bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interference in Native and Non-Native Sentence Processing
Authors: CUNNINGS IAN
Published: January 2017

The primary aim of my target article was to demonstrate how careful consideration of the working memory operations that underlie successful language comprehension is crucial to our understanding of the similarities and differences between native (L1) and non-native (L2) sentence processing. My central claims were that highly proficient L2 speakers construct similarly specified syntactic parses as L1 speakers, and that differences between L1 and L2 processing can be characterised in terms of L2 speakers being more prone to interference during memory retrieval operations. In explaining L1/L2 differences in this way, I argued a primary source of differences between L1 and L2 processing lies in how different populations of speakers weight cues that guide memory retrieval.
The development of a national nutrition and mental health research agenda with comparison of priorities among diverse stakeholders
Authors: Davison Karen M , D’Andreamatteo Carla , Mitchell Scott , Vanderkooy Pat
Published: January 2017

Objective

To develop a national nutrition and mental health research agenda based on the engagement of diverse stakeholders and to assess research priorities by stakeholder groups.

Design

A staged, integrated and participatory initiative was implemented to structure a national nutrition and mental health research agenda that included: (i) national stakeholder consultations to prioritize research questions; (ii) a workshop involving national representatives from research, policy and practice to further define priorities; (iii) triangulation of data to formulate the agenda; and (iv) test hypotheses about stakeholder influences on decision making.

Setting

Canada.

Subjects

Diverse stakeholders including researchers, academics, administrators, service providers, policy makers, practitioners, non-profit, industry and funding agency representatives, front-line workers, individuals with lived experience of a mental health condition and those who provide care for them.

Results

This first-of-its-kind research priority-setting initiative showed points of agreement among diverse stakeholders (n 899) on research priorities aimed at service provision; however, respondents with lived experience of a mental health condition (themselves or a family member) placed emphasis on prevention and mental health promotion-based research. The final integrated agenda identified four research priorities, including programmes and services, service provider roles, the determinants of health and knowledge translation and exchange. These research priorities aim to identify effective models of care, enhance collaboration, inform policy makers and foster knowledge dissemination.

Conclusions

Since a predictor of research uptake is the involvement of relevant stakeholders, a sustained and deliberate effort must continue to engage collaboration that will lead to the optimization of nutrition and mental health-related outcomes.
ASPeRiX, a first-order forward chaining approach for answer set computing
Authors: LEFÈVRE CLAIRE , BÉATRIX CHRISTOPHER , STÉPHAN IGOR , GARCIA LAURENT
Published: January 2017

The natural way to use Answer Set Programming (ASP) to represent knowledge in Artificial Intelligence or to solve a combinatorial problem is to elaborate a first-order logic program with default negation. In a preliminary step, this program with variables is translated in an equivalent propositional one by a first tool: the grounder. Then, the propositional program is given to a second tool: the solver. This last one computes (if they exist) one or many answer sets (stable models) of the program, each answer set encoding one solution of the initial problem. Until today, almost all ASP systems apply this two steps computation. In this article, the projectASPeRiX. is presented as a first-order forward chaining approach for Answer Set Computing. This project was among the first to introduce an approach of answer set computing that escapes the preliminary phase of rule instantiation by integrating it in the search process. The methodology applies a forward chaining of first-order rules that are grounded on the fly by means of previously produced atoms. Theoretical foundations of the approach are presented, the main algorithms of the ASP solverASPeRiX. are detailed and some experiments and comparisons with existing systems are provided.
THE RISE OF CHINA BETWEEN CULTURAL AND CIVILIZATIONAL RATIONALITIES: LESSONS FROM FOUR QING CASES
Authors: Shih Chih-Yu , Chang Chihyun
Published: January 2017

The rise of China is a major feature of global politics at the beginning of the twenty-first century, and one that raises the question of how a rising China and global politics will adapt to each other. This study argues that historical cases are also useful in addressing this question. Four cases are compared: two during the reign of Emperor Xianfeng and another two under the rule of Emperor Guangxu. Emperor Xianfeng's view of China was that it possessed a unique culture that should be separated from alien forces, which he intuitively conceived as different, whereas Emperor Guangxu accepted exchanges with the West as a civilization and was willing to learn from them as a cultural resource. Despite this difference in their political perspectives, both emperors similarly faced constraints to their power in implementing their policies. Two cases are selected for each emperor to demonstrate how they acted differently from a cultural orientation of estrangement and exchange on one hand as well as a position of strength and weakness on the other. This comparative study provides insights into how China in the twenty-first century adapts to its expanding influence.
Tomato variety trials for productivity and quality in organic hoop house versus open field management
Authors: Healy G.K. , Emerson B.J. , Dawson J.C.
Published: January 2017

