bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Theory of mind in adolescents with early-onset schizophrenia: correlations with clinical assessment and executive functions
Authors: Bourgou Soumaya , Halayem Soumeyya , Amado Isabelle , Triki Racha , Bourdel Marie Chantal , Franck Nicolas , Krebs Marie Odile , Tabbane Karim , Bouden Asma
Published: February 2016

Objective

We examined Theory of Mind (ToM) abilities in adolescents with early-onset schizophrenia (EOS) and their correlation with clinical findings and Executive Functions (EF).

Methods

The ToM abilities of 12 adolescents with EOS were compared with those of healthy participants matched in age and educational level. The Moving Shapes Paradigm was used to explore ToM abilities in three modalities: random movement, goal-directed movement and ToM – scored on the dimensions of intentionality, appropriateness and length of each answer. EF was tested using Davidson’s Battery and the clinical psychopathology with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).

Results

Adolescents with EOS were significantly more impaired than controls in the three dimensions evaluated for the goal-directed and ToM modalities. Regarding the random movement modality, the only difference was in appropriateness (p<0.01). No correlation with age or level of education was evident for ToM skills. Total PANSS score was negatively correlated with appropriateness score for the goal-directed (p=0.02) and ToM modalities (p=0.01). No correlation existed between performance in the ToM Animated Tasks and positive, negative or disorganisation PANSS subscores. No correlations were found among the three scores in the Moving Shapes Paradigm and any measures of the accuracy of the three tasks assessing EF.

Conclusion

Our results confirm previous findings of ToM deficits in adult individuals with schizophrenia and attest the severity of these deficits in patients with EOS.
Symptom- and personality disorder changes in intensive short-term dynamic residential treatment for treatment-resistant anxiety and depressive disorders
Authors: Solbakken Ole André , Abbass Allan
Published: February 2016

Objective

The study investigated the effectiveness of an 8-week intensive residential treatment programme based on principles from intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy for patients with known treatment-resistant anxiety- and/or depressive disorders (mainly with comorbid personality disorders).

Methods

Patients (N=95) with prior repeated treatment failure were included. Changes in self-reported target complaints, symptom severity, and overall interpersonal problems have been presented for these patients in two previous articles. We now expand upon the existing knowledge by presenting novel data from a number of important observer-based and self-reported outcome domains (diagnostic changes on Axis I and II, changes in overall personality dysfunction, disorder complexity, medication use, health care utilisation, and occupational activity).

Results

There were pervasive and significant improvements on all measures during treatment, which were maintained or further improved during follow-up. Fourteen months after the end of treatment, 46.26% of patients had recovered in terms of Axis I pathology, 63.79% had recovered in terms of Axis II pathology, 71.18% had returned to work, and there was a 28.62% reduction in regular use of psychotropic medications. Health care utilisation was reduced by 65.55%, and there were large improvements in disorder complexity and levels of personality dysfunction.

Conclusion

The treatment programme was highly effective for patients with common and complex treatment-resistant mental disorders. Results are encouraging for the relatively large number of patients who tend not to benefit from standard formats of treatment for debilitating psychological problems.
High serum carotenoids are associated with lower risk for developing elevated serum alanine aminotransferase among Japanese subjects: the Mikkabi cohort study
Authors: Sugiura Minoru , Nakamura Mieko , Ogawa Kazunori , Ikoma Yoshinori , Yano Masamichi
Published: February 2016

Many recent studies have shown that antioxidant vitamins and/or carotenoids may reduce liver disease, but this association has not been well established with thorough longitudinal cohort studies. The objective of this study was to longitudinally investigate whether serum carotenoids at baseline are associated with the risk of developing elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) among Japanese subjects. We conducted a follow-up study of 1073 males and females aged between 30 and 79 years at baseline from the Mikkabi prospective cohort study. Those who participated in the baseline study and completed follow-up surveys were examined longitudinally. Exclusions included excessive alcohol consumption (≥60 g alcohol/d), hepatitis B and C and having a history of medication use for liver disease. A cohort of 213 males and 574 females free of elevated serum ALT (>30 IU/ml) at baseline was studied. Over a mean follow-up period of 7·4 (sd 3·1) years, thirty-one males and forty-nine females developed new elevated serum ALT. After adjustments for confounders, the hazard ratios for elevated serum ALT in the highest tertiles of basal serum β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin and total provitamin A carotenoids against the lowest tertiles were 0·43 (95 % CI 0·22, 0·81), 0·51 (CI 0·27, 0·94) and 0·52 (CI 0·28, 0·97), respectively. For α-carotene and lycopene, borderline reduced risks were also observed; however, these were not significant. Our results further support the hypothesis that antioxidant carotenoids, especially provitamin A carotenoids, might help prevent earlier pathogenesis of non-alcoholic liver disease in Japanese subjects.
The role of code-switching and language context in bilingual phonetic transfer
Authors: Olson Daniel J.
Published: February 2016

The present study examines the effect of two potential catalysts for interlanguage phonetic interaction, code-switching and language mode, on the production of voice onset time (VOT) to better understand the role of (near) simultaneous dual language activation on phonetic production, as well as the nature of phonetic transfer. An oral production paradigm was carried out in which Spanish–English bilinguals produced words with initial voiceless stops as non-switched tokens, code-switched tokens in an otherwise monolingual context, and code-switched tokens in a bilingual context. Results demonstrated a degree of phonetic transfer associated with code-switching, either unidirectional or bi-directional. Specifically, English, with long lag VOT, was more susceptible to phonetic transfer than Spanish (short lag). Contrary to expectations, while the code-switching effect was present in both monolingual and bilingual mode, there was no additional transfer, or additive effect, of bilingual language mode. Differences in the effects of code-switching on English and Spanish are discussed with respect to the inherently different acceptable VOT ranges in the two languages. Furthermore, the lack of difference in VOT between the code-switched tokens in the monolingual and bilingual contexts is taken to suggest limits on phonetic transfer.
Pilot surveillance for childhood encephalitis in Australia using the Paediatric Active Enhanced Disease Surveillance (PAEDS) network
Authors: BRITTON P. N. , DALE R. C. , ELLIOTT E. , FESTA M. , MACARTNEY K. , BOOY R. , JONES C. A.
Published: February 2016

