bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Air calibration of an oxygen optode on an underwater glider
Authors: Nicholson David P. , Feen Melanie L.
Published: March 2017

An Aanderaa Data Instruments 4831 oxygen optode was configured on an underwater glider such that the optode extended into the atmosphere during each glider surface interval enabling in situ calibration of the sensor by directly measuring the known oxygen partial pressure of the atmosphere. The approach, which has previously been implemented on profiling floats but not on gliders, was tested during a 15‐d deployment at the New England shelf break in June 2016, a productive period during which surface O2 saturation averaged 110%. Results were validated by shipboard Winkler O2 calibration casts, which were used to determine a sensor gain factor of 1.055 ± 0.004. Consistent with profiling float observations, air measurements contain contamination from splashing water and/or residual seawater on the sensor face. Glider surface measurements were determined to be a linear combination of 36% of surface water and 64% atmospheric air. When correcting air measurements for this effect, a sensor gain correction of 1.055 ± 0.005 was calculated based on comparing glider air measurements to the expected atmospheric pO2 calculated from atmospheric pressure and humidity data from a nearby NOAA buoy. Thus, the two approaches were in agreement and were both demonstrated to be accurate to within ±0.5%. We expect uncertainty in the air‐calibration could be further reduced by increasing the vertical positioning of the optode, lengthening deployment time, or operating in waters with surface O2 saturation closer to equilibrium.
Preparation and characterization of PES/CA microporous membranes via reverse thermally induced phase separation process
Authors: Liu Sheng‐Hui , Xu Zhen‐Liang , Liu Min , Wei Yong‐Ming , Guo Feng
Published: March 2017

The blend polyethersulfone (PES)/cellulose acetate (CA) flat‐sheet microporous membranes were prepared by reverse thermally induced phase separation (RTIPS) process. The effects of CA content and coagulation bath temperature on membrane structures and properties were investigated in terms of membrane morphology, water contact angle, permeation performance, and mechanical properties. The cloud point results indicated that the cloud point decreased with the increasing content of CA. When the coagulation bath temperature was lower than the cloud point, the membrane formation process underwent nonsolvent induced phase separation (NIPS) process and dense skin layer and finger‐like structure were formed in membranes. These membranes had lower pure water flux and poor mechanical properties. But when the coagulation bath temperature was higher than the cloud point, the membrane formation process underwent RTIPS process. The porous top surface as well as porous cross‐section of the membranes were formed. Therefore, high pure water flux and good mechanical properties were obtained. The contact angles results indicated that the hydrophilicity of the prepared membranes improved obviously with the addition of CA. When the content of CA was 0.5 wt% and the membrane formation temperature was 323K, the PES/CA microporous membrane which was prepared via the RTIPS process displayed a optimal permeability of the pure water flux of 816 L m−2 h−1 and the BSA rejection rate of 49.5%, which showed an increase of 48.9% and 23.6% than that of pure PES membrane, respectively. Moreover, the mechanical strengths of the membranes obtained by RTIPS process were better than those membranes prepared by NIPS process. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 58:180–191, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers
Thermomechanical and large deformation behaviors of antiplasticized epoxy resins: Effect of material formulation and network architecture
Authors: Pandini Stefano , Bignotti Fabio , Baldi Francesco , Sartore Luciana , Consolati Giovanni , Panzarasa Guido
Published: March 2017

A series of amine‐hardened epoxies were prepared by systematically varying the stoichiometric ratio and the relative amounts of diepoxide and monoepoxide resin to chemically control the material composition and macromolecular architecture (chain segments flexibility; crosslink density; amounts of dangling groups). Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy was used to investigate the free volume associated to the various epoxy formulations, while dynamic‐mechanical analysis was employed to investigate their network density and their primary and secondary mechanical relaxations. The mechanical behavior at small and large strain was studied by means of tensile and compression tests. The results pointed out that deviations from the ideal stoichiometric composition and the addition of monoepoxide resins lead to significant room temperature stiffening, together with a reduction of the crosslink density and glass transition temperature. This behavior, phenomenologically associated to antiplasticization, was interpreted according to the specific macromolecular architecture and ascribed to chain mobility hindrance, as revealed by secondary transitions, whereas no significant contribution from the free volume could be evidenced. Furthermore, it was shown that depending on the strain scale and on the corresponding deformational mechanisms, the mechanical response may be differently influenced either by the presence of dangling groups or by the network density. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 57:553–565, 2017. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers
Determinants of Organizational Preparedness for Floods: U.S. Employees’ Perceptions
Authors: Sadiq Abdul‐Akeem
Published: March 2017

Globally, and in the United States, flooding is considered one of the most destructive natural hazards in terms of lives lost, injuries, and economic losses. Despite the growing concern of climate change impacts on organizations in particular and society in general, very little is known about the factors influencing public, private, and nonprofit organizations to prepare for flood hazards. This article examines the predictors of flood preparedness in organizations using information collected via an online questionnaire from a national sample of 2008 employees of public, private, and nonprofit organizations in the United States in 2014. The findings revealed that in general, organization size and organization age are robust predictors of flood preparedness. This article concludes by discussing the implications of the results for theory, offering recommendations for practice, and outlining an agenda for future research on the predictors of flood preparedness at the organizational level.
A randomized, open-label, multicenter, phase II study evaluating the efficacy and safety of BTH1677 (1,3–1,6 beta glucan; Imprime PGG) in combination with cetuximab and chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Thomas M. , Sadjadian P. , Kollmeier J. , Lowe J. , Mattson P. , Trout J. R. , Gargano M. , Patchen M. L. , Walsh R. , Beliveau M. , Marier J. F. , Bose N. , Gorden K. , Schneller F.
Published: March 2017

