bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New audiences for old books: Using astronomy archives in school outreach activities
Authors: Prosser Siân , Kanani Sheila
Published: August 2018

The Royal Astronomical Society promotes the study of astronomy and geophysics and has recently committed to increasing public engagement with new audiences. The librarian, Sian Prosser has worked with the outreach, education and diversity officer, Sheila Kanani, to put the scientific archives of the Society at the heart of a primary school workshop telling the story of Caroline Herschel.
Measuring Research Impact of Astronomers/Astrophysicists by using Astrophysics Data System Beta: A Powerful New Interface: A case study with Special Reference to Prof. Jayant V. Narlikar
Authors: Kumar Sahu Hemant , Nath Singh Surya
Published: August 2018

This paper highlights qualitatively and quantitatively research and presents a valuable overview of new citation enhanced databases in the context of research evaluation for the productivity of Prof. Jayant V. Narlikar. He has total 472 research publications in the fields of Astronomy and Astrophysics (AA) published from 1961-2015. In addition, this paper provides an overview of the citation-enhanced databases viz Astrophysics Data System Beta: A powerful new interface for performing citation analysis. Previously, scientometrics had been used to measure the publication productivity of Prof. Jayant V. Narlikar using the Astrophysics Data System (ADS). The scope of this paper is limited to Astrophysics Data System Beta. The result indicates that most of his papers are published in peer reviewed journals having the highest Impact Factor. The average number of publications per year is 8.74 and with the maximum papers published during 1981-1990 and 1996-2000. The total number of citations for his publications is 3516 covering 665 of his papers published during 1961-1970. He had many research collaborations, specifically with Prof. F. Hoyle (87 papers), Prof. G. Burbidge (38 papers), Prof. N. Wickramasinghe (22 papers) and Prof. T. Padmanabhan (21 papers).
Parcours en folie : littérature et psychiatrie
Authors: Raymond Serge G.
Published: August 2018

Lors de cette intervention au séminaire de psychopathologie clinique, organisé par le psychiatre Evelyne Hechner et le psychologue Olivier Douville au CHS de Ville Évrard, consacré à “Littérature et psychiatrie : soigner oui… mais pas sans littérature”, l’intervenant se demande ce que l’on sait, aujourd’hui, du destin des enfants nés du ventre des femmes tondues (encore appelées « collaboratrices de sexe » par la réglementation) et précise la nature des liens établis avec les occupants. Il retrace le destin de l’un de ces enfants, Emma Santos, jeune femme devenue écrivaine par nécessité, pour sa survie. Cette dernière vie aux prises avec la stigmatisation de ses parents (un couple franco-allemand), et aux prises avec les mouvements féministes d’alors comme le procès contre le viol de Bobigny, le procès en faveur de l’avortement de Perpignan, et le différend entre F. Giroud et S. Veil (loi Veil en 1975) où la petite histoire a donné naissance à la grande. Tous ces éléments font de cette femme une résistante qui a su utiliser sa folie et recourir à la psychiatrie pour en défendre le statut. Emma Santos se déclare littéromane et nous dit, par la voix de ses huit ouvrages ainsi que par ses représentations théâtrales, qu’elle est contenue par la folie, et que cette dernière est de la littérature même. Comment ne pas interroger la dimension politique de la psychiatrie ? L’auteur s’efforce de répondre à cette question avec tact.
Pour une réforme de la prise en charge des états psychiatriques dangereux à Abidjan
Authors: Gbagbo Michel K.
Published: August 2018

Les concepts de dangerosité psychiatrique et d’état psychiatrique dangereux sont précisés à travers l’usage que cette terminologie propose en Côte d’Ivoire. Puis, sont présentées les modalités de prise en charge des états psychiatriques dangereux en France. Ces dernières sont enfin comparées avec les modalités existantes et appliquées à l’hôpital Psychiatrique de Bingerville, en Côte d’Ivoire. Faute d’une législation propre à ce pays, c’est le modèle législatif français qui est employé. Cinq recommandations, suivant le modèle élaboré parla Haute Autorité de la Santé (HAS-France) sont proposées en vue de l’amélioration, au plan sanitaire et légal, de cette prise en charge en Côte d’Ivoire.
From Global Health Challenges to Community-Based and Individual Psychosocial Intervention Strategies
Authors: Mehnert Anja , Glaesmer Heide , Geyer Siegfried
Published: August 2018

Liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen,

wir freuen uns, Sie im Namen beider Fachgesellschaften und des Leipziger Kongressteams zur gemeinsamen Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Medizinische Psychologie (DGMP) und der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Medizinische Soziologie (DGMS) einzuladen, die vom 26. bis 28. September 2018 auf dem Campus der Universität Leipzig stattfindet (www.dgmp-dgms-2018.de).
Aktualisierte S3-Leitlinie der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Gastroenterologie, Verdauungs- und Stoffwechselkrankheiten (DGVS) und der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Allgemein- und Viszeralchirurgie (DGAV) zur Prävention, Diagnostik und Behandlung von Gallensteinen
Authors: Gutt Carsten , Jenssen Christian , Barreiros Ana-Paula , Götze Thorsten , Stokes Caroline , Jansen Petra , Neubrand Michael , Lammert Frank ,   für die Teilnehmer der Konsensuskonferenz,   Deutsche Gesellschaft für Innere Medizin e.V. (DGIM),   Österreichische Gesellschaft für Gastroenterologie und Hepatologie (ÖGGH),   Schweizer Gesellschaft für Gastroenterologie (SGH),   Gesellschaft für Humangenetik (GfH),   Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ultraschall in der Medizin (DEGUM),   Deutsche Gesellschaft für Chirurgie (DGCH),   Institut für Qualitätssicherung und Transparenz im Gesundheitswesen (IQTIG; beratende Funktion ohne Stimmrecht),   Deutsche Arbeitsgemeinschaft zum Studium der Leber (GASL),   Deutsche Röntgengesellschaft (DRG),   Deutsche Leberhilfe e. V.
Published: August 2018

