bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dr. Walter S. Avis: A Tribute
Authors: Scargill M. H.
Published: February 2018

In the summer of 1954 a small group of scholars met at the University of Manitoba and founded the Canadian Linguistic Association. Among us were Henry Alexander of Queen’s University, J. B. Rudnyckyj of Manitoba, W. S. Avis of R.M.C., G. Dulong of Laval, and J.-P. Vinay of Montreal.

My association and friendship with them all began at that time, and in particular I formed a close personal and academic relationship with Wally Avis.

Thanks to the support of Wilfred Wees, who has done more than any other Canadian publisher to support studies in Canadian English, Dr. Avis, Dr. R. J. Gregg of British Columbia, and I began work on a series of dictionaries, culminating in 1967 with the publication of the Dictionary of Canadianisms, of which Dr. Avis was editor-in-chief. During the preparation of that work, Dr. Avis and I became close friends. In 1963, he spent a full year at the University of Calgary, and in 1965 he was able to devote the entire summer to editorial work at the University of Victoria.
Making a North American Dictionary after Avis
Authors: Toon Thomas E.
Published: February 2018

Dr. Johnson impugned his fellow dictionary makers by defining a lexicographer as a harmless drudge. Were a present day dictionary maker to take a Johnsonian editorial liberty and use Walter S. Avis as a personal example in defining lexicographer, that famous definition would need to take a very different form. One would have to include such adjectives as generous, tireless, dedicated, farseeing, and innovative. Avis knew circumstantially that the modern lexicographer can occasionally be elevated above the status of mere “harmless drudge,” but certainly Dr. Johnson could not have been expected to anticipate the kind of dilemma Avis described in “Trade Names, Lexicographers, and the Law” (1978).
Interpreting theun-expected: Oral realization and translation
Authors: Moore Susan , Polge Olivier
Published: February 2018

The study explores the expression of the unexpected by English adjectives and participles prefixed inun- inThe Picture of Dorian Gray. The study compares their oral realizations and translations in connection with the various modes of construction of otherness, which can either be a dual opposition between the expected and effective values, with participles and some adjectives, or a gradient between the two values with adjectives. In the case of dual opposition, ungradable adjectives tend to be translated using positive adjectives and there is clear acoustic prominence on the prefix, as in the case of special focus. “Constructed negation” in translation is illustrated bysans + (aucun) NOUNor the suffix-able, and corresponds to greater duration of the prefix. In other cases, the base is acoustically prominent, but translation techniques vary, although four techniques account for 80% of the entries, even if translator styles differ considerably.
Discordance narrative et polyphonie énonciative: Analyse de quelques formes verbales de l’anglais
Authors: Bardière Yves
Published: February 2018

L’effet oppositionnel entre sens attendu et sens inattendu est ici examiné dans le cadre théorique de la psychosystématique guillaumienne, à travers l’étude des formes verbales de l’anglais. Deux types de situations interlocutives sont abordés. Le premier concerne la relation entre narrateur et lecteur et traite de l’écart opéré entre chronologie d’expérience et chronologie linéaire choisie par le narrateur. Le second met en présence des sujets parlants dans une situation d’énonciation et étudie l’écart entre sens attendu et sens obtenu dans les emplois modaux en discours rapporté. L’étude conclut à la distinction capitale qu’il convient d’opérer entre expérience et représentation. Les phénomènes de discordance narrative et de polyphonie énonciative dépendent ultimement de la manière dont la réalité phénoménale est représentée.
Evidence for a DP-projection in West Greenlandic Inuit
Authors: Manlove Kathleen
Published: February 2018

Evidence for a DP-projection in West Greenlandic Inuit Abstract The goal of this paper is to argue in favor of a DP-layer in West Greenlandic Inuit noun phrases and in doing so contribute to the argument that the absence of overt D-elements is not directly indicative of the absence of a DP-layer. Inuit is a polysynthetic, ergative language with no overt articles; for this reason it has been argued that a D-head is unnecessary. Others have argued contrastively that a functional projection KP (Case) is necessary (often assuming DP). This paper differs from both camps in the sense that it considers syntactic features specific to D. I present three primary arguments in support of a D-head in West Greenlandic: (i) the D-head acts as the locus of agreement features in possessive DPs, (ii) the D-head is the locus of the syntactic/semantic feature of definiteness; and (iii) a DP-layer is needed to provide a landing site for movement in DP-internal word order variations.
Definiteness without D: The case ofangandngin Tagalog
Authors: Paul Ileana , Cortes Key , Milambiling Lareina
Published: February 2018

This paper considers the syntactic and semantic properties of two vocabulary items in Tagalog, ang and ng. It is shown that although ang and ng appear to encode definiteness (via familiarity), they are in fact unmarked for definiteness, being compatible with both familiar and novel readings. Crucial data from modification by weak quantifiers are presented in favour of this description. The default interpretation of ang and ng as familiar and novel, respectively, arises due to their syntactic position (subject versus object). Given that ang and ng mark case, it is argued that they are case markers in K° and not determiners.
Modeling the Contested Relationship betweenAnalects, Mencius, andXunzi: Preliminary Evidence from a Machine-Learning Approach
Authors: Nichols Ryan , Slingerland Edward , Nielbo Kristoffer , Bergeton Uffe , Logan Carson , Kleinman Scott
Published: February 2018

