bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Landscape pattern is critical for the moderation of thermal extremes
Authors: Carroll J. Matthew , Davis Craig A. , Fuhlendorf Samuel D. , Elmore R. Dwayne
Published: July 2016

Temperature is highly variable across space and time at multiple scales, shapes landscape pattern, and dictates ecological processes. While our knowledge of ecological phenomena is vast relative to many landscape metrics, thermal patterns which shape landscape mosaics are largely unknown. To address this disconnect, we investigated the thermal landscape by measuring black bulb temperature (Tbb) at intervals as small as 15 min across 3 yr in a mixed‐grass shrub vegetation community. We found that the thermal landscape was highly heterogeneous displaying a prevalence for thermal extremes (i.e., Tbb > 50°C) and that Tbb was driven by the synergism of environmental, terrain, and vegetation factors. Specifically, variation of Tbb on the landscape was best predicted by the inclusion of ambient temperature (Tair), solar radiation (Srad), low woody cover, and tall woody cover as variables. Moreover, models of single vegetation parameters (i.e., bare ground, low woody, or tall woody cover) each had greater relative importance than those containing a single terrain variable (i.e., slope or aspect) based on AIC, providing evidence that vegetation is a key driver of Tbb on the landscape. Within the thermally heterogeneous landscape, tall woody cover moderated Tbb by 10°C more than bare ground, herbaceous, or low woody cover during peak diurnal heating (14:00), and was the only cover type that remained <50°C on average. Given that tall woody cover comprises only about 7% of the landscape in our study, these findings have direct conservation implications for species inhabiting shrub communities, specifically that the distribution of tall woody cover is a spatially limited but key predictor of potential thermal refugia on the landscape. Our findings also demonstrate that local interactions between vegetation and temperature can create thermal patterns that shape dynamic landscape mosaics across space and time. Furthermore, we show that structural heterogeneity can maximize thermal complexity across landscapes which can provide greater potential thermal options for organisms. However, our modeled climate projections suggest that far greater thermal extremes will be possible across increasingly larger swaths of the landscape in the future, making assessments and quantifications of thermal landscapes increasingly critical.
Cyaneodimycin, a Bioactive Compound Isolated from the Culture of Streptomyces cyaneofuscatus Associated with Lichina confinis
Authors: Parrot Delphine , Legrave Nathalie , Intertaglia Laurent , Rouaud Isabelle , Legembre Patrick , Grube Martin , Suzuki Marcelino T. , Tomasi Sophie
Published: July 2016

Two new compounds, cyaneodimycin (1) and cyaneomycin (2) bearing a rare methacrylate residue, were isolated from cultures of the bacterium Streptomyces cyaneofuscatus associated with the marine lichen Lichina confinis. These astonishing structures may be derived from a pyruvate biosynthetic pathway. Cyaneodimycin (1) exhibited antiproliferative properties against B16 (IC50 = 27 ± 4 µm), HaCaT (IC50 = 47 ± 11 µm) and Jurkat cell lines (IC50 = 18.5 ± 0.5 µm). Six known compounds 3–8 with diversified structures and interesting biological properties (diketopiperazines, actinomycin, dibenzofurane or indole derivatives) were isolated jointly with compounds 1 and 2. Among them, usnic acid (8), a common lichen compound was isolated for the first time from bacteria.
Dimeric Pyranonaphthoquinones: Isolation, Bioactivity, and Synthetic Approaches
Authors: Fernandes Rodney A. , Patil Pradnya H. , Chaudhari Dipali A.
Published: July 2016

The dimeric pyranonaphthoquinones, “bis versions” of the naphtho[2,3‐c]pyran‐5,10‐dione moiety, comprises a group of antibiotics that have been isolated from a variety of sources including plants, bacteria, fungi, and insects. This review discusses the known naturally occurring dimeric pyranonaphthoquinones, their isolation and bioactivity, and synthetic approaches towards them that have helped to confirm their structures, as well as to resolve structural uncertainties such as stereochemistry. The major focus has been on the synthetic approaches adopted to complete the challenging total synthesis of the natural isolates and analogues.
A procedure for the analysis of site‐specific and structure‐specific fucosylation in alpha‐1‐antitrypsin
Authors: Yin Haidi , Zhu Jianhui , Wu Jing , Tan Zhijing , An Mingrui , Zhou Shiyue , Mechref Yehia , Lubman David M.
Published: July 2016

A MS‐based methodology has been developed for analysis of core‐fucosylated versus antennary‐fucosylated glycosites in glycoproteins. This procedure is applied to the glycoprotein alpha‐1‐antitrypsin (A1AT), which contains both core‐ and antennary‐fucosylated glycosites. The workflow involves digestion of intact glycoproteins into glycopeptides, followed by double digestion with sialidase and galactosidase. The resulting glycopeptides with truncated glycans were separated using an off‐line HILIC (hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography) separation where multiple fractions were collected at various time intervals. The glycopeptides in each fraction were treated with PNGase F and then divided into halves. One half of the sample was applied for peptide identification while the other half was processed for glycan analysis by derivatizing with a meladrazine reagent followed by MS analysis. This procedure provided site‐specific identification of glycosylation sites and the ability to distinguish core fucosylation and antennary fucosylation via a double digestion and a mass profile scan. Both core and antennary fucosylation are shown to be present on various glycosites in A1AT.
Retaining in‐gel zymographic activity of cysteine proteases via a cysteine‐supplemented running buffer
Authors: Vootukuri Reddy Sreekanth , Philpott Mike P. , Trigiante Giuseppe
Published: July 2016

