bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Infrared studies of post-AGB stars and PNe
Authors: Suh Kyung-Won
Published: August 2017

We present infrared two color diagrams (2CDs) for a large sample of AGB stars, post-AGB stars, and planetary nebulae (PNe) to study their spectral evolution in infrared bands. We discuss possible evolutionary tracks from AGB stars to PNe on the 2CDs. We use catalogs from the available literature for the sample of AGB stars, post-AGB stars, and PNe in our Galaxy.
Challenges faced by current Galactic planetary nebula surveys
Authors: Frew David J.
Published: August 2017

Determining the demographics of the Galactic planetary nebula (PN) population is an important goal to further our understanding of this intriguing phase of stellar evolution. The Galactic population has more than doubled in number over the last 15 years, particularly from narrowband Hα surveys along the plane. In this review I will summarise these results, with emphasis on the time interval since the last IAU Symposium. These primarily optical surveys are not without their limitations and new surveys for PNe in the infrared similarly face a number of challenges. I will discuss the need for multi-wavelength approaches to discovery and analysis. The desire to have accurate volume-limited samples of Galactic PNe at our disposal is emphasised, which will be impacted with new data from the Gaia satellite mission. We need robust surveys of PNe and their central stars, especially volume-limited surveys, in order to clarify and quantify their evolutionary pathways.
Internal compact printed loop antenna for WWAN/WLAN/ISM/LTE smartphone applications
Authors: Belrhiti Lakbir , Riouch Fatima , Tribak Abdelwahed , Terhzaz Jaouad , Sanchez Angel Mediavilla
Published: August 2017

In this paper, we designed and developed a novel internal compact printed loop antenna for WWAN/WLAN/ISM/LTE smartphone applications. The proposed antenna is composed of a meander loop antenna and a capacitively coupled feeding line. It has a planar structure, with an overall dimension of 120 × 60 mm2, the antenna portion occupying a size of 20 × 60 mm2, which makes it suitable for practical smartphone applications. The results of our measurement reveal that the prototype antenna can provide two wide frequency bands of 712–1078 and 1757–2930 MHz, which cover multi-band for GSM850/GSM900/DCS1800/PCS1900/UMTS2100/IMT2000/WLAN2400/ISM2450/LTE700/LTE2300/ LTE2500. The antenna also shows good radiation characteristics and gain peaks for frequencies over the desired operating bands. We also studied the specific absorption rate (SAR) of the proposed antenna placed at the bottom of a mobile phone. The obtained SAR values are all below the SAR limit of 1.6 W/kg for the 1 g head tissue and 2.0 W/kg for the 10 g head tissue. We used CST Microwave Studio and Ansoft HFSS for the simulation and the design of the antenna and present in this paper the details of the design considerations, as well as the results on the reflection coefficient, the surface current distributions, the radiation characteristics, and the gain of the proposed antenna.
Compact multi-layer N-way power divider with closed-ring-shaped isolation network
Authors: Hu Shunyong , Song Kaijun , Fan Yong
Published: August 2017

A compact multi-layer N-way power-dividing structure with good isolation and output return loss performance is proposed. The isolation network is circularly distributed that constitutes a closed ring-shaped architecture. The equivalent circuit model is given and the [S] matrix is developed to analyse and design the power-dividing structure. Finally, a six-way power divider centered at 2.1 GHz is designed and fabricated. The measured and simulated results agree well with each other. The total size of the power divider is 0.13λg × 0.19λg.
ADHS Spektrum
Authors: Jenni Oskar
Published: August 2017

Zusammenfassung. Die Aufmerksamkeitsdefizit-/Hyperaktivitätsstörung (ADHS) ist die wohl am häufigsten diagnostizierte Verhaltensstörung im Kindes- und Jugendalter. Dieser Artikel beschreibt das diagnostische Vorgehen in der Praxis und die verschiedenen Behandlungsschritte, thematisiert aber auch die Widersprüchlichkeiten und Unstimmigkeiten rund um dieses komplexe Störungsbild. Unsicherheiten entstehen vor allem darum, weil es kein allgemein anerkanntes Störungsmodell gibt, kein zuverlässiger ADHS-Test zur Verfügung steht, sich die Störung mit anderen Erkrankungen zum Teil erheblich überschneidet und vor allem weil ADHS Symptome kontinuierlich in der Population verteilt sind, was die Diagnose von den Erwartungen des Umfeldes und den gesellschaftlichen Bewertungen abhängig macht. Dieser Artikel schlägt in Anlehnung an die Autismus Spektrum Störung deshalb den Begriff ADHS Spektrum vor. Diese passende Bezeichnung berücksichtigt neben den dimensionalen Eigenschaften von ADHS auch deren grosse Heterogenität.
Modeling time-series data from microbial communities
Authors: Ridenhour Benjamin J , Brooker Sarah L , Williams Janet E , Van Leuven James T , Miller Aaron W , Dearing M Denise , Remien Christopher H
Published: August 2017

