bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of pelvic floor muscle activity during running in continent and incontinent women: An exploratory study
Authors: Leitner Monika , Moser Helene , Eichelberger Patric , Kuhn Annette , Radlinger Lorenz
Published: October 2016

Aims

Impact activities like running are known to elicit symptoms of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The aim of this study was to investigate and compare pelvic floor muscle activity in continent and SUI women during running at three different speeds and thereby elucidate contraction characteristics of the pelvic floor during impact.

Methods

Surface electromyographic (EMG) activity from the pelvic floor muscles during running on a treadmill was recorded with a tripolar vaginal probe. EMG was measured during 10 s at the speeds 7, 11, and 15 km/h. Data from 30 ms before to 150 ms after heel‐strike were parameterised to time intervals of 30 ms. The reference value set as 100% for EMG normalisation was calculated as the mean of the peak values of two maximum voluntary contractions.

Results

No statistically significant differences between continent and incontinent subjects could be found for the EMG values for all time intervals. Mean EMG pre‐activity and reflex activity increased significantly with speed (P < 0.05). Mean EMG activity during running was significantly above PFM onset activation. Values in women with SUI exceeded 100 %MVC for all time intervals at the highest speed of 15 km/h.

Conclusions

Running appears to trigger pre‐activation before and reflex‐activation after heel‐strike and should therefore not only be regarded with caution due to its SUI related effects. Running training stimuli may serve as a beneficial complement to a PFM training rationale, leading to reflex activity of the pelvic floor muscles, when used in sense of power training methodology.
Two‐year outcomes for the Altis® adjustable single incision sling system for treatment of stress urinary incontinence
Authors: Kocjancic Ervin , Erickson Ty , Tu Le‐Mai , Gheiler Edward , Van Drie Douglas
Published: October 2016

Aims

Evaluate the Altis single‐incision sling for treatment of female stress urinary incontinence through 24 months.

Methods

This was a prospective, multi‐center, industry‐sponsored (Coloplast Corp.), single‐arm trial with primary efficacy defined as ≥50% reduction in 24 h pad weight from baseline at 6‐months. Device‐ and procedure‐related complications were collected for safety. Secondary measures included cough stress test, Urogenital Distress Inventory‐Short Form, Incontinence Impact Questionnaire‐Short Form, and Patient Global Impression of Improvement.

Results

Of the 113 women implanted, 94 remained at 24‐months. The average procedure time was 12.8 ± 8.4 min across all settings. Of those with paired baseline and follow‐up data at 24‐months, 90.0% (81/90) achieved ≥50% reduction in pad weight, 81.1% (73/90) were dry (pad weight ≤4.0 g), and 87.9% (80/91) had a negative cough stress test. Significant median reductions of 44.4 in Urogenital Distress Inventory (P‐value <0.0001) and 52.0 in Incontinence Impact Questionnaire scores (P‐value <0.0001) were observed. Additionally, 90.4% (85/94) of subjects reported “very much better” or “much better” on the Patient Global Impression of Improvement. No new device‐ or procedure‐related adverse events occurred between the 12 and 24 month visits.

Conclusions

The Altis single‐incision sling is a durable and effective treatment with a favorable safety profile for surgical treatment of women with stress or stress‐predominant mixed urinary incontinence.
The urinary‐specific quality of life of multiple sclerosis patients: Dutch translation and validation of the SF‐Qualiveen
Authors: Reuvers Sarah H.M. , Korfage Ida J. , Scheepe Jeroen R. , Blok Bertil F.M.
Published: October 2016

Aims

The SF‐Qualiveen is a short questionnaire that measures the impact of urinary symptoms on the quality of life of patients with urological dysfunction due to neurological disorders. The aim of this study is to translate, culturally adapt and validate a Dutch version of the SF‐Qualiveen for use in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients.

Methods

Cross‐cultural adaptation of the original English SF‐Qualiveen into Dutch was performed according to standardized guidelines. Adult MS patients with symptomatic urinary disorders who visited the Urology or Rehabilitation outpatient clinic of the Erasmus Medical Center completed the SF‐Qualiveen and the Urinary Distress Inventory‐6 (UDI‐6), that evaluates bother caused by lower urinary tract symptoms and was used as a gold standard, at baseline and 1‐2 weeks later. A control group recruited from the Otolaryngology outpatient clinic completed the questionnaires once. Reliability and validity were determined.

Results

Fifty MS patients and 50 controls were included. SF‐Qualiveen scores in patients were higher than in controls (on a scale of 0‐4: 1.73 vs. 0.34; P < 0.001). Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha >0.8) and reproducibility (Intraclass correlation coefficients >0.8) were good for the total SF‐Qualiveen. Content validity was adequate and a significant relationship between SF‐Qualiveen and UDI‐6 (r = 0.510‐0.479, P < 0.001) confirmed good criterion validity.

Conclusions

The Dutch SF‐Qualiveen showed good measurement properties. We recommend its use to measure urinary‐specific quality of life in MS patients in research and clinical practice in the Netherlands.
Influence of cognitive rehabilitation on pelvic floor muscle contraction: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Villot Anne , Deffieux Xavier , Billecocq Sylvie , Auclair Laurent , Amarenco Gérard , Thubert Thibault
Published: October 2016

Aim

Distraction task (DT), which led to a modification of voluntary and involuntary reflex pelvic floor muscle (PFM) activation, might potentiate urinary incontinence, through an alteration of the temporal course between intra‐abdominal pressure and PFM contraction. We evaluated whether cognitive rehabilitation (dual‐task method) could prevent the effect of a mental distraction task on the reaction time of PFM contraction.

