bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Holding “China Inc.” Together: The CCP and The Rise of China's Yangqi
Authors: Li Chen
Published: November 2016

This article investigates the role of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the rise of China's centrally controlled businesses (yangqi 央企), a batch of large business groups and financial institutions controlled by China's central party-state. It starts by comparing two competing policy approaches to defining the relations between the Party and state enterprise sector: the separation approach versus the adaptation approach. It then examines how the Party's “pro-big business” policies have shaped China's large enterprise reform since the 1960s and led to the formation of the yangqi. It also describes the key mechanisms used by the CCP to control the yangqi, including its personnel management system and disciplinary force. It further identifies and summarizes three key modes of the Party's intervention in the rise of the yangqi: institutional and policy entrepreneurship; leveraged personnel control; and residual mobilization capacity. The article concludes by discussing the future prospects for reforming the relations between the Party and big business in China.
Congenital coronary artery anomalies in adults: review of 111 cases from a single-centre experience
Authors: Çanga Yiğit , Güvenç Tolga S. , Karataş Mehmet B. , Çalık Ali N. , Onuk Tolga , Tanık Veysel O. , Güngör Barış , Bolca Osman
Published: November 2016

Background

Coronary artery anomalies are a heterogeneous group of congenital disorders presenting with a wide spectrum of symptoms, ranging from vague chest pain to sudden cardiac death. Despite available data, there is no consensus about the classification, nomenclature, and outcomes of coronary anomalies in the normally connected heart. In this study, we aimed to investigate clinical and angiographic characteristics of coronary arterial anomalies, as well as the frequency of atherosclerotic involvement in anomalous coronaries, diagnosed at a tertiary referral centre.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed coronary angiograms performed between 2011 and 2015 for the presence of a coronary anomaly. A total of 111 patients with a final diagnosis of coronary anomaly were included in the study group. We also recruited 110 age- and sex-matched patients who underwent coronary angiography because of symptomatic coronary artery disease as controls.

Results

Among 36,893 coronary angiograms, 111 (0.30%) major coronary anomalies were found. Compared with controls, the prevalence of significant atherosclerotic coronary disease was lower in patients with coronary anomalies and stable symptoms (p=0.02); however, the prevalence of significant coronary atherosclerosis was similar among patients admitted with unstable angina or myocardial infarction (p>0.05). Compared with controls, patients with an anomalous left anterior descending coronary artery had significantly less atherosclerotic involvement than those in whom the left anterior descending artery was not anomalous (p=0.005).

Conclusions

Although coronary artery anomalies are cited as a cause for myocardial ischaemia, atherosclerotic coronary artery disease is also frequent and may offer an alternative explanation to ischaemic symptoms. No predisposition to accelerated atherosclerosis was found, however, and atherosclerotic involvement was less frequent in some anomalous vessels.
Gamification in a Year 10 Latin Classroom: Ineffective ‘Edutainment’ or a Valid Pedagogical Tool?
Authors: Evans Emily
Published: November 2016

The aim of this study is to assess the pedagogical soundness and validity of introducing an overarching gamified lesson structure to a Year 10 Latin class. Gamification can be defined simply as the process by which elements of game design (for example competition and point scoring) are incorporated into alternative contexts, including education (Yee, 2013, p. 335). This study will seek to measure the effect of a gamified course structure on two elements: students' ability to fulfil lesson objectives, and their general attitude and motivation towards formative work. Very recently, examples of gamified learning environments have arisen in the Latin classroom (Gloyn, 2015 and Pike, 2015). Although this is a small pool of samples, the contemporary nature of the publications shines a light on the possibility that gamification is an emergent pedagogical tool. This has provided the impetus for the following study of the effectiveness of an overarching gamified structure on Year 10 students' attainment and attitude towards the study of Latin. If successful, this topic has promising transfer potential, as it could be used as the basis for differentiation, a praise system, or even as a sister project, which provides a structure for tracking and rewarding formative work outside the classroom.
portabam, portabas, portabat: Revolutionising Rote-learning by Utilising Sound and Movement to Introduce the Imperfect and Perfect Tenses
Authors: Mortimer Lottie
Published: November 2016

Latin teaching is stereotypically associated with rote-learning or as Mount (Amo,Amas, Amat … And All That,2006, p. 13)summarises the experience: ‘learning dreary declensions and conjugations’. When I tell people that I am training to teach Latin, the most common response that I get in reply is something along the lines of ‘Oh, I did Latin in school…I wasn't very good at it… but I can still remember –bo, -bis, -bit…’ and they continue to conjugate in front of me. For many people their only memory of Latin is a joyless experience of grammar by rote, inspiring such rhymes as the one above. Although currently pedagogically unfashionable, there must be some value in rote-learning if people can still recite grammatical paradigms decades later. Inspired by this, I wanted to explore rote-learning in the modern classroom by utilising current research on methods of teaching Latin in the primary sector. Primary Latin teaching often includes sound and movement to engage learners, whilst retaining a heavy emphasis on grammar. I wanted to explore whether such techniques would work at secondary level.
Closing the Gap: Understanding Two Year 10 Boys' Difficulties with Comprehension of Latin Stories in a Mixed Comprehensive School
Authors: Newland Rowan
Published: November 2016

