bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular identification and expression patterns of odorant binding protein and chemosensory protein genes inAthetis lepigone(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
Authors: Zhang Ya-Nan , Zhu Xiu-Yun , Ma Ji-Fang , Dong Zhi-Ping , Xu Ji-Wei , Kang Ke , Zhang Long-Wa
Published: March 2017

The olfaction system of insects plays an important role in mediating various physiological behaviors, including locating hosts, avoiding predators, and recognizing mates and oviposition sites. Therefore, some key genes in the system present valuable opportunities as targets for developing novel green pesticides.Athetis lepigone, a noctuid moth can feed on more than 30 different host plants making it a serious polyphagous pest worldwide, and it has become one of the major maize pests in northern China since 2011. However, there are no reports on effective and environmentally friendly pesticides for the control of this pest. In this study, we identified 28 genes encoding putative odorant binding proteins (OBPs) and 20 chemosensory protein (CSPs) genes based on our previousA. lepigonetranscriptomic data. A tissue expression investigation and phylogenetic analysis were conducted in an effort to postulate the functions of these genes. Our results show that nearly half (46.4%) of theAlOBPsexhibited antennae-biased expression while many of theAlCSPswere highly abundant in non-antennal tissues. These results will aid in exploring the chemosensory mechanisms ofA. lepigoneand developing environmentally friendly pesticides against this pest in the future.
Das Spliceosom als Angriffspunkt für Pharmaka
Authors: León Brian , Kashyap Manoj K. , Chan Warren C. , Krug Kelsey A. , Castro Januario E. , La Clair James J. , Burkart Michael D.
Published: March 2017

Seit seiner Entdeckung im Jahr 1977 hat die Untersuchung des alternativen RNA‐Spleißens eine Vielzahl von Mechanismen zutage gefördert, die zuvor aus der Natur noch unbekannt waren. Die Erklärung dieser Umwandlungen und ihrer Resultate auf Ebene von Zellen und Organismen hat sich zu einer wichtigen Stoßrichtung der modernen chemischen Biologie entwickelt. Bis 2007 arbeiteten ausschließlich RNA‐Biologen an diesem Thema. Durch die vor kurzem erfolgte Identifizierung von Naturstoffen und synthetischen Modulatoren des RNA‐Spleißens sind aber auch chemische Untersuchungen des RNA‐Spleißens möglich geworden. Gleichzeitig wurde die Bedeutung des Spleißens bei Erkrankungen erkannt, was eine neue Therapieplattform erschließt. Wie bei vielen natürlichen Systemen ist die Kenntnis mechanistischer Details auf molekularer Ebene der Schlüssel für das Verständnis der Funktion einer biologischen Maschine. Dieser Kurzaufsatz stellt aktuelle Erkenntnisse und Schlussfolgerungen zur Chemie und Biochemie des RNA‐Spleißens vor.
Enhancement of mechanical and optical performance of commercial polystyrenes by blending with siloxane‐based copolymers
Authors: Ninago Mario Daniel , Hanazumi Vivina , Passaretti María Gabriela , Vega Daniel Alberto , Ciolino Andrés Eduardo , Villar Marcelo Armando
Published: March 2017

Well‐defined poly(styrene‐block‐dimethylsiloxane) copolymers (PS‐b‐PDMS) with low polydispersity index (Mw/Mn) and different compositions were synthesized by sequential anionic polymerization of styrene (S) and hexamethyl(ciclotrisiloxane) (D3) monomers. Synthesized PS‐b‐PDMS copolymers were characterized by 1H‐nuclear magnetic resonance, size exclusion chromatography, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The physicochemical characterization determined that block copolymers have molar mass values close to ∼135,000 g mol−1, narrow Mw/Mn < 1.3, and chemical composition ranging from low to intermediate PDMS content. Blends of these copolymers with a commercial polystyrene (PS) were obtained by melt mixing and subsequently injection. Films obtained were flexible, and showed lower transparency than the original PS matrix. On the other hand, a 10 wt % incorporation of PS‐b‐PDMS copolymers leads to better mechanical performance by enhancing elongation at break (∼8.8 times higher) and opacity values (∼18 times higher). In addition, UV–Vis barrier capacity of the resulting blends is also increased (up to 400% higher). © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 45122.
“Side‐Product Catalysis”: Substrate Autoxidation as an Overlooked Side Reaction Generating a Co‐Catalyst for Enhancing Asymmetric Aldol Reactions
Authors: Heidlindemann Marcel , Berkessel Albrecht , Gröger Harald
Published: March 2017

An acid formed autoxidatively from an aldehyde substrate as a side product was found to alter the reaction kinetics and selectivity significantly in the direct asymmetric aldol reaction between an aldehyde and acetone, both in aqueous media and cyclohexane. Furthermore, this side‐product catalysis (“impurity catalysis”) was also observed upon using commercial samples of aldehydes without purification prior to their use (owing to the presence of the acid formed therein during storage), which thus underlines the impact of substrate purity on the reaction course of the catalytic process.
Self‐Assembly Approach for Synthesis of Nanotubular Molybdenum Trioxide/Titania Composite Anode for Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Qi Dongmei , Zhang Yiming , Jia Dongling , Huang Jianguo
Published: March 2017

