bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantum nonlinear Schrödinger equation. I. Intertwining operators
Authors: Gutkin Eugène
Published: March 2017

We consider the quantum nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLS) as a model of the quantum (nonrelativistic) field theory in 1 + 1 dimensions. In this paper we develop a calculus of intertwining operators for the NLS. This calculus will be used in subsequent publications to solve explicitly an initial value problem for the NLS.

On s’occupe ici de l’équation de Schrödinger non linéaire quanitio (NLS) comme un modèle de la théorie quantique (non relativiste) des champs en 1 + 1 dimensions. Dans ce travail nous présentons un calcul des opérateurs entrelaçants pour le NLS. Ce calcul sera utilisé dans les publications suivantes à donner la solution explicite d’un problème de valeur initiale pour le NLS.
Vers une notion de dérivation fonctionnelle causale
Authors: Fliess Michel
Published: March 2017

The notions of derivatives stemming from classical functional analysis do not always mesh well with dynamic evolution. We show here that a derivative, which was introduced by R. Ree in relation with K.-T. Chen’s iterated integrals, possesses an infinitesimal interpretation that takes most naturally causality into account. For this derivation, the non-commutative generating power series expansions are the corresponding Taylor series expansions.

Les notions de dérivations issues de l’analyse fonctionnelle classique ne conviennent pas toujours à une évolution dynamique. Nous montrons qu’une dérivation, introduite par R. Ree à propos des intégrales itérées de K.-T. Chen, possède une interprétation infinitésimale qui prend naturellement en compte la causalité. Pour cette dérivation, le développement en série génératrice non commutative apparaît comme un développement taylorien.
Clean Power Politics
Authors: Tomain Joseph P.
Published: March 2017

The United States has been experiencing an energy transition for over four decades, and now - thanks to the Clean Power Plan of the Obama Administration and the Paris climate agreement - a clean energy future is moving closer to reality. In Clean Power Politics, Joseph Tomain describes how clean energy policies have been developed and, more importantly, what's necessary for a successful transition to a clean energy future, including technological innovation, new business models, and regulatory reforms. The energy system of the future will minimize the environmental costs of traditional energy production and consumption, and emphasize expanded use of natural resources and energy efficiency. Because many new energy technologies can be produced and consumed at smaller scales, they will shift decision-making power away from traditional utilities and empower consumers to make energy choices about consumption and price. In this way, a clean energy future embodies a democratization of energy.
The Ethics of the Family in Seneca
Authors: Gloyn Liz
Published: March 2017

This book is the first extensive study of the role of the family in the work of Seneca. It offers a new way of reading philosophy that combines philosophical analysis with social, cultural and historical factors to bring out the ways in which Stoicism presents itself as in tune with the universe. The family serves a central role in an individual's moral development - both the family as conventionally understood, and the wider conceptual family which Stoicism constructs. Innovative readings of Seneca's work bring out the importance of the family to his thought and how it interacts with other Stoic doctrines. We learn how to be virtuous from observing and imitating our family, who can be biological relatives or people we choose as our intellectual ancestors. The Ethics of the Family in Seneca will be of particular interest to researchers in Roman Stoicism, imperial culture and the history of the family.
Decontamination Work and the Long-term Increase in Hospital Visits for Hymenoptera Stings Following the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster
Authors: Ozaki Akihiko , Yokota Takeru , Nomura Shuhei , Tsubokura Masaharu , Leppold Claire , Tanimoto Tetsuya , Miura Toru , Yamamoto Kana , Sawano Toyoaki , Tsukada Manabu , Kami Masahiro , Kanazawa Yukio , Ohira Hiromichi
Published: March 2017

Objective

Animals, including arthropods, are one health threat that can be affected by disasters. This institution-based study aimed to assess trends in Hymenoptera stings following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Methods

We reviewed the medical records of patients with hymenopteran stings who visited Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital, located 23 km from Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, from March 2005 to March 2016. Patient and sting characteristics of post-disaster patients were examined, and the annual incidence of hospital visits for hymenopteran stings was compared with the pre-disaster baseline, calculating an incidence rate ratio (IRR) for each year.

Results

We identified 152 pre-disaster patients (2005-2011) and 222 post-disaster patients (2011-2016). In the post-disaster period, 160 males (72.1%) were identified, with a median age of 59 years (range: 2-89 years). A total of 45 patients (20.3%) were decontamination workers. Post-disaster increases were found in the IRR for hymenopteran stings, peaking first in 2011 (IRR: 2.8; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.9-4.2) and later in 2014 (IRR: 3.2; 95% CI: 2.4-4.3) and 2015 (IRR 3.3; 95% CI: 2.5-4.4).

