bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fluid Intake and Cognitive Performance: Should Schoolchildren Drink During Lessons?
Authors: Fuchs Tanja , Lührmann Petra , Simpson Faith , Dohnke Birte
Published: April 2016

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND

Evidence suggests that an insufficient fluid intake impairs cognitive performance. Drinking policies at schools—especially drinking during lessons—is a point of controversy. To provide a scientific base for this debate, more empirical evidence is needed on which aspects of fluid intake are crucial for cognitive performance. This study makes a contribution by investigating associations between quantitative and temporal aspects of fluid intake and cognitive performance in everyday school life.

METHODS

The study comprised 125 children (age: mean = 10.98 years, SD = 0.38). Amount of fluid intake and time span between fluid intake and completion of cognitive tests were determined on basis of self‐reports. Cognitive performance was assessed by standardized tests.

RESULTS

Quantitative and temporal aspects were associated with cognitive performance: The more fluid the children consumed and the shorter the time span between their last fluid intake and test completion, the better they performed.

CONCLUSIONS

The amount of fluid intake should be adequate and moreover the time span between intake and cognitive efforts should be as short as possible. Schoolchildren are thus recommended to drink at regular intervals and also during lessons.
The U.S. Consumers' Acceptability and Emotion Measures when Consuming Novel Korean Traditional Non‐Alcoholic Beverages
Authors: Yoon Eunju , Kim Juyoung , Lee Jeehyun
Published: April 2016

The objectives of this study were to determine how U.S. consumers perceive 6 Korean traditional beverages (Bokbunja, Hongsaam, Korean date, Omija, Sansuyu and Yuja) and to find out the influence of extrinsic information (name, nutritional information, picture of raw material and stories related to each sample) on acceptability, liking and intensity appropriateness of sweetness and bitterness, and emotion when consuming novel beverages. Bokbunja, Yuja and Korean date were samples received high acceptability, had adequate intensity of sweetness and bitterness, and evoked positive emotions. When the extrinsic information of the samples was provided, acceptability of all six samples tended to increase. Percentage of consumers who perceived the intensity of sweetness and bitterness of products as “just about right” increased when evaluated the samples in the informed condition. Also principal component analysis (PCA) biplot of emotions revealed the influence of information during evaluation. When tested in the informed condition, samples evoked relatively positive emotion compare to samples tested in the blind condition. The disliked products showed the greater increase of acceptability from the blind to the informed conditions.

Practical Applications

There is not much research conducted to evaluate acceptability of Korean traditional beverages with foreign consumers. In our study, we used these traditional beverages, which were still novel to U.S. consumers, and measured overall acceptability, liking and intensity appropriateness of sweetness and bitterness, and emotion using EsSense Profile™. Among six beverage samples we used, three samples (Bokbunja, Yuja and Korean date) received positive scores for all measurements. Also by comparing the results of evaluations conducted in blind and informed conditions, importance of information when evaluating the samples was shown. Our work provided the basis of launching favored Korean traditional beverage products in the U.S. market and demonstrated importance of the information when introducing the novel products to consumers.
Cloning and characterization of the serotonin N‐acetyltransferase‐2 gene (SNAT2) in rice (Oryza sativa)
Authors: Byeon Yeong , Lee Hyoung Yool , Back Kyoungwhan
Published: April 2016

The penultimate enzyme in melatonin synthesis is serotonin N‐acetyltransferase (SNAT), which exists as a single copy in mammals and plants. Our recent studies of the Arabidopsis snat‐knockout mutant and SNAT RNAi rice (Oryza sativa) plants predicted the presence of at least one other SNAT isogene in plants; that is, the snat‐knockout mutant of Arabidopsis and the SNAT RNAi rice plants still produced melatonin, even in the absence or the suppression of SNAT expression. Here, we report a molecular cloning of an SNAT isogene (OsSNAT2) from rice. The mature amino acid sequences of SNAT proteins indicated that OsSNAT2 and OsSNAT1 proteins had 39% identity values and 60% similarity. The Km and Vmax values of the purified recombinant OsSNAT2 were 371 μm and 4700 pmol/min/mg protein, respectively; the enzyme's optimal activity temperature was 45°C. Confocal microscopy showed that the OsSNAT2 protein was localized to both the cytoplasm and chloroplasts. The in vitro enzyme activity of OsSNAT2 was severely inhibited by melatonin, but the activities of sheep SNAT (OaSNAT) and rice OsSNAT1 proteins were not. The enzyme activity of OsSNAT2 was threefold higher than that of OsSNAT1, but 232‐fold lower than that of OaSNAT. The OsSNAT1 and OsSNAT2 transcripts were similarly suppressed in rice leaves during the melatonin induction after cadmium treatment. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that OsSNAT1 and OsSNAT2 are distantly related, suggesting that they evolved independently from Cyanobacteria prior to the endosymbiosis event.
Some recent trends regarding Lake Baikal phytoplankton and zooplankton
Authors: Silow Eugene A. , Krashchuk Lyudmila S. , Onuchin Konstantin A. , Pislegina Helen V. , Rusanovskaya Olga O. , Shimaraeva Svetlana V.
Published: April 2016

