bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Translational Repressor eIF4E-Binding Protein 2 (4E-BP2) Correlates with Selective Delayed Neuronal Death after Ischemia
Authors: Ayuso María Irene , Martínez-Alonso Emma , Cid Cristina , de Leciñana Maria Alonso , Alcázar Alberto
Published: April 2013

Transient brain ischemia induces an inhibition of translational rates and causes delayed neuronal death in selective regions and cognitive deficits, whereas these effects do not occur in resistant areas. The translational repressor eukaryotic initiation factor (elF) 4E-binding protein-2 (4E-BP2) specifically binds to eIF4E and is critical in the control of protein synthesis. To link neuronal death to translation inhibition, we study the eIF4E association with 4E-BP2 under ischemia reperfusion in a rat model of transient forebrain ischemia. Upon reperfusion, a selective neuronal apoptosis in the hippocampal cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) region was induced, while it did not occur in the cerebral cortex. Confocal microscopy analysis showed a decrease in 4E-BP2/eIF4E colocalization in resistant cortical neurons after reperfusion. In contrast, in vulnerable CA1 neurons, 4E-BP2 remains associated to eIF4E with a higher degree of 4E-BP2/eIF4E colocalization and translation inhibition. Furthermore, the binding of a 4E-BP2 peptide to eIF4E induced neuronal apoptosis in the CA1 region. Finally, pharmacological-induced protection of CA1 neurons inhibited neuronal apoptosis, decreased 4E-BP2/eIF4E association, and recovered translation. These findings documented specific changes in 4E-BP2/eIF4E association during ischemic reperfusion, linking the translation inhibition to selective neuronal death, and identifying 4E-BP2 as a novel target for protection of vulnerable neurons in ischemic injury.
Decreased translation of Dio3 mRNA is associated with drug-induced hepatotoxicity
Authors: Dudek Kate M. , Suter Laura , Darras Veerle M. , Marczylo Emma L. , Gant Timothy W.
Published: April 2013

Recent work has demonstrated the importance of post-transcriptional gene regulation in toxic responses. In the present study, we used two rat models to investigate mRNA translation in the liver following xenobiotic-induced toxicity. By combining polysome profiling with genomic methodologies, we were able to assess global changes in hepatic mRNA translation. Dio3 (iodothyronine deiodinase type III) was identified as a gene that exhibited specific translational repression and had a functional role in a number of relevant canonical pathways. Western blot analysis indicated that this repression led to reduced D3 (the protein expressed by Dio3) levels, enhanced over time and with increased dose. Using Northern blotting techniques and qRT-PCR (quantitative reverse transcription–PCR), we confirmed further that there was no reduction in Dio3 mRNA, suggesting that translational repression of Dio3 is an important determinant of the reduced D3 protein expression following liver damage. Finally, we show that drug-induced hepatotoxicity appears to cause localized disruptions in thyroid hormone levels in the liver and plasma. We suggest that this leads to reduced translation of Dio3 mRNA, which results in decreased D3 production. It may therefore be possible that this is an important mechanism by which the liver can, upon early signs of damage, act rapidly to maintain its own energy equilibrium, thereby avoiding global disruption of the hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid axis.
2.5–7 GHz single balanced mixer with integrated Ruthroff‐type balun in 0.18 µm CMOS technology
Authors: Chiou H.‐K. , Chung H.‐Y.
Published: April 2013

An on‐chip Ruthroff‐type balun fabricated in tsmcTM 0.18 µm CMOS technology has been realised and used in a single balanced mixer. By using the phase compensation line and appropriately choosing the characteristic impedance of transmission lines, the balun was realised with a minimum insertion loss of 0.71 dB and the 1 dB bandwidth over a frequency range from 3.2 to 8.4 GHz. The compact size of 0.088 mm2 is achieved owing to the short length of the transmission line winding, approximately 1/18 λg, and the adoption of broadside‐coupled and spiral‐shape structures. A simple single balanced mixer with the Ruthroff‐type balun was then designed to demonstrate the capability of the broadband and low‐loss balun. A minimum conversion loss of 12.48 dB with a 3 dB bandwidth from 2.5 to 7 GHz was measured at the LO drive of only 6 dBm. The chip area, including pads, is 0.49 mm2.
Mobility coupling effects due to remote Coulomb scattering in thin‐film FD‐SOI CMOS devices
Authors: Bennamane K. , Ben Akkez I. , Cros A. , Fenouillet‐Beranger C. , Balestra F. , Ghibaudo G.
Published: April 2013

Mobility coupling effects due to remote Coulomb scattering (RCS) are demonstrated for the first time in FD‐SOI CMOS devices subjected to front and back interface electrical degradation. The evolution with stress time of the front and back threshold voltages as well as of the low field mobility values has been obtained. The front and back interface mobility degradations were then correlated to the stress induced interfacial charge variations for each stressed interface. This enabled the clear demonstration of the existence of mobility coupling effects between the front and back interface by RCS through the silicon film.
Compact shorted inverted‐L antenna with circular polarisation for RFID handheld reader
Authors: Lin Y.F. , Chen H.M. , Chen C.H. , Lee C.H.
Published: April 2013

