bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Emerging From the Unknown: Structural and Functional Features of Agnoprotein of Polyomaviruses
Authors: Saribas A. Sami , Coric Pascale , Hamazaspyan Anahit , Davis William , Axman Rachael , White Martyn K. , Abou‐Gharbia Magid , Childers Wayne , Condra Jon H. , Bouaziz Serge , Safak Mahmut
Published: February 2016

Agnoprotein is an important regulatory protein of polyomaviruses, including JCV, BKV, and SV40. In the absence of its expression, these viruses are unable to sustain their productive life cycle. It is a highly basic phosphoprotein that localizes mostly to the perinuclear area of infected cells, although a small amount of the protein is also found in nucleus. Much has been learned about the structure and function of this important regulatory protein in recent years. It forms highly stable dimers/oligomers in vitro and in vivo through its Leu/Ile/Phe‐rich domain. Structural NMR studies revealed that this domain adopts an alpha‐helix conformation and plays a critical role in the stability of the protein. It associates with cellular proteins, including YB‐1, p53, Ku70, FEZ1, HP1α, PP2A, AP‐3, PCNA, and α‐SNAP; and viral proteins, including small t antigen, large T antigen, HIV‐1 Tat, and JCV VP1; and significantly contributes the viral transcription and replication. This review summarizes the recent advances in the structural and functional properties of this important regulatory protein. J. Cell. Physiol. 231: 2115–2127, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Biodegradable Self‐Assembled Nanoparticles of Galactose‐Containing Amphiphilic Triblock Copolymers for Targeted Delivery of Paclitaxel to HepG2 Cells
Authors: Wang Tieshi , Tang Xinde , Han Jingtian , Ding Yuanyuan , Guo Wenjuan , Pei Meishan
Published: February 2016

Biodegradable self‐assembled polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) composed of poly(6‐O‐methacryloyl‐D‐galactopyranose)‐b‐poly(L‐lactide)‐b‐poly(6‐O‐methacryloyl‐D‐galactopyranose) (PMAGP‐b‐PLA‐b‐PMAGP) are prepared as carriers for the hydrophobic anticancer drug paclitaxel (PTX), to achieve target delivery to hepatoma cells. PTX can be encapsulated by the NPs with various molar ratios of L‐lactide (LA) and 6‐O‐methacryloyl‐D‐galactopyranose (MAGP) during the process of self‐assembly, and the resulting NPs exhibit high drug loading efficacy and substantial stability in aqueous solution. The size, size distribution, and morphology of the NPs are characterized using a Zetasizer Nano ZS and transmission electron microscopy. The hemolysis assay and cell cytotoxicity assay indicate that the polymeric NPs are biocompatible and non‐toxic. The cellular uptake assay demonstrates that the galactose‐containing NPs can be selectively recognized and subsequently accumulate in HepG2 cells. All of these results demonstrate that galactose‐containing polymeric NPs are potential carriers for hepatoma‐targeted drug delivery and liver cancer therapy in clinical medicine.

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A Supramolecular Approach toward Bioinspired PAMAM‐Dendronized Fusion Toxins
Authors: Kuan Seah Ling , Förtsch Christina , Ng David Yuen Wah , Fischer Stephan , Tokura Yu , Liu Weina , Wu Yuzhou , Koynov Kaloian , Barth Holger , Weil Tanja
Published: February 2016

Nature has provided a highly optimized toolbox in bacterial endotoxins with precise functions dictated by their clear structural division. Inspired by this streamlined design, a supramolecular approach capitalizing on the strong biomolecular (streptavidin (SA))–biotin interactions is reported herein to prepare two multipartite fusion constructs, which involves the generation 2.0 (D2) or generation 3.0 (D3) polyamidoamine‐dendronized transporter proteins (dendronized streptavidin (D3SA) and dendronized human serum albumin (D2HSA)) non‐covalently fused to the C3bot1 enzyme from Clostridium botulinum, a potent and specific Rho‐inhibitor. The fusion constructs, D3SA‐C3 and D2HSA‐C3, represent the first examples of dendronized protein transporters that are fused to the C3 enzyme, and it is successfully demonstrated that the C3 Rho‐inhibitor is delivered into the cytosol of mammalian cells as determined from the characteristic C3‐mediated changes in cell morphology and confocal microscopy. The design circumvents the low uptake of the C3 enzyme by eukaryotic cells and holds great promise for reprogramming the properties of toxin enzymes using a supramolecular approach to broaden their therapeutic applications.

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Universality in Branching Frequencies and Molecular Dimensions during Hyperbranched Polymer Formation: Step Polymerization of AB2 Type Monomer with Equal Reactivity
Authors: Tobita Hidetaka
Published: February 2016

Hyperbranched polymer formation during step polymerization of AB2 type monomer with equal reactivity of two B's is investigated theoretically, focusing the attention to the degree of branching (DB) and the mean square radius of gyration for the unperturbed chains, . It is found that the DB‐value at large degree of polymerization (P) limit, = 0.5 is unchanged during the whole course of polymerization. The average value of having the same P is invariant throughout the polymerization. The universal curve between and P agrees perfectly with that for the self‐condensing vinyl polymerization (SCVP), another method to synthesize hyperbranched polymers, when the reactivity ratio for SCVP, rSCVP, is 2.589 that gives = 0.5. The power law, is found for large values of P.