As sequencing technologies have advanced, the amount of information regarding the composition of bacterial communities from various environments (for example, skin or soil) has grown exponentially. To date, most work has focused on cataloging taxa present in samples and determining whether the distribution of taxa shifts with exogenous covariates. However, important questions regarding how taxa interact with each other and their environment remain open thus preventing in-depth ecological understanding of microbiomes. Time-series data from 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing are becoming more common within microbial ecology, but methods to infer ecological interactions from these longitudinal data are limited. We address this gap by presenting a method of analysis using Poisson regression fit with an elastic-net penalty that (1) takes advantage of the fact that the data are time series; (2) constrains estimates to allow for the possibility of many more interactions than data; and (3) is scalable enough to handle data consisting of thousands of taxa. We test the method on gut microbiome data from white-throated woodrats (Neotoma albigula) that were fed varying amounts of the plant secondary compound oxalate over a period of 22 days to estimate interactions between OTUs and their environment.
Gelsolin dysfunction causes photoreceptor loss in induced pluripotent cell and animal retinitis pigmentosa models
Authors: Megaw Roly , Abu-Arafeh Hashem , Jungnickel Melissa , Mellough Carla , Gurniak Christine , Witke Walter , Zhang Wei , Khanna Hemant , Mill Pleasantine , Dhillon Baljean , Wright Alan F. , Lako Majlinda , ffrench-Constant Charles
Published: August 2017

Mutations in the Retinitis Pigmentosa GTPase Regulator (RPGR) cause X-linked RP (XLRP), an untreatable, inherited retinal dystrophy that leads to premature blindness. RPGR localises to the photoreceptor connecting cilium where its function remains unknown. Here we show, using murine and human induced pluripotent stem cell models, that RPGR interacts with and activates the actin-severing protein gelsolin, and that gelsolin regulates actin disassembly in the connecting cilium, thus facilitating rhodopsin transport to photoreceptor outer segments. Disease-causing RPGR mutations perturb this RPGR-gelsolin interaction, compromising gelsolin activation. Both RPGR and Gelsolin knockout mice show abnormalities of actin polymerisation and mislocalisation of rhodopsin in photoreceptors. These findings reveal a clinically-significant role for RPGR in the activation of gelsolin, without which abnormalities in actin polymerisation in the photoreceptor connecting cilia cause rhodopsin mislocalisation and eventual retinal degeneration in XLRP.
Lithium enrichment in intracontinental rhyolite magmas leads to Li deposits in caldera basins
Authors: Benson Thomas R. , Coble Matthew A. , Rytuba James J. , Mahood Gail A.
Published: August 2017

The omnipresence of lithium-ion batteries in mobile electronics, and hybrid and electric vehicles necessitates discovery of new lithium resources to meet rising demand and to diversify the global lithium supply chain. Here we demonstrate that lake sediments preserved within intracontinental rhyolitic calderas formed on eruption and weathering of lithium-enriched magmas have the potential to host large lithium clay deposits. We compare lithium concentrations of magmas formed in a variety of tectonic settings using in situ trace-element measurements of quartz-hosted melt inclusions to demonstrate that moderate to extreme lithium enrichment occurs in magmas that incorporate felsic continental crust. Cenozoic calderas in western North America and in other intracontinental settings that generated such magmas are promising new targets for lithium exploration because lithium leached from the eruptive products by meteoric and hydrothermal fluids becomes concentrated in clays within caldera lake sediments to potentially economically extractable levels.
Adaptive and non-adaptive divergence in a common landscape
Authors: Raeymaekers Joost A. M. , Chaturvedi Anurag , Hablützel Pascal I. , Verdonck Io , Hellemans Bart , Maes Gregory E. , De Meester Luc , Volckaert Filip A. M.
Published: August 2017

Species in a common landscape often face similar selective environments. The capacity of organisms to adapt to these environments may be largely species specific. Quantifying shared and unique adaptive responses across species within landscapes may thus improve our understanding of landscape-moderated biodiversity patterns. Here we test to what extent populations of two coexisting and phylogenetically related fishes—three-spined and nine-spined stickleback—differ in the strength and nature of neutral and adaptive divergence along a salinity gradient. Phenotypic differentiation, neutral genetic differentiation and genomic signatures of adaptation are stronger in the three-spined stickleback. Yet, both species show substantial phenotypic parallelism. In contrast, genomic signatures of adaptation involve different genomic regions, and are thus non-parallel. The relative contribution of spatial and environmental drivers of population divergence in each species reflects different strategies for persistence in the same landscape. These results provide insight in the mechanisms underlying variation in evolutionary versatility and ecological success among species within landscapes.
Micromotor-enabled active drug delivery for in vivo treatment of stomach infection
Authors: de Ávila Berta Esteban-Fernández , Angsantikul Pavimol , Li Jinxing , Angel Lopez-Ramirez Miguel , Ramírez-Herrera Doris E. , Thamphiwatana Soracha , Chen Chuanrui , Delezuk Jorge , Samakapiruk Richard , Ramez Valentin , Obonyo Marygorret , Zhang Liangfang , Wang Joseph
Published: August 2017

Advances in bioinspired design principles and nanomaterials have led to tremendous progress in autonomously moving synthetic nano/micromotors with diverse functionalities in different environments. However, a significant gap remains in moving nano/micromotors from test tubes to living organisms for treating diseases with high efficacy. Here we present the first, to our knowledge, in vivo therapeutic micromotors application for active drug delivery to treat gastric bacterial infection in a mouse model using clarithromycin as a model antibiotic and Helicobacter pylori infection as a model disease. The propulsion of drug-loaded magnesium micromotors in gastric media enables effective antibiotic delivery, leading to significant bacteria burden reduction in the mouse stomach compared with passive drug carriers, with no apparent toxicity. Moreover, while the drug-loaded micromotors reach similar therapeutic efficacy as the positive control of free drug plus proton pump inhibitor, the micromotors can function without proton pump inhibitors because of their built-in proton depletion function associated with their locomotion.
Genetic regulatory effects modified by immune activation contribute to autoimmune disease associations
Authors: Kim-Hellmuth Sarah , Bechheim Matthias , Pütz Benno , Mohammadi Pejman , Nédélec Yohann , Giangreco Nicholas , Becker Jessica , Kaiser Vera , Fricker Nadine , Beier Esther , Boor Peter , Castel Stephane E. , Nöthen Markus M. , Barreiro Luis B. , Pickrell Joseph K. , Müller-Myhsok Bertram , Lappalainen Tuuli , Schumacher Johannes , Hornung Veit
Published: August 2017

