bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Remarks by Eugene V. Rostow
Authors: Rostow Eugene V.
Published: April 2017

The topic assigned to us today is “The Justness of the Peace.” I take it from what Mr. Falk has said that he thinks the peace is unjust because it involves support for the Thieu regime, which he regards as cruel and unjust. He discussed various shortcomings of that regime from the point of view of democratic theory without comparing it in these respects to its rival in North Vietnam.
Controlling factors for differential subsidence in the Sonoma Foreland Basin (Early Triassic, western USA)
Authors: CARAVACA GWÉNAËL , BRAYARD ARNAUD , VENNIN EMMANUELLE , GUIRAUD MICHEL , LE POURHIET LAETITIA , GROSJEAN ANNE-SABINE , THOMAZO CHRISTOPHE , OLIVIER NICOLAS , FARA EMMANUEL , ESCARGUEL GILLES , BYLUND KEVIN G. , JENKS JAMES F. , STEPHEN DANIEL A.
Published: April 2017

Sediments deposited from the Permian–Triassic boundary (~252 Ma) until the end-Smithian (Early Triassic;c.250.7 Ma) in the Sonoma Foreland Basin show marked thickness variations between its southern (up toc.250 m thick) and northern (up toc.550 m thick) parts. This basin formed as a flexural response to the emplacement of the Golconda Allochthon during the Sonoma orogeny. Using a high-resolution backstripping approach, a numerical model and sediment thickness to obtain a quantitative subsidence analysis, we discuss the controlling factor(s) responsible for spatial variations in thickness. We show that sedimentary overload is not sufficient to explain the significant discrepancy observed in the sedimentary record of the basin. We argue that the inherited rheological properties of the basement terranes and spatial heterogeneity of the allochthon are of paramount importance in controlling the subsidence and thickness spatial distribution across the Sonoma Foreland Basin.
Trouble on the Rand: The Chinese Question in South Africa and the Apogee of White Settlerism
Authors: Ngai Mae M.
Published: April 2017

The importation of more than 60,000 Chinese laborers to work in the Witwatersrand gold mines in South Africa between 1904 and 1910 remains an obscure episode in the history of Asian indentured labor in European colonies. Yet the experience of the coolies on the Rand reverberated throughout the Anglo-American world and had lasting consequences for global politics of race and labor. At one level, the Chinese laborers themselves resisted their conditions of work to such a degree that the program became untenable and was canceled after a few years. Not only did the South African project fail: Its failure signaled more broadly that at the turn of the twentieth century it had become increasingly difficult to impose upon Chinese workers the coercive and violent exploitation that had marked the global coolie trade in the era of slave emancipation. At another level, the Chinese labor program on the Rand provoked a political crisis in the Transvaal and in metropolitan Britain over the “Chinese Question”—that is, whether Chinese, indentured or free, should be altogether excluded from the settler colonies. Following the passage of laws limiting or excluding Chinese immigration to the United States (1882), Canada (1885), New Zealand (1881), and Australia (1901), Transvaal Colony and then the Union of South Africa, formed in 1910, likewise barred all Chinese from immigration—making Chinese and Asian exclusion, along with white rule, native dispossession, and racial segregation the defining features of the Anglo-American settlerism.
Lessons from the 2016 Harvard Strike
Authors: Aramayo Carlos
Published: April 2017

For 22 days during the month of October 2016, more than 750 cooks, food servers, dishwashers, and cashiers struck Harvard University's dining halls. This was the first open-ended strike in the 380-year history of the institution. It drew national and international press and inspired many students, faculty, and members of the university community to rally in support of the workers. The strike's picket lines, marches, acts of civil disobedience, and building occupation became a collective repudiation of the corporate logic of the contemporary American university, one that privileges endowments, budgets, and HR departments over community, humanitarian values, and families. This was summed up in the slogan chanted thousands of times in Harvard Yard: “If we don't get it, SHUT IT DOWN!”
Thinking Labor Rights through the Coolie Question
Authors: Ngai Mae M. , Loy-Wilson Sophie
Published: April 2017

In 2014 the conservative Australian Institute of Public Affairs called for the abolition of the minimum wage—at the time AU$16.87, the highest in the industrial world and twice that of the United States. The Australian minimum, enacted in Victoria in 1896, was the first in the world. Other nations copied it, and the International Labor Organization inscribed it as an international convention in 1928. Responding to calls for its abolition, University of Melbourne historian Marilyn Lake reminded Australians that the minimum wage was a “symbol of Australian values.” Envisioned as a “living wage, sufficient to meet the variety of needs of a person living in a civilized community … [it] recognized workers as human beings and equal citizens,” she wrote.
Sets in Almost General Position
Authors: MILIĆEVIĆ LUKA
Published: April 2017

Erdős asked the following question: given n points in the plane in almost general position (no four collinear), how large a set can we guarantee to find that is in general position (no three collinear)? Füredi constructed a set of n points in almost general position with no more than o(n) points in general position. Cardinal, Tóth and Wood extended this result to ℝ3, finding sets of n points with no five in a plane whose subsets with no four points in a plane have size o(n), and asked the question for higher dimensions: for given n, is it still true that the largest subset in general position we can guarantee to find has size o(n)? We answer their question for all d and derive improved bounds for certain dimensions.
Pharmacological treatment of mixed states
Authors: Cuomo Alessandro , Nikolova Viktoriya L. , Yalin Nefize , Arnone Danilo , Fagiolini Andrea , Young Allan H.
Published: April 2017

