bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conscientious Objection and “Effective Referral”
Authors: TRIGG ROGER
Published: December 2016

Complicity in an immoral, and even criminal, activity, such as robbery or murder, is itself regarded as involving responsibility for those acts. What should the position be of health professionals who are expected to participate in actions that they believe are morally wrong? Professional responsibilities may clash with private conscience. Even referring a patient to someone else, when what is in question may be assisted suicide, or euthanasia, seems to involve some complicity. This is a live issue in Canada, but similar dilemmas occur elsewhere. Physicians and others should not be coerced into involvement of any kind in what they regard as wrong. Such coercion goes against the very principles of liberal democracy. Conscience matters. Reasonable accommodation should be given to those whose moral judgment may be at variance with prevailing professional norms. Moral questions should still be given weight within medicine, and disagreements respected. Dedication to the promotion of human welfare should be paramount, but it should be recognized that there may be different visions of what such welfare consists of.
Context, Form and Style in Sterndale Bennett’s Piano Concertos
Authors: Dibble Jeremy
Published: December 2016

A concert pianist in his own right and a prodigious youth, Sterndale Bennett composed his five complete piano concertos at the beginning of his career. Although Mozart is often cited as a major influence on Bennett’s musical style, and Bennett was a keen executant of Mozart’s piano concertos throughout his career as a virtuoso (at a time when a performing tradition of Mozart’s concertos was still establishing itself), of equal or even greater impact on Bennett’s style of concerto was the ‘London School’ of pianists, among them Field, Hummel, Potter (Bennett’s teacher), Cramer and Moscheles whose first-movement structural paradigms of ritornello and sonata are especially evident in the corresponding movements of the first four of Bennett’s concertos. Structural and stylistic factors are also discussed in relation to the more romantically inclined slow movements (which includes an examination of the programmatic movement of the Third Concerto in C minor Op. 9, so enthusiastically reviewed by Schumann in Leipzig, and the unpublished ‘Adagio in G minor’) as well as the ‘shared sonata’ schemes of the finales in which the influence of Mendelssohn features more conspicuously. Finally, the stylistic amalgam of Bennett’s concertos, in particular the frequently performed Fourth Concerto in F minor Op. 19 and the unpublishedKonzert-Stückin A minor, is considered within the larger context of the first half of the nineteenth century with particular reference to the tensions that existed between the composer’s classical instincts and the desire to experiment with freer Romantic forms.
AGU's Thriving Earth Exchange Links Science with Small Towns
Authors: Dumont Pierre
Published: December 2016

Scientists and students collaborate with communities to create a greener municipal building in Midway, Ga., and assess residents' vulnerability to warming climate in Brookline, Mass.
Coupled molecular and isotopic evidence for denitrifier controls over terrestrial nitrogen availability
Authors: Lennon Erin F E , Houlton Benjamin Z
Published: December 2016

Denitrification removes ecologically available nitrogen (N) from the biosphere and influences both the pace and magnitude of global climate change. Disagreements exist over the degree to which this microbial process influences N-availability patterns across Earth’s ecosystems. We combine natural stable isotope methods with qPCR to investigate how denitrifier gene abundance is related to variations in nitrate (NO3−) pool sizes across diverse terrestrial biomes and conditions. We analyze NO3− isotope composition (15N/14N, 18O/16O) and denitrifier gene nirS in 52 soil samples from different California ecosystems, spanning desert, chaparral, oak-woodland/savanna and forest. δ15N-NO3− correlates positively with δ18O-NO3− (P⩽0.03) and nirS abundance (P=0.00002) across sites, revealing the widespread importance of isotopic discrimination by soil denitrifiers. Furthermore, NO3− concentrations correlate negatively to nirS (P=0.002) and δ15N-NO3− (P=0.003) across sites. We also observe these spatial relationships in short-term (7-day), in situ soil-incubation experiments; NO3−-depletion strongly corresponds with increased nirS, nirS/16 rRNA, and enrichment of heavy NO3− isotopes over time. Overall, these findings suggest that microbial denitrification can consume plant-available NO3− to low levels at multiple time scales, contributing to N-limitation patterns across sites, particularly in moist, carbon-rich soils. Furthermore, our study provides a new approach for understanding the relationships between microbial gene abundance and terrestrial ecosystem functioning.
Plant–mediated horizontal transmission of Wolbachia between whiteflies
Authors: Li Shao-Jian , Ahmed Muhammad Z , Lv Ning , Shi Pei-Qiong , Wang Xing-Min , Huang Ji-Lei , Qiu Bao-Li
Published: December 2016

Maternal transmission is the main transmission pathway of facultative bacterial endosymbionts, but phylogenetically distant insect hosts harbor closely related endosymbionts, suggesting that horizontal transmission occurs in nature. Here we report the first case of plant-mediated horizontal transmission of Wolbachia between infected and uninfected Bemisia tabaci AsiaII7 whiteflies. After infected whiteflies fed on cotton leaves, Wolbachia was visualized, both in the phloem vessels and in some novel ‘reservoir’ spherules along the phloem by fluorescence in situ hybridization using Wolbachia-specific 16S rRNA probes and transmission electron microscopy. Wolbachia persisted in the plant leaves for at least 50 days. When the Wolbachia-free whiteflies fed on the infected plant leaves, the majority of them became infected with the symbiont and vertically transmitted it to their progeny. Multilocus sequence typing and sequencing of the wsp (Wolbachia surface protein) gene confirmed that the sequence type of Wolbachia in the donor whiteflies, cotton phloem and the recipient whiteflies are all identical (sequence type 388). These results were replicated using cowpea and cucumber plants, suggesting that horizontal transmission is also possible through other plant species. Our findings may help explain why Wolbachia bacteria are so abundant in arthropods, and suggest that in some species, Wolbachia may be maintained in populations by horizontal transmission.
Single-cell mass spectrometry reveals the importance of genetic diversity and plasticity for phenotypic variation in nitrogen-limited Chlamydomonas
Authors: Krismer Jasmin , Tamminen Manu , Fontana Simone , Zenobi Renato , Narwani Anita
Published: December 2016