The immune system plays a major role in human health and disease, and understanding genetic causes of interindividual variability of immune responses is vital. Here, we isolate monocytes from 134 genotyped individuals, stimulate these cells with three defined microbe-associated molecular patterns (LPS, MDP, and 5′-ppp-dsRNA), and profile the transcriptomes at three time points. Mapping expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL), we identify 417 response eQTLs (reQTLs) with varying effects between conditions. We characterize the dynamics of genetic regulation on early and late immune response and observe an enrichment of reQTLs in distal cis-regulatory elements. In addition, reQTLs are enriched for recent positive selection with an evolutionary trend towards enhanced immune response. Finally, we uncover reQTL effects in multiple GWAS loci and show a stronger enrichment for response than constant eQTLs in GWAS signals of several autoimmune diseases. This demonstrates the importance of infectious stimuli in modifying genetic predisposition to disease.
Loss of Usp9x disrupts cell adhesion, and components of the Wnt and Notch signaling pathways in neural progenitors
Authors: Premarathne Susitha , Murtaza Mariyam , Matigian Nicholas , Jolly Lachlan A. , Wood Stephen A.
Published: August 2017

Development of neural progenitors depends upon the coordination of appropriate intrinsic responses to extrinsic signalling pathways. Here we show the deubiquitylating enzyme, Usp9x regulates components of both intrinsic and extrinsic fate determinants. Nestin-cre mediated ablation of Usp9x from embryonic neural progenitors in vivo resulted in a transient disruption of cell adhesion and apical-basal polarity and, an increased number and ectopic localisation of intermediate neural progenitors. In contrast to other adhesion and polarity proteins, levels of β-catenin protein, especially S33/S37/T41 phospho-β-catenin, were markedly increased in Usp9x−/Y
embryonic cortices. Loss of Usp9x altered composition of the β-catenin destruction complex possibly impeding degradation of S33/S37/T41 phospho-β-catenin. Pathway analysis of transcriptomic data identified Wnt signalling as significantly affected in Usp9x−/Y
embryonic brains. Depletion of Usp9x in cultured human neural progenitors resulted in Wnt-reporter activation. Usp9x also regulated components of the Notch signalling pathway. Usp9x co-localized and associated with both Itch and Numb in embryonic neocortices. Loss of Usp9x led to decreased Itch and Numb levels, and a concomitant increase in levels of the Notch intracellular domain as well as, increased expression of the Notch target gene Hes5. Therefore Usp9x modulates and potentially coordinates multiple fate determinants in neural progenitors.
GLP-1 Inhibits High-Glucose-Induced Oxidative Injury of Vascular Endothelial Cells
Authors: Li Quan , Lin Yajun , Wang Shu , Zhang Lina , Guo Lixin
Published: August 2017

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) on high-glucose-induced oxidative stress and investigate the possible mechanisms underlying this process. We measured reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, cell apoptosis, the expression of NOX4 and its subunits, and p47phox translocation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). An experimental type 2 diabetes model was induced using streptozotocin in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGs), and free fatty acid (FFA) were measured. Histomorphological analysis of the aorta was performed using hematoxylin-eosin staining. NOX4 and VCAM-1 expression in the aorta was measured. We found that high-glucose-induced ROS production and apoptosis were inhibited by GLP-1 treatment. High glucose caused upregulation of NOX4, p47phox, and Rac-1 and translocation of p47phox but had no effect on the cells pretreated with GLP-1. Furthermore, in the diabetic group, FBG, FINS, TG, TC, and FFA were increased, and NOX4 and VCAM-1 levels were also elevated. However, GLP-1 attenuated all these changes. GLP-1 ameliorated high-glucose-induced oxidative stress by inhibiting NOX4, p47phox, and Rac-1 expression and translocation of p47phox, suggesting its clinical usefulness in diabetic vascular complications.
Cardiorespiratory optimization during improvised singing and toning
Authors: Bernardi N. F. , Snow S. , Peretz I. , Orozco Perez H. D. , Sabet-Kassouf N. , Lehmann A.
Published: August 2017

