bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How Do Japanese Elderly People Access Legal Services? An Analysis of Advice-Seeking Behaviour
Authors: YAMAGUCHI Aya
Published: November 2018

In Japan, an increasing number of elderly people are facing legal issues. However, whether they have enough access to legal services remains unclear. Therefore, this study used a mixed-methods approach—web and interview surveys—to identify elderly people’s experience with legal problems, factors that affect their decisions to consult lawyers about their problems, and factors that relate to their knowledge about the availability of legal consultation. Results showed that legal problems were related to issues with family or relatives. Second, elderly people did not consult lawyers if they could solve problems on their own, felt helpless, or lacked a connection with legal professionals. Third, respondents who had knowledge about the availability of legal consultation were male or working elderly. The overall results suggest that elderly people are not homogeneous, and more support is needed for those who feel helpless or lack knowledge about legal consultation.
Legislative Staff and Representation in Congress
Authors: HERTEL-FERNANDEZ ALEXANDER , MILDENBERGER MATTO , STOKES LEAH C.
Published: November 2018

Legislative staff link Members of Congress and their constituents, theoretically facilitating democratic representation. Yet, little research has examined whether Congressional staff actually recognize the preferences of their Members’ constituents. Using an original survey of senior US Congressional staffers, we show that staff systematically mis-estimate constituent opinions. We then evaluate the sources of these misperceptions, using observational analyses and two survey experiments. Staffers who rely more heavily on conservative and business interest groups for policy information have more skewed perceptions of constituent opinion. Egocentric biases also shape staff perceptions. Our findings complicate assumptions that Congress represents constituent opinion, and help to explain why Congress often appears so unresponsive to ordinary citizens. We conclude that scholars should focus more closely on legislative aides as key actors in the policymaking process, both in the United States and across other advanced democracies.
24-h severe energy restriction impairs postprandial glycaemic control in young, lean males
Authors: Clayton David J. , Biddle Jack , Maher Tyler , Funnell Mark P. , Sargeant Jack A. , King James A. , Hulston Carl J. , Stensel David J. , James Lewis J.
Published: November 2018

Intermittent energy restriction (IER) involves short periods of severe energy restriction interspersed with periods of adequate energy intake, and can induce weight loss. Insulin sensitivity is impaired by short-term, complete energy restriction, but the effects of IER are not well known. In randomised order, fourteen lean men (age: 25 (sd 4) years; BMI: 24 (sd 2) kg/m2; body fat: 17 (4) %) consumed 24-h diets providing 100 % (10 441 (sd 812) kJ; energy balance (EB)) or 25 % (2622 (sd 204) kJ; energy restriction (ER)) of estimated energy requirements, followed by an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT; 75 g of glucose drink) after fasting overnight. Plasma/serum glucose, insulin, NEFA, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) and fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) were assessed before and after (0 h) each 24-h dietary intervention, and throughout the 2-h OGTT. Homoeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR) assessed the fasted response and incremental AUC (iAUC) or total AUC (tAUC) were calculated during the OGTT. At 0 h, HOMA2-IR was 23 % lower after ER compared with EB (P<0·05). During the OGTT, serum glucose iAUC (P<0·001), serum insulin iAUC (P<0·05) and plasma NEFA tAUC (P<0·01) were greater during ER, but GLP-1 (P=0·161), GIP (P=0·473) and FGF21 (P=0·497) tAUC were similar between trials. These results demonstrate that severe energy restriction acutely impairs postprandial glycaemic control in lean men, despite reducing HOMA2-IR. Chronic intervention studies are required to elucidate the long-term effects of IER on indices of insulin sensitivity, particularly in the absence of weight loss.
Consumption of non-digestible oligosaccharides elevates colonic alkaline phosphatase activity by up-regulating the expression ofIAP-I, with increased mucins and microbial fermentation in rats fed a high-fat diet
Authors: Okazaki Yukako , Katayama Tetsuyuki
Published: November 2018

We have recently reported that soluble dietary fibre, glucomannan, increased colonic alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and the gene expression without affecting the small-intestinal activity and that colonic ALP was correlated with gut mucins (index of intestinal barrier function). We speculated that dietary fermentable carbohydrates including oligosaccharides commonly elevate colonic ALP and gene expression as well as increase mucin secretion and microbial fermentation. To test this hypothesis, male Sprague–Dawley rats were fed a diet containing 30 % lard with or without 4 % fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), raffinose (RAF) and lactulose (LAC), which are non-digestible oligosaccharides or isomalto-oligosaccharides (IMOS; some digestible oligosaccharides) for 2 weeks. Colon ALP activity, the gene expression and gut luminal variables including mucins, organic acids and microbiota were measured. Colonic ALP was significantly elevated in the FOS, RAF and LAC groups, and a similar trend was observed in the GOS group. Colonic expression of intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP-I), an ALP gene, was significantly elevated in the FOS, GOS and RAF groups and tended to be increased in the LAC group. Dietary FOS, GOS, RAF and LAC significantly elevated faecal mucins, caecaln-butyrate and faecal ratio ofBifidobacteriumspp. Dietary IMOS had no effect on colonic ALP, mucins, organic acids and microbiota. Colon ALP was correlated with mucins, caecaln-butyrate and faecalBifidobacteriumspp. This study demonstrated that non-digestible and fermentable oligosaccharides commonly elevate colonic ALP activity and the expression ofIAP-I, with increasing mucins and microbial fermentation, which might be important for protection of gut epithelial homoeostasis.
The impact of the Endangered Mauritian flying foxPteropus nigeron commercial fruit farms and the efficacy of mitigation
Authors: Oleksy Ryszard Z. , Ayady Charles L. , Tatayah Vikash , Jones Carl , Froidevaux Jérémy S.P. , Racey Paul A. , Jones Gareth
Published: November 2018

