bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Incorporating Physical Activity Measures Into Environmental Monitoring of National Parks: An Example From Yosemite
Authors: Walden-Schreiner Chelsey , Leung Yu-Fai , Floyd Myron F.
Published: January 2015

Background:

To address increasing prevalence of obesity and associated chronic disease, recent national initiatives have called upon federal agencies to promote healthy lifestyles and provide opportunities for physical activity. In response, the U.S. National Park Service has developed strategies promoting health through physical activity in addition to its well-established biodiversity and landscape conservation mission. Incorporating physical activity measures with routine environmental monitoring would help identify areas where parks can promote active pursuits with minimal environmental impact. This study provides one example of how protocols developed for visitor and environmental monitoring can generate data to evaluate physical activity.

Methods:

Researchers implemented an observational study in high-use meadows of Yosemite National Park during the summer of 2011. Variables measured include the spatial location of visitors and activity type. Metabolic equivalents (METs) were assigned to activity categories and analyzed for average energy expenditure.

Results:

Mean METs values indicated sedentary to light physical activity across the meadows, with greater means in areas with boardwalks or paved pathways.

Conclusions:

Data leveraged in this study provide park managers an example of adapting existing monitoring programs to incorporate indicators relevant to physical activity evaluation and how physical activity may impact resource conditions in national parks.
Cadence, Peak Vertical Acceleration, and Peak Loading Rate During Ambulatory Activities: Implications for Activity Prescription for Bone Health
Authors: Rowlands Alex V. , Schuna John M. , Stiles Victoria H. , Tudor-Locke Catrine
Published: January 2015

Background:

Previous research has reported peak vertical acceleration and peak loading rate thresholds beneficial to bone mineral density (BMD). Such thresholds are difficult to translate into meaningful recommendations for physical activity. Cadence (steps/min) is a more readily interpretable measure of ambulatory activity.

Objective:

To examine relationships between cadence, peak vertical acceleration and peak loading rate during ambulation and identify the cadence associated with previously reported bone-beneficial thresholds for peak vertical acceleration (4.9 g) and peak loading rate (43 BW/s).

Methods:

Ten participants completed 8 trials each of: slow walking, brisk walking, slow running, and fast running. Acceleration data were captured using a GT3×+ accelerometer worn at the hip. Peak loading rate was collected via a force plate.

Results:

Strong relationships were identified between cadence and peak vertical acceleration (r = .96, P < .05) and peak loading rate (r = .98, P < .05). Regression analyses indicated cadences of 157 ± 12 steps/min (2.6 ± 0.2 steps/s) and 122 ± 10 steps/min (2.0 ± 0.2 steps/s) corresponded with the 4.9 g peak vertical acceleration and 43 BW/s peak loading rate thresholds, respectively.

Conclusions:

Cadences ≥ 2.0 to 2.6 steps/s equate to acceleration and loading rate thresholds related to bone health. Further research is needed to investigate whether the frequency of daily occurrences of this cadence is associated with BMD.
Science Signaling
Podcast: 6 January 2015
Authors: Earley Scott , VanHook Annalisa M.
Published: January 2015

Reactive oxygen species create peroxidized lipids that promote dilation of cerebral arteries by activating the ion channel TRPA1.
mTOR and Human Aging
Authors: Smith Orla
Published: January 2015

Elderly volunteers produce an enhanced immune response to an influenza vaccine when mTOR is inhibited.
Insulin Promotes Serotonin Uptake
Authors: Gough Nancy R.
Published: January 2015

Trophoblasts of patients with gestational diabetes exhibit increased serotonin due to impaired processing and trafficking of the serotonin uptake transporter.
Guiding Axons with Two Slits
Authors: Ferrarelli Leslie K.
Published: January 2015

Whereas one fragment of Slit signals through Robo, the other triggers PlexinA1 to mediate axon guidance in the developing brain.
Alginate Lyases from Alginate-Degrading Vibrio splendidus 12B01 Are Endolytic
Authors: Badur Ahmet H. , Jagtap Sujit Sadashiv , Yalamanchili Geethika , Lee Jung-Kul , Zhao Huimin , Rao Christopher V.
Published: January 2015

Alginate lyases are enzymes that degrade alginate through β-elimination of the glycosidic bond into smaller oligomers. We investigated the alginate lyases from
Vibrio splendidus
12B01, a marine bacterioplankton species that can grow on alginate as its sole carbon source. We identified, purified, and characterized four polysaccharide lyase family 7 alginates lyases, AlyA, AlyB, AlyD, and AlyE, from
V. splendidus
12B01. The four lyases were found to have optimal activity between pH 7.5 and 8.5 and at 20 to 25°C, consistent with their use in a marine environment. AlyA, AlyB, AlyD, and AlyE were found to exhibit a turnover number (
k
cat
) for alginate of 0.60 ± 0.02 s
−1
, 3.7 ± 0.3 s
−1
, 4.5 ± 0.5 s
−1
, and 7.1 ± 0.2 s
−1
, respectively. The

K
m

values of AlyA, AlyB, AlyD, and AlyE toward alginate were 36 ± 7 μM, 22 ± 5 μM, 60 ± 2 μM, and 123 ± 6 μM, respectively. AlyA and AlyB were found principally to cleave the β-1,4 bonds between β-
d
-mannuronate and α-
l
-guluronate and subunits; AlyD and AlyE were found to principally cleave the α-1,4 bonds involving α-
l
-guluronate subunits. The four alginate lyases degrade alginate into longer chains of oligomers.
Acid-Adapted Strains of Escherichia coli K-12 Obtained by Experimental Evolution
Authors: Harden Mark M. , He Amanda , Creamer Kaitlin , Clark Michelle W. , Hamdallah Issam , Martinez Keith A. , Kresslein Robert L. , Bush Sean P. , Slonczewski Joan L.
Published: January 2015

