bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rhetoric and Oracy in the Classics Classroom
Authors: Tailor Bhavini
Published: May 2016

How many interactions do you have with students on a daily basis? In these interactions do you lead the conversation or do the students? Do students in your classes have the confidence to speak rather than listen? This is what this article is about: giving your students the ability to confidently assert their opinions and ideas. Classical subjects are some of the few subjects where students learn about rhetoric, what it is and how the ancients used it; yet they often do not necessarily know how to use rhetoric or employ rhetorical skills themselves. Most students, who have taken a Classical subject, will consider the term rhetoric to be connected with the sorts of rhetorical devices common in Cicero and speeches in Greek drama. However, rhetoric is used by everyone. Rhetoric is found everywhere in every type of communication, and it is almost impossible to escape from it. Rhetoric embodies everyday communication skills, how we speak, what we write, the debate in a discussion, how we present ourselves in meetings, how we teach and our online presences on Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin. Rhetoric is a useful skill and at the heart of the concept is the ability to express oneself effectively orally and in writing; what are more commonly known as communication skills. Oracy is part of everyday rhetoric: it encompasses how we are communicating with our intended audience and others around us through spoken language, body language and gestures.
Retirement? What Retirement?
Authors: Treasure Jayne
Published: May 2016

Having decided to leave Haberdashers’ Monmouth School for Girls (HMSG) after 23 years in 2013, most of my former colleagues were under the impression that I was planning to retire. To an extent that was true; I did decide to take my teachers’ pension early after a talk about pensions on an INSET day a couple of years earlier (and here I must apologise to younger teachers for whom this may not be a choice). There were some startling statistics about retirement age and the likelihood of death if left too late. Someone suggested it was probably a ruse by the governors to get rid of expensive teachers. If so, it worked. As far as I was concerned, it was one of the most worthwhile INSET days during my career.
Classics for All: Establishing the Classics Hub
Authors: Hodgson Hilary , Murray-Pollock Xavier
Published: May 2016

Five years since its launch in 2010, Classics for All (CfA) has an increasingly high profile in schools. For anyone still not in the picture, CfA works to increase take-up of Classics (Latin, Greek, Classical Civilisation, Ancient History) in state primary and secondary schools across the UK.
Nominative Determinism: Classically Derived Names in the Potter Saga
Authors: Butler David , Butler Rebecca R.
Published: May 2016

Nominative determinism occurs when a person's name reflects what that person does or is, for instance Mr Baker making bread or Ms Taylor making dresses. In the Potter saga J. K. Rowling seems to have a particular fondness for nominative determinism. In her case the names often derive from Latin and Greek language and tradition.
Penetrating the Penguin ‘Wall of Black’: Theories from PGCE Research on How to Approach the Teaching of KS5 Classical Civilisation
Authors: Jones Rebecca
Published: May 2016

Is my PGCE drew towards its end, the prospect of my first teaching job loomed large in my mind. I had been forewarned that 50% of my teaching workload would consist of teaching Classical Civilisation, and that the majority of this would be at A Level. However, I did not have personal experience of the subject as a school pupil (I studied Latin, Greek and English Literature at A Level – there was no Classical Civilisation option), so I had no personal frame of reference or pre-formed opinion of how it might be taught best. The final research project of the PGCE course presented an ideal and much-needed opportunity to investigate the possible teaching strategies I should consider in preparation for my own teaching of the subject. I was particularly interested in how to ‘get through’ the seemingly vast amount of text which teachers often cited as a real challenge.
Diagnostik, Therapie und Nachsorge beim Hodenkarzinom
Authors: Kälin Martin , Mauti Laetitia , Pless Miklos
Published: May 2016

Zusammenfassung. Keimzelltumoren repräsentieren eine seltene Neoplasie, die meist Männer im Alter zwischen 15 und 40 Jahren betrifft. Zu etwa 50 % handelt es sich bei Hodenkarzinomen um reine Seminome, die 50 % Nicht-Seminome stellen eine heterogene Entität dar. Die initiale Therapie ist meist die Orchiektomie, das weitere Vorgehen hängt von der Histologie, vom Tumorstadium und vom Risikoprofil ab. Engmaschige Überwachung, Radiotherapie oder Chemotherapie sind die therapeutischen Optionen. Im Stadium I beträgt die Heilungsrate praktisch 100 %, aber auch im metastasierten Stadium können immer noch mehr als 80 % der Patienten geheilt werden. Sie müssen aber in einer langjährigen Nachsorge bleiben und speziell auf kardiovaskuläre Risikofaktoren kontrolliert werden.
Schlaganfall aus der Perspektive des Neurologen (Teil 3): Neues in der Sekundärprävention
Authors: Schur Patrick , Luft Andreas
Published: May 2016