The endemic Mauritian flying foxPteropus nigeris perceived to be a major fruit pest. Lobbying of the Government of Mauritius by fruit growers to control the flying fox population resulted in national culls in 2015 and 2016, with a further cull scheduled for 2018. A loss of c. 38,318 individuals has been reported and the species is now categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. However, until now there were no robust data available on damage to orchards caused by bats. During October 2015–February 2016 we monitored four major lycheeLitchi chinensisand one mango (Mangiferaspp.) orchard, and also assessed 10 individual longanDimocarpus longantrees. Bats and introduced birds caused major damage to fruit, with 7–76% fruit loss (including natural fall and losses from fungal damage) per tree. Bats caused more damage to taller lychee trees (> 6 m high) than to smaller ones, whereas bird damage was independent of tree height. Bats damaged more fruit than birds in tall lychee trees, although this trend was reversed in small trees. Use of nets on fruiting trees can result in as much as a 23-fold reduction in the damage caused by bats if nets are applied correctly. There is still a need to monitor orchards over several seasons and to test non-lethal bat deterrence methods more widely.
Dynamic Fuzzy Ship Domain Considering the Factors of Own Ship and Other Ships
Authors: Zhou Dan , Zheng Zhongyi
Published: November 2018

In this paper, we propose a novel dynamic fuzzy ship domain that considers factors associated with both one's own ship and other ships. This is in contrast to existing ship domain models that operate from the perspective of one's own ship, considering only the factors relevant to that ship. First, the domain was determined by considering the distance of the ships around one's own ship in different directions, which sufficiently accounts for factors associated with one's own ship and with the other ships. At the same time, the factors were chosen based on an analysis of their importance. Second, the domain was dynamic and modelled by establishing the relationship between the domain size and the chosen factors in different directions from one's own ship, obtained by using neural networking and wavelet decomposition. Third, the domain was developed using fuzzy sets related to different safety levels and this related the model to the practical applications of estimating spatial collision risk. The model was calibrated using Automatic Identification System (AIS) data of vessel movements in the Bohai Sea and the northern Yellow Sea. The reasonableness and the superiority of establishing a ship domain model considering the factors affecting both one's own ship and other ships were analysed, and the results show that the new model can determine the spatial collision risk of the navigational situation and is thus suitable for use as part of a ship collision avoidance system.
Loss of Generalist Plant Species and Functional Diversity Decreases the Robustness of a Seed Dispersal Network
Authors: Bastazini Vinicius AG , Debastiani Vanderlei J , Azambuja Bethânia O , Guimarães Paulo R , Pillar Valério D
Published: November 2018

Understanding cascading effects of species loss is a major challenge for ecologists. Traditionally, the robustness of ecological networks has been evaluated based on simulation studies where primary extinctions occur at random or as a function of species specialization, ignoring other important biological factors. Here, we estimate the robustness of a seed dispersal network from a grassland–forest mosaic in southern Brazil, simulating distinct scenarios of woody plant species extinction, including scenarios where species are eliminated based on their evolutionary and functional distinctiveness. Our results suggest that the network is more robust when species are eliminated based on their evolutionary uniqueness, followed by random extinctions, the extinction of the most specialist species, functional distinctiveness and, at last, when the most generalist species are sequentially eliminated. Our results provide important information for grassland–forest mosaic management, as they indicate that loss of generalist species and functional diversity makes the system more likely to collapse.
Survey of Nebraska Farmers’ Adoption of Dicamba-Resistant Soybean Technology and Dicamba Off-Target Movement
Authors: Werle Rodrigo , Oliveira Maxwel C. , Jhala Amit J. , Proctor Christopher A. , Rees Jennifer , Klein Robert
Published: November 2018

In 2017, dicamba-resistant (DR) soybean was commercially available to farmers in the United States. In August and September of 2017, a survey of 312 farmers from 60 Nebraska soybean-producing counties was conducted during extension field days or online. The objective of this survey was to understand farmers’ adoption and perceptions regarding DR soybean technology in Nebraska. The survey contained 16 questions and was divided in three parts: (1) demographics, (2) dicamba application in DR soybean, and (3) dicamba off-target injury to sensitive soybean cultivars. According to the results, 20% of soybean hectares represented by the survey were planted to DR soybean in 2017, and this number would probably double in 2018. Sixty-five percent of survey respondents own a sprayer and apply their own herbicide programs. More than 90% of respondents who adopted DR soybean technology reported significant improvement in weed control. Nearly 60% of respondents used dicamba alone or glyphosate plus dicamba for POST weed control in DR soybean; the remaining 40% added an additional herbicide with an alternative site of action (SOA) to the POST application. All survey respondents used one of the approved dicamba formulations for application in DR soybean. Survey results indicated that late POST dicamba applications (after late June) were more likely to result in injury to non-DR soybean compared to early POST applications (e.g., May and early June) in 2017. According to respondents, off-target dicamba movement resulted both from applications in DR soybean and dicamba-based herbicides applied in corn. Although 51% of respondents noted dicamba injury on non-DR soybean, 7% of those who noted injury filed an official complaint with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. Although DR soybean technology allowed farmers to achieve better weed control during 2017 than previous growing seasons, it is apparent that off-target movement and resistance management must be addressed to maintain the viability and effectiveness of the technology in the future.
High School Teaching Is the New Tenure-Track Job
Authors: Wing Michael
Published: November 2018

