bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integrating population genetic structure, microbiome, and pathogens presence data in Dermacentor variabilis
Authors: Lado Paula , Luan Bo , Allerdice Michelle E.J. , Paddock Christopher D. , Karpathy Sandor E. , Klompen Hans
Published: July 2020

Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) continue to emerge and re-emerge in several regions of the world, highlighting the need for novel and effective control strategies. The development of effective strategies requires a better understanding of TBDs ecology, and given the complexity of these systems, interdisciplinary approaches are required. In recent years, the microbiome of vectors has received much attention, mainly because associations between native microbes and pathogens may provide a new promising path towards the disruption of pathogen transmission. However, we still do not fully understand how host genetics and environmental factors interact to shape the microbiome of organisms, or how pathogenic microorganisms affect the microbiome and vice versa. The integration of different lines of evidence may be the key to improve our understanding of TBDs ecology. In that context, we generated microbiome and pathogen presence data for Dermacentor variabilis, and integrated those data sets with population genetic data, and metadata for the same individual tick specimens. Clustering and multivariate statistical methods were used to combine, analyze, and visualize data sets. Interpretation of the results is challenging, likely due to the low levels of genetic diversity and the high abundance of a few taxa in the microbiome. Francisella was dominant in almost all ticks, regardless of geography or sex. Nevertheless, our results showed that, overall, ticks from different geographic regions differ in their microbiome composition. Additionally, DNA of Rickettsia rhipicephali, R. montanensis, R. bellii, and Anaplasma spp., was detected in D. variabilis specimens. This is the first study that successfully generated microbiome, population genetics, and pathogen presence data from the same individual ticks, and that attempted to combine the different lines of evidence. The approaches and pre-processing steps used can be applied to a variety of taxa, and help better understand ecological processes in biological systems.
Modifying effects of leaf litter extracts from invasive versus native tree species on copper-induced responses inLemna minor
Authors: Karitonas Rolandas , Jurkonienė Sigita , Sadauskas Kazys , Vaičiūnienė Jūratė , Manusadžianas Levonas
Published: July 2020

Invasive plant species tend to migrate from their native habitats under favourable climatic conditions; therefore, trophic and other relationships in ecosystems are changing. To investigate the effect of natural organic matter derived from nativeAlnus glutinosatree species and from invasive in LithuaniaAcer negundotree species on copper toxicity inLemna minor, we analysed the dynamics of Cu binding in aqueous leaf litter extracts (LLE) and plant accumulation, morphophysiological parameters, and antioxidative response. The results revealed thatA. glutinosaLLE contained polyphenols (49 mg pyrogallol acid equivalent (PAE)/g DM) and tannins (7.5 mg PAE/g DM), whileA. negundoLLE contained only polyphenols (23 mg PAE/g DM). The ability of LLE to bind Cu increased rapidly over 1.5–3 h to 61% and 49% of the total Cu concentration (6.0 ± 0.9 mg/L), respectively forA. glutinosa(AG) andA. negundo(AN), then remained relatively stable until 48 h. At the same time,L. minoraccumulated 384, 241 or 188 µg Cu/g FW when plants were exposed to Cu (100 µM CuSO4), Cu with 100 mg/L dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from either AG LLE or AN LLE, accordingly. Catalase (CAT) and guaiacol peroxidase (POD) played a dominant role in hydrogen peroxide scavenging when plants were exposed to Cu and 10 or 100 mg/L DOCAGmixtures in both the first (up to 6h) and the second (6–48 h) response phases. Due to functioning of oxidative stress enzymes, the levels of the lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde (MDA) reduced in concentration-dependent manner, compared to Cu treatment. When combining Cu and DOCANtreatments, the most sensitive enzymes were POD, ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase. Their activities collectively with CAT were sufficient to reduce MDA levels to Cu-induced in the initial, but not the second response phase. These data suggest that leaf litter extracts of different phenolic compositions elicited different antioxidant response profiles resulting in different reductions of Cu stress, thus effectingL. minorfrond and root development observed after seven days. The complex data from this study may be useful in modelling the response of the aquatic ecosystem to a changing environment.
Introgression does not influence the positive ecological and functional role of dingo populations
Authors: Crowther Mathew S. , Cairns Kylie M. , van Eeden Lily M. , Letnic Mike
Published: July 2020

The impact of hybridisation between dingoes and domestic dogs, and the subsequent introgression of domestic dog genes into dingo populations, remains a topic of significant impact. It has been claimed, but with little evidence or logical argumentation, that dingoes with significant dog introgression have different effects on agriculture and ecosystems than dingoes with no dog introgression. Introgression is a natural process in evolution, occurring in many species, although this is sometimes human assisted. Canid species in particular show high levels of introgression, due to their genetic and phylogenetic similarities, and human persecution creates scenarios encouraging hybridisation. Dingoes are no exception and demonstrate high levels of introgression of domestic dog genes, particularly in the temperate areas of south-eastern Australia. The available evidence shows that this introgression has minimal effects on the functional morphology of the dingo skull. There is also some preliminary evidence that introgression has not had a major impact on dingo reproductive biology. Studies on the impacts of dingoes on arid, tropical and temperate ecosystems, where levels of introgression vary greatly, all show consistent positive impacts of dingoes, regardless of the amount of domestic dog genes within the dingo population, on these ecosystems. Hence, hybridisation and resultant introgression from domestic dog genes appear to have little effect on aspects of the functional morphology or ecological role of the dingo. Accordingly, introgression does not diminish the conservation status of the dingo.
Physiological activities of peptides are correlated with the conformations of membrane‐bound molecules
Authors: Higashijima Tsutomu , Fujimura Kuniko , Masui Yoshihiro , Sakakibara Shumpei , Miyazawa Tatsuo
Published: July 2002