Zymography is a powerful technique to separate and identify different enzymatic activities on a standard acrylamide gel. For oxidation prone enzymes such as cysteine proteases however, the oxidizing species generated by electrolysis of the gel running buffer may result in partial or complete inactivation, thus compromising the final readout. This can be only partially remedied by subsequent treatment of the gel with reducing agents. We demonstrate the generation of reactive oxidizing species during electrophoresis and discovered that supplementation of the gel running buffer with a minimum of 5 mM cysteine prevents enzyme inactivation and allows retention of proteolytic activity as measured by zymography on model substrate N α‐benzoyl‐l‐arginine p‐nitroanilide, without at the same time altering the mobilities of the gel proteins.
Size‐based proteins separation using polymer‐entrapped colloidal self‐assembled nanoparticles on‐chip
Authors: Shaabani Narges , Jemere Abebaw B. , Harrison D. Jed
Published: July 2016

We report on a facile method to stabilize colloidal self‐assembled (CSA) nanoparticles packed in microchannels for high speed size‐based separation of proteins. Silica nanoparticles, self‐assembled in a network of microfluidic channels, were stabilized with a methacrylate polymer prepared in situ through photopolymerization. The entrapment conditions were investigated to minimize the effect of the polymer matrix on the structure of the packing and the separation properties of the CSA beds. SEM shows that the methacrylate matrix links the nanoparticles at specific sphere–sphere contact points, improving the stability of the CSA structure at high electric fields (up to at least 1800 V/cm), allowing fast and efficient separation. The %RSD of the protein migration times varied between 0.3 and 0.5% (n = 4, in 1 day) and <0.83% over a period of 7 days (n = 28 runs) in a single device, at high field strength. The overall %RSD of protein migration times from chip‐to‐chip across a single fabrication run was 4.3% (n = 3) and between fabrication runs was 11% (n = 35), with 87% fabrication yield, demonstrating reproducible packing and entrapment behavior. The optimized entrapped CSA beds demonstrated better separation performance (plate height, H ∼ 200 nm) than similarly prepared on‐chip CSA beds without the polymer entrapment. Polymer‐entrapped CSA beds also exhibited superior protein resolving power: the minimum resolvable molecular weight difference of proteins in the polymer‐entrapped CSA bed is 0.6 kDa versus ∼9 kDa for the native silica CSA bed (i.e. without polymer entrapment).
Do current national and international guidelines have specific recommendations for older adults with bipolar disorder? A brief report
Authors: Dols Annemiek , Kessing Lars Vedel , Strejilevich Sergio A. , Rej Soham , Tsai Shang‐Ying , Gildengers Ariel G. , Almeida Osvaldo P. , Shulman Kenneth I. , Sajatovic Martha ,   The International Society for Bipolar Disorders Task Force for Older Adults with Bipolar Disorder
Published: July 2016

Objective

Older adults with bipolar disorder (OABD) are a growing segment of patients with bipolar disorder (BD) for which specific guidelines are warranted. Although, OABD are frequently excluded from randomized controlled trials due to their age or somatic comorbidity, more treatment data from a variety of sources have become available in recent years. It is expected that at least some of this emerging information on OABD would be incorporated into treatment guidelines available to clinicians around the world.

Methods

The International Society of Bipolar Disorders OABD task force compiled and compared recommendations from current national and international guidelines that specifically address geriatric or older individuals with BD (from year 2005 onwards).

Results

There were 34 guidelines, representing six continents and 19 countries. The majority of guidelines had no separate section on OABD. General principles for treating OABD with medication are recommended to be similar to those for younger adults, with special caution for side effects due to somatic comorbidity and concomitant medications. Therapeutic lithium serum levels are suggested to be lower but recommendations are very general and mostly not informed by specific research evidence.

Conclusions

There is a lack of emphasis of OABD‐specific issues in existing guidelines. Given the substantial clinical heterogeneity in BD across the life span, along with the rapidly expanding population of older individuals worldwide, and limited mental health workforce with geriatric expertise, it is critical that additional effort and resources be devoted to studying treatment interventions specific to OABD and that treatment guidelines reflect research findings. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mental health treatment preferences and challenges of living with multimorbidity from the veteran perspective
Authors: DiNapoli Elizabeth A. , Cinna Christopher , Whiteman Karen L. , Fox Lauren , Appelt Cathleen J. , Kasckow John
Published: July 2016

Objective

To explore middle‐aged and older veterans' current disease‐management practices, mental health treatment preferences, and challenges of living with multiple chronic health conditions (i.e., multimorbidity).

Methods

Semi‐structured qualitative interviews and self‐report measures were collected from 28 middle‐aged and older (50 years of age or older) veterans with multimorbidity.

