bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Voting Characteristics of Individuals With Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Hirsch Mark A. , Kropf Martha E. , Hammond Flora M. , Schur Lisa , Karlawish Jason H. , Ball Andrew M.
Published: March 2019

Voting is the foundation of democracy. Limited data exist about voting characteristics of individuals with neurologic impairment including those living with a traumatic brain injury (TBI). To statistically examine voting characteristics using a convenience sample of registered voters with TBI during elections held in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina—2007, 2008. Data were collected on 51 participants with TBI during May 2007, 2008 general, and 2008 Presidential Election. (i) There was a significant difference between the Competence Assessment Tool for Voting (CAT‐V) total score of participants with TBI who voted and the CAT‐V total score of participants with TBI who did not vote and the CAT‐V total score predicted voting; (ii) the age of the participants with TBI was predictive of voting; and (iii) being married was inversely related to voting. We find that there is variation in voting even among this small sample interviewed for the present study, and that the variation is predictable. Those with the highest CAT‐Vs are most likely to vote. In addition, we find that traditional predictors of voting simply are not predictors among this TBI group, and even one, whether the person is married, has a negative effect on voting.
Introduction
Authors: Dobrescu Paul
Published: March 2019

Following a repetitive pattern, the world gets closer then drifts away from the complex issue of development. Development as a process is a constant presence in our lives; nevertheless, the debate surrounding it—especially with regard to its intensity and quality—is more or less articulate. How did different theories and models guide development? Looking at this topic 30 years after the end of the Cold War allows us to identify three distinct periods. The first one ranges from the end of the Cold War to the brink of the 2008–2009 economic crisis, the second covers the next decade of slow recovery, while the third, the one we are currently experiencing, is the least studied and understood of all. Before detailing these time intervals, we need to stress a fundamental fact: during the whole timespan of 30 years, development took place within the more general context of globalization, a setting dramatically different than any other in history.
Health Care and Migration: What Data Can Tell Us of the Hard-to-Measure Impact of Migrants on the European Health Systems
Authors: Caterina Francesca Guidi , Petretto Alessandro
Published: March 2019

Nowadays migration is one of the key issues in the international as well as in the European political and public debate. It represents a key challenge for modern societies and, together with the adaptation of welfare, has been extensively investigated in social sciences. One of the most compelling challenges consists in the adaptation of health systems to migration’s new needs. The European Union (EU) presents among its member states (MS) highly differentiated situations in terms of healthcare provision models, contribution systems, and integration policies adopted towards foreigners. Compared to other countries with a longer migratory tradition, the differences in access and use of health systems by intra-EU migrants and migrants from third countries are still considerable within EU MS, and further diversified based on migrants’ legal status. Starting from the traditional types of healthcare systems, a more specific purpose will be to establish and measure a systematic relationship between the costs and performance of health systems, migratory care demand, and the migrants’ contribution to the European systems.
Why Do Some Countries Develop and Others Not?
Authors: Goldin Ian
Published: March 2019

This chapter discusses the reasons why countries develop or remain poor. It examines the many reasons advanced for this and provides fresh perspectives on historical experience and the academic literature. It looks both backward over the past 70 years and forward to consider new factors shaping the development of nations and the roles of businesses, governments and individuals everywhere.
“Nous Choisissons L’Europe”: EU’s Economic Development and Current Challenges
Authors: Volintiru Clara , Drăgan Gabriela
Published: March 2019

EU member states can no longer remain competitive in isolation given the current interdependencies at the international level. We analyse in this chapter the trade tendencies in the European Union, and we show the relatively large distance between Germany as the European top exporter and importer, and the following economies. We also analyse economic relations between member states that are designed to respond to non-EU challenges. We find that national member states engage in more collaborative and transnational development strategies for the coming years as a survival strategy in the current international context. Finally, we show how dependent the EU states have become on the single market by looking in depth at a case study of the United Kingdom’s trade relations.
Being Active in Online Communications: Firm Responsiveness and Customer Engagement Behaviour
Authors: Sheng Jie
Published: March 2019

This research investigates the behavioral effects of firms’ online activeness in influencing customer engagement in word-of-mouth communications. Using a large-scale field dataset of hotel reviews and managerial responses, this study empirically examines firm responsiveness in relationship to community members’ participation in the online review posting. Novel findings are reported that response volume and speed are important for effecting firm–customer interactions. This highlights a firm-leading influence on customers’ word-of-mouth behaviour by identifying firm engagement as a motivational driver of customer engagement. It offers implications for researchers and practitioners with regard to social media marketing, in particular firm engaging in the online communication network by acting in an active and prompt manner.
Online Category Pricing at a Multichannel Grocery Retailer
Authors: Cebollada Javier , Chu Yanlai , Jiang Zhiying
Published: March 2019

As the importance of online grocery shopping increases, both pure-play online grocers and multichannel grocers are likely to be interested in setting optimal prices for their online stores. We use a unique household scanner panel dataset to investigate how a grocery retailer with both online and offline stores can set prices for its online store. We observe the same households shopping interchangeably at the online and offline stores of the same grocery chain and investigate their purchase behavior in specific product categories. We find that across three product categories, these households exhibit lower price sensitivities when shopping online than offline. In addition, a household's price sensitivity is inversely related to distance to the closest physical store. We compute the retailer's category profit-maximizing prices for the online store and explore several alternative pricing schemes that are consistent with the retailer's current price image. We find that the retailer can substantially increase its profits from online operations by fine tuning its current pricing policy. Given the estimated inverse relationship between price sensitivity and store distance, we investigate online zone pricing as a price discrimination tool based on residential location and find that the retailer can further improve store profits. We examine the potential mechanism to assign zones and determine the optimal number of pricing zones.
Reconceptualising Exposure and Some Implications for Cognitive-Behavioural and Psychodynamic Practice
Authors: Muir David L. , Hibberd Fiona J.
Published: March 2019

