bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High thermal and electrochemical stability of PVDF-graft-PAN copolymer hybrid PEO membrane for safety reinforced lithium-ion battery
Authors: Hsu Chang-Yu , Liu Ren-Jun , Hsu Chun-Han , Kuo Ping-Lin
Published: January 2016

A PVDF-graft-PAN copolymer was prepared by ozone polymerization and hybrid with PEO as a conductive gel–polymer electrolyte for lithium-ion batteries.
Inhibition of complement dependent cytotoxicity by anti-CD20 aptamers
Authors: Al-Youssef Nadia L. , Ghobadloo Shahrokh M. , Berezovski Maxim V.
Published: January 2016

SELEXed to protect: aptamers to B-lymphocyte antigen CD20 decrease cell damage inducedviaantibody-dependent complement dependent cytotoxicity.
The influence of different Ni contents on the radar absorbing properties of FeNi nano powders
Authors: Zhao Hui , Zhu Zhenghou , Xiong Chao , Zheng Xialian , Lin Qianying
Published: January 2016

Absorbing property of Fe20Ni80 nanopowder was better than that of other Fe100−xNix powder fabricated by liquid phase reduction method. Absorbing band could be effectively broadened and absorbing property improved through optimal structural designs.
Rational design of photo-responsive supramolecular nanostructures based on an azobenzene-derived surfactant-encapsulated polyoxometalate complex
Authors: Guo Yongxian , Gong Yanjun , Yu Zhidan , Gao Yan'an , Yu Li
Published: January 2016

Using an ionic self-assembly (ISA) approach, photoresponsive surfactant-encapsulated polyoxometalate complexes (SECs) were fabricated using 4-ethyl-4′-(trimethylaminohexyloxy) azobenzene bromide (ETAB) and H3[PW12O40] in water.
Interconnected PVDF-CTFE hydrophobic membranes for MD desalination: effect of PEGs on phase inversion process
Authors: Zheng Libing , Wang Jun , Wei Yuansong , Zhang Yong , Li Kun , Wu Zhenjun
Published: January 2016

PVDF-CTFE membrane with interconnected pore structure, narrow pore distribution, and high DCMD performance was prepared by study the effect of molecular weight and dosage of PEG.
Alkyl length effects on solid-state fluorescence and mechanochromic behavior of small organic luminophores
Authors: Xue Shanfeng , Qiu Xu , Sun Qikun , Yang Wenjun
Published: January 2016

This review focuses on alkyl length effects on solid-state fluorescence and mechanochromic behaviors, and the purpose is to arouse one's further attention to the alkyl-length effect in the design, synthesis and structure–property investigation of organic optoelectronic materials.
Fabrication of carbon-coated NiO supported on graphene for high performance supercapacitors
Authors: Yu Lei , Wan Gengping , Peng Xiange , Dou Zhifeng , Li Xinyue , Wang Kan , Lin Shiwei , Wang Guizhen
Published: January 2016

We report a feasible strategy for the synthesis of the carbon-coated NiO nanoparticles supported on graphenes and investigate their application as supercapacitor electrodes.
Consensus‐based distributed scheduling for cooperative operation of distributed energy resources and storage devices in smart grids
Authors: Rahbari‐Asr Navid , Zhang Yuan , Chow Mo‐Yuen
Published: January 2016

Optimal dispatch of storage devices is crucial for the economic operation of smart grids with distributed energy resources. Through appropriate scheduling, storage devices can store the energy when the renewable production is high or electricity price is low, and support the demand when electricity is expensive. Conventionally, this scheduling requires a control centre to gather information from the entire system and find the optimal schedule in the required horizon for the controllable devices. This study proposes a fully distributed scheduling methodology based on discrete‐time optimal control, primal‐dual gradient descent, and consensus networks. In the proposed approach, the requirement for the control centre is eliminated and the optimal schedule for all the devices is found solely through iterative coordination of each device with its neighbours. The application of the algorithm is demonstrated in a 5‐bus system and its convergence to the global optimum is validated through Monte Carlo simulations. Further, it is shown that the algorithm is robust against communication link failures provided that the communications topology remains connected or reconnects after being disconnected.
Explicit degradation modelling in optimal lead–acid battery use for photovoltaic systems
Authors: Hamedi Amir‐Sina , Rajabi‐Ghahnavieh Abbas
Published: January 2016

Lead–acid battery is a storage technology that is widely used in photovoltaic (PV) systems. Battery charging and discharging profiles have a direct impact on the battery degradation and battery loss of life. This study presents a new 2‐model iterative approach for explicit modelling of battery degradation in the optimal operation of PV systems. The proposed approach consists of two models: namely, economic model and degradation model which are solved iteratively to reach the optimal solution. The economic model is a linear programming optimisation problem that calculates the optimal hourly battery use profile based on an assumed value of the battery degradation cost. The degradation model, in turn, gives the battery degradation cost based on the battery use profile, temperature and battery characteristics. The models are solved iteratively to finally reach to the optimal battery use considering battery degradation. The proposed approach has been applied to a 4 kWp PV system and the performance of the proposed approach were evaluated. Applicability of the proposed approach in determining the optimal storage size and the economic battery life were also shown. Advantages and the capability of the proposed approach in considering PV generation and irradiation variations were also evaluated through seasonality analysis.
High quality impulse noise removal via non‐uniform sampling and autoregressive modelling based super‐resolution
Authors: Wang Xiaotian , Shi Guangming , Zhang Peiyu , Wu Jinjian , Li Fu , Wang Yantao , Jiang He
Published: January 2016

