bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of CSF2A fusion gene and its effect on Epstein–Barr virus–positive tumor cells
Authors: Sun Yanqin , Long Jiali , Yin Yuting , Li Hongmei , Jiang Enping , Zeng Chao , Zhu Wei
Published: June 2018

We build the latent membrane protein gene latent membrane protein 2A (LMP2A) and the granulocyte‐macrophase colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) gene fusion gene (CSF2A) and discuss how the CSF2A fusion protein influenced the proliferation and apoptosis of Epstein–Barr virus–positive (EBV+) tumor cells. Reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) method was used to amplify the LMP2A gene and GM‐CSF gene fragments, respectively, according to the principle of overlap extension in the coding (Gly4Ser)3 polypeptide gene fragments of DNA restructured under the connection. The CSF2A gene could be connected with the pIRES2‐enhanced green fluorescent protein vector by recombinant DNA technology and identified by enzyme electrophoresis analysis and DNA sequencing. Then, the recombinant vector was transfected into dendritic cells (DCs); RT‐PCR and Western blot analysis were used for testing the CSF2A gene messenger RNA and protein expression. The impacts of CSF2A on the proliferation and apoptosis of EBV+ tumor cells were determined by 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and Hochest 33342 staining. We successfully obtained the recombinant vector named pIRES2‐CSF2A. The expression of CSF2A could be detected by transfecting pIRES2‐CSF2A into DCs. The DCs were cocultured with T lymphocytes and then acted on the EBV+ CNE2 nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. MTT assay showed that the inhibiting effect of CSF2A obviously increased and the time dependency (**P < 0.01, *P < 0.05) also existed. Hochest 33342 staining showed apoptosis morphological changes of cells in nucleus staining and generated the apoptotic body. Apoptosis cells of the pIRES2‐CSF2A group increased significantly at 48 hours. The results showed that the pIRES2‐CSF2A recombinant vector was effectively transfected into DCs and the fusion gene CSF2A could promote EBV+ CNE2 cell apoptosis, laying the foundation for the specificity of EBV+ tumor targeting immune gene therapy in the future.
PSO‐IZRP: New enhanced zone routing protocol based on PSO independent zone radius estimation
Authors: Harrag Nassir , Refoufi Allaoua , Harrag Abdelghani
Published: June 2018

In recent years, a variety of new routing protocols for MANETs have been developed. Zone routing protocol is one of them, which is a hybrid routing protocol that combines the best futures of proactive and reactive approaches. The proactive part of the protocol maintains routing information for a local neighborhood, known as routing zone, while the reactive part acquire routes to destinations beyond this routing zone. In this paper, we propose a new algorithm for zone radius determination based on particles swarm optimization. The use of PSO allows ZRP protocol to dynamically adjust itself to the environments conditions by sizing each node's routing zone. The proposed algorithm as well as the new ZRP protocol are implemented under NS‐2 simulator and tested using different scenario simulating protocol environment changes. Simulation results show the efficiency of the proposed algorithm to reduce the control traffic overhead and the average end‐2‐end delay and to increase the packet delivery ratio resulting to an improvement of the network quality of service. Besides the use of particle swarm optimization to tune the zone routing protocol radius, the contribution consists of enhancing the performance of the zone routing protocol to improve the network quality of service with low control traffic overhead, low end‐to‐end delay, and high packet delivery ratio.
A novel low leakage saddle junctionless FET with assistant gate
Authors: Jin Xiaoshi , Gao Yunxiang , Yang Guangrui , Xia Zhengliang , Liu Xi , Lee Jong‐Ho
Published: June 2018

In this paper, a novel low leakage saddle junctionless field effect transistor with assistant gate is proposed. Its electrical properties have been extensively investigated by studying the influence resulting from variation of design parameters, such as the thickness of assistant gate, oxide layer thickness between the main and assistant gate, extension height of S/D contact, and the voltage of assistant gate. Compared with conventional structure, the proposed saddle junctionless field effect transistor with assistant gate shows much better performance at off state. The leakage current is effectively restrained, and the Ion‐Ioff ratio is largely improved. Design parameter optimization has also been performed.
Integrated modeling to estimate population size and composition of mule deer
Authors: Furnas Brett J. , Landers Russ H. , Hill Scott , Itoga Stuart S. , Sacks Benjamin N.
Published: June 2018

