bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Bit of Ripping and Tearing: An Interpretative Study of Indigenous Engagement Officers’ Perceptions Regarding Their Community and Workplace Roles
Authors: Mason John , Southcott Jane
Published: April 2018

The Australian Government (AG) employs Indigenous Engagement Officers (IEO) in many of the remote Aboriginal communities of the Northern Territory (NT). IEOs are respected community members who apply their deep understanding of local tradition, language and politics in providing expert cultural advice to government. Competing priorities of workplace and cultural obligation make the IEO role stressful and dichotomous in nature. The workplace experiences and perceptions of IEOs remain largely unexplored and there is scant understanding of the significant crosscultural issues associated with the role. IEOs typically confront ongoing workplace stress and are unable to perform at full capacity. This qualitative study explores participant meaning regarding workplace and community roles to inform the AG in development of culturally appropriate training and support for IEOs. The study captures detailed information from six IEOs through an interpretive process sensitive to phenomenological experience. Personal meanings associated with the workplace are assembled through individual interviews and focus group sessions. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis methodology is applied to the resulting idiographic dataset in exposing a range of superordinate themes including desire for recognition and feelings of abandonment. Findings reveal the need to incorporate correct cultural protocols in the workplace and give preference for Aboriginal learning styles in professional development activities. There is urgent need for a range of workplace supports for IEOs in future capacity-building strategies.
Making Sense of Competitive Authoritarianism: Lessons from the Andes
Authors: Cameron Maxwell A.
Published: April 2018

Scholarly attention has increasingly shifted from diminished subtypes of democracy to hybrid regimes, particularly competitive authoritarianism. Such regimes retain democracy’s formal features while failing to meet its minimum standards. When properties of distinct concepts like democracy and authoritarianism are combined, however, confusion, inaccuracy, and mischaracterization of cases may occur. By disaggregating political systems into electoral institutions, surrounding rights and freedoms, constitutionalism, and the rule of law, this article complicates the binary distinction between a midrange definition of democracy and competitive authoritarianism. A number of Andean cases are found to fall on the spectrum of defective democracies between these categories. Defective democracies break down when rulers violate the conditions necessary for institutionalized alternation in power by means of public participation and loyal opposition in an electoral regime. Given leaders’ reliance on electoral legitimacy, however, even defective democracies may prove surprisingly resilient.
Is the Parti Québécois Bound to Disappear? A Study of the Current Generational Dynamics of Electoral Behaviour in Quebec
Authors: Mahéo Valérie-Anne , Bélanger Éric
Published: April 2018

In Quebec, the setback of the Parti Québécois (PQ) in the last 2014 provincial election testifies of a continuous decline of the party since the 1995 referendum defeat. With now only 25 per cent of vote shares, the question arises: Is the PQ bound to disappear? This article examines the support for the PQ across different generations, and tests explanations for these varying levels of support. The results show that the attitudinal profile of millennials is particularly distinct from that of baby boomers on several dimensions, but that generation X is not so different from the boomers. We demonstrate that the decline of the PQ in 2014 was mostly concentrated among millennials, who were less inclined to see the project of sovereignty as a priority and less likely to support the incumbent PQ government's controversial proposal to adopt a Charter of Quebec Values. We conclude by examining how the results of the study can shed light on the PQ's future prospects.
Does Knowledge Protection Benefit Shareholders? Evidence from Stock Market Reaction and Firm Investment in Knowledge Assets
Authors: Qiu Buhui , Wang Teng
Published: April 2018

This article studies whether knowledge protection affects shareholder value and firms’ investment in knowledge assets using the staggered adoptions and rejections of the inevitable disclosure doctrine (IDD) by U.S. state courts as exogenous changes in the level of knowledge protection. We find positive (negative) abnormal stock returns around the IDD adoption (rejection) day for firms headquartered in the state, and we uncover a positive IDD treatment effect on firms’ investment in knowledge assets. Moreover, the effects on stock returns and knowledge assets investment are stronger in more knowledge-oriented industries and firms. Finally, enhancing knowledge protection does not discourage local entrepreneurial activity.
Main effects of human saliva on flavour perception and the potential contribution to food consumption
Authors: Muñoz-González Carolina , Feron Gilles , Canon Francis
Published: April 2018

Whole saliva is a mixture composed by the secretions of the major and minor salivary glands and the crevicular fluid, bacteria, cells and food debris. Its properties (flow and composition) are highly intra- and inter-individually dependent and reflect the health status of individuals. Saliva plays a key role in the eating process and on the perception of flavour. Flavour corresponds to the combined effect of taste sensations, aromatics and chemical feeling factors evoked by food in the oral cavity. It is a key determinant of food consumption and intake. This review summarises the evidence about the role of saliva in flavour perception and its potential contribution to food intake. All in all, evidence on the relationships between salivary parameters and both food perception and feeding behaviour is presented. This review emphasises that new studies accounting for the effect of salivary constituents on flavour alterations due to diseases (i.e. cancer, obesity and diabetes) are lacking and are expected in the incoming years.
Patterns of changing residential preferences during late adulthood
Authors: ANDERSSON EVA K. , ABRAMSSON MARIANNE , MALMBERG BO
Published: April 2018

