bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Database of Absorption and Fluorescence Spectra of >300 Common Compounds for use in PhotochemCAD
Authors: Taniguchi Masahiko , Lindsey Jonathan S.
Published: November 2017

The design of new molecules for photochemical studies typically requires knowledge of spectral features of pertinent chromophores beginning with the absorption spectrum (λabs) and accompanying molar absorption coefficient (ε, m−1 cm−1) and often extending to the fluorescence spectrum (λem) and fluorescence quantum yield (Φf), where the fluorescence properties may be of direct relevance or useful as proxies to gain insight into the nature of the first excited singlet state. PhotochemCAD databases, developed over a period of 30 years, are described here. The previous databases for 150 compounds have been expanded to encompass 339 compounds for which absorption spectra (including ε values), fluorescence spectra (including Φf values) and references to the primary literature have been included where available (552 spectra altogether). The compounds exhibit spectra in the ultraviolet, visible and/or near‐infrared spectral regions. The compound classes and number of members include acridines (21), aromatic hydrocarbons (41), arylmethane dyes (11), azo dyes (18), biomolecules (18), chlorins/bacteriochlorins (16), coumarins (14), cyanine dyes (19), dipyrrins (7), heterocycles (26), miscellaneous dyes (13), oligophenylenes (13), oligopyrroles (6), perylenes (5), phthalocyanines (11), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (16), polyenes/polyynes (10), porphyrins (34), quinones (24) and xanthenes (15). A database of 31 solar spectra also is included.
Mechanisms and Mitochondrial Redox Signaling in Photobiomodulation
Authors: Hamblin Michael R.
Published: November 2017

Photobiomodulation (PBM) involves the use of red or near‐infrared light at low power densities to produce a beneficial effect on cells or tissues. PBM therapy is used to reduce pain, inflammation, edema, and to regenerate damaged tissues such as wounds, bones, and tendons. The primary site of light absorption in mammalian cells has been identified as the mitochondria and, more specifically, cytochrome c oxidase (CCO). It is hypothesized that inhibitory nitric oxide can be dissociated from CCO, thus restoring electron transport and increasing mitochondrial membrane potential. Another mechanism involves activation of light or heat‐gated ion channels. This review will cover the redox signaling that occurs in PBM and examine the difference between healthy and stressed cells, where PBM can have apparently opposite effects. PBM has a marked effect on stem cells, and this is proposed to operate via mitochondrial redox signaling. PBM can act as a preconditioning regimen and can interact with exercise on muscles.
Nanoflower‐like Yttrium‐doped ZnO Photocatalyst for the Degradation of Methylene Blue Dye
Authors: Parangusan Hemalatha , Ponnamma Deepalekshmi , Al‐Maadeed Mariam Al Ali , Marimuthu Alagar
Published: November 2017

Pure ZnO and Yttrium‐doped (Y‐doped) ZnO at various mol% with flower‐like nanostructures are synthesized by a microwave‐assisted sol–gel method, followed by investigating the morphologies, crystal structures, optical properties and photocatalytic performances. While the phase formations are detected by X‐ray diffraction technique, both scanning and transmission electron microscopy images clearly depict the flower‐like morphology of ZnO and Y‐doped ZnO samples. Formation of flower petals is from the nanoparticles that grew and connected by orientation attachment process. The flower‐like architecture is addressed in terms of an Ostwald ripening mechanism. The UV‐Vis absorption studies show enhanced absorption for the Y‐doped ZnO, whereas the photoluminescence spectra confirm the significance of sample defects in the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants. Effects of various experimental parameters such as the amount of photocatalysts, dye concentration and dopant concentration on the dye degradation are also optimized.
Civic Conscience, Selective Conscientious Objection and Lack of Choice
Authors: Nehushtan Yossi
Published: November 2017

Most democratic states tolerate, to various extents, conscientious objection. The same states tend not to tolerate acts of civil disobedience and what they perceive as selective conscientious objection. In this paper it is claimed that the dichotomy between civil disobedience and conscientious objection is often misguided; that the existence of a “civic conscience” makes it impossible to differentiate between conscientious objection and civil disobedience; and that there is no such thing as “selective” conscientious objection—or that classifying an objection as “selective” has no significant moral or practical implications. These claims are supported by a preliminary, more general argument according to which conscientious objection is and should be tolerated because the objector lacks the ability to choose his conscience and to decide whether to act upon it. The lack‐of‐choice argument, it is claimed, applies equally to all types of conscientious objection, including those that are mistakenly called “selective” objection. It also applies to one type of civil disobedience. As a result, if a state is willing to tolerate non‐selective conscientious objection, it may and at times must also tolerate selective conscientious objection and (one type of) civil disobedience and to a similar degree (all other things being equal).
The Arendtian Dread: Courts with Power
Authors: Bassok Or
Published: November 2017

Hannah Arendt was fearful not only of a populist President speaking in the name of the people and unbound by legality. She was also concerned that popular support could be harnessed by those responsible for limiting it. In other words, she was fearful of the American Supreme Court relying on popular support. This is the meaning of her obscure depiction of the American Supreme Court as “the true seat of authority in the American Republic” but unfit to power. I argue that Arendt's characterization of authority as requiring “neither coercion nor persuasion” means that the Court's source of legitimacy is expertise rather than public support. Yet the current dominant understanding among American Justices as well as scholars is that public support is the source of the Court's authority. In Arendt's mind, such an understanding means that the Court has become the seat of power. The corruption of the Court's authority and constitutional law as a language of expertise capable of resisting public opinion will inevitably follow.
Expression profiles of immunity and reproductive genes during transition period in Holstein cattle
Authors: Ateya AI , Hussein MS , Ghanem HM , Saleh RM , El‐Domany WB , Elseady YY
Published: November 2017

