bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Complex and Collaborative Problem Solving: New, Unique, and Useful?
Authors: Oh In-Sue
Published: July 2015

Neubert, Mainert, Kretzschmar, and Greiff (2015) suggest two individual differences that have been overlooked in the industrial–organizational (I-O) literature (i.e., complex and collaborative problem solving) will be critical in the 21st century workplace. Below, I will briefly summarize some history and empirical findings at odds with Neubert et al.’s (2015) assertions.
Imperfect Corrections or Correct Imperfections?: Psychometric Corrections in Meta-Analysis – ADDENDUM
Authors: Oswald Frederick L. , Ercan Seydahmet , McAbee Samuel T. , Ock Jisoo , Shaw Amy
Published: July 2015

In Industrial and Organizational Psychology volume 7, issue 4, a commentary to the focal article Oswald et al.1 was unfortunately omitted. This commentary, “Imperfect Corrections or Correct Imperfections? Psychometric Corrections in Meta-Analysis,” by Frederick L. Oswald, Seydahmet Ercan, Samuel T. McAbee, Jisoo Ock, and Amy Shaw,2 is reproduced in the following pages.
Walk-modularity and community structure in networks
Authors: MEHRLE DAVID , STROSSER AMY , HARKIN ANTHONY
Published: July 2015

Modularity maximization has been one of the most widely used approaches in the last decade for discovering community structure in networks of practical interest in biology, computing, social science, statistical mechanics, and more. Modularity is a quality function that measures the difference between the number of edges found within clusters minus the number of edges one would statistically expect to find based on some equivalent random graph model. We explore a natural generalization of modularity based on the difference between the actual and expected number of walks within clusters, which we refer to as walk-modularity. Walk-modularity can be expressed in matrix form, and community detection can be performed by finding the leading eigenvector of the walk-modularity matrix. We demonstrate community detection on both synthetic and real-world networks and find that walk-modularity maximization returns significantly improved results compared to traditional modularity maximization.
Mixed Signals: IMF Lending and Capital Markets
Authors: Chapman Terrence , Fang Songying , Li Xin , Stone Randall W.
Published: July 2015

The effect of new International Monetary Fund (IMF) lending announcements on capital markets depends on the lender’s political motivations. There are conditions under which lending reduces the risk of a deepening crisis and the risk premium demanded by market actors. Yet the political interests that make lenders willing to lend may weaken the credibility of commitments to reform, and the act of accepting an agreement reveals unfavorable information about the state of the borrower’s economy. The net ‘catalytic’ effect on the price of private borrowing depends on whether these effects dominate the beneficial effects of the liquidity the loan provides. Decomposing the contradictory effects of crisis lending provides an explanation for the discrepant empirical findings in the literature about market reactions. This study tests the implications of the theory by examining how sovereign bond yields are affected by IMF program announcements, loan size, the scope of conditions attached to loans and measures of the geopolitical interests of the United States, a key IMF principal.
POSITIONING THE WATCH HAND: ʿULAMAʾ AND THE PRACTICE OF MECHANICAL TIMEKEEPING IN CAIRO, 1737–1874
Authors: Stolz Daniel A.
Published: July 2015

This article explores the role of the ʿulamaʾ in shaping the use of mechanical timepieces in Cairo in the 18th and 19th centuries. Ottoman interest in new technologies in this period is often understood in relation to the emergence of modernization projects and new scientifically trained actors, with a corresponding decline in the status of the ʿulamaʾ. However, the vogue of mechanical timepieces in Cairo allowed ʿulamaʾ trained in the very old tradition ofmīqāt(astronomical timekeeping) to make their knowledge speak in new ways to new audiences. Based on several manuals and tables that such scholars wrote “on the position of the watch hand,” this article shows how ʿulamaʾ not only facilitated distinctively Ottoman timekeeping conventions, but also furthered an understanding of watches as instruments of precision. The article builds on a growing literature on Ottoman temporality, while expanding our historical view of ʿulamaʾ and their authority, of the material culture of Cairo, and of science and technology in an Islamic context.
REREADING ZIYA GÖKALP: SECULARISM AND REFORM OF THE ISLAMIC STATE IN THE LATE YOUNG TURK PERIOD
Authors: Dressler Markus
Published: July 2015

This article analyzes the ideas of the Turkish sociologist and political activist Ziya Gökalp (1876–1924) in order to reevaluate the secularization politics of the Young Turks. A close reading of Gökalp's publications on Islamic institutional reform challenges homogenizing modernist interpretations of late Ottoman reform in general. Gökalp's legacy has often been judged through a secularist-Islamist binary. This article suggests that Gökalp's approach to the problem of Islam and of religion more broadly within the modern state was more complex than generally argued. His understanding of concepts such as shariʿa,dīn, and the Islamic state was not yet subordinated to a secularist episteme that juxtaposes the religious and the secular. Rather, Gökalp strove for a social and political order in which religious norms and modern institutions complemented each other harmoniously.
Introduction
Authors: Elshakry Marwa
Published: July 2015