Mixed states in bipolar disorder have been neglected, and the data concerning treatment of these conditions have been relatively obscure. To address this, we systematically reviewed published pharmacological treatment data for “mixed states/episodes” in mood disorders, including “with mixed features” in DSM–5. We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, The Cochrane Library, clinicaltrials.gov, and controlled-trials.com (with different combinations of the following keywords: “mixed states/features,” “bipolar,” “depressive symptoms/bipolar depression,” “manic symptoms,” “treatment,” “DSM–5”) through to October 2016. We applied a quality-of-evidence approach: first-degree evidence=randomized placebo-controlled studies of pharmacological interventions used as monotherapy; second-degree evidence=a similar design in the absence of a placebo or of a combination therapy as a comparative group; third-degree evidence=case reports, case series, and reviews of published studies. We found very few primary double-blind, placebo-controlled studies on the treatment of mixed states: the preponderance of available data derives from subgroup analysis performed on studies that originally involved manic patients. Future research should study the effects of treatments in mixed states defined using current criteria.
Evaluation of a pilot service to facilitate discharge of patients with stable long-term mental health needs from secondary to primary care: the role of Primary Care Mental Health Specialists
Authors: Hamilton-West Kate , Hotham Sarah , Yang Wei , Hedayioglu Julie , Brigden Charlotte
Published: April 2017

Aim

We aimed to evaluate a pilot service to facilitate discharge of patients with stable long-term mental health needs from secondary to primary care.

Background

Patients with stable long-term mental health conditions are often not discharged from secondary mental health services when no longer needed due to insufficient systems and processes to enable safe, effective, recovery-focussed treatment and support. The Primary Care Mental Health Specialist (PCMHS) Service was developed to address this gap; new PCMHS posts were introduced to act as a conduit for patients being discharged from secondary care and a single point of referral back into secondary care, should it be required. The two-year pilot, across six Clinical Commissioning Groups in South East England, began in March 2013.

Methods

Interviews were conducted with all PCMHS employed in the pilot service (n=13) and a sample of service users (n=12). The views of professionals working alongside the service, including GPs, Psychiatrists and Mental Health Nurses, were captured using a brief online questionnaire (n=50). Time and Activity Recording Sheets were used to capture data required for economic analysis.

Findings

Our findings indicate that the service is working well from the perspective of patients; staff employed within the service and professionals working alongside the service. Patients described the service as a ‘safety net’ they could fall back on in case of difficulties, whereas staff used the analogy of a ‘bridge’ to describe the way the service improved communication and collaboration between the various professionals and organisations involved in the patient’s care. Improvements in well-being were seen to result from increased support for those transitioning from secondary to primary care, a more pro-active approach to relapse prevention and increased engagement in daily activities. Each PCMHS covered 36 patients in a one-month period, with a unit cost of £73.01 per patient.
The Scales of Money: Monetary Sovereignty and the Spatial Dimensions of American Politics after the Civil War
Authors: Barreyre Nicolas
Published: April 2017

With its victory in the Civil War, the Union affirmed the primacy of the national sovereignty of the United States. After the conflict, the country was absorbed by the consequences of this momentous event. Yet, even in this context, the monetary policies of the government became contentious and led to the eventual redefinition of sovereignty. This article explores how the American institutional structure and political system allowed the money question to become a spatial issue, opposing the great sections of the country. In turn, this sectionalism triggered a confrontation between alternative understandings of what sovereignty entailed in terms of both political legitimacy and spatial scales. By the end of the century, the scope of sovereign power would be redefined, and currency abandoned as one of its instruments.
The So-Called Solonian Property Classes: Citizenship in Archaic Athens
Authors: Duplouy Alain
Published: April 2017

Abstracts

It is commonly accepted that the definition of four property classes by Solon in early sixth century-BCE Athens marked a major step in the political construction of the Athenian state. However, as Claude Mossé argued thirty-five years ago, this reconstruction is mainly the result of a fourth-century-BCE historiography that positioned Solon as the founding father of Athenian democracy—casting doubt on the early existence of the so-called Solonian system. Although such an approach has often been considered as “postmodern” or “pessimistic,” I propose to follow Mossé’s path by considering the Solonian telē as occupational groups involved, along with many others, in the construction of the Athenian polis. This analysis results in the definition of an explicitly Archaic citizenship, conceived as a performance linked to specific behaviors and lifestyles.
For an “Ambitious History”: A Reply to Our Critics
Authors: Armitage David , Guldi Jo
Published: April 2017

This article responds to a variety of criticisms of our thesis that the longue durée is returning after a period of retreat, and that this return provides a necessary means to revive the discipline of history as a critical human science. We argue that the longue durée has different meanings in distinct historical traditions and that its importance for non-academic audiences will not be the same as for an academic readership. We also suggest that the longue durée should be combined with other historical time-scales (including those covered by microhistory), and that this combination can help us all to better understand the present in light of the past and then orient ourselves toward the future. In sum, we argue that the revenant longue durée can be one means, among others, to address the widespread “crisis of the humanities” that has been discerned by scholars around the world.
Pyrocystis noctiluca represents an excellent bioassay for shear forces induced in ground-based microgravity simulators (clinostat and random positioning machine)
Authors: Hauslage Jens , Cevik Volkan , Hemmersbach Ruth
Published: April 2017

