bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A case study using narrative therapy to “rewrite” the non-conforming reputation of a high school student
Authors: Fernandez Miguel
Published: February 2016

This paper begins with a brief description of research stating that adolescents in schools generally pursue reputations that are either nonconforming or conforming. This is usually achieved through the development of goals specific to each type of reputation. Essential to the maintenance of a reputation is the recruitment of an audience. It is also proposed by researchers that intervention by school personnel becomes crucial when trying to counteract the negative effects of a nonconforming Using a case study, this paper investigates the use of Narrative Therapy with a 15-year-old male student in a high school who had developed a nonconforming reputation. A three-year-old nonconforming reputation is put through a Narrative framework that challenges “its” goals and reason for being. As the sessions progress, there is a sense that this young person is beginning to move towards a more preferred sense of self that is potentially different from the one set-up by the nonconforming reputation. This is achieved by using a Narrative style dialogical approach that shows how language censures and as well as its ability to promote (liberate) chosen behaviour. Apart from the development of a more preferred sense of self, an interesting outcome from using this approach has also been the unique way restraint works within the school.
Stress, Burnout and Self-Efficacy in Guidance Officers
Authors: Bramston Paul , Robertson Meroë
Published: February 2016

Over the last decade, Australian Guidance Officers have been facing well documented challenges to their roles, training and their profession. This study surveyed 146 Guidance Officers and found them to report abnormally high stress levels but average burnout and self-efficacy scores. Previous research suggests that the most difficult aspect of the Guidance Officer's role, and the job for which they often feel least prepared, is dealing with the support needs of students with mental illness, emotional disturbance, behavioural and learning difficulties. Responses from Guidance Officers who deal with these students relatively often revealed significantly higher self-efficacy scores than the remainder of the group, higher emotional exhaustion (as anticipated) and reassuringly low depersonalisation scores. The good and bad news in these results are discussed and implications drawn for the profession.
Structured Peer Group Supervision by Email: An Option for School Guidance and Counselling Personnel
Authors: McMahon Mary
Published: February 2016

Supervision is a mechanism for providing support for school counsellors, and peer group supervision has been found to be beneficial. Indeed, supervision is most often conducted in face-to-face interactions. However, advances in technology have opened up new possibilities for supervision via use of the Internet. The present study evaluates a structured peer group supervision program conducted for school counsellors using email. The findings indicate that email can be an effective medium through which to conduct supervision and that the use of a structured peer group supervision process is helpful.
School Counsellor Use of Curriculum-based Dynamic Assessment
Authors: Berman Jeanette , Graham Lorraine
Published: February 2016

This study explored the conditions required for the practical implementation of dynamic assessment in schools. It involved the development and implementation of a curriculum-based dynamic assessment procedure in the area of school mathematics for use by school counsellors. Dynamic assessment has been developed within Vygotskian theories of learning, teaching and assessment. It incorporates a teaching or mediation phase that requires the application of clinical assessment and teaching skills. This paper argues that the competencies needed to conduct a successful dynamic assessment are a blend of professional skills possessed by school counsellors. The assessment procedures used in this study resulted in valid assessment information about students' cognitive development as well as aspects of their general cognitive, social and emotional functioning. The information gathered through dynamic assessment was particularly useful for informing classroom teaching. The practical problems associated with dynamic assessment identified in the literature were not found to be barriers to the use of these techniques in schools in this study. Instead, dynamic assessment, used to complement conventional assessment instruments, has the potential to enhance the classroom utility of assessments carried out by school counsellors.
Counselling Outcomes Attributable to the Working Alliance
Authors: Barletta John , Fuller Sally
Published: February 2016

There is a multitude of counselling theories that have gained respectability for their theoretical and practical contributions to the profession. Although such theories have been instrumental in developing useful therapies, there remain significant differences in their interventions and techniques. Debates flourish over which school of counselling is better and which contribute to the best positive outcomes. Research has confirmed that there is no significant amount of outcome difference between the varying schools and that there is not one therapy that is superior in contributing to quality outcomes. A critical basic question has resurfaced in recent times; what makes counselling effective? If each school of counselling is done differently and uses different techniques, how then does each work? Part of the explanation comes from the “working alliance.” The working alliance that comprises the bond, goals and tasks that form a trans-theoretical view will be reviewed and explored with a focus on their application to counselling.
Freedom and Control — “Big Me and Little Me”: A Chinese Perspective for Counsellors
Authors: Back Angela , Barker Michelle
Published: February 2016

This paper is based upon a study of issues of self and identity of Chinese students in an Australian high school and uses indigenous concepts mainly drawn from the work of Hong Kong psychologists. Research was initiated because identity appeared to be developing in a different way for Chinese students compared with their Anglo-Australian counterparts. The case study of Chinese Year 12 students provided a framework for understanding and counselling Chinese students. It is this framework that is discussed first. Second, a concept of self — Big Me and Little Me — is presented as a way of conceptualising the tensions of interdependent functioning. Finally, implications for counsellors and general issues emerging in the counselling situation are discussed.
Broadening Social Networks for Girls and Particularly for Boys: Outcomes of a Coping Skills Program
Authors: Smith Neringa Luscombe , Frydenberg Erica , Poole Charles
Published: February 2016