This roundtable brings together a diverse group of scholars to ask how a critical engagement with science studies, writ large, might allow us to rethink the modern history of the Middle East. They speak in the name of a number of disciplines, including: archaeology, agriculture, engineering, geography, medicine, natural philosophy, public health, psychology, sociology, and urban planning. And they cover a wide array of local, regional, and even international networks of expertise and experts. These included (to name a few) a British engineer who worked in colonial Egypt and India calculating the future demography of water supplies and sewage systems; American, Palestinian, and Zionist agricultural researchers and proponents of dry-land cultivation and colonization in Ottoman Palestine; Ottoman Arab and Turkish nationalists in Istanbul who debated the metaphysical and political implications of positivism; and, finally, the various experts and political actors who fought over the preservation (and destruction) of antique material artifacts and objects in Iraq and Egypt from the 19th century to the present. What we might claim they have in common, however, is a concern with the rise of the “modern state”—another broad category here encompassing a range of imperial, colonial, and national states in the region, and the multiple claims for legal and political sovereignty that they spawned. Of course, interlacing these questions of sovereignty, particularly in this context, as the essays show, is a further set of questions organized around the various forms of power that both these new states and these new sciences exercised. We could say, therefore, that collectively these essays reflect upon the coterminous rise of epistemic, material, and political orders in the region, and that, in the process, they contribute to our understanding of the ideas and practices claimed on behalf of both “science” and the “state.”
Dissecting the Modern Egyptian State
Authors: Fahmy Khaled
Published: July 2015

On 24 January 2015, Shaymaʾ al-Sabbagh, a thirty-two-year-old mother of one and a member of the Egyptian Socialist People's Alliance Party, was walking with flowers in hand alongside her colleagues in a preauthorized march to Tahrir Square to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the January Revolution. Suddenly the police opened fire at close range and within a few minutes Shaymaʾ dropped dead. Despite strong evidence implicating the police, who were present at the scene in overwhelming numbers, and despite the wide circulation on social media of a video clip showing a masked policeman aiming in Shaymaʾ's direction, the attorney general initially refused to arraign the police officer in question and instead decided to charge Shaymaʾ's colleagues. After a massive public outcry, the suspected police officer was finally arraigned (although his identity was never revealed); however, he was charged not with manslaughter or excessive use of force, but with the much lesser charge of “beating that results in death.” Most crucially, the official cause of Shaymaʾ's death was slimness. In a TV interview, Dr. Hisham ʿAbd al-Hamid, the spokesperson of the Egyptian Medical Forensics Authority (EMFA), said that the birdshot that hit Shaymaʾ “was not fatal given that it was fired more than eight meters away, but since she was too skinny, the birdshot was able to penetrate her body easily and ended up hitting the lung and the heart. This is a very rare case.”
CHRISTIAN MISSIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND THE OTTOMAN BALKANS: EDUCATION, REFORM, AND FAILED CONVERSIONS, 1819–1967
Authors: Okkenhaug Inger Marie
Published: July 2015

The last few decades have seen a rise in the number of studies on Christian missions. These studies are located within a wide range of fields and are written from different perspectives. They tend to abide by national boundaries and to focus on mission organizations and missionaries, not least because of the availability of source material in Western languages. Recent historiography on Christian missions to the Middle East, however, has seen a profound change in approach, methodology, and sources. We can locate three main shifts: a national to a transnational approach, a reevaluation of local agency, and a new emphasis on unintended consequences.
Descartes: Truth and Self-deception
Authors: Frogel Shai
Published: July 2015

The paper examines the role of self-deception in Descartes' Meditations. It claims that although Descartes sees self-deception as the origin of our false judgments, he consciously uses it for his searching for truth. He finds that self-deception is a very productive tool in our searching for truth, since it expands our ability to free ourselves from our old certainties; logical thinking enables us to doubt our certainties but only self-deception enables us to really suspend them.

Descartes, then, proposes a logical-psychological method in first person for philosophical investigation, in which self-deception plays a crucial role. The Cogito should be understood accordingly as a first psychological truth rather than a first philosophical truth. Nevertheless, it is a crucial step in Descartes' philosophical investigation and exposes the relations between the logical aspect and the psychological aspect of philosophical thinking.
Attention and word learning in toddlers who are late talkers
Authors: MACROY-HIGGINS MICHELLE , MONTEMARANO ELIZABETH A.
Published: July 2015

The purpose of this study was to examine attention allocation in toddlers who were late talkers and toddlers with typical language development while they were engaged in a word-learning task in order to determine if differences exist. Two-year-olds who were late talkers (11) and typically developing toddlers (11) were taught twelve novel pseudo-words for unfamiliar objects over ten training sessions. The toddlers' attention allocation during the word-learning sessions was measured as well as their comprehension of the newly learned words. Late talkers showed reduced attention allocation to objects during word-training sessions, and also comprehended fewer of the novel words than toddlers with typical language development. Attention allocation was found to be a stronger predictor of word learning as compared to cognition and auditory comprehension. Reduced attention allocation may contribute to the early lexical delay characteristic in late talkers.
Resolving the organization of the territory of the third visual area: A new proposal
Authors: KAAS JON H. , ROE ANNA W. , BALDWIN MARY K.L. , LYON DAVID C.
Published: July 2015

