bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Maya Palace at Holmul, Peten, Guatemala and the Teotihuacan “Entrada”: Evidence from Murals 7 and 9
Authors: Estrada-Belli Francisco , Tokovinine Alexandre , Foley Jennifer M. , Hurst Heather , Ware Gene A. , Stuart David , Grube Nikolai
Published: February 2017

Excavations at La Sufricaya, a minor ritual group in the outskirts of the Lowland Maya city of Holmul, have documented two mural paintings inside an elite building of Early Classic date (A.D. 300–A.D. 600). One of the paintings is mythological in nature (Mural 9). The second bears an inscription with references to calendrical and historical events. It commemorates a notorious arrival date at Tikal on 11 Eb 15 Mak (January 16, A.D. 378) on its first anniversary. The architecture and artifacts associated with the murals combine Maya and Teotihuacan decorative motifs, and offer several parallels with Tikal assemblages. The iconography, epigraphy, and archaeological associations of these murals are discussed in relation to the function of the palace complex. This important new evidence contributes to an understanding of which role relations with Teotihuacan may have played in regional politics in the Maya Lowlands during the Early Classic period from the point of view of a smaller site. The interpretations presented here focus on the concept of political intervention of Tikal in the affairs of secondary and tertiary sites.
Style and Substance: Evidence for Regionalism within the Aztec Market System
Authors: Minc Leah D.
Published: February 2017

The emergence of the Triple Alliance empire and the consolidation of political power in the Basin of Mexico is traditionally associated with a high level of economic integration achieved through regional market exchange. Although researchers debate whether the market system was dominated by commercial factors or political forces, the assumption that the pax azteca led to a single, basin-wide exchange system is not generally challenged. Yet an increasing number of stylistic and compositional analyses indicate that significant regional subdivisions existed within the Aztec core, although the spatial scale, nature, and significance of these systems remains poorly understood. This study contributes to the body of evidence suggesting that economic divisions existed under the Triple Alliance, by presenting spatial patterning in Aztec Red Wares (guindaorrojo pulido) ceramics. By combining both stylistic and compositional analyses of this ceramic ware, it is possible to demonstrate both the strength of economic divisions as well as map their boundaries for a significant portion of the Basin. The regional patterns in artifact distribution highlighted in this and prior studies underscore the complexity of exchange interactions that evolved under Aztec rule and which must be explained by future models of the Aztec market system.
The Exploitation of Aquatic Resources at Lake Cuitzeo, Michoacán, Mexico: An Ethnoarchaeological Study
Authors: Williams Eduardo
Published: February 2017

The ethnographic, archaeological, and ethnohistorical data discussed in this report help shed light on the cultural processes and the resulting archaeological correlates (i.e., artifacts and features) linked with aquatic subsistence in Lake Cuitzeo, Michoacán, México. This information is vital for interpreting the archaeological record not just in the study area, but also in all those parts of West Mexico and elsewhere in Mesoamerica where lakes, rivers, marshes, and streams offered a natural bounty for human exploitation. The Lake Cuitzeo Basin was a key economic area for the prehispanic Tarascan state, thanks to its wealth of mineral resources (primarily obsidian and salt). Although non-agricultural resources such as fish, wild plants, aquatic fowl and other wildlife were probably no less important for human subsistence than the area’s mineral riches, they have seldom been taken systematically into consideration by archaeologists in this part of Mesoamerica. This ethnoarchaeological research sheds light on ancient subsistence through the study of contemporary activities such as fishing, hunting, and gathering wild plants, and the associated material culture and work areas. This ethnographic information, as well as the extant ethnohistorical and archaeological records, offer an insight into prehispanic subsistence activities, which is critical for a better understanding of cultural and ecological adaptation in the study area through time.
Human Sacrifice at Pachacamac
Authors: Eeckhout Peter , Owens Lawrence Stewart
Published: February 2017

This is a study of the historical, archaeological, and anatomical/pathological evidence for human sacrifice at the Peruvian coastal site of Pachacamac during the Late Intermediate and Late Horizon Periods (A.D. 1000-1475 and 1475-1533). It highlights the problems associated with the identification of archaeological sacrifice, then goes on to summarize the pathological and cultural evidence from the site. The significance of this evidence is evaluated using not only traditional paradigms but also the notion of “deviant” burial; this is proposed as a formalized means of identifying archaeological sacrifice in collaboration with—and in the absence of—other indicators. Comparisons are carried out with selected sites and periods, and in both coastal and inland regions. Supplementary evidence from international contexts is also considered. The anatomical and contextual findings from Pachacamac reflect a shift from the somewhat sanguineous cultures such as the Nasca and the Moche, to the perfection-obsessed sacrificial modality of the Incas. The former seems to be concerned primarily with retainer burials and the punishment of enemies or opponents, which were offered to an uncertain eternity as a gesture to some higher power. The iconographic, archaeological, and anatomical evidence for sacrifice in these groups is commensurately dramatic. In the case of the Incas, the sacrifices were intended to bless objects or missions, give thanks, or to appeal for supernatural favors or assistance. We go on to propose—for the first time in Latin America—a theoretical framework for identifying and interpreting “deviant” burials in the Andean archaeological record.
Garbage of the Gods? Squatters, Refuse Disposal, and Termination Rituals among the Ancient Maya
Authors: Stanton Travis W. , Brown M. Kathryn , Pagliaro Jonathan B.
Published: February 2017