A nanotubular composite composed of titania nanotubes coated with a thin layer of molybdenum trioxide was fabricated by employing natural cellulose (ordinary filter paper) as a template. The cellulose nanofibers were precoated with an ultrathin titania gel film by the surface sol–gel process. These nanofibers were then further coated with double layers of a positively charged poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) layer and a negatively charged polyoxomolybdate cluster layer deposited by the layer‐by‐layer self‐assembly approach. The as‐prepared composite was calcined in air to yield a series of MoO3/TiO2 nanocomposites with varied contents of MoO3. As an anode material for lithium‐ion batteries, the composite showed improved electrochemical performances, such as excellent reversible capacity, cycling stability, and rate capability; these benefited from the hierarchical three‐dimensional nanostructures of the composites derived from the cellulose substance, and the buffering effect of the robust titania nanotubes to maintain the structural integrity of the electrode.
The case for evidence‐based policy to support stress‐resilient cropping systems
Authors: Gilliham Matthew , Chapman Scott , Martin Lisa , Jose Sarah , Bastow Ruth
Published: March 2017

Research and the dissemination of evidence‐based guidelines for best practice in crop production are fundamental for the protection of our crop yields against biotic and abiotic threats, and for meeting ambitious food production targets by 2050. The advances in knowledge required for sustaining crop productivity targets will be gained through three research tracks: (1) basic strategic research in the field, for example, crop breeding, agronomy, and advanced phenotyping; (2) translational research involving the application of advances in fundamental science; and (3) pure fundamental research to fuel future translational research. We propose that policy and funding structures need to be improved to facilitate and encourage more interactions between scientists involved in all three research tracks, and also between researchers and farmers, to improve the effectiveness of delivering improvements in crop stress resilience. History illustrates that it is challenging for public researchers to “stretch across” all of these research tracks, with effective farm‐level solutions being more likely when end‐users and industry are directly engaged in the research pipeline. As research proceeds from fundamental through to applied research, the demand for experimental rigor and a wider understanding of appropriate methods and outcomes is paramount, that is, demonstrating value in yield at the field level requires the input of experienced practitioners from each research track. The development of evidence‐based policies to support all funding structures and the engagement of producers with both the development of research, and with the findings of such research, will form an important capability in meeting food security targets. This commentary, concentrating on the development of policies to support research and its dissemination, is based on discussions held at the Stress Resilience Symposium organized by the Global Plant Council and Society of Experimental Biology in October 2015.
The epithelial barrier and beyond: Claudins as amplifiers of physiological organ functions
Authors: Markov Alexander G. , Aschenbach Jörg R. , Amasheh Salah
Published: March 2017

Epithelial cell layers are interconnected by a meshwork of tight junction (TJ) protein strands, which are localized within apicolateral membranes. The proteins that form TJs are regarded to provide a static barrier, determining epithelial properties. However, recent findings in the field of barriology suggest that TJs contribute to more physiological aspects than indicated by the sum of the qualities of the single TJ proteins. Generally, TJs exhibit four major functions: (i) a “gate function,” defining transepithelial permeability (i.e., barrier) properties, (ii) a “fence function” determining epithelial cell polarity, (iii) a “signaling function,” affecting regulatory pathways, and (iv) a “stabilizing function,” maintaining the integrity of the epithelium. This review presents a critical view on how the efficacy of physiological processes in epithelia and thus organ function might be improved by changes in the expression of claudins, the latter representing the largest and most variable family of TJ proteins. Major focus is set on (i) the coordinated regulation of transport and barrier in the intestine, (ii) the role of TJs in defining the route for antigen uptake and presentation in intestinal Peyer's patches, and (iii) the TJ function in mammary glands in response to milk accumulation, which represent impressive examples to highlight the amplification of epithelial functions by TJ proteins. © 2017 IUBMB Life, 69(5):290–296, 2017
Nature of the Ru−NO Coordination Bond: Kohn–Sham Molecular Orbital and Energy Decomposition Analysis
Authors: Orenha Renato P. , Rocha Marcus V. J. , Poater Jordi , Galembeck Sérgio E. , Bickelhaupt F. Matthias
Published: March 2017

We have analyzed structure, stability, and Ru−NO bonding of thetrans‐[RuCl(NO)(NH3)4]2+complex by using relativistic density functional theory. First, we focus on the bond dissociation energies associated with the three canonical dissociation modes leading to [RuCl(NH3)4]++NO+, [RuCl(NH3)4]2++NO, and [RuCl(NH3)4]3++NO−. The main objective is to understand the Ru−NO+bonding mechanism in the conceptual framework of Kohn–Sham molecular orbital theory in combination with a quantitative energy decomposition analysis. In our analyses, we have addressed the importance of the synergism between Ru−NO+σ‐donation and π‐backdonation as well as the so‐called negativetransinfluence of the Cl−ligand on the Ru−NO bond. For completeness, the Ru−NO+bonding mechanism is compared with that of the corresponding Ru−CO bond.
Expatriate as a ‘Good’ Migrant: Thinking Through Skilled International Migrant Categories
Authors: Cranston Sophie
Published: March 2017