Die Leitlinie zur Prävention, Diagnostik und Therapie von Gallensteinen aktualisiert die Leitlinie der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Gastroenterologie, Verdauungs- und Stoffwechselkrankheiten und der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Allgemein- und Viszeralchirurgie aus dem Jahr 2007. Die Leitlinie wurde interdisziplinär von Gastroenterologen und Chirurgen erstellt. Sie basiert auf den Empfehlungen der Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wissenschaftlichen Medizinischen Fachgesellschaften für eine systematische evidenzbasierte Konsensus-Leitlinie der Entwicklungsstufe S3 und berücksichtigt die klinische Anwendbarkeit der Studienergebnisse. Zudem werden Präventionsmöglichkeiten beschrieben, Qualitätsindikatoren definiert, ökonomische Auswirkungen berücksichtigt und Vorschläge zur sektorenübergreifenden Behandlung von Patienten mit Gallensteinerkrankungen formuliert.
Hepatopathie bei systemischem Lupus erythematodes – Ergebnisse einer explorativen Beobachtungsstudie
Authors: Kübel Dorothee , Tiller Maximilian , Mühling Tobias , Sohn Maximilian , Vallbracht Inka , Waschulzik Birgit , Schepp Wolfgang , Gundling Felix
Published: August 2018

Einleitung Der systemische Lupus erythematodes (SLE) stellt eine klinisch sehr variabel verlaufende Autoimmunerkrankung dar, welche zahlreiche Organsysteme befallen kann. Eine Manifestation an der Leber gilt als selten. Unklar ist insbesondere, ob eine Hepatopathie bei SLE von prognostischer Bedeutung ist und z. B. mit der Aktivität der Erkrankung korreliert.

Methodik Unser Patientenkollektiv umfasste 172 Patienten mit gesichertem SLE, welche am Klinikum Bogenhausen im Zeitraum 01.01.2009 bis 31.12.2015 behandelt wurden. Ausgewertet wurden retrospektiv alle ambulanten und/oder stationären Patientenvorstellungen (n = 671; durchschnittlich 3,9 pro Patient). Eine Leberschädigung wurde laborchemisch anhand von pathologischen Leberenzymprofilen oder bildgebend diagnostiziert. Die Krankheitsaktivität des SLE wurde anhand des European Consensus Lupus Activity Measurement (ECLAM)-Score ermittelt. Zusätzlich wurden Parameter der Grunderkrankung wie Krankheitsdauer, Organschädigung sowie immunsuppressive Medikation ausgewertet und die mögliche Assoziation mit einer Hepatopathie analysiert.

Ergebnisse Erhöhte Leberwerte (ASAT, ALAT, GGT, AP) als Ausdruck einer Hepatopathie waren bei 109 Patienten (63,4 % der Gesamtpopulation) nachweisbar und waren signifikant mit Krankheitsaktivität (auf der Basis des ECLAM-Score, p < 0,001), Behandlungsdauer, Häufigkeit der Vorstellungen (jeweils p < 0,01), Anzahl der eingesetzten Immunsuppressiva (p < 0,018), erhöhter Blutsenkungsgeschwindigkeit (p < 0,001) sowie Erniedrigung des Serumkomplements (p < 0,03) assoziiert. Pathologische Sonografiebefunde an der Leber (z. B. nicht-alkoholische Fettleber) waren in 19,8 % der Fälle nachweisbar.

Diskussion Erhöhte Leberwerte kommen bei Patienten mit SLE sehr häufig vor, insbesondere bei erhöhter Krankheitsaktivität (basierend auf ECLAM-Score oder intensivierter immunsuppressiver Therapie) und längerer Erkrankungsdauer. Leberwertbestimmungen sollten daher bei Patienten mit SLE regelmäßig erfolgen und eine weitere differenzialdiagnostische Abklärung angestrebt werden. Zukünftige prospektive Studien könnten klären, ob pathologische Leberwerte in Aktivitätsindizes zur Beurteilung der Krankheitsaktivität bei SLE einbezogen werden müssen.
All-atom computations with irreversible Markov chains
Authors: Faulkner Michael F. , Qin Liang , Maggs A. C. , Krauth Werner
Published: August 2018