This study is a report of an evaluation of the effectiveness of a school based coping skills program on a sample of 83 adolescents (14–17 years) recruited from a secondary school in metropolitan Melbourne. All participants completed the Adolescent Coping Scale (Frydenberg & Lewis, 1993a) on three occasions: prior to program implementation, 1 week after program completion and 6 months after program completion. The results indicated a significant increase in the coping style, “reference to others”, with males increasing their use of this coping style more than females upon completion of the program. The findings are discussed in terms of the benefits increased use of seeking support from others has on male adolescents and of the importance of using programs as part of a comprehensive approach to health promotion within schools.
The Friendly Schools Project: An Empirically Grounded School-based Bullying Prevention Program
Authors: Cross Donna , Pintabona Yolanda , Hall Margaret , Hamilton Greg , Erceg Erin , Roberts Clare
Published: February 2016

There exists limited empirical evidence of the effectiveness of universal school-based interventions to reduce or prevent children's bullying. The Friendly Schools project was a 3-year longitudinal randomised control trial designed to determine the efficacy of a universal holistic intervention to prevent or reduce bullying among primary school children. The trial involved 1968 Western Australian children, their parents and their teachers. This paper discusses the components of the Friendly Schools program, and how empirical, theoretical and “promising” mechanisms of change (mediators) were operationalised to develop a whole-of-school approach to reduce bullying. This paper concludes that further research is needed to determine empirically: (a) which mechanisms of change mediate improvements in children's bullying behaviour and mental health status and (b) the relative contribution of the various components of a whole-of-school approach to bullying prevention and reduction in children.
Why School Counsellors and Psychologists Should Treat Addiction Problems
Authors: Pelling Nadine
Published: February 2016

School counsellors and psychologists will encounter students affected by addiction. When this occurs many will simply refer the students to specialist services within the community. Such referrals are not always an appropriate action for many reasons. School counsellors and psychologists have the professional characteristics required to create a therapeutic alliance and know the behavioural strategies needed for basic addiction treatment. It is suggested that school counsellors and psychologists add some basic knowledge, awareness, and skill relating to addiction to their professional development and, when possible, address the addiction problems of their students directly. Arguments regarding why school counsellors and psychologists should treat addiction problems are given. Moreover, how school counsellors and psychologists can briefly address addiction problems is outlined. Finally, resources on addiction are provided.
AS IF NOTHING SHOULD BE LOST: MICHAEL O'BRIEN, THE AMERICAN SOUTH, AND THE COSMOPOLITAN IDEAL
Authors: STOWE STEVEN M.
Published: February 2016

When groups of historians studying the American South got together in the late 1970s there was a clannish feel, mostly white, mostly male. Mostly southern, too, and while non-southerners were not unwelcome they were noticed. Why are you interested in studying us? was asked politely, with a hint of a hidden punchline, a question for outsiders. So it is a strange turn that an outsider, Michael O'Brien, a soft-spoken, level Englishman, began a career in that decade which would make him one of the leading historians of the South in the second half of the twentieth century and into the twenty-first. Maybe even stranger is that he did this as a historian of southern intellectual life.
Living mulch for weed management in organic vegetable cropping systems under Mediterranean and North European conditions
Authors: Ciaccia Corrado , Kristensen Hanne Lakkenborg , Campanelli Gabriele , Xie Yue , Testani Elena , Leteo Fabrizio , Canali Stefano
Published: February 2016

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of growing in-season agro-ecological service crops as living mulch (LM) with vegetable crops, exploiting their potential to suppress weeds by filling the ecological niches otherwise occupied by weeds. Two field experiments were carried out in Denmark and Italy to compare different LM introduction strategies in organic vegetable cropping systems. In Denmark, leek (Allium porrumL.) was grown with dyers woad (Isatis tinctoriaL.) LM strips, while cauliflower (Brassica oleraceaL. var.botrytis) was intercropped with a broad sowed burr medic (Medicago polimorphaL., var. anglona) in Italy. Two LM times of sowing relative to cash crop transplanting––an early sowing (es LM) and a late sowing (ls LM)––were compared with a control with no LM (no LM). The effects of LM treatment on crop competitiveness, LM smother effect and weed populations were evaluated by direct measurement, visual estimation and competitive index methods. Comparison among hybrid and open pollinated cultivar responses to LM introduction was also performed. Results showed a significant higher cash crop biomass in ls LM than in es LM, with comparable yield to the weeded controls, except for es LM in Italy. Moreover, in the Danish experiment, the LM and weed biomasses were up to 5 times lower in the es LM and ls LM treatments than the weed biomass alone in no LM treatment. Reduction in weed biomass and abundance was observed also in ls LM in the Italian trial. Similarly, the competitive balance (Cb), which quantifies the ability of the cash crop to compete with neighbours, was higher in the es LM (+0.29) and ls LM (+0.72) compared with unweeded no LM control (−0.86) in Denmark. In the Italian experiment, the cauliflower showed more competitive ability against neighbours in ls LM (+0.53) and was a weak competitor in es LM (−1.51). The cash crop had higher competitive ability against LM (Cbc-lm) when sowing was more delayed in both experiments, while, in the Italian trial, the LM was more competitive against weeds (Cblm-w) in ls LM (+1.54) than in es LM (−0.41). The slight differences observed for biomass and competitive ability between the tested cultivars, highlighted similar suitability of both hybrid and open-pollinated cultivars to grow with LM. Our findings suggest the viability of the introduced LM in managing weeds and avoiding a smother effect on the crop, with particular effectiveness with delayed LM sowing.
A novel methodology to assess land-based food self-reliance in the Southwest British Columbia bioregion
Authors: Dorward Caitlin , Smukler Sean Michael , Mullinix Kent
Published: February 2016

