bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lenition, perception and neutralisation
Authors: Katz Jonah
Published: June 2016

This paper argues that processes traditionally classified as lenition fall into at least two subsets, with distinct phonetic reflexes, formal properties and characteristic contexts. One type, referred to as loss lenition, frequently neutralises contrasts in positions where they are perceptually indistinct. The second type, referred to as continuity lenition, can target segments in perceptually robust positions, increases the intensity and/or decreases the duration of those segments, and very rarely results in positional neutralisation of contrasts. While loss lenition behaves much like other phonological processes, analysing continuity lenition is difficult or impossible in standard phonological approaches. The paper develops a phonetically based optimality-theoretic account that explains the typology of the two types of lenition. The crucial proposal is that, unlike loss lenition, continuity lenition is driven by constraints that reference multiple prosodic positions.
Relating application frequency to morphological structure: the case of Tommo So vowel harmony
Authors: McPherson Laura , Hayes Bruce
Published: June 2016

We describe three vowel-harmony processes in Tommo So and their interaction with morphological structure. The verbal suffixes of Tommo So occur in a strict linear order, establishing a Kiparskian hierarchy of distance from the root. This distance is respected by all three harmony processes; they ‘peter out’, applying with lower frequency as distance from the root increases. The function relating application rate to distance is well fitted by families of sigmoid curves, declining in frequency from one to zero. We show that, assuming appropriate constraints, such functions are a direct consequence of Harmonic Grammar. The crucially conflicting constraints areIdent(violated just once by harmonised candidates) and a scalar version ofAgree(violated one to seven times, based on closeness of the target to the root). We show that our model achieves a close fit to the data, while a variety of alternative models fail to do so.
Secrecy, State-Private Networks and Operational Effectiveness in Cold War Europe
Authors: PULLIN ERIC
Published: June 2016

Secrecy has unintended consequences. The release on 9 December 2014 of the US Senate Intelligence Committee's report on the torture of terrorism detainees focused public attention on the secret activities of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Regrettably, lost amidst debate over justifying or condemning state-sponsored torture is a more basic concern, the issue of state secrecy, which underlies the discussion of how governments promote national ends. Only two days after the issuance of the Senate Intelligence Committee's report, the US House of Representatives adjourned without taking action on the Freedom of Information Act reform bill – despite receiving unanimous approval in both houses. This bill would not have required complete openness, but it would have eliminated many of the arbitrary mechanisms that enable the CIA and other governmental agencies to suppress requests for information. Although the House Republican leadership failed to put the act on the legislative calendar, the Obama administration's Department of Justice also deserves opprobrium for surreptitiously opposing the act behind the scenes. The US government's disregard for establishing reasonable rules of transparency virtually guarantees that the CIA will continue to suppress its records, and thus public scrutiny of its unchecked activities, for a very long time to come.
Recent advances in machine translation using comparable corpora
Authors: RAPP REINHARD , SHAROFF SERGE , ZWEIGENBAUM PIERRE
Published: June 2016

This paper highlights some of the recent developments in the field of machine translation using comparable corpora. We start by updating previous definitions of comparable corpora and then look at bilingual versions of continuous vector space models. Recently, neural networks have been used to obtain latent context representations with only few dimensions which are often called word embeddings. These promising new techniques cannot only be applied to parallel but also to comparable corpora. Subsequent sections of the paper discuss work specifically targeting at machine translation using comparable corpora, as well as work dealing with the extraction of parallel segments from comparable corpora. Finally, we give an overview on the design and the results of a recent shared task on measuring document comparability across languages.
End-to-end statistical machine translation with zero or small parallel texts
Authors: IRVINE ANN , CALLISON-BURCH CHRIS
Published: June 2016

We use bilingual lexicon induction techniques, which learn translations from monolingual texts in two languages, to build an end-to-end statistical machine translation (SMT) system without the use of any bilingual sentence-aligned parallel corpora. We present detailed analysis of the accuracy of bilingual lexicon induction, and show how a discriminative model can be used to combine various signals of translation equivalence (like contextual similarity, temporal similarity, orthographic similarity and topic similarity). Our discriminative model produces higher accuracy translations than previous bilingual lexicon induction techniques. We reuse these signals of translation equivalence as features on a phrase-based SMT system. These monolingually estimated features enhance low resource SMT systems in addition to allowing end-to-end machine translation without parallel corpora.
Building a multi-domain comparable corpus using a learning to rank method
Authors: RAHIMI RAZIEH , SHAKERY AZADEH , DADASHKARIMI JAVID , ARIANNEZHAD MOZHDEH , DEHGHANI MOSTAFA , ESFAHANI HOSSEIN NASR
Published: June 2016

Comparable corpora are key translation resources for both languages and domains with limited linguistic resources. The existing approaches for building comparable corpora are mostly based on ranking candidate documents in the target language for each source document using a cross-lingual retrieval model. These approaches also exploit other evidence of document similarity, such as proper names and publication dates, to build more reliable alignments. However, the importance of each evidence in the scores of candidate target documents is determined heuristically. In this paper, we employ a learning to rank method for ranking candidate target documents with respect to each source document. The ranking model is constructed by defining each evidence for similarity of bilingual documents as a feature whose weight is learned automatically. Learning feature weights can significantly improve the quality of alignments, because the reliability of features depends on the characteristics of both source and target languages of a comparable corpus. We also propose a method to generate appropriate training data for the task of building comparable corpora. We employed the proposed learning-based approach to build a multi-domain English–Persian comparable corpus which covers twelve different domains obtained from Open Directory Project. Experimental results show that the created alignments have high degrees of comparability. Comparison with existing approaches for building comparable corpora shows that our learning-based approach improves both quality and coverage of alignments.
Internet-delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Depressive Symptoms: An Exploratory Examination of Therapist Behaviours and their Relationship to Outcome and Therapeutic Alliance
Authors: Schneider Luke H. , Hadjistavropoulos Heather D. , Faller Y. Nichole
Published: June 2016