Over the course of the year, it has become clear to me that when students are faced with the task of translating a passage into Latin, a significant amount freeze, panic occurs and they cannot make any sense of what they see in front of them. This is despite a lot of them having a secure grammatical knowledge of the language, which they can recognise perfectly well, when looking at sentences in isolation. This study will be looking at two particular students in a Year 10 class, both of whom score exceedingly low in assessed translations. My study will focus on why there is such a significant gap between their class attainment and their attainment in the translation aspect of assessments and whether this is an isolated phenomenon in their Latin class.
Living Latin: An Interview with Professor Terence Tunberg
Authors: Lloyd Mair
Published: November 2016

Terence Tunberg is a professor of Latin Language and Literature at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. He is a world-renowned proponent of Latin speaking as a means of helping with language learning and, for more advanced students, as a way to consolidate knowledge of the language. He is the founder and convener of the Lexington Latin Conventiculum, a week-long total immersion seminar in active Latin that takes place each July. Mair Lloyd, a PhD student at the Open University, first met Prof Tunberg when she attended the 2014 Conventiculum and that experience became central to her PhD researching the communicative approach to Latin teaching through a sociocultural perspective on Latin learning. This interview was recorded shortly after she and Prof Tunberg took part in a panel on Living Latin at the Classical Association conference in Edinburgh, in April 2016. A link to recordings of the four panel papers can be found at the end of this article. The fourth recording shows Prof Tunberg demonstrating some of the techniques he uses in his teaching at the Conventiculum.
Xerxes’ Deliberate Expedition
Authors: Knowlton B.C.
Published: November 2016

Book Seven of Herodotus’ Histories contains his account of the Persian expedition against Greece led by King Xerxes in 480 BCE. This campaign followed from the one undertaken ten years earlier on the orders of his father, King Darius. That Persian force had landed at Marathon and been defeated by the Athenians in a famous battle that has ever since been considered a victory of European freedom over Oriental despotism. Xerxes, determined to avenge his father's defeat, raised a force reported by Herodotus to be of as many as two and a half million fighting men, only to come up against the 300 Spartans at the Battle of Thermopylae. This narrative of these and the subsequent battles of Salamis and Plataea has been well known from its Herodotean source ever since; and the muscle-bound and blood-drenched deeds of the 300 have recently been made famous again by the movie of that name. The more recent sequel to 300 begins with a less accurate account of the Battle of Marathon; and, where the first movie ended with Plataea under way, Rise of an Empire ends with victory at Salamis all but won. Courses in Western or World History are likely to come upon the Persian Wars, and the recent popular movies might serve as an accessible and engaging introduction to these historical events and developments. But Herodotus’ account of how Xerxes came to his decision to invade Greece, with its consideration of politics, rhetoric, and religion, is, if not as thrilling, at least as telling. It tells the standard narrative of the conflict between East and West, and it tells of many ways in which the conflict was more complicated than that. It tells not just how the Greeks and Persians came to fight each other, but who the Greeks and Persians were that they might have fought, or not, but did.
A Celebration of Greek Language and Culture Education in the UK
Authors: Mitropoulos Athina , Holmes-Henderson Arlene
Published: November 2016

On Saturday 10 June 2016, the Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to the UK, Mr. Konstantinos Bikas, and the Classics in Communities project hosted a conference celebrating the teaching of Greek language and culture in the UK at the Hellenic Centre in London. The conference had multiple aims: to bring together a variety of teachers, committees and associations to discuss the state of Greek language and culture education in the UK; to anticipate and confront the challenges; and to collaborate to find solutions and action plans for its survival and growth.
Erratum: Canonical Wnt signalling regulates nuclear export of Setdb1 during skeletal muscle terminal differentiation
Authors: Beyer Sophie , Pontis Julien , Schirwis Elija , Battisti Valentine , Rudolf Anja , Le Grand Fabien , Ait-Si-Ali Slimane
Published: November 2016

Correction to: Cell Discovery (2016) 2, 16037; doi:10.1038/celldisc.2016.37; Published 18 October 2016 In the initial published version of this article, an error was made in Figure 6c, where the titles of x axis and y axis were left out. The corrected Figure 6c is now attached in this corrigendum. All figures and text description other than this remain the same as initially published.
A time transect of exomes from a Native American population before and after European contact
Authors: Lindo John , Huerta-Sánchez Emilia , Nakagome Shigeki , Rasmussen Morten , Petzelt Barbara , Mitchell Joycelynn , Cybulski Jerome S. , Willerslev Eske , DeGiorgio Michael , Malhi Ripan S.
Published: November 2016

A major factor for the population decline of Native Americans after European contact has been attributed to infectious disease susceptibility. To investigate whether a pre-existing genetic component contributed to this phenomenon, here we analyse 50 exomes of a continuous population from the Northwest Coast of North America, dating from before and after European contact. We model the population collapse after European contact, inferring a 57% reduction in effective population size. We also identify signatures of positive selection on immune-related genes in the ancient but not the modern group, with the strongest signal deriving from the human leucocyte antigen (HLA) gene HLA-DQA1. The modern individuals show a marked frequency decrease in the same alleles, likely due to the environmental change associated with European colonization, whereby negative selection may have acted on the same gene after contact. The evident shift in selection pressures correlates to the regional European-borne epidemics of the 1800s.
Two-dimensional antimonene single crystals grown by van der Waals epitaxy
Authors: Ji Jianping , Song Xiufeng , Liu Jizi , Yan Zhong , Huo Chengxue , Zhang Shengli , Su Meng , Liao Lei , Wang Wenhui , Ni Zhenhua , Hao Yufeng , Zeng Haibo
Published: November 2016