Conclusions

Long-term increases were found in the IRR of hospital visits for hymenopteran stings in an institution affected by the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Decontamination workers appear to have been particularly affected by this phenomenon. Better disaster field worker monitoring and education about potential environmental health hazards may help to identify and prevent worker exposure to insect stings and other vectors in these settings. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:545–551)
PRÉCIS AND REPLIES TO CONTRIBUTORS FOR BOOK SYMPOSIUM ONACCURACY AND THE LAWS OF CREDENCE
Authors: Pettigrew Richard
Published: March 2017

This book symposium onAccuracy and the Laws of Credenceconsists of an overview of the book’s argument by the author, Richard Pettigrew, together with four commentaries on different aspects of that argument. Ben Levinstein challenges the characterisation of the legitimate measures of inaccuracy that plays a central role in the arguments of the book. Julia Staffel asks whether the arguments of the book are compatible with an ontology of doxastic states that includes full beliefs as well as credences. Fabrizio Cariani raises concerns about the argument offered in the book for various chance-credence principles. And Sophie Horowitz questions the assumptions at play in the book’s argument for the Principle of Indifference, as well as asking how the various laws of credence considered in the book relate to one another.
CHANCE, CREDENCE AND CIRCLES
Authors: Cariani Fabrizio
Published: March 2017

I target Pettigrew's application of the accuracy framework to derive chance-credence principles. My principal contention is that Pettigrew's preferred version of the argument might in one sense be circular and, moreover, that Pettigrew's premises have content that goes beyond that of standard chance-credence principles.
Biography in African History
Authors: Lindsay Lisa A.
Published: March 2017

This paper charts the rise and transformation of biography as a form of Africanist history writing. Biography in African history, as in other fields, has included attention to nationalist heroes as well as the lives of slaves, women, and other subalterns. Recently, some Africanist historians have embraced transnational life histories, particularly those situated in the “black Atlantic” of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Some themes, methods, and limitations of such biographies are discussed in relation to the author’s own project on a nineteenth century immigrant to West Africa.
Food Addiction Does Not Explain Weight Gain in Smoking Cessation
Authors: Amer Nordin Amer Siddiq , Adamson Simon Justin , Sellman John Douglas
Published: March 2017

Introduction: Weight gain during smoking cessation is a major concern. The relationship between smoking and weight is complex and not well understood. There is interest in substitution of nicotine with food.

Aims: This study investigates whether the development of food addiction explains weight gain following a quit smoking attempt.

Methods: This study was a subset of a larger study investigating smoking cessation in New Zealand. Participants were assessed on five visits over a 1-year period. Using validated instruments, measurements for smoking, weight, food intake, craving and food addiction were taken.

Results: Among the 256 participants, 54.7% attended at least one follow-up. Food addiction prevalence at baseline was 0.8%. 14.5% were quit at early follow-up and 14.8% at late follow-up. Weight gain was found in abstainers compared to those still smoking. No increase in food addiction was detected.

Conclusion: The development of food addiction does not play a prominent role in post quit weight gain. Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying weight gain mechanisms.
ISOTONIAN ALGEBRAS
Authors: BIGDELI MINA , HERZOG JÜRGEN , HIBI TAKAYUKI , QURESHI AYESHA ASLOOB , SHIKAMA AKIHIRO
Published: March 2017

To a pair $P$ and $Q$ of finite posets we attach the toric ring $K[P,Q]$ whose generators are in bijection to the isotone maps from $P$ to $Q$. This class of algebras, called isotonian, are natural generalizations of the so-called Hibi rings. We determine the Krull dimension of these algebras and for particular classes of posets $P$ and $Q$ we show that $K[P,Q]$ is normal and that their defining ideal admits a quadratic Gröbner basis.
ASSISTING MRS TOMMY ATKINS: GENDER, CLASS, PHILANTHROPY, AND THE DOMESTIC IMPACT OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN WAR, 1899–1902
Authors: RIEDI ELIZA
Published: March 2017

Despite the well-established historiography examining the South African war's impact upon British society, little attention has been paid to the plight of British soldiers’ families or to the charitable efforts mobilized to maintain them in the absence of adequate state support. This article, focusing on the key charity in the field, the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Families Association (SSFA), examines the SSFA's wartime policies and considers how the Association's actions influenced subsequent state policy-making. It explores the motivations and attitudes of its middle-class, mostly female, volunteers, on whose sustained commitment the work of the SSFA depended. In analysing the sources of the SSFA's funding, it considers how class and regionality shaped public giving to patriotic philanthropy. Finally, it investigates how perceptions of soldiers’ wives and mechanisms for their support in the First World War were affected by the South African war experience. Overall, the article aims both to demonstrate the importance of philanthropic aid to soldiers’ families in understanding the domestic impact of this imperial war, and to trace the longer-term effects on the development of policies towards servicemen's dependants.
X-ray Pulsar/Starlight Doppler Deeply-integrated Navigation Method
Authors: Wang Yidi , Zheng Wei , Zhang Dapeng
Published: March 2017

An X-ray pulsar/starlight Doppler deeply-integrated navigation method is proposed in this paper. A starlight Doppler measurement-aided phase propagation model, which can remove the orbital effect within the recorded photon Time Of Arrivals (TOAs), is derived, and guarantees that the pulse phase can be extracted from the converted photon TOAs using computationally efficient methods. Some simulations are performed by a hardware-in-loop system to verify the performance of the integrated pulse phase estimation method as well as of the integrated navigation method. The integrated pulse phase estimation method could achieve an estimation performance similar to the existing method for orbiting vehicles at the cost of much less computational complexity, is capable of handling the signals of millisecond pulsars, and is applicable to various vehicles. In addition, the proposed integrated navigation method could provide reliable positioning results for various vehicles.
Assessment of the Knowledge of Blast Injuries Management among Physicians Working in Tripoli Hospitals (Libya)
Authors: Oun Abdulhakim M. , Hadida Elmokhtar M. , Stewart Charles
Published: March 2017

Introduction

No study on hospital staff preparedness for managing blast injuries has been conducted in Libya. The internal conflict in Libya since 2011 and the difficulties faced by the hospitals has highlighted the need for such studies.

