this inhibition may be mediated through an indirect effect on NFκB activation. This is the first study demonstrating a direct comparison of EET and EDP on vascular inflammatory endpoints, and we have confirmed a comparable efficacy from each isomer, suggesting a similar mechanism of action. Taken together, these data establish that epoxygenated fatty acid elevation will inhibit early pathology related to TNFα-induced inflammation in retinal vascular diseases.
Epidemiology of two human protoparvoviruses, bufavirus and tusavirus
Authors: Väisänen Elina , Paloniemi Minna , Kuisma Inka , Lithovius Väinö , Kumar Arun , Franssila Rauli , Ahmed Kamruddin , Delwart Eric , Vesikari Timo , Hedman Klaus , Söderlund-Venermo Maria
Published: December 2016

Two human parvoviruses were recently discovered by metagenomics in Africa, bufavirus (BuV) in 2012 and tusavirus (TuV) in 2014. These viruses have been studied exclusively by PCR in stool and detected only in patients with diarrhoea, although at low prevalence. Three genotypes of BuV have been identified. We detected, by in-house EIA, BuV1-3 IgG antibodies in 7/228 children (3.1%) and 10/180 adults (5.6%), whereas TuV IgG was found in one child (0.4%). All children and 91% of the adults were Finnish, yet interestingly 3/6 adults of Indian origin were BuV-IgG positive. By competition EIA, no cross-reactivity between the BuVs was detected, indicating that the BuV genotypes represent distinct serotypes. Furthermore, we analysed by BuV qPCR stool and nasal swab samples from 955 children with gastroenteritis, respiratory illness, or both, and found BuV DNA in three stools (0.3%) and for the first time in a nasal swab (0.1%). This is the first study documenting the presence of BuV and TuV antibodies in humans. Although the seroprevalences of both viruses were low in Finland, our results indicate that BuV infections might be widespread in Asia. The BuV-specific humoral immune responses appeared to be strong and long-lasting, pointing to systemic infection in humans.
Trans-generational desensitization and within-generational resensitization of a sucrose-best neuron in the polyphagous herbivore Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
Authors: Ma Ying , Li Jingjing , Tang Qingbo , Zhang Xuening , Zhao Xincheng , Yan Fengming , van Loon Joop J. A.
Published: December 2016

Dietary exposure of insects to a feeding deterrent substance for hours to days can induce habituation and concomitant desensitization of the response of peripheral gustatory neurons to such a substance. In the present study, larvae of the herbivoreHelicoverpa armigerawere fed on diets containing either a high, medium or low concentration of sucrose, a major feeding stimulant. The responsiveness of the sucrose-best neuron in the lateral sensilla styloconica on the galea was quantified. Results showed the response of the sucrose-best neuron exposed to high-sucrose diets decreased gradually over successive generations, resulting in complete desensitization in the 5thand subsequent generations. However, the sensitivity was completely restored in the ninth generation after neonate larvae were exposed to low-sucrose diet. These findings demonstrate phenotypic plasticity and exclude inadvertent artificial selection for low sensitivity to sucrose. No significant changes were found in the sensitivity of caterpillars which experienced low- or medium-sucrose diets over the same generations. Such desensitization versus re-sensitization did not generalise to the phagosimulantmyo-inositol-sensitive neuron or the feeding deterrent-sensitive neuron. Our results demonstrate that under conditions of high sucrose availability trans-generational desensitization of a neuron sensitive to this feeding stimulant becomes more pronounced whereas re-sensitization occurs within one generation.
Monitoring carnosine uptake by RAW 264.7 macrophage cells using microchip electrophoresis with fluorescence detection
Authors: Fresta Claudia G. , Hogard Michael L. , Caruso Giuseppe , Melo Costa Elton E. , Lazzarino Giuseppe , Lunte Susan M.
Published: December 2016

A microfluidic platform was used to investigate the antioxidant properties of carnosine, an endogenous dipeptide.
Predicting point defect equilibria across oxide hetero-interfaces: model system of ZrO2/Cr2O3
Authors: Yang Jing , Youssef Mostafa , Yildiz Bilge
Published: December 2016

We present a multi-scale model to predict defect redistribution both in interface core and space charge layer across oxide/oxide hetero-interfaces.
Three-dimensional metal–organic framework derived porous CoP3 concave polyhedrons as superior bifunctional electrocatalysts for the evolution of hydrogen and oxygen
Authors: Wu Tianli , Pi Mingyu , Wang Xiaodeng , Zhang Dingke , Chen Shijian
Published: December 2016