The concept of exposure is ubiquitous in the research and practice of clinical psychology, most notably in cognitive-behavioural models. Yet there remains confusion and ambiguity around how exposure in ‘exposure therapy’ is characterised. Current definitions are found to be inadequate, as each identifies certain features of the exposure process but omits others. As such, an elaborated model of exposure is presented, referred to here as there-exposure-extinction learning process. This process involves a complex causal situation consisting of clinical features (the cause/causes,C), acting upon a person (the field,F), to bring about re-exposure to anxiety-provoking stimuli and then extinction learning, leading, over time, to therapeutic change (the effect/effects,E). Importantly, re-exposure and extinction learning are two processes distinct from the therapeutic procedures (i.e., techniques and methods) used to bring them about. Furthermore, these processes are not inherently tied to a particular model of therapy or clinical intervention. They are, therefore,logically independent ofthe procedures used to facilitate them. Considering this reconceptualisation, we propose that working in the transference, a cornerstone of psychodynamic psychotherapy, can be understood as a complementary and effective method of facilitating the re-exposure-extinction learning process. We argue that this is achieved through enabling a person to repeatedly re-evaluate their fearful expectations as they manifest in the unfolding dynamics of the therapeutic relationship. Finally, some clinical implications indicated by this elaborated model are explored.
Sound the alarm! Updating beliefs and degradative cyber operations
Authors: Gomez Miguel Alberto N.
Published: March 2019

To date, cyber security research is built on observational studies involving macro-level attributes as causal factors that account for state behaviour in cyberspace. While this tradition resulted in significant findings, it abstracts the importance of individual decision-makers. Specifically, these studies have yet to provide an account as to why states fail to integrate available information resulting in suboptimal judgements such as the misattribution of cyber operations. Using a series of vignette experiments, the study demonstrates that cognitive heuristics and motivated reasoning play a crucial role in the formation of judgements vis-à-vis cyberspace. While this phenomenon is frequently studied relative to the physical domain, it remains relatively unexplored in the context of cyberspace. Consequently, this study extends the existing literature by highlighting the importance of micro-level attributes in interstate cyber interactions.
A new model of shoaling and breaking waves. Part 2. Run-up and two-dimensional waves
Authors: Richard G. L. , Duran A. , Fabrèges B.
Published: March 2019

We derive a two-dimensional depth-averaged model for coastal waves with both dispersive and dissipative effects. A tensor quantity called enstrophy models the subdepth large-scale turbulence, including its anisotropic character, and is a source of vorticity of the average flow. The small-scale turbulence is modelled through a turbulent-viscosity hypothesis. This fully nonlinear model has equivalent dispersive properties to the Green–Naghdi equations and is treated, both for the optimization of these properties and for the numerical resolution, with the same techniques which are used for the Green–Naghdi system. The model equations are solved with a discontinuous Galerkin discretization based on a decoupling between the hyperbolic and non-hydrostatic parts of the system. The predictions of the model are compared to experimental data in a wide range of physical conditions. Simulations were run in one-dimensional and two-dimensional cases, including run-up and run-down on beaches, non-trivial topographies, wave trains over a bar or propagation around an island or a reef. A very good agreement is reached in every cases, validating the predictive empirical laws for the parameters of the model. These comparisons confirm the efficiency of the present strategy, highlighting the enstrophy as a robust and reliable tool to describe wave breaking even in a two-dimensional context. Compared with existing depth-averaged models, this approach is numerically robust and adds more physical effects without significant increase in numerical complexity.
Hyers–Ulam stability for equations with differences and differential equations with time-dependent and periodic coefficients
Authors: Buşe Constantin , Lupulescu Vasile , O'Regan Donal
Published: March 2019

Letqbe a positive integer and let (an) and (bn) be two given ℂ-valued andq-periodic sequences. First we prove that the linear recurrence in ℂ0.1$$x_{n + 2} = a_nx_{n + 1} + b_nx_n,\quad n\in {\open Z}_+ $$is Hyers–Ulam stable if and only if the spectrum of the monodromy matrixTq: =Aq−1· · ·A0(i.e. the set of all its eigenvalues) does not intersect the unit circle Γ = {z∈ ℂ: |z| = 1}, i.e.Tqis hyperbolic. Here (and in as follows) we let0.2$$A_n = \left( {\matrix{ 0 & 1 \cr {b_n} & {a_n} \cr } } \right)\quad n\in {\open Z}_+ .$$Secondly we prove that the linear differential equation0.3$${x}^{\prime \prime}(t) = a(t){x}^{\prime}(t) + b(t)x(t),\quad t\in {\open R},$$(wherea(t) andb(t) are ℂ-valued continuous and 1-periodic functions defined on ℝ) is Hyers–Ulam stable if and only ifP(1) is hyperbolic; hereP(t) denotes the solution of the first-order matrix 2-dimensional differential system0.4$${X}^{\prime}(t) = A(t)X(t),\quad t\in {\open R},\quad X(0) = I_2,$$whereI2is the identity matrix of order 2 and0.5$$A(t) = \left( {\matrix{ 0 & 1 \cr {b(t)} & {a(t)} \cr } } \right),\quad t\in {\open R}.$$
First-order expansions for eigenvalues and eigenfunctions in periodic homogenization
Authors: Zhuge Jinping
Published: March 2019

