bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
HORIZONS OF RESEARCH IN GEOGRAPHY OF THE WORLD ECONOMY
Authors: Alexandrovich Kolosov Vladimir , Alexandrovna Grechko Elena , Vladimirovna Mironenko Xenia , Nikolayevna Samburova Elena , Alexandrovich Sluka Nikolay , Nikolayevna Tikunova Irina , Haimovna Tkachenko Tatyana , Victorovich Fedorchenko Alexandr , Yuryevich Fomichev Pavel
Published: November 2017

The advent of "world economic transition" and the formation of a multipolar world is closely linked, according to experts, with loss of globalization advances, which strengthens regionalism, increases diversification and fragmentation of the modern world, creating risks and threats to the world development. In this light studying the spatial organization of the global economy becomes more important, and at the same time that complicates the choice of priorities in the research activities of the Department of geography of the world economy, Faculty of Geography, Moscow State Lomonosov University in 2016-20, requiring a new research “ideology”. The article summarizes some ideas expressed by the department staff. It specifies that concept of territorial division of labor, as well as the defined set of key actors in the world economy and common assumptions regarding their contributions to its development needs a significant revision. The above firstly concerns giant developing countries, in particular rapidly growing China – a kind of locomotive entraining other developing states. Further, the impact of multinationals on the overall architecture and the territorial organization of the global economy becomes more and more tangible. This phenomenon requires the creation of a new scientific area of concern – the corporate geography as a tool to thoroughly investigate the transnational division of labor. Changes in the balance of acting forces are closely related to changes in industry composition and spatial organization of the global economy. The article raises the issues of development of such processes as tertiarization of the economy, reindustrialization and neoindustrialization, the latter being understood as an evolutionary transition to a knowledge-intensive, high-tech, mass labor-replacing and environmentally efficient industrial production. Basing on preliminary research from the standpoint of a relatively new methodological approach – formation of value chains – the vector of "geographical transition" " in their creation from developed to developing countries was designated. This means increasing complexity of the territorial structure of the world economy and an increase in the importance of semi-periphery. A spatial projection of globalization processes in the form of emerging “archipelago of cities”, which consolidates the international network of TNCs as the supporting node frame of the global economy requires close attention and analysis. The need of comprehending the study scope in the field of geography of the world economy in medium Atlas Information Systems (AIS), which in terms of functionality belong to the upper class of electronic atlases, is noted.
HYPSOMETRIC DISTRIBUTION OF POPULATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA
Authors: Majić Aleksandar , Marinković Draško
Published: November 2017

Spatial-demographic distribution of population in the Republic of Srpska reflects the long-term historic, political, economic, settlement and demographic factors which determine the population distribution along with the natural conditions and modern determinants of social-economic development. The mutual impact of these factors caused the spatial-demographic polarization and irregular population distribution within the Republic of Srpskageospace. The population is mostly concentrated at low altitudes, in urban centers and areas with high-quality traffic connections.In contrast with these areas, there is an extensive process of depopulation in rural settlements, highland regions and areas along the entity borderline with BiH Federation.
BLACK LAKE OF THE ZELENGORA MOUNTAIN – SUSTAINABILITY PROBLEMS
Authors: Dekić Radoslav , Lolić Svjetlana , Gnjato Obren , Gnjato Slobodan , Stanojević Marko
Published: November 2017

The paper presents results of a study on physical, chemical and some biological parameters of water quality of Black Lake in order to estimate the state and degree of eutrophication. It is the shallow lake margin covered in macrophyte vegetation that largely contributes eutrophication. The sampling was conducted at two locations on water surface and immediately above the lake bottom, as well as at the most abundant water spring located next to the lake and at the lake distributary. The study was carried out in line with the relevant procedures in August 2015. Results of the physical and chemical analyses indicated high water quality. Microbiological parameters of water quality showed that there was no continuous contact between the lake and fecal substance but the number of aerobic psychrophilic and mesophilic heterotrophic bacteria suggested that there was organic substance in the water. Values of saprobic indices indicated transition state between oligosaprobic and þ-mesosaprobic water.
NuMA recruits dynein activity to microtubule minus-ends at mitosis
Authors: Hueschen Christina L , Kenny Samuel J , Xu Ke , Dumont Sophie
Published: November 2017

To build the spindle at mitosis, motors exert spatially regulated forces on microtubules. We know that dynein pulls on mammalian spindle microtubule minus-ends, and this localized activity at ends is predicted to allow dynein to cluster microtubules into poles. How dynein becomes enriched at minus-ends is not known. Here, we use quantitative imaging and laser ablation to show that NuMA targets dynactin to minus-ends, localizing dynein activity there. NuMA is recruited to new minus-ends independently of dynein and more quickly than dynactin; both NuMA and dynactin display specific, steady-state binding at minus-ends. NuMA localization to minus-ends involves a C-terminal region outside NuMA’s canonical microtubule-binding domain and is independent of minus-end binders γ-TuRC, CAMSAP1, and KANSL1/3. Both NuMA’s minus-end-binding and dynein-dynactin-binding modules are required to rescue focused, bipolar spindle organization. Thus, NuMA may serve as a mitosis-specific minus-end cargo adaptor, targeting dynein activity to minus-ends to cluster spindle microtubules into poles.
Phylogeographic and population insights of the Asian common toad (Bufo gargarizans) in Korea and China: population isolation and expansions as response to the ice ages
Authors: Borzée Amaël , Santos Joana L. , Sánchez-RamÍrez Santiago , Bae Yoonhyuk , Heo Kyongman , Jang Yikweon , Jowers Michael Joseph
Published: November 2017