Three-dimensional metal–organic framework-derived porous CoP3 concave polyhedrons (CoP3 CPs) were prepared and used as superior bifunctional electrocatalysts for the evolution of hydrogen and oxygen.
Structural phase transitions of (Bi1−xSbx)2(Te1−ySey)3 compounds under high pressure and the influence of the atomic radius on the compression processes of tetradymites
Authors: Zhao Jinggeng , Yu Zhenhai , Hu Qingyang , Wang Yong , Schneeloch John , Li Chunyu , Zhong Ruidan , Wang Yi , Liu Zhiguo , Gu Genda
Published: December 2016

Different structural evolutions between (Bi1−xSbx)2(Te1−ySey)3 and tellurides indicates that the compression processes of tetradymites are related to atomic radius.
Singlet fission in pancake-bonded systems
Authors: Ito S. , Nagami T. , Nakano M.
Published: December 2016

Open-shell aggregates with pancake bonding are found to cause highly efficient singlet fission and large charge transport simultaneously.
Direct electron irradiation of DNA in a fully aqueous environment. Damage determination in combination with Monte Carlo simulations
Authors: Hahn Marc Benjamin , Meyer Susann , Schröter Maria-Astrid , Seitz Harald , Kunte Hans-Jörg , Solomun Tihomir , Sturm Heinz
Published: December 2016

We report on a study in which plasmid DNA in water was irradiated with 30 keV electrons generated by a scanning electron microscope and passed through a 100 nm thick Si3N4 membrane.
Halogen atom effect on the photophysical properties of substituted aza-BODIPY derivatives
Authors: De Simone B. C. , Mazzone G. , Pirillo J. , Russo N. , Sicilia E.
Published: December 2016

The influence of halogen atom substitution (Br and I), in different amounts and positions in an aza-BODIPY skeleton, on the photophysical properties of some aza-BODIPY derivatives has been investigated by using density functional theory and its time-dependent extension.
Mechanism of coverage dependent CO adsorption and dissociation on the Mo(100) surface
Authors: Tian Xinxin , Wang Tao , Jiao Haijun
Published: December 2016

The mechanism of coverage dependent CO adsorption and dissociation on the Mo(100) surface was investigated using periodic density functional theory.
Structure and photoluminescence properties of a novel apatite green phosphor Ba5(PO4)2SiO4:Eu2+ excited by NUV light
Authors: Ding Xin , Wang Yuhua
Published: December 2016

The structure and photoluminescence properties of a novel apatite green phosphor Ba5(PO4)2SiO4:Eu2+ excited by NUV light were studied.
Correction: Molecular and ionic diffusion in aqueous – deep eutectic solvent mixtures: probing inter-molecular interactions using PFG NMR
Authors: D'Agostino Carmine , Gladden Lynn F. , Mantle Mick D. , Abbott Andrew P. , Ahmed Essa I. , Al-Murshedi Azhar Y. M. , Harris Robert C.
Published: December 2016

Correction for ‘Molecular and ionic diffusion in aqueous – deep eutectic solvent mixtures: probing inter-molecular interactions using PFG NMR’ by Carmine D'Agostino et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2015, 17, 15297–15304.
Location of photocatalytic oxidation processes on anatase titanium dioxide
Authors: Lin Xuan Hao , Miao Yijia , Li Sam Fong Yau
Published: December 2016

The detailed mechanism of photocatalytic oxidation processes on the TiO2surface is still not completely clear, particularly the location of degradation processes.
A series of pure-blue-light emitting Cu(i) complexes with thermally activated delayed fluorescence: structural, photophysical, and computational studies
Authors: Huang Chun-Hua , Wen Meng , Wang Chun-Ya , Lu Yong-Feng , Huang Xi-He , Li Hao-Hong , Wu Shu-Ting , Zhuang Nai-Feng , Hu Xiao-Lin
Published: December 2016

Four Cu(i) complexes exhibiting pure blue delayed fluorescence were synthesized and their structures and photophysical properties were studied.
Efficient electricity storage with a battolyser, an integrated Ni–Fe battery and electrolyser
Authors: Mulder F. M. , Weninger B. M. H. , Middelkoop J. , Ooms F. G. B. , Schreuders H.
Published: December 2016

A battolyser charges, generates hydrogen, or instantaneously discharges, enabling a remarkably durable, efficient, flexible and switchable electricity storage and conversion.
Impact of environmental conditions on bacterial photoreactivation in wastewater effluents
Authors: Shafaei Shirin , Klamerth Nikolaus , Zhang Yanyan , McPhedran Kerry , Bolton James R. , Gamal El-Din Mohamed
Published: December 2016

Photoreactivation is a process where ultraviolet (UV)-induced damage to the DNA of microorganisms can be reversed by exposure to near UV and visible light.
Sewage sludge treated with metal nanomaterials inhibits earthworm reproduction more strongly than sludge treated with metal metals in bulk/salt forms
Authors: Lahive E. , Matzke M. , Durenkamp M. , Lawlor A. J. , Thacker S. A. , Pereira M. G. , Spurgeon D. J. , Unrine J. M. , Svendsen C. , Lofts S.
Published: December 2016

