bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lysimeleia (Thucydides 7.53, Theocritus 16.84): What Thucydides does not tell us about the Sicilian Expedition
Authors: Rawles Richard
Published: October 2015

In this paper, it is proposed that the lake Lysimeleia, mentioned by Thucydides in his account of the latter part of the Sicilian Expedition and by Theocritus in his encomium of Hieron II of Sicily, is likely to have been a sacred lake to the two goddesses Demeter and Kore. This suggestion is integrated into a way of reading the relevant passages in Thucydides and Theocritus, and its possible implications in the context of early discourses concerning the Athenian campaign at Syracuse are explored. In particular, this episode is read as one which can help us to consider the significance of Thucydides’ tendency to downplay religious aspects of the events he describes and to speculate about what sorts of discourses about the Sicilian Expedition might have circulated among others, who would have been likely to consider such questions very differently.
Widowhood in the fourth age: support exchange, relationships and social participation
Authors: ISHERWOOD L. M. , KING D. S. , LUSZCZ M. A.
Published: October 2015

Widowhood becomes increasingly common with advancing age, and spousal bereavement is likely to present additional challenges for adults in very late life. However, previous studies have not considered the potential heterogeneity of the experience of widowhood for different age cohorts. This study provided a novel examination of the experience of social resources during widowhood in the fourth age. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 widowed older men and women in the fourth age, i.e. aged 85 years and older. Participants were asked about their access to, and mobilisation of, social resources during widowhood in the fourth age. The role that these resources play in adjustment to spousal loss was also explored. During this phase, widowhood was associated with diminished social networks and concurrent challenges related to ageing and health which impacted upon support needs and social participation. Despite requiring and receiving increasing levels of social support, participants strove to maximise independence. Males and those widowed during the fourth age were more likely to experience social isolation, loneliness and unwanted informal support. Through the mobilisation of social resources many oldest-old widowed adults continue to lead socially engaged and meaningful lives. The implications of the findings for future policy and practice are discussed, including the need for programmes to promote the continuing independence, self-directedness and social engagement of widowed individuals experiencing advanced ageing.
3D SLAM in texture-less environments using rank order statistics
Authors: Yousif Khalid , Bab-Hadiashar Alireza , Hoseinnezhad Reza
Published: October 2015

We present a real time 3D SLAM system for texture-less scenes using only depth information provided by a low cost RGB-D sensor. The proposed method is based on a novel informative sampling scheme that extracts points carrying the most useful 3D information for registration. The aim of the proposed sampling technique is to informatively sample a point cloud into a subset of points based on their 3D information. The flatness of a point is measured by applying a rank order statistics based robust segmentation method to surface normals in its local vicinity. The extracted keypoints from sequential frames are then matched and a rank order statistics based robust estimator is employed to refine the matches and estimate a rigid-body transformation between the frames. Experimental evaluations show that the proposed keypoint extraction method is highly repeatable and outperforms the state of the art methods in terms of accuracy and repeatability. We show that the performance of the registration algorithm is also comparable to other well-known methods in texture-less environments.
Early verb constructions in French: adjacency on the left edge
Authors: VENEZIANO EDY , CLARK EVE V.
Published: October 2015

Children acquiring French elaborate their early verb constructions by adding adjacent morphemes incrementally at the left edge of core verbs. This hypothesis was tested with 2657 verb uses from four children between 1;3 and 2;7. Consistent with the Adjacency Hypothesis, children added clitic subjects first only to present tense forms (as inil saute‘he jumps’); modals to infinitives (as infaut sauter‘has to jump’); and auxiliaries to past participles (as ina sauté‘has jumped’). Only after this did the children add subjects to the left of a modal or auxiliary, as inelle veut sauter‘she wants to jump’, orelle a sauté‘she has jumped’. The order in which these elements were added, and the development in the frequencies of the constructions, all support the predictions of the Adjacency Hypothesis for left edge development in early verb constructions.
Emergency Care Capabilities in North East Haiti: A Cross-sectional Observational Study
Authors: De Wulf Annelies , Aluisio Adam R. , Muhlfelder Dana , Bloem Christina
Published: October 2015

Introduction

The North East Department is a resource-limited region of Haiti. Health care is provided by hospitals and community clinics, with no formal Emergency Medical System and undefined emergency services. As a paucity of information exists on available emergency services in the North East Department of Haiti, the objective of this study was to assess systematically the existing emergency care resources in the region.

Methods

This cross-sectional observational study was carried out at all Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP)-affiliated hospitals in the North East Department and all clinics within the Fort Liberté district. A modified version of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tool for Situational Analysis to Assess Emergency and Essential Surgical Care and Generic Essential Emergency Equipment Lists were completed for each facility.

Results

Three MSPP hospitals and five clinics were assessed. Among hospitals, all had a designated emergency ward with 24 hour staffing by a medical doctor. All hospitals had electricity with backup generators and access to running water; however, none had potable water. All hospitals had x-ray and ultrasound capabilities. No computed tomography scanners existed in the region. Invasive airway equipment and associated medications were not present consistently in the hospitals’ emergency care areas, but they were available in the operating rooms. Pulse oximetry was unavailable uniformly. One hospital had intermittently functioning defibrillation equipment, and two hospitals had epinephrine. Basic supplies for managing obstetrical and traumatic emergencies were available at all hospitals. Surgical services were accessible at two hospitals. No critical care services were available in the region. Clinics varied widely in terms of equipment availability. They uniformly had limited emergency medical equipment. The clinics also had inconsistent access to basic assessment tools (sphygmomanometers 20% and stethoscopes 60%). A protocol for transferring patients requiring a higher level of care was present in most (80%) clinics and one of the hospitals. However, no facility had a written protocol for transferring patients to other facilities. One hospital reported intermittent access to an ambulance for transfers.