Results

Our sample of veterans with multimorbidity was, on average, mildly depressed and anxious with elevated stress and disability. Veterans acknowledged the interaction of physical and emotional symptoms, which caused greater difficulty with health care management and daily functioning. Veterans had many concerns regarding their physical and emotional health conditions, such as continued disease progression and the addition of other emotional and physical health complications. Veterans also identified specific self‐care approaches for disease management (e.g., medication, healthy lifestyle practices, and psychological stress management techniques), as well as barriers to engaging in care (e.g., money, transportation, and stigma). Participants preferred a combination of medication, psychotherapy, and healthy lifestyle practices for mental health treatment. The majority of participants (88.5%) agreed that these mental health treatments would be beneficial to integrate into disease management for older veterans with multimorbidity. Lastly, veterans provided an array of recommendations for improving Veteran's Administration services and reducing mental health stigma.

Conclusions

These findings provide support for patient‐centered approaches and integrated mental and physical health self‐management in the Veteran's Administration for middle‐aged and older veterans with multiple chronic conditions. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Spatial characteristics and controlling factors of chemical weathering of loess in the dry season in the middle Loess Plateau, China
Authors: Xiao Jun , Zhang Fei , Jin Zhangdong
Published: July 2016

Hydrochemistry methods were used to decipher the weathering and geochemical processes controlling solute acquisition of river waters in the dry season in the middle Loess Plateau (MLP), one of the most severely eroded areas and turbid riverine systems in the world. River waters were neutral to slightly alkaline with pH varying from 7.6 to 9.6. The total dissolved solids decreased from northwest to southeast with a mean value of 804 mg/l, much higher than the global average and other large rivers in China. Ternary diagram showed that river waters were dominated by Na+, HCO3−, and Cl− with the main water‐type of HCO3−–Cl−–Na+. Saturation index values, Mg2+, Ca2+, and HCO3− analyses indicated the preferential Ca2+ removal by calcite precipitation. Gibbs plots and stoichiometry plots indicated that the dissolved solutes were mainly derived from rock weathering with minor anthropogenic and atmospheric inputs. Samples in the northwestern basin are also influenced by evaporation. A forward model of mass budget calculation showed that, owing to high soluble characteristics, evaporite dissolution was a major feature of river waters and contributed 41% to the total dissolved cations on average, while carbonate and silicate weathering contributed 28%,and 25% on average, respectively. Besides evaporite dissolution, cation exchange is also responsible for the high concentrations of Na+ in river water. Spatial variations showed that evaporite dissolution and silicate weathering were higher in the northern basin, whereas carbonate weathering was higher in the southern basin. Different from most rivers in the world, the physical erosion rates (varying from 117.7 to 4116.6 t/km2y) are much higher than the chemical weathering rates (varying from 3.54 to 6.76 t/km2y) in the MLP because of the loose structure of loess and poor vegetation in the basin. In the future, studies on comparison of water geochemistry in different seasons and on influence of different types of land use and soil salinization on water geochemistry, denudation rates, and water quality should be strengthened in the MLP. These results shed some lights on processes responsible for modern loess weathering and also indicate the importance of time‐series sampling strategy for river water chemistry. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Flocculation of wheat straw soda lignin by hemoglobin and chicken blood: effects of cationic polymer or calcium chloride
Authors: Piazza George J , Lora Jairo H , Garcia Rafael A
Published: July 2016

BACKGROUND

Lignin is the largest byproduct of biomass processing. Flocculation could replace strong acid used in lignin recovery and be useful for the cleanup of lignin from residual processing waters. Commercial nonrenewable flocculants are known to be effective with lignin, but the investigation of renewable lignin flocculants has received little attention.

RESULTS

Methods were developed to economize on the use of biobased flocculant for wheat straw lignin flocculation. Thus, 43% less hemoglobin (HEM) and 39% less chicken blood (CB) were needed when the Zeta potential was increased by the co‐addition of poly (diallydimethylammonium chloride) (pDADMAC). Supernatant chemical oxygen demand (COD) was reduced by 78% with optimal pDADMAC and CB. Up to 94% less HEM was needed for lignin flocculation with the co‐addition of CaCl2.

CONCLUSION

Charge neutralization promoted lignin flocculation with coflocculants pDADMAC/HEM or pDADMAC/CB. Some lignin flocculation was noted at higher levels of CaCl2 due to reduced lignin solubility. Charge neutralization contributed to lignin flocculation at lower CaCl2 levels and high HEM. A novel finding was that divalent cation bridging promoted lignin flocculation in the presence of CaCl2 at lower levels of HEM. Lignin flocculated with HEM‐CaCl2 is possibly useful as a protein‐enriched animal feed. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Quantitative diffusion‐weighted imaging and dynamic contrast‐enhanced characterization of the index lesion with multiparametric MRI in prostate cancer patients
Authors: Yuan Qing , Costa Daniel N. , Sénégas Julien , Xi Yin , Wiethoff Andrea J. , Rofsky Neil M. , Roehrborn Claus , Lenkinski Robert E. , Pedrosa Ivan
Published: July 2016

Purpose

To compare a simplified intravoxel incoherent motion (sIVIM) model to commonly used monoexponential and biexponential models in the characterization of prostate cancer (PCa) and noncancerous prostate tissues, and to investigate combinations of diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) measures with dynamic contrast‐enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)‐derived parameters in MRI‐visible index lesions, to facilitate PCa risk stratification.

Materials and Methods

In this retrospective, Institutional Review Board (IRB)‐approved study, 43 consecutive patients with PCa who had 3T MRI exams followed by radical prostatectomy were included. DWI and DCE parameters were measured from one index lesion per patient, and noncancerous central gland and peripheral zone. Logistic regression modeling was performed to select the optimal combination of DWI and DCE measurements for tumor risk assessment.

