bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification and manipulation of a novel locus to improve cell tolerance to short-chain alcohols in Escherichia coli
Authors: Chen Yan , Wang Ying , Chen Tian-Hua , Yao Ming-Dong , Xiao Wen-Hai , Li Bing-Zhi , Yuan Ying-Jin
Published: December 2017

Escherichia coli KO11 is a popular ethanologenic strain, but is more sensitive to ethanol than other producers. Here, an ethanol-tolerant mutant EM was isolated from ultraviolet mutagenesis library of KO11. Comparative genomic analysis added by piecewise knockout strategy and complementation assay revealed EKO11_3023 (espA) within the 36.6-kb deletion from KO11 was the only locus responsible for ethanol sensitivity. Interestingly, when espA was deleted in strain W (the parent strain of KO11), ethanol tolerance was dramatically elevated to the level of espA-free hosts [e.g., MG1655 and BL21(DE3)]. And overexpression of espA in strains MG1655 and BL21(DE3) led to significantly enhanced ethanol sensitivity. In addition to ethanol, deletion of espA also improved cell tolerance to other short-chain (C2–C4) alcohols, including methanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, isobutanol and 2-butanol. Therefore, espA was responsible for short-chain alcohol sensitivity of W-strains compared to other cells, which provides a potential engineering target for alcohols production.
Discovery of a new diol-containing polyketide by heterologous expression of a silent biosynthetic gene cluster from Streptomyces lavendulae FRI-5
Authors: Pait Ivy Grace Umadhay , Kitani Shigeru , Roslan Farah Wahidah , Ulanova Dana , Arai Masayoshi , Ikeda Haruo , Nihira Takuya
Published: December 2017

The genome of streptomycetes has the ability to produce many novel and potentially useful bioactive compounds, but most of which are not produced under standard laboratory cultivation conditions and are referred to as silent/cryptic secondary metabolites. Streptomyces lavendulae FRI-5 produces several types of bioactive compounds. However, this strain may also have the potential to biosynthesize more useful secondary metabolites. Here, we activated a silent biosynthetic gene cluster of an uncharacterized compound from S. lavendulae FRI-5 using heterologous expression. The engineered strain carrying the silent gene cluster produced compound 5, which was undetectable in the culture broth of S. lavendulae FRI-5. Using various spectroscopic analyses, we elucidated the chemical structure of compound 5 (named lavendiol) as a new diol-containing polyketide. The proposed assembly line of lavendiol shows a unique biosynthetic mechanism for polyketide compounds. The results of this study suggest the possibility of discovering more silent useful compounds from streptomycetes by genome mining and heterologous expression.
Effects of medical school selection on student motivation: a PhD thesis report
Authors: Wouters Anouk
Published: December 2017

Introduction High stakes are involved in student selection, for both medical schools and applicants. This thesis investigated the effects of selection on the medical student population and applicant pool in the Dutch setting.

Methods This thesis consists of six papers: two quantitative studies, one qualitative study, two mixed methods studies and one perspective paper based on a review of the literature.

Results (1) Compared with a lottery, selection does not result in a student population with better motivation, engagement and performance, both in the clinical and pre-clinical phases of the study. (2) Selection seems to have a temporary stimulating effect on student motivation through enhancing perceived autonomy, competence and relatedness. (3) Applicants adopt a strategic approach, based on the selection procedure, in their choice of medical school. (4) The description of an applicant’s motivation is not a reliable and valid tool to assess motivation during selection. (5) Gaining healthcare experience is crucial for applicants’ motivation, but inequalities in access to such experiences can demotivate certain student groups from applying to medical school. (6) The gains yielded from selection compared with a lottery seem to be small. Unintentionally induced self-selection among certain groups of students and biased selection procedures may compromise student diversity.

Discussion The added value of selection procedures compared with a weighted lottery for admitting students to medical school is questionable. Students are generally motivated and perform well, irrespective of how they enrolled in medical school. Selection yields only small gains, while student diversity may be hampered.
Production of thermoplastic compound materials for processing by injection molding, blow molding and extrusion
Authors: Katsevman Mikhail , Pavlov Alexander , Kruglov Pavel
Published: December 2017

R&P Polyplastic specializes in the production of thermoplastic compound materials for processing by injection molding, blow molding and extrusion. Working at the intersection of science, technology and business, we are committed to knowledge, respect the facts and are completely dedicated to our business. Sharing the global values of the 21st century, R&P POLYPLASTIC responsibly transforms them into real actions, subordinating its commercial, production and corporate processes to the idea of sustainable development.
Remunerating Corporate Insolvency Practitioners in the United Kingdom, Australia, and Singapore: The Roles of Courts
Authors: STEELE Stacey , WEE Meng Seng , RAMSAY Ian
Published: December 2017