In this paper, I explore how British migrants in Singapore utilise the term ‘expatriate’ to denote themselves as being a different kind of migrant. The way in which a migrant is distinguished from an expatriate is the question of return – the migrant is expected to stay, while an expatriate is expected to return to their home country. Yet the term ‘expatriate’ often becomes one that is axiomatically applied to Western migrants living abroad. This paper argues that we should not see the term ‘expatriate’ as axiomatic in describing this type of mobility, as we need to pay attention to the political context in which the term is enmeshed. The paper therefore argues that we need to understand how expatriation is not only understood as an identity in relation to the place of stay abroad, but also in comparison to migration as a whole. To do this, the paper looks first at how British migrants in Singapore draw upon racialised understandings of immigration debates to portray expatriates as being ‘good’ migrants. Second, it considers how the term expatriate is deployed in social sciences literature itself. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Behaviour of verification measures for deterministic binary forecasts with respect to random changes and thresholding
Authors: Manzato Agostino , Jolliffe Ian
Published: March 2017

There are many possible verification measures when deterministic binary forecasts are made. In deciding which to use, various properties of the measures are of interest. One type of property explores what happens when certain types of change are made to the forecasts. In this article, two types of change and their effects on various verification measures are examined. Underlying some desirable properties of measures, such as propriety, equitability and consistency, is the desire that it should be impossible to improve the value, or expected value, of a measure by changing the original forecast from the forecaster's ‘true belief’. This behaviour is often called ‘hedging’. Among the types of change that ought not to lead to improved forecasts are random changes of subsets of the true binary forecasts. The effect of such changes is discussed here.

A second type of change examined here arises when a continuous forecast is thresholded to produce the binary forecast. When this type of ‘thresholding’ is practiced a posteriori, it can be seen as a fine‐tuning of the forecasting system, in order to improve its verification performance. In the thresholding framework, one can optimize some verification performance measures with respect to others. In particular, this article discusses the optimization of bias and of the Peirce skill score.
Influence of flanges on the shear‐carrying capacity of reinforced concrete beams without web reinforcement
Authors: Ribas González Carlos Rodrigo , Fernández Ruiz Miguel
Published: March 2017

T‐beams are acknowledged as economic and efficient structural members widely used for floor slab construction systems. In many cases, according to practice in some countries, the beams do not present transverse reinforcement, and their shear strength is governing for dimensioning the width of the web. Although experimental investigations have shown that the presence of the compression flange enhances the shear capacity with respect to equivalent rectangular cross sections, most current design codes neglect this phenomenon, which leads to the overdesign of these members. In this paper, the role of the compression flange of slender T‐beams with concentrated loads is investigated with reference to its influence on the shape of the critical shear crack and to the associated shear transfer actions (STA) of the beam. The flanges are considered elements that allow the smearing of applied loads over a certain length of the web. This consideration, in combination with the mechanical model of the Critical Shear Crack Theory (CSCT), allows a consistent treatment of the phenomenon and leads to simple design expressions accounting for the role of flanges. The results of the proposed model are compared together with design codes (Model Code 2010, Eurocode 2, and ACI 318‐11) and other shear design approaches to a database of 239 beams on T‐shaped members. The comparison shows that the role of flanges is finely accounted with the proposal based on the CSCT, leading to consistent agreement and to strength predictions that are more suitable for design purposes than the other investigated design models.
Heightened Pelvic Floor Muscle Tone and Altered Contractility in Women with Provoked Vestibulodynia
Authors: Morin Mélanie , Binik Yitzchak M. , Bourbonnais Daniel , Khalifé Samir , Ouellet Stéphane , Bergeron Sophie
Published: March 2017

Background

Pelvic floor muscle (PFM) dysfunctions are reported to be involved in provoked vestibulodynia (PVD). Although heightened PFM tone has been suggested, the relative contribution of active and passive components of tone remains misunderstood. Likewise, alterations in PFM contractility have been scarcely studied.

Aims

To compare PFM tone, including the relative contribution of its active and passive components, and muscular contractility in women with PVD and asymptomatic controls.

Methods

Fifty-six asymptomatic women and 56 women with PVD participated in the study. The PVD diagnosis was confirmed by a gynecologist based on a standardized examination.

Outcomes

PFM function was evaluated using a dynamometric speculum combined with surface electromyography (EMG). PFM general tone was evaluated in static conditions at different vaginal apertures and during repeated dynamic cyclic stretching. The active contribution of tone was characterized using the ratio between EMG in a static position and during stretching and the proportion of women presenting PFM activation during stretching. Contribution of the passive component was evaluated using resting forces, stiffness, and hysteresis in women sustaining a negligible EMG signal during stretching. PFM contractility, such as strength, speed of contraction, coordination, and endurance, also was assessed during voluntary isometric efforts.

Results

Greater PFM resting forces and stiffness were found in women with PVD compared with controls, indicating an increased general tone. An increased active component also was found in women with PVD because they presented a superior EMG ratio, and a larger proportion of them presented PFM activation during stretching. Higher passive properties also were found in women with PVD. Women with PVD also showed decreased strength, speed of contraction, coordination, and endurance compared with controls.

Clinical Implications

Findings provide further evidence of the contribution of PFM alterations in the etiology of PVD. These alterations should be assessed to provide patient-centered targeted treatment options.

Strengths and Limitations

The use of a validated tool investigating PFM alterations constitutes a strength of this study. However, the study design does not allow the determination of the sequence of events in which these muscle alterations occurred—before or after the onset of PVD.