We apply the irreversible event-chain Monte Carlo (ECMC) algorithm to the simulation of dense all-atom systems with long-range Coulomb interactions. ECMC is event-driven and exactly samples the Boltzmann distribution. It neither uses time-step approximations nor spatial cutoffs on the range of the interaction potentials. Most importantly, it need not evaluate the total Coulomb potential and thus circumvents the major computational bottleneck of traditional approaches. It only requires the derivatives of the two-particle Coulomb potential, for which we discuss mutually consistent choices. ECMC breaks up the total interaction potential into factors. For particle systems made up of neutral dipolar molecules, we demonstrate the superior performance of dipole–dipole factors that do not decompose the Coulomb potential beyond the two-molecule level. We demonstrate that these long-range factors can nevertheless lead to local lifting schemes, where subsequently moved particles are mostly close to each other. For the simple point-charge water model with flexible molecules (SPC/Fw), which combines the long-ranged intermolecular Coulomb potential with hydrogen–oxygen bond-length vibrations, a flexible hydrogen–oxygen–hydrogen bond angle, and Lennard-Jones oxygen–oxygen potentials, we break up the potential into factors containing between two and six particles. For this all-atom liquid-water model, we demonstrate that the computational complexity of ECMC scales very well with the system size. This is achieved in a pure particle–particle framework, without the interpolating mesh required for the efficient implementation of other modern Coulomb algorithms. Finally, we discuss prospects and challenges for ECMC and outline several future applications.
Internal magnetic field measurements of translated and merged field-reversed configuration plasmas in the FAT-CM device
Authors: Gota H. , Ishiwata J. , Tanaka F. , Hosozawa A. , Asai T. , Takahashi Ts. , Sekiguchi J. , Roche T. , Matsumoto T. , Dettrick S. , Mok Y. , Binderbauer M. W. , Tajima T.
Published: August 2018

Field-reversed configuration (FRC) Amplification via Translation–Collisional Merging (FAT-CM) experiments have recently commenced to study physics phenomena of colliding and merged FRC plasma states. Two independently formed FRCs are translated into the confinement region of the FAT-CM device, collided near the mid-plane of the device with a relative speed of up to ∼400 km/s, and a final merged FRC plasma state is achieved. To measure internal magnetic field profiles of the translated and merged FRC plasmas as well as to understand its collisional-merging process, an internal magnetic probe array, developed by TAE Technologies, has been installed in the mid-plane of the FAT-CM device. Initial magnetic field measurements indicate that both the translated and the merged FRC plasma states exhibit a clear field-reversed structure, which is qualitatively in good agreement with 2D MHD simulation. It is found and verified that a sufficient mirror field in the confinement region is required for colliding FRCs to be fully merged into a single FRC plasma state.
Time resolved detection of two-plasmon decay using three-halves harmonic emission on the National Ignition Facility
Authors: Goyon C. , Datte P. S. , Buscho J. G. , Butler N. J. , Hernandez J. E. , Hohenberger M. , Lechleiter B. L. , Michel P. , Ross J. S. , Bell P. M. , Moody J. D.
Published: August 2018

Supra-thermal (>100 keV) electrons generated by laser plasma interactions can be detrimental to the performance of ignition experiments conducted on the National Ignition Facility (NIF). On a NIF shot, the amount of electrons is estimated by measuring the hard X-rays passing through the hohlraum wall. The primary sources of hot electrons in a hohlraum are Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) and two plasmon decay (TPD). While SRS is well diagnosed on the NIF, there has been no diagnosis of TPD. We have designed and implemented a new diagnostic to characterize the time history of TPD on the NIF. The instrument provides a time resolved measurement of the 3/2 ω harmonic emission which is indicative of the presence of TPD. We describe the diagnostic setup, calibration, and the preliminary results obtained on NIF hohlraum experiments. We find evidence of a correlation between measured hard X-rays generated from the hot electron bremsstrahlung and the TPD emission.
Note: A compact microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition based on a household microwave oven
Authors: Pang Fei
Published: August 2018

I designed an efficient and compact microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (MW-PECVD) based on a household 2.45 GHz microwave oven. In the MW-PECVD, the microwave plasma was sparked by a piece of Cu foil in a low pressure down to 1 Pa. The SiC plate is not only used to realize rapid microwave heating-up but also to prevent the reflected power from damaging the magnetron. To test the performance of the system, vertically oriented graphene nanosheets were fabricated on the Cu foil. The products were characterized by Raman spectra and scanning electron microscope.
Capacitive energy harvesting using soft dielectric elastomers: Design, testing and impedance matching optimization
Authors: Wang Yongquan , Zhu Liangquan , Zhang Gong , Zhong Lincheng , Chen Hualing
Published: August 2018

Energy harvesting based on dielectric elastomeric materials, in nature, embodies a capacitive kinetic energy conversion mechanism where the soft DE generator (DEG) interactively cooperates with conditioning circuits. Based on the principle of passive charge pump, this paper proposes a design concept for a self-cycling energy harvesting circuit driven by DEG cyclic deformation, with its essential behavioral mode laid on the electrical reciprocity between the DEG intrinsic capacitor and another capacitor connected in series. By detailed simulation experiments, the working process and dynamic characteristics of the proposed system, as well as the influence of circuital, operating, and load parameters on system performance are quantitatively investigated, with intensive discussions for the time delay behaviors caused by changes of load resistance, along with the different impacts of its value regions. Then, the theoretical analyses are effectively validated by experimental tests for a specially-designed annular DEG prototype. Under the global optimization framework based on impedance matching, this paper presents some guidelines for circuit design, e.g., the selection criteria of the capacitance and load resistance. In addition, the potential of this emerging technology is also demonstrated by experiments.
Anharmonic vibrational eigenfunctions and infrared spectra from semiclassical molecular dynamics
Authors: Micciarelli Marco , Conte Riccardo , Suarez Jaime , Ceotto Michele
Published: August 2018