Two shorted inverted‐L radiating elements are located on the orthogonal corner of the square substrate and connected to each output port of a Wilkinson power divider. A shorted inverted‐T strip is placed on the other corner of the square for a perturbing resonator to generate circularly‐polarised (CP) radiation in the UHF band. Proper adjusting of the horizontal and vertical lengths of the inverted‐T strip will differentiate two orthogonal linearly modes with 90° phase difference for a good CP radiation. Simulated and measured results indicate that the proposed structure can achieve circular‐degree polarisation operation. A measured impedance bandwidth (VSWR ≤ 2) of about 16.4% (810–960 MHz) and a 3 dB axial‐ratio (AR) bandwidth of about 4.4% (890–930 MHz) at 915 MHz were obtained.
Multi‐function ESD protection circuit for UHF RFID devices in CMOS technology
Authors: Boni A. , Facen A. , Bigi M.
Published: April 2013

The design and implementation of an electrostatic discharge protection suitable for UHF RFID devices in CMOS technology is presented. The circuit implements three fundamental functions for the RF interface: power limiting, backscatter modulation and electrostatic discharge protection. Since all functions are achieved by the same MOS device the additional shunt capacitance at the RF inputs is limited. Therefore the maximum reading distance of the RFID device is improved without sacrificing the electrostatic protection level.
3.88 dB NF 60 GHz CMOS UWB LNA with small group‐delay‐variation
Authors: Lee J.H. , Lin Y.S.
Published: April 2013

A low power and low noise figure (NF) 60 GHz low‐noise amplifier (LNA) with excellent phase linearity using standard 90 nm CMOS technology is reported. The LNA comprises a common‐source (CS) stage followed by a cascode stage and a CS stage. The LNA consumes 14.1 mW, achieving S11 better than − 10 dB for the frequencies 55.1–59.5 GHz, S22 better than − 10 dB for the frequencies 55.1–59.4 GHz, and group delay variation smaller than ± 13.25 ps for the frequencies 50.4–63 GHz. Additionally, high and flat S21 of 9.9 ± 1.5 dB is achieved for the frequencies 50.4–62.9 GHz, which means the corresponding 3 dB bandwidth is 12.5 GHz. Furthermore, the LNA achieves a minimum NF of 3.88 dB at 55.5 GHz and an NF of 4.73 ± 0.85 dB for the frequencies 50–63.5 GHz, one of the best NF results ever reported for a 60 GHz CMOS LNA.
Ground radiation method using slot with coupling capacitors
Authors: Liu Y. , Lee J. , Kim H.H. , Kim H.
Published: April 2013

An innovative antenna radiation method for exciting a dipole‐type radiation mode in the ground plane of mobile devices is proposed. This method is based on a capacitively loaded slot placed at the centre of the ground plane. The ground plane is 50 × 15 mm in length and width, respectively, which is the size typically used in USB dongles and headsets. The −10 dB impedance bandwidth is 12.9% at 2.4 GHz, fully covering the WiMax, Wi‐Fi and Bluetooth frequency bands.
Electronically scanned Rotman lens antenna with liquid crystal phase shifters
Authors: Christie S. , Cahill R. , Mitchell N. , Munro Y. , Manabe A.
Published: April 2013

The performance of a Rotman lens, which forms fixed beams at 0°, ±15° and ±30°, is augmented using liquid crystal phase shifters to simultaneously steer each beam by up to ±7.5°. Measured results are used to demonstrate that the true time delay property of the antenna and voltage controlled phase shifters can be exploited to provide continuously scanned beams with full coverage over an angular range of ±37.5°, and with operation over the band 6–10 GHz.
Inverter‐based second‐order sigma‐delta modulator for smart sensors
Authors: Yang Y. , Yang Y. , Lu L. , Chen J. , Gale R. , Li C.
Published: April 2013

Presented is a fully‐differential inverter‐based switched‐capacitor second‐order sigma‐delta modulator for smart sensor applications. To reduce the supply voltage, the power consumption and the chip area, a simple inverter is used to replace the operational transconductance amplifier in the traditional integrator. The supply voltage can be lower than the summation of the absolute threshold voltages of the PMOS and NMOS transistors in the inverter. The described modulator has been designed and fabricated in AMI 0.5 µm CMOS process. Measurement shows that it can work under 1.5 V supply voltage and provide 55.39 dB signal‐to‐noise and distortion ratio (SNDR). Simulation also shows that the modulator can work under 0.7 V supply voltage and provide 59.38 dB SNDR in IBM 180 nm CMOS process.
Potential of MISFET with HfN gate dielectric formed by ECR plasma sputtering
Authors: Han H.S. , Han D.H. , Ohmi S.
Published: April 2013

A report is presented on a Al/HfN/p‐Si(100) n‐MISFET with excellent electrical properties that inserts a 4 nm‐thick HfN gate dielectric with equivalent oxide thickness of 0.7 nm formed by electron‐cyclotron‐resonance plasma sputtering. The threshold voltage (Vth) of the device was 0.05 V. The on/off ratio and subthreshold swing at W/L = 90 µm/5 µm were ∼103 and 200 mV/dec., respectively. In particular, the n‐MISFET exhibits IDS,sat = 20.2 µA/μm and gm = 20.5 mS/mm. This is the first report of n‐MISFET characteristics with HfN gate dielectric.
Wireless wrist‐wearable wake/sleep identification device for closed‐loop deep brain stimulation
Authors: Chen Y. , Hao H.W. , Hu Y.X. , Li L.M.
Published: April 2013