The challenge of image impulse noise removal is to restore spatial details from damaged pixels using remaining ones in random locations. Most existing methods use all uncontaminated pixels within a local window to estimate the centred noisy one via a statistic way. These kinds of methods have two defects. First, all noisy pixels are treated as independent individuals and estimated by their neighbours one by one, with the correlation between their true values ignored. Second, the image structure as a natural feature is usually ignored. This study proposes a new denoising framework, in which all noisy pixels are jointly restored via non‐uniform sampling and supervised piecewise autoregressive modelling based super‐resolution. In this method, the noisy pixels are jointly estimated in groups through solving a well‐designed optimisation problem, in which image structure feature is considered as an important constraint. Another contribution is that piecewise autoregressive model is not simply adopted but carefully designed so that all noise‐free pixels can be used to supervise the model training and optimisation problem solving for higher accuracy. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method exhibits good denoising performance in a large noise density range (10–90%).
Feasibility of multi‐carrier modulation signals as new illuminators of opportunity for passive radar: orthogonal frequency division multiplexing versus filter‐bank multi‐carrier
Authors: Cao Wei , Zhu Jiahua , Li Xiaotian , Hu Weidong , Lei Jing
Published: January 2016

In this study, the feasibility of multi‐carrier modulation signals for passive radar is investigated. The illuminators of opportunity involve orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) and filter‐bank multi‐carrier (FBMC). Average ambiguity functions (AAFs) of OFDM and FBMC are derived in the similar expressions, while the discrepancies differ at the prototype filters and symbol periods. Simulation results validate the derivation of AAF and demonstrate that (i) both OFDM and FBMC are nearly perfect illuminators of opportunity in passive coherent location systems owing to their thumbtack‐shaped ambiguity function; (ii) the time delay resolutions of OFDM, CP–OFDM (cyclic prefix‐OFDM) and FBMC are all extraordinary because of the broadband property, despite the existence of two sidelobes as a consequence of CP insertion for CP–OFDM; (iii) the Doppler shift resolution is affected by the CP length and prototype filter designs, thus FBMC's Doppler bandwidth is larger than OFDM and CP–OFDM's Doppler bandwidth, but FBMC guarantees no existence of sidelobes due to the use of specially designed prototype filter. Therefore, multi‐carrier modulation signals are attractive new candidates for passive radar surveillance.
Sparkover observation and analysis of the soil under the impulse current
Authors: Wen Xishan , Feng Zhiqiang , Lu Hailiang , Tong Xuefang , Lan Lei , Chen Wenguang , Tan Bo
Published: January 2016

The spark discharge in the soil is a key factor that affects the impulse characteristics of grounding devices under the lightning current. However, since soil is inhomogeneous medium consisted with humid‐air, ionic liquid, and soil particles, the developing process of the soil sparkover is very complicated. In this study, the polyester‐based sensitive films are used to observe the morphology features of the soil sparkover in the plate electrodes. According to the observed images, the spark discharge in the soil can be divided into partial discharge and arc discharge. The change of instantaneous resistance can be explained by the three stages of soil ionisation/deionisation. Moreover, the distinct images of the sparkover around the rod electrode buried horizontally in the grounding pool are obtained by the proposed method. The distribution of discharge points, developing process, and feature of the soil sparkover are analysed.
An integral formula adapted to different boundary conditions for arbitrarily high-dimensional nonlinear Klein-Gordon equations with its applications
Authors: Wu Xinyuan , Liu Changying
Published: January 2016

In this paper, we are concerned with the initial boundary value problem of arbitrarily high-dimensional Klein-Gordon equations, posed on a bounded domain Ω ⊂ ℝd for d ≥ 1 and equipped with the requirement of boundary conditions. We derive and analyze an integral formula which is proved to be adapted to different boundary conditions for general Klein-Gordon equations in arbitrarily high-dimensional spaces. The formula gives a closed-form solution to arbitrarily high-dimensional homogeneous linear Klein-Gordon equations, which is totally different from the well-known D’Alembert, Poisson, and Kirchhoff formulas. Some applications are included as well.
Cold cathode emission studies on topographically modified few layer and single layer MoS2 films
Authors: Gaur Anand P. S. , Sahoo Satyaprakash , Mendoza Frank , Rivera Adriana M. , Kumar Mohit , Dash Saroj P. , Morell Gerardo , Katiyar Ram S.
Published: January 2016

