bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Can you see what I am talking about? Human speech triggers referential expectation in four-month-old infants
Authors: Marno Hanna , Farroni Teresa , Vidal Dos Santos Yamil , Ekramnia Milad , Nespor Marina , Mehler Jacques 
Published: September 2015

AbstractInfants’ sensitivity to selectively attend to human speech and to process it in a unique way has been widely reported in the past. However, in order to successfully acquire language, one should also understand that speech is a referential and that words can stand for other entities in the world. While there has been some evidence showing that young infants can make inferences about the communicative intentions of a speaker, whether they would also appreciate the direct relationship between a specific word and its referent, is still unknown. In the present study we tested four-month-old infants to see whether they would expect to find a referent when they hear human speech. Our results showed that compared to other auditory stimuli or to silence, when infants were listening to speech they were more prepared to find some visual referents of the words, as signalled by their faster orienting towards the visual objects. Hence, our study is the first to report evidence that infants at a very young age already understand the referential relationship between auditory words and physical objects, thus show a precursor in appreciating the symbolic nature of language, even if they do not understand yet the meanings of words.
Evidence of Filamentary Switching in Oxide-based Memory Devices via Weak Programming and Retention Failure Analysis
Authors: Younis Adnan , Chu Dewei , Li Sean 
Published: September 2015

AbstractFurther progress in high-performance microelectronic devices relies on the development of novel materials and device architectures. However, the components and designs that are currently in use have reached their physical limits. Intensive research efforts, ranging from device fabrication to performance evaluation, are required to surmount these limitations. In this paper, we demonstrate that the superior bipolar resistive switching characteristics of a CeO2:Gd-based memory device can be manipulated by means of UV radiation, serving as a new degree of freedom. Furthermore, the metal oxide-based (CeO2:Gd) memory device was found to possess electrical and neuromorphic multifunctionalities. To investigate the underlying switching mechanism of the device, its plasticity behaviour was studied by imposing weak programming conditions. In addition, a short-term to long-term memory transition analogous to the forgetting process in the human brain, which is regarded as a key biological synaptic function for information processing and data storage, was realized. Based on a careful examination of the device’s retention behaviour at elevated temperatures, the filamentary nature of switching in such devices can be understood from a new perspective.
The diversity and abundance of As(III) oxidizers on root iron plaque is critical for arsenic bioavailability to rice
Authors: Hu Min , Li Fangbai , Liu Chuanping , Wu Weijian 
Published: September 2015

AbstractIron plaque is a strong adsorbent on rice roots, acting as a barrier to prevent metal uptake by rice. However, the role of root iron plaque microbes in governing metal redox cycling and metal bioavailability is unknown. In this study, the microbial community structure on the iron plaque of rice roots from an arsenic-contaminated paddy soil was explored using high-throughput next-generation sequencing. The microbial composition and diversity of the root iron plaque were significantly different from those of the bulk and rhizosphere soils. Using theaoxBgene as an identifying marker, we determined that the arsenite-oxidizing microbiota on the iron plaque was dominated byAcidovoraxandHydrogenophaga-affiliated bacteria. More importantly, the abundance of arsenite-oxidizing bacteria (AsOB) on the root iron plaque was significantly negatively correlated with the arsenic concentration in the rice root, straw and grain, indicating that the microbes on the iron plaque, particularly the AsOB, were actively catalyzing arsenic transformation and greatly influencing metal uptake by rice. This exploratory research represents a preliminary examination of the microbial community structure of the root iron plaque formed under arsenic pollution and emphasizes the importance of the root iron plaque environment in arsenic biogeochemical cycling compared with the soil-rhizosphere biotope.
The Synergetic Coupling among the Cellular Antioxidants Glutathione Peroxidase/Peroxiredoxin and Other Antioxidants and its Effect on the Concentration of H2O2
Authors: Molavian Hamid , Madani Tonekaboni Ali , Kohandel Mohammad , Sivaloganathan Sivabal 
Published: September 2015

