bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detection of secondary eclipses of WASP-10b and Qatar-1b in the Ks band and the correlation between Ks-band temperature and stellar activity.
Authors: Cruz Patricia , Barrado David , Lillo-Box Jorge , Diaz Marcos , López-Morales Mercedes , Birkby Jayne , Fortney Jonathan J. , Hodgkin Simon
Published: September 2017

The Calar Alto Secondary Eclipse study was a program dedicated to observe secondary eclipses in the near-IR of two known close-orbiting exoplanets around K-dwarfs: WASP-10b and Qatar-1b. Such observations reveal hints on the orbital configuration of the system and on the thermal emission of the exoplanet, which allows the study of the brightness temperature of its atmosphere. The observations were performed at the Calar Alto Observatory (Spain). We used the OMEGA2000 instrument (Ks band) at the 3.5m telescope. The data was acquired with the telescope strongly defocused. The differential light curve was corrected from systematic effects using the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) technique. The final light curve was fitted using an occultation model to find the eclipse depth and a possible phase shift by performing a MCMC analysis. The observations have revealed a secondary eclipse of WASP-10b with depth of 0.137%, and a depth of 0.196% for Qatar-1b. The observed phase offset from expected mid-eclipse was of −0.0028 for WASP-10b, and of −0.0079 for Qatar-1b. These measured offsets led to a value for |ecosω| of 0.0044 for the WASP-10b system, leading to a derived eccentricity which was too small to be of any significance. For Qatar-1b, we have derived a |ecosω| of 0.0123, however, this last result needs to be confirmed with more data. The estimated Ks-band brightness temperatures are of 1647 K and 1885 K for WASP-10b and Qatar-1b, respectively. We also found an empirical correlation between the (R′HK) activity index of planet hosts and the Ks-band brightness temperature of exoplanets, considering a small number of systems.
Estimating the chromospheric magnetic field from a revised NLTE modeling: the case of HR 7428
Authors: Busá Innocenza
Published: September 2017

Semi-empirical atmospheric modeling is here used to obtain the chromospheric magnetic field distribution versus height in the K2 primary component of the RS CVn binary system HR 7428. The chromospheric magnetic field estimation versus height comes from considering the possibility of not imposing hydrostatic equilibrium in the atmospheric modeling. The stability of the best Non-hydrostatic equilibrium model, implies the presence of and additive (toward the center of the star) pressure, that decrease in strength from the base of the chromosphere toward the outer layers. Interpreting the additive pressure as magnetic pressure and I derive a magnetic field intensity of about 500 Gauss at the base of the chromosphere.
Beyond sunspots: Studies using the McIntosh Archive of global solar magnetic field patterns
Authors: Gibson Sarah E. , Webb David , Hewins Ian M. , McFadden Robert H. , Emery Barbara A. , Denig William , McIntosh Patrick S.
Published: September 2017

In 1964 (Solar Cycle 20; SC 20), Patrick McIntosh began creating hand-drawn synoptic maps of solar magnetic features, based on Hα images. These synoptic maps were unique in that they traced magnetic polarity inversion lines, and connected widely separated filaments, fibril patterns, and plage corridors to reveal the large-scale organization of the solar magnetic field. Coronal hole boundaries were later added to the maps, which were produced, more or less continuously, into 2009 (i.e., the start of SC 24). The result was a record of ~45 years (~570 Carrington rotations), or nearly four complete solar cycles of synoptic maps. We are currently scanning, digitizing and archiving these maps, with the final, searchable versions publicly available at NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information. In this paper we present preliminary scientific studies using the archived maps from SC 23. We show the global evolution of closed magnetic structures (e.g., sunspots, plage, and filaments) in relation to open magnetic structures (e.g., coronal holes), and examine how both relate to the shifting patterns of large-scale positive and negative polarity regions.
Ground-based observations of the [SII] 6731 Å emission lines of the Io plasma torus
Authors: Fabíola P. Magalhães , Gonzalez Walter , Echer Ezequiel , Souza-Echer Mariza P. , Lopes Rosaly , Morgenthaler Jeffrey P. , Rathbun Julie
Published: September 2017

The Io Plasma Torus (IPT) is a doughnut-shaped structure of charged particles, composed mainly of sulfur and oxygen ions. The main source of the IPT is the moon Io, the most volcanically active object in the Solar System. Io is the innermost of the Galilean moons of Jupiter, the main source of the magnetospheric plasma and responsible for injecting nearly 1 ton/s of ions into Jupiter's magnetosphere. In this work ground-based observations of the [SII] 6731 Å emission lines are observed, obtained at the MacMath-Pierce Solar Telescope. The results shown here were obtained in late 1997 and occurred shortly after a period of important eruptions observed by the Galileo mission (1996-2003). Several outbursts were observed and periods of intense volcanic activity are important to correlate with periods of brightness enhancements observed at the IPT. The time of response between an eruption and enhancement at IPT is still not well understood.
A large catalog of young active RAVE stars in the Solar neighborhood
Authors: Žerjal Maruša , Zwitter Tomaž , Matijevič Gal ,   RAVE Collaboration
Published: September 2017

