bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recruitment and selection in the opinion of small and medium enterprises employees
Authors: Grabiec Olimpia , Jędraszczyk-Kałwak Joanna
Published: August 2017

This article relates to the recruitment of employees for the vacancies. Authors discuss theoretical questions related to employment planning, candidates’ identification and their selection, which would lead to employment. Additionally, this article presents a self-study based on the research carried out among employees from small and medium enterprises of Silesian Voivodship. The aim of this article is to determine theoretical fundamentals of recruitment channels and selection methods used in small and medium enterprises as well as their evaluation with regards to the possibilities of self-presentation and the level of difficulty.
Complexity in management – reflection on complexity position studies in risk management context
Authors: Gorzeń-Mitka Iwona
Published: August 2017

Complexity has been widely researched in the science literature, nowadays also in the management literature. Complexity and the way to deal with its increasing in the company itself and its environment has become a key competitive factor. But complexity generate also risks. Identified risks arising from complexity and managing that risk within acceptable levels is one challenge for business leaders. Some researchers suggest that the complexity can be managed. However, the literature is still paid little attention to this phenomenon. The main my research questions were: what is the place of complexity concept in the management sciences and what is complexity in risk management context. With this paper, author aim to contribute to the literature of management complexity. This paper contains the results of study that were made in the scale and the leading areas of research on the complexity and risk management of a state of the art in academic studies.
Cluster - selected aspects of strategic analyzes clustering region
Authors: Staszewska Jolanta
Published: August 2017

Clustering is a challenge for many regions. Opole region offers ample opportunities for the development of clustering and vice versa. Strategic analyzes carried out to assess the negotiations clustering in the Opole presented in this paper. The author resigned from secondary sources. The aim of this article is to present the results of strategic analysis on prospects for clusters in Opolskie voivodship. The thesis will be the formulation that Opole clusters can develop according to the offensive strategy, and the possibility of indicating success factors will intensify this development.
Environmental chemical data and Carcinus maenas biochemical responses in a coastal eutrophic ecosystem (Óbidos Lagoon, Portugal)
Authors: Pereira P , De Pablo H , Vale C , Pacheco M
Published: August 2017

The status of Óbidos Lagoon (Portugal) was assessed combining water quality, sediment quality, and oxidative stress responses in female shore crab Carcinus maenas. Two sites were surveyed in October 2005, one located in an impacted, confined inner branch (Barrosa) and another in the middle of the lagoon more influenced by the seawater input. Concentrations of ammonium and nitrate + nitrite were notably higher in Barrosa, although the differences in sediment metal contamination were minor. The availability of dissolved Mn, Cu, Ni, and Cd was higher in Barrosa, particularly in the morning, which suggests the influence of internal processes occurring near the sediment during the night. Female crabs captured at Barrosa exhibited alterations in hepatopancreas antioxidants, clearly indicating that the inner branch is a more polluted area. Crabs displayed increased activity of glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and glutathione S-transferase, as well as lipid peroxidative damage, whereas no differences were observed for total glutathione. Those significant responses were not accompanied by a significant elevation of metal levels in the hepatopancreas, suggesting that adverse effects may have been caused by the synergism of stressors.
Population genetics of the oyster Crassostrea corteziensis in the Gulf of California
Authors: Pérez-Enríquez R , Ávila S , Ibarra AM
Published: August 2017

The native oyster Crassostrea corteziensis is a cultured species along the Mexican Pacific with considerable growth potential. For this reason CIBNOR is working towards obtaining greater knowledge that can be used in the future to begin a selective breeding program. To take advantage of the potential of using multiple populations, the genetic diversity and structure of the wild population was analyzed. Samples were obtained from five sites from Sonora to Nayarit in the Gulf of California (Mexico). Allozyme analysis showed high gene flow in the area, indicating no genetic structure. High genetic diversity was also observed, indicating an adequate potential for selective breeding and species recovery management. Allozyme and mitochondrial DNA analyses revealed the presence of a sympatric species, presumably C. columbiensis, which was found at one of the collection sites instead of C. corteziensis. Further ecological and molecular studies on both species are recommended to understand the relationships between them and the environment.
Effects of the aquarium fish industry in Costa Rica on populations of the Cortez rainbow wrasse Thalassoma lucasanum
Authors: McCauley DJ , Joyce FJ , Lowenstein JH
Published: August 2017

Costa Rica hosts an active industry for the collection of marine ornamental reef fish that are supplied to the international aquarium fish trade. Little is known about the effects that collection activities may be having upon target species in Costa Rica, although research elsewhere gives reason for concern. Thalassoma lucasanum (Cortez rainbow wrasse) is an important species in this fishery. Costa Rican collectors prize the vibrantly colored terminal phase T. lucasanum individuals, but also collect the less dramatic initial phase T. lucasanum. We measured the density of T. lucasanum and the length of terminal phase individuals on highly collected reefs close to a fishing village and on nearby less-collected reefs located within the Guanacaste Conservation Area. Our findings show that densities of T. lucasanum were significantly lower and that terminal phase individuals were significantly smaller on the reefs near the fishing village where collection pressure was high. These findings indicate that even moderate amounts of relatively non-destructive aquarium fish extraction can negatively affect targeted populations. We present some suggestions for the reform of the aquarium reef fish industry in Costa Rica, which we believe would improve the long-term sustainability of this fishery.
A multivariate approach to the feeding ecology of the Channel flounder, Syacium micrurum (Pisces, Pleuronectiformes), in Cape Verde, Eastern Atlantic
Authors: Marques JF , Teixeira CM , Pinheiro A , Peschke K , Cabral HN
Published: August 2017