Plankton sampling data from the period of 1951–2010 for Lake Baikal were used in this study. Data have been collected at least monthly, generally every 7–10 days, in depth profiles from the surface to 250 m at a single offshore sampling site in the southern basin, where the water depth is approximately 800 m. Measurements of abiotic variables and phytoplankton sampling were made at discrete water depths. The data for the top 50 m of the lake were averaged for temperature and biological characteristics, noting this is the water layer in the lake exhibiting most of the lake's photosynthetic production, as well as containing the most plankton organisms. Zooplankton samples were collected with a closing plankton net and enumerated at the species level and also identified by age class. Under‐ice phytoplankton demonstrated the presence of some succession in spring phytoplankton, including a decreased proportion of endemic algal species. The open‐water complex of the alga species demonstrated that some non‐endemic species exhibited positive trends. The zooplankton analyses demonstrated a noticeable increasing trend for total zooplankton, the main zooplankton components being Epischura baicalensis, as well as increased Cladoceran numbers. These trends can be hypothetically explained by the following: (i) global climate change (although Lake Baikal also exhibits long‐term temperature oscillations); (ii) regional warming (due to construction of reservoir systems during the 1950s–1970s period); (iii) local chemical pollution attributable to increased industrial and agricultural activity in the lake's watershed and airshed basins; and/or (iv) the natural oscillating behaviour of the lake's plankton components.
Identification of a novel HLA‐A allele, HLA‐A*02:590, in a Korean individual
Authors: Lee E. Jin , Kim M. , Jung Y.‐A. , Lee H. , Lee Y. K.
Published: April 2016

A*02:590 differs from A*02:01:01:01 by a nucleotide substitution at codon 152 (GTG → GCG) with amino change.
Strategy and software for the statistical spatial analysis of 3D intracellular distributions
Authors: Biot Eric , Crowell Elizabeth , Burguet Jasmine , Höfte Herman , Vernhettes Samantha , Andrey Philippe
Published: April 2016

The localization of proteins in specific domains or compartments in the 3D cellular space is essential for many fundamental processes in eukaryotic cells. Deciphering spatial organization principles within cells is a challenging task, in particular because of the large morphological variations between individual cells. We present here an approach for normalizing variations in cell morphology and for statistically analyzing spatial distributions of intracellular compartments from collections of 3D images. The method relies on the processing and analysis of 3D geometrical models that are generated from image stacks and that are used to build representations at progressively increasing levels of integration, ultimately revealing statistical significant traits of spatial distributions. To make this methodology widely available to end‐users, we implemented our algorithmic pipeline into a user‐friendly, multi‐platform, and freely available software. To validate our approach, we generated 3D statistical maps of endomembrane compartments at subcellular resolution within an average epidermal root cell from collections of image stacks. This revealed unsuspected polar distribution patterns of organelles that were not detectable in individual images. By reversing the classical ‘measure‐then‐average’ paradigm, one major benefit of the proposed strategy is the production and display of statistical 3D representations of spatial organizations, thus fully preserving the spatial dimension of image data and at the same time allowing their integration over individual observations. The approach and software are generic and should be of general interest for experimental and modeling studies of spatial organizations at multiple scales (subcellular, cellular, tissular) in biological systems.
Using physiologically based models for clinical translation: predictive modelling, data interpretation or something in‐between?
Authors: Niederer Steven A. , Smith Nic P.
Published: April 2016

Heart disease continues to be a significant clinical problem in Western society. Predictive models and simulations that integrate physiological understanding with patient information derived from clinical data have huge potential to contribute to improving our understanding of both the progression and treatment of heart disease. In particular they provide the potential to improve patient selection and optimisation of cardiovascular interventions across a range of pathologies. Currently a significant proportion of this potential is still to be realised. In this paper we discuss the opportunities and challenges associated with this realisation. Reviewing the successful elements of model translation for biophysically based models and the emerging supporting technologies, we propose three distinct modes of clinical translation. Finally we outline the challenges ahead that will be fundamental to overcome if the ultimate goal of fully personalised clinical cardiac care is to be achieved.

image
Modification of a commercial thromboelastography instrument to measure coagulation dynamics with three-dimensional biomaterials
Authors: Hawker Morgan J. , Olver Christine S. , Fisher Ellen R.
Published: April 2016

Three-dimensional synthetic constructs with complex geometries have immense potential for use in a multitude of blood-contacting applications. Understanding coagulation phenomena is arguably the most critical aspect for applications involving synthetic biomaterials; however, real-time evaluation of the clot formation while interfacing with these materials is difficult to achieve in a reproducible and robust manner. Here, work representing first steps toward addressing this deficit is presented, wherein modified consumables for a clinical instrument (a Thromboelastograph®) have been fabricated. Thromboelastography (TEG) measures viscoelastic properties throughout clot formation and therefore provides clinically relevant coagulation measurements in real time (i.e., kinetics and strength of clot formation). Through our modification, TEG consumables can readily accommodate three-dimensional materials (e.g., those for regenerative tissue applications). The authors performed proof-of-concept experiments using polymer scaffolds with a range of surface properties and demonstrated that variations in surface properties resulted in differences in blood plasma coagulation dynamics. For example, the maximum rate of thrombus generation ranged from 22.2 ± 2.2 (dyn/cm2)/s for fluorocarbon coated scaffolds to 8.7 ± 1.0 (dyn/cm2)/s for nitrogen-containing scaffolds. Through this work, the ability to make real-time coagulation activity measurements during constant coagulation factor interface with biomedically relevant materials is demonstrated.
Saying no to harassment
Authors: Gibbons Ann , Culotta Elizabeth
Published: April 2016

