bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of silage additives on intake, live-weight gain and carcass traits of growing and finishing dairy bulls fed pre-wilted grass silage and barley grain-based ration
Authors: HUUSKONEN A. , SEPPÄLÄ A. , RINNE M.
Published: July 2017

The effects of silage additives on performance of dairy bulls were determined in a feeding trial using 45 Nordic Red and 45 Holstein bulls. Both breeds were allotted randomly to three treatments: (1) timothy silage (TS) without additives + barley (CON); (2) TS with sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate and sodium nitrate-based additive + barley (SALT); and (3) TS with a mixture of mostly formic acid and propionic acid-based additive + barley (ACID). The bulls were fed total mixed rationsad libitum. During the experimental period of 259 days, the average dry matter intake was 10·1 kg/d and there was no difference among the treatments. The average live-weight gain (LWG) and carcass gain was 1363 and 741 g/d, respectively. There were no treatment differences in the carcass gain but LWG of the CON bulls was 5% higher compared with the SALT and ACID bulls. Carcass conformation score of the SALT and ACID bulls was 6% higher compared with the CON bulls. The experiment demonstrated that there was only a slight benefit from silage additives in animal performance when silage dry matter was 350–400 g/kg and silage was ensiled in round bales.
A REPUBLICAN DILEMMA: CITY OR STATE? OR, THE CONCRETE REVOLUTION REVISITED
Authors: Davies Penelope J.E.
Published: July 2017

In a well-known passage, the Greek historian Polybius, writing in the mid-second century BC, attributes Rome's success as a republic to a perfect balance of power between its constituent elements, army, senate and people (Histories6.11); and indeed, the Republic's long survival was an achievement worth explaining. On another note, over a century later, Livy remarked how Republican Rome, with its rambling street plan and miscellany of buildings, compared unfavourably with the magnificent royal cities of the eastern Mediterranean; he put this down to hasty rebuilding after a great Gallic conflagration around 390 BC. Few scholars now accept his explanation. A handful of scholars argue for underlying rationales, usually when setting up the early city as a foil for its transformation under Augustus and subsequent emperors, and their conclusions tend towards characterizing the city's design as an unintended corollary to the annual turnover of magistrates. This article, likewise, argues for the role of government in the city's appearance; but it contends that the state of Republican urbanism was deliberate. A response, of sorts, to both ancient authors' observations, it addresses how provisions to ensure equilibrium in one of the Republic's components, the senatorial class, in the interests of preserving the res publica, came at a vital cost to the city's architectural evolution. These provisions took the form of intentional constraints (on time and money), to prevent élite Romans from building like, and thus presenting themselves as, Mediterranean monarchs. Painting with a broad chronological stroke, it traces the tension between the Roman Republic in its ideal state and the physical city, exploring the strategies élite Romans developed to work within the constraints. Only when unforeseen factors weakened the state's power to self-regulate could the built city flourish and, in doing so, further diminish the state. Many of these factors — such as increased wealth in the second century and the first-century preponderance of special commands — are known; to these, this article argues, should be added the development of concrete.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDINGS AND CELEBRATORY POETRY IN THE ROME OF PIUS VI
Authors: Caruso Carlo
Published: July 2017

In the second half of the eighteenth century, archaeological activities in Rome intensified considerably under the pontificate of Pius VI (1775–99), and new excavations in the Roman Campagna and the Latium, together with the erection of the Museo Pio Clementino (1776–84), excited considerable interest in Roman learned and literary circles. A young poet who had moved to Rome from Romagna, Vincenzo Monti (1754–1828), obtained his first great success by celebrating the new discoveries in a memorable poem, La prosopopea di Pericle. In it, a newly found herm of Pericles sings of Pius's pontificate as a new golden age for the arts. Monti, who was to become Italy's most authoritative man of letters in the following decades, befriended in those years, and received considerable assistance from, the leading antiquarian of that age, Ennio Quirino Visconti (1751–1818). Their relationship and its legacy provide the subject of this paper, with emphasis on Monti's early poetry, its significance for the literary history of the neoclassical age, and its role in shaping a novel poetic style intended for the praise of ancient art.
Violence of war, ontopology, and the instrumental and performative constitution of the political community
Authors: Mulaj Klejda
Published: July 2017

This article considers a neglected question in International Relations, namely how violence of war contributes to the constitution of the political community at the intersection between war and peace. It exposes limitations of means-ends, instrumental understanding of war violence due to the overlooking of violence’s performative attributes stemming from the centrality of bodily injuries in war. The instrumental violence on which the constitution of the political community is grounded finds expression in an order of representation that can be termed ontopology, and a pervasive – circular – relationship between ontopology and violence insofar as ontopology has inspired extreme forms of human behaviour and also been used to justify violence as a means to enact an ontopological goal. Yet, recognising the role of bodily injuries in the course of fighting allows for a more complete understanding of war. Crucially it enables an interpretation of the structure of war as a relation between war’s interior content – casualties in war – and the exterior, verbal issues standing outside it (pertaining to security, identity, sovereignty, authority, ideology), that lead to a surrogate contest of reimagining political community in the process of which performative power of violence contributes directly to the emerging post-war peace and laws that justify it.
Near-microcoulomb multi-MeV electrons generation in laser-driven self-formed plasma channel
Authors: Yang Y. , Jiao J. , Tian C. , Wu Y. , Dong K. , Zhou W. , Gu Y. , Zhao Z.
Published: July 2017