Phenotypic variation is vital for microbial populations to survive environmental perturbations. Both genetic and non-genetic factors contribute to an organism’s phenotypic variation and therefore its fitness. To investigate the correlation between genetic diversity and phenotypic variation, we applied our recently developed mass spectrometry method that allows for the simultaneous measurement of more than 25 different lipids and pigments with high throughput in the unicellular microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. We monitored the impact of nitrogen limitation on a genetically diverse wild-type strain CC-1690 and two isoclonal isolates from CC-1690 named ANC3 and ANC5. Measuring molecular composition of thousands of single cells at different time points of the experiment allowed us to capture a dynamic picture of the phenotypic composition and adaptation of the populations over time. Although the genetically diverse population maintained phenotypic variation over the whole time course of the experiment, the isoclonal cultures showed higher synchronicity in their phenotypic response. Furthermore, the genetically diverse population showed equal or greater phenotypic variation over the whole time range in multidimensional trait space compared with isoclonal populations. However, along individual trait axes non-genetic variance was higher in isoclonal populations.
Methylacidiphilum fumariolicum SolV, a thermoacidophilic ‘Knallgas’ methanotroph with both an oxygen-sensitive and -insensitive hydrogenase
Authors: Mohammadi Sepehr , Pol Arjan , van Alen Theo A , Jetten Mike S M , Op den Camp Huub J M
Published: December 2016

Methanotrophs play a key role in balancing the atmospheric methane concentration. Recently, the microbial methanotrophic diversity was extended by the discovery of thermoacidophilic methanotrophs belonging to the Verrucomicrobia phylum in geothermal areas. Here we show that a representative of this new group, Methylacidiphilum fumariolicum SolV, is able to grow as a real ‘Knallgas’ bacterium on hydrogen/carbon dioxide, without addition of methane. The full genome of strain SolV revealed the presence of two hydrogen uptake hydrogenases genes, encoding an oxygen-sensitive (hup-type) and an oxygen-insensitive enzyme (hhy-type). The hhy-type hydrogenase was constitutively expressed and active and supported growth on hydrogen alone up to a growth rate of 0.03 h−1, at O2 concentrations below 1.5%. The oxygen-sensitive hup-type hydrogenase was expressed when oxygen was reduced to below 0.2%. This resulted in an increase of the growth rate to a maximum of 0.047 h−1, that is 60% of the rate on methane. The results indicate that under natural conditions where both hydrogen and methane might be limiting strain SolV may operate primarily as a methanotrophic ‘Knallgas’ bacterium. These findings argue for a revision of the role of hydrogen in methanotrophic ecosystems, especially in soil and related to consumption of atmospheric methane.
K63-polyubiquitinated HAUSP deubiquitinates HIF-1α and dictates H3K56 acetylation promoting hypoxia-induced tumour progression
Authors: Wu Han-Tsang , Kuo Yi-Chih , Hung Jung-Jyh , Huang Chi-Hung , Chen Wei-Yi , Chou Teh-Ying , Chen Yeh , Chen Yi-Ju , Chen Yu-Ju , Cheng Wei-Chung , Teng Shu-Chun , Wu Kou-Juey
Published: December 2016

Intratumoural hypoxia induces HIF-1α and promotes tumour progression, metastasis and treatment resistance. HIF-1α stability is regulated by VHL-E3 ligase-mediated ubiquitin-dependent degradation; however, the hypoxia-regulated deubiquitinase that stabilizes HIF-1α has not been identified. Here we report that HAUSP (USP7) deubiquitinase deubiquitinates HIF-1α to increase its stability, induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition and promote metastasis. Hypoxia induces K63-linked polyubiquitinated HAUSP at lysine 443 to enhance its functions. Knockdown of HAUSP decreases acetylation of histone 3 lysine 56 (H3K56Ac). K63-polyubiquitinated HAUSP interacts with a ubiquitin receptor CBP to specifically mediate H3K56 acetylation. ChIP-seq analysis of HAUSP and HIF-1α binding reveals two motifs responsive to hypoxia. HectH9 is the E3 ligase for HAUSP and a prognostic marker together with HIF-1α. This report demonstrates that hypoxia-induced K63-polyubiquitinated HAUSP deubiquitinates HIF-1α and causes CBP-mediated H3K56 acetylation on HIF-1α target gene promoters to promote EMT/metastasis, further defining HAUSP as a therapeutic target in hypoxia-induced tumour progression.
Bond selectivity in electron-induced reaction due to directed recoil on an anisotropic substrate
Authors: Anggara Kelvin , Huang Kai , Leung Lydie , Chatterjee Avisek , Cheng Fang , Polanyi John C.
Published: December 2016

