bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The turbulent wall plume from a vertically distributed source of buoyancy
Authors: McConnochie Craig D. , Kerr Ross C. 
Published: December 2015

We experimentally investigate the turbulent wall plume that forms next to a uniformly distributed source of buoyancy. Our experimental results are compared with the theoretical model and experiments of Cooper & Hunt (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 646, 2010, pp. 39–58). Our experiments give a top-hat entrainment coefficient of $0.048\pm 0.006$. We measure a maximum vertical plume velocity that follows the scaling predicted by Cooper & Hunt but is significantly smaller. Our measurements allow us to construct a turbulent plume model that predicts all plume properties at any height. We use this plume model to calculate plume widths, velocities and Reynolds numbers for typical dissolving icebergs and ice fronts and for a typical room with a heated or cooled vertical surface.
Qualitative Analysis of Solutions for a Class of Anisotropic Elliptic Equations with Variable Exponent
Authors: Afrouzi G. A. , Mirzapour M. , Rădulescu Vicenţiu D. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractWe are concerned with the degenerate anisotropic problemWe first establish the existence of an unbounded sequence of weak solutions. We also obtain the existence of a non-trivial weak solution if the nonlinear termfhas a special form. The proofs rely on the fountain theorem and Ekeland's variational principle.
Between Banyans and battle scenes: Liberal norms, contestation, and the limits of critique
Authors: Wolff Jonas , Zimmermann Lisbeth 
Published: December 2015

AbstractIn studying the global spread and implementation of liberal norms, scholars have moved from linear notions of norm diffusion and promotion to an emphasis on norm contestation. Contestation by the supposed beneficiaries and addressees has taken centre stage in both research on the norms that underpin global governance and in studies on democracy promotion and liberal peacebuilding. While the impetus of this scholarship is normative – to overcome the taken-for-granted nature of liberal norms – the concept of contestation itself is mainly used with an analytical interest. Yet, as we show in this article, contestation also comes with – oftentimes implicit – normative connotations. Focusing on the seminal work of Milja Kurki, Oliver Richmond, Antje Wiener, and Amitav Acharya, we reconstruct these normative connotations. It turns out that the normative take on contestation is fairly conventional in all four approaches. Contestation is largely seen as a means to enable dialogue, as illustrated by Acharya’s metaphor of the Banyan tree. Fundamental conflicts over liberal norms (‘battle scenes’) are either not considered or seen as normatively undesirable. As a way forward, we propose a typology that enables scholars to empirically analyse contestation in its different expressions and suggest two strategies to normatively assess practices of contestation.
An excitatory ventral hippocampus to lateral septum circuit that suppresses feeding
Authors: Sweeney Patrick , Yang Yunlei 
Published: December 2015

AbstractPrevious research has focused on feeding circuits residing in the hindbrain and midbrain that govern homeostatic or hedonic control of food intake. However, the feeding circuits controlling emotional or cognitive aspects of food intake are largely unknown. Here we use chemical genetics and optogenetic techniques to dissect appetite control circuits originating from ventral hippocampus (vHPC), a brain region implicated in emotion and cognition. We find that the vHPC projects functional glutamatergic synaptic inputs to the lateral septum (LS) and optogenetic activation of vHPC projections in LS reduces food intake. Consistently, food intake is suppressed by chemogenetic activation of glutamatergic neurons in the vHPC that project to the LS and inactivation of LS neurons blunts vHPC-induced suppression of feeding. Collectively, our results identify an anorexigenic neural circuit originating from vHPC to LS in the brain, revealing a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of anorexia or other appetite disorders.
Hypomethylation of smoking-related genes is associated with future lung cancer in four prospective cohorts
Authors: Fasanelli Francesca , Baglietto Laura , Ponzi Erica , Guida Florence , Campanella Gianluca , Johansson Mattias , Grankvist Kjell , Johansson Mikael , Assumma Manuela Bianca , Naccarati Alessio , Chadeau-Hyam Marc , Ala Ugo , Faltus Christian , Kaaks Rudolf , Risch Angela , De Stavola Bianca , Hodge Allison , Giles Graham G. , Southey Melissa C. , Relton Caroline L. , Haycock Philip C. , Lund Eiliv , Polidoro Silvia , Sandanger Torkjel M. , Severi Gianluca , Vineis Paolo 
Published: December 2015