Zusammenfassung. In dieser dritten Ausgabe über den Schlaganfall wird die Sekundärprävention besprochen. Nach der Akutphase mit ihren Massnahmen zur Wiedereröffnung eines verschlossenen Hirngefässes schenkt man der Prävention eines erneuten Schlaganfalls und wenn möglich der Frührehabilitation die volle Aufmerksamkeit. Aus der Perspektive des Neurologen ist eine systematische Diagnostik, eine erweiterte Abklärung der (nicht-)modifizierbaren Risikofaktoren und eine mit der Klinik und Bildgebung integrierte präventive Therapie dringend erforderlich. Neben der optimalen Einstellung der wichtigen therapierbaren Risikofaktoren wie arterielle Hypertonie, Vorhofflimmern, Diabetes mellitus und Dyslipidämie sind auch die Behandlung des obstruktiven Schlafapnoe-Syndroms und komplexer Atheromatosen (komplexe Plaque der Aorta >4 mm [1]) als eigenständige Risikofaktoren erwiesen. Die Suche nach der Ätiologie geht meist nach der Definition der Wahrscheinlichkeit verschiedener Ursachen. Die wahrscheinlichste wird dann als Ursache angenommen. Nur in seltenen Fällen findet sich keine Ursache. Dann kann das Läsionsmuster helfen, zumindest zwischen embolischem und thrombotischem Ereignis zu unterscheiden.
Ion-induced nucleation of pure biogenic particles
Authors: Kirkby Jasper , Duplissy Jonathan , Sengupta Kamalika , Frege Carla , Gordon Hamish , Williamson Christina , Heinritzi Martin , Simon Mario , Yan Chao , Almeida João , Tröstl Jasmin , Nieminen Tuomo , Ortega Ismael K. , Wagner Robert , Adamov Alexey , Amorim Antonio , Bernhammer Anne-Kathrin , Bianchi Federico , Breitenlechner Martin , Brilke Sophia , Chen Xuemeng , Craven Jill , Dias Antonio , Ehrhart Sebastian , Flagan Richard C. , Franchin Alessandro , Fuchs Claudia , Guida Roberto , Hakala Jani , Hoyle Christopher R. , Jokinen Tuija , Junninen Heikki , Kangasluoma Juha , Kim Jaeseok , Krapf Manuel , Kürten Andreas , Laaksonen Ari , Lehtipalo Katrianne , Makhmutov Vladimir , Mathot Serge , Molteni Ugo , Onnela Antti , Peräkylä Otso , Piel Felix , Petäjä Tuukka , Praplan Arnaud P. , Pringle Kirsty , Rap Alexandru , Richards Nigel A. D. , Riipinen Ilona , Rissanen Matti P. , Rondo Linda , Sarnela Nina , Schobesberger Siegfried , Scott Catherine E. , Seinfeld John H. , Sipilä Mikko , Steiner Gerhard , Stozhkov Yuri , Stratmann Frank , Tomé Antonio , Virtanen Annele , Vogel Alexander L. , Wagner Andrea C. , Wagner Paul E. , Weingartner Ernest , Wimmer Daniela , Winkler Paul M. , Ye Penglin , Zhang Xuan , Hansel Armin , Dommen Josef , Donahue Neil M. , Worsnop Douglas R. , Baltensperger Urs , Kulmala Markku , Carslaw Kenneth S. , Curtius Joachim
Published: May 2016

Atmospheric aerosols and their effect on clouds are thought to be important for anthropogenic radiative forcing of the climate, yet remain poorly understood1. Globally, around half of cloud condensation nuclei originate from nucleation of atmospheric vapours2. It is thought that sulfuric acid is essential to initiate most particle formation in the atmosphere3,4, and that ions have a relatively minor role5. Some laboratory studies, however, have reported organic particle formation without the intentional addition of sulfuric acid, although contamination could not be excluded6,7. Here we present evidence for the formation of aerosol particles from highly oxidized biogenic vapours in the absence of sulfuric acid in a large chamber under atmospheric conditions. The highly oxygenated molecules (HOMs) are produced by ozonolysis of α-pinene. We find that ions from Galactic cosmic rays increase the nucleation rate by one to two orders of magnitude compared with neutral nucleation. Our experimental findings are supported by quantum chemical calculations of the cluster binding energies of representative HOMs. Ion-induced nucleation of pure organic particles constitutes a potentially widespread source of aerosol particles in terrestrial environments with low sulfuric acid pollution.
Phylogenomic approaches to determine the zoonotic potential of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) isolated from Zambian dairy cattle
Authors: Mainda Geoffrey , Lupolova Nadejda , Sikakwa Linda , Bessell Paul R. , Muma John B. , Hoyle Deborah V. , McAteer Sean P. , Gibbs Kirsty , Williams Nicola J. , Sheppard Samuel K. , La Ragione Roberto M. , Cordoni Guido , Argyle Sally A. , Wagner Sam , Chase-Topping Margo E. , Dallman Timothy J. , Stevens Mark P. , Bronsvoort Barend M. deC. , Gally David L.
Published: May 2016

This study assessed the prevalence and zoonotic potential of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) sampled from 104 dairy units in the central region of Zambia and compared these with isolates from patients presenting with diarrhoea in the same region. A subset of 297 E. coli strains were sequenced allowing in silico analyses of phylo- and sero-groups. The majority of the bovine strains clustered in the B1 ‘commensal’ phylogroup (67%) and included a diverse array of serogroups. 11% (41/371) of the isolates from Zambian dairy cattle contained Shiga toxin genes (stx) while none (0/73) of the human isolates were positive. While the toxicity of a subset of these isolates was demonstrated, none of the randomly selected STEC belonged to key serogroups associated with human disease and none encoded a type 3 secretion system synonymous with typical enterohaemorrhagic strains. Positive selection for E. coli O157:H7 across the farms identified only one positive isolate again indicating this serotype is rare in these animals. In summary, while Stx-encoding E. coli strains are common in this dairy population, the majority of these strains are unlikely to cause disease in humans. However, the threat remains of the emergence of strains virulent to humans from this reservoir.
Identification of Leishmania donovani Topoisomerase 1 inhibitors via intuitive scaffold hopping and bioisosteric modification of known Top 1 inhibitors
Authors: Mamidala Rajinikanth , Majumdar Papiya , Jha Kunal Kumar , Bathula Chandramohan , Agarwal Rahul , Chary M. Thirumala , Majumder Hemanta K. , Munshi Parthapratim , Sen Subhabrata
Published: May 2016