The catalog of 38,000 chromospherically active RAVE dwarfs represents one of the largest samples of young active solar-like and later-type single field stars in the Solar neighbourhood. It was established from the unbiased magnitude limited RAVE Survey using an unsupervised stellar classification algorithm based merely on stellar fluxes (Ca II infrared triplet). Using a newly-calibrated age-activity relation, ~15,000 active stars are estimated to be younger than 1 Gyr. Almost 2000 stars are presumably younger than ~100 Myr and possibly still in the pre-main sequence phase, the latter being supported by their significant offset from the main sequence in the NUV − V versus J − K space. 16,000 stars from the sample have positional and velocity vectors available (using TGAS parallaxes and proper motions and radial velocities from RAVE).
Understanding the connection between the energy released during solar flares and their emission in the lower atmosphere
Authors: da Costa F. Rubio
Published: September 2017

While progress has been made on understanding how energy is released and deposited along the solar atmosphere during explosive events such as solar flares, the chromospheric and coronal heating through the sudden release of magnetic energy remain an open problem in solar physics. Recent hydrodynamic models allow to investigate the energy deposition along a flare loop and to study the response of the chromosphere. These results have been improved with the consideration of transport and acceleration of particles along the loop.RHESSIandFermi/GBM X-ray and gamma-ray observations help to constrain the spectral properties of the injected electrons. The excellent spatial, spectral and temporal resolution ofIRISwill also help us to constrain properties of explosive events, such as the continuum emission during flares or their emission in the chromosphere.
Tidal effects on stellar activity
Authors: Poppenhaeger K.
Published: September 2017

The architecture of many exoplanetary systems is different from the solar system, with exoplanets being in close orbits around their host stars and having orbital periods of only a few days. We can expect interactions between the star and the exoplanet for such systems that are similar to the tidal interactions observed in close stellar binary systems. For the exoplanet, tidal interaction can lead to circularization of its orbit and the synchronization of its rotational and orbital period. For the host star, it has long been speculated if significant angular momentum transfer can take place between the planetary orbit and the stellar rotation. In the case of the Earth-Moon system, such tidal interaction has led to an increasing distance between Earth and Moon. For stars with Hot Jupiters, where the orbital period of the exoplanet is typically shorter than the stellar rotation period, one expects a decreasing semimajor axis for the planet and enhanced stellar rotation, leading to increased stellar activity. Also excess turbulence in the stellar convective zone due to rising and subsiding tidal bulges may change the magnetic activity we observe for the host star. I will review recent observational results on stellar activity and tidal interaction in the presence of close-in exoplanets, and discuss the effects of enhanced stellar activity on the exoplanets in such systems.
Magnetic activity of interacting binaries
Authors: Hill Colin A.
Published: September 2017

Interacting binaries provide unique parameter regimes, both rapid rotation and tidal distortion, in which to test stellar dynamo theories and study the resulting magnetic activity. Close binaries such as cataclysmic variables (CVs) have been found to differentially rotate, and so can provide testbeds for tidal dissipation efficiency in stellar convective envelopes, with implications for both CV and planet-star evolution. Furthermore, CVs show evidence of preferential emergence of magnetic flux tubes towards the companion star, as well as large, long-lived prominences that form preferentially within the binary geometry. Moreover, RS CVn binaries also show clear magnetic interactions between the two components in the form of coronal X-ray emission. Here, we review several examples of magnetic interactions in different types of close binaries.
The solar proxy κ1 Cet and the planetary habitability around the young Sun
Authors: do Nascimento J.-D. , Vidotto A. A. , Petit P. , Folsom C. , de Mello G. F. Porto , Meibom S. , Abrevaya X. C. , Ribas I. , Castro M. , Marsden S. C. , Morin J. , Jeffers S. V. , Guinan E. ,   Bcool Collaboration
Published: September 2017

Among the solar proxies, κ1 Cet, stands out as potentially having a mass very close to solar and a young age. We report magnetic field measurements and planetary habitability consequences around this star, a proxy of the young Sun when life arose on Earth. Magnetic strength was determined from spectropolarimetric observations and we reconstruct the large-scale surface magnetic field to derive the magnetic environment, stellar winds, and particle flux permeating the interplanetary medium around κ1 Cet. Our results show a closer magnetosphere and mass-loss rate 50 times larger than the current solar wind mass-loss rate when Life arose on Earth, resulting in a larger interaction via space weather disturbances between the stellar wind and a hypothetical young-Earth analogue, potentially affecting the habitability. Interaction of the wind from the young Sun with the planetary ancient magnetic field may have affected the young Earth and its life conditions.
Anxiety Reduces Empathy Toward Outgroup Members But Not Ingroup Members
Authors: Arceneaux Kevin
Published: September 2017

Substantial research concludes that favoritism toward members of people's ingroup, or ingroup bias, motivates people to oppose public programs that assist needy outgroup individuals. I argue that a gap in the empathic capacity for ingroup and outgroup members motivates and maintains ingroup bias in helping behavior and is sensitive to contextual cues that trigger anxiety. Using a novel experimental design, Study 1 demonstrates that anxiety exacerbates the outgroup empathy gap. Study 2 replicates these findings with an explicit measure of outgroup empathy. Study 3 shows that the outgroup empathy gap causes individuals to become less supportive of helping needy outgroup members. These studies suggest that opposition to welfare programs may go beyond simple prejudice.
Further Support for the Motivational Explanation of Self-Other Similarity Judgment Asymmetry
Authors: Dang Junhua , Mao Lihua
Published: September 2017