We evaluated the effect of different forms of singing on cardiorespiratory physiology, and we aimed at disentangling the role of breathing from that of vocal production. Cardiorespiratory recordings were obtained from 20 healthy adults at rest and during: a) singing of familiar slow songs as in the standard form of Western culture; b) improvised vocalization of free vowel sounds, known as toning. To disentangle the role of breathing from that of vocal production, we compared the vocal conditions with matched breathing-only conditions. Toning significantly improved heart rate variability, ventilatory efficiency and slowed respiration to almost exactly six breaths per minute (p < 0.001), a pattern that is known to optimize cardiovascular function and that coincides with the period of endogenous circulatory rhythms. Singing songs also positively impacted cardiorespiratory function, although to a lesser extent. The breathing pattern imposed upon participants in the absence of vocal production was sufficient to generate the physiological benefits. The effects of toning are similar to what has been previously described as a result of engaging in formal breathing exercises. Toning and singing may offer an engaging and cost effective tool to trigger beneficial respiratory patterns and the related cardiovascular benefits.
Analysis of the ATR-Chk1 and ATM-Chk2 pathways in male breast cancer revealed the prognostic significance of ATR expression
Authors: Di Benedetto Anna , Ercolani Cristiana , Mottolese Marcella , Sperati Francesca , Pizzuti Laura , Vici Patrizia , Terrenato Irene , Shaaban Abeer M. , Humphries Matthew P. , Di Lauro Luigi , Barba Maddalena , Vitale Ilio , Ciliberto Gennaro , Speirs Valerie , De Maria Ruggero , Maugeri-Saccà Marcello
Published: August 2017

The ATR-Chk1 and ATM-Chk2 pathways are central in DNA damage repair (DDR) and their over-activation may confer aggressive molecular features, being an adaptive response to endogenous DNA damage and oncogene-induced replication stress. Herein we investigated the ATR-Chk1 and ATM-Chk2 signalings in male breast cancer (MBC). The expression of DDR kinases (pATR, pATM, pChk1, pChk2, and pWee1) and DNA damage markers (pRPA32 and γ-H2AX) was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 289 MBC samples to assess their association. Survival analyses were carried out in 112 patients. Survival curves were estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by log-rank test. Cox proportional regression models were generated to identify variables impacting survival outcomes. The expression of pATR conferred poorer survival outcomes (log rank p = 0.013, p = 0.007 and p = 0.010 for overall, 15- and 10-year survival, respectively). Multivariate Cox models of 10-year survival and overall indicated that pATR expression, alone or combined with pChk2, was an independent predictor of adverse outcomes (10-year survival: pATR: HR 2.74, 95% CI: 1.23–6.10; pATR/pChk2: HR 2.92, 95% CI: 1.35–6.33; overall survival: pATR: HR 2.58, 95% CI: 1.20–5.53; pATR/pChk2: HR 2.89, 95% CI: 1.37–6.12). Overall, the ATR/ATM-initiated molecular cascade seems to be active in a fraction of MBC patients and may represent a negative prognostic factor.
Hypoxia-induced TET1 facilitates trophoblast cell migration and invasion through HIF1α signaling pathway
Authors: Zhu Jingping , Wang Kai , Li Ting , Chen Jiayu , Xie Dandan , Chang Xinwen , Yao Julei , Wu Jinting , Zhou Qian , Jia Yuanhui , Duan Tao
Published: August 2017

Low oxygen is a typical extrinsic factor for the regulation of trophoblast biological function, including cell migration, invasion and proliferation. Ten-eleven translocation methylcytosine dioxygenase 1 (TET1), an enzyme converting 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC), is transcriptionally activated by hypoxia in cancer cells. Therefore, we focus on the role of TET1 on trophoblast function in a physiologically hypoxic environment (3% oxygen), which is related to early placentation. Here, we found that TET1 was highly expressed in first trimester villi compared with normal term placentas. In vitro, both TET1 mRNA and protein expression levels in JEG3 cells were increased following exposure to 3% oxygen, and the migration and invasion capacities of JEG3 cells were up-regulated. Furthermore, TET1 knockdown decreased the migration, invasion and proliferation of JEG3 cells exposed to 3% oxygen, and the expression of HIF1α and its downstream target genes was also decreased, which was related to hyper-methylation of the HIF1α promoter. Finally, increased HIF1α protein expression reversed the inhibitory effect of TET1 knockdown on the migration and invasion of JEG3 cells exposed to 3% oxygen. These data show that hypoxia-induced TET1 expression facilitates trophoblast cell migration and invasion through the HIF1α signaling pathway, which plays an important role during placentation.
A synthetic analysis of greenhouse gas emissions from manure amended agricultural soils in China
Authors: Ren Fengling , Zhang Xubo , Liu Jian , Sun Nan , Wu Lianhai , Li Zhongfang , Xu Minggang
Published: August 2017

Application of manure has been recommended as an effective strategy to to mitigate climate change. However, the magnitude of greenhouse gases emission derived by application of manure to agricultural soils across environmental conditions still remains unclear. Here, we synthesized data from 379 observations in China and quantified the responses of soil nitrous oxide (N2O), carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) emissions to manure (Org-M) in comparison to chemical fertilizers (Min-F) or non-fertilizers (Non-F). The results showed that N2O, CO2and CH4emissions were significantly affected by Org-M compared to Min-F (percentage change: −3, +15 and +60%,P < 0.05) and Non-F (percentage change: +289, +84 and +83%,P < 0.05), respectively. However, at the same amount of total N input, Org-M decreased soil N2O emission by 13% and CH4emission by 12%, and increased soil CO2emission by 26% relative to Min-F in upland soils. For paddy soils, N2O, CO2and CH4emissions differed by −3%, −36% and +84% between Org-M and Min-F (i.e., Org-M minus Min-F). Thus, practices such as application of manure instead of chemical fertilizer and decreasing nitrogen input rate need to be highly considered and optimized under different soils and climate conditions to mitigate GHGs emission in China.
Micro-epidemiology and spatial heterogeneity of P. vivax parasitaemia in riverine communities of the Peruvian Amazon: A multilevel analysis
Authors: Carrasco-Escobar Gabriel , Gamboa Dionicia , Castro Marcia C. , Bangdiwala Shrikant I. , Rodriguez Hugo , Contreras-Mancilla Juan , Alava Freddy , Speybroeck Niko , Lescano Andres G. , Vinetz Joseph M. , Rosas-Aguirre Angel , Llanos-Cuentas Alejandro
Published: August 2017