Hypothesis

Physicians working in Tripoli (capital city Libya) hospitals are inadequately prepared for the management of blast injuries.

Methods

A survey was conducted in all 13 hospitals in Tripoli between June 2014 and May 2015 by using interviews based on a questionnaire consisting of 29 questions covering physicians’ education related to blast injury, hospital management of mass casualties, and aspects of hospital preparedness for such incidents.

Results

Of 3,799 physicians working in Tripoli hospitals, 607 physicians were interviewed (16.0%). All but one of the physicians reported that there was no disaster response plan, none of them had read such a plan, 496 (81.7%) reported that hospitals were not prepared, and 471 (77.6%) that hospitals were not equipped for blast injuries. Though 414 (68.2%) reported that radiological equipment was available, 597 (98.3%) revealed that hospitals do not adopt training for blast injury. Only 39 (6.4%) had received professional training, though 183 (30.1%) were seeing blast injury patients at least once a week in their daily practice. Nevertheless, 185 (30.5%) had previous knowledge and experience in blast injuries management and 338 (55.70%) were aware of the major physical findings, but only 75 (12.4%) were following specific guidelines. According to approximately one-third of the physicians (192; 31%), staff and patient safety were not priorities for the hospital administration. Almost all (606; 99.9%) revealed that personal protective equipment for chemical and nuclear accidents was not available.

Conclusion

Preparedness for blast injuries in Tripoli hospitals is seriously deficient. Planning optimized blast and disaster management in Libya is essential.

OunAM,HadidaEM,StewartC.Assessment of the knowledge of blast injuries management among physicians working in Tripoli hospitals (Libya).Prehosp Disaster Med.2017;32(3):311–316.
Diet quality on meatless days: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2007–2012
Authors: Conrad Zach , Karlsen Micaela , Chui Kenneth , Jahns Lisa
Published: March 2017

Objective

To compare diet quality scores between adult non-meat eaters and meat eaters, and to compare the consumption of diet components across quintiles of diet quality.

Design

Cross-sectional analysis. The Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010) and Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI-2010) were used to assess mean diet quality. Differences in consumption of diet components between quintiles of diet quality were tested usingpost hocWald tests andztests.

Setting

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2007–2012.

Subjects

The sample consisted of 16810 respondents aged≥18 years, including 280 individuals who reported not consuming meat, poultry, game birds or seafood on two non-consecutive days of dietary recall. Dietary data were obtained from one dietary recall per individual.

Results

Non-meat eaters had substantially greater HEI-2010 and AHEI-2010 scores than meat eaters (P<0·05). Among non-meat eaters, mean consumption across HEI-2010 quintiles demonstrated different (P<0·05) amounts of empty calories and unsaturated:saturated fatty acids. Mean consumption across AHEI-2010 quintiles demonstrated different (P<0·05) amounts of nuts and legumes, vegetables and PUFA.

Conclusions

Public health messages targeted at vegetarians and others who may choose to eat meat-free on certain days should emphasize decreased consumption of empty calories, and increased consumption of nuts and legumes, PUFA and vegetables, as a way to improve overall dietary quality.
Very distal vein bypass in patients with thromboangiitis obliterans
Authors: Neufang Achim , Vargas-Gomez Carolina , Ewald Patrick , Vitolianos Nicolaos , Coskun Tolga , Abu-Salim Nael , Schmiedel Rainer , von Flotow Peter , Savvidis Savvas
Published: March 2017

Abstract. Background: Surgical revascularization for chronic critical limb ischaemia in patients with thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) still remains controversial. Generally, besides cessation of smoking, conservative treatment supported by intravenous administration of vasoactive agents is regarded as the treatment of choice, in combination with local wound therapy or minor amputation. Patients and methods: In four male patients (42-47 years) surgical revascularization was chosen as therapy for established gangrene or non-healing ulceration after unsuccessful conservative treatment and cessation of smoking. Angiography was able to identify a suitable distal arterial segment for the bypass which was revascularized by means of an autologous vein graft. Grafts were followed with repetitive duplex ultrasound. Revision of the bypass graft was initiated if indicated by pathological duplex findings. Results: In all cases a bypass could be constructed with either the ipsilateral greater saphenous vein or arm veins. A distal origin configuration was possible in three cases with popliteo-pedal or cruro-pedal bypasses. In the fourth case the distal superficial femoral artery was used for inflow. Two early graft thromboses underwent successful revision. During follow-up, duplex ultrasound identified graft stenoses in three bypasses which were successfully treated with endovascular techniques. All grafts are patent with complete resolution of ischaemic symptoms after 46, 42, 32, and 29 months. The patients remained non-smokers and returned to a professional life. Conclusions: Surgical therapy with distal vein bypass for persistent ischaemic symptoms after definitive cessation of smoking seems feasible in selected cases with TAO and a suitable distal artery. Close follow-ups of the patients with duplex ultrasound are necessary to identify developing vein graft stenoses. Angioplasty seems to be an important part of the long-term therapeutic concept.
Activists Set Out to Save Data, One Byte at a Time
Authors: Wendel JoAnna
Published: March 2017