Abstract. Self-other similarity judgment asymmetry refers to the tendency of people to judge others to be more similar to themselves than they judge themselves to be similar to others. This effect can be explained with both a cognitive model ( Tversky, 1977 ) and a motivational explanation ( Codol, 1987 ). Recent research has provided initial evidence for the core assumption of the motivational explanation and tested a hypothesis that can only be derived from the motivational explanation. The present study aims to provide further evidence for the motivational explanation by testing another hypothesis derived from it that goes beyond the cognitive model. Our results show that participants with a strong need for uniqueness tended to exhibit self-other asymmetry, but only with respect to attributes that were difficult to falsify.
Bystander Helping Behavior in Response to Workplace Bullying
Authors: Hellemans Catherine , Dal Cason Davide , Casini Annalisa
Published: September 2017

Abstract. This research examines the role of colleagues’ helping behavior in workplace bullying. Although colleagues are often able to intervene to support the victim or stop the bullying, passive behavior and nonintervention are more frequent. The bystander effect described by Latané and Darley (1970) has been studied in the context of school bullying and sexual harassment, but only rarely has it been studied in the context of workplace bullying. We tested the influence of the belief in a just world for others, self-efficacy, perceived severity, and causal attribution as determinants of three types of bystander helping behavior. We used a vignette describing a case of bullying in a vertically organized workplace in an online questionnaire survey, which was completed by 194 workers. The results showed that low self-efficacy was associated with nonintervention, that perceived severity mainly determined public helping behavior, and that both internal and external causal attributions contributed to explaining both emotional and public support for the harassed colleague. The results highlight the importance of training to increase awareness and recognition of bullying phenomena among colleagues.
Low carbon renewable natural gas production from coalbeds and implications for carbon capture and storage
Authors: Huang Zaixing , Sednek Christine , Urynowicz Michael A. , Guo Hongguang , Wang Qiurong , Fallgren Paul , Jin Song , Jin Yan , Igwe Uche , Li Shengpin
Published: September 2017

Isotopic studies have shown that many of the world’s coalbed natural gas plays are secondary biogenic in origin, suggesting a potential for gas regeneration through enhanced microbial activities. The generation of biogas through biostimulation and bioaugmentation is limited to the bioavailability of coal-derived compounds and is considered carbon positive. Here we show that plant-derived carbohydrates can be used as alternative substrates for gas generation by the indigenous coal seam microorganisms. The results suggest that coalbeds can act as natural geobioreactors to produce low carbon renewable natural gas, which can be considered carbon neutral, or perhaps even carbon negative depending on the amount of carbon sequestered within the coal. In addition, coal bioavailability is no longer a limiting factor. This approach has the potential of bridging the gap between fossil fuels and renewable energy by utilizing existing coalbed natural gas infrastructure to produce low carbon renewable natural gas and reducing global warming.
The autophagy initiator ULK1 sensitizes AMPK to allosteric drugs
Authors: Dite Toby A. , Ling Naomi X. Y. , Scott John W. , Hoque Ashfaqul , Galic Sandra , Parker Benjamin L. , Ngoei Kevin R. W. , Langendorf Christopher G. , O’Brien Matthew T. , Kundu Mondira , Viollet Benoit , Steinberg Gregory R. , Sakamoto Kei , Kemp Bruce E. , Oakhill Jonathan S.
Published: September 2017

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a metabolic stress-sensing enzyme responsible for maintaining cellular energy homeostasis. Activation of AMPK by salicylate and the thienopyridone A-769662 is critically dependent on phosphorylation of Ser108 in the β1 regulatory subunit. Here, we show a possible role for Ser108 phosphorylation in cell cycle regulation and promotion of pro-survival pathways in response to energy stress. We identify the autophagy initiator Unc-51-like kinase 1 (ULK1) as a β1-Ser108 kinase in cells. Cellular β1-Ser108 phosphorylation by ULK1 was dependent on AMPK β-subunit myristoylation, metabolic stress associated with elevated AMP/ATP ratio, and the intrinsic energy sensing capacity of AMPK; features consistent with an AMP-induced myristoyl switch mechanism. We further demonstrate cellular AMPK signaling independent of activation loop Thr172 phosphorylation, providing potential insight into physiological roles for Ser108 phosphorylation. These findings uncover new mechanisms by which AMPK could potentially maintain cellular energy homeostasis independently of Thr172 phosphorylation.
Antisite occupation induced single anionic redox chemistry and structural stabilization of layered sodium chromium sulfide
Authors: Shadike Zulipiya , Zhou Yong-Ning , Chen Lan-Li , Wu Qu , Yue Ji-Li , Zhang Nian , Yang Xiao-Qing , Gu Lin , Liu Xiao-Song , Shi Si-Qi , Fu Zheng-Wen
Published: September 2017

The intercalation compounds with various electrochemically active or inactive elements in the layered structure have been the subject of increasing interest due to their high capacities, good reversibility, simple structures, and ease of synthesis. However, their reversible intercalation/deintercalation redox chemistries in previous compounds involve a single cationic redox reaction or a cumulative cationic and anionic redox reaction. Here we report an anionic redox chemistry and structural stabilization of layered sodium chromium sulfide. It was discovered that the sulfur in sodium chromium sulfide is electrochemically active, undergoing oxidation/reduction rather than chromium. Significantly, sodium ions can successfully move out and into without changing its lattice parameter c, which is explained in terms of the occurrence of chromium/sodium vacancy antisite during desodiation and sodiation processes. Our present work not only enriches the electrochemistry of layered intercalation compounds, but also extends the scope of investigation on high-capacity electrodes.
Electrically driven single-photon emission from an isolated single molecule
Authors: Zhang Li , Yu Yun-Jie , Chen Liu-Guo , Luo Yang , Yang Ben , Kong Fan-Fang , Chen Gong , Zhang Yang , Zhang Qiang , Luo Yi , Yang Jin-Long , Dong Zhen-Chao , Hou J. G.
Published: September 2017

