bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Performance of Pd Electrocatalyst Supported on a Physical Mixture Indium Tin Oxide–carbon for Glycerol Electro–oxidation in Alkaline Media
Authors: Ottoni Cristiane Angélica , Randello de Souza Rodiney , Silva Sirlane Gomes da , Spinacé Estevan Vitorio , Brambilla de Souza Rodrigo Fernando , Neto Almir Oliveirra
Published: December 2016

Palladium electrocatalysts, supported on Vulcan XC 72 carbon and indium tin oxide (ITO) with different ratios, were prepared by borohydride reduction method and analysed for glycerol electro‐oxidation application in the presence of KOH solution. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) techniques were used to characterize the particle size and crystal electrocatalyst structures, whereas their catalytic activities regarding the glycerol electro‐oxidation were evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry and tested in a direct alkaline glycerol fuel cell (DGFC) by electrochemical techniques. Micrographs results showed that the ITO presence promotes a large agglomeration of particles. Pd/C–ITO electrocatalysts showed peaks associated with the face‐centered cubic (fcc) structure of palladium and several others peaks associated with ITO used as support. Similar performance was found on all Pd/C–ITO electrocatalysts where measurements in CV were compared to Pd/C and Pd/ITO with Pd/C–ITO 50:50 chronoamperometry, presenting a better performance for glycerol electro‐oxidation. When using Pd/C–ITO 85:15 electrocatalyst and 1.0 mol L−1 glycerol at 90 °C, the maximum power density found was 2,1 times higher than that obtained using Pd/C and Pd/CITO electrocatalysts. Therefore, the physical mixture of ITO and carbon, to be used as a support improves the electrocatalytic activity for glycerol oxidation reaction.
Fluorescent Markers for Amyloid‐β Detection: Computational Insights
Authors: Peccati Francesca , Pantaleone Stefano , Solans‐Monfort Xavier , Sodupe Mariona
Published: December 2016

In vivo detection of cerebral amyloid‐β plaques is essential for an early diagnosis of Alzheimer′s disease. Optical imaging, which employs fluorescent markers emitting in the near‐infrared range, is a growing alternative to nuclear techniques, with indisputable advantages. The rational design of amyloid markers requires optimization of both the optical and binding properties, and of their mutual interaction. In this work, the structural aspects that determine the performance of selected amyloid markers have been analyzed, focusing on the contributions offered by computational techniques.
The public multi‐coil information (PUMCIN) policy
Authors: Juchem Christoph , de Graaf Robin A.
Published: December 2016

Purpose

Multi‐coil (MC) magnetic field modeling has emerged as a viable alternative to conventional field generation based on spherical harmonic shapes, and an active MC community is forming. Although all MC applications share the same modeling concept, the specific MC designs can largely differ as a result of disparities in region of interest (eg, human versus rodent), intended MR application (eg, B0 shimming versus spatial encoding), or other experimental constraints (eg, available bore space or integration with radiofrequency technology). To date, a lack of detailed information on existing MC designs complicates the assessment and precludes a meaningful comparison.

Methods

Here, we suggest that future publications involving the MC technique not only report the benefits for the application at hand, but also include an explicit description of the MC wire pattern used.

Results

This public multi‐coil information (PUMCIN) policy represents a voluntary commitment to promoting free public access to the details necessary for reproducing and benefiting from MC research.

Conclusions

The PUMCIN policy is expected to initiate a paradigm shift with respect to the way MC innovation is reported. By setting an example, we hope to encourage the evolving MC community to maximize the benefits for science and society by embracing it. Magn Reson Med 78:2042–2047, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
The clinical utility of QSM: disease diagnosis, medical management, and surgical planning
Authors: Eskreis‐Winkler Sarah , Zhang Yan , Zhang Jingwei , Liu Zhe , Dimov Alexey , Gupta Ajay , Wang Yi
Published: December 2016

Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) is an MR technique that depicts and quantifies magnetic susceptibility sources. Mapping iron, the dominant susceptibility source in the brain, has many important clinical applications. Herein, we review QSM applications in the diagnosis, medical management, and surgical treatment of disease. To assist in early disease diagnosis, QSM can identify elevated iron levels in the motor cortex of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients, in the substantia nigra of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, in the globus pallidus, putamen, and caudate of Huntington's disease patients, and in the basal ganglia of Wilson's disease patients. Additionally, QSM can distinguish between hemorrhage and calcification, which could prove useful in tumor subclassification, and can measure microbleeds in traumatic brain injury patients. In guiding medical management, QSM can be used to monitor iron chelation therapy in PD patients, to monitor smoldering inflammation of multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions after the blood–brain barrier (BBB) seals, to monitor active inflammation of MS lesions before the BBB seals without using gadolinium, and to monitor hematoma volume in intracerebral hemorrhage. QSM can also guide neurosurgical treatment. Neurosurgeons require accurate depiction of the subthalamic nucleus, a tiny deep gray matter nucleus, prior to inserting deep brain stimulation electrodes into the brains of PD patients. QSM is arguably the best imaging tool for depiction of the subthalamic nucleus. Finally, we discuss future directions, including bone QSM, cardiac QSM, and using QSM to map cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A phase I/II trial of AT9283, a selective inhibitor of aurora kinase in children with relapsed or refractory acute leukemia: challenges to run early phase clinical trials for children with leukemia
Authors: Vormoor B. , Veal G. J. , Griffin M. J. , Boddy A. V. , Irving J. , Minto L. , Case M. , Banerji U. , Swales K. E. , Tall J. R. , Moore A. S. , Toguchi M. , Acton G. , Dyer K. , Schwab C. , Harrison C. J. , Grainger J. D. , Lancaster D. , Kearns P. , Hargrave D. , Vormoor J.
Published: December 2016

