Response to comments on "Differential Sensitivity to Human Communication in Dogs, Wolves, and Human Infants."

The comments by Fiset and Marshall-Pescini et al. raise important methodological issues and propose alternative accounts for our finding of perseverative search errors in dogs. Not denying that attentional processes and local enhancement are involved in such object search tasks, we provide here new evidence and argue that dogs’ behavior is affected by a combination of factors, including specific susceptibility to human communicative signals

Nanomechanical Characterization of Osteogenic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Bioactive Peptide Nanofiber Hydrogels

Stem cell differentiation is known to be influenced by the mechanical properties of the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM); however, little is known about the mechanical phenotypes of differentiating stem cells within the ECM. Here, this study uses osteoinductive, ECM-mimetic peptide nanofibers to investigate the changes in the mechanical properties of rat mesenchymal stem cells (rMSCs) during osteogenic differentiation. In addition, octafluorocyclobutane (C4F8)-coated atomic force microscopy (AFM) cantilevers are developed to minimize tip–sample adhesion during the nanomechanical characterization of rMSCs, and osteogenic differentiation is monitored through molecular analysis in conjunction with AFM measurements. rMSCs cultured on osteoinductive peptide nanofibers differentiate at substantially higher rates, form osteogenic cell clusters, deposit calcium to the surrounding matrix, and strikingly increase their Young's moduli throughout the osteogenic differentiation process compared to controls. These results show that the elasticity profiles of differentiating rMSCs may change significantly depending on environmental factors and especially the degree of biomineralization, and that the natural elasticity responses of cells cultured on scaffolds may be considerably different from those observed on non-bioactive surfaces. This is important for the identification of cell elasticity as a biophysical marker of osteogenic differentiation of MSCs, and indicates that biomineralization might have a predominant role on cell mechanics. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinhei

Exploiting Native Al2O3 for Multispectral Aluminum Plasmonics

Aluminum, despite its abundance and low cost, is usually avoided for plasmonic applications due to losses in visible/infrared regimes and its interband absorption at 800 nm. Yet, it is compatible with silicon CMOS processes, making it a promising alternative for integrated plasmonic applications. It is also well known that a thin layer of native Al2O3 is formed on aluminum when exposed to air, which must be taken into account properly while designing plasmonic structures. Here, for the first time we report exploitation of the native Al2O3 layer for fabrication of periodic metal-insulator-metal (MIM) plasmonic structures that exhibit resonances spanning a wide spectral range, from the near-ultraviolet to mid-infrared region of the spectrum. Through fabrication of silver nanoislands on aluminum surfaces and MIM plasmonic surfaces with a thin native Al2O3 layer, hierarchical plasmonic structures are formed and used in surface-enhanced infrared spectroscopy (SEIRA) and surface-enhanced Raman spectrocopy (SERS) for detection of self-assembled monolayers of dodecanethiol. (Chemical Equation Presented). © 2014 American Chemical Society

Do Dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) Make Counterproductive Choices Because They Are Sensitive to Human Ostensive Cues?

Dogs appear to be sensitive to human ostensive communicative cues in a variety of situations, however there is still a measure of controversy as to the way in which these cues influence human-dog interactions. There is evidence for instance that dogs can be led into making evaluation errors in a quantity discrimination task, for example losing their preference for a larger food quantity if a human shows a preference for a smaller one, yet there is, so far, no explanation for this phenomenon. Using a modified version of this task, in the current study we investigated whether non-social, social or communicative cues (alone or in combination) cause dogs to go against their preference for the larger food quantity. Results show that dogs' evaluation errors are indeed caused by a social bias, but, somewhat contrary to previous studies, they highlight the potent effect of stimulus enhancement (handling the target) in influencing the dogs' response. A mild influence on the dog's behaviour was found only when different ostensive cues (and no handling of the target) were used in combination, suggesting their cumulative effect. The discussion addresses possible motives for discrepancies with previous studies suggesting that both the intentionality and the directionality of the action may be important in causing dogs' social biases

Fabrication of Supramolecular n/p-Nanowires via Coassembly of Oppositely Charged Peptide-Chromophore Systems in Aqueous Media