Ground-based facilities, such as clinostats and random positioning machines aiming at simulating microgravity conditions, are tools to prepare space experiments and identify gravity-related signaling pathways. A prerequisite is that the facilities are operated in an appropriate manner and potentially induced non-gravitational effects, such as shearing forces, have to be taken into account. Dinoflagellates, here P. noctiluca, as fast and sensitive reporter system for shear stress and hydrodynamic gradients, were exposed on a clinostat (constant rotation around one axis, 60 rpm) or in a random positioning machine, that means rotating around two axes, whose velocity and direction were chosen at random. Deformation of the cell membrane of P. noctiluca due to shear stress results in a detectable bioluminescence emission. Our results show that the amount of mechanical stress is higher on an random positioning machine than during constant clinorotation, as revealed by the differences in photon counts. We conclude that one axis clinorotation induced negligible non-gravitational effects in the form of shear forces in contrast to random operation modes tested. For the first time, we clearly visualized the device-dependent occurrence of shear forces by means of a bioassay, which have to be considered during the definition of an appropriate simulation approach and to avoid misinterpretation of results.
Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS)-induced Sertoli cell injury through a disruption of F-actin and microtubule organization is mediated by Akt1/2
Authors: Gao Ying , Chen Haiqi , Xiao Xiang , Lui Wing-yee , Lee Will M. , Mruk Dolores D. , Cheng C. Yan
Published: April 2017

PFOS (perfluorooctanesulfonate, or perfluorooctane sulfonic acid) is an anthropogenic fluorosurfactant widely used in consumer products. While its use in Europe, Canada and the U.S. has been banned due to its human toxicity, it continues to be used in China and other developing countries as a global pollutant. Herein, using anin vitromodel of Sertoli cell blood-testis barrier (BTB), PFOS was found to induce Sertoli cell injury by perturbing actin cytoskeleton through changes in the spatial expression of actin regulatory proteins. Specifically, PFOS caused mis-localization of Arp3 (actin-related protein 3, a branched actin polymerization protein) and palladin (an actin bundling protein). These disruptive changes thus led to a dis-organization of F-actin across Sertoli cell cytosol, causing truncation of actin microfilament, thereby failing to support the Sertoli cell morphology and adhesion protein complexes (e.g., occludin-ZO-1, CAR-ZO-1, and N-cadherin-ß-catenin), through a down-regulation of p-Akt1-S473 and p-Akt2-S474. The use of SC79, an Akt1/2 activator, was found to block the PFOS-induced Sertoli cell injury by rescuing the PFOS-induced F-actin dis-organization. These findings thus illustrate PFOS exerts its disruptive effects on Sertoli cell function downstream through Akt1/2. As such, PFOS-induced male reproductive dysfunction can possibly be managed through an intervention on Akt1/2 expression.
Tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis scores of Oxford classification combinded with proteinuria level at biopsy provides earlier risk prediction in lgA nephropathy
Authors: Zhu Xuejing , Li Huiqiong , Liu Yexin , You Jing , Qu Zhong , Yuan Shuguang , Peng Youming , Liu Fuyou , Liu Hong
Published: April 2017

The predictive effect of combining MEST with clinical data at biopsy on renal survival outcomes has not been investigated in patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN). MEST of The Oxford classification of IgAN and 24-hour urine proteinuia measured at enrollment. The primary outcome was a composite of either ESRD (eGFR to <15 ml/min per 1.73 m2), or a permanent reduction in eGFR to below 50% of the value at biopsy. 742 patients were enrolled and follow-up >3 years, and were divided into two groups according to eGFR levels at biopsy. Multivariable logistical regression revealed that proteinuria at biopsy (OR 5.307 (95% Cl 3.003 to 9.376) p = 0.000), tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis scores (T) in MEST (OR 3.915 (95%Cl 2.710 to 5.654) p = 0.000) were the two predictors of eGFR decline for IgAN patients. Kaplan–Meier survival curves show significant difference in renal survival outcome among each T scores groups at biopsy (T0, T1, T2) (P < 0.05) and proteinuria levels at biopsy (P < 0.05), individially. Patients with T2 combined proteinuria at biopsy have the worst renal survival outcome. In conclusion, T scores in MEST classification combined with proteinuria at biopsy could be one of the important early predictors for the renal survial outcomes in patients with IgAN.
Translation, but not transfection limits clinically relevant, exogenous mRNA based induction of alpha-4 integrin expression on human mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Nowakowski Adam , Andrzejewska Anna , Boltze Johannes , Nitzsche Franziska , Cui Li-li , Jolkkonen Jukka , Walczak Piotr , Lukomska Barbara , Janowski Miroslaw
Published: April 2017

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) represent promising resource of cells for regenerative medicine in neurological disorders. However, efficient and minimally invasive methods of MSCs delivery to the brain still have to be developed. Intra-arterial route is very promising, but MSCs are missing machinery for diapedesis through blood-brain barrier. Thus, here we have tested a mRNA-based method to induce transient expression of ITGA4, an adhesion molecule actively involved in cell extravasation. We observed that transfection with an ITGA4-mRNA construct bearing a conventional cap analogue (7-methylguanosine) failed to produce ITGA4 protein, but exogenous ITGA4-mRNA was detected in transfected MSCs. This indicates that not transfection, but rather translation being the major roadblock. Stabilization of ITGA4-mRNA with SSB proteins resulted in ITGA4 protein synthesis in HEK293 cells only, whereas in MSCs, satisfactory results were obtained only after using an anti-reverse-cap-analogue (ARCA). The presence of ITGA4 protein in MSCs was transient and lasted for up to 24 h after transfection. Membranous location was confirmed by flow cytometry of viable non-permeabilized cells using anti-ITGA4 antibody. The mRNA-based expression ofitga4transgene is potentially sufficient for diapedesis after intra-arterial delivery. To conclude, mRNA-based engineering of stem cells is a rapidandintegration-free method and attractive from the perspective of potential future clinical application.
Mitochondrial C11orf83 is a potent Antiviral Protein Independent of interferon production
Authors: Yang Yun , Xiong Shaoquan , Cai Bei , Luo Hui , Dong E. , Li Qiqi , Ji Gaili , Zhao Chengjian , Wen Yanjun , Wei Yuquan , Yang Hanshuo
Published: April 2017