Results

All diffusion models showed the lowest diffusion coefficients in tumors, intermediate values in noncancerous central gland, and highest values in noncancerous peripheral zone (all P < 0.001). Ktrans and kep were higher in tumors compared to central gland (P < 0.005) and peripheral zone (P < 0.001). The initial area under the contrast concentration curve was higher in tumor than the peripheral zone (P < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the combined DWI and DCE parameters (0.78) was higher than its individual components (0.73 and 0.63, respectively) for discriminating low‐ and intermediate‐to‐high‐risk tumors.

Conclusion

The sIVIM model provided comparable results with fewer b‐values and shorter image acquisition time. The combination of DWI and DCE measurements of MRI‐visible index lesions improved the preoperative prostate cancer risk characterization compared to the individual parameters from either technique alone.

Level of Evidence: 3

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2017;45:908–916.
Effects of HPO42− and SCN− on the hydrogen bond network of water: femtosecond OHD‐RIKES and FTIR measurements
Authors: Hou Mengqi , Yu Anchi , Lu Rong
Published: July 2016

The influence of an ion on the hydrogen bond (HB) structure of water is of potential interest in various aspects. Herein, we studied the effects of HPO42− and SCN− on the HB network of water in their aqueous solutions by using both femtosecond optical heterodyne‐detected Raman‐induced Kerr effect spectroscopy (fs OHD‐RIKES) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectroscopy. We found that both the amplitude of the 180 cm−1 HB stretching band of water in the fs OHD‐RIKES fast Fourier‐transformed spectrum and the amplitude of the 3290 cm−1 HB‐related stretching band of water in the FTIR spectrum are obviously enhanced in the high‐concentrated K2HPO4 solution, suggesting that HPO42− has the ability to make the HB of water in its aqueous solution. On the contrary, SCN− has the ability to break the HB of water in its aqueous solution. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structural Breaks in the Interconnected Relation between Decision‐Making and Applied Strategic Agility on Public Insurance and Bank Projects
Authors: Amedzro St‐Hilaire Walter
Published: July 2016

The public insurance and bank markets offer lower diversification possibilities for inter‐sector diversification.
Market Liberalization in a Small Open Economy and Its Impact on Employment Characteristics
Authors: Karamanis Kostas , Triarchi Eirini , Pappa Paraskevi
Published: July 2016

Market liberalization affects overall employment.
Resource Position, Fitness, Firm Vulnerability, and Performance Heterogeneity
Authors: Singal Ajay K. , Jain Arun K.
Published: July 2016

Vulnerability, defined as an interplay of resource position and fitness, is one of the determinants of firm performance heterogeneity.
A non‐toxic enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay for aflatoxin B1 using anti‐idiotypic antibodies as substitutes
Authors: Hu Li , Liu Aiping , Chen Weifeng , Yang Hongxiu , Wang Xiaohong , Chen Fusheng
Published: July 2016

BACKGROUND

Immunoassays are widely employed techniques to detect aflatoxins since they are rapid, selective and sensitive. One common disadvantage of them is using aflatoxins as standard substances, which may trigger exposure risks to operators and environmental contamination without proper handling. Anti‐idiotypic antibodies (anti‐Ids or Ab2s), also named as internal‐image anti‐Ids, are able to mimic and function as antigens, so a non‐toxic enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is developed and validated using anti‐Ids as substitutes.

RESULTS

Mouse monoclonal anti‐idiotypic antibody (McAb2) to AFB1 was generated by the hybridoma technique using Fab fragments of rabbit anti‐AFB1 idiotype antibody (Ab1) as immunogen. As indicated by indirect competitive ELISA, McAb2, represented an internal‐image of antigen AFB1, was able to bind Fab with competition to AFB1. Then, analysis of AFB1 in spiked samples by non‐toxic ELISA using anti‐Ids as substitutes was developed, and it showed no significant differences with comparison to AFB1 as competitive antigens.

CONCLUSION

Our work demonstrated that anti‐Ids could be used as internal‐image mimicry of AFB1, and it had potential applications in immunoassays for antigen substitution to reduce operational risk for operators and environmental contamination. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Diffusive methane fluxes from Negro, Solimões and Madeira rivers and fringing lakes in the Amazon basin
Authors: Barbosa Pedro M. , Melack John M. , Farjalla Vinicius F. , Amaral João Henrique F. , Scofield Vinicius , Forsberg Bruce R.
Published: July 2016

The first extensive set of measurements of methane concentrations and fluxes for the Negro River and its major tributaries combined with complementary data for the Solimões and Madeira rivers and several tributaries are presented and their temporal and spatial variations examined. Fluxes were measured using floating chambers, and dissolved CH4 concentrations were measured by the headspace technique. In the Solimões basin, tributaries had higher fluxes when water levels were low; no statistical difference among periods for lakes and the main stem river was observed. In the Negro basin, rivers had higher fluxes with greater variations among rivers during high water than during low water based on fluxes calculated from the concentration gradient and modelled gas transfer coefficients. We estimate a regional methane emission of 0.31 Tg C yr−1 for large river channels in the lowland Amazon basin.
A Biodegradable and Amphiphilic Linear‐Dendritic Copolymer as a Drug Carrier Platform for Intracellular Drug Delivery
Authors: Wang Haibo , Wu Yan , Liu Gongyan , Du Zongliang , Cheng Xu
Published: July 2016