Unlike the unstable black phosphorous, another two-dimensional group-VA material, antimonene, was recently predicted to exhibit good stability and remarkable physical properties. However, the synthesis of high-quality monolayer or few-layer antimonenes, sparsely reported, has greatly hindered the development of this new field. Here, we report the van der Waals epitaxy growth of few-layer antimonene monocrystalline polygons, their atomical microstructure and stability in ambient condition. The high-quality, few-layer antimonene monocrystalline polygons can be synthesized on various substrates, including flexible ones, via van der Waals epitaxy growth. Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy reveal that the obtained antimonene polygons have buckled rhombohedral atomic structure, consistent with the theoretically predicted most stable β-phase allotrope. The very high stability of antimonenes was observed after aging in air for 30 days. First-principle and molecular dynamics simulation results confirmed that compared with phosphorene, antimonene is less likely to be oxidized and possesses higher thermodynamic stability in oxygen atmosphere at room temperature. Moreover, antimonene polygons show high electrical conductivity up to 104 S m−1 and good optical transparency in the visible light range, promising in transparent conductive electrode applications.
High spatial dynamics-photoluminescence imaging reveals the metallurgy of the earliest lost-wax cast object
Authors: Thoury M. , Mille B. , Séverin-Fabiani T. , Robbiola L. , Réfrégiers M. , Jarrige J-F , Bertrand L.
Published: November 2016

Photoluminescence spectroscopy is a key method to monitor defects in semiconductors from nanophotonics to solar cell systems. Paradoxically, its great sensitivity to small variations of local environment becomes a handicap for heterogeneous systems, such as are encountered in environmental, medical, ancient materials sciences and engineering. Here we demonstrate that a novel full-field photoluminescence imaging approach allows accessing the spatial distribution of crystal defect fluctuations at the crystallite level across centimetre-wide fields of view. This capacity is illustrated in archaeology and material sciences. The coexistence of two hitherto indistinguishable non-stoichiometric cuprous oxide phases is revealed in a 6,000-year-old amulet from Mehrgarh (Baluchistan, Pakistan), identified as the oldest known artefact made by lost-wax casting and providing a better understanding of this fundamental invention. Low-concentration crystal defect fluctuations are readily mapped within ZnO nanowires. High spatial dynamics-photoluminescence imaging holds great promise for the characterization of bulk heterogeneous systems across multiple disciplines.
Structure of the NS2B-NS3 protease from Zika virus after self-cleavage
Authors: Phoo Wint Wint , Li Yan , Zhang Zhenzhen , Lee Michelle Yueqi , Loh Ying Ru , Tan Yaw Bia , Ng Elizabeth Yihui , Lescar Julien , Kang CongBao , Luo Dahai
Published: November 2016

The recent outbreak of Zika virus (ZIKV) infections in the Americas represents a serious threat to the global public health. The viral protease that processes viral polyproteins during infection appears as an attractive drug target. Here we report a crystal structure at 1.84 Å resolution of ZIKV non-structural protein NS2B-NS3 protease with the last four amino acids of the NS2B cofactor bound at the NS3 active site. This structure represents a post-proteolysis state of the enzyme during viral polyprotein processing and provides insights into peptide substrate recognition by the protease. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies and protease activity assays unravel the protein dynamics upon binding the protease inhibitor BPTI in solution and confirm this finding. The structural and functional insights of the ZIKV protease presented here should advance our current understanding of flavivirus replication and accelerate structure-based antiviral drug discovery against ZIKV.
Hyperconnectivity of prefrontal cortex to amygdala projections in a mouse model of macrocephaly/autism syndrome
Authors: Huang Wen-Chin , Chen Youjun , Page Damon T.
Published: November 2016

Multiple autism risk genes converge on the regulation of mTOR signalling, which is a key effector of neuronal growth and connectivity. We show that mTOR signalling is dysregulated during early postnatal development in the cerebral cortex of germ-line heterozygous Pten mutant mice (Pten+/−), which model macrocephaly/autism syndrome. The basolateral amygdala (BLA) receives input from subcortical-projecting neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Analysis of mPFC to BLA axonal projections reveals that Pten+/− mice exhibit increased axonal branching and connectivity, which is accompanied by increased activity in the BLA in response to social stimuli and social behavioural deficits. The latter two phenotypes can be suppressed by pharmacological inhibition of S6K1 during early postnatal life or by reducing the activity of mPFC–BLA circuitry in adulthood. These findings identify a mechanism of altered connectivity that has potential relevance to the pathophysiology of macrocephaly/autism syndrome and autism spectrum disorders featuring dysregulated mTOR signalling.
Boosting functionality of synthetic DNA circuits with tailored deactivation
Authors: Montagne Kevin , Gines Guillaume , Fujii Teruo , Rondelez Yannick
Published: November 2016

