bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nectar and pollen production in Arabis procurrens Waldst. & Kit. and Iberis sempervirens L. (Brassicaceae)
Authors: Strzałkowska-Abramek Monika , Tymoszuk Karolina , Jachuła Jacek , Bożek Małgorzata
Published: April 2016

Ecological environment in urban areas is specific in many aspects. There are evidences that ornamental plants cultivated in local urban gardens may help in conservation of pollinators. In this study, the flowering pattern, the abundance of flowering, nectar and pollen production as well as insect visitation in Arabis procurrens Waldst. & Kit. and Iberis sempervirens L. were investigated. The species were grown in the UMCS Botanical Garden in Lublin, southeastern Poland. Arabis procurrens bloomed from the middle of April until middle of May and I. sempervirens from the end of April until middle of June. In both species, most flowers opened in the morning hours (40–45% of total were opened by 8:00 h GMT + 2 h). The average sugar yield of A. procurrens was ca. 53% lower compared to I. sempervirens (mean = 1.08 g/m2 and 2.32 g/m2, respectively). In both species, considerable differences in the amount of produced sugars were noted between years. The mass of pollen produced in the flowers of A. procurrens was approx. 35% lower compared to that of I. sempervirens (mean = 0.06 mg and 0.09 mg per flower, respectively). Pollen produced per unit area was correlated with the number of flowers. On average, the species produced 1.46 g (A. procurrens) and 2.54 g (I. sempervirens) of pollen per 1 m2. The flowers of A. procurrens attracted mainly dipterans (56.3% of total visitors), while I. sempervirens lured chiefly solitary bees (47.4% of total visitors), however in both cases, honeybees, bumblebees and lepidopterans were also recorded. The A. procurrens and I. sempervirens due to flowering in early spring period may be promoted for use in small gardens (rock or pot gardens) for both aesthetic value and as plants that support insect visitors in nectar and pollen rewards.
Mutations by Next Generation Sequencing in Stool DNA from Colorectal Carcinoma Patients - A Literature Review and our Experience with this Methodology
Authors: Omar  Youssef  , Virinder  Kaur  Sarhadi  , Lauri  Lehtimäki  , Milja  Tikkanen  , Arto  Kokkola  , Pauli Puolakkainen  , Gemma Armengol  , Sakari Knuutila
Published: April 2016

It is well-known that colorectal carcinoma is a disease involving multistep carcinogenesis (hyperplasia-adenoma-carcinoma-metastasizing carcinoma). It is also a disease where therapeutically important driver mutations (especially in the EGFR signaling pathway) have been identified. Since genetic mutations can serve as good diagnostic and predictive markers, their reliable detection in the early stages of the disease and also in the follow-up of treatment efficacy is crucial. There is a fundamental problem encountered with the commonly used formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) specimens from biopsied tumor tissue i.e. it is unlikely that the material for the mutation analysis will be available in either the early stage of the disease or during the treatment period. Therefore recently attempts have been made to identify reliable markers from plasma/serum or from stool specimens. In particular, non-invasive stool specimens have been speculated to represent the situation of ongoing tumorigenesis and thus they can be used to assess treatment efficacy in the follow-upof the patient.
The key aims of this paper are firstly, to review the key methodological points when studying genomic alterations in DNA extracted from cells in stool specimens, and secondly, to review results related to biomarker screening and their therapeutic importance. A further aim is to present our new findings by focusing on the issues inherent in Next Generation Sequencing of stool specimens from patients with gastrointestinal tumors. Even though the focus of our paper is human genomic alterations in stool specimens, in our future aspects chapter, we also deal with the bacterial spectrum and its possible interaction with the genomic mutations.
La famille. L’habitation sucrière de la Compagnie des îles de l’Amérique à la Guadeloupe (1642-1649)
Authors: Roulet Éric
Published: April 2016

La Compagnie des îles de l’Amérique, reformée en 1635 à l’initiative du cardinal de Richelieu, fait du développement des cultures d’exportation comme la canne à sucre une priorité de sa politique économique dans les Petites Antilles françaises. Elle possède une vaste habitation à la Guadeloupe, la famille, sur laquelle elle fonde de grands espoirs. Cependant, elle ne réalise pas de bons résultats malgré les milliers de livres investis. Les difficultés rencontrées dans la gestion des établissements sous son autorité la conduisent finalement à vendre les îles. Le sucre aura-t-il été sa perte ?
Lugares de encuentro en los espacios del horror. Acercamiento testimonial a los Centros de Detención y/o Tortura chilenos
Authors: Santos Herceg José Guillermo
Published: April 2016

El presente escrito busca acercarse al tema de la resistencia al interior de los Centros de Detención y/o Tortura chilenos desde la perspectiva de los lugares. Se sostiene que los prisioneros constituyen espacios con los que se vinculan positivamente y que les permiten mantener su humanidad en medio del horror. A modo de ejemplos, se estudian los espacios de comunicación, los sitios para el amor y los lugares sagrados.
Palabras Clave: Prisión, Resistencia, Encuentro,Comunicación, Amor,Sagrado.
Abstract: This paper seeks to approach to thetopic of the resistance inside the ChileanDetention and / or Torture Centers from theperspective of the places. It is argued thatprisoners construct spaces which are linkedpositively and allow them to maintain theirhumanity in the middle of horror. As examples,we study the spaces of communication, the placesfor love, and the sacred places inside this Centers.
Key Words: Prison, Resistance, Meeting,Communication, Love, Sacred.
Memoria y traición femenina en la ficción y el testimonio
Authors: Llanos Bernardita
Published: April 2016