Contents

The transition period is a critical time for dairy cows as the animal is subjected to the physiological stress accompanying parturition. Immunosuppression and health status were examined during this period in 80 Holstein cows. Blood samples were taken from each cow 3, 2 and 1 week before and after calving, and at calving (0 day). RNA was extracted and subjected to real‐time PCR to determine mRNA levels for the immune‐related genes TLR 2, 4, 6, 7 and β‐defensin 5 in addition to the reproduction‐related genes prolactin and IGF‐I. Results showed significant up‐regulation of pro‐inflammatory‐selected genes, TLR 4, 6 7 and β‐defensin 5 at the third‐week post‐calving; however, earlier periods had lower expression of such genes. In contrast, the immunosuppression biomarker TLR2 gene was up‐regulated at calving and 1 week after parturition and then down‐regulated again at second and third week. Prolactin and IGF‐I genes expression levels were significantly and gradually increased mainly post‐partum. This research highlights that the expression patterns of TLRs, BNBD5, PRL and IGF‐I could be biomarkers to follow up immune and reproductive status of dairy cow at peri‐parturient period to predict the most susceptible risk time for disease incidence and to build up management protocol.
Measurement of Social Norms Affecting Modern Contraceptive Use: A Literature Review
Authors: Costenbader Elizabeth , Lenzi Rachel , Hershow Rebecca B. , Ashburn Kim , McCarraher Donna R.
Published: November 2017

As a critical building block to developing social norms interventions to support healthy family planning and other reproductive health behaviors, we conducted a literature review to identify and evaluate social norm measures related to modern contraceptive use. Of 174 articles reviewed in full, only 17 studies met our criteria for inclusion. Across these articles, no single measure of norms was used in more than one study; failure to specify the boundaries of who was engaging in and influencing the behaviors of interest contributed to the variation. Most of the studies relied on cross‐sectional data, only included condom use as their contraceptive use outcome, used individual‐ or interpersonal‐level behavior change theories rather than social‐level theories, and assumed a reference group, all of which limit the quality of the norm measures. We make several recommendations to bring greater consistency and comparability to social norm measures.
Assessment of hostile and benign intent attributions in early childhood: Can we elicit meaningful information?
Authors: Schultz David , Groth Elisabeth , Vanderwalde Holly , Shannon Katherine , Shuttlesworth Mary , Shanty Lisa
Published: November 2017

Throughout middle childhood and adolescence, hostile intent attributions fairly consistently predict levels of aggression. Across 28 published studies in early childhood, however, researchers have found less consistent relationships. We believe this may be due to a majority of these studies using an inappropriate methodological approach for early childhood, forced‐choice questioning. We tested the use of open‐ended vs. forced‐choice questions about intent in 118 Head Start preschool children. In response to a forced choice question, only about 30% of children attributed intent correctly to a video depicting clearly purposeful behavior. And across 18 video vignettes depicting ambiguous provocation, children's intent attribution scores based on a forced‐choice approach demonstrated neither reliability nor validity. Conversely, children's intent attribution scores in response to open‐ended questions demonstrated reliability, correspondence with other aspects of social information processing, and predictive validity in the form of relations to teacher reports of social competence and aggression. Researchers should refrain from utilizing forced‐choice approaches to intent attributions in early childhood unless also conducting intent understanding checks.
Retrospective evaluation of the prognostic utility of plasma lactate concentration, base deficit, pH, and anion gap in canine and feline emergency patients
Authors: Kohen Casey J. , Hopper Kate , Kass Philip H. , Epstein Steven E.
Published: November 2017

Objective

To determine the association of plasma lactate concentration, pH, base deficit (BD), and anion gap (AG) in dogs and cats on presentation to an emergency room with outcome, and to compare the prognostic significance of hyperlactatemia with a concurrent metabolic acidosis with that of hyperlactatemia and a normal metabolic acid–base balance.

Design

Retrospective study.

Setting

University teaching hospital.

Animals

Five hundred sixty‐six dogs and 185 cats that had venous blood gas analysis performed.

Interventions

None.

Measurements and Main Results

Medical records were reviewed for plasma lactate concentrations, electrolyte concentrations, and acid–base parameters obtained on emergency room admission, clinical diagnosis, and in‐hospital mortality. The primary outcome measure was all‐cause mortality for the hospitalized visit. Median plasma lactate concentration and AG were higher, BD was more negative, and pH was lower, in non‐survivor dogs and cats. The prevalence of hyperlactatemia was 53% in dogs and 30% in cats. Lactic acidosis was present in 42% and 80% of hyperlactatemic dogs and cats, respectively. Multivariate regression analyses revealed that plasma lactate concentration, BD, and pH, but not AG, were independent predictors of mortality in dogs, and that only plasma lactate concentration was an independent predictor of mortality in cats. Mortality was highest for animals with lactic acidosis, at 59.8% in dogs and 49% in cats. Mortality in dogs with lactic acidosis was significantly higher than dogs with hyperlactatemia and a normal acid–base status (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

