bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sodium recognition by the Na
+
/Ca
2+
exchanger in the outward-facing conformation
Authors: Marinelli Fabrizio , Almagor Lior , Hiller Reuben , Giladi Moshe , Khananshvili Daniel , Faraldo-Gómez José D.
Published: December 2014

Significance

Na
+
/Ca
2+
exchangers (NCXs) have a key role in the homeostasis of cellular Ca
2+
and consequently are implicated in diverse human-health disorders, including neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. A detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms of these membrane proteins is therefore of interest from fundamental and biomedical standpoints. Here, we establish the structural mechanism of Na
+
recognition in a prokaryotic NCX homolog, using atomistic molecular-dynamics simulations based on recently reported crystallographic data, as well as experimental transport assays of wild-type and mutagenized exchangers. The results have general implications pertaining to the ion exchange stoichiometry and electrogenicity of the Na
+
/Ca
2+
transport cycle across the NCX family, and provide the basis for future investigations of the conformational mechanism of these important transporters.
Molecular basis of a shattering resistance boosting global dissemination of soybean
Authors: Funatsuki Hideyuki , Suzuki Masaya , Hirose Aya , Inaba Hiroki , Yamada Tetsuya , Hajika Makita , Komatsu Kunihiko , Katayama Takeshi , Sayama Takashi , Ishimoto Masao , Fujino Kaien
Published: December 2014

Significance

Pod dehiscence is a critical step in the seed dispersal (shattering) of legume and crucifer crops and can cause significant yield losses. Upon drying, pod walls are dehisced by two factors: the reduction of pod-wall binding strength and the generation of dehiscing forces. Although the previously reported shattering-resistant mutants maintained binding strength, here, we show a gene regulating the dehiscing force. The gene,Pdh1, encodes a dirigent family protein, known to be involved in lignification, which increases dehiscing forces by promoting torsion of dried pod walls. The loss-of-functionpdh1gene has been widely used as a shattering-resistance gene in soybean breeding. This knowledge could be useful in improving other legume and crucifer crops, as well as soybean breeding.
Microtubule nucleation remote from centrosomes may explain how asters span large cells
Authors: Ishihara Keisuke , Nguyen Phuong A. , Groen Aaron C. , Field Christine M. , Mitchison Timothy J.
Published: December 2014

Significance

How the cell cytoplasm is spatially organized is of fundamental interest. In ordinary animal cells the cytoplasm is organized by a radial array of microtubules, called an aster. Aster microtubules are nucleated by the centrosome and elongate to the periphery. We investigated how asters grow in an extremely large cell, the frog egg, using microscopy of an extract system. Asters were initially nucleated at centrosomes, but then additional microtubules nucleated far from the centrosome, apparently stimulated by preexisting microtubules. The resulting growth process allows asters to scale to the size of huge egg cells while maintaining a high density of microtubules at the periphery. Microtubule-stimulated microtubule nucleation might be a general principle for organizing large cells.
The political economy of democratic transition in the Arab situation
Authors: Corm Georges
Published: December 2014

The present article is a translation of the text of a conference given in Arabic by the author in Tunis at the Presidential Palace at the invitation of President Al Mazoukiin in May 2014. Its main argument is that the poor quality of economic growth in Arabic economies has produced high unemployment rates, inexistent productivity and the total lack of appropriation of science and technology, in addition to a high rate of concentration of wealth in the hands of a few, including ruling elites. This lack of virtuous growth is due to the development of neo-patrimonialism within the context of rent economies that cannot produce real democratic institutions. The author first makes an attempt through several indicators to identify and describe the main symptoms of this bad growth; and then he describes how to move from a rent-based and unproductive economy to a virtuous and inclusive growth model whereby human resources are all mobilized in a national effort to appropriate an adequate cluster of technologies.
Global policy convergence through “distributed governance”? The emergence of “national” education standards in the US and Germany
Authors: Hartong Sigrid
Published: December 2014

This article focuses on the discussion of global policy convergence through the implementation of “distributed governance” within the education policy sector. Here, the focus is directed at the emergence of national education standards (NES) as a simultaneous instrument of fair school control and performance increase. Both the US and Germany show a high traditional resistance to nationally centralised educational control, but experienced a massive transformation in this direction by the recent implementation of a national core curriculum initiative (National Education Standardsin Germany andCommon Core State Standardsin the US). This article will rely on global governance and distributed governance research, focusing on the concept of “heterarchies”, to analyse the interplay of global and national contexts in the case of the rise of NES in the US and Germany, ultimately showing the concepts' contributions (and limits) to explain policy convergence.
CDK5 is a major regulator of the tumor suppressor DLC1
Authors: Tripathi Brajendra K. , Qian Xiaolan , Mertins Philipp , Wang Dunrui , Papageorge Alex G. , Carr Steven A. , Lowy Douglas R.
Published: December 2014