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Single‐walled carbon nanotubes modulate cardiovascular control in rats
Authors: Shapoval L. M. , Prylutska S. V. , Kotsyuruba A. V. , Dmitrenko O. V. , Prylutskyy Y. I. , Sagach V. F. , Ritter U.
Published: February 2016

Effect of water dispersible single‐walled carbon nanotubes on the medullary cardiovascular control was studied in normotensive (control) and spontaneously hypertensive rats using physiological and biochemical approaches. We have shown for the first time the possible contribution of nitric oxide (NO) to single‐walled carbon nanotube‐induced effects in the cardiovascular nuclei of the medulla oblongata (the lateral reticular nucleus and nucleus ambiguous). The data of biochemical experiments indicate that single‐walled carbon nanotubes added to the medulla oblongata homogenates induce an enhancement of constitutive nitric oxide‐synthase (cNOS) activity, which is mostly neuronal nitric oxide‐synthase (nNOS) in the brain, and an increase in the level of nitrite (NO–2), a stable nitric oxide metabolite which serves nitric oxide bioavailability marker. In physiological experiments, it has been revealed that effects of single‐walled carbon nanotube injection in the cardiovascular nuclei under study are attenuated after preliminary nNOS inhibiting. An analysis of single‐walled carbon nanotube‐induced changes in the levels of malonic dialdehyde, an oxidative stress marker, as well as the levels of reactive nitrogen species (pools of nitrate anions), and the activity of Ca2+‐independent inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) has indicated that single‐walled carbon nanotubes used in the study do not promote oxidative and nitrosative stress in control and spontaneously hypertensive rats.
Creation and Mössbauer studies of high‐entropy physical vapor deposition by cathode arc evaporation (PVD CAE) coating AlFeCoNiCuCr
Authors: Nadutov V. M. , Proshak A. V. , Makarenko S. Y. , Panarin V. Y. , Svavil'nyj M. Y.
Published: February 2016

The high‐entropy alloy (HEA) AlFeCoNiCuCr in as‐cast state and coating deposited on cooper and stainless steel substrates with the physical vapor deposition by cathode arc evaporation (PVD CAE) method was investigated using X‐ray diffraction analysis and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Two fcc phases γ1 and γ2 and one bcc α‐phase were detected in as‐cast high‐entropy alloys and in physical vapor deposition by cathode arc evaporation coatings. Mössbauer spectra consist of two kinds of components which belong to paramagnetic and ferromagnetic phases. The paramagnetic phases turn out predominantly in coating on cooper.
Skeletal muscle dysfunction in the db/db mouse model of type 2 diabetes
Authors: Bayley Jeppe Seamus , Pedersen Thomas Holm , Nielsen Ole Bækgaard
Published: February 2016

Introduction

In this study we examined the mechanisms of motor dysfunction in type 2 diabetes.

Methods

Contractile force was measured in isolated nerve–muscle preparations of db/db mice using various protocols for electrical stimulation. Sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ adenosine triphosphatase protein (SERCA) was quantified by comparing Ca2+‐dependent and non‐specific phosphorylation.

Results

Compared with controls, the muscle–nerve preparations of db/db mice displayed muscle atrophy, reduced axonal excitability, and force deficit when stimulated via the nerve. Muscle relaxation after contraction was slowed, and SERCA content was reduced. In contrast, the sensitivity of the neuromuscular junction to tubocurarine and muscle fiber excitability were not affected.

Conclusions

The force deficit in db/db muscles was caused by atrophy and failure of neuromuscular signal transmission related to motor nerve axonal dysfunction. The slowed relaxation rate generally observed in diabetic muscles can, to a large extent, be explained by decreased SERCA pump content. Muscle Nerve 54: 460–468, 2016
In vivo observation of quadrupolar splitting in 39K magnetic resonance spectroscopy of human muscle tissue
Authors: Rösler M. B. , Nagel A. M. , Umathum R. , Bachert P. , Benkhedah N.
Published: February 2016

The purpose of this work was to explore the origin of oscillations of the T*2 decay curve of 39K observed in studies of 39K magnetic resonance imaging of the human thigh. In addition to their magnetic dipole moment, spin‐3/2 nuclei possess an electric quadrupole moment. Its interaction with non‐vanishing electrical field gradients leads to oscillations in the free induction decay and to splitting of the resonance.

All measurements were performed on a 7T whole‐body MRI scanner (MAGNETOM 7T, Siemens AG, Erlangen, Germany) with customer‐built coils. According to the theory of quadrupolar splitting, a model with three Lorentzian‐shaped peaks is appropriate for 39K NMR spectra of the thigh and calf. The frequency shifts of the satellites depend on the angle between the calf and the static magnetic field. When the leg is oriented parallel to the static magnetic field, the satellites are shifted by about 200 Hz. In the thigh, rank‐2 double quantum coherences arising from anisotropic quadrupolar interaction are observed by double‐quantum filtration with magic‐angle excitation. In addition to the spectra, an image of the thigh with a nominal resolution of (16 × 16 × 32) mm3 was acquired with this filtering technique in 1:17 h.