The presence and magnitude of hyperlactatemia on presentation to the emergency room may help identify dogs and cats with high likelihood of in‐hospital mortality, and the presence of lactic acidosis specifically may help identify dogs with yet higher risk of in‐hospital mortality.
On the East India Company vocabulary of St Helena in the late 17th and early 18th century
Authors: WRIGHT LAURA
Published: November 2017

This article considers vocabulary occurring in the St Helena Consultations, which record court proceedings from St Helena, South Atlantic, from the late 1600s onwards, administrated by the British East India Company. As the island was settled ab initio by East India Company settlers, soldiers and their slaves, the input languages are, to some extent, recoverable. The purpose of the East India Company was trade, resulting in much of the vocabulary recorded in the early years being to do with global commerce. Along with settler's idiolectal Englishes, administrative practices developed elsewhere in the East India Company's domain transferred non‐English vocabulary to St Helena, resulting in an early world English lexicon.
Comparison of Power, Velocity and Force Parameters during Loaded Squat Jump Exercise in the Handball and Arm Wrestling Players
Authors: Can Ibrahim
Published: November 2017

The purpose of this study was to compare power, velocity and force parameters during loaded squat jump (SJ) exercise in the handball and arm wrestling players. In accordance with this purpose, ten arm wrestling athletes from the Turkish National Team (age: 20,7 ± 3,05 years; height: 175,2 ± 5,55 cm; weight: 71,7 ± 8,17 kg) who had ranks in competitions at World and Europe Am Wrestling Championships and ten handball players (age: 23,0 ± 4,00 years; height: 182,3 ± 6,06 cm; weight: 77,8 ± 11,3 kg) who competed at Turkish handball 1st league participated voluntarily in this study. Subjects were performed loaded SJ exercise using a load equals to 40 % of their body weight and obtained the power, velocity and force values using an isoinertial measurement system (T-Force Dynamic Measurement System). For data analysis, descriptive statistic and Mann Whitney - U analyses were used. According to analysis results, there was a statistically significant difference between jump velocity during loaded SJ of handball players and arm wrestling athletes (p < 0.05). Accordingly, arm wrestling athletes have better jump velocity than handball players in terms of mean velocity (MV) and peak velocity (PV). In addition, it was obtained that there wasn’t a statistically significant difference between handball and arm wrestling players in terms of mean force (MF), mean propulsive force (MPF), peak force (PF), peak power (PP), mean propulsive power (MPP), mean power (MP), time and moving distance to barbell bar during loaded SJ (p > 0.05). Consequently, jump ability is a crucial performance indicator in many sports that require explosive actions and the lower-body muscular power. However, it is not a true approach that athletes competing at sport branches which jump ability is an important performance indicator can display a better performance during loaded SJ.
Examining Attitudes of Students Regarding the Sports Education Model and Direct Teaching Model
Authors: Bilgin Nevruz , Dalkıran Oğuzhan
Published: November 2017

The aim of the research was to investigate the effects of sports education model and direct teaching model on the attitudes of the students, and the differences among the attitudes of students. The study group of the research included 29 students from 6th and 7th grade of a secondary school in the 2015-2016 academic years. The experimental group consisted of students attended in the sixth class in which the physical education and sports lesson was conducted using the "sports education model" while the control group was the students in the 7th class in which the physical education and sports lesson was conducted using the "direct teaching model". As a data collection tool; the "Internal Motivation Inventory" developed by Ryan (1982) and adapted to Turkish by Çalışkur (2013) was used. In the analysis of the data; the "Mann Whitney U" test was used for the significance of the differences between post-implementation attitudes of the groups. In addition, the interview questions prepared by the researchers were answered by the students and the data were recorded. As a result; significant differences were found in the students' interest/enjoyment, perceived competence, value/benefit, effort/importance and work perception dimensions, but no significant difference was detected in the perceived choice rights and pressure/tension.
The Relationship between Multimodal Literacy of Pre-Service Teachers and Their Perception of Self-Efficacy in Critical Reading
Authors: Ulu Hacer , Avşar-Tuncay Ayşegül , Baş Özlem
Published: November 2017

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the multimodal literacy of pre-service teachers and their perception of self-efficacy in critical reading. At the same time, it is to what extent their multimodal literacy levels predict their perception of self-efficacy in critical reading. 337 students were chosen via convenience sampling for this study which was designed on the basis of relational survey model. The data which is needed to answer the relevant questions in our study was collected by means of Multimodal Literacy Scale (Bulut, Ulu and Kan, 2015) and Critical Reading Self-Sufficiency Perception Scale (Karadeniz, 2014). The analyses of the data collected were conducted through Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient analysis technique and multiple regression analysis technique. In view of the results we have obtained in this study, multimodalness is a strong predictive of self-efficacy perception in critical reading (R=.517; R2=.267) [F(3.336)=40.483, p˂.000). The dimension of expressing oneself using multimodal structures (r=.362), interpretation of the contents presented in multimodal structures (r=.466) and preferring multimodal structures (r=.209) has a positive and significant effect on critical reading self-efficacy perception.
Independent tuning of work function and field enhancement factor in hybrid lanthanum hexaboride-graphene-silicon field emitters
Authors: Rezaeifar Fatemeh , Lin Qingfeng , Chen Xiangyu , Mattox Tracy M. , Garg Ayush , Clough Andrew , Poudel Nirakar , Blankemeier Louis , Sarkar Debarghya , Cronin Stephen B. , Kapadia Rehan
Published: November 2017