Bond-selective reaction is central to heterogeneous catalysis. In heterogeneous catalysis, selectivity is found to depend on the chemical nature and morphology of the substrate. Here, however, we show a high degree of bond selectivity dependent only on adsorbate bond alignment. The system studied is the electron-induced reaction of meta-diiodobenzene physisorbed on Cu(110). Of the adsorbate’s C-I bonds, C-I aligned ‘Along’ the copper row dissociates in 99.3% of the cases giving surface reaction, whereas C-I bond aligned ‘Across’ the rows dissociates in only 0.7% of the cases. A two-electronic-state molecular dynamics model attributes reaction to an initial transition to a repulsive state of an Along C-I, followed by directed recoil of C towards a Cu atom of the same row, forming C-Cu. A similar impulse on an Across C-I gives directed C that, moving across rows, does not encounter a Cu atom and hence exhibits markedly less reaction.
Scanning superlens microscopy for non-invasive large field-of-view visible light nanoscale imaging
Authors: Wang Feifei , Liu Lianqing , Yu Haibo , Wen Yangdong , Yu Peng , Liu Zhu , Wang Yuechao , Li Wen Jung
Published: December 2016

Nanoscale correlation of structural information acquisition with specific-molecule identification provides new insight for studying rare subcellular events. To achieve this correlation, scanning electron microscopy has been combined with super-resolution fluorescent microscopy, despite its destructivity when acquiring biological structure information. Here we propose time-efficient non-invasive microsphere-based scanning superlens microscopy that enables the large-area observation of live-cell morphology or sub-membrane structures with sub-diffraction-limited resolution and is demonstrated by observing biological and non-biological objects. This microscopy operates in both non-invasive and contact modes with ∼200 times the acquisition efficiency of atomic force microscopy, which is achieved by replacing the point of an atomic force microscope tip with an imaging area of microspheres and stitching the areas recorded during scanning, enabling sub-diffraction-limited resolution. Our method marks a possible path to non-invasive cell imaging and simultaneous tracking of specific molecules with nanoscale resolution, facilitating the study of subcellular events over a total cell period.
Covalency and vibronic couplings make a nonmagnetic j=3/2 ion magnetic
Authors: Xu Lei , Bogdanov Nikolay A , Princep Andrew , Fulde Peter , van den Brink Jeroen , Hozoi Liviu
Published: December 2016

For 4d1 and 5d1 spin–orbit-coupled electron configurations, the notion of nonmagnetic j=3/2 quartet ground state discussed in classical textbooks is at odds with the observed variety of magnetic properties. Here we throw fresh light on the electronic structure of 4d1 and 5d1 ions in molybdenum- and osmium-based double-perovskite systems and reveal different kinds of on-site many-body physics in the two families of compounds: although the sizable magnetic moments and g-factors measured experimentally are due to both metal d–ligand p hybridisation and dynamic Jahn–Teller interactions for 4d electrons, it is essentially d−p covalency for the 5d1 configuration. These results highlight the subtle interplay of spin–orbit interactions, covalency and electron–lattice couplings as the major factor in deciding the nature of the magnetic ground states of 4d and 5d quantum materials. Cation charge imbalance in the double-perovskite structure is further shown to allow a fine tuning of the gap between the t2g and eg levels, an effect of much potential in the context of orbital engineering in oxide electronics.
High-density Association Mapping and Interaction Analysis of PLA2R1 and HLA Regions with Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy in Japanese
Authors: Thiri Myo , Honda Kenjiro , Kashiwase Koichi , Mabuchi Akihiko , Suzuki Hodaka , Watanabe Kimio , Nakayama Masaaki , Watanabe Tsuyoshi , Doi Kent , Tokunaga Katsushi , Noiri Eisei
Published: December 2016

Although recent studies showed anti-PLA2R antibody plays a crucial role in idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN), detailed HLA mapping and interaction between the HLA genes and PLA2R1 have not been investigated in IMN. We genotyped across the PLA2R1 gene and the HLA region, using 183 IMN patients and 811 healthy controls. Five SNPs around the PLA2R1 gene were significantly associated with IMN. In addition to the two SNPs previously reported to be strongly associated with IMN, rs3749119 and rs35771982 (OR 3.02 and 2.93, P = 3.24E-14 and 4.64E-14, respectively), two novel intronic SNPs (rs2715928 and rs16844715) were also identified as IMN-associated SNPs (OR = 2.30 and 2.51, P = 3.15E-10 and 5.66E-13, respectively). In the HLA gene analysis, DRB1*1501 and DQB1*0602 were strongly associated with IMN (P = 1.14E-11 and 1.25E-11, respectively). The interaction was strongest between HLA-DRB1*15:01 - HLA-DQB1*06:02 and the intronic SNP rs2715928 (OR = 17.53, P = 4.26E-26). Furthermore, positive interaction was also observed between HLA-DRB1*15:01 - HLA-DQB1*06:02 and the missense SNP rs35771982 (OR = 15.91, P = 2.76E-29), which is in strong linkage disequilibrium with 5′UTR SNP rs3749119, and intronic SNP rs16844715 (OR = 15.91, P = 2.30E-26) for IMN. Neither HLA-DRB1*15:01 nor HLA-DQB1*06:02 was associated with steroid responsiveness, overall survival and renal survival during the observation period of mean 11 years though limited number of analysis.
Rapid, Affordable and Portable Medium-Throughput Molecular Device for Zika Virus
Authors: Chan Kamfai , Weaver Scott C. , Wong Pui-Yan , Lie Sherly , Wang Eryu , Guerbois Mathilde , Vayugundla Siva Praneeth , Wong Season
Published: December 2016

