bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spain: An Outsider's View from Within
Authors: Paul D. , Simler R. B.
Published: July 2016

We both started working in Spain at the end of 1991: one of us in a joint venture life company between a Spanish health insurer and a U.K. life office, and the other in an international actuarial consultancy.

At the time of writing this paper we can only claim in the region of “4 man years” of experience of Spain. Therefore we do not pretend to offer an authoritative view of Spanish insurance or pensions, or of its actuarial profession. Clearly such a text would be better prepared by Spanish actuaries, or other long-standing practitioners of the Spanish market.
With Profits Maturity Payouts, Asset Shares and Smoothing
Authors: Eastwood A. M. , Ledlie M. C. , Macdonald A. S. , Pike D. M.
Published: July 2016

1.1.1 The Bonus and Valuation Research Group of the Faculty of Actuaries began the work which eventually led to this paper towards the end of 1991. About this time there was considerable speculation that levels of maturity payouts on with profits policies might be significantly in excess of the level that could be justified by the actual investment earnings underlying the policies. The initial aims of the research group were to:

(a) examine this claim;

(b) consider to what extent overpayment, if any, could be explained by the smoothing methods that might have been used by offices; and

(c) examine the practical consequences of continuing to adopt those smoothing methods.
L2 SELVES, EMOTIONS, AND MOTIVATED BEHAVIORS
Authors: Teimouri Yasser
Published: July 2016

This study has aimed to investigate language learners’ emotional experiences through the lens of L2 future self-guides. To that end, the L2 motivational self system was chosen as the theoretical framework to relate learners’ emotions to their L2 selves. However, due to inconsistent results of past research concerning the motivational role of the ought-to L2 self, a revision of the model is proposed, discussed theoretically, and tested empirically. The results revealed a trichotomous model of L2 selves—ideal L2 self, ought-to L2 self/own, and ought-to L2 self/others—with distinct motivational profiles. Furthermore, different types of L2 self-discrepancies were found to result in different emotional reactions on the part of L2 learners. Overall, the study provides a clearer picture of L2 learners’ emotions and their motivation in second language acquisition.
Well-posedness of a diffuse-interface model for two-phase incompressible flows with thermo-induced Marangoni effect
Authors: WU HAO
Published: July 2016

We investigate a non-isothermal diffuse-interface model that describes the dynamics of two-phase incompressible flows with thermo-induced Marangoni effect. The governing PDE system consists of the Navier--Stokes equations coupled with convective phase-field and energy transport equations, in which the surface tension, fluid viscosity and thermal diffusivity are allowed to be temperature dependent functions. First, we establish the existence and uniqueness of local strong solutions when the spatial dimension is two and three. Then, in the two-dimensional case, assuming that theL∞-norm of the initial temperature is suitably bounded with respect to the coefficients of the system, we prove the existence of global weak solutions as well as the existence and uniqueness of global strong solutions.
The effects of educator attitudes and expectations on the educational programming for children with Down's Syndrome in the context of integration
Authors: Wright Cam
Published: July 2016

Down's Syndrome has long been associated with mental retardation. This has resulted in expectations of moderate or severe mental retardation in individuals with Down's Syndrome (Hopkins, 1983). Although there has been acceptance of the possibility of variability of attainments, a certain predictability of outcome has been assumed since Down's Syndrome is a condition resulting from known chromosomal abnormalities (Springer & Steele, 1980; Hopkins, 1983).
The relationship of personality and values to career intervention outcomes
Authors: Schmidt Ann-Marie
Published: July 2016

This paper explores the relative impact of four career counselling interventions on six outcome measures for final year students in a Brisbane high school. The six measures used were: vocational identity, degree of decidedness, number of jobs listed, congruence of expressed (occupational choice) and measured interests, internal consistency of expressed interests and the occupational status of the most preferred occupation. Comparison of pre- and post-test measures showed that for the low identity group, there was an increase in vocational identity, congruency, and a listing of fewer jobs after the intervention. It was concluded that no changes were accounted for by individual counselling interventions. However, there seemed to be some evidence that changes resulted from a group career guidance program in which all students participated. The changes noted indicated that students gained in vocational awareness and maturity and showed greater selectivity in career decision making over time. Differences were found between male and female students in career related attitudes and career choices. Several applications of the findings for current practice were considered including the use of the My vocational situation and Career information survey instruments for streamlining service delivery and prioritising student access. The need for further research to resolve some of the issues raised by the study was discussed.
The Future Relationships Scale: Measurement of student perceptions of what makes an adult intimate relationship successful
Authors: Dickinson Kym , Tainton Barry
Published: July 2016

This paper briefly outlines the procedures that were undertaken in the development of the Future Relationships Scale (FRS) and discusses its possible application potential. An analysis of the existing literature on Family and Relationship therapy and established diagnostic measurement scales in the area, failed to locate an instrument that could aid in the measuring of perceptions of adolescents of the components that help to make an adult intimate relationship functional. This area was seen by the authors to be important particularly in the light of the development of school based Human Relationships Education. As a result a questionnaire was devised and administered to Year 12 students across three State high schools in Central Queensland. The questionnaire comprised 5 main parts. Part 1 obtained data on a number of independent variables. Part 2 was designed as an open-ended statement that sought Year 12 students' opinions about the components of functional relationships. Part 3 was the Future Relationships Scale. Parts 4 and 5 contained established scales that provided further information on independent variables and validation for the Future Relationships Scale. Analyses of the data indicated that the FRS is worthy of further development, and that Future Relationships was related to the sex and academic aspirations of the student, Personal Beliefs, and Family Assessment. The FRS would appear to be a potentially viable instrument for use in educational guidance and counselling.
The prevalence and nature of behaviour problems in primary school children in the South Coast Region of Queensland
Authors: Muller Juanita
Published: July 2016

