bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ZAPP: The Z Astrophysical Plasma Properties collaboration
Authors: Rochau G. A. , Bailey J. E. , Falcon R. E. , Loisel G. P. , Nagayama T. , Mancini R. C. , Hall I. , Winget D. E. , Montgomery M. H. , Liedahl D. A.
Published: May 2014

The Z Facility at Sandia National Laboratories [Matzen et al., Phys. Plasmas 12, 055503 (2005)] provides MJ-class x-ray sources that can emit powers >0.3 PW. This capability enables benchmark experiments of fundamental material properties in radiation-heated matter at conditions previously unattainable in the laboratory. Experiments on Z can produce uniform, long-lived, and large plasmas with volumes up to 20 cc, temperatures from 1–200 eV, and electron densities from 1017–23 cc−1. These unique characteristics and the ability to radiatively heat multiple experiments in a single shot have led to a new effort called the Z Astrophysical Plasma Properties (ZAPP) collaboration. The focus of the ZAPP collaboration is to reproduce the radiation and material characteristics of astrophysical plasmas as closely as possible in the laboratory and use detailed spectral measurements to strengthen models for atoms in plasmas. Specific issues under investigation include the LTE opacity of iron at stellar-interior conditions, photoionization around active galactic nuclei, the efficiency of resonant Auger destruction in black-hole accretion disks, and H-Balmer line shapes in white dwarf photospheres.
Accelerating rare events while overcoming the low-barrier problem using a temperature program
Authors: Divi Srikanth , Chatterjee Abhijit
Published: May 2014

We present a hierarchical coarse-grained simulation technique called the temperature programmed molecular dynamics (TPMD) method for accelerating molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of rare events. The method is targeted towards materials where a system visits many times a collection of energy basins in the potential energy surface, called a superbasin, via low-barrier moves before escaping to a new superbasin via a high-barrier move. The superbasin escape events are rare at the MD time scales. The low-barrier moves become accessible to MD by employing a temperature program, i.e., the MD temperature changes during the simulation. Once a superbasin is detected, transitions within the superbasin are ignored, in effect causing coarse-graining of basins. The temperature program enables the system to escape from the superbasin with reduced computational cost thereby overcoming the “low-barrier” problem. The main advantage of our approach is that the superbasin-to-superbasin transitions are accurately obtained at the original temperature with a reasonable computational cost. We study surface diffusion in Ag/Ag(001) system and demonstrate the ability of the TPMD method to span a wide-range of timescales.
Analysis of ultra-high sensitivity configuration in chip-integrated photonic crystal microcavity bio-sensors
Authors: Chakravarty Swapnajit , Hosseini Amir , Xu Xiaochuan , Zhu Liang , Zou Yi , Chen Ray T.
Published: May 2014

We analyze the contributions of quality factor, fill fraction, and group index of chip-integrated resonance microcavity devices, to the detection limit for bulk chemical sensing and the minimum detectable biomolecule concentration in biosensing. We analyze the contributions from analyte absorbance, as well as from temperature and spectral noise. Slow light in two-dimensional photonic crystals provide opportunities for significant reduction of the detection limit below 1 × 10−7 RIU (refractive index unit) which can enable highly sensitive sensors in diverse application areas. We demonstrate experimentally detected concentration of 1 fM (67 fg/ml) for the binding between biotin and avidin, the lowest reported till date.
Thermal expansion measurements by x-ray scattering and breakdown of Ehrenfest's relation in alloy liquids
Authors: Gangopadhyay A. K. , Blodgett M. E. , Johnson M. L. , Vogt A. J. , Mauro N. A. , Kelton K. F.
Published: May 2014

Measurements of sharp diffraction peaks as a function of temperature are routinely used to obtain precise linear expansion coefficients of crystalline solids. In this case, the relation between temperature dependent changes in peak position in momentum transfer (q1) and volume expansion is straightforward (Ehrenfest's relation: q1 = K(2π/d), where K is a constant and d is the interatomic spacing) and the data obtained are usually in close agreement with more direct measurements. With high intensity synchrotron x-ray and spallation neutron sources, it is also possible to accurately measure the positions of the much broader peaks for liquids and glasses. This has led to a debate on whether linear expansion coefficients derived from these data are an accurate representation of the volume expansion coefficients. We present here volume thermal expansion and x-ray diffraction data for a large number of glass-forming alloy liquids acquired in a containerless environment using the beamline electrostatic levitation technique. The data show a large difference in the values obtained from the two different techniques. Moreover, the position of the first peak (q1) in the scattered intensity in the structure factor (S(q)) and the atomic volume v for all liquids follow a simple relationship, v∝(q1)−ε. The exponent, ε = 2.28 (±0.11), is much different from the expected value of 3 from Ehrenfest's relation and shows no temperature dependence over the temperature range of the data collected.
Epidemic spreading in time-varying community networks
Authors: Ren Guangming , Wang Xingyuan
Published: May 2014

The spreading processes of many infectious diseases have comparable time scale as the network evolution. Here, we present a simple networks model with time-varying community structure, and investigate susceptible-infected-susceptible epidemic spreading processes in this model. By both theoretic analysis and numerical simulations, we show that the efficiency of epidemic spreading in this model depends intensively on the mobility rate q of the individuals among communities. We also find that there exists a mobility rate threshold qc. The epidemic will survive when q > qc and die when q < qc. These results can help understanding the impacts of human travel on the epidemic spreading in complex networks with community structure.
Variation of dislocation etch-pit geometry: An indicator of bulk microstructure and recombination activity in multicrystalline silicon
Authors: Castellanos S. , Kivambe M. , Hofstetter J. , Rinio M. , Lai B. , Buonassisi T.
Published: May 2014