Electrically driven molecular light emitters are considered to be one of the promising candidates as single-photon sources. However, it is yet to be demonstrated that electrically driven single-photon emission can indeed be generated from an isolated single molecule notwithstanding fluorescence quenching and technical challenges. Here, we report such electrically driven single-photon emission from a well-defined single molecule located inside a precisely controlled nanocavity in a scanning tunneling microscope. The effective quenching suppression and nanocavity plasmonic enhancement allow us to achieve intense and stable single-molecule electroluminescence. Second-order photon correlation measurements reveal an evident photon antibunching dip with the single-photon purity down to g(2)(0) = 0.09, unambiguously confirming the single-photon emission nature of the single-molecule electroluminescence. Furthermore, we demonstrate an ultrahigh-density array of identical single-photon emitters.
Understanding the factors affecting self-management of COPD from the perspectives of healthcare practitioners: a qualitative study
Authors: Ogunbayo Oladapo J. , Russell Sian , Newham James J. , Heslop-Marshall Karen , Netts Paul , Hanratty Barbara , Kaner Eileen
Published: September 2017

Self-management is recognised as an essential criteria for the provision of high quality care for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The management of COPD is usually delivered by a wide range of healthcare practitioners. This study aimed to understand the factors affecting self-management of COPD from the perspectives of the different multidisciplinary healthcare teams involved in COPD care. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants from primary care, specialist respiratory and pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) teams. Purposive sampling and snowballing were employed in participant recruitment. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim and data were analysed thematically. A total of 20 participants (eight primary care practitioners, seven respiratory specialists and five PR practitioners) were interviewed until data saturation was reached. Participants identified a range of complex and interrelated factors affecting COPD self-management that were grouped into three broad categories—patient, practitioner and organisational/system-level factors. Patient-level factors were predominantly considered as barriers, with COPD knowledge and understanding, and the individual patients’ life circumstances/context being the most prominent issues. Practitioner-level factors identified were practitioners’ speciality, interest and experience in respiratory conditions as the overarching factor that influenced how self-management was understood and practiced. A number of organisational/system-level factors were identified by all practitioners, including inconsistency of referral pathways and the wide variations of different self-management planning tools. Factors affecting self-management of COPD across these three levels need to be tackled equally in order to improve the effectiveness of interventions and to embed and integrate self-management support approaches into routine practice.
Implication of the glutamate–cystine antiporter xCT in schizophrenia cases linked to impaired GSH synthesis
Authors: Fournier M. , Monin A. , Ferrari C. , Baumann P. S. , Conus P. , Do K.
Published: September 2017

xCT is the specific chain of the cystine/glutamate antiporter, which is widely reported to support anti-oxidant defenses in vivo. xCT is therefore at the crossroads between two processes that are involved in schizophrenia: oxidative stress and glutamatergic neurotransmission. But data from human studies implicating xCT in the illness and clarifying the upstream mechanisms of xCT imbalance are still scarce. Low glutathione (GSH) levels and genetic risk in GCLC (Glutamate–Cysteine Ligase Catalytic subunit), the gene of limiting synthesizing enzyme for GSH, are both associated with schizophrenia. In the present study, we aimed at determining if xCT regulation by the redox system is involved in schizophrenia pathophysiology. We assessed whether modulating GCLC expression impact on xCT expression and activity (i) in fibroblasts from patients and controls with different GCLC genotypes which are known to affect GCLC regulation and GSH levels; (ii) in rat brain glial cells, i.e., astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, with a knock-down of GCLC. Our results highlight that decreased GCLC expression leads to an upregulation of xCT levels in patients’ fibroblasts as well as in astrocytes. These results support the implication of xCT dysregulation in illness pathophysiology and further indicate that it can result from redox changes. Additionally, we showed that these anomalies may already take place at early stages of psychosis and be more prominent in a subgroup of patients with GCLC high-risk genotypes. These data add to the existing evidence identifying the inflammatory/redox systems as important targets to treat schizophrenia already at early stages.
Primary and secondary non-adherence to osteoporotic medications after hip fracture in Spain. The PREV2FO population-based retrospective cohort study
Authors: García-Sempere Aníbal , Hurtado Isabel , Sanfélix-Genovés José , Rodríguez-Bernal Clara L. , Gil Orozco Rafael , Peiró Salvador , Sanfélix-Gimeno Gabriel
Published: September 2017

