bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in northeastern Iran: a GIS-based spatio-temporal multi-criteria decision-making approach
Authors: MOLLALO A. , KHODABANDEHLOO E.
Published: March 2016

Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) constitutes a serious public health problem in many parts of the world including Iran. This study was carried out to assess the risk of the disease in an endemic province by developing spatial environmentally based models in yearly intervals. To fill the gap of underestimated true burden of ZCL and short study period, analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and fuzzy AHP decision-making methods were used to determine the ZCL risk zones in a Geographic Information System platform. Generated risk maps showed that high-risk areas were predominantly located at the northern and northeastern parts in each of the three study years. Comparison of the generated risk maps with geocoded ZCL cases at the village level demonstrated that in both methods more than 90%, 70% and 80% of the cases occurred in high and very high risk areas for the years 2010, 2011, and 2012, respectively. Moreover, comparison of the risk categories with spatially averaged normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) images and a digital elevation model of the study region indicated persistent strong negative relationships between these environmental variables and ZCL risk degrees. These findings identified more susceptible areas of ZCL and will help the monitoring of this zoonosis to be more targeted.
Association ofStreptococcus pneumoniaenasopharyngeal colonization and other risk factors with acute otitis media in an unvaccinated Indian birth cohort
Authors: RUPA V. , ISAAC R. , REBEKAH G. , MANOHARAN A.
Published: March 2016

In order to study the epidemiology of acute otitis media (AOM) andStreptococcus pneumoniaenasopharyngeal colonization in the first 2 years of life, we followed up an unvaccinated birth cohort monthly and at visits when sick, with otoscopy to detect AOM and performed nasopharyngeal swabbing to detectS. pneumoniae. Serotyping of positive cultures was also performed. Of 210 babies who were enrolled at birth, 61 (29·05%) experienced 128 episodes of AOM [relative risk 2·63, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·21–5·75] with maximum incidence in the second half of the first year of life. Episodes ranged from 1 to 7 (mean 2·1 episodes). Most (86·9%) babies with AOM had a positive culture swab giving an odds ratio (OR) of 1·93 (95% CI 1·03–3·62,P= 0·041) for this association. Other risk factors identified for AOM were winter season (OR 3·46, 95% CI 1·56–7·30,P= 0·001), upper respiratory infection (OR 2·43, 95% CI 1·43–4·51,P= 0·005); residents of small households were less likely to develop AOM (OR 0·32, 95% CI 0·17–0·57,P< 0·01). CommonS. pneumoniaeserotypes isolated during episodes were 19, 6, 15, 35, 7, 23, 9 and 10 which indicated a theoretical coverage for pneumococcal vaccines PCV10 and PCV13 constituent serotypes of 62·8%. We conclude that AOM in Indian infants is often associated withS. pneumoniaecolonization of the nasopharynx as well as other risk factors.
Incidence and viral aetiologies of acute respiratory illnesses (ARIs) in the United States: a population-based study
Authors: SZILAGYI P. G. , BLUMKIN A. , TREANOR J. J. , GALLIVAN S. , ALBERTIN C. , LOFTHUS G. K. , SCHNABEL K. C. , DONAHUE J. G. , THOMPSON M. G. , SHAY D. K.
Published: March 2016

We conducted prospective, community-wide surveillance for acute respiratory illnesses (ARIs) in Rochester, NY and Marshfield, WI during a 3-month period in winter 2011. We estimated the incidence of ARIs in each community, tested for viruses, and determined the proportion of ARIs associated with healthcare visits. We used a rolling cross-sectional design to sample participants, conducted telephone interviews to assess ARI symptoms (defined as a current illness with feverishness or cough within the past 7 days), collected nasal/throat swabs to identify viruses, and extracted healthcare utilization from outpatient/inpatient records. Of 6492 individuals, 321 reported an ARI within 7 days (4·9% total, 5·7% in Rochester, 4·4% in Marshfield); swabs were collected from 208 subjects. The cumulative ARI incidence for the entire 3-month period was 52% in Rochester [95% confidence interval (CI) 42–63] and 35% in Marshfield (95% CI 28–42). A specific virus was identified in 39% of specimens: human coronavirus (13% of samples), rhinovirus (12%), RSV (7%), influenza virus (4%), human metapneumovirus (4%), and adenovirus (1%). Only 39/200 (20%) had a healthcare visit (2/9 individuals with influenza). ARI incidence was ~5% per week during winter.
Determination of the complete genome and functional analysis of HPV6 isolate VBD19/10 from a patient with aggressive recurrent respiratory papillomatosis
Authors: SEEDAT R. Y. , COMBRINCK C. E. , BESTER P. A. , LEE J.-Y. , BURT F. J.
Published: March 2016

Human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6 and 11 are the aetiological agent of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP). The complete genome of an HPV6 isolate with a 170 base pair (bp) duplication identified within the long control region (LCR) from a patient with aggressive recurrent respiratory papillomatosis was determined. The promoter sequence from the HPV LCR including the 170 bp duplication was placed upstream of a heterologous reporter gene and the activity of the reporter gene product determined using transfected cells. In total, mutations were observed at 157 nucleotide positions of the complete genome and included nucleotide substitutions, deletions and insertions, resulting in amino acid changes at 43 residue positions. Reporter gene activity using an HPV-derived LCR region with a 170 bp duplication was significantly higher than that using an HPV-derived LCR region with no duplication within this region. The results suggest that novel HPV variants warrant further investigation for potential biomarkers of aggressive disease.
Bayesian latent class estimation of the incidence of chest radiograph-confirmed pneumonia in rural Thailand
Authors: LU Y. , BAGGETT H. C. , RHODES J. , THAMTHITIWAT S. , JOSEPH L. , GREGORY C. J.
Published: March 2016

