bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study of an archeological opaque red glass bead from China by XRD, XRF, and XANES
Authors: Zhu Jian , Yang Yimin , Xu Wei , Chen Dongliang , Dong Junqing , Wang Lihua , Glascock Michael D.
Published: June 2012

As a kind of rare archeological founding in China, red decorative beads (300–400ad) were discovered in Leijiaping, Badong County, Hubei, China. For the first time, this paper reports an advanced structural analysis of glass beads using micro synchrotron X‐ray near‐edge absorption spectroscopy. The results show that in spite of being opaque, the red bead is made of glass containing two forms of copper atoms, including 0+and 1+. In combination with X‐ray diffraction results, it is advised that the mechanism of red coloration mainly comes from metallic copper. This paper indicates that micro synchrotron X‐ray near‐edge absorption spectroscopy is an outstanding and advanced technology to study ancient glass objects with nondestructive mode. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A General History of Music
Authors: Burney Charles
Published: June 2012

Charles Burney (1726–1814), was the foremost music historian of his day. The General History, his most famous work, was published in four volumes between 1776 and 1789 and is still of great value today. Burney wanted to write something which would appeal to and inform the musician and the general reader. Research for the History was undertaken during two European tours, in 1770 and 1772, consulting original sources and meeting the great musicians of the time. The resultant work is engaging and elegantly written, offering the reader a fascinating view not only of Burney's own musical preferences and enthusiasms, but also a reflection of contemporary fashionable taste. All four volumes contain generous musical examples, quotations from original sources and an index. The third volume, published 1789, considers European music to the end of the seventeenth century and English church music from the death of Purcell to Burney's time.
Defining Jewish Difference
Authors: Berkowitz Beth A.
Published: June 2012

This book traces the interpretive career of Leviticus 18:3, a verse that forbids Israel from imitating its neighbors. Beth A. Berkowitz shows that ancient, medieval and modern exegesis of this verse provides an essential backdrop for today's conversations about Jewish assimilation and minority identity more generally. The story of Jewishness that this book tells may surprise many modern readers for whom religious identity revolves around ritual and worship. In Leviticus 18:3's story of Jewishness, sexual practice and cultural habits instead loom large. The readings in this book are on a micro-level, but their implications are far-ranging: Berkowitz transforms both our notion of Bible-reading and our sense of how Jews have defined Jewishness.
The Cambridge Introduction to Christopher Marlowe
Authors: Rutter Tom
Published: June 2012

Providing a comprehensive survey of Christopher Marlowe's literary career, this Introduction presents an approachable account of the life, works and influence of the groundbreaking Elizabethan dramatist and poet. It includes in-depth discussions of all of Marlowe's plays, stressing what was new and revolutionary about them as well as how they made use of existing dramatic models. Marlowe's poems and translations, sometimes marginalised in discussions of his work, are analysed to emphasise their literary importance and political resonances. The book presents a balanced discussion of Marlowe's turbulent life and considers his afterlives: the influence of his work on other writers and examples of how his plays have been performed. In addition to introducing the reader to the historical and religious contexts within which Marlowe wrote, the Introduction stresses the qualities that continue to make his work fascinating: intellectual range, radical irony and an awareness of the dangerously compelling power of theatre.
Biosimulation
Authors: Beard Daniel A.
Published: June 2012

This practical guide to biosimulation provides the hands-on experience needed to devise, design and analyze simulations of biophysical processes for applications in biological and biomedical sciences. Through real-world case studies and worked examples, students will develop and apply basic operations through to advanced concepts, covering a wide range of biophysical topics including chemical kinetics and thermodynamics, transport phenomena, and cellular electrophysiology. Each chapter is built around case studies in a given application area, with simulations of real biological systems developed to analyze and interpret data. Open-ended project-based exercises are provided at the end of each chapter, and with all data and computer codes available online (www.cambridge.org/biosim) students can quickly and easily run, manipulate, explore and expand on the examples inside. This hands-on guide is ideal for use on senior undergraduate/graduate courses and also as a self-study guide for anyone who needs to develop computational models of biological systems.
Good Thinking
Authors: Cummins Denise D.
Published: June 2012

Do you know what economists mean when they refer to you as a 'rational agent'? Or why a psychologist might label your idea a 'creative insight'? Or how a philosopher could be logical but also passionate in persuading you to obey 'moral imperatives'? Or why scientists disagree about the outcomes of experiments comparing drug treatments and disease risk factors? After reading this book, you will know how the best and brightest thinkers judge the ways we decide, argue, solve problems and tell right from wrong. But you will also understand why, when we don't meet these standards, it is not always a bad thing. The answers are rooted in the way the human brain has been wired over evolutionary time to make us kinder and more generous than economists think we ought to be, and more resistant to change and persuasion than scientists and scholars think we ought to be.
The Politics of Blood
Authors: Farrell Anne-Maree
Published: June 2012