Resumen: El artículo analiza la representación de las mujeres que, habiendo formado parte de la militancia de izquierda en los setenta, pasó a colaborar con los organismos represivos después de haber sido sometidas a una tortura extrema. Algunas novelas contemporáneas, como La vida doble o El fin de la historia construyen su relato en torno a estas figuras, que catalogan bajo el paradigma de la traición, contribuyendo a la consolidación de narrativas estigmatizadoras en torno a ellas.
Palabras clave: Represión, traición, género, testimonio, ficción.
Abstract: The article focuses on the representation of women who were leftist militants in the seventies but became collaborators of the repressive institutions, after suffering an extreme violence against them. Some contemporary novels, such as La vida doble or El fin de la historia fictionalize the life of some of these women. The article focuses in the way they do it and the meanings the contribute to build about political militance, repression and betrayal.
Key words: Repression, Betrayal, Gender,  Testimony, Fiction.
Testimonios indígenas conosureños: ¿convivencias excluyentes?
Authors: Fernández Benítez Hans
Published: April 2016

Resumen: El presente artículo, partiendo de lapremisa de que la teoría del testimonio en AméricaLatina fue construida a partir de textos testimonialesdel área centroamericana y caribeña sobre la base deun trasfondo marxista, revisa de manera panorámicatestimonios de cuatro culturas indígenas deSudamérica (quechua, aymara, mapuche y yagán)resaltando la dimensión cultural contenida en estos.Se caracterizan tanto las condiciones de producciónde estos testimonios como también las formas deconvivencia que estos representan. Las exclusionesque padecen los testimoniantes por parte de susrespectivas sociedades se interpretan comoconsecuencia de la idea ilustrada de progreso que guiola construcción de naciones en el siglo XIX. Pese aello, los textos dan a conocer un Cono Sur polilógico.
Palabras clave: testimonio, indígenas, Cono Sur,convivencia, exclusiones
Abstract: The present article begins with the premisethat the theory of testimonio in Latin America wasconstructed based on testimonial texts from CentralAmerica and the Caribbean and with a Marxistunderpinning. This article will examine thetestimonies of four indigenous cultures of SouthAmerica (Quechua, Aymara, Mapuche and Yaghan),highlighting the cultural dimension of each one, whileat the same time characterizing the conditions ofproduction as well as the social coexistence that theyrepresent. The exclusions those who testify suffer intheir respective societies are interpreted as aconsequence of the Enlightenment idea of progressthat guided nation building in the 19th Century. Inspite of this, the texts illustrate a polylogical SouthernCone.
Key words: testimonio, indigenous peoples, SouthernCone, social coexistence, exclusions
Avatares del testimonio en América Latina
Authors: Peris Blanes Jaume , Palazón Sáez Gema
Published: April 2016

Número especial completo
Revolution doesn’t die, it simply changes with the times. Interview with Margaret Randall
Authors: Randall Margaret , Palazón Sáez (en.) Gema
Published: April 2016

Entrevista con Margaret Randall.
Usos del testimonio y políticas de la memoria. El caso chileno
Authors: Peris Blanes Jaume
Published: April 2016

Resumen: Este artículo analiza los usos de los testimonios de la represión en Chile, desde los años setenta hasta finales de la década pasada. De hecho, los usos sociales del testimonio han ido transformándose en paralelo a los sentidos sociales que iban produciéndose en Chile (y en el exilio) sobre la naturaleza de la represión y la dictadura militar. En ese sentido, analizar cómo los testimonios han sido usados por los movimientos sociales, asociaciones y por las políticas públicas de memoria implica también analizar los sentidos sociales sobre la violencia política a los que se han vinculado y que han contribuido a consolidar o cuestionar.
Palabras clave: Chile, testimonio, memoria, postdictadura.
Relatos para una revolución potencial. Las crónicas testimoniales de Che Guevara
Authors: Peris Blanes Jaume
Published: April 2016

Resumen: Este artículo analiza los textos narrativos de Ernesto Guevara, habitualmente englobados bajo la rúbrica de ‘testimonio’. Más que el anacronismo de ajustar la propuesta guevariana a las formulaciones y conceptualizaciones del testimonio que vendrían después, interesa definir con detalle la apuesta de Guevara en su historicidad, para tratar de restituir a sus textos la potencialidad revolucionaria desde la que fueron escritos y que constituyó una de las respuestas posibles a los debates sobre la naturaleza y la función de la cultura en tiempos de revolución. En ese sentido, el artículo pone el acento en el lugar que la escritura narrativa tuvo en el interior del proyecto político de Guevara, como espacio para generar prácticas de emulación revolucionaria. Es por ello que las crónicas de Guevara pueden leerse como un material narrativo pensado para nutrir la revolución mundial potencial.
Palabras clave: Guevara, Revolución Cubana, Testimonio, Emulación, Hombre Nuevo.
Recurring patterns in bacterioplankton dynamics during coastal spring algae blooms
Authors: Teeling Hanno , Fuchs Bernhard M , Bennke Christin M , Krüger Karen , Chafee Meghan , Kappelmann Lennart , Reintjes Greta , Waldmann Jost , Quast Christian , Glöckner Frank Oliver , Lucas Judith , Wichels Antje , Gerdts Gunnar , Wiltshire Karen H , Amann Rudolf I
Published: April 2016