Conclusion

Findings support the involvement of active and passive components of PFM tone and an altered PFM contractility in women with PVD.
Factors Associated with Condom Use Among Sexually Active US Adults, National Survey of Family Growth, 2006–2010 and 2011–2013
Authors: Nasrullah Muazzam , Oraka Emeka , Chavez Pollyanna R. , Johnson Christopher H. , DiNenno Elizabeth
Published: March 2017

Background

Condom-less sex can increase the risk of acquiring or transmitting HIV.

Aim

To characterize the prevalence of condom use at the most recent sex act and identify factors associated with use of a condom at the most recent sex act in adults in the United States.

Methods

Data from the cross-sectional National Survey of Family Growth from cycles 2006 through 2010 and 2011 through 2013 were analyzed for sexually active men and women 18 to 44 years old who reported having sex (vaginal, anal, or oral) with an opposite-sex partner in the past 12 months. HIV-related sexual risk behaviors (SRBs) in the past 12 months included sex with at least four opposite-sex partners; exchanging sex for money or drugs; sex with an injection drug user; sex with an HIV-positive person; sex with a man who previously had sex with a man (women only); sex with a man (men only); or sex with a partner who had sex with other partners.

Outcomes

The outcome for this analysis was condom use at the most recent anal or vaginal sex act.

Results

Overall prevalence of condom use was 24.8%; only 33.8% of adults with at least one SRB reported the use of a condom. Only 46.4% of unmarried or single men (vs 14.7% married or cohabitating men) and 32.3% unmarried or single women (vs 14.1% married or cohabitating women) with SRBs reported using a condom at the most recent sexual encounter and were less likely to use a condom at the most recent sexual encounter compared with those who did not report SRBs. We did not find a significant relation between using a condom and SRBs in married or cohabitating men and women.

Strengths and Limitations

Our analysis adds to the literature on how condom use varies by marital status. We measured the use of condoms at the most recent sexual act, which might not reflect an individual's previous behavior of condom use. Nonetheless, condom use at the most recent sexual act has been documented in previous studies as a valid proxy of condom use over time.

Conclusion

Continued efforts are needed to promote condom use in heterosexual adults in the United States, particularly those at high risk for HIV, namely individuals engaging in anal sexual acts and with multiple sex partners.
Investigation of self-deploying high-lift effectors applied to membrane wings
Authors: Osterberg N. , Albertani R.
Published: March 2017

Flow separation followed by aerodynamic stall limits the operation of aircraft. Expanding the flight envelope of aircraft has been a goal of aerodynamicists for decades. This work presents findings from tests in the Oregon State University wind tunnel investigating the effectiveness of a passively actuated suction-surface flap on membrane wings. Experiments were conducted on a rigid plate and membrane wings with and without a pop-up flap. All wings had an aspect ratio of 2, while membrane pre-strain and Reynolds number were varied. An increase in lift at stall was observed for all testing conditions with flap deployment. The observed average increase in maximum lift varied from 5% to 15% for different test conditions. The variation in flap effectiveness is compared to membrane pre-strain, Reynolds number, and wing camber. A quadratic relationship between modelled camber and flap effectiveness is observed, and an optimal level of membrane camber is found to maximise flap effectiveness.
The secularisation of St Francis of Assisi
Authors: Heimann Mary
Published: March 2017

St Francis of Assisi, mystic, stigmatic and founder of the Franciscans, has come to seem uncontroversial, a saint for ecologists, socialists and animal lovers as well as Christians of all denominations. Until his rediscovery by the Victorians, Francis was firmly associated with Roman Catholic doctrine, obedience to the papacy, participation in crusades and distinctively Catholic mystical phenomena. This article argues that Faber’s, Oliphant’s and Sabatier’s nineteenth-century Lives of St Francis opened the way for his appropriation by the general British public. The resulting denominational competition over the saint stimulated a boom in St Francis’ popularity but also led to his piecemeal secularisation.
Spin-down in a rapidly rotating cylinder container with mixed rigid and stress-free boundary conditions
Authors: Oruba L. , Soward A. M. , Dormy E.
Published: March 2017

A comprehensive study of the classical linear spin-down of a constant-density viscous fluid (kinematic viscosity $\unicode[STIX]{x1D708}$) rotating rapidly (angular velocity $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FA}$) inside an axisymmetric cylindrical container (radius $L$, height $H$) with rigid boundaries, which follows the instantaneous small change in the boundary angular velocity at small Ekman number $E=\unicode[STIX]{x1D708}/H^{2}\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FA}\ll 1$, was provided by Greenspan & Howard (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 17, 1963, pp. 385–404). For that problem $E^{1/2}$ Ekman layers form quickly, triggering inertial waves together with the dominant spin-down of the quasi-geostrophic (QG) interior flow on the $O(E^{-1/2}\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FA}^{-1})$ time scale. On the longer lateral viscous diffusion time scale $O(L^{2}/\unicode[STIX]{x1D708})$, the QG flow responds to the $E^{1/3}$ sidewall shear layers. In our variant, the sidewall and top boundaries are stress-free, a set-up motivated by the study of isolated atmospheric structures such as tropical cyclones or tornadoes. Relative to the unbounded plane layer case, spin-down is reduced (enhanced) by the presence of a slippery (rigid) sidewall. This is evidenced by the QG angular velocity, $\unicode[STIX]{x1D714}^{\star }$, evolution on the $O(L^{2}/\unicode[STIX]{x1D708})$ time scale: spatially, $\unicode[STIX]{x1D714}^{\star }$ increases (decreases) outwards from the axis for a slippery (rigid) sidewall; temporally, the long-time $(\gg L^{2}/\unicode[STIX]{x1D708})$ behaviour is dominated by an eigensolution with a decay rate slightly slower (faster) than that for an unbounded layer. In our slippery sidewall case, the $E^{1/2}\times E^{1/2}$ corner region that forms at the sidewall intersection with the rigid base is responsible for a $\ln E$ singularity within the $E^{1/3}$ layer, causing our asymptotics to apply only at values of $E$ far smaller than can be reached by our direct numerical simulation (DNS) of the linear equations governing the entire spin-down process. Instead, we solve the $E^{1/3}$ boundary layer equations for given $E$ numerically. Our hybrid asymptotic–numerical approach yields results in excellent agreement with our DNS.
Stagnation of electron flow by a nonlinearly generated whistler wave
Authors: Taguchi Toshihiro , Antonsen Thomas M. , Mima Kunioki
Published: March 2017

