bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Floquet scalar dynamics in global AdS
Authors: Biasi Anxo , Carracedo Pablo , Mas Javier , Musso Daniele , Serantes Alexandre
Published: April 2018

Abstract

We study periodically driven scalar fields and the resulting geometries with global AdS asymptotics. These solutions describe the strongly coupled dynamics of dual finite-size quantum systems under a periodic driving which we interpret as Floquet condensates. They span a continuous two-parameter space that extends the linearized solutions on AdS. We map the regions of stability in the solution space. In a significant portion of the unstable subspace, two very different endpoints are reached depending upon the sign of the perturbation. Collapse into a black hole occurs for one sign. For the opposite sign instead one attains a regular solution with periodic modulation. We also construct quenches where the driving frequency and amplitude are continuously varied. Quasistatic quenches can interpolate between pure AdS and sourced solutions with time periodic vev. By suitably choosing the quasistatic path one can obtain boson stars dual to Floquet condensates at zero driving field. We characterize the adiabaticity of the quenching processes. Besides, we speculate on the possible connections of this framework with time crystals.
Intraspecific variability may not compensate for increasing climatic volatility
Authors: Malanson George P.
Published: April 2018

The role of intraspecific variability is being examined to improve predictions of responses to climate change or invasions and in research on diversity. Simultaneously, the probability and implications of increased high‐frequency climate variability have been raised. An agent based model simulated two species on an environmental gradient representing an alpine treeline; a trend in its volatility was added. The species have different levels of variability, and each individual has further unique heterogeneity. Environmental volatility and individual heterogeneity were based on tree ring data from Pinus albicaulis. Simulations show that increasing volatility leads to population declines, including extinctions, and to sharper ecotones, and this impact is only slightly lessened by higher heterogeneity. Some simulation runs reveal an unanticipated selection for greater individual variability when volatility creates strong negative anomalies that fall short of extinction events. Increasing volatility can have significant ecological impacts because negative anomalies are not balanced by positive ones.
Context and clinical reasoning: Understanding the medical student perspective
Authors: McBee Elexis , Ratcliffe Temple , Schuwirth Lambert , O’Neill Daniel , Meyer Holly , Madden Shelby J. , Durning Steven J.
Published: April 2018

Introduction Studies have shown that a physician’s clinical reasoning performance can be influenced by contextual factors. We explored how the clinical reasoning performance of medical students was impacted by contextual factors in order to expand upon previous findings in resident and board certified physicians. Using situated cognition as the theoretical framework, our aim was to evaluate the verbalized clinical reasoning processes of medical students in order to describe what impact the presence of contextual factors has on their reasoning performance.

Methods Seventeen medical student participants viewed three video recordings of clinical encounters portraying straightforward diagnostic cases in internal medicine with explicit contextual factors inserted. Participants completed a computerized post-encounter form as well as a think-aloud protocol. Three authors analyzed verbatim transcripts from the think-aloud protocols using a constant comparative approach. After iterative coding, utterances were analyzed and grouped into categories and themes.

Results Six categories and ten associated themes emerged, which demonstrated overlap with findings from previous studies in resident and attending physicians. Four overlapping categories included emotional disturbances, behavioural inferences about the patient, doctor-patient relationship, and difficulty with closure. Two new categories emerged to include anchoring and misinterpretation of data.

Discussion The presence of contextual factors appeared to impact clinical reasoning performance in medical students. The data suggest that a contextual factor can be innate to the clinical scenario, consistent with situated cognition theory. These findings build upon our understanding of clinical reasoning performance from both a theoretical and practical perspective.
How are competency frameworks perceived and taught?: An exploratory study in the context of pharmacy education
Authors: Paradis Elise , Zhao Rebecca , Kellar Jamie , Thompson Alison
Published: April 2018

Introduction Faculties of Pharmacy worldwide have to adapt their curriculum to accreditation criteria. The present study explored how the Association of Faculties of Pharmacy of Canada’s (AFPC’s) 2010 Educational Outcomes are perceived and taught at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy (LDFP). These outcomes were adapted from the CanMeds Physician Competency Framework which describes both medical expert and non-expert roles.
Methods We wondered if pharmacy would struggle, as medicine has, to integrate these roles into curricula in meaningful ways, given the absence of previous studies from Pharmacy. We conducted an exploratory interview study with 10 core faculty members in charge of courses where non-expert roles were taught. Data were analysed using conventional content analysis.
Results Faculty members understood that the AFPC Outcomes are important for students, patients, and the profession of pharmacy, and some saw the roles as knowledge-based and teachable using content from academic disciplines. However, most saw them as skills taught informally or through clinical experience. They used the roles as a framing device to legitimize their course content and relied on informal role modelling to do most of the teaching. The few faculty members who taught content related to these roles had postgraduate education in a social science or humanities discipline.
Discussion Similar to studies of Faculties of Medicine, our study highlights the difficulty of translating a role-based, competency framework into concrete, integrated curricula for students. Competency development should be explicitly embedded into the curriculum and cannot be left to individual instructors.
A review on multi-criteria decision-making for energy efficiency in automotive engineering
Authors: Castro Djan Magalhaes , Silv Parreiras Fernando
Published: April 2018