Tomatoes are a profitable direct-market crop for diversified Midwestern farmers. Unfortunately, many tomatoes with the flavor and quality characteristics consumers desire (such as heirloom varieties) lack agronomic traits important to organic farmers. Hoop-house production offers potentially higher yields and quality than field-grown tomatoes, and has become a popular option for organic farmers. This study compares 19 varieties of tomatoes in both organic hoop house and field conditions, to identify high-performing varieties for future plant breeding, and to characterize the effect of hoop houses on productivity and quality traits. We found that tomatoes grown in a hoop house had significantly higher yield, lower disease severity and higher °Brix (soluble sugars) than those grown in an adjacent field; and that management (hoop house versus field) had significantly more influence over those traits than other variables (variety, market class or year). This lack of varietal differences between management systems will simplify breeding efforts aimed at introducing varieties for hoop house production.
Case management in complex fraud trials: actors and strategies in achieving procedural efficiency
Authors: Jordanoska Aleksandra
Published: January 2017

Trials of complex fraud cases have raised numerous contentious issues in terms of procedural fairness and public resources expenditure. This paper examines the management of complex fraud trials through the lens of managerialism in the criminal justice system, analysing its effects upon procedural efficiency of the trial. The paper draws on qualitative data gathered from observations of insider-dealing trials, and interviews with prosecuting and defence lawyers and a trial judge. The findings reveal that, in practice, although dangers to procedural efficiency are constantly present throughout the trial, its successful management depends on a combination of factors vested in the actors involved and the strategies used. Whilst the increased efficiency of the trials is a reflection of managerial approaches in case management, this does not necessarily indicate a negative development in the area of the control of business misconduct, and managerialism may not be necessarily entirely undesirable in the criminal justice system.
Storytelling in Jazz Work as Retrospective Collaboration
Authors: OKIJI FUMI
Published: January 2017

Storytelling has proved to be a useful metaphor in jazz commentary and analysis. Within such literature it is invariably solos, portrayed as discrete cultural articles, that “tell a story” through their adherence to internal coherence and logic. This prized autonomy is modeled on that which we find in the modern European tradition. Pathbreaking studies by scholars such as Ingrid Monson, Paul Berliner, and Keith Sawyer have redressed this hegemony in highlighting the importance of collaborative work in jazz. This essay needs to be considered a contribution to this focus. Yet approaches that emphasize interaction among band members tend toward dialogical metaphors and analytical frameworks that marginalize forms of creative “collaboration” that can occur retrospectively between musicians and vocalists who may not have even met. Drawing from Walter Benjamin's essay “The Storyteller: Nikolai Leskov,” this essay argues that storytelling in jazz is an intergenerational, accumulative effort in which we see a story continue to unfold with each new telling. It shows that there is generative tension between a musician holding on to his or her distinctive characteristics and approach, and their commitment to sharing (in) the story. Storytelling in jazz involves musicians adding “transparent layers” to the tradition, contributing to musical material, and collaborating with others (both contemporary and temporally distant) in a manner in which personal distinction is actively maintained. Through a consideration of John Coltrane's ideas concerning the centrality of community to the practice, storytelling in jazz is shown to be of extramusical social significance also.
Teeth complexity, hypsodonty and body mass in Santacrucian (Early Miocene) notoungulates (Mammalia)
Authors: Cassini Guillermo H. , Hernández Del Pino Santiago , Muñoz Nahuel A. , Acosta M. V. Walter G. , Fernández Mercedes , Bargo M. Susana , Vizcaíno Sergio F.
Published: January 2017

Notoungulates, native South American fossil mammals, have been recently objective of several palaeoecological studies. Ecomorphology and biomechanics of the masticatory apparatus, together with micro and mesowear analyses on tooth enamel, were applied in order to understand their palaeobiology. In particular, the relationship between some dental traits (hypsodonty, occlusal surface area and complexity) and body mass is still poorly understood. These features were measured by means of the hypsodonty index (HI), occlusal surface area (OSA) and tooth area (OTA), enamel crest complexity (ECC) and length (OEL). The relationships between these indices were evaluated in five pan-contemporaneous Santacrucian Notoungulata genera from Patagonia: Adinotherium and Nesodon (Toxodontia), Interatherium, Protypotherium and Hegetotherium (Typotheria). While OSA, OTA and OEL were size dependent and strongly correlated, HI and ECC were size independent. All notoungulates analysed have very hypsodont teeth, indicating high rates of tooth wear in response to an increase of abrasives consumed with the food; their tooth occlusal area and complexity could be related to chewing efforts associated with the toughness of the plants consumed. HI, OSA and ECC were considered useful for palaeoecological reconstructions, but the results presented here show that these three features are integrated as a complex, so should not be evaluated separately.
The forelimb of †Cyonasua sp. (Procyonidae, Carnivora): ecomorphological interpretation in the context of carnivorans
Authors: Tarquini J. , Toledo N. , Morgan C. C. , Soibelzon L. H.
Published: January 2017