The origin and characteristics of near-microcoulomb multi-MeV electrons accelerated by short pulse lasers interacting with near-critical density plasma in self-formed channels are studied using three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. According to the analysis on interaction phenomena and electron dynamics, the dominant mechanism turns out to be direct laser acceleration, which ensures the outstanding energy coupling. Additionally, self-channeling is found to be a decisive factor for the acceleration performance, as electrons obtain ultra-high energy through betatron resonance inside the channels. In our findings, by using a relativistic short laser pulse and near-critical plasma, a large amount of energetic electrons can be generated, presenting a promising and accessible route to ultraintense, high-spatial-resolution radiation pulses.
Hands and eyes, sight and touch: appraising the senses in Anglo-Saxon England
Authors: O'Keeffe Katherine O'Brien
Published: July 2017

The archives of knowledge through which Anglo-Saxons understood the senses ranged from vernacular to patristic. Quotidian understanding of the senses treated them as functions of their corresponding bodily organs, as the injury tariffs of Æthelberht and Alfred illustrate. Old English learned prose catalogues the senses from sight to touch with an order that bespeaks a set of understandings about bodies, materiality, souls and salvation. There the differing appraisals of sight and its lesser sibling, touch, track their perceived mediations between the world and the soul. The Old English Boethius, Wærferth's Dialogues and a range of Ælfric's writings illustrate understandings of these senses’ mediation between the material and the immaterial, the corporeal and the incorporeal. The meaning of Wulfstan's legislation on friðlice steora must thus be sought in a crossing of archives of appraisals – the legal valuation of body parts and the patristic understanding of senses as channels between the flesh and the spirit.
The Fuller Brooch and Anglo-Saxon depictions of dance
Authors: Bayless Martha
Published: July 2017

The scattered nature of references to dance and the ambiguity of its vocabulary have obscured Anglo-Saxon dance practices, but evidence suggests that dance was a significant cultural phenomenon. The earlier centuries of the Anglo-Saxon period saw the depiction of weapon dances, and later sources also allow us a glimpse of lively secular dance. Performance traditions may have included dance combined with satirical songs, as well as possible secular ritual dance. Finally, scripture provided examples of both holy dance and lascivious female dance. Contemporary iconography of these dance practices, combined with continued associations between dance and music, allow us to understand the conventions in the depiction of dance, and in turn these suggest that the figure of ‘Hearing’ on the Fuller Brooch, traditionally regarded as running, is in fact dancing.
The Seafarer, Grammatica, and the making of Anglo-Saxon textual culture
Authors: Walton Audrey
Published: July 2017

Despite the popularity of The Seafarer within Old English scholarship, the poem's governing logic remains unclear, in large part because of the enduring mystery surrounding the poem's use of the compound expression forþon. This study will argue that the repeated use of forþon in The Seafarer reflects the anaphoric repetition of causatives in the Psalter. Moreover, through its repetition of forþon clauses, the poem invites the reader to approach the text using interpretive strategies commonly associated with the Psalms. Especially in the commentaries of Augustine, Cassiodorus and Origen, allegorical interpretation of the Psalms is linked to theories of subjectivity: different levels of the Psalms’ meaning often reflect different interpretations of the Psalms’ first- person speaker. Drawing on this link between biblical allegory and patristic theories of the self, The Seafarer uses the Old English Psalms as a backdrop against which to develop a specifically Anglo-Saxon model of Christian subjectivity and asceticism. In the layered complexity of its imagery, the poem offers more than vernacular glossing of originally Latin allegory: it creates allegorical figures within the medium of Old English. Implicitly, the poem makes claims for the medium of the vernacular, as well as for the model of subjectivity belonging to it, as a vehicle for reflection and contemplation.
The earliest modern Anglo-Saxon grammar: Sir Henry Spelman, Abraham Wheelock and William Retchford
Authors: Lucas Peter J.
Published: July 2017

The first scholars interested in Anglo-Saxon had to learn it by direct contact with original sources. Work on a dictionary preceded that on a grammar, notably through the efforts of John Joscelyn, Archbishop Parker's Latin Secretary. Like Parker, Sir Henry Spelman (1563/4–1641) found that many of his sources for early English history were in Anglo-Saxon. Consequently he encouraged the study of Old English by establishing a Lectureship in Anglo-Saxon at Cambridge University and worked closely with its first (and only) holder, Abraham Wheelock. Together with Wheelock's pupil, William Retchford, and possibly drawing on some earlier work by Joscelyn (since lost), these scholars attempted to formulate the rudiments of Anglo-Saxon grammar. This pioneering work, basically a parts-of-speech grammar, survives in three versions, two of them incomplete. In this article I discuss the contents and methodology used and present for the first time an edited text of the first modern Old English grammar. It was a remarkable achievement.
Ca6.5Pb1.5ZnBi(VO4)7, a novel whitlockite-type vanadate: crystal structure refinement and properties characterization
Authors: Petrova Daria , Deyneko Dina , Stefanovich Sergey , Aksenov Sergey , Lazoryak Bogdan
Published: July 2017