Roiled by high-profile cases in the field and at conferences, anthropology works to change its culture.
Population-level analysis of gut microbiome variation
Authors: Falony Gwen , Joossens Marie , Vieira-Silva Sara , Wang Jun , Darzi Youssef , Faust Karoline , Kurilshikov Alexander , Bonder Marc Jan , Valles-Colomer Mireia , Vandeputte Doris , Tito Raul Y. , Chaffron Samuel , Rymenans Leen , Verspecht Chloë , De Sutter Lise , Lima-Mendez Gipsi , D’hoe Kevin , Jonckheere Karl , Homola Daniel , Garcia Roberto , Tigchelaar Ettje F. , Eeckhaudt Linda , Fu Jingyuan , Henckaerts Liesbet , Zhernakova Alexandra , Wijmenga Cisca , Raes Jeroen
Published: April 2016

“Normal” for the gut microbiota

For the benefit of future clinical studies, it is critical to establish what constitutes a “normal” gut microbiome, if it exists at all. Through fecal samples and questionnaires, Falonyet al.and Zhernakovaet al.targeted general populations in Belgium and the Netherlands, respectively. Gut microbiota composition correlated with a range of factors including diet, use of medication, red blood cell counts, fecal chromogranin A, and stool consistency. The data give some hints for possible biomarkers of normal gut communities.

Science, this issue pp.560and565
Changes in the composition of brain interstitial ions control the sleep-wake cycle
Authors: Ding Fengfei , O’Donnell John , Xu Qiwu , Kang Ning , Goldman Nanna , Nedergaard Maiken
Published: April 2016

Sleep induction through ion changes

How do we switch from sleep to arousal and back? Ding
et al.
found that a combination of modulatory neurotransmitters influenced the levels of extracellular ions in the brain (see the Perspective by Landolt and Holst). This influence was not driven by changes in local neuronal firing, suggesting direct effects of the neuromodulators on extracellular ion composition. However, these changes in interstitial ion levels could switch a brain from wakefulness to sleep. Changes in extracellular ions may thus be a cause, rather than a consequence, of sleep/wake-dependent changes in neuronal activity.

Science
, this issue p.
550
; see also p.
517
Antibiotic use and its consequences for the normal microbiome
Authors: Blaser Martin J.
Published: April 2016

Anti-infectives, including antibiotics, are essentially different from all other drugs; they not only affect the individual to whom they are given but also the entire community, through selection for resistance to their own action. Thus, their use resides at the intersection of personal and public health. Antibiotics can be likened to a four-edged sword against bacteria. The first two edges of the antibiotic sword were identified immediately after their discovery and deployment in that they not only benefit an individual in treating their infection but also benefit the community in preventing the spread of that infectious agent. The third edge was already recognized by Alexander Fleming in 1945 in his Nobel acceptance speech, which warned about the cost to the community of antibiotic resistance that would inevitably evolve and be selected for during clinical practice. We have seen this cost mount up, as resistance curtails or precludes the activities of some of our most effective drugs for clinically important infections. But the fourth edge of the antibiotic sword remained unappreciated until recently, i.e., the cost that an antibiotic exerts on an individual’s own health via the collateral damage of the drug on bacteria that normally live on or in healthy humans: our microbiota. These organisms, their genes, metabolites, and interactions with one another, as well as with their host collectively, represent our microbiome. Our relationship with these symbiotic bacteria is especially important during the early years of life, when the adult microbiome has not yet formed.
Kinetically controlled
E
-selective catalytic olefin metathesis
Authors: Nguyen Thach T. , Koh Ming Joo , Shen Xiao , Romiti Filippo , Schrock Richard R. , Hoveyda Amir H.
Published: April 2016

EZ catalyst control in olefin metathesis

A decade has passed since the partner-swapping chemical dance known as olefin metathesis garnered a Nobel Prize, and distinct routines continue to emerge. In general, olefins are most stable in an E configuration, with the two largest substituents diametrically opposed. However, chlorine and fluorine substituents often invert this trend, favoring the alternate Z geometry. Nguyen
et al.
report a molybdenum metathesis catalyst with ligands carefully optimized to produce Cl- and F-substituted E olefins more quickly than the more stable Z isomers.