How best to manage risk involving multi-valued human biological materials is the overarching theme of this book, which draws on the sourcing and supply of blood as a case study. Blood has ethical, social, scientific and commercial value. This multi-valuing process presents challenges in terms of managing risk, therefore making it ultimately a matter for political responsibility. This is highlighted through an examination of the circumstances that led to HIV blood contamination episodes in the US, England and France, as well as their consequences. The roles of scientific expertise and innovation in managing risks to the blood system are also analysed, as is the increased use of precautionary and legal strategies in the post-HIV blood contamination era. Finally, consideration is given to a range of policy and legal strategies that should underpin effective risk governance involving multi-valued human biological materials.
Phonetics
Authors: Knight Rachael-Anne
Published: June 2012

A problem-based introduction to phonetics, with over three hundred exercises integrated into the text to help the student discover and practice the subject interactively. It assumes no previous knowledge of the subject and highlights and explains new terms and concepts when they are first introduced. Graded review questions and exercises at the end of every unit help the student monitor their own progress and further practice new skills, and there is frequent cross-referencing for the student to see how the subject fits together and how later concepts build on earlier ones. The book highlights the differences between speech and writing in Unit One and covers all the essential topics of a phonetics course.
Modernity and Bourgeois Life
Authors: Seigel Jerrold
Published: June 2012

To be modern may mean many different things, but for nineteenth-century Europeans 'modernity' suggested a new form of life in which bourgeois activities, people, attitudes and values all played key roles. Jerrold Seigel's panoramic new history offers a magisterial and highly original account of the ties between modernity and bourgeois life, arguing that they can be best understood not in terms of the rise and fall of social classes, but as features of a common participation in expanding and thickening 'networks of means' that linked together distant energies and resources across economic, political and cultural life. Exploring the different configurations of these networks in England, France and Germany, he shows how their patterns gave rise to distinctive forms of modernity in each country and shaped the rhythm and nature of change across spheres as diverse as politics, money and finance, gender relations, morality, and literary, artistic and musical life.
A Biographical Sketch of the Late William George Maton M.D.
Authors: Paris John Ayrton , Maton William George
Published: June 2012

English physician William George Maton (1774–1835) was a polymath who had a special interest in botany: a shell and a parrot were among species named in his honour. His writings on natural history included a catalogue of the plant and animal life around Salisbury, Wiltshire, which was published posthumously in 1843 and is reissued as the second part of this composite work. The first part contains a sketch of Maton's life and work by fellow physician and writer John Ayrton Paris (c. 1785–1856), first presented to the Royal College of Physicians, and subsequently published in 1838. Paris discusses Maton's early life, his contributions to the growing field of botany, his other scientific and antiquarian interests, and his distinguished medical career, during which he was appointed physician-extraordinary to Queen Charlotte, wife of George III, and later physician-in-ordinary to the duchess of Kent and the young Princess (later Queen) Victoria.
Special Responsibilities
Authors: Bukovansky Mlada , Clark Ian , Eckersley Robyn , Price Richard , Reus-Smit Christian , Wheeler Nicholas J.
Published: June 2012

The language of special responsibilities is ubiquitous in world politics, with policymakers and commentators alike speaking and acting as though particular states have, or ought to have, unique obligations in managing global problems. Surprisingly, scholars are yet to provide any in-depth analysis of this fascinating aspect of world politics. This path-breaking study examines the nature of special responsibilities, the complex politics that surround them and how they condition international social power. The argument is illustrated with detailed case-studies of nuclear proliferation, climate change and global finance. All three problems have been addressed by an allocation of special responsibilities, but while this has structured politics in these areas, it has also been the subject of ongoing contestation. With a focus on the United States, this book argues that power must be understood as a social phenomenon and that American power varies significantly across security, economic and environmental domains.
Duty of Care in the Human Services
Authors: Kennedy Rosemary
Published: June 2012

The human services are established to support the most vulnerable and marginalised people in our society. Yet media and other reports frequently highlight a disturbing picture of industry failures, malpractice and abuse. This book addresses the response of legal and quasi-legal bodies to human service failures. It outlines those areas of law which are most likely to be activated by human service shortcomings, and those aspects of direct human service delivery which are most likely to attract legal attention. Essential reading for those studying or working in human services and social work, this book is designed to alert people to the legal risks arising as a result of inadequate human service delivery.
Physics by Example
Authors: Rees W. G.
Published: June 2012

