bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
From Federalism to Binationalism: Hannah Arendt's Shifting Zionism
Authors: RUBIN GIL
Published: July 2015

The German-Jewish intellectual Hannah Arendt (1906–1975) had famously opposed the establishment of a Jewish nation state in Palestine. During the Second World War, however, Arendt also spoke out repeatedly against the establishment of a binational Arab-Jewish state. Rejecting both alternatives, Arendt advocated for the inclusion of Palestine in a multi-ethnic federation that would not consist only of Jews and Arabs. Only in 1948, in an effort to forestall partition, did Arendt revise her earlier critique and endorse a binational solution for Palestine. This article offers a new reading of the evolution of Arendt's thought on Zionism and argues that her support for federalism must be understood as part of a broader wartime debate over federalism as a solution to a variety of post-war nationality problems in Europe, the Middle East and the British Empire. By highlighting the link between debates on wartime federalism and the future of Palestine, this article also underscores the importance of examining the legacy of federalism in twentieth century Europe for a more complete understanding of the history of Zionism.
Shared and Divergent Auditory and Tactile Processing in Children with Autism and Children with Sensory Processing Dysfunction Relative to Typically Developing Peers
Authors: Demopoulos Carly , Brandes-Aitken Annie N. , Desai Shivani S. , Hill Susanna S. , Antovich Ashley D. , Harris Julia , Marco Elysa J.
Published: July 2015

The aim of this study was to compare sensory processing in typically developing children (TDC), children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and those with sensory processing dysfunction (SPD) in the absence of an ASD. Performance-based measures of auditory and tactile processing were compared between male children ages 8–12 years assigned to an ASD (N=20), SPD (N=15), or TDC group (N=19). Both the SPD and ASD groups were impaired relative to the TDC group on a performance-based measure of tactile processing (right-handed graphesthesia). In contrast, only the ASD group showed significant impairment on an auditory processing index assessing dichotic listening, temporal patterning, and auditory discrimination. Furthermore, this impaired auditory processing was associated with parent-rated communication skills for both the ASD group and the combined study sample. No significant group differences were detected on measures of left-handed graphesthesia, tactile sensitivity, or form discrimination; however, more participants in the SPD group demonstrated a higher tactile detection threshold (60%) compared to the TDC (26.7%) and ASD groups (35%). This study provides support for use of performance-based measures in the assessment of children with ASD and SPD and highlights the need to better understand how sensory processing affects the higher order cognitive abilities associated with ASD, such as verbal and non-verbal communication, regardless of diagnostic classification. (JINS, 2015,21, 444–454)
MACROECONOMIC EFFECTS OF ENERGY PRICE SHOCKS ON THE BUSINESS CYCLE
Authors: Huynh Bao Tan
Published: July 2015

This paper proposes a framework of endogenous energy production with convex costs to investigate the general equilibrium effects of energy price shocks on the business cycle. This framework explicitly models the consumption of durables and nondurables and implements a high complementarity between energy and the usage of durables and capital. The model predicts energy price elasticities of various consumption variables that fall within reasonable agreement with empirical estimates. Convex costs in energy production produce energy price and energy supply dynamics that tallies well with empirical behavior. Our analysis confirms in a theoretical setting recent observations that not all energy price shocks are the same. They can be distinct in terms of energy price dynamics and impact on the business cycle, as well as energy price elasticities of various macro variables that can be useful indicators for their underlying causes.
Religion in the Census
Authors: Thorvaldsen Gunnar
Published: July 2015

This article aims to clarify the scope of questions about religion in population censuses, and attempts to explain why such questions were included or left out of censuses taken in different nations and periods. The quantitative aspect is a fundamental question for students of religion interested in knowing where it is possible to rely on statistics about the size of confessional groups and their basic characteristics. A common use of the census in connection with religion has been to create aggregates about the size of different congregations by nation, and to cross-tabulate this with other variables such as gender, occupations, ethnicity, or regions. Enumerations with questions about religion were performed in many countries from the mid-nineteenth century, but questions about religious affiliation never entered the US censuses, and were left out of most censuses in many other countries as is indicated in the map in figure 1. We shall try to clarify how pressure was put on statistical bureaus, parliaments, and governments to promote or hinder the inclusion of questions about religion.
A Radical Demand Effect: Early US Feminists and the Married Women's Property Acts
Authors: McCammon Holly J. , Arch Sandra C. , Bergner Erin M.
Published: July 2015

Numerous scholars consider the economic origins of the late-nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century US married women's property acts. Researchers investigate how economic downturns and women's inroads into business spurred lawmakers to reform property laws to give married women the right to own separate property. Such economic explanations, however, are only a partial story. Our investigation reveals the important role of women's collective activism in winning these legal changes. Women mobilized for property rights often as they pressed for voting rights and, in one case, as they campaigned for an equal rights amendment. We examine circumstances leading to passage of married women's property acts in seven states to show that as women mobilized for property rights alongside voting rights or a broader equal rights law, a radical demand effect unfolded. Lawmakers often considered demands for woman suffrage or an equal rights amendment as more far-reaching and thus more radical and threatening. Such feminist demands, then, provided a foil for property-rights activism, and the contrast led lawmakers to view property demands as more moderate. In addition, as they pressed for these combined reforms, women often engaged in hybrid framing that allowed them to moderate their demand for property reforms by linking their property goals to beliefs already widely accepted. The confluence of these circumstances led political leaders to deem property changes as more moderate and acceptable in an effort to steer feminists away from their radical goals. In the end, the radical demand effect created a political opportunity for passage of the married women's property acts.
The Collective Dynamics of Genocidal Violence in Cambodia, 1975–1979
Authors: Owens Peter B.
Published: July 2015

