bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dimensions of slowly escaping sets and annular itineraries for exponential functions
Authors: SIXSMITH D. J.
Published: April 2015

We study the iteration of functions in the exponential family. We construct a number of sets, consisting of points which escape to infinity ‘slowly’, and which have Hausdorff dimension equal to$1$. We prove these results by using the idea of anannular itinerary. In the case of a general transcendental entire function we show that one of these sets, theuniformly slowly escaping set, has strong dynamical properties and we give a necessary and sufficient condition for this set to be non-empty.
Expanding Context to Redefine Theories: Africa in Management Research
Authors: George Gerard
Published: April 2015

As a scholarly field matures, theories emerge that guide paradigms and shape consensus in academic discourse. Management theories reflect a shared consensus on how individual behaviors or organizational actions result in a certain set of outcomes and under specific conditions. Clearly, theory is paramount to guiding whether models of potential relationships bear out and how and why we would expect a relationship or specific outcome. Yet much of this theory is derived from cumulative empirical evidence from a ‘context’ that has remained a silent partner in our quest for a theoretical contribution. A growing number of papers emphasize the theoretical contribution as disembodied from the context in which the empirical evidence of a causal relationship was gleaned. As an applied field, the emphasis on theory with disregard to the context of management practice presents a challenge for progress both as a scholarly domain and for credibility in what we teach and how we consult, or how we effect positive social change. This guest editorial joins a chorus of recent editorials in this journal (e.g., Tsui, 2013) and elsewhere (e.g., George, 2014) that suggest we rethink management scholarship, rejuvenate our ideas for research, and embed a nugget of practice in scholarly discourse.
Simultaneous ingestion of high-methoxy pectin from apple can enhance absorption of quercetin in human subjects
Authors: Nishijima Tomohiko , Takida Yoshiki , Saito Yasuo , Ikeda Takayuki , Iwai Kunihisa
Published: April 2015

Chronic ingestion of apple pectin has been shown to increase the absorption of quercetin in rats. The present study was designed to elucidate whether the simultaneous ingestion of quercetin with apple pectin could enhance the absorption of quercetin in humans, and the effects of dose dependency and degree of pectin methylation on quercetin absorption were also investigated. Healthy volunteers (n19) received 200 ml of 0·5 mg/ml of quercetin drinks with or without 10 mg/ml of pectin each in a randomised cross-over design study with over 1-week intervals; urine samples from all the subjects were collected within 24 h after ingestion of the test drinks, and urinary deconjugated quercetin and its metabolites were determined using HPLC. The sum of urinary quercetin and its metabolites excreted was increased by 2·5-fold by the simultaneous ingestion of pectin. The metabolism of methylated quercetin (isorhamnetin and tamarixetin) was not affected by pectin ingestion. In six volunteers, who received quercetin drinks containing 0, 3 and 10 mg/ml of pectin, the sum of urinary quercetin and its metabolites excreted also increased in a pectin dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the simultaneous ingestion of quercetin with low-methoxy and high-methoxy pectin, respectively, increased the sum of urinary excretion of quercetin and its metabolites by 1·69-fold and significantly by 2·13-fold compared with the ingestion of quercetin without pectin. These results elucidated that apple pectin immediately enhanced quercetin absorption in human subjects, and that its enhancing effect was dependent on the dose and degree of pectin methylation. The results also suggested that the viscosity of pectin may play a role in the enhancement of quercetin absorption.
Effects of two whole-grain barley varieties on caecal SCFA, gut microbiota and plasma inflammatory markers in rats consuming low- and high-fat diets
Authors: Zhong Yadong , Marungruang Nittaya , Fåk Frida , Nyman Margareta
Published: April 2015

Mixed-linkage β-glucans are fermented by the colon microbiota that give rise to SCFA. Propionic and butyric acids have been found to play an important role in colonic health, as well as they may have extraintestinal metabolic effects. The aim of the present study was to investigate how two whole-grain barley varieties differing in dietary fibre and β-glucan content affected caecal SCFA, gut microbiota and some plasma inflammatory markers in rats consuming low-fat (LF) or high-fat (HF) diets. Barley increased the caecal pool of SCFA in rats fed the LF and HF diets compared with those fed the control diet, and the effect was generally dependent on fibre content, an exception was butyric acid in the LF setting. Furthermore, whole-grain barley reduced plasma lipopolysaccharide-binding protein and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, increased the caecal abundance ofLactobacillusand decreased theBacteroides fragilisgroup, but increased the number ofBifidobacteriumonly when dietary fat was consumed at a low level. Fat content influenced the effects of barley: rats fed the HF diets had a higher caecal pool of acetic and propionic acids, higher concentrations of amino acids and higher amounts of lipids in the portal plasma and liver than rats fed the LF diets; however, less amounts of butyric acid were generally formed. Interestingly, there was an increase in the caecal abundance ofAkkermansiaand the caecal pool of succinic acid, and a decrease in the proportion ofBifidobacteriumand theClostridium leptumgroup. In summary, whole-grain barley decreased HF diet-induced inflammation, which was possibly related to the formation of SCFA and changes in microbiota composition. High β-glucan content in the diet was associated with reduced plasma cholesterol levels.
Midlife plasma vitamin D concentrations and performance in different cognitive domains assessed 13 years later
Authors: Assmann Karen E. , Touvier Mathilde , Andreeva Valentina A. , Deschasaux Mélanie , Constans Thierry , Hercberg Serge , Galan Pilar , Kesse-Guyot Emmanuelle
Published: April 2015