There is a growing awareness that climate change, economic instability, resource limitations and population growth are impacting the capacity of the contemporary global food system to meet human nutrition needs. Although there is widespread recognition that food systems must evolve in the face of these issues, a polarized debate has emerged around the merit of global-versus-local approaches to this evolution. Local food system advocates argue that increasing food self-reliance will concomitantly benefit human health, the environment and local economies, while critics argue that only a globalized system will produce enough calories to efficiently and economically feed the world. This debate is strong in British Columbia (BC), Canada, where residents and food security experts have called for increased food self-reliance while the provincial government largely supports export-oriented agriculture. As elsewhere, however, in BC this debate takes place in absence of an understanding of capacity for food self-reliance. The few studies that have previously evaluated self-reliance in this region have been limited in their approach in a number of ways. In this study we use a novel methodology to assess current (2011) status of land-based food self-reliance for a diet satisfying nutritional recommendations and food preferences that accounts for seasonality of crop production and the source of livestock feed, and applied it to the Southwest BC bioregion (SWBC) as a case study. We found that agricultural land use in SWBC is dominated by hay, pasture and corn silage, followed by fruits and vegetables. Fruit and vegetable production comprise 87% of total food crop production in SWBC by weight, and a substantial amount is produced in quantities beyond SWBC need per crop type, representing an export focused commodity with limited contribution to food self-reliance. Results illustrate that SWBC is a major producer of livestock products, but these industries rely on feed grain imports. The production of feed grain could therefore be considered a major constraint on self-reliance; SWBC's total dietary self-reliance is 12% if discounting livestock feed imports or 40% if including them. Results demonstrate that a diet including foods that cannot be grown in the region or consumed fresh out of season, limits potential food self-reliance. Our methods reveal the value of factoring dietary recommendations and food consumption patterns into food self-reliance assessments and the necessity of accounting for the source of livestock feed to fully understand the self-reliance status of a region.
Islamic Culture, Oil, and Women's Rights Revisited
Authors: Rørbæk Lasse Lykke
Published: February 2016

According to recent research, oil abundance is the principal explanation for women's poor human rights record in many Muslim societies. However, this study argues that resistance to gender equality in the Muslim world originates in its specific historical trajectory and that the critical juncture precedes the extraction of oil by a thousand years. The study assesses data on women's economic, social, and political rights in 166 countries from 1999–2008 and shows that whereas the negative effect of oil is driven by the 11 members of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries, Muslim countries consistently underperform even when oil and gas rents and other relevant factors such as income and democracy are accounted for. The study concludes that persisting orthodox tendencies in Islamic culture provide the best explanation for Muslim women's limited empowerment.
αTAT1 downregulation induces mitotic catastrophe in HeLa and A549 cells
Authors: Chien J-Y , Tsen S-D , Chien C-C , Liu H-W , Tung C-Y , Lin C-H
Published: February 2016

α-Tubulin acetyltransferase 1 (αTAT1) controls reversible acetylation on Lys40 of α-tubulin and modulates multiple cellular functions. αTAT1 depletion induced morphological defects of touch receptor neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans and impaired cell adhesion and contact inhibition in mouse embryonic fibroblasts, however, no morphological or proliferation defects in human RPE-hTERT cells were found after αTAT1-specific siRNA treatment. Here, we compared the effect of three αTAT1-specific shRNAs on proliferation and morphology in two human cell lines, HeLa and A549. The more efficient two shRNAs induced mitotic catastrophe in both cell lines and the most efficient one also decreased F-actin and focal adhesions. Further analysis revealed that αTAT1 downregulation increased γ-H2AX, but not other DNA damage markers p-CHK1 and p-CHK2, along with marginal change in microtubule outgrowth speed and inter-kinetochore distance. Overexpression of αTAT1 could not precisely mimic the distribution and concentration of endogenous acetylated α-tubulin (Ac-Tu), although no overt phenotype change was observed, meanwhile, this could not completely prevent αTAT1 downregulation-induced deficiencies. We therefore conclude that efficient αTAT1 downregulation could impair actin architecture and induce mitotic catastrophe in HeLa and A549 cells through mechanisms partly independent of Ac-Tu.
Off-stoichiometry improves the photostructuring of thiol–enes through diffusion-induced monomer depletion
Authors: Hillmering Mikael , Pardon Gaspard , Vastesson Alexander , Supekar Omkar , Carlborg Carl Fredrik , Brandner Birgit D. , van der Wijngaart Wouter , Haraldsson Tommy
Published: February 2016