A process of global importance in carbon cycling is the remineralization of algae biomass by heterotrophic bacteria, most notably during massive marine algae blooms. Such blooms can trigger secondary blooms of planktonic bacteria that consist of swift successions of distinct bacterial clades, most prominently members of the Flavobacteriia, Gammaproteobacteria and the alphaproteobacterial Roseobacter clade. We investigated such successions during spring phytoplankton blooms in the southern North Sea (German Bight) for four consecutive years. Dense sampling and high-resolution taxonomic analyses allowed the detection of recurring patterns down to the genus level. Metagenome analyses also revealed recurrent patterns at the functional level, in particular with respect to algal polysaccharide degradation genes. We, therefore, hypothesize that even though there is substantial inter-annual variation between spring phytoplankton blooms, the accompanying succession of bacterial clades is largely governed by deterministic principles such as substrate-induced forcing.
Using mobile sequencers in an academic classroom
Authors: Zaaijer Sophie ,   Columbia University Ubiquitous Genomics 2015 class, Erlich Yaniv
Published: April 2016

The advent of mobile DNA sequencers has made it possible to generate DNA sequencing data outside of laboratories and genome centers. Here, we report our experience of using the MinION, a mobile sequencer, in a 13-week academic course for undergraduate and graduate students. The course consisted of theoretical sessions that presented fundamental topics in genomics and several applied hackathon sessions. In these hackathons, the students used MinION sequencers to generate and analyze their own data and gain hands-on experience in the topics discussed in the theoretical classes. The manuscript describes the structure of our class, the educational material, and the lessons we learned in the process. We hope that the knowledge and material presented here will provide the community with useful tools to help educate future generations of genome scientists.
URO UNDER OVERFLATEN: MODERNISME I KNUT HAMSUNS RINGEN SLUTTET (1936)
Authors: Børset Bodil
Published: April 2016

This article examines Hamsun’s The Ring is Closed (1936) through the lens of modernity and modernism.  A common notion has been that The Ring is Closed is an exception from the division between an early modernist phase and a later realist phase in Hamsun’s oeuvre.  This article argues that Hamsun deals with modernity in a fundamentally different way in 1936 than he did in the 1890s.  Today we should be able to see Abel Brodersen’s fatalism, cynicism, and lack of drive as an expression of 1930s modernism. What are the characteristics of such modernism? To which of his contemporary modernist characters can we compare Abel Brodersen? What literary techniques does Hamsun employ, and how can we characterize the language and the narrative structure? How does the modernist Hamsun in 1936 compare to Hamsun in 1890? These are some of the questions posed in this article.
BEGJÆRET ETTER BERGETS DYP OG FJELLETS TINDER: OM SIDER VED DET DIKTERISKE FUNDAMENT HOS IBSEN OG HAMSUN
Authors: Arntzen Even
Published: April 2016

Even though Knut Hamsun stubbornly denied it, all his life he had a strong and ambivalent interest for Henrik Ibsen. Quite well known are Hamsun's many attacks on Ibsen in articles and lectures, letters and novels. Less known is that there are several coinciding (intertextual) motifs between Ibsen and Hamsun. In several of Ibsen's plays and poems the mountain motif is associated with poetic vocation and a descent and entry into an enclosed world of fantasy and imagination. The mountain motif is for sure attached to a form of penetration into a supernatural and demonic underworld, but also related to an upward and vertical movement, towards light, air and literary clarity. One finds strong traces of this double Ibsenian movement also in Hamsun's authorship, for example in the novels Pan and In Wonderland. But Hamsun seems to exceed Ibsen: in Hamsun's literary universe, the mountain motif is also linked to a revitalized dream of happiness, joy and an existential demand of exceeding oneself in the direction of a more authentic way of being human in the modern world.
DRAMA, IDYLL OG EVENTYR. GUNNAR SOMMERFELDTS FILMADAPTASJON (1921) AV HAMSUNS MARKENS GRØDE
Authors: Wærp Lisbeth P.
Published: April 2016

This article examines Gunnar Sommerfeldt’s 1921 silent movie adaptation of Knut Hamsun’s Nobel Prize novel Markens Grøde [Growth of the Soil] (1917). The article argues that what characterizes this very first Hamsun film adaptation is its emphasis on the dramatic and the spectacular and its foregrounding of northern Norwegian nature. Inspired by Martin Lefebvre’s distinction in Landscape and Film (2006) between nature-as-setting and nature-as-landscape, this article argues that the film not only uses nature as its main setting, but that it also makes use of a series of autonomous landscapes with a fairy tale dimension. Several of its visual compositions of persons and landscapes seem to be inspired by Norwegian nature and fairy tale painter Theodor Kittelsen’s work, e.g. Soria Moria Slott, Nøkken, Pesta and Norge, Norge.
Evaluation of excess In during metal organic vapor-phase epitaxy growth of InGaN by monitoring via in situ laser scattering
Authors: Yamamoto Tetsuya , Tamura Akira , Usami Shigeyoshi , Mitsunari Tadashi , Nagamatsu Kentaro , Nitta Shugo , Honda Yoshio , Amano Hiroshi
Published: April 2016