AbstractDNA hypomethylation in certain genes is associated with tobacco exposure but it is unknown whether these methylation changes translate into increased lung cancer risk. In an epigenome-wide study of DNA from pre-diagnostic blood samples from 132 case–control pairs in the NOWAC cohort, we observe that the most significant associations with lung cancer risk are for cg05575921 in AHRR (OR for 1 s.d.=0.37, 95% CI: 0.31–0.54, P-value=3.3 × 10−11) and cg03636183 in F2RL3 (OR for 1 s.d.=0.40, 95% CI: 0.31–0.56, P-value=3.9 × 10−10), previously shown to be strongly hypomethylated in smokers. These associations remain significant after adjustment for smoking and are confirmed in additional 664 case–control pairs tightly matched for smoking from the MCCS, NSHDS and EPIC HD cohorts. The replication and mediation analyses suggest that residual confounding is unlikely to explain the observed associations and that hypomethylation of these CpG sites may mediate the effect of tobacco on lung cancer risk.
Synergistic multi-doping effects on the Li7La3Zr2O12 solid electrolyte for fast lithium ion conduction
Authors: Shin Dong Ok , Oh Kyungbae , Kim Kwang Man , Park Kyu-Young , Lee Byungju , Lee Young-Gi , Kang Kisuk 
Published: December 2015

AbstractHere, we investigate the doping effects on the lithium ion transport behavior in garnet Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO) from the combined experimental and theoretical approach. The concentration of Li ion vacancy generated by the inclusion of aliovalent dopants such as Al3+ plays a key role in stabilizing the cubic LLZO. However, it is found that the site preference of Al in 24d position hinders the three dimensionally connected Li ion movement when heavily doped according to the structural refinement and the DFT calculations. In this report, we demonstrate that the multi-doping using additional Ta dopants into the Al-doped LLZO shifts the most energetically favorable sites of Al in the crystal structure from 24d to 96 h Li site, thereby providing more open space for Li ion transport. As a result of these synergistic effects, the multi-doped LLZO shows about three times higher ionic conductivity of 6.14 × 10−4 S cm−1 than that of the singly-doped LLZO with a much less efforts in stabilizing cubic phases in the synthetic condition.
Thermodynamic Insights and Conceptual Design of Skin-Sensitive Chitosan Coated Ceramide/PLGA Nanodrug for Regeneration of Stratum Corneum on Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: Jung Sang-Myung , Yoon Gwang Heum , Lee Hoo Chul , Jung Moon Hee , Yu Sun Il , Yeon Seung Ju , Min Seul Ki , Kwon Yeo Seon , Hwang Jin Ha , Shin Hwa Sung 
Published: December 2015

AbstractAtopic dermatitis (AD) is a complex skin disease primarily characterized by psoriasis of the stratum corneum. AD drugs have usually been used in acidic and hydrophilic solvents to supply moisture and prevent lipid defects. Ceramide is a typical treatment agent to regenerate the stratum corneum and relieve symptoms of AD. However, ceramide has limitation on direct use for skin because of its low dispersion properties in hydrophilic phase and side effects at excessive treatment. In this study, ceramide imbedded PLGA nanoparticles were developed with chitosan coating (Chi-PLGA/Cer) to overcome this problem. The chitosan coating enhanced initial adherence to the skin and prevented the initial burst of ceramide, but was degraded by the weakly acidic nature of skin, resulting in controlled release of ceramide with additional driving force of the squeezed PLGA nanoparticles. Additionally, the coating kinetics of chitosan were controlled by manipulating the reaction conditions and then mathematically modeled. The Chi-PLGA/Cer was not found to be cytotoxic and ceramide release was controlled by pH, temperature and chitosan coating. Finally, Chi-PLGA/Cer was demonstrated to be effective at stratum corneum regeneration in a rat AD model. Overall, the results presented herein indicated that Chi-PLGA/Cer is a novel nanodrug for treatment of AD.
Successive site translocating inoculation potentiates DNA/recombinant vaccinia vaccination
Authors: Ren Yanqin , Wang Na , Hu Weiguo , Zhang Xiaoyan , Xu Jianqing , Wan Yanmin 
Published: December 2015