We aimed to assess the performance of active surveillance for hospitalized childhood encephalitis in New South Wales (NSW) using the Paediatric Active Enhanced Disease Surveillance (PAEDS) network to inform methodology for the nationwide Australian childhood encephalitis (ACE) study. We piloted active surveillance for suspected encephalitis from May to December 2013 at the Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW. Cases were ascertained using four screening methods: weekday nurse screening of admission records (PAEDS), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) microscopy records, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reports, and pharmacy dispensing records. Comprehensive clinical data were prospectively collected on consented participants and subsequently reviewed by an expert panel. Cases were categorized as confirmed encephalitis or ‘not encephalitis’; encephalitis cases were sub-categorized as infectious, immune-mediated or unknown. We performed an ICD-10 diagnostic code audit of hospitalizations for the pilot period. We compared case ascertainment in the four screening methods and with the ICD code audit. Forty-eight cases of suspected encephalitis were identified by one or more methods. PAEDS was the most efficient mechanism (yield 34%), followed by MRI, CSF, and pharmacy audits (yield 14%, 12%, and 7% respectively). Twenty-five cases met the criteria for confirmed encephalitis. PAEDS was the most sensitive of the mechanisms for confirmed encephalitis (92%) with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 72%. The ICD audit was moderately sensitive (64%) but poorly specific (Sp 9%, PPV 14%). Of the 25 confirmed encephalitis cases, 19 (76%) were sub-categorized as infectious, three (12%) were immune-mediated, and three (12%) were ‘unknown’. We identified encephalitis cases associated with two infectious disease outbreaks (enterovirus 71, parechovirus 3). PAEDS is an efficient, sensitive and accurate surveillance mechanism for detecting cases of childhood encephalitis including those associated with emerging infectious diseases. Active surveillance significantly increases the ascertainment of encephalitis cases compared with passive approaches.
Functional Analysis of the Chloroplast Division Complex UsingSchizosaccharomyces pombeas a Heterologous Expression System
Authors: TerBush Allan D. , Porzondek Chris A. , Osteryoung Katherine W.
Published: February 2016

Chloroplast division is driven by a macromolecular complex that assembles at the midplastid. The FtsZ ring (Z ring) is the central structure in this complex, and is composed of the functionally distinct cytoskeletal proteins FtsZ1 and FtsZ2. Recent studies in the heterologousSchizosaccharomyces pombesystem showed that Arabidopsis FtsZ1 and FtsZ2 filaments have distinct assembly and turnover characteristics. To further analyze these FtsZs, we employed this system to compare the assembly and dynamic properties of FtsZ1 and FtsZ2 lacking their N- and/or C-termini with those of their full-length counterparts. Our data provide evidence that the N-terminus of FtsZ2 is critical for its structural dominance over FtsZ1, and that the N- and C-termini promote polymer bundling and turnover of both FtsZs and contribute to their distinct behaviors. We also assessed how ARC6 affects FtsZ2 filament dynamics, and found that it interacts with and stabilizes FtsZ2 filaments inS. pombeindependent of its presumed Z-ring tethering functionin planta. Finally, we generated FtsZ1-FtsZ2 coexpression constructs to facilitate reconstitution of more complex interaction networks. Our experiments yield new insight into factors influencing FtsZ behavior and highlight the utility ofS. pombefor analyzing chloroplast FtsZs and their assembly regulators.
THE MEAN CURVATURE EQUATION ON SEMIDIRECT PRODUCTS : HEIGHT ESTIMATES AND SCHERK-LIKE GRAPHS
Authors: RAMOS ÁLVARO KRÜGER
Published: February 2016

In the ambient space of a semidirect product $\mathbb{R}^{2}\rtimes _{A}\mathbb{R}$, we consider a connected domain ${\rm\Omega}\subseteq \mathbb{R}^{2}\rtimes _{A}\{0\}$. Given a function $u:{\rm\Omega}\rightarrow \mathbb{R}$, its ${\it\pi}$-graph is $\text{graph}(u)=\{(x,y,u(x,y))\mid (x,y,0)\in {\rm\Omega}\}$. In this paper we study the partial differential equation that $u$ must satisfy so that $\text{graph}(u)$ has prescribed mean curvature $H$. Using techniques from quasilinear elliptic equations we prove that if a ${\it\pi}$-graph has a nonnegative mean curvature function, then it satisfies some uniform height estimates that depend on ${\rm\Omega}$ and on the supremum the function attains on the boundary of ${\rm\Omega}$. When $\text{trace}(A)>0$, we prove that the oscillation of a minimal graph, assuming the same constant value $n$ along the boundary, tends to zero when $n\rightarrow +\infty$ and goes to $+\infty$ if $n\rightarrow -\infty$. Furthermore, we use these estimates, allied with techniques from Killing graphs, to prove the existence of minimal ${\it\pi}$-graphs assuming the value zero along a piecewise smooth curve ${\it\gamma}$ with endpoints $p_{1},\,p_{2}$ and having as boundary ${\it\gamma}\cup (\{p_{1}\}\times [0,\,+\infty ))\cup (\{p_{2}\}\times [0,\,+\infty ))$.
Modeling Weather over Mountainous Terrain
Authors: Wheeling Kate
Published: February 2016