Governments around the world instituted guidelines for calculating energy efficiency of vehicles not only by models, but by the whole universe of new vehicles registered. This paper compiles Multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) studies related to automotive industry. We applied a Systematic Literature Review on MCDM studies published until 2015 to identify patterns on MCDM applications to design vehicles more fuel efficient in order to achieve full compliance with energy efficiency guidelines (e.g., Inovar-Auto). From 339 papers, 45 papers have been identified as describing some MCDM technique and correlation to automotive industry. We classified the most common MCDM technique and application in the automotive industry. Integrated approaches were more usual than individual ones. Application of fuzzy methods to tackle uncertainties in the data was also observed. Despite the maturity in the use of MCDM in several areas of knowledge, and intensive use in the automotive industry, none of them are directly linked to car design for energy efficiency. Analytic Hierarchy Process was identified as the common technique applied in the automotive industry.
Structural Insights into N
6-Methyladenosine (m6A) Modification in the Transcriptome
Authors: Huang Jinbo , Yin Ping
Published: April 2018

More than 100 types of chemical modifications in RNA have been well documented. Recently, several modifications, such as N6-methyladenosine (m6A), have been detected in mRNA, opening the window into the realm of epitranscriptomics. The m6A modification is the most abundant modification in mRNA and non-coding RNA (ncRNA). At the molecular level, m6A affects almost all aspects of mRNA metabolism, including splicing, translation, and stability, as well as microRNA (miRNA) maturation, playing essential roles in a range of cellular processes. The m6A modification is regulated by three classes of proteins generally referred to as the “writer” (adenosine methyltransferase), “eraser” (m6A demethylating enzyme), and “reader” (m6A-binding protein). The m6A modification is reversibly installed and removed by writers and erasers, respectively. Readers, which are members of the YT521-B homology (YTH) family proteins, selectively bind to RNA and affect its fate in an m6A-dependent manner. In this review, we summarize the structures of the functional proteins that modulate the m6A modification, and provide our insights into the m6A-mediated gene regulation.
Collision rate of ice crystals with water droplets in turbulent flows
Authors: Naso Aurore , Jucha Jennifer , Lévêque Emmanuel , Pumir Alain
Published: April 2018

Riming, the process whereby ice crystals get coated by impacting supercooled liquid droplets, is one of the dominant processes leading to precipitation in mixed-phase clouds. How a settling crystal collides with very small water droplets has been mostly studied in laminar conditions. The present numerical study aims at providing further insight on how turbulent flow motion affects the riming of ice crystals. We model the crystals as narrow oblate ellipsoids, smaller than the Kolmogorov elementary scale. By neglecting the effect of fluid inertia on the motion of the crystals and droplets, and using direct numerical simulations of the Navier–Stokes equations in a moderately turbulent regime, over a range of kinetic energy dissipation$1~\text{cm}^{2}~\text{s}^{-3}\lesssim \unicode[STIX]{x1D700}\lesssim 256~\text{cm}^{2}~\text{s}^{-3}$, we determine the collision rate between disk-shaped ice crystals and very small liquid water droplets. Whereas differential settling plays the dominant role in determining the collision rate at small turbulence intensity, the role of turbulence becomes more important at the large values of$\unicode[STIX]{x1D700}$simulated, an effect that can be partly attributed to the increased role of inertia. We always find that collisions occur with a large probability on the rim of the ellipsoids, a phenomenon that can be explained to a large extent by kinematic considerations. The difference in the settling velocity of crystals and droplets induces a strong asymmetry in the probability of collision between the faces of the ellipsoids. Our results shed light on the physical mechanisms involved in the riming of ice crystals in clouds.
On the transition between turbulence regimes in particle-laden channel flows
Authors: Capecelatro Jesse , Desjardins Olivier , Fox Rodney O.
Published: April 2018

Turbulent wall-bounded flows exhibit a wide range of regimes with significant interaction between scales. The fluid dynamics associated with single-phase channel flows is predominantly characterized by the Reynolds number. Meanwhile, vastly different behaviour exists in particle-laden channel flows, even at a fixed Reynolds number. Vertical turbulent channel flows seeded with a low concentration of inertial particles are known to exhibit segregation in the particle distribution without significant modification to the underlying turbulent kinetic energy (TKE). At moderate (but still low) concentrations, enhancement or attenuation of fluid-phase TKE results from increased dissipation and wakes past individual particles. Recent studies have shown that denser suspensions significantly alter the two-phase dynamics, where the majority of TKE is generated by interphase coupling (i.e.  drag) between the carrier gas and clusters of particles that fall near the channel wall. In the present study, a series of simulations of vertical particle-laden channel flows with increasing mass loading is conducted to analyse the transition from the dilute limit where classical mean-shear production is primarily responsible for generating fluid-phase TKE to high-mass-loading suspensions dominated by drag production. Eulerian–Lagrangian simulations are performed for a wide range of particle loadings at two values of the Stokes number, and the corresponding two-phase energy balances are reported to identify the mechanisms responsible for the observed transition.
The Emergence of Pressure Knapping Microblade Technology in Northeast Asia
Authors: Gómez Coutouly Yan Axel
Published: April 2018

