bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Great Circles and Rhumb Lines on the Complex Plane
Authors: Stuart Robin G.
Published: January 2017

Mapping points on the Riemann sphere to points on the plane of complex numbers by stereographic projection has been shown to offer a number of advantages when applied to problems in navigation traditionally handled using spherical trigonometry. Here it is shown that the same approach can be used for problems involving great circles and/or rhumb lines and it results in simple, compact expressions suitable for efficient computer evaluation. Worked numerical examples are given and the values obtained are compared to standard references.
Associations and the Development of Civil Society in Tsarist Russia
Authors: Bradley Joseph
Published: January 2017

This article examines the growth of civil society in imperial Russia by focusing on voluntary associations, especially learned societies, closely watched by tsarist officialdom but neglected by historians. Although scholars often emphasize the peculiarities of Russian development, Russia's societies were part of a broader European phenomenon. A study of associations highlights the relationship between state and society in authoritarian regimes where civil society is most vigorously contested. Because authoritarian regimes close the channels of representative politics and make it difficult for their subjects to act freely in concert, associations demonstrate the potential for the self-organization of society. They cultivate the microspaces of initiative and autonomy not completely under state control where the capacity of citizenship can appear. This study conceptualizes the development of Russian civil society and the way in which the disenfranchised could enter public life by using the examples of six Russian learned societies. Owing to the mission of the learned societies, Russian civil society became inextricably linked to patriotism and the dissemination of scientific knowledge. Associations raised consciousness, accorded an opportunity for special-interest constituencies of men to enter the public arena, framed policy issues, and mobilized a public in the language of representation. Although civil society and the autocratic state are often described as bitter rivals, cooperation, not confrontation, in the project of national prestige and prosperity was more often the rule. However, an increasing public assertiveness challenged autocratic authority, as Russian officialdom was unwilling to relinquish its tutelary supervision of civil society. Thus, associations became a focal point of a contradictory political culture.
“Man Is Born for Society”: Confraternities and Civil Society in Eighteenth-Century Paris and Milan
Authors: Garrioch David
Published: January 2017

“Civil society,” in the definition proposed in the introduction to this special issue, was not solely a product of the Enlightenment or of elite sociability. This article focuses on eighteenth-century confraternities in Paris and Milan to argue that these religious associations fostered the kinds of values and behaviors that most writers associate with the formation of civil society: cooperation, charity, a sense of responsibility, and peaceful interaction both among the members and between them and others in society. Many of them encouraged a culture of independence and a sense of rights among their members. They also offered experience of organization to a very large number of men and a smaller number of women. They thus contributed to the formation of eighteenth-century “civil society.”
Managing Social Inequality: Confraternal Charity in Portugal and Its Overseas Colonies
Authors: Sá Isabel dos Guimarães
Published: January 2017

When the first misericórdia was created in 1498, Lisbon was trying to erase the wounds of the violent expulsion of the Jewish communities from the kingdom, and the confraternity was born under the concern of reuniting baptized persons who wanted to exercise charity. The misericórdias were soon to be founded all over the kingdom and its empire, acting as prebanking institutions and rivaling with local institutions like the municipality or the bishopric. Their importance was based mainly upon moral authority, as they tended to cater for most situations of poverty. Even if other local institutions practised charity, they were not generally able to attain the same scale of human or economic resources, as the misericórdias relied on the voluntary work of their members and attracted substantial postmortem donations. They responded directly to the king and were largely out of the control of competitors. By contrast, royal authority was too weak to impose an effective control; the first serious attempts to do so date from the marquis of Pombal's consulate (1750–77). In spite of misunderstandings and conflicts with the Crown, it is undeniable misericórdias gave an important contribution to the formation of local communities, participating in the dynamics between center and periphery. In spite of the variety of their geographic and demographic contexts, they could always be recognizable by central powers as abiding to the same principles. However, the elites who governed them were free to transform misericórdias into institutions capable of motivating their participation. Between obedience to the king and local management of resources, there was ample space for social action.
Wie Angehörige die Forensik erleben
Authors: Meesmann Gerwald
Published: January 2017

Zusammenfassung. Warum haben Angehörige das Gefühl, in der Klinik zu stören, statt willkommen zu sein? Und warum haben Mitarbeiter gegenüber Angehörigen Vorbehalte?
Richard B. Alley Receives 2016 Climate Communication Prize
Authors:   AGU
Published: January 2017

Richard B. Alley was awarded the 2016 Climate Communication Prize at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting Honors Ceremony, held on 14 December 2016 in San Francisco, Calif. The Climate Communication Prize is funded by Nature's Own, a purveyor of fossils, minerals, and handcrafted jewelry in Boulder, Colo. The prize honors an AGU member-scientist "for the communication of climate science" and "highlights the importance of promoting scientific literacy, clarity of message, and efforts to foster respect and understanding of science-based values as they relate to the implications of climate change."
A Comparison of Surface Thinning in West Antarctic Glaciers
Authors: Cook Terri
Published: January 2017

An uninterrupted 24-year altimetry record of Amundsen Sea Embayment glaciers indicates the initiation and pace of thinning have been inconsistent across the region.
Highly active and efficient catalysts for alkoxycarbonylation of alkenes
Authors: Dong Kaiwu , Fang Xianjie , Gülak Samet , Franke Robert , Spannenberg Anke , Neumann Helfried , Jackstell Ralf , Beller Matthias
Published: January 2017