AbstractDNA vaccines have advantages over traditional vaccine modalities; however the relatively low immunogenicity restrains its translation into clinical use. Further optimizations are needed to get the immunogenicity of DNA vaccine closer to the level required for human use. Here we show that intramuscularly inoculating into a different limb each time significantly improves the immunogenicities of both DNA and recombinant vaccinia vaccines during multiple vaccinations, compared to repeated vaccination on the same limb. We term this strategy successive site translocating inoculation (SSTI). SSTI could work in synergy with genetic adjuvant and DNA prime-recombinant vaccinia boost regimen. By comparing in vivo antigen expression, we found that SSTI avoided the specific inhibition of in vivo antigen expression, which was observed in the limbs being repeatedly inoculated. Employing in vivo T cell depletion and passive IgG transfer, we delineated that the inhibition was not mediated by CD8+ T cells but by specific antibodies. Finally, by using C3−/− mouse model and in vivo NK cells depletion, we identified that specific antibodies negatively regulated the in vivo antigen expression primarily in a complement depended way.
MycoCAP - Mycobacterium Comparative Analysis Platform
Authors: Choo Siew Woh , Ang Mia Yang , Dutta Avirup , Tan Shi Yang , Siow Cheuk Chuen , Heydari Hamed , Mutha Naresh V. R. , Wee Wei Yee , Wong Guat Jah 
Published: December 2015

AbstractMycobacterium spp. are renowned for being the causative agent of diseases like leprosy, Buruli ulcer and tuberculosis in human beings. With more and more mycobacterial genomes being sequenced, any knowledge generated from comparative genomic analysis would provide better insights into the biology, evolution, phylogeny and pathogenicity of this genus, thus helping in better management of diseases caused by Mycobacterium spp.With this motivation, we constructed MycoCAP, a new comparative analysis platform dedicated to the important genus Mycobacterium. This platform currently provides information of 2108 genome sequences of at least 55 Mycobacterium spp. A number of intuitive web-based tools have been integrated in MycoCAP particularly for comparative analysis including the PGC tool for comparison between two genomes, PathoProT for comparing the virulence genes among the Mycobacterium strains and the SuperClassification tool for the phylogenic classification of the Mycobacterium strains and a specialized classification system for strains of Mycobacterium abscessus. We hope the broad range of functions and easy-to-use tools provided in MycoCAP makes it an invaluable analysis platform to speed up the research discovery on mycobacteria for researchers. Database URL: http://mycobacterium.um.edu.my
A comprehensive analysis of radiosensitization targets; functional inhibition of DNA methyltransferase 3B radiosensitizes by disrupting DNA damage regulation
Authors: Fujimori Hiroaki , Sato Akira , Kikuhara Sota , Wang Junhui , Hirai Takahisa , Sasaki Yuka , Murakami Yasufumi , Okayasu Ryuichi , Masutani Mitsuko 
Published: December 2015

AbstractA comprehensive genome-wide screen of radiosensitization targets in HeLa cells was performed using a shRNA-library/functional cluster analysis and DNMT3B was identified as a candidate target. DNMT3B RNAi increased the sensitivity of HeLa, A549 and HCT116 cells to both γ-irradiation and carbon-ion beam irradiation. DNMT3B RNAi reduced the activation of DNA damage responses induced by γ-irradiation, including HP1β-, γH2AX- and Rad51-foci formation. DNMT3B RNAi impaired damage-dependent H2AX accumulation and showed a reduced level of γH2AX induction after γ-irradiation. DNMT3B interacted with HP1β in non-irradiated conditions, whereas irradiation abrogated the DNMT3B/HP1β complex but induced interaction between DNMT3B and H2AX. Consistent with radiosensitization, TP63, BAX, PUMA and NOXA expression was induced after γ-irradiation in DNMT3B knockdown cells. Together with the observation that H2AX overexpression canceled radiosensitization by DNMT3B RNAi, these results suggest that DNMT3B RNAi induced radiosensitization through impairment of damage-dependent HP1β foci formation and efficient γH2AX-induction mechanisms including H2AX accumulation. Enhanced radiosensitivity by DNMT3B RNAi was also observed in a tumor xenograft model. Taken together, the current study implies that comprehensive screening accompanied by a cluster analysis enabled the identification of radiosensitization targets. Downregulation of DNMT3B, one of the targets identified using this method, radiosensitizes cancer cells by disturbing multiple DNA damage responses.
Triclosan causes spontaneous abortion accompanied by decline of estrogen sulfotransferase activity in humans and mice
Authors: Wang Xiaoli , Chen Xiaojiao , Feng Xuejiao , Chang Fei , Chen Minjian , Xia Yankai , Chen Ling 
Published: December 2015