DLC1 is a tumor suppressor protein whose full activity depends on its presence at focal adhesions, its Rho–GTPase activating protein (Rho-GAP) function, and its ability to bind several ligands, including tensin and talin. However, the mechanisms that regulate and coordinate these activities remain poorly understood. Here we identify CDK5, a predominantly cytoplasmic serine/threonine kinase, as an important regulator of DLC1 functions. The CDK5 kinase phosphorylates four serines in DLC1 located N-terminal to the Rho-GAP domain. When not phosphorylated, this N-terminal region functions as an autoinhibitory domain that places DLC1 in a closed, inactive conformation by efficiently binding to the Rho-GAP domain. CDK5 phosphorylation reduces this binding and orchestrates the coordinate activation DLC1, including its localization to focal adhesions, its Rho-GAP activity, and its ability to bind tensin and talin. In cancer, these anti-oncogenic effects of CDK5 can provide selective pressure for the down-regulation of DLC1, which occurs frequently in tumors, and can contribute to the pro-oncogenic activity of CDK5 in lung adenocarcinoma.
HIGH-RESOLUTION H-BAND SPECTROSCOPY OF Be STARS WITH SDSS-III/APOGEE.
I. NEW Be STARS, LINE IDENTIFICATIONS, AND LINE PROFILES
Authors: Chojnowski S. Drew , Whelan David G. , Wisniewski John P. , Majewski Steven R. , Hall Matthew , Shetrone Matthew , Beaton Rachael , Burton Adam , Damke Guillermo , Eikenberry Steve , Hasselquist Sten , Holtzman Jon A. , Mészáros Szabolcs , Nidever David , Schneider Donald P. , Wilson John , Zasowski Gail , Bizyaev Dmitry , Brewington Howard , Brinkmann J. , Ebelke Garrett , Frinchaboy Peter M. , Kinemuchi Karen , Malanushenko Elena , Malanushenko Viktor , Marchante Moses , Oravetz Daniel , Pan Kaike , Simmons Audrey
Published: December 2014

The Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) has amassed
the largest ever collection of multi-epoch, high-resolution
(R∼22,500), H-band spectra for B-type
emission line (Be) stars. These stars were targeted by APOGEE as telluric
standard stars and subsequently identified via visual inspection as Be stars
based on H i Brackett series emission or shell absorption in addition
to otherwise smooth continua and occasionally non-hydrogen emission features.
The 128/238 APOGEE Be stars for which emission had never previously been
reported serve to increase the total number of known Be stars by ∼6%.
Because the H band is relatively unexplored compared to other
wavelength regimes, we focus here on identification of the
H-band lines and analysis of the emission peak velocity
separations (

) and emission peak intensity ratios (V/R) of the usually
double-peaked H i and non-hydrogen emission lines. H i Br11
emission is found to preferentially form in the circumstellar disks at an
average distance of ∼2.2 stellar radii. Increasing

toward the weaker Br12–Br20 lines suggests these lines
are formed interior to Br11. By contrast, the observed IR Fe ii
emission lines present evidence of having significantly larger formation radii;
distinctive phase lags between IR Fe ii and H i Brackett
emission lines further supports that these species arise from different radii in
Be disks. Several emission lines have been identified for the first time
including C i 16895, a prominent feature in the spectra for almost a
fifth of the sample and, as inferred from relatively large

compared to the Br11–Br20, a tracer of the inner regions
of Be disks. Emission lines at 15760 Å and 16781 Å remain
unidentified, but usually appear along with and always have similar line profile
morphology to Fe ii 16878. Unlike the typical metallic lines observed
for Be stars in the optical, the H-band metallic lines, such as
Fe ii 16878, never exhibit any evidence of shell absorption, even when
the H i lines are clearly shell-dominated. The first known example of a
quasi-triple-peaked Br11 line profile is reported for HD 253659, one of several
stars exhibiting intra- and/or extra-species V/R and radial velocity variation
within individual spectra. Br11 profiles are presented for all discussed stars,
as are full APOGEE spectra for a portion of the sample.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE FLUCTUATIONS IN THE BRIGHTNESS OF SN 2009IP DURING ITS LATE 2012 ERUPTION
Authors: Martin J. C. , Hambsch F.-J. , Margutti R. , Tan T. G. , Curtis I. , Soderberg A.
Published: December 2014

The supernova (SN) impostor SN 2009ip has re-brightened several times since its initial discovery in 2009 August. During its last outburst in late 2012 September, it reached a peak brightness of m
v
∼13.5 (M
v
brighter than −18), causing some to speculate that it had undergone a terminal core-collapse SN. Relatively high-cadence multi-wavelength photometry of the post-peak decline revealed bumps in brightness infrequently observed in other SNe IIn. These bumps occurred synchronously in all ultraviolet (UV) and optical bands with amplitudes of 0.1–0.4 mag at intervals of 10–30 days. Episodic continuum brightening and dimming in the UV and optical with these characteristics is not easily explained within the context of models that have been proposed for the late September 2012 outburst of SN 2009ip. We also present evidence that the post-peak fluctuations in brightness occur at regular intervals and raise more questions about their origin.
Some new results on differential inclusions for differential forms
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Saugata , Dacorogna Bernard , Kneuss Olivier
Published: December 2014

In this article we study some necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of solutions in

W

0

1
,
∞

(
Ω
;

Λ

k

)