Nanostructured materials, such as carbon nanotubes, are excellent cold cathode emitters. Here, we report comparative field emission (FE) studies on topographically tailored few layer MoS2 films consisting of ⟨0001⟩ plane perpendicular (⊥) to c-axis (i.e., edge terminated vertically aligned) along with planar few layer and monolayer (1L) MoS2 films. FE measurements exhibited lower turn-on field Eto (defined as required applied electric field to emit current density of 10 μA/cm2) ∼4.5 V/μm and higher current density ∼1 mA/cm2, for edge terminated vertically aligned (ETVA) MoS2 films. However, Eto magnitude for planar few layer and 1L MoS2 films increased further to 5.7 and 11 V/μm, respectively, with one order decrease in emission current density. The observed differences in emission behavior, particularly for ETVA MoS2 is attributed to the high value of geometrical field enhancement factor (β), found to be ∼1064, resulting from the large confinement of localized electric field at edge exposed nanograins. Emission behavior of planar few layers and 1L MoS2 films are explained under a two step emission mechanism. Our studies suggest that with further tailoring the microstructure of ultra thin ETVA MoS2 films would result in elegant FE properties.
On the mechanism of pattern formation in glow dielectric barrier discharge
Authors: Qiao Yajun , Li Ben , Ouyang Jiting
Published: January 2016

The formation mechanism of pattern in glow dielectric barrier discharge is investigated by two-dimensional fluid modeling. Experimental results are shown for comparison. The simulation results show that the non-uniform distribution of space charges makes the discharge be enhanced in the high-density region but weakened in its neighborhood, which is considered as an activation-inhibition effect. This effect shows through during a current pulse (one discharge event) but also in a certain period of time after discharge that determines a driving frequency range for the non-uniformity of space charges to be enhanced. The effects of applied voltage, surface charge, electrode boundary, and external field are also discussed. All these factors affect the formation of dielectric-barrier-discharge pattern by changing the distribution or the dynamics of space charges and hence the activation-inhibition effect of non-uniform space charges.
Suppression of stimulated Brillouin instability of a beat-wave of two lasers in multiple-ion-species plasmas
Authors: Yadav Pinki , Gupta D. N. , Avinash K.
Published: January 2016

Stimulated Brillouin instability of a beat-wave of two lasers in plasmas with multiple-ion-species (negative-ions) was studied. The inclusion of negative-ions affects the growth of ion-acoustic wave in Brillouin scattering. Thus, the growth rate of instability is suppressed significantly by the density of negative-ions. To obey the phase-matching condition, the growth rate of the instability attains a maxima for an appropriate scattering angle (angle between the pump and scattered sideband waves). This study would be technologically important to have diagnostics in low-temperature plasmas.
Tunable open-access microcavities for on-chip cavity quantum electrodynamics
Authors: Potts C. A. , Melnyk A. , Ramp H. , Bitarafan M. H. , Vick D. , LeBlanc L. J. , Davis J. P. , DeCorby R. G.
Published: January 2016

We report on the development of on-chip microcavities and show their potential as a platform for cavity quantum electrodynamics experiments. Microcavity arrays were formed by the controlled buckling of SiO2/Ta2O5 Bragg mirrors and exhibit a reflectance-limited finesse of 3500 and mode volumes as small as 35λ3. We show that the cavity resonance can be thermally tuned into alignment with the D2 transition of 87Rb and outline two methods for providing atom access to the cavity. Owing to their small mode volume and high finesse, these cavities exhibit single-atom cooperativities as high as C1=65. A unique feature of the buckled-dome architecture is that the strong-coupling parameter g0/κ is nearly independent of the cavity size. Furthermore, strong coupling should be achievable with only modest improvements in mirror reflectance, suggesting that these monolithic devices could provide a robust and scalable solution to the engineering of light-matter interfaces.
Near-infrared-to-near-infrared down-shifting and upconversion luminescence of KY3F10 with single dopant of Nd3+ ion
Authors: Lin Huihong , Yu Ting , Tsang Ming-Kiu , Bai Gongxun , Zhang Qinyuan , Hao Jianhua
Published: January 2016

We have studied the structural and near-infrared (NIR) luminescent properties of KY3F10 phosphors, singly doped with Nd3+ serving as both sensitizer and activator. With a single laser diode at the wavelength of 808 nm as a pump source, simultaneous NIR-to-NIR upconversion (UC) and down-shifting (DS) emissions are effectively achieved, due to the specific energy levels of Nd3+ dopant and the low phonon energy of the host. The luminescence mechanism related to energy transfer is discussed. The luminescence can be modulated through controlling the population of Nd3+:4F3/2 state in our experiment. Interestingly, both UC and DS emissions of the material fall within the dual biological window, suggesting that the prepared phosphors have potential applications in the bioimaging field.
Guiding, bending, and splitting of coupled defect surface modes in a surface-wave photonic crystal
Authors: Gao Zhen , Gao Fei , Zhang Baile
Published: January 2016

We experimentally demonstrate a type of waveguiding mechanism for coupled surface-wave defect modes in a surface-wave photonic crystal. Unlike conventional spoof surface plasmon waveguides, waveguiding of coupled surface-wave defect modes is achieved through weak coupling between tightly localized defect cavities in an otherwise gapped surface-wave photonic crystal, as a classical wave analogue of tight-binding electronic wavefunctions in solid state lattices. Wave patterns associated with the high transmission of coupled defect surface modes are directly mapped with a near-field microwave scanning probe for various structures including a straight waveguide, a sharp corner, and a T-shaped splitter. These results may find use in the design of integrated surface-wave devices with suppressed crosstalk.
Hydrogen generation via photoelectrochemical water splitting using chemically exfoliated MoS2 layers
Authors: Joshi R. K. , Shukla S. , Saxena S. , Lee G.-H. , Sahajwalla V. , Alwarappan S.
Published: January 2016