The effects of ice ages on speciation have been well documented for many European and North American taxa. In contrast, very few studies have addressed the consequences of such environmental and topographical changes in North East Asian species. More precisely, the Korean Peninsula offers a unique model to assess patterns and processes of speciation as it hosts the northern- and eastern-most distribution limit of some widespread Asian taxa. Despite this, studies addressing phylogeographic patterns and population genetics in the peninsula and surrounding countries are few and studies for most families are lacking. Here we inferred the phylogenetic relationships of the common toad (Bufo gargarizans) from South Korea and their North East Asian counterpart populations, based on mitochondrial data. KoreanB. gargarizansGenBank BLASTs matched few individuals from nearby China, but the presence of a Korean clade suggests isolation on the Korean Peninsula, previous to the last glacial maximum, linked to sea level resurgence. Molecular clock calibrations within this group were used to date the divergence between clades and their relationship to paleo-climatic events in the area. Lack of genetic structure among South Korean populations and strong homogeneity between the Korean and some Chinese localities suggest weak isolation and recent expansion. Geographical projection of continuous coalescent maximum-clade-credibility trees shows an original Chinese expansion towards the Korean Peninsula through the Yellow Sea circa two million years ago with colonisation events dating circa 800 thousand years ago (K. y. a.). Following this colonisation, the data point to outgoing Korean Peninsula dispersal events throughout different periods, towards the North through land, and West through land bridge formations over the Yellow Sea during sea level falls. In accordance, demographic analyses revealed a population expansion in the Koran Peninsula circa 300 K. y. a., likely attributed to glacial cycle fluctuations.
Visión general del derecho sanitario de agua potable y alcantarillado. Sus principales instituciones
Authors: Peralta Anabalón David
Published: November 2017

El derecho de agua potable y alcantarillado es el conjunto de normas de orden público que regulan la puesta en marcha, construcción, explotación y fiscalización de los servicios de agua potable, alcantarillado y tratamiento de aguas servidas. Se trata de normas que reglan una actividad con características de monopolio natural, donde se encuentran comprometidos derechos constitucionales fundamentales como el derecho a la vida, a la salud
Rol y facultades de la superintendencia de servicios sanitarios al amparo del nuevo marco regulador
Authors: Saldivia Medina Juan Eduardo
Published: November 2017

Los servicios públicos, entre los que se cuentan los servicios sanitarios, están afectos a fallas de mercado que -conforme con lo que enseña la teoría económica- hacen necesaria su regulación. Destacan como falla de mercado en el sector de los servicios sanitarios:
Usos no documentados de aguas en la legislación chilena
Authors: Arias Hardoy Patricio
Published: November 2017

Resulta interesante pronunciarse sobre un punto de derecho tan relevante en materia de aguas, como es el de los usos no documentados del recurso, considerando que estamos en presencia de una legislación muy nueva, cuyo propósito más relevante es el de normalizar el uso de las aguas en Chile.
Sequía extrema y la responsabilidad del empresario
Authors: Figueroa Del Río Luis Simón
Published: November 2017

Mi charla se refiere a la responsabilidad empresarial en los casos de sequía en relación con las facultades que el Estado, la administración pública, tiene para intervenir la distribución de las aguas, el proceso de entrega material del agua, problema que está hoy en el tapete como consecuencia de la sequía
Discurso inaugural
Authors:   Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Vergara Blanco Alejandro
Published: November 2017

Sr. Vicerrector, Sr. Decano de Agronomía, Sr. Decano de Derecho, expositores, nacionales y extranjeros, profesores y amigos: en la inauguración de este Seminario sobre la Institucionalidad y Gestión del Agua, y de las Primeras Jornadas de Derecho de Aguas, quisiera de manera muy breve explicar a ustedes la naturaleza y objetivos del Programa de Derecho Administrativo Económico.
De la libertad para afiliarse y desafiliarse de una organización de usuarios de aguas
Authors: Neumann Manieu Christian
Published: November 2017

Nuestra legislación de aguas consagra una total libertad para usar las aguas terrestres a que se tiene derecho, facultando actualmente a su titular a usar en todo o en parte el mismo o no usarlo por un período determinado, como, así mismo, en cuanto se lo permita el título respectivo, a destinar las aguas en los usos que desee, a enajenarlo separadamente de los demás bienes a que este se encuentre asociado, o bien, a disponerlo en todo o en parte. En definitiva, el titular del correspondiente derecho de aprovechamiento de aguas es soberano para ejercerlo a su arbitrio en la medida en que no vaya en contra de la Constitución y la ley, como de derecho ajeno.
¿Es el agua un recurso escaso? Un análisis geográfico
Authors: Riesco Ricardo
Published: November 2017

