bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Feasibility and acceptability of a telephone‐ and face‐to‐face‐delivered counseling intervention for smoking cessation in Dutch patients with coronary heart disease
Authors: Berndt Nadine , Lechner Lilian , Mudde Aart , De Vries Hein , Bolman Catherine
Published: July 2017

Intensive behavioral counseling interventions combined with nicotine replacement therapy have increased smoking abstinence rates in cardiac patients, but little is known about their feasibility when initiated upon hospital admission and continued post‐discharge. The current study was an evaluation of the use, appreciation, and fidelity of two post‐discharge counseling interventions designed for cardiac patients to quit smoking that differed in their delivery mode. In a controlled trial with cross‐over randomization at the cardiac unit level, hospitalized smokers in eight cardiac units of eight Dutch hospitals were assigned either telephone counseling (n = 223) or nurse‐administered face‐to‐face counseling (n = 157) using the Ask‐Advise‐Refer strategy. Eligible patients also received nicotine replacement therapy. Data based on counselors’ registration forms and patients’ telephone surveys at 6‐month follow‐up were analyzed. Most patients (>90%) participated in at least one counseling session, and the majority participated in at least five out of a maximum of seven sessions. Higher levels of adherence to either the telephone or face‐to‐face counseling sessions were associated with higher smoking abstinence rates at the 6‐month follow‐up, whereas higher nicotine patch use was not associated with abstinence. Patients positively evaluated the content, duration, and number of sessions, and rated the face‐to‐face counseling significantly better than the telephone counseling for quitting smoking. The counselors largely complied with the intervention protocols. The current intervention offers evidence of feasibility and may improve outpatient continuity of smoking care. Monitoring the use and delivery of such complex interventions is recommended to promote effective dissemination in cardiac practice.
Ethical and legal landmines: Causal inference in special education decisions
Authors: Sadeh Shanna , Sullivan Amanda L.
Published: July 2017

In this article, we discuss conflict between law and science relative to the presumption in special education law that multidisciplinary teams and others identify the causes of problems giving rise to special education needs. First, we explain eligibility criteria, highlighting ambiguities therein and why criteria constitute a mandate for causal inference, and present illustrative examples of how judges have interpreted this mandate. Second, we discuss as a counterpoint school psychologists’ ethical duties to conduct evaluations based on the best available science, and highlight the clear conflicts between the law, ethics, and research. We present the biopsychosocial model of development as a potential framework for reconciling one's legal duty to infer causation with the current evidence base. We conclude with implications for policy and practice and suggestions for future research.
Intervention research productivity from 2005 to 2014: Faculty and university representation in school psychology journals
Authors: Villarreal Victor , Umaña Ileana
Published: July 2017

The purpose of this study was to identify authors and training programs making the most frequent contributions to intervention research published in six school psychology journals (School Psychology Review, School Psychology Quarterly, Journal of School Psychology, Psychology in the Schools, School Psychology International, and Journal of Applied School Psychology) over the 10‐year period from 2005 to 2014. A total of 310 articles were identified as intervention articles; 919 unique authors, representing 289 universities or organizations, contributed to these publications. Top‐ranked authors and universities were identified based on authorship rating and total publications, respectively. This evaluation highlights key contributors to the primary intervention research in school psychology, as well as themes of the publications of top‐ranked individuals and programs.
Mapping targetable inflammation and outcomes with cystic fibrosis biomarkers
Authors: Giddings Olivia , Esther Charles R.
Published: July 2017

Cystic fibrosis is characterized by an overly exuberant neutrophilic inflammatory response to pathogens and other stimuli that starts very early in disease. The overwhelming nature of this response is a primary cause of remodeling and destruction of the airways, suggesting that anti‐inflammatory therapies could be beneficial in CF. However, finding therapies that can effectively reduce the inflammatory response without compromising host defenses remains elusive. New approaches towards mapping inflammatory targets promise to aid in developing novel therapeutic strategies and improve outcomes in individuals with CF.
Evaluating a push–pull strategy for management of Drosophila suzukii Matsumura in red raspberry
Authors: Wallingford Anna K , Cha Dong H , Loeb Gregory M
Published: July 2017

BACKGROUND

Drosophila suzukii Matsumura is a serious pest of small fruits that lays its eggs in growing fruit. Current management strategies rely on an unsustainable schedule of foliar applications of chemical insecticides. Alternative approaches to suppressing oviposition are under investigation, such as attract‐and‐kill and the use of oviposition deterrents. Here, we evaluated two behavioral control approaches in combination as a push–pull strategy using laboratory and field assays.

RESULTS

In laboratory caged assays, both an attractive mass trapping device (pull) and an oviposition deterrent (push: 1‐octen‐3‐ol) reduced oviposition by D. suzukii, and the combination of the two (push–pull) resulted in significantly greater reduction than either treatment alone. In field experiments, oviposition reduction was observed in fruit from plots treated with oviposition deterrent (push) or a combination of mass trapping devices and deterrent (push–pull) compared with fruit from control plots. However, oviposition in plots with mass trapping devices (pull) was higher than observed in all other treatments. Additionally, the protection provided by the deterrent in push plots extended to the entire plot rather than just in fruit closest to deterrent dispensers.