A survey to determine the prevalence and nature of behaviour problems (adjustment difficulties) in State primary school children in the South Coast Region of Queensland, was conducted using a personally abbreviated form of the Achenbach and Edelbrock (1986) Child Behaviour Checklist - Teacher Report Form (CBCL-TRF). The subjects of this study were 494 children (407 boys and 87 girls) aged between 6 and 13 years, who were nominated by teachers from a random selection of 30 schools in the Region. Teachers were asked to complete the checklists on children whose behaviour had caused them concern within the last two months. Results indicated that 3% (494) of the children in these schools were reported to have a behaviour problem as perceived by teachers, and 23% (370) were determined to have a behaviour problem in the clinical range of functioning, according to the CBCL-TRF. Specific types of problems were identified in each of the age and gender groups, but aggression was perceived to be the most frequent problem across age and gender. Behaviour problems were also shown to be associated with poor academic performance. Overall this study provides useful information, in the form of general prevalence estimates, on which to base a regional adjustment policy.
Spatial Resolution in Scanning Electron Microscopy and Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy Without a Specimen Vacuum Chamber
Authors: Nguyen Kayla X. , Holtz Megan E. , Richmond-Decker Justin , Muller David A.
Published: July 2016

A long-standing goal of electron microscopy has been the high-resolution characterization of specimens in their native environment. However, electron optics require high vacuum to maintain an unscattered and focused probe, a challenge for specimens requiring atmospheric or liquid environments. Here, we use an electron-transparent window at the base of a scanning electron microscope’s objective lens to separate column vacuum from the specimen, enabling imaging under ambient conditions, without a specimen vacuum chamber. We demonstrate in-air imaging of specimens at nanoscale resolution using backscattered scanning electron microscopy (airSEM) and scanning transmission electron microscopy. We explore resolution and contrast using Monte Carlo simulations and analytical models. We find that nanometer-scale resolution can be obtained at gas path lengths up to 400μm, although contrast drops with increasing gas path length. As the electron-transparent window scatters considerably more than gas at our operating conditions, we observe that the densities and thicknesses of the electron-transparent window are the dominant limiting factors for image contrast at lower operating voltages. By enabling a variety of detector configurations, the airSEM is applicable to a wide range of environmental experiments including the imaging of hydrated biological specimens andin situchemical and electrochemical processes.
Where/when/how did life begin? A philosophical key for systematizing theories on the origin of life
Authors: Świeżyński Adam
Published: July 2016

The question of the origin of life interested people for centuries. All existing views on this subject can be classified into different areas of human knowledge about the world: natural sciences, philosophy, and theology (religion). It is interesting to look at them closer and to classify all the typical groups of the theories about the origins of life. We can then see links existing between them and relationships that indicate their own nature. Nowadays, driving forces of prebiological chemical evolution and the mode of explanation of the transition ‘non-life into life’ give a great variety of solutions. The differences between the theories, however, as well as the current controversies in the scientific community (what ‘in the beginning’ was?; where and when the prebiotic evolution may took place? etc.) will be shown as of secondary importance for the theories’ systematization in comparison with several much more profound philosophical assumptions underlying the origin-of-life-studies. My proposal to organize and classify different types of the theories of genesis of life allows for extracting conceptions of different kind: metaphysical and scientific, and also for comparing them with each other. Some of them answer the question of the emergence of life in general and others on the question of the origin of life on the Earth only. In the perspective of contemporary scientific research on the origin of life it seems interesting that two main ideas concerning the problem of the origin of life, spontaneous generation and panspermia, are still present as presuppositions of certain theories but have been modified. Thus a ‘philosophical key’ seems to be the most appropriate to systematize all kinds of theories on the origin of life. This paper is an attempt to justify the position adopted. Most important conclusion is that the philosophical basis or implications, which are irreducibly present and possible to be found within the scientific theories of the origin of life, indicates that this problem is not just the strictly scientific one; it is the philosophical problem, too; thus it cannot be fully solved merely through referring to the empirical aspect of biogenesis.
From climate models to planetary habitability: temperature constraints for complex life
Authors: Silva Laura , Vladilo Giovanni , Schulte Patricia M. , Murante Giuseppe , Provenzale Antonello
Published: July 2016