Differentiating the material patterning between domestic refuse from squatters and ceremonial trash generated from termination rituals has been difficult for Maya archaeologists. Rich floor assemblages, especially from elite contexts, have been interpreted as “decadent” squatter refuse by some researchers and the remains of abandonment rituals by others. The identification and separation of these classes of behavior are essential for interpretations of floor assemblages. In this paper, we examine data from numerous contexts, in order to contextualize the debate over the interpretation of these two models. Ethnoarchaeological, ethnohistoric, and archaeological data indicate that close scrutiny of the context and material composition of such deposits are needed to distinguish these very different classes of behavior.
Time, Power, and the Maya
Authors: Rice Prudence M.
Published: February 2017

Time is an abstract concept that has been examined relatively less by Americanist archaeologists as compared to Europeanists. The lack of consideration of time is particularly curious among Mayanists, because the Classic Maya assiduously recorded events in the lives of rulers and their kingdoms according to time's passage in multiple, precisely calibrated calendars. This essay examines some of the ways in which time has been conceptualized, and its political and economic roles explored, by anthropologists, sociologists, historians, and others. I apply these findings to the evolution of calendars in Mesoamerica and their function in underwriting early leadership positions, such as that of shamans or “daykeepers.” I explore the role of time in structuring late (Postclassic) Maya geopolitical organization and the possibility that such principles also guided that of the Classic Maya. Time, calendars, and particularly the movements of the sun came to be viewed as being “controlled” by Maya sacred kings, aided by their retinue of daykeepers/calendar priests. This awesome cosmopolitical power led to the identification of the king with the sun and his legitimization through control of the means of social and cosmic reproduction.
Salt and sugars content of breakfast cereals in the UK from 1992 to 2015
Authors: Pombo-Rodrigues Sonia , Hashem Kawther M , He Feng J , MacGregor Graham A
Published: February 2017

Objective

To study the salt and sugars content of breakfast cereals sold in the UK between 1992 and 2015.

Design

Cross-sectional surveys on salt and sugars content collected from the nutrition information panel of breakfast cereals in 1992, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2015.

Setting

All major UK retailers operating at that moment in time (approximately ten).

Subjects

The salt and sugars content was collected from product packaging and the nutrition information panels.

Results

Cereals consistently surveyed across all five years (n22) showed a significant reduction in salt content of 47 % (P<0·001). Sugars content of breakfast cereals (n15), however, did not show a significant change; 25·65 g/100 g in 1992 and 22·45 g/100 g in 2015 (P=0·170). There was a large variation in salt and sugars content between different categories and within the same type of category.

Conclusions

The study shows the progressive reduction in salt content of breakfast cereals in the UK since 2004 as a result of the successful salt reduction programme, particularly the setting of incremental salt targets. Further reductions in salt content need to be made as cereals remain a major contributor to salt intake. Sugars content, however, has been consistently high due to the lack of a sugar reduction strategy. The research demonstrates that the sugars content of breakfast cereals in the UK is of concern, particularly in children’s breakfast cereals, with a typical serving (30 g) containing a third of a 4–6-year-old’s maximum daily recommendation (19 g/d) for free sugars intake in the UK. More can and should be done to reformulate, with an urgent need to set incremental sugar reduction targets.
Porters, Beggars, and Noblemen: The Social Construction of Political Power in Sixteenth and Seventeenth-Century Rome
Authors: Canepari Eleonora
Published: February 2017

Employing Norbert Elias’s notion of figuration and referring to models based on the relational nature of power (patron-client, entrepreneur and big-man relationships), this article highlights how the relationship between the elite and the lower classes played a crucial role in the establishment of local power in Rome. The high degree of social mobility amongst the Roman elite made the neighborhood a politically open space: an official list of the aristocracy’s members was not available until the eighteenth century, and the Statute of Rome (1580) simply defined eligible candidates for local offices as “illustrious men of the neighborhood.” In this context, strong territorial connections were key when it came to gaining local power. An interconnected network of relationships linked the lower classes and noble families vertically. Through judicial sources, notarial records, and account books, this article presents the highly personalized nature of exchanges between the elite and the lower classes in addition to the complex web of economic transactions and social relations which was essential to creating a local network of clients.
Reinterpreting Social Status
Authors: Anheim Étienne , Grenier Jean-Yves , Lilti Antoine
Published: February 2017

Social statuses existed before the social sciences. When scholars began to develop this concept in the nineteenth century, they were drawing on the juridical writings of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and, more broadly, the vocabulary used by social groups to define themselves across time and space. From this moment forward, social statuses occupied a central position in the work of historians, sociologists, and anthropologists. These scholars were aiming to describe and explain the dynamics of human societies, but they also participated in framing the debates at the heart of the social sciences—as attested by the recurrent disputes between a Marxian notion of class and a Weberian conception of status groups, particularly among readers with tacit political motivations. Max Weber played a fundamental part in the success of the concept, taking the juridical aspect and the idea of society as a body, inherited from the ancien régime, and adding a specifically sociological content relating to the hierarchy of social prestige, which is neither directly inherited (as with castes) nor purely economic (as with classes). In truth, this definition was rarely applied stricto sensu by historians, sociologists, and anthropologists, but it did allow for the elaboration of a concept that could delimit groups of individuals sharing legal and symbolic characteristics within a given society, and that could incorporate the categories used by social actors themselves into historical analysis. Thus, during the 1960s, it was around the notion of status that interpretations of the ancien régime as a society of orders or a society of classes took shape, while anthropologists began to consider notions of emic and etic. From the 1980s, however, the concept of social status receded into the background as the idea of a global interpretation of society by the social sciences was called into question.
“Muchos negros, mulatos y otros colores”: Visual Culture and Colonial Knowledge in the Eighteenth Century
Authors: Zúñiga Jean-Paul
Published: February 2017