Leaders of the DataRefuge movement hope that volunteer efforts across the country can stop government data from disappearing.
Reconstituting development of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia from primary human pancreas duct cells
Authors: Lee Jonghyeob , Snyder Emily R. , Liu Yinghua , Gu Xueying , Wang Jing , Flowers Brittany M. , Kim Yoo Jung , Park Sangbin , Szot Gregory L. , Hruban Ralph H. , Longacre Teri A. , Kim Seung K.
Published: March 2017

Development of systems that reconstitute hallmark features of human pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanINs), the precursor to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, could generate new strategies for early diagnosis and intervention. However, human cell-based PanIN models with defined mutations are unavailable. Here, we report that genetic modification of primary human pancreatic cells leads to development of lesions resembling native human PanINs. Primary human pancreas duct cells harbouring oncogenic KRAS and induced mutations in CDKN2A, SMAD4 and TP53 expand in vitro as epithelial spheres. After pancreatic transplantation, mutant clones form lesions histologically similar to native PanINs, including prominent stromal responses. Gene expression profiling reveals molecular similarities of mutant clones with native PanINs, and identifies potential PanIN biomarker candidates including Neuromedin U, a circulating peptide hormone. Prospective reconstitution of human PanIN development from primary cells provides experimental opportunities to investigate pancreas cancer development, progression and early-stage detection.
A phenol-enriched cuticle is ancestral to lignin evolution in land plants
Authors: Renault Hugues , Alber Annette , Horst Nelly A. , Basilio Lopes Alexandra , Fich Eric A. , Kriegshauser Lucie , Wiedemann Gertrud , Ullmann Pascaline , Herrgott Laurence , Erhardt Mathieu , Pineau Emmanuelle , Ehlting Jürgen , Schmitt Martine , Rose Jocelyn K. C. , Reski Ralf , Werck-Reichhart Danièle
Published: March 2017

Lignin, one of the most abundant biopolymers on Earth, derives from the plant phenolic metabolism. It appeared upon terrestrialization and is thought critical for plant colonization of land. Early diverging land plants do not form lignin, but already have elements of its biosynthetic machinery. Here we delete in a moss the P450 oxygenase that defines the entry point in angiosperm lignin metabolism, and find that its pre-lignin pathway is essential for development. This pathway does not involve biochemical regulation via shikimate coupling, but instead is coupled with ascorbate catabolism, and controls the synthesis of the moss cuticle, which prevents desiccation and organ fusion. These cuticles share common features with lignin, cutin and suberin, and may represent the extant representative of a common ancestor. Our results demonstrate a critical role for the ancestral phenolic metabolism in moss erect growth and cuticle permeability, consistent with importance in plant adaptation to terrestrial conditions.
Fundamental Limitation on Cooling under Classical Noise
Authors: Jing Jun , Chhajlany Ravindra W. , Wu Lian-Ao
Published: March 2017

We prove a general theorem that the action of arbitrary classical noise or random unitary channels can not increase the maximum population of any eigenstate of an open quantum system, assuming initial system-environment factorization. Such factorization is the conventional starting point for descriptions of open system dynamics. In particular, our theorem implies that a system can not be ideally cooled down unless it is initially prepared as a pure state. The resultant inequality rigorously constrains the possibility of cooling the system solely through temporal manipulation, i.e., dynamical control over the system Hamiltonian without resorting to measurement based cooling methods. It is a substantial generalization of the no-go theorem claiming that the exact ground state cooling is forbidden given initial system-thermal bath factorization, while here we prove even cooling is impossible under classical noise.
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor promotes human granulosa-like tumor cell steroidogenesis and proliferation by activating the FSH receptor-mediated signaling pathway
Authors: Xie Min , Li Meiling , Zhou Ji , Ding Xiaomeng , Shao Yidan , Jing Jun , Liu Yuxiu , Yao Bing
Published: March 2017

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and FSH receptor (FSHR) are expressed in ovarian granulosa cells, and play important roles in regulating follicle growth and oocyte maturation. Studies have linked the BDNF-associated signaling pathway to FSHR mRNA expression in the regulation of follicle development, but the mechanisms remain unknown. In the current study, we found that BDNF stimulated the secretion of estradiol and progesterone, and increased the proliferation of KGN cells (human granulosa-like tumor cell line). BDNF treatment also increased phosphorylated and ubiquitinated FSHR, and activated cAMP/PKA/CREB signaling pathway. Moreover, inhibition of BDNF expression by siRNA markedly reduced the estradiol secretion and down-regulated FSHR, aromatase and phosphorylated CREB; meanwhile, FSH treatment partly alleviated the effects of BDNF siRNA on KGN cells. These findings suggested that BDNF modulates graunlosa cell functions and the action probably mediated by FSHR-coupled signaling pathway, to affect aromatase-mediated steroidogenesis. These results provide an alternative target to optimize ovarian granulosa cell function.
Temporal and structural evolution of the Early Palæogene rocks of the Seychelles microcontinent
Authors: Shellnutt J. Gregory , Yeh Meng-Wan , Suga Kenshi , Lee Tung-Yi , Lee Hao-Yang , Lin Te-Hsien
Published: March 2017