Carbonylation reactions of alkenes constitute the most important industrial processes in homogeneous catalysis. Despite the tremendous progress in this transformation, the development of advanced catalyst systems to improve their activity and widen the range of feedstocks continues to be essential for new practical applications. Herein a palladium catalyst based on 1,2-bis((tert-butyl(pyridin-2-yl)phosphanyl)methyl)benzene L3 (pytbpx) is rationally designed and synthesized. Application of this system allows a general alkoxycarbonylation of sterically hindered and demanding olefins including all kinds of tetra-, tri- and 1,1-disubstituted alkenes as well as natural products and pharmaceuticals to the desired esters in excellent yield. Industrially relevant bulk ethylene is functionalized with high activity (TON: >1,425,000; TOF: 44,000 h−1 for initial 18 h) and selectivity (>99%). Given its generality and efficiency, we expect this catalytic system to immediately impact both the chemical industry and research laboratories by providing a practical synthetic tool for the transformation of nearly any alkene into a versatile ester product.
Chirality detection of enantiomers using twisted optical metamaterials
Authors: Zhao Yang , Askarpour Amir N. , Sun Liuyang , Shi Jinwei , Li Xiaoqin , Alù Andrea
Published: January 2017

Many naturally occurring biomolecules, such as amino acids, sugars and nucleotides, are inherently chiral. Enantiomers, a pair of chiral isomers with opposite handedness, often exhibit similar physical and chemical properties due to their identical functional groups and composition, yet show different toxicity to cells. Detecting enantiomers in small quantities has an essential role in drug development to eliminate their unwanted side effects. Here we exploit strong chiral interactions with plasmonic metamaterials with specifically designed optical response to sense chiral molecules down to zeptomole levels, several orders of magnitude smaller than what is typically detectable with conventional circular dichroism spectroscopy. In particular, the measured spectra reveal opposite signs in the spectral regime directly associated with different chiral responses, providing a way to univocally assess molecular chirality. Our work introduces an ultrathin, planarized nanophotonic interface to sense chiral molecules with inherently weak circular dichroism at visible and near-infrared frequencies.
Ice sheets as a missing source of silica to the polar oceans
Authors: Hawkings Jon R. , Wadham Jemma L. , Benning Liane G. , Hendry Katharine R. , Tranter Martyn , Tedstone Andrew , Nienow Peter , Raiswell Rob
Published: January 2017

Ice sheets play a more important role in the global silicon cycle than previously appreciated. Input of dissolved and amorphous particulate silica into natural waters stimulates the growth of diatoms. Here we measure dissolved and amorphous silica in Greenland Ice Sheet meltwaters and icebergs, demonstrating the potential for high ice sheet export. Our dissolved and amorphous silica flux is 0.20 (0.06–0.79) Tmol year−1, ∼50% of the input from Arctic rivers. Amorphous silica comprises >95% of this flux and is highly soluble in sea water, as indicated by a significant increase in dissolved silica across a fjord salinity gradient. Retreating palaeo ice sheets were therefore likely responsible for high dissolved and amorphous silica fluxes into the ocean during the last deglaciation, reaching values of ∼5.5 Tmol year−1, similar to the estimated export from palaeo rivers. These elevated silica fluxes may explain high diatom productivity observed during the last glacial–interglacial period.
RhoGTPase stimulation is associated with strontium
chloride treatment to counter simulated microgravity-induced changes in multipotent cell commitment
Authors: Louis Fiona , Bouleftour Wafa , Rattner Aline , Linossier Marie-Thérèse , Vico Laurence , Guignandon Alain
Published: January 2017

Microgravity-related cytoskeletal disorganization is associated with an altered balance between osteoblastogenesis and adipogenesis of multipotent cells. Strontium chloride is known to increase osteoblastogenesis and repress adipogenesis, but its effects in microgravity-related conditions have not been established. Our goal was to investigate early events in this process, focusing on RhoGTPases as controllers of cytoskeletal organization leading to stem cell commitment. We cultivated C3H10T1/2 on microspheres using a rotating wall vessel bioreactor (NASA) in order to simulate microgravity-related conditions in adipogenesis and osteoblastogenesis conditions independently. We observed that rotating wall vessel cultures presented increased adipogenesis, while osteoblastogenesis was reduced. Strontium-treated multipotent cells presented a significant repression in adipogenesis (−90 %, p < 0.001 PPARyD8) and an activation of osteoblastogenesis (+95 %, p < 0.001 bone sialoprotein and osteopontin D8), even in gravity altered conditions. We established that concomitant RhoA/Rac1 activations were associated with osteoblastogenesis enhancement and adipogenesis limitation in uncommitted cells. As vascular endothelial growth factor splicing is mechanosensitive and its signaling is central to stem cell commitment, we investigated vascular endothelial growth factor production, isoforms and receptors expressions in our conditions. We observed that vascular endothelial growth factor and receptors expressions were not significantly affected, but we found that presence of soluble vascular endothelial growth factor was associated with RhoA/Rac1 activations, whereas sequestration of vascular endothelial growth factor by cells was associated with RhoA/Rac1 inhibitions. We propose that strontium triggers secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor and the subsequent Rac1 and RhoA activations leading to repression of adipogenesis and osteogenesis stimulation validating strontium as a counter measure for microgravity-induced alteration of cell commitment.
Presynaptic dopaminergic terminal imaging and non-motor symptoms assessment of Parkinson’s disease: evidence for dopaminergic basis?
Authors: Qamar MA , Sauerbier A , Politis M , Carr H , Loehrer P A , Chaudhuri K Ray
Published: January 2017