Novel compounds Ca8−xPbxZnBi(VO4)7(0 ≤x≤ 1.5) solid solution with the whitlockite-type structure were synthesized by a standard solid-state method. The unit-cell parameters were determined by X-ray powder diffraction and using Le Bail decomposition. The crystal structural of Ca6.5Pb1.5ZnBi(VO4)7was refined by Rietveld method. It is found that Pb2+cations occupy a half of theM3 site, whereas theM1 andM2 sites are predominantly occupied by calcium with admixture of Bi3+cations. TheM5 site is fully occupied by Zn2+cations. TheM4 site in the structure of studied sample remains vacant and does not participate in the cations arrangement. Optical second harmonic generation demonstrates high non-linear optical activity. Dielectric investigations confirm polar space groupR3c. Changes in the non-linear optical and ferroelectric parameters are matched with lead and zinc cation distribution over the sites of the whitlockite-type structure.
Spatial behaviour and density of three species of long-distance migrants wintering in a disturbed and non-disturbed woodland in northern Ghana
Authors: WILLEMOES MIKKEL , TØTTRUP ANDERS P. , LERCHE-JØRGENSEN MATHILDE , JACOBSEN ERIK MANDRUP , REEVE ANDREW HART , THORUP KASPER
Published: July 2017

Changes in land-use and climate are threatening migratory animals worldwide. In birds, declines have been widely documented in long-distance migrants. However, reasons remain poorly understood due to a lack of basic information regarding migratory birds’ ecology in their non-breeding areas and the effects of current environmental pressures there. We studied bird densities, spatial and territorial behaviour and habitat preference in two different habitat types in northern Ghana, West Africa. We study three common Eurasian-African songbirds (Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus, Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta and Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca) in a forested site, heavily disturbed by agricultural activities, and a forest reserve with no agriculture. The three species differed in non-breeding spatial strategies, with Willow Warblers having larger home ranges and being non-territorial. Home ranges (kernel density) of the three species were on average 1.5–4 times larger in the disturbed site than in the undisturbed site. Much of the birds’ tree species selection was explained by their preference for tall trees, but all species favoured trees of the genus Acacia. The overall larger home ranges in the disturbed site were presumably caused by the lower density of tall trees. Density of Pied Flycatchers was 24% lower in disturbed habitat (not significantly different from undisturbed) but Willow Warbler density in the disturbed habitat was more than 2.5 times the density in undisturbed. This suggests that the disturbed habitat was less suitable for Pied Flycatcher but not for Willow Warbler. This difference is possibly related to differences in tree species preferences and suggests that at least for some species, presence of preferred tree species is more important than overall tree abundance. Such information is crucial for predicting consequences of habitat changes on larger scales and population levels, as well as for planning potentially migrant-friendly farming practices.
Seed longevity and physical dormancy break of two endemic species of Dimorphandra from Brazilian biodiversity hotspots
Authors: Matheus Miele T. , Rodrigues-Junior Ailton G. , Oliveira Denise M.T. , Garcia Queila S.
Published: July 2017

Seed longevity is dependent on seed traits and storage conditions. This study evaluated the seed longevity and physical dormancy (PY)-break of two species of Dimorphandra endemic to Brazilian biodiversity hotspots. Longevity was tested in situ, by burying seeds in their natural habitats (12 months), and ex situ, by storage in a cold chamber (5°C; 24 months). Seeds were taken at regular intervals to assess germinability at 30°C (12 h photoperiod) using intact and scarified seeds. Intact seeds (freshly collected, and after 12 months storage) were analysed using scanning electron microscopy. The germinability of freshly collected seeds of both species reached approximately 10% for intact seeds and >85% for scarified seeds. Cold storage maintained seed viability in both species, and broke dormancy for 35% of D. wilsonii seeds. After 12 months, only 55% (for D. exaltata) and 41% (for D. wilsonii) of the buried seeds were recovered; more than 90% of which remained viable in both species. Seeds gradually overcame PY during burial, with a higher germination increase for D. wilsonii (71%) than D. exaltata (32%). Dimorphandra exaltata seeds did not show clear structural changes after cold storage although D. wilsonii seeds evidently experience an increase in the depth of fracture lines. Burial promoted deep seed coat changes in both species, more intense in D. wilsonii, indicating that temperature and humidity variations throughout the year are among the main factors releasing Dimorphandra seeds from PY. The seeds of both studied species overcame PY during burial and are able to form small persistent soil seed banks.
Developing and validating a nutrition knowledge questionnaire: key methods and considerations
Authors: Trakman Gina Louise , Forsyth Adrienne , Hoye Russell , Belski Regina
Published: July 2017

Objective

To outline key statistical considerations and detailed methodologies for the development and evaluation of a valid and reliable nutrition knowledge questionnaire.

Design

Literature on questionnaire development in a range of fields was reviewed and a set of evidence-based guidelines specific to the creation of a nutrition knowledge questionnaire have been developed. The recommendations describe key qualitative methods and statistical considerations, and include relevant examples from previous papers and existing nutrition knowledge questionnaires. Where details have been omitted for the sake of brevity, the reader has been directed to suitable references.

Results

We recommend an eight-step methodology for nutrition knowledge questionnaire development as follows: (i) definition of the construct and development of a test plan; (ii) generation of the item pool; (iii) choice of the scoring system and response format; (iv) assessment of content validity; (v) assessment of face validity; (vi) purification of the scale using item analysis, including item characteristics, difficulty and discrimination; (vii) evaluation of the scale including its factor structure and internal reliability, or Rasch analysis, including assessment of dimensionality and internal reliability; and (viii) gathering of data to re-examine the questionnaire’s properties, assess temporal stability and confirm construct validity. Several of these methods have previously been overlooked.