Relativistic electron beam transport through a high-density, magnetized plasma is studied numerically and theoretically. An electron beam injected into a cold plasma excites Weibel and two-stream instabilities that heat the beam and saturate. In the absence of an applied magnetic field, the heated beam continues to propagate. However, when a magnetic field of particular strength is applied along the direction of beam propagation, a secondary instability of off-angle whistler modes is excited. These modes then couple nonlinearly creating a large amplitude parallel-propagating whistler that stops the beam. Here, we will show these phenomena in detail and explain the mechanism of whistler mediated beam stagnation.
Flexible and Agile Working in Law Firms
Authors: Jones Dawn
Published: March 2017

Dawn Jones discusses the findings from an in-house project looking at how agile and flexible working can be successfully adopted by legal and business professionals. It is based on information gained from speaking to those with agile and flexible working already entrenched in their businesses, external consultants who advise on this change of working habits and internal teams and individuals who are already exercising agile and flexible working (albeit in a non-formal way). It is a high level guide to start thought processes around the differences between agile and flexible working, the people, the offices and the finances.
NOTES ON BOUNDED INDUCTION FOR THE COMPOSITIONAL TRUTH PREDICATE
Authors: WCISŁO BARTOSZ , ŁEŁYK MATEUSZ
Published: March 2017

We prove that the theory of the extensional compositional truth predicate for the language of arithmetic with Δ0-induction scheme for the truth predicate and the full arithmetical induction scheme is not conservative over Peano Arithmetic. In addition, we show that a slightly modified theory of truth actually proves the global reflection principle over the base theory.
White House Mum on Arctic Priorities as Key Meeting Approaches
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: March 2017

Arctic experts are watching to see whether U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will attend the Arctic Council meeting in May as a sign of how engaged the Trump administration will be in the region.
The Prevalence and Impact of Racism Toward Indigenous Māori in New Zealand
Authors: Houkamau Carla A. , Stronge Samantha , Sibley Chris G.
Published: March 2017

Intolerance toward indigenous people is a common feature of colonial societies, and New Zealand is no exception. Despite aspirations of equality, evidence suggests that discrimination toward Māori remains pervasive and may relate to continued inequalities in social, economic, and psychological domains. This article analyzes self-report questionnaire data from 1,790 Māori sampled as part of the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study. We describe a Bayesian regression model assessing the links between perceived discrimination and 15 social, economic, and psychological indicators of well-being (including health care access, evaluation of own health, job security, self-esteem, life satisfaction, and psychological distress). The model adjusts for relevant covariates (including age, ethnicity, gender, and income). Forty-three percent of the sample reported experiencing either some discrimination or high levels of discrimination. Higher levels of perceived discrimination among Māori were associated with poorer outcomes in every measure, across multiple domains. This study demonstrates that New Zealand’s “bi-cultural” aspirations are far from realized, and should raise concerns for all countries with a history of colonisation. We call for more research on the incidences and impact of various forms of discrimination throughout New Zealand society, specifically in relation to the perpetuation of Māori disadvantage.
Impacts of particulate matter (PM2.5) on the behavior of freshwater snail Parafossarulus striatulus
Authors: Hartono Danny , Lioe Billion , Zhang Yixin , Li Bailiang , Yu Jianzhen
Published: March 2017

Fine particulate (PM2.5) is a severe problem of air pollution in the world. Although many studies were performed on examining effects of PM2.5 on human health, the understanding of PM2.5 influence on aquatic organisms is limited. Due to wet deposition, the pollutants ﻿in PM2.5 can enter aquatic ecosystems and affect aquatic organisms. This study tested the hypothesis that PM2.5 will negatively affect the behavior of freshwater snail Parafossarulus striatulus (Benson, 1842). Along with PM2.5, a number of components (Al, Pb, and Zn) that are commonly present in PM2.5 were also tested for their effects on the snail's behavior. The snail behavior was scored using the Behavioral State Score (BSS), ranging from 0 (no movement) to 5 (active locomotion and fully extended body). The result shows that high PM2.5 concentration dose (7.75 mg/L) induced a significant decrease in snails’ movement behavior, and such reduced movement. The ﻿﻿same﻿ behavior was also observed for treatments with chemical components related to PM2.5, including aluminum and acidity (pH 5.0). In contrast, a low concentration of PM2.5 (3.88 mg/L), lead, and zinc did not significantly affect snails’ behavior. The results suggest that high PM2.5 deposition in water bodies, associated with acidification and some metals, can have an adverse effect on aquatic organisms.
Dynamic Control of Topological Defects in Artificial Colloidal Ice
Authors: Libál A. , Nisoli C. , Reichhardt C. , Reichhardt C. J. Olson
Published: March 2017