Concurro hoy a compartir con ustedes, desde la perspectiva de un geógrafo, algunas reflexiones básicas sobre el tema del agua. Como miembro de la Dirección Superior de la Universidad sentí la necesidad de dar un testimonio de apoyo y de interés efectivo ante problemas que incumben decididamente a la vida nacional.
El derecho de aguas en España: Influencia europea y tradición nacional
Authors:   Universidad de Zaragoza, Embid Irujo Antonio
Published: November 2017

La frase del hispanista Elliot, con la que he querido dar pórtico a estas páginas, es aplicable a muchas variables y a distintas formas de contemplar e intentar comprender esta tierra llamada España. Quizá en la intención de su autor su sentido original esté referido primordialmente a un aspecto cultural y, por lo tanto, político. Probablemente esa sea, también, la primera impresión que de su lectura pueda sacarse. Se describe, así, un solar plural, una circunferencia sin centro, un cruce de civilizaciones, un intrincado y terriblemente atractivo mercado persa... Eso era, y es -dice brillantemente en 1965 Elliot-, España.
The end of the world, or just ‘goodbye to all that’? Contextualising the red deer heap from Links of Noltland, Westray, within late 3rd-millennium cal BC Orkney
Authors: Clarke David , Sheridan Alison , Shepherd Alexandra , Sharples Niall , Armour-Chelu Miranda , Hamlet Laura , Bronk-Ramsey Christopher , Dunbar E , Reimer Paula , Marshall Peter , Whittle Alasdair
Published: November 2017

As part of a major international research project, The Times of Their Lives, a programme of radiocarbon dating and Bayesian modelling was undertaken to refine the chronology of activities in one small but important part of the extensive Late Neolithic and Bronze Age settlement on Links of Noltland on the island of Westray, Orkney. The selected area (Trench D) is well known for having produced, next to a wall, the remains of a heap of at least 15 red deer carcasses, on top of which had been placed a large cod, a gannet’s wing along with part of a greater black-backed gull, and a pair of large antlers. This remarkable deposit had been preceded by, and was followed by, periods of cultivation and the deposition of domestic refuse. Refined date estimates have been produced, based on 18 radiocarbon determinations obtained from 16 samples from Trench D (including nine newly obtained dates, three from individual deer in the heap). These clarify when, during this long sequence of activities, the deer were heaped up: probably in the 22nd century cal BC, around the same time as Beaker pottery was deposited elsewhere on the Links. This allows comparison between the dated activities in this part of the site with activity elsewhere on the Links and also with other episodes of deer deposition in 3rd-millennium cal BC Orkney. It encourages exploration of the possible reasons for what appears to be a remarkable act of structured deposition. The significance of an earlier, much larger scale deposit featuring cattle remains at Ness of Brodgar is discussed in exploring the nature of Orcadian society and practices during the second half of the 3rd millennium cal BC.
Musical tuning peg from Edinburgh Castle and the stringing of medieval harps
Authors: Lawson Graeme , McLaren Dawn
Published: November 2017

A stray bone tuning peg from late medieval levels within Edinburgh Castle, the first such find to be published from Scotland, probably belonged to a small, wooden, metal-strung harp. Although it is simply made, its dimensions indicate that the lost instrument had been built to standard units of measurement (inches and fractions of an inch), was probably the product of a craft workshop and was therefore a valuable item of equipment. With the exception of an early antiquarian find from a bog in Co Antrim, of which only a drawing now remains, no such instrument has yet been found in these islands, but numerous images survive, especially in Insular manuscript miniatures. Some feature pegs and strings in the process of being tuned. Under the microscope, the object reveals surface textures that are closely consistent with such use, specifically with its insertion into a wooden socket and with repeated twisting there by means of a socketed metal key. Close to the string hole are oblique stains suggestive of a winding of metal wire. X-ray fluorescence analysis in the vicinity of these stains suggests long-term exposure to contamination from strings of copper alloy or from some nearby copper-alloy fitment. However, an unexpectedly strong iron signal from within the soil residues still packing the string hole leaves open the possibility of iron or steel wire.
Cist behind the Binns: the excavation of an Iron Age cist burial at the House of the Binns, West Lothian*
Authors: Rhodes Daniel , Jones Elizabeth , Sinfield Laura , McLaren Dawn , Walton-Rogers Penelope
Published: November 2017

During a routine archaeological monitoring visit to the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) property at the House of the Binns in August 2013, human bone was discovered eroding from a small bedrock quarry face. Following investigation by the NTS Archaeology Team this was identified as the remains of two male skeletons from the first centuries BC/AD. Both were buried within a single stone cist, with the remains of one individual (30–50 years old) clearly disturbed during the placement of the second (a young adult). The second individual was placed in a crouched position on his left side and was wearing a penannular brooch on his left shoulder. A significant element of the site is the survival of some extremely rare Iron Age textile upon the brooch.
Potential for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Applications for Identifying Groundwater‐Surface Water Exchange in a Meandering River Reach
Authors: Pai H. , Malenda H. F. , Briggs M. A. , Singha K. , González‐Pinzón R. , Gooseff M. N. , Tyler S. W. ,   the AirCTEMPS Team
Published: November 2017