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is now considered to be a multisystemic disorder consequent on multineuropeptide dysfunction including dopaminergic, serotonergic, cholinergic, and noradrenergic systems. This multipeptide dysfunction leads to expression of a range of non-motor symptoms now known to be integral to the concept of PD and preceding the diagnosis of motor PD. Some non-motor symptoms in PD may have a dopaminergic basis and in this review, we investigate the evidence for this based on imaging techniques using dopamine-based radioligands. To discuss non-motor symptoms we follow the classification as outlined by the validated PD non-motor symptoms scale.
Sirtinol promotes PEPCK1 degradation and inhibits gluconeogenesis by inhibiting deacetylase SIRT2
Authors: Zhang Mingming , Pan Yida , Dorfman Robert G. , Yin Yuyao , Zhou Qian , Huang Shan , Liu Jie , Zhao Shimin
Published: January 2017

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 (PEPCK1) is the critical enzyme for gluconeogenesis and is linked with type II diabetes. Previous studies have found that SIRT2, a deacetylase, plays an important role in deacetylating PEPCK1 and little is known about the anti-diabetic activity of SIRT2 inhibitors. In this study, we investigated the anti-diabetic effects of sirtinol, a SIRT2 inhibitor, on cell gluconeogenesis in vivo and in vitro. Immunoblotting analysis revealed that sirtinol significantly decreased the protein level of PEPCK1, and was accompanied by the hyperacetylation of PEPCK1 as well as decreased glucose output in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, sirtinol exerted little impact on endogenous PEPCK1 levels in SIRT2-knockdown cells. The in vitro experiments further confirmed the in vivo data; sirtinol decreased liver PEPCK1 protein level and prevented pyruvate-induced blood glucose from increasing. Based on our results, the rate-limiting enzyme PEPCK1 is the primary target of sirtinol, and the inhibition of SIRT2 activity may play an important role in cell gluconeogenesis. Thus, SIRT2 may be a novel molecular target for diabetes therapy and may thus shed light on the underlying diabetes treatment mechanisms of sirtinol.
Comparison of bacterial microbiota of the predatory mite Neoseiulus cucumeris (Acari: Phytoseiidae) and its factitious prey Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Acari: Acaridae)
Authors: Pekas Apostolos , Palevsky Eric , Sumner Jason C. , Perotti M. Alejandra , Nesvorna Marta , Hubert Jan
Published: January 2017

Neoseiulus cucumeris is a predatory mite used for biological control of arthropod pests. Mass-reared predators are fed with factitious prey mites such as Tyrophagus putrescentiae. Although some information on certain endosymbionts of N. cucumeris and T. putrescentiae exists, it is unclear whether both species share bacterial communities. The bacterial communities in populations of predator and prey mites, as well as the occurence of potential acaropathogenic bacteria were analyzed. The comparisons were based on the following groups: (i) N. cucumeris mass-production; (ii) N. cucumeris laboratory population with disease symptoms; (iii) T. putrescentiae pure populations and; (iv) T. putrescentiae from rearing units of N. cucumeris. Only 15% of OTUs were present in all samples from predatory and prey mite populations (core OTUs): the intracellular symbionts Wolbachia, Cardinium, plus other Blattabacterium-like, Solitalea-like, and Bartonella-like symbionts. Environmental bacteria were more abundant in predatory mites, while symbiotic bacteria prevailed in prey mites. Relative numbers of certain bacterial taxa were significantly different between the microbiota of prey mites reared with and without N. cucumeris. No significant differences were found in the bacterial communities of healthy N. cucumeris compared to N. cucumeris showing disease symptoms. We did not identify any confirmed acaropathogenic bacteria among microbiota.
Identification of Mutant Genes and Introgressed Tiger Salamander DNA in the Laboratory Axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum
Authors: Woodcock M. Ryan , Vaughn-Wolfe Jennifer , Elias Alexandra , Kump D. Kevin , Kendall Katharina Denise , Timoshevskaya Nataliya , Timoshevskiy Vladimir , Perry Dustin W. , Smith Jeramiah J. , Spiewak Jessica E. , Parichy David M. , Voss S. Randal
Published: January 2017

The molecular genetic toolkit of the Mexican axolotl, a classic model organism, has matured to the point where it is now possible to identify genes for mutant phenotypes. We used a positional cloning–candidate gene approach to identify molecular bases for two historic axolotl pigment phenotypes: white and albino. White (d/d) mutants have defects in pigment cell morphogenesis and differentiation, whereas albino (a/a) mutants lack melanin. We identified in white mutants a transcriptional defect in endothelin 3 (edn3), encoding a peptide factor that promotes pigment cell migration and differentiation in other vertebrates. Transgenic restoration of Edn3 expression rescued the homozygous white mutant phenotype. We mapped the albino locus to tyrosinase (tyr) and identified polymorphisms shared between the albino allele (tyr
a
) and tyr alleles in a Minnesota population of tiger salamanders from which the albino trait was introgressed. tyr
a
has a 142 bp deletion and similar engineered alleles recapitulated the albino phenotype. Finally, we show that historical introgression of tyr
a
significantly altered genomic composition of the laboratory axolotl, yielding a distinct, hybrid strain of ambystomatid salamander. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of identifying genes for traits in the laboratory Mexican axolotl.
Mitochondrial and Chromosomal Damage Induced by Oxidative Stress in Zn2+ Ions, ZnO-Bulk and ZnO-NPs treated Allium cepa roots
Authors: Ahmed Bilal , Dwivedi Sourabh , Abdin Malik Zainul , Azam Ameer , Al-Shaeri Majed , Khan Mohammad Saghir , Saquib Quaiser , Al-Khedhairy Abdulaziz A. , Musarrat Javed
Published: January 2017