Background: A previous study of therapist-assisted Internet-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy (ICBT) for generalized anxiety (Paxling et al., 2013) identified eight distinct therapist behaviours in ICBT (task reinforcement, self-efficacy shaping, task prompting, alliance bolstering, psychoeducation, empathetic utterances, deadline flexibility, and self-disclosure). It is unknown how generalizable these behaviours are across ICBT programs. Aims: We systematically examined the frequency of these eight therapist behaviours and additional newly identified behaviours in e-mails sent to patients during the course of ICBT for depressive symptoms. We also conducted exploratory analyses to examine relationships between therapist behaviours, symptom improvement, and therapeutic alliance. Method: Data was obtained from a previously published open trial (Hadjistavropoulos et al., 2014). A total of 1013 e-mails sent from therapists (n = 24) to patients (n = 41) during ICBT for depressive symptoms were analyzed. Therapist behaviours were correlated with symptom change scores and ratings of therapeutic alliance at mid- and post-treatment. Results: Therapist behaviours described by Paxling et al. were reliably identified in the e-mails using qualitative content analysis; the frequencies of these behaviours differed, however, from the Paxling et al. study and three additional therapist behaviours were identified (administrative statements, questionnaire feedback, asking clarifying questions). Several therapist behaviours (e.g. administrative statements, task prompting) were associated with lower symptom improvement at post-treatment. Questionnaire feedback and task reinforcement were associated with higher patient ratings of therapeutic alliance. Conclusions: The study provides partial support for the generalizability of therapist-assistance across ICBT programs. Experimental research is needed to examine the impact of varying therapist-assistance on patient outcomes.
PUBLIC DEBT IN A POLITICAL ECONOMY
Authors: Röhrs Sigrid
Published: June 2016

This paper analyzes the determination of public debt in a dynamic politico-economic model with overlapping generations. Sizeable levels of public debt can be rationalized in this model. The elasticity of substitution between public and private consumption determines the size of public debt and could explain differences of debt across countries. I compare the optimal policies under commitment and in a “political equilibrium” without commitment. Public debt can be higher or lower when commitment is absent, depending on the elasticity of substitution between public and private consumption. Consequently, under certain conditions, the no-commitment debt level can be closer to a normative benchmark with higher weight for future generations.
The neural correlates of semantic and phonological transfer effects: language distance matters
Authors: GHAZI-SAIDI LADAN , ANSALDO ANA INÉS
Published: June 2016

Behavioral and neural correlates of cross-linguistic transfer (CLT) effects were studied at the word level, in a pair of linguistically distant languages. Twelve adult Persian speakers were tested on an overt picture-naming task in L2, during event-related fMRI scanning after an intensive computerized French lexical-learning program including cognates, clangs and non-cognate-non-clangs.

In distant language pairs, naming in L2 is effortful and demanding. Thus, it is less automatic, and must recruit more neural resources for lexical retrieval, and articulatory processing; it also requires more attention and cognitive control, even in cases where there is phonological overlap. Activation observed with different word types reflects the interaction of language and other cognitive systems including executive control and working memory circuits, even with phonologically similar and highly consolidated words. Moreover, phonologically similar words (cognates and clangs) seem to involve the implicit memory processing, whereas phonologically distant words (non-cognate-non-clangs) seem to require explicit memory.
Choosing and Using Statistical Sources in Criminology: What Can the Crime Survey for England and Wales Tell Us?
Authors: Tilley Nick , Tseloni Andromachi
Published: June 2016

There is a wide range of sources that might fruitfully be used in criminological research. This article, by Andromachi Tseloni* and Nick Tilley**, overviews the type of evidence used in research that has recently appeared in the British Journal of Criminology, gives examples of unobtrusive administrative data that have been used in recent projects, and focuses on a single data set, the Crime Survey for England and Wales, which covers a wide range of criminological topics. Finally, it will be suggested that criminologists may be missing opportunities to draw on valuable data sets that, though imperfect, could be useful to them in their research.
Law Belongs to the People: Access to Law and Justice
Authors: Peruginelli Ginevra
Published: June 2016

This paper written by Ginevra Peruginelli is devoted to a discussion of the issues concerning the provision of free access to law in our global society and investigates the effects and benefits of freely available information to the legal profession, citizens and governments. The knowledge of rights, responsibilities and policies allows people and institutions to know what is expected of them and which protections they enjoy. In particular, the paper focuses on the main actors, namely the Legal Information Institutes, involved in the free access to law all around the world. These institutions publish legal information from more than one source for free, and mutually collaborate both politically and technically through membership.
Impact of living mulch on arthropod fauna: analysis of pest and beneficial dynamics on organic cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis) in different European scenarios
Authors: Depalo L. , Burgio G. , von Fragstein P. , Kristensen H.L. , Bavec M. , Robačer M. , Campanelli G. , Canali S.
Published: June 2016