Conclusions

Deficits in the supply of emergency equipment and limited protocols for inter-facility transfers exist in North East Department of Haiti. These essential areas represent appropriate targets for interventions aimed at improving access to emergency care within the North East region of Haiti.

De WulfA, AluisioAR, MuhlfelderD, BloemC. Emergency care capabilities in North East Haiti: a cross-sectional observational study. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2015;30(6):553–559.
Cost of inaction on sugar-sweetened beverage consumption: implications for obesity in South Africa
Authors: Tugendhaft Aviva , Manyema Mercy , Veerman Lennert J , Chola Lumbwe , Labadarios Demetre , Hofman Karen J
Published: October 2015

Objective

To estimate the effect of increased sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption on future adult obesity prevalence in South Africa in the absence of preventive measures.

Design

A model was constructed to simulate the effect of a 2·4 % annual increase in SSB consumption on obesity prevalence. The model computed the change in energy intake assuming a compounding increase in SSB consumption. The population distribution of BMI by age and sex was modelled by fitting measured data from the 2012 South African National Income Dynamics Survey to the log-normal distribution and shifting the mean values.

Setting

Over the past decade the prevalence of obesity and related non-communicable diseases has increased in South Africa, as have the sales and availability of SSB. Soft drink sales in South Africa are projected to grow between 2012 and 2017 at an annual compounded growth rate of 2·4 % in the absence of preventive measures to curb consumption.

Results

A 2·4 % annual growth in SSB sales alongside population growth and ageing will result in an additional 1 287 000 obese adults in South Africa by 2017, 22 % of which will be due to increased SSB consumption.

Conclusions

In order to meet the South African target of reducing the number of people who are obese and/or overweight by 10 % by 2020, the country cannot afford to delay implementing effective population-wide interventions. In the face of plans to increase growth of SSB, the country will soon face even greater challenges in overcoming obesity and related non-communicable diseases.
COARSE AMENABILITY AND DISCRETENESS
Authors: DYDAK JERZY
Published: October 2015

This paper is devoted to dualization of paracompactness to the coarse category via the concept of $R$-disjointness. Property A of Yu can be seen as a coarse variant of amenability via partitions of unity and leads to a dualization of paracompactness via partitions of unity. On the other hand, finite decomposition complexity of Guentner, Tessera, and Yu and straight finite decomposition complexity of Dranishnikov and Zarichnyi employ $R$-disjointness as the main concept. We generalize both concepts to that of countable asymptotic dimension and our main result shows that it is a subclass of spaces with Property A. In addition, it gives a necessary and sufficient condition for spaces of countable asymptotic dimension to be of finite asymptotic dimension.
Neoliberal Welfare, Minorities and Tenancy Support
Authors: Nethercote Megan
Published: October 2015

Under post-welfarist realignments in neoliberal democracies, the provision of welfare is increasingly conditional on claimants fulfilling certain (behavioural) obligations. Under these shifts, an increased focus on the cultural dimensions of conduct and belonging redefines the basis for citizenship and extends the risk of subversion to include incivility or cultural difference. Critically, this recasting of the state-citizen social contract occurs with potentially exclusionary effects by legitimising ethnic and culturalist explanations that attribute blame to individuals/groups based on their perceived failure to follow normative models of social and spatial integration. The significance of these neoliberal welfare shifts for many of those most at risk of exclusion—black and minority ethnics (BME) and indigenous populations—has received little attention. Responding to this gap from within housing studies, this article reports on qualitative research on the fulfillment of government responsibilities for tenancy support provision under reforms to Indigenous housing welfare in Australia. Based on interviews with Indigenous housing stakeholders, it identifies programmatic, organisational and operational issues hampering tenant support provision that challenge how the ideal of ‘fair reciprocity’ was satisfied at the outset of the reforms. Given contemporary policy discourse on community cohesion and integration, the ways in which current programmatic oversights signal this neoliberal programme and its attempts to reinforce perceptions and constructions of cultural difference to politicise and pathologise the behaviours of particular individuals and communities is significant. Key questions arise about how the needs of minority groups might inform the types of ‘opportunities’ required to achieve the conditions for fair reciprocity within the contractual welfare state.
A Cooler Climate Would Trigger More Tropical Cyclones
Authors: Stanley Sarah
Published: October 2015

New model reveals tropical cyclones could form at lower sea surface temperatures than previously thought.
Towards identification of immune and genetic correlates of severe influenza disease in Indigenous Australians
Authors: Clemens E Bridie , Grant Emma J , Wang Zhongfang , Gras Stephanie , Tipping Peta , Rossjohn Jamie , Miller Adrian , Tong Steven YC , Kedzierska Katherine
Published: October 2015