Science
, this issue p.
569
My love-hate of Sci-Hub
Authors: McNutt Marcia
Published: April 2016

Like many scientist-editors of journals published by nonprofit scientific societies, I have a love-hate relationship with Sci-Hub, the website operated out of Russia that provides access to 50 million pirated scientific articles to researchers worldwide (see the News story on p.
508
). I recognize the underlying motivation of bringing global research content to the developing world. However, I also recognize that much traffic to Sci-Hub is from researchers who already have access to the articles they seek through mechanisms such as site licenses, open access, or other means. Authors who publish in
Science
journals, for example, can make their papers available immediately upon publication through free referrer links at the authors' websites. Research published after 1996 in a
Science
journal is made free with registration 1 year after its publication date. So what does the scientific community risk by gathering papers illegally?
NSs Virulence Factor of Rift Valley Fever Virus Engages the F-Box Proteins FBXW11 and β-TRCP1 To Degrade the Antiviral Protein Kinase PKR
Authors: Kainulainen Markus , Lau Simone , Samuel Charles E. , Hornung Veit , Weber Friedemann
Published: April 2016

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV, family
Bunyaviridae
, genus
Phlebovirus
) is a relevant pathogen of both humans and livestock in Africa. The nonstructural protein NSs is a major virulence factor known to suppress the type I interferon (IFN) response by inhibiting host cell transcription and by proteasomal degradation of a major antiviral IFN effector, the translation-inhibiting protein kinase PKR. Here, we identified components of the modular SCF (Skp1, Cul1, F-box protein)-type E3 ubiquitin ligases as mediators of PKR destruction by NSs. Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) against the conserved SCF subunit Skp1 protected PKR from NSs-mediated degradation. Consequently, RVFV replication was severely reduced in Skp1-depleted cells when PKR was present. SCF complexes have a variable F-box protein subunit that determines substrate specificity for ubiquitination. We performed an siRNA screen for all (about 70) human F-box proteins and found FBXW11 to be involved in PKR degradation. The partial stabilization of PKR by FBXW11 depletion upregulated PKR autophosphorylation and phosphorylation of the PKR substrate eIF2α and caused a shutoff of host cell protein synthesis in RVFV-infected cells. To maximally protect PKR from the action of NSs, knockdown of structurally and functionally related FBXW1 (also known as β-TRCP1), in addition to FBXW11 deletion, was necessary. Consequently, NSs was found to interact with both FBXW11 and β-TRCP1. Thus, NSs eliminates the antiviral kinase PKR by recruitment of SCF-type E3 ubiquitin ligases containing FBXW11 and β-TRCP1 as substrate recognition subunits. This antagonism of PKR by NSs is essential for efficient RVFV replication in mammalian cells.

IMPORTANCE
Rift Valley fever virus is a pathogen of humans and animals that has the potential to spread from Africa and the Arabian Peninsula to other regions. A major virulence mechanism is the proteasomal degradation of the antiviral kinase PKR by the viral protein NSs. Here, we demonstrate that NSs requires E3 ubiquitin ligase complexes of the SCF (Skp1, Cul1, F-box protein) type to destroy PKR. SCF-type complexes can engage variant ubiquitination substrate recognition subunits, and we found the F-box proteins FBXW11 and β-TRCP1 to be relevant for the action of NSs against PKR. Thus, we identified the host cell factors that are critically needed by Rift Valley fever virus to uphold its replication against the potent antiviral kinase PKR.
Calcium-Dependent Rubella Virus Fusion Occurs in Early Endosomes
Authors: Dubé Mathieu , Etienne Loïc , Fels Maximilian , Kielian Margaret
Published: April 2016

The E1 membrane protein of rubella virus (RuV) is a class II membrane fusion protein structurally related to the fusion proteins of the alphaviruses, flaviviruses, and phleboviruses. Virus entry is mediated by a low pH-dependent fusion reaction through E1's insertion into the cell membrane and refolding to a stable homotrimer. Unlike the other described class II proteins, RuV E1 contains 2 fusion loops, which complex a metal ion between them by interactions with residues N88 and D136. Insertion of the E1 protein into the target membrane, fusion, and infection require calcium and are blocked by alanine substitution of N88 or D136. Here we addressed the requirements of E1 for calcium binding and the intracellular location of the calcium requirement during virus entry. Our results demonstrated that N88 and D136 are optimally configured to support RuV fusion and are strongly selected for during the virus life cycle. While E1 has some similarities with cellular proteins that bind calcium and anionic lipids, RuV binding to the membrane was independent of anionic lipids. Virus fusion occurred within early endosomes, and chelation of intracellular calcium showed that calcium within the early endosome was required for virus fusion and infection. Calcium triggered the reversible insertion of E1 into the target membrane at neutral pH, but E1 homotrimer formation and fusion required a low pH. Thus, RuV E1, unlike other known class II fusion proteins, has distinct triggers for membrane insertion and fusion protein refolding mediated, respectively, by endosomal calcium and low pH.