For a family of elliptic operators with periodically oscillating coefficients, $-{\rm div}(A(\cdot /\varepsilon )\nabla )$ with tiny ε > 0, we comprehensively study the first-order expansions of eigenvalues and eigenfunctions (eigenspaces) for both the Dirichlet and Neumann problems in bounded, smooth and strictly convex domains (or more general domains of finite type). A new first-order correction term is introduced to derive the expansion of eigenfunctions in L2 or $H^1_{\rm loc}$. Our results rely on the recent progress on the homogenization of boundary layer problems.
CLIMATE ASSESSMENT AS AN EMERGING OBLIGATION UNDER CUSTOMARY INTERNATIONAL LAW
Authors: Mayer Benoit
Published: March 2019

Environmental assessment (EA) is established in most countries as a procedure to ensure that administrative authorities are aware of the environmental impacts likely to result from the activities they approve. Many jurisdictions have moved towards including consideration for climate change mitigation in EA. Through a review of the law and practice of various States, this article suggests that such Climate Assessment is now emerging as a norm of customary international law.
Writing a Bill of Exchange:The Perils of Pearl Street, The Adventures of Harry Franco, and the Antebellum Credit System
Authors: LAWSON ANDREW
Published: March 2019

This article examines representations of credit instruments in two popular antebellum fictions: Asa Greene'sThe Perils of Pearl Streetand Charles Frederick Briggs'sThe Adventures of Harry Franco. Drawing on a range of business histories it describes the operation of promissory notes and bills of exchange in the cotton-for-credit system, focussing on the “principle of deferral” and the ways in which these instruments attempted to solve the problem of time in long-distance exchange. By establishing concrete connections between characters, times, and places, these fictions demystify the antebellum financial system, revealing an economy based on new forms of social interdependence.
Obstacle Avoidance through Gesture Recognition: Business Advancement Potential in Robot Navigation Socio-Technology
Authors: Liu Xuan , Khan Kashif Nazar , Farooq Qamar , Hao Yunhong , Arshad Muhammad Shoaib
Published: March 2019

In the present modern age, a robot works like human and is controlled in such a manner that its movements should not create hindrance in human activities. This characteristic involves gesture feat and gesture recognition. This article is aimed to describe the developments in algorithms devised for obstacle avoidance in robot navigation which can open a new horizon for advancement in businesses. For this purpose, our study is focused on gesture recognition to mean socio-technological implication. Literature review on this issue reveals that movement of robots can be made efficient by introducing gesture-based collision avoidance techniques. Experimental results illustrated a high level of robustness and usability of the Gesture recognition (GR) system. The overall error rate is almost 10%. In our subjective judgment, we assume that GR system is very well-suited to instruct a mobile service robot to change its path on the instruction of human.
Epidemiology of carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli and first report of blaVIM carbapenemases gene in calves from India
Authors: Murugan M. Senthil , Sinha D. K. , Vinodh Kumar O. R. , Yadav Ajay Kumar , Pruthvishree B. S. , Vadhana Prasanna , Nirupama K. R. , Bhardwaj Monika , Singh B. R.
Published: March 2019

A cross-sectional study on six dairy farms was conducted to ascertain the occurrence of carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli in calves. Two-hundred and seventy-nine isolates of E. coli were recovered from 90 faecal samples from apparently healthy (45) and diarrhoeal (45) calves. The isolates were screened for phenotypic susceptibility to carbapenems and production of metallo β-lactamase, as well as five carbapenemase resistance genes by PCR, and overexpression of efflux pumps. Eighty-one isolates (29.03%) were resistant to at least one of three carbapenem antibiotics [meropenem (23.30%), imipenem (2.15%) and ertapenem (1.43%)], and one isolate was positive for the blaVIM gene which was located on an Incl1 plasmid of a novel sequence type (ST 297) by multilocus sequence typing. The majority (83.95%) of isolates had an active efflux pump. Calves housed on concrete floors were approximately seven times more likely to acquire meropenem-resistant isolates than those housed on earthen floors (95% CI 1.27–41.54). In India, carbapenem drugs are not used in food animal treatment, hence carbapenem-resistant strains in calves possibly originate from the natural environment or human contact and is of public health importance. To our knowledge, this is the first report of blaVIM carbapenemases gene in calves from India.
A systems-based human rights approach to a national food plan in the USA
Authors: Bellows Anne C.
Published: March 2019

Molly Anderson's vision of making US federal food assistance rights-based is a powerful and strategic call for justice. Let us expand it to a call for human rights-based sustainable food system development at the national and local level. International human rights frameworks provide strategic and still-evolving tools to support social justice as well as experienced global networks and partners. To advance that potential, we need to fire up broad-scale human rights and human right to adequate food and nutrition education and training.
Shade avoidance cues reduceBeta vulgarisgrowth
Authors: Schambow Thomas J. , Adjesiwor Albert T. , Lorent Louise , Kniss Andrew R.
Published: March 2019