Estimating population size, age composition, and sex ratio of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) is important to conservation and managed hunting of this species in the western United States. Increasingly, wildlife agencies are estimating abundance of deer using fecal DNA (fDNA), especially in forested habitats where aerial surveys are not feasible. These same data can be used to estimate overall sex ratio but require additional data on age structure to quantify adult‐ and fawn‐specific sex ratios, which are expected to differ substantially. We demonstrate an integrated modeling approach to estimating population sizes of adult females, adult males, and fawns from 3 sources of data: fDNA, camera stations, and global positioning system (GPS) telemetry. We conducted the study on an 11,500‐km2forested region in northern California, USA, corresponding to 3 hunt management zones. Within a Bayesian framework, we used spatial capture–recapture (SCR) modeling of fDNA samples and prior information on home range sizes from telemetry to estimate sex‐specific densities, and N‐mixture modeling of camera detections to separate adult and fawn densities. We estimated 29,317 adult females (90% CI = 24,550–34,592), 10,845 adult males (90% CI = 7,778–14,858), and 19,587 fawns (90% CI = 15,340–24,430) within the study area. The inclusion of telemetry increased precision of our results, and cameras provided comparable estimates of density when we calibrated them on the SCR results. Based on these results, we recommend a monitoring program of fDNA transects repeated once every 5 years, camera stations repeated at half of transects every year, and telemetry data from 1 deer for every 2 transects on average. We estimated an average annual cost of $1,316 (U.S.) per transect to sustain this endeavor. The integration of cameras with fDNA to combine age structure data with sex‐specific abundance data represents a novel and significant step forward in the capacity to estimate deer population parameters. © 2018 The Authors.Journal of Wildlife Managementpublished by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of The Wildlife Society.
Feasibility and Biocompatibility of 3D‐Printed Photopolymerized and Laser Sintered Polymers for Neuronal, Myogenic, and Hepatic Cell Types
Authors: Rimington Rowan P. , Capel Andrew J. , Player Darren J. , Bibb Richard J. , Christie Steven D. R. , Lewis Mark P.
Published: June 2018

The integration of additive manufacturing (AM) technology within biological systems holds significant potential, specifically when refining the methods utilized for the creation of in vitro models. Therefore, examination of cellular interaction with the physical/physicochemical properties of 3D‐printed polymers is critically important. In this work, skeletal muscle (C2C12), neuronal (SH‐SY5Y) and hepatic (HepG2) cell lines are utilized to ascertain critical evidence of cellular behavior in response to 3D‐printed candidate polymers: Clear‐FL (stereolithography, SL), PA‐12 (laser sintering, LS), and VeroClear (PolyJet). This research outlines initial critical evidence for a framework of polymer/AM process selection when 3D printing biologically receptive scaffolds, derived from industry standard, commercially available AM instrumentation. C2C12, SH‐SY5Y, and HepG2 cells favor LS polymer PA‐12 for applications in which cellular adherence is necessitated. However, cell type specific responses are evident when cultured in the chemical leachate of photopolymers (Clear‐FL and VeroClear). With the increasing prevalence of 3D‐printed biointerfaces, the development of rigorous cell type specific biocompatibility data is imperative. Supplementing the currently limited database of functional 3D‐printed biomaterials affords the opportunity for experiment‐specific AM process and polymer selection, dependent on biological application and intricacy of design features required.
Organocatalytic Approach to Functional Semifluorinated Polymers Driven by Visible Light
Authors: Xu Tianchi , Tu Kai , Cheng Jiannan , Ni Yuanyuan , Zhang Lifen , Cheng Zhenping , Zhu Xiulin
Published: June 2018

Through the construction of an organic photocatalysis system, photoredox catalyst (PC)/additive, where PC stands for photoredox catalyst, an organocatalyzed step transfer‐addition and radical‐termination (O‐START) polymerization irradiated by blue LED light at room temperature is realized. Different types of α,ω‐diiodoperfluoroalkane A and α,ω‐unconjugated diene B are copolymerized through O‐START efficiently, and generate various kinds of functional semifluorinated polymers, including polyolefins and polyesters. The process is affected by several factors; solvents, additives, and feed ratio of A to B. After optimization of all these components, the polymerization efficiency is greatly improved, generating polymers with both relatively high yield and molecular weight. Considering the mild reaction condition, easy operation process, and free‐of‐metal‐catalyst residues in the polymer product, the organocatalytic polymerization strategy provides a simple and efficient approach to functional semifluorinated polymer materials and hopefully opens up their application in high‐tech fields.
Genome‐wide screening of potential RNase Y‐processed mRNAs in the M49 serotype Streptococcus pyogenes NZ131
Authors: Chen Zhiyun , Raghavan Rahul , Qi Fengxia , Merritt Justin , Kreth Jens
Published: June 2018

RNase Y is a major endoribonuclease in Group A streptococcus (GAS) and other Gram‐positive bacteria. Our previous study showed that RNase Y was involved in mRNA degradation and processing in GAS. We hypothesized that mRNA processing regulated the expression of important GAS virulence factors via altering their mRNA stabilities and that RNase Y mediated at least some of the mRNA‐processing events. The aims of this study were to (1) identify mRNAs that were processed by RNase Y and (2) confirm the mRNA‐processing events. The transcriptomes of Streptococcus pyogenes NZ131 wild type and its RNase Y mutant (Δrny) were examined with RNA‐seq. The data were further analyzed to define GAS operons. The mRNA stabilities of the wild type and Δrny at subgene level were determined with tiling array analysis. Operons displaying segmental stability in the wild type but not in the Δrny were predicted to be RNase Y processed. Overall 865 operons were defined and their boundaries predicted. Further analysis narrowed down 15 mRNAs potentially processed by RNase Y. A selection of four candidates including folC1 (folylpolyglutamate synthetase), prtF (fibronectin‐binding protein), speG (streptococcal exotoxin G), ropB (transcriptional regulator of speB), and ypaA (riboflavin transporter) mRNAs was examined with Northern blot analysis. However, only folC1 was confirmed to be processed, but it is unlikely that RNase Y is responsible. We conclude that GAS use RNase Y to selectively process mRNA, but the overall impact is confined to selected virulence factors.
Mathematical analysis of a model for the transmission dynamics of Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) and HIV coinfection
Authors: Garba Salisu M. , Mumba Chibale K.
Published: June 2018