Introduction BTH1677, a 1,3–1,6 beta-glucan immunomodulator, stimulates a coordinated anti-cancer immune response in combination with anti-tumor antibody therapies. This phase II study explored the efficacy, pharmacokinetics (PK), and safety of BTH1677 combined with cetuximab/carboplatin/paclitaxel in untreated stage IIIB/IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Methods Patients were randomized 2:1 to the BTH1677 arm (N=60; BTH1677, 4 mg/kg, weekly; cetuximab, initial dose 400 mg/m2 and subsequent doses 250 mg/m2, weekly; carboplatin, 6 mg/mL/min AUC (area-under-the-curve) by Calvert formula, once each 3-week cycle [Q3W]); and paclitaxel, 200 mg/m2, Q3W) or Control arm (N=30; cetuximab/carboplatin/paclitaxel as above). Carboplatin/paclitaxel was discontinued after 4–6 cycles; patients who responded or remained stable received maintenance therapy with BTH1677/cetuximab (BTH1677 arm) or cetuximab (Control arm). Investigator and blinded central radiology reviews were conducted. Efficacy assessments included objective response rate (ORR; primary endpoint), disease control rate, duration of objective response, time-to-progression and overall survival (OS); safety was assessed by adverse events (AEs). Potential biomarker analysis for BTH1677 response was also conducted. Results Compared to control treatment, the addition of BTH1677 numerically increased ORR by both investigator (47.8% vs 23.1%; p=0.0468) and central (36.6% vs 23.1%; p=0.2895) reviews. No other endpoints differed between arms. PK was consistent with previous studies. BTH1677 was well tolerated, with AEs expected of the backbone therapy predominating. Biomarker-positive patients displayed better ORR and OS than negative patients. Conclusions BTH1677 combined with cetuximab/carboplatin/paclitaxel was well tolerated and improved ORR as first-line treatment in patients with advanced NSCLC. Future patient selection by biomarker status may further improve efficacy

ClinicalTrials.gov
Identifier: NCT00874848
FRZB and melusin, overexpressed in LGMD2A, regulate integrin β1D isoform replacement altering myoblast fusion and the integrin-signalling pathway
Authors: Jaka Oihane , Casas-Fraile Leire , Azpitarte Margarita , Aiastui Ana , López de Munain Adolfo , Sáenz Amets
Published: March 2017

Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2A (LGMD2A) is characterised by muscle wasting and progressive degeneration of proximal muscles because of mutations in the CAPN3 gene. However, the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of muscle degeneration are still not well understood. The objective of this study was to assess the relevance of genes with differential expression in the muscle of LGMD2A patients. For this purpose, we analysed their in vitro expression in primary cultures of human myoblasts and myotubes. Abnormal fusion was observed in the myotubes of these patients, which may be explained by the lack of physiological replacement of integrin β1D. Owing to this observation, we focused on deregulated genes coding proteins that directly interact with integrin, ITGB1BP2 and CD9, as well as FRZB gene, because of its in vitro upregulation in myotubes. Silencing studies established that these genes are closely regulated, CD9 and FRZB being positive regulators of the expression of ITGB1BP2, and in turn, this gene being a negative regulator of the expression of FRZB. Interestingly, we observed that FRZB regulates integrin β1D expression, its silencing increasing integrin β1D expression to levels similar to those in controls. Finally, the administration of LiCl, an enhancer of the Wnt-signalling pathway showed similar experimentally beneficial effects, suggesting FRZB silencing or LiCl administration as potential therapeutic targets, though further studies are required.
LAW, RELIGION, AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN DAVID LITTLE'S THOUGHT
Authors: Witte John
Published: March 2017

David Little has pioneered the study of religion, human rights, and religious freedom during fifty-five years of distinguished scholarly work at Yale, Harvard, Virginia, Georgetown, and the United States Institute of Peace. Starting with his first major book,Religion, Order, and Law: A Study in Pre-Revolutionary England, he has traced cardinal principles like freedom of conscience and free exercise of religion from their earliest formulations in Stoic philosophy and Roman law, through the writings of Augustine, Aquinas, the medieval canonists and scholastics, and their many early modern heirs. Among the latter, he has explored most deeply the contributions of Protestants to the Western understanding of human rights and religious freedom, with special focus on John Calvin, John Locke, Roger Williams, and Reinhold Niebuhr, all of whose ideas he connects to each other and to the broader Western tradition in fresh and inventive ways. He has written astutely on the vexed questions arising under the First Amendment's guarantees of no government establishments of religion and no prohibitions on its free exercise. And he has charted many of the religious sources and dimensions of modern human rights, particularly the fundamental international protections of freedom of thought, conscience, and belief, freedom from religious hatred, incitement, and discrimination, and freedom for religious and cultural self-determination.
Vegetation Change in Southwestern Amazonia (Brazil) and Relationship to the Late Pleistocene and Holocene Climate
Authors: Rossetti Dilce F , Cohen Marcelo C L , Pessenda Luiz C R
Published: March 2017