This article presents preliminary findings from a multi-year, multi-disciplinary text analysis project using an ancient and medieval Chinese corpus of over five million characters in works that date from the earliest received texts to the Song dynasty. It describes “distant reading” methods in the humanities and the authors’ corpus; introduces topic-modeling procedures; answers questions about the authors’ data; discusses complementary relationships between machine learning and human expertise; explains topics represented inAnalects, Mencius,andXunzithat set each of those texts apart from the other two; and explains topics that intersect all three texts. The authors’ results confirm many scholarly opinions derived from close-reading methods, suggest a reappraisal ofXunzi’s shared semantic content withAnalects,and yield several actionable research questions for traditional scholarship. The aim of this article is to initiate a new conversation about implications of machine learning for the study of Asian texts.
Electromagnetic responses of relativistic electrons
Authors: de Carvalho C. A. A. , Reis D. M.
Published: February 2018

We compute the real and imaginary parts of the electric permittivities and magnetic permeabilities of relativistic electrons from quantum electrodynamics at finite temperatures and densities, for weak fields, neglecting electron–electron interactions. For non-zero temperatures, electromagnetic responses are reduced to one-dimensional integrals computed numerically. For zero temperature, we find analytic expressions for both their real/dispersive and imaginary/absorptive parts. As an application of our results, we obtain the dispersion relation for longitudinal electric plasmons. Present calculations support our recent claim that, at low frequencies and long wavelengths, the system will exhibit simultaneously negative electric and magnetic responses.
The gene–environmental architecture of the development of adolescent substance use
Authors: Vitaro Frank , Dickson Daniel J. , Brendgen Mara , Laursen Brett , Dionne Ginette , Boivin Michel
Published: February 2018

Background

Using a longitudinal twin design and a latent growth curve/autoregressive approach, this study examined the genetic–environmental architecture of substance use across adolescence.

Methods

Self-reports of substance use (i.e. alcohol, marijuana) were collected at ages 13, 14, 15, and 17 years from 476 twin pairs (475 boys, 477 girls) living in the Province of Quebec, Canada. Substance use increased linearly across the adolescent years.

Results

ACE modeling revealed that genetic, as well as shared and non-shared environmental factors explained the overall level of substance use and that these same factors also partly accounted for growth in substance use from age 13 to 17. Additional genetic factors predicted the growth in substance use. Finally, autoregressive effects revealed age-specific non-shared environmental influences and, to a lesser degree, age-specific genetic influences, which together accounted for the stability of substance use across adolescence.

Conclusions

The results support and expand the notion that genetic and environmental influences on substance use during adolescence are both developmentally stable and developmentally dynamic.
Distinct risk factors for obsessive and compulsive symptoms in chronic schizophrenia
Authors: Fernandez-Egea Emilio , Worbe Yulia , Bernardo Miguel , Robbins Trevor W.
Published: February 2018

Background

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is common in clozapine-treated patients although the actual prevalence, phenomenology and risk factors remain unclear. The aim of the present study was to address the three aforementioned questions.

Methods

The electronic records of a large cohort of clozapine-medicated schizophrenia patients routinely screened for OCD were used. The Obsessive Compulsive Inventory Revised version (OCI-R) was available from 118 cases and a 21 points cut-off threshold for OCD was defined.

Results

OCD prevalence was 47%, higher in patients on poly-pharmacy than on monotherapy (64% vs 31%; p = 0.001). Two OCI-R factors had significantly higher scores and distinct risk factors: checking behaviour (mean = 5.1; SD = 3.6) correlated with length of clozapine treatment (r = 0.21; p = 0.026), and obsessing factor (mean = 4.8; SD = 3.6) correlated with psychosis severity (r = 0.59; p = 0.001). These factors along with total OCI-R, did not correlate with either clozapine dose or plasma levels, after correcting for psychosis severity.

Conclusions

Screening for OCD in clozapine patients, and probably in those treated with structurally similar drugs with potent antiserotoninergic properties, should be widely adopted by clinicians. Further research is needed to understand the pathophysiology underlying repetitive behavior onset in clozapine-treated patients.
Maximum clearance rapid motion planning algorithm
Authors: Paliwal Shubham Singh , Kala Rahul
Published: February 2018

This paper proposes a new path-planning algorithm which is close to the family of bug algorithms. Path planning is one of the challenging problems in the area of service robotics. In practical applications, traditional methods have some limitations with respect to cost, efficiency, security, flexibility, portability, etc. Our proposed algorithm offers a computationally inexpensive goal-oriented strategy by following a smooth and short trajectory. The paper also presents comparisons with other algorithms. In addition, the paper also presents a test bed which is created to test the algorithm. We have used a two-wheeled differential drive robot for the navigation and only a single camera is used as a feedback sensor. Using an extended Kalman filter, we localize the robot efficiently in the map. Furthermore, we compare the actual path, predicted path and planned path to check the effectiveness of the control system.
The role of sublexical variables in reading fluency development among Spanish children
Authors: ÁLVAREZ-CAÑIZO Marta , SUÁREZ-COALLA Paz , CUETOS Fernando
Published: February 2018

Several studies have found that, after repeated exposure to new words, children form orthographic representations that allow them to read those words faster and more fluently. However, these studies did not take into account variables related to the words. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of sublexical variables on the formation of orthographic representations of words by Spanish children. The first experiment used pseudo-words of varying syllabic structure and syllabic frequency. The stimuli for the second experiment were formed with or without context-dependent graphemes. We found that formation of orthographic representations was influenced by syllabic structure (easier for words with simple syllabic structure) and the context-dependency of graphemes (easier in the absence of context-dependent graphemes), but not syllabic frequency. These results indicate that the easier it is to read a word, the easier it is to form an orthographic representation of it.
On Diophantine transference principles
Authors: GHOSH ANISH , MARNAT ANTOINE
Published: February 2018