Osteoporotic medication after hip fracture is widely recommended by clinical practice guidelines, and medication adherence is essential to meet clinical trial risk reduction figures in the real world. We assessed primary and secondary non-adherence to osteoporosis medications in patients discharged following a hip fracture and identified factors associated with secondary non-adherence. From a population-based retrospective cohort of 19,405 patients aged 65 years and over discharged from a hip fracture in the region of Valencia (Spain) from January 1, 2008 and June 30, 2012, we followed, over a minimum of 365 days, 4,856 patients with at least one osteoporotic medication prescribed within the first six months after discharge. Less than one third of the patients discharged alive after a hip fracture received osteoporotic treatment. Primary non-adherence among naïve patients was low. However, long-term secondary adherence measured by Proportion of Days Covered with medication (PDC) and persistence was largely suboptimal, with naïve users having worse results than experienced patients. Secondary non-adherence was associated with primary non-adherence and age, dementia or sedative treatments for naïve users and with being male, being older than 85 and having dementia for experienced users. Three quarters of naïve users and two thirds of experienced users had interrupted treatment at 48 months.
Magnetic Tunnel Junction as an On-Chip Temperature Sensor
Authors: Sengupta Abhronil , Liyanagedera Chamika Mihiranga , Jung Byunghoo , Roy Kaushik
Published: September 2017

Temperature sensors are becoming an increasingly important component in System-on-Chip (SoC) designs with increasing transistor scaling, power density and associated heating effects. This work explores a compact nanoelectronic temperature sensor based on a Magnetic Tunnel Junction (MTJ) structure. The MTJ switches probabilistically depending on the operating temperature in the presence of thermal noise. Performance evaluation of the proposed MTJ temperature sensor, based on experimentally measured device parameters, reveals that the sensor is able to achieve a conversion rate of 2.5K samples/s with energy consumption of 8.8 nJ per conversion (1–2 orders of magnitude lower than state-of-the-art CMOS sensors) for a linear sensing regime of 200–400 K.
An expanded role for heterozygous mutations of ABCB4, ABCB11, ATP8B1, ABCC2 and TJP2 in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
Authors: Dixon Peter H. , Sambrotta Melissa , Chambers Jennifer , Taylor-Harris Pamela , Syngelaki Argyro , Nicolaides Kypros , Knisely A. S. , Thompson Richard J. , Williamson Catherine
Published: September 2017

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) affects 1/140 UK pregnancies; with pruritus, hepatic impairment and elevated serum bile acids. Severe disease is complicated by spontaneous preterm delivery and stillbirth. Previous studies have reported mutations in hepatocellular transporters (ABCB4, ABCB11). High throughput sequencing in 147 patients was performed in the transporters ABCB4, ABCB11, ATP8B1, ABCC2 and tight junction protein 2 (TJP2). Twenty-six potentially damaging variants were identified with the following predicted protein changes: Twelve ABCB4 mutations - Arg47Gln, Met113Val, Glu161Gly, Thr175Ala, Glu528Glyfs*6, Arg590Gln, Ala601Ser, Glu884Ter, Gly722Ala, Tyr775Met (x2), Trp854Ter. Four potential ABCB11 mutations - Glu297Gly (x3) and a donor splice site mutation (intron 19). Five potential ATP8B1 mutations - Asn45Thr (x3), and two others, Glu114Gln and Lys203Glu. Two ABCC2 mutations - Glu1352Ala and a duplication (exons 24 and 25). Three potential mutations were identified in TJP2; Thr62Met (x2) and Thr626Ser. No patient harboured more than one mutation. All were heterozygous. An additional 545 cases were screened for the potential recurrent mutations of ATP8B1 (Asn45Thr) and TJP2 (Thr62Met) identifying three further occurrences of Asn45Thr. This study has expanded known mutations in ABCB4 and ABCB11 and identified roles in ICP for mutations in ATP8B1 and ABCC2. Possible novel mutations in TJP2 were also discovered.
An alternate mode of oligomerization for E. coli SecA
Authors: Yazdi Aliakbar Khalili , Vezina Grant C. , Shilton Brian H.
Published: September 2017

SecA is the ATPase of preprotein translocase. SecA is a dimer in solution and changes in its oligomeric state may function in preprotein translocation. The SecA-N68 construct, in which the C-terminal helical domains of SecA are deleted, was used to investigate the mechanism of SecA oligomerization. SecA-N68 is in equilibrium between monomers, dimers, and tetramers. Subunit interactions in the SecA-N68 tetramer are mediated entirely by unstructured regions at its N- and C-termini: when the termini are deleted to yield SecA-N68∆NC, the construct is completely monomeric. This monomeric construct yielded crystals diffracting to 2.6 Å that were used to solve the structure of SecA-N68, including the “preprotein crosslinking domain” (PPXD) that was missing from previous E. coli SecA structures. The SecA-N68 structure was combined with small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) data to construct a model of the SecA-N68 tetramer that is consistent with the essential roles of the extreme N- and C-termini in oligomerization. This mode of oligomerization, which depends on binding of the extreme N-terminus to the DEAD motor domains, NBD1 and NBD2, was used to model a novel parallel and flexible SecA solution dimer that agrees well with SAXS data.
Analyzing the Quantum Zeno and anti-Zeno effects using optimal projective measurements
Authors: Aftab Muhammad Junaid , Chaudhry Adam Zaman
Published: September 2017