Fabrication of supramolecular electroactive materials at the nanoscale with well-defined size, shape, composition, and organization in aqueous medium is a current challenge. Herein we report construction of supramolecular charge-transfer complex one-dimensional (1D) nanowires consisting of highly ordered mixed-stack π-electron donor-acceptor (D-A) domains. We synthesized n-type and p-type β-sheet forming short peptide-chromophore conjugates, which assemble separately into well-ordered nanofibers in aqueous media. These complementary p-type and n-type nanofibers coassemble via hydrogen bonding, charge-transfer complex, and electrostatic interactions to generate highly uniform supramolecular n/p-coassembled 1D nanowires. This molecular design ensures highly ordered arrangement of D-A stacks within n/p-coassembled supramolecular nanowires. The supramolecular n/p-coassembled nanowires were found to be formed by A-D-A unit cells having an association constant (KA) of 5.18 × 105 M-1. In addition, electrical measurements revealed that supramolecular n/p-coassembled nanowires are approximately 2400 and 10 times more conductive than individual n-type and p-type nanofibers, respectively. This facile strategy allows fabrication of well-defined supramolecular electroactive nanomaterials in aqueous media, which can find a variety of applications in optoelectronics, photovoltaics, organic chromophore arrays, and bioelectronics. © 2017 American Chemical Society

The 894G>T variant in the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene and spina bifida risk

The 894G>T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the endothelial NOS (NOS3) gene, has recently been associated with embryonic spina bifida risk. In this study, a possible association between the NOS3 894G>T SNP and spina bifida risk in both mothers and children in a Dutch population was examined using both a case-control design and a transmission disequilibrium test (TDT). Possible interactions between the NOS3 894G>T SNP and the MTHFR 677C>T SNP, elevated plasma homocysteine, and decreased plasma folate concentrations were also studied. The NOS3 894TT genotype did not increase spina bifida risk in mothers or children (OR 1.50, 95%CI 0.71–3.19 and OR 1.78, 95%CI 0.75–4.25, respectively). The TDT demonstrated no preferential transmission of the NOS3 894T allele (Χ2 = 0.06, P = 0.81). In combination with the MTHFR 677TT genotype or elevated plasma homocysteine concentrations, the NOS3 894GT/TT genotype increased maternal spina bifida risk (OR 4.52, 95%CI 1.55–13.22 and OR 3.38, 95%CI 1.46–7.84, respectively). In our study population, the NOS3 894GT/TT genotype might be a risk factor for having a spina bifida affected child in mothers who already have an impaired homocysteine metabolism

Clinical profile, outcomes and improvement in symptoms and productivity in rhinitic patients in Karachi, Pakistan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Rhinitis can cause a heavy toll on patients because of its bothersome effects on productivity. This retrospective study was conducted to explore the clinical profile, outcomes and improvement in the symptoms and productivity resulting from treatment of allergic rhinitis in Pakistan.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We carried out a retrospective file review of all allergic rhinitis patients who presented to the Ear, Nose, Throat Consulting Clinic from January, 2006 to June, 2008 using a structured proforma especially designed for this purpose. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS v. 16.0.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The charts of 169 patients were reviewed. The mean age of the patients was 35.2 ± 9.1 years. Sixty percent patients were male. Ninety eight patients (58%) reported allergy symptoms to be present at both home and work. One hundred and two patients (60.4%) had symptoms severe enough to cause absence from work or academic activities. Up to seventy one percent patients were spending between 1000 - 3000 Pakistani Rupees (1 US$= 83.3 Pakistani rupees) on the treatment of allergic rhinitis per year. One hundred and fifty one patients (89.3%) reported an improvement in rhinitic symptoms and productivity while 18 patients (10.7%) didn't. This improvement was significantly associated with satisfaction with treatment (p < 0.001).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Allergic rhinitis, a ubiquitous disease, was seen to cause a strain on patients in the form of recurrent treatment-related expenses as well as absenteeism from work or other daily activities. Symptoms and productivity improved significantly after treatment.</p