Conclusions

The measurement of nutrition knowledge is an important consideration for individuals working in the nutrition field. Improved methods in the development of nutrition knowledge questionnaires, such as the use of factor analysis or Rasch analysis, will enable more confidence in reported measures of nutrition knowledge.
BioRock: new experiments and hardware to investigate microbe–mineral interactions in space
Authors: Loudon Claire-Marie , Nicholson Natasha , Finster Kai , Leys Natalie , Byloos Bo , Van Houdt Rob , Rettberg Petra , Moeller Ralf , Fuchs Felix M. , Demets René , Krause Jutta , Vukich Marco , Mariani Alessandro , Cockell Charles
Published: July 2017

In this paper, we describe the development of an International Space Station experiment, BioRock. The purpose of this experiment is to investigate biofilm formation and microbe–mineral interactions in space. The latter research has application in areas as diverse as regolith amelioration and extraterrestrial mining. We describe the design of a prototype biomining reactor for use in space experimentation and investigations onin situResource Use and we describe the results of pre-flight tests.
Recognition of jet engines via sparse decomposition of ISAR images using a waveguide scattering model
Authors: Wagner Simon , Ender Joachim
Published: July 2017

Air target recognition is a critical step in the radar processing chain and reliable features are necessary to make a decision. The number and position of jet engines are useful features to perform a pre-classification and give a list of possible targets. To extract these features, a sparse decomposition framework for inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) images is presented. With this framework different components of the target can be detected, if signal models for these parts are available. To use it for the detection of jet engines, a review of a signal model for air intakes, which was developed by Borden, is given. This model is based on the common assumption that the propagation of electromagnetic waves inside jet engines has the same dispersive behavior as inside waveguides. With this model a decomposition of a real ISAR image, measured with the tracking and imaging radar system of Fraunhofer FHR, into point-like scattering centers and jet engines is presented.
Prävalenz, Einflussfaktoren, Screening und Diagnose eines Delirs bei stationär hospitalisierten Patientinnen und Patienten in einem Schweizer Akutspital – Eine Pilotstudie
Authors: Schwarber Andrea , Hasemann Wolfgang , Stillhard Urs , Schoop Barbara , Senn Beate
Published: July 2017

Zusammenfassung. Hintergrund: Delirien haben massive Auswirkungen, von verlängerter Hospitalisation bis zu erhöhter Mortalität. Risikofaktoren wie beispielsweise das Alter, Entzugssymptomatik, Immobilität oder Stress sind bekannt. Europäische Prävalenzzahlen liegen zwischen 17 und 22 %, lassen sich aber nur bedingt auf die Schweiz anwenden. Nationale Zahlen bezüglich Delirien im Akutspital sind nicht bekannt. Ziel: Einerseits die Delirprävalenz in einem Akutspital zu messen, andererseits anhand von Gruppenvergleichen Merkmale von Delirpatientinnen und -patienten herauszuarbeiten sowie Sensitivität und Spezifität der Screeninginstrumente zu testen und Erfahrungen bezüglich der Durchführbarkeit zu sammeln. Methode: In einer prospektiven Querschnittstudie wurde die Punktprävalenz von Delirien erhoben. Geschultes Pflegepersonal hat am Stichtag Daten gesammelt. Ergebnisse: Anhand der Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) wurde eine Delirpunktprävalenz von 14 % (6 / 43) ermittelt. Ein signifikanter Unterschied zwischen den Gruppen resultierte in folgenden Items: Alter, Fachgebiet, Anzahl ICD-Diagnosen, Pflegeabhängigkeit und in allen drei Delirinstrumenten, Delirium Observation Screening Scale, Aufmerksamkeitstest und CAM. Personen mit Delir waren nicht nur länger hospitalisiert, sondern hatten auch eine beinahe doppelt so hohe Anzahl ICD-Diagnosen, waren pflegeaufwändiger und gaben meist keine Schmerzen an. Schlussfolgerungen: Erstmals wurde eine Delirpunktprävalenz in einem Schweizer Akutspital erhoben. Die verwendeten Instrumente sind zuverlässig. Die Studiendurchführung ist praktikabel und könnte mit einer grösseren Stichprobe durchgeführt werden.
Eine institutionsübergreifende Leitlinie für erwachsene Personen mit Blasenkatheter – Methodisches Vorgehen
Authors: Barbezat Isabelle , Willener Rita , Jenni Giovanna , Hürlimann Barbara , Geese Franziska , Spichiger Elisabeth
Published: July 2017