The exchange of groundwater and surface water (GW‐SW), including dissolved constituents and energy, represents a critical yet challenging characterization problem for hydrogeologists and stream ecologists. Here we describe the use of a suite of high spatial resolution remote sensing techniques, collected using a small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS), to provide novel and complementary data to analyze GW‐SW exchange. sUAS provided centimeter‐scale resolution topography and water surface elevations, which are often drivers of exchange along the river corridor. Additionally, sUAS‐based vegetation imagery, vegetation‐top elevation, and normalized difference vegetation index mapping indicated GW‐SW exchange patterns that are difficult to characterize from the land surface and may not be resolved from coarser satellite‐based imagery. We combined these data with estimates of sediment hydraulic conductivity to provide a direct estimate of GW “shortcutting” through meander necks, which was corroborated by temperature data at the riverbed interface.
An Atropos Chiral Biphenyl Bisphosphine Ligand Bearing Only 2,2′‐Substituents and Its Application in Rh‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation
Authors: Jia Jia , Ling Zheng , Zhang Zhenfeng , Tamura Ken , Gridnev Ilya D. , Imamoto Tsuneo , Zhang Wanbin
Published: November 2017

An atropos chiral biphenyl bisphosphine ligand bearing only 2,2′‐substituents was rationally designed and easily synthesized utilizing a bulky chiral t‐butylmethylphosphino block. Computational results showed a large difference in the free energies between the two diastereomers (7.8 kcal/mol) and attainable rotational energy barriers from one diastereomer to another (27.7 kcal/mol and reverse 19.9 kcal/mol). This ligand avoids the time‐consuming optical resolution generally needed for the preparation of axially chiral ligands and shows high reactivity and enantioselectivity in Rh‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenations.

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Living conditions and change in age of menarche in adult Maya mothers and daughters from Yucatan, Mexico
Authors: Azcorra Hugo , Rodríguez Luis , Datta Banik Sudip , Bogin Barry , Dickinson Federico , Varela‐Silva Maria Ines
Published: November 2017

Objectives

To analyze whether living conditions, experienced by mothers and adult daughters during their childhood, are associated with age at menarche (AAM) in daughters.

Methods

From September, 2011, to January, 2014, AAM and childhood living conditions were collected from a sample of 246 dyads of Maya mothers (mean age = 59.60 years, SD = 8.64) and their adult daughters (mean age = 33.03 years, SD = 5.57) from the cities of Merida and Motul in Yucatan, Mexico. Indicators of childhood living conditions were number of siblings and quality of house construction materials in both generations, and father's absence among daughters in their pre‐menarcheal years. Multiple regression models were used to assess the association between childhood conditions in mother‐daughter dyads and daughter's AAM.

Results

The recalled mean AAM of adult Maya daughters was 12.05 years (SD = 1.53). After adjusting for the influence of mothers' AAM, number of siblings in both the mothers' and daughters' families directly predicted daughters' AAM (more siblings was associated with a later AAM); and a higher (better) index of household conditions in mothers' childhood was associated with earlier AAM in daughters. The household conditions index during the childhood of daughters and father's absence were not associated with their AAM.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that better living conditions experienced by the mothers and daughters during their childhood may lower mean AAM in daughters in the context of populations that show important intergenerational changes in their social and economic conditions.
Nanoconfined Oxidation Synthesis of N‐Doped Carbon Hollow Spheres and MnO2 Encapsulated Sulfur Cathode for Superior Li‐S Batteries
Authors: Shen Jiadong , Liu Jun , Liu Zhengbo , Hu Renzong , Liu Jiangwen , Zhu Min
Published: November 2017

The sulfur cathode, as a new generation of lithium‐ion battery cathode material, has a high theoretical energy density of about 2500 Wh kg−1. However, the low conductivity of sulfur and the “shuttle effect”, widely presenting in the lithiation/de‐lithiation process, seriously hinder its practical application. Here, we report a new nanoconfined oxidation route (first complete oxidation of metal sulfide and subsequently partial oxidation of the generated S from sulfide) for S cathode encapsulated with MnO2 nanosheets and N‐doped carbon hollow spheres. This nanoconfined oxidation route can successfully confine the sulfur particles in the interior of the carbon shell, and the rationally introduced nonpolar carbon and polar MnO2 can both reduce the dissolution of polysulfide during the charge‐discharge process. The obtained well‐defined S‐MnO2@C cathode exhibits high specific capacity with excellent cycling performance and superior rate capability.
The fate of suspended sediment and particulate organic carbon in transit through the channels of a river catchment
Authors: Worrall Fred , Burt Tim P. , Howden Nicholas J.K. , Hancock Gregory R. , Wainwright John
Published: November 2017

