bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multiscale analysis of lake‐effect snow over the southwest coast of the Caspian Sea (31 January–5 February 2014)
Authors: Ghafarian Parvin , Pegahfar Nafiseh , Owlad Elaheh
Published: October 2017

An extreme heavy snowfall event occurred over the southwest coast of the Caspian Sea over the period 31 January–5 February 2014 and caused huge economic losses to both the government and the people of Iran. This phenomenon has been analysed using in‐situ data and AVHRR satellite data, as well as NCEP/NCAR and GFSANL reanalysis data. The results indicate that a cold‐air outbreak from Scandinavia to the Caspian Sea provided an appropriate synoptic pattern for the passage of cold air over the warm lake. In addition, the existence of an omega blocking system at medium levels (~500hPa) over Europe resulted in the persistence of this synoptic system. Furthermore, favourable conditions such as thermal instability, long fetch and low directional wind shear caused this lake‐effect snow (LES). Finally, the Alborz Mountains and the form of the southwest coast of the Caspian Sea were also found to have a particular role in the formation of LES in this region.
Sunset mirages involving ducts
Authors: Zinkova Mila
Published: October 2017

Sunset mirages are often observed in coastal California. Cold ocean currents and warm air from inland create great conditions for temperature inversions, prerequisite required for producing mirages. Most sunset mirages seen in California are so called mock mirages. Inferior mirages are also common during winter time. On a rare occasions California sky watchers are treated by some special mirages that involve ducting, including Novaya Zemlya effect sunsets, blank strip sunsets and others.
The Physician Attrition Crisis: A Cross‐Sectional Survey of the Risk Factors for Reduced Job Satisfaction Among US Surgeons
Authors: Jackson Theresa N. , Pearcy Chris P. , Khorgami Zhamak , Agrawal Vaidehi , Taubman Kevin E. , Truitt Michael S.
Published: October 2017

Introduction

A physician shortage is on the horizon, and surgeons are particularly vulnerable due to attrition. Reduced job satisfaction leads to increased job turnover and earlier retirement. The purpose of this study is to delineate the risk factors that contribute to reduced job satisfaction.

Methods

A cross‐sectional survey of US surgeons was conducted from September 2016 to May 2017. Screening for job satisfaction was performed using the abridged Job in General scale. Respondents were grouped into more and less satisfied using the median split. Twenty‐five potential risk factors were examined that included demographic, occupational, psychological, wellness, and work‐environment variables.

Results

Overall, 993 respondents were grouped into more satisfied (n = 502) and less satisfied (n = 491) cohorts. Of the demographic variables, female gender and younger age were associated with decreased job satisfaction (p = 0.003 and p = 0.008). Most occupational variables (specialty, experience, academics, practice size, payment model) were not significant. However, increased average hours worked correlated with less satisfaction (p = 0.008). Posttraumatic stress disorder, burnout, wellness, all eight work‐environment variables, and unhappiness with career choice were linked to reduced job satisfaction (p = 0.001).

Conclusion

A surgeon shortage has serious implications for health care. Job satisfaction is associated with physician retention. Our results suggest women and younger surgeons may be at increased risk for job dissatisfaction. Targeted work‐environment interventions to reduce work‐hours, improve hospital culture, and provide adequate financial reimbursement may promote job satisfaction and wellness.
Safety and Feasibility of a Ketamine Package to Support Emergency and Essential Surgery in Kenya when No Anesthetist is Available: An Analysis of 1216 Consecutive Operative Procedures
Authors: Burke Thomas F. , Suarez Sebastian , Sessler Daniel I. , Senay Ayla , Yusufali Taha , Masaki Charles , Guha Moytrayee , Rogo Debora , Jani Pankaj , Nelson Brett D. , Rogo Khama
Published: October 2017

Background

Lack of access to emergency and essential surgery is widespread in low‐ and middle‐income countries. Scarce anesthesia services contribute to this unmet need. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of the Every Second Matters for Emergency and Essential Surgery‐Ketamine (ESM‐Ketamine) package for emergency and essential procedures when no anesthetist was available.

Methods

From November 2013 to September 2017, the ESM‐Ketamine package was used for patients requiring emergency or life‐improving surgeries in fifteen selected facilities across Kenya when no anesthetist was available. A mixed‐methods approach was used to assess safety and feasibility of the ESM‐Ketamine package, including demand, acceptability, and practicality. The primary outcome was ketamine‐related adverse events. Key‐informant interviews captured perceptions of providers, hospital administrators, and surgeons/proceduralists.

Results

Non‐anesthetist mid‐level providers used ESM‐Ketamine for 1216 surgical procedures across the fifteen study facilities. The median ketamine dose was 2.1 mg/kg. Brief (<30 s) oxygen desaturations occurred in 39 patients (3%), and prolonged (>30 s) oxygen desaturations occurred in seven patients (0.6%). There were 157 (13%) reported cases of hallucinations and agitation which were treated with diazepam. All patients recovered uneventfully, and no ketamine‐related deaths were reported. Twenty‐seven key‐informant interviews showed strong support for the program with four main themes: financial considerations, provision of services, staff impact, and scaling considerations.