Dislocation clusters in multicrystalline silicon limit solar cell performance by decreasing minority carrier diffusion length. Studies have shown that the recombination strength of dislocation clusters can vary by up to two orders of magnitude, even within the same wafer. In this contribution, we combine a surface-analysis approach with bulk characterization techniques to explore the underlying root cause of variations in recombination strength among different clusters. We observe that dislocation clusters with higher recombination strength consist of dislocations with a larger variation of line vector, correlated with a higher degree of variation in dislocation etch-pit shapes (ellipticities). Conversely, dislocation clusters exhibiting the lowest recombination strength contain mostly dislocations with identical line vectors, resulting in very similar etch-pit shapes. The disorder of dislocation line vector in high-recombination clusters appears to be correlated with impurity decoration, possibly the cause of the enhanced recombination activity. Based on our observations, we conclude that the relative recombination activity of different dislocation clusters in the device may be predicted via an optical inspection of the distribution and shape variation of dislocation etch pits in the as-grown wafer.
Measured improvement of global magnetohydrodynamic mode stability at high-beta, and in reduced collisionality spherical torus plasmas
Authors: Berkery J. W. , Sabbagh S. A. , Balbaky A. , Bell R. E. , Betti R. , Diallo A. , Gerhardt S. P. , LeBlanc B. P. , Manickam J. , Menard J. E. , Podestà M.
Published: May 2014

Global mode stability is studied in high-β National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) plasmas to avoid disruptions. Dedicated experiments in NSTX using low frequency active magnetohydrodynamic spectroscopy of applied rotating n = 1 magnetic fields revealed key dependencies of stability on plasma parameters. Observations from previous NSTX resistive wall mode (RWM) active control experiments and the wider NSTX disruption database indicated that the highest βN plasmas were not the least stable. Significantly, here, stability was measured to increase at βN∕li higher than the point where disruptions were found. This favorable behavior is shown to correlate with kinetic stability rotational resonances, and an experimentally determined range of measured E × B frequency with improved stability is identified. Stable plasmas appear to benefit further from reduced collisionality, in agreement with expectation from kinetic RWM stabilization theory, but low collisionality plasmas are also susceptible to sudden instability when kinetic profiles change.
High-quality InN films on MgO (100) substrates: The key role of 30° in-plane rotation
Authors: Compeán García V. D. , Orozco Hinostroza I. E. , Escobosa Echavarría A. , López Luna E. , Rodríguez A. G. , Vidal M. A.
Published: May 2014

High crystalline layers of InN were grown on MgO(100) substrates by gas source molecular beam epitaxy. Good quality films were obtained by means of an in-plane rotation process induced by the annealing of an InN buffer layer to minimize the misfit between InN and MgO. In situ reflection high-energy electron diffraction showed linear streaky patterns along the [011¯0] azimuth and a superimposed diffraction along the [112¯0] azimuth, which correspond to a 30° α-InN film rotation. This rotation reduces the mismatch at the MgO/InN interface from 19.5% to less than 3.5%, increasing the structural quality, which was analyzed by high-resolution X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Only the (0002) c plane diffraction of α-InN was observed and was centered at 2θ = 31.4°. Raman spectroscopy showed two modes corresponding to the hexagonal phase: E1(LO) at 591 cm−1 and E2(high) at 488 cm−1. Hall effect measurements showed a carrier density of 9 × 1018 cm−3 and an electron Hall mobility of 340 cm2/(V s) for a film thickness of 140 nm.
Elevating optical activity: Efficient on-edge lithography of three-dimensional starfish metamaterial
Authors: Dietrich K. , Menzel C. , Lehr D. , Puffky O. , Hübner U. , Pertsch T. , Tünnermann A. , Kley E.-B.
Published: May 2014

We present an approach for extremely fast, wafer-scale fabrication of chiral starfish metamaterials based on electron beam- and on-edge lithography. A millimeter sized array of both the planar chiral and the true 3D chiral starfish is realized, and their chiroptical performances are compared by circular dichroism measurements. We find optical activity in the visible and near-infrared spectral range, where the 3D starfish clearly outperforms the planar design by almost 2 orders of magnitude, though fabrication efforts are only moderately increased. The presented approach is capable of bridging the gap between high performance optical chiral metamaterials and industrial production by nanoimprint technology.
Enhanced electrohydrodynamic collapse of DNA due to dilute polymers
Authors: Benjamin Renner C. , Du Ning , Doyle Patrick S.
Published: May 2014

We experimentally demonstrate that addition of small, charge-neutral polymers to a buffer solution can promote compression of dilute solutions of single electrophoresing DNA. This phenomenon contrasts with the observed extension of DNA during capillary electrophoresis in dilute solutions of high molecular weight polymers. We propose these discrepancies in micron-scale DNA configurations arise from different nano-scale DNA-polymer collision events, controlled by solute polymer properties. We build upon theories previously proposed for intermolecular DNA aggregation in polymer-free solutions to develop scaling theories that describe trends seen in our data for intramolecular DNA compaction in dilute polymer solutions.
L1 FePt-ZrO2 (001) nanostructured films with high aspect ratio columnar grains
Authors: Dong K. F. , Li H. H. , Peng Y. G. , Ju G. , Chow G. M. , Chen J. S.
Published: May 2014

