bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improvement of the accuracy of continuous hematocrit measurement under various blood flow conditions
Authors: Kim Myounggon , Yang Sung
Published: April 2014

We propose an accurate method for continuous hematocrit (HCT) measurement of flowing blood under varying plasma conditions of electrical conductivity, osmolality, and flow rate. Two parameters, namely the hematocrit estimation parameter (HEP) and normalized difference, are proposed to reduce the HCT measurement error. HEP was demonstrated in a previous work. The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that the two parameters were strongly correlated with the reference HCT measured by microcentrifugation. The measurement error was less than 9% despite significant simultaneous variations in the plasma properties and shear rate.
Rectification properties of n-type nanocrystalline diamond heterojunctions to p-type silicon carbide at high temperatures
Authors: Goto Masaki , Amano Ryo , Shimoda Naotaka , Kato Yoshimine , Teii Kungen
Published: April 2014

Highly rectifying heterojunctions of n-type nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) films to p-type 4H-SiC substrates are fabricated to develop p-n junction diodes operable at high temperatures. In reverse bias condition, a potential barrier for holes at the interface prevents the injection of reverse leakage current from the NCD into the SiC and achieves the high rectification ratios of the order of 107 at room temperature and 104 even at 570 K. The mechanism of the forward current injection is described with the upward shift of the defect energy levels in the NCD to the conduction band of the SiC by forward biasing. The forward current shows different behavior from typical SiC Schottky diodes at high temperatures.
Photooxidation and photoaquation of iron hexacyanide in aqueous solution: A picosecond X-ray absorption study
Authors: Reinhard M. , Penfold T. J. , Lima F. A. , Rittmann J. , Rittmann-Frank M. H. , Abela R. , Tavernelli I. , Rothlisberger U. , Milne C. J. , Chergui M.
Published: April 2014

We present a picosecond Fe K-edge absorption study of photoexcited ferrous and ferric hexacyanide in water under 355 and 266 nm excitation. Following 355 nm excitation, the transient spectra for the ferrous and ferric complexes exhibit a red shift of the edge reflecting an increased electron density at the Fe atom. For the former, an enhanced pre-edge transition is also observed. These observations are attributed to the aquated [Fe(CN)5OH2]3− species, based on quantum chemical calculations which also provide structural parameters. Upon 266 nm excitation of the ferric complex, a transient reminiscent of the aquated species is observed (appearance of a pre-edge feature and red shift of the edge) but it is different from that obtained under 355 nm excitation. This points to a new reaction channel occurring through an intermediate state lying between these two excitation energies. Finally, 266 nm excitation of the ferrous species is dominated by the photooxidation channel with formation of the ferric complex as main photoproduct. However, we observe an additional minor photoproduct, which is identical to the 266 nm generated photoproduct of the ferric species, suggesting that under our experimental conditions, the pump pulse photooxidises the ferrous complex and re-excites the primary ferric photoproduct.
C60 three-dimensional polymerization by impulse heating effect
Authors: Popov M. , Gayazov R. , Khadzhiyskiy F. , Medvedev V. , Krivtsun V. , Kirichenko A. , Kulnitskiy B. , Perezhogin I. , Tyukalova E. , Blank V.
Published: April 2014

Impulse laser heating combined with a quick sample cooling in a diamond anvil cell provides unique conditions for the 3D polymerization reaction of C60. The reaction proceeds under the 8–10 GPa pressure and 2700 K temperature in the case of heating-cooling cycle time around 0.1 μs. Such a short heating time permits to increase the maximal temperature of the fullerite sample by 1700 K on conditions that C60 are still surviving. As a result, the pressure of the phase transition to 3D polymerized fullerite phase with 519 GPa bulk modulus was essentially decreased. Furthermore, the transition has proceeded at quasi-hydrostatic conditions without activation by applying a plastic deformation.
Mimicking the mechanical properties of the cell cortex by the self-assembly of an actin cortex in vesicles
Authors: Luo Tianzhi , Srivastava Vasudha , Ren Yixin , Robinson Douglas N.
Published: April 2014

The composite of the actin cytoskeleton and plasma membrane plays important roles in many biological events. Here, we employed the emulsion method to synthesize artificial cells with biomimetic actin cortex in vesicles and characterized their mechanical properties. We demonstrated that the emulsion method provides the flexibility to adjust the lipid composition and protein concentrations in artificial cells to achieve the desired size distribution, internal microstructure, and mechanical properties. Moreover, comparison of the cortical elasticity measured for reconstituted artificial cells to that of real cells, including those manipulated using genetic depletion and pharmacological inhibition, strongly supports that actin cytoskeletal proteins are dominant over lipid molecules in cortical mechanics. Our study indicates that the assembly of biological systems in artificial cells with purified cellular components provides a powerful way to answer biological questions.
Conditions for the coexistence of liquid-like and solid-like behaviors in viscoelastic liquids
Authors: Zubelewicz Aleksander
Published: April 2014