The procyonid †Cyonasua is endemic to South America and recorded from the Late Miocene to the Early Pleistocene. This paper studies the forelimb of †Cyonasua sp. (late Pliocene of Miramar, Argentina), using an ecomorphological approach to infer morphological adaptations linked to substrate preference and locomotory mode, as well as to grasping and digging ability. Twenty linear measurements of forelimb and pectoral girdle were taken from †Cyonasua sp. and a sample of 87 specimens of extant carnivoran families (Procyonidae, Mustelidae, Ursidae, Viverridae, Canidae and Felidae). Raw values were transformed to minimise the effect of size. Morphological variation was explored by principal component analysis (PCA); substrate preference and locomotory mode were further analysed by multivariate analysis of variance (MAV) and discriminant analysis (DA); grasping and digging ability were analysed by DA. In the PCA morphospace, †Cyonasua sp. occupied a unique position, close to extant procyonids. DA classified it as non-specialised digger with poor grasping ability. The results lead to the interpretation of †Cyonasua sp. as having a moderately stabilised elbow joint with poor pronation–supination, although some climbing skills cannot be ruled out. Thus, †Cyonasua sp. could have had generalised habits, in agreement with reconstructed palaeoenvironmental conditions.
Experimental Evidence on the Relationship Between Candidate Funding Sources and Voter Evaluations
Authors: Dowling Conor M. , Miller Michael G.
Published: January 2017

Money comes from a variety of sources in American elections. It is unclear however whether voters’ knowledge about a candidate's funding portfolio influences how that candidate is evaluated. We present the results of two survey experiments in which we randomly assigned the composition of donors from various categories to a hypothetical candidate. We find that on average a candidate described as having received a majority of his contributions from individuals is evaluated more highly than one who received a majority of his contributions from interest groups. We also find that when it comes to self-financing a campaign, using private sector money is more beneficial to candidates than using inherited money, but only when the candidate is a member of the same party as the voter. Our results have implications for campaign strategy, academic debates concerning the effect of money on elections, and policy debates concerning the effects of increased campaign finance disclosure.
Qualität von Nachhilfeunterricht und ihre Korrelate
Authors: Guill Karin , Lüdtke Oliver , Köller Olaf
Published: January 2017

Zusammenfassung. Zur Beschreibung der Qualität von Nachhilfeunterricht unterscheidet das Rahmenmodell für außerschulische Lerngelegenheiten des Nationalen Bildungspanels (NEPS) die Dimensionen kognitive Aktivierung, unterstützendes Lernklima und Strukturierung. Dieses Modell wurde mit Daten einer NEPS-Kohorte in der 10. Jahrgangsstufe überprüft. Konfirmatorische Faktorenanalysen zeigten für die Nachhilfefächer Mathematik und Englisch eine hinreichende Passung des Modells. Die Qualitätsdimensionen hingen teilweise schwach negativ mit der Schülerleistung und Hilflosigkeit und positiv mit der Qualifikation der Nachhilfelehrkräfte (kleine bis große Effekte) zusammen.
Förderung sprachlicher Kompetenzen – Das Potenzial der Familiensprache für den Wortschatzerwerb aus Texten
Authors: McElvany Nele , Ohle Annika , El-Khechen Wahiba , Hardy Ilonca , Cinar Melihan
Published: January 2017

Zusammenfassung. Sprachliche Kompetenzen wie der Wortschatz sind zentrale Voraussetzungen für schulischen Erfolg und gesellschaftliche Integration. Vor dem Hintergrund der Theory of Learning from Context ( Sternberg & Powell, 1983 ) und dem Modell des Textverstehens ( Kintsch, 1998 ) wird untersucht, in welchem Umfang Kinder nichtdeutscher Familiensprache (N = 143) neue Wörter aus Lesetexten lernen und ob die Einbeziehung der (türkischen) Familiensprache zur Wortschatzförderung im Deutschen zusätzlichen Nutzen hat. Die Analysen im Rahmen eines experimentellen Prä-Post-Testdesigns mit vier Bedingungen, in denen der Einbezug der Familiensprache manipuliert wurde, und mehrwöchiger Interventionszeit mit 15 Leseeinheiten ergeben ein Befundmuster für die Wortschatzveränderung nach dem Lesen der Texte, bei dem sich kein zusätzliches Potenzial des Einbezugs der Familiensprache zeigt. Die Befunde werden hinsichtlich ihrer Bedeutung für Theorie und zukünftige Forschungsdesiderata sowie die schulische Praxis diskutiert.
Schulische Inklusion
Authors: Ahrbeck Bernd
Published: January 2017

Zusammenfassung. Die schulische Inklusion ist ein kontrovers behandeltes und affektiv vielfach hoch besetztes Thema. Häufig wird sie im Rückgriff auf die Menschenrechte mit Erwartungen überfrachtet und mit weitreichenden Zielen wie einer „Schule für alle“ versehen, die sich bei realistischer Betrachtung aus der UN-Behindertenrechtskonvention nicht herleiten lassen. So wünschenswert eine stärkere gemeinsame Beschulung von Kindern mit und ohne Behinderung auch ist: Auch die gemeinsame Beschulung muss sich in ihrer Leistungsfähigkeit legitimieren, empirische Befunde zur Kenntnis nehmen und die Grenzen des Möglichen anerkennen.
Wie gut können bildungsstandardbasierte Tests den schulischen Erfolg von Grundschulkindern vorhersagen?
Authors: Fuchs Gesine , Brunner Martin
Published: January 2017