Teaching positions at the K–12 level are easier to land than university professorships, and they offer many of the same benefits, if you know how to claim them.
Microchannel Plate Efficiency to Detect Low Velocity Dust Impacts
Authors: Fontanese John , Clark George , Horányi Mihály , James David , Sternovsky Zoltan
Published: November 2018

Recent space experiments suggest that electron and ion energy analyzers using microchannel plates (MCPs) as detectors are also registering direct hits by nanodust particles. To allow the analysis and interpretation of these putative dust events, the detection efficiency of MCPs has to be characterized. We report on a series of experiments to investigate the detection efficiency of MCP detectors to direct impacts for both positively and negatively charged micron and submicron sized iron particles. A double‐stack MCP detector in a chevron configuration was mounted as a target in a dust accelerator. A range of particle velocities and masses were used for a comprehensive examination. The MCP detected and produced definite signals associated with confirmed particle impacts of the MCP for both positively and negatively charged dust particles. The detection efficiency was found to be (6 ± 1)% for positively charged dust and (9 ± 3)% for negatively charged dust particles with a characteristic mass of 6.0 × 1011μ (10−15 kg) and speed of 100 m/s. The examined particle velocity range accurately replicates Rosseta's interaction with dust grains emanating from comet 67P/ Churyumov‐Gerasimenko's nucleus. Additionally, the MCP detection efficiency for low velocity particles shows a possible underestimate of higher speed nanograin signals from Cassini's electron plasma spectrometer during its flyby through Enceladus' active south pole.
Future Wave Conditions of Europe, in Response to High‐End Climate Change Scenarios
Authors: Bricheno Lucy M. , Wolf Judith
Published: November 2018

Changes in future North Atlantic storminess will impact upon wave conditions along the European coasts, with implications for coastal erosion, overtopping, and flood risk. In this study we make a detailed analysis of historic and future wave conditions around the European Atlantic coast, making projections out to the year 2100 under Representative Concentration Pathways 4.5 and 8.5 future emissions scenarios. A decrease in mean significant wave height of the order 0.2 m is projected across most of the European coast. Increases in the annual maximum and 99th percentile wave height as large as 0.5–1 m are observed in some areas but with a more complex spatial pattern. An increase in waves to the north of Scotland is also observed, mainly caused by a reduction in sea ice. We generate a set of coastal wave projections at around 10‐km resolution around continental Europe, Ireland, and the British Isles. Widening of the probability density function (PDF) is observed, suggesting an increased intensity of rare high wave events in the future. The emergent signal of a reduced mean wave height is statistically robust, while the future changes in extreme waves have a wider confidence interval. An assessment of different extreme waves metrics reveals different climate change response at very high percentiles; thus, care should be taken when assessing future changes in rare wave events.
Impact of Spectral Nudging on Real‐Time Tropical Cyclone Forecast
Authors: Moon Jihong , Cha Dong‐Hyun , Lee Minkyu , Kim Joowan
Published: November 2018

Regional models often face a chronic problem caused by inconsistencies between simulated model fields and large‐scale forcing data, which could limit predictability of regional models. Spectral nudging is a technique which can ameliorate this issue by providing large‐scale forcing in the regional model interior. In this study, spectral nudging was applied to tropical cyclone (TC) track and intensity forecasts, and its effects were investigated using a high‐resolution regional model. Case studies on Typhoon Neoguri and Vongfong showed that spectral nudging was effective at enhancing track forecast by improving large‐scale winds and the western North Pacific subtropical high. However, simulated TC intensity was underestimated without the optimization of spectral nudging. Sensitivity tests on spectral nudging options were performed to improve TC intensity while maintaining forecast track improvements. By reducing the nudging coefficient, intensity errors were reduced with a more reasonably developed TC structure. A total of 51 experiments for 18 TCs were conducted with revised spectral nudging options to investigate the general effects of spectral nudging on TC forecasting. The track forecast was generally improved by spectral nudging, especially after 96 hr, and forecast intensity was also improved as compared to experiments without nudging. Furthermore, spectral nudging was especially effective for TCs which occurred to the east of the western North Pacific and turned near Northeast Asia. Therefore, the impact of spectral nudging can be increased by selectively applying spectral nudging based on TC characteristics.
Friction‐Stability‐Permeability Evolution of a Fracture in Granite
Authors: Ishibashi Takuya , Elsworth Derek , Fang Yi , Riviere Jacques , Madara Benjamin , Asanuma Hiroshi , Watanabe Noriaki , Marone Chris
Published: November 2018