This article is a critical review of published data from the earliest evidence of pressure knapped microblade technology from various regions in Northeast Asia (Siberia, Korea, China, Mongolia, Japan, Sakhalin, and Russian Far East), including discussions not only on published dates, but also on published artifacts (drawings and photos) relating to these assemblages. The issue concerning the geographical and chronological origin of microblade technology in Northeast Asia remains a widely debated concern, not only as new data emerge, but also due to researchers having different definitions of the term “microblade” and “microblade core”. In this case, by microblade technology, I refer to the systematic production of microblades using the pressure knapping technique. I therefore review the data in light of this defining feature and conclude that, based on the present state of research, pressure knapping microblade technology probably emerged in the Far East (China, Korea, or Japan) around 30,000–25,000 cal BP, in spite of most authors considering that microblade technology emerged in southern Siberia 40,000–35,000 years ago. In the discussion section, I argue about the potential role of obsidian in the emergence of pressure knapped microblade technology.
The Accuracy of Al and Cu Film Thickness Determinations and the Implications for Electron Probe Microanalysis
Authors: Matthews Mike B. , Kearns Stuart L. , Buse Ben
Published: April 2018

The accuracy to which Cu and Al coatings can be determined, and the effect this has on the quantification of the substrate, is investigated. Cu and Al coatings of nominally 5, 10, 15, and 20 nm were sputter coated onto polished Bi using two configurations of coater: One with the film thickness monitor (FTM) sensor colocated with the samples, and one where the sensor is located to one side. The FTM thicknesses are compared against those calculated from measured Cu Lαand Al Kα k-ratios using PENEPMA, GMRFilm, and DTSA-II. Selected samples were also cross-sectioned using focused ion beam. Both systems produced repeatable coatings, the thickest coating being approximately four times the thinnest coating. The side-located FTM sensor indicated thicknesses less than half those of the software modeled results, propagating on to 70% errors in substrate quantification at 5 kV. The colocated FTM sensor produced errors in film thickness and substrate quantification of 10–20%. Over the range of film thicknesses and accelerating voltages modeled both the substrate and coatingk-ratios can be approximated by linear trends as functions of film thickness. The Al films were found to have a reduced density of ~2 g/cm2.
Towards an equitable and sustainable points system. A proposal for pension reform in Belgium
Authors: SCHOKKAERT ERIK , DEVOLDER PIERRE , HINDRIKS JEAN , VANDENBROUCKE FRANK
Published: April 2018

We describe the points system as proposed by the Belgian Commission for Pension Reform 2020–2040. Intragenerational equity can be realised through the allocation of points within a cohort. The intergenerational distribution is determined by fixing the value of a point for the newly retired and a sustainability parameter for the actual retirees. The value of the point links pensions to the average living standard of the employed population. We propose an automatic adjustment mechanism, in which a key role is played by the career length. This mechanism induces a balanced distribution of the burden of demographic and economic shocks over the different cohorts.
THE KU KLUX KLAN, LABOR, AND THE WHITE WORKING CLASS DURING THE 1920S
Authors: Pegram Thomas R.
Published: April 2018

Historians usually consider the revived Ku Klux Klan of the 1920s to have been consistently opposed to labor unions and the aspirations of working-class people. The official outlook of the national Klan organization fits this characterization, but the interaction between grassroots Klan groups and pockets of white Protestant working-class Americans was more complex. Some left-wing critics of capitalism singled out the Klan as a legitimate if flawed platform on which to build white working-class unity at a time when unions were weak and other institutions demonstrated indifference to working-class interests. In industrial communities scattered across the Midwest, South, and West, white Protestant workers joined the Klan. In Akron, Ohio, the Klan helped to sustain white working-class community cohesion among alienated rubber workers. In Birmingham, Alabama, the Klan violently repressed mixed-race unions but joined with white Protestant workers in a political movement that enacted reforms beneficial to the white working class. But Klan attention to working-class interests was circumstantial and rigidly restricted by race, religion, and ethnicity. Ku Klux definitions of whiteness excluded from fellowship many immigrant and Catholic workers. Local Klans supported striking white Protestant workers when Catholic, immigrant, or black rivals were present, but acted, sometimes violently, against strikes that destabilized white Protestant communities. Ku Klux sympathies complicated urban socialist politics in the Midwest and disrupted the effectiveness and unity of the United Mine Workers. Lingering Klan sympathies among union workers document the power of reactionary popular movements to undermine working-class identity in favor of restrictive loyalties based on race, religion, and ethnicity.
Entwicklung und Validierung eines Fragebogens zur Erfassung von Sportinteressen im Jugendalter (SPIT)
Authors: Schmid Jürg , Albertin Katharina , Toggweiler Stephan , Birrer Daniel , Zimprich Daniel , Seiler Roland
Published: April 2018

