bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on the thermal resistance in secondary particles chain of silica aerogel by molecular dynamics simulation
Authors: Liu M. , Qiu L. , Zheng X. H. , Zhu J. , Tang D. W.
Published: September 2014

In this article, molecular dynamics simulation was performed to study the heat transport in secondary particles chain of silica aerogel. The two adjacent particles as the basic heat transport unit were modelled to characterize the heat transfer through the calculation of thermal resistance and vibrational density of states (VDOS). The total thermal resistance of two contact particles was predicted by non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations (NEMD). The defects were formed by deleting atoms in the system randomly first and performing heating and quenching process afterwards to achieve the DLCA (diffusive limited cluster-cluster aggregation) process. This kind of treatment showed a very reasonable prediction of thermal conductivity for the silica aerogels compared with the experimental values. The heat transport was great suppressed as the contact length increased or defect concentration increased. The constrain effect of heat transport was much significant when contact length fraction was in the small range (<0.5) or the defect concentration is in the high range (>0.5). Also, as the contact length increased, the role of joint thermal resistance played in the constraint of heat transport was increasing. However, the defect concentration did not affect the share of joint thermal resistance as the contact length did. VDOS of the system was calculated by numerical method to characterize the heat transport from atomic vibration view. The smaller contact length and greater defect concentration primarily affected the longitudinal acoustic modes, which ultimately influenced the heat transport between the adjacent particles.
Note: Differential amplified high-resolution tilt angle measurement system
Authors: Zhao Shijie , Li Yan , Zhang Enyao , Huang Pei , Wei Haoyun
Published: September 2014

A high-resolution tilt angle measurement system is presented in this paper. In this system, the measurement signal is amplified by two steps: (1) amplified by operational amplifier and (2) differential amplified by two MEMS-based inclinometers. The novel application not only amplifies the signal but, more importantly, substantially reduces the electrical interference and common-mode noise among the same circuit design. Thus, both the extremely high resolution and great long-term stability are achieved in this system. Calibrated by an autocollimator, the system shows a resolution of 2 arc sec. The accuracy is better than ±1.5 arc sec. The zero-drift error is below ±1 arc sec and ±2 arc sec in the short and long term, respectively.
Antenna-boosted mixing of terahertz and near-infrared radiation
Authors: Banks Hunter B. , Hofmann Andrea , Mack Shawn , Gossard Arthur C. , Sherwin Mark S.
Published: September 2014

Using moderate terahertz intensities of approximately 20 kW/cm2 near 0.6 THz, together with simple antennas, we have observed up to 12 sidebands on a near IR laser. The high-order sidebands were generated at room temperature in a membrane containing GaAs/AlGaAs quantum wells. The antennas were rectangular apertures ∼0.2 mm long in a gold film evaporated onto the membrane. Comparing the intensities required to generate comparable sideband spectra with and without antennas, we estimate the local terahertz field was enhanced by a factor of 5 ± 1, in agreement with finite difference time domain calculations.
Impact of electron irradiation on electron holographic potentiometry
Authors: Park J. B. , Niermann T. , Berger D. , Knauer A. , Koslow I. , Weyers M. , Kneissl M. , Lehmann M.
Published: September 2014

While electron holography in the transmission electron microscope offers the possibility to measure maps of the electrostatic potential of semiconductors down to nanometer dimensions, these measurements are known to underestimate the absolute value of the potential, especially in GaN. We have varied the dose rates of electron irradiation over several orders of magnitude and observed strong variations of the holographically detected voltages. Overall, the results indicate that the electron beam generates electrical currents within the specimens primarily by the photovoltaic effect and due to secondary electron emission. These currents have to be considered for a quantitative interpretation of electron holographic measurements, as their negligence contributes to large parts in the observed discrepancy between the measured and expected potential values in GaN.
Direct torsional actuation of microcantilevers using magnetic excitation
Authors: Gosvami Nitya Nand , Nalam Prathima C. , Exarhos Annemarie L. , Tam Qizhan , Kikkawa James M. , Carpick Robert W.
Published: September 2014

Torsional mode dynamic force microscopy can be used for a wide range of studies including mapping lateral contact stiffness, torsional frequency or amplitude modulation imaging, and dynamic friction measurements of various materials. Piezo-actuation of the cantilever is commonly used, but it introduces spurious resonances, limiting the frequency range that can be sampled, and rendering the technique particularly difficult to apply in liquid medium where the cantilever oscillations are significantly damped. Here, we demonstrate a method that enables direct torsional actuation of cantilevers with high uniformity over wide frequency ranges by attaching a micrometer-scale magnetic bead on the back side of the cantilever. We show that when beads are magnetized along the width of the cantilever, efficient torsional actuation of the cantilevers can be achieved using a magnetic field produced from a solenoid placed underneath the sample. We demonstrate the capability of this technique by imaging atomic steps on graphite surfaces in tapping mode near the first torsional resonance of the cantilever in dodecane. The technique is also applied to map the variations in the lateral contact stiffness on the surface of graphite and polydiacetylene monolayers.
Rancière, Politics, and the Occupy Movement
Authors: Bassett Keith
Published: September 2014