We demonstrate the use of an external field to stabilize and control defect lines connecting topological monopoles in spin ice. For definiteness we perform Brownian dynamics simulations with realistic units mimicking experimentally realized artificial colloidal spin ice systems, and show how defect lines can grow, shrink or move under the action of direct and alternating fields. Asymmetric alternating biasing forces can cause the defect line to ratchet in either direction, making it possible to precisely position the line at a desired location. Such manipulation could be employed to achieve mobile information storage in these metamaterials.
Longitudinal data analysis for rare variants detection with penalized quadratic inference function
Authors: Cao Hongyan , Li Zhi , Yang Haitao , Cui Yuehua , Zhang Yanbo
Published: March 2017

Longitudinal genetic data provide more information regarding genetic effects over time compared with cross-sectional data. Coupled with next-generation sequencing technologies, it becomes reality to identify important genes containing both rare and common variants in a longitudinal design. In this work, we adopted a weighted sum statistic (WSS) to collapse multiple variants in a gene region to form a gene score. When multiple genes in a pathway were considered together, a penalized longitudinal model under the quadratic inference function (QIF) framework was applied for efficient gene selection. We evaluated the estimation accuracy and model selection performance under different model settings, then applied the method to a real dataset from the Genetic Analysis Workshop 18 (GAW18). Compared with the unpenalized QIF method, the penalized QIF (pQIF) method achieved better estimation accuracy and higher selection efficiency. The pQIF remained optimal even when the working correlation structure was mis-specified. The real data analysis identified one important gene, angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AGTR1), in the Ca2+/AT-IIR/α-AR signaling pathway. The estimated effect implied that AGTR1 may have a protective effect for hypertension. Our pQIF method provides a general tool for longitudinal sequencing studies involving large numbers of genetic variants.
Fixation of carbon dioxide into dimethyl carbonate over titanium-based zeolitic thiophene-benzimidazolate framework
Authors: Verma Sanny , Baig R. B. Nasir , Nadagouda Mallikarjuna N. , Varma Rajender S.
Published: March 2017

A titanium-based zeolitic thiophene-benzimidazolate framework has been designed for the direct synthesis of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) from methanol and carbon dioxide. The developed catalyst activates carbon dioxide and delivers over 16% yield of DMC without the use of any dehydrating agent or requirement for azeotropic distillation.
A new tyrannosaur with evidence for anagenesis and crocodile-like facial sensory system
Authors: Carr Thomas D. , Varricchio David J. , Sedlmayr Jayc C. , Roberts Eric M. , Moore Jason R.
Published: March 2017

A new species of tyrannosaurid from the upper Two Medicine Formation of Montana supports the presence of a Laramidian anagenetic (ancestor-descendant) lineage of Late Cretaceous tyrannosaurids. In concert with other anagenetic lineages of dinosaurs from the same time and place, this suggests that anagenesis could have been a widespread mechanism generating species diversity amongst dinosaurs, and perhaps beyond. We studied the excellent fossil record of the tyrannosaurid to test that hypothesis. Phylogenetic analysis places this new taxon as the sister species to Daspletosaurus torosus. However, given their close phylogenetic relationship, geographic proximity, and temporal succession, where D. torosus (~76.7–75.2 Ma) precedes the younger new species (~75.1–74.4 Ma), we argue that the two forms most likely represent a single anagenetic lineage. Daspletosaurus was an important apex predator in the late Campanian dinosaur faunas of Laramidia; its absence from later units indicates it was extinct before Tyrannosaurus rex dispersed into Laramidia from Asia. In addition to its evolutionary implications, the texture of the facial bones of the new taxon, and other derived tyrannosauroids, indicates a scaly integument with high tactile sensitivity. Most significantly, the lower jaw shows evidence for neurovasculature that is also seen in birds.
Evaluation and use of disaccharides as energy source in protein-free mammalian cell cultures
Authors: Leong Dawn Sow Zong , Tan Janice Gek Ling , Chin Christine Lin , Mak Shi Ya , Ho Ying Swan , Ng Say Kong
Published: March 2017

Mammalian cells are generally considered to be unable to utilize polysaccharides for cell growth because the phospholipid bilayer in the cell membrane has very low permeability to sugars. With the recent discovery of the only known animal disaccharide transporter, a sucrose transporter, we considered the potential use of polysaccharides as energy source, because that can impact biopharmaceutical manufacturing by potentially increasing carbohydrate loading in the culture medium and decreasing lactate accumulation. In this study, we found that mammalian cells can utilize maltose for growth in the absence of glucose and successfully adapted CHO-K1, CHO-DG44 and HEK293 cells to grow in glucose-free, maltose-containing serum-free protein-free media. We then cultivated a non-adapted CHO-K1 producer cell line in media containing both glucose and maltose to show that the cells can utilize maltose in a biphasic manner, that maltose enters the cells, and that maltose utilization only took place in the presence of the cells. This is the first report of a protein-free mammalian cell culture using a disaccharide as energy source.
Specialist nectar-yeasts decline with urbanization in Berlin
Authors: Wehner Jeannine , Mittelbach Moritz , Rillig Matthias C. , Verbruggen Erik
Published: March 2017