The feeding ecology of the Channel flounder, Syacium micrurum, from Cape Verde was studied in November 2003 and April 2004, using frequency of occurrence and percentage by number indices, as well as multivariate analyses. Overall, S. micrurum exhibited a generalist feeding strategy with a relatively broad niche width. Analyses indicated Crustacea (especially Brachyura) and Polychaeta as the dominant prey items, although other items, such as Foraminifera, Caridae or Actinopterigii, were preyed on more often or in larger quantities, depending on the sampling date. An ontogenetic shift in diet was also observed with smallsized individuals mostly consuming Crustacea, whereas medium- or large-sized specimens fed on Actinopterigii more often. Diet composition appeared to be more related to differences in benthic assemblages between sampling dates due to the geographical characteristics of Cabo Verde. Results presented here support the need for further studies in the area, mainly those considering the composition and seasonal variation of invertebrate communities, to improve the knowledge of the trophic structure of commercially important species within this area.
Coastline evolution at Balneario Parque Mar Chiquita, Argentina
Authors: Merlotto A , Bértola GR
Published: August 2017

This study determined coastline evolution and retreat rates at Balneario Parque Mar Chiquita (Argentina) between 1949 and 2007. The dune toe was considered the coastline indicator, and it was determined based on historical maps, aerial photographs, a satellite image, and field measurements. The analysis showed that the intensity of the erosion process has declined though it continues to be meaningful. The annual rate has decreased from 17.71 to 1.41 m yr–1, corresponding to a total retreat of 299.01 m in the last 58 years. The temporal variations of the phenomenon mainly result from changes in beach nourishment by the littoral drift, which has been affected by sand mining and coastal defenses built to the south of the study area. Different spatial behaviours were also registered in the town, associated with geomorphological characteristics and dune conservation state. Sudestada storms have played a significant role in the coastline retreat. The results contribute to the understanding of the magnitude and dynamics of the erosion process, and should be of use in the preparation of coastal management programs and risk evaluations.
“Blind” calibration of vector sensors whose dipole/loop triads deviate from their nominal gains/phases/orientations/locations
Authors: Song Yang , Wong Kainam Thomas , Chen Fangjiong
Published: August 2017

An electromagnetic vector sensor consists of a triad of electric dipoles in orthogonal orientation, plus another triad of similarly arranged magnetic loops, all in spatial collocation. This electromagnetic vector sensor has been used in a series of algorithms to estimate the incident sources' directions‐of‐arrival and polarizations. However, these algorithms have presumed the dipole triads and the loop triads of perfect ideality in their gain/phase responses, their orientations, and locations. Such idealization is rarely (if ever) attained in actual field deployment. Instead, the nonidealities need to be calibrated, often blindly with no training signal impinging from any prior known direction‐of‐arrival at any prior known polarization. For such a scenario, this work proposes a new algorithm for direction finding, for polarization estimation, and for “blind” calibration (a.k.a. “self‐calibration,” “autocalibration,” or “unaided calibration”) of all above nonidealities. This new algorithm is orders‐of‐magnitude computationally simpler than maximum likelihood estimation. This reduction in complexity is achieved here by exploiting the electromagnetic vector sensor's quintessential array manifold and by a judicious breakdown of the originally high‐dimensional problem (of estimating the directions‐of‐arrival, polarizations, and the antenna nonidealities) into suitably chosen/sequenced low‐dimensional subproblems. This proposed algorithm is first in the open literature to exploit the electromagnetic vector‐sensor's quintessential array manifold for “blind” calibration of all above mentioned nonidealities simultaneously. Monte Carlo simulations verify this proposed algorithm's effectiveness in “blind” calibration and this algorithm's orders‐of‐magnitude computational efficiency over the maximum likelihood approach.
Synthesis of Hierarchical Porous Metals Using Ionic‐Liquid‐Based Media as Solvent and Template
Authors: Kang Xinchen , Sun Xiaofu , Ma Xiaoxue , Zhang Pei , Zhang Zhanrong , Meng Qinglei , Han Buxing
Published: August 2017

It was found that nanodomains existed in the ionic liquid (IL)‐based ternary system containing IL 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazole tetrafluoroborate (EmimBF4), IL 1‐decyl‐3‐methylimidazole nitrate (DmimNO3) and water, and the size distribution of the domains varied continuously with the composition of the solution. A strategy to synthesize hierarchical porous metals using IL‐based media as solvent and template is proposed, and the hierarchical porous Ru and Pt metals were prepared by the assembly of metal clusters of about 1.5 nm using this new method. It is demonstrated that the metals have micropores and mesopores, and the size distribution is tuned by controlling the composition of the solution. Porous Ru was used for a series of hydrogenation reactions. It has an outstanding catalytic performance owing to its special morphology and structure.
Effect of age on rates of palliative surgery and chemotherapy use in patients with locally advanced or metastatic gastric cancer
Authors: Nelen S D , van Putten M , Lemmens V E P P , Bosscha K , de Wilt J H W , Verhoeven R H A
Published: August 2017

Background

This study assessed trends in the treatment and survival of palliatively treated patients with gastric cancer, with a focus on age-related differences.