Measurements in quantum mechanics can not only effectively freeze the quantum system (the quantum Zeno effect) but also accelerate the time evolution of the system (the quantum anti-Zeno effect). In studies of these effects, a quantum state is prepared repeatedly by projecting the quantum state onto the initial state. In this paper, we repeatedly prepare the initial quantum state in a different manner. Instead of only performing projective measurements, we allow unitary operations to be performed, on a very short time-scale, after each measurement. We can then repeatedly prepare the initial state by performing some projective measurement and then, after each measurement, we perform a suitable unitary operation to end up with the same initial state as before. Our objective is to find the projective measurements that minimize the effective decay rate of the quantum state. We find such optimal measurements and the corresponding decay rates for a variety of system-environment models such as the pure dephasing model and the spin-boson model. We find that there can be considerable differences between this optimized effective decay rate and the usual decay rate obtained by repeatedly projecting onto the initial state. In particular, the Zeno and anti-Zeno regimes can be considerably modified.
In vivo mouse and live cell STED microscopy of neuronal actin plasticity using far-red emitting fluorescent proteins
Authors: Wegner Waja , Ilgen Peter , Gregor Carola , van Dort Joris , Mott Alexander C. , Steffens Heinz , Willig Katrin I.
Published: September 2017

The study of proteins in dendritic processes within the living brain is mainly hampered by the diffraction limit of light. STED microscopy is so far the only far-field light microscopy technique to overcome the diffraction limit and resolve dendritic spine plasticity at superresolution (nanoscopy) in the living mouse. After having tested several far-red fluorescent proteins in cell culture we report here STED microscopy of the far-red fluorescent protein mNeptune2, which showed best results for our application to superresolve actin filaments at a resolution of ~80 nm, and to observe morphological changes of actin in the cortex of a living mouse. We illustrate in vivo far-red neuronal actin imaging in the living mouse brain with superresolution for time periods of up to one hour. Actin was visualized by fusing mNeptune2 to the actin labels Lifeact or Actin-Chromobody. We evaluated the concentration dependent influence of both actin labels on the appearance of dendritic spines; spine number was significantly reduced at high expression levels whereas spine morphology was normal at low expression.
Global transcriptome analysis and identification of genes involved in nutrients accumulation during seed development of rice tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum Tararicum)
Authors: Huang Juan , Deng Jiao , Shi Taoxiong , Chen Qijiao , Liang Chenggang , Meng Ziye , Zhu Liwei , Wang Yan , Zhao Fengli , Yu Shizhou , Chen Qingfu
Published: September 2017

Tartary buckwheat seeds are rich in various nutrients, such as storage proteins, starch, and flavonoids. To get a good knowledge of the transcriptome dynamics and gene regulatory mechanism during the process of seed development and nutrients accumulation, we performed a comprehensive global transcriptome analysis using rice tartary buckwheat seeds at different development stages, namely pre-filling stage, filling stage, and mature stage. 24 819 expressed genes, including 108 specifically expressed genes, and 11 676 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. qRT-PCR analysis was performed on 34 DEGs to validate the transcriptome data, and a good consistence was obtained. Based on their expression patterns, the identified DEGs were classified to eight clusters, and the enriched GO items in each cluster were analyzed. In addition, 633 DEGs related to plant hormones were identified. Furthermore, genes in the biosynthesis pathway of nutrients accumulation were analyzed, including 10, 20, and 23 DEGs corresponding to the biosynthesis of seed storage proteins, flavonoids, and starch, respectively. This is the first transcriptome analysis during seed development of tartary buckwheat. It would provide us a comprehensive understanding of the complex transcriptome dynamics during seed development and gene regulatory mechanism of nutrients accumulation.
Investigation of the inhibition effect and mechanism of myricetin to Suilysin by molecular modeling
Authors: Niu Xiaodi , Sun Lin , Wang Guizhen , Gao Yawen , Yang Yanan , Wang Xiyan , Wang Hongsu
Published: September 2017

In the present study, the inhibitory effect and mechanism of myricetin, a natural flavonoid compound, in relation to Suilysin (SLY) were investigated through molecular dynamics simulations, mutational analysis and fluorescence-quenching assays. Myricetin is a potential inhibitor that does not exhibit antimicrobial activity but has been shown to inhibit SLY cytotoxicity. Molecular dynamics simulations and mutational analysis revealed that myricetin binds directly to SLY in the gap between domains 2 and 3, an important region for oligomerization and pore formation. The results of principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that the binding of myricetin in this gap region restricts the conformational transition of SLY from a monomer to an oligomer, thereby counteracting the haemolytic activity of SLY. This mechanism was verified using a haemolysis assay. These results demonstrated that myricetin is a strong candidate as a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of Streptococcus suis infections.
The tyrosine phosphatase PTPN13/FAP-1 links calpain-2, TBI and tau tyrosine phosphorylation
Authors: Wang Yubin , Hall Randy A. , Lee Moses , Kamgar-parsi Andysheh , Bi Xiaoning , Baudry Michel
Published: September 2017

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Calpain activation and tau hyperphosphorylation have been implicated in both TBI and AD. However, the link between calpain and tau phosphorylation has not been fully identified. We recently discovered that the two major calpain isoforms in the brain, calpain-1 and calpain-2, play opposite functions in synaptic plasticity and neuronal survival/death, which may be related to their different C-terminal PDZ binding motifs. Here, we identify the tyrosine phosphatase PTPN13 as a key PDZ binding partner of calpain-2. PTPN13 is cleaved by calpain-2, which inactivates its phosphatase activity and generates stable breakdown products (P13BPs). We also found that PTPN13 dephosphorylates and inhibits c-Abl. Following TBI, calpain-2 activation cleaved PTPN13, activated c-Abl and triggered tau tyrosine phosphorylation. The activation of this pathway was responsible for the accumulation of tau oligomers after TBI, as post-TBI injection of a calpain-2 selective inhibitor inhibited c-Abl activation and tau oligomer accumulation. Thus, the calpain-2-PTPN13-c-Abl pathway provides a direct link between calpain-2 activation and abnormal tau aggregation, which may promote tangle formation and accelerate the development of AD pathology after repeated concussions or TBI. This study suggests that P13BPs could be potential biomarkers to diagnose mTBI or AD.
Machine-learned and codified synthesis parameters of oxide materials
Authors: Kim Edward , Huang Kevin , Tomala Alex , Matthews Sara , Strubell Emma , Saunders Adam , McCallum Andrew , Olivetti Elsa
Published: September 2017