Methods

Thirty‐nine healthy volunteers underwent two sessions of electromyographic (EMG) PFM recordings separated by a 2‐week interval. We recorded external anal sphincter EMG activity during voluntary and involuntary PFM contraction with and without a DT (Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task). Two main parameters were recorded: RT1 (latency between an order for PFM contraction and the onset of the external anal sphincter EMG activation during voluntary PFM contraction) and RT3 (latency between the onset of the involuntary external anal sphincter EMG activation and the onset of the external intercostal muscle EMG activation during involuntary PFM contraction). Volunteers were randomized (ratio 1:2) in two groups: dual task cognitive (an attentional test, the n‐back test, and PFM exercises) rehabilitation program (n = 13) and control group (n = 26). The control group had no specific instructions and did not have to do PFM exercises.

Results

Concerning voluntary PFM contraction, following a 2‐week interval, in the study group RT1 in DT conditions decreased from 461.11 ms [357.14‐557.41] to 290.74 ms [262.96‐308.88] (ratio 0.63, P = 0.0063). In the control group, RT1 in DT conditions was not significantly different. Concerning involuntary PFM contraction, in the study group RT3 without a DT increased from −68.52 ms [−107.40; −40] to −127.78 ms [−163.06; −93.33] (ratio 1.86, P = 0.0327). In DT conditions, in the study group RT3 increased from −42.59 ms [−52.09; −6.66] to −59.25 ms [−119.44; −44.44] (ratio 1.39, P = 0.0478).

Conclusion

The alteration of the reaction time of PFM provoked by a distraction task can be prevented by specific cognitive rehabilitation.
Stability and convergence of spectral radial point interpolation method locally applied on two‐dimensional pseudoparabolic equation
Authors: Shivanian Elyas , Aslefallah Mohammad
Published: October 2016

In this article, we study a spectral meshless radial point interpolation of pseudoparabolic equations in two spatial dimensions. Shape functions, which are constructed through point interpolation method using the radial basis functions, help us to treat problem locally with the aim of high‐order convergence rate. The time derivatives are approximated by the finite difference time‐stepping method. The stability and convergence of this meshless approach are discussed and theoretically proven. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the theoretical findings. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 33: 724–741, 2017
Downward self‐polarization of lead‐free (K0.5Na0.5)(Mn0.005Nb0.995)O3 ferroelectric thin films on Nb:SrTiO3 substrate
Authors: Seog Hae Jin , Ahn Chang Won , Cho Shinuk , Kim Kwang‐Eun , Yang Chan‐Ho , Koo Tae Yeong , Lee Sun‐Young , Kim Jong Pil , Kim Ill Won
Published: October 2016

Spontaneously appearing macroscopic polarization (self‐polarization) in ferroelectrics without an electrode or an external electric field would enable the freedom to design many ferroelectric heterostructures and devices. The (K0.5Na0.5)(Mn0.005Nb0.995)O3 (KNMN) thin film was grown on Nb:SrTiO3 single‐crystal substrate and the resultant self‐polarization behavior due to strain relaxation was investigated. The lattice mismatch and difference in TEC between the KNMN thin film and the Nb:SrTiO3 substrate creates a compressive strain. The compressive strain gradient may be the main cause for the observed downward self‐polarization. The downward self‐polarization of the KNMN thin film can be explained by the strong inhomogeneous compressive strain caused by strain relaxation. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Shear capacity of steel fiber‐reinforced concrete beams
Authors: Lee Deuck Hang , Han Sun‐Jin , Kim Kang Su , LaFave James M.
Published: October 2016

This study proposes a shear strength model for steel fiber‐reinforced concrete (SFRC) beams—the so‐called dual potential capacity model (DPCM). It can suitably consider the dominant shear failure mode, including the shear contributions of the compression side and the cracked tension side, at the section considered. In the proposed approach, the direct tension force transfer model (DTFTM), which can consider the random orientation and bond characteristics of steel fibers at a crack surface, has been introduced to calculate the shear contribution of the steel fibers. Shear test results of SFRC beams have been collected from various references and compared with the analysis results of the proposed DPCM. A simplified version of the DPCM was also developed for practical applications by reducing the iterative computational procedures.
Facile Halogenation of Pyrazolate‐Bridged Copper(I) Complexes: Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Photoluminescent Properties
Authors: Zhang Yunxia , Zhang Hongrui , Xiang Jing
Published: October 2016

Solvothermal reactions of 3,5‐dimethylpyrazole (Me2pz), and CuX in MeOH afforded two trinuclear complexes [Cu(XMe2pz)]3 [X = I (1); Br (2)], where the halogenated ligand XMe2pz in 1 and 2 were in‐situ formed from the reaction of Me2pz with X–. The crystal structure of 1 was determined by X‐ray crystallography. It turned out that it has a classic [Cu3N6] unit. The luminescence properties of 1 and 2 were investigated and the results show that both complexes have high photoluminescence quantum yields of 62 % and 84 % and long lifetimes of 21.7 μs and 30.5 μs, respectively.
Mass Hysteria
Authors: Blackman Lisa , Walkerdine Valerie
Published: October 2016