Zika virus (ZIKV) has gained global attention as an etiologic agent of fetal microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Existing immuno-based rapid tests often fail to distinguish between Zika and related flaviviruses that are common in affected regions of Central and South Americas and the Caribbean. The US CDC and qualified state health department laboratories can perform the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) ZIKV test using highly sophisticated instruments with long turnaround times. The preliminary results of a portable and low-cost molecular diagnostics system for ZIKV infection are reported here. In less than 15 minutes, this low-cost platform can automatically perform high quality RNA extraction from up to 12 ZIKV-spiked urine samples simultaneously. It can also perform reverse transcription recombinase polymerase amplification reaction (RT-RPA) in ≤15 minutes. The fluorescent signal produced from probe-based RT-RPA or RT-PCR assays can be monitored using LEDs and a smartphone camera. In addition, the RT-RPA and RT-PCR assays do not cross-react with dengue and chikungunya viral RNA. This low-cost system lacks complicated, sensitive and high cost components, making it suitable for resource-limited settings. It has the potential to offer simple sample-to-answer molecular diagnostics and can inform healthcare workers of patients’ diagnosis promptly.
Quantitative HDL Proteomics Identifies Peroxiredoxin-6 as a Biomarker of Human Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Authors: Burillo Elena , Jorge Inmaculada , Martínez-López Diego , Camafeita Emilio , Blanco-Colio Luis Miguel , Trevisan-Herraz Marco , Ezkurdia Iakes , Egido Jesús , Michel Jean-Baptiste , Meilhac Olivier , Vázquez Jesús , Martin-Ventura Jose Luis
Published: December 2016

High-density lipoproteins (HDLs) are complex protein and lipid assemblies whose composition is known to change in diverse pathological situations. Analysis of the HDL proteome can thus provide insight into the main mechanisms underlying abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and potentially detect novel systemic biomarkers. We performed a multiplexed quantitative proteomics analysis of HDLs isolated from plasma of AAA patients (N = 14) and control study participants (N = 7). Validation was performed by western-blot (HDL), immunohistochemistry (tissue), and ELISA (plasma). HDL from AAA patients showed elevated expression of peroxiredoxin-6 (PRDX6), HLA class I histocompatibility antigen (HLA-I), retinol-binding protein 4, and paraoxonase/arylesterase 1 (PON1), whereas α-2 macroglobulin and C4b-binding protein were decreased. The main pathways associated with HDL alterations in AAA were oxidative stress and immune-inflammatory responses. In AAA tissue, PRDX6 colocalized with neutrophils, vascular smooth muscle cells, and lipid oxidation. Moreover, plasma PRDX6 was higher in AAA (N = 47) than in controls (N = 27), reflecting increased systemic oxidative stress. Finally, a positive correlation was recorded between PRDX6 and AAA diameter. The analysis of the HDL proteome demonstrates that redox imbalance is a major mechanism in AAA, identifying the antioxidant PRDX6 as a novel systemic biomarker of AAA.
Genome maintenance and bioenergetics of the long-lived hypoxia-tolerant and cancer-resistant blind mole rat, Spalax: a cross-species analysis of brain transcriptome
Authors: Malik Assaf , Domankevich Vered , Lijuan Han , Xiaodong Fang , Korol Abraham , Avivi Aaron , Shams Imad
Published: December 2016

The subterranean blind mole rat,Spalax,experiences acute hypoxia-reoxygenation cycles in its natural subterranean habitat. At the cellular level, these conditions are known to promote genomic instability, which underlies both cancer and aging. However,Spalaxis a long-lived animal and is resistant to both spontaneous and induced cancers. To study this apparent paradox we utilized a computational procedure that allows detecting differences in transcript abundance betweenSpalaxand the closely related above-groundRattus norvegicusin individuals of different ages. Functional enrichment analysis showed thatSpalaxwhole brain tissues maintain significantly higher normoxic mRNA levels of genes associated with DNA damage repair and DNA metabolism, yet keep significantly lower mRNA levels of genes involved in bioenergetics. Many of the genes that showed higher transcript abundance inSpalaxare involved in DNA repair and metabolic pathways that, in other species, were shown to be downregulated under hypoxia, yet are required for overcoming replication- and oxidative-stress during the subsequent reoxygenation. We suggest that these differentially expressed genes may prevent the accumulation of DNA damage in mitotic and post-mitotic cells and defective resumption of replication in mitotic cells, thus maintaining genome integrity as an adaptation to acute hypoxia-reoxygenation cycles.
Transient appearance of circulating tumor DNA associated with de novo treatment
Authors: Kato Kikuya , Uchida Junji , Kukita Yoji , Kumagai Toru , Nishino Kazumi , Inoue Takako , Kimura Madoka , Imamura Fumio
Published: December 2016

The limitation of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is its inability to detect cancer cell subpopulations with few or no dying cells. Lung cancer patients subjected to the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) treatment were prospectively collected, and ctDNA levels represented by the activating and T790M mutations were measured. The first data set (21 patients) consisting of samples collected in the period from before initiation of EGFR-TKI to at least 2 weeks after initiation: the ctDNA dynamics generally exhibited a rapid decrease and/or a transient increase. In 4 patients, we detected a transient increase of ctDNA bearing activating mutations not identified in biopsy samples. ctDNA with the same genotypical pattern was identified in 7 out of the 39 patients of the second data set intended to include samples until the onset of disease progression. In 6 of the 7 patients, this unique ctDNA appeared in the early period after treatment initiation, and did not reappear even after disease progression or chemotherapy. In another patient, similar ctDNA appeared upon radiation therapy. The identification of ctDNA with a unique genotype indicates the presence of cancer cell subpopulations that normally contain few or no dying cells, but generate dead cells because of the treatment.
Two-dimensional Fibonacci grating for far-field super-resolution imaging
Authors: Wu Kedi , Wang Guo Ping
Published: December 2016