Pneumonia is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide with radiographically confirmed pneumonia a key disease burden indicator. This is usually determined by a radiology panel which is assumed to be the best available standard; however, this assumption may introduce bias into pneumonia incidence estimates. To improve estimates of radiographic pneumonia incidence, we applied Bayesian latent class modelling (BLCM) to a large database of hospitalized patients with acute lower respiratory tract illness in Sa Kaeo and Nakhon Phanom provinces, Thailand from 2005 to 2010 with chest radiographs read by both a radiology panel and a clinician. We compared these estimates to those from conventional analysis. For children aged <5 years, estimated radiographically confirmed pneumonia incidence by BLCM was 2394/100 000 person-years (95% credible interval 2185–2574)vs.1736/100 000 person-years (95% confidence interval 1706–1766) from conventional analysis. For persons aged ⩾5 years, estimated radiographically confirmed pneumonia incidence was similar between BLCM and conventional analysis (235vs.215/100 000 person-years). BLCM suggests the incidence of radiographically confirmed pneumonia in young children is substantially larger than estimated from the conventional approach using radiology panels as the reference standard.
Mereological Dominance and the Logic of Better-Than
Authors: GOODRICH JAMES
Published: March 2016

It's been argued that better-than is non-transitive – that there are some value bearers for which better-than fails to generate an acyclic ordering. Michael Huemer has offered a powerful objection to this view, which he dubs ‘The Dominance Argument’. In what follows, I consider the extent to which there is a plausible response to be made on behalf of those who hold that better-than is non-transitive. I conclude that there is.
The problem of the paedophile: guidelines for recruiting staff for positions in child and youth care
Authors: Kiraly Meredith
Published: March 2016

In recent years there has been widespread concern across the English-speaking world about repeated incidents in which paedophiles have obtained positions of responsibility in relation to the care of vulnerable children, such as those living in residential care. In the United Kingdom, a series of well-publicised incidents over several years culminated in the Beck case. Frank Beck was a paedophile who was appointed to the position of head of a children's home. Following the discovery of his abusive activities with children in one workplace, he successfully moved to a similar position of responsibility. In response to this series of scandals an inquiry was set up in to the Selection, Development and Management of Staff in Children's Homes (the Warner Inquiry). This inquiry produced a substantial report on ways in which selection and management practices should be improved. There have, however, been continuing concerns that international paedophile rings continue to pose a significant risk to children and young people in the care system across the world.
The sexual abuse of children: A discussion of the inadequacy of the current South Australian legislative regime and suggestions for reform
Authors: Corkhill Jennifer M.
Published: March 2016

One of the main reasons why the current South Australian criminal justice system fails to provide an appropriate response to the issue of child sexual abuse is that the legislation proscribing this conduct does not reflect the dynamics of child molestation. As a result the penalties imposed by the Courts fail to recognise the seriousness of these crimes against children. The adoption of the legislative scheme of the Crimes (Child Sex Tourism) Amendment Act 1994 (Cth) would provide a framework for the reassessment of these crimes and hopefully lead to a more realistic response by the justice system.
Being ‘child centred’ in child protection: What does it mean?
Authors: Winkworth Gail , McArthur Morag
Published: March 2016

In 2005 the Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University, was approached by the ACT Government and asked to evaluate the ‘child centredness’ of its child protection policies and procedures. An early review of the literature discovered some use of the term ‘child centred’ in government documents but very little clear indication of its meaning in the theoretical and empirical literature. This paper canvasses the literature and develops a set of principles for child centred practice which may apply to all child and family agencies. In developing these principles, the researchers identified four key themes which provide a broad, overarching framework for child centred approaches. These themes emphasise the importance of: recognising critical time frames in childhood and adolescence; taking into account the developmental needs of children and young people in all practice contexts; providing children and young people with appropriate opportunities to participate in decisions that affect them; and promoting a collaborative approach to influencing children’s multiple environments. The researchers claim these principles can be used to provide the basis for evaluating policies and practices and for ongoing training.
Defining well-being for Indigenous children in care
Authors: McMahon Anthony , Reck Lucinda , Walker Malcolm
Published: March 2016

Indicators for children in care typically describe the administrative status of children, an approach that serves administrative decision-making more than the personal well-being of foster children. At the same time, there is little research on what constitutes indicators of the personal well-being of children in care, especially Indigenous children.

This paper reports research that sought to define social, cultural and spiritual well-being indicators for Indigenous children in care by seeking the opinions and knowledge of Indigenous child protection workers and foster carers. The study examines a series of strategic change indicators that address Indigenous concerns about the social, cultural and spiritual development of Indigenous children in care.
Qualitative Wortschatzunterschiede zwischen Mädchen und Jungen im Grundschulalter
Authors: McElvany Nele , El-Khechen Wahiba , Schwabe Franziska , Kessels Ursula
Published: March 2016