Scientists use high-resolution models to study how the jagged terrain of the Earth's mountains influences precipitation.
NC10 bacteria in marine oxygen minimum zones
Authors: Padilla Cory C , Bristow Laura A , Sarode Neha , Garcia-Robledo Emilio , Gómez Ramírez Eddy , Benson Catherine R , Bourbonnais Annie , Altabet Mark A , Girguis Peter R , Thamdrup Bo , Stewart Frank J
Published: February 2016

Bacteria of the NC10 phylum link anaerobic methane oxidation to nitrite denitrification through a unique O2-producing intra-aerobic methanotrophy pathway. A niche for NC10 in the pelagic ocean has not been confirmed. We show that NC10 bacteria are present and transcriptionally active in oceanic oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) off northern Mexico and Costa Rica. NC10 16S rRNA genes were detected at all sites, peaking in abundance in the anoxic zone with elevated nitrite and methane concentrations. Phylogenetic analysis of particulate methane monooxygenase genes further confirmed the presence of NC10. rRNA and mRNA transcripts assignable to NC10 peaked within the OMZ and included genes of the putative nitrite-dependent intra-aerobic pathway, with high representation of transcripts containing the unique motif structure of the nitric oxide (NO) reductase of NC10 bacteria, hypothesized to participate in O2-producing NO dismutation. These findings confirm pelagic OMZs as a niche for NC10, suggesting a role for this group in OMZ nitrogen, methane and oxygen cycling.
Near-field photocurrent nanoscopy on bare and encapsulated graphene
Authors: Woessner Achim , Alonso-González Pablo , Lundeberg Mark B. , Gao Yuanda , Barrios-Vargas Jose E. , Navickaite Gabriele , Ma Qiong , Janner Davide , Watanabe Kenji , Cummings Aron W. , Taniguchi Takashi , Pruneri Valerio , Roche Stephan , Jarillo-Herrero Pablo , Hone James , Hillenbrand Rainer , Koppens Frank H. L.
Published: February 2016

Optoelectronic devices utilizing graphene have demonstrated unique capabilities and performances beyond state-of-the-art technologies. However, requirements in terms of device quality and uniformity are demanding. A major roadblock towards high-performance devices are nanoscale variations of the graphene device properties, impacting their macroscopic behaviour. Here we present and apply non-invasive optoelectronic nanoscopy to measure the optical and electronic properties of graphene devices locally. This is achieved by combining scanning near-field infrared nanoscopy with electrical read-out, allowing infrared photocurrent mapping at length scales of tens of nanometres. Using this technique, we study the impact of edges and grain boundaries on the spatial carrier density profiles and local thermoelectric properties. Moreover, we show that the technique can readily be applied to encapsulated graphene devices. We observe charge build-up near the edges and demonstrate a solution to this issue.
Impact of ribonucleotide incorporation by DNA polymerases β and λ on oxidative base excision repair
Authors: Crespan Emmanuele , Furrer Antonia , Rösinger Marcel , Bertoletti Federica , Mentegari Elisa , Chiapparini Giulia , Imhof Ralph , Ziegler Nathalie , Sturla Shana J. , Hübscher Ulrich , van Loon Barbara , Maga Giovanni
Published: February 2016

Oxidative stress is a very frequent source of DNA damage. Many cellular DNA polymerases (Pols) can incorporate ribonucleotides (rNMPs) during DNA synthesis. However, whether oxidative stress-triggered DNA repair synthesis contributes to genomic rNMPs incorporation is so far not fully understood. Human specialized Pols β and λ are the important enzymes involved in the oxidative stress tolerance, acting both in base excision repair and in translesion synthesis past the very frequent oxidative lesion 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine (8-oxo-G). We found that Pol β, to a greater extent than Pol λ can incorporate rNMPs opposite normal bases or 8-oxo-G, and with a different fidelity. Further, the incorporation of rNMPs opposite 8-oxo-G delays repair by DNA glycosylases. Studies in Pol β- and λ-deficient cell extracts suggest that Pol β levels can greatly affect rNMP incorporation opposite oxidative DNA lesions.
Neurogenesis-mediated forgetting minimizes proactive interference
Authors: Epp Jonathan R. , Silva Mera Rudy , Köhler Stefan , Josselyn Sheena A. , Frankland Paul W.
Published: February 2016

Established memories may interfere with the encoding of new memories, particularly when existing and new memories overlap in content. By manipulating levels of hippocampal neurogenesis, here we show that neurogenesis regulates this form of proactive interference. Increasing hippocampal neurogenesis weakens existing memories and, in doing so, facilitates the encoding of new, conflicting (but not non-conflicting) information in mice. Conversely, decreasing neurogenesis stabilizes existing memories, and impedes the encoding of new, conflicting information. These results suggest that reduced proactive interference is an adaptive benefit of neurogenesis-induced forgetting.
Correction: Corrigendum: Polaronic metal state at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface
Authors: Cancellieri C. , Mishchenko A. S. , Aschauer U. , Filippetti A. , Faber C. , Barišić O. S. , Rogalev V. A. , Schmitt T. , Nagaosa N. , Strocov V. N.
Published: February 2016

Nature Communications 7 Article number: 10386 (2016); Published 27 January 2016; Updated 26 February 2016 In the original PDF version of this Article, which was published on 27 January 2016, the publication date was incorrectly given as 27 January 2015. This has now been corrected in the PDF; the HTML version of the paper was correct from the time of publication.
Quantifying Lgr5-positive stem cell behaviour in the pyloric epithelium
Authors: Leushacke Marc , Barker Nick , Pin Carmen
Published: February 2016