α‐Mating factor from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and analog peptides are found, by fluorescence analyses, to interact with phospholipid membrane. The circular dichroism analyses indicate that the physiological activities of α‐mating factor and analog peptide are correlated with the conformations of the membrane‐bound molecules rather than with the molecular conformations in aqueous solution. This suggests that the conformation change of peptide hormone upon binding with phospholipid membrane is an essential step for the recognition by the receptor.
Participation of tumor killing factor in the antitumor effect of sarcophaga lectin
Authors: Itoh Akira , Ohsawa Fukuichi , Ohkuma Yoshiaki , Natori Shunji
Published: July 2002

Antibody against tumor‐killing factor inhibited cytotoxic activities produced in vitro by mouse peritoneal macrophages and in vivo in the serum of tumor‐bearing mice in response to sarcophaga lectin. These results suggest that tumor‐killing factor participates in the antitumor effect of sarcophaga lectin.
Cytotoxic effects of the lipophilic iron chelator omadine
Authors: Kontoghiorghes George J. , Piga Andrea , Hoffbrand A.Victor
Published: July 2002

Cytotoxic effects were observed following 4 h incubation of human leukaemic cells with the iron chelator 1‐hydroxypyridine‐2‐thione (omadine). Its Cytotoxic activity was comparable to that of the cytotoxic drug doxorubicin. At the same concentration two other effective iron chelators, desferrioxamine and 1,2‐dimethyl‐3‐hydroxypyrid‐4‐one, were not cytotoxic. Addition of iron augmented the effect of omadine. It is suggested that the lipophilic properties of omadine and of its iron complex cause their intracellular accumulation and potent cytotoxic activity.
Simple techniques for the quantification of protein secondary structure by 1H NMR spectroscopy
Authors: Wishart D.S. , Sykes B.D. , Richards F.M.
Published: July 2002

Previous work by Wishart et al. (in press) and others [(1989) J. Magn. Reson. 83, 441–449; (1990) J. Magn. Reson. 9O, 165–176] has shown a strong tendency for protein secondary structure to be manifested in 1H NMR chemical shifts. Based on these earlier results, two techniques have been developed for the quantification of secondary structure in proteins. Both methods allow for the rapid and accurate determination of the percent content of helix, coil. and β‐strand based on the integration (or peak enumeration) of selected portions of either 1‐D or 2‐D 1H NMR spectra. These new and very simple procedures have been found to compare quite favorably to other well established techniques for secondary structure determination such as CD, Raman and IR spectroscopy.
Direct observation of the iron binding sites in a ferritin
Authors: Hempstead Paul D. , Hudson Aaron J. , Artymiuk Peter J. , Andrews Simon C. , Banfield Mark J. , Guest John R. , Harrison Pauline M.
Published: July 2002

X‐Ray analysis of the ferritin of Escherichia coli (Ec‐FTN) and of Ec‐FTN crystals soaked in (NH4)2Fe(SO4)2 has revealed the presence of three iron‐binding sites per subunit. Two of these form a di‐iron site in the centre of the subunit as has been proposed for the ‘ferroxidase centres’ of human ferritin H chains. This di‐iron site, lying within the 4‐alpha‐helix bundle, resemble those of ribonucleotide reductase, methane monoxygenase and haemerythrin. The third iron is bound by ligands unique to Ec‐FTN on the inner surface of the protein shell. It is speculated that this state may represent the nucleation centre of a novel type of Fe(III) cluster, recently observed in Ec‐FTN.
Pyridine dinucleotide biosynthesis in archaebacteria: Presence of NMN adenylyltransferase in Sulfolobus solfataricus
Authors: Raffaelli Nadia , Amici Adolfo , Emanuelli Monica , Ruggieri Silverio , Magni Giulio
Published: July 2002

The enzyme NMN adenylyltransferase, leading to NAD synthesis, has been observed for the first time in soluble extracts from the extreme acidothermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus. Comparison of its molecular and kinetic properties with those of the enzyme isolated from prokaryotes and eukaryotes revealed significant differences, knowledge of which may contribute to the understanding of metabolic evolutionary mechanisms. The thermophilic enzyme shows a molecular mass of about 66,000 and an isoelectric point of 5.4. The K
m values for ATP, NMN and nicotinic acid mononucleotide are 0.08 μM, 1.4 μM and 17 μM, respectively. The enzyme shows a remarkable degree of thermophilicity, with an activation energy of 95 kJ/mol.
New structures in complex formation between DNA and cationic liposomes visualized by freeze—fracture electron microscopy
Authors: Sternberg Brigitte , Sorgi Frank L. , Huang Leaf
Published: July 2002