Assuming no previous knowledge of psychology, this text provides an introduction to a field that is central to media studies. Using approaches such as discourse analysis, semiotics and post-structuralism, the book gently introduces the reader to psychology and its importance within media studies. Written in an accessible style, it has case studies and examples, chapter objectives and summaries, illustrative material and further reading sections.
Characteristics associated with risk taking behaviours predict young people's participation in organised activities
Authors: Hallingberg Britt E. , Van Goozen Stephanie H.M. , Moore Simon C.
Published: October 2016

Participation in organised activities (OAs) such as sports and special groups can shape adolescent risk taking behaviours. Sensation seeking and inhibitory control play an important role in the emergence of adolescent risk taking behaviours and may explain variations in OA participation as well as inform the development of more effective interventions that use OAs. Data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (England) were analysed using logistic regression to test whether inhibitory control and sensation seeking predicted participation in OAs at a mean age of 11.7 years (n = 2557) and 15.4 years (n = 2147). At 11 years of age higher sensation seeking predicted participation in any activity, sports and special groups while low inhibitory control predicted less participation in sports. At 15 years of age higher sensation seeking predicted participation in sports and activity breadth. Opportunities to develop targeted interventions aimed at increasing participation are discussed.
Excavation of the approach to the mountain palace-fortress at Herodium
Authors: Porat Roi , Kalman Yakov , Chachy Rachel
Published: October 2016

In 2014, the Ehud Netzer Expedition for the Study of Herodium from the Hebrew University commenced excavations in the area of the approach to the mountain palace-fortress at Herodium (hereafter “the mountain palace”). The excavations produced surprising new data with respect to the stages of construction and the layout of the entrance to the hilltop structure, shedding light on Herod's last building project at the site at the time when he transformed the entire hill into his burial and memorial complex (fig. 1 in colour).

The presence of a monumental stairway ascending the NE slope of the mount and leading to the structure at its top has long been known, as was that of a sloping passageway that led to the door entering the mountain palace. This arched passageway was intended to make entry possible through the fill of the conical artificial mount. Also prior to the new excavations the entrance room of the hilltop structure was known. The door leading into the courtyard of the palace had been exposed during the Franciscan excavations directed by V. Corbo in the early 1960s, while in 1968-69 G. Foerster exposed the S part of the entrance room, as well as some of the upper arches of the passageway (fig. 2).
The Aphrodite of Emesa: miniature marble sculpture and religious life in Roman Syria
Authors: Kropp Andreas J. M.
Published: October 2016

The sculpture of Roman Syria is a mighty tree with roots so deep and branches so far-flung that they have defied all attempts at systematic and comprehensive study. This article deals with one of these branches of artistic traditions, a series of unusual marble Aphrodite statuettes found in Roman Syria, and in particular at Emesa . In what little attention these statuettes have received, scholars have listed up to 10 extant specimens, but a closer look has uncovered dozens, many of which have surfaced on the art market in recent years. In all likelihood, they reproduce a cult statue of Aphrodite at Emesa. They merit attention on a number of levels. Unlike much of the marble statuary of the Roman Near East, they do not reproduce an opus nobile from the Graeco-Roman canon; the Emesa Aphrodites, although based on Graeco-Roman divine iconography, draw on a Roman Venus type, while their style has much in common with local sculpture made of basalt, sandstone and limestone. This study examines, first, the character, origins and development of this statuary type and its links to well-established Graeco-Roman Aphrodite types. Many years ago, M. Bieber identified these statuettes as miniature versions of the statue of Venus Genetrix created by Arkesilaos for the Temple of Venus in the Forum of Julius Caesar. As there is still no consensus on the exact appearance of that famous statue, I will also comment on this question. Second, I look at the statuettes in context. Through their unusual style, format and iconography, they portray an Aphrodite of a distinct and unique character that raises questions about the significance of marble sculpture in the religious life of Roman Syria.
Lambs of god: an end of human sacrifice
Authors: Shaw Brent D.
Published: October 2016

Ferrando: … e si rinvenne mal spenta brace… e d’un bambino,

ahimè l’ossame bruciato a mezzo, fumante ancor!

Uomini: Ah scellerata! Oh donna infame! Del par m’investe ira ed orror!

Il Trovatore. Act I, Scene 1

In certain modern sensibilities, played upon here by Verdi's librettist Salvadore Cammarano, infant sacrifice has tended to rouse a basal sense of horror. The moral outrage has usually imputed alien rites and the evils of dreadful barbaric practices. Consider the following descriptions not about the fictions of an imaginary Iberian court, but rather of an actual historical practice.
An integrated approach to the study of local production and exchange in the lower Pontine plain
Authors: Tol Gijs , Borgers Barbara
Published: October 2016

Prevailing models of the Roman economy tend to focus on long-distance exchange and are biased towards urban centres; thereby, much emphasis is placed on imported pottery, seen as an indicator for a strongly globalized and economically integrated market. Yet Roman economic networks must have been much more complex, with most communities strongly embedded in their local environment and depending chiefly on short- and medium-distance trade for their everyday goods. The evidence for such relationships has to come from a comprehensive investigation of local and regional systems of ceramic production and exchange. While this topic has received attention especially in areas with extensive evidence for kiln sites or in areas made up of relatively distinct geological units, the available evidence for central Italy, being still rather incomplete and of varied quality, displays a number of biases. For example, the evidence for ceramic production is often provided by the detailed investigation of just one kiln site, and such cases are seldom considered within their broader spatial, social and economic contexts in a way that would allow inferences to be drawn on the mechanisms of production and distribution on a local scale.
Last of the naval triumphs: revisiting some key Actian honours
Authors: Vervaet Frederik Juliaan , Dart Christopher J.
Published: October 2016