While previous research conceptualizes genocide as an outcome of complex interactions between multiple social factors, the specific ways in which these factors interact and combine with each other, and how their individual effects may be mediated through such interaction, remain to be empirically specified. Using historical accounts given by survivors of the Cambodian genocide, and drawing from insights in the collective action literature, this study presents a configurational and comparative analysis of the collective dynamics of genocidal violence. The analysis focuses on how changing local patterns of relational and cognitive collective mechanisms created distinctly local patterns of violence, affecting both levels of victimization and the targeting of different groups over time. While the expansion and consolidation of central state power accounts for a generalized increase in violence, official framing practices mediated how groups became targeted. These findings confirm and extend the insights of other meso-level studies of genocide, and demonstrate the utility of comparative configurational methods for further inquiry.
Political Opportunity Structure, Contentious Social Movements, and State-Based Organizations: The Fight against Solidarity inside the Polish United Workers Party
Authors: Bloom Jack M.
Published: July 2015

Studies of social movements have often focused on the role of the state vis-à-vis social movements—in recent times using the concept of political opportunity structure to understand the options available to social movements. This article examines the internal conflicts within the ruling party in Communist Poland to show that a reciprocal process proceeded, in which both the social movement and the state found the choices of action available to them limited by the other, rather than just the social movement. The social upheaval that impacted the entire country brought about the rise of a reform movement within the ruling Polish United Workers Party, which prevented the government from acting as it preferred for a significant period of time. That reform movement, which would not have existed without Solidarity and certainly would not have brought about intraparty changes by itself, saw itself as connected to and dependent upon Solidarity. Party conservatives had to respond to and overcome the reformers before they could turn their full attention to ending the challenge Solidarity presented to the Communist system. In effect, for a time, Solidarity limited the political opportunity structure of the state, while the reverse was also true. While social movement scholars have long considered the possibilities and the limits on possibilities available to social movements because of the state or other external circumstances, this experience demonstrates that similar considerations must sometimes be contemplated with respect to the state.
Ein Praxisbeispiel zur Konstruktion eines Lehrevaluationsinstruments: Berliner Lehrevaluationsinventar für Vorlesungen (BLEI-VL)
Authors: Landes Tom , Ziegler Matthias
Published: July 2015

Der Einsatz von Fragebögen zur Lehrevaluation gehört an vielen Hochschulen zum gängigen Vorgehen im Rahmen der Qualitätssicherung. Dabei werden nicht immer psychometrisch gut fundierte Fragebögen eingesetzt. Dieser Artikel schildert ein Praxisbeispiel, das verdeutlicht, wie anhand bestehender Fragebögen und durch den Einsatz qualitativer und quantitativer Methoden ein facettiertes Lehrevaluationsinventar konstruiert und evaluiert wurde. Dabei wird aufgezeigt, wie anhand der Critical Incident Technique ein gemeinsames Verständnis aller Beteiligten zur Bedeutung guter Lehre definiert werden kann. Darüber hinaus wird das Berliner Lehrevaluationsinventar für Vorlesungen (BLEI-VL) vorgestellt und hinsichtlich seiner faktoriellen Validität geprüft. Das BLEI-VL spiegelt das gemeinsame Verständnis guter Lehre von Dozierenden und Studierenden wieder und erlaubt die Erfassung der Qualität der Lehre bezüglich der Aspekte Vorbereitung der Vorlesung, Didaktik und Interaktion.
Multilevel Faktorenanalyse für Fragebögen zur Lehrveranstaltungsevaluation
Authors: Sengewald Erik , Vetterlein Anja
Published: July 2015

Zur Überprüfung der postulierten Messmodelle für Fragebögen zur Lehrveranstaltungsevaluation (LVE) werden konfirmatorische Faktorenanalysen (CFA) entweder auf Studenten- oder Veranstaltungsebene durchgeführt. Der resultierende Modellfit ist oft inakzeptabel ( Marsh et al., 2009 ). Die vorliegende Studie vergleicht die konventionellen CFA-Verfahren in der LVE mit einer Multilevel-CFA anhand eines empirischen Beispiels mit 183 334 Studentenurteilen. Die Ergebnisse verdeutlichen die Überlegenheit der Multilevel-CFA für die Analyse des Messmodells eines Fragebogens zur LVE. Es werden die Vorteile der Multilevel-CFA für die Erfassung der multidimensionalen Veranstaltungsqualität aufgezeigt und Anwendungsmöglichkeiten für die Hochschulforschung diskutiert.
Inconsistency Index for the Zuckerman-Kuhlman-Aluja Personality	Questionnaire (ZKA-PQ)
Authors: Aluja Anton , Blanch Angel , Martí-Guiu Maite , Blanco Eduardo
Published: July 2015