In an effort to derive temperature-based criteria of habitability for multicellular life, we investigated the thermal limits of terrestrial poikilotherms, i.e. organisms whose body temperature and the functioning of all vital processes is directly affected by the ambient temperature. Multicellular poikilotherms are the most common and evolutionarily ancient form of complex life on earth. The thermal limits for the active metabolism and reproduction of multicellular poikilotherms on earth are approximately bracketed by the temperature interval 0°C ≤ T ≤ 50°C. The same interval applies to the photosynthetic production of oxygen, an essential ingredient of complex life, and for the generation of atmospheric biosignatures observable in exoplanets. Analysis of the main mechanisms responsible for the thermal thresholds of terrestrial life suggests that the same mechanisms would apply to other forms of chemical life. We therefore propose a habitability index for complex life,h050, representing the mean orbital fraction of planetary surface that satisfies the temperature limits 0°C ≤ T ≤ 50°C. With the aid of a climate model tailored for the calculation of the surface temperature of Earth-like planets, we calculatedh050as a function of planet insolation,S, and atmospheric columnar mass,Natm, for a few earth-like atmospheric compositions with trace levels of CO2. By displayingh050as a function ofSandNatm, we built up an atmospheric mass habitable zone (AMHZ) for complex life. At variance with the classic habitable zone, the inner edge of the complex life habitable zone is not affected by the uncertainties inherent to the calculation of the runaway greenhouse limit. The complex life habitable zone is significantly narrower than the habitable zone of dry planets. Our calculations illustrate how changes in ambient conditions dependent onSandNatm, such as temperature excursions and surface dose of secondary particles of cosmic rays, may influence the type of life potentially present at different epochs of planetary evolution inside the AMHZ.
A Genomewide Association Study of Nicotine and Alcohol Dependence in Australian and Dutch Populations
Authors: Lind Penelope A. , Macgregor Stuart , Vink Jacqueline M. , Pergadia Michele L , Hansell Narelle K. , de Moor Marleen H. M. , Smit August B. , Hottenga Jouke-Jan , Richter Melinda M. , Heath Andrew C. , Martin Nicholas G. , Willemsen Gonneke , de Geus Eco J. C. , Vogelzangs Nicole , Penninx Brenda W. , Whitfield John B. , Montgomery Grant W. , Boomsma Dorret I. , Madden Pamela A. F.
Published: July 2016

Persistent tobacco use and excessive alcohol consumption are major public health concerns worldwide. Both alcohol and nicotine dependence (AD, ND) are genetically influenced complex disorders that exhibit a high degree of comorbidity. To identify gene variants contributing to one or both of these addictions, we first conducted a pooling-based genomewide association study (GWAS) in an Australian population, using Illumina Infinium 1M arrays. Allele frequency differences were compared between pooled DNA from case and control groups for: (1) AD, 1224 cases and 1162 controls; (2) ND, 1273 cases and 1113 controls; and (3) comorbid AD and ND, 599 cases and 488 controls. Secondly, we carried out a GWAS in independent samples from the Netherlands for AD and for ND. Thirdly, we performed a meta-analysis of the 10, 000 most significant AD- and ND-related SNPs from the Australian and Dutch samples. In the Australian GWAS, one SNP achieved genomewide significance (p < 5 x 10-8) for ND (rs964170 in ARHGAPlOon chromosome 4, p = 4.43 x 10”8) and three others for comorbid AD/ND (rs7530302 near MARK1 on chromosome 1 (p = 1.90 x 10-9), rs1784300 near DDX6 on chromosome 11 (p = 2.60 x 10-9) and rs12882384 in KIAA1409 on chromosome 14 (p = 4.86 x 10-8)). None of the SNPs achieved genomewide significance in the Australian/Dutch meta-analysis, but a gene network diagram based on the top-results revealed overrepre-sentation of genes coding for ion-channels and cell adhesion molecules. Further studies will be requirec before the detailed causes of comorbidity between AC and ND are understood.
Childhood cognition and lifetime risk of major depressive disorder in extremely low birth weight and normal birth weight adults
Authors: Dobson K. G. , Schmidt L. A. , Saigal S. , Boyle M. H. , Van Lieshout R. J.
Published: July 2016

In general population samples, better childhood cognitive functioning is associated with decreased risk of depression in adulthood. However, this link has not been examined in extremely low birth weight survivors (ELBW, <1000 g), a group known to have poorer cognition and greater depression risk. This study assessed associations between cognition at age 8 and lifetime risk of major depressive disorder in 84 ELBW survivors and 90 normal birth weight (NBW, ⩾2500 g) individuals up to 29–36 years of age. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Revised (WISC-R), Raven’s Coloured Progressive Matrices and the Token Test assessed general, fluid, and verbal intelligence, respectively, at 8 years of age. Lifetime major depressive disorder was assessed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview at age 29–36 years. Associations were examined using logistic regression adjusted for childhood socioeconomic status, educational attainment, age, sex, and marital status. Neither overall intelligence quotient (IQ) [WISC-R Full-Scale IQ, odds ratios (OR)=0.87, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.43–1.77], fluid intelligence (WISC-R Performance IQ, OR=0.98, 95% CI=0.48–2.00), nor verbal intelligence (WISC-R Verbal IQ, OR=0.81, 95% CI=0.40–1.63) predicted lifetime major depression in ELBW survivors. However, every standard deviation increase in WISC-R Full-Scale IQ (OR=0.43, 95% CI=0.20–0.92) and Performance IQ (OR=0.46, 95% CI=0.21–0.97), and each one point increase on the Token Test (OR=0.80, 95% CI=0.67–0.94) at age 8 was associated with a reduced risk of lifetime depression in NBW participants. Higher childhood IQ, better fluid intelligence, and greater verbal comprehension in childhood predicted reduced depression risk in NBW adults. Our findings suggest that ELBW survivors may be less protected by superior cognition than NBW individuals.
“Everybody Works but Father”: Why the Census Misdirected Historians of Women's Employment
Authors: DeVault Ileen A.
Published: July 2016