Large-scale synthesis and release of nanomaterials in environment is a growing concern for human health and ecosystem. Therefore, we have investigated the cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs), zinc oxide bulk (ZnO-Bulk), and zinc ions (Zn2+) in treated roots of Allium cepa, under hydroponic conditions. ZnO-NPs were characterized by UV-visible, XRD, FT-IR spectroscopy and TEM analyses. Bulbs of A. cepa exposed to ZnO-NPs (25.5 nm) for 12 h exhibited significant decrease (23 ± 8.7%) in % mitotic index and increase in chromosomal aberrations (18 ± 7.6%), in a dose-dependent manner. Transmission electron microcopy and FT-IR data suggested surface attachment, internalization and biomolecular intervention of ZnO-NPs in root cells, respectively. The levels of TBARS and antioxidant enzymes were found to be significantly greater in treated root cells vis-à-vis untreated control. Furthermore, dose-dependent increase in ROS production and alterations in ΔΨm were observed in treated roots. FT-IR analysis of root tissues demonstrated symmetric and asymmetric P=O stretching of >PO2− at 1240 cm−1 and stretching of C-O ribose at 1060 cm−1, suggestive of nuclear damage. Overall, the results elucidated A. cepa, as a good model for assessment of cytotoxicity and oxidative DNA damage with ZnO-NPs and Zn2+ in plants.
Estimating carnivore community structures
Authors: Jiménez José , Nuñez-Arjona Juan Carlos , Rueda Carmen , González Luis Mariano , García-Domínguez Francisco , Muñoz-Igualada Jaime , López-Bao José Vicente
Published: January 2017

Obtaining reliable estimates of the structure of carnivore communities is of paramount importance because of their ecological roles, ecosystem services and impact on biodiversity conservation, but they are still scarce. This information is key for carnivore management: to build support for and acceptance of management decisions and policies it is crucial that those decisions are based on robust and high quality information. Here, we combined camera and live-trapping surveys, as well as telemetry data, with spatially-explicit Bayesian models to show the usefulness of an integrated multi-method and multi-model approach to monitor carnivore community structures. Our methods account for imperfect detection and effectively deal with species with non-recognizable individuals. In our Mediterranean study system, the terrestrial carnivore community was dominated by red foxes (0.410 individuals/km2); Egyptian mongooses, feral cats and stone martens were similarly abundant (0.252, 0.249 and 0.240 individuals/km2, respectively), whereas badgers and common genets were the least common (0.130 and 0.087 individuals/km2, respectively). The precision of density estimates improved by incorporating multiple covariates, device operation, and accounting for the removal of individuals. The approach presented here has substantial implications for decision-making since it allows, for instance, the evaluation, in a standard and comparable way, of community responses to interventions.
The neural basis of intergroup threat effect on social attention
Authors: Chen Yujie , Zhao Yufang , Song Hongwen , Guan Lili , Wu Xin
Published: January 2017

Previous gaze-cuing studies found that intergroup threat is one of the modulators of gaze cuing. These findings indicate that intergroup threat would gate social attention by activating a network resembling that is thought to be involved in drawing or/and holding attention. The present study tested this hypothesis using a gaze-cuing task in which a particular in-group participants observed threatening out-group and nonthreatening out-group gazes, while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging. As expected, greater gaze cuing effect only emerged for threatening out-group when the in-group participants only felt inergroup threat from that out-group. Behaviorally, we found intergroup threatening out-group gazes did not draw attention faster than nonthreatening in-group gazes does. However, participants took more time to suppress the influence of the gaze direction of threatening out-group gazes, compared to nonthreatening in-group gazes, in the incongruent condition, which means intergroup threatening gaze holds attention longer than nonthreatening gaze does. Imaging results demonstrated that threatening cues recruited a fronto-parietal network, previously implicated in holding attention and execution functions. Our results, therefore, suggest that the mechanisms underpinning gaze cuing evolved to be sensitive to intergroup threatening stimuli, possibly because it is hard to disengage from such intergroup threatening cues once they are detected.
S-acylation of SOD1, CCS, and a stable SOD1-CCS heterodimer in human spinal cords from ALS and non-ALS subjects
Authors: Antinone Sarah E. , Ghadge Ghanashyam D. , Ostrow Lyle W. , Roos Raymond P. , Green William N.
Published: January 2017

Previously, we found that human Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1) is S-acylated (palmitoylated) in vitro and in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) mouse models, and that S-acylation increased for ALS-causing SOD1 mutants relative to wild type. Here, we use the acyl resin-assisted capture (acyl-RAC) assay to demonstrate S-acylation of SOD1 in human post-mortem spinal cord homogenates from ALS and non-ALS subjects. Acyl-RAC further revealed that endogenous copper chaperone for SOD1 (CCS) is S-acylated in both human and mouse spinal cords, and in vitro in HEK293 cells. SOD1 and CCS formed a highly stable heterodimer in human spinal cord homogenates that was resistant to dissociation by boiling, denaturants, or reducing agents and was not observed in vitro unless both SOD1 and CCS were overexpressed. Cysteine mutations that attenuate SOD1 maturation prevented the SOD1-CCS heterodimer formation. The degree of S-acylation was highest for SOD1-CCS heterodimers, intermediate for CCS monomers, and lowest for SOD1 monomers. Given that S-acylation facilitates anchoring of soluble proteins to cell membranes, our findings suggest that S-acylation and membrane localization may play an important role in CCS-mediated SOD1 maturation. Furthermore, the highly stable S-acylated SOD1-CCS heterodimer may serve as a long-lived maturation intermediate in human spinal cord.
‘Blue Carbon’ and Nutrient Stocks of Salt Marshes at a Temperate Coastal Lagoon (Ria de Aveiro, Portugal)
Authors: Sousa Ana I. , Santos Danielle B. , Silva Eduardo Ferreira da , Sousa Lisa P. , Cleary Daniel F. R. , Soares Amadeu M. V. M. , Lillebø Ana I.
Published: January 2017