Earlier research on residential mobility has demonstrated a tendency for the young old of the 55+ population to prefer peripheral locations, whereas older age groups choose central locations. Here, we present survey results indicating that such late-adulthood differences in preferences are supported by age-related shifts corresponding to differences in housing preferences expressed by individuals in peripheral as well as central locations in Sweden. A sample of 2,400 individuals aged 55 years and over was asked to select the seven most important characteristics of a dwelling from a list of 21 alternatives (Survey of Housing Intentions among the ELDerly in Sweden (SHIELD), 2013). The preferences expressed were used as dependent variables in logistic regressions to determine to what extent the housing preferences of older people are linked to age, gender, socio-economic status and type of geographical area. The results demonstrated a close link between neighbourhood characteristics and housing preferences. Owning the dwelling, having a garden and access to nature were stressed as important by individuals living in non-metropolitan middle-class areas and in suburban elite areas. The youngest cohort expressed similar preferences. Older age groups instead stressed the importance of an elevator, single-storey housing and a good design for independent living; preferences that have similarities to those expressed by individuals living in large cities and smaller urban centres where such housing is more readily available.
DYNAMIC ASSET CORRELATIONS BASED ON VINES
Authors: Poignard Benjamin , Fermanian Jean-David
Published: April 2018

We develop a new method for generating dynamics of conditional correlation matrices of asset returns. These correlation matrices are parameterized by a subset of their partial correlations, whose structure is described by a set of connected trees called “vine”. Partial correlation processes can be specified separately and arbitrarily, providing a new family of very flexible multivariate GARCH processes, called “vine-GARCH” processes. We estimate such models by quasi-maximum likelihood. We compare our models with DCC and GAS-type specifications through simulated experiments and we evaluate their empirical performances.
Isotopic composition of leaf carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) of deciduous and evergreen understorey trees in two tropical Brazilian Atlantic forests
Authors: Vitória Angela Pierre , Ávila-Lovera Eleinis , de Oliveira Vieira Tatiane , do Couto-Santos Ana Paula Lima , Pereira Tiago José , Funch Ligia Silveira , Freitas Leandro , de Miranda Lia d'Afonseca Pedreira , Rodrigues Pablo J. F. Pena , Rezende Carlos Eduardo , Santiago Louis S.
Published: April 2018

Isotopic composition of leaf carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) is determined by biotic and abiotic factors. In order to determine the influence of leaf habit and site on leaf δ13C and δ15N in the understorey of two Atlantic forests in Brazil that differ in annual precipitation (1200 and 1900 mm), we measured these isotopes in the shaded understorey of 38 tropical tree species (20 in the 1200-mm site and 18 in the 1900-mm site). Mean site values for δ15N were significantly lower at the 1200-mm site (−1.4‰) compared with the 1900-mm site (+3.0‰), and δ13C was significantly greater in the 1200-mm site (−30.4‰) than in the 1900-mm site (−31.6‰). Leaf C concentration was greater and leaf N concentration was lower at 1200-mm than at 1900-mm. Leaf δ15N was negatively correlated with δ13C across the two sites. Leaf δ13C and δ15N of evergreen and deciduous species were not significantly different within a site. No significant phylogenetic signal for any traits among the study species was found. Overall, site differences were the main factor distinguishing traits among species, suggesting strong functional convergence to local climate and soils within each site for individuals in the shaded understorey.
Applications of Magnus expansions and pseudospectra to Markov processes
Authors: ISERLES A. , MACNAMARA S.
Published: April 2018

New directions in Markov processes and research on master equations are showcased by example. The utility of Magnus expansions for handling time-varying rates is demonstrated. The useful notion in applied mathematics often turns out to be the pseudospectra and not simply the eigenvalues. We highlight that general principle with our own examples of Markov processes where exact eigenvalues are found and contrasted with the large errors produced by standard numerical methods. As a motivating application, isomerisation provides a running example and an illustration of our approaches to chemical kinetics. We also present a brief example of a totally asymmetric exclusion process.
Differences and similarities between late first-language and second-language learning
Authors: LILLO-MARTIN DIANE
Published: April 2018

The keynote article by Mayberry and Kluender (2017) clearly shows that there are important effects of delayed exposure to a first language (L1), in linguistic comprehension, production, processing, and even in the brain areas that are active for language. This set of findings is of great importance for both theoretical and practical reasons. As Mayberry and Kluender show, one implication of such findings bears on the theory that a critical period for language (CPL) leads to changes in the ways that language develops when accessible exposure is delayed.
Scanning microwave microscopy of buried CMOS interconnect lines with nanometer resolution
Authors: Jin Xin , Xiong Kuanchen , Marstell Roderick , Strandwitz Nicholas C. , Hwang James C. M. , Farina Marco , Göritz Alexander , Wietstruck Matthias , Kaynak Mehmet
Published: April 2018

This paper reports scanning microwave microscopy of CMOS interconnect aluminum lines both bare and buried under oxide. In both cases, a spatial resolution of 190 ± 70 nm was achieved, which was comparable or better than what had been reported in the literature. With the lines immersed in water to simulate high-k dielectric, the signal-to-noise ratio degraded significantly, but the image remained as sharp as before, especially after averaging across a few adjacent scans. These results imply that scanning microwave microscopy can be a promising technique for non-destructive nano-characterization of both CMOS interconnects buried under oxide and live biological samples immersed in water.
GaN-based single-chip frontend for next-generation X-band AESA systems
Authors: Schuh Patrick , Sledzik Hardy , Reber Rolf
Published: April 2018