Field and greenhouse experiments were conducted from 2013 to 2015 at the University of Wyoming to evaluate the response ofBeta vulgaris(L.) to reflected-light quality. Large-pail field studies included a factorial arrangement of three varieties ofB. vulgaris(sugar beet, table beet, and Swiss chard) and reflected-light treatments (using either colored plastic mulch, grass, or bare-soil controls). Greenhouse studies included sugar beet as influenced by either grass or soil surroundings. In all studies, grass was grown in separate containers fromB. vulgaris, so there was no root interaction. Grass was clipped regularly to prevent shading and competition for sunlight. Reflected light from different-colored plastic mulches (red, blue, green, black, clear) did not affectB. vulgarisgrowth. However, reflected light from the grass reduced the number of leaves in allB. vulgarisvarieties such that there were 10 to 14 fewer leaves inB. vulgarissurrounded by grass compared with the soil treatment at 90 d after planting in the field study. Shade avoidance cues from surrounding grass reducedB. vulgaristotal leaf area by 49% to 66%, leaf biomass by 21% to 30%, and root biomass by 70% to 72%. Similar results were observed in greenhouse experiments, where the grass treatment reduced sugar beet leaf biomass by 48% to 57% and root biomass by 35% to 64%. Shade avoidance cues have the potential to significantly reduceB. vulgarisyield, even in the absence of direct resource competition from weeds.
Intermediate‐Magnitude Postseismic Slip Follows Intermediate‐Magnitude (M4 to 5) Earthquakes in California
Authors: Alwahedi M. A. , Hawthorne J. C.
Published: March 2019

The magnitude of postseismic slip is useful for constraining physical models of fault slip. Here we examine the postseismic slip following intermediate‐magnitude (M 4 to 5) earthquakes by systematically analyzing data from borehole strainmeters in central and northern California. We assess the noise in the data and identify 11 earthquakes that generated interpretable strain records. We estimate the earthquakes' postseismic to coseismic moment ratios by comparing the coseismic strain changes with strain changes induced by afterslip in the following 1.5 days. The median estimated postseismic moment is 0.45 times the coseismic moment, with a 90% confidence interval between 0.25 and 0.60. This postseismic moment is slightly larger than typically observed following large (M > 6) earthquakes but smaller than observed following small (M2 to 4) earthquakes. The intermediate‐magnitude postseismic slip suggests a size dependence in the dynamics of earthquakes or in the properties of fault areas that surround earthquakes.
Comment on “Nucleation of Mesospheric Cloud Particles: Sensitivities and Limits” by L. Megner
Authors: Megner L.
Published: March 2019

In my article “Minimal impact on condensation nuclei properties on observable mesospheric ice properties” (Megner, 2011, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jastp.2010.08.006) I show that the observable bulk quantities of Noctilucent clouds are much less sensitive to the concentration of condensation nuclei than what previously has been believed. These results were challenged by Wilms et al. (2016, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015JA021764), who studied the effect of nucleation rate on cloud properties and find a sensitivity. In this comment I argue that the differences between the studies are less than they first appear: Both studies show a very limited sensitivity to ice condensation nuclei, especially when there are more than roughly 100 condensation nuclei per cubic centimeter. Observations do indicate that under normal conditions, there are at least around 100 particles per cubic centimeter in the region of formation, and thus that we are in the insensitive regime.
On the Value of ENSO State for Urban Water Supply System Operators: Opportunities, Trade‐Offs, and Challenges
Authors: Libisch‐Lehner C. P. , Nguyen H. T. T. , Taormina R. , Nachtnebel H. P. , Galelli S.
Published: March 2019

The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a major driver of global hydro‐climatic variability, with well‐known effects on floods, droughts, and coupled human‐natural systems. Its impact on urban settlements depends on both level of exposure and preparedness; two factors that are responsible for severe cuts on millions of people in developing countries, where urban water supply relies almost entirely on rainfall‐dependent sources. To understand whether information on the ENSO state could help mitigate the effects of droughts, we use Metro Manila's water supply system as exemplifying case study, for which we design “traditional” and adaptive management policies. The former are based on information typically available to operators, such as reservoir storage; the latter complement such information with the Oceanic Niño Index (ONI)—an indicator used for monitoring El Niño and La Niña state. Results obtained by comparing the policy performance on a large set of stochastic streamflow and ONI replicates show that ENSO‐informed policies are more robust, meaning that they attain a minimum performance level across a broader set of replicates. We show that the primary cause of this behavior is the information on the ENSO state. To further quantify the value of the ONI, we then compare the performance of a representative ENSO‐informed policy and the system's current operating rules on the period 1968–2014. The comparison shows that the severe water supply restrictions caused by the existing management system could have been partially avoided through a sequence of smaller restrictions implemented at the onset of the main El Niño events.
Plasma Blobs Associated With Medium‐Scale Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances
Authors: Kil Hyosub , Paxton Larry J. , Jee Geonhwa , Nikoukar Romina
Published: March 2019