Ria de Aveiro is a mesotidal coastal lagoon with one of the largest continuous salt marshes in Europe. The objective of this work was to assess C, N and P stocks of Spartina maritima (low marsh pioneer halophyte) and Juncus maritimus (representative of mid-high marsh halophytes) combined with the contribution of Halimione portulacoides, Sarcocornia perennis, and Bolbochenous maritimus to the lagoon ≈4400 ha marsh area. A multivariate analysis (PCO), taking into account environmental variables and the annual biomass and nutrient dynamics, showed that there are no clear seasonal or spatial differences within low or mid-high marshes, but clearly separates J. maritimus and S. maritima marshes. Calculations of C, N and P stocks in the biomass of the five most representative halophytes plus the respective rhizosediment (25 cm depth), and taking into account their relative coverage, represents 252053 Mg C, 38100 Mg N and 7563 Mg P. Over 90% of the stocks are found within mid-high marshes. This work shows the importance of this lagoon’s salt marshes on climate and nutrients regulation, and defines the current condition concerning the ‘blue carbon’ and nutrient stocks, as a basis for prospective future scenarios of salt marsh degradation or loss, namely under SLR context.
Epigenetic map and genetic map basis of complex traits in cassava population
Authors: Zou Meiling , Lu Cheng , Zhang Shengkui , Chen Qing , Sun Xianglai , Ma Pingan , Hu Meizhen , Peng Ming , Ma Zilong , Chen Xin , Zhou Xincheng , Wang Haiyan , Feng Subin , Fang Kaixin , Xie Hairong , Li Zaiyun , Liu Kede , Qin Qiongyao , Pei Jinli , Wang Shujuan , Pan Kun , Hu Wenbin , Feng Binxiao , Fan Dayong , Zhou Bin , Wu Chunling , Su Ming , Xia Zhiqiang , Li Kaimian , Wang Wenquan
Published: January 2017

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is an important tropical starchy root crop that is adapted to drought but extremely cold sensitive. A cold-tolerant, high-quality, and robust supply of cassava is urgently needed. Here, we clarify genome-wide distribution and classification of CCGG hemi-methylation and full-methylation, and detected 77 much candidate QTLsepi for cold stress and 103 much candidate QTLsepi for storage root quality and yield in 186 cassava population, generated by crossing two non-inbred lines with female parent KU50 and male parent SC124 (KS population). We developed amplified-fragment single nucleotide polymorphism and methylation (AFSM) genetic map in this population. We also constructed the AFSM QTL map, identified 260 much candidate QTL genes for cold stress and 301 much candidate QTL genes for storage root quality and yield, based on the years greenhouse and field trials. This may accounted for a significant amount of the variation in the key traits controlling cold tolerance and the high quality and yield of cassava.
A potential role of transposon IS431 in the loss of mecA gene
Authors: Wang Aihua , Zhou Kai , Liu Yang , Yang Liang , Zhang Qin , Guan Jing , Zhong Nanshan , Zhuo Chao
Published: January 2017

Acquisition of a vancomycin-resistance-determinant may trigger deletion of the mecA gene. However, the molecular mechanisms involved remain largely unknown. In this study, we successfully produced vancomycin-intermediate-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VISA) from Methicillin-resistant-S. aureus (MRSA) through serial passages with vancomycin. Five MRSA isolates achieved a vancomycin MIC of >8 mg/ml after 45-day serial exposure to vancomycin. After 20-day passages in media without antibiotics, three of the isolates were restored to pre-induction levels, whilst the remaining 2 (3503-1 and 4126-1) retained a vancomycin MIC >6 mg/ml. The oxacillin MICs for strain 3503-1 and its induced equivalents 3503VR6 and 3503VR10, were 512 μg/ml, <2 μg/ml, and <2 μg/ml, respectively. Oxacillin MICs for 4126-1 and its induced strain 4126VR10 were 512 μg/ml and 128 μg/ml, respectively. Strains 3503-1 and 3503VR6 were sensitive to gentamicin while 4126-1 and 4126VR10 were resistant. PFGE analysis demonstrated that comparing to the parental strain 3503VR6 and 3503VR10 lacked a DNA fragment of 40-kb and 80-kb, respectively. Both deleted regions localized around the transposon IS431. The deletion region of 3503VR10 was further investigated by whole-genome sequencing. We conclude that transition from MRSA to VISA may cause deletion of the mobile genetic element staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec), and possibly be mediated by IS431, resulting in increased susceptibility to oxacillin.
Insight into Generation and Evolution of Sea-Salt Aerosols from Field Measurements in Diversified Marine and Coastal Atmospheres
Authors: Feng Limin , Shen Hengqing , Zhu Yujiao , Gao Huiwang , Yao Xiaohong
Published: January 2017