Structures formed during interaction of cationic liposomes and plasmid DNA were studied by freeze—fracture electron microscopy and their morphology was found to be dependent on incubation time and DNA concentration. These structures were formed with liposomes composed of DC‐Chol and DOPE after 30 min incubation at DNA: lipid concentrations encompassing maximal transfection activity. They resembled liposome complexes (meatballs) and additionally bilayer‐covered DNA tubules (spaghetti), whereby the DNA‐tubules were found to be connected to the liposome complexes as well as occurring free in the suspension. At later times and higher DNA‐to‐liposome ratios the complexes grow larger while their membranes become discontinuous, allowing the self‐encapsulation of the DNA. The relative transfection potency of the various morphologically distinct structures is discussed.
Ubiquitin gene expression is increased in skeletal muscle of tumour‐bearing rats
Authors: Llovera Marta , García-Martínez Célia , Agell Neus , Marzábal Marc , López-Soriano Francisco J. , Argilés Josep M.
Published: July 2002

Rats bearing the fast‐growing AH‐130 Yoshida ascites hepatoma showed a marked cachectic response which has been previously reported [Tessitore et al. (1987) Biochem. J. 241, 153‐159]. Thus tumour‐bearing animals showed significant decreases in body and muscle weight (soleus and gastrocnemius) as compared to both pair‐fed and ad libitum‐fed animals. These decreases were related to an enhanced proteolytic rate in the muscles of the tumour‐bearing animals as measured by the tyrosine released in in vitro assays. In an attempt to elucidate which proteolytic system is directly responsible for the decrease in muscle mass, we have studied both lysosomal and non‐lysosomal (ATP‐dependent) proteolytic systems in this animal model. While the enzymatic activities of the main cathepsin (B and B + L) systems were actually decreased in gastrocnemius muscles of tumour‐bearing rats, thus indicating that lysosomal proteolysis was not involved, the ubiquitin pools (both free and conjugated) were markedly altered as a result of tumour burden. These were associated with an increased ubiquitin gene expression in muscle of tumour‐bearing rats, over 500% in relation to non‐tumour bearers, thus suggesting that the ATP‐dependent proteolytic system may be responsible for the muscle proteolysis and wastage observed in this animal tumour model. The fact that we have previously shown that TNF enhances the ubiquitinization of muscle proteins [García‐Martínez et al. (1993) FEBS Lett. 323, 211‐214], together with the high circulating levels of TNF detected in rats bearing the Yoshida hepatoma allows us to suggest that the cytokine may be responsible, most probably indirectly, for the activation of the referred proteolytic system in tumour‐bearing rats.
Crystallization and preliminary X‐ray analysis of the 9 kDa protein of the mouse signal recognition particle and the selenomethionyl‐SRP9
Authors: Doublié Sylvie , Kapp Ulrike , Åberg Anders , Brown Kieron , Strub Katharina , Cusack Stephen
Published: July 2002

Two different crystal forms of the 9 kDa protein of the signal recognition particle (SRP9) have been prepared by the hanging drop vapor diffusion technique using 28% (w/v) PEG8000 or 28% saturated ammonium sulphate as precipitant. The crystals are hexagonal bipyramids with average dimensions of 0.2 × 0.1 × 0.1 mm3 and they diffract to a resolution of 2.3 Å. They belong to the space groups P6222/P6422 or P3121/P3221 with cell dimensions . Crystals have also been grown from the selenomethionyl protein and multiwavelength data sets have been collected.
Mutational studies of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase : the involvement of residues 183 and 184 in the fidelity of DNA synthesis
Authors: Bakhanashvili Mary , Avidan Orna , Hizi Amnon
Published: July 2002

The high error rates characteristic of human immunodeficiency virus type‐1 reverse transcriptase (HIV‐1 RT) are a presumptive source of the viral hypermutability that impedes prevention and therapy of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). We have analyzed two mutants of HIV‐1 RT by conducting a comparative study of the accuracy of DNA synthesis. Each mutant bears a single amino acid substitution adjacent to the two aspartic acid residues at positions 185 and 186 in the highly conserved DNA polymerase active site. The first mutant, Met 184 →Leu (M184L), displays a marked reduction in both misinsertion and mispair extension, suggesting a fidelity of DNA synthesis significantly higher than that of the wild‐type HIV‐1 RT. The second mutant, Tyr 183→Phe (Y183F), shows a decrease in mispair extension with no significant change in misincorporation. Thus, the overall pattern of error‐proneness of DNA synthesis is: wild‐type HIV‐1 RT > Y183F > M184L. Taken together, it is possible that residues 183 and 184 contribute to the low fidelity of DNA synthesis characteristic of the reverse transcriptases of HIV‐1, HIV‐2 and possibly, of other lentiviruses. Our observations may bear on the nature of potential mutations responsible for resistance to the nucleoside analogs used in chemotherapy of AIDS.
Plasma soluble interleukin-2-receptor in depression: relationships to plasma neopterin and serum IL-2 concentrations and HPA-axis activity
Authors: Maes M , Bosmans E , Scharpé S , D'Hondt P , Desnyder R
Published: July 2002

The present study examined the plasma concentration of the soluble interleukin-2-receptor (sIL-2R) in depressed subjects in relation to hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis function and plasma neopterin and serum IL-2 concentrations. Plasma sIL-2R concentration was significantly higher in depressed patients (n= 47) than in controls (n= 19). There were no significant correlations between plasma sIL-2R and severity of illness. In the depressed subjects, there was a highly significant relationship between plasma sIL-2R and neopterin concentrations. Depressed patients with pathologically increased plasma neopterin levels had significantly higher plasma sIL-2R values than those with normal serum neopterin. There were no significant relationships between plasma sIL-2R and indices of HPA-axis function in depression. There was no significant effect of dexamethasone administration on sIL-2R levels. Significantly more depressed subjects had measurable serum IL-2 levels than normal controls. Our data support the notion that a moderate activation of cell-mediated immunity may play a role in the pathophysiology of depression.
Probing sugar translocation through maltoporin at the single channel level
Authors: Bezrukov Sergey M. , Kullman Lisen , Winterhalter Mathias
Published: July 2002