W_{0}^{1,\infty }(\Omega ;\Lambda ^{k})

of the differential inclusion
\[

d
ω
∈
E

a.e. in 
Ω

d\omega \in E\quad \text {a.e. in }\Omega

\]
where

E
⊂

Λ

k
+
1

E\subset \Lambda ^{k+1}

is a prescribed set.
Generalised Cartan invariants of symmetric groups
Authors: Evseev Anton
Published: December 2014

Külshammer, Olsson, and Robinson developed anℓ\ell-analogue of modular representation theory of symmetric groups whereℓ\ellis not necessarily a prime. They gave a conjectural combinatorial description for invariant factors of the Cartan matrix in this context. We confirm their conjecture by proving a more precise blockwise version of the conjecture due to Bessenrodt and Hill.
Scattering for the Klein-Gordon equation with quadratic and variable coefficient cubic nonlinearities
Authors: Lindblad Hans , Soffer Avy
Published: December 2014

We study the 1D Klein-Gordon equation with variable coefficient cubic nonlinearity. This problem exhibits a striking resonant interaction between the spatial frequencies of the nonlinear coefficients and the temporal oscillations of the solutions. In the case where the worst of this resonant behavior is absent, we prove

L
∞

L^\infty

scattering as well as a certain kind of strong smoothness for the solution at time-like infinity with the help of several new normal-form transformations. Some explicit examples are also given which suggest qualitatively different behavior in the case where the strongest cubic resonances are present.
Elevated Diastolic But Not Systolic Blood Pressure Increases Mortality Risk in Hypertensive But Not Normotensive Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Tziomalos Konstantinos , Giampatzis Vasilios , Bouziana Stella D. , Spanou Marianna , Papadopoulou Maria , Kostaki Stavroula , Dourliou Vasiliki , Papagianni Marianthi , Savopoulos Christos , Hatzitolios Apostolos I.
Published: December 2014

BACKGROUND

The relationship between blood pressure (BP) at admission for acute ischemic stroke and outcome is controversial. We aimed to assess whether only systolic BP (SBP), only diastolic BP (DBP), both or neither predict outcome and whether these associations differ between patients with and without a history of hypertension.

METHODS

We prospectively studied all patients who were admitted with acute ischemic stroke (n = 415; 39.5% males, age 78.8±6.6 years). The severity of stroke was assessed at admission with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). The outcome was evaluated with dependency at discharge (modified Rankin scale between 2 and 5) and in-hospital mortality.

RESULTS

In the total study population, independent predictors of dependency at discharge were age, history of prior ischemic stroke, and NIHSS score at admission. Independent predictors of in-hospital mortality were DBP at admission and NIHSS score at admission. In patients with a history of hypertension (n = 343), independent predictors of dependency at discharge were age and NIHSS score at admission whereas independent predictors of in-hospital mortality were DBP at admission and NIHSS score at admission. In patients without a history of hypertension (n = 72), the only independent predictor of dependency at discharge and in-hospital mortality was the NIHSS score at admission.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher DBP at admission predict in-hospital mortality in patients with acute ischemic stroke whereas SBP in the acute phase is not associated with short-term outcome. The relationship between DBP at admission and outcome appears to be more prominent in hypertensive patients.
Economic incentives to target species and fish size: prices and fine-scale product attributes in Norwegian fisheries
Authors: Asche Frank , Chen Yanyou , Smith Martin D.
Published: December 2014

Improved fisheries management provides fishers with more opportunities to maximize harvest value by accounting for valuable attributes of the harvest such as species, harvest timing, fish size, product form, and landing location. Harvest values can also vary by vessel and gear type. Moreover, the extent of targeting can influence the ecosystem in which the fishers operate and provide important management challenges. We utilize a unique dataset containing daily vessel-level fish landings in one region of Norway in 2010 to investigate the value of an array of attributes, including species, product form, product condition, timing, fish size, vessel type, gear type, and landing location for cod and other whitefish species, as well as king crab. We also investigate to what extent landed value differs across different communities, firms, and plants. The results indicate substantial variation for all attributes, highlighting opportunities for fishers as well as potential management challenges. For whitefish, the species landed accounts for three-quarters of the variation in prices. For cod in particular, the fish size accounts for nearly all variation in prices. In these fisheries, market conditions justify management focus on the biological composition of the catch.
Deriving optimal fishing effort for managing Australia's Moreton Bay multispecies trawl fishery with aggregated effort data
Authors: Wang Na , Wang You-Gan , Courtney Anthony J. , O'Neill Michael F.
Published: December 2014