Enteric bacteria encounter a wide range of pHs throughout the human intestinal tract. We conducted experimental evolution of
Escherichia coli
K-12 to isolate clones with increased fitness during growth under acidic conditions (pH 4.5 to 4.8). Twenty-four independent populations of
E. coli
K-12 W3110 were evolved in LBK medium (10 g/liter tryptone, 5 g/liter yeast extract, 7.45 g/liter KCl) buffered with homopiperazine-
N
,
N
′-bis-2-(ethanosulfonic acid) and malate at pH 4.8. At generation 730, the pH was decreased to 4.6 with HCl. By 2,000 generations, all populations had achieved higher endpoint growth than the ancestor at pH 4.6 but not at pH 7.0. All evolving populations showed a progressive loss of activity of lysine decarboxylase (CadA), a major acid stress enzyme. This finding suggests a surprising association between acid adaptation and moderation of an acid stress response. At generation 2,000, eight clones were isolated from four populations, and their genomes were sequenced. Each clone showed between three and eight missense mutations, including one in a subunit of the RNA polymerase holoenzyme (
rpoB
,
rpoC
, or
rpoD
). Missense mutations were found in
adiY
, the activator of the acid-inducible arginine decarboxylase (
adiA
), and in
gcvP
(glycine decarboxylase), a possible acid stress component. For tests of fitness relative to that of the ancestor,
lacZ
::
kan
was transduced into each strain. All acid-evolved clones showed a high fitness advantage at pH 4.6. With the cytoplasmic pH depressed by benzoate (at external pH 6.5), acid-evolved clones showed decreased fitness; thus, there was no adaptation to cytoplasmic pH depression. At pH 9.0, acid-evolved clones showed no fitness advantage. Thus, our acid-evolved clones showed a fitness increase specific to low external pH.
Environmental Surveillance of Poliovirus in Sewage Water around the Introduction Period for Inactivated Polio Vaccine in Japan
Authors: Nakamura Tomofumi , Hamasaki Mitsuhiro , Yoshitomi Hideaki , Ishibashi Tetsuya , Yoshiyama Chiharu , Maeda Eriko , Sera Nobuyuki , Yoshida Hiromu
Published: January 2015

Environmental virus surveillance was conducted at two independent sewage plants from urban and rural areas in the northern prefecture of the Kyushu district, Japan, to trace polioviruses (PVs) within communities. Consequently, 83 PVs were isolated over a 34-month period from April 2010 to January 2013. The frequency of PV isolation at the urban plant was 1.5 times higher than that at the rural plant. Molecular sequence analysis of the viral VP1 gene identified all three serotypes among the PV isolates, with the most prevalent serotype being type 2 (46%). Nearly all poliovirus isolates exhibited more than one nucleotide mutation from the Sabin vaccine strains. During this study, inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) was introduced for routine immunization on 1 September 2012, replacing the live oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV). Interestingly, the frequency of PV isolation from sewage waters declined before OPV cessation at both sites. Our study highlights the importance of environmental surveillance for the detection of the excretion of PVs from an OPV-immunized population in a highly sensitive manner, during the OPV-to-IPV transition period.
Isolation and Screening of Thermophilic Bacilli from Compost for Electrotransformation and Fermentation: Characterization of Bacillus smithii ET 138 as a New Biocatalyst
Authors: Bosma Elleke F. , van de Weijer Antonius H. P. , Daas Martinus J. A. , van der Oost John , de Vos Willem M. , van Kranenburg Richard
Published: January 2015

Thermophilic bacteria are regarded as attractive production organisms for cost-efficient conversion of renewable resources to green chemicals, but their genetic accessibility is a major bottleneck in developing them into versatile platform organisms. In this study, we aimed to isolate thermophilic, facultatively anaerobic bacilli that are genetically accessible and have potential as platform organisms. From compost, we isolated 267 strains that produced acids from C
5
and C
6
sugars at temperatures of 55°C or 65°C. Subsequently, 44 strains that showed the highest production of acids were screened for genetic accessibility by electroporation. Two
Geobacillus thermodenitrificans
isolates and one
Bacillus smithii
isolate were found to be transformable with plasmid pNW33n. Of these,
B. smithii
ET 138 was the best-performing strain in laboratory-scale fermentations and was capable of producing organic acids from glucose as well as from xylose. It is an acidotolerant strain able to produce organic acids until a lower limit of approximately pH 4.5. As genetic accessibility of
B. smithii
had not been described previously, six other
B. smithii
strains from the DSMZ culture collection were tested for electroporation efficiencies, and we found the type strain DSM 4216
T
and strain DSM 460 to be transformable. The transformation protocol for
B. smithii
isolate ET 138 was optimized to obtain approximately 5 × 10
3
colonies per μg plasmid pNW33n. Genetic accessibility combined with robust acid production capacities on C
5
and C
6
sugars at a relatively broad pH range make
B. smithii
ET 138 an attractive biocatalyst for the production of lactic acid and potentially other green chemicals.
Draft Genome Sequence of the Cellulolytic Bacterium Clavibacter sp. CF11, a Strain Producing Cold-Active Cellulase
Authors: Du Ying , Yuan Bo , Zeng Yonghui , Meng Jianyu , Li Heng , Wang Ruigang , Li Guojing , Feng Fuying
Published: January 2015