The authors report the experimental demonstration of independent control over work function and field enhancement factor in hybrid field emitters using a lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) nanoparticle low-work function coating on monolayer graphene on microfabricated silicon arrays. A critical challenge in field emitters is combining the scalability and uniformity of silicon microfabrication with low-work function materials. Specifically, the authors engineer the field enhancement through microfabrication of the underlying silicon wafers and control the work function by the transfer and deposition of monolayer graphene and LaB6 nanoparticles. Using this coating, the turn-on electric field, defined as the electric field required for 10 μA/cm2 of emission current density, drops by 5× from 12.5 to 2.6 V/μm. To further analyze these results, the authors carried out detailed electronic and structural characterization of the hybrid emitters to experimentally determine the work function and model the field enhancement factor of the physical structure. Using these coupled simulations and experiments, the authors show that the work function and field enhancement factor can be independently controlled, potentially enabling ultralow turn on, uniform, and stable emitters.
Lithographic performance of ZEP520A and mr-PosEBR resists exposed by electron beam and extreme ultraviolet lithography
Authors: Fallica Roberto , Kazazis Dimitrios , Kirchner Robert , Voigt Anja , Mochi Iacopo , Schift Helmut , Ekinci Yasin
Published: November 2017

Pattern transfer by deep anisotropic etch is a well-established technique for fabrication of nanoscale devices and structures. For this technique to be effective, the resist material plays a key role and must have a high resolution, reasonable sensitivity, and high etch selectivity against the conventional silicon substrate or underlayer film. In this work, the lithographic performance of two high etch resistance materials was evaluated: ZEP520A (Nippon Zeon Co.) and mr-PosEBR (micro resist technology GmbH). Both materials are positive tone, polymer-based, and nonchemically amplified resists. Two exposure techniques were used: electron beam lithography (EBL) and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography. These resists were originally designed for EBL patterning, where high quality patterning at sub-100 nm resolution was previously demonstrated. In the scope of this work, the authors also aim to validate their extendibility to EUV for high resolution and large area patterning. For this purpose, the same EBL process conditions were employed at EUV. The figures of merit, i.e., dose to clear, dose to size, and resolution, were obtained, and these results are discussed systematically. It was found that both materials are very fast at EUV (dose to clear lower than 12 mJ/cm2) and are capable of resolving dense lines/space arrays with a resolution of 25 nm half-pitch. The quality of patterns was also very good, and the sidewall roughness was below 6 nm. Interestingly, the general-purpose process used for EBL can be extended straightforwardly to EUV lithography with comparably high quality and yield. Our findings open new possibilities for lithographers who wish to devise novel fabrication schemes exploiting EUV for fabrication of nanostructures by deep etch pattern transfer.
New skin in the game
Authors: Byrne Leah C.
Published: November 2017

Transplantation of autologous transgenic stem cells resulted in near complete skin regeneration in a 7-year-old patient with severe junctional epidermolysis bullosa.
It’s what’s inside that counts for nanoparticle vaccines
Authors: Miller Miles A.
Published: November 2017

Plasma membranes of tumor cells induce antitumor immunity when wrapped around a nanoformulated CpG adjuvant.
The Sec System: Protein Export in
Escherichia coli
Authors: Crane Jennine M. , Randall Linda L.
Published: November 2017

In
Escherichia coli
, proteins found in the periplasm or the outer membrane are exported from the cytoplasm by the general secretory, Sec, system before they acquire stably folded structure. This dynamic process involves intricate interactions among cytoplasmic and membrane proteins, both peripheral and integral, as well as lipids.
In vivo
, both ATP hydrolysis and proton motive force are required. Here, we review the Sec system from the inception of the field through early 2016, including biochemical, genetic, and structural data.
Clinical Evaluation of the Cepheid Xpert TV Assay for Detection of Trichomonas vaginalis with Prospectively Collected Specimens from Men and Women
Authors: Schwebke Jane R. , Gaydos C. A. , Davis T. , Marrazzo J. , Furgerson D. , Taylor S. N. , Smith B. , Bachmann L. H. , Ackerman R. , Spurrell T. , Ferris D. , Burnham C.-A. D. , Reno H. , Lebed J. , Eisenberg D. , Kerndt P. , Philip S. , Jordan J. , Quigley N.
Published: November 2017