In order to increase the signal-to-noise ratio of heat assisted magnetic recording, it is desirable to fabricate high magnetic anisotropy FePt media with small grain size and high aspect ratio (grain height to size ratio). In the present paper, we report that FePt media with small grain size and high aspect ratio were achieved by doping ZrO2 into FePt film grown on TiON intermediate layer. The grain size was around 5.6 nm, and the aspect ratio was as high as 2.6. It is believed that this originated from the ZrO2 (002) tetragonal crystalline phase epitaxially grown on TiON intermediate layer. With a 5 vol. % carbon doping into FePt-ZrO2 films, the perpendicular anisotropy was improved and the out-of-plane coercivity was around 23.2 kOe. Doping of crystalline phase material with certain required crystal structure may offer a method for fabrication of nanostructured thin films with high aspect ratio grains at high processing temperature.
Enhanced regeneration of degraded polymer solar cells by thermal annealing
Authors: Kumar Pankaj , Bilen Chhinder , Feron Krishna , Zhou Xiaojing , Belcher Warwick J. , Dastoor Paul C.
Published: May 2014

The degradation and thermal regeneration of poly(3-hexylethiophene) (P3HT):[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) and P3HT:indene-C60 bisadduct (ICBA) polymer solar cells, with Ca/Al and Ca/Ag cathodes and indium tin oxide/poly(ethylene-dioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate anode have been investigated. Degradation occurs via a combination of three primary pathways: (1) cathodic oxidation, (2) active layer phase segregation, and (3) anodic diffusion. Fully degraded devices were subjected to thermal annealing under inert atmosphere. Degraded solar cells possessing Ca/Ag electrodes were observed to regenerate their performance, whereas solar cells having Ca/Al electrodes exhibited no significant regeneration of device characteristics after thermal annealing. Moreover, the solar cells with a P3HT:ICBA active layer exhibited enhanced regeneration compared to P3HT:PCBM active layer devices as a result of reduced changes to the active layer morphology. Devices combining a Ca/Ag cathode and P3HT:ICBA active layer demonstrated ∼50% performance restoration over several degradation/regeneration cycles.
Effects of two different forage sources on mammary gland growth, mammary cell turnover and activity in early lactation dairy cows
Authors: Qin Tong , Wang Haoyu , Bu Dengpan , Hao Haisheng , Wang Dong , Zhu Huabin
Published: May 2014

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of two different forage sources on mammary gland growth, mammary cell turnover and activity in early lactation dairy cows. Twelve early lactation cows were randomly assigned to a CS (33.8% corn straw as sole forage) or MF diet (3.7% Chinese wildrye + 28.4% alfalfa hay + 26.5% corn silage as mixed forage). All cows were fed from Week –3 to Week 8, and mammary biopsies were taken on 16 days postpartum. Mammary cell proliferation and apoptosis were determined by immunohistology, and genes expression in mammary were detected by real-time PCR. Results showed that cell proliferation, gene expression of milk proteins and proteins involved in the synthesis of milk components did not differ between two dietary treatments (P > 0.05). However, cows fed the MF diet had a higher IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) expression (P = 0.02), and lower rate of cell apoptosis (P = 0.003) relative to cows fed the CS diet. Collectively, these results suggest that the mammary secretory activity probably was not affected by the dietary treatments, but high quality and mixed forages led to the increased expression of IGF-1R and a larger number of cells in mammary glands, which may be responsible for the higher milk production in early lactation dairy cows.
Three ZnII Coordination Polymers Based on 1,2-Naphthalenedicarboxylate and Different 4,4′-Bipyridyl-like Bridging Co-ligands: Structural Regulation and Properties
Authors: Chen Min , Wang Zhuo-Wei , Zhao Hui , Liu Chun-Sen
Published: May 2014

Three new ZnII coordination polymers, namely [Zn(ndc)]n (1), {[Zn(ndc)(bpe)]·1.25H2O}n (2), and {[Zn(ndc)(bpee)]·1.25H2O}n (3), were prepared based on in situ reaction of 1,2-naphthalenedicarboxylic anhydride (ndca) with two different 4,4′-bipyridyl-like bridging co-ligands, bpe and bpee (ndc = 1,2-naphthalenedicarboxylate, bpe = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane, and bpee = trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene). In 1, the ZnII and ndc ligands are directly involved in the polymeric frameworks, forming a 2D (43.63) layered network. Complexes 2 and 3 similarly consist of Zn2(ndc)2 binuclear units that are linked by bpe and bpee ligands, respectively, into a 2D (44.62) sheet. However, further analysis indicates that 2 and 3 feature the similar 2-fold interpenetrating structure linked via hydrogen bonding interactions for 2 and aromatic stacking interactions for 3. In addition, the resultant 2D→3D supramolecular frameworks of 2 and 3 are both constructed via aromatic stacking interactions. Also, the fluorescent and thermal properties of the complexes were investigated.
A quantitative study of the proximity of satellite detected active fires to roads and rivers in the Brazilian tropical moist forest biome
Authors: Kumar Sanath S. , Roy David P. , Cochrane Mark A. , Souza Carlos M. , Barber Chirstopher P. , Boschetti L.
Published: May 2014