A two-dimensional (2D) Fibonacci grating is used to transform evanescent waves into propagating waves for far-field super-resolution imaging. By detecting far-field intensity distributions of light field through objects in front of the 2D Fibonacci grating in free space at once, we can retrieve the image of objects with beyond λ/7 spatial resolution. We also find that the coherent illumination case can give a better resolution than incoherent illumination case by such 2D grating-assisted imaging system. The analytical results are verified by numerical simulation.
Structure determination of molecules in an alignment laser field by femtosecond photoelectron diffraction using an X-ray free-electron laser
Authors: Minemoto Shinichirou , Teramoto Takahiro , Akagi Hiroshi , Fujikawa Takashi , Majima Takuya , Nakajima Kyo , Niki Kaori , Owada Shigeki , Sakai Hirofumi , Togashi Tadashi , Tono Kensuke , Tsuru Shota , Wada Ken , Yabashi Makina , Yoshida Shintaro , Yagishita Akira
Published: December 2016

We have successfully determined the internuclear distance of I2 molecules in an alignment laser field by applying our molecular structure determination methodology to an I 2p X-ray photoelectron diffraction profile observed with femtosecond X-ray free electron laser pulses. Using this methodology, we have found that the internuclear distance of the sample I2 molecules in an alignment Nd:YAG laser field of 6 × 1011 W/cm2 is elongated by from 0.18 to 0.30 Å “in average” relatively to the equilibrium internuclear distance of 2.666 Å. Thus, the present experiment constitutes a critical step towards the goal of femtosecond imaging of chemical reactions and opens a new direction for the study of ultrafast chemical reaction in the gas phase.
Gestational age-dependency of height and body mass index trajectories during the first 3 years in Japanese small-for-gestational age children
Authors: Maeyama Kaori , Morioka Ichiro , Iwatani Sota , Fukushima Sachiyo , Kurokawa Daisuke , Yamana Keiji , Nishida Kosuke , Ohyama Shohei , Fujioka Kazumichi , Awano Hiroyuki , Taniguchi-Ikeda Mariko , Nozu Kandai , Nagase Hiroaki , Nishimura Noriyuki , Shirai Chika , Iijima Kazumoto
Published: December 2016

Gestational age (GA) is thought to affect height growth in small-for-gestational age (SGA) children. However, the GA-specific trajectories in body mass index (BMI) and early appearances of adiposity rebound (AR) have not been fully investigated in a cohort of Japanese SGA children. A longitudinal cohort study was conducted with 1063 SGA children born in Kobe, Japan, with sufficient records from birth to 3 years of age. Subjects were divided into subgroups based on GA: 39–41 weeks GA (n = 723), 37–38 weeks GA (n = 256), 34–36 weeks GA (n = 62), and <34 weeks GA (n = 22). Height and BMI were assessed at 4 months, 9 months, 1.5 years, and 3 years of age. The catch-up rate for height was GA-dependent. Most children with 39–41 weeks GA (91%) caught up by 4 months of age; however, lower GA was associated with a slower elevation in the catch-up rate. The BMI trajectory during the first 3 years was also GA-dependent, with a change in GA dependency at a boundary of 37 weeks GA. Approximately 7% of SGA children had already developed AR before 3 years of age. In conclusion, growth patterns during infancy and early childhood in SGA children differ depending on GA.
Improving the photovoltaic performance of perovskite solar cells with acetate
Authors: Zhao Qian , Li G. R. , Song Jian , Zhao Yulong , Qiang Yinghuai , Gao X. P.
Published: December 2016

In an all-solid-state perovskite solar cell, methylammonium lead halide film is in charge of generating photo-excited electrons, thus its quality can directly influence the final photovoltaic performance of the solar cell. This paper accentuates a very simple chemical approach to improving the quality of a perovskite film with a suitable amount of acetic acid. With introduction of acetate ions, a homogeneous, continual and hole-free perovskite film comprised of high-crystallinity grains is obtained. UV-visible spectra, steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) spectra reveal that the obtained perovskite film under the optimized conditions shows a higher light absorption, more efficient electron transport, and faster electron extraction to the adjoining electron transport layer. The features result in the optimized perovskite film can provide an improved short-circuit current. The corresponding solar cells with a planar configuration achieves an improved power conversion efficiency of 13.80%, and the highest power conversion efficiency in the photovoltaic measurements is up to 14.71%. The results not only provide a simple approach to optimizing perovskite films but also present a novel angle of view on fabricating high-performance perovskite solar cells.
Effect of Kelp Waste Extracts on the Growth and Development of Pakchoi (Brassica chinensis L.)
Authors: Zheng Shiyan , Jiang Jie , He Meilin , Zou Shanmei , Wang Changhai
Published: December 2016

To explore the effects of kelp waste extracts (KWE) on the growth and development of Brassia chinensis L., germination and greenhouse experiments were carried out under different concentrations of KWE. The results showed that a higher germination percentage (95%), associated with high germination index (8.70), germination energy (71.67%) and seedling vigor index (734.67), was obtained under a lower KWE concentration (2%) compared with the control. The radicle length (4.97 cm), fresh weight (0.32 g/10 seedlings) and dry weight (0.015 g/10 seedlings) were significantly increased in the treatment of 2% KWE. KWE also could enhance the root growth, the maximum leaf length × width and the fresh weight of plants, the optimal value of which increased by 8.37 cm, 58.14 cm2 and 7.76 g under the treatment of 10% KWE compared with the control respectively. Meanwhile, the contents of vitamin C and soluble sugars in pakchoi leaf were improved by 19.6 mg/100 g and 1.44 mg/g compared with the control, and the nitrate content was decreased by 212.27 mg/kg. Briefly, KWE could markedly stimulate the pakchoi seeds germination at a lower concentration (2%) and enhance the plant growth and quality at a higher concentration (10%).
Effect of arginine on oligomerization and stability of N-acetylglutamate synthase
Authors: Haskins N. , Mumo A. , Brown P. H. , Tuchman M. , Morizono H. , Caldovic L.
Published: December 2016