This paper focuses on the work of Jacques Rancière, his view of politics, and its relevance for understanding key aspects of social protest movements such as the Occupy movement. The paper outlines some of Rancière's key concepts, such as the distinction between politics and the police, subjectivity, ‘in-between spaces’, and ‘insubstantial communities’, and attempts to locate his concept of politics within a wider spectrum of political forms in order to bring out its distinctive nature. Links are then made to the ideas and practices of the Occupy movement as an expression of politics that Rancière has recently endorsed. The paper concludes with a discussion of some of the critical questions concerning the effectiveness of this style of politics (questions of political organisation and engagement with the state) and the wider consequences for Rancière's concept of radical politics.
Structural Disorder and Classical Spin-Glass Behaviour in Ba3Fe2SbO9
Authors: Auckett Josie E. , Miiller Wojciech , Avdeev Maxim , Kimpton Justin A , Ling Chris D.
Published: September 2014

A new 6H-type perovskite Ba3Fe2SbO9 has been synthesised for the first time. Synchrotron and neutron powder diffraction data reveal complete structural disorder between Sb and Fe in the octahedral perovskite B sites. This results in classical spin-glass behaviour, which we characterise using magnetic susceptibility, magnetisation, and heat capacity measurements, although some evidence is seen for a transition to a partially ordered spin-glass like state below 24 K. The behaviour of Ba3Fe2SbO9 is compared with that of the 6H-type perovskite Ba3Fe2WO9, which displays antiferromagnetic character below TN = 290 K before entering a glassy state below Tf = 60 K. Differences between the magnetism in these two phases are discussed in terms of the complete structural disorder between the Fe and Sb ions in the former case, versus partial disorder (limited to the distribution and local orientation of Fe–W and Fe–Fe dimer units) in the latter.
Understanding food security issues in remote Western Australian Indigenous communities
Authors: Pollard Christina M. , Nyaradi Anett , Lester Matthew , Sauer Kay
Published: September 2014

Issue addressed

Food insecurity in remote Western Australian (WA) Indigenous communities. This study explored remote community store managers' views on issues related to improving food security in order to inform health policy.

Method

A census of all remote WA Indigenous community store managers was conducted in 2010. Telephone interviews sought managers' perceptions of community food insecurity, problems with their store, and potential policy options for improving the supply, accessibility, affordability and consumption of nutritious foods. Descriptive analyses were conducted using SPSS for Windows version 17.0.

Results

Managers stated that freight costs and irregular deliveries contributed to high prices and a limited range of foods. Poor store infrastructure, compromised cold chain logistics, and commonly occurring power outages affected food quality. Half of the managers said there was hunger in their community because people did not have enough money to buy food. The role of nutritionists beyond a clinical and educational role was not understood.

Conclusions

Food security interventions in remote communities need to take into consideration issues such as freight costs, transport and low demand for nutritious foods. Store managers provide important local knowledge regarding the development and implementation of food security interventions.

So what?

Agencies acting to address the issue of food insecurity in remote WA Indigenous communities should heed the advice of community store managers that high food prices, poor quality and limited availability are mainly due to transport inefficiencies and freight costs. Improving healthy food affordability in communities where high unemployment and low household income abound is fundamental to improving food security, yet presents a significant challenge.
Service planning in the Victorian community health sector
Authors: Roussy Véronique , Livingstone Charles
Published: September 2014

Until now, comprehensive service planning has been uncommon in the Victorian community health sector. Where it has occurred, it has primarily been undertaken by community health services embedded within larger, hospital-based health services. Reflections on the utility and efficacy of community health service planning are largely absent from the Australian peer-reviewed literature. Using a case study focussed on a specific centre in Melbourne’s outer suburbs, this paper explores how community health service planning is shaped by the current policy context, the legal status of registered community health services, and the data and methodologies available to inform planning. It argues that regular and systematic service planning could support registered community health centres to better understand their unique position within the primary health-care landscape, having regard to their inherent opportunities and vulnerabilities. Furthermore, consistent and effective service planning is proposed to benefit agencies in establishing themselves as critical players in promoting local population health initiatives and driving improved health outcomes.
Stat3 promotes IL-10 expression in lupus T cells through
trans-
activation and chromatin remodeling
Authors: Hedrich Christian M. , Rauen Thomas , Apostolidis Sokratis A. , Grammatikos Alexandros P. , Rodriguez Rodriguez Noe , Ioannidis Christina , Kyttaris Vasileios C. , Crispin Jose C. , Tsokos George C.
Published: September 2014