A library of arylidenefuropyridinediones was discovered as potent inhibitors ofLeishmania donovaniTopoisomerase 1 (LdTop1) where the active molecules displayed considerable inhibition with single digit micromolar EC50values. This molecular library was designedviaintuitive scaffold hopping and bioisosteric modification of known topoisomerase 1 inhibitors such as camptothecin, edotecarin and etc. The design was rationalized by molecular docking analysis of the compound prototype with human topoisomerase 1 (HTop1) andLeishmania donovanitopoisomerase 1(LdTop1). The most active compound4displayed no cytotoxicity against normal mammalian COS7 cell line (~100 fold less inhibition at the EC50). Similar to camptothecin,4interacted with free LdTop1 as observed in the preincubation DNA relaxation inhibition experiment. It also displayed anti-protozoal activity againstLeishmania donovanipromastigote. Crystal structure investigation of4and its molecular modelling with LdTop1 revealed putative binding sites in the enzyme that could be harnessed to generate molecules with better potency.
Correction: Corrigendum: Identification of two novel Chlorotoxin derivatives CA4 and CTX-23 with chemotherapeutic and anti-angiogenic potential
Authors: Xu Tengfei , Fan Zheng , Li Wenxin , Dietel Barbara , Wu Yingliang , Beckmann Matthias W. , Wrosch Jana K. , Buchfelder Michael , Eyupoglu Ilker Y. , Cao Zhijian , Savaskan Nicolai E.
Published: May 2016

Scientific Reports 6: Article number: 19799; Published online: 02 February 2016; Updated 25 May 2016 This Article contains typographical errors in the legend of Figure 9. “n = XX per group” should read: “n = 3 per group”
Genomic features of uncultured methylotrophs in activated-sludge microbiomes grown under different enrichment procedures
Authors: Fujinawa Kazuki , Asai Yusuke , Miyahara Morio , Kouzuma Atsushi , Abe Takashi , Watanabe Kazuya
Published: May 2016

Methylotrophs are organisms that are able to grow on C1 compounds as carbon and energy sources. They play important roles in the global carbon cycle and contribute largely to industrial wastewater treatment. To identify and characterize methylotrophs that are involved in methanol degradation in wastewater-treatment plants, methanol-fed activated-sludge (MAS) microbiomes were subjected to phylogenetic and metagenomic analyses and genomic features of dominant methylotrophs in MAS were compared with those preferentially grown in laboratory enrichment cultures (LECs). These analyses consistently indicate that Hyphomicrobium plays important roles in MAS, while Methylophilus occurred predominantly in LECs. Comparative analyses of bin genomes reconstructed for the Hyphomicrobium and Methylophilus methylotrophs suggest that they have different C1-assimilation pathways. In addition, function-module analyses suggest that their cell-surface structures are different. Comparison of the MAS bin genome with genomes of closely related Hyphomicrobium isolates suggests that genes unnecessary in MAS (for instance, genes for anaerobic respiration) have been lost from the genome of the dominant methylotroph. We suggest that genomic features and coded functions in the MAS bin genome provide us with insights into how this methylotroph adapts to activated-sludge ecosystems.
Abnormal intrinsic dynamics of dendritic spines in a fragile X syndrome mouse model in vivo
Authors: Nagaoka Akira , Takehara Hiroaki , Hayashi-Takagi Akiko , Noguchi Jun , Ishii Kazuhiko , Shirai Fukutoshi , Yagishita Sho , Akagi Takanori , Ichiki Takanori , Kasai Haruo
Published: May 2016

Dendritic spine generation and elimination play an important role in learning and memory, the dynamics of which have been examined within the neocortex in vivo. Spine turnover has also been detected in the absence of specific learning tasks, and is frequently exaggerated in animal models of autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). The present study aimed to examine whether the baseline rate of spine turnover was activity-dependent. This was achieved using a microfluidic brain interface and open-dura surgery, with the goal of abolishing neuronal Ca2+ signaling in the visual cortex of wild-type mice and rodent models of fragile X syndrome (Fmr1 knockout [KO]). In wild-type and Fmr1 KO mice, the majority of baseline turnover was found to be activity-independent. Accordingly, the application of matrix metalloproteinase-9 inhibitors selectively restored the abnormal spine dynamics observed in Fmr1 KO mice, without affecting the intrinsic dynamics of spine turnover in wild-type mice. Such findings indicate that the baseline turnover of dendritic spines is mediated by activity-independent intrinsic dynamics. Furthermore, these results suggest that the targeting of abnormal intrinsic dynamics might pose a novel therapy for ASD.
The protein PprI provides protection against radiation injury in human and mouse cells
Authors: Shi Yi , Wu Wei , Qiao Huiping , Yue Ling , Ren Lili , Zhang Shuyu , Yang Wei , Yang Zhanshan
Published: May 2016

Severe acute radiation injuries are both very lethal and exceptionally difficult to treat. Though the radioresistant bacterium D. radiodurans was first characterized in 1956, genes and proteins key to its radioprotection have not yet to be applied in radiation injury therapy for humans. In this work, we express the D. radiodurans protein PprI in Pichia pastoris yeast cells transfected with the designed vector plasmid pHBM905A-pprI. We then treat human umbilical endothelial vein cells and BALB/c mouse cells with the yeast-derived PprI and elucidate the radioprotective effects the protein provides upon gamma irradiation. We see that PprI significantly increases the survival rate, antioxidant viability and DNA-repair capacity in irradiated cells and decreases concomitant apoptosis rates and counts of damage-indicative γH2AX foci. Furthermore, we find that PprI reduces mortality and enhances bone marrow cell clone formation and white blood cell and platelet counts in irradiated mice. PprI also seems to alleviate pathological injuries to multiple organs and improve antioxidant viability in some tissues. Our results thus suggest that PprI has crucial radioprotective effects on irradiated human and mouse cells.
Local atomic arrangements and lattice distortions in layered Ge-Sb-Te crystal structures
Authors: Lotnyk Andriy , Ross Ulrich , Bernütz Sabine , Thelander Erik , Rauschenbach Bernd
Published: May 2016