Deriving an estimate of optimal fishing effort or even an approximate estimate is very valuable for managing fisheries with multiple target species. The most challenging task associated with this is allocating effort to individual species when only the total effort is recorded. Spatial information on the distribution of each species within a fishery can be used to justify the allocations, but often such information is not available. To determine the long-term overall effort required to achieve maximum sustainable yield (MSY) and maximum economic yield (MEY), we consider three methods for allocating effort: (i) optimal allocation, which optimally allocates effort among target species; (ii) fixed proportions, which chooses proportions based on past catch data; and (iii) economic allocation, which splits effort based on the expected catch value of each species. Determining the overall fishing effort required to achieve these management objectives is a maximizing problem subject to constraints due to economic and social considerations. We illustrated the approaches using a case study of the Moreton Bay Prawn Trawl Fishery in Queensland (Australia). The results were consistent across the three methods. Importantly, our analysis demonstrated the optimal total effort was very sensitive to daily fishing costs—the effort ranged from 9500–11 500 to 6000–7000, 4000 and 2500 boat-days, using daily cost estimates of $0, $500, $750, and $950, respectively. The zero daily cost corresponds to the MSY, while a daily cost of $750 most closely represents the actual present fishing cost. Given the recent debate on which costs should be factored into the analyses for deriving MEY, our findings highlight the importance of including an appropriate cost function for practical management advice. The approaches developed here could be applied to other multispecies fisheries where only aggregated fishing effort data are recorded, as the literature on this type of modelling is sparse.
Pathogenicity of pan-drug-resistant Serratia marcescens harbouring blaNDM-1
Authors: Gruber Teresa M. , Göttig Stephan , Mark Laura , Christ Sara , Kempf Volkhard A. J. , Wichelhaus Thomas A. , Hamprecht Axel
Published: December 2014

Objectives

To characterize a pan-drug-resistant Serratia marcescens clinical isolate carrying the New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM)-1.

Methods

The presence of β-lactamase genes was examined by PCR and sequencing. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined by antibiotic gradient test. Transformation assays, transconjugation assays, PFGE and PCR-based replicon typing were used for plasmid analysis. Horizontal gene transfer was evaluated by liquid mating using Escherichia coli J53 as a recipient. Pathogenicity of NDM-1 expressing S. marcescens was analysed using the Galleria mellonella infection model.

Results

S. marcescens isolate SM1890 was non-susceptible to all tested antibiotics, with minocycline retaining intermediate activity. blaNDM-1 was located on a 140 kb IncA/C-type plasmid which was transferable to E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae by conjugation. The LD50 of the NDM-positive, SM1890 isolate was higher than that of other, NDM-1 negative, S. marcescens strains.

Conclusions

The presence of a blaNDM-1-harbouring IncA/C plasmid resulted in marked resistance to β-lactam antibiotics, but had no significant effect on virulence of isogenic strains. Because of the intrinsic resistance of S. marcescens to colistin and reduced susceptibility to tigecycline, treatment options for infections by NDM-1-positive isolates are extremely limited in this species.
Temporal Dynamics of Soybean Rust Associated With Leaf Area Index in Soybean Cultivars of different Maturity Groups
Authors: Moreira E. N. , Vale F. X. R. , Paul P. A. , Rodrigues F. A. , Jesus Júnior W. C.
Published: December 2014

Experiments were conducted in Mato Grosso, Brazil, from 2009 to 2011 to evaluate the effects of planting date (October, November, December, and January) on soybean rust (SBR) and leaf area index (LAI) in SBR-susceptible soybean cultivars of different maturity groups (early-maturing, midseason, and late-maturing). Mean relative area under the LAI progress curve (RAULAIPC) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) for the late-maturing than early-maturing and midseason cultivars. The October planting date had significantly higher (P < 0.05) mean RAULAIPC than the December and January planting dates. Mean relative area under the SBR progress curve was significantly lower (P < 0.05) for the late-maturing than the midseason and early-maturing cultivars, and significantly higher (P < 0.05) for the December and January than the October and November planting dates. Based on the logistic population growth model, SBR severity increased over time at a significantly higher mean rate for the early-maturing than the midseason and late-maturing cultivars. It took longer for SBR to reach a certain severity level for the late-maturing cultivar planted in January than the early-maturing cultivar planted in October. This implies that fungicides would need to be applied early to the early-maturing cultivar planted in October to minimize yield loss.
Fenestrated Screws Augmented With PMMA Increase the Pullout Strength of Sacral Pedicle Screws
Authors: Colman Matthew , Pond Jonathan , Bachus Kent , Lawrence Brandon D. , Spiker William R. , Brodke Darrel S.
Published: December 2014

Study Design:

Biomechanics.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to compare the fixation in osteoporotic specimens of a bicortical sacral pedicle screw to the following constructs: a unicortical solid screw augmented with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) (TRACT), a unicortical fenestrated screw augmented with PMMA (FEN), and a bicortical screw/sacral alar screw combination (PED/ALA).

Summary of Background Data:

Rigid posterior sacral fixation of osteoporotic spines is problematic due to poor bone quality. Options to improve fixation include bicortical or tricortical screw trajectory, addition of S2 alar screws, or PMMA augmentation.

Materials and Methods:

Eleven osteoporotic cadaveric sacra were potted in 2-part filler compound. As a baseline fixation method, a 6.5-mm bicortical pedicle screw was placed into 1 pedicle of each sacra. The contralateral side was randomly assigned to receive a unicortical fenestrated 6.5-mm pedicle screw augmented with PMMA, a unicortical solid 6.5-mm pedicle screw augmented with PMMA, or a bicortical pedicle screw/alar screw construct. Pedicle screws were failed in cantilever pullout using a materials testing machine. Data were normalized into a test index by taking the ratio of the test screw pullout strength to the intraspecimen bicortical control screw pullout strength.