The evolution of frictional strength, stability, and fracture permeability is intimately linked both to the seismic cycle and to the impact of hydraulic stimulation for fractured reservoirs. However, despite this importance, the poromechanical relationships between fault permeability and strength remain unclear. The present study explores this relationship via laboratory experiments for concurrent shear‐flow on smooth fractures of Westerly granite. The novelty of these experiments is that the shear velocity is precisely controlled during the measurement of fracture permeability. Results indicate permeability enhancement during velocity‐weakening (potentially unstable) frictional slip. To decipher key processes contributing to this response, we evaluate the state of contacting asperities and of fracture surface asperities via digital rock fracture modeling of statistically equivalent surfaces. We propose two plausible mechanisms constraining the relationship between friction and permeability evolution—one based on changes in asperity contact distribution and one on shear‐induced dilation triggered by changes in fault slip velocity. These mechanisms should be taken into account in interpreting field observation such as the abrupt permeability increase of natural faults at the onset of seismic slip.
Maternal depression during pregnancy and cord blood DNA methylation: findings from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children
Authors: Viuff A. C. , Sharp G. C. , Rai D. , Henriksen T. B. , Pedersen L. H. , Kyng K. J. , Staunstrup N. H. , Cortes A. , Neumann A. , Felix J. F. , Tiemeier H. , Jaddoe V. W. V. , Relton C. L.
Published: November 2018

Up to 13% of women may experience symptoms of depression during pregnancy or in the postpartum period. Depression during pregnancy has been associated with an increased risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in the child and epigenetic mechanisms could be one of the biological pathways to explain this association. In 844 mother–child pairs from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, we carried out an epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) to investigate associations between prospectively collected data on maternal depression ascertained by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale in pregnancy and DNA methylation in the cord blood of newborn offspring. In individual site analysis, we identified two CpG sites associated with maternal depression in the middle part of pregnancy. In our regional analysis, we identified 39 differentially methylated regions (DMRs). Seven DMRs were associated with depression at any time point during pregnancy, 7 associated with depression in mid-pregnancy, 23 were associated with depression in late pregnancy, and 2 DMRs were associated with depression throughout pregnancy. Several of these map to genes associated with psychiatric disease and brain development. We attempted replication in The Generation R Study and could not replicate our results. Although our findings in ALSPAC suggest that maternal depression could be associated with cord blood DNA methylation the results should be viewed as preliminary and hypothesis generating until further replicated in a larger sample.
A web server for comparative analysis of single-cell RNA-seq data
Authors: Alavi Amir , Ruffalo Matthew , Parvangada Aiyappa , Huang Zhilin , Bar-Joseph Ziv
Published: November 2018

Single cell RNA-Seq (scRNA-seq) studies profile thousands of cells in heterogeneous environments. Current methods for characterizing cells perform unsupervised analysis followed by assignment using a small set of known marker genes. Such approaches are limited to a few, well characterized cell types. We developed an automated pipeline to download, process, and annotate publicly available scRNA-seq datasets to enable large scale supervised characterization. We extend supervised neural networks to obtain efficient and accurate representations for scRNA-seq data. We apply our pipeline to analyze data from over 500 different studies with over 300 unique cell types and show that supervised methods outperform unsupervised methods for cell type identification. A case study highlights the usefulness of these methods for comparing cell type distributions in healthy and diseased mice. Finally, we present scQuery, a web server which uses our neural networks and fast matching methods to determine cell types, key genes, and more.
Non-equilibrium Model for Nanofluid Free Convection Inside a Porous Cavity Considering Lorentz Forces
Authors: Sheikholeslami M. , Khan Ilyas , Tlili I.
Published: November 2018

In current article, transportation of CuO nanoparticles through a porous enclosure is demonstrated. The enclosure has complex shaped hot wall. Porous media has been simulated via two temperature equations. Magnetic force impact on nanofluid treatment was considered. Control volume based finite element method has been described to solve current article in vorticity stream function form. Single phase model was chosen for nanofluid. Nanofluid characteristics are predicted via KKL model. Roles of solid-nanofluid interface heat transfer parameter (Nhs), porosity, Hartmann and Rayleigh numbers have been illustrated. Outputs illustrated that conduction mode reduces with augment of Ra. Increasing magnetic forces make nanofluid motion to decrease. Temperature gradient of nanofluid decreases with augment of Nhs. Reducing porosity leads to enhance in Nusselt number.
Author Correction: Socio-ecological dynamics of Caribbean coral reef ecosystems and conservation opinion propagation
Authors: Thampi Vivek A. , Anand Madhur , Bauch Chris T.
Published: November 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.
MicroRNA-182 Alleviates Neuropathic Pain by Regulating Nav1.7 Following Spared Nerve Injury in Rats
Authors: Cai Weihua , Zhao Qingzan , Shao Jinping , Zhang Jingjing , Li Lei , Ren Xiuhua , Su Songxue , Bai Qian , Li Ming , Chen Xuemei , Wang Jian , Cao Jing , Zang Weidong
Published: November 2018