Clavibacter sp. strain CF11, which was isolated from soil at a tomato-planting greenhouse in Inner Mongolia, North China, has a high capability for producing cold-active cellulase at low temperatures. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of strain CF11, which comprises 2,437 protein-coding sequences and 49 RNA-coding sequences.
Borrelial pseudolymphoma of the nose
Authors: Mohanna Mosab Tariq , Kamarashev Jivko , Hofbauer Günther F L
Published: January 2015

A 52-year-old Colombian woman, a patient with psoriasis, undergoing phototherapy with (ultraviolet B narrowband) UVBnb, presented with a symptomless solitary diffuse erythaematous plaque on her nose for 3 months. Initially, she was treated with pimecrolimus 1% cream for 8 weeks, which was then combined with metronidazole cream for 4 weeks, with the initial diagnosis of UV-triggered rosacea, without improvement. A punch biopsy was performed and the histology showed a pseudolymphomatous reaction. The diagnosis of nasal pseudolymphoma of borreliosis was confirmed with PCR. The lesion completely resolved following oral doxycycline therapy.
Ultrasound evaluation of focal neuropathies in athletes: a clinically-focused review
Authors: Peck Evan , Strakowski Jeffrey A
Published: January 2015

Focal neuropathies represent a rare but clinically important and potentially challenging aetiology of pain in athletes. Diagnostic ultrasound is commonly used in the evaluation of nerve entrapments, and has several advantages over other imaging modalities, including high resolution, portability, lack of ionising radiation, low cost, point-of-care access, ease of contralateral comparison and capability of Doppler and dynamic imaging techniques. In this review, we discuss the use of ultrasound for the evaluation of injuries to the brachial plexus including ‘stingers,’ suprascapular nerve, ulnar nerve, radial nerve, common fibular nerve, tibial nerve and interdigital nerves of the foot at selected common sites of entrapment.
Prevalence of c.2268dup and detection of two novel alterations, c.670_672del and c.1186C>T, in theTPOgene in a cohort of Malaysian–Chinese with thyroid dyshormonogenesis
Authors: Lee Ching Chin , Harun Fatimah , Jalaludin Muhammad Yazid , Heh Choon Han , Othman Rozana , Junit Sarni Mat
Published: January 2015

Objectives

The c.2268dup mutation in the thyroid peroxidase (TPO) gene is the most commonTPOalteration reported in Taiwanese patients with thyroid dyshormonogenesis. The ancestors of these patients are believed to originate from the southern province of China. Our previous study showed that this mutation leads to reduced abundance of the TPO protein and loss of TPO enzyme activity in a Malaysian–Chinese family with goitrous hypothyroidism. The aim of our study was to provide further data on the incidence of the c.2268dup mutation in a cohort of Malaysian–Chinese and its possible phenotypic effects.

Setting

Cohort study.

Participants

Twelve biologically unrelated Malaysian–Chinese patients with congenital hypothyroidism were recruited in this study. All patients showed high thyrotropin and low free thyroxine levels at the time of diagnosis with proven presence of a thyroid gland.

Primary outcome measure

Screening of the c.2268dup mutation in theTPOgene in all patients was carried out using a PCR–direct DNA sequencing method.

Secondary outcome measure

Further screening for mutations in other exonic regions of theTPOgene was carried out if the patient was a carrier of the c.2268dup mutation.

Results

The c.2268dup mutation was detected in 4 of the 12 patients. Apart from the c.2268dup and a previously documented mutation (c.2647C>T), two novelTPOalterations, c.670_672del and c.1186C>T, were also detected in our patients. In silico analyses predicted that the novel alterations affect the structure/function of the TPO protein.

Conclusions

The c.2268dup mutation was detected in approximately one-third of the Malaysian–Chinese patients with thyroid dyshormonogenesis. The detection of the novel c.670_672del and c.1186C>T alterations expand the mutation spectrum ofTPOassociated with thyroid dyshormonogenesis.
Objectively measured physical activity and vitamin D status in older people from Germany
Authors: Klenk Jochen , Rapp Kilian , Denkinger Michael , Nagel Gabriele , Nikolaus Thorsten , Peter Richard , Boehm Bernhard O , Koenig Wolfgang , Rothenbacher Dietrich ,   and the ActiFE Study Group
Published: January 2015

Background

To analyse the seasonal relationship of objectively measured physical activity with vitamin D status in older persons from Southern Germany (latitude: 48.4°N).

Methods

Physical activity was assessed in 1193 community-dwelling individuals aged ≥65 years (58% men) over 1 week using a thigh-worn accelerometer. Furthermore, the 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) level was measured. Least-square means of 25(OH)D serum levels were calculated for quartiles of average daily walking duration stratified by season and adjusted for gender, age and body mass index. Participants with prescribed vitamin D supplements were excluded.

Results

Statistically significant linear associations between quartiles of walking duration with 25(OH)D serum levels were observed in all seasons but not in summer. Differences in 25(OH)D serum levels between the first and the last quartile were 3.42 ng/mL (p=0.002) in winter, 2.80 ng/mL (p=0.009) in spring, and 3.60 ng/mL (p<0.001) in the fall. The proportion of vitamin D insufficiency (<20 ng/mL) even in the highest quartile of walking duration was 45.3% in winter, 73.7% in spring, 17.4% in summer and 16.5% in the fall.