Mitochondria have a central position in innate immune response via the adaptor protein MAVS in mitochondrial outer membrane to limit viral replication by inducing interferon production. Here, we reported that C11orf83, a component of complex III of electronic transfer chain in mitochondrial inner membrane, was a potent antiviral protein independent of interferon production. C11orf83 expression significantly increased in response to viral infection, and endows cells with stronger capability of inhibiting viral replication. Deletion of C11orf83 permits viral replication easier and cells were more vulnerable to viral killing. These effects mainly were mediated by triggering OAS3-RNase L system. C11orf83 overexpression induced higher transcription of OAS3, and knockdown either OAS3 or RNase L impaired the antiviral capability of C11orf83. Interestingly, the signaling from C11orf83 to OAS3-RNase L was independent of interferon production. Thus, our findings suggested a new antiviral mechanism by bridging cell metabolic machinery component with antiviral effectors.
Live imaging of H3K9 acetylation in plant cells
Authors: Kurita Kazuki , Sakamoto Takuya , Yagi Noriyoshi , Sakamoto Yuki , Ito Akihiro , Nishino Norikazu , Sako Kaori , Yoshida Minoru , Kimura Hiroshi , Seki Motoaki , Matsunaga Sachihiro
Published: April 2017

Proper regulation of histone acetylation is important in development and cellular responses to environmental stimuli. However, the dynamics of histone acetylation at the single-cell level remains poorly understood. Here we established a transgenic plant cell line to track histone H3 lysine 9 acetylation (H3K9ac) with a modification-specific intracellular antibody (mintbody). The H3K9ac-specific mintbody fused to the enhanced green fluorescent protein (H3K9ac-mintbody-GFP) was introduced into tobacco BY-2 cells. We successfully demonstrated that H3K9ac-mintbody-GFP interacted with H3K9ac in vivo. The ratio of nuclear/cytoplasmic H3K9ac-mintbody-GFP detected in quantitative analysis reflected the endogenous H3K9ac levels. Under chemically induced hyperacetylation conditions with histone deacetylase inhibitors including trichostatin A, Ky-2 and Ky-14, significant enhancement of H3K9ac was detected by H3K9ac-mintbody-GFP dependent on the strength of inhibitors. Conversely, treatment with a histone acetyltransferase inhibitor, C646 caused a reduction in the nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio of H3K9ac-mintbody-GFP. Using this system, we assessed the environmental responses of H3K9ac and found that cold and salt stresses enhanced H3K9ac in tobacco BY-2 cells. In addition, a combination of H3K9ac-mintbody-GFP with 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine labelling confirmed that H3K9ac level is constant during interphase.
Attractive force-driven superhardening of graphene membranes as a pin-point breaking of continuum mechanics
Authors: Ashino Makoto , Wiesendanger Roland
Published: April 2017

Bending at the nanometre scale can substantially modify the mechanical, chemical and electronic properties of graphene membranes. The subsequent response of chemical bonds leads to deviations from plate idealisation in continuum mechanics. However, those phenomena have thus far been investigated exclusively by measuring the electronic properties of graphene deformed by compressing and stretching with local-probe techniques. Here, we report that the interatomic-attractive forces applied on the convexly-curved graphene by the probe tip give rise to a pin-point breaking of the plate idealisation in the continuum mechanics, facilitating atomically-localised enhancements in its chemical reactivity and mechanical strength. Thorough characterisations were conducted by atomic force microscopy and force field spectroscopy on hollow nanotubes, rolled-up graphene, with different diameters. Their topmost parts supplied well-defined curvatures of the convex graphene. We found that a significant enhancement in the out-of-plane Young’s modulus from 13 to 163 GPa, “superhardening”, was realised with the nonlinear transition of bond configurations. Our findings provide a fundamental understanding of the relationships between the structure of atomistic membranes and the dynamic behaviour of approaching exterior atoms or molecules and their subsequent interplay with chemical and mechanical properties. Thus, these results encourage the application of such membranes in functionally-controllable materials or devices.
Distinct subtypes of Alzheimer’s disease based on patterns of brain atrophy: longitudinal trajectories and clinical applications
Authors: Ferreira Daniel , Verhagen Chloë , Hernández-Cabrera Juan Andrés , Cavallin Lena , Guo Chun-Jie , Ekman Urban , Muehlboeck J-Sebastian , Simmons Andrew , Barroso José , Wahlund Lars-Olof , Westman Eric
Published: April 2017

Atrophy patterns on MRI can reliably predict three neuropathological subtypes of Alzheimer’s disease (AD): typical, limbic-predominant, or hippocampal-sparing. A method to enable their investigation in the clinical routine is still lacking. We aimed to (1) validate the combined use of visual rating scales for identification of AD subtypes; (2) characterise these subtypes at baseline and over two years; and (3) investigate how atrophy patterns and non-memory cognitive domains contribute to memory impairment. AD patients were classified as either typical AD (n = 100), limbic-predominant (n = 33), or hippocampal-sparing (n = 35) by using the Scheltens’ scale for medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTA), the Koedam’s scale for posterior atrophy (PA), and the Pasquier’s global cortical atrophy scale for frontal atrophy (GCA-F). A fourth group with no atrophy was also identified (n = 30). 230 healthy controls were also included. There was great overlap among subtypes in demographic, clinical, and cognitive variables. Memory performance was more dependent on non-memory cognitive functions in hippocampal-sparing and the no atrophy group. Hippocampal-sparing and the no atrophy group showed less aggressive disease progression. Visual rating scales can be used to identify distinct AD subtypes. Recognizing AD heterogeneity is important and visual rating scales may facilitate investigation of AD heterogeneity in clinical routine.
Effects of calcination temperature for rate capability of triple-shelled ZnFe2O4 hollow microspheres for lithium ion battery anodes
Authors: Hwang Hojin , Shin Haeun , Lee Wan-Jin
Published: April 2017