The effect of a ‘cover crop–vegetable cash crop’ intercropping system on arthropod dynamics and biodiversity, was investigated in four different European countries (Italy, Denmark, Germany, and Slovenia), by means of two-seasonal experiments. The soil arthropod fauna was used to compare the ecosystem services of living mulched systems with sole crop ones. The living mulch (LM) technique did not affect the infestation of cabbage caterpillar Pieris spp., showing no detrimental effect of this technique on this key pest of cabbage. In Denmark, aphid populations were higher in the sole crop system than in the LM system. In Italy, a very high level of larval parasitization was detected and in 1 year the percentage of parasitization was higher in LM (88%) than in sole crop (63%). Overall, the LM positively affected the activity density of Carabid beetles, also increasing diversity and evenness of species (Italy and Slovenia) or activity density of some taxa (Slovenia and Denmark). Our results indicate a general positive influence of LM techniques on arthropods in plant/soil systems, as shown by a high level of soil biodiversity and a general lack of negative effects on the density of canopy pests.
‘El Yndio Mas Venturoso’: A Spanish Guadalupan Drama of the Early Nineteenth Century
Authors: Poole Stafford
Published: June 2016

The Catholic missionaries who first brought Christianity to New Spain (colonial Mexico) were often very creative and innovative in their teaching methods. They used various audiovisual devices and, often without realizing it, built on preconquest and pre-Christian concepts, a form of unconscious syncretism. It is widely accepted that the missionary enterprise began in 1524 with the arrival of “The Twelve,” the first Franciscan missionaries. Their initial decision that evangelization would be carried on in the native languages, not Spanish, was crucial and had become Church policy by the eighteenth century. They were aided in this by the fact that Nahuatl, the Aztec language, served as alingua franca, especially in commerce and diplomacy, throughout the central plateau and as far south as Guatemala. The Franciscans, and later the Jesuits, produced grammars (artes), dictionaries, sermonaries, catechisms, miracle stories, and even religious drama in Nahuatl. The adaptation of Nahuatl to the Latin alphabet was enthusiastically received by the native peoples who left us chronicles, town council records, censuses (with valuable information on baptisms and polygamy), lawsuits, and other documentation. With all this, we have been able to open a new window on colonial life.
Trans-Imperial Networks in the Crisis of the Spanish Monarchy: The Rio de Janeiro-Montevideo Connection, 1778–1805
Authors: Prado Fabrício
Published: June 2016

The late eighteenth century brought deep changes to the Atlantic World. Imperial competition, warfare, revolutions and a general increase in transatlantic commerce changed the balance of power among European empires and their overseas territories. The Spanish empire in particular faced multiple challenges, especially intermittent warfare and economic crises, which many historians regard as having paved the way for the Spanish American independence movements after 1808. Warfare in Europe and in the Atlantic weakened Spain's economy and its control over trade and administration in its American territories. Military conflicts in the 1790s and 1800s disrupted the commercial routes connecting the Peninsula and the colonies, forcing the opening of the colonial economies to foreign agents. Because of the perils faced by Spanish vessels crossing the Atlantic, the Castilian crown allowed colonial merchants to trade directly with foreign neutral nations. Apart from legal commerce, contraband trade also flourished.
Lexikon of the Hispanic Baroque: Transatlantic Exchange and Transformation. Edited by Evonne Levy and Kenneth Mills. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2014. Pp. vii, 352. Illustrations, Index. $75.00 cloth.
Authors: Krippner James
Published: June 2016

This book is a unique reference tool and will be essential reading for students of what the editors provocatively designate as the “Hispanic Baroque” for years to come. Designed to emphasize transatlantic links as well as local redefinitions in the religious histories and cultural practices of Spain and the Americas, the book is arranged thematically. Chronologically, it extends from the late fifteenth into the eighteenth century (p. 1). The book is organized into 43 categories, arranged alphabetically, from “Afterlife” to “Supernatural,” with separate entries for each category devoted to Spain and Spanish America. The author of each entry is a distinguished researcher, which permits the reader to enjoy 86 distillations of state-of-the-art scholarship; these are followed by suggestions for further reading. The scholars are of several generations and work in several disciplines, ranging across the humanities and social sciences.
Edward Maxwell (Max) Nicholls (1927–2011), a Key Player in the Development of the Two-Hit Model of Tumor Formation
Authors: Stark Alan E. , Otto Paulo A.
Published: June 2016

E. M. Nicholls (1927–2011) was a humanist, medical practitioner, human biologist, geneticist and, above all, a teacher, as well as a husband and father. He believed that he had made a fundamental contribution to the two-hit model of cancer formation. This hypothesis is associated with retinoblastoma, in particular. Nicholls presented it through his observations on neurofibromatosis. He received little credit for what he believed was his most original contribution to medical science. This note attempts to redress the balance in his favor.
Learning through Communication: How Arguing about Scientific Information Contributes to Learning
Authors: Jucks Regina , Mayweg-Paus Elisabeth
Published: June 2016

Lernen im Diskurs: Wie das Argumentieren über wissenschaftsbezogene Informationen zum Lernerfolg beiträgt