Abstract. The purpose of this study is the development of an index to assess inconsistency in the answers of Zuckerman-Kuhlman-Aluja Personality Questionnaire (ZKA-PQ) in order to identify and discard inconsistent subjects in applied psychology, as clinical, forensics, or personnel selection. The procedure consists in the use of 10 pairs of highly correlated items in a wide sample of voluntary and anonymous subjects of both sexes (n = 5.644). We inserted random cases to the original data in order to obtain simulated scores of inconsistency and we established a cut-off criterion to discriminate between consistent and inconsistent subjects according to a 70 T Score. A score higher than 10 points discriminated the 3.7% of the subjects. Cronbach’s alpha average for facets was calculated by ZKA-PQ facets distributed in 8 (α: 0.79), 9–10 (α: 0.67), and above 10 points (α: .50) of the inconsistency index. The Feldt test indicates that alpha differences were significant. The inconsistency score did not affect the factorial structure of the ZKA-PQ. We discussed the utility of this index to identify inconsistent subjects with the ZKA-PQ, as, for instance, those with individual difficulties (a limited vocabulary, poor verbal comprehension, an idiosyncratic way of interpreting item meanings, carelessness, inattentiveness…).
Imagined Intergroup Contact and Common Ingroup	Identity
Authors: Vezzali Loris , Stathi Sofia , Crisp Richard J. , Giovannini Dino , Capozza Dora , Gaertner Samuel L.
Published: July 2015

Abstract. We conducted two studies involving two different age groups (elementary school children and adults) aimed at integrating imagined contact and common ingroup identity models. In the first study, Italian elementary school children were asked to imagine interacting with an unknown immigrant peer as members of a common group. Results revealed that common ingroup imagined contact, relative to a control condition, improved outgroup helping intentions assessed 1 week and 2 weeks after the intervention. In the second study, common ingroup imagined contact led Italian university students to display higher intentions to have contact with immigrants compared to control conditions. In conclusion, results from both studies demonstrate that imagining an intergroup interaction as members of the same group strengthens the effects of imagined contact. These findings point to the importance of combining the common ingroup identity model and the imagined contact theory in order to increase the potentiality of prejudice reduction interventions.
Gender Stereotype-Inconsistent Acts Are Seen as More Acceptable Than	Stereotype-Consistent Acts, if They Are Clever
Authors: Meijs Maartje H. J. , Lammers Joris , Ratliff Kate A.
Published: July 2015

Abstract. Four studies show that gender stereotype-inconsistent behavior is seen as more acceptable than gender stereotype-consistent behavior, if it is clever. Four studies found consistently that participants rated the behavior of a man who relied on attractiveness or passiveness (stereotypically female) to be more acceptable than similar behavior by a woman. The behavior of a woman who relied on dominance or aggressiveness (stereotypically male) was sometimes seen as more (Study 1A) and sometimes equally (Study 1B, Study 2, Study 3) acceptable as the behavior of a man who acted similarly. This shows that double standards might play a role: Whereas men are benefited by gender stereotype-inconsistent behavior, this is not the case for women. Across studies, these effects were driven by the interpretation of the gender stereotype-inconsistent acts as more clever and less trashy than gender stereotype-consistent acts. These results qualify the idea that people dislike stereotype-inconsistency.
Conductance of a single flexible molecular wire composed of alternating donor and acceptor units
Authors: Nacci Christophe , Ample Francisco , Bleger David , Hecht Stefan , Joachim Christian , Grill Leonhard
Published: July 2015

Molecular-scale electronics is mainly concerned by understanding charge transport through individual molecules. A key issue here is the charge transport capability through a single—typically linear—molecule, characterized by the current decay with increasing length. To improve the conductance of individual polymers, molecular design often either involves the use of rigid ribbon/ladder-type structures, thereby sacrificing for flexibility of the molecular wire, or a zero band gap, typically associated with chemical instability. Here we show that a conjugated polymer composed of alternating donor and acceptor repeat units, synthesized directly by an on-surface polymerization, exhibits a very high conductance while maintaining both its flexible structure and a finite band gap. Importantly, electronic delocalization along the wire does not seem to be necessary as proven by spatial mapping of the electronic states along individual molecular wires. Our approach should facilitate the realization of flexible ‘soft’ molecular-scale circuitry, for example, on bendable substrates.
High-quality bulk hybrid perovskite single crystals within minutes by inverse temperature crystallization
Authors: Saidaminov Makhsud I. , Abdelhady Ahmed L. , Murali Banavoth , Alarousu Erkki , Burlakov Victor M. , Peng Wei , Dursun Ibrahim , Wang Lingfei , He Yao , Maculan Giacomo , Goriely Alain , Wu Tom , Mohammed Omar F. , Bakr Osman M.
Published: July 2015

Single crystals of methylammonium lead trihalide perovskites (MAPbX3; MA=CH3NH3+, X=Br− or I−) have shown remarkably low trap density and charge transport properties; however, growth of such high-quality semiconductors is a time-consuming process. Here we present a rapid crystal growth process to obtain MAPbX3 single crystals, an order of magnitude faster than previous reports. The process is based on our observation of the substantial decrease of MAPbX3 solubility, in certain solvents, at elevated temperatures. The crystals can be both size- and shape-controlled by manipulating the different crystallization parameters. Despite the rapidity of the method, the grown crystals exhibit transport properties and trap densities comparable to the highest quality MAPbX3 reported to date. The phenomenon of inverse or retrograde solubility and its correlated inverse temperature crystallization strategy present a major step forward for advancing the field on perovskite crystallization.
The circadian clock rephases during lateral root organ initiation in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Voß Ute , Wilson Michael H. , Kenobi Kim , Gould Peter D. , Robertson Fiona C. , Peer Wendy A. , Lucas Mikaël , Swarup Kamal , Casimiro Ilda , Holman Tara J. , Wells Darren M. , Péret Benjamin , Goh Tatsuaki , Fukaki Hidehiro , Hodgman T. Charlie , Laplaze Laurent , Halliday Karen J. , Ljung Karin , Murphy Angus S. , Hall Anthony J. , Webb Alex A. R. , Bennett Malcolm J.
Published: July 2015