In primates, the cortex adjoining the rostral border of V2 has been variously interpreted as belonging to a single visual area, V3, with dorsal V3 (V3d) representing the lower visual quadrant and ventral V3 (V3v) representing the upper visual quadrant, V3d and V3v constituting separate, incomplete visual areas, V3d and ventral posterior (VP), or V3d being divided into several visual areas, including a dorsomedial (DM) visual area, a medial visual area (M), and dorsal extension of VP (or VLP). In our view, the evidence from V1 connections strongly supports the contention that V3v and V3d are parts of a single visual area, V3, and that DM is a separate visual area along the rostral border of V3d. In addition, the retinotopy revealed by V1 connection patterns, microelectrode mapping, optical imaging mapping, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fmri) mapping indicates that much of the proposed territory of V3d corresponds to V3. Yet, other evidence from microelectrode mapping and anatomical connection patterns supports the possibility of an upper quadrant representation along the rostral border of the middle of dorsal V2 (V2d), interpreted as part of DM or DM plus DI, and along the midline end of V2d, interpreted as the visual area M. While the data supporting these different interpretations appear contradictory, they also seem, to some extent, valid. We suggest that V3d may have a gap in its middle, possibly representing part of the upper visual quadrant that is not part of DM. In addition, another visual area, M, is likely located at the DM tip of V3d. There is no evidence for a similar disruption of V3v. For the present, we favor continuing the traditional concept of V3 with the possible modification of a gap in V3d in at least some primates.
OBLIGATION, FREE CHOICE, AND THE LOGIC OF WEAKEST PERMISSIONS
Authors: ANGLBERGER ALBERT J.J. , GRATZL NOBERT , ROY OLIVIER
Published: July 2015

We introduce a new understanding of deontic modals that we callobligations as weakest permissions. We argue for its philosophical plausibility, study its expressive power in neighborhood models, provide a complete Hilbert-style axiom system for it and show that it can be extended and applied to practical norms in decision and game theory.
Psychological Response to Sound Stimuli Evaluated by	EEG
Authors: Chen Xi , Takahashi Isao , Okita Yoshimitsu , Hirata Hisashi , Sugiura Toshifumi
Published: July 2015

Abstract. Psychological responses to two kinds of sound stimuli (scary and soothing), as assessed by the Anterior Asymmetry and Emotion (AAE) and Comfort Vector (CV) models which are based on the prefrontal alpha wave, were investigated and the relation between their results is discussed. For the scary sound stimulus, subjects who showed greater withdrawal motivation (AAE) displayed a decreased pleasant state (CV), while subjects who showed higher approach motivation displayed opposite affective direction. There was a correlation between the AAE and CV models for the scary stimulus, but no correlation for the soothing stimulus. Both motivational and affective states could be evaluated by a combination of AAE and CV models. We suggest that joint consideration of these two models could lead to the multifaceted evaluation of a psychological state.
Growth pattern from birth to adulthood in African pygmies of known age
Authors: Rozzi Fernando V. Ramirez , Koudou Yves , Froment Alain , Le Bouc Yves , Botton Jérémie
Published: July 2015

The African pygmy phenotype stems from genetic foundations and is considered to be the product of a disturbance in the growth hormone–insulin-like growth factor (GH–IGF) axis. However, when and how the pygmy phenotype is acquired during growth remains unknown. Here we describe growth patterns in Baka pygmies based on two longitudinal studies of individuals of known age, from the time of birth to the age of 25 years. Body size at birth among the Baka is within standard limits, but their growth rate slows significantly during the first two years of life. It then more or less follows the standard pattern, with a growth spurt at adolescence. Their life history variables do not allow the Baka to be distinguished from other populations. Therefore, the pygmy phenotype in the Baka is the result of a change in growth that occurs during infancy, which differentiates them from East African pygmies revealing convergent evolution.
Evaluation of candidate vaccine approaches for MERS-CoV
Authors: Wang Lingshu , Shi Wei , Joyce M. Gordon , Modjarrad Kayvon , Zhang Yi , Leung Kwanyee , Lees Christopher R. , Zhou Tongqing , Yassine Hadi M. , Kanekiyo Masaru , Yang Zhi-yong , Chen Xuejun , Becker Michelle M. , Freeman Megan , Vogel Leatrice , Johnson Joshua C. , Olinger Gene , Todd John P. , Bagci Ulas , Solomon Jeffrey , Mollura Daniel J. , Hensley Lisa , Jahrling Peter , Denison Mark R. , Rao Srinivas S. , Subbarao Kanta , Kwong Peter D. , Mascola John R. , Kong Wing-Pui , Graham Barney S.
Published: July 2015

The emergence of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) as a cause of severe respiratory disease highlights the need for effective approaches to CoV vaccine development. Efforts focused solely on the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the viral Spike (S) glycoprotein may not optimize neutralizing antibody (NAb) responses. Here we show that immunogens based on full-length S DNA and S1 subunit protein elicit robust serum-neutralizing activity against several MERS-CoV strains in mice and non-human primates. Serological analysis and isolation of murine monoclonal antibodies revealed that immunization elicits NAbs to RBD and, non-RBD portions of S1 and S2 subunit. Multiple neutralization mechanisms were demonstrated by solving the atomic structure of a NAb-RBD complex, through sequencing of neutralization escape viruses and by constructing MERS-CoV S variants for serological assays. Immunization of rhesus macaques confers protection against MERS-CoV-induced radiographic pneumonia, as assessed using computerized tomography, supporting this strategy as a promising approach for MERS-CoV vaccine development.
MCM8-9 complex promotes resection of double-strand break ends by MRE11-RAD50-NBS1 complex
Authors: Lee Kyung Yong , Im Jun-Sub , Shibata Etsuko , Park Jonghoon , Handa Naofumi , Kowalczykowski Stephen C. , Dutta Anindya
Published: July 2015