Trichomoniasis is the most prevalent curable sexually transmitted disease (STD). It has been associated with preterm birth and the acquisition and transmission of HIV. Recently, nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) have been FDA cleared in the United States for detection of
Trichomonas vaginalis
in specimens from both women and men. This study reports the results of a multicenter study recently conducted using the Xpert TV (
T. vaginalis
) assay to test specimens from both men and women. On-demand results were available in as little as 40 min for positive specimens. A total of 1,867 women and 4,791 men were eligible for inclusion in the analysis. In women, the performance of the Xpert TV assay was compared to the patient infected status (PIS) derived from the results of InPouch TV broth culture and Aptima NAAT for
T. vaginalis
. The diagnostic sensitivities and specificities of the Xpert TV assay for the combined female specimens (urine samples, self-collected vaginal swabs, and endocervical swabs) ranged from 99.5 to 100% and 99.4 to 99.9%, respectively. For male urine samples, the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 97.2% and 99.9%, respectively, compared to PIS results derived from the results of broth culture for
T. vaginalis
and bidirectional gene sequencing of amplicons. Excellent performance characteristics were seen using both female and male specimens. The ease of using the Xpert TV assay should result in opportunities for enhanced screening for
T. vaginalis
in both men and women and, hopefully, improved control of this infection.
Evaluation of Whole-Genome Sequencing for Mycobacterial Species Identification and Drug Susceptibility Testing in a Clinical Setting: a Large-Scale Prospective Assessment of Performance against Line Probe Assays and Phenotyping
Authors: Quan T. Phuong , Bawa Zharain , Foster Dona , Walker Tim , del Ojo Elias Carlos , Rathod Priti ,   MMM Informatics Group, Iqbal Zamin , Bradley Phelim , Mowbray Janet , Walker A. Sarah , Crook Derrick W. , Wyllie David H. , Peto Timothy E. A. , Smith E. Grace
Published: November 2017

Use of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) for routine mycobacterial species identification and drug susceptibility testing (DST) is becoming a reality. We compared the performances of WGS and standard laboratory workflows prospectively, by parallel processing at a major mycobacterial reference service over the course of 1 year, for species identification, first-line
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
resistance prediction, and turnaround time. Among 2,039 isolates with line probe assay results for species identification, 74 (3.6%) failed sequencing or WGS species identification. Excluding these isolates, clinically important species were identified for 1,902 isolates, of which 1,825 (96.0%) were identified as the same species by WGS and the line probe assay. A total of 2,157 line probe test results for detection of resistance to the first-line drugs isoniazid and rifampin were available for 728
M. tuberculosis
complex isolates. Excluding 216 (10.0%) cases where there were insufficient sequencing data for WGS to make a prediction, overall concordance was 99.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 98.9 to 99.6%), sensitivity was 97.6% (91.7 to 99.7%), and specificity was 99.5% (99.0 to 99.7%). A total of 2,982 phenotypic DST results were available for 777
M. tuberculosis
complex isolates. Of these, 356 (11.9%) had no WGS comparator due to insufficient sequencing data, and in 154 (5.2%) cases the WGS prediction was indeterminate due to discovery of novel, previously uncharacterized mutations. Excluding these data, overall concordance was 99.2% (98.7 to 99.5%), sensitivity was 94.2% (88.4 to 97.6%), and specificity was 99.4% (99.0 to 99.7%). Median processing times for the routine laboratory tests versus WGS were similar overall, i.e., 20 days (interquartile range [IQR], 15 to 31 days) and 21 days (15 to 29 days), respectively (
P
= 0.41). In conclusion, WGS predicts species and drug susceptibility with great accuracy, but work is needed to increase the proportion of predictions made.
Novel Role of vBcl2 in the Virion Assembly of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus
Authors: Liang Qiming , Wei Dahai , Chung Brian , Brulois Kevin F. , Guo Changrun , Dong Shupeng , Gao Shou-Jiang , Feng Pinghui , Liang Chengyu , Jung Jae U.
Published: November 2017

The viral Bcl-2 homolog (vBcl2) of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) displays efficient antiapoptotic and antiautophagic activity through its central BH3 domain, which functions to prolong the life span of virus-infected cells and ultimately enhances virus replication and latency. Independent of its antiapoptotic and antiautophagic activity, vBcl2 also plays an essential role in KSHV lytic replication through its amino-terminal amino acids (aa) 11 to 20. Here, we report a novel molecular mechanism of vBcl2-mediated regulation of KSHV lytic replication. vBcl2 specifically bound the tegument protein open reading frame 55 (ORF55) through its amino-terminal aa 11 to 20, allowing their association with virions. Consequently, the vBcl2 peptide derived from vBcl2 aa 11 to 20 effectively disrupted the interaction between vBcl2 and ORF55, inhibiting the incorporation of the ORF55 tegument protein into virions. This study provides new insight into vBcl2's function in KSHV virion assembly that is separable from its inhibitory role in host apoptosis and autophagy.

IMPORTANCE
KSHV, an important human pathogen accounting for a large percentage of virally caused cancers worldwide, has evolved a variety of stratagems for evading host immune responses to establish lifelong persistent infection. Upon viral infection, infected cells can go through programmed cell death, including apoptosis and autophagy, which plays an effective role in antiviral responses. To counter the host response, KSHV vBcl2 efficiently blocks apoptosis and autophagy to persist for the life span of virus-infected cells. Besides its anti-programmed-cell-death activity, vBcl2 also interacts with the ORF55 tegument protein for virion assembly in infected cells. Interestingly, the vBcl2 peptide disrupts the vBcl2-ORF55 interaction and effectively inhibits KSHV virion assembly. This study indicates that KSHV vBcl2 harbors at least three genetically separable functions to modulate both host cell death signaling and virion production and that the vBcl2 peptide can be developed as an anti-KSHV therapeutic application.
Comparison of the Efficacy of N9 Neuraminidase-Specific Monoclonal Antibodies against Influenza A(H7N9) Virus Infection
Authors: Wan Hongquan , Qi Li , Gao Jin , Couzens Laura K. , Jiang Lianlian , Gao Yamei , Sheng Zong-Mei , Fong Sharon , Hahn Megan , Khurana Surender , Taubenberger Jeffery K. , Eichelberger Maryna C.
Published: November 2017