Deep brain stimulation is an important therapy for Parkinson's disease patients. However, the current deep brain stimulator is open loop and cannot automatically adapt the stimulation according to the patient's condition. In this reported study a real‐time wake/sleep identification device has been developed to wirelessly control the stimulation according to the patient's wake/sleep states. The wake/sleep identification was based on the wrist movement, and the identified result was transmitted wirelessly to the implantable pulse generator. This device showed a reliable radio frequency communication within 2 m and a low level of current consumption. This device also showed a good performance of real‐time wake/sleep identification on Parkinson's disease patients. This study provides a promising application in the closed‐loop deep brain stimulation, as well as other applications in medical services, such as night care, and fall alarm.
Effect and extraction of series resistance in Al2O3‐InGaAs MOS with bulk‐oxide trap
Authors: Yu B. , Yuan Y. , Chen H.‐P. , Ahn J. , McIntyre P.C. , Taur Y.
Published: April 2013

The effect of parasitic series resistance in the accumulation region has been investigated under the framework of the distributed bulk‐oxide trap model. It is shown that while the series resistance may be too small to impact the total capacitance, it can have a significant effect on the total conductance by adding a term ∝ ω2. It leads to a proposal of an extraction method for series resistance. The enhanced bulk‐oxide trap model with series resistance as well as dielectric leakage can explain the uncommon conductance frequency dispersion data for an Al2O3‐InGaAs MOS capacitor with 2.5 nm thin Al2O3 layer.
Low insertion loss wideband bandpass filter with six transmission zeros
Authors: Chen Fu‐Chang , Qiu Jie‐Ming , Chen Zhi‐Han , Chu Qing‐Xin
Published: April 2013

A modified wideband bandpass filter based on a bandstop filter is realised using half‐wavelength and one‐wavelength open‐circuited resonators. Six transmission zeros are utilised to obtain the sharp rejection characteristics over a broad stopband. The passband bandwidth can be varied by changing the impedance of the configuration. A compact prototype filter with 27% bandwidth is demonstrated. Without coupling gaps between resonators, the new filter shows low insertion loss and is easy for fabrication. To illustrate the concept, a bandpass filter is designed, fabricated and measured. Simulated and measured results are found in good agreement with each other.
Exchange bias effect in NiMnSb/CrN heterostructures deposited by magnetron sputtering
Authors: Sharma Akkera Harish , Barman Rahul , Kaur Navjot , Choudhary Nitin , Kaur Davinder
Published: April 2013

Exchange bias has been studied in various Ni50Mn36.8Sb13.2/CrN heterostructures with different CrN thicknesses (15 nm–80 nm), grown on Si (100) substrate using magnetron sputtering. The shift in hysteresis loop up to 51 Oe from the origin was observed at 10 K for Ni-Mn-Sb film without CrN layer. On the other hand, a significant shifting of hysteresis loop was observed with antiferromagnetic (AFM) CrN layer in Ni50Mn36.8Sb13.2/CrN heterostructure. The exchange coupled 140 nm Ni50Mn36.8Sb13.2/35 nm CrN heterostructure exhibited a relatively large exchange coupling field of 148 Oe at 10 K compared to other films, which may be related to uncompensated and pinned AFM spins at FM-AFM interface and different AFM domain structures for different thicknesses of CrN layer. Further nanoindentation measurements revealed the higher values of hardness and elastic modulus of about 12.7 ± 0.38 GPa and 179.83 ± 1.24 GPa in Ni50Mn36.8Sb13.2/CrN heterostructures making them promising candidate for various multifunctional MEMS devices.
Evidence for transformation from δTc to δl pinning in MgB2 by graphene oxide doping with improved low and high field Jc and pinning potential
Authors: Xiang F. X. , Wang X. L. , Xun X. , De Silva K. S. B. , Wang Y. X. , Dou S. X.
Published: April 2013

Flux pinning mechanism of graphene oxide (GO) doped MgB2 has been systematically studied. In the framework of the collective pinning theory, a B-T phase diagram has been constructed. By adjusting the GO doping level, the pinning mechanism in MgB2 transformed from transition temperature fluctuation induced pinning, δTc pinning, to mean free path fluctuation induced pinning, δl pinning, is observed. Furthermore, in terms of the thermally activated flux flow model, the pinning potential in high field (B > 5 T) is enhanced by GO doping. The unique feature of GO is the significant improvement of both low field Jc and high field Jc.
Broadband ferromagnetic resonance studies on an artificial square spin-ice island array
Authors: Sklenar J. , Bhat V. S. , DeLong L. E. , Ketterson J. B.
Published: April 2013

We have performed broadband ferromagnetic resonance measurements on an artificial spin ice array using a microwave meanderline technique. In addition to a uniform precessional mode, we observe an additional mode that shows an unusual, field-history dependent behavior.
Fourier-transform spectroscopy and description of low-lying energy levels in the B(1)1Π state of RbCs
Authors: Birzniece I. , Docenko O. , Nikolayeva O. , Tamanis M. , Ferber R.
Published: April 2013

The Fourier transform spectrometer with resolution of 0.03 cm−1 was applied to disperse the diode laser induced B(1)1Π → X1Σ+ fluorescence spectra of the RbCs molecule in a heat pipe. The presence of buffer gas (Ar) produced in the spectra the dense pattern of collision-induced rotation relaxation lines, thus enlarging the B(1)1Π data set, allowing to determine the Λ-splitting constants and to reveal numerous local perturbations. In total, 2664 term values for 85Rb133Cs and 87Rb133Cs in the energy range from 13 770 to 15 200 cm−1 were obtained with accuracy about 0.01 cm−1. A pointwise potential energy curve (PEC) based on inverted perturbation approach was constructed in the R-range from 3.35 to 9.00 Å for less perturbed vibrational levels v′ ∈ [0, 35] and compared with ab initio calculations. The data included in the fit were reproduced by present PEC with standard deviation (sd) 0.95 cm−1. More systematic over rotational levels J′ ∈ [6, 228] data set was obtained for v′ ∈ [0, 2]. These data were reproduced by the obtained PEC with sd of 0.08 cm−1. The energy of PEC’s minimum Te = 13 746.65 cm−1, as well as other main molecular constants were determined.
Bound states and scattering coefficients of self-adjoint Hamiltonians with a mass jump
Authors: González-Díaz L. A. , Díaz-Solórzano S.
Published: April 2013