Conclusions

The ESM‐Ketamine package appears safe and feasible and is capable of expanding access to emergency and essential surgeries in rural Kenya when no anesthetist is available.
Enhanced Densification of PM Steels by Liquid Phase Sintering with Boron-Containing Master Alloy
Authors: Vattur Sundaram Maheswaran , Surreddi Kumar Babu , Hryha Eduard , Veiga Angela , Berg Sigurd , Castro Fransisco , Nyborg Lars
Published: October 2017

Reaching high density in PM steels is important for high-performance applications. In this study, liquid phase sintering of PM steels by adding gas-atomized Ni-Mn-B master alloy was investigated for enhancing the density levels of Fe- and Mo- prealloyed steel powder compacts. The results indicated that liquid formation occurs in two stages, beginning with the master alloy melting (LP-1) below and eutectic phase formation (LP-2) above 1373 K (1100 °C). Mo and C addition revealed a significant influence on the LP-2 temperatures and hence on the final densification behavior and mechanical properties. Microstructural embrittlement occurs with the formation of continuous boride networks along the grain boundaries, and its severity increases with carbon addition, especially for 2.5 wt pct of master alloy content. Sintering behavior, along with liquid generation, microstructural characteristics, and mechanical testing revealed that the reduced master alloy content from 2.5 to 1.5 wt pct (reaching overall boron content from 0.2 to 0.12 wt pct) was necessary for obtaining good ductility with better mechanical properties. Sintering with Ni-Mn-B master alloy enables the sintering activation by liquid phase formation in two stages to attain high density in PM steels suitable for high-performance applications.
Weighing Up the Evidence and Local Experience of Residential Care
Authors: Tregeagle Susan
Published: October 2017

Therapeutic residential care is currently seen as an answer to managing the increasing disruption experienced by many young people in care. Yet the history of residential care in Australia is problematic and the international evidence for the efficacy of therapeutic approaches is very poor. The author's own agency's experience of providing residential care also indicates that caution is needed before increasing the numbers of residential ‘beds’. Problems include young people's dislike of residential options and the stressfulness of an environment that involves shift workers and multiple transient relationships. Further, residential care can be a financial drain on child welfare budgets (being tendered to non-government agencies at over seven times the cost of community care), and has the potential danger – when beds are empty – of being used for young people who do not need this level of care. Residential care may appear to be the only option for a handful of adolescents no longer suited to foster care; but before developing therapeutic residential care further, government must be able to guarantee, at a minimum: a safe environment, a nurturing and healing environment, continuity of care, and the capacity to meet young people's developmental and permanency needs. These standards must be met, not just now, but over the long term.
Resolving the Issue of Artefact Deposition at Star Carr
Authors: Taylor Barry , Elliott Ben , Conneller Chantal , Milner Nicky , Bayliss Alex , Knight Becky , Bamforth Mike
Published: October 2017

Since its publication in 1954 Star Carr has held an iconic status in British Mesolithic archaeology. The original excavations at the site recorded a large assemblage of bone and antler tools from a sequence of peat deposits at the edge of the Lake Flixton. Over 60 years later this remains the largest assemblage of bone and antler artefacts of its date in Britain and has been an invaluable source of information for life in the early Mesolithic. However, the interpretation of this material has been the subject of intense debate, and the assemblage has been variously described as the remains of an in situ settlement, a refuse dump, and the result of culturally prescribed acts of deposition. Fundamentally, these very different ideas of the nature of the site depend on differing interpretations of the environmental context into which the majority of the organic artefacts were deposited. This paper presents the results of recent work at Star Carr that helps to resolve the debate surrounding both the context of the assemblage and the motivations that lay behind its deposition.
Autoimmunity/inflammation in a monogenic primary immunodeficiency cohort
Authors: Rae William , Ward Daniel , Mattocks Christopher J , Gao Yifang , Pengelly Reuben J , Patel Sanjay V , Ennis Sarah , Faust Saul N , Williams Anthony P
Published: October 2017

Primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) are rare inborn errors of immunity that have a heterogeneous phenotype that can include severe susceptibility to life‐threatening infections from multiple pathogens, unique sensitivity to a single pathogen, autoimmune/inflammatory (AI/I) disease, allergies and/or malignancy. We present a diverse cohort of monogenic PID patients with and without AI/I diseases who underwent clinical, genetic and immunological phenotyping. Novel pathogenic variants were identified in IKBKG, CTLA4, NFKB1, GATA2, CD40LG and TAZ as well as previously reported pathogenic variants in STAT3, PIK3CD, STAT1, NFKB2 and STXBP2. AI/I manifestations were frequently encountered in PIDs, including at presentation. Autoimmunity/inflammation was multisystem in those effected, and regulatory T cell (Treg) percentages were significantly decreased compared with those without AI/I manifestations. Prednisolone was used as the first‐line immunosuppressive agent in all cases, however steroid monotherapy failed long‐term control of autoimmunity/inflammation in the majority of cases and additional immunosuppression was required. Patients with multisystem autoimmunity/inflammation should be investigated for an underlying PID, and in those with PID early assessment of Tregs may help to assess the risk of autoimmunity/inflammation.
Recurrent patterns of microdiversity in a temperate coastal marine environment
Authors: Chafee Meghan , Fernàndez-Guerra Antonio , Buttigieg Pier Luigi , Gerdts Gunnar , Eren A Murat , Teeling Hanno , Amann Rudolf I
Published: October 2017