Nectar yeasts are common inhabitants of insect-pollinated flowers but factors determining their distribution are not well understood. We studied the influence of host identity, environmental factors related to pollution/urbanization, and the distance to a target beehive on local distribution of nectar yeasts within Robinia pseudoacacia L. and Tilia tomentosa Moench in Berlin, Germany. Nectar samples of six individuals per species were collected at seven sites in a 2 km radius from each target beehive and plated on YM-Agar to visualise the different morphotypes, which were then identified by sequencing a section of the 26S rDNA gene. Multivariate linear models were used to analyze the effects of all investigated factors on yeast occurrence per tree. Yeast distribution was mainly driven by host identity. The influence of the environmental factors (NO2, height of construction, soil sealing) strongly depended on the radius around the tree, similar to the distance of the sampled beehive. Incidence of specialist nectar-borne yeast species decreased with increasing pollution/urbanization index. Given that specialist yeast species gave way to generalist yeasts that have a reduced dependency on pollinators for between-flower dispersal, our results indicate that increased urbanization may restrict the movement of nectar-specialized yeasts, via limitations of pollinator foraging behavior.
Identification and evolution of a plant cell wall specific glycoprotein glycosyl transferase, ExAD
Authors: Møller Svenning Rune , Yi Xueying , Velásquez Silvia Melina , Gille Sascha , Hansen Pernille Louise Munke , Poulsen Christian P. , Olsen Carl Erik , Rejzek Martin , Parsons Harriet , Yang Zhang , Wandall Hans H. , Clausen Henrik , Field Robert A. , Pauly Markus , Estevez Jose M. , Harholt Jesper , Ulvskov Peter , Petersen Bent Larsen
Published: March 2017

Extensins are plant cell wall glycoproteins that act as scaffolds for the deposition of the main wall carbohydrate polymers, which are interlocked into the supramolecular wall structure through intra- and inter-molecular iso-di-tyrosine crosslinks within the extensin backbone. In the conserved canonical extensin repeat, Ser-Hyp4, serine and the consecutive C4-hydroxyprolines (Hyps) are substituted with an α-galactose and 1–5 β- or α-linked arabinofuranoses (Arafs), respectively. These modifications are required for correct extended structure and function of the extensin network. Here, we identified a single Arabidopsis thaliana gene, At3g57630, in clade E of the inverting Glycosyltransferase family GT47 as a candidate for the transfer of Araf to Hyp-arabinofuranotriose (Hyp-β1,4Araf-β1,2Araf-β1,2Araf) side chains in an α-linkage, to yield Hyp-Araf4 which is exclusively found in extensins. T-DNA knock-out mutants of At3g57630 showed a truncated root hair phenotype, as seen for mutants of all hitherto characterized extensin glycosylation enzymes; both root hair and glycan phenotypes were restored upon reintroduction of At3g57630. At3g57630 was named Extensin Arabinose Deficient transferase, ExAD, accordingly. The occurrence of ExAD orthologs within the Viridiplantae along with its’ product, Hyp-Araf4, point to ExAD being an evolutionary hallmark of terrestrial plants and charophyte green algae.
Argininosuccinate Synthase 1-Deficiency Enhances the Cell Sensitivity to Arginine through Decreased DEPTOR Expression in Endometrial Cancer
Authors: Ohshima Kenji , Nojima Satoshi , Tahara Shinichiro , Kurashige Masako , Hori Yumiko , Hagiwara Kohei , Okuzaki Daisuke , Oki Shinya , Wada Naoki , Ikeda Jun-ichiro , Kanai Yoshikatsu , Morii Eiichi
Published: March 2017

Argininosuccinate synthetase 1 (ASS1) is a rate-limiting enzyme in arginine biosynthesis. Although ASS1 expression levels are often reduced in several tumors and low ASS1 expression can be a poor prognostic factor, the underlying mechanism has not been elucidated. In this study, we reveal a novel association between ASS1 and migration/invasion of endometrial tumors via regulation of mechanistic target of rapamycin complex (mTORC) 1 signaling. ASS1-knockout cells showed enhanced migration and invasion in response to arginine following arginine starvation. In ASS1-knockout cells, DEPTOR, an inhibitor of mTORC1 signal, was downregulated and mTORC1 signaling was more activated in response to arginine. ASS1 epigenetically enhanced DEPTOR expression by altering the histone methylation. Consistent with these findings, tumor cells at the invasive front of endometrioid carcinoma cases showed lower ASS1 and DEPTOR expression. Our findings suggest that ASS1 levels in each tumor cell are associated with invasion capability in response to arginine within the tumor microenvironment through mTORC1 signal regulation.
Antibody-dependent-cellular-cytotoxicity-inducing antibodies significantly affect the post-exposure treatment of Ebola virus infection
Authors: Liu Qiang , Fan Changfa , Li Qianqian , Zhou Shuya , Huang Weijin , Wang Lan , Sun Chunyun , Wang Meng , Wu Xi , Ma Jian , Li Baowen , Xie Liangzhi , Wang Youchun
Published: March 2017