Study on hydrogen generation has been of huge interest due to increasing demand for new energy sources. Photoelectrochemical reaction by catalysts was proposed as a promising technique for hydrogen generation. Herein, we report the hydrogen generation via photoelectrochecmial reaction using films of exfoliated 2-dimensional (2D) MoS2, which acts as an efficient photocatalyst. The film of chemically exfoliated MoS2 layers was employed for water splitting, leading to hydrogen generation. The amount of hydrogen was qualitatively monitored by observing overpressure of a water container. The high photo-current generated by MoS2 film resulted in hydrogen evolution. Our work shows that 2D MoS2 is one of the promising candidates as a photocatalyst for light-induced hydrogen generation. High photoelectrocatalytic efficiency of the 2D MoS2 shows a new way toward hydrogen generation, which is one of the renewable energy sources. The efficient photoelectrocatalytic property of the 2D MoS2 is possibly due to availability of catalytically active edge sites together with minimal stacking that favors the electron transfer.
Protective capping and surface passivation of III-V nanowires by atomic layer deposition
Authors: Dhaka Veer , Perros Alexander , Naureen Shagufta , Shahid Naeem , Jiang Hua , Kakko Joona-Pekko , Haggren Tuomas , Kauppinen Esko , Srinivasan Anand , Lipsanen Harri
Published: January 2016

Low temperature (∼200 °C) grown atomic layer deposition (ALD) films of AlN, TiN, Al2O3, GaN, and TiO2 were tested for protective capping and surface passivation of bottom-up grown III-V (GaAs and InP) nanowires (NWs), and top-down fabricated InP nanopillars. For as-grown GaAs NWs, only the AlN material passivated the GaAs surface as measured by photoluminescence (PL) at low temperatures (15K), and the best passivation was achieved with a few monolayer thick (2Å) film. For InP NWs, the best passivation (∼2x enhancement in room-temperature PL) was achieved with a capping of 2nm thick Al2O3. All other ALD capping layers resulted in a de-passivation effect and possible damage to the InP surface. Top-down fabricated InP nanopillars show similar passivation effects as InP NWs. In particular, capping with a 2 nm thick Al2O3 layer increased the carrier decay time from 251 ps (as-etched nanopillars) to about 525 ps. Tests after six months ageing reveal that the capped nanostructures retain their optical properties. Overall, capping of GaAs and InP NWs with high-k dielectrics AlN and Al2O3 provides moderate surface passivation as well as long term protection from oxidation and environmental attack.
Brain size predicts problem-solving ability in mammalian carnivores
Authors: Benson-Amram Sarah , Dantzer Ben , Stricker Gregory , Swanson Eli M. , Holekamp Kay E.
Published: January 2016

Significance

Intelligence presents evolutionary biology with one of its greatest challenges. It has long been thought that species with relatively large brains for their body size are more intelligent. However, despite decades of research, the idea that brain size predicts cognitive abilities remains highly controversial; little experimental support exists for a relationship between brain size and the ability to solve novel problems. We presented 140 zoo-housed members of 39 mammalian carnivore species with a novel problem-solving task and found that the species’ relative brain sizes predicted problem-solving success. Our results provide important support for the claim that brain size reflects an animal’s problem-solving abilities and enhance our understanding of why larger brains evolved in some species.
Ocean-wide tracking of pelagic sharks reveals extent of overlap with longline fishing hotspots
Authors: Queiroz Nuno , Humphries Nicolas E. , Mucientes Gonzalo , Hammerschlag Neil , Lima Fernando P. , Scales Kylie L. , Miller Peter I. , Sousa Lara L. , Seabra Rui , Sims David W.
Published: January 2016

Significance

Shark populations are declining worldwide because of overexploitation by fisheries with unknown consequences for ecosystems. Although the harvest of oceanic sharks remains largely unregulated, knowing precisely where they interact with fishing vessels will better aid their conservation. We satellite track six species of shark and two entire longline fishing vessel fleets across the North Atlantic over multiple years. Sharks actively select and aggregate in space-use “hotspots” characterized by thermal fronts and high productivity. However, longline fishing vessels also target these habitats and efficiently track shark movements seasonally, leading to an 80% spatial overlap. Areas of highest overlap between sharks and fishing vessels show persistence between years, suggesting current hotspots are at risk, and arguing for introduction of international catch limits.
Genomic reconstruction of the history of extant populations of India reveals five distinct ancestral components and a complex structure
Authors: Basu Analabha , Sarkar-Roy Neeta , Majumder Partha P.
Published: January 2016

Significance

India, harboring more than one-sixth of the world population, has been underrepresented in genome-wide studies of variation. Our analysis reveals that there are four dominant ancestries in mainland populations of India, contrary to two ancestries inferred earlier. We also show that (i) there is a distinctive ancestry of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands populations that is likely ancestral also to Oceanic populations, and (ii) the extant mainland populations admixed widely irrespective of ancestry, which was rapidly replaced by endogamy, particularly among Indo-European–speaking upper castes, about 70 generations ago. This coincides with the historical period of formulation and adoption of some relevant sociocultural norms.
Revisiting the contemporary sea-level budget on global and regional scales
Authors: Rietbroek Roelof , Brunnabend Sandra-Esther , Kusche Jürgen , Schröter Jens , Dahle Christoph
Published: January 2016