Zusammenfassung. Interessen sind in der Berufs- und pädagogischen Psychologie, nicht aber in der Sportpsychologie, ein zentrales Persönlichkeitskonstrukt zur Erklärung menschlichen Erlebens und Verhaltens. Der Sportinteressentest (SPIT) ist auf der Basis der Theorie von Holland (1997) und der Konditionsfaktoren Ausdauer, Schnelligkeit, Koordination und Kraft zur Erfassung sportbezogener Interessen entwickelt und an 1 243 Jugendlichen teststatistisch überprüft worden. In konfirmatorischen Faktorenanalysen erwiesen sich 11 Skalen als eindimensional; ihre interne Konsistenz schwankte zwischen .71 und .87. Die Korrelationen des SPIT mit dem Allgemeinen Interessen-Struktur-Test ( Bergmann & Eder, 2005 ) und den Skalen zur Erfassung des physischen Selbstkonzepts ( Stiller, Würth & Alfermann, 2004 ) fielen weitgehend erwartungskonform aus. Mit dem SPIT liegt ein Verfahren vor, das sich zum Screening multidimensionaler Interessenprofile und zur Beschreibung jugendlicher Zielgruppen im Freizeit- und Gesundheitssport anbietet.
FAQ zu Open Data und Open Science in der Sportpsychologie
Authors: Schönbrodt Felix D. , Scheel Anne
Published: April 2018

Präambel: Viele Diskussionspunkte um Open Data lassen sich grob in zwei Perspektiven einteilen. (A) die Qualitätsperspektive, bzw. die Gemeinwohlperspektive: Wie können wir gute Wissenschaft machen und echtes Wissen generieren? Was können wir aus der aktuellen Replikationskrise lernen und in Zukunft besser machen? Die andere Perspektive könnte man als (B) individuell-strategische Perspektive bezeichnen: Was bedeuten die neuen Forschungspraktiken und -anforderungen für die individuellen Karrieren von Forscherinnen und Forschern, insbesondere aus dem Nachwuchs? Wo liegen strategische Vor- oder Nachteile? Gibt es „free rider“ oder „research parasites“ ( Longo & Drazen, 2016 ; McNutt, 2016 ), die mich ausnutzen? Wie kann ich mich in einem hart umkämpften Arbeitsmarkt gegen die Konkurrenz durchsetzen?

Die aktuell vorliegenden Fragen beziehen sich zu einem großen Teil auf die zweite Perspektive. Das ist bei Nachwuchsforschenden legitim und nachvollziehbar. Uns ist es aber wichtig, bei allen Karriereunsicherheiten die übergeordnete Frage nicht zu vergessen: Wie können wir gute Wissenschaft umsetzen? Wie können wir dazu beitragen, dass echtes Wissen generiert wird? Das sollte uns als Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftlern das wichtigste Anliegen sein. Und entsprechend sollten wir als Fachgemeinschaft auch Karriereanreize so organisieren, dass sie dieses Ziel unterstützen.
Physical Controls on Oxygen Distribution and Denitrification Potential in the North West Arabian Sea
Authors: Queste Bastien Y. , Vic Clément , Heywood Karen J. , Piontkovski Sergey A.
Published: April 2018

At suboxic oxygen concentrations, key biogeochemical cycles change and denitrification becomes the dominant remineralization pathway. Earth system models predict oxygen loss across most ocean basins in the next century; oxygen minimum zones near suboxia may become suboxic and therefore denitrifying. Using an ocean glider survey and historical data, we show oxygen loss in the Gulf of Oman (from 6–12 to <2 μmol kg−1) not represented in climatologies. Because of the nonlinearity between denitrification and oxygen concentration, resolutions of current Earth system models are too coarse to accurately estimate denitrification. We develop a novel physical proxy for oxygen from the glider data and use a high‐resolution physical model to show eddy stirring of oxygen across the Gulf of Oman. We use the model to investigate spatial and seasonal differences in the ratio of oxic and suboxic water across the Gulf of Oman and waters exported to the wider Arabian Sea.
New Program Enables Scientists to Be Voices for Science
Authors: Rehm Dana , Shultz Alexandra
Published: April 2018

The American Geophysical Union has created a network of 30 individuals from diverse disciplines who will advocate for science in their congressional districts.
The Impact and Solar Wind Proxy of the 2017 September ICME Event at Mars
Authors: Ma Yingjuan , Fang Xiaohua , Halekas Jasper S. , Xu Shaosui , Russell Christopher T. , Luhmann Janet G. , Nagy Andrew F. , Toth Gabor , Lee Christina O. , Dong Chuanfei , Espley Jared R. , McFadden James P. , Mitchell David L. , Jakosky Bruce M.
Published: April 2018