Using in-vivo lineage tracing data we quantified clonal expansion as well as proliferation and differentiation of the Lgr5-positive stem cell population in pyloric gastric glands. Fitting clone expansion models, we estimated that there are five effective Lgr5-positive cells able to give rise to monoclonal glands by replacing each other following a pattern of neutral drift dynamics. This analysis is instrumental to assess stem cell performance; however, stem cell proliferation is not quantified by clone expansion analysis. We identified a suitable mathematical model to quantify proliferation and differentiation of the Lgr5-positive population. As expected for populations in steady-state, the proliferation rate of the Lgr5-positive population was equal to its rate of differentiation. This rate was significantly faster than the rate at which effective cells are replaced, estimated by modelling clone expansion/contraction. This suggests that the majority of Lgr5-positive cell divisions serve to renew epithelial cells and only few result in the effective replacement of a neighbour to effect expansion to the entire gland. The application of the model under altered situations with uncoupled differentiation and proliferation was demonstrated. This methodology represents a valuable tool for quantifying stem cell performance in homeostasis and importantly for deciphering altered stem cell behaviour in disease.
Human colorectal mucosal microbiota correlates with its host niche physiology revealed by endomicroscopy
Authors: Wang Ai-Hua , Li Ming , Li Chang-Qing , Kou Guan-Jun , Zuo Xiu-Li , Li Yan-Qing
Published: February 2016

The human gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in the maintenance of health, but how the microbiota interacts with the host at the colorectal mucosa is poorly understood. We proposed that confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) might help to untangle this relationship by providing in vivo physiological information of the mucosa. We used CLE to evaluate the in vivo physiology of human colorectal mucosa, and the mucosal microbiota was quantified using 16 s rDNA pyrosequencing. The human mucosal microbiota agglomerated to three major clusters dominated by Prevotella, Bacteroides and Lactococcus. The mucosal microbiota clusters did not significantly correlate with the disease status or biopsy sites but closely correlated with the mucosal niche physiology, which was non-invasively revealed by CLE. Inflammation tilted two subnetworks within the mucosal microbiota. Infiltration of inflammatory cells significantly correlated with multiple components in the predicted metagenome, such as the VirD2 component of the type IV secretory pathway. Our data suggest that a close correlation exists between the mucosal microbiota and the colorectal mucosal physiology, and CLE is a clinically available tool that can be used to facilitate the study of the in vivo correlation between colorectal mucosal physiology and the mucosal microbiota.
Unravelling Site-Specific Photo-Reactions of Ethanol on Rutile TiO2(110)
Authors: Hansen Jonas Ø. , Bebensee Regine , Martinez Umberto , Porsgaard Soeren , Lira Estephania , Wei Yinying , Lammich Lutz , Li Zheshen , Idriss Hicham , Besenbacher Flemming , Hammer Bjørk , Wendt Stefan
Published: February 2016

Finding the active sites of catalysts and photo-catalysts is crucial for an improved fundamental understanding and the development of efficient catalytic systems. Here we have studied the photo-activated dehydrogenation of ethanol on reduced and oxidized rutile TiO2(110) in ultrahigh vacuum conditions. Utilizing scanning tunnelling microscopy, various spectroscopic techniques and theoretical calculations we found that the photo-reaction proceeds most efficiently when the reactants are adsorbed on regular Ti surface sites, whereas species that are strongly adsorbed at surface defects such as O vacancies and step edges show little reaction under reducing conditions. We propose that regular Ti surface sites are the most active sites in photo-reactions on TiO2.
Complex patterns arise through spontaneous symmetry breaking in dense homogeneous networks of neural oscillators
Authors: Singh Rajeev , Menon Shakti N. , Sinha Sitabhra
Published: February 2016

There has been much interest in understanding collective dynamics in networks of brain regions due to their role in behavior and cognitive function. Here we show that a simple, homogeneous system of densely connected oscillators, representing the aggregate activity of local brain regions, can exhibit a rich variety of dynamical patterns emerging via spontaneous breaking of permutation or translational symmetries. Upon removing just a few connections, we observe a striking departure from the mean-field limit in terms of the collective dynamics, which implies that the sparsity of these networks may have very important consequences. Our results suggest that the origins of some of the complicated activity patterns seen in the brain may be understood even with simple connection topologies.
PS341 inhibits hepatocellular and colorectal cancer cells through the FOXO3/CTNNB1 signaling pathway
Authors: Yang Zhao , Liu Shengwu , Zhu Mingao , Zhang Hong , Wang Ji , Xu Qian , Lin Kaisu , Zhou Xiumin , Tao Min , Li Chong , Zhu Hong
Published: February 2016

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) are among the most common cancers across the world. Particularly, a large number of patients with CRC also have liver metastasis. Currently, there are just a few targeted drugs against these two kinds of tumors which can only benefit a very small population of patients. Therefore, the need of more effective therapeutic drugs or strategies for these two types of cancers is urgent. PS341 (Bortezomib) is the first proteasome inhibitor drug which has been approved in clinical treatment for multiple myeloma. Here we demonstrated that PS341 negatively regulated HCC and CRC both in vitro and in vivo, including the inhibition of cell proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), the expression of stemness-related genes, cell migration and invasiveness. Mechanically, PS341 upregulated the expression of FOXO3, which inhibited the transcriptional activation of CTNNB1. The downregualtion of CTNNB1 led to apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and the inhibition of migration, invasion, self-renewal and tumor formation of these two cancer types. In sum, our findings shed light on the PS341 mediated targeted therapy against both HCC and CRC in the future.
Biliverdin targets enolase and eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2α) to reduce the growth of intraerythrocytic development of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum
Authors: Alves Eduardo , Maluf Fernando V. , Bueno Vânia B. , Guido Rafael V. C. , Oliva Glaucius , Singh Maneesh , Scarpelli Pedro , Costa Fahyme , Sartorello Robson , Catalani Luiz H. , Brady Declan , Tewari Rita , Garcia Celia R. S.
Published: February 2016