Methods

For this retrospective, population-based, nationwide cohort study, all patients diagnosed between 1989 and 2013 with non-cardia gastric cancer with metastasized disease or invasion into adjacent structures were selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Trends in treatment and 2-year overall survival were analysed and compared between younger (age less than 70 years) and older (aged 70 years or more) patients. Analyses were done for five consecutive periods of 5 years, from 1989–1993 to 2009–2013. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to examine the probability of undergoing surgery. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors for death.

Results

Palliative resection rates decreased significantly in both younger and older patients, from 24·5 and 26·2 per cent to 3·0 and 5·0 per cent respectively. Compared with patients who received chemotherapy alone, both younger (21·6 versus 6·3 per cent respectively; P < 0·001) and older (14·7 versus 4·6 per cent; P < 0·001) patients who underwent surgery had better 2-year overall survival rates. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that younger and older patients who received chemotherapy alone had worse overall survival than patients who had surgery only (younger: hazard ratio (HR) 1·22, 95 per cent c.i. 1·12 to 1·33; older: HR 1·12, 1·01 to 1·24). After 2003 there was no association between period of diagnosis and overall survival in younger or older patients.

Conclusion

Despite changes in the use of resection and chemotherapy as palliative treatment, overall survival rates of patients with advanced and metastatic gastric cancer did not improve.
Preparation of doped polypyrrole composites as effective chromium ion absorbents
Authors: Zhou Yanqing , Sun Wanhong
Published: August 2017

A novel Co3O4‐ and AgCl‐doped three‐dimensional architectures polypyrrole (PPy/Co3O4/AgCl) composite was demonstrated as an excellent adsorbent to remove chromium effectively by an in situ oxidation polymerization using FeCl3 as the oxidant. The achieved adsorption capacity was 69.9 mg g−1. The as‐synthesized PPy/Co3O4/AgCl composite is suitable for chromium adsorption in a wide pH range. A chemical rather than a physical adsorption occurred for these adsorbents as revealed by a pseudo‐second‐order kinetic study. The results of the adsorption isotherms showed that the adsorption process was similar to the Langmuir isotherm adsorption. Furthermore, the PPy/Co3O4/AgCl composite exhibited a high stability for chromium adsorption during recycling tests process. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:4416–4424, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers
A multispecific monoclonal antibody G2 recognizes at least three completely different epitope sequences with high affinity
Authors: Mahmud Md. Nuruddin , Oda Masayuki , Usui Daiki , Inoshima Yasuo , Ishiguro Naotaka , Kamatari Yuji O.
Published: August 2017

A monoclonal antibody (mAb) G2 possesses an unusual characteristic of reacting with at least three proteins (ATP6V1C1, SEPT3, and C6H10orf76) other than its original antigen, chicken prion protein (ChPrP). The epitopes on ChPrP and ATP6V1C1 have been identified previously. In this study, we identified the epitope in the third protein, SEPT3. Interestingly, there was no amino acid sequence similarity among the epitopes on the three proteins. These epitopes had high binding affinities to G2 (KD = ∼10−7 M for monovalent binding and KD = ∼10−9 M for divalent binding), as determined using a SPR biosensor. This is the first report on a three‐in‐one mAb recognizing completely different epitope sequences with high affinity. Additionally, competitive ELISA indicated that the binding sites on G2, specific for the three different epitopes, overlapped, suggesting that the antigen‐binding site may be flexible in the free form and capable of adapting to at least three different conformations to enable interactions with three different antigens.
Mineral composition of alkaline lamprophyres of the Tomtor massif as reflection of their genesis
Authors: Panina L.I. , Rokosova E.Yu. , Isakova A.T. , Tolstov A.V.
Published: August 2017

The influence of parental melts on the chemical composition of rock-forming minerals of alkaline lamprophyres (monchiquites) referred to as the volcanic series of porphyritic potassic alkaline-ultrabasic rocks was studied in the Tomtor alkaline-ultrabasic carbonatite massif (Yakutia) hosting a unique deposit of Sc–REE–Y–Nb ores. Previous fluid–melt inclusion study showed that these rocks formed from two mixing alkaline-basic melts of different alkalinity. A detailed study of the chemical composition of minerals revealed a repeated irregular zoning in most of phenocrysts, which reflects the influence of different parental magmas and their mixing. It was established that the cores of diopside phenocrysts (Di I) with inclusions of Na–Fe-rich silicate melts have a low Mg-number and low contents of Ti, Al, and Ca and high contents of Na and Mn. The intermediate zones of phenocrysts (Di II) containing inclusions of K–Mg-rich silicate melts show a high Mg-number and are rich in Ti and Al and poor in Mn and Na. Groundmass grains and rims (and, sometimes, intermediate zones) of diopside phenocrysts often have a mixed Di I–Di II composition with slightly elevated contents of Mg, Ti, and Al. Amphibole phenocrysts, like the diopside ones, have both zones with low Mg contents and high Na/K ratios and Mn contents and zones with high Mg contents, low Na/K ratios, and low Mn and elevated Ti contents. Phlogopites are also of two varieties: highly magnesian, with high contents of Si and K and low content of Mn, and lowly magnesian, with low contents of Si and K and high content of Mn. Ilmenite, titanomagnetite, and fine grains of femic minerals are mostly of mixed varying composition. The chemical composition of rock-forming minerals, especially zoned phenocrysts, evidences that they crystallized with the participation of two alkaline-basic melts: Na–Fe-rich silicate melt enriched in Mn and K–Mg-rich silicate melt enriched in Ti but depleted in Mn.
Braginskii magnetohydrodynamics for arbitrary magnetic topologies: coronal applications
Authors: MacTaggart D. , Vergori L. , Quinn J.
Published: August 2017

