bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A New Approach for Developing Neutral Redistricting Plans
Authors: Magleby Daniel B. , Mosesson Daniel B.
Published: May 2018

Computers hold the potential to draw legislative districts in a neutral way. Existing approaches to automated redistricting may introduce bias and encounter difficulties when drawing districts of large and even medium-sized jurisdictions. We present a new algorithm that can neutrally generate legislative districts without indications of bias that are contiguous, balanced and relatively compact. The algorithm does not show the kinds of bias found in prior algorithms and is an advance over previously published algorithms for redistricting because it is computationally more efficient. We use the new algorithm to draw 10,000 maps of congressional districts in Mississippi, Virginia, and Texas. We find that it is unlikely that the number of majority-minority districts we observe in the Mississippi, Virginia, and Texas congressional maps of these states would happen through a neutral redistricting process.
Estimating Spatial Preferences from Votes and Text
Authors: Kim In Song , Londregan John , Ratkovic Marc
Published: May 2018

We introduce a model that extends the standard vote choice model to encompass text. In our model, votes and speech are generated from a common set of underlying preference parameters. We estimate the parameters with a sparse Gaussian copula factor model that estimates the number of latent dimensions, is robust to outliers, and accounts for zero inflation in the data. To illustrate its workings, we apply our estimator to roll call votes and floor speech from recent sessions of the US Senate. We uncover two stable dimensions: one ideological and the other reflecting to Senators’ leadership roles. We then show how the method can leverage common speech in order to impute missing data, recovering reliable preference estimates for rank-and-file Senators given only leadership votes.
A New Class of Maximal Triangular Algebras
Authors: Orr John Lindsay
Published: May 2018

Triangular algebras, and maximal triangular algebras in particular, have been objects of interest for over 50 years. Rich families of examples have been studied in the context of many w*- and C*-algebras, but there remains a dearth of concrete examples in $B({\cal H})$. In previous work, we described a family of maximal triangular algebras of finite multiplicity. Here, we investigate a related family of maximal triangular algebras with infinite multiplicity, and unearth a new asymptotic structure exhibited by these algebras.
Labor and Dictatorship in Brazil: A Historiographical Review
Authors: Fontes Paulo , Corrêa Larissa R.
Published: May 2018

This article analyzes recent Brazilian scholarship on workers and trade unions during the military dictatorship (1964–1985), emphasizing the relative absence of studies and the neglect of worker organization. By focusing on working-class agency and the dilemmas the labor movement faced due to the regime's economic policies and fierce repression, this essay offers a better understanding of the political scenario after 1964. The second part of the article examines the themes of the most recent studies about workers and the labor movement during the military regime, emphasizing existing blind spots and future challenges for scholarship.
The Argentine Dictatorship and Labor (1976–1983): A Historiographical Essay
Authors: Basualdo Victoria
Published: May 2018

This article aims at briefly reviewing some of the main contributions on the transformations and role of the labor movement during the dictatorship in Argentina from 1976 to 1983. The analysis of the historiography will distinguish three main sub-periods: the 1980s, marked by the transition to democracy in Argentina; the 1990s, a decade during which neoliberal reforms were applied with full strength; and the post 2001-crisis, a time of economic growth and complex transformation of the academic sphere. It will examine approaches to two different complex and heterogeneous actors: the working class, its political and social role, as well as the labor force; and the trade-union movement, as the institutional organizations supposed to represent labor interests. In dialog with the historiographical analysis, the last part of the article will summarize some of the main existing open questions, as well as the possibly fruitful lines of research ahead.
Challenging Colonial Forced Labor? Resistance, Resilience, and Power in Senegal (1920s–1940s)
Authors: Tiquet Romain
Published: May 2018

Based on the combination of colonial archives and the analysis of several complaints published in Senegalese newspapers, this article sheds light on the daily compulsory reality experienced by local populations with regards to forced labor in colonial Senegal (1920s–1940s). In contrast to analyses approaching forced labor systems through the study of colonial bureaucratic routines, this article studies the reactions of local populations and the consequences for colonial labor policies. I introduce the notion of resilience in order to overcome the pitfalls of the resistance paradigm and bring new insight into attitudes of distance, refusal, and adaptation used by local populations as methods to “absorb the shock” of everyday colonial coercion. More broadly, this analysis leads us to interrogate the limits and fragility of the colonial enterprise, recalling that the colonial state was not an almighty administration and that it was, above all, based on abiding adaptations and empirical decisions.
Fordist Absences: Madrid's Right to Housing Movement as Labor Struggle
Authors: Gonick Sophie
Published: May 2018

Throughout the literature on contemporary populism in Europe, scholars point to increasing precarity brought about by post-Fordist labor relations as a central component in outrage on both the Left and the Right. Focusing on the case of Madrid and its right to housing movement, I instead argue that current mobilizations need to be understood as the product of the long absence of Fordist urban economic arrangements. I demonstrate how the working class was only able to attain full membership in the city during the recent economic boom. With the property crash, that membership appeared fleeting, triggering both inequality and outrage. Ultimately, I insist on the role of housing in the production of class formation and subjectivities.
Workers and the Right Wing: the Situation in India
Authors: Upadhyay Smriti
Published: May 2018