Passive immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) is an efficacious treatment for Ebola virus (EBOV) infections in animal models and humans. Understanding what constitutes a protective response is critical for the development of novel therapeutic strategies. We generated an EBOV-glycoprotein-pseudotyped Human immunodeficiency virus to develop sensitive neutralizing and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) assays as well as a bioluminescent-imaging-based mouse infection model that does not require biosafety level 4 containment. The in vivo treatment efficiencies of three novel anti-EBOV mAbs at 12 h post-infection correlated with their in vitro anti-EBOV ADCC activities, without neutralizing activity. When they were treated with these mAbs, natural killer cell (NK)-deficient mice had lower viral clearance than WT mice, indicating that the anti-EBOV mechanism of the ADCC activity of these mAbs is predominantly mediated by NK cells. One potent anti-EBOV mAb (M318) displayed unprecedented neutralizing and ADCC activities (neutralization IC50, 0.018 μg/ml; ADCC EC50, 0.095 μg/ml). These results have important implications for the efficacy of antiviral drugs and vaccines as well as for pathogenicity studies of EBOV.
Facile Fabrication of Platinum-Cobalt Alloy Nanoparticles with Enhanced Electrocatalytic Activity for a Methanol Oxidation Reaction
Authors: Huang Huihong , Hu Xiulan , Zhang Jianbo , Su Nan , Cheng JieXu
Published: March 2017

Decreasing the cost associated with platinum-based catalysts along with improving their catalytic properties is a major challenge for commercial direct methanol fuel cells. In this work, a simple and facile strategy was developed for the more efficient preparation of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) -supported Pt/CoPt composite nanoparticles (NPs) via solution plasma sputtering with subsequent thermal annealing. Quite different from general wet synthesis methods, Pt/CoPt composite NPs were directly derived from metal wire electrodes without any additions. The obtained Pt/CoPt/MWCNTs composite catalysts exhibited tremendous improvement in the electro-oxidation of methanol in acidic media with mass activities of 1719 mA mg−1Pt. This value is much higher than that of previous reports of Pt-Co alloy and commercial Pt/C (3.16 times) because of the many active sites and clean surface of the catalysts. The catalysts showed good stability due to the special synergistic effects of the CoPt alloy. Pt/CoPt/MWCNTs can be used as a promising catalyst for direct methanol fuel cells. In addition, this solution plasma sputtering-assisted synthesis method introduces a general and feasible route for the synthesis of binary alloys.
A novel pathway for amyloids self-assembly in aggregates at nanomolar concentration mediated by the interaction with surfaces
Authors: Banerjee Siddhartha , Hashemi Mohtadin , Lv Zhengjian , Maity Sibaprasad , Rochet Jean-Christophe , Lyubchenko Yuri L.
Published: March 2017

A limitation of the amyloid hypothesis in explaining the development of neurodegenerative diseases is that the level of amyloidogenic polypeptide in vivo is below the critical concentration required to form the aggregates observed in post-mortem brains. We discovered a novel, on-surface aggregation pathway of amyloidogenic polypeptide that eliminates this long-standing controversy. We applied atomic force microscope (AFM) to demonstrate directly that on-surface aggregation takes place at a concentration at which no aggregation in solution is observed. The experiments were performed with the full-size Aβ protein (Aβ42), a decapeptide Aβ(14-23) and α-synuclein; all three systems demonstrate a dramatic preference of the on-surface aggregation pathway compared to the aggregation in the bulk solution. Time-lapse AFM imaging, in solution, show that over time, oligomers increase in size and number and release in solution, suggesting that assembled aggregates can serve as nuclei for aggregation in bulk solution. Computational modeling performed with the all-atom MD simulations for Aβ(14-23) peptide shows that surface interactions induce conformational transitions of the monomer, which facilitate interactions with another monomer that undergoes conformational changes stabilizing the dimer assembly. Our findings suggest that interactions of amyloidogenic polypeptides with cellular surfaces play a major role in determining disease onset.
Low phonon energies and wideband optical windows of La2O3-Ga2O3 glasses prepared using an aerodynamic levitation technique
Authors: Yoshimoto Kohei , Masuno Atsunobu , Ueda Motoi , Inoue Hiroyuki , Yamamoto Hiroshi , Kawashima Tastunori
Published: March 2017

xLa2O3-(100 − x)Ga2O3 binary glasses were synthesized by an aerodynamic levitation technique. The glass-forming region was found to be 20 ≤ x ≤ 57. The refractive indices were greater than 1.92 and increased linearly with increasing x. The polarizabilities of oxide ions were estimated to be 2.16–2.41 Å3, indicating that the glasses were highly ionic. The glasses were transparent over a very wide range from the ultraviolet to the mid-infrared region. The widest transparent window among the oxide glasses was from 270 nm to 10 μm at x = 55. From the Raman scattering spectra, a decrease in bridging oxide ions and an increase in non-bridging oxide ions were confirmed to occur with increasing La2O3 content. The maximum phonon energy was found to be approximately 650 cm−1, being one of the lowest among oxide glasses. These results show that La2O3-Ga2O3 binary glasses should be promising host materials for optical applications such as lenses, windows, and filters over a very wide wavelength range.