Sugar permeation through maltoporin of Escherichia coli, a trimer protein that facilitates maltodextrin translocation across outer bacterial membranes, was investigated at the single channel level. For large sugars, such as maltohexaose, elementary events of individual sugar molecule penetration into the channel were readily observed. At small sugar concentrations an elementary event consists of maltoporin channel closure by one third of its initial conductance in sugar‐free solution. Statistical analysis of such closures at higher sugar concentrations shows that all three pores of the maltoporin channel transport sugars independently. Interestingly, while channel conductance is only slightly asymmetric showing about 10% higher values at −200 mV than at +200 mV (from the side of protein addition), asymmetry in dependence of the sugar binding constant on the voltage polarity is about 20 times higher. Combining our data with observations made with bacteriophage‐λ we conclude that the sugar residence time is much more sensitive to (and is decreased by) voltages that are negative from the intra‐cell side of the bacterial membrane.
Evidence for lipid kinase activities in spinach chloroplast envelope membranes
Authors: Siegenthaler Paul-André , Müller Marc-Olivier , Bovet Lucien
Published: July 2002

Three spinach chloroplast envelope membrane preparations (i.e. whole, outer and inner membranes) were incubated in the presence of [γ‐32P]ATP. After lipid extraction and separation by TLC, four main phosphorylated lipids were detected by autoradiography in whole envelope preparations. These phospholipids were identified by comparing their Rf with that of lipid markers and by a deacylation procedure. They were found to be phosphatidic acid (PA) and lyso‐PA, l‐α‐phosphatidyl‐inositol 4‐monophosphate (PIP) and lyso‐PIP. These lipids were not equally distributed in the outer and inner envelope membranes. Chloroplast envelope membranes were verified not to be contaminated by plasma membranes. It is concluded that lipid kinase activities are associated with spinach chloroplast envelope membranes.
Binding of a native titin fragment to actin is regulated by PIP2
Authors: Astier Catherine , Raynaud Fabrice , Lebart Marie-Christine , Roustan Claude , Benyamin Yves
Published: July 2002

Titin is a giant protein which extends from Z‐line to M‐line in striated muscles. We report here the purification of a 150‐kDa titin fragment, obtained after V8 protease treatment of myofibrils. This polypeptide was located at the N1‐line level, in a titin part known to exhibit stiff properties correlated to an association with actin. By solid or liquid phase binding assays and cosedimentation, we have clearly demonstrated a direct, saturable and relative high affinity binding of the native titin fragment to F‐actin. The 150‐kDa titin fragment was also shown to accelerate actin polymerization. Furthermore, the actin‐titin interaction was found to be inhibited by phosphoinositides.
Integrin‐mediated signal transduction in cells lacking focal adhesion kinase p125FAK
Authors: Ueki Kazue , Mimura Toshihide , Nakamoto Tetsuya , Sasaki Terukatsu , Aizawa Shinichi , Hirai Hisamaru , Yano Shintaro , Naruse Takuji , Nojima Yoshihisa
Published: July 2002

We have previously shown that integrin‐dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of p130Cas (Cas) could be induced in a mouse fibroblast cell line that does not express focal adhesion kinase p125FAK (FAK). By analyzing FAK‐deficient (FAK−/−) cells transiently expressing Cas mutant proteins, we demonstrate here that the Src homology 3 (SH3) domain of Cas is indispensable for adhesion‐mediated Cas phosphorylation in this mutant cell line. While the FAK directly binds to Cas‐SH3, our findings imply that SH3‐binding molecule(s) other than FAK might regulate Cas phosphorylation, at least in FAK−/− cells. In this regard, we observed that FAK−/− cells expressed cell adhesion kinase β (CAKβ), a protein tyrosine kinase of the FAK subfamily. CAKβ expressed by FAK−/− cells was associated in vivo with Cas in a Cas‐SH3‐dependent manner. Moreover, integrin stimulation induces tyrosine phosphorylation of CAKβ in FAK−/− cells. Thus, our results suggest that CAKβ contributes to integrin‐mediated signal transduction in place of FAK in FAK‐deficient cells.
International index funds and the investment portfolio
Authors: Aiello Scott , Chieffe Natalie
Published: July 2002

Financial advisors often recommend that investors diversify their investments internationally and also use mutual funds with the lowest expenses. Recently it has been possible to use both of these strategies by purchasing an international index fund. This study considers international index funds as a means of portfolio diversification. Performance is evaluated using monthly return data on nine international indexes from January 1989 through December 1997. Returns are measured against the S & P 500 index returns. The results of statistical tests suggest that international index investing does not offer superior returns compared to the S & P 500 index but diversification benefits do exist. © 1999 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.
OvCWD: An agent‐based modeling framework for informing chronic wasting disease management in white‐tailed deer populations
Authors: Belsare Aniruddha V. , Stewart Chad M.
Published: July 2020

1. Wildlife diseases are gathering attention worldwide due to their public health and economic or conservation impacts, and consequently, wildlife agencies are increasingly being tasked with disease surveillance and management responsibilities.