We provide an extension of the transference results of Beresnevich and Velani connecting homogeneous and inhomogeneous Diophantine approximation on manifolds and provide bounds for inhomogeneous Diophantine exponents of affine subspaces and their nondegenerate submanifolds.
Epidemiology and control measures of an OXA-48-producing Enterobacteriaceae hospital-wide oligoclonal outbreak
Authors: Pérez-Blanco V. , Redondo-Bravo L. , Ruíz-Carrascoso G. , Paño-Pardo J. R. , Gómez-Gil R. , Robustillo-Rodela A. , García- Rodríguez J. , Mingorance J. , Herruzo R.
Published: February 2018

The main objective of our study was to describe the epidemiological and microbiological features of an oligoclonal hospital-wide outbreak caused by OXA-48-producing Enterobacteriaceae (OXA-48-PE). OXA-48 is a carbapenemase belonging to Ambler class D beta-lactamases, identified frequently in the Mediterranean and Southern European countries, and associated with several Enterobacteriaceae species. An outbreak of OXA-48-PE with a complex epidemic pattern was detected in January 2011. Initial control measures included contact precautions and the reinforcement of infection control practices, but despite all efforts made, the epidemiological situation hardly changed and new measures were implemented during 2013. An observational retrospective study was performed to describe the main features of the outbreak and to analyse the cumulative incidence (CI) trends. Eight hundred and 16 patients colonised or infected by OXA-48-PE were identified during the 2-year period (January 2013–December 2014), female 46%, mean age (s.d.), 71.6 (15.2). The samples isolated in the incident cases were rectal swabs (80%), urine samples (10.7%), blood samples (2.8%) and other clinical samples (6.6%). The most frequent OXA-48-PE was Klebsiella pneumoniae. Eleven different clones were identified, but K. pneumoniae sequence types 11 and 405 were predominant: ST11 (64.2%) and ST405 (29.3%). OXA-48-PE CI trend suffered a statistically significant change in August 2013, which continued the following months. Though we could not eradicate the outbreak, we observed a statistically significant drop in CI after an intervention for OXA-48-PE control, based on patient cohort, active surveillance, electronic alerts and reinforcement of infection control measures in a tertiary hospital.
BELIEF-TWISTING SHOCKS AND THE MACROECONOMY
Authors: Suda Jacek
Published: February 2018

I study the role of shocks to beliefs combined with Bayesian learning in a standard equilibrium business cycle framework. In particular, I examine how a prior belief arising from the Great Depression may have influenced the macroeconomy during the last 75 years. In the model, households hold twisted beliefs concerning the likelihood and persistence of recession and boom states that are affected by the Great Depression. These initial beliefs are substantially different from the true data generating process and are only gradually unwound during subsequent years. Even though the driving stochastic process for technology is unchanged over the entire period, the nature of macroeconomic performance is altered considerably for many decades before eventually converging to the rational expectations equilibrium. This provides some evidence of the lingering effects of beliefs-twisting events on the behavior of macroeconomic variables.
A non-invasive assessment of skin carotenoid status through reflection spectroscopy is a feasible, reliable and potentially valid measure of fruit and vegetable consumption in a diverse community sample
Authors: Jilcott Pitts Stephanie Bell , Jahns Lisa , Wu Qiang , Moran Nancy E , Bell Ronny A , Truesdale Kimberly P , Laska Melissa N
Published: February 2018

Objective

To assess the feasibility, reliability and validity of reflection spectroscopy (RS) to assess skin carotenoids in a racially diverse sample.

Design

Study 1 was a cross-sectional study of corner store customers (n479) who completed the National Cancer Institute Fruit and Vegetable Screener as well as RS measures. Feasibility was assessed by examining the time it took to complete three RS measures, reliability was assessed by examining the variation between three RS measures, and validity was examined by correlation with self-reported fruit and vegetable consumption. In Study 2, validity was assessed in a smaller sample (n30) by examining associations between RS measures and dietary carotenoids, fruits and vegetables as calculated from a validated FFQ and plasma carotenoids.

Setting

Eastern North Carolina, USA.

Results

It took on average 94·0 s to complete three RS readings per person. The average variation between three readings for each participant was 6·8 %. In Study 2, in models adjusted for age, race and sex, there were statistically significant associations between RS measures and (i) FFQ-estimated carotenoid intake (P<0·0001); (ii) FFQ-estimated fruit and vegetable consumption (P<0·010); and (iii) plasma carotenoids (P<0·0001).

Conclusions

RS is a potentially improved method to approximate fruit and vegetable consumption among diverse participants. RS is portable and easy to use in field-based public health nutrition settings. More research is needed to investigate validity and sensitivity in diverse populations.
A dosimetric comparison of linac-based stereotactic fractionated radiotherapy techniques for pituitary adenoma and craniopharyngioma
Authors: Varghese Sunitha S. , Goudar Giriyappa , Abraham Susen , Peace Timothy , Singh Rabi R. , Backianathan Sevamani
Published: February 2018

Aim

To compare the dosimetric outcomes of linear accelerator-based stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) techniques—static conformal field (SCF), static conformal arc (SCA) and dynamic conformal arc (DCA), for treating pituitary adenoma and craniopharyngioma.