IMPORTANCE
Rubella virus causes a mild disease of childhood, but infection of pregnant women frequently results in miscarriage or severe birth defects. In spite of an effective vaccine, RuV disease remains a serious problem in many developing countries. RuV infection of host cells involves endocytic uptake and low pH-triggered membrane fusion and is unusual in its requirement for calcium binding by the membrane fusion protein. Here we addressed the mechanism of the calcium requirement and the required location of calcium during virus entry. Both calcium and low pH were essential during the virus fusion reaction, which was shown to occur in the early endosome compartment.
Effect of Human Burn Wound Exudate on Pseudomonas aeruginosa Virulence
Authors: Gonzalez Manuel R. , Fleuchot Betty , Lauciello Leonardo , Jafari Paris , Applegate Lee Ann , Raffoul Wassim , Que Yok-Ai , Perron Karl
Published: April 2016

Microbial infection of severe burn wounds is currently a major medical challenge. Of the infections by bacteria able to colonize such injuries, those by
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
are among the most severe, causing major delays in burn patient recovery or leading to fatal issues. In this study, we investigated the growth properties of several burn wound pathogens in biological fluids secreted from human burn wounds. We found that
P. aeruginosa
strains were able to proliferate but not those of the other pathogens tested. In addition, burn wound exudates (BWEs) stimulate the expression of virulence factors in
P. aeruginosa
. The chemical composition analysis of BWEs enabled us to determine the major components of these fluids. These data are essential for the development of an artificial medium mimicking the burn wound environment and for
in vitro
analysis of the initial step in the development of burn wound infections.
Meckel's diverticulum in an adult: an obscure presentation of gastrointestinal bleeding
Authors: Pattni Vijay , Wright Kathryn , Marden Peter , Terlevich Ana
Published: April 2016

A 17-year-old boy, with a background of haemophilia A, presented to hospital with an episode of brisk and painless per rectal (PR) bleeding. Initial investigation with gastroscopy and colonoscopy revealed no source of bleeding. Examination of the small bowel including MRI, CT angiogram and capsule endoscopy revealed no abnormalities. Double balloon enteroscopy (DBE) from an antegrade position was attempted, with no abnormalities noted. The symptoms persisted and DBE was attempted again from a retrograde approach and a diverticulum was subsequently noted. Laparoscopic surgery was performed identifying a diverticulum as the source of bleeding, 110 cm from the ileocaecal valve, which is more proximal than is normally seen. Histological examination revealed a Meckel's diverticulum. The case described here, although more unusual in adults, demonstrates that complete visualisation of the small bowel remains challenging and that newer modalities of enteroscopy including DBE can help aid in the diagnosis of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.
Familial superior mesenteric artery syndrome
Authors: Martins Ana Raquel , Cunha José Filipe , Patrício Joana , Caravana Jorge
Published: April 2016

Superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SMAS) has an incidence of 0.1–0.3%. It is caused by a narrow angle between the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery, resulting in the clamping of the third portion of the duodenum. It is more common in females (2:1), with no racial differences. It is also more frequent in patients under 30 years and may have a congenital or acquired aetiology. There is only one case of the familial form described in the medical literature. We present a case of a 20-year-old woman, with recurrent episodes of epigastric discomfort and vomiting since she was 10 years old. After clinical suspicion, diagnosis was achieved after digestive endoscopy, upper gastrointestinal transit and abdominal MR. The patient was kept under parenteral nutrition for 17 days before surgery. She was discharged 8 days after surgery and the postoperative course was uneventful.
How information about the time requirements and legacy effects of treatments influence decision-making in patients with diabetes and hypertension
Authors: Laiteerapong Neda , Fairchild Paige C , Nathan Aviva G , Quinn Michael T , Huang Elbert S
Published: April 2016

Objective

When deciding about diabetes treatments, patients are typically uninformed about how much time is required before (time requirements), or for how long treatments change outcomes (legacy effects). However, patients may be motivated to adopt treatments with time-related treatment information. We explored whether this information alters a patients' likelihood of starting medications.

Research design and methods

We conducted semistructured interviews with 60 adults with type 2 diabetes for <10 years and hypertension on oral medications. We measured change in likelihood of starting medications after receiving time requirement (diabetes, 10 years; hypertension, 3 years) and legacy effect (diabetes, 10 additional years; hypertension, none) information. Responses were analyzed for themes about time-related treatment information.

Results

At baseline, 70% of participants reported being very likely to start a recommended medication. Nearly half (40%) were less likely to start a diabetes medication after being informed of time requirements; but after being informed of legacy effects, 32% reported being more likely. Fewer participants changed likelihoods of starting antihypertensives with time-related information. Many participants expressed that medications' benefits were important to them regardless of time-related information. Participants considered time requirements for diabetes medications too long and compared them to their life expectancy. Many participants were interested in legacy effects of diabetes medications because they looked forward to discontinuing medications, although some expressed doubt that benefits could persist after stopping medications.

Conclusions

While prolonged time requirements may dissuade patients from adopting treatments, the promise of legacy effects may motivate patients to commit to diabetes treatments.
Oxidative stress and cell death in the cerebral cortex as a long-term consequence of neonatal hypoglycemia
Authors: Anju T.R. , Akhilraj P.R. , Paulose C.S.
Published: April 2016