2. Wildlife disease surveillance and management is challenging primarily due to complex processes of host population dynamics, some of which are inherently stochastic in nature. Individual heterogeneity in pathogen transmission further complicates our understanding of wildlife disease systems.

3. Agent‐based models can incorporate stochasticity as well as individual heterogeneities and facilitate a better understanding of epidemiological processes in wildlife disease systems. Such an understanding is critical for designing and implementing effective disease control strategies.

4. We have developed a customizable agent‐based modeling framework (OvCWD) that incorporates nonrandom and heterogeneous aspects of an emerging host–pathogen system (chronic wasting disease [CWD] in white‐tailed deer). Models in this framework link white‐tailed deer demography and behavior with CWD transmission dynamics. Insights gained from model explorations can help us better understand CWD spread in regional deer populations.

5. We illustrate OvCWD application by deriving CWD outbreak probabilities for Montcalm County (Michigan, USA) deer population using alternate harvest strategies. The focus is on preemptive harvest strategies that can be implemented before CWD is detected in a population (pre‐establishment phase).

6. OvCWD provides a defensible decision‐making context for designing locally relevant CWD control strategies. OvCWD can be readily adapted for simulating CWD in other cervid species as well as for simulating other cervid disease systems.
Sidgwick, Henry
Authors: Schultz Bart
Published: July 2020

Henry Sidgwick (1838–1900) was one of the greatest ethical philosophers of the nineteenth century, and his most important work,
The Methods of Ethics
(1874), presents arguments for hedonistic utilitarianism and for a certain approach to ethical theory that continue to inspire influential philosophers today.
Early Modern Ethics
Authors: Guyer Paul
Published: July 2020

Thomas Hobbes was seen by his contemporaries and successors as a rational egoist, as was Bernard Mandeville several decades later. Subsequent British philosophers beginning with Richard Cumberland rejected Hobbes's egoism. This was true of rationalists such as Ralph Cudworth and Samuel Clarke and moral sense theorists including the Earl of Shaftesbury, Francis Hutcheson, Joseph Butler, David Hume, and Adam Smith. Meanwhile, Germans such as Samuel Pufendorf, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, Christian Wolff, Alexander Gottlieb Baumgarten, and Georg Friedrich Meier worked within a perfectionist framework, although some such as Christian August Crusius remained within an Augustinian, divine‐command approach. Kant synthesized elements of rationalism, perfectionism, and moral sense theory, although the full development of his approach lies beyond the terminus of this entry.
Geroethics
Authors: Ehni Hans‐Joerg , Venkatapuram Sridhar
Published: July 2020

Ethics related to healthcare provided to older people (“individual‐level bioethics”), and social level ethics regarding the fair distribution of healthcare and other social resources to older people are important and well‐recognized concerns. However, ethical issues related to older people are far more numerous and wide‐ranging, and extend across individual, family, community, national/societal, and global levels. This entry seeks to identify a new discipline of applied ethics beyond the currently prominent ethical issues in the healthcare of older people (geriatrics) as well as in the broader social context of aging (gerontology). The entry aims to establish that the scope of current scholarly and professional discussions about ethics in both fields are not comprehensive and are, perhaps, conceptually constrained. Geroethics is a new approach and field, which aims to identify, evaluate, and offer ethical guidance for social action in response to the multiple dimensions of individual aging in the twenty‐first century, as well as to the scale and diversity of the phenomenon of global population aging.
Normative Ethics
Authors: Timmons Mark
Published: July 2020

Normative ethics is a branch of moral philosophy that addresses moral (ethical) questions about what to do and how to be. This branch divides into applied ethics and moral theory. Applied ethics addresses specific questions about the morality of such issues as abortion, capital punishment, the ethical treatment of animals, euthanasia, and sexual behavior. It also addresses ethical questions that arise within the professions. Moral theory by contrast addresses very general moral questions – questions about which types of action are morally right or wrong and what kind of person is morally good and why. These specific and general questions about what to do and how to be are first‐order moral questions and they are contrasted with questions about morality – second‐order questions about the meaning, truth, metaphysics, and epistemology of moral thought, language, and discourse. Such second‐order questions are the subject matter of metaethics, the other main branch of moral philosophy. This entry focuses on moral theory and covers these topics: its basic notions, its aims, how principles figure in such a theory, the various structures moral theories might take, standards used in evaluating such theories, and finally some of the challenges to moral theory
Using urine to diagnose large‐scale mtDNA deletions in adult patients
Authors: Varhaug Kristin N. , Nido Gonzalo S. , de Coo Irenaeus , Isohanni Pirjo , Suomalainen Anu , Tzoulis Charalampos , Knappskog Per , Bindoff Laurence A.
Published: July 2020

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate if urinary sediment cells offered a robust alternative to muscle biopsy for the diagnosis of single mtDNA deletions.

Methods

Eleven adult patients with progressive external ophthalmoplegia and a known single mtDNA deletion were investigated. Urinary sediment cells were used to isolate DNA, which was then subjected to long‐range polymerase chain reaction. Where available, the patient`s muscle DNA was studied in parallel. Breakpoint and thus deletion size were identified using both Sanger sequencing and next generation sequencing. The level of heteroplasmy was determined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Results

We identified the deletion in urine in 9 of 11 cases giving a sensitivity of 80%. Breakpoints and deletion size were readily detectable in DNA extracted from urine. Mean heteroplasmy level in urine was 38% ± 26 (range 8 ‐ 84%), and 57% ± 28 (range 12 – 94%) in muscle. While the heteroplasmy level in urinary sediment cells differed from that in muscle, we did find a statistically significant correlation between these two levels (R = 0.714, P = 0.031(Pearson correlation)).