Temperate coastal marine environments are replete with complex biotic and abiotic interactions that are amplified during spring and summer phytoplankton blooms. During these events, heterotrophic bacterioplankton respond to successional releases of dissolved organic matter as algal cells are lysed. Annual seasonal shifts in the community composition of free-living bacterioplankton follow broadly predictable patterns, but whether similar communities respond each year to bloom disturbance events remains unknown owing to a lack of data sets, employing high-frequency sampling over multiple years. We capture the fine-scale microdiversity of these events with weekly sampling using a high-resolution method to discriminate 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicons that are >99% identical. Furthermore, we used 2 complete years of data to facilitate identification of recurrent sub-networks of co-varying microbes. We demonstrate that despite inter-annual variation in phytoplankton blooms and despite the dynamism of a coastal–oceanic transition zone, patterns of microdiversity are recurrent during both bloom and non-bloom conditions. Sub-networks of co-occurring microbes identified reveal that correlation structures between community members appear quite stable in a seasonally driven response to oligotrophic and eutrophic conditions.
Dynamical time-reversal symmetry breaking and photo-induced chiral spin liquids in frustrated Mott insulators
Authors: Claassen Martin , Jiang Hong-Chen , Moritz Brian , Devereaux Thomas P.
Published: October 2017

The search for quantum spin liquids in frustrated quantum magnets recently has enjoyed a surge of interest, with various candidate materials under intense scrutiny. However, an experimental confirmation of a gapped topological spin liquid remains an open question. Here, we show that circularly polarized light can provide a knob to drive frustrated Mott insulators into a chiral spin liquid, realizing an elusive quantum spin liquid with topological order. We find that the dynamics of a driven Kagome Mott insulator is well-captured by an effective Floquet spin model, with heating strongly suppressed, inducing a scalar spin chirality S
i
· (S
j
 × S
k
) term which dynamically breaks time-reversal while preserving SU(2) spin symmetry. We fingerprint the transient phase diagram and find a stable photo-induced chiral spin liquid near the equilibrium state. The results presented suggest employing dynamical symmetry breaking to engineer quantum spin liquids and access elusive phase transitions that are not readily accessible in equilibrium.
Asymmetric localization of DLC1 defines avian trunk neural crest polarity for directional delamination and migration
Authors: Liu Jessica Aijia , Rao Yanxia , Cheung May Pui Lai , Hui Man-Ning , Wu Ming-Hoi , Chan Lo-Kong , Ng Irene Oi-Lin , Niu Ben , Cheah Kathryn S. E. , Sharma Rakesh , Hodgson Louis , Cheung Martin
Published: October 2017

Following epithelial-mesenchymal transition, acquisition of avian trunk neural crest cell (NCC) polarity is prerequisite for directional delamination and migration, which in turn is essential for peripheral nervous system development. However, how this cell polarization is established and regulated remains unknown. Here we demonstrate that, using the RHOA biosensor in vivo and in vitro, the initiation of NCC polarization is accompanied by highly activated RHOA in the cytoplasm at the cell rear and its fluctuating activity at the front edge. This differential RHOA activity determines polarized NC morphology and motility, and is regulated by the asymmetrically localized RhoGAP Deleted in liver cancer (DLC1) in the cytoplasm at the cell front. Importantly, the association of DLC1 with NEDD9 is crucial for its asymmetric localization and differential RHOA activity. Moreover, NC specifiers, SOX9 and SOX10, regulate NEDD9 and DLC1 expression, respectively. These results present a SOX9/SOX10-NEDD9/DLC1-RHOA regulatory axis to govern NCC migratory polarization.
Nanoplasmonic electron acceleration by attosecond-controlled forward rescattering in silver clusters
Authors: Passig Johannes , Zherebtsov Sergey , Irsig Robert , Arbeiter Mathias , Peltz Christian , Göde Sebastian , Skruszewicz Slawomir , Meiwes-Broer Karl-Heinz , Tiggesbäumker Josef , Kling Matthias F. , Fennel Thomas
Published: October 2017

In the strong-field photoemission from atoms, molecules, and surfaces, the fastest electrons emerge from tunneling and subsequent field-driven recollision, followed by elastic backscattering. This rescattering picture is central to attosecond science and enables control of the electron’s trajectory via the sub-cycle evolution of the laser electric field. Here we reveal a so far unexplored route for waveform-controlled electron acceleration emerging from forward rescattering in resonant plasmonic systems. We studied plasmon-enhanced photoemission from silver clusters and found that the directional acceleration can be controlled up to high kinetic energy with the relative phase of a two-color laser field. Our analysis reveals that the cluster’s plasmonic near-field establishes a sub-cycle directional gate that enables the selective acceleration. The identified generic mechanism offers robust attosecond control of the electron acceleration at plasmonic nanostructures, opening perspectives for laser-based sources of attosecond electron pulses.
An automated platform for high-throughput mouse behavior and physiology with voluntary head-fixation
Authors: Aoki Ryo , Tsubota Tadashi , Goya Yuki , Benucci Andrea
Published: October 2017