The Brazilian tropical moist forest biome (BTMFB) is experiencing high rates of deforestation and fire. Previous studies indicate that the majority of fires occur close to roads, however they did not consider the network of unofficial roads and navigable rivers, nor inter-state and inter-annual variability. We examine 8 years of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) active fire detections and the cumulative frequency distribution of the distance of each detection to the closest official road, unofficial road, and navigable river bank. Approximately 50 and 95% of all MODIS active fire detections occurred within 1 and 10km respectively of a road or navigable river. Inter-state and inter-annual variations are discussed and linkages to expansion of the road network are suggested. Comparison of the distance distribution of the MODIS active fire detections and the distance distribution of a 0.5-km spaced geographic grid to the combined roads and navigable river network revealed significant differences for each state and for the BTMFB and indicate that the great majority of fires are anthropogenic. The results provide insights that may be useful for modelling the incidence of fire under future expansion of the Amazonian road network and increased river navigability.
A ‘responsibility for place’ – firefighter deployment, local knowledge and risk
Authors: Kruger Tarnya M. , Beilin Ruth
Published: May 2014

This research considers ideas about local knowledge and place for firefighters during a bushfire. In 2012, we interviewed 68 Australian bushfire firefighters from selected agencies and volunteer brigades in diverse localities. The findings from the interviews indicate local knowledge can help firefighters to navigate tracks and understand fire behaviour in familiar landscapes. At the same time, they can experience a heightened awareness of the fire on local people and valued assets. This sets up a ‘responsibility for place’, which can both mediate actions during the fire and increase risk to the firefighters involved. A distant fire can present many unknowns and potential hazards for deployed firefighters because they do not have local knowledge. This disconnect can mean they are more cautious in negotiating unfamiliar surrounds and awaiting orders. We find that although local knowledge can assist firefighters, it highlights the complexity of decision-making during a fire that can make it more hazardous for local firefighters. This research contributes to firefighter training by exploring how local knowledge associated with landscape and community can dominate decision-making in practice.
Protein kinase D1 is essential for Ras-induced senescence and tumor suppression by regulating senescence-associated inflammation
Authors: Wang Pan , Han Limin , Shen Hong , Wang Pengfeng , Lv Cuicui , Zhao Ganye , Niu Jing , Xue Lixiang , Wang Qiming Jane , Tong Tanjun , Chen Jun
Published: May 2014

Significance

Oncogene-induced senescence (OIS) is an initial barrier for cancer development. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play critical roles in oncogenic Ras OIS. Senescent cells develop a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), which has important role in tumor suppression and tissue repair. However, the mechanisms underlying the SASP regulation are not clear. In this paper, we show that ROS-protein kinase Cδ (PKCδ)-protein kinase D1 (PKD1) axis is essential for SASP induction and maintenance via modulation of NF-κB activity. Considering the pivotal role of both SASP and ROS in systemic aging and age-related diseases, the link between ROS-PKCδ-PKD1 pathway and SASP regulation elucidated here may provide a new target to intervene in age-related inflammation and diseases.
Dimer recognition and secretion by the ESX secretion system inBacillus subtilis
Authors: Sysoeva Tatyana A. , Zepeda-Rivera Martha A. , Huppert Laura A. , Burton Briana M.
Published: May 2014

Significance

Bacteria use a wide range of secretion mechanisms to export proteins from the cytoplasm. These secretion pathways differ in the nature of substrate recognition signal and the mode of substrate translocation. This work elucidates fundamental properties of substrate secretion by the early secretory antigen 6 kDa (ESX) system. We use systematic mutagenesis and targeted crosslinking of an ESX substrate fromBacillus subtilisto provide, to our knowledge, the first experimental evidence for secretion of an intact dimeric complex requiring a composite recognition signal formed by both members of the complex.
Philanthrocapitalism: appropriation of Africa's genetic wealth
Authors: Thompson Carol B.
Published: May 2014

Although debates about the Gates Foundation's Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) continue with the serious criticisms that it will transform Africa's farming systems into monoculture and that it is trying to link African food production to the global ‘food value chain’, this paper focuses on more fundamental goals of AGRA: to access and privatise Africa's genetic wealth. Employing the theory of accumulation by dispossession explainswhyAGRA is appropriating African genetic wealth and the theory of philanthrocapitalism explainshowthat appropriation is occurring. This study employs philanthrocapitalism to show that the multiple acts of genetic resource expropriation are neither disparate nor unconnected, but rather, reflect a systemic change of replacing public agricultural sectors with private business practices and control.
Anti-aging and anti-microbial effects of melleolide on various types of yeast
Authors: Nakaya Shigeru , Kobori Hajime , Sekiya Atsushi , Kawagishi Hirokazu , Ushimaru Takashi
Published: May 2014

The chronological lifespan (CLS) of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a model for the aging of post-mitotic cells in higher eukaryotes. In this study, we found that the sesquiterpene aryl ester melleolide expands the CLS of budding yeast. In contrast, melleolide compromised the CLS of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. This indicates that melleolide might have a potential anti-aging activity against some types of cell, and that it might be useful as a selective anti-fungal drug.
Improved ethanol production from cheese whey, whey powder, and sugar beet molasses by “Vitreoscilla hemoglobin expressing” Escherichia coli
Authors: Akbas Meltem Yesilcimen , Sar Taner , Ozcelik Busra
Published: May 2014