Zusammenfassung. Bildungsstandardbasierte Tests werden bundesweit in der Primar- und Sekundarstufe zur Überprüfung von fachlichen Kompetenzen der Schülerinnen und Schüler in Deutschland eingesetzt, um ausgehend vom aktuellen Leistungsstand auch über deren zukünftigen schulischen Erfolg zu informieren. Wie gut diese Prognose gelingt, untersucht die vorliegende Längsschnittstudie anhand bildungsstandardbasierter Tests zur Erfassung der mathematischen Kompetenz und der Lesekompetenz in Deutsch für Brandenburger Grundschulkinder in der 3. bzw. 4. Klasse. Die Ergebnisse aus Regressionsanalysen zeigen, dass bildungsstandardbasierte Kompetenztests Prognosen auf 2 bzw. 3 Jahre später erhobene Kompetenztestergebnisse (β ≥ .56) sowie Schulnoten (β ≤ –.47) in vergleichbarem Ausmaß wie kommerziell erhältliche, standardisierte Schulleistungstests ermöglichen. Zudem ließ sich für beide Fächer eine substanzielle Vorhersagekraft der Kompetenztests für die Gymnasialempfehlung am Ende der 6. Klasse nachweisen. Auch bei Kontrolle in den Vorhersagemodellen für weitere leistungsrelevante Merkmale (Schulnoten, Intelligenz und familiärer Hintergrund) blieb ein prognostischer Mehrwert der Kompetenztests für alle untersuchten Kriterien des schulischen Erfolgs bestehen.
Self-Esteem and the Quality of Romantic Relationships
Authors: Yasemin Erol Ruth , Orth Ulrich
Published: January 2017

Abstract. The relation between self-esteem and romantic relationships has been the focus of many research studies. In this article, we review theoretical perspectives and available evidence on (a) the effect of people’s self-esteem on the quality of their romantic relationships, (b) the effect of self-esteem similarity between partners on relationship quality, and (c) the psychological mechanisms that might account for the link between self-esteem and relationship quality. Overall, the evidence suggests that high self-esteem is beneficial in romantic relationships. Furthermore, research using data from both partners of couples suggests that high self-esteem has a positive effect also on the partner’s happiness with the relationship. However, research indicates that the degree of self-esteem similarity between partners does not influence the couple’s relationship satisfaction. Although evidence suggests that perceived regard and secure attachment between the partners explains why self-esteem is beneficial in romantic relationships, future research is needed to examine in more detail the mechanisms through which self-esteem contributes to a happy relationship.
The Interdependence of Personality and Satisfaction in	Couples
Authors: Weidmann Rebekka , Ledermann Thomas , Grob Alexander
Published: January 2017

Abstract. Personality has been found to play an important role in predicting satisfaction in couples. This review presents dyadic research on the association between Big Five traits and both life and relationship satisfaction in couples focusing on self-reported personality, partner-perceived personality (how the partner rates one’s own personality), and personality similarity. Furthermore, special attention is given to possible gender effects. The findings indicate the importance of self-reported as well as partner-perceived reported personality for the satisfaction of both partners. Specifically, the majority of studies found intrapersonal and interpersonal effects for neuroticism, agreeableness, and conscientiousness on life or relationship satisfaction. For the partner-perceived personality, intrapersonal and interpersonal effects were present for all Big Five traits. Partners’ similarity in personality traits seems not to be related with their satisfaction when controlling for partners’ personality.
How Was Your Day, Darling?
Authors: Steiner Rebekka S. , Krings Franciska
Published: January 2017

Abstract. The aim of this paper is to review recent research on negative and positive crossover from work to family and from family to work in couples. The results of the 58 included studies mainly highlight indirect crossover based on spillover processes and marital interactions. More specifically, they show that incumbents’ positive and negative experiences at work cross over to their spouses’ well-being or family functioning through experiences of work-family enrichment and work-family conflict, respectively, and, for negative crossover, through negative marital interactions. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed and directions for future research are outlined.
Co-Development of Personality and Friendships Across the Lifespan
Authors: Wrzus Cornelia , Neyer Franz J.
Published: January 2017

Abstract. This article examines changes in the co-development of personality characteristics and friendships across the lifespan. We address how personality traits shape friendship development (i.e., selection effects) and how friendships shape personality traits (i.e., socialization effects). By integrating separate empirical studies, we look at how selection and socialization effects change across the lifespan. A review of longitudinal research supports our hypothesis that selection effects on friendships intensify during adolescence, peak in young adulthood, and diminish throughout middle and late adulthood. Socialization effects through friendships seem to be moderately sized during adolescence, then small to negligible from young adulthood onwards. For future directions, we discuss effects of the transactional development of friendships and personality regarding associated dispositions within individuals, associated individuals within friendship dyads, and individuals associated within wider social networks.
Bivalent IAP antagonists, but not monovalent IAP antagonists, inhibit TNF-mediated NF-κB signaling by degrading TRAF2-associated cIAP1 in cancer cells
Authors: Mitsuuchi Y , Benetatos CA , Deng Y , Haimowitz T , Beck SC , Arnone MR , Kapoor GS , Seipel ME , Chunduru SK , McKinlay MA , Begley CG , Condon SM
Published: January 2017

The inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) proteins have pivotal roles in cell proliferation and differentiation, and antagonizing IAPs in certain cancer cell lines results in induction of cell death. A variety of IAP antagonist compounds targeting the baculovirus IAP protein repeat 3 (BIR3) domain of cIAP1have advanced into clinical trials. Here we sought to compare and contrast the biochemical activities of selected monovalent and bivalent IAP antagonists with the intent of identifying functional differences between these two classes of IAP antagonist drug candidates. The anti-cellular IAP1 (cIAP1) and pro-apoptotic activities of monovalent IAP antagonists were increased by using a single covalent bond to combine the monovalent moieties at the P4 position. In addition, regardless of drug concentration, treatment with monovalent compounds resulted in consistently higher levels of residual cIAP1 compared with that seen following bivalent compound treatment. We found that the remaining residual cIAP1 following monovalent compound treatment was predominantly tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2)-associated cIAP1. As a consequence, bivalent compounds were more effective at inhibiting TNF-induced activation of p65/NF-κB compared with monovalent compounds. Moreover, extension of the linker chain at the P4 position of bivalent compounds resulted in a decreased ability to degrade TRAF2-associated cIAP1 in a manner similar to monovalent compounds. This result implied that specific bivalent IAP antagonists but not monovalent compounds were capable of inducing formation of a cIAP1 E3 ubiquitin ligase complex with the capacity to effectively degrade TRAF2-associated cIAP1. These results further suggested that only certain bivalent IAP antagonists are preferred for the targeting of TNF-dependent signaling for the treatment of cancer or infectious diseases.
Universal and uniquely human factors in spontaneous number perception
Authors: Ferrigno Stephen , Jara-Ettinger Julian , Piantadosi Steven T. , Cantlon Jessica F.
Published: January 2017

A capacity for nonverbal numerical estimation is widespread among humans and animals. However, it is currently unclear whether numerical percepts are spontaneously extracted from the environment and whether nonverbal perception is influenced by human exposure to formal mathematics. We tested US adults and children, non-human primates, and numerate and innumerate Tsimane’ adults on a quantity task in which they could choose to categorize sets of dots on the basis of number alone, surface area alone or a combination of the two. Despite differences in age, species and education, subjects are universally biased to base their judgments on number as opposed to the alternatives. Numerical biases are uniquely enhanced in humans compared to non-human primates, and correlated with degree of mathematics experience in both the US and Tsimane’ groups. We conclude that humans universally and spontaneously extract numerical information, and that human nonverbal numerical perception is enhanced by symbolic numeracy.
Long non-coding RNA Linc-RAM enhances myogenic differentiation by interacting with MyoD
Authors: Yu Xiaohua , Zhang Yong , Li Tingting , Ma Zhao , Jia Haixue , Chen Qian , Zhao Yixia , Zhai Lili , Zhong Ran , Li Changyin , Zou Xiaoting , Meng Jiao , Chen Antony K. , Puri Pier Lorenzo , Chen Meihong , Zhu Dahai
Published: January 2017

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are important regulators of diverse biological processes. Here we report on functional identification and characterization of a novel long intergenic non-coding RNA with MyoD-regulated and skeletal muscle-restricted expression that promotes the activation of the myogenic program, and is therefore termed Linc-RAM (Linc-RNA Activator of Myogenesis). Linc-RAM is transcribed from an intergenic region of myogenic cells and its expression is upregulated during myogenesis. Notably, in vivo functional studies show that Linc-RAM knockout mice display impaired muscle regeneration due to the differentiation defect of satellite cells. Mechanistically, Linc-RAM regulates expression of myogenic genes by directly binding MyoD, which in turn promotes the assembly of the MyoD–Baf60c–Brg1 complex on the regulatory elements of target genes. Collectively, our findings reveal the functional role and molecular mechanism of a lineage-specific Linc-RAM as a regulatory lncRNA required for tissues-specific chromatin remodelling and gene expression.
Limiting parental feedback disrupts vocal development in marmoset monkeys
Authors: Gultekin Yasemin B. , Hage Steffen R.
Published: January 2017

Vocalizations of human infants undergo dramatic changes across the first year by becoming increasingly mature and speech-like. Human vocal development is partially dependent on learning by imitation through social feedback between infants and caregivers. Recent studies revealed similar developmental processes being influenced by parental feedback in marmoset monkeys for apparently innate vocalizations. Marmosets produce infant-specific vocalizations that disappear after the first postnatal months. However, it is yet unclear whether parental feedback is an obligate requirement for proper vocal development. Using quantitative measures to compare call parameters and vocal sequence structure we show that, in contrast to normally raised marmosets, marmosets that were separated from parents after the third postnatal month still produced infant-specific vocal behaviour at subadult stages. These findings suggest a significant role of social feedback on primate vocal development until the subadult stages and further show that marmoset monkeys are a compelling model system for early human vocal development.
Centrality in the host–pathogen interactome is associated with pathogen fitness during infection
Authors: Crua Asensio Núria , Muñoz Giner Elisabet , de Groot Natalia Sánchez , Torrent Burgas Marc
Published: January 2017