Triple-shelled ZnFe2O4 hollow microspheres (ZFO) as anode materials for lithium ion battery are prepared through a one-pot hydrothermal reaction using the composite solution consisting of sucrose in water and metal ions in ethylene glycol (EG), followed by different calcination processes. The architectures of ZFO micro spheres are differently synthesized through a mutual cooperation of inward and outward ripening with three different calcination temperatures. Thin triple-shelled ZnFe2O4 hollow microspheres calcined at 450 °C (ZFO-450) delivers a high reversible capacity of 932 mA h g−1 at a current density of 2 A g−1 even at the 200th cycle without obvious decay. Furthermore, ZFO-450 delivers 1235, 1005, 865, 834, and 845 mA h g−1 at high current densities of 0.5, 2, 5, 10, and 20 A g−1 after 100 cycles. Thin triple-shelled hollow microsphere prepared at an optimum calcination temperature provides exceptional rate capability and outstanding rate retention due to (i) the formation of nanoparticles leading to thin shell with morphological integrity, (ii) the facile mass transfer by thin shell with mesoporous structure, and (iii) the void space with macroporous structure alleviating volume change occurring during cycling.
Massive introgression drives species radiation at the range limit of Anopheles gambiae
Authors: Vicente José L. , Clarkson Christopher S. , Caputo Beniamino , Gomes Bruno , Pombi Marco , Sousa Carla A. , Antao Tiago , Dinis João , Bottà Giordano , Mancini Emiliano , Petrarca Vincenzo , Mead Daniel , Drury Eleanor , Stalker James , Miles Alistair , Kwiatkowski Dominic P. , Donnelly Martin J. , Rodrigues Amabélia , Torre Alessandra della , Weetman David , Pinto João
Published: April 2017

Impacts of introgressive hybridisation may range from genomic erosion and species collapse to rapid adaptation and speciation but opportunities to study these dynamics are rare. We investigated the extent, causes and consequences of a hybrid zone betweenAnopheles coluzziiandAnopheles gambiaein Guinea-Bissau, where high hybridisation rates appear to be stable at least since the 1990s.Anopheles gambiaewas genetically partitioned into inland and coastal subpopulations, separated by a central region dominated byA. coluzzii. Surprisingly, whole genome sequencing revealed that the coastal region harbours a hybrid form characterised by anA. gambiae-like sex chromosome and massive introgression ofA. coluzziiautosomal alleles. Local selection on chromosomal inversions may play a role in this process, suggesting potential for spatiotemporal stability of the coastal hybrid form and providing resilience against introgression of medically-important loci and traits, found to be more prevalent in inlandA. gambiae.
The BMP2 nuclear variant, nBMP2, is expressed in mouse hippocampus and impacts memory
Authors: Cordner Ryan D. , Friend Lindsey N. , Mayo Jaime L. , Badgley Corinne , Wallmann Andrew , Stallings Conrad N. , Young Peter L. , Miles Darla R. , Edwards Jeffrey G. , Bridgewater Laura C.
Published: April 2017

The novel nuclear protein nBMP2 is synthesized from the BMP2 gene by translational initiation at an alternative start codon. We generated a targeted mutant mouse, nBmp2NLStm, in which the nuclear localization signal (NLS) was inactivated to prevent nuclear translocation of nBMP2 while still allowing the normal synthesis and secretion of the BMP2 growth factor. These mice exhibit abnormal muscle function due to defective Ca2+ transport in skeletal muscle. We hypothesized that neurological function, which also depends on intracellular Ca2+ transport, could be affected by the loss of nBMP2. Age-matched nBmp2NLStm and wild type mice were analyzed by immunohistochemistry, behavioral tests, and electrophysiology to assess nBMP2 expression and neurological function. Immunohistochemical staining of the hippocampus detected nBMP2 in the nuclei of CA1 neurons in wild type but not mutant mice, consistent with nBMP2 playing a role in the hippocampus. Mutant mice showed deficits in the novel object recognition task, suggesting hippocampal dysfunction. Electrophysiology experiments showed that long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampus, which is dependent on intracellular Ca2+ transport and is thought to be the cellular equivalent of learning and memory, was impaired. Together, these results suggest that nBMP2 in the hippocampus impacts memory formation.
Rational development of a protective P. vivax vaccine evaluated with transgenic rodent parasite challenge models
Authors: Salman Ahmed M. , Montoya-Díaz Eduardo , West Heather , Lall Amar , Atcheson Erwan , Lopez-Camacho Cesar , Ramesar Jai , Bauza Karolis , Collins Katharine A. , Brod Florian , Reis Fernando , Pappas Leontios , González-Cerón Lilia , Janse Chris J. , Hill Adrian V. S. , Khan Shahid M. , Reyes-Sandoval Arturo
Published: April 2017