Insights into the local atomic arrangements of layered Ge-Sb-Te compounds are of particular importance from a fundamental point of view and for data storage applications. In this view, a detailed knowledge of the atomic structure in such alloys is central to understanding the functional properties both in the more commonly utilized amorphous–crystalline transition and in recently proposed interfacial phase change memory based on the transition between two crystalline structures. Aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy allows direct imaging of local arrangement in the crystalline lattice with atomic resolution. However, due to the non-trivial influence of thermal diffuse scattering on the high-angle scattering signal, a detailed examination of the image contrast requires comparison with theoretical image simulations. This work reveals the local atomic structure of trigonal Ge-Sb-Te thin films by using a combination of direct imaging of the atomic columns and theoretical image simulation approaches. The results show that the thin films are prone to the formation of stacking disorder with individual building blocks of the Ge2Sb2Te5, Ge1Sb2Te4 and Ge3Sb2Te6 crystal structures intercalated within randomly oriented grains. The comparison with image simulations based on various theoretical models reveals intermixed cation layers with pronounced local lattice distortions, exceeding those reported in literature.
Towards monitoring dysplastic progression in the oral cavity using a hybrid fiber-bundle imaging and spectroscopy probe
Authors: Greening Gage J. , James Haley M. , Dierks Mary K. , Vongkittiargorn Nontapoth , Osterholm Samantha M. , Rajaram Narasimhan , Muldoon Timothy J.
Published: May 2016

Intraepithelial dysplasia of the oral mucosa typically originates in the proliferative cell layer at the basement membrane and extends to the upper epithelial layers as the disease progresses. Detection of malignancies typically occurs upon visual inspection by non-specialists at a late-stage. In this manuscript, we validate a quantitative hybrid imaging and spectroscopy microendoscope to monitor dysplastic progression within the oral cavity microenvironment in a phantom and pre-clinical study. We use an empirical model to quantify optical properties and sampling depth from sub-diffuse reflectance spectra (450–750 nm) at two source-detector separations (374 and 730 μm). Average errors in recovering reduced scattering (5–26 cm−1) and absorption coefficients (0–10 cm−1) in hemoglobin-based phantoms were approximately 2% and 6%, respectively. Next, a 300 μm-thick phantom tumor model was used to validate the probe’s ability to monitor progression of a proliferating optical heterogeneity. Finally, the technique was demonstrated on 13 healthy volunteers and volume-averaged optical coefficients, scattering exponent, hemoglobin concentration, oxygen saturation and sampling depth are presented alongside a high-resolution microendoscopy image of oral mucosa from one volunteer. This multimodal microendoscopy approach encompasses both structural and spectroscopic reporters of perfusion within the tissue microenvironment and can potentially be used to monitor tumor response to therapy.
Combinations of Oseltamivir and T-705 Extend the Treatment Window for Highly Pathogenic Influenza A(H5N1) Virus Infection in Mice
Authors: Marathe Bindumadhav M. , Wong Sook-San , Vogel Peter , Garcia-Alcalde Fernando , Webster Robert G. , Webby Richard J. , Najera Isabel , Govorkova Elena A.
Published: May 2016

Current anti-influenza therapy depends on administering drugs soon after infection, which is often impractical. We assessed whether combinations of oseltamivir (a neuraminidase inhibitor) and T-705 (a nonspecific inhibitor of viral polymerases) could extend the window for treating lethal infection with highly pathogenic A(H5N1) influenza virus in mice. Combination therapy protected 100% of mice, even when delayed until 96 h postinoculation. Compared to animals receiving monotherapy, mice receiving combination therapy had reduced viral loads and restricted viral spread in lung tissues, limited lung damage and decreased inflammatory cytokine production. Next-generation sequencing showed that virus populations in T-705–treated mice had greater genetic variability, with more frequent transversion events, than did populations in control and oseltamivir-treated mice, but no substitutions associated with resistance to oseltamivir or T-705 were detected. Thus, combination therapy extended the treatment window for A(H5N1) influenza infection in mice and should be considered for evaluation in a clinical setting.
Intersystem crossing-branched excited-state intramolecular proton transfer for o-nitrophenol: An ab initio on-the-fly nonadiabatic molecular dynamic simulation
Authors: Xu Chao , Yu Le , Zhu Chaoyuan , Yu Jianguo , Cao Zexing
Published: May 2016

The 6SA-CASSCF(10, 10)/6-31G (d, p) quantum chemistry method has been applied to perform on-the-fly trajectory surface hopping simulation with global switching algorithm and to explore excited-state intramolecular proton transfer reactions for the o-nitrophenol molecule within low-lying electronic singlet states (S0 and S1) and triplet states (T1 and T2). The decisive photoisomerization mechanisms of o-nitrophenol upon S1 excitation are found by three intersystem crossings and one conical intersection between two triplet states, in which T1 state plays an essential role. The present simulation shows branch ratios and timescales of three key processes via T1 state, non-hydrogen transfer with ratio 48% and timescale 300 fs, the tunneling hydrogen transfer with ratios 36% and timescale 10 ps, and the direct hydrogen transfer with ratios 13% and timescale 40 fs. The present simulated timescales might be close to low limit of the recent experiment results.
Perceiving object affordances through visual and linguistic pathways: A comparative study
Authors: Zhang Zuo , Sun Yaoru , Humphreys Glyn W.
Published: May 2016