We describe a new approach based on semiclassical molecular dynamics that allows simulating infrared absorption or emission spectra of molecular systems with inclusion of anharmonic intensities. This is achieved from semiclassical power spectra by computing first the vibrational eigenfunctions as a linear combination of harmonic states, and then the oscillator strengths associated with the vibrational transitions. We test the approach against a 1D Morse potential and apply it to the water molecule with results in excellent agreement with discrete variable representation quantum benchmarks. The method does not require any grid calculations, and it is directly extendable to high dimensional systems. The usual exponential scaling of the basis set size with the dimensionality of the system can be avoided by means of an appropriate truncation scheme. Furthermore, the approach has the advantage to provide IR spectra beyond the harmonic approximation without losing the possibility of an intuitive assignment of absorption peaks in terms of normal modes of vibration.
High Oxidation State Organopalladium(IV) Species: Applications to C–H Activation
Authors: Burt Liam K. , Ho Curtis C.
Published: August 2018

This highlight article focuses on some seminal discoveries in organopalladium(iv) chemistry and the implications and notable applications of these findings in contemporary palladium catalysis and in particular C–H activation.
Development of a laboratory test for microbial involvement in accelerated low water corrosion
Authors: Wade Scott , Blackall Linda
Published: August 2018

Microbially influenced corrosion (MIC) is a general term for when microbes affect material corrosion processes. The rapid corrosion that can occur due to MIC can cause significant dangers and costs for owners of relevant assets in relation to predicting structural safety, design of new structures and maintenance. Verification and/or prediction that a structure may be subject to MIC is not straightforward and, when metal surfaces are involved, it requires a series of metallurgical, microbiological and chemical tests. A useful part of this testing can be laboratory-based studies of microbial consortium samples from the environment of interest. However, there are no standard guidelines for how to perform such tests. Here we report the results of a preliminary study of laboratory corrosion simulations with biomass from a marine metallic corrosion event and show that simple changes in the test conditions can alter the rate of corrosion and the composition of microbial consortia during the test.
Dimethylated histone H3 lysine 9 is dispensable for the interaction between developmental pluripotency-associated protein 3 (Dppa3) and ten-eleven translocation 3 (Tet3) in somatic cells
Authors: Wang Qian-Qian , Zhang Yu-Mei , Zhong Xia , Li Jian-Wei , An Xiao-Rong , Hou Jian
Published: August 2018

Both developmental pluripotency-associated protein 3 (Dppa3/Stella/PGC7) and dioxygenase ten-eleven translocation 3 (Tet3) are maternal factors that regulate DNA methylation reprogramming during early embryogenesis. In the mouse zygote, dimethylated histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9me2) attracts Dppa3 to prevent Tet3-mediated oxidation of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC). Here, we addressed the interplay between Dppa3 and Tet3 or H3K9me2 in somatic cells. In mouse NIH3T3 cells, the exogenously expressed Dppa3 preferentially accumulated in the cytoplasm and had no effect on Tet3-mediated 5hmC generation. In HeLa cells, the expressed Dppa3 was predominantly localised in the nucleus and could partially suppress Tet3-induced 5hmC accumulation, but this suppressive function was not correlated with H3K9me2. Co-immunoprecipitation assays further revealed an interaction of Dppa3 with Tet3 but not with H3K9me2 in HeLa cells. In cloned zygotes from somatic cells, Dppa3 distribution and 5hmC accumulation in nuclei were not affected by H3K9me2 levels. Taken together, these results suggest that H3K9me2 is not functionally associated with Dppa3 and Tet3 in somatic cells or somatic cell cloned embryos.
Altered conformational landscape and dimerization dependency underpins the activation of EGFR by
α
C–
β
4 loop insertion mutations
Authors: Ruan Zheng , Kannan Natarajan
Published: August 2018

Significance

The

α

C–

β

4 loop is a conserved structural motif present in all eukaryotic protein kinases. This study focuses on epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a receptor tyrosine kinase that harbors many recurrent insertion mutations in the

α

C–

β

4 loop. We show that EGFR activity and drug sensitivity are strongly dependent on the nature, size, and location of mutations in the loop and that even subtle variations in the loop have a dramatic effect on kinase dynamics and free-energy landscape. These findings inform ongoing drug-discovery efforts on EGFR kinases and provide a structural framework for investigating the role of the understudied

α

C–

β

4 loop in kinase regulation, dynamics, and evolution.
Differences in neural stem cell identity and differentiation capacity drive divergent regenerative outcomes in lizards and salamanders
Authors: Sun Aaron X. , Londono Ricardo , Hudnall Megan L. , Tuan Rocky S. , Lozito Thomas P.
Published: August 2018

Significance

The evolutionary changes behind the loss in regenerative potential from salamanders to mammals remain largely elusive. Lizards, representing an intermediary species between the two, possess a limited ability to regenerate their tails. Here, we probe the mechanisms behind the differing regenerative patterns between lizards and salamanders, and we find that neural stem cells within the regenerated spinal cords are distinct cell populations that regulate divergent tail regeneration patterns. This finding sheds light on the factors that govern regenerative ability as well as the loss of this capability and brings us one step closer to eventually elucidating strategies to allow for mammalian regeneration.
Interleukin 4 is inactivated via selective disulfide-bond reduction by extracellular thioredoxin
Authors: Plugis Nicholas M. , Weng Nielson , Zhao Qinglan , Palanski Brad A. , Maecker Holden T. , Habtezion Aida , Khosla Chaitan
Published: August 2018