25-Hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) insufficiency is very common in many countries. Yet, the extent to which 25(OH)D status affects cognitive performance remains unclear. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the cross-time association between midlife plasma 25(OH)D concentrations and subsequent cognitive performance, using a subsample from the French ‘SUpplémentation en Vitamines et Minéraux AntioXydants’ randomised trial (SU.VI.MAX, 1994–2002) and the SU.VI.MAX 2 observational follow-up study (2007–9). 25(OH)D concentrations were measured in plasma samples drawn in 1994–5, using an electrochemoluminescent immunoassay. Cognitive performance was evaluated in 2007–9 with a neuropsychological battery including phonemic and semantic fluency tasks, the RI-48 (rappel indicé-48 items) cued recall test, the Trail Making Test and the forward and backward digit span. Cognitive factors were extracted via principal component analysis (PCA). Data from 1009 individuals, aged 45–60 years at baseline, with available 25(OH)D and cognitive measurements were analysed by multivariable linear regression models and ANCOVA, stratified by educational level. PCA yielded two factors, designated as ‘verbal memory’ (strongly correlated with the RI-48 and phonemic/semantic fluency tasks) and ‘short-term/working memory’ (strongly correlated with the digit span tasks). In the fully adjusted regression model, among individuals with low education, there was a positive association between 25(OH)D concentrations and the ‘short-term/working memory’ factor (P= 0·02), mainly driven by the backward digit span (P= 0·004). No association with either cognitive factor was found among better educated participants. In conclusion, higher midlife 25(OH)D concentrations were linked to better outcomes concerning short-term and working memory. However, these results were specific to subjects with low education, suggesting a modifying effect of cognitive reserve.
Social Investment and Poverty Reduction: A Comparative Analysis across Fifteen European Countries
Authors: VAN VLIET OLAF , WANG CHEN
Published: April 2015

Despite the fact that employment rates have increased in many European countries since the beginning of the 2000s, poverty rates have stagnated and in some countries even increased. In the welfare state literature, it has been argued that these disappointing poverty trends may be partly attributable to the reforming of traditional welfare state programmes into social investment policies, because the latter are less redistributive. To date, there are only a few systematic comparative empirical analyses which focus on the outcomes of social investment policies. This paper contributes to the social investment literature by empirically analysing the distributional effects of shifts from traditional welfare state arrangements to social investment policies in fifteen European countries for the period 1997–2007. Our results suggest that the detrimental effect of social investment policies, described in some specific cases in the literature, cannot be generalised across a larger group of European countries. However, for European countries other than the Nordic countries, the results provide some evidence for a linkage between stagnating or increasing poverty trends and shifts in expenditures to new welfare state programmes.
Implicit use of radicals in learning characters for nonnative learners of Chinese
Authors: ZHANG JIE , LI HONG , DONG QIONG , XU JIE , SHOLAR ELIZABETH
Published: April 2015

This study investigated whether beginning nonnative learners of Chinese can use phonological and semantic information of radicals to learn the sounds and meanings of new Chinese characters. Thirty-four seventh- and eighth-grade American adolescents, who received intensive Chinese instruction for one semester, were taught 16 compound pseudocharacters paired with novel pictures over three learning trials. After each learning trial, students were asked to produce the sounds and meanings of pseudocharacters in which semantic transparency and phonetic regularity of radicals were manipulated. Results showed a facilitation effect of transparent semantic radicals in learning character meanings in early trials. There was a trend that students learned to read regular and transparent characters better than irregular and opaque characters. The ability to learn orthography–pronunciation association uniquely predicted Chinese word reading after controlling for semantic and phonetic radical knowledge. These findings suggest a predominant use of semantic strategies and the importance of orthography to phonology mappings in learning to read Chinese for beginning nonnative learners of Chinese.
Autonomous Navigation of Mars Probes by Combining Optical Data of Viewing Martian Moons and SST Data
Authors: Ma Pengbin , Jiang Fanghua , Baoyin Hexi
Published: April 2015

Autonomous navigation has become a key technology for deep space exploration missions. Phobos and Deimos, the two natural moons of Mars, are important optical navigation information sources available for Mars missions. However, during the phase of the probe orbiting close to Mars, the ephemeris bias and the difference between the barycentre and the centre of brightness of a Martian moon will result in low navigation accuracy. On the other hand, Satellite-to-Satellite Tracking (SST) can achieve convenient and high accuracy observation for autonomous navigation. However, this cannot apply for a Mars mission during the Mars orbit phase only by SST data because of a rank defect problem of the Jacobian matrix. To improve the autonomous navigation accuracy of Mars probes, this paper presents a new autonomous navigation method that combines SST radio data provided by two probes and optical measurement by viewing the natural Martian moons. Two sequential orbit determination algorithms, an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) and Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF) are compared. Simulation results show this method can obtain high autonomous navigation accuracy during the probe's Mars Orbit phase.
Nationwide outbreak of multidrug-resistant Salmonella Heidelberg infections associated with ground turkey: United States, 2011
Authors: ROUTH J. A. , PRINGLE J. , MOHR M. , BIDOL S. , ARENDS K. , ADAMS-CAMERON M. , HANCOCK W. T. , KISSLER B. , RICKERT R. , FOLSTER J. , TOLAR B. , BOSCH S. , BARTON BEHRAVESH C. , WILLIAMS I. T. , GIERALTOWSKI L.
Published: April 2015