Zusammenfassung. Lernen, ob innerhalb oder ausserhalb von formalen Bildungssettings, ist oft eine soziale Aktivität. Wissenschaftsbezogene Informationen, d. h. solche die auf wissenschaftlicher Erkenntnis basieren, werden mit dem Ziel verarbeitet Wissen für eine konkrete Problemlösung oder die Beantwortung einer anwendungsbezogenen Fragen zu liefern. Was trägt das Argumentieren mit anderen zu diesen Lernzielen bei? Die fünf Originalarbeiten und die zwei Kommentare dieses Themenhefts behandeln 1. die individuellen Voraussetzungen für das Lernen im Diskurs und 2. die Analyse von Diskursen und die Identifikation von lernförderlichem Kommunikationsverhalten und 3. die Unterstützung von lernförderlichen Diskursaktivitäten. Die behandelten theoretischen Rahmungen und empirischen Befunde ermöglichen detaillierte Einblicke aus verschiedenen Perspektiven und Ansätze für zukünftige Forschung.
Developing Epistemological Understanding in Scientific and Social Domains through Argumentation
Authors: Iordanou Kalypso
Published: June 2016

Wie das Argumentieren die Entwicklung eines epistemologischen Verständnisses in wissenschaftlichen und sozialen Bereichen fördern kann

Zusammenfassung. Diese Arbeit untersucht, ob eine Intervention zur Veränderung des Argumentationsverhaltens die Entwicklung eines evaluativen epistemologischen Verständnisses fördern kann. Studierende wurden randomisiert einer von zwei Interventionsbedingungen zugewiesen, die sich entweder mit einem sozialen oder ein wissenschaftlichen Thema beschäftigten. Die epistemologischen Überzeugungen wurden vor und nach der Intervention anhand eines sozialen und eines wissenschaftlichen Themas ermittelt. Zusätzlich wurden die Ansichten der Studierenden über ihre eigenen Wissensprozesse sowie über die von Wissenschaftlern erhoben. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass dialogische Argumentationsaktivitäten die Entwicklung eines evaluativen domänenspezifischen epistemologischen Verständnisses unterstützte. Weitere qualitative Analysen zeigten, dass die Teilnehmer je nach Interventionsbedingung die Evidenz im Prozess des Wissenserwerbs unterschiedlich bewerten. Dies unterstützt die Ansicht, dass es verschiedene Herausforderungen bei der Entwicklung eines epistemologischen Verständnisses in den Domänen gibt. Die Erkenntnisse dieser Studie haben wichtige pädagogische Implikationen und weisen darauf hin, dass argumentative Aktivitäten ein vielversprechender Weg sind, um die Entwicklung eines angemessenen epistemologischen Verständnisses zu unterstützen.
Who knows? Explaining Impacts on the Assessment of our own Knowledge and of the Knowledge of Experts
Authors: Bromme Rainer , Thomm Eva , Ratermann Katharina
Published: June 2016

Wer könnte es wissen? Erklären beeinflusst die Einschätzung unseres eigenen Wissens sowie unsere Einschätzung des Wissens von Experten

Zusammenfassung. Kinder und Erwachsene überschätzen oftmals ihr eigenes Verständnis komplexer, kausaler Sachverhalte. Werden sie jedoch aufgefordert, die Mechanismen zu erklären, die den Sachverhalten zugrunde liegen, schätzen sie ihr Wissen danach angemessener ein. Diese Illusion der Erklärtiefe (Illusion of Explanatory Depth, Rozenblit & Keil, 2002 ) verdeutlicht, welchen Einfluss die explizite Erklärung auf die metakognitive Einschätzung des eigenen Wissens haben kann. In dieser Studie überprüfen wir diesen Effekt. Erwachsene beurteilten den Umfang ihres eigenen Wissens zu Themen rund um Gesundheitsvorsorge und Klimaschutz, bevor und nachdem sie die zugrundeliegenden Kausalmechanismen erklärten. Zudem bewerteten sie vor und nach der Erkläraufgabe, inwieweit Experten aus unterschiedlichen Fachgebieten für die Themen zuständig sind. Unsere Ergebnisse belegen, dass das Elaborieren komplexer kausaler Mechanismen die Beurteilung des eigenen Wissens sowie die Einschätzung darüber, wie Wissen unter Experten verteilt ist, beeinflusst. Wir diskutieren die Befunde vor dem Hintergrund der Argumentative Theory of Reasoning und beleuchten ihre praktische Bedeutung für den Bildungsbereich.
Making Science Education More Natural – Some Ideas from the Argumentative Theory of Reasoning
Authors: Mercier Hugo
Published: June 2016

Science education praxisnah – Ideen aus der Argumentative Theory of Reasoning

Zusammenfassung. Dass der Austausch von Argumenten sehr nützlich für die Vermittlung wissenschaftlicher Denkweisen ist, konnte bereits nachgewiesen werden. Die Argumentative Theory of Reasoning kann diesen Nutzen gut erklären. Sie besagt, dass die Hauptfunktion des schlussfolgernden Denkens das Argumentieren ist: Argumente zu produzieren, um andere zu überzeugen, und die Bewertung von Argumenten anderer, um überzeugt zu werden. Diese Theorie erklärt, warum individuelles Argumentieren häufig nur zu einer schlechten Argumentationsleistung führt, während der soziale Austausch von Argumenten zu einer besseren Argumentationsleistung führt. Zusätzlich weist sie darauf hin, dass die beste Art zu lernen wie man gut argumentiert, darin besteht, mit anderen zu diskutieren. In diesem Artikel versuche ich, die Erkenntnisse der anderen Artikel dieses Themenhefts in diesen Rahmen zu integrieren.
Subjective Memory Complaints and Conversion to Dementia in Patients with Subjective Cognitive Decline and Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Lehrner Johann , Bodendorfer Bettina , Lamm Claus , Moser Doris , Dal-Bianco Peter , Auff Eduard , Pusswald Gisela
Published: June 2016