Physical self-adjoint extensions and their spectra of the simplest one-dimensional Hamiltonian operator in which the mass is constant except for a finite jump at one point of the real axis are correctly found. Some self-adjoint extensions are used to model different kinds of semiconductor heterojunctions within the effective-mass approximation. Their properties and relation to different boundary conditions on envelope wave functions are studied. The limiting case of equal masses (with no mass jump) is reviewed.
Nonlinear elastic response of thermally damaged consolidated granular media
Authors: Scalerandi M. , Griffa M. , Antonaci P. , Wyrzykowski M. , Lura P.
Published: April 2013

The mechanical properties of consolidated granular media are strongly affected by large temperature changes which induce the development and localization of stresses, leading in turn to damage, e.g., cracking. In this work, we study the evolution of linear and nonlinear elasticity parameters when increasing the temperature of the thermal loading process. We prove the existence of a link between linear and nonlinear elasticity properties. We show that the change of the nonlinear elasticity parameters with the increase in the thermal loading is larger at the lower temperatures than the corresponding change for the linear parameters, suggesting that nonlinear elasticity can be exploited for early thermal damage detection and characterization in consolidated granular media. We finally show the influence of grain size upon the thermal damage evolution with the loading temperature and how this evolution is mirrored by the nonlinear elasticity parameters.
Bipolar resistive switching behavior with high ON/OFF ratio of Co:BaTiO3 films by acceptor doping
Authors: Li S. , Zeng H. Z. , Zhang S. Y. , Wei X. H.
Published: April 2013

The bipolar resistive switching characteristics have been investigated in the Co:BaTiO3 films deposited by sol-gel method. It has been demonstrated that such devices can be used as resistive random access memory cells without required electroforming. Ohmic transport and space charge limited current mechanism are dominant during the resistive switching. The ON/OFF ratio between the resistance at the high and low resistance states is more than 106, better than other perovskite films. The high ratio should be attributed to acceptor doping into the n-type semiconductor. The results imply that the ON/OFF ratio can be enhanced by controlling doping type and concentration in those insulating oxides.
Giant and isotropic low temperature magnetocaloric effect in magnetic semiconductor EuSe
Authors: Li D. X. , Yamamura T. , Nimori S. , Homma Y. , Honda F. , Aoki D.
Published: April 2013

We present the giant and isotropic magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in antiferromagnetic semiconductor EuSe. Near the transition temperature TN = 4.6 K, the maximum value of the magnetic entropy change (−ΔSmmax) and the relative cooling power of EuSe for a field change of 5 T are evaluated to be 37.5 J kg−1 K−1 and 580 J kg−1, respectively, based on the magnetization and specific heat data. The −ΔSmmax value of EuSe obtained in this work is the largest among the low temperature (<20 K) magnetic refrigerant materials reported so far, which is even larger than that of the best known room temperature giant MEC materials.
Intermittency in relation with 1/f noise and stochastic differential equations
Authors: Ruseckas J. , Kaulakys B.
Published: April 2013

One of the models of intermittency is on-off intermittency, arising due to time-dependent forcing of a bifurcation parameter through a bifurcation point. For on-off intermittency, the power spectral density (PSD) of the time-dependent deviation from the invariant subspace in a low frequency region exhibits 1/f power-law noise. Here, we investigate a mechanism of intermittency, similar to the on-off intermittency, occurring in nonlinear dynamical systems with invariant subspace. In contrast to the on-off intermittency, we consider the case where the transverse Lyapunov exponent is zero. We show that for such nonlinear dynamical systems, the power spectral density of the deviation from the invariant subspace can have 1/fβ form in a wide range of frequencies. That is, such nonlinear systems exhibit 1/f noise. The connection with the stochastic differential equations generating 1/fβ noise is established and analyzed, as well.
Electric field-induced magnetic changes in La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 thin film using electric field-induced resistance phenomenon
Authors: Yokota T. , Murata S. , Gomi M.
Published: April 2013

We achieved the electrical control of a magnetic state by using an external magnetic field via electric field-induced resistance (EIR) change phenomena. We prepared a La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (LSMO) film which showed EIR changes. Before the EIR treatment, the sample barely showed negative magnetoresistance (MR). After the EIR treatment, the value of negative MR became six times larger than that before the EIR treatment. The magnetization curves also changed from paramagnetism to superparamagnetism. These behaviors revealed that the EIR treatment changed not only the resistance state but also the magnetic state in LMSO film.
Tunable three-dimensional diamond photonic crystal made of a liquid medium
Authors: Han Haoxue , Li Dichen
Published: April 2013