Indigenous populations, including Indigenous Australians, are highly susceptible to severe influenza disease and the underlying mechanisms are unknown. We studied immune and genetic factors that could predicate severe influenza disease in Indigenous Australians enrolled in the LIFT study: looking into influenza T‐cell immunity. To examine CD8+ T‐cell immunity, we characterised human leukocyte antigen (HLA) profiles. HLA typing confirmed previous studies showing predominant usage of HLA‐A*02:01, 11:01, 24:02, 34:01 and HLA‐B*13:01, 15:21, 40:01/02, 56:01/02 in Indigenous Australians. We identified two new HLA alleles (HLA‐A*02:new and HLA‐B*56:new). Modelling suggests that variations within HLA‐A*02:new (but not HLA‐B56:new) could affect peptide binding. There is a relative lack of known influenza epitopes for the majority of these HLAs, with the exception of a universal HLA‐A*02:01‐M158 epitope and proposed epitopes presented by HLA‐A*11:01/HLA‐A*24:02. To dissect universal CD8+ T‐cell responses, we analysed the magnitude, function and T‐cell receptor (TCR) clonality of HLA‐A*02:01‐M158 +CD8+ T cells. We found comparable IFN‐γ, TNF and CD107a and TCRαβ characteristics in Indigenous and non‐Indigenous Australians, suggesting that the ~15% of Indigenous people that express HLA‐A*02:01 have universal influenza‐specific CD8+ T‐cell immunity. Furthermore, the frequency of an influenza host risk factor, IFITM3‐C/C, was comparable between Indigenous Australians and Europeans, suggesting that expression of this allele does not explain increased disease severity at a population level. Our study indicates a need to identify novel influenza‐specific CD8+ T‐cell epitopes restricted by HLA‐A and HLA‐B alleles prevalent in Indigenous populations for the rational design of universal T‐cell vaccines.
Portable lensless wide-field microscopy imaging platform based on digital inline holography and multi-frame pixel super-resolution
Authors: Sobieranski Antonio C , Inci Fatih , Tekin H Cumhur , Yuksekkaya Mehmet , Comunello Eros , Cobra Daniel , von Wangenheim Aldo , Demirci Utkan
Published: October 2015

In this paper, an irregular displacement-based lensless wide-field microscopy imaging platform is presented by combining digital in-line holography and computational pixel super-resolution using multi-frame processing. The samples are illuminated by a nearly coherent illumination system, where the hologram shadows are projected into a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor-based imaging sensor. To increase the resolution, a multi-frame pixel resolution approach is employed to produce a single holographic image from multiple frame observations of the scene, with small planar displacements. Displacements are resolved by a hybrid approach: (i) alignment of the LR images by a fast feature-based registration method, and (ii) fine adjustment of the sub-pixel information using a continuous optimization approach designed to find the global optimum solution. Numerical method for phase-retrieval is applied to decode the signal and reconstruct the morphological details of the analyzed sample. The presented approach was evaluated with various biological samples including sperm and platelets, whose dimensions are in the order of a few microns. The obtained results demonstrate a spatial resolution of 1.55 μm on a field-of-view of ≈30 mm2.
Microsecond-sustained lasing from colloidal quantum dot solids
Authors: Adachi Michael M. , Fan Fengjia , Sellan Daniel P. , Hoogland Sjoerd , Voznyy Oleksandr , Houtepen Arjan J. , Parrish Kevin D. , Kanjanaboos Pongsakorn , Malen Jonathan A. , Sargent Edward H.
Published: October 2015

Colloidal quantum dots have grown in interest as materials for light amplification and lasing in view of their bright photoluminescence, convenient solution processing and size-controlled spectral tunability. To date, lasing in colloidal quantum dot solids has been limited to the nanosecond temporal regime, curtailing their application in systems that require more sustained emission. Here we find that the chief cause of nanosecond-only operation has been thermal runaway: the combination of rapid heat injection from the pump source, poor heat removal and a highly temperature-dependent threshold. We show microsecond-sustained lasing, achieved by placing ultra-compact colloidal quantum dot films on a thermally conductive substrate, the combination of which minimizes heat accumulation. Specifically, we employ inorganic-halide-capped quantum dots that exhibit high modal gain (1,200 cm−1) and an ultralow amplified spontaneous emission threshold (average peak power of ∼50 kW cm−2) and rely on an optical structure that dissipates heat while offering minimal modal loss.
Enhancement in hydrogen evolution using Au-TiO2 hollow spheres with microbial devices modified with conjugated oligoelectrolytes
Authors: Ngaw Chee Keong , Wang Victor Bochuan , Liu Zhengyi , Zhou Yi , Kjelleberg Staffan , Zhang Qichun , Tan Timothy Thatt Yang , Loo Say Chye Joachim
Published: October 2015

Objective:

Although photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting heralds the emergence of the hydrogen economy, the need for external bias and low efficiency stymies the widespread application of this technology. By coupling water splitting (in a PEC cell) to a microbial fuel cell (MFC) usingEscherichia colias the biocatalyst, this work aims to successfully demonstrate a sustainable hybrid PEC–MFC platform functioning solely by biocatalysis and solar energy, at zero bias. Through further chemical modification of the photo-anode (in the PEC cell) and biofilm (in the MFC), the performance of the hybrid system is expected to improve in terms of the photocurrent generated and hydrogen evolved.

Methods:

The hybrid system constitutes the interconnected PEC cell with the MFC. Both PEC cell and MFC are typical two-chambered systems housing the anode and cathode. Au-TiO2hollow spheres and conjugated oligoelectrolytes were synthesised chemically and introduced to the PEC cell and MFC, respectively. Hydrogen evolution measurements were performed in triplicates.