Predictive materials design has rapidly accelerated in recent years with the advent of large-scale resources, such as materials structure and property databases generated by ab initio computations. In the absence of analogous ab initio frameworks for materials synthesis, high-throughput and machine learning techniques have recently been harnessed to generate synthesis strategies for select materials of interest. Still, a community-accessible, autonomously-compiled synthesis planning resource which spans across materials systems has not yet been developed. In this work, we present a collection of aggregated synthesis parameters computed using the text contained within over 640,000 journal articles using state-of-the-art natural language processing and machine learning techniques. We provide a dataset of synthesis parameters, compiled autonomously across 30 different oxide systems, in a format optimized for planning novel syntheses of materials.
Outcome reporting bias in randomized-controlled trials investigating antipsychotic drugs
Authors: Lancee M , Lemmens C M C , Kahn R S , Vinkers C H , Luykx J J
Published: September 2017

Recent literature hints that outcomes of clinical trials in medicine are selectively reported. If applicable to psychotic disorders, such bias would jeopardize the reliability of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) investigating antipsychotics and thus their extrapolation to clinical practice. We therefore comprehensively examined outcome reporting bias in RCTs of antipsychotic drugs by a systematic review of prespecified outcomes on ClinicalTrials.gov records of RCTs investigating antipsychotic drugs in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2013. These outcomes were compared with outcomes published in scientific journals. Our primary outcome measure was concordance between prespecified and published outcomes; secondary outcome measures included outcome modifications on ClinicalTrials.gov after trial inception and the effects of funding source and directionality of results on record adherence. Of the 48 RCTs, 85% did not fully adhere to the prespecified outcomes. Discrepancies between prespecified and published outcomes were found in 23% of RCTs for primary outcomes, whereas 81% of RCTs had at least one secondary outcome non-reported, newly introduced, or changed to a primary outcome in the respective publication. In total, 14% of primary and 44% of secondary prespecified outcomes were modified after trial initiation. Neither funding source (P=0.60) nor directionality of the RCT results (P=0.10) impacted ClinicalTrials.gov record adherence. Finally, the number of published safety endpoints (N=335) exceeded the number of prespecified safety outcomes by 5.5 fold. We conclude that RCTs investigating antipsychotic drugs suffer from substantial outcome reporting bias and offer suggestions to both monitor and limit such bias in the future.
Fe(ii)-Complexation of tripodal hexapeptide ligands with three bidentate triazolylpyridines: induction of metal-centred chirality by peptide macrocyclization
Authors: Kobayashi Yuka , Kameda Tomoshi , Hoshino Masaru , Fujii Nobutaka , Ohno Hiroaki , Oishi Shinya
Published: September 2017

Cyclic and open-chain hexapeptides with three common triazolyl-pyridine residues afforded two Fe(ii) complexes with distinct metal-centred chirality.
Dinuclear zinc(ii) pyrazolates with different degrees of ring-fluorination and their use in zinc(ii) mediated olefin aziridination
Authors: Ponduru Tharun T. , Dias H. V. Rasika
Published: September 2017

A highly fluorinated pyrazolate complex of zinc has been isolated and utilized as a competent catalyst for olefin aziridination.
Mitochondrial-targeted multifunctional mesoporous Au@Pt nanoparticles for dual-mode photodynamic and photothermal therapy of cancers
Authors: Song Yang , Shi Qiurong , Zhu Chengzhou , Luo Yanan , Lu Qian , Li He , Ye Ranfeng , Du Dan , Lin Yuehe
Published: September 2017

Multifunctional mesoporous Au@Pt nanoparticles has been developed and used as a dual-mode phototherapeutic agent for substantially improved cancer therapy efficiency.
Synthesis and photophysical properties of a bichromophoric system hosting a disaccharide spacer
Authors: Papalia T. , Barattucci A. , Campagna S. , Puntoriero F. , Salerno T. , Bonaccorsi P.
Published: September 2017

The synthesis of an efficient energy donor–acceptor system is reported, together with its photophysical properties.
A study of synthetic approaches to 2-acyl DHA lysophosphatidic acid
Authors: Yamamoto Yoshinori , Itoh Toshimasa , Yamamoto Keiko
Published: September 2017

A salt formation suppresses acyl migration of DHA lysophosphatidic acid.
Diverse approaches to star polymers via cationic and radical RAFT cross-linking reactions using mechanistic transformation
Authors: Uchiyama Mineto , Satoh Kotaro , McKenzie Thomas G. , Fu Qiang , Qiao Greg. G. , Kamigaito Masami
Published: September 2017

Core cross-linked star polymers were synthesizedviacationic RAFT polymerization and three different approaches in combination with a radical RAFT mechanism.
Crystalline boron-linked tetraaminoethylene radical cations
Authors: Su Yuanting , Li Yongxin , Ganguly Rakesh , Kinjo Rei
Published: September 2017