Using an in situ laser absorption and scattering method, the surface roughness and incorporation of In in InGaN layers grown by metal organic vapor-phase epitaxy (MOVPE) were monitored. We observed that the laser light with energy higher than the GaN bandgap was fully absorbed in a GaN layer with a smooth film surface. On the other hand, we observed that the scattering laser light from the surface when the roughness of the InGaN surface increased owing to the formation of In droplets. Laser light with energy lower than the GaN bandgap was weakly absorbed by the GaN layer and was scattered at the back surface of the wafer. Furthermore, laser light intensity decreased during InGaN growth because of In incorporation. The threshold of trimethyl-In (TMIn) for the formation of In droplets as a function of growth temperature was determined using our in situ system. Moreover, we observed that the In droplets were removed by thermal or H2 treatment. The results indicate that multiwavelength laser absorption and scattering enable the optimization of the growth conditions for In-rich InGaN.
Impact of high-temperature annealing of AlN layer on sapphire and its thermodynamic principle
Authors: Fukuyama Hiroyuki , Miyake Hideto , Nishio Gou , Suzuki Shuhei , Hiramatsu Kazumasa
Published: April 2016

The N2–CO gas annealing technique was demonstrated to improve the crystalline quality of the AlN layer on sapphire. 300-nm-thick AlN layers were fabricated on sapphire substrates by a metal–organic vapor phase epitaxy method. The AlN layers were annealed in N2 and/or N2–CO gas atmosphere at 1923–1973 K for 0.5–4 h. Many pits and voids were observed on the AlN surface annealed in N2 atmosphere at 1973 K for 2 h. The rough surface was, however, much improved for the AlN annealed in N2–CO gas atmosphere. The thermodynamic principle of the N2–CO gas annealing technique is explained in this paper on the basis of the phase stability diagram of the Al2O3–AlN–C–N2–CO system. Voids and γ-aluminum oxynitride (γ-AlON) at the AlN/sapphire interface formed during the annealing, which is also explained on the basis of the phase stability diagram. The in-plane epitaxial relationships among AlN, γ-AlON, and sapphire are presented, and misfits among them are discussed.
Theoretical investigations of compositional inhomogeneity around threading dislocations in III–nitride semiconductor alloys
Authors: Sakaguchi Ryohei , Akiyama Toru , Nakamura Kohji , Ito Tomonori
Published: April 2016

The compositional inhomogeneity of group III elements around threading dislocations in III–nitride semiconductors are theoretically investigated using empirical interatomic potentials and Monte Carlo simulations. We find that the calculated atomic arrangements around threading dislocations in Al0.3Ga0.7N and In0.2Ga0.8N depend on the lattice strain around dislocation cores. Consequently, compositional inhomogeneity arises around edge dislocation cores to release the strain induced by dislocation cores. In contrast, the compositional inhomogeneity in screw dislocation is negligible owing to relatively small strain induced by dislocation cores compared with edge dislocation. These results indicate that the strain relief around dislocation cores is decisive in determining the atomic arrangements and resultant compositional inhomogeneity around threading dislocations in III–nitride semiconductor alloys.
Approximate Analytical Technique to Design Reflectarray Antenna
Authors: Yamani H. M. , Attiya A. M. , Abdelmageed A. K.
Published: April 2016

This paper presents an analysis and design for a reflectarray antenna composed of an array of rectangular patches printed on a grounded dielectric slab. A simple analytical technique based on equivalent surface impedance is used to determine the reflection of the elements in reflectarray antenna. This equivalent surface impedance is obtained analytically in a closed form. The effect of the angle of incidence on each element in the reflectarray is included in calculations. To author’s knowledge, this property has not been included in previous analysis techniques of reflectarray antenna.
Central Line–Associated Bloodstream Infection Reduction and Bundle Compliance in Intensive Care Units: A National Study
Authors: Furuya E. Yoko , Dick Andrew W. , Herzig Carolyn T. A. , Pogorzelska-Maziarz Monika , Larson Elaine L. , Stone Patricia W.
Published: April 2016

OBJECTIVES

To describe compliance with the central line (CL) insertion bundle overall and with individual bundle elements in US adult intensive care units (ICUs) and to determine the relationship between bundle compliance and central line–associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) rates.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

PARTICIPANTS

National sample of adult ICUs participating in National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) surveillance.

METHODS

Hospitals were surveyed to determine compliance with CL insertion bundle elements in ICUs. Corresponding NHSN ICU CLABSI rates were obtained. Multivariate Poisson regression models were used to assess associations between CL bundle compliance and CLABSI rates, controlling for hospital and ICU characteristics.