From the line width of the resonances, 39K transverse relaxation time constants T*2, fast = (0.51 ± 0.01) ms and T*2, slow = (6.21 ± 0.05) ms for the head were determined. In the thigh, the left and right satellite, both corresponding to the short component of the transverse relaxation time constant, take the following values: T*2, fast = (1.56 ± 0.03) ms and T*2, fast = (1.42 ± 0.03) ms. The centre line, which corresponds to the slow component, is T*2, slow = (9.67 ± 0.04) ms. The acquisition time of the spectra was approximately 10 min. Our results agree well with a non‐vanishing electrical field gradient interacting with 39K nuclei in the intracellular space of muscle tissue. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Green's discrete transformation meshfree method for simulating transient diffusion problems
Authors: Mai Weijie , Soghrati Soheil , Buchheit Rudolph G.
Published: February 2016

This manuscript presents the formulation and application of the Green's discrete transformation method (GDTM) for the meshfree simulation of transient diffusion problems, including those with moving boundaries. The GDTM implements a linear combination of time‐dependent Green's basis functions defined on a set of source points to approximate the field in the form of a solution series. A discrete transformation is implemented to evaluate unknown coefficients of this series, which eliminates the need to use time integration schemes. We will study the optimal number and location of the GDTM source points that yield the highest level of accuracy, while maintaining a manageable condition number for the resulting linear system of equations. The optimal values of these parameters, which are inherently independent of the domain geometry, are determined such that the basis functions have appropriate features for approximating the field. A comprehensive convergence study is presented to show the precision and convergence rate of the GDTM for modeling various diffusion problems. We also demonstrate the application of this method for simulating three diffusion problems with complex and evolving morphologies: heat transfer in a turbine blade, thermal response of a porous material, and localized (pitting) corrosion in stainless steel. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Viability, morphology, and proteome of Mycobacterium smegmatis MSMEG_0319 knockout strain
Authors: Sha Shanshan , Shi Xiaoxia , Xu Liming , Wen Jiabin , Xin Yi , Ma Yufang
Published: February 2016

Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rv0228, a membrane protein, is predicted as a drug target through computational methods. MSMEG_0319 (MS0319) in Mycobacterium smegmatis mc2155 is the ortholog of Rv0228. To study the effect of MS0319 protein on M. smegmatis, an MS0319 gene knockout strain (ΔMS0319) was generated via a homologous recombination technique in this study. The results showed that the lack of MS0319 protein in mc2155 cells led to the loss of viability at nonpermissive temperature. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy observations showed drastic changes in cellular shape especially cell wall disruption in ΔMS0319 cells. Proteomic analysis of ΔMS0319 cells through LC‐MS/MS revealed that 462 proteins had changes in their expressions by lacking MS0319 protein. The M. tuberculosis orthologs of these 462 proteins were found through BLASTp search and functional clustering and metabolic pathway enrichment were performed on the orthologs. The results revealed that most of them were enzymes involved in metabolism of carbohydrates and amino acids, indicating that Rv0228 played an important role in cellular metabolism. All these results suggested Rv0228 as a potential target for development of antituberculosis drugs.
Computational Studies on Nitro, Nitramino, and Dinitramino Derivatives of 1‐Aminoazadiboridine as High Energetic Material
Authors: Gupta Satyendra , Sengupta Soumitra K. , Singh Hari Ji
Published: February 2016

Computational studies were performed to determine the thermodynamic and explosive characteristics of high energy materials formed by placing explosophores such as nitro (−NO2), nitramino (−NHNO2), and dinitramino (−N(NO2)2) groups on 1‐aminoazadiboridine. G3 level calculations were made to determine the gas phase heat of formation of the designed species. In addition to the above, condensed phase heat of formation was also determined by evaluating the sublimation enthalpy. Crystal densities of title compounds were predicted with the help of a wave function analysis (WFA) program and were found to be in the range of 1.55–1.83 g cm−3. Bond dissociation energies of various possible bond rupture routes of the designed molecules were calculated at DFT‐B3LYP/6‐311G(d,p) level and attempt was made to identify the trigger linkage. Impact sensitivity was evaluated theoretically by employing a method based on statistical parameters determined from electrostatic potential data. Results show that the designed molecules are highly energetic and their corresponding detonation properties place them in the category of safe and high performance explosive materials.
Classification of proteins with shared motifs and internal repeats in the ECOD database
Authors: Schaeffer R. Dustin , Kinch Lisa N. , Liao Yuxing , Grishin Nick V.
Published: February 2016

Proteins and their domains evolve by a set of events commonly including the duplication and divergence of small motifs. The presence of short repetitive regions in domains has generally constituted a difficult case for structural domain classifications and their hierarchies. We developed the Evolutionary Classification Of protein Domains (ECOD) in part to implement a new schema for the classification of these types of proteins. Here we document the ways in which ECOD classifies proteins with small internal repeats, widespread functional motifs, and assemblies of small domain‐like fragments in its evolutionary schema. We illustrate the ways in which the structural genomics project impacted the classification and characterization of new structural domains and sequence families over the decade.
Iterative design of emetine‐based prodrug targeting fibroblast activation protein (FAP) and dipeptidyl peptidase IV DPPIV using a tandem enzymatic activation strategy
Authors: Akinboye Emmanuel S. , Brennen W. Nathaniel , Rosen D. Marc , Bakare Oladapo , Denmeade Samuel R.
Published: February 2016

BACKGROUND

There is an urgent need to develop new agents for treating metastatic prostate cancer to overcome multiple drug resistance to the current standard targeted cancer therapy. Emetine is a highly cytotoxic natural product protein synthesis inhibitor, which is toxic to all cell types. Its cytotoxicity can be blocked by derivatizing its N‐2′ position. Thus emetine can be selectively delivered to cancer cells in the region of metastatic cancer as a prodrug that will be activated by an enzyme selectively overexpressed within the metastatic tumor microenvironment. In this work, we convert emetine to a prodrug activatable by the fibroblast activation protein (FAP), a serine protease overexpressed by the carcinoma associated fibroblasts.