CONCLUSION

Push–pull treatments negatively affected D. suzukii infestation in both laboratory and field experiments. The reduction in oviposition observed in laboratory experiments was based on the additive effect of push and pull components acting on a finite population, while the reduction observed in field experiments appeared to be mainly based on the effect of pull components. We discuss potential underlying reasons for the discrepancy results and suggest potential improvements. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Programmable magnetic domain evolution in magnetic auxetic systems
Authors: Dudek K. K. , Wolak W. , Dudek M. R. , Caruana‐Gauci R. , Gatt R. , Wojciechowski K. W. , Grima J. N.
Published: July 2017

In this work, we investigate the evolution of magnetic domains with time in magnetic auxetic systems using the Ising model. We show that the mechanical deformation of the structure affects the way how domains evolve and that their rate of growth does not follow a well‐known power law associated with the Ising model for systems corresponding to a specific distance between Ising spins. We also show that the variation in the rate of deformation of the system leads to completely different results in terms of the change in size of magnetic domains and domain energy. This means that upon changing the speed used to deform the system, it is possible to control the growth of magnetic domains and hence control the magnetic properties of the whole system. This may prove to be very important in the case of potential applications such as magnetic freezers where the magnetocaloric effect resulting with a change in temperature could be affected by the rate of deformation of the discussed auxetic structure.
Syntheses and Crystal Structures of Three Organically Templated Gallium Phosphates
Authors: Han Song‐De , Xue Zhen‐Zhen , Pan Jie , Li Jin‐Hua , Wang Guo‐Ming , Wang Zong‐Hua
Published: July 2017

Three open‐framework gallium phosphates [C6H16N2][Ga(HPO4)(PO4)] (1), {H[C6H16N2]2[Ga7(OH)2(PO4)8]} (2), and {H[C4H12N2]2[Ga7(OH)2(PO4)8]·2H2O} (3) were solvothermally synthesized in the presence of 2,6‐dimethylpyrazine, N‐ethylpiperazine, and piperazine as templates, respectively. Compound 1 possesses an infinite one‐dimensional chain structure connected by hydrogen‐bond interactions to generate a 3D supramolecular framework. Compounds 2 and 3 show similar inorganic framework structures, which may be viewed as the assembly of a secondary building unit (SBU), Ga6P8 containing two GaO4, two GaO5, two GaO6 as well as eight PO4 groups. The SBUs are linked with each other by vertex‐sharing oxygen atoms to form 2D sheets, which are further connected by GaO4 tetrahedra to result in the final 3D open‐framework with left‐ and right‐handed helical chains. In these materials, the well‐ordered organic species reside in the voids of structures and interact with the framework by way of hydrogen bonds.
Colon Perfusion Patterns During Colorectal Resection Using Visible Light Spectroscopy
Authors: Hoffmann Henry , Delko Tarik , Kirchhoff Philipp , Rosenthal Rachel , Schäfer Juliane , Kraljević Marko , Kettelhack Christoph
Published: July 2017

Background

The impact of blood supply to the anastomosis on development of anastomotic leakage is still a matter of debate. Considering that bowel perfusion may be affected by manipulation during surgery, perfusion assessment of the anastomosis alone may be of limited value. We propose perfusion assessment at different time points during surgery to explore the dynamics of bowel perfusion during colorectal resection and its impact on outcome.

Methods

In this prospective cohort study, patients undergoing elective colorectal resection were eligible. Colon perfusion was evaluated using visible light spectroscopy. Main outcome was the difference in colon perfusion, quantified by measuring tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) in the colonic serosa, before and after anastomosis during surgery.

Results

We included 58 patients between July 2013 and November 2015. Colon perfusion increased by an average of 5.9% StO2 during surgery (95% confidence interval 3.1, 8.8; P < 0.001). The number of patients with abnormal perfusion (defined as StO2 < 65%) decreased from 50% at the beginning to 24% by the end of surgery. Six patients (10%) developed anastomotic leaks (AL), of which five patients had abnormal perfusion at the beginning of surgery, whereas four patients had normal StO2 at the anastomosis.

Conclusion

Colon perfusion significantly increased during colorectal surgery. Considering that one quarter of patients had suboptimal anastomotic perfusion without developing AL, impaired blood flow at the anastomosis alone does not seem to be critical. Further investigations including more patients are necessary to evaluate the impact of perioperative parameters on colon perfusion, anastomotic healing and surgical outcome.
Undiagnosed Liver Fibrosis in Patients Undergoing Pancreatoduodenectomy for Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Gdowski Andrew , Osman Houssam , Butt Umar , Foster Steve , Jeyarajah Dhiresh Rohan
Published: July 2017

Background

Chronic obstruction of the biliary system may cause hepatic fibrosis and liver failure. The purpose of this study was to define the incidence of unrecognized liver fibrosis in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD).

Methods

Retrospective data were collected on patients undergoing PD during a 21‐month period. Each patient had a core needle biopsy at the time of surgery by a hepatobiliary surgeon.

Results

This study identified 36 consecutive patients who were referred to a tertiary center and underwent pancreatoduodenectomy during a period of 21 months. The majority of patients, 32 (88.8%), were diagnosed with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Liver fibrosis was diagnosed in 23 (63.9%) patients. A total of 25 (69.4%) patients were found to have pathological evidence of cholestasis consistent with bile obstruction. Patients that were found to have evidence of obstruction had significantly increased odds that fibrosis stage 2 would be found on pathological diagnosis (OR 6.75, 95% CI 1.20–38.02, Fisher’s exact test P value = 0.0312). There was no significant association in patients who were stented compared to non‐stented patients and their diagnosis of high‐grade fibrosis stage 2 (OR 1.5238, 95% CI 0.4019–5.7769, Fisher’s exact test P value = 0.7360).