Neonatal hypoglycemia limits glucose supply to cells leading to long-term consequences in brain function. The present study evaluated antioxidant and cell death factors’ alterations in cerebral cortex of 1-month-old rats exposed to neonatal hypoglycemia. Gene expression studies by real-time PCR were carried out using gene-specific TaqMan probes. Fluorescent dyes were used for immunohistochemistry and nuclear staining and imaged by confocal microscope. Total antioxidant level and expression of antioxidant enzymes — superoxide dismutase (SOD) and gluthathione peroxide (GPx) — mRNA was significantly reduced along with high peroxide level in the cerebral cortex of 1-month-old rats exposed to neonatal hypoglycemia. Real-time PCR analysis showed an upregulation of Bax, caspase 3, and caspase 8 gene expression. Confocal imaging with TOPRO-3 staining and immunohistochemistry with caspase 3 antibody indicated cell death activation. The reduced free radical scavenging capability coupled with the expression of key factors involved in cell death pathway points to the possibility of oxidative stress in the cortex of 1-month-old rats exposed to neonatal hypoglycemia. The observed results indicate the effects of neonatal hypoglycemia in determining the antioxidant capability of cerebral cortex in a later stage of life.
Integrability and vesture for harmonic maps into symmetric spaces
Authors: Beheshti Shabnam , Tahvildar-Zadeh Shadi
Published: April 2016

After formulating the notion of integrability for axially symmetric harmonic maps from [Formula: see text] into symmetric spaces, we give a complete and rigorous proof that, subject to some mild restrictions on the target, all such maps are integrable. Furthermore, we prove that a variant of the inverse scattering method, called vesture (dressing) can always be used to generate new solutions for the harmonic map equations starting from any given solution. In particular, we show that the problem of finding [Formula: see text]-solitonic harmonic maps into a non-compact Grassmann manifold [Formula: see text] is completely reducible via the vesture (dressing) method to a problem in linear algebra which we prove is solvable in general. We illustrate this method, and establish its agreement with previously known special cases, by explicitly computing a 1-solitonic harmonic map for the two cases [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] and showing that the family of solutions obtained in each case contains respectively the Kerr family of solutions to the Einstein vacuum equations, and the Kerr–Newman family of solutions to the Einstein–Maxwell equations in the hyperextreme sector of the corresponding parameters.
Growing Hierarchical Self-Organizing Map Using Category Utility
Authors: Murakoshi Kazushi , Fujikawa Satoshi
Published: April 2016

In order to automatically obtain hierarchical knowledge representation from a certain data, an unsupervised learning method has been developed that overcomes two problems of the growing hierarchical self-organizing map (GHSOM) method, which uses the quantization error, the deviation of the input data, as evaluation measure of the growing maps: proper control of the growth process of each map is difficult due to the use of the quantization error and the clusters in the hierarchical structure may be excessively subdivided. This improved GHSOM method uses the category utility (CU), a measure used in conceptual clustering for predicting the preferred level of categorization, instead of the quantization error. The CU is useful for organizing the clustering so that people can effortlessly understand it. The basic principle of this method is that the growth and unification processes are appropriately and autonomously controlled by the CU. Evaluation using computer experiments showed that the proposed method can automatically construct an appropriate hierarchical and topological knowledge representation for high-dimensional input data through unsupervised learning. It also showed that it is easier to use and more effective than the original conventional GHSOM method using the quantization error as an evaluation measure.
Inhomogeneous matter distribution and supernovae
Authors: Stahl Clément
Published: April 2016

This work investigates a simple inhomogeneous cosmological model within the Lema[Formula: see text]tre–Tolman–Bondi (LTB) metric. The mass-scale function of the LTB model is taken to be [Formula: see text] and would correspond to a fractal distribution for [Formula: see text]. The luminosity distance for this model is computed and then compared to supernovae (SNe) data. Unlike LTB models which have, in the most general case, two free functions, our model has only two free parameters as the flat Standard Model of cosmology. The best-fit obtained is a matter distribution with an exponent of [Formula: see text] revealing that SNe data do not favor those fractal models.
Prediction of Bead Geometry for Flux Bounded TIG Welding of AA 2219-T87 Aluminum Alloy
Authors: Santhana Babu A. V. , Giridharan P. K. , Ramesh Narayanan P. , Narayana Murty S. V. S.
Published: April 2016

To improve penetration capability of Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) process, Flux Bounded TIG (FBTIG) is investigated in aluminum alloy AA 2219 T87. Characterization of this process is essential to predict and control the weld bead quality. For characterization, design of experiments based on central composite rotatable design is employed for the experiments. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) is used to develop a mathematical model to correlate the bead geometry with controllable process variables. The model developed is checked for its adequacy by regression by using the [Formula: see text]-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). By backward elimination method, reduced model is obtained from the full model. The process parameters are optimized to get desired weld bead geometry. The model is validated by confirmatory tests. The main and interaction effects of the process variables on bead geometry are presented in graphical form. The results are useful to predict the weld bead geometry for different combinations of process variables.
Proof of the spin-statistics theorem in the relativistic regimen by Weyl’s conformal quantum mechanics
Authors: De Martini Francesco , Santamato Enrico
Published: April 2016