Zusammenfassung. Hintergrund: Personen mit Blasenkatheter erleiden häufig Komplikationen; in der Praxis stellen sich oft Fragen zum Kathetermanagement. Leitlinien sind ein anerkanntes Mittel zum Fördern einer evidenzbasierten Praxis. In der Literatur wird die Adaption einer bestehenden Leitlinie als Alternative zur Neuerstellung beschrieben. Ziel: Eine vorhandene Leitlinie für die Versorgung von Personen mit Blasenkatheter in den Bereichen Akut-, Langzeit- und häusliche Pflege sollte übersetzt und an den Deutschschweizer Kontext angepasst werden. Methode: In einem systematischen und pragmatischen Vorgehen wurden klinische Fragen definiert, nach bestehenden Leitlinien gesucht sowie deren inhaltliche Relevanz und Qualität eingeschätzt. Dabei führte jeder Schritt zum Entscheid bezüglich des weiteren Vorgehens. Ergebnisse: Eine englische Leitlinie wurde gewählt, übersetzt, an den lokalen Kontext angepasst und ergänzt. Die adaptierte deutschsprachige Leitlinie wurde von Expert(inn)en begutachtet, nochmals angepasst und genehmigt. Nach 34 Monaten und einem Aufwand von 145 Personenarbeitstagen steht den beteiligten Institutionen eine Leitlinie zur Versorgung von Personen mit Blasenkatheter zur Verfügung. Schlussfolgerungen: Das Übersetzen und Adaptieren einer Leitlinie erwies sich als sinnvolle Alternative zur Neuerstellung, der Aufwand darf aber nicht unterschätzt werden. Für ein entsprechendes Projekt sollten von Beginn an genügend fachliche und methodische Ressourcen zur Verfügung gestellt werden, damit effiziente Leitlinienarbeit von einem konstanten Team geleistet werden kann.
Inverted battery design as ion generator for interfacing with biosystems
Authors: Wang Chengwei , Fu Kun , Dai Jiaqi , Lacey Steven D. , Yao Yonggang , Pastel Glenn , Xu Lisha , Zhang Jianhua , Hu Liangbing
Published: July 2017

In a lithium-ion battery, electrons are released from the anode and go through an external electronic circuit to power devices, while ions simultaneously transfer through internal ionic media to meet with electrons at the cathode. Inspired by the fundamental electrochemistry of the lithium-ion battery, we envision a cell that can generate a current of ions instead of electrons, so that ions can be used for potential applications in biosystems. Based on this concept, we report an ‘electron battery’ configuration in which ions travel through an external circuit to interact with the intended biosystem whereas electrons are transported internally. As a proof-of-concept, we demonstrate the application of the electron battery by stimulating a monolayer of cultured cells, which fluoresces a calcium ion wave at a controlled ionic current. Electron batteries with the capability to generate a tunable ionic current could pave the way towards precise ion-system control in a broad range of biological applications.
Distribution of high-dimensional entanglement via an intra-city free-space link
Authors: Steinlechner Fabian , Ecker Sebastian , Fink Matthias , Liu Bo , Bavaresco Jessica , Huber Marcus , Scheidl Thomas , Ursin Rupert
Published: July 2017

Quantum entanglement is a fundamental resource in quantum information processing and its distribution between distant parties is a key challenge in quantum communications. Increasing the dimensionality of entanglement has been shown to improve robustness and channel capacities in secure quantum communications. Here we report on the distribution of genuine high-dimensional entanglement via a 1.2-km-long free-space link across Vienna. We exploit hyperentanglement, that is, simultaneous entanglement in polarization and energy-time bases, to encode quantum information, and observe high-visibility interference for successive correlation measurements in each degree of freedom. These visibilities impose lower bounds on entanglement in each subspace individually and certify four-dimensional entanglement for the hyperentangled system. The high-fidelity transmission of high-dimensional entanglement under real-world atmospheric link conditions represents an important step towards long-distance quantum communications with more complex quantum systems and the implementation of advanced quantum experiments with satellite links.
Overexpression of zinc finger protein 687 enhances tumorigenic capability and promotes recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Zhang T , Huang Y , Liu W , Meng W , Zhao H , Yang Q , Gu S-J , Xiao C-C , Jia C-C , Zhang B , Zou Y , Li H-P , Fu B-S
Published: July 2017

Zinc finger protein 687 (ZNF687), identified as a C2H2 zinc finger protein, has been found to be mutated and upregulated in giant cell tumor of bone and acute myeloid leukemia, suggesting an oncogenic role for ZNF687 in cancer. However, the clinical significance and precise role of ZNF687 in cancer progression are largely unknown. Herein, we report that ZNF687 was markedly upregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines and HCC tissues, and was significantly correlated with relapse-free survival in HCC. ZNF687 overexpression greatly enhanced HCC cell capability for tumorsphere formation, invasion and chemoresistance in vitro, whereas inhibiting ZNF687 reduced these capabilities and inhibited HCC cell tumorigenic capability in vivo. Importantly, extreme limiting dilution analysis revealed that even 1 × 102 ZNF687-transduced cells could form tumors in vivo, indicating that ZNF687 contributes to HCC recurrence. Moreover, we demonstrate that ZNF687 transcriptionally upregulated the expression of the pluripotency-associated factors BMI1, OCT4 and NANOG by directly targeting their promoters. Therefore, our results suggest that ZNF687 has a promoter role in regulating HCC progression, which provides a potential therapeutic target for HCC in humans.
Sorting at embryonic boundaries requires high heterotypic interfacial tension
Authors: Canty Laura , Zarour Eleyine , Kashkooli Leily , François Paul , Fagotto François
Published: July 2017