Thiol–enes are a group of alternating copolymers with highly ordered networks and are used in a wide range of applications. Here, “click” chemistry photostructuring in off-stoichiometric thiol–enes is shown to induce microscale polymeric compositional gradients due to species diffusion between non-illuminated and illuminated regions, creating two narrow zones with distinct compositions on either side of the photomask feature boundary: a densely cross-linked zone in the illuminated region and a zone with an unpolymerized highly off-stoichiometric monomer composition in the non-illuminated region. Using confocal Raman microscopy, it is here explained how species diffusion causes such intricate compositional gradients in the polymer and how off-stoichiometry results in improved image transfer accuracy in thiol–ene photostructuring. Furthermore, increasing the functional group off-stoichiometry and decreasing the photomask feature size is shown to amplify the induced gradients, which potentially leads to a new methodology for microstructuring.
Prediction of an arc-tunable Weyl Fermion metallic state in MoxW1−xTe2
Authors: Chang Tay-Rong , Xu Su-Yang , Chang Guoqing , Lee Chi-Cheng , Huang Shin-Ming , Wang BaoKai , Bian Guang , Zheng Hao , Sanchez Daniel S. , Belopolski Ilya , Alidoust Nasser , Neupane Madhab , Bansil Arun , Jeng Horng-Tay , Lin Hsin , Zahid Hasan M.
Published: February 2016

A Weyl semimetal is a new state of matter that hosts Weyl fermions as emergent quasiparticles. The Weyl fermions correspond to isolated points of bulk band degeneracy, Weyl nodes, which are connected only through the crystal’s boundary by exotic Fermi arcs. The length of the Fermi arc gives a measure of the topological strength, because the only way to destroy the Weyl nodes is to annihilate them in pairs in the reciprocal space. To date, Weyl semimetals are only realized in the TaAs class. Here, we propose a tunable Weyl state in MoxW1−xTe2 where Weyl nodes are formed by touching points between metallic pockets. We show that the Fermi arc length can be changed as a function of Mo concentration, thus tuning the topological strength. Our results provide an experimentally feasible route to realizing Weyl physics in the layered compound MoxW1−xTe2, where non-saturating magneto-resistance and pressure-driven superconductivity have been observed.
GAME9 regulates the biosynthesis of steroidal alkaloids and upstream isoprenoids in the plant mevalonate pathway
Authors: Cárdenas Pablo D. , Sonawane Prashant D. , Pollier Jacob , Vanden Bossche Robin , Dewangan Veena , Weithorn Efrat , Tal Lior , Meir Sagit , Rogachev Ilana , Malitsky Sergey , Giri Ashok P. , Goossens Alain , Burdman Saul , Aharoni Asaph
Published: February 2016

Steroidal glycoalkaloids (SGAs) are cholesterol-derived molecules produced by solanaceous species. They contribute to pathogen defence but are toxic to humans and considered as anti-nutritional compounds. Here we show that GLYCOALKALOID METABOLISM 9 (GAME9), an APETALA2/Ethylene Response Factor, related to regulators of alkaloid production in tobacco and Catharanthus roseus, controls SGA biosynthesis. GAME9 knockdown and overexpression in tomato and potato alters expression of SGAs and upstream mevalonate pathway genes including the cholesterol biosynthesis gene STEROL SIDE CHAIN REDUCTASE 2 (SSR2). Levels of SGAs, C24-alkylsterols and the upstream mevalonate and cholesterol pathways intermediates are modified in these plants. Δ(7)-STEROL-C5(6)-DESATURASE (C5-SD) in the hitherto unresolved cholesterol pathway is a direct target of GAME9. Transactivation and promoter-binding assays show that GAME9 exerts its activity either directly or cooperatively with the SlMYC2 transcription factor as in the case of the C5-SD gene promoter. Our findings provide insight into the regulation of SGA biosynthesis and means for manipulating these metabolites in crops.
Non-equilibrium behaviour in coacervate-based protocells under electric-field-induced excitation
Authors: Yin Yudan , Niu Lin , Zhu Xiaocui , Zhao Meiping , Zhang Zexin , Mann Stephen , Liang Dehai
Published: February 2016

Although numerous strategies are now available to generate rudimentary forms of synthetic cell-like entities, minimal progress has been made in the sustained excitation of artificial protocells under non-equilibrium conditions. Here we demonstrate that the electric field energization of coacervate microdroplets comprising polylysine and short single strands of DNA generates membrane-free protocells with complex, dynamical behaviours. By confining the droplets within a microfluidic channel and applying a range of electric field strengths, we produce protocells that exhibit repetitive cycles of vacuolarization, dynamical fluctuations in size and shape, chaotic growth and fusion, spontaneous ejection and sequestration of matter, directional capture of solute molecules, and pulsed enhancement of enzyme cascade reactions. Our results highlight new opportunities for the study of non-equilibrium phenomena in synthetic protocells, provide a strategy for inducing complex behaviour in electrostatically assembled soft matter microsystems and illustrate how dynamical properties can be activated and sustained in microcompartmentalized media.
Directed block copolymer self-assembly implemented via surface-embedded electrets
Authors: Wu Mei-Ling , Wang Dong , Wan Li-Jun
Published: February 2016