Significance

Understanding sea-level change is of paramount importance because it reflects climate-related factors, such as the ocean heat budget, mass changes in the cryosphere, and natural ocean/atmosphere variations. Furthermore, sea-level rise directly affects coastal areas, which has ramifications for its population and economy. From a novel combination of Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment and radar altimetry data we find over the last 12 y: (i) a larger global steric sea-level rise as previously reported, (ii) a mass contribution to global sea level consistent with mass loss estimates from the world’s ice sheets, glaciers, and hydrological sources, and (iii) regionally resolved sea-level budget components which differ significantly from that of the global sea-level budget.
Calcium can mobilize and activate myosin-VI
Authors: Batters Christopher , Brack Dario , Ellrich Heike , Averbeck Beate , Veigel Claudia
Published: January 2016

Significance

The timing of motor protein activation is central to a broad range of cellular motile processes including endocytosis, cell division, and cancer cell migration. The cytoskeletal motor myosin-VI is involved in these processes and is the only myosin in the human genome shown to move toward the minus end of actin filaments. Using electron microscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and motility assays, we demonstrate that calcium is the cellular switch that directs the rearrangement of the motor from a dormant, inactive state at low calcium to a cargo-binding nonmotile state at high calcium. The return to low calcium generates either cargo-bound active motors that translocate to the center of the cell or refolded inactive motors ready for the next cellular calcium flux.
A structured interdomain linker directs self-polymerization of human uromodulin
Authors: Bokhove Marcel , Nishimura Kaoru , Brunati Martina , Han Ling , de Sanctis Daniele , Rampoldi Luca , Jovine Luca
Published: January 2016

Significance

Urinary tract infection is the most common nonepidemic bacterial infection in humans, with 150 million cases per year and a global health care cost above $6 billion. Because the urinary tract is not protected by mucus, mammals produce a molecular net that captures pathogenic bacteria in the urine and clears them from the body. By visualizing the 3D structure of its building block, glycoprotein uromodulin, we provide insights into how the net is built, and how it is compromised by mutations in patients with kidney diseases. Our work also explains nonsyndromic deafness due to mutations affecting the tectorial membrane, a similar filamentous structure in the human inner ear.
Structural basis of collagen recognition by human osteoclast-associated receptor and design of osteoclastogenesis inhibitors
Authors: Haywood Joel , Qi Jianxun , Chen Chun-Chi , Lu Guangwen , Liu Yingxia , Yan Jinghua , Shi Yi , Gao George F.
Published: January 2016

Significance

Human osteoclast-associated receptor (OSCAR) is an immunoglobulin (Ig)-like receptor that associates with the ITAM (immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif) receptor FcRγ (Fc receptor γ) to propagate an activating signal in osteoclasts, endothelial cells, and a variety of myeloid cells. The recent finding that OSCAR can bind to collagen and to surfactant protein D, which contains a collagen-like domain, presents a potentially wide array of situations in which this interaction could be targeted to alter an aberrant immune response. The structure of OSCAR bound to a collagen-like peptide describes the molecular basis of collagen recognition for a leukocyte receptor complex protein and provides a promising strategy for the development of future therapeutics aimed specifically at modulating collagen and the interactions of collagenous proteins.
Molecular requirements for a pandemic influenza virus: An acid-stable hemagglutinin protein
Authors: Russier Marion , Yang Guohua , Rehg Jerold E. , Wong Sook-San , Mostafa Heba H. , Fabrizio Thomas P. , Barman Subrata , Krauss Scott , Webster Robert G. , Webby Richard J. , Russell Charles J.
Published: January 2016

Significance

Influenza pandemics occur several times per century, causing millions of deaths. For one of the myriad of zoonotic influenza viruses to do so, a virus containing a hemagglutinin (HA) surface antigen previously unseen by most humans must evolve the necessary, albeit largely unknown, properties for sustained respiratory spread between people. During entry, the prototypic viral fusion protein HA binds receptors and is triggered irreversibly by low pH in endosomes to cause membrane fusion. These studies link a fundamental property, activation energy of a fusion protein measured as its pH of activation (acid stability), to the ability of zoonotic influenza viruses to cause a human pandemic. Monitoring HA stability is expected to enhance prepandemic surveillance and control of emerging influenza viruses.
Obeticholic acid, a synthetic bile acid agonist of the farnesoid X receptor, attenuates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
Authors: Ho Peggy P. , Steinman Lawrence
Published: January 2016

Significance

Bile acids bind to the nuclear hormone receptor, farnesoid X receptor (FXR). This bile acid–FXR interaction regulates bile acid synthesis, transport, and cholesterol metabolism. Recently, drugs targeting FXR activation have been reported to treat both liver and intestinal inflammatory diseases in both animal models and human clinical trials. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system and serves as an animal model for multiple sclerosis (MS). In this study, we found that FXR knockout mice had more severe EAE, and treatment of mice with established EAE with a synthetic FXR agonist, obeticholic acid (6α-ethyl-chenodeoxycholic acid, 6-ECDCA), reduced EAE severity. Thus, we provide an FXR target for development of a previously unidentified disease-modifying therapy for MS.
Peroxisomes move by hitchhiking on early endosomes using the novel linker protein PxdA
Authors: Salogiannis John , Egan Martin J. , Reck-Peterson Samara L.
Published: January 2016