METHOD

By using an iterative structure‐activity relationship strategy, several peptidyl emetine prodrug analogs (1–11) were synthesized by chemical derivatization of emetine at its N‐2′ position and tested for in‐vitro activation by FAP. The lead prodrug 11 is made up of a DPPIV activatable prodrug precursor 10 (Ala‐Pro‐PABC‐Emetine) coupled to FAP substrate (Ala‐Ser‐Gly‐Pro‐Ala‐Gly‐Pro). Activation assays of the prodrugs were performed in purified FAP, DPPIV, FBS, and human serum and were analyzed by LCMS. In vitro cytotoxicity assays of these prodrugs are carried out in prostate (LNCaP, PC3) and breast (MCF7 and MDA‐MB‐231) cancer cell lines. The prodrugs are also tested in normal immortalized human prostatic epithelial cell line (PrEC).

RESULTS

The lead FAP activated emetine prodrug 11 is activated to emetine in tandem by FAP and DPPIV in about 70% conversion within 24 hr. In prostate and breast cancer cell lines treated with prodrug 11, it is found to be equipotent with emetine in the presence of FAP and DPPIV. However, in the PrEC cell line grown in serum free media, prodrug 11 is more than 200‐fold less cytotoxic than emetine in the absence of FAP and DPPIV.

CONCLUSION

This FAP activated prodrug of cytotoxic agent emetine further shows the crucial role of the N‐2′ position of emetine in controlling its cytotoxicity. Significantly reduced toxicity observed in the PrEC cell line in the absence of FAP and DPPIV shows that prodrug 11 could be systemically delivered to regions of metastatic prostate cancer or other solid tumor for activation by cancer selective enzymes within the cancer microenvironment, such as FAP that is overexpressed by the carcinoma‐associated fibroblasts. The two‐step tandem enzymatic activation of prodrug 11 by FAP and DPPIV is a strategy for overcoming steric hindrance. Prostate 76:703–714, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Allelobiosis in the interference of allelopathic wheat with weeds
Authors: Li Yong‐Hua , Xia Zhi‐Chao , Kong Chui‐Hua
Published: February 2016

BACKGROUND

Plants may chemically affect the performance of neighbouring plants through allelopathy, allelobiosis or both. In spite of increasing knowledge about allelobiosis, defined as the signalling interactions mediated by non‐toxic chemicals involved in plant–plant interactions, the phenomenon has received relatively little attention in the scientific literature. This study examined the role of allelobiosis in the interference of allelopathic wheat with weeds.

RESULTS

Allelopathic wheat inhibited the growth of five weed species tested, and the allelochemical (2,4‐dihydroxy‐7‐methoxy‐1,4‐benzoxazin‐3‐one) production of wheat was elicited in the presence of these weeds, even with root segregation. The inhibition and allelochemical levels varied greatly with the mixed species density. Increased inhibition and allelochemical levels occurred at low and medium densities but declined at high densities. All the root exudates and their components of jasmonic acid and salicylic acid from five weeds stimulated allelochemical production. Furthermore, jasmonic acid and salicylic acid were found in plants, root exudates and rhizosphere soils, regardless of weed species, indicating their participation in the signalling interactions defined as allelobiosis.

CONCLUSION

Through root‐secreted chemical signals, allelopathic wheat can detect competing weeds and respond by increased allelochemical levels to inhibit them, providing an advantage for its own growth. Allelopathy and allelobiosis are two probably inseparable processes that occur together in wheat–weed chemical interactions. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Identification of protein adduction using mass spectrometry: Protein adducts as biomarkers and predictors of toxicity mechanisms
Authors: Yang Xiangkun , Bartlett Michael G.
Published: February 2016

The determination of protein‐xenobiotic adducts using mass spectrometry is an emerging area which allows detailed understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved in toxicity. These approaches can also be used to reveal potential biomarkers of exposure or toxic response. The following review covers studies of protein adducts resulting from exposure to a wide variety of xenobiotics including organophosphates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, acetaminophen, alkylating agents and other related compounds. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
EPCS: an efficient and privacy‐preserving classification service query framework for SVM
Authors: Zhu Hui , Liu Xiaoxia , Lu Rongxing , Li Hui
Published: February 2016

Support vector machine (SVM) classification, which can handle large data sets in high dimensional spaces, has been widely applied in numerous settings nowadays, such as genetic match, spam detection, and financial prediction. However, because of the data's sensitivity and classifiers' confidentiality, how to provide a privacy‐preserving SVM classification has attracted considerable interest recently. Aiming at these privacy challenges, in this paper, we present an efficient and privacy‐preserving classification service query framework, named EPCS, for the linear kernel SVM classifier. Specifically, based on lightweight multiparty random masking and polynomial aggregation techniques, EPCS preserves the privacy of users' data and SVM classifier efficiently during the process of user query. Through detailed security analysis, we show that EPCS can resist various security threats. In addition, we implement EPCS in Java and evaluate EPCS over a smart phone and a PC, and extensive simulation results demonstrate that the EPCS framework can indeed achieve high efficiency and effectiveness in SVM classification. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Re: Prenatal ultrasound evaluation of segmental level of neurological lesion in fetuses with myelomeningocele: development of a new technique. E.Carreras, A. Maroto, T. Illescas, M. Meléndez, S. Arévalo, J. L. Peiró, C. G. García‐Fontecha, M. Belfort and A. Cuxart. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2016; 47: 162–167
Authors: Malinger G.
Published: February 2016