The traditional standard theory of quantum mechanics is unable to solve the spin-statistics problem, i.e. to justify the utterly important “Pauli Exclusion Principle” but by the adoption of the complex standard relativistic quantum field theory. In a recent paper [E. Santamato and F. D. De Martini, Found. Phys. 45 (2015) 858] we presented a complete proof of the spin-statistics problem in the nonrelativistic approximation on the basis of the “Conformal Quantum Geometrodynamics” (CQG). In this paper, by the same theory, the proof of the spin-statistics theorem (SST) is extended to the relativistic domain in the scenario of curved spacetime. No relativistic quantum field operators are used in the present proof and the particle exchange properties are drawn from rotational invariance rather than from Lorentz invariance. Our relativistic approach allows to formulate a manifestly step-by-step Weyl gauge invariant theory and to emphasize some fundamental aspects of group theory in the demonstration. As in the nonrelativistic case, we find once more that the “intrinsic helicity” of the elementary particles enters naturally into play. It is therefore this property, not considered in the standard quantum mechanics (SQM), which determines the correct spin-statistics connection observed in Nature.
Some results on the linear codes over the finite ring F2+v1F2+⋯+vrF2
Authors: Dertli Abdullah , Cengellenmis Yasemin , Eren Senol
Published: April 2016

In this paper, we study the structure of cyclic, quasi-cyclic codes and their skew codes over the finite ring [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] for [Formula: see text]. The Gray images of cyclic, quasi-cyclic, skew cyclic, skew quasi-cyclic codes over [Formula: see text] are obtained. A necessary and sufficient condition for cyclic code over [Formula: see text] that contains its dual has been given. The parameters of quantum error correcting codes are obtained from cyclic codes over [Formula: see text].
Haptic Perception of Unknown Object by Robot Hand: Exploration Strategy and Recognition Approach
Authors: Gu Haiwei , Fan Shaowei , Zong Hua , Jin Minghe , Liu Hong
Published: April 2016

In this paper, the exploration and recognition in unknown object perception by robot hand is discussed. Inspired by the touch and exploration of human hand, a haptic exploration strategy for multi-fingered robot hand is proposed. Based on the observations from human experiments, the proposed strategy can be used to guide the robot hand to plan a series of movements to get tactile information from different unknown objects, with the precondition of avoiding unexpected collisions with the objects. A recognition approach is then presented to recognize object shapes based on the tactile point data collected by the strategy. Geometric feature vectors are extracted from tactile point locations and normal vectors after clustering, and the object shapes are recognized by the random forests classifier. Simulations and experiments results show that the exploration strategy can be used to guide the robot to gather tactile information from unknown object automatically, and the recognition approach is effective and robust in object shape recognition work. This framework provides a sensible solution for robot unknown object perception problem, which is suitable for the multi-fingered robot hand with low-resolution tactile sensors.
An analytic cosmology solution of Poincaré gauge gravity
Authors: Lu Jianbo , Chee Guoying
Published: April 2016

A cosmology of Poincaré gauge theory is developed. An analytic solution is obtained. The calculation results agree with observation data and can be compared with the [Formula: see text]CDM model. The cosmological constant puzzle is the coincidence and fine tuning problem are solved naturally at the same time. The cosmological constant turns out to be the intrinsic torsion and curvature of the vacuum universe, and is derived from the theory naturally rather than added artificially. The dark energy originates from geometry, includes the cosmological constant but differs from it. The analytic expression of the state equations of the dark energy and the density parameters of the matter and the geometric dark energy are derived. The full equations of linear cosmological perturbations and the solutions are obtained.
Chemical Stability of 2D-Nanostructured WO3 in Hydrogen Sensing Under Varied Operation Temperature
Authors: Yang Taisheng , Tian Hui , Zhang Yue , Li Chen
Published: April 2016

Nanostructured metal oxide-based resistive-type gas sensors are of high research interest. Chemical stability is the most critical issue due to the surface electron species and density. In the present paper, 2D-nanostructured WO3 was prepared and characterized, and a WO3-based sensor was fabricated and analyzed. The results showed that the synthesized WO3 material exhibited nanosheet structure, and during hydrogen sensing testing, the current baseline shifted with various tendencies, even completely opposite directions under different operation temperatures. The chemistry analysis results indicated that water molecule and hydroxyl group were formed under low operation temperature but further oxidation occurred at higher temperatures. The adsorption of H2 on oxygen terminated WO3(0 0 1) surfaces by density functional theory (DFT) method indicated that a water molecule formed by adsorption of a hydrogen molecule at the O site with the most thermodynamically stable state, and two surface hydroxyl groups formed by dissociative adsorption with a thermodynamically less stable state. The water molecule and surface hydroxyl groups increased the conductivity of the WO3 film while that was decreased as the oxidation occurred.
Tsunami and Seismic Damage Caused by the Earthquake Off Iquique, Chile, in April, 2014
Authors: Tomita Takashi , Kumagai Kentaro , Mokrani Cyril , Cienfuegos Rodrigo , Matsui Hisashi
Published: April 2016