Molecular programming takes advantage of synthetic nucleic acid biochemistry to assemble networks of reactions, in vitro, with the double goal of better understanding cellular regulation and providing information-processing capabilities to man-made chemical systems. The function of molecular circuits is deeply related to their topological structure, but dynamical features (rate laws) also play a critical role. Here we introduce a mechanism to tune the nonlinearities associated with individual nodes of a synthetic network. This mechanism is based on programming deactivation laws using dedicated saturable pathways. We demonstrate this approach through the conversion of a single-node homoeostatic network into a bistable and reversible switch. Furthermore, we prove its generality by adding new functions to the library of reported man-made molecular devices: a system with three addressable bits of memory, and the first DNA-encoded excitable circuit. Specific saturable deactivation pathways thus greatly enrich the functional capability of a given circuit topology.
In situ characterization of nanoparticle biomolecular interactions in complex biological media by flow cytometry
Authors: Lo Giudice Maria Cristina , Herda Luciana M. , Polo Ester , Dawson Kenneth A.
Published: November 2016

Nanoparticles interacting with, or derived from, living organisms are almost invariably coated in a variety of biomolecules presented in complex biological milieu, which produce a bio-interface or ‘biomolecular corona’ conferring a biological identity to the particle. Biomolecules at the surface of the nanoparticle–biomolecule complex present molecular fragments that may be recognized by receptors of cells or biological barriers, potentially engaging with different biological pathways. Here we demonstrate that using intense fluorescent reporter binders, in this case antibodies bound to quantum dots, we can map out the availability of such recognition fragments, allowing for a rapid and meaningful biological characterization. The application in microfluidic flow, in small detection volumes, with appropriate thresholding of the detection allows the study of even complex nanoparticles in realistic biological milieu, with the emerging prospect of making direct connection to conditions of cell level and in vivo experiments.
Surface to bulk Fermi arcs via Weyl nodes as topological defects
Authors: Kim Kun Woo , Lee Woo-Ram , Kim Yong Baek , Park Kwon
Published: November 2016

A hallmark of Weyl semimetal is the existence of surface Fermi arcs. An intriguing question is what determines the connectivity of surface Fermi arcs, when multiple pairs of Weyl nodes are present. To answer this question, we show that the locations of surface Fermi arcs are predominantly determined by the condition that the Zak phase integrated along the normal-to-surface direction is "Equation missing". The Zak phase can reveal the peculiar topological structure of Weyl semimetal directly in the bulk. Here, we show that the winding of the Zak phase around each projected Weyl node manifests itself as a topological defect of the Wannier–Stark ladder, energy eigenstates under an electric field. Remarkably, this leads to bulk Fermi arcs, open-line segments in the bulk spectra. Bulk Fermi arcs should exist in conjunction with surface counterparts to conserve the Weyl fermion number under an electric field, which is supported by explicit numerical evidence.
Nonstoichiometric acid–base reaction as reliable synthetic route to highly stable CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite film
Authors: Long Mingzhu , Zhang Tiankai , Chai Yang , Ng Chun-Fai , Mak Thomas C. W. , Xu Jianbin , Yan Keyou
Published: November 2016

Perovskite solar cells have received worldwide interests due to swiftly improved efficiency but the poor stability of the perovskite component hampers the device fabrication under normal condition. Herein, we develop a reliable nonstoichiometric acid–base reaction route to stable perovskite films by intermediate chemistry and technology. Perovskite thin-film prepared by nonstoichiometric acid–base reaction route is stable for two months with negligible PbI2-impurity under ∼65% humidity, whereas other perovskites prepared by traditional methods degrade distinctly after 2 weeks. Route optimization involves the reaction of PbI2 with excess HI to generate HPbI3, which subsequently undergoes reaction with excess CH3NH2 to deliver CH3NH3PbI3 thin films. High quality of intermediate HPbI3 and CH3NH2 abundance are two important factors to stable CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite. Excess volatile acid/base not only affords full conversion in nonstoichiometric acid–base reaction route but also permits its facile removal for stoichiometric purification, resulting in average efficiency of 16.1% in forward/reverse scans.
Triple-negative breast cancer: the importance of molecular and histologic subtyping, and recognition of low-grade variants
Authors: Pareja Fresia , Geyer Felipe C , Marchiò Caterina , Burke Kathleen A , Weigelt Britta , Reis-Filho Jorge S
Published: November 2016

Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs), defined by lack of expression of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and HER2, account for 12–17% of breast cancers and are clinically perceived as a discrete breast cancer subgroup. Nonetheless, TNBC has been shown to constitute a vastly heterogeneous disease encompassing a wide spectrum of entities with marked genetic, transcriptional, histological and clinical differences. Although most TNBCs are high-grade tumors, there are well-characterized low-grade TNBCs that have an indolent clinical course, whose natural history, molecular features and optimal therapy vastly differ from those of high-grade TNBCs. Secretory and adenoid cystic carcinomas are two histologic types of TNBCs underpinned by specific fusion genes; these tumors have an indolent clinical behavior and lack all of the cardinal molecular features of high-grade triple-negative disease. Recent studies of rare entities, including lesions once believed to constitute mere benign breast disease (e.g., microglandular adenosis), have resulted in the identification of potential precursors of TNBC and suggested the existence of a family of low-grade triple-negative lesions that, despite having low-grade morphology and indolent clinical behavior, have been shown to harbor the complex genomic landscape of common forms of TNBC, and may progress to high-grade disease. In this review, we describe the heterogeneity of TNBC and focus on the histologic and molecular features of low-grade forms of TNBC. Germane to addressing the challenges posed by the so-called triple-negative disease is the realization that TNBC is merely a descriptive term, and that low-grade types of TNBC may be driven by distinct sets of genetic alterations.
TUSC2(FUS1)-erlotinib Induced Vulnerabilities in Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor(EGFR) Wildtype Non-small Cell Lung Cancer(NSCLC) Targeted by the Repurposed Drug Auranofin
Authors: Xiaobo Cao , Majidi Mourad , Feng Meng , Shao Ruping , Wang Jing , Zhao Yang , Baladandayuthapani Veerabhadran , Song Juhee , Fang Bingliang , Ji Lin , Mehran Reza , Roth Jack A.
Published: November 2016