A deterministic model for the transmission dynamics of HIV and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) in a human population is designed and rigorously analysed. The model is shown to exhibit the phenomenon of backward bifurcation, where a stable disease‐free equilibrium coexists with a stable endemic equilibrium whenever the associated reproduction number is less than unity. This phenomenon can be removed by assuming that the coinfection of individuals with HIV and TV is negligible. Furthermore, in the absence of coinfection, the disease‐free equilibrium of the model is shown to be globally asymptotically stable whenever the associated reproduction number is less than unity. Numerical simulation of the model, using initial and demographic data, shows that increased incidence of TV in a population increases HIV incidence in the population. It is further shown that control strategies, such as the treatment, condom use, and counselling of individuals with TV symptoms, can lead to the effective control or elimination of the HIV in the population if their effectiveness level is high enough. The time to disease elimination is reduced if more than one strategy (hybrid strategy) is considered.
General decay for Kirchhoff type in viscoelasticity with not necessarily decreasing kernel
Authors: Boumaza Nouri , Boulaaras Salah
Published: June 2018

In this paper, a problem that arises in Kirchhoff type in viscoelasticity is considered. We obtain an asymptotic stability result of global solution, for certain class of relaxation functions not necessarily exponentially or polynomially decaying to zero.
A space‐time spectral collocation method for the 2‐dimensional nonlinear Riesz space fractional diffusion equations
Authors: Li Hui , Jiang Wei
Published: June 2018

The space‐time spectral collocation method was initially presented for the 1‐dimensional sine‐Gordon equation. In this article, we introduce a space‐time spectral collocation method for solving the 2‐dimensional nonlinear Riesz space fractional diffusion equations. The method is based on a Legendre‐Gauss‐Lobatto spectral collocation method for discretizing spatial and the spectral collocation method for the time nonlinear first‐order system of ordinary differential equation. Optimal priori error estimates in L2 norms for the semidiscrete formulation and the uniqueness of the approximate solution are derived. The method has spectral accuracy in both space and time, and the numerical results confirm the statement.
Skating through development
Authors: Ontiveros Alejandra E. , Blengini Cecilia S. , López‐Tello Jorge
Published: June 2018

Oviparity is an ancestral reproductive strategy in which females lay fertilized eggs to the environment. During development, the offspring rely solely on the resources provided by the yolk sac to favor growth and maturation. This type of nutrition is also known as “lecithotrophy.” The clear‐nosed skate (Raja eglanteria) is an Atlantic coast species that uses this reproductive pattern. Skates usually produce two eggs, which are fertilized in the oviduct by stored sperm and subsequently released. The egg, also referred to as Mermaid’s purse, has a horn at each of its four corners with a respiratory canal at the base. By midgestation, tail beating of the embryo brings water inside. The yolk sac diminishes in size as the developing embryo grows. At 12 weeks of development, the skate is ready to hatch and will be fully independent.
Novel key roles for structural maintenance of chromosome flexible domain containing 1 (Smchd1) during preimplantation mouse development
Authors: Midic Uros , Vincent Kailey A. , Wang Kai , Lokken Alyson , Severance Ashley L. , Ralston Amy , Knott Jason G. , Latham Keith E.
Published: June 2018

Structural maintenance of chromosome flexible domain containing 1 (Smchd1) is a chromatin regulatory gene for which mutations are associated with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy and arhinia. The contribution of oocyte‐ and zygote‐expressed SMCHD1 to early development was examined in mice (Mus musculus) using a small interfering RNA knockdown approach.Smchd1knockdown compromised long‐term embryo viability, with reduced embryo nuclear volumes at the morula stage, reduced blastocyst cell number, formation and hatching, and reduced viability to term. RNA sequencing analysis ofSmchd1knockdown morulae revealed aberrant increases in expression of a small number of trophectoderm (TE)‐related genes and reduced expression of cell proliferation genes, including S‐phase kinase‐associated protein 2 (Skp2).Smchd1expression was elevated in embryos deficient for Caudal‐type homeobox transcription factor 2 (Cdx2, a key regulator of TE specification), indicating thatSmchd1is normally repressed by CDX2. These results indicate thatSmchd1plays an important role in the preimplantation embryo, regulating early gene expression and contributing to long‐term embryo viability. These results extend the known functions of SMCHD1 to the preimplantation period and highlight important function for maternally expressedSmchd1messenger RNA and protein.
Numbers can tell a story
Authors: Talarico Donna
Published: June 2018

150 waterfalls near campus.
Add value to your graduate students' experience with every email, workshop
Authors: Sutton Halley
Published: June 2018