Results:

The hybrid PEC–MFC platform generated a photocurrent density of 0.35 mA/cm2(~70× enhancement) as compared with the stand-alone P25 standard PEC cell (0.005 mA/cm2) under one-sun illumination (100 mW/cm2) at zero bias (0 V vs. Pt). This increase in photocurrent density was accompanied by continuous H2production. No H2was observed in the P25 standard PEC cell whereas H2evolution rate was ~3.4 μmol/h in the hybrid system. The remarkable performance is attributed to the chemical modification ofE. colithrough the incorporation of novel conjugated oligoelectrolytes in the MFC as well as the lower recombination rate and higher photoabsorption capabilities in the Au-TiO2hollow spheres electrode.

Conclusions:

The combined strategy of photo-anode modification in PEC cells and chemically modified MFCs shows great promise for future exploitation of such synergistic effects between MFCs and semiconductor-based PEC water splitting.
Diversity and distribution of fungal communities in the marine sediments of Kongsfjorden, Svalbard (High Arctic)
Authors: Zhang Tao , Fei Wang Neng , Qin Zhang Yu , Yu Liu Hong , Yan Yu Li
Published: October 2015

This study assessed the diversity and distribution of fungal communities in eight marine sediments of Kongsfjorden (Svalbard, High Arctic) using 454 pyrosequencing with fungal-specific primers targeting the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the ribosomal rRNA gene. Sedimentary fungal communities showed high diversity with 42,219 reads belonging to 113 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Of these OTUs, 62 belonged to the Ascomycota, 26 to Basidiomycota, 2 to Chytridiomycota, 1 to Zygomycota, 1 to Glomeromycota and 21 to unknown fungi. The major known orders included Hypocreales and Saccharomycetales. The common fungal genera were Pichia, Fusarium, Alternaria, and Malassezia. Interestingly, most fungi occurring in these Arctic sediments may originate from the terrestrial habitats and different basins in Kongsfjorden (i.e., inner basin, central basin and outer basin) harbor different sedimentary fungal communities. These results suggest the existence of diverse fungal communities in the Arctic marine sediments, which may serve as a useful community model for further ecological and evolutionary study of fungi in the Arctic.
Toward a terahertz-driven electron gun
Authors: Huang W. Ronny , Nanni Emilio A. , Ravi Koustuban , Hong Kyung-Han , Fallahi Arya , Wong Liang Jie , Keathley Phillip D. , Zapata Luis E. , Kärtner Franz X.
Published: October 2015

Femtosecond electron bunches with keV energies and eV energy spread are needed by condensed matter physicists to resolve state transitions in carbon nanotubes, molecular structures, organic salts and charge density wave materials. These semirelativistic electron sources are not only of interest for ultrafast electron diffraction, but also for electron energy-loss spectroscopy and as a seed for x-ray FELs. Thus far, the output energy spread (hence pulse duration) of ultrafast electron guns has been limited by the achievable electric field at the surface of the emitter, which is 10 MV/m for DC guns and 200 MV/m for RF guns. A single-cycle THz electron gun provides a unique opportunity to not only achieve GV/m surface electric fields but also with relatively low THz pulse energies, since a single-cycle transform-limited waveform is the most efficient way to achieve intense electric fields. Here, electron bunches of 50 fC from a flat copper photocathode are accelerated from rest to tens of eV by a microjoule THz pulse with peak electric field of 72 MV/m at 1 kHz repetition rate. We show that scaling to the readily-available GV/m THz field regime would translate to monoenergetic electron beams of ~100 keV.
Tristetraprolin regulation of interleukin-22 production
Authors: Härdle Lorena , Bachmann Malte , Bollmann Franziska , Pautz Andrea , Schmid Tobias , Eberhardt Wolfgang , Kleinert Hartmut , Pfeilschifter Josef , Mühl Heiko
Published: October 2015

Interleukin (IL)-22 is a STAT3-activating cytokine displaying characteristic AU-rich elements (ARE) in the 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) of its mRNA. This architecture suggests gene regulation by modulation of mRNA stability. Since related cytokines undergo post-transcriptional regulation by ARE-binding tristetraprolin (TTP), the role of this destabilizing protein in IL-22 production was investigated. Herein, we demonstrate that TTP-deficient mice display augmented serum IL-22. Likewise, IL-22 mRNA was enhanced in TTP-deficient splenocytes and isolated primary T cells. A pivotal role for TTP is underscored by an extended IL-22 mRNA half-life detectable in TTP-deficient T cells. Luciferase-reporter assays performed in human Jurkat T cells proved the destabilizing potential of the human IL-22-3′-UTR. Furthermore, overexpression of TTP in HEK293 cells substantially decreased luciferase activity directed by the IL-22-3′-UTR. Transcript destabilization by TTP was nullified upon cellular activation by TPA/A23187, an effect dependent on MEK1/2 activity. Accordingly, IL-22 mRNA half-life as determined in TPA/A23187-stimulated Jurkat T cells decreased under the influence of the MEK1/2 inhibitor U0126. Altogether, data indicate that TTP directly controls IL-22 production, a process counteracted by MEK1/2. The TTP-dependent regulatory pathway described herein likely contributes to the role of IL-22 in inflammation and cancer and may evolve as novel target for pharmacological IL-22 modulation.
Genetically-reduced serum ACE activity might be a causal risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: A meta-analysis
Authors: He Lan , Wang Bin , Lang Wei-Ya , Xue Jing , Zhao Da-Long , Li Guo-Feng , Zheng Li-Hong , Pan Hong-Ming
Published: October 2015