This report focuses on studying generation and/or evolution of sea-salt aerosols (SSA) on basis of measurements in the Northwest Pacific Ocean (NWPO), the marginal seas of China, at sea-beach sites and a semi-urban coastal site in 2012–2015. From measurements in the NWPO, we obtained the smallest generation function of the super-micron SSA mass ([MSSA]) by the local wind comparing to those previously reported. Vessel-caused wave-breaking was found to greatly enhance generation of SSA and increase [MSSA], which was subject to non-natural generation of SSA. However, naturally enhanced generation of SSA was indeed observed in the marginal seas and at the sea-beach site. The two enhancement mechanisms may explain the difference among this and previous studies. Size distributions of super-micron SSA exhibited two modes, i.e., 1–2 μm mode and ~5 μm mode. The 1–2 μm mode of SSA was enhanced more and comparable to the ~5 μm mode under the wind speed >7 m/s. However, the smaller mode SSA was largely reduced from open oceans to sea-beach sites with reducing wind speed. The two super-micron modes were comparable again at a semi-urban coastal site, suggesting that the smaller super-micron mode SSA may play more important roles in atmospheres.
Electronic Structure Evolution with Composition Alteration of RhxCuy Alloy Nanoparticles
Authors: Palina Natalia , Sakata Osami , Kumara L. S. R. , Song Chulho , Sato Katsutoshi , Nagaoka Katsutoshi , Komatsu Tokutaro , Kobayashi Hirokazu , Kusada Kohei , Kitagawa Hiroshi
Published: January 2017

The change in electronic structure of extremely small RhxCuyalloy nanoparticles (NPs) with composition variation was investigated by core-level (CL) and valence-band (VB) hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A combination of CL and VB spectra analyses confirmed that intermetallic charge transfer occurs between Rh and Cu. This is an important compensation mechanism that helps to explain the relationship between the catalytic activity and composition of RhxCuyalloy NPs. For monometallic Rh and Rh-rich alloy (Rh0.77Cu0.23) NPs, the formation of Rh surface oxide with a non-integer oxidation state (Rh(3−δ)+) resulted in high catalytic activity. Conversely, for alloy NPs with comparable Rh:Cu ratio (Rh0.53Cu0.47and Rh0.50Cu0.50), the decreased fraction of catalytically active Rh(3−δ)+oxide is compensated by charge transfer from Cu to Rh. As a result, ensuring negligible change in the catalytic activities of the NPs with comparable Rh:Cu ratio to those of Rh-rich and monometallic Rh NPs.
The role of miR-26a and miR-30b in HER2+ breast cancer trastuzumab resistance and regulation of the CCNE2 gene
Authors: Tormo Eduardo , Adam-Artigues Anna , Ballester Sandra , Pineda Begoña , Zazo Sandra , González-Alonso Paula , Albanell Joan , Rovira Ana , Rojo Federico , Lluch Ana , Eroles Pilar
Published: January 2017

A subset of HER2+ breast cancer patients manifest clinical resistance to trastuzumab. Recently, miR-26a and miR-30b have been identified as trastuzumab response regulators, and their target gene CCNE2 seems to play an important role in resistance to trastuzumab therapy. Cell viability was evaluated in trastuzumab treated HER2+ BT474 wt (sensitive), BT474r (acquired resistance), HCC1954 (innate resistance), and MDA-MB-231 (HER2−) cell lines, and the expression of miR-26a, miR-30b, and their target genes was measured. BT474 wt cell viability decreased by 60% and miR-26a and miR-30b were significantly overexpressed (~3-fold, p = 0.003 and p = 0.002, respectively) after trastuzumab treatment, but no differences were observed in resistant and control cell lines. Overexpression of miR-30b sensitized BT474r cells to trastuzumab (p = 0.01) and CCNE2, was significantly overexpressed after trastuzumab treatment in BT474r cells (p = 0.032), but no significant changes were observed in sensitive cell line. When CCNE2 was silenced BT474r cell sensitivity to trastuzumab increased (p = 0.03). Thus, the molecular mechanism of trastuzumab action in BT474 cell line may be regulated by miR-26a and miR-30b and CCNE2 overexpression might play an important role in acquired trastuzumab resistance in HER2+ breast cancer given that resistance was diminished when CCNE2 was silenced.
Relationship between bony tunnel and knee function in patients after patellar dislocation triple surgeries—a CT-based study
Authors: Qin Le , Li Mei , Yao Weiwu , Shen Ji
Published: January 2017

We aimed to assess the CT-based bony tunnel valuations and their correlation with knee function after patellar dislocation triple surgeries. A retrospective study was performed on 66 patients (70 knees) who underwent patellar dislocation triple surgeries. The surgery was MPFL reconstruction primarily, combined with lateral retinaculum release and tibial tubercle osteotomy. CT examinations were performed to determine the femoral tunnel position, along with the patellar and femoral tunnel width 3 days and more than 1 year after operation for follow-up. Functional evaluation based on Kujala and Lysholm scores was also implemented. We compared tunnel width of the first and last examinations and correlated femoral tunnel position of the last examination with knee function. At the last follow-up, femoral tunnel position in the anterior-posterior direction was moderately correlated with knee function. Femoral tunnel position in the proximal-distal direction was not associated with postoperative knee function. Patellar and femoral tunnel width increased significantly at the last follow-up. However, no significant functional difference was found between patients with and without femoral tunnel enlargement. Our results suggested that the tunnel malposition in anterior-posterior position based on CT was related to impaired knee function during the follow-ups.
Long-term and realistic global change manipulations had low impact on diversity of soil biota in temperate heathland
Authors: Holmstrup Martin , Damgaard Christian , Schmidt Inger K. , Arndal Marie F. , Beier Claus , Mikkelsen Teis N. , Ambus Per , Larsen Klaus S. , Pilegaard Kim , Michelsen Anders , Andresen Louise C. , Haugwitz Merian , Bergmark Lasse , Priemé Anders , Zaitsev Andrey S. , Georgieva Slavka , Dam Marie , Vestergård Mette , Christensen Søren
Published: January 2017

