bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Robust climate scenarios for sites with sparse observations: a two‐step bias correction approach
Authors: Rajczak Jan , Kotlarski Sven , Salzmann Nadine , Schär Christoph
Published: July 2015

Observed and projected climatic changes demand for robust assessments of climate impacts on various environmental and anthropogenic systems. Empirical‐statistical downscaling (ESD) methods coupled to output from climate model projections are promising tools to assess impacts at regional to local scale. ESD methods correct for common model deficiencies in accuracy (e.g. model biases) and scale (e.g. grid vs point scale). However, most ESD methods require long observational time series at the target sites, and this often restricts robust impact assessments to a small number of sites. This paper presents a method to generate robust climate model based scenarios for target sites with short and (or) sparse observational data coverage. The approach is based on the well‐established quantile mapping method and incorporates two major steps: (1) climate model bias correction to the most representative station with long‐term measurements and (2) spatial transfer of bias‐corrected model data to represent target site characteristics. Both steps are carried out using the quantile mapping technique. The resulting output can serve as end user–tailored input for climate impact models. The method allows for multivariate and multi‐model ensemble scenarios and additionally enables to approximately reconstruct data for non‐measured periods. The method's applicability is validated using (1) long‐term weather stations across the topographically and climatologically complex territory of Switzerland and (2) sparse data sets from Swiss permafrost research sites located in challenging conditions at high altitudes. It is shown that the two‐step approach performs well and offers attractive quality, even for extreme target locations. Uncertainties, however, remain and primarily depend on (1) data availability and (2) the considered variable. The two‐step approach itself involves large uncertainties when applied to short reference data sets or spatially heterogeneous variables (e.g. precipitation, wind speed). For temperature, results are promising even when using very short calibration periods.
A meshless method based on the dual reciprocity method for one‐dimensional stochastic partial differential equations
Authors: Dehghan Mehdi , Shirzadi Mohammad
Published: July 2015

This article describes a new meshless method based on the dual reciprocity method (DRM) for the numerical solution of one‐dimensional stochastic heat and advection–diffusion equations. First, the time derivative is approximated by the time–stepping method to transforming the original stochastic partial differential equations (SPDEs) into elliptic SPDEs. The resulting elliptic SPDEs have been approximated with the new method, which is a combination of radial basis functions (RBFs) method and the DRM method. We have used inverse multiquadrics (IMQ) and generalized IMQ (GIMQ) RBFs, to approximate functions in the presented method. The noise term has been approximated at the source points, at each time step. The developed formulation is verified in two test problems with investigating the convergence and accuracy of numerical results. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 32: 292–306, 2016
Fundamentals and Applications of Reflection FTIR Spectroscopy for the Analysis of Plasma Processes at Materials Interfaces
Authors: Grundmeier Guido , von Keudell Achim , de los Arcos Teresa
Published: July 2015

Plasma processes are widely used for the deposition of thin films and/or the functionalization of material surfaces and interfaces ranging from inorganic to organic structures. The characterization of such plasma‐modified surfaces is challenging and most efficiently performed by optical methods, such as FTIR‐spectroscopy and related techniques. The present review aims at bridging the gap between optical spectroscopy fundamentals and the application of such experimental techniques in plasma surface science and engineering. The first part of the review covers the most relevant theoretical aspects of different reflection FTIR‐spectroscopy approaches; the second part presents the different applications of these principles for the investigation of surface processes induced by plasma. The applications take into account interaction of plasma with metal surfaces, semiconductors, and polymeric materials.
The Usefulness of International Cooperation in the Repair of Inguinal Hernias in Sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Gil José , Rodriguez J. M. , Gil E. , Hernández Agúera Q. , González F. M. , García J. A. , Balsalobre M. D. , Tortosa J. A. , Hernández Palazón D. , Diallo A. B. , Parrilla P.
Published: July 2015

Introduction

The burden of disease and mortality associated with inguinal hernia in Africa, especially in sub‐Saharan Africa, is very high. The purpose of this study is to show that International Cooperation work in the field of hernia repair is effective; it minimizes the delay in hernia repairs in the targeted population, and can prevent a large number of disability‐adjusted life years (DALYs).

Materials and methods

As a part of an International Cooperation program, a total of 990 black patients with inguinal hernias were studied, in whom hernioplasty was performed using polypropylene mesh. The type of hernia and surgical technique were studied. Indicators of scientific and technical quality, indicators of efficiency and of effectiveness were analyzed. The results on the usefulness of interventions were calculated as avoided DALYs.

Results

Surgery was performed on 926 patients with a total of 1033 hernia repairs. 87.2 % of the repairs were made with mesh. There was no mortality in the series, complications were minor, and 85.7 % of patients remained less than 24 h in the center. There was a 2.8 % of recurrence, with a follow‐up 58.7 % of the patients in the first year. 5014 DALYs were avoided, and the average of the avoided DALYs per patient was of 5.41.