In this work, a biodegradable linear‐dendritic copolymer composed of methoxypolyethylene glycols (mPEG) and a third generation glycolic acid oligomer based dendron is synthesized. The amphiphilic copolymer can self‐assemble into polymeric micelles in aqueous solution with a low critical micelle concentration (CMC). Hydrophobic doxorubicin (DOX) is incorporated into the micellar core via the dialysis method with a high drug loading content of 21.2%. The drug release result implies that the encapsulated drug can be released rapidly at pH 5.0, due to the hydrolysis of the ester bond resulting in quick disassembly of drug‐loaded micelles. Moreover, the results of fluorescence microscopy imaging and flow cytometry measurements demonstrate that the drug carriers can be internalized and DOX released rapidly from them upon endocytosis. Importantly, this drug delivery system exhibits excellent performance to inhibit cancer cell proliferation.

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Gastroenterological endpoints in drug trials for cystic fibrosis
Authors: Bodewes Frank A.J.A. , Verkade Henkjan J. , Wilschanski Micheal
Published: July 2016

The phenotype of cystic fibrosis includes a wide variety of clinical and biochemical gastrointestinal presentations. These gastrointestinal characteristics of the disease have come under renewed interest as potential outcome measures and clinical endpoints for therapeutic trials in cystic fibrosis. Established gastrointestinal clinical endpoints, like e.g. fecal elastase‐1, are already used in trials. Other potential gastrointestinal outcome measures gather more scientific interest for evaluation in future trials. Gastrointestinal outcome measures look particularly relevant and promising for trials in CF patients with normal lung function or therapeutic studies in young children and infants.

We review, the currently reported gastrointestinal effects of CFTR modulation therapies and discuss the potential of gastrointestinal outcome measures for therapeutic trials in cystic fibrosis. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2016;51:S18–S22. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Radially Aligned Electrospun Fibers with Continuous Gradient of SDF1α for the Guidance of Neural Stem Cells
Authors: Li Xiaoran , Li Mengyuan , Sun Jie , Zhuang Yan , Shi Jiajia , Guan Dongwei , Chen Yanyan , Dai Jianwu
Published: July 2016

Repair of spinal cord injury will require enhanced recruitment of endogenous neural stem cells (NSCs) from the central canal region to the lesion site to reestablish neural connectivity. The strategy toward this goal is to provide directional cues, e.g., alignment topography and biological gradients from the rostral and caudal ends toward the center. This study demonstrates a facile method for fabrication of continuous gradients of stromal‐cell‐derived factor‐1α (SDF1α) embedded in the radially aligned electrospun collagen/poly (ε‐caprolactone) mats. Gradients can be readily produced in a controllable and reproducible fashion by adjusting the collection time and collector size during electrospinning. To get a long‐term gradient, the SDF1α is fused with a unique peptide of collagen‐binding domain (CBD), which can bind to collagen specifically. Aligned CBD‐SDF1α gradients show stable, sustained, and gradual release during 7 d. Further, the effect of aligned CBD‐SDF1α gradients on the guidance of NSCs is investigated. It is found that the CBD‐SDF1α gradient scaffolds direct and enhance NSC migration from the periphery to the center along the aligned electrospun fibers. Taken together, the tubular conduits based on radially aligned electrospun fibers with continuous SDF1α gradient show great potential for guiding nerve regeneration.
Evaluation of globins expression in brain, heart, and lung in rats exposed to side stream cigarette smoke
Authors: Tae Barbara , Oliveira Kelen Carneiro , Conceição Rodrigo Rodrigues da , Valenti Vitor Engrácia , de Souza Janaina Sena , Laureano‐Melo Roberto , Sato Monica Akemi , Maciel Rui Monteiro de Barros , Giannocco Gisele
Published: July 2016

The side stream cigarette smoke (SSCS) is a contributing factor in the pathogenesis of cigarette smoking‐induced toxicity. Hemoglobin (Hb), myoglobin (Mb), neuroglobin (Ngb), and cytoglobin (Cygb) are globins with different distributions and functions in the tissues and have similar actions by providing O2 (oxygen) for respiratory chain, detoxification of ROS and nitric oxide (NO), and protect tissues against irreversible lesions. We aimed to investigate the effects of SSCS exposure on gene and protein expression of Ngb, Cygb, and Mb in different tissue. The Ngb and Cygb gene and protein expression in the cerebral cortex increased after 1 week of rat exposure to SSCS. In hippocampus, the Ngb gene and protein expression increased after 1 week or more of exposure and no change was observed in Cygb gene and protein expression. In myocardium, Mb and Cygb gene expression increased at 1 and 4 weeks of exposure, while protein expression of both increased at 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks. In lung, observed an increase in Cygb gene and protein expression after 2, 3, and 4 weeks of exposure. The findings suggest that SSCS modulates Ngb, Cygb, and Mb in central and peripheral tissue © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 1252–1261, 2017.
Metabolite profiling study on the toxicological effects of polybrominated diphenyl ether in a rat model
Authors: Jung Young‐Sang , Lee Jueun , Seo Jungju , Hwang Geum‐Sook
Published: July 2016