Interpretation

Our findings suggest that urine can be used to screen patients suspected clinically of having a single mtDNA deletion. Based on our data, the use of urine could considerably reduce the need for muscle biopsy in this patient group.
Recent Progress in MXene‐Based Materials: Potential High‐Performance Electrocatalysts
Authors: Liu Anmin , Liang Xingyou , Ren Xuefeng , Guan Weixin , Gao Mengfan , Yang Yanan , Yang Qiyue , Gao Liguo , Li Yanqiang , Ma Tingli
Published: July 2020

The family of transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides (collectively called MXenes) has been a thriving field since the first invention of Ti3C2Tx (MXene) in 2011. MXene is a new type of nanometer 2D sheet material, which exhibits great application potentials in various fields due to its multiple advantages such as high specific surface area, good electrical conductivity, and high mechanical strength. Electrocatalysis is regarded as the core of future clean energy conversion technologies, and MXene‐based materials provide inspiration for the design and preparation of electrocatalysts with high activity, high selectivity, and long loading life time. The applications of MXene‐based materials in electrocatalysis, including hydrogen evolution reaction, nitrogen reduction reaction, oxygen evolution reaction, oxygen reduction reaction, carbon dioxide reduction reaction, and methanol oxidation reaction are summarized in this review. As a crucial session regarding experiments, the current safer and more environmentally friendly preparation methods of MXene are also discussed. Focusing on the materials design and enhancement methods, the key challenges and opportunities for MXene‐based materials as a next‐generation platform in both fundamental research and practical electrocatalysis applications are presented. This account serves to promote future efforts toward the development of MXenes and related materials in the electrocatalysis applications.
Solid hold‐up measurement in a jet‐impactor assisted fluidized bed using gamma‐ray densitometry
Authors: Nasri Lari Hamed , Rasouli Majid , Chaouki Jamal , Tavares Jason R.
Published: July 2020

A jet‐impactor assisted‐fluidized bed (JIAFB) for continuous de‐agglomeration of nanopowder agglomerates was presented in previous work. Therein, a jet caused agglomerates to impinge up an impactor, where they would break. However, efficient impactor positioning will be dictated by particle momentum: the product of solid concentration and velocity must be highest. Herein, the variation of solid hold‐up was measured in a fluidized bed of Fe2O3 nanoparticles using gamma‐ray densitometry. Behaviour was compared under minimum fluidization and bubbling regimes, over a wide range of jet velocities (0–200 m s−1). A new line‐decomposition approach allowed mapping local solid distribution across seven axial and five radial positions, tangibly demonstrating how increasing the gas velocity enhanced the fluidization quality by increasing axial solid diffusivity. Conversely, increasing jet velocity locally decreased solid hold‐up in the jet‐affected zone, and brought about inhomogeneities. With this information in hand, jet‐to‐impactor distance was optimized and validated experimentally.
Quantitative determination of the optimal temporoparietal fascia flap necessary to repair skull‐base defects
Authors: Siu Alan , Rangarajan Sanjeet V. , Rabinowitz Mindy R. , Luginbuhl Adam , Rimmer Ryan A. , Chitguppi Chandala , Farrell Christopher , Nyquist Gurston G. , Rosen Marc R. , Evans James J.
Published: July 2020

Background

The ability to reconstruct large cranial base defects has greatly improved with the development of pedicled vascularized flaps. The temporoparietal fascia flap (TPFF) is a viable alternative to the Hadad‐Bassagasteguy nasoseptal flap for large ventral skull‐base defects. This study aims to characterize the size of the TPFF necessary for optimal ventral skull‐base reconstruction.

Methods

Eleven formaldehyde‐fixed cadaveric heads were used to harvest TPFF of varying heights on each side (total = 22). TPFF was passed through the pterygomaxillary fissure (PMF) to the ventral skull base to assess its coverage. For a subgroup of 12 sides, the TPFF was trimmed to determine the minimum height necessary for coverage.

Results

The TPFF height was (mean ± standard deviation [SD]) 14.72 ± 1.02 cm (range, 12.5 to 16.5 cm) and width was 8.43 ± 1.05 cm (range, 6 to 10.5 cm). The distance from the TPFF pedicle through the PMF was 5.8 ± 0.5 cm (range, 5 to 6.5 cm). All TPFF flaps provided complete ipsilateral coverage of clival defects, and all but 1 covered the entire clivus. All TPFF flaps, when rotated anteriorly, provided coverage up to the cribriform plate. The minimum TPFF height necessary for complete coverage of cribriform defects and ventral defects up to the planum sphenoidale was 12 cm. TPFF height for specimens with and without complete ventral skull‐base coverage was significantly different (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

The TPFF is a versatile alternative to the nasoseptal flap and a height of at least 12 cm can provide enough coverage for all ventral skull base defects.
Dual‐Carbon Lithium‐Ion Capacitors: Principle, Materials, and Technologies
Authors: Zhang Sheng S.
Published: July 2020

Lithium‐ion capacitors (LICs) optimize energy density and power capability of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) and electric double layer capacitors (EDLCs). The most promising LICs are those, called dual‐carbon LICs, using the LIB carbonaceous negative electrode and EDLC activated carbon positive electrode due to the low lithiation‐delithiation potential of carbonaceous materials and the excellent stability of activated carbon at high potentials. However, a pre‐lithiation process is required to enable such LICs because both the carbonaceous materials used do not contain Li+ ions. In this mini‐review, the principle and materials of the dual‐carbon LICs are outlined, and the key technologies are critically assessed.
Adults with spina bifida: A cross‐sectional study of health issues and living conditions
Authors: Bendt Martina , Gabrielsson Hanna , Riedel Dorothee , Hagman Göran , Hultling Claes , Franzén Erika , Eriksson Mats , Seiger Åke
Published: July 2020

Objective

To describe health issues and living conditions in a cohort of adults living with Spina bifida.