Why and how does a right-wing social movement mobilize workers along class lines? The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), the labor wing of the Hindu nationalist movement in India, marshals working-class support by emphasizing workers’ class positions and identities. Following Gramsci, I argue that the BMS represents the Hindu right's recognition of workers’ class power and is thus key to the Hindu Right's efforts to incorporate workers into hegemonic capitalist social relations. The form that right-wing activity takes depends on the histories of working-class mobilization and the class power of workers. Thus, right-wing actors do not exclusively dictate the terms of the engagement with workers, but workers also exercise agency in shaping and contesting this interaction.
Individual and contextual risk factors for chikungunya virus infection: the SEROCHIK cross-sectional population-based study
Authors: Fred A. , Fianu A. , Béral M. , Guernier V. , Sissoko D. , Méchain M. , Michault A. , Boisson V. , Gaüzère B.-A. , Favier F. , Malvy D. , Gérardin P. ,   SEROCHIK group
Published: May 2018

The purpose of the study was to weigh the community burden of chikungunya determinants on Reunion island. Risk factors were investigated within a subset of 2101 adult persons from a population-based cross-sectional serosurvey, using Poisson regression models for dichotomous outcomes. Design-based risk ratios and population attributable fractions (PAF) were generated distinguishing individual and contextual (i.e. that affect individuals collectively) determinants. The disease burden attributable to contextual determinants was twice that of individual determinants (overall PAF value 89.5% vs. 44.1%). In a model regrouping both categories of determinants, the independent risk factors were by decreasing PAF values: an interaction term between the reporting of a chikungunya history in the neighbourhood and individual house (PAF 45.9%), a maximal temperature of the month preceding the infection higher than 28.5 °C (PAF 25.7%), a socio-economically disadvantaged neighbourhood (PAF 19.0%), altitude of dwelling (PAF 13.1%), cumulated rainfalls of the month preceding the infection higher than 65 mm (PAF 12.6%), occupational inactivity (PAF 11.6%), poor knowledge on chikungunya transmission (PAF 7.3%) and obesity/overweight (PAF 5.2%). Taken together, these covariates and their underlying causative factors uncovered 80.8% of chikungunya at population level. Our findings lend support to a major role of contextual risk factors in chikungunya virus outbreaks.
Mining and petroleum boom and public spending policies in Niger: a dynamic computable general equilibrium analysis
Authors: Sangare Saadatou , Maisonnave Hélène
Published: May 2018

This study analyzes a public-spending option from mining and oil resources and its impact on Niger's economy. The windfall gain from mining and oil revenues provides an opportunity for the country to reinvest natural resource rents, enhance economic development, and address infrastructure gaps. Drawing on the country's recent and expected mining and oil exploitation, we evaluate the effects of a reinvestment policy in road infrastructure using a dynamic computable general equilibrium (CGE) model. We find that investment in road infrastructure brings positive spillover effects to other sectors of the economy and benefits to the economy in the long run. Our analysis additionally shows that reinvestment in road infrastructure, given the initial state of infrastructure in Niger, could help mitigate the resource curse.
The paradox of regulating negative emissions technologies under US environmental laws
Authors: Hester Tracy D.
Published: May 2018

Non-technical summary

Most domestic environmental laws control the act of emitting pollutants into the environment. As a result, they do not apply squarely to negative emissions technologies (NETs) that remove ambient contaminants and do not emit pollutants themselves. As a result, current US environmental laws cannot readily govern a NET unless it has features that would typically allow regulation of a clean-up, such as ownership of the polluted resources, being at fault for polluting them or instituting projects to restore them. We should reinterpret such laws to focus on actual disruption or harm to the environment instead of using emission of pollutants as a proxy for ecological damage.
Actin like-6A promotes glioma progression through stabilization of transcriptional regulators YAP/TAZ
Authors: Ji Jianxiong , Xu Ran , Zhang Xin , Han Mingzhi , Xu Yangyang , Wei Yuzhen , Ding Kaikai , Wang Shuai , Bin Huang  , Chen Anjing , Di Zhang  , Jiang Zheng , Xu Shuo , Zhang Qing , Li Wenjie , Ni Shilei , Wang Jian , Li Xingang
Published: May 2018

Increased Actin-like 6A (ACTL6A) expression has been implicated in the development of diverse cancers and recently associated with the Hippo signaling pathway, which is known to regulate biological properties, including proliferation, tissue regeneration, stem cell biology, as well as tumorigenesis. Here we first show that ACTL6A is upregulated in human gliomas and its expression is associated with glioma patient survival. ACTL6A promotes malignant behaviors of glioma cells in vitro and in orthotopic xenograft model. In co-immunoprecipitation assays, we discover that ACTL6A physically associated with YAP/TAZ and furthermore disrupts the interaction between YAP and β-TrCP E3 ubiquitin ligase, which promotes YAP protein degradation. Moreover, effects of ACTL6A on glioma cells proliferation, migration, and invasion could be mediated by YAP/TAZ. These data indicate that ACTL6A may contribute to cancer progression by stabilizing YAP/TAZ and therefore provide a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of human gliomas.
Nodal-to-nodeless superconducting order parameter in LaFeAs1−xP
x
O synthesized under high pressure
Authors: Shiroka Toni , Barbero Nicolò , Khasanov Rustem , Zhigadlo Nikolai D. , Ott Hans Rudolf , Mesot Joel
Published: May 2018