A three-dimensional diamond photonic crystal with an ultra-wide tunable bandgap and resonant mode has been proposed based on a liquid medium approach. A bandgap tuning range of up to 12.8% is achieved in the microwave regime. The liquid-infiltrated photonic crystal is realized by using a low-loss liquid medium of which a large refractive index variation from 1.58 to 6.32 is achieved. The weak-dispersion and non-resonant nature of the liquid ensure a broadband and low-loss performance from 12 to 18 GHz. The flexibly tunable bandgap and resonant mode of the proposed photonic crystal were demonstrated by simulation and experimental results.
Interactions between piglet weaning age and dietary creep feed composition on lifetime growth performance
Authors: Collins C. L. , Morrison R. S. , Smits R. J. , Henman D. J. , Dunshea F. R. , Pluske J. R.
Published: April 2013

The influences of creep feed composition and piglet weaning age on apparent creep feed disappearance and post-weaning performance were examined. A total of 24 gilts and 72 multiparous sows were selected at farrowing, and their litters allocated to a 2 by 2 factorial arrangement of treatments with the factors being weaning age (22 or 29 days of age) and the composition of the creep feed [simple (diet based predominately on cereals and animal and vegetable protein sources) or complex (diet based predominately on cereals, animal protein sources and 300 g/kg whey powder)]. Creep feed was offered to all litters from 9 days of age to weaning. While creep feed disappearance did not affect pre-weaning growth performance, there was a greater disappearance of the simple creep feed than the complex creep feed from 9 days of age to weaning (776 versus 461 g/litter, respectively, P = 0.004). Apparent creep feed intake from individual piglets in a subset of litters was assessed at three time points (16 and 19 days of age and at weaning), allowing the characterisation of individual pigs as good, moderate, small or non-eaters. There was no difference between treatment groups (χ2 = 6.27, P = 0.71) in the characterisation of apparent creep feed disappearance by individual piglets, however piglets offered the simple creep diet before weaning consumed more feed (P = 0.004) and gained weight faster (P = 0.007) during the first 5 days after weaning than those animals offered the complex creep diet. Feed intake from weaning to 49 days of age also tended to be greater in pigs offered the simple creep diet before weaning (P = 0.053), with this difference reflected in daily gain from weaning to 49 days of age (P = 0.051). Despite these differences, creep feed composition did not influence lifetime growth performance or carcass composition. Pigs weaned at 22 days of age were heavier midway through the weaner period (49 days of age) than pigs weaned at 29 days of age (15.2 versus 14.3 kg, respectively, P = 0.009), and tended to grow faster from birth to slaughter (616 versus 610 g/day, respectively, P = 0.079). These data suggest that the provision of a complex creep diet during lactation may not improve lifetime growth performance above that of a less expensive creep diet. Weaning age may however influence lifetime performance, with weaning at 29 days of age tending to reduce rate of gain from birth to slaughter.
Generalized minimax and maximin inequalities for order statistics and quantile functions
Authors: Cohen Joel
Published: April 2013

Let

A
A

be a finite real matrix with element

A
(
i
,
j
)

A(i,j)

in row

i
i

and column

j
j

. We generalize von Neumann’s inequality

m
i
n

j

m
a
x

i

A
(
i
,
j
)
≥

\mathrm {min}_{j}\mathrm {max}_iA(i,j)\geq

m
a
x

i

m
i
n

j

A
(
i
,
j
)

\mathrm {max}_i \mathrm {min}_j A(i,j)

by replacing

m
i
n

\mathrm {min}

by every order statistic.
Infection of Brachypodium distachyon with Selected Grass Rust Pathogens
Authors: Ayliffe Michael , Singh Davinder , Park Robert , Moscou Matthew , Pryor Tony
Published: April 2013

The model temperate grass Brachypodium distachyon is considered a nonhost for wheat rust diseases caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici, P. triticina, and P. striiformis. Up to 140 Brachypodium accessions were infected with these three rust species, in addition to P. graminis ff. spp. avena and phalaridis. Related B. distachyon lines showed similar cytological nonhost resistance (NHR) phenotypes, and an inverse relationship between P. graminis f. sp. tritici and P. striiformis growth was observed in many lines, with accessions that allowed the most growth of P. graminis f. sp. tritici showing the least P. striiformis development and vice versa. Callose deposition patterns during infection by all three rust species showed similarity to the wheat basal defense response while cell death that resulted in autofluorescence did not appear to be a major component of the defense response. Infection of B. distachyon with P. graminis f. sp. avena and P. graminis f. sp. phalaridis produced much greater colonization, indicating that P. graminis rusts with Poeae hosts show greater ability to infect B. distachyon than those with Triticeae hosts. P. striiformis infection of progeny from two B. distachyon families demonstrated that these NHR phenotypes are highly heritable and appear to be under relatively simple genetic control, making this species a powerful tool for elucidating the molecular basis of NHR to cereal rust pathogens.
Favorable Outcome of an Acute Complex Regional Pain Syndrome With Immunoglobulin Infusions
Authors: Medlin Friedrich , Zekeridou Anastasia , Renaud Susanne , Kuntzer Thierry
Published: April 2013

Objective:

To emphasize that complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), a disabling disorder with the implication of aberrant inflammation, vasomotor dysfunction, and maladaptive neuroplasticity, might be treated with a high dose of intravenous immunoglobulin infusions (IVIG).

Methods:

We describe a patient who presented with CRPS in the acute phase of the disease.

Results:

The CRPS developed secondary to sciatic compression in a young patient and was treated within 10 days by high-dose IVIG (2 g/kg). It resolved completely within days after infusions.