AbstractGlutathione peroxidase (GPx), peroxiredoxin (Prx) and catalase are the major antioxidants at the cellular level and protect cell compartments against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). In addition, they affect cellular processes such as cell signaling by modulating H2O2. In this paper we demonstrate that there is a synergetic coupling between GPxs, Prxs themselves and also with other antioxidants when the GPxs and Prxs are not in their saturated reduced form. This is due to a change in the activity of glutathione peroxidases and peroxiredoxins as a result of a change in the concentrations of other antioxidants. The strength of this synergy depends on the reaction rates and the concentration of these antioxidants. We use a perturbative method to calculate the concentration of H2O2 as function of the production rate of H2O2 and the concentration of various antioxidants. This derivation shows clearly why antioxidants behave in a correlated manner and why any change in the activity of one of them translates to a change in the activity of other antioxidants. Our results show that an increase in the activity of GPxs or Prxs might not be due to a genetic switch but due to an increase in the activity of other antioxidants.
Domain wall of a ferromagnet on a three-dimensional topological insulator
Authors: Wakatsuki Ryohei , Ezawa Motohiko , Nagaosa Naoto 
Published: September 2015

AbstractTopological insulators (TIs) show rich phenomena and functions which can never be realized in ordinary insulators. Most of them come from the peculiar surface or edge states. Especially, the quantized anomalous Hall effect (QAHE) without an external magnetic field is realized in the two-dimensional ferromagnet on a three-dimensional TI which supports the dissipationless edge current. Here we demonstrate theoretically that the domain wall of this ferromagnet, which carries edge current, is charged and can be controlled by the external electric field. The chirality and relative stability of the Neel wall and Bloch wall depend on the position of the Fermi energy as well as the form of the coupling between the magnetic moments and orbital of the host TI. These findings will pave a path to utilize the magnets on TI for the spintronics applications.
IL-11 induces differentiation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells through activation of STAT3 signalling pathway
Authors: Sumida Kentaro , Ohno Yosuke , Ohtake Junya , Kaneumi Shun , Kishikawa Takuto , Takahashi Norihiko , Taketomi Akinobu , Kitamura Hidemitsu 
Published: September 2015

AbstractMyeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are immune negative regulators in the tumour microenvironment. Interleukin (IL)-11, a member of IL-6 family cytokines, functions through the unique receptor IL-11 receptor α coupled with the common signal transducer gp130. IL-11-gp130 signalling causes activation of the JAK/STAT3 pathway. IL-11 is highly upregulated in many types of cancers and one of the most important cytokines during tumourigenesis and metastasis. However, the precise effect of IL-11 on differentiation into MDSCs is still unknown. Here, we found that CD11b+CD14+ monocytic MDSCs were generated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of healthy donors in the presence of IL-11. IL-11-conditioned PBMCs induced higher expression of immunosuppressive molecules such as arginase-1. A reduction of T-cell proliferation was observed when MDSCs generated in the presence of IL-11 were co-cultured with CD3/CD28-stimulated, autologous T cells of healthy donors. Culture of normal PBMCs with IL-11 led to STAT3 phosphorylation and differentiation into MDSCs via STAT3 activation. We confirmed expressions of both IL-11 and phosphorylated STAT3 in tumour tissues of colorectal cancer patients. These findings suggest that monocytic MDSCs may be induced by IL-11 in the tumour microenvironment. Thus, IL-11-mediated regulation in functional differentiation of MDSCs may serve as a possible target for cancer immunotherapy.
Motion Driven by Strain Gradient Fields
Authors: Wang Chao , Chen Shaohua 
Published: September 2015