Similar to chemical doping, pressure produces and stabilizes new phases of known materials, whose properties may differ greatly from those of their standard counterparts. Here, by considering a series of LaFeAs1−xP
x
O iron-pnictides synthesized under high-pressure high-temperature conditions, we investigate the simultaneous effects of pressure and isoelectronic doping in the 1111 family. Results of numerous macroscopic and microscopic technique measurements unambiguously show a radically different phase diagram for the pressure-grown materials, characterized by the lack of magnetic order and the persistence of superconductivity across the whole 0.3 ≤ x ≤ 0.7 doping range. This unexpected scenario is accompanied by a branching in the electronic properties across x = 0.5, involving both the normal and superconducting phases. Most notably, the superconducting order parameter evolves from nodal (for x < 0.5) to nodeless (for x ≥ 0.5), in clear contrast to other 1111 and 122 iron-based materials grown under ambient-pressure conditions.
Mitochondrial Complex I activity signals antioxidant response through ERK5
Authors: Khan Abrar Ul Haq , Allende-Vega Nerea , Gitenay Delphine , Garaude Johan , Vo Dang-Nghiem , Belkhala Sana , Gerbal-Chaloin Sabine , Gondeau Claire , Daujat-Chavanieu Martine , Delettre Cécile , Orecchioni Stefania , Talarico Giovanna , Bertolini Francesco , Anel Alberto , Cuezva José M. , Enriquez Jose A. , Cartron Guillaume , Lecellier Charles-Henri , Hernandez Javier , Villalba Martin
Published: May 2018

Oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) generates ROS as a byproduct of mitochondrial complex I activity. ROS-detoxifying enzymes are made available through the activation of their antioxidant response elements (ARE) in their gene promoters. NRF2 binds to AREs and induces this anti-oxidant response. We show that cells from multiple origins performing OXPHOS induced NRF2 expression and its transcriptional activity. The NRF2 promoter contains MEF2 binding sites and the MAPK ERK5 induced MEF2-dependent NRF2 expression. Blocking OXPHOS in a mouse model decreased Erk5 and Nrf2 expression. Furthermore, fibroblasts derived from patients with mitochondrial disorders also showed low expression of ERK5 and NRF2 mRNAs. Notably, in cells lacking functional mitochondrial complex I activity OXPHOS did not induce ERK5 expression and failed to generate this anti-oxidant response. Complex I activity induces ERK5 expression through fumarate accumulation. Eukaryotic cells have evolved a genetic program to prevent oxidative stress directly linked to OXPHOS and not requiring ROS.
Detection of Chlamydiaceae and Chlamydia-like organisms on the ocular surface of children and adults from a trachoma-endemic region
Authors: Ghasemian Ehsan , Inic-Kanada Aleksandra , Collingro Astrid , Tagini Florian , Stein Elisabeth , Alchalabi Hadeel , Schuerer Nadine , Keše Darja , Babiker Balgesa Elkheir , Borel Nicole , Greub Gilbert , Barisani-Asenbauer Talin
Published: May 2018

Trachoma, the leading infectious cause of blindness, is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct), a bacterium of the phylum Chlamydiae. Recent investigations revealed the existence of additional families within the phylum Chlamydiae, also termed Chlamydia-like organisms (CLOs). In this study, the frequency of Ct and CLOs was examined in the eyes of healthy Sudanese (control) participants and those with trachoma (case). We tested 96 children (54 cases and 42 controls) and 93 adults (51 cases and 42 controls) using broad-range Chlamydiae and Ct-specific (omcB) real-time PCR. Samples positive by broad-range Chlamydiae testing were subjected to DNA sequencing. Overall Chlamydiae prevalence was 36%. Sequences corresponded to unclassified and classified Chlamydiae. Ct infection rate was significantly higher in children (31.5%) compared to adults (0%) with trachoma (p < 0.0001). In general, 21.5% of adults and 4.2% of children tested positive for CLOs (p = 0.0003). Our findings are consistent with previous investigations describing the central role of Ct in trachoma among children. This is the first study examining human eyes for the presence of CLOs. We found an age-dependent distribution of CLO DNA in human eyes with significantly higher positivity in adults. Further studies are needed to understand the impact of CLOs in trachoma pathogenicity and/or protection.
Confirmation of brain death using optical methods based on tracking of an optical contrast agent: assessment of diagnostic feasibility
Authors: Weigl Wojciech , Milej Daniel , Gerega Anna , Toczyłowska Beata , Sawosz Piotr , Kacprzak Michał , Janusek Dariusz , Wojtkiewicz Stanisław , Maniewski Roman , Liebert Adam
Published: May 2018

We aimed to determine whether optical methods based on bolus tracking of an optical contrast agent are useful for the confirmation of cerebral circulation cessation in patients being evaluated for brain death. Different stages of cerebral perfusion disturbance were compared in three groups of subjects: controls, patients with posttraumatic cerebral edema, and patients with brain death. We used a time-resolved near-infrared spectroscopy setup and indocyanine green (ICG) as an intravascular flow tracer. Orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was carried out to build statistical models allowing for group separation. Thirty of 37 subjects (81.1%) were classified correctly (8 of 9 control subjects, 88.9%; 13 of 15 patients with edema, 86.7%; and 9 of 13 patients with brain death, 69.2%; p < 0.0001). Depending on the combination of variables used in the OPLS-DA model, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 66.7–92.9%, 81.8–92.9%, and 77.3–89.3%, respectively. The method was feasible and promising in the demanding intensive care unit environment. However, its accuracy did not reach the level required for brain death confirmation. The potential usefulness of the method may be improved by increasing the depth of light penetration, confirming its accuracy against other methods evaluating cerebral flow cessation, and developing absolute parameters for cerebral perfusion.
The Kindlin-2 regulation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer metastasis is mediated through miR-200b
Authors: Sossey-Alaoui Khalid , Pluskota Elzbieta , Szpak Dorota , Schiemann William P. , Plow Edward F.
Published: May 2018