Recording neural activity during animal behavior is a cornerstone of modern brain research. However, integration of cutting-edge technologies for neural circuit analysis with complex behavioral measurements poses a severe experimental bottleneck for researchers. Critical problems include a lack of standardization for psychometric and neurometric integration, and lack of tools that can generate large, sharable data sets for the research community in a time and cost effective way. Here, we introduce a novel mouse behavioral learning platform featuring voluntary head fixation and automated high-throughput data collection for integrating complex behavioral assays with virtually any physiological device. We provide experimental validation by demonstrating behavioral training of mice in visual discrimination and auditory detection tasks. To examine facile integration with physiology systems, we coupled the platform to a two-photon microscope for imaging of cortical networks at single-cell resolution. Our behavioral learning and recording platform is a prototype for the next generation of mouse cognitive studies.
First-line antibiotic therapy in Helicobacter pylori-negative low-grade gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma
Authors: Kuo Sung-Hsin , Yeh Kun-Huei , Wu Ming-Shiang , Lin Chung-Wu , Wei Ming-Feng , Liou Jyh-Ming , Wang Hsiu-Po , Chen Li-Tzong , Cheng Ann-Lii
Published: October 2017

First-line antibiotic treatment for eradicatingHelicobacter pylori(HP) infection is effective in HP-positive low-grade gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (MALToma), but its role in HP-negative cases is uncertain. In this exploratory retrospective study, we assessed the outcome and potential predictive biomarkers for 25 patients with HP-negative localized gastric MALToma who received first-line HP eradication (HPE) therapy. An HP-negative status was defined as negative results on histology, rapid urease test,13C urea breath test, and serology. We observed an antibiotic response (complete remission [CR], number = 8; partial remission, number = 1) in 9 (36.0%) out of 25 patients. A t(11;18)(q21;q21) translocation was detected in 7 (43.8%) of 16 antibiotic-unresponsive cases, but in none of the 9 antibiotic-responsive cases (P = 0.027). Nuclear BCL10 expression was significantly higher in antibiotic-unresponsive tumors than in antibiotic-responsive tumors (14/16 [87.5%] vs. 1/9 [11.1%]; P = 0.001). Nuclear NF-κB expression was also significantly higher in antibiotic-unresponsive tumors than in antibiotic-responsive tumors (12/16 [75.0%] vs. 1/9 [11.1%]; P = 0.004). A substantial portion of patients with HP-negative gastric MALToma responded to first-line HPE. In addition to t(11;18)(q21;q21), BCL10 and NF-κB are useful immunohistochemical biomarkers to predict antibiotic-unresponsive status in this group of tumors.
Nanobodies effectively modulate the enzymatic activity of CD38 and allow specific imaging of CD38+ tumors in mouse models in vivo
Authors: Fumey William , Koenigsdorf Julia , Kunick Valentin , Menzel Stephan , Schütze Kerstin , Unger Mandy , Schriewer Levin , Haag Friedrich , Adam Gerhard , Oberle Anna , Binder Mascha , Fliegert Ralf , Guse Andreas , Zhao Yong Juan , Cheung Lee Hon , Malavasi Fabio , Goldbaum Fernando , van Hegelsom Rob , Stortelers Catelijne , Bannas Peter , Koch-Nolte Friedrich
Published: October 2017

The cell surface ecto-enzyme CD38 is a promising target antigen for the treatment of hematological malignancies, as illustrated by the recent approval of daratumumab for the treatment of multiple myeloma. Our aim was to evaluate the potential of CD38-specific nanobodies as novel diagnostics for hematological malignancies. We successfully identified 22 CD38-specific nanobody families using phage display technology from immunized llamas. Crossblockade analyses and in-tandem epitope binning revealed that the nanobodies recognize three different non-overlapping epitopes, with four nanobody families binding complementary to daratumumab. Three nanobody families inhibit the enzymatic activity of CD38 in vitro, while two others were found to act as enhancers. In vivo, fluorochrome-conjugated CD38 nanobodies efficiently reach CD38 expressing tumors in a rodent model within 2 hours after intravenous injection, thereby allowing for convenient same day in vivo tumor imaging. These nanobodies represent highly specific tools for modulating the enzymatic activity of CD38 and for diagnostic monitoring CD38-expressing tumors.
A Study on Doped Heterojunctions in TiO2 Nanotubes: An Efficient Photocatalyst for Solar Water Splitting
Authors: Preethi L. K. , Antony Rajini P. , Mathews Tom , Walczak Lukasz , Gopinath Chinnakonda S.
Published: October 2017

The two important factors that affect sunlight assisted water splitting ability of TiO2are its charge recombination and large band gap. We report the first demonstration of nitrogen doped triphase (anatase-rutile-brookite) TiO2nanotubes as sun light active photocatalyst for water splitting with high quantum efficiency. Nitrogen doped triphase TiO2nanotubes, corresponding to different nitrogen concentrations, are synthesized electrochemically. Increase in nitrogen concentration in triphase TiO2nanotubes is found to induce brookite to anatase phase transformation. The variation in density of intra-band states (Ti3+and N 2p states) with increase in nitrogen doping are found to be critical in tuning the photocatalytic activity of TiO2nanotubes. The presence of bulk heterojunctions in single nanotube of different nitrogen doped TiO2samples is confirmed from HRTEM analysis. The most active nitrogen doped triphase TiO2nanotubes are found to be 12 times efficient compared to pristine triphase TiO2, for solar hydrogen generation. The band alignment and charge transfer pathways in nitrogen doped TiO2with triphase heterojunctions are delineated. Bulk heterojunctions among the three phases present in the nanotubes with intra-band defect states is shown to enhance the photocatalytic activity tremendously. Our study also confirms the theory that three phase system is efficient in photocatalysis compared to two phase system.
A random acceleration model of individual animal movement allowing for diffusive, superdiffusive and superballistic regimes
Authors: Tilles Paulo F. C. , Petrovskii Sergei V. , Natti Paulo L.
Published: October 2017