Conclusions

Hernia repair with mesh in low development countries is a procedure with low morbidity and high effectiveness that can prevent a large number of DALYs.
Why did Jerome Translate Tobit and Judith?
Authors: Gallagher Edmon L.
Published: July 2015

Jerome translated the Hebrew Bible into Latin over a decade and a half beginning in about 390c.e.With each translation he included a preface dedicating (in most cases) the translation to a friend or patron and defending his reliance on what he called thehebraica veritas (Hebrew truth)against his many detractors. This last feature of the prefaces proved necessary because by choosing the Hebrew text of the Old Testament as his base text, Jerome directly challenged the traditional position of the Septuagint within the church. The unpopularity of this move in some circles compelled Jerome repeatedly to justify his adherence to the Hebrew text. Similarly, in hisPreface to Samuel and Kings(the “Helmeted Preface” orPrologus galeatus) he famously advocated the Hebrew canon as the Christian Old Testament and relegated all other books to the apocrypha. As part of this latter category, Jerome named six books outside the Jewish canon that were finding acceptance as fully canonical in some quarters and would much later receive the label “deuterocanonical,” these books being Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach, and 1 and 2 Maccabees. In multiple ways Jerome sought to restore the Christian Old Testament to what he considered the original Hebrew text and canon.
Ika Igbo
Authors: Uguru Joy Oluchi
Published: July 2015

Ika is a dialect of the Igbo language spoken in Ika South and Ika North East Local Government Areas of Delta State and the Igbanke area of Edo State in Nigeria. It belongs to the Niger Igbo cluster of dialects (Ikekeonwu 1986) spoken in areas bordering the west of the River Niger; Nwaozuzu (2008) refers to these dialects as West Niger Group of Dialects. A word list of Ika, written by Williamson (1968), was one of the earliest works on Ika and she points out in that work that Ika (and Ukwuani), though regarded as dialects of Igbo, are treated as separate on purely linguistic grounds. Ika phonology differs from that of Standard Igbo and other Igbo dialects and this is why the study of Ika has been of major interest to Igbo linguists in recent years. There have been moves to grant Ika a language status, as seen in the assignment of a unique reference code to Ika: the ISO language code for Ika is ISO 639–3 ikk while that for Igbo is ISO 639–3 ibo. Standard Igbo has the same consonants as Ika though the latter has two consonants, /ʃ/and/ʒ/, which do not exist in the Standard dialect. However, the vocalic system of Ika is largely different from that of Standard and some Igbo dialects which have eight vowels. Ika has a nine-vowel system which includes the schwa, which is a variant of some vowels. Furthermore, it has nine nasal vowels; Standard Igbo and other dialects of Igbo have no nasal vowels. Ika manifests intonation in addition to lexical tone. Standard Igbo and other Igbo dialects do not manifest intonation in the same way as Ika does; that is, they do not express attitudes and emotions through intonation. They manifest only lexical tone. In an earlier study of Northern Igbo dialects, Ikekeonwu (1986) could only discover the existence of upstep in Abakaliki dialect. Okorji (1991) and Egbeji (1999) have studied the intonation of Umuchu, an inland West dialect of Igbo. Their findings, particularly Egbeji’s, show that a declarative sentence can be changed to an interrogative one (repetitive question) by use of intonation. This is a syntactic function which can also be likened to what happens in Standard and most other Igbo dialects where the tone of the pronominal subject changes from high to low in the indication of interrogation. At present, therefore, there appears to be no evidence that attitudes and emotions can be expressed through intonation in Umuchu and other Igbo dialects as is observed in Ika.
Stop bursts in Pitjantjatjara
Authors: Tabain Marija , Butcher Andrew
Published: July 2015

Pitjantjatjara is an Australian language with five stop places of articulation /ptʈck/ in three vowel contexts /aiu/. We present word-medial stop burst data from nine speakers, examining duration, formant, spectral moment and spectral tilt measures. Our particular focus is on the apical contrast (alveolar /t/ vs. retroflex /ʈ/) and on the alveo-palatal /c/ vs. velar /k/ contrast. We observe differences between the palatal and the velar depending on vowel context, and we discuss the possible aerodynamic and acoustic sources for these differences. By contrast, we find that differences between the alveolar and the retroflex are minimal in all three vowel contexts. Unexpectedly, in the context of /i/, various spectral measures suggest that the articulatory release for the retroflex /ʈ/ is in fact more anterior than the release for the alveolar /t/ – we discuss this result in terms of possible articulatory overshoot of the target for /ʈ/ before /i/, and suggest that this result provides additional explanation for the cross-linguistic rarity of retroflexes in an /i/ vowel context.
Metacognitive training for schizophrenia spectrum patients: a meta-analysis on outcome studies
Authors: van Oosterhout B. , Smit F. , Krabbendam L. , Castelein S. , Staring A. B. P. , van der Gaag M.
Published: July 2015

Background.

Metacognitive training (MCT) for schizophrenia spectrum is widely implemented. It is timely to systematically review the literature and to conduct a meta-analysis.

Method.

Eligible studies were selected from several sources (databases and expert suggestions). Criteria included comparative studies with a MCT condition measuring positive symptoms and/or delusions and/or data-gathering bias. Three meta-analyses were conducted on data gathering (three studies; 219 participants), delusions (seven studies; 500 participants) and positive symptoms (nine studies; 436 participants). Hedges’gis reported as the effect size of interest. Statistical power was sufficient to detect small to moderate effects.

Results.

All analyses yielded small non-significant effect sizes (0.26 for positive symptoms; 0.22 for delusions; 0.31 for data-gathering bias). Corrections for publication bias further reduced the effect sizes to 0.21 for positive symptoms and to 0.03 for delusions. In blinded studies, the corrected effect sizes were 0.22 for positive symptoms and 0.03 for delusions. In studies using proper intention-to-treat statistics the effect sizes were 0.10 for positive symptoms and −0.02 for delusions. The moderate to high heterogeneity in most analyses suggests that processes other than MCT alone have an impact on the results.