Boron-linked tetraaminoethylene radical cations has been isolated.
Velocity amplification in pressure-driven flows between superhydrophobic gratings of small solid fraction
Authors: Yariv Ehud
Published: September 2017

With diminishing fraction of their solid portion, compound gas–solid superhydrophobic surfaces exhibit a large amount of slip which allows for appreciable velocity amplification in pressure-driven microchannel flows.
Associations of TGFBR1 and TGFBR2 gene polymorphisms with the risk of hypospadias: a case–control study in a Chinese population
Authors: Han Xin-Rui , Wen Xin , Wang Shan , Hong Xiao-Wu , Fan Shao-Hua , Zhuang Juan , Wang Yong-Jian , Zhang Zi-Feng , Li Meng-Qiu , Hu Bin , Shan Qun , Sun Chun-Hui , Bao Ya-Xing , Lin Meng , He Tan , Wu Dong-Mei , Lu Jun , Zheng Yuan-Lin
Published: September 2017

This case–control study investigated the association of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) receptor type I and II (TGFBR1 and TGFBR2) gene polymorphisms with the risk of hypospadias in a Chinese population. One hundred and sixty two patients suffering from hypospadias were enrolled as case group and 165 children who underwent circumcision were recruited as control group. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in TGFBR1 and TGFBR2 genes were selected on the basis of genetic data obtained from HapMap. PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was performed to identify TGFBR1 and TGFBR2 gene polymorphisms and analyze genotype distribution and allele frequency. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to estimate the risk factors for hypospadias. No significant difference was found concerning the genotype and allele frequencies of TGFBR1 rs4743325 polymorphism between the case and control groups. However, genotype and allele frequencies of TGFBR2 rs6785358 in the case group were significantly different in contrast with those in the control group. Patients carrying the G allele of TGFBR2 rs6785358 polymorphism exhibited a higher risk of hypospadias compared with the patients carrying the A allele (P<0.05). The TGFBR2 rs6785358 genotype was found to be significantly related to abnormal pregnancy and preterm birth (both P<0.05). The frequency of TGFBR2 rs6785358 GG genotype exhibited significant differences amongst patients suffering from four different pathological types of hypospadias. Logistic regression analysis revealed that preterm birth, abnormal pregnancy, and TGFBR2 rs6785358 were the independent risk factors for hypospadias. Our study provides evidence that TGFBR2 rs6785358 polymorphism might be associated with the risk of hypospadias.
Intracranial Hemorrhage: A Devastating Outcome of Congenital Bleeding Disorders—Prevalence, Diagnosis, and Management, with a Special Focus on Congenital Factor XIII Deficiency
Authors: Alavi Seyed , Jalalvand Masumeh , Assadollahi Vahideh , Tabibian Shadi , Dorgalaleh Akbar
Published: September 2017

Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is a medical emergency. In congenital bleeding disorders, ICH is a devastating presentation accompanied with a high rate of morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of ICH is highly variable among congenital bleeding disorders, with the highest incidence observed in factor (F) XIII deficiency (FXIIID) (∼30%). This life-threatening presentation is less common in afibrinogenemia, FVIII, FIX, FVII, and FX deficiencies, and is rare in severe FV and FII deficiencies, type 3 von Willebrand disease and inherited platelet function disorders (IPFDs). In FXIIID, this diathesis most often occurs after trauma in children, whereas spontaneous ICH is more frequent in adults. About 15% of patients with FXIIID and ICH die; the bleeding causes 80% of deaths in this coagulopathy. Although in FXIIID, the bleed most commonly is intraparenchymal (> 90%), epidural, subdural, and subarachnoid hemorrhages also have been reported, albeit rarely. As this life-threatening bleeding causes neurological complications, early diagnosis can prevent further expansion of the hematoma and secondary damage. Neuroimaging plays a crucial role in the diagnosis of ICH, but signs and symptoms in patients with severe FXIIID should trigger replacement therapy even before establishment of the diagnosis. Although a high dose of FXIII concentrate can reduce the rate of morbidity and mortality of ICH in FXIIID, it may occasionally trigger inhibitor development, thus complicating ICH management and future prophylaxis. Nevertheless, replacement therapy is the mainstay of treatment for ICH in FXIIID. Neurosurgery is performed in patients with FXIIID and epidural hematoma and a hemorrhage diameter exceeding 2 cm or a volume of ICH is more than 30 cm3. Contact sports are not recommended in people with FXIIID as they can elicit ICH. However, a considerable number of safe sports and activities have been suggested to have more benefits than dangers for patients with congenital bleeding disorders, and are hence suitable for these patients.
History of Social Media in Surgery
Authors: McFadden Cedrek , Tully Natalie , Jones Christian , Logghe Heather
Published: September 2017

In many ways, the history of surgeons on Twitter echoes the initial resistance and ultimate mass adoption of laparoscopic surgery that led to the field of minimally invasive surgery. At its inception, social media was similarly met with skepticism and concerns of threats to professionalism. Despite these concerns, numerous surgeons and other physicians pioneered the use of social media to establish a virtual medical community and share scientific knowledge regarding a variety of topics including medical conferences, journal publications, and more. After these initial successes, surgeons' views have evolved, leading to mass adoption of social media and participation on Twitter as a means of professional networking and dissemination of science. This article chronicles that history.