To perform their functions proteins must interact with each other, but how these interactions influence bacterial infection remains elusive. Here we demonstrate that connectivity in the host–pathogen interactome is directly related to pathogen fitness during infection. Using Y. pestis as a model organism, we show that the centrality-lethality rule holds for pathogen fitness during infection but only when the host–pathogen interactome is considered. Our results suggest that the importance of pathogen proteins during infection is directly related to their number of interactions with the host. We also show that pathogen proteins causing an extensive rewiring of the host interactome have a higher impact in pathogen fitness during infection. Hence, we conclude that hubs in the host–pathogen interactome should be explored as promising targets for antimicrobial drug design.
Acute effects of a beverage containing bitter melon extract (CARELA) on postprandial glycemia among prediabetic adults
Authors: Boone C H , Stout J R , Gordon J A , Redd M J , Church D D , Oliveira L P , Fukuda D H , Hoffman J R
Published: January 2017

Background:

Acute ingestion of bitter melon (BM) has been shown to suppress the postprandial glycemic response in diabetics, but its impact on glucose regulation among individuals with impaired glucose tolerance is unclear. Moreover, one’s glucose tolerance level may influence the effectiveness of BM. This study aimed to examine the acute effects of a beverage containing BM extract on blood glucose regulation during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) among prediabetics.

Methods:

Ten prediabetic adults completed two OGTTs—glucose only (D2) and glucose+BM (D3). Responders were identified as subjects whose area under the glucose curve (AUCglu) during D3 was lower than D2. To compare the acute effects of the beverage among individuals with varying glucose tolerance levels, subjects were grouped by their glucose response pattern—Fastpeak (peak glucose (Glupeak) at 30 min postglucose (30P)) and Slowpeak (Glupeak after 30P).

Results:

During D3, responders (n=5) experienced a 13.2% reduction in AUCglu (95% confidence interval (CI): −18.1% to −8.3%), 12.2% reduction in mean glucose (95% CI: −17.3% to −7.0%) and 10.6% reduction in Glupeak (95% CI: −17.5% to −3.7%); plasma glucose was reduced by 9.1% at 30P (95% CI: −15.6% to −2.6%), −24.0% at 60P (95% CI: −36.8% to −11.2%) and −20.0% at 90P (95% CI: −35.8% to −4.2%) during D3. No between-trial differences were noted for Fastpeak or Slowpeak.

Conclusions:

Acute ingestion of BM prior to the second OGTT (D3) led to a reduced postprandial glucose response in 50% of the subjects but did not affect the insulin response. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the beverage was seemingly uninfluenced by the subjects’ glucose tolerance level. Although BM has shown to aid blood glucose management in diabetics, it remains uncertain why only a portion of subjects responded positively to the BM extract in the current study.
WNT/β-catenin signaling regulates mitochondrial activity to alter the oncogenic potential of melanoma in a PTEN-dependent manner
Authors: Brown K , Yang P , Salvador D , Kulikauskas R , Ruohola-Baker H , Robitaille A M , Chien A J , Moon R T , Sherwood V
Published: January 2017

Aberrant regulation of WNT/β-catenin signaling has a crucial role in the onset and progression of cancers, where the effects are not always predictable depending on tumor context. In melanoma, for example, models of the disease predict differing effects of the WNT/β-catenin pathway on metastatic progression. Understanding the processes that underpin the highly context-dependent nature of WNT/β-catenin signaling in tumors is essential to achieve maximal therapeutic benefit from WNT inhibitory compounds. In this study, we have found that expression of the tumor suppressor, phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN), alters the invasive potential of melanoma cells in response to WNT/β-catenin signaling, correlating with differing metabolic profiles. This alters the bioenergetic potential and mitochondrial activity of melanoma cells, triggered through regulation of pro-survival autophagy. Thus, WNT/β-catenin signaling is a regulator of catabolic processes in cancer cells, which varies depending on the metabolic requirements of tumors.
A dataset of human decision-making in teamwork management
Authors: Yu Han , Shen Zhiqi , Miao Chunyan , Leung Cyril , Chen Yiqiang , Fauvel Simon , Lin Jun , Cui Lizhen , Pan Zhengxiang , Yang Qiang
Published: January 2017

Today, most endeavours require teamwork by people with diverse skills and characteristics. In managing teamwork, decisions are often made under uncertainty and resource constraints. The strategies and the effectiveness of the strategies different people adopt to manage teamwork under different situations have not yet been fully explored, partially due to a lack of detailed large-scale data. In this paper, we describe a multi-faceted large-scale dataset to bridge this gap. It is derived from a game simulating complex project management processes. It presents the participants with different conditions in terms of team members’ capabilities and task characteristics for them to exhibit their decision-making strategies. The dataset contains detailed data reflecting the decision situations, decision strategies, decision outcomes, and the emotional responses of 1,144 participants from diverse backgrounds. To our knowledge, this is the first dataset simultaneously covering these four facets of decision-making. With repeated measurements, the dataset may help establish baseline variability of decision-making in teamwork management, leading to more realistic decision theoretic models and more effective decision support approaches.
Two replications of an investigation on empathy and utilitarian judgement across socioeconomic status
Authors: Babcock Sarah , Li Yixian , Sinclair Vanessa M. , Thomson Clint , Campbell Lorne
Published: January 2017