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are commonly used to retard the combustion of materials such as foam padding, textiles, or plastics, and numerous studies have confirmed the accumulation thereof in the environment and in fish, mammals, and humans. In this study, we used metabolomics to conduct an environmental risk assessment of the PBDE‐209. We profiled the urinary metabolites of control and PBDE‐treated rats (exposed to PBDE‐209) using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS). Global metabolic profiling indicated that the effects of PBDE‐209 on the urinary metabolic profile were not significant. However, targeted metabolic profiling revealed progressive effects of PBDE‐209 over a 7‐day PBDE‐209 treatment. Moreover, despite the weak PBDE‐209 effects, we observed that choline, acetylcholine, 3‐indoxylsulfate, creatinine, urea, and dimethyl sulfone levels were decreased, whereas that of pyruvate was significantly increased. Furthermore, we suggest that the increased pyruvate level and decreased levels of choline, acetylcholine, and uremic toxins were suggestive of endocrine disruption and neurodevelopmental toxicity caused by PBDEs. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 1262–1272, 2017.
Modulating splicing with small molecular inhibitors of the spliceosome
Authors: Effenberger Kerstin A. , Urabe Veronica K. , Jurica Melissa S.
Published: July 2016

Small molecule inhibitors that target components of the spliceosome have great potential as tools to probe splicing mechanism and dissect splicing regulatory networks in cells. These compounds also hold promise as drug leads for diseases in which splicing regulation plays a critical role, including many cancers. Because the spliceosome is a complicated and dynamic macromolecular machine comprised of many RNA and protein components, a variety of compounds that interfere with different aspects of spliceosome assembly is needed to probe its function. By screening chemical libraries with high‐throughput splicing assays, several labs have added to the collection of splicing inhibitors, although the mechanistic insight into splicing yielded from the initial compound hits is somewhat limited so far. In contrast, SF3B1 inhibitors stand out as a great example of what can be accomplished with small molecule tools. This group of compounds were first discovered as natural products that are cytotoxic to cancer cells, and then later shown to target the core spliceosome protein SF3B1. The inhibitors have since been used to uncover details of SF3B1 mechanism in the spliceosome and its impact on gene expression in cells. Continuing structure activity relationship analysis of the compounds is also making progress in identifying chemical features key to their function, which is critical in understanding the mechanism of SF3B1 inhibition. The knowledge is also important for the design of analogs with new and useful features for both splicing researchers and clinicians hoping to exploit splicing as pressure point to target in cancer therapy. WIREs RNA 2017, 8:e1381. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1381

This article is categorized under:

RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Small Molecule–RNA Interactions

RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > RNA–Protein Complexes

RNA Processing > Splicing Mechanisms
Does political uncertainty affect water resources development? The case of the Eastern Nile
Authors: Wu Xun , Jeuland Marc , Whittington Dale
Published: July 2016

In water resources, there is a long tradition of utilization of methods to address hydrological and economic uncertainty. Less frequently considered, however, is how uncertainty rooted in political factors such as power asymmetry, the strength of institutions, and the interests of stakeholders, contributes to decision-making. This paper explores political uncertainty and its interaction with more routinely considered forms of uncertainty in international river basins. Using the example of the controversies surrounding major new infrastructure projects in the Eastern Nile Basin, we show that political uncertainty may play a key role in shaping the decisions of individual riparian countries about how to proceed with water resources development. Specifically, we consider whether uncertainty over the prospect of future cooperation might help explain why seemingly optimal economic outcomes that require cooperation (due to interconnectedness) remain elusive. We conclude with reflections on other dimensions of the water resources planning problem – climate change, changes in regional development matters, and preferences – that similarly require a framework that accounts for political uncertainty.
Securing Dangerous Children as Literate Subjects
Authors: Kelly Stephen
Published: July 2016

This paper examines how the education of children as literate subjects in schools and community settings is implicated in the politics of securing civil society. Foucault's concept of biopolitics is used to consider how young people are produced as securitised subjects. The emergence of the concept of human security as a technology for measuring human development is problematised using Bacchi's methodology. The analysis uses the Northern Territory intervention to question representations of young people as subjects of danger and as potentially dangerous subjects. This paper argues that the use of literacy by the apparatus of state and non-state governmentalities functions as a technology of risk mitigation and biopolitical government: a way of contingently positioning the freedoms of children as subjects to forms of rule. The paper concludes by suggesting that literacy has been deployed as a techne of an authoritarian form of liberalism in which the power to delimit entangles children in biopolitical strategies and sovereign intervention.
MEASURES OF NONCOMPACTNESS IN A SOBOLEV SPACE AND INTEGRO-DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
Authors: ALLAHYARI REZA , ARAB REZA , HAGHIGHI ALI SHOLE
Published: July 2016

The aim of this paper is to introduce a new measure of noncompactness on the Sobolev space$W^{n,p}[0,T]$. As an application, we investigate the existence of solutions for some classes of functional integro-differential equations in this space using Darbo’s fixed point theorem.
ON WEAKLY -PERMUTABLY EMBEDDED SUBGROUPS OF FINITE GROUPS
Authors: YU HAORAN
Published: July 2016