The endogenous circadian clock enables organisms to adapt their growth and development to environmental changes. Here we describe how the circadian clock is employed to coordinate responses to the key signal auxin during lateral root (LR) emergence. In the model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana, LRs originate from a group of stem cells deep within the root, necessitating that new organs emerge through overlying root tissues. We report that the circadian clock is rephased during LR development. Metabolite and transcript profiling revealed that the circadian clock controls the levels of auxin and auxin-related genes including the auxin response repressor IAA14 and auxin oxidase AtDAO2. Plants lacking or overexpressing core clock components exhibit LR emergence defects. We conclude that the circadian clock acts to gate auxin signalling during LR development to facilitate organ emergence.
Aneuploidy generates proteotoxic stress and DNA damage concurrently with p53-mediated post-mitotic apoptosis in SAC-impaired cells
Authors: Ohashi Akihiro , Ohori Momoko , Iwai Kenichi , Nakayama Yusuke , Nambu Tadahiro , Morishita Daisuke , Kawamoto Tomohiro , Miyamoto Maki , Hirayama Takaharu , Okaniwa Masanori , Banno Hiroshi , Ishikawa Tomoyasu , Kandori Hitoshi , Iwata Kentaro
Published: July 2015

The molecular mechanism responsible that determines cell fate after mitotic slippage is unclear. Here we investigate the post-mitotic effects of different mitotic aberrations—misaligned chromosomes produced by CENP-E inhibition and monopolar spindles resulting from Eg5 inhibition. Eg5 inhibition in cells with an impaired spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) induces polyploidy through cytokinesis failure without a strong anti-proliferative effect. In contrast, CENP-E inhibition causes p53-mediated post-mitotic apoptosis triggered by chromosome missegregation. Pharmacological studies reveal that aneuploidy caused by the CENP-E inhibitor, Compound-A, in SAC-attenuated cells causes substantial proteotoxic stress and DNA damage. Polyploidy caused by the Eg5 inhibitor does not produce this effect. Furthermore, p53-mediated post-mitotic apoptosis is accompanied by aneuploidy-associated DNA damage response and unfolded protein response activation. Because Compound-A causes p53 accumulation and antitumour activity in an SAC-impaired xenograft model, CENP-E inhibitors could be potential anticancer drugs effective against SAC-impaired tumours.
Regional distribution of body fat in relation to DNA methylation within the LPL, ADIPOQ and PPARγ promoters in subcutaneous adipose tissue
Authors: Drogan D , Boeing H , Janke J , Schmitt B , Zhou Y , Walter J , Pischon T , Tierling S
Published: July 2015

Obesity may be related to differential DNA methylation and thus to differential expression of key genes in adipose tissue metabolism, such as LPL, ADIPOQ and PPARγ. Using subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) from 59 individuals of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition–Potsdam study, we performed quantitative DNA methylation analysis within the promoters of LPL (LPL-CG1 and -CG2), ADIPOQ (ADIPOQ-CG1 and-CG2) and PPARγ (PPARγ-CG1). We then studied DNA methylation in relation to SAT gene expression, body composition measured using whole-body magnetic resonance imaging, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and long-term changes in BMI and WC. For LPL-CG1 and LPL-CG2, higher methylation levels were associated with lower LPL expression, but with higher past WC gain. LPL-CG1 was also positively associated with BMI, WC, and visceral and subcutaneous fat mass. ADIPOQ-CG1 or -CG2 methylation exhibited no association with ADIPOQ expression or with anthropometric parameters. PPARγ-CG1 methylation was significantly higher in individuals with higher visceral fat mass. Among the investigated sites, LPL-CG1 methylation showed the strongest association with gene expression and regional body fat distribution, thereby possibly linking the degree of obesity with major metabolic processes in SAT.
A large-scale crop protection bioassay data set
Authors: Gaulton Anna , Kale Namrata , van Westen Gerard J. P. , Bellis Louisa J. , Bento A. Patrícia , Davies Mark , Hersey Anne , Papadatos George , Forster Mark , Wege Philip , Overington John P.
Published: July 2015

ChEMBL is a large-scale drug discovery database containing bioactivity information primarily extracted from scientific literature. Due to the medicinal chemistry focus of the journals from which data are extracted, the data are currently of most direct value in the field of human health research. However, many of the scientific use-cases for the current data set are equally applicable in other fields, such as crop protection research: for example, identification of chemical scaffolds active against a particular target or endpoint, the de-convolution of the potential targets of a phenotypic assay, or the potential targets/pathways for safety liabilities. In order to broaden the applicability of the ChEMBL database and allow more widespread use in crop protection research, an extensive data set of bioactivity data of insecticidal, fungicidal and herbicidal compounds and assays was collated and added to the database.
High resolution multi-facies realizations of sedimentary reservoir and aquifer analogs
Authors: Bayer Peter , Comunian Alessandro , Höyng Dominik , Mariethoz Gregoire
Published: July 2015