Abstract. Background: Subjective cognitive complaints and their clinical significance are discussed controversially. Objectives: To determine the clinical validity of subjective cognitive complaints among subjects with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Design: Longitudinal study with one follow up examination at a University based out-patient memory clinic. Participants: A clinical sample of patietns with SCD and MCI (n = 141), aged 50 and older, who came to the memory outpatient clinic. Results: No significant differences between converters and non converters regarding subjective cognitive complaints were detected. MCI patients had a higher risk than the patients with SCD developing AD (OR = 7.3 [CI 0.9 to 61.2]. Verbal memory testing using the Verbal Selektive Reminding Test (VSRT) showed better diagnostic validity than subjective cognitive complaints using the Forgetfulness Assessment Inventory (FAI) in predicting conversion to dementia. Conclusion: Verbal memory testing was superior in predicting conversion to dementia compared to subjective cognitive complaints.
Achtsamkeit als Therapie kognitiver Funktionen: Eine Chance für die klinische Neuropsychologie
Authors: Metzger Thomas Beblo & Kirsten
Published: June 2016

Zusammenfassung. In den letzten Jahrzehnten fand die Achtsamkeitspraxis Eingang in die klinische Psychologie und Medizin. Da Achtsamkeit eine besondere Form der Aufmerksamkeit ist, wurde in diesen Fachdisziplinen auch untersucht, inwieweit sich Aufmerksamkeitsfunktionen im Besonderen und kognitive Funktionen im Allgemeinen durch Achtsamkeitstraining verbessern. Es ist das Ziel dieses Reviews einen Überblick zu den Effekten von Achtsamkeit auf kognitive Funktionen und das Gehirn zu geben und der Frage nachzugehen, inwieweit achtsamkeitsbasierte Therapie eine sinnvolle Behandlungsoption für kognitive Beeinträchtigungen neurologischer und psychiatrischer Patienten darstellt. Wir kommen zu dem Schluss, dass erste Studien ermutigende Resultate insbesondere für Aufmerksamkeitsfunktionen und das Arbeitsgedächtnis zeigen und damit assoziierten Hirnstrukturen und -funktionen. Zu fordern sind weitere Studien, in denen die Effektivität achtsamkeitsbasierter Therapieverfahren mit herkömmlichen neuropsychologischen Therapieverfahren verglichen wird.
Plasmin and regulators of plasmin activity control the migratory capacity and adhesion of human T cells and dendritic cells by regulating cleavage of the chemokine CCL21
Authors: Lorenz Natalie , Loef Evert Jan , Kelch Inken D , Verdon Daniel J , Black Moyra M , Middleditch Martin J , Greenwood David R , Graham E Scott , Brooks Anna ES , Dunbar P Rod , Birch Nigel P
Published: June 2016

The homeostatic chemokine CCL21 has a pivotal role in lymphocyte homing and compartment localisation within the lymph node, and also affects adhesion between immune cells. The effects of CCL21 are modulated by its mode of presentation, with different cellular responses seen for surface‐bound and soluble forms. Here we show that plasmin cleaves surface‐bound CCL21 to release the C‐terminal peptide responsible for CCL21 binding to glycosaminoglycans on the extracellular matrix and cell surfaces, thereby generating the soluble form. Loss of this anchoring peptide enabled the chemotactic activity of CCL21 and reduced cell tethering. Tissue plasminogen activator did not cleave CCL21 directly but enhanced CCL21 processing through generation of plasmin from plasminogen. The tissue plasminogen activator inhibitor neuroserpin prevented processing of CCL21 and blocked the effects of soluble CCL21 on cell migration. Similarly, the plasmin‐specific inhibitor α2‐antiplasmin inhibited CCL21‐mediated migration of human T cells and dendritic cells and tethering of T cells to APCs. We conclude that the plasmin system proteins plasmin, tissue plasminogen activator and neuroserpin regulate CCL21 function in the immune system by controlling the balance of matrix‐ and cell‐bound CCL21.
Bio-based polycarbonate as synthetic toolbox
Authors: Hauenstein O. , Agarwal S. , Greiner A.
Published: June 2016

Completely bio-based poly(limonene carbonate) is a thermoplastic polymer, which can be synthesized by copolymerization of limonene oxide (derived from limonene, which is found in orange peel) and CO2. Poly(limonene carbonate) has one double bond per repeating unit that can be exploited for further chemical modifications. These chemical modifications allow the tuning of the properties of the aliphatic polycarbonate in nearly any direction. Here we show synthetic routes to demonstrate that poly(limonene carbonate) is the perfect green platform polymer, from which many functional materials can be derived. The relevant examples presented in this study are the transformation from an engineering thermoplastic into a rubber, addition of permanent antibacterial activity, hydrophilization and even pH-dependent water solubility of the polycarbonate. Finally, we show a synthetic route to yield the completely saturated counterpart that exhibits improved heat processability due to lower reactivity.
Strain-relief by single dislocation loops in calcite crystals grown on self-assembled monolayers
Authors: Ihli Johannes , Clark Jesse N. , Côté Alexander S. , Kim Yi-Yeoun , Schenk Anna S. , Kulak Alexander N. , Comyn Timothy P. , Chammas Oliver , Harder Ross J. , Duffy Dorothy M. , Robinson Ian K. , Meldrum Fiona C.
Published: June 2016