Viscoelastic liquids at small scales and in the presence of strong gradients are known to exhibit anomalous behaviors. Despite recent advances, our understanding of the phenomena is far from complete. For example, it is not clear what causes the molecules in molecular liquids to act in a collective manner and why similar dynamic heterogeneity takes place in gels and polymers? Furthermore, we would like to know why particles in suspensions experience clustering? The “ordered” liquid is a liquid, and yet it exhibits some properties of a viscoelastic solid-like material. We conjecture that the liquid-like and solid-like behaviors can coexist but only in the presence of the dynamics heterogeneity. In liquids, the heterogeneity is an internal constraint. In amorphous viscoelastic solids, it destroys the solid-like microstructural organization. Thus, the two behaviors may converge and become indistinguishable. The transitional behavior occurs in the absence of an abrupt configurational change. For this reason, these transitions cannot be viewed as the first order phase transformations.
Nonradiative recombination mechanisms in InGaN/GaN-based light-emitting diodes investigated by temperature-dependent measurements
Authors: Han Dong-Pyo , Zheng Dong-Guang , Oh Chan-Hyoung , Kim Hyunsung , Shim Jong-In , Shin Dong-Soo , Kim Kyu-Sang
Published: April 2014

Two kinds of InGaN-based light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are investigated to understand the nonradiative carrier recombination processes. Various temperature-dependent measurements such as external quantum efficiency, current-voltage, and electroluminescence spectra are utilized from 50 to 300 K. Based on these experimental results, we analyze the dominant nonradiative recombination mechanism for each LED device. We also analyze the effect of the dominant nonradiative recombination mechanism on the efficiency droop. On the basis of correlation between the efficiency droop and nonradiative recombination mechanisms, we discuss an approach to reducing the efficiency droop for each LED device.
Multiplexed absorption tomography with calibration-free wavelength modulation spectroscopy
Authors: Cai Weiwei , Kaminski Clemens F.
Published: April 2014

We propose a multiplexed absorption tomography technique, which uses calibration-free wavelength modulation spectroscopy with tunable semiconductor lasers for the simultaneous imaging of temperature and species concentration in harsh combustion environments. Compared with the commonly used direct absorption spectroscopy (DAS) counterpart, the present variant enjoys better signal-to-noise ratios and requires no baseline fitting, a particularly desirable feature for high-pressure applications, where adjacent absorption features overlap and interfere severely. We present proof-of-concept numerical demonstrations of the technique using realistic phantom models of harsh combustion environments and prove that the proposed techniques outperform currently available tomography techniques based on DAS.
Enhanced photoelectrochemical properties of TiO2 by codoping with tungsten and silver
Authors: Khan Matiullah , Jiang Peng , Li Jing , Cao Wenbin
Published: April 2014

The Tungsten (W) and Silver (Ag) codoped TiO2 samples were successfully synthesized by hydrothermal method without any post calcination. To understand the correlation between electronic structure and photocatalytic properties, the synthesized samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller specific surface area, transmission electron microscopy, ultra-violet–visible absorption spectra, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and the photocatalytic properties were evaluated under visible light irradiations. Codoping could not induce any changes in the phase and all the synthesized samples displayed pure anatase phase with spherical morphology. Visible light absorptions of the codoped samples were dramatically improved compared to the corresponding mono-doped samples. XPS analysis indicated that the dopant atoms successfully entered the TiO2 network. Results from the visible light photodegradation experiments showed that tungsten-silver codoped TiO2 possessed strong ability in photo-degrading methylene blue compared to tungsten doped TiO2 and silver doped TiO2, which was attributed to the smaller particle size, higher specific surface area, enhanced visible light absorption, and improved separation of photogenerated carriers.
Polarization degenerate micropillars fabricated by designing elliptical oxide apertures
Authors: Bakker Morten P. , Barve Ajit V. , Zhan Alan , Coldren Larry A. , van Exter Martin P. , Bouwmeester Dirk
Published: April 2014

A method for fabrication of polarization degenerate oxide apertured micropillar cavities is demonstrated. Micropillars are etched such that the size and shape of the oxide front is controlled. The polarization splitting in the circular micropillar cavities due to the native and strain induced birefringence can be compensated by elongating the oxide front in the [110] direction, thereby reducing stress in this direction. By using this technique, we fabricate a polarization degenerate cavity with a quality factor of 1.7 × 104 and a mode volume of 2.7 μm3, enabling a calculated maximum Purcell factor of 11.
Anomalous output characteristic shift for the n-type lateral diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor with floating P-top layer
Authors: Liu Siyang , Zhang Chunwei , Sun Weifeng , Su Wei , Wang Shaorong , Ma Shulang , Huang Yu
Published: April 2014

Anomalous output characteristic shift of the n-type lateral diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor with floating P-top layer is investigated. It shows that the linear drain current has obvious decrease when the output characteristic of fresh device is measured for two consecutive times. The charge pumping experiments demonstrate that the decrease is not from hot-carrier degradation. The reduction of cross section area for the current flowing, which results from the squeezing of the depletion region surrounding the P-top layer, is responsible for the shift. Consequently, the current capability of this special device should be evaluated by the second measured output characteristic.
Spatial density profile of electrons near the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterointerface revealed by time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy
Authors: Yamada Yasuhiro , Sato Hiroki K. , Hikita Yasuyuki , Hwang Harold Y. , Kanemitsu Yoshihiko
Published: April 2014