AbstractTriclosan (TCS), an antibacterial agent, is identified in serum and urine of humans. Here, we show that the level of urinary TCS in 28.3% patients who had spontaneous abortion in mid-gestation were increased by 11.3-fold (high-TCS) compared with normal pregnancies. Oral administration of TCS (10 mg/kg/day) in mice (TCS mice) caused an equivalent urinary TCS level as those in the high-TCS abortion patients. The TCS-exposure from gestation day (GD) 5.5 caused dose-dependently fetal death during GD12.5–16.5 with decline of live fetal weight. GD15.5 TCS mice appeared placental thrombus and tissue necrosis with enhancement of platelet aggregation. The levels of placenta and plasma estrogen sulfotransferase (EST) mRNA and protein in TCS mice or high-TCS abortion patients were not altered, but their EST activities were significantly reduced compared to controls. Although the levels of serum estrogen (E2) in TCS mice and high-TCS abortion patients had no difference from controls, their ratio of sulfo-conjugated E2 and unconjugated E2 was reduced. The estrogen receptor antagonist ICI-182,780 prevented the enhanced platelet aggregation and placental thrombosis and attenuated the fetal death in TCS mice. The findings indicate that TCS-exposure might cause spontaneous abortion probably through inhibition of EST activity to produce placental thrombosis.
Fear learning circuitry is biased toward generalization of fear associations in posttraumatic stress disorder
Authors: Morey R A , Dunsmoor J E , Haswell C C , Brown V M , Vora A , Weiner J , Stjepanovic D , Wagner H R ,   VA Mid-Atlantic MIRECC Workgroup, Brancu Mira , Marx Christine E , Naylor Jennifer C , Van Voorhees Elizabeth , Taber Katherine H , Beckham Jean C , Calhoun Patrick S , Fairbank John A , Szabo Steven T , LaBar K S 
Published: December 2015

AbstractFear conditioning is an established model for investigating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, symptom triggers may vaguely resemble the initial traumatic event, differing on a variety of sensory and affective dimensions. We extended the fear-conditioning model to assess generalization of conditioned fear on fear processing neurocircuitry in PTSD. Military veterans (n=67) consisting of PTSD (n=32) and trauma-exposed comparison (n=35) groups underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging during fear conditioning to a low fear-expressing face while a neutral face was explicitly unreinforced. Stimuli that varied along a neutral-to-fearful continuum were presented before conditioning to assess baseline responses, and after conditioning to assess experience-dependent changes in neural activity. Compared with trauma-exposed controls, PTSD patients exhibited greater post-study memory distortion of the fear-conditioned stimulus toward the stimulus expressing the highest fear intensity. PTSD patients exhibited biased neural activation toward high-intensity stimuli in fusiform gyrus (P<0.02), insula (P<0.001), primary visual cortex (P<0.05), locus coeruleus (P<0.04), thalamus (P<0.01), and at the trend level in inferior frontal gyrus (P=0.07). All regions except fusiform were moderated by childhood trauma. Amygdala–calcarine (P=0.01) and amygdala–thalamus (P=0.06) functional connectivity selectively increased in PTSD patients for high-intensity stimuli after conditioning. In contrast, amygdala–ventromedial prefrontal cortex (P=0.04) connectivity selectively increased in trauma-exposed controls compared with PTSD patients for low-intensity stimuli after conditioning, representing safety learning. In summary, fear generalization in PTSD is biased toward stimuli with higher emotional intensity than the original conditioned-fear stimulus. Functional brain differences provide a putative neurobiological model for fear generalization whereby PTSD symptoms are triggered by threat cues that merely resemble the index trauma.
Round-the-clock power supply and a sustainable economy via synergistic integration of solar thermal power and hydrogen processes
Authors: Gençer Emre , Mallapragada Dharik S. , Maréchal François , Tawarmalani Mohit , Agrawal Rakesh 
Published: December 2015

Significance
Diminishing fossil fuel resources and increasing atmospheric greenhouse gases present a compelling case for transitioning to a sustainable economy where all human needs can be met by using abundant solar energy. In this paper, we introduce “hydricity,” a paradigm that proposes synergistic coproduction of solar thermal power and hydrogen. We realize hydricity by judiciously integrating solar water power cycle, solar thermal hydrogen production techniques, and turbine-based hydrogen power cycle and by suitably improving each one for compatibility and beneficial interaction. The proposed hydricity concept presents a potential breakthrough solution for continuous and efficient power supply and also an exciting opportunity to envision and create a sustainable economy to meet all the human needs—namely, food, chemicals, transportation, heating, and electricity.
The point of no return in vetoing self-initiated movements
Authors: Schultze-Kraft Matthias , Birman Daniel , Rusconi Marco , Allefeld Carsten , Görgen Kai , Dähne Sven , Blankertz Benjamin , Haynes John-Dylan 
Published: December 2015