On 23 May 2011, CDC identified a multistate cluster of Salmonella Heidelberg infections and two multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates from ground turkey retail samples with indistinguishable pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns. We defined cases as isolation of outbreak strains in persons with illness onset between 27 February 2011 and 10 November 2011. Investigators collected hypothesis-generating questionnaires and shopper-card information. Food samples from homes and retail outlets were collected and cultured. We identified 136 cases of S. Heidelberg infection in 34 states. Shopper-card information, leftover ground turkey from a patient's home containing the outbreak strain and identical antimicrobial resistance profiles of clinical and retail samples pointed to plant A as the source. On 3 August, plant A recalled 36 million pounds of ground turkey. This outbreak increased consumer interest in MDR Salmonella infections acquired through United States-produced poultry and played a vital role in strengthening food safety policies related to Salmonella and raw ground poultry.
The relationship between chitotriosidase activity and tuberculosis
Authors: CHEN M. , DENG J. , LI W. , SU C. , XIA Y. , WANG M. , LI X. , ABUAKU B. K. , TAN H. , WEN S. W.
Published: April 2015

Chitotriosidase, secreted by activated macrophages, is a biomarker of activated macrophages. In this study, we explored whether chitotriosidase could be adopted as a biomarker to evaluate the curative effect on tuberculosis (TB). Five counties were randomly selected out of 122 counties/cities/districts in Hunan Province, China. Our cases were all TB patients who were newly diagnosed or had been receiving treatment at the Centers for Disease Control (CDCs) of these five counties between April and August in 2009. Healthy controls were selected from a community health facility in the Kaifu district of Changsha City after frequency-matching of gender and age with the cases. Chitotriosidase activity was evaluated by a fluorometric assay. Categorical variables were analysed with the χ2 test. Measurement data in multiple groups were tested with analysis of variance and least significant difference (LSD). Correlation between chitotriosidase activity and the degree of radiological extent (DRE) was examined by Spearman's rank correlation test. The average chitotriosidase activity levels of new TB cases, TB cases with different periods of treatment (<3, 3–6, >6 months) and the control group were 54·47, 34·77, 21·54, 12·73 and 10·53 nmol/h.ml, respectively. Chitotriosidase activity in TB patients declined along with the continuity of treatment. The chitotriosidase activity of both smear-positive and the smear-negative pulmonary TB patients decreased after 6 months' treatment to normal levels (P < 0·05). Moreover, chitotriosidase activity was positively correlated with DRE (r = 0·607, P < 0·001). Our results indicate that chitotriosidase might be a marker of TB treatment effects. However, further follow-up study of TB patients is needed in the future.
Age-specific measles mortality during the late 19th–early 20th centuries
Authors: SHANKS G. D. , WALLER M. , BRIEM H. , GOTTFREDSSON M.
Published: April 2015

Measles mortality fell prior to the introduction of vaccines or antibiotics. By examining historical mortality reports we sought to determine how much measles mortality was due to epidemiological factors such as isolation from major population centres or increased age at time of infection. Age-specific records were available from Aberdeen; Scotland; New Zealand and the states of Australia at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. Despite the relative isolation of Australia, measles mortality was concentrated in very young children similar to Aberdeen. In the more isolated states of Tasmania, Western Australia and Queensland adults made up 14–15% of measles deaths as opposed to 8–9% in Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales. Mortality in Iceland and Faroe Islands during the 1846 measles epidemic was used as an example of islands isolated from respiratory pathogens. The transition from crisis mortality across all ages to deaths concentrated in young children occurred prior to the earliest age-specific mortality data collected. Factors in addition to adult age of infection and epidemiological isolation such as nutritional status and viral virulence may have contributed to measles mortality outcomes a century ago.
Epilepsy in older people
Authors: Smith Nicola , Tiwari Divya
Published: April 2015

Epilepsy is the third most common neurological disorder of older adults, with huge functional and psychological implications. It is often difficult to diagnose in the presence of cognitive impairment and lack of a witness account. The most common identifiable causes of epilepsy in old age are cerebrovascular disease and dementia. New guidelines recommend starting treatment after first unprovoked seizure. If there is any doubt about the diagnosis, electroencephalography (EEG) should be considered, or ‘wait and watch’. The aim of treatment should be to fully control seizure activity with the most effective monotherapy and fewest possible side-effects. Drug compliance is often difficult to achieve in older adults.
Cartesian differential categories revisited
Authors: CRUTTWELL G. S. H.
Published: April 2015

We revisit the definition of Cartesian differential categories, showing that a slightly more general version is useful for a number of reasons. As one application, we show that these general differential categories are comonadic over categories with finite products, so that every category with finite products has an associated cofree differential category. We also work out the corresponding results when the categories involved have restriction structure, and show that these categories are closed under splitting restriction idempotents.
Dictatorship, Democracy and Portuguese Urbanisation, 1966–1989: Towards Lourinhã’sNovo Mercado Municipaland its ‘European’ Landscape
Authors: COSTA RAPHAEL
Published: April 2015