Metastasis is the main cause of death in cancer patients, including breast cancer (BC). Despite recent progress in understanding the biological and molecular determinants of BC metastasis, effective therapeutic treatments are yet to be developed. Among the multitude of molecular mechanisms that regulate cancer metastasis, the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program plays a key role in the activation of the biological steps leading to the metastatic phenotype. Kindlin-2 has been associated with the pathogenesis of several types of cancers, including BC. The role of Kindlin-2 in the regulation of BC metastasis, and to a lesser extent in EMT is not well understood. In this study, we show that Kindlin-2 is closely associated with the development of the metastatic phenotype in BC. We report that knockout of Kindlin-2 in either human or mouse BC cells, significantly inhibits metastasis in both human and mouse models of BC metastasis. We also report that the Kindlin-2-mediated inhibition of metastasis is the result of inhibition of expression of key molecular markers of the EMT program. Mechanistically, we show that miR-200b, a master regulator of EMT, directly targets and inhibits the expression of Kindlin-2, leading to the subsequent inhibition of EMT and metastasis. Together, our data support the targeting of Kindlin-2 as a therapeutic strategy against BC metastasis.
Complex housing causes a robust increase in dendritic complexity and spine density of medial prefrontal cortical neurons
Authors: Ashokan Archana , Lim Jamien Wee Han , Hang Nicholas , Mitra Rupshi
Published: May 2018

Prelimbic cortex and infralimbic cortex, parts of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, are critical brain regions for generating a flexible behavioral response to changing environmental contingencies. This includes the role of these brain structures in the extinction of learned fear, decision making and retrieval of remote memories. Dendritic structure of medial prefrontal cortex neurons retains significant structural plasticity in adulthood. This has been mainly demonstrated as dendritic atrophy and loss of dendritic spines due to chronic stress. It remains unknown if housing condition of the animals itself can cause opposing changes in the dendritic organization. In that backdrop, here we report that short-term increase in complexity of the housing causes a robust increase in complexity of dendritic architecture of prelimbic and infralimbic neurons. This is reflected in the dendritic expansion of prelimbic neurons and increase in spine density of prelimbic and infralimbic neurons. These results suggest that non-invasive changes in the housing environment can be harnessed to study brain reserves for the flexible and species-typical behaviors.
Considerations for Performing Level-2 Centiloid Transformations for Amyloid PET SUVR values
Authors: Schwarz Christopher G. , Tosakulwong Nirubol , Senjem Matthew L. , Gunter Jeffrey L. , Therneau Terry M. , Vemuri Prashanthi , Lowe Val J. , Jack Clifford R.
Published: May 2018

The Centiloid Project describes a post-hoc data transformation to standardize amyloid PET measurements to enable direct data comparisons across sites and studies using differing acquisition/analysis methods. It uses linear regression that transforms values using different measurement scales to match those from a standard Centiloid unit scale. Our group’s measurement method differs from the Centiloid’s standard method in both acquisition and analysis methods. In this work we examine multiple variations for performing these transformations and compare several approaches. We hypothesized that using Deming regression, which accounts for error on both axes, would produce a more optimal transformation than the recommended standard linear regression. We also examined the effects of performing separate regressions for differences in acquisition and analysis methods, rather than a direct single-regression approach. Our results found that all transformation approaches had very similar performance and were within the recommended tolerance thresholds.
Insight into the performance of multi-color InGaN/GaN nanorod light emitting diodes
Authors: Robin Y. , Bae S. Y. , Shubina T. V. , Pristovsek M. , Evropeitsev E. A. , Kirilenko D. A. , Davydov V. Yu. , Smirnov A. N. , Toropov A. A. , Jmerik V. N. , Kushimoto M. , Nitta S. , Ivanov S. V. , Amano H.
Published: May 2018

We report on the thorough investigation of light emitting diodes (LEDs) made of core-shell nanorods (NRs) with InGaN/GaN quantum wells (QWs) in the outer shell, which are grown on patterned substrates by metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy. The multi-bands emission of the LEDs covers nearly the whole visible region, including UV, blue, green, and orange ranges. The intensity of each emission is strongly dependent on the current density, however the LEDs demonstrate a rather low color saturation. Based on transmission electron microscopy data and comparing them with electroluminescence and photoluminescence spectra measured at different excitation powers and temperatures, we could identify the spatial origination of each of the emission bands. We show that their wavelengths and intensities are governed by different thicknesses of the QWs grown on different crystal facets of the NRs as well as corresponding polarization-induced electric fields. Also the InGaN incorporation strongly varies along the NRs, increasing at their tips and corners, which provides the red shift of emission. With increasing the current, the different QW regions are activated successively from the NR tips to the side-walls, resulting in different LED colors. Our findings can be used as a guideline to design effectively emitting multi-color NR-LEDs.
Monoaminergic levels at the forebrain and diencephalon signal for the occurrence of mutualistic and conspecific engagement in client reef fish
Authors: Abreu Murilo S. , Messias João P. M. , Thörnqvist Per-Ove , Winberg Svante , Soares Marta C.
Published: May 2018