Add value to your graduate students' experience with every email, workshop

Provide professional development for post grad success

Challenges of branding for adult learners
Group regularization for zero‐inflated negative binomial regression models with an application to health care demand in Germany
Authors: Chatterjee Saptarshi , Chowdhury Shrabanti , Mallick Himel , Banerjee Prithish , Garai Broti
Published: June 2018

In many biomedical applications, covariates are naturally grouped, with variables in the same group being systematically related or statistically correlated. Under such settings, variable selection must be conducted at both group and individual variable levels. Motivated by the widespread availability of zero‐inflated count outcomes and grouped covariates in many practical applications, we consider group regularization for zero‐inflated negative binomial regression models. Using a least squares approximation of the mixture likelihood and a variety of group‐wise penalties on the coefficients, we propose a unified algorithm (Gooogle: Group Regularization for Zero‐inflated Count Regression Models) to efficiently compute the entire regularization path of the estimators. We investigate the finite sample performance of these methods through extensive simulation experiments and the analysis of a German health care demand dataset. Finally, we derive theoretical properties of these methods under reasonable assumptions, which further provides deeper insight into the asymptotic behavior of these approaches. The open source software implementation of this method is publicly available at: https://github.com/himelmallick/Gooogle.
Hazard ratio estimation and inference in clinical trials with many tied event times
Authors: Mehrotra Devan V. , Zhang Yiwei
Published: June 2018

The medical literature contains numerous examples of randomized clinical trials with time‐to‐event endpoints in which large numbers of events accrued over relatively short follow‐up periods, resulting in many tied event times. A generally common feature across such examples was that the logrank test was used for hypothesis testing and the Cox proportional hazards model was used for hazard ratio estimation. We caution that this common practice is particularly risky in the setting of many tied event times for two reasons. First, the estimator of the hazard ratio can be severely biased if the Breslow tie‐handling approximation for the Cox model (the default in SAS and Stata software) is used. Second, the 95% confidence interval for the hazard ratio can include one even when the corresponding logrank test p‐value is less than 0.05. To help establish a better practice, with applicability for both superiority and noninferiority trials, we use theory and simulations to contrast Wald and score tests based on well‐known tie‐handling approximations for the Cox model. Our recommendation is to report the Wald test p‐value and corresponding confidence interval based on the Efron approximation. The recommended test is essentially as powerful as the logrank test, the accompanying point and interval estimates of the hazard ratio have excellent statistical properties even in settings with many tied event times, inferential alignment between the p‐value and confidence interval is guaranteed, and implementation is straightforward using commonly used software.
The Adequate Amount of Acid‐Base Buffer for Electrochemical Investigation of Proton‐Coupled Electron Transfer Reactions
Authors: Zhang Lijuan , Li Xiao , Liu Lian , Li Yanfang , Wang Jianguo
Published: June 2018

The effective pH occurs near the electrode surface in dilute solutions as protons are released or absorbed during proton‐coupled electron transfer (PCET) reactions. We utilize cyclic voltammetry to study the electrochemical behavior of hydroquinone, p‐benzoquinone, ascorbic acid, and dopamine in phosphate buffer. The effective pH causes peak potential changes and new peak formation. However, the electrochemical behavior of hydroquinone is independent of the buffer when the HPO42−(proton acceptor) concentration is 4.05–6 times greater than that of hydroquinone. Similar results are obtained for quinone in phosphate buffer solution. Dopamine undergoes cyclization during electrochemical oxidation, which also releases protons. Therefore, a high amount of buffer is required. Moreover, the amount of acid‐base buffer strongly affects the electrochemical behaviors of quinone and hydroquinone in acetonitrile. Our results provide a fundamental guide for determining the adequate amount of buffer for the electrochemical investigation of PCET reactions.
Design of Efficient Noble Metal Free Copper‐Promoted Nickel‐Ceria‐Zirconia Nanocatalyst for Bio‐Fuel Upgrading
Authors: Singuru Ramana , Lee Jihyeon , Dhanalaxmi Karnekanti , Reddy Benjaram M. , An Kwangjin , Mondal John
Published: June 2018

A new series of noble metal free bimetallic Cu−Ni supported ceria‐zirconia catalysts (Cu−Ni/CZ) has been developed with various Cu/Ni ratios by a simple co‐precipitation/impregnation method. Aqueous‐phase hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of vanillin a typical compound of lignin‐derived bio‐oil, in promoting biomass refining was carried out to investigate catalytic performances under 25 bar of H2 pressure at 160oC. All the as‐synthesized catalysts were thoroughly characterised employing powder XRD, Raman spectroscopy, H2‐TPR, HR‐TEM, HAADF‐STEM, EDS Mapping, and XPS. It was found that 15 wt% Cu on Ni/CZ (Cu−Ni/CZ−B) nanocomposite enhanced activity significantly in comparison with other bimetallic or monometallic catalysts, exhibiting ∼98% of vanillin conversion and ∼94% of selectivity toward 2‐methoxy‐4‐methylphenol as a desired product. The Cu−Ni/CZ−B catalyst shows ∼4‐fold increase in activity compared with Cu−Ni/CeO2 and Cu−Ni/ZrO2, the mono oxide supported counterparts. The superior catalytic performance with improved stability were explained by synergistic effects at the interfaces of each species, in which electron interactions between Ni, Cu, and ceria‐zirconia support generated novel active sites. XRD and HR‐TEM revealed that Cu−Ni bimetallic phases were created on the ceria‐zirconia, which were responsible for enhancement of catalytic performance with no significant drop in catalytic activity with desired product selectivity for eleven successive catalytic cycles demonstrating the excellent stability and reproducibility of this catalyst system.
Synchrotron X‐Ray and Neutron Diffraction, Total Scattering, and Small‐Angle Scattering Techniques for Rechargeable Battery Research
Authors: Ren Yang , Zuo Xiaobing
Published: June 2018