The Early Palæogene Silhouette/North Island volcano-plutonic complex was emplaced during the rifting of the Seychelles microcontinent from western India. The complex is thought to have been emplaced during magnetochron C28n. However, the magnetic polarities of the rocks are almost entirely reversed and inconsistent with a normal polarity. In this study we present new in situ zircon U/Pb geochronology of the different intrusive facies of the Silhouette/North Island complex in order to address the timing of emplacement and the apparent magnetic polarity dichotomy. The rocks from Silhouette yielded weighted mean 206Pb/238U ages from 62.4 ± 0.9 Ma to 63.1 ± 0.9 Ma whereas the rocks from North Island yielded slightly younger mean ages between 60.6 ± 0.7 Ma to 61.0 ± 0.8 Ma. The secular latitudinal variation from Silhouette to North Island is consistent with the anticlockwise rotation of the Seychelles microcontinent and the measured polarities. The rocks from Silhouette were emplaced across a polarity cycle (C26r-C27n-C27r) and the rocks from North Island were emplaced entirely within a magnetic reversal (C26r). Moreover, the rocks from North Island and those from the conjugate margin of India are contemporaneous and together mark the culmination of rift-related magmatism.
Hyper- and hypo- nutrition studies of the hepatic transcriptome and epigenome suggest that PPARα regulates anaerobic glycolysis
Authors: Soltis Anthony R. , Motola Shmulik , Vernia Santiago , Ng Christopher W. , Kennedy Norman J. , Dalin Simona , Matthews Bryan J. , Davis Roger J. , Fraenkel Ernest
Published: March 2017

Diet plays a crucial role in shaping human health and disease. Diets promoting obesity and insulin resistance can lead to severe metabolic diseases, while calorie-restricted (CR) diets can improve health and extend lifespan. In this work, we fed mice either a chow diet (CD), a 16 week high-fat diet (HFD), or a CR diet to compare and contrast the effects of these diets on mouse liver biology. We collected transcriptomic and epigenomic datasets from these mice using RNA-Seq and DNase-Seq. We found that both CR and HFD induce extensive transcriptional changes, in some cases altering the same genes in the same direction. We used our epigenomic data to infer transcriptional regulatory proteins bound near these genes that likely influence their expression levels. In particular, we found evidence for critical roles played by PPARα and RXRα. We used ChIP-Seq to profile the binding locations for these factors in HFD and CR livers. We found extensive binding of PPARα near genes involved in glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and uncovered a role for this factor in regulating anaerobic glycolysis. Overall, we generated extensive transcriptional and epigenomic datasets from livers of mice fed these diets and uncovered new functions and gene targets for PPARα.
A possible role for neutrophils in allergic rhinitis revealed after cellular subclassification
Authors: Arebro Julia , Ekstedt Sandra , Hjalmarsson Eric , Winqvist Ola , Kumlien Georén Susanna , Cardell Lars-Olaf
Published: March 2017

A re-examination of former concepts is required to meet today’s medical challenges in allergic rhinitis. Previously, neutrophils have been treated as a relatively homogenous cell population found in the nose both when the patient is suffering at the height of the allergic season as well as when the patient report no symptoms. However, new data indicates that neutrophils can be divided into different subsets with diverse roles in inflammation. We showed increased levels of neutrophils in peripheral blood, nasal biopsies and nasal lavage fluid (NAL) from allergic patients during the pollen season compared to healthy controls. A closer examination revealed that the activated subset of neutrophils, CD16high CD62Ldim, outweighed the normal form CD16high CD62Lhigh in nasal tissue among these patients. This skewed distribution was not seen in controls. The normal subset prevailed in peripheral blood from patients as well as controls, whereas CD16high CD62Ldim and CD16dim CD62Ldim subsets, the latter considered “end state” neutrophils before apoptosis, were elevated in NAL. Functional in vitro experiments revealed that activated neutrophils exhibit a T cell priming capacity and an ability to enhance eosinophil migration. Activated neutrophils may thus contribute to allergic inflammation seen in allergic rhinitis by priming T cells and attracting eosinophils.
Tubular Peroxiredoxin 3 as a Predictor of Renal Recovery from Acute Tubular Necrosis in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Wu Chia-Lin , Su Tzu-Cheng , Chang Chia-Chu , Kor Chew-Teng , Chang Chung-Ho , Yang Tao-Hsiang , Chiu Ping-Fang , Tarng Der-Cherng
Published: March 2017