Zusammenfassung. Schulerfolg beruht auf umfassenden sprachlichen Kompetenzen, deren Grundlage der Wortschatz ist. Unterschiede in den Entwicklungskontexten von Mädchen und Jungen können zu systematischen Unterschieden in der Qualität ihres Wortschatzes führen. Vor diesem Hintergrund wird in der vorliegenden Studie anhand von Differential Item Functioning-Analysen empirisch überprüft, ob Jungen und Mädchen am Ende der Grundschulzeit bei gleichem Gesamtwortschatzkompetenzniveau über einen systematisch unterschiedlichen Wortschatz bei männlich, weiblich oder neutral konnotierten Wörtern verfügen. Die Analysen der Lösungswahrscheinlichkeiten von 96 Wortschatztestitems, die von 1 039 Kindern der dritten Klassenstufe bearbeitet wurden, zeigten keine quantitativen Wortschatzunterschiede in Abhängigkeit vom Geschlecht, jedoch qualitative: Bei männlich konnotierten Wörtern hatten Jungen, bei weiblich konnotierten Wörtern Mädchen relative Vorteile. Dieses galt auch bei Kontrolle zentraler sozialer Hintergrundmerkmale, wobei die Effekte von kleiner Größe waren. Die Implikationen für die schulische Praxis und weitere Forschungsdesiderate werden diskutiert.
CME: Palliative Strahlentherapie – Symptome lindern und Lebensqualität verbessern
Authors: Pittl Sandra , Brown Michelle L. , Linsenmeier Claudia , Guckenberger Matthias
Published: March 2016

Zusammenfassung. Bei der Palliativbehandlung fortgeschrittener Tumorerkrankungen ist der Hauptfokus, Lebensqualität zu erhalten und positiv zu beeinflussen. In diesem Kontext spielt die Strahlentherapie eine zentrale Rolle. Die Symptome können je nach Tumor, Lokalisation und Ätiologie unterschiedlicher Natur sein. Im Vordergrund stehen oft unterschiedliche Formen von Schmerzen, die durch Kompression oder Tumorinfiltration von Nerven, Muskulatur, Knochen und Gefäs­sen hervorgerufen werden. Abhängig von der Lokalisation des Tumorbefalls können neben Schmerzen auch andere Beschwerden wie Kopfschmerzen und Übelkeit, Dyspnoe, Husten, Hämoptysen oder Bewegungseinschränkungen auftreten. Werden diese Symptome nicht rechtzeitig beachtet und behandelt, kann sich die Lebensqualität rasch und bleibend verschlechtern.
Creating Local Support Networks for Graduate Student Women
Authors: Lininger Katherine , Records Rosemary , Smull Erika , Wehner Christine
Published: March 2016

Regional groups can help advance the careers of women in science and combat the biases and policies that continue to drive them from the field.
Soil Loses Pyrogenic Carbon by an Unexpected Pathway
Authors: Kelleher Shannon
Published: March 2016

Fresh insight into pyrogenic carbon disappearance suggests that erosion is not responsible.
McNutt Breaks Barriers as Incoming Science Academy President
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: March 2016

Two traditions fall to the wayside as the U.S. National Academy of Sciences selects its first woman ever as president and, in choosing her, elevates its second consecutive geoscientist to the helm.
A new plasmid-based microRNA inhibitor system that inhibits microRNA families in transgenic mice and cells: a potential new therapeutic reagent
Authors: Cao H , Yu W , Li X , Wang J , Gao S , Holton N E , Eliason S , Sharp T , Amendt B A
Published: March 2016

Current tools for the inhibition of microRNA (miR) function are limited to modified antisense oligonucleotides, sponges and decoy RNA molecules and none have been used to understand miR function during development. CRISPR/Cas-mediated deletion of miR sequences within the genome requires multiple chromosomal deletions to remove all functional miR family members because of duplications. Here, we report a novel plasmid-based miR inhibitor system (PMIS) that expresses a new RNA molecule, which inhibits miR family members in cells and mice. The PMIS engineered RNA optimal secondary structure, flanking sequences and specific antisense miR oligonucleotide sequence bind the miR in a stable complex to inhibit miR activity. In cells, one PMIS can effectively inhibit miR family members that share the same seed sequence. The PMIS shows no off-target effects or toxicity and is highly specific for miRs sharing identical seed sequences. Transgenic mice expressing both PMIS-miR-17-18 and PMIS-miR-19-92 show similar phenotypes of miR-17-92-knockout mice. Interestingly, mice only expressing PMIS-miR-17-18 have developmental defects distinct from mice only expressing PMIS-miR-19-92 demonstrating usefulness of the PMIS system to dissect different functions of miRs within clusters. Different PMIS miR inhibitors can be linked together to knock down multiple miRs expressed from different chromosomes. Inhibition of the miR-17-92, miR-106a-363 and miR-106b-25 clusters reveals new mechanisms and developmental defects for these miRs. We report a new tool to dissect the role of miRs in development without genome editing, inhibit miR function in cells and as a potential new therapeutic reagent.
Volcanic ash melting under conditions relevant to ash turbine interactions
Authors: Song Wenjia , Lavallée Yan , Hess Kai-Uwe , Kueppers Ulrich , Cimarelli Corrado , Dingwell Donald B.
Published: March 2016

The ingestion of volcanic ash by jet engines is widely recognized as a potentially fatal hazard for aircraft operation. The high temperatures (1,200–2,000 °C) typical of jet engines exacerbate the impact of ash by provoking its melting and sticking to turbine parts. Estimation of this potential hazard is complicated by the fact that chemical composition, which affects the temperature at which volcanic ash becomes liquid, can vary widely amongst volcanoes. Here, based on experiments, we parameterize ash behaviour and develop a model to predict melting and sticking conditions for its global compositional range. The results of our experiments confirm that the common use of sand or dust proxy is wholly inadequate for the prediction of the behaviour of volcanic ash, leading to overestimates of sticking temperature and thus severe underestimates of the thermal hazard. Our model can be used to assess the deposition probability of volcanic ash in jet engines.
Biochemical reconstitution of TET1–TDG–BER-dependent active DNA demethylation reveals a highly coordinated mechanism
Authors: Weber Alain R. , Krawczyk Claudia , Robertson Adam B. , Kuśnierczyk Anna , Vågbø Cathrine B. , Schuermann David , Klungland Arne , Schär Primo
Published: March 2016