Most of our knowledge of dislocation-mediated stress relaxation during epitaxial crystal growth comes from the study of inorganic heterostructures. Here we use Bragg coherent diffraction imaging to investigate a contrasting system, the epitaxial growth of calcite (CaCO3) crystals on organic self-assembled monolayers, where these are widely used as a model for biomineralization processes. The calcite crystals are imaged to simultaneously visualize the crystal morphology and internal strain fields. Our data reveal that each crystal possesses a single dislocation loop that occupies a common position in every crystal. The loops exhibit entirely different geometries to misfit dislocations generated in conventional epitaxial thin films and are suggested to form in response to the stress field, arising from interfacial defects and the nanoscale roughness of the substrate. This work provides unique insight into how self-assembled monolayers control the growth of inorganic crystals and demonstrates important differences as compared with inorganic substrates.
A broad analysis of resistance development in the malaria parasite
Authors: Corey Victoria C. , Lukens Amanda K. , Istvan Eva S. , Lee Marcus C. S. , Franco Virginia , Magistrado Pamela , Coburn-Flynn Olivia , Sakata-Kato Tomoyo , Fuchs Olivia , Gnädig Nina F. , Goldgof Greg , Linares Maria , Gomez-Lorenzo Maria G. , De Cózar Cristina , Lafuente-Monasterio Maria Jose , Prats Sara , Meister Stephan , Tanaseichuk Olga , Wree Melanie , Zhou Yingyao , Willis Paul A. , Gamo Francisco-Javier , Goldberg Daniel E. , Fidock David A. , Wirth Dyann F. , Winzeler Elizabeth A.
Published: June 2016

Microbial resistance to chemotherapy has caused countless deaths where malaria is endemic. Chemotherapy may fail either due to pre-existing resistance or evolution of drug-resistant parasites. Here we use a diverse set of antimalarial compounds to investigate the acquisition of drug resistance and the degree of cross-resistance against common resistance alleles. We assess cross-resistance using a set of 15 parasite lines carrying resistance-conferring alleles in pfatp4, cytochrome bc1, pfcarl, pfdhod, pfcrt, pfmdr, pfdhfr, cytoplasmic prolyl t-RNA synthetase or hsp90. Subsequently, we assess whether resistant parasites can be obtained after several rounds of drug selection. Twenty-three of the 48 in vitro selections result in resistant parasites, with time to resistance onset ranging from 15 to 300 days. Our data indicate that pre-existing resistance may not be a major hurdle for novel-target antimalarial candidates, and focusing our attention on fast-killing compounds may result in a slower onset of clinical resistance.
Microvesicles provide a mechanism for intercellular communication by embryonic stem cells during embryo implantation
Authors: Desrochers Laura M. , Bordeleau François , Reinhart-King Cynthia A. , Cerione Richard A. , Antonyak Marc A.
Published: June 2016

Communication between the inner cell mass (ICM) and the trophoblast layer of the blastocyst is known to occur, but its functional consequences on early developmental events is unclear. Here we demonstrate that embryonic stem (ES) cells derived from the ICM generate and shed microvesicles (MVs), a major class of extracellular vesicles (EVs), which influence trophoblast behaviour during the implantation process. The MV cargo proteins laminin and fibronectin interact with integrins along the surfaces of the trophoblasts, triggering the activation of two signalling kinases, JNK and FAK, and stimulating trophoblast migration. We further show that injecting MVs isolated from ES cells into blastocysts results in an increase in their implantation efficiency. Thus, these findings highlight a unique mechanism by which ES cells communicate with trophoblasts within the blastocyst to increase their ability to migrate into the uterus, thereby promoting one of the earliest and most important steps during pregnancy.
Dual mechanisms regulate ecosystem stability under decade-long warming and hay harvest
Authors: Shi Zheng , Xu Xia , Souza Lara , Wilcox Kevin , Jiang Lifen , Liang Junyi , Xia Jianyang , García-Palacios Pablo , Luo Yiqi
Published: June 2016

Past global change studies have identified changes in species diversity as a major mechanism regulating temporal stability of production, measured as the ratio of the mean to the standard deviation of community biomass. However, the dominant plant functional group can also strongly determine the temporal stability. Here, in a grassland ecosystem subject to 15 years of experimental warming and hay harvest, we reveal that warming increases while hay harvest decreases temporal stability. This corresponds with the biomass of the dominant C4 functional group being higher under warming and lower under hay harvest. As a secondary mechanism, biodiversity also explains part of the variation in temporal stability of production. Structural equation modelling further shows that warming and hay harvest regulate temporal stability through influencing both temporal mean and variation of production. Our findings demonstrate the joint roles that dominant plant functional group and biodiversity play in regulating the temporal stability of an ecosystem under global change.
Correction: Corrigendum: The seasonal sea-ice zone in the glacial Southern Ocean as a carbon sink
Authors: Abelmann Andrea , Gersonde Rainer , Knorr Gregor , Zhang Xu , Chapligin Bernhard , Maier Edith , Esper Oliver , Friedrichsen Hans , Lohmann Gerrit , Meyer Hanno , Tiedemann Ralf
Published: June 2016