Eukaryotic cells use microtubule-based intracellular transport for the delivery of many subcellular cargos, including organelles. The canonical view of organelle transport is that organelles directly recruit molecular motors via cargo-specific adaptors. In contrast with this view, we show here that peroxisomes move by hitchhiking on early endosomes, an organelle that directly recruits the transport machinery. Using the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans we found that hitchhiking is mediated by a novel endosome-associated linker protein, PxdA. PxdA is required for normal distribution and long-range movement of peroxisomes, but not early endosomes or nuclei. Using simultaneous time-lapse imaging, we find that early endosome-associated PxdA localizes to the leading edge of moving peroxisomes. We identify a coiled-coil region within PxdA that is necessary and sufficient for early endosome localization and peroxisome distribution and motility. These results present a new mechanism of microtubule-based organelle transport in which peroxisomes hitchhike on early endosomes and identify PxdA as the novel linker protein required for this coupling.
TOPBP1 takes RADical command in recombinational DNA repair
Authors: Liu Yi , Smolka Marcus B.
Published: January 2016

TOPBP1 is a key player in DNA replication and DNA damage signaling. In this issue, Moudry et al. (2016. J. Cell Biol. http://dx.doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201507042) uncover a crucial role for TOPBP1 in DNA repair by revealing its requirement for RAD51 loading during repair of double strand breaks by homologous recombination.
An Atypical Presentation of Adult‐Onset Still's Disease Complicated by Pulmonary Hypertension and Macrophage Activation Syndrome Treated with Immunosuppression: A Case‐based Review of the Literature
Authors: Mehta Mili V. , Manson Daniel K. , Horn Evelyn M. , Haythe Jennifer
Published: January 2016

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a known complication of rheumatologic diseases, but it is only rarely associated with adult‐onset Still's disease (AOSD). We describe the case of a 30‐year‐old woman who presented in a pulmonary hypertension crisis and was found to have underlying AOSD with PAH and nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) with a course complicated by macrophage activation syndrome (MAS). She dramatically improved with steroids, cyclosporine A, and anakinra, with total resolution of the MAS and significant improvement of her pulmonary arterial pressures. While there are only select case reports of AOSD associated with PAH, this is the first reported case of (1) AOSD complicated by both PAH and MAS and (2) AOSD complicated by biopsy‐proven NSIP. Clinically, this case highlights the efficacy of immunosuppressive agents in the treatment of PAH and MAS from underlying AOSD and supports their use in this setting.
Social value of high bandwidth networks: creative performance and education
Authors: Mansell Robin , Foresta Don
Published: January 2016

This paper considers limitations of existing network technologies for distributed theatrical performance in the creative arts and for symmetrical real-time interaction in online learning environments. It examines the experience of a multidisciplinary research consortium that aimed to introduce a solution to latency and other network problems experienced by users in these sectors. The solution builds on the Multicast protocol, Access Grid, an environment supported by very high bandwidth networks. The solution is intended to offer high-quality image and sound, interaction with other network platforms, maximum user control of multipoint transmissions, and open programming tools that are flexible and modifiable for specific uses. A case study is presented drawing upon an extended period of participant observation by the authors. This provides a basis for an examination of the challenges of promoting technological innovation in a multidisciplinary project. We highlight the kinds of technical advances and cultural and organizational changes that would be required to meet demanding quality standards, the way a research consortium planned to engage in experimentation and learning, and factors making it difficult to achieve an open platform that is responsive to the needs of users in the creative arts and education sectors.
Social power and leadership in cross-cultural context
Authors: Mittal Rakesh , Elias Steven M.
Published: January 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine how the exercise of power by leaders is impacted by cultural factors. The authors present a conceptual framework to examine the interaction of various cultural dimensions with harsh and soft power bases, thereby delineating the cross-cultural appropriateness of various power bases that may be tapped by organizational leaders.

Design/methodology/approach

– Compatibility of each cultural dimension with harsh of soft power bases is conceptually examined, in the context of Raven’s power interaction model of interpersonal influence.

Findings

– Soft power bases are more likely to be activated by managers in cultures that are collectivist, loose, long-term oriented, but low on power distance and uncertainty avoidance. Harsh power bases are expected to be chosen for influencing subordinates in cultures that are tight, short-term oriented, and high in power distance.

Research limitations/implications

– This is only an initial attempt to look at the exercise of social power in the context of societal culture. The framework can be extrapolated to a more fine-grained examination of the phenomenon.

Practical implication

– The conceptualization has potential implications for developing training programs aimed at improving managers’ cross-cultural competencies.