Significance

IL-10 is an immune-regulatory cytokine with pro- and anti-inflammatory functions. Through its B cell-stimulating capacities, IL-10 contributes to the differentiation, activation and survival of B cells. Thus, it has been linked with autoimmune disorders, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Here, we demonstrate T cells as a source of increased IL-10 expression in SLE. Reduced DNA methylation of the
IL10
gene allows for transcription-factor recruitment. Increased phosphorylation of the transcription factor Stat3 in SLE T cells results in epigenetic remodeling and
trans
-activation of
IL10
, allowing for IL-10 expression. Thus, our observations offer molecular targets in the search for pathophysiologic mechanisms and target-directed treatment options in SLE.
Reprogramming the specificity of sortase enzymes
Authors: Dorr Brent M. , Ham Hyun Ok , An Chihui , Chaikof Elliot L. , Liu David R.
Published: September 2014

Significance

The modification of proteins has proven to be crucial for many research and industrial applications. The bacterial transpeptidase
Staphylococcus aureus
sortase A (SrtA) is a powerful tool for conjugating proteins to a wide variety of molecules, but is limited to those proteins containing the five amino acid LPXTG sorting motif. Here we present a system for the directed evolution of reprogrammed SrtA variants that accept proteins with altered sorting motifs. We used this system to evolve two families of orthogonal sortases that recognize LAXTG and LPXSG motifs. These evolved sortases enabled the synthesis of triblock fluorophore–protein–PEG conjugates, the covalent and orthogonal functionalization of multiple proteins onto surfaces, and the manipulation of endogenous human proteins lacking a native LPXTG motif.
Transcription factor binding predicts histone modifications in human cell lines
Authors: Benveniste Dan , Sonntag Hans-Joachim , Sanguinetti Guido , Sproul Duncan
Published: September 2014

Significance

The regulation of gene expression is fundamental to biology and is classically predicated on binding of transcription factor proteins to DNA. This view is challenged by large-scale studies correlating gene expression with posttranslational modifications of the histone proteins with which DNA is complexed in cells. Here, we show through a large-scale computational study that histone modifications can be predicted with remarkable accuracy from transcription factor-binding profiles, recapitulating known interactions between transcription factors and chromatin-modifying enzymes. Our results demonstrate that associations between gene expression and histone modifications do not necessarily imply a direct regulatory role for these modifications, but can be explained equally well as an indirect effect of interactions between transcription factors and chromatin-modifying enzymes.
Molecular mechanics of 30S subunit head rotation
Authors: Mohan Srividya , Donohue John Paul , Noller Harry F.
Published: September 2014

Significance

Ribosomes are the site of protein synthesis in all cells. Ribosomal polypeptide synthesis involves reading the information encoded in the mRNA and adding the correct amino acid via a tRNA. Elongation of the polypeptide chain proceeds through translocation, where the ribosome couples the movement of the mRNA and its associated tRNAs by precisely one codon. Translocation requires large-scale movement of the small-subunit head domain of the ribosome. By comparing 55 ribosome structures, we show that movement universally results from coupled hinging at two separate loci in the small subunit. This mechanism explains the mode of action of the antibiotic spectinomycin and suggests a means by which the ribosome controls translocation.
Controlled sumoylation of the mevalonate pathway enzyme HMGS-1 regulates metabolism during aging
Authors: Sapir Amir , Tsur Assaf , Koorman Thijs , Ching Kaitlin , Mishra Prashant , Bardenheier Annabelle , Podolsky Lisa , Bening-Abu-Shach Ulrike , Boxem Mike , Chou Tsui-Fen , Broday Limor , Sternberg Paul W.
Published: September 2014

Significance

The mevalonate pathway plays a critical role in cholesterol homeostasis and cancer development, two major challenges in modern medicine. Consequently, cholesterol-reducing medications (statins) that target this pathway are the best-selling pharmaceutical drugs in history. Beyond regulation of the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, little is known about additional posttranslational regulatory nodes in the mevalonate pathway or how this cascade is controlled with age. We have discovered a regulatory circuit that controls HMGS-1, the first enzyme of the mevalonate pathway, during aging. HMGS-1 is regulated by posttranslational ubiquitination and age-dependent sumoylation. Sumoylation is reversed by the spatiotemporally controlled activity of a specific small ubiquitin-like modifier protease. This conserved molecular circuit could serve as a handle for targeting the mevalonate pathway in future therapeutics.
Validity of a trunk‐mounted accelerometer to assess peak accelerations during walking, jogging and running
Authors: Wundersitz Daniel W. T. , Gastin Paul B. , Richter Chris , Robertson Samuel J. , Netto Kevin J.
Published: September 2014

The purpose of this study was to validate peak acceleration data from an accelerometer contained within a wearable tracking device while walking, jogging and running. Thirty‐nine participants walked, jogged and ran on a treadmill while 10 peak accelerations per movement were obtained (n = 390). A single triaxial accelerometer measured resultant acceleration during all movements. To provide a criterion measure of acceleration, a 12‐camera motion analysis (MA) system tracked the position of a retro‐reflective marker affixed to the wearable tracking device. Peak raw acceleration recorded by the accelerometer significantly overestimated peak MA acceleration (P < 0.01). Filtering accelerometer data improved the relationship with the MA system (P < 0.01). However, only the 10 Hz and 8 Hz cut‐off frequencies significantly reduced the errors found. The walk movement demonstrated the highest accuracy, agreement and precision and the lowest relative errors. Linear increases in error were observed for jog compared with walk and for run compared to both other movements. As the magnitude of acceleration increased, the strength of the relationship between the accelerometer and the criterion measure decreased. These results indicate that filtered accelerometer data provide an acceptable means of assessing peak accelerations, in particular for walking and jogging.
Measures on Cantor sets: The good, the ugly, the bad
Authors: Bezuglyi Sergey , Handelman David
Published: September 2014