A next generation of active electronically scanned array (AESA) antennas will be challenged with the need for lower size, weight, power, and cost. This leads to enhanced demands especially with regard to the integration density of the radio frequency-part inside aT/Rmodule. The semiconductor material GaN has proven its capacity for high-power amplifiers (HPA), robust receive components as well as switch components for separation of transmit and receive mode. This paper will describe the design and measurement results of a GaN-based single-chipT/Rmodule frontend (HPA, low noise anplifier, and single-pole double-throw (SPDT)) using UMS GH25 technology and covering the frequency range from 8 GHz to 12 GHz. The key performance parameters of the frontend are 13 W minimum transmit (TX) output power over the whole frequency range with peak power up to 17 W. The frontend in receive (RX) mode has a noise figure below 3.2 dB over the whole frequency range, and can survive more than 5 W input power. The large signal insertion loss of the used SPDT is below 0.9 dB at 43 dBm input power level.
Interaction of Nonideal, Multicomponent Solid Solutions With Water: A Simple Algorithm to Estimate Final Equilibrium States
Authors: Rodríguez‐Galán R. M. , Prieto M.
Published: April 2018

Interaction of minerals with water frequently yields a dissolution‐coprecipitation process in which foreign ions incorporate into the solid structure substituting for the major ion. Coprecipitation often controls the transport and fate of harmful ions in the environment. Geochemical modeling and experimental studies of these aqueous‐solid solution (AQ‐SS) processes are typically performed using pure minerals. However, the host minerals could be binary solid solutions and the study of their interaction with a third dissolved ion would require considering ternary solid solutions (TSS). Here we present a simple algorithm (AQ‐TSS) implemented in PHREEQC to estimate equilibrium in AQ‐SS systems involving nonideal ternary solid solutions. The three binary joints are considered separately. Nonregular solid solutions are treated by combining regular models defined for specific ranges of composition. The algorithm has been tested successfully by comparing the results obtained by AQ‐TSS with those obtained using PHREEQC with the same binary nonideal solid solutions.
Global and Regional Assessments of Paleosecular Variation Activity Over the Past 100 ka
Authors: Panovska S. , Constable C. G. , Brown M. C.
Published: April 2018

We present a global compilation of paleomagnetic data spanning the past 100 ka. Sediment data comprise 61,687 declinations, 70,936 inclinations, and 69,596 relative paleointensities. Many sites are located in the northern Atlantic and western Pacific, with approximately twice as many data from the Northern Hemisphere as from the Southern Hemisphere. The 14,954 volcanic and archeomagnetic data are sparse, especially in the Southern Hemisphere. Directional and intensity information are aggregated under the paleosecular variation (PSV) index to assess occurrence of excursions over the past 100 ka. The Laschamp excursion (∼41 ka) is clearly defined across globally distributed sediment records with an average duration of 1,300 years. Regional stacks obtained using bootstrap resampling show a more pronounced Laschamp excursion in the Northern Hemisphere than in the Southern, and in the Atlantic Hemisphere compared with the Pacific. No anomalous indices occurred around the Mono Lake excursion or other periods in the bootstrap curves. This may result from low sedimentation rates, discrepancies in age scales, large age errors, and/or the lack of global character of any transitional events. These data and associated new uncertainty estimates for the sediment records provide a good foundation for global, time‐dependent, spherical harmonic field modeling for the past 100 ka.
Shear‐Wave Velocity Structure of Southern Africa's Lithosphere: Variations in the Thickness and Composition of Cratons and Their Effect on Topography
Authors: Ravenna Matteo , Lebedev Sergei , Fullea Javier , Adam Joanne M.‐C.
Published: April 2018

Seismic‐wave velocities offer essential constraints on the temperature, thickness, and composition of the lithosphere of cratons. We invert broadband, Rayleigh‐wave phase and Love‐wave phase velocities measured across the Kaapvaal Craton and Limpopo Belt for depth distributions of shear‐wave velocity and radial anisotropy, from the upper‐crust down to deep upper mantle. Our probabilistic, Bayesian inversion addresses model nonuniqueness by means of direct parameter‐space sampling. An increase in Vs between the Moho and 100–150 km depths occurs across the region and can be explained by the gradual emergence of garnet below 80 km, due to the spinel peridotite‐garnet peridotite transformation and due to the exsolution of garnet from mantle orthopyroxene. Lateral variations in this Vs gradient can provide new information on lateral compositional variations. Cold cratonic lithosphere is manifest in very high shear velocities, up to 4.8 km/s. The depth extent of the shear‐velocity anomaly and the inferred lithospheric thickness increase from ∼200 km beneath the central and southwestern Kaapvaal to ∼300 km beneath the Limpopo Belt. Curiously, surface elevation decreases monotonically with the increasing lithospheric thickness. The relationship between the lithospheric thickness and topography depends on the lithospheric composition and, with the crustal structure taken into account, our results imply that the bottom part of the Limpopo lithosphere (200–300 km) is weakly‐to‐moderately depleted (Mg# 89.7–90.8). Our results also show that the central‐southwestern Kaapvaal lithosphere is thinner than it was (according to kimberlites) 100–200 m.y. ago. It may have been thinned by the same mantle plume that, initially, triggered the kimberlite eruptions.
Bridging Thermal Infrared Sensing and Physically‐Based Evapotranspiration Modeling: From Theoretical Implementation to Validation Across an Aridity Gradient in Australian Ecosystems
Authors: Mallick Kaniska , Toivonen Erika , Trebs Ivonne , Boegh Eva , Cleverly James , Eamus Derek , Koivusalo Harri , Drewry Darren , Arndt Stefan K. , Griebel Anne , Beringer Jason , Garcia Monica
Published: April 2018