Block copolymer (BCP) nanolithography is widely recognized as a promising complementary approach to circumvent the feature size limits of conventional photolithography. The directed self-assembly of BCP thin film to form ordered nanostructures with controlled orientation and localized pattern has been the key challenge for practical nanolithography applications. Here we show that BCP nanopatterns can be directed on localized surface electrets defined by electron-beam irradiation to realize diverse features in a simple, effective and non-destructive manner. Charged electrets can generate a built-in electric field in BCP thin film and induce the formation of perpendicularly oriented microdomain of BCP film. The electret-directed orientation control of BCP film can be either integrated with mask-based patterning technique or realized by electron-beam direct-writing method to fabricate microscale arbitrary lateral patterns down to single BCP cylinder nanopattern. The electret-directed BCP self-assembly could provide an alternative means for BCP-based nanolithography, with high resolution.
Genomic inference of the metabolism of cosmopolitan subsurface Archaea, Hadesarchaea
Authors: Baker Brett J. , Saw Jimmy H. , Lind Anders E. , Lazar Cassandre Sara , Hinrichs Kai-Uwe , Teske Andreas P. , Ettema Thijs J. G.
Published: February 2016

The subsurface biosphere is largely unexplored and contains a broad diversity of uncultured microbes1. Despite being one of the few prokaryotic lineages that is cosmopolitan in both the terrestrial and marine subsurface2–4, the physiological and ecological roles of SAGMEG (South-African Gold Mine Miscellaneous Euryarchaeal Group) Archaea are unknown. Here, we report the metabolic capabilities of this enigmatic group as inferred from genomic reconstructions. Four high-quality (63–90% complete) genomes were obtained from White Oak River estuary and Yellowstone National Park hot spring sediment metagenomes. Phylogenomic analyses place SAGMEG Archaea as a deeply rooting sister clade of the Thermococci, leading us to propose the name Hadesarchaea for this new Archaeal class. With an estimated genome size of around 1.5 Mbp, the genomes of Hadesarchaea are distinctly streamlined, yet metabolically versatile. They share several physiological mechanisms with strict anaerobic Euryarchaeota. Several metabolic characteristics make them successful in the subsurface, including genes involved in CO and H2 oxidation (or H2 production), with potential coupling to nitrite reduction to ammonia (DNRA). This first glimpse into the metabolic capabilities of these cosmopolitan Archaea suggests they are mediating key geochemical processes and are specialized for survival in the subsurface biosphere.
Gain of function of mutant p53: R282W on the peak?
Authors: Zhang Y , Coillie S V , Fang J-Y , Xu J
Published: February 2016

Mutant p53 proteins commonly lose their tumor suppression function and gain novel oncogenic functions (gain of function (GOF)). Different p53 mutations are often considered in one class in biological and clinical studies. However, recent studies have revealed that p53 mutations are biologically and clinically distinct. The R282W mutant associates with earlier onset of familial cancers and poorer outcome of cancer patients, suggesting a more prominent GOF effect of this specific mutant. Here we discuss our current understanding on the multifaceted effects of R282W mutation, including its structural features, signaling pathways and clinical implications. The destabilizing nature, aggregation proneness, altered transcriptome and interactome may collaboratively contribute to the unique phenotype of R282W mutation. The quest for mechanistic insights into the unique GOF effects of R282W mutation would further our understanding of the biology of mutant proteins in cancers, and enforce the development of more effective targeted therapies.
Gr/gr deletions on Y-chromosome correlate with male infertility: an original study, meta-analyses and trial sequential analyses
Authors: Bansal Sandeep Kumar , Jaiswal Deepika , Gupta Nishi , Singh Kiran , Dada Rima , Sankhwar Satya Narayan , Gupta Gopal , Rajender Singh
Published: February 2016

We analyzed the AZFc region of the Y-chromosome for complete (b2/b4) and distinct partial deletions (gr/gr, b1/b3, b2/b3) in 822 infertile and 225 proven fertile men. We observed complete AZFc deletions in 0.97% and partial deletions in 6.20% of the cases. Among partial deletions, the frequency of gr/gr deletions was the highest (5.84%). The comparison of partial deletion data between cases and controls suggested a significant association of the gr/gr deletions with infertility (P = 0.0004); however, the other partial deletions did not correlate with infertility. In cohort analysis, men with gr/gr deletions had a relatively poor sperm count (54.20 ± 57.45 million/ml) in comparison to those without deletions (72.49 ± 60.06), though the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.071). Meta-analysis also suggested that gr/gr deletions are significantly associated with male infertility risk (OR = 1.821, 95% CI = 1.39–2.37, p = 0.000). We also performed trial sequential analyses that strengthened the evidence for an overall significant association of gr/gr deletions with the risk of male infertility. Another meta-analysis suggested a significant association of the gr/gr deletions with low sperm count. In conclusion, the gr/gr deletions show a strong correlation with male infertility risk and low sperm count, particularly in the Caucasian populations.
Correlation between topological band character and chemical bonding in a Bi14Rh3I9-based family of insulators
Authors: Rasche Bertold , Isaeva Anna , Ruck Michael , Koepernik Klaus , Richter Manuel , van den Brink Jeroen
Published: February 2016