Social interactions are commonly found among fish as in mammals and birds. While most animals interact socially with conspecifics some however are also frequently and repeatedly observed to interact with other species (i.e. mutualistic interactions). This is the case of the (so-called) fish clients that seek to be cleaned by other fish (the cleaners). Clients face an interesting challenge: they raise enough motivation to suspend their daily activities as to selectively visit and engage in interactions with cleaners. Here we aimed, for the first time, to investigate the region-specific brain monoaminergic level differences arising from individual client fish when facing a cleaner (interspecific context) compared to those introduced to another conspecific (socio-conspecific context). We show that monoaminergic activity differences occurring at two main brain regions, the diencephalon and the forebrain, are associated with fish clients’ social and mutualistic activities. Our results are the first demonstration that monoaminergic mechanisms underlie client fish mutualistic engagement with cleanerfish. These pathways should function as a pre-requisite for cleaning to occur, providing to clients the cognitive and physiological tools to seek to be cleaned.
Re-exploration of U’s Triangle Brassica Species Based on Chloroplast Genomes and 45S nrDNA Sequences
Authors: Kim Chang-Kug , Seol Young-Joo , Perumal Sampath , Lee Jonghoon , Waminal Nomar Espinosa , Jayakodi Murukarthick , Lee Sang-Choon , Jin Seungwoo , Choi Beom-Soon , Yu Yeisoo , Ko Ho-Cheol , Choi Ji-Weon , Ryu Kyoung-Yul , Sohn Seong-Han , Parkin Isobel , Yang Tae-Jin
Published: May 2018

The concept of U’s triangle, which revealed the importance of polyploidization in plant genome evolution, described natural allopolyploidization events inBrassicausing three diploids [B.rapa(A genome),B.nigra(B), andB.oleracea(C)] and derived allotetraploids [B.juncea(AB genome),B.napus(AC), andB.carinata(BC)]. However, comprehensive understanding ofBrassicagenome evolution has not been fully achieved. Here, we performed low-coverage (2–6×) whole-genome sequencing of 28 accessions ofBrassicaas well as ofRaphanus sativus[R genome] to explore the evolution of sixBrassicaspecies based on chloroplast genome and ribosomal DNA variations. Our phylogenomic analyses led to two main conclusions. (1) Intra-species-level chloroplast genome variations are low in the three allotetraploids (2~7 SNPs), but rich and variable in each diploid species (7~193 SNPs). (2) Three allotetraploids maintain two 45SnrDNA types derived from both ancestral species with maternal dominance. Furthermore, this study sheds light on the maternal origin of the AC chloroplast genome. Overall, this study clarifies the genetic relationships of U’s triangle species based on a comprehensive genomics approach and provides important genomic resources for correlative and evolutionary studies.
Isozyme-specific comprehensive characterization of transglutaminase-crosslinked substrates in kidney fibrosis
Authors: Tatsukawa Hideki , Otsu Risa , Tani Yuji , Wakita Ryosuke , Hitomi Kiyotaka
Published: May 2018

Chronic kidney disease is characterized by prolonged decline in renal function, excessive accumulation of ECM, and progressive tissue fibrosis. Transglutaminase (TG) is a crosslinking enzyme that catalyzes the formation of covalent bonds between glutamine and lysine residues, and is involved in the induction of renal fibrosis via the stabilization of ECM and the activation of TGF-β1. Despite the accumulating evidences indicating that TG2 is a key enzyme in fibrosis, genetic knockout of TG2 reduced by only 50% the elevated protein crosslinking and fibrous protein in renal fibrosis model, whereas treatment with TG inhibitor almost completely reduced these levels. Here, we also clarified the distributions of TG isozymes and their in situ activities and identified the isozyme-specific crosslinked substrates for both TG1 and TG2 in fibrotic kidney. We found that TG1 activity was markedly enhanced in renal tubular epithelium and interstitial areas, whereas TG2 activity increased only in the extracellular space. In total, 47 and 67 possible candidates were identified as TG1 and TG2 substrates, respectively, only in fibrotic kidney. Among them, several possible substrates related to renal disease and fibrosis were identified. These findings provide novel insights into the mechanisms of renal fibrosis through the targeting of isozyme-specific TG substrates.
No evidence for the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis in male humans
Authors: Nowak Judyta , Pawłowski Bogusław , Borkowska Barbara , Augustyniak Daria , Drulis-Kawa Zuzanna
Published: May 2018

The observations that testosterone might be immunosuppressive, form the basis for the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis (ICHH). According to ICHH only high-quality individuals can maintain high levels of testosterone and afford the physiological cost of hormone-derived immunosuppression. The animal and human studies that attempted to support the ICHH by precisely defined impairment of immunity associated with high testosterone levels are inconclusive. Furthermore, human studies have used only selected immune functions and varying testosterone fractions. This is the first study examining the relationship between multiple innate and adaptive immunity and serum levels of free testosterone, total testosterone, DHT and DHEA in ninety-seven healthy men. Free testosterone and marginally DHT levels were positively correlated with the strength of the influenza post-vaccination response. Total testosterone and DHEA showed no immunomodulatory properties. Our findings did not support ICHH assumptions about immunosuppressive function of androgens. In the affluent society studied here, men with higher levels of free testosterone could afford to invest more in adaptive immunity. Since the hormone-immune relationship is complex and may depend on multiple factors, including access to food resources, androgens should be treated as immunomodulators rather than implicit immunosuppressants.
Different rearing conditions alter gut microbiota composition and host physiology in Shaoxing ducks
Authors: Wang Shumei , Chen Li , He Maozhang , Shen Junda , Li Guoqin , Tao Zhengrong , Wu Rurong , Lu Lizhi
Published: May 2018