Sludge treated with ENMs caused greater effects on earthworm reproduction than sludge treated with metal salts.
Approaching truly sustainable solar cells by the use of water and cellulose derivatives
Authors: Bella Federico , Galliano Simone , Falco Marisa , Viscardi Guido , Barolo Claudia , Grätzel Michael , Gerbaldi Claudio
Published: December 2016

Aqueous dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are emerging as the first truly safe, cheap and eco-friendly photovoltaic technology, at the same time overcoming the well-known instability upon moisture/water contamination typical of many solar cells.
Controlling reactivity through liquid assisted grinding: the curious case of mechanochemical fluorination
Authors: Howard Joseph L. , Sagatov Yerbol , Repusseau Laura , Schotten Christiane , Browne Duncan L.
Published: December 2016

We have identified an example of a mechanochemically milled organic reaction where liquid-assisted grinding controls the selectivity, such a phenomenon has not been reported/observed before.
An expedient microwave assisted regio- and stereoselective synthesis of spiroquinoxaline pyrrolizine derivatives and their AChE inhibitory activity
Authors: Akondi Adinarayana Murthy , Mekala Sowmya , Kantam Mannepalli Lakshmi , Trivedi Rajiv , Raju Chowhan L. , Das Amitava
Published: December 2016

We report here an efficient protocol for the one-pot facile synthesis of spiro[indeno[1,2-b]quinoxaline-11,3′-pyrrolizine]heterocyclic scaffolds and their AChE inhibitory studies.
Rapid access to N-(indol-2-yl)amides and N-(indol-3-yl)amides as unexplored pharmacophores
Authors: Reekie Tristan A. , Wilkinson Shane M. , Law Vivian , Hibbs David E. , Ong Jennifer A. , Kassiou Michael
Published: December 2016

Preparation of N-(indol-2-yl)amides and N-(indol-3-yl)amides are scarce in the scientific literature due to unstable intermediates impeding current reported syntheses.
Revealing the formation mechanism of insoluble polydopamine by using a simplified model system
Authors: Kang Xiaomin , Cai Wanhao , Zhang Song , Cui Shuxun
Published: December 2016

On the basis of a study of a simplified model system and Set Theory, a novel pathway on the formation of polydopamine is proposed.
Heteroleptic Ru(ii) cyclometalated complexes derived from benzimidazole-phenyl carbene ligands for dye-sensitized solar cells: an experimental and theoretical approach
Authors: Jella Tejaswi , Srikanth Malladi , Soujanya Yarasi , Singh Surya Prakash , Giribabu Lingamallu , Islam Ashraful , Han Liyuan , Bedja Idriss , Gupta Ravindra Kumar
Published: December 2016

We have designed and synthesized heteroleptic Ru(ii) complexes based on N-heterocyclic/phenyl carbene ligand for dye-sensitized solar cells. New dyes have shown an overall conversion of efficiency of 7.63% using iodide based liquid redox electrolyte.
Low cost and green preparation process for α-Fe2O3@gum arabic electrode for high performance sodium ion batteries
Authors: Xu Li , Sitinamaluwa Hansinee , Li Henan , Qiu Jingxia , Wang Yazhou , Yan Cheng , Li Huaming , Yuan Shouqi , Zhang Shanqing
Published: December 2016

A high performance α-Fe2O3 electrode is prepared via a green gum arabic-water based electrode fabrication process for SIBs for the first time.
Nanowire reinforced nanoparticle nanocomposite for highly flexible transparent electrodes: borrowing ideas from macrocomposites in steel-wire reinforced concrete
Authors: Suh Young D. , Jung Jinwook , Lee Habeom , Yeo Junyeob , Hong Sukjoon , Lee Phillip , Lee Daeho , Ko Seung Hwan
Published: December 2016

A novel nanocomposite of a nanowire reinforced nanoparticle matrix film was developed for flexible and transparent electrode applications.
Glycinergic transmission: glycine transporter GlyT2 in neuronal pathologies
Authors: Zafra Francisco , Ibáñez Ignacio , Giménez Cecilio
Published: December 2016

Glycinergic neurons are major contributors to the regulation of neuronal excitability, mainly in caudal areas of the nervous system. These neurons control fluxes of sensory information between the periphery and the CNS and diverse motor activities like locomotion, respiration or vocalization. The phenotype of a glycinergic neuron is determined by the expression of at least two proteins: GlyT2, a plasma membrane transporter of glycine, and VIAAT, a vesicular transporter shared by glycine and GABA. In this article, we review recent advances in understanding the role of GlyT2 in the pathophysiology of inhibitory glycinergic neurotransmission. GlyT2 mutations are associated to decreased glycinergic function that results in a rare movement disease termed hyperekplexia (HPX) or startle disease. In addition, glycinergic neurons control pain transmission in the dorsal spinal cord and their function is reduced in chronic pain states. A moderate inhibition of GlyT2 may potentiate glycinergic inhibition and constitutes an attractive target for pharmacological intervention against these devastating conditions.
Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP) Treatment Methods and Approaches for Alzheimer's Dementia
Authors: Korytkowska Marta , Obler Loraine K.
Published: December 2016