In this paper, we obtain some criteria for $p$-nilpotency and $p$-supersolvability of a finite group and extend some known results concerning weakly $S$-permutably embedded subgroups. In particular, we generalise the main results of Zhang et al. [‘Sylow normalizers and $p$-nilpotence of finite groups’, Comm. Algebra43(3) (2015), 1354–1363].
FURTHER POSSIBILITIES REGARDING THE ACROSTIC AT ARATUS 783–7
Authors: Trzaskoma Stephen M.
Published: July 2016

Recently in the pages of The Classical Quarterly Mathias Hanses convincingly demonstrated the existence of a fourth occurrence of the programmatic adjective λεπτός in Aratus, Phaen. 783–7. This new example occurs in the form of a diagonal acrostic alongside the known ‘gamma-acrostic’ (formed by the λεπτή that is the first word of the passage and the vertical acrostic λεπτή made up of the first letters of each line) and the occurrence of the same form of the adjective in line 784. Jerzy Danielewicz has now proposed yet a fifth instance of λεπτή in the form of an acronym spread over two lines and meant to be read anticlockwise.
On the Nature of Bacterial Lag
Authors: Penfold William Jas.
Published: July 2016

(1) If B. coli be subcultured into another sample of the same medium when growing at full pace, it will continue to grow at the same pace.

(2) If the maximum rate of growth be interrupted by a short application of cold, growth will recommence without lag on the temperature being raised. If the cold be long continued, lag will tend to reappear.

(3) Differences in the size of inoculum have practically no effect on lag in the case of large inoculums, in the case of small ones, on the other hand, diminution of the seeding has the effect of lengthening lag, and this lengthening effect is more marked the smaller the seedings become.

(4) Lowering the temperature lengthens the lag. The effect is very similar to the effect on growth.

(5) The older a parent culture (within limits) the longer the lag.

(6) The length of lag varies with the medium even if adaptation has been arranged for beforehand.

(7) Heat-stable products in B. coli cultures on peptone water have, in the case of overnight cultures, but little effect on lag.

(8) After washing the bacteria for two hours with saline in order to remove possible inhibiting agents, it was found that the lag, on subculture, still occurred and was indeed slightly longer.

(9) If a peptone water culture of B. coli be centrifuged, it is found that the few bacteria remaining in the supernatant commence to grow again at a quick rate but not without a period of lag.
Second Report on Bacteriological Aspects of the Meningococcus Carrier problem
Authors: Eastwood Arthur
Published: July 2016

In my first report I showed that in the throats of persons not known to have been in contact with cases of cerebro-spinal fever organisms were frequently found which were indistinguishable from meningococci isolated from the cerebro-spinal fluid of persons suffering from that disease.
Second Report on the Identification of the Meningococcus in the Naso-Pharynx, with special reference to Serological Reactions
Authors: Griffith Fred
Published: July 2016

The serological characters of 66 strains of meningococci obtained from the cerebro-spinal fluid in cases of meningitis have been studied. Serological tests of a similar nature have been applied to 86 strains of Gram-negative cocci, culturally identical with meningococci, obtained from the naso-pharynx of non-contacts. The two series have been compared in respect of agglutinability, agglutinogenic capacity, and absorptive capacity with the following results:

The majority of the spinal strains can be divided into two main groups by simple agglutination tests with selected spinal sera: about 27 can be assigned to Group I and 34 to Group II, the remaining five being relatively inagglutinable or equally agglutinated by sera of both groups.
The Cerebro-Spinal Fever Epidemic of 1917 at X Depot
Authors: Glover J. A.
Published: July 2016

(1) There were nineteen cases and eight deaths at the depot during the epidemic.

One doubtful case during this period recovered, and a sporadic case in June due to Type I also recovered; these are not included in the above, nor is one man who went on leave to Blackpool, and developed the disease (Type II) on arrival.

(2) So far the reserve battalions have had three cases only, with two deaths, although a high carrier-rate wave has been detected in two.

(3) All the cases (except the June case) at the depot occurred during exceptionally cold weather. In the chart the cases appear to lie in thetrough of a great depression of the curve of mean weekly temperature (broken line). They also follow immediately upon exceptional crowding (black line).

(4) There was a well-marked premonitory rise in the carrier-rate in December 1916, before the first case occurred, and an enormous rise before the epidemic was really established.The carrier-rate, which was 19·25% on December 23rd, reache dwhat is usually considered the danger point of 20% (see War OfficeMemorandum on Cerebro-spinal Fever, page 2) just six days before the first case occurred.

It would appear that estimations of the carrier-rate by means of large sample swabbings afford a reliable warning of the imminence or danger of an epidemic.

(5) The cases in the epidemic were nearly all due to the meningococcus of Type II, the organism present in the outbreak of 1916.

The rise in the carrier-rate was also chiefly due to the increase ofcarriers of this type. Freshly joined recruits showed few carriers at all and very few Type II carriers when swabbed before having slept in the barracks.

(6) During the epidemic, the carrier-rate among non-contacts was substantially the same as amongst the actual contacts of cases, averaging34% for the period, in each case.

(7) The proportion of agglutinable strains to inagglutinable strains of organisms morphologically indistinguishable from the meningococcus increased very markedly during the epidemic period.

(8) The treatment of the whole population by the steam zinc sulphate solution spray (which was carried out daily for two seven-day periods with an interval of a fortnight), was followed by a satisfactory drop in the carrier-rate, and by a temporary cessation of cases on each occasion.