N-acetylglutamate synthase (NAGS; E.C.2.3.1.1) catalyzes the formation of N-acetylglutamate (NAG) from acetyl coenzyme A and glutamate. In microorganisms and plants, NAG is the first intermediate of the L-arginine biosynthesis; in animals, NAG is an allosteric activator of carbamylphosphate synthetase I and III. In some bacteria bifunctional N-acetylglutamate synthase-kinase (NAGS-K) catalyzes the first two steps of L-arginine biosynthesis. L-arginine inhibits NAGS in bacteria, fungi, and plants and activates NAGS in mammals. L-arginine increased thermal stability of the NAGS-K from Maricaulis maris (MmNAGS-K) while it destabilized the NAGS-K from Xanthomonas campestris (XcNAGS-K). Analytical gel chromatography and ultracentrifugation indicated tetrameric structure of the MmMNAGS-K in the presence and absence of L-arginine and a tetramer-octamer equilibrium that shifted towards tetramers upon binding of L-arginine for the XcNAGS-K. Analytical gel chromatography of mouse NAGS (mNAGS) indicated either different oligomerization states that are in moderate to slow exchange with each other or deviation from the spherical shape of the mNAGS protein. The partition coefficient of the mNAGS increased in the presence of L-arginine suggesting smaller hydrodynamic radius due to change in either conformation or oligomerization. Different effects of L-arginine on oligomerization of NAGS may have implications for efforts to determine the three-dimensional structure of mammalian NAGS.
The impact of environmental parameters on microcystin production in dialysis bag experiments
Authors: Xie Liqiang , Rediske Richard R. , Gillett Nadia D. , O’Keefe James P. , Scull Brian , Xue Qingju
Published: December 2016

It is important to understand what environmental parameters may regulate microcystin (MC) production and congener type. To determine if environmental conditions in two hydraulically connected lakes can influence MC production and congener ratios, we incubated dialysis bags containing phytoplankton from mesotrophic/eutrophic Muskegon Lake into hypereutrophic Bear Lake (Michigan, USA) and vice versa. Strong cyanobacteria growth was observed in all dialysis bags with Bear Lake phytoplankton in July and August. Phytoplankton communities were dominated by Aphanizomenon aphanizomenoides, Microcystis wesenbergii, Limnothrix redekei. MC concentrations were correlated with M. wesenbergii and A. aphanizomenoides biovolume. MC concentrations in bags incubated in the Muskegon Lake with Bear Lake water were significantly higher than the other bags. The higher light intensity and total nitrogen concentration may have caused the increase of MC production. The MC-LR/MC-RR ratios varied with sample origin but not with lake of incubation, indicating that physical environmental factors (water temperature and turbidity) were not the reasons for different toxin production ratios. Differences in total phosphorus concentrations might be one reason for the dissimilarity of the MC-LR/MC-RR ratio between the two lakes. The higher light intensity and NO3-N concentration in Muskegon Lake are two factors contributing to an increase of MC production.
BIX01294, an inhibitor of histone methyltransferase, induces autophagy-dependent differentiation of glioma stem-like cells
Authors: Ciechomska Iwona Anna , Przanowski Piotr , Jackl Judyta , Wojtas Bartosz , Kaminska Bozena
Published: December 2016

Glioblastoma (GBM) contains rare glioma stem-like cells (GSCs) with capacities of self-renewal, multi-lineage differentiation, and resistance to conventional therapy. Drug-induced differentiation of GSCs is recognized as a promising approach of anti-glioma therapy. Accumulating evidence suggests that unique properties of stem cells depend on autophagy. Here we demonstrate that BIX01294, an inhibitor of a G9a histone methyltransferase (introducing H3K9me2 and H3K27me3 repressive marks) triggers autophagy in human glioma cells. Pharmacological or genetic inhibition of autophagy decreased LC3-II accumulation and GFP-LC3 punctation in BIX01294-treated cells. GSCs-enriched spheres originating from glioma cells and GBM patient-derived cultures express lower levels of autophagy related (ATG) genes than the parental glioma cell cultures. Typical differentiation inducers that upregulate neuronal and astrocytic markers in sphere cultures, increase the level of ATG mRNAs. G9a binds to the promoters of autophagy (LC3B, WIPI1) and differentiation-related (GFAP, TUBB3) genes in GSCs. Higher H3K4me3 (an activation mark) and lower H3K9me2 (the repressive mark) levels at the promoters of studied genes were detected in serum-differentiated cells than in sphere cultures. BIX01294 treatment upregulates the expression of autophagy and differentiation-related genes in GSCs. Pharmacological inhibition of autophagy decreases GFAP and TUBB3 expression in BIX01294-treated GSCs suggesting that BIX01294-induced differentiation of GSCs is autophagy-dependent.
Spatiotemporal processing of somatosensory stimuli in schizotypy
Authors: Ferri Francesca , Ambrosini Ettore , Costantini Marcello
Published: December 2016