We translate Akin’s notion of good (and related concepts) from measures on Cantor sets to traces on dimension groups, and particularly for invariant measures of minimal homeomorphisms (and their corresponding simple dimension groups). This yields characterizations and examples, which translate back to the original context. Good traces on a simple dimension group are characterized by their kernel having dense image in their annihilating set of affine functions on the trace space; this makes it possible to construct many examples with seemingly paradoxical properties.

In order to study the related property of refinability, we consider goodness for sets of measures (traces on dimension groups), and obtain partial characterizations in terms of (special) convex subsets of Choquet simplices.

These notions are also very closely related to unperforation of quotients of dimension groups by convex subgroups (that are not order ideals), and we give partial characterizations. Numerous examples illustrate the results.
One-basedness and reductions of elliptic curves over real closed fields
Authors: Penazzi Davide
Published: September 2014

Building on the positive solution of Pillay’s conjecture we present a notion of “intrinsic” reduction for elliptic curves over a real closed field

K
K

. We compare such a notion with the traditional algebro-geometric reduction and produce a classification of the group of

K
K

-points of an elliptic curve

E
E

with three “real” roots according to the way

E
E

reduces (algebro-geometrically) and the geometric complexity of the “intrinsically” reduced curve.
Selmer companion curves
Authors: Mazur Barry , Rubin Karl
Published: September 2014

We say that two elliptic curves

E
1

,

E
2

E_1, E_2

over a number field

K
K

are

n
n

-Selmer companions for a positive integer

n
n

if for every quadratic character

χ
\chi

of

K
K

, there is an isomorphism
<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="upper S e l Subscript n Baseline left-parenthesis upper E 1 Superscript chi Baseline slash upper K right-parenthesis approximately-equals upper S e l Subscript n Baseline left-parenthesis upper E 2 Superscript chi Baseline slash upper K right-parenthesis">

Sel
n

⁡
(

E
1
χ

/

K
)
≅

Sel
n

⁡
(

E
2
χ

/

K
)

\operatorname {Sel}_n(E_1^\chi /K) \cong \operatorname {Sel}_n(E_2^\chi /K)

between the

n
n

-Selmer groups of the quadratic twists

E
1
χ

E_1^\chi

,

E
2
χ

E_2^\chi

. We give sufficient conditions for two elliptic curves to be

n
n

-Selmer companions, and give a number of examples of non-isogenous pairs of companions.
Thick subcategories of the bounded derived category of a finite group
Authors: Carlson Jon , Iyengar Srikanth
Published: September 2014

A new proof of the classification for tensor ideal thick subcategories of the bounded derived category, and the stable category, of modular representations of a finite group is obtained. The arguments apply more generally to yield a classification of thick subcategories of the bounded derived category of an artinian complete intersection ring. One of the salient features of this work is that it takes no recourse to infinite constructions, unlike previous proofs of these results.
Asymptotics of the densities of the first passage time distributions for Bessel diffusions
Authors: Uchiyama Kôhei
Published: September 2014

This paper concerns the first passage times to a point

a
>
0

a >0

, denoted by

σ
a

\sigma _a

, of Bessel processes. We are interested in the case when the process starts at

x
>
a

x>a

and we compute the densities of the distributions of

σ
a

\sigma _a

to obtain the exact asymptotic forms of them as

t
→
∞

t\to \infty

that are valid uniformly in

x
>
a

x>a

for every order of the Bessel process.
Intertwining operators for the generalized principal series on a symmetric 𝑅-space
Authors: Clerc Jean-Louis
Published: September 2014

Three questions about the intertwining operators for the generalized principal series on a symmetricRR-space are solved: description of the functional kernel, both in the noncompact and in the compact picture, domain of convergence, and meromorphic continuation. A large use is made of the theory of positive Jordan triple systems. The meromorphic continuation of the intertwining integral is achieved via a Bernstein-Sato identity, and a precise description of the poles is obtained.
A note on divisible points of curves
Authors: Bays M. , Habegger P.
Published: September 2014

Let

C
C

be an irreducible algebraic curve defined over a number field and inside an algebraic torus of dimension at least