The sodium channel 1.7 (Nav1.7), which is encoded by SCN9A gene, is involved in neuropathic pain. As crucial regulators of gene expression, many miRNAs have already gained importance in neuropathic pain, including miR-182, which is predicted to regulate the SCN9A gene. Nav1.7 expression in L4-L6 dorsal root ganglions (DRGs) can be up regulated by spared nerve injury (SNI), while miR-182 expression was down regulated following SNI model. Exploring the connection between Nav1.7 and miR-182 may facilitate the development of a better-targeted therapy. In the current study, direct pairing of miR-182 with the SCN9A gene was verified using a luciferase assay in vitro. Over-expression of miR-182 via microinjection of miR-182 agomir reversed the abnormal increase of Nav1.7 at both mRNA and protein level in L4-6 DRGs of SNI rats, and significantly attenuated the hypersensitivity to mechanical stimulus in the rats. In contrast, administration of miR-182 antagomir enhanced the Nav1.7 expression at both mRNA and protein level in L4-6 DRGs, companied with the generation of mechanical hypersensitivity in naïve rats. Collectively, we concluded that miR-182 can alleviate SNI- induced neuropathic pain through regulating Nav1.7 in rats.
Detection of Activation Sequences in Spiking-Bursting Neurons by means of the Recognition of Intraburst Neural Signatures
Authors: Carrillo-Medina José Luis , Latorre Roberto
Published: November 2018

Bursting activity is present in many cells of different nervous systems playing important roles in neural information processing. Multiple assemblies of bursting neurons act cooperatively to produce coordinated spatio-temporal patterns of sequential activity. A major goal in neuroscience is unveiling the mechanisms underlying neural information processing based on this sequential dynamics. Experimental findings have revealed the presence of precise cell-type-specific intraburst firing patterns in the activity of some bursting neurons. This characteristic neural signature coexists with the information encoded in other aspects of the spiking-bursting signals, and its functional meaning is still unknown. We investigate the ability of a neuron conductance-based model to detect specific presynaptic activation sequences taking advantage of intraburst fingerprints identifying the source of the signals building up a sequential pattern of activity. Our simulations point out that a reader neuron could use this information to contextualize incoming signals and accordingly compute a characteristic response by relying on precise phase relationships among the activity of different emitters. This would provide individual neurons enhanced capabilities to control and negotiate sequential dynamics. In this regard, we discuss the possible implications of the proposed contextualization mechanism for neural information processing.
Optimized cloaks made of near-zero materials for different-sized concealed targets
Authors: Yu Zhenzhong , Yang Zhong , Wang Yuehong , Si Haifei , Zhao Guoshu
Published: November 2018

The optimized cloaking design for conducting cylinders of different sizes is studied based on the Mie scattering theory. We construct a concentric multi-layered cloak made of alternating materials with isotropic dielectrics and epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) material, the thickness of which can be determined through genetic algorithm. As the radius of the conducting cylinder increases, high order scattering contributions are becoming evident, and more layers are needed. The scattering cross sections of three different radii of PEC cylinders are minimized by utilizing different numbers of multi-layers respectively. We find that eight or less optimized layers can cancel most of the scattering from a conducting cylinder with its dimension compared to wavelength, and more effectively when taking the ENZ material as the inner starting shell. The frequency dependence of total scattering is also studied, leading to the result that the bandwidth decreases as the size of concealed PEC cylinder increases. Furthermore, it is shown that the cloaking efficiency is less sensitive to the permittivity and thickness of the ENZ material, due to the small phase variation in the ENZ material. The multi-layered cloak designed for a PEC target can also be used to evidently reduce the scattering of a dielectric core and design a multi-layered elliptical cloak.
AP endonuclease EXO-3 deficiency causes developmental delay and abnormal vulval organogenesis, Pvl, through DNA glycosylase-initiated checkpoint activation in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Miyaji Masahiro , Hayashi Yuichiro , Funakoshi Masafumi , Tanaka Akihiro , Zhang-Akiyama Qiu-Mei
Published: November 2018

AP endonuclease deficiency causes cell death and embryonic lethality in mammals. However, the physiological roles of AP endonucleases in multicellular organisms remain unclear, especially after embryogenesis. Here, we report novel physiological roles of the AP endonuclease EXO-3 from larval to adult stages in Caenorhabditis elegans, and elucidated the mechanism of the observed phenotypes due to EXO-3 deficiency. The exo-3 mutants exhibited developmental delay, whereas the apn-1 mutants did not. The delay depended on the DNA glycosylase NTH-1 and checkpoint kinase CHK-2. The exo-3 mutants had further developmental delay when treated with AP site-generating agents such as methyl methane sulfonate and sodium bisulfite. The further delay due to sodium bisulfite was dependent on the DNA glycosylase UNG-1. The exo-3 mutants also demonstrated an increase in dut-1 (RNAi)-induced abnormal vulval organogenesis protruding vulva (Pvl), whereas the apn-1 mutants did not. The increase in Pvl was dependent on UNG-1 and CHK-2. Methyl viologen, ndx-1 (RNAi) and ndx-2 (RNAi) enhanced the incidence of Pvl among exo-3 mutants only when combined with dut-1 (RNAi). This further increase in Pvl incidence was independent of NTH-1. These results indicate that EXO-3 prevents developmental delay and Pvl in C. elegans, which are induced via DNA glycosylase-initiated checkpoint activation.
Co-extinctions annihilate planetary life during extreme environmental change
Authors: Strona Giovanni , Bradshaw Corey J. A.
Published: November 2018