Unusual interaction behaviors and perceptual aberrations, like those occurring in schizotypy and schizophrenia, may in part originate from impaired remapping of environmental stimuli in the body space. Such remapping is contributed by the integration of tactile and proprioceptive information about current body posture with other exteroceptive spatial information. Surprisingly, no study has investigated whether alterations in such remapping occur in psychosis-prone individuals. Four hundred eleven students were screened with respect to schizotypal traits using the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire. A subgroup of them, classified as low, moderate, and high schizotypes were to perform a temporal order judgment task of tactile stimuli delivered on their hands, with both uncrossed and crossed arms. Results revealed marked differences in touch remapping in the high schizotypes as compared to low and moderate schizotypes. For the first time here we reveal that the remapping of environmental stimuli in the body space, an essential function to demarcate the boundaries between self and external world, is altered in schizotypy. Results are discussed in relation to recent models of ‘self-disorders’ as due to perceptual incoherence.
Timosaponin AIII induces antiplatelet and antithrombotic activity via Gq-mediated signaling by the thromboxane A2 receptor
Authors: Cong Yue , Wang Limei , Peng Renjun , Zhao Yang , Bai Fan , Yang Chao , Liu Xiaolan , Wang Daqian , Ma Baiping , Cong Yuwen
Published: December 2016

The thromboxane (Tx) A2 pathway is a major contributor to the amplification of initial platelet activation and is therefore a key drug target. To identify potent small-molecule inhibitors of the thromboxane prostaglandin (TP) receptor, we screened a small steroidal saponin library using U46619-induced rat platelet aggregation assays. Timosaponin AIII (TAIII) was identified as a potent inhibitor of U46619-induced rat platelet aggregation and exhibited superior selectivity for the TP receptor versus other G protein-coupled receptors and a PKC activator. TAIII inhibited U46619-induced rat platelet aggregation independent of increases in cAMP and cGMP and the inhibition of TxA2 production. Both PKC and PLC activators restored TAIII-inhibited platelet aggregation, whereas TAIII did not inhibit platelet aggregation induced by co-activation of the G12/13 and Gz pathways. Furthermore, TAIII did not affect the platelet shape change or ROCK2 phosphorylation evoked by low-dose U46619. In vivo, TAIII prolonged tail bleeding time, reduced the mortality of animals with acute pulmonary thromboembolism and significantly reduced venous thrombus weight. Our study suggests that TAIII, by preferentially targeting Gq-mediated PLC/PKC signaling from the TP receptor, induces stronger in vitro antiplatelet activity and in vivo antithrombotic effects and may be an excellent candidate for the treatment of thrombotic disorders.
Extensive genetic diversity of Rickettsiales bacteria in multiple mosquito species
Authors: Guo Wen-Ping , Tian Jun-Hua , Lin Xian-Dan , Ni Xue-Bing , Chen Xiao-Ping , Liao Yong , Yang Si-Yuan , Dumler J. Stephen , Holmes Edward C. , Zhang Yong-Zhen
Published: December 2016

Rickettsiales are important zoonotic pathogens, causing severe disease in humans globally. Although mosquitoes are an important vector for diverse pathogens, with the exception of members of the genus Wolbachia little is known about their role in the transmission of Rickettsiales. Herein, Rickettsiales were identified by PCR in five species of mosquitoes (Anopheles sinensis, Armigeres subalbatus, Aedes albopictus, Culex quinquefasciatus and Cu. tritaeniorhynchus) collected from three Chinese provinces during 2014–2015. Subsequent phylogenetic analyses of the rrs, groEL and gltA genes revealed the presence of Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Candidatus Neoehrlichia, and Rickettsia bacteria in mosquitoes, comprising nine documented and five tentative species bacteria, as well as three symbionts/endosybionts. In addition, bacteria were identified in mosquito eggs, larvae, and pupae sampled from aquatic environments. Hence, these data suggest that Rickettsiales circulate widely in mosquitoes in nature. Also of note was that Ehrlichia and Rickettsia bacteria were detected in each life stage of laboratory cultured mosquitoes, suggesting that Rickettsiales may be maintained in mosquitoes through both transstadial and transovarial transmission. In sum, these data indicate that mosquitoes may have played an important role in the transmission and evolution of Rickettsiales in nature.
Changes in hippocampal AMPA receptors and cognitive impairments in chronic ketamine addiction models: another understanding of ketamine CNS toxicity
Authors: Ding Runtao , Li Yanning , Du Ao , Yu Hao , He Bolin , Shen Ruipeng , Zhou Jichuan , Li Lu , Cui Wen , Zhang Guohua , Lu Yan , Wu Xu
Published: December 2016

Ketamine has been reported to impair human cognitive function as a recreational drug of abuse. However, chronic effects of ketamine on central nervous system need to be further explored. We set out to establish chronic ketamine addiction models by giving mice a three or six month course of daily intraperitoneal injections of ketamine, then examined whether long-term ketamine administration induced cognition deficits and changed hippocampal post-synaptic protein expression in adult mice. Behavior tests results showed that mice exhibited dose- and time-dependent learning and memory deficits after long-term ketamine administration. Western blot results showed levels of GluA1, p-S845 and p-S831 proteins demonstrated significant decline with ketamine 60 mg/kg until six months administration paradigm. But levels of p-S845 and p-S831 proteins exhibited obvious increase with ketamine 60 mg/kg three months administration paradigm. NR1 protein levels significantly decrease with ketamine 60 mg/kg three and six months administration paradigm. Our results indicate that reduced expression levels and decreased phosphorylation levels of hippocampal post-synaptic membrane GluA1- containing AMPA receptors maybe involved in cognition impairment after long-term ketamine administration. These findings provide further evidence for the cognitive damage of chronic ketamine addiction as a recreational drug.
Ultrahigh-speed Si-integrated on-chip laser with tailored dynamic characteristics
Authors: Park Gyeong Cheol , Xue Weiqi , Piels Molly , Zibar Darko , Mørk Jesper , Semenova Elizaveta , Chung Il-Sug
Published: December 2016