Thermal infrared sensing of evapotranspiration (E) through surface energy balance (SEB) models is challenging due to uncertainties in determining the aerodynamic conductance (gA) and due to inequalities between radiometric (TR) and aerodynamic temperatures (T0). We evaluated a novel analytical model, the Surface Temperature Initiated Closure (STIC1.2), that physically integrates TR observations into a combined Penman‐Monteith Shuttleworth‐Wallace (PM‐SW) framework for directly estimating E, and overcoming the uncertainties associated with T0 and gA determination. An evaluation of STIC1.2 against high temporal frequency SEB flux measurements across an aridity gradient in Australia revealed a systematic error of 10–52% in E from mesic to arid ecosystem, and low systematic error in sensible heat fluxes (H) (12–25%) in all ecosystems. Uncertainty in TR versus moisture availability relationship, stationarity assumption in surface emissivity, and SEB closure corrections in E were predominantly responsible for systematic E errors in arid and semi‐arid ecosystems. A discrete correlation (r) of the model errors with observed soil moisture variance (r = 0.33–0.43), evaporative index (r = 0.77–0.90), and climatological dryness (r = 0.60–0.77) explained a strong association between ecohydrological extremes and TR in determining the error structure of STIC1.2 predicted fluxes. Being independent of any leaf‐scale biophysical parameterization, the model might be an important value addition in working group (WG2) of the Australian Energy and Water Exchange (OzEWEX) research initiative which focuses on observations to evaluate and compare biophysical models of energy and water cycle components.
An Analytical Stochastic Approach for Evaluating the Performance of Combined Sewer Overflow Tanks
Authors: Wang Jun , Guo Yiping
Published: April 2018

Storm water detention tanks are widely used for the control of combined sewer overflows. Conventional continuous simulation and recently developed analytical probabilistic models have been used for analyzing the hydrologic operation of storm water detention tanks. These analyses are necessary in order to accurately estimate the runoff capture efficiency of a given control system or the required storage capacity for achieving a desired runoff capture efficiency. The analytical probabilistic models still have the shortcomings of making simplifying assumptions about the initial storage conditions of a detention tank. Developed in this study is a new stochastic analysis method which can provide similar results as provided by continuous simulations and overcome some of the shortcomings of the previously developed analytical probabilistic models. This stochastic analysis method uses closed‐form analytical equations to estimate the runoff capture efficiency and required storage capacity. Results from these analytical equations are validated by comparing with continuous simulation results and close agreements are observed. These analytical equations are therefore proposed as a computationally efficient alternative for analyzing the hydrologic performance of combined sewer overflow tanks.
Macrostrat: A Platform for Geological Data Integration and Deep‐Time Earth Crust Research
Authors: Peters Shanan E. , Husson Jon M. , Czaplewski John
Published: April 2018

Characterizing the lithology, age, and physical‐chemical properties of rocks and sediments in the Earth's upper crust is necessary to fully assess energy, water, and mineral resources and to address many fundamental questions. Although a large number of geological maps, regional geological syntheses, and sample‐based measurements have been produced, there is no openly available database that integrates rock record‐derived data, while also facilitating large‐scale, quantitative characterization of the volume, age, and material properties of the upper crust. Here we describe Macrostrat, a relational geospatial database and supporting cyberinfrastructure that is designed to enable quantitative spatial and geochronological analyses of the entire assemblage of surface and subsurface sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks. Macrostrat contains general, comprehensive summaries of the age and properties of 33,903 lithologically and chronologically defined geological units distributed across 1,474 regions in North and South America, the Caribbean, New Zealand, and the deep sea. Sample‐derived data, including fossil occurrences in the Paleobiology Database, more than 180,000 geochemical and outcrop‐derived measurements, and more than 2.3 million bedrock geologic map units from over 200 map sources, are linked to specific Macrostrat units and/or lithologies. Macrostrat has generated numerous quantitative results and its infrastructure is used as a data platform in several independently developed mobile applications. It is necessary to expand geographic coverage and to refine age models and material properties to arrive at a more precise characterization of the upper crust globally and test fundamental hypotheses about the long‐term evolution of Earth systems.
Temporal Markov Processes for Transport in Porous Media: Random Lattice Networks
Authors: Delgoshaie Amir H. , Jenny Patrick , Tchelepi Hamdi A.
Published: April 2018