Insolvency practitioner remuneration is a vexed topic globally and the role of courts in fixing and reviewing remuneration is controversial. This article compares the approaches adopted by the courts in the United Kingdom, Australia and Singapore to the issue of fixing and reviewing corporate insolvency practitioners’ remuneration. The analysis considers the factors that the courts in the three jurisdictions consider in deciding remuneration claims including reasonableness, proportionality and the need for insolvency practitioners to justify their claims. Measures taken in each of the jurisdictions to facilitate predictability in time-based remuneration, whether through legislation, professional codes or judicial development, are examined. Various initiatives towards greater participation of external experts in deciding remuneration claims are also considered. The analysis finds that the three jurisdictions share some similarities despite jurisdictional differences but also differ in some important aspects. The article argues that courts have taken the initiative in each jurisdiction to fill a perceived regulatory gap where legislation provides little or ambiguous guidance, or where the judiciary believes that legislation and regulation have not kept up with community expectations. The results also highlight the cross-pollination of ideas in these jurisdictions.
Management and Outcomes in the Oldest-Old Population with Glioblastoma
Authors: Moraes Fabio Y. , Lo Andrea , Morgan Erin R. , Millar Barbara-Ann , Shultz David B. , Maurice Catherine , Harlos Craig , Kongkham Paul , Bernstein Mark , Zadeh Gelareh , Laperriere Normand , Mason Warren , Berlin Alejandro
Published: December 2017

Objectives:Glioblastoma is a lethal disease in the elderly population. We aimed to evaluate disease and treatment outcomes in the oldest-old patients.Methods:Patients >80 years old with histologically confirmed glioblastoma treated between 2004 and 2009 were identified. We included patients managed with best supportive care (BSC), temozolomide (TMZ) alone, radiotherapy (RT) alone, or concomitantly with TMZ (CRT). Survival outcomes were analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier method.Results:Ultimately, 48 patients were analyzed. Median age and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status were 82 years and 2, respectively. The median Age-Adjusted Charlson Index (AAC) was 6. Gross total and subtotal resections were performed in 16.7% and 18.8% of patients, respectively. Biopsy followed by RT alone was the treatment modality for 23/48 (47.9%), while 17/48 (35.4%) received surgery followed by RT alone or CRT. A total of 8 (16.7%) were managed with BSC after biopsy. Median overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were 4.1 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 3.3-4.9) and 2.7 (95% CI 1.5-3.9) months, respectively. Improved median OS was observed in those treated with surgical resection followed by RT alone or CRT (7.1 months), compared to biopsy followed by RT alone (4.2 months) or BSC (2.0 months;p=0.002). Surgical resection, age≤85, and AAC<6 were associated with better OS (p=0.032,p=0.031, andp=0.02, respectively). Cause of death was neurological progression in 56% of cases. RT was well-tolerated.Conclusions:PFS and OS outcomes remain poor in the oldest-old patients (>80 years old). Younger age, lower AAC, surgical resection, and adjuvant treatment were associated with improved OS.
Reducing Inappropriate Urinary Catheter Use in the Emergency Department: Comparing Two Collaborative Structures
Authors: Greene M. Todd , Fakih Mohamad G. , Watson Sam R. , Ratz David , Saint Sanjay
Published: December 2017

BACKGROUND

Urinary catheters, many of which are placed in the emergency department (ED) setting, are often inappropriate, and they are associated with infectious and noninfectious complications. Although several studies evaluating the effect of interventions have focused on reducing catheter use in the ED setting, the organizational contexts within which these interventions were implemented have not been compared.

METHODS

A total of 18 hospitals in the Ascension health system (ie, system-based hospitals) and 16 hospitals in the state of Michigan (ie, state-based hospitals led by the Michigan Health and Hospital Association) implemented ED interventions focused on reducing urinary catheter use. Data on urinary catheter placement in the ED, indications for catheter use, and presence of physician order for catheter placement were collected for interventions in both hospital types. Multilevel negative binomial regression was used to compare the system-based versus state-based interventions.

RESULTS

A total of 13,215 patients (889 with catheters) from the system-based intervention were compared to 12,104 patients (718 with catheters) from the state-based intervention. Statistically significant and sustainable reductions in urinary catheter placement (incidence rate ratio, 0.79;P=.02) and improvements in appropriate use of urinary catheters (odds ratio [OR], 1.86;P=.004) in the ED were observed in the system-based intervention, compared to the state-based intervention. Differences by collaborative structure in changes in presence of physician order for urinary catheter placement (OR, 1.14;P=.60) were not observed.

CONCLUSIONS

An ED intervention consisting of establishing institutional guidelines for appropriate catheter placement and identifying clinical champions to promote adherence was associated with reducing unnecessary urinary catheter use under a system-based collaborative structure.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol2018;39:77–84
Turbulence, entrainment and low-order description of a transitional variable-density jet
Authors: Viggiano B. , Dib T. , Ali N. , Mastin L. G. , Cal R. B. , Solovitz S. A.
Published: December 2017