We meta-analytically summarized the associations of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism with ACE activity and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) to see whether ACE activity is causally associated with OSAS. Literature search and data abstraction were done in duplicate. Sixteen articles including 2060 OSAS patients and 1878 controls were summarized. Overall, no significance was observed for the association of I/D polymorphism with OSAS, whereas carriers of II genotype (weighted mean difference or WMD, 95% confidence interval or CI, P: −11.976, −17.168 to −6.783, <0.001) or I allele (−9.842, −14.766 to −4.918, <0.001) had a lower level of serum ACE activity compared with DD genotype carriers, respectively. In subgroup analyses, carriers of II genotype were 3.806 times more likely to develop OSAS (95% CI, P: 1.865 to 7.765, <0.001) in OSAS patients with hypertension, without heterogeneity. Mendelian randomization analysis indicated there was 37.4% (95% CI: 1.115 to 3.142) and 32.4% (1.106 to 2.845) increased risk of OSAS by a reduction of 1 U/L in ACE activity for the II genotype and I allele carriers versus DD genotype carriers, respectively. There was no observable publication bias. Collectively, genetically-reduced serum ACE activity might be a causal risk factor for OSAS.
Correction: Corrigendum: Fertilization competence of the egg-coating envelope is regulated by direct interaction of dicalcin and gp41, the Xenopus laevis ZP3
Authors: Miwa Naofumi , Ogawa Motoyuki , Hanaue Mayu , Takamatsu Ken
Published: October 2015

Fertilization begins with species-restricted interaction of sperm and the egg-coating envelope, which includes a three-dimensional meshwork of filaments composed of glycoproteins (called ZP proteins). Growing evidence has unveiled the molecular nature of ZP proteins; however, the structural property conferring fertilization competence to the egg-coating envelope remains unknown. Here, we show the molecular mechanism that mediates direct interaction between dicalcin, a novel fertilization-suppressive ZP protein-associated protein, and gp41, a Xenopus laevis ortholog of mammalian ZP3, and subsequently demonstrate the structural basis of the envelope for fertilization competence. The interactive regions between dicalcin and gp41 comprised five and nine amino acid residues within dicalcin and twenty-three within gp41. Synthetic peptides corresponding to these regions dramatically affected fertilization: treatment with dicalcin- or gp41-derived peptides decreased or increased fertilization rates, respectively. Prior application of these peptides caused distinct alterations in the in vivo lectin-staining pattern of the envelope as well. Transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed that the dicalcin-derived peptide induced the formation of a well-organized meshwork, whereas the gp41-derived peptide caused the formation of a significantly disorganized meshwork. These findings indicated that the fertilization competence of the egg-coating envelope is crucially regulated by the direct interaction between dicalcin and gp41.
Super-strengthening and stabilizing with carbon nanotube harnessed high density nanotwins in metals by shock loading
Authors: Lin Dong , Saei Mojib , Suslov Sergey , Jin Shengyu , Cheng Gary J.
Published: October 2015

CNTs reinforced metal composites has great potential due to their superior properties, such as light weight, high strength, low thermal expansion and high thermal conductivity. The current strengthening mechanisms of CNT/metal composite mainly rely on CNTs’ interaction with dislocations and CNT’s intrinsic high strength. Here we demonstrated that laser shock loading the CNT/metal composite results in high density nanotwins, stacking fault, dislocation around the CNT/metal interface. The composites exhibit enhanced strength with excellent stability. The results are interpreted by both molecular dynamics simulation and experiments. It is found the shock wave interaction with CNTs induces a stress field, much higher than the applied shock pressure, surrounding the CNT/metal interface. As a result, nanotwins were nucleated under a shock pressure much lower than the critical values to generate twins in metals. This hybrid unique nanostructure not only enhances the strength, but also stabilize the strength, as the nanotwin boundaries around the CNTs help pin the dislocation movement.
Ablation of CD8α+ dendritic cell mediated cross-presentation does not impact atherosclerosis in hyperlipidemic mice
Authors: Legein Bart , Janssen Edith M. , Theelen Thomas L. , Gijbels Marion J. , Walraven Joep , Klarquist Jared S. , Hennies Cassandra M. , Wouters Kristiaan , Seijkens Tom T.P. , Wijnands Erwin , Sluimer Judith C. , Lutgens Esther , Zenke Martin , Hildner Kai , Biessen Erik A.L. , Temmerman Lieve
Published: October 2015

Clinical complications of atherosclerosis are almost exclusively linked to destabilization of the atherosclerotic plaque. Batf3-dependent dendritic cells specialize in cross-presentation of necrotic tissue-derived epitopes to directly activate cytolytic CD8 Tcells. The mature plaque (necrotic, containing dendritic cells and CD8 Tcells) could offer the ideal environment for cross-presentation, resulting in cytotoxic immunity and plaque destabilization. Ldlr−/− mice were transplanted with batf3−/− or wt bone marrow and put on a western type diet. Hematopoietic batf3 deficiency sharply decreased CD8α+ DC numbers in spleen and lymph nodes (>80%; P < 0,001). Concordantly, batf3−/− chimeras had a 75% reduction in OT-I cross-priming capacity in vivo. Batf3−/− chimeric mice did not show lower Tcell or other leukocyte subset numbers. Despite dampened cross-presentation capacity, batf3−/− chimeras had equal atherosclerosis burden in aortic arch and root. Likewise, batf3−/− chimeras and wt mice revealed no differences in parameters of plaque stability: plaque Tcell infiltration, cell death, collagen composition and macrophage and vascular smooth muscle cell content were unchanged. These results show that CD8α+ DC loss in hyperlipidemic mice profoundly reduces cross-priming ability, nevertheless it does not influence lesion development. Taken together, we clearly demonstrate that CD8α+ DC-mediated cross-presentation does not significantly contribute to atherosclerotic plaque formation and stability.
Fabrication of three dimensional patterns of wide dimensional range using microbes and their applications
Authors: Mehta Sunita , Murugeson Saravanan , Prakash Balaji , Deepak
Published: October 2015