Because the US Census Bureau changed the way they reported workers’ marital status, the subfield of US women's labor history unwittingly perpetuated a key misinterpretation of women's labor force participation, allowing historians to believe that women in the workforce between 1880 and 1920 were overwhelmingly young and single women: the daughters of their families rather than the mothers and wives. This change in census reporting was reinforced and promulgated by Joseph A. Hill's 1929 work, Women in Gainful Occupations, 1870–1920. Why was this change made? This article argues that this change came about because of a confluence of various factors, including the Census Bureau's continual struggles with organizational and technological changes, the beginning of World War I, and reformers’ arguments about the efficacy of pushing for maternity insurance for women workers. The story of this change once again reminds us that statistics are never neutral nor apolitical.
Contexts of Trends in the Catholic Church's Male Workforce:Chile, Ireland, and Poland Compared
Authors: Conway Brian
Published: July 2016

Using case pattern analysis, this study examines Catholic male workforce trends in the majority Catholic countries of Chile, Ireland, and Poland. Employing denominational data for three categories of church male professionals in the 1950–2010 time period, I document four important trends. First, ordinations to the diocesan priesthood in Ireland went into decline especially after Vatican II, have been relatively stable in Chile with only a moderate increase in the 1990s, and spiked in Poland in the 1980s, 20 years after Vatican II. Second, in all three countries the average defection rate among diocesan seminarians increased in the 2000s compared with the earlier two decades. Third, the religious priest workforce has declined in Chile, has been relatively stable in Ireland until the 2000s, and is growing in Poland. Fourth, from the late 1960s there has been a decline in the workforce of religious brothers in each country, especially in Ireland. The theoretical contribution to the Catholic workforce literature is discussed in terms of a critical events argument emphasizing the impact of Vatican II, prophetic stances, sexual scandals, and papal visits on labor market trends. I conclude with implications for the study of religion and society in general.
Treatment of Sleep Problems in Young Children: A Case Series Report of a Cognitive–Behavioral Play Intervention
Authors: Fehr Karla K. , Russ Sandra W. , Ievers-Landis Carolyn E.
Published: July 2016

Sleep problems and bedtime resistance are common in young children. Treatment is critical because sleep problems typically persist, and insufficient sleep is related to worse outcomes. Current behavioral treatments do not work directly with the child to reduce anxiety and distress at bedtime. Cognitive–behavioral play therapy is a treatment approach designed to teach coping skills to young children by combining cognitive–behavioral therapy with pretend play, a developmentally appropriate intervention mode. The current case series examined the effectiveness of adding a brief cognitive–behavioral play intervention (CBPI) to parent behavior management for young children with sleep difficulties. Four children (4–6 years of age) received 3 20- to 30-min individual sessions during which the child played out stories with an advanced graduate student therapist (first author, K. F.) about a child coping with sleep problems. Each child’s parent also received a 30-min sleep information session. Three parents returned questionnaires posttreatment. As expected, all 3 parents reported improvements in their child’s sleep habits, sleep anxiety, and general fears. All 3 parents also reported a high level of satisfaction with the treatment. These preliminary results suggest that the CBPI may be effective for decreasing anxiety and child distress when added to behavioral treatment, thus increasing the breadth of treatment approaches available for young children with sleep problems. These results are promising, although a randomized study is needed to further refine the intervention and establish the efficacy of a CBPI for treatment of sleep problems in young children.
Mapping two-dimensional polar active fluids to two-dimensional soap and one-dimensional sandblasting
Authors: Chen Leiming , Lee Chiu Fan , Toner John
Published: July 2016

Active fluids and growing interfaces are two well-studied but very different non-equilibrium systems. Each exhibits non-equilibrium behaviour distinct from that of their equilibrium counterparts. Here we demonstrate a surprising connection between these two: the ordered phase of incompressible polar active fluids in two spatial dimensions without momentum conservation, and growing one-dimensional interfaces (that is, the 1+1-dimensional Kardar–Parisi–Zhang equation), in fact belong to the same universality class. This universality class also includes two equilibrium systems: two-dimensional smectic liquid crystals, and a peculiar kind of constrained two-dimensional ferromagnet. We use these connections to show that two-dimensional incompressible flocks are robust against fluctuations, and exhibit universal long-ranged, anisotropic spatio-temporal correlations of those fluctuations. We also thereby determine the exact values of the anisotropy exponent ζ and the roughness exponents χx,y that characterize these correlations.
Tau mediates microtubule bundle architectures mimicking fascicles of microtubules found in the axon initial segment
Authors: Chung Peter J. , Song Chaeyeon , Deek Joanna , Miller Herbert P. , Li Youli , Choi Myung Chul , Wilson Leslie , Feinstein Stuart C. , Safinya Cyrus R.
Published: July 2016