Climate change and human activity are dooming species at an unprecedented rate via a plethora of direct and indirect, often synergic, mechanisms. Among these, primary extinctions driven by environmental change could be just the tip of an enormous extinction iceberg. As our understanding of the importance of ecological interactions in shaping ecosystem identity advances, it is becoming clearer how the disappearance of consumers following the depletion of their resources — a process known as ‘co-extinction’ — is more likely the major driver of biodiversity loss. Although the general relevance of co-extinctions is supported by a sound and robust theoretical background, the challenges in obtaining empirical information about ongoing (and past) co-extinction events complicate the assessment of their relative contributions to the rapid decline of species diversity even in well-known systems, let alone at the global scale. By subjecting a large set of virtual Earths to different trajectories of extreme environmental change (global heating and cooling), and by tracking species loss up to the complete annihilation of all life either accounting or not for co-extinction processes, we show how ecological dependencies amplify the direct effects of environmental change on the collapse of planetary diversity by up to ten times.
Haematological analysis of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) in the area affected by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident
Authors: Urushihara Yusuke , Suzuki Toshihiko , Shimizu Yoshinaka , Ohtaki Megu , Kuwahara Yoshikazu , Suzuki Masatoshi , Uno Takeharu , Fujita Shiori , Saito Akira , Yamashiro Hideaki , Kino Yasushi , Sekine Tsutomu , Shinoda Hisashi , Fukumoto Manabu
Published: November 2018

Several populations of wild Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) inhabit the area around Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FNPP). To measure and control the size of these populations, macaques are captured annually. Between May 2013 and December 2014, we performed a haematological analysis of Japanese macaques captured within a 40-km radius of FNPP, the location of a nuclear disaster two years post-accident. The dose-rate of radiocaesium was estimated using the ERICA Tool. The median internal dose-rate was 7.6 μGy/day (ranging from 1.8 to 219 μGy/day) and the external dose-rate was 13.9 μGy/day (ranging from 6.7 to 35.1 μGy/day). We performed multiple regression analyses to estimate the dose-rate effects on haematological values in peripheral blood and bone marrow. The white blood cell and platelet counts showed an inverse correlation with the internal dose-rate in mature macaques. Furthermore, the myeloid cell, megakaryocyte, and haematopoietic cell counts were inversely correlated and the occupancy of adipose tissue was positively correlated with internal dose-rate in femoral bone marrow of mature macaques. These relationships suggest that persistent whole body exposure to low-dose-rate radiation affects haematopoiesis in Japanese macaques.
Structural basis for dimerization of the death effector domain of the F122A mutant of Caspase-8
Authors: Shen Chen , Pei Jianwen , Guo Xiaomin , Zhou Lu , Li Qinkai , Quan Junmin
Published: November 2018

Caspase-8 is an apoptotic protease that is activated by a proximity-induced dimerization mechanism within the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC). The death effector domain (DED) of caspase-8 is involved in protein-protein interactions and is essential for the activation. Here, we report two crystal structures of the dimeric DEDs of the F122A mutant of caspase-8, both of which illustrate a novel domain-swapped dimerization, while differ in the relative orientation of the two subunits and the solvent exposure of the conserved hydrophobic patch Phe122/Leu123. We demonstrate that mutations disrupting the dimerization of the DEDs abrogate the formation of cellular death effector filaments (DEFs) and the induced apoptosis by overexpressed DEDs. Furthermore, such dimerization-disrupting mutations also impair the activation of the full-length caspase-8 and the downstream apoptosis cascade. The structures provide new insights into understanding the mechanism underlying the activation of procaspase-8 within the DISC and DEFs.
IL-17A expression in the adenoid tissue from children with sleep disordered breathing and its association with pneumococcal carriage
Authors: Huang Chien-Chia , Wu Pei-Wen , Chen Chyi-Liang , Wang Chun-Hua , Lee Ta-Jen , Tsai Chi-Neu , Chiu Cheng-Hsun
Published: November 2018

Tonsil and adenoid-tissue hypertrophy (AH) is the most common cause of pediatric sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), with AH possibly initiated by repeated exposure to infectious agents or allergens. Here, we evaluated IL-17A activity in adenoid tissue from children with SDB and its association with AH and pneumococcal carriage. Thirty-five children (aged 3–12 years) with SDB and receiving adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy were enrolled. During surgery, nasopharyngeal carriage was determined by bacterial culture and multiplex PCR via nasopharyngeal swab, and adenoid samples were collected. IL-17A and associated cytokine expression was evaluated by real-time PCR and western blotting. The mRNA analysis showed thatIL-17Alevel,IL-17A:IL-10ratio, andRAR-related orphan receptor-γt:forkhead box P3ratio were significantly higher in adenoid tissues with AH, as wereIL-17Alevel andIL-17A:IL-10ratio in adenoid tissues with pneumococcal carriage. Additionally, pneumococcal carriage was more common in nasopharyngeal adenoids from patients without AH than those with AH. IL-17A was upregulated in adenoid tissues from patients with AH and with pneumococcal carriage. These results suggested that pneumococcal carriage initiates an IL-17A-mediated immune response in nasopharyngeal adenoids, which might be associated with AH in patients with SDB.
Multifunctional self-assembled monolayers via microcontact printing and degas-driven flow guided patterning
Authors: Lee Sang Hun , Rho Won-Yeop , Park Seon Joo , Kim Jinyeong , Kwon Oh Seok , Jun Bong-Hyun
Published: November 2018