The depth profile of the electron density near the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterointerface has been studied by means of time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. A broad blue PL band is observed at 2.9 eV, originating from the two-carrier radiative recombination of interface-induced electrons and photoexcited holes. The PL lifetime of LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterointerface is dominated by the three-carrier Auger recombination of electrons and holes and is sensitive to electron density. We tuned the probing depth by changing the excitation photon energy and evaluated the carrier-density profile using the relation between the carrier density and the PL lifetime. Our non-contact probe method based on PL spectroscopy indicates that the carriers are confined within several nanometers in depth near the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures.
Host-derived, pore-forming toxin–like protein and trefoil factor complex protects the host against microbial infection
Authors: Xiang Yang , Yan Chao , Guo Xiaolong , Zhou Kaifeng , Li Sheng’an , Gao Qian , Wang Xuan , Zhao Feng , Liu Jie , Lee Wen-Hui , Zhang Yun
Published: April 2014

Significance

Pore-forming toxins are a common type of bacterial toxins and are important bacterial virulence factors. Aerolysin is produced by
Aeromonas
species. It is interesting that aerolysin-like proteins are also found in vertebrates. However, the physiological roles of these proteins are still unknown. Previously, a βγ-crystallin fused aerolysin-like protein (α-subunit) and trefoil factor (β-subunit) complex, hence named βγ-CAT, was identified in frogs. Here, we found that this complex is inducible by bacterial challenge. The complex was able to protect the host from microbial infection. It oligomerized along the endo-lysosome pathway to trigger lysosome destabilization and led to interleukin-1β maturation and secretion via inflammasome activation. Our present work provides functional evidence for uncovering the physiological roles of vertebrate-derived bacterial pore-forming toxin–like proteins.
Cortical oscillations arise from contextual interactions that regulate sparse coding
Authors: Jadi Monika P. , Sejnowski Terrence J.
Published: April 2014

Significance

The nature and functions of oscillations in cerebral cortex are complex and controversial, and the mechanisms that regulate them are poorly understood. We propose a regulatory mechanism that links the dynamical state of the cortex to interactions between sensory and behavioral context during information processing. We explain how a prominent set of otherwise paradoxical empirical results can be understood with a single free parameter, the ratio of monosynaptic to disynaptic input to a subpopulation of inhibitory cells. In particular, we show that the power and frequency of gamma-range oscillations can be used to monitor the state of a cortical network. Our proposed model makes specific predictions that have broad implications for the basic understanding of information coding in the cortex.
Flexibility and change in distributed cognitive systems
Authors: Kronenfeld David B.
Published: April 2014

An overview of one anthropological view of culture, including how it works and what it buys us, takes culture as a set of collective — differentially distributed — cognitive structures. Pragmatics is distinguished from semantics, and shown to seamlessly extend to non-linguistic knowledge. “Culture” is (flexibly and variably applied) shared differentially distributed pragmatic knowledge. Next come the role culture plays in regard to society and social living, and the role social groups play in culture. Our social universe is shown to be made up of a multiplicity of overlapping social groups. Prototype-extension is offered as the basis of the application of shared concepts to the experienced and imagined world. Types of cultural knowledge systems include: cultural modes of thought, cultural conceptual systems, and cultural models of action. The paper concludes with the approach’s practical implications for analysis, including two concrete examples: Old and Middle English watercourses, and alternative Fanti kinship terminological systems.
Positions of Parties and Political Cleavages between Parties in Texts
Authors: Kleinnijenhuis Jan , van Atteveldt Wouter
Published: April 2014

If humans are political animals, and language is their most versatile communication tool, then the old question about what should be extracted from political texts to understand politics deserves on-going attention. Recent advances in the information and communication sciences have resulted in new means to process political texts, especially advances in the domains of knowledge representation, natural language parsing, automated content analysis and semantic web technologies. However, applying these innovations to uncover what matters in politics is far from trivial. The aim of this chapter is to give an introduction to an analysis of political texts aimed at inferring their political meaning.
The Potential of Narrative Strategies in the Discursive Construction of Hegemonic Positions and Social Change
Authors: Montesano Montessori Nicolina
Published: April 2014

This chapter illustrates ways in which narrative strategies contribute to the construction of hegemonic processes of social change. Narratives have transformational power because they shape new imaginaries about social life, help to legitimate them and create consensus. It is argued that effective hegemony constitutes power over social reality and will be generally accepted as a ‘matter of course’. This chapter is based on a study of the struggle for hegemony between former Mexican President Gortari and the Zapatista movement and integrates a Gramscian view on hegemony with discourse theory (Laclau and Mouffe 1985). The study contributes to the development of discourse theory on hegemony, using the concept of three levels of abstraction, or ‘orders of discourse’, found in Critical Discourse Analysis (Fairclough, 2001, 2003); and a discourse-historical approach (Reisigl and Wodak 2001). A comparison is made with Eleveld’s study of storylines (this volume) and Filardo Llamas’ text worlds, leading to the presentation of criteria for qualitative research and some ideas for further research.
Systematic Stylistic Analysis
Authors: van Leeuwen Maarten
Published: April 2014

Attention to style in political discourse with a focus not on what political actors say, but on how they say it, can be found within the research traditions of ‘rhetorical criticism’ (RC) or ‘rhetorical stylistics’ (RS) on the one hand, and ‘critical discourse analysis’ (CDA) on the other hand. The tradition of CDA has been criticized for being ‘ad hoc’: analyses often fail to clarify why on the linguistic level some linguistic means are analysed, and others not. Within both frameworks of RC/RS and CDA, it has been suggested to use a checklist as a methodological tool in stylistic analysis but this has barely been put into practice. In this chapter I discuss what the use of a checklist can yield for stylistic analysis of political discourse and illustrate this with a detailed stylistic analysis of a speech held by the Dutch controversial politician, Geert Wilders.
Becker-Gottlieb transfer for Hochschild cohomology
Authors: Xu Fei
Published: April 2014