Tau, an intrinsically disordered protein confined to neuronal axons, binds to and regulates microtubule dynamics. Although there have been observations of string-like microtubule fascicles in the axon initial segment (AIS) and hexagonal bundles in neurite-like processes in non-neuronal cells overexpressing Tau, cell-free reconstitutions have not replicated either geometry. Here we map out the energy landscape of Tau-mediated, GTP-dependent ‘active’ microtubule bundles at 37 °C, as revealed by synchrotron SAXS and TEM. Widely spaced bundles (wall-to-wall distance Dw–w≈25–41 nm) with hexagonal and string-like symmetry are observed, the latter mimicking bundles found in the AIS. A second energy minimum (Dw–w≈16–23 nm) is revealed under osmotic pressure. The wide spacing results from a balance between repulsive forces, due to Tau’s projection domain (PD), and a stabilizing sum of transient sub-kBT cationic/anionic charge–charge attractions mediated by weakly penetrating opposing PDs. This landscape would be significantly affected by charge-altering modifications of Tau associated with neurodegeneration.
Plexins function in epithelial repair in both Drosophila and zebrafish
Authors: Yoo Sa Kan , Pascoe Heath G. , Pereira Telmo , Kondo Shu , Jacinto Antonio , Zhang Xuewu , Hariharan Iswar K.
Published: July 2016

In most multicellular organisms, homeostasis is contingent upon maintaining epithelial integrity. When unanticipated insults breach epithelial barriers, dormant programmes of tissue repair are immediately activated. However, many of the mechanisms that repair damaged epithelia remain poorly characterized. Here we describe a role for Plexin A (PlexA), a protein with particularly well-characterized roles in axonal pathfinding, in the healing of damaged epithelia in Drosophila. Semaphorins, which are PlexA ligands, also regulate tissue repair. We show that Drosophila PlexA has GAP activity for the Rap1 GTPase, which is known to regulate the stability of adherens junctions. Our observations suggest that the inhibition of Rap1 activity by PlexA in damaged Drosophila epithelia allows epithelial remodelling, thus facilitating wound repair. We also demonstrate a role for Plexin A1, a zebrafish orthologue of Drosophila PlexA, in epithelial repair in zebrafish tail fins. Thus, plexins function in epithelial wound healing in diverse taxa.
Dynamics of extinction debt across five taxonomic groups
Authors: Halley John M. , Monokrousos Nikolaos , Mazaris Antonios D. , Newmark William D. , Vokou Despoina
Published: July 2016

Species extinction following habitat loss is well documented. However, these extinctions do not happen immediately. The biodiversity surplus (extinction debt) declines with some delay through the process of relaxation. Estimating the time constants of relaxation, mainly the expected time to first extinction and the commonly used time for half the extinction debt to be paid off (half-life), is crucial for conservation purposes. Currently, there is no agreement on the rate of relaxation and the factors that it depends on. Here we find that half-life increases with area for all groups examined in a large meta-analysis of extinction data. A common pattern emerges if we use average number of individuals per species before habitat loss as an area index: for mammals, birds, reptiles and plants, the relationship has an exponent close to a half. We also find that the time to first determined extinction is short and increases slowly with area.
Single microwave-photon detector using an artificial Λ-type three-level system
Authors: Inomata Kunihiro , Lin Zhirong , Koshino Kazuki , Oliver William D. , Tsai Jaw-Shen , Yamamoto Tsuyoshi , Nakamura Yasunobu
Published: July 2016

Single-photon detection is a requisite technique in quantum-optics experiments in both the optical and the microwave domains. However, the energy of microwave quanta are four to five orders of magnitude less than their optical counterpart, making the efficient detection of single microwave photons extremely challenging. Here we demonstrate the detection of a single microwave photon propagating through a waveguide. The detector is implemented with an impedance-matched artificial Λ system comprising the dressed states of a driven superconducting qubit coupled to a microwave resonator. Each signal photon deterministically induces a Raman transition in the Λ system and excites the qubit. The subsequent dispersive readout of the qubit produces a discrete ‘click’. We attain a high single-photon-detection efficiency of 0.66±0.06 with a low dark-count probability of 0.014±0.001 and a reset time of ∼400 ns. This detector can be exploited for various applications in quantum sensing, quantum communication and quantum information processing.
Comparative transcriptomic analysis reveals the oncogenic fusion protein PAX3-FOXO1 globally alters mRNA and miRNA to enhance myoblast invasion
Authors: Loupe J M , Miller P J , Bonner B P , Maggi E C , Vijayaraghavan J , Crabtree J S , Taylor C M , Zabaleta J , Hollenbach A D
Published: July 2016