Particulate organic matter (POM) transiting through rivers could be lost to overbank storage, stored in‐channel, added to by erosion or autochthonous production, or turned over to release greenhouse gases to the atmosphere (either while in the water column or while stored in the channel). In the UK, a net loss of POM across catchments has been recorded, and the aim here was to investigate the balances of processes acting on the POM. This study considered records of suspended sediment and POM flux in comparison to stream flow, velocity, stream power, and residence time for the River Trent (English Midlands, 8,231 km2). We show that for the lower two thirds (106 km) of the River Trent, 2% is lost to overbank storage; 10% is lost to the atmosphere in the water column; and 31% is turned over while in temporary storage. Permanent in‐channel storage is negligible, and for the lower course of the river, material stored in‐channel will have a residence time of the order of hundreds of days between the last flood hydrograph of one winter and the first winter storm of the next winter (usually in the same calendar year). When considered at the scale of the UK, 1% POM in transit would be lost to overbank sedimentation; 5% turned over in the water column, and 14% turned over while in temporary storage. In the upper third of the study river channel, there is insufficient stream power to transport sediment and so in‐channel storage or in‐channel turnover over to the atmosphere dominate. The in‐channel processes of the River Trent do not conform to that expected for river channels as the headwaters are not eroding or transporting sediment. Therefore, the source of sediment must be lower down the channel network.
Annual spreading of olive mill wastewater over consecutive years: Effects on cultivated soils' physical properties
Authors: Levy Guy J. , Dag Arnon , Raviv Michael , Zipori Isaac , Medina Shlomit , Saadi Ibrahim , Krasnovski Arkadi , Eizenberg Hanan , Laor Yael
Published: November 2017

Several studies cautioned against potential negative effects of controlled olive mill wastewater (OMW) application on soil physical properties that could be associated with the possible adverse effects of K on soil structure stability. The objective of the study was to examine the effects of annual application of OMW over several years on selected physical properties of the upper soil layer (0–10 cm) and their link to exchangeable K levels. Two experimental field platforms were studied: field crops grown in a tilled clay soil (3 years of OMW application) and an olive orchard grown in a sandy‐loam soil (5 years of OMW application). In the clay soil, OMW application did not affect organic carbon (OC) and only slightly increased exchangeable potassium percentage (EPP) from 3.3 in the control to ~4.5 in the OMW‐treated plots. In the sandy‐loam soil, application of different rates of OMW resulted in an increase in both OC and EPP (>20) compared with the control (8). For both soils, addition of OMW improved aggregate stability; yet for the clay soil, the increase was not associated with changes in EPP or OC. In the sandy‐loam soil, aggregate stability was positively correlated with OC and EPP. Soil hydraulic conductivity, tested for the sandy‐loam soil only, was not affected by OMW application. Overall, our study shows that consecutive 3 to 5 years of controlled OMW application in the range of 50–150 m3 OMW ha−1 y−1 does not result in the deterioration of soil physical and hydraulic properties.
GOLM1 promotes prostate cancer progression through activating PI3K‐AKT‐mTOR signaling
Authors: Yan Guang , Ru Yi , Wu Kerong , Yan Fengqi , Wang Qinhao , Wang Jingxiang , Pan Tao , Zhang Mei , Han Hua , Li Xia , Zou Lian
Published: November 2017

Background

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men. Various molecular mechanisms account for PCa progression and elucidation of these mechanisms is key for selection of optimal therapies and improvement of patient outcome. Golgi membrane protein 1 (GOLM1) has been identified as a novel biomarker for PCa, but its biological functions and molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood.

Method

GOLM1 expression was determined in PCa by tissue microarrays (TMAs) and real‐time RT‐PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) analyses. To investigate GOLM1 functions in vitro and in vivo, we overexpressed and knocked down GOLM1 in PCa cell lines and established xenograft mice models. A series of cytological function assays were used to determine the role of GOLM1 in cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis. PI3K‐AKT‐mTOR signaling pathway downstream of GOLM1 was detected by Western blot and IHC analyses.

Result

GOLM1 expression is up‐regulated in PCa of all stages and grades. GOLM1 promotes proliferation, migration and invasion, and inhibits apoptosis in PCa cell lines (DU145, PC3, and CWR22Rv1) and xenograft mice models. Moreover, PI3K‐AKT‐mTOR signaling is positively regulated by GOLM1, whereas PI3 K inhibitor BKM120 significantly abrogates the oncogenic functions of GOLM1.

Conclusion

GOLM1 acts as a critical oncogene by promoting PCa cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and inhibiting apoptosis. GOLM1 plays oncogenic functions mainly through activating PI3K‐AKT‐mTOR signaling pathway. Therefore, agents that block PI3K‐AKT‐mTOR signaling pathway could be used in PCa patients with GOLM1 up‐regulation.
The structure of DLP12 endolysin exhibiting alternate loop conformation and comparative analysis with other endolysins
Authors: Babu Kesavan , Arulandu Arockiasamy , Sankaran Krishnaswamy
Published: November 2017

The lytic enzyme, endolysin, is encoded by bacteriophages (phages) to destroy the peptidoglycan layer of host bacterial cells. The release of phage progenies to start the new infection cycle is dependent on the cell lysis event. Endolysin encoded by DLP12 cryptic prophage is a SAR endolysin which is retained by the bacterium presumably due to the benefit it confers. The structure of DLP12 endolysin (Id: 4ZPU) determined at 2.4 Å resolution is presented here. The DLP12 endolysin structure shows a modular nature and is organized into distinct structural regions. One of the monomers has the loops at the active site in a different conformation. This has led to a suggestion of depicting possibly active and inactive state of DLP12 endolysin. Comparison of DLP12 endolysin structure and sequence with those of related endolysins shows the core three‐dimensional fold is similar and the catalytic triad geometry is highly conserved despite the sequence differences. Features essential for T4 lysozyme structure and function such as the distance between catalytic groups, salt bridge and presence of nucleophilic water are conserved in DLP12 endolysin and other endolysins analyzed.
The Positive Lymph Node Number and Postoperative N‐Staging Used to Estimate Survival in Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: Results from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Dataset (1988–2008)
Authors: Wei Wen‐Jun , Lu Zhong‐Wu , Wen Duo , Liao Tian , Li Duan‐Shu , Wang Yu , Zhu Yong‐Xue , Wang Zhuo‐Ying , Wu Yi , Wang Yu‐Long , Ji Qing‐Hai
Published: November 2017