Geophysical flows occur over a large range of scales, with Reynolds numbers and Richardson numbers varying over several orders of magnitude. For this study, jets of different densities were ejected vertically into a large ambient region, considering conditions relevant to some geophysical phenomena. Using particle image velocimetry, the velocity fields were measured for three different gases exhausting into air – specifically helium, air and argon. Measurements focused on both the jet core and the entrained ambient. Experiments considered relatively low Reynolds numbers from approximately 1500 to 10 000 with Richardson numbers near 0.001 in magnitude. These included a variety of flow responses, notably a nearly laminar jet, turbulent jets and a transitioning jet in between. Several features were studied, including the jet development, the local entrainment ratio, the turbulent Reynolds stresses and the eddy strength. Compared to a fully turbulent jet, the transitioning jet showed up to 50 % higher local entrainment and more significant turbulent fluctuations. For this condition, the eddies were non-axisymmetric and larger than the exit radius. For turbulent jets, the eddies were initially smaller and axisymmetric while growing with the shear layer. At lower turbulent Reynolds number, the turbulent stresses were more than 50 % higher than at higher turbulent Reynolds number. In either case, the low-density jet developed faster than a comparable non-buoyant jet. Quadrant analysis and proper orthogonal decomposition were also utilized for insight into the entrainment of the jet, as well as to assess the energy distribution with respect to the number of eigenmodes. Reynolds shear stresses were dominant in Q1 and Q3 and exhibited negligible contributions from the remaining two quadrants. Both analysis techniques showed that the development of stresses downstream was dependent on the Reynolds number while the spanwise location of the stresses depended on the Richardson number.
Theories of binary fluid mixtures: from phase-separation kinetics to active emulsions
Authors: Cates Michael E. , Tjhung Elsen
Published: December 2017

Binary fluid mixtures are examples of complex fluids whose microstructure and flow are strongly coupled. For pairs of simple fluids, the microstructure consists of droplets or bicontinuous demixed domains and the physics is controlled by the interfaces between these domains. At continuum level, the structure is defined by a composition field whose gradients – which are steep near interfaces – drive its diffusive current. These gradients also cause thermodynamic stresses which can drive fluid flow. Fluid flow in turn advects the composition field, while thermal noise creates additional random fluxes that allow the system to explore its configuration space and move towards the Boltzmann distribution. This article introduces continuum models of binary fluids, first covering some well-studied areas such as the thermodynamics and kinetics of phase separation, and emulsion stability. We then address cases where one of the fluid components has anisotropic structure at mesoscopic scales creating nematic (or polar) liquid-crystalline order; this can be described through an additional tensor (or vector) order parameter field. We conclude by outlining a thriving area of current research, namely active emulsions, in which one of the binary components consists of living or synthetic material that is continuously converting chemical energy into mechanical work. Such activity can be modelled with judicious additional terms in the equations of motion for simple or liquid-crystalline binary fluids. Throughout, the emphasis of the article is on presenting the theoretical tools needed to address a wide range of physical phenomena. Examples include the kinetics of fluid–fluid demixing from an initially uniform state; the result of imposing a steady macroscopic shear flow on this demixing process; and the diffusive coarsening, Brownian motion and coalescence of emulsion droplets. We discuss strategies to create long-lived emulsions by adding trapped species, solid particles, or surfactants; to address the latter, we outline the theory of bending energy for interfacial films. In emulsions where one of the components is liquid-crystalline, ‘anchoring’ terms can create preferential orientation tangential or normal to the fluid–fluid interface. These allow droplets of an isotropic fluid in a liquid crystal (orvice versa) to support a variety of topological defects, which we describe, altering their interactions and stability. Addition of active terms to the equations of motion for binary simple fluids creates a model of ‘motility-induced’ phase separation, where demixing stems from self-propulsion of particles rather than their interaction forces, altering the relation between interfacial structure and fluid stress. Coupling activity to binary liquid crystal dynamics creates models of active liquid-crystalline emulsion droplets. Such droplets show various modes of locomotion, some of which strikingly resemble the swimming or crawling motions of biological cells.
The initial development of a jet caused by fluid, body and free surface interaction. Part 5. Parasitic capillary waves on an initially horizontal surface
Authors: Billingham J. , Needham D. J. , Korsukova E. , Munro R. J.
Published: December 2017