In 29 B.C., after his victories over Marcus Antonius (cos. 44, 34) and Cleopatra at Actium and in Egypt, Caesar Octavi(an)us, or Imperator Caesar Divi f., as he then wanted to be known, returned to Rome as the uncontested master of the Roman world. He did so in a carefully managed pageant that culminated with his triple triumph on 13, 14 and 15 Sextilis (the month later renamed Augustus in his honour) and the opening of the Temple of Divus Iulius in the Forum Romanum shortly thereafter, on the 18th. These ceremonies marked the culmination of his claim — a pompous declaration already made in the autumn of 36 in the aftermath of Naulochus — that he had put an end to war on “land and sea” throughout the world. While the relevant entries in the Fasti Triumphales are lost, Cassius Dio produces a fairly accurate précis of Octavian's triple triumph. The first day was the triumph over the Pannonians and the Dalmatians, the Iapydes and their neighbours, and some German and Gallic tribes; the second day commemorated the naval victory at Actium, the ; the third and final triumph, the most costly and magnificent of them all, was over Egypt. Dio clarifies that the Egyptian spoils proved so rich and bountiful that they covered the expense and lustre of all three triumphal processions.
Scritti africani di Antonino Di Vita
Authors: Montali Gilberto
Published: October 2016

Scrivere di una persona cara è impresa difficile, scrivere di una persona di cui sei stato per anni alunno e che consideri un Maestro è compito ancor più arduo. Se poi questa persona è il professore Antonino Di Vita (fig. 1), uomo dai mille interessi, studioso acuto e poliedrico, persona amabile e di raro garbo e affabilità, la missione è quasi impossibile. Sulla sua opera di infaticabile studioso in Sicilia, in Grecia e in Africa sono stati scritti fiumi di inchiostro da persone che certamente meglio di me l’hanno conosciuto e che con lui hanno lavorato per moltissimi anni. Per questo, quando mi è stato chiesto di presentare la raccolta degli Scritti africani del prof. Di Vita e di tracciarne al contempo un breve profilo, ho a lungo indugiato, cercando di rifuggire da questo che, a ben vedere, è per me non solo un grande onore ma un vero obbligo morale, un debito d’affetto quasi filiale.
High-Resolution Ocean Model Captures Large-Scale Heat Transport
Authors: Stanley Sarah
Published: October 2016

A lower-resolution model is sufficient to capture air-sea interactions, but a high-resolution model better simulates average sea surface temperatures in the North Atlantic.
PARP9 and PARP14 cross-regulate macrophage activation via STAT1 ADP-ribosylation
Authors: Iwata Hiroshi , Goettsch Claudia , Sharma Amitabh , Ricchiuto Piero , Goh Wilson Wen Bin , Halu Arda , Yamada Iwao , Yoshida Hideo , Hara Takuya , Wei Mei , Inoue Noriyuki , Fukuda Daiju , Mojcher Alexander , Mattson Peter C. , Barabási Albert-László , Boothby Mark , Aikawa Elena , Singh Sasha A. , Aikawa Masanori
Published: October 2016

Despite the global impact of macrophage activation in vascular disease, the underlying mechanisms remain obscure. Here we show, with global proteomic analysis of macrophage cell lines treated with either IFNγ or IL-4, that PARP9 and PARP14 regulate macrophage activation. In primary macrophages, PARP9 and PARP14 have opposing roles in macrophage activation. PARP14 silencing induces pro-inflammatory genes and STAT1 phosphorylation in M(IFNγ) cells, whereas it suppresses anti-inflammatory gene expression and STAT6 phosphorylation in M(IL-4) cells. PARP9 silencing suppresses pro-inflammatory genes and STAT1 phosphorylation in M(IFNγ) cells. PARP14 induces ADP-ribosylation of STAT1, which is suppressed by PARP9. Mutations at these ADP-ribosylation sites lead to increased phosphorylation. Network analysis links PARP9–PARP14 with human coronary artery disease. PARP14 deficiency in haematopoietic cells accelerates the development and inflammatory burden of acute and chronic arterial lesions in mice. These findings suggest that PARP9 and PARP14 cross-regulate macrophage activation.
Spontaneous emergence of fast attractor dynamics in a model of developing primary visual cortex
Authors: Miconi Thomas , McKinstry Jeffrey L. , Edelman Gerald M.
Published: October 2016

Recent evidence suggests that neurons in primary sensory cortex arrange into competitive groups, representing stimuli by their joint activity rather than as independent feature analysers. A possible explanation for these results is that sensory cortex implements attractor dynamics, although this proposal remains controversial. Here we report that fast attractor dynamics emerge naturally in a computational model of a patch of primary visual cortex endowed with realistic plasticity (at both feedforward and lateral synapses) and mutual inhibition. When exposed to natural images (but not random pixels), the model spontaneously arranges into competitive groups of reciprocally connected, similarly tuned neurons, while developing realistic, orientation-selective receptive fields. Importantly, the same groups are observed in both stimulus-evoked and spontaneous (stimulus-absent) activity. The resulting network is inhibition-stabilized and exhibits fast, non-persistent attractor dynamics. Our results suggest that realistic plasticity, mutual inhibition and natural stimuli are jointly necessary and sufficient to generate attractor dynamics in primary sensory cortex.
Quantifying unobserved protein-coding variants in human populations provides a roadmap for large-scale sequencing projects
Authors: Zou James , Valiant Gregory , Valiant Paul , Karczewski Konrad , Chan Siu On , Samocha Kaitlin , Lek Monkol , Sunyaev Shamil , Daly Mark , MacArthur Daniel G.
Published: October 2016