Let

G
G

be a finite group. Over any finite

G
G

-poset

P

\mathcal {P}

we may define a transporter category

G
∝

P

G\propto \mathcal {P}

as the corresponding Grothendieck construction. There exists a Becker-Gottlieb transfer from the ordinary cohomology of

G
∝

P

G\propto \mathcal {P}

to that of

G
G

. We shall construct it using module-theoretic methods and then extend it to a transfer from the Hochschild cohomology of

k
(
G
∝

P

)

k(G\propto \mathcal {P})

to that of

k
G

kG

, where

k
k

is a base field.
Extra structure and the universal construction for the Witten-Reshetikhin-Turaev TQFT
Authors: Gilmer Patrick , Wang Xuanye
Published: April 2014

A TQFT is a functor from a cobordism category to the category of vector spaces satisfying certain properties. An important property is that the vector spaces should be finite dimensional. For the WRT TQFT, the relevant

2
+
1

2+1

-cobordism category is built from manifolds which are equipped with an extra structure such as a

p
1

p_1

-structure or an extended manifold structure. We perform the universal construction of Blanchet, Habegger, Masbaum, and Vogel (1992) on a cobordism category without this extra structure and show that the resulting quantization functor assigns an infinite dimensional vector space to the torus.
On a theorem of Peter Scott
Authors: Patel Priyam
Published: April 2014

We quantify Peter Scott’s theorem that surface groups are locally extended residually finite (LERF) in terms of geometric data. In the process, we will quantify another result by Scott that any closed geodesic in a surface lifts to an embedded loop in a finite cover.
Cytoplasmic carboxypeptidase 5 regulates tubulin glutamylation and zebrafish cilia formation and function
Authors: Pathak Narendra , Austin-Tse Christina A. , Liu Yan , Vasilyev Aleksandr , Drummond Iain A.
Published: April 2014

Glutamylation is a functionally important tubulin posttranslational modification enriched on stable microtubules of neuronal axons, mitotic spindles, centrioles, and cilia. In vertebrates, balanced activities of tubulin glutamyl ligase and cytoplasmic carboxypeptidase deglutamylase enzymes maintain organelle- and cell type–specific tubulin glutamylation patterns. Tubulin glutamylation in cilia is regulated via restricted subcellular localization or expression of tubulin glutamyl ligases (ttlls) and nonenzymatic proteins, including the zebrafish TPR repeat protein Fleer/Ift70. Here we analyze the expression patterns of ccp deglutamylase genes during zebrafish development and the effects of ccp gene knockdown on cilia formation, morphology, and tubulin glutamylation. The deglutamylases ccp2, ccp5, and ccp6 are expressed in ciliated cells, whereas ccp1 expression is restricted to the nervous system. Only ccp5 knockdown increases cilia tubulin glutamylation, induces ciliopathy phenotypes, including axis curvature, hydrocephalus, and pronephric cysts, and disrupts multicilia motility, suggesting that Ccp5 is the principal tubulin deglutamylase that maintains functional levels of cilia tubulin glutamylation. The ability of ccp5 knockdown to restore cilia tubulin glutamylation in fleer/ift70 mutants and rescue pronephric multicilia formation in both fleer- and ift88-deficient zebrafish indicates that tubulin glutamylation is a key driver of ciliogenesis.
Cooperative endocytosis of the endosomal SNARE protein syntaxin-8 and the potassium channel TASK-1
Authors: Renigunta Vijay , Fischer Thomas , Zuzarte Marylou , Kling Stefan , Zou Xinle , Siebert Kai , Limberg Maren M. , Rinné Susanne , Decher Niels , Schlichthörl Günter , Daut Jürgen
Published: April 2014

The endosomal SNARE protein syntaxin-8 interacts with the acid-sensitive potassium channel TASK-1. The functional relevance of this interaction was studied by heterologous expression of these proteins (and mutants thereof) in Xenopus oocytes and in mammalian cell lines. Coexpression of syntaxin-8 caused a fourfold reduction in TASK-1 current, a corresponding reduction in the expression of TASK-1 at the cell surface, and a marked increase in the rate of endocytosis of the channel. TASK-1 and syntaxin-8 colocalized in the early endosomal compartment, as indicated by the endosomal markers 2xFYVE and rab5. The stimulatory effect of the SNARE protein on the endocytosis of the channel was abolished when both an endocytosis signal in TASK-1 and an endocytosis signal in syntaxin-8 were mutated. A syntaxin-8 mutant that cannot assemble with other SNARE proteins had virtually the same effect as wild-type syntaxin-8. Total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy showed formation and endocytosis of vesicles containing fluorescence-tagged clathrin, TASK-1, and/or syntaxin-8. Our results suggest that the unassembled form of syntaxin-8 and the potassium channel TASK-1 are internalized via clathrin-mediated endocytosis in a cooperative manner. This implies that syntaxin-8 regulates the endocytosis of TASK-1. Our study supports the idea that endosomal SNARE proteins can have functions unrelated to membrane fusion.
α-Tubulin K40 acetylation is required for contact inhibition of proliferation and cell–substrate adhesion
Authors: Aguilar Andrea , Becker Lars , Tedeschi Thomas , Heller Stefan , Iomini Carlo , Nachury Maxence V.
Published: April 2014