We investigate single-fluid magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) with anisotropic viscosity, often referred to as Braginskii MHD, with a particular eye to solar coronal applications. First, we examine the full Braginskii viscous tensor in the single-fluid limit. We pay particular attention to how the Braginskii tensor behaves as the magnetic field strength vanishes. The solar corona contains a magnetic field with a complex and evolving topology, so the viscosity must revert to its isotropic form when the field strength is zero, e.g. at null points. We highlight that the standard form in which the Braginskii tensor is written is not suitable for inclusion in simulations as singularities in the individual terms can develop. Instead, an altered form, where the parallel and perpendicular tensors are combined, provides the required asymptotic behaviour in the weak-field limit. We implement this combined form of the tensor into the Lare3D code, which is widely used for coronal simulations. Since our main focus is the viscous heating of the solar corona, we drop the drift terms of the Braginskii tensor. In a stressed null point simulation, we discover that small-scale structures, which develop very close to the null, lead to anisotropic viscous heating at the null itself (that is, heating due to the anisotropic terms in the viscosity tensor). The null point simulation we present has a much higher resolution than many other simulations containing null points, so this excess heating is a practical concern in coronal simulations. To remedy this unwanted heating at the null point, we develop a model for the viscosity tensor that captures the most important physics of viscosity in the corona: parallel viscosity for strong fields and isotropic viscosity at null points. We derive a continuum model of viscosity where momentum transport, described by this viscosity model, has the magnetic field as its preferred orientation. When the field strength is zero, there is no preferred direction for momentum transport and viscosity reverts to the standard isotropic form. The most general viscous stress tensor of a (single-fluid) plasma satisfying these conditions is found. It is shown that the Braginskii model, without the drift terms, is a specialization of the general model. Performing the stressed null point simulation with this simplified model of viscosity reveals very similar heating profiles to those of the full Braginskii model. The new model, however, does not produce anisotropic heating at the null point, as required. Since the vast majority of coronal simulations use only isotropic viscosity, we perform the stressed null point simulation with isotropic viscosity and compare the heating profiles to those of the anisotropic models. It is shown that the fully isotropic viscosity can overestimate the viscous heating by an order of magnitude.
Food-based diet quality score in relation to depressive symptoms in young and middle-aged Japanese women
Authors: Sakai Hiroka , Murakami Kentaro , Kobayashi Satomi , Suga Hitomi , Sasaki Satoshi ,   the Three-generation Study of Women on Diets and Health Study Group
Published: August 2017

Only a few studies have focused on the association between overall diet, rather than intakes of individual nutrients or foods, and depressive symptoms in Japanese. This cross-sectional study examined associations between a diet quality score and depressive symptoms in 3963 young (age 18 years) and 3833 middle-aged (mean age 47·9 (sd 4·2) years) Japanese women. Dietary information was collected using a diet history questionnaire. A previously developed diet quality score was computed mainly based on the Japanese Food Guide Spinning Top. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 22·0 % for young women and 16·8 % for middle-aged women, assessed as a Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) score ≥23 and ≥19, respectively. As expected, the diet quality score was associated positively with intakes of ‘grain dishes’, ‘vegetable dishes’, ‘fish and meat dishes’, ‘milk’ and ‘fruits’ and inversely with intakes of energy from ‘snacks, confection and beverages’ and Na from seasonings. After adjustment for potential confounders, OR for depressive symptoms in the highest v. lowest quintiles of the diet quality score was 0·65 (95 % CI 0·50, 0·84) in young women (Pfor trend=0·0005). In middle-aged women, the corresponding value was 0·59 (95 % CI 0·45, 0·78) (Pfor trend<0·0001). Analyses where the diet quality and CES-D scores were treated as continuous variables also showed inverse associations. In conclusion, this cross-sectional study showed that a higher diet quality score was associated with a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms in young and middle-aged Japanese women. Prospective studies are needed to confirm a public health relevance of this finding.
Who is the agent? The influence of pragmatic leads on children's reference assignment in non-obligatory control
Authors: JANKE VIKKI
Published: August 2017