Emerging evidences have linked the gut microbiota to poultry physiology. Gut microbiota composition in Shaoxing ducks were profiled under different rearing conditions: raised on the litter floor and the plastic mesh floor. A total of 46 and 39 luminal content samples from the duodenum, ileum, and cecum of the ducks reared under the two conditions were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing analysis. Proteobacteria (48.66%), Proteobacteria (33.38%), and Bacteroidetes (55.35%) were the dominant phyla in the duodenum, ileum, and cecum of the ducks reared on the litter floor respectively, while Firmicutes (30.80%), Firmicutes (66.62%) and Bacteroidetes (47.15%) were the topmost phyla in the duodenum, ileum, and cecum of the ducks reared on the plastic mesh floor. Physiologically, the height of villi and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in the ileum and duodenum were significantly greater in the ducks reared on plastic mesh floor. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that the gut microbiota was significantly associated with the duck phenotypes, such as chest depth and serum estradiol levels (p < 0.05), which were altered by the different rearing conditions. Collectively, our results showed that the rearing floor types have an important effect on the gastrointestinal microbial composition of ducks.
Genomic epidemiology of Shigella in the United Kingdom shows transmission of pathogen sublineages and determinants of antimicrobial resistance
Authors: Baker Kate S. , Dallman Timothy J. , Field Nigel , Childs Tristan , Mitchell Holly , Day Martin , Weill François-Xavier , Lefèvre Sophie , Tourdjman Mathieu , Hughes Gwenda , Jenkins Claire , Thomson Nicholas
Published: May 2018

Shigella are globally important diarrhoeal pathogens that are endemic in low-to-middle income nations and also occur in high income nations, typically in travellers or community-based risk-groups. Shigella phylogenetics reveals population structures that are more reliable than those built with traditional typing methods, and has identified sublineages associated with specific geographical regions or patient groups. Genomic analyses reveal temporal increases in Shigella antimicrobial resistance (AMR) gene content, which is frequently encoded on mobile genetic elements. Here, we whole genome sequenced representative subsamples of S. flexneri 2a and S. sonnei (n = 366) from the United Kingdom from 2008 to 2014, and analysed these alongside publicly available data to make qualitative insights on the genomic epidemiology of shigellosis and its AMR within the broader global context. Combined phylogenetic, epidemiological and genomic anlayses revealed the presence of domestically-circulating sublineages in patient risk-groups and the importation of travel-related sublineages from both Africa and Asia, including ciprofloxacin-resistant sublineages of both species from Asia. Genomic analyses revealed common AMR determinants among travel-related and domestically-acquired isolates, and the evolution of mutations associated with reduced quinolone susceptibility in domestically-circulating sublineages. Collectively, this study provides unprecedented insights on the contribution and mobility of endemic and travel-imported sublineages and AMR determinants responsible for disease in a high-income nation.
Supremum of block entanglement for symmetric Gaussian states
Authors: Kao Jhih-Yuan , Chou Chung-Hsien
Published: May 2018

For a system composed of permutationally symmetric Gaussian modes, by identifying the boundary of valid states and making necessary change of variables, the existence and exact value of the supremum of logarithmic negativity (and negativity likewise) between any two blocks can be shown analytically. Involving only the total number of interchangeable modes and the sizes of respective blocks, this result is general and easy to be applied for such a class of states.
Relevance of arginine residues in Cu(II)-induced DNA breakage and Proteinase K resistance of H1 histones
Authors: Piscopo Marina , Trifuoggi Marco , Scarano Carmela , Gori Carla , Giarra Antonella , Febbraio Ferdinando
Published: May 2018

This work analyzes the involvement of arginines in copper/H2O2-induced DNA breakage. Copper is a highly redox active metal which has been demonstrated to form compounds with arginines. For this aim we used mixtures of pGEM3 DNA plasmid and two types of H1 histones which differ only in their arginine content. The sperm H1 histone from the annelid worm Chaetopterus variopedatus (arginine content 12.6 mol% K/R ratio 2) and the somatic H1 histone from calf thymus (arginine content 1.8 mol% and K/R ratio 15). Copper/H2O2-induced DNA breakage was observed only in presence of sperm H1 histones, but it was more relevant for the native molecule than for the deguanidinated derivative (K/R ratio 14), in which 80% of arginine residues were converted to ornithine. Further, copper induced proteinase K resistance and increase of DNA binding affinity on native sperm H1 histones. These observations are consistent with a copper induced reorganization of the side-chains of arginine residues. Copper, instead, did not affect DNA binding affinity of somatic and deguanidinated H1 histones, which show similar K/R ratio and DNA binding mode. These results indicate that arginine residues could affect these H1 histones properties and provide new insights into copper toxicity mechanisms.
A Novel Architecture for Carbon Nanotube Membranes towards Fast and Efficient Oil/water Separation
Authors: Saththasivam Jayaprakash , Yiming Wubulikasimu , Wang Kui , Jin Jian , Liu Zhaoyang
Published: May 2018

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) are robust and proven as promising building blocks for oil/water separating membranes. However, according to classic fluid dynamic theory, achieving high permeation flux without sacrificing other membrane properties is a formidable challenge for CNT membranes, because of the trade-off nature among key membrane parameters. Herein, to relieve the trade-off between permeation fluxes, oil rejection rate, and membrane thickness, we present a new concept to engineer CNT membranes with a three-dimensional (3D) architecture. Apart from achieving high oil separation efficiency (>99.9%), these new oil/water separating membranes can achieve water flux as high as 5,500 L/m2.h.bar, which is one order of magnitude higher than pristine CNT membranes. Most importantly, these outstanding properties can be achieved without drastically slashing membrane thickness down to nanoscale. The present study sheds a new light for the adoption of CNT-based membranes in oil/water separation industry.
Inhibition of Bcl-2/Bcl-xL and c-MET causes synthetic lethality in model systems of glioblastoma
Authors: Zhang Yiru , Ishida Chiaki Tsuge , Shu Chang , Kleiner Giulio , Sanchez-Quintero Maria J. , Bianchetti Elena , Quinzii Catarina M. , Westhoff Mike-Andrew , Karpel-Massler Georg , Siegelin Markus D.
Published: May 2018