Background

Lymph node metastasis is important when evaluating the prognosis of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). However, the current N‐staging system cannot fully reflect the clinical significance of cervical lymph node metastasis in DTC. In this study, we employed Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)‐registered DTC cases with lymph node metastasis to determine whether the positive lymph node number (PLNN) could be used to improve stratification of patients in terms of survival.

Methods

We used the SEER dataset to identify all DTC patients with at least one positive cervical lymph node who were examined between 1988 and 2008. Multivariable modeling was used to compare cancer‐specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) and to calculate different PLNN cutoff points.

Results

In total, 14,359 pN + DTC patients identified in the SEER were included. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, the PLNN was significantly associated with both CSS and OS, whereas neither the lymph node ratio (LNR) nor the (numbers of) lymph nodes examined (LNE) were so associated. The highest C‐index value (0.933) and the lowest AIC value (9362.687) obtained indicated that the PLNN better predicted the CSS of DTC than did the LNR or LNE. As the p values for both CSS and OS were minimized, and as the PLNN performed best when cases were grouped, PLNN cutoff points of 10 and 3/10 efficiently stratified DTC patients into two and three levels, respectively. Based on the 3/10 trichotomy, the benefits of radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment were evaluated for each group. Such treatment afforded about a 10% survival benefit in patients with more than 10 lymph node metastases.

Conclusions

Compared with the LNR and LNE under different statistical models, PLNN was superior in terms of DTC staging. A cutoff point of 3/10 was optimal for stratifying patients according to prognosis and was of clinical significance in terms of RAI treatment selection.
Correction to: Safety and Feasibility of a Ketamine Package to Support Emergency and Essential Surgery in Kenya when No Anesthetist is Available: An Analysis of 1216 Consecutive Operative Procedures
Authors: Burke Thomas F. , Suarez Sebastian , Senay Ayla , Masaki Charles , Rogo Khama , Sessler Daniel I. , Yusufali Taha , Rogo Debora , Guha Moytrayee , Jani Pankaj , Nelson Brett D.
Published: November 2017

The corrected order of the authors is as reflected in this erratum. Sebastian Suarez and Ayla Senay are co‐second authors.
Senecio conrathii N.E.Br. (Asteraceae), a new hyperaccumulator of nickel from serpentinite outcrops of the Barberton Greenstone Belt, South Africa
Authors: Siebert Stefan John , Schutte Nadine Carol , Bester Stoffel Pieter , Komape Dennis Mmakgabo , Rajakaruna Nishanta
Published: November 2017

Five nickel hyperaccumulators belonging to the Asteraceae are known from ultramafic outcrops in South Africa. Phytoremediation applications of the known hyperaccumulators in the Asteraceae, such as the indigenous Berkheya coddii Roessler, are well reported and necessitate further exploration to find additional species with such traits. This study targeted the most frequently occurring species of the Asteraceae on eight randomly selected serpentinite outcrops of the Barberton Greenstone Belt. Twenty species were sampled, including 12 that were tested for nickel accumulation for the first time. Although the majority of the species were excluders, the known hyperaccumulators Berkheya nivea N.E.Br. and B. zeyheri (Sond. & Harv.) Oliv. & Hiern subsp. rehmannii (Thell.) Roessler var. rogersiana (Thell.) Roessler hyperaccumulated nickel in the leaves at expected levels. A new hyperaccumulator of nickel was discovered, Senecio conrathii N.E.Br., which accumulated the element in its leaves at 1695 ± 637 µg g−1 on soil with a total and exchangeable nickel content of 503 mg kg−1 and 0.095 µg g−1, respectively. This makes it the third known species in the Senecioneae of South Africa to hyperaccumulate nickel after Senecio anomalochrous Hilliard and Senecio coronatus (Thunb.) Harv., albeit it being a weak accumulator compared with the latter. Seven tribes in the Asteraceae have now been screened for hyperaccumulation in South Africa, with hyperaccumulators only recorded for the Arctoteae and Senecioneae. This suggests that further exploration for hyperaccumulators should focus on these tribes as they comprise all six species (of 68 Asteraceae taxa screened thus far) to hyperaccumulate nickel.
Heaven and Health: How Black, Latino, and Korean Christians View the Relationship between Faith and Health
Authors: Bolger Daniel , Tinsley Cleve , Ecklund Elaine Howard
Published: November 2017