Physics by Example contains two hundred problems from a wide range of key topics, along with detailed, step-by-step solutions. By guiding the reader through carefully chosen examples, this book will help to develop skill in manipulating physical concepts. Topics dealt with include: statistical analysis, classical mechanics, gravitation and orbits, special relativity, basic quantum physics, oscillations and waves, optics, electromagnetism, electric circuits, and thermodynamics. There is also a section listing physical constants and other useful data, including a summary of some important mathematical results. In discussing the key factors and most suitable methods of approach for given problems, this book imparts many useful insights, and will be invaluable to anyone taking first or second year undergraduate courses in physics.
Reform and Revolution in France
Authors: Jones Peter M.
Published: June 2012

This textbook has been written to help teachers and students to pilot their way through the enormous and ever expanding literature on the French Revolution. The author makes a conscious effort to combine social and political interpretations of the origins of the Revolution and offers a synthesis which takes full account of current debates. He also seeks to restore the Revolution to its domestic environment. Notwithstanding the powerful contemporary myth of rupture, the author argues that the dramatic events of 1789 need to be considered alongside the reform achievements of Bourbon absolute monarchy. The result is a new account of the gestation of the Revolution which is both up-to-date and satisfying in its range of vision.
Strange Multiplicity
Authors: Tully James
Published: June 2012

In the inaugural set of Seeley Lectures, the distinguished political philosopher James Tully addresses the demands for cultural recognition that constitute the major conflicts of today: supranational associations, nationalism and federalism, linguistic and ethnic minorities, feminism, multiculturalism and aboriginal self government. Neither modern nor post-modern constitutionalism can adjudicate such claims justly. However, by surveying 400 years of constitutional practice, with special attention to the American aboriginal peoples, Tully develops a new philosophy of constitutionalism based on dialogues of conciliation which, he argues, have the capacity to mediate contemporary conflicts and bring peace to the twenty-first century. Strange Multiplicity brings profound historical, critical and philosophical perspectives to our most pressing contemporary conflicts, and provides an authoritative guide to constitutional possibilities in a multicultural age.
The Development of the French Economy 1750–1914
Authors: Heywood Colin
Published: June 2012

Understanding French economic development in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries has always proved a formidable challenge for historians. This concise 1995 survey for students is designed to make clear the areas of controversy among historians, and to guide the reader through the complexities of the debate. The author provides succinct surveys of findings on the pattern of development, and on the underlying causes of that pattern. He addresses questions such as: was France a latecomer or an early starter in industrialisation? Did long periods of protectionism help or hinder development? And was the peasantry an obstacle to change in the economy? He argues that France was not the 'backward economy' it was often thought to be; instead, it provides a quietly successful case of economic development, avoiding the massive social upheaval experienced elsewhere in Europe.
The Spanish Economy
Authors: Harrison Joseph
Published: June 2012

This book presents a concise survey of the Spanish economy from the end of the Civil War of 1936–9 to the present. In it the author analyses the transformation of Spain from a backward agrarian economy - committed by Franco and the country's military rulers to the impossible quest of self-sufficiency - to a modern, rapidly growing, outwardly orientated economy. By analysing demographic developments, changes in agriculture, industrial growth, changes to the financial system and the development of foreign trade, the author shows how Spain has reached a position where it is fully integrated into the international economy and, since January 1986, has been an active member of the European Community. This is a book both for students of twentieth century economic history, and for their teachers.
Network Analysis and Practice
Authors: Walton Alan Keith
Published: June 2012

It is the aim of this book to take undergraduates in science and engineering to an acceptable level of competence in network analysis. The author assumes no previous knowledge of the subject. The book starts from basic physical ideas and progresses through essential network laws and theorems to Fourier and Laplace transform methods of analysing transient and steady-state problems. Traditional transient and alternating-current theory is covered prior to introducing transform methods, since the author believes that the gain in physical insight from such an approach is invaluable. Throughout, the relevance of the analysis to practical electric and electronic circuits is stressed. This book will be of value to students in universities and polytechnics in physics and electrical and electronics engineering departments.
An Introduction to Hilbert Space
Authors: Young N.
Published: June 2012

This textbook is an introduction to the theory of Hilbert space and its applications. The notion of Hilbert space is central in functional analysis and is used in numerous branches of pure and applied mathematics. Dr Young has stressed applications of the theory, particularly to the solution of partial differential equations in mathematical physics and to the approximation of functions in complex analysis. Some basic familiarity with real analysis, linear algebra and metric spaces is assumed, but otherwise the book is self-contained. It is based on courses given at the University of Glasgow and contains numerous examples and exercises (many with solutions). Thus it will make an excellent first course in Hilbert space theory at either undergraduate or graduate level and will also be of interest to electrical engineers and physicists, particularly those involved in control theory and filter design.
Conspiracy and Romance
Authors: Levine Robert S.
Published: June 2012