Patterns of individual animal movement attracted considerable attention over the last two decades. In particular, question as to whether animal movement is predominantly diffusive or superdiffusive has been a focus of discussion and controversy. We consider this problem using a theory of stochastic motion based on the Langevin equation with non-Wiener stochastic forcing that originates in animal’s response to environmental noise. We show that diffusive and superdiffusive types of motion are inherent parts of the same general movement process that arises as interplay between the force exerted by animals (essentially, by animal’s muscles) and the environmental drag. The movement is superballistic with the mean square displacement growing with time as$$\langle {x}^{2}(t)\rangle \sim {t}^{4}$$〈x2(t)〉∼t4at the beginning and eventually slowing down to the diffusive spread$$\langle {x}^{2}(t)\rangle \sim t$$〈x2(t)〉∼t. We show that the duration of the superballistic and superdiffusive stages can be long depending on the properties of the environmental noise and the intensity of drag. Our findings demonstrate theoretically how the movement pattern that includes diffusive and superdiffusive/superballistic motion arises naturally as a result of the interplay between the dissipative properties of the environment and the animal’s biological traits such as the body mass, typical movement velocity and the typical duration of uninterrupted movement.
Face-specific memory deficits and changes in eye scanning patterns among patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment
Authors: Kawagoe Toshikazu , Matsushita Masateru , Hashimoto Mamoru , Ikeda Manabu , Sekiyama Kaoru
Published: October 2017

Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) is a prodromal stage of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Previous studies have shown functional and structural degradation of the fusiform face area, which is a core region for face processing, in addition to medial temporal lobe degradation. We predicted that patients with aMCI exhibit a loss of face processing and/or face memory, accompanied by abnormal eye scanning patterns, since patients who have deficits in face perception (i.e. prosopagnosia) exhibit such tendencies. Eighteen patients with aMCI and age-matched healthy controls were tested for perception and short-term memory of visually presented faces and houses while their gaze was recorded. Patients with aMCI showed a decline in memory, compared with control observers, for faces, but not for houses. Patients looked more at the mouth of faces, compared with control observers. We demonstrate here the loss of short-term face memory in aMCI with abnormal scanning patterns that might reflect the cerebral abnormality found in patients with aMCI.
POTAGE: A Visualisation Tool for Speeding up Gene Discovery in Wheat
Authors: Suchecki Radosław , Watson-Haigh Nathan S. , Baumann Ute
Published: October 2017

POPSEQ Ordered Triticum aestivum Gene Expression (POTAGE) is a web application which accelerates the process of identifying candidate genes for quantitative trait loci (QTL) in hexaploid wheat. This is achieved by leveraging several of the most commonly used data sets in wheat research. These include the Chromosome Survey Sequences, their order along the chromosomes determined by the population sequencing (POPSEQ) approach, the gene predictions and RNA-Seq expression data. POTAGE aggregates those data sets and provides an intuitive interface for biologists to explore the expression of the predicted genes and their functional annotation in a chromosomal context. The interface accelerates some of the laborious and repetitive tasks commonly undertaken in the process of identifying and prioritising genes which may underlie QTL. We illustrate the utility of POTAGE by showing how a short-list of candidate genes can quickly be identified for a QTL linked to pre-harvest sprouting - a major cause of quality and yield loss in wheat production. The candidate genes identified using POTAGE included TaMKK3, which was recently reported as a causal gene for seed dormancy in wheat, and a mutation in its barley ortholog has been shown to reduce pre-harvest sprouting. POTAGE is available at http://crobiad.agwine.adelaide.edu.au/potage.
Low levels of exosomal-miRNAs in maternal blood are associated with early pregnancy loss in cloned cattle
Authors: De Bem T. H. C. , da Silveira J. C , Sampaio R. V. , Sangalli J. R. , Oliveira M. L. F. , Ferreira R. M. , Silva L. A. , Perecin F. , King W. A. , Meirelles F. V. , Ramos E. S.
Published: October 2017

Nuclear reprogramming mediated by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) has many applications in medicine. However, animal clones show increased rates of abortion and reduced neonatal viability. Herein, we used exosomal-miRNA profiles as a non-invasive biomarker to identify pathological pregnancies. MiRNAs play important roles in cellular proliferation and differentiation during early mammalian development. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify exosomal-miRNAs in maternal blood at 21 days of gestation that could be used for diagnosis and prognosis during early clone pregnancies in cattle. Out of 40 bovine-specific miRNAs, 27 (67.5%) were with low abundance in the C-EPL (Clone - Early pregnancy loss) group compared with the C-LTP (Clone - Late pregnancy) and AI-LTP (Artificial Insemination - Late pregnancy) groups, which had similar miRNAs levels. Bioinformatics analysis of the predicted target genes demonstrated signaling pathways and functional annotation clusters associated with critical biological processes including cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, angiogenesis and embryonic development. In conclusion, our results demonstrate decreased exosomal-miRNAs in maternal blood at 21 days of gestation in cloned cattle pregnancies that failed to reach term. Furthermore, the predicted target genes regulated by these 27 miRNAs are strongly associated with pregnancy establishment and in utero embryonic development.
Increases in the autistic trait of attention to detail are associated with decreased multisensory temporal adaptation
Authors: Stevenson Ryan A. , Toulmin Jennifer K. , Youm Ariana , Besney Richard M. A. , Schulz Samantha E. , Barense Morgan D. , Ferber Susanne
Published: October 2017