On Tuesday, April 1, 2014, at 8:46 p.m. local time in Chile, a subduction earthquake of Mw 8.2 occurred about 100[Formula: see text]km northwest of the city of Iquique, where the Nazca plate subducts beneath the South American plate. This earthquake triggered a tsunami, which hit coastal areas in northern Chile. A joint Japan–Chile team conducted a post-tsunami field survey to measure the height of the tsunami traces and to investigate the damage caused by the earthquake and tsunami. Based on measurements of the tsunami traces, it is estimated that a tsunami 3–4[Formula: see text]m in height hit the coast from Arica, which is near the border between Chile and Peru, to Patache, south of Iquique, a straight-line distance of approximately 260[Formula: see text]km. The tsunami caused only minor inundations near shorelines, and caused no damage to buildings because living spaces were higher than the tsunami run-up height. Seismic damage was more extensive than that caused by the tsunami, especially in Iquique, and included the destruction of houses, buildings, and other infrastructure. It also ignited fires. In the Port of Iquique, a wharf, before earthquake-resistant improvements were implemented, was destroyed by the strong ground motions that resulted from the earthquake.
Three-Dimensional Interaction in Thermoelastic Medium with Two Relaxation Times Due to Thermal Source
Authors: Abbas Ibrahim A. , Kumar Rajneesh , Lahiri A.
Published: April 2016

The present study is concerned with the interaction in thermoelastic medium with two relaxation times due to thermal source. The finite element technique under normal mode analysis is used to solve the resulting nondimensional coupled equations. As an application of the approach, the particular type of thermal source has been considered. The components of displacement, stress and temperature change are computed numerically. The numerical stimulated results are depicted graphically for a specific model. The effect of rotation has been shown on the resulting quantities. Effect of relaxation times is shown on the resulting quantities by a comparison between the absence and presence of relaxation times.
numericalsgps, a GAP package for numerical semigroups
Authors: Delgado M. , García-Sánchez P. A.
Published: April 2016

The package numericalsgps performs computations with and for numerical and affine semigroups. This manuscript is a survey of what the package does, and at the same time intends to gather the trending topics on numerical semigroups.
Abstracts of the 2015 east coast computer algebra day
Authors: Ilie Silvana , Storjohann Arne
Published: April 2016

In the past decade, the introduction of low-level heterogeneous programming models, in particular CUDA, has brought supercomputing to the level of the desktop computer. However, these models bring notable challenges, even to expert programmers. Indeed, fully exploiting the power of hardware accelerators with CUDA-like code often requires significant code optimization e.ort. While this development can certainly yield high performance, it is desirable for some programmers to avoid the explicit management of device initialization and data transfer between memory levels. To this end, high-level models for accelerator programming, like OpenMP and OpenACC, have become an important research direction. With these models, programmers only need to annotate their C/C++ code to indicate which code portion is to be executed on the device and how data maps between host and device.
The mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter: regulation by auxiliary subunits and signal transduction pathways
Authors: Jhun Bong Sook , Mishra Jyotsna , Monaco Sarah , Fu Deming , Jiang Wenmin , Sheu Shey-Shing , O-Uchi Jin
Published: April 2016

Mitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis, the Ca2+ influx-efflux balance, is responsible for the control of numerous cellular functions, including energy metabolism, generation of reactive oxygen species, spatiotemporal dynamics of Ca2+ signaling, and cell growth and death. Recent discovery of the molecular identity of the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (MCU) provides new possibilities for application of genetic approaches to study the mitochondrial Ca2+ influx mechanism in various cell types and tissues. In addition, the subsequent discovery of various auxiliary subunits associated with MCU suggests that mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake is not solely regulated by a single protein (MCU), but likely by a macromolecular protein complex, referred to as the MCU-protein complex (mtCUC). Moreover, recent reports have shown the potential role of MCU posttranslational modifications in the regulation of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake through mtCUC. These observations indicate that mtCUCs form a local signaling complex at the inner mitochondrial membrane that could significantly regulate mitochondrial Ca2+ handling, as well as numerous mitochondrial and cellular functions. In this review we discuss the current literature on mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake mechanisms, with a particular focus on the structure and function of mtCUC, as well as its regulation by signal transduction pathways, highlighting current controversies and discrepancies.
Insulin increases sympathetic nerve activity in part by suppression of tonic inhibitory neuropeptide Y inputs into the paraventricular nucleus in female rats
Authors: Cassaglia Priscila A. , Shi Zhigang , Brooks Virginia L.
Published: April 2016

Following binding to receptors in the arcuate nucleus (ArcN), insulin increases sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) and baroreflex control of SNA via a pathway that includes the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN). Previous studies in males indicate that the sympathoexcitatory response is mediated by α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH), which binds to PVN melanocortin type 3/4 receptors (MC3/4R). The present study was conducted in α-chloralose-anesthetized female rats to test the hypothesis that suppression of inhibitory neuropeptide Y (NPY) inputs to the PVN is also involved. In support of this, blockade of PVN NPY Y1 receptors with BIBO 3304 (NPY1x), ArcN insulin nanoinjections, and PVN NPY1x followed by ArcN insulin each increased lumbar SNA (LSNA) and its baroreflex regulation similarly. Moreover, prior PVN injections of NPY blocked the sympathoexcitatory effects of ArcN insulin. Finally, PVN nanoinjections of the MC3/4R inhibitor SHU9119 prevented both the acute (15 min) and longer, more slowly developing (60 min), increases in LSNA in response to ArcN insulin. In conclusion, in females, ArcN insulin increases LSNA, in part, by suppressing tonic PVN NPY inhibition, which unmasks excitatory α-MSH drive of LSNA. Moreover, the steadily increasing rise in LSNA induced by ArcN insulin is also dependent on PVN MC3/4R.