Cytosine methylation in CpG dinucleotides is an epigenetic DNA modification dynamically established and maintained by DNA methyltransferases and demethylases. Molecular mechanisms of active DNA demethylation began to surface only recently with the discovery of the 5-methylcytosine (5mC)-directed hydroxylase and base excision activities of ten–eleven translocation (TET) proteins and thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG). This implicated a pathway operating through oxidation of 5mC by TET proteins, which generates substrates for TDG-dependent base excision repair (BER) that then replaces 5mC with C. Yet, direct evidence for a productive coupling of TET with BER has never been presented. Here we show that TET1 and TDG physically interact to oxidize and excise 5mC, and proof by biochemical reconstitution that the TET–TDG–BER system is capable of productive DNA demethylation. We show that the mechanism assures a sequential demethylation of symmetrically methylated CpGs, thereby avoiding DNA double-strand break formation but contributing to the mutability of methylated CpGs.
Observation of a three-dimensional quasi-long-range electronic supermodulation in YBa2Cu3O7−x/La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 heterostructures
Authors: He Junfeng , Shafer Padraic , Mion Thomas R. , Tra Vu Thanh , He Qing , Kong J. , Chuang Y.-D. , Yang W. L. , Graf M. J. , Lin J.-Y. , Chu Y.-H. , Arenholz E. , He Rui-Hua
Published: March 2016

Recent developments in high-temperature superconductivity highlight a generic tendency of the cuprates to develop competing electronic (charge) supermodulations. While coupled with the lattice and showing different characteristics in different materials, these supermodulations themselves are generally conceived to be quasi-two-dimensional, residing mainly in individual CuO2 planes, and poorly correlated along the c axis. Here we observed with resonant elastic X-ray scattering a distinct type of electronic supermodulation in YBa2Cu3O7−x (YBCO) thin films grown epitaxially on La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 (LCMO). This supermodulation has a periodicity nearly commensurate with four lattice constants in-plane, eight out of plane, with long correlation lengths in three dimensions. It sets in far above the superconducting transition temperature and competes with superconductivity below this temperature for electronic states predominantly in the CuO2 plane. Our finding sheds light on the nature of charge ordering in cuprates as well as a reported long-range proximity effect between superconductivity and ferromagnetism in YBCO/LCMO heterostructures.
Spatio-temporal assembly of functional mineral scaffolds within microbial biofilms
Authors: Oppenheimer-Shaanan Yaara , Sibony-Nevo Odelia , Bloom-Ackermann Zohar , Suissa Ronit , Steinberg Nitai , Kartvelishvily Elena , Brumfeld Vlad , Kolodkin-Gal Ilana
Published: March 2016

Historically, multicellular bacterial communities, known as biofilms, have been thought to be held together solely by a self-produced extracellular matrix. Our study identified a novel mechanism maintainingBacillus subtilisandMycobacterium smegmatisbiofilms—active production of calcite minerals. We studied, for the first time, the effects of mutants defective in biomineralization and calcite formation on biofilm development, resilience and morphology. We demonstrated that an intrinsic rise in carbon dioxide levels within the biofilm is a strong trigger for the initiation of calcite-dependent patterning. The calcite-dependent patterns provide resistance to environmental insults and increase the overall fitness of the microbial community. Our results suggest that it is highly feasible that the formation of mineral scaffolds plays a cardinal and conserved role in bacterial multicellularity.
Spin Circuit Model for 2D Channels with Spin-Orbit Coupling
Authors: Hong Seokmin , Sayed Shehrin , Datta Supriyo
Published: March 2016

In this paper we present a general theory for an arbitrary 2D channel with “spin momentum locking” due to spin-orbit coupling. It is based on a semiclassical model that classifies all the channel electronic states into four groups based on the sign of the z-component of the spin (up (U), down (D)) and the sign of the x-component of the velocity (+, −). This could be viewed as an extension of the standard spin diffusion model which uses two separate electrochemical potentials for U and D states. Our model uses four: U+, D+, U− and D−. We use this formulation to develop an equivalent spin circuit that is also benchmarked against a full non-equilibrium Green’s function (NEGF) model. The circuit representation can be used to interpret experiments and estimate important quantities of interest like the charge to spin conversion ratio or the maximum spin current that can be extracted. The model should be applicable to topological insulator surface states with parallel channels as well as to other layered structures with interfacial spin-orbit coupling.
FgSsn3 kinase, a component of the mediator complex, is important for sexual reproduction and pathogenesis in Fusarium graminearum
Authors: Cao Shulin , Zhang Shijie , Hao Chaofeng , Liu Huiquan , Xu Jin-Rong , Jin Qiaojun
Published: March 2016