Aurora kinases regulate mitosis and are commonly overexpressed in leukemia. This phase I/IIa study of AT9283, a multikinase inhibitor, was designed to identify maximal tolerated doses, safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamic activity in children with relapsed/refractory acute leukemia. The trial suffered from poor recruitment and terminated early, therefore failing to identify its primary endpoints. AT9283 caused tolerable toxicity, but failed to show clinical responses. Future trials should be based on robust preclinical data that provide an indication of which patients may benefit from the experimental agent, and recruitment should be improved through international collaborations and early combination with established treatment strategies.
Development of quality indicators for transition from pediatric to adult care in sickle cell disease: A modified Delphi survey of adult providers
Authors: Sobota Amy E. , Shah Nishita , Mack Jennifer W.
Published: December 2016

Background

Transition from pediatric to adult care is a vulnerable time for young adults with sickle cell disease (SCD); however, improvements in transition are limited by a lack of quality indicators. The purpose of this study was to establish quality indicators for transition in SCD and to determine the optimal timing between the final pediatric visit and the first adult provider visit.

Procedure

We conducted a modified Delphi survey to reach a consensus on which quality indicators are most important for a successful transition. Our expert panel consisted of members of the Sickle Cell Adult Provider Network. In the first round, the participants ranked a list of quality indicators by importance. In the second round, the participants chose their “top 5” quality indicators in terms of importance and also ranked them on feasibility.

Results

The response rates for the two rounds were 68 and 96%, respectively. Nine quality indicators were chosen as “top 5” by a majority of respondents, including communication between pediatric and adult providers, timing of first adult visit, patient self‐efficacy, quality of life, and trust with their adult provider. Based on the comments from round 1, respondents were also asked for the optimal timing between leaving pediatric care and entering adult care. Most recommended a first adult visit within 2 months of the final pediatric visit.

Conclusions

By using these quality indicators chosen by the majority of respondents, we can better develop and evaluate transition programs for young adults with SCD and improve health outcomes for these vulnerable patients.
How to guide effective student questioning: a review of teacher guidance in primary education
Authors: Stokhof Harry J. M. , De Vries Bregje , Martens Rob L. , Bastiaens Theo J.
Published: December 2016

Although the educational potential of student questions is widely acknowledged, primary school teachers need support to guide them to become effective for learning the curriculum. The aim of this review is to identify which teacher guidance supports effective student questioning. Thirty‐six empirical studies on guiding student questioning in primary education were analysed. Four emergent themes for teacher guidance of effective student questioning were identified in the data: first, guiding effective student questioning requires confident teachers, who create a supportive classroom culture for question generation and acknowledge the potential in students’ initial questions; second, defining a conceptual focus supports teachers in aligning student questions to curricular goals; third, organising collective responsibility for the question process in the classroom fosters effective student questioning; and fourth, teacher guidance is supported when the process of questioning is visualised on a collective platform.
Combining local and global smoothing in multivariate density estimation
Authors: Azzalini Adelchi
Published: December 2016

Non‐parametric estimation of a multivariate density is tackled via a method that combines traditional local smoothing with a form of global smoothing but without imposing a rigid structure. Simulation work delivers encouraging indications on the effectiveness of the method. An application to density‐based clustering illustrates a possible usage. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Robustness and plasticity in development
Authors: Bateson Patrick
Published: December 2016

Like the game of chess, the overall development of human behavior is highly regulated, and also many finer points of any particular individual life depend on early moves. The robust mechanisms that make species different from each other also impact processes that make individuals distinct from one another. Children both influence their environment and are influenced by it. As the development of any particular skill depends upon the contribution of particular environmental inputs at particular times, environmental variability can dramatically change the process. Development is seldom a linear process: while large environmental changes sometimes have little effect on developmental outcomes, small changes can have enormous (if not always immediate) effects. If we are to unravel these complex interdependencies, we must study the interplay among developmental factors that generates change. WIREs Cogn Sci 2017, 8:e1386. doi: 10.1002/wcs.1386

This article is categorized under:

Psychology > Comparative Psychology
Individual differences in human brain development
Authors: Brown Timothy T.
Published: December 2016

This article discusses recent scientific advances in the study of individual differences in human brain development. Focusing on structural neuroimaging measures of brain morphology and tissue properties, two kinds of variability are related and explored: differences across individuals of the same age and differences across age as a result of development. A recent multidimensional modeling study is explained, which was able to use brain measures to predict an individual's chronological age within about one year on average, in children, adolescents, and young adults between 3 and 20 years old. These findings reveal great regularity in the sequence of the aggregate brain state across different ages and phases of development, despite the pronounced individual differences people show on any single brain measure at any given age. Future research is suggested, incorporating additional measures of brain activity and function. WIREs Cogn Sci 2017, 8:e1389. doi: 10.1002/wcs.1389