Plasma blobs represent plasma density enhancements with respect to ambient plasma. The formation of blobs in low and middle latitudes is understood in association with either equatorial plasma bubbles or medium‐scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (MSTIDs). This study reports four blob events identified from the Swarm satellite observations in 2014. Those blobs show the conjugate property and the alignment in the northwest‐southeast direction in the Northern Hemisphere and southwest‐northeast direction in the Southern Hemisphere. These are the typical characteristics of nighttime MSTIDs. The observation of MSTIDs in the total electron content maps and the absence of bubbles in the equatorial region at the times of the blob detection further support the association of those blobs with MSTIDs.
Resolving the individual contribution of key microbial populations to enhanced biological phosphorus removal with Raman–FISH
Authors: Fernando Eustace Y , McIlroy Simon Jon , Nierychlo Marta , Herbst Florian-Alexander , Petriglieri Francesca , Schmid Markus C , Wagner Michael , Nielsen Jeppe Lund , Nielsen Per Halkjær
Published: March 2019

Enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) is a globally important biotechnological process and relies on the massive accumulation of phosphate within special microorganisms. Candidatus Accumulibacter conform to the classical physiology model for polyphosphate accumulating organisms and are widely believed to be the most important player for the process in full-scale EBPR systems. However, it was impossible till now to quantify the contribution of specific microbial clades to EBPR. In this study, we have developed a new tool to directly link the identity of microbial cells to the absolute quantification of intracellular poly-P and other polymers under in situ conditions, and applied it to eight full-scale EBPR plants. Besides Ca. Accumulibacter, members of the genus Tetrasphaera were found to be important microbes for P accumulation, and in six plants they were the most important. As these Tetrasphaera cells did not exhibit the classical phenotype of poly-P accumulating microbes, our entire understanding of the microbiology of the EBPR process has to be revised. Furthermore, our new single-cell approach can now also be applied to quantify storage polymer dynamics in individual populations in situ in other ecosystems and might become a valuable tool for many environmental microbiologists.
Absence of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27 or p18 increases efficiency of iPSC generation without induction of iPSC genomic instability
Authors: Zhan Zhiyan , Song Lili , Zhang Weiwei , Gu Haihui , Cheng Haizi , Zhang Yingwen , Yang Yi , Ji Guangzhen , Feng Haizhong , Cheng Tao , Li Yanxin
Published: March 2019

Mechanisms underlying the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) and keeping iPSC stability remain to be further defined. Accumulated evidences showed that iPSC reprogramming may be controlled by the cell-division-rate-dependent model. Here we reported effects of absence of mouse p27 or p18 on iPSC generation efficiency and genomic stability. Expression levels of cyclin-dependent kinases inhibitors (CDKIs), p21, p27, and p18 decreased during iPSC reprogramming. Like p21 loss, p27 or p18 deficiency significantly promoted efficiency of iPSC generation, whereas ectopic expression of p27, p18, or treatment with CDK2 or CDK4 inhibitors repressed the reprogramming rate, suggesting that CDKIs-regulated iPSC reprogramming is directly related with their functions as CDK inhibitors. However, unlike p21 deletion, absence of p27 or p18 did not increase DNA damage or chromosomal aberrations during iPSC reprogramming and at iPSC stage. Our data not only support that cell cycle regulation is critical for iPSC reprogramming, but also reveal the distinction of CDKIs in somatic cell reprogramming.
Resveratrol inhibits decidualization by accelerating downregulation of the CRABP2-RAR pathway in differentiating human endometrial stromal cells
Authors: Ochiai Asako , Kuroda Keiji , Ozaki Rie , Ikemoto Yuko , Murakami Keisuke , Muter Joanne , Matsumoto Akemi , Itakura Atsuo , Brosens Jan J. , Takeda Satoru
Published: March 2019

Pregnancy critically depends on the transformation of the human endometrium into a decidual matrix that controls embryo implantation and placenta formation, a process driven foremost by differentiation and polarization of endometrial stromal cells into mature and senescent decidual cells. Perturbations in the decidual process underpin a spectrum of prevalent reproductive disorders, including implantation failure and early pregnancy loss, emphasizing the need for new therapeutic interventions. Resveratrol is a naturally occurring polyphenol, widely used for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Using primary human endometrial stromal cell (HESC) cultures, we demonstrate that resveratrol has anti-deciduogenic properties, repressing not only the induction of the decidual marker genes PRL and IGFBP1 but also abrogating decidual senescence. Knockdown of Sirtuin 1, a histone deacetylase activated by resveratrol, restored the expression of IGFBP1 but not the induction of PRL or senescence markers in decidualizing HESCs, suggesting involvement of other pathways. We demonstrate that resveratrol interferes with the reprogramming of the retinoic acid signaling pathway in decidualizing HESCs by accelerating down-regulation of cellular retinoic acid-binding protein 2 (CRABP2) and retinoic acid receptor (RAR). Notably, knockdown of CRABP2 or RAR in HESCs was sufficient to recapitulate the anti-deciduogenic effects of resveratrol. Thus, while resveratrol has been advanced as a potential fertility drug, our results indicate it may have detrimental effects on embryo implantation by interfering with decidual remodeling of the endometrium.
Features of and preventive measures against hypertension in the young
Authors: Kawabe Hiroshi , Azegami Tatsuhiko , Takeda Ayano , Kanda Takeshi , Saito Ikuo , Saruta Takao , Hirose Hiroshi
Published: March 2019