It is known that both perceiving visual objects and reading object names automatically activate associated motor codes and modulate motor responses. We examined the nature of these motor activation effects for different effectors (hands and feet), and for pictures and words, across the time course of responding. The compatibility effects elicited by objects and words were comparable for the mean effect size, both were larger for slow than for fast responses and the effects were positively correlated across the stimulus types. Our results support an embodied cognition account in which the perception of objects and words automatically activates perceptual simulations of the associated actions, suggesting that objects and words share cognitive and neural mechanisms for accessing motor codes. However, the compatibility effects for objects and words carried over across trials differently: the compatibility effect for words was sensitive to a previous response, while the effect for objects was more immune to such influence. This result suggests a stronger link between objects and actions through a visual pathway than through a linguistic pathway.
Discriminative gene co-expression network analysis uncovers novel modules involved in the formation of phosphate deficiency-induced root hairs in Arabidopsis
Authors: Salazar-Henao Jorge E. , Lin Wen-Dar , Schmidt Wolfgang
Published: May 2016

Cell fate and differentiation in the Arabidopsis root epidermis are genetically defined but remain plastic to environmental signals such as limited availability of inorganic phosphate (Pi). Root hairs of Pi-deficient plants are more frequent and longer than those of plants grown under Pi-replete conditions. To dissect genes involved in Pi deficiency-induced root hair morphogenesis, we constructed a co-expression network of Pi-responsive genes against a customized database that was assembled from experiments in which differentially expressed genes that encode proteins with validated functions in root hair development were over-represented. To further filter out less relevant genes, we combined this procedure with a search for common cis-regulatory elements in the promoters of the selected genes. In addition to well-described players and processes such as auxin signalling and modifications of primary cell walls, we discovered several novel aspects in the biology of root hairs induced by Pi deficiency, including cell cycle control, putative plastid-to-nucleus signalling, pathogen defence, reprogramming of cell wall-related carbohydrate metabolism and chromatin remodelling. This approach allows the discovery of novel of aspects of a biological process from transcriptional profiles with high sensitivity and accuracy.
Developmental suppression of schizophrenia-associated miR-137 alters sensorimotor function in zebrafish
Authors: Giacomotto J , Carroll A P , Rinkwitz S , Mowry B , Cairns M J , Becker T S
Published: May 2016

The neurodevelopmentally regulated microRNA miR-137 was strongly implicated as risk locus for schizophrenia in the most recent genome wide association study coordinated by the Psychiatric Genome Consortium (PGC). This molecule is highly conserved in vertebrates enabling the investigation of its function in the developing zebrafish. We utilized this model system to achieve overexpression and suppression of miR-137, both transiently and stably through transgenesis. While miR-137 overexpression was not associated with an observable specific phenotype, downregulation by antisense morpholino and/or transgenic expression of miR-sponge RNA induced significant impairment of both embryonic and larval touch-sensitivity without compromising overall anatomical development. We observed miR-137 expression and activity in sensory neurons including Rohon–Beard neurons and dorsal root ganglia, two neuronal cell types that confer touch-sensitivity in normal zebrafish, suggesting a role of these cell types in the observed phenotype. The lack of obvious anatomical or histological pathology in these cells, however, suggested that subtle axonal network defects or a change in synaptic function and neural connectivity might be responsible for the behavioral phenotype rather than a change in the cellular morphology or neuroanatomy.
Support vector machine classification for determination of geographical origin of Chinese ginseng using microwave plasma torch-atomic emission spectrometry
Authors: Ying Yangwei , Jin Wei , Yu Bingwen , Lv Shaowu , Wu Xiaofei , Yu Haixiang , Shan Jin , Zhu Dan , Jin Qinhan , Mu Ying
Published: May 2016

The geographical origin of Chinese ginseng is of great concern to customers, since quality varies tremendously with geographical origin.
On matrix reference materials characterised by proficiency test
Authors: Thompson Michael
Published: May 2016

A properly-determined consensus from a proficiency test is a metrologically-sound indication of chemical composition.
Functional porous carbon–ZnO nanocomposites for high-performance biosensors and energy storage applications
Authors: Madhu Rajesh , Veeramani Vediyappan , Chen Shen-Ming , Veerakumar Pitchaimani , Liu Shang-Bin , Miyamoto Nobuyoshi
Published: May 2016

Schematic representation of direct synthesis of a biomass-derived ZAC nanocomposite as a practical platform for prospective applications.
A series of lanthanide germanate cluster organic frameworks
Authors: Li Lei-Lei , Pan Rui , Zhao Jun-Wei , Yang Bai-Feng , Yang Guo-Yu
Published: May 2016

A series of lanthanide germanate cluster organic frameworks derived from {Ln8Ge} cage cluster units were hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized.
Nano-ferrite supported glutathione as a reusable nano-organocatalyst for the synthesis of phthalazine-trione and dione derivatives under solvent-free conditions
Authors: Dam Binoyargha , Saha Mithu , Jamatia Ramen , Pal Amarta Kumar
Published: May 2016