Development of a protective and broadly-acting vaccine against the most widely distributed human malaria parasite, Plasmodium vivax, will be a major step towards malaria elimination. However, a P. vivax vaccine has remained elusive by the scarcity of pre-clinical models to test protective efficacy and support further clinical trials. In this study, we report the development of a highly protective CSP-based P. vivax vaccine, a virus-like particle (VLP) known as Rv21, able to provide 100% sterile protection against a stringent sporozoite challenge in rodent models to malaria, where IgG2a antibodies were associated with protection in absence of detectable PvCSP-specific T cell responses. Additionally, we generated two novel transgenic rodent P. berghei parasite lines, where the P. berghei csp gene coding sequence has been replaced with either full-length P. vivax VK210 or the allelic VK247 csp that additionally express GFP-Luciferase. Efficacy of Rv21 surpassed viral-vectored vaccination using ChAd63 and MVA. We show for the first time that a chimeric VK210/247 antigen can elicit high level cross-protection against parasites expressing either CSP allele, which provide accessible and affordable models suitable to support the development of P. vivax vaccines candidates. Rv21 is progressing to GMP production and has entered a path towards clinical evaluation.
Normally lethal amino acid substitutions suppress an ultramutator DNA Polymerase δ variant
Authors: Dennis Daniel G. , McKay-Fleisch Jill , Eitzen Kaila , Dowsett Ian , Kennedy Scott R. , Herr Alan J.
Published: April 2017

In yeast, thepol3-01,L612Mdouble mutant allele, which causes defects in DNA polymerase delta (Pol δ) proofreading (pol3-01) and nucleotide selectivity (pol3-L612M), confers an “ultramutator” phenotype that rapidly drives extinction of haploid and diploid MMR-proficient cells. Here, we investigate antimutator mutations that encode amino acid substitutions in Pol δ that suppress this lethal phenotype. We find that most of the antimutator mutations individually suppress thepol3-01andpol3-L612Mmutator phenotypes. The locations of many of the amino acid substitutions in Pol δ resemble those of previously identified antimutator substitutions; however, two novel mutations encode substitutions (R674G and Q697R) of amino acids in the fingers domain that coordinate the incoming dNTP. These mutations are lethal withoutpol3-L612Mand markedly change the mutation spectra produced by thepol3-01,L612Mmutator allele, suggesting that they alter nucleotide selection to offset thepol3-L612Mmutator phenotype. Consistent with this hypothesis, mutations and drug treatments that perturb dNTP pool levels disproportionately influence the viability ofpol3-L612M,R674Gandpol3-L612M,Q697Rcells. Taken together, our findings suggest that mutation rate can evolve through genetic changes that alter the balance of dNTP binding and dissociation from DNA polymerases.
Neurodevelopmental Changes in Excitatory Synaptic Structure and Function in the Cerebral Cortex of Sanfilippo Syndrome IIIA Mice
Authors: Dwyer Chrissa A. , Scudder Samantha L. , Lin Ying , Dozier Lara E. , Phan Dustin , Allen Nicola J. , Patrick Gentry N. , Esko Jeffrey D.
Published: April 2017

Sanfilippo syndrome, MPS IIIA-D, results from deficits in lysosomal enzymes that specifically degrade heparan sulfate, a sulfated glycosaminoglycan. The accumulation of heparan sulfate results in neurological symptoms, culminating in extensive neurodegeneration and early death. To study the impact of storage in postnatal neurodevelopment, we examined murine models of MPS IIIA, which lack the enzyme sulfamidase. We show that changes occur in excitatory postsynaptic structure and function in the somatosensory cortex prior to signs of neurodegeneration. These changes coincide with accumulation of heparan sulfate with characteristic non-reducing ends, which is present at birth in the mutant mice. Accumulation of heparan sulfate was also detected in primary cultures of cortical neural cells, especially astrocytes. Accumulation of heparan sulfate in cultured astrocytes corresponded with augmented extracellular heparan sulfate and glypican 4 levels. Heparan sulfate from the cerebral cortex of MPS IIIA mice showed enhanced ability to increase glutamate AMPA receptor subunits at the cell surface of wild type neurons. These data support the idea that abnormalities in heparan sulfate content and distribution contribute to alterations in postsynaptic function. Our findings identify a disease-induced developmental phenotype that temporally overlaps with the onset of behavioral changes in a mouse model of MPS IIIA.
Serum Concentration of HDL Particles Predicts Mortality in Acute Heart Failure Patients
Authors: Potočnjak Ines , Degoricija Vesna , Trbušić Matias , Pregartner Gudrun , Berghold Andrea , Marsche Gunther , Frank Saša
Published: April 2017

Clinical studies have shown that assessing circulating concentrations of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is superior to HDL-cholesterol in predicting cardiovascular risk. We tested the hypothesis that circulating concentrations of HDL particles predict 3-month mortality of patients with acute heart failure (AHF). Out of 152 included patients, 52% were female, additionally the mean patient age was 75.2 ± 10.3 years, and three-month mortality was 27%. Serum lipoprotein profile at admission was determined by NMR spectroscopy. Univariate logistic regression analyses revealed a significant inverse association of total (odds ratio (OR) 0.38 per 1-SD increase, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.23–0.60, p < 0.001) and small HDL particle concentrations (OR 0.35 per 1-SD increase, 95% CI 0.19–0.60, p < 0.001) with 3-month mortality, whereas concentrations of large HDL particles (p = 0.353) or HDL-cholesterol (p = 0.107) showed no significant association. After adjustment for age, sex, mean arterial pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, glomerular filtration rate, urea, and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, both the total and small HDL particle concentrations remained significantly associated with 3-month mortality. Based on our results, we conclude that total and small HDL particle concentrations strongly and independently predict 3-month mortality in AHF patients.
Bioapplications of renal-clearable luminescent metal nanoparticles
Authors: Gong Lingshan , Wang Yaping , Liu Jinbin
Published: April 2017