The establishment of sharp boundaries is essential for segregation of embryonic tissues during development, but the underlying mechanism of cell sorting has remained unclear. Opposing hypotheses have been proposed, either based on global tissue adhesive or contractile properties or on local signalling through cell contact cues. Here we use ectoderm–mesoderm separation in Xenopus to directly evaluate the role of these various parameters. We find that ephrin-Eph-based repulsion is very effective at inducing and maintaining separation, whereas differences in adhesion or contractility have surprisingly little impact. Computer simulations support and generalise our experimental results, showing that a high heterotypic interfacial tension between tissues is key to their segregation. We propose a unifying model, in which conditions of sorting previously considered as driven by differential adhesion/tension should be viewed as suboptimal cases of heterotypic interfacial tension.
Every-other-day feeding extends lifespan but fails to delay many symptoms of aging in mice
Authors: Xie Kan , Neff Frauke , Markert Astrid , Rozman Jan , Aguilar-Pimentel Juan Antonio , Amarie Oana Veronica , Becker Lore , Brommage Robert , Garrett Lillian , Henzel Kristin S. , Hölter Sabine M. , Janik Dirk , Lehmann Isabelle , Moreth Kristin , Pearson Brandon L. , Racz Ildiko , Rathkolb Birgit , Ryan Devon P. , Schröder Susanne , Treise Irina , Bekeredjian Raffi , Busch Dirk H. , Graw Jochen , Ehninger Gerhard , Klingenspor Martin , Klopstock Thomas , Ollert Markus , Sandholzer Michael , Schmidt-Weber Carsten , Weiergräber Marco , Wolf Eckhard , Wurst Wolfgang , Zimmer Andreas , Gailus-Durner Valerie , Fuchs Helmut , Hrabě de Angelis Martin , Ehninger Dan
Published: July 2017

Dietary restriction regimes extend lifespan in various animal models. Here we show that longevity in male C57BL/6J mice subjected to every-other-day feeding is associated with a delayed onset of neoplastic disease that naturally limits lifespan in these animals. We compare more than 200 phenotypes in over 20 tissues in aged animals fed with a lifelong every-other-day feeding or ad libitum access to food diet to determine whether molecular, cellular, physiological and histopathological aging features develop more slowly in every-other-day feeding mice than in controls. We also analyze the effects of every-other-day feeding on young mice on shorter-term every-other-day feeding or ad libitum to account for possible aging-independent restriction effects. Our large-scale analysis reveals overall only limited evidence for a retardation of the aging rate in every-other-day feeding mice. The data indicate that every-other-day feeding-induced longevity is sufficiently explained by delays in life-limiting neoplastic disorders and is not associated with a more general slowing of the aging process in mice.
KRAS Activation and over-expression of SIRT1/BCL6 Contributes to the Pathogenesis of Endometriosis and Progesterone Resistance
Authors: Yoo Jung-Yoon , Kim Tae Hoon , Fazleabas Asgerally T. , Palomino Wilder A. , Ahn Soo Hyun , Tayade Chandrakant , Schammel David P. , Young Steven L. , Jeong Jae-Wook , Lessey Bruce A.
Published: July 2017

Endometriosis is an inflammatory condition that is associated with progesterone resistance and cell proliferation, resulting in pain, infertility and pregnancy loss. We previously demonstrated phosphorylation of STAT3 in eutopic endometrium of infertile women with this disorder leading to over-expression of the oncogene BCL6 and stabilization of hypoxia-induced factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α). Here we report coordinated activation of KRAS and over-expression of Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), a histone deacetylase and gene silencer, in the eutopic endometrium from women with endometriosis throughout the menstrual cycle. The mice with conditional activation of KRAS in the PGR positive cells reveal an increase of SIRT1 expression in the endometrium compared to control mice. The expression of progesterone receptor target genes including the Indian Hedgehog pathway genes are significantly down-regulated in the mutant mice. SIRT1 co-localizes with BCL6 in the nuclei of affected individuals and both proteins bind to and suppress the promoter of GLI1, a critical mediator of progesterone action in the Indian Hedgehog pathway, by ChIP analysis. In eutopic endometrium, GLI1 expression is reduced in women with endometriosis. Together, these data suggest that KRAS, SIRT1 and BCL6 are coordinately over-expressed in eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis and likely participate in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.
Chondroitin sulfate disaccharides modified the structure and function of the murine gut microbiome under healthy and stressed conditions
Authors: Liu Fang , Zhang Na , Li Zhaojie , Wang Xiong , Shi Hongjie , Xue Changhu , Li Robert W. , Tang Qingjuan
Published: July 2017

Chondroitin sulfate (CS) has been widely used for medical and nutraceutical purposes due to its roles in maintaining tissue structural integrity. We investigated if CS disaccharides may act as a bioactive compound and modulate gut microbial composition in mice. Our data show that CS disaccharides supplementation for 16 days significantly reduced blood LPS in the mice experiencing exhaustive exercise stress. CS disaccharides partially restored total fecal short-chain fatty acids from the level significantly repressed in mice under the stress. Our findings demonstrated that CS was likely butyrogenic and resulted in a significant increase in fecal butyrate concentration. CS disaccharides had a profound impact on gut microbial composition, affecting the abundance of 13.6% and 7.3% Operational Taxonomic Units in fecal microbial communities in healthy and stressed mice, respectively. CS disaccharides reduced the prevalence of inflammatory Proteobacteria. Together, our findings demonstrated that CS may ameliorate stress-induced intestinal inflammation. Furthermore, CS significantly increased intestinal Bacteroides acidifaciens population, indirectly exerting its immunomodulatory effect on the intestine. CS disaccharides had a significant impact on a broad range of biological pathways under stressed condition, such as ABC transporters, two-component systems, and carbohydrate metabolism. Our results will facilitate the development of CS as a bioactive nutraceutical.
Oral exposure to arsenic causes hearing loss in young people aged 12–29 years and in young mice
Authors: Li Xiang , Ohgami Nobutaka , Omata Yasuhiro , Yajima Ichiro , Iida Machiko , Oshino Reina , Ohnuma Shoko , Ahsan Nazmul , Akhand Anwarul Azim , Kato Masashi
Published: July 2017