AbstractA new driving mechanism for direction-controlled motion of nano-scale objects is proposed, based on a model of stretching a graphene strip linked to a rigid base with linear springs of identical stiffness. We find that the potential energy difference induced by the strain gradient field in the graphene strip substrate can generate sufficient force to overcome the static and kinetic friction forces between the nano-flake and the strip substrate, resulting in the nanoscale flake motion in the direction of gradient reduction. The dynamics of the nano-flake can be manipulated by tuning the stiffness of linear springs, stretching velocity and the flake size. This fundamental law of directional motion induced by strain gradient could be very useful for promising designs of nanoscale manipulation, transportation and smart surfaces.
Molecular insights into Zeaxanthin-dependent quenching in higher plants
Authors: Xu Pengqi , Tian Lijin , Kloz Miroslav , Croce Roberta 
Published: September 2015

AbstractPhotosynthetic organisms protect themselves from high-light stress by dissipating excess absorbed energy as heat in a process called non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). Zeaxanthin is essential for the full development of NPQ, but its role remains debated. The main discussion revolves around two points: where does zeaxanthin bind and does it quench? To answer these questions we have followed the zeaxanthin-dependent quenching from leaves to individual complexes, including supercomplexes. We show that small amounts of zeaxanthin are associated with the complexes, but in contrast to what is generally believed, zeaxanthin binding per se does not cause conformational changes in the complexes and does not induce quenching, not even at low pH. We show that in NPQ conditions zeaxanthin does not exchange for violaxanthin in the internal binding sites of the antennas but is located at the periphery of the complexes. These results together with the observation that the zeaxanthin-dependent quenching is active in isolated membranes, but not in functional supercomplexes, suggests that zeaxanthin is acting in between the complexes, helping to create/participating in a variety of quenching sites. This can explain why none of the antennas appears to be essential for NPQ and the multiple quenching mechanisms that have been observed in plants.
Nanomesh electrode on MgZnO-based metal-semiconductor-metal ultraviolet photodetectors
Authors: Lee Ching-Ting , Lin Heng-Yu , Tseng Chun-Yen 
Published: September 2015

AbstractIn this work, the nano-scaled mesh electrodes are fabricated by obliquely depositing metals through the highly ordered polystyrene nanosphere mask. Furthermore, the intrinsic MgZnO film is deposited as the absorption layer for the metal-semiconductor-metal ultraviolet photodetectors (MSM-UV-PDs) using the vapor cooling condensation system. The 100-nm-linewidth nanomesh electrodes with metal occupying a roughly 10% of the device surface region consequently render PDs with a high transmittance in the ultraviolet (UV) wavelength range. The photoresponsivity of MgZnO-based MSM-UV-PDs evaluated at the wavelength of 330 nm with the operating bias voltage of 5 V is elevated from 0.135 to 0.248 A/W when the thin metal electrode is replaced by the nanomesh electrode and the corresponding quantum efficiency is improved from 50.75 to 93.23%. Finally, adopting the nanomesh electrode also helps to enhance the UV-visible rejection ratio (R330nm/R450nm) and the detectivity from 1663 and 1.78 × 1010 cmHz0.5W−1 to 2480 and 2.43 × 1010 cmHz0.5W−1, respectively.
δ13C-CH4 reveals CH4 variations over oceans from mid-latitudes to the Arctic
Authors: Yu Juan , Xie Zhouqing , Sun Liguang , Kang Hui , He Pengzhen , Xing Guangxi 
Published: September 2015

AbstractThe biogeochemical cycles of CH4 over oceans are poorly understood, especially over the Arctic Ocean. Here we report atmospheric CH4 levels together with δ13C-CH4 from offshore China (31°N) to the central Arctic Ocean (up to 87°N) from July to September 2012. CH4 concentrations and δ13C-CH4 displayed temporal and spatial variation ranging from 1.65 to 2.63 ppm and from −50.34% to −44.94% (mean value: −48.55 ± 0.84%), respectively. Changes in CH4 with latitude were linked to the decreasing input of enriched δ13C and chemical oxidation by both OH and Cl radicals as indicated by variation of δ13C. There were complex mixing sources outside and inside the Arctic Ocean. A keeling plot showed the dominant influence by hydrate gas in the Nordic Sea region, while the long range transport of wetland emissions were one of potentially important sources in the central Arctic Ocean. Experiments comparing sunlight and darkness indicate that microbes may also play an important role in regional variations.
R-ketamine: a rapid-onset and sustained antidepressant without psychotomimetic side effects
Authors: Yang C , Shirayama Y , Zhang J-c , Ren Q , Yao W , Ma M , Dong C , Hashimoto K 
Published: September 2015