Peroxiredoxin 3 (PRX3) is a mitochondrial antioxidant that regulates apoptosis in various cancers. However, whether tubular PRX3 predicts recovery of renal function following acute kidney injury (AKI) remains unknown. This retrospective cohort study included 54 hospitalized patients who had AKI with biopsy-proven acute tubular necrosis (ATN). The study endpoint was renal function recovery within 6 months. Of the 54 enrolled patients, 25 (46.3%) had pre-existing chronic kidney disease (CKD) and 33 (61%) recovered renal function. Tubular PRX3 expression was higher in patients with ATN than in those without renal function recovery. The level of tubular but not glomerular PRX3 expression predicted renal function recovery from AKI (AUROC = 0.76). In multivariate Cox regression analysis, high PRX3 expression was independently associated with a higher probability of renal function recovery (adjusted hazard ratio = 8.99; 95% CI 1.13–71.52, P = 0.04). Furthermore, the discriminative ability of the clinical model for AKI recovery was improved by adding tubular PRX3. High tubular PRX3 expression was associated with a higher probability of renal function recovery from ATN. Therefore, tubular PRX3 in combination with conventional predictors can further improve recovery prediction and may help with risk stratification in AKI patients with pre-existing CKD.
Effective Construction of High-quality Iron Oxy-hydroxides and Co-doped Iron Oxy-hydroxides Nanostructures: Towards the Promising Oxygen Evolution Reaction Application
Authors: Zhang Xinyu , An Li , Yin Jie , Xi Pinxian , Zheng Zhiping , Du Yaping
Published: March 2017

Rational design of high efficient and low cost electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) plays an important role in water splitting. Herein, a general gelatin-assisted wet chemistry method is employed to fabricate well-defined iron oxy-hydroxides and transitional metal doped iron oxy-hydroxides nanomaterials, which show good catalytic performances for OER. Specifically, the Co-doped iron oxy-hydroxides (Co0.54Fe0.46OOH) show the excellent electrocatalytic performance for OER with an onset potential of 1.52 V, tafel slope of 47 mV/dec and outstanding stability. The ultrahigh oxygen evolution activity and strong durability, with superior performance in comparison to the pure iron oxy-hydroxide (FeOOH) catalysts, originate from the branch structure of Co0.54Fe0.46OOH on its surface so as to provide many active edge sites, enhanced mass/charge transport capability, easy release oxygen gas bubbles, and strong structural stability, which are advantageous for OER. Meanwhile, Co-doping in FeOOH nanostructures constitutes a desirable four-electron pathway for reversible oxygen evolution and reduction, which is potentially useful for rechargeable metal−air batteries, regenerative fuel cells, and other important clean energy devices. This work may provide a new insight into constructing the promising water oxidation catalysts for practical clean energy application.
γ-Aminobutyric Acid Imparts Partial Protection from Salt Stress Injury to Maize Seedlings by Improving Photosynthesis and Upregulating Osmoprotectants and Antioxidants
Authors: Wang Yongchao , Gu Wanrong , Meng Yao , Xie Tenglong , Li Lijie , Li Jing , Wei Shi
Published: March 2017

γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) has high physiological activity in plant stress physiology. This study showed that the application of exogenous GABA by root drenching to moderately (MS, 150 mM salt concentration) and severely salt-stressed (SS, 300 mM salt concentration) plants significantly increased endogenous GABA concentration and improved maize seedling growth but decreased glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) activity compared with non-treated ones. Exogenous GABA alleviated damage to membranes, increased in proline and soluble sugar content in leaves, and reduced water loss. After the application of GABA, maize seedling leaves suffered less oxidative damage in terms of superoxide anion (O2·−) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. GABA-treated MS and SS maize seedlings showed increased enzymatic antioxidant activity compared with that of untreated controls, and GABA-treated MS maize seedlings had a greater increase in enzymatic antioxidant activity than SS maize seedlings. Salt stress severely damaged cell function and inhibited photosynthesis, especially in SS maize seedlings. Exogenous GABA application could reduce the accumulation of harmful substances, help maintain cell morphology, and improve the function of cells during salt stress. These effects could reduce the damage to the photosynthetic system from salt stress and improve photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. GABA enhanced the salt tolerance of maize seedlings.
Broadly reactive aptamers targeting bacteria belonging to different genera using a sequential toggle cell-SELEX
Authors: Song Min Young , Nguyen Dung , Hong Seok Won , Kim Byoung Chan
Published: March 2017

Conventional cell-SELEX aims to isolate aptamers to a single unique target bacteria species. We propose a method to isolate single-stranded DNA aptamers that have broad reactivity to multiple bacterial targets belonging to different genera. The key of the proposed method is that targets of interest are changed sequentially at each SELEX round. The general scheme was examined using six bacteria from different genera, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Citrobacter freundii, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus epidermidis (four gram-negative and two gram-positive bacteria). In the first round of SELEX, the DNA library was incubated with E. coli and amplicons bound to E. coli were separated. The amplicons were sequentially separated by incubation with E. aerogenes, K. pneumoniae, C. freundii, B. subtilis, and S. epidermidis at each SELEX. The amplicons obtained using the last bacterial species were incubated again with the first bacterial species and this loop was repeated two more times. We refer to this method as sequential toggle cell-SELEX (STC-SELEX). The isolated aptamers had dissociation constants of 9.22–38.5 nM and had no affinity to other bacteria that were not included in STC-SELEX. These results demonstrate the potential to isolate aptamers with broad affinity to bacterial taxa in different genera.
Maximum Power Game as a Physical and Social Extension of Classical Games
Authors: Kim Pilwon
Published: March 2017