RESULTS

A total of 984 adult ICUs in 632 hospitals were included. Most ICUs had CL bundle policies, but only 69% reported excellent compliance (≥95%) with at least 1 element. Lower CLABSI rates were associated with compliance with just 1 element (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.64–0.92); however, ≥95% compliance with all 5 elements was associated with the greatest reduction (IRR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.59–0.77). There was no association between CLABSI rates and simply having a written CL bundle policy nor with bundle compliance <75%. Additionally, better-resourced infection prevention departments were associated with lower CLABSI rates.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrate the impact of transferring infection prevention interventions to the real-world setting. Compliance with the entire bundle was most effective, although excellent compliance with even 1 bundle element was associated with lower CLABSI rates. The variability in compliance across ICUs suggests that, at the national level, there is still room for improvement in CLABSI reduction.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2016;37:805–810
The top trumps of time: factors motivating the resolution of temporal ambiguity
Authors: DUFFY SARAH E. , EVANS VYVYAN
Published: April 2016

abstract

What factors motivate our understanding of metaphoric statements about time? English exhibits two deictic space–time metaphors: the Moving Ego metaphor conceptualizes the ego as moving forward through time, while the Moving Time metaphor conceptualizes time as moving forward towards the ego (Clark, 1973). In addition to earlier research investigating spatial influences on temporal reasoning (e.g., Boroditsky & Ramscar, 2002), recent lines of research have provided evidence that a complex of factors, such as personality differences, event valence, lifestyle, and emotional experiences, may also influence people’s perspectives on the movement of events in time – providing new insights on metaphor and its ability to reflect thought and feeling (e.g., Duffy & Feist, 2014; Duffy, Feist, & McCarthy, 2014; Margolies & Crawford, 2008; Richmond, Wilson, & Zinken, 2012). Probing these findings further, two studies were conducted to investigate whether the interpretation of a temporally ambiguous question may arise from an interaction between the valence of the event and aspects of the personality (Experiment 1) and lifestyle (Experiment 2) of the comprehender. The findings we report on shed further light on the complex nature of temporal reasoning. While this involves conceptual metaphor, it also invokes more complex temporal frames of reference (t-FoRs) (Evans, 2013), which are only partially subserved by space-to-time conceptual metaphors.
Directing Disengagement
Authors: Duhart Philippe
Published: April 2016

This article examines the relationship between the structure of politico-military movements and effective insurgent engagement in peace processes. Drawing on the experiences of Irish republicans and Basque separatists, I argue that centralized movement structures in which politicos wield influence over armed groups allow for effective coordination between movement wings in peace efforts while providing political leaders with credibility as interlocutors. In the Irish case, centralization enabled Sinn Fein leaders to ensure Provisionaliracommitment to peace and to contain schism within the republican movement throughout the peace process. In the Basque case, movement decentralization created persistent coordination problems between wings during peace efforts, whileeta’s unilateral reneging prevented political allies from establishing credibility as peacemakers. These cases show that while movement leaders untainted by direct association with armed groups may be more politically palatable than those with ties to “terrorists”, tainted leaders may make more credible partners for peace.
A REPLY TO RUDI MATTHEE
Authors: Ghereghlou Kioumars
Published: April 2016

Rudi Matthee's book has several key problems, which I discussed already in my review. Here I will provide evidence for two main issues that I see in the book. These issues are the limited use of Persian primary sources, and a tendency to make very broad claims based on very limited evidence.
The Two Faces of Parrhêsia: Free Speech and Self-Expression in Ancient Greece
Authors: Konstan David
Published: April 2016

Parrhêsia has been understood as a right under the Athenian democracy, roughly equivalent to the right of free speech in modern democracies, including the privilege of speaking in the assembly. In this paper, I argue that the notion of ‘rights’ is anachronistic in this connection; more particularly, parrhêsia was less a right than an expectation, the idea that one might freely express even unpopular opinions without fear of repression. But unpopular opinions might run athwart notions of public decency, and free expression might tilt over into license or shamelessness. Examples are given of how Athenian discourse, in tragedy (especially Euripides' Phoenician Women) and oratory, negotiated the delicate balance between forthrightness and insolence.
On the parallels between cosmology and astrobiology: a transdisciplinary approach to the search for extraterrestrial life
Authors: Santos Charles Morphy D. , Alabi Leticia P. , Friaça Amâncio C. S. , Galante Douglas
Published: April 2016

The establishment of cosmology as a science provides a parallel to the building-up of the scientific status of astrobiology. The rise of astrobiological studies is explicitly based on a transdisciplinary approach that reminds of the Copernican Revolution, which eroded the basis of a closed Aristotelian worldview and reinforced the notion that the frontiers between disciplines are artificial. Given the intrinsic complexity of the astrobiological studies, with its multifactorial evidences and theoretical/experimental approaches, multi- and interdisciplinary perspectives are mandatory. Insulated expertise cannot grasp the vastness of the astrobiological issues. This need for integration among disciplines and research areas is antagonistic to excessive specialization and compartmentalization, allowing astrobiology to be qualified as a truly transdisciplinary enterprise. The present paper discusses the scientific status of astrobiological studies, based on the view that every kind of life, Earth-based or not, should be considered in a cosmic context. A confluence between ‘astro’ and ‘bio’ seeks the understanding of life as an emerging phenomenon in the universe. Thus, a new epistemological niche is opened, pointing to the development of a pluralistic vision for the philosophy of astrobiology.
Facial Affect Recognition in Myasthenia Gravis
Authors: Lázaro Esther , Amayra Imanol , López-Paz Juan Francisco , Jometón Amaia , Martín Natalia , Caballero Patricia , De Nicolás Luís , Hoffmann Holger , Kessler Henrik , Ruiz Begoña , Martínez Oscar
Published: April 2016