This work investigated the improvement of ethanol production by engineered ethanologenic Escherichia coli to express the hemoglobin from the bacterium Vitreoscilla (VHb). Ethanologenic E. coli strain FBR5 and FBR5 transformed with the VHb gene in two constructs (strains TS3 and TS4) were grown in cheese whey (CW) medium at small and large scales, at both high and low aeration, or with whey powder (WP) or sugar beet molasses hydrolysate (SBMH) media at large scale and low aeration. Culture pH, cell growth, VHb levels, and ethanol production were evaluated after 48 h. VHb expression in TS3 and TS4 enhanced their ethanol production in CW (21–419%), in WP (17–362%), or in SBMH (48–118%) media. This work extends the findings that “VHb technology” may be useful for improving the production of ethanol from waste and byproducts of various sources.
Structural alteration of cell surface heparan sulfate through the stimulation of the signaling pathway for heparan sulfate 6-O-sulfotransferase-1 in mouse fibroblast cells
Authors: Nishida Mitsutaka , Kozakai Takeru , Nagami Keitaro , Kanamaru Yoshihiro , Yabe Tomio
Published: May 2014

Heparan sulfate (HS) is a randomly sulfated polysaccharide that is present on the cell surface and in the extracellular matrix. The sulfated structures of HS were synthesized by multiple HS sulfotransferases, thereby regulating various activities such as growth factor signaling, cell differentiation, and tumor metastasis. Therefore, if the sulfated structures of HS could be artificially controlled, those manipulations would help to understand the various functions depending on HS. However, little knowledge is currently available to realize the mechanisms controlling the expression of such enzymes. In this study, we found that the ratio of 6-O-sulfated disaccharides increased at 3 h after adrenaline stimulation in mouse fibroblast cells. Furthermore, adrenaline-induced up-regulation of HS 6-O-sulfotransferase-1 (6-OST-1) was controlled by Src-ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Finally, inhibiting the signaling pathways for 6-OST-1 intentionally suppressed the adrenaline-induced structural alteration of HS. These observations provide fundamental insights into the understanding of structural alterations in HS by extracellular cues.
1-Kestose consumption during pregnancy and lactation increases the levels of IgA in the milk of lactating mice
Authors: Jinno Shinji , Nakamura Yoshitaka , Nagata Masashi , Takahashi Takeshi
Published: May 2014

To examine the effect of dietary supplementation with 1-kestose on the IgA levels in milk, BALB/c mice were fed diets with or without 5% 1-kestose during pregnancy and lactation. The total and specific IgA levels in the milk were measured at 7 and 14 days after delivery. A two-way ANOVA with repeated measures resulted in a significant effect of 1-kestose-supplementation on total IgA concentrations (p < 0.05) and the level of anti-Bacteroides IgA (p < 0.05). A significant positive correlation was found between the mean count of Bacteroides spp. in maternal feces and the total IgA concentration in maternal milk (r = 0.55, p < 0.05), suggesting a potential link between the gut and mammary gland immune system. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the effects of dietary prebiotics on milk IgA production.
Enantiospecific synthesis and filed evaluation of four stereoisomers of 10,14-dimethyloctadec-1-ene, a sex pheromone component secreted by female moths of the apple leafminer
Authors: Taguri Tomonori , Yaginuma Katuhiko , Yamamoto Masanobu , Fujii Toru , Ando Tetsu
Published: May 2014

All four stereoisomers of 10,14-dimethyloctadec-1-ene, a sex pheromone component of the apple leafminer (Lyonetia prunifoliella: Lepidoptera), were synthesized starting from (R)- and (S)-propylene oxide by applying stereospecific inversion of chiral secondary tosylates as a key step. Field evaluation showed that male moths of the Japanese population were selectively attracted by the (10S,14S)-isomer and that the activity was not inhibited by the enantiomer.
Enzymatic fragmentation of carbohydrate moieties of radish arabinogalactan-protein and elucidation of the structures
Authors: Shimoda Ryohei , Okabe Kohei , Kotake Toshihisa , Matsuoka Koji , Koyama Tetsuo , Tryfona Theodora , Liang Hui-Chung , Dupree Paul , Tsumuraya Yoichi
Published: May 2014

We investigated the structures of L-arabino-galactooligosaccharides released from the sugar moieties of a radish arabinogalactan-protein (AGP) by the action of exo-β-(1→3)-galactanase. We detected a series of neutral β-(1→6)-linked galactooligosaccharides forming branches of one to up to at least 19 consecutive Gal groups, together with corresponding acidic derivatives terminating in 4-O-methyl-glucuronic acid (4-Me-GlcA) at the non-reducing end. Some oligosaccharide chains of degree of polymerization (dp) higher than 3 for neutral, and 4 for acidic oligomers were modified with L-Araf residues. The acidic tetrasaccharide 4-Me-β-GlcA-(1→6)[α-L-Araf-(1→3)]-β-Gal-(1→6)-Gal was detected as an abundant L-Araf-containing oligosaccharide among these neutral and acidic oligomers. A pentasaccharide containing an additional L-Araf group attached to the L-Ara in the tetrasaccharide through an α-(1→5)-linkage was also found. We observed L-arabino-galactooligosaccharides substituted with single or disaccharide L-Araf units at different Gal residues along these neutral and acidic β-(1→6)-galactooligosaccharide chains, indicating that these side chains are highly variable in length and substituted variously with L-Araf residues.
Detection of choline and phosphatidic acid (PA) catalyzed by phospholipase D (PLD) using MALDI-QIT-TOF/MS with 9-aminoacridine matrix
Authors: Park Kyung-eui , Kim Jun-dal , Nagashima Yusuke , Kako Koichiro , Daitoku Hiroaki , Matsui Motoki , Park Gwi Gun , Fukamizu Akiyoshi
Published: May 2014