Results:

The fixation strengths as expressed by the test index of the TRACT, FEN, and PED/ALA groups were 101%, 157%, and 167%, respectively. Although there was no statistical difference detected between the FEN and PED/ALA groups, the TRACT group had a trend toward lower pullout strength than the FEN (P=0.06) or PED/ALA (0.06) groups. Although underpowered, this study did not detect biomechanical inferiority for any of the 3 test configurations when compared with standard bicortical S1 screws.

Conclusions:

The data indicate that the fixation strength of a fenestrated, PMMA-augmented construct or a combined S1 pedicle/S2 alar screw construct may be better than either standard bicortical or unicortical PMMA screw-tract augmented screws.
Cement Leakage in Percutaneous Vertebral Augmentation for Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures
Authors: Xie Weixing , Jin Daxiang , Ma Hui , Ding Jinyong , Xu Jixi , Zhang Shuncong , Liang De
Published: December 2014

Study Design:

The risk factors for cement leakage were retrospectively reviewed in 192 patients who underwent percutaneous vertebral augmentation (PVA).

Objective:

To discuss the factors related to the cement leakage in PVA procedure for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.

Summary of Background Data:

PVA is widely applied for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral fractures. Cement leakage is a major complication of this procedure. The risk factors for cement leakage were controversial.

Materials and Methods:

A retrospective review of 192 patients who underwent PVA was conducted. The following data were recorded: age, sex, bone density, number of fractured vertebrae before surgery, number of treated vertebrae, severity of the treated vertebrae, operative approach, volume of injected bone cement, preoperative vertebral compression ratio, preoperative local kyphosis angle, intraosseous clefts, preoperative vertebral cortical bone defect, and ratio and type of cement leakage. To study the correlation between each factor and cement leakage ratio, bivariate regression analysis was employed to perform univariate analysis, whereas multivariate linear regression analysis was employed to perform multivariate analysis.

Results:

The study included 192 patients (282 treated vertebrae), and cement leakage occurred in 100 vertebrae (35.46%). The vertebrae with preoperative cortical bone defects generally exhibited higher cement leakage ratio, and the leakage is typically type C. Vertebrae with intact cortical bones before the procedure tend to experience type S leakage. Univariate analysis showed that patient age, bone density, number of fractured vertebrae before surgery, and vertebral cortical bone were associated with cement leakage ratio (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that the main factors influencing bone cement leakage are bone density and vertebral cortical bone defect, with standardized partial regression coefficients of −0.085 and 0.144, respectively.

Conclusion:

High bone density and vertebral cortical bone defect are independent risk factors associated with bone cement leakage.
Passively stuck: death does not affect gecko adhesion strength
Authors: Stewart William J. , Higham Timothy E.
Published: December 2014

Many geckos use adhesive toe pads on the bottom of their digits to attach to surfaces with remarkable strength. Although gecko adhesion has been studied for hundreds of years, gaps exist in our understanding at the whole-animal level. It remains unclear whether the strength and maintenance of adhesion are determined by the animal or are passively intrinsic to the system. Here we show, for the first time, that strong adhesion is produced passively at the whole-animal level. Experiments on both live and recently euthanized tokay geckos (Gekko gecko) revealed that death does not affect the dynamic adhesive force or motion of a gecko foot when pulled along a vertical surface. Using a novel device that applied repeatable and steady-increasing pulling forces to the foot in shear, we found that the adhesive force was similarly high and variable when the animal was alive (mean ± s.d. = 5.4 ± 1.7 N) and within 30 min after death (5.4 ± 2.1 N). However, kinematic analyses showed that live geckos are able to control the degree of toe pad engagement and can rapidly stop strong adhesion by hyperextending the toes. This study offers the first assessment of whole-animal adhesive force under extremely controlled conditions. Our findings reveal that dead geckos maintain the ability to adhere with the same force as living animals, disproving that strong adhesion requires active control.
Injectivity, multiple zeros and multistationarity in reaction networks
Authors: Feliu Elisenda
Published: December 2014

Polynomial dynamical systems are widely used to model and study real phenomena. In biochemistry, they are the preferred choice for modelling the concentration of chemical species in reaction networks with mass-action kinetics. These systems are typically parametrized by many (unknown) parameters. A goal is to understand how properties of the dynamical systems depend on the parameters. Qualitative properties relating to the behaviour of a dynamical system are locally inferred from the system at steady state. Here, we focus on steady states that are the positive solutions to a parametrized system ofgeneralized polynomialequations. In recent years, methods from computational algebra have been developed to understand these solutions, but our knowledge is limited: for example, we cannot efficiently decide how many positive solutions the system has as a function of the parameters. Even deciding whether there is one or more solutions is non-trivial. We present a new method, based on so-calledinjectivity, to preclude or assert that multiple positive solutions exist. The results apply to generalized polynomials and variables can be restricted to the linear, parameter-independent first integrals of the dynamical system. The method has been tested in a wide range of systems.
On the lattice-geometry and birational group of the six-point multi-ratio equation
Authors: Atkinson James
Published: December 2014

The inherent self-consistency properties of the six-point multi-ratio equation allow it to be considered on a domain associated with a T-shaped Coxeter–Dynkin diagram. This extends the Kadomtsev–Petviashvili lattice, which has
A