Monte Carlo (MC) simulations of transport in random porous networks indicate that for high variances of the lognormal permeability distribution, the transport of a passive tracer is non‐Fickian. Here we model this non‐Fickian dispersion in random porous networks using discrete temporal Markov models. We show that such temporal models capture the spreading behavior accurately. This is true despite the fact that the slow velocities are strongly correlated in time, and some studies have suggested that the persistence of low velocities would render the temporal Markovian model inapplicable. Compared to previously proposed temporal stochastic differential equations with case‐specific drift and diffusion terms, the models presented here require fewer modeling assumptions. Moreover, we show that discrete temporal Markov models can be used to represent dispersion in unstructured networks, which are widely used to model porous media. A new method is proposed to extend the state space of temporal Markov models to improve the model predictions in the presence of extremely low velocities in particle trajectories and extend the applicability of the model to higher temporal resolutions. Finally, it is shown that by combining multiple transitions, temporal models are more efficient for computing particle evolution compared to correlated CTRW with spatial increments that are equal to the lengths of the links in the network.
Chromatin conformation regulates the coordination between DNA replication and transcription
Authors: Almeida Ricardo , Fernández-Justel José Miguel , Santa-María Cristina , Cadoret Jean-Charles , Cano-Aroca Laura , Lombraña Rodrigo , Herranz Gonzalo , Agresti Alessandra , Gómez María
Published: April 2018

Chromatin is the template for the basic processes of replication and transcription, making the maintenance of chromosomal integrity critical for cell viability. To elucidate how dividing cells respond to alterations in chromatin structure, here we analyse the replication programme of primary cells with altered chromatin configuration caused by the genetic ablation of the HMGB1 gene, or three histone H1 genes. We find that loss of chromatin compaction in H1-depleted cells triggers the accumulation of stalled forks and DNA damage as a consequence of transcription–replication conflicts. In contrast, reductions in nucleosome occupancy due to the lack of HMGB1 cause faster fork progression without impacting the initiation landscape or fork stability. Thus, perturbations in chromatin integrity elicit a range of responses in the dynamics of DNA replication and transcription, with different consequences on replicative stress. These findings have broad implications for our understanding of how defects in chromatin structure contribute to genomic instability.
The IL-33-PIN1-IRAK-M axis is critical for type 2 immunity in IL-33-induced allergic airway inflammation
Authors: Nechama Morris , Kwon Jeahoo , Wei Shuo , Tun-Kyi Adrian , Welner Robert S. , Ben-Dov Iddo Z. , Arredouani Mohamed S. , Asara John M. , Chen Chun-Hau , Tsai Cheng-Yu , Nelson Kyle F. , Kobayashi Koichi S , Israel Elliot , Zhou Xiao Zhen , Nicholson Linda K. , Lu Kun Ping
Published: April 2018

Interleukin 33 (IL-33) is among the earliest-released cytokines in response to allergens that orchestrate type 2 immunity. The prolyl cis-trans isomerase PIN1 is known to induce cytokines for eosinophil survival and activation by stabilizing cytokines mRNAs, but the function of PIN1 in upstream signaling pathways in asthma is unknown. Here we show that interleukin receptor associated kinase M (IRAK-M) is a PIN1 target critical for IL-33 signaling in allergic asthma. NMR analysis and docking simulations suggest that PIN1 might regulate IRAK-M conformation and function in IL-33 signaling. Upon IL-33-induced airway inflammation, PIN1 is activated for binding with and isomerization of IRAK-M, resulting in IRAK-M nuclear translocation and induction of selected proinflammatory genes in dendritic cells. Thus, the IL-33-PIN1-IRAK-M is an axis critical for dendritic cell activation, type 2 immunity and IL-33 induced airway inflammation.
A B-ARR-mediated cytokinin transcriptional network directs hormone cross-regulation and shoot development
Authors: Xie Mingtang , Chen Hongyu , Huang Ling , O’Neil Ryan C. , Shokhirev Maxim N. , Ecker Joseph R.
Published: April 2018

Cytokinin fulfills its diverse roles in planta through a series of transcriptional responses. We identify the in vivo DNA binding site profiles for three genetically redundant type-B ARABIDOPSIS RESPONSE REGULATORS (B-ARRs): ARR1, ARR10, and ARR12. The expression and genome-wide DNA binding locations of the three B-ARRs extensively overlap. Constructing a primary cytokinin response transcriptional network reveals a recurring theme of widespread cross-regulation between the components of the cytokinin pathway and other plant hormone pathways. The B-ARRs are found to have similar DNA binding motifs, though sequences flanking the core motif were degenerate. Cytokinin treatments amalgamate the three different B-ARRs motifs to identical DNA binding signatures (AGATHY, H(a/t/c), Y(t/c)) which suggests cytokinin may regulate binding activity of B-ARR family members. Furthermore, we find that WUSCHEL, a key gene required for apical meristem maintenance, is a cytokinin-dependent B-ARR target gene, demonstrating the importance of the cytokinin transcription factor network in shoot development.
Author Correction: Identification and characterization of SSE15206, a microtubule depolymerizing agent that overcomes multidrug resistance
Authors: Manzoor Safia , Bilal Aishah , Khan Sardraz , Ullah Rahim , Iftikhar Sunniya , Emwas Abdul-Hamid , Alazmi Meshari , Gao Xin , Jawaid Ali , Saleem Rahman Shah Zaib , Faisal Amir
Published: April 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.
Allostatic load as a predictor of grey matter volume and white matter integrity in old age: The Whitehall II MRI study
Authors: Zsoldos Enikő , Filippini Nicola , Mahmood Abda , Mackay Clare E. , Singh-Manoux Archana , Kivimäki Mika , Jenkinson Mark , Ebmeier Klaus P.
Published: April 2018