Geological structures are by nature inaccessible to direct observation. This can cause difficulties in applications where a spatially explicit representation of such structures is required, in particular when modelling fluid migration in geological formations. An increasing trend in recent years has been to use analogs to palliate this lack of knowledge, i.e., exploiting the spatial information from sites where the geology is accessible (outcrops, quarry sites) and transferring the observed properties to a study site deemed geologically similar. While this approach is appealing, it is difficult to put in place because of the lack of access to well-documented analog data. In this paper we present comprehensive analog data sets which characterize sedimentary structures from important groundwater hosting formations in Germany and Brazil. Multiple 2-D outcrop faces are described in terms of hydraulic, thermal and chemical properties and interpolated in 3-D using stochastic techniques. These unique data sets can be used by the wider community to implement analog approaches for characterizing reservoir and aquifer formations.
The global compendium of Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus occurrence
Authors: Kraemer Moritz U. G. , Sinka Marianne E. , Duda Kirsten A. , Mylne Adrian , Shearer Freya M. , Brady Oliver J. , Messina Jane P. , Barker Christopher M. , Moore Chester G. , Carvalho Roberta G. , Coelho Giovanini E. , Van Bortel Wim , Hendrickx Guy , Schaffner Francis , Wint G. R. William , Elyazar Iqbal R. F. , Teng Hwa-Jen , Hay Simon I.
Published: July 2015

Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus are the main vectors transmitting dengue and chikungunya viruses. Despite being pathogens of global public health importance, knowledge of their vectors’ global distribution remains patchy and sparse. A global geographic database of known occurrences of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus between 1960 and 2014 was compiled. Herein we present the database, which comprises occurrence data linked to point or polygon locations, derived from peer-reviewed literature and unpublished studies including national entomological surveys and expert networks. We describe all data collection processes, as well as geo-positioning methods, database management and quality-control procedures. This is the first comprehensive global database of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus occurrence, consisting of 19,930 and 22,137 geo-positioned occurrence records respectively. Both datasets can be used for a variety of mapping and spatial analyses of the vectors and, by inference, the diseases they transmit.
Balancing the Expression and Production of a Heterodimeric Protein: Recombinant Agkisacutacin as a Novel Antithrombotic Drug Candidate
Authors: Guo Yugang , Wu Jing , Jia Hao , Chen Wei , Shao Changsheng , Zhao Lei , Ma Jiajia , Li Rui , Zhong Yongjun , Fang Fang , Wang Dong , Sun Jie , Qian Fang , Dai Xiangrong , Zhang Guohui , Tian Zhigang , Xiaoyi Li Benjamin , Xiao Weihua
Published: July 2015

Agkisacucetin extracted from the venom of Agkistrodon acutus has been demonstrated to be a promising antithrombotic drug candidate in clinical studies due to its function as a novel platelet membrane glycoprotein (GP) Ib inhibitor. Agkisacucetin is a heterodimeric protein composed of α- and β-subunits with seven disulphide bonds. Both subunits form inactive homodimeric products, which cause difficulties for recombinant production. In this study, Agkisacucetin α- and β-subunits were inserted sequentially into the chromosome of Pichia pastoris at the mutant histidinol dehydrogenase gene and ribosomal DNA repeat sites, respectively. By optimizing the gene copies and productivity of each subunit by drug screening, we successfully obtained a recombinant strain with balanced expression of the two subunits. Using this strain, a yield greater than 100 mg/L recombinant Agkisacucetin in fed-batch fermentation was reached. The recombinant Agkisacucetin possessed extremely similar binding affinity to recombinant GPIb and human platelets in in vitro assays and its ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation activity ex vivo was identical to that of the extracted native Agkisacucetin, demonstrating that the yeast-derived Agkisacucetin could be an effective alternative to native Agkisacucetin. Moreover, this study provides an effective strategy for balancing the expression and production of heterodimeric proteins in P. pastoris.
Magnetization due to localized states on graphene grain boundary
Authors: Dutta Sudipta , Wakabayashi Katsunori
Published: July 2015

Magnetism in graphene has been found to originate from various defects, e.g., vacancy, edge formation, add-atoms etc. Here, we discuss about an alternate route of achieving magnetism in graphene via grain boundary. During chemical vapor deposition of graphene, several graphene nucleation centers grow independently and face themselves with unusual bonding environment, giving rise to the formation of grain boundaries. We investigate the origin of magnetism in such grain boundaries within first-principles calculations, by letting two nucleation centers interact with each other at their interface. We observe formation of unprecedented point defect, consisting of fused three-membered and larger carbon rings, which induces net magnetization to graphene quantum dots. In case of periodic lattices, the appearance of array of point defects leads to the formation of magnetic grain boundaries. The net magnetization on these defects arises due to the deviation from bipartite characteristics of pristine graphene. We observe magnetic grain boundary induced dispersion less flat bands near Fermi energy, showing higher localization of electrons. These flat bands can be accessed via small doping, leading to enhanced magnetism. Moreover, the grain boundaries can induce asymmetric spin conduction behavior along the cross boundary direction. These properties can be exploited for sensor and spin-filtering applications.
Tulane virus recognizes sialic acids as cellular receptors
Authors: Tan Ming , Wei Chao , Huang Pengwei , Fan Qiang , Quigley Christina , Xia Ming , Fang Hao , Zhang Xufu , Zhong Weiming , Klassen John S. , Jiang Xi
Published: July 2015