This article is categorized under:

Psychology > Brain Function and Dysfunction

Psychology > Development and Aging
What do we learn about development from baby robots?
Authors: Oudeyer Pierre‐Yves
Published: December 2016

Understanding infant development is one of the great scientific challenges of contemporary science. In addressing this challenge, robots have proven useful as they allow experimenters to model the developing brain and body and understand the processes by which new patterns emerge in sensorimotor, cognitive, and social domains. Robotics also complements traditional experimental methods in psychology and neuroscience, where only a few variables can be studied at the same time. Moreover, work with robots has enabled researchers to systematically explore the role of the body in shaping the development of skill. All told, this work has shed new light on development as a complex dynamical system. WIREs Cogn Sci 2017, 8:e1395. doi: 10.1002/wcs.1395

This article is categorized under:

Computer Science > Robotics

Psychology > Development and Aging
Neurodevelopmental disorders
Authors: D'Souza Hana , Karmiloff‐Smith Annette
Published: December 2016

Recent technological advances allow us to measure how the infant brain functions in ways that were not possible just a decade ago. Although methodological advances are exciting, we must also consider how theories guide research: what we look for and how we explain what we find. Indeed, the ways in which research findings are interpreted affects the design of policies, educational practices, and interventions. Thus, the theoretical approaches adopted by scientists have a real impact on the lives of children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) and their families, as well as on the wider community. Here, we introduce and compare two theoretical approaches that are used to understand NDDs: the neuropsychological account and neuroconstructivism. We show how the former, adult account, is inadequate for explaining NDDs and illustrate this using the examples of Williams syndrome and specific language impairment. Neuroconstructivism, by contrast, focuses on the developing organism and is helping to change the way in which NDDs are investigated. Whereas neuropsychological static approaches assume that one or more ‘modules’ (e.g., visuospatial ability in Williams syndrome) are impaired while the rest of the system is spared (e.g., language in Williams syndrome), neuroconstructivism proposes that basic‐level deficits have subtle cascading effects on numerous domains over development. Neuroconstructivism leads researchers to embrace complexity by establishing large research consortia to integrate findings at multiple levels (e.g., genetic, neural, cognitive, environmental) across developmental time. WIREs Cogn Sci 2017, 8:e1398. doi: 10.1002/wcs.1398

This article is categorized under:

Neuroscience > Development
Behavioral epigenetics
Authors: Moore David S.
Published: December 2016

Why do we grow up to have the traits we do? Most 20th century scientists answered this question by referring only to our genes and our environments. But recent discoveries in the emerging field of behavioral epigenetics have revealed factors at the interface between genes and environments that also play crucial roles in development. These factors affect how genes work; scientists now know that what matters as much as which genes you have (and what environments you encounter) is how your genes are affected by their contexts. The discovery that what our genes do depends in part on our experiences has shed light on how Nature and Nurture interact at the molecular level inside of our bodies. Data emerging from the world's behavioral epigenetics laboratories support the idea that a person's genes alone cannot determine if, for example, he or she will end up shy, suffering from cardiovascular disease, or extremely smart. Among the environmental factors that can influence genetic activity are parenting styles, diets, and social statuses. In addition to influencing how doctors treat diseases, discoveries about behavioral epigenetics are likely to alter how biologists think about evolution, because some epigenetic effects of experience appear to be transmissible from generation to generation. This domain of research will likely change how we think about the origins of human nature. WIREs Syst Biol Med 2017, 9:e1333. doi: 10.1002/wsbm.1333

This article is categorized under:

Developmental Biology > Developmental Processes in Health and Disease
Enhancement of rapamycin production by metabolic engineering in Streptomyces hygroscopicus based on genome-scale metabolic model
Authors: Dang Lanqing , Liu Jiao , Wang Cheng , Liu Huanhuan , Wen Jianping
Published: December 2016

Rapamycin, as a macrocyclic polyketide with immunosuppressive, antifungal, and anti-tumor activity produced by Streptomyces hygroscopicus, is receiving considerable attention for its significant contribution in medical field. However, the production capacity of the wild strain is very low. Hereby, a computational guided engineering approach was proposed to improve the capability of rapamycin production. First, a genome-scale metabolic model of Streptomyces hygroscopicus ATCC 29253 was constructed based on its annotated genome and biochemical information. The model consists of 1003 reactions, 711 metabolites after manual refinement. Subsequently, several potential genetic targets that likely guaranteed an improved yield of rapamycin were identified by flux balance analysis and minimization of metabolic adjustment algorithm. Furthermore, according to the results of model prediction, target gene pfk (encoding 6-phosphofructokinase) was knocked out, and target genes dahP (encoding 3-deoxy-d-arabino-heptulosonate-7-phosphate synthase) and rapK (encoding chorismatase) were overexpressed in the parent strain ATCC 29253. The yield of rapamycin increased by 30.8% by knocking out gene pfk and increased by 36.2 and 44.8% by overexpression of rapK and dahP, respectively, compared with parent strain. Finally, the combined effect of the genetic modifications was evaluated. The titer of rapamycin reached 250.8 mg/l by knockout of pfk and co-expression of genes dahP and rapK, corresponding to a 142.3% increase relative to that of the parent strain. The relationship between model prediction and experimental results demonstrates the validity and rationality of this approach for target identification and rapamycin production improvement.
The MPA/MPP in the Anglo-democracies: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States
Authors: Pal Leslie A , Clark Ian D
Published: December 2016