(9) 60% of the actual patients suffering from the disease were in their first month of service.

40% of the patients had either been inoculated or vaccinated within seven days of onset (three on the same day); 60% within afortnight.

(10) Previous and concurrent epidemics of German measles, influenza and bronchitis had helped (by causing coughing and sneezing and by lowering vitality) to produce the great rise in the carrier-rate, which culminated in the case epidemic.
Molecular and morphological variation of Paragonimus westermani in Vietnam with records of new second intermediate crab hosts and a new locality in a northern province
Authors: DOANH N. PHAM , TU A. LUU , BUI T. DUNG , LOAN T. HO , NONAKA NARIAKI , HORII YOICHIRO , BLAIR DAVID , NAWA YUKIFUMI
Published: July 2016

Paragonimus westermani is one of the most medically important lung flukes and is widely distributed in Asia. It exhibits considerable variation in morphological, genetic and biological features. In central provinces of Vietnam, a high prevalence of metacercariae of this species has been reported from the crab intermediate host, Vietopotamon aluoiense. In this study, we detected P. westermani metacercariae in two additional crab hosts, Donopotamon haii in Quang Tri Province, central Vietnam and Indochinamon tannanti in Yen Bai Province in the north. The latter is a new locality for P. westermani in a northern region of Vietnam where P. heterotremus is the only species currently known to cause human paragonimiasis. Paragonimus westermani metacercariae found in Vietnam showed considerable morphological variation but slight genetic variation based on DNA sequences from the nuclear ribosomal ITS2 region and the mitochondrial 16S gene. Co-infection of the same individual crabs with P. westermani and P. heterotremus and/or some other Paragonimus species was found frequently, suggesting potential for co-infection in humans. The findings of the present study emphasize the need for highly specific molecular and immunodiagnostic methods to differentially diagnose between P. westermani and P. heterotremus infections.
XV.—On the Thermo-Electric Properties of Charcoal and certain Alloys, with a Supplementary Thermo-Electric Diagram
Authors: Knott C. G. , MacGregor J. G.
Published: July 2016

The determination by experiment of the thermo-electric relations of any one substance belonging to the electromotive series to all other such substances is sufficient to fix all mutual thermo-electric relations among these. The first endeavour of the experimenter is then to obtain as convenient a substance for this purpose as possible. In investigating charcoal and certain alloys, we have in almost all cases employed one or other of two alloys of platinum and iridium, which have been already used by Professor Tait for a like purpose. The wires we used were the same which he discusses in his “First Approximation to a Thermo-Electric Diagram,” under the names of M and N. Their complete freedom from oxidation, their elasticity, and the high temperatures of their fusing points, rendered them peculiarly suitable for thermo-electric investigations through long ranges of temperature.

Generally both the M and N wires were firmly bound, each by its one extremity to the end or ends of the wire or wires respectively which were under investigation, in a multiple junction. This triple or, as it was in some cases, quadruple junction constituted the “hot junction.” The free extremities of the wires thus united were each bound to a moderately thin copper wire by very thin wire of the same metal, and the copper wires were led from these “cold junctions” to a commutator, which was in connection with a galvanometer. The commutator consisted of an arrangement of small mercury pools, into which the galvanometer and circuit wires, carefully amalgamated to ensure contact, dipped. All the junctions were formed in the manner indicated above, namely, by tightly binding the extremities of the wires together by thin copper wire.
XX.—On Dimethyl-Thetine and its Derivatives
Authors: Brown Crum , Letts E. A.
Published: July 2016

The analogies existing between elements belonging to one “family,” such, for instance, as the nitrogen family or the sulphur family, have long been recognised, and are pointed out and insisted upon even in elementary textbooks; but the very important analogies existing between substances of different quantivalence are apt to be forgotten or overlooked. For illustrations of such analogies we may point to boron and silicon, elements closely resembling one another in themselves and also in their compounds,—differing, indeed, in little else but that the one is triad and the other tetrad. A similar relation exists between gold and platinum.

The elementary substances, sulphur and phosphorus, have many points of similarity: both fuse at a comparatively low temperature, both are transformed by heat into amorphous insoluble modifications, and both have anomalous vapour densities.
Do Developing Countries need Astronomy?
Authors: Eenens Philippe
Published: July 2016

Astronomy can help, directly or indirectly, in the acquisition and creation of new technologies, in attracting young people to scientific careers, in providing a scientific education to the general public and in fostering international collaborations. These and other benefits of professional astronomy are critically reviewed in the context of countries which are facing urgent, basic needs. Several criteria are suggested for the best implementation of astronomy in developing countries and the most efficient collaboration with industrialized countries.
Astronomy Education in Thailand
Authors: Hutawarakorn Busaba
Published: July 2016

Thailand is one of the developing countries which tries to advance its economy, technology and science. Education in astronomy is considered a supporting factor; astronomy is a basic science from which the young generation can learn to understand and to conserve mother nature and at the same time develop analytical thinking. The poster reports the present developments in astronomical education in Thailand which includes (1) current astronomy education in school and university; (2) educational activities outside school; (3) development of programs for teaching astronomy in school (including teacher training); (4) the access of educational resources via internet. Proposals for future development and collaborations will be presented and discussed. (Co-authors are B. Soonthornthum and T. Kirdkao.)