Hispanic-American societies of the colonial period are traditionally described as being hierarchized along a system of racial classification. Indeed, the Spanish term casta has been translated as race for that very purpose. Considering both terms as synonymous, however, leads to a conflation of colonial categories and contemporary concepts, thus simplifying a highly complex and lengthy process.

This article focuses on the distinctly colonial elements that contributed to transforming a notion derived from nobiliary terminology into a science of phenotypes. The study of this visual culture and vocabulary, initially rooted in Mesoamerica, reveals the regional and interimperial dialogue that established a Euro-American space of shared conceptual creation.
What Language Did Toussaint Louverture Speak?: The Fort de Joux Memoir and the Origins of Haitian Kreyòl
Authors: Girard Philippe R.
Published: February 2017

Using contemporary accounts, letters drafted by former slaves, and the memoir written by Toussaint Louverture shortly before his death, this article attempts to recreate the language spoken by Haitian revolutionaries and, in particular, Toussaint Louverture. Detailed historical and linguistic analysis of these sources shows that Louverture wrote predominantly in French, only employed Kreyòl orally (especially when addressing a working-class audience), and rarely used the Ewe-Fon language of his Arada ancestors. His memoir suggests that Haitian Kreyòl, which some linguists think is derived from African languages, was more influenced by archaic, popular, or regional variants of French. Louverture’s preference for French also reinforces theses that describe him as a moderate figure inclined toward the European model.
The Private Credit Market, the Bibliotheke Enkteseon, and Public Services in Roman Egypt
Authors: Lerouxel François
Published: February 2017

This article examines the history of the private credit market in Roman Egypt between 30 BCE and approximately 170 CE. After examining how the notion of the market and the New Institutional Economics are employed with regard to ancient economic history, it explains the positive effect that systems of drafting and registering contracts had on the private credit market and, in particular, the role of the bibliotheke enkteseon, created by the Roman administration between 68 and 72. The article concludes with an explanation of how this institution was created by analyzing the interaction between the private credit market and the way public services were financed in the Roman world.
Reason in the History of Persecution
Authors: Marmursztejn Elsa
Published: February 2017

Forced baptism, as a long-lasting instance of the persecution of Jews in Western societies, has been a highly controversial historiographical issue. Taking into account the risks involved in such a stance—as being a “lachrymose conception of Jewish history” and advocating “teleological,” “anachronistic,” “judiciary” views—this article deals with the historiographical trends which, ruling out the “persecuting society” paradigm and systematically minimizing the part played by religious factors to explain the forms of persecution, have resulted in specific works on historical causality and temporality. Two situations (the first Crusade in 1096 and the Crusade of the Pastoureaux in 1320) enable us to observe the mechanisms of rationalization in this new history of persecution, and show the diversity of its objects and approaches.
John XXII and the Expulsion of Jews from the Comtat Venaissin
Authors: Theis Valérie
Published: February 2017

In the early 1320s, the Jewish populations of the Comtat Venaissin were expelled from this territory by its ruler, Pope John XXII. This episode has often been linked by historians to the French king’s policy on the Jews. However, no study has described in a satisfactory manner the way in which this expulsion was carried out, or the reasons why the Papacy broke with the longstanding doctrine of the necessary protection of Jews, which had prevailed since the bull Sicut judeis. Although the question was given some attention by Carlo Ginzburg in Deciphering the Witches’ Sabbath, the historiography has long been dominated by the idea that the Popes, unlike secular rulers, never failed to protect the Jews. This article revisits this story. Using unpublished accounting documents, it proposes a more precise chronology of events leading to the expulsion, and an explanation of the way the forced sale of Jewish belongings was carried out. This leads to a new interpretation of this reversal of Papal policy, diverging both from an idealized history of the relations between Jews and Christians and from that of the rise of persecution mentalities, and embedded in the context of the building of state structures and the development of the arts of government.
New Ground-Penetrating Radar Method Shows Promise in Aquifer
Authors: Stanley Sarah
Published: February 2017

Recent advances in ground-penetrating radar data analysis could help reveal aquifer structure in unprecedented detail.
Nanoscale π–π stacked molecules are bound by collective charge fluctuations
Authors: Hermann Jan , Alfè Dario , Tkatchenko Alexandre
Published: February 2017