We study a large interplanetary coronal mass ejection event impacting Mars in mid‐September 2017 numerically. During this time period, MAVEN remained inside the Martian bow shock and therefore could not measure the solar wind directly. We first simulate the event using three steady state cases with estimated solar wind conditions and find that these cases were able to reproduce the general features observed by MAVEN. However, these time‐stationary runs cannot capture the response of the system to large variations in the solar wind associated with the event. To address this problem, we derive a solar wind proxy based on MAVEN observations in the sheath region and their comparison with steady state magnetohydrodynamic model results. The derived solar wind proxy is then used to drive a time‐dependent magnetohydrodynamic model, and we find that the data‐model comparison is greatly improved, especially in the magnetosheath. We are able to reproduce some detailed structures observed by MAVEN during the period, despite the lack of a direct measurement of the solar wind, indicating that the derived solar wind conditions are reliable. Finally, we examine in detail the impact of the event on the Martian system: including variations of the three typical plasma boundaries and the ion loss rates. Our results show that these plasma boundary locations varied drastically during the event, and the total ion loss rate was enhanced by more than an order of magnitude.
Effectiveness of prosthodontic interventions and survival of remaining teeth in adult patients with shortened dental arches—Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: McLister Conor , Donnelly Michael , Cardwell Christopher , Moore Ciaran , McKenna Gerald
Published: April 2018

Aims/Objectives:

To evaluate studies of the effectiveness of different tooth replacement strategies in adult patients with shortened dental arches (SDA). Specifically, the objectives of the proposed review are to determine the survival rates of different prosthodontic interventions; the risk of tooth loss with and without different prosthodontic interventions; and the impact of different tooth replacement strategies on oral-health related quality of life (OHRQoL).

Materials and methods:

The protocol has been registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO), and was developed in accordance with the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P). Studies will be selected according to outlined eligibility criteria including types of studies, participants, interventions, comparators and outcomes. Specific search strategies will be created and data collection and analysis will be undertaken by two independent reviewers.

Discussion:

The review will assess the body of evidence for clinical decision making in patients with SDA and reduced dentitions, by comparing the effectiveness of different tooth replacement strategies. In addition, it will assess the influence of patients in this decision making, help to inform subsequent cost-effectiveness analyses, identify areas of further research and hopefully inform future healthcare policy.
Oral health-related quality of life in patients with upper gastrointestinal and hepatic disorders in Pakistan: validation of the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 in the Urdu language
Authors: Warsi Ibrahim , Younus Anjum , Rasheed Abdur , Ahmed Javeria , Mahida Hafsa , Hashmi Rimsha , Qureshi Ambrina
Published: April 2018

Introduction

The Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) has been used extensively to measure the impact of oral disease on oral health-related quality of life (HRQoL) but has not been validated in the Urdu language or tested in gastroenterology.

Aims

To validate the OHIP-14 for use in Pakistan and its ability to assess oral health in patients with upper gastrointestinal (GI) and hepatic disorders.

Design

Multicentre, cross-sectional.

Setting

Four major tertiary care hospitals.

Methods

The OHIP-14 was tested for reliability and validity in 700 patients referred for oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopic (OGD) investigation of the symptoms of upper GI or hepatic disease. Socio-demographic details and oral examination findings (for oral lesions and DMFT) were recorded.

Results

The mean (±standard deviation) total OHIP-14 score (range 0–56) was estimated to be 23.38 ± 10.47, indicating a significant impact of upper gastrointestinal and hepatic disorders on oral health. The reliability coefficient of the OHIP-14 was above 0.7 threshold, and the tool had good internal consistency (α = 0.83). When associated with worsening DMFT (decayed, missed, and filled teeth) index value, the highest correlations (p < 0.01) were detected with functional limitation (rs = 0.234), physical disability (rs = 0.230), and psychological discomfort (rs = 0.221).

Conclusion

The OHIP-14 is a precise and valid instrument for assessing oral-HRQoL in a gastroenterological setting amongst Pakistani population.
G3BP1 promotes tumor progression and metastasis through IL-6/G3BP1/STAT3 signaling axis in renal cell carcinomas
Authors: Wang Yong , Fu Donghe , Chen Yajing , Su Jing , Wang Yiting , Li Xin , Zhai Wei , Niu Yuanjie , Yue Dan , Geng Hua
Published: April 2018

The chronic inflammatory microenvironment within or surrounding the primary renal cell carcinoma (RCC) site promotes oncogenic transformation as well as contributes to the development of metastasis. G3BP stress granule assembly factor 1 (G3BP1) was found to be involved in the regulation of multiple cellular functions. However, its functions in RCC have not been previously explored. Here, we first showed that the expression of G3BP1 is elevated in human RCC and correlates with RCC progression. In cultured RCC cells, knockdown of G3BP1 results in inhibition of tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, consistently with the alteration of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cell proliferative markers, including Cadherins, Vimentin, Snail, Slug, c-Myc, and cyclin D1. Remarkably, knockdown of G3BP1 dramatically impaired the signaling connection of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 stimulation and downstream STAT3 activation in RCC, thus eventually contributing to the disruption of IL-6-elicited RCC migration and metastasis. In addition, in vivo orthotopic tumor xenografts results confirmed that knockdown of G3BP1 suppressed RCC tumor growth and metastasis in mice. Collectively, our findings support the notion that G3BP1 promotes tumor progression and metastasis through IL-6/G3BP1/STAT3 signaling axis in RCC.
Single vector platform vaccine protects against lethal respiratory challenge with Tier 1 select agents of anthrax, plague, and tularemia
Authors: Jia Qingmei , Bowen Richard , Dillon Barbara Jane , Masleša-Galić Saša , Chang Brennan T. , Kaidi Austin C. , Horwitz Marcus A.
Published: April 2018