Nature Communications 6:8136 doi: (2015); Published 18 September 2015; Updated 15 June 2016 The original version of this Article failed to fully credit the use of the Ocean Data View software in figure 1 and supplementary figure 12, which appears below: Schlitzer, R., Ocean Data View, http://odv.awi.de, 2016.
β-arrestin-1 contributes to brown fat function and directly interacts with PPARα and PPARγ
Authors: Wang Congcong , Zeng Xianglu , Zhou Zhaocai , Zhao Jian , Pei Gang
Published: June 2016

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) family plays central roles in brown adipose tissue (BAT) adipogenesis and contributes to body temperature maintenance. The transcriptional activity of PPAR family has been shown to be tightly controlled by cellular signal networks. β-arrestins function as major secondary messengers of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) signaling by functional interactions with diverse proteins. Here, we report that β-arrestin-1 knock-out mice show enhanced cold tolerance. We found that β-arrestin-1 directly interacts with PPARα and PPARγ through a LXXXLXXXL motif, while D371 in PPARα and L311/N312/D380 in PPARγ are required for their interactions with β-arrestin-1. Further mechanistic studies showed that β-arrestin-1 promotes PPARα- but represses PPARγ-mediated transcriptional activities, providing potential regulatory pathway for BAT function.
Scandium and Titanium Containing Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes for Hydrogen Storage: a Thermodynamic and First Principle Calculation
Authors: Mananghaya Michael , Yu Dennis , Santos Gil Nonato , Rodulfo Emmanuel
Published: June 2016

The generalized gradient approximation (GGA) to density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that the highly localized states derived from the defects of nitrogen doped carbon nanotube with divacancy (4ND-CNxNT) contribute to strong Sc and Ti bindings, which prevent metal aggregation. Comparison of the H2 adsorption capability of Sc over Ti-decorated 4ND-CNxNT shows that Ti cannot be used for reversible H2 storage due to its inherent high adsorption energy. The Sc/4ND-CNxNT possesses favorable adsorption and consecutive adsorption energy at the local-density approximation (LDA) and GGA level. Molecular dynamics (MD) study confirmed that the interaction between molecular hydrogen and 4ND-CNxNT decorated with scandium is indeed favorable. Simulations indicate that the total amount of adsorption is directly related to the operating temperature and pressure. The number of absorbed hydrogen molecules almost logarithmically increases as the pressure increases at a given temperature. The total excess adsorption of hydrogen on the (Sc/4ND)10-CNxNT arrays at 300 K is within the range set by the department of energy (DOE) with a value of at least 5.85 wt%.
A complementary role of intracortical inhibition in age-related tactile degradation and its remodelling in humans
Authors: Pleger Burkhard , Wilimzig Claudia , Nicolas Volkmar , Kalisch Tobias , Ragert Patrick , Tegenthoff Martin , Dinse Hubert R.
Published: June 2016

Many attempts are currently underway to restore age-related degraded perception, however, the link between restored perception and remodeled brain function remains elusive. To understand remodeling of age-related cortical reorganization we combined functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with assessments of tactile acuity, perceptual learning and computational modeling. We show that aging leads to tactile degradation parallel to enhanced activity in somatosensory cortex. Using a neural field model we reconciled the empirical age-effects by weakening of cortical lateral inhibition. Using perceptual learning, we were able to partially restore tactile acuity, which however was not accompanied by the expected attenuation of cortical activity, but by a further enhancement. The neural field model reproduced these learning effects solely through a weakening of the amplitude of inhibition. These findings suggest that the restoration of age-related degraded tactile acuity on the cortical level is not achieved by re-strengthening lateral inhibition but by further weakening intracortical inhibition.
Specific impacts of beech and Norway spruce on the structure and diversity of the rhizosphere and soil microbial communities
Authors: Uroz S. , Oger P. , Tisserand E. , Cébron A. , Turpault M.-P. , Buée M. , De Boer W. , Leveau J. H. J. , Frey-Klett P.
Published: June 2016

The impacts of plant species on the microbial communities and physico-chemical characteristics of soil are well documented for many herbs, grasses and legumes but much less so for tree species. Here, we investigate by rRNA and ITS amplicon sequencing the diversity of microorganisms from the three domains of life (Archaea, Bacteria and Eukaryota:Fungi) in soil samples taken from the forest experimental site of Breuil-Chenue (France). We discovered significant differences in the abundance, composition and structure of the microbial communities associated with two phylogenetically distant tree species of the same age, deciduous European beech (Fagus sylvatica) and coniferous Norway spruce (Picea abiesKarst), planted in the same soil. Our results suggest a significant effect of tree species on soil microbiota though in different ways for each of the three microbial groups. Fungal and archaeal community structures and compositions are mainly determined according to tree species, whereas bacterial communities differ to a great degree between rhizosphere and bulk soils, regardless of the tree species. These results were confirmed by quantitative PCR, which revealed significant enrichment of specific bacterial genera, such asBurkholderiaandCollimonas, known for their ability to weather minerals within the tree root vicinity.
Effects of short-term grazing exclusion on plant phenology and reproductive succession in a Tibetan alpine meadow
Authors: Zhu Juntao , Zhang Yangjian , Liu Yaojie
Published: June 2016