The recent discovery that human noroviruses (huNoVs) recognize sialic acids (SAs) in addition to histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs) pointed to a new direction in studying virus-host interactions during calicivirus infection. HuNoVs remain difficult to study due to the lack of an effective cell culture model. In this study, we demonstrated that Tulane virus (TV), a cultivable primate calicivirus, also recognizes SAs in addition to the previously known TV-HBGA interactions. Evidence supporting this discovery includes that TV virions bound synthetic sialoglycoconjugates (SGCs) and that treatment of TV permissive LLC-MK2 cells with either neuraminidases or SA-binding lectins inhibited TV infectivity. In addition, we found that Maackia amurensis leukoagglutinin (MAL), a lectin that recognizes the α-2,3 linked SAs, bound LLC-MK2 cells, as well as TV, by which MAL promoted TV infectivity in cell culture. Our findings further highlight TV as a valuable surrogate for huNoVs, particularly in studying virus-host interactions that may involve two host carbohydrate receptors or co-receptors for infection.
Forward genetic screen for auxin-deficient mutants by cytokinin
Authors: Wu Lei , Luo Pan , Di Dong-Wei , Wang Li , Wang Ming , Lu Cheng-Kai , Wei Shao-Dong , Zhang Li , Zhang Tian-Zi , Amakorová Petra , Strnad Miroslav , Novák Ondřej , Guo Guang-Qin
Published: July 2015

Identification of mutants with impairments in auxin biosynthesis and dynamics by forward genetic screening is hindered by the complexity, redundancy and necessity of the pathways involved. Furthermore, although a few auxin-deficient mutants have been recently identified by screening for altered responses to shade, ethylene, N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA) or cytokinin (CK), there is still a lack of robust markers for systematically isolating such mutants. We hypothesized that a potentially suitable phenotypic marker is root curling induced by CK, as observed in the auxin biosynthesis mutant CK-induced root curling 1 / tryptophan aminotransferase of Arabidopsis 1 (ckrc1/taa1). Phenotypic observations, genetic analyses and biochemical complementation tests of Arabidopsis seedlings displaying the trait in large-scale genetic screens showed that it can facilitate isolation of mutants with perturbations in auxin biosynthesis, transport and signaling. However, unlike transport/signaling mutants, the curled (or wavy) root phenotypes of auxin-deficient mutants were significantly induced by CKs and could be rescued by exogenous auxins. Mutants allelic to several known auxin biosynthesis mutants were re-isolated, but several new classes of auxin-deficient mutants were also isolated. The findings show that CK-induced root curling provides an effective marker for discovering genes involved in auxin biosynthesis or homeostasis.
Hybrid male sterility and genome-wide misexpression of male reproductive proteases
Authors: Gomes Suzanne , Civetta Alberto
Published: July 2015

Hybrid male sterility is a common barrier to gene flow between species. Previous studies have posited a link between misregulation of spermatogenesis genes in interspecies hybrids and sterility. However, in the absence of fully fertile control hybrids, it is impossible to differentiate between misregulation associated with sterility vs. fast male gene regulatory evolution. Here, we differentiate between these two possibilities using a D. pseudoobscura species pair that experiences unidirectional hybrid sterility. We identify genes uniquely misexpressed in sterile hybrid male reproductive tracts via RNA-seq. The sterile male hybrids had more misregulated and more over or under expressed genes relative to parental species than the fertile male hybrids. Proteases were the only gene ontology class overrepresented among uniquely misexpressed genes, with four located within a previously identified hybrid male sterility locus. This result highlights the potential role of a previously unexplored class of genes in interspecific hybrid male sterility and speciation.
Mitochondrial respiration in peripheral blood mononuclear cells correlates with depressive subsymptoms and severity of major depression
Authors: Karabatsiakis A , Böck C , Salinas-Manrique J , Kolassa S , Calzia E , Dietrich D E , Kolassa I-T
Published: July 2015

Mitochondrial dysfunction might have a central role in the pathophysiology of depression. Phenotypically, depression is characterized by lack of energy, concentration problems and fatigue. These symptoms might be partially explained by reduced availability of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) as a consequence of impaired mitochondrial functioning. This study investigated mitochondrial respiration in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), an established model to investigate the pathophysiology of depression. Mitochondrial respiration was assessed in intact PBMCs in 22 individuals with a diagnosis of major depression (MD) compared with 22 healthy age-matched controls using high-resolution respirometry. Individuals with MD showed significantly impaired mitochondrial functioning: routine and uncoupled respiration as well as spare respiratory capacity, coupling efficiency and ATP turnover-related respiration were significantly lower in the MD compared with the control group. Furthermore, mitochondrial respiration was significantly negatively correlated with the severity of depressive symptoms, in particular, with loss of energy, difficulties concentrating and fatigue. The results suggest that mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to the biomolecular pathophysiology of depressive symptoms. The decreased immune capability observed in MD leading to a higher risk of comorbidities could be attributable to impaired energy supply due to mitochondrial dysfunction. Thus mitochondrial respiration in PBMCs and its functional consequences might be an interesting target for new therapeutical approaches in the treatment of MD and immune-related comorbidities.
Interaction Between the Regulator and Practitioners in the Field of Environmental Investigations
Authors: Brosnan Anne
Published: July 2015