Bacillus anthracis, Yersinia pestis, and Francisella tularensis are the causative agents of Tier 1 Select Agents anthrax, plague, and tularemia, respectively. Currently, there are no licensed vaccines against plague and tularemia and the licensed anthrax vaccine is suboptimal. Here we report F. tularensis LVS ΔcapB (Live Vaccine Strain with a deletion in capB)- and attenuated multi-deletional Listeria monocytogenes (Lm)-vectored vaccines against all three aforementioned pathogens. We show that LVS ΔcapB- and Lm-vectored vaccines express recombinant B. anthracis, Y. pestis, and F. tularensis immunoprotective antigens in broth and in macrophage-like cells and are non-toxic in mice. Homologous priming-boosting with the LVS ΔcapB-vectored vaccines induces potent antigen-specific humoral and T-cell-mediated immune responses and potent protective immunity against lethal respiratory challenge with all three pathogens. Protection against anthrax was far superior to that obtained with the licensed AVA vaccine and protection against tularemia was comparable to or greater than that obtained with the toxic and unlicensed LVS vaccine. Heterologous priming-boosting with LVS ΔcapB- and Lm-vectored B. anthracis and Y. pestis vaccines also induced potent protective immunity against lethal respiratory challenge with B. anthracis and Y. pestis. The single vaccine platform, especially the LVS ΔcapB-vectored vaccine platform, can be extended readily to other pathogens.
Author Correction: Decentralized dynamic understanding of hidden relations in complex networks
Authors: Mocanu Decebal Constantin , Exarchakos Georgios , Liotta Antonio
Published: April 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper.
Observation of the thermal influenced quantum behaviour of water near a solid interface
Authors: Yoon Hongkee , Yoon Byoung Jip
Published: April 2018

Water is essential for life. However, the structure and properties of water are still not well understood. It has been introduced that anomalies are in vicinal water near solid interfaces. We performed capillary flow experiments on water with a silica colloid sample using a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system by accurately varying the temperature and analysed the peak shape rigorously. We obtained a novel anomalous temperature spectrum from the peak-shape analysis. Here we report the observed distinct specific anomalous temperature (SAT) behaviour in vicinal water at silica interface. The anomaly appeared in the viscous force that was derived from a relationship between the shape of the HPLC peak and the velocity profile for the capillary flow. The observations were highly reproducible, and we conclude that the SAT is related to the quantum mechanical behaviour of water, in agreement of the characteristic acceptance of thermal displacement according to the Franck-Condon principle. We performed the same experiments using heavy water and water mixed with a small amount of methanol, and the results support the quantum phenomenological origin.
Fitting a function to time-dependent ensemble averaged data
Authors: Fogelmark Karl , Lomholt Michael A. , Irbäck Anders , Ambjörnsson Tobias
Published: April 2018

Time-dependent ensemble averages, i.e., trajectory-based averages of some observable, are of importance in many fields of science. A crucial objective when interpreting such data is to fit these averages (for instance, squared displacements) with a function and extract parameters (such as diffusion constants). A commonly overlooked challenge in such function fitting procedures is that fluctuations around mean values, by construction, exhibit temporal correlations. We show that the only available general purpose function fitting methods, correlated chi-square method and the weighted least squares method (which neglects correlation), fail at either robust parameter estimation or accurate error estimation. We remedy this by deriving a new closed-form error estimation formula for weighted least square fitting. The new formula uses the full covariance matrix, i.e., rigorously includes temporal correlations, but is free of the robustness issues, inherent to the correlated chi-square method. We demonstrate its accuracy in four examples of importance in many fields: Brownian motion, damped harmonic oscillation, fractional Brownian motion and continuous time random walks. We also successfully apply our method, weighted least squares including correlation in error estimation (WLS-ICE), to particle tracking data. The WLS-ICE method is applicable to arbitrary fit functions, and we provide a publically available WLS-ICE software.
Author Correction: Functional Detection of TNF Receptor Family Members by Affinity-Labeled Ligands
Authors: Xu Yang , Chang Lingmo , Huang Anliang , Liu Xiaojun , Liu Xinyu , Zhou Hong , Liang Joshua G. , Liang Peng
Published: April 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.
Initial characterisation of adult human ovarian cell populations isolated by DDX4 expression and aldehyde dehydrogenase activity
Authors: Clarkson Yvonne L. , McLaughlin Marie , Waterfall Martin , Dunlop Cheryl E. , Skehel Paul A. , Anderson Richard A. , Telfer Evelyn E.
Published: April 2018