Soft lithography-based patterning techniques have been developed to investigate biological and chemical phenomena. Until now, micropatterning with various materials required multiple procedural steps such as repeating layer-by-layer patterning, aligning of stamps, and incubating printed inks. Herein, we describe a facile micropatterning method for producing chemically well-defined surface architectures by combining microcontact (µCP) and microfluidic vacuum-assisted degas-driven flow guided patterning (DFGP) with a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) stamp. To demonstrate our concept, we fabricated a bi-composite micropatterned surface with different functional molecular inks such as fluorescein isothiocyanate labelled bovine serum albumin (FITC-BSA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-silane for a biomolecule array, and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and PEG-silane pattern for a self-assembled colloid gold nanoparticle monolayer. With a certain composition of molecular inks for the patterning, bi-composite surface patterns could be produced by this µCP-DFGP approach without any supplementary process. This patterning approach can be used in microfabrication and highly applicable to biomolecules and nanoparticles that spread as a monolayer.
Expression profiling of lncRNAs and mRNAs reveals regulation of muscle growth in the Pacific abalone, Haliotis discus hannai
Authors: Huang Jianfang , Luo Xuan , Zeng Liting , Huang Zekun , Huang Miaoqin , You Weiwei , Ke Caihuan
Published: November 2018

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are known to play a major role in the epigenetic regulation of muscle development. Unfortunately there is little understanding of the mechanisms with which they regulate muscle growth in abalone. Therefore, we used RNA-seq to study the muscle transcriptomes of six Haliotis discus hannai specimens: three large (L_HD group) and three small (S_HD group). We identified 2463 lncRNAs in abalone muscle belonging to two subtypes: 160 anti-sense lncRNAs and 2303 intergenic lncRNAs (lincRNAs). In the L_HD group, we identified 204 significantly differentially expressed lncRNAs (55 upregulated and 149 downregulated), and 2268 significantly differentially expressed mRNAs (994 upregulated and 1274 downregulated), as compared to the S_HD group. The bioinformatics analysis indicated that lncRNAs were relate to cell growth, regulation of growth, MAPK signaling pathway, TGF-β signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt and insulin signaling pathway, which involved in regulating muscle growth. These findings contribute to understanding the possible regulatory mechanisms of muscle growth in Pacific abalone.
Calpain-10 regulates actin dynamics by proteolysis of microtubule-associated protein 1B
Authors: Hatta Tomohisa , Iemura Shun-ichiro , Ohishi Tomokazu , Nakayama Hiroshi , Seimiya Hiroyuki , Yasuda Takao , Iizuka Katsumi , Fukuda Mitsunori , Takeda Jun , Natsume Tohru , Horikawa Yukio
Published: November 2018

Calpain-10 (CAPN10) is the calpain family protease identified as the first candidate susceptibility gene for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the detailed molecular mechanism has not yet been elucidated. Here we report that CAPN10 processes microtubule associated protein 1 (MAP1) family proteins into heavy and light chains and regulates their binding activities to microtubules and actin filaments. Immunofluorescent analysis of Capn10−/− mouse embryonic fibroblasts shows that MAP1B, a member of the MAP1 family of proteins, is localized at actin filaments rather than at microtubules. Furthermore, fluorescence recovery after photo-bleaching analysis shows that calpain-10 regulates actin dynamics via MAP1B cleavage. Moreover, in pancreatic islets from CAPN10 knockout mice, insulin secretion was significantly increased both at the high and low glucose levels. These findings indicate that deficiency of calpain-10 expression may affect insulin secretion by abnormal actin reorganization, coordination and dynamics through MAP1 family processing.
Tensilely Strained Ge Films on Si Substrates Created by Physical Vapor Deposition of Solid Sources
Authors: Li Yize Stephanie , Nguyen John
Published: November 2018

The development of Si-compatible active photonic devices is a high priority in computer and modern electronics industry. Ge is compatible with Si and is a promising light emission material. Nearly all Ge-on-Si materials reported so far were grown using toxic precursor gases. Here we demonstrate the creation of Ge films on Si substrates through physical vapor deposition of toxin-free solid Ge sources. Structural characterization indicates that a high tensile strain is introduced in the Ge film during the deposition process. We attribute the presence of such a tensile strain to the difference in thermal expansion coefficient between Si and Ge. A Ge peak, centered at ~2100 nm, is evident in the photoluminescence spectra of these materials, which might result from direct band gap photoluminescence alone, or from superposition of direct band gap and indirect band gap photoluminescence. These Ge-on-Si materials are therefore promising in light emission applications.
Author Correction: Obstetric outcomes in pregnant women with and without depression: population-based comparison
Authors: Huang Hui-Chun , Sung Fung-Chang , Chen Pei-Chun , Chang Cherry Yin-Yi , Muo Chih-Hsin , Shiue Huei-Sheng , Huang Jian-Pei , Li Tsai-Chung , Tzeng Ya-Ling , Wu Shu-I
Published: November 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper.
Radon emission from soil gases in the active fault zones in the Capital of China and its environmental effects
Authors: Chen Zhi , Li Ying , Liu Zhaofei , Wang Jiang , Zhou Xiaocheng , Du Jianguo
Published: November 2018