Material and methods

A cross‐sectional study was conducted by a multidisciplinary team.

Adults with spina bifida (n = 219) were invited to participate. One‐hundred‐and‐ninety‐six persons (104 women and 92 men; 18–73 years, median age 33 years) were included. Structured interviews, questionnaires, and clinical assessments for medical, social, physical, and cognitive functions were used.

Results

There was large variation among participants as regards the consequences of their spina bifida. Individuals < 46 years seemed to have more secondary conditions such as hydrocephalus, Chiari II malformation, tethered cord symptoms, and latex allergy. A higher proportion of the individuals >46 years and older was able to walk, and they had performed better in primary school and on tests of psychomotor speed and executive function.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that adults with spina bifida have a complex set of physical, cognitive, and social needs that need to be addressed in order to improve their health issues and living conditions. The high prevalence of urinary and fecal incontinence, pain, and overweight underline that these issues need much attention during follow‐up. The future generations of older adults may need more attention in many ways, since they at a younger age do have more complex medical conditions, lower physical and cognitive functions, and lower prerequisites for independent living and participation in society than those > 46 years today. This elucidates that adults with spina bifida need systematic follow‐up services and social support throughout life.
Environmental management certification and environmental performance: Greening or greenwashing?
Authors: Heras‐Saizarbitoria Iñaki , Boiral Olivier , Díaz de Junguitu Alberto
Published: July 2020

This article analyzes the contribution of certifiable environmental management standards—such as ISO 14001 and the Eco‐Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS)—to corporate environmental performance. Based on a content analysis of 414 third‐party‐verified environmental statements from EMAS‐registered Spanish organizations, which included information for around 6,700 detailed indicators, a weak improvement in environmental performance was found. Less than half of the analyzed indicators—namely, 48.27%—revealed a net improvement. Similarly, analysis of the justifications of the registered companies for the lack of improvement points to a rather symbolical adoption of the certification, intended to do only the bare minimum. These findings call into question the prevailing opinion about the positive impact of voluntary certifiable environmental management standards on environmental greening. Implications for managers and public policy makers, as well as for other stakeholders, are discussed.
Cell‐free DNA profiling in retinoblastoma patients with advanced intraocular disease: An MSKCC experience
Authors: Kothari Prachi , Marass Francesco , Yang Julie L. , Stewart Caitlin M. , Stephens Dennis , Patel Juber , Hasan Maysun , Jing Xiaohong , Meng Fanli , Enriquez Jeanette , Huberman Kety , Viale Agnes , Francis Jasmine H. , Berger Michael F. , Shukla Neerav , Abramson David H. , Dunkel Ira J. , Tsui Dana W.Y.
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The enucleation rate for retinoblastoma has dropped from over 95% to under 10% in the past 10 years as a result of improvements in therapy. This reduces access to tumor tissue for molecular profiling, especially in unilateral retinoblastoma, and hinders the confirmation of somatic RB1 mutations necessary for genetic counseling. Plasma cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) has provided a platform for noninvasive molecular profiling in cancer, but its applicability in low tumor burden retinoblastoma has not been shown. We analyzed cfDNA collected from 10 patients with available tumor tissue to determine whether sufficient tumorderived cfDNA is shed in plasma from retinoblastoma tumors to enable noninvasive RB1 mutation detection.

Methods

Tumor tissue was collected from eye enucleations in 10 patients diagnosed with advanced intra‐ocular unilateral retinoblastoma, three of which went on to develop metastatic disease. Tumor RB1 mutation status was determined using an FDA‐cleared tumor sequencing assay, MSK‐IMPACT. Plasma samples were collected before eye enucleation and analyzed with a customized panel targeting all exons of RB1.

Results

Tumor‐guided genotyping detected 10 of the 13 expected somatic RB1 mutations in plasma cfDNA in 8 of 10 patients (average variant allele frequency 3.78%). Without referring to RB1 status in the tumor, de novo mutation calling identified 7 of the 13 expected RB1 mutations (in 6 of 10 patients) with high confidence.

Conclusion

Plasma cfDNA can detect somatic RB1 mutations in patients with unilateral retinoblastoma. Since intraocular biopsies are avoided in these patients because of concern about spreading tumor, cfDNA can potentially offer a noninvasive platform to guide clinical decisions about treatment, follow‐up schemes, and risk of metastasis.
Periodontal Manifestation of Type Ib Glycogen Storage Disease: A Rare Case Report
Authors: Dababneh Reem , Shawabkeh Ayman , Gharaibeh Shatha , Khouri Zaid Al , Amayreh Wajdi , Bissada Nabil F.
Published: July 2020

Introduction

Glycogen storage diseases (GSD) are genetic metabolic disorders of glycogen metabolism. There are >15 types based on the enzyme deficiency and the affected organ. Glycogen storage disease Type Ib is the only type associated with neutropenia and periodontitis. This type is caused by a deficiency of glucose‐6‐phosphate (G6P) translocase which prevents the transport of G6P across the endoplasmic reticulum. As a result, glycogen cannot be metabolized into glucose with its subsequent accumulation in tissues. The affected organs involved in Type Ib are the liver, kidney, and intestine.