Grazing exclusion (GE) has been widely considered as an effective avenue for restoring degraded grasslands throughout the world. GE, via modifying abiotic and biotic environments, inevitably affects phenological development. A five-year manipulative experiment was conducted in a Tibetan alpine meadow to examine the effects of GE on phenological processes and reproductive success. The study indicated that GE strongly affected phenological development of alpine plant species. Specifically, the low-growing, shallow-rooted species (LSS), such as Kobresia pygmaea, are more sensitive to GE-caused changes on upper-soil moisture and light. GE advanced each phonological process of K. pygmaea, except in the case of the treatment of fencing for 5 years (F5), which postponed the reproductive stage and lowered the reproductive success of K. pygmaea. Increased soil moisture triggered by GE, especially in the upper soil, may stimulate growth of LSS. However, the thick litter layer under the F5 treatment can influence the photoperiod of LSS, resulting in suppression of its reproductive development. These findings indicate that plant traits associated with resource acquisition, such as rooting depth and plant height, mediate plant phenology and reproductive responses to grazing exclusion treatments.
Treatment by glyphosate-based herbicide alters life history parameters of the rose-grain aphid Metopolophium dirhodum
Authors: Saska Pavel , Skuhrovec Jiří , Lukáš Jan , Chi Hsin , Tuan Shu-Jen , Honěk Alois
Published: June 2016

Glyphosate is the number one herbicide in the world. We investigated the sub-lethal effects of this herbicide on the aphid Metopolophium dirhodum (Walker), using an age-stage, two-sex life table approach. Three concentrations of the herbicide (low - 33.5, medium - 66.9 and high - 133.8 mmol dm−3 of active ingredient) and distilled water as the control were used. The LC50 of the IPA salt of glyphosate on M. dirhodum was equivalent to 174.9 mmol dm−3 of the active ingredient (CI95: 153.0, 199.0). The population parameters were significantly negatively affected by herbicide application, and this negative effect was progressive with the increasing concentration of the herbicide. A difference of two orders of magnitude existed in the predicted population development of M. dirhodum between the high concentration of the herbicide and the control. This is the first study that comprehensively documents such a negative effect on the population of an herbivorous insect.
Acidic extracellular pH of tumors induces octamer-binding transcription factor 4 expression in murine fibroblasts in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Som Avik , Bloch Sharon , Ippolito Joseph E. , Achilefu Samuel
Published: June 2016

Octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT-4) is an important marker of cellular de-differentiation that can be induced by environmental stressors, such as acidity. Here we demonstrate that chronic acidic stress in solid tumors induced OCT-4 expression in fibroblasts and other stromal cells in four tumor models. The results have implications for how tumors utilize pH modulation to recruit associated stromal cells, induce partial reprogramming of tumor-associated stromal cells, and respond to therapy.
Increased Thermal Conductivity in Metal-Organic Heat Carrier Nanofluids
Authors: Nandasiri Manjula I. , Liu Jian , McGrail B. Peter , Jenks Jeromy , Schaef Herbert T. , Shutthanandan Vaithiyalingam , Nie Zimin , Martin Paul F. , Nune Satish K.
Published: June 2016

Metal-organic heat carriers (MOHCs) are recently developed nanofluids containing metal-organic framework (MOF) nanoparticles dispersed in various base fluids including refrigerants (R245Fa) and methanol. Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of MOHCs containing nanoMIL-101(Cr) and graphene oxide (GO) in an effort to improve the thermo-physical properties of various base fluids. MOHC/GO nanocomposites showed enhanced surface area, porosity and nitrogen adsorption compared with the intrinsic nanoMIL-101(Cr) and the properties depended on the amount of GO added. MIL-101(Cr)/GO in methanol exhibited a significant increase in the thermal conductivity (by approximately 50%) relative to that of the intrinsic nanoMIL-101(Cr) in methanol. The thermal conductivity of the base fluid (methanol) was increased by about 20%. The increase in the thermal conductivity of nanoMIL-101(Cr) MOHCs due to GO functionalization is explained using a classical Maxwell model.
Thermally insensitive determination of the linewidth broadening factor in nanostructured semiconductor lasers using optical injection locking
Authors: Wang Cheng , Schires Kevin , Osiński Marek , Poole Philip J. , Grillot Frédéric
Published: June 2016

In semiconductor lasers, current injection not only provides the optical gain, but also induces variation of the refractive index, as governed by the Kramers-Krönig relation. The linear coupling between the changes of the effective refractive index and the modal gain is described by the linewidth broadening factor, which is responsible for many static and dynamic features of semiconductor lasers. Intensive efforts have been made to characterize this factor in the past three decades. In this paper, we propose a simple, flexible technique for measuring the linewidth broadening factor of semiconductor lasers. It relies on the stable optical injection locking of semiconductor lasers and the linewidth broadening factor is extracted from the residual side-modes, which are supported by the amplified spontaneous emission. This new technique has great advantages of insensitivity to thermal effects, the bias current and the choice of injection-locked mode. In addition, it does not require the explicit knowledge of optical injection conditions, including the injection strength and the frequency detuning. The standard deviation of the measurements is less than 15%.