Conclusions

Although a positive dose–response relationship was seen between walking duration and the 25(OH)D serum level for most seasons, vitamin D insufficiency was still very prevalent even in high-active persons during all seasons.
Softly broken conformal symmetry and the stability of the electroweak scale
Authors: Chankowski Piotr H. , Lewandowski Adrian , Meissner Krzysztof A. , Nicolai Hermann
Published: January 2015

We point out a possible mechanism by which the electroweak hierarchy problem can be avoided in the low energy effective quantum field theory. Assuming the existence of a UV complete underlying fundamental theory and treating the cutoff scale Λ of the effective field theory as a real physical scale we argue that the hierarchy problem would be solved if the coefficient in front of quadratic divergences vanished at the scale Λ, and if the effective theory mass parameters fixed at Λ by the fundamental theory were hierarchically smaller than Λ itself. While this mechanism most probably cannot work in the Standard Model if the scale Λ is to be close to the Planck scale, we show that it can work in a minimal extension (Conformal Standard Model) proposed recently for a different implementation of conformal symmetry breaking.
A new proof of the Abhyankar–Moh–Suzuki theorem via a new algorithm for the polynomial dependence
Authors: Makar-Limanov Leonid
Published: January 2015

This paper contains a complete and self-contained proof of the AMS theorem. The main tool is a new algorithm producing an irreducible dependence for a pair of polynomials in one variable.
Standardly based algebras and 0-Hecke algebras
Authors: Yang Guiyu , Li Yanbo
Published: January 2015

In this paper we prove that standardly based algebras are invariant under Morita equivalences. As an application, we prove 0-Hecke algebras and 0-Schur algebras are standardly based algebras. From this point of view, we give a new way to construct the simple modules of 0-Hecke algebras, and prove that the dimension of the center of a symmetric 0-Hecke algebra is not less than the number of its simple modules.
Duflo theorem for a class of generalized Weyl algebras
Authors: Meinel Joanna
Published: January 2015

For a special class of generalized Weyl algebras (GWAs), we prove a Duflo theorem stating that the annihilator of any simple module is in fact the annihilator of a simple highest weight module.
Artinian Local Rings Whose Annihilating-ideal Graphs Are Star Graphs
Authors: Yu Houyi , Wu Tongsuo , Gu Weiping
Published: January 2015

In this paper, a necessary and sufficient condition is given for a commutative Artinian local ring whose annihilating-ideal graph is a star graph. Also, a complete characterization is established for a finite local ring whose annihilating-ideal graph is a star graph.
Development of Gold-Coated Magnetic Nanoparticles as a Potential MRI Contrast Agent
Authors: Montazerabadi Ali Reza , Oghabian Mohammad Ali , Irajirad Rasoul , Muhammadnejad Samad , Ahmadvand Davoud , Delavari H Hamid , Mahdavi Seyed Rabie
Published: January 2015

Gold-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) coated with methyl-polyethylene glycol (mPEG) are synthesized and investigated as a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging contrast agent. The synthesized mPEG-core@shells are characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), zeta-potential analysis and X-ray diffraction (XRD). In addition, the transverse relaxivity of the mPEG-core@shells is measured using a 3 T MRI scanner. The cytotoxicity of the mPEG-core@shells is tested in the LNCaP cell line using an 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The results show that the mPEG-core@shell particles are semispherical with hydrodynamic size of ∼ 65 nm and a transverse relaxivity of 162.3 mM-1 S-1. The mPEG-core@shell particles demonstrate good stability in biological media without any significant in vitro cytotoxicity under high cellular uptake conditions. Finally, in vivo imaging shows that mPEG-core@shells are a potential contrast agent for use in early-stage detection.
Breaking Good: A Chemist Wanders into Entomology
Authors: Law John H.
Published: January 2015

In this highly personal account of my career in science, I try to show how many others influenced its course. I was able to abandon work in pure chemistry and microbiology and to take up research in entomology only with the help of others. My faith in the value of collaborative, interdisciplinary work has been the key to success. Our focus on proteins of insect hemolymph has provided valuable insights into insect biochemistry and physiology.
PEST Domain Mutations in Notch Receptors Comprise an Oncogenic Driver Segment in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Sensitive to a γ-Secretase Inhibitor
Authors: Wang Kai , Zhang Qin , Li Danan , Ching Keith , Zhang Cathy , Zheng Xianxian , Ozeck Mark , Shi Stephanie , Li Xiaorong , Wang Hui , Rejto Paul , Christensen James , Olson Peter
Published: January 2015

Purpose: To identify and characterize novel, activating mutations in Notch receptors in breast cancer and to determine response to the gamma secretase inhibitor (GSI) PF-03084014.

Experimental Design: We used several computational approaches, including novel algorithms, to analyze next-generation sequencing data and related omic datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) breast cancer cohort. Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models were sequenced, and Notch-mutant models were treated with PF-03084014. Gene-expression and functional analyses were performed to study the mechanism of activation through mutation and inhibition by PF-03084014.

Results: We identified mutations within and upstream of the PEST domains of NOTCH1, NOTCH2, and NOTCH3 in the TCGA dataset. Mutations occurred via several genetic mechanisms and compromised the function of the PEST domain, a negative regulatory domain commonly mutated in other cancers. Focal amplifications of NOTCH2 and NOTCH3 were also observed, as were heterodimerization or extracellular domain mutations at lower incidence. Mutations and amplifications often activated the Notch pathway as evidenced by increased expression of canonical Notch target genes, and functional mutations were significantly enriched in the triple-negative breast cancer subtype (TNBC). PDX models were also identified that harbored PEST domain mutations, and these models were highly sensitive to PF-03084014.