Rhabdomyosarcoma, one of the most common childhood sarcomas, is comprised of two main subtypes, embryonal and alveolar (ARMS). ARMS, the more aggressive subtype, is primarily characterized by the t(2;13)(p35;p14) chromosomal translocation, which fuses two transcription factors, PAX3 and FOXO1 to generate the oncogenic fusion protein PAX3-FOXO1. Patients with PAX3-FOXO1-postitive tumors have a poor prognosis, in part due to the enhanced local invasive capacity of these cells, which leads to the increased metastatic potential for this tumor. Despite this knowledge, little is known about the role that the oncogenic fusion protein has in this increased invasive potential. In this report we use large-scale comparative transcriptomic analyses in physiologically relevant primary myoblasts to demonstrate that the presence of PAX3-FOXO1 is sufficient to alter the expression of 70 mRNA and 27 miRNA in a manner predicted to promote cellular invasion. In contrast the expression of PAX3 alters 60 mRNA and 23 miRNA in a manner predicted to inhibit invasion. We demonstrate that these alterations in mRNA and miRNA translate into changes in the invasive potential of primary myoblasts with PAX3-FOXO1 increasing invasion nearly 2-fold while PAX3 decreases invasion nearly 4-fold. Taken together, these results allow us to build off of previous reports and develop a more expansive molecular model by which the presence of PAX3-FOXO1 alters global gene regulatory networks to enhance the local invasiveness of cells. Further, the global nature of our observed changes highlights the fact that instead of focusing on a single-gene target, we must develop multi-faceted treatment regimens targeting multiple genes of a single oncogenic phenotype or multiple genes that target different oncogenic phenotypes for tumor progression.
Exploring lateral genetic transfer among microbial genomes using TF-IDF
Authors: Cong Yingnan , Chan Yao-ban , Ragan Mark A.
Published: July 2016

Many microbes can acquire genetic material from their environment and incorporate it into their genome, a process known as lateral genetic transfer (LGT). Computational approaches have been developed to detect genomic regions of lateral origin, but typically lack sensitivity, ability to distinguish donor from recipient and scalability to very large datasets. To address these issues we have introduced an alignment-free method based on ideas from document analysis, term frequency-inverse document frequency (TF-IDF). Here we examine the performance of TF-IDF on three empirical datasets: 27 genomes of Escherichia coli and Shigella, 110 genomes of enteric bacteria and 143 genomes across 12 bacterial and three archaeal phyla. We investigate the effect of k-mer size, gap size and delineation of groups on the inference of genomic regions of lateral origin, finding an interplay among these parameters and sequence divergence. Because TF-IDF identifies donor groups and delineates regions of lateral origin within recipient genomes, aggregating these regions by gene enables us to explore, for the first time, the mosaic nature of lateral genes including the multiplicity of biological sources, ancestry of transfer and over-writing by subsequent transfers. We carry out Gene Ontology enrichment tests to investigate which biological processes are potentially affected by LGT.
Controllable Phase Transformation and Mid-infrared Emission from Er3+-Doped Hexagonal-/Cubic-NaYF4 Nanocrystals
Authors: Yang Dandan , Chen Dongdan , He Huilin , Pan Qiwen , Xiao Quanlan , Qiu Jianrong , Dong Guoping
Published: July 2016

The morphology of hexagonal phase NaYF4:Er3+ nanorods synthesized by hydrothermal method changed greatly after a continuing calcination, along with a phase transformation to cubic phase. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra indicated that mid-infrared (MIR) emission was obtained in both hexagonal and cubic phase NaYF4:Er3+ nanocrystals for the first time. And the MIR emission of NaYF4:Er3+ nanocrystals enhanced remarkably at higher calcination temperature. To prevent uncontrollable morphology from phase transformation, the cubic phase NaYF4:Er3+ nanospheres with an average size of ~100 nm were prepared via a co-precipitation method directly. In contrast, the results showed better morphology and size of cubic phase NaYF4:Er3+ nanocrystals have realized when calcined at different temperatures. And PL spectra demonstrated a more intense MIR emission in the cubic phase NaYF4:Er3+ nanocrystals with an increasing temperature. Besides, the MIR emission peak of Er3+ ions had an obvious splitting in cubic phase NaYF4. Therefore, cubic phase NaYF4:Er3+ nanospheres with more excellent MIR luminescent properties seems to provide a new material for nanocrystal-glass composites, which is expected to open a broad new field for the realization of MIR lasers gain medium.
Association of MIF, but not type I interferon-induced chemokines, with increased disease activity in Asian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Connelly K. L. , Kandane-Rathnayake R. , Hoi A. , Nikpour Mandana , Morand E. F.
Published: July 2016

Ethnicity is a key factor impacting on disease severity in SLE, but molecular mechanisms of these associations are unknown. Type I IFN and MIF have each been associated with SLE pathogenesis. We investigated whether increased SLE severity in Asian patients is associated with either MIF or Type I IFN. SLE patients (n = 151) had prospective recording of disease variables. Serum MIF, and a validated composite score of three Type I IFN-inducible chemokines (IFNCK:CCL2, CXCL10, CCL19) were measured. Associations of MIF and IFNCK score with disease activity were assessed, with persistent active disease (PAD) used as a marker of high disease activity over a median 2.6 years follow up. In univariable analysis, MIF, IFNCK score and Asian ethnicity were significantly associated with PAD. Asian ethnicity was associated with higher MIF but not IFNCK score. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, MIF (OR3.62 (95% CI 1.14,11.5), p = 0.03) and Asian ethnicity (OR3.00 (95% CI 1.39,6.46), p < 0.01) but not IFNCK were significantly associated with PAD. These results potentially support an effect of MIF, but not Type I IFN, in heightened SLE disease severity in Asian SLE. The associations of MIF and Asian ethnicity with PAD are at least partly independent.
The inhibition of calpains ameliorates vascular restenosis through MMP2/TGF-β1 pathway
Authors: Tang Lianghu , Pei Haifeng , Yang Yi , Wang Xiong , Wang Ting , Gao Erhe , Li De , Yang Yongjian , Yang Dachun
Published: July 2016