Conclusions.

The studies so far do not support a positive effect for MCT on positive symptoms, delusions and data gathering. The methodology of most studies was poor and sensitivity analyses to control for methodological flaws reduced the effect sizes considerably. More rigorous research would be helpful in order to create enough statistical power to detect small effect sizes and to reduce heterogeneity. Limitations and strengths are discussed.
Quantitative X-ray phase-contrast microtomography from a compact laser-driven betatron source
Authors: Wenz J. , Schleede S. , Khrennikov K. , Bech M. , Thibault P. , Heigoldt M. , Pfeiffer F. , Karsch S.
Published: July 2015

X-ray phase-contrast imaging has recently led to a revolution in resolving power and tissue contrast in biomedical imaging, microscopy and materials science. The necessary high spatial coherence is currently provided by either large-scale synchrotron facilities with limited beamtime access or by microfocus X-ray tubes with rather limited flux. X-rays radiated by relativistic electrons driven by well-controlled high-power lasers offer a promising route to a proliferation of this powerful imaging technology. A laser-driven plasma wave accelerates and wiggles electrons, giving rise to a brilliant keV X-ray emission. This so-called betatron radiation is emitted in a collimated beam with excellent spatial coherence and remarkable spectral stability. Here we present a phase-contrast microtomogram of a biological sample using betatron X-rays. Comprehensive source characterization enables the reconstruction of absolute electron densities. Our results suggest that laser-based X-ray technology offers the potential for filling the large performance gap between synchrotron- and current X-ray tube-based sources.
Impacts of elevated atmospheric CO2 on nutrient content of important food crops
Authors: Dietterich Lee H. , Zanobetti Antonella , Kloog Itai , Huybers Peter , Leakey Andrew D. B. , Bloom Arnold J. , Carlisle Eli , Fernando Nimesha , Fitzgerald Glenn , Hasegawa Toshihiro , Holbrook N. Michele , Nelson Randall L. , Norton Robert , Ottman Michael J. , Raboy Victor , Sakai Hidemitsu , Sartor Karla A. , Schwartz Joel , Seneweera Saman , Usui Yasuhiro , Yoshinaga Satoshi , Myers Samuel S.
Published: July 2015

One of the many ways that climate change may affect human health is by altering the nutrient content of food crops. However, previous attempts to study the effects of increased atmospheric CO2 on crop nutrition have been limited by small sample sizes and/or artificial growing conditions. Here we present data from a meta-analysis of the nutritional contents of the edible portions of 41 cultivars of six major crop species grown using free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) technology to expose crops to ambient and elevated CO2 concentrations in otherwise normal field cultivation conditions. This data, collected across three continents, represents over ten times more data on the nutrient content of crops grown in FACE experiments than was previously available. We expect it to be deeply useful to future studies, such as efforts to understand the impacts of elevated atmospheric CO2 on crop macro- and micronutrient concentrations, or attempts to alleviate harmful effects of these changes for the billions of people who depend on these crops for essential nutrients.
Investigation of Ion Channel Activities of Gramicidin A in the Presence of Ionic Liquids Using Model Cell Membranes
Authors: Ryu Hyunil , Lee Hwankyu , Iwata Seigo , Choi Sangbaek , Ki Kim Moon , Kim Young-Rok , Maruta Shinsaku , Min Kim Sun , Jeon Tae-Joon
Published: July 2015

Ionic liquids (ILs) are considered to be green solvents because of their non-volatility. Although ILs are relatively safe in the atmospheric environment, they may be toxic in other environments. Our previous research showed that the cytotoxicity of ILs to biological organisms is attributable to interference with cell membranes by IL insertion. However, the effects of ILs on ion channels, which play important roles in cell homeostasis, have not been comprehensively studied to date. In this work, we studied the interactions between ILs and lipid bilayer membranes with gramicidin A ion channels. We used two methods, namely electrical and fluorescence measurements of ions that permeate the membrane. The lifetimes of channels were increased by all the ILs tested in this work via stabilizing the compressed structure of the lipid bilayer and the rate of ion flux through gA channels was decreased by changing the membrane surface charge. The former effect, which increased the rate of ion flux, was dominant at high salt concentrations, whereas the latter, which decreased the rate of ion flux, was dominant at low salt concentrations. The effects of ILs increased with increasing concentration and alkyl chain length. The experimental results were further studied using molecular dynamics simulations.
Engineering functionalized multi-phased silicon/silicon oxide nano-biomaterials to passivate the aggressive proliferation of cancer
Authors: Premnath P. , Tan B. , Venkatakrishnan K.
Published: July 2015