In Part 3 of this series of papers (Needhamet al.,Q. J. Mech. Appl. Maths, vol. 61, 2008, pp. 581–614), we studied the free surface flow generated in a horizontal layer of inviscid fluid when a flat, rigid plate, inclined at an external angle$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}$to the horizontal, is driven into the fluid with a constant, horizontal acceleration. We found that the most interesting behaviour occurs when$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}>\unicode[STIX]{x03C0}/2$(the plate leaning into the fluid). When$\unicode[STIX]{x03C0}/2<\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}\leqslant \unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}_{c}$, with$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}_{c}\approx 102.6^{\circ }$, we were able to find the small-time asymptotic solution structure, and solve the leading-order problem numerically. When$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}=\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}_{c}$, we found numerical evidence that a$120^{\circ }$corner exists on the free surface, at leading order as$t\rightarrow 0$. For$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}>\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}_{c}$, we could find no numerical solution of the leading-order problem as$t\rightarrow 0$, and hypothesised that the solution does not exist for any$t>0$for these values of$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}$. At the present time, there is no rigorous proof of this hypothesis. In this paper, we demonstrate that the likely non-existence of a solution for any$t>0$when$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}>\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}_{c}$can be reconciled with the physics of the system by including the effect of surface tension in the model. Specifically, we find that for$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}>\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}_{c}$, the solution exists for$0\leqslant t<t_{c}$, with$t_{c}\sim Bo^{-1/(3\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FE}-1)}\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}_{c}$and$\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}_{c}=O(1)$as$Bo^{-1}\rightarrow 0$, where$Bo$is the Bond number ($Bo^{-1}$is the square of the ratio of the capillary length to the fluid depth) and$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FE}\equiv 1/(1-\unicode[STIX]{x03C0}/4\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC})$. The solution does not exist for$t\geqslant t_{c}$due to a topological transition driven by a nonlinear capillary wave, i.e. the free surface pinches off (self-intersects) when$t=t_{c}$. We are also able to compare this asymptotic solution with experimental results which show that, in an experimental case where the contact angle remains approximately constant (the modelling assumption that we make in this paper), the asymptotic solution is in good agreement. In general, the inclusion of surface tension leads to the generation of capillary waves ahead of the wavecrest, which decay as$t$increases for$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}<\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}_{c}$but dominate the flow and lead to pinch-off for$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}>\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}_{c}$. These capillary waves are an unsteady analogue of the parasitic capillary waves that can be generated ahead of steadily propagating, periodic capillary–gravity waves, e.g. Lin & Rockwell (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 302, 1995, pp. 29–44).
Interstellar Extinction in 20 Open Star Clusters
Authors: Rangwal Geeta , Yadav R. K. S. , Durgapal Alok K. , Bisht D.
Published: December 2017

The interstellar extinction law in 20 open star clusters namely, Berkeley 7, Collinder 69, Hogg 10, NGC 2362, Czernik 43, NGC 6530, NGC 6871, Bochum 10, Haffner 18, IC 4996, NGC 2384, NGC 6193, NGC 6618, NGC 7160, Collinder 232, Haffner 19, NGC 2401, NGC 6231, NGC 6823, and NGC 7380 have been studied in the optical and near-IR wavelength ranges. The difference between maximum and minimum values of E(B − V) indicates the presence of non-uniform extinction in all the clusters except Collinder 69, NGC 2362, and NGC 2384. The colour excess ratios are consistent with a normal extinction law for the clusters NGC 6823, Haffner 18, Haffner 19, NGC 7160, NGC 6193, NGC 2401, NGC 2384, NGC 6871, NGC 7380, Berkeley 7, Collinder 69, and IC 4996. We have found that the differential colour-excess ΔE(B − V), which may be due to the occurrence of dust and gas inside the clusters, decreases with the age of the clusters. A spatial variation of colour excess is found in NGC 6193 in the sense that it decreases from east to west in the cluster region. For the clusters Berkeley 7, NGC 7380, and NGC 6871, a dependence of colour excess E(B − V) with spectral class and luminosity is observed. Eight stars in Collinder 232, four stars in NGC 6530, and one star in NGC 6231 have excess flux in near-IR. This indicates that these stars may have circumstellar material around them.
A Question of Respect: A Qualitative Text Analysis of the Canadian Parliamentary Committee Hearings on The Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act
Authors: Johnson Genevieve Fuji , Burns Mary , Porth Kerry
Published: December 2017

We evaluate the Canadian parliamentary hearings on The Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act to determine whether respectful and fair deliberation occurred. Our focus is on the content, tone, and nature of each question posed by committee members in hearings in both chambers. We find that, on the whole, the vast majority of questions met this baseline but that committee members were biased toward witnesses in agreement with their position and against witnesses in opposition to it. In addition to our substantive findings, we contribute methodological insights, including a coding scheme, for this kind of qualitative text analysis.
Narrating Canadian Political Science: History Revisited
Authors: Abu-Laban Yasmeen
Published: December 2017

In this address, I argue that the organizational and ideational evolution of political science is closely interconnected with Canada’s history and unequal social relations since Confederation. This is because organized political science in Canada was really at heart a national venture. As a consequence, in order to understand the ideas animating early political scientists we have to consider Canada’s foundational status as a settler colony in the North American space, with a privileged place in the British Empire. This perspective may also help to highlight the distinct features of the colonial present which are giving rise to multiple sites of knowledge production-or multiple knowledges.
ROBESPIERRE, THE DUKE OF YORK, AND PISISTRATUS DURING THE FRENCH REVOLUTIONARY TERROR
Authors: JONES COLIN , MACDONALD SIMON
Published: December 2017