Should one expect convergence among MPA/MPP programs around the world, and in particularly among programs in the “Anglo-sphere” or among the Anglo-democracies, defined here as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. For reasons of shared history and language, one might expect convergence, but there are counter-arguments as well that note, for example, the rich diversity among American programs alone. The paper analyzes 99 programs drawn from among these countries to find an answer. The analysis is wider in scope and more granular than anything that has been done to date, with data that allow comparisons of: (1) subject matter emphasis between policy and management, (2) the amount of required quantitative content, and (3) program length (number of standardized courses required to graduate). After illustrating a standardized metric of comparison we show that the convergence hypothesis cannot be sustained. Our conclusion entertains several conjectures about why this might be the case.
Inertio-gravity waves under the non-traditional -plane approximation: singularity in the large-scale limit
Authors: Yano Jun-Ichi
Published: December 2016

The low horizontal wavenumber limit of waves on a plane under a constant rotation rate (the so-called $f$-plane) is degenerate: all wave frequencies asymptotically approach the inertial frequency. This degeneracy has no serious consequence when the rotation axis is perpendicular to the plane (traditional $f$-plane approximation). However, when the rotation axis is tilted from the vertical direction (non-traditional $f$-plane approximation), we encounter a type of ‘singularity’ in the sense that each term of the Taylor expansion of the wave frequency in the horizontal Coriolis parameter diverges in the limit of low horizontal wavenumber. Such a drastic change of the solution behaviour by adding the horizontal Coriolis parameter in the low horizontal wavenumber limit is rather counter-intuitive, because the conventional scale analysis suggests that the horizontal Coriolis effect is negligible in this limit. However, the degeneracy of the system makes this effect critical with a need for considering higher-order terms. Two possible asymptotic limits are proposed for resolving this degeneracy. One of them, as it turns out, amounts to a representation of the wave frequency by a Taylor expansion in the horizontal wavenumber.
STRONG REDUCTIONS BETWEEN COMBINATORIAL PRINCIPLES
Authors: DZHAFAROV DAMIR D.
Published: December 2016

This paper is a contribution to the growing investigation of strong reducibilities between ${\rm{\Pi }}_2^1$ statements of second-order arithmetic, viewed as an extension of the traditional analysis of reverse mathematics. We answer several questions of Hirschfeldt and Jockusch [13] about Weihrauch (uniform) and strong computable reductions between various combinatorial principles related to Ramsey’s theorem for pairs. Among other results, we establish that the principle $SRT_2^2$ is not Weihrauch or strongly computably reducible to $D_{ < \infty }^2$, and that COH is not Weihrauch reducible to $SRT_{ < \infty }^2$, or strongly computably reducible to $SRT_2^2$. The last result also extends a prior result of Dzhafarov [9]. We introduce a number of new techniques for controlling the combinatorial and computability-theoretic properties of the problems and solutions we construct in our arguments.
ON THE NON-ENUMERABILITY OF L
Authors: SACKS G. E.
Published: December 2016

Assume V ≠ L. Then L is not E-Recursively Enumerable in any member of L via a forcing argument inspired by Friedberg [1]. This approach leads to an extension of Levy-Shoenfield absoluteness.
The Role of Unfree Labour in Capitalist Development: Spain and Its Empire, Nineteenth to the Twenty-First Centuries
Authors: Mendiola Fernando
Published: December 2016

This article contributes to the debate on the persistence of forced labour within capitalist development. It focuses on Spain, which has been deeply rooted in the global economy, firstly as a colonial metropolis, and later as part of the European Union. In the first place, I analyse the different modalities of unfree labour that are included in the taxonomy established by the Global Collaboratory on the History of Labour Relations, taking into account the different political regimes in which they are inserted. Therefore, the legal framework regarding unfree labour is analysed for four different political contexts: liberal revolution with colonial empire (1812–1874); liberal parliamentarism with colonial empire (1874–1936); civil war and fascist dictatorship, with decolonization (1936–1975); and parliamentary democracy within globalization (1975–2014). The article goes on to deal with the importance of the main economic reasons driving the demand for forced labour: relative labour shortage and the search for increasing profits. In the conclusion, and taking the Spanish case as a basis, I suggest a series of challenges for furthering the global debate on the role of forced labour under capitalism.
Genetic divergence of human pathogens Nanophyetus spp. (Trematoda: Troglotrematidae) on the opposite sides of the Pacific Rim
Authors: VORONOVA A. N. , CHELOMINA G. N. , BESPROZVANNYKH V. V. , TKACH V. V.
Published: December 2016