Malaria has steadily increased in the Peruvian Amazon over the last five years. This study aimed to determine the parasite prevalence and micro-geographical heterogeneity ofPlasmodium vivaxparasitaemia in communities of the Peruvian Amazon. Four cross-sectional active case detection surveys were conducted between May and July 2015 in four riverine communities in Mazan district. Analysis of 2785 samples of 820 individuals nested within 154 households forPlasmodiumparasitaemia was carried out using light microscopy and qPCR. The spatio-temporal distribution ofPlasmodiumparasitaemia, dominated byP.vivax, was shown to cluster at both household and community levels. Of enrolled individuals, 47% had at least oneP.vivaxparasitaemia and 10%P.falciparum, by qPCR, both of which were predominantly sub-microscopic and asymptomatic. Spatial analysis detected significant clustering in three communities. Our findings showed that communities at small-to-moderate spatial scales differed inP.vivaxparasite prevalence, and multilevel Poisson regression models showed that such differences were influenced by factors such as age, education, and location of households within high-risk clusters, as well as factors linked to a local micro-geographic context, such as travel and occupation. Complex transmission patterns were found to be related to human mobility among communities in the same micro-basin.
Phytoremediation potential of Acorus calamus in soils co-contaminated with cadmium and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Authors: Jeelani Nasreen , Yang Wen , Xu Lingqian , Qiao Yajun , An Shuqing , Leng Xin
Published: August 2017

Phytoremediation is a promising technology for the remediation of sites co-contaminated with inorganic (heavy metal) and organic pollutants. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to investigate the independent and interactive effects of cadmium (Cd) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on the growth of the wetland plant Acorus calamus and its ability to uptake, accumulate, and remove pollutants from soils. Our results showed that growth and biomass of A. calamus were significantly influenced by the interaction of Cd and PAHs after 60 days of growth. The combined treatment of low Cd and low PAHs increased plant biomass and Cd accumulation in plant tissues, thus enhancing Cd removal. Dissipation of PAHs from soils was not significantly influenced by Cd addition or by the presence of plants. Correlation analysis also indicated a positive relationship between residual concentrations of phenantherene and pyrene (PAHs), whereas enzyme activities (dehydrogenase and polyphenol oxidase) were negatively correlated with each other. Cluster analysis was used to evaluate the similarity between different treatments during phytoremediation of Cd and PAHs. Our results suggest that A. calamus might be useful for phytoremediation of co-contaminated soil.
Growing-up (habitually) barefoot influences the development of foot and arch morphology in children and adolescents
Authors: Hollander Karsten , de Villiers Johanna Elsabe , Sehner Susanne , Wegscheider Karl , Braumann Klaus-Michael , Venter Ranel , Zech Astrid
Published: August 2017

The development of the human foot is crucial for motor learning in children and adolescents as it ensures the basic requirements for bipedal locomotion and stable standing. Although there is an ongoing debate of the advantages and disadvantages of early and permanent footwear use, the influence of regular barefootness on foot characteristics in different stages of child development has not been extensively evaluated. A multicenter epidemiological study was conducted to compare the foot morphology between habitually barefoot children and adolescents (N = 810) to age-, sex- and ethnicity-matched counterparts that are used to wearing shoes. While controlling for confounders, we found that habitual footwear use has significant effects on foot-related outcomes in all age groups, such as a reduction in foot arch and hallux angles. The results indicate an impact of habitual footwear use on the development of the feet of children and adolescents. Therefore, growing up barefoot or shod may play an important role for childhood foot development, implying long-term consequences for motor learning and health later in life.
Polarization tunable all-dielectric color filters based on cross-shaped Si nanoantennas
Authors: Vashistha Vishal , Vaidya Gayatri , Gruszecki Pawel , Serebryannikov Andriy E. , Krawczyk Maciej
Published: August 2017

Polarization sensitive and insensitive color filters have important applications in the area of nano-spectroscopy and CCD imaging applications. Metallic nanostructures provide an efficient way to design and engineer ultrathin color filters. These nanostructures have capability to split the white light into fundamental colors and enable color filters with ultrahigh resolution but their efficiency can be restricted due to high losses in metals especially at the visible wavelengths. In this work, we demonstrate all-dielectric color filters based on Si nanoantennas, which are sensitive to incident-wave polarization and, thus, tunable with the aid of polarization angle variation. Two different information can be encoded in two different polarization states in one nanostructure. The nanoantenna based pixels are highly efficient and can provide high quality of colors, in particular, due to low losses in Si at optical frequencies. We experimentally demonstrate that a variety of colors can be achieved by changing the physical size of the nonsymmetric cross-shaped nanoantennas. The proposed devices allow to cover an extended gamut of colors on CIE-1931 chromaticity diagram owing to the existence of high-quality resonances in Si nanoantennas. Significant tunability of the suggested color filters can be achieved by varying polarization angle in both transmission and reflection mode. Additional tunability can be obtained by switching between transmission and reflection modes.
Linear and non-linear responses of vegetation and soils to glacial-interglacial climate change in a Mediterranean refuge
Authors: Holtvoeth Jens , Vogel Hendrik , Valsecchi Verushka , Lindhorst Katja , Schouten Stefan , Wagner Bernd , Wolff George A.
Published: August 2017