Inspired by the wound healing property of certain trees, we report a novel microbes based additive process for producing three dimensional patterns, which has a potential of engineering applications in a variety of fields. Imposing a two dimensional pattern of microbes on a gel media and allowing them to grow in the third dimension is known from its use in biological studies. Instead, we have introduced an intermediate porous substrate between the gel media and the microbial growth, which enables three dimensional patterns in specific forms that can be lifted off and used in engineering applications. In order to demonstrate the applicability of this idea in a diverse set of areas, two applications are selected. In one, using this method of microbial growth, we have fabricated microlenses for enhanced light extraction in organic light emitting diodes, where densely packed microlenses of the diameters of hundreds of microns lead to luminance increase by a factor of 1.24X. In another entirely different type of application, braille text patterns are prepared on a normal office paper where the grown microbial colonies serve as braille tactile dots. Braille dot patterns thus prepared meet the standard specifications (size and spacing) for braille books.
Excitation, detection and electrostatic manipulation of terahertz-frequency range plasmons in a two-dimensional electron system
Authors: Wu Jingbo , Mayorov Alexander S. , Wood Christopher D. , Mistry Divyang , Li Lianhe , Muchenje Wilson , Rosamond Mark C. , Chen Li , Linfield Edmund H. , Davies A. Giles , Cunningham John E.
Published: October 2015

Terahertz frequency time-domain spectroscopy employing free-space radiation has frequently been used to probe the elementary excitations of low-dimensional systems. The diffraction limit, however, prevents its use for the in-plane study of individual laterally-defined nanostructures. Here, we demonstrate a planar terahertz frequency plasmonic circuit in which photoconductive material is monolithically integrated with a two-dimensional electron system. Plasmons with a broad spectral range (up to ~ 400 GHz) are excited by injecting picosecond-duration pulses, generated and detected by a photoconductive semiconductor, into a high mobility two-dimensional electron system. Using voltage modulation of a Schottky gate overlying the two-dimensional electron system, we form a tuneable plasmonic cavity and observe electrostatic manipulation of the plasmon resonances. Our technique offers a direct route to access the picosecond dynamics of confined electron transport in a broad range of lateral nanostructures.
Structural insights into the cooperative remodeling of membranes by amphiphysin/BIN1
Authors: Adam Julia , Basnet Nirakar , Mizuno Naoko
Published: October 2015

Amphiphysin2/BIN1 is a crescent-shaped N-BAR protein playing a key role in forming deeply invaginated tubes in muscle T-tubules. Amphiphysin2/BIN1 structurally stabilizes tubular formations in contrast to other N-BAR proteins involved in dynamic membrane scission processes; however, the molecular mechanism of the stabilizing effect is poorly understood. Using cryo-EM, we investigated the assembly of the amphiphysin/BIN1 on a membrane tube. We found that the N-BAR domains self-assemble on the membrane surface in a highly cooperative manner. Our biochemical assays and 3D reconstructions indicate that the N-terminal amphipathic helix H0 plays an important role in the initiation of the tube assembly and further in organizing BAR-mediated polymerization by locking adjacent N-BAR domains. Mutants that lack H0 or the tip portion, which is also involved in interactions of the neighboring BAR unit, lead to a disruption of the polymer organization, even though tubulation can still be observed. The regulatory region of amphiphysin/BIN1 including an SH3 domain does not have any apparent involvement in the polymer lattice. Our study indicates that the H0 helix and the BAR tip are necessary for efficient and organized self-assembly of amphiphysin/N-BAR.
In vivo optical modulation of neural signals using monolithically integrated two-dimensional neural probe arrays
Authors: Son Yoojin , Jenny Lee Hyunjoo , Kim Jeongyeon , Shin Hyogeun , Choi Nakwon , Justin Lee C. , Yoon Eui-Sung , Yoon Euisik , Wise Kensall D. , Geun Kim Tae , Cho Il-Joo
Published: October 2015