Conclusions

An astonishing 63.9% of patients who underwent PD were diagnosed with stage 1–4 liver fibrosis and half (47.2%) had fibrosis stage of 2 or more. Further, stent status had no significant impact on the degree of liver fibrosis. Liver fibrosis is currently underrecognized in patients undergoing PD, which is important for physicians to be conscious of as it is known that liver fibrosis increases morbidity and mortality.
Correlation of Joint Volume and Passive Range of Motion With Capsulo‐Synovial Thickness Measured by Contrast‐Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Adhesive Capsulitis
Authors: Lee Yong‐Taek , Chun Kwang‐Soo , Yoon Kyung Jae , Park Hee‐Jin , Lee So‐Yeon , Kim Eugene , Park Young Sook , Seo Kyoung‐Ho
Published: July 2017

Background

No study has investigated the relationship between the findings of contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE‐MRI) and the joint volume of the shoulder, which has been considered the standard reference for diagnosis of adhesive capsulitis (AC).

Objective

To investigate the relationships among the capsulo‐synovial thickness measured by CE‐MRI, joint volume, and passive range of motion (ROM) in patients with AC.

Design

This was a retrospective study.

Setting

The study took place at an institutional practice.

Patients

Medical record of 103 patients (46 male and 57 female), who were treated with sonographically guided intra‐articular injection with diagnosis of AC and underwent CE‐MRI to rule out other concomitant shoulder disease, were retrospectively reviewed.

Methods

Passive ROM and glenohumeral joint (GHJ) volume were measured before and during sonographically guided injection. The thickness of the enhancing portion of the capsulo‐synovium was measured at the axillary recess and rotator interval on CE‐MRI.

Main Outcome Measurements

The relationship among the thickness of the enhancing portion on CE‐MRI, GHJ volume, and passive ROM was analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficient.

Results

Capsulo‐synovial thickness measured by CE‐MRI at the enhancing portion of the axillary recess inversely correlated with GHJ volume (ρ = −0.444, P < .001), whereas at the rotator interval, this finding was not observed. At the axillary recess, the capsulo‐synovial thickness inversely correlated with abduction (ρ = −0.400, P < .001), forward elevation (ρ = −0.378, P < .001), and external rotation (ρ = −0.297, P < .01), but at the rotator interval, such statistically significant correlations were not shown.

Conclusion

The capsulo‐synovial thickness measured by CE‐MRI at the enhancing portion of the axillary recess could represent obliterated joint capacity and clinical impairment (restricted passive ROM), which could help in diagnosing AC and in differentiating other shoulder diseases that may mimic this condition.

Level of Evidence

III
Global Migration Law and Regional Free Movement: Compliance and Adjudication – The Case of South America
Authors: Acosta Diego
Published: July 2017

The field of global migration law looks beyond international law to incorporate all levels of the law, including the regional. This essay explores the regional regulation of mobility, which has indeed become a central subject of discussion and academic analysis. The expansion of human rights law coupled with the explosion of regional processes of integration are the two most important phenomena that have limited the state's capacity to restrict the entry of foreigners and their rights. It should come as no surprise that regional agreements facilitating mobility have proliferated and now involve around 120 countries, either at a bilateral or multilateral level. For one thing, most global migration is regional, whether in Europe, Africa, Asia, or Southern and Central America. In addition, regional instruments can be agreed on more rapidly and, in principle, introduce higher standards of protection and rights due to the more limited number of actors involved in the negotiations. There is, of course, huge variation across regions as to the degree of development of the various agreements, the categories of individuals entitled to mobility and equal treatment and their effective application and enforcement mechanism devices.
The SkyMapper Transient Survey
Authors: Scalzo R. A. , Yuan F. , Childress M. J. , Möller A. , Schmidt B. P. , Tucker B. E. , Zhang B. R. , Onken C. A. , Wolf C. , Astier P. , Betoule M. , Regnault N.
Published: July 2017

The SkyMapper 1.3 m telescope at Siding Spring Observatory has now begun regular operations. Alongside the Southern Sky Survey, a comprehensive digital survey of the entire southern sky, SkyMapper will carry out a search for supernovae and other transients. The search strategy, covering a total footprint area of ~2 000 deg2with a cadence of ⩽5 d, is optimised for discovery and follow-up of low-redshift type Ia supernovae to constrain cosmic expansion and peculiar velocities. We describe the search operations and infrastructure, including a parallelised software pipeline to discover variable objects in difference imaging; simulations of the performance of the survey over its lifetime; public access to discovered transients; and some first results from the Science Verification data.
Nonverbal contention and contempt in U.K. parliamentary oversight hearings on fiscal and monetary policy
Authors: Schonhardt-Bailey Cheryl
Published: July 2017