Linked Comment: Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2016; 47: 162–167
Structurally Different Calcium(II) Complexes with 5‐Substituted Tetrazole Ligands
Authors: Liu Qiao , Zhao Li Yang , Lu Yi Ming , Yue Qiu Yan , Zhang Fei Fei , Wei Bo , Li Qiao Yun , Yang Gao Wen
Published: February 2016

Three different tetrazole‐carboxylate ligands, Hpymtza, Hpytza, and H2dtzeda were chosen to be reacted with Ca(NO3)2·4H2O, resulting in the formation of three coordination compounds, [Ca(pymtza)2(H2O)4] (1), [Ca(pytza)2(H2O)2] (2), and [Ca(dtzeda)(H2O)2] (3) [Hpymtza = 5‐(2‐pyrimidyl)tetrazole‐1‐acetic acid, Hpytza = 5‐(3‐pyridyl)tetrazole‐2‐acetic acid, and H2dtzeda = 1, 2‐bis(tetrazol‐5‐yl)ethane‐N1, N1′‐diacetic acid]. X‐ray diffraction analysis revealed that compound 1 displays a mononuclear structure, compound 2 is a one dimensional zigzag chain structure, whereas 3 shows a three‐dimensional structure. The structures were controlled by not only the different substituents of the tetrazolyl ring, but also the complementary hydrogen bonds. Furthermore, the luminescence properties of compounds 1–3 were investigated at room temperature in the solid state. These emissions can be tentatively attributed to the ligand centered emission.
Reward functions of the basal ganglia
Authors: Schultz Wolfram
Published: February 2016

Besides their fundamental movement function evidenced by Parkinsonian deficits, the basal ganglia are involved in processing closely linked non-motor, cognitive and reward information. This review describes the reward functions of three brain structures that are major components of the basal ganglia or are closely associated with the basal ganglia, namely midbrain dopamine neurons, pedunculopontine nucleus, and striatum (caudate nucleus, putamen, nucleus accumbens). Rewards are involved in learning (positive reinforcement), approach behavior, economic choices and positive emotions. The response of dopamine neurons to rewards consists of an early detection component and a subsequent reward component that reflects a prediction error in economic utility, but is unrelated to movement. Dopamine activations to non-rewarded or aversive stimuli reflect physical impact, but not punishment. Neurons in pedunculopontine nucleus project their axons to dopamine neurons and process sensory stimuli, movements and rewards and reward-predicting stimuli without coding outright reward prediction errors. Neurons in striatum, besides their pronounced movement relationships, process rewards irrespective of sensory and motor aspects, integrate reward information into movement activity, code the reward value of individual actions, change their reward-related activity during learning, and code own reward in social situations depending on whose action produces the reward. These data demonstrate a variety of well-characterized reward processes in specific basal ganglia nuclei consistent with an important function in non-motor aspects of motivated behavior.
Computational design of an automotive twist beam
Authors: Aalae Benki , Abderrahmane Habbal , Gael Mathis
Published: February 2016

In recent years, the automotive industry has known a remarkable development in order to satisfy the customer requirements. In this paper, we will study one of the components of the automotive which is the twist beam. The study is focused on the multicriteria design of the automotive twist beam undergoing linear elastic deformation (Hooke's law). Indeed, for the design of this automotive part, there are some criteria to be considered as the rigidity (stiffness) and the resistance to fatigue. Those two criteria are known to be conflicting, therefore, our aim is to identify the Pareto front of this problem. To do this, we used a Normal Boundary Intersection (NBI) algorithm coupling with a radial basis function (RBF) metamodel in order to reduce the high calculation time needed for solving the multicriteria design problem. Otherwise, we used the free form deformation (FFD) technique for the generation of the 3D shapes of the automotive part studied during the optimization process.

Highlights We model the automotive twist beam. We developed an algorithm to solve multicriteria optimization problem. We solve our industrial problem with our developed algorithm. New profiles of the twist beam are proposed.
Anticancer effects of clinically acceptable colchicine concentrations on human gastric cancer cell lines
Authors: Lin Zu‐Yau , Kuo Chao‐Hung , Wu Deng‐Chyang , Chuang Wan‐Long
Published: February 2016

Colchicine is a very cheap microtubule destabilizer. Because microtubules are an ideal target for anticancer drugs, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether clinically acceptable colchicine concentrations have anticancer effects on gastric cancer cells, and its possible anticancer mechanisms. Two human gastric cancer cell lines (i.e., AGS and NCI‐N87) were investigated by proliferative assay, microarray, quantitative reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction, and a nude mice study using clinically acceptable colchicine concentrations (2 ng/mL and 6 ng/mL for in vitro tests and 0.07 mg colchicine/kg/d for in vivo tests). Our results showed that colchicine had the same inhibitory effects on the proliferation of both cell lines. The antiproliferative effects of colchicine on both cell lines were achieved only at the concentration of 6 ng/mL (p < 0.0001). In both cell lines, 18 genes were consistently upregulated and 10 genes were consistently downregulated by 6 ng/mL colchicine, compared with 2 ng/mL colchicine. Among these genes, only the upregulated DUSP1 gene may contribute to the antiproliferative effects of colchicine on gastric cancer cells. The nude mice (BALB/c‐nu) experiment showed that colchicine‐treated mice after 14 days of treatment had lower increased tumor volume ratios (p = 0.0199) and tumor growth rates (p = 0.024) than the control mice. In conclusion, colchicine has potential for the palliative treatment of gastric cancer. However, the anticancer effects are achieved only at high clinically acceptable colchicine concentrations. Monitoring the colchicine plasma concentration is mandatory if this drug is applied for the palliative treatment of gastric cancer.
Hegel and the Justification of Real-world Penal Sanctions
Authors: du Bois-Pedain Antje
Published: February 2016