The allostatic load index quantifies the cumulative multisystem physiological response to chronic everyday stress, and includes cardiovascular, metabolic and inflammatory measures. Despite its central role in the stress response, research of the effect of allostatic load on the ageing brain has been limited. We investigated the relation of mid-life allostatic load index and multifactorial predictors of stroke (Framingham stroke risk) and diabetes (metabolic syndrome) with voxelwise structural grey and white matter brain integrity measures in the ageing Whitehall II cohort (N = 349, mean age = 69.6 (SD 5.2) years, N (male) = 281 (80.5%), mean follow-up before scan = 21.4 (SD 0.82) years). Higher levels of all three markers were significantly associated with lower grey matter density. Only higher Framingham stroke risk was significantly associated with lower white matter integrity (low fractional anisotropy and high mean diffusivity). Our findings provide some empirical support for the concept of allostatic load, linking the effect of everyday stress on the body with features of the ageing human brain.
The observed alteration in BCL2 expression following lithium treatment is influenced by the choice of normalization method
Authors: Odeya Damri , Galila Agam , Lilah Toker
Published: April 2018

Upregulation of B-cell CLL/lymphoma (BCL)2 expression following lithium treatment is seemingly well established and has been related to the neuroprotective property of the drug. However, while demonstrated by some (but not all) studies based on low-throughput techniques (e.g. qPCR) this effect is not reflected in high-throughput studies, such as microarrays and RNAseq. This manuscript presents a systematic review of currently available reports of lithium’s effect on BCL2 expression. To our surprise, we found that the majority of the literature does not support the effect of lithium on BCL2 transcript or protein levels. Moreover, among the positive reports, several used therapeutically irrelevant lithium doses while others lack statistical power. We also noticed that numerous low-throughput studies normalized the signal using genes/proteins affected by lithium, imposing possible bias. Using wet bench experiments and reanalysis of publicly available microarray data, here we show that the reference gene chosen for normalization critically impacts the outcome of qPCR analyses of lithium’s effect on BCL2 expression. Our findings suggest that experimental results might be severely affected by the choice of normalizing genes, and emphasize the need to re-evaluate stability of these genes in the context of the specific experimental conditions.
Amniotic fluid C-reactive protein as a predictor of infection in caesarean section: a feasibility study
Authors: Marchocki Zbigniew , Vinturache Angela , Collins Kevin , O’ Reilly Paddy , O’Donoghue Keelin
Published: April 2018

This study evaluated the feasibility of maternal C-reactive protein (CRP) in amniotic fluid (AF) as a predictor of post-partum infection in women who undergo emergency or elective caesarean section (CS). AF bacterial culture and levels of hs-CRP in maternal serum and AF were evaluated in Day 0 and three days thereafter (Day 3) in 79 women undergoing CS. Univariate analyses assessed the clinical and demographic characteristics, whereas the ROC curves assessed the feasibility of hs-CRP as marker of inflammation in women who undergo CS. There was no difference in AF, Day 0, and Day 3 serum hs-CRP levels between women with sterile compared to those with bacterial growth in AF. Among women with positive AF cultures, AF and Day 0 serum hs-CRP levels were higher in women who underwent emergency compared to those who had elective CS (p = 0.04, and p = 0.02 respectively). hs-CRP in Day 0 and Day 3 serum but not in AF has a fair predictor value of infection in emergency CS only (AUC 0.767; 95% CI 0.606–0.928, and AUC 0.791; 95% CI 0.645–0.036, respectively). We conclude that AF hs-CRP is not feasible in assessing the risk of post-cesarean inflammation or infection.
Spatial patterning of the Notch ligand Dll4 controls endothelial sprouting in vitro
Authors: Tiemeijer L. A. , Frimat J-P. , Stassen O. M. J. A. , Bouten C. V. C. , Sahlgren C. M.
Published: April 2018

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, is a vital process for tissue growth and development. The Notch cell-cell signalling pathway plays an important role in endothelial cell specification during angiogenesis. Dll4 - Notch1 signalling directs endothelial cells into migrating tip or proliferating stalk cells. We used the directing properties of Dll4 to spatially control endothelial cell fate and the direction of endothelial sprouts. We created linear arrays of immobilized Dll4 using micro contact printing. HUVECs were seeded perpendicular to these Dll4 patterns using removable microfluidic channels. The Notch activating properties of surface immobilized Dll4 were confirmed by qPCR. After induction of sprouting, microscopic images of fluorescently labelled endothelial sprouts were analysed to determine the direction and the efficiency of controlled sprouting (Ecs). Directionality analysis of the sprouts showed the Dll4 pattern changes sprout direction from random to unidirectional. This was confirmed by the increase of Ecs from 54.5 ± 3.1% for the control, to an average of 84.7 ± 1.86% on the Dll4 patterned surfaces. Our data demonstrates a surface-based method to spatially pattern Dll4 to gain control over endothelial sprout location and direction. This suggests that spatial ligand patterning can be used to provide control over (neo) vascularization.
Tissue remodeling after ocular surface reconstruction with denuded amniotic membrane
Authors: Jie Jing , Yang Jie , He Hui , Zheng Jianlan , Wang Wenyan , Zhang Liying , Li Zhiyuan , Chen Jingyao , Vimalin Jeyalatha M. , Dong Nuo , Wu Huping , Liu Zuguo , Li Wei
Published: April 2018