Originality/value

– Using a cross-cultural lens to examine how a leader exercises power contributes to a holistic view of power and culture. A cross-cultural extension of the power/interaction model, as suggested by the authors, adds value to the field of management development thinking and practice.
Research Note: The mean sensitivity depth of the electrical resistivity method
Authors: Butler S.L.
Published: January 2016

Until now, a simple formula to estimate the depth of investigation of the electrical resistivity method that takes into account the positions of all of the electrodes for a general four‐electrode array has not been available. While the depth sensitivity function of the method for a homogeneous infinite half‐space is well known, previous attempts to use it to characterize the depth of investigation have involved calculating its peak and median, both of which must be determined numerically for a general four‐electrode array. I will show that the mean of the sensitivity function, which has not been considered previously, does admit a very simple mathematical formula. I compare the mean depth with the median and peak sensitivity depths for some common arrays. The mean is always greater than or equal to the median that is always greater than the peak. All three measures give reasonable estimates to the depths of actual structures for most circumstances. I will further show that, for 1D soundings, the use of the mean sensitivity depth as the pseudo‐depth assigns an apparent resistivity to a given pseudo‐depth that is consistent between different arrays. One consequence of this is that smoother depth soundings are obtained as “clutches,” caused by a change in the depth sensitivity due to moving the potential electrodes, are effectively removed. I expect that the mean depth formula will be a useful “rule of thumb” for estimating the depth of investigation before the resistivity structure of the ground is known.
Oxytocin inhibits ethanol consumption and ethanol‐induced dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens
Authors: Peters Sebastian T. , Bowen Michael T. , Bohrer Kathrin , McGregor Iain S. , Neumann Inga D.
Published: January 2016

Alcohol (EtOH) is one of the most widely abused recreational drugs and is arguably the most harmful. However, current treatment options for alcohol‐use disorders generally have limited efficacy and poor uptake in the community. In this context, the neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) has emerged as a promising potential treatment option for a number of substance‐use disorders, including alcoholism. The utility of OXT in reducing consumption of and craving for a wide range of substances may lie in its ability to modulate drug‐induced neurochemical effects within the mesolimbic dopamine pathway. However, the impact of OXT on EtOH actions in this pathway has yet to be explored. Here, we reveal that an acute intracerebroventricular (icv) infusion of OXT (1 µg/5 µl) attenuated voluntary EtOH (20 percent) self‐administration after chronic intermittent access to EtOH for 59 days (28 drinking sessions) in male Wistar rats. Next, we demonstrated that an acute intraperitoneal (ip) injection of EtOH (1.5 g/kg, 15 percent w/v) increased dopamine release within the nucleus accumbens in both EtOH‐naive rats and rats that had received 10 daily ip injections of EtOH. Icv OXT completely blocked the EtOH‐induced dopamine release in both EtOH‐naive and chronically treated rats. The attenuation of EtOH‐induced dopamine release by OXT may help to explain the reduced EtOH self‐administration observed following icv OXT infusion.
New perspectives on mTOR inhibitors (rapamycin, rapalogs and TORKinibs) in transplantation
Authors: Waldner Matthias , Fantus Daniel , Solari Mario , Thomson Angus W.
Published: January 2016

The macrolide rapamycin and its analogues (rapalogs) constitute the first generation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors. Since the introduction of rapamycin as an immunosuppressant, there has been extensive progress in understanding its complex mechanisms of action. New insights into the function of mTOR in different immune cell types, vascular endothelial cells and neoplastic cells have opened new opportunities and challenges regarding mTOR as a pharmacological target. Currently, the two known mTOR complexes, mTOR complex (mTORC) 1 and mTORC2, are the subject of intense investigation, and the introduction of second‐generation dual mTORC kinase inhibitors (TORKinibs) and gene knockout mice is helping to uncover the distinct roles of these complexes in different cell types. While the pharmacological profiling of rapalogs is advanced, much less is known about the properties of TORKinibs. A potential benefit of mTOR inhibition in transplantation is improved protection against transplant‐associated viral infections compared with standard calcineurin inhibitor‐based immunosuppression. Preclinical and clinical data also underscore the potentially favourable antitumour effects of mTOR inhibitors in regard to transplant‐associated malignancies and as a novel treatment option for various other cancers. Many aspects of the mechanisms of action of mTOR inhibitors and their clinical implications remain unknown. In this brief review we discuss new findings and perspectives of mTOR inhibitors in transplantation.
Enhancing The Development Of Competencies: the role of UBC
Authors: Quintana Carmen Delia Dávila , Mora José‐Ginés , Pérez Pedro J. , Vila Luis E.
Published: January 2016

This article aims at clarifying whether and how University Business Cooperation (UBC) can be expanded from knowledge transfer to the core field of education. Higher education institutions exert a decisive influence by teaching students to understand academic theories, methods and areas of knowledge, contributing to their cultural enrichment and development of personality, and preparing them for further work and other spheres of life. Higher education aims at establishing the basis of relevant knowledge that will help students to understand and acquire the competencies they will need in their professional lives. Universities supply graduates to the economy and that includes developing the right set of skills to acceptable levels. Consequently, an explicit goal of UBC should be to point out what those skills should be and how to target education at developing them. The competencies acquired by the flow of new graduates emerging each year from higher education institutions in the labour market is an expression of the multidimensional output obtained from the resources allocated to the higher education system. New ways for UBC are called to play a prominent role in defining both a model of teaching and learning that is better adjusted to social and economic demands and a dynamic and flexible system of continuing education to retrain people as social and economic conditions evolve. Nevertheless, the implementation of reforms in higher education calls for a deeper understanding of possible trade‐offs between the diverse types of resources involved and the outcomes obtained. Resources should be examined in terms of their relative costs and the results interpreted with regard to their value to individuals and society.
Climate change‐related regime shifts have altered spatial synchrony of plankton dynamics in the North Sea
Authors: Defriez Emma J. , Sheppard Lawrence W. , Reid Philip C. , Reuman Daniel C.
Published: January 2016