Conclusions: This work suggests that Notch-altered breast cancer constitutes a bona fide oncogenic driver segment with the most common alteration being PEST domain mutations present in multiple Notch receptors. Importantly, functional studies suggest that this newly identified class can be targeted with Notch inhibitors, including GSIs. Clin Cancer Res; 21(6); 1487–96. ©2015 AACR.
Lysine Demethylase KDM4A Associates with Translation Machinery and Regulates Protein Synthesis
Authors: Van Rechem Capucine , Black Joshua C. , Boukhali Myriam , Aryee Martin J. , Gräslund Susanne , Haas Wilhelm , Benes Cyril H. , Whetstine Johnathan R.
Published: January 2015

Chromatin-modifying enzymes are predominantly nuclear; however, these factors are also localized to the cytoplasm, and very little is known about their role in this compartment. In this report, we reveal a non–chromatin-linked role for the lysine-specific demethylase KDM4A. We demonstrate that KDM4A interacts with the translation initiation complex and affects the distribution of translation initiation factors within polysome fractions. Furthermore, KDM4A depletion reduced protein synthesis and enhanced the protein synthesis suppression observed with mTOR inhibitors, which paralleled an increased sensitivity to these drugs. Finally, we demonstrate that JIB-04, a JmjC demethylase inhibitor, suppresses translation initiation and enhances mTOR inhibitor sensitivity. These data highlight an unexpected cytoplasmic role for KDM4A in regulating protein synthesis and suggest novel potential therapeutic applications for this class of enzyme.

Significance: This report documents an unexpected cytoplasmic role for the lysine demethylase KDM4A. We demonstrate that KDM4A interacts with the translation initiation machinery, regulates protein synthesis and, upon coinhibition with mTOR inhibitors, enhances the translation suppression and cell sensitivity to these therapeutics. Cancer Discov; 5(3); 255–63. ©2015 AACR.

See related commentary by Rothbart et al., p. 228

See related article by Van Rechem et al., p. 245

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 213
RNF125 is a Ubiquitin-Protein Ligase that Promotes p53 Degradation
Authors: Yang Liuzhong , Zhou Bing , Li Xiaorui , Lu Zhihong , Li Weiwei , Huo Xiaoqing , Miao Zhanhui
Published: January 2015

Background/Aims: Although early studies show that Mdm2 is the primary E3 ubiquitin ligase for the p53 tumor suppressor, an increasing amount of data suggests that p53 ubiquitination and degradation are more complex than once thought. Here, we investigated the role of RNF125, a non-Mdm2 ubiquitin-protein ligase, in the regulation of p53. Methods and Results: RNF125 physically interacted with p53 in exogenous/endogenous co-immunoprecipitation (IP) and GST-pull down assay, and a C72/75A mutation of RNF125 did not interfere with this interaction. Expression of RNF125 decreased the level of p53 in a dose-dependent manner, whereas knockdown of RNF125 by RNA interference increased the level of p53. As shown by Western blotting and ubiquitin assay, RNF125 ubiquitinated p53 and targeted it for proteasome degradation. Furthermore, RNF125 repressed p53 functions including p53-dependent transactivation and growth inhibition. Conclusion: Our data suggest that RNF125 negatively regulates p53 function through physical interaction and ubiquitin-mediated proteasome degradation.
Ambient Fine Particulate Matter Induces Apoptosis of Endothelial Progenitor Cells Through Reactive Oxygen Species Formation
Authors: Cui Yuqi , Xie Xiaoyun , Jia Fengpeng , He Jianfeng , Li Zhihong , Fu Minghuan , Hao Hong , Liu Ying , Liu Jason Z. , Cowan Peter J. , Zhu Hua , Sun Qinghua , Liu Zhenguo
Published: January 2015

Background/Aims: Bone marrow (BM)-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play a critical role in angiogenesis and vascular repair. Some environmental insults, like fine particulate matter (PM) exposure, significantly impair cardiovascular functions. However, the mechanisms for PM-induced adverse effects on cardiovascular system remain largely unknown. The present research was to study the detrimental effects of PM on EPCs and explore the potential mechanisms. Methods: PM was intranasal-distilled into male C57BL/6 mice for one month. Flow cytometry was used to measure the number of EPCs, apoptosis level of circulating EPCs and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. Serum TNF- α and IL-1β were measured using ELISA. To determine the role of PM-induced ROS in EPC apoptosis, PM was co-administrated with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in wild type mice or used in a triple transgenic mouse line (TG) with overexpression of antioxidant enzyme network (AON) composed of superoxide dismutase (SOD)1, SOD3, and glutathione peroxidase (Gpx-1) with decreased in vivo ROS production. Results: PM treatment significantly decreased circulating EPC population, promoted apoptosis of EPCs in association with increased ROS production and serum TNF-α and IL-1β levels, which could be effectively reversed by either NAC treatment or overexpression of AON. Conclusion: PM exposure significantly decreased circulating EPCs population due to increased apoptosis via ROS formation in mice.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells Mitigate Cirrhosis through BMP7
Authors: Li Bing , Shao Qing , Ji Dong , Li Fan , Chen Guofeng
Published: January 2015