In parliamentary committee oversight hearings on fiscal policy, monetary policy, and financial stability, where verbal deliberation is the focus, nonverbal communication may be crucial in the acceptance or rejection of arguments proffered by policymakers. Systematic qualitative coding of these hearings in the 2010–15 U.K. Parliament finds the following: (1) facial expressions, particularly in the form of anger and contempt, are more prevalent in fiscal policy hearings, where backbench parliamentarians hold frontbench parliamentarians to account, than in monetary policy or financial stability hearings, where the witnesses being held to account are unelected policy experts; (2) comparing committees across chambers, hearings in the House of Lords committee yield more reassuring facial expressions relative to hearings in the House of Commons committee, suggesting a more relaxed and less adversarial context in the former; and (3) central bank witnesses appearing before both the Lords and Commons committees tend toward expressions of appeasement, suggesting a willingness to defer to Parliament.
From Hankel Operators to Carleson Measures in a Quaternionic Variable
Authors: Arcozzi Nicola , Sarfatti Giulia
Published: July 2017

We introduce and study Hankel operators defined on the Hardy space of regular functions of a quaternionic variable. Theorems analogous to those of Nehari and Fefferman are proved.
Nationalizing the Consumption of Tea for the Hindi Reader: The Indian Tea Market Expansion Board's advertisement campaign
Authors: NIJHAWAN SHOBNA
Published: July 2017

In analysing a campaign launched by the Indian Tea Market Expansion Board in a Hindi literary periodical, this article seeks to read tea advertisements within the cultural history of gendered lives and nationalism in the decade leading up to Indian Independence. More specifically, it explores how multiple versions of feminized Indian modernity came to feature in the construction of black tea as a healthy, social, and national beverage. As the habit and custom of tea drinking was not common amongst the Indian population of the first half of the twentieth century, the advertisements focused on the creation of a culture of ‘proper’ tea preparation and ‘correct’ consumption. Not only did the middle-class woman and her family feature centrally in these advertisements; aristocratic and working women as well as movie actresses were all associated with the beverage drunk to reenergize and savour. While the advertisements addressed middle-class society and consciousness, this article argues that they did so by also drawing on, and not distancing from, diverse class, caste, and professional contexts.
Figurines of the Anatolian Early Bronze Age: the assemblage from Koçumbeli-Ankara
Authors: Atakuman Çiğdem
Published: July 2017

Through analysis of a figurine assemblage from the site of Koçumbeli-Ankara, this study aims to re-evaluate the origins, meanings and functions of the Early Bronze Age (third millennium BC) anthropomorphic figurines of Anatolia. Conventional typological approaches to figurines are often focused on their origins and sex; however, such approaches hinder an understanding of the context of the norms of production, display and discard within which the figurines become more meaningful. Following an examination of breakage patterns and the decorative aspects of the Koçumbeli assemblage, a comparative review of figurine find contexts, raw materials and abstraction scales in Anatolia is provided, so that the social concerns underlying the use of these figurines can be explored. It is concluded that the origins of the figurines are difficult to pinpoint, due to the presence of similar items across a variety of regions of the Near East from the later Neolithic onwards. The sex of the figurines is equally ambiguous; while some human sexual features can be discerned, it is difficult to decide whether these features are ‘male’, ‘female’, both or beyond classification. Alternatively, the decoration, breakage and find contexts of the figurines suggest that the imagery was embedded in more complex perceptions of social status, death and social regeneration. The need for materialisation of these concerns in the form of the figurines could be related to the development of a new social landscape of interaction leading to political centralisation by the second millennium BC. Furthermore, the figurines were produced through a meaningful linking of particular raw materials and particular abstraction scales to particular use contexts, which seems to have shifted during the centralisation process.
Crimean Tatars in explorative and travel writing: 1782–1802
Authors: Teissier Beatrice
Published: July 2017

This article discusses the portrayal of Crimea, particularly Crimean Tatars and their culture, through the writings of nine men and women who travelled in the region in the late 18th century. These writers travelled in different capacities and represent a diversity of viewpoints; they include figures of the Russian academic and political establishment and western European travellers, with or without Russian affiliations. The article sets their writings in the context of the imperial Russian rhetoric of conquest associated with the annexation of Crimea in 1783 and Catherine II's tour of the area four years later. This rhetoric remains relevant today through the marked persistence of certain historic tropes in contemporary Russian attitudes towards Crimea. The article also discusses the writers’ responses to Crimea in the light of broader Enlightenment tropes in travel writing and ethnographic observation. It examines the extent to which the travellers’ accounts of Crimea were shaped by notions of ancient Greek heritage, Scythians and ‘Tartar hordes’, attitudes towards the Ottoman Empire (Crimea had previously been an Ottoman protectorate) and Islam, and 18th-century orientalism.
The Hittite title Tuhkanti revisited: towards a precise characterisation of the office
Authors: Orozco Albert Planelles
Published: July 2017

It is nowadays commonly accepted that the Hittite title Tuhkanti refers to the heir to the throne of Hattusa. However, while there are plenty of biographical works about individuals who held the title, there is a remarkable lack of studies about the position itself. Furthermore, there has until now been no complete compilation of the attestations of the word. With the aim of revisiting the role and the identity of the officer, this article catalogues all the occurrences of the term in Hittite contexts. Secondly, it offers a partially new characterisation of the office based on consideration of all the (currently known) attestations. The final picture that emerges diverts from the regular definition of a crown prince and reveals a type of emergency office, instituted in exceptional circumstances in order to reinforce the reigning dynasty.
HEALTH-LED GROWTH SINCE 1800
Authors: Madsen Jakob B.
Published: July 2017