As new proposals aim to sequence ever larger collection of humans, it is critical to have a quantitative framework to evaluate the statistical power of these projects. We developed a new algorithm, UnseenEst, and applied it to the exomes of 60,706 individuals to estimate the frequency distribution of all protein-coding variants, including rare variants that have not been observed yet in the current cohorts. Our results quantified the number of new variants that we expect to identify as sequencing cohorts reach hundreds of thousands of individuals. With 500K individuals, we find that we expect to capture 7.5% of all possible loss-of-function variants and 12% of all possible missense variants. We also estimate that 2,900 genes have loss-of-function frequency of <0.00001 in healthy humans, consistent with very strong intolerance to gene inactivation.
C14ORF39/SIX6OS1 is a constituent of the synaptonemal complex and is essential for mouse fertility
Authors: Gómez-H Laura , Felipe-Medina Natalia , Sánchez-Martín Manuel , Davies Owen R. , Ramos Isabel , García-Tuñón Ignacio , de Rooij Dirk G. , Dereli Ihsan , Tóth Attila , Barbero José Luis , Benavente Ricardo , Llano Elena , Pendas Alberto M.
Published: October 2016

Meiotic recombination generates crossovers between homologous chromosomes that are essential for genome haploidization. The synaptonemal complex is a ‘zipper’-like protein assembly that synapses homologue pairs together and provides the structural framework for processing recombination sites into crossovers. Humans show individual differences in the number of crossovers generated across the genome. Recently, an anonymous gene variant in C14ORF39/SIX6OS1 was identified that influences the recombination rate in humans. Here we show that C14ORF39/SIX6OS1 encodes a component of the central element of the synaptonemal complex. Yeast two-hybrid analysis reveals that SIX6OS1 interacts with the well-established protein synaptonemal complex central element 1 (SYCE1). Mice lacking SIX6OS1 are defective in chromosome synapsis at meiotic prophase I, which provokes an arrest at the pachytene-like stage and results in infertility. In accordance with its role as a modifier of the human recombination rate, SIX6OS1 is essential for the appropriate processing of intermediate recombination nodules before crossover formation.
EGFR oligomerization organizes kinase-active dimers into competent signalling platforms
Authors: Needham Sarah R. , Roberts Selene K. , Arkhipov Anton , Mysore Venkatesh P. , Tynan Christopher J. , Zanetti-Domingues Laura C. , Kim Eric T. , Losasso Valeria , Korovesis Dimitrios , Hirsch Michael , Rolfe Daniel J. , Clarke David T. , Winn Martyn D. , Lajevardipour Alireza , Clayton Andrew H. A. , Pike Linda J. , Perani Michela , Parker Peter J. , Shan Yibing , Shaw David E. , Martin-Fernandez Marisa L.
Published: October 2016

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signalling is activated by ligand-induced receptor dimerization. Notably, ligand binding also induces EGFR oligomerization, but the structures and functions of the oligomers are poorly understood. Here, we use fluorophore localization imaging with photobleaching to probe the structure of EGFR oligomers. We find that at physiological epidermal growth factor (EGF) concentrations, EGFR assembles into oligomers, as indicated by pairwise distances of receptor-bound fluorophore-conjugated EGF ligands. The pairwise ligand distances correspond well with the predictions of our structural model of the oligomers constructed from molecular dynamics simulations. The model suggests that oligomerization is mediated extracellularly by unoccupied ligand-binding sites and that oligomerization organizes kinase-active dimers in ways optimal for auto-phosphorylation in trans between neighbouring dimers. We argue that ligand-induced oligomerization is essential to the regulation of EGFR signalling.
Plants capable of selfing are more likely to become naturalized
Authors: Razanajatovo Mialy , Maurel Noëlie , Dawson Wayne , Essl Franz , Kreft Holger , Pergl Jan , Pyšek Petr , Weigelt Patrick , Winter Marten , van Kleunen Mark
Published: October 2016

Many plant species have established self-sustaining populations outside their natural range because of human activities. Plants with selfing ability should be more likely to establish outside their historical range because they can reproduce from a single individual when mates or pollinators are not available. Here, we compile a global breeding-system database of 1,752 angiosperm species and use phylogenetic generalized linear models and path analyses to test relationships between selfing ability, life history, native range size and global naturalization status. Selfing ability is associated with annual or biennial life history and a large native range, which both positively correlate with the probability of naturalization. Path analysis suggests that a high selfing ability directly increases the number of regions where a species is naturalized. Our results provide robust evidence across flowering plants at the global scale that high selfing ability fosters alien plant naturalization both directly and indirectly.
Room-temperature Tamm-plasmon exciton-polaritons with a WSe2 monolayer
Authors: Lundt Nils , Klembt Sebastian , Cherotchenko Evgeniia , Betzold Simon , Iff Oliver , Nalitov Anton V. , Klaas Martin , Dietrich Christof P. , Kavokin Alexey V. , Höfling Sven , Schneider Christian
Published: October 2016