In a dry heathland ecosystem we manipulated temperature (warming), precipitation (drought) and atmospheric concentration of CO2in a full-factorial experiment in order to investigate changes in below-ground biodiversity as a result of future climate change. We investigated the responses in community diversity of nematodes, enchytraeids, collembolans and oribatid mites at two and eight years of manipulations. We used a structural equation modelling (SEM) approach analyzing the three manipulations, soil moisture and temperature, and seven soil biological and chemical variables. The analysis revealed a persistent and positive effect of elevated CO2on litter C:N ratio. After two years of treatment, the fungi to bacteria ratio was increased by warming, and the diversities within oribatid mites, collembolans and nematode groups were all affected by elevated CO2mediated through increased litter C:N ratio. After eight years of treatment, however, the CO2-increased litter C:N ratio did not influence the diversity in any of the four fauna groups. The number of significant correlations between treatments, food source quality, and soil biota diversities was reduced from six to three after two and eight years, respectively. These results suggest a remarkable resilience within the soil biota against global climate change treatments in the long term.
The interplay between p16 serine phosphorylation and arginine methylation determines its function in modulating cellular apoptosis and senescence
Authors: Lu Yang , Ma Wenlong , Li Zhongwei , Lu Jun , Wang Xiuli
Published: January 2017

Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p16INK4a (p16) primarily functions as a negative regulator of the retinoblastoma protein (Rb) -E2F pathway, thus plays critical role in cell cycle progression, cellular senescence and apoptosis. In this study, we showed that the methylation of Arg 138 and the phosphorylation of Ser 140 on p16 were critical for the control of cell proliferation and apoptosis. Compared to wild type p16, mutant p16R138K possessed improved function in preventing cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis, while the Ser 140 mutation (p16S140A) exhibited the opposite alteration. We also demonstrated that H2O2 was able to induce the phosphorylation of p16, which facilitated the interaction between CDK4 (Cyclin-dependent protein kinase) and p16, in 293T (human emborynic kidney) cells. Furthermore, the elevated arginine methylation in p16S140A mutant and increased serine phosphorylation in p16R138K mutant suggest that a antagonizing mechanism coordinating Arg 138 methylation and Ser 140 phosphorylation to regulates p16 function as well as cellular apoptosis and senescence. These findings will therefore contribute to therapeutic treatment for p16-related gene therapy by providing theoretical and experimental evidence.
Thermal conductivity of graphene nanoribbons under shear deformation: A molecular dynamics simulation
Authors: Zhang Chao , Hao Xiao-Li , Wang Cui-Xia , Wei Ning , Rabczuk Timon
Published: January 2017

Tensile strain and compress strain can greatly affect the thermal conductivity of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs). However, the effect of GNRs under shear strain, which is also one of the main strain effect, has not been studied systematically yet. In this work, we employ reverse nonequilibrium molecular dynamics (RNEMD) to the systematical study of the thermal conductivity of GNRs (with model size of 4 nm × 15 nm) under the shear strain. Our studies show that the thermal conductivity of GNRs is not sensitive to the shear strain, and the thermal conductivity decreases only 12–16% before the pristine structure is broken. Furthermore, the phonon frequency and the change of the micro-structure of GNRs, such as band angel and bond length, are analyzed to explore the tendency of thermal conductivity. The results show that the main influence of shear strain is on the in-plane phonon density of states (PDOS), whose G band (higher frequency peaks) moved to the low frequency, thus the thermal conductivity is decreased. The unique thermal properties of GNRs under shear strains suggest their great potentials for graphene nanodevices and great potentials in the thermal managements and thermoelectric applications.
Fencing bodes a rapid collapse of the unique Greater Mara ecosystem
Authors: Løvschal Mette , Bøcher Peder Klith , Pilgaard Jeppe , Amoke Irene , Odingo Alice , Thuo Aggrey , Svenning Jens-Christian
Published: January 2017

With land privatization and fencing of thousands of hectares of communal grazing areas, East Africa is struggling with one of the most radical cultural and environmental changes in its history. The 668,500-hectare Greater Mara is of crucial importance for the great migrations of large mammals and for Maasai pastoralist culture. However, the magnitude and pace of these fencing processes in this area are almost completely unknown. We provide new evidence that fencing is appropriating land in this area at an unprecedented and accelerating speed and scale. By means of a mapped series of multispectral satellite imagery (1985–2016), we found that in the conservancies with the most fences, areal cover of fenced areas has increased with >20% since 2010. This has resulted in a situation where fencing is rapidly increasing across the Greater Mara, threatening to lead to the collapse of the entire ecosystem in the near future. Our results suggest that fencing is currently instantiating itself as a new permanent self-reinforcing process and is about to reach a critical point after which it is likely to amplify at an even quicker pace, incompatible with the region’s role in the great wildebeest migration, wildlife generally, as well as traditional Maasai pastoralism.
Using electric current to surpass the microstructure breakup limit
Authors: Qin Rongshan
Published: January 2017