3
3

. We partially answer a question posed by Levin on points on

C
C

for which a non-trivial power lies again on

C
C

. Our results have connections to Zilber’s Conjecture on Intersections with Tori and yield to methods arising in transcendence theory and the theory of o-minimal structures.
Glycolysis-dependent histone deacetylase 4 degradation regulates inflammatory cytokine production
Authors: Wang Bin , Liu Ting-yu , Lai Chun-Hsiang , Rao Yan-hua , Choi Moon-Chang , Chi Jen-Tsan , Dai Jian-wu , Rathmell Jeffrey C. , Yao Tso-Pang
Published: September 2014

Activation of the inflammatory response is accompanied by a metabolic shift to aerobic glycolysis. Here we identify histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) as a new component of the immunometabolic program. We show that HDAC4 is required for efficient inflammatory cytokine production activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Surprisingly, prolonged LPS treatment leads to HDAC4 degradation. LPS-induced HDAC4 degradation requires active glycolysis controlled by GSK3β and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Inhibition of GSK3β or iNOS suppresses nitric oxide (NO) production, glycolysis, and HDAC4 degradation. We present evidence that sustained glycolysis induced by LPS treatment activates caspase-3, which cleaves HDAC4 and triggers its degradation. Of importance, a caspase-3–resistant mutant HDAC4 escapes LPS-induced degradation and prolongs inflammatory cytokine production. Our findings identify the GSK3β-iNOS-NO axis as a critical signaling cascade that couples inflammation to metabolic reprogramming and a glycolysis-driven negative feedback mechanism that limits inflammatory response by triggering HDAC4 degradation.
Darwinism
Authors: Harley Alexis
Published: September 2014

In 1859 Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life. Evolutionary theory, or the theory of “transmutation” as it was more commonly referred to in the 19th century, was already a live topic in Victorian (and broader Western) intellectual culture, as Darwin explains in the “Historical Sketch of the Recent Progress of Opinion on the Origin of Species,” published with the third edition of the Origin in 1861. For this and other reasons, Darwin’s work became conflated with theories of development, change, and competition more generally, and the mantle of “Darwinism” was co-opted by (and in some cases imposed upon) social theorists, psychologists, as well as other biologists who were in many instances doing work quite different from Darwin’s. Darwin’s most broadly acknowledged contributions to the evolutionary conversation are the theories of natural selection and common descent. His theory of natural selection is an account of the process by which particular traits become more or less common within a population. As Darwin himself puts it: “any being, if it vary however slightly in any manner profitable to itself, under the complex and sometimes varying conditions of life, will have a better chance of surviving, and thus be naturally selected.” The individual that has a better chance of surviving, writes Darwin, “will tend to propagate its new and modified form.” The theory of common descent argues for the shared ancestry of different individuals, varieties, subspecies, species, and genera. Darwin offered many more ideas to biological theory. He coined the concept of sexual selection, developed a now superannuated account of heredity (dubbed “pangenesis”) that describes how parents’ characteristics are transmitted to offspring, and he published discoveries on subjects as diverse as the formation of coral reefs, the movement of plants, and the action of earthworms. To what extent these different endeavors can be characterized as “Darwinism” is no simple question. In many cases, Darwinism signals both more and less than Charles Darwin actually claimed. For instance, although Darwin did not offer a convincing account of how variation was induced, Darwinism is widely supposed to explicate how biological difference and innovation come about. This explanation was in fact provided by genetic theory, which was attached to Darwinism in the 1930s, to form what is known as the “modern evolutionary synthesis.” While Darwinism has obviously long been of interest to scholars in the sciences, it has also attracted the attention of social scientists, historians of ideas, literary and other textual critics, philosophers, and cultural commentators. The disciplinary breadth represented in this article is a testament to the cultural importance and intellectual reach of Darwinism.
Accounting for Ecological Capital
Authors: Ogilvy Susan , Costanza Robert
Published: September 2014

In this article, ecological-capital assets are defined in keeping with economic and accounting convention as classes of durable nonfinancial asset that are used to produce future benefits. Ecological-capital assets are then the principal stock of ecosystem components that provide a flow of goods and services that provide public benefits or that can be transformed into goods and services for trade in markets. The term “natural capital” is synonymous with ecological capital (and is used more frequently in the literature). We prefer “ecological capital” only to emphasize that the other forms of capital (built, human, and social) are not “unnatural.” There is growing recognition that depletion and degradation of ecosystems are threatening the prosperity and stability of economies and societies around the world. This is fueling development of knowledge, policy, practice, and culture to halt and reverse this trend. Supporting these developments is the conceptual model of ecosystems as assets (ecological capital or natural capital) that generate a broad range of benefits for humans (ecosystem goods and services). Using this conceptual model, governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and corporations are beginning to develop accounting methods that would aid in recognizing, avoiding, and potentially reversing past depletion and degradation. The broad aims of these developments are to support teams of managers, practitioners, and policymakers to assure viability and sustainability of enterprises, cities, regions, nations, and the planet as a whole. The viability and sustainability of an enterprise (or nation) are dependent on the effect of their operations and consumption on the assets on which they rely. Judgment requires development of knowledge, methods, and tools for accounting for the effects of product production, sales, and disposal on assets, including human and ecological assets. Not only must these help recognize and avoid depletion, they must also assist people to develop a business case for investment in assets of ecological (and human) capital. Further, due to the dynamic complexity of the assets and their interrelationships, these tools must be practical and able to support continual innovation of technical, ecological, and social practices. Continual innovation of technical, ecological, and social practices requires assimilation of knowledge, techniques, and tools from a broad range of academic disciplines, including management, accounting, economics, psychology, sociology, and ecology. It also requires synthesis and adaptation of this knowledge with practitioner knowledge, including that from business, agriculture, and other industries dependent on natural and regenerative capital assets. This article has been prepared to support the synthesis and development of transdisciplinary research, methods, and tools for accounting for ecological capital. We have included a range of possible avenues of inquiry, research, and solution development.
Law and the Courts
Authors: Whittington Keith E.
Published: September 2014