The assessment of facial expression is an important aspect of a clinical neurological examination, both as an indicator of a mood disorder and as a sign of neurological damage. To date, although studies have been conducted on certain psychosocial aspects of myasthenia, such as quality of life and anxiety, and on neuropsychological aspects such as memory, no studies have directly assessed facial emotion recognition accuracy. The aim of this study was to assess the facial emotion recognition accuracy (fear, surprise, sadness, happiness, anger, and disgust), empathy, and reaction time of patients with myasthenia. Thirty-five patients with myasthenia and 36 healthy controls were tested for their ability to differentiate emotional facial expressions. Participants were matched with respect to age, gender, and education level. Their ability to differentiate emotional facial expressions was evaluated using the computer-based program Feel Test. The data showed that myasthenic patients scored significantly lower (p < 0.05) than healthy controls in the total Feel score, fear, surprise, and higher reaction time. The findings suggest that the ability to recognize facial affect may be reduced in individuals with myasthenia.
Light-enhanced liquid-phase exfoliation and current photoswitching in graphene–azobenzene composites
Authors: Döbbelin Markus , Ciesielski Artur , Haar Sébastien , Osella Silvio , Bruna Matteo , Minoia Andrea , Grisanti Luca , Mosciatti Thomas , Richard Fanny , Prasetyanto Eko Adi , De Cola Luisa , Palermo Vincenzo , Mazzaro Raffaello , Morandi Vittorio , Lazzaroni Roberto , Ferrari Andrea C. , Beljonne David , Samorì Paolo
Published: April 2016

Multifunctional materials can be engineered by combining multiple chemical components, each conferring a well-defined function to the ensemble. Graphene is at the centre of an ever-growing research effort due to its combination of unique properties. Here we show that the large conformational change associated with the trans–cis photochemical isomerization of alkyl-substituted azobenzenes can be used to improve the efficiency of liquid-phase exfoliation of graphite, with the photochromic molecules acting as dispersion-stabilizing agents. We also demonstrate reversible photo-modulated current in two-terminal devices based on graphene–azobenzene composites. We assign this tuneable electrical characteristics to the intercalation of the azobenzene between adjacent graphene layers and the resulting increase in the interlayer distance on (photo)switching from the linear trans-form to the bulky cis-form of the photochromes. These findings pave the way to the development of new optically controlled memories for light-assisted programming and high-sensitive photosensors.
Evidence for subjective values guiding posture and movement coordination in a free-endpoint whole-body reaching task
Authors: Hilt P. M. , Berret B. , Papaxanthis C. , Stapley P. J. , Pozzo T.
Published: April 2016

When moving, humans must overcome intrinsic (body centered) and extrinsic (target-related) redundancy, requiring decisions when selecting one motor solution among several potential ones. During classical reaching studies the position of a salient target determines where the participant should reach, constraining the associated motor decisions. We aimed at investigating implicit variables guiding action selection when faced with the complexity of human-environment interaction. Subjects had to perform whole body reaching movements towards a uniform surface. We observed little variation in the self-chosen motor strategy across repeated trials while movements were variable across subjects being on a continuum from a pure ‘knee flexion’ associated with a downward center of mass (CoM) displacement to an ‘ankle dorsi-flexion’ associated with an upward CoM displacement. Two optimality criteria replicated these two strategies: a mix between mechanical energy expenditure and joint smoothness and a minimization of the amount of torques. Our results illustrate the presence of idiosyncratic values guiding posture and movement coordination that can be combined in a flexible manner as a function of context and subject. A first value accounts for the reach efficiency of the movement at the price of selecting possibly unstable postures. The other predicts stable dynamic equilibrium but requires larger energy expenditure and jerk.
Quercetin Inhibits Fibroblast Activation and Kidney Fibrosis Involving the Suppression of Mammalian Target of Rapamycin and β-catenin Signaling
Authors: Ren Jiafa , Li Jianzhong , Liu Xin , Feng Ye , Gui Yuan , Yang Junwei , He Weichun , Dai Chunsun
Published: April 2016

Quercetin, a flavonoid found in a wide variety of plants and presented in human diet, displays promising potential in preventing kidney fibroblast activation. However, whether quercetin can ameliorate kidney fibrosis in mice with obstructive nephropathy and the underlying mechanisms remain to be further elucidated. In this study, we found that administration of quercetin could largely ameliorate kidney interstitial fibrosis and macrophage accumulation in the kidneys with obstructive nephropathy. MTORC1, mTORC2, β-catenin as well as Smad signaling were activated in the obstructive kidneys, whereas quercetin could markedly reduce their abundance except Smad3 phosphorylation. In cultured NRK-49F cells, quercetin could inhibit α-SMA and fibronectin (FN) expression induced by TGFβ1 treatment. MTORC1, mTORC2, β-catenin and Smad signaling pathways were stimulated by TGFβ1 at a time dependent manner. Similar to those findings in the obstructive kidneys, mTORC1, mTORC2 and β-catenin, but not Smad signaling pathways were remarkably blocked by quercetin treatment. Together, these results suggest that quercetin inhibits fibroblast activation and kidney fibrosis involving a combined inhibition of mTOR and β-catenin signaling transduction, which may act as a therapeutic candidate for patients with chronic kidney diseases.
Multiple oligomeric structures of a bacterial small heat shock protein
Authors: Mani Nandini , Bhandari Spraha , Moreno Rodolfo , Hu Liya , Prasad B. V. Venkataram , Suguna Kaza
Published: April 2016