MCM8-9 complex is required for homologous recombination (HR)-mediated repair of double-strand breaks (DSBs). Here we report that MCM8-9 is required for DNA resection by MRN (MRE11-RAD50-NBS1) at DSBs to generate ssDNA. MCM8-9 interacts with MRN and is required for the nuclease activity and stable association of MRN with DSBs. The ATPase motifs of MCM8-9 are required for recruitment of MRE11 to foci of DNA damage. Homozygous deletion of the MCM9 found in various cancers sensitizes a cancer cell line to interstrand-crosslinking (ICL) agents. A cancer-derived point mutation or an SNP on MCM8 associated with premature ovarian failure (POF) diminishes the functional activity of MCM8. Therefore, the MCM8-9 complex facilitates DNA resection by the MRN complex during HR repair, genetic or epigenetic inactivation of MCM8 or MCM9 are seen in human cancers, and genetic inactivation of MCM8 may be the basis of a POF syndrome.
Promotion of presynaptic filament assembly by the ensemble of S. cerevisiae Rad51 paralogues with Rad52
Authors: Gaines William A. , Godin Stephen K. , Kabbinavar Faiz F. , Rao Timsi , VanDemark Andrew P. , Sung Patrick , Bernstein Kara A.
Published: July 2015

The conserved budding yeast Rad51 paralogues, including Rad55, Rad57, Csm2 and Psy3 are indispensable for homologous recombination (HR)-mediated chromosome damage repair. Rad55 and Rad57 are associated in a heterodimer, while Csm2 and Psy3 form the Shu complex with Shu1 and Shu2. Here we show that Rad55 bridges an interaction between Csm2 with Rad51 and Rad52 and, using a fully reconstituted system, demonstrate that the Shu complex synergizes with Rad55–Rad57 and Rad52 to promote nucleation of Rad51 on single-stranded DNA pre-occupied by replication protein A (RPA). The csm2–F46A allele is unable to interact with Rad55, ablating the ability of the Shu complex to enhance Rad51 presynaptic filament assembly in vitro and impairing HR in vivo. Our results reveal that Rad55–Rad57, the Shu complex and Rad52 act as a functional ensemble to promote Rad51-filament assembly, which has important implications for understanding the role of the human RAD51 paralogues in Fanconi anaemia and cancer predisposition.
Mutations in CDCA7 and HELLS cause immunodeficiency–centromeric instability–facial anomalies syndrome
Authors: Thijssen Peter E. , Ito Yuya , Grillo Giacomo , Wang Jun , Velasco Guillaume , Nitta Hirohisa , Unoki Motoko , Yoshihara Minako , Suyama Mikita , Sun Yu , Lemmers Richard J. L. F. , de Greef Jessica C. , Gennery Andrew , Picco Paolo , Kloeckener-Gruissem Barbara , Güngör Tayfun , Reisli Ismail , Picard Capucine , Kebaili Kamila , Roquelaure Bertrand , Iwai Tsuyako , Kondo Ikuko , Kubota Takeo , van Ostaijen-Ten Dam Monique M. , van Tol Maarten J. D. , Weemaes Corry , Francastel Claire , van der Maarel Silvère M. , Sasaki Hiroyuki
Published: July 2015

The life-threatening Immunodeficiency, Centromeric Instability and Facial Anomalies (ICF) syndrome is a genetically heterogeneous autosomal recessive disorder. Twenty percent of patients cannot be explained by mutations in the known ICF genes DNA methyltransferase 3B or zinc-finger and BTB domain containing 24. Here we report mutations in the cell division cycle associated 7 and the helicase, lymphoid-specific genes in 10 unexplained ICF cases. Our data highlight the genetic heterogeneity of ICF syndrome; however, they provide evidence that all genes act in common or converging pathways leading to the ICF phenotype.
Randomized, Multicenter Study of Gefitinib Dose-escalation in Advanced Non-small-cell Lung Cancer Patients Achieved Stable Disease after One-month Gefitinib Treatment
Authors: Xue Cong , Hong Shaodong , Li Ning , Feng Weineng , Jia Jun , Peng Jiewen , Lin Daren , Cao Xiaolong , Wang Siyang , Zhang Weimin , Zhang Hongyu , Dong Wei , Zhang Li
Published: July 2015

There is no consensus on the optimal treatment for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and stable disease (SD) after gefitinib therapy. This randomized, open-label, multicenter study aimed to explore whether dose-escalation of gefitinib would improve response and survival in NSCLC patients who achieved SD after one-month of standard gefitinib dosage. Between May 2009 and January 2012, 466 patients were enrolled and 100 eligible patients were randomized (1:1) to receive either a higher dose (500 mg/d; H group) or to continue standard dose (250 mg/d; S group) of gefitinib. Objective response rate (ORR) was similar between the two groups (12.5% vs 12.5%, p = 1.000). There were no significant differences regarding progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) between both arms (H group vs S group: median PFS, 5.30 months vs 6.23 months, p = 0.167; median OS, 13.70 months vs 18.87 months, p = 0.156). Therefore, dose-escalation of gefitinib does not confer a response or survival advantage in patients who achieve SD with one month of standard-dose gefitinib treatment.
Key innovation or adaptive change? A test of leaf traits using Triodiinae in Australia
Authors: Toon A. , Crisp M. D. , Gamage H. , Mant J. , Morris D. C. , Schmidt S. , Cook L. G.
Published: July 2015