This article explores a Portuguese town's latest market hall and adjoining new town square. Lourinhã, a town in the north of the District of Lisbon, introduced plans in 1966 to renovate its urban landscape, reorienting the town away from the cramped streets of the medieval centre to a new, open and manageable central square. Over the next forty years, and despite the fall of the dictatorship in 1974, Lourinhã’s municipal government, enjoying tacit support from its citizens, used tools such as electrical infrastructure and legislation to manage and develop what came to be called a ‘European’ landscape.
Masters and Servants: Economists and Bureaucrats in the Dispute over Norwegian EEC Membership in 1972
Authors: LIE EINAR
Published: April 2015

In the dispute over Norwegian EEC membership in 1972, a large number of economists in academic life and public administration took part in organised opposition against future membership. Their efforts to prevent economic and financial integration with the Common Market are important for understanding the depth and strength of Norwegian Euroscepticism. This article shows how this scepticism was rooted in the economic profession's reasoning about economic planning and economic policy making. Special attention is given to the opposition from economists within the government apparatus itself, as this both diminished the authority of the government's pro-membership arguments and challenged norms regulating civil servants’ conduct.
The Party and the People: Totalitarian States and Popular Opinion
Authors: CORNER PAUL
Published: April 2015

In reply to Patrick Bernhard's critical review of my recent book I will make some brief general observations about the study of totalitarian and would-be totalitarian regimes.

Some preliminary remarks are necessary. Bernhard locates his review within the context of the debate over Italians' consensus for Fascism – a debate continuing in Italy, with highs and lows, since the mid-1970s. His own approach is clearly very much influenced by the methodologies of cultural history; he looks for emotions, sentiments, practices and experiences in order to form a picture of how Italians lived under the regime. He approves of the history that finds these. There is much to commend this approach, and I would certainly not argue against its value – cultural studies do, indeed, have a great deal to offer. But the methodology of cultural studies is not, and cannot be, the only approach, nor its absence the only criterion for criticism.
The Ethics of Consent—Regime and People in the Historiographies of Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany
Authors: PERGHER ROBERTA
Published: April 2015

In his trenchant and stimulating review article Patrick Bernhard surveyed a series of English-language studies that focus in one way or another on the relationship between the fascist regime and the Italian people. Drawing on the historiography of Nazi Germany, Bernhard took these studies as his cue to argue that much of the historiography on Italian Fascism is outdated. In particular, he sees the approach adopted to assessing the regime's appeal as often old-fashioned, with the result that Italian historians have vastly underestimated ordinary Italians’ embrace of fascism and their complicity in its violence and war crimes. At the same time, he argues that histories of Nazi Germany and fascist Italy show far more parallels and intersections than have been acknowledged of late and calls on Italian historians to turn their attention to this entangled history.
Development of an Integrated Thermocouple for the Accurate Sample Temperature Measurement During High Temperature Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (HT-ESEM) Experiments
Authors: Podor Renaud , Pailhon Damien , Ravaux Johann , Brau Henri-Pierre
Published: April 2015

We have developed two integrated thermocouple (TC) crucible systems that allow precise measurement of sample temperature when using a furnace associated with an environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM). Sample temperatures measured with these systems are precise (±5°C) and reliable. The TC crucible systems allow working with solids and liquids (silicate melts or ionic liquids), independent of the gas composition and pressure. These sample holder designs will allow end users to perform experiments at high temperature in the ESEM chamber with high precision control of the sample temperature.
Why Trade Agreements are not Setting Information Free: The Lost History and Reinvigorated Debate over Cross-Border Data Flows, Human Rights, and National Security
Authors: AARONSON SUSAN
Published: April 2015

Herein, we examine how the United States and the European Union use trade agreements to advance the free flow of information and to promote digital rights online. In the 1980s and 1990s, after US policymakers tried to include language governing the free flow of information in trade agreements, other nations feared a threat to their sovereignty and their ability to restrict cross-border data flows in the interest of privacy or national security.

In the twenty-first century, again many states have not responded positively to US and EU efforts to facilitate the free flow of information. They worry that the US dominates both the Internet economy and Internet governance in ways that benefit its interests. After the Snowden allegations, many states adopted strategies that restricted rather than enhanced the free flow of information. Without deliberate intent, efforts to set information free through trade liberalization may be making the Internet less free.

Finally, the two trade giants are not fully in agreement on Internet freedom, but neither has linked policies to promote the free flow of information with policies to advance digital rights. Moreover, they do not agree as to when restrictions on information are necessary and when they are protectionist.
The Replication Paradox: Combining Studies can Decrease Accuracy of Effect Size Estimates
Authors: Nuijten Michèle B. , van Assen Marcel A. L. M. , Veldkamp Coosje L. S. , Wicherts Jelte M.
Published: April 2015

Replication is often viewed as the demarcation between science and nonscience. However, contrary to the commonly held view, we show that in the current (selective) publication system replications may increase bias in effect size estimates. Specifically, we examine the effect of replication on bias in estimated population effect size as a function of publication bias and the studies’ sample size or power. We analytically show that incorporating the results of published replication studies will in general not lead to less bias in the estimated population effect size. We therefore conclude that mere replication will not solve the problem of overestimation of effect sizes. We will discuss the implications of our findings for interpreting results of published and unpublished studies, and for conducting and interpreting results of meta-analyses. We also discuss solutions for the problem of overestimation of effect sizes, such as discarding and not publishing small studies with low power, and implementing practices that completely eliminate publication bias (e.g., study registration).
The promise of γδ T cells and the γδ T cell receptor for cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Legut Mateusz , Cole David K , Sewell Andrew K
Published: April 2015

γδ T cells form an important part of adaptive immune responses against infections and malignant transformation. The molecular targets of human γδ T cell receptors (TCRs) remain largely unknown, but recent studies have confirmed the recognition of phosphorylated prenyl metabolites, lipids in complex with CD1 molecules and markers of cellular stress. All of these molecules are upregulated on various cancer types, highlighting the potential importance of the γδ T cell compartment in cancer immunosurveillance and paving the way for the use of γδ TCRs in cancer therapy. Ligand recognition by the γδ TCR often requires accessory/co-stimulatory stress molecules on both T cells and target cells; this cellular stress context therefore provides a failsafe against harmful self-reactivity. Unlike αβ T cells, γδ T cells recognise their targets irrespective of HLA haplotype and therefore offer exciting possibilities for off-the-shelf, pan-population cancer immunotherapies. Here, we present a review of known ligands of human γδ T cells and discuss the promise of harnessing these cells for cancer treatment.
Decoding the regulatory landscape of melanoma reveals TEADS as regulators of the invasive cell state
Authors: Verfaillie Annelien , Imrichova Hana , Atak Zeynep Kalender , Dewaele Michael , Rambow Florian , Hulselmans Gert , Christiaens Valerie , Svetlichnyy Dmitry , Luciani Flavie , Van den Mooter Laura , Claerhout Sofie , Fiers Mark , Journe Fabrice , Ghanem Ghanem-Elias , Herrmann Carl , Halder Georg , Marine Jean-Christophe , Aerts Stein
Published: April 2015

Transcriptional reprogramming of proliferative melanoma cells into a phenotypically distinct invasive cell subpopulation is a critical event at the origin of metastatic spreading. Here we generate transcriptome, open chromatin and histone modification maps of melanoma cultures; and integrate this data with existing transcriptome and DNA methylation profiles from tumour biopsies to gain insight into the mechanisms underlying this key reprogramming event. This shows thousands of genomic regulatory regions underlying the proliferative and invasive states, identifying SOX10/MITF and AP-1/TEAD as regulators, respectively. Knockdown of TEADs shows a previously unrecognized role in the invasive gene network and establishes a causative link between these transcription factors, cell invasion and sensitivity to MAPK inhibitors. Using regulatory landscapes and in silico analysis, we show that transcriptional reprogramming underlies the distinct cellular states present in melanoma. Furthermore, it reveals an essential role for the TEADs, linking it to clinically relevant mechanisms such as invasion and resistance.
CDK1 structures reveal conserved and unique features of the essential cell cycle CDK
Authors: Brown Nicholas R. , Korolchuk Svitlana , Martin Mathew P. , Stanley Will A. , Moukhametzianov Rouslan , Noble Martin E. M. , Endicott Jane A.
Published: April 2015

CDK1 is the only essential cell cycle CDK in human cells and is required for successful completion of M-phase. It is the founding member of the CDK family and is conserved across all eukaryotes. Here we report the crystal structures of complexes of CDK1–Cks1 and CDK1–cyclin B–Cks2. These structures confirm the conserved nature of the inactive monomeric CDK fold and its ability to be remodelled by cyclin binding. Relative to CDK2–cyclin A, CDK1–cyclin B is less thermally stable, has a smaller interfacial surface, is more susceptible to activation segment dephosphorylation and shows differences in the substrate sequence features that determine activity. Both CDK1 and CDK2 are potential cancer targets for which selective compounds are required. We also describe the first structure of CDK1 bound to a potent ATP-competitive inhibitor and identify aspects of CDK1 structure and plasticity that might be exploited to develop CDK1-selective inhibitors.
Dynamic imaging of the growth plate cartilage reveals multiple contributors to skeletal morphogenesis
Authors: Li Yuwei , Trivedi Vikas , Truong Thai V. , Koos David S. , Lansford Rusty , Chuong Cheng-Ming , Warburton David , Moats Rex A. , Fraser Scott E.
Published: April 2015

The diverse morphology of vertebrate skeletal system is genetically controlled, yet the means by which cells shape the skeleton remains to be fully illuminated. Here we perform quantitative analyses of cell behaviours in the growth plate cartilage, the template for long bone formation, to gain insights into this process. Using a robust avian embryonic organ culture, we employ time-lapse two-photon laser scanning microscopy to observe proliferative cells’ behaviours during cartilage growth, resulting in cellular trajectories with a spreading displacement mainly along the tissue elongation axis. We build a novel software toolkit of quantitative methods to segregate the contributions of various cellular processes to the cellular trajectories. We find that convergent-extension, mitotic cell division, and daughter cell rearrangement do not contribute significantly to the observed growth process; instead, extracellular matrix deposition and cell volume enlargement are the key contributors to embryonic cartilage elongation.
Waveform Selectivity at the Same Frequency
Authors: Wakatsuchi Hiroki , Anzai Daisuke , Rushton Jeremiah J. , Gao Fei , Kim Sanghoon , Sievenpiper Daniel F.
Published: April 2015