Robert Levine has examined the American romance in a historical context. His book offers a fresh reading of the genre, establishing its importance to American culture between the founding of the republic and the Civil war. With convincing historical and literary detail, Levine shows that anxieties about various subversive elements - French revolutionaries, secret societies, Catholic immigrants, African slaves - are central to the fictional worlds of Brockden Brown, Cooper, Hawthorne and Melville. Ormond, The Bravo, The Blithedale Romance, and Benito Cereno are persuasively explicated by Levine to demonstrate that the romance addressed many of the same conflicts and ideals that gave rise to the American republic. Americans conceived of America as a romance, and their romances dramatised the historical conditions of the culture, The fear that conspiracies would subvert the order and integrity of the new nation were recurrent and widespread; Levine makes us see that these fears informed the works of our major romance writers from the turn of the century until the Civil War.
Frege's Theory of Sense and Reference
Authors: Carl Wolfgang
Published: June 2012

Gottlob Frege has exerted an enormous influence on the evolution of twentieth-century philosophy, yet the real significance of that influence is still very much a matter of debate. This book provides a completely new and systematic account of Frege's philosophy by focusing on its cornerstone: the theory of sense and reference. Two features distinguish this study from other books on Frege. First, sense and reference are placed absolutely at the core of Frege's work; the author shows that no adequate account of the theory can avoid analysing the notion of thought that underpins it, or explaining how it has clarified our concept of judgement. Second, the theory is situated within the development of Frege's thought; the author reveals how the theory caused Frege to alter many of his fundamental views. In doing so the author presents a clearer picture of the problems the theory was intended to solve, and delineates more sharply the characteristic features of Frege's philosophy.
A Cultural History of the American Novel
Authors: Minter David L.
Published: June 2012

This book interweaves a wide selection of the novels of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries with a series of cultural events ranging from Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show to the 'Southern Renaissance' of the 1930s. Minter examines a wide variety of period novels as works of art that arise from and that remain embedded in culture - arguing conversely, that cultural events such as the making of Chicago's Columbian Exposition and New York's Armory Show differ only in degree, not in kind, from novels. Minter thus constructs a broad and synthetic vision that portrays literary history as a cultural drama in which novels and events emerge as related sites of cultural expression. This book traces the history of African American theatre from its beginnings to the present. It analyses the types of plays written for this theatre, identifies the perennial problems faced by theatre artists and producing companies, and makes bold, innovative proposals for the theatre's healthy survival.
Thinking about Ordinary Differential Equations
Authors: O'Malley, Jr Robert E.
Published: June 2012

Ordinary differential equations - the building blocks of mathematical modelling - are also key elements of disciplines as diverse as engineering and economics. While mastery of these equations is essential, adhering to any one method of solving them is not: this book stresses alternative examples and analyses by means of which the student can build an understanding of a number of approaches to finding solutions and understanding their behaviour. This book offers not only an applied perspective for the student learning to solve differential equations, but also the challenge to apply these analytical tools in the context of singular perturbations, which arises in many areas of application. An important resource for the advanced undergradute, this book would be equally useful for the beginning graduate student investigating further approaches to these essential equations.
Genes, Genesis, and God
Authors: Rolston Holmes
Published: June 2012

Holmes Rolston challenges the sociobiological orthodoxy that would naturalize science, ethics, and religion. The book argues that genetic processes are not blind, selfish, and contingent, and that nature is therefore not value-free. The author examines the emergence of complex biodiversity through evolutionary history. Especially remarkable in this narrative is the genesis of human beings with their capacities for science, ethics, and religion. A major conceptual task of the book is to relate cultural genesis to natural genesis. There is also a general account of how values are created and transmitted in both natural and human cultural history. The book is written by one of the most well-respected figures in the philosophy of biology and religion.
Decision Sciences
Authors: Kleindorfer Paul R. , Kunreuther Howard G. , Schoemaker Paul J. H.
Published: June 2012

This long-awaited textbook provides a unified perspective of a rich and varied field. It recognises that in order to develop strategies for improving the decision-making process one needs to understand how decisions are made in practice and in what ways behaviour differs from guidelines implied by normative theories of choice. It is the interplay between descriptive, normative, and prescriptive analysis that gives this book a special flavour. Using a set of illustrative examples, Decision Sciences synthesises current research about different types of decision making, including individual, group, organisational, and societal. Special attention is given to the linkage between problem finding and problem solving. The principal message emerging from the book is that decision making entails a complex set of processes that need to be understood in order to develop sound prescriptions or policy advice.
Essays on Philosophy and Economic Methodology
Authors: Hausman Daniel M.
Published: June 2012

This collection brings together the essays of one of the foremost American philosophers of economics. Cumulatively they offer fresh perspectives on foundational questions such as: what sort of science is economics? and how successful can economists be in acquiring knowledge of their subject matter?
A History of Servia, and the Servian Revolution
Authors: Ranke Leopold von
Published: June 2012