Materials and methods

Computer image sets of 20 patients with pituitary adenoma or craniopharyngioma and treated with post-operative SRT were selected for this study. For each dataset, three SRT plans, with SCF, SCA and DCA techniques were generated using Brain LAB, iPlan RT V.4.5.3, TPS software. The conformity index (CI), homogeneity index (HI), quality of coverage of the target, dose–volume histograms for the target and organs at risk (OARs) and the time taken to deliver treatment was compared across three sets of plan.

Results

There were 12 patients with pituitary adenoma and eight with craniopharyngioma. The CI and HI were comparable across three techniques. The quality of coverage was superior in DCA technique. OARs were better spared in SCF and DCA techniques. Time taken to deliver treatment was least in SCF technique.

Conclusions

The linac-based SRT techniques SCF, SCA and DCA are efficient in delivering highly conformal and homogenous dose to the target in pituitary adenoma and craniopharyngioma. Among these three techniques, SCF and DCA had acceptable quality of coverage. The dose received by OARs was least in the SCF technique.
Der Stellenwert des Sulfonylharnstoffes Gliclazid im Vergleich zu neueren oralen Antidiabetika
Authors: Viardot Alexander
Published: February 2018

Zusammenfassung. Sulfonylharnstoffe (SU) sind in der Behandlung des Typ-2-Diabetes weit verbreitet. In vielen Ländern sind sie immer noch die Therapie der Wahl als Second-Line Medikament, wenn die Behandlung mit Metformin versagt. Neuere orale Antidiabetika (OAD) werden zunehmend verschrieben und tendieren, die Verwendung der SU zu verdrängen, obwohl diese die kosten-effektivsten Wirkstoffe in der Behandlung des Typ-2-Diabetes sind. Dies treibt die Kosten der medikamentösen Behandlung signifikant in die Höhe. Die SU, die älteste Klasse der OAD, können über 60 Jahre klinische Erfahrung aufzeigen, und ihre Effektivität, Dauerhaftigkeit und Sicherheit wurden in vielen Studien demonstriert. Das Gliclazid ist ein SU der neusten Generation, und ist das SU der ersten Wahl in vielen europäischen Ländern, da es spezielle Eigenschaften vorweist. Im Gegensatz zu anderen SU schützt es die pankreatische Beta-Zelle vor der Apoptose und hat anti-oxidative Eigenschaften, was zur demonstrierten langlebigen Wirksamkeit in klinischen Studien führt. Verglichen mit anderen SU ist das Gliclazid auch mit dem niedrigsten Hypoglykämierisiko assoziert, was auf seine spezielle Pharmakokinetik und spezifische Bindung des Sulfonylharnstoffrezeptors in den pankreatischen Beta-Zellen zurückzuführen ist. Obwohl die Frage der kardiovaskulären Sicherheit der SU noch offen ist, war Gliclazid in mehreren randomisiert-kontrollierten Studien und Beobachtungsstudien mit dem niedrigsten kardiovaskulären Risiko assoziert. Das Gebiet der Pharmakogenetik hat das Potential, die Diabetesbehandlung in Zukunft individuell anzupassen, um die Effektivität und auch die Sicherheit der SU zu optimieren.
SGLT-2-Inhibitoren aus der Sicht des Kardiologen
Authors: Pfister Otmar
Published: February 2018

Zusammenfassung. Der Diabetes mellitus verdoppelt das kardiovaskuläre Risiko. Insbesondere steigt das Risiko, eine Herzinsuffizienz zu entwickeln markant an. SGLT2-Inhibitoren reduzieren bei Diabetikern kardiovaskuläre Ereignisse und führen zu einem eindrücklichen Rückgang von Herzinsuffizienzhospitalisationen. Die genauen Mechanismen, welche der kardioprotektiven Wirkung von SGLT2 Inhibitoren zu Grunde liegen, sind nicht abschliessend geklärt. Neben der hämodynamischen Wirkung, bedingt durch eine Blutdrucksenkung und gesteigerte Natriurese, spielen auch Veränderungen des myokardialen Metabolismus eine entscheidende Rolle. Insbesondere könnte ein gesteigerter Ketonkörper-Metabolismus bei Diabetikern wesentlich zur Reduktion von Herzinsuffizienzereignissen unter SGLT2-Inhibitoren beitragen.
hiPSC-derived neural stem cells from patients with schizophrenia induce an impaired angiogenesis
Authors: Casas Bárbara S. , Vitória Gabriela , do Costa Marcelo N. , Madeiro da Costa Rodrigo , Trindade Pablo , Maciel Renata , Navarrete Nelson , Rehen Stevens K. , Palma Verónica
Published: February 2018

Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disease characterized by cerebral connectivity impairment and loss of gray matter. It was described in adult schizophrenia patients (SZP) that concentration of VEGFA, a master angiogenic factor, is decreased. Recent evidence suggests cerebral hypoperfusion related to a dysfunctional Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) in SZP. Since neurogenesis and blood-vessel formation occur in a coincident and coordinated fashion, a defect in neurovascular development could result in increased vascular permeability and, therefore, in poor functionality of the SZP’s neurons. Here, we characterized the conditioned media (CM) of human induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (hiPSC)-derived Neural Stem Cells of SZP (SZP NSC) versus healthy subjects (Ctrl NSC), and its impact on angiogenesis. Our results reveal that SZP NSC have an imbalance in the secretion and expression of several angiogenic factors, among them non-canonical neuro-angiogenic guidance factors. SZP NSC migrated less and their CM was less effective in inducing migration and angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo. Since SZP originates during embryonic brain development, our findings suggest a defective crosstalk between NSC and endothelial cells (EC) during the formation of the neuro-angiogenic niche.
The interactome and spatial redistribution feature of Ca2+ receptor protein calmodulin reveals a novel role in invadopodia-mediated invasion
Authors: Li Tao , Yi Li , Hai Long , Ma Haiwen , Tao Zhennan , Zhang Chen , Abeysekera Iruni Roshanie , Zhao Kai , Yang Yihan , Wang Wei , Liu Bo , Yu Shengping , Tong Luqing , Liu Peidong , Zhu Meng , Ren Bingcheng , Lin Yu , Zhang Kai , Cheng Cheng , Huang Yubao , Yang Xuejun
Published: February 2018

Numerous studies have shown that calmodulin (CaM) is a major regulator of calcium-dependent signaling, which regulates cell proliferation, programmed cell death, and autophagy in cancer. However, limited information is available on mechanisms underlying the effect of CaM on the invasive property of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells, especially with respect to invadopodia formation. In this study, we find that CaM serves as a prognostic factor for GBM, and it is strongly associated with the invasive nature of this tumor. Results of preliminary experiments indicated that CaM concentration was significantly correlated with the invasive capacity of and invadopodia formation by different GBM cell lines. CaM inhibition via a small hairpin RNA or a pharmacological inhibitor significantly disrupted invadopodia formation and MMP activity and downregulated vimentin expression. Moreover, CaM knockdown exerted a strong anti-invasive effect on GBM in vivo. Interestingly, epidermal growth factor treatment promoted CaM redistribution from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, eventually activating invadopodia-associated proteins by binding to them via their cytosolic-binding sites. Moreover, CaM inhibition suppressed the activation of invadopodia-associated proteins. Thus, our findings provide a novel therapeutic strategy to impede GBM invasion by inhibiting invadopodia formation, and shed light on the spatial organization of CaM signals during GBM invasion.
Erythrocyte glutathione transferase in kidney transplantation: a probe for kidney detoxification efficiency
Authors: Bocedi Alessio , Noce Annalisa , Rovella Valentina , Marrone Giulia , Cattani Giada , Iappelli Massimo , De Paolis Paolo , Iaria Giuseppe , Sforza Daniele , Gallù Mariacarla , Tisone Giuseppe , Di Daniele Nicola , Ricci Giorgio
Published: February 2018

Erythrocyte glutathione transferase (e-GST) is overexpressed in case of increased blood toxicity and its level correlates with the kidney disease progression. Thus, it represents a probe of kidney efficiency against circulating toxins. We measured the activity of e-GST in patients with transplant kidney from living and cadaver donors, correlated its level to biochemical parameters of kidney function, and measured the level of oxidized albumin as a probe of oxidative stress using a new simple procedure. Interestingly, the activity of e-GST in transplant patients from cadaver donors (N = 153) is very high (11.7 U/gHb) compared to healthy subjects (N = 80) ( 5.6 U/gHb). Lower values were observed in transplant patients with kidney from living donors (N = 16) (9.8 U/gHb). Except for steroids, no correlation has been found with the immunosuppressive therapies and routine clinical and laboratory parameters. Also serum oxidized albumin, which reveals oxidative stress, is significantly higher in transplant patients from cadaver donors (53%) compared to that from living donors (36%). Overall, these data indicate that most of transplant kidneys from cadavers lost part of the detoxifying power against circulating toxins and suffer a relevant oxidative stress compared to those coming from living donors. A case report suggests that e-GST could represent a very early marker of incipient graft rejection. In conclusion, e-GST may be used to check the decline or maintenance of the kidney detoxification competence during post-transplantation course.
Calpain7 impairs embryo implantation by downregulating β3-integrin expression via degradation of HOXA10
Authors: Yan Qiang , Huang Chenyang , Jiang Yue , Shan Huizhi , Jiang Ruiwei , Wang Junxia , Liu Jingyu , Ding Lijun , Yan Guijun , Sun Haixiang
Published: February 2018

Endometriosis (ENDO) is a common gynecological disease that causes infertility in many women. Previous studies noted that the dysregulation of Homeo box A10 (HOXA10) in the endometrium of women with ENDO was involved in the failure of embryo implantation. However, the mechanism by which HOXA10 expression is reduced in women with ENDO is still poorly understood. Here we found that a member of the calcium (Ca2+)-dependent cysteine protease family calpain7 (CAPN7), negatively correlated with HOXA10, was highly expressed in the endometrium of infertile women with ENDO and was significantly downregulated during the window of embryo implantation in mice. Overexpression of CAPN7 in Ishikawa cells or in the uterus of mice inhibited embryo implantation in vitro and in vivo. In the current study, we identified a sequence rich in proline, glutamic acid, serine, and threonine (PEST sequence) that enhanced the Ca2+-dependent degradation of HOXA10 by CAPN7. Furthermore, the interaction between HOXA10 and CAPN7 repressed the transcriptional activity and protein stability of HOXA10. In contrast, the administration of the calpain inhibitor ALLN reversed the CAPN7-induced HOXA10 degradation. Moreover, truncation of the PEST motif in HOXA10 abolished its CAPN7-dependent proteolysis. These studies reveal a novel pattern of HOXA10 regulation via PEST sequence-mediated calpain proteolysis that was demonstrated to be reversed by a calpain inhibitor. Thus, the inhibition of CAPN7-induced HOXA10 degradation may represent a novel potential therapeutic method to improve impaired embryo implantation in women with ENDO.
Common medium versus advanced IVF medium for cryopreserved oocytes in heterologous cycles
Authors: Poverini R. , Lisi R. , Lisi F. , Berlinghieri V. , Bielli W. , Carfagna P. , Costantino A. , Iacomino D. , Nicodemo G.
Published: February 2018