AbstractAlthough the efficacy of racemate ketamine, a rapid onset and sustained antidepressant, for patients with treatment-resistant depression was a serendipitous finding, clinical use of ketamine is limited, due to psychotomimetic side effects and abuse liability. Behavioral and side-effect evaluation tests were applied to compare the two stereoisomers of ketamine. To elucidate their potential therapeutic mechanisms, we examined the effects of these stereoisomers on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)–TrkB signaling, and synaptogenesis in selected brain regions. In the social defeat stress and learned helplessness models of depression, R-ketamine showed a greater potency and longer-lasting antidepressant effect than S-ketamine (esketamine). Furthermore, R-ketamine induced a more potent beneficial effect on decreased dendritic spine density, BDNF–TrkB signaling and synaptogenesis in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), CA3 and dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus from depressed mice compared with S-ketamine. However, neither stereoisomer affected these alterations in the nucleus accumbens of depressed mice. In behavioral tests for side effects, S-ketamine, but not R-ketamine, precipitated behavioral abnormalities, such as hyperlocomotion, prepulse inhibition deficits and rewarding effects. In addition, a single dose of S-ketamine, but not R-ketamine, caused a loss of parvalbumin (PV)-positive cells in the prelimbic region of the medial PFC and DG. These findings suggest that, unlike S-ketamine, R-ketamine can elicit a sustained antidepressant effect, mediated by increased BDNF–TrkB signaling and synaptogenesis in the PFC, DG and CA3. R-ketamine appears to be a potent, long-lasting and safe antidepressant, relative to S-ketamine, as R-ketamine appears to be free of psychotomimetic side effects and abuse liability.
Comparing Utility Scores in Common Spinal Radiculopathies: Results of a Prospective Valuation Study
Authors: Nayak Nikhil R. , Stephen James H. , Abdullah Kalil G. , Stein Sherman C. , Malhotra Neil R. 
Published: September 2015

Study Design Prospective observational study. Objective To determine whether preference-based health utility scores for common spinal radiculopathies vary by specific spinal level. Methods We employed a standard gamble study using the general public to calculate individual preference-based quality of life for four common radiculopathies: C6, C7, L5, and S1. We compared utility scores obtained for each level of radiculopathy with analysis of variance and t test. Multivariable regression was used to test the effects of the covariates age, sex, and years of education. We also reviewed the literature for publications reporting EuroQol-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) scores for patients with radiculopathy. Results Two hundred participants were included in the study. Average utility for the four spinal levels fell within a narrow range (0.748 to 0.796). There were no statistically significant differences between lumbar and cervical radiculopathies, nor were there significant differences among the different spinal levels ( F = 0.0850, p = 0.086). Age and sex had no significant effect on utility scores. There was a significant correlation between years of education and utility values for S1 radiculopathy ( p = 0.037). On review of the literature, no study separated utility values by specific spinal level. EQ-5D utilities for both cervical and lumbar radiculopathy were considerably lower than the results of our study. Conclusions Utility values associated with the most common levels of cervical and lumbar radiculopathy do not significantly differ from each other, validating the current practice of grouping utility by spinal segment rather than by specific root levels. The discrepancy in average utility values between our study and the EQ-5D highlights the need to be mindful of the underlying instruments used when assessing outcomes studies from different sources.
Interdisciplinarity and anxiety
Authors: Lyne Raphael 
Published: September 2015

AbstractAt the level of institutional strategy, interdisciplinary research looks like a positive and productive exchange. At the personal level, where it is enmeshed with career progress, disciplinary anxieties and tensions at the interface between sometimes incommensurate kinds of thinking, there can be frictions and difficulties. These, however, are part of what makes such research so valuable, in that they enable individuals and groups within subjects on both sides to uncover those things that need to be better understood. This article forms part of an ongoing thematic collection dedicated to interdisciplinary research.
Substantial increase in concurrent droughts and heatwaves in the United States
Authors: Mazdiyasni Omid , AghaKouchak Amir 
Published: September 2015