Solid-state cavity quantum electrodynamics is a rapidly advancing field, which explores the frontiers of light–matter coupling. Metal-based approaches are of particular interest in this field, as they carry the potential to squeeze optical modes to spaces significantly below the diffraction limit. Transition metal dichalcogenides are ideally suited as the active material in cavity quantum electrodynamics, as they interact strongly with light at the ultimate monolayer limit. Here, we implement a Tamm-plasmon-polariton structure and study the coupling to a monolayer of WSe2, hosting highly stable excitons. Exciton-polariton formation at room temperature is manifested in the characteristic energy–momentum dispersion relation studied in photoluminescence, featuring an anti-crossing between the exciton and photon modes with a Rabi-splitting of 23.5 meV. Creating polaritonic quasiparticles in monolithic, compact architectures with atomic monolayers under ambient conditions is a crucial step towards the exploration of nonlinearities, macroscopic coherence and advanced spinor physics with novel, low-mass bosons.
Graphene-coated meshes for electroactive flow control devices utilizing two antagonistic functions of repellency and permeability
Authors: Tabassian Rassoul , Oh Jung-Hwan , Kim Sooyeun , Kim Donggyu , Ryu Seunghwa , Cho Seung-Min , Koratkar Nikhil , Oh Il-Kwon
Published: October 2016

The wettability of graphene on various substrates has been intensively investigated for practical applications including surgical and medical tools, textiles, water harvesting, self-cleaning, oil spill removal and microfluidic devices. However, most previous studies have been limited to investigating the intrinsic and passive wettability of graphene and graphene hybrid composites. Here, we report the electrowetting of graphene-coated metal meshes for use as electroactive flow control devices, utilizing two antagonistic functions, hydrophobic repellency versus liquid permeability. Graphene coating was able to prevent the thermal oxidation and corrosion problems that plague unprotected metal meshes, while also maintaining its hydrophobicity. The shapes of liquid droplets and the degree of water penetration through the graphene-coated meshes were controlled by electrical stimuli based on the functional control of hydrophobic repellency and liquid permeability. Furthermore, using the graphene-coated metal meshes, we developed two active flow devices demonstrating the dynamic locomotion of water droplets and electroactive flow switching.
Constitutively activated PI3K accelerates tumor initiation and modifies histopathology of breast cancer
Authors: Sheen M R , Marotti J D , Allegrezza M J , Rutkowski M , Conejo-Garcia J R , Fiering S
Published: October 2016

The gene encoding phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase catalytic subunit α-isoform (PIK3CA, p110α) is frequently activated by mutation in human cancers. Based on detection in some breast cancer precursors, PIK3CA mutations have been proposed to have a role in tumor initiation. To investigate this hypothesis, we generated a novel mouse model with a Cre-recombinase regulated allele of p110α (myristoylated-p110α, myr-p110α) along with p53fl/fl deletion and KrasG12D also regulated by Cre-recombinase. After instillation of adenovirus-expressing Cre-recombinase into mammary ducts, we found that myr-p110α accelerated breast tumor initiation in a copy number-dependent manner. Breast tumors induced by p53fl/fl;KrasG12D with no or one copy of myr-p110α had predominantly sarcomatoid features, whereas two copies of myr-p110α resulted in tumors with a carcinoma phenotype. This novel model provides experimental support for importance of active p110α in breast tumor initiation, and shows that the amount of PI3K activity can affect the rate of tumor initiation and modify the histological phenotype of breast cancer.
Rapid and sustained cognitive recovery in APP/PS1 transgenic mice by co-administration of EPPS and donepezil
Authors: Kim Hye Yun , Kim Hyunjin Vincent , Lee Dongkeun K. , Yang Seung-Hoon , Kim YoungSoo
Published: October 2016

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by sequential progression of pathological events, such as aggregation of amyloid-β proteins, followed by outward symptoms of cognitive impairments. Given that a combination of different therapeutic strategies often provides more rapid and effective outcomes in diverse areas of clinical treatment, we hypothesized that administration of anti-amyloid drugs with cognitive enhancers would result in synergistic effects in AD treatment. Here, we co-administered 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazinepropane-sulphonic acid (EPPS), an amyloid-clearing chemical, and donepezil, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, to determine whether they could serve complementary roles for each other in regards to AD treatment. We found that oral administration of these two molecules led to a rapid and consistent cognitive improvement in APP/PS1 transgenic mice. Although there was no evidence for synergistic effects, our results indicated that EPPS and donepezil function complementary to each other without altering their individual effects. Thus, the combined use of disease-modifying and symptomatic relief drugs may be a promising approach in the treatment of AD.
An extract from Taxodium distichum targets hemagglutinin- and neuraminidase-related activities of influenza virus in vitro
Authors: Hsieh Chung-Fan , Chen Yu-Li , Lin Chwan-Fwu , Ho Jin-Yuan , Huang Chun-Hsun , Chiu Cheng-Hsun , Hsieh Pei-Wen , Horng Jim-Tong
Published: October 2016