Caring for individuals with Alzheimer's dementia requires an interdisciplinary approach, with speech-language pathologists (SLPs) playing a critical role. The SLP's role in the management of individuals with Alzheimer's dementia, and their families/caregivers, requires both direct and indirect assessment and intervention techniques. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to provide a succinct overview of the evidence-based assessment and intervention options across levels of severity and stage of the disease process.
Lowpass filters approximation based on modified Jacobi polynomials
Authors: Stojanović N. , Stamenković N. , Krstić I.
Published: December 2016

The orthogonal Jacobi polynomials are not suitable for the characteristic function in the continuous‐ and discrete‐time filter designs because they are not fulfilling the basic conditions: to be pure odd or to be pure even. A simple modification of Jacobi polynomials, proposed in this Letter, is performed to obtain a new filter approximating function. Magnitude frequency responses of obtained filters exhibit more general behaviour compared to that of classical Gegenbauer (ultraspherical) filters, due to one additional parameter available in the Jacobi polynomials. This parameter can be used to obtain magnitude response with smaller passband ripple values (nearly monotonic behaviour), smaller group delay variations or sharper cutoff slope. The proposed modified Jacobi polynomials are not orthogonal; however, many known orthogonal polynomials can be obtained as theirs special cases.
Ab initio ro-vibronic spectroscopy of the Π2 PCS radical and Σ+1PCS− anion
Authors: Finney Brian , Mitrushchenkov Alexander O. , Francisco Joseph S. , Peterson Kirk A.
Published: December 2016

Near-equilibrium potential energy surfaces have been calculated for both the PCS radical and its anion using a composite coupled cluster approach based on explicitly correlated F12 methods in order to provide accurate structures and spectroscopic properties. These transient species are still unknown and the present study provides theoretical predictions of the radical and its anion for the first time. Since these species are strongly suggested to play an important role as intermediates in the interstellar medium, the rotational and vibrational spectroscopic parameters are presented to help aid in the identification and assignment of these spectra. The rotational constants produced will aid in ground-based observation. Both the PCS radical and the PCS– anion are linear. In the PCS– anion, which has a predicted adiabatic electron binding energy (adiabatic electron affinity of PCS) of 65.6 kcal/mol, the P–C bond is stronger than the corresponding neutral radical showing almost triple bond character, while the C–S bond is weaker, showing almost single bond character in the anion. The PCS anion shows a smaller rotational constant than that of the neutral. The ω3 stretching vibrational frequencies of PCS− are red-shifted from the radical, while the ω1 and ω2 vibrations are blue-shifted with ω1 demonstrating the largest blue shift. The ro-vibronic spectrum of the PCS radical has been accurately calculated in variational nuclear motion calculations including both Renner-Teller (RT) and spin-orbit (SO) coupling effects using the composite potential energy near-equilibrium potential energy and coupled cluster dipole moment surfaces. The spectrum is predicted to be very complicated even at low energies due to the presence of a strong Fermi resonance between the bending mode and symmetric stretch, but also due to similar values of the bending frequency, RT, and SO splittings.
Time-dependent quantum wave packet dynamics to study charge transfer in heavy particle collisions
Authors: Zhang Song Bin , Wu Yong , Wang Jian Guo
Published: December 2016

The method of time-dependent quantum wave packet dynamics has been successfully extended to study the charge transfer/exchange process in low energy two-body heavy particle collisions. The collision process is described by coupled-channel equations with diabatic potentials and (radial and rotational) couplings. The time-dependent coupled equations are propagated with the multiconfiguration time-dependent Hartree method and the modulo squares of S-matrix is extracted from the wave packet by the flux operator with complex absorbing potential (FCAP) method. The calculations of the charge transfer process 12Σ+ H−(1s2)+Li(1s22s)→22Σ+/32Σ+/12Π H(1s)+Li−(1s22s2l)(l=s,p) at the incident energy of about [0.3, 1.3] eV are illustrated as an example. It shows that the calculated reaction probabilities by the present FCAP reproduce that of quantum-mechanical molecular-orbital close-coupling very well, including the peak structures contributed by the resonances. Since time-dependent external interactions can be directly included in the present FCAP calculations, the successful implementation of FCAP provides us a powerful potential tool to study the quantum control of heavy particle collisions by lasers in the near future.
Full-dimensional quantum dynamics of rovibrationally inelastic scattering between CN and H2
Authors: Yang Benhui , Wang X. H. , Stancil P. C. , Bowman J. M. , Balakrishnan N. , Forrey R. C.
Published: December 2016