Discussion:

This observational study emphasizes that high-dose IVIG may be a treatment option in the acute phase of CRPS.
Nanostructured functional films from engineered repeat proteins
Authors: Grove Tijana Z. , Regan Lynne , Cortajarena Aitziber L.
Published: April 2013

Fundamental advances in biotechnology, medicine, environment, electronics and energy require methods for precise control of spatial organization at the nanoscale. Assemblies that rely on highly specific biomolecular interactions are an attractive approach to form materials that display novel and useful properties. Here, we report on assembly of films from the designed, rod-shaped, superhelical, consensus tetratricopeptide repeat protein (CTPR). We have designed three peptide-binding sites into the 18 repeat CTPR to allow for further specific and non-covalent functionalization of films through binding of fluorescein labelled peptides. The fluorescence signal from the peptide ligand bound to the protein in the solid film is anisotropic, demonstrating that CTPR films can impose order on otherwise isotropic moieties. Circular dichroism measurements show that the individual protein molecules retain their secondary structure in the film, and X-ray scattering, birefringence and atomic force microscopy experiments confirm macroscopic alignment of CTPR molecules within the film. This work opens the door to the generation of innovative biomaterials with tailored structure and function.
Where are the horses? With the sheep or cows? Uncertain host location, vector-feeding preferences and the risk of African horse sickness transmission in Great Britain
Authors: Lo Iacono Giovanni , Robin Charlotte A. , Newton J. Richard , Gubbins Simon , Wood James L. N.
Published: April 2013

Understanding the influence of non-susceptible hosts on vector-borne disease transmission is an important epidemiological problem. However, investigation of its impact can be complicated by uncertainty in the location of the hosts. Estimating the risk of transmission of African horse sickness (AHS) in Great Britain (GB), a virus transmitted byCulicoidesbiting midges, provides an insightful example because: (i) the patterns of risk are expected to be influenced by the presence of non-susceptible vertebrate hosts (cattle and sheep) and (ii) incomplete information on the spatial distribution of horses is available because the GB National Equine Database records owner, rather than horse, locations. Here, we combine land-use data with available horse owner distributions and, using a Bayesian approach, infer a realistic distribution for the location of horses. We estimate the risk of an outbreak of AHS in GB, using the basic reproduction number (R0), and demonstrate that mapping owner addresses as a proxy for horse location significantly underestimates the risk. We clarify the role of non-susceptible vertebrate hosts by showing that the risk of disease in the presence of many hosts (susceptible and non-susceptible) can be ultimately reduced to two fundamental factors: first, the abundance of vectors and how this depends on host density, and, second, the differential feeding preference of vectors among animal species.
Daily foraging patterns in free-living birds: exploring the predation–starvation trade-off
Authors: Bonter David N. , Zuckerberg Benjamin , Sedgwick Carolyn W. , Hochachka Wesley M.
Published: April 2013

Daily patterns in the foraging behaviour of birds are assumed to balance the counteracting risks of predation and starvation. Predation risks are a function of the influence of weight on flight performance and foraging behaviours that may expose individuals to predators. Although recent research sheds light on daily patterns in weight gain, little data exist on daily foraging routines in free-living birds. In order to test the predictions of various hypotheses about daily patterns of foraging, we quantified the activity of four species of passerines in winter using radio-frequency identification receivers built into supplemental feeding stations. From records of 472 368 feeder visits by tagged birds, we found that birds generally started to feed before sunrise and continued to forage at a steady to increasing rate throughout the day. Foraging in most species terminated well before sunset, suggesting their required level of energy reserves was being reached before the end of the day. These results support the risk-spreading theorem over a long-standing hypothesis predicting bimodality in foraging behaviour purportedly driven by a trade-off between the risks of starvation and predation. Given the increased energetic demands experienced by birds during colder weather, our results suggest that birds' perceptions of risk are biased towards starvation avoidance in winter.
Brain size of
Homo floresiensis
and its evolutionary implications
Authors: Kubo Daisuke , Kono Reiko T. , Kaifu Yousuke
Published: April 2013

The extremely small endocranial volume (ECV) of LB1, the type specimen of
Homo floresiensis
, poses a challenge in our understanding of human brain evolution. Some researchers hypothesize dramatic dwarfing of relative brain size from
Homo erectus
presumably without significant decrease in intellectual function, whereas others expect a lesser degree of brain diminution from a more primitive, small-brained form of hominin currently undocumented in eastern Asia. However, inconsistency in the published ECVs for LB1 (380–430 cc), unclear human intraspecific brain–body size scaling and other uncertainties have hampered elaborative modelling of its brain size reduction. In this study, we accurately determine the ECV of LB1 using high-resolution micro-CT scan. The ECV of LB1 thus measured, 426 cc, is larger than the commonly cited figure in previous studies (400 cc). Coupled with brain–body size correlation in
Homo sapiens
calculated based on a sample from 20 worldwide modern human populations, we construct new models of the brain size reduction in the evolution of
H. floresiensis
. The results show a more significant contribution of scaling effect than previously claimed.
CG methylated microarrays identify a novel methylated sequence bound by the CEBPB|ATF4 heterodimer that is active in vivo
Authors: Mann Ishminder K. , Chatterjee Raghunath , Zhao Jianfei , He Ximiao , Weirauch Matthew T. , Hughes Timothy R. , Vinson Charles
Published: April 2013