Influenza virus remains an emerging virus and causes pandemics with high levels of fatality. After screening different plant extracts with potential anti-influenza activity, a water extract of Taxodium distichum stems (TDSWex) showed excellent activity against influenza viruses. The EC50 of TDSWex was 0.051 ± 0.024 mg/mL against influenza virus A/WSN/33. TDSWex had excellent antiviral efficacy against various strains of human influenza A and B viruses, particularly oseltamivir-resistant clinical isolates and a swine-origin influenza strain. We observed that the synthesis of viral RNA and protein were inhibited in the presence of TDSWex. The results of the time-of-addition assay suggested that TDSWex inhibited viral entry and budding. In the hemagglutination inhibition assay, TDSWex inhibited the hemagglutination of red blood cells, implying that the extract targeted hemagglutin-related functions such as viral entry. In the attachment and penetration assay, TDSWex showed antiviral activity with EC50s of 0.045 ± 0.026 and 0.012 ± 0.003 mg/mL, respectively. In addition, TDSWex blocked neuraminidase activity. We conclude that TDSWex has bimodal activities against both hemagglutinin and neuraminidase during viral replication.
Disease-mediated bottom-up regulation: An emergent virus affects a keystone prey, and alters the dynamics of trophic webs
Authors: Monterroso Pedro , Garrote Germán , Serronha Ana , Santos Emídio , Delibes-Mateos Miguel , Abrantes Joana , Perez de Ayala Ramón , Silvestre Fernando , Carvalho João , Vasco Inês , Lopes Ana M. , Maio Elisa , Magalhães Maria J. , Mills L. Scott , Esteves Pedro J. , Simón Miguel Ángel , Alves Paulo C.
Published: October 2016

Emergent diseases may alter the structure and functioning of ecosystems by creating new biotic interactions and modifying existing ones, producing cascading processes along trophic webs. Recently, a new variant of the rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV2 or RHDVb) arguably caused widespread declines in a keystone prey in Mediterranean ecosystems - the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). We quantitatively assess the impact of RHDV2 on natural rabbit populations and in two endangered apex predator populations: the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) and the Spanish Imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti). We found 60–70% declines in rabbit populations, followed by decreases of 65.7% in Iberian lynx and 45.5% in Spanish Imperial eagle fecundities. A revision of the web of trophic interactions among rabbits and their dependent predators suggests that RHDV2 acts as a keystone species, and may steer Mediterranean ecosystems to management-dependent alternative states, dominated by simplified mesopredator communities. This model system stresses the importance of diseases as functional players in the dynamics of trophic webs.
Ductular reaction-on-a-chip: Microfluidic co-cultures to study stem cell fate selection during liver injury
Authors: Haque Amranul , Gheibi Pantea , Stybayeva Gulnaz , Gao Yandong , Torok Natalie , Revzin Alexander
Published: October 2016

Liver injury modulates local microenvironment, triggering production of signals that instruct stem cell fate choices. In this study, we employed a microfluidic co-culture system to recreate important interactions in the liver stem cell niche, those between adult hepatocytes and liver progenitor cells (LPCs). We demonstrate that pluripotent stem cell-derived LPCs choose hepatic fate when cultured next to healthy hepatocytes but begin biliary differentiation program when co-cultured with injured hepatocytes. We connect this fate selection to skewing in production of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 caused by injury. Significantly, biliary fate selection of LPCs was not observed in the absence of hepatocytes nor did it happen in the presence of TGF-β inhibitors. Our study demonstrates that microfluidic culture systems may offer an interesting new tool for dissecting cellular interactions leading to aberrant stem cell differentiation during injury.
Alpha-enolase on apical surface of renal tubular epithelial cells serves as a calcium oxalate crystal receptor
Authors: Fong-ngern Kedsarin , Thongboonkerd Visith
Published: October 2016

To search for a strategy to prevent kidney stone formation/recurrence, this study addressed the role of α-enolase on apical membrane of renal tubular cells in mediating calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) crystal adhesion. Its presence on apical membrane and in COM crystal-bound fraction was confirmed by Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. Pretreating MDCK cells with anti-α-enolase antibody, not isotype-controlled IgG, dramatically reduced cell-crystal adhesion. Immunofluorescence staining also confirmed the direct binding of purified α-enolase to COM crystals at {121} > {100} > {010} crystal faces. Coating COM crystals with urinary proteins diminished the crystal binding capacity to cells and purified α-enolase. Moreover, α-enolase selectively bound to COM, not other crystals. Chemico-protein interactions analysis revealed that α-enolase interacted directly with Ca2+ and Mg2+. Incubating the cells with Mg2+ prior to cell-crystal adhesion assay significantly reduced crystal binding on the cell surface, whereas preincubation with EDTA, a divalent cation chelator, completely abolished Mg2+ effect, indicating that COM and Mg2+ competitively bind to α-enolase. Taken together, we successfully confirmed the role of α-enolase as a COM crystal receptor to mediate COM crystal adhesion at apical membrane of renal tubular cells. It may also serve as a target for stone prevention by blocking cell-crystal adhesion and stone nidus formation.
GigaGauss solenoidal magnetic field inside bubbles excited in under-dense plasma
Authors: Lécz Zs. , Konoplev I. V. , Seryi A. , Andreev A.
Published: October 2016