The historical study of the politics of law and courts precedes and in some ways runs parallel to the study of American political development. The two approaches to law and courts have often had somewhat different emphases. American political development has often emphasized the ways in which judges obstruct the policies of other political actors, while law-and-courts scholars have lately emphasized the ways in which judges operate in tandem with other political actors. The resurgence of historical approaches to studying law and the courts has also brought new interest in the development of legal ideas and the role of political ideology and intellectual constructs in shaping legal decisions.
Genetic relatedness among vaginal and anal isolates of Candida albicans from women with vulvovaginal candidiasis in north-east Brazil
Authors: Araújo Paulo de Medeiros Mariana , Vieira de Melo Ana Patrícia , Gonçalves Sarah Santos , Milan Eveline Pipolo , Chaves Guilherme Maranhão
Published: September 2014

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is one of the most common causes of vaginitis and affects about 75 % of women of reproductive age. In order to better understand the epidemiology and pathogenesis of this disease, we evaluated genetic relatedness among 62 clinical isolates of Candida albicans sequentially obtained from the anus and vagina of patients with sporadic and recurrent VVC. Evaluation of patients’ demographic and clinical data, direct examination, and colony forming units (c.f.u.) counts of vaginal and anal samples were also performed. The genotypes of strains were determined with ABC genotyping and Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD). Genotype A was the most prevalent (93.6 %), followed by genotype C (6.4 %), whereas genotype B was not found. We found the maintenance of the same ABC genotype, regardless of the body site of each patient. Most of the vaginal strains suffered microevolution, whereas most of the anal strains were replaced during the period of study. Vaginal and anal isolates of C. albicans obtained simultaneously from the same patient showed the same ABC genotype and high genetic similarity as determined by RAPD. Genotype A seemed to be dominant in both vaginal and anal isolates of patients with VVC. Our results corroborate the hypothesis that there are ‘substrains’ of the C. albicans vaginal clone successfully established, which dominate in an apparently random manner over the course of time. It is suggested that the anal reservoir constitutes a possible source for vaginal infection in most of the cases.
Styrene oxide isomerase of Sphingopyxis sp. Kp5.2
Authors: Oelschlägel Michel , Zimmerling Juliane , Schlömann Michael , Tischler Dirk
Published: September 2014

Styrene oxide isomerase (SOI) catalyses the isomerization of styrene oxide to phenylacetaldehyde. The enzyme is involved in the aerobic styrene catabolism via side-chain oxidation and allows the biotechnological production of flavours. Here, we reported the isolation of new styrene-degrading bacteria that allowed us to identify novel SOIs. Out of an initial pool of 87 strains potentially utilizing styrene as the sole carbon source, just 14 were found to possess SOI activity. Selected strains were classified phylogenetically based on 16S rRNA genes, screened for SOI genes and styrene-catabolic gene clusters, as well as assayed for SOI production and activity. Genome sequencing allowed bioinformatic analysis of several SOI gene clusters. The isolate Sphingopyxis sp. Kp5.2 was most interesting in that regard because to our knowledge this is the first time it was shown that a member of the family Sphingomonadaceae utilized styrene as the sole carbon source by side-chain oxidation. The corresponding SOI showed a considerable activity of 3.1 U (mg protein)–1. Most importantly, a higher resistance toward product inhibition in comparison with other SOIs was determined. A phylogenetic analysis of SOIs allowed classification of these biocatalysts from various bacteria and showed the exceptional position of SOI from strain Kp5.2.
Yersinia murine toxin is not required for early-phase transmission of Yersinia pestis by Oropsylla montana (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae) or Xenopsylla cheopis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae)
Authors: Johnson Tammi L. , Hinnebusch B. Joseph , Boegler Karen A. , Graham Christine B. , MacMillan Katherine , Montenieri John A. , Bearden Scott W. , Gage Kenneth L. , Eisen Rebecca J.
Published: September 2014