Prosecution of environmental offences almost invariably involves the presentation of complex evidence to a court, dealing with the causation of an offence, and its implications, in terms of harm or potential for harm to the environment, to flora and fauna, and to human health. As a regulator the Environment Agency issues environmental permits and then goes on to monitor, investigate and prosecute breaches. Additionally the Agency prosecutes environmental offences where there may be whole scale illegal activity outside of the regulatory regime. The Agency relies upon evidence to set its permits and subsequently to justify interventions in situations where operations may have an adverse impact on the environment or are already having such effects. The importance of sound, reliable scientific evidence cannot be understated for a regulator. In cases brought to court by the Agency and in other challenges relating to the potential for harm associated with a proposed operation, the use of expert evidence and expert witnesses is crucial. Cases may require interpretation of the analysis of water and waste samples and what these mean in terms of environmental impact. Expert witnesses are frequently called upon to advise during investigations and to give evidence on complex issues of science to a court or tribunal. The Environment Agency utilises the services of its own National Laboratory Service in most cases but has additionally used chemical fingerprinting of petroleum products in the case which followed the explosion at the Buncefield Oil Storage Terminal and in other cases relating to losses from underground petrol and diesel storage facilities. Cases have been brought by the Agency in relation to the loss of pesticides, agricultural fertilisers, food products and chemicals such as TBT. The impacts on human health but also on fish and shellfish must be assessed and verified. Scientific evidence may be required on effects of dilution, volatilisation and mixing. Difficult explanations of complex mechanisms to non-scientists may be required. Accordingly a good relationship between the regulator and the scientist is key and the interaction between different professionals, who may not always speak a common language, will be discussed, with case related example
Use of Symmetric Tetrachloroethane to Age Date Chlorinated Solvent Releases
Authors: Morrison Robert D.
Published: July 2015

Manufacturing impurities in chlorinated solvent products are of significant forensic importance for bracketing when a release occurred and/or identifying the source. While forensic techniques traditionally used for age dating and source discrimination, such as compound specific isotope analysis (CSIA), isotopic and chemical ratio analysis, reconstructed plume techniques, surrogate chemical indicators and stabilizers are available, less emphasis has been given to the use of manufacturing impurities as a corroborative technique. The use of manufacturing impurities in PCE (tetrachloroethylene) and TCE (trichloroethylene) produced via the oxychlorination of acetylene or ethylene offers a means to estimate when these chlorinated solvents were produced. Of the, the 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane (1,1,2,2-TeCA) is one of the various manufacturing impurities generated when producing TCE, PCE and methyl chloroform. TeCA provides the means to identify that the solvent was manufactured prior to about 1977. This chapter discusses the historical use, synthesis, physiochemical properties and applications of TeCA.
Heavy Metal Contamination in Selected Electronic Waste Dumpsites in Lagos, Nigeria
Authors: Doherty V. F. , Ladipo M. K. , Famodun I. O.
Published: July 2015

Any electrical or electronic equipment that is taken to no longer be capable of performing the function for which it was originally intended is an e-waste. Due to their hazardous material contents, Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) may cause environmental problems during the waste management phase if it is not properly pre-treated.3 The presence of elements like lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, selenium and hexavalent chromium and flame retardants beyond threshold quantities in WEEE/e-waste implicates them as hazardous waste. Nigeria has emerged the most important African importing country for new and used electronic and electrical equipment (EEE), which are shipped largely from the United Kingdom (UK). In Nigeria, many e-waste fractions cannot be managed appropriately, which is resulting in the accumulation of large hazardous waste volumes in and around major refurbishing and recycling centers. Furthermore, some recycling practices – like the open burning of cables and plastic parts – cause severe emissions of pollutants such as heavy metals and dioxins. The aim of this study is to determine the concentration of heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cd, Ni, Cr and Cu) in soil and water samples collected from and around electronic waste dumpsites in different parts of Lagos state in Nigeria (computer village (Ikeja), Alaba International Market (Ojo) and Westminister (Apapa).
Differential toxicity of gold-doxorubicin in cancer cells vs. cardiomyocytes as measured by real-time growth assays and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM)
Authors: Tawagi Eric , Massmann Charlotte , Chibli Hicham , Nadeau Jay L.
Published: July 2015

The kinetics of toxicity of doxorubicin (Dox) and gold nanoparticle-conjugated doxorubicin (Au-Dox) were investigated in cultured B16 melanoma cells and cardiomyocytes using real-time cell-growth imaging.
An innate immune system-mimicking, real-time biosensing of infectious bacteria
Authors: Seo Sung-Min , Jeon Jin-Woo , Kim Tae-Yong , Paek Se-Hwan
Published: July 2015

An immune system-mimicking real-time biosensing could detect bacteria (<100 CFU mL−1) automatically within the working time.
Multimodal scanning probe imaging: nanoscale chemical analysis from biology to renewable energy
Authors: Bang J. J. , Russell S. R. , Rupp K. K. , Claridge S. A.
Published: July 2015

Multimodal scanning probe microscopy enables analysis of not only surface topography, but also surface chemistry, electrical, magnetic, and mechanical properties.
A green electrochemical sensor based on a poly(ionic liquid)–graphene nanocomposite modified electrode for Sudan I determination
Authors: Li Lin , Liu Xiuhui , Lu Juanjuan , Liu Yueling , Lu Xiaoquan
Published: July 2015

A novel Sudan I sensor was constructed based on a green synthesized PIL–EG nanocomposite.
Tuning the formation of discrete coordination nanostructures
Authors: Meyer Joerg , Nickel Anja , Ohmann Robin , Lokamani  , Toher Cormac , Ryndyk Dmitry A. , Garmshausen Yves , Hecht Stefan , Moresco Francesca , Cuniberti Gianaurelio
Published: July 2015

The formation of discrete metal coordination nanostructures involving native gold atoms can be tuned by varying the surface temperature.
Single crystalline tantalum oxychloride microcubes: controllable synthesis, formation mechanism and enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production activity
Authors: Tu Hao , Xu Leilei , Mou Fangzhi , Guan Jianguo
Published: July 2015