Recently the presence of topologically protected edge-states in Bi14Rh3I9 was confirmed by scanning tunnelling microscopy consolidating this compound as a weak 3D topological insulator (TI). Here, we present a density-functional-theory-based study on a family of TIs derived from the Bi14Rh3I9 parent structure via substitution of Ru, Pd, Os, Ir and Pt for Rh. Comparative analysis of the band-structures throughout the entire series is done by means of a unified minimalistic tight-binding model that evinces strong similarity between the quantum-spin-Hall (QSH) layer in Bi14Rh3I9 and graphene in terms of "Equation missing"-molecular orbitals. Topologically non-trivial energy gaps are found for the Ir-, Rh-, Pt- and Pd-based systems, whereas the Os- and Ru-systems remain trivial. Furthermore, the energy position of the metal "Equation missing"-band centre is identified as the parameter which governs the evolution of the topological character of the band structure through the whole family of TIs. The "Equation missing"-band position is shown to correlate with the chemical bonding within the QSH layers, thus revealing how the chemical nature of the constituents affects the topological band character.
Asymmetric Preorganization of Inverted Pair Residues in the Sodium-Calcium Exchanger
Authors: Giladi Moshe , Almagor Lior , van Dijk Liat , Hiller Reuben , Man Petr , Forest Eric , Khananshvili Daniel
Published: February 2016

In analogy with many other proteins, Na+/Ca2+ exchangers (NCX) adapt an inverted twofold symmetry of repeated structural elements, while exhibiting a functional asymmetry by stabilizing an outward-facing conformation. Here, structure-based mutant analyses of the Methanococcus jannaschii Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX_Mj) were performed in conjunction with HDX-MS (hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry) to identify the structure-dynamic determinants of functional asymmetry. HDX-MS identified hallmark differences in backbone dynamics at ion-coordinating residues of apo-NCX_Mj, whereas Na+or Ca2+ binding to the respective sites induced relatively small, but specific, changes in backbone dynamics. Mutant analysis identified ion-coordinating residues affecting the catalytic capacity (kcat/Km), but not the stability of the outward-facing conformation. In contrast, distinct “noncatalytic” residues (adjacent to the ion-coordinating residues) control the stability of the outward-facing conformation, but not the catalytic capacity. The helix-breaking signature sequences (GTSLPE) on the α1 and α2 repeats (at the ion-binding core) differ in their folding/unfolding dynamics, while providing asymmetric contributions to transport activities. The present data strongly support the idea that asymmetric preorganization of the ligand-free ion-pocket predefines catalytic reorganization of ion-bound residues, where secondary interactions with adjacent residues couple the alternating access. These findings provide a structure-dynamic basis for ion-coupled alternating access in NCX and similar proteins.
Tissue Metabonomic Phenotyping for Diagnosis and Prognosis of Human Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Tian Yuan , Xu Tangpeng , Huang Jia , Zhang Limin , Xu Shan , Xiong Bin , Wang Yulan , Tang Huiru
Published: February 2016

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide and prognosis based on the conventional histological grading method for CRC remains poor. To better the situation, we analyzed the metabonomic signatures of 50 human CRC tissues and their adjacent non-involved tissues (ANIT) using high-resolution magic-angle spinning (HRMAS) 1H NMR spectroscopy together with the fatty acid compositions of these tissues using GC-FID/MS. We showed that tissue metabolic phenotypes not only discriminated CRC tissues from ANIT, but also distinguished low-grade tumor tissues (stages I-II) from the high-grade ones (stages III-IV) with high sensitivity and specificity in both cases. Metabonomic phenotypes of CRC tissues differed significantly from that of ANIT in energy metabolism, membrane biosynthesis and degradations, osmotic regulations together with the metabolism of proteins and nucleotides. Amongst all CRC tissues, the stage I tumors exhibited largest differentiations from ANIT. The combination of the differentiating metabolites showed outstanding collective power for differentiating cancer from ANIT and for distinguishing CRC tissues at different stages. These findings revealed details in the typical metabonomic phenotypes associated with CRC tissues nondestructively and demonstrated tissue metabonomic phenotyping as an important molecular pathology tool for diagnosis and prognosis of cancerous solid tumors.
Selective potentiation of 2-APB-induced activation of TRPV1–3 channels by acid
Authors: Gao Luna , Yang Pu , Qin Peizhong , Lu Yungang , Li Xinxin , Tian Quan , Li Yang , Xie Chang , Tian Jin-bin , Zhang Chengwei , Tian Changlin , Zhu Michael X. , Yao Jing
Published: February 2016