Significance

Macrophages are important regulators of the immune system. They display remarkable phenotypic plasticity in response to environmental cues. Classical macrophage activation occurs in response to inflammatory signals, whereas alternative macrophage activation results from exposure to IL-4 and/or IL-13. The mechanistic basis for differential regulation of macrophages by IL-4 and IL-13 remains poorly understood. We show through in vitro and in vivo experiments that thioredoxin 1, a redox protein cofactor, preferentially inactivates IL-4 over IL-13, by reduction of a specific disulfide bond. As extracellular levels of thioredoxin are elevated in many pathological conditions, our results highlight a novel pharmacologically promising immunomodulatory mechanism.
Biophysical and functional characterization of Norrin signaling through Frizzled4
Authors: Bang Injin , Kim Hee Ryung , Beaven Andrew H. , Kim Jinuk , Ko Seung-Bum , Lee Gyu Rie , Kan Wei , Lee Hasup , Im Wonpil , Seok Chaok , Chung Ka Young , Choi Hee-Jung
Published: August 2018

Significance

Wnt signaling has a broad spectrum of effects on cellular physiology and diseases like cancer. Much of the specificity and regulation mechanism of the Frizzled (Fzd) family, the main receptor of the Wnt pathway, remains elusive, but exploiting the activation mechanism of Fzd is pivotal to understanding the Wnt signaling pathway. Here, by using biophysical and biochemical techniques, we identify the key conformational changes that occur as the Norrin ligand binds to Fzd4, and we show the functional implications of the involved regions. We also reveal that the linker region plays an important role in communicating ligand binding with cytoplasmic signaling. Our observations offer insight into the activation mechanism of the Fzd family and the regulation of the Wnt signaling pathway.
Tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase stimulates thrombopoietin-independent hematopoiesis accelerating recovery from thrombocytopenia
Authors: Kanaji Taisuke , Vo My-Nuong , Kanaji Sachiko , Zarpellon Alessandro , Shapiro Ryan , Morodomi Yosuke , Yuzuriha Akinori , Eto Koji , Belani Rajesh , Do Minh-Ha , Yang Xiang-Lei , Ruggeri Zaverio M. , Schimmel Paul
Published: August 2018

Significance

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) catalyze aminoacylation of tRNAs in the first step of protein synthesis in the cytoplasm. However, in higher eukaryotes, they acquired additional functions beyond translation. In the present study, we show that an activated form of tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (YRS
ACT
) functions to enhance megakaryopoiesis and platelet production in vitro and in vivo. These findings were confirmed with human megakaryocytes differentiated from peripheral blood CD34
+
hematopoietic stem cells and with human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. The activity of YRS
ACT
is independent of thrombopoietin (TPO), as evidenced by expansion of the megakaryocytes from iPS cell-derived hematopoietic stem cells from a patient deficient in TPO signaling. These findings demonstrate a previously unrecognized function of an aaRS which may have implications for therapeutic interventions.
Longer‐term effects of minimalist shoes on running performance, strength and bone density: A 20‐week follow‐up study*
Authors: Fuller Joel T. , Thewlis Dominic , Tsiros Margarita D. , Brown Nicholas A. T. , Hamill Joseph , Buckley Jonathan D.
Published: August 2018

This study investigated whether male runners improve running performance, running economy, ankle plantar flexor strength, and alter running biomechanics and lower limb bone mineral density when gradually transitioning to using minimalist shoes for 100% of weekly running. The study was a planned follow‐up of runners (n = 50) who transitioned to minimalist or conventional shoes for 35% of weekly structured training in a previous 6‐week randomised controlled trial. In that trial, running performance and economy improved more with minimalist shoes than conventional shoes. Runners in each group were instructed to continue running in their allocated shoe during their own preferred training programme for a further 20 weeks while increasing allocated shoe use to 100% of weekly training. At the 20‐week follow‐up, minimalist shoes did not affect performance (effect size: 0.19; p = 0.218), running economy (effect size: ≤ 0.24; p ≥ 0.388), stride rate or length (effect size: ≤ 0.12; p ≥ 0.550), foot strike (effect size: ≤ 0.25; p ≥ 0.366), or bone mineral density (effect size: ≤ 0.40; p ≥ 0.319). Minimalist shoes increased plantar flexor strength more than conventional shoes when runners trained with greater mean weekly training distances (shoe*distance interaction: p = 0.036). After greater improvements with minimalist shoes during the initial six weeks of a structured training programme, increasing minimalist shoe use from 35% to 100% over 20 weeks, when runners use their own preferred training programme, did not further improve performance, running economy or alter running biomechanics and lower limb bone mineral density. Minimalist shoes improved plantar flexor strength more than conventional shoes in runners with greater weekly training distances.
Bioinformatic analysis of endogenous and exogenous small RNAs on lipoproteins
Authors: Allen Ryan M. , Zhao Shilin , Ramirez Solano Marisol A. , Zhu Wanying , Michell Danielle L. , Wang Yuhuan , Shyr Yu , Sethupathy Praveen , Linton MacRae F. , Graf Gregory A. , Sheng Quanhu , Vickers Kasey C.
Published: August 2018