Expression of the TUSC2/FUS1 tumor suppressor gene in TUSC2 deficient EGFR wildtype lung cancer cells increased sensitivity to erlotinib. Microarray mRNA expression analysis of TUSC2 inducible lung cancer cells treated with erlotinib uncovered defects in the response to oxidative stress suggesting that increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) would enhance therapeutic efficacy. Addition of the thioredoxin reductase 1 inhibitor (TXNRD1) auranofin (AF) to NSCLC cells treated with combination of TUSC2 forced expression with erlotinib increased tumor cell apoptosis and inhibited colony formation. TXNRD1 overexpression rescued tumors from AF-TUSC2-erlotinib induced apoptosis. Neutralizing ROS with nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) abrogated cell death induced by AF-TUSC2-erlotinib, indicating a regulatory role for ROS in the efficacy of the three drug combination. Isobologram-based statistical analysis of this combination demonstrated superior synergism, compared with each individual treatment at lower concentrations. In NSCLC tumor xenografts, tumor growth was markedly inhibited and animal survival was prolonged over controls by AF-TUSC2-erlotinib. Microarray mRNA expression analysis uncovered oxidative stress and DNA damage gene signatures significantly upregulated by AF-TUSC2-erlotinib compared to TUSC2-erlotinib. Pathway analysis showed the highest positive z-score for the NRF2-mediated oxidative stress response. Taken together these findings show that the combination of TUSC2-erlotinib induces additional novel vulnerabilities that can be targeted with AF.
Pathophysiological mechanisms underlying phenotypic differences in pulmonary radioresponse
Authors: Jackson Isabel L. , Zhang Yuji , Bentzen Søren M. , Hu Jingping , Zhang Angel , Vujaskovic Zeljko
Published: November 2016

Differences in the pathogenesis of radiation-induced lung injury among murine strains offer a unique opportunity to elucidate the molecular mechanisms driving the divergence in tissue response from repair and recovery to organ failure. Here, we utilized two well-characterized murine models of radiation pneumonitis/fibrosis to compare and contrast differential gene expression in lungs 24 hours after exposure to a single dose of whole thorax lung irradiation sufficient to cause minor to major morbidity/mortality. Expression of 805 genes was altered as a general response to radiation; 42 genes were identified whose expression corresponded to the threshold for lethality. Three genes were discovered whose expression was altered within the lethal, but not the sublethal, dose range. Time-course analysis of the protein product of the most promising gene, resistin-like molecule alpha, demonstrated a significant difference in expression between radiosensitive versus radiotolerant strains, suggesting a unique role for this protein in acute lung injury.
Tunable graphene-based mid-infrared plasmonic wide-angle narrowband perfect absorber
Authors: Li Hongju , Wang Lingling , Zhai Xiang
Published: November 2016

In this paper, the periodic double-layer graphene ribbon arrays placed near a metallic ground plate coated by a dielectric layer are proposed and analyzed by the coupled-mode theory (CMT) to predict the perfect absorption response in the mid-infrared region. Numerical simulations of the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method confirm this effect and give the underlying physical origin. The anti-symmetric dipole-dipole coupling mode is supported by the double-layer graphene ribbons and acts as the electrical resonance to suppress the reflection, because of the impedance matching. The transmission from this system is restricted by the ultra-thick metallic ground plate. All incident electromagnetic energy is efficiently confined in the interlayer between graphene ribbons and the metallic plate, and the dramatic narrowband perfect absorption peak with the FWHM (full width at half maximums) of 300 nm hence is achieved. The spectral position of the absorption peak can be dynamically tuned by a small change in the chemical potential of graphene, in addition to varying geometrical parameters of the absorber. Meanwhile, this device exhibits good absorption stability over a wide angle range of incidence around ± 60° at least. Such absorber will benefit the fabrication of mid-infrared nano-photonic devices for optical filtering and storage.
Default Mode Network alterations in alexithymia: an EEG power spectra and connectivity study
Authors: Imperatori Claudio , Della Marca Giacomo , Brunetti Riccardo , Carbone Giuseppe Alessio , Massullo Chiara , Valenti Enrico Maria , Amoroso Noemi , Maestoso Giulia , Contardi Anna , Farina Benedetto
Published: November 2016