Maximilien Robespierre was deposed on 27 July 1794/9 Thermidor Year II when the charge that he was a tyrant burst spectacularly into open political discussion in France. This article examines key aspects of how that charge had developed, and been discussed in veiled terms, over the preceding months. First, it analyses a war of words which unfolded between Robespierre and the duke of York, the commander of the British forces on the northern front. This involved allegations that Robespierre had used an assassination attempt against him in late May as a pretext for scapegoating the British – including the orchestration of a notorious government decree of 7 Prairial/26 May 1794 which banned the taking of British and Hanoverian prisoners of war. Second, the article explores how these developments fitted within a larger view of Robespierre as aiming for supreme power. In particular, they meshed closely with a reading of French politics which likened Robespierre to the ancient Athenian leader Pisistratus, a figure who had subverted the city's constitution – including posing as a victim of violent attacks – in order to establish his tyranny. Pisistratus's story, we argue, offered a powerful script for interpreting Robespierre's actions, and a cue for resistance.
New generation cut-and-seal devices in oral and oropharyngeal cancer resection: clinical and cost-effectiveness study
Authors: Tirelli G , Del Piero G C , Valentinuz G , Monte A , Gatto A , Rebelli A , Quatela E
Published: December 2017

Objectives:

To evaluate the clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness of ultrasonic shears and the electrothermal bipolar vessel sealing system, in comparison to the traditional cold knife and bipolar forceps, in oral and oropharyngeal cancer surgery.

Methods:

Patients who underwent oral or oropharyngeal cancer resection and neck dissection with either ultrasonic shears (n= 36) or electrothermal bipolar vessel sealing (n= 32) were enrolled. Surgical time, intra-operative bleeding, blood drainage, post-operative pain, neck oedema, complications and hospitalisation duration were compared to those of an historical cohort of 36 patients treated using a cold knife and bipolar forceps. Additionally, a cost-effectiveness evaluation was performed.

Results:

Ultrasonic shears and, in particular, electrothermal bipolar vessel sealing, were advantageous compared to the traditional techniques. The cost of ultrasonic shears and electrothermal bipolar vessel sealing was completely offset by declining time-driven costs for the surgical team and operating theatre.

Conclusion:

Ultrasonic shears and, in particular, electrothermal bipolar vessel sealing, are more advantageous compared to the traditional techniques, from both a clinical and economic point of view.
Heightened connectivity between the ventral striatum and medial prefrontal cortex as a biomarker for stress-related psychopathology: understanding interactive effects of early and more recent stress
Authors: Hanson Jamie L. , Knodt Annchen R. , Brigidi Bartholomew D. , Hariri Ahmad R.
Published: December 2017

Background

The experience of childhood maltreatment is a significant risk factor for the development of depression. This risk is particularly heightened after exposure to additional, more contemporaneous stress. While behavioral evidence exists for this relation, little is known about biological correlates of these stress interactions. Identifying such correlates may provide biomarkers of risk for later depression.

Methods

Here, we leverage behavioral, experiential, and neuroimaging data from the Duke Neurogenetics Study to identify potential biomarkers of stress exposure. Based on the past research, we were specifically interested in reward-related connectivity and the interaction of early and more recent stress. We examined psychophysiological interactions between the ventral striatum and other brain regions in relation to these stress variables, as well as measures of internalizing symptomatology (n= 926, participant age range = 18–22 years of age).

Results

We found relatively increased reward-related functional connectivity between the left ventral striatum and the medial prefrontal cortex in individuals exposed to greater levels of childhood maltreatment who also experienced greater levels of recent life stress (β= 0.199,p< 0.005). This pattern of functional connectivity was further associated with elevated symptoms of depression (β= 0.089,p= 0.006). Furthermore, using a moderated mediation framework, we demonstrate that this functional connectivity provides a biological link between cumulative stress exposure and internalizing symptomatology.

Conclusions

These findings suggest a novel biomarker linking cumulative stress exposure with the later experience of depressive symptoms. Our results are discussed in the context of past research examining stress exposure in relation to depression.
Post-cooling survival, growth and deformity rates in zebrafish embryos (Danio rerio)
Authors: do Carmo Faria Paes Maria , Satiko Okada Nakaghi Laura
Published: December 2017

This study investigated and analysed survival, growth and macro- and microscopic damage during the development of zebrafish embryos up to the adult stage after undergoing cooling. The embryos at 50% epiboly stage were selected, submerged in cryoprotectant solution of methanol and sucrose, cooled gradually to 0 ± 2°C temperature, and divided into two groups with different storage times (6 and 18 h). Subsequently, the embryos were reheated, rehydrated and incubated normally. The experiment lasted 5 months and, from hatching onward, the larvae were examined, collected and processed at pre-established time intervals. The hatching rate was significantly higher for the larvae stored for 18 h compared with the 6-h group. However, embryos from this group gave rise to a larger number of malformations, and these were much more severe compared with those in the 6 h group, which led to a higher mortality in the long term. Regarding larval length, the animals of the 6 h group had higher mean total length compared with the 18 h group, but both treatments were inferior to the control. Numerous macro- and microscopic malformations were observed and, in both treatments, only the morphologically normal individuals were able to develop to the adult stage, with organ development similar to the control, except for the gonads that were still undifferentiated in treated animals.
THE EMERGENCE OF MONEY: A DYNAMIC ANALYSIS
Authors: Iacopetta Maurizio
Published: December 2017