During the 1980s, the North Sea plankton community underwent a well‐documented ecosystem regime shift, including both spatial changes (northward species range shifts) and temporal changes (increases in the total abundances of warmer water species). This regime shift has been attributed to climate change. Plankton provide a link between climate and higher trophic‐level organisms, which can forage on large spatial and temporal scales. It is therefore important to understand not only whether climate change affects purely spatial or temporal aspects of plankton dynamics, but also whether it affects spatiotemporal aspects such as metapopulation synchrony. If plankton synchrony is altered, higher trophic‐level feeding patterns may be modified. A second motivation for investigating changes in synchrony is that the possibility of such alterations has been examined for few organisms, in spite of the fact that synchrony is ubiquitous and of major importance in ecology. This study uses correlation coefficients and spectral analysis to investigate whether synchrony changed between the periods 1959–1980 and 1989–2010. Twenty‐three plankton taxa, sea surface temperature (SST), and wind speed were examined. Results revealed that synchrony in SST and plankton was altered. Changes were idiosyncratic, and were not explained by changes in abundance. Changes in the synchrony of Calanus helgolandicus and Para‐pseudocalanus spp appeared to be driven by changes in SST synchrony. This study is one of few to document alterations of synchrony and climate‐change impacts on synchrony. We discuss why climate‐change impacts on synchrony may well be more common and consequential than previously recognized.
Are periodontal diseases really silent? A systematic review of their effect on quality of life
Authors: Buset Sabrina Lill , Walter Clemens , Friedmann Anton , Weiger Roland , Borgnakke Wenche S. , Zitzmann Nicola U.
Published: January 2016

Aim

Periodontal diseases (PDs) may play an important role in the effect oral health status has on a person's quality of life (QoL). The objective was to investigate the influence of PDs (gingivitis and periodontitis) on oral health‐related QoL (OHRQoL) by systematically reviewing the literature.

Materials and Methods

Studies using clinical periodontal examinations and validated survey instruments were included. Among 1134 citations initially identified through electronic and hand searching, 37 were eligible and data were extracted from full texts. A vote counting method was used for synthesis of the results.

Results

Included studies were published between 2001 and 2014 and revealed considerable heterogeneity in participant selection, clinical assessments, and OHRQoL measures. A significant association between PDs and OHRQoL was reported in 28 studies, of which eight reported increasing impact with greater disease severity or extent.

Conclusions

Within the limits of the available literature, OHRQoL was affected by clinically assessed PDs. There was evidence for increased impairment with greater severity and extent of PDs, and the recognition of the association was increased when full mouth recording protocols were applied.
Signaling mechanism underlying the histamine‐modulated action of hypoglossal motoneurons
Authors: Liu Zi‐Long , Wu Xu , Luo Yan‐Jia , Wang Lu , Qu Wei‐Min , Li Shan‐Qun , Huang Zhi‐Li
Published: January 2016

Histamine, an important modulator of the arousal states of the central nervous system, has been reported to contribute an excitatory drive at the hypoglossal motor nucleus to the genioglossus (GG) muscle, which is involved in the pathogenesis of obstructive sleep apnea. However, the effect of histamine on hypoglossal motoneurons (HMNs) and the underlying signaling mechanisms have remained elusive. Here, whole‐cell patch‐clamp recordings were conducted using neonatal rat brain sections, which showed that histamine excited HMNs with an inward current under voltage‐clamp and a depolarization membrane potential under current‐clamp via histamine H1 receptors (H1Rs). The phospholipase C inhibitor U‐73122 blocked H1Rs‐mediated excitatory effects, but protein kinase A inhibitor and protein kinase C inhibitor did not, indicating that the signal transduction cascades underlying the excitatory action of histamine on HMNs were H1R/Gq/11/phospholipase C/inositol‐1,4,5‐trisphosphate (IP3). The effects of histamine were also dependent on extracellular Na+ and intracellular Ca2+, which took place via activation of Na+‐Ca2+ exchangers. These results identify the signaling molecules associated with the regulatory effect of histamine on HMNs. The findings of this study may provide new insights into therapeutic approaches in obstructive sleep apnea.

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We proposed the post‐synaptic mechanisms underlying the modulation effect of histamine on hypoglossal motoneuron. Histamine activates the H1Rs via PLC and IP3, increases Ca2+ releases from intracellular stores, promotes Na+ influx and Ca2+ efflux via the NCXs, and then produces an inward current and depolarizes the neurons. Histamine modulates the excitability of HMNs with other neuromodulators, such as noradrenaline, serotonin and orexin. We think that these findings should provide an important new direction for drug development for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.