This paper proposes a novel and effective method for generating GigaGauss level, solenoidal quasi-static magnetic fields in under-dense plasma using screw-shaped high intensity laser pulses. This method produces large solenoidal fields that move with the driving laser pulse and are collinear with the accelerated electrons. This is in contrast with already known techniques which rely on interactions with over-dense or solid targets and generates radial or toroidal magnetic field localized at the stationary target. The solenoidal field is quasi-stationary in the reference frame of the laser pulse and can be used for guiding electron beams. It can also provide synchrotron radiation beam emittance cooling for laser-plasma accelerated electron and positron beams, opening up novel opportunities for designs of the light sources, free electron lasers, and high energy colliders based on laser plasma acceleration.
Heme-mediated apoptosis and fusion damage in BeWo trophoblast cells
Authors: Liu Mingli , Hassana Salifu , Stiles Jonathan K.
Published: October 2016

Placental malaria (PM) is a complication associated with malaria infection during pregnancy that often leads to abortion, premature delivery, intrauterine growth restriction and low birth weight. Increased levels of circulating free heme, a by-product of Plasmodium-damaged erythrocytes, is a major contributor to inflammation, tissue damage and loss of blood brain barrier integrity associated with fatal experimental cerebral malaria. However, the role of heme in PM remains unknown. Proliferation and apoptosis of trophoblasts and fusion of the mononucleated state to the syncytial state are of major importance to a successful pregnancy. In the present study, we examined the effects of heme on the viability and fusion of a trophoblast-derived cell line (BeWo). Results indicate that heme induces apoptosis in BeWo cells by activation of the STAT3/caspase-3/PARP signaling pathway. In the presence of forskolin, which triggers trophoblast fusion, heme inhibits BeWo cell fusion through activation of STAT3. Understanding the effects of free plasma heme in pregnant women either due to malaria, sickle cell disease or other hemolytic diseases, will enable identification of high-risk women and may lead to discovery of new drug targets against associated adverse pregnancy outcome.
Antagonistic autoregulation speeds up a homogeneous response in Escherichia coli
Authors: Rodrigo Guillermo , Bajic Djordje , Elola Ignacio , Poyatos Juan F.
Published: October 2016

By integrating positive and negative feedback loops, biological systems establish intricate gene expression patterns linked to multistability, pulsing, and oscillations. This depends on the specific characteristics of each interlinked feedback, and thus one would expect additional expression programs to be found. Here, we investigate one such program associated with an antagonistic positive and negative transcriptional autoregulatory motif derived from the multiple antibiotic resistance (mar) system of Escherichia coli. We studied the dynamics of the system by combining a predictive mathematical model with high-resolution experimental measures of the response both at the population and single-cell level. We show that in this motif the weak positive autoregulation does not slow down but rather enhances response speedup in combination with a strong negative feedback loop. This balance of feedback strengths anticipates a homogeneous population phenotype, which we corroborate experimentally. Theoretical analysis also emphasized the specific molecular properties that determine the dynamics of the mar phenotype. More broadly, response acceleration could provide a rationale for the presence of weak positive feedbacks in other biological scenarios exhibiting these interlinked regulatory architectures.
Odor-induced mood state modulates language comprehension by affecting processing strategies
Authors: Wang Lin , Zhou Bin , Zhou Wen , Yang Yufang
Published: October 2016

It is controversial whether mood affects cognition by triggering specific processing strategies or by limiting processing resources. The current event-related potential (ERP) study pursued this issue by examining how mood modulates the processing of task relevant/irrelevant information. In question-answer pairs, a question context marked a critical word in the answer sentence as focus (and thus relevant) or non-focus (thereby irrelevant). At the same time, participants were exposed to either a pleasant or unpleasant odor to elicit different mood states. Overall, we observed larger N400s when the critical words in the answer sentences were semantically incongruent (rather than congruent) with the question context. However, such N400 effect was only found for focused words accompanied by a pleasant odor and for both focused and non-focused words accompanied by an unpleasant odor, but not for non-focused words accompanied by a pleasant odor. These results indicate top-down attentional shift to the focused information in a positive mood state and non-selective attention allocated to the focused and non-focused information in a less positive mood state, lending support to the “processing strategy” hypothesis. By using a novel approach to induce mood states, our study provides fresh insights into the mechanisms underlying mood modulation of language comprehension.
Reconstituted B cell receptor signaling reveals carbohydrate-dependent mode of activation
Authors: Villar Rina F. , Patel Jinal , Weaver Grant C. , Kanekiyo Masaru , Wheatley Adam K. , Yassine Hadi M. , Costello Catherine E. , Chandler Kevin B. , McTamney Patrick. M. , Nabel Gary J. , McDermott Adrian B. , Mascola John R. , Carr Steven A. , Lingwood Daniel
Published: October 2016

Activation of immune cells (but not B cells) with lectins is widely known. We used the structurally defined interaction between influenza hemagglutinin (HA) and its cell surface receptor sialic acid (SA) to identify a B cell receptor (BCR) activation modality that proceeded through non-cognate interactions with antigen. Using a new approach to reconstitute antigen-receptor interactions in a human reporter B cell line, we found that sequence-defined BCRs from the human germline repertoire could be triggered by both complementarity to influenza HA and a separate mode of signaling that relied on multivalent ligation of BCR sialyl-oligosaccharide. The latter suggested a new mechanism for priming naïve B cell responses and manifested as the induction of SA-dependent pan-activation by peripheral blood B cells. BCR crosslinking in the absence of complementarity is a superantigen effect induced by some microbial products to subvert production of antigen-specific immune responses. B cell superantigen activity through affinity for BCR carbohydrate is discussed.