Nano-organocatalyzed one-pot four-component reactions for the synthesis of phthalazine-trione/dione derivatives have been devised for the first time from easily accessible starting materials under solvent-free conditions.
Controllable synthesis of a Pd/PdO nanocomposite as a catalyst for hydrogenation of nitroarenes to anilines in water
Authors: Yang Fan , Dong Sen , Wang Chunxia , Li Yongfeng
Published: May 2016

The different Pd/PdO ratios nanoparticles supported on oxide carbon nanotubes can be controllable synthesized by a one-pot gas–liquid interfacial plasma method, which can catalyze the hydrogenation of nitroarenes in water by atmosphere pressure H2.
Potential continuous removal of toluene by ZnO nanorods grown on permeable alumina tube filters
Authors: Ghanbari Faegheh , Eskandari Mehdi , Nazari Pariya , Gharibzadeh Saba , Kohnehpoushi Saman , Nejand Bahram Abdollahi
Published: May 2016

Vertical ZnO nanorods were successfully grown on the crystalline surface of an Al2O3 microfilter by the simple technique of evaporation of prepared solution at atmospheric pressure (ESAP) for photocatalytic degradation of toluene.
Enhanced CO2 adsorption on Al-MIL-53 by introducing hydroxyl groups into the framework
Authors: Yang Jie , Yan Xing , Xue Teng , Liu Yongshen
Published: May 2016

Substitution of 25% of terephthalic acid with 2,5-dihydroxyl terephthalic acid in Al-MIL-53 enhances the isosteric heat of CO2 adsorption remarkably, obtaining a 5.5 wt% CO2 uptake at 298 K and 0.2 bar.
Complexin splits the membrane-proximal region of a single SNAREpin
Authors: Yin Linxiang , Kim Jaewook , Shin Yeon-Kyun
Published: May 2016

Complexin (Cpx) is thought to be a major regulator of soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor-attachment protein receptor (SNARE)-dependent membrane fusion. Although the inhibition of membrane fusion by Cpx has been frequently reported, its structural basis has been elusive and an anticipated disruption of the SNARE core has never been observed. In the present study, to mimic the natural environment, we assembled a single SNAREpin between two nanodisc membrane patches. Single-molecule FRET (smFRET) detects a large conformational change, specifically at the C-terminal half, whereas no conformational change is observed at the N-terminal half. Our results suggest that Cpx splits the C-terminal half of the SNARE core at least 10 Å (1 Å=0.1 nm), whereby inhibiting further progression of SNARE zippering and membrane fusion.
Calculated rotation-bending energy levels of CH5+ and a comparison with experiment
Authors: Wang Xiao-Gang , Carrington Tucker
Published: May 2016

We report J > 0 CH5+ levels computed by fixing stretch coordinates. They are computed by using a simple product basis, exploiting symmetry, and carefully parallelizing the calculation. The J > 0 CH5+ levels are compared with those obtained from other theoretical methods and with experimental ground state combination differences of Asvany et al. [Science, 347, 1346 (2015)]. If the assignment of Asvany et al. is correct, there are important differences between the levels we compute and those observed. We propose a different assignment of the experimental levels that reduces the maximum error from 34 to 2 cm−1. The new assignment can only be correct if states of both parities exist in the experiment. Although, ro-vibrational levels of CH5+ cannot be associated with individual vibrational states, they do occur in blocks separated by gaps.
First time combination of frozen density embedding theory with the algebraic diagrammatic construction scheme for the polarization propagator of second order
Authors: Prager Stefan , Zech Alexander , Aquilante Francesco , Dreuw Andreas , Wesolowski Tomasz A.
Published: May 2016

The combination of Frozen Density Embedding Theory (FDET) and the Algebraic Diagrammatic Construction (ADC) scheme for the polarization propagator for describing environmental effects on electronically excited states is presented. Two different ways of interfacing and expressing the so-called embedding operator are introduced. The resulting excited states are compared with supermolecular calculations of the total system at the ADC(2) level of theory. Molecular test systems were chosen to investigate molecule–environment interactions of varying strength from dispersion interaction up to multiple hydrogen bonds. The overall difference between the supermolecular and the FDE-ADC calculations in excitation energies is lower than 0.09 eV (max) and 0.032 eV in average, which is well below the intrinsic error of the ADC(2) method itself.
Gate engineered performance of single molecular transistor
Authors: Ray S. J.
Published: May 2016

The operation, performance and electrostatics of multigated Single Molecular Transistor (SMT) devices are investigated using first-principles based density functional theory calculations for planar (pentacene) and non-planar (sucrose) molecules as islands. It has been found that the incorporation of larger numbers of gates allows enhanced electrostatic control in the SMT operation which has been quantified from the energy calculations and estimation of the gate capacitances. The effect of multiple gates is more dominant for a non-planar molecule than a planar molecule within an SMT which indicates the usefulness of such multi-gate architectures for future nanoelectronic devices.
Linear chirped slope profile for spatial calibration in slope measuring deflectometry
Authors: Siewert F. , Zeschke T. , Arnold T. , Paetzelt H. , Yashchuk V. V.
Published: May 2016