We report six-dimensional (6D) potential energy surface (PES) and rovibrational scattering calculations for the CN–H2 collision system. The PES was computed using the high-level ab initio spin-restricted coupled-cluster with single, double, and perturbative triple excitations-F12B method and fitted to an analytic function using an invariant polynomial method in 6D. Quantum close-coupling calculations are reported for rotational transitions in CN by H2 and D2 collisions in 6D as well as four-dimensional (4D) within a rigid rotor model for collision energies of 1.0-1500 cm−1. Comparisons with experimental data and previous 4D calculations are presented for CN rotational levels j1 = 4 and 11. For the first time, rovibrational quenching cross sections and rate coefficients of CN (v1 = 1,j1 = 0) in collisions with para- and ortho-H2 are also reported in full-dimension. Agreement for pure rotational transitions is found to be good, but no experimental data on rovibrational collisional quenching for CN–H2 are available. Applications of the current rotational and rovibrational rate coefficients in astrophysical modeling are briefly discussed.
Random phase approximation with second-order screened exchange for current-carrying atomic states
Authors: Zhu Wuming , Zhang Liang , Trickey S. B.
Published: December 2016

The direct random phase approximation (RPA) and RPA with second-order screened exchange (SOSEX) have been implemented with complex orbitals as a basis for treating open-shell atoms. Both RPA and RPA+SOSEX are natural implicit current density functionals because the paramagnetic current density implicitly is included through the use of complex orbitals. We confirm that inclusion of the SOSEX correction improves the total energy accuracy substantially compared to RPA, especially for smaller-Z atoms. Computational complexity makes post self-consistent-field (post-SCF) evaluation of RPA-type expressions commonplace, so orbital basis origins and properties become important. Sizable differences are found in correlation energies, total atomic energies, and ionization energies for RPA-type functionals evaluated in the post-SCF fashion with orbital sets obtained from different schemes. Reference orbitals from Kohn-Sham calculations with semi-local functionals are more suitable for RPA+SOSEX to generate accurate total energies, but reference orbitals from exact exchange (non-local) yield essentially energetically degenerate open-shell atom ground states. RPA+SOSEX correlation combined with exact exchange calculated from a hybrid reference orbital set (half the exchange calculated from exact-exchange orbitals, the other half of the exchange from orbitals optimized for the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE) exchange functional) gives the best overall performance. Numerical results show that the RPA-like functional with SOSEX correction can be used as a practical implicit current density functional when current effects should be included.
Plant phenotyping: increasing throughput and precision at multiple scales
Authors: Hawkesford Malcolm J. , Lorence Argelia
Published: December 2016

In this special issue of Functional Plant Biology, we present a perspective of the current state of the art in plant phenotyping. The applications of automated and detailed recording of plant characteristics using a range of mostly non-invasive techniques are described. Papers range from tissue scale analysis through to aerial surveying of field trials and include model plant species such as Arabidopsis as well as commercial crops such as sugar beet and cereals. The common denominators are high throughput measurements, data rich analyses often utilising image based data capture, requirements for validation when proxy measurement are employed and in many instances a need to fuse datasets. The outputs are detailed descriptions of plant form and function. The papers represent technological advances and important contributions to basic plant biology, and these studies are commonly multidisciplinary, involving engineers, software specialists and plant physiologists. This is a fast moving area producing large datasets and analytical requirements are often common between very diverse platforms.
The East Australian Current, upwellings and downwellings off eastern-most Australia in summer
Authors: Cresswell G. R. , Peterson J. L. , Pender L. F.
Published: December 2016

The complex influences of the East Australian Current (EAC) and winds on the waters of the continental shelf were addressed with a ship survey, moored and drifting instruments, satellite images and wind and sea level measurements. The study revealed intrusions of continental slope water reaching the inner continental shelf when the EAC was near the shelf edge and wind stress was near zero or upwelling favourable (northerly). The process was the onshore movement of a southward flowing stream of water originally from the continental slope. One event was captured near Cape Byron and Evans Head when these waters upwelled to the surface. When the wind stress turned northward, it reversed the inner shelf current and drove downwelling. Variations in the wind stress also modulated the strength of the EAC out across the shelf to the upper slope. The strength of the EAC per se varied with a time scale of 2–3 months; these variations decreased in amplitude westward until they were undetectable at the inner shelf. The EAC had a subsurface speed maximum of up to 1.6ms–1 at 100–150-m depth above the continental slope and was seen to accelerate with both time and distance southward along the 190-km length surveyed by the ship.
Active-site MMP-selective antibody inhibitors discovered from convex paratope synthetic libraries
Authors: Nam Dong Hyun , Rodriguez Carlos , Remacle Albert G. , Strongin Alex Y. , Ge Xin
Published: December 2016