Small heat shock proteins are ubiquitous molecular chaperones that form the first line of defence against the detrimental effects of cellular stress. Under conditions of stress they undergo drastic conformational rearrangements in order to bind to misfolded substrate proteins and prevent cellular protein aggregation. Owing to the dynamic nature of small heat shock protein oligomers, elucidating the structural basis of chaperone action and oligomerization still remains a challenge. In order to understand the organization of sHSP oligomers, we have determined crystal structures of a small heat shock protein from Salmonella typhimurium in a dimeric form and two higher oligomeric forms: an 18-mer and a 24-mer. Though the core dimer structure is conserved in all the forms, structural heterogeneity arises due to variation in the terminal regions.
Degradation Physics of High Power LEDs in Outdoor Environment and the Role of Phosphor in the degradation process
Authors: Singh Preetpal , Tan Cher Ming
Published: April 2016

A moisture- electrical – temperature (MET) test is proposed to evaluate the outdoor reliability of high power blue LEDs, with and without phosphor, and to understand the degradation physics of LEDs under the environment of combined humidity, temperature and electrical stresses. The blue LEDs with phosphor will be the high power white LEDs. Scanning acoustic microscopy is used to examine the resulted delamination during this test for the LEDs. The degradation mechanisms of blue LEDs (LEDs without phosphor) and white LEDs (LEDs with phosphor) are found to be different, under both the power on (i.e. with 350 mA through each LED) and power off (i.e. without current supply) conditions. Difference in the coefficient of thermal expansion between the molding part and the lens material as well as the heat generated by the phosphor layer are found to account for the major differences in the degradation mechanisms observed. The findings indicate that the proposed MET test is necessary for the LED industry in evaluating the reliability of LEDs under practical outdoor usage environment.
Direct observation of melting in a two-dimensional driven granular system
Authors: Sun Xiaoyan , Li Yang , Ma Yuqiang , Zhang Zexin
Published: April 2016

Melting is considered to be one of the most fundamental problems in physical science. Generally, dimensionality plays an important role in melting. In three-dimension, it’s well known that a crystal melts directly into a liquid via a first-order transition. In two-dimension (2D), however, the melting process has been widely debated whether it is a first-order transition or a two-step transition with an intermediate hexatic phase. Experimentally 2D melting has been intensively studied in equilibrium systems such as molecular and colloidal crystals, but rarely been explored in non-equilibrium system such as granular materials. In this paper, we experimentally studied the 2D melting in a driven granular model system at single particle level using video recording and particle tracking techniques. Measurements of orientational/translational correlation functions show evidences that the melting is a two-step transition. A novel concept of orientational/translational susceptibilities enable us to clearly resolve the intermediate hexatic phase. Our results are in excellent agreement with the two-step melting scenario predicted by KTHNY theory and demonstrate that the KTHNY melting scenario can be extended to non-equilibrium systems.
Both overexpression and suppression of an Oryza sativa NB-LRR-like gene OsLSR result in autoactivation of immune response and thiamine accumulation
Authors: Wang Liangchao , Ye  , Liu Huachun , Liu Xuejiao , Wei Chuchu , Huang Yuqing , Liu Yujun , Tu Jumin
Published: April 2016

Tight and accurate regulation of immunity and thiamine biosynthesis is critical for proper defence mechanisms and several primary metabolic cycles in plants. Although thiamine is known to enhance plant defence by priming, the mechanism by which thiamine biosynthesis responds to immune signals remains poorly understood. Here we identified a novel rice (Oryza sativa L.) NB-LRR gene via an insertion mutation, this mutant confesses a low seed setting phenotype and the corresponding genetic locus was named OsLSR (Low seed setting related). Comparing with wildtype plant, both overexpression and suppression of OsLSR lead to the autoactivation of the rice immune system and accumulation of thiamine, which result in a great fitness cost and yield penalty. Moreover, when fused with eGFP at their C terminus, two fragments, OsLSR1-178 and OsLSR464-546, localized to chloroplasts where thiamine is produced. Our result suggests that OsLSR differs from traditional NB-LRR genes. Its expression is closely related to the immune status and thiamine level in plant cells and should be maintained within a narrow range for rice growth.
Photon statistics on the extreme entanglement
Authors: Zhang Yang , Zhang Jun , Yu Chang-shui
Published: April 2016

The effects of photon bunching and antibunching correspond to the classical and quantum features of the electromagnetic field, respectively. No direct evidence suggests whether these effects can be potentially related to quantum entanglement. Here we design a cavity quantum electrodynamics model with two atoms trapped in to demonstrate the connections between the steady-state photon statistics and the two-atom entanglement. It is found that within the weak dissipations and to some good approximation, the local maximal two-atom entanglements perfectly correspond to not only the quantum feature of the electromagnetic field—the optimal photon antibunching, but also the classical feature—the optimal photon bunching. We also analyze the influence of strong dissipations and pure dephasing. An intuitive physical understanding is also given finally.
Control of Radiative Exciton Recombination by Charge Transfer Induced Surface Dipoles in MoS2 and WS2 Monolayers
Authors: Hu Peng , Ye Jun , He Xuexia , Du Kezhao , Zhang Keke K. , Wang Xingzhi , Xiong Qihua , Liu Zheng , Jiang Hui , Kloc Christian
Published: April 2016