This paper studies the role of liquidity in triggering the emergence of money in a Kiyotaki-Wright economy. A novel method computes the dynamic Nash equilibria of the economy by setting up an iteration of the agents' profile of (pure) strategies and of the distribution of commodities across agents. The analysis shows that the evolving state of liquidity can spark the acceptance of a high-cost-storage commodity as money or cause the disappearance of a commodity money. It also reveals the existence of multiple dynamic equilibria with pure strategies. Several simulations clarify how history and the coordination of beliefs matter for the selection of a particular equilibrium.
OPTIMAL FISCAL POLICY WITH LAND FINANCING IN CHINA
Authors: Guo Shen , Jiang Zheng
Published: December 2017

This paper examines China's optimal fiscal policy in a general equilibrium model, in which the government finances its budget through both a special instrument, an implicit tax on the residential land, and a typical conventional instrument, the value-added tax (VAT). By solving a Ramsey problem, we find that (i) the optimal policy suggests a much lower land tax rate than the existing rate in China, and (ii) a substantial part of debt stabilization should come through an adjustment in the VAT rate, instead of relying on land financing. Switching from the existing policy to the Ramsey policy generates significant welfare gains.
Target accessibility contributes to asymmetric priming in translation and cross-language semantic priming in unbalanced bilinguals
Authors: SMITH YISRAEL , WALTERS JOEL , PRIOR ANAT
Published: December 2017

The current study examined within- and cross-language connectivity in four priming conditions: repetition, translation, within-language semantic and cross-language semantic priming. Unbalanced Hebrew–English bilinguals (N = 89) completed a lexical decision task in one of the four conditions in both languages. Priming effects were significantly larger from L1 to L2 for translation priming and marginally so for cross-language semantic priming. Priming effects were comparable for L1 and L2 in repetition and within-language semantic priming. These results support the notion that L1 words are more effective primes but also that L2 targets benefit more from priming. This pattern of results suggests that the lower frequency of use of L2 lexical items in unbalanced bilinguals contributes to asymmetrical cross-language priming via lower resting-level activation of targets and not only via less efficient lexical activation of primes, as highlighted by the BIA+ model.
Practicing safety: a quality improvement intervention to test tools to enhance pediatric psychosocial care for children 0–3 years
Authors: Abatemarco Diane J. , Gubernick Ruth S. , LaNoue Marianna D. , Pohlig Ryan T. , Slovin Sara R. , Healy Jill A. , Kairys Steven
Published: December 2017

Background

Child maltreatment is a significant public health issue in the United States. Yet, fewer than half of pediatricians discuss behavioral, developmental, or parenting issues with parents.

Objective

This paper describes the testing of bundles of tools and processes, part of a larger intervention,Practicing Safety, targeted at changing physician and staff behavior to identify families at risk for child maltreatment, provide anticipatory guidance, refer to community resources, and follow-up and track at-risk families. The intervention was implemented with 14 pediatric primary care practices throughout the United States; the study was completed in 2011.

Methods

A within-subjects repeated measures pre-post follow-up design was used to evaluate the intervention. Baseline and repeated measurements of pediatric practices’ processes were collected using qualitative and quantitative methods. In total, 14 core improvement teams from across the country tested three bundles of tools (maternal, infant, toddler) within a quality improvement framework over seven months.

Results

Quantitative results showed statistically significant adoption of tools and processes and enhancement of practice behaviors and office environmental supports. The increase in tool use was immediate and was sustained for six months after implementation. Qualitative data provided insight as to how meaningful the intervention was to the core improvement teams, especially with more complicated behaviors (eg, engaging social workers or community agencies for referrals). Barriers included lack of community resources. Findings showed unanticipated outcomes such as helping practices to become medical homes.

Conclusion

Lessons learned included that practices appreciate and can adopt brief interventions that have meaningful and useful tools and process to enhance psychosocial care for children 0–3 and that do not place a burden on pediatric practice. An innovative, quality improvement strategy, intuitive to pediatricians, with a brief intervention may help prevent child maltreatment.
Why do patients with minor complaints choose emergency departments and does satisfaction with primary care services influence their decisions?
Authors: Akpinar Yakup , Demirci Hakan , Budak Ersin , Baran Ayse Karalar , Candar Ali , Ocakoglu Gokhan
Published: December 2017

Aim

To identify the reasons why patients with minor complaints choose emergency departments (EDs) as a first contact of care and whether dissatisfaction with primary care services influences their decisions.

Methods

In this study, a self-completed survey called EUROPEP was given to 535 outpatients who were admitted to the XXXXX Hospital in Bursa and examined in the green zone in July 2015. Patients were asked about their complaints and why they preferred EDs as a first contact of care.

Results

EDs were the first contact of care in 87.8% of cases. In all, 9% of patients registered to family physicians who were working outside the city of Bursa. There was no relationship between patient satisfaction and the number of previous visits to EDs in last 12 months (P=0.09). The main reasons for admitting to the emergency services were feeling excessive pain (20.4%), perception of urgency (14.5%) and that the family doctor services were closed outside working hours (13.2%). The mean patient satisfaction with family practice offices was calculated to be 68.1%.