The German historian Leopold von Ranke (1795–1886) is considered a founder of modern source-based history, introducing ideas such as reliance on primary sources, emphasis on narrative history and international perspectives. (His works on the history of England and the on papacy are also reissued in this series.) While historiography and empiricism, as practised by Ranke, are now considered outdated, his emphasis on primary sources and the use of quotations to illustrate arguments remains hugely influential. First published in German in 1829, this work was based on eye-witness accounts of the Serbian Uprising of 1804, and was one of the first modern works on the Balkan nation. The early chapters review the history of the Serbs from the ninth century CE, to contextualise the chapters on the sixteenth-century Ottoman conquest and subsequent rule. This translation, published in 1847, is based on the second German edition of 1844.
Human Rights and Social Work
Authors: Ife Jim
Published: June 2012

Now in its third edition, Human Rights and Social Work explores how the principles of human rights inform contemporary social work practice. Jim Ife considers the implications of social work's traditional Enlightenment heritage and the possibilities of 'post-Enlightenment' practice in a way that is accessible, direct and engaging. The world has changed significantly since the publication of the first edition in 2000 and this book is situated firmly within the context of present-day debates, concerns and crises. Ife covers the importance of relating human rights to the non-human world, as well as the consequences of political and ecological uncertainty. Featuring examples, further readings and a glossary, readers are able to identify and investigate the important issues and questions arising from human rights and social work. Now more than ever, Human Rights and Social Work is an indispensable resource for students, scholars and practitioners alike.
Chasing Ghosts: Rumours and Representations of the Export of Chinese Convict Labour to Developing Countries
Authors: Hairong Yan , Sautman Barry
Published: June 2012

A recent addition to the global discourse of China's interaction with developing countries has been the claim that the Chinese government exports prison labour to these countries. While no evidence is ever presented to support this claim, it has been widely circulated in international and local media, as well as on the internet. This article examines the origins of the rumour and the mechanisms of its transmission. It shows that while the rumour often originates at the grass roots in developing countries, it is promoted locally and globally by political, economic and media elites with distinct agendas that often involve building support for opposition parties, competition in obtaining contracts, or geo-strategic and ideological rivalry. We analyse the rumour's circulation in light of the larger discourse on China and developing countries, and discuss why Chinese official responses to the claim have proved to be ineffective.
A REVIEW OF UMBILICAL CORD PROLAPSE AND THE INFLUENCE OF TRAINING ON MANAGEMENT
Authors: CHEBSEY CAROLINE , SIASSAKOS DIMITRIS , DRAYCOTT TIM
Published: June 2012

Umbilical cord prolapse is the descent of the umbilical cord through the cervix alongside (occult) or past (overt) the presenting part in the presence of ruptured membranes. Cord prolapse is a rare obstetric complication, usually requiring immediate delivery of the fetus to reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality. Therefore staff caring for women in labour should train regularly to manage it appropriately, because team training has been demonstrated to improve outcomes.
FOLATE METABOLISM AND PREECLAMPSIA
Authors: GUO YANFANG , SMITH GRAEME N. , WEN SHI WU , WALKER MARK C
Published: June 2012

Preeclampsia (PE) is a multisystem disorder of human pregnancy, affecting about 6% of all pregnancies worldwide, and is one of the leading causes of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. Despite decades of research into the pathogenesis of this complex disease, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. As a result, the options for prevention and management of PE are limited. In recent years, there has been a growing body of evidence suggesting that folate deficiency is associated with PE, and folic acid supplementation may reduce the risk of developing PE in certain populations. Folate contributes to cell division and growth, and folate metabolism is involved in a large number of physiological and pathophysiological processes in human development. Sufficient supply of folate is therefore particularly important during pregnancy. Nevertheless, the exact mechanisms of folic acid deficiency increasing the risk of developing PE are still unclear. This article reviews what is understood about the aetiology of PE and the relationship between folate metabolism and PE so as to enhance further discussions on the subject.
Normalisierungsvorstellungen und Adultismus als Probleme für die erzählerische Erschließung frühkindlicher Lebenswelten
Authors: Fuhs Burkhard , Schneider Susanne
Published: June 2012

Zusammenfassung: Diskutiert werden methodische Überlegungen zur Anwendbarkeit des narrativ-biografischen Interviews mit Blick auf die frühe Kindheit – einer Biografie in „statu nascendi“ – in der aus der emotionalen und kognitiven Verarbeitung des Erlebens in Erzählungen erste biografische Erfahrungen entstehen.
A novel pathway of ceramide metabolism in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Voynova Natalia S. , Vionnet Christine , Ejsing Christer S. , Conzelmann Andreas
Published: June 2012