The Japanese hypertension guidelines report that essential hypertension is detected in 1–3% of upper elementary and high school students during blood pressure (BP) screenings. Hypertension in these age groups is an emerging public health concern mainly attributed to the rising rate of pediatric obesity. Considering the existence of BP tracking phenomenon, early preventive education and instruction are necessary, especially for male students with moderately elevated BP showing a tendency toward obesity, despite the low prevalence of hypertension in high school students. Students with a positive family history of hypertension and those born with low birth weight need the same measures. Lifestyle habits, such as increased alcohol intake, dramatically change once students begin university; thus, early education and instruction regarding the factors influencing BP are necessary. In particular, for male students with higher BP during high school, caution regarding increased body weight is required irrespective of their level of obesity. Young adults aged <40 years should be educated about the association between body weight and hypertension. Particular caution surrounding lifestyle habits, including drinking and smoking, is warranted in male hypertensive subjects because hypertension at a young age is strongly associated with obesity. BP monitoring and the management of obesity should be considered efficient approaches to the detection and treatment of hypertension. For the lifetime prevention of hypertension, it is essential to be aware of one’s health status and learn about healthy lifestyles beginning in childhood. BP measurement may be an appropriate means to achieve this goal.
Cryo-EM structure of a light chain-derived amyloid fibril from a patient with systemic AL amyloidosis
Authors: Radamaker Lynn , Lin Yin-Hsi , Annamalai Karthikeyan , Huhn Stefanie , Hegenbart Ute , Schönland Stefan O. , Fritz Günter , Schmidt Matthias , Fändrich Marcus
Published: March 2019

Amyloid fibrils derived from antibody light chains are key pathogenic agents in systemic AL amyloidosis. They can be deposited in multiple organs but cardiac amyloid is the major risk factor of mortality. Here we report the structure of a λ1 AL amyloid fibril from an explanted human heart at a resolution of 3.3 Å which we determined using cryo-electron microscopy. The fibril core consists of a 91-residue segment presenting an all-beta fold with ten mutagenic changes compared to the germ line. The conformation differs substantially from natively folded light chains: a rotational switch around the intramolecular disulphide bond being the crucial structural rearrangement underlying fibril formation. Our structure provides insight into the mechanism of protein misfolding and the role of patient-specific mutations in pathogenicity.
Kinetic control of tunable multi-state switching in ferroelectric thin films
Authors: Xu R. , Liu S. , Saremi S. , Gao R. , Wang J. J. , Hong Z. , Lu H. , Ghosh A. , Pandya S. , Bonturim E. , Chen Z. H. , Chen L. Q. , Rappe A. M. , Martin L. W.
Published: March 2019

Deterministic creation of multiple ferroelectric states with intermediate values of polarization remains challenging due to the inherent bi-stability of ferroelectric switching. Here we show the ability to select any desired intermediate polarization value via control of the switching pathway in (111)-oriented PbZr0.2Ti0.8O3 films. Such switching phenomena are driven by kinetic control of the volume fraction of two geometrically different domain structures which are generated by two distinct switching pathways: one direct, bipolar-like switching and another multi-step switching process with the formation of a thermodynamically-stable intermediate twinning structure. Such control of switching pathways is enabled by the competition between elastic and electrostatic energies which favors different types of ferroelastic switching that can occur. Overall, our work demonstrates an alternative approach that transcends the inherent bi-stability of ferroelectrics to create non-volatile, deterministic, and repeatedly obtainable multi-state polarization without compromising other important properties, and holds promise for non-volatile multi-state functional applications.
Publisher Correction: Room temperature CO2 reduction to solid carbon species on liquid metals featuring atomically thin ceria interfaces
Authors: Esrafilzadeh Dorna , Zavabeti Ali , Jalili Rouhollah , Atkin Paul , Choi Jaecheol , Carey Benjamin J. , Brkljača Robert , O’Mullane Anthony P. , Dickey Michael D. , Officer David L. , MacFarlane Douglas R. , Daeneke Torben , Kalantar-Zadeh Kourosh
Published: March 2019

The original version of this Article contained errors in the author affiliations. Affiliation 1 incorrectly read ‘School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia’ and affiliation 4 incorrectly read ‘School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia.’ This has now been corrected in both the PDF and HTML versions of the Article.
Cascade anchoring strategy for general mass production of high-loading single-atomic metal-nitrogen catalysts
Authors: Zhao Lu , Zhang Yun , Huang Lin-Bo , Liu Xiao-Zhi , Zhang Qing-Hua , He Chao , Wu Ze-Yuan , Zhang Lin-Juan , Wu Jinpeng , Yang Wanli , Gu Lin , Hu Jin-Song , Wan Li-Jun
Published: March 2019

Although single-atomically dispersed metal-Nx on carbon support (M-NC) has great potential in heterogeneous catalysis, the scalable synthesis of such single-atom catalysts (SACs) with high-loading metal-Nx is greatly challenging since the loading and single-atomic dispersion have to be balanced at high temperature for forming metal-Nx. Herein, we develop a general cascade anchoring strategy for the mass production of a series of M-NC SACs with a metal loading up to 12.1 wt%. Systematic investigation reveals that the chelation of metal ions, physical isolation of chelate complex upon high loading, and the binding with N-species at elevated temperature are essential to achieving high-loading M-NC SACs. As a demonstration, high-loading Fe-NC SAC shows superior electrocatalytic performance for O2 reduction and Ni-NC SAC exhibits high electrocatalytic activity for CO2 reduction. The strategy paves a universal way to produce stable M-NC SAC with high-density metal-Nx sites for diverse high-performance applications.
Colonization of the human gut by bovine bacteria present in Parmesan cheese
Authors: Milani Christian , Duranti Sabrina , Napoli Stefania , Alessandri Giulia , Mancabelli Leonardo , Anzalone Rosaria , Longhi Giulia , Viappiani Alice , Mangifesta Marta , Lugli Gabriele Andrea , Bernasconi Sergio , Ossiprandi Maria Cristina , van Sinderen Douwe , Ventura Marco , Turroni Francesca
Published: March 2019