Non-covalent π−π interactions are central to chemical and biological processes, yet the full understanding of their origin that would unite the simplicity of empirical approaches with the accuracy of quantum calculations is still missing. Here we employ a quantum-mechanical Hamiltonian model for van der Waals interactions, to demonstrate that intermolecular electron correlation in large supramolecular complexes at equilibrium distances is appropriately described by collective charge fluctuations. We visualize these fluctuations and provide connections both to orbital-based approaches to electron correlation, as well as to the simple London pairwise picture. The reported binding energies of ten supramolecular complexes obtained from the quantum-mechanical fluctuation model joined with density functional calculations are within 5% of the reference energies calculated with the diffusion quantum Monte-Carlo method. Our analysis suggests that π−π stacking in supramolecular complexes can be characterized by strong contributions to the binding energy from delocalized, collective charge fluctuations—in contrast to complexes with other types of bonding.
Erythrocytes retain hypoxic adenosine response for faster acclimatization upon re-ascent
Authors: Song Anren , Zhang Yujin , Han Leng , Yegutkin Gennady G. , Liu Hong , Sun Kaiqi , D’Alessandro Angelo , Li Jessica , Karmouty-Quintana Harry , Iriyama Takayuki , Weng Tingting , Zhao Shushan , Wang Wei , Wu Hongyu , Nemkov Travis , Subudhi Andrew W. , Jameson-Van Houten Sonja , Julian Colleen G. , Lovering Andrew T. , Hansen Kirk C. , Zhang Hong , Bogdanov Mikhail , Dowhan William , Jin Jianping , Kellems Rodney E. , Eltzschig Holger K. , Blackburn Michael , Roach Robert C. , Xia Yang
Published: February 2017

Faster acclimatization to high altitude upon re-ascent is seen in humans; however, the molecular basis for this enhanced adaptive response is unknown. We report that in healthy lowlanders, plasma adenosine levels are rapidly induced by initial ascent to high altitude and achieved even higher levels upon re-ascent, a feature that is positively associated with quicker acclimatization. Erythrocyte equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (eENT1) levels are reduced in humans at high altitude and in mice under hypoxia. eENT1 deletion allows rapid accumulation of plasma adenosine to counteract hypoxic tissue damage in mice. Adenosine signalling via erythrocyte ADORA2B induces PKA phosphorylation, ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of eENT1. Reduced eENT1 resulting from initial hypoxia is maintained upon re-ascent in humans or re-exposure to hypoxia in mice and accounts for erythrocyte hypoxic memory and faster acclimatization. Our findings suggest that targeting identified purinergic-signalling network would enhance the hypoxia adenosine response to counteract hypoxia-induced maladaptation.
Omega-3 and omega-6 DPA equally inhibit the sphingosylphosphorylcholine-induced Ca2+-sensitization of vascular smooth muscle contraction via inhibiting Rho-kinase activation and translocation
Authors: Zhang Ying , Zhang Min , Lyu Bochao , Kishi Hiroko , Kobayashi Sei
Published: February 2017

We previously reported that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA), effectively inhibits sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC)-induced Ca2+-sensitization of vascular smooth muscle (VSM) contraction which is a major cause of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular vasospasm, and EPA is utilized clinically to prevent cerebrovascular vasospasm. In this study, we clearly demonstrate that docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), which exists in two forms as omega-3 (n-3) and omega-6 (n-6) PUFA, strongly inhibits SPC-induced contraction in VSM tissue and human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (CASMCs), with little effect on Ca2+-dependent contraction. Furthermore, n-3 and n-6 DPA inhibited the activation and translocation of Rho-kinase from cytosol to cell membrane. Additionally, SPC-induced phosphorylation of myosin light chain (MLC) was inhibited in n-3 and n-6 DPA pretreated smooth muscleVSM cells and tissues. In summary, we provide direct evidence that n-3 and n-6 DPA effectively equally inhibits SPC-induced contraction by inhibiting Rho-kinase activation and translocation to the cell membrane.
The value of delta neutrophil index in young infants with febrile urinary tract infection
Authors: Lee Jung Won , Kim Seong Heon , Park Se Jin , Lee Keum Hwa , Park Jae Hyon , Kronbichler Andreas , Eisenhut Michael , Kim Ji Hong , Lee Jong Wook , Shin Jae Il
Published: February 2017

Delta neutrophil index (DNI) is the fraction of circulating immature granulocytes, which reflects severe bacterial infections and septic condition but has not been studied in urinary tract infection (UTI). Here, we evaluated the value of DNI in predicting acute pyelonephritis (APN) or vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) using the data of 288 patients. Conventional inflammatory markers (white blood cell [WBC] count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR], C-reactive protein [CRP]), and DNI were measured. WBC, CRP, ESR and DNI were higher in APN than in lower UTI (p < 0.01). Multiple logistic-regression analyses showed that DNI was a predictive factor for areas of lack of uptake on dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scans (P < 0.01). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUC) was also high for DNI (0.622, 95% CI 0.558–0.687, P < 0.01) as well as for CRP (0.731, 95% CI 0.673–0.789, P < 0.01) for the prediction of DMSA defects. DNI demonstrated the highest area under the ROC curve for diagnosis of VUR (0.620, 95% CI 0.542–0.698, P < 0.01). To the best of our knowledge, this is a first study demonstrating that DNI can be used as a diagnostic marker to distinguish APN from lower UTI and function as a diagnostic marker indicative of VUR compared to other conventional markers.
Knockdown of a cellulose synthase gene BoiCesA affects the leaf anatomy, cellulose content and salt tolerance in broccoli
Authors: Li Shuangtao , Zhang Lei , Wang Ying , Xu Fengfeng , Liu Mengyun , Lin Peng , Ren Shuxin , Ma Rui , Guo Yang-Dong
Published: February 2017