This article revisits Hegel’s writings on punishment to reconstruct from them a justification for the imposition of real-world penal sanctions. Tracing Hegel’s argumentative path from a bare retributive principle to his mature justification of state punishment, it argues that Hegel offers us convincing reasons for endorsing, in broad shape, the distinctive penal institutions and practices of a modern nation-state. Hegel is also right to stress that punishment is – not merely conceptually, but also in the reality of our social world – a recognition of an offender’s status as a bearer of rights and participant in a system of mutual recognition that allows us to collectively build and maintain an order of freedom. This understanding of punishment sets significant limits to punishment’s permissible forms, particularly – but not only – with regard to the death penalty. By focusing on what it means to honour an offender through punishment and by drawing attention to what legal punishment has in common with reactions to transgressions by the will more generally, I question whether the infliction of penal suffering can, as such, be a legitimate aim of penal agents. In conclusion, I argue that only a commitment to penal minimalism, developable from Hegel’s thought, can give those subjected to real-world penal sanctions a complete answer to the question why they should accept their punishment as justified.
A Corrective Justice Account of Disgorgement for Breach of Contract by Analogy to Fiduciary Remedies
Authors: Sangiuliano Anthony Robert
Published: February 2016

A corrective justice account of a private law remedy attempts to the explain the remedy as giving back to the plaintiff something to which the plaintiff had a prior right that was breached by the defendant's receipt of that thing. It has proven challenging to explain how disgorgement for breach of contract is consistent with corrective justice. This remedy gives to the plaintiff any profit that a defendant received from a third party by breaching a contract with the plaintiff. In this paper, I critique two leading attempts to show how disgorgement for breach of contract is consistent with corrective justice. I argue that these attempts fail, and I suggest that a plausible corrective justice account of disgorgement should be based on something other than the nature of the contractual rights borne by a plaintiff. I then develop an alternative account based on an analogy between disgorgement for breach of contract and disgorgement for breach of fiduciary duty. To do so, I draw on recent scholarship on the consistency of disgorgement for breach of fiduciary with corrective justice and analyze the leading judicial decision on disgorgement for breach of contract by the UK House of Lords inAttorney General v. Blake. I argue that the fiduciary-based account can provide a plausible explanation for how disgorgement effectuates corrective justice by giving back to a plaintiff something to which he had an antecedent right that the defendant violated by profiting from a breach of contract.
Refining the Structure and Revisiting the Relevant Jurisdiction of Crimes against Humanity
Authors: Zysset Alain
Published: February 2016

In this article, I test predominant normative approaches to CAH against the notion’s deployment in law. Embarking on this cross-disciplinary project is needed because those the predominant literature fail to address (or were just articulated before) the waves of cases brought before international criminal courts throughout the last decade. I start by examining how international criminal courts have specified the core elements of the definition and then assessifandhowthe predominant philosophical literature can account for it. I then argue that this legal-empirical inquiry leads to both refining the structure and revisiting the relevant jurisdiction of CAH.

As far as structure is concerned, I distinguish a third but neglected element in the structure of CAH, which I identify as thepreparatory conditions of the crimes(the ‘PCs’). In relying on Joseph Raz’ concept of authority, I argue that reconstructing the PCs help to specify what it is about states that those crimes deeply pervert. While the PCs strikingly mirror the systematic and pre-emptive role of the state, those patterns are established to massively persecute, terrorize and finally odiously attack. As far as jurisdiction is concerned, I infer that the agent of CAH and the state in which those crimes occur become ‘answerable’ to the normative community of responsible states (following Anthony Duff’s accountability model). By establishing international trials, this normative community does justice not only to the victims by proving the crimes but also to the perpetrators by treating them as responsible members.
Prevalence of qacA/B Genes and Mupirocin Resistance Among Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Isolates in the Setting of Chlorhexidine Bathing Without Mupirocin
Authors: Warren David K. , Prager Martin , Munigala Satish , Wallace Meghan A. , Kennedy Colleen R. , Bommarito Kerry M. , Mazuski John E. , Burnham Carey-Ann D.
Published: February 2016

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to determine the frequency of qacA/B chlorhexidine tolerance genes and high-level mupirocin resistance among MRSA isolates before and after the introduction of a chlorhexidine (CHG) daily bathing intervention in a surgical intensive care unit (SICU).

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study (2005–2012)

SETTING

A large tertiary-care center

PATIENTS

Patients admitted to SICU who had MRSA surveillance cultures of the anterior nares

METHODS

A random sample of banked MRSA anterior nares isolates recovered during (2005) and after (2006–2012) implementation of a daily CHG bathing protocol was examined for qacA/B genes and high-level mupirocin resistance. Staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) typing was also performed.

RESULTS

Of the 504 randomly selected isolates (63 per year), 36 (7.1%) were qacA/B positive (+) and 35 (6.9%) were mupirocin resistant. Of these, 184 (36.5%) isolates were SCCmec type IV. There was a significant trend for increasing qacA/B (P=.02; highest prevalence, 16.9% in 2009 and 2010) and SCCmec type IV (P<.001; highest prevalence, 52.4% in 2012) during the study period. qacA/B(+) MRSA isolates were more likely to be mupirocin resistant (9 of 36 [25%] qacA/B(+) vs 26 of 468 [5.6%] qacA/B(−); P=.003).