Plague, caused by Yersinia pestis, is characterized by quiescent periods punctuated by rapidly spreading epizootics. The classical ‘blocked flea’ paradigm, by which a blockage forms in the flea’s proventriculus on average 1–2 weeks post-infection (p.i.), forces starving fleas to take multiple blood meals, thus increasing opportunities for transmission. Recently, the importance of early-phase transmission (EPT), which occurs prior to blockage formation, has been emphasized during epizootics. Whilst the physiological and molecular mechanisms of blocked flea transmission are well characterized, the pathogen–vector interactions have not been elucidated for EPT. Within the blocked flea model, Yersinia murine toxin (Ymt) has been shown to be important for facilitating colonization of the midgut within the flea. One proposed mechanism of EPT is the regurgitation of infectious material from the flea midgut during feeding. Such a mechanism would require bacteria to colonize and survive for at least brief periods in the midgut, a process that is mediated by Ymt. Two key bridging vectors of Y. pestis to humans, Oropsylla montana (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae) or Xenopsylla cheopis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae), were used in our study to test this hypothesis. Fleas were infected with a mutant strain of Y. pestis containing a non-functional ymt that was shown previously to be incapable of colonizing the midgut and were then allowed to feed on SKH-1 mice 3 days p.i. Our results show that Ymt was not required for EPT by either flea species.
OutKnocker: a web tool for rapid and simple genotyping of designer nuclease edited cell lines
Authors: Schmid-Burgk Jonathan L. , Schmidt Tobias , Gaidt Moritz M. , Pelka Karin , Latz Eicke , Ebert Thomas S. , Hornung Veit
Published: September 2014

The application of designer nucleases allows the induction of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) at user-defined genomic loci. Due to imperfect DNA repair mechanisms, DSBs can lead to alterations in the genomic architecture, such as the disruption of the reading frame of a critical exon. This can be exploited to generate somatic knockout cell lines. While high genome editing activities can be achieved in various cellular systems, obtaining cell clones that contain all-allelic frameshift mutations at the target locus of interest remains a laborious task. To this end, we have developed an easy-to-follow deep sequencing workflow and the evaluation tool OutKnocker (www.OutKnocker.org), which allows convenient, reliable, and cost-effective identification of knockout cell lines.
Monomolecular sheets of propeller-shaped triethyl 4,4′,4′′-[benzene-1,3,5-triyltris(ethyne-2,1-diyl)]tribenzoate deuterochloroform monosolvate
Authors: Knežević Nikola Ž. , Novaković Sladjana B. , Bogdanović Goran A.
Published: September 2014

The title compound, C39H30O6·CDCl3, has a chemical threefold axis and an approximately planar structure, with an ethoxycarbonyl substituent on each of the terminal benzenes oriented in the same direction, thus forming a propeller-shaped molecule. This molecule is of particular interest in the field of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), where its hydrolyzed analogue forms MOF structures with high surface areas. The benzene ring which occupies the centre of the molecule forms π–π interactions to the equivalent benzene ring at a perpendicular distance of 3.32 (1) Å. Centrosymmetric dimers formed in this way are interconnected by intermolecular C—H...π interactions with a rather short H...CgAdistance of 2.51 Å (CgAis the centroid of the central benzene ring). The molecules are arranged in regular parallel sheets. Within a sheet, molecules are interconnectedviaC—H...O interactions where all carbonyl O atoms participate in weak hydrogen bonds as hydrogen-bond acceptors. Neighbouring sheets are connected through the above-mentioned π–π and C—H...π interactions.
Updating conservation priorities over 111 years of species observations
Authors: Milt Austin W. , Palmer Sally R. , Armsworth Paul R.
Published: September 2014

Observations of species occurrences are often used to inform spatial prioritizations for the effective use of limited conservation resources. Additional species observations have the potential to change where a conservation group plans to invest. But by how much? How different would conservation priorities be if planners updated current observations with the information they will have next year?

We sought to address these questions using a 111‐year data set that reflects commonly used collection and prioritization practices. We quantify changes in the ranking of Tennessee watersheds brought on by annual additions of species observations made between 1900 and 2010. We ranked watersheds by their complementary contribution to overall species richness. We examine the sensitivity of our results to the number of watersheds prioritized.

We expected the effect of new observations to diminish as the data set grew, and we found this to be the case. Importantly, however, additional observations may continue to significantly change conservation priorities in the future if current data collection trends continue.

We found that, overall, additional observations can greatly affect priorities and that this result is sensitive to the number of watersheds ranked. Thus, the extent of planning activities moderates the effect of including additional data.