Case Presentation

A 5‐year‐old Jordanian boy from a consanguineous family referred to the periodontal clinic in February 2014 with an established diagnosis of GSD‐Ib. The systemic manifestations include hepatomegaly, hypoglycemia, hyperprolactenemia, inflammatory bowel disease, osteoporosis, and neutropenia. Oral manifestations include severe gingival inflammation and recurrent oral ulceration disease.

Conclusions

The clinical signs and symptoms of periodontal disease in GSD Type Ib are similar to those found in patients diagnosed with neutropenia. Future studies are needed to clarify whether severe generalized inflammation of the gingiva in children is part of the GSD Type Ib or is a separate entity caused by neutrophil dysfunction.
Photocatalytic activity enhanced via surface hybridization
Authors: Guo Yan , Li Huarui , Ma Wei , Shi Wenxin , Zhu Yongfa , Choi Wonyong
Published: July 2020

Surface hybrid inorganic semiconductors photocatalysts with π conjugated structure have recently been widely used in the field of photocatalytic environmental remediation and energy conversion. Surface hybridization is considered to be an efficient way to significantly enhance the photocatalytic activity by several times, completely inhibit photocorrosion of inorganic photocatalysts and expand the spectral response range of photocatalysts. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the surface hybridization definition, the principle of enhancing photocatalytic performance and the control factors of surface hybridization to promote photoactivity. Summarize the preparation and structural identification method of the surface hybrid photocatalyst. Special emphasis is placed on the various photocatalytic system construction of surface hybridization. The development of surface hybrid photocatalysts for pollutant degradation and energy conversion are further presented. Finally, the challenges and future development prospects of surface hybridization in photocatalysis are discussed. We hope this critical review can provide a clear picture of the state‐of‐the‐art achievements and facilitate the applications of surface hybrid photocatalysts in environmental remediation and energy conversion.
Morphology‐controlled Synthesis of Molybdenum Oxide with Tunable Plasmon Absorption for Phothermal Therapy of Cancer
Authors: Zhang Xiaoqin , Zu Hongru , Guo Yanxian , Liu Qingqing , Liu Zhiming , Hu Chaofan
Published: July 2020

Semiconductor nanocrystals showing surface plasmonic absorption features can be used as prospective substitutes for noble metallic nanoparticles. Herein, a creative one‐pot hydrothermal route without template is used to synthesize plasmonic oxygen deficiency molybdenum oxide (MoO3‐x) nanoparticles. The morphologies of as‐prepared MoO3‐x nanomaterials arranged from amorphous to crystalline with the reaction temperature varied from 160 °C, 180 °C to 200 °C, namely MoO3‐x quantum dots (QDs), MoO3‐x nanosheets, and MoO2 nanospheres. Simultaneously, in the near‐infrared region (NIR), MoO3‐x nanomaterials exhibit gradually enhanced localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) absorption, of which MoO2 nanospheres exhibit intense NIR absorption with a photothermal conversion efficiency up to 72.5% under 808 nm NIR laser irradiation. Moreover, the toxicity and cancer therapy efficacy of MoO2 nanospheres have been systematically assessed in vitro and in vivo, respectively. The results revealed that MoO2 nanospheres exhibit low toxicity and high therapeutic efficiency, making it an promising and effective photothermal agent in photothermal therapy
Electroluminescence performance of a series of fluorene/2,5‐di(2‐thienyl)‐1H‐pyrrole polymers
Authors: Bilgili Hakan , Kara Koray , Yenel Esma , Demic Serafettin , Kus Mahmut , Koyuncu Sermet
Published: July 2020

In this article, a series of fluorene/2,5‐dithenyl‐1H‐pyrrole‐based electroactive polymers (HS‐X) with different feed ratio of SC12F/OF were synthesized via Suzuki coupling reactions. Chemical characterization of polymers was elucidated by 1H NMR and Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy. Electrochemical and electrophysical characterization of the synthesized polymers were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, UV‐vis spectroscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy. Thermal stability of polymers were studied with differential scanning calorimetry and manipulation of the Tg values of HS‐X polymers was managed by increasing the numbers of the spiroalkylated fluorene (SAF) moieties incorporated into the polymer backbone. Five different conjugated polymers (HS‐1, HS‐2, HS‐3, HS‐4, and HS‐5) were used as hole transport layer material in the fabrication of organic light‐emitting diode (OLED) devices. The energy levels of the highest occupied molecular orbital as well as the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital and photoluminescence intensities were independent of the number of SAF units. OLED devices based on HS‐X polymers were fabricated according to ITO/PEDOT:PSS/HS‐X/Alq3/LiF:Al device configuration. Their electroluminescence performances were investigated and the best performance were obtained with the polymer containing 20% SC12F (HS‐4) in an OLED device with a turn on voltage of 11.8 V, a maximum luminance of 1202 cd/m2 and a maximum luminous efficiency of 0.30 cd/A compared to other polymers with different feed ratio.