Currently, the use of nano silicon in cancer therapy is limited as drug delivery vehicles and markers in imaging, not as manipulative/controlling agents. This is due to limited properties that native states of nano silicon and silicon oxides offers. We introduce nano-functionalized multi-phased silicon/silicon oxide biomaterials synthesized via ultrashort pulsed laser synthesis, with tunable properties that possess inherent cancer controlling properties that can passivate the progression of cancer. This nanostructured biomaterial is composed of individual functionalized nanoparticles made of a homogenous hybrid of multiple phases of silicon and silicon oxide in increasing concentration outwards from the core. The chemical properties of the proposed nanostructure such as number of phases, composition of phases and crystal orientation of each functionalized nanoparticle in the three dimensional nanostructure is defined based on precisely tuned ultrashort pulsed laser-material interaction mechanisms. The amorphous rich phased biomaterial shows a 30 fold (95%) reduction in number of cancer cells compared to bulk silicon in 48 hours. Further, the size of the cancer cells reduces by 76% from 24 to 48 hours. This method exposes untapped properties of combination of multiple phases of silicon oxides and its applications in cancer therapy.
Domain analysis of the Nematostella vectensis SNAIL ortholog reveals unique nucleolar localization that depends on the zinc-finger domains
Authors: Dattoli Ada A. , Hink Mark A. , DuBuc Timothy Q. , Teunisse Bram J. , Goedhart Joachim , Röttinger Eric , Postma Marten
Published: July 2015

SNAIL transcriptional factors are key regulators during development and disease. They arose early during evolution and in cnidarians such as Nematostella vectensis, NvSNAILA/B are detected in invaginating tissues during gastrulation. The function of SNAIL proteins is well established in bilaterians but their roles in cnidarians remain unknown. The structure of NvSNAILA and B is similar to the human SNAIL1 and 2, including SNAG and zinc-finger domains. Here, we performed a molecular analysis on localization and mobility of NvSNAILA/B using mammalian cells and Nematostella embryos. NvSNAILA/B display nuclear localization and mobility similar to HsSNAIL1/2. Strikingly, NvSNAILA is highly enriched in the nucleoli and shuttles between the nucleoli and the nucleoplasm. Truncation of the N-terminal SNAG domain, reported to contain Nuclear Localization Signals, markedly reduces nucleolar levels, without effecting nuclear localization or mobility. Truncation of the C-terminal zinc-fingers, involved in DNA binding in higher organisms, significantly affects subcellular localization and mobility. Specifically, the zinc-finger domains are required for nucleolar enrichment of NvSNAILA. Differently from SNAIL transcriptional factors described before, NvSNAILA is specifically enriched in the nucleoli co-localizing with nucleolar markers even after nucleolar disruption. Our findings implicate additional roles for SNAG and zinc-finger domains, suggesting a role for NvSNAILA in the nucleolus.
Performance of genetic risk factors in prediction of trichloroethylene induced hypersensitivity syndrome
Authors: Dai Yufei , Chen Ying , Huang Hanlin , Zhou Wei , Niu Yong , Zhang Mingrong , Bin Ping , Dong Haiyan , Jia Qiang , Huang Jianxun , Yi Juan , Liao Qijun , Li Haishan , Teng Yanxia , Zang Dan , Zhai Qingfeng , Duan Huawei , Shen Juan , He Jiaxi , Meng Tao , Sha Yan , Shen Meili , Ye Meng , Jia Xiaowei , Xiang Yingping , Huang Huiping , Wu Qifeng , Shi Mingming , Huang Xianqing , Yang Huanming , Luo Longhai , Li Sai , Li Lin , Zhao Jinyang , Li Laiyu , Wang Jun , Zheng Yuxin
Published: July 2015

Trichloroethylene induced hypersensitivity syndrome is dose-independent and potentially life threatening disease, which has become one of the serious occupational health issues and requires intensive treatment. To discover the genetic risk factors and evaluate the performance of risk prediction model for the disease, we conducted genomewide association study and replication study with total of 174 cases and 1761 trichloroethylene-tolerant controls. Fifty seven SNPs that exceeded the threshold for genome-wide significance (P < 5 × 10−8) were screened to relate with the disease, among which two independent SNPs were identified, that is rs2857281 at MICA (odds ratio, 11.92; Pmeta = 1.33 × 10−37) and rs2523557 between HLA-B and MICA (odds ratio, 7.33; Pmeta = 8.79 × 10−35). The genetic risk score with these two SNPs explains at least 20.9% of the disease variance and up to 32.5-fold variation in inter-individual risk. Combining of two SNPs as predictors for the disease would have accuracy of 80.73%, the area under receiver operator characteristic curves (AUC) scores was 0.82 with sensitivity of 74% and specificity of 85%, which was considered to have excellent discrimination for the disease and could be considered for translational application for screening employees before exposure.
Efficient CRISPR/Cas9-mediated Targeted Mutagenesis in Populus in the First Generation
Authors: Fan Di , Liu Tingting , Li Chaofeng , Jiao Bo , Li Shuang , Hou Yishu , Luo Keming
Published: July 2015

Recently, RNA-guided genome editing using the type II clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated protein (Cas) system has been applied to edit the plant genome in several herbaceous plant species. However, it remains unknown whether this system can be used for genome editing in woody plants. In this study, we describe the genome editing and targeted gene mutation in a woody species, Populus tomentosa Carr. via the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Four guide RNAs (gRNAs) were designed to target with distinct poplar genomic sites of the phytoene desaturase gene 8 (PtoPDS) which are followed by the protospacer-adjacent motif (PAM). After Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, obvious albino phenotype was observed in transgenic poplar plants. By analyzing the RNA-guided genome-editing events, 30 out of 59 PCR clones were homozygous mutants, 2 out of 59 were heterozygous mutants and the mutation efficiency at these target sites was estimated to be 51.7%. Our data demonstrate that the Cas9/sgRNA system can be exploited to precisely edit genomic sequence and effectively create knockout mutations in woody plants.
The Balance of Expression of Dihydroflavonol 4-reductase and Flavonol Synthase Regulates Flavonoid Biosynthesis and Red Foliage Coloration in Crabapples
Authors: Tian Ji , Han Zhen-yun , Zhang Jie , Hu YuJing , Song Tingting , Yao Yuncong
Published: July 2015