Significance

The matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family members are promising drug targets in diversified pathologies. Clinical trial failures taught us that selective, rather than broad-specificity, inhibitors are required for successful MMP therapies. Achieving target selectivity with small-molecule MMP inhibitors, however, is exceedingly difficult. Because the antigen-binding sites in conventional antibodies are predominantly incompatible with the concave reaction pockets of MMPs, design of inhibitory antibodies, an attractive alternative for selective inhibition, is also challenging. We synthesized human antibody libraries encoding extended convex antigen-binding sites and isolated a panel of inhibitory Fabs that selectively and efficiently inhibited MMP-14, a promising drug target in cancer. The pipeline we established can now be readily applied for the generation of inhibitory antibodies targeting multiple additional enzymes besides MMPs alone.
DNA methylation in the gene body influences MeCP2-mediated gene repression
Authors: Kinde Benyam , Wu Dennis Y. , Greenberg Michael E. , Gabel Harrison W.
Published: December 2016

Significance

Mutations in the methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (
MECP2
) lead to the severe neurological disorder Rett syndrome, but our understanding of how MeCP2 regulates gene expression in the brain has been limited. Recently we uncovered evidence that MeCP2 controls transcription of very long genes with critical neuronal functions by binding a unique form of DNA methylation, enriched in neurons. Here, we provide evidence that MeCP2 represses transcription by binding within transcribed regions of genes. We show that this repressive effect is proportional to the total number of methylated DNA binding sites for MeCP2 within each gene. Our findings suggest a model in which MeCP2 represses transcription of long neuronal genes that contain many methylated binding sites by impeding transcriptional elongation.
Dutch impersonal passives
Authors: Beliën Maaike
Published: December 2016

Dutch impersonal passives are often considered to be only compatible with atelic volitional verbs, such as werken ‘work’, lachen ‘laugh’, and zwemmen ‘swim’. Two recent corpus studies, however, argue that a wider range of verbs is compatible with the construction, presenting examples of attested impersonal passives with telic and non-volitional verbs. This paper lends further support to this view, by providing an exploratory study of the frequencies of different intransitive verbs appearing in the construction, as well as a discussion of the telicity of attested impersonal passives with vallen ‘fall’ and sterven ‘die’. The paper concludes that also with these telic non-volitional verbs, the impersonal passive merely conveys the occurrence of the type of act described by the verb, without specifying whether this occurrence is constituted by a single or multiple events, or whether it involves one or more participants.
Imperatives and politeness in Dutch
Authors: Hoop Helen de , Klatter Jetske , Mulder Gijs , Schmitz Tijn
Published: December 2016

Imperatives are usually thought of as direct and therefore impolite. However, imperatives such as Have some coffee, Enjoy your holiday, or Sleep well are not considered impolite. The reason seems to be that these imperatives refer to actions that are beneficial to the hearer only. We make a distinction between two types of imperatives, those referring to actions that are beneficial to the speaker and those that are beneficial to the hearer. We have conducted an experiment in order to examine the relation between the two types of imperatives and how they are perceived by speakers of Dutch. The results show that there is indeed a significant difference in interpretation between the two types of imperatives in Dutch. In addition, we have tested the effects of adding a politeness marker alsjeblieft ‘please’ or discourse particles to the imperatives.
Deriving verb-cluster variation in Dutch and German
Authors: Kampen Jacqueline van
Published: December 2016

The difference in West-Germanic V(erb)-clusters, right-branching (Dutch) and left-branching (German), follows from a difference in the acquisition of V-second. The decisive factor is a rightward selection of the <+Aux> verbs in Dutch main clauses. That decisive factor had already been acquired before any V-cluster appeared in the child’s speech. Longitudinal Dutch child data show that modals and aspectuals develop a rightward selection that carries over into the V-cluster. The German child data do not show such a development. Automatic phrasal formation by the acquisition procedure allows a V-cluster without assuming V-to-V-movement from an underlying structure. The general perspective is that (i) the acquisition procedure is a discovery procedure, and that (ii) typological effects are the outcome of early local string-determined licensing/selection.
The influence of L2 English and immersion education on L3 French in the Netherlands
Authors: Stadt Rosalinde , Hulk Aafke , Sleeman Petra
Published: December 2016

In this paper, we test the L2 Status Factor (Bardel & Falk, 2007) by examining to what extent Dutch secondary school students (13–15 years) prefer L2 English over L1 Dutch in L3 French acquisition, and we study the influence of L2 education by comparing an English immersion curriculum vs. a regular Dutch curriculum. We investigate verb placement in declarative root clauses, viz. V-to-T movement, where the finite verb moves to T in French but not in English and V-to-C movement, in which the V2-rule applies in Dutch but not in French. We report data from a Grammaticality Judgement Task. The results indicate that in the immersion group there is significantly more influence from English than from Dutch. In the regular group, the L1 and the L2 are both important sources of transfer.
Definedness conditions on admission-of-ignorance moves
Authors: Vicente Luis
Published: December 2016