Significance
Many studies have shown that movements are preceded by early brain signals. There has been a debate as to whether subjects can still cancel a movement after onset of these early signals. We tested whether subjects can win a “duel” against a brain–computer interface designed to predict their movements in real time from observations of their EEG activity. Our findings suggest that subjects can exert a “veto” even after onset of this preparatory process. However, the veto has to occur before a point of no return is reached after which participants cannot avoid moving.
Neural mechanisms of social decision-making in the primate amygdala
Authors: Chang Steve W. C. , Fagan Nicholas A. , Toda Koji , Utevsky Amanda V. , Pearson John M. , Platt Michael L. 
Published: December 2015

SignificanceMaking social decisions requires evaluation of benefits and costs to self and others. Long associated with emotion and vigilance, neurons in primate amygdala also signal reward and punishment as well as information about the faces and eyes of others. Here we show that neurons in the basolateral amygdala signal the value of rewards for self and others when monkeys make social decisions. These value-mirroring neurons reflected monkeys’ tendency to make prosocial decisions on a momentary as well as long-term basis. We also found that delivering the social peptide oxytocin into basolateral amygdala enhances both prosocial tendencies and attention to the recipients of prosocial decisions. Our findings endorse the amygdala as a critical neural nexus regulating social decisions.
Exogenous Hsp70 delays senescence and improves cognitive function in aging mice
Authors: Bobkova Natalia V. , Evgen’ev Mikhail , Garbuz David G. , Kulikov Alexei M. , Morozov Alexei , Samokhin Alexander , Velmeshev Dmitri , Medvinskaya Natalia , Nesterova Inna , Pollock Andrew , Nudler Evgeny 
Published: December 2015

Significance
The compromised ability of neurons to express Heat Shock Protein 70 (Hsp70) correlates with aging-related neurodegeneration. In this study, middle-aged and old mice were treated chronically until death with human Hsp70 delivered intranasally and were investigated after 5 or 9 mo of Hsp70 treatment for their cognitive ability and synaptic density. Hsp70 treatment extended mean and maximum lifespan, improved learning and memory in old animals, increased curiosity, decreased anxiety, and helped maintain synaptic structures that degrade with age. These results provide evidence that intranasal administration of Hsp70 could have significant therapeutic potential in preserving brain tissue and memory for middle-age and old individuals and could be applied either as unique self-contained treatment or in combination with other pharmacological therapies.
KCNE3 acts by promoting voltage sensor activation in KCNQ1
Authors: Barro-Soria Rene , Perez Marta E. , Larsson H. Peter 
Published: December 2015

Significance
The association of KCNE3 beta subunits to KCNQ1 channels turns voltage-dependent KCNQ1 channels into apparent voltage-independent KCNQ1/KCNE3 channels that are important for the transport of water and salts across epithelial cell layers. Because KCNQ1/KCNE3 channels are necessary for water and salt secretion in the colon, KCNQ1/KCNE3 channels are a potential drug target in the treatment of secretory diarrhea. Mutations in KCNE3 have also been associated with diseases such as cardiac arrhythmia and tinnitus. We here propose a model for how KCNE3 turns KCNQ1 into a voltage-independent channel. Our model will allow for a better understanding of how mutations in KCNQ1 and KCNE3 cause diseases and how to design drugs to treat these diseases.
BovineNK-lysin: Copy number variation and functional diversification
Authors: Chen Junfeng , Huddleston John , Buckley Reuben M. , Malig Maika , Lawhon Sara D. , Skow Loren C. , Lee Mi Ok , Eichler Evan E. , Andersson Leif , Womack James E. 
Published: December 2015

SignificanceThe cattle genome contains expanded families of several genes involved in innate immunity. A single copy of theNK-lysingene is annotated in the genomes of most mammals, including humans, but this study identified a family ofNK-lysingenes in cattle consisting of four functional members. Although this family mirrors the numerical expansion of other immune-related genes, including interferons, defensins, and cathelicidins, in the cattle genome, we also see a diversification of function exhibited by differential tissue expression in the gene family. The current state of this site in the bovine genome appears to capture the evolutionary transition from copy number variation to the fixation of novel gene function within a segmentally duplicated region.