Recent neuroimaging studies have shown that alexithymia is characterized by functional alterations in different brain areas [e.g., posterior cingulate cortex (PCC)], during emotional/social tasks. However, only few data are available about alexithymic cortical networking features during resting state (RS). We have investigated the modifications of electroencephalographic (EEG) power spectra and EEG functional connectivity in the default mode network (DMN) in subjects with alexithymia. Eighteen subjects with alexithymia and eighteen subjects without alexithymia matched for age and gender were enrolled. EEG was recorded during 5 min of RS. EEG analyses were conducted by means of the exact Low Resolution Electric Tomography software (eLORETA). Compared to controls, alexithymic subjects showed a decrease of alpha power in the right PCC. In the connectivity analysis, compared to controls, alexithymic subjects showed a decrease of alpha connectivity between: (i) right anterior cingulate cortex and right PCC, (ii) right frontal lobe and right PCC, and (iii) right parietal lobe and right temporal lobe. Finally, mediation models showed that the association between alexithymia and EEG connectivity values was directed and was not mediated by psychopathology severity. Taken together, our results could reflect the neurophysiological substrate of some core features of alexithymia, such as the impairment in emotional awareness.
Microbiome analysis reveals the abundance of bacterial pathogens in Rousettus leschenaultii guano
Authors: Banskar Sunil , Bhute Shrikant S. , Suryavanshi Mangesh V. , Punekar Sachin , Shouche Yogesh S.
Published: November 2016

Bats are crucial for proper functioning of an ecosystem. They provide various important services to ecosystem and environment. While, bats are well-known carrier of pathogenic viruses, their possible role as a potential carrier of pathogenic bacteria is under-explored. Here, using culture-based approach, employing multiple bacteriological media, over thousand bacteria were cultivated and identified from Rousettus leschenaultii (a frugivorous bat species), the majority of which were from the family Enterobacteriaceae and putative pathogens. Next, pathogenic potential of most frequently cultivated component of microbiome i.e. Escherichia coli was assessed to identify its known pathotypes which revealed the presence of virulent factors in many cultivated E. coli isolates. Applying in-depth bacterial community analysis using high-throughput 16 S rRNA gene sequencing, a high inter-individual variation was observed among the studied guano samples. Interestingly, a higher diversity of bacterial communities was observed in decaying guano representative. The search against human pathogenic bacteria database at 97% identity, a small proportion of sequences were found associated to well-known human pathogens. The present study thus indicates that this bat species may carry potential bacterial pathogens and advice to study the effect of these pathogens on bats itself and the probable mode of transmission to humans and other animals.
Enhancement of protein production via the strong DIT1 terminator and two RNA-binding proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Ito Yoichiro , Kitagawa Takao , Yamanishi Mamoru , Katahira Satoshi , Izawa Shingo , Irie Kenji , Furutani-Seiki Makoto , Matsuyama Takashi
Published: November 2016

Post-transcriptional upregulation is an effective way to increase the expression of transgenes and thus maximize the yields of target chemicals from metabolically engineered organisms. Refractory elements in the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) that increase mRNA half-life might be available. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, several terminator regions have shown activity in increasing the production of proteins by upstream coding genes; among these terminators the DIT1 terminator has the highest activity. Here, we found in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that two resident trans-acting RNA-binding proteins (Nab6p and Pap1p) enhance the activity of the DIT1 terminator through the cis element GUUCG/U within the 3′-UTR. These two RNA-binding proteins could upregulate a battery of cell-wall–related genes. Mutagenesis of the DIT1 terminator improved its activity by a maximum of 500% of that of the standard PGK1 terminator. Further understanding and improvement of this system will facilitate inexpensive and stable production of complicated organism-derived drugs worldwide.
Hypometabolism during Daily Torpor in Mice is Dominated by Reduction in the Sensitivity of the Thermoregulatory System
Authors: Sunagawa Genshiro A. , Takahashi Masayo
Published: November 2016

Some mammals enter a hypometabolic state either daily torpor (minutes to hours in length) or hibernation (days to weeks), when reducing metabolism would benefit survival. Hibernators demonstrate deep torpor by reducing both the sensitivity (H) and the theoretical set-point temperature (TR) of the thermogenesis system, resulting in extreme hypothermia close to ambient temperature. However, these properties during daily torpor remain poorly understood due to the very short steady state of the hypometabolism and the large variation among species and individuals. To overcome these difficulties in observing and evaluating daily torpor, we developed a novel torpor-detection algorithm based on Bayesian estimation of the basal metabolism of individual mice. Applying this robust method, we evaluated fasting induced torpor in various ambient temperatures (TAs) and found that H decreased 91.5% during daily torpor while TR only decreased 3.79 °C in mice. These results indicate that thermogenesis during daily torpor shares a common property of sensitivity reduction with hibernation while it is distinct from hibernation by not lowering TR. Moreover, our findings support that mice are suitable model animals to investigate the regulation of the heat production during active hypometabolism, thus suggesting further study of mice may provide clues to regulating hypometabolism in mammals.
Quantitative analysis of upright standing in adults with late-onset Pompe disease
Authors: Valle Maria Stella , Casabona Antonino , Fiumara Agata , Castiglione Dora , Sorge Giovanni , Cioni Matteo
Published: November 2016