Conclusions

The frequency of admission to EDs as a first contact of care was extremely high in the absence of a referral system. Patients who did not have family doctors in the settlement where they live put an extra burden on the EDs. Overall, patient satisfaction with their GPs did not influence the number of visits to EDs but accessibility remains a big challenge.
Breakthrough Listen follow-up of the reported transient signal observed at the Arecibo Telescope in the direction of Ross 128
Authors: Enriquez J. Emilio , Siemion Andrew , Dana Ryan , Croft Steve , Méndez Abel , Xu Andrew , DeBoer David , Gajjar Vishal , Hellbourg Greg , Isaacson Howard , Lebofsky Matt , MacMahon David H. E. , Price Danny C. , Werthimer Dan , Zuluaga Jorge
Published: December 2017

We undertook observations with the Green Bank Telescope, simultaneously with the 300 m telescope in Arecibo, as a follow-up of a possible flare of radio emission from Ross 128. We report here the non-detections from the GBT observations in C band (4–8 GHz), as well as non-detections in archival data at L band (1.1–1.9 GHz). We suggest that a likely scenario is that the emission comes from one or more satellites passing through the same region of the sky.
Modelling the Public’s Taste: Local Habits, Ethnic Pluralism and European Music in Bucharest (1821–1862)
Authors: Preda-Schimek Haiganuş
Published: December 2017

This article attempts to describe the shift in the Romanian public’s musical taste brought about by musical borrowings and imports from the West. It focuses on the period between the end of Phanariot rule (1821) and the establishment of Romania’s capital in Bucharest (1862). These decades of change yielded rich intercultural encounters and fusions, whereas the years that followed – from the 1870s to the outbreak of the First World War – show a more unified phase of assimilation of Western music.

After looking at the boyar class and the bourgeoisie of Bucharest (the social segment from which an opera- and concert-going public emerged in the last quarter of the century), I move on to the everyday musical practices of the population of Bucharest, using musical examples and travellers’ accounts as a descriptive means. Finally, I analyse the shifts in musical tastes that took place in the upper layers of society as a complicated process of exclusion, inclusion and assimilation of various musical influences; as we shall see, the mixing and hybridization of musical practices not only shaped the tastes of music lovers, but also influenced the creation of Romanian music, which entered a new phase.
Mecoptera and Diptera from the early Toarcian (Early Jurassic) deposits of Wolfsburg – Große Kley (Lower Saxony, Germany)
Authors: Kopeć Katarzyna , Soszyńska-Maj Agnieszka , Gehler Alexander , Ansorge Jörg , Krzemiński Wiesław
Published: December 2017

Twelve specimens of early Toarcian Mecoptera and Diptera from the vicinity of Wolfsburg were investigated for the present study. The material was found during house building activities in the 1980s at the locality Große Kley in Mörse, an urban district of the city of Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany. The specimens were found in calcareous nodules of the Harpoceras falciferum Zone that occur within the Liassic black shales (Posidonia shale). Six specimens of Mecoptera, five belonging to the family Orthophlebiidae and one belonging to the Bittacidae, and six representatives of the following Diptera families were identified: Ptychopteridae, Limoniidae, Anisopodidae and the superfamily Mycetophiloidea. The fossil fauna of Wolfsburg is similar to that of other early Toarcian sites in Germany, described by Handlirsch (1906, 1939), Bode (1905, 1953) and Ansorge (1996) from Braunschweig, Dobbertin and Grimmen. Two new species are described, Mesorhyphusulrichi sp. nov. (Anisopodidae) and Archipleciomima germanica sp. nov. (Mycetophiloidea).
“Restoring hope where all hope was lost”: Nelson Mandela, the ICRC and the protection of political detainees in apartheid South Africa
Authors: Thompson Andrew
Published: December 2017

Amidst the violent upheavals of the end of empire and the Cold War, international organizations developed a basic framework for holding State and non-State armed groups to account for their actions when taking prisoners. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) placed itself at the very centre of these developments, making detention visiting a cornerstone of its work. Nowhere was this growing preoccupation with the problem of protecting detainees more evident than apartheid South Africa, where the ICRC undertook more detention visits than in almost any other African country. During these visits the ICRC was drawn into an internationalized human rights dispute that severely tested its leadership and demonstrated the troubled rapport between humanitarianism and human rights. The problems seen in apartheid South Africa reflect today's dilemmas of how to protect political detainees in situations of extreme violence. We can look to the past to find solutions for today's political detainees − or “security detainees” as they are now more commonly called.
Erratum: Glycolysis gatekeeper PDK1 reprograms breast cancer stem cells under hypoxia
Authors: Peng F , Wang J-H , Fan W-J , Meng Y-T , Li M-M , Li T-T , Cui B , Wang H-F , Zhao Y , An F , Guo T , Liu X-F , Zhang L , Lv L , Lv D-K , Xu L-Z , Xie J-J , Lin W-X , Lam E W-F , Xu J , Liu Q
Published: December 2017