The fifth wave of A(H7N9) virus infection in China from 2016 to 2017 caused great concern due to the large number of individuals infected, the isolation of drug-resistant viruses, and the emergence of highly pathogenic strains. Antibodies against neuraminidase (NA) provide added benefit to hemagglutinin-specific immunity and may be important contributors to the effectiveness of A(H7N9) vaccines. We generated a panel of mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to identify antigenic domains on NA of the novel A(H7N9) virus and compared their functional properties. The loop formed in the region of residue 250 (250 loop) and the domain formed by the loops containing residues 370, 400, and 430 were identified as major antigenic regions. MAbs 1E8, 2F6, 10F4, and 11B2, which recognize these two antigenic domains, were characterized in depth. These four MAbs differ in their abilities to inhibit cleavage of small and large substrates (methyl-umbelliferyl-acetyl neuraminic acid [MU-NANA] and fetuin, respectively) in NA inhibition assays. 1E8 and 11B2 did not inhibit NA cleavage of either MU-NANA or fetuin, and 2F6 inhibited cleavage of fetuin alone, whereas 10F4 inhibited cleavage of both substrates. All four MAbs reduced the
in vitro
spread of viruses carrying either the wild-type N9 or N9 with antiviral-resistant mutations but to different degrees. These MAbs have different
in vivo
levels of effectiveness: 10F4 was the most effective in protecting mice against challenge with A(H7N9) virus, 2F6 was less effective, and 11B2 failed to protect BALB/c mice at the doses tested. Our study confirms that NA-specific antibodies can protect against A(H7N9) infection and suggests that
in vitro
properties can be used to rank antibodies with therapeutic potential.

IMPORTANCE
The novel A(H7N9) viruses that emerged in China in 2013 continue to infect humans, with a high fatality rate. The most recent outbreak resulted in a larger number of human cases than previous epidemic waves. Due to the absence of a licensed vaccine and the emergence of drug-resistant viruses, there is a need to develop alternative approaches to prevent or treat A(H7N9) infection. We have made a panel of mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific for neuraminidase (NA) of A(H7N9) viruses; some of these MAbs are effective in inhibiting viruses that are resistant to antivirals used to treat A(H7N9) patients. Binding avidity, inhibition of NA activity, and plaque formation correlated with the effectiveness of these MAbs to protect mice against lethal A(H7N9) virus challenge. This study identifies
in vitro
measures that can be used to predict the
in vivo
efficacy of NA-specific antibodies, providing a way to select MAbs for further therapeutic development.
Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Infection of Animal Dermal Fibroblasts
Authors: Liu Wei , Krump Nathan A. , MacDonald Margo , You Jianxin
Published: November 2017

Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is the first polyomavirus to be associated with human cancer. Mechanistic studies attempting to fully elucidate MCPyV's oncogenic mechanisms have been hampered by the lack of animal models for MCPyV infection. In this study, we examined the ability of MCPyV-GFP pseudovirus (containing a green fluorescent protein [GFP] reporter construct), MCPyV recombinant virions, and several MCPyV chimeric viruses to infect dermal fibroblasts isolated from various model animals, including mouse (
Mus musculus
), rabbit (
Oryctolagus cuniculus
), rat (
Rattus norvegicus
), chimpanzee (
Pan troglodytes
), rhesus macaque (
Macaca mulatta
), patas monkey (
Erythrocebus patas
), common woolly monkey (
Lagothrix lagotricha
), red-chested mustached tamarin (
Saguinus labiatus
), and tree shrew (
Tupaia belangeri
). We found that MCPyV-GFP pseudovirus was able to enter the dermal fibroblasts of all species tested. Chimpanzee dermal fibroblasts were the only type that supported vigorous MCPyV gene expression and viral replication, and they did so to a level beyond that of human dermal fibroblasts. We further demonstrated that both human and chimpanzee dermal fibroblasts produce infectious MCPyV virions that can successfully infect new cells. In addition, rat dermal fibroblasts supported robust MCPyV large T antigen expression after infection with an MCPyV chimeric virus in which the entire enhancer region of the MCPyV early promoter has been replaced with the simian virus 40 (SV40) analog. Our results suggest that viral transcription and/or replication events represent the major hurdle for MCPyV cross-species transmission. The capacity of rat dermal fibroblasts to support MCPyV early gene expression suggests that the rat is a candidate model organism for studying viral oncogene function during Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) oncogenic progression.

IMPORTANCE
MCPyV plays an important role in the development of a highly aggressive form of skin cancer, Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). With the increasing number of MCC diagnoses, there is a need to better understand the virus and its oncogenic potential. However, studies attempting to fully elucidate MCPyV's oncogenic mechanisms have been hampered by the lack of animal models for MCPyV infection. To pinpoint the best candidate for developing an MCPyV infection animal model, we examined MCPyV's ability to infect dermal fibroblasts isolated from various established model animals. Of the animal cell types we tested, chimpanzee dermal fibroblasts were the only isolates that supported the full MCPyV infectious cycle. To overcome the infection blockade in the other model animals, we constructed chimeric viruses that achieved robust MCPyV entry and oncogene expression in rat fibroblasts. Our results suggest that the rat may serve as an
in vivo
model to study MCV oncogenesis.
Authentic Patient-Derived Hepatitis C Virus Infects and Productively Replicates in Primary CD4
+
and CD8
+
T Lymphocytes
In Vitro
Authors: Skardasi Georgia , Chen Annie Y. , Michalak Tomasz I.
Published: November 2017