Slope measuring deflectometry is commonly used by the X-ray optics community to measure the long-spatial-wavelength surface figure error of optical components dedicated to guide and focus X-rays under grazing incidence condition at synchrotron and free electron laser beamlines. The best performing instruments of this kind are capable of absolute accuracy on the level of 30-50 nrad. However, the exact bandwidth of the measurements, determined at the higher spatial frequencies by the instrument’s spatial resolution, or more generally by the instrument’s modulation transfer function (MTF) is hard to determine. An MTF calibration method based on application of a test surface with a one-dimensional (1D) chirped height profile of constant amplitude was suggested in the past. In this work, we propose a new approach to designing the test surfaces with a 2D-chirped topography, specially optimized for MTF characterization of slope measuring instruments. The design of the developed MTF test samples based on the proposed linear chirped slope profiles (LCSPs) is free of the major drawback of the 1D chirped height profiles, where in the slope domain, the amplitude strongly increases with the local spatial frequency of the profile. We provide the details of fabrication of the LCSP samples. The results of first application of the developed test samples to measure the spatial resolution of the BESSY-NOM at different experimental arrangements are also presented and discussed.
Ab initio study of reactive collisions between Rb(2S) or Rb(2P) and OH−(1Σ+)
Authors: Kas Milaim , Loreau Jérôme , Liévin Jacques , Vaeck Nathalie
Published: May 2016

A theoretical rate constant for the associative detachment reaction Rb(2S) + OH−(1Σ+) → RbOH(1Σ+) + e− of 4 × 10−10 cm3 s−1 at 300 K has been calculated. This result agrees with the experimental rate constant of 2−1+2×10−10cm3s−1 obtained by Deiglmayr et al. [Phys. Rev. A 86, 043438 (2012)] for a temperature between 200 K and 600 K. A Langevin-based dynamics which depends on the crossing point between the anion (RbOH−) and neutral (RbOH) potential energy surfaces has been used. The calculations were performed using the ECP28MDF effective core potential to describe the rubidium atom at the CCSD(T) level of theory and extended basis sets. The effect of ECPs and basis set on the height of the crossing point, and hence the rate constant, has been investigated. The temperature dependence of the latter is also discussed. Preliminary work on the potential energy surface for the excited reaction channel Rb(2P) + OH−(1Σ+) calculated at the CASSCF-icMRCI level of theory is presented. We qualitatively discuss the charge transfer and associative detachment reactions arising from this excited entrance channel.
Understanding nucleic acid structural changes by comparing wide-angle x-ray scattering (WAXS) experiments to molecular dynamics simulations
Authors: Pabit Suzette A. , Katz Andrea M. , Tolokh Igor S. , Drozdetski Aleksander , Baker Nathan , Onufriev Alexey V. , Pollack Lois
Published: May 2016

Wide-angle x-ray scattering (WAXS) is emerging as a powerful tool for increasing the resolution of solution structure measurements of biomolecules. Compared to its better known complement, small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS), WAXS targets higher scattering angles and can enhance structural studies of molecules by accessing finer details of solution structures. Although the extension from SAXS to WAXS is easy to implement experimentally, the computational tools required to fully harness the power of WAXS are still under development. Currently, WAXS is employed to study structural changes and ligand binding in proteins; however, the methods are not as fully developed for nucleic acids. Here, we show how WAXS can qualitatively characterize nucleic acid structures as well as the small but significant structural changes driven by the addition of multivalent ions. We show the potential of WAXS to test all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and to provide insight into understanding how the trivalent ion cobalt(III) hexammine (CoHex) affects the structure of RNA and DNA helices. We find that MD simulations capture the RNA structural change that occurs due to addition of CoHex.
The role of phase dynamics in a stochastic model of a passively advected scalar
Authors: Moradi Sara , Anderson Johan
Published: May 2016

Collective synchronous motion of the phases is introduced in a model for the stochastic passive advection-diffusion of a scalar with external forcing. The model for the phase coupling dynamics follows the well known Kuramoto model paradigm of limit-cycle oscillators. The natural frequencies in the Kuramoto model are assumed to obey a given scale dependence through a dispersion relation of the drift-wave form −βk1+k2, where β is a constant representing the typical strength of the gradient. The present aim is to study the importance of collective phase dynamics on the characteristic time evolution of the fluctuation energy and the formation of coherent structures. Our results show that the assumption of a fully stochastic phase state of turbulence is more relevant for high values of β, where we find that the energy spectrum follows a k−7/2 scaling. Whereas for lower β there is a significant difference between a-synchronised and synchronised phase states, one could expect the formation of coherent modulations in the latter case.
The near vacuum hohlraum campaign at the NIF: A new approach
Authors: Le Pape S. , Berzak Hopkins L. F. , Divol L. , Meezan N. , Turnbull D. , Mackinnon A. J. , Ho D. , Ross J. S. , Khan S. , Pak A. , Dewald E. , Benedetti L. R. , Nagel S. , Biener J. , Callahan D. A. , Yeamans C. , Michel P. , Schneider M. , Kozioziemski B. , Ma T. , Macphee A. G. , Haan S. , Izumi N. , Hatarik R. , Sterne P. , Celliers P. , Ralph J. , Rygg R. , Strozzi D. , Kilkenny J. , Rosenberg M. , Rinderknecht H. , Sio H. , Gatu-Johnson M. , Frenje J. , Petrasso R. , Zylstra A. , Town R. , Hurricane O. , Nikroo A. , Edwards M. J.
Published: May 2016

The near vacuum campaign on the National Ignition Facility has concentrated its efforts over the last year on finding the optimum target geometry to drive a symmetric implosion at high convergence ratio (30×). As the hohlraum walls are not tamped with gas, the hohlraum is filling with gold plasma and the challenge resides in depositing enough energy in the hohlraum before it fills up. Hohlraum filling is believed to cause symmetry swings late in the pulse that are detrimental to the symmetry of the hot spot at high convergence. This paper describes a series of experiments carried out to examine the effect of increasing the distance between the hohlraum wall and the capsule (case to capsule ratio) on the symmetry of the hot spot. These experiments have shown that smaller Case to Capsule Ratio (CCR of 2.87 and 3.1) resulted in oblate implosions that could not be tuned round. Larger CCR (3.4) led to a prolate implosion at convergence 30× implying that inner beam propagation at large CCR is not impeded by the expanding hohlraum plasma. A Case to Capsule ratio of 3.4 is a promising geometry to design a round implosion but in a smaller hohlraum where the hohlraum losses are lower, enabling a wider cone fraction range to adjust symmetry.
Calibration of imaging plates to electrons between 40 and 180 MeV
Authors: Rabhi N. , Bohacek K. , Batani D. , Boutoux G. , Ducret J.-E. , Guillaume E. , Jakubowska K. , Thaury C. , Thfoin I.
Published: May 2016