The existence of a population of putative stem cells with germline developmental potential (oogonial stem cells: OSCs) in the adult mammalian ovary has been marked by controversy over isolation methodology and potential for in-vitro transformation, particularly where cell sorting has been based on expression of DEAD box polypeptide 4 (DDX4). This study describes a refined tissue dissociation/fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) protocol for the ovaries of adult women which results in increased cell viability and yield of putative OSCs. A FACS technique incorporating dual-detection of DDX4 with aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) demonstrates the existence of two sub-populations of small DDX4-positive cells (approx. 7 µm diameter) with ALDH1 activity, distinguished by expression of differentially spliced DDX4 transcripts and of DAZL, a major regulator of germ cell differentiation. These may indicate stages of differentiation from a progenitor population and provide a likely explanation for the expression disparities reported previously. These findings provide a robust basis for the further characterisation of these cells, and exploration of their potential physiological roles and therapeutic application.
White donor, younger donor and double lung transplant are associated with better survival in sarcoidosis patients
Authors: Salamo Oriana , Roghaee Shiva , Schweitzer Michael D. , Mantero Alejandro , Shafazand Shirin , Campos Michael , Mirsaeidi Mehdi
Published: April 2018

Sarcoidosis commonly affects the lung. Lung transplantation (LT) is required when there is a severe and refractory involvement. We compared post-transplant survival rates of sarcoidosis patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We also explored whether the race and age of the donor, and double lung transplant have any effect on the survival in the post transplant setting. We analyzed 9,727 adult patients with sarcoidosis, COPD, and IPF who underwent LT worldwide between 2005–2015 based on United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database. Survival rates were compared with Kaplan-Meier, and risk factors were investigated by Cox-regression analysis. 469 (5%) were transplanted because of sarcoidosis, 3,688 (38%) for COPD and 5,570 (57%) for IPF. Unadjusted survival analysis showed a better post-transplant survival rate for patients with sarcoidosis (p < 0.001, Log-rank test). In Cox-regression analysis, double lung transplant and white race of the lung donor showed to have a significant survival advantage. Since double lung transplant, those who are younger and have lower Lung Allocation Score (LAS) at the time of transplant have a survival advantage, we suggest double lung transplant as the procedure of choice, especially in younger sarcoidosis subjects and with lower LAS scores.
Investigating the Effects of the Interaction Intensity in a Weak Measurement
Authors: Piacentini Fabrizio , Avella Alessio , Gramegna Marco , Lussana Rudi , Villa Federica , Tosi Alberto , Brida Giorgio , Degiovanni Ivo Pietro , Genovese Marco
Published: April 2018

Measurements are crucial in quantum mechanics, for fundamental research as well as for applicative fields like quantum metrology, quantum-enhanced measurements and other quantum technologies. In the recent years, weak-interaction-based protocols like Weak Measurements and Protective Measurements have been experimentally realized, showing peculiar features leading to surprising advantages in several different applications. In this work we analyze the validity range for such measurement protocols, that is, how the interaction strength affects the weak value extraction, by measuring different polarization weak values on heralded single photons. We show that, even in the weak interaction regime, the coupling intensity limits the range of weak values achievable, setting a threshold on the signal amplification effect exploited in many weak measurement based experiments.
Ultra-Capacitive Carbon Neural Probe Allows Simultaneous Long-Term Electrical Stimulations and High-Resolution Neurotransmitter Detection
Authors: Nimbalkar Surabhi , Castagnola Elisa , Balasubramani Arvind , Scarpellini Alice , Samejima Soshi , Khorasani Abed , Boissenin Adrien , Thongpang Sanitta , Moritz Chet , Kassegne Sam
Published: April 2018

We present a new class of carbon-based neural probes that consist of homogeneous glassy carbon (GC) microelectrodes, interconnects and bump pads. These electrodes have purely capacitive behavior with exceptionally high charge storage capacity (CSC) and are capable of sustaining more than 3.5 billion cycles of bi-phasic pulses at charge density of 0.25 mC/cm2. These probes enable both high SNR (>16) electrical signal recording and remarkably high-resolution real-time neurotransmitter detection, on the same platform. Leveraging a new 2-step, double-sided pattern transfer method for GC structures, these probes allow extended long-term electrical stimulation with no electrode material corrosion. Cross-section characterization through FIB and SEM imaging demonstrate strong attachment enabled by hydroxyl and carbonyl covalent bonds between GC microstructures and top insulating and bottom substrate layers. Extensive in-vivo and in-vitro tests confirmed: (i) high SNR (>16) recordings, (ii) highest reported CSC for non-coated neural probe (61.4 ± 6.9 mC/cm2), (iii) high-resolution dopamine detection (10 nM level - one of the lowest reported so far), (iv) recording of both electrical and electrochemical signals, and (v) no failure after 3.5 billion cycles of pulses. Therefore, these probes offer a compelling multi-modal platform for long-term applications of neural probe technology in both experimental and clinical neuroscience.
Motion-induced compression of perceived numerosity
Authors: Fornaciai Michele , Togoli Irene , Arrighi Roberto
Published: April 2018