The evolution of novel traits (“key innovations”) allows some lineages to move into new environments or adapt to changing climates, whereas other lineages may track suitable habitat or go extinct. We test whether and how, trait shifts are linked to environmental change using Triodiinae, C4 grasses that form the dominant understory over about 30% of Australia. Using phylogenetic and relaxed molecular clock estimates, we assess the Australian biogeographic origins of Triodiinae and reconstruct the evolution of stomatal and vascular bundle positioning. Triodiinae diversified from the mid-Miocene, coincident with the aridification of Australia. Subsequent niche shifts have been mostly from the Eremaean biome to the savannah, coincident with the expansion of the latter. Biome shifts are correlated with changes in leaf anatomy and radiations within Triodiinae are largely regional. Symplectrodia and Monodia are nested within Triodia. Rather than enabling biome shifts, convergent changes in leaf anatomy have probably occurred after taxa moved into the savannah biome—they are likely to have been subsequent adaptions rather than key innovations. Our study highlights the importance of testing the timing and origin of traits assumed to be phenotypic innovations that enabled ecological shifts.
Myocardial Iron Loading Assessment by Automatic Left Ventricle Segmentation with Morphological Operations and Geodesic Active Contour on T2* images
Authors: Luo Yun-gang , Ko Jacky KL , Shi Lin , Guan Yuefeng , Li Linong , Qin Jing , Heng Pheng-Ann , Chu Winnie CW , Wang Defeng
Published: July 2015

Myocardial iron loading thalassemia patients could be identified using T2* magnetic resonance images (MRI). To quantitatively assess cardiac iron loading, we proposed an effective algorithm to segment aligned free induction decay sequential myocardium images based on morphological operations and geodesic active contour (GAC). Nine patients with thalassemia major were recruited (10 male and 16 female) to undergo a thoracic MRI scan in the short axis view. Free induction decay images were registered for T2* mapping. The GAC were utilized to segment aligned MR images with a robust initialization. Segmented myocardium regions were divided into sectors for a region-based quantification of cardiac iron loading. Our proposed automatic segmentation approach achieve a true positive rate at 84.6% and false positive rate at 53.8%. The area difference between manual and automatic segmentation was 25.5% after 1000 iterations. Results from T2* analysis indicated that regions with intensity lower than 20 ms were suffered from heavy iron loading in thalassemia major patients. The proposed method benefited from abundant edge information of the free induction decay sequential MRI. Experiment results demonstrated that the proposed method is feasible in myocardium segmentation and was clinically applicable to measure myocardium iron loading.
Transmembrane protein 106a activates mouse peritoneal macrophages via the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways
Authors: Dai Hui , Xu Dong , Su Jing , Jang Jingyuan , Chen Yingyu
Published: July 2015

The M1 and M2 states of macrophage are the two extremes of a physiologic/phenotypic continuum that is dynamically influenced by environmental signals. Molecular mechanism analysis indicated that they gain M1 and M2-related functions after encountering specific ligands in the tissue environment. Here, we first characterized the previously unknown immunobiological functions of mouse Tmem106a. This protein is abundantly expressed on the surface of mouse macrophages. Activation of Tmem106a by stimulation with anti-Tmem106a upregulated the expression of CD80, CD86, CD69 and MHC II on macrophage and induced the release of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, CCL2 and NO, but not IL-10. These effects were largely abrogated by pretreatment with siRNA against Tmem106a. Notably, anti-Tmem106a significantly increased iNOS production and phosphorylation of STAT1 and had no effect on the ARGINASE-1 or p-STAT6 level, indicating that anti-Tmem106a activated macrophages and polarized them into M1-like macrophages. Further analysis found that anti-Tmem106a stimulation increased phosphorylation of ERK-1/2, JNK, p38 MAPK, NF-κB p65 and IKKα/β and promoted nuclear translocation of the cytosolic NF-κB p65 subunit. Collectively, these data suggest that mouse Tmem106a might be a new trigger of macrophage activation and have some influence toward the M1 state through the activation of the MAPKs and NF-κB pathway.
Potentiometric detection of chemical vapors using molecularly imprinted polymers as receptors
Authors: Liang Rongning , Chen Lusi , Qin Wei
Published: July 2015

Ion-selective electrode (ISE) based potentiometric gas sensors have shown to be promising analytical tools for detection of chemical vapors. However, such sensors are only capable of detecting those vapors which can be converted into ionic species in solution. This paper describes for the first time a polymer membrane ISE based potentiometric sensing system for sensitive and selective determination of neutral vapors in the gas phase. A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) is incorporated into the ISE membrane and used as the receptor for selective adsorption of the analyte vapor from the gas phase into the sensing membrane phase. An indicator ion with a structure similar to that of the vapor molecule is employed to indicate the change in the MIP binding sites in the membrane induced by the molecular recognition of the vapor. The toluene vapor is used as a model and benzoic acid is chosen as its indicator. Coupled to an apparatus manifold for preparation of vapor samples, the proposed ISE can be utilized to determine volatile toluene in the gas phase and allows potentiometric detection down to parts per million levels. This work demonstrates the possibility of developing a general sensing principle for detection of neutral vapors using ISEs.
Transactivation of human osteoprotegerin promoter by GATA-3
Authors: Kao Shyan-Yuan , Stankovic Konstantina M.
Published: July 2015

Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a key regulator of bone remodeling. Mutations in OPG are involved in a variety of human diseases. We have shown that cochlear spiral ganglion cells secrete OPG at high levels and lack of OPG causes sensorineural hearing loss in addition to the previously described conductive hearing loss. In order to study the regulation of OPG expression, we conducted a database search on regulatory elements in the promoter region of the OPG gene and identified two potential GATA-3 binding sites. Using luciferase assays and site directed mutagenesis, we demonstrate that these two elements are GATA-3 responsive and support GATA-3 transactivation in human HEK and HeLa cells. The expression of wild type GATA-3 activated OPG mRNA and protein expression, while the expression of a dominant negative mutant of GATA-3 or a GATA-3 shRNA construct reduced OPG mRNA and protein levels. GATA-3 deficient cells generated by expressing a GATA-3 shRNA construct were sensitive to apoptosis induced by etoposide and TNF-α. This apoptotic effect could be partly prevented by the co-treatment with exogenous OPG. Our results suggest new approaches to rescue diseases due to GATA-3 deficiency – such as in hypoparathyroidism, sensorineural deafness and renal (HDR) syndrome – by OPG therapy.
Mammalian cochlea as a physics guided evolution-optimized hearing sensor
Authors: Lorimer Tom , Gomez Florian , Stoop Ruedi
Published: July 2015

Nonlinear physics plays an essential role in hearing. We demonstrate on a mesoscopic description level that during the evolutionary perfection of the hearing sensor, nonlinear physics led to the unique design of the cochlea observed in mammals and that this design requests as a consequence the perception of pitch. Our insight challenges the view that mostly genetics is responsible for the uniformity of the construction of the mammalian hearing sensor. Our analysis also suggests that scaleable and non-scaleable arrangements of nonlinear sound detectors may be at the origin of the differences between hearing sensors in amniotic lineages.
The Hide-and-Seek of Grain Boundaries from Moiré Pattern Fringe of Two-Dimensional Graphene
Authors: Kim Jung Hwa , Kim Kwanpyo , Lee Zonghoon
Published: July 2015

Grain boundaries (GBs) commonly exist in crystalline materials and affect various properties of materials. The facile identification of GBs is one of the significant requirements for systematical study of polycrystalline materials including recently emerging two-dimensional materials. Previous observations of GBs have been performed by various tools including high resolution transmission electron microscopy. However, a method to easily identify GBs, especially in the case of low-angle GBs, has not yet been well established. In this paper, we choose graphene bilayers with a GB as a model system and investigate the effects of interlayer rotations to the identification of GBs. We provide a critical condition between adjacent moiré fringe spacings, which determines the possibility of GB recognition. In addition, for monolayer graphene with a grain boundary, we demonstrate that low-angle GBs can be distinguished easily by inducing moiré patterns deliberately with an artificial reference overlay.
Productivity depends more on the rate than the frequency of N addition in a temperate grassland
Authors: Zhang Yunhai , Feng Jinchao , Isbell Forest , Lü Xiaotao , Han Xingguo
Published: July 2015

Nitrogen (N) is a key limiting resource for aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) in diverse terrestrial ecosystems. The relative roles of the rate and frequency (additions yr−1) of N application in stimulating ANPP at both the community- and species-levels are largely unknown. By independently manipulating the rate and frequency of N input, with nine rates (from 0 to 50 g N m−2 year−1) crossed with two frequencies (twice year−1 or monthly) in a temperate steppe of northern China across 2008–2013, we found that N addition increased community ANPP and had positive, negative, or neutral effects for individual species. There were similar ANPP responses at the community- or species-level when a particular annual amount of N was added either twice year−1 or monthly. The community ANPP was less sensitive to soil ammonium at lower frequency of N addition. ANPP responses to N addition were positively correlated with annual precipitation. Our results suggest that, over a five-year period, there will be similar ANPP responses to a given annual N input that occurs either frequently in small amounts, as from N deposition, or that occur infrequently in larger amounts, as from application of N fertilizers.
Analysis of IS6110 insertion sites provide a glimpse into genome evolution of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Roychowdhury Tanmoy , Mandal Saurav , Bhattacharya Alok
Published: July 2015

Insertion sequence (IS) 6110 is found at multiple sites in the Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome and displays a high degree of polymorphism with respect to copy number and insertion sites. Therefore, IS6110 is considered to be a useful molecular marker for diagnosis and strain typing of M. tuberculosis. Generally IS6110 elements are identified using experimental methods, useful for analysis of a limited number of isolates. Since short read genome sequences generated using next-generation sequencing (NGS) platforms are available for a large number of isolates, a computational pipeline for identification of IS6110 elements from these datasets was developed. This study shows results from analysis of NGS data of 1377 M. tuberculosis isolates. These isolates represent all seven major global lineages of M. tuberculosis. Lineage specific copy number patterns and preferential insertion regions were observed. Intra-lineage differences were further analyzed for identifying spoligotype specific variations. Copy number distribution and preferential locations of IS6110 in different lineages imply independent evolution of IS6110, governed mainly through ancestral insertion, fitness (gene truncation, promoter activity) and recombinational loss of some copies. A phylogenetic tree based on IS6110 insertion data of different isolates was constructed in order to understand genome level variations of different markers across different lineages.
Exfoliated MoS2 Sheets and Reduced Graphene Oxide-An Excellent and Fast Anode for Sodium-ion Battery
Authors: Sahu Tuhin Subhra , Mitra Sagar
Published: July 2015