Recent empirical evidence suggests that autistic individuals perceive the world differently than their typically-developed peers. One theoretical account, the predictive coding hypothesis, posits that autistic individuals show a decreased reliance on previous perceptual experiences, which may relate to autism symptomatology. We tested this through a well-characterized, audiovisual statistical-learning paradigm in which typically-developed participants were first adapted to consistent temporal relationships between audiovisual stimulus pairs (audio-leading, synchronous, visual-leading) and then performed a simultaneity judgement task with audiovisual stimulus pairs varying in temporal offset from auditory-leading to visual-leading. Following exposure to the visual-leading adaptation phase, participants’ perception of synchrony was biased towards visual-leading presentations, reflecting the statistical regularities of their previously experienced environment. Importantly, the strength of adaptation was significantly related to the level of autistic traits that the participant exhibited, measured by the Autism Quotient (AQ). This was specific to the Attention to Detail subscale of the AQ that assesses the perceptual propensity to focus on fine-grain aspects of sensory input at the expense of more integrative perceptions. More severe Attention to Detail was related to weaker adaptation. These results support the predictive coding framework, and suggest that changes in sensory perception commonly reported in autism may contribute to autistic symptomatology.
A Computational Method of Defining Potential Biomarkers based on Differential Sub-Networks
Authors: Huang Xin , Lin Xiaohui , Zeng Jun , Wang Lichao , Yin Peiyuan , Zhou Lina , Hu Chunxiu , Yao Weihong
Published: October 2017

Analyzing omics data from a network-based perspective can facilitate biomarker discovery. To improve disease diagnosis and identify prospective information indicating the onset of complex disease, a computational method for identifying potential biomarkers based on differential sub-networks (PB-DSN) is developed. In PB-DSN, Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) is used to measure the relationship between feature ratios and to infer potential networks. A differential sub-network is extracted to identify crucial information for discriminating different groups and indicating the emergence of complex diseases. Subsequently, PB-DSN defines potential biomarkers based on the topological analysis of these differential sub-networks. In this study, PB-DSN is applied to handle a static genomics dataset of small, round blue cell tumors and a time-series metabolomics dataset of hepatocellular carcinoma. PB-DSN is compared with support vector machine-recursive feature elimination, multivariate empirical Bayes statistics, analyzing time-series data based on dynamic networks, molecular networks based on PCC, PinnacleZ, graph-based iterative group analysis, KeyPathwayMiner and BioNet. The better performance of PB-DSN not only demonstrates its effectiveness for the identification of discriminative features that facilitate disease classification, but also shows its potential for the identification of warning signals.
Toxic effects of cadmium on tall fescue and different responses of the photosynthetic activities in the photosystem electron donor and acceptor sides
Authors: Huang Meiyu , Zhu Huihui , Zhang Jing , Tang Diyong , Han Xiaole , Chen Liang , Du Dongyun , Yao Jun , Chen Ke , Sun Jie
Published: October 2017

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb) is a turf grass species which is widely used for rhizoremediation of organic contaminants and shows notable prospects in heavy metal phytoremediation. In this study, different concentrations of cadmium ion (Cd2+) were applied to study toxic effects of Cd2+ and responses of tall fescue by soilless culture. Tall fescue showed comparable high tolerance to Cd2+ as Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.). Additionally, the treatment with high concentration of Cd2+ leaded to decreased chlorophyll contents, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation, as well as damage of cell membrane, necrosis and apoptosis in tall fescue roots, and toxicity of Cd2+ on physiologic properties of tall fescue has been well discussed. Moreover, in photosystem II electron donor side, electron transport from oxygen evolution complex (OEC) to Yz residue of D1 protein was inhibited under high Cd2+ treatments, which may be due to the Cd2+ induced ROS production and the replacement of Ca2+ in the core of OEC. In electron acceptor side, electron transport efficiency from quinone B to photosystem I acceptors increased under high Cd2+ treatments, which may be an important response for plants against Cd2+ toxicity and its mechanism needs our further study.
Recent loss of closed forests is associated with Ebola virus disease outbreaks
Authors: Olivero Jesús , Fa Julia E. , Real Raimundo , Márquez Ana L. , Farfán Miguel A. , Vargas J. Mario , Gaveau David , Salim Mohammad A. , Park Douglas , Suter Jamison , King Shona , Leendertz Siv Aina , Sheil Douglas , Nasi Robert
Published: October 2017

Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a contagious, severe and often lethal form of hemorrhagic fever in humans. The association of EVD outbreaks with forest clearance has been suggested previously but many aspects remained uncharacterized. We used remote sensing techniques to investigate the association between deforestation in time and space, with EVD outbreaks in Central and West Africa. Favorability modeling, centered on 27 EVD outbreak sites and 280 comparable control sites, revealed that outbreaks located along the limits of the rainforest biome were significantly associated with forest losses within the previous 2 years. This association was strongest for closed forests (>83%), both intact and disturbed, of a range of tree heights (5–>19 m). Our results suggest that the increased probability of an EVD outbreak occurring in a site is linked to recent deforestation events, and that preventing the loss of forests could reduce the likelihood of future outbreaks.
DHPA-Containing Cobalt-Based Redox Metal-Organic Cyclohelicates as Enzymatic Molecular Flasks for Light-Driven H2 Production
Authors: Zhao Liang , Wang Jian , Wu Pengyan , He Cheng , Guo Xiangyang , Duan Chunying
Published: October 2017