Fusarium graminearum is an important pathogen of wheat and barley. In addition to severe yield losses, infested grains are often contaminated with harmful mycotoxins. In this study, we characterized the functions of FgSSN3 kinase gene in different developmental and infection processes and gene regulation in F. graminearum. The FgSSN3 deletion mutant had a nutrient-dependent growth defects and abnormal conidium morphology. It was significantly reduced in DON production, TRI gene expression and virulence. Deletion of FgSSN3 also resulted in up-regulation of HTF1 and PCS1 expression in juvenile cultures and repression of TRI genes in DON-producing cultures. In addition, Fgssn3 was female sterile and defective in hypopodium formation and infectious growth. RNA-seq analysis showed that FgSsn3 is involved in the transcriptional regulation of a wide variety genes acting as either a repressor or activator. FgSsn3 physically interacted with C-type cyclin Cid1 and the cid1 mutant had similar phenotypes with Fgssn3, indicating that FgSsn3 and Cid1 form the CDK-cyclin pair as a component of the mediator complex in F. graminearum. Taken together, our results indicate that FgSSN3 is important for secondary metabolism, sexual reproduction and plant infection, as a subunit of mediator complex contributing to transcriptional regulation of diverse genes.
The energy-level crossing behavior and quantum Fisher information in a quantum well with spin-orbit coupling
Authors: Wang Z. H. , Zheng Q. , Wang Xiaoguang , Li Yong
Published: March 2016

We study the energy-level crossing behavior in a two-dimensional quantum well with the Rashba and Dresselhaus spin-orbit couplings (SOCs). By mapping the SOC Hamiltonian onto an anisotropic Rabi model, we obtain the approximate ground state and its quantum Fisher information (QFI) via performing a unitary transformation. We find that the energy-level crossing can occur in the quantum well system within the available parameters rather than in cavity and circuit quantum eletrodynamics systems. Furthermore, the influence of two kinds of SOCs on the QFI is investigated and an intuitive explanation from the viewpoint of the stationary perturbation theory is given.
Collective modes in three-dimensional magnonic vortex crystals
Authors: Hänze Max , Adolff Christian F. , Schulte Benedikt , Möller Jan , Weigand Markus , Meier Guido
Published: March 2016

Collective modes in three-dimensional crystals of stacked permalloy disks with magnetic vortices are investigated by ferromagnetic resonance spectroscopy and scanning transmission X-ray microscopy. The size of the arrangements is increased step by step to identify the different contributions to the interaction between the vortices. These contributions are the key requirement to understand complex dynamics of three dimensional vortex crystals. Both vertical and horizontal coupling determine the collective modes. In-plane dipoles strongly influence the interaction between the disks in the stacks and lead to polarity-dependent resonance frequencies. Weaker contributions discern arrangements with different polarities and circularities that result from the lateral coupling of the stacks and the interaction of the core regions inside a stack. All three contributions are identified in the experiments and are explained in a rigid particle model.
Tunable nanoplasmonic sensor based on the asymmetric degree of Fano resonance in MDM waveguide
Authors: Zhan Shiping , Peng Yongyi , He Zhihui , Li Boxun , Chen Zhiquan , Xu Hui , Li Hongjian
Published: March 2016

We first report a simple nanoplasmonic sensor for both universal and slow-light sensing in a Fano resonance-based waveguide system. A theoretical model based on the coupling of resonant modes is provided for the inside physics mechanism, which is supported by the numerical FDTD results. The revealed evolution of the sensing property shows that the Fano asymmetric factor p plays an important role in adjusting the FOM of sensor and a maximum of ~4800 is obtained when p = 1. Finally, the slow-light sensing in such nanoplasmonic sensor is also investigated. It is found that the contradiction between the sensing width with slow-light (SWS) and the relevant sensitivity can be resolved by tuning the Fano asymmetric factor p and the quality factor of the superradiant mode. The presented theoretical model and the pronounced features of this simple nanoplasmonic sensor, such as the tunable sensing and convenient integration, have significant applications in integrated plasmonic devices.
Gut microbiota-involved mechanisms in enhancing systemic exposure of ginsenosides by coexisting polysaccharides in ginseng decoction
Authors: Zhou Shan-Shan , Xu Jun , Zhu He , Wu Jie , Xu Jin-Di , Yan Ru , Li Xiu-Yang , Liu Huan-Huan , Duan Su-Min , Wang Zhuo , Chen Hu-Biao , Shen Hong , Li Song-Lin
Published: March 2016

Oral decoctions of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) serve for therapeutic and prophylactic management of diseases for centuries. Small molecules and polysaccharides are the dominant chemicals co-occurred in the TCM decoction. Small molecules are well-studied by multidisciplinary elaborations, whereas the role of polysaccharides remains largely elusive. Here we explore a gut microbiota-involved mechanism by which TCM polysaccharides restore the homeostasis of gut microbiota and consequently promote the systemic exposure of concomitant small molecules in the decoction. As a case study, ginseng polysaccharides and ginsenosides in Du-Shen-Tang, the decoction of ginseng, were investigated on an over-fatigue and acute cold stress model. The results indicated that ginseng polysaccharides improved intestinal metabolism and absorption of certain ginsenosides, meanwhile reinstated the perturbed holistic gut microbiota, and particularly enhanced the growth of Lactobacillus spp. and Bacteroides spp., two major metabolic bacteria of ginsenosides. By exploring the synergistic actions of polysaccharides with small molecules, these findings shed new light on scientization and rationalization of the classic TCM decoctions in human health care.
Y-shaped ZnO Nanobelts Driven from Twinned Dislocations
Authors: Shi Yuan , Bao Shuhan , Shi Run , Huang Chengzi , Amini Abbas , Wu Zefei , Zhang Linfei , Wang Ning , Cheng Chun
Published: March 2016