Electromagnetic properties depend on the composition of materials, i.e. either angstrom scales of molecules or, for metamaterials, subwavelength periodic structures. Each material behaves differently in accordance with the frequency of an incoming electromagnetic wave due to the frequency dispersion or the resonance of the periodic structures. This indicates that if the frequency is fixed, the material always responds in the same manner unless it has nonlinearity. However, such nonlinearity is controlled by the magnitude of the incoming wave or other bias. Therefore, it is difficult to distinguish different incoming waves at the same frequency. Here we present a new concept of circuit-based metasurfaces to selectively absorb or transmit specific types of waveforms even at the same frequency. The metasurfaces, integrated with schottky diodes as well as either capacitors or inductors, selectively absorb short or long pulses, respectively. The two types of circuit elements are then combined to absorb or transmit specific waveforms in between. This waveform selectivity gives us another degree of freedom to control electromagnetic waves in various fields including wireless communications, as our simulation reveals that the metasurfaces are capable of varying bit error rates in response to different waveforms.
MiRNA and TF co-regulatory network analysis for the pathology and recurrence of myocardial infarction
Authors: Lin Ying , Sibanda Vusumuzi Leroy , Zhang Hong-Mei , Hu Hui , Liu Hui , Guo An-Yuan
Published: April 2015

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a leading cause of death in the world and many genes are involved in it. Transcription factor (TFs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of gene expression. We hypothesized that miRNAs and TFs might play combinatory regulatory roles in MI. After collecting MI candidate genes and miRNAs from various resources, we constructed a comprehensive MI-specific miRNA-TF co-regulatory network by integrating predicted and experimentally validated TF and miRNA targets. We found some hub nodes (e.g. miR-16 and miR-26) in this network are important regulators and the network can be severed as a bridge to interpret the associations of previous results, which is shown by the case of miR-29 in this study. We also constructed a regulatory network for MI recurrence and found several important genes (e.g. DAB2, BMP6, miR-320 and miR-103), the abnormal expressions of which may be potential regulatory mechanisms and markers of MI recurrence. At last we proposed a cellular model to discuss major TF and miRNA regulators with signaling pathways in MI. This study provides more details on gene expression regulation and regulators involved in MI progression and recurrence. It also linked up and interpreted many previous results.
A Novel 96well-formatted Micro-gap Plate Enabling Drug Response Profiling on Primary Tumour Samples
Authors: Ma Wei-Yuan , Hsiung Lo-Chang , Wang Chen-Ho , Chiang Chi-Ling , Lin Ching-Hung , Huang Chiun-Sheng , Wo Andrew M.
Published: April 2015

Drug-based treatments are the most widely used interventions for cancer management. Personalized drug response profiling remains inherently challenging with low cell count harvested from tumour sample. We present a 96well-formatted microfluidic plate with built-in micro-gap that preserves up to 99.2% of cells during multiple assay/wash operation and only 9,000 cells needed for a single reagent test (i.e. 1,000 cells per test spot x 3 selected concentration x triplication), enabling drug screening and compatibility with conventional automated workstations. Results with MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines showed that no statistical significance was found in dose-response between the device and conventional 96-well plate control. Primary tumour samples from breast cancer patients tested in the device also showed good IC50 prediction. With drug screening of primary cancer cells must consider a wide range of scenarios, e.g. suspended/attached cell types and rare/abundant cell availability, the device enables high throughput screening even for suspended cells with low cell count since the signature microfluidic cell-trapping feature ensures cell preservation in a multiple solution exchange protocol.
The role of TORC1 in muscle development in Drosophila
Authors: Hatfield Isabelle , Harvey Innocence , Yates Erika R. , Redd JeAnna R. , Reiter Lawrence T. , Bridges Dave
Published: April 2015

Myogenesis is an important process during both development and muscle repair. Previous studies suggest that mTORC1 plays a role in the formation of mature muscle from immature muscle precursor cells. Here we show that gene expression for several myogenic transcription factors includingMyf5,MyogandMef2cbut notMyoDand myosin heavy chain isoforms decrease when C2C12 cells are treated with rapamycin, supporting a role for mTORC1 pathway during muscle development. To investigate the possibility that mTORC1 can regulate musclein vivowe ablated the essential dTORC1 subunitRaptorinDrosophila melanogasterand found that muscle-specific knockdown ofRaptorcauses flies to be too weak to emerge from their pupal cases during eclosion. Using a series of GAL4 drivers we also show that muscle-specificRaptorknockdown also causes shortened lifespan, even when eclosure is unaffected. Together these results highlight an important role for TORC1 in muscle development, integrity and function in both Drosophila and mammalian cells.
Fabrication of Ordered Mullite Nanowhisker Array with Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering Effect
Authors: Yang Tao , Wang Enhui , Wang Fuqiang , Chou Kuochih , Hou Xinmei
Published: April 2015

Mullite nanowhiskers are prepared by a facile technique at low temperature using mica and AlF3 as raw material. Mica acts as reactant as well as substrate. By controlling the reaction temperature and holding time, the mullite nanowhisker array with uniform morphology is obtained. The nanowhisker array possesses Al-rich single crystalline with an average of 80 nm in diameter and 20 μm in length. After decorated with Au nanoparticles, the array exhibits high surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activity with an SERS enhancement factor (EF) of 1.35 × 109. It also remains good SERS signal detection with a relative standard deviation of 7.33% under corrosion condition.
Levosimendan displays anti-inflammatory effects and decreases MPO bioavailability in patients with severe heart failure
Authors: Adam Matti , Meyer Sven , Knors Henning , Klinke Anna , Radunski Ulf K. , Rudolph Tanja K. , Rudolph Volker , Spin Joshua M. , Tsao Philip S. , Costard-Jäckle Angelika , Baldus Stephan
Published: April 2015