Non-obligatory control constructions (NOC) are sentences which contain a non-finite clause with a null subject whose reference is determined pragmatically. Little is known about how children assign reference to these subjects, yet this is important as our current understanding of reference-resolution development is limited to less complex sentences with overt elements, such as pronouns. This study explores how seventy-six children (aged six to eleven) consult pragmatic leads when assigning reference in two examples of NOC. Children undertook three picture-selection tasks, containing no lead, a weak lead, and a strong lead, and their reference choices in the critical sentences were monitored. The novel results pinpoint children's baseline interpretations of the ambiguous sentences and expose an age trend in the degree to which they consult strong pragmatic leads when resolving reference. These trends illustrate how reference assignment in more complex discourse-governed contexts progresses, thereby contributing an important dimension to the pragmatics acquisition literature.
Effects of lipid-based nutrient supplements v. micronutrient powders on nutritional and developmental outcomes among Peruvian infants
Authors: Matias Susana L , Vargas-Vásquez Alejandro , Bado Pérez Ricardo , Alcázar Valdivia Lorena , Aquino Vivanco Oscar , Rodriguez Martín Amelia , Novalbos Ruiz Jose Pedro
Published: August 2017

Objective

To determine the effects of lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS) on children’s Hb, linear growth and development, compared with supplementation with micronutrient powder (MNP).

Design

The study was a two-arm parallel-group randomized controlled trial, where participants received either LNS or MNP for daily consumption during 6 months. Supplements were delivered by staff at government-run health centres. Hb, anthropometric, motor development, language development and problem-solving indicators were measured by trained research assistants when children were 12 months of age.

Setting

The study was conducted in five rural districts in the Province of Ambo in the Department of Huánuco, Peru.

Subjects

We enrolled 6-month-old children (n 422) at nineteen health centres.

Results

Children who received LNS had a higher mean Hb concentration and lower odds of anaemia than those who received MNP. No significant differences in height-for-age, weight-for-height or weight-for-age Z-score, or stunting and underweight prevalence, were observed. Provision of LNS was associated with a higher pre-verbal language (gestures) score, but such effect lost significance after adjustment for covariates. Children in the LNS group had higher problem-solving task scores and increased odds of achieving this cognitive task than children in the MNP group. No significant differences were observed on receptive language or gross motor development.

Conclusions

LNS between 6 and 12 months of age increased Hb concentration, reduced anaemia and improved cognitive development in children, but showed no effects on anthropometric indicators, motor or language development.
Sex Steroid Hormones Regulate Leptin Transcript Accumulation and Protein Secretion in 3T3-L1 Cells
Authors: Jenks Mónica Z. , Fairfield Heather E. , Johnson Erik C. , Morrison Ron F. , Muday Gloria K.
Published: August 2017

Leptin is an adipokine produced by fat cells that regulates food consumption and metabolic activity. Sexual dimorphism in leptin and fat stores have been observed in humans and rodents with females having more leptin and greater levels of subcutaneous fat than males. One potential mechanism leading to this dimorphism is steroid hormone regulated synthesis of transcripts encoding leptin. Identification of direct regulatory mechanisms is difficult in animals or primary adipocytes due to these intertwined dimorphisms. We used well-characterized 3T3-L1 murine adipocytes to demonstrate that dihydrotestosterone (DHT) reduced Leptin (Lep) transcript abundance and cytosolic and secreted leptin protein. The magnitude of this effect was greatest on secreted leptin, which was decreased by DHT to 30% of the control. In contrast, 17β-estradiol significantly increased the abundance of transcripts encoding leptin and increased secreted leptin to 230% of the control. Treatment with estrogen and androgen receptor antagonists had opposite effects on Lep transcript abundance to steroid treatments, indicating that these transcriptional effects are mediated through the canonical steroid hormone signaling pathways. These results indicate that short-term treatments with steroid hormones are sufficient to alter both Lep transcript accumulation and leptin protein secretion, and may play a role in the sexual dimorphism of this adipokine.
The role of Dermcidin isoform-2 in the occurrence and severity of Diabetes
Authors: Bhattacharya Suman , Khan Md. Mobidullah , Ghosh Chandradipa , Bank Sarbashri , Maiti Smarajit
Published: August 2017

Diabetes is now epidemic worldwide. Several hundred-million peoples are presently suffering from this disease with other secondary-disorders. Stress, hypertension, sedentary life-style, carbohydrate/lipid metabolic-disorders due to genetic or environmental factors attributes to type-1 and/or type-2 diabetes. Present investigation demonstrates that stress-induced protein dermcidin isoform-2 (DCN-2) which appears in the serum of diabetic-patients play a key-role in this disease pathogenesis/severity. DCN-2 suppresses insulin production-release from liver/pancreas. It also increases the insulin-resistance. Stress-induction at the onset/progression of this disease is noticed as the high-level of lipid peroxides/low-level of free-thiols in association with increase of inflammatory-markers c-reactive protein and TNF-α. DCN-2 induced decrease in the synthesis of glucose-activated nitric oxide synthase (GANOS) and lower production of NO in liver has been shown here where NO is demonstrated to lower the expression of glucose trabsporter-4 (GLUT-4) and its translocation on liver membrane surface. This finally impairs glucose transport to organs from the extracellular fluid. Low level of glucose uptake further decreases glucose-induced insulin synthesis. The central role of DCN-2 has been demonstrated in type-1/type-2 diabetic individuals, in rodent hepatocytes and pancreatic-cell, tissue-slices, in-vitro and in-vivo experimental model. It can be concluded that stress-induced decrease in insulin synthesis/function, glucose transport is an interactive consequence of oxidative threats and inflammatory events.
Strong, Ductile, and Thermally Stable bcc-Mg Nanolaminates
Authors: Pathak Siddhartha , Velisavljevic Nenad , Baldwin J. Kevin , Jain Manish , Zheng Shijian , Mara Nathan A. , Beyerlein Irene J.
Published: August 2017