In mammals, haem degradation to biliverdin (BV) through the action of haem oxygenase (HO) is a critical step in haem metabolism. The malaria parasite converts haem into the chemically inert haemozoin to avoid toxicity. We discovered that the knock-out of HO in P. berghei is lethal; therefore, we investigated the function of biliverdin (BV) and haem in the parasite. Addition of external BV and haem to P. falciparum-infected red blood cell (RBC) cultures delays the progression of parasite development. The search for a BV molecular target within the parasites identified P. falciparum enolase (Pf enolase) as the strongest candidate. Isothermal titration calorimetry using recombinant full-length Plasmodium enolase suggested one binding site for BV. Kinetic assays revealed that BV is a non-competitive inhibitor. We employed molecular modelling studies to predict the new binding site as well as the binding mode of BV to P. falciparum enolase. Furthermore, addition of BV and haem targets the phosphorylation of Plasmodium falciparum eIF2α factor, an eukaryotic initiation factor phosphorylated by eIF2α kinases under stress conditions. We propose that BV targets enolase to reduce parasite glycolysis rates and changes the eIF2α phosphorylation pattern as a molecular mechanism for its action.
In-situ and real-time growth observation of high-quality protein crystals under quasi-microgravity on earth
Authors: Nakamura Akira , Ohtsuka Jun , Kashiwagi Tatsuki , Numoto Nobutaka , Hirota Noriyuki , Ode Takahiro , Okada Hidehiko , Nagata Koji , Kiyohara Motosuke , Suzuki Ei-ichiro , Kita Akiko , Wada Hitoshi , Tanokura Masaru
Published: February 2016

Precise protein structure determination provides significant information on life science research, although high-quality crystals are not easily obtained. We developed a system for producing high-quality protein crystals with high throughput. Using this system, gravity-controlled crystallization are made possible by a magnetic microgravity environment. In addition, in-situ and real-time observation and time-lapse imaging of crystal growth are feasible for over 200 solution samples independently. In this paper, we also report results of crystallization experiments for two protein samples. Crystals grown in the system exhibited magnetic orientation and showed higher and more homogeneous quality compared with the control crystals. The structural analysis reveals that making use of the magnetic microgravity during the crystallization process helps us to build a well-refined protein structure model, which has no significant structural differences with a control structure. Therefore, the system contributes to improvement in efficiency of structural analysis for “difficult” proteins, such as membrane proteins and supermolecular complexes.
The STIM1-Orai1 pathway of store-operated Ca2+ entry controls the checkpoint in cell cycle G1/S transition
Authors: Chen Yun-Wen , Chen Yih-Fung , Chen Ying-Ting , Chiu Wen-Tai , Shen Meng-Ru
Published: February 2016

Ca2+ signaling is important to trigger the cell cycle progression, while it remains elusive in the regulatory mechanisms. Here we show that store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE), mediated by the interaction between STIM1 (an endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ sensor) and Orai1 (a cell membrane pore structure), controls the specific checkpoint of cell cycle. The fluctuating SOCE activity during cell cycle progression is universal in different cell types, in which SOCE is upregulated in G1/S transition and downregulated from S to G2/M transition. Pharmacological or siRNA inhibition of STIM1-Orai1 pathway of SOCE inhibits the phosphorylation of CDK2 and upregulates the expression of cyclin E, resulting in autophagy accompanied with cell cycle arrest in G1/S transition. The subsequently transient expression of STIM1 cDNA in STIM1−/− MEF rescues the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of CDK2, suggesting that STIM1-mediated SOCE activation directly regulates CDK2 activity. Opposite to the important role of SOCE in controlling G1/S transition, the downregulated SOCE is a passive phenomenon from S to G2/M transition. This study uncovers SOCE-mediated Ca2+ microdomain that is the molecular basis for the Ca2+ sensitivity controlling G1/S transition.
Autophagy is activated to protect against endotoxic acute kidney injury
Authors: Mei Shuqin , Livingston Man , Hao Jielu , li Lin , Mei Changlin , Dong Zheng
Published: February 2016

Endotoxemia in sepsis, characterized by systemic inflammation, is a major cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) in hospitalized patients, especially in intensive care unit; however the underlying pathogenesis is poorly understood. Autophagy is a conserved, cellular catabolic pathway that plays crucial roles in cellular homeostasis including the maintenance of cellular function and viability. The regulation and role of autophagy in septic or endotoxic AKI remains unclear. Here we show that autophagy was induced in kidney tubular cells in mice by the endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Pharmacological inhibition of autophagy with chloroquine enhanced LPS-induced AKI. Moreover, specific ablation of autophagy gene 7 (Atg7) from kidney proximal tubules worsened LPS-induced AKI. Together, the results demonstrate convincing evidence of autophagy activation in endotoxic kidney injury and support a renoprotective role of autophagy in kidney tubules.
A sociobiological origin of pregnancy failure in domestic dogs
Authors: Bartoš Luděk , Bartošová Jitka , Chaloupková Helena , Dušek Adam , Hradecká Lenka , Svobodová Ivona
Published: February 2016