N

symmetry, and incorporates also Korteweg–de Vries-type dynamics on a sub-domain with
D

N

symmetry, and Painlevé dynamics on a sub-domain with

E
~

8

symmetry. More generally, it can be seen as a distinguished representation of Coble’s Cremona group associated with invariants of point sets in projective space.
A modulation wave approach to the order hidden in disorder
Authors: Withers Ray
Published: December 2014

The usefulness of a modulation wave approach to understanding and interpreting the highly structured continuous diffuse intensity distributions characteristic of the reciprocal spaces of the very large family of inherently flexible materials which exhibit ordered `disorder' is pointed out. It is shown that both longer range order and truly short-range order are simultaneously encoded in highly structured diffuse intensity distributions. The long-range ordered crystal chemical rules giving rise to such diffuse distributions are highlighted, along with the existence and usefulness of systematic extinction conditions in these types of structured diffuse distributions.
Cascading time evolution of dissipative structures leading to unique crystalline textures
Authors: Hashimoto Takeji , Murase Hiroki
Published: December 2014

This article reports unique pattern formation processes and mechanismsviacrystallization of materials under external flow fields as one of the general problems of open nonequilibrium phenomena in statistical physics. The external fields effectively reduce step-by-step the exceedingly large free energy barriers associated with the reduction of the enormously large entropy necessary for crystallization into unique crystalline textures in the absence of the fields. The cascading reduction of the free energy barrier was discovered to be achieved as a consequence of a cascading evolution of a series of dissipative structures. Moreover, this cascading pattern evolution obeys the Ginzburg–Landau law. It first evolves a series of large-length-scale amorphous precursors driven by liquid–liquid phase separation under a relatively low bulk stress and then small-length-scale structures driven by a large local stress concentrated on the heterogeneous amorphous precursors, eventually leading to the formation of unique crystalline textures which cannot be developed free from the external fields. Here the multi-length-scale heterogeneous structures developed in the amorphous precursors play a dominant role in the triggering of the crystallization in the local regions subjected to a large stress concentration even under a relatively small applied bulk stress.
Keeping it in the family: the self‐rated health of lone mothers in different European welfare regimes
Authors: Van de Velde Sarah , Bambra Clare , Van der Bracht Koen , Eikemo Terje Andreas , Bracke Piet
Published: December 2014

This study examines whether health inequalities exist between lone and cohabiting mothers across Europe, and how these may differ by welfare regime. Data from the European Social Survey were used to compare self‐rated general health, limiting long‐standing illness and depressive feelings by means of a multi‐level logistic regression. The 27 countries included in the analyses are classified into six welfare regimes (Anglo‐Saxon, Bismarckian, Southern, Nordic, Central East Europe (CEE) (newEU) andCEE(non‐EU). Lone motherhood is defined as mothers not cohabiting with a partner, regardless of their legal marital status. The results indicate that lone mothers are more at risk of poor health than cohabiting mothers. This is most pronounced in the Anglo‐Saxon regime for self‐rated general health and limiting long‐standing illness, while for depressive feelings it is most pronounced in the Bismarckian welfare regime. While the risk difference is smallest in theCEEregimes, both lone and cohabiting mothers also reported the highest levels of poor health compared with the other regimes. The results also show that a vulnerable socioeconomic position is associated with ill‐health in lone mothers and that welfare regimes differ in the degree to which they moderate this association.
Religion and Constitutionalism: Oscillations Along a Continuum
Authors: Babie Paul
Published: December 2014

This review article analyses three books published between 2010 and 2013 and explores the ways in which a nation, secular or otherwise, can deal with religion within its borders, both legally and socially. For many nations, this means employing a foundational document or text, usually a constitution, to exclude religion from, neutrally to structure its participation in, or actively to promote a particular type of it in the public arena. The article develops two primary themes. First, using Ran Hirschl's work, it reveals a continuum of approaches to the constitutional treatment of religion; yet, in plotting those points along the continuum, what one finds is far from precision placement; rather, there is oscillation around several points. Second, in considering specific constitutions, it becomes apparent that the more difficult or ambiguous it is to modify or amend a formal text, the greater the importance assumed by judicially developed interpretative techniques.
Contrasting Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches to Rural Development Analysis: The Case of Agricultural Intensification in Lebanon
Authors: Hamade Kanj , Malorgio Giulio , Midmore Peter
Published: December 2014

While peripheral rural regions in Lebanon face typical problems of lagging development and economic marginalisation, they have not been regarded as a priority for policy‐makers. Local extensionists have encouraged technological innovation as a means of improving farmers’ livelihoods, and this has led to increasing input use and an intensification of agricultural production. This paper applies contrasting quantitative and qualitative methodologies to analyse the effects of such changes at the level of the overall economy of Lebanon and also to explore the impacts on rural households. A computable general equilibrium (CGE) model simulates shocks in which agricultural output increases due to different types of intensification. The results are contrasted at local level through the use of qualitative case study analysis carried out in the Hermel district of northeast Lebanon. Quantitative simulations indicate that, while agricultural intensification has a positive effect overall on the Lebanese economy, the effects on rural households and the income of farmers are negative. The case‐study interviews demonstrate that, at local level, agricultural trade liberalisation, increased agricultural output and greater volatility of commodity prices have resulted in farmers opting for lower input use and more secure market forms of production.
Analysis of the First‐ and Second‐Generation Raving Dragon Novelty Bath Salts Containing Methylone and Pentedrone
Authors: Poklis Justin L. , Wolf Carl E. , ElJordi Omar I. , Liu Kai , Zhang Shijun , Poklis Alphonse
Published: December 2014