Acetylation of α-tubulin on lysine 40 marks long-lived microtubules in structures such as axons and cilia, and yet the physiological role of α-tubulin K40 acetylation is elusive. Although genetic ablation of the α-tubulin K40 acetyltransferase αTat1 in mice did not lead to detectable phenotypes in the developing animals, contact inhibition of proliferation and cell–substrate adhesion were significantly compromised in cultured αTat1−/−fibroblasts. First, αTat1−/−fibroblasts kept proliferating beyond the confluent monolayer stage. Congruently, αTat1−/−cells failed to activate Hippo signaling in response to increased cell density, and the microtubule association of the Hippo regulator Merlin was disrupted. Second, αTat1−/−cells contained very few focal adhesions, and their ability to adhere to growth surfaces was greatly impaired. Whereas the catalytic activity of αTAT1 was dispensable for monolayer formation, it was necessary for cell adhesion and restrained cell proliferation and activation of the Hippo pathway at elevated cell density. Because α-tubulin K40 acetylation is largely eliminated by deletion of αTAT1, we propose that acetylated microtubules regulate contact inhibition of proliferation through the Hippo pathway.
The adaptor protein GULP promotes Jedi-1–mediated phagocytosis through a clathrin-dependent mechanism
Authors: Sullivan Chelsea S. , Scheib Jami L. , Ma Zhong , Dang Rajan P. , Schafer Johanna M. , Hickman Francis E. , Brodsky Frances M. , Ravichandran Kodi S. , Carter Bruce D.
Published: April 2014

During the development of the peripheral nervous system, the large number of apoptotic neurons generated are phagocytosed by glial precursor cells. This clearance is mediated, in part, through the mammalian engulfment receptor Jedi-1. However, the mechanisms by which Jedi-1 mediates phagocytosis are poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that Jedi-1 associates with GULP, the mammalian homologue of CED-6, an adaptor protein required for phagocytosis mediated by the nematode engulfment receptor CED-1. Silencing GULP or mutating the NPXY motif in Jedi-1, which is required for GULP binding, prevents Jedi-1–mediated phagocytosis. How GULP promotes engulfment is not known. Of interest, we find that Jedi-1–induced phagocytosis requires GULP binding to clathrin heavy chain (CHC). During engulfment, CHC is tyrosine phosphorylated, which is required for Jedi-mediated engulfment. Both phosphoclathrin and actin accumulate around engulfed microspheres. Furthermore, knockdown of CHC in HeLa cells prevents Jedi-1–mediated engulfment of microspheres, and knockdown in glial precursors prevents the engulfment of apoptotic neurons. Taken together, these results reveal that Jedi-1 signals through recruitment of GULP, which promotes phagocytosis through a noncanonical phosphoclathrin-dependent mechanism.
An 8-year-old Biological Female Who Identifies Herself as a Boy: Perspectives in Primary Care and from a Parent
Authors: Kern Leah , Edmonds Penn , Perrin Ellen C. , Stein Martin T.
Published: April 2014

CASE: An 8-year 8-month-old biological female who self-identifies as a boy, Ricardo is brought by his mother for a well-child check to his new pediatrician. Ricardo and his mother report that he is doing well, but have concerns about the upcoming changes associated with puberty. Ricardo states that he is particularly afraid of developing breasts. His mother asks about obtaining a referral to a specialist who can provide “hormone therapy” to delay puberty.

Ricardo was adopted from Costa Rica at the age of 2 as a healthy girl named “Angela.” From the age of 3, he displayed clear preference for male gender–associated clothes, toys, and games. At age 5, his mother sought care for hyperactivity and sleep problems. He was diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and sleep onset disorder at age 6, and his symptoms have been well controlled with Adderall and melatonin.

Ricardo lives with his parents who are accepting and supportive of his gender preference. He sees a therapist who has experience with gender dysphoria. For the past years, he has attended school as male, with the confidential support of administrators at his elementary school.
Gordonibacter urolithinfaciens sp. nov., a urolithin-producing bacterium isolated from the human gut
Authors: Selma María V. , Tomás-Barberán Francisco A. , Beltrán David , García-Villalba Rocio , Espín Juan C.
Published: April 2014

Urolithins are dibenzopyranone metabolites that exert anti-inflammatory activity in vivo and are produced by the gut microbiota from the dietary polyphenols ellagic acid (EA) and ellagitannins. However, the bacteria involved in this process remain unknown. We report here a novel bacterium, strain CEBAS 1/15PT, capable of metabolizing EA to urolithins, that was isolated from healthy human faeces and characterized by determining phenotypic, biochemical and molecular methods. The strain was related to

Gordonibacter pamelaeae

7-10-1-bT, the type and only reported strain of the only species of the genus

Gordonibacter,
with about 97 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity; they were both obligately anaerobic, non-spore-forming, Gram-stain-positive, short-rods/coccobacilli and metabolized only small numbers of carbon sources. l-Fucose, d-fructose, turanose, d-galacturonic acid and α-ketobutyric acid were metabolized by strain CEBAS 1/15PT, while

G. pamelaeae

was negative for metabolism of these compounds. The whole-cell fatty acids consisted predominantly of saturated fatty acids (70 %); strain CEBAS 1/15PT differed significantly from