Correction to: Oncogene (2018) 37, 1062–1074; doi: 10.1038/onc.2017.368; published online 6 November 2017 This article was originally published under NPG's License to Publish, but has now been made available under a CC BY license. The PDF and HTML versions of the paper have been modified accordingly.
AraBAD Based Toolkit for Gene Expression and Metabolic Robustness Improvement in Synechococcus elongatus
Authors: Cao Yi-Qi , Li Qian , Xia Peng-Fei , Wei Liu-Jing , Guo Ning , Li Jian-Wei , Wang Shu-Guang
Published: December 2017

As a novel chemical production platform, controllable and inducible modules in Synechococcus elongatus plus the ability of working in diurnal conditions are necessary. To the endeavors, inducible promoters, such as PTrc, have been refined from Escherichia coli, but the inducer isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactoside may cause several side-effects. Meanwhile, to promote the efficiency, photomixotrophic cultivation has been applied in S. elongatus with the additional organic carbon sources. In this study, we developed L-arabinose based modules consisted of both the PBAD inducible promoter and the metabolism of L-arabinose in S. elongatus, since L-arabinose is an ideal heterologous feedstock for its availability and economic and environmental benefits. As expected, we achieved homogeneous and linear expression of the exogenous reporter through the PBAD promoter, and the biomass increased in diurnal light condition via introducing L-arabinose metabolism pathway. Moreover, the combined AraBAD based toolkit containing both the PBAD inducible module and the L-arabinose metabolism module could obtain gene expression and metabolic robustness improvement in S. elongatus. With the only additive L-arabinose, the novel strategy may generate a win-win scenario for both regulation and metabolism for autotrophic bio-production platforms.
Tailoring Optical Gradient Force and Optical Scattering and Absorption Force
Authors: Du Junjie , Yuen Chi-Hong , Li Xiao , Ding Kun , Du Guiqiang , Lin Zhifang , Chan C. T. , Ng Jack
Published: December 2017

The introduction of the concept of gradient force and scattering and absorption force is an important milestone in optical trapping. However the profiles of these forces are usually unknown, even for standard setups. Here, we successfully calculated them analytically via multipole expansion and numerically via Mie theory and fast Fourier transform. The former provides physical insight, while the latter is highly accurate and efficient. A recipe to create truly conservative energy landscapes is presented. These may open up qualitatively new features in optical manipulation.
Interactive effects of music and prefrontal cortex stimulation in modulating response inhibition
Authors: Mansouri Farshad Alizadeh , Acevedo Nicola , Illipparampil Rosin , Fehring Daniel J. , Fitzgerald Paul B. , Jaberzadeh Shapour
Published: December 2017

Influential hypotheses propose that alterations in emotional state influence decision processes and executive control of behavior. Both music and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of prefrontal cortex affect emotional state, however interactive effects of music and tDCS on executive functions remain unknown. Learning to inhibit inappropriate responses is an important aspect of executive control which is guided by assessing the decision outcomes such as errors. We found that high-tempo music, but not low-tempo music or low-level noise, significantly influenced learning and implementation of inhibitory control. In addition, a brief period of tDCS over prefrontal cortex specifically interacted with high-tempo music and altered its effects on executive functions. Measuring event-related autonomic and arousal response of participants indicated that exposure to task demands and practice led to a decline in arousal response to the decision outcome and high-tempo music enhanced such practice-related processes. However, tDCS specifically moderated the high-tempo music effect on the arousal response to errors and concomitantly restored learning and improvement in executive functions. Here, we show that tDCS and music interactively influence the learning and implementation of inhibitory control. Our findings indicate that alterations in the arousal-emotional response to the decision outcome might underlie these interactive effects.
Fusimonas intestini gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel intestinal bacterium of the family Lachnospiraceae associated with diabetes in mice
Authors: Kusada Hiroyuki , Kameyama Keishi , Meng Xian-Ying , Kamagata Yoichi , Tamaki Hideyuki
Published: December 2017

Our previous study shows that an anaerobic intestinal bacterium strain AJ110941P contributes to type 2 diabetes development in mice. Here we phylogenetically and physiologically characterized this unique mouse gut bacterium. The 16S rRNA gene analysis revealed that the strain belongs to the family Lachnospiraceae but shows low sequence similarities ( < 92.5%) to valid species, and rather formed a distinct cluster with uncultured mouse gut bacteria clones. In metagenomic database survey, the 16S sequence of AJ110941P also matched with mouse gut-derived datasets (56% of total datasets) with > 99% similarity, suggesting that AJ110941P-related bacteria mainly reside in mouse digestive tracts. Strain AJ110941P shared common physiological traits (e.g., Gram-positive, anaerobic, mesophilic, and fermentative growth with carbohydrates) with relative species of the Lachnospiraceae. Notably, the biofilm-forming capacity was found in both AJ110941P and relative species. However, AJ110941P possessed far more strong ability to produce biofilm than relative species and formed unique structure of extracellular polymeric substances. Furthermore, AJ110941P cells are markedly long fusiform-shaped rods (9.0–62.5 µm) with multiple flagella that have never been observed in any other Lachnospiraceae members. Based on the phenotypic and phylogenetic features, we propose a new genus and species, Fusimonas intestini gen. nov., sp. nov. for strain AJ110941P (FERM BP-11443).