Synthesis and applications. Long‐term, opportunistically collected data of species locations are commonly used in conservation planning. We find that when using such data, additional species observations significantly affect subsequent priorities. This effect is most pronounced when data are sparse. As such, data collection should be a focus of very early conservation actions in new areas. Even in well‐studied areas, however, additional observations may continue to change spatial priorities into the future, and so while data collection can decrease in well‐studied areas, it should continue at a lower intensity. Our methods could also be used to determine the balance of data collection and conservation action in a new location.
State-Istics and Statistics: Exclusion Categories in the Population Census (Belgium, 1846-1930)
Authors: Louckx Kaat , Vanderstraeten Raf
Published: September 2014

During most of the nineteenth century, the etymology of the term ‘statistics’ was still much alive: statistics was state-istics, the empirical study of the state. It has been argued that the nineteenth-century avalanche of printed numbers gave rise to a new discourse about society. Not only was society conceived of as a population; the corps social (Quetelet) was also conceptualized as a subject of statistics. An important contribution of this state-istics was to conceive a new sort of object, which could be both the target of research and of policy interventions. On the basis of a case-study of all the Belgian population censuses taken before the Second World War, we attempt to articulate the complex interactions between science, government, and society in the modern era. We thereby direct our attention to the range of exclusions and exclusion places that appeared in these censuses. Our analysis highlights the intimate relationship between population and territory in the ‘search engines’ of the statisticians. The discursive constitution of territorial exclusions allows us to analyse the articulation of inclusion ideals – in the period before such ideals became firmly institutionalized in the so-called welfare state of the postwar period.
Sociology and the European Court of Human Rights
Authors: Johnson Paul
Published: September 2014

This article offers a sociological analysis of the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). Adopting a sociological jurisprudence approach, the article aims to demonstrate the unique and valuable contribution that sociology can make to understanding key aspects of international human rights law. Whilst the article seeks to develop an agenda for critical sociological research on human rights law, it also aims to persuade those charged with the supervision of human rights of the value of sociological analysis. To achieve this, the article focuses on three separate but inter-related aspects of ECtHR jurisprudence: first, it considers the ECtHR's approach to consensus in its adjudication of human rights complaints; second, it examines the social control implications of the ECtHR's decisions and judgments; and third, it assesses how conceptualizations of social identity are often foundational to the ECtHR's reasoning.
Effects of 1 year long‐term freezing with different preservatives on milk cholesterol, progesterone and lactoferrin determination
Authors: Altenhofer Christian , Pfaffl Michael , Viturro Enrique
Published: September 2014

This study was performed to determine the effects of long‐term freezing on milk composition and to evaluate the possible effects on analysis of four preservative substances (Azidiol, Kathon CG, NaOH and Thiomersal) on the determination of milk cholesterol, progesterone and lactoferrin concentration. Collected milk was separated in aliquots, stored at 20 °C in 10mL plastic vials and analysed after 1, 6 and 12 months. It could be shown that the preservatives are not equally appropriate for all analysing methods used in this experiment. Preservatives and storage conditions for milk samples have to be carefully selected during the study design depending on the parameters to be measured.
related: an R package for analysing pairwise relatedness from codominant molecular markers
Authors: Pew Jack , Muir Paul H. , Wang Jinliang , Frasier Timothy R.
Published: September 2014

Analyses of pairwise relatedness represent a key component to addressing many topics in biology. However, such analyses have been limited because most available programs provide a means to estimate relatedness based on only a single estimator, making comparison across estimators difficult. Second, all programs to date have been platform specific, working only on a specific operating system. This has the undesirable outcome of making choice of relatedness estimator limited by operating system preference, rather than being based on scientific rationale. Here, we present a new R package, called related, that can calculate relatedness based on seven estimators, can account for genotyping errors, missing data and inbreeding, and can estimate 95% confidence intervals. Moreover, simulation functions are provided that allow for easy comparison of the performance of different estimators and for analyses of how much resolution to expect from a given data set. Because this package works in R, it is platform independent. Combined, this functionality should allow for more appropriate analyses and interpretation of pairwise relatedness and will also allow for the integration of relatedness data into larger R workflows.
Fine‐tuned regulation of the dissimilatory nitrite reductase gene by oxygen and nitric oxide in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Kuroki Miho , Igarashi Yasuo , Ishii Masaharu , Arai Hiroyuki
Published: September 2014

Nitrite reductase (NIR) catalyses the reduction of nitrite to nitric oxide (NO) in the denitrification pathway. In Pseudomonas aeruginosa, expression of the gene encoding NIR (nirS) is induced by NO and is under control of the NO‐sensing regulator DNR (dissimilatory nitrate respiration regulator). Because DNR is under control of the oxygen‐sensing regulator ANR (anaerobic regulator of arginine deiminase and nitrate reductase), nirS is expressed only under low oxygen and anaerobic conditions. Both ANR and DNR are FNR (fumarate and nitrate reductase regulator)‐type regulators and recognize the consensus FNR‐binding motif. The motif of the nirS promoter is thought to be recognized only by DNR, and not by ANR. Here, mutant strains expressing either ANR or DNR were constructed and used to analyse the role of ANR and DNR in the activation of nirS expression. Analysis of transcriptional activity by microarray and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction revealed that nirS is transcribed under low oxygen conditions in an ANR‐dependent manner, although the expression level was 10‐fold lower than that of the DNR‐dependent expression. An artificial promoter containing the FNR‐binding motif of the nirS promoter was also twofold upregulated by ANR. These results indicate that low‐level expression of NIR in the presence of nitrite may provide NO as a trigger for the full expression of denitrification genes when oxygen is depleted.