Cellulose is the major component of cell wall materials. A 300 bp specific fragment from the cDNA fragment was chosen to insert into vector pFGC1008 at forward and reverse orientations to construct the recombinant RNAi vector. Knockdown ofBoiCesAcaused “dwarf” phenotype with smaller leaves and a loss of the content of cellulose. Moreover, RT-PCR analysis confirmed that the expression of the RNAi apparatus could repress expression of theCesAgene. Meanwhile, examination of the leaves from the T3 of RNAi transformants indicated reduction of cell expansion in vascular bundles, particularly on their abaxial surface. The proline and soluble sugar content increased contrarily. Under the salt stress, the T3 of RNAi plants showed significant higher resistance. The expression levels of some salt tolerance related genes (BoiProH, BoiPIP2;2, BoiPIP2;3) were significantly changed in T3 of RNAi plants. The results showed that the hairpin structure ofCesAspecific fragment inhibited the endogenous gene expression and it was proved that the cDNA fragment was relevant to the cellulose biosynthesis. Moreover, modulation cellulose synthesis probably was an important influencing factor in polysaccharide metabolism and adaptations of plants to stresses. This will provide technological possibilities for the further study of modulation of the cellulose content of crops.
Phytosterol esters attenuate hepatic steatosis in rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease rats fed a high-fat diet
Authors: Song Lihua , Qu Dan , Zhang Qing , jiang Jing , Zhou Haiyue , Jiang Rui , Li Yating , Zhang Yao , Yan Hongli
Published: February 2017

Given the adverse effects of drugs used for NAFLD treatment, identifying novel and effective natural compound to prevent NAFLD is urgently needed. In the present study, the effects of phytosterol esters (PSEs) on NAFLD were explored. Adult SD rats were randomized into five groups: normal chow diet (NC), high-fat diet (HF), low-, medium- and high-dose PSE treatment plus high-fat diet groups (PSEL, PSEM, and PSEH). Our results showed that the levels of LDL-C in the PSEL group and hepatic TG, TC, and FFA in the three PSEs groups were significantly decreased. Notably, the uric acid (UA) level was significantly decreased by PSEs intervention. The hepatic inflammatory stress was ameliorated via the inhibition of the cytokines, including TGF-β, IL-6, IL-10 and CRP in the PSEs intervention groups. Further, the oxidative status was improved by PSE treatment through adjusting the enzyme activity (SOD and XOD) and decreasing the MDA level. These beneficial effects of PSE may have been partly due to its regulation on the expression of TGF-β1, TGF-β2, TNF-α, UCP-2, PPAR-α and PPAR-γ in hepatic tissue at both mRNA and protein level. The results of this study suggest that PSEs may be used as therapeutic agents for the prevention and progression of NAFLD and that hyperuricemia is induced by high-fat diet consumption.
Nanosecond time-resolved characterization of a pentacene-based room-temperature MASER
Authors: Salvadori Enrico , Breeze Jonathan D. , Tan Ke-Jie , Sathian Juna , Richards Benjamin , Fung Mei Wai , Wolfowicz Gary , Oxborrow Mark , Alford Neil McN. , Kay Christopher W. M.
Published: February 2017

The performance of a room temperature, zero-field MASER operating at 1.45 GHz has been examined. Nanosecond laser pulses, which are essentially instantaneous on the timescale of the spin dynamics, allow the visible-to-microwave conversion efficiency and temporal response of the MASER to be measured as a function of excitation energy. It is observed that the timing and amplitude of the MASER output pulse are correlated with the laser excitation energy: at higher laser energy, the microwave pulses have larger amplitude and appear after shorter delay than those recorded at lower laser energy. Seeding experiments demonstrate that the output variation may be stabilized by an external source and establish the minimum seeding power required. The dynamics of the MASER emission may be modeled by a pair of first order, non-linear differential equations, derived from the Lotka-Volterra model (Predator-Prey), where by the microwave mode of the resonator is the predator and the spin polarization in the triplet state of pentacene is the prey. Simulations allowed the Einstein coefficient of stimulated emission, the spin-lattice relaxation and the number of triplets contributing to the MASER emission to be estimated. These are essential parameters for the rational improvement of a MASER based on a spin-polarized triplet molecule.
Multiple tropical Andean glaciations during a period of late Pliocene warmth
Authors: Roberts Nicholas J. , Barendregt René W. , Clague John J.
Published: February 2017