Background/Aims: Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has therapeutic effects on various diseases, while its effect on developing cirrhosis as well as the underlying mechanism remained largely unknown. Methods: Twenty C57BL/6 mice were randomly separated into 2 groups of ten each. One group received transplantation of MSCs, while the other group received saline as control. The mice then received intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) twice per week for 8 weeks to develop cirrhosis. After another 4 weeks, the levels of cirrhosis in these mice were evaluated by liver fibrosis area, portal pressure, sodium balance and excretion. Transcripts of transforming growth factor β 1 (TGFβ1) and bone morphogenic protein 7 (BMP7) in the mouse livers were quantified by RT-qPCR. BMP7-depleted MSCs were prepared and applied in this model, and compared to MSCs. Results: Liver fibrosis, portal hypertension and sodium retention that were developed by CCl4, were all significantly alleviated by MSCs transplantation, which decreased TGFβ1 levels and increased BMP7 levels in the injured liver. MSCs were found to express extremely high levels of BMP7. Knockdown of BMP7 in MSCs completely abolished the protective effect of MSCs against CCl4-induced cirrhosis. Conclusions: MSCs mitigate cirrhosis through their production of BMP7 against the fibrogenic effect of TGFβ1 in the injured liver.
Increased Arterial Blood Pressure and Vascular Remodeling in Mice Lacking Salt-Inducible Kinase 1 (SIK1)
Authors: Bertorello Alejandro M. , Pires Nuno , Igreja Bruno , Pinho Maria João , Vorkapic Emina , Wågsäter Dick , Wikström Johannes , Behrendt Margareta , Hamsten Anders , Eriksson Per , Soares-da-Silva Patricio , Brion Laura
Published: January 2015

Rationale:

In human genetic studies a single nucleotide polymorphism within the salt-inducible kinase 1 (
SIK1
) gene was associated with hypertension. Lower SIK1 activity in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) leads to decreased sodium-potassium ATPase activity, which associates with increased vascular tone. Also, SIK1 participates in a negative feedback mechanism on the transforming growth factor-β1 signaling and downregulation of SIK1 induces the expression of extracellular matrix remodeling genes.

Objective:

To evaluate whether reduced expression/activity of SIK1 alone or in combination with elevated salt intake could modify the structure and function of the vasculature, leading to higher blood pressure.

Methods and Results:

SIK1 knockout (
sik1
−/−
) and wild-type (
sik1

+/+

) mice were challenged to a normal- or chronic high-salt intake (1% NaCl). Under normal-salt conditions, the
sik1
−/−
mice showed increased collagen deposition in the aorta but similar blood pressure compared with the
sik1
+/+
mice. During high-salt intake, the
sik1
+/+
mice exhibited an increase in SIK1 expression in the VSMCs layer of the aorta, whereas the
sik1
−/−
mice exhibited upregulated transforming growth factor-β1 signaling and increased expression of endothelin-1 and genes involved in VSMC contraction, higher systolic blood pressure, and signs of cardiac hypertrophy. In vitro knockdown of SIK1 induced upregulation of collagen in aortic adventitial fibroblasts and enhanced the expression of contractile markers and of endothelin-1 in VSMCs.

Conclusions:

Vascular SIK1 activation might represent a novel mechanism involved in the prevention of high blood pressure development triggered by high-salt intake through the modulation of the contractile phenotype of VSMCs via transforming growth factor-β1-signaling inhibition.
Ethanol and Normobaric Oxygen
Authors: Geng Xiaokun , Elmadhoun Omar , Peng Changya , Ji Xunming , Hafeez Adam , Liu Zongjian , Du Huishan , Rafols Jose A. , Ding Yuchuan
Published: January 2015

Background and Purpose—

Ischemic stroke induces metabolic disarray. A central regulatory site, pyruvate dehydrogeanse complex (PDHC) sits at the cross-roads of 2 fundamental metabolic pathways: aerobic and anaerobic. In this study, we combined ethanol (EtOH) and normobaric oxygen (NBO) to develop a novel treatment to modulate PDHC and its regulatory proteins, namely pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase, leading to improved metabolism and reduced oxidative damage.

Methods—

Sprague–Dawley rats were subjected to transient (2, 3, or 4 hours) middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by 3- or 24-hour reperfusion, or permanent (28 hours) middle cerebral artery occlusion without reperfusion. At 2 hours after the onset of ischemia, rats received either an intraperitoneal injection of saline, 1 dose of EtOH (1.5 g/kg) for 2- and 3-hour middle cerebral artery occlusion, 2 doses of EtOH (1.5 g/kg followed by 1.0 g/kg in 2 hours) in 4 hours or permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion, and EtOH+95% NBO (at 2 hours after the onset of ischemia for 6 hours) in permanent stroke. Infarct volumes and neurological deficits were examined. Oxidative metabolism and stress were determined by measuring ADP/ATP ratio and reactive oxygen species levels. Protein levels of PDHC, pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase, and pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase were assessed.

Results—

EtOH induced dose-dependent neuroprotection in transient ischemia. Compared to EtOH or NBO alone, NBO+EtOH produced the best outcomes in permanent ischemia. These therapies improved brain oxidative metabolism by decreasing ADP/ATP ratios and reactive oxygen species levels, in association with significantly raised levels of PDHC and pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase, as well as decreased pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase.