Integration of stimulation modalities (e.g. electrical, optical and chemical) on a large array of neural probes can enable an investigation of important underlying mechanisms of brain disorders that is not possible through neural recordings alone. Furthermore, it is important to achieve this integration of multiple functionalities in a compact structure to utilize a large number of the mouse models. Here we present a successful optical modulation of in vivo neural signals of a transgenic mouse through our compact 2D MEMS neural array (optrodes). Using a novel fabrication method that embeds a lower cladding layer in a silicon substrate, we achieved a thin silicon 2D optrode array that is capable of delivering light to multiple sites using SU-8 as a waveguide core. Without additional modification to the microelectrodes, the measured impedance of the multiple microelectrodes was below 1 MΩ at 1 kHz. In addition, with a low background noise level (±25 μV), neural spikes from different individual neurons were recorded on each microelectrode. Lastly, we successfully used our optrodes to modulate the neural activity of a transgenic mouse through optical stimulation. These results demonstrate the functionality of the 2D optrode array and its potential as a next-generation tool for optogenetic applications.
Genome of the facultative scuticociliatosis pathogen Pseudocohnilembus persalinus provides insight into its virulence through horizontal gene transfer
Authors: Xiong Jie , Wang Guangying , Cheng Jun , Tian Miao , Pan Xuming , Warren Alan , Jiang Chuanqi , Yuan Dongxia , Miao Wei
Published: October 2015

Certain ciliates of the subclass Scuticociliatia (scuticociliates) are facultative parasites of fishes in which they cause a suite of diseases collectively termed scuticociliatosis. Hitherto, comparatively little was known about genetics and genomics of scuticociliates or the mechanism of scuticociliatosis. In this study, a laboratory culture of the facultatively pathogenic scuticociliatePseudocohnilembus persalinuswas established and its genome sequenced, giving the first genome of a marine ciliate. Genome-wide horizontal gene transfer (HGT) analysis showedP. persalinushas acquired many unique prokaryote-derived genes that potentially contribute to the virulence of this organism, including cell adhesion, hemolysis and heme utilization genes. These findings give new insights into our understanding of the pathology of scuticociliates.
Influences of carbon concentration on crystal structures and ideal strengths of B2CxO compounds in the B-C-O system
Authors: Zhang Meiguang , Yan Haiyan , Zheng Baobing , Wei Qun
Published: October 2015

The search for novel superhard materials with special structures and improved thermal stability and hardness remains considerably experimental and theoretical challenges. Recent reports proposed that higher carbon content in ternary B2CxO compounds, which are isoelectronic with diamond, would lead to increased strength and hardness. This notion was derived from the calculated elastic parameters and empirical hardness formulas based on structural and electronic properties of the equilibrium structures. In present work, we introduce three potential ultra-incompressible and thermodynamically stable B2CxO (x ≥ 2) phases via a systematic particle swarm optimization algorithm structure searches. By evaluating the trends of the crystal configuration, electronic structure and mechanical properties as a function of the C concentration, it is found that the high carbon concentration benefits the formation of the sp3 C-C covalent bonds and leads to the enhanced elastic moduli and ideal strengths in these B2CxO compounds. Studies of strain-stress behavior at large deformation, however, indicate that all these B2CxO compounds possess substantially lower ideal shear strengths than those of diamond and c-BN, suggesting that they may not be intrinsically superhard.
New aspects in the phase behaviour of poly-N-isopropyl acrylamide: systematic temperature dependent shrinking of PNiPAM assemblies well beyond the LCST
Authors: Bischofberger Irmgard , Trappe Veronique
Published: October 2015

We investigate the phase behaviour of aqueous dispersions of poly-N-isopropyl acrylamide (PNiPAM) microgels above their lower critical solution temperature (LCST) and find that beyond a well-defined concentration the systems exhibit a peculiar behaviour: the microgels assemble into space-spanning gels that shrink in time while maintaining the shape of the container in which they have been formed. Over a wide range of concentrations this shrinking behaviour is independent of PNiPAM concentration, but systematically depends on temperature in a temperature range significantly exceeding the LCST. The overall shrinking characteristics are consistent with those expected for scaffolds made of materials that exhibit thermal contraction. However, for the PNiPAM assemblies contraction is irreversible and can be as large as 90%. Such characteristics disclose complex interactions between fully collapsed PNiPAM and water well beyond the LCST, the origin of which has yet to be elucidated.
Direct monitoring of bias-dependent variations in the exciton formation ratio of working organic light emitting diodes
Authors: Takahashi Takahiro , Kanemoto Katsuichi , Kanenobu Mariko , Okawauchi Yuta , Hashimoto Hideki
Published: October 2015

In typical operation of organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), excitons are assumed to generate with a ratio of 1:3 for singlet and triplet excitons, respectively, based on a simple spin statistics model. This assumption has been used in designing efficient OLEDs. Despite the larger generation ratio of triplet excitons, physical properties of fluorescent OLEDs are usually evaluated only through the electroluminescence (EL) intensity from singlets and the behaviors of triplets during the LED operation are virtually black-boxed, because the triplets are mostly non-emissive. Here, we employ transient spectroscopy combined with LED-operation for directly monitoring the non-emissive triplets of working OLEDs. The spectroscopic techniques are performed simultaneously with EL- and current measurements under various operation biases. The simultaneous measurements reveal that the relative formation ratio of singlet-to-triplet excitons dramatically changes with the magnitude of bias. The measurements also show that the generation efficiency of singlets scales with the bias, whereas that of triplets is nearly bias-independent. These features of the formation ratio and efficiency are compatibly explained by considering the yield of intersystem crossing and the energy separation of excitons from electron-hole pairs. The obtained findings via the spectroscopic measurements enable prediction of the formation pathways in OLEDs.
Water and nitrogen availability co-control ecosystem CO2 exchange in a semiarid temperate steppe
Authors: Zhang Xiaolin , Tan Yulian , Li Ang , Ren Tingting , Chen Shiping , Wang Lixin , Huang Jianhui
Published: October 2015