The hydrolysis of ceramides in yeast is catalysed by the alkaline ceramidases Ypc1p and Ydc1p, two highly homologous membrane proteins localized to the ER (endoplasmic reticulum). As observed with many enzymes, Ypc1p can also catalyse the reverse reaction, i.e. condense a non-esterified fatty acid with PHS (phytosphingosine) or DHS (dihydrosphingosine) and thus synthesize ceramides. When incubating microsomes with [3H]palmitate and PHS, we not only obtained the ceramide PHS–[3H]C16:0, but also a more hydrophobic compound, which was transformed into PHS–[3H]C16:0 upon mild base treatment. The biosynthesis of a lipid with similar characteristics could also be observed in living cells labelled with [14C]serine. Its biosynthesis was dependent on the diacylglycerol acyltransfereases Lro1p and Dga1p, suggesting that it consists of an acylceramide. The synthesis of acylceramide could also be monitored using fluorescent NBD (7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole)–ceramides as an acceptor substrate for microsomal assays. The Lro1p-dependent transfer of oleic acid on to NBD–ceramide was confirmed by high-resolution Fourier transform and tandem MS. Immunopurified Lro1p was equally able to acylate NBD–ceramide. Lro1p acylates NBD–ceramide by attaching a fatty acid to the hydroxy group on the first carbon atom of the long-chain base. Acylceramides are mobilized when cells are diluted into fresh medium in the presence of cerulenin, an inhibitor of fatty acid biosynthesis.
Effect of aqueous-phase processing on aerosol chemistry and size distributions in Fresno, California, during wintertime
Authors: Ge Xinlei , Zhang Qi , Sun Yele , Ruehl Christopher R. , Setyan Ari
Published: June 2012

Environmental contextAqueous-phase processes in fogs and clouds can significantly alter atmospheric fine particles with consequences for climate and human health. We studied the influence of fog and rain on atmospheric aerosol properties, and show that aqueous-phase reactions contribute to the production of secondary aerosol species and change significantly the composition and microphysical properties of aerosols. In contrast, rains effectively remove aerosols and reduce their concentrations.
AbstractSubmicrometre aerosols (PM1) were characterised in situ with a high resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer and a scanning mobility particle sizer in Fresno, CA, from 9 to 23 January 2010. Three dense fog events occurred during the first week of the campaign whereas the last week was influenced by frequent rain events. We thus studied the effects of aqueous-phase processing on aerosol properties by examining the temporal variations of submicrometre aerosol composition and size distributions. Rains removed secondary species effectively, leading to low loadings of PM1 dominated by primary organic species. Fog episodes, however, increased the concentrations of secondary aerosol species (sulfate, nitrate, ammonium and oxygenated organic aerosol). The size distributions of these secondary species, which always showed a droplet mode peaking at ~500 nm in the vacuum aerodynamic diameter, increased in mode size during fog episodes as well. In addition, the oxygen-to-carbon ratio of oxygenated organic species increased in foggy days, indicating that fog processing likely enhances the production of secondary organic aerosol as well as its oxidation degree. Overall, our observations show that aqueous-phase processes significantly affect submicrometre aerosol chemistry and microphysics in the Central Valley of California during winter, responsible for the production of secondary inorganic and organic aerosol species and the formation of droplet mode particles, thus altering the climatic and health effects of ambient aerosols in this region.
Nanoparticle-mediated codelivery of myelin antigen and a tolerogenic small molecule suppresses experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
Authors: Yeste Ada , Nadeau Meghan , Burns Evan J. , Weiner Howard L. , Quintana Francisco J.
Published: June 2012

The immune response is normally controlled by regulatory T cells (Tregs). However, Treg deficits are found in autoimmune diseases, and therefore the induction of functional Tregs is considered a potential therapeutic approach for autoimmune disorders. The activation of the ligand-activated transcription factor aryl hydrocarbon receptor by 2-(1′H-indole-3′-carbonyl)-thiazole-4-carboxylic acid methyl ester (ITE) or other ligands induces dendritic cells (DCs) that promote FoxP3+Treg differentiation. Here we report the use of nanoparticles (NPs) to coadminister ITE and a T-cell epitope from myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)35–55to promote the generation of Tregs by DCs. NP-treated DCs displayed a tolerogenic phenotype and promoted the differentiation of Tregs in vitro. Moreover, NPs carrying ITE and MOG35–55expanded the FoxP3+Treg compartment and suppressed the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, an experimental model of multiple sclerosis. Thus, NPs are potential new tools to induce functional Tregs in autoimmune disorders.
Role of social interactions in dynamic patterns of resource patches and forager aggregation
Authors: Tania Nessy , Vanderlei Ben , Heath Joel P. , Edelstein-Keshet Leah
Published: June 2012