Human and animal nanophyetiasis is caused by intestinal flukes belonging to the genus Nanophyetus distributed on both North American and Eurasian coasts of Northern Pacific. In spite of the wide geographical distribution and medical and veterinary importance of these flukes, the intra-generic taxonomy of Nanophyetus spp. remains unresolved. The two most widely distributed nominal species, Nanophyetus salmincola and Nanophyetus schikhobalowi, both parasitizing humans and carnivorous mammals, were described from North America and eastern Eurasia, respectively. However, due to their high morphological similarity their interrelationships remained unclear and taxonomic status unstable. In this study, we explored genetic diversity of Nanophyetus spp. from the Southern Russian Far East in comparison with that of samples from North America based on the sequence variation of the nuclear ribosomal gene family (18S, internal transcribed spacers, ITS1-5·8S-ITS2 and 28S). High levels of genetic divergence in each rDNA region (nucleotide substitutions, indels, alterations in the secondary structures of the ITS1 and ITS2 transcripts) as well as results of phylogenetic analysis provided strong support for the status of N. salmincola and N. schikhobalowi as independent species.
EYE GAZE AND PRODUCTION ACCURACY PREDICT ENGLISH L2 SPEAKERS’ MORPHOSYNTACTIC LEARNING
Authors: McDonough Kim , Trofimovich Pavel , Dao Phung , Dion Alexandre
Published: December 2016

This study investigated the relationship between second language (L2) speakers’ success in learning a new morphosyntactic pattern and characteristics of one-on-one learning activities, including opportunities to comprehend and produce the target pattern, receive feedback from an interlocutor, and attend to the meaning of the pattern through self- and interlocutor-initiated eye-gaze behaviors. L2 English students (N =48) were exposed to the transitive construction in Esperanto (e.g.,filino mordas pomon[SVO] orpomon mordas filino[OVS] “girl bites apple”) through comprehension and production activities with an interlocutor, receiving feedback in the form of recasts for their Esperanto errors. The L2 speakers’ interpretation and production of Esperanto transitives were then tested using known and novel lexical items. The results indicated that OVS test performance was predicted by the duration of self-initiated eye gaze to images illustrating the OVS pattern during the comprehension learning activity and by accurate production of OVS sentences during the production learning activity. The findings suggest important roles for eye-gaze behavior and production opportunities in L2 pattern learning.
Introduction: ‘Looking for Trouble?’ Critically Examining the UK Government's Troubled Families Programme
Authors: Crossley Stephen , Lambert Michael
Published: December 2016

The Troubled Families Programme (TFP) was launched by the UK Coalition Government in December 2011. Following the riots that took place in towns and cities across England during that summer, the then Prime Minister David Cameron promised to put ‘rocket boosters’ under plans to ‘turn around’ the lives of the country's ‘most troubled families’ by the end of the Coalition's term of office in May 2015. In his ‘fightback’ speech, delivered just a week after the riots had ended, Cameron (2011a) stated that the riots were not about poverty or race or government cuts. Instead, he argued that that the riots were ‘about behaviour: people showing indifference to right and wrong; people with a twisted moral code; people with a complete absence of self-restraint’.
Genetic diversity in Ethiopian Durum Wheat (Triticum turgidum var durum) inferred from phenotypic variations
Authors: Mengistu Dejene K. , Kidane Yosef G. , Fadda Carlo , Pè Mario Enrico
Published: December 2016

The valorization of genetic diversities of major crops like wheat may help substantially to feed the world Population. Durum wheat genotypes consisting of 265 farmers’ varieties (FVs), which have been cultivated for many centuries in Ethiopia, as well as 24 improved varieties (IMVs) have been recently evaluated in northern Ethiopia. The evaluation has been carried out at two different locations for 2 consecutive years to verify the inherited diversity in FVs for important phenological and agronomic traits; with the intention to provide refined information to breeders and genebank managers. As a result of a careful evaluation, a very significant variation was observed between the FVs and IMVs. A large number of the former have demonstrated superior performance to the latter in terms of mean values of the major traits within the stipulated years and locations. The best performing FV has shown a gain of 20% grain yield over the best IMV. Multivariate analyses revealed that FVs displayed larger genetic diversity than in those IMVs. FVs could therefore be used as donor of useful alleles in durum wheat breeding for improvement of yield per se and other traits of agronomic and phenological importance. The identified stable superior FVs include: 8208, 226834A, 238567, 222426, 226282 could be best candidates for farmers in marginal environments. Genotypes that have shown stable performance for spatial variation such as 204493A, 214357 and 238567; and temporal variation such as 8208, 208479, 214357 and 226834A could be the best candidates for exploitation in future breeding programs.
Effects of Intrauterine Environment on the Magnitude of Differences Within the Pairs of Monozygotic and Dizygotic Twins
Authors: Waszak Małgorzata , Cieślik Krystyna , Skrzypczak-Zielińska Marzena , Szalata Marlena , Wielgus Karolina , Zakerska-Banaszak Oliwia , Bręborowicz Grzegorz , Słomski Ryszard
Published: December 2016

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of intrauterine environment on the magnitude of intrapair differences in six somatic traits of monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins (1,263 pairs; 424 MZ twins and 839 DZ twins). Differences in intrauterine environments of MZ twins enforced division of the research material into four groups: (1) MZ-MC-TTTS — MZ twins from monochorionic (MC) pregnancies with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), (2) MZ-MC (without TTTS)—MZ twins from MC pregnancies without TTTS, (3) MZ-DC—MZ twins from dichorionic (DC) pregnancies, and (4) DZ—DZ twins. The intrapair differences in all analyzed somatic traits, especially body weight and circumference of the chest, were the largest in the case of MZ twins from MC pregnancies with TTTS. DZ twins were the group presenting with the second largest intrapair differences in the analyzed traits. At the end of pregnancy, that is, in lunar months 9 and 10, the magnitude of intrapair differences in all traits of twins from this group was significantly greater than in MZ twins from both MC and DC pregnancies. Irrespective of the analyzed period, the least evident, statistically insignificant intrapair differences in the studied traits were documented in the case of MZ twins from MC pregnancies without TTTS and twins from DC pregnancies. These findings imply that the differentiating effect of intrauterine environment is associated with the occurrence of TTTS, rather than with chorionicity, as postulated previously.
Robust high-throughput kinetic analysis of apoptosis with real-time high-content live-cell imaging
Authors: Gelles Jesse D , Chipuk Jerry Edward
Published: December 2016