Red leaf color is an attractive trait of Malus families, including crabapple (Malus spp.); however, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that regulate the coloration. Dihydroflavonols are intermediates in the production of both colored anthocyanins and colorless flavonols and this current study focused on the gene expression balance involved in the relative accumulation of these compounds in crabapple leaves. Levels of anthocyanins and the transcript abundances of the anthocyanin biosynthetic gene, dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (McDFR) and the flavonol biosynthetic gene, flavonol synthase (McFLS), were assessed during the leaf development in two crabapple cultivars, ‘Royalty’ and ‘Flame’. The concentrations of anthocyanins and flavonols correlated with leaf color and we propose that the expression of McDFR and McFLS influences their accumulation. Further studies showed that overexpression of McDFR, or silencing of McFLS, increased anthocyanin production, resulting in red-leaf and red fruit peel phenotypes. Conversely, elevated flavonol production and green phenotypes in crabapple leaves and apple peel were observed when McFLS was overexpressed or McDFR was silenced. These results suggest that the relative activities of McDFR and McFLS are important determinants of the red color of crabapple leaves, via the regulation of the metabolic fate of substrates that these enzymes have in common.
Regulatory B cells preferentially accumulate in tumor-draining lymph nodes and promote tumor growth
Authors: Ganti Sheila N. , Albershardt Tina C. , Iritani Brian M. , Ruddell Alanna
Published: July 2015

Our previous studies found that B16-F10 melanoma growth in the rear footpad of immunocompetent mice induces marked B cell accumulation within tumor-draining popliteal lymph nodes (TDLN). This B cell accumulation drives TDLN remodeling that precedes and promotes metastasis, indicating a tumor-promoting role for TDLN B cells. Here we show that phenotypic characterization of lymphocytes in mice bearing B16-F10 melanomas identifies preferential accumulation of T2-MZP B cells in the TDLN. Comparison of non-draining LNs and spleens of tumor-bearing mice with LNs and spleens from naïve mice determined that this pattern of B cell accumulation was restricted to the TDLN. B cell-deficient and immunocompetent mice reconstituted with T2-MZP B cells but not with other B cell subsets displayed accelerated tumor growth, demonstrating that T2-MZP B cells possess regulatory activity in tumor-bearing mice. Unlike splenic regulatory B cells, however, these TDLN B cells did not exhibit increased IL-10 production, nor did they promote Treg generation in the TDLN. These findings demonstrate that tumors initially signal via the lymphatic drainage to stimulate the preferential accumulation of T2-MZP regulatory B cells. This local response may be an early and critical step in generating an immunosuppressive environment to permit tumor growth and metastasis.
Characterization of the degradation products of bambuterol using LCMS-QTOF and NMR
Authors: Abiramasundari A. , Sudarsanam V. , Vasu Kamala K.
Published: July 2015

A systematic forced degradation study of bambuterol was carried out according to ICH guidelines. Twelve degradation products of bambuterol were identified and characterized. Plausible mechanisms of formation of the degradation products are discussed.
Growth and optical properties of Cu2ZnSnS4 decorated reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites
Authors: Thangaraju Dheivasigamani , Karthikeyan Rajan , Prakash Natarajan , Moorthy Babu Sridharan , Hayakawa Yasuhiro
Published: July 2015

Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) and CZTS decorated rGO were synthesized and their optical properties were analyzed.
Stereoselective synthesis of activated 2-arylazetidines via imino-aldol reaction
Authors: Ghorai Manas K. , Das Subhomoy , Das Kalpataru , Kumar Amit
Published: July 2015

A highly stereoselective synthesis ofN-sulfinyl andN-sulfonyl azetidines have been developed involving imino-aldol reaction of ester enolates with aldimines.
Perfluoropolyether/poly(ethylene glycol) triblock copolymers with controllable self-assembly behaviour for highly efficient anti-bacterial materials
Authors: Song Jing , Ye Qun , Lee Wang Ting , Wang Xiaobai , He Tao , Shah Kwok Wei , Xu Jianwei
Published: July 2015

A series of perfluoropolyether/poly(ethylene glycol) (PFPE/PEG) triblock copolymers PEG/PFPE/PEG (P1–P3) and PFPE/PEG/PFPE (P4–P5) were prepared via thiol–ene click reaction in high yields.
Synthesis of well defined C–C bridged Ni(ii) complexes bearing β-ketoiminato-fluorene ligands by bifluorenyl in situ coupling and application for norbornene (co)polymerization
Authors: Tian Jianwen , He Xiaohui , Liu Jingyin , Deng Xiaodan , Chen Defu
Published: July 2015

9-Substituted fluorene C–C bridged constrained geometry configuration (CGC) Ni(ii) complexes Ni1 and Ni2 were synthesized by coordination reaction and in situ coupling reaction in the presence of (DME)NiBr2.
Coupling of chromophores with exactly opposite luminescence behaviours in mesostructured organosilicas for high-efficiency multicolour emission
Authors: Li Dongdong , Zhang Yuping , Fan Zhiying , Chen Jie , Yu Jihong
Published: July 2015