Research by Côté, Piff, and Willer (2013) found that through the induction of empathy in an experimental condition, the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and utilitarian moral judgment was diminished. Participant self-reported income interacted with experimental condition such that high SES participants who empathized with a disadvantaged group member redistributed fewer experimental dollars during an online task at the losing member’s expense. This suggests that lower levels of empathy could help explain utilitarian decision-making in high SES individuals. Two pre-registered, high-powered replications were conducted in order to assess the magnitude and reliability of this finding. While the first replication attempt failed to uncover the effect, the second attempt found a pattern consistent with the original study. A meta-analysis of the replication attempts with the original author's interaction effects was conducted. The confidence interval of the meta-analytic effect suggests that the true effect size may be as robust as reported by the original authors, or may be close to zero. Implications of the results found in the replication attempts are discussed.
High-resolution African population projections from radiative forcing and socio-economic models, 2000 to 2100
Authors: Boke-Olén Niklas , Abdi Abdulhakim M. , Hall Ola , Lehsten Veiko
Published: January 2017

For its fifth assessment report, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change divided future scenario projections (2005–2100) into two groups: Socio-Economic Pathways (SSPs) and Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs). Each SSP has country-level urban and rural population projections, while the RCPs are based on radiative forcing caused by greenhouse gases, aerosols and associated land-use change. In order for these projections to be applicable in earth system models, SSP and RCP population projections must be at the same spatial scale. Thus, a gridded population dataset that takes into account both RCP-based urban fractions and SSP-based population projection is needed. To support this need, an annual (2000–2100) high resolution (approximately 1km at the equator) gridded population dataset conforming to both RCPs (urban land use) and SSPs (population) country level scenario data were created.
De novo transcriptome assemblies of four accessions of the metal hyperaccumulator plant Noccaea caerulescens
Authors: Blande Daniel , Halimaa Pauliina , Tervahauta Arja I , Aarts Mark G.M. , Kärenlampi Sirpa O
Published: January 2017

Noccaea caerulescens of the Brassicaceae family has become the key model plant among the metal hyperaccumulator plants. Populations/accessions of N. caerulescens from geographic locations with different soil metal concentrations differ in their ability to hyperaccumulate and hypertolerate metals. Comparison of transcriptomes in several accessions provides candidates for detailed exploration of the mechanisms of metal accumulation and tolerance and local adaptation. This can have implications in the development of plants for phytoremediation and improved mineral nutrition. Transcriptomes from root and shoot tissues of four N. caerulescens accessions with contrasting Zn, Cd and Ni hyperaccumulation and tolerance traits were sequenced with Illumina Hiseq2000. Transcriptomes were assembled using the Trinity de novo assembler and were annotated and the protein sequences predicted. The comparison against the BUSCO plant early release dataset indicated high-quality assemblies. The predicted protein sequences have been clustered into ortholog groups with closely related species. The data serve as important reference sequences in whole transcriptome studies, in analyses of genetic differences between the accessions and other species, and for primer design.
Phantom vortices: hidden angular momentum in ultracold dilute Bose-Einstein condensates
Authors: Weiner Storm E. , Tsatsos Marios C. , Cederbaum Lorenz S. , Lode Axel U. J.
Published: January 2017

Vortices are essential to angular momentum in quantum systems such as ultracold atomic gases. The existence of quantized vorticity in bosonic systems stimulated the development of the Gross-Pitaevskii mean-field approximation. However, the true dynamics of angular momentum in finite, interacting many-body systems like trapped Bose-Einstein condensates is enriched by the emergence of quantum correlations whose description demands more elaborate methods. Herein we theoretically investigate the full many-body dynamics of the acquisition of angular momentum by a gas of ultracold bosons in two dimensions using a standard rotation procedure. We demonstrate the existence of a novel mode of quantized vorticity, which we term the phantom vortex. Contrary to the conventional mean-field vortex, can be detected as a topological defect of spatial coherence, but not of the density. We describe previously unknown many-body mechanisms of vortex nucleation and show that angular momentum is hidden in phantom vortices modes which so far seem to have evaded experimental detection. This phenomenon is likely important in the formation of the Abrikosov lattice and the onset of turbulence in superfluids.
Origin of anti-tumor activity of the cysteine-containing GO peptides and further optimization of their cytotoxic properties
Authors: Tyuryaeva Irina I. , Lyublinskaya Olga G. , Podkorytov Ivan S. , Skrynnikov Nikolai R.
Published: January 2017