Three dimensional (3D) MoS2 nanoflowers are successfully synthesized by hydrothermal method. Further, a composite of as prepared MoS2 nanoflowers and rGO is constructed by simple ultrasonic exfoliation technique. The crystallography and morphological studies have been carried out by XRD, FE-SEM, TEM, HR-TEM and EDS etc. Here, XRD study revealed, a composite of exfoliated MoS2 with expanded spacing of (002) crystal plane and rGO can be prepared by simple 40 minute of ultrasonic treatment. While, FE-SEM and TEM studies depict, individual MoS2 nanoflowers with an average diameter of 200 nm are uniformly distributed throughout the rGO surface. When tested as sodium-ion batteries anode material by applying two different potential windows, the composite demonstrates a high reversible specific capacity of 575 mAhg−1 at 100 mAg−1 in between 0.01 V–2.6 V and 218 mAhg−1 at 50 mAg−1 when discharged in a potential range of 0.4 V–2.6 V. As per our concern, the results are one of the best obtained as compared to the earlier published one on MoS2 based SIB anode material and more importantly this material shows such an excellent reversible Na-storage capacity and good cycling stability without addition of any expensive additive stabilizer, like fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC), in comparison to those in current literature.
A TLR9 agonist enhances the anti-tumor immunity of peptide and lipopeptide vaccines via different mechanisms
Authors: Song Ying-Chyi , Liu Shih-Jen
Published: July 2015

The toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) agonists CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODNs) have been recognized as promising adjuvants for vaccines against infectious diseases and cancer. However, the role of TLR9 signaling in the regulation of antigen uptake and presentation is not well understood. Therefore, to investigate the effects of TLR9 signaling, this study used synthetic peptides (IDG) and lipopeptides (lipoIDG), which are internalized by dendritic cells (DCs) via endocytosis-dependent and endocytosis-independent pathways, respectively. Our data demonstrated that the internalization of lipoIDG and IDG by bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) was not enhanced in the presence of CpG ODNs; however, CpG ODNs prolonged the co-localization of IDG with CpG ODNs in early endosomes. Surprisingly, CpG ODNs enhanced CD8+ T cell responses and the anti-tumor effects of IDG immunization were stronger than those of lipoIDG immunization. LipoIDG admixed with CpG ODNs induced low levels of CD8+ T cells and partially inhibit tumor growth. Our findings suggest that CpG ODNs increase the retention of antigens in early endosomes, which is important for eliciting anti-tumor immunity. These results will facilitate the application of CpG adjuvants in the design of different vaccines.
Anti-angiogenesis therapy and gap junction inhibition reduce MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell invasion and metastasis in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Zibara Kazem , Awada Zahraa , Dib Leila , El-Saghir Jamal , Al-Ghadban Sara , Ibrik Aida , El-Zein Nabil , El-Sabban Marwan
Published: July 2015

Cancer cells secrete VEGF, which plays a key role in their growth, invasion, extravasation and metastasis. Direct cancer cell-endothelial cell interaction, mediated by gap junctions, is of critical importance in the extravasation process. In this study, we evaluated avastin (Av), an anti-VEGF antibody; and oleamide (OL), a gap junction inhibitor, using MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells in vitro and a xenograft murine model in vivo. Results showed that Av/OL significantly decreased proliferation, induced cell cycle arrest and decreased migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells in vitro. In addition, Av/OL significantly decreased homo and hetero-cellular communication interaction between MDA-MDA and MDA-endothelial cells, respectively. The expression levels of several factors including VEGF, HIF1α, CXCR4, Cx26, Cx43 and MMP9 were attenuated upon Av/OL treatment in vitro. On the other hand, avastin, but not oleamide, reduced tumor size of NSG mice injected subdermally (s.d.) with MDA-MB-231 cells, which was also associated with increased survival. Furthermore, Av but also OL, separately, significantly increased the survival rate and reduced pulmonary and hepatic metastatic foci, of intravenously (i.v.) injected mice. Finally, OL reduced MMP9 protein expression levels, better than Av and in comparisons to control, in the lungs of MDA-MB-231 i.v. injected NSG mice. In conclusion, while avastin has anti-angiogenic, anti-tumor and anti-metastatic activities, oleamide has anti-metastatic activity, presumably at the extravasation level, providing further evidence for the role of gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) in cancer cell extravasation.
Identification of the miRNA targetome in hippocampal neurons using RIP-seq
Authors: Malmevik Josephine , Petri Rebecca , Klussendorf Thies , Knauff Pina , Åkerblom Malin , Johansson Jenny , Soneji Shamit , Jakobsson Johan
Published: July 2015

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key players in the regulation of neuronal processes by targeting a large network of target messenger RNAs (mRNAs). However, the identity and function of mRNAs targeted by miRNAs in specific cells of the brain are largely unknown. Here, we established an adeno-associated viral vector (AAV)-based neuron-specific Argonaute2:GFP-RNA immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing to analyse the regulatory role of miRNAs in mouse hippocampal neurons. Using this approach, we identified more than two thousand miRNA targets in hippocampal neurons, regulating essential neuronal features such as cell signalling, transcription and axon guidance. Furthermore, we found that stable inhibition of the highly expressed miR-124 and miR-125 in hippocampal neurons led to significant but distinct changes in the AGO2 binding of target mRNAs, resulting in subsequent upregulation of numerous miRNA target genes. These findings greatly enhance our understanding of the miRNA targetome in hippocampal neurons.
High-resolution high-speed dynamic mechanical spectroscopy of cells and other soft materials with the help of atomic force microscopy
Authors: Dokukin M. , Sokolov I.
Published: July 2015