Magnesium has attracted attention worldwide because it is the lightest structural metal. However, a high strength-to-weight ratio remains its only attribute, since an intrinsic lack of strength, ductility and low melting temperature severely restricts practical applications of Mg. Through interface strains, the crystal structure of Mg can be transformed and stabilized from a simple hexagonal (hexagonal close packed hcp) to body center cubic (bcc) crystal structure at ambient pressures. We demonstrate that when introduced into a nanocomposite bcc Mg is far more ductile, 50% stronger, and retains its strength after extended exposure to 200 C, which is 0.5 times its homologous temperature. These findings reveal an alternative solution to obtaining lightweight metals critically needed for future energy efficiency and fuel savings.
Dynamics of nano-confined water in Portland cement - comparison with synthetic C-S-H gel and other silicate materials
Authors: Goracci Guido , Monasterio Manuel , Jansson Helen , Cerveny Silvina
Published: August 2017

The dynamics of water confined in cement materials is still a matter of debate in spite of the fact that water has a major influence on properties such as durability and performance. In this study, we have investigated the dynamics of water confined in Portland cement (OPC) at different curing ages (3 weeks and 4 years after preparation) and at three water-to-cement ratios (w/c, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5). Using broadband dielectric spectroscopy, we distinguish four different dynamics due to water molecules confined in the pores of different sizes of cements. Here we show how water dynamics is modified by the evolution in the microstructure (maturity) and the w/c ratio. The fastest dynamics (processes 1 and 2, representing very local water dynamics) are independent of water content and the degree of maturity whereas the slowest dynamics (processes 3 and 4) are dependent on the microstructure developed during curing. Additionally, we analyze the differences regarding the water dynamics when confined in synthetic C-S-H gel and in the C-S-H of Portland cement.
Psychological Impact of Vehicle Exhaust Exposure: Insights from an Animal Model
Authors: Salvi Ankita , Patki Gaurav , Liu Hesong , Salim Samina
Published: August 2017

Air pollution resulting from exhaust emissions of vehicles has risen in the recent years, reportedly causing major adverse effects on the heart, lungs and the brain. Though respiratory and cardiovascular effects of these emissions are well identified, psychological and neurobiological complications of prolonged exposure to vehicle emissions remain unknown. Pro-oxidants are considered as major constituents of vehicle emissions. This is important considering causal link between oxidative stress and behavioral and cognitive impairments. We hypothesized that prolonged exposure to pro-oxidants in vehicle emissions result in behavioral and cognitive deficits. We developed a simulated vehicle exhaust exposure model in rats. The model used a simulated mixture of vehicle exhaust that comprised of pro-oxidant constituents of exhaust, namely, carbon dioxide (13%), carbon monoxide (0.68%) and nitrogen dioxide (1000 ppm) in air. Rats were exposed either to a high (1:10 dilution) or low (~1:1000 dilution) physiologically relevant dose of simulated mixture in air for two weeks in separate experiments followed by a comprehensive behavioral and cognitive analysis. We observed that prolonged exposure to pro-oxidants in vehicle exhaust increased anxiety-and depression-like behavior as well as led to impaired memory in rats. This is important preclinical evidence, particularly relevant to human population exposed to high vehicular traffic.
Immune cell profiling in cancer: molecular approaches to cell-specific identification
Authors: Lyons Yasmin A. , Wu Sherry Y. , Overwijk Willem W. , Baggerly Keith A. , Sood Anil K.
Published: August 2017

The immune system has many important regulatory roles in cancer development and progression. Given the emergence of effective immune therapies against many cancers, reliable predictors of response are needed. One method of determining response is by evaluating immune cell populations from treated and untreated tumor samples. The amount of material obtained from tumor biopsies can be limited; therefore, gene-based or protein-based analyses may be attractive because they require minimal tissue. Cell-specific signatures are being analyzed with use of the latest technologies, including NanoString’s nCounter technology, intracellular staining flow cytometry, cytometry by time-of-flight, RNA-Seq, and barcoding antibody-based protein arrays. These signatures provide information about the contributions of specific types of immune cells to bulk tumor samples. To date, both tumor tissue and immune cells have been analyzed for molecular expression profiles that can assess genes and proteins that are specific to immune cells, yielding results of varying specificity. Here, we discuss the importance of profiling tumor tissue and immune cells to identify immune-cell-associated genes and proteins and specific gene profiles of immune cells. We also discuss the use of these signatures in cancer treatment and the challenges faced in molecular expression profiling of immune cell populations.
An ultrasensitive enzyme-free electrochemical immunosensor based on redox cycling amplification using methylene blue
Authors: Dutta Gorachand , Lillehoj Peter B.
Published: August 2017