The release of radon in active fault zones is a sustained radioactive pollution source of the atmospheric environment. The species, concentration and flux of radon emitted in soil gas in active fault zones in the Capital of China were investigated by in-situ field measurements. Two main species of radon discharging from soil gas in active fault zones were identified, including radon diffused and dispersed from permeable soil, and upwelling from faults. Higher concentrations and flux of radon from faults were observed in the Bohai Bay Basin due to the accumulated uranium in the sandstone reservoirs and higher permeability of the strata and bed rocks. Increased radon released by strong earthquakes persists, with the max flux of 334.56 mBq m−2 s−1 observed in FN (Fengnan district) located at the epicenter of the 28 July, 1976 Tangshan MS 7.8 earthquake. The level of radon released in 8 of 22 locations within the Basin and Range Province (to the west of Taihangshan piedmont fault Zone) reached level 2, and 13 of 14 locations within the Bohai Bay Basin reached levels 2–4, according to the Chinese Code (GB 50325–2001, 2006). Corresponding protective and safety measures should be in place to protect the health of nearby residents, due to their exposure to radon emitted from the faults. Also, the concentration of radon in active fault zones should be investigated to assess the possible risk, before land-use is planned.
High-throughput first-principles-calculations based estimation of lithium ion storage in monolayer rhenium disulfide
Authors: Kabiraj Arnab , Mahapatra Santanu
Published: November 2018

Two-dimensional materials are promising candidates for lithium ion battery anodes due to their large surface to volume ratio. The distorted T′ phase of the rhenium disulfide crystal makes the study of lithium binding more complex than for other two-dimensional materials with symmetric crystal structures. Here we explore the lithium ion storage capacity of monolayer rhenium disulfide by first-principles based calculations. We employ hardware-accelerator-assisted high-throughput calculations, using a van der Waals density-functional-theory based ‘structure search’ technique, to emulate the lithiation process. Exploring 2000 structures, each containing 49 to 98 atoms, we find the most stable lithiated structures for various lithium concentrations. We then design a delithiation algorithm and apply it to those lithiated structures for the estimation of the reversible specific capacity. Despite possessing high molar mass, a reasonably high specific capacity (214.13 mAh/g) and open-circuit voltage (0.8 V), in agreement with experimental results, make rhenium disulfide a promising alternative anode material.
Extremely reduced dielectric confinement in two-dimensional hybrid perovskites with large polar organics
Authors: Cheng Bin , Li Ting-You , Maity Partha , Wei Pai-Chun , Nordlund Dennis , Ho Kang-Ting , Lien Der-Hsien , Lin Chun-Ho , Liang Ru-Ze , Miao Xiaohe , Ajia Idris A. , Yin Jun , Sokaras Dimosthenis , Javey Ali , Roqan Iman S. , Mohammed Omar F. , He Jr-Hau
Published: November 2018

Two dimensional inorganic–organic hybrid perovskites (2D perovskites) suffer from not only quantum confinement, but also dielectric confinement, hindering their application perspective in devices involving the conversion of an optical input into current. In this report, we theoretically predict that an extremely low exciton binding energy can be achieved in 2D perovskites by using high dielectric-constant organic components. We demonstrate that in (HOCH2CH2NH3)2PbI4, whose organic material has a high dielectric constant of 37, the dielectric confinement is largely reduced, and the exciton binding energy is 20-times smaller than that in conventional 2D perovskites. As a result, the photo-induced excitons can be thermally dissociated efficiently at room temperature, as clearly indicated from femtosecond transient absorption measurements. In addition, the mobility is largely improved due to the strong screening effect on charge impurities. Such low dielectric-confined 2D perovskites show excellent carrier extraction efficiency, and outstanding humidity resistance compared to conventional 2D perovskites.
A label-free immunosensor for the detection of nuclear matrix protein-22 based on a chrysanthemum-like Co-MOFs/CuAu NWs nanocomposite
Authors: Li Siyuan , Yue Song , Yu Chao , Chen Yiyu , Yuan Dong , Yu Qiubo
Published: November 2018

In this study, a new, simple, and label-free electrochemical immunosensor was presented for the detection of nuclear matrix protein-22 (NMP-22).
Tin oxide nanoparticles modified by copper as novel catalysts for the luminol–H2O2 based chemiluminescence system
Authors: Vakh Christina , Pochivalov Aleksei , Podurets Anastasiia , Bobrysheva Natalia , Osmolovskaya Olga , Bulatov Andrey
Published: November 2018

Unique catalytic activity was found for SnO2 nanoparticles modified by copper to enhance the chemiluminescence intensity of the luminol–H2O2 system.
Visual detection of glucose based on quantum dots aerogel in microfluidic chips
Authors: Hu Tao , Ye Yi , Chen Ke , Long Feifei , Sang Wen , Zhou Yunlong , Sun Dongke , Ni Zhonghua
Published: November 2018

In this study, we demonstrated a new optical glucose microfluidic sensor based on quantum dots (QDs) aerogels and glucose oxidase (GOx) for rapid, low-cost and quantitative detection of glucose in human urine and serum.
Electrospun nanofibers facilitate better alignment, differentiation, and long-term culture in an in vitro model of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ)
Authors: Luo Baiwen , Tian Lingling , Chen Nuan , Ramakrishna Seeram , Thakor Nitish , Yang In Hong
Published: November 2018

An electrospun nanofibrous scaffold is used as a novel in vitro culture system to provide long-term support for NMJ formation.