Treatment of decompensated heart failure often includes administration of levosimendan. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is released during polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) degranulation and mediates dysregulation of vascular tone in heart failure. We evaluated the effects of levosimendan-treatment on MPO in patients with acute decompensation of chronic heart failure over a one week course. Plasma MPO levels were significantly decreased after levosimendan treatment (from 252.1 ± 31.1 pmol/l at baseline to 215.02 ± 27.96 pmol/l at 6 h, p < 0.05). Ex vivo incubation of whole blood with levosimendan decreased MPO release after PMN-stimulation (8.2 ± 1.4-fold increase at baseline vs. 6.0 ± 1.1-fold increase with levosimendan). MPO levels also significantly correlated with diastolic blood pressure over the time course. In a multivariate linear model, the main contributor to systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure was level of PMN elastase. MPO contributed only in heparin-treated patients, suggesting a more significant role for endothelial-bound MPO than for circulating MPO or elastase with respect to blood pressure regulation. We here provide the first evidence that levosimendan treatment inhibits MPO release by PMNs in decompensated heart failure patients. This mechanism may regulate endothelial function and vascular tone in heart failure patients.
Acute exercise does not decrease liver fat in men with overweight or NAFLD
Authors: Bilet L. , Brouwers B. , van Ewijk P. A. , Hesselink M. K. C. , Kooi M. E. , Schrauwen P. , Schrauwen-Hinderling V. B.
Published: April 2015

Elevated hepatic lipid content (IntraHepatic Lipid, IHL) increases the risk of metabolic complications. Although prolonged exercise training lowers IHL, it is unknown if acute exercise has the same effect. Furthermore, hepatic ATP content may be related to insulin resistance and IHL. We aimed to investigate if acute exercise leads to changes in IHL and whether this is accompanied by changes in hepatic ATP. Twenty-one men (age 54.8 ± 7.2 years, BMI 29.7 ± 2.2 kg/m2) performed a 2 h cycling protocol, once while staying fasted and once while ingesting glucose. IHL was determined at baseline, 30 min post-exercise and 4 h post-exercise. Additionally ATP/Total P ratio was measured at baseline and 4 h post-exercise. Compared with baseline values we did not observe any statistically significant changes in IHL within 30 min post-exercise in neither the fasted nor the glucose-supplemented condition. However, IHL was elevated 4 h post-exercise compared with baseline in the fasted condition (from 8.3 ± 1.8 to 8.7 ± 1.8%, p = 0.010), an effect that was blunted by glucose supplementation (from 8.3 ± 1.9 to 8.3 ± 1.9%, p = 0.789). Acute exercise does not decrease liver fat in overweight middle-aged men. Moreover, IHL increased 4 h post-exercise in the fasted condition, an increase that was absent in the glucose-supplemented condition. These data suggest that a single bout of exercise may not be able to lower IHL.
Defining Minimum Essential Factors to Derive Highly Pure Human Endothelial Cells from iPS/ES Cells in an Animal Substance-Free System
Authors: Wu Yu-Ting , I.-Shing Yu  , Tsai Kuen-Jer , Shih Chien-Yu , Hwang Shiaw-Min , Su Ih-Jen , Chiang Po-Min
Published: April 2015

It is desirable to obtain unlimited supplies of endothelial cells for research and therapeutics. However, current methods of deriving endothelial cells from humans suffer from issues, such as limited supplies, contamination from animal substances and lengthy/complicated procedures. In this article we developed a way to differentiate human iPS and ES cells to highly pure endothelial cells in 5 days. The chemically defined system is robust, easy to perform and free of animal substances. Using the system, we verified that combined TGFβ and canonical Wnt agonists are essential and sufficient for iPS/ES cell-to-mesoderm transition. Besides, VEGF-KDR signaling alone is required for endothelial formation at high density while supplementation with FGF allows for colonial endothelial differentiation. Finally, anti-adsorptive agents could enrich the endothelial output by allowing selective attachment of the endothelial precursors. The system was validated to work on multiple iPS/ES cells lines to produce endothelial cells capable of forming capillary-like structures in vitro and integrating into host vasculature in vivo. In sum, the simple yet robust differentiation system permits the unlimited supply of human endothelial cells. The defined and animal substance-free nature of the system is compatible with clinical applications and characterization of endothelial differentiation in an unbiased manner.
A quantum biochemistry investigation of willardiine partial agonism in AMPA receptors
Authors: Lima Neto José X. , Fulco Umberto L. , Albuquerque Eudenilson L. , Corso Gilberto , Bezerra Eveline M. , Caetano Ewerton W. S. , da Costa Roner F. , Freire Valder N.
Published: April 2015

We employ quantum biochemistry methods based on the Density Functional Theory (DFT) approach to unveil detailed binding energy features of willardiines co-crystallized with the AMPA receptor.
Negative thermal expansion in functional materials: controllable thermal expansion by chemical modifications
Authors: Chen Jun , Hu Lei , Deng Jinxia , Xing Xianran
Published: April 2015