G. pamelaeae

in the major fatty acid, which was C18 : 1ω9c, while anteiso-C15 : 0 was the major component for

G. pamelaeae

. The presence of a number of different fatty acid peaks, especially C19 : 0 cyclo and C18 : 1ω6c, was also indicative of distinct species. Six glycolipids (GL1–6) were recognized, while, in

G. pamelaeae,
only four glycolipids were described. On the basis of these data, the novel species Gordonibacter urolithinfaciens sp. nov. is described, with strain CEBAS 1/15PT ( = DSM 27213T = CCUG 64261T) as the type strain.
Janibacter indicus sp. nov., isolated from hydrothermal sediment of the Indian Ocean
Authors: Zhang Gaiyun , Ren Huihui , Wang Shuang , Chen Xiu , Yang Yanliu , Zhang Yubian , Jiang Yi
Published: April 2014

A Gram-staining-positive, aerobic and non-motile strain, 0704P10-1T, was isolated from hydrothermal sediment of the Indian Ocean. Phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data for the organism supported that it belonged to the genus

Janibacter

. Strain 0704P10-1T showed 97.2–98.7 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to the type strains of recognized members of the genus

Janibacter

. It contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid in the cell wall. MK-8(H4) was the only menaquinone detected. The major fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0, C17 : 1ω8c and 10-methyl C17 : 0. Meanwhile, the results of DNA–DNA hybridization studies and other physiological and biochemical tests allowed the genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of strain 0704P10-1T from closely related species. Thus, strain 0704P10-1T represents a novel species of the genus

Janibacter

, for which the name Janibacter indicus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 0704P10-1T ( = LMG 27493T = CGMCC 1.12511T).
Pseudomonas hussainii sp. nov., isolated from droppings of a seashore bird, and emended descriptions of Pseudomonas pohangensis, Pseudomonas benzenivorans and Pseudomonas segetis
Authors: Hameed Asif , Shahina Mariyam , Lin Shih-Yao , Liu You-Cheng , Young Chiu-Chung
Published: April 2014

Two Gram-staining-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacterial strains that are motile by a monopolar flagellum, designated CC-AMH-11T and CC-AMHZ-5, were isolated from droppings of a seashore bird off the coast of Hualien, Taiwan. The strains showed 99.7 % mutual pairwise 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, while exhibiting <96.2 % sequence similarity to strains of other species of the genus

Pseudomonas

(95.7–95.9 % similarity with type species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa LMG 1242T), and formed a distinct co-phyletic lineage in the phylogenetic trees. The common major fatty acids (>5 % of the total) were C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c (summed feature 8), C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c (summed feature 3), C16 : 0 and C12 : 0. Phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylserine, an unidentified lipid and an unidentified phospholipid were detected as common polar lipids. The DNA G+C contents of strains CC-AMH-11T and CC-AMHZ-5 were 61.1 and 61.6 mol%, respectively. The common major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone 9 (Q-9), and the predominant polyamine was putrescine. The DNA–DNA hybridization obtained between the two strains was 79.0 % (reciprocal value 89.4 % using CC-AMHZ-5 DNA as the probe). The very high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity and DNA–DNA relatedness and the poorly distinguishable phenotypic features witnessed between CC-AMH-11T and CC-AMHZ-5 suggested unambiguously that they are two distinct strains of a single genomic species. However, the strains also showed several genotypic and phenotypic characteristics that distinguished them from other closely related species of

Pseudomonas

. Thus, the strains are proposed to represent a novel species of

Pseudomonas

, for which the name Pseudomonas hussainii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CC-AMH-11T ( = JCM 19513T = BCRC 80696T); a second strain of the same species is CC-AMHZ-5 ( = JCM 19512 = BCRC 80697). In addition, emended descriptions of the species

Pseudomonas pohangensis

,

Pseudomonas benzenivorans

and

Pseudomonas segetis

are also proposed.
Loktanella maritima sp. nov. isolated from shallow marine sediments
Authors: Tanaka Naoto , Romanenko Lyudmila A. , Kurilenko Valeriya V. , Svetashev Vassilii I. , Kalinovskaya Natalia I. , Mikhailov Valery V.
Published: April 2014

An aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, non-motile bacterium, KMM 9530T, was isolated from a sediment sample collected from the Sea of Japan seashore. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis positioned novel strain KMM 9530Tin the genusLoktanellaas a separate line adjacent toLoktanella sediminilitorisKCTC 32383T,Loktanella tamlensisJCM 14020TandLoktanella maricolaJCM 14564Twith 98.5–98.2 % sequence similarity. Strain KMM 9530Twas characterized by its weak hydrolytic capacity and inability to assimilate most organic substrates. The major isoprenoid quinone was Q-10, polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, an unknown phospholipid, an unknown aminolipid and unknown lipids, and the major fatty acid was C18 : 1ω7c. On the basis of phylogenetic analysis, DNA–DNA hybridization and phenotypic characterization, it can be concluded that the novel strain KMM 9530Trepresents a novel species in the genusLoktanella, for which the nameLoktanella maritimasp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the species is KMM 9530T( = NRIC 0919T = JCM 19807T).
Pseudomonas helmanticensis sp. nov., isolated from forest soil
Authors: Ramírez-Bahena Martha-Helena , Cuesta Maria José , Flores-Félix José David , Mulas Rebeca , Rivas Raúl , Castro-Pinto Joao , Brañas Javier , Mulas Daniel , González-Andrés Fernando , Velázquez Encarna , Peix Álvaro
Published: April 2014