Regulating [H+] by a mixture of hydrochloric acid and acetic acid during the hydrolysis of Ta5+ ions can produce single crystalline microcubes TaO2.18Cl0.64 with superstructures, which exhibit remarkably enhanced photocatalytic activities for hydrogen production.
Remarkably high apparent quantum yield of the overall photocatalytic H2O splitting achieved by utilizing Zn ion added Ga2O3prepared using dilute CaCl2solution
Authors: Sakata Yoshihisa , Hayashi Takuya , Yasunaga Ryō , Yanaga Nobuyuki , Imamura Hayao
Published: July 2015

Remarkably high photocatalytic activity for the overall H2O splitting was achieved by utilizing a Rh0.5Cr1.5O3(Rh; 0.5 wt%)/Zn(3 mol%)–Ga2O3photocatalyst when Ga2O3was prepared using dilute CaCl2aqueous solution (0.001 mol l−1).
Nitroreductase-triggered activation of a novel caged fluorescent probe obtained from methylene blue
Authors: Bae Jungeun , McNamara Louis E. , Nael Manal A. , Mahdi Fakhri , Doerksen Robert J. , Bidwell Gene L. , Hammer Nathan I. , Jo Seongbong
Published: July 2015

A new fluorescent probe caged with a p-nitrobenzyl redox switch enables selective switching on of fluorescence by nitroreductase.
Catalytic meta-selective C–H functionalization to construct quaternary carbon centres
Authors: Paterson Andrew J. , St John-Campbell Sahra , Mahon Mary F. , Press Neil J. , Frost Christopher G.
Published: July 2015

A ruthenium catalyzed meta-selective C–H functionalization of 2-phenylpyridines with tertiary halides is described to establish challenging quaternary carbon centres in a regioselective manner. Preliminary studies suggest the C–H functionalization proceeds through a radical process directed via a remote σ-activation.
Mononuclear nonheme iron(iv)–oxo and manganese(iv)–oxo complexes in oxidation reactions: experimental results prove theoretical prediction
Authors: Chen Junying , Cho Kyung-Bin , Lee Yong-Min , Kwon Yoon Hye , Nam Wonwoo
Published: July 2015

The HAT and OAT reactivities of FeIVO and MnIVO species with the N4Py ligand are compared both theoretically and experimentally and the reactivity of FeIVO is found to be higher.
Pro-aromatic bisphenaleno-thieno[3,2-b]thiophene versus anti-aromatic bisindeno-thieno[3,2-b]thiophene: different ground-state properties and applications in field-effect transistors
Authors: Shi Xueliang , Lee Sangsu , Son Minjung , Zheng Bin , Chang Jingjing , Jing Linzhi , Huang Kuo-Wei , Kim Dongho , Chi Chunyan
Published: July 2015

A pro-aromatic molecule BPT-TIPS displayed different ground-state electronic structure and physical properties from its anti-aromatic counterpart S2-TIPS.
H2O2-activated triplet–triplet annihilation upconversion via modulation of the fluorescence quantum yields of the triplet acceptor and the triplet–triplet-energy-transfer efficiency
Authors: Tao Renjie , Zhao Jianzhang , Zhong Fangfang , Zhang Caishun , Yang Wenbo , Xu Kejing
Published: July 2015

H2O2-activatable TTA upconversion was achieved with non-fluorescent 9,10-bis(diphenylphosphino)anthracene as a triplet acceptor/emitter, which can be oxidized to a fluorescent product by H2O2.
A facile solvent-free synthesis route for the assembly of a highly CO2 selective and H2S tolerant NiSIFSIX metal–organic framework
Authors: Shekhah Osama , Belmabkhout Youssef , Adil Karim , Bhatt Prashant M. , Cairns Amy J. , Eddaoudi Mohamed
Published: July 2015

Here we report a solvent-free route for the synthesis of an H2S stable and highly CO2 selective porous hybrid material, namely (NiSiF6(pyz)2) MOF.
Large-scale continuous hydrothermal production and activation of ZIF-8
Authors: Munn A. S. , Dunne P. W. , Tang S. V. Y. , Lester E. H.
Published: July 2015

A new method for the large-scale hydrothermal production and activation of ZIF-8 is presented in this communication. Activated ZIF-8 has been produced, at lab-scale and pilot-scale, at a rate of 27 g h−1 and 810 g h−1 respectively with the activated material showing a surface area of 1800 m2 g−1.
Robust and highly active copper-based electrocatalyst for hydrogen production at low overpotential in neutral water
Authors: Liu Xiang , Cui Shengsheng , Sun Zijun , Du Pingwu
Published: July 2015

A Cu(0)-based catalyst free of noble metals was used as an electrocatalyst in the hydrogen evolution reaction in neutral water with an onset overpotential of only 70 mV.
Facile synthesis of β-NaGdF4:Yb/Er@CaF2nanoparticles with enhanced upconversion fluorescence and stability via a sequential growth process
Authors: Ding Bin-Bin , Liu Kun , Zhang Fu , Wang Yang , Cheng Sheng , Lu Yang , Qian Hai-Sheng
Published: July 2015

β-NaGdF4:Yb,Er@CaF2core–shell nanoparticles: β-NaGdF4:Yb/Er nanoparticles coated with an ultrathin layer of CaF2have been achievedviaa sequential growth process.