We consider an electric circuit in which the players participate as resistors and adjust their resistance in pursuit of individual maximum power. The maximum power game(MPG) becomes very complicated in a circuit which is indecomposable into serial/parallel components, yielding a nontrivial power distribution at equilibrium. Depending on the circuit topology, MPG covers a wide range of phenomena: from a social dilemma in which the whole group loses to a well-coordinated situation in which the individual pursuit of power promotes the collective outcomes. We also investigate a situation where each player in the circuit has an intrinsic heat waste. Interestingly, it is this individual inefficiency which can keep them from the collective failure in power generation. When coping with an efficient opponent with small intrinsic resistance, a rather inefficient player gets more power than efficient one. A circuit with multiple voltage inputs forms the network-based maximum power game. One of our major interests is to figure out, in what kind of the networks the pursuit for private power leads to greater total power. It turns out that the circuits with the scale-free structure is one of the good candidates which generates as much power as close to the possible maximum total.
Low-dose penicillin exposure in early life decreases Th17 and the susceptibility to DSS colitis in mice through gut microbiota modification
Authors: Jin Shuang , Zhao Di , Cai Chenwen , Song Dongjuan , Shen Jun , Xu Antao , Qiao Yuqi , Ran Zhihua , Zheng Qing
Published: March 2017

Antibiotic exposure in early life can lead to a significant change of the gut microbiota and may contribute to later onset of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, the relationship between early-life antibiotic treatment and IBD is ambiguous, according to contradicting results of epidemiologic studies. In the present study, we demonstrated that low-dose penicillin pre-treatment had a unique protective effect against mouse colitis induced by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). Low-dose penicillin also suppressed the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-17 in various intestinal tissues, and decreased the amount of Th17 cells in small-intestine lamina propria. Neither metronidazole nor enrofloxacin had a similar effect. We further confirmed that low-dose penicillin could cause specific changes of the gut microbiota, especially the eradication of segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB). Mice without SFB inoculation showed no disparity when treated with penicillin or water. Taken together, the results showed that low-dose penicillin can achieve a highly specific manipulation of sensitive bacteria and interfere with development of intestinal immune system in early life. The study may further indicate the possibility of achieving a favorable immune state among a certain group of patients with IBD, or other autoimmune diseases, by fine-tuning the gut microbiota.
EGFR induces DNA decomposition via phosphodiester bond cleavage
Authors: Tong Yongpeng , Li Shuiming , Huang Chunliu
Published: March 2017

EGFR may induce DNA degradation. This activity had not been previously described as an EGRF function. To confirm this unexpected activity, testing of EGFR in the presence of ATP and either 5A, 5C, 5G, 5T, or 5U oligonucleotides was performed. HPLC-MS analysis demonstrated that 5A and 5U levels significantly decreased in the presence of EGFR. Furthermore, fragments 4A and 4U were produced in 5A+EGFR+ATP and in 5U+EGFR+ATP reaction mixtures, respectively, but not in EGFR-negative controls. Degradation of Poly(A), Poly(C), Poly(G), Poly(I), Poly(T), and Poly(U) oligomers in the presence of EGFR and ATP correlated with the lower ability of reaction products to pair with complementary oligonucleotides. Gel electrophoresis showed that breakdown products migrated more quickly than controls, especially after addition of paired (complementary) oligomers, Poly(A) and Poly(U). Furthermore, λ DNA reaction products also migrated more quickly after incubation with EGFR. The results suggest that EGFR can induce breakage of certain types of nucleotide phosphodiester bonds, especially within the A residues of DNA or U residues of RNA, to induce DNA or RNA decomposition, respectively. This activity may be important in EGRF signaling, DNA degradation, or repair in normal or cancer cell activities.
Disruptions in asymmetric centrosome inheritance and WDR62-Aurora kinase B interactions in primary microcephaly
Authors: Sgourdou Paraskevi , Mishra-Gorur Ketu , Saotome Ichiko , Henagariu Octavian , Tuysuz Beyhan , Campos Cynthia , Ishigame Keiko , Giannikou Krinio , Quon Jennifer L. , Sestan Nenad , Caglayan Ahmet O. , Gunel Murat , Louvi Angeliki
Published: March 2017

Recessive mutations in WD repeat domain 62 (WDR62) cause microcephaly and a wide spectrum of severe brain malformations. Disruption of the mouse ortholog results in microcephaly underlain by reduced proliferation of neocortical progenitors during late neurogenesis, abnormalities in asymmetric centrosome inheritance leading to neuronal migration delays, and altered neuronal differentiation. Spindle pole localization of WDR62 and mitotic progression are defective in patient-derived fibroblasts, which, similar to mouse neocortical progenitors, transiently arrest at prometaphase. Expression of WDR62 is closely correlated with components of the chromosome passenger complex (CPC), a key regulator of mitosis. Wild type WDR62, but not disease-associated mutant forms, interacts with the CPC core enzyme Aurora kinase B and staining of CPC components at centromeres is altered in patient-derived fibroblasts. Our findings demonstrate critical and diverse functions of WDR62 in neocortical development and provide insight into the mechanisms by which its disruption leads to a plethora of structural abnormalities.
Extracellular proteasome-osteopontin circuit regulates cell migration with implications in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Dianzani Chiara , Bellavista Elena , Liepe Juliane , Verderio Claudia , Martucci Morena , Santoro Aurelia , Chiocchetti Annalisa , Gigliotti Casimiro Luca , Boggio Elena , Ferrara Benedetta , Riganti Loredana , Keller Christin , Janek Katharina , Niewienda Agathe , Fenoglio Chiara , Sorosina Melissa , Cantello Roberto , Kloetzel Peter M. , Stumpf Michael P. H. , Paul Friedemann , Ruprecht Klemens , Galimberti Daniela , Martinelli Boneschi Filippo , Comi Cristoforo , Dianzani Umberto , Mishto Michele
Published: March 2017