Dynamic mechanical spectroscopy (DMS), which allows measuring frequency-dependent viscoelastic properties, is important to study soft materials, tissues, biomaterials, polymers. However, the existing DMS techniques (nanoindentation) have limited resolution when used on soft materials, preventing them from being used to study mechanics at the nanoscale. The nanoindenters are not capable of measuring cells, nanointerfaces of composite materials. Here we present a highly accurate DMS modality, which is a combination of three different methods: quantitative nanoindentation (nanoDMA), gentle force and fast response of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Fourier transform (FT) spectroscopy. This new spectroscopy (which we suggest to call FT-nanoDMA) is fast and sensitive enough to allow DMS imaging of nanointerfaces, single cells, while attaining about 100x improvements on polymers in both spatial (to 10–70 nm) and temporal resolution (to 0.7s/pixel) compared to the current art. Multiple frequencies are measured simultaneously. The use of 10 frequencies are demonstrated here (up to 300 Hz which is a rather relevant range for biological materials and polymers, in both ambient conditions and liquid). The method is quantitatively verified on known polymers and demonstrated on cells and polymers blends. Analysis shows that FT-nanoDMA is highly quantitative. The FT-nanoDMA spectroscopy can easily be implemented in the existing AFMs.
Effect of proton-conduction in electrolyte on electric efficiency of multi-stage solid oxide fuel cells
Authors: Matsuzaki Yoshio , Tachikawa Yuya , Somekawa Takaaki , Hatae Toru , Matsumoto Hiroshige , Taniguchi Shunsuke , Sasaki Kazunari
Published: July 2015

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are promising electrochemical devices that enable the highest fuel-to-electricity conversion efficiencies under high operating temperatures. The concept of multi-stage electrochemical oxidation using SOFCs has been proposed and studied over the past several decades for further improving the electrical efficiency. However, the improvement is limited by fuel dilution downstream of the fuel flow. Therefore, evolved technologies are required to achieve considerably higher electrical efficiencies. Here we present an innovative concept for a critically-high fuel-to-electricity conversion efficiency of up to 85% based on the lower heating value (LHV), in which a high-temperature multi-stage electrochemical oxidation is combined with a proton-conducting solid electrolyte. Switching a solid electrolyte material from a conventional oxide-ion conducting material to a proton-conducting material under the high-temperature multi-stage electrochemical oxidation mechanism has proven to be highly advantageous for the electrical efficiency. The DC efficiency of 85% (LHV) corresponds to a net AC efficiency of approximately 76% (LHV), where the net AC efficiency refers to the transmission-end AC efficiency. This evolved concept will yield a considerably higher efficiency with a much smaller generation capacity than the state-of-the-art several tens-of-MW-class most advanced combined cycle (MACC).
Early detection of an epidemic erythromelalgia outbreak using Baidu search data
Authors: Gu Yuzhou , Chen Fengling , Liu Tao , Lv Xiaojuan , Shao Zhaoming , Lin Hualiang , Liang Chaobin , Zeng Weilin , Xiao Jianpeng , Zhang Yonghui , Huang Cunrui , Rutherford Shannon , Ma Wenjun
Published: July 2015

Dozens of epidemic erythromelalgia (EM) outbreaks have been reported in China since the mid-twentieth century and the most recent happened in Foshan City, Guangdong Province early 2014. This study compared the daily case counts of this recent epidemic EM outbreak from February 11 to March 3 with Baidu search data for the same period. After keyword selection, filtering and composition, the most correlated lag of the EM Search Index was used for comparison and linear regression model development. This study also explored the spatial distribution of epidemic EM in China during this period based on EM Search Index. The EM Search Index at lag 2 was most significantly associated with daily case counts in Foshan (ρ = 0.863, P < 0.001). It captured an upward trend in the outbreak about one week ahead of official report and the linear regression analysis indicated that every 1.071 increase in the EM Search Index reflected a rise of 1 EM cases 2 days earlier. The spatial analysis found that the number of EM Search Indexes increased in the middle of Guangdong Province and South China during the outbreak period. The EM Search Index may be a good early indicator of an epidemic EM outbreak.
A double amino-acid change in the HLA-A peptide-binding groove is associated with response to psychotropic treatment in patients with schizophrenia
Authors: Le Clerc S , Taing L , Fond G , Meary A , Llorca P-M , Blanc O , Beaune P , Rajagopal K , Jamain S , Tamouza R , Zagury J-F , Leboyer M
Published: July 2015

The choice of an efficient psychotropic treatment for patients with schizophrenia is a key issue to improve prognosis and quality of life and to decrease the related burden and costs. As for other complex disorders, response to drugs in schizophrenia is highly heterogeneous and the underlying molecular mechanisms of this diversity are still poorly understood. In a carefully followed-up cohort of schizophrenic patients prospectively treated with risperidone or olanzapine, we used a specially designed single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array to perform a large-scale genomic analysis and identify genetic variants associated with response to psychotropic drugs. We found significant associations between response to treatment defined by the reduction in psychotic symptomatology 42 days after the beginning of treatment and SNPs located in the chromosome 6, which houses the human leukocyte antigen (HLA). After imputation of the conventional HLA class I and class II alleles, as well as the amino-acid variants, we observed a striking association between a better response to treatment and a double amino-acid variant at positions 62 and 66 of the peptide-binding groove of the HLA-A molecule. These results support the current notion that schizophrenia may have immune-inflammatory underpinnings and may contribute to pave the way for personalized treatments in schizophrenia.