Synchrotron X‐ray and neutron scientific facilities are the most advanced resources with a large variety of state‐of‐the‐art instrumentations and powerful tools for material research. X‐rays and neutrons interact with matter in different ways and offer complementary views of materials at various levels. Here, the techniques and applications of synchrotron X‐ray and neutron diffraction, total scattering, and small‐angle scattering for rechargeable battery research are discussed. They all belong to the elastic scattering category and provide structure information on different length scales. The diffraction method is generally used to determine the phase and precise atomistic information of crystalline materials, while the total scattering coupled with pair‐distribution function analysis can probe local atomic structure of materials, independent of whether they are well crystallized or in amorphous/liquid phases. The small‐angle scattering techniques provide material size and shape information on the nanometer scale. Advantages of synchrotron high‐energy X‐rays are also presented, and it is described to be particularly suited for pair‐distribution function studies. Attention is also paid to the technical perspectives and some experimental specifications for the best uses of these methods for battery material research.
Moderne Lecksucher mit Vakuumtechnik
Authors: Wetzig Daniel
Published: June 2018

Modern leak detectors in vacuum technology

In many areas of industrial manufacturing, quantitative leak tightness measurements are required in order to analyze product quality. This article examines three approaches to vacuum leak testing, which utilize different measuring principles and completely different working pressures. The processes are divided into “non‐gas selective”, “single gas selective” and “double gas selective”.

The pressure rise method does not work gas‐selectively. In so‐called foil test chambers the pressure rise measurement is used in optimized design and is particularly suitable for leak testing in the food industry.

The classic test gas vacuum leak detection is a gas‐selective method. The test gas is selectively detected and the chamber is pumped independently of the type of gas. Major innovations in current device solutions are the extension of the measuring range and improved convenience in use.

To achieve a detection limit of less than 10−12 mbar·l/s, a double gas selective operation is used, residual gases from the test chamber are selectively pumped, additionally, the test gas detection is selective.
Envisioning the future of polymer therapeutics for brain disorders
Authors: Rodriguez‐Otormin Fernanda , Duro‐Castano Aroa , Conejos‐Sánchez Inmaculada , Vicent María J.
Published: June 2018

The growing incidence of brain‐related pathologies and the problems that undermine the development of efficient and effective treatments have prompted both researchers and the pharmaceutical industry to search for novel therapeutic alternatives. Polymer therapeutics (PT) display properties well suited to the treatment of neuro‐related disorders, which help to overcome the many hidden obstacles on the journey to the central nervous system (CNS). The inherent features of PT, derived from drug(s) conjugation, in parallel with the progress in synthesis and analytical methods, the increasing knowledge in molecular basis of diseases, and collected clinical data through the last four decades, have driven the translation from “bench to bedside” for various biomedical applications. However, since the approval of Gliadel® wafers, little progress has been made in the CNS field, even though brain targeting represents an ever‐growing challenge. A thorough assessment of the steps required for successful brain delivery via different administration routes and the consideration of the disease‐specific hallmarks are essential to progress in the field. Within this review, we hope to summarize the latest developments, successes, and failures and discuss considerations on designs and strategies for PT in the treatment of CNS disorders.

This article is categorized under:

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Neurological Disease

Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease
Asymptotic periodicity in outer billiards with contraction
Authors: GAIVÃO JOSÉ PEDRO
Published: June 2018

We show that for almost every $(P,\unicode[STIX]{x1D706})$, where $P$ is a convex polygon and $\unicode[STIX]{x1D706}\in (0,1)$, the corresponding outer billiard about $P$ with contraction $\unicode[STIX]{x1D706}$ is asymptotically periodic, i.e., has a finite number of periodic orbits and every orbit is attracted to one of them.
A Function-Sensitive Approach to the Political Legitimacy of Global Governance
Authors: Erman Eva
Published: June 2018