Phospholipase D (PLD) catalyzes the hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine (PC), the most abundant phospholipids of plasma membrane, resulting in the production of choline and phosphatidic acid (PA). Choline is a precursor of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, whereas PA functions as an intracellular lipid mediator of diverse biological functions. For assessing PLD activity in vitro, PLD-derived choline has been often analyzed with radioactive or non-radioactive methods. In this study, we have developed a new method for detecting choline and PA with MALDI-QIT-TOF/MS by using 9-aminoacridine as a matrix. The standard calibration curves showed that choline and PA could be detected with linearity over the range from 0.05 and 1 pmol, respectively. Importantly, this method enables the concomitant detection of choline and PA as a reaction product of PC hydrolysis by PLD2 proteins. Thus, our simple and direct method would be useful to characterize the enzymatic properties of PLD, thereby providing insight into mechanisms of PLD activation.
The right to enhancement: students talking about music knowledge in the secondary curriculum
Authors: McPhail Graham John
Published: May 2014

In this paper the idea of social entitlement to conceptual knowledge is considered in relation to students’ views of music at secondary school in New Zealand. The data was collected as a means of triangulating the key focus of a study concerning the beliefs and actions of teachers in relation to curriculum. In interpreting the student data I utilise thematic categories developed in the study but also Bernstein%s concepts of pedagogic rights and identities to consider whether students’ experience of the curriculum empowered them to look beyond what they already know to consider alternatives. Most students were able to recognise themselves and their aspirations within their school music departments while also recognising the potential importance of the theoretical knowledge of the discipline. The interplay between enabling pedagogy and curriculum content appears to be pivotal in developing these rights for students.
What Is the Best Method? Recovery of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase–Producing Escherichia coli from Inanimate Hospital Surfaces
Authors: Claro Tânia , Galvin Sandra , Cahill Orla , Fitzgerald-Hughes Deirdre , Daniels Stephen , Humphreys Hilary
Published: May 2014

Environmental sampling in hospitals, when required, needs to be reliable. We evaluated different methods of sampling methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and extended-spectrum β-lactamase–producing Escherichia coli on 5 materials of the hospital setting. Petrifilms and contact plates were superior to swabs for all of the surfaces studied.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2014;35(7):869–871
𝐺₂ and the rolling ball
Authors: Baez John , Huerta John
Published: May 2014

Understanding the exceptional Lie groups as the symmetry groups of simpler objects is a long-standing program in mathematics. Here, we explore one famous realization of the smallest exceptional Lie group,

G

2

\mathrm {G}_2

. Its Lie algebra

g

2

\mathfrak {g}_2

acts locally as the symmetries of a ball rolling on a larger ball, but only when the ratio of radii is 1:3. Using the split octonions, we devise a similar, but more global, picture of

G

2

\mathrm {G}_2

: it acts as the symmetries of a ‘spinorial ball rolling on a projective plane’, again when the ratio of radii is 1:3. We explain this ratio in simple terms, use the dot product and cross product of split octonions to describe the

G

2

\mathrm {G}_2

incidence geometry, and show how a form of geometric quantization applied to this geometry lets us recover the imaginary split octonions and these operations.
The lysosomal cathepsin protease CPL-1 plays a leading role in phagosomal degradation of apoptotic cells inCaenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Xu Meng , Liu Yubing , Zhao Liyuan , Gan Qiwen , Wang Xiaochen , Yang Chonglin
Published: May 2014

During programmed cell death, the clearance of apoptotic cells is achieved by their phagocytosis and delivery to lysosomes for destruction in engulfing cells. However, the role of lysosomal proteases in cell corpse destruction is not understood. Here we report the identification of the lysosomal cathepsin CPL-1 as an indispensable protease for apoptotic cell removal in Caenorhabditis elegans. We find that loss of cpl-1 function leads to strong accumulation of germ cell corpses, which results from a failure in degradation rather than engulfment. CPL-1 is expressed in a variety of cell types, including engulfment cells, and its mutation does not affect the maturation of cell corpse–containing phagosomes, including phagosomal recruitment of maturation effectors and phagosome acidification. Of importance, we find that phagosomal recruitment and incorporation of CPL-1 occurs before digestion of cell corpses, which depends on factors required for phagolysosome formation. Using RNA interference, we further examine the role of other candidate lysosomal proteases in cell corpse clearance but find that they do not obviously affect this process. Collectively, these findings establish CPL-1 as the leading lysosomal protease required for elimination of apoptotic cells in C. elegans.
Role of the loop L4,5in allosteric regulation in mtHsp70s: in vivo significance of domain communication and its implications in protein translocation
Authors: Samaddar Madhuja , Goswami Arvind Vittal , Purushotham Jaya , Hegde Pushpa , D'Silva Patrick
Published: May 2014

Mitochondrial Hsp70 (mtHsp70) is essential for a vast repertoire of functions, including protein import, and requires effective interdomain communication for efficient partner-protein interactions. However, the in vivo functional significance of allosteric regulation in eukaryotes is poorly defined. Using integrated biochemical and yeast genetic approaches, we provide compelling evidence that a conserved substrate-binding domain (SBD) loop, L4,5, plays a critical role in allosteric communication governing mtHsp70 chaperone functions across species. In yeast, a temperature-sensitive L4,5mutation (E467A) disrupts bidirectional domain communication, leading to compromised protein import and mitochondrial function. Loop L4,5functions synergistically with the linker in modulating the allosteric interface and conformational transitions between SBD and the nucleotide-binding domain (NBD), thus regulating interdomain communication. Second-site intragenic suppressors of E467A isolated within the SBD suppress domain communication defects by conformationally altering the allosteric interface, thereby restoring import and growth phenotypes. Strikingly, the suppressor mutations highlight that restoration of communication from NBD to SBD alone is the minimum essential requirement for effective in vivo function when primed at higher basal ATPase activity, mimicking the J-protein–bound state. Together these findings provide the first mechanistic insights into critical regions within the SBD of mtHsp70s regulating interdomain communication, thus highlighting its importance in protein translocation and mitochondrial biogenesis.
Kinetochore genes are coordinately up-regulated in human tumors as part of a FoxM1-related cell division program
Authors: Thiru Prathapan , Kern David M. , McKinley Kara L. , Monda Julie K. , Rago Florencia , Su Kuan-Chung , Tsinman Tonia , Yarar Defne , Bell George W. , Cheeseman Iain M.
Published: May 2014

The key player in directing proper chromosome segregation is the macromolecular kinetochore complex, which mediates DNA–microtubule interactions. Previous studies testing individual kinetochore genes documented examples of their overexpression in tumors relative to normal tissue, leading to proposals that up-regulation of specific kinetochore genes may promote tumor progression. However, kinetochore components do not function in isolation, and previous studies did not comprehensively compare the expression behavior of kinetochore components. Here we analyze the expression behavior of the full range of human kinetochore components in diverse published expression compendia, including normal tissues and tumor samples. Our results demonstrate that kinetochore genes are rarely overexpressed individually. Instead, we find that core kinetochore genes are coordinately regulated with other cell division genes under virtually all conditions. This expression pattern is strongly correlated with the expression of the forkhead transcription factor FoxM1, which binds to the majority of cell division promoters. These observations suggest that kinetochore gene up-regulation in cancer reflects a general activation of the cell division program and that altered expression of individual kinetochore genes is unlikely to play a causal role in tumorigenesis.
High-frequency Ventilation Does Not Provide Mortality Benefit in Comparison with Conventional Lung-protective Ventilation in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Authors: Maitra Souvik , Bhattacharjee Sulagna , Khanna Puneet , Baidya Dalim K.
Published: May 2014

AbstractAbstract

A meta-analysis of 1,759 patients from seven randomized controlled trials documents that the use of HFOV does not offer a mortality benefit and appears to prolong the duration of mechanical ventilation.

Background:

Despite implementation of lung-protective ventilation strategy, acute respiratory distress syndrome is associated with significant mortality, which necessitates the evaluation of ventilatory modes other than conventional lung-protective strategy. This meta-analysis of the randomized controlled trials has been undertaken to know whether high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) provides any mortality benefit over conventional ventilation in adult patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Methods:

Published randomized controlled trials comparing HFOV with conventional lung-protective ventilation in adult patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome were included in this meta-analysis.

Results:

A total 1,759 patient data from seven randomized controlled trials have been analyzed here. Primary outcome of the review is in-hospital/30-day mortality and secondary outcomes are duration of intensive care unit stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, requirement of additional treatment, and complications associated with the interventions. HFOV does not offer any in-hospital/30-day mortality benefit (386 of 886 in HFOV vs. 368 of 873 in conventional ventilation; risk ratio, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.77 to 1.19; P = 0.70) over conventional ventilation. It may also prolong the duration of mechanical ventilation (mean difference, 1.18 days; 95% CI, 0.00 to 2.35 days; P = 0.05). Duration of intensive care unit stay (mean difference, 1.24 days; 95% CI, −0.08 to 2.56 days; P = 0.06) and requirement of neuromuscular blocker is similar between two treatment arm. Incidence of refractory hypoxemia is significantly less (risk ratio, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.39 to 0.93; P = 0.02) with the use of HFOV. HFOV is not associated with increased incidence of barotrauma and refractory hypotension.