Negative thermal expansion is an intriguing property of functional materials, which will give new phenomena and mechanisms for future studies.
Improving mass-transfer in controlled pore glasses as supports for the platinum-catalyzed aromatics hydrogenation
Authors: Goepel M. , Kabir H. , Küster C. , Saraçi E. , Zeigermann P. , Valiullin R. , Chmelik C. , Enke D. , Kärger J. , Gläser R.
Published: April 2015

Mass-transfer improvement in the Pt-catalyzed aromatics hydrogenation by increasing the pore width of controlled pore glasses as supports.
Redox-inactive metal ions promoted the catalytic reactivity of non-heme manganese complexes towards oxygen atom transfer
Authors: Choe Cholho , Yang Ling , Lv Zhanao , Mo Wanling , Chen Zhuqi , Li Guangxin , Yin Guochuan
Published: April 2015

The oxygenation efficiency of a manganese catalyst can be sharply improved by a Lewis acid which causes the dissociation of a diamond Mn2(iii,iv) core.
Synthesis and biological evaluation of N-(4-phenylthiazol-2-yl)cinnamamide derivatives as novel potential anti-tumor agents
Authors: Luo Yong , Zhu Yongxia , Ran Kai , Liu Zhihao , Wang Ningyu , Feng Qiang , Zeng Jun , Zhang Lidan , He Bing , Ye Tinghong , Zhu Shirui , Qiu Xiaolong , Yu Luoting
Published: April 2015

In this study, a series of novel N-(4-phenylthiazol-2-yl)-cinnamamide derivatives (7a–8n) were synthesized and evaluated for their anti-proliferative activities in vitro.
Au nanoparticle decorated graphene oxide as a novel coating for solid-phase microextraction
Authors: Xu Lili , Suo Hongbo , Liang Xiaojing , Wang Licheng , guo Yong , Jiang Shengxiang
Published: April 2015

A novel solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fiber based on a stainless steel wire coated with Au nanoparticle decorated graphene oxide was prepared using a novel protocol.
Additive nanocomplexes of cationic lipopolymers for improved non-viral gene delivery to mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: KC Remant Bahadur , Kucharski Cezary , Uludağ Hasan
Published: April 2015

Additive polyplexes composed of cationic lipopolymers and hyaluronic acid–pDNA combination for implementing gene delivery to mesenchymal stem cells.
An iridium oxide microelectrode for monitoring acute local pH changes of endothelial cells
Authors: Ng Shu Rui , O'Hare Danny
Published: April 2015

A microelectrode on a chip was modified to detect the local pH changes of the attached endothelial cells under the stimulation of thrombin.
Low-power micro-fabricated liquid flow-rate sensor
Authors: Lin Wen-Chi , Burns Mark A.
Published: April 2015

We have constructed micro-fabricated flow sensors that can measure water flow rates of 0.1 to 2.0 gallons per minute (GPM), and the experimental results we obtained are in good agreement with those from COMSOL simulations.
Analysis of fluid film behaviour using dynamic wetting at a smooth and roughened surface
Authors: Nania Samantha L. , Shaw Scott K.
Published: April 2015

The dynamic wetting technique is described and used to create and aid in analysis of ultrathin (1–5 nm) films on vertically aligned, planar silver substrates of varying microscopic roughness (RMS roughness between 1 and 7 nm).
A novel UV-visible chemosensor based on the 8-hydroxyquinoline derivative for copper ion detection
Authors: Cui Ming-hui , Liu Qing , Fei Qiang , Fei Yan-qun , Liu Ya-meng , Shan Hong-yan , Feng Guo-dong , Huan Yan-fu
Published: April 2015

A novel UV-visible chemosensor, 4-methyl-2-((quinolinyl-8-amino)methyl)phenol [MQAMP], was designed and synthesized.
A NbO-type metal–organic framework exhibiting high deliverable capacity for methane storage
Authors: Song Chengling , Ling Yajing , Feng Yunlong , Zhou Wei , Yildirim Taner , He Yabing
Published: April 2015

A NbO-type MOF incorporating phenylethyne moieties exhibits high methane working capacity for methane storage at room temperature.
An organic-ligand-free thermochromic luminescent cuprous iodide trinuclear cluster: evidence for cluster centered emission and configuration distortion with temperature
Authors: Li Shi-Li , Zhang Fu-Qiang , Zhang Xian-Ming
Published: April 2015

An organic-ligand-free cuprous iodide trinuclear cluster with significant temperature-dependent structural distortion shows thermochromic luminescence originating from a single cluster-centered triplet.
Small molecule binding to a G-hairpin and a G-triplex: a new insight into anticancer drug design targeting G-rich regions
Authors: Rajendran Arivazhagan , Endo Masayuki , Hidaka Kumi , Teulade-Fichou Marie-Paule , Mergny Jean-Louis , Sugiyama Hiroshi
Published: April 2015

To gain new insights into G-quadruplex–drug interactions, we captured solution-state structures of the complexes between a drug-like small-molecule and a G-hairpin/G-triplex.
A QCM study of ORR-OER and an in situ study of a redox mediator in DMSO for Li–O2 batteries
Authors: Schaltin Stijn , Vanhoutte Gijs , Wu Minxian , Bardé Fanny , Fransaer Jan
Published: April 2015

We present a detailed QCM-study of the ORR in DMSO. A redox mediator (TTF) allows almost complete reversibility during charging.