A bacterial strain, OHA11T, was isolated during the course of a study of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria occurring in a forest soil from Salamanca, Spain. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain OHA11Tshared 99.1 % similarity with respect toPseudomonas baeticaa390T, and 98.9 % similarity with the type strains ofPseudomonas jessenii,Pseudomonas moorei,Pseudomonas umsongensis,Pseudomonas mohniiandPseudomonas koreensis. The analysis of housekeeping genesrpoB,rpoDandgyrBconfirmed its phylogenetic affiliation to the genusPseudomonasand showed similarities lower than 95 % in almost all cases with respect to the above species. Cells possessed two polar flagella. The respiratory quinone was Q9. The major fatty acids were C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω7cand summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c/iso-C15 : 02-OH). The strain was oxidase-, catalase- and urease-positive, positive for arginine dihydrolase but negative for nitrate reduction, β-galactosidase production and aesculin hydrolysis. It was able to grow at 31 °C and at pH 11. The DNA G+C content was 58.1 mol%. DNA–DNA hybridization results showed values lower than 49 % relatedness with respect to the type strains of the seven closest related species. Therefore, the combined genotypic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data support the classification of strain OHA11Tto a novel species of the genusPseudomonas, for which the namePseudomonas helmanticensissp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is OHA11T( = LMG 28168T = CECT 8548T).
Weight Loss in Response to Food Deprivation Predicts The Extent of Diet Induced Obesity in C57BL/6J Mice
Authors: Peloqiun Matthew J. , Bridges Dave
Published: April 2014

Inbred C57BL/6J mice have been used to study diet-induced obesity and the detrimental physiological effects associated with it. Little is understood about predictive factors that predispose an animal to weight gain. To address this, mice were fed a high fat diet, control diet or normal chow diet. Several measurements including pre-diet serum hormone levels and pre-diet body weight were analyzed, but these had limited predictive value regarding weight gain. However, baseline measurements of weight loss in response to food deprivation showed a strong negative correlation with high fat diet-induced weight gain. These data suggest that fasting-induced weight loss in adolescent mice is a useful predictor of diet-induced weight gain.
MAPK signaling: A key element in plant defense response to insects
Authors: Hettenhausen Christian , Schuman Meredith C. , Wu Jianqiang
Published: April 2014

Insects have long been the most abundant herbivores, and plants have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to defend against their attack. In particular, plants can perceive specific patterns of tissue damage associated with insect herbivory. Some plant species can perceive certain elicitors in insect oral secretions (OS) that enter wounds during feeding, and rapidly activate a series of intertwined signaling pathways to orchestrate the biosynthesis of various defensive metabolites. Mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs), common to all eukaryotes, are involved in the orchestration of many cellular processes, including development and stress responses. In plants, at least two MAPKs, salicylic acid‐induced protein kinase (SIPK) and wound‐induced protein kinase (WIPK), are rapidly activated by wounding or insect OS; importantly, genetic studies using transgenic or mutant plants impaired in MAPK signaling indicated that MAPKs play critical roles in regulating the herbivory‐induced dynamics of phytohormones, such as jasmonic acid, ethylene and salicylic acid, and MAPKs are also required for transcriptional activation of herbivore defense‐related genes and accumulation of defensive metabolites. In this review, we summarize recent developments in understanding the functions of MAPKs in plant resistance to insect herbivores.
Genetic structure of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci populations in Colombia following a recent invasion
Authors: Díaz Fernando , Endersby Nancy M. , Hoffmann Ary A.
Published: April 2014

The whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) is one of the most important pests causing economic losses in a variety of cropping systems around the world. This species was recently found in a coastal region of Colombia and has now spread inland. To investigate this invasive process, the genetic structure of B. tabaci was examined in 8 sampling locations from 2 infested regions (coastal, inland) using 9 microsatellite markers and the mitochondrial COI gene. The mitochondrial analysis indicated that only the invasive species of the B. tabaci complex Middle East–Asia Minor 1 (MEAM 1 known previously as biotype B) was present. The microsatellite data pointed to genetic differences among the regions and no isolation by distance within regions. The coastal region in the Caribbean appears to have been the initial point of invasion, while the inland region in the Southwest showed genetic variation among populations most likely reflecting founder events and ongoing changes associated with climatic and topographical heterogeneity. These findings have implications for tracking and managing B. tabaci.
Accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging for preoperative staging of rectal cancer
Authors: Keane Celia , Young Mike
Published: April 2014

Background

New Zealand has one of the highest rates of rectal adenocarcinoma in the world. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is widely used for preoperative staging of rectal cancer. The accuracy of MRI varies, which may affect treatment decisions. The accuracy of MRI for pretreatment staging of rectal adenocarcinoma in a provincial centre in New Zealand has not been investigated. We aimed to assess the accuracy of MRI for pretreatment staging of early rectal adenocarcinoma in patients managed via the MidCentral Regional Cancer Service Multidisciplinary Team.

Methods

A retrospective review of the MidCentral Regional Cancer Service Multidisciplinary Team database identified 54 patients with rectal adenocarcinoma who proceeded to surgery without preoperative long course chemo‐radiotherapy. The pretreatment MRI stage was compared with the histological stage for each of these patients.