This paper argues that the marked reduction in the burden of parasitic and infectious diseases (PID) together with improved nutrition over the past two centuries in today's advanced countries has resulted in markedly improved physiological capital and cognitive skills and, consequently, in productivity advances. Using a unique annual dataset covering the period 1800–2011 for 21 OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries, it is found that health improvements can account for approximately a third of the productivity advances in the OECD countries since 1865, and that these improvements have been influential for enhancement in education, savings, innovations, life expectancy, and democracy.
Ultra-processed family foods in Australia: nutrition claims, health claims and marketing techniques
Authors: Pulker Claire Elizabeth , Scott Jane Anne , Pollard Christina Mary
Published: July 2017

Objective

To objectively evaluate voluntary nutrition and health claims and marketing techniques present on packaging of high-market-share ultra-processed foods (UPF) in Australia for their potential impact on public health.

Design

Cross-sectional.

Setting

Packaging information from five high-market-share food manufacturers and one retailer were obtained from supermarket and manufacturers’ websites.

Subjects

Ingredients lists for 215 UPF were examined for presence of added sugar. Packaging information was categorised using a taxonomy of nutrition and health information which included nutrition and health claims and five common food marketing techniques. Compliance of statements and claims with the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code and with Health Star Ratings (HSR) were assessed for all products.

Results

Almost all UPF (95 %) contained added sugars described in thirty-four different ways; 55 % of UPF displayed a HSR; 56 % had nutrition claims (18 % were compliant with regulations); 25 % had health claims (79 % were compliant); and 97 % employed common food marketing techniques. Packaging of 47 % of UPF was designed to appeal to children. UPF carried a mean of 1·5 health and nutrition claims (range 0–10) and 2·6 marketing techniques (range 0–5), and 45 % had HSR≤3·0/5·0.

Conclusions

Most UPF packaging featured nutrition and health statements or claims despite the high prevalence of added sugars and moderate HSR. The degree of inappropriate or inaccurate statements and claims present is concerning, particularly on packaging designed to appeal to children. Public policies to assist parents to select healthy family foods should address the quality and accuracy of information provided on UPF packaging.
Dynamic breaking of a single gold bond
Authors: Pobelov Ilya V. , Lauritzen Kasper Primdal , Yoshida Koji , Jensen Anders , Mészáros Gábor , Jacobsen Karsten W. , Strange Mikkel , Wandlowski Thomas , Solomon Gemma C.
Published: July 2017

While one might assume that the force to break a chemical bond gives a measure of the bond strength, this intuition is misleading. If the force is loaded slowly, thermal fluctuations may break the bond before it is maximally stretched, and the breaking force will be less than the bond can sustain. Conversely, if the force is loaded rapidly it is more likely that the maximum breaking force is measured. Paradoxically, no clear differences in breaking force were observed in experiments on gold nanowires, despite being conducted under very different conditions. Here we explore the breaking behaviour of a single Au–Au bond and show that the breaking force is dependent on the loading rate. We probe the temperature and structural dependencies of breaking and suggest that the paradox can be explained by fast breaking of atomic wires and slow breaking of point contacts giving very similar breaking forces.
Progression through mitosis promotes PARP inhibitor-induced cytotoxicity in homologous recombination-deficient cancer cells
Authors: Schoonen Pepijn M. , Talens Francien , Stok Colin , Gogola Ewa , Heijink Anne Margriet , Bouwman Peter , Foijer Floris , Tarsounas Madalena , Blatter Sohvi , Jonkers Jos , Rottenberg Sven , van Vugt Marcel A. T. M.
Published: July 2017

Mutations in homologous recombination (HR) genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 predispose to tumorigenesis. HR-deficient cancers are hypersensitive to Poly (ADP ribose)-polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, but can acquire resistance and relapse. Mechanistic understanding how PARP inhibition induces cytotoxicity in HR-deficient cancer cells is incomplete. Here we find PARP inhibition to compromise replication fork stability in HR-deficient cancer cells, leading to mitotic DNA damage and consequent chromatin bridges and lagging chromosomes in anaphase, frequently leading to cytokinesis failure, multinucleation and cell death. PARP-inhibitor-induced multinucleated cells fail clonogenic outgrowth, and high percentages of multinucleated cells are found in vivo in remnants of PARP inhibitor-treated Brca2−/−;p53−/− and Brca1−/−;p53−/− mammary mouse tumours, suggesting that mitotic progression promotes PARP-inhibitor-induced cell death. Indeed, enforced mitotic bypass through EMI1 depletion abrogates PARP-inhibitor-induced cytotoxicity. These findings provide insight into the cytotoxic effects of PARP inhibition, and point at combination therapies to potentiate PARP inhibitor treatment of HR-deficient tumours.
Facultative CTCF sites moderate mammary super-enhancer activity and regulate juxtaposed gene in non-mammary cells
Authors: Willi M. , Yoo K. H. , Reinisch F. , Kuhns T. M. , Lee H. K. , Wang C. , Hennighausen L.
Published: July 2017