To evaluate the effect of CG methylation on DNA binding of sequence-specific B-ZIP transcription factors (TFs) in a high-throughput manner, we enzymatically methylated the cytosine in the CG dinucleotide on protein binding microarrays. Two Agilent DNA array designs were used. One contained 40,000 features using de Bruijn sequences where each 8-mer occurs 32 times in various positions in the DNA sequence. The second contained 180,000 features with each CG containing 8-mer occurring three times. The first design was better for identification of binding motifs, while the second was better for quantification. Using this novel technology, we show that CG methylation enhanced binding for CEBPA and CEBPB and inhibited binding for CREB, ATF4, JUN, JUND, CEBPD, and CEBPG. The CEBPB|ATF4 heterodimer bound a novel motif CGAT|GCAA 10-fold better when methylated. The electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) confirmed these results. CEBPB ChIP-seq data using primary female mouse dermal fibroblasts with 50× methylome coverage for each strand indicate that the methylated sequences well-bound on the arrays are also bound in vivo. CEBPB bound 39% of the methylated canonical 10-mers ATTGC|GCAAT in the mouse genome. After ATF4 protein induction by thapsigargin which results in ER stress, CEBPB binds methylated CGAT|GCAA in vivo, recapitulating what was observed on the arrays. This methodology can be used to identify new methylated DNA sequences preferentially bound by TFs, which may be functional in vivo.
Identification of Mitochondrial Coenzyme A Transporters from Maize and Arabidopsis
Authors: Zallot Rémi , Agrimi Gennaro , Lerma-Ortiz Claudia , Teresinski Howard J. , Frelin Océane , Ellens Kenneth W. , Castegna Alessandra , Russo Annamaria , de Crécy-Lagard Valérie , Mullen Robert T. , Palmieri Ferdinando , Hanson Andrew D.
Published: April 2013

Plants make coenzyme A (CoA) in the cytoplasm but use it for reactions in mitochondria, chloroplasts, and peroxisomes, implying that these organelles have CoA transporters. A plant peroxisomal CoA transporter is already known, but plant mitochondrial or chloroplastic CoA transporters are not. Mitochondrial CoA transporters belonging to the mitochondrial carrier family, however, have been identified in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Leu-5p) and mammals (SLC25A42). Comparative genomic analysis indicated that angiosperms have two distinct homologs of these mitochondrial CoA transporters, whereas nonflowering plants have only one. The homologs from maize (Zea mays; GRMZM2G161299 and GRMZM2G420119) and Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana; At1g14560 and At4g26180) all complemented the growth defect of the yeast leu5Ɗ mitochondrial CoA carrier mutant and substantially restored its mitochondrial CoA level, confirming that these proteins have CoA transport activity. Dual-import assays with purified pea (Pisum sativum) mitochondria and chloroplasts, and subcellular localization of green fluorescent protein fusions in transiently transformed tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) Bright Yellow-2 cells, showed that the maize and Arabidopsis proteins are targeted to mitochondria. Consistent with the ubiquitous importance of CoA, the maize and Arabidopsis mitochondrial CoA transporter genes are expressed at similar levels throughout the plant. These data show that representatives of both monocotyledons and eudicotyledons have twin, mitochondrially located mitochondrial carrier family carriers for CoA. The highly conserved nature of these carriers makes possible their reliable annotation in other angiosperm genomes.
Predicting anisotropic displacement parameters using molecular dynamics: density functional theory plus dispersion modelling of thermal motion in benzophenone
Authors: Reilly Anthony M. , Wann Derek A. , Gutmann Matthias J. , Jura Marek , Morrison Carole A. , Rankin David W. H.
Published: April 2013

The benefits of combining experimental and computational methods have been demonstrated by a study of the dynamics and solid-state structure of α-benzophenone. Dispersion-corrected and -uncorrected density functional theory molecular dynamics simulations were used to obtain displacement parameters, with the dispersion-corrected simulations showing good agreement with the experimental neutron and X-ray diffraction values. At 70 K, quantum-nuclear effects resulted in poor values for the hydrogen atoms, but the heavy-atom values still show excellent agreement, suggesting that molecular dynamics simulations can be a useful tool for determining displacement parameters where experimental data are poor or limited.
A water wire inL-prolyl-L-serine monohydrate
Authors: Görbitz Carl Henrik , Yadav Vitthal N.
Published: April 2013

Despite the extra functional group in the serine side chain, the crystal packing arrangement of the title compound {systematic name: (S)-3-hydroxy-2-[(S)-pyrrolidine-2-carboxamido]propanoic acid monohydrate}, C8H14N2O4·H2O, is essentially the same as observed for a series of L-Pro-L-Nop peptide hydrates, where Nop is a strictly nonpolar residue. This is rendered possible by a monoclinicP21packing arrangement withZ′ = 2 that deviates from orthorhombicP212121symmetry only for the seryl hydroxy groups, which form infinite O—H...O—H hydrogen-bonded chains along the 5.3 Åaaxis. At the same time, cocrystallized water molecules form parallel water wires.
Novel morphological study of solar lentigines by immunohistochemical and electron microscopic evaluation
Authors: Watanabe Tessin , Tahira Makoto , Morino Shinichi , Horie Takashi , Adachi Koji , Tsutsumi Reiko , Yamada Nanako , Yoshida Yuich , Yamamoto Osamu
Published: April 2013