To comprehensively study extracellular small RNAs (sRNA) by sequencing (sRNA‐seq), we developed a novel pipeline to overcome current limitations in analysis entitled, “Tools for Integrative Genome analysis of Extracellular sRNAs (TIGER)”. To demonstrate the power of this tool, sRNA‐seq was performed on mouse lipoproteins, bile, urine and livers. A key advance for the TIGER pipeline is the ability to analyse both host and non‐host sRNAs at genomic, parent RNA and individual fragment levels. TIGER was able to identify approximately 60% of sRNAs on lipoproteins and >85% of sRNAs in liver, bile and urine, a significant advance compared to existing software. Moreover, TIGER facilitated the comparison of lipoprotein sRNA signatures to disparate sample types at each level using hierarchical clustering, correlations, beta‐dispersions, principal coordinate analysis and permutational multivariate analysis of variance. TIGER analysis was also used to quantify distinct features of exRNAs, including 5ʹ miRNA variants, 3ʹ miRNA non‐templated additions and parent RNA positional coverage. Results suggest that the majority of sRNAs on lipoproteins are non‐host sRNAs derived from bacterial sources in the microbiome and environment, specifically rRNA‐derived sRNAs from Proteobacteria. Collectively, TIGER facilitated novel discoveries of lipoprotein and biofluid sRNAs and has tremendous applicability for the field of extracellular RNA.
Preventing Soil Inoculum of Calonectria pseudonaviculata from Splashing onto Healthy Boxwood Foliage by Mulching
Authors: Likins T. M. , Kong P. , Avenot H. F. , Marine S. C. , Baudoin A. , Hong C. X.
Published: August 2018

Boxwood blight, caused by Calonectria pseudonaviculata, is an emerging disease of great concern to horticulturists in the United States and other affected countries. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of mulching as a physical barrier to prevent soil inoculum from splashing onto healthy boxwood foliage. A field trial consisting of two treatments, mulched and nonmulched, was conducted under field conditions in Lowgap, North Carolina, and in a residential landscape setting near Richmond, Virginia, for 2 years at each site. Mulching efficacy was assessed by monitoring and comparing boxwood blight development on detector plants: containerized ‘Justin Brouwers’ boxwood, which were rotated through mulched and nonmulched plots at 1- and 2-week intervals in the Lowgap and Richmond sites, respectively. Boxwood blight was observed on detector plants in a combined 55 of the 88 monitoring periods during this study at the two sites. Mulching provided complete protection of Justin Brouwers boxwood from infection by C. pseudonaviculata soil inoculum during 33 of the 55 positive monitoring periods (60%) and good to excellent protection during 13 monitoring periods (24%). The potential applications of mulching for boxwood blight mitigation are discussed.
A Natural Reservoir and Transmission Vector of Grapevine Vein Clearing Virus
Authors: Petersen Sylvia M. , Keith Cory , Austin Kaylie , Howard Susanne , Su Li , Qiu Wenping
Published: August 2018

Grapevine vein clearing virus (GVCV) is associated with a vein-clearing and vine-decline disease. In this study, we surveyed wild Ampelopsis cordata from the Vitaceae family and found that 31% (35 of 113) of native A. cordata plants are infected with GVCV. The full-length genome sequence of one GVCV isolate from A. cordata shared 99.8% identical nucleotides with an isolate from a nearby cultivated ‘Chardonel’ grapevine, suggesting the occurrence of an insect vector. To identify a vector, we collected Aphis illinoisensis (common name: grape aphids) from wild A. cordata plants and detected GVCV in the aphid populations. We found that A. illinoisensis is capable of transmitting GVCV from infected A. cordata to Chardonel grapevines in the greenhouse. Upon transmission, GVCV caused severe symptoms on the infected Chardonel 45 days post transmission. We conclude that wild GVCV isolates from A. cordata are capable of inducing a severe disease on cultivated grapevines once they spread from native A. cordata to vineyards via grape aphids. The discovery of a natural reservoir and an insect vector of GVCV provides timely knowledge for disease management in vineyards and critical clues on viral evolution and epidemiology.
Habitat and social context affect memory phenotype, exploration and covariance among these traits
Authors: Dalesman Sarah
Published: August 2018

Individual differences in cognitive ability are predicted to covary with other behavioural traits such as exploration and boldness. Selection within different habitats may act to either enhance or break down covariance among traits; alternatively, changing the environmental context in which traits are assessed may result in plasticity that alters trait covariance. Pond snails,
Lymnaea stagnalis
, from two laboratory strains (more than 20 generations in captivity) and F1 laboratory reared from six wild populations were tested for long-term memory and exploration traits (speed and thigmotaxis) following maintenance in grouped and isolated conditions to determine if isolation: (i) alters memory and exploration; and (ii) alters covariance between memory and exploration. Populations that demonstrated strong memory formation (longer duration) under grouped conditions demonstrated weaker memory formation and reduced both speed and thigmotaxis following isolation. In wild populations, snails showed no relationship between memory and exploration in grouped conditions; however, following isolation, exploration behaviour was negatively correlated with memory, i.e. slow-explorers showing low levels of thigmotaxis formed stronger memories. Laboratory strains demonstrated no covariance among exploration traits and memory independent of context. Together these data demonstrate that the relationship between cognition and exploration traits can depend on both habitat and context-specific trait plasticity.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Causes and consequences of individual differences in cognitive abilities’.
Resistant potato starch fuels beneficial host-microbe interactions in the gut
Authors: Trachsel Julian , Briggs Cassidy , Gabler Nicholas K. , Allen Heather K. , Loving Crystal L.
Published: August 2018