Given a set of alternatives, a speaker can explicitly admit ignorance about which of them hold true. The (in)felicity of such admission-of-ignorance moves immediately following disjunctions and conjunctions follows from the semantics of or and and. However, semantics alone turns out to be insufficient in cases when the disjunction/conjunction and the admission-of-ignorance move are separated by additional conversational moves of acceptance, objection, or removal of an existing assertion. I argue that these patterns follow if admission-of-ignorance are associated to a speech act operator admit whose input is restricted to propositions that the current speaker is publicly committed to at the current conversational stage.
Doing conversation analysis in Mandarin Chinese
Authors: Wu Ruey-Jiuan Regina
Published: December 2016

This article aims to introduce Conversation Analytic (CA) methods to the community of Chinese scholars, and especially to linguists who work with Mandarin Chinese and are just beginning to adopt CA methods in their work. I believe doing CA requires not only an understanding of its terminology but also a working knowledge of CA methods. To this end, rather than simply explaining CA methods abstractly, I offer the reader a glimpse of the research process in action by presenting data and findings of my own research and then taking the reader step-by-step through the analytic process — from initial observations of a candidate phenomenon, through the process of making a collection of cases, and finally explaining criteria for establishing an empirically-grounded finding. Special focus is placed on the importance of detecting “participants’ orientations to action” and the more difficult process of finding evidence for the phenomenon from nonconforming specimens.
Some interactional uses of syntactically incomplete turns in Mandarin conversation
Authors: Li Xiaoting
Published: December 2016

In everyday conversation, sometimes a speaker may not complete his/her turn, and the recipients do not treat it as problematic. This paper investigates this type of syntactically incomplete turns (henceforth, SITs) in Mandarin conversation. Specifically, this study examines how SITs are used and constructed through multimodal resources in Mandarin face-to-face conversation. Adopting the methodology of conversation analysis, interactional linguistics, and multimodal analysis, the present study examines 8 hours of everyday Mandarin face-to-face conversation. It shows that the SITs are situated in particular sequential environments and triggered by local contingencies. For example, they are used to accomplish socially and interactionally inappropriate actions and display sensitivity to the recipients’ disengagement from the ongoing talk and the current participation framework. Also, despite the syntactic incompleteness of the SITs, the prosodic and bodily-visual features involved in their production usually indicate possible turn completion.
An Abductive Theory of Constitution
Authors: Baumgartner Michael , Casini Lorenzo
Published: December 2016

The first part of this article finds Craver’s mutual manipulability theory (MM) of constitution inadequate, as it definitionally ties constitution to the feasibility of ideal experiments, which, however, are unrealizable in principle. As an alternative, the second part develops an abductive theory of constitution (NDC), which exploits the fact that phenomena and their constituents are unbreakably coupled via common causes. The best explanation for this fact is the existence of an additional dependence relation, namely, constitution. NDC has important ramifications for constitutional discovery—most notably, that there is no experimentum crucis for constitution, not even under ideal discovery circumstances.
Making the Most of Clade Selection
Authors: Doolittle W. Ford
Published: December 2016

Clade selection is unpopular with philosophers who otherwise accept multilevel selection theory. Clades cannot reproduce, and reproduction is widely thought necessary for evolution by natural selection, especially of complex adaptations. Using microbial evolutionary processes as heuristics, I argue contrariwise that (1) cladegrowth(proliferation of contained species) substitutes for clade reproduction in the evolution of complex adaptation, (2) clade-level properties favoring persistence—species richness, dispersal, divergence, and possibly intraclade cooperation—are not collapsible into species-level traits, (3) such properties can be maintained by selection on clades, and (4) clade selection extends the explanatory power of the theory of evolution.
Cognitive/Evolutionary Psychology and the History of Racism
Authors: Jackson John P.
Published: December 2016

Philosophical defenses of cognitive/evolutionary psychological accounts of racialism claim that classification based on phenotypical features of humans was common historically and is evidence for a species-typical, cognitive mechanism for essentializing. They conclude that social constructionist accounts of racialism must be supplemented by cognitive/evolutionary psychology. This article argues that phenotypical classifications were uncommon historically until such classifications were socially constructed. Moreover, some philosophers equivocate between two different meanings of “racial thinking.” The article concludes that social constructionist accounts are far more robust than psychological accounts for the origins of racialism.
Three Myths about Time Reversal in Quantum Theory
Authors: Roberts Bryan W.
Published: December 2016

Many have suggested that the transformation standardly referred to as ‘time reversal’ in quantum theory is not deserving of the name. I argue on the contrary that the standard definition is perfectly appropriate and is indeed forced by basic considerations about the nature of time in the quantum formalism.
How Explanation Guides Confirmation
Authors: Climenhaga Nevin
Published: December 2016