The dynamics of resource patches and species that exploit such patches are of interest to ecologists, conservation biologists, modelers, and mathematicians. Here we consider how social interactions can create unique, evolving patterns in space and time. Whereas simple prey taxis (with consumable prey) promotes spatial uniform distributions, here we show that taxis in producer–scrounger groups can lead to pattern formation. We consider two types of foragers: those that search directly (“producers”) and those that exploit other foragers to find food (“scroungers” or exploiters). We show that such groups can sustain fluctuating spatiotemporal patterns, akin to “waves of pursuit.” Investigating the relative benefits to the individuals, we observed conditions under which either strategy leads to enhanced success, defined as net food consumption. Foragers that search for food directly have an advantage when food patches are localized. Those that seek aggregations of group mates do better when their ability to track group mates exceeds the foragers’ food-sensing acuity. When behavioral switching or reproductive success of the strategies is included, the relative abundance of foragers and exploiters is dynamic over time, in contrast with classic models that predict stable frequencies. Our work shows the importance of considering two-way interaction—i.e., how food distribution both influences and is influenced by social foraging and aggregation of predators.
LSm14A is a processing body-associated sensor of viral nucleic acids that initiates cellular antiviral response in the early phase of viral infection
Authors: Li Ying , Chen Rui , Zhou Qian , Xu Zhisheng , Li Chao , Wang Shuai , Mao Aiping , Zhang Xiaodong , He Weiwu , Shu Hong-Bing
Published: June 2012

Recognition of viral nucleic acids by pattern recognition receptors initiates type I IFN induction and innate antiviral immune response. Here we show that LSm14A, a member of the LSm family involved in RNA processing in the processing bodies, binds to synthetic or viral RNA and DNA and mediates IRF3 activation and IFN-β induction. Knockdown of LSm14A inhibits cytosolic RNA- and DNA-trigger type I IFN production and cellular antiviral response. Moreover, LSm14A is essential for early-phase induction of IFN-β after either RNA or DNA virus infection. We further found that LSm14A-mediated IFN-β induction requires RIG-I–VISA or MITA after RNA or DNA virus infection, respectively, and viral infection causes translocation of LSm14A to peroxisomes, where RIG-I, VISA, and MITA are located. These findings suggest that LSm14A is a sensor for both viral RNA and DNA and plays an important role in initiating IFN-β induction in the early phase of viral infection.
Modulation of hERG potassium channel gating normalizes action potential duration prolonged by dysfunctional KCNQ1 potassium channel
Authors: Zhang Hongkang , Zou Beiyan , Yu Haibo , Moretti Alessandra , Wang Xiaoying , Yan Wei , Babcock Joseph J. , Bellin Milena , McManus Owen B. , Tomaselli Gordon , Nan Fajun , Laugwitz Karl-Ludwig , Li Min
Published: June 2012

Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a genetic disease characterized by a prolonged QT interval in an electrocardiogram (ECG), leading to higher risk of sudden cardiac death. Among the 12 identified genes causal to heritable LQTS, ∼90% of affected individuals harbor mutations in either
KCNQ1
or human
ether-a-go-go
related genes (hERG), which encode two repolarizing potassium currents known as
I
Ks
and
I
Kr
. The ability to quantitatively assess contributions of different current components is therefore important for investigating disease phenotypes and testing effectiveness of pharmacological modulation. Here we report a quantitative analysis by simulating cardiac action potentials of cultured human cardiomyocytes to match the experimental waveforms of both healthy control and LQT syndrome type 1 (LQT1) action potentials. The quantitative evaluation suggests that elevation of
I
Kr
by reducing voltage sensitivity of inactivation, not via slowing of deactivation, could more effectively restore normal QT duration if
I
Ks
is reduced. Using a unique specific chemical activator for
I
Kr
that has a primary effect of causing a right shift of
V
1/2
for inactivation, we then examined the duration changes of autonomous action potentials from differentiated human cardiomyocytes. Indeed, this activator causes dose-dependent shortening of the action potential durations and is able to normalize action potentials of cells of patients with LQT1. In contrast, an
I
Kr
chemical activator of primary effects in slowing channel deactivation was not effective in modulating action potential durations. Our studies provide both the theoretical basis and experimental support for compensatory normalization of action potential duration by a pharmacological agent.
RSeQC: quality control of RNA-seq experiments
Authors: Wang Liguo , Wang Shengqin , Li Wei
Published: June 2012

Motivation: RNA-seq has been extensively used for transcriptome study. Quality control (QC) is critical to ensure that RNA-seq data are of high quality and suitable for subsequent analyses. However, QC is a time-consuming and complex task, due to the massive size and versatile nature of RNA-seq data. Therefore, a convenient and comprehensive QC tool to assess RNA-seq quality is sorely needed.