Among domestic dog breeders it is common practice to transfer a domestic dog bitch out of her home environment for mating, bringing her back after the mating. If the home environment contains a male, who is not the father of the foetuses, there is a potential risk of future infanticide. We collected 621 records on mating of 249 healthy bitches of 11 breed-types. The highest proportion of successful pregnancies following mating occurred in bitches mated within their home pack and remaining there. Bitches mated elsewhere and then returned to a home containing at least one male had substantially lower incidence of maintained pregnancy in comparison with bitches mated by a home male. After returning home, housing affected strongly the frequency of pregnancy success. Bitches mated elsewhere but released into a home pack containing a home male were four times more likely to maintain pregnancy than bitches which were housed individually after returning home. Suppression of pregnancy in situations where a bitch is unable to confuse a home male about parentage may be seen as an adaptation to avoid any seemingly unavoidable future loss of her progeny to infanticide after birth and thus to save energy.
Surf and turf: predation by egg-eating snakes has led to the evolution of parental care in a terrestrial lizard
Authors: Pike David A. , Clark Rulon W. , Manica Andrea , Tseng Hui-Yun , Hsu Jung-Ya , Huang Wen-San
Published: February 2016

Animals display a great diversity of parental care tactics that ultimately enhance offspring survival, but how such behaviors evolve remains unknown for most systems. Here, we studied the evolution of maternal care, in the form of nest guarding, in a single population of long-tailed sun skink (Eutropis longicaudata) living on Orchid Island (Taiwan). This species typically does not provide protection to its offspring. Using a common garden experiment, we show that maternal care is genetically determined in this population. Through field manipulations, we demonstrate that care provides a significant increase in egg survival on Orchid Island by reducing predation from egg-eating snakes (Oligodon formosanus); this predator is not abundant in other populations of the lizard, which do not display parental care. Finally, using extensive field surveys, we show that the seasonal availability of green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) nests is the cause for the high abundance of snake predators on Orchid Island, with the snakes consuming lizard eggs when green turtle eggs are not available. Together, these lines of evidence provide the first full demonstration of how predation can trigger the evolution of parental care in a species derived from a non-caring ancestor.
Vibrational Properties of Nanocrystals from the Debye Scattering Equation
Authors: Scardi P. , Gelisio L.
Published: February 2016

One hundred years after the original formulation by Petrus J.W. Debije (aka Peter Debye), the Debye Scattering Equation (DSE) is still the most accurate expression to model the diffraction pattern from nanoparticle systems. A major limitation in the original form of the DSE is that it refers to a static domain, so that including thermal disorder usually requires rescaling the equation by a Debye-Waller thermal factor. The last is taken from the traditional diffraction theory developed in Reciprocal Space (RS), which is opposed to the atomistic paradigm of the DSE, usually referred to as Direct Space (DS) approach. Besides being a hybrid of DS and RS expressions, rescaling the DSE by the Debye-Waller factor is an approximation which completely misses the contribution of Temperature Diffuse Scattering (TDS). The present work proposes a solution to include thermal effects coherently with the atomistic approach of the DSE. A deeper insight into the vibrational dynamics of nanostructured materials can be obtained with few changes with respect to the standard formulation of the DSE, providing information on the correlated displacement of vibrating atoms.
An extract of Urtica dioica L. mitigates obesity induced insulin resistance in mice skeletal muscle via protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A)
Authors: Obanda Diana N. , Ribnicky David , Yu Yongmei , Stephens Jacqueline , Cefalu William T.
Published: February 2016

The leaf extract of Urtica dioica L. (UT) has been reported to improve glucose homeostasis in vivo, but definitive studies on efficacy and mechanism of action are lacking. We investigated the effects of UT on obesity- induced insulin resistance in skeletal muscle. Male C57BL/6J mice were divided into three groups: low-fat diet (LFD), high-fat diet (HFD) and HFD supplemented with UT. Body weight, body composition, plasma glucose and plasma insulin were monitored. Skeletal muscle (gastrocnemius) was analyzed for insulin sensitivity, ceramide accumulation and the post translational modification and activity of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). PP2A is activated by ceramides and dephosphorylates Akt. C2C12 myotubes exposed to excess free fatty acids with or without UT were also evaluated for insulin signaling and modulation of PP2A. The HFD induced insulin resistance, increased fasting plasma glucose, enhanced ceramide accumulation and PP2A activity in skeletal muscle. Supplementation with UT improved plasma glucose homeostasis and enhanced skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity without affecting body weight and body composition. In myotubes, UT attenuated the ability of FFAs to induce insulin resistance and PP2A hyperactivity without affecting ceramide accumulation and PP2A expression. UT decreased PP2A activity through posttranslational modification that was accompanied by a reduction in Akt dephosphorylation.
Modulation of metal-insulator transitions by field-controlled strain in NdNiO3/SrTiO3/PMN-PT (001) heterostructures
Authors: Heo Seungyang , Oh Chadol , Eom Man Jin , Kim Jun Sung , Ryu Jungho , Son Junwoo , Jang Hyun Myung
Published: February 2016