Conclusion:

HFOV should not be used routinely in all adult patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome as primary ventilation strategy in place of conventional lung-protective ventilation.
Digital image correlation-based point-wise inverse characterization of heterogeneous material properties of gallbladder
in vitro
Authors: Genovese Katia , Casaletto Luciana , Humphrey Jay D. , Lu Jia
Published: May 2014

Continuing advances in mechanobiology reveal more and more that many cell types, especially those responsible for establishing, maintaining, remodelling or repairing extracellular matrix, are extremely sensitive to their local mechanical environment. Indeed, it appears that they fashion the extracellular matrix so as to promote a ‘mechanical homeostasis’. A natural corollary, therefore, is that cells will try to offset complexities in geometry and applied loads with heterogeneous material properties in order to render their local environment mechanobiologically favourable. There is a pressing need, therefore, for hybrid experimental–computational methods in biomechanics that can quantify such heterogeneities. In this paper, we present an approach that combines experimental information on full-field surface geometry and deformations with a membrane-based point-wise inverse method to infer full-field mechanical properties for soft tissues that exhibit nonlinear behaviours under finite deformations. To illustrate the potential utility of this new approach, we present the first quantification of regional mechanical properties of an excised but intact gallbladder, a thin-walled, sac-like organ that plays a fundamental role in normal digestion. The gallbladder was inflated to a maximum local stretch of 120% in eight pressure increments; at each pressure pause, the entire three-dimensional surface was optically extracted, and from which the surface strains were computed. Wall stresses in each state were predicted from the deformed geometry and the applied pressure using an inverse elastostatic method. The elastic properties of the gallbladder tissue were then characterized locally using point-wise stress–strain data. The gallbladder was found to be highly heterogeneous, with drastically different stiffness between the hepatic and the serosal sides. The identified material model was validated through forward finite-element analysis; both the configurations and the local stress–strain patterns were well reproduced.
Data fusion for automated non-destructive inspection
Authors: Brierley N. , Tippetts T. , Cawley P.
Published: May 2014

In industrial non-destructive evaluation (NDE), it is increasingly common for data acquisition to be automated, driving a recent substantial increase in the availability of data. The collected data need to be analysed, typically necessitating the painstaking manual labour of a skilled operator. Moreover, in automated NDE a region of an inspected component is typically interrogated several times, be it within a single data channel due to multiple probe passes, across several channels acquired simultaneously or over the course of repeated inspections. The systematic combination of these diverse readings is recognized to offer an opportunity to improve the reliability of the inspection, but is not achievable in a manual analysis. This paper describes a data-fusion-based software framework providing a partial automation capability, allowing component regions to be declared defect-free to a very high probability while readily identifying defect indications, thereby optimizing the use of the operator's time. The system is designed to applicable to a wide range of automated NDE scenarios, but the processing is exemplified using the industrial ultrasonic immersion inspection of aerospace turbine discs. Results obtained for industrial datasets demonstrate an orders-of-magnitude reduction in false-call rates, for a given probability of detection, achievable using the developed software system.
Mobilitalea sibirica gen. nov., sp. nov., a halotolerant polysaccharide-degrading bacterium
Authors: Podosokorskaya O. A. , Bonch-Osmolovskaya E. A. , Beskorovaynyy A. V. , Toshchakov S. V. , Kolganova T. V. , Kublanov I. V.
Published: May 2014

A novel strictly anaerobic, halotolerant, organotrophic bacterium, strain P3M-3T, was isolated from a microbial mat formed under the flow of hot water emerging from a 2775 m-deep well in Tomsk region (western Siberia, Russia). Cells of strain P3M-3T were straight and curved rods, 0.2–0.4 µm in width and 1.5–20 µm in length. Strain P3M-3T grew optimally at 37 °C, pH 7.0–7.5 and in a NaCl concentration of 15 g l−1. Under optimum growth conditions, the doubling time was 1 h. The isolate was able to ferment a variety of mono-, di- and polysaccharides, including microcrystalline cellulose. Acetate, ethanol, H2 and CO2 were the main products of glucose fermentation. The DNA G+C content was 33.4 mol%. 16S rRNA gene-based phylogenetic analysis showed that strain P3M-3T was a member of family

Lachnospiraceae

, whose representatives are also found in

Clostridium

cluster XIVa. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with

Clostridium jejuense

HY-35-12T, the closest relative, was 93.9 %. A novel genus and species, Mobilitalea sibirica gen. nov., sp. nov., are proposed based on phylogenetic analysis and physiological properties of the novel isolate. The type strain of the type species is P3M-3T ( = DSM 26468T = VKM B-2804T).
Devosia pacifica sp. nov., isolated from deep-sea sediment
Authors: Jia Yan-Yu , Sun Cong , Pan Jie , Zhang Wei-Yan , Zhang Xin-Qi , Huo Ying-Yi , Zhu Xu-Fen , Wu Min
Published: May 2014

A novel bacterial strain, NH131T, was isolated from deep-sea sediment of South China Sea. Cells were strictly aerobic, Gram-stain negative, short rod-shaped and motile with a single lateral flagellum. Strain NH131T grew optimally at pH 6.5–7.0 and 25–30 °C. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain NH131T belonged to the genus

Devosia

, sharing the highest sequence similarity with the type strain,

Devosia geojensis

BD-c194T (96.2 %). The predominant fatty acids were C18 : 1ω7c, 11-methyl C18 : 1ω7c, C18 : 0 and C16 : 0. Ubiquinone 10 was the predominant ubiquinone. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phospholipid, three glycolipids and two unknown lipids. The DNA G+C content of strain NH131T was 63.0 mol%. On the basis of the results of polyphasic identification, it is suggested that strain NH131T represents a novel species of the genus

Devosia

for which the name Devosia pacifica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NH131T ( = JCM 19305T = KCTC 32437T).