The abilities of certain microorganisms to be transferred across the food production chain, persist in the final product and, potentially, colonize the human gut are poorly understood. Here, we provide strain-level evidence supporting that dairy cattle-associated bacteria can be transferred to the human gut via consumption of Parmesan cheese. We characterize the microbial communities in samples taken from five different locations across the Parmesan cheese production chain, confirming that the final product contains microorganisms derived from cattle gut, milk, and the nearby environment. In addition, we carry out a human pilot study showing that Bifidobacterium mongoliense strains from cheese can transiently colonize the human gut, a process that can be enhanced by cow milk consumption.
Estimating Natural Mortality of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Using Acoustic Telemetry
Authors: Block Barbara A. , Whitlock Rebecca , Schallert Robert J , Wilson Steve , Stokesbury Michael J. W. , Castleton Mike , Boustany Andre
Published: March 2019

Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) are highly migratory fish with a contemporary range spanning the North Atlantic Ocean. Bluefin tuna populations have undergone severe decline and the status of the fish within each population remains uncertain. Improved biological knowledge, particularly of natural mortality and rates of mixing of the western (GOM) and eastern (Mediterranean) populations, is key to resolving the current status of the Atlantic bluefin tuna. We evaluated the potential for acoustic tags to yield empirical estimates of mortality and migration rates for long-lived, highly migratory species such as Atlantic bluefin tuna. Bluefin tuna tagged in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (GSL) foraging ground (2009–2016) exhibited high detection rates post release, with 91% crossing receiver lines one year post tagging, 61% detected after year two at large, with detections up to ~1700 days post deployment. Acoustic detections per individual fish ranged from 3 to 4759 receptions. A spatially-structured Bayesian mark recapture model was applied to the acoustic detection data for Atlantic bluefin tuna electronically tagged in the GSL to estimate the rate of instantaneous annual natural mortality. We report a median estimate of 0.10 yr−1 for this experiment. Our results demonstrate that acoustic tags can provide vital fisheries independent estimates for life history parameters critical for improving stock assessment models.
A new approach for analyzing an adhesive bacterial protein in the mouse gastrointestinal tract using optical tissue clearing
Authors: Nishiyama Keita , Sugiyama Makoto , Yamada Hiroki , Makino Kyoko , Ishihara Sayaka , Takaki Takashi , Mukai Takao , Okada Nobuhiko
Published: March 2019

Several bacterial moonlighting proteins act as adhesion factors, which are important for bacterial colonization of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. However, little is known about the adherence properties of moonlighting proteins in the GI tract. Here, we describe a new approach for visualizing the localization of moonlighting protein-coated fluorescent microbeads in the whole GI tract by using a tissue optical clearing method, using elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) as an example. As a bacterial cell surface-localized protein mimic, recombinant EF-Tu from Lactobacillus reuteri was immobilized on microbeads. EF-Tu-coating promoted the interaction of the microbeads with a Caco-2 cell monolayer. Next, the microbeads were orally administered to mice. GI whole tissues were cleared in aqueous fructose solutions of increasing concentrations. At 1 h after administration, the microbeads were diffused from the stomach up to the cecum, and after 3 h, they were diffused throughout the intestinal tract. In the lower digestive tract, EF-Tu-beads were significantly more abundant than non-coated control beads, suggesting that EF-Tu plays an important role in the persistence of the microbeads in the GI tract. The new approach will help in evaluating how moonlighting proteins mediate bacterial colonization.
Functional identification of alginate lyase from the brown alga Saccharina japonica
Authors: Inoue Akira , Ojima Takao
Published: March 2019

Despite the progress in massive gene analysis of brown algal species, no alginate-degrading enzyme from brown alga has been identified, impeding the understanding of alginate metabolism in brown alga. In the current study, we identified and characterized alginate lyase from Saccharina japonica using a protein-based approach. First, cDNA library was prepared from the S. japonica sporophyte. Expression screening was then performed; the encoding gene was identified and cloned; and the recombinant enzyme was purified and characterized. Alginate lyase production in algal tissues was evaluated by western blotting. The identified alginate lyase, SjAly (359 amino acids, with a predicted N-terminal secretion signal of 27 residues), is encoded by an open reading frame comprising seven exons. Recombinant SjAly exhibited endolytic alginate lyase activity, specifically toward stretches of consecutive β-d-mannuronic acid units. The optimum temperature, pH, and NaCl concentration were 30 °C, pH 8.0, and 100 mM, respectively. SjAly exhibited pronounced activity below 20 °C, the S. japonica growth temperature. SjAly was highly expressed in the blade but not the stipe and rhizoid. The data indicate that S. japonica possesses at least one active alginate lyase. This is the first report of a functional alginate lyase from brown alga, the major natural alginate producer.
Label-free characterization of biochemical changes within human cells under parasite attack using synchrotron based micro-FTIR
Authors: Elsheikha Hany M. , Elsaied Nashwa A. , Chan K. L. Andrew , Brignell Chris , Harun Mohammad S. R. , Wehbe Katia , Cinquee G.
Published: March 2019