Precise spatiotemporal gene regulation is paramount for the establishment and maintenance of cell-specific programmes. Although there is evidence that chromatin neighbourhoods, formed by the zinc-finger protein CTCF, can sequester enhancers and their target genes, there is limited in vivo evidence for CTCF demarcating super-enhancers and preventing cross talk between distinct regulatory elements. Here, we address these questions in the Wap locus with its mammary-specific super-enhancer separated by CTCF sites from widely expressed genes. Mutational analysis demonstrates that the Wap super-enhancer controls Ramp3, despite three separating CTCF sites. Their deletion in mice results in elevated expression of Ramp3 in mammary tissue through augmented promoter–enhancer interactions. Deletion of the distal CTCF-binding site results in loss of Ramp3 expression in non-mammary tissues. This suggests that CTCF sites are porous borders, allowing a super-enhancer to activate a secondary target. Likewise, CTCF sites shield a widely expressed gene from suppressive influences of a silent locus.
Recent increases in terrestrial carbon uptake at little cost to the water cycle
Authors: Cheng Lei , Zhang Lu , Wang Ying-Ping , Canadell Josep G. , Chiew Francis H. S. , Beringer Jason , Li Longhui , Miralles Diego G. , Piao Shilong , Zhang Yongqiang
Published: July 2017

Quantifying the responses of the coupled carbon and water cycles to current global warming and rising atmospheric CO2 concentration is crucial for predicting and adapting to climate changes. Here we show that terrestrial carbon uptake (i.e. gross primary production) increased significantly from 1982 to 2011 using a combination of ground-based and remotely sensed land and atmospheric observations. Importantly, we find that the terrestrial carbon uptake increase is not accompanied by a proportional increase in water use (i.e. evapotranspiration) but is largely (about 90%) driven by increased carbon uptake per unit of water use, i.e. water use efficiency. The increased water use efficiency is positively related to rising CO2 concentration and increased canopy leaf area index, and negatively influenced by increased vapour pressure deficits. Our findings suggest that rising atmospheric CO2 concentration has caused a shift in terrestrial water economics of carbon uptake.
Atomic-resolution imaging of electrically induced oxygen vacancy migration and phase transformation in SrCoO2.5-σ
Authors: Zhang Qinghua , He Xu , Shi Jinan , Lu Nianpeng , Li Haobo , Yu Qian , Zhang Ze , Chen Long-Qing , Morris Bill , Xu Qiang , Yu Pu , Gu Lin , Jin Kuijuan , Nan Ce-Wen
Published: July 2017

Oxygen ion transport is the key issue in redox processes. Visualizing the process of oxygen ion migration with atomic resolution is highly desirable for designing novel devices such as oxidation catalysts, oxygen permeation membranes, and solid oxide fuel cells. Here we show the process of electrically induced oxygen migration and subsequent reconstructive structural transformation in a SrCoO2.5−σ
film by scanning transmission electron microscopy. We find that the extraction of oxygen from every second SrO layer occurs gradually under an electrical bias; beyond a critical voltage, the brownmillerite units collapse abruptly and evolve into a periodic nano-twined phase with a high c/a ratio and distorted tetrahedra. Our results show that oxygen vacancy rows are not only natural oxygen diffusion channels, but also preferred sites for the induced oxygen vacancies. These direct experimental results of oxygen migration may provide a common mechanism for the electrically induced structural evolution of oxides.
Structural and Functional Analysis of Latex Clearing Protein (Lcp) Provides Insight into the Enzymatic Cleavage of Rubber
Authors: Ilcu Lorena , Röther Wolf , Birke Jakob , Brausemann Anton , Einsle Oliver , Jendrossek Dieter
Published: July 2017

Latex clearing proteins (Lcps) are rubber oxygenases that catalyse the extracellular cleavage of poly (cis-1,4-isoprene) by Gram-positive rubber degrading bacteria. Lcp of Streptomyces sp. K30 (LcpK30) is a b-type cytochrome and acts as an endo-type dioxygenase producing C20 and higher oligo-isoprenoids that differ in the number of isoprene units but have the same terminal functions, CHO-CH2– and –CH2-COCH3. Our analysis of the LcpK30 structure revealed a 3/3 globin fold with additional domains at the N- and C-termini and similarities to globin-coupled sensor proteins. The haem group of LcpK30 is ligated to the polypeptide by a proximal histidine (His198) and by a lysine residue (Lys167) as the distal axial ligand. The comparison of LcpK30 structures in a closed and in an open state as well as spectroscopic and biochemical analysis of wild type and LcpK30 muteins provided insights into the action of the enzyme during catalysis.
A gene network regulated by FGF signalling during ear development
Authors: Anwar Maryam , Tambalo Monica , Ranganathan Ramya , Grocott Timothy , Streit Andrea
Published: July 2017

During development cell commitment is regulated by inductive signals that are tightly controlled in time and space. In response, cells activate specific programmes, but the transcriptional circuits that maintain cell identity in a changing signalling environment are often poorly understood. Specification of inner ear progenitors is initiated by FGF signalling. Here, we establish the genetic hierarchy downstream of FGF by systematic analysis of many ear factors combined with a network inference approach. We show that FGF rapidly activates a small circuit of transcription factors forming positive feedback loops to stabilise otic progenitor identity. Our predictive network suggests that subsequently, transcriptional repressors ensure the transition of progenitors to mature otic cells, while simultaneously repressing alternative fates. Thus, we reveal the regulatory logic that initiates ear formation and highlight the hierarchical organisation of the otic gene network.
RTN1 and RTN3 protein are differentially associated with senile plaques in Alzheimer’s brains
Authors: Shi Qi , Ge Yingying , He Wanxia , Hu Xiangyou , Yan Riqiang
Published: July 2017