The impact of past global climate change on local terrestrial ecosystems and their vegetation and soil organic matter (OM) pools is often non-linear and poorly constrained. To address this, we investigated the response of a temperate habitat influenced by global climate change in a key glacial refuge, Lake Ohrid (Albania, Macedonia). We applied independent geochemical and palynological proxies to a sedimentary archive from the lake over the penultimate glacial-interglacial transition (MIS 6–5) and the following interglacial (MIS 5e-c), targeting lake surface temperature as an indicator of regional climatic development and the supply of pollen and biomarkers from the vegetation and soil OM pools to determine local habitat response. Climate fluctuations strongly influenced the ecosystem, however, lake level controls the extent of terrace surfaces between the shoreline and mountain slopes and hence local vegetation, soil development and OM export to the lake sediments. There were two phases of transgressional soil erosion from terrace surfaces during lake-level rise in the MIS 6–5 transition that led to habitat loss for the locally dominant pine vegetation as the terraces drowned. Our observations confirm that catchment morphology plays a key role in providing refuges with low groundwater depth and stable soils during variable climate.
Experimental methods for the Palaeolithic dry distillation of birch bark: implications for the origin and development of Neandertal adhesive technology
Authors: Kozowyk P. R. B. , Soressi M. , Pomstra D. , Langejans G. H. J.
Published: August 2017

The destructive distillation of birch bark to produce tar has recently featured in debates about the technological and cognitive abilities of Neandertals and modern humans. The abilities to precisely control fire temperatures and to manipulate adhesive properties are believed to require advanced mental traits. However, the significance given to adhesive technology in these debates has quickly outgrown our understanding of birch bark tar and its manufacture using aceramic techniques. In this paper, we detail three experimental methods of Palaeolithic tar production ranging from simple to complex. We recorded the fuel, time, materials, temperatures, and tar yield for each method and compared them with the tar known from the Palaeolithic. Our results indicate that it is possible to obtain useful amounts of tar by combining materials and technology already in use by Neandertals. A ceramic container is not required, and temperature ﻿control﻿ need not be as precise as previously thought. However, Neandertals must have been able to recognize certain material properties, such as adhesive tack and viscosity. In this way, they could develop the technology from producing small traces of tar on partially burned bark to techniques capable of manufacturing quantities of tar equal to those found in the Middle Palaeolithi﻿c archaeological record.
RNA-Seq using bulked recombinant inbred line populations uncovers the importance of brassinosteroid for seed longevity after priming treatments
Authors: Sano Naoto , Kim June-Sik , Onda Yoshihiko , Nomura Takahito , Mochida Keiichi , Okamoto Masanori , Seo Mitsunori
Published: August 2017

Seed priming is a commercially used technique for improving seed performance including germination. However, the treatment sometimes reduces seed longevity as a side effect, limiting the storable period or longevity of the seeds. To overcome this problem, molecular mechanisms involved in the loss of seed longevity during priming were analyzed using natural variations of Arabidopsis thaliana. We found that the Est-1 accession retained longevity for longer after priming compared to the reference accession Col-0. QTL analysis using 279 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from the Est-1 × Col-0 detected three QTL regions associated with the loss of seed longevity during priming. Bulked transcriptome analysis (RNA-Seq with bulked RIL populations) revealed that genes related to brassinosteroid (BR) biosynthesis/signaling and cell wall modification were highly expressed in primed seeds with shorter longevity. After priming, BR-deficient mutants cyp85a1/a2 and det2 showed significantly longer longevity than the wild type (WT). Moreover, tetrazolium staining indicated that mutant seed coats were less permeable after priming than those of WT. We suggest that the loss of seed longevity in primed seed is due to increased seed coat permeability, which is positively regulated, at least partly, via BR signaling.
Determining causal miRNAs and their signaling cascade in diseases using an influence diffusion model
Authors: Nalluri Joseph J. , Rana Pratip , Barh Debmalya , Azevedo Vasco , Dinh Thang N. , Vladimirov Vladimir , Ghosh Preetam
Published: August 2017

In recent studies, miRNAs have been found to be extremely influential in many of the essential biological processes. They exhibit a self-regulatory mechanism through which they act as positive/negative regulators of expression of genes and other miRNAs. This has direct implications in the regulation of various pathophysiological conditions, signaling pathways and different types of cancers. Studying miRNA-disease associations has been an extensive area of research; however deciphering miRNA-miRNA network regulatory patterns in several diseases remains a challenge. In this study, we use information diffusion theory to quantify the influence diffusion in a miRNA-miRNA regulation network across multiple disease categories. Our proposed methodology determines the critical disease specific miRNAs which play a causal role in their signaling cascade and hence may regulate disease progression. We extensively validate our framework using existing computational tools from the literature. Furthermore, we implement our framework on a comprehensive miRNA expression data set for alcohol dependence and identify the causal miRNAs for alcohol-dependency in patients which were validated by the phase-shift in their expression scores towards the early stages of the disease. Finally, our computational framework for identifying causal miRNAs implicated in diseases is available as a free online tool for the greater scientific community.
Secretory phospholipase A2 modified HDL rapidly and potently suppresses platelet activation
Authors: Curcic Sanja , Holzer Michael , Pasterk Lisa , Knuplez Eva , Eichmann Thomas O. , Frank Saša , Zimmermann Robert , Schicho Rudolf , Heinemann Akos , Marsche Gunther
Published: August 2017