Conclusions—

Both EtOH and EtOH+NBO treatments conferred neuroprotection in severe stroke by affecting brain metabolism. The treatment may modulate the damaging cascade of metabolic events by bringing the PDHC activity back to normal metabolic levels.
Emended description of Anthurium hatschbachii (Araceae) and a new record for Santa Catarina State, Brazil
Authors: Ferneda Rocha Lilien Cristhiane , Cardoso Ana Paula , Smidt Eric De Camargo , Temponi Lívia Godinho
Published: January 2015

We report the rediscovery of Anthurium hatschbachii in Paraná State and the first published record of this species in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. We add to its original description the following: the shape and colour of its cataphylls, peduncle, midrib, petiole, spathe and spadix, taxonomic and ecological notes, photographs of live plants, a distribution map and conservation assessments. Moreover, we report that two paratypes were found at RB and the MOBOT herbarium.
Melastrongygaster, a new genus of the tribe Strongygastrini (Diptera: Tachinidae), with five new species from Asia
Authors: SHIMA HIROSHI
Published: January 2015

A new genus with five new species of the Tachinidae is described: Melastrongygaster gen. nov., M. atrata sp. nov. (type species) from Japan and South Korea, M. chaoi sp. nov. from China, M. fuscata sp. nov. from China, M. kambaitiana sp. nov. from Myanmar and M. orbitalis sp. nov. from Vietnam. Melastrongygaster belongs to the tribe Strongygastrini and the subfamilial position of the tribe is discussed.
Między brakiem a nadmiarem. Z Ireną Grudzińską-Gross rozmawia Joanna Tokarska-Bakir
Authors: Tokarska-Bakir Joanna , Grudzińska-Gross Irena
Published: January 2015

Between overabundance and scarcity. Joanna Tokarska-Bakir in an interview with Irena Grudzińska GrossThis conversation with Irena Grudzińska-Gross starts a series of interviews in “Studia Litteraria et Historica”, which motto is the title of the essay of Jan Stanisław Bystroń “On subjects I was advised not to pursue”. Among these subjects that Irena Grudzińska-Gross names are: war, family history, women.  Grudzińska-Gross tells also about the reactions to “Złote Żniwa” - a book that she wrote together with Jan Tomasz Gross, and about academic work of people of Eastern Europe living in the United States. One part of the interview concerns also a “collective hypnosis”, that Americans underwent after the 9/11 World Trade Center Attack and the price, that Susan Sontag had to pay for being critical about American militarism. Między brakiem a nadmiarem. Z Ireną Grudzińską-Gross rozmawia Joanna Tokarska-BakirRozmowa z Ireną Grudzińską-Gross otwiera cykl wywiadów “Studia Litteraria et Historica”, których mottem jest tytuł eseju Jana Stanisława Bystronia: “Tematy, które mi odradzano”. Wśród “odradzanych” tematów, które wymienia Irena Grudzińska-Gross są między innymi: wojna, historia rodzinna, kobiety. Grudzińska-Gross opowiada także o reakcjach na książkę “Złote żniwa”, którą napisała wraz z Janem Tomaszem Grossem oraz o pracy akademickiej osób z Europy Wschodniej w Stanach Zjednoczonych. Część rozmowy dotyczy także “zbiorowej hipnozy”, której ulegli mieszkańcy USA po ataku 11 września 2001 na World Trade Center i ceny, jaką musiała zapłacić Susan Sontag za krytykę amerykańskiego militaryzmu.
Go native. Debaty o książce Timothy Snydera
Authors: Tokarska-Bakir Joanna
Published: January 2015

Go native. Debates on a book by Timothy Snyder This article debates the content of the latest issue of “Contemporary European History” from 2012 (vol. 21, no. 2) dedicated to Timothy Snyder’s book Bloodlands. The debate includes contributions by: Mark Mazower (Columbia University), Dan Diner (Hebrew University/Simon-Dubnow-Institute Leipzig), Thomas Kühne (Clark University) and Jörg Baberowski (Humboldt University). Timothy Snyder reacts to their comments in an extensive essay.
Fałszywy znak równości
Authors: Zuroff Efraim
Published: January 2015

The equivalency canardEfraim Zuroff's text, originally published in Haaretz magazine, is a review of Timothy Snyder's Bloodlands. Snyder distinguishes six main mass murders commited by Nazi Germany and Soviet Union during the period of the Third Reich's existence. In Zuroff's opinion there are some significant differences between these tragedies. Dubious comparisons proposed by Snyder made the Holocaust most affected. Describing the Shoah as one of the six equally horryfying mass murders, the author ignores its ideological roots. Roots that sentenced to death all Jews  - regardless of their political views, religious practicies or the level of identification with Jewish community. Moreover Snyder takes no notice of the georaphical scope of the Holocaust. He also does not notice the fact, that the Nazis effectively managed to make so many Europeans their accomplices, who actively supported the Shoah. Fałszywy znak równościTekst Efraima Zuroffa, który pierwotnie ukazał się w piśmie Haaretz, to recenzja książki Skrwawione ziemie Timothy Snydera. Snyder wyróżnia sześć głównych masowych mordów popełnionych przez Niemcy i Związek Radziecki w okresie, który odpowiada istnieniu Trzeciej Rzeszy. Istnieją jednak, zdaniem Zuroffa, znaczące różnice między tymi tragediami. Na wątpliwych porównaniach, które proponuje Snyder, najbardziej „ucierpiał” Holokaust. Opisując Shoah jako jeden z sześciu równie straszliwych, masowych mordów, autor pomija jego ideologiczne korzenie, które sprawiały, że na śmierć skazany był każdy bez wyjątku Żyd, niezależnie od jego poglądów politycznych, praktyk religijnych czy stopnia identyfikacji z żydowską wspólnotą. Ponadto Snyder ignoruje ogromny zasięg geograficzny Holokaustu. Nie zauważa także skuteczności, z jaką naziści potrafili uczynić swoimi wspólnikami tak wielu Europejczyków, którzy w konsekwencji aktywnie wspomagali Shoah.
Opowieść o nieuwikłanych ziemiach
Authors: Kozłowski Michał
Published: January 2015