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulation factor plays different crucial roles during embryo implantation and subsequent development. Here we aimed to evaluate the effects of embryo cell culture medium, with the inclusion of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulation factor (GM-CSF), on embryo development and pregnancy rate. To this end, we took advantage of our retrospective observational study to correlate the outcomes from two different culture media. We included in this study 25 unselected patient from our IVF Center that underwent heterologous IVF cycle with crypreserved oocytes. We analyze the fertilization rate, pregnancy rate, and embryo quality at different day of transfer obtained from two different media composition. Our results show that the rate of fertilization and the pregnancy rate were increased using medium added with this particular type of cytokines (GM-CSF).
Single-cell RNA-seq of rheumatoid arthritis synovial tissue using low-cost microfluidic instrumentation
Authors: Stephenson William , Donlin Laura T. , Butler Andrew , Rozo Cristina , Bracken Bernadette , Rashidfarrokhi Ali , Goodman Susan M. , Ivashkiv Lionel B. , Bykerk Vivian P. , Orange Dana E. , Darnell Robert B. , Swerdlow Harold P. , Satija Rahul
Published: February 2018

Droplet-based single-cell RNA-seq has emerged as a powerful technique for massively parallel cellular profiling. While this approach offers the exciting promise to deconvolute cellular heterogeneity in diseased tissues, the lack of cost-effective and user-friendly instrumentation has hindered widespread adoption of droplet microfluidic techniques. To address this, we developed a 3D-printed, low-cost droplet microfluidic control instrument and deploy it in a clinical environment to perform single-cell transcriptome profiling of disaggregated synovial tissue from five rheumatoid arthritis patients. We sequence 20,387 single cells revealing 13 transcriptomically distinct clusters. These encompass an unsupervised draft atlas of the autoimmune infiltrate that contribute to disease biology. Additionally, we identify previously uncharacterized fibroblast subpopulations and discern their spatial location within the synovium. We envision that this instrument will have broad utility in both research and clinical settings, enabling low-cost and routine application of microfluidic techniques.
Quantum and electrochemical interplays in hydrogenated graphene
Authors: Jiang Lin , Fu Wangyang , Birdja Yuvraj Y. , Koper Marc T. M. , Schneider Grégory F.
Published: February 2018

The design of electrochemically gated graphene field-effect transistors for detecting charged species in real time, greatly depends on our ability to understand and maintain a low level of electrochemical current. Here, we exploit the interplay between the electrical in-plane transport and the electrochemical activity of graphene. We found that the addition of one H-sp3 defect per hundred thousand carbon atoms reduces the electron transfer rate of the graphene basal plane by more than five times while preserving its excellent carrier mobility. Remarkably, the quantum capacitance provides insight into the changes of the electronic structure of graphene upon hydrogenation, which predicts well the suppression of the electrochemical activity based on the non-adiabatic theory of electron transfer. Thus, our work unravels the interplay between the quantum transport and electrochemical kinetics of graphene and suggests hydrogenated graphene as a potent material for sensing applications with performances going beyond previously reported graphene transistor-based sensors.
Retrosynthesis of multi-component metal−organic frameworks
Authors: Yuan Shuai , Qin Jun-Sheng , Li Jialuo , Huang Lan , Feng Liang , Fang Yu , Lollar Christina , Pang Jiandong , Zhang Liangliang , Sun Di , Alsalme Ali , Cagin Tahir , Zhou Hong-Cai
Published: February 2018

Crystal engineering of metal−organic frameworks (MOFs) has allowed the construction of complex structures at atomic precision, but has yet to reach the same level of sophistication as organic synthesis. The synthesis of complex MOFs with multiple organic and/or inorganic components is ultimately limited by the lack of control over framework assembly in one-pot reactions. Herein, we demonstrate that multi-component MOFs with unprecedented complexity can be constructed in a predictable and stepwise manner under simple kinetic guidance, which conceptually mimics the retrosynthetic approach utilized to construct complicated organic molecules. Four multi-component MOFs were synthesized by the subsequent incorporation of organic linkers and inorganic clusters into the cavity of a mesoporous MOF, each composed of up to three different metals and two different linkers. Furthermore, we demonstrated the utility of such a retrosynthetic design through the construction of a cooperative bimetallic catalytic system with two collaborative metal sites for three-component Strecker reactions.
A family of unconventional deubiquitinases with modular chain specificity determinants
Authors: Hermanns Thomas , Pichlo Christian , Woiwode Ilka , Klopffleisch Karsten , Witting Katharina F. , Ovaa Huib , Baumann Ulrich , Hofmann Kay
Published: February 2018

Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) regulate ubiquitin signaling by trimming ubiquitin chains or removing ubiquitin from modified substrates. Similar activities exist for ubiquitin-related modifiers, although the enzymes involved are usually not related. Here, we report human ZUFSP (also known as ZUP1 and C6orf113) and fission yeast Mug105 as founding members of a DUB family different from the six known DUB classes. The crystal structure of human ZUFSP in covalent complex with propargylated ubiquitin shows that the DUB family shares a fold with UFM1- and Atg8-specific proteases, but uses a different active site more similar to canonical DUB enzymes. ZUFSP family members differ widely in linkage specificity through differential use of modular ubiquitin-binding domains (UBDs). While the minimalistic Mug105 prefers K48 chains, ZUFSP uses multiple UBDs for its K63-specific endo-DUB activity. K63 specificity, localization, and protein interaction network suggest a role for ZUFSP in DNA damage response.
MEMS-tunable dielectric metasurface lens
Authors: Arbabi Ehsan , Arbabi Amir , Kamali Seyedeh Mahsa , Horie Yu , Faraji-Dana MohammadSadegh , Faraon Andrei
Published: February 2018

Varifocal lenses, conventionally implemented by changing the axial distance between multiple optical elements, have a wide range of applications in imaging and optical beam scanning. The use of conventional bulky refractive elements makes these varifocal lenses large, slow, and limits their tunability. Metasurfaces, a new category of lithographically defined diffractive devices, enable thin and lightweight optical elements with precisely engineered phase profiles. Here we demonstrate tunable metasurface doublets, based on microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), with more than 60 diopters (about 4%) change in the optical power upon a 1-μm movement of one metasurface, and a scanning frequency that can potentially reach a few kHz. They can also be integrated with a third metasurface to make compact microscopes (~1 mm thick) with a large corrected field of view (~500 μm or 40 degrees) and fast axial scanning for 3D imaging. This paves the way towards MEMS-integrated metasurfaces as a platform for tunable and reconfigurable optics.
Experimental evidence of quantum radiation reaction in aligned crystals
Authors: Wistisen Tobias N. , Di Piazza Antonino , Knudsen Helge V. , Uggerhøj Ulrik I.
Published: February 2018

Quantum radiation reaction is the influence of multiple photon emissions from a charged particle on the particle's dynamics, characterized by a significant energy-momentum loss per emission. Here we report experimental radiation emission spectra from ultrarelativistic positrons in silicon in a regime where quantum radiation reaction effects dominate the positron's dynamics. Our analysis shows that while the widely used quantum approach is overall the best model, it does not completely describe all the data in this regime. Thus, these experimental findings may prompt seeking more generally valid methods to describe quantum radiation reaction. This experiment is a fundamental test of quantum electrodynamics in a regime where the dynamics of charged particles is strongly influenced not only by the external electromagnetic fields but also by the radiation field generated by the charges themselves and where each photon emission may significantly reduce the energy of the charge.
Development differentially sculpts receptive fields across early and high-level human visual cortex
Authors: Gomez Jesse , Natu Vaidehi , Jeska Brianna , Barnett Michael , Grill-Spector Kalanit
Published: February 2018

Receptive fields (RFs) processing information in restricted parts of the visual field are a key property of visual system neurons. However, how RFs develop in humans is unknown. Using fMRI and population receptive field (pRF) modeling in children and adults, we determine where and how pRFs develop across the ventral visual stream. Here we report that pRF properties in visual field maps, from the first visual area, V1, through the first ventro-occipital area, VO1, are adult-like by age 5. However, pRF properties in face-selective and character-selective regions develop into adulthood, increasing the foveal coverage bias for faces in the right hemisphere and words in the left hemisphere. Eye-tracking indicates that pRF changes are related to changing fixation patterns on words and faces across development. These findings suggest a link between face and word viewing behavior and the differential development of pRFs across visual cortex, potentially due to competition on foveal coverage.
Correlating chemical diversity with taxonomic distance for discovery of natural products in myxobacteria
Authors: Hoffmann Thomas , Krug Daniel , Bozkurt Nisa , Duddela Srikanth , Jansen Rolf , Garcia Ronald , Gerth Klaus , Steinmetz Heinrich , Müller Rolf
Published: February 2018

Some bacterial clades are important sources of novel bioactive natural products. Estimating the magnitude of chemical diversity available from such a resource is complicated by issues including cultivability, isolation bias and limited analytical data sets. Here we perform a systematic metabolite survey of ~2300 bacterial strains of the order Myxococcales, a well-established source of natural products, using mass spectrometry. Our analysis encompasses both known and previously unidentified metabolites detected under laboratory cultivation conditions, thereby enabling large-scale comparison of production profiles in relation to myxobacterial taxonomy. We find a correlation between taxonomic distance and the production of distinct secondary metabolite families, further supporting the idea that the chances of discovering novel metabolites are greater by examining strains from new genera rather than additional representatives within the same genus. In addition, we report the discovery and structure elucidation of rowithocin, a myxobacterial secondary metabolite featuring an uncommon phosphorylated polyketide scaffold.
Bounding cross-shelf transport time and degradation in Siberian-Arctic land-ocean carbon transfer
Authors: Bröder Lisa , Tesi Tommaso , Andersson August , Semiletov Igor , Gustafsson Örjan
Published: February 2018