Interactions between diet, the microbiota, and the host set the ecological conditions in the gut and have broad implications for health. Prebiotics are dietary compounds that may shift these conditions towards health by promoting the growth of beneficial microbes. Pigs fed a diet amended with 5% resistant potato starch (RPS) exhibited alterations associated with gut health relative to swine fed an unamended diet (CON). RPS intake increased abundances of anaerobicClostridiain feces and several tissues, as well as intestinal concentrations of butyrate. Functional gene amplicons suggested bacteria similar toAnaerostipes hadruswere stimulated by RPS intake. The CON treatment exhibited increased abundances of several genera ofProteobacteria(which utilize respiratory metabolisms) in several location. RPS intake increased the abundance of regulatory T cells in the cecum, but not periphery, and cecal immune status alterations were indicative of enhanced mucosal defenses. A network analysis of host and microbial changes in the cecum revealed that regulatory T cells positively correlated with butyrate concentration, luminal IgA concentration, expression of IL-6 and DEF1B, and several mucosa-associated bacterial taxa. Thus, the administration of RPS modulated the microbiota and host response, improved cecal barrier function, promoted immunological tolerance, and reduced the niche for bacterial respiration.

Importance

The gut microbiota is central to host health. Many disease states and disorders appear to arise from interactions between the gut microbial community and host immune system. As a result, methods and interventions to support the growth and activity of beneficial gut microbes are being actively pursued. Feeding the gut microbiota with dietary compounds, known as prebiotics, is one of the most promising ways to support gut health. Here we describe a successful prebiotic intervention in weaning swine, a relevant translational model for human health. This work unites microbial and immunological data and demonstrates one way a prebiotic intervention can play out for the benefit of the host.
Rapid inference of direct interactions in large-scale ecological networks from heterogeneous microbial sequencing data
Authors: Tackmann Janko , Matias Rodrigues João Frederico , von Mering Christian
Published: August 2018

The recent explosion of metagenomic sequencing data opens the door towards the modeling of microbial ecosystems in unprecedented detail. In particular, co-occurrence based prediction of ecological interactions could strongly benefit from this development. However, current methods fall short on several fronts: univariate tools do not distinguish between direct and indirect interactions, resulting in excessive false positives, while approaches with better resolution are so far computationally highly limited. Furthermore, confounding variables typical for cross-study data sets are rarely addressed. We present FlashWeave, a new approach based on a flexible Probabilistic Graphical Models framework to infer highly resolved direct microbial interactions from massive heterogeneous microbial abundance data sets with seamless integration of metadata. On a variety of benchmarks, FlashWeave outperforms state-of-the-art methods by several orders of magnitude in terms of speed while generally providing increased accuracy. We apply FlashWeave to a cross-study data set of 69 818 publicly available human gut samples, resulting in one of the largest and most diverse models of microbial interactions in the human gut to date.
Genetic evidence that the latency III stage of Epstein-Barr Virus infection is a therapeutic target for Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Afrasiabi Ali , Parnell Grant P. , Fewings Nicole , Schibeci Stephen D. , Basuki Monica A. , Chandramohan Ramya , Brown David A. , Swaminathan Sanjay , McKay Fiona C. , Stewart Graeme J. , Booth David R.
Published: August 2018

Genome wide association studies have identified >200 susceptibility loci accounting for much of the heritability of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Epstein Barr virus (EBV), a memory B cell tropic virus, has been identified as necessary but not sufficient for development of MS, with evidence for disease causation. The molecular and immunological basis for this has not been established. LCL proliferation is driven by signalling through the EBV produced cell surface protein LMP1, a homologue of the MS risk gene CD40. We show that the CD40 ligand, CD40L, potentially through competitive signalling with LMP1, reduces LCL proliferation (p<0.001). The MS risk variants of the LMP1 signalling inhibitor, TRAF3, had altered expression in B cells and LCLs. Both CD40 and TRAF3 risk SNPs are in binding sites for the EBV transcription factor EBNA2. We have investigated transcriptomes of B cells and EBV infected B cells at Latency III (LCLs) and identified 47 MS risk genes with altered expression, associated with the risk genotype. Overall these MS risk SNPs were overrepresented in target loci of the EBV transcription factor EBNA2 (p<10−16), in genes dysregulated between B and LCLs (p<10−5), and as targets for EBV miRNAs (p<10−4). The risk gene ZC3HAV1 is the putative target for multiple EBV miRNAs. It amplifies the interferon response, and was shown to have reduced expression in LCLs for the risk allele. These data indicate targeting EBV EBNA2, miRNAs, and MS risk genes on the LMP1/LMP2 pathways, and the pathways themselves, may be of therapeutic benefit in MS.
How do Latin American migrants in the USA stand on schooling premium? What does it reveal about education quality in their home countries?
Authors: Alonso-Soto Daniel , Nopo Hugo
Published: August 2018

Purpose

Indicators for quality of schooling are not only relatively new in the world but also unavailable for a sizable share of the world’s population. In their absence, some proxy measures have been devised. One simple but powerful idea has been to use the schooling premium for migrant workers in the USA (Bratsberg and Terrell, 2002). The purpose of this paper is to extend this idea and compute measures for the schooling premium of immigrant workers in the USA over a span of five decades.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the authors focus on the schooling premia for the Latin American and the Caribbean region and compare them to those of migrants from other regions, particularly from East Asia and Pacific, India, Northern Europe and Southern Europe, all relative to immigrants from former Soviet Republics. The available data allow us to measure such premia for workers who graduated from school, either at the secondary or tertiary levels, in their home countries between 1940 and 2010.