Levels of secretory phospholipases A2 (sPLA2) highly increase under acute and chronic inflammatory conditions. sPLA2 is mainly associated with high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and generates bioactive lysophospholipids implicated in acute and chronic inflammatory processes. Unexpectedly, pharmacological inhibition of sPLA2 in patients with acute coronary syndrome was associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction and stroke. Given that platelets are key players in thrombosis and inflammation, we hypothesized that sPLA2-induced hydrolysis of HDL-associated phospholipids (sPLA2-HDL) generates modified HDL particles that affect platelet function. We observed that sPLA2-HDL potently and rapidly inhibited platelet aggregation induced by several agonists, P-selectin expression, GPIIb/IIIa activation and superoxide production, whereas native HDL showed little effects. sPLA2-HDL suppressed the agonist-induced rise of intracellular Ca2+ levels and phosphorylation of Akt and ERK1/2, which trigger key steps in promoting platelet activation. Importantly, sPLA2 in the absence of HDL showed no effects, whereas enrichment of HDL with lysophosphatidylcholines containing saturated fatty acids (the main sPLA2 products) mimicked sPLA2-HDL activities. Our findings suggest that sPLA2 generates lysophosphatidylcholine-enriched HDL particles that modulate platelet function under inflammatory conditions.
Comparison of error correction algorithms for Ion Torrent PGM data: application to hepatitis B virus
Authors: Song Liting , Huang Wenxun , Kang Juan , Huang Yuan , Ren Hong , Ding Keyue
Published: August 2017

Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine (PGM) technology is a mid-length read, low-cost and high-speed next-generation sequencing platform with a relatively high insertion and deletion (indel) error rate. A full systematic assessment of the effectiveness of various error correction algorithms in PGM viral datasets (e.g., hepatitis B virus (HBV)) has not been performed. We examined 19 quality-trimmed PGM datasets for the HBV reverse transcriptase (RT) region and found a total error rate of 0.48% ± 0.12%. Deletion errors were clearly present at the ends of homopolymer runs. Tests using both real and simulated data showed that the algorithms differed in their abilities to detect and correct errors and that the error rate and sequencing depth significantly affected the performance. Of the algorithms tested, Pollux showed a better overall performance but tended to over-correct ‘genuine’ substitution variants, whereas Fiona proved to be better at distinguishing these variants from sequencing errors. We found that the combined use of Pollux and Fiona gave the best results when error-correcting Ion Torrent PGM viral data.
Binding of the Helicobacter pylori OipA causes apoptosis of host cells via modulation of Bax/Bcl-2 levels
Authors: Teymournejad Omid , Mobarez Ashraf Mohabati , Hassan Zuhair Mohammad , Talebi Bezmin abadi Amin
Published: August 2017

The H. pylori outer inflammatory protein A (OipA) is an outer membrane protein that contributes to gastric inflammation. OipA is believed to affect intra-cellular signalling and modulate the host signalling pathways. The aim of the current study was to clarify the role of OipA in H. pylori pathogenesis and its effect on host cell signalling pathways. To this end, the oipA gene was isolated and inserted into cloning and expression vectors. The recombinant plasmid was transferred into an expression host to produce OipA, which was subsequently purified by affinity chromatography and used for antibody production. A confluent monolayer of gastric cell lines was treated with various concentrations of OipA and investigated for attachment, toxicity, and apoptosis and alterations in signalling pathways. OipA bound to gastric cell lines confirming its role in the attachment of H. pylori to host cells. The ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and caspase3, 8, FasL in the host cells were assessed and the results showed that the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio as well as the level of cleaved-caspase 3 was elevated in OipA-treated cells. These findings suggest that OipA can bind and induce toxic events as well as triggering apoptotic cascade in host gastric cells through intrinsic pathway.
Source and dynamics of a volcanic caldera unrest: Campi Flegrei, 1983–84
Authors: De Siena Luca , Chiodini Giovanni , Vilardo Giuseppe , Del Pezzo Edoardo , Castellano Mario , Colombelli Simona , Tisato Nicola , Ventura Guido
Published: August 2017

Despite their importance for eruption forecasting the causes of seismic rupture processes during caldera unrest are still poorly reconstructed from seismic images. Seismic source locations and waveform attenuation analyses of earthquakes in the Campi Flegrei area (Southern Italy) during the 1983–1984 unrest have revealed a 4–4.5 km deep NW-SE striking aseismic zone of high attenuation offshore Pozzuoli. The lateral features and the principal axis of the attenuation anomaly correspond to the main source of ground uplift during the unrest. Seismic swarms correlate in space and time with fluid injections from a deep hot source, inferred to represent geochemical and temperature variations at Solfatara. These swarms struck a high-attenuation 3–4 km deep reservoir of supercritical fluids under Pozzuoli and migrated towards a shallower aseismic deformation source under Solfatara. The reservoir became aseismic for two months just after the main seismic swarm (April 1, 1984) due to a SE-to-NW directed input from the high-attenuation domain, possibly a dyke emplacement. The unrest ended after fluids migrated from Pozzuoli to the location of the last caldera eruption (Mt. Nuovo, 1538 AD). The results show that the high attenuation domain controls the largest monitored seismic, deformation, and geochemical unrest at the caldera.
Unusual dynamic precipitation softening induced by dislocation glide in biomedical beta-titanium alloys
Authors: Hagihara Koji , Nakano Takayoshi , Todai Mitsuharu
Published: August 2017