Both water and nitrogen (N) availability have significant effects on ecosystem CO2 exchange (ECE), which includes net ecosystem productivity (NEP), ecosystem respiration (ER) and gross ecosystem photosynthesis (GEP). How water and N availability influence ECE in arid and semiarid grasslands is still uncertain. A manipulative experiment with additions of rainfall, snow and N was conducted to test their effects on ECE in a semiarid temperate steppe of northern China for three consecutive years with contrasting natural precipitation. ECE increased with annual precipitation but approached peak values at different precipitation amount. Water addition, especially summer water addition, had significantly positive effects on ECE in years when the natural precipitation was normal or below normal, but showed trivial effect on GEP when the natural precipitation was above normal as effects on ER and NEP offset one another. Nitrogen addition exerted non-significant or negative effects on ECE when precipitation was low but switched to a positive effect when precipitation was high, indicating N effect triggered by water availability. Our results indicate that both water and N availability control ECE and the effects of future precipitation changes and increasing N deposition will depend on how they can change collaboratively in this semiarid steppe ecosystem.
Cellular economy in fission yeast cells continuously cultured with limited nitrogen resources
Authors: Chikashige Yuji , Arakawa Shin'ichi , Leibnitz Kenji , Tsutsumi Chihiro , Mori Chie , Osakada Hiroko , Murata Masayuki , Haraguchi Tokuko , Hiraoka Yasushi
Published: October 2015

In ribosome biogenesis, a large fraction of ribosomes is used for producing ribosomal proteins themselves. Here, we applied simulation and experimentation to determine what fraction of ribosomes should be allocated for the synthesis of ribosomal proteins to optimize cellular economy for growth. We define the “r-fraction” as the fraction of mRNA of the ribosomal protein genes out of the total mRNA and we simulated the effect of the r-fraction on the number of ribosomes. We then empirically measured the amount of protein and RNA in fission yeast cells cultured with high and low nitrogen sources. In the cells cultured with a low nitrogen source, the r-fraction decreased from 0.46 to 0.42 with a 40% reduction of rRNA, but the reduction of the total protein was smaller at 30%. These results indicate that the r-fraction is internally controlled to optimize the efficiency of protein synthesis at a limited cellular cost.
Anaerobic ammonium oxidation and its contribution to nitrogen removal in China’s coastal wetlands
Authors: Hou Lijun , Zheng Yanling , Liu Min , Li Xiaofei , Lin Xianbiao , Yin Guoyu , Gao Juan , Deng Fengyu , Chen Fei , Jiang Xiaofen
Published: October 2015

Over the past several decades, human activities have caused substantial enrichment of reactive nitrogen in China’s coastal wetlands. Although anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox), the process of oxidizing ammonium into dinitrogen gas through the reduction of nitrite, is identified as an important process for removing reactive nitrogen, little is known about the dynamics of anammox and its contribution to nitrogen removal in nitrogen-enriched environments. Here, we examine potential rates of anammox and associate them with bacterial diversity and abundance across the coastal wetlands of China using molecular and isotope tracing techniques. High anammox bacterial diversity was detected in China’s coastal wetlands and included Candidatus Scalindua, Kuenenia, Brocadia and Jettenia. Potential anammox rates were more closely associated with the abundance of anammox bacteria than to their diversity. Among all measured environmental variables, temperature was a key environmental factor, causing a latitudinal distribution of the anammox bacterial community composition, biodiversity and activity along the coastal wetlands of China. Based on nitrogen isotope tracing experiments, anammox was estimated to account for approximately 3.8–10.7% of the total reactive nitrogen removal in the study area. Combined with denitrification, anammox can remove 20.7% of the total external terrigenous inorganic nitrogen annually transported into China’s coastal wetland ecosystems.
Chinese bayberry (Myrica rubra Sieb. et Zucc.) quality determination based on an electronic nose and non-linear dynamic model
Authors: Li Jian , Zheng Feixiang , Jiang Jinghao , Lin Han , Hui Guohua
Published: October 2015

A bayberry quality predicting model (R = 0.98644) is developed via linear fitting regression of SR SNR-Max values. The validation experiment results demonstrate that the developed model presents a predicting accuracy of 95% for Chinese bayberry quality.
An integrated sensing and wireless communications platform for sensing sodium in sweat
Authors: Matzeu G. , O'Quigley C. , McNamara E. , Zuliani C. , Fay C. , Glennon T. , Diamond D.
Published: October 2015

A wearable device for real-time monitoring of sodium levels in sweat is presented.
A two-photon fluorescent probe for lysosomal zinc ions
Authors: Lee Hyo-Jun , Cho Chang-Woo , Seo Hyewon , Singha Subhankar , Jun Yong Woong , Lee Kyung-Ha , Jung Youngseob , Kim Kyong-Tai , Park Seongjun , Bae Sung Chul , Ahn Kyo Han
Published: October 2015

A fluorescent probe that selectively detects Zn(ii) ions in lysosomes has been developed and applied to the two-photon imaging of Zn(ii) ions in cells and tissues.
Nitrogen-doped hollow carbon spheres with large mesoporous shells engineered from diblock copolymer micelles
Authors: Tang Jing , Liu Jian , Salunkhe Rahul R. , Wang Tao , Yamauchi Yusuke
Published: October 2015

Nitrogen-doped hollow carbon spheres with engineered large tunable mesoporous (∼20 nm) shells are successfully synthesized for the first time by using a dual-template method.