Reticulon proteins (RTNs), consisting of RTN1 to RTN4, were previously shown to interact with BACE1 by negatively modulating its secretase activity. In RTN3-null mice, RTN1 expression was slightly elevated. To understand the in vivo role of RTN1, we generated RTN1-null mice and compared the effects of RTN1 and RTN3 on BACE1 modulation. We show that RTN1 is mostly expressed by neurons and not by glial cells under normal conditions, similar to the expression of RTN3. However, RTN1 is more localized in dendrites and is an excellent marker for dendrites of Purkinje cells, while RTN3 expression is less evident in dendrites. This differential localization also correlates with their associations with amyloid plaques in Alzheimer’s brains: RTN3, but not RTN1, is abundantly enriched in dystrophic neurites. RTN3 deficiency causes elevation of BACE1 protein levels, while RTN1 deficiency shows no obvious effects on BACE1 activity due to compensation by RTN3, as RTN1 deficiency causes elevation of RTN3 expression. Hence, expression of RTN1 and RTN3 is tightly regulated in mouse brains. Together, our data show that RTN1 and RTN3 have differential effects on the formation of senile plaques in Alzheimer’s brains and that RTN3 has a more prominent role in Alzheimer’s pathogenesis.
Boiling and quenching heat transfer advancement by nanoscale surface modification
Authors: Hu Hong , Xu Cheng , Zhao Yang , Ziegler Kirk J. , Chung J. N.
Published: July 2017

All power production, refrigeration, and advanced electronic systems depend on efficient heat transfer mechanisms for achieving high power density and best system efficiency. Breakthrough advancement in boiling and quenching phase-change heat transfer processes by nanoscale surface texturing can lead to higher energy transfer efficiencies, substantial energy savings, and global reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. This paper reports breakthrough advancements on both fronts of boiling and quenching. The critical heat flux (CHF) in boiling and the Leidenfrost point temperature (LPT) in quenching are the bottlenecks to the heat transfer advancements. As compared to a conventional aluminum surface, the current research reports a substantial enhancement of the CHF by 112% and an increase of the LPT by 40 K using an aluminum surface with anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) nanoporous texture finish. These heat transfer enhancements imply that the power density would increase by more than 100% and the quenching efficiency would be raised by 33%. A theory that links the nucleation potential of the surface to heat transfer rates has been developed and it successfully explains the current finding by revealing that the heat transfer modification and enhancement are mainly attributed to the superhydrophilic surface property and excessive nanoscale nucleation sites created by the nanoporous surface.
VGLL4 Selectively Represses YAP-Dependent Gene Induction and Tumorigenic Phenotypes in Breast Cancer
Authors: Zhang Yinglong , Shen He , Withers Henry G. , Yang Nuo , Denson Kayla E. , Mussell Ashley L. , Truskinovsky Alexander , Fan Qingyu , Gelman Irwin H. , Frangou Costa , Zhang Jianmin
Published: July 2017

Members of the mammalian Vestigial-like (VGLL) family of transcriptional cofactors activate genes in response to a wide variety of environmental cues. Recently, VGLL proteins have been proposed to regulate key signaling networks involved in cancer development and progression. However, the biological and clinical significance of VGLL dysregulation in human breast cancer pathogenesis remains unknown. Here, we report that diminished VGLL4 expression, but not VGLL1-3, correlated with both shorter relapse-free survival and shorter disease-specific survival of cancer patients with different molecular subtypes of breast cancer. Additionally, we further demonstrate that overexpression of VGLL4 reduces breast cancer cell proliferation, migration, intravasation/extravasation potential, favors cell death, and suppresses tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, VGLL4 negatively regulates the TEAD1-YAP1 transcriptional complex and exerts its growth inhibitory control through its evolutionary conserved TDU2 domain at its C-terminus. The results suggest that VGLL4 is a candidate tumor suppressor gene which acts by selectively antagonizing YAP-dependent tumor growth. VGLL4 may be a promising therapeutic target in breast cancer.
High-Resolution Imaging of a Single Gliding Protofilament of Tubulins by HS-AFM
Authors: Keya Jakia Jannat , Inoue Daisuke , Suzuki Yuki , Kozai Toshiya , Ishikuro Daiki , Kodera Noriyuki , Uchihashi Takayuki , Kabir Arif Md. Rashedul , Endo Masayuki , Sada Kazuki , Kakugo Akira
Published: July 2017

In vitro gliding assay of microtubules (MTs) on kinesins has provided us with valuable biophysical and chemo-mechanical insights of this biomolecular motor system. Visualization of MTs in an in vitro gliding assay has been mainly dependent on optical microscopes, limited resolution of which often render them insufficient sources of desired information. In this work, using high speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM), which allows imaging with higher resolution, we monitored MTs and protofilaments (PFs) of tubulins while gliding on kinesins. Moreover, under the HS-AFM, we also observed splitting of gliding MTs into single PFs at their leading ends. The split single PFs interacted with kinesins and exhibited translational motion, but with a slower velocity than the MTs. Our investigation at the molecular level, using the HS-AFM, would provide new insights to the mechanics of MTs in dynamic systems and their interaction with motor proteins.
Probing the Gas-Phase Dynamics of Graphene Chemical Vapour Deposition using in-situ UV Absorption Spectroscopy
Authors: Shivayogimath Abhay , Mackenzie David , Luo Birong , Hansen Ole , Bøggild Peter , Booth Timothy J.
Published: July 2017