An enzyme-free immunosensor based on methylene blue redox cycling was developed for ultrasensitive analytical measurements in plasma and whole blood samples.
Consecutive reduction, radical-cyclization, and oxidative-dehydrogenation reaction of ortho-substituted diboryl compounds
Authors: Yu Lirong , Li Yanglizhi , Wang Xi , Wang Xingyong , Zhou Panpan , Jiang Shangda , Pan Xiaobo
Published: August 2017

An elegant synthetic route to a ladder-type di-borate compound 2a was reported based on the reduction, radical-cyclization, and oxidative-dehydrogenation reaction of 1.
Development of novel inorganic electrolytes for room temperature rechargeable sodium metal batteries
Authors: Ruiz-Martínez Débora , Kovacs Andras , Gómez Roberto
Published: August 2017

Ammonia liquid solvates are excellent and cost-effective electrolytes for the development of room temperature sodium metal batteries.
Sigmatropic proton shifts: a quantum chemical study
Authors: Wang Yi , Yu Zhi-Xiang
Published: August 2017

Insights into [1,j] sigmatropic proton shifts in polyenyl anions and related conjugated systems have been revealed by quantum chemical calculations.
Indole synthesis by palladium-catalyzed tandem allylic isomerization – furan Diels–Alder reaction
Authors: Xu Jie , Wipf Peter
Published: August 2017

4-(Furan-2-ylamino)but-2-en-1-yl acetates are converted to substituted indoles under microwave heating in the presence of catalytic tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) and triisopropylphosphite.
Schmerz in der geriatrischen und gerontologischen Pflege: ein interdisziplinäres Fallbeispiel
Authors: Zemke Jens
Published: August 2017

Multiprofessioneller Therapieansatz Wie die Zahnräder eines Uhrwerks oder die einzelnen Sportler in einem Ruderboot müssen die
Mitglieder des therapeutischen Teams der Geriatrie zusammenarbeiten, um die Genesung ihrer Patienten voranzutreiben. Seit langem wird diese
Multiprofessionalität nicht nur von den Kostenträgern gefordert, sondern ist auch in Form der Komplexbehandlung für ältere multimorbide
Patienten der optimale Therapieansatz.
Effects of Cannabidiol on Morphine Conditioned Place Preference in Mice
Authors: Markos James , Harris Hannah , Gul Waseem , ElSohly Mahmoud , Sufka Kenneth
Published: August 2017

This study sought to determine whether the cannabis constituent cannabidiol attenuates the development of morphine reward in the conditioned place preference paradigm. Separate groups of mice received either saline or morphine in combination with one of four doses of cannabidiol using three sets of drug/no-drug conditioning trials. After drug-place conditioning, morphine mice displayed robust place preference that was attenuated by 10 mg/kg cannabidiol. Further, when administered alone, this dose of cannabidiol was void of rewarding and aversive properties. The finding that cannabidiol blocks opioid reward suggests that this compound may be useful in addiction treatment settings.
Rational Design of Azo-Azomethine Receptors for Sensing of Inorganic Fluoride: Construction of Molecular Logic Gates and DFT Study
Authors: Khanmohammadi Hamid , Rezaeian Khatereh , Shabani Nafiseh
Published: August 2017

New azo-azomethine receptors, HLn (n = 1–3), have been synthesised via condensation reaction of 5-(4-X-phenyl)-azo-salicylaldehyde (X = NO2, Cl and CH3) with (4-nitrobenzylidene)hydrazine. The receptor with a p-NO2 substituent on the aromatic ring of the azo moiety (HL1) has excellent sensitivity and selectivity towards basic anions with proper discrimination between F− and AcO− or H2PO4− in DMSO–water (4 : 1). A Job’s plot displays a 1 : 1 stoichiometry between HL1 and F− alone with a detection limit of 0.737 μM for fluoride ions. The solvatochromic behaviour of HL1 was probed by studying its UV-vis spectra in four pure organic solvents of different polarities and a meaningful correlation was observed. Furthermore, HL1 was used for detection of inorganic fluoride in toothpaste. The systematic density functional theory (DFT) and time dependent-DFT calculations have been carried out to investigate the mechanism of colourimetric sensing of fluoride ion by HL1 in the gas phase and in solution. Moreover, by using F− and H+ as chemical inputs, and the absorbance as output, a INHIBIT logic gate was constructed, which exhibits ‘Write–Read–Erase–Read’ ability without obvious degradation in its optical output.
Exploring HIV latency using transcription profiling
Authors: Telwatte Sushama , Yukl Steven A
Published: August 2017

The major barrier to a cure for HIV is the existence of reservoirs consisting predominantly of latently infected CD4+ T cells, which do not produce virus constitutively but can be induced to produce infectious virus on activation. HIV latency research has largely focused on peripheral blood, yet most HIV-infected cells reside in tissues, especially the gut, where differences in drug penetration, cell types, and immune responses may impact mechanisms of persistence. Exploring the differences between the gut and the blood in transcriptional blocks may reveal fundamental insights into mechanisms that contribute to HIV latency. Our novel transcriptional profiling assays enable us to determine where blocks to HIV transcription occur in various tissues and the magnitude of their contribution. These assays could also be adapted to investigate latency established by other retroviridae or even DNA viruses such as herpesviridae with a view to pinpointing mechanisms underlying latency in vivo and ultimately contribute to designing a cure.
Bidirectional manipulation of mTOR signaling disrupts socially mediated vocal learning in juvenile songbirds
Authors: Ahmadiantehrani Somayeh , London Sarah E.
Published: August 2017