Y-shaped ZnO nanobelts are fabricated by a simple thermal evaporation method. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) investigation shows that these ZnO nanobelts are crystals with twinned planes {11–21}. Convergent Beam Electron Diffraction studies show that the two sides of twinned nanobelts are O-terminated towards the twinned boundary and Zn-terminated outwards. The two branches of twinned ZnO nanobelts grow along [11–26] from the trunk and then turn to the polarization direction [0001]. The featured Y-shape morphology and TEM characterizations indicate that the growth of these novel nanostructures is driven by an unusual twinned dislocation growth mechanism.
Ultrafast Microwave Nano-manufacturing of Fullerene-Like Metal Chalcogenides
Authors: Liu Zhen , Zhang Lin , Wang Ruigang , Poyraz Selcuk , Cook Jonathan , Bozack Michael J. , Das Siddhartha , Zhang Xinyu , Hu Liangbing
Published: March 2016

Metal Chalcogenides (MCs) have emerged as an extremely important class of nanomaterials with applications ranging from lubrication to energy storage devices. Here we report our discovery of a universal, ultrafast (60 seconds), energy-efficient, and facile technique of synthesizing MC nanoparticles and nanostructures, using microwave-assisted heating. A suitable combination of chemicals was selected for reactions on Polypyrrole nanofibers (PPy-NF) in presence of microwave irradiation. The PPy-NF serves as the conducting medium to absorb microwave energy to heat the chemicals that provide the metal and the chalcogenide constituents separately. The MCs are formed as nanoparticles that eventually undergo a size-dependent, multi-stage aggregation process to yield different kinds of MC nanostructures. Most importantly, this is a single-step metal chalcogenide formation process that is much faster and much more energy-efficient than all the other existing methods and can be universally employed to produce different kinds of MCs (e.g., MoS2, and WS2).
Frog Virus 3 dissemination in the brain of tadpoles, but not in adult Xenopus, involves blood brain barrier dysfunction
Authors: De Jesús Andino Francisco , Jones Letitia , Maggirwar Sanjay B. , Robert Jacques
Published: March 2016

While increasing evidence points to a key role of monocytes in amphibian host defenses, monocytes are also thought to be important in the dissemination and persistent infection caused by ranavirus. However, little is known about the fate of infected macrophages or if ranavirus exploits immune privileged organs, such as the brain, in order to establish a reservoir. The amphibian Xenopus laevis and Frog Virus 3 (FV3) were established as an experimental platform for investigating in vivo whether ranavirus could disseminate to the brain. Our data show that the FV3 infection alters the BBB integrity, possibly mediated by an inflammatory response, which leads to viral dissemination into the central nervous system in X. laevis tadpole but not adult. Furthermore, our data suggest that the macrophages play a major role in viral dissemination by carrying the virus into the neural tissues.
Microglial activation induces neuronal death in Chandipura virus infection
Authors: Verma Abhishek Kumar , Ghosh Sourish , Pradhan Sreeparna , Basu Anirban
Published: March 2016

Neurotropic viruses induce neurodegeneration either directly by activating host death domains or indirectly through host immune response pathways. Chandipura Virus (CHPV) belonging to family Rhabdoviridae is ranked among the emerging pathogens of the Indian subcontinent. Previously we have reported that CHPV induces neurodegeneration albeit the root cause of this degeneration is still an open question. In this study we explored the role of microglia following CHPV infection. Phenotypic analysis of microglia through lectin and Iba-1 staining indicated cells were in an activated state post CHPV infection in cortical region of the infected mouse brain. Cytokine Bead Array (CBA) analysis revealed comparatively higher cytokine and chemokine levels in the same region. Increased level of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), Nitric Oxide (NO) and Reactive Oxygen species (ROS) in CHPV infected mouse brain indicated a strong inflammatory response to CHPV infection. Hence it was hypothesized through our analyses that this inflammatory response may stimulate the neuronal death following CHPV infection. In order to validate our hypothesis supernatant from CHPV infected microglial culture was used to infect neuronal cell line and primary neurons. This study confirmed the bystander killing of neurons due to activation of microglia post CHPV infection.
Efficient upconversion luminescence from Ba5Gd8Zn4O21:Yb3+, Er3+ based on a demonstrated cross-relaxation process
Authors: Mi Chao , Wu Jianhong , Yang Yanmin , Han Boning , Wei Jun
Published: March 2016

Under 971 nm excitation, bright green and red emissions from Yb3+/Er3+ co-doped Ba5Gd8Zn4O21 phosphor can be observed, especially the intense red emission in highly doped samples. The experimental results indicate that Ba5Gd8Zn4O21:Yb3+, Er3+ emits stronger upconversion luminescence than NaYF4:Yb3+, Er3+ under a low excitation power and a maximum upconversion power efficiency of 2.7% for Ba5Gd8Zn4O21:Yb3+, Er3+ was achieved. More significantly, to explain the red emission enhanced with the dopant concentration, this paper presents a possible cross-relaxation process and demonstrates it based on the rate equation description and temporal evolution. In view of the strong upconversion luminescence, colour tunable ability and stable chemical nature, Yb3+/Er3+ co-doped Ba5Gd8Zn4O21 phosphor could be an excellent candidate for efficient upconversion luminescence generation.
Robust ultrasensitive tunneling-FET biosensor for point-of-care diagnostics
Authors: Gao Anran , Lu Na , Wang Yuelin , Li Tie
Published: March 2016