Antitumor GO peptides have been designed as dimerization inhibitors of prominent oncoprotein mucin 1. In this study we demonstrate that activity of GO peptides is independent of the level of cellular expression of mucin 1. Furthermore, these peptides prove to be broadly cytotoxic, causing cell death also in normal cells such as dermal fibroblasts and endometrial mesenchymal stem cells. To explore molecular mechanism of their cytotoxicity, we have designed and tested a number of new peptide sequences containing the key CxC or CxxC motifs. Of note, these sequences bear no similarity to mucin 1 except that they also contain a pair of proximal cysteines. Several of the new peptides turned out to be significantly more potent than their GO prototypes. The results suggest that cytotoxicity of these peptides stems from their (moderate) activity as disulfide oxidoreductases. It is expected that such peptides, which we have termed DO peptides, are involved in disulfide-dithiol exchange reaction, resulting in formation of adventitious disulfide bridges in cell proteins. In turn, this leads to a partial loss of protein function and rapid onset of apoptosis. We anticipate that coupling DO sequences with tumor-homing transduction domains can create a potentially valuable new class of tumoricidal peptides.
A fibrolytic potential in the human ileum mucosal microbiota revealed by functional metagenomic
Authors: Patrascu Orlane , Béguet-Crespel Fabienne , Marinelli Ludovica , Le Chatelier Emmanuelle , Abraham Anne-Laure , Leclerc Marion , Klopp Christophe , Terrapon Nicolas , Henrissat Bernard , Blottière Hervé M. , Doré Joël , Béra-Maillet Christel
Published: January 2017

The digestion of dietary fibers is a major function of the human intestinal microbiota. So far this function has been attributed to the microorganisms inhabiting the colon, and many studies have focused on this distal part of the gastrointestinal tract using easily accessible fecal material. However, microbial fermentations, supported by the presence of short-chain fatty acids, are suspected to occur in the upper small intestine, particularly in the ileum. Using a fosmid library from the human ileal mucosa, we screened 20,000 clones for their activities against carboxymethylcellulose and xylans chosen as models of the major plant cell wall (PCW) polysaccharides from dietary fibres. Eleven positive clones revealed a broad range of CAZyme encoding genes from Bacteroides and Clostridiales species, as well as Polysaccharide Utilization Loci (PULs). The functional glycoside hydrolase genes were identified, and oligosaccharide break-down products examined from different polysaccharides including mixed-linkage β-glucans. CAZymes and PULs were also examined for their prevalence in human gut microbiome. Several clusters of genes of low prevalence in fecal microbiome suggested they belong to unidentified strains rather specifically established upstream the colon, in the ileum. Thus, the ileal mucosa-associated microbiota encompasses the enzymatic potential for PCW polysaccharide degradation in the small intestine.
Osteopontin regulates macrophage activation and osteoclast formation in hypertensive patients with vascular calcification
Authors: Ge Qian , Ruan Cheng-Chao , Ma Yu , Tang Xiao-Feng , Wu Qi-Hong , Wang Ji-Guang , Zhu Ding-Liang , Gao Ping-Jin
Published: January 2017

Vascular calcification (VC) is a highly regulated ectopic mineral deposition process involving immune cell infiltration in the vasculatures, which has been recognized to be promoted by hypertension. The matricellular glycoprotein osteopontin (OPN) is strongly induced in myeloid cells as a potential inflammatory mediator of vascular injury. This study aims to examine whether OPN is involved in the regulation of macrophage activation and osteoclast formation in hypertensive subjects with VC. We firstly found an increased proportion of CD11c+CD163- pro-inflammatory peripheral monocytes in hypertensive subjects with VC compared to those without VC by flow cytometric analysis. Primary cultured macrophages from hypertensive subjects with VC also showed altered expression profile of inflammatory factors and higher serum OPN level. Exogenous OPN promoted the differentiation of peripheral monocytes into an alternative, anti-inflammatory phenotype, and inhibited macrophage-to-osteoclast differentiation from these VC patients. In addition, calcified vessels showed increased osteoclasts accumulation accompanied with decreased macrophages infiltration in the of hypertensive subjects. Taken together, these demonstrated that OPN exerts an important role in the monocytes/macrophage phenotypic differentiation from hypertensive patients with VC, which includes reducing inflammatory factor expression and attenuating osteoclast formation.
Identification of wood-boring beetles (Cerambycidae and Buprestidae) intercepted in trade-associated solid wood packaging material using DNA barcoding and morphology
Authors: Wu Yunke , Trepanowski Nevada F. , Molongoski John J. , Reagel Peter F. , Lingafelter Steven W. , Nadel Hannah , Myers Scott W. , Ray Ann M.
Published: January 2017

Global trade facilitates the inadvertent movement of insect pests and subsequent establishment of populations outside their native ranges. Despite phytosanitary measures, nonnative insects arrive at United States (U.S.) ports of entry as larvae in solid wood packaging material (SWPM). Identification of wood-boring larval insects is important for pest risk analysis and management, but is difficult beyond family level due to highly conserved morphology. Therefore, we integrated DNA barcoding and rearing of larvae to identify wood-boring insects in SWPM. From 2012 to 2015, we obtained larvae of 338 longhorned beetles (Cerambycidae) and 38 metallic wood boring beetles (Buprestidae) intercepted in SWPM associated with imported products at six U.S. ports. We identified 265 specimens to species or genus using DNA barcodes. Ninety-three larvae were reared to adults and identified morphologically. No conflict was found between the two approaches, which together identified 275 cerambycids (23 genera) and 16 buprestids (4 genera). Our integrated approach confirmed novel DNA barcodes for seven species (10 specimens) of woodborers not in public databases. This study demonstrates the utility of DNA barcoding as a tool for regulatory agencies. We provide important documentation of potential beetle pests that may cross country borders through the SWPM pathway.