This review summarizes the recent synthetic strategies of the renal-clearable luminescent metal nanoparticles, and discusses the biological behaviors and current disease-related applications of this type of biomaterials in tumor targeting, kidney disease and antimicrobial investigations.
Ti-doped α-Fe2O3 nanorods with controllable morphology by carbon layer coating for enhanced photoelectrochemical water oxidation
Authors: Yan Dejian , Liu Jikai , Shang Zhichao , Luo He'an
Published: April 2017

Carbon layer coating can restrain the structural aggregation of α-Fe2O3 nanorods upon 800 °C sintering and improve their PEC performance for water oxidation.
An all-atom molecular dynamics study of the anti-interferon signaling of Ebola virus: interaction mechanisms of EBOV VP24 binding to Karyopherin alpha5
Authors: Ding Jing-Na , Zhang Yan-Jun , Zhong Hui , Ao Cheng-Cheng , Li Jing , Han Ju-Guang
Published: April 2017

Mutations of Q184/N185/H186, R137/T138/Q139, R398 and R396 residues lead to significant loss of binding affinity of VP24–KPNA5.
Synthesis and structural investigation of 2-aminomethyl-3-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-propionic acid containing a peptide analogue of the amyloidogenic AS(6–7) sequence: inhibition of fibril formation
Authors: Paikar Arpita , Debnath Mintu , Podder Debasish , Sasmal Supriya , Haldar Debasish
Published: April 2017

The incorporation of a β-amino acid, namely 2-aminomethyl-3-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-propionic acid, inhibits amyloid-like fibril formation.
Low temperature synthesis of water dispersible F-doped TiO2 nanorods with enhanced photocatalytic activity
Authors: Zhao Jiaxu , Li Wenting , Li Xue , Zhang Xiaokai
Published: April 2017

F-doped TiO2 nanorods are prepared at 100 °C and atmospheric pressure in the presence of NaF, which show superior photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue under UV and visible irradiation.
Ferroelectric polarization of hydroxyapatite from density functional theory
Authors: Hu Shunbo , Jia Fanhao , Marinescu Cornelia , Cimpoesu Fanica , Qi Yuting , Tao Yongxue , Stroppa Alessandro , Ren Wei
Published: April 2017

The theoretical ferroelectric polarization of the low-temperature (monoclinic, P21) phase and the high-temperature (hexagonal, P63) phase of hydroxyapatite Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 is calculated based on the density functional theory (DFT).
Photoluminescence and lasing characteristics of single nonpolar GaN microwires
Authors: Yan S. S. , Chen A. Q. , Wu Y. Y. , Zhu H. , Wang X. H. , Ling C. C. , Su S. C.
Published: April 2017

Nonpolar a-axial GaN MWs were fabricated on a patterned Si substrate via metal–organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) without the assistance of any catalyst.
Distinctive oil shale pyrolysis behavior in indirectly heated fixed bed with internals
Authors: Lin Lanxin , Lai Dengguo , Shi Zhen , Han Zhennan , Xu Guangwen
Published: April 2017

Variation of chemical species from pyrolysis with temperature, with light oil/diesel and VGO dominant at temperatures below 450 °C and above 300 °C.
Carbon fibers/ZnO nanowires hybrid nanogenerator based on an insulating interface barrier
Authors: Du Yunzhe , Fu Chuankai , Gao Yunzhi , Liu Li , Liu Yawei , Xing Lixin , Zhao Feng
Published: April 2017

An insulating layer was used to replace the noble metal to accumulate net charge of a novel design ZnO nanowires nanogenerator.
Highly efficient large-scale preparation and electromagnetic property control of silica–NiFeP double shell composite hollow particles
Authors: Liao Bin , An Zhenguo , Zhang Jingjie
Published: April 2017

Micron-sized double shell composite hollow particles with excellent electromagnetic behavior are prepared using a highly efficient and large scale method.
Bicyclic ammonium ionic liquids as dense hypergolic fuels
Authors: Yuan Yutao , Zhang Yanqiang , Liu Long , Jiao Nianming , Dong Kun , Zhang Suojiang
Published: April 2017

1-Aza-bicyclo[2.2.2]octane/1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane-based dicyanamide possesses higher densities (1.06–1.31 cm−3) than the corresponding pyrrolidinium and imidazolium-based isomers, besides hypergolicity with white fuming nitric acid.
Three-dimensional architecture constructed from a graphene oxide nanosheet–polymer composite for high-flux forward osmosis membranes
Authors: Qin Detao , Liu Zhaoyang , Bai Hongwei , Sun Darren Delai
Published: April 2017

A novel three-dimensional interconnected porous architecture is successfully constructed from a GO-polymer composite and used as an FO membrane support layer.
Spatial selectivity of photodeposition reactions on polar surfaces of centrosymmetric ferroelastic γ-WO3
Authors: Pisat Ajay S. , Rohrer Gregory S. , Salvador Paul A.
Published: April 2017

Secondary electron images of selective (a) photocathodic Ag and (b) photoanodic MnO2 deposition on centrosymmetric ferroelastic domains of γ-WO3.
Facile synthesis of an eco-friendly nitrogen–phosphorus ammonium salt to enhance the durability and flame retardancy of cotton
Authors: Jia Yaling , Lu Yi , Zhang Guangxian , Liang Yaojia , Zhang Fengxiu
Published: April 2017