Religious congregations have increasingly been viewed as potential access points to health care in underserved communities. Such a perspective stems from a robust literature identifying the unique civic role that churches potentially play in African American and Latino communities. Yet, research on congregational health promotion has often not considered how congregants view the connections between religious faith, physical health, and the church community. In order to further interrogate how congregants view the church's role in health promotion, we compare views on the relationship between faith and health for two groups that are overrepresented in American Christianity and underrepresented in medical careers (African Americans and Latinos) with a group that is similarly religious but comparatively well-represented in medical professions (Korean Americans). Drawing on data from focus groups with 19 pastors representing 18 different congregations and 28 interviews with church members, we find that churches across all three groups promote initiatives to care for the physical health of their members. Nonetheless, notable differences exist in how each group frames the interface between religious faith and physical health. African Americans and Latinos highlighted the role of faith in providing physical healing while Korean Americans saw the support of the religious community as the main benefit of their faith. Distrust of medicine was primarily articulated by members of African American churches. The results offer important implications for the future potential and nature of health initiatives in racial minority communities.
Is a typical bi-Perron algebraic unit a pseudo-Anosov dilatation?
Authors: BAIK HYUNGRYUL , RAFIQI AHMAD , WU CHENXI
Published: November 2017

In this note, we deduce a partial answer to the question in the title. In particular, we show that asymptotically almost all bi-Perron algebraic units whose characteristic polynomial has degree at most $2n$ do not correspond to dilatations of pseudo-Anosov maps on a closed orientable surface of genus $n$ for $n\geq 10$. As an application of the argument, we also obtain a statement on the number of closed geodesics of the same length in the moduli space of area-one abelian differentials for low-genus cases.
Fatou components of elliptic polynomial skew products
Authors: PETERS HAN , RAISSY JASMIN
Published: November 2017

We investigate the description of Fatou components for polynomial skew products in two complex variables. The non-existence of wandering domains near a super-attracting invariant fiber was shown in Lilov [Fatou theory in two dimensions. PhD Thesis, University of Michigan, 2004], and the geometrically attracting case was studied in Peters and Vivas [Polynomial skew products with wandering Fatou-disks. Math. Z.283(1–2) (2016), 349–366] and Peters and Smit [Fatou components of attracting skew products. Preprint, 2015, http://arxiv.org/abs/1508.06605]. In Astorg et al [A two-dimensional polynomial mapping with a wandering Fatou component. Ann. of Math. (2), 184 (2016), 263–313] it was proven that wandering domains can exist near a parabolic invariant fiber. In this paper we study the remaining case, namely the dynamics near an elliptic invariant fiber. We prove that the two-dimensional Fatou components near the elliptic invariant fiber correspond exactly to the Fatou components of the restriction to the fiber, under the assumption that the multiplier at the elliptic invariant fiber satisfies the Brjuno condition and that the restriction polynomial has no critical points on the Julia set. We also show the description does not hold when the Brjuno condition is dropped. Our main tool is the construction of expanding metrics on nearby fibers, and one of the key steps in this construction is given by a local description of the dynamics near a parabolic periodic cycle.
Rokhlin dimension for actions of residually finite groups
Authors: SZABÓ GÁBOR , WU JIANCHAO , ZACHARIAS JOACHIM
Published: November 2017

We introduce the concept of Rokhlin dimension for actions of residually finite groups on$\text{C}^{\ast }$-algebras, extending previous such notions for actions of finite groups and the integers by Hirshberg, Winter and the third author. We are able to extend most of their results to a much larger class of groups: those admitting box spaces of finite asymptotic dimension. This latter condition is a refinement of finite asymptotic dimension and has not previously been considered. In a detailed study we show that finitely generated, virtually nilpotent groups have box spaces with finite asymptotic dimension, providing a large class of examples. We show that actions with finite Rokhlin dimension by groups with finite-dimensional box spaces preserve the property of having finite nuclear dimension when passing to the crossed product$\text{C}^{\ast }$-algebra. We then establish a relation between Rokhlin dimension of residually finite groups acting on compact metric spaces and amenability dimension of the action in the sense of Guentner, Willett and Yu. We show that for free actions of infinite, finitely generated, nilpotent groups on finite-dimensional spaces, both these dimensional values are finite. In particular, the associated transformation group$\text{C}^{\ast }$-algebras have finite nuclear dimension. This extends an analogous result about$\mathbb{Z}^{m}$-actions by the first author to a significantly larger class of groups, showing that a large class of crossed products by actions of such groups fall under the remit of the Elliott classification programme. We also provide results concerning the genericity of finite Rokhlin dimension, and permanence properties with respect to the absorption of a strongly self-absorbing$\text{C}^{\ast }$-algebra.
Stromatolite Growth in Lagoa Vermelha, Southeastern Coast of Brazil: Evidence of Environmental Changes
Authors: Carvalho Carla , Oliveira Maria Isabela N. , Macario Kita , Guimarães Renato B. , Keim Carolina N , Sabadini-Santos Elisamara , Crapez Mirian A C
Published: November 2017