The extent and behaviour of glaciers during the mid-Piacenzian warm period illustrate the sensitivity of the cryosphere to atmospheric CO2concentrations above pre-industrial levels. Knowledge of glaciation during this period is restricted to globally or regionally averaged records from marine sediments and to sparse terrestrial glacial deposits in mid-to-high latitudes. Here we expand the Pliocene glacial record to the tropics by reporting recurrent large-scale glaciation in the Bolivian Andes based on stratigraphic and paleomagnetic analysis of a 95-m sequence of glacial sediments underlying the 2.74-Ma Chijini Tuff. Paleosols and polarity reversals separate eight glacial diamictons, which we link to cold periods in the benthic oxygen isotope record. The glaciations appear to coincide with the earliest glacial activity at high northern latitudes and with events in Antarctica, including the strong M2 cold peak and terminal Pliocene climate deterioration. This concordance suggests inter-hemispheric climate linkages during the late Pliocene and requires that the Central Andes were at least as high in the late Pliocene as today. Our record fills a critical gap in knowledge of Earth systems during the globally warm mid-Piacenzian and suggests a possible driver of faunal migration preceding the large-scale biotic interchange in the Americas during the earliest Pleistocene.
SpotLight Proteomics: uncovering the hidden blood proteome improves diagnostic power of proteomics
Authors: Lundström Susanna L. , Zhang Bo , Rutishauser Dorothea , Aarsland Dag , Zubarev Roman A.
Published: February 2017

The human blood proteome is frequently assessed by protein abundance profiling using a combination of liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). In traditional sequence database search, many good-quality MS/MS data remain unassigned. Here we uncover the hidden part of the blood proteome via novel SpotLight approach. This method combines de novo MS/MS sequencing of enriched antibodies and co-extracted proteins with subsequent label-free quantification of new and known peptides in both enriched and unfractionated samples. In a pilot study on differentiating early stages of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) from Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB), on peptide level the hidden proteome contributed almost as much information to patient stratification as the apparent proteome. Intriguingly, many of the new peptide sequences are attributable to antibody variable regions, and are potentially indicative of disease etiology. When the hidden and apparent proteomes are combined, the accuracy of differentiating AD (n = 97) and DLB (n = 47) increased from ≈85% to ≈95%. The low added burden of SpotLight proteome analysis makes it attractive for use in clinical settings.
Assessing of the contributions of pod photosynthesis to carbon acquisition of seed in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)
Authors: Zhang Wenxu , Mao Peisheng , Li Yuan , Wang Mingya , Xia Fangshan , Wang Hui
Published: February 2017

The distribution of carbon from a branch setting pod in alfalfa was investigated during the seed development of seeds to determine the relative contribution of pod and leaf photoassimilates to the total C balance and to investigate the partitioning of these photoassimilates to other plant organs. A 13Clabeling procedure was used to label C photoassimilates of pods and leaves in alfalfa, and the Δ13C values of a pod, leaves, a section of stem and roots were measured during seed development on day 10, 15, 20 and 25 after labeling of the pod. The results showed that the alfalfa pod had photosynthetic capacity early in the development of seeds, and that pod photosynthesis could provide carbon to alfalfa organs including seeds, pods, leaves, stems and roots, in addition to leaf photosynthesis. Photosynthesis in the pod affected the total C balance of the alfalfa branch with the redistribution of a portion of pod assimilates to other plant organs. The assimilated 13C of the pod was used for the growth requirements of plant seeds and pods. The requirements for assimilated C came primarily from the young pod in early seed development, with later requirements provided primarily from the leaf.
Anti-site-induced diverse diluted magnetism in LiMgPdSb-type CoMnTiSi alloy
Authors: Lin T. T. , Dai X. F. , Guo R. K. , Cheng Z. X. , Wang L. Y. , Wang X. T. , Liu G. D.
Published: February 2017

The effect of three kinds of anti-site disorder to electronic structure and magnetic properties of the LiMgPdSb-type CoMnTiSi alloy are investigated. It was found the Mn-Ti anti-site disorder can induce the diluted magnetism in CoMnTiSi matrix. The magnetic structure has an oscillation between the ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic states with the different degree of Mn-Ti anti-site disorder. Two novel characteristics: the diluted antiferromagnetic half-metallicity and the diluted zero-gap half-metallity are found in the different degree range of the Mn-Ti anti-site disorder. The Co-Mn and Co-Ti anti-site disorder have little effect on the magnetic properties. The width of energy gap and the intensity of DOS at the Fermi level can be adjusted by the degree of Co-Mn or Co-Ti anti-site disorder. The independent control to the carrier concentration and magnetization can be realized by introducing the different anti-site disorder.
Early-life stress impairs recognition memory and perturbs the functional maturation of prefrontal-hippocampal-perirhinal networks
Authors: Reincke Samuel A. J. , Hanganu-Opatz Ileana L.
Published: February 2017

Early life exposure to stressful situations impairs cognitive performance of adults and contributes to the etiology of several psychiatric disorders. Most of affected cognitive abilities rely on coupling by synchrony within complex neuronal networks, including prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampus (HP), and perirhinal cortex (PRH). Yet it remains poorly understood how early life stress (ELS) induces dysfunction within these networks during the course of development. Here we used intermittent maternal separation during the first 2 postnatal weeks to mimic ELS and monitored the recognition memory and functional coupling within prefrontal-hippocampal-perirhinal circuits in juvenile rats. While maternally-separated female rats showed largely normal behavior, male rats experiencing this form of ELS had poorer location and recency recognition memory. Simultaneous multi-site extracellular recordings of network oscillations and neuronal spiking from PFC, HP, and PRHin vivorevealed corresponding decrease of oscillatory activity in theta and beta frequency bands in the PFC of male but not female rats experiencing maternal separation. This deficit was accompanied by weaker cross-frequency coupling within juvenile prefrontal-hippocampal networks. These results indicate that already at juvenile age ELS mimicked by maternal separation induces sex-specific deficits in recognition memory that might have as underlying mechanism a disturbed communication between PFC and HP.
Ultrasound-Mediated Mesenchymal Stem Cells Transfection as a Targeted Cancer Therapy Platform
Authors: Haber Tom , Baruch Limor , Machluf Marcelle
Published: February 2017