CONCLUSIONS

A long-term, daily CHG bathing protocol was associated with a change in the frequency of qacA/B genes in MRSA isolates recovered from the anterior nares over an 8-year period. This change in the frequency of qacA/B genes is most likely due to patients in those years being exposed in prior admissions. Future studies need to further evaluate the implications of universal CHG daily bathing on MRSA qacA/B genes among hospitalized patients.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2016;37:590–597
The linear response of turbulent flow to a volume force: comparison between eddy-viscosity model and DNS
Authors: Russo S. , Luchini P.
Published: February 2016

We identify a benchmark problem simple enough that it can be solved both by an eddy-viscosity model and by direct numerical simulation: this is the linear response of a turbulent flow’s mean-velocity profile to an external volume force. An example of such a force was found in a study of the perturbation induced by bottom topography by Luchini & Charru (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 656, 2010, pp. 337–341). On the other hand, a modification of the method by Quadrio & Luchini (Proceedings of the IX European Turbulence Conference, Southampton, UK, 2002, pp. 715–718) and Luchiniet al. (Phys. Fluids, vol. 18, 2006, 121702) to compute the linear impulse response of a wall-bounded turbulent flow allows the response to a volume force to be computed directly. The comparison exhibits significant differences and suggests that there might be fundamental obstacles to designing an eddy-viscosity model that provides the correct result.
The Frequency of Anomalously Red Galaxies in SDSS Clusters
Authors: Shearman O. , Pimbblet K. A.
Published: February 2016

We present a systematic photometric search for spectroscopically confirmed anomalously red galaxies members of 748 low redshift clusters between 0.03 z 0.17 from the SDSS-C4 cluster catalogue (Miller et al. 2005). For each cluster we spectroscopically determine cluster membership, construct a colour-magnitude diagram and fit the red sequence using a robust bi-weight fit. We define an “anomalously red galaxy” as having a (g - r) colour of greater than 3σ redward of the fitted cluster colour-magnitude relation. We find that of 7485 galaxies at r ≤ 17.77 in (g - r), 7 galaxies are anomalously red – 0.0935 per cent of all galaxies in our sample. We show that two of the red outliers are caused by red contamination from nearby sources and are therefore not intrinsically anomalous red. However, 5 have no underlying cause to be so red and we speculate that they may have a high internal dust content. These intrinsically red galaxies are rare – comprising no more than 0.0668 per cent of all cluster galaxies. Most are morphologically early type galaxies, with a few probable late type galaxies that are viewed edge-on and one low surface brightness late type. One of our anomalously red galaxies appears to be a dust-shrouded starburst and we speculate that this may be a unique galaxy amoungst this galaxy set.
Peridotites and basaltic rocks within an ophiolitic mélange from the SW igneous province of Puerto Rico: relation to the evolution of the Caribbean Plate
Authors: CINTRON FRANQUI NADJA OMARA , CHOI SUNG HI , LEE DER-CHUEN
Published: February 2016

The geology of Puerto Rico is divided into three regions: the north, central and SW igneous provinces. Characterized by its Jurassic ophiolitic mélange basement, lithology of the SW Igneous Province (SIP) is not related to either of the other two provinces. The ophiolitic mélange is exposed in three peridotite belts: Monte del Estado, Rio Guanajibo and Sierra Bermeja. We present geochemical data to identify the tectonic setting of the SIP peridotite formation and its relation to the evolution of the Caribbean Plate. Comparisons of spinel Cr no. (13–21), Mg no. (63.3–69.6) and TiO2suggest an abyssal peridotite origin; however, only Sierra Bermeja presents high TiO2characteristics of a mid-ocean-ridge-basalt- (MORB-) like melt reaction. Temperatures determined with two-pyroxene geothermometers indicated a cold thermal regime ofc. 800–1050°C, with characteristics of large-offset transform fault abyssal peridotites. The geochemistry and Sr–Nd–Hf–Pb isotopic compositions of basalts within the mélange were also analysed. Las Palmas amphibolites exhibited normal-MORB-like rare earth element (REE) and trace-element patterns, whereas metabasalts and Lower Cajul basalts exhibited island-arc tholeiitic-like patterns. Highly radiogenic Sr isotopes (0.70339–0.70562) of the basalts suggest seawater alteration; however, Pb–Pb and Nd–Hf isotope correlations represent the primary compositions of a Pacific/Atlantic MORB source for the amphibolites, metabasalts and Lower Cajul basalts. We propose that the SIP ophiolitic mélange was formed along a large-offset transform fault, which initiated subduction and preserved both proto-Pacific and proto-Caribbean lithospheric mantle. Younger Upper Cajul basalts exhibited enriched-MORB-like geochemical and isotopic signatures, which can be attributed to a tectonized Caribbean ocean plateau.
Suitability of loci for multiple-locus variable-number of tandem-repeats analysis of Cryptosporidium parvum for inter-laboratory surveillance and outbreak investigations
Authors: CHALMERS RACHEL M. , ROBINSON GUY , HOTCHKISS EMILY , ALEXANDER CLAIRE , MAY SOPHIE , GILRAY JANICE , CONNELLY LISA , HADFIELD STEPHEN J.
Published: February 2016