Amniotic membrane (AM) has been widely used as a temporary or permanent graft in the treatment of various ocular surface diseases. In this study, we compared the epithelial wound healing and tissue remodeling after ocular surface reconstruction with intact amniotic membrane (iAM) or denuded amniotic membrane (dAM). Partial limbal and bulbar conjunctival removal was performed on New Zealand rabbits followed by transplantation of cryo-preserved human iAM or dAM. In vivo observation showed that the epithelial ingrowth was faster on dAM compared to iAM after AM transplantation. Histological observation showed prominent epithelial stratification and increased goblet cell number on dAM after 2 weeks of follow up. Collagen VII degraded in dAM within 2 weeks, while remained in iAM even after 3 weeks. The number of macrophages and α-SMA positive cells in the stroma of remodelized conjunctiva in the dAM transplantation group was considerably less. In conclusion, dAM facilitates epithelial repopulation and goblet cell differentiation, further reduces inflammation and scar formation during conjunctival and corneal limbal reconstruction.
On-chip generation of microbubbles in photoacoustic contrast agents for dual modal ultrasound/photoacoustic in vivo animal imaging
Authors: Das Dhiman , Sivasubramanian Kathyayini , Yang Chun , Pramanik Manojit
Published: April 2018

Dual-modal photoacoustic (PA) and ultrasound (US) contrast agents are becoming increasingly popular in recent years. Here, a flow-focusing junction based microfluidic device is used for the generation of nitrogen microbubbles (<7 μm) in two photoacoustic contrast agents: methylene blue (MB) and black ink (BI). The microbubble diameter and production rate could be precisely controlled in both MB and BI solutions. Microbubbles were collected from the outlet of the microfluidic device and optical microscope was used to study the size distributions in both solutions. Next, the microbubbles in both solutions were injected into tubes for phantom imaging experiments. Signal to noise ratio (SNR) of both US, PA imaging experiments were calculated to be 51 dB, 58 dB in MB + microbubbles and 56 dB, 61 dB in BI + microbubbles, respectively. Finally, the microbubbles were injected into the urinary bladder of rats for in vivo animal imaging. The SNR in US imaging with MB + microbubbles and BI + microbubbles were 41 dB and 48 dB, respectively. Similarly, the SNR in PA imaging with the same solutions were 32 dB and 36 dB, respectively. The effect of size and concentration of microbubbles in both MB and BI solutions, on the US and PA signals, has been examined.
Improvement of the phytoremediation efficiency of Neyraudia reynaudiana for lead-zinc mine-contaminated soil under the interactive effect of earthworms and EDTA
Authors: Li Ying , Luo Jiewen , Yu Jiaoda , Xia Lidan , Zhou Chuifan , Cai Liping , Ma Xiangqing
Published: April 2018

Slow plant growth, low biomass, and low bioavailability of heavy metals in soil are important factors that limit remediation efficiencies. This study adopted a pot cultivation method to evaluate the phytoremediation efficiency of Neyraudia reynaudiana, planted in contaminated soil from a lead-zinc mining area. The soil was inoculated with earthworms (Eisenia fetida), and mixed with the chelating agent ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) one month after planting. The addition of earthworms significantly increased the aboveground biomass of N. reynaudiana and activated heavy metals in the soil, thus facilitating heavy metal uptake by N. reynaudiana. The addition of EDTA significantly increased the incorporation and transport of heavy metals, reduced the uptake of heavy metals by the plant cell wall, and increased the proportions of cellular soluble constituents. Especially with regard to lead, inoculation with earthworms and EDTA application significantly promoted the accumulation efficiency of N. reynaudiana, increasing it 7.1-16.9-fold compared to the control treatment without earthworms and EDTA, and 1.5-2.3-fold compared to a treatment that only used EDTA.
Prevalence and predictors of being lost to follow-up after transurethral resection of the prostate
Authors: Fontana Matteo , Boeri Luca , Gallioli Andrea , De Lorenzis Elisa , Palmisano Franco , Zanetti Stefano Paolo , Sampogna Gianluca , Albo Giancarlo , Longo Fabrizio , Gadda Franco , Dell’Orto Paolo Guido , Montanari Emanuele
Published: April 2018

Patient follow-up after transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is crucial to evaluate treatment-related outcomes and potential adverse events. We sought to determine the rate of, and factors associated with, patient nonadherence to follow-up after TURP. Data from 180 patients who underwent TURP were analysed. Patient counselling and follow-up were standardized among the cohort. Patients were considered lost to follow-up (LTF) if they were at least 30 days from their first scheduled follow-up appointment. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the impact of predictors on the rate of compliance with prescribed follow-up. Of 180 patients, 55 (30.5%) were LTF. LTF patients were younger (p < 0.001), had lower educational status (p = 0.007) and were more frequently single (p = 0.03) than those who were not LTF. Importantly, patients who experienced a postoperative-related event (PRE) were more likely to follow-up (p = 0.04). Multivariable analysis revealed that younger age (p < 0.001) and low educational status (p < 0.001) were independent predictors of being LTF. One out of three men submitted to TURP is lost to follow-up in the real-life setting. Noncompliance to follow-up was more frequent among young, single patients with low educational status. On the contrary, patients who experienced a PRE were more likely to follow-up.
Association between atrial fibrillation, atrial enlargement, and left ventricular geometric remodeling
Authors: Seko Yuta , Kato Takao , Haruna Tetsuya , Izumi Toshiaki , Miyamoto Shoichi , Nakane Eisaku , Inoko Moriaki
Published: April 2018