Temperature-sensitive TRP channels are important for responses to pain and inflammation, to both of which tissue acidosis is a major contributing factor. However, except for TRPV1, acid-sensing by other ThermoTRP channels remains mysterious. We show here that unique among TRPV1–3 channels, TRPV3 is directly activated by protons from cytoplasmic side. This effect is very weak and involves key cytoplasmic residues L508, D512, S518, or A520. However, mutations of these residues did not affect a strong proton induced potentiation of TRPV3 currents elicited by the TRPV1–3 common agonist, 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB), no matter if the ligand was applied from extracellular or cytoplasmic side. The acid potentiation was common among TRPV1–3 and only seen with 2-APB-related ligands. Using 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance to examine the solution structures of 2-APB and its analogs, we observed striking structural differences of the boron-containing compounds at neutral/basic as compared to acidic pH, suggesting that a pH-dependent configuration switch of 2-APB-based drugs may underlie their functionality. Supporting this notion, protons also enhanced the inhibitory action of 2-APB on TRPM8. Collectively, our findings reveal novel insights into 2-APB action on TRP channels, which should facilitate the design of new drugs for these channels.
Critical POU domain residues confer Oct4 uniqueness in somatic cell reprogramming
Authors: Jin Wensong , Wang Lei , Zhu Fei , Tan Weiqi , Lin Wei , Chen Dahua , Sun Qinmiao , Xia Zongping
Published: February 2016

The POU domain transcription factor Oct4 plays critical roles in self-renewal and pluripotency of embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Together with Sox2, Klf4 and c-Myc, Oct4 can reprogram any other cell types to pluripotency, in which Oct4 is the only factor that cannot be functionally replaced by other POU family members. To investigate the determinant elements of Oct4 uniqueness, we performed Ala scan on all Ser, Thr, Tyr, Lys and Arg of murine Oct4 by testing their capability in somatic cell reprogramming. We uncovered a series of residues that are important for Oct4 functionality, in which almost all of these key residues are within the POU domains making direct interaction with DNA. The Oct4 N- and C-terminal transactivation domains (TADs) are not unique and could be replaced by the Yes-associated protein (YAP) TAD domain to support reprogramming. More importantly, we uncovered two important residues that confer Oct4 uniqueness in somatic cell reprogramming. Our systematic structure-function analyses bring novel mechanistic insight into the molecular basis of how critical residues function together to confer Oct4 uniqueness among POU family for somatic cell reprogramming.
Hydrogen Sulfide—Mechanisms of Toxicity and Development of an Antidote
Authors: Jiang Jingjing , Chan Adriano , Ali Sameh , Saha Arindam , Haushalter Kristofer J. , Lam Wai-Ling Macrina , Glasheen Megan , Parker James , Brenner Matthew , Mahon Sari B. , Patel Hemal H. , Ambasudhan Rajesh , Lipton Stuart A. , Pilz Renate B. , Boss Gerry R.
Published: February 2016

Hydrogen sulfide is a highly toxic gas—second only to carbon monoxide as a cause of inhalational deaths. Its mechanism of toxicity is only partially known and no specific therapy exists for sulfide poisoning. We show in several cell types, including human inducible pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived neurons, that sulfide inhibited complex IV of the mitochondrial respiratory chain and induced apoptosis. Sulfide increased hydroxyl radical production in isolated mouse heart mitochondria and F2-isoprostanes in brains and hearts of mice. The vitamin B12 analog cobinamide reversed the cellular toxicity of sulfide and rescued Drosophila melanogaster and mice from lethal exposures of hydrogen sulfide gas. Cobinamide worked through two distinct mechanisms: direct reversal of complex IV inhibition and neutralization of sulfide-generated reactive oxygen species. We conclude that sulfide produces a high degree of oxidative stress in cells and tissues and that cobinamide has promise as a first specific treatment for sulfide poisoning.
Correction: Corrigendum: Basolateral amygdala rapid glutamate release encodes an outcome-specific representation vital for reward-predictive cues to selectively invigorate reward-seeking actions
Authors: Malvaez Melissa , Greenfield Venuz Y. , Wang Alice S. , Yorita Allison M. , Feng Lili , Linker Kay E. , Monbouquette Harold G. , Wassum Kate M.
Published: February 2016

Scientific Reports 5: Article number: 12511; published online: 27 July 2015; updated: 15 February 2016 The original version of this Article contained an error in the Abstract. “These data the hypothesis that transient glutamate release in the BLA can encode the outcome-specific motivational information provided by reward-predictive stimuli”.
Membrane topologies of the PGLa antimicrobial peptide and a transmembrane anchor sequence by Dynamic Nuclear Polarization/solid-state NMR spectroscopy
Authors: Salnikov Evgeniy Sergeevich , Aisenbrey Christopher , Aussenac Fabien , Ouari Olivier , Sarrouj Hiba , Reiter Christian , Tordo Paul , Engelke Frank , Bechinger Burkhard
Published: February 2016

Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP) has been introduced to overcome the sensitivity limitations of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy also of supported lipid bilayers. When investigated by solid-state NMR techniques the approach typically involves doping the samples with biradicals and their investigation at cryo-temperatures. Here we investigated the effects of temperature and membrane hydration on the topology of amphipathic and hydrophobic membrane polypeptides. Although the antimicrobial PGLa peptide in dimyristoyl phospholipids is particularly sensitive to topological alterations, the DNP conditions represent well its membrane alignment also found in bacterial lipids at ambient temperature. With a novel membrane-anchored biradical and purpose-built hardware a 17-fold enhancement in NMR signal intensity is obtained by DNP which is one of the best obtained for a truly static matrix-free system. Furthermore, a membrane anchor sequence encompassing 19 hydrophobic amino acid residues was investigated. Although at cryotemperatures the transmembrane domain adjusts it membrane tilt angle by about 10 degrees, the temperature dependence of two-dimensional separated field spectra show that freezing the motions can have beneficial effects for the structural analysis of this sequence.
High-throughput 3D whole-brain quantitative histopathology in rodents
Authors: Vandenberghe Michel E. , Hérard Anne-Sophie , Souedet Nicolas , Sadouni Elmahdi , Santin Mathieu D. , Briet Dominique , Carré Denis , Schulz Jocelyne , Hantraye Philippe , Chabrier Pierre-Etienne , Rooney Thomas , Debeir Thomas , Blanchard Véronique , Pradier Laurent , Dhenain Marc , Delzescaux Thierry
Published: February 2016