AIE and ACQ chromophores with exactly opposite photoluminescence behaviours are integrated in mesostructured organosilicas for multicolour emission including high-quality white light.
Copper-catalyzed direct transformation of simple alkynes to alkenyl nitriles via aerobic oxidative N-incorporation
Authors: Huang Xiaoqiang , Li Xinyao , Jiao Ning
Published: July 2015

A novel Cu-catalyzed aerobic oxidative N-incorporation into aliphatic terminal alkynes for the synthesis of alkenyl nitriles has been reported. The usage of inexpensive copper catalyst, O2as the sole oxidant, broad substrate scope as well as the feasibility for “the late-stage modification” make this protocol very promising.
Cell paintballing using optically targeted coacervate microdroplets
Authors: Armstrong James P. K. , Olof Sam N. , Jakimowicz Monika D. , Hollander Anthony P. , Mann Stephen , Davis Sean A. , Miles Mervyn J. , Patil Avinash J. , Perriman Adam W.
Published: July 2015

A dynamic holographic assembler was used to “paintball” stem cells with coacervate microdroplets loaded with protein, oligonucleotide or molecular dye.
Network-like mesoporous NiCo2O4grown on carbon cloth for high-performance pseudocapacitors
Authors: Gao Suning , Liao Fan , Ma Shuzhen , Zhu Lili , Shao Mingwang
Published: July 2015

Network-like mesoporous NiCo2O4arrays on carbon cloth show a constant rate performance of 80% shifting from 1 to 32 A g−1, and only a 10% loss of its capacitance after 4000 recycles.
An iodine effect in ambipolar organic field-effect transistors based on indigo derivatives
Authors: Pitayatanakul Oratai , Iijima Kodai , Ashizawa Minoru , Kawamoto Tadashi , Matsumoto Hidetoshi , Mori Takehiko
Published: July 2015

5,5′-Diiodoindigo exhibits excellent ambipolar transistor properties with hole/electron mobilities of μh/μe = 0.42/0.85 cm2 V−1 s−1.
Efficient needle plasma actuators for flow control and surface cooling
Authors: Zhao Pengfei , Portugal Sherlie , Roy Subrata
Published: July 2015

We introduce a milliwatt class needle actuator suitable for plasma channels, vortex generation, and surface cooling. Electrode configurations tested for a channel configuration show 1400% and 300% increase in energy conversion efficiency as compared to conventional surface and channel corona actuators, respectively, generating up to 3.4 m/s air jet across the channel outlet. The positive polarity of the needle is shown to have a beneficial effect on actuator efficiency. Needle-plate configuration is demonstrated for improving cooling of a flat surface with a 57% increase in convective heat transfer coefficient. Vortex generation by selective input signal manipulation is also demonstrated.
MuCor: Mutation Aggregation and Correlation
Authors: Kroll Karl W. , Eisfeld Ann-Katherin , Lozanski Gerard , Bloomfield Clara D. , Byrd John C. , Blachly James S.
Published: July 2015

Motivation

There are many tools for variant calling and effect prediction, but little to tie together large sample groups. Aggregating, sorting, and summarizing variants and effects across a cohort is often done withad hocscripts that must be re-written for every new project. In response, we have written MuCor, a tool to gather variants from a variety of input formats (including multiple files per sample), perform database lookups and frequency calculations, and write many report types. In addition to use in large studies with numerous samples, MuCor can also be employed to directly compare variant calls from the same sample across two or more platforms, parameters, or pipelines. A companion utility, DepthGauge, measures coverage at regions of interest to increase confidence in calls.

Availability

Source code is freely available athttps://github.com/blachlylab

Contact

james.blachly@osumc.edu

Supplementary data

Supplementary data, including detailed documentation, are available online.
Replaying Evolution to Test the Cause of Extinction of One Ecotype in an Experimentally Evolved Population
Authors: Turner Caroline B. , Blount Zachary D. , Lenski Richard E.
Published: July 2015

In a long-term evolution experiment withEscherichia coli, bacteria in one of twelve populations evolved the ability to consume citrate, a previously unexploited resource in a glucose-limited medium. This innovation led to the frequency-dependent coexistence of citrate-consuming (Cit+) and non-consuming (Cit−) ecotypes, with Cit−bacteria persisting on the exogenously supplied glucose as well as other carbon molecules released by the Cit+bacteria. After more than 10,000 generations of coexistence, however, the Cit−lineage went extinct; cells with the Cit−phenotype dropped to levels below detection, and the Cit−clade could not be detected by molecular assays based on its unique genotype. We hypothesized that this extinction event was a deterministic outcome of evolutionary change within the population, specifically the appearance of a more-fit Cit+ecotype that competitively excluded the Cit−ecotype. We tested this hypothesis by re-evolving the population from one frozen sample taken just prior to the extinction and from another sample taken several thousand generations earlier, in each case for 500 generations and with 20-fold replication. To our surprise, the Cit−type did not go extinct in any of these replays, and Cit−cells also persisted in a single replicate that was propagated for 3,000 generations. Even more unexpectedly, we showed that the Cit−ecotype could reinvade the Cit+population after its extinction. Taken together, these results indicate that the extinction of the Cit−ecotype was not a deterministic outcome driven by competitive exclusion by the Cit+ecotype. The extinction also cannot be explained by demographic stochasticity, as the population size of the Cit−ecotype should have been many thousands of cells even during the daily transfer events. Instead, we infer that the extinction must have been caused by a rare chance event in which some aspect of the experimental conditions was inadvertently perturbed.
Local and sex-specific biases in crossover vs. noncrossover outcomes at meiotic recombination hotspots in mouse
Authors: Boer Esther de , Jasin Maria , Keeney Scott
Published: July 2015