There is no information on the association between oral exposure to arsenic (As) and hearing loss in humans or mice. In this combined epidemiological study and experimental study, the association of oral exposure to As with hearing loss in people aged 12–29 years and young mice was examined. Subjects in the exposure group (n = 48), who were drinking tube well water contaminated with As, showed significantly higher risks of hearing loss at 4 kHz [odds ratio (OR) = 7.60; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.56, 57.88], 8 kHz (OR = 5.00; 95% CI: 1.48, 18.90) and 12 kHz (OR = 8.72; 95% CI: 2.09, 47.77) than did subjects in the control group (n = 29). We next performed an experiment in which young mice were exposed to As via drinking water at 22.5 mg/L, which is a much greater concentration than that in human studies. The exposure group showed hearing loss and accumulation of As in inner ears. Ex vivo exposure of the organ of Corti from mice exposed to As significantly decreased the number of auditory neurons and fibers. Thus, our combined study showed that oral exposure to As caused hearing loss in young people and young mice.
The interfacial pH of acidic degradable polymeric biomaterials and its effects on osteoblast behavior
Authors: Ruan Changshun , Hu Nan , Ma Yufei , Li Yuxiao , Liu Juan , Zhang Xinzhou , Pan Haobo
Published: July 2017

A weak alkaline environment is established to facilitate the growth of osteoblasts. Unfortunately, this is inconsistent with the application of biodegradable polymer in bone regeneration, as the degradation products are usually acidic. In this study, the variation of the interfacial pH of poly (D, L-lactide) and piperazine-based polyurethane ureas (P-PUUs), as the representations of acidic degradable materials, and the behavior of osteoblasts on these substrates with tunable interfacial pH were investigated in vitro. These results revealed that the release of degraded products caused a rapid decrease in the interfacial pH, and this could be relieved by the introduction of alkaline segments. On the contrary, when culturing with osteoblasts, the variation of the interfacial pH revealed an upward tendency, indicating that cell could construct the microenvironment by secreting cellular metabolites to satisfy its own survival. In addition, the behavior of osteoblasts on substrates exhibited that P-PUUs with the most PP units were better for cell growth and osteogenic differentiation of cells. This is due to the hydrophilic surface and the moderate N% in P-PUUs, key factors in the promotion of the early stages of cellular responses, and the interfacial pH contributing to the enhanced effect on osteogenic differentiation.
The Predictive Value of Genetic Analyses in the Diagnosis of Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4)-Responsiveness in Chinese Phenylalanine Hydroxylase Deficiency Patients
Authors: Zhu Tianwen , Ye Jun , Han Lianshu , Qiu Wenjuan , Zhang Huiwen , Liang Lili , Gu Xuefan
Published: July 2017

Molecular characterization of PAH deficiency has been proven essential in establishing treatment options. We examine the diagnostic accuracy of two genetic assays to predict BH4 responsiveness: to determine whether the AV sum test or mutation-status assessment test can obviate the need for BH4 loading in Chinese patients. The overall predicted response in 346 patients was 31.65% by the AV sum test and 25.43% by the other assay; both percentages were lower than 51.06% derived from loading results in 94 patients. Responders were compound heterozygotes with definite BH4 responsive mutations, while non-responders had null/null ones; some consistently with specific mutations and genotypes. The sensitivity and specificity of the assays were 81.1% and 92.5% for the AV sum, and 82.9%, 97.3% for the other. An AV sum cutoff >2 has a positive predictive value (PPV) of 90.9%, while the presence of at least one BH4 responsive mutation has a PPV of 97.1%. The two approaches showed good concordance. Our data confirmed that the mutation-status assessment has a higher diagnostic accuracy in predicting response for Chinese patients than the AV sum test. BH4-responsiveness may be predicted or excluded from patients’ molecular characteristics to some extent, thus some patients may avoid the initial loading.
Probing microtubules polarity in mitotic spindles in situ using Interferometric Second Harmonic Generation Microscopy
Authors: Bancelin S. , Couture C.-A. , Pinsard M. , Rivard M. , Drapeau P. , Légaré F.
Published: July 2017

The polarity of microtubules is thought to be involved in spindle assembly, cytokinesis or active molecular transport. However, its exact role remains poorly understood, mainly because of the challenge to measure microtubule polarity in intact cells. We report here the use of fast Interferometric Second Harmonic Generation microscopy to study the polarity of microtubules forming the mitotic spindles in a zebrafish embryo. This technique provides a powerful tool to study mitotic spindle formation and may be directly transferable for investigating the kinetics and function of microtubule polarity in other aspects of subcellular motility or in native tissues.
Mass spectrometry-based determination of Kallikrein-related peptidase 7 (KLK7) cleavage preferences and subsite dependency
Authors: Silva Lakmali Munasinghage , Stoll Thomas , Kryza Thomas , Stephens Carson Ryan , Hastie Marcus Lachlan , Irving-Rodgers Helen Frances , Dong Ying , Gorman Jeffrey John , Clements Judith Ann
Published: July 2017