In recent years, a large number of designer drugs sold as “Bath Salts” have appeared on the market. In July of 2011, Raving Dragon Novelty Bath Salts was obtained over the Internet. This product became unavailable in October of that year coinciding with the DEA issuing a temporarily schedule of mephedrone, methylone, and MDPV. Four months later in February of 2012, a new product was released from the same company under the new name Raving Dragon Voodoo Dust. The contents of both products were identified using spectroscopy methods: nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared, UV–visible, tandem mass spectrometry, and high‐resolution time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. It was determined that Raving Dragon Novelty Bath Salts contained methylone. The replacement product Raving Dragon Voodoo Dust contained the unscheduled drug pentedrone. The Raving Dragon brand of products illustrates the rapid change of ingredients in these products to circumvent laws restricting availability, distribution, and use.
Using Facebook as a Space for Storytelling in Geographical Research
Authors: DE JONG ANNA
Published: December 2014

Geographers have long been alert to the ways space matters to knowledge production and the stories participants choose to share. Despite such understandings, however, geographers remain surprisingly absent from discussions regarding the ways these concerns play out across online spaces. This article reflects on the employment of one online space, Facebook, as a site for storytelling in research exploring return journeys to two Australian festivals – the Big Day Out and Mardi Gras Parade. This article argues that insight over longer temporalities and shifting spatialities afforded through Facebook facilitates heightened understandings of the nuances, repetitions, differences and paradoxes of identities, encounters, and politics. Facebook, therefore, has the potential to allow for different ways of knowing that cannot be ascertained in more orthodox research spaces. Moreover, the slipperiness of conceptualisations of privacy and consent in this space draws attention to the necessity of understanding consent as fluid and ongoing, rather than antecedent to fieldwork commencement. Crucially, however, reconceptualisations of privacy and consent in this space expose potential obstacles university ethics committees may meet in responding to research moving online.
Aging and insulin signaling differentially control normal and tumorous germline stem cells
Authors: Kao Shih‐Han , Tseng Chen‐Yuan , Wan Chih‐Ling , Su Yu‐Han , Hsieh Chang‐Che , Pi Haiwei , Hsu Hwei‐Jan
Published: December 2014

Aging influences stem cells, but the processes involved remain unclear. Insulin signaling, which controls cellular nutrient sensing and organismal aging, regulates the G2 phase of Drosophila female germ line stem cell (GSC) division cycle in response to diet; furthermore, this signaling pathway is attenuated with age. The role of insulin signaling in GSCs as organisms age, however, is also unclear. Here, we report that aging results in the accumulation of tumorous GSCs, accompanied by a decline in GSC number and proliferation rate. Intriguingly, GSC loss with age is hastened by either accelerating (through eliminating expression of Myt1, a cell cycle inhibitory regulator) or delaying (through mutation of insulin receptor (dinR) GSC division, implying that disrupted cell cycle progression and insulin signaling contribute to age‐dependent GSC loss. As flies age, DNA damage accumulates in GSCs, and the S phase of the GSC cell cycle is prolonged. In addition, GSC tumors (which escape the normal stem cell regulatory microenvironment, known as the niche) still respond to aging in a similar manner to normal GSCs, suggesting that niche signals are not required for GSCs to sense or respond to aging. Finally, we show that GSCs from mated and unmated females behave similarly, indicating that female GSC–male communication does not affect GSCs with age. Our results indicate the differential effects of aging and diet mediated by insulin signaling on the stem cell division cycle, highlight the complexity of the regulation of stem cell aging, and describe a link between ovarian cancer and aging.
Association study of FOXO3A SNPs and aging phenotypes in Danish oldest‐old individuals
Authors: Soerensen Mette , Nygaard Marianne , Dato Serena , Stevnsner Tinna , Bohr Vilhelm A. , Christensen Kaare , Christiansen Lene
Published: December 2014