Quantitative and kinetic analyses of apoptotic cell death are integral components of exploring cell biology, measuring cellular stress responses, and performing high-throughput genomic/RNAi/drug screens. Here, we present a detailed method that integrates robust kinetic real-time high-content imaging with Annexin V labelling to provide a highly sensitive, accurate, simple and zero-handling approach to quantify extrinsic and intrinsic inducers of apoptosis. The sensitivity of this non-toxic method outperforms previous high-throughput methodologies using viability dyes or caspase-activation reporters. This method also incorporates a multiplex adaptation to integrate variability in cell number due to treatment-induced proliferation changes and the detachment of dying cells. Compared to Annexin V detection by flow cytometry, this method is 10-fold more sensitive, eliminates extensive sample handling and processing, and provides real-time kinetics of apoptosis at both single-cell and population-level resolutions.
Regulating the balance between necroptosis, apoptosis and inflammation by inhibitors of apoptosis proteins
Authors: Vasilikos Lazaros , Spilgies Lisanne M , Knop Janin , Wong Wendy Wei‐Lynn
Published: December 2016

Understanding how inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) regulate apoptosis and necroptosis has been fast‐forwarded by the use of Smac mimetics (SMs) to deplete or inhibit the IAPs, specifically cIAP1, cIAP2 and XIAP. The loss or inhibition of cIAP1, cIAP2 and XIAP causes the majority of cells to be sensitized to death receptor induced cell death, such as with tumour necrosis factor (TNF). Mouse genetics shows that there is some functional redundancy and the use of SMs has allowed us to understand how changing the composition of proteins recruited to TNF receptor 1 on TNF ligation can alter protein complex formation and activation of apoptosis or necroptosis, particularly when caspases are inhibited. Determining when or how caspase inhibition occurs physiologically combined with the loss of IAPs will be the next challenge in understanding the ability of IAPs to prevent cell death and/or limit inflammation.
Electrochemical communication with the inside of cells using micro-patterned vertical carbon nanofibre electrodes
Authors: Rawson F. J. , Cole M. T. , Hicks J. M. , Aylott J. W. , Milne W. I. , Collins C. M. , Jackson S. K. , Silman N. J. , Mendes P. M.
Published: December 2016

With the rapidly increasing demands for ultrasensitive biodetection, the design and applications of new nano-scale materials for development of sensors based on optical and electrochemical transducers have attracted substantial interest. In particular, given the comparable sizes of nanomaterials and biomolecules, there exist plenty of opportunities to develop functional nanoprobes with biomolecules for highly sensitive and selective biosensing, shedding new light on cellular behaviour. Towards this aim, herein we interface cells with patterned nano-arrays of carbon nanofibers forming a nanosensor-cell construct. We show that such a construct is capable of electrochemically communicating with the intracellular environment.
Evidence of genotypic adaptation to the exposure to volcanic risk at the dopamine receptor DRD4 locus
Authors: Faurie Charlotte , Mettling Clement , Ali Bchir Mohamed , Hadmoko Danang Sri , Heitz Carine , Lestari Evi Dwi , Raymond Michel , Willinger Marc
Published: December 2016

Humans have colonized and adapted to extremely diverse environments, and the genetic basis of some such adaptations, for example to high altitude, is understood. In some cases, local or regional variation in selection pressure could also cause behavioural adaptations. Numerous genes influence behaviour, such as alleles at the dopamine receptor locus D4 (DRD4), which are associated with attitude toward risk in experimental settings. We demonstrate genetic differentiation for this gene, but not for five unlinked microsatellite loci, between high- and low risk environments around Mount Merapi, an active volcano in Java, Indonesia. Using a behavioural experiment, we further show that people inhabiting the high risk environment are significantly more risk averse. We provide evidence of a genetic basis for this difference, showing that heterozygotes at the DRD4 locus are more risk averse than either homozygotes. In the high risk environment, allele frequencies are equilibrated, generating a high frequency of heterozygotes. Thus it appears that overdominance (i.e. selective advantage of heterozygotes) generates negative frequency dependent selection, favouring the rarer allele at this locus. Our results therefore provide evidence for adaptation to a marginal habitat through the selection of a neurocognitive trait with a genetic basis.
Uterine glands impact uterine receptivity, luminal fluid homeostasis and blastocyst implantation
Authors: Kelleher Andrew M. , Burns Gregory W. , Behura Susanta , Wu Guoyao , Spencer Thomas E.
Published: December 2016