Due to the two dimensional confinement of electrons in a monolayer of 2D materials, the properties of monolayer can be controlled by electrical field formed on the monolayer surface. F4TCNQ was evaporated on MoS2 and WS2 monolayer forming dipoles between strong acceptor, F4TCNQ and monolayers of MoS2 or WS2. The strong acceptor attracts electrons (charge transfer) and decreases the number of the ionized excitons. Free excitons undergo radiative recombination in both MoS2 and WS2. Moreover, the photoluminescence enhancement is stronger in WS2 where the exciton-phonon coupling is weaker. The theoretical model indicates that the surface dipole controls the radiative exciton recombination and enhances photoluminescence radiation. Deposition of F4TCNQ on the 2D monolayers enables a convenient control of the radiative exciton recombination and leads to the applications of these materials in lasers or LEDs.
Management practices regulate the response of Moso bamboo foliar stoichiometry to nitrogen deposition
Authors: Song Xinzhang , Gu Honghao , Wang Meng , Zhou Guomo , Li Quan
Published: April 2016

Moso bamboo, well known for its high growth rate, is being subjected to increasing amounts of nitrogen deposition. However, how anthropogenic management practices regulate the effects of N deposition on Moso bamboo stoichiometry remains poorly understood. We observed the effects of two years of simulated N deposition (30, 60 and 90 kg N ha−1yr−1) on the foliar stoichiometry of Moso bamboo plantations under conventional management (CM) and intensive management (IM). Young bamboo had significantly greater foliar N and P concentrations and N:P ratios than mature plants (P < 0.05). IM significantly increased the foliar N concentrations of young bamboo and P concentrations of mature bamboo but decreased mature bamboo foliar N:P ratios (P < 0.05). Nitrogen increased foliar N and P concentrations in IM bamboo plantations, but the positive effects were diminished when the addition rate exceeded 60 kg N ha−1yr−1. Nitrogen increased foliar N concentrations but aggravated P deficiency in CM bamboo plantations. The positive effects of N deposition on foliar stoichiometry were influenced by management practices and bamboo growth stage. The effects of N deposition on foliar stoichiometry combined with anthropogenic management practices can influence ecosystem production, decomposition and subsequent N and P cycles in Moso bamboo plantations.
135Cs activity and 135Cs/137Cs atom ratio in environmental samples before and after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident
Authors: Yang Guosheng , Tazoe Hirofumi , Yamada Masatoshi
Published: April 2016

135Cs/137Cs is a potential tracer for radiocesium source identification. However, due to the challenge to measure 135Cs, there were no 135Cs data available for Japanese environmental samples before the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident. It was only 3 years after the accident that limited 135Cs values could be measured in heavily contaminated environmental samples. In the present study, activities of 134Cs, 135Cs, and 137Cs, along with their ratios in 67 soil and plant samples heavily and lightly contaminated by the FDNPP accident were measured by combining γ spectrometry with ICP-MS/MS. The arithmetic means of the 134Cs/137Cs activity ratio (1.033 ± 0.006) and 135Cs/137Cs atom ratio (0.334 ± 0.005) (decay corrected to March 11, 2011), from old leaves of plants collected immediately after the FDNPP accident, were confirmed to represent the FDNPP derived radiocesium signature. Subsequently, for the first time, trace 135Cs amounts before the FDNPP accident were deduced according to the contribution of global and FDNPP accident-derived fallout. Apart from two soil samples with a tiny global fallout contribution, contributions of global fallout radiocesium in other soil samples were observed to be 0.338%–52.6%. The obtained 135Cs/137Cs database will be useful for its application as a geochemical tracer in the future.
High contrast two-photon imaging of fingermarks
Authors: Stoltzfus Caleb R. , Rebane Aleksander
Published: April 2016

Optically-acquired fingermarks are widely used as evidence across law enforcement agencies as well as in the courts of law. A common technique for visualizing latent fingermarks on nonporous surfaces consists of cyanoacrylate fuming of the fingerprint material, followed by impregnation with a fluorescent dye, which under ultra violet (UV) illumination makes the fingermarks visible and thus accessible for digital recording. However, there exist critical circumstances, when the image quality is compromised due to high background scattering, high auto-fluorescence of the substrate material, or other detrimental photo-physical and photo-chemical effects such as light-induced damage to the sample. Here we present a novel near-infrared (NIR), two-photon induced fluorescence imaging modality, which significantly enhances the quality of the fingermark images, especially when obtained from highly reflective and/or scattering surfaces, while at the same time reducing photo-damage to sensitive forensic samples.
High performance bias-selectable three-color Short-wave/Mid-wave/Long-wave Infrared Photodetectors based on Type-II InAs/GaSb/AlSb superlattices
Authors: Hoang Anh Minh , Dehzangi Arash , Adhikary Sourav , Razeghi Manijeh
Published: April 2016

We propose a new approach in device architecture to realize bias-selectable three-color shortwave-midwave-longwave infrared photodetectors based on InAs/GaSb/AlSb type-II superlattices. The effect of conduction band off-set and different doping levels between two absorption layers are employed to control the turn-on voltage for individual channels. The optimization of these parameters leads to a successful separation of operation regimes; we demonstrate experimentally three-color photodiodes without using additional terminal contacts. As the applied bias voltage varies, the photodiodes exhibit sequentially the behavior of three different colors, corresponding to the bandgap of three absorbers. Well defined cut-offs and high quantum efficiency in each channel are achieved. Such all-in-one devices also provide the versatility of working as single or dual-band photodetectors at high operating temperature. With this design, by retaining the simplicity in device fabrication, this demonstration opens the prospect for three-color infrared imaging.