Meiotic recombination initiated by programmed double-strand breaks (DSBs) yields two types of interhomolog recombination products, crossovers and noncrossovers, but what determines whether a DSB will yield a crossover or noncrossover is not understood. In this study we analyze the influence of sex and chromosomal location on mammalian recombination outcomes by constructing fine-scale recombination maps in both males and females at two mouse hotspots located in different regions of the same chromosome. These include the most comprehensive maps of recombination hotspots in oocytes to date. One hotspot, located centrally on chromosome 1, behaved similarly in male and female meiosis: crossovers and noncrossovers formed at comparable levels and ratios in both sexes. In contrast, at a distal hotspot crossovers were recovered only in males even though noncrossovers were obtained at similar frequencies in both sexes. These findings reveal an example of extreme sex-specific bias in recombination outcome. We further find that estimates of relative DSB levels are surprisingly poor predictors of relative crossover frequencies between hotspots in males. Our results demonstrate that the outcome of mammalian meiotic recombination can be biased, that this bias can vary depending on location and cellular context, and that DSB frequency is not the only determinant of crossover frequency.
Intensity of shock transmission amid US-BRICS markets
Authors: Lakshmi P. , Visalakshmi S. , Shanmugam Kavitha
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyze the intensity of transmission of shocks from USA to BRICS countries in the long-run and short-run deviations and swiftness of recovery during US subprime mortgage crisis. This analysis enables the authors to explore the evolving patterns of relationships between these markets and examine whether their co-movements altered either in response to international shocks that originated in advanced markets like USA or due to their domestic fluctuations.

Design/methodology/approach

– Employing data of daily stock market indices (open and close) of BRICS countries for the period January 2, 2001 to May 31, 2012, this paper examines the interactions and characteristics of price movements of BRICS with US market by applying co-integration tests, vector error correction model and Granger causality relationship. The daily stock market indices data are derived from respective stock exchange web sites.

Findings

– The results exhibit that both long-run co-integration relationships and short-run Granger causality relationships exist between the stock markets of US-BRICS. Furthermore, this nexus is amplified in the short-run during 2007-2009, when the subprime mortgage financial crisis in the USA cropped up. This finding lends support to the prominence of developed (US) market links in the proliferation of persistent co-movements of BRICS stock markets.

Research limitations/implications

– The findings imply an increasing degree of global market integration due to quick dissemination of global shocks originating from developed market like USA, and swift recovery which can be attributed to the increased resilience, consistent with the moderated level of domestically driven risk in the BRICS markets. In spite of their similarities, long-run and short-run interdependences with the US stock market exhibit differences among the BRICS. This can be attributed to the regional heterogeneity in long-run risk and return co-movements with the USA.

Practical implications

– Changes from the US index easily affect these stock markets in the short-run, which implies that the US index may act as a leading indicator for investing funds in BRICS markets.

Originality/value

– This study would enable the authors to understand whether BRICS economies actually remain resilient to adverse developments in USA and could serve as alternative investment destinations for global portfolio diversification.
Commitment and Cost of Equity Capital: An Examination of Timely Balance Sheet Disclosure in Earnings Announcements
Authors: Evans Mark E.
Published: July 2015

In this paper, I examine the relation between disclosure commitment and cost of equity capital using accelerated earnings announcement disclosures as a measure of commitment. In settings characterized by imperfect market competition, I find that firms which consistently disclose balance sheet detail in relatively timely earnings announcements have lower costs of capital compared to other firms. This result is statistically significant and economically meaningful, and is robust to various alternative measurements for cost of capital, and alternative designs addressing endogeneity and underlying information quality. Overall, this result is important because it highlights additional dimensions of disclosure commitment (consistency and timeliness), while incorporating important features from theoretical models (information quality and market competition). In particular, my results suggest that consistency and timeliness are salient features of firms' disclosure behavior that have predictable and robust relations with capital market outcomes. This result is robust to controlling for underlying information quality; however, consistent with theory, it is conditional on low levels of market competition.
The second window of desflurane‐induced preconditioning is mediated by STAT3: role of Pim‐1 kinase
Authors: Stumpner J. , Tischer‐Zeitz T. , Lotz C. , Umminger J. , Neuwirth A. , Smul T. M. , Redel A. , Kehl F. , Roewer N. , Lange M.
Published: July 2015

Background

Late ischemic preconditioning is mediated via nuclear transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). Pim‐1 kinase reduces infarct size in cardiomyocytes and is regulated by STAT3. We tested the hypothesis that late desflurane‐induced preconditioning (DES‐SWOP) is mediated via STAT3 and Pim‐1.