Significance
Climatic extremes cause significant damage to the environment and society, and can cause even more damage when multiple extremes occur simultaneously. This study shows that although there is no significant trend in meteorological drought, the concurrence of meteorological droughts and heatwaves shows statistically significant increases across the United States. We show that the tail of the distribution of concurrent drought and heatwave conditions has shifted toward more frequent and extreme concurrent extremes. Our study outlines a statistical approach for investigating continuous change in the cumulative distribution functions of climatic extremes.
Granular self-organization by autotuning of friction
Authors: Kumar Deepak , Nitsure Nitin , Bhattacharya S. , Ghosh Shankar 
Published: September 2015

Significance
Self-organization is ubiquitous in nature, although a complete understanding of the phenomena in specific cases is rare. Here we elucidate a route to self-organization in a model granular system. The local rules of motion are extracted from the experiment. When converted into an algorithm, they simulate the main aspects of the experimental results. From this, a key ingredient for achieving robustness emerges, namely, a continuously variable relative fraction of time the objects spend in two distinct motional degrees of freedom, rolling and sliding. In so doing, they access a large range of effective friction coefficients that allows self-tuning of the system to adjust its response to changing environments and guarantees a protocol-insensitive unique final state, a previously unidentified paradigm for self-organization.
Beta oscillations define discrete perceptual cycles in the somatosensory domain
Authors: Baumgarten Thomas J. , Schnitzler Alfons , Lange Joachim 
Published: September 2015

Significance
Our sensory system constantly receives multiple inputs, which are usually perceived as a seamless stream. Thus, perception is commonly regarded as a continuous process. Alternatively, a few phenomena and recent studies suggest that perception might work in a discrete and periodic sampling mode. In a human magnetoencephalography study, we challenged the common view of continuous perception. We demonstrate that neuronal oscillations in the alpha band and low beta band determine discrete perceptual sampling windows in primary somatosensory cortex. The current results elucidate how ongoing neuronal oscillations shape discrete perceptual cycles, which constitute the basis for a discontinuous and periodic nature of somatosensory perception.
Competitive exclusion by autologous antibodies can prevent broad HIV-1 antibodies from arising
Authors: Luo Shishi , Perelson Alan S. 
Published: September 2015

Significance
Broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV have recently been discovered, but their highly mutated nature and late emergence in infection make it difficult to infer how they arose. As a step to understanding their development, we investigate antibody–virus coevolution, using a mathematical model. Here we find that broadly neutralizing antibodies in principle may arise earlier and be less mutated, but that competition between broad responses and initial autologous antibody responses delays their emergence. It may be possible to reduce this competition and elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies earlier than previously thought by using a vaccine with diverse viral strains.
The adaptive radiation of lichen-forming Teloschistaceae is associated with sunscreening pigments and a bark-to-rock substrate shift
Authors: Gaya Ester , Fernández-Brime Samantha , Vargas Reinaldo , Lachlan Robert F. , Gueidan Cécile , Ramírez-Mejía Martín , Lutzoni François 
Published: September 2015

SignificanceThe tempo of diversification of life can be accelerated by fortuitous ecological opportunity or by phenotypic innovation. In this study, we document how both factors are likely to have played a role in the origin and success of a major fungal lineage, the Teloschistaceae (comprising ∼1% of all fungi). Anthraquinone pigments are found in a widespread, but scattered, range of fungi and plants, but are particularly abundant in the lichen-forming Teloschistaceae, where they provide sunlight protection, especially needed when growing in arid deserts of the world. We found that anthraquinones evolved in these lichens, in conjunction with an ecological switch to exposed, rocky environments, allowing them to colonize swathes of unexploited habitats worldwide and sparking an acceleration in diversification.