The supramolecular assembly of predesigned organic and inorganic building blocks is an excellent tool for constructing well-defined nanosized molecular cavities that catalyse specific chemical transformations. By incorporating a reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) mimic within the ligand backbone, a redox-active cobalt-based macrocycle was developed as a redox vehicle for the construction of an artificial photosynthesis (AP) system. The cyclohelicate can encapsulate fluorescein within its cavity for light-driven H2 evolution, with the turnover number (TON) and turnover frequency (TOF) reaching 400 and 100 moles H2 per mole redox catalyst per hour, respectively. Control experiments demonstrated that the reactions were potentially occurred within the cavity of the cyclohelicates which were inhibited in the presence of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and the redox-active NADH mimic dihydropyridine amido moieties within the ligands played an important role in photocatalytic proton reduction process.
Nonlinear optical spectrum of diamond at femtosecond regime
Authors: Almeida Juliana M. P. , Oncebay Charlie , Siqueira Jonathas P. , Muniz Sérgio R. , De Boni Leonardo , Mendonça Cleber R.
Published: October 2017

Although diamond photonics has driven considerable interest and useful applications, as shown in frequency generation devices and single photon emitters, fundamental studies on the third-order optical nonlinearities of diamond are still scarce, stalling the development of an integrated platform for nonlinear and quantum optics. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to those studies by measuring the spectra of two-photon absorption coefficient (β) and the nonlinear index of refraction (n2) of diamond using femtosecond laser pulses, in a wide spectral range. These measurements show the magnitude of β increasing from 0.07 to 0.23 cm/GW, as it approaches the bandgap energy, in the region from 3.18 to 4.77 eV (390–260 nm), whereas the n2 varies from zero to 1.7 × 10−19 m2/W in the full measured range, from 0.83–4.77 eV (1500–260 nm). The experimental results are compared with theoretical models for nonlinear absorption and refraction in indirect gap semiconductors, indicating the two-photon absorption as the dominant effect in the dispersion of the third-order nonlinear susceptibility. These data, together with optical Kerr gate measurements, also provided here, are of foremost relevance to the understanding of ultrafast optical processes in diamond and its nonlinear optical properties.
Rat sensorimotor cortex tolerance to parallel transections induced by synchrotron-generated X-ray microbeams
Authors: Fardone Erminia , Bravin Alberto , Conti Alfredo , Bräuer-Krisch Elke , Requardt Herwig , Bucci Domenico , Le Duc Geraldine , Battaglia Giuseppe , Romanelli Pantaleo
Published: October 2017

Microbeam radiation therapy is a novel preclinical technique, which uses synchrotron-generated X-rays for the treatment of brain tumours and drug-resistant epilepsies. In order to safely translate this approach to humans, a more in-depth knowledge of the long-term radiobiology of microbeams in healthy tissues is required. We report here the result of the characterization of the rat sensorimotor cortex tolerance to microradiosurgical parallel transections. Healthy adult male Wistar rats underwent irradiation with arrays of parallel microbeams. Beam thickness, spacing and incident dose were 100 or 600 µm, 400 or 1200 µm and 360 or 150 Gy, respectively. Motor performance was carried over a 3-month period. Three months after irradiation rats were sacrificed to evaluate the effects of irradiation on brain tissues by histology and immunohistochemistry. Microbeam irradiation of sensorimotor cortex did not affect weight gain and motor performance. No gross signs of paralysis or paresis were also observed. The cortical architecture was not altered, despite the presence of cell death along the irradiation path. Reactive gliosis was evident in the microbeam path of rats irradiated with 150 Gy, whereas no increase was observed in rats irradiated with 360 Gy.
Targeted Recovery as an Effective Strategy against Epidemic Spreading
Authors: Böttcher L. , Andrade J. S. , Herrmann H. J.
Published: October 2017

We propose a targeted intervention protocol where recovery is restricted to individuals that have the least number of infected neighbours. Our recovery strategy is highly efficient on any kind of network, since epidemic outbreaks are minimal when compared to the baseline scenario of spontaneous recovery. In the case of spatially embedded networks, we find that an epidemic stays strongly spatially confined with a characteristic length scale undergoing a random walk. We demonstrate numerically and analytically that this dynamics leads to an epidemic spot with a flat surface structure and a radius that grows linearly with the spreading rate.
A cell based, high throughput assay for quantitative analysis of Hedgehog pathway activation using a Smoothened activation sensor
Authors: Albert Evgenii A. , Bökel Christian
Published: October 2017

The Hedgehog (Hh) signalling cascade plays an important role in development and disease. In the absence of Hh ligand, activity of the key signal transducer Smoothened (Smo) is downregulated by the Hh receptor Patched (Ptc). However, the mechanisms underlying this inhibition, and especially its release upon ligand stimulation, are still poorly understood, in part because tools for following Smo activation at the subcellular level were long lacking. To address this deficit we have developed a high throughput cell culture assay based on a fluorescent sensor for Drosophila Smo activation. We have screened a small molecule inhibitor library, and observed increased Smo sensor fluorescence with compounds aimed at two major target groups, the MAPK signalling cascade and polo and aurora kinases. Biochemical validation for selected inhibitors (dobrafenib, tak-733, volasertib) confirmed the screen results and revealed differences in the mode of Smo activation. Furthermore, monitoring Smo activation at the single cell level indicated that individual cells exhibit different threshold responses to Hh stimulation, which may be mechanistically relevant for the formation of graded Hh responses. Together, these results thus provide proof of principle that our assay may become a valuable tool for dissecting the cell biological basis of Hh pathway activation.
Soil hypoxia induced by an organic-material mulching technique stimulates the bamboo rhizome up-floating of Phyllostachys praecox
Authors: Xu Mengjie , Zhuang Shunyao , Gui Renyi
Published: October 2017

Phyllostachys praecox bamboo stands significantly recede after 3 or 4 years using an organic-material mulching technique consecutively. We hypothesized that the bamboo recession is caused by the up-floating of underground rhizome stimulated by soil hypoxia through the mulching technique. This study aimed to validate this hypothesis by field investigation. Bamboo underground rhizome distribution in the soil profile of P. praecox subjected to various mulching times was investigated. Results showed that bamboo rhizome weights and lengths increased with increased mulching time. However, after 4 years of mulching, the number of fresh rhizomes decreased significantly, and more than 50% of rhizomes floated upward to the shallow soil layer (0–10 cm). Moreover, the 0–10 cm soil layer suffered severe acidification that severely impeded bamboo-rhizome growth. The soil hypoxia induced by the mulching technique must be responsible for the bamboo rhizome up-floating. We confirmed that bamboo rhizome up-floating was the critical factor that caused the bamboo growth to recede under the mulching technique. Therefore, managing this bamboo rhizome up-floating is the key to sustainable bamboo production. The effect of soil hypoxia in the absence of flooding or waterlogging on plant root growth also warrants further and extensive study.
Mechanochemistry of Polymer Brushes
Authors: Ataman Nariye Cavusoglu , Genzer Jan , Klok Harm-Anton
Published: October 2017

Densely grafted polymer brushes prepared by surface-initiated polymerization (SIP) represent a versatile platform to engineer surface and interface properties. At high grafting densities, surface tethered polymer chains are forced into an extended chain conformation, which can impart these films with appealing materials properties such as low friction or efficient non-biofouling properties. The extended chain conformation of densely grafted polymer chains can also influence their chemical reactivity, in particular in close proximity to the polymer brush–substrate interface. This chapter provides an overview of recent efforts aiming at investigating detachment or degrafting of densely grafted hydrophilic polymer brushes from substrates upon exposure to aqueous media. The collective results from these reports suggest that swelling-induced stretching of such surface-attached polymers activates mechanochemical bonds near the brush–substrate interface and facilitates chain cleavage. Understanding the mechanochemistry of polymer brushes may provide novel opportunities to design robust, durable polymer brush films or, alternatively, systems that are designed to degraft on-demand.
Coupling Mechanics to Chemical Reactions to Create “Materials that Compute”
Authors: Yashin Victor V. , Levitan Steven P. , Balazs Anna C.
Published: October 2017

Polymer gels undergoing the Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction display chemo-mechanical transduction, converting the chemical energy from the internal reaction into the oscillatory mechanical motion of the sample, and hence, the gels pulsate autonomously. These BZ gels also display mechano-chemical transduction, converting an applied force into chemical energy. The ability to interconvert different modes of energy is vital to materials systems that perform bioinspired functions such as sensing, actuation, communication and computation. To design such multi-functional materials, we first develop models to capture the response of an oscillating BZ gel to an applied periodic force and analyze the entrainment of the gel to the applied deformation. The ability to entrain the gels in this manner opens routes to creating actuators that can sense and be regulated by an external periodic load. Building on these findings, we designed material systems that undergo effective communication by coupling the self-oscillating BZ gels to a piezoelectric (PZ) micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS). The individual BZ-PZ units are interconnected by electrical wires and the transduction between chemo-mechanical and electrical energy induces signals that propagate rapidly over long distances. This permits remote, non-diffusively coupled oscillators to communicate and synchronize. The synchronization between the coupled oscillators allows the system to perform computational tasks such as pattern recognition. Using our theoretical models, we predict the synchronization behavior that can be used for these computational tasks, and thereby enable the creation of ″materials that compute″.
Intense red up-conversion luminescence and dynamical processes observed in Sc2O3:Yb3+,Er3+ nanostructures
Authors: Jiu Junxia , An Xitao , Li Jing , Leng Jing , Lü Wei , Chen Li , Wang Xiaojun
Published: October 2017

The intense red up-conversion luminescence in Sc2O3:Yb3+,Er3+ synthesized using a biphasic solvothermal (ST) method was observed upon laser diode pumping at 980 nm.
New lanthanide(iii) coordination polymers: synthesis, structural features, and catalytic activity in CO2 fixation
Authors: Xu Cong , Liu Yan , Wang Li , Ma Jingxin , Yang Lizi , Pan Fu-Xin , Kirillov Alexander M. , Liu Weisheng
Published: October 2017

A series of Ln-CPs show highly heterogeneous catalytic activity for cycloaddition reactions with TON = 3920 and TOF = 326 h−1.