For point-of-care (POC) applications, robust, ultrasensitive, small, rapid, low-power and low-cost sensors are highly desirable. Here, we present a novel biosensor based on a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS)-compatible silicon nanowire tunneling field-effect transistor (SiNW-TFET). They were fabricated “top-down” with a low-cost anisotropic self-stop etching technique. Notably, the SiNW-TFET device provided strong anti-interference capacity by applying the inherent ambipolarity via both pH and CYFRA21-1 sensing. This offered a more robust and portable general protocol. The specific label-free detection of CYFRA21-1 down to 0.5 fgml−1 or ~12.5 aM was achieved using a highly responsive SiNW-TFET device with a minimum sub-threshold slope (SS) of 37 mVdec−1. Furthermore, real-time measurements highlighted the ability to use clinically relevant samples such as serum. The developed high performance diagnostic system is expected to provide a generic platform for numerous POC applications.
Long-range doublon transfer in a dimer chain induced by topology and ac fields
Authors: Bello M. , Creffield C. E. , Platero G.
Published: March 2016

The controlled transfer of particles from one site of a spatial lattice to another is essential for many tasks in quantum information processing and quantum communication. In this work we study how to induce long-range transfer between the two ends of a dimer chain, by coupling states that are localized just on the chain’s end-points. This has the appealing feature that the transfer occurs only between the end-points – the particle does not pass through the intermediate sites–making the transfer less susceptible to decoherence. We first show how a repulsively bound-pair of fermions, known as a doublon, can be transferred from one end of the chain to the other via topological edge states. We then show how non-topological surface states of the familiar Shockley or Tamm type can be used to produce a similar form of transfer under the action of a periodic driving potential. Finally we show that combining these effects can produce transfer by means of more exotic topological effects, in which the driving field can be used to switch the topological character of the edge states, as measured by the Zak phase. Our results demonstrate how to induce long range transfer of strongly correlated particles by tuning both topology and driving.
miR-8-3p regulates mitoferrin in the testes of Bactrocera dorsalis to ensure normal spermatogenesis
Authors: Tariq Kaleem , Metzendorf Christoph , Peng Wei , Sohail Summar , Zhang Hongyu
Published: March 2016

Genetics-enhanced sterile insect techniques (SIT) are promising novel approaches to control Bactrocera dorsalis, the most destructive horticultural pest in East Asia and the Pacific region. To identify novel genetic agents to alter male fertility of B. dorsalis, previous studies investigated miRNA expression in testes of B. dorsalis. One miRNA, miR-8-3p was predicted to bind the 3′UTR of putative B. dorsalis mitoferrin (bmfrn). The ortholog of bmfrn in D. melanogaster is essential for male fertility. Here we show that bmfrn has all conserved amino acid residues of known mitoferrins and is most abundantly expressed in B. dorsalis testes, making miR-8-3p and mitoferrin candidates for genetics-enhanced SIT. Furthermore, using a dual-luciferase reporter system, we show in HeLa cells that miR-8-3p interacts with the 3′UTR of bmfrn. Dietary treatments of adult male flies with miR-8-3p mimic, antagomiR, or bmfrn dsRNA, altered mitoferrin expression in the testes and resulted in reduced male reproductive capacity due to reduced numbers and viability of spermatozoa. We show for the first time that a mitoferrin is regulated by a miRNA and we demonstrate miR-8-3p as well as bmfrn dsRNA to be promising novel agents that could be used for genetics-enhanced SIT.
Rare Helicobacter pylori Virulence Genotypes in Bhutan
Authors: Matsunari Osamu , Miftahussurur Muhammad , Shiota Seiji , Suzuki Rumiko , Vilaichone Ratha-korn , Uchida Tomohisa , Ratanachu-ek Thawee , Tshering Lotay , Mahachai Varocha , Yamaoka Yoshio
Published: March 2016

Both the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and the incidence of gastric cancer are high in Bhutan. The high incidence of atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer suggest the phylogeographic origin of an infection with a more virulent strain of H. pylori. More than 90% of Bhutanese strains possessed the highly virulent East Asian-type CagA and all strains had the most virulent type of vacA (s1 type). More than half also had multiple repeats in East Asian-type CagA, which are rare in other countries and are reported characteristictly found in assciation with atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer consistent with Bhutanese strains having multiple H. pylori virulence factors associated with an increase in gastric cancer risk. Phylogeographic analyses showed that most Bhutanese strains belonged to the East Asian population type with some strains (17.5%) sharing East Asian and Amerindian components. Only 9.5% belonged to the European type consistant with H. pylori in Bhutan representing an intermediate evolutionary stage between H. pylori from European and East Asian countries.
Ingestion of genetically modified yeast symbiont reduces fitness of an insect pest via RNA interference
Authors: Murphy Katherine A. , Tabuloc Christine A. , Cervantes Kevin R. , Chiu Joanna C.
Published: March 2016

RNA interference has had major advances as a developing tool for pest management. In laboratory experiments, double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is often administered to the insect by genetic modification of the crop, or synthesizedin vitroand topically applied to the crop. Here, we engineered genetically modified yeast that express dsRNA targetingy-TubulininDrosophila suzukii. Our design takes advantage of the symbiotic interactions betweenDrosophila, yeast and fruit crops. Yeast is naturally found growing on the surface of fruit crops, constitutes a major component of theDrosophilamicrobiome and is highly attractive toDrosophila.Thus, this naturally attractive yeast biopesticide can deliver dsRNA to an insect pest without the need for genetic crop modification. We demonstrate that this biopesticide decreases larval survivorship and reduces locomotor activity and reproductive fitness in adults, which are indicative of general health decline. To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that yeast can be used to deliver dsRNA to an insect pest.
Costs and trade-offs of grazer-induced defenses in Scenedesmus under deficient resource
Authors: Zhu Xuexia , Wang Jun , Chen Qinwen , Chen Ge , Huang Yuan , Yang Zhou
Published: March 2016