The cleavage preferences of Kallikrein-related peptidase 7 (KLK7) have previously been delineated using synthetic peptide libraries of fixed length, or single protein chains and have suggested that KLK7 exerts a chymotryptic-like cleavage preference. Due to the short length of the peptides utilised, only a limited number of subsites have however been assessed. To determine the subsite preferences of KLK7 in a global setting, we used a mass spectrometry (MS)-based in-depth proteomics approach that utilises human proteome-derived peptide libraries of varying length, termed Proteomic Identification of protease Cleavage Sites (PICS). Consistent with previous findings, KLK7 was found to exert chymotryptic-like cleavage preferences. KLK7 subsite preferences were also characterised in the P2-P2′ region, demonstrating a preference for hydrophobic residues in the non-prime and hydrophilic residues in the prime subsites. Interestingly, single catalytic triad mutant KLK7 (mKLK7; S195A) also showed residual catalytic activity (kcat/KM = 7.93 × 102 s−1M−1). Catalytic inactivity of KLK7 was however achieved by additional mutation in this region (D102N). In addition to characterising the cleavage preferences of KLK7, our data thereby also suggests that the use of double catalytic triad mutants should be employed as more appropriate negative controls in future investigations of KLK7, especially when highly sensitive MS-based approaches are employed.
Identification of an operon involved in fluoride resistance in Enterobacter cloacae FRM
Authors: Liu Xiaoqing , Tian Jian , Liu Lihui , Zhu Tao , Yu Xiaoxia , Chu Xiaoyu , Yao Bin , Wu Ningfeng , Fan Yunliu
Published: July 2017

Fluorine is ubiquitous and the most active non-metal element in nature. While many microorganisms have developed fluoride resistance as a result of the widespread and prolonged application of oral hygiene products, the mechanisms used by these organisms to overcome fluoride toxicity are incompletely understood. In this study, a fluoride-resistant strain, Enterobacter cloacae FRM, was identified which could grow well at a fluoride concentration of 4,000 mg/L. According to comparative genomics, transcriptome under fluoride stress, and sequence analyses of two fluoride-resistant fosmid clones, the genomic island GI3 was found to be important for fluoride resistance. The result of quantitative RT-PCR indicated that six genes on GI3, ppaC, uspA, eno, gpmA, crcB, and orf5249, which encode a fluoride transporter, fluoride-inhibited enzymes, and a universal stress protein, reside in an operon and are transcribed into two mRNAs activated by fluoride with a fluoride riboswitch. The results of knockout and complementation experiments indicated that these genes work together to provide high fluoride resistance to E. cloacae FRM. This study clarified the resistance mechanism of this high fluoride-resistant organism and has expanded our understanding of the biological effects of fluoride.
ShadowY: a dark yellow fluorescent protein for FLIM-based FRET measurement
Authors: Murakoshi Hideji , Shibata Akihiro C. E.
Published: July 2017

Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM)-based Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) measurement (FLIM-FRET) is one of the powerful methods for imaging of intracellular protein activities such as protein–protein interactions and conformational changes. Here, using saturation mutagenesis, we developed a dark yellow fluorescent protein named ShadowY that can serve as an acceptor for FLIM-FRET. ShadowY is spectrally similar to the previously reported dark YFP but has a much smaller quantum yield, greater extinction coefficient, and superior folding property. When ShadowY was paired with mEGFP or a Clover mutant (CloverT153M/F223R) and applied to a single-molecule FRET sensor to monitor a light-dependent conformational change of the light-oxygen-voltage domain 2 (LOV2) in HeLa cells, we observed a large FRET signal change with low cell-to-cell variability, allowing for precise measurement of individual cell responses. In addition, an application of ShadowY to a separate-type Ras FRET sensor revealed an EGF-dependent large FRET signal increase. Thus, ShadowY in combination with mEGFP or CloverT153M/F223R is a promising FLIM-FRET acceptor.
Effect of Sodium Treatment on the Performance of Electrostatic Spray Assisted Vapour Deposited Copper-poor Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)
2
Solar Cells
Authors: Wang Mingqing , Hossain Md. Anower , Choy Kwang-Leong
Published: July 2017

In our work, eco-friendly, non-vacuum and low cost Electrostatic Spray Assisted Vapour Deposition (ESAVD) method has been used to produce Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 (CIGS) solar cells. Copper (Cu) deficient (Cu/In + Ga = 0.76) CIGS films were designed to avoid the rather dangerous KCN treatment step for the removal of conductive minor phases of Cu2S/Cu2Se. A simple sodium (Na) treatment method was used to modify the morphology and electronic properties of the absorber and it clearly improved the solar cell performance. The SEM and XRD results testified a slightly increase of the grain size and (112) crystal orientation in the Na-incorporated CIGS thin films. From the Mott-schottky results, it can be seen that the functions of the Na treatment in our non-vacuum deposited CIGS are mainly used for defect passivation and reduction of charge recombination. Photovoltaic characteristics and j-V curve demonstrated that the dipping of CIGS films in 0.2 M NaCl solution for 20 minutes followed by selenization at 550 °C under selenium vapor resulted in the optimum photovoltaic performance, with jsc, Voc, FF and η of the optimized solar cell of 29.30 mA cm−2, 0.564 V, 65.59% and 10.83%, respectively.