Uterine glands are essential for pregnancy in mice and likely humans, because they secrete or transport bioactive substances that regulate uterine receptivity for blastocyst implantation. In mice, the uterus becomes receptive to blastocyst implantation on day 4, but is refractory by day 5. Here, blastocysts could be recovered from progesterone-induced uterine gland (PUGKO) but not wildtype (WT) mice on day 5 post-mating. Anti-adhesive Muc1 protein and microvilli were present on the luminal epithelium of PUGKO but not WT uteri. A number of known uterine receptivity genes and gland-specific genes were altered in the PUGKO uterus. Next, the uterus and uterine luminal fluid (ULF) were obtained from WT and PUGKO mice on day 3, 4 and 5. Transcriptome analysis revealed that 580 genes were decreased in the PUGKO uterus, however ULF secrotome analysis revealed that many proteins and several amino acids were increased in the PUGKO ULF. Of note, many proteins encoded by many gland-specific genes were not identified in the ULF of WT mice. These results support the ideas that uterine glands secrete factors that regulate ULF homeostasis and interact with other cell types in the uterus to influence uterine receptivity and blastocyst implantation for the establishment of pregnancy.
Towards nano-optical tweezers with graphene plasmons: Numerical investigation of trapping 10-nm particles with mid-infrared light
Authors: Zhang Jianfa , Liu Wenbin , Zhu Zhihong , Yuan Xiaodong , Qin Shiqiao
Published: December 2016

Graphene plasmons are rapidly emerging as a versatile platform for manipulating light at the deep subwavelength scale. Here we show numerically that strong optical near-field forces can be generated under the illumination of mid-IR light when dielectric nanoparticles are located in the vicinity of a nanostructured graphene film. These near-field forces are attributed to the excitation of the graphene’s plasmonic mode. The optical forces can generate an efficient optical trapping potential for a 10-nm-diameter dielectric particle when the light intensity is only about about 4.4 mW/μm2 and provide possibilities for a new type of plasmonic nano-tweezers. Graphene plasmonic tweezers can be potentially exploited for optical manipulation of nanometric biomolecules and particles. Moreover, the optical trapping/tweezing can be combined with biosensing and provide a versatile platform for studing biology and chemistry with mid-IR light.
Pore-scale dynamics of enzyme adsorption, swelling and reactive dissolution determine sugar yield in hemicellulose hydrolysis for biofuel production
Authors: Dutta Sajal Kanti , Chakraborty Saikat
Published: December 2016

Hemicelluloses are the earth’s second most abundant structural polymers, found in lignocellulosic biomass. Efficient enzymatic depolymerization of xylans by cleaving their β-(1 → 4)-glycosidic bonds to produce soluble sugars is instrumental to the cost-effective production of liquid biofuels. Here we show that the multi-scale two-phase process of enzymatic hydrolysis of amorphous hemicelluloses is dominated by its smallest scale–the pores. In the crucial first five hours, two to fourfold swelling of the xylan particles allow the enzymes to enter the pores and undergo rapid non-equilibrium adsorption on the pore surface before they hydrolyze the solid polymers, albeit non-competitively inhibited by the products xylose and xylobiose. Rapid pore-scale reactive dissolution increases the solid carbohydrate’s porosity to 80–90%. This tightly coupled experimental and theoretical study quantifies the complex temporal dynamics of the transport and reaction processes coupled across scales and phases to show that this unique pore-scale phenomenon can be exploited to accelerate the depolymerization of hemicelluloses to monomeric sugars in the first 5–6 h. We find that an ‘optimal substrate loading’ of 5 mg/ml (above which substrate inhibition sets in) accelerates non-equilibrium enzyme adsorption and solid hemicellulose depolymerization at the pore-scale, which contributes three-quarters of the soluble sugars produced for bio-alcohol fermentation.
Transcriptome analysis confers a complex disease resistance network in wild rice Oryza meyeriana against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae
Authors: Cheng Xiao-Jie , He Bin , Chen Lin , Xiao Su-qin , Fu Jian , Chen Yue , Yu Teng-qiong , Cheng Zai-Quan , Feng Hong
Published: December 2016

Rice bacterial blight (BB), caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), is one of the devastating diseases of rice. It is well established that the wild rice Oryza meyeriana is immune to BB. In this study, the transcriptomic analysis was carried out by RNA sequencing of O. meyeriana leaves, inoculated with Xoo to understand the transcriptional responses and interaction between the host and pathogen. Totally, 57,313 unitranscripts were de novo assembled from 58.7 Gb clean reads and 14,143 unitranscripts were identified after Xoo inoculation. The significant metabolic pathways related to the disease resistance enriched by KEGG, were revealed to plant-pathogen interaction, phytohormone signaling, ubiquitin mediated proteolysis, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. Further, many disease resistance genes were also identified to be differentially expressed in response to Xoo infection. Conclusively, the present study indicated that the induced innate immunity comprise the basal defence frontier of O. meyeriana against Xoo infection. And then, the resistance genes are activated. Simultaneously, the other signaling transduction pathways like phytohormones and ubiquitin mediated proteolysis may contribute to the disease defence through modulation of the disease-related genes or pathways. This could be an useful information for further investigating the molecular mechanism associated with disease resistance in O. meyeriana.
Rapid functional cardiac imaging after gadolinium injection: Evaluation of a highly accelerated sequence with sparse data sampling and iterative reconstruction
Authors: Budjan Johannes , Haubenreisser Holger , Henzler Thomas , Sudarski Sonja , Schmidt Michaela , Doesch Christina , Akin Ibrahim , Borggrefe Martin , Meßner Nadja M. , Schoenberg Stefan O. , Attenberger Ulrike I. , Papavassiliu Theano
Published: December 2016