Results

MRI correctly staged the tumour invasion (T stage) in 24 patients (44% of cases), and lymph node stage in 38 patients (70% of cases). There was moderate agreement between MRI and histological staging for tumour invasion (κ = 0.46) and for lymph node involvement (κ = 0.41). Twenty‐one cases were under‐staged and five cases were over‐staged with regards to invasion of the muscularis propria. Fourteen cases were under‐staged, and two cases over‐staged in regards to lymph node involvement.

Conclusion

Although MRI provides important pretreatment staging information for rectal adenocarcinoma, in our experience MRI is not as accurate as in other reports. Multidisciplinary teams managing patients with rectal adenocarcinoma should be aware of the limitations of MRI for pretreatment staging.
Urological chronic pelvic pain syndrome symptom flares: characterisation of the full range of flares at two sites in the Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain (MAPP) Research Network
Authors: Sutcliffe Siobhan , Colditz Graham A. , Goodman Melody S. , Pakpahan Ratna , Vetter Joel , Ness Timothy J. , Andriole Gerald L. , Lai H. Henry
Published: April 2014

Objectives

To describe the full range of symptom exacerbations defined by people with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome as ‘flares’, and to investigate their associated healthcare utilization and bother at two sites of the Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain (MAPP) Epidemiology and Phenotyping study.

Subjects and Methods

Participants completed a flare survey that asked them: 1) whether they had ever had flares (‘symptoms that are much worse than usual’) that lasted <1 h, >1 h and <1 day, and >1 day; and 2) for each duration of flare, to report: their average length and frequency; their typical levels of urological and pelvic pain symptoms; and their levels of healthcare utilization and bother. We compared participants' responses to their non‐flare MAPP values and by duration of flare using generalized linear mixed models.

Results

Of 85 participants, 76 (89.4%) completed the flare survey, 72 (94.7%) of whom reported experiencing flares. Flares varied widely in terms of their duration (seconds to months), frequency (several times per day to once per year or less), and intensity and type of symptoms (e.g. pelvic pain vs urological symptoms). Flares of all durations were associated with greater pelvic pain, urological symptoms, disruption to participants' activities and bother, with increasing severity of each of these factors as the duration of flares increased. Days‐long flares were also associated with greater healthcare utilization. In addition to duration, symptoms (pelvic pain, in particular) were also significant determinants of flare‐related bother.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that flares are common and associated with greater symptoms, healthcare utilization, disruption and bother. Our findings also show the characteristics of flares most bothersome to patients (i.e. increased pelvic pain and duration), and thus of greatest importance to consider in future research on flare prevention and treatment.
Antigen-specific over-expression of human cartilage glycoprotein 39 on CD4+CD25+ forkhead box protein 3+ regulatory T cells in the generation of glucose-6-phosphate isomerase-induced arthritis
Authors: Tanaka Y , Matsumoto I , Inoue A , Umeda N , Takai C , Sumida T
Published: April 2014

Human cartilage gp-39 (HC gp-39) is a well-known autoantigen in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the exact localization, fluctuation and function of HC gp-39 in RA are unknown. Therefore, using a glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI)-induced model of arthritis, we investigated these aspects of HC gp-39 in arthritis. The rise in serum HC gp-39 levels was detected on the early phase of GPI-induced arthritis (day 7) and the HC gp-39 mRNA was increased significantly on splenic CD4+T cells on day7, but not on CD11b+cells. Moreover, to identify the characterization of HC gp-39+CD4+T cells, we assessed the analysis of T helper (Th) subsets. As a result, HC gp-39 was expressed dominantly in CD4+CD25+ forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3)+ refulatory T cells (Treg), but not in Th1, Th2 or Th17 cells. Furthermore, to investigate the effect of HC gp-39 to CD4+T cells, T cell proliferation assay and cytokine production from CD4+T cells using recombinant HC gp-39 was assessed. We found that GPI-specific T cell proliferation and interferon (IFN)-γ or interleukin (IL)-17 production were clearly suppressed by addition of recombinant HC gp-39. Antigen-specific over-expression of HC gp-39 in splenic CD4+CD25+FoxP3+Treg cells occurs in the induction phase of GPI-induced arthritis, and addition of recombinant HC gp-39 suppresses antigen-specific T-cell proliferation and cytokine production, suggesting that HC gp-39 in CD4+T cells might play a regulatory role in arthritis.
The frequency of multi‐queen colonies increases with altitude in a Nearctic ant
Authors: HEINZE JÜRGEN , RUEPPELL OLAV
Published: April 2014

1. Most ants in boreal and alpine habitats are facultatively polygynous, i.e. their colonies may contain one or several queens. It was investigated how the proportion of polygynous colonies varies along an elevation gradient from 60 to 2700 m in the Nearctic ant Temnothorax rugatulus (Emery).

2. Across all populations, the proportion of polygynous colonies was positively correlated with altitude. The correlation was considerably stronger when only populations in the narrow area of the Chiricahua Mts, Arizona, were compared.

3. The dominance of polygynous colonies at high altitudes may be associated with selection against solitary colony founding by young queens. In areas with short summers and long winters, hibernation mortality of solitarily founding queens may select for alternative reproductive tactics, such as polygyny and colony founding by budding.

4. Colony founding tactics need to be taken into account to more fully understand altitudinal and latitudinal patterns of ant faunas.