The Late Quaternary climate in Amazonia is an issue still open to debate, with hypotheses varying from alternate dry and wet episodes to stable climate with undisturbed rainforest. We approach this question using δ13C, C/N, and, to a lesser extent, δ15N from deposits derived from four cores, with the results combined with published pollen data from two of these cores. These data were analyzed within the context of radiocarbon dating, which revealed ages ranging from 42.8–41.8 to 2.3–2.2 cal ka BP. Fluvial channel and floodplain deposits with freshwater phytoplankton recorded a trend of wet climate with dry episodes before ~40 cal ka BP, followed by humid and cold climate until the Last Glacial Maximum, with intensified aridity towards the end of the Late Pleistocene. Peaks of increased contributions in C4land plants in the mid- to late Holocene were not synchronous and have no correspondence with Amazonian Holocene dry episodes, being due to sedimentary processes related to fluvial dynamics during the establishment of herbaceous fields on abandoned depositional sites. Thus, the climate remained wet in the Holocene, which would have favored the expansion of the Amazonian rainforest as we see today.
Assessing the Blank Carbon Contribution, Isotope Mass Balance, and Kinetic Isotope Fractionation of the Ramped Pyrolysis/Oxidation Instrument at NOSAMS
Authors: Hemingway Jordon D , Galy Valier V , Gagnon Alan R , Grant Katherine E , Rosengard Sarah Z , Soulet Guillaume , Zigah Prosper K , McNichol Ann P
Published: March 2017

We estimate the blank carbon mass over the course of a typical Ramped PyrOx (RPO) analysis (150–1000°C; 5°C×min–1) to be (3.7±0.6) μg C with an Fm value of 0.555±0.042 and a δ13C value of (–29.0±0.1) ‰ VPDB. Additionally, we provide equations for RPO Fm and δ13C blank corrections, including associated error propagation. By comparing RPO mass-weighted mean and independently measured bulk δ13C values for a compilation of environmental samples and standard reference materials (SRMs), we observe a small yet consistent 13C depletion within the RPO instrument (mean–bulk: μ=–0.8‰; ±1σ=0.9‰; n=66). In contrast, because they are fractionation-corrected by definition, mass-weighted mean Fm values accurately match bulk measurements (mean–bulk: μ=0.005; ±1σ=0.014; n=36). Lastly, we show there exists no significant intra-sample δ13C variability across carbonate SRM peaks, indicating minimal mass-dependent kinetic isotope fractionation during RPO analysis. These data are best explained by a difference in activation energy between 13C- and 12C-containing compounds (13–12∆E) of 0.3–1.8 J×mol–1, indicating that blank and mass-balance corrected RPO δ13C values accurately retain carbon source isotope signals to within 1–2‰.
Cova Eirós: An Integrated Approach to Dating the Earliest Known Cave Art in NW Iberia
Authors: Steelman Karen L , de Lombera-Hermida Arturo , Viñas-Vallverdú Ramón , Rodríguez-Álvarez Xosé Pedro , Carrera-Ramírez Fernando , Rubio-Mora Albert , Fábregas-Valcarce Ramon
Published: March 2017

At Cova Eirós, we discovered 13 panels with paintings and engravings that stylistically point to the final moments of the Upper Paleolithic. Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy were used to identify charcoal as black pigment. Although contamination from medieval fires inside the cave complicates the dating of these pictographs, analyses of unpainted rock backgrounds allowed calculation corrections for contaminated samples. We used plasma oxidation and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) to directly radiocarbon (14C) date two charcoal paintings—confirming that the images are more than 9000 yr old. As these paintings superimpose engravings, these14C dates also provide a minimum age for an engraving at Cova Eirós that is stylistically Final Magdalenian/Epipaleolithic. This is the first known evidence of Paleolithic cave art in Galicia of NW Iberia.
Archaeological Earthen Mound Complex in Patos Lagoon, Southern Brazil: Chronological Model and Freshwater Influence
Authors: Milheira Rafael G , Macario Kita D , Chanca Ingrid S , Alves Eduardo Q
Published: March 2017

In the present work, we assess the chronology of archaeological sites known as earthen mounds, commonly found at the Pampas biome, among the lowlands of Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. We focused on the Pontal da Barra settlement, which is a testimony of the long-term occupation of indigenous groups in the swamp and wet environment of Patos Lagoon, southern Brazil. A Bayesian chronological model based on the radiocarbon (14C) dating of 17 samples of fish otolith, 5 charcoal fragments, and 2 bones (human and dog) allowed determination of the beginning of the occupation as well as the occupational synchronism of the different mounds. The nature of the samples allows us to study the local14C reservoir effect through the comparison between the group of marine and terrestrial samples, deriving a reservoir offset value of 63±5314C yr for this particular area, indicating a strong freshwater influence in the lagoon system. We estimate the start of human intervention in the landscapes of southern Patos Lagoon to be around 2200 cal BP, with the most intense activity between 1800 and 1200 cal BP.
THE ‘SMILING MASK’ OFBACCHAE
Authors: Billings Joshua
Published: March 2017