Label-free chemical profiling identifies macromolecules significantly associated with Toxoplasma gondii infection in cerebrovascular endothelial cells.
A water-soluble cyclometalated iridium(iii) complex for pH sensing based on aggregation-induced enhanced phosphorescence
Authors: Ohno Keiji , Sakata Tetuya , Shiiba Machi , Nagasawa Akira , Fujihara Takashi
Published: March 2019

The novel Na[Ir(ppy)2(SB-COO)] (Hppy = phenylpyridine; HSB-COOH = 4-carboxylanilinesalicylaldehyde Schiff base) in aqueous solution showed pH-responsive aggregation-induced enhanced phosphorescence (AIEP) by the formation of the protonated species [Ir(ppy)2(SB-COOH)].
Cooperative Mn(i)-complex catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of ketones and imines
Authors: Ganguli Kasturi , Shee Sujan , Panja Dibyajyoti , Kundu Sabuj
Published: March 2019

A series of Mn(i) complexes bearing amine and benzimidazole fragment containing ligands were investigated in the TH of ketones and imines.
Slow relaxation in a {Tb2Ba(α-fur)8}npolymer with Ln = Tb(iii) non-Kramers ions
Authors: Bartolomé E. , Arauzo A. , Luzón J. , Melnic S. , Shova S. , Prodius D. , Bartolomé J. , Amann A. , Nallaiyan M. , Spagna S.
Published: March 2019

The new polymeric magnet {[Tb2Ba(α-fur)8(H2O)4]·2H2O}nconstitutes a rare example of AF coupled dimers of non-Kramers ions displaying slow relaxation dynamics.
Exploiting the bioactive properties of γ-oryzanol from bran of different exotic rice varieties
Authors: Castanho Ana , Lageiro Manuela , Calhelha Ricardo C. , Ferreira Isabel C. F. R. , Sokovic Marina , Cunha Luís M. , Brites Carla
Published: March 2019

Analysing nine rice bran extracts with different γ-oryzanol concentrations revealed cytotoxic effects on four human tumour cell lines.
The role of surface energy control in organic photovoltaics based on solar paints
Authors: Almyahi Furqan , Andersen Thomas R. , Fahy Adam , Dickinson Michael , Feron Krishna , Belcher Warwick J. , Dastoor Paul C.
Published: March 2019

The fabrication of organic photovoltaic devices from aqueous solar nanoparticle (ASNP) inks or solar paints is challenging, driven by the often competing requirements of maintaining emulsion stability whilst simultaneously facilitating surface wettability.
Computational study of H2 binding to MH3 (M = Ti, V, or Cr)
Authors: Hales James J. , Trudeau Michel L. , Antonelli David M. , Kaltsoyannis Nikolas
Published: March 2019

DFT is employed to probe computationally the hydrogen binding properties of early transition metal hydrides.
Cooperative assembly of Janus particles and amphiphilic oligomers: the role of Janus balance
Authors: Li Jiawei , Wang Junfeng , Yao Qiang , Yu Kai , Yan Youguo , Zhang Jun
Published: March 2019

The spatial localization of Janus nanoparticles within hybrid assemblies can be controlled by regulating the Janus balance of nanoparticles.
Facile synthesis of a bismuth nanostructure with enhanced selectivity for electrochemical conversion of CO2 to formate
Authors: Lu Peilong , Gao Denglei , He Hongyan , Wang Qiaoxin , Liu Zhanjun , Dipazir Sobia , Yuan Menglei , Zu Wenyue , Zhang Guangjin
Published: March 2019

A facile strategy is adopted to synthesize bismuth nanostructure for efficient CO2 electroreduction to formate.
Curcumin-primed exosomes potently ameliorate cognitive function in AD mice by inhibiting hyperphosphorylation of the Tau protein through the AKT/GSK-3β pathway
Authors: Wang Hao , Sui Haijuan , Zheng Yan , Jiang Yibing , Shi Yijie , Liang Jia , Zhao Liang
Published: March 2019

Curcumin-primed exosomes (Exo-Cur) can better relieve the symptoms of AD by inhibiting phosphorylation of Tau protein through AKT/GSK-3β pathway.
Reaction condition controlled nickel(ii)-catalyzed C–C cross-coupling of alcohols
Authors: Zhang Meng-Juan , Li Hong-Xi , Young David J. , Li Hai-Yan , Lang Jian-Ping
Published: March 2019

Nickel(ii)-catalyzed C–C cross-coupling of secondary and primary alcohols selectively produced β-alkylated secondary alcohols, α-alkylated ketones and α,β-unsaturated ketones.
Green hydroboration of carboxylic acids and mechanism investigation
Authors: Wang Weifan , Luo Man , Zhu Da , Yao Weiwei , Xu Li , Ma Mengtao
Published: March 2019

A catalyst-free and solvent-free hydroboration of various carboxylic acids was developed.
Visible light controlled aqueous RAFT continuous flow polymerization with oxygen tolerance
Authors: Peng Jinying , Xu Qinghua , Ni Yuanyuan , Zhang Lifen , Cheng Zhenping , Zhu Xiulin
Published: March 2019

A fast visible light controlled RAFT polymerization system without the prior removal of oxygen was successfully carried out in a continuous tubular reactor with water as a green solvent.