Among the oldest remains of living beings to have inhabited the Earth’s surface, there are the stromatolites—laminated sedimentary rocks associated with lithified mats of layered phototrophic microbial communities—which grow in specific environmental conditions. In the present work, we study a recent carbonatic stromatolite from Lagoa Vermelha (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), a shallow coastal hypersaline lagoon. X-ray diffraction was associated to a depth chronological model defining three different sections based on changes in mineral composition of the stromatolite with increased dolomite content. Although a mean growth rate of 0.19±0.03 mm/yr is observed, the model discloses decreasing growth rates among the sections. Since dolomite formation can be related to high availability of Mg+2, confirmed by an expressive presence of (Ca, Mg)CO3, the lower growth rates were associated to a more arid environment, until approximately 1440 cal AD, with higher temperatures and consequently promoting water evaporation and salinity enhancement.
A Novel Robust Sparse-Grid Quadrature Kalman Filter Design for HCV Transfer Alignment Against Model Parameter Uncertainty
Authors: Chen Hongmei , Liu Jianjuan
Published: November 2017

A novel robust scheme for Transfer Alignment (TA) is proposed for improving the accuracy of the navigation of a Hypersonic Cruise Vehicle (HCV). The main goal is to instil robustness in the safety and accuracy of the attitude determination, despite mode uncertainties. This article focuses on Robust Sparse-Grid Quadrature Filtering (R-SGQF) using two given robust factors for norm-bounded model uncertainties in non-linear systems. Missile dynamic and measurement model uncertainties are established to validate TA technologies. The nominal stability of the R-SGQF is defined by estimating error dynamics. The technique gives sufficient conditions for the R-SGQF in terms of two parameterised Riccati equations. Robust stability is analysed using Lyapunov theory and the accuracy level of the Sparse-Grid Quadrature (SGQ) algorithm. Embedding the SGQ technique into the robust filter structure, R-SGQF is not only of robust stability against uncertainty but also of higher accuracy. The simulation results of the TA algorithm demonstrate that attitude determinations validate the effectiveness of the R-SGQF algorithm.
Sperm-derived factors enhance thein vitrodevelopmental potential of haploid parthenotes
Authors: Nair Ramya , Aboobacker Shahin , Mutalik Srinivas , Kalthur Guruprasad , Adiga Satish Kumar
Published: November 2017

Parthenotes are characterized by poorin vitrodevelopmental potential either due to the ploidy status or the absence of paternal factors. In the present study, we demonstrate the beneficial role of sperm-derived factors (SDF) on thein vitrodevelopment of mouse parthenotes. Mature (MII) oocytes collected from superovulated Swiss albino mice were activated using strontium chloride (SrCl2) in the presence or absence of various concentrations of SDF in M16 medium. The presence of SDF in activation medium did not have any significant influence on the activation rate. However, a significant increase in the developmental potential of the embryos and increased blastocyst rate (P< 0.01) was observed at 50 µg/ml concentration. Furthermore, the activated oocytes from this group exhibited early cleavage and cortical distribution of cortical granules that was similar to that of normally fertilized zygotes. Culturing 2-cell stage parthenotes in the presence of SDF significantly improved the developmental potential (P< 0.05) indicating that they also play a significant role in embryo development. In conclusion, artificial activation of oocytes with SDF can improve the developmental potential of parthenotesin vitro.
Faith and Reason
Authors: Pritchard Duncan
Published: November 2017

A novel account of the rationality of religious belief is offered, called quasi-fideism. According to this proposal, we are neither to think of religious belief as completely immune to rational evaluation nor are we to deny that it involves fundamental commitments which are arational. Moreover, a parity argument is presented to the effect that religious belief is no different from ordinary rational belief in presupposing such fundamental arational commitments. This proposal is shown to be rooted in Wittgenstein's remarks on hinge commitments in On Certainty, remarks which it is claimed were in turn influenced by John Henry Newman's treatment of the rationality of religious belief in An Essay in Aid of a Grammar of Assent.
Misapprehensions about the Fine-Tuning Argument
Authors: Hawthorne John , Isaacs Yoaav
Published: November 2017

The fine-tuning argument purports to show that particular aspects of fundamental physics provide evidence for the existence of God. This argument is legitimate, yet there are numerous doubts about its legitimacy. There are various misgivings about the fine-tuning argument which are based on misunderstandings. In this paper we will go over several major misapprehensions (from both popular and philosophical sources), and explain why they do not undermine the basic cogency of the fine-tuning argument.
Umschriebene Entwicklungsstörungen
Authors: Petermann Franz
Published: November 2017

Zusammenfassung. Umschriebene Entwicklungsstörungen sind dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass in einem Entwicklungsbereich eine Abweichung auftritt, die sich jedoch vielfach auch auf andere Bereiche auswirken kann. Besonders bedeutsam sind umschriebene Entwicklungsstörungen schulischer Fertigkeiten (Lesen, Rechtschreiben, Rechnen), die langfristig die Schullaufbahn und die berufliche Perspektive ungünstig beeinflussen. Zu wenig beachtet werden umschriebene Entwicklungsstörungen der motorischen Funktionen, die jedoch zu den häufigsten Entwicklungsabweichungen des Kindesalters zählen. Die Kenntnis von Vorläuferfähigkeiten einer auffälligen Entwicklung im Kindesalter bilden die Grundlage für Präventionsprogramme für Vorschulkinder. In diesem Lebensalter kann es gelingen, die Auswirkungen umschriebener Entwicklungsstörungen gering zu halten.