Pompe disease is a rare disorder producing muscle weakness and progressive impairments in performing daily motor activities, such as walking and standing. Most studies have focused on dysfunctions at cellular level, restricting the examination of gross motor functions to qualitative or subjective rating scales evaluations. With the aim of providing an instrumented quantification of upright standing in Pompe disease, we used a force platform to measure the center of pressure over three foot positions and with eyes open and closed. Amplitude and variability of body sway were measured to determine the level of postural stability, while power spectrum analysis and nonlinear computations were performed to explore the structure of the postural control. In comparison with healthy participants, patients with Pompe disease showed a reduced level of postural stability, but irrelevant variations in frequency content and spatio-temporal structure of the sway motion were detected. Changes in foot position did not increase the postural instability associated with Pompe disease, but prominent worsening occurred in the patients when they stand with eyes closed, particularly along the anterior-posterior direction. These results provide objective elements to monitor deficiencies of upright standing in Pompe disease, emphasizing the specific contributions of sway direction and sensory deficits.
How knowledge of the gastrointestinal absorption of elements could be used to predict transfer to milk
Authors: Howard Brenda J. , Wells Claire , Barnett Catherine L. , Sheppard Steve C.
Published: November 2016

The quality and quantity of data used to derive transfer parameter values for milk are variable and there are many data gaps for elements/radionuclides which may need to be considered for risk assessment of the agricultural foodchain. There has been a recent focus on critically evaluating current methods to fill data gaps and on identifying extrapolation methods to derive suitable values for the elements, and particularly radioisotopes, with no or sparse data. The relationship between fractional absorption of elements in the ruminant gastrointestinal tract and transfer to milk has been explored to determine whether knowledge of the former can be used to predict the latter. A relationship has been derived between fractional absorption of elements and two empirical ratios commonly used to quantify transfer to milk; transfer coefficients (element concentration in milk divided by element daily intake) and concentrations ratios (concentration in milk divided by concentration in feed). We propose that fractional absorption may be used to predict the order of magnitude of the transfer to milk of elements/radionuclides for which no relevant data have yet been identified or collated.
Alignment of Lyapunov Vectors: A Quantitative Criterion to Predict Catastrophes?
Authors: Beims Marcus W. , Gallas Jason A. C.
Published: November 2016

We argue that the alignment of Lyapunov vectors provides a quantitative criterion to predict catastrophes, i.e. the imminence of large-amplitude events in chaotic time-series of observables generated by sets of ordinary differential equations. Explicit predictions are reported for a Rössler oscillator and for a semiconductor laser with optoelectronic feedback.
Enhancement of interaction of L-929 cells with functionalized graphene via COOH+ ion implantation vs. chemical method
Authors: Zhao Meng-li , Liu Xiao-qi , Cao Ye , Li Xi-fei , Li De-jun , Sun Xue-liang , Gu Han-qing , Wan Rong-xin
Published: November 2016

Low hydrophilicity of graphene is one of the major obstacles for biomaterials application. To create some hydrophilic groups on graphene is addressed this issue. Herein, COOH+ ion implantation modified graphene (COOH+/graphene) and COOH functionalized graphene were designed by physical ion implantation and chemical methods, respectively. The structure and surface properties of COOH+/graphene and COOH functionalized graphene were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and contact angle measurement. Compared with graphene, COOH+/graphene and COOH functionalized graphene revealed improvement of cytocompatibility, including in vitro cell viability and morphology. More importantly, COOH+/graphene exhibited better improvement effects than functionalized graphene. For instance, COOH+/graphene with 1 × 1018 ions/cm2 showed the best cell-viability, proliferation and stretching. This study demonstrated that ion implantation can better improve the cytocompatibility of the graphene.
Chromatin associated SETD3 negatively regulates VEGF expression
Authors: Cohn Ofir , Feldman Michal , Weil Lital , Kublanovsky Margarita , Levy Dan
Published: November 2016

SETD3 is a member of the protein lysine methyltransferase (PKMT) family, which catalyzes the addition of methyl group to lysine residues. Accumulating data suggest that PKMTs are involved in the regulation of a broad spectrum of biological processes by targeting histone and non-histone proteins. Using a proteomic approach, we have identified 172 new SETD3 interacting proteins. We show that SETD3 binds and methylates the transcription factor FoxM1, which has been previously shown to be associated with the regulation of VEGF expression. We further demonstrate that under hypoxic conditions SETD3 is down-regulated. Mechanistically, we find that under basal conditions, SETD3 and FoxM1 are enriched on the VEGF promoter. Dissociation of both SETD3 and FoxM1 from the VEGF promoter under hypoxia correlates with elevated expression of VEGF. Taken together, our data reveal a new SETD3-dependent methylation-based signaling pathway at chromatin that regulates VEGF expression under normoxic and hypoxic conditions.
Identification and molecular characterization of an IDA-like gene from litchi, LcIDL1, whose ectopic expression promotes floral organ abscission in Arabidopsis
Authors: Ying Peiyuan , Li Caiqin , Liu Xuncheng , Xia Rui , Zhao Minglei , Li Jianguo
Published: November 2016