Narrative of untangled lands Timothy Snyder’s Bloodlands is an extremely ambitious project not only of historiography but also, we dare say, of historiosophy. Snyder seeks originality in shaping both the geography and the narrative of what he considers to be the central occurrence of contemporary history – mass killings of the Nazi regime and Stalinist Russia. He claims that in order to comprehend the logic of the killings we need to put emphasis on the (intentional and unintentional) collusion (interaction) of the two regimes. I believe that this interpretation is trivial if we take its weak interpretation, and wrong if we want to understand it in a strong way. Snyder is widely praised for adopting or giving justice to the Central European (namely Polish) perception of the WWII, but in doing it he gladly succumbs to its lacunas and deliberate misinterpretations. He not only downgrades the importance of the Shoah but also downplays the role of Eastern European anti-Semitism and its interaction with the Nazi “messianic” anti-judaismus as the key factor in successful execution of the Final Solution.
Miłosz, wojna i poezja cywilna
Authors: Grudzińska-Gross Irena
Published: January 2015

Miłosz, war and civilian poetryThe article addresses the reaction of the Polish population during Second World War towards the military resistance to the occupier. The author offers a case study of the life choices of Czesław Miłosz, the poet. Considering them hopeless and counterproductive, Miłosz decided not to participate in military actions. He had no confidence in the Polish government in exile and its military decisions. Instead, the poet concentrated on writing and publishing; he also criticized what he viewed as unjustified sacrifice of life in the Warsaw Uprising of 1944. His attitude was criticized then, and today continues to be a source of attacks against the poet. The article analyses the logic of national solidarity in the times of foreign occupation and the arguments of the poet’s critics. The author of the article comes to the conclusion that Miłosz’s stand was beneficial not only for himself but also for the community as a whole.
Ex silentio. O wierszu „Todtnauberg” Paula Celana
Authors: Tokarska-Bakir Joanna
Published: January 2015

Ex silentio. On Paul Celan’s Poem “Todtnauberg”This paper contests the interpretative framework proposed by Hans Georg Gadamer and Cezary Wodziński in their interpretations of certain poems by Paul Celan. The point of contention lies in the understanding of the relationship between biography and poem. The author analyses the “concept of discretion,” which excludes Celan’s Jewish identity from the analysis of his poetry, and proposes her own reading of both his poem Todtnauberg and anti-volkist interpretation Hüttenfenster. The background consists of the polemic about the famous meeting of Paul Celan and Martin Heidegger in August 1, 1967 in Todtnauberg.
Zapożyczenia z mowy żydowskiej w narracji antysemickiej
Authors: Cała Alina
Published: January 2015

Loanwords from Jewish speech in an anti-Semitic narrative Anti-Semites used a particular form of narrative that changed over time. Beginning with the 1880s the language of anti-Semitic propaganda adopted an increasingly aggressive tone. In the interwar period, on top of aggression, insinuations, lies or stereotypical simplifications already known from previous publications, anti-Semites more and more often turned to mockery, whose aim was to humiliate and depreciate Jews as well as their culture by means of sneering. The author of the article analyses a particular form of mockery which employed loanwords from the Yiddish language or was stylised as the Yiddish language itself. Such a phenomenon is illustrated with an example of feature articles published in “Myśl narodowa” weekly, a body of the nationalist political movement National Democracy targeted at intelligentsia and issued between 1921 and 1939 in Warsaw. The roots of this stylistic device go back to the vaudevilles staged in cafés in the late 19thcentury, which included satirical monologues of Jewish protagonists speaking a distinct Polish language filled with linguistic mistakes and Yiddishisms.
Bystroń evergreen
Authors: Tokarska-Bakir Joanna , Zawadzka Anna
Published: January 2015

Editorial
Multicultural Counseling Meets Potentially Harmful Therapy
Authors: Davidson M. Meghan , Hauser Claire T.
Published: January 2015

This reaction includes an appraisal of contributions, limitations, and questions raised in Wendt, Gone, & Nagata’s major contribution regarding potentially harmful therapy (PHT) and multicultural counseling. The authors are commended for initiating a convergent dialogue between the PHT and multicultural counseling literatures, creating a strong argument for their integration, and contextualizing the prior division. Commentary is provided in response to the narrow emphasis on an ethnoracial domain of culture, and suggestions for broadening the PHT/multicultural counseling dialogue through inclusion of multiple identities and intersectionality are provided. Greater integration of specific ethics codes and guidelines is also encouraged. Finally, future directions for consideration and study are posited, including the practicalities of researching harm within an integrated PHT/multicultural counseling framework, the necessity of working toward a refined definition of harm, and the manner through which the multicultural counseling perspective on addressing culturally based injury could augment existing PHT efforts to mitigate harm.
The production of gender agreement in native and L2 Spanish: The role of morphophonological form
Authors: Foote Rebecca
Published: January 2015

In native speakers of gender-marking languages, mechanisms of gender production appear to be affected by the morphophonological cues to gender present in the noun phrase. This influence is manifested in higher levels of production accuracy when more transparent cues to gender are present in comparison to when they are not. The goal of the present study was to examine the role of morphophonological cues to gender in the production of gender agreement in native speakers and second language learners of Spanish in light of the Marking and Morphing account of agreement (Eberhard et al., 2005). Participants repeated and completed complex subject noun phrases with head nouns that varied in gender and gender-marking transparency. Analyses of accuracy rates along with Marking and Morphing model simulations of the results indicated that, contrary to previous findings, native speakers were not affected by gender-marking transparency. However, based on model simulations, second language (L2) learners were affected by the morphophonological form of the head noun.