An eco-friendly AEGDP flame retardant reacted with –OH groups from cotton to enhance the durability and flame retardancy of cotton fibers.
Demonstration of enhanced carrier transport, charge separation, and long-term stability for photocatalytic water splitting by a rapid hot pressing process
Authors: Hung Wei-Hsuan , Yang Kun-Lin , Lai Sz-Nian , Yang Chin-Ru , Shyue Jing-Jong , Ku Ching-Shun , Cronin Stephen B.
Published: April 2017

The hot pressed sample demonstrated more than 6-fold enhancement compared to the untreated sample at an applied voltage of 1.2 V.
Manipulating the molecular conformation of a nanometer-thick environmentally friendly coating to control the surface energy
Authors: Kozbial Andrew , Guan Wei , Li Lei
Published: April 2017

Thermal annealing makes the environmentally friendly side-chain fluorocarbons have desired low surface energy.
Designing 3D topological insulators by 2D-Xene (X = Ge, Sn) sheet functionalization in GaGeTe-type structures
Authors: Pielnhofer F. , Menshchikova T. V. , Rusinov I. P. , Zeugner A. , Yu. Sklyadneva I. , Heid R. , Bohnen K.-P. , Golub P. , Baranov A. I. , Chulkov E. V. , Pfitzner A. , Ruck M. , Isaeva A.
Published: April 2017

First-principles calculations identify isostructural, layered AXTe (A = Ga, In; X = Ge, Sn) compounds as a host for topological phases.
Retraction: Enhanced photoluminescence, Raman spectra and field-emission behavior of indium-doped ZnO nanostructures
Authors: Bin Park Seung , Jin Sung Hyung
Published: April 2017

Retraction of ‘Enhanced photoluminescence, Raman spectra and field-emission behavior of indium-doped ZnO nanostructures’ by Khalid Mahmood et al., J. Mater. Chem. C, 2013, 1, 3138–3149.
Zinc is a determinant of the cytotoxicity of Ziram, a dithiocarbamate fungicide, in rat thymic lymphocytes: possible environmental risks
Authors: Kanemoto-Kataoka Yumiko , Oyama Tomohiro M. , Ishibashi Hitoshi , Oyama Yasuo
Published: April 2017

Ziram, one of the dithiocarbamate fungicides, is widely applied to agriculture because this agent protects various crops from fungal infections.
Auditory Environment Across the Life Span of Cochlear Implant Users: Insights From Data Logging
Authors: Busch Tobias , Vanpoucke Filiep , van Wieringen Astrid
Published: April 2017

Purpose

We describe the natural auditory environment of people with cochlear implants (CIs), how it changes across the life span, and how it varies between individuals.

Method

We performed a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of Cochlear Nucleus 6 CI sound-processor data logs. The logs were obtained from 1,501 people with CIs (ages 0–96 years). They covered over 2.4 million hr of implant use and indicated how much time the CI users had spent in various acoustical environments. We investigated exposure to spoken language, noise, music, and quiet, and analyzed variation between age groups, users, and countries.

Results

CI users spent a substantial part of their daily life in noisy environments. As a consequence, most speech was presented in background noise. We found significant differences between age groups for all auditory scenes. Yet even within the same age group and country, variability between individuals was substantial.

Conclusions

Regardless of their age, people with CIs face challenging acoustical environments in their daily life. Our results underline the importance of supporting them with assistive listening technology. Moreover, we found large differences between individuals' auditory diets that might contribute to differences in rehabilitation outcomes. Their causes and effects should be investigated further.
Thinned knowledge‐aided STAP by exploiting structural covariance matrix
Authors: Wang Yikai , He Zishu
Published: April 2017

The authors propose a thinned knowledge‐aided space–time adaptive processing (STAP) scheme based on structural prior information of the clutter covariance matrix (CCM). Due to the low‐rank Toeplitz‐block‐Toeplitz structure of the CCM, the CCM can be expressed by a series of basis matrices on the clutter ridge. In contrast to the expression based on the Vandermonde decomposition of the CCM, this expression can avoid searching of the clutter subspace. This expression also allows reducing the dimension of STAP and estimating the CCM with compressed data. Based on this expression, the authors derive a closed‐form CCM estimate using a modified generalised least squares (GLS) method, and the proposed estimator is unbiased, consistent and more asymptotically efficient than the conventional GLS method. We derive the average signal‐to‐clutter‐noise ratio loss (SCNRL) of the STAP filter using the proposed CCM estimates. Exploiting the prior structural information of the CCM can enhance the STAP performance with a limited sample size, and a lower compression rate can achieve more improvement. Finally, a unified framework is proposed for covariance estimation and SCNRL analysis when structural information of the CCM is exploited. Simulations also validate these results.
Acid-Catalyzed Protocol for the Synthesis of Novel 6-Substituted Tetrahydroquinolines by Highly Regioselective C6-Functionalization of Tetrahydroquinolines with Chromene Hemiacetals or β-Nitrostyrenes
Authors: Meshram Harshadas , Kumar Nandigama , Kumar Rayala , Rao L. , Muthineni Narmada , Ramesh Tungana , Babu Nanubolu
Published: April 2017

A simple and novel method has been developed for the C6-functionalization of unprotected tetrahydroquinoline with chromenes or β-nitrostyrenes in aqueous medium to afford novel 6-substituted tetrahydroquinolines. This method is simple and convenient, and has low costs and mild reaction conditions. Regioselectively C6-alkylated products were obtained exclusively from tetrahydroquinoline, without the formation of C5-, C7-, C8-, or N-alkylated products.