Where E is the proposition that [If H and O were true, H would explain O], William Roche and Elliot Sober have argued that P(H | O&E) = P(H | O). In this article I argue that not only is this equality not generally true, it is false in the very kinds of cases that Roche and Sober focus on, involving frequency data. In fact, in such cases O raises the probability of H only given that there is an explanatory connection between them.
Bilateral comparison of 1 Ω and 10 kΩ standards (ongoing BIPM key comparisons BIPM.EM-K13.a and 13.b) between the BIM (Bulgaria) and the BIPM
Authors: Rolland B , Fletcher N , Tenev A , Hadzhistoykova R
Published: December 2016

This report gives the result of a bilateral comparison of resistance between the BIM (Bulgaria) and the BIPM carried out in 2013. Two 1 Ω and two 10 kΩ travelling standards belonging to the BIPM were used. The comparison was carried out with an 'A-B-A' pattern of measurements; the standards were measured first at the BIPM for a period of about one month, then for a similar period at the BIM, and finally again at the BIPM. The measurand was the 4 terminal dc resistance at low power. The BIPM was the pilot laboratory, and the comparison forms part of the ongoing BIPM key comparisons BIPM.EM-K13.a (for 1 Ω) and BIPM.EM-K13b (for 10 kΩ).

The results from the BIM and the BIPM were found to be in good agreement, with a difference smaller than the relative expanded uncertainty (95% confidence, k = 2) of 0.30 × 10-6 at 10 kΩ and in reasonable agreement for 1 Ω with a relative difference of -0.18 × 10-6 with a relative expanded uncertainty of 0.17 × 10-6.

Main text

To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database kcdb.bipm.org/.

The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCEM, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).
Bilateral comparison of 1 Ω and 10 kΩ standards (ongoing BIPM key comparisons BIPM.EM-K13.a and 13.b) between the NIMT (Thailand) and the BIPM
Authors: Rolland B , Fletcher N , Khumthukthit N , Jassadajin C
Published: December 2016

This report gives the result of a bilateral comparison of resistance between the NIMT (Thailand) and the BIPM carried out in 2015. Two 1 Ω and two 10 kΩ travelling standards belonging to the BIPM were used. The comparison was carried out with an 'A-B-A' pattern of measurements; the standards were measured first at the BIPM for a period of about one month, then for a similar period at the BIM, and finally again at the BIPM. The measurand was the 4 terminal dc resistance at low power. The BIPM was the pilot laboratory, and the comparison forms part of the ongoing BIPM key comparisons BIPM.EM-K13.a (for 1 Ω) and BIPM.EM-K13b (for 10 kΩ).

The results from the NIMT and the BIPM were found to be in good agreement, with a difference smaller than the relative expanded uncertainty (95% confidence, k = 2) of 0.20 × 10-6 for 1 Ω and 0.74 × 10-6 for 10 kΩ.

Main text

To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database kcdb.bipm.org/.

The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCEM, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).
Final report on the key comparison, CCM.P-K15 in the pressure range from 1.0 × 10-4 Pa to 1.0 Pa
Authors: Wuethrich Christian , Arai Kenta , Bergoglio Mercede , Fedchak James A , Jousten Karl , Hong Seung Soo , Guzman Jorge Torres
Published: December 2016

The comparison CCM.P-K15 is a key comparison in pressure involving six laboratories in three regional metrological organizations (RMO). The measurand of the comparison is the accommodation coefficient of two spinning rotating gauge characterized in nitrogen from 0.1 mPa up to 1.0 Pa. The two transfer standards were circulated from November 2009 until March 2011. The circulation consisted of three loops, one for each RMO, and a new calibration by the pilot be-tween each loop. The stability of one of the transfer standards was poor and was worse than expected based on the previous history of the transfer standard while the other transfer standard demonstrated good stability while circulated in Europe and America and a fair stability while circulated in Asia.

All the participants demonstrated equivalence to the definition of pressure in their respective primary standards.

Main text

To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database kcdb.bipm.org/.

The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCM, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).
The imperfectly conducting coaxial line
Authors: Wu Tai Tsun
Published: December 2016

In order to determine the range of validity of certain elementary concepts in waveguide theory, the propagation of electromagnetic waves along and through a coaxial line with imperfectly conducting walls is studied in some detail for a particular method of driving. In particular, it is found that the usual concept of attenuation is meaningful only for a certain range of distances from the driving point. Beyond this distance, the electromagnetic field in the coaxial line behaves more like a radiation field. The explanation is supported by the behavior of the electromagnetic field in the imperfect outer conductor of the coaxial line. It is also found that the solution in terms of the “mode” concept has a surprisingly limited region of validity. The reflection coefficient, the radiation pattern and the transverse distribution are also determined.