This study investigated the relationship between atrial fibrillation (AF) and left ventricular (LV) geometric patterns in a hospital-based population in Japan. We retrospectively analyzed 4444 patients who had undergone simultaneous scheduled transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and electrocardiography during 2013. A total of 430 patients who had findings of previous myocardial infarctions (n = 419) and without the data on body surface area (n = 11) were excluded from the study. We calculated the LV mass index (LVMI) and relative wall (RWT) and categorized 4014 patients into four groups as follows: normal geometry (n = 3046); concentric remodeling (normal LVMI and high RWT, n = 437); concentric hypertrophy (high LVMI and high RWT, n = 149); and eccentric remodeling (high LVMI and normal RWT, n = 382). The mean left atrial volume indices (LAVI) were 22.5, 23.8, 33.3, and 37.0 mm/m2 in patients with normal geometry, concentric remodeling, concentric hypertrophy, and eccentric hypertrophy, respectively. The mean LV ejection fractions (LVEF) were 62.7, 62.6, 60.8, and 53.8%, respectively, whereas the prevalence of AF was 10.4%, 10.5%, 14.8%, and 16.8% in patients with normal geometry, concentric remodeling, concentric hypertrophy, and eccentric hypertrophy, respectively. In conclusion, the prevalence of AF was increasing according to LV geometric remodeling patterns in association with LA size and LVEF.
Origin of macroscopic adhesion in organic light-emitting diodes analyzed at different length scales
Authors: Kim Sungho , Park Seongjae , Lee Wanheui , Kwon Owoong , Kim Shang-U. , Choi Youngtae , Yoon Minyoung , Park Jongwoo , Kim Yunseok
Published: April 2018

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) have been widely studied because of their various advantages. OLEDs are multi-layered structures consisting of organic and inorganic materials arranged in a heterojunction; the nature of adhesion at their heterogeneous interfaces has a significant effect on their properties. In this study, the origin of macroscopic adhesion was explored in OLEDs using a combination of microscopy techniques applied at different length scales. The different techniques allowed the identification of layers exposed by a peel test, which aided direct characterization of their macroscopic adhesion. Further, the contribution of each exposed layer to macroscopic adhesion could be determined through an analysis of photographic images. Finally, analysis of the local roughness and adhesion confirmed that the interface between an anode and emission layer could play a predominant role in determining the nature of macroscopic adhesion in OLEDs. These results may provide guidelines for exploring the origin of macroscopic adhesion properties through a combination of various microscopy techniques.
Rgg-Shp regulators are important for pneumococcal colonization and invasion through their effect on mannose utilization and capsule synthesis
Authors: Zhi Xiangyun , Abdullah Iman Tajer , Gazioglu Ozcan , Manzoor Irfan , Shafeeq Sulman , Kuipers Oscar P. , Hiller N. Luisa , Andrew Peter W. , Yesilkaya Hasan
Published: April 2018

Microbes communicate with each other by using quorum sensing (QS) systems and modulate their collective ‘behavior’ for in-host colonization and virulence, biofilm formation, and environmental adaptation. The recent increase in genome data availability reveals the presence of several putative QS sensing circuits in microbial pathogens, but many of these have not been functionally characterized yet, despite their possible utility as drug targets. To increase the repertoire of functionally characterized QS systems in bacteria, we studied Rgg144/Shp144 and Rgg939/Shp939, two putative QS systems in the important human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae. We find that both of these QS circuits are induced by short hydrophobic peptides (Shp) upon sensing sugars found in the respiratory tract, such as galactose and mannose. Microarray analyses using cultures grown on mannose and galactose revealed that the expression of a large number of genes is controlled by these QS systems, especially those encoding for essential physiological functions and virulence-related genes such as the capsular locus. Moreover, the array data revealed evidence for cross-talk between these systems. Finally, these Rgg systems play a key role in colonization and virulence, as deletion mutants of these QS systems are attenuated in the mouse models of colonization and pneumonia.
High-efficiency dual-modes vortex beam generator with polarization-dependent transmission and reflection properties
Authors: Tang Shiwei , Cai Tong , Wang Guang-Ming , Liang Jian-Gang , Li Xike , Yu Jiancheng
Published: April 2018

Vortex beam is believed to be an effective way to extend communication capacity, but available efforts suffer from the issues of complex configurations, fixed operation mode as well as low efficiency. Here, we propose a general strategy to design dual-modes vortex beam generator by using metasurfaces with polarization-dependent transmission and reflection properties. Combining the focusing and vortex functionalities, we design/fabricate a type of compact dual-modes vortex beam generator operating at both reflection/transmission sides of the system. Experimental results demonstrate that the designed metadevice can switch freely and independently between the reflective vortex with topological charge m1 = 2 and transmissive vortex with m2 = 1. Moreover, the metadevice exhibits very high efficiencies of 91% and 85% for the reflective and transmissive case respectively. Our findings open a door for multifunctional metadevices with high performances, which indicate wide applications in modern integration-optics and wireless communication systems.