The band width control through external stress has been demonstrated as a useful knob to modulate metal-insulator transition (MIT) in RNiO3 as a prototype correlated materials. In particular, lattice mismatch strain using different substrates have been widely utilized to investigate the effect of strain on transition temperature so far but the results were inconsistent in the previous literatures. Here, we demonstrate dynamic modulation of MIT based on electric field-controlled pure strain in high-quality NdNiO3 (NNO) thin films utilizing converse-piezoelectric effect of (001)-cut "Equation missing" - "Equation missing" (PMN-PT) single crystal substrates. Despite the difficulty in the NNO growth on rough PMN-PT substrates, the structural quality of NNO thin films has been significantly improved by inserting SrTiO3 (STO) buffer layers. Interestingly, the MIT temperature in NNO is downward shifted by ~3.3 K in response of 0.25% in-plane compressive strain, which indicates less effective TMI modulation of field-induced strain than substrate-induced strain. This study provides not only scientific insights on band-width control of correlated materials using pure strain but also potentials for energy-efficient electronic devices.
New insights into virulence mechanisms of rice pathogen Acidovorax avenae subsp. avenae strain RS-1 following exposure to ß-lactam antibiotics
Authors: Li Bin , Ge Mengyu , Zhang Yang , Wang Li , Ibrahim Muhammad , Wang Yanli , Sun Guochang , Chen Gongyou
Published: February 2016

Recent research has shown that pathogen virulence can be altered by exposure to antibiotics, even when the growth rate is unaffected. Investigating this phenomenon provides new insights into understanding the virulence mechanisms of bacterial pathogens. This study investigates the phenotypic and transcriptomic responses of the rice pathogenic bacterium Acidovorax avenae subsp. avenae (Aaa) strain RS-1 to ß-lactam antibiotics especially Ampicillin (Amp). Our results indicate that exposure to Amp does not influence bacterial growth and biofilm formation, but alters the virulence, colonization capacity, composition of extracellular polymeric substances and secretion of Type VI secretion system (T6SS) effector Hcp. This attenuation in virulence is linked to unique or differential expression of known virulence-associated genes based on genome-wide transcriptomic analysis. The reliability of expression data generated by RNA-Seq was verified with quantitative real-time PCR of 21 selected T6SS genes, where significant down-regulation in expression of hcp gene, corresponding to the reduction in secretion of Hcp, was observed under exposure to Amp. Hcp is highlighted as a potential target for Amp, with similar changes observed in virulence-associated phenotypes between exposure to Amp and mutation of hcp gene. In addition, Hcp secretion is reduced in knockout mutants of 4 differentially expressed T6SS genes.
A luminescent ultrathin film with reversible sensing toward pressure
Authors: Li Mingwan , Tian Rui , Yan Dongpeng , Liang Ruizheng , Wei Min , Evans David G. , Duan Xue
Published: February 2016

A flexible ultrathin film based on LBL assembly of a sodium polyacrylate (PAA) modified styrylbiphenyl derivative (BTBS) and layered double hydroxide nanosheets is fabricated, which exhibits pressure-responsive photoluminescence with a high sensitivity and good reversibility.
Optical properties of two fluorene derived BODIPY molecular rotors as fluorescent ratiometric viscosity probes
Authors: Xochitiotzi-Flores Elba , Jiménez-Sánchez Arturo , García-Ortega Héctor , Sánchez-Puig Nuria , Romero-Ávila Margarita , Santillan Rosa , Farfán Norberto
Published: February 2016

Two fluorescent ratiometric fluorene derived BODIPY probes present a sensitive response to microviscosity changes.
Acetylcholinesterase biosensor based on the mesoporous carbon/ferroferric oxide modified electrode for detecting organophosphorus pesticides
Authors: Zhang Qianqian , Xu Qingcui , Guo Yemin , Sun Xia , Wang Xiangyou
Published: February 2016

In this paper a biosensor modified by ordered mesoporous carbon–chitosan (OMC–CS)/ferroferric oxide–chitosan (Fe3O4–CS) was developed on the surface of screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs).
A novel single-phase white light emitting phosphor Ca9La(PO4)5(SiO4)F2:Dy3+: synthesis, crystal structure and luminescence properties
Authors: Liu Haikun , Liao Libing , Molokeev Maxim S. , Guo Qingfeng , Zhang Yuanyuan , Mei Lefu
Published: February 2016

A novel single-phase white light emitting phosphor Ca9La(PO4)5(SiO4)F2:Dy3+ was prepared through traditional high-temperature solid state technology.
Bio-chemical characterization of a β-mannanase from Bacillus licheniformis HDYM-04 isolated from flax water-retting liquid and its decolorization ability of dyes
Authors: Ge J. P. , Du R. P. , Zhao D. , Song G. , Jin M. , Ping W. X.
Published: February 2016

A β-mannanase was purified from the bacteria,Bacillus licheniformisHDYM-04, which was a high β-mannanase-producing strain (576.16 U mL−1at 48 h during fermentation).
Electrocatalytic reduction of a coreactant using a hemin–graphene–Au nanoparticle ternary composite for sensitive electrochemiluminescence cytosensing
Authors: Xin Xiaoyan , Yang Yiying , Liu Jing , Wang Xiaomeng , Zhou Hong , Yu Bing
Published: February 2016

A sensitive electrochemiluminescence cytosensor was designed using a hemin–RGO–Au ternary composite with high electrocatalytic activity for H2O2 reduction.
CLIC1 antibody conjugated nanoscale contrast agent as a sensitive and targeted molecular imaging probe for gallbladder cancer diagnosis
Authors: Lu Wei , Wang Ning , Chu YanYan , Zhou Linzhu , Li Maolan , Huang Tao , Weng Hao , Zhang Yijian , Jiang Lin , Hu Yunping , Tan Qinggang , Liu Yingbin
Published: February 2016

CLIC1 antibody-conjugated nano-scale contrast agents exhibit a fast and sensitive detection of gallbladder tumors and may be used in the future as powerful targeted molecular imaging probes for gallbladder cancer diagnosis.
Synthesis of β-SiC nanowires via a facile CVD method and their photoluminescence properties
Authors: Liu Silin , Liu Haitao , Huang Zhaohui , Fang Minghao , Liu Yan-gai , Wu Xiaowen
Published: February 2016