Accumulated evidence indicates that immune cells can support the replication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in infected patients and in culture. However, there is a scarcity of data on the degree to which individual immune cell types support HCV propagation and on characteristics of virus assembly. We investigated the ability of authentic, patient-derived HCV to infect
in vitro
two closely related but functionally distinct immune cell types, CD4
+
and CD8
+
T lymphocytes, and assessed the properties of the virus produced by these cells. The HCV replication system in intermittently mitogen-stimulated T cells was adapted to infect primary human CD4
+
or CD8
+
T lymphocytes. HCV replicated in both cell types although at significantly higher levels in CD4
+
than in CD8
+
T cells. Thus, the HCV RNA replicative (negative) strand was detected in CD4
+
and CD8
+
cells at estimated mean levels ± standard errors of the means of 6.7 × 10
2
± 3.8 × 10
2
and 1.2 × 10
2
± 0.8 × 10
2
copies/μg RNA, respectively (
P
< 0.0001). Intracellular HCV NS5a and/or core proteins were identified in 0.9% of CD4
+
and in 1.2% of CD8
+
T cells. Double staining for NS5a and T cell type-specific markers confirmed that transcriptionally competent virus replicated in both cell types. Furthermore, an HCV-specific protease inhibitor, telaprevir, inhibited infection in both CD4
+
and CD8
+
cells. The emergence of unique HCV variants and the release of HCV RNA-reactive particles with biophysical properties different from those of virions in plasma inocula suggested that distinct viral particles were assembled, and therefore, they may contribute to the pool of circulating virus in infected patients.

IMPORTANCE
Although the liver is the main site of HCV replication, infection of the immune system is an intrinsic characteristic of this virus independent of whether infection is symptomatic or clinically silent. Many fundamental aspects of HCV lymphotropism remain uncertain, including the degree to which different immune cells support infection and contribute to virus diversity. We show that authentic, patient-derived HCV productively replicates
in vitro
in two closely related but functionally distinct types of T lymphocytes, CD4
+
and CD8
+
cells. The display of viral proteins and unique variants, the production of virions with biophysical properties distinct from those in plasma serving as inocula, and inhibition of replication by an antiviral agent led us to ascertain that both T cell subtypes supported virus propagation. Infection of CD4
+
and CD8
+
T cells, which are central to adaptive antiviral immune responses, can directly affect HCV clearance, favor virus persistence, and decisively influence the development and progression of hepatitis C.
Three-Dimensional Superresolution Imaging of the FtsZ Ring during Cell Division of the Cyanobacterium
Prochlorococcus
Authors: Liu Riyue , Liu Yaxin , Liu Shichang , Wang Ying , Li Kim , Li Ning , Xu Daiying , Zeng Qinglu
Published: November 2017

Superresolution imaging has revealed subcellular structures and protein interactions in many organisms. However, superresolution microscopy with lateral resolution better than 100 nm has not been achieved in photosynthetic cells due to the interference of a high-autofluorescence background. Here, we developed a photobleaching method to effectively reduce the autofluorescence of cyanobacterial and plant cells. We achieved lateral resolution of ~10 nm with stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) in the sphere-shaped cyanobacterium
Prochlorococcus
and the flowering plant
Arabidopsis thaliana
. During the cell cycle of
Prochlorococcus
, we characterized the three-dimensional (3D) organization of the cell division protein FtsZ, which forms a ring structure at the division site and is important for cytokinesis of bacteria and chloroplasts. Although the FtsZ ring assembly process in rod-shaped bacteria has been studied extensively, it has rarely been studied in sphere-shaped bacteria. Similarly to rod-shaped bacteria, our results with
Prochlorococcus
also showed the assembly of FtsZ clusters into incomplete rings and then complete rings during cell division. Differently from rod-shaped bacteria, the FtsZ ring diameter was not found to decrease during
Prochlorococcus
cell division. We also discovered a novel double-Z-ring structure, which may be the Z rings of two daughter cells in a predivisional mother cell. Our results showed a quantitative picture of the
in vivo
Z ring organization of sphere-shaped bacteria.

IMPORTANCE
Superresolution microscopy has not been widely used to study photosynthetic cells due to their high-autofluorescence background. Here, we developed a photobleaching method to reduce the autofluorescence of cyanobacteria and plant cells. After photobleaching, we performed superresolution imaging in the cyanobacterium
Prochlorococcus
and the flowering plant
Arabidopsis thaliana
with ~10-nm resolution, which is the highest resolution in a photosynthetic cell. With this method, we characterized the 3D organization of the cell division protein FtsZ in
Prochlorococcus
. We found that the morphological variation of the FtsZ ring during cell division of the sphere-shaped cyanobacterium
Prochlorococcus
is similar but not identical to that of rod-shaped bacteria. Our method might also be applicable to other photosynthetic organisms.
Hyperacute leucopenia associated with furosemide
Authors: Ma Ben-Jiang
Published: November 2017