This article draws attention to an aspect that thus far has escaped systematic scrutiny in the theoretical literature on the political legitimacy of global governance – functions. It does so by exploring the idea that the content and justification of a principle of political legitimacy for global governance may depend on the function of the entity it is supposed to regulate (for example, law making, policy making, implementation, monitoring). Two arguments are made: one meta-theoretical and one substantive. The meta-theoretical argument demonstrates the fruitfulness of adopting a ‘function-sensitive approach’ to political legitimacy to address this aspect. The substantive argument develops the contours of an account of political legitimacy by applying this approach. This account consists of five regulative principles, which are sensitive to, and vary in accordance with, different functions in global politics.
Ethnoscapes of Exile: Political Prisoners from Indochina in a Colonial Asian World
Authors: Paterson Lorraine M.
Published: June 2018

During the French colonization of Indochina (1863–1954), approximately 8,000 prisoners – many of them convicted of political crimes – were exiled to twelve different geographical locations throughout the French empire. Many of these prisoners came from a Chinese background or a culturally Chinese world, and the sites to which they were exiled (even the penal colonies themselves) contained diasporic Chinese communities. Knowing Chinese might be their greatest asset, or being able to “pass” as Chinese the most valuable tool to facilitate escape. This article explores a group of political prisoners sent from French Indochina to French Guiana in 1913 and their subsequent escape, with the aid of Chinese residents. If exile is, in one sense, the ultimate exercise of colonial power – capable of moving bodies to distant locales – examining these lives through a Vietnamese lens reveals a very different story than the colonial archival record reflects.
The Transformation of Hokkaido from Penal Colony to Homeland Territory
Authors: Sakata Minako
Published: June 2018

This article focuses on penal transportation to Hokkaido and considers the role of convict transportation in nation-state building and empire building in Japan. In the course of its discussion, the fluidity of the status of the new Japanese territory of Hokkaido will be examined along with continuities of transportation and incarceration. Although Hokkaido was officially incorporated into Japan only in 1869, many Japanese politicians and intellectuals had believed ideologically that it had been a Japanese territory since the early modern period. Depending on the domestic and diplomatic matters confronting them, the Japanese modified the status of Hokkaido and their policy towards it. For example, to secure their borders with Russia, the Japanese introduced penal transportation on the French model in 1881, but the Japanese Ministry of Justice later shifted their legal system to the German model and articles concerning transportation were deleted from the penal code. Nonetheless, the Japanese government continued to send long-term prisoners to Hokkaido, which was reframed as incarceration in a mainland prison.
Exile as Imperial Practice: Western Siberia and the Russian Empire, 1879–1900
Authors: Popova Zhanna
Published: June 2018

More than 800,000 people were exiled to Siberia during the nineteenth century. Exile was a complex administrative arrangement that involved differentiated flows of exiles and, in the view of the central authorities, contributed to the colonization of Siberia. This article adopts the “perspective from the colonies” and analyses the local dimension of exile to Siberia. First, it underscores the conflicted nature of the practice by highlighting the agency of the local administrators and the multitude of tensions and negotiations that the maintenance of exile involved. Secondly, by focusing on the example of the penal site of Tobolsk, where exile and imprisonment overlapped, I will elucidate the uneasy relationship between those two penal practices during Russian prison reform. In doing so, I will re-evaluate the position of exile in relation to both penal and governance practice in Imperial Russia.
Magnetic island suppression by electron cyclotron current drive as converse of a forced reconnection problem
Authors: Grasso D. , Borgogno D. , Comisso L. , Lazzaro E.
Published: June 2018

This paper addresses one aspect of the problem of the suppression of tearing mode magnetic islands by electron cyclotron current drive (ECCD) injection, formulating the problem as the converse of a forced reconnection problem. New physical conditions are discussed which should be considered in the technical approach towards a robust control strategy. Limits on the ECCD deposition are determined to avoid driving the system into regimes where secondary instabilities develop. Numerical simulations confirming the theory are also presented.
Utility of state-level influenza disease burden and severity estimates to investigate an apparent increase in reported severe cases of influenza A(H1N1) pdm09 – Arizona, 2015–2016
Authors: Russell K. , Herrick K. , Venkat H. , Brady S. , Komatsu K. , Goodin K. , Berisha V. , Sunenshine R. , Perez-Velez C. , Elliott S. , Olsen S. J. , Reed C.
Published: June 2018

The Arizona Department of Health Services identified unusually high levels of influenza activity and severe complications during the 2015–2016 influenza season leading to concerns about potential increased disease severity compared with prior seasons. We estimated state-level burden and severity to compare across three seasons using multiple data sources for community-level illness, hospitalisation and death. Severity ratios were calculated as the number of hospitalisations or deaths per community case. Community influenza-like illness rates, hospitalisation rates and mortality rates in 2015–2016 were higher than the previous two seasons. However, ratios of severe disease to community illness were similar. Arizona experienced overall increased disease burden in 2015–2016, but not increased severity compared with prior seasons. Timely estimates of state-specific burden and severity are potentially feasible and may provide important information during seemingly unusual influenza seasons or pandemic situations.
Does Mid-Treatment Insomnia Severity Mediate between Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia and Post-Treatment Depression? An Investigation in a Sample with Comorbid Insomnia and Depressive Symptomatology
Authors: Norell-Clarke Annika , Tillfors Maria , Jansson-Fröjmark Markus , Holländare Fredrik , Engström Ingemar
Published: June 2018