Recent data suggest that glioblastomas (GBM) activate the c-MET signaling pathway and display increased levels in anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members. Therefore, targeting these two deregulated pathways for therapy might yield synergistic treatment responses. We applied extracellular flux analysis to assess tumor metabolism. We found that combined treatment with ABT263 and Crizotinib synergistically reduces the proliferation of glioblastoma cells, which was dependent on dual inhibition of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. The combination treatment led to enhanced apoptosis with loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and activation of caspases. On the molecular level, c-MET-inhibition results in significant energy deprivation with a reduction in oxidative phosphorylation, respiratory capacity and a suppression of intracellular energy production (ATP). In turn, loss of energy levels suppresses protein synthesis, causing a decline in anti-apoptotic Mcl-1 levels. Silencing of Mcl-1 enhanced ABT263 and MET-inhibitor mediated apoptosis, but marginally the combination treatment, indicating that Mcl-1 is the central factor for the induction of cell death induced by the combination treatment. Finally, combined treatment with BH3-mimetics and c-MET inhibitors results in significantly smaller tumors than each treatment alone in a PDX model system of glioblastoma. These results suggest that c-MET inhibition causes a selective vulnerability of GBM cells to Bcl-2/Bcl-xL inhibition.
Quantitative assessment of urban wetland dynamics using high spatial resolution satellite imagery between 2000 and 2013
Authors: Hu Tangao , Liu Jiahong , Zheng Gang , Li Yao , Xie Bin
Published: May 2018

Accurate and timely information describing urban wetland resources and their changes over time, especially in rapidly urbanizing areas, is becoming more important. We applied an object-based image analysis and nearest neighbour classifier to map and monitor changes in land use/cover using multi-temporal high spatial resolution satellite imagery in an urban wetland area (Hangzhou Xixi Wetland) from 2000, 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2013. The overall eight-class classification accuracies averaged 84.47% for the five years. The maps showed that between 2000 and 2013 the amount of non-wetland (urban) area increased by approximately 100%. Herbaceous (32.22%), forest (29.57%) and pond (23.85%) are the main land-cover types that changed to non-wetland, followed by cropland (6.97%), marsh (4.04%) and river (3.35%). In addition, the maps of change patterns showed that urban wetland loss is mainly distributed west and southeast of the study area due to real estate development, and the greatest loss of urban wetlands occurred from 2007 to 2013. The results demonstrate the advantages of using multi-temporal high spatial resolution satellite imagery to provide an accurate, economical means to map and analyse changes in land use/cover over time and the ability to use the results as inputs to urban wetland management and policy decisions.
Synthesis of novel (benzimidazolyl)isoquinolinols and evaluation as adenosine A1 receptor tools
Authors: Singh Sameek , Cooper Samantha L. , Glenn Jacqueline R. , Beresford Jessica , Percival Lydia R. , Tyndall Joel D. A. , Hill Stephen J. , Kilpatrick Laura E. , Vernall Andrea J.
Published: May 2018

Mild, metal free aromatization of tetrahydroisoquinolinols. Synthesis of (benzimidazolyl)isoquinolinols.
MoS2/ZnO van der Waals heterostructure as a high-efficiency water splitting photocatalyst: a first-principles study
Authors: Wang Sake , Ren Chongdan , Tian Hongyu , Yu Jin , Sun Minglei
Published: May 2018

The MoS2/ZnO van der Waals heterostructure is a high-efficiency photocatalyst for water splitting.
Hydrogen bond basicity of ionic liquids and molar entropy of hydration of salts as major descriptors in the formation of aqueous biphasic systems
Authors: Passos Helena , Dinis Teresa B. V. , Cláudio Ana Filipa M. , Freire Mara G. , Coutinho João A. P.
Published: May 2018

A predictive model for ionic liquid/salt aqueous biphasic systems’ formation based on the hydrogen bond basicity of ionic liquids and molar entropy of hydration of salts.
Aromatic cage-like B34 and B35+: new axially chiral members of the borospherene family
Authors: Liu Hui , Chen Qiang , Li Hai-Ru , Zhao Xiao-Yun , Tian Xin-Xin , Mu Yue-Wen , Lu Hai-Gang , Li Si-Dian
Published: May 2018

Axially chiral cage-like B34 and B35+ are predicted to be new aromatic members of the borospherene family.
Dinitrogen photoactivation: status quo and future perspectives
Authors: Krewald Vera
Published: May 2018

New perspectives for dinitrogen activation: an overview of photochemical pathways to cleave the strong N–N bond.
Selenization of NiMn-layered double hydroxide with enhanced electrocatalytic activity for oxygen evolution
Authors: Du Jing , Zou Zehua , Yu Ailing , Xu Cailing
Published: May 2018

A strategy to prepare NiMn-layered double hydroxide (LDH) with selenization is delineated to enhance OER electrocatalytic performance.
Selenium deficiency inhibits differentiation and immune function and imbalances the Th1/Th2 of dendritic cells
Authors: Sun Zhepeng , Xu Zhe , Wang Dongxu , Yao Haidong , Li Shu
Published: May 2018

Selenium deficiency affects differentiation and immune function of dendritic cells.
Selenoprotein W as a molecular target of d-amino acid oxidase is regulated by d-amino acid in chicken neurons
Authors: Li Wei , Talukder Milton , Sun Xue-Tong , Zhang Cong , Li Xue-Nan , Ge Jing , Li Jin-Long
Published: May 2018