The processes governing multilayer nucleation in the chemical vapour deposition (CVD) of graphene are important for obtaining high-quality monolayer sheets, but remain poorly understood. Here we show that higher-order carbon species in the gas-phase play a major role in multilayer nucleation, through the use of in-situ ultraviolet (UV) absorption spectroscopy. These species are the volatilized products of reactions between hydrogen and carbon contaminants that have backstreamed into the reaction chamber from downstream system components. Consequently, we observe a dramatic suppression of multilayer nucleation when backstreaming is suppressed. These results point to an important and previously undescribed mechanism for multilayer nucleation, wherein higher-order gas-phase carbon species play an integral role. Our work highlights the importance of gas-phase dynamics in understanding the overall mechanism of graphene growth.
Increased overall cortical connectivity with syndrome specific local decreases suggested by atypical sleep-EEG synchronization in Williams syndrome
Authors: Gombos Ferenc , Bódizs Róbert , Kovács Ilona
Published: July 2017

Williams syndrome (7q11.23 microdeletion) is characterized by specific alterations in neurocognitive architecture and functioning, as well as disordered sleep. Here we analyze the region, sleep state and frequency-specific EEG synchronization of whole night sleep recordings of 21 Williams syndrome and 21 typically developing age- and gender-matched subjects by calculating weighted phase lag indexes. We found broadband increases in inter- and intrahemispheric neural connectivity for both NREM and REM sleep EEG of Williams syndrome subjects. These effects consisted of increased theta, high sigma, and beta/low gamma synchronization, whereas alpha synchronization was characterized by a peculiar Williams syndrome-specific decrease during NREM states (intra- and interhemispheric centro-temporal) and REM phases of sleep (occipital intra-area synchronization). We also found a decrease in short range, occipital connectivity of NREM sleep EEG theta activity. The striking increased overall synchronization of sleep EEG in Williams syndrome subjects is consistent with the recently reported increase in synaptic and dendritic density in stem-cell based Williams syndrome models, whereas decreased alpha and occipital connectivity might reflect and underpin the altered microarchitecture of primary visual cortex and disordered visuospatial functioning of Williams syndrome subjects.
Role of SCCmec type in resistance to the synergistic activity of oxacillin and cefoxitin in MRSA
Authors: Reichmann Nathalie T. , Pinho Mariana G.
Published: July 2017

β-lactam antibiotics target penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) preventing peptidoglycan synthesis and this inhibition is circumvented in methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains through the expression of an additional PBP, named PBP2A. This enzyme is encoded by the mecA gene located within the Staphylococcal Chromosome Cassette mec (SCCmec) mobile genetic element, of which there are 12 types described to date. Previous investigations aimed at analysing the synergistic activity of two β-lactams, oxacillin and cefoxitin, found that SCCmec type IV community-acquired MRSA strains exhibited increased susceptibility to oxacillin in the presence of cefoxitin, while hospital-acquired MRSA strains were unaffected. However, it is not clear if these differences in β-lactam resistance are indeed a consequence of the presence of the different SCCmec types. To address this question, we have exchanged the SCCmec type I in COL (HA-MRSA) for the SCCmec type IV from MW2 (CA-MRSA). This exchange did not decrease the resistance of COL against oxacillin and cefoxitin, as observed in MW2, indicating that genetic features residing outside of the SCCmec element are likely to be responsible for the discrepancy in oxacillin and cefoxitin synergy against these MRSA strains.
Deficient glutamate biosynthesis triggers a concerted upregulation of ribosomal protein genes in Arabidopsis
Authors: Muñoz-Nortes Tamara , Pérez-Pérez José Manuel , Sarmiento-Mañús Raquel , Candela Héctor , Micol José Luis
Published: July 2017

Biomass production requires the coordination between growth and metabolism. In a large-scale screen for mutants affected in leaf morphology, we isolated the orbiculata1 (orb1) mutants, which exhibit a pale green phenotype and reduced growth. The combination of map-based cloning and next-generation sequencing allowed us to establish that ORB1 encodes the GLUTAMATE SYNTHASE 1 (GLU1) enzyme, also known as FERREDOXIN-DEPENDENT GLUTAMINE OXOGLUTARATE AMINOTRANSFERASE 1 (Fd-GOGAT1). We performed an RNA-seq analysis to identify global gene expression changes in the orb1–3 mutant. We found altered expression levels of genes encoding enzymes involved in nitrogen assimilation and amino acid biosynthesis, such as glutamine synthetases, asparagine synthetases and glutamate dehydrogenases, showing that the expression of these genes depends on the levels of glutamine and/or glutamate. In addition, we observed a concerted upregulation of genes encoding subunits of the cytosolic ribosome. A gene ontology (GO) analysis of the differentially expressed genes between Ler and orb1–3 showed that the most enriched GO terms were ‘translation’, ‘cytosolic ribosome’ and ‘structural constituent of ribosome’. The upregulation of ribosome-related functions might reflect an attempt to keep protein synthesis at optimal levels even when the pool of glutamate is reduced.