Restenosis limits the efficacy of vascular percutaneous intervention, in which vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and activation of inflammation are two primary causal factors. Calpains influence VSMC proliferation and collagen synthesis. However, the roles of calpastatin and calpains in vascular restenosis remain unclear. Here, restenosis was induced by ligating the left carotid artery and VSMCs were pretreated with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB. Adenovirus vector carrying MMP2 sequence and specific small interfering RNA against calpain-1/2 were introduced. Finally, restenosis enhanced the expression of calpain-1/2, but reduced calpastatin content. In calpastatin transgenic mice, lumen narrowing was attenuated gradually and peaked on days 14–21. Cell proliferation and migration as well as collagen synthesis were inhibited in transgenic mice and expression of calpain-1/2 and MMP2/transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). Consistently, in VSMCs pretreated with PDGF-BB, calpastatin induction and calpains inhibition suppressed the proliferation and migration of VSMCs and collagen synthesis and reduced expression of calpain-1/2 and MMP2/TGF-β1. Moreover, simvastatin improved restenosis indicators by suppressing the HIF-1α/calpains/MMP2/TGF-β1 pathway. However, MMP2 supplementation eliminated the vascular protection of calpastatin induction and simvastatin. Collectively, calpains inhibition plays crucial roles in vascular restenosis by preventing neointimal hyperplasia at the early stage via suppression of the MMP2/TGF-β1 pathway.
N-dimensional measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution with N + 1 un-characterized sources: zero quantum-bit-error-rate case
Authors: Hwang Won-Young , Su Hong-Yi , Bae Joonwoo
Published: July 2016

We study N-dimensional measurement-device-independent quantum-key-distribution protocol where one checking state is used. Only assuming that the checking state is a superposition of other N sources, we show that the protocol is secure in zero quantum-bit-error-rate case, suggesting possibility of the protocol. The method may be applied in other quantum information processing.
Effects of grazing on photosynthetic features and soil respiration of rangelands in the Tianshan Mountains of Northwest China
Authors: Liu Hua , Zang Runguo , Chen Han Y. H.
Published: July 2016

Rangelands play a critical role in the global carbon cycle. However, the eco-physiological mechanisms associated with the effects of grazing on leaf photosynthesis and soil respiration remain poorly understood. To examine the impacts of grazing on leaf photosynthesis and soil respiration, we measured the photosynthetic parameters of the dominant species (Trifolium repens) and the soil respiration in grazed and ungrazed rangelands in the Tianshan Mountains of China. We found that grazing reduced the daily maximum net photosynthetic rate and increased soil respiration rates by 35% and 15%, respectively. The photosynthetic quantum yield, dark respiratory rate, and water use efficiency ofT. repensleaves were reduced in grazed plots by 33.3%, 69.2%, and 21.5%, respectively. Our results demonstrated that grazing reduced carbon assimilation while increasing soil respiration within the rangelands in the Tianshan Mountains.
Revisiting the mechanism of coagulation factor XIII activation and regulation from a structure/functional perspective
Authors: Gupta Sneha , Biswas Arijit , Akhter Mohammad Suhail , Krettler Christoph , Reinhart Christoph , Dodt Johannes , Reuter Andreas , Philippou Helen , Ivaskevicius Vytautas , Oldenburg Johannes
Published: July 2016

The activation and regulation of coagulation Factor XIII (FXIII) protein has been the subject of active research for the past three decades. Although discrete evidence exists on various aspects of FXIII activation and regulation a combinatorial structure/functional view in this regard is lacking. In this study, we present results of a structure/function study of the functional chain of events for FXIII. Our study shows how subtle chronological submolecular changes within calcium binding sites can bring about the detailed transformation of the zymogenic FXIII to its activated form especially in the context of FXIIIA and FXIIIB subunit interactions. We demonstrate what aspects of FXIII are important for the stabilization (first calcium binding site) of its zymogenic form and the possible modes of deactivation (thrombin mediated secondary cleavage) of the activated form. Our study for the first time provides a structural outlook of the FXIIIA2B2heterotetramer assembly, its association and dissociation. The FXIIIB subunits regulatory role in the overall process has also been elaborated upon. In summary, this study provides detailed structural insight into the mechanisms of FXIII activation and regulation that can be used as a template for the development of future highly specific therapeutic inhibitors targeting FXIII in pathological conditions like thrombosis.
Nonlinear force dependence on optically bound micro-particle arrays in the evanescent fields of fundamental and higher order microfibre modes
Authors: Maimaiti Aili , Holzmann Daniela , Truong Viet Giang , Ritsch Helmut , Nic Chormaic Síle
Published: July 2016