The elongated droplets and grains can break up into smaller ones. This process is driven by the interfacial free energy minimization, which gives rise to a breakup limit. We demonstrated in this work that the breakup limit can be overpassed drastically by using electric current to interfere. Electric current free energy is dependent on the microstructure configuration. The breakup causes the electric current free energy to reduce in some cases. This compensates the increment of interfacial free energy during breaking up and enables the processing to achieve finer microstructure. With engineering practical electric current parameters, our calculation revealed a significant increment of the obtainable number of particles, showing electric current a powerful microstructure refinement technology. The calculation is validated by our experiments on the breakup of Fe3C-plates in Fe matrix. Furthermore, there is a parameter range that electric current can drive spherical particles to split into smaller ones.
Unloading Characteristics of Sand-drift in Wind-shallow Areas along Railway and the Effect of Sand Removal by Force of Wind
Authors: Cheng Jian-jun , Xin Guo-Wei , Zhi Ling-yan , Jiang Fu-qiang
Published: January 2017

Wind-shield walls decrease the velocity of wind-drift sand flow in transit. This results in sand accumulating in the wind-shadow zone of both windshield wall and track line, causing severe sand sediment hazard. This study reveals the characteristics of sand accumulation and the laws of wind-blown sand removal in the wind-shadow areas of three different types of windshield walls, utilizing three-dimensional numerical simulations and wind tunnel experiments and on-site sand sediment tests. The results revealed the formation of apparent vortex and acceleration zones on the leeward side of solid windshield walls. For uniform openings, the vortex area moved back and narrowed. When bottom-opening windshield walls were adopted, the track-supporting layer at the step became a conflux acceleration zone, forming a low velocity vortex zone near the track line. At high wind speeds, windshield walls with bottom-openings achieved improved sand dredging. Considering hydrodynamic mechanisms, the flow field structure on the leeward side of different types of windshield structures is a result of convergence and diffusion of fluids caused by an obstacle. This convergence and diffusion effect of air fluid is more apparent at high wind velocities, but not obvious at low wind velocities.
A deforestation-induced tipping point for the South American monsoon system
Authors: Boers Niklas , Marwan Norbert , Barbosa Henrique M. J. , Kurths Jürgen
Published: January 2017

The Amazon rainforest has been proposed as a tipping element of the earth system, with the possibility of a dieback of the entire ecosystem due to deforestation only of parts of the rainforest. Possible physical mechanisms behind such a transition are still subject to ongoing debates. Here, we use a specifically designed model to analyse the nonlinear couplings between the Amazon rainforest and the atmospheric moisture transport from the Atlantic to the South American continent. These couplings are associated with a westward cascade of precipitation and evapotranspiration across the Amazon. We investigate impacts of deforestation on the South American monsoonal circulation with particular focus on a previously neglected positive feedback related to condensational latent heating over the rainforest, which strongly enhances atmospheric moisture inflow from the Atlantic. Our results indicate the existence of a tipping point. In our model setup, crossing the tipping point causes precipitation reductions of up to 40% in non-deforested parts of the western Amazon and regions further downstream. The responsible mechanism is the breakdown of the aforementioned feedback, which occurs when deforestation reduces transpiration to a point where the available atmospheric moisture does not suffice anymore to release the latent heat needed to maintain the feedback.
Phototactic behavior of self-propelled micrometer-sized oil droplets in a surfactant solution
Authors: Kaneko Sho , Asakura Kouichi , Banno Taisuke
Published: January 2017

We demonstrate the phototactic behavior of self-propelled micrometer-sized oil droplets in a far-from-equilibrium state.
meso-N-Methylation of a porphyrinoid complex: activating the H-atom transfer capability of an inert ReV(O) corrolazine
Authors: Joslin Evan E. , Zaragoza Jan Paulo T. , Siegler Maxime A. , Goldberg David P.
Published: January 2017

meso-N-Methylation of a corrolazine macrocycle results in changes in both the physicochemical properties and in the reactivity of a ReV(O) corrolazine complex.
Versatile cross-dehydrogenative coupling of heteroaromatics and hydrogen donors via decatungstate photocatalysis
Authors: Quattrini Matteo C. , Fujii Saki , Yamada Keiichi , Fukuyama Takahide , Ravelli Davide , Fagnoni Maurizio , Ryu Ilhyong
Published: January 2017

A facile sunlight-induced derivatization of heteroaromaticsviaTBADT photocatalyzed C–H functionalization in amides, ethers, alkanes and aldehydes is described.
Wheel-to-rhomboid isomerization as well as nitrene transfer catalysis of ruthenium-thiolate wheels
Authors: Tso Ken Chi-Hang , Chan Sharon Lai-Fung , Huang Jie-Sheng , Che Chi-Ming
Published: January 2017

This communication reports a ruthenium-thiolate molecular rhomboid (◇)-[Ru(SAr)2(CO)2]8 produced by isomerization of the molecular wheel (○)-[Ru(SAr)2(CO)2]8, along with the use of a (○)-[Ru(SAr)2(CO)2]6 wheel for catalytic aziridination of alkenes.
Chemical probing of thiotetronate bio-assembly
Authors: Havemann Judith , Yurkovich Marie E. , Jenkins Robert , Harringer Sophia , Tao Weixin , Wen Shishi , Sun Yuhui , Leadlay Peter F. , Tosin Manuela
Published: January 2017

Chemical ‘chain termination’ probes were utilised for the investigation of thiotetronate antibiotic biosynthesis in the filamentous bacteria Lentzea sp. and Streptomyces thiolactonus NRRL 15439.
Interpretation of Tolman electronic parameters in the light of natural orbitals for chemical valence
Authors: Ardizzoia G. Attilio , Brenna Stefano
Published: January 2017

The state of the art ETS-NOCV methodology has been applied to quantitatively assess each contribution to a nickel–phosphine bond.