β-SiC nanowires with large scale have been synthesized successfully via a chemical vapour deposition (CVD) method at 1300 °C without using catalysts, templates or extra gases.
Synthesis, characterization and chondrocyte culture of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)-containing hybrid hydrogels
Authors: Pan Xiuwei , Gao Hao , Fu Guodong , Gao Yun , Zhang Weian
Published: February 2016

Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS)-based hybrid hydrogels were successfully prepared via a fast azide-alkyne click reaction between octa-azido-functionalized POSS (OAPOSS) and alkyne-functionalized poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG).
Flexible additive-free CC@TiOxNy@SnS2 nanocomposites with excellent stability and superior rate capability for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Lu Fengqi , Chen Qiang , Wang Yibin , Wu Yonghao , Wei Pengcheng , Kuang Xiaojun
Published: February 2016

The free-standing CC@TiOxNy@SnS2 nanocomposites have been synthesized via two steps hydrothermal process and exhibited excellent lithium storage performance.
Rotamerism-driven large magnitude host–guest binding change in a crown ether derivatized pyridinium-phenolate series
Authors: Ay Emel , Hobeika Nelly , Chaumeil Hélène , Tschamber Théophile , Jin Ming , Versace Davy-Louis , Malval Jean-Pierre
Published: February 2016

A large magnitude host–guest binding change driven by transducting rotamerism effects is demonstrated within a crown ether modified pyridinium-phenolate series.
Structural engineering of gold thin films with channel cracks for ultrasensitive strain sensing
Authors: Yang Tingting , Li Xinming , Jiang Xin , Lin Shuyuan , Lao Junchao , Shi Jidong , Zhen Zhen , Li Zhihong , Zhu Hongwei
Published: February 2016

A strain sensing structure with high gauge factors (GFs) is designed by engineering channel cracks in a gold thin film. The developed strain sensors possess GFs as high as 200 (ε < 0.5%), 1000 (0.5% < ε < 0.7%), and even exceeding 5000 (0.7% < ε < 1%).
Structure–properties relationship in diketopyrrolopyrrole based small molecules using functional terminal side chains via direct arylation: a joint experimental and theoretical study
Authors: Sambathkumar B. , Kumar P. Shyam Vinod , Saurav K. , Iyer S. Sundar Kumar , Subramanian V. , Somanathan N.
Published: February 2016

The role of terminal side chains in diketopyrrolopyrrole based small molecules has been analyzed, demonstrating how their optoelectronic properties vary.
Effect of side-wall functionalisation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes on the thermo-mechanical properties of epoxy composites
Authors: Konnola Raneesh , Joseph Kuruvilla
Published: February 2016

Sidewall functionalisation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes using liquid rubber results in enhancement in thermo-mechanical properties of epoxy composites.
Enhanced cycle life and capacity retention of iron oxide ultrathin film coated SnO2nanoparticles at high current densities
Authors: Palaparty Sai Abhishek , Patel Rajankumar L. , Liang Xinhua
Published: February 2016

Optimally thick and conformal iron oxide (FeOx) ultrathin films coated on SnO2nanoparticles by atomic layer deposition significantly improve the cycle life and capacity retention when operated in a practical voltage window at high current densities.
Preparation and characterization of laccases immobilized on magnetic nanoparticles and their application as a recyclable nanobiocatalyst for the aerobic oxidation of alcohols in the presence of TEMPO
Authors: Rouhani Shamila , Rostami Amin , Salimi Abdollah
Published: February 2016

MNPs-Laccase as a novel magnetically recyclable nanobiocatalyst has been used for the selective aerobic oxidation of alcohols.
Large-scale nanopatterning of metal surfaces by target-ion induced plasma sputtering (TIPS)
Authors: Jang Tae-Sik , Kim Sungwon , Jung Hyun-Do , Chung Jin-Wook , Kim Hyoun-Ee , Koh Young-Hag , Song Juha
Published: February 2016

Target-ion Induced Plasma Sputtering (TIPS) can produce large-scale, self-assembled nanopatterns on metals and alloys in one step at low cost.
A new high-capacity metal ion-complexing gel containing cyclen ligands
Authors: Dolan Ciarán , Drouet Fleur , Ware David C. , Brothers Penelope J. , Jin Jianyong , Brimble Margaret A. , Williams David E.
Published: February 2016

“Hairy” nano-scale objects cross-linked into a high-capacity metal-binding hydrogel.
Light absorption enhancement by embedding submicron scattering TiO2nanoparticles in perovskite solar cells
Authors: Yin Jun , Qu Hui , Cao Jing , Tai Huilin , Li Jing , Zheng Nanfeng
Published: February 2016

With optimized amount of the embedded scattering NPs, obviousJscincrement and consequent PCE improvement over 5% can be accomplished when comparing with the regular mesostructured PSCs.
Biochar-supported carbon nanotube and graphene oxide nanocomposites for Pb(ii) and Cd(ii) removal
Authors: Liu Taoze , Gao Bin , Fang June , Wang Bing , Cao Xinde
Published: February 2016

Biochar-supported CNT and GO nanocomposites have provided new solutions for the removal of various environmental contaminants.
White-light emitting materials with tunable luminescence based on steady Eu(iii) doping of Tb(iii) metal–organic frameworks
Authors: Liu Jingjuan , Sun Wei , Liu Zhiliang
Published: February 2016

White-light emission materials were successfully acquired based on a sequence of isostructural co-doped lanthanide coordination polymers [EuxTb1−x(Hbtca)(phen)] (0 ≤ x ≤ 1).