Particles trapped in the evanescent field of an ultrathin optical fibre interact over very long distances via multiple scattering of the fibre-guided fields. In ultrathin fibres that support higher order modes, these interactions are stronger and exhibit qualitatively new behaviour due to the coupling of different fibre modes, which have different propagation wave-vectors, by the particles. Here, we study one dimensional longitudinal optical binding interactions of chains of 3 μm polystyrene spheres under the influence of the evanescent fields of a two-mode microfibre. The observation of long-range interactions, self-ordering and speed variation of particle chains reveals strong optical binding effects between the particles that can be modelled well by a tritter scattering-matrix approach. The optical forces, optical binding interactions and the velocity of bounded particle chains are calculated using this method. Results show good agreement with finite element numerical simulations. Experimental data and theoretical analysis show that higher order modes in a microfibre offer a promising method to not only obtain stable, multiple particle trapping or faster particle propulsion speeds, but that they also allow for better control over each individual trapped object in particle ensembles near the microfibre surface.
Proteomics of hot-wet and cold-dry temperaments proposed in Iranian traditional medicine: a Network-based Study
Authors: Rezadoost Hassan , Karimi Mehrdad , Jafari Mohieddin
Published: July 2016

Lack of molecular biology evidence has led clinical success of alternative and complementary medicine (CAM) to be marginalized. In turn, a large portion of life Science researchers could not communicate and help to develop therapeutic potential laid in these therapeutic approaches. In this study, we began to quantify descriptive classification theory in one of the CAM branches i.e. Iranian traditional medicine (ITM). Using proteomic tools and network analysis, the expressed proteins and their relationships were studied in mitochondrial lysate isolated from PBMCs from two different temperaments i.e. Hot-wet (HW) and Cold-dry (CD). The 82% of the identified proteins are over- or under-represented in distinct temperaments. Also, our result showed the different protein-protein interaction networks (PPIN) represented in these two temperaments using centrality and module finding analysis. Following the gene ontology and pathway enrichment analysis, we have found enriched biological terms in each group which are in conformity with the physiologically known evidence in ITM. In conclusion, we argued that the network biology which naturally consider life at the system level along with the different omics data will pave the way toward explicit delineation of the CAM activities.
Association of lymph-node antigens with lower Gag-specific central-memory and higher Env-specific effector-memory CD8+ T-cell frequencies in a macaque AIDS model
Authors: Ishii Hiroshi , Matsuoka Saori , Nomura Takushi , Nakamura Midori , Shiino Teiichiro , Sato Yuko , Iwata-Yoshikawa Naoko , Hasegawa Hideki , Mizuta Kazuta , Sakawaki Hiromi , Miura Tomoyuki , Koyanagi Yoshio , Naruse Taeko K. , Kimura Akinori , Matano Tetsuro
Published: July 2016

Virus-specific CD8+ T cells exert strong suppressive pressure on human/simian immunodeficiency virus (HIV/SIV) replication. These responses have been intensively examined in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) but not fully analyzed in lymph nodes (LNs), where interaction between CD8+ T cells and HIV/SIV-infected cells occurs. Here, we investigated target antigen specificity of CD8+ T cells in LNs in a macaque AIDS model. Analysis of virus antigen-specific CD8+ T-cell responses in the inguinal LNs obtained from twenty rhesus macaques in the chronic phase of SIV infection showed an inverse correlation between viral loads and frequencies of CD8+ T cells with CD28+ CD95+ central memory phenotype targeting the N-terminal half of SIV core antigen (Gag-N). In contrast, analysis of LNs but not PBMCs revealed a positive correlation between viral loads and frequencies of CD8+ T cells with CD28−CD95+ effector memory phenotype targeting the N-terminal half of SIV envelope (Env-N), soluble antigen. Indeed, LNs with detectable SIV capsid p27 antigen in the germinal center exhibited significantly lower Gag-N-specific CD28+ CD95+ CD8+ T-cell and higher Env-N-specific CD28−CD95+ CD8+ T-cell responses than those without detectable p27. These results imply that core and envelope antigen-specific CD8+ T cells show different patterns of interactions with HIV/SIV-infected cells.
Prefrontal responses to Stroop tasks in subjects with post-traumatic stress disorder assessed by functional near infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Yennu Amarnath , Tian Fenghua , Smith-Osborne Alexa , J. Gatchel Robert , Woon Fu Lye , Liu Hanli
Published: July 2016

Studies on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) showing attentional deficits have implicated abnormal activities in the frontal lobe. In this study, we utilized multichannel functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to investigate selective attention-related hemodynamic activity in the prefrontal cortex among 15 combat-exposed war-zone veterans with PTSD and 13 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. While performing the incongruent Stroop task, healthy controls showed significant activations in the left lateral prefrontal cortex (LPFC) compared to baseline readings. This observation is consistent with previously reported results. In comparison, subjects with PTSD failed to activate left LPFC during the same Stroop task. Our observations may implicate that subjects with PTSD experienced difficulty in overcoming Stroop interference. We also observed significant negative correlation between task reaction times and hemodynamic responses from left LPFC during the incongruent Stroop task in the PTSD group. Regarding the methodology used in this study, we have learned that an appropriate design of Stroop paradigms is important for meeting an optimal cognitive load which can lead to better brain image contrasts in response to Stroop interference between healthy versus PTSD subjects. Overall, the feasibility of fNIRS for studying and mapping neural correlates of selective attention and interference in subjects with PTSD is reported.