In his commentary onBacchae439, lemma γελῶν, E.R. Dodds writes: ‘the actor who plays the Stranger no doubt wore a smiling mask throughout’. In addition to this passage, Dodds citesBacch.380 (γελάσαι) andHymn. Hom. Bacch.14 (μειδιάων). Referringto Bacch.1021 (προσώπῳ γελῶντι), he expands: ‘it is an ambiguous smile—here the smile of a martyr, afterwards the smile of the destroyer.’ The idea seems to originate either from Dodds himself (whose commentary was first published in 1944) or from R.P. Winnington-Ingram, whoseEuripides and Dionysus(published in 1948) cites the smile as well. Winnington-Ingram's book, according to the Preface, was substantially complete by 1938, and he and Dodds were in close contact at the time of writing, so the idea could have come from either one or the other, or from their conversations. Whatever its source, the smiling mask is taken as fact by both, and through their works entered the mainstream of post-war scholarship onBacchae.
TWO NOTES ON PHILOSTRATUS’IMAGINES2.28 (‘LOOMS’)
Authors: Xian Ruobing
Published: March 2017

In their edition of Philostratus’ImaginesBenndorf and Schenkel established an index locorum, ‘ex quibus tamquam fontibus Philostratus ea quae in Imaginibus leguntur hausisse videtur’. For the passage quoted above, they note three allusions to theOdyssey: (1) the famous snow-melting simile (19.204-9), which describes the weeping Penelope; (2) Penelope's loom, on which she unravelled at night what she had woven during the day (19.150; 2.105); and (3) the invisible bonds of Hephaestus as fine as spiders’ webs (8.280).
The Applications of Critical-Point Theory to Discontinuous Fractional-Order Differential Equations
Authors: Tian Yu , Nieto Juan J.
Published: March 2017

We consider a fractional equation involving the left and right Riemann–Liouville fractional integrals and with Sturm–Liouville boundary-value conditions. We establish the variational structure of the problem and, by using critical-point theory, the existence of an unbounded sequence of solutions is obtained.
Comparison of supplemental cobalt form on fibre digestion and cobalamin concentrations in cattle
Authors: WATERMAN R. C. , KELLY W. L. , LARSON C. K. , PETERSEN M. K.
Published: March 2017

Cobalt (Co) is essential for rumen microbial metabolism to synthesize methane, acetate and methionine. It also serves as a structural component of vitamin B12(cobalamin), which functions as a coenzyme in energy metabolism. A study was conducted to determine if Co form (carbonatev. glucoheptonate) supplemented above the National Research Council requirements would improve digestibility of a low-quality forage diet and change serum cobalamin concentrations. Nineteen ruminally cannulated cows (577 ± 13 kg) were fed individually in a completely randomized experimental design. Cows were fed a grass hay diet that contained (79·2 g/kg crude protein, 565 g/kg total digestible nutrients, 633·2 g/kg neutral detergent fibre (NDF), 874·2 g/kg dry matter) at a rate of 0·02% of body weight on a as fed basis for a 62-day study, which consisted of three periods; acclimation (AC), treatment (TR) and residual (RE). Measurements taken in the AC period were used as covariates for analysis in the TR and RE periods. Cows were stratified by age (5 ± 0·4 years) and lactational history, and assigned to receive 12·5 mg supplemental Co in one of two forms: (1) 27·2 mg of Co carbonate (CC,n= 11 cows) or (2) 50 mg of Co glucoheptonate (CGH,n= 8 cows). Supplement was administered daily via a gelatin capsule placed directly into the rumen 2 h after feeding. During the last 96 h of each period, forage digestibility was measured using anin situnylon bag technique. Blood samples were collected 4 and 6 h following feeding, and 24 h before the end of each period. A treatment × period interaction was detected forin situorganic matter (OM) disappearance at 96 h; (TR period: 684 and 708 ± 81 g/kg; RE period: 676 and 668 ± 75 g/kg, for CC and CGH, respectively). Once inclusion of Co in the CGH group was removed, OM disappearance was reduced by 4·01% compared with 0·82% in the CC cows. The NDF disappearance (OM basis) was less for the TR compared with the RE at 48 h (629 and 652 ± 39 g/kg, respectively). However, by 96 h NDF disappearance was greater for TR than the RE (704 and 689 ± 44 g/kg; respectively). No differences were detected for cobalamin serum concentrations or rate of fibre fermentation. The outcomes of the current research signify that there may be a slight residual effect of Co supplementation on fermentation; there was also an indication that Co source may enhance the overall extent of fermentation.
Congruences concerning truncated hypergeometric series
Authors: He Bing
Published: March 2017

We employ some formulae on hypergeometric series and p-adic Gamma function to establish several congruences.
THE MATERIALITY OF COLOR IN PRE-COLUMBIAN CODICES: INSIGHTS FROM CULTURAL HISTORY
Authors: Dupey García Élodie
Published: March 2017

This article explores the materiality of the colors of some Nahua codices from pre-Columbian Mexico, comparing data obtained from two bodies of evidence: scientific investigation—through macroscopic inspection and physicochemical studies—and historical accounts. In doing so, this article shows that the Colonial period literature contributes to the understanding of the creation process of the codices and their chromatic palettes, in particular regarding some coloring materials, the identification of which still remains a challenge for scientists. The comparison carried out in this article also elucidates certain aspects of the historical texts on Mesoamerican colors, which were previously poorly understood or misinterpreted.
Effects of bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) on in vitro development and survival of bovine preantral follicles enclosed in fragments ovarian tissue
Authors: da Cunha Ellen de Vasconcelos , de Souza Glaucinete Borges , Passos José Renato de Sousa , Silva Anderson Weiny Barbalho , Dau Andressa Minussi , Saraiva Márcia Viviane Alves , Lobo Raimundo Nonato Braga , Silva José Roberto Viana
Published: March 2017

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of BMP4 on activation, development and mRNA expression of GDF9, BMP15, PCNA, Bax and Bcl2 in cultured bovine follicles enclosed in ovarian tissues. Ovarian tissue fragments were cultured for 6 days in α-MEM+ alone or supplemented with different concentrations of BMP4 (10, 50 or 100 ng/ml). Classical histology was performed to analyze follicle growth and morphology, while real-time PCR was used to analyze mRNA levels in fresh and cultured tissues. After 6 days, the culture of ovarian tissue in α-MEM+ alone or supplemented with 10, 50 or 100 ng/ml BMP4 promoted follicular activation. The different concentrations of BMP4 maintained the percentage of normal follicles similar to results of the control. The presence of 100 ng/ml BMP-4 in culture medium increased oocyte and follicular diameters of primary and secondary follicles when compared with those follicles from uncultured control or cultured in α-MEM+ alone (P < 0.05). The tissues cultured in the presence of increasing concentrations of BMP4 had an increase in mRNA expression of the tested genes, but despite this the differences were not statistically significant. In conclusion, 100 ng/ml BMP4 promotes an increase in diameters of follicles and oocytes of primary and secondary follicles after 6 days of in vitro culture.
Disaster Preparedness among Health Professionals and Support Staff: What is Effective? An Integrative Literature Review
Authors: Gowing Jeremy R. , Walker Kim N. , Elmer Shandell L. , Cummings Elizabeth A.
Published: March 2017

Introduction

It is important that health professionals and support staff are prepared for disasters to safeguard themselves and the community during disasters. There has been a significantly heightened focus on disasters since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 in New York (USA); however, despite this, it is evident that health professionals and support staff may not be adequately prepared for disasters.

Report

An integrative literature review was performed based on a keyword search of the major health databases for primary research evaluating preparedness of health professionals and support staff. The literature was quality appraised using a mixed-methods appraisal tool (MMAT), and a thematic analysis was completed to identify current knowledge and gaps.

Discussion

The main themes identified were: health professionals and support staff may not be fully prepared for disasters; the most effective content and methods for disaster preparedness is unknown; and the willingness of health professionals and support staff to attend work and perform during disasters needs further evaluation. Gaps were identified to guide further research and the creation of new knowledge to best prepare for disasters. These included the need for: high-quality research to evaluate the best content and methods of disaster preparedness; inclusion of the multi-disciplinary health care team as participants; preparation for internal disasters; the development of validated competencies for preparedness; validated tools for measurement; and the importance of performance in actual disasters to evaluate preparation.

Conclusion

The literature identified that all types of disaster preparedness activities lead to improvements in knowledge, skills, or attitude preparedness for disasters. Most studies focused on external disasters and the preparedness of medical, nursing, public health, or paramedic professionals. There needs to be a greater focus on the whole health care team, including allied health professionals and support staff, for both internal and external disasters. Evaluation during real disasters and the use of validated competencies and tools to deliver and evaluate disaster preparedness will enhance knowledge of best practice preparedness. However, of the 36 research articles included in this review, only five were rated at 100% using the MMAT. Due to methodological weakness of the research reviewed, the findings cannot be generalized, nor can the most effective method be determined.

GowingJR,WalkerKN,ElmerSL,CummingsEA.Disaster preparedness among health professionals and support staff: what is effective? An integrative literature review.Prehosp Disaster Med.2017;32(3):321–328.
Single-Ion Deconvolution of Mass Peak Overlaps for Atom Probe Microscopy
Authors: London Andrew J. , Haley Daniel , Moody Michael P.
Published: March 2017

Due to the intrinsic evaporation properties of the material studied, insufficient mass-resolving power and lack of knowledge of the kinetic energy of incident ions, peaks in the atom probe mass-to-charge spectrum can overlap and result in incorrect composition measurements. Contributions to these peak overlaps can be deconvoluted globally, by simply examining adjacent peaks combined with knowledge of natural isotopic abundances. However, this strategy does not account for the fact that the relative contributions to this convoluted signal can often vary significantly in different regions of the analysis volume; e.g., across interfaces and within clusters. Some progress has been made with spatially localized deconvolution in cases where the discrete microstructural regions can be easily identified within the reconstruction, but this means no further point cloud analyses are possible. Hence, we present an ion-by-ion methodology where the identity of each ion, normally obscured by peak overlap, is resolved by examining the isotopic abundance of their immediate surroundings. The resulting peak-deconvoluted data are a point cloud and can be analyzed with any existing tools. We present two detailed case studies and discussion of the limitations of this new technique.
Neonatal fatty acid profiles are correlated with infant growth measures at 6 months
Authors: O’Tierney-Ginn P. F. , Davina D. , Gillingham M. , Barker D. J. P. , Morris C. , Thornburg K. L.
Published: March 2017

Rapid weight gain in infancy and low levels of n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) at birth are associated with increased adiposity later in life. The association between placental LCPUFA delivery and weight gain in infancy is poorly understood. We sought to determine the relationships between maternal phenotype, placental fatty acid transporter expression and offspring growth patterns over the first 6 months. Placental tissue and cord blood were collected at term delivery from women with uncomplicated pregnancies. Offspring body composition measurements were recorded 1 day and 6 months after birth. Body mass index (BMI)z-scores were determined using World Health Organization 2006 reference data. Body phenotype patterns were compared among offspring who had an increase in BMIz-score and those who had a decrease. High skinfold thickness at birth and positive change in BMIz-scores during infancy were associated with low neonatal n-3 LCPUFA plasma levels (r=−0.46,P=0.046) and high saturated fatty acids levels (r=0.49,P=0.034). Growth of skinfolds over 6 months of age was associated with placental fatty acid transporter gene expression. Change in BMIz-score in the first 6 months of life correlated with arm muscle area growth, a measure of lean mass (r=0.62,P=0.003), but not with growth in skinfold thickness. Early infancy weight gain was associated with poor plasma LCPUFA status at birth, and fat deposition in infancy was related to changes in placental lipid handling. Thus, neonatal fatty acid profiles may influence the trajectory of infant growth and fat and lean mass deposition.
Himalayan Climate Change Affects Regional, Global Environments
Authors: Joswiak Meri , Joswiak Daniel , Yao Tandong
Published: March 2017

6th Third Pole Environment (TPE) Workshop; Columbus, Ohio, 16–18 May 2016
Bidirectional transcription of Linc00441 and RB1 via H3K27 modification-dependent way promotes hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Tang Junwei , Xie Yu , Xu Xiaoliang , Yin Yin , Jiang Runqiu , Deng Lei , Tan Zhongming , Gangarapu Venkatanarayana , Tang Jinhai , Sun Beicheng
Published: March 2017

The retinoblastoma gene (RB1), a known tumor-suppressor gene (TSG), was decreased in multiple cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here we focused on the bidirectional transcripted long noncoding RNA (Linc00441) with neighbor gene RB1 to investigate whether Linc00441 is involved in the suppression of RB1 in HCC. We found that aberrant upregulated intranuclear Linc00441 was reversely correlated with RB1 expression in human HCC samples. The gain- and loss-of-function investigation revealed that Linc00441 could promote the proliferation of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo with an apoptosis suppression and cell cycle rearrangement. Furthermore, RNA pull-down assay indicated the decreased level of RB1 induced by Linc00441 was associated with the incidental methylation by DNMT3A recruited by Linc00441. On the contrary, the transcription factor (TCF-4) enhanced H3K27 acetylation and direct transcription factor for Linc00441 was responsible for the upregulation of Linc00441 in HCC. In conclusion, the epigenetic interaction between Linc00441 and bidirectional transcripted neighbor RB1 may be a de novo theory cutting-point for the inactivation of RB1 in HCC and may serve as targeting site for tumor therapy in the future.
Heterodimers of photoreceptor-specific nuclear receptor (PNR/NR2E3) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) are disrupted by retinal disease-associated mutations
Authors: Fulton Joel , Mazumder Bismoy , Whitchurch Jonathan B , Monteiro Cintia J , Collins Hilary M , Chan Chun M , Clemente Maria P , Hernandez-Quiles Miguel , Stewart Elizabeth A , Amoaku Winfried M , Moran Paula M , Mongan Nigel P , Persson Jenny L , Ali Simak , Heery David M
Published: March 2017

Photoreceptor-specific nuclear receptor (PNR/NR2E3) and Tailless homolog (TLX/NR2E1) are human orthologs of the NR2E group, a subgroup of phylogenetically related members of the nuclear receptor (NR) superfamily of transcription factors. We assessed the ability of these NRs to form heterodimers with other members of the human NRs representing all major subgroups. The TLX ligand-binding domain (LBD) did not appear to form homodimers or interact directly with any other NR tested. The PNR LBD was able to form homodimers, but also exhibited robust interactions with the LBDs of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ)/NR1C3 and thyroid hormone receptor b (TRb) TRβ/NR1A2. The binding of PNR to PPARγ was specific for this paralog, as no interaction was observed with the LBDs of PPARα/NR1C1 or PPARδ/NR1C2. In support of these findings, PPARγ and PNR were found to be co-expressed in human retinal tissue extracts and could be co-immunoprecipitated as a native complex. Selected sequence variants in the PNR LBD associated with human retinopathies, or a mutation in the dimerization region of PPARγ LBD associated with familial partial lipodystrophy type 3, were found to disrupt PNR/PPARγ complex formation. Wild-type PNR, but not a PNR309G mutant, was able to repress PPARγ-mediated transcription in reporter assays. In summary, our results reveal novel heterodimer interactions in the NR superfamily, suggesting previously unknown functional interactions of PNR with PPARγ and TRβ that have potential importance in retinal development and disease.
Observation of anomalous Hall effect in a non-magnetic two-dimensional electron system
Authors: Maryenko D. , Mishchenko A. S. , Bahramy M. S. , Ernst A. , Falson J. , Kozuka Y. , Tsukazaki A. , Nagaosa N. , Kawasaki M.
Published: March 2017

Anomalous Hall effect, a manifestation of Hall effect occurring in systems without time-reversal symmetry, has been mostly observed in ferromagnetically ordered materials. However, its realization in high-mobility two-dimensional electron system remains elusive, as the incorporation of magnetic moments deteriorates the device performance compared to non-doped structure. Here we observe systematic emergence of anomalous Hall effect in various MgZnO/ZnO heterostructures that exhibit quantum Hall effect. At low temperatures, our nominally non-magnetic heterostructures display an anomalous Hall effect response similar to that of a clean ferromagnetic metal, while keeping a large anomalous Hall effect angle θAHE≈20°. Such a behaviour is consistent with Giovannini–Kondo model in which the anomalous Hall effect arises from the skew scattering of electrons by localized paramagnetic centres. Our study unveils a new aspect of many-body interactions in two-dimensional electron systems and shows how the anomalous Hall effect can emerge in a non-magnetic system.
Translational reprogramming in tumour cells can generate oncoselectivity in viral therapies
Authors: Villanueva Eneko , Navarro Pilar , Rovira-Rigau Maria , Sibilio Annarita , Méndez Raúl , Fillat Cristina
Published: March 2017

Systemic treatment of cancer requires tumour-selective therapies that eliminate cancer cells yet preserve healthy tissues from undesired damage. Tumoral transformation is associated with profound effects in translational reprogramming of gene expression, such that tumour-specific translational regulation presents an attractive possibility for generating oncoselective therapies. We recently discovered that mRNA translational control by cytoplasmic polyadenylation element-binding proteins (CPEBs) is reactivated in cancer. Here we present a novel approach to restrict genetic-engineered therapies to malignant tissues based on CPEB translational regulation of target mRNAs. We demonstrate that tumour reprogramming of CPEB-mediated mRNA stability and translational regulation modulates tumour-specific expression of viral proteins. For oncolytic adenoviruses, insertion of CPE regulatory sequences in the 3′-untranslated region of the E1A gene provides oncoselectivity, with full potency in cancer cells but attenuated in normal tissues. Our results demonstrate the potential of this strategy to improve oncolytic virus design and provide a framework for exploiting CPE-regulated transgenes for therapy.
Total synthesis of mycobacterial arabinogalactan containing 92 monosaccharide units
Authors: Wu Yong , Xiong De-Cai , Chen Si-Cong , Wang Yong-Shi , Ye Xin-Shan
Published: March 2017

Carbohydrates are diverse bio-macromolecules with highly complex structures that are involved in numerous biological processes. Well-defined carbohydrates obtained by chemical synthesis are essential to the understanding of their functions. However, synthesis of carbohydrates is greatly hampered by its insufficient efficiency. So far, assembly of long carbohydrate chains remains one of the most challenging tasks for synthetic chemists. Here we describe a highly efficient assembly of a 92-mer polysaccharide by the preactivation-based one-pot glycosylation protocol. Several linear and branched oligosaccharide/polysaccharide fragments ranging from 5-mer to 31-mer in length have been rapidly constructed in one-pot manner, which enables the first total synthesis of a biologically important mycobacterial arabinogalactan through a highly convergent [31+31+30] coupling reaction. Our results show that the preactivation-based one-pot glycosylation protocol may provide access to the construction of long and complicated carbohydrate chains.
Transcriptome Analysis of Genes Involved in Dendrobine Biosynthesis in Dendrobium nobile Lindl. Infected with Mycorrhizal Fungus MF23 (Mycena sp.)
Authors: Li Qing , Ding Gang , Li Biao , Guo Shun-Xing
Published: March 2017

Content determination and microscopic observation proved that dendrobine accumulation in the stem of Dendrobium nobile Lindl. increased after infection with mycorrhizal fungus MF23 (Mycena sp.). Large-scale transcriptome sequencing of symbiotic and asymbiotic D. nobile revealed that 30 unigenes encoding proteins were possibly related to the biosynthesis of dendrobine sesquiterpene backbone. A qRT-PCR experiment of 16 unigenes, selected randomly, proved that there were significant changes in the expression levels of AACT, MVD, PMK and TPS21 at 9 weeks after inoculation. These results implied that MF23 might stimulate dendrobine biosynthesis by regulating the expressions of genes involved in the mevalonate (MVA) pathway. The biogenetic pathway of dendrobine was suggested systematically according to the structural features of dendrobine alkaloids and their sesquiterpene precursors, which implied that post-modification enzymes might play a major role in dendrobine biosynthesis. Thus, genes encoding post-modification enzymes, including cytochrome P450, aminotransferase and methyltransferase, were screened for their possible involvement in dendrobine biosynthesis. This study provides a good example of endophytes promoting the formation of bioactive compounds in their host and paves the way for further investigation of the dendrobine biosynthetic pathway.
Noise-Driven Return Statistics: Scaling and Truncation in Stochastic Storage Processes
Authors: Aquino Tomás , Aubeneau Antoine , McGrath Gavan , Bolster Diogo , Rao Suresh
Published: March 2017

In countless systems, subjected to variable forcing, a key question arises: how much time will a state variable spend away from a given threshold? When forcing is treated as a stochastic process, this can be addressed with first return time distributions. While many studies suggest exponential, double exponential or power laws as empirical forms, we contend that truncated power laws are natural candidates. To this end, we consider a minimal stochastic mass balance model and identify a parsimonious mechanism for the emergence of truncated power law return times. We derive boundary-independent scaling and truncation properties, which are consistent with numerical simulations, and discuss the implications and applicability of our findings.
Actin-binding protein coronin 1A controls osteoclastic bone resorption by regulating lysosomal secretion of cathepsin K
Authors: Ohmae Saori , Noma Naruto , Toyomoto Masayasu , Shinohara Masahiro , Takeiri Masatoshi , Fuji Hiroaki , Takemoto Kenji , Iwaisako Keiko , Fujita Tomoko , Takeda Norihiko , Kawatani Makoto , Aoyama Mineyoshi , Hagiwara Masatoshi , Ishihama Yasushi , Asagiri Masataka
Published: March 2017