For on-chip interconnects, an ideal light source should have an ultralow energy consumption per bandwidth (operating en-ergy) as well as sufficient output power for error-free detection. Nanocavity lasers have been considered the most ideal for smaller operating energy. However, they have a challenge in obtaining a sufficient output power. Here, as an alternative, we propose an ultrahigh-speed microcavity laser structure, based on a vertical cavity with a high-contrast grating (HCG) mirror for transverse magnetic (TM) polarisation. By using the TM HCG, a very small mode volume and an un-pumped compact optical feedback structure can be realised, which together tailor the frequency response function for achieving a very high speed at low injection currents. Furthermore, light can be emitted laterally into a Si waveguide. From an 1.54-μm optically-pumped laser, a 3-dB frequency of 27 GHz was obtained at a pumping level corresponding to sub-mA. Using measured 3-dB frequen-cies and calculated equivalent currents, the modulation current efficiency factor (MCEF) is estimated to be 42.1 GHz/mA1/2, which is superior among microcavity lasers. This shows a high potential for a very high speed at low injection currents or avery small heat generation at high bitrates, which are highly desirable for both on-chip and off-chip applications.
Accelerated craniofacial bone regeneration through dense collagen gel scaffolds seeded with dental pulp stem cells
Authors: Chamieh Frédéric , Collignon Anne-Margaux , Coyac Benjamin R. , Lesieur Julie , Ribes Sandy , Sadoine Jérémy , Llorens Annie , Nicoletti Antonino , Letourneur Didier , Colombier Marie-Laure , Nazhat Showan N. , Bouchard Philippe , Chaussain Catherine , Rochefort Gael Y.
Published: December 2016

Therapies using mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) seeded scaffolds may be applicable to various fields of regenerative medicine, including craniomaxillofacial surgery. Plastic compression of collagen scaffolds seeded with MSC has been shown to enhance the osteogenic differentiation of MSC as it increases the collagen fibrillary density. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the osteogenic effects of dense collagen gel scaffolds seeded with mesenchymal dental pulp stem cells (DPSC) on bone regeneration in a rat critical-size calvarial defect model. Two symmetrical full-thickness defects were created (5 mm diameter) and filled with either a rat DPSC-containing dense collagen gel scaffold (n = 15), or an acellular scaffold (n = 15). Animals were imagedin vivoby microcomputer tomography (Micro-CT) once a week during 5 weeks, whereas some animals were sacrificed each week for histology and histomorphometry analysis. Bone mineral density and bone micro-architectural parameters were significantly increased when DPSC-seeded scaffolds were used. Histological and histomorphometrical data also revealed significant increases in fibrous connective and mineralized tissue volume when DPSC-seeded scaffolds were used, associated with expression of type I collagen, osteoblast-associated alkaline phosphatase and osteoclastic-related tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase. Results demonstrate the potential of DPSC-loaded-dense collagen gel scaffolds to benefit of bone healing process.
Stable C & N isotopes in 2100 Year-B.P. human bone collagen indicate rare dietary dominance of C4 plants in NE-Italy
Authors: Laffranchi Zita , Huertas Antonio Delgado , Jiménez Brobeil Sylvia A. , Torres Arsenio Granados , Riquelme Cantal Jose A.
Published: December 2016

C4 plants (e.g. maize, millet), part of our current diet, are only endemic of reduced areas in South-Europe due to their need of warm climates. Since the first vestiges of agriculture in Europe remains of C4 plants were recorded but their overall proportion in the human diet remains unknown. Therefore, isotopic (δ13C and δ15N) composition of bone collagen from the skeletal remains (human and animals) of a Celtic population, Cenomani Gauls, from Verona (3rd to 1st century BC) in the NE Italy provide a new perspective on this matter. The δ13C collagen values of 90 human skeletal individuals range between −20.2‰ and −9.7‰ (V-PDB) with a mean value of −15.3‰. As present day C4 plants have δ13C values around −11‰, which is equivalent to −9.5‰ for samples of preindustrial age, the less negative δ13C values in these individuals indicate a diet dominated by C4 plants. This palaeodietary study indicates that some European populations predominantly consumed cultivated C4 plants 2100 year B.P. This is supported by the paleobotanical records and ancient Roman sources (e.g. Pliny the Elder), which indicate that millet was a staple food in South-Europe.
Cognitions about bodily purity attenuate stress perception
Authors: Kaspar Kai , Cames Sarah
Published: December 2016

Based on the assumption that physical purity is associated with a clean slate impression, we examined how cognitions about bodily cleanliness modulate stress perception. Participants visualized themselves in a clean or dirty state before reporting the frequency of stress-related situations experienced in the past. In Study 1 (n = 519) and Study 2 (n = 647) cleanliness versus dirtiness cognitions reliably reduced stress perception. Further results and a mediation analysis revealed that this novel effect was not simply driven by participants’ cognitive engagement in stress recall. Moreover, we found that participants’ temporal engagement in the recall of past stressful events negatively correlated with the amount of perceived stress, indicating an ease-of-retrieval phenomenon. However, a direct manipulation of the number of recalled stressful events in Study 3 (n = 792) showed the opposite effect: few versus many recalled events increased the perceived frequency of past stress-related situations. Overall, these novel results indicate an interesting avenue for future research on cognitively oriented stress reduction interventions, add to the literature on purity-related clean slate effects, and may help to better understand washing rituals in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorders.