bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Self Damping and Higher-Order Geometrical Nonlinearity on History of Springback Amount for a Rectangular HSLA Steel Plate
Authors: Dai H. L. , Xiao Z. H. , Jiang H. J. , Luo A. H. , Xu W. L.
Published: June 2017

By introducing the concept of forming springback anti-coupled systems and considering the influence of the self damping effect, meanwhile establishing higher-order geometrical nonlinear equation of a high strength and low alloy (HSLA) steel plate, then a set of nonlinear dynamic springback governing equations of the plate are obtained. The finite difference method, Newmark method and iterative method are applied to solve the whole problem. Numerical results denote that the boundary conditions, thickness-length ratio of the plate and initial impact velocity of the impactor have great influence on the springback amount of the rectangular HSLA steel plate, besides the natural frequency is affected a lot by the boundary conditions and thickness-length ratio. The effect of higher-order geometrical nonlinearity on the springback amount of the plate can be ignored, considering the first-order geometrical nonlinearity is enough accurate for such similar nonlinear dynamic problems.
No influence of supplemental dietary calcium intake on the bioavailability of spinach carotenoids in humans
Authors: Corte-Real Joana , Guignard Cédric , Gantenbein Manon , Weber Bernard , Burgard Kim , Hoffmann Lucien , Richling Elke , Bohn Torsten
Published: June 2017

Dietary carotenoid intake, especially from fruits and vegetables, has been associated with a reduced incidence of several chronic diseases. However, its bioavailability can vary, depending on the food matrix and host factors. Recently, it has been suggested that divalent minerals negatively impinge on carotenoid bioavailability by reducing bile-salt and non-esterified fatty-acid levels in the gut, which normally aid in emulsifying carotenoids. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether supplemental Ca would negatively influence carotenoid absorption in humans. A total of twenty-five healthy, non-obese men (age: 20–46 years, BMI<30 kg/m2) were recruited for this postprandial, randomised, crossover, double-blinded trial. Following a randomised block design, each participant received (after 2-week washout periods), on three occasions separated by 1 week, 270 g of spinach-based meals (8·61 (sd1·08) mg carotenoids/100 g fresh weight), supplemented with 0, 500 or 1000 mg of Ca (as calcium carbonate), with each participant acting as his or her own control. Blood samples were collected at regular postprandial intervals for up to 10 h following test meal intake, and standardised lunches were served. TAG-rich lipoprotein fractions were separated and carotenoid concentrations determined. AUC for meals without supplemented Ca were 22·72 (sem2·78) nmol×h/l (lutein), 0·19 (sem3·90) nmol×h/l (β-carotene) and 2·80 (sem1·75) nmol×h/l (β-cryptoxanthin). No significant influence of supplementation with either 500 or 1000 mg of supplemental Ca was found. In conclusion, Ca – the most abundant divalent mineral in the diet – given at high but physiological concentrations, does not appear to have repercussions on the bioavailability of carotenoids from a spinach-based meal.
Parasite dynamics in an invaded ecosystem: helminth communities of native wood mice are impacted by the invasive bank vole
Authors: LOXTON KAREN C. , LAWTON COLIN , STAFFORD PETER , HOLLAND CELIA V.
Published: June 2017

It is becoming increasingly evident that biological invasions result in altered disease dynamics in invaded ecosystems, with knock-on effects for native host communities. We investigated disease dynamics in an invaded ecosystem, using the helminth communities of the native wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) in the presence and absence of the invasive bank vole (Myodes glareolus) in Ireland. Native wood mice were collected over 2 years from four sites to assess the impact of the presence of the bank vole on wood mouse helminth community dynamics both at the component and infracommunity level. We found evidence for dilution (Syphacia stroma), spill-back (Aonchotheca murissylvatici) and spill-over (Taenia martis) in native wood mice due to the presence of the bank vole. Site of capture was the most important factor affecting helminth community structure of wood mice, along with year of capture and host-age and the interactions between them.
The End of Social Security as we know it – The Erosion of Status Protection in German Labour Market Policy
Authors: BOTHFELD SILKE , ROSENTHAL PEER
Published: June 2017

The German labour market policy regime constitutes a reliable supporting pillar of the highly productive German employment system. Due to the most recent reforms, its core principle of status protection – a basic norm of the German middle-class-related model of social protection for the population of working age – is losing its formative character. Our analysis focuses on three separate policy principles that form the guiding logic of status centredness, namely the equivalence in security provision, the mechanisms that protect the socio-economic status in the event of unemployment, and the tripartite mode of funding. We argue that the ‘Hartz Reforms’ have reinforced the logic of the legal modifications since the mid-1990s, cumulating now in a shift away from the middle-class-oriented status-centred approach of social security provision.
Effect of voicing on perceptual auditory laterality in Estonian and Norwegian native speakers
Authors: WESTERHAUSEN RENÉ , PÕLDVER NELE , NAAR RICHARD , RADZIUN DOMINIKA , KAAREP MARIA SILVIA , KREEGIPUU KAIRI , HUGDAHL KENNETH , LIPPUS PÄRTEL , KOMPUS KRISTIINA
Published: June 2017

As a reliable and valid measures of perceptual auditory laterality, dichotic listening has been successfully applied in studies in many countries and languages. However, languages differ in the linguistic relevance of change in initial phoneme of words (e.g., for word identification). In the present cross-language study, we examine the effect of these differences on dichotic-listening task performance to establish how characteristics of one's native language affect the perception of nonnative phonological features. We compared 33 native speakers of Norwegian, a language characterized by a clear distinction between voiced and unvoiced initial plosive consonants, with 30 native speakers of Estonian, a language that has exclusively unvoiced initial phonemes. Using a free-report dichotic-listening paradigm utilizing pairs of voiced (/ba/, /da/, /ga/) and unvoiced (/pa/, /ta/, /ka/) stop-consonant vowels as stimulus material, the Norwegian native speakers were found to be more sensitive to the voicing of the initial plosive than the Estonian group. “Voicing” explained 69% and 18% of the variance in the perceptual auditory laterality in the Norwegian and the Estonian sample, respectively. This indicates that experiential differences, likely during acquisition of the mother tongue in early development, permanently shape the sensitivity to the voicing contrast.
Connexin 36 expression is required for electrical coupling between mouse rods and cones
Authors: ASTERITI SABRINA , GARGINI CLAUDIA , CANGIANO LORENZO
Published: June 2017

Rod-cone gap junctions mediate the so-called “secondary rod pathway”, one of three routes that convey rod photoreceptor signals across the retina. Connexin 36 (Cx36) is expressed at these gap junctions, but an unidentified connexin protein also seems to be expressed. Cx36 knockout mice have been used extensively in the quest to dissect the roles in vision of all three pathways, with the assumption, never directly tested, that rod-cone electrical coupling is abolished by deletion of this connexin isoform. We previously showed that when wild type mouse cones couple to rods, their apparent dynamic range is extended toward lower light intensities, with the appearance of large responses to dim flashes (up to several mV) originating in rods. Here we recorded from the cones of Cx36del[LacZ]/del[LacZ] mice and found that dim flashes of the same intensity evoked at most small sub-millivolt responses. Moreover, these residual responses originated in the cones themselves, since: (i) their spectral preference matched that of the recorded cone and not of rods, (ii) their time-to-peak was shorter than in coupled wild type cones, (iii) a pharmacological block of gap junctions did not reduce their amplitude. Taken together, our data show that rod signals are indeed absent in the cones of Cx36 knockout mice. This study is the first direct demonstration that Cx36 is crucial for the assembly of functional rod-cone gap junctional channels, implying that its genetic deletion is a reliable experimental approach to eliminate rod-cone coupling.
The relationship between general executive functions and bilingual switching and monitoring in language production
Authors: JYLKKÄ JUSSI , LEHTONEN MINNA , LINDHOLM FRED , KUUSAKOSKI ANNA , LAINE MATTI
Published: June 2017

We examined the role of general inhibitory control and general set shifting processes in bilingual language production in 51 native Finnish speakers with English as L2, mainly learnt after the age of 7. We tested the hypothesis that inhibitory control, measured with the Simon and Flanker tasks, is central when switching into L1 (Green, 1998) and, more generally, that general set shifting processes, measured with the Number-Letter task, underlie language switching and mixing (Meuter & Allport, 1999). The results were inconsistent. The basic language switch cost effects were in line with the inhibitory control model, but the interactions with the executive tasks did not support the model and were partly contrary to it. The general set shifting hypothesis received some support. Alternative explanations of the sources of the switching and mixing cost asymmetries in bilingual language production are discussed.
Host preference by the twig borer Xylosandrus compactus (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) and simulated influence of shade trees on its populations
Authors: Egonyu James Peter , Baguma John , Ogari Isaac , Ahumuza Gladys , Ddumba Gerald
Published: June 2017

Xylosandrus compactus (Eichhoff) is a serious pest of Coffea canephora and Theobroma cacao in Uganda and also attacks several common shade tree species often associated with these crops. Seedlings of 10 common hosts of X. compactus were screened for preferential infestation by X. compactus, with a view to analysing the potential role of the shade trees in escalating incidence and damage by the pest. The experiment was conducted for 8 weeks in a garden of mature C. canephora infested by X. compactus that served as a natural source of infestation for the seedlings. The seedlings that became infested by X. compactus were counted weekly and the counts subjected to generalized linear modelling. Results show marked host preference by X. compactus, with T. cacao and C. canephora being the most preferred, while Eucalyptus sp. and Albizia chinensis being the least preferred. Four simulated scenarios of incidence and damage by X. compactus on a preferred crop such as C. canephora are discussed. It is suggested that it is most unlikely for unpreferred alternate host shade tree species to markedly increase populations of X. compactus on shaded preferred host plants. However, these simulations, which are based on results from potted seedlings, need to be validated in a real field situation, taking into account other ecological parameters that are likely to influence pest populations.
Fomesafen Crop Tolerance and Weed Control in Processing Tomato
Authors: Mohseni-Moghadam Mohsen , Doohan Douglas
Published: June 2017

Field experiments were conducted at the North Central Agricultural Research Station in Fremont, OH in 2009 and 2010 to evaluate the tolerance of tomato to fomesafen and the efficacy of this herbicide on weed control. The crop was machine-transplanted in June 5, 2009 and June 3, 2010. Herbicide treatments were applied using a CO2pressurized (276 kPa) backpack sprayer with 8002VS nozzle tips delivering 234 L ha−1. Pre-transplant (PRETP) treatments were applied on June 4, 2009, and May 27, 2010. Treatments included fomesafen at 280, 350, 420, 560, and 840 g ai ha−1. Minimal crop injury was observed 7 and 14 d after treatment (DAT) in plots treated with fomesafen at 840 g ha−1both years. None of the treatments caused crop injury either year at 42 DAT. Fomesafen at the highest rate provided acceptable annual grass, common purslane, and redroot pigweed control 42 DAT. Tomato yield was not reduced by the application of fomesafen. Registration of fomesafen herbicide would provide tomato growers an opportunity to control weeds caused by late emergence or poor initial control following a burndown herbicide application in tomato.
Effects of Floor Vegetation and Fertility Management on Weed Biomass and Diversity in Organic Peach Orchards
Authors: Tebeau Andrew S. , Alston Diane G. , Ransom Corey V. , Black Brent L. , Reeve Jennifer R. , Culumber Catherine M.
Published: June 2017

Treerow vegetation abundance and biodiversity were measured in response to six orchard floor management strategies in organic peach in northern Utah for three growing seasons. A total of 32 weed species were observed in the treerow; the most common were field bindweed, dandelion, perennial grasses (e.g., red fescue and ryegrass), clovers, and prickly lettuce. Weed biomass was two to five times greater in unmanaged (living mulch) than in manipulated treatments. Tillage greatly reduced weeds for approximately one month; however, vegetation rebounded midseason. Tillage selected for species adapted to disturbance, such as common purslane and field bindweed. Straw mulch provided equivalent weed suppression to tillage in the early season. Straw required annual reapplication with material costs, labor, and weed-seed contamination (e.g., volunteer grains and quackgrass) as disadvantages. Plastic fabric mulch reduced weeds the most, but had high initial costs and required seasonal maintenance. Weed biomass declined within seasons and across the three years of the study, likely due to tree canopy shading. Neither birdsfoot trefoil nor a perennial grass mixture planted in the alleyways influenced treerow weeds. Our results demonstrate several viable alternatives to tillage for weed management in treerows of organic peach orchards in the Intermountain West.
The structural and functional characterization of human RecQ4 reveals insights into its helicase mechanism
Authors: Kaiser Sebastian , Sauer Florian , Kisker Caroline
Published: June 2017

RecQ4 is a member of the RecQ helicase family, an evolutionarily conserved class of enzymes, dedicated to preserving genomic integrity by operating in telomere maintenance, DNA repair and replication. While reduced RecQ4 activity is associated with cancer predisposition and premature aging, RecQ4 upregulation is related to carcinogenesis and metastasis. Within the RecQ family, RecQ4 assumes an exceptional position, lacking several characteristic RecQ domains. Here we present the crystal structure of human RecQ4, encompassing the conserved ATPase core and a novel C-terminal domain that lacks resemblance to the RQC domain observed in other RecQ helicases. The new domain features a zinc-binding site and two distinct types of winged-helix domains, which are not involved in canonical DNA binding or helicase activity. Based on our structural and functional analysis, we propose that RecQ4 exerts a helicase mechanism, which may be more closely related to bacterial RecQ helicases than to its human family members.
Reminders of past choices bias decisions for reward in humans
Authors: Bornstein Aaron M. , Khaw Mel W. , Shohamy Daphna , Daw Nathaniel D.
Published: June 2017

We provide evidence that decisions are made by consulting memories for individual past experiences, and that this process can be biased in favour of past choices using incidental reminders. First, in a standard rewarded choice task, we show that a model that estimates value at decision-time using individual samples of past outcomes fits choices and decision-related neural activity better than a canonical incremental learning model. In a second experiment, we bias this sampling process by incidentally reminding participants of individual past decisions. The next decision after a reminder shows a strong influence of the action taken and value received on the reminded trial. These results provide new empirical support for a decision architecture that relies on samples of individual past choice episodes rather than incrementally averaged rewards in evaluating options and has suggestive implications for the underlying cognitive and neural mechanisms.
Anaerobic consortia of fungi and sulfate reducing bacteria in deep granite fractures
Authors: Drake Henrik , Ivarsson Magnus , Bengtson Stefan , Heim Christine , Siljeström Sandra , Whitehouse Martin J. , Broman Curt , Belivanova Veneta , Åström Mats E.
Published: June 2017

The deep biosphere is one of the least understood ecosystems on Earth. Although most microbiological studies in this system have focused on prokaryotes and neglected microeukaryotes, recent discoveries have revealed existence of fossil and active fungi in marine sediments and sub-seafloor basalts, with proposed importance for the subsurface energy cycle. However, studies of fungi in deep continental crystalline rocks are surprisingly few. Consequently, the characteristics and processes of fungi and fungus-prokaryote interactions in this vast environment remain enigmatic. Here we report the first findings of partly organically preserved and partly mineralized fungi at great depth in fractured crystalline rock (−740 m). Based on environmental parameters and mineralogy the fungi are interpreted as anaerobic. Synchrotron-based techniques and stable isotope microanalysis confirm a coupling between the fungi and sulfate reducing bacteria. The cryptoendolithic fungi have significantly weathered neighboring zeolite crystals and thus have implications for storage of toxic wastes using zeolite barriers.
Hidden biofilms in a far northern lake and implications for the changing Arctic
Authors: Mohit Vani , Culley Alexander , Lovejoy Connie , Bouchard Frédéric , Vincent Warwick F.
Published: June 2017

Shallow lakes are common across the Arctic landscape and their ecosystem productivity is often dominated by benthic, cyanobacterial biofilms. Many of these water bodies freeze to the bottom and are biologically inactive during winter, but full freeze-up is becoming less common with Arctic warming. Here we analyzed the microbiome structure of newly discovered biofilms at the deepest site of a perennially ice-covered High Arctic lake as a model of polar microbial communities that remain unfrozen throughout the year. Biofilms were also sampled from the lake’s shallow moat region that melts out and refreezes to the bottom annually. Using high throughput small subunit ribosomal RNA sequencing, we found more taxonomic richness in Bacteria, Archaea and microbial eukaryotes in the perennially unfrozen biofilms compared to moat communities. The deep communities contained both aerobic and anaerobic taxa including denitrifiers, sulfate reducers, and methanogenic Archaea. The water overlying the deep biofilms was well oxygenated in mid-summer but almost devoid of oxygen in spring, indicating anoxia during winter. Seasonally alternating oxic-anoxic regimes may become increasingly widespread in polar biofilms as fewer lakes and ponds freeze to the bottom, favoring prolonged anaerobic metabolism and greenhouse gas production during winter darkness.
Mosaic mutations in blood DNA sequence are associated with solid tumor cancers
Authors: Artomov Mykyta , Rivas Manuel A. , Genovese Giulio , Daly Mark J.
Published: June 2017

Recent understanding of the causal role of blood-detectable somatic protein-truncating DNA variants in leukemia prompts questions about the generalizability of such observations across cancer types. We used the cancer genome atlas exome sequencing (~8000 samples) to compare 22 different cancer phenotypes with more than 6000 controls using a case–control study design and demonstrate that mosaic protein truncating variants in these genes are also associated with solid-tumor cancers. The absence of these cancer-associated mosaic variants from the tumors themselves suggest these are not themselves tumor drivers. Through analysis of different cancer phenotypes we observe gene-specificity for mosaic mutations. We confirm a specific link between PPM1D and ovarian cancer, consistent with previous reports linking PPM1D to breast and ovarian cancer. Additionally, glioblastoma, melanoma and lung cancers show gene specific burdens of mosaic protein truncating mutations. Taken together, these results extend existing observations and broadly link solid-tumor cancers to somatic blood DNA changes.
The destiny of the resistance/susceptibility against GCRV is controlled by epigenetic mechanisms in CIK cells
Authors: Shang Xueying , Yang Chunrong , Wan Quanyuan , Rao Youliang , Su Jianguo
Published: June 2017

Hemorrhagic disease caused by grass carp reovirus (GCRV) has severely threatened the grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) cultivation industry. It is noteworthy that the resistance against GCRV infection was reported to be inheritable, and identified at both individual and cellular levels. Therefore, this work was inspired and dedicated to unravel the molecular mechanisms of fate decision post GCRV infection in related immune cells. Foremost, the resistant and susceptible CIK (C. idellakidney) monoclonal cells were established by single cell sorting, subculturing and infection screening successively. RNA-Seq, MeDIP-Seq and small RNA-Seq were carried out with C1 (CIK cells), R2 (resistant cells) and S3 (susceptible cells) groups. It was demonstrated that genome-wide DNA methylation, mRNA and microRNA expression levels in S3 were the highest among three groups. Transcriptome analysis elucidated that pathways associated with antioxidant activity, cell proliferation regulation, apoptosis activity and energy consuming might contribute to the decision of cell fates post infection. And a series of immune-related genes were identified differentially expressed across resistant and susceptible groups, which were negatively modulated by DNA methylation or microRNAs. To conclude, this study systematically uncovered the regulatory mechanism on the resistance from epigenetic perspective and provided potential biomarkers for future studies on resistance breeding.
Improved risk stratification in prevention by use of a panel of selected circulating microRNAs
Authors: Keller Till , Boeckel Jes-Niels , Groß Stefan , Klotsche Jens , Palapies Lars , Leistner David , Pieper Lars , Stalla Günnter K. , Lehnert Hendrik , Silber Sigmund , Pittrow David , Maerz Winfried , Dörr Marcus , Wittchen Hans-Ulrich , Baumeister Sebastian E. , Völker Uwe , Felix Stephan B. , Dimmeler Stefanie , Zeiher Andreas M.
Published: June 2017

Risk stratification is crucial in prevention. Circulating microRNAs have been proposed as biomarkers in cardiovascular disease. Here a miR panel consisting of miRs related to different cardiovascular pathophysiologies, was evaluated to predict outcome in the context of prevention. MiR-34a, miR-223, miR-378, miR-499 and miR-133 were determined from peripheral blood by qPCR and combined to a risk panel. As derivation cohort, 178 individuals of the DETECT study, and as validation cohort, 129 individuals of the SHIP study were used in a case-control approach. Overall mortality and cardiovascular events were outcome measures. The Framingham Risk Score(FRS) and the SCORE system were applied as risk classification systems. The identified miR panel was significantly associated with mortality given by a hazard ratio(HR) of 3.0 (95% (CI): 1.09–8.43; p = 0.034) and of 2.9 (95% CI: 1.32–6.33; p = 0.008) after adjusting for the FRS in the derivation cohort. In a validation cohort the miR-panel had a HR of 1.31 (95% CI: 1.03–1.66; p = 0.03) and of 1.29 (95% CI: 1.02–1.64; p = 0.03) in a FRS/SCORE adjusted-model. A FRS/SCORE risk model was significantly improved to predict mortality by the miR panel with continuous net reclassification index of 0.42/0.49 (p = 0.014/0.005). The present miR panel of 5 circulating miRs is able to improve risk stratification in prevention with respect to mortality beyond the FRS or SCORE.
Candidate regulators of Early Leaf Development in Maize Perturb Hormone Signalling and Secondary Cell Wall Formation When Constitutively Expressed in Rice
Authors: Wang Peng , Karki Shanta , Biswal Akshaya K. , Lin Hsiang-Chun , Dionora Mary Jacqueline , Rizal Govinda , Yin Xiaojia , Schuler Mara L. , Hughes Tom , Fouracre Jim P. , Jamous Basel Abu , Sedelnikova Olga , Lo Shuen-Fang , Bandyopadhyay Anindya , Yu Su-May , Kelly Steven , Quick W. Paul , Langdale Jane A.
Published: June 2017

All grass leaves are strap-shaped with a series of parallel veins running from base to tip, but the distance between each pair of veins, and the cell-types that develop between them, differs depending on whether the plant performs C3 or C4 photosynthesis. As part of a multinational effort to introduce C4 traits into rice to boost crop yield, candidate regulators of C4 leaf anatomy were previously identified through an analysis of maize leaf transcriptomes. Here we tested the potential of 60 of those candidate genes to alter leaf anatomy in rice. In each case, transgenic rice lines were generated in which the maize gene was constitutively expressed. Lines grouped into three phenotypic classes: (1) indistinguishable from wild-type; (2) aberrant shoot and/or root growth indicating possible perturbations to hormone homeostasis; and (3) altered secondary cell wall formation. One of the genes in class 3 defines a novel monocot-specific family. None of the genes were individually sufficient to induce C4-like vein patterning or cell-type differentiation in rice. A better understanding of gene function in C4 plants is now needed to inform more sophisticated engineering attempts to alter leaf anatomy in C3 plants.
Stress state measured at ~7 km depth in the Tarim Basin, NW China
Authors: Sun Dongsheng , Sone Hiroki , Lin Weiren , Cui Junwen , He Bizhu , Lv Haitao , Cao Zicheng
Published: June 2017

The in-situ stress state in the Tarim Basin, Northwest China, down to 7 km depth is constrained using the anelastic strain recovery (ASR) method and wellbore failure analysis. Results are consistent between the two methods, and indicate that the maximum principal stresses (σ1) are close to vertical and the intermediate and minimum principal stresses (σ2 and σ3) are approximately horizontal. The states of stress at the studied wellbore is in the normal faulting stress regime within the Tarim Basin rather than in the compressional tectonic stress regime as in the periphery of the Tarim Basin, which explains the presence of the normal faults interpreted in 3-D seismic profiles collected from adjacent areas. Our results demonstrate that the ASR method can be used for rocks recovered from depths as deep as 7 km to recover reliable stress state information. The in-situ stress measurement results revealed in this paper will help future development of the petroleum resources and kinematics study in the Tarim Basin.
Origin of proton affinity to membrane/water interfaces
Authors: Weichselbaum Ewald , Österbauer Maria , Knyazev Denis G. , Batishchev Oleg V. , Akimov Sergey A. , Hai Nguyen Trung , Zhang Chao , Knör Günther , Agmon Noam , Carloni Paolo , Pohl Peter
Published: June 2017

Proton diffusion along biological membranes is vitally important for cellular energetics. Here we extended previous time-resolved fluorescence measurements to study the timeandtemperature dependence of surface proton transport. We determined the Gibbs activation energy barrier ΔG‡rthat opposes proton surface-to-bulk release from Arrhenius plots of (i) protons’ surface diffusion constant and (ii) the rate coefficient for proton surface-to-bulk release. The large size of ΔG‡rdisproves that quasi-equilibrium exists in our experiments between protons in the near-membrane layers and in the aqueous bulk. Instead, non-equilibrium kinetics describes the proton travel between the site of its photo-release and its arrival at a distant membrane patch at different temperatures. ΔG‡rcontains only a minor enthalpic contribution that roughly corresponds to the breakage of a single hydrogen bond. Thus, our experiments reveal an entropic trap that ensures channeling of highly mobile protons along the membrane interface in the absence of potent acceptors.
Isoelectric point-based fractionation by HiRIEF coupled to LC-MS allows for in-depth quantitative analysis of the phosphoproteome
Authors: Panizza Elena , Branca Rui M. M. , Oliviusson Peter , Orre Lukas M. , Lehtiö Janne
Published: June 2017

Protein phosphorylation is involved in the regulation of most eukaryotic cells functions and mass spectrometry-based analysis has made major contributions to our understanding of this regulation. However, low abundance of phosphorylated species presents a major challenge in achieving comprehensive phosphoproteome coverage and robust quantification. In this study, we developed a workflow employing titanium dioxide phospho-enrichment coupled with isobaric labeling by Tandem Mass Tags (TMT) and high-resolution isoelectric focusing (HiRIEF) fractionation to perform in-depth quantitative phosphoproteomics starting with a low sample quantity. To benchmark the workflow, we analyzed HeLa cells upon pervanadate treatment or cell cycle arrest in mitosis. Analyzing 300 µg of peptides per sample, we identified 22,712 phosphorylation sites, of which 19,075 were localized with high confidence and 1,203 are phosphorylated tyrosine residues, representing 6.3% of all detected phospho-sites. HiRIEF fractions with the most acidic isoelectric points are enriched in multiply phosphorylated peptides, which represent 18% of all the phospho-peptides detected in the pH range 2.5–3.7. Cross-referencing with the PhosphoSitePlus database reveals 1,264 phosphorylation sites that have not been previously reported and kinase association analysis suggests that a subset of these may be functional during the mitotic phase.
Paranoia and the social representation of others: a large-scale game theory approach
Authors: Raihani Nichola J. , Bell Vaughan
Published: June 2017

Current definitions of paranoia include two key components: unfounded ideas of harm and the idea that the harm is intended by others. However, attributions of harmful intent have been poorly studied and mainly using artificial scenarios rather than participation in genuine social interactions where genuine resources are at stake. Using a large non-clinical population (N = 3229) recruited online, we asked people to complete a measure of paranoid ideation before playing a modified Dictator Game, where the ‘dictator’ can allocate money to the partner (the ‘receiver’). Participants were allocated to the role of receiver or of an uninvolved observer; and evaluated to what extent they believed dictator decisions were motivated by (i) self-interest or (ii) harmful intent. All participants attributed more harmful intent to unfair as opposed to fair dictators. Paranoia had a positive effect on harmful intent attribution, for both fair and unfair dictators. Paranoia did not interact with attributions of self-interest. Importantly, highly paranoid participants attributed equally strong harmful intent to the dictator in the observer role as in the receiver role. This challenges the assumption that paranoia is mainly due to an exaggerated sense of personalised threat and suggests instead that paranoia involves a negative social representations of others.
Superior high creep resistance of in situ nano-sized TiCx/Al-Cu-Mg composite
Authors: Wang Lei , Qiu Feng , Zhao Qinglong , Zha Min , Jiang Qichuan
Published: June 2017

The tensile creep behavior of Al-Cu-Mg alloy and its composite containing in situ nano-sized TiCx were explored at temperatures of 493 K, 533 K and 573 K with the applied stresses in the range of 40 to 100 MPa. The composite reinforced by nano-sized TiCx particles exhibited excellent creep resistance ability, which was about 4–15 times higher than those of the unreinforced matrix alloy. The stress exponent of 5 was noticed for both Al-Cu-Mg alloy and its composite, which suggested that their creep behavior was related to dislocation climb mechanism. During deformation at elevated temperatures, the enhanced creep resistance of the composite was mainly attributed to two aspects: (a) Orowan strengthening and grain boundary (GB) strengthening induced by nano-sized TiCx particles, (b) θ′ and S′ precipitates strengthening.
Activation of the mTOR signaling pathway is required for asthma onset
Authors: Zhang Yanli , Jing Ying , Qiao Junying , Luan Bin , Wang Xiufang , Wang Li , Song Zhe
Published: June 2017

The mTOR pathway has been implicated in immune functions; however, its role in asthma is not well understood. We found that patients experiencing an asthma attack, when compared with patients in asthma remission, showed significantly elevated serum mTOR pathway activation, increased Th17 cells and IL-4, and decreased Treg cells and IFN-γ. In patients experiencing asthma, mTOR activation was positively correlated with the loss of Th17/Treg and Th1/Th2 balance. The role of mTOR in asthma was further confirmed using an ovalbumin-induced asthmatic mouse model. The mTOR pathway was activated in asthmatic mice, demonstrated by elevated levels of p-PI3K, p-Akt, p-mTOR, and p-p70S6k, and this activation was significantly reduced by treatment with budenoside or mTOR pathway inhibitors. Moreover, mTOR pathway inhibitor treatment reduced asthmatic markers and reversed the Th17/Treg and Th1/Th2 imbalances in asthmatic mice. Finally, different mTOR pathway inhibitor treatments have different inhibitory effects on signaling molecules in asthmatic mice. In summary, mTOR is activated during asthma onset and suppressed during asthma remission, and inhibiting the mTOR pathway in asthmatic mice alleviates asthmatic markers and restores the balances of Th17/Treg and Th1/Th2 cytokines. These data strongly suggest a critical requirement for mTOR pathway activation in asthma onset, suggesting potential targets for asthma treatments.
HDAC6: A Novel Histone Deacetylase Implicated in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Boucherat Olivier , Chabot Sophie , Paulin Roxane , Trinh Isabelle , Bourgeois Alice , Potus François , Lampron Marie-Claude , Lambert Caroline , Breuils-Bonnet Sandra , Nadeau Valérie , Paradis Renée , Goncharova Elena A. , Provencher Steeve , Bonnet Sébastien
Published: June 2017

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a vascular remodeling disease with limited therapeutic options. Although exposed to stressful conditions, pulmonary artery (PA) smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) exhibit a “cancer-like” pro-proliferative and anti-apoptotic phenotype. HDAC6 is a cytoplasmic histone deacetylase regulating multiple pro-survival mechanisms and overexpressed in response to stress in cancer cells. Due to the similarities between cancer and PAH, we hypothesized that HDAC6 expression is increased in PAH-PASMCs to face stress allowing them to survive and proliferate, thus contributing to vascular remodeling in PAH. We found that HDAC6 is significantly up-regulated in lungs, distal PAs, and isolated PASMCs from PAH patients and animal models. Inhibition of HDAC6 reduced PAH-PASMC proliferation and resistance to apoptosis in vitro sparing control cells. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that HDAC6 maintains Ku70 in a hypoacetylated state, blocking the translocation of Bax to mitochondria and preventing apoptosis. In vivo, pharmacological inhibition of HDAC6 improved established PAH in two experimental models and can be safely given in combination with currently approved PAH therapies. Moreover, Hdac6 deficient mice were partially protected against chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension. Our study shows for the first time that HDAC6 is implicated in PAH development and represents a new promising target to improve PAH.
Submicron-scale broadband polarization beam splitter using CMOS-compatible materials
Authors: Lai Ming-Sheng , Huang Chia-Chien
Published: June 2017

We propose a polarization beam splitter (PBS) with a footprint of only 600 × 790 nm2 operating at a wavelength of λ = 1550 nm, which is the smallest PBS ever demonstrated. This device uses CMOS-compatible materials, namely, silicon and silica. The present PBS comprises two Si waveguides with different geometrical aspect ratios adjoined side-by-side, which separates the transverse-electric (TE) and transverse-magnetic (TM) modes without relying on an additional coupling region. The designed PBS achieves a polarization extinction ratio of approximately 25 dB for both modes and insertion losses of approximately 0.87 and 1.09 dB for the TE and TM polarizations, respectively. Over a wide bandwidth of 150 nm (from λ = 1475–1625 nm), a high polarization extinction ratio (greater than 20 dB) and a low inversion loss (lower than 1.3 dB) can be obtained. The proposed PBS allows for geometrical errors of ±15 nm while maintaining a polarization extinction ratio of >20 dB and inversion losses of >1.1 and 1.3 dB for the TE and TM modes, respectively. With the submicron footprint, the reported PBS may be able to be used in high-density photonic integrated circuits and nanophotonic devices.
Effective SERS detection using a flexible wiping substrate based on electrospun polystyrene nanofibers
Authors: K. Jalaja , S. Bhuvaneswari , Ganiga Manjunatha , R. Divyamol , S. Anup , Cyriac Jobin , George Benny K.
Published: June 2017

In this paper we demonstrate a flexible SERS substrate that offers effective in situ sampling by wiping directly from the surface of luggage, fruits or any surface of interest.
Biscarbene gold(i) complexes: structure–activity-relationships regarding antibacterial effects, cytotoxicity, TrxR inhibition and cellular bioavailability
Authors: Schmidt Claudia , Karge Bianka , Misgeld Rainer , Prokop Aram , Brönstrup Mark , Ott Ingo
Published: June 2017

Biscarbene gold(i) complexes were prepared and evaluated for their effects against cancer cells and pathogenic bacteria.
Ultralight, highly thermally insulating and fire resistant aerogel by encapsulating cellulose nanofibers with two-dimensional MoS2
Authors: Yang Lei , Mukhopadhyay Alolika , Jiao Yucong , Yong Qiang , Chen Liao , Xing Yingjie , Hamel Jonathan , Zhu Hongli
Published: June 2017

Thermally insulating materials, made from earth-abundant and sustainable resources, are highly desirable in the sustainable construction of energy efficient buildings.
Effects of molecular weight distribution on the self-assembly of end-functionalized polystyrenes
Authors: Wu Bai-Heng , Zhong Qi-Zhi , Xu Zhi-Kang , Wan Ling-Shu
Published: June 2017

The molecular weight distribution of hydroxyl-end-functionalized polystyrenes shows effects on the self-assembly of patterned porous films and the mechanical strength.
Biocompatibility assay of cellular behavior inside a leaf-inspired biomimetic microdevice at the single-cell level
Authors: Wu Wenming , Manz Andreas
Published: June 2017

Inspired by recent studies, we created a biomimetic method to replicate the veinal microvasculature from a natural leaf into a lab-on-a-chip system, which could be further utilized as a biomimetic animal vessel as well as in vessel-derived downstream applications.
Manipulation of monomer-aggregate transformation of a heptamethine cyanine ligand: near infrared chromogenic recognition of Hg2+
Authors: Gao Xia , Wu Weidong , Xi Jinyan , Zheng Hong
Published: June 2017

A novel near infrared optical molecular probe (CyL) derived from heptamethine cyanine dye was developed for the selective detection of Hg2+ over other metal ions in aqueous solutions.
Tuning the spectral, thermal and fluorescent properties of conjugated polymers via random copolymerization of hole transporting monomers
Authors: Jadoun Sapana , Ashraf Syed Marghoob , Riaz Ufana
Published: June 2017

Effect of copolymerization on the fluorescent properties of polycarbazole and poly(o-phenylenediamine).
Synthesis and characterization of innovative poly(lactide-co-glycolide)-(poly-l-ornithine/fucoidan) core–shell nanocarriers by layer-by-layer self-assembly
Authors: Fan Jingqian , Liu Yuangang , Wang Shibin , Liu Yulu , Li Siming , Long Ruimin , Zhang Ran , Kankala Ranjith Kumar
Published: June 2017

Layer-by-Layer (LbL) self-assembly of nanocarriers has garnered the interest of researchers for a wide variety of biomedical applications.
Epoxide functionalization on cholane side chains in the identification of G-protein coupled bile acid receptor (GPBAR1) selective agonists
Authors: De Marino Simona , Carino Adriana , Masullo Dario , Finamore Claudia , Sepe Valentina , Marchianò Silvia , Di Leva Francesco Saverio , Limongelli Vittorio , Fiorucci Stefano , Zampella Angela
Published: June 2017

Decoration of the bile acid side chain with an epoxide ring afforded potent and selective GPBAR1 agonists.
Incorporating a TiOx shell in single-walled carbon nanotube/fullerodendron coaxial nanowires: increasing the photocatalytic evolution of H2 from water under irradiation with visible light
Authors: Kurniawan K. , Tajima T. , Kubo Y. , Miyake H. , Kurashige W. , Negishi Y. , Takaguchi Y.
Published: June 2017

The SWCNT/fullerodendron/TiOx coaxial nanowire shows an enhanced photocatalytic activity (Φ = 0.47) for the evolution of hydrogen from water under irradiation with visible light (λ = 450 nm).
Creating dynamic SERS hotspots on the surface of pH-responsive microgels for direct detection of crystal violet in solution
Authors: Chen Huaxiang , You Tingting , Jiang Li , Gao Yukun , Yin Penggang
Published: June 2017

Creation of dynamic SERE hotspots controlled by pH values on the surface of gold nanoparticles-loaded pH-responsive P2VP microgels, using 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (PMBA) as a probe molecule.
Syntheses, characterisation and solid-state study of alkali and ammonium BArF salts
Authors: Carreras Lucas , Rovira Laura , Vaquero Mónica , Mon Ignasi , Martin Eddy , Benet-Buchholz Jordi , Vidal-Ferran Anton
Published: June 2017

Syntheses, characterisation in solution and solid-state studies of alkali and ammonium BArF salts are reported.
Correction: Manipulating selective dispersion of reduced graphene oxide in polycarbonate/nylon 66 based blend nanocomposites for improved thermo-mechanical properties
Authors: Tiwari Santosh Kr. , Verma Kartikey , Saren Pupulata , Oraon Ramesh , De Adhikari Amrita , Chandra Nayak Ganesh , Kumar Vijay
Published: June 2017

Correction for ‘Manipulating selective dispersion of reduced graphene oxide in polycarbonate/nylon 66 based blend nanocomposites for improved thermo-mechanical properties’ by Santosh Kr. Tiwari et al., RSC Adv., 2017, 7, 22145–22155.
Highly catalytically active micro/meso-porous Ti-MCM-36 prepared by a grafting method
Authors: Chang Chih-Cheng , Lee Jyh-Fu , Cheng Soofin
Published: June 2017

The effect of titanium alkoxides as grafting agents and various solvents in the preparation of Ti(iv)-incorporated micro/meso-porous MCM-36 (Ti-MCM-36) of highly catalytic activities and reusability was examined.
Seawater battery performance enhancement enabled by a defect/edge-rich, oxygen self-doped porous carbon electrocatalyst
Authors: Senthilkumar S. T. , Park Sung O. , Kim Junsoo , Hwang Soo Min , Kwak Sang Kyu , Kim Youngsik
Published: June 2017

A defect/edge-rich, oxygen self-doped porous carbon is derived from grapefruit peel as a low-cost catalyst for oxygen evolution/oxygen reduction reaction. The porous carbon catalyst in the cathode of a seawater battery enables the achievement of a low voltage gap and excellent cycle performance.
A simple approach for preparation of porous polybenzimidazole membranes as a promising separator for lithium ion batteries
Authors: Liang Naiqiang , Fang Jianhua , Guo Xiaoxia
Published: June 2017

A simple approach for the preparation of OPBI porous membranes by simply extracting PEG from dry OPBI/PEG blend membranes.
All-solid-state disordered LiTiS2pseudocapacitor
Authors: Whiteley Justin M. , Hafner Simon , Han Sang Sub , Kim Seul Cham , Le Viet-Duc , Ban Chunmei , Kim Yong Hyun , Oh Kyu Hwan , Lee Se-Hee
Published: June 2017

A lithium charge storage mechanism is discovered at the interface of nano-crystallites of LiTiS2in the solid state. The surface titanium atoms can be reduced reversibly at higher voltages. Electrochemically, this appears as a pseudocapacitive effect boosting capacity greater than theoretical at high rate with no liquid electrolyte.
Improved cyclic redox reactivity of lanthanum modified iron-based oxygen carriers in carbon monoxide chemical looping combustion
Authors: Qin Lang , Guo Mengqing , Cheng Zhuo , Xu Mingyuan , Liu Yan , Xu Dikai , Fan Jonathan A. , Fan Liang-Shih
Published: June 2017

Improved cyclic redox reactivity of low concentration La-doped iron-based oxygen carriers in CO combustion with a chemical looping concept.
Fluorescent carbon dots with highly negative charges as a sensitive probe for real-time monitoring of bacterial viability
Authors: Song Yuxiang , Li Hao , Lu Fang , Wang Huibo , Zhang Mengling , Yang Jinjing , Huang Jian , Huang Hui , Liu Yang , Kang Zhenhui
Published: June 2017

Doped carbon dots from a yeast extract were first applied in real-time monitoring of bacterial viability as a nano-thermometer.
Suppression of electrical conductivity and switching of conduction mechanisms in ‘stoichiometric’ (Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3)1−x(BiAlO3)x (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.08) solid solutions
Authors: Yang Fan , Wu Patrick , Sinclair Derek C.
Published: June 2017

Fine-tuning the electrical conduction mechanism(s) of NBT-based materials by trapping oxygen vacancies using B-site acceptor dopants.
The Impact of Feedback Frequency on Performance in a Novel Speech Motor Learning Task
Authors: Lowe Mara Steinberg , Buchwald Adam
Published: June 2017

Purpose

This study investigated whether whole nonword accuracy, phoneme accuracy, and acoustic duration measures were influenced by the amount of feedback speakers without impairment received during a novel speech motor learning task.

Method

Thirty-two native English speakers completed a nonword production task across 3 time points: practice, short-term retention, and long-term retention. During practice, participants received knowledge of results feedback according to a randomly assigned schedule (100%, 50%, 20%, or 0%). Changes in nonword accuracy, phoneme accuracy, nonword duration, and initial-cluster duration were compared among feedback groups, sessions, and stimulus properties.

Results

All participants improved phoneme and whole nonword accuracy at short-term and long-term retention time points. Participants also refined productions of nonwords, as indicated by a decrease in nonword duration across sessions. The 50% group exhibited the largest reduction in duration between practice and long-term retention for nonwords with native and nonnative clusters.

Conclusions

All speakers, regardless of feedback schedule, learned new speech motor behaviors quickly with a high degree of accuracy and refined their speech motor skills for perceptually accurate productions. Acoustic measurements may capture more subtle, subperceptual changes that may occur during speech motor learning.

Supplemental Materials

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.5116324