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) hold tremendous potential as a targeted cell-based delivery platform for inflammatory and cancer therapy. Genetic manipulation of MSCs, however, is challenging, and therefore, most studies using MSCs as therapeutic cell carriers have utilized viral vectors to transduce the cells. Here, we demonstrate, for the first time, an alternative approach for the efficient transfection of MSCs; therapeutic ultrasound (TUS). Using TUS with low intensities and moderate frequencies, MSCs were transfected with a pDNA encoding for PEX, a protein that inhibits tumor angiogenesis, and studied as a cell vehicle for in vivo tumor therapy. TUS application did not alter the MSCs’ stemness or their homing capabilities, and the transfected MSCs transcribed biologically active PEX. Additionally, in a mouse model, 70% inhibition of prostate tumor growth was achieved following a single I.V. administration of MSCs that were TUS-transfected with pPEX. Further, the repeated I.V. administration of TUS-pPEX transfected-MSCs enhanced tumor inhibition up to 84%. Altogether, these results provide a proof of concept that TUS-transfected MSCs can be effectively used as a cell-based delivery approach for the prospective treatment of cancer.
Improved Flexible Transparent Conductive Electrodes based on Silver Nanowire Networks by a Simple Sunlight Illumination Approach
Authors: Kou Pengfei , Yang Liu , Chang Cheng , He Sailing
Published: February 2017

Silver nanowire (Ag NW) networks have attracted wide attention as transparent electrodes for emerging flexible optoelectronics. However, the sheet resistance is greatly limited by large wire-to-wire contact resistances. Here, we propose a simple sunlight illumination approach to remarkably improve their electrical conductivity without any significant degradation of the light transmittance. Because the power density is extremely low (0.1 W/cm2, 1-Sun), only slight welding between Ag NWs has been observed. Despite this, a sheet resistance of <20 Ω/sq and transmittance of ~87% at wavelength of 550 nm as well as excellent mechanical flexibility have still been achieved for Ag NW networks after sunlight illumination for 1 hour or longer, which are significant upgrades over those of ITO. Slight plasmonic welding together with the associated self-limiting effect has been investigated by numerical simulations and further verified experimentally through varied solar concentrations. Due to the reduced resistance, high-performance transparent film heaters as well as efficient defrosters have been demonstrated, which are superior to the previously-reported Ag NW based film heaters. Since the sunlight is environmentally friendly and easily available, sophisticated or expensive facilities are not necessary. Our findings are particularly meaningful and show enormous potential for outdoor applications.
Allometric scaling in-vitro
Authors: Ahluwalia Arti
Published: February 2017

About two decades ago, West and coworkers established a model which predicts that metabolic rate follows a three quarter power relationship with the mass of an organism, based on the premise that tissues are supplied nutrients through a fractal distribution network. Quarter power scaling is widely considered a universal law of biology and it is generally accepted that were in-vitro cultures to obey allometric metabolic scaling, they would have more predictive potential and could, for instance, provide a viable substitute for animals in research. This paper outlines a theoretical and computational framework for establishing quarter power scaling in three-dimensional spherical constructs in-vitro, starting where fractal distribution ends. Allometric scaling in non-vascular spherical tissue constructs was assessed using models of Michaelis Menten oxygen consumption and diffusion. The models demonstrate that physiological scaling is maintained when about 5 to 60% of the construct is exposed to oxygen concentrations less than the Michaelis Menten constant, with a significant concentration gradient in the sphere. The results have important implications for the design of downscaled in-vitro systems with physiological relevance.
Enhanced delignification of steam-pretreated poplar by a bacterial laccase
Authors: Singh Rahul , Hu Jinguang , Regner Matthew R. , Round James W. , Ralph John , Saddler John N. , Eltis Lindsay D.
Published: February 2017

The recalcitrance of woody biomass, particularly its lignin component, hinders its sustainable transformation to fuels and biomaterials. Although the recent discovery of several bacterial ligninases promises the development of novel biocatalysts, these enzymes have largely been characterized using model substrates: direct evidence for their action on biomass is lacking. Herein, we report the delignification of woody biomass by a small laccase (sLac) fromAmycolatopsis sp. 75iv3. Incubation of steam-pretreated poplar (SPP) with sLac enhanced the release of acid-precipitable polymeric lignin (APPL) by ~6-fold, and reduced the amount of acid-soluble lignin by ~15%. NMR spectrometry revealed that the APPL was significantly syringyl-enriched relative to the original material (~16:1 vs. ~3:1), and that sLac preferentially oxidized syringyl units and altered interunit linkage distributions. sLac’s substrate preference among monoaryls was also consistent with this observation. In addition, sLac treatment reduced the molar mass of the APPL by over 50%, as determined by gel-permeation chromatography coupled with multi-angle light scattering. Finally, sLac acted synergistically with a commercial cellulase cocktail to increase glucose production from SPP ~8%. Overall, this study establishes the lignolytic activity of sLac on woody biomass and highlights the biocatalytic potential of bacterial enzymes.
A comparison of the uniaxial deformation of copper and nickel (1 1 19) surfaces: a molecular dynamics study
Authors: Pukšič Nuša , Jenko Monika , Godec Matjaž , McGuiness Paul J.
Published: February 2017