To generate a patient-friendly, time-efficient cardiac MRI examination protocol, a highly accelerated real-time CINE MR sequence (SSIR) was acquired in the idle time in between contrast injection and late gadolinium enhancement phase. 20 consecutive patients underwent a cardiac MRI examination including a multi-breath-hold sequence as gold standard (Ref) as well as SSIR sequences with (SSIR-BH) and without breath-hold (SSIR-nonBH). SSIR sequences were acquired 4 minutes after gadolinium injection. Right- (RV) and left-ventricular (LV) volumetric functional parameters were evaluated and compared between Ref and SSIR sequences. Despite reduced contrast between myocardium and intra-ventricular blood, volumetric as well as regional wall movement assessment revealed high agreement between both SSIR sequences and Ref. Excellent correlation and narrow limits of agreements were found for both SSIR-BH and SSIR-nonBH when compared to Ref for both LV (mean LV ejection fraction [EF] Ref: 52.8 ± 12.6%, SSIR-BH 52.3 ± 12.9%, SSIR-nonBH 52.5 ± 12.6%) and RV (mean RV EF Ref: 52.7 ± 9.4%, SSIR-BH 52.0 ± 8.1%, SSIR-nonBH 52.2 ± 9.3%) analyses. Even when acquired in the idle time in between gadolinium injection and LGE acquisition, the highly accelerated SSIR sequence delivers accurate volumetric and regional wall movement information. It thus seems ideal for very time-efficient and robust cardiac MR imaging protocols.
Characteristics of Ions Emission from Ultrashort Laser Produced Plasma
Authors: Elsied Ahmed M. , Termini Nicholas C. , Diwakar Prasoon K. , Hassanein Ahmed
Published: December 2016

The dynamic characteristics of the ions emitted from ultrashort laser interaction with materials were studied. A series of successive experiments were conducted for six different elements (C, Al, Cu, Mo, Gd, and W) using 40 fs, 800 nm Ti: Sapphire laser. Time-of-flight (TOF) ion profile was analyzed and charge emission dependencies were investigated. The effects of incident laser interaction with each element were studied over a wide range of laser fluences (0.8 J/cm2 to 24 J/cm2) corresponding to laser intensities (2.0 × 1013 W/cm2 to 6.0 × 1014 W/cm2). The dependencies of the angular resolved ion flux and energy were also investigated. The TOF ion profile exhibits two peaks corresponding to a fast and a slow ion regime. The slow ions emission was the result of thermal vaporization while fast ions emission was due to time dependent ambipolar electric field. A theoretical model is proposed to predict the total ion flux emitted during femtosecond laser interaction that depends on laser parameters, material properties, and plume hydrodynamics. Incident laser fluence directly impacts average charge state and in turn affects the ion flux. Slow ions velocity exhibited different behavior from fast ions velocity. The fast ions energy and flux were found to be more collimated.
Correction: Corrigendum: EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors versus chemotherapy as first-line therapy for non-small cell lung cancer patients with the L858R point mutation
Authors: Xu Jianlin , Yang Haitang , Jin Bo , Lou Yuqing , Zhang Yanwei , Zhang Xueyan , Zhong Hua , Wang Huiming , Wu Dan , Han Baohui
Published: December 2016

Scientific Reports 6: Article number: 36371; published online: 04 November 2016; updated: 01 December 2016
Correction: Corrigendum: MuSK Kinase Activity is Modulated By A Serine Phosphorylation Site in The Kinase Loop
Authors: Camurdanoglu B. Z. , Hrovat C. , Dürnberger G. , Madalinski M. , Mechtler K. , Herbst R.
Published: December 2016

Scientific Reports 6: Article number: 33583; published online: 26 September 2016; updated: 01 December 2016
A biotinylated piperazine-rhodol derivative: a ‘turn-on’ probe for nitroreductase triggered hypoxia imaging
Authors: Zhou Ying , Bobba Kondapa Naidu , Lv Xue Wei , Yang Dan , Velusamy Nithya , Zhang Jun Feng , Bhuniya Sankarprasad
Published: December 2016

We developed a nitroreductase responsive theranostic probe1; it comprises biotinylated rhodol in conjunction withp-nitrobenzyl functionality.
PAHs in animal tissues – the analytics of PAHs in new reference materials and their homogeneity
Authors: Kiełbasa Anna , Buszewski Bogusław
Published: December 2016

Extraction and determination of PAHs in biological matrices of new reference materials, and determination of certified values and homogeneity of these materials are described.
Interface control of electronic and optical properties in IV–VI and II–VI core/shell colloidal quantum dots: a review
Authors: Jang Youngjin , Shapiro Arthur , Isarov Maya , Rubin-Brusilovski Anna , Safran Aron , Budniak Adam K. , Horani Faris , Dehnel Joanna , Sashchiuk Aldona , Lifshitz Efrat
Published: December 2016

Core/shell heterostructures provide controlled optical properties, tuneable electronic structure, and chemical stability due to an appropriate interface design.