Solar lentigines (SL) are hyperpigmented lesions generally seen in elderly people. Their pathogenesis has not been completely elucidated. We examined 75 cases of SL using routine histopathology and immunohistochemistry. In addition, seven cases were evaluated by electron microscopy. Histopathologically, we observed vacuolar changes in the dermoepidermal junction in 85% of the cases. Dermal melanophages were seen in 77% of the cases. The immunohistochemical expression rates in the epidermis for cytokeratin (CK)15, CK14, CK10, p63 and nestin were 76%, 100%, 100%, 100% and 17%, respectively. In 58 cases showing dermal melanophages, expression rates of CD163 and factor XIIIa on melanophages were 79% and 83%, respectively. Double positivity for both proteins was identified in 44 cases (75%). Ultrastructurally, vacuolar structures were seen in the cytoplasm of basal cells and upper dermis in all cases examined. We observed elimination processes of damaged basal keratinocytes, which were probably produced by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, into the papillary dermis. The segregated damaged cell bodies containing melanin granules seemed to be phagocytosed by poorly immunostimulatory macrophages labeled immunohistochemically by CD163 and factor X IIIa, contributing to prolonged pigmentation of SL. In addition, repeated basal keratinocyte damages may be in association with altered CK and p63 expression patterns in the constituent cells of SL.
Diffraction imaging of sub‐vertical fractures and karst with full‐resolution 3D Ground‐Penetrating Radar
Authors: Grasmueck Mark , Quintà Miquel Coll , Pomar Kenri , Eberli Gregor P.
Published: April 2013

Vertical fractures with openings of less than one centimetre and irregular karst cause abundant diffractions in Ground‐Penetrating Radar (GPR) records. GPR data acquired with half‐wavelength trace spacing are uninterpretable as they are dominated by spatially undersampled scattered energy. To evaluate the potential of high‐density 3D GPR diffraction imaging a 200 MHz survey with less than a quarter wavelength grid spacing (0.05 m × 0.1 m) was acquired at a fractured and karstified limestone quarry near the village of Cassis in Southern France. After 3D migration processing, diffraction apices line up in sub‐vertical fracture planes and cluster in locations of karstic dissolution features. The majority of karst is developed at intersections of two or more fractures and is limited in depth by a stratigraphic boundary. Such high‐resolution 3D GPR imaging offers an unprecedented internal view of a complex fractured carbonate reservoir model analogue. As seismic and GPR wave kinematics are similar, improvements in the imaging of steep fractures and irregular voids at the resolution limit can also be expected from high‐density seismic diffraction imaging.
Making words count: Coalition agreements and cabinet management
Authors: Indridason Indridi H. , Kristinsson Gunnar Helgi
Published: April 2013

The cabinet is a central actor in policy making in parliamentary systems. Yet, relatively little is known about how coalition cabinets operate. The delegation of decision‐making authority to ministers invites policy drift, which threatens the cohesiveness of the cabinet's policy programme. Cabinets employ a variety of methods to contain policy drift. The writing of coalition agreements is among the major tools, but there are others, including limiting ministerial autonomy and the use of junior ministers to shadow ministers. The present study demonstrates that coalition agreements are written to contain policy drift and that it is directly related to the degree of hierarchy in the cabinet. It studies the factors that affect the likelihood of a coalition agreement being written and how extensive they are, if written. Among these are the ideological diversity found in the cabinet, the use of alternative methods for controlling ministers and the complexity of the bargaining situation.
Political Science, Impact and Evidence
Authors: John Peter
Published: April 2013

Political scientists should not expect a direct causal impact on the actions of politicians and policy makers. They are more likely to influence the climate of ideas, which in turn can shape public policy. In general, politicians and policy makers are hungry for ideas and want to see themselves at the forefront of new debates. In particular, they are interested in findings that they and their advisers cannot create for themselves. The techniques of advanced political science and debates within it are far from being arcane for they offer a new approach and provide robust evidence about politics and policy. Political scientists should not aim to be like journalists, commentators or advisers as they will usually perform less well than these talented practitioners. By communicating in conferences, tweeting, blogging and public speaking they will find that politicians and civil servants will come looking for them as well as the other way round. The article reviews studies of the diffusion of ideas and the ways in which ideas influence politicians and other policy makers, which back up an indirect approach to impact.
Liraglutide protects pancreatic beta cells during an early intervention in Gato‐Kakizaki rats (Gato‐Kakizaki大鼠使用利拉鲁肽进行早期干预可以保护胰腺β细胞)
Authors: Luo Xiu , Pan Linlin , Nie Aifang , Wang Qidi , Gu Yanyun , Li Fengying , Zhang Hongli , Li Wenyi , Li Xiaoying
Published: April 2013

Background

Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) analogues have emerged as insulin secretagogues and are widely used in type 2 diabetic patients. GLP‐1 analogues also demonstrate a promotion of beta cell proliferation and reduction of apoptosis in rodents. In the present study, we investigated the protection of pancreatic beta cells by early use (at the age of 2 weeks) of GLP‐1 analogue, liraglutide in Gato‐Kakizaki (GK) rats and explored the underlying mechanisms.

Methods

The effects of liraglutide on glucose tolerance were evaluated by intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) and insulin release tests (IRT). Ki67 and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) immunostaining, Western blots and real‐time polymerase chain reaction were applied to evaluate cell proliferation, apoptosis and related gene expressions.

Results

Our results demonstrated that early use of liraglutide improved glucose tolerance during liraglutide treatment in GK rats. Liraglutide increased pancreatic insulin contents and markedly reduced beta cell apoptosis. Liraglutide also downregulated pro‐apoptotic gene expressions and reduced intra‐islet macrophage infiltration.

Conclusions

This experiment reported for the first time that early use of liraglutide could protect beta cell failure in pre‐diabetic GK rats through reduction of beta cell apoptosis and ameliorating islet inflammation.