A 72-year-old man presented to the hospital with exacerbation of congestive heart failure. He was given furosemide 40 mg intravenously twice at 4 hours apart. At 4 hours after the second dose of furosemide, his white blood cells (WBC) dropped acutely from 9.8 to 2.4×109/L (reference range 4.1 to 9.3×109/L). With the discontinuation of furosemide, the WBC trended up to 7.1×109/L about 13 hours after the second dose of intravenous furosemide and remained in normal range for the next 3 days. However, when the oral furosemide was started on hospital day 4, there was a mild drop in WBC count, which returned to and maintained at baseline since the next day. The dynamic changes in the patient’s WBC were coincident with the use of furosemide. The possible mechanisms of furosemide-associated transient hyperacute leucopenia were discussed.
Population structure and genetic diversity in the invasive freshwater snail Galba schirazensis (Lymnaeidae)
Authors: Lounnas M. , Correa A.C. , Alda P. , David P. , Dubois M.-P. , Calvopiña M. , Caron Y. , Celi-Erazo M. , Dung B.T. , Jarne P. , Loker E.S. , Noya O. , Rodríguez-Hidalgo R. , Toty C. , Uribe N. , Pointier J.-P. , Hurtrez-Boussès S.
Published: November 2017

We studied the population genetic structure of the freshwater snail Galba schirazensis (Küster, 1862), a potential vector of infectious diseases such as fascioliasis. Galba schirazensis has now a worldwide distribution but a poorly known origin because this species has been distinguished only recently from the morphologically similar and cosmopolitan Galba truncatula (O.F. Müller, 1774). We developed specific microsatellite markers and sequenced a mitochondrial gene (cytochrome oxidase subunit I (CO1)) to study individuals of G. schirazensis from the Old World and the New World. We found very low genetic diversity within populations, no heterozygotes, and marked population structure — a pattern observed in other highly selfing lymnaeid species with recently enlarged distributions as a result of biological invasions. The total lack of observed heterozygosity in the few populations of G. schirazensis that displayed some allelic diversity suggests high selfing rates. We also found that the center of diversity, and by extension the origin area of this species, should be found in the New World, whereas Old World populations should rather result from a recent introduction of a genetically uniform population. The microsatellite markers developed here will help to clarify the history of expansion of G. schirazensis and might help to understand its role as a potential vector of infectious diseases.
Dust fluid component from Lie symmetries in scalar field cosmology
Authors: Paliathanasis Andronikos
Published: November 2017

We show that in scalar field cosmology, a dust fluid follows as quantum corrections from solutions of the Wheeler–DeWitt equation generated by Lie symmetries. The energy density of the dust fluid is related with the frequency of the wave function.
Thermal stability of charged rotating quantum black holes
Authors: Sinha Aloke Kumar , Majumdar Parthasarathi
Published: November 2017

Criteria for thermal stability of charged rotating black holes of any dimension are derived for horizon areas that are large relative to the Planck area (in these dimensions). The derivation is based on generic assumptions of quantum geometry, supported by some results of loop quantum gravity, and equilibrium statistical mechanics of the Grand Canonical ensemble. There is no explicit use of classical spacetime geometry in this analysis. The only assumption is that the mass of the black hole is a function of its horizon area, charge and angular momentum. Our stability criteria are then tested in detail against specific classical black holes in spacetime dimensions 4 and 5, whose metrics provide us with explicit relations for the dependence of the mass on the charge and angular momentum of the black holes. This enables us to predict which of these black holes are expected to be thermally unstable under Hawking radiation.
Electrical and magnetic properties of 0–3 Ba(Fe1∕2Nb1∕2)O3/PVDF composites
Authors: Ranjan Hars , Mahto Uttam K. , Chandra K. P. , Kulkarni A. R. , Prasad A. , Prasad K.
Published: November 2017

Lead-free Ba(Fe[Formula: see text]Nb[Formula: see text]O3/PVDF 0–3 composites were fabricated using melt-mixing technique. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, dielectric, impedance, ac conductivity, magnetic force microscopy (MFM) and vibrating sample magnetometer studies were undertaken to characterize the samples. Average crystallite size of the Ba(Fe[Formula: see text]Nb[Formula: see text]O3powder, estimated using Williamson–Hall approach, was found to be [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]nm. The filler particles of [Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m were found to disperse in the polymer matrix of all the composites. Filler concentration-dependent values of real and imaginary parts of complex permittivity showed increasing trend and were seen to follow Bruggeman and Furukawa equations. The data for ac conductivity exhibited negative temperature coefficient of resistance character of the test materials and were found to obey Jonscher’s power law. The correlated barrier hopping model was found to explain satisfactorily the mechanism of charge transport occurring in the system. MFM confirmed the presence of magnetic phases in the composites. Typical magnetization versus applied field curves indicated the possibility of magnetoelectric coupling in the system. Hence, the present composites have shown themselves as potential multi-functional candidate materials for use in high density data storage applications.
Theory of Packaged Entangled States
Authors: Ma Rongchao
Published: November 2017

The quantum entanglement that include every physical properties of particles would be important for both theoretical and applied physics. Here, we theoretically show that a particle–antiparticle pair can form the so-called packaged entangled states which encapsulate all the necessary physical quantities for completely identifying the particles. The particles in the packaged entangled states exhibit unusual properties. Thereafter, we proposed the possible protocol for teleporting the entire quantum state of a particle (or an antiparticle) to an arbitrarily large distance and the transfer of new entangled states from a particle pair to another particle pair. Finally, we presented a new interpretation to the matter–antimatter asymmetry of the observable universe.