Significance

We investigated the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling cascade, which is commonly implicated in neurodevelopmental autism spectrum disorders but is almost never studied in juveniles. We demonstrated that experience-dependent activation of mTOR has functional consequences for complex learned behavior using a songbird model that has strong developmental, social, behavioral, neural, and genomic parallels with human vocal communication. Our results highlight the value of investigations that integrate age and experience to understand molecular mechanisms and behavioral outcomes of neurodevelopmental disorders and typical neural development.
Asymmetric percolation drives a double transition in sexual contact networks
Authors: Allard Antoine , Althouse Benjamin M. , Scarpino Samuel V. , Hébert-Dufresne Laurent
Published: August 2017

Significance

Zika virus (ZIKV) continues to be a threat to countries with conditions suitable for transmission, namely adequate temperatures and the presence of competent mosquito vectors. Estimates of risk in other countries based on the sexual transmission of ZIKV may be underestimated because of inadequate surveillance. Here, we formulate random network models of sexual transmission of ZIKV with asymmetric transmission (men being infectious for longer than women) and show that, contrary to previous work, there exists two epidemic thresholds and that certain men who have sex with men communities could sustain transmission on their own. Our results also shed light on a class of processes on random networks by providing a complete analysis of dynamics with multiple critical points.
Morphologies of synaptic protein membrane fusion interfaces
Authors: Gipson Preeti , Fukuda Yoshiyuki , Danev Radostin , Lai Ying , Chen Dong-Hua , Baumeister Wolfgang , Brunger Axel T.
Published: August 2017

Significance

Neurotransmitter release occurs upon fusion of synaptic vesicles with the plasma membrane, and it is orchestrated by synaptic proteins, including SNAREs, synaptotagmin, complexin, and other factors. The system is exquisitely fine-tuned to increase the probability of membrane fusion by orders of magnitude upon Ca
2+
binding to a Ca
2+
sensor, such as synaptotagmin. Although crystal structures are available for some of the key complexes of soluble fragments of synaptic proteins, and the process has been reconstituted, the association of these complexes with the synaptic and plasma membranes remains unclear. We visualized functionally active synaptic proteins reconstituted into proteoliposomes and their interactions in a native membrane environment by electron cryotomography with a Volta phase plate for improved resolvability.
Dynamic changes in H1 subtype composition during epigenetic reprogramming
Authors: Izzo Annalisa , Ziegler-Birling Céline , Hill Peter W.S. , Brondani Lydia , Hajkova Petra , Torres-Padilla Maria-Elena , Schneider Robert
Published: August 2017

In mammals, histone H1 consists of a family of related proteins, including five replication-dependent (H1.1–H1.5) and two replication-independent (H1.10 and H1.0) subtypes, all expressed in somatic cells. To systematically study the expression and function of H1 subtypes, we generated knockin mouse lines in which endogenous H1 subtypes are tagged. We focused on key developmental periods when epigenetic reprogramming occurs: early mouse embryos and primordial germ cell development. We found that dynamic changes in H1 subtype expression and localization are tightly linked with chromatin remodeling and might be crucial for transitions in chromatin structure during reprogramming. Although all somatic H1 subtypes are present in the blastocyst, each stage of preimplantation development is characterized by a different combination of H1 subtypes. Similarly, the relative abundance of somatic H1 subtypes can distinguish male and female chromatin upon sex differentiation in developing germ cells. Overall, our data provide new insights into the chromatin changes underlying epigenetic reprogramming. We suggest that distinct H1 subtypes may mediate the extensive chromatin remodeling occurring during epigenetic reprogramming and that they may be key players in the acquisition of cellular totipotency and the establishment of specific cellular states.
A diacidic motif determines unconventional secretion of wild-type and ALS-linked mutant SOD1
Authors: Cruz-Garcia David , Brouwers Nathalie , Duran Juan M. , Mora Gabriel , Curwin Amy J. , Malhotra Vivek
Published: August 2017

The nutrient starvation-specific unconventional secretion of Acb1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae requires ESCRT-I, -II, and -III and Grh1. In this study, we report that another signal sequence lacking cytoplasmic protein, superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), and its mutant form linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is also secreted by yeast upon nutrient starvation in a Grh1- and ESCRT-I–, -II–, and -III–dependent process. Our analyses reveal that a conserved diacidic motif (Asp-Glu) in these proteins is necessary for their export. Importantly, secretion of wild-type human SOD1 and the ALS-linked mutant in human cells also require the diacidic residues. Altogether, these findings reveal information encoded within the cytoplasmic proteins required for their unconventional secretion and provide a means to unravel the significance of the cytoplasmic versus the secreted form of mutant SOD1 in the pathology of ALS. We also propose how cells, based on a signal-induced change in cytoplasmic physiology, select a small pool of a subset of cytoplasmic proteins for unconventional secretion.
Lipschitz Regularity of Solutions to Two-phase Free Boundary Problems
Authors: De Silva D , Savin O
Published: August 2017

We prove Lipschitz continuity of viscosity solutions to a class of two-phase free boundary problems governed by fully non-linear operators.