Histology is the gold standard to unveil microscopic brain structures and pathological alterations in humans and animal models of disease. However, due to tedious manual interventions, quantification of histopathological markers is classically performed on a few tissue sections, thus restricting measurements to limited portions of the brain. Recently developed 3D microscopic imaging techniques have allowed in-depth study of neuroanatomy. However, quantitative methods are still lacking for whole-brain analysis of cellular and pathological markers. Here, we propose a ready-to-use, automated and scalable method to thoroughly quantify histopathological markers in 3D in rodent whole brains. It relies on block-face photography, serial histology and 3D-HAPi (Three Dimensional Histology Analysis Pipeline), an open source image analysis software. We illustrate our method in studies involving mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease and show that it can be broadly applied to characterize animal models of brain diseases, to evaluate therapeutic interventions, to anatomically correlate cellular and pathological markers throughout the entire brain and to validate in vivo imaging techniques.
Reciprocal and unidirectional scattering of parity-time symmetric structures
Authors: Jin L. , Zhang X. Z. , Zhang G. , Song Z.
Published: February 2016

Parity-time "Equation missing" symmetry is of great interest. The reciprocal and unidirectional features are intriguing besides the "Equation missing" symmetry phase transition. Recently, the reciprocal transmission, unidirectional reflectionless and invisibility are intensively studied. Here, we show the reciprocal reflection/transmission in "Equation missing"-symmetric system is closely related to the type of "Equation missing" symmetry, that is, the axial (reflection) "Equation missing" symmetry leads to reciprocal reflection (transmission). The results are further elucidated by studying the scattering of rhombic ring form coupled resonators with enclosed synthetic magnetic flux. The nonreciprocal phase shift induced by the magnetic flux and gain/loss break the parity "Equation missing" and time-reversal "Equation missing" symmetry but keep the parity-time "Equation missing" symmetry. The reciprocal reflection (transmission) and unidirectional transmission (reflection) are found in the axial (reflection) "Equation missing"-symmetric ring centre. The explorations of symmetry and asymmetry from "Equation missing" symmetry may shed light on novel one-way optical devices and application of "Equation missing"-symmetric metamaterials.
Stimulated photon emission and two-photon Raman scattering in a coupled-cavity QED system
Authors: Li C. , Song Z.
Published: February 2016

We study the scattering problem of photon and polariton in a one-dimensional coupled-cavity system. Analytical approximate analysis and numerical simulation show that a photon can stimulate the photon emission from a polariton through polariton-photon collisions. This observation opens the possibility of photon-stimulated transition from insulating to radiative phase in a coupled-cavity QED system. Inversely, we also find that a polariton can be generated by a two-photon Raman scattering process. This paves the way towards single photon storage by the aid of atom-cavity interaction.
Correction: Corrigendum: ImmuSort, a database on gene plasticity and electronic sorting for immune cells
Authors: Wang Pingzhang , Yang Yehong , Han Wenling , Ma Dalong
Published: February 2016

Scientific Reports 5: Article number: 10370; published online 19 May 2015; updated: 15 February 2016 The original version of this Article contained typographical errors in the ImmuSort database link ‘ http://immusort.bjmu.edu.cn/.’ which was incorrectly given as ‘ http://202.85.212.211/Account/ImmuSort.
Outdoor Temperature, Heart Rate and Blood Pressure in Chinese Adults: Effect Modification by Individual Characteristics
Authors: Madaniyazi Lina , Zhou Yong , Li Shanshan , Williams Gail , Jaakkola Jouni J.K. , Liang Xin , Liu Yan , Wu Shouling , Guo Yuming
Published: February 2016

We collected data from Kailuan cohort study from 2006 to 2011 to examine whether short-term effects of ambient temperature on heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) are non-linear or linear, and their potential modifying factors. The HR, BP and individual information, including basic characteristics, life style, socio-economic characteristics and other characteristics, were collected for each participant. Daily mean temperature and relative humidity were collected. A regression model was used to evaluate associations of temperature with HR and BP, with a non-linear function for temperature. We also stratified the analyses in different groups divided by individual characteristics. 47,591 residents were recruited. The relationships of temperature with HR and BP were “V” shaped with thresholds ranging from 22 °C to 28 °C. Both cold and hot effects were observed on HR and BP. The differences of effect estimates were observed among the strata of individual characteristics. The effect estimate of temperature was higher among older people. The cold effect estimate was higher among people with lower Body Mass Index. However, the differences of effect estimates among other groups were inconsistent. These findings suggest both cold and hot temperatures may have short-term impacts on HR and BP. The individual characteristics could modify these relationships.