Results: We developed the RSeQC package to comprehensively evaluate different aspects of RNA-seq experiments, such as sequence quality, GC bias, polymerase chain reaction bias, nucleotide composition bias, sequencing depth, strand specificity, coverage uniformity and read distribution over the genome structure. RSeQC takes both SAM and BAM files as input, which can be produced by most RNA-seq mapping tools as well as BED files, which are widely used for gene models. Most modules in RSeQC take advantage of R scripts for visualization, and they are notably efficient in dealing with large BAM/SAM files containing hundreds of millions of alignments.

Availability and implementation: RSeQC is written in Python and C. Source code and a comprehensive user's manual are freely available at: http://code.google.com/p/rseqc/.

Contact:  WL1@bcm.edu

Supplementary Information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Mapping the pericentric heterochromatin by comparative genomic hybridization analysis and chromosome deletions in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: He Bing , Caudy Amy , Parsons Lance , Rosebrock Adam , Pane Attilio , Raj Sandeep , Wieschaus Eric
Published: June 2012

Heterochromatin represents a significant portion of eukaryotic genomes and has essential structural and regulatory functions. Its molecular organization is largely unknown due to difficulties in sequencing through and assembling repetitive sequences enriched in the heterochromatin. Here we developed a novel strategy using chromosomal rearrangements and embryonic phenotypes to position unmapped Drosophila melanogaster heterochromatic sequence to specific chromosomal regions. By excluding sequences that can be mapped to the assembled euchromatic arms, we identified sequences that are specific to heterochromatin and used them to design heterochromatin specific probes (“H-probes”) for microarray. By comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) analyses of embryos deficient for each chromosome or chromosome arm, we were able to map most of our H-probes to specific chromosome arms. We also positioned sequences mapped to the second and X chromosomes to finer intervals by analyzing smaller deletions with breakpoints in heterochromatin. Using this approach, we were able to map >40% (13.9 Mb) of the previously unmapped heterochromatin sequences assembled by the whole-genome sequencing effort on arm U and arm Uextra to specific locations. We also identified and mapped 110 kb of novel heterochromatic sequences. Subsequent analyses revealed that sequences located within different heterochromatic regions have distinct properties, such as sequence composition, degree of repetitiveness, and level of underreplication in polytenized tissues. Surprisingly, although heterochromatin is generally considered to be transcriptionally silent, we detected region-specific temporal patterns of transcription in heterochromatin during oogenesis and early embryonic development. Our study provides a useful approach to elucidate the molecular organization and function of heterochromatin and reveals region-specific variation of heterochromatin.
Ectopic Expression of Rubisco Subunits in Maize Mesophyll Cells Does Not Overcome Barriers to Cell Type-Specific Accumulation
Authors: Wostrikoff Katia , Clark Aimee , Sato Shirley , Clemente Tom , Stern David
Published: June 2012

In maize (Zea mays), Rubisco accumulates in bundle sheath but not mesophyll chloroplasts, but the mechanisms that underlie cell type-specific expression are poorly understood. To explore the coordinated expression of the chloroplast rbcL gene, which encodes the Rubisco large subunit (LS), and the two nuclear RBCS genes, which encode the small subunit (SS), RNA interference was used to reduce RBCS expression. This resulted in Rubisco deficiency and was correlated with translational repression of rbcL. Thus, as in C3 plants, LS synthesis depends on the presence of its assembly partner SS. To test the hypothesis that the previously documented transcriptional repression of RBCS in mesophyll cells is responsible for repressing LS synthesis in mesophyll chloroplasts, a ubiquitin promoter-driven RBCS gene was expressed in both bundle sheath and mesophyll cells. This did not lead to Rubisco accumulation in the mesophyll, suggesting that LS synthesis is impeded even in the presence of ectopic SS expression. To attempt to bypass this putative mechanism, a ubiquitin promoter-driven nuclear version of the rbcL gene was created, encoding an epitope-tagged LS that was expressed in the presence or absence of the Ubi-RBCS construct. Both transgenes were robustly expressed, and the tagged LS was readily incorporated into Rubisco complexes. However, neither immunolocalization nor biochemical approaches revealed significant accumulation of Rubisco in mesophyll cells, suggesting a continuing cell type-specific impairment of its assembly or stability. We conclude that additional cell type-specific factors limit Rubisco expression to bundle sheath chloroplasts.
(Acetylacetonato-κ2O,O′)[1-(4-bromophenyl-κC2)-3-methylimidazol-2-ylidene-κC2]platinum(II)
Authors: Tenne Mario , Unger Yvonne , Strassner Thomas
Published: June 2012

The title platinum(II) complex, [Pt(C10H8BrN2)(C5H7O2)], has a bidentate cyclometallated phenylimidazolylidene ligand and an acetylacetonate spectator ligand, which form a distorted square-planar coordination environment around the PtIIcentre. In the solid state, the molecules are oriented in a parallel fashion by intermolecular hydrogen bonding and π–π and C—H...π interactions, while close Pt...Pt contacts are not observed. The structure is only the second example for this new class of compounds.