Background: Recent treatment studies with cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) have demonstrated effects on both sleep problems and depression. Two previous studies have indicated that the beneficial effect from CBT-I on depression may come through improved sleep, although insomnia severity during treatment had not previously been investigated as a mediator. Aims: Our aim was to investigate if insomnia severity during treatment mediated between CBT-I and depression severity after treatment, in a sample with co-morbid insomnia and depressive symptomology. We also examined whether depressive severity during treatment mediated between CBT-I and insomnia after treatment. Method: The participants were recruited from advertisements and fulfilled criteria for insomnia diagnosis, and had depressive symptomatology (Beck Depression Inventory-second edition: BDI-II > 13). Two-thirds of the participants were diagnosed with major depressive disorder. The participants received four biweekly group sessions of CBT-I or relaxation training (active control). Insomnia severity (Insomnia Severity Index) and depressive severity (BDI-II) were measured at baseline, mid-treatment, post-treatment and 6-month follow-up. The mid-treatment measures were used as mediators. Results: Mediational analyses demonstrated a significant reciprocal relationship between insomnia severity and depressive severity throughout CBT-I, although mid-treatment insomnia had a stronger effect on depression than mid-treatment depression had on insomnia. The results were similar for both post-treatment and follow-up. Discussion: Some improvement in depressive severity after CBT-I is explained by improved sleep. The findings emphasize the importance of making comorbid insomnia a treatment focus in its own right.
Ventilation of Oxygen to Oxygen Minimum Zone Due to Anticyclonic Eddies in the Bay of Bengal
Authors: Sarma V. V. S. S. , Udaya Bhaskar T. V. S.
Published: June 2018

Intense oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) occurs in the middepth of the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP), Arabian Sea (AS), and Bay of Bengal (BoB). However, the occurrence of anammox/denitrification was reported only in the ETP and AS and its absence in the BoB is attributed to presence of traces of dissolved oxygen (DO). Anticyclonic eddies (ACEs) supply high‐nutrient, organic‐rich, and oxygen‐poor waters from the coastal upwelling regions leading to strengthening of OMZ in the offshore of AS and ETP. In the absence of western boundary upwelling, we hypothesize that the ACEs supply DO‐rich water leading to weakening of OMZ in the BoB. Six ACEs were sampled by bio‐argo floats and measured in situ hydrography and DO. All sampled eddies were formed in the eastern BoB, close to Andaman Sea, and moved toward west. Warm and DO‐rich waters were observed in the core of OMZ (150–300 m), influenced by ACEs, by 0.5–1.46°C and 3.2–6.5 μM, respectively, than no eddy region in the BoB. Based on the mean lifetime of ACE, the rate of ventilation in the 100–300 m was estimated to be 0.07 ± 0.02 μmol/L/day, which is 3 to 4 times higher than bacterial respiration rates (0.02 μmol/L/day). Concerns of OMZ intensification leading to denitrification/anammox conditions in the BoB have been expressed, but with several ACEs forming in time and space in the BoB the denitrification occurrence is unlikely.
Trajectories and changes in individual items of positive and negative syndrome scale among schizophrenia patients prior to impending relapse
Authors: Wang Dai , Gopal Srihari , Baker Susan , Narayan Vaibhav A.
Published: June 2018

Effective early detection of impending relapse may offer opportunities for early interventions to prevent full relapse in schizophrenia patients. Previously reported early warning signs were not consistently validated by prospective studies. It remains unclear which symptoms are most predictive of relapse. To prioritize the symptoms to be captured by periodic self-report in technology-enabled remote assessment solutions for monitoring symptoms and detecting relapse early, we analyzed data from three relapse-prevention studies to identify individual items of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) that changed the most prior to relapse and to understand exactly when these symptoms manifested. Relapse was defined by a composite endpoint: hospitalization, suicidal/homicidal ideation, violent behavior, a 25% increase in the PANSS total score, or a significant increase in at least one of several pre-specified PANSS items. Longitudinal mixed effect models were applied to model the trajectories of individual PANSS items before relapse. Among 267 relapsed patients, the PANSS items that increased the most at relapse from randomization did not differ much by different relapse reasons or medications. A subset of seven PANSS items, including delusions, suspiciousness, hallucinations, anxiety, excitement, tension, and conceptual disorganization, had on average > 1-point of increase at relapse. The trajectories of these items suggested these items started to increase 7–10 days before relapse and reached on average 1-point of increase 0.3 ~ 1.2 days before relapse. Our results indicated that a subset of PANSS items could be leveraged to develop remote assessment solutions for monitoring symptoms and detecting relapse early in schizophrenia patients.
Close inbreeding and low genetic diversity in Inner Asian human populations despite geographical exogamy
Authors: Marchi Nina , Mennecier Philippe , Georges Myriam , Lafosse Sophie , Hegay Tatyana , Dorzhu Choduraa , Chichlo Boris , Ségurel Laure , Heyer Evelyne
Published: June 2018