It has been recently proposed that space, time, and number might share a common representation in the brain. Evidence supporting this idea comes from adaptation studies demonstrating that prolonged exposure to a given stimulus feature distorts the perception of different characteristics. For example, visual motion adaptation affects both perceived position and duration of subsequent stimuli presented in the adapted location. Here, we tested whether motion adaptation also affects perceived numerosity, by testing the effect of adaptation to translating or rotating stimuli moving either at high (20 Hz) or low (5 Hz) speed. Adaptation to fast translational motion yielded a robust reduction in the apparent numerosity of the adapted stimulus (~25%) while adaptation to slow translational or circular motion (either 20 Hz or 5 Hz) yielded a weaker but still significant compression. Control experiments suggested that none of these results could be accounted for in terms of stimulus masking. Taken together, our results are consistent with the extant literature supporting the idea of a generalized magnitude system underlying the representation of numerosity, space and time via common metrics. However, as changes in perceived numerosity co-varied with both adapting motion profile and speed, our evidence also suggests complex and asymmetric interactions between different magnitude representations.
Author Correction: Dynamic cellular phenotyping defines specific mobilization mechanisms of human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells induced by SDF1α versus synthetic agents
Authors: Monzel Cornelia , Becker Alexandra S. , Saffrich Rainer , Wuchter Patrick , Eckstein Volker , Ho Anthony D. , Tanaka Motomu
Published: April 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.
Top-down beta oscillatory signaling conveys behavioral context in early visual cortex
Authors: Richter Craig G. , Coppola Richard , Bressler Steven L.
Published: April 2018

Top-down modulation of sensory processing is a critical neural mechanism subserving numerous important cognitive roles, one of which may be to inform lower-order sensory systems of the current ‘task at hand’ by conveying behavioral context to these systems. Accumulating evidence indicates that top-down cortical influences are carried by directed interareal synchronization of oscillatory neuronal populations, with recent results pointing to beta-frequency oscillations as particularly important for top-down processing. However, it remains to be determined if top-down beta-frequency oscillations indeed convey behavioral context. We measured spectral Granger Causality (sGC) using local field potentials recorded from microelectrodes chronically implanted in visual areas V1/V2, V4, and TEO of two rhesus macaque monkeys, and applied multivariate pattern analysis to the spatial patterns of top-down sGC. We decoded behavioral context by discriminating patterns of top-down (V4/TEO-to-V1/V2) beta-peak sGC for two different task rules governing correct responses to identical visual stimuli. The results indicate that top-down directed influences are carried to visual cortex by beta oscillations, and differentiate task demands even before visual stimulus processing. They suggest that top-down beta-frequency oscillatory processes coordinate processing of sensory information by conveying global knowledge states to early levels of the sensory cortical hierarchy independently of bottom-up stimulus-driven processing.
The Weak Microcavity as an Enabler for Bright and Fault-tolerant Light-emitting Electrochemical Cells
Authors: Lindh E. Mattias , Lundberg Petter , Lanz Thomas , Mindemark Jonas , Edman Ludvig
Published: April 2018

The light-emitting electrochemical cell (LEC) is functional at substantial active-layer thickness, and is as such heralded for being fit for low-cost and fault-tolerant solution-based fabrication. We report here that this statement should be moderated, and that in order to obtain a strong luminous output, it is fundamentally important to fabricate LEC devices with a designed thickness of the active layer. By systematic experimentation and simulation, we demonstrate that weak optical microcavity effects are prominent in a common LEC system, and that the luminance and efficiency, as well as the emission color and the angular intensity, vary in a periodic manner with the active-layer thickness. Importantly, we demonstrate that high-performance light-emission can be attained from LEC devices with a significant active-layer thickness of 300 nm, which implies that low-cost solution-processed LECs are indeed a realistic option, provided that the device structure has been appropriately designed from an optical perspective.
An Endophytic Bacterial Consortium modulates multiple strategies to improve Arsenic Phytoremediation Efficacy in Solanum nigrum
Authors: Mukherjee Gairik , Saha Chinmay , Naskar Nabanita , Mukherjee Abhishek , Mukherjee Arghya , Lahiri Susanta , Majumder Arun Lahiri , Seal Anindita
Published: April 2018

Endophytic microbes isolated from plants growing in contaminated habitats possess specialized properties that help their host detoxify the contaminant/s. The possibility of using microbe-assisted phytoremediation for the clean-up of Arsenic (As) contaminated soils of the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta of India, was explored using As-tolerant endophytic microbes from an As-tolerant plant Lantana camara collected from the contaminated site and an intermediate As-accumulator plant Solanum nigrum. Endophytes from L. camara established within S. nigrum as a surrogate host. The microbes most effectively improved plant growth besides increasing bioaccumulation and root-to-shoot transport of As when applied as a consortium. Better phosphate nutrition, photosynthetic performance, and elevated glutathione levels were observed in consortium-treated plants particularly under As-stress. The consortium maintained heightened ROS levels in the plant without any deleterious effect and concomitantly boosted distinct antioxidant defense mechanisms in the shoot and root of As-treated plants. Increased consortium-mediated As(V) to As(III) conversion appeared to be a crucial step in As-detoxification/translocation. Four aquaporins were differentially regulated by the endophytes and/or As. The most interesting finding was the strong upregulation of an MRP transporter in the root by the As + endophytes, which suggested a major alteration of As-detoxification/accumulation pattern upon endophyte treatment that improved As-phytoremediation.