Softening of metallic materials containing precipitates during cyclic deformation occurs through dissolution of the precipitates, because the to-and-fro motion of the dislocation causes dissolution of the precipitate particles by cutting them. Here, however, we found the completely opposite phenomenon for the first time; a “dynamic precipitation softening” phenomenon. In a Ti-35Nb-10Ta-5Zr body-centered cubic structured β-Ti alloy single crystal developed for biomedical implant, the to-and-fro motion of the dislocation “induced” the selective precipitation of the ω-phase whose c-axis is parallel to the Burgers vector of the moving dislocation, which led to the significant cyclic softening of the crystal. The formation of the ω-phase is generally believed to induce significant hardening of β-Ti alloys. However, the present results suggest that this is not always true, and control of the anisotropic features of the ω-phase via control of crystal orientation can induce unusual mechanical properties in β-Ti alloys. The unique anisotropic mechanical properties obtained by the cyclic-deformation-induced oriented ω-phase formation could be useful for the development of “single-crystalline β-Ti implant materials” with advanced mechanical performance.
Influence of different aluminum salts on the photocatalytic properties of Al doped TiO2 nanoparticles towards the degradation of AO7 dye
Authors: Luo Jin-ling , Wang Shi-fa , Liu Wei , Tian Cheng-xiang , Wu Ju-wei , Zu Xiao-tao , Zhou Wei-lie , Yuan Xiao-dong , Xiang Xia
Published: August 2017

Three kinds of Al-TiO2 samples and pure TiO2 samples were synthesized via a modified polyacrylamide gel route using different aluminum salts, including Al2(SO4)3∙18H2O, AlCl3, and Al(NO3)3∙9H2O under identical conditions. The influence of different aluminum salts on the phase purity, morphologies, thermal stability of anatase and photocatalytic properties of the as-prepared Al-TiO2 nanoparticles were studied. The energy gap (Eg) of Al-TiO2 nanoparticles decreases due to Al ion doping into TiO2. The photocatalytic activities of the Al-TiO2 samples were investigated by the degradation of acid orange 7 dye in aqueous solution under simulated solar irradiation. The Al-TiO2 nanoparticles prepared from Al(NO3)3∙9H2O exhibit the best photocatalytic activity among the four kinds of samples, followed in turn by the Al-TiO2 nanoparticles prepared with AlCl3, Al2(SO4)3∙18H2O and pure TiO2. The different performances are attributed to complex effects of Eg, particle size, surface morphology, phase purity and the defect sites of the Al-TiO2 nanoparticles.
Fano resonance Rabi splitting of surface plasmons
Authors: Liu Zhiguang , Li Jiafang , Liu Zhe , Li Wuxia , Li Junjie , Gu Changzhi , Li Zhi-Yuan
Published: August 2017

Rabi splitting and Fano resonance are well-known physical phenomena in conventional quantum systems as atoms and quantum dots, arising from strong interaction between two quantum states. In recent years similar features have been observed in various nanophotonic and nanoplasmonic systems. Yet, realization of strong interaction between two or more Fano resonance states has not been accomplished either in quantum or in optical systems. Here we report the observation of Rabi splitting of two strongly coupled surface plasmon Fano resonance states in a three-dimensional plasmonic nanostructure consisting of vertical asymmetric split-ring resonators. The plasmonic system stably supports triple Fano resonance states and double Rabi splittings can occur between lower and upper pairs of the Fano resonance states. The experimental discovery agrees excellently with rigorous numerical simulations, and is well explained by an analytical three-oscillator model. The discovery of Fano resonance Rabi splitting could provide a stimulating insight to explore new fundamental physics in analogous atomic systems and could be used to significantly enhance light-matter interaction for optical sensing and detecting applications.
Social learning promotes nicotine self-administration by facilitating the extinction of conditioned aversion in isogenic strains of rats
Authors: Han Wenyan , Wang Tengfei , Chen Hao
Published: August 2017

Both social environment and genetic factors are critical for smoking initiation and nicotine addiction. We reported that rats developed conditioned flavor (i.e., taste and odor) aversion to intravenously self-administered (IVSA) nicotine, and that social learning promoted nicotine IVSA with flavor cues. We thus tested the hypothesis that socially acquired nicotine IVSA is a heritable trait by using female rats of six inbred strains and six F1 hybrids. Each strain was tested for 10 daily IVSA sessions. We found that the intake of nicotine (15 and 30 μg/kg/inf) varied among these strains by 33.7–56.6-fold. The heritability of nicotine intake was estimated to be 0.54–0.65. Further, there was a strong correlation in nicotine intake (R2 = 0.85, p < 0.0001) between the two nicotine doses. Another cohort of rats was given three daily IVSA sessions followed by five sessions that tested conditioned flavor aversion. Nicotine intake was highly correlated with the extinction of the conditioned aversion (R2 = 0.58, p < 0.005). These data showed that nicotine intake in the socially acquired nicotine self-administration model is controlled by genetic factors and that the role of social learning is likely in facilitating the extinction of conditioned aversive response to nicotine.