Selenoprotein W (SelW), an important member of the avian selenoprotein family, can combine with d-amino acid oxidase (DAAO). Selenium (Se) can inhibit the toxicity of d-serine and maybe has a detoxifying ability by increasing the expression of SelW and decreasing the activity of DAAO.
Gallium(iii)–2-benzoylpyridine-thiosemicarbazone complexes promote apoptosis through Ca2+ signaling and ROS-mediated mitochondrial pathways
Authors: Qi Jinxu , Qian Kun , Tian Liang , Cheng Zhen , Wang Yihong
Published: May 2018

Ga(iii) complexes promoted apoptosis as a result of a combination of multiple apoptotic pathways.
Graphene and activated carbon-wrapped and Co3O4-intercalated 3D sandwich nanostructure hybrid for high-performance supercapacitance
Authors: Li Yue , Jia Mengying , Xu Lanshu , Gao Jianmin , Zhang Fan , Jin Xiao-Juan
Published: May 2018

The graphene/Co3O4/activated carbon (GCA) 1 : 9 capacitor shows the best electrochemical properties with Co3O4 particles that were homogeneously dispersed between the graphene/Co3O4 (GC) layers.
A pH-responsive and magnetic Fe3O4@silica@MIL-100(Fe)/β-CD nanocomposite as a drug nanocarrier: loading and release study of cephalexin
Authors: Lajevardi Aseman , Hossaini Sadr Moayad , Tavakkoli Yaraki Mohammad , Badiei Alireaza , Armaghan Mahsa
Published: May 2018

In the present work, a novel magnetic and pH-responsive porous nanocomposite was prepared by the surface grafting of β-cyclodextrin onto Fe3O4@silica@MIL-100(Fe).
Smart electrochemical sensing platform for the simultaneous determination of psychotic disorder drugs isopropamide iodide and trifluoperazine hydrochloride
Authors: A. Mohamed Mona , Saad Ahmed S. , Koshek Sara H. , El-Ghobashy Mohamed R.
Published: May 2018

Schematic representation of carboxylation of multiwalled carbon nanotubes.
Copper-catalyzed remote oxidation of alcohols initiated by radical difluoroalkylation of alkenes: facile access to difluoroalkylated carbonyl compounds
Authors: Zhang Jian , Jin Weiwei , Cheng Cungui , Luo Fang
Published: May 2018

A Cu-catalyzed oxidation of alcohols triggered by the radical difluoroalkylation of alkenes has been developed.
Modulating single-molecule magnet behavior towards multiple magnetic relaxation processes through structural variation in Dy4 clusters
Authors: Wang Wen-Min , Kang Xiao-Min , Shen Hai-Yun , Wu Zhi-Lei , Gao Hong-Ling , Cui Jian-Zhong
Published: May 2018

Three Dy4 clusters based on a flexible and attractive Schiff base ligand HL have been synthesized, and they showed different tetranuclear core arrangements. Magnetic studies reveal that clusters 1–3 display distinct slow relaxation of magnetization.
Oxidative radical cascade cyclization involving C(sp3)–C(sp3), C(sp3)–C(sp2) and C(sp2)–N bonds formation: direct construction of cyano and methyl substituted polyheterocycles
Authors: Shang Jia-Qi , Wang Shi-Sheng , Fu Hong , Li Yi , Yang Tao , Li Ya-Min
Published: May 2018

Oxidative radical cascade cyclizations of 2-cyano-3-arylaniline derived acrylamides with acetonitrile and tert-butyl peroxybenzoate have been developed to construct cyano and methyl substituted pyrido[4,3,2-gh]phenanthridines.
Heteroatom-doped porous carbons derived from moxa floss of different storage years for supercapacitors
Authors: Zhang Xuelin , Niu Qingyuan , Guo Yaqing , Gao Xiyan , Gao Kezheng
Published: May 2018

Two novel carbons (MCs) derived from moxa floss of different storage years have been prepared by two low-cost and facile approaches, which are hydrothermal carbonization and direct pyrolysis followed by KOH activation strategy, respectively.
Behaviour of the XH-*-π and YX-*-π interactions (X, Y = F, Cl, Br and I) in the coronene π-system, as elucidated by QTAIM dual functional analysis with QC calculations
Authors: Hayashi Satoko , Sugibayashi Yuji , Nakanishi Waro
Published: May 2018

The XH-*-π(C24H12) interactions appear on the outside ring of C24H12, while YX-*-π(C24H12) do both on the inside and outside rings.
Copper-catalyzed C–H acyloxylation of 2-phenylpyridine using oxygen as the oxidant
Authors: Wang Feifan , Lin Zhiyang , Yu Weisheng , Hu Qingdong , Shu Chao , Zhang Wu
Published: May 2018

A copper catalyzed direct o-acyloxylation of 2-phenylpyridine with various carboxylic acids using oxygen as oxidant has been developed.
Attempt to visualize terminal structure on a specific facet in polymer–metal complex nanocrystals
Authors: Suzuki Ryuju , Onodera Tsunenobu , Kasai Hitoshi , Oikawa Hidetoshi
Published: May 2018

We have successfully visualized the surface terminal structure of polymer–metal complex [{Cu2(μ-Br)2(PPh3)2}(μ-bpy)]n nanocrystals (NCs) using Prussian blue (PB) nanoparticles (NPs).
Additive manufacturing of silica glass using laser stereolithography with a top-down approach and fast debinding
Authors: Liu Chang , Qian Bin , Liu Xiaofeng , Tong Limin , Qiu Jianrong
Published: May 2018

A new approach for glass additive manufacturing with stereolithography that raises the efficiency in a great extent.