Cryptosporidium parvum is the major cause of livestock and zoonotically-acquired human cryptosporidiosis. The ability to track sources of contamination and routes of transmission by further differentiation of isolates would assist risk assessment and outbreak investigations. Multiple-locus variable-number of tandem-repeats (VNTR) analysis provides a means for rapid characterization by fragment sizing and estimation of copy numbers, but structured, harmonized development has been lacking for Cryptosporidium spp. To investigate potential for application in C. parvum surveillance and outbreak investigations, we studied nine commonly used VNTR loci (MSA, MSD, MSF, MM5, MM18, MM19, MS9-Mallon, GP60 and TP14) for chromosome distribution, repeat unit length and heterogeneity, and flanking region proximity and conservation. To investigate performance in vitro, we compared these loci in 14 C. parvum samples by capillary electrophoresis in three laboratories. We found that many loci did not contain simple repeat units but were more complex, hindering calculations of repeat unit copy number for standardized reporting nomenclature. However, sequenced reference DNA enabled reproducible fragment sizing and inter-laboratory allele assignation based on size normalized to that of the sequenced fragments by both single round and nested polymerase chain reactions. Additional Cryptosporidium loci need to be identified and validated for robust inter-laboratory surveillance and outbreak investigations.
Application of GIS technology in public health: successes and challenges
Authors: FLETCHER-LARTEY STEPHANIE M. , CAPRARELLI GRAZIELLA
Published: February 2016

The uptake and acceptance of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology has increased since the early 1990s and public health applications are rapidly expanding. In this paper, we summarize the common uses of GIS technology in the public health sector, emphasizing applications related to mapping and understanding of parasitic diseases. We also present some of the success stories, and discuss the challenges that still prevent a full scope application of GIS technology in the public health context. Geographical analysis has allowed researchers to interlink health, population and environmental data, thus enabling them to evaluate and quantify relationships between health-related variables and environmental risk factors at different geographical scales. The ability to access, share and utilize satellite and remote-sensing data has made possible even wider understanding of disease processes and of their links to the environment, an important consideration in the study of parasitic diseases. For example, disease prevention and control strategies resulting from investigations conducted in a GIS environment have been applied in many areas, particularly in Africa. However, there remain several challenges to a more widespread use of GIS technology, such as: limited access to GIS infrastructure, inadequate technical and analytical skills, and uneven data availability. Opportunities exist for international collaboration to address these limitations through knowledge sharing and governance.
Asymptotic prime divisors over complete intersection rings
Authors: GHOSH DIPANKAR , PUTHENPURAKAL TONY J.
Published: February 2016

Let A be a local complete intersection ring. Let M, N be two finitely generated A-modules and I an ideal of A. We prove that
$$\bigcup_{i\geqslant 0}\bigcup_{n \geqslant 0}{\rm Ass}_A\left({\rm Ext}_A^i(M,N/I^n N)\right)$$
is a finite set. Moreover, we prove that there exist i0, n0 ⩾ 0 such that for all i ⩾ i0 and n ⩾ n0, we have
$$\begin{linenomath}\begin{subeqnarray*}
{\rm Ass}_A\left({\rm Ext}_A^{2i}(M,N/I^nN)\right) &=& {\rm Ass}_A\left({\rm Ext}_A^{2 i_0}(M,N/I^{n_0}N)\right), \\
{\rm Ass}_A\left({\rm Ext}_A^{2i+1}(M,N/I^nN)\right) &=& {\rm Ass}_A\left({\rm Ext}_A^{2 i_0 + 1}(M,N/I^{n_0}N)\right).
\end{subeqnarray*}\end{linenomath}$$
We also prove the analogous results for complete intersection rings which arise in algebraic geometry. Further, we prove that the complexity cxA(M, N/InN) is constant for all sufficiently large n.
Seroprevalence and associated risk factors ofToxoplasma gondiiinfection in the Korean, Manchu, Mongol and Han ethnic groups in eastern and northeastern China
Authors: ZHANG X.-X. , ZHAO Q. , SHI C.-W. , YANG W.-T. , JIANG Y.-L. , WEI Z.-T. , WANG C.-F. , YANG G.-L.
Published: February 2016

A cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2013 to August 2015 to determine the seroprevalence and possible risk factors for humanToxoplasma gondiiinfection in Korean, Manchu, Mongol and Han ethnic groups in eastern and northeastern China. A total of 1842 serum samples, including Han (n= 802), Korean (n= 520), Manchu (n= 303) and Mongol (n= 217) groups, were analysed using enzyme-linked immunoassays to detect IgG and IgMT. gondiiantibodies. The overallT. gondiiIgG and IgM seroprevalences were 13·79% and 1·25%, respectively. Of these groups, Mongol ethnicity had the highestT. gondiiseroprevalence (20·74%, 45/217), followed by Korean ethnicity (16·54%, 86/520), Manchu ethnicity (13·86%, 42/303) and Han ethnicity (11·35%, 98/802). Multiple analysis showed that the consumption of raw vegetables and fruits, the consumption of raw/undercooked meat and the source of drinking water were significantly associated withT. gondiiinfection in the Han group. Likewise, having a cat at home was identified as being associated withT. gondiiinfection in the Korean, Manchu and Mongol groups. Moreover, the consumption of raw/undercooked meat was identified as another predictor ofT. gondiiseropositivity in the Mongol group. The results of this survey indicate thatT. gondiiinfection is prevalent in Korean, Manchu, Mongol and Han ethnic groups in the study region. Therefore, it is essential to implement integrated strategies with efficient management measures to prevent and controlT. gondiiinfection in this region of China. Moreover, this is the first report ofT. gondiiinfection in Korean, Manchu, and Mongol ethnic groups in eastern and northeastern China.