When closely related individuals mate, they produce inbred offspring, which often have lower fitness than outbred ones. Geographical exogamy, by favouring matings between distant individuals, is thought to be an inbreeding avoidance mechanism; however, no data has clearly tested this prediction. Here, we took advantage of the diversity of matrimonial systems in humans to explore the impact of geographical exogamy on genetic diversity and inbreeding. We collected ethno-demographic data for 1,344 individuals in 16 populations from two Inner Asian cultural groups with contrasting dispersal behaviours (Turko-Mongols and Indo-Iranians) and genotyped genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms in 503 individuals. We estimated the population exogamy rate and confirmed the expected dispersal differences: Turko-Mongols are geographically more exogamous than Indo-Iranians. Unexpectedly, across populations, exogamy patterns correlated neither with the proportion of inbred individuals nor with their genetic diversity. Even more surprisingly, among Turko-Mongols, descendants from exogamous couples were significantly more inbred than descendants from endogamous couples, except for large distances (>40 km). Overall, 37% of the descendants from exogamous couples were closely inbred. This suggests that in Inner Asia, geographical exogamy is neither efficient in increasing genetic diversity nor in avoiding inbreeding, which might be due to kinship endogamy despite the occurrence of dispersal.
Optical Chirality of Time-Harmonic Wavefields for Classification of Scatterers
Authors: Gutsche Philipp , Nieto-Vesperinas Manuel
Published: June 2018

We derive expressions for the scattering, extinction and conversion of the chirality of monochromatic light scattered by bodies which are characterized by aT-matrix. In analogy to the conditions obtained from the conservation of energy, these quantities enable the classification of arbitrary scattering objects due to their full, i.e. either chiral or achiral, electromagnetic response. To this end, we put forward and determine the concepts of duality and breaking of duality symmetry, anti-duality, helicity variation, helicity annhiliation and the breaking of helicity annihilation. Different classes, such as chiral and dual scatterers, are illustrated in this analysis with model examples of spherical and non-spherical shape. As for spheres, these concepts are analysed by considering non-Rayleigh dipolar dielectric particles of high refractive index, which, having a strong magnetic response to the incident wavefield, offer an excellent laboratory to test and interpret such changes in the chirality of the illumination. In addition, comparisons with existing experimental data are made.
Distinct Retinal Capillary Plexuses in Normal Eyes as Observed in Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Axial Profile Analysis
Authors: Hirano Takao , Chanwimol Karntida , Weichsel Julian , Tepelus Tudor , Sadda Srinivas
Published: June 2018

Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) allows the retinal microvasculature to be visualized at various retinal depths. Previous studies introduced OCTA axial profile analysis and showed regional variations in the number and location of axially distinct vascular retinal plexuses. OCTA acquisition and processing approaches, however, vary in terms of their resulting transverse and axial resolutions, and especially the latter could potentially influence the profile analysis results. Our study imaged normal eyes using the Spectralis OCT2 with a full-spectrum, probabilistic OCTA algorithm, that, in marked contrast to split-spectrum approaches, preserves the original high OCT axial resolution also within the resulting OCTA signal. En face OCTA images are generally created by averaging flow signals over a finite axial depth window. However, we assessed regional OCTA signal profiles at each depth position at full axial resolution. All regions had two sharp vessel density peaks near the inner and outer boundaries of the inner nuclear layer, indicating separate intermediate and deep capillary plexuses. The superficial vascular plexus (SVP) separated into two distinct peaks within the ganglion cell layer in the parafoveal zone. The nasal, superior, and inferior perifovea had a deeper SVP peak that was shifted anteriorly compared to the parafoveal zone. Axial vascular density analysis with high-resolution, full spectrum OCTA thus allows healthy retinal vasculature to be precisely reconstructed and may be useful for clinically assessing retinal pathology.
Host genotype-specific microbiota do not influence the susceptibility of D. magna to a bacterial pathogen
Authors: Sison-Mangus Marilou P. , Metzger César M. J. A. , Ebert Dieter
Published: June 2018

Host-associated microbiota have been claimed to play a role in hosts’ responses to parasitic infections, often protecting the hosts from infection. We tested for such a role in the crustacean Daphnia and the parasitic bacterium Pasteuria ramosa, a widely used model system for host-parasite interactions. We first determined the infection phenotype (i.e., resistotype) of eight clonal D. magna genotypes against four strains of P. ramosa by attachment test, followed by 16 S rDNA amplicon sequencing to determine if their genotype or their parasite resistotype influences the composition of their microbiome. We then reciprocally transplanted the microbiota of two host genotypes with opposite resistotypes to four P. ramosa isolates, followed by a reassessment of their resistotype after transplantation. We found significant differences in microbiome composition and structure between Daphnia genotypes and between Daphnia resistotypes to specific P. ramosa strains. Reciprocal microbiota exchange or making the Daphnia hosts bacteria-free, however, did not influence the resistotypes of the hosts. Thus, in contrary to what has been observed in some taxa, our results suggest that D. magna susceptibility to P. ramosa is strongly dictated by the genetic differences of the hosts and is still dependent on Daphnia’s first line of immune defense against the esophageal attachment of P. ramosa, which appears to be uninfluenced by the host’s microbiota.