Osteoclasts degrade bone matrix proteins via the secretion of lysosomal enzymes. However, the precise mechanisms by which lysosomal components are transported and fused to the bone-apposed plasma membrane, termed ruffled border membrane, remain elusive. Here, we identified coronin 1A as a negative regulator of exocytotic release of cathepsin K, one of the most important bone-degrading enzymes in osteoclasts. The modulation of coronin 1A expression did not alter osteoclast differentiation and extracellular acidification, but strongly affected the secretion of cathepsin K and osteoclast bone-resorption activity, suggesting the coronin 1A-mediated regulation of lysosomal trafficking and protease exocytosis. Further analyses suggested that coronin 1A prevented the lipidation-mediated sorting of the autophagy-related protein LC3 to the ruffled border and attenuated lysosome–plasma membrane fusion. In this process, the interactions between coronin 1A and actin were crucial. Collectively, our findings indicate that coronin 1A is a pivotal component that regulates lysosomal fusion and the secretion pathway in osteoclast-lineage cells and may provide a novel therapeutic target for bone diseases.
Evidence and mapping of extinction debts for global forest-dwelling reptiles, amphibians and mammals
Authors: Chen Youhua , Peng Shushi
Published: March 2017

Evidence of extinction debts for the global distributions of forest-dwelling reptiles, mammals and amphibians was tested and the debt magnitude was estimated and mapped. By using different correlation tests and variable importance analysis, the results showed that spatial richness patterns for the three forest-dwelling terrestrial vertebrate groups had significant and stronger correlations with past forest cover area and other variables in the 1500 s, implying the evidence for extinction debts. Moreover, it was likely that the extinction debts have been partially paid, given that their global richness patterns were also significantly correlated with contemporary forest variables in the 2000 s (but the absolute magnitudes of the correlation coefficients were usually smaller than those calculated for historical forest variables). By utilizing species-area relationships, spatial extinction-debt magnitudes for the three vertebrate groups at the global scale were estimated and the hotspots of extinction debts were identified. These high-debt hotspots were generally situated in areas that did not spatially overlap with hotspots of species richness or high extinction-risk areas based on IUCN threatened status to a large extent. This spatial mismatch pattern suggested that necessary conservation efforts should be directed toward high-debt areas that are still overlooked.
Superconductivity in HfTe5 across weak to strong topological insulator transition induced via pressures
Authors: Liu Y. , Long Y. J. , Zhao L. X. , Nie S. M. , Zhang S. J. , Weng Y. X. , Jin M. L. , Li W. M. , Liu Q. Q. , Long Y. W. , Yu R. C. , Gu C. Z. , Sun F. , Yang W. G. , Mao H. K. , Feng X. L. , Li Q. , Zheng W. T. , Weng H. M. , Dai X. , Fang Z. , Chen G. F. , Jin C. Q.
Published: March 2017

Recently, theoretical studies show that layered HfTe5 is at the boundary of weak & strong topological insulator (TI) and might crossover to a Dirac semimetal state by changing lattice parameters. The topological properties of 3D stacked HfTe5 are expected hence to be sensitive to pressures tuning. Here, we report pressure induced phase evolution in both electronic & crystal structures for HfTe5 with a culmination of pressure induced superconductivity. Our experiments indicated that the temperature for anomaly resistance peak (Tp) due to Lifshitz transition decreases first before climbs up to a maximum with pressure while the Tp minimum corresponds to the transition from a weak TI to strong TI. The HfTe5 crystal becomes superconductive above ~5.5 GPa where the Tp reaches maximum. The highest superconducting transition temperature (Tc) around 5 K was achieved at 20 GPa. Crystal structure studies indicate that HfTe5 transforms from a Cmcm phase across a monoclinic C2/m phase then to a P-1 phase with increasing pressure. Based on transport, structure studies a comprehensive phase diagram of HfTe5 is constructed as function of pressure. The work provides valuable experimental insights into the evolution on how to proceed from a weak TI precursor across a strong TI to superconductors.
spalt is functionally conserved in Locusta and Drosophila to promote wing growth
Authors: Wang Dan , Li Juanjuan , Liu Suning , Zhou Hang , Zhang Long , Shi Wangpeng , Shen Jie
Published: March 2017

Locusta has strong fly wings to ensure its long distance migration, but the molecular mechanism that regulates the Locusta wing development is poorly understood. To address the developmental mechanism of the Locusta flying wing, we cloned the Dpp target gene spalt (sal) and analyzed its function in wing growth in the Locusta. The Locusta wing size is apparently reduced with vein defects when sal is interfered by injection of dsRNA, indicating that sal is required for locust wing growth and vein formation. This function is conserved during the Drosophila wing development. To better understand sal’s function in wing growth, we then used Drosophila wing disc as a model for further study. We found that sal promotes cell proliferation in the whole wing disc via positive regulation of a microRNA bantam. Our results firstly unravel sal’s function in the Locusta wing growth and confirm a highly conserved function of sal in Locusta and Drosophila.