FOXO3A variation has repeatedly been reported to associate with human longevity, yet only few studies have investigated whether FOXO3A variation also associates with aging‐related traits. Here, we investigate the association of 15 FOXO3A tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 1088 oldest‐old Danes (age 92–93) with 4 phenotypes known to predict their survival: cognitive function, hand grip strength, activity of daily living (ADL), and self‐rated health. Based on previous studies in humans and foxo animal models, we also explore self‐reported diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and bone (femur/spine/hip/wrist) fracture. Gene‐based testing revealed significant associations of FOXO3A variation with ADL (P = 0.044) and bone fracture (P = 0.006). The single‐SNP statistics behind the gene‐based analysis indicated increased ADL (decreased disability) and reduced bone fracture risk for carriers of the minor alleles of 8 and 10 SNPs, respectively. These positive directions of effects are in agreement with the positive effects on longevity previously reported for these SNPs. However, when correcting for the test of 9 phenotypes by Bonferroni correction, bone fracture showed borderline significance (P = 0.054), while ADL did not (P = 0.396). Although the single‐SNP associations did not formally replicate in another study population of oldest‐old Danes (n = 1279, age 94–100), the estimates were of similar direction of effect as observed in the Discovery sample. A pooled analysis of both study populations displayed similar or decreased sized P‐values for most associations, hereby supporting the initial findings. Nevertheless, confirmation in additional study populations is needed.
Purified IgG from Patients with Obstetric but not IgG from Non‐obstetric Antiphospholipid Syndrome Inhibit Trophoblast Invasion
Authors: Poulton Katie , Ripoll Vera M. , Pericleous Charis , Meroni Pier Luigi , Gerosa Maria , Ioannou Yiannis , Rahman Anisur , Giles Ian P.
Published: December 2014

Problem

Some patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) suffer pregnancy morbidity (PM) but not vascular thrombosis (VT), whilst others suffer VT only. Therefore, we compared the effects of IgG from VT+/PM− and VT−/PM+ subjects on human first‐trimester trophoblast (HTR8) cells.

Method of study

HTR‐8 cells were incubated with APS VT+/PM−, APS VT−/PM+ or healthy control (HC) IgG. We measured trophoblast invasion by cell invasion assay; mRNA expression of TLR4 and adaptor proteins; phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, NFκB and ERK; and expression of interleukin (IL)‐8 and IL‐6.

Results

VT−/PM+ IgG, but not VT+/PM− IgG significantly reduced HTR‐8 invasion. The effects on invasion were blocked by TLR‐4 inhibition. Neither VT+/PM− nor VT−/PM+ IgG altered MyD88 mRNA expression, phosphorylation of signalling molecules or cytokine expression.

Conclusions

VT−/PM+ IgG exert functionally relevant effects on human trophoblast cells but VT+/PM− IgG do not.
Immunological evaluation of an alginate‐based conjugate as a vaccine candidate against Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Farjah Ali , Owlia Parviz , Siadat Seyed Davar , Mousavi Seyed Fazlollah , Ardestani Mehdi Shafiee , Mohammadpour Hashem Khorsand
Published: December 2014

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that causes serious infections, is usually resistant to antimicrobial agents, and is the leading cause of morbidity and premature mortality in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Mucoid strains of P. aeruginosa produce a virulence factor known as alginate. Developing a strategy to raise opsonic antibodies against alginate could be promising for the treatment of P. aeruginosa infection in CF patients. Conjugation of alginate to a carrier protein is a good method for increasing the immunogenicity of alginate. We conjugated alginate to the outer membrane vesicle (OMV) of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B, which is a safe carrier protein, and evaluated its efficacy in mice. To evaluate the immune response, total IgG, IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG2b titers were analyzed. Immunization of mice with the alginate–OMV conjugate raised the levels of opsonic antibodies, and the vaccinated mice were protected when challenged intranasally with P. aeruginosa. Further studies showed that the conjugated vaccine could eliminate P. aeruginosa from the lungs of infected mice. This study supports the proposal that immunization of mice with an alginate–OMV conjugate vaccine could be safe and protective against P. aeruginosa infection.
Clinical outcomes of laparoscopic partial gastrectomy for gastric submucosal tumors
Authors: Hirota Masashi , Nakajima Kiyokazu , Miyazaki Yasuhiro , Takahashi Tsuyoshi , Kurokawa Yukinori , Yamasaki Makoto , Miyata Hiroshi , Takiguchi Shuji , Nishida Toshirou , Mori Masaki , Doki Yuichiro
Published: December 2014

Introduction

Laparoscopic partial gastrectomy has become a common procedure for gastric submucosal tumors because of its accepted feasibility, safety, and oncologic outcomes. However, long‐term postoperative outcomes have not been determined, especially based on the location of submucosal tumors.

Methods

We reviewed 52 consecutive gastric submucosal tumor patients who underwent laparoscopic partial gastrectomy between 1999 and 2009. They were divided into a lesser curvature group (LC group, n = 23) and a greater curvature group (GC group, n = 26) according to tumor location. We compared the following postoperative data about gastric function between the two groups: (i) body weight change during the first postoperative year; (ii) gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g. abdominal pain/discomfort, bloating, heartburn, and dyspepsia); (iii) the amount of food residue at endoscopy; and (iv) the need for medications such as histamine H2‐receptor antagonists, proton pump inhibitors, and prokinetic drugs.

Results

Only a few patients – one in the LC group and two in the GC group – showed body weight loss (over 10%). Compared to the GC group (n = 0 in all three categories), the LC group showed significantly higher frequency of prolonged postoperative abdominal symptoms (n = 4, P = 0.042), food residue at endoscopic follow‐up (n = 4, P = 0.036), and postoperative medication use (n = 5, P = 0.016).

Conclusion

Patients who received laparoscopic partial gastrectomy did not have severe body weight loss, which suggests dysfunction of the gastric remnant. However, patients in the LC group should receive special attention, as they have a higher risk of developing postoperative gastrointestinal symptoms.