Unexpected abscission of flowers or fruits is a major limiting factor for crop productivity. Key genes controlling abscission in plants, especially in popular fruit trees, are largely unknown. Here we identified a litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) IDA-like (INFLORESCENCE DEFICIENT IN ABSCISSION-like) gene LcIDL1 as a potential key regulator of abscission. LcIDL1 encodes a peptide that shows the closest homology to Arabidopsis IDA, and is localized in cell membrane and cytoplasm. Real-time PCR analysis showed that the expression level of LcIDL1 accumulated gradually following flower abscission, and it was obviously induced by fruit abscission-promoting treatments. Transgenic plants expressing LcIDL1 in Arabidopsis revealed a role of LcIDL1 similar to IDA in promoting floral organ abscission. Moreover, ectopic expression of LcIDL1 in Arabidopsis activated the expression of abscission-related genes. Taken together, our findings provide evidence that LcIDL1 may act as a key regulator in control of abscission.
Investigation of TbfA in Riemerella anatipestifer using plasmid-based methods for gene over-expression and knockdown
Authors: Liu MaFeng , Wang MengYi , Zhu DeKang , Wang MingShu , Jia RenYong , Chen Shun , Sun KunFeng , Yang Qiao , Wu Ying , Chen XiaoYue , Biville Francis , Cheng AnChun
Published: November 2016

Riemerella anatipestifer is a duck pathogen that has caused serious economic losses to the duck industry worldwide. Despite this, there are few reported studies of the physiological and pathogenic mechanisms of Riemerella anatipestifer infection. In previous study, we have shown that TonB1 and TonB2 were involved in hemin uptake. TonB family protein (TbfA) was not investigated, since knockout of this gene was not successful at that time. Here, we used a plasmid based gene over-expression and knockdown to investigate its function. First, we constructed three Escherichia-Riemerella anatipestifer shuttle vectors containing three different native Riemerella anatipestifer promoters. The shuttle plasmids were introduced into Riemerella anatipestifer ATCC11845 by conjugation at an efficiency of 5 × 10−5 antibiotic-resistant transconjugants per recipient cell. Based on the high-expression shuttle vector pLMF03, a method for gene knockdown was established. Knockdown of TbfA in Riemerella anatipestifer ATCC11845 decreased the organism’s growth ability in TSB medium but did not affect its hemin utilization. In contrast, over-expression of TbfA in Riemerella anatipestifer ATCC11845ΔtonB1ΔtonB2. Significantly promoted the organism’s growth in TSB medium but significantly inhibited its hemin utilization. Collectively, these findings suggest that TbfA is not involved in hemin utilization by Riemerella anatipestifer.
Imaging Cytometry of Human Leukocytes with Third Harmonic Generation Microscopy
Authors: Wu Cheng-Ham , Wang Tzung-Dau , Hsieh Chia-Hung , Huang Shih-Hung , Lin Jong-Wei , Hsu Szu-Chun , Wu Hau-Tieng , Wu Yao-Ming , Liu Tzu-Ming
Published: November 2016

Based on third-harmonic-generation (THG) microscopy and a k-means clustering algorithm, we developed a label-free imaging cytometry method to differentiate and determine the types of human leukocytes. According to the size and average intensity of cells in THG images, in a two-dimensional scatter plot, the neutrophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes in peripheral blood samples from healthy volunteers were clustered into three differentiable groups. Using these features in THG images, we could count the number of each of the three leukocyte types both in vitro and in vivo. The THG imaging-based counting results agreed well with conventional blood count results. In the future, we believe that the combination of this THG microscopy-based imaging cytometry approach with advanced texture analysis of sub-cellular features can differentiate and count more types of blood cells with smaller quantities of blood.
Defining the role of corticotropin releasing factor binding protein in alcohol consumption
Authors: Haass-Koffler C L , Henry A T , Melkus G , Simms J A , Naemmuddin M , Nielsen C K , Lasek A W , Magill M , Schwandt M L , Momenan R , Hodgkinson C A , Bartlett S E , Swift R M , Bonci A , Leggio L
Published: November 2016

The corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) exerts its effects by acting on its receptors and on the binding protein (CRFBP), and has been implicated in alcohol use disorder (AUD). Therefore, identification of the exact contribution of each protein that mediates CRF effects is necessary to design effective therapeutic strategies for AUD. A series ofin vitro/in vivoexperiments across different species were performed to define the biological discrete role of CRFBP in AUD. First, to establish the CRFBP role in receptor signaling, we developed a novel chimeric cell-based assay and showed that CFRBP full length can stably be expressed on the plasma membrane. We discovered that only CRFBP(10 kD) fragment is able to potentiate CRF-intracellular Ca2+release. We provide evidence thatCRHBPgene loss increased ethanol consumption in mice. Then, we demonstrate that selective reduction ofCRHBPexpression in the center nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) decreases ethanol consumption in ethanol-dependent rats. CRFBP amygdalar downregulation, however, does not attenuate yohimbine-induced ethanol self-administration. This effect was associated with decreased hemodynamic brain activity in the CRFBP-downregulated CeA and increased hemodynamic activity in the caudate putamen during yohimbine administration. Finally, in alcohol-dependent patients, genetic variants related to the CRFBP(10 kD) fragment were associated with greater risk for alcoholism and anxiety, while other genetic variants were associated with reduced risk for anxiety. Taken together, our data provide evidence that CRFBP may possess both inhibitory and excitatory roles and may represent a novel pharmacological target for the treatment of AUD.