This paper presents the response calibration of Imaging Plates (IPs) for electrons in the 40-180 MeV range using laser-accelerated electrons at Laboratoire d’Optique Appliquée (LOA), Palaiseau, France. In the calibration process, the energy spectrum and charge of electron beams are measured by an independent system composed of a magnetic spectrometer and a Lanex scintillator screen used as a calibrated reference detector. It is possible to insert IPs of different types or stacks of IPs in this spectrometer in order to detect dispersed electrons simultaneously. The response values are inferred from the signal on the IPs, due to an appropriate charge calibration of the reference detector. The effect of thin layers of tungsten in front and/or behind IPs is studied in detail. GEANT4 simulations are used in order to analyze our measurements.
Sequential double excitations from linear-response time-dependent density functional theory
Authors: Mosquera Martín A. , Chen Lin X. , Ratner Mark A. , Schatz George C.
Published: May 2016

Traditional UV/vis and X-ray spectroscopies focus mainly on the study of excitations starting exclusively from electronic ground states. However there are many experiments where transitions from excited states, both absorption and emission, are probed. In this work we develop a formalism based on linear-response time-dependent density functional theory to investigate spectroscopic properties of excited states. We apply our model to study the excited-state absorption of a diplatinum(II) complex under X-rays, and transient vis/UV absorption of pyrene and azobenzene.
Analytical correlation functions for motion through diffusivity landscapes
Authors: Roosen-Runge Felix , Bicout Dominique J. , Barrat Jean-Louis
Published: May 2016

Diffusion of a particle through an energy and diffusivity landscape is a very general phenomenon in numerous systems of soft and condensed matter. On the one hand, theoretical frameworks such as Langevin and Fokker-Planck equations present valuable accounts to understand these motions in great detail, and numerous studies have exploited these approaches. On the other hand, analytical solutions for correlation functions, as, e.g., desired by experimentalists for data fitting, are only available for special cases. We explore the possibility to use different theoretical methods in the specific picture of time-dependent switching between diffusive states to derive analytical functions that allow to link experimental and simulation results to theoretical calculations. In particular, we present a closed formula for diffusion switching between two states, as well as a general recipe of how to generalize the formula to multiple states.
R-matrix and inverse Shapovalov form
Authors: Mudrov Andrey
Published: May 2016

We construct the inverse Shapovalov form of a simple complex quantum group from its universal R-matrix based on a generalized Nagel-Moshinsky approach to lowering operators. We establish a connection between this algorithm and the ABRR equation for dynamical twist.
Classification of quantum groups and Belavin–Drinfeld cohomologies for orthogonal and symplectic Lie algebras
Authors: Kadets Boris , Karolinsky Eugene , Pop Iulia , Stolin Alexander
Published: May 2016

In this paper we continue to study Belavin–Drinfeld cohomology introduced in Kadets et al., Commun. Math. Phys. 344(1), 1-24 (2016) and related to the classification of quantum groups whose quasi-classical limit is a given simple complex Lie algebra 𝔤. Here we compute Belavin–Drinfeld cohomology for all non-skewsymmetric r-matrices on the Belavin–Drinfeld list for simple Lie algebras of type B, C, and D.
Note: Design and implementation of a home-built imaging system with low jitter for cold atom experiments
Authors: Hachtel A. J. , Gillette M. C. , Clements E. R. , Zhong S. , Weeks M. R. , Bali S.
Published: May 2016

A novel home-built system for imaging cold atom samples is presented using a readily available astronomy camera which has the requisite sensitivity but no timing-control. We integrate the camera with LabVIEW achieving fast, low-jitter imaging with a convenient user-defined interface. We show that our system takes precisely timed millisecond exposures and offers significant improvements in terms of system jitter and readout time over previously reported home-built systems. Our system rivals current commercial “black box” systems in performance and user-friendliness.
A new structural relaxation pathway of low-density amorphous ice
Authors: Shephard Jacob J. , Klotz Stefan , Vickers Martin , Salzmann Christoph G.
Published: May 2016

Low-density amorphous (LDA) ice is involved in critical cosmological processes and has gained prominence as one of the at least two distinct amorphous forms of ice. Despite these accolades, we still have an incomplete understanding of the structural diversity that is encompassed within the LDA state and the dynamic processes that take place upon heating LDA. Heating the high-pressure ice VIII phase at ambient pressure is a remarkable example of temperature-induced amorphisation yielding LDA. We investigate this process in detail using X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy and show that the LDA obtained from ice VIII is structurally different from the more “traditional” states of LDA which are approached upon thermal annealing. This new structural relaxation pathway involves an increase of structural order on the intermediate range length scale. In contrast with other LDA materials the local structure is more ordered initially and becomes slightly more disordered upon annealing. We also show that the cascade of phase transitions upon heating ice VIII at ambient pressure includes the formation of ice IX which may be connected with the structural peculiarities of LDA from ice VIII. Overall, this study shows that LDA is a structurally more diverse material than previously appreciated.