Osteopontin is a pleiotropic cytokine that is involved in several diseases including multiple sclerosis. Secreted osteopontin is cleaved by few known proteases, modulating its pro-inflammatory activities. Here we show by in vitro experiments that secreted osteopontin can be processed by extracellular proteasomes, thereby producing fragments with novel chemotactic activity. Furthermore, osteopontin reduces the release of proteasomes in the extracellular space. The latter phenomenon seems to occur in vivo in multiple sclerosis, where it reflects the remission/relapse alternation. The extracellular proteasome-mediated inflammatory pathway may represent a general mechanism to control inflammation in inflammatory diseases.
Hybrid sequencing and map finding (HySeMaFi): optional strategies for extensively deciphering gene splicing and expression in organisms without reference genome
Authors: Ning Guogui , Cheng Xu , Luo Ping , Liang Fan , Wang Zhen , Yu Guoliang , Li Xin , Wang Depeng , Bao Manzhu
Published: March 2017

Using second-generation sequencing (SGS) RNA-Seq strategies, extensive alterative splicing prediction is impractical and high variability of isoforms expression quantification is inevitable in organisms without true reference dataset. we report the development of a novel analysis method, termed hybrid sequencing and map finding (HySeMaFi) which combines the specific strengths of third-generation sequencing (TGS) (PacBio SMRT sequencing) and SGS (Illumina Hi-Seq/MiSeq sequencing) to effectively decipher gene splicing and to reliably estimate the isoforms abundance. Error-corrected long reads from TGS are capable of capturing full length transcripts or as large partial transcript fragments. Both true and false isoforms, from a particular gene, as well as that containing all possible exons, could be generated by employing different assembly methods in SGS. We first develop an effective method which can establish the mapping relationship between the error-corrected long reads and the longest assembled contig in every corresponding gene. According to the mapping data, the true splicing pattern of the genes was reliably detected, and quantification of the isoforms was also effectively determined. HySeMaFi is also the optimal strategy by which to decipher the full exon expression of a specific gene when the longest mapped contigs were chosen as the reference set.
Effect of halide-mixing on the switching behaviors of organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite memory
Authors: Hwang Bohee , Gu Chungwan , Lee Donghwa , Lee Jang-Sik
Published: March 2017

Mixed halide perovskite materials are actively researched for solar cells with high efficiency. Their hysteresis which originates from the movement of defects make perovskite a candidate for resistive switching memory devices. We demonstrate the resistive switching device based on mixed-halide organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite CH3NH3PbI3−xBrx (x = 0, 1, 2, 3). Solvent engineering is used to deposit the homogeneous CH3NH3PbI3−xBrx layer on the indium-tin oxide-coated glass substrates. The memory device based on CH3NH3PbI3−xBrx exhibits write endurance and long retention, which indicate reproducible and reliable memory properties. According to the increase in Br contents in CH3NH3PbI3−xBrx the set electric field required to make the device from low resistance state to high resistance state decreases. This result is in accord with the theoretical calculation of migration barriers, that is the barrier to ionic migration in perovskites is found to be lower for Br− (0.23 eV) than for I− (0.29–0.30 eV). The resistive switching may be the result of halide vacancy defects and formation of conductive filaments under electric field in the mixed perovskite layer. It is observed that enhancement in operating voltage can be achieved by controlling the halide contents in the film.
Erythro-myeloid progenitors can differentiate from endothelial cells and modulate embryonic vascular remodeling
Authors: Kasaai Bahar , Caolo Vincenza , Peacock Hanna M. , Lehoux Stephanie , Gomez-Perdiguero Elisa , Luttun Aernout , Jones Elizabeth A. V.
Published: March 2017

Erythro-myeloid progenitors (EMPs) were recently described to arise from the yolk sac endothelium, just prior to vascular remodeling, and are the source of adult/post-natal tissue resident macrophages. Questions remain, however, concerning whether EMPs differentiate directly from the endothelium or merely pass through. We provide the first evidence in vivo that EMPs can emerge directly from endothelial cells (ECs) and demonstrate a role for these cells in vascular development. We find that EMPs express most EC markers but late EMPs and EMP-derived cells do not take up acetylated low-density lipoprotein (AcLDL), as ECs do. When the endothelium is labelled with AcLDL before EMPs differentiate, EMPs and EMP-derived cells arise that are AcLDL+. If AcLDL is injected after the onset of EMP differentiation, however, the majority of EMP-derived cells are not double labelled. We find that cell division precedes entry of EMPs into circulation, and that blood flow facilitates the transition of EMPs from the endothelium into circulation in a nitric oxide-dependent manner. In gain-of-function studies, we inject the CSF1-Fc ligand in embryos and found that this increases the number of CSF1R+ cells, which localize to the venous plexus and significantly disrupt venous remodeling. This is the first study to definitively establish that EMPs arise from the endothelium in vivo and show a role for early myeloid cells in vascular development.