The burial of terrestrial organic carbon (terrOC) in marine sediments contributes to the regulation of atmospheric CO2 on geological timescales and may mitigate positive feedback to present-day climate warming. However, the fate of terrOC in marine settings is debated, with uncertainties regarding its degradation during transport. Here, we employ compound-specific radiocarbon analyses of terrestrial biomarkers to determine cross-shelf transport times. For the World’s largest marginal sea, the East Siberian Arctic shelf, transport requires 3600 ± 300 years for the 600 km from the Lena River to the Laptev Sea shelf edge. TerrOC was reduced by ~85% during transit resulting in a degradation rate constant of 2.4 ± 0.6 kyr−1. Hence, terrOC degradation during cross-shelf transport constitutes a carbon source to the atmosphere over millennial time. For the contemporary carbon cycle on the other hand, slow terrOC degradation brings considerable attenuation of the decadal-centennial permafrost carbon-climate feedback caused by global warming.
Co-occurring expression and methylation QTLs allow detection of common causal variants and shared biological mechanisms
Authors: Pierce Brandon L. , Tong Lin , Argos Maria , Demanelis Kathryn , Jasmine Farzana , Rakibuz-Zaman Muhammad , Sarwar Golam , Islam Md. Tariqul , Shahriar Hasan , Islam Tariqul , Rahman Mahfuzar , Yunus Md. , Kibriya Muhammad G. , Chen Lin S. , Ahsan Habibul
Published: February 2018

Inherited genetic variation affects local gene expression and DNA methylation in humans. Most expression quantitative trait loci (cis-eQTLs) occur at the same genomic location as a methylation QTL (cis-meQTL), suggesting a common causal variant and shared mechanism. Using DNA and RNA from peripheral blood of Bangladeshi individuals, here we use co-localization methods to identify eQTL-meQTL pairs likely to share a causal variant. We use partial correlation and mediation analyses to identify >400 of these pairs showing evidence of a causal relationship between expression and methylation (i.e., shared mechanism) with many additional pairs we are underpowered to detect. These co-localized pairs are enriched for SNPs showing opposite associations with expression and methylation, although many SNPs affect multiple CpGs in opposite directions. This work demonstrates the pervasiveness of co-regulated expression and methylation in the human genome. Applying this approach to other types of molecular QTLs can enhance our understanding of regulatory mechanisms.
Nanowire arrays restore vision in blind mice
Authors: Tang Jing , Qin Nan , Chong Yan , Diao Yupu , Yiliguma  , Wang Zhexuan , Xue Tian , Jiang Min , Zhang Jiayi , Zheng Gengfeng
Published: February 2018

The restoration of light response with complex spatiotemporal features in retinal degenerative diseases towards retinal prosthesis has proven to be a considerable challenge over the past decades. Herein, inspired by the structure and function of photoreceptors in retinas, we develop artificial photoreceptors based on gold nanoparticle-decorated titania nanowire arrays, for restoration of visual responses in the blind mice with degenerated photoreceptors. Green, blue and near UV light responses in the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are restored with a spatial resolution better than 100 µm. ON responses in RGCs are blocked by glutamatergic antagonists, suggesting functional preservation of the remaining retinal circuits. Moreover, neurons in the primary visual cortex respond to light after subretinal implant of nanowire arrays. Improvement in pupillary light reflex suggests the behavioral recovery of light sensitivity. Our study will shed light on the development of a new generation of optoelectronic toolkits for subretinal prosthetic devices.
Probing of sub-picometer vertical differential resolutions using cavity plasmons
Authors: Chen Wen , Zhang Shunping , Deng Qian , Xu Hongxing
Published: February 2018

Plasmon rulers can be used for resolving ultrasmall environmental, dimensional, and material changes owing to their high sensitivity associated with a light-scattering spectral shift in response to changes in the separation between plasmonic nanostructures. Here, we show, in several experimental setups, how cavity plasmons in a metal nanowire-on-mirror setup can be used to probe vertical dimensional changes with sub-picometer differential resolutions using two carefully chosen material systems. Specifically, we monitor the dielectric layer thickness changes in response to growth using atomic-layer deposition and to thermal expansion, demonstrating a sensitivity of 14-nm spectral shift per Ångström thickness change and 0.58 pm of vertical differential resolution, respectively. The findings confirm theoretical predictions and highlight the potential use of cavity plasmons in some ultrasensitive sensing applications.
Somatic mutagenesis in satellite cells associates with human skeletal muscle aging
Authors: Franco Irene , Johansson Anna , Olsson Karl , Vrtačnik Peter , Lundin Pär , Helgadottir Hafdis T. , Larsson Malin , Revêchon Gwladys , Bosia Carla , Pagnani Andrea , Provero Paolo , Gustafsson Thomas , Fischer Helene , Eriksson Maria
Published: February 2018

Human aging is associated with a decline in skeletal muscle (SkM) function and a reduction in the number and activity of satellite cells (SCs), the resident stem cells. To study the connection between SC aging and muscle impairment, we analyze the whole genome of single SC clones of the leg muscle vastus lateralis from healthy individuals of different ages (21–78 years). We find an accumulation rate of 13 somatic mutations per genome per year, consistent with proliferation of SCs in the healthy adult muscle. SkM-expressed genes are protected from mutations, but aging results in an increase in mutations in exons and promoters, targeting genes involved in SC activity and muscle function. In agreement with SC mutations affecting the whole tissue, we detect a missense mutation in a SC propagating to the muscle. Our results suggest somatic mutagenesis in SCs as a driving force in the age-related decline of SkM function.