Methods

After institutional approval, pentobarbital‐anesthetized male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to 45 min coronary artery occlusion (CAO) and 3 h reperfusion. Control animals received no additional intervention. Desflurane was administered 48 h before CAO either alone or in combination with the janus kinase/STAT3 inhibitor AG‐490 (40 μg/g i.p., 20 min before desflurane administration) or the Pim‐1 kinase inhibitor II (PIM‐Inh.II, 10 μg/g i.p., 15 min before CAO). Infarct size (IS) and area at risk were determined with triphenyltetrazolium chloride and Evans blue, respectively. Additionally, cytosolic and nuclear fractions were separated at two different time points and expression of STAT3, phospho‐STAT3Ser727, phospho‐STAT3Tyr705, Pim‐1, Bad and phospho‐BadSer112 were determined by Western Blot analysis. Data were analyzed with one‐way or two‐way ANOVA and post hoc Duncan test and are presented as mean ± SEM.

Results

IS was 47 ± 2% (n = 7–8 per group) in control animals (CON). DES‐SWOP reduced myocardial infarct size to 23 ± 4%* (*P < 0.05 vs. CON). AG‐490 alone did not affect myocardial infarct size (44 ± 7%), but abolished DES‐SWOP (44 ± 4%). Blockade of Pim‐1 did not affect the protection by DES‐SWOP (34 ± 4%*). Desflurane reduced cytosolic content and enhanced nuclear content of phospho‐STATSer727. After 48 h, desflurane enhanced Pim‐1 activity, whereas Pim‐1 expression remained unchanged.

Conclusion

These data suggest that DES‐SWOP is mediated by activation and nuclear translocation of STAT3. The impact of Pim‐1 in DES‐SWOP signaling remains unclear.
Perfopticon: Visual Query Analysis for Distributed Databases
Authors: Moritz Dominik , Halperin Daniel , Howe Bill , Heer Jeffrey
Published: July 2015

Distributed database performance is often unpredictable due to issues such as system complexity, network congestion, or imbalanced data distribution. These issues are difficult for users to assess in part due to the opaque mapping between declaratively specified queries and actual physical execution plans. Database developers currently must expend significant time and effort scanning log files to isolate and debug the root causes of performance issues. In response, we present Perfopticon, an interactive query profiling tool that enables rapid insight into common problems such as performance bottlenecks and data skew. Perfopticon combines interactive visualizations of (1) query plans, (2) overall query execution, (3) data flow among servers, and (4) execution traces. These views coordinate multiple levels of abstraction to enable detection, isolation, and understanding of performance issues. We evaluate our design choices through engagements with system developers, scientists, and students. We demonstrate that Perfopticon enables performance debugging for real‐world tasks.
Global Citizenship and Global Universities. The Age of Global Interdependence and Cosmopolitanism
Authors: Torres Carlos Alberto
Published: July 2015

This article focuses on the role of global universities and globalisations in an age of global interdependence and cosmopolitanism. Competing agendas that result from actions and reactions to multiple globalisations are considered in relation to global citizenship education. These agendas are crucial in understanding dilemmas of the local and the global in relation to education. Key emerging agendas are highlighted, including those of the hyperglobalisers, skeptics and transformationists. Three themes are central for this conversation, namely a) how multiple globalisations are impacting global life and academics, b) how networks have become privileged sites for global education, and c) the implications of globalisation and networks for global citizenship and global universities.
Electrically Active and Inactive Single Grain Boundaries in Semiconducting BaTiO3
Authors: Yoon Seok‐Hyun
Published: July 2015

Bi‐crystal specimens were prepared from Nb and Mn‐doped BaTiO3 poly‐crystals with giant grains of millimeter order in size, and the resistance (R) versus temperature (T) characteristics of these individual grain boundaries was investigated. The electrically active grain boundaries that show normal positive temperature coefficient resistor (PTCR) behavior had no second phases or they were partially distributed along boundaries. On the other hand, electrically inactive grain boundaries that show flat R‐T characteristics were also observed, where continuous Ti‐rich second phases of Ba4Ti12O27 could be detected. Different interface state density and its resultant R–T characteristics were observed for each individual active boundary, which indicates the degree of oxidation and the formation of potential barrier can be different depending on the character of the grain‐boundary plane. The resistance of inactive boundaries was determined by that of insulating second phase showing negative temperature coefficient resistor (NTCR) behavior. These results demonstrate that continuous second phase surrounding a grain deactivates the electrical properties of grain boundary, and thus should be distinguished from insulating depletion layer near grain boundary.
Sound production in the tiger-tail seahorse Hippocampus comes: Insights into the sound producing mechanisms
Authors: Lim A. C. O. , Chong V. C. , Chew W. X. , Muniandy S. V. , Wong C. S. , Ong Z. C.
Published: July 2015

Acoustic signals of the tiger-tail seahorse (Hippocampus comes) during feeding were studied using wavelet transform analysis. The seahorse “click” appears to be a compounded sound, comprising three acoustic components that likely come from two sound producing mechanisms. The click sound begins with a low-frequency precursor signal, followed by a sudden high-frequency spike that decays quickly, and a final, low-frequency sinusoidal component. The first two components can, respectively, be traced to the sliding movement and forceful knock between the supraorbital bone and coronet bone of the cranium, while the third one (purr) although appearing to be initiated here is produced elsewhere. The seahorse also produces a growling sound when under duress. Growling is accompanied by the highest recorded vibration at the cheek indicating another sound producing mechanism here. The purr has the same low frequency as the growl; both are likely produced by the same structural mechanism. However, growl and purr are triggered and produced under different conditions, suggesting that such “vocalization” may have significance in communication between seahorses.