While a lot is known about the deformation of metallic surfaces from experiments, elasticity theory and simulations, this investigation represents the first molecular-dynamics-based simulation of uniaxial deformation for the vicinal surfaces in a comparison of copper and nickel. These vicinal surfaces are composed of terraces divided by equidistant, mono-atomic steps. The periodicity of vicinals makes them good candidates for the study of the surface steps’ influences on surface dynamics. The simulations of tensile and compressive uniaxial deformations were performed for the (1 1 19) vicinal surfaces. Since the steps on the surfaces serve as stress concentrators, the first defects were expected to nucleate here. In the case of copper, this was found to be the case. In the case of nickel, however, dislocations nucleated beneath the near-surface layer affected by the displacement field generated by the steps. Slip was hindered at the surface step by the vortex in the displacement field. The differences in the deformation mechanisms for the Ni(1 1 19) and Cu(1 1 19) surfaces can be linked to the differences in their displacement fields. This could lead to novel bottom-up approaches to the nanostructuring of surfaces using strain.
Lithium intercalation mechanism into FeF3·0.5H2O as a highly stable composite cathode material
Authors: Ali Ghulam , Lee Ji–Hoon , Chang Wonyoung , Cho Byung-Won , Jung Hun-Gi , Nam Kyung-Wan , Chung Kyung Yoon
Published: February 2017

The growing demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) requires investigation of high-performance electrode materials with the advantages of being environmentally friendly and cost-effective. In this study, a nanocomposite of open-pyrochlore-structured FeF3·0.5H2O and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) is synthesized for use as a high-performance cathode in LIBs, where RGO provides high electrical conductivity to the composite material. The morphology of the composite shows that FeF3·0.5H2O spheres are embedded into RGO layers and high-resolution TEM image shows that those spheres are composed of primary nanoparticles with a size of ~5 nm. The cycling performance indicates that the composite electrode delivers an initial high discharge capacity of 223 mAh g−1 at 0.05 C, a rate capability up to a high C-rate of 10 C (47 mAh g−1) and stable cycle performance at 0.05 C (145 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles) and 0.2 C (93 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles) while maintaining high electrochemical reversibility. Furthermore, the responsible electrochemical reaction is investigated using in-situ XRD and synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and the XRD results show that FeF3·0.5H2O transitions to an amorphous-like phase through a lithiation process. However, a reversible oxidation change of Fe3+ ↔ Fe2+ is identified by the XAS results.
The MCP-4/MCP-1 ratio in plasma is a candidate circadian biomarker for chronic post-traumatic stress disorder
Authors: Dalgard C , Eidelman O , Jozwik C , Olsen C H , Srivastava M , Biswas R , Eudy Y , Rothwell S W , Mueller G P , Yuan P , Drevets W C , Manji H K , Vythlingam M , Charney D S , Neumeister A , Ursano R J , Jacobowitz D M , Pollard H B , Bonne O
Published: February 2017

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is psychiatric disease, which can occur following exposure to traumatic events. PTSD may be acute or chronic, and can have a waxing and waning course of symptoms. It has been hypothesized that proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or plasma might be mediators of the psychophysiological mechanisms relating a history of trauma exposure to changes in behavior and mental health disorders, and medical morbidity. Here we test the cytokine/chemokine hypothesis for PTSD by examining levels of 17 classical cytokines and chemokines in CSF, sampled at 0900 hours, and in plasma sampled hourly for 24 h. The PTSD and healthy control patients are from the NIMH Chronic PTSD and healthy control cohort, initially described by Bonneet al.(2011), in which the PTSD patients have relatively low comorbidity for major depressive disorder (MDD), drug or alcohol use. We find that in plasma, but not CSF, the bivariate MCP4 (CCL13)/ MCP1(CCL2) ratio is ca. twofold elevated in PTSD patients compared with healthy controls. The MCP-4/MCP-1 ratio is invariant over circadian time, and is independent of gender, body mass index or the age at which the trauma was suffered. By contrast, MIP-1β is a candidate biomarker for PTSD only in females, whereas TARC is a candidate biomarker for PTSD only in males. It remains to be discovered whether these disease-specific differences in circadian expression for these specific immune signaling molecules are biomarkers, surrogates, or drivers for PTSD, or whether any of these analytes could contribute to therapy.
Anchoring of ultrafine Co3O4 nanoparticles on MWCNTs using supercritical fluid processing and its performance evaluation towards electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction
Authors: Thangasamy Pitchai , Selvakumar Karuppiah , Sathish Marappan , Kumar Sakkarapalayam Murugesan Senthil , Thangamuthu Rangasamy
Published: February 2017

Anchoring ultrafine Co3O4 nanoparticles on MWCNTs using a supercritical fluid showed high ORR performance.