The green alga Scenedesmus obliquus can form inducible defensive morphs under grazing threat. Costs and trade-offs of inducible defense are expected to accompany the benefits of defensive morphs, but are hard to detect under nutrient-sufficient experimental conditions. To test the existence of costs associated with inducible defense, we cultured S. obliquus along resource availability gradients in the presence or absence of infochemical cues from Daphnia, and measured the strength of defensive colony formation and fitness characters. Under the lowest phosphorous concentration, the expression of inducible defensive colony resulted in decreased growth rate, which provides direct evidence for physiological costs. Along the gradient reduction of phosphorous concentration or light intensity, inducible defense in S. obliquus showed a decreasing trend. However, the photosynthetic efficiency of S. obliquus was barely affected by its defense responses, suggesting that the negative correlations between resource availability and colony formation of this alga may be due to resource-based trade-offs in the allocation of limited resources. Thus, our results indicated that expression of inducible defense of S. obliquus was impaired under insufficient phosphorus or light. Furthermore, under severe phosphate deficiency, obvious physiological costs of inducible defense could be detected even though defensive colony formation also decreased significantly.
Silencing MicroRNA-155 Attenuates Cardiac Injury and Dysfunction in Viral Myocarditis via Promotion of M2 Phenotype Polarization of Macrophages
Authors: Zhang Yingying , Zhang Mengying , Li Xueqin , Tang Zongsheng , Wang Xiangmin , Zhong Min , Suo Qifeng , Zhang Yao , Lv Kun
Published: March 2016

Macrophage infiltration is a hallmark feature of viral myocarditis. As studies have shown that microRNA-155 regulates the differentiation of macrophages, we aimed to investigate the role of microRNA-155 in VM. We report that silencing microRNA-155 protects mice from coxsackievirus B3 induced myocarditis. We found that microRNA-155 expression was upregulated and localized primarily in heart-infiltrating macrophages and CD4+ T lymphocytes during acute myocarditis. In contrast with wildtype (WT) mice, microRNA-155−/− mice developed attenuated viral myocarditis, which was characterized by decreased cardiac inflammation and decreased intracardiac CD45+ leukocytes. Hearts of microRNA-155−/− mice expressed decreased levels of the IFN-γ and increased levels of the cytokines IL-4 and IL-13. Although total CD4+ and regulatory T cells were unchanged in miR-155−/− spleen proportionally, the activation of T cells and CD4+ T cell proliferation in miR-155−/− mice were significantly decreased. Beyond the acute phase, microRNA-155−/− mice had reduced mortality and improved cardiac function during 5 weeks of follow-up. Moreover, silencing microRNA-155 led to increased levels of alternatively-activated macrophages (M2) and decreased levels of classically-activated macrophages (M1) in the heart. Combined, our studies suggest that microRNA-155 confers susceptibility to viral myocarditis by affecting macrophage polarization, and thus may be a potential therapeutic target for viral myocarditis.
Protein dynamics from nuclear magnetic relaxation
Authors: Charlier Cyril , Cousin Samuel F. , Ferrage Fabien
Published: March 2016

Protein dynamics are explored by a variety of methods designed to measure nuclear magnetic relaxation rates.
Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution by Cu(ii) complexes
Authors: Wang Junfei , Li Chao , Zhou Qianxiong , Wang Weibo , Hou Yuanjun , Zhang Baowen , Wang Xuesong
Published: March 2016

[Cu(Cl-TMPA)Cl2] has a more labile Cl ligand and a dangling Cl-substituted pyridyl unit; both account for its high photocatalytic H2 evolution activity.
Oxidation of olefins using atmospheric oxygen atoms initiated by tert-butylhydroperoxide or hydrogen peroxide with silver nanoparticles deposited on MCM-41 as catalysts
Authors: Chen Zhichao , Luck Rudy L.
Published: March 2016

Silver nanoparticles on MCM-41 oxidize olefins using atmospheric oxygen initiated by peroxides with 3% NaCl in H2O/tBuOH as solvent.
Interlinked multiphase Fe-doped MnO2 nanostructures: a novel design for enhanced pseudocapacitive performance
Authors: Wang Ziya , Wang Fengping , Li Yan , Hu Jianlin , Lu Yanzhen , Xu Mei
Published: March 2016

We designed a novel multiphase Fe-doped MnO2 electrolyte material for supercapacitors. The synergistic effects of the alternative crystal structures, appropriate crystallinity and optimal morphology are identified to be responsible for the boosted pseudocapacitive performances.
Synthesis, photophysical properties and anticancer activity of micro-environment sensitive amphiphilic bile acid dendrimers
Authors: Anandkumar Devaraj , Raja Rathinam , Rajakumar Perumal
Published: March 2016

Porphyrin-cored bile acid dendrimers containing deoxymethyl cholate and methyl cholate units at the periphery, have been synthesized by convergent methodology using a click chemistry approach and characterized by 1H and 13C NMR and MALDI-TOF MS data.
Self-assembly, doxorubicin-loading and antibacterial activity of well-defined ABA-type amphiphilic poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone)-b-poly(d,l-lactide)-b-poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) triblock copolymers
Authors: Ramesh K. , Gundampati Ravi Kumar , Singh Shikha , Mitra Kheyanath , Shukla Ankita , Jagannadham Medicherla V. , Chattopadhyay Dipankar , Misra Nira , Ray Biswajit
Published: March 2016

Synthesis, self-assembly, DOX-loading and antibacterial activity of well-defined ABA-type amphiphilic poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone)-b-poly(d,l-lactide)-b-poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) triblock copolymers.