Findings

The results show that the schooling premia in Latin America have been steadily low throughout the whole period of analysis. The results stand after controlling for selective migration in different ways. This contradicts the popular belief in policy circles that the education quality of the region has deteriorated in recent years. In contrast, schooling premium in India shows an impressive improvement in recent decades, especially at the tertiary level.

Originality/value

In this paper, the authors extend the idea of computing schooling premium for migrant workers in the USA (Bratsberg and Terrell, 2002) and present comparative estimates of the evolution of schooling premia in 17 Latin American countries for both secondary and tertiary schooling levels.
Mentefacts as a missing level in theory of information science
Authors: Gnoli Claudio
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The current debate between two theoretical approaches in library and information science and knowledge organization (KO), the cognitive one and the sociological one, is addressed in view of their possible integration in a more general model. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

Personal knowledge of individual users, as focused in the cognitive approach, and social production and use of knowledge, as focused in the sociological approach, are reconnected to the theory of levels of reality, particularly in the versions of Nicolai Hartmann and Karl R. Popper (three worlds). The notions of artefact and mentefact, as proposed in anthropological literature and applied in some KO systems, are also examined as further contributions to the generalized framework. Some criticisms to these models are reviewed and discussed.

Findings

Both the cognitive approach and the sociological approach, if taken in isolation, prove to be cases of philosophical monism as they emphasize a single level over the others. On the other hand, each of them can be considered as a component of a pluralist ontology and epistemology, where individual minds and social communities are but two successive levels in knowledge production and use, and are followed by a further level of “objectivated spirit”; this can in turn be analyzed into artefacts and mentefacts. While all these levels are relevant to information science, mentefacts and their properties are its most peculiar objects of study, which make it distinct from such other disciplines as psychology and sociology.

Originality/value

This analysis shows how existing approaches can benefit from additional notions contributed by levels theory, to develop more complete and accurate models of information and knowledge phenomena.
The lifeways we avoid
Authors: Dali Keren
Published: August 2018

Purpose

In the context of increasing interdisciplinarity in academia and professional practice, the purpose of this paper is to focus on the contribution of information science (IS) to education and practice in social work (SW), specifically in the area of disabilities at the workplace. As a case in point, a work environment of academia and faculty members with disabilities and their managers are chosen. The paper also stands to improve interdisciplinary understanding between IS and SW.

Design/methodology/approach

Combining SW and IS perspectives and building off selective exposure, cognitive dissonance and uncertainty management theories, the paper looks at one of the root-causes of continuous workplace discrimination against and bullying of people with disabilities – information avoidance (IA).

Findings

The paper conceptualises discrimination and bullying as an inherently information problem, for which an SW solution could be proposed. Two types of information are noted to be avoided: information about disabilities and information about the effect of discrimination and bullying on employees with disabilities. The paper distinguishes between defensive and deliberate IA, each of which poses different challenges for social workers who are likely to intervene in the cases of bullying and discrimination in their capacity as workplace counsellors and advisors.

Originality/value

It is the first known paper that explores the intellectual and practice-based synergy between SW and IS in application to change-related interventions and preventative plans that counteract discrimination against people with disabilities at the workplace. It proposes creative solutions for intervention, including bibliotherapy. It also opens up a broader conversation on how critical the knowledge of IS is for social workers.
Encountering the postcolonial in academia
Authors: D’Souza Ryan A. , Pal Mahuya
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to problematize dominant discourses of diversity in academia that are constructed with Eurocentric ideals that demand assimilation with Western expectations and norms that, in one way or another, maintain the status quo. In doing so, the authors theorize transnational diversity in academia by looking back at their own experiences as postcolonial students and teachers.

Design/methodology/approach

Autoethnography is used as a writing method. The authors use autoethnography to intellectualize their experiences and connect everyday life to the immediate and larger cultural, political and social contexts to reflect on how they navigate their postcolonial identities and negotiate(d) the diversity they bring into academia.

Findings

The authors’ narratives present acceptance, acculturation, assimilation and rejection encompassing trauma and resistance that suggest that the dominant approach to diversity is not necessarily pluralistic, and require a re-organization.

Research limitations/implications

The authors’ narratives present acceptance, acculturation, assimilation and rejection encompassing trauma and resistance that suggest that the dominant approach to diversity is not necessarily pluralistic, and requires a re-organization.

Originality/value

The authors theorize transnational diversity as an alternative to the dominant approach to diversity